《Reigning Supreme in countless worlds With Beast taming》 Chapter 1 - Chapter 1: Chapter 1 Using the Back Door Chapter 1: Chapter 1 Using the Back Door Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation ¡°Slap, slap, slap¡­¡± In the courtroom, two government officials wielded ebony-colored paddles, striking hard on the fair buttocks of the man lying on the ground. Since this punishment required undressing, it was clear to see the man¡¯s buttocks quickly reddening with each strike. ¡°Ah¡­¡± The young man lying on the ground cried out in pain as he suddenly endured this harsh punishment. However, the officials seemed indifferent, showing no mercy despite his cries. To these officials, punishing such a licentious criminal who disgraced virtuous women was nothing but deserved. They did not ease their strength but instead used all their might, striking fiercely. Hence, the licentious criminal gritted his teeth and howled in agony. For a moment, his buttocks were a ruined mess, covered in wounds, his cries filling the air, and blood soaked his garments. However, the crowd outside the courtroom cheered each strike, with some men even rolling up their sleeves, eager to personally administer more punishment to show the strength of the men of Kun City. Two frequent visitors of the brothel shook their heads and sighed regretfully. They thought it was a pity to see such a well-rounded buttocks being beaten. In their opinion, the criminal should have been sent to the brothel for a different kind of punishment to truly receive a lesson from the deepest corners of his soul. Qin Feng stood silently among the crowd, watching the weeping criminal without a word. He did not care about the fate of this scourge. He was merely waiting for his father to finish the court session so they could go home together. His father, Qin Long, was the inspector of the Kun City Inspection Bureau, responsible for training armored soldiers, patrolling nearby towns, capturing thieves and maintaining local peace. Because he controlled Kun City¡¯s largest armed force, he held significant authority in the county government. After the officials finished the beating, the county magistrate ordered the near-dead criminal to be thrown into prison, then announced the end of the court session with a strike of the gavel. Qin Long, who had been sitting to the side, stood up, intending to return to the Inspection Bureau to handle some official business. He usually did not need to act as a judge, but since he had personally captured the criminal today, he stayed to hear the verdict. ¡°Father, father¡­¡± Qin Feng stood on tiptoe, raising his hand and calling out. At only fourteen, he was in his adolescent voice-cracking stage. His loud call sounded like a duck¡¯s quack, quickly drawing Qin Long¡¯s attention. Qin Long looked up and smiled, then walked out of the courtroom to his son¡¯s side, saying with a laugh, ¡°Feng¡¯er, why are you not practicing at home? What brings you here?¡± He was over eight feet tall, with a burly and robust physique and a full beard, exuding an air of grandeur. ¡°Father, I¡¯ve opened my spiritual acupoint and can sense nature¡¯s spiritual energy.¡± Qin Feng appeared very excited. After fourteen years of reincarnation, he finally perfected his physical body, returning from the acquired to innate state, and comprehended the wonders of nature¡¯s spiritual energy. Ordinary people, unless they were extraordinarily talented or supported by a powerful family, struggled to open their spiritual acupoint, a hurdle that blocked over ninety percent of people. ¡°Truly?¡± Qin Long was overjoyed upon hearing this. His eyes gleamed as he detected a faint resonance between his son and nature¡¯s spiritual energy, with threads of spiritual energy entering Qin Feng¡¯s body as he practiced his cultivation method. ¡°Hahaha¡­¡± Qin Long was delighted and laughed heartily, patting his son¡¯s shoulder with his bear-like hands, almost knocking him over. ¡°Good, good, good, my son, you have not disappointed me.¡± Qin Long was pleased. ¡°Now that you¡¯ve opened your spiritual acupoint, I¡¯ll ensure you get a spot in the sect¡¯s selection at the end of the year.¡± ¡°Thank you, father.¡± Qin Feng grimaced and rubbed his sore shoulder, his heart filled with anticipation. If he could enter the sect, he might someday attain immortality. Qin Long was very happy. ¡°Let¡¯s go home. The family head has some spiritual elixirs. I¡¯ll ask for a few for you. The family¡¯s benefits cannot be missed. I¡¯ll also take you to the Scripture Pavilion to choose a suitable spell for cultivation. Over the years, I¡¯ve accumulated a lot of merit, which I¡¯ll exchange for cultivation resources for you. Focus on cultivation for the next few months to advance a level before the year¡¯s end. If you reach the second level of the Qi Refinement Realm, you will not start from the lowest level even if you enter the sect. This will greatly help your future development and save you a lot of cultivation time.¡± ¡°Rest assured, father. I¡¯ll work hard.¡± Qin Feng nodded. The reason he sought his father after sensing spiritual energy was precisely to seek help. Although opening his spiritual acupoints allowed him to absorb nature¡¯s spiritual energy, his cultivation would be slow without the right techniques. The previous techniques he practiced were for strengthening the body and opening spiritual acupoints. They were no longer useful after opening the acupoints. Though he could go to the Scripture Pavilion to receive techniques himself, as a young and non-direct-line descendant, it was better to go with his father, avoiding any subpar technique being handed to him by his third great-uncle, who did not favor their branch. Full of enthusiasm, Qin Long led his son quickly towards the family estate. His own cultivation path had reached its limit, so he placed all his hopes on his son, dreaming of him joining the sect and achieving greater heights. Kun City was small, with only tens of thousands of people and just a few miles in diameter. Father and son soon walked out of the city, heading toward the Qin family¡¯s residence five miles away. As one of the three families controlling Kun City¡¯s livelihood, though the Qin family¡¯s businesses were spread throughout the city, their residence situated on a spiritual vein outside the city. Even a small spiritual vein sufficed for a small family like the Qin Clan. The Qin family had been established in Kun City for centuries. Over the years, their estate, covering dozens of acres, housed hundreds of direct and collateral descendants. Of course, the Qin descendants were more numerous. Most ordinary family members did not live in the ancestral house built on the spiritual vein but in Qin Family Town nearby. ¡°Greetings, Seventh Master!¡± The gate guards greeted Qin Long respectfully. Qin Long ranked seventh among his generation¡¯s cultivators. Though a collateral descendant, his high cultivation made him one of the family¡¯s top three cultivators, along with his position as an inspector. The guards dared not offend him. ¡°Hmm.¡± Qin Long responded indifferently, never stopping as he led Qin Feng directly to the Family Head¡¯s courtyard. ¡°Family Head, Master Qin Long is here and requests an audience.¡± A pretty maid, around fifteen or sixteen, reported softly to an elder playing with a leopard. This elder was Qin Guanbao, the Qin family¡¯s Family Head. The Family Head, Qin Guanbao, was 167 years old, with a sixth stage foundation establishment cultivation, making him one of the top foundation establishment cultivators in Kun City. ¡°Let him in.¡± The old Family Head reclined in his chair, without intending to rise, his hand gently stroking the leopard¡¯s smooth fur, fully enjoying his time with the leopard. ¡°¡±¡± This was his lifebound spiritual beast, Shadow Leopard. It was also his greatest reliance in dominating the area within a hundred miles of Kun City. Because the combat power of this Shadow Leopard was much stronger than his own. As a vassal family of the Beast Taming Sect, each generation of the family had members sent to the Beast Taming Sect for advanced training. Qin Guanbao was one such case back in the day; otherwise, even as a vassal of the Beast Taming Sect, the Qin family could not dare to pass on the Beast Taming Sect¡¯s techniques to any clan member. However, he did not have the opportunity to enter the Inner Sect back then, so Qin Guanbao eventually chose to return to the family to branch out and extend the lineage. Well, in that respect, he did quite well! The saying goes that an old tree blooms, becoming increasingly vibrant with age¡­ ahem. In short, the old family master, Qin Guanbao, even now remained quite fond of certain ¡°technical activities,¡± contributing great efforts to the proliferation of the family¡¯s bloodline. Nevertheless, despite his somewhat indulgent private life, he had not forsaken the skills learned at the Beast Taming Sect over the years, for they were the very foundation of a cultivator¡¯s livelihood. After many years of nurturing, the strength of his lifebound spiritual beast, the Shadow Leopard, had grown stronger and stronger. ¡°Yes, I will invite Seventh Master in right away.¡± The pretty maid responded, twisting her slender waist as she walked out. The old family master looked up and glanced at the maid¡¯s perky hips, couldn¡¯t help but sigh softly, feeling somewhat incapable of recent efforts. Perhaps he should consider getting some elixirs to replenish his essence and vitality. He was now less than a hundred and seventy years old, with another twenty or thirty years to go before the life-and-death limit of the Foundation Establishment Stage. Such a long time couldn¡¯t be wasted in idleness. Qin Guanbao felt he should find something more meaningful to do. He had heard that recently the Baihua Pavilion in the Commandery had bought a few women from the faraway western barbarians, their chests said to be as large as papayas. Whether it was true or not was unknown. To hear is to doubt, to see is to believe! Without seeing it with his own eyes, it wouldn¡¯t be wise to believe the rumor. Maybe it was just a gimmick released by Baihua Pavilion to lure people in. Humph, the old man had traveled the world and seen much; how could he fall for their trick? But still, should he go and see it with his own eyes? The old family master hesitated. Recently, there didn¡¯t seem to be any excuse to go out! He was, after all, the family head, the highest cultivation presence in the family, who mostly had to stay in the family estate. Frequent outings were not a good thing. At this moment, footsteps sounded, awakening the old family master from his contemplation. Looking up, it was Qin Long bringing his son closer. ¡°Ninth Uncle.¡± Qin Long stopped a few steps away, respectfully saluting Qin Guanbao. Although Qin Guanbao was the family head, the Qin family was just a small clan in a remote area, without so many formalities. Usually, everyone addressed each other by seniority. And among his generation, Qin Guanbao was relatively young, ranked ninth, but because of his highest Dao cultivation and being a direct descendant, he naturally took over the position of family head after reaching Foundation Establishment. ¡°Greetings, Ninth Grandpa.¡± Qin Feng also obediently saluted. Since childhood, he was very well-behaved, rarely causing trouble for adults, thus beloved by the elders of the family. However, ever since he learned about cultivation and the path to becoming an immortal, he devoted all his energy to cultivation, not fond of playing with other children of his age, making him seem quite solitary. ¡°Old Seven, you¡¯re here, have a seat.¡± Qin Guanbao¡¯s hand still rested on his beloved black leopard, he just pointed to the stone stool beside with his chin. Then he smiled and said, ¡°What brings you here today, and you¡¯ve brought your son with you too? What¡¯s the matter?¡± ¡°Ninth Uncle, it¡¯s like this.¡± Qin Long had an uncontrollable smile on his face. ¡°My son has opened his spiritual acupoints today and can start cultivating. So, I thought to come and ask you for some elixir pills to speed up Feng¡¯er¡¯s cultivation, so as not to delay the sect¡¯s selection at the end of the year.¡± ¡°Oh?¡± Qin Guanbao was slightly taken aback, looking at Qin Feng, and soon nodded approvingly. ¡°Not bad. This kid has indeed opened his spiritual acupoints. At the end of the year, six children in the family will be vying for two spots. It seems our Qin family will be lively this year.¡± ¡°Haha¡­¡± Qin Long chuckled softly, knowing the family master¡¯s implication. Initially, there were five suitable youths in the family at the Qi Refinement Realm, and now with his son, the total came to six. But the family could only afford to send two people to the sect in each generation. One was because the sect had a quota restriction, and secondly, too many clan members sent would drain the family¡¯s resources. Although once entered into the outer sect of the Beast Taming Sect, all disciples were treated equally, it didn¡¯t mean that all outer sect disciples started at the same point. Larger families could provide more cultivation resources to help their children enter the Inner Sect, a privilege common disciples without backing couldn¡¯t compare to. However, the Qin family was just a small family; for the clan members to make a name in the outer sect of Beast Taming Sect, they couldn¡¯t rely on themselves alone¡ªthey needed family support. If some could luckily enter the Inner Sect, the family¡¯s future would become prosperous. Unfortunately, the Beast Taming Sect only admitted a limited number of disciples to the Inner Sect each year. With so many contenders, it was hard for a small family like the Qin family to have a chance. Even if unable to enter the Inner Sect, there were still chances to rise in the outer sect. Just like the old family master Qin Guanbao. In those days, he had succeeded in reaching the Foundation Establishment in the Beast Taming Sect¡¯s outer sect and even held the position of outer sect Deacon for a time. But later, for the family¡¯s development, he had to return and take the position of clan leader. Since the spiritual field of the Qin family yielded limited resources, they couldn¡¯t support too many clan members in their sect cultivation, thus limiting the support to only two people per generation to join the Beast Taming Sect. Moreover, the family itself needed to develop. If all the clan members were sent to the sect, wouldn¡¯t that sever the family¡¯s lineage? ¡°Having Feng¡¯er join the sect has been my long-cherished wish for years.¡± Qin Long¡¯s tone was resolute. ¡°This time, I will not back down.¡± ¡°Alas¡­¡± The old family master sighed lightly. ¡°Very well, you¡¯ve contributed much to the family over the years, I certainly won¡¯t hinder your aspiration. However, the other children in the family surely have similar desires. At that time, let them compete fairly.¡± ¡°I understand.¡± Qin Long said, ¡°I didn¡¯t come to the family master for back-door favoritism.¡± ¡°That¡¯s good.¡± Hearing this, the old family master couldn¡¯t help but breathe a sigh of relief, as long as there was no calling in a favor for an unfair advantage. ¡°¡±¡± Chapter 2 - Chapter 2: Chapter 2 Eye-Opening Chapter 2: Chapter 2 Eye-Opening Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation Qin Guanbao also felt a bit helpless. He had been in charge of the family for nearly a hundred years, and every time at this moment, some family members would come to him, trying to gain some support and guarantees, which greatly annoyed him. How could he give such guarantees? As the Family Head, even if he couldn¡¯t treat everyone exactly equally, he couldn¡¯t blatantly help a particular junior, or else he would lose his authority. Once the people¡¯s hearts were dispersed, it would be difficult to lead the team, which in the long run would not benefit the family¡¯s development. The Qin Family sent their juniors to the Beast Taming Sect to use the Sect¡¯s power to cultivate more outstanding disciples, rather than wasting resources. If a mediocre person was sent to the Sect, not only would it waste a spot, but it would also consume a lot of the family¡¯s resources. A mediocre person could not bring much return to the family, so what was the point of sending them to the Sect? If the juniors from each branch were indeed excellent, they could pass the assessment and stand out among many disciples without needing his help. Besides, when had it ever been someone else¡¯s turn to use his backdoor? And what were those people who wanted to use his backdoor offering? Just some ordinary spiritual wine and magic artifacts, or some ordinary spiritual materials containing spiritual energy. Did the Family Head of the Qin Family lack such things? If they wanted to treat him to spiritual wine, they could go directly to the Baihua Pavilion in the Commandery. If it were at the Baihua Pavilion, he might actually have agreed when he was in high spirits. But at home, such tricks were useless. Qin Guanbao looked at Qin Long, signaling for him to speak. After all, this guy had a stubborn personality, never visiting places of debauchery, let alone inviting such a senior to go along. ¡°I came to the Family Head to ask for some spirit pills to speed up my son¡¯s cultivation, hoping to advance further by the end of the year.¡± Qin Long smiled, ¡°In this way, even if he joins the Sect, he wouldn¡¯t be at the lowest level of cultivation, which would greatly benefit his future growth!¡± ¡°Very well.¡± The Old Family Master smiled slightly; this was no big deal. He asked, ¡°What pills do you want? I remember there are a few bottles of Qi Gathering Pills in the storeroom. Why not take them all? Maybe they will help your son break through to the second level of Qi Refining by the end of the year.¡± ¡°That¡¯s not enough.¡± Qin Long said, ¡°I also need two bottles of Yellow Bud Pills, one Breaking Barrier Pill, one Essence Yuan Pill, one Soul Nourishing Pill, Marrow Cleansing Liquid, one Bone Strengthening Pill, one Enchanting Fragrance, one Middle Grade Sealing Spirit Talisman, one Soul Shaking Talisman, and one Spiritual Beast Bag.¡± ¡°Hmm?¡± The Old Family Master was stunned for a moment, then sat up straight, a bit surprised, ¡°Why do you need so many things at once? The Qi Gathering Pills are fine, but the Yellow Bud Pills are used only by those in the middle stage of Qi Refining. Your son doesn¡¯t need them yet. The Breaking Barrier Pill is for the boy to advance to the middle stage of Qi Refining, which is understandable. But the Essence Yuan Pill, Soul Nourishing Pill, Enchanting Fragrance, Sealing Spirit Talisman, you¡¯re thinking way ahead. He hasn¡¯t even been confirmed to enter the Sect, and you¡¯re already considering helping him tame his lifebound beast. Those things are one thing, but the Marrow Cleansing Liquid and Bone Strengthening Pill are not cheap. Do you really want me to exchange them for you?¡± He advised, ¡°It hasn¡¯t been easy for you to accumulate some merits over the years. Using so many at once, don¡¯t you want to heal your injuries?¡± ¡°There¡¯s no way I can recover anyway.¡± Qin Long smiled faintly, ¡°Rather than wasting it on me, it¡¯s better to pave the way for my son, so he can go further in the future, unlike me, who had to leave the Sect in disgrace.¡± The Old Family Master sighed in his heart at these words but didn¡¯t persuade him further, ¡°Alright, in that case, I¡¯ll go to Tieling County for you later.¡± Kun City was just a small, remote town. Besides the Qin Family, there were only two other cultivator families, the Wang Family in the west of the city and the Huang Family in the north. In such a small town, there were just these three small families stationed, without many special products. Naturally, it was not worthy for cultivators to stop by, so if they wanted to buy things, they had to go to the cultivator market in the Commandery. And for a family attached to the Beast Taming Sect like the Qin Family, if they bought things from shops run by the Beast Taming Sect, they might not get much discount, but at least they wouldn¡¯t be scammed and could get a relatively fair price, which was already quite good. There were many cases of fake goods in the cultivation world. If they were deceived with fake items, they could only blame themselves for being unlucky. Qin Long nodded, ¡°Then I¡¯ll trouble you, Ninth Uncle. I¡¯ll go to the Scripture Pavilion to pick a spell for Feng first, and then I¡¯ll collect the pills from the storeroom.¡± ¡°Hmm, go ahead.¡± Qin Guanbao waved his hand, indicating the father and son to be at their own ease and then placed his palm on the black panther beside him. However, as soon as Qin Long and his son left, he felt a bit restless. He had been thinking about not finding an excuse to leave the family, and an opportunity had just presented itself. The pills and resources Qin Long requested were not all available in the family and had to be bought in the Commandery. Sigh! The Old Family Master let out a long sigh. It was fate. He had intended to stay quietly at home, but Qin Long had to come to him. Reaching down to touch the storage bag at his waist, it seemed that the Spirit Stones he had painstakingly saved up were going to leave him again. The Baihua Pavilion, he hadn¡¯t been there for nearly a year. He wondered if Miss Fuxiang still remembered him. Miss Fuxiang, born from an alien race, had a natural fragrance that left a lasting impression. And there was Miss Xianglan, Miss Xiangjun, and Mei Ruoxue from the Plum Garden. As the saying went, ¡°A single red among the snowy plum blossoms.¡± Her name matched her perfectly, a true beauty. He had missed them for quite some time. The Family Head couldn¡¯t sit still, got up, paced back and forth, and finally made up his mind to arrange the family¡¯s affairs in the next few days and then go to the Commandery, taking the opportunity to visit his beloved ladies. He wondered how big the papayas from the Western Regions were? The Old Master had roamed widely throughout his life, seeing much of the world, but he had never been to the faraway Western Regions. This time, he planned to see it for himself, to broaden his horizons. ¡­¡­ The Scripture Pavilion was actually just a small attic for storing various books. The Qin Family was just a small family, and the cultivation methods they collected were not particularly outstanding. So, although there were some prohibition techniques arranged on the second floor, the supervision was not strict. The first floor was visited daily by family members, coming and going, reading various books. However, since it was a place of family heritage, it was still guarded by an elder from the family, watching over the Scripture Pavilion¡¯s secret books. This elder was Third Uncle, as mentioned by Qin Feng, also a cultivator at the second level of Foundation Establishment. But unlike Family Head Qin Guanbao, he didn¡¯t get the chance to go to the Beast Taming Sect back in the day, so he didn¡¯t cultivate the Beast Taming Sect¡¯s techniques and didn¡¯t have a spiritual beast accompanying him. His strength was far less than that of the Family Head, and even a bit inferior to Qin Long. This was the greatest regret of Third Uncle¡¯s life. Later, his son had not competed well against Qin Long and had to cultivate at home. Now, his grandson finally had a chance, but Qin Long¡¯s son had opened his spiritual acupoint too. By the end of the year, their families might have to compete once more. Third Uncle¡¯s expression darkened. Although his grandson was a year older than Qin Feng, he had not opened his spiritual acupoint much earlier than Qin Feng, just a month ago. In such a short time, his grandson might not necessarily be able to surpass this youngster Qin Yang. However, since Qin Long had personally come, even if he felt a bit uncomfortable, he couldn¡¯t say anything. He directly opened the prohibition on the second floor, allowing the father and son to pick the cultivation methods. In fact, the family didn¡¯t hide anything about the juniors¡¯ cultivation. They even hoped the juniors¡¯ techniques were as strong as possible. It just depended on their choices. If they believed they had a chance to join the Sect, they could choose an attribute-less technique to cultivate. After entering the Beast Taming Sect, switching to the Sect¡¯s techniques would be more straightforward. If they didn¡¯t think they could compete with others, or didn¡¯t want to suffer as an outer disciple in the Beast Taming Sect and preferred to live a carefree life in the family, they could choose techniques that suited their desires. Among the family¡¯s collection, besides the Five Elements Technique, there were a few other decent methods. Although not particularly rare in the cultivation world, they were much more powerful than attribute-less techniques. Qin Long took his son to the second floor to pick a cultivation method, but Third Uncle didn¡¯t follow. They were family, and with Qin Long¡¯s status, he wouldn¡¯t secretly take a few methods. There was no need, as Qin Long practiced techniques taught to outer disciples by the Beast Taming Sect, which were far superior to those in the family¡¯s collection. On the second floor, Qin Feng curiously looked around. It was his first time there. In fact, most family members never had the chance to visit because not everyone could open their spiritual acupoint. Those who did after adulthood were deemed of low talent, with limited future potential, even if they cultivated. Though the family didn¡¯t abandon such individuals and taught them cultivation techniques, they could only help manage the cultivation of various spiritual objects in the family¡¯s fields. Examining the second floor carefully, Qin Feng was greatly disappointed. The place was almost empty, except for two bookshelves and a few chairs. ¡°Heh heh¡­¡± Qin Long chuckled, ¡°Our Qin Family is weak, with few accumulated techniques over the years. We have a dozen or so, but they are quite ordinary, not precious. That¡¯s why I want to send you to the Sect, so you don¡¯t waste your life here, managing a few fields like other family members.¡± Qin Feng nodded. He understood his father¡¯s deep affection, so he had been diligent in cultivation and learning other knowledge over the years. P.S.: The kitchen god¡¯s book has not finished yet. There will be one chapter of the beast for now, and double chapters next week. Chapter 3 - Chapter 3: Chapter 3 Evil Cultivators Malice Chapter 3: Chapter 3 Evil Cultivator¡¯s Malice Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation Scripture Pavilion. Qin Feng, under his father¡¯s explanation, quickly gained a general understanding of the family¡¯s collection of cultivation techniques. In the end, excluding those techniques that were incompatible with the Beast Taming Sect¡¯s methods, there were six cultivation techniques laid out in front of him. They were respectively ¡°Five Spirit Nourishing God Technique,¡± ¡°Mirror Flower Water Moon Illusion Heart Technique,¡± ¡°Mistaken Cloud Smoke,¡± ¡°Jiyue Qingfeng Mingxin Spell,¡± ¡°Dragon and Tiger Profound Returning Origin Skill,¡± and ¡°Nine Revolutions Mixed Element Technique.¡± ¡°The ¡®Five Spirit Nourishing God Technique¡¯ nurtures the divine soul through the origin of the five internal organs. This is a cultivation technique for divine sense, which can extend your divine sense range to twice that of ordinary techniques. The divine sense has many uses and infinite benefits. The simplest advantage is that if your divine sense is strong, you can avoid many dangers in advance. However, this technique doesn¡¯t cultivate powerful True Yuan, particularly since a large part of the practice is used to nurture the divine soul through the origin of the five internal organs, so its combat capabilities are weak.¡± Qin Long elaborated: ¡°As for this ¡®Mirror Flower Water Moon Illusion Heart Technique,¡¯ it is a technique for illusion training, focusing mainly on illusionary transformations. When spells are cast, they resemble flowers in a mirror or the moon in water, appearing real yet illusionary, and varied in form. ¡®The Mistaken Cloud Smoke¡¯ cultivates True Yuan that resembles cloud smoke, light and nimble, elusive, with spells that are flexible and versatile. ¡®The Jiyue Qingfeng Mingxin Spell¡¯ is the easiest technique to cultivate. By fully investing your spirit in the spell and reciting it once, it¡¯s equivalent to completing one circulation. This spell clears the mind, making it difficult for heart demons to form. If one is fearless, it can drive away all evil aura. The ¡®Dragon and Tiger Profound Returning Origin Skill¡¯ involves visualizing dragons and tigers returning to their origin, allowing you to condense dragon and tiger illusions to protect against enemies. This spell is quite powerful, and its power can increase with your cultivation.¡± Qin Long cheerfully indicated the last cultivation technique and said: ¡°The ¡®Nine Revolutions Mixed Element Technique¡¯ was passed down from a great sect, the Primordial Chaos Sect, ten thousand years ago. It is well-known among loose cultivators. However, this technique requires repeatedly refining the absorbed spiritual energy nine times before finally condensing it into pure Primordial Chaos True Qi. This foundation is the most solid. This cultivation technique is only suitable for those with a calm temperament and great perseverance. Ordinary people struggle to persist to the end and often give up halfway due to slow cultivation speed.¡± Finally, Qin Long looked at his son and said, ¡°I have explained these techniques clearly for you. Which one you choose to cultivate is entirely up to you. Remember, these are only for laying your foundation. Once you join the Beast Taming Sect, the sect will naturally teach you more advanced techniques. Even if you don¡¯t manage to join the sect eventually, these techniques will have to be abandoned, except for the ¡®Mirror Flower Water Moon Illusion Heart Technique,¡¯ as the rest do not have cultivation methods beyond the Foundation Establishment stage.¡± Qin Feng nodded in understanding. He understood that although these techniques seemed quite good, it was clear his father didn¡¯t think much of them. It made sense, considering that the techniques collected by the Qin Family wouldn¡¯t be all that profound. In the Qi Refinement stage, the most powerful among them was probably the ¡®Nine Revolutions Mixed Element Technique,¡¯ since it came from a great sect. He observed the few techniques carefully before finally choosing the ¡®Dragon and Tiger Profound Returning Origin Skill.¡¯ It wasn¡¯t that he didn¡¯t want to cultivate the ¡®Nine Revolutions Mixed Element Technique.¡¯ Although this technique could help him lay a firmer foundation, it consumed too much spiritual energy, and there were only a little more than six months left until the family¡¯s assessment at the end of the year. By then, he needed to compete with other family disciples for a spot in the sect. Cultivating the ¡®Nine Revolutions Mixed Element Technique¡¯ meant he might fall behind in cultivation and fail the selection. ¡°Good.¡± Qin Long, seeing him choose the ¡®Dragon and Tiger Profound Returning Origin Skill,¡¯ nodded in satisfaction. After all, his son knew how to make choices, which was commendable. If he had chosen the ¡®Nine Revolutions Mixed Element Technique,¡¯ it would have required a significantly higher consumption of spiritual energy. Although it would lay a thick foundation, gaining entrance into the sect was the priority now. After joining the sect, he would change techniques anyway, so there was no need to be overly concerned. Qin Long then went into detailed explanations of the ¡®Dragon and Tiger Profound Returning Origin Skill¡¯ for Qin Feng. He would repeat the explanations if his son had any confusion to ensure there would be no difficulties in cultivation. Subsequently, Qin Long went to the ancestral hall to have the family elder record Qin Feng¡¯s name in the family registry. This registry was different from that of the ordinary family members, specifically used to record the Qin Family¡¯s cultivators. In Qin Feng¡¯s generation, he was the eleventh to open his Spiritual Acupoint and begin cultivation, thus ranking as the eleventh. Of course, if there were elder peers who opened their acupoints later than him, he would still need to address them as older brothers. For the subsequent period, Qin Feng diligently cultivated at home. Though the ¡®Dragon and Tiger Profound Returning Origin Skill¡¯ wasn¡¯t an exceptional technique, its most powerful aspect upon reaching Great Success was its ability to manifest dragon and tiger illusions. Compared to the cultivation methods Qin Feng practiced before opening his Spiritual Acupoint, it was far superior. Once the technique was in motion, he could feel strands of spiritual energy flowing into his body through the Spiritual Acupoint, circulating through his meridians, and transforming into his True Yuan. Additionally, with the Qi Gathering Pill his father obtained from the family¡¯s storeroom, his cultivation speed increased significantly. Despite the limited time each day for cultivation and the restriction on consuming too many pills, ingesting a Qi Gathering Pill every three days sped up his cultivation pace compared to without the elixir pills by threefold, meaning his overall cultivation speed was more than doubled. Of course, this was mainly because he was in the early stage of cultivation, thus his progress was so noticeable. Once his cultivation reached a certain level, it would be hard to maintain this speed of cultivation. Under the guidance of his father, Qin Feng had also gained a preliminary understanding of the two basic spells of the ¡°Dragon and Tiger Profound Returning Origin Skill.¡± He could barely condense a cloud of dragon-shaped qi and a wind of tiger-shaped qi to attack enemies, which had some power. This day, Qin Feng finished his cultivation and sat in his room, deep in thought. He was not thinking about cultivation, but rather he sensed that his father seemed to be in an unusual mood these days. Qin Long¡¯s face had been gloomy these days. Every day after returning home from the county office, though he forced a smile, he often stayed alone in his study, preoccupied with something unknown. Later, Qin Feng heard from several servants in the residence that there had been a few murder cases in Kun City recently. If it were just ordinary murder cases, Kun City, though not large, experienced a few cases every year, so it wouldn¡¯t be a big deal. The key was that these recent murder cases were too brutal and malicious, with the perpetrator specifically targeting pregnant women, gruesomely extracting the fetuses from their wombs. The scenes were frightening and blood-curdling, sparking fear and fury among the people. One case might be a vengeance from enemies of a particular family, but there were murders every day for several days in a row, with each case involving different families with no connections between them. This indicated that someone was practicing an evil cultivation technique, deliberately harming pregnant women to seize premature fetuses. For a time, rumors spread within and outside Kun City, enveloping the entire city in a layer of fear. Families with pregnant women were particularly panicked, dreading to fall victim to the evil cultivator. As the Inspector of Kun City, Qin Long inevitably got dragged into this major case as the county officials were incapable of solving it. Qin Long was troubled these days because of this case. The evil cultivator hiding in the shadows was extremely malicious, targeting women for some unknown cultivation technique. Because the case made no progress for several days, the County Magistrate could no longer bear the pressure and immediately reported to the Commandery, requesting the Commandery to dispatch experts for assistance. The government also offered a substantial reward of spirit stones, seeking help from various cultivators to solve the case and capture the cruel evil cultivator, lest the entire populace of Kun City should flee. The efficiency of the Commandery was commendable, and they dispatched a high-level Foundation Establishment cultivator to assist in the investigation that very day. With the arrival of the expert from the Commandery, the entire Kun City seemed to breathe a collective sigh of relief, and there had been no incidents involving women for the past two or three days. Moreover, many loose cultivators and disciples of small families came to the city recently for training or to gain some experience, or for the reward of spirit stones. Thus, Kun City became busier than usual. Even the citizens of Kun City gradually became more active again. Although the evil cultivator hadn¡¯t been caught, many believed that the malicious person must be hiding away, afraid to show himself, or perhaps had fled far away. After all, Kun City now gathered so many cultivators that any reckless move by the juvenile warrior would likely provoke a collective attack. This matter didn¡¯t require Qin Feng¡¯s help, as he was just a youngster with shallow cultivation. Besides, there had been no more murders after three days, so Qin Long¡¯s mood also improved. If there were further instances of unborn fetuses being taken by a killer, it would bring him enormous pressure. This day, Qin Feng got up and walked out of the house. After staying home for cultivation for such a long time, he felt somewhat bored and decided to stroll around the city. Although the evil cultivator caused commotion in Kun City, he didn¡¯t target men, so Qin Feng shouldn¡¯t be in much danger. Recently, many cultivators had come to Kun City, and the three major local families took this opportunity to sell their own spiritual objects at several city shops to exchange goods with those external cultivators. Qin Feng intended to take a look and see what was special about these outside cultivators. After all, he didn¡¯t plan to cause trouble. The three families including the Qin Family knew that their strength was not formidable, so they naturally wouldn¡¯t act arrogantly to avoid offending the visiting cultivators, causing an irreparable situation. If trouble ensued, the outsiders would leave without a care, but the three families still needed to live in Kun City. The city had regained its usual bustling atmosphere, and with a few exceptions of occasional suona sounds, it seemed little different from the past. However, one could often see groups of cultivators walking through the streets, some searching for the evil cultivator¡¯s traces, others wandering through the mountains and forests outside Kun City looking for signs of the evil cultivator. While these out-of-town cultivators searched for the evil cultivator, Qin Feng couldn¡¯t stop staring at them. The cultivators varied in appearance, cultivation techniques, and attire, with some wearing bizarre clothes, making him feel curious. At this moment, a commotion erupted ahead. Qin Feng looked up and saw a crowd gathered in front of a shop, engaged in some activity. He walked over, squeezed into the crowd, glanced inside, and was stunned. Chapter 4 - Chapter 4: Chapter 4 Sloppy Daoist Chapter 4: Chapter 4 Sloppy Daoist Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation At the entrance of the crowd-gathering store stood a sloppy Daoist in a black robe, being held back by the shopkeeper. ¡°This shop is a small business, no credit is extended. Daoist, please pay before you leave.¡± The Daoist, with his grizzled hair and face full of wrinkles, looked at the shopkeeper and laughed, ¡°Why be so stingy, benefactor? It¡¯s just one meal. There¡¯s no need to be so petty. I didn¡¯t bring any money, why don¡¯t I give you this Spirit Talisman in exchange for the meal?¡± As he spoke, the old Daoist took out a crumpled piece of talisman paper from his waist with his chicken claw-like hand. The paper was full of incomprehensible markings, resembling ghost scribbles. ¡°That won¡¯t do.¡± The shopkeeper, upon hearing the Daoist¡¯s words and looking at the crumpled yellow talisman paper, shook his head immediately, ¡°Daoist, please keep that talisman for yourself. Our shop can¡¯t afford to offer such things as offerings. It¡¯s not that I am being petty. If you had eaten just some vegetarian dishes and noodles, I wouldn¡¯t have quibbled with you. But you ate several large fish and drank two jars of old wine. If every customer were like you, I couldn¡¯t keep the shop open.¡± ¡°Forget it, forget it.¡± The old Daoist glanced at the crowd, noticing that several young cultivators, who seemed curious and inexperienced, were also watching with interest. He sighed and said, ¡°I really don¡¯t have any silver taels on me. How about this, bring me a basin of water, and I will transform the fish I ate back for you.¡± ¡°Nonsense, the fish is already eaten, how can you transform them back?¡± The shopkeeper was incredulous, ¡°Let me tell you, we have cultivators in Kun City too. We have seen spells before. Don¡¯t try to fool me with an eye-blocking technique, or I will report to the authorities and have them break your evil technique.¡± ¡°Hehe, ignorant man, how can you understand the wonders of my spells?¡± The old Daoist lightly laughed, not bothering to argue with the shopkeeper, but urged him to bring a basin of water. The shopkeeper, doubtful, signaled to the shop assistant. Soon, the assistant brought out a large wooden basin, filled more than halfway with clear water. The Daoist freed himself from the shopkeeper¡¯s grip, and with a swift motion drew out a treasured sword from his waist, startling both the shopkeeper and the assistant. ¡°You, you, you¡­ what do you intend to do?¡± The plump shopkeeper trembled, thinking that the Daoist might be intending to commit violence. He looked at the sword in the Daoist¡¯s hand, about two feet long, its azure blade like an autumn pond, radiating a chill that made the surrounding air drop several degrees, as if it were the depths of winter. ¡°Don¡¯t be afraid, watch me perform my spell!¡± As the Daoist spoke, he waved his sword, and the fish bones and spines from a nearby table, cleaned to the bone, flew into the basin of water. Then he dipped the barely glowing green sword into the water and started stirring it in one direction. While the onlookers watched in puzzlement, a splash was heard, and water splashed from the basin. The crowd craned their necks to see that the bones, which were merely fish spines in the basin, had turned into live fish, each one lively and jumping. ¡°This¡­¡± The shopkeeper wiped the water splashes from his face with his sleeve, and then cautiously poked at the fish in the basin. They felt real, indeed large grass carps, not an illusion by the Daoist. In the crowd, Qin Feng smiled faintly. Clearly, the old Daoist had used some transportation method to move the fish from another place. As for reviving cooked fish down to the bones, even if such a method existed, it wouldn¡¯t appear in a small place like Kun City. Even the method of reviving the dead requires some life in the bones. Fish bones that had been stewed soft and aromatic wouldn¡¯t possibly regrow flesh. ¡°Daoist, your spell is marvelous, I am impressed.¡± Another group of young men came forward, bowing to the Daoist. ¡°Hehe¡­¡± The Black Robed Taoist lightly smiled, sheathing his sword, and returned the salute, ¡°Pardon my display, I am indeed penniless and had to show off a bit. I am Sage Ling Yun, may I ask your names?¡± ¡°We are from the Zhao Family of Tieling County. I am Zhao Jinglei, and these are my clan brothers¡­¡± As the leading youth introduced them, Qin Feng¡¯s eyes lit up. Unexpectedly, this youth was from the Zhao Family of Tieling County. The Zhao Family was the foremost family in Tieling County, with immense power, and reputedly had an old clan leader at the Golden Core Peak. They weren¡¯t comparable to a small family like the Qin Family of Kun City. These youths, bored in the county, wanted to venture out and heard of the case in Kun City. Numerous cultivators had come to investigate. New to the world and possessing some skills, they decided to visit Kun City to solve the case, hoping to prove to their elders that they weren¡¯t all playful heirs but had some ability. ¡°Ah, Young Master Zhao. No wonder your group has an extraordinary aura, truly from a great family.¡± Sage Ling Yun¡¯s flattering words made the inexperienced young men beam with pride. ¡°I¡¯ve long heard of the Zhao Family¡¯s old clan leader¡¯s profound cultivation. It is said he is nearing a breakthrough to the Purple Mansion Realm, which is truly enviable.¡± ¡°Ling Yun, your news is outdated.¡± Zhao Jinglei, with a feigned modest expression, said, ¡°My ancestor started his seclusion months ago. Unless something unexpected happens, when he emerges in a few years, our family will have a Purple Mansion cultivator. Hmph, then I¡¯d like to see how that Fan Family brat dares to compete with me!¡± ¡°Ah? The old clan leader of the Zhao Family has already started his retreat?¡± Sage Ling Yun quickly bowed, ¡°It seems congratulations are in order for Young Master Zhao. From now on, Tieling County¡¯s great families will undoubtedly be led by the Zhao Family. I shall count on Young Master Zhao when visiting Tieling County in the future.¡± ¡°No problem, no problem.¡± Zhao Jinglei said with satisfaction, ¡°Ling Yun, you must be here in Kun City to investigate the case too. Have you found any clues? ¡°We¡¯ve been here for two days and haven¡¯t found anything. If we just go back like this, it would really be unsatisfying.¡± ¡°Is that so!¡± Sage Ling Yun looked around. Qin Feng saw his sneaky demeanor and quickly hid behind one of the men before he could be seen. Being young and not fully grown, he easily blended behind the man without leaving a trace. The old Taoist saw that besides these few young nobles, there were no other cultivators in the crowd and finally felt relieved. He then mysteriously approached the young men, lowered his voice, and said, ¡°Speaking of clues, I do have one.¡± ¡°Oh?¡± The young men were overjoyed: ¡°Daoist, quickly tell us! If we do catch that Evil Cultivator, we won¡¯t be greedy for the reward. All the bounty will be yours; just let us take the credit for capturing him.¡± ¡°In that case, I thank you.¡± Sage Ling Yun smiled even wider: ¡°When I first arrived, I noticed something unusual ten miles west of the city. However, I was worried about my own strength. What if that Evil Cultivator killed me? That would be terrible. So, I didn¡¯t act alone and wanted to find some like-minded Daoist fellows to help.¡± ¡°Young Master Zhao, if you are willing to assist, catching that Evil Cultivator would be a piece of cake. Once you capture him, your name will surely be known throughout Commandery.¡± Hearing this, Young Master Zhao beamed with joy. ¡°No problem, no problem.¡± Zhao Jinglei smiled as if he had already captured the Evil Cultivator. He was already planning how to boast about his skills to the girls at Baihua Pavilion once he returned to the Commandery. ¡°As long as we catch that Evil Cultivator, I¡¯ll take Sage Ling Yun to tour the Commandery at my expense.¡± ¡°Wow, Young Master Zhao, how generous.¡± Sage Ling Yun smiled flatteringly, gesturing for Young Master Zhao and his companions to follow him. Qin Feng watched their backs, deep in thought. He felt that this old Taoist named Ling Yun was likely a swindler, trying to deceive these young nobles. Only these inexperienced young nobles could fall for such a trick. Although Qin Feng had little experience in the cultivation world, he had memories from a past life, making it unwise to treat him as an ordinary young man. He hadn¡¯t experienced con tricks firsthand but had seen some clever schemes. There was no such thing as a free lunch. If something seemingly too good to be true appeared, it was likely a trap. Falling into such a trap could result in significant loss. But Sage Ling Yun was quite daring to scam the Zhao family youths from Tieling. Was he not afraid of Zhao Family¡¯s retribution afterward? Or maybe he was a wanderer who, after tricking Zhao Jinglei and his party, would simply vanish. If that were the case, the Zhao Family might not be able to catch him. Though powerful, the Zhao Family¡¯s influence was mainly within Tieling County. Outside Tieling, they weren¡¯t considered a great force. Qin Feng let the matter go. Whether it was Sage Ling Yun or those young Zhao Family members, their cultivation was above his. These matters were beyond what a beginner like him could handle. If he messed up Sage Ling Yun¡¯s plans, the old Taoist might retaliate. His small physique couldn¡¯t endure an attack from that sharp sword. Qin Feng mingled with the dispersing crowd, wandering around the city for half a day, encountering many cultivators but witnessing nothing remarkable. After all, most cultivators valued their status and didn¡¯t want to be laughed at by ordinary people. In the evening, Qin Long returned home with a stern face, which startled Qin Feng. There had been no new incidents, so Qin Long had resumed his normal demeanor. Why was he so grim today? ¡°Dad, didn¡¯t they say that Evil Cultivator was no longer daring to commit crimes? Besides, with the senior sent from the Commandery aiding us, even if the Evil Cultivator escapes, it wouldn¡¯t be your responsibility. What are you worried about?¡± ¡°You don¡¯t understand.¡± Qin Long frowned: ¡°Though no more pregnant women were harmed these past days, some cultivators were killed.¡± ¡°Cultivators?¡± ¡°Indeed.¡± Qin Long said solemnly, ¡°Actually, since two days ago, cultivators started getting killed. But because the places were hidden and the bodies buried, we only discovered this due to the many roaming cultivators in Kun City.¡± ¡°If these deaths were not noticed by these wandering cultivators, we wouldn¡¯t have known about this.¡± ¡°This matter is spreading among a few cultivators and has not reached the common people yet, avoiding public unrest.¡± At this point, Qin Long looked at his son and continued: ¡°Until the Evil Cultivator is captured, you should not go out. Although you have no valuable magic artifacts or Spirit Stones, the Evil Cultivator might just want to kill for their sinister cultivation.¡± ¡°Is it that serious?¡± Qin Feng was shocked. It seemed staying home would indeed be safest. ¡°Hmph!¡± Qin Long¡¯s anger was evident: ¡°That Evil Cultivator hides among the recently arrived cultivators in Kun City. He¡¯s adept at disguise, changing his appearance and eluding us.¡± ¡°Before those killed cultivators met their fate, they were deceived into going somewhere by sweet words. That¡¯s likely why they lost their lives.¡± ¡°It¡¯s greedy and foolish. For the government bounty, they believed lies too easily.¡± ¡°Uh¡­¡± Hearing this, Qin Feng thought back to what he saw in the city earlier that day. ¡°Dad.¡± He swallowed nervously: ¡°I might have found that Evil Cultivator!¡± Chapter 5 - Chapter 5: Chapter 5 Green-Eyed Spirit Snake Chapter 5: Chapter 5 Green-Eyed Spirit Snake Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation ¡°What did you say?¡± Qin Long was startled, ¡°You discovered the whereabouts of that Evil Cultivator?¡± His robust face showed a few traces of bewilderment. So many cultivators had searched Kun City inside and out without finding anything unusual, but his own son claimed to have discovered that Evil Cultivator. ¡°Yes, father.¡± Qin Feng hurriedly recounted the scene he saw during the day in front of a shop. Qin Long¡¯s expression changed drastically, ¡°A Zhao family disciple? That Evil Cultivator is so bold, daring to target even the Zhao family?¡± ¡°I¡¯ve heard of Zhao Jinglei. He is a genius from the direct lineage of the Zhao family with exceptional talent. Despite his young age, he already possessed late-stage Qi Cultivation, highly regarded by the Zhao family, who intended to cultivate him diligently so he could enter the inner sect of the Beast Taming Sect. Why would he come to Kun City instead of focusing on cultivation within his clan?¡± The Zhao family was also one of the affiliated families of the Beast Taming Sect, but they were hundreds of times more powerful than the Qin family. If Zhao Jinglei got into trouble in Kun City, even if it had nothing to do with their Qin family, it might still be used as a pretext to make things difficult for them in the future. Especially since his own son was to join the outer sect of the Beast Taming Sect this year. If he were intentionally targeted by the Zhao family, it would significantly impact his future within the sect. Qin Long cursed silently and pulled Qin Feng along as he walked out. Exiting the room, Qin Long wasted no time. He tapped his waist, summoning a Green-Eyed Spirit Snake several feet long. The snake was enormous, its coiled body larger than the rockery in the yard, its head raised above the roof, and its tongue flicked out several feet away. Its green, vertical pupils emitted a chilling, cold light, sending shivers down one¡¯s spine. This was Qin Long¡¯s spiritual beast, the Green-Eyed Spirit Snake. The snake was born with extraordinary vision, able to see through illusions and peer into the netherworld. Besides that, the Green-Eyed Spirit Snake itself was not weak, and its venom was equally potent. Qin Long had also joined the outer sect of the Beast Taming Sect in his early years, where he learned the Beast Taming Technique. The giant snake was one of the spiritual beasts he had meticulously cultivated, possessing early-stage Foundation Establishment cultivation. ¡°Let¡¯s go.¡± Qin Long pulled his son, and the two stood on the back of the Green-Eyed Spirit Snake. At his command, a demonic wind rose around the snake, propelling it into the air, flying towards Kun City. ¡°I hope that Zhao family disciple is still alive, or we will be in big trouble.¡± In mid-air, Qin Long muttered to himself. ¡°Even if something happened, it has nothing to do with us, right? We weren¡¯t the ones who did it?¡± Qin Feng asked, puzzled. ¡°You don¡¯t understand.¡± Qin Long glanced back at his son, ¡°Some people won¡¯t reason with you. They only believe in strength. When they become powerful, they can do as they please. If Zhao Jinglei were to die in Kun City, even if the Zhao family disciples didn¡¯t specifically target you, their followers might misinterpret their intentions and oppress you to please them. Although our Qin family is not an affiliate of the Zhao family, Kun City is under the jurisdiction of Tieling County, so it¡¯s inevitable we¡¯ll have to deal with them. If you encounter Zhao family disciples in the sect in the future, remember never to provoke them lightly.¡± ¡°I understand, father.¡± Qin Feng agreed verbally but frowned inwardly, surprising him that such phenomena existed in the cultivation world. But upon reflection, it made sense. Everyone has their own desires. Entering the cultivation path doesn¡¯t make one a saint devoid of self-interest. Conflicts are inevitable. Thinking of this, he silently prayed that Zhao Jinglei would be safe and sound. Unfortunately, he knew the chances were slim. After all, half a day had already passed. If that Black Robed Taoist were indeed the hidden Evil Cultivator, Zhao Jinglei would likely have already met his end. The Green-Eyed Spirit Snake¡¯s speed was exceptionally fast, flying into Kun City in no time. Generally, cultivators were not allowed to fly within the city, but Qin Long was an exception. With his status as the city inspector of Kun City, the gate guards recognized him and did not obstruct him, allowing him to head straight for the county government. Arriving outside the county government, Qin Long dismounted from the Green-Eyed Spirit Snake, waved to retract it, and commanded, ¡°Someone, gather all personnel from the Inspection Department immediately and follow me to capture the target. Also, go to the courier station and invite Lord Li from the Commandery. Tell him I¡¯ve discovered the whereabouts of the Evil Cultivator. Please come over to help catch him.¡± Upon hearing Qin Long¡¯s orders, the government officials on duty at the office did not dare delay. They promptly stood up and went off to deliver his message. These officials were not ordinary people but individuals who had diligently practiced martial arts and achieved some success, so their speed was not slow. The Inspection Department was close to the county government, so it didn¡¯t take long for hundreds of inspectors, armed with swords, spears, bows, and crossbows, to report to the county government. Although these men were not exceptionally strong, their numbers were significant. Using them to search certain areas was still feasible. Qin Long did not set off immediately but waited for Lord Li, who was staying at the courier station, to join him. Lord Li was an accomplished sword cultivator sent by the government of Tieling County, possessing ninth-tier Foundation Establishment cultivation. He was not far from the Golden Core Realm, making him invincible in a small place like Kun City. No one knew the Evil Cultivator¡¯s level of cultivation, so to be safe, it was better to wait for Lord Li to act together. While Qin Long waited anxiously, a servant ran out from the office, approaching Qin Long, saying the County Magistrate requested his presence. Qin Long frowned but could not refuse. Though he was a local powerhouse as the city inspector, the County Magistrate was an appointed official of the court, a learned scholar who had cultivated Vast Energy. The magistrate was not only extraordinarily powerful but also had powerful officials backing him. Qin Long did not dare to offend him lightly. Besides, the County Magistrate had maintained good relations with the three families in Kun City over the years, so there was no need to offend him over a minor issue. The magistrate likely wanted to inquire into the matter, given the commotion Qin Long had caused late at night. Thus, Qin Long followed the servant into the office, planning to briefly explain and return promptly. As Qin Long entered, a beam of sword light suddenly flew from the opposite street, swiftly approaching, circling in the air before landing to reveal a thin, stern-faced middle-aged man. This man was the sword cultivator Li Tianchou from the Commandery, a formidable ninth-tier Foundation Establishment expert. ¡°Greetings, Lord Li.¡± The officials and inspectors did not dare to slight him, hastily bowing in respect. PS: This chapter is shorter than usual, please don¡¯t mind. I¡¯ll squeeze in another chapter tonight around ten o¡¯clock. Also, the author is super handsome but a bit introverted, so he seldom asks for recommendations or collections. If you enjoy my book, please cast more votes for my handsome face, and my charming smile might attract a few female fans to help you find a partner! Chapter 6 - Chapter 6: Chapter 6 Cold Ice Talisman Chapter 6: Chapter 6 Cold Ice Talisman Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation Li Tianchou¡¯s face was as cold as ice, his figure as sharp as a sword. His actions were swift and fierce. Upon landing, his gaze swept over, and not seeing Qin Long¡¯s figure, he immediately frowned and asked, ¡°Where is Lord Qin?¡± His voice was cold, like a chilling Sword Qi, making those who heard it tremble inwardly. A young man in his twenties stepped forward, cupped his hands, and said, ¡°Reporting to Lord Li, my lord was just summoned to the government office by the County Magistrate for questioning.¡± This young man was also surnamed Qin, named Qin Yang, who was Qin Long¡¯s deputy and a cultivator of the Qin Family. Speaking of which, Qin Yang was of the same generation as Qin Feng, and his cultivation talent was quite good. Although he was from a collateral branch, he was also considered one of the outstanding ones among Qin Feng¡¯s generation. Unfortunately, he was unlucky. As he grew older, he missed the opportunity to be selected by the family to be sent to a sect. The Qin Family selected two disciples with outstanding aptitude to join the Beast Taming Sect every twenty years. Sending more than that would not only be detrimental to the family¡¯s development but also cause a great burden. So, despite Qin Yang¡¯s reputable cultivation talent, he could only cultivate within the family and serve it. Upon hearing Qin Yang¡¯s words, Li Tianchou¡¯s face darkened. He wasn¡¯t blaming Qin Long but felt that the County Magistrate was somewhat meddlesome, wasting his time. However, he didn¡¯t vent his anger but asked in a deep voice, ¡°What¡¯s the situation? Who discovered the tracks of that Evil Cultivator?¡± ¡°Reporting to my lord, it was my cousin.¡± As Qin Yang spoke, he pulled Qin Feng forward and said, ¡°This is my cousin, Qin Feng, also my lord¡¯s son.¡± He deliberately emphasized Qin Feng¡¯s identity to avoid trouble. Li Tianchou nodded slightly, looked at Qin Feng, and asked, ¡°How did you discover that Evil Cultivator? Explain in detail.¡± Qin Feng felt a chill rise in his heart from his glance. This man¡¯s gaze was like a sword, causing a slight stinging sensation on the exposed skin, which startled him greatly. He hadn¡¯t expected this Sword Cultivator from the commandery to be so formidable. Immediately, he dared not delay and recounted everything he saw during the day. After listening, Li Tianchou frowned deeply, ¡°Zhao Jinglei, what is he doing here?¡± Although his face remained as cold as ever, he cursed inwardly. That dandy from the Zhao Family wanted to court death elsewhere, but he had to come to Kun City right when he was here on a case. Couldn¡¯t it be that the girls of Baihua Pavilion in the commandery no longer attracted Young Master Zhao? It shouldn¡¯t be. He had heard that when the batch of girls from the Western Regions had just arrived at Baihua Pavilion, Young Master Zhao spent lavishly, generously claiming he wanted to bed all the alien races. How could he already be exhausted? He recalled some rumors about these dandies in the market, saying that a few young masters needed frequent nourishing elixirs at a tender age. Moreover, some even secretly sent people to purchase certain potent aphrodisiacs from the Hundred Herbs Pavilion to prove their vigor, not knowing that the news of their impotence came from the girls in the brothel. He wondered if the elders of those families knew their descendants were already physically exhausted at such a young age, would they be furious to death. Li Tianchou withdrew his thoughts, remembering Zhao Jinglei made him deeply frustrated. It wouldn¡¯t matter much if a few collateral members from the Zhao Family had died, as they were just a few ordinary clan members with little potential. However, Zhao Jinglei was a direct lineage of the Ancestor of the Zhao Family, and if he died here, it would be troublesome for him too. It was easier with the Qin Family, as they were in Kun City and didn¡¯t have much contact with the Zhao Family. But it was different for Li Tianchou, who needed to make a living in the commandery, wanting to gain more cultivation resources and prepare for forming a Golden Core. If the Zhao Family gave him a hard time because of Zhao Jinglei¡¯s death, he would be in trouble. As a Loose Cultivator from Tieling County, it wasn¡¯t easy to find a decent job that continuously provided cultivation resources. If the Zhao Family suppressed him, he could lose his commandery job and become a truly wandering Loose Cultivator. However, Li Tianchou was also somewhat puzzled, ¡°Even though that Evil Cultivator is vicious, knowing Zhao Jinglei is from the Zhao Family of Tieling, how dare he act against him? Did he lose his mind?¡± Qin Feng thought for a moment and said, ¡°Perhaps it¡¯s because he heard Young Master Zhao say his family ancestor has gone into closed cultivation, so he decided to act.¡± As soon as he said this, Li Tianchou¡¯s face couldn¡¯t hold back any longer, muttering a low curse. That idiot, even spreading the news of his family ancestor¡¯s closed cultivation and advancement. Isn¡¯t he seeking death? Wasn¡¯t he afraid that Evil Cultivator would find stronger Demon Path cultivators to ambush his family ancestor during the critical moment of advancement, completely dooming the Zhao Family? ¡°Who knows when Lord Qin will be out. Leave someone to wait, the rest follow me.¡± Anxious, Li Tianchou couldn¡¯t wait any longer, pointed to Qin Feng, and said, ¡°You lead the way.¡± ¡°Me?¡± Qin Feng was stunned, not expecting Li Tianchou to have him lead the way. ¡°What? You unwilling?¡± Seeing him stunned and unmoving, Li Tianchou¡¯s eyebrows raised, showing a trace of sternness in his eyes. Yet, remembering that this was Qin Long¡¯s son and not a subordinate of the government office, he softened his tone a bit, ¡°Among everyone, only you have seen that Evil Cultivator, so you must come along. Otherwise, we might be deceived by the enemy.¡± Indeed, he had this concern, as now many cultivators had come inside and outside Kun City. Even at night, some roamed around, searching for the Evil Cultivator. If the Evil Cultivator mingled among the Loose Cultivators, he could easily deceive them with a few words. Qin Feng cupped his hands, ¡°Reporting to my lord, I am just a junior who has recently opened my Spiritual Acupoint, lacking the power to participate in such matters. It would be better to wait for my father to join you upon his return.¡± Although he was somewhat intimidated by Li Tianchou¡¯s gaze, he didn¡¯t immediately agree. As he said, being just at the beginning of cultivation, he lacked any means of self-defense. If he got caught in the crossfire, he would be unfortunate. Li Tianchou nodded slightly, ¡°You are cautious, but no need to worry. Since I let you follow, I can protect you completely.¡± As he spoke, he flicked his sleeve, sending two streaks of light flying out, landing before Qin Feng. Qin Feng extended his hand, catching the streaks of light, finding it to be two Spirit Talismans. Unlike the Spirit Talismans seen earlier from the Black Robed Taoist, the ones Li Tianchou gave weren¡¯t drawn on Yellow Talisman Paper but were made from an unknown beast skin, providing a solid feel, much more assuring than the flimsy Yellow Talisman Paper. He examined them, noticing one Spirit Talisman had a heavy aura, while the other exuded a sharp, chilling aura. As his finger traced the runes on the Spirit Talisman, it felt like being pricked by needles, startling him enough to immediately withdraw his hand. ¡°These two Spirit Talismans, one is my personally crafted Cold Ice Sword Talisman. Once activated, it can unleash hundreds of Cold Ice Sword Qi, enough to overwhelm an ordinary Foundation Establishment Cultivator. The other Talisman, exchanged from a Master of Talisman Making in the commandery, is a Vajra Talisman, sufficient to safeguard your life.¡± Li Tianchou snorted, ¡°Consider yourself lucky. If it weren¡¯t for my urgency in rescuing Young Master Zhao, I wouldn¡¯t give you these Spirit Talismans.¡± Lord Li had his calculations too. If he managed to save Zhao Jinglei, the Zhao Family would surely reward him tenfold. Two mere Spirit Talismans were nothing significant. Qin Feng swallowed hard, suppressing the delighted expression. It wasn¡¯t surprising he was so shallow, as he was merely from a small rural family. Even the clan leader might not possess several Foundation Establishment Stage Spirit Talismans. Suddenly gaining something precious was naturally exhilarating. Qin Feng promptly placed the two Spirit Talismans in his bosom and said, ¡°Thank you, my lord, for the Talismans. Since you guarantee my safety, I gratefully accept!¡± Saying this, he also bowed respectfully. Li Tianchou, being experienced, easily discerned the implications in his words. This kid was indeed quite timid. Despite receiving the two Spirit Talismans, he was still so afraid, implying that he fully depended on him for safety. But at this moment, he couldn¡¯t be bothered with the kid¡¯s concerns. Finding Zhao Jinglei quickly was more important. ¡°Enough talk, let¡¯s go. If something happens, I will naturally act.¡± Li Tianchou waved his hand, leading the Inspection Department personnel ahead, instructing the government officials to inform Qin Long upon his release. With Qin Long¡¯s cultivation, he would soon catch up with their group. Chapter 7 - Chapter 7: Chapter 7 Cross Slope Head Chapter 7: Chapter 7 Cross Slope Head Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation Under the lead of Li Tianchou, the group exited the West City Gate at an extremely fast pace and hurried forward. All the soldiers from the Inspection Department had trained in martial skills. Though they were not considered experts, if they ran with all their might, they were as fast as galloping horses. Martial arts cultivation, though not as diverse as immortal law, was the most widespread form of cultivation. In all the kingdoms and empires, all soldiers trained primarily in martial arts. Although few achieved significant accomplishments, countless ordinary humans benefited from it. After all, Immortal Dao required root bone destiny, Confucianism necessitated temperament, and Buddhist Dao demanded understanding. Only martial arts promised certain achievements through hard work. Unfortunately, many times, the simplest things were also the hardest. Despite martial arts cultivation having low thresholds and no requirements for aptitude¡ªwhere even individuals with disabilities could train in certain specialized martial arts skills¡ªadvancing to higher martial arts realms became increasingly challenging. To reach a profound realm or even become immortal through martial arts was harder than ascending to the heavens. And without becoming an immortal, life span was limited, leaving little time to slowly polish martial arts cultivation. Therefore, the number of those who proved the Dao through martial arts in the cultivation world was the fewest. However, once they proved the Dao and achieved the realm of Human Immortal, their attack power was so formidable that it terrified their opponents! The group brandished guns and arrows, leaping as if flying. In just a moment, they had traveled several miles and gradually approached a hillock. Although Qin Feng hadn¡¯t delved much into martial arts, he had opened his spiritual acupoints, starting higher than ordinary martial artists, equivalent to an innate martial artist. This was because mundane martial artists could only sense and draw external spiritual energy to refine their bodies and cultivate Innate Gang Qi after reaching the innate level. Only martial artists possessing Innate Gang Qi could match cultivators in the Qi Refinement realm. Without the ability to release gang qi for protection and offense, cultivators could use spells from afar to wear down any martial artist. In terms of war power, Qin Feng certainly couldn¡¯t outmatch any innate martial artist now. Still, his recent cultivation wasn¡¯t in vain, as he had also learned a few common spells. At home, besides his father, Qin Long, teaching him cultivation knowledge, the family also arranged specialized elders to instruct relatives who had opened their spiritual acupoints. However, those ordinary relatives with low potential mostly learned spells like cloud summoning, rain-making, and plant life vitalization, as they needed to help cultivate the family¡¯s three hundred acres of spiritual field. Disciples like Qin Feng, who were likely to enter sects, learned a much broader range of spells. Though he still hadn¡¯t shaken off the novice label, he could indeed perform small spells like the Light Body Skill, Wind Control Skill, and Divine Movement Technique. So, along the way, his speed was not slow at all. In fact, it was even faster than many soldiers, and unlike ordinary soldiers, he didn¡¯t experience blood surges or uneven breathing from running too fast. This was the advantage of cultivators; they started much stronger than ordinary martial artists. When they reached the hillock, Li Tianchou suddenly frowned and signaled everyone to stop. He glanced around with a cold gaze. The hillock was permeated with yin qi, ghost energy was chilling, and a yin wind blew past, carrying a faint fishy stench to the nostrils. By the roadside ahead stood a hollow old locust tree, its trunk so thick that it would take four or five people to encircle it. Sparse branches bore sharp spikes one or two inches long, and the trunk was entwined with vine as thick as an arm, like pythons or snakes, twisted and sinister. Anyone timid who saw this in the dead of night would be frightened. A trace of unease crept into Li Tianchou¡¯s heart, and he asked, ¡°What place is this, why is the yin qi so heavy?¡± Qin Yang took a step forward, clasped his hands, and said, ¡°Lord Li, this is the Chaotic Burial Mound outside the West City Gate. Because it is formed by the intersection of two small hills, it is also called Cross Slope.¡± ¡°Chaotic Burial Mound? No wonder.¡± Li Tianchou felt relieved. As long as he knew the source of the surrounding yin qi, he could be mentally prepared. Although the Chaotic Burial Mound was filled with yin qi, Kun City was just a small town and rarely experienced significant chaos. Unlike some frontier major cities with countless deaths, where the Chaotic Burial Mound was more likely to breed powerful ghost items. This Chaotic Burial Mound was not very large. Even if some wandering souls lingered here, it wasn¡¯t a major threat. Otherwise, the few cultivators in Kun City would have long joined forces to exterminate the ghosts here. He turned to Qin Feng and asked, ¡°The place that Daoist mentioned ten miles west of the city, should be here, right?¡± ¡°Correct.¡± Qin Feng nodded, ¡°If they had indeed been here, we should still be able to find some traces.¡± Li Tianchou swept his divine sense around but unfortunately found no signs of fighting. However, he didn¡¯t get discouraged, as he was only a Foundation Establishment stage cultivator, and his divine sense¡¯s reach was no more than a thousand feet. Meanwhile, the Chaotic Burial Mound and the nearby forest covered several tens of miles, densely vegetated and quite hidden. He had to rely on the Inspection Department soldiers to search everywhere. Otherwise, alone, if he tried to search all areas, it would consume most of his divine sense power, putting him at a disadvantage in the later fight with the Evil Cultivator. Li Tianchou took out over twenty talisman papers and handed them to Qin Yang, instructing, ¡°Distribute these talisman papers to your subordinates and have them spread out to search. Once any situation arises, activate the talismans immediately, and I¡¯ll come at once.¡± After thinking for a moment, he added, ¡°Be sure to find Zhao Jinglei and the others as quickly as possible. Otherwise, if the Zhao Family from the Commandery City holds you accountable, your Qin Family will also suffer the consequences.¡± Qin Yang nodded. Even though he knew that the Evil Cultivator would surely be difficult to deal with, and he felt somewhat reluctant in his heart¡ªhis subordinates might encounter dangers¡ªthis was the duty of the Inspection Department. They couldn¡¯t retreat when things arose but must move forward. Qin Yang immediately distributed the talisman papers given by Li Tianchou to each squad of soldiers. These were merely simple warning talismans¡ªnot expensive but quite practical. Once triggered, they would cause a significant commotion. Li Tianchou watched the soldiers, under Qin Yang¡¯s direction, disperse into the forest. Then, he stepped on his sword light and flew toward the Chaotic Burial Mound. He needed to scout the area first and see if he could find any clues. Qin Yang glanced at Qin Feng and felt uneasy about leaving his cousin here alone. If anything happened, he wouldn¡¯t be able to face Qin Long. ¡°You come with me.¡± Qin Yang pulled Qin Feng along. They led a squad of soldiers towards the opposite direction of the Chaotic Burial Mound. He had some wit. The Evil Cultivator likely had taken Zhao Jinglei and the others into the Chaotic Burial Mound. If an ambush awaited, it would be there. Going in the opposite direction was probably safer, right? Chapter 8 - Chapter 8: Chapter 8 Eerie Laughter Chapter 8: Chapter 8 Eerie Laughter Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation ¡°Caw¡­ caw¡­¡± Deep in the mountains and forests, the hoarse, piercing cries of old crows echoed, seeming to mourn the souls of those nearing death. In the distance, faint sounds of night owls laughing strangely could be heard, like the wails of ghosts and wolves, terrifying and inexplicable. It made the few people walking through the forest shiver with fear. If it weren¡¯t for the fact that they were together to boost their courage, no one would dare to come to this place in the dead of night. This Chaotic Burial Mound not only had heavy Yin Qi and ghostly presences but also occasionally had demon beasts emerging from the mountains. Because if you went further west past the Chaotic Burial Mound, you would enter the outer regions of Qifeng Mountain. Deep within Qifeng Mountain, there were many demon beasts. Those that lost their turf wars and were driven from the mountains had no choice but to live on the outskirts. Every year, the three families of Kun City organized several hunting parties to kill demon beasts in the mountains, to prevent them from harming Kun City¡¯s residents. After all, their businesses made up most of the livelihoods in Kun City. If the residents suffered, their businesses would be affected. Besides them, only a few desperate individuals dared to brave the mountains to collect precious timber and minerals. If they could make it out alive, their gains were usually enough to buy a few acres of land, build three large tiled houses, and marry a beautiful girl. Unfortunately, the mortality rate for ordinary people entering the mountains was too high, deterring most. At other times, nobody would pass through here, fearing they might be snatched up by a demon beast. Qin Feng followed closely behind Qin Yang, walking carefully under the moonlight, his eyes constantly scanning their surroundings, cautious and vigilant. He tightly gripped the Vajra Talisman given to him by Li Tianchou. If he detected any danger, he would activate it immediately. Even though this talisman was very valuable, worth at least several dozen spirit stones, he would use it without hesitation if his life were in danger. After all, his life was worth infinitely more than the talisman. He could always find a way to get another talisman, but once his life was gone, everything would be truly lost. He didn¡¯t believe he could live a second life, nor did he dare to gamble on it. Only those who had truly faced death knew how deeply attached they were to life, willing to grasp any chance to survive at all costs. Cold Yin Wind blew, making the already summer night feel chilled, sending shivers down their spines. The soldiers followed with trembling bodies. ¡°Damn this weather.¡± A soldier from the Inspection Department named Chen Hu couldn¡¯t help but curse under his breath. No sooner had the words left his mouth than he stumbled over something, falling to the ground. His head hit a protruding tree root, stars dancing before his eyes as he nearly blacked out. ¡°Watch out!¡± ¡°You okay, Hu?¡± Several companions immediately inquired, carefully avoiding the spot where Chen Hu had tripped, wary of repeating his mishap. ¡°Damn it¡­¡± Chen Hu cursed, gingerly touching the bump on his forehead, replying, ¡°I¡¯m fine, just got a bump on my head.¡± Saying this, he didn¡¯t rush to get up but instead groped for the fallen crossbow. Unexpectedly, he found something completely unforeseen. Smooth and round, somewhat slippery to the touch. Curious, Chen Hu picked it up and nearly had his soul scared out of him, shaking and almost collapsing on the ground. It turned out that what he grabbed was a pale, eerie skull. The skull¡¯s hollow eye sockets seemed like bottomless abysses, staring straight at him, with jagged teeth adding to its creepiness. Chen Hu, being a soldier from the Inspection Department, wasn¡¯t normally a coward. If he were, he wouldn¡¯t have made it through the gates of the Inspection Department. But coming to the Chaotic Burial Mound at night to find an Evil Cultivator already had fear gnawing at them, worried they might lose their lives. Now, suddenly seeing himself holding a ghastly skull, being startled was only natural. Fortunately, he had some self-control and managed to suppress the urge to urinate, avoiding wetting his pants and becoming the butt of jokes among his peers. Otherwise, the incident would quickly spread throughout the Inspection Department. Qin Yang, helpless, barked, ¡°What¡¯s so fascinating about a skull? There aren¡¯t as many bones here as across the way. If you like them, go and find more from the other side of the Chaotic Burial Mound and take them home for a look. Hurry up, if we delay the task, watch out for Lord Li¡¯s temper. You can¡¯t take a hit from his flying sword.¡± ¡°Yes, yes, Chief Qin, don¡¯t be mad. I¡¯m coming right now.¡± Recovering, Chen Hu tossed the skull aside, quickly found his crossbow, and rejoined the group. However, with a large bump on his head, the pain was intense, so they no longer had him leading the way, leaving him at the back to watch their rear. The area around the Chaotic Burial Mound was quite large. If they walked further, they could even venture deep into the mountains. The group circled the area within a few miles without any notable findings. Resigned, they headed deeper into the forest. ¡°Hehehehehehe¡­¡± Suddenly, an eerie laugh came from the forest on their left. Since they had entered the forest, they occasionally heard night owls laughing. But earlier, the sounds were distant, which they didn¡¯t mind much. This time, the laugh was so close that the suddenness made them jump, almost causing two of the nervous ones to wet themselves. Chen Hu, at the back, cursed silently, raised his crossbow, and fired an arrow toward the sound. ¡°Ah¡­¡± A painful, elderly cry came from where the arrow landed, followed by an angry shout, ¡°Who¡¯s hiding there shooting dark arrows? Come out if you dare! Let¡¯s see if this old Taoist doesn¡¯t scatter your soul!¡± The group froze upon hearing this. Turning their heads, they saw an old Taoist by a tree twenty yards away, clutching his buttocks and cursing. The old Taoist held a black long banner, with faintly visible evil spirits and ghosts on its surface. In front of him, a dark mist covered an area of about a hundred yards, obscuring the view. Chen Hu, feeling frustrated, realized that the eerie laughter wasn¡¯t from night owls but from this old Taoist. How bizarre, he thought, that a person¡¯s laugh could sound so spooky and terrifying. Qin Feng, recognizing the old Taoist, turned pale. Wasn¡¯t this the black-robed Taoist they had seen in the day? He couldn¡¯t help but step back quietly, pulling on Qin Yang¡¯s sleeve. Seeing Qin Feng¡¯s face, Qin Yang immediately understood that they had encountered the true antagonist. Spirit light flashed in his eyes as he discreetly activated the Spiritual Eye Technique to glance at the area shrouded in dark mist. Although the dense mist obscured much, he could vaguely see several figures struggling within it. Without a moment¡¯s hesitation, he activated the talisman in his hand. The talisman rose into the air, bursting into a brilliant flame. Qin Yang instantly grabbed Qin Feng, turning to run, while also calling out to the other soldiers, ¡°Scatter and run, quick!¡± The others, seeing the old Taoist in the distance now airborne and flying towards them, fled in all directions without delay. ¡°You think you can escape?¡± The black-robed Taoist¡¯s face darkened, feeling the throbbing pain from his buttocks. Enraged, he swung his long banner, sending several streams of dark mist surging towards them. Chapter 9 - Chapter 9: Chapter 9 Hidden Depths Chapter 9: Chapter 9 Hidden Depths Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation ¡°¡±¡± The black smoke emitted from the long banner in the old Taoist¡¯s hand was like a long snake, moving extremely fast. In almost the blink of an eye, it had entangled the soldiers around Chen Hu and penetrated their bodies. They were merely common Acquired Martial Artists, not possessing innate strength, and naturally, they couldn¡¯t resist the spells of a cultivator. Moreover, this old Taoist was a high-level Foundation Establishment cultivator, his techniques were powerful, far beyond the resistance of mere mortal martial artists. So, almost as soon as the black smoke touched them, Chen Hu and his men fell to the ground. Only the black smoke pouncing towards Qin Feng and the other was struck down by Qin Yang using a spell. Qin Yang also had the cultivation level of the late stage of the Qi Refinement Realm. The technique he practiced was a family inheritance called the Fierce Sun Burning Sky Technique, a pure Fire Element Technique, one of the few techniques in the family that could be cultivated to the Golden Core Realm. Of course, in the past thousand years, many descendants of the Qin Family had cultivated this technique, but none had ever become a Golden Core Sage. Seeing the black smoke attacking from behind, Qin Yang held onto Qin Feng with one hand, his Divine Movement Technique performed to the extreme with his feet. Another hand pinched a spell, flicking two flames which collided with the two masses of black smoke with a bang. Instantly, from the point of collision came a few eerie ghostly wails¡ªit turned out to be two Yin Souls. However, these two Yin Souls were evidently not strong enough, so they were quickly burned to nothingness by the flames Qin Yang emitted. ¡°Hehe, you two juniors, indeed you have some skill.¡± Behind them, the old Taoist in a black robe let out a few cold, eerie laughs, ¡°Since you destroyed my two Yin Souls, you can pay with your own souls. The souls of cultivators are much purer and stronger than those of common ghost items.¡± As he spoke, his body drew increasingly closer, seeming about to catch up with the two of them. Although Qin Yang was exerting his full effort with the Divine Movement Technique, his body moving like the wind, swiftly escaping, how could his running speed compare with that of the flying old Taoist? Besides, he was carrying the burden of Qin Feng. So, in merely a few breaths, the old Taoist caught up, gently landing on the ground, blocking their way. Qin Yang sighed lightly, lamenting that small cultivators at the Qi Refinement Realm could not fly yet. If there weren¡¯t the hindrances of the ground¡¯s grass and trees, their escape speed would definitely be faster. They might even stand a chance of reaching Li Tianchou earlier. The old Taoist gave a few cold laughs from his mouth, stepping forward with pride to approach them. Just as he stepped forward, he felt a sharp pain in his buttocks. Feeling the painful area, the old Taoist immediately felt a surge of shame and anger, ¡°You juniors, how dare you sneak attack your Taoist master! I¡¯ll take your lives!¡± Although the sharp arrow Chen Hu had shot earlier was just a common iron wolf-toothed arrow, not a talisman arrow meant to deal with cultivators, the old Taoist had been close to capturing the young members of the Zhao Family and was in a moment of triumph. He hadn¡¯t expected an attack from behind, and thus, got shot in the buttocks by Chen Hu¡¯s arrow. If not for the special material of his magic robe, which blocked most of the arrow¡¯s power, it might have pierced through and caused serious harm. The problem was that the arrow bore no mana, so his magic robe didn¡¯t activate any defensive spells. It was just its material that stopped the arrow from penetrating deeply, but the pain was still severe. More than that, it was the humiliation from the bottom of his heart, almost driving him mad. He had cultivated for nearly two hundred years¡ªwhen had he ever suffered such humiliation? Earlier, because Zhao Jinglei possessed a few exceptionally strong protective treasures, he hadn¡¯t been able to subdue them early, having to rely on pre-set arrays to slowly deplete their treasures. In the midst of focusing on dealing with those young members of the Zhao Family, he hadn¡¯t been vigilant and got dangerously close to being severely injured by an arrow in the behind. If word got out, his reputation would be ruined. Feeling the intense pain between his legs, the old Taoist didn¡¯t dare to move recklessly anymore. He quickly circulated the True Yuan within to alleviate the pain, yelling angrily, ¡°I¡¯ll extract your souls and torment you day and night!¡± With that, he waved the long banner in his hand, several strands of black smoke pounced towards Qin Feng and the other. This time, the black smoke was far more formidable. Before reaching them, piercing shrills were already making their ears ache. Qin Feng dared not let the black smoke hit him. He quickly channeled the thin Spiritual Power within his Dantian into the Vajra Protection Talisman in his hand. Instantly, a dazzling golden light enveloped him entirely. In a flash, Qin Feng felt as if he was covered in an indestructible Vajra defense, giving him an immense sense of security. With boosted confidence, Qin Feng stepped forward to shield Qin Yang. Since there was no way to escape, the only option was to buy some time, awaiting Li Tianchou¡¯s arrival. Qin Feng¡¯s current defense was stronger than Qin Yang¡¯s, so he naturally had to help this cousin to avoid Qin Yang being killed by this Evil Cultivator before Li Tianchou arrived. ¡°Bang, bang, bang¡­¡± A few soft collisions, the strands of black smoke hit Qin Feng. The golden light outside Qin Feng¡¯s body instantly shone brightly, the dense golden light burning the black smoke. When the black smoke was a few feet away from leaving Qin Feng¡¯s body, it revealed its form as a few ghost items. However, their ghost bodies appeared faint, evidently burned by the golden light from Qin Feng. Although the Vajra Protection Talisman was merely a protective spell and didn¡¯t counterattack proactively, it would trigger the golden light to gather and counterattack passively when these sinister things attacked. Hence, the Yin Souls were injured. ¡°Vajra Protection Talisman?¡± The old Taoist looked surprised, then showed joy, ¡°Haha, using such a precious spirit talisman, it seems you¡¯re from a wealthy background. Once I capture you, all your valuable items shall be mine.¡± Qin Feng smiled bitterly at the Taoist¡¯s words. This old Taoist was indeed merciless and greedy, wanting to kill him and take his belongings just because he utilized a spirit talisman. Little did the Taoist know, except for the talisman given by Li Tianchou, Qin Feng had nothing of worth, not even a single spirit stone. ¡°Senior, it¡¯s a misunderstanding. I come from a small family, I have nothing of value. I advise you not to target me, else you might regret it.¡± As he spoke, he took out another Cold Ice Sword Talisman. This was a spirit talisman personally crafted by Li Tianchou. Li Tianchou, a nine-layer Foundation Establishment Sword Cultivator, his sword qi spirit talismans were not to be taken lightly. Otherwise, he wouldn¡¯t boast about handling common Foundation Establishment cultivators. However, the aura exuded by this black-robed old Taoist was obviously far above a common Foundation Establishment cultivator. After all, Qin Feng¡¯s family had several Foundation Establishment cultivators. Whether it was his father, the Clan Leader Qin Guanbao, or the third great uncle from the Scripture Pavilion, their collective auras weren¡¯t as strong as this Evil Cultivator¡¯s aura. Qin Feng estimated, this black-robed old Taoist had at least the later stage Foundation Establishment cultivation, otherwise, his aura wouldn¡¯t overshadow that of the sixth-level Foundation Establishment Old Family Master, Qin Guanbao. Moreover, the most troublesome aspect of these Evil Cultivators was not their cultivation realm per se, but their bizarre and sinister cultivation techniques. Without exception, Evil Cultivators were unpredictable, possessing numerous vexing spells and many life-saving techniques. Even if a cultivator could defeat them, it would be quite challenging to keep them from fleeing. Of course, it was a different story for disciples from prominent sects. Ordinary cultivators and true disciples from eminent sects were worlds apart, even in the same realm. Their combat power differed immensely. Fearless Heavenly Cultivators, only disciples from major sects could effortlessly slay these Evil Cultivators. As thoughts of his father¡¯s teachings raced through his mind, Qin Feng cautiously placed the Cold Ice Sword Talisman before him, intently watching the black-robed old Taoist. He had only this one attacking spirit talisman. Once used, he would have no other attacking means left. Seeing this, the old Taoist¡¯s eyes lit up, ¡°Indeed, another spirit talisman. You, junior, are really full of surprises, aren¡¯t you?¡± Nonetheless, though greed glimmered in his eyes, his figure flickered, avoiding facing Qin Feng head-on. He sensed the talisman¡¯s formidable power and knew it was no easy one to fend off. Even with his cultivation, a slight misstep could result in injury. Especially now, already hurt, caution was paramount. Chapter 10 - Chapter 10: Chapter 10 Protecting My Heirloom Chapter 10: Chapter 10 Protecting My Heirloom Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation Qin Feng held the Cold Ice Sword Talisman, but he didn¡¯t dare to use it easily. Because he couldn¡¯t be sure if this Sword Talisman could harm the other party. Even if it did injure this old Taoist, he would lose his means of attack and could only let the opponent strike. So, he thought it best to keep the Sword Talisman in his hand as a deterrent. Because now time was in his favor, the longer he dragged, the greater the hope of Li Tianchou arriving. Just hope that guy Li Tianchou wasn¡¯t too far from here, otherwise, after a long time, the two brothers might not be able to hold on. ¡°Esteemed elder, I have a question. Why did you earlier harm those ordinary women? With your level of Dao cultivation, why commit such evil deeds?¡± Qin Feng had nothing to say, planning to use conversation to buy time. The Black Robed Taoist, being experienced and sly, clearly saw through his intentions and let out a cold chuckle: ¡°Still trying to buy time, boy, you¡¯re still too green. But even if you delay until that Sword Cultivator arrives, so what? Do you really think I¡¯m afraid of him?¡± Qin Feng was startled upon hearing this, not knowing where this old Taoist got such confidence to deal with a ninth-layer Foundation Establishment Sword Cultivator. After all, Sword Cultivators specifically attack and kill, their combat power is strong. Generally, in fights of the same level, Sword Cultivators have a better chance of winning. This old Taoist seemed to be at Foundation Establishment too, yet he was confident he could defeat Li Tianchou, did he have some powerful means? Just as Qin Feng was pondering, the old Taoist hummed: ¡°What¡¯s the harm in telling you? I was ambushed by an enemy while cultivating earlier, causing a mishap with my cultivation technique. I need the Purple River Carriage as an elixir to recover my origin. So I had my disciple capture some pregnant women. But that bastard couldn¡¯t get any and instead went around raping women, as if he was going to get them pregnant himself to honor me, his master. That¡¯s bad enough, but he got caught by the Kun City Inspection Department, and his cultivation was abolished. Truly useless, forcing me to capture some Purple River Carriage myself to refine the elixir.¡± Qin Feng was stunned: ¡°The rapist who harmed those women earlier was your disciple?¡± ¡°Correct, that useless bastard. He got caught by the Kun City Inspection Department, fine by me. Anyway, the elixir is already made, and my injuries have mostly healed. What I didn¡¯t expect was so many low-level cultivators from Kun City coming here, one by one foolishly offering themselves for refining into Spirit Banners. A pleasant surprise.¡± The Black Robed Taoist walked casually, laughing a few times: ¡°Especially those Zhao Family brats from Tieling County, falling so easily into my trap. I didn¡¯t expect the leader to have so many treasures on him, what a rare find! Once his spiritual power is completely drained, all those treasures will be mine, hehehe¡­¡± Qin Feng wanted to keep delaying, so he asked: ¡°Then why did you¡­¡± ¡°Shut up with your nonsense!¡± Just then, the Black Robed Taoist suddenly bellowed, flicking his sleeve, and a white jade-like skull flew out of his sleeve. The skull enlarged in the wind, instantly becoming huge, its hollow eyes igniting with ghost fire, with jaws flashing cold light as if they could bite through iron, it flew towards Qin Feng¡¯s head. Qin Feng was taken aback by this sudden attack, dodging wildly to avoid the massive skull. But how could his speed compare to the flying skull? In an instant, it caught up, jaws snapping at him. Meanwhile, the Black Robed Taoist waved his Long Banner, and more than ten black shadows pounced on the two men. These were ghosts trapped in his banner. And they were no ordinary ghosts; the old Taoist captured and refined the spirits of slain cultivators into ghost items within the banner. Regardless of what they were in life, they had to obey him, fight for him, or suffer soul-burning pain, ultimately facing complete annihilation. In no time, Qin Feng and Qin Yang were besieged. However, Qin Feng¡¯s situation was better than Qin Yang¡¯s. Despite being the main target, Qin Feng had a Vajra Body Protection Spirit Talisman, providing some defense. Qin Yang, lacking such means, could only use his hard-earned spells to contend with the few ghosts. With a crunch, Qin Feng¡¯s vision went black. He was suddenly bitten into the giant skull¡¯s mouth, jaws closing to snap him in two. But the bite was slightly misplaced. So, Qin Feng was scared witless, hastily protecting his lower body to avoid the skull¡¯s sharp fangs. Although the Qin Family didn¡¯t lack him as a successor, and Qin Guanbao alone could replace twenty or thirty ordinary clan members, he didn¡¯t want to be left ¡°unarmed¡± in the future. Fortunately, the Protective Golden Light was strong enough, with a crunch, it shattered two of the skull¡¯s teeth without injuring him. Only then did Qin Feng breathe a sigh of relief. He looked up at the skull, missing two front teeth, and thought, this thing doesn¡¯t seem too formidable after all, it¡¯s just a silver-plated gun, looks scary but not powerful. Glancing through the skull¡¯s jaw at the Black Robed Taoist, he noticed the Taoist didn¡¯t care about the broken teeth. Qin Feng realized, this Taoist didn¡¯t value the skull much, otherwise, he¡¯d have recalled it, not let it keep biting. It seemed, the opponent planned to use the skull to deplete his Spirit Talismans, eliminating danger, then capture him. With this understanding, Qin Feng dared not use the Cold Ice Sword Talisman rashly. At this point, the ghost items in black shadows had approached, and under the Taoist¡¯s command, lunged at them ruthlessly. Even the golden light from Qin Feng¡¯s Vajra Body Protection Spirit Talisman didn¡¯t stop them. Because the old Taoist was strongly commanding them. Even if they couldn¡¯t break through Qin Feng¡¯s light and got burned by it, they didn¡¯t retreat, becoming more frenzied, clawing and biting, relentlessly wearing down the golden light. The Vajra Body Protection Spirit Talisman¡¯s golden light had limited energy, weakening with each use. While the ghosts¡¯ soul bodies weakened faster, becoming visibly thin and transparent, Qin Feng¡¯s light was also dimming. Qin Feng became anxious. Where on earth had Li Tianchou gone, why hadn¡¯t he arrived? Watching his talisman¡¯s light grow fainter, and seeing the Taoist¡¯s fierce eyes, Qin Feng felt a chill. What to do? At this rate, he was doomed! Chapter 11 - Chapter 11: Chapter 11 White Bone Heart-Locking Hammer Chapter 11: Chapter 11 White Bone Heart-Locking Hammer Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation ¡°Heh heh heh¡­¡± The Black Robed Taoist looked at Qin Yang, who was barely holding off a few ghost souls, then glanced at Qin Feng, whose protective golden light was gradually dimming. He let out a chilling laugh, reminiscent of a Night Owl, revealing a hint of cruel ruthlessness. Qin Feng did not want to use the Cold Ice Sword Talisman on the skull and the dozen Yin Souls in front of him. Because those things meant nothing to the Black Robed Taoist. If he needed ghost souls, he could just kill a few cultivators and refine new ghost items. Even if Qin Feng used the sword talisman to slay these ghost souls, it would not cause any loss to the Black Robed Taoist. Qin Feng formed a spell with his hands, mobilizing the still very thin spiritual power within him, and cast the strongest spell he currently knew. As his spell changed, he almost exhausted the spiritual power in his dantian, barely conjuring two illusions of a dragon and a tiger. This was the fundamental spell of the ¡°Dragon and Tiger Profound Returning Origin Skill¡± he had cultivated, conjuring dragon and tiger illusions for protection and attack. Unfortunately, he had only started cultivating for a few days. Even with the help of the Qi Gathering Pill, he had not accumulated much spiritual power and was still stuck in the first layer of Qi Refinement. ¡°Huff¡­¡± A gust of wind blew, and the dragon and tiger illusions rushed towards the skull, colliding with it fiercely. Yet, the skull did not move at all. Although the tiger illusion raised a slight breeze, it could only blow dry leaves and small stones, far from enough to shake this skull, as hard as iron. Even though the skull had lost two large teeth when it bit into the protective golden light of the Vajra Body Protection Spirit Talisman, that did not mean it was easy to deal with. After all, it was an artifact refined by a Foundation Establishment Late Stage cultivator, not something that a small cultivator in the first layer of Qi Refinement could handle. The tiger illusion had no effect, and the dragon illusion was only slightly stronger. Because it was formed of water vapor, when the dragon illusion pounced on the skull, it left a layer of mist on the skull, making it look as if it had been washed, bright and shiny. ¡°Ha ha ha¡­¡± The Black Robed Taoist laughed heartily, his laughter full of mockery, ridiculing Qin Feng for overestimating himself by fighting his refined skull with the cultivation of the first layer of Qi Refinement. Qin Yang, behind him, was speechless. Was his cousin out of his mind? Knowing they were no match, why waste spiritual power here instead of saving it for an opportunity to escape? After laughing, the Black Robed Taoist waved his Long Banner again, releasing a black mist that covered the area within a dozen feet around Qin Feng and Qin Yang. At first, they were startled, thinking the old Taoist had summoned a fierce ghost again, but soon realized the black mist was not formed by ghost souls but was pure Yin Evil. Pure Yin Evil could corrode their bodies, but as long as they protected themselves with spiritual power, it would not cause much harm in a short time. However, the ghost souls moved even faster in this Yin Evil. Even their originally somewhat illusory ghost bodies became more solid. Qin Feng gave the Taoist a strange look. According to reason, a Foundation Establishment Late Stage cultivator should have more than this in terms of means. Why did it seem like the old Taoist was deliberately holding back, not intending to kill them? Otherwise, even if the old Taoist was somewhat wary of his Cold Ice Sword Talisman, killing his cousin Qin Yang should not be difficult. Yet, both of them were still alive, and from beginning to end, the Black Robed Taoist only released a dozen ghost souls against them. It seemed¡­ a bit strange. Moreover, looking at the Long Banner in the Black Robed Taoist¡¯s hand, it should be an evil spiritual artifact, the Hundred Ghosts Banner. Even so, the Taoist preferred to consume the Yin Evil Qi inside the banner rather than release more ghost souls against them. Was it deliberate, or was it because there were no other ghost souls left in the Hundred Ghosts Banner? Before Qin Feng could figure it out, the old Taoist¡¯s expression changed, and he shouted, ¡°Two juniors, how dare you be arrogant in front of me? I¡¯ll send you to see King Yan.¡± With that, the old Taoist waved his sleeve, and a White Bone Heart-Locking Hammer flew out, with immense force, landing on Qin Feng. With a bang, Qin Feng¡¯s body was sent flying several feet until he crashed into a large tree and fell to the ground. Just one blow shattered the already dim golden light protecting him, injuring his internal organs, and causing him to spit out a large mouthful of blood. Qin Feng was horrified, realizing the power of a Foundation Establishment Late Stage cultivator. Although the power of his Vajra Protection Talisman had already diminished significantly, being injured so easily with just one hit meant even if the talisman was at full power, it wouldn¡¯t withstand many blows from the Taoist. Excruciating pain surged from his internal organs, nearly making Qin Feng faint, but he knew he could not collapse. Otherwise, he might never get up again. Enduring the pain, Qin Feng supported himself with trembling arms, planning to get up and avoid the next hit while also mobilizing the remaining spiritual power within him to activate the Cold Ice Sword Talisman. Even if the sword talisman might not harm the Black Robed Taoist, it was better to hold on for a moment longer. On the other side, after sending Qin Feng flying, the Black Robed Taoist directed the White Bone Heart-Locking Hammer at Qin Yang. Qin Yang had no spirit talisman for protection. If such a forceful hit landed on him, he would be killed instantly! ¡°Stop!¡± Just as the White Bone Heart-Locking Hammer was about to hit Qin Yang, a furious shout came from afar. At the same time, a sword light flew like lightning, striking the White Bone Heart-Locking Hammer and knocking it away, saving Qin Yang. Both Qin Feng and Qin Yang breathed a sigh of relief. Li Tianchou had finally arrived. If he had been a moment later, they would have died at the hands of the old Taoist. Their souls might even be captured by the evil Taoist and refined into fierce ghosts for the Hundred Ghosts Banner. Li Tianchou¡¯s figure flew over swiftly. He had been searching in another direction, farther away, so he was slightly delayed. Fortunately, Qin Feng and Qin Yang were still unharmed. Though he didn¡¯t care if Qin Long would get angry or if the small Qin Family would trouble him, it would be somewhat embarrassing. Li Tianchou glanced at Qin Feng and Qin Yang, seeing they were both okay, he was relieved. He turned to the old Taoist and coldly said, ¡°Dare to harm someone in front of me? I will slay you!¡± Li Tianchou was clearly a pure sword cultivator. His words had barely left his mouth, and his sword had already been drawn. As his sword technique moved, the flying sword in midair shone brilliantly, transforming into a ten-foot-long sword light, fierce and terrifying, slashing towards the Black Robed Taoist. The Black Robed Taoist snorted coldly, ¡°I¡¯m not afraid of you.¡± As he spoke, he tossed the White Bone Heart-Locking Hammer, making it collide with the flying sword. However, the power of Li Tianchou¡¯s sword was far beyond his expectation. The White Bone Heart-Locking Hammer couldn¡¯t withstand it, and with a single slash, it was sent flying, falling back into the hand of the Black Robed Taoist. ¡°Such a formidable sword cultivator¡­ I won¡¯t play with you anymore.¡± The Taoist let out a strange cry, turned around, and rode a black wind, flying away. ¡°Where do you think you¡¯re going? Leave your life behind!¡± Li Tianchou would not let the old Taoist escape. Calling back his flying sword, he stepped onto it and chased after the Black Robed Taoist through the sky. Chapter 12 - Chapter 12: Chapter 12 Daluo Magic Sword Chapter 12: Chapter 12 Daluo Magic Sword Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation ¡°Hey, Lord Li¡­¡± Qin Feng anxiously reached out to call. That Black Robed Daoist clearly had a problem, seemingly using the two of them as bait to deliberately lure Li Tianchou over. He wanted to warn Li Tianchou, but unfortunately, due to the severe pain in his internal organs, he hadn¡¯t recovered until now. So his movements were a bit slow, and before his voice could be heard, Li Tianchou had already chased the Black Robed Daoist far away. ¡°I hope nothing goes wrong.¡± Qin Feng shook his head helplessly. Li Tianchou was a ninth-level Foundation Establishment Sword Cultivator. Generally, he shouldn¡¯t encounter any problems. But that Black Robed Daoist had set up an array trap in this forest. Since he knew Li Tianchou¡¯s reputation and still wanted to lure him over, he obviously had confidence in dealing with him. Once Li Tianchou was killed by that Black Robed Daoist, he and Qin Yang, and even everyone who came tonight, could possibly be killed by this Daoist. The Black Robed Daoist rode the black wind with lightning speed. In just a few breaths, he returned to the array he had set up earlier, plunging into the black mist surrounding the array. Seeing this, Li Tianchou was shocked and quickly stopped. A cold glint flashed in his eyes as he looked towards the black mist. He saw the Black Robed Daoist already flying onto an altar within the array, brandishing the Ten Thousand Ghosts Banner, releasing strands of Yin Evil Qi, augmenting the array¡¯s power. At the same time, he saw Zhao Jinglei and others huddled together in fear, relying on the Nine Heavens Thunder Light Shield, a top-tier Spiritual Artifact on Zhao Jinglei, to fend off the ghost attacks in the Yin Evil mist. The Nine Heavens Thunder Light Shield was a top-tier Spiritual Artifact personally crafted by the Ancestor of the Zhao Family for Zhao Jinglei¡¯s protection. Its offensive power was amazing, and when used defensively, it could transform into a barrier to protect the user. Unfortunately, even though Zhao Jinglei had consumed multiple elixir pills to restore his spiritual power, after such a long period of attrition, his spiritual power was almost exhausted. If not for the assistance of several other Zhao family members with their spiritual power, he would have been unable to hold on long ago. Even so, they had reached their limit, and at any moment, their spiritual power could be completely drained. Once the Thunder Light Shield could no longer hold, they would undoubtedly die, their souls refined into fierce ghosts by the Black Robed Daoist. Seeing this, Li Tianchou couldn¡¯t help but feel anxious. He didn¡¯t care about the lives of Zhao Jinglei and the others, but he couldn¡¯t let them die in front of him. Thinking of this, Li Tianchou could no longer concern himself with anything else. With a flash of his figure, he rushed directly into the array, heading to kill the Black Robed Daoist. As long as he killed that Evil Cultivator and broke the array, Zhao Jinglei and the others¡¯ crisis would naturally be resolved. ¡°Hehehe¡­¡± Seeing that Li Tianchou had indeed entered his array as expected, the Black Robed Daoist let out a sinister laugh of satisfaction. ¡°I was worried that the souls of these juniors were too weak, lacking a main soul. Now, a Foundation Establishment cultivator has delivered himself to me. Good, very good indeed.¡± The Black Robed Daoist¡¯s face was filled with excitement. ¡°Since you¡¯ve entered my array, don¡¯t think of leaving. Obediently offer your soul to assist me in refining this Magical Treasure. As long as I successfully refine it this time, I guarantee Daoist longevity.¡± Amidst his wild laughter, the Black Robed Daoist waved his Long Banner, sending a vast and chilling wave of Yin Evil Qi towards Li Tianchou. In the Yin Qi, countless ghostly silhouettes emerged, clawing and baring their fangs, charging towards Li Tianchou. ¡°Hmph, petty tricks dare to show off!¡± Li Tianchou sneered, ¡°Daluo Sword Technique, Daluo Magic Sword, Ghost Slaying and Demon Suppressing, go!¡± As soon as he finished speaking, the flying sword behind him suddenly expanded, transforming into a ten-foot-long Sword Qi, sweeping horizontally, cutting through the Yin Qi and killing the fierce ghosts. Following his sword technique, the ten-foot Sword Qi divided into hundreds and thousands, like a vast net covering the area. However, these fierce ghosts were refined from the Evil Cultivator¡¯s Ten Thousand Ghosts Banner. As long as the banner remained intact, it could continuously consume Yin Qi to produce these fierce ghosts. Moreover, among these ghostly entities, eight fierce ghosts had Foundation Establishment cultivation, although they seemed to be in the early to mid Foundation Establishment stage. Without Ghost Path Magical Artifacts, they could only condense Ghost Dao Techniques with their own ghostly energy to confront the enemy. But dealing with so many Foundation Establishment fierce ghosts at once was challenging even for someone as powerful as Li Tianchou. Furthermore, the ghosts were assisted by the Yin Evil Formation, making them even stronger and more agile within the Yin Evil Qi, to the point that Li Tianchou knit his brows tightly. And the Black Robed Daoist didn¡¯t remain idle either. He repeatedly launched the White Bone Heart-Locking Hammer while secretly releasing three White Bone Heart Execution Needles. This treasure, once released, was silent and stealthy, perfect for sneak attacks. Li Tianchou, already struggling to fend off the ghostly assaults and the powerful strikes of the White Bone Heart-Locking Hammer, was caught off guard by the White Bone Heart Execution Needle, which injured his left leg. ¡°Mph¡­¡± A muffled grunt sounded as Li Tianchou gritted his teeth against the pain, using True Yuan to seal the wound to prevent excessive blood loss. He was startled, realizing that this old Daoist was quite difficult to deal with. He no longer held him in contempt and decided to go all out. Although he wanted to kill the Black Robed Daoist and save Zhao Jinglei and the others, he didn¡¯t foresee that Zhao Jinglei, upon seeing Li Tianchou coming to their rescue, would feel relieved, thinking that with Li Tianchou¡¯s help, their lives would no longer be in danger. As a result, the spiritual power that Zhao Jinglei had been struggling to maintain suddenly dissipated, leaving him feeling utterly empty inside. His body went limp, and he collapsed to the ground. Without his control, the Nine Heavens Thunder Light Shield¡¯s spirit light dimmed and fell to the ground. ¡°Ah¡­¡± Several Zhao family members exclaimed in shock. Someone even shouted loudly, ¡°Li Tianchou, Lord Li, please come and save us.¡± Li Tianchou turned his head, almost spitting blood in frustration. These useless people, can¡¯t they hold on a bit longer? I haven¡¯t killed that Evil Cultivator yet, and they are already putting away the Spiritual Artifact? But even if he wanted to help, he couldn¡¯t. With so many fierce ghosts surrounding him and the Evil Cultivator¡¯s occasional sneak attacks, if he turned to save them, he wouldn¡¯t be able to protect them and would risk his own life. ¡°Hold on yourselves.¡± He angrily shouted at them, then focused back on his enemies. After all, most of the ghostly entities were already attracted to him. Even if Zhao Jinglei and the others were invaded by Yin Evil Qi or possessed by a few little ghosts, they wouldn¡¯t die immediately. At most, some of their Yang Qi would be absorbed. Although it would harm their vitality, there was no other way. They could take it as a lesson to prevent future careless outings. However, the more he fought, the more shocked he became. If it were just the old Daoist alone, he wouldn¡¯t be afraid. But now trapped in the array and surrounded by numerous fierce ghosts, he couldn¡¯t even harm the old Daoist. Under these circumstances, breaking the array and saving people seemed impossible; even escaping himself was uncertain. In the distance, Qin Feng, holding onto a nearby tree, stood up straight and looked far ahead. Unfortunately, his cultivation was shallow. Even channeling his spiritual power to his eyes, he couldn¡¯t see through the distant darkness and naturally didn¡¯t know Li Tianchou¡¯s situation. At this moment, the sound of something tearing through the air came from behind them. ¡°Seventh Uncle, we¡¯re here.¡± Qin Yang, with sharp eyes, spotted Qin Long, who was riding the Green-Eyed Spirit Snake, and quickly called out. Hearing the voice, Qin Long lightly tapped his foot. The Green-Eyed Spirit Snake gracefully turned its body and flew towards them. ¡°How are you, are you alright?¡± Before the Green-Eyed Spirit Snake landed, Qin Long had already leaped off, landing in front of them. Seeing his son¡¯s pale face devoid of blood, his expression changed, and he asked nervously, ¡°Are you hurt?¡± ¡°It¡¯s nothing serious, dad.¡± Qin Feng felt a wave of warmth in his heart and quickly said, ¡°I just got bumped earlier, causing some internal blood disruption. With a few days of rest, I¡¯ll be fine.¡± Qin Long grabbed his wrist, probing his son¡¯s body with True Yuan. Discovering it was only a minor injury, he sighed in relief and then angrily said, ¡°That Li Tianchou has such audacity, making my son be a scout for him. Hmph, if anything happened to Feng, did he think I couldn¡¯t deal with him?¡± ¡°Forget it, dad, now is not the time to be angry.¡± Qin Feng quickly persuaded, ¡°Lord Li was lured into a trap by that Evil Cultivator and got caught. Can you see if you can rescue him? If not¡­¡± He didn¡¯t finish, but Qin Long understood the unspoken meaning. If Li Tianchou couldn¡¯t be rescued, Qin Long alone wouldn¡¯t stand a chance against the Evil Cultivator, so it was best to take his son and Qin Yang and leave quickly to avoid a massacre. ¡°I understand. You two stay here and don¡¯t run around.¡± Qin Long instructed, ensuring they stayed put to avoid being lost if they had to escape. Then Qin Long leapt onto the Green-Eyed Spirit Snake¡¯s back, heading towards the mist ahead. When he reached the mist, Qin Long did not recklessly enter the array like Li Tianchou. Instead, he carefully observed, quickly recognizing the origins of the Yin Evil Formation. Then, he patted the snake¡¯s body beneath him. Feeling his intention, the Green-Eyed Spirit Snake¡¯s emerald eyes shot out two thick green beams, piercing through the Yin Evil Qi, extending from Li Tianchou¡¯s position to the altar at the array¡¯s center. PS: I was busy signing a contract this morning, so the update was a bit late. Those wanting to invest should hurry up¡ªthis book will definitely be published. Chapter 13 - Chapter 13: Chapter 13 Found Treasure Chapter 13: Chapter 13 Found Treasure Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation The Green-Eyed Spirit Snake¡¯s eyes could see through illusions and penetrate the Netherworld. This Yin Evil Formation was not too advanced, so it saw through it easily. Under Qin Long¡¯s command, its eyes shot out two beams of green light, directly targeting the critical point on the altar within the formation. ¡°Hmm?¡± Both Li Tianchou and the Black Robed Taoist were startled, not expecting such a sudden turn of events. While the two in the formation were still in doubt, Qin Long¡¯s voice transmitted in: ¡°Lord Li, where the green light points is the node of the Yin Evil Formation. If you don¡¯t break the formation now, when will you?¡± Hearing Qin Long¡¯s voice, Li Tianchou was immediately overjoyed. He hadn¡¯t expected this Foundation Establishment Early Stage Qin Family cultivator to have such means. Without hesitation, he shouted loudly, ¡°Daluo Magic Sword, Ten Thousand Swords Return to the Sect!¡± As he formed the sword technique with his fingers, the scattered Sword Qi instantly united, transforming into a ten-zhang Sword Qi, breaking through the ghost item¡¯s obstruction in front of him and slashing towards the spot illuminated by the green light. The Black Robed Taoist also heard Qin Long¡¯s words. Naturally, he wouldn¡¯t let Li Tianchou break his formation¡¯s node and destroy his Yin Evil Formation. Otherwise, without the array¡¯s support, in his current unhealed state, he would not be Li Tianchou¡¯s match. However, when a Sword Cultivator burst out with all their strength, their combat power was terrifyingly strong. Hence, Li Tianchou soon slashed away the Black Robed Taoist¡¯s White Bone Heart-Locking Hammer, extinguished several intercepting Foundation Establishment Ghosts, and with a fierce strike, hit the formation¡¯s node. Boom. The altar immediately collapsed halfway. The array shattered, and the Yin Evil Qi spilled out. The ghost items within the formation suddenly weakened, no longer as rampant as before. ¡°Hahaha¡­¡± Li Tianchou rarely laughed out loud a few times, then his face turned cold: ¡°Demon Path devil, you dare set an ambush here, intending to refine my soul into a ghost item? Hmph, today, I will slay you, so you can¡¯t even become a ghost!¡± Saying this, Li Tianchou¡¯s sword momentum surged, and he struck at the opponent. The Black Robed Taoist¡¯s face was as dark as water, his eyes full of sinister and venomous hatred: ¡°You deserve to die. You dare ruin my big plans. I will flay you and extract your tendons, making you endure the seventy-two types of torture of my White Bone Sect.¡± He dodged Li Tianchou¡¯s sword strike, then fiercely glared at Qin Long in the distance, raising his hand to summon six White Bone Skeletons, intending to have them withstand Li Tianchou¡¯s flying sword. At the same time, he sent three White Bone Heart Execution Needles towards Qin Long. The old Taoist harbored deep hatred for both, especially Qin Long, who had directed Li Tianchou to break his formation, gnashing his teeth in fury. However, even if Li Tianchou alone was already enough trouble for him, he still wanted to spare some effort to deal with Qin Long, which was a bit beyond his capability. Snap! Snap! Snap! With three crisp sounds, the Green-Eyed Spirit Snake¡¯s long tail lashed out, directly knocking away the White Bone Heart Execution Needles. Then, under Qin Long¡¯s command, its body twisted and sprang forward, reaching the Black Robed Taoist in an instant. The snake¡¯s body coiled and wrapped around two of the White Bone Skeletons, squeezing them into a twisted shape, breaking their tough bones into pieces. Of course, the Green-Eyed Spirit Snake also suffered a few scratches from the White Bone Skeletons. Although this spiritual snake had some divine skills, it was only at the Foundation Establishment Early Stage, with strength equivalent to the White Bone Skeletons. Its victory mainly relied on Qin Long¡¯s command. The White Bone Skeletons were merely undead spirit puppets crafted by the Black Robed Taoist, lacking spiritual intelligence, attacking recklessly, hence easily falling prey to the Green-Eyed Spirit Snake. Meanwhile, the remaining White Bone Skeletons were mostly slain by Li Tianchou¡¯s few sword strikes. Though those that survived were reduced to mere skulls still trying to bite. Li Tianchou wielded his sword towards the Black Robed Taoist, while the Green-Eyed Spirit Snake turned its gaze towards the ghost items. Being born a spiritual beast, it possessed innate intelligence superior to ordinary beasts, comparable to five or six-year-old children. The Green-Eyed Spirit Snake¡¯s race had a unique talent, being able to devour Yin Evil Ghost Objects to convert into its demon energy. Thus, it didn¡¯t assist Li Tianchou but pounced towards the ghost items. While Li Tianchou¡¯s flying sword was sharp and his sword light radiating, the Black Robed Taoist, being a Foundation Establishment Peak Demon Cultivator, was too formidable for the Green-Eyed Spirit Snake. Qin Long dared not risk it being severely injured by the duel. The instinct to avoid harm took precedence, and Qin Long didn¡¯t command his spiritual beast to assist either. In such a battle, a Foundation Establishment Early Stage spiritual snake would be of little help. As for Qin Long himself, he stayed in the background, occasionally casting spells to either ambush the Black Robed Taoist or assist the Green-Eyed Spirit Snake in fighting the ghost items to help his spiritual beast devour their souls. He would certainly not fight enemies on the front lines. As a Foundation Establishment Early Stage cultivator, it was wiser not to interfere with battles involving Foundation Establishment Late Stage cultivators. Being already injured, there was no need to further aggravate it. ¡°¡±¡± Besides, he was from the Beast Taming Sect. The greatest feature of the Beast Taming Sect¡¯s disciples in battle was to let their spiritual beasts fight first. If they could win, they fought; if they couldn¡¯t, it was best to stay far away. Qin Long felt that his own spiritual beast was far from being a match for that Black Robed Evil Cultivator, so it was best not to approach. Li Tianchou and that Taoist fought fiercely, and their spells shattered the altar. In the end, the Black Robed Taoist couldn¡¯t prevail and forcefully cast a few powerful spells to repel Li Tianchou, then turned to escape. But how could Li Tianchou let him leave alive? He gave chase, and the two fought continuously in the mountain forest, startling the birds and causing the beasts to flee in all directions. Qin Feng and his companion saw that the Black Robed Taoist and Li Tianchou were fighting farther and farther away, only then did they relax and walk towards the array. On the way, they saw Chen Hu and the others. At first, they thought Chen Hu and his group had perished, but after Qin Yang checked, he found that they were not dead, just unconscious due to the Yin Evil Qi entering their bodies. Upon careful thought, it seemed reasonable. After all, Chen Hu and his companions were merely Acquired Martial Artists; in the eyes of cultivators, they were mere mortals. There was no need to use powerful spells against them. Perhaps the Black Robed Taoist had intended to send these men into the Yin Evil Formation and refine their souls into ghost items. Qin Yang tried. With his cultivation near the late stage of Foundation Establishment, he could barely help these men expel the evil qi from their bodies, but it would also deplete his own spiritual power completely. After some thought, he decided not to act directly. After all, the battle was not yet over. What if the Black Robed Taoist returned to kill them? It was better to preserve his strength for now. After all, Chen Hu and the others were not going to die anytime soon. They could attend to their rescue once news from Li Tianchou¡¯s side arrived. Qin Feng and his companion arrived at the remnants of the Yin Evil Formation and immediately felt that the atmosphere here was several times colder than other places. This was because most of the Yin Evil Qi had already dispersed. If the array had not been broken, it would surely be even colder. The white frost on the plants and leaves, formed by condensed moisture, was evidence of this. ¡°Father, what about these people?¡± Qin Feng saw his father beside Zhao Jinglei and the others and quickly asked. ¡°Yin Evil Qi has entered their bodies, and ghost items have possessed them.¡± Qin Long shook his head and sighed, ¡°As a disciple from the Outer Sect of the Beast Taming Sect, I know how to deal with demon beasts. But these ghost items are not my forte. I cast a spell to temporarily suppress the fierce ghosts in their bodies so that the Yin Evil Ghost Qi wouldn¡¯t take their lives. But as for the specific ghost-expelling methods, we¡¯ll have to wait for Lord Li to return.¡± Qin Feng nodded understandingly and glanced at Zhao Jinglei. He noticed that the Zhao Family disciple¡¯s attire and accessories were all extremely exquisite and valuable. Not to mention, the small item beside him glowed with spirit light, appearing extraordinary. Unfortunately, their Qin Family was just a small clan. Even with Zhao Jinglei unconscious, they wouldn¡¯t dare to covet his treasures. Bored, Qin Feng wandered around the group, catching sight of the destroyed altar in the distance. He walked over to take a look and suddenly his eyes lit up as he picked up a few jet-black stones from the rubble. From behind, Qin Long walked over, glanced at them, and said, ¡°These are Netherworld Stones used by the Evil Cultivator to set up the Yin Evil Formation. Aside from Demon Cultivators, only a few other cultivators would use these things. If you want them, keep them. You might find use for them if you join a sect in the future. Some disciples of the Beast Taming Sect have spiritual beasts of the Yin Evil type. You could trade these for spirit stones if you encounter them.¡± Hearing that these black stones could be exchanged for spirit stones, Qin Feng instantly felt delighted and couldn¡¯t help but continue searching the ruins for more Netherworld Stones. Qin Long shook his head without concern and handed him a palm-sized pouch, saying, ¡°This is a storage bag. The space isn¡¯t large, but you can use it for now. I¡¯ll get you a better one later.¡± ¡°Thank you, Dad.¡± Qin Feng happily took the palm-sized bag, feeling its soft texture, apparently made from some kind of beast skin. He poured a bit of his spiritual power into the storage bag, performed a simple ritual to refine it, and then extended his newly cultivated divine sense inside, leaving a trace of divine sense imprint. At the same time, he discovered that the storage bag really was as his father had said, with only about ten feet of space inside. This was considered the lowest level among storage bags. However, for Qin Feng, who possessed such a magical artifact for the first time, it was already beyond surprising. He placed the Netherworld Stones into the storage bag, then took them out again to feel them. It was alright; the spiritual power consumed when taking out or putting in items was not too much. Qin Long saw his son¡¯s excitement and just smiled indulgently, then turned his gaze towards the direction where the fighting still emanated. He wondered if Li Tianchou could kill that Evil Cultivator. If not, there might be more trouble in the future. Qin Feng was still immersed in the joy of treasure hunting, searching through the ruins of the altar. Indeed, he found several materials containing Yin Evil Qi used for arranging arrays, which he collected. Just as he was about to search another area, he suddenly felt something underfoot. Clearing away two broken stones, he found an ancient copper pot. ¡°¡±¡± Chapter 14 - Chapter 14: Chapter 14: Ghost Locust Blocking the Way Chapter 14: Chapter 14: Ghost Locust Blocking the Way Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation ¡°Huh?¡± Qin Feng was somewhat surprised, not expecting to find such an item. Could it be some sort of magical artifact? His heart began to beat faster. As a novice who had just stepped into cultivation, he was very curious about everything in the cultivation world. Moments ago, his father had given him a low-level storage bag, and he was already overjoyed. If he could get his hands on a magic artifact, he would be even more thrilled. Of course, if this copper pot were a spiritual artifact, that would be a great fortune. After all, the entire Qin Family didn¡¯t have many spiritual artifacts. Although there were several Foundation Establishment cultivators in the family, being vassals of the Beast Taming Sect meant that from the Old Family Master to his father, they all considered spiritual beasts as their main strength. Therefore, having or not having spiritual artifacts wasn¡¯t a big concern. Because they focused most of their efforts and finances on nurturing spiritual beasts, they certainly didn¡¯t have extra resources to exchange for spiritual artifacts. As a result, the Qin Family, through generations, had only a few spiritual artifacts passed down. With an excited heart, Qin Feng reached out and picked up the ancient-looking copper pot, examined it closely, and immediately felt a bit disappointed. Although the copper pot had an unusual shape and was engraved with many fantastical demon beast patterns, the whole pot lacked any spirit light and was even a bit damaged. There were several fine cracks on the pot. Even if it was once a spiritual artifact, it probably couldn¡¯t be used now. Still, he held onto a sliver of hope and tentatively poured his internal spiritual power into the pot, thinking that perhaps it retained some power. Yet as he infused it with his bit of spiritual power, it was like sinking a bull into the sea, with no reaction whatsoever. Qin Feng was somewhat unwilling and injected his divine sense into the pot, only to find an endless darkness, unable to see anything. However, this made him realize that the copper pot was unusual. If it were an ordinary item, his divine sense would have penetrated it instantly, not giving him such a feeling. But now, as his divine sense entered, it felt like an endless dark and dead space, elusive and ungraspable. Never mind, better put it away for now and deal with it later. Qin Feng flipped his hand, placing the copper pot into his storage bag, and continued happily rummaging through the chaotic altar ruins, finding a dozen pieces of various spiritual materials containing Yin evil. This made him quite pleased, as all of these could be exchanged for spirit stones. At this moment, the sounds of battle in the distance ceased. Qin Feng and Qin Yang grew a bit nervous. Although Li Tianchou had the upper hand, fiercely chasing down the black-robed evil cultivator, battles were perilous, prone to sudden reversals. Who knew if that evil cultivator had some life-saving method? If he turned the tables and killed Li Tianchou, they would be in great danger. Fortunately, Qin Long soon said, ¡°Don¡¯t worry, Li Tianchou won.¡± After all, he was a Foundation Establishment cultivator and had more than just the Green-Eyed Spirit Snake. Although his other spiritual beasts hadn¡¯t reached the Foundation Establishment Stage and weren¡¯t unleashed in the fight. Earlier, as Li Tianchou and the evil cultivator fought farther away, Qin Long released another spiritual beast, the Skylark, to monitor their battle, fearing an unexpected situation and to ensure they could escape in time. Although the Skylark only had early Qi Refining strength, its flying speed was very fast, ideal for scouting the battle¡¯s progress. Qin Feng and Qin Yang breathed sighs of relief. Sure enough, in no time, Li Tianchou¡¯s figure flew over from the distance. However, he was not unscathed, his face pale as snow, and he had two wounds, showing that the evil cultivator¡¯s desperate counterattack had not been easy to deal with. Despite this, his eyes didn¡¯t show any anxiety, instead, they held a trace of joy. Because after killing the evil cultivator, he not only obtained the treasures on the enemy but also saved Zhao Jinglei and others. After returning to the Commandery, he surely would receive additional benefits. ¡°Congratulations, Lord Li, for slaying the malevolent evil cultivator.¡± Qin Long cupped his hands towards Li Tianchou, ¡°On behalf of the women of Kun City who were harmed by the evil cultivator, thank you, Lord Li.¡± ¡°No need to be so polite, Brother Qin.¡± Li Tianchou coughed lightly twice, indicating his internal organs and meridians were also severely injured, or he wouldn¡¯t be in this state. ¡°All evil beings deserve to be exterminated by everyone. Besides, killing that villain was originally my task here in Kun City.¡± He walked forward, crouched down to examine Zhao Jinglei, and frowned, looking at Qin Long. Qin Long shook his head, saying, ¡°If injured by demon beasts, I could treat it, but I am not proficient in dealing with such Yin Ghost objects.¡± Li Tianchou felt helpless. As a Sword Cultivator, killing was no problem for him, but saving lives was beyond his expertise. Moreover, although the Yin Evil Ghost Object within Zhao Jinglei and others¡¯ bodies was temporarily suppressed by Qin Long¡¯s spell, this was not a long-term solution. If the Yin Evil Qi was not expelled, the fierce ghosts entrenched within them would continuously sap their Primordial Qi and erode their vitality. Prolonged exposure would cause severe damage to their health. The current issue was how to take these Zhao Family members away. Thinking for a while, Li Tianchou hesitated before turning to Qin Long, ¡°Brother Qin, could you help by using your spiritual beast to take these youngsters back to the Commandery with me?¡± ¡°Alright.¡± Qin Long nodded without rejecting. There was no reason to refuse. Although traveling to the Commandery would take some time, having saved Zhao Jinglei and others, the Zhao Family should show some gratitude. Otherwise, if Zhao Family members found themselves in trouble in the future, who would care to help? In fact, if Li Tianchou had a large flying escape magical artifact, he wouldn¡¯t have wanted Qin Long to accompany him to the Zhao Family to share in the rewards. But no matter how fast his sword-controlling speed was, he could only take one person with him at most. He couldn¡¯t just leave the rest of the Zhao Family disciples behind. Reluctantly, he had to ask Qin Long to go along. The Yin Evil Qi and fierce ghosts in Zhao Jinglei must be quickly dealt with, as the fierce ghost being merely at the early Foundation Establishment Stage gave no room to delay. This urgency prevented Li Tianchou from considering alternative, slower means of return. Not lingering, Qin Long released the Green-Eyed Spirit Snake, placing Zhao Jinglei and the others on its back, using mana to secure them in place. After preparing, Qin Long instructed Qin Feng and Qin Yang, ¡°Gather everyone and leave immediately.¡± ¡°It¡¯s late at night. The previous battle¡¯s noise might attract other demon beasts. If I¡¯m not here, you might not be able to fend them off.¡± Qin Yang quickly responded, ¡°Don¡¯t worry, Uncle Seven, I will gather everyone and return to the city now.¡± Even without Qin Long¡¯s orders, he wouldn¡¯t dare to stay much longer. After all, with only peak Qi Refining Six Layer strength, and of the Inspection Department¡¯s soldiers, only three team leaders were Innate martial artists. The rest were Acquired martial artists, who would easily suffer against powerful demon beasts. Seeing their compliance, Qin Long nodded without further words, ascended to the spirit snake¡¯s back, and, controlling it, flew toward the Commandery with Li Tianchou. Watching their figures fade into the night sky, Qin Yang wasted no time, drawing a bamboo whistle from his robe and blowing it sharply. The whistle was to gather all the soldiers of the Inspection Department here. Amplified by his spiritual power, the sound traveled far. Soon, there were hurried footsteps, and scattered groups converged. Qin Yang counted them, ensuring everyone was present, then sighed in relief. ¡°Brother Yang, what happened to Chen Hu and the others?¡± One close team leader, seeing Chen Hu and others on the ground, was alarmed. Those were his subordinates, so he was most concerned about their safety. ¡°It¡¯s fine, just some Yin Evil entering their bodies, clouding their minds.¡± Qin Yang instructed, ¡°Some of you help carry them back. I will drive out the Yin Evil when we return.¡± Hearing this, the others relaxed. As long as they were fine. A few soldiers cut branches to make simple stretchers and carried Chen Hu and the others. ¡°By the way, where did Lord Qin go? Earlier, I saw Lord Qin¡¯s spirit snake flying overhead.¡± Another large, robust middle-aged man asked. He was Zhao Meng, the strongest of the three Innate martial artists in the Inspection Department. ¡°Uncle Seven and Lord Li are heading to the Commandery.¡± Qin Yang briefly explained the situation, then said, ¡°Now that the evil cultivator is dead, Kun City will soon be peaceful. This forest is not safe, let¡¯s leave quickly.¡± ¡°Right, let¡¯s go.¡± Zhao Meng and the others realized staying was unwise. The battle¡¯s spiritual energy waves could attract demon beasts, leading to another arduous fight. They hurried back along the way they came. Upon exiting the forest and reaching the Chaotic Burial Mound road, they felt relieved. The forest was uneven and without proper paths, filled with lurking poison insects and serpents, risky to traverse. Using the Chaotic Burial Mound¡¯s path, they moved ahead. Once past it, the way would be smooth. At that moment, soldiers at the front suddenly exclaimed, ¡°Why has the big locust tree guarding the Chaotic Burial Mound fallen?¡± Qin Feng looked ahead and saw the hollow ghost locust, which several people had to embrace, fallen on the road, blocking their way. Chapter 15 - Chapter 15: Chapter 15: Opportunity to Upgrade Chapter 15: Chapter 15: Opportunity to Upgrade Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation ¡°What, the Ghost Locust has fallen?¡± The crowd behind heard the news and was stunned. The brothers, Qin Feng and Qin Yang, exchanged glances, their expressions changing slightly. Others might not know, but the disciples of these cultivator families were well aware of the Ghost Locust. The enormous Ghost Locust had been cultivated by the three families of Kun City for six to seven hundred years. It was specifically used to guard the Chaotic Burial Mound, to prevent the emergence of powerful Ghost Items that could harm the populace. Since the two of them were at the back of the team, they hadn¡¯t seen the state of the Ghost Locust with their own eyes. They didn¡¯t know if the Ghost Locust had become sentient and left its encampment, or if some powerful demon monster had arrived. Qin Yang said solemnly, ¡°Be on guard and beware of ambushes.¡± The soldiers obeyed the command, instantly gathering together to form a combat formation. Long swords were drawn, long spears stood upright, and crossbows were loaded. Their eyes warily scanned the surroundings. They often followed Qin Long in hunting down bandits and chasing after villains. They had even participated in slaying demon beasts before. Thus, they were very experienced in combat. After hearing Qin Yang¡¯s command, they immediately entered combat mode. Qin Yang¡¯s eyes flickered with spirit light as he performed a few detection spells but found no demon beasts. Only then did he cautiously walk to the front of the team and approach the Ghost Locust. After a closer look, he instantly discovered the reason the Ghost Locust was blocking their path. It wasn¡¯t that the Ghost Locust had a death wish, ignoring the ban of the three cultivator families of Kun City. Nor was it that some powerful demon monster had pushed it down. The reason the Ghost Locust was lying on the ground blocking their path was that this six-hundred-year-old tree had been cut down at the roots. Qin Yang examined the smooth, neat cut at the tree¡¯s roots, reaching out to touch it. He suddenly felt a sting in his palm. It was the Sword Qi left at the cut! Qin Yang breathed a sigh of relief. ¡°No problem. This Ghost Locust was cut down by Lord Li Tianchou.¡± The soldiers of the Inspection Department also relaxed upon hearing this. As long as it wasn¡¯t the work of a demon beast, that was good. Everyone gathered around the Ghost Locust, feeling amazed. However, Team Leader Zhao Meng and other team leaders who knew the true purpose of the Ghost Locust whispered to Qin Yang, ¡°Why did Lord Li cut down this Ghost Locust? Without it, Ghost Items might emerge from the Chaotic Burial Mound and cause trouble in the future!¡± ¡°Perhaps Lord Li accidentally cut it down while fighting that Evil Cultivator, or maybe he noticed something unusual about the Ghost Locust after killing the Evil Cultivator and then cut it down in one stroke.¡± Qin Yang speculated on two possibilities and then said, ¡°I will report this matter to the family head. Don¡¯t worry about the Ghost Items. At most, each family will send people to sweep through the area briefly. Anyway, no extremely powerful Ghost Items have ever emerged from this Chaotic Burial Mound. As for the future, we can cultivate another Spiritual Tree to deter Ghost Items. Otherwise, there¡¯s no way to assign cultivators here permanently. No cultivator from the three families would be willing to live here.¡± The team leaders, being martial artists, had limited knowledge of the methods of cultivators. They couldn¡¯t intervene in such matters. Since Qin Yang said he would report it to the family head, they believed the cultivator families would handle it. Meanwhile, Qin Feng, like the other soldiers, curiously observed the Ghost Locust, spending extra time looking at the hollow tree heart. The tree was so tall that even lying on the ground, it was as high as an ordinary house. Feeling reflective, he patted the tree trunk, then suddenly felt a tremor in his mind. It wasn¡¯t from the Ghost Locust. Although the Ghost Locust had developed spiritual intelligence before being cut down, it was just an ordinary Tree Demon. Besides attracting Ghost Items into its hole to devour, it had no other significant abilities. Even if it did, it wouldn¡¯t dare use them against humans. Otherwise, it would have been killed by the cultivators of Kun City long ago. The obscure tremor was transmitted from the Ancient Bronze Pot in his storage bag. The Copper Pot wasn¡¯t a life form. It couldn¡¯t fully express its meaning, only conveying a vague intent, but Qin Feng understood that it wanted to eat the Ghost Locust, or rather, devour it. This startled Qin Feng. It seemed he indeed had found a treasure. A treasure capable of transmitting intent was no ordinary item. Ordinary Magical Treasures couldn¡¯t do it. At least, they had to be Spiritual Treasures with spiritual nature. For ordinary cultivators at the Qi Refinement Realm, magic artifacts were the main weapon of choice. Cultivators at the Foundation Establishment Stage could use Spiritual Artifacts. But whether it was magic artifacts or spiritual artifacts, they were only simplified prototypes of Magical Treasures. Only after forming the Golden Core did a cultivator have the energy and ability to refine and use a Magical Treasure. As for Spiritual Treasures with spiritual nature, which could protect themselves automatically, they had to be refined by cultivators at the Nascent Soul Stage or higher. With this discovery, Qin Feng felt both excited and worried. If someone discovered the level of this Copper Pot, it would definitely lead to killing and treasure seizing. In the worst case, they might even annihilate his entire Qin Family for the sake of leaving no witnesses. Qin Feng thought it would be best to discuss this with his father when he returned. If things didn¡¯t work out, he would offer this Spiritual Treasure to the sect after he joined. It should earn him considerable benefits. However, was he really willing to do so? There was no need to think much; he knew he definitely wasn¡¯t willing. Whoever got hold of such a treasure would be reluctant to give it up easily. Qin Feng hesitated for a moment. However, he had more immediate concerns. Letting the Copper Pot devour the Ghost Locust in front of so many people wasn¡¯t feasible. Otherwise, word would spread. But he wanted to try. He wanted to see what reaction the Ancient Bronze Pot would have after devouring the Ghost Locust. How could he avoid all these people, though? Just as he was pondering, Qin Yang had already gathered everyone to leave quickly. They were still on the outskirts of Qifeng Mountain, near the Chaotic Burial Mound. It was best not to linger. The group resumed their journey, but after a few steps, Qin Feng stopped. ¡°What is it?¡± Qin Yang asked from the side. ¡°I need to relieve myself.¡± Qin Feng said as he stepped behind a tree. ¡°Don¡¯t go into the woods. Just stay by the roadside. It¡¯s late at night; no one will see you.¡± Qin Yang joked, ¡°Besides, you haven¡¯t fully grown yet. Why be shy?¡± ¡°I¡¯m not afraid of being seen, just worried you¡¯ll be jealous.¡± Qin Feng retorted. The team leaders around Qin Yang burst into laughter. ¡°You brat, jealous of you?¡± Qin Yang nearly blew his nose in anger. But he could only swallow his frustration. He couldn¡¯t possibly take it out and compare sizes with his cousin here. They weren¡¯t kids anymore, doing such childish things. Even if they did, who would they find to be the judge? Glancing at the burly Zhao Meng, Qin Yang shivered and quickly dismissed the thought. Qin Feng walked a few more steps to the front of the Ghost Locust. The Ghost Locust was huge, with dense branches and leaves, covering a large area as it lay on the ground. He turned back and saw no one was watching. He quickly took out the Ancient Bronze Pot and inserted a section of the Ghost Locust branch into the pot. Qin Feng, given his low cultivation, couldn¡¯t lift the entire Ghost Locust. He also didn¡¯t know how the pot planned to devour it, so he could only try this way. As soon as he inserted the Ghost Locust branch, the Ancient Bronze Pot trembled slightly, and a massive suction force emerged, pulling the entire Ghost Locust into the pot. Qin Feng curiously looked at the pot¡¯s opening, puzzled about how such a large Ghost Locust fit inside. Suddenly, the Copper Pot flew out of his hand and headed toward his forehead. With a booming sound, the Copper Pot entered Qin Feng¡¯s Sea of Consciousness, hovering steadily in the center. ¡°What¡­¡± Qin Feng was stunned. What was happening? How did the Copper Pot enter his Sea of Consciousness? Before he could react, pure spiritual power surged from the Copper Pot, flowing through his brow and circulating throughout his body. Qin Feng quickly ran his cultivation technique, refining this spiritual power and sending it into his dantian. The spiritual power, though not much, was extremely pure. With just a few circulations, he could turn it into his own spiritual power. After he fully absorbed the spiritual power, he noticed his cultivation had reached the peak of the first layer of the Qi Refinement Realm, ready to break through to the second layer at any moment. Chapter 16 - Chapter 16: Chapter 16: Demon Refining Pot Chapter 16: Chapter 16: Demon Refining Pot Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation ¡°` Qin Feng felt immense joy in his heart as he sensed the abundant spiritual power within himself. What a stroke of fortune! He never expected that this copper pot could also feed back spiritual power to aid his cultivation. The source of this spiritual power must be the spiritual energy returned after the copper pot devoured the Ghost Locust. Although this spiritual energy was likely not even a tenth of the Ghost Locust¡¯s original spiritual power, it was exceptionally pure and could be directly absorbed and converted. This was unlike the spiritual energy from nature, which had to be repeatedly refined before it could be utilized. This was an incredible surprise for Qin Feng. Originally, given his cultivation speed, it would be commendable if he could advance to the second level of Qi Refinement within six months, and this was with the various elixir pills and spiritual objects his father prepared for him. Without those elixir pills and spiritual objects, given his aptitude, it would take him at least one to two years to advance from the first to the second level of Qi Refinement. But now, with the copper pot¡¯s feedback, he was already at the stage where he could advance at any time. Qin Feng thought that now he should set his sights farther. If he could reach the third or even fourth level of Qi Refinement before entering the sect, he would undoubtedly gain more benefits upon arriving at the sect. As for the idea of turning in this copper pot to the sect, he had completely abandoned it. He wasn¡¯t foolish. How could he bear to give away such a treasure that could assist in cultivation? Cultivators endure arduous cultivation for the sake of advancing in their cultivation, gaining more longevity and stronger divine skills. This copper pot was his greatest opportunity¡ªhow could he let it go to others for nothing? As it is said, ¡°What heaven bestows is not to be refused, or misfortune will follow.¡± Since this treasure had fallen into his hands, if he did not make good use of it, it might bring bad luck and disaster instead. As his thoughts were swirling around, he heard Qin Yang¡¯s voice calling from a hundred steps away: ¡°Feng-di, are you done? Hurry up and catch up, or you¡¯ll be entangled by a female ghost and lose your virginity.¡± Hearing the call, Qin Feng immediately put his thoughts aside, answered quickly, and turned around to catch up with the group. It was fortunate that it was late at night with the forest trees providing cover, so Qin Yang and the others couldn¡¯t see the situation here. If he didn¡¯t return to the group quickly and Qin Yang came looking for him, he would undoubtedly discover the disappearance of the Ghost Locust. Following the group, they returned to Kun City without any surprises or dangers. After returning to the Inspection Department¡¯s residence, since it was late at night and Qin Yang still had to expel the Yin Evil from Chen Hu and others, he was not comfortable letting Qin Feng return alone. Therefore, he let Qin Feng rest in his father¡¯s room for the night and return to the family at dawn. Since Qin Feng¡¯s cultivation was still low, he couldn¡¯t help with expelling the Yin Evil and thus used fatigue as an excuse to rest in his family¡¯s room at the Inspection Department. Of course, the joy of acquiring such a treasure left him sleepless. Previously, because he was in front of others, he couldn¡¯t show his emotions; now alone, he could no longer suppress the smile on his face. He carefully locked the doors and windows of the room, sat cross-legged on the bed, and tried to summon the ancient copper pot with his divine sense to study it. However, as soon as his divine sense entered the copper pot, a sudden change occurred. A vast consciousness surged into his spirit through his divine sense. This sudden change nearly blew up Qin Feng¡¯s sea of consciousness. He cursed internally, ¡°This is completely different from last time!¡± Last time when his divine sense entered, it was completely dark with nothing to see and no response. This time, it was so aggressive, not giving him any chance to resist, forcing a torrent of consciousness into his sea of consciousness. Qin Feng dared not think further, immediately focused his mind, and guarded his heart to prevent his spirit from being overwhelmed by this consciousness. If this wild consciousness knocked him out, he would have no defense and might awaken with his will completely crushed, becoming an idiot. After a long while, he finally exhaled slowly. After merging with that consciousness, he understood the origin of the copper pot in his sea of consciousness. It was an Immortal Artifact, a very powerful ancient Immortal Artifact. Only, it had been destroyed long ago. But this was good news for Qin Feng. If this treasure wasn¡¯t damaged, how could it have fallen into his hands? This Immortal Artifact was called the Demon Refining Pot. According to the consciousness conveyed by the Demon Refining Pot, Qin Feng discovered this pot was not the true Demon Refining Pot. It was a replica made by a powerful Demon King from the Heavenly Demon Great World, based on the Innate Spiritual Treasure, the Demon Refining Pot, of a supreme existence. Even though it was a replica, it was still extremely powerful. This Demon Refining Pot wasn¡¯t a magical treasure used for combat but a treasure used to suppress demon beasts. Any demon beast accepted into the Demon Refining Pot would be branded and turned into the pot¡¯s Dao Soldier. The Demon King from the Heavenly Demon Great World used this pot to suppress all enemy demon clans, turning them into his own demon soldiers and ordering them to fight for him. That Demon King earned a notorious reputation in the ancient battles, until the final decisive battle where he provoked a more formidable existence and was slain. Even the Demon Refining Pot was struck by a mighty hand, severely damaged, and fell into a corner of the ancient battlefield. It was unknown where that black-robed Evil Cultivator unearthed it. That Evil Cultivator evidently did not know the full origin of the Demon Refining Pot. He only sensed that it was extraordinary and wanted to refine it into a Ghost Dao Magical Treasure, thus harming cultivators and seizing their souls. He even targeted Li Tianchou, intending to seize his soul to refine into an Artifact Spirit. Unfortunately, the Evil Cultivator didn¡¯t foresee that Qin Long had the Green-Eyed Spirit Snake. Collaborating with Li Tianchou, they broke his Yin Evil Formation, and in his attempt to steal, he ultimately lost his own life. Qin Feng, feeling the intermittent consciousness from the Demon Refining Pot in his mind, roughly analyzed the situation. Although the consciousness was incomplete, he glimpsed some incredible formidable existences. Like the countless demon clans covering the sky and earth, a vast battlefield spanning tens of thousands of miles, the ferocious battles between humans and demons, colossal demon beasts thousands of meters tall, divine weapons breaking through the heavens¡ªalthough these scenes flashed by quickly, they left him in awe. After the initial shock, all that remained was endless joy and longing. Joy at obtaining such a treasure, and longing to one day reach such powerful levels, splitting the heavens with one sword, suppressing powerful Demon Immortals with one palm. Of course, these were just fantasies. He was still a rookie in cultivation and couldn¡¯t imagine himself conquering the world based on a fleeting shadow. What was more important now was how to improve his strength and join a sect. With this Demon Refining Pot, his future path would undoubtedly become smoother. The only pity was that the Demon Refining Pot was seriously damaged. Its original nine-layer Grotto Heaven had turned to dust, leaving only a desolate land of about a hundred square feet on the bottom layer. The rest of the nine-layer Grotto Heaven had crumbled, leaving only the core Dao Principle. To restore the Demon Refining Pot to its former state, he would need to integrate nine Grotto Heaven Worlds into it and use various heavenly materials and earthly treasures to repair the pot¡¯s damage. Qin Feng shook his head, dismissing the idea. This was not something he could accomplish now. For now, he should think about how to use the Demon Refining Pot to enhance his cultivation. To the powerful Demon King who crafted it, the Demon Refining Pot was merely a Cave Heaven Treasure for carrying Dao Soldiers. As for its lesser functions to enhance Dao Soldiers¡¯ strength, those were inconsequential. But what a demon king saw as insignificant, Qin Feng valued greatly. Because this Demon Refining Pot was a replica, it differed significantly from the original Innate Spiritual Treasure. The Demon Refining Pot in Qin Feng¡¯s sea of consciousness emphasized the word ¡°refine.¡± It could not only refine demons into controlled demon soldiers but also refine all deceased demon bodies into the purest spiritual energy to aid cultivation. Of course, the Demon King¡¯s intention was likely to use this spiritual energy for the demon beasts subdued by the Demon Refining Pot. But Qin Feng had no subordinates of demon beasts and no desire to share the spiritual energy with any beasts. He himself was short on spiritual energy, so how could he spare any for demon beasts? However, aside from nurturing demon soldiers and refining spiritual energy, what Qin Feng valued most was the Demon Refining Pot¡¯s ability to refine a demon beast¡¯s bloodline divine power and merge it into itself. This was incredibly powerful. Because demon beasts greatly valued their bloodline. In the early stage of cultivation, they particularly relied on their bloodline to birth divine skills to fight against other beings. Even after reaching deep cultivation levels, they still depended heavily on bloodline suppression to make other demon clans submit. The function of merging other demon beasts¡¯ bloodlines and gaining their bloodline divine powers was astonishingly powerful. Although Qin Feng had read simple descriptions of cultivation realms in the family¡¯s Scripture Pavilion, knowing that after becoming an Immortal, all races gradually placed less importance on divine skills and more on Daoist skills. Because Daoist skills were derived from Dao Principles, possessing infinite power far greater than divine skills. But Qin Feng couldn¡¯t see that far yet. He only knew he had obtained a great opportunity, one that was perfect for him. When he joined the Beast Taming Sect, with this Demon Refining Pot, he could use its abilities to help his spiritual beasts gain more divine skills. By then, leveraging powerful spiritual beasts to win a spot as an Inner Sect Disciple should be no problem, right? Chapter 17 - Chapter 17: Chapter 17: Washing the Marrow and Cleansing the Bones Chapter 17: Chapter 17: Washing the Marrow and Cleansing the Bones Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation The only thing Qin Feng regretted was that the original nine levels of the Demon Refining Pot now only had a tiny space left at the bottom, which meant he could only focus on cultivating a single spiritual beast at present. To cultivate other spiritual beasts, he would have to fill up the other eight levels first. Qin Feng sighed lightly, but he quickly collected his thoughts. People should not be too greedy; the benefits he gained now were already a blessing from the heavens. If he were too greedy and focused on repairing the Demon Refining Pot, it would only bring trouble with his current abilities. He had not yet entered the Beast Taming Sect, so the matter of taming spiritual beasts could be dealt with later. The most important thing now was to use the Demon Refining Pot to enhance his cultivation. After all, the Demon Refining Pot could refine the flesh of demon beasts, reverting it to its original essence and transforming it into pure spiritual energy to assist in cultivation. If he could refine a few more demon beasts, his cultivation would increase rapidly. But the question was, where could he get demon beasts? Even if he advanced to the second level of Qi Refinement, he would still be a low-level small cultivator without the qualifications to hunt demon beasts for training. Qin Feng summoned the Demon Refining Pot to play with it for a while but quickly sent it back to his Sea of Consciousness, deciding that he would not take this precious item out unless absolutely necessary. Otherwise, if someone saw a small cultivator in the early stage of Qi Refinement controlling such a treasure, it would definitely arouse suspicion. At this moment, voices came from a room not far away. It was Qin Yang helping Chen Hu and others expel the Yin Evil from their bodies; they were expressing their gratitude to Qin Yang after regaining consciousness. Qin Yang would likely come to the adjacent room to rest soon. Qin Feng did not want to attract Qin Yang¡¯s attention, as he had used the excuse of being tired to come to his room early. He reached out and fanned at a few steps away from the candlestick, producing a breeze that extinguished the candle with a puff. The spiritual energy feedback from the Demon Refining Pot had improved him significantly, making it easier to use spells. The room plunged into darkness. Qin Feng wanted to sit cross-legged and cultivate, but the excitement of suddenly obtaining such a precious item left him unable to calm his mind, making cultivation impossible. Since he couldn¡¯t cultivate, he might as well get a good night¡¯s sleep and think about it tomorrow. Qin Feng lay on the bed, his mind racing with thoughts. At one moment, he felt his future was bright; at another, he felt anxious, fearing his Sea of Consciousness¡¯s Demon Refining Pot would be discovered. He tossed and turned for a long time before falling asleep in a daze. ¡­¡­ Three days later. Qin Family Mansion. Qin Feng had finished his cultivation and was reading a travelogue of a cultivator to broaden his knowledge. At that moment, he suddenly heard his father¡¯s call from the courtyard, ¡°Feng¡¯er, Father is back.¡± The voice carried a hint of joy. Qin Feng got up to greet him. He had just taken two steps when he saw his father stride in. ¡°Haha, Feng¡¯er, come and see what good things I brought for you.¡± Qin Long smiled broadly and took out a pile of bottles and jars from the storage bag at his waist, laughing as he spoke, ¡°This time, I met the family head in the Commandery. The family head helped me buy back Yellow Bud Pills, Breaking Barrier Pills, and other elixirs. There are also these few items for you to use when you tame spiritual beasts. Additionally, these two bottles contain Marrow Cleansing Liquid and Bone Strengthening Pills, which are good for enhancing your aptitude. I have already prepared a medicinal bath for you; use it tonight to avoid attracting attention. These things work best when used at a young age and low cultivation level. It will be much harder to improve your aptitude when your cultivation is higher.¡± ¡°Thank you, Father.¡± Qin Feng was also happy upon hearing this. Although he already had the Demon Refining Pot to assist in cultivation, it was still an external object with its own limits. When his cultivation reached a certain realm, relying solely on the Demon Refining Pot to enhance it would not be realistic. Enhancing one¡¯s aptitude was fundamental. Those with excellent root bones not only saved more time in cultivation but also faced fewer obstacles when advancing. However, the Marrow Cleansing Liquid and Bone Strengthening Pills, while enhancing aptitude, did not have outstanding effects; otherwise, a small family like the Qin Family would not have obtained them. ¡°These things are just as agreed with the family head before.¡± Qin Long cheerfully took out a piece of inner armor from the storage bag, ¡°This time, while escorting Zhao Jinglei and others to the Commandery¡¯s Zhao Family with Li Tianchou, we established a good relationship. The Zhao Family was generous and gave many things. However, those things were not useful to you, so I exchanged them for Spirit Stones and bought you this piece of Spiritual Armor.¡± He handed the inner armor to Qin Feng and smiled, ¡°This is a basic-level spiritual inner armor made from the beast skin of the Rhino Armor Beast. When in danger, it will activate the defensive magic within, forming a layer of earth element spirit light outside your body, enough to protect you from most dangers. It¡¯s not that I don¡¯t want to get you stronger armor, but your current strength is insufficient. Even if given to you, you wouldn¡¯t be able to utilize its full power, and it would only attract unwanted attention. I specifically chose this inner armor for you; although it¡¯s at the basic spiritual artifact level, it can form a defense as long as you can activate the magic within it. Such inner armor, usable at the early stage of Qi Refinement, is rare and expensive. If the Zhao Family hadn¡¯t given so many good things, I wouldn¡¯t have been able to afford it. Now, try it on.¡± ¡°Hmm.¡± Qin Feng was touched but said nothing, taking the inner armor and putting it on. As his spiritual power surged into the inner armor, it shrank to fit him perfectly snug. ¡°Not bad.¡± Qin Long looked at his son wearing the inner armor and couldn¡¯t help but praise, ¡°You have some of my style from when I was young.¡± Qin Feng found this both funny and exasperating. His appearance was quite different from his father¡¯s, except for his eyes. He had not inherited his father¡¯s square face and beard, looking much more handsome in contrast. It was said he inherited more of his mother¡¯s looks. Unfortunately, his mother passed away early, and Qin Feng could hardly remember her face, having only seen her when he was one or two years old, over a decade ago. At night, Qin Feng soaked his entire body in a wooden tub filled with a rich medicinal fragrance. Qin Long had prepared this medicinal bath to cleanse his marrow and tendons, ensuring the Marrow Cleansing Liquid was used early, so the other branches of the family wouldn¡¯t covet it. Though Qin Long would not part with the Marrow Cleansing Liquid, letting it be known would cause unnecessary trouble, so using it early would not only enhance his son¡¯s aptitude but also end any undue interest. If they wanted Marrow Cleansing Liquid, they should exchange for it themselves. Qin Long would not spoil certain members of the family. The Marrow Cleansing Liquid was not easy to come by; only with years of contributions to the family did the family head agree to purchase it. In the wooden tub, Qin Feng felt like a frog being slowly boiled, his skin reddening from the heat. He dared not come out, for that would render the medicinal bath useless, so he repeatedly circulated his cultivation technique, absorbing the medicinal power while dissipating some heat. Steam continually rose from his head. As the water temperature rose, the medicinal properties and spiritual energy in the bath liquid, driven by his cultivation technique, flowed into his body, causing waves of soreness. ¡°Open your mouth.¡± Qin Long suddenly said, placing a Bone Strengthening Pill into his mouth. As the pill entered his stomach, a cool sensation spread through his five internal organs, limbs, and bones, bringing immense relief. The previous soreness was unbearable. Unfortunately, this relief was short-lived. The coolness quickly turned into potent medicinal power, sticking to his bones and seeping inside, causing a sensation akin to being bitten by countless ants, extremely painful. The Bone Strengthening Pill enhanced his bones¡¯ strength and refined away impurities, improving his root bones. However, the side effects were significant. Had he not pretended to be strong to avoid worrying his father, Qin Feng would have cried out in pain. Chapter 18 - Chapter 18: Chapter 18: Hide and Bide Chapter 18: Chapter 18: Hide and Bide Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation Qin Feng tightly bit his teeth, enduring the bone-eroding pain. He made no sound and continued to exercise his cultivation technique, absorbing the medicinal power to cleanse his meridian channels and improve his aptitude. As he repeatedly operated the cultivation technique Dragon and Tiger Profound Returning Origin Skill, his spiritual power quietly increased each time he absorbed the medicinal power. He had initially planned to break through to the second level of Qi Refinement after cleansing his meridians and improving his aptitude. By then, he could attribute his rapid advancement to the effect of the medicinal bath his father had prepared. But at this moment, he focused on absorbing the medicinal power, forgetting to suppress the spiritual power in his dantian. As he circulated the cultivation technique, he unintentionally expanded the veins and acupoints in his body. His spiritual power hit an extreme, and naturally, he advanced. When Qin Long discovered his son had broken through to the second level of Qi Refinement, he was dumbfounded. What kind of situation was this? Hadn¡¯t his son been cultivating for just a short time and was currently improving his aptitude through the medicinal bath? How did he break through so suddenly? Could it be that my son is the legendary cultivation prodigy encountered once in a millennium? It must be. Otherwise, how could this happen? Qin Long¡¯s heart pounded. He was somewhat excited. With such talent, there would be no worry for his son¡¯s future advancement. Perhaps, his son could become the second Golden Core Cultivator in the family after the founder of their clan! The first-generation ancestor who founded the Qin Clan was an Inner Sect Disciple of the Beast Taming Sect. Unfortunately, this ancestor passed away young and could not protect the family for long. This left the Qin Family to develop slowly in a small place like Kun City without further progress. Qin Long thought that his son was now the family¡¯s hope. Whether he could enter the Inner Sect and lead the family to prosperity would depend on his future achievements. In the bathtub, Qin Feng did not know about his father¡¯s high expectations. He continued to grit his teeth and endure the sensations of soreness, numbness, pain, and itchiness within his body. He also had no time to think about his breakthrough to the second level of Qi Refinement. He relied solely on his strong willpower to persist. He had never thought that the combination of Marrow Cleansing Liquid and Bone Strengthening Pill would be so painful. However, improving one¡¯s aptitude and maximizing potential is never easy. One must endure all kinds of suffering to make progress. Who knows how much time passed before the pain began to diminish and the medicinal effects started to wane. Qin Feng felt a sense of relief, experiencing a sudden sensation of clarity and lightness, an illusion of being as light as a swallow. This was because the impurities in his body had been cleansed. Upon opening his eyes, he immediately saw his father grinning broadly, laughing silently without noticing that he had awakened. Surprised and puzzled by the situation, Qin Feng hesitated and waved his hand in front of his father¡¯s face. Only then did Qin Long come to his senses, exclaiming, ¡°Oh, it¡¯s over so soon. My son is indeed a natural prodigy.¡± Qin Feng smirked. Was it really that fast? It felt like a long time to me. After enduring such intense pain, his body was still weary. With his father¡¯s help, he stepped out of the bathtub. Qin Long then cast a spell, summoning a stream of clear water to rinse him off again. Otherwise, the thick scent of medicine on his body would be uncomfortable. ¡°Feng¡¯er.¡± After Qin Feng changed his clothes, Qin Long spoke with a face full of joy: ¡°I didn¡¯t expect your aptitude to be so good. Just using these auxiliary spiritual objects to cleanse your body, you¡¯ve managed to advance to the second level of Qi Refinement.¡± ¡°Ha ha, the Qin Family¡¯s prosperity is in sight. When you enter the Inner Sect of the Beast Taming Sect, you will definitely lead our family out of Kun City and secure a better spirit vein. By then, what weight can the Zhao Family in Tieling carry?¡± Qin Feng was speechless. He hadn¡¯t expected that a minor breakthrough could make his father so excited, to the point of belittling the Zhao Family? But it was understandable. Such rapid cultivation progress was usually seen only in exceptionally talented individuals or the offspring of great families with abundant resources, allowing them to advance swiftly. Yet, cultivation built on resources alone could never compare to true talent. More than ninety percent of cultivators in the cultivation world faced ever-slowing progress in the later stages. Only true geniuses could continue to break through realms. Qin Feng wanted to tell his father that he was not a genuine prodigy, but ultimately, he didn¡¯t mention the Demon Refining Pot. It wasn¡¯t that he doubted his father¡¯s ability to keep secrets, but knowing would only add to his father¡¯s worries, fearing for his safety if someone coveted the treasure. Moreover, the formidable being who had broken the Demon Refining Pot was likely still alive. If the pot was frequently mentioned, it might draw that being¡¯s attention, and who knew whether it would bring fortune or disaster. For mysterious entities he knew little about, it was better to maintain reverence and caution. Thus, Qin Feng decided not to add to his father¡¯s worries unless he became powerful enough to protect the treasure. The cultivation world was filled with countless mystical techniques. Someone might detect his treasure from subtle clues. Hence, he had to be extremely cautious. Qin Long excitedly talked to his son for a long time, discussing historical events and imagining the future, sharing tips about joining the Outer Sect of the Beast Taming Sect, whom to avoid, and how to gain benefits. Despite having heard many things before, Qin Feng listened intently, knowing his father repeated these reminders out of concern for his safety and to advise him on securing more cultivation resources within the sect. Talking far into the night, with the moon high in the sky, Qin Long finally stopped his advice reluctantly. He instructed, ¡°Don¡¯t go out during this time. Stay in the courtyard and cultivate. After ten days or so, then go out. By then, even if people notice you¡¯ve advanced to the second level of Qi Refinement, it won¡¯t cause such a stir.¡± ¡°After all, I brought back a lot of elixir pills from the Commandery this time. If anyone asks why you advanced so quickly, just say it¡¯s because you took a lot of elixir pills.¡± Qin Feng nodded: ¡°I understand. I won¡¯t go out for these few days.¡± He was well aware of the principle of standing out too much. Although other elders in the family wouldn¡¯t resort to underhanded tactics for a spot, they might increase their focus on cultivating him, considering him the family¡¯s hope for revival. But the news of his rapid advancement could spell trouble if it spread beyond the family. The Qin Family was, after all, just a small family and might not protect him from harm. Not to mention that some rivals of the Beast Taming Sect wouldn¡¯t hesitate to kill a promising enemy before he matured. Even in the small Kun City, things were not entirely stable. Kun City housed three cultivator families, each aligned with different powers, sharing cooperation and rivalry. The Wang Family in the west was relatively minor, being vassals of the Fog Hidden Sect, with no feud with the Beast Taming Sect. But the Huang Family in the north was associated with one of the Beast Taming Sect¡¯s rival sects, the Sword Cultivation Sect of Taiyi Mountain Golden Light Cave, renowned for their Golden Light Cave Heaven, a thriving sect possibly even stronger than the Beast Taming Sect. Qin Long wanted his son to reclusively cultivate at home for a while to avoid the Huang Family. Should they discover Qin Feng¡¯s progress, they could either harm him secretly or report to their sect, leading to a potential fatal threat to Qin Feng. ¡­ Qin Feng was even more patient than Qin Long anticipated. He secluded himself for over half a month, only then stepping out to relieve his mind by walking in the family¡¯s forest. He encountered some clan cultivators during his walk, but they were mostly ordinary members focused on tending the family¡¯s spiritual fields and didn¡¯t bother probing his cultivation level. It wasn¡¯t until over a month later that a clan member noticed Qin Feng had advanced to the second level of Qi Refinement. The news caused quite a stir among the younger generations of Kun City¡¯s three major families. Qin Feng managed to advance to the second level within two months, making him a minor prodigy among the ordinary talent pool of his peers. If he survived, he might achieve Foundation Establishment and become a pillar of the Qin Family¡¯s future. However, Qin Feng attributed his rapid progress to the numerous spiritual elixirs his father, Qin Long, provided. This explanation eased concerns about him attracting undue attention from elders of the rival families, who themselves had children enjoying plentiful resources. Nevertheless, young family members competing with Qin Feng for sect admission were disheartened. His performance nearly guaranteed one spot, intensifying competitions for the remaining slots. A few of those youths often lamented, wishing their fathers were like Qin Long¡ªhaving accomplished enough for the family to earn resources. With similar supports, they might have progressed faster than Qin Feng. Third Uncle, who watched the Book Collection Pavilion, was particularly anxious about his grandson¡¯s chances now that Qin Feng claimed a spot. Even if Third Uncle wanted elixir pills for his grandson, years of stable service in the family¡¯s Scripture Pavilion meant fewer adventures and fewer accumulated resources compared to Qin Long. Qin Feng often visited the Pavilion for cultivation travel notes and various cultivation books, causing his presence to unsettle Third Uncle, who sighed inwardly each time. His grandson¡¯s average aptitude previously allowed fair competition, but now competing against Qin Long¡¯s resource-backed efforts seemed insurmountable. Chapter 19 - Chapter 19: Chapter 19 Spiritual Toad Chapter 19: Chapter 19 Spiritual Toad Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation The Qin Family had three hundred acres of spiritual farmland, which was the foundation of their establishment in Kun City, as well as their main source of income. However, due to the distribution of spirit veins, the spiritual farmland of the Qin Family was scattered in many parts behind their family estate, within a vast mountain forest. Over the years, generation after generation of cultivators from the Qin Family managed these three hundred acres of spiritual farmland in an orderly fashion, each plot of land being clearly allocated for the cultivation of specific spiritual objects. Although thirty percent of the annual yield from the spiritual farmland had to be handed over to the Beast Taming Sect, in return, the Qin Family gained the sect¡¯s protection, allowing their family to thrive safely in Kun City. Without the shelter provided by the Beast Taming Sect, during times when the Qin Family had no Foundation Establishment cultivator to hold the fort, it would be hard to defend so much spiritual farmland, and they might even risk being raided for their spirit veins. This was the plight of small families and weak forces; without strong backing, they could be wiped out at any moment. At noon, Qin Feng and his father were having a meal together. Today, his father was on leave and did not have to report to the Inspection Department. Just as the father and son were almost done eating, the Fifth Elder, Qin Guanshan, who managed the family¡¯s spiritual farmland, arrived. He came to find Qin Long. Although the Fifth Elder was in charge of all the spiritual farmland¡¯s cultivation matters, his cultivation wasn¡¯t high, only at the late stage of Qi Cultivation. The reason he became the family elder was due to his advanced age and because he had the most experience among all the spirit plant cultivators in the family. All the cultivators tending to the spiritual farmland had been guided by him. ¡°Uncle Fifth, why have you come?¡± Qin Long and his son quickly put down their bowls and chopsticks and stood up to greet the Fifth Elder. Although Foundation Establishment cultivators could fast to some extent, it was not necessary. Apart from when they were in seclusion, they would habitually eat some food during other times. Especially food imbued with Spiritual Energy, which was beneficial to their cultivation. Given that the Qin Family had three hundred acres of spiritual farmland, Qin Long never lacked for food. ¡°Go ahead and finish your meal first,¡± the Fifth Elder waved his hand, ¡°We can talk after you are done.¡± Although he was a generation senior to Qin Long, his strength was far inferior, so he didn¡¯t put on the airs of an elder before Qin Long. ¡°It¡¯s okay, we¡¯re almost done.¡± Qin Long invited the Fifth Elder to sit and said with a smile, ¡°Uncle Fifth, feel free to speak your mind. You usually don¡¯t come unless there¡¯s something important. Do you need my help with something this time?¡± ¡°Indeed,¡± the Fifth Elder did not exchange pleasantries and went straight to the point, ¡°Lately, the family¡¯s Spirit Fruit Garden has been frequently pilfered. At first, I thought someone inside was being dishonest, but after careful investigation, I discovered it was a Spiritual Toad causing trouble.¡± ¡°A Spiritual Toad?¡± Qin Long¡¯s expression changed slightly, and he asked quickly, ¡°What kind of Spiritual Toad? Is it poisonous?¡± As someone from the Beast Taming Sect, he had always been very interested in spiritual beasts. So, upon hearing there was a spiritual beast in their spiritual farmland, he immediately became intrigued. If possible, he wouldn¡¯t mind having another spiritual beast. ¡°I couldn¡¯t recognize it. The family¡¯s Scripture Pavilion doesn¡¯t have such a Spiritual Toad in the Spiritual Beast Record,¡± the Fifth Elder shook his head, ¡°I organized people to catch that Spiritual Toad, but it turned out to be quite strong, leaping nimbly, and quickly jumping into the Spiritual Well. I also sent people down to search for it, but they couldn¡¯t find it. If it never appeared again, that would be fine, but the guards in the Spirit Fruit Garden reported that whenever they let their guard down, the Spiritual Toad would leap out of the well and continue to devour spirit fruits. The little thing might not look very big, but its appetite is astonishing. If we let it continue like this, the spirit fruits to be offered to the Beast Taming Sect this year may fall short.¡± At this point, a trace of worry appeared on the Fifth Elder¡¯s face, ¡°I approached the Clan Leader, who said his Shadow Leopard is not good at fighting in water and suggested I come to you for help.¡± ¡°I see.¡± Qin Long nodded, ¡°Alright, I¡¯ll get ready and go with you to take a look.¡± Qin Feng, who was listening nearby, also became interested. As a prospective disciple about to join the Beast Taming Sect, he, too, had a keen interest in demon beasts. In fact, all the young members of the Qin Family shared the same attitude towards spiritual beasts. Being an affiliated family of the Beast Taming Sect, they were influenced from a young age to desire a spiritual beast of their own, riding high above the land and the skies, for it must be a dashing sight. ¡°Dad, let me go with you. I¡¯ve never seen a demon beast of the Toad species before.¡± Qin Long looked at his son¡¯s eager face and couldn¡¯t help but laugh, ¡°Alright, then come along. We can check out the type of Spiritual Toad it is. If it¡¯s suitable, we might catch it for you to keep as a spiritual beast, though you might not like it.¡± The reason he said this was because the first spiritual beast captured by a Beast Taming Sect disciple usually became their Lifebound Spiritual Beast. The cultivation technique of the Beast Taming Sect was very unique. After reaching the Foundation Establishment Realm, they could merge with their Lifebound Spiritual Beast to fight as one. Hence, choosing the first spiritual beast was extremely important for all the disciples of the Beast Taming Sect, as it affected not only their appearance after merging but also their combat effectiveness and future potential. Qin Feng had heard from his father that one of the nine major affiliated families of the Beast Taming Sect, the Long Family, kept some Jiao Dragons. If a promising junior emerged from their family, they would directly provide a young Jiao Dragon as their Lifebound Spiritual Beast, offering immense potential and leaving over ninety percent of ordinary disciples far behind. Qin Feng, though he didn¡¯t aspire to compare with those from such prominent families, still didn¡¯t like the idea of having a toad as his Lifebound Spiritual Beast. Otherwise, if he merged with his Lifebound Spiritual Beast in battle, he might end up becoming the Toad Prince. As the most handsome young man in the Qin Family, he thought it was better to maintain his image. Compared to a toad, he preferred a more formidable spiritual beast. This matter wasn¡¯t urgent; after joining the Beast Taming Sect, he would have plenty of opportunities to find his ideal spiritual beast. Besides, he hadn¡¯t even joined the sect yet. Even if given a spiritual beast, he wouldn¡¯t know the technique to refine it into his Lifebound Spiritual Beast. Qin Feng shrugged, not minding his father¡¯s jesting. Although he didn¡¯t plan to have the Spiritual Toad as his Lifebound Spiritual Beast, he couldn¡¯t help but feel a bit curious. After all, he hadn¡¯t seen many demon beasts. Apart from the few spiritual beasts his father owned, he had only seen the Shadow Leopard owned by the Clan Leader and a few Earth Splitting Barbaric Bulls kept by the family. The Earth Splitting Barbaric Bull was an ordinary spiritual beast with great strength and a relatively gentle nature, possessing the Earth Splitting Divine Power. They were reared by the family to help plow the spiritual farmland. Qin Long and his son followed the Fifth Elder directly to the family¡¯s Spirit Fruit Garden. The Spirit Fruit Garden had walls around it, with many prohibitions set up within to prevent birds and beasts from entering and stealing the spirit fruits. Logically, with these prohibitions in place, no demon beast should have been able to intrude. Yet, the Spiritual Toad had done just that, leaving everyone puzzled as to where this little creature had come from. Chapter 20 - Chapter 20: Chapter 20 Ambush in the Dark Chapter 20: Chapter 20 Ambush in the Dark Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation Qin Family¡¯s Spirit Fruit Garden was not very large, covering more than a dozen acres and planted with seven or eight kinds of Spirit Fruit Trees. Although most of the Spirit Fruits had not yet matured, Qin Feng still caught a whiff of enticing fruit fragrance as he entered. However, apart from the thirty percent of the Spirit Fruits that needed to be handed over to the sect, most of the remaining fruits would be sold by the family to exchange for other spiritual objects to supplement household expenses. Therefore, the number of Spirit Fruits that the Qin Family cultivators could receive each year was not much. This year, however, it might be even less. Because a Spiritual Toad, which appeared from nowhere, devoured a large quantity of Spirit Fruits. If it was not dealt with soon, there might not be any harvest of Spirit Fruits this year. If it had been a common Spiritual Toad, that would be fine, even a few more Demon Beasts would not have mattered. But this Spiritual Toad had an astonishing appetite. Though it did not look large, it could easily devour food more than a hundred times its own weight. As Qin Long and the others arrived, the five or six family cultivators who were carefully guarding the garden came forward one after another. They were the Spirit Plant Cultivators responsible for this orchard. Spirit Fruit Trees were relatively more difficult to manage than ordinary Spirit Grains and other objects. Therefore, the income of a few cultivators in the Spirit Fruit Garden was higher compared to other ordinary family members. However, this year¡¯s Spirit Fruits had encountered a problem, undoubtedly causing their income to decrease. Thus, these cultivators were also anxious. When they saw the Fifth Elder bringing Qin Long, they immediately gathered to ask about the situation. ¡°Look at those few Spirit Fruit Trees that matured earlier, within less than two days, they were entirely devoured by that Spiritual Toad.¡± The Fifth Elder led Qin Long and his son to the depths of the garden, pointing angrily at several Spirit Fruit Trees. Following the direction pointed out by the Fifth Elder, Qin Feng saw several Spirit Fruit Trees that should have been full of ripe fruits. Now, only a few green fruits hung on the branches, and his heart ached instantly. In just two days, that foul toad devoured so many Spirit Fruits. Was it trying to cut off the Qin Family¡¯s source of income? After passing the family evaluation at the end of the year, he would be sent to the Beast Taming Sect. At that time, he would need the family¡¯s support to provide some cultivation resources. If this year¡¯s Spirit Fruits failed, and they could not exchange them for enough Spirit Stones, he probably would not receive much support from the family upon entering the Beast Taming Sect. So, this toad was not only robbing the family¡¯s Spirit Fruits but also essentially robbing his cultivation resources. It was intolerable! Initially, he had considered taking a look at the Spiritual Beast to broaden his horizons. But now, those thoughts vanished, and he only wanted to deal with the Spiritual Beast as soon as possible. Most people were like this, indifferent when it did not concern them, holding a mentality of watching the excitement without being affected. But when it involved their own interests, it was a different matter altogether. Undoubtedly, the theft of Spirit Fruits by the Spiritual Toad had infringed upon Qin Feng¡¯s interests. So, with anger in his eyes, he surveyed the orchard¡¯s surroundings, but found no unusual signs. Qin Long frowned at those Spirit Fruit Trees that had been completely devoured: ¡°So many have been stolen?¡± ¡°Indeed. If this continues, the family might have to save some resources from elsewhere to meet the Spirit Objects required for the tribute to the Beast Taming Sect.¡± The Fifth Elder said helplessly: ¡°Besides, I don¡¯t know where that beast broke through the prohibition. I personally checked it once but found no sign of the prohibition being damaged.¡± ¡°Oh?¡± Qin Long was a bit surprised: ¡°It could actually sneak in without damaging the prohibition. Could it be some special Spiritual Beast?¡± Although the prohibition in this Spirit Fruit Garden was not too sophisticated, it was enough to ward off ordinary Demon Beasts. He did not expect any Demon Beast to sneak in without a sound. It likely had some unique Bloodline Divine Power; otherwise, it wouldn¡¯t be easy to achieve this. With this thought, Qin Long¡¯s interest grew. He cast a spell, from which his eyes emitted a flash of Spirit Light as he investigated for a moment, finding no trace of the Demon Beast. Then he stretched out his hand, grabbed the air, and sniffed. ¡°Yes, there is indeed Demon Energy here.¡± Seeing his son looking at him curiously, Qin Long smiled and said: ¡°This is the ¡®Smell Wind Skill,¡¯ a spell researched by a predecessor in the Beast Taming Sect specifically for detecting Demon Energy. Sect spells cannot be passed outside, so I can¡¯t teach you. However, this spell is one of the most common spells in the Beast Taming Sect. Once you become an Outer Disciple of the Beast Taming Sect, you will naturally learn it.¡± Qin Feng nodded upon hearing this, feeling more eager to join the Beast Taming Sect. Qin Long¡¯s nose sniffed lightly from time to time, following the direction of the Demon Energy, gradually reaching the Spirit Well within the Spirit Fruit Garden. Peering into the well, he found no trace of the Spiritual Toad. He was about to release the Green-Eyed Spirit Snake from the Spiritual Beast Bag to explore the well. The Green-Eyed Spirit Snake also excelled in water environments, moving freely. This was why the Old Clan Chief had sent the Fifth Elder to seek Qin Long¡¯s help. However, Qin Long soon stopped his actions and did not summon the Green-Eyed Spirit Snake. If the Spiritual Toad sensed the aura of the Green-Eyed Spirit Snake and hid, it might be difficult to find. If the issue wasn¡¯t resolved in one go and the Spiritual Toad became wary, capturing it later would be even harder. He couldn¡¯t guard the Spirit Fruit Garden every day. What if the Spiritual Toad came back to steal the Spirit Fruits again? Qin Long turned to the Fifth Elder and asked: ¡°Uncle Wu, does the Spiritual Toad steal the Spirit Fruits regularly?¡± The Fifth Elder thought for a moment and said: ¡°The Spiritual Toad usually comes out to steal and eat in the afternoon when people are few or at night when no one is around.¡± ¡°I see!¡± Qin Long looked at the sun, which had just begun to set, and said: ¡°In that case, could you please ask everyone to leave the Spirit Fruit Garden for now? I will stay hidden and see what abilities that Demon Beast has, which dares to linger in our Qin Family¡¯s Spirit Fruit Garden.¡± ¡°Be careful, try not to damage the Spirit Fruit Trees during the fight. These have been cultivated by the family for many years to grow to this stage.¡± The Fifth Elder pointed to a few particularly tall Spirit Fruit Trees with some concern and reminded: ¡°Especially these few, which are several hundred years old, bear fruit once every ten years. You must protect them!¡± ¡°Don¡¯t worry, Uncle Wu. I know.¡± Qin Long nodded, comforting him with a smile. Seeing this, the Fifth Elder said no more and led the few family members out of the orchard. Qin Feng did not leave. He came specifically to broaden his horizons with his father, naturally unwilling to leave without even seeing the Demon Beast. Besides, with his low strength, as long as he kept his distance, he need not worry about alarming the Spiritual Toad. As for Qin Long, with his level of Dao Cultivation, casting the Qi Concealing Technique should pose no problem in deceiving the Spiritual Toad. After all, the Spiritual Toad was not strong; otherwise, it wouldn¡¯t have been wary of the Spirit Plant Cultivators in the orchard. Chapter 21 - Chapter 21: Chapter 21: The Frog in the Well Wants to Swallow the Sky Chapter 21: Chapter 21: The Frog in the Well Wants to Swallow the Sky Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation Dozens of feet away from the Spiritual Well, behind a Spirit Fruit Tree that was six or seven hundred years old, the father and son duo hid quietly. Qin Long used the Concealing Breath Technique, not a trace of aura leaking from his body. Demon Beasts were mostly highly perceptive. If that Spiritual Toad detected the aura of a Foundation Establishment Cultivator, it wouldn¡¯t dare show itself easily. However, Qin Long was from the Beast Taming Sect and had learned many techniques to deal with Demon Beasts, so concealing his own aura was relatively easier for him. Of course, this was also because his Dao Cultivation was much higher than that of the Spiritual Beast. If it were a Demon Beast of the same level, it would require a more advanced technique to hide one¡¯s aura at such a close distance. Qin Feng, on the other hand, didn¡¯t mind. As a mere small Qi Refinement Realm Cultivator at the second level, his aura became even weaker after Qin Long cast a spell on him, making him seem like an ordinary mortal who didn¡¯t understand cultivation. The father and son hid behind the tree, secretly watching the Spiritual Well, waiting for the appearance of the Spiritual Toad. Time passed slowly, bit by bit. The air was still, and the scorching sun made the sand on the ground hot. The branches and leaves of the Spirit Fruit Tree wilted listlessly. If it weren¡¯t for Qin Feng having already stepped onto the path of cultivation and being able to use his cultivation technique to resist the heat, he would have been complaining loudly by now. Just as he was getting a bit impatient, his father gently pulled him. Qin Feng was startled and quickly followed his father¡¯s gaze. From the Spiritual Well dozens of feet away, a faint sound of water suddenly came. Then, they saw a completely green Spiritual Toad, only the size of a child¡¯s fist, leap from the bottom of the well, crouching on the sun-heated edge of the well, seemingly unconcerned about the temperature. Its snow-white belly puffed up and down, and its lively eyes scanned around. After finding no signs of human presence, it let out a few soft croaks and jumped down from the edge of the well. Just as the Fifth Elder described, this Spiritual Toad jumped as if it were flying. With a slight hop, it landed several feet away. In just a few hops, it arrived under a Spirit Fruit Tree not far from Qin Feng and his father. Its mouth opened, a flash of light appeared, and the Spiritual Toad extended its long tongue to roll up a bright red Spirit Fruit and swallowed it. The Spirit Fruit was quite large, even bigger than the Spiritual Toad itself, but as the toad¡¯s tongue retracted into its mouth, it swallowed the Spirit Fruit effortlessly. ¡°Huh?¡± Qin Long was surprised. ¡°It¡¯s actually a Swallowing Sky Toad? No wonder it¡¯s so voracious.¡± ¡°Swallowing Sky Toad?¡± Qin Feng looked at his father in confusion. He had not seen any records of the Swallowing Sky Toad in the Spiritual Beast Atlas of the family¡¯s Scripture Pavilion. Qin Long didn¡¯t answer him. Because, just as he spoke, the Swallowing Sky Toad had already sensed his presence. The toad¡¯s body suddenly turned. Its round, beady eyes looked toward the two hiding behind the tree with a mix of doubt and caution. Qin Long chuckled lightly, no longer hiding. He stood up and walked toward the Swallowing Sky Toad, speaking as he went, ¡°The Swallowing Sky Toad is a very special type of toad Demon Beast, known to devour the sky. It¡¯s not simple; its belly forms its own space.¡± ¡°This type of Spiritual Toad is rare in number. After refining its cultivation to Great Success, it¡¯s extremely powerful. If swallowed into the space within its belly, one¡¯s life and death would be entirely at its mercy.¡± ¡°But unfortunately, this Demon Beast is too difficult to nurture. The Swallowing Sky Toad requires a tremendous amount of Spiritual Objects to grow its internal space and advance in cultivation.¡± ¡°As its cultivation progresses, the resources it needs will increase. The cultivation resources that could nurture thousands of disciples in a sect might not even be enough to raise a single Swallowing Sky Toad.¡± He sighed regretfully. He had hoped to catch a Spiritual Beast that, even if he couldn¡¯t use, could be sold to provide cultivation resources for his son. But this Swallowing Sky Toad was too expensive to keep, leaving him feeling helpless. It seemed the family¡¯s Spirit Fruit Garden losses this year were inevitable. After all, no one would buy such a massive eater to raise. If the Swallowing Sky Toad had advanced to a second-rank Demon Beast, it would be better. It could be sold to Artifact Refiners to make Space Artifacts using its internal space. But judging by its current state, it was only in the late stage of the first rank. Its internal space was too small to be useful. Demon Beasts were classified from the lowest first rank to the highest ninth rank. A first-rank Demon Beast was equivalent to a cultivator in the Qi Refinement Realm, while a second-rank was akin to a Foundation Establishment Cultivation, and so on. Above the ninth rank was the realm of Demon Immortals. Qin Long sighed regretfully, forming hand seals and preparing to cast a spell. Since he couldn¡¯t recover the family¡¯s losses, he would avoid causing more damage. He cast a spell, ¡°Draw a Prison,¡± intending to trap the Swallowing Sky Toad and then kill it. Unexpectedly, the Swallowing Sky Toad was incredibly agile. Just as Qin Long¡¯s spell fell, it leaped out of the spell¡¯s range. With a few more hops, it jumped back to the Spiritual Well and dove in. Qin Long was a moment too slow to catch the toad, his face darkening. As a Foundation Establishment Cultivator, even though Beast Taming Sect cultivators relied heavily on their Spiritual Beasts, making their battle power relatively weak, it was shameful to fail to catch a first-rank late-stage Demon Beast. Angered, Qin Long summoned his Green-Eyed Spirit Snake. The snake quickly understood its mission, slithering down the well wall. It moved as if the smooth well wall were flat ground, with no risk of falling. The Green-Eyed Spirit Snake slipped into the well water, tracking the Swallowing Sky Toad¡¯s scent. Qin Feng closed his eyes, sending a wisp of Divine Sense into the snake, keeping a close watch on the toad fleeing underwater. Let¡¯s see where you can run in this underground stream. The Green-Eyed Spirit Snake¡¯s vertical pupils glowed with a green light, locking onto the Swallowing Sky Toad. Even in the total darkness of the underground stream, it could see the toad clearly. Nearby, Qin Long waited with a smile for the Green-Eyed Spirit Snake to bring the toad back. But soon, his brow furrowed. The Swallowing Sky Toad swam almost as fast as the Green-Eyed Spirit Snake, fleeing in a straight line and quickly covering miles without stopping. The special Beast Taming Technique allowed Qin Long to attach his Divine Sense to the snake. Otherwise, even a Foundation Establishment Cultivator¡¯s Divine Sense couldn¡¯t reach so far. In the underground stream, the Green-Eyed Spirit Snake chased the Swallowing Sky Toad. Suddenly, light appeared ahead, an exit to the surface. The toad leapt out of the water and slipped into nearby vegetation. For the snake, this was no problem. It locked onto the toad¡¯s scent and continued the chase. However, when it emerged and saw the surroundings, the snake quickly retreated and returned the way it came. Chapter 22 - Chapter 22: 22. Sword Washing Pond Chapter 22: 22. Sword Washing Pond Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation ¡°¡±¡± Beside the spiritual well, Qin Feng walked over and leaned in to take a few glances into the well. However, apart from seeing his own reflection of a handsome youth in the clear well water, he saw nothing else. Straightening his collar in the water¡¯s reflection, Qin Feng withdrew his gaze and looked towards his father, preparing to ask about the Swallowing Sky Toad again. As a novice cultivator, he was very interested in all the knowledge about the cultivation world. However, when he looked at his father, he suddenly paused. Because he noticed his father¡¯s face was a bit ashen. ¡°What¡¯s wrong, Father, did that Swallowing Sky Toad escape?¡± Qin Feng asked. In his mind, it was possible that the Swallowing Sky Toad had depended on its small size to squeeze into a tight tunnel under the spiritual well to evade the Green-Eyed Spirit Snake¡¯s pursuit. The Green-Eyed Spirit Snake was so large that many small tunnels couldn¡¯t accommodate it. Qin Long¡¯s face was grim. He took a deep breath and whispered, ¡°That little thing did escape, but it wasn¡¯t because the Green-Eyed Spirit Snake couldn¡¯t catch it. We just can¡¯t pursue it any further.¡± ¡°Why?¡± Qin Feng asked in surprise. ¡°Because the Swallowing Sky Toad fled to the surface, and that area is the Huang family¡¯s stronghold in the northern part of the city.¡± Qin Long smiled bitterly, ¡°I didn¡¯t expect that the underground stream from this spiritual well would connect to the Huang family¡¯s Sword Washing Pond.¡± ¡°Ah?¡± Qin Feng was stunned, ¡°The Huang family¡¯s Sword Washing Pond?¡± He looked puzzled, not expecting such an outcome. The Huang family in the northern part of Kun City was a vassal of Taiyi Mountain Golden Light Cave. Although Taiyi Mountain Golden Light Cave was a Sword Cultivation Sect, the Huang family did not establish their foothold in Kun City through Sword Dao. The Huang family truly relied on their sword forging skills to survive. Of course, their sword forging inheritance was quite ordinary, with few masterpieces. It was said that the Huang family¡¯s most powerful elder once forged a flying sword of spiritual artifact level twenty years ago. After offering it to Taiyi Mountain Golden Light Cave, they received a reward. The truth of this matter was uncertain. According to Qin Feng¡¯s father, Taiyi Mountain Golden Light Cave wouldn¡¯t regard the Huang family highly just because of a single spiritual artifact-level flying sword. Moreover, since then, that Great Elder of the Huang family had never forged another spiritual artifact flying sword, leading many to speculate in private that the elder might have been exceptionally lucky that time. The entire Qin family believed this, and hearing it often, Qin Feng thought the same. The Huang family controlled a small refined iron mine in a mountain in the northern part of the city. Each year, they could forge dozens of magic swords and other magic artifacts, selling them in their shop in Tieling County to exchange for cultivation resources, which was completely different from the Qin family¡¯s focus on farming the spiritual fields. Usually, the two families mocked each other. The Qin family called them blacksmiths, while the Huang family ridiculed them as farmers. Both families could hardly see eye to eye and rarely avoided verbal sparring when they met. However, the conflicts between the Qin and Huang families were limited to verbal disputes and rarely escalated to physical fights. It was not that they didn¡¯t want to, but their strength was similar. Fighting recklessly would only result in casualties, which was not worth it. Yet, fierce battles were not absent. About a hundred and twenty years ago, several promising young members of the Qin family died in succession, leaving only one Foundation Establishment cultivator to hold the fort. The Huang family seized the opportunity to attack, nearly exterminating them. It wasn¡¯t until Qin Guanbao, who had advanced to Foundation Establishment in his sect and had the formidable Shadow Leopard spiritual beast, returned with a few sect mates, that the Qin family managed to withstand the Huang family¡¯s offensive. If not for Qin Guanbao¡¯s timely return upon receiving the news, the Qin family might have been annihilated, and their three hundred acres of spiritual fields would have become the foundation of the Huang family¡¯s rise. The Qin family, too, did not miss opportunities to hit the Huang family when they were down. After all, not only the Huang family coveted the Qin family¡¯s three hundred acres of spiritual fields, but the Qin family also eyed the refined iron vein occupied by the Huang family. In Kun City, with limited resources, development necessitated suppressing the other side. But when the strengths were comparable, both families exercised restraint, as they both had hidden trump cards beyond the Foundation Establishment cultivators on the surface. A slight misstep could lead to disaster. Thus, usually, they only exchanged words and rarely engaged in combat. Unless the stakes were high, there was no need for a deadly fight that would leave both sides weakened and others benefiting. This ¡°others¡± referred to the Wang family in the western part of Kun City. The Wang family, vassals of the small sect Fog Hidden Sect, could not afford to offend either side. They usually played the mediator, smoothing things over between the two families. Of course, secretly, they hoped the two families would fight until both were dead, leaving Kun City to their domination. The Sword Washing Pond was located within the Huang family¡¯s most important Sword Casting Valley, which was considered their fundamental territory, with many Huang family cultivators residing and forging magic swords there. Qin Long dared not let anyone find traces of the Green-Eyed Spirit Snake because everyone in the Huang family knew it was his spiritual beast. If someone saw it, they would undoubtedly think he had intentionally infiltrated the Huang family¡¯s stronghold and spied on their secrets, which could lead to significant trouble. So, as soon as he saw the scenery outside the pond, he immediately let the Green-Eyed Spirit Snake dive back into the water and return the way it came. Watching the several-zhang-long Snake agilely emerge from the spiritual well and coil beside Qin Long, Qin Feng couldn¡¯t help but ask, ¡°Father, if we didn¡¯t catch the Swallowing Sky Toad this time, what if it comes back to steal spirit fruits again?¡± ¡°No problem.¡± Qin Long gathered True Yuan in his hand, pointed like a sword, and inscribed several runes on the well¡¯s edge. Then he took a scale from the Green-Eyed Spirit Snake. He cast a spell, embedding the scale among the runes, immediately emitting a faintly vicious aura. Qin Long smiled, ¡°The Swallowing Sky Toad is also a sensitive demon beast. This scale, activated by my spell, will emit the Green-Eyed Spirit Snake¡¯s aura. As long as this scale is here, that Swallowing Sky Toad won¡¯t dare appear.¡± ¡°That¡¯s good.¡± Qin Feng watched his father casting spells with great interest and felt an itch to try it himself. Unfortunately, with his current Qi Refinement level, apart from summoning the Dragon and Tiger Illusion, he could only perform the simplest small spells like Wind Control, Fire Manipulation, Divine Movement, and Light Body. Reaching his father¡¯s level was still a distant goal. After embedding the Green-Eyed Spirit Snake¡¯s scale on the well¡¯s edge, Qin Long took out an ointment with a pleasant aroma and gently applied it to the spot where he had removed the scale from the snake¡¯s back. This was a blood-activating and muscle-growing spiritual medicine passed down from the Beast Taming Sect. With this ointment and the Green-Eyed Spirit Snake¡¯s strong recovery power, new scales would grow in a few days. Waving his hand to collect the Green-Eyed Spirit Snake into the spiritual beast bag, Qin Long led his son out of the Spirit Fruit Garden. ¡°How did it go, how did it go? Did you catch that Spiritual Toad?¡± The moment they appeared, they were surrounded by the Fifth Elder and others, who asked repeatedly. ¡°No.¡± Qin Long shook his head, ¡°It ran away.¡± ¡°Ah?¡± The Fifth Elder looked disappointed, ¡°With your cultivation, you couldn¡¯t catch it? How much more spirit fruit will it ruin in the future?¡± ¡°Uncle, don¡¯t worry. I have already cast a spell on the spiritual well and left a scale of the Green-Eyed Spirit Snake. As long as its aura lingers, the Spiritual Toad won¡¯t dare come out.¡± Seeing the Fifth Elder¡¯s dismay, Qin Long quickly comforted him, ¡°Moreover, I have already discovered the Toad¡¯s whereabouts, and the Green-Eyed Spirit Snake remembers its aura. We can find it next time. Uncle, rest assured, whether we catch it or not, I can guarantee that the Spiritual Toad won¡¯t dare enter the Spirit Fruit Garden again.¡± ¡°Oh, that¡¯s good.¡± Hearing this, the Fifth Elder and others finally felt relieved. Amidst their gratitude, Qin Long and Qin Feng bid farewell to the Fifth Elder and returned to their family residence. ¡°Feng¡¯er, you go back by yourself. I¡¯m going to speak to the clan leader about this.¡± Qin Long instructed, ¡°Remember, do not disclose the underground stream connecting to the Huang family¡¯s Sword Washing Pond, or we will surely face trouble in the future.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t worry, Father, I understand.¡± Qin Feng nodded, indicating his understanding. If the Huang family knew, they would certainly be suspicious. They relied on artifact refining and sword forging, lacking stealth methods, but the Qin family could raise spiritual beasts. If a water element spiritual beast infiltrated Sword Casting Valley through the underground stream to attack, they couldn¡¯t bear such losses. Qin Feng believed his father was reporting this to the Old Family Master to reserve a trump card. If disputes arose with the Huang family later, they could take the initiative through the underground stream and catch the Huang family off guard. ¡°¡±¡± Chapter 23 - Chapter 23: Chapter 23 Tiger Demon Chapter 23: Chapter 23 Tiger Demon Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation Early autumn, morning chill, coolness slightly thickened. Qin Feng followed his father, alongside twenty or thirty clansmen, walking towards the entrance of Qifeng Mountain. Each autumn, the three cultivator families of Kun City organized groups to enter the mountain and hunt down the demon beasts at the perimeter. Firstly, to prevent these demon beasts from rushing out of the forest and harming the citizens of Kun City, and secondly, by killing these demon beasts, they could obtain some cultivation resources. After all, many parts of the demon beasts were very valuable. Whether it was the fur, scale armor, sharp claws, or teeth, horns, bones, and even flesh, all were goods that could be exchanged for Spirit Stones. Kun City lacked resources, and the three families couldn¡¯t just rely on their own small estates. If they wanted their families to develop better, they needed to find other sources of income, so they organized their clansmen to enter the mountain every year. They had no choice. If the demon beasts increased in number around Qifeng Mountain, it would surely cause great losses to the citizens of Kun City and affect the industries of the three cultivator families. After all, the spirit veins of the three families were connected to Qifeng Mountain, making it as if the three families resided at the perimeter of Qifeng Mountain. If the demon beasts increased in number, the Qin family¡¯s spiritual fields or the clansmen from the Huang family sent to mine the refined iron veins in the mountains would be threatened. At the mountain entrance, cultivators from the three families gathered. The Qin Family was on the left, the Huang Family on the right, and the Wang Family from the west of the city was in between, maintaining good relations with both sides. Unless they encountered particularly difficult demon beasts, the three families rarely joined forces to hunt them. Instead, they pre-demarcated areas, each clearing their own territory. ¡°Hahaha, everyone arrived early!¡± Qin Long laughed heartily, cupping his hands toward the other two families, who had arrived earlier. Looking towards the Huang Family from the north of the city, he teased, ¡°Family Head Huang actually came in person, isn¡¯t this too grand? I remember your Huang Family has an elder in the Foundation Establishment Stage. Why not let the elder handle this and make Family Head Huang go through the trouble?¡± ¡°Hmph!¡± Family Head Huang, Huang Tingyuan, coldly snorted, with an unfriendly expression. He was a sword cultivator, his voice cold: ¡°This Family Head wants to stretch his muscles, is that not allowed? Besides, the Huang Family¡¯s business, why should it be pointed out by Qin Long?¡± Qin Long was not angry, laughing as he said: ¡°Brother Huang, why be like this? We¡¯ve known each other since childhood. I¡¯m just worried about your safety. The demon beasts of Qifeng Mountain are fierce, your status as Family Head is extraordinary. If something happens, what will happen to the Huang Family? Sigh, the family has elders, yet you don¡¯t use them, insisting on coming in person. Why bother?¡± Clansmen behind Qin Long chuckled lightly, immediately drawing angry glares from the Huang Family. The Huang Family also did not want the Family Head to lead the entry into the mountains to hunt demon beasts. But now the Huang Family only had two cultivators in the Foundation Establishment Stage. Although that elder had higher cultivation, he had spent his life forging swords and was not very adept at fighting. Besides, the elder was older than the Qin Family Head, Qin Guanbao, and was the family¡¯s best artifact refiner. The Huang Family could not bear to let that elder take risks. If something happened, the loss would be too great for the current Huang Family to bear. After all, the Huang Family was different from the Qin Family. The Qin Family mainly relied on the cultivation of spiritual fields with stable income, whereas the Huang Family depended on artifact refining. Though sometimes they earned more Spirit Stones than the Qin Family, if they lost their best artifact refiner, their income would plummet. Therefore, Huang Tingyuan would rather lead the team into the mountain himself than let the elder take risks. The Wang Family in the middle was accustomed to the rivalry between the two families. The elder leading the Wang Family team came out to mediate. After a little discussion on the exploration and clearing areas, the three families split up and headed into the mountain. Among the Qin Family¡¯s team, besides Qin Feng, the other boys and girls aiming to compete for a sect position at the end of the year were also present. Among these, apart from a boy named Qin Jun who had the same Qi Refinement Stage 2 cultivation as Qin Feng, the rest were at Qi Refinement Stage 1. The family didn¡¯t expect them to contribute much in this action but wanted them to face bloodshed early and adapt to the fight. After all, once they entered a sect, the challenges they faced would be much more brutal than what they saw now. If they couldn¡¯t even handle demon beasts, they might as well stay with the family and not dream of joining a sect, as they likely wouldn¡¯t live long. Now, with the family leading and elders protecting them, once they set foot in a sect and the cultivation world, nobody would protect them anymore. The group headed deeper into the mountain. The mountain roads were rugged and extremely hard to traverse. In many places, there were no roads, and they had to force their way through. Fortunately, they were all cultivators and could use spells like the Light Body Skill and Divine Movement Technique to aid their journey. If they were ordinary people, they would have been exhausted in no time. As they ventured deeper into the forest, they often heard dreadful howls or the mournful cries of dying beasts. Often, they saw fierce-beast sightings, but these were mostly ordinary beasts, not evolved into demon beasts, posing no threat to the cultivators. Ordinary beasts, seeing so many people, whether feeling their powerful aura or not, would rather steer clear than provoke them. Only the demon beasts, intelligent and capable of cultivation, would greedily desire the spiritual energy in the cultivators¡¯ flesh. Soon, a clansman walking at the front gestured to those behind to slow their pace. ¡°Did you find anything?¡± Qin Yang, who followed the team to hunt the demon beasts, took a few steps forward and asked softly. ¡°There are a series of plum-shaped footprints here, judging from the shape, a fierce tiger had recently passed by. However, these footprints are very large, so it is obviously not an ordinary tiger, it is very likely already a spirit beast.¡± The speaker was a middle-aged man in his forties, an experienced hunter of the family. He was often active around Qifeng Mountain and was very familiar with all kinds of fierce beasts and low-level demon beasts: ¡°Let everyone be extra careful, while tiger-type demon beasts are ferocious, they are also very adept at ambushing. Tell everyone to stay vigilant so we are not caught off guard.¡± Qin Yang nodded, turned around, and relayed the message to those behind him. However, it seemed his words were passed a bit too late. Before he reached the end of the team, a thunderous tiger roar echoed through the forest, causing a few cultivators of the Qin Family at the rear to tremble with fear, slowing down their movements. Amid the deafening roar, a shadow more than ten feet long suddenly leaped from the bushes behind them, pouncing towards the members at the end of the team. ¡°Not good¡­¡± ¡°Quick, dodge!¡± ¡°Defend, Armor Protection Technique!¡± Some clan members dodged, and others cast spells to protect themselves. However, the hastily cast defensive spells were not very strong, whereas the tiger demon¡¯s power was exceptional. Barely had the tiger roared when it already swung its sharp front claws, shredding the defense spell of one clan member and biting towards him. ¡°You vile beast, bold!¡± Suddenly, a loud shout came, followed by a burst of firelight. With a bang, the firelight exploded, blasting the tiger demon two or three feet away. This tiger demon, with its formidable life force, immediately attempted to flee despite the blood pouring from its wounds. ¡°Still think you can escape?¡± The one who had just repelled the tiger demon, Qin Long, sneered. Although most of his combat power relied on spiritual beasts, he was, after all, a Foundation Establishment stage cultivator, his personal strength was more than enough to deal with this tiger demon. Therefore, he did not summon his spiritual beast but instead swung out a beam of golden light. The golden light flashed by, slicing off the tiger demon¡¯s head with a puff, spraying a large amount of blood from its neck. Such a bloody and brutal scene instantly terrified a few young members of the team. After all, they were only fourteen or fifteen years old, not long into their cultivation journey, never before had they witnessed such a fierce battle. Moreover, they had been placed at the end of the team earlier for protection. The sudden pounce of the tiger demon had already scared them. Now, seeing this horrific scene, and smelling the thick scent of blood, they couldn¡¯t help but take a few steps back, distancing themselves from the tiger demon¡¯s corpse. Qin Long was very dissatisfied seeing this and snorted coldly: ¡°What, you¡¯re scared? ¡°It¡¯s just a demon beast being killed in front of you. If this frightens you, then you better stay in the family and abandon any thought of joining a sect.¡± The young members felt ashamed upon hearing his words. Qin Long continued, ¡°This tiger demon is yours to handle, Qin Yang, show them how it¡¯s done.¡± ¡°Yes, Seventh Uncle.¡± Qin Yang complied and stepped forward to instruct the youngsters on how to handle the tiger demon¡¯s body, from collecting essence blood to skinning, deboning, and preserving the meat, teaching them in detail. However, these youths were dealing with such matters for the first time, so despite having all kinds of knives, they still managed to cover themselves in blood, and the tiger skin they cut ended up in a mess. Qin Long took the opportunity to scold them again. In truth, he had already spotted the tiger demon¡¯s whereabouts long ago. He had orchestrated this bloody scene deliberately to give the family¡¯s children a significant lesson. Qin Feng, however, was not as helpless as the others and even seemed eager to give it a try. When he had approached the tiger demon earlier, the Demon Refining Pot in his Sea of Consciousness had stirred, eager to refine the tiger demon for energy. However, with everyone watching, Qin Feng didn¡¯t dare to simply take the tiger demon¡¯s body. Fortunately, the Demon Refining Pot was obedient and wouldn¡¯t actively collect the demon clan¡¯s corpses, so nothing went amiss. Nevertheless, Qin Feng couldn¡¯t help but think, it¡¯s rare to hunt demon beasts with the family. Missing the chance to refine some demon beasts to assist his cultivation would be a waste. But how could he secretly collect the demon beasts¡¯ corpses without anyone noticing? Chapter 24 - Chapter 24: Chapter 24 Bargain Chapter 24: Chapter 24 Bargain Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation ¡°Hurry and chase it, don¡¯t let it get away.¡± In the mountains and forests, two figures pursued an injured Green Wolf relentlessly. Qin Feng followed beside Qin Yang, panting heavily. Earlier, they had encountered a wolf pack, led by a Wolf Demon with Foundation Establishment Cultivation. The other, smaller Wolf Demons numbered over a dozen. If it weren¡¯t for the Qin Family being a vassal to the Beast Taming Sect, having learned many methods to deal with Demon Beasts, they wouldn¡¯t have been able to handle so many Wolf Demons. However, even though they lured the wolf pack into a trap, several Demon Wolves still managed to break free and escape, injured. Qin Long had to deal with the Wolf Demon with Foundation Establishment Cultivation, so he sent his clansmen to hunt down those escaping Green Wolves. To train his son, he let Qin Feng follow behind Qin Yang for some tempering. As a result, they chased for two or three mountain peaks but still hadn¡¯t caught up. Qin Feng cursed silently and looked at the limping Green Wolf ahead. He turned to Qin Yang and asked, ¡°Isn¡¯t this guy injured already? How can it still run so fast on three legs?¡± ¡°Wolf Demons are known for their resilience and endurance. Running this far isn¡¯t too surprising. But don¡¯t worry, after running this far, it must be nearly exhausted. It won¡¯t escape our grasp.¡± Qin Yang said and quickened his pace, his hands forming a spell. A flame flew out and landed on the Green Wolf, the size of a calf. The Wolf Demon howled in pain, rolling on the ground, trying to get up and run again. But after such a long chase, with the wound on its broken leg not healing and losing too much blood, it was too weak. This time, it couldn¡¯t get up. ¡°Haha, can¡¯t escape now, can it?¡± Qin Feng was overjoyed, raising his hand to cast a fire spell at the Wolf Demon. However, his fire spell was pitiful compared to Qin Yang¡¯s, barely the size of a fist. Worse, it missed its mark, only stirring up dust without injuring the Wolf Demon. ¡°Haha¡­¡± A mocking laugh echoed. At the same time, a Magic Sword flew through the air, piercing the Wolf Demon¡¯s heart, pinning it to the ground. Qin Feng was stunned. The laughter didn¡¯t come from Qin Yang beside him, nor did the Magic Sword belong to Qin Yang. Looking toward the sound, he saw several figures emerging from the forest in the distance. They were Huang Family disciples. The leader was Family Head Huang¡¯s eldest son, Huang Yulang. Of course, people often called him ¡°Weasel¡± behind his back. ¡°Huang Yulang, what are you doing here?¡± Qin Feng asked curiously. ¡°Hmph, I should be asking you that.¡± Huang Yulang smugly replied, ¡°You¡¯ve crossed the border. Didn¡¯t you see this forest is within our Huang Family¡¯s designated clearing area?¡± ¡°Hmm?¡± The two were stunned and looked around carefully, realizing they had pursued the Wolf Demon across the border without noticing. However, it wasn¡¯t a big deal. ¡°Alright, we¡¯ll take this Wolf Demon and leave immediately.¡± Qin Yang said, stepping forward to take the Green Wolf for processing back home. ¡°Wait!¡± Huang Yulang shouted, ¡°This Wolf Demon is within our Huang Family¡¯s area and was killed by my cousin. It¡¯s our prey; you have no right to interfere.¡± ¡°Nonsense!¡± Qin Yang angrily retorted, ¡°Can¡¯t you see this Wolf Demon is already crippled by us? Are you trying to take advantage of us now?¡± ¡°Yes, I am. What can you do about it?¡± Huang Yulang sneered, ¡°Since you stepped into our territory, it¡¯s ours. If I don¡¯t let you take it, you can¡¯t take it. I¡¯m following the rules. Qin Yang, do you dare to break them?¡± ¡°You¡­¡± Qin Yang was furious, stepping forward with a hint of flames in his hands. Huang Yulang remained calm, but the few clansmen behind him stepped forward simultaneously, drawing cold, gleaming Magic Swords, glaring at Qin Yang. ¡°Let it go, Brother Yang. It¡¯s just a Wolf Demon. No need to argue with scum.¡± Qin Feng pulled Qin Yang back from his anger. Being outnumbered by the Huang Family, they were not opponents. Besides, Huang Yulang had a point. They had entered the Huang Family¡¯s territory; if they refused to hand over the Wolf Demon, there was nothing they could do. ¡°Hmph.¡± Qin Yang snorted coldly, ¡°Dare to steal my prey? This isn¡¯t over. Just you wait.¡± ¡°I¡¯m not afraid.¡± Huang Yulang didn¡¯t care. The small frictions between the two families were frequent, with old grudges aplenty, and it never amounted to much. ¡°Yulang, isn¡¯t this a bit much?¡± Watching Qin Yang and Qin Feng leave, a tall young man beside Huang Yulang said, ¡°Our families have had their disputes, but it¡¯s usually a war of words. Rarely do we steal each other¡¯s prey.¡± ¡°No matter.¡± Huang Yulang waved dismissively, ¡°The Wolf Demon ran into our clearing area by itself. What do I have to be afraid of?¡± However, he was secretly pleased. He was about to join the Taiyi Mountain Golden Light Cave to cultivate. Once within the Sect, he would be on his own, so he must accumulate as many resources as possible now. This Wolf Demon could be exchanged for some Spirit Stones. Why not take advantage when given? On the other side, Qin Yang walked in a rage, sulking. Qin Feng didn¡¯t try to console him; there was no point. They could seek revenge later. They turned a corner, preparing to cross a stream to head to the Qin Family¡¯s base when Qin Feng glimpsed a familiar silhouette from the corner of his eye. Turning his head, he saw it was the Swallowing Sky Toad that once appeared in the family¡¯s Spirit Fruit Garden. Although there were other frogs and toads near the stream, this Swallowing Sky Toad was different. Once seen, it was unforgettable. He gently tugged Qin Yang, hiding behind a large green rock. Qin Yang followed his gaze and initially dismissed the small fist-sized toad but soon was amazed. The little toad leapt dozens of feet to the bank, its tongue shooting out, wrapping a five-foot-long, fiery red Red Chain Snake, devouring it like noodles. Soon, after eating the Red Chain Snake, the Swallowing Sky Toad hopped away. Qin Feng excitedly said, ¡°Let¡¯s follow it and see if we can find its lair.¡± He was very interested in the Swallowing Sky Toad. The Swallowing Sky Toad¡¯s innate divine ability to form a space within its body and devour everything was exceedingly rare. This ability was nothing in the early stages, but once cultivated to a high level, it was formidable. Though his father had said such a Spiritual Beast was hard to raise, requiring vast resources, and very few cultivators could afford it. Qin Feng was different; he had the Demon Refining Pot. Each level of the Pot¡¯s Grotto Heaven could help a Spiritual Beast merge with the bloodline of other Demon Beasts. The Swallowing Sky Toad¡¯s progression was difficult because it needed massive resources to sustain its inner space. But if it acquired the bloodline divine abilities of other Toad Demons, advancing through other cultivation techniques to a higher realm, then nourishing its inner space would be easier. Thus, Qin Feng was tempted. He wanted to try. If successful, it would be a great gain. PS: The Stove God novel concludes today. I¡¯ll focus on this book from now on. The update schedule is the same as the last book, 9 AM and 8 PM. If the chapters are short, I may add another update. Brothers, please recommend! Chapter 25 - Chapter 25: Chapter 25: Monkey Stealing Peaches Chapter 25: Chapter 25: Monkey Stealing Peaches Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation Qin Flew through the air for several zhang, leaping like it was flying, moving extremely quickly. Even with Qin Feng and the other¡¯s full effort in using Divine Movement Technique, it was still very easy to lose track of it. Fortunately, they had the Demon Seeking Talisman with them. This was a Spirit Talisman from the secret teachings of the Beast Taming Sect; only Qin Long and the Old Family Master would occasionally create some for the Qin Family. While the level of this Spirit Talisman wasn¡¯t high, it was still very convenient to use for tracking the scent of low-level demon beasts. Qin Feng and the others gathered a bit of demon energy that the Swallowing Sky Toad left behind at the spot where it had previously devoured the Red Chain Snake, and simply followed the talisman¡¯s guiding. However, because this Swallowing Sky Toad was small and fast, it wandered in some secluded areas. Qin Feng and the others didn¡¯t dare to follow too closely, fearing it would notice and flee into the depths of Qifeng Mountain. If that happened, they wouldn¡¯t dare to follow further. After all, there were formidable great demons in the depths of Qifeng Mountain; even Qin Long wouldn¡¯t dare to enter easily, let alone the two of them. Following the Swallowing Sky Toad, the two of them circuitously arrived at the area where the Huang Family was responsible for clearing out demonic beasts. Qin Yang frowned, and whispered: ¡°Is that Spiritual Toad very precious? If it¡¯s just an average type, we better stop pursuing it. We risk another dispute if we encounter the Huang Family!¡± ¡°This Spiritual Toad is the beast that sneaked into our Spirit Fruit Garden to steal spirit fruits. I want to catch it.¡± Qin Feng replied, ¡°As for the Huang Family, there¡¯s no need to worry. The peripheral area of Qifeng Mountain spans hundreds of li. It¡¯s unlikely we¡¯ll run into them; even if we do, they won¡¯t dare do anything to us. Besides, even if they really want to make a move, we aren¡¯t afraid. Have you forgotten, Brother Yang, that Master Li Tianchou gave me two Spirit Talismans that last time? I haven¡¯t yet used the Cold Ice Sword Talisman.¡± ¡°¡­¡± Qin Yang gave him a glance but didn¡¯t say anything further. He wasn¡¯t sure what his younger cousin was planning. Was it just to catch this Spiritual Toad? However, considering the formidable swordsmanship that Master Li Tianchou had demonstrated that night, he couldn¡¯t be underestimated. Furthermore, Li Tianchou said that his Sword Talisman could deal with Foundation Establishment Stage cultivators. If its power was truly as great as claimed, even if they encountered Family Head Huang, there¡¯d be no need to worry. After all, Huang Tingyuan was only at the early Foundation Establishment Stage. If he had any ill intentions towards them, they could use the Cold Ice Sword Talisman on him to test its might. Would the Huang Family still dare to be so arrogant without their Family Head? Thinking about it, Qin Yang felt more relieved, stopped thinking much, and focused on tracking the Swallowing Sky Toad with the Demon Seeking Talisman. Just then, a sudden commotion of fighting was heard ahead. The two were slightly startled; unexpectedly, they had indeed encountered the Huang Family members. Upon closer inspection, seven or eight Huang Family cultivators were fighting a group of monkey demons in the forest ahead. The group of monkey demons numbered a dozen or more, each with agile bodies and swift as the wind. Their sharp claws occasionally aimed at the cultivators¡¯ eyes, throats, hearts, and other vital spots. However, what really attracted Qin Feng and Qin Yang¡¯s attention wasn¡¯t the monkey demons but the spiritual tree behind them. It was a Flat Peach Tree, bearing over a hundred flat peaches. Although the peaches were still somewhat unripe, they weren¡¯t far from maturing. It seemed these dozen monkey demons were guarding this Flat Peach Tree. Otherwise, they wouldn¡¯t be fighting these cultivators. Qin Feng took a look and then started searching for the Swallowing Sky Toad carefully. After a while, he finally spotted it hiding in the grass under a large tree. Its green body almost blended with the grass, remaining motionless. If not looked closely, it would be hard to discern it from the surroundings. Moreover, with the fierce battle ongoing, neither side noticed an extra faint trace of demon energy in the field. Seeing the Demon Seeking Talisman still hovering towards the Swallowing Sky Toad¡¯s trail, Qin Feng hurriedly reached out to grab the talisman, extinguishing the spirit light on it. Instantly, the entire talisman turned to ash. Qin Feng looked around, grabbed Qin Yang, and stealthily moved under a lush tree. They leaped up to observe the battle through the gaps in the branches and leaves. In the battlefield, the clash continued. However, demon beasts remained demon beasts. Though they understood cultivation, their cultivation levels were weaker, and their spiritual intelligence wasn¡¯t high enough to compete with Human Clan cultivators. These cultivators from the Huang Family didn¡¯t come unprepared; among them, one carried a spiritual net. When the cultivator cast it, the originally palm-sized net expanded several zhang across, capturing several monkey demons at once, allowing other cultivators to take the opportunity to kill them. This reduced the monkey group by a third in one go. However, this simultaneously enraged the remaining monkey demons. Seeing their companions slain, the monkey demons¡¯ eyes reddened, screeching furiously and attacking wildly. But the monkeys could only rely on their innate spells for attacks, unlike the cultivators who could use various magic artifacts. The Huang Family cultivators were divided into two categories: those with artifact refining talent learned the art of artifact refining and sword crafting, while those without practiced sword dao. Though swordsmen didn¡¯t contribute much income to the family, they could protect the family with their relatively strong combat strength. Among the eight cultivators, five were sword cultivators, while the other three wielded large iron hammers, working as artifact refiners. Although their level couldn¡¯t yet qualify them as true artifact refiners, their hammers were magic artifacts with great power. Any demon monkey struck by them would have their bones broken and sinews snapped, dying instantly. About a quarter of an hour later, the Huang Family cultivators, using various methods, had killed most of the monkey demons. Only two particularly cunning monkey demons escaped amid the chaos, quickly vanishing into the mountains. Though victorious, the Huang Family cultivators didn¡¯t win easily; several of them were deeply wounded by the monkey demons¡¯ sharp claws. When the two monkey demons fled, the wounded cultivators grimaced in pain and sat heavily on the ground, asking for help in treating their injuries. Others, though better off, weren¡¯t unscathed. Two had their faces clawed, and one suffered worse, with his thigh badly mangled. If he hadn¡¯t dodged in time, the monkey demon¡¯s special technique, ¡°Stealing the Peach,¡± might have actually been used on him. But these people were cultivators, and their injuries were mere flesh wounds. With spiritual power sealing the cuts and applying healing spiritual medicine, their wounds would heal in a few days, leaving no scars. As the Huang Family cultivators bandaged their wounds and proudly discussed how to transplant the Flat Peach Tree, a shadow flashed before them, and suddenly, one of the slain spiritual monkeys disappeared. Chapter 26 - Chapter 26: Chapter 26 Ambush Robbery Chapter 26: Chapter 26 Ambush Robbery Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation ¡°` ¡°Huh?¡± Seeing this scene, several cultivators were suddenly shocked, and hurriedly turned their heads to look in the direction where the shadow had disappeared. Then, they saw a green-skinned toad no more than two inches long, with its mouth wide open, its long tongue rolling a two-foot-tall Demon Monkey into its mouth. ¡°This¡­¡± Everyone was startled. This scene was too bizarre; a little toad not even as big as a fist swallowed a Demon Monkey nearly a hundred times its size, making everyone¡¯s scalp tingle. However, strange things happened often in the Cultivation World. These people were cultivators, after all, and wouldn¡¯t be scared by such a sight. The leading man, with high cultivation and at the peak of the Qi Refinement Realm, swept his Divine Sense over the toad and found that the Demon Energy on it was thin, not even as strong as his own. He immediately relaxed and shouted, ¡°Bold evil, how dare you steal our prey? Seeking death.¡± As he spoke, he threw out his Flying Sword, which turned into a streak of light, slashing through the air toward the Spiritual Toad. These cultivators did not recognize the Swallowing Sky Toad. Even the disciples of the Beast Taming Sect couldn¡¯t recognize every Demon Beast in the world, let alone cultivators from small families like the Huang Family. But they didn¡¯t care if the Spiritual Toad was precious. They were not refining beasts, and it was unnecessary to capture the toad alive. It was better to kill it quickly. Maybe they could cut open its belly and retrieve the Demon Monkey it had just swallowed. After all, every Demon Beast could be sold for Spirit Stones. If they killed this Spiritual Toad, they could get two Demon Beast corpses. Unexpectedly, the little Spiritual Toad was incredibly agile. With a light leap, it avoided the Flying Sword, and its long tongue shot out again, wrapping around another Demon Monkey¡¯s corpse. ¡°Impudent!¡± ¡°How dare you!¡± The several cultivators from the Huang Family were furious. Apart from the two severely injured cultivators who were still sitting on the ground, the others attacked collectively, either using Flying Swords to slash at the toad or swinging Heavy Hammers to send shadowy hammer strikes at the toad. ¡°Ribbit¡­¡± With a croak, the Swallowing Sky Toad quickly retracted its tongue, giving up even the Demon Monkey it had caught. Otherwise, its tongue would likely be severed by the leading Sword Cultivator. Its limbs pressed against the ground and it leaped back a few zhang, evading the attacks. Knowing that these people were tough opponents, it intended to abandon the food. Just as it was about to turn and leave, one of the hammer-wielding cultivators suddenly flashed forward, raising his Heavy Hammer to smash down. ¡°Ribbit!¡± Under the hammer, the Swallowing Sky Toad sensed danger. It knew that if this hammer hit, it would surely die. In desperation, it suddenly leaped into the cultivator¡¯s arms, its long tongue like a spear, sharp as a sword, suddenly thrusting out, piercing the cultivator¡¯s chest. Then, it kicked with all its strength, sending the cultivator flying while using the force to propel itself several zhang away, attempting to escape. ¡°Fourth Brother¡­¡± The other cultivators saw the one kicked back by the Swallowing Sky Toad with blood gushing from his chest, twitching a few times before falling silent, and their anger surged. They had fought the Demon Monkeys with no deaths, and now a toad had killed one of their family members. ¡°Kill it, avenge Fourth Brother!¡± The cultivators¡¯ Flying Swords slashed and Heavy Hammers smashed as they chased after the Spiritual Toad. In the trees, Qin Feng and Qin Yang watched in shock. The sudden turn of events was too abrupt. But Qin Feng quickly came to his senses. He looked at the scene. Three cultivators remained. Two were severely injured, grieving their kin¡¯s death, but could only sit on the ground and recover, watching the others chase the Spiritual Toad. The other cultivator stood guard nearby with a sword. Although he was angry, he kept his wits. This was Qifeng Mountain, where Demon Beasts could appear at any time. He couldn¡¯t leave two injured kin unguarded. Even if there were no more Demon Beasts nearby except the Demon Monkeys they had slain, the bloody scent could attract other beasts soon. In the trees, Qin Feng nudged Qin Yang with his elbow, then pointed at the sword-wielding guard. Qin Yang frowned, hesitating. He knew Qin Feng¡¯s intention: to take down the Sword Cultivator. If he acted, unless he killed to silence, the Qin and Huang families would be in a big conflict. Qin Feng grinned, taking a robe from his Storage Bag, then his fingertip gathered Spiritual Power, silently cutting a piece of the robe, signaling Qin Yang to mask his face. Although cultivators at the Qi Refinement Realm could extend Divine Sense, it wasn¡¯t strong enough. As long as Qin Yang covered his face and used Spells to conceal his aura, the opponent¡¯s Divine Sense wouldn¡¯t identify him. ¡°¡­¡± Qin Yang sighed, reluctantly taking the cloth to cover his face. Thinking for a moment, he reversed his robe, ensuring there were no flaws to expose his identity. Then he slid down the tree, circled swiftly through the forest, and suddenly appeared, hurling a flame. The Huang Family guard anxiously watched the others leave, sensing an ambush. He angrily slashed the fire with his sword and charged at the hidden Qin Yang. Qin Yang¡¯s strength matched the guard¡¯s, but he dared not reveal his full power to avoid recognition, using only basic spells, making him no match for the Sword Cultivator. Helpless, he fought defensively, retreating to lure the guard away. In a moment, only the two injured Huang Family cultivators were left. They were puzzled, surprised by the sudden change. Before they could react, one of them widened his eyes in horror, shouting, ¡°Watch out for an ambush!¡± But he was slightly late. Before he finished, the other cultivator felt a sharp pain at the back of his head, his vision blackened, and he fainted. The shouting cultivator struggled to rise. But his severe injuries hindered him, with a broken chest bone from a Demon Monkey¡¯s claw. His arms and legs wounded, he couldn¡¯t get up. Then he saw the figure who knocked out his companion swinging a big club at his head. Thud¡­ The club struck, and he fell swiftly. Qin Feng discarded the large wooden stick he had picked up, wasting no time. He quickly grabbed the Demon Monkey corpses the Huang Family cultivators had collected. Connected to the Demon Refining Pot, he touched the corpses, and they were absorbed instantly. In moments, over a dozen Demon Monkey corpses were absorbed by the Demon Refining Pot. As Qin Feng was leaving, he paused, turned to the two fallen cultivators, picked up their Magic Artifacts, and placed them in his Storage Bag. He also took their Storage Bags. Searching them, he found a treasure. It was a piece of Heart-Clearing Jade. Though it had no offensive or defensive properties, it helped calm the mind and aided cultivation. A good item, he kept it. Chapter 27 - Chapter 27: Chapter 27 Refining the Spiritual Net Chapter 27: Chapter 27 Refining the Spiritual Net Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation After pocketing the treasures from the two cultivators¡¯ bodies, Qin Feng dared not linger. After all, the rest of the Huang Family¡¯s cultivators could return at any moment. Moreover, the cultivator Qin Yang drew away was not far from here, merely one or two hundred feet away. It was only because of the trees separating them that he did not see what happened here. But earlier, the noise Qin Feng made when he knocked out the two severely injured cultivators had already alerted the opponent. If Qin Yang hadn¡¯t struggled to entangle him, the opponent would have returned by now, and Qin Feng needed to leave immediately. Moving swiftly, Qin Feng activated the Divine Movement Technique. With a light tap of his feet, he leapt a few yards, quick as a startled swan, running like the wind, and in the blink of an eye, he was sprinting madly in another direction. Sure enough, just a dozen breaths after he left, the cultivator Qin Yang had drawn away returned. Seeing his two clan members lying on the ground and thinking they had fallen victim again, he was both shocked and furious. He couldn¡¯t help but let out a roar of rage, sending a spell straight up dozens of feet into the sky. With a boom, the spell exploded like fireworks, drawing the attention of the cultivators who were chasing the Swallowing Sky Toad in the distance. ¡°This is bad! Old Six and the others are in trouble!¡± They immediately abandoned the nearly dead Swallowing Sky Toad and rushed back towards their clan members. Qin Feng circled around and headed towards the agreed meeting place with Qin Yang. At this moment, the spiritual energy within him surged as he ran, operating his cultivation technique to convert the spiritual energy into his own spiritual power. This time, he had collected a total of thirteen Monkey Demon bodies. Although most of the Monkey Demons were not very strong, a few were at the late stage of Qi Refinement. Therefore, the spiritual energy he obtained this time was ten times greater than what he had received from that Ghost Locust previously. Although advancing from the second to the third layer of Qi Refinement required much more spiritual energy than the last advancement, the corpse of the Demon Beast refined by the Demon Refining Pot provided incredibly pure spiritual energy. So, in no time, with the continuous flow of spiritual energy from the Demon Refining Pot, he was on the verge of breaking through to the third layer of Qi Refinement. According to his senses, even after consuming half of the spiritual energy refined by the Demon Refining Pot, if he absorbed and refined all of it, he could advance a small step further in the third layer of Qi Refinement. However, now was not a good time to break through. Otherwise, he would not be able to explain himself when he returned. He and Qin Yang had set out to hunt a Green Wolf Demon. If he returned having broken through to the third layer of Qi Refinement, it would definitely attract attention and questioning. He quickly stopped refining the spiritual energy, mentally communicating with the Demon Refining Pot to store the spiritual energy temporarily for future use. Nonetheless, he was in an extremely good mood. Without the Demon Refining Pot, advancing to the third layer of Qi Refinement purely through self-cultivation would have taken at least one to two years. Now, however, refining a few ordinary Monkey Demons allowed him to break through in cultivation; this feeling was truly exhilarating. He used the Divine Movement Technique to rush towards the meeting point while examining the magic artifacts in his hands. The two storage bags had the divine sense imprint of Huang Family cultivators, which he couldn¡¯t open for now, so he set them aside for later. Nevertheless, the magic artifacts in his hands brought him considerable delight. Among them was a top-grade flying sword, a middle-grade casting hammer, and the spiritual net that had earlier bound several Monkey Demons in one go. Qin Feng found the spiritual net quite intriguing. After careful inspection, he discovered it was a middle-grade Binding Spirit Net, likely woven from the silk of some kind of Spiritual Silkworm. Though it looked no larger than a palm and its spirit light was faint, it was incredibly tenacious. Once cast, it could cover an area of several yards. Whether human or demon, anyone bound within it would be imprisoned, unable to use their spiritual power unless they broke free. Qin Feng felt an itch to test it out on something to see how effective it was. However, considering this Binding Spirit Net had been refined by a Huang Family cultivator, it would be very inconvenient to use unless the divine power imprint left by the Huang Family cultivator was removed. Qin Feng pondered for a moment and then mobilized the spiritual energy within the Demon Refining Pot, aggressively attacking the divine power imprint within the Binding Spirit Net. The Huang Family cultivator had only recently entered the late stage of Qi Refinement, so the divine power imprint left in the magic artifact was not very strong. It was quickly erased by the fierce spiritual energy of the Demon Refining Pot. Qin Feng immediately placed his own spiritual power imprint into it, refining the artifact into his own treasure. The classification of magic artifacts was simple. Each set of nine prohibitions constituted a grade. From one to nine prohibitions, it was a basic-level magic artifact; from nine to eighteen, a middle-grade magic artifact, and so on. Anything with over thirty-six prohibitions was considered to have reached the level of a spiritual artifact. The Binding Spirit Net was merely a middle-grade magic artifact with eighteen prohibitions. Qin Feng quickly subjected it to a simple refining process using his spiritual power. Although it would require more frequent refining to seamlessly operate it in the future, it was already usable now. Having refined it successfully, he joyfully toyed with the Binding Spirit Net. Apart from the Demon Refining Pot, this was the first magic artifact he had obtained. After examining it for a while, he could tell that this was not a magic artifact crafted by the Huang Family. Although the Huang Family specialized in artifact refining as their heritage, they only focused on casting swords and other metal and iron magic artifacts. They weren¡¯t skilled in refining binding and prohibition-type magic artifacts. Half an hour later, Qin Yang saw Qin Feng¡¯s approaching figure and breathed a sigh of relief. ¡°How is it, you weren¡¯t recognized by the Huang Family cultivators, were you?¡± he asked worriedly. ¡°Rest assured,¡± Qin Feng reassured with a smile. He then took out the two storage bags, the Heart-Clearing Jade, and the three magic artifacts, and said with a grin, ¡°The harvest wasn¡¯t bad, but these things shouldn¡¯t be shown off, otherwise it might attract the Huang Family¡¯s attention. Later, I¡¯ll ask my dad to sell these items at a market, exchange them for spirit stones or other cultivation resources, and then split them with Brother Yang.¡± ¡°Good, good, haha. That Huang Yulang¡¯s attempt to snatch our Green Wolf Demon this time ended up quite the opposite,¡± Qin Yang rejoiced, not expecting Qin Feng to have acquired so many good items. If all these things were exchanged for cultivation spirit stones, he would receive quite a share. Additionally, being at the peak of the sixth layer of Qi Refinement, he needed resources for cultivation and advancement. If he received those items, he was confident he could charge straight into the seventh layer of Qi Refinement. ¡°Little Feng, you will soon be entering the sect and need spirit stones more than I do. I won¡¯t take much from this haul. Later, tell your Seventh Uncle to get me a few elixir pills that will help break through the sixth layer of Qi Refinement.¡± Qin Yang beamed but remained modest. Although the value of these items far exceeded that of a few spirit pills, he preferred that Qin Feng receive more spirit stones. This way, when Qin Feng made a name for himself in the Beast Taming Sect, he would be able to better take care of the family, benefiting Qin Yang as well. This was the practice of most small families. If they had connections to send their children into sects, they would provide as many resources and help as possible. The future return from successful family disciples would far exceed all the resources invested. Qin Feng chuckled, ¡°Alright, I¡¯ll take the advantage then.¡± He didn¡¯t offer any words of thanks. They were family, and such politeness was unnecessary. ¡°Let¡¯s get going. If we¡¯re too late, everyone will worry,¡± Qin Yang urged, glancing at the sky. ¡°Alright.¡± They set off, heading back the way they came. But as they rounded a mountain peak, they froze in their tracks. Because they saw the Swallowing Sky Toad again. Chapter 28 - Chapter 28: Chapter 28: Subduing the Demon Beast Chapter 28: Chapter 28: Subduing the Demon Beast Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation When he saw the Swallowing Sky Toad again, Qin Feng immediately smiled. He had previously thought that this Swallowing Sky Toad had been killed by the Huang Family cultivators. After all, the Swallowing Sky Toad¡¯s cultivation was not high; it was merely at the late Qi Refinement stage, and it was easy to lose its life being pursued by those Huang Family cultivators. Unexpectedly, it had managed to escape. However, the current state of the Swallowing Sky Toad was not good. It could be seen from the fact that each of its jumps now could only cover one or two zhang, much slower than before. ¡°Haha, this is truly an effort-saving gain.¡± Qin Feng¡¯s eyes brightened. He had originally given up hope, but unexpectedly, this little creature delivered itself to him. Since it was so fated, he naturally had to cherish it. ¡°Hurry, chase it.¡± He tugged Qin Yang, and the two of them swiftly chased after the Swallowing Sky Toad. This time, they did not conceal their forms or restrain their aura, so they were quickly noticed by the Swallowing Sky Toad. The Swallowing Sky Toad was startled, thinking that the Huang Family cultivators had caught up. It immediately jumped, trying to escape these two people. But earlier, it had been struck by a Huang Family cultivator wielding a hammer and was severely injured. If those cultivators had not retreated on their own, it wouldn¡¯t have survived until now. With its speed greatly reduced after the injury, there was no way it could escape from Qin Feng and Qin Yang. Soon, they caught up with it. The Swallowing Sky Toad was, after all, a demon beast. Seeing it couldn¡¯t escape, it immediately resolved to fight to the death. Its mouth opened wide, and its long tongue shot out like an arrow aimed at Qin Yang. It could feel that Qin Yang posed the greatest threat to it. As long as it killed him, the other small Qi Refinement stage cultivator would likely flee in fear. Qin Yang had previously witnessed the Swallowing Sky Toad¡¯s tongue piercing through the chest of a Huang Family cultivator, so he did not dare to be careless. With a flip of his hand, he took out a palm-sized shield. Under the control of his spiritual power, it transformed into a two-foot-wide round shield emitting a cyan spirit light, which he held in front of him to block the Swallowing Sky Toad¡¯s attack. However, even so, he was still pushed back two steps by this strike from the Swallowing Sky Toad. Qin Yang was secretly shocked. This was the Swallowing Sky Toad¡¯s attack while injured. If it were in peak condition, he definitely would not be its match. However, since it was already injured, the outcome of the battle was still uncertain. He infused more spiritual power into the round shield and threw it. The shield¡¯s edge flashed with sharpness as it spun towards the Swallowing Sky Toad. He then drew a long sword and slashed in the air. Three feet of Flame Saber Qi roared towards the Swallowing Sky Toad, forcing it to jump and dodge. The magic artifacts on Qin Yang were the standard issue from the Inspection Department. The round shield¡¯s edge was sharp enough for both defense and spinning attacks. The long sword, too, was extraordinary, capable of unleashing Flame Saber Qi. This was the main reason he joined the Inspection Department. Joining not only came with a salary but also included such magical artifacts as rewards. The Qin Family controlled the power of the Kun City Inspection Bureau. Otherwise, he might not have had a chance at such benefits. The Swallowing Sky Toad was left dodging left and right under Qin Yang¡¯s dual attacks. When it couldn¡¯t dodge, it would raise a layer of misty white light for defense. Although it didn¡¯t want to fight Qin Yang head-on due to its injury, it couldn¡¯t dodge effectively due to its reduced speed, making it quite embarrassed by Qin Yang¡¯s attacks. When the Swallowing Sky Toad endured another Flame Saber Qi and was about to leap and escape, it suddenly saw a large net flying towards it. The net covered several zhang in area. The threads on the net shimmered with spirit light, clearly not an ordinary item. If trapped by this net, it might be in danger. It tried to evade, but at that moment, it was already in mid-air with no place to leverage itself. Thus, its whole body seemed to willingly fall into the net¡¯s embrace. The Swallowing Sky Toad tried to crawl out of the net¡¯s holes, but each thread of the Binding Spirit Net emitted spirit light, shrinking instantly and firmly trapping it inside. Even its internal demon energy was confined, preventing it from releasing. So, despite its struggling, it could not escape the net. ¡°Haha¡­¡± Qin Feng was overjoyed. He quickly extended his hand, and the Binding Spirit Net shrunk instantly, falling into his hand. The Swallowing Sky Toad wanted to open its mouth and shoot its tongue to pierce this cultivator¡¯s body, but the Binding Spirit Net tightened, binding its whole body tightly, even preventing it from opening its mouth. It couldn¡¯t possibly shoot its tongue anymore. Qin Yang came over, looking curiously at Qin Feng, surprised that his cousin had already refined the Binding Spirit Net so quickly. However, considering it was merely a middle-grade magic artifact and the marks left by other Qi Refinement cultivators were weak, purging those marks wasn¡¯t difficult. Qin Yang didn¡¯t think much about it and quickly focused on the Swallowing Sky Toad. ¡°This Spiritual Toad is quite powerful. You haven¡¯t joined a sect yet, so don¡¯t hastily subdue it. It might backfire.¡± He advised, ¡°If you really want to subdue it, you should have Uncle Seven suppress it for some time first. After joining a sect, you can then refine it into your spiritual beast.¡± Qin Feng, eyes shining, was examining the Swallowing Sky Toad. He smiled and replied, ¡°Don¡¯t worry, Brother Yang, I understand. I won¡¯t act recklessly.¡± With the Demon Refining Pot, he wasn¡¯t afraid of this late-stage first-tier demon beast¡¯s backlash. Unless the demon beast was powerful enough to break free from the laws within the Demon Refining Pot, it would not have the chance to retaliate. Qin Yang looked at the sky and urged, ¡°Let¡¯s go back quickly. If we don¡¯t return soon, Uncle Seven might send someone to find us.¡± ¡°Alright.¡± Qin Feng nodded, turned, and placed the Swallowing Sky Toad wrapped in the Binding Spirit Net into his sleeve. After avoiding Qin Yang¡¯s gaze, he secretly communicated with the Demon Refining Pot and sent the Spiritual Toad inside. He wasn¡¯t foolish enough to consider making the Swallowing Sky Toad his lifebound demon beast. Such a demon beast was too difficult to advance. Making it his lifebound spiritual beast would definitely slow down his cultivation. He might remain stuck in the Qi Refinement stage, unable to achieve Foundation Establishment. Only by making it the leader of a grotto within the Demon Refining Pot could he utilize the pot¡¯s ability to merge the bloodlines of similar demon beasts, helping the Swallowing Sky Toad grow quickly. The Demon Refining Pot, truly an ancient treasure, even in its broken state, could capture the Swallowing Sky Toad with just a bit of absorption force. Moreover, it did so while the toad was still trapped within the Binding Spirit Net. Before the Demon Refining Pot, the Binding Spirit Net¡¯s confinement was insignificant. Qin Feng extended his divine sense into the Demon Refining Pot and instantly found the Swallowing Sky Toad in the small space at the lowest level. The Swallowing Sky Toad was clearly in a bewildered state. It had just been captured, its internal demon energy confined, and thought death was imminent. Suddenly, it was drawn into this space by an irresistible force. It could sense that its soul and body were now fused with this space. Henceforth, it would live and die here. Without the space controller¡¯s permission, it couldn¡¯t leave. With its limited intelligence, the Swallowing Sky Toad didn¡¯t understand what was happening. However, it soon sensed a will extending towards it. This will seemed to control everything, including this space. Naturally, it also controlled the Swallowing Sky Toad. When this will extended into its body, the Swallowing Sky Toad didn¡¯t even feel the urge to resist, letting the other party explore all its secrets. Chapter 29 - Chapter 29: Chapter 29 Unable to Afford Raising Chapter 29: Chapter 29 Unable to Afford Raising Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation Qin Feng, through the Demon Refining Pot, examined the Swallowing Sky Toad and discovered that this Demon Beast indeed had a natural advantage, with a space in its belly. He felt a surge of joy in his heart. Space talent was exceptionally rare, and Demon Beasts naturally possessing such a talent were even scarcer. Even though the Swallowing Sky Toad¡¯s current power was weak and its space talent had not yet shown its formidable side, as its strength grew, it would surely exhibit war power that could astonish people. He was not worried about how to cultivate this Spiritual Beast right now. It was not too late to figure it out after he joined a Sect and learned more about Demon Beasts. But soon, his brows furrowed slightly. Because when his Divine Sense was placed on the Swallowing Sky Toad through the Demon Refining Pot, he could clearly feel that the Swallowing Sky Toad was in a very poor state. It had significant injuries, even its internal organs showed signs of rupture. If it weren¡¯t for the Swallowing Sky Toad¡¯s strong life force, it would likely soon be in mortal danger. The Grotto Heaven within the Demon Refining Pot had been damaged in an ancient war, and that space no longer had Spirit Veins to produce Spiritual Energy. Without Spiritual Energy, it could not cultivate, and the Swallowing Sky Toad¡¯s injuries would inevitably heal very slowly. Qin Feng thought for a moment and eventually decided to use the Spiritual Energy previously refined from those Monkey Demons in the Demon Refining Pot to help the Swallowing Sky Toad heal. Although it was a pity to lose this Spiritual Energy, as long as the Swallowing Sky Toad could recover to its original state, he would have a late-stage Qi Refinement helper. In times of danger, the Swallowing Sky Toad¡¯s strength was much more reliable than his own spells. Thinking of this, Qin Feng did not hesitate anymore and directly controlled the Demon Refining Pot to send the remaining pure Spiritual Qi to the Swallowing Sky Toad. The Swallowing Sky Toad sensed the kindness emanating from that will, and upon seeing the pure Spiritual Qi in front of it, a burst of joy surged from its spirit. It opened its mouth and, within moments, absorbed all this Spiritual Qi into its body. It even burped, its snow-white belly bulging, and then it comfortably closed its eyes to refine the pure Spiritual Qi in its abdomen to heal its injuries. After watching for a moment, Qin Feng knew that this Spiritual Qi was sufficient for the Swallowing Sky Toad to recover from its injuries. He nodded in satisfaction and withdrew his Divine Sense from the Demon Refining Pot. He pondered as he traveled. Undeniably, the Demon Refining Pot was a treasure; just the ability to subdue Demon Beasts was enough to make him ecstatic. However, the Demon Refining Pot had been severely damaged, losing its Grotto Heaven and Spirit Veins, turning into a Spiritless Land and unsuitable for cultivation. Because of this, he could not subdue many Spiritual Beasts into the Pot. Otherwise, without a way to nurture them, those Demon Beasts might resort to mutual devouring out of hunger, which would be counterproductive. It seemed he should consider how to transplant a Spirit Vein inside in the future. He dared not dream of a Grotto Heaven, as that was too far beyond his reach. With his current cultivation realm, he could not access any Cave Heaven Blessed Land. However, he could consider Spirit Veins. Some forces, as they developed and expanded, would find their original mountain gate¡¯s Spirit Veins insufficient and would find ways to procure and transplant additional Spirit Veins to their gates. Some Great Forces could even trade for Spirit Veins. Although it was unlikely to be a top level Spirit Vein, even the weakest Spirit Vein could continually produce Spiritual Energy in the Demon Refining Pot, allowing Qin Feng to not worry about the cultivation of the Demon Beasts inside. Unfortunately, even a small to medium-sized Spirit Vein would cost tens of thousands or even hundreds of thousands of Spirit Stones, and he could not afford it right now. Qin Feng shook his head, no longer thinking about things he could only contemplate in the distant future. For now, he had to figure out how to sustain the Swallowing Sky Toad. Although the Swallowing Sky Toad would not starve to death even if it did not eat for years, without food, it would also deplete and not make any progress in its strength. Forget it, after this matter is over, I will release it to find food on its own in the mountains. Qin Feng quickly made a decision. Otherwise, he truly could not afford to sustain such a super glutton. With the Demon Refining Pot, he was not afraid of the Swallowing Sky Toad running away, as he could summon it back with a single thought. While he was calculating various things in his mind, he vaguely heard voices ahead. Looking up, he saw they had returned to the place where they had surrounded the Wolf Demon with their clansmen. ¡°Why are you only just returning?¡± Qin Long saw the two return safely and finally relaxed, looking them over and seeing their empty hands. He asked curiously, ¡°What, did the Wolf Demon get away?¡± ¡°No, Seventh Uncle.¡± Qin Yang said, ¡°Brother Feng and I caught up to the Green Wolf and had already subdued it. But while pursuing it, we didn¡¯t notice it escaped into the area the Huang Family was responsible for, and coincidentally, Huang Yulang encountered it. That kid said that since it had entered their area, it was their prey. Brother Feng and I were outnumbered and couldn¡¯t compete with them, so we had to watch them take the Wolf Demon.¡± ¡°What?¡± ¡°How dare the Huang Family¡¯s kid steal our Qin Family¡¯s prey, is he seeking death?¡± Qin Yang¡¯s words immediately ignited the anger of the Qin Family cultivators, who clamored to confront the Huang Family for an explanation. ¡°Alright, alright.¡± Qin Long shook his head helplessly, ¡°Even if we go, it¡¯s hard to argue, since Qin Yang did cross the border. Let it go this time, but if they cross the border in the future, you can do the same.¡± Under Qin Long¡¯s soothing words, the group gradually calmed down. Mainly, without Qin Long, a Foundation Establishment cultivator leading them, going would be futile. ¡°Alright, everyone¡¯s here, pack up and move out, there¡¯s still a large area to clear.¡± Qin Long called out, preparing to lead the clansmen to continue the Demon Beast eradication. Because the Qin Family dealt often with Demon Beasts and knew many ways to handle them, no one was severely injured during the Wolf Demon hunt, so there was no need to rest long. It was better to clear the Demon Beasts within a two-to-three hundred miles radius and leave here as soon as possible. Otherwise, if they were unlucky and encountered a powerful Demon Beast in the mountains, they could suffer casualties. ¡­¡­ Huang Tingyuan¡¯s face was cold as he looked at the body of his clansman on the ground. This was his cousin of the same generation, ranked fourth, with a decent cultivation of eighth-level Qi Refinement. He had unexpectedly died here. ¡°Tell me, what happened?¡± He looked coldly at the remaining people. Chapter 30 - Chapter 30: Chapter 30 Poison Pill Chapter 30: Chapter 30 Poison Pill Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation ¡°Family Head, originally we had already killed that group of monkey demons, but suddenly, a spiritual toad not even the size of a fist appeared out of nowhere and devoured the monkey demons we had slain. At that time, Fourth Brother was somewhat careless. He rushed too close, and as a result, was ambushed by the toad and had his chest pierced.¡± The cultivator at the peak of Qi Refinement spoke. He was named Huang Tingshan, he was from the same generation as the Family Head and was considered the eldest brother of their generation, but his aptitude was far inferior to Huang Tingyuan¡¯s. Now, at an old age, he was still in the Qi Refinement Realm, with no hope of ever reaching Foundation Establishment. Upon hearing this, Huang Tingyuan¡¯s face relaxed slightly, but he still looked somewhat exasperated: ¡°Fourth Brother is already several decades old, how could he still act so recklessly? How am I supposed to explain this to Fourth Sister-in-law and that little nephew when I return?¡± ¡°Family Head, there is one more thing I need to report to you.¡± Huang Tingshan continued: ¡°While we were chasing that spiritual toad, due to the severe injuries of Tingyu and the others, Sixth Brother stayed behind to watch over them. Suddenly, a cultivator appeared, lured Sixth Brother away, and then another cultivator jumped out, not only incapacitating Tingyu and the others but also robbing them of all their magic artifacts and spiritual objects, as well as the monkey demons we had painstakingly slain.¡± As he said this, his tone became increasingly resentful. It was unclear whether he resented the opponents for injuring his clansmen, or for robbing them of their prey as well. Originally, this trip should have brought them some gains, but now, not only did they lose a clansman, but the remaining members were also injured to varying degrees, ending up with nothing in the end. Huang Tingyuan didn¡¯t pay attention to the resentment in his words, instead, he looked grave, frowning deeply in thought. He was not only the only one of his generation in the Huang Family to advance to Foundation Establishment, but also the most adept at scheming. Otherwise, he wouldn¡¯t have achieved his current cultivation, nor would he have ascended to the family¡¯s leadership. After a moment of pondering, he finally asked, ¡°Did you see anything on those two cultivators that could identify them?¡± ¡°I asked carefully, but nothing could be discerned.¡± ¡°What about the spiritual toad?¡± Huang Tingyuan asked again: ¡°Was that spiritual toad a spiritual beast under someone¡¯s control?¡± Upon hearing this, Huang Tingshan was startled: ¡°The Family Head means, this was the Qin Family¡¯s doing?¡± ¡°Whether it was the Qin Family or not depends on whether that demon beast was under someone¡¯s control.¡± ¡°This¡­¡± Huang Tingshan hesitated for a moment and then shook his head, saying, ¡°It doesn¡¯t seem like it. We¡¯ve seen the Qin Family¡¯s methods of beast taming. That spiritual toad didn¡¯t look controlled, but rather was very wild. Besides, whether it¡¯s Qin Guanbao or Qin Long, if they were to act, they wouldn¡¯t just send an average demon beast, nor would they only harm Fourth Brother alone. With their capabilities, it wouldn¡¯t take long to kill us all, let alone rob such insignificant items from Tingyu and the others.¡± ¡°Yes, that¡¯s what I thought too.¡± Huang Tingyuan nodded: ¡°In that case, the demon beast was likely an accident.¡± ¡°But if it wasn¡¯t the Qin Family, who else would do such a thing, secretly robbing our prey without killing anyone? This matter feels very strange.¡± Huang Tingshan scratched his head, filled with confusion. ¡°Brother, don¡¯t forget, besides the Qin Family, there¡¯s still the Wang Family in the west of Kun City.¡± Huang Tingyuan felt helpless, his cousin was really not sharp, needing him to make such an obvious reminder? ¡°You mean to say, this was done by the Wang Family?¡± Huang Tingshan was surprised: ¡°They¡¯ve always been cautious; when did they dare to offend our Huang Family?¡± ¡°It might not be that they want to offend us, but they could be trying to pin the blame on the Qin Family, making us fight the Qin Family while they reap the benefits.¡± Huang Tingyuan pondered, saying: ¡°Although the Wang Family is cautious, it¡¯s not that they don¡¯t have expansionist ambitions. Especially since their younger generation has a couple of talented juniors; in twenty or thirty years, there might be two more Foundation Establishment cultivators in the Wang Family. Kun City isn¡¯t very large. If the Wang Family wants to develop, they can only carve out pieces from the Qin and Huang families.¡± Upon hearing this, Huang Tingshan showed a ruthless expression: ¡°Why don¡¯t we strike first to eliminate this potential threat?¡± ¡°Do not act rashly.¡± Huang Tingyuan shook his head: ¡°Although the Fog Hidden Sect¡¯s strength is far inferior to Taiyi Mountain¡¯s, it¡¯s still a sect with a thousand-year legacy and some foundation. Moreover, their sect is not too far from Kun City. If things go wrong, Taiyi Mountain might not storm the Fog Hidden Sect for our insignificant Huang Family. Keep an eye on this matter in the dark, but don¡¯t let them take advantage, and remember not to bring it into the open.¡± ¡°So we just swallow this loss and pretend this never happened?¡± Huang Tingshan was clearly dissatisfied. ¡°It¡¯s not that we can¡¯t retaliate, it¡¯s just not the right time.¡± Huang Tingyuan said: ¡°The Great Elder has arduously obtained a batch of fine artifact refining materials and is currently in seclusion crafting a spirit sword. If successful, the Great Elder can truly advance to an artifact refiner capable of crafting spiritual artifacts. At this time, everything must prioritize the Great Elder. We must avoid creating disturbances that could disrupt his work.¡± ¡°Yes, I understand.¡± Although still somewhat unwilling, Huang Tingshan dared not disobey the Family Head¡¯s orders and had to comply. ¡­¡­ After several days of clearing demon beasts in Qifeng Mountain, the cultivators of the three families in Kun City gradually returned to their respective families. Besides the Huang Family, who unfortunately lost a Qi Refinement late-stage cultivator, the other two families also had injured clansmen but no fatalities. On the night of their return home, Qin Feng recounted to his father the events of teaming up with Qin Yang to rob the two Huang Family cultivators. This matter was hard to conceal, and they needed their father¡¯s help to deal with these items and exchange them for spirit stones and elixir pills. Qin Long was somewhat astonished upon hearing his son¡¯s words. He hadn¡¯t expected his son to be so bold. But he didn¡¯t blame him, rather, he was quite approving. After all, the cultivation world was fraught with dangers. If there was an opportunity to gain resources from opponents, there was no reason to let it pass. Qin Long looked at the items before him, casually tossing the Heart-Clearing Jade and Binding Spirit Net to Qin Feng, saying, ¡°Don¡¯t sell this Heart-Clearing Jade. Keep it on you daily; it will aid your cultivation. However, it¡¯s just a low-grade Heart-Clearing Jade. After reaching Foundation Establishment, it won¡¯t be of much help; you can dispose of it then. As for the Binding Spirit Net, although it¡¯s not high-level, it¡¯s quite useful. Keep it for yourself, just don¡¯t flaunt it in front of the Huang Family.¡± Qin Feng nodded and put the two items away. Anyway, he was going to the Beast Taming Sect soon. By then, he would have nothing to do with the Huang Family, and he could use these artifacts freely. Qin Long then picked up the two storage bags. With his Foundation Establishment cultivator¡¯s True Yuan, he quickly broke the prohibitions on the storage bags and poured out their contents. There were many scattered items, including demon beast materials, refined iron for artifact refining, two bottles of elixir pills, and dozens of spirit stones. Qin Long gave the spirit stones to his son, then collected the remaining materials and refined iron, saying, ¡°I happen to be going to the commandery to deal with materials from the demon beasts. I¡¯ll take care of these for you as well. Everything else is fine, but remember not to take elixir pills carelessly.¡± He sternly warned: ¡°Especially those obtained from others, with unknown origins, they might contain poisonous pills. Taking them carelessly could cost you your life.¡± ¡°Is it that serious?¡± Qin Feng was astonished: ¡°Those two Huang Family cultivators wouldn¡¯t carry poisonous pills, would they?¡± ¡°You never know.¡± Qin Long smirked: ¡°It¡¯s not like this hasn¡¯t happened before. A cultivator killed an opponent, took a lot of spirit pills, couldn¡¯t bear to discard them, and ate them. But what he didn¡¯t expect was his opponent had mixed a deadly poisonous elixir among the spirit pills, leading to his death due to greed. Haha, since then, many in the cultivation world have followed this practice, mixing a poisonous pill among their spirit pills, in case they are killed, they might still get their revenge through this method.¡± Qin Feng was flabbergasted: ¡°I never thought such things could happen.¡± ¡°There are many things you can¡¯t imagine. Once you enter the sect, always be cautious, don¡¯t let anyone scheme against you.¡± Qin Long looked at his son and said, ¡°You¡¯re quite smart, but the cultivation world is full of devious minds. Observe more, think more, don¡¯t act impulsively. After all, you only have one life. If you die, you lose everything.¡± Chapter 31 - Chapter 31: Chapter 31 Lichun House? Drinking Flower Wine? Chapter 31: Chapter 31 Lichun House? Drinking Flower Wine? Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation That noon, after Qin Feng finished his cultivation, he sat under a hundred-year-old dragon claw locust tree in the courtyard and summoned the Swallowing Sky Toad, holding it in his palm and observing it carefully for a while. This Swallowing Sky Toad was still in its juvenile stage, its skin smooth and cool to the touch, making it very comfortable to hold. Its appearance was also beautiful, covered in an emerald green layer like jade, except for the snow-white belly. Several mysterious patterns ran across its back, adding an air of mystery. Qin Feng gently stroked its back a few times, then reached out a finger to poke its snow-white belly. It felt soft and delicate, but if he applied more force, he could feel a hidden resilience beneath its skin. Even an ordinary magic artifact might not break through its soft outer layer. Over a month had passed since his last mission to Qifeng Mountain to clear out demon beasts. The autumn chill had set in, and the grass and trees were turning yellow. Frog sightings in the mountains and forests had decreased as some began to hibernate. However, the Swallowing Sky Toad was an exotic species demon toad, unlike ordinary toads and frogs that needed to burrow into the ground to survive the winter. In fact, even if thrown into the Extreme North Ice Field, it could live well. After examining the Swallowing Sky Toad for a while, Qin Feng stopped toying with it. He merely held it in his hand, stroking its smooth skin while pondering. He considered the Swallowing Sky Toad¡¯s future cultivation. Keeping it confined in the Demon Refining Pot was not ideal, as it couldn¡¯t generate spiritual energy, which would slow down its cultivation. Although this spirit toad¡¯s cultivation speed was inherently slow, much slower than normal demon beasts¡ªby dozens of times. After all, it needed to devour a vast amount of spiritual objects to advance. Many Swallowing Sky Toads couldn¡¯t reach higher realms due to insufficient resources, overwhelmed by the space inside them, resulting in dying of old age without advancing. Qin Feng had ways to speed up this Swallowing Sky Toad¡¯s cultivation. Whether by fusing it with other toad demon beast bloodlines, allowing it to acquire new cultivation techniques, or by placing demon beast corpses or directly inserting spirit stones into the Demon Refining Pot to refine pure spiritual energy, both could accelerate its cultivation. Although spirit stones were not demon beasts, they essentially contained spiritual energy, similar to spirit veins, but the energy in spirit stones was internalized and needed external communication to be extracted. Unfortunately, he couldn¡¯t procure other toad demon beast bloodlines, and he disdained ordinary spirit toads. Even if he obtained those with superior bloodlines and exceptional talents, he couldn¡¯t fuse them now. Fusing bloodlines required a tremendous amount of energy, and the Demon Refining Pot was empty. To complete the fusion, he needed abundant spiritual power resources. Except for the dozen or so monkey demon corpses he had obtained from the Huang Family, he only had over a hundred spirit stones left, which was from the magic artifacts his father sold. He needed to save these spirit stones for the numerous expenses he would encounter after entering the sect, so he couldn¡¯t pour all his resources into the bottomless pit of the Demon Refining Pot. Qin Feng also couldn¡¯t hunt demon beasts in the mountains himself to feed the Swallowing Sky Toad. With his current cultivation, going into the mountains alone would be more of him being hunted by demon beasts than hunting them. As he frowned, feeling a bit troubled, he suddenly heard footsteps outside the courtyard, followed by Qin Yang¡¯s voice. He flipped his palm, storing the Swallowing Sky Toad back into the Demon Refining Pot. Then he turned to look towards the courtyard gate. Qin Yang, smiling broadly and full of energy, seemed much more light-hearted in his steps. ¡°Haha, Brother Feng, you¡¯re really idle, sitting at home doing nothing.¡± Qin Feng was speechless. What do you mean doing nothing, I¡¯ve been diligently cultivating. But he didn¡¯t argue, recognizing Qin Yang¡¯s words were unintentional. Judging by Qin Yang¡¯s beaming face, something good must have happened. Coupled with the recent pills their father had brought back for Qin Yang, it was easy to guess that Qin Yang leveled up to Qi Refinement seventh layer. ¡°Congratulations, Brother Yang, on your significant advancement in cultivation, reaching the late stage of Qi Refinement.¡± Qin Feng stood up, pretending to congratulate him. ¡°Hahaha, no need for such words between brothers.¡± Qin Yang laughed, patting Qin Feng¡¯s shoulder, and then casually wrapped an arm around Qin Feng¡¯s shoulder, steering him outside: ¡°If it weren¡¯t for you, Cousin, I wouldn¡¯t have cultivated so quickly. Come, come, today I¡¯m taking you to Lichun House to drink flower wine.¡± ¡°Flower wine?¡± Qin Feng¡¯s heart skipped a beat. He hadn¡¯t even held a girl¡¯s hand in over a decade, let alone anything more intimate. But considering his current age, he felt a bit disheartened. Quickly regaining his composure, he showed a look of disdain and righteousness, shaking off Qin Yang¡¯s arm with a light scoff: ¡°I never expected you to be such a person, frequenting such places.¡± ¡°Uh¡­¡± Qin Yang felt ashamed at Qin Feng¡¯s righteous demeanor, his face turning red: ¡°Occasionally, just when socializing with colleagues like Zhao Meng, we might go once.¡± ¡°Forget the flower wine.¡± Qin Feng shook his head: ¡°Besides, even if I could go, would you dare take me there?¡± ¡°No, no, I was just saying it casually.¡± Qin Yang smiled wryly: ¡°If I actually took you there, Uncle would break my legs.¡± Although the Beast Taming Sect¡¯s cultivation techniques didn¡¯t care about preserving one¡¯s virginity, it was better to focus on cultivation in the early stages to avoid distractions. If young cultivators indulged in pleasures too early and became addicted, unable to resist, their future achievements would be very limited. So many family forces advised their young members to avoid getting involved with women. Previously, Qin Feng was too young, so Qin Long never discussed it with him, but Qin Feng knew his father wouldn¡¯t allow him to fool around. ¡°Let¡¯s go. I heard Yingxian Building recently hired a new chef who cooks very well. Today, I¡¯ll take you to Yingxian Building to drink and celebrate my advancement to the late stage of Qi Refinement.¡± Qin Yang didn¡¯t mention Lichun House again and led Qin Feng towards the courtyard gate. Qin Feng didn¡¯t refuse, as he had nothing else to do and wouldn¡¯t mind relaxing in the city. He hadn¡¯t rushed his advancement recently to avoid suspicion, focusing on refining his spiritual power. His spiritual power was much purer and more profound compared to most Qi Refinement cultivators at the same level. They entered the city and headed to Yingxian Building. Although called Yingxian Building, it mainly served regular people, with few cultivators dining there. Other than the three cultivator families, Kun City had only a few loose cultivators living there, making it unprofitable to target cultivators exclusively. As the two approached Yingxian Building, the waiter¡¯s eyes lit up. As a Deputy Inspection Envoy of the Inspection Department, Qin Yang was a notable figure among Kun City¡¯s residents and deserved good service. They were about to be led to a private room on the third floor when a group arrived from across the street, led by Huang Family¡¯s eldest son, Huang Yulang. Chapter 32 - Chapter 32: Chapter 32 Gold-Plated Slash Chapter 32: Chapter 32 Gold-Plated Slash Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation The saying goes, enemies meet, and their eyes blaze with fury. When Qin Feng and Qin Yang saw Huang Yulang, although they didn¡¯t shout and scream for blood, they felt uncomfortable and couldn¡¯t help but snort, turning their heads away from him. Huang Yulang, lacking tact, walked over when he saw them, saying, ¡°Yo, aren¡¯t you two from the Qin Family? We¡¯re all from Kun City, always bumping into each other. Why the sour faces?¡± Qin Yang snorted coldly, ¡°Huang Yulang, why aren¡¯t you mining and forging for your Huang Family? What are you doing here?¡± Huang Yulang wasn¡¯t angered, and with a smile, he said, ¡°Brother Qin, what else would one come to Yingxian Building for but to drink? Or are you here to find girls? Hahaha, speaking of which, thanks to Brother Qin, I easily hunted a wolf demon last time and sold some Spirit Stones. Otherwise, I wouldn¡¯t have money to drink and have fun here, hahaha¡­¡± ¡°You¡­¡± Qin Yang became furious. Having the prey stolen by this guy last time has always been on his mind, hard to forget. Now hearing Huang Yulang bring it up again in front of him, he was infuriated, his anger soaring. ¡°What, Brother Qin wants to fight?¡± Huang Yulang smiled, his hands behind his back, ¡°This isn¡¯t outside the city. Think carefully, Brother Qin. If you assault me here, you might lose your job at the Inspection Department.¡± The few Huang Family members who came along with Huang Yulang also looked at Qin Yang with mocking expressions. They were sure Qin Yang wouldn¡¯t dare make a move. Even if he did, they weren¡¯t afraid. Because among them were two cultivators in the late stage of Qi Refinement, and the other two weren¡¯t weak either. If a fight broke out, they would definitely seize the opportunity to teach him a lesson. Qin Yang¡¯s mouth twitched, but he ultimately made no move. ¡°Hahaha¡­¡± Huang Yulang and his group roared with laughter, ¡°Brother Qin is still as sensible as last time!¡± They stepped past Qin Yang and swaggered into Yingxian Building. Qin Yang clenched his fists tightly, the veins on his forehead bulging out in his rage, making Huang Yulang and his mates, who were just climbing the stairs, feel even more pleased. Qin Feng hurried to advise, ¡°Forget it, Brother Yang, no need to get angry with them. How about we go to another restaurant so we don¡¯t see them and spoil our mood?¡± ¡°No need.¡± Qin Yang whispered, ¡°I¡¯m doing this on purpose. Do you really think I¡¯m a brainless fool who gets provoked by a few words? Just putting on a show. I¡¯m looking for a chance to trap these guys, maybe even gain some benefits.¡± Qin Feng was stunned; he didn¡¯t expect his cousin to have such an idea. Judging by Qin Yang¡¯s past behavior, he wasn¡¯t the type to be so easily angered. He shrugged, realizing that knowing someone¡¯s face doesn¡¯t mean knowing their heart. He never thought even someone as seemingly upright as Qin Yang harbored such cunning plans. It looked like he would need to be cautious outside in the future, so he wouldn¡¯t be sold out and still help count the money. The two walked to a private room on the third floor, ordered several of Yingxian Building¡¯s specialties, and chatted casually. However, soon they frowned. The room next door belonged to Huang Yulang¡¯s group, who were loudly chatting and laughing as if celebrating something, which annoyed Qin Feng and Qin Yang. They listened for a moment and suddenly froze. Huang Yulang and his men were talking about their family¡¯s Great Elder, who was about to succeed in refining a spiritual artifact flying sword. ¡°When the Great Elder finishes the Gold-Plated Slash sword, Yulang can use it as his lifebound flying sword. Joining the Golden Light Cave would then give him the confidence to compete with those sect geniuses. If he performs well and gets noticed by an inner sect elder, our Huang Family will rise to prominence soon.¡± ¡°Yulang has been personally guided by the family head since childhood, with excellent aptitude in sword dao. As long as he focuses on cultivation, he will definitely be selected as an inner sect disciple by the Golden Light Cave.¡± ¡°That¡¯s for sure.¡± Another person flattered, ¡°Even without the Great Elder¡¯s spiritual artifact flying sword, Yulang¡¯s talent alone gives him a good chance to enter the inner sect. Now with the Gold-Plated Slash, he will soon stand out in the outer sect.¡± Several Huang Family members were fawning over Huang Yulang. After all, this guy was not only the firstborn of the family head¡¯s line but also extremely talented and happened to be at the right time. The Great Elder was about to be promoted to an artifact refiner, preparing to craft the family¡¯s heritage spiritual artifact flying sword, the Gold-Plated Slash. News from Weapon Casting Valley indicated that the refining process was going smoothly, and it would be completed in a few days. Although two batches of materials were wasted before, which was painful, once successful, Huang Yulang could use this spirit sword as his lifebound flying sword. Even though nurturing a spiritual artifact as a lifebound sword was challenging at Huang Yulang¡¯s current realm, the Huang Family planned to invest heavily in cultivating him, aiming to get him into the inner sect. If he entered the Taiyi Mountain Golden Light Cave¡¯s inner sect, all costs would be worth it. Moreover, once the news of the Great Elder¡¯s success spread, they could start accepting commissions for crafting spiritual artifacts. The hierarchy of artifact refiners was simple: those who could only craft magic artifacts were considered nondescript artifact refiners, almost apprentices in many major sects. Only those who crafted spiritual artifacts were true artifact refiners. Those capable of crafting magical treasures were artifact refining masters, and those who could create spiritual treasures were artifact refining grandmasters. Once the Huang Family Great Elder was officially promoted, they would undoubtedly receive many commissions for artifact refining, a lucrative business that could yield significant resources. The only regret was that the Great Elder was too old and achieved this level too late, limiting his energy to handle many orders annually. Nevertheless, it would substantially boost the Huang Family¡¯s reputation in the commandery¡¯s magic artifact market. Qin Feng and Qin Yang frowned continuously while listening. If the Huang Family Great Elder weren¡¯t too old and had only a few years left to live, he could, within fifty years, solely elevate the Huang Family¡¯s status, perhaps surpassing the Qin Family, becoming the strongest in Kun City. They listened while half-heartedly eating and drinking. Once they heard enough, Qin Yang couldn¡¯t sit still. ¡°Let¡¯s go back. I need to find Seventh Uncle and the Clan Leader to discuss this.¡± ¡°Alright.¡± Qin Feng rose with him, ¡°Then let¡¯s go.¡± They went downstairs to pay and hurriedly left Yingxian Building to report to their elders. Qin Feng didn¡¯t go directly with Qin Yang but instead strolled alone along a shaded path in the back of the family estate. He was just a junior presently, not required to bear any pressure, and the Qin Family had steadily accumulated strength in Kun City for years by being cautious, not aggressive. With three hundred mu of spiritual fields supporting them, the Qin Family could flourish regardless of drought or flood, unlike the Huang Family, which had to pin its hopes on nurturing artifact refining talents. Otherwise, even with a small refined iron ore, they could barely produce a few magic artifacts and had to rely on selling refined iron for profit. Unconsciously, he approached the family¡¯s Spirit Fruit Garden. When turning to leave, a thought struck him, and his eyes lit up. Chapter 33 - Chapter 33: Chapter 33: Infiltrating Weapon Casting Valley Chapter 33: Chapter 33: Infiltrating Weapon Casting Valley Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation Qin Feng remembered, under the Spiritual Well in the Spirit Fruit Garden, there was an underground stream that led to the Sword Washing Pond in the Huang Family¡¯s Sword Casting Valley. Although he couldn¡¯t sneak in to take a look, he could send the Swallowing Sky Toad instead. After all, this underground stream was originally discovered by the Swallowing Sky Toad. Moreover, since it was able to get in and out of the Huang Family¡¯s Sword Casting Valley before, it was clear that the so-called Sword Casting Valley wasn¡¯t a heavily guarded place. Indeed, the Huang Family collected refined iron ore every day, coming and going frequently. They couldn¡¯t always activate the prohibition formations, otherwise, the Swallowing Sky Toad wouldn¡¯t be able to get in and out easily. Thinking of this, Qin Feng became excited. He casually walked to the entrance of the Spirit Fruit Garden and happened to see a clan member resting in a house near the entrance. He called out, ¡°Uncle Nine.¡± The middle-aged man looked up and saw Qin Feng. He quickly opened the gate and smiled, ¡°Ah, Feng¡¯er, what brings you here?¡± Qin Feng, smiling brightly, said, ¡°I heard the spiritual dates in the garden are ripe. I¡¯m craving some and want to pick a few to taste. Is that okay?¡± ¡°No problem. Those spiritual dates are meant for the family. Just don¡¯t knock them all down,¡± Uncle Nine laughed, without much concern. Young folks eating a lot was normal. Besides, Qin Feng had already stood out among the younger generation and was sure to secure a spot in the Beast Taming Sect by the end of the year. Ordinary clan members like him, who had spent decades still hovering in the early Qi Refining stage, couldn¡¯t wait to fawn on him, so why would he trouble him over a few spiritual dates? ¡°Thank you, Uncle Nine. I¡¯ll be going now.¡± Qin Feng walked forward a few steps, then turned back and said, ¡°Oh right, I¡¯ll be coming often to check on our spirit fruit trees these days. Uncle Nine, don¡¯t worry. I won¡¯t mess with the spiritual fruit. It¡¯s just that I heard from my father that the Beast Taming Sect also has many spiritual lands planted with various spiritual objects. If I learn more now, I might find a way to earn spirit stones in the sect later.¡± ¡°Is that so? Alright then, come as you like. If you don¡¯t understand something, just ask me.¡± Uncle Nine agreed without much thought. After all, previous disciples sent by the Qin Family to the Beast Taming Sect did indeed work as servants, taking care of spiritual plants and spiritual medicines. Qin Feng thanked him and first went to find the spiritual date tree, using a bamboo pole to knock down a few red, glistening spiritual dates. He used the Water Manipulation Technique to guide a stream of water and washed the dates clean. He then picked one up and put it in his mouth, biting down with a crisp crunch. It was sweet and juicy. After chewing a few times and swallowing, he could feel a faint spiritual energy circulating within his body. Unfortunately, these spiritual dates were of low tier, considered the lowest grade of spiritual fruits. These trees had been around for two to three hundred years, producing one to two hundred pounds of dates each year. The spiritual energy contained in the dates wasn¡¯t high. But he wasn¡¯t there just to eat spiritual dates. He quickly arrived next to the Spiritual Well. By now, it was near dusk. Apart from Uncle Nine, who was left on guard, there was no one else in the garden. Qin Feng reached out his hand and summoned the Swallowing Sky Toad. The Swallowing Sky Toad emerged from the dark Demon Refining Pot, delighted to see it was the Spirit Fruit Garden, thinking its master was going to let it eat fruits. After all, its intelligence was only akin to a three or four-year-old child, and it was a glutton, with little else on its mind besides eating. But it quickly got a scare. Because it sensed the aura of the Green-Eyed Spirit Snake. Fortunately, Qin Feng calmed it down, pointing to the snake scales on the well¡¯s edge, and conveyed through his mind that it need not worry. He then instructed it to go through the underground stream to the Sword Washing Pond and check the Huang Family Great Elder¡¯s artifact refining results. Seeing that the Green-Eyed Spirit Snake¡¯s actual form wasn¡¯t there and only its scales were, the Swallowing Sky Toad felt less uneasy with Qin Feng by its side. Once it understood what its master wanted, it jumped from Qin Feng¡¯s hand into the Spiritual Well. With a splash, it quickly dived to the bottom of the well and swam along the underground stream towards the Huang Family¡¯s Sword Washing Pond. Normally, Qin Feng¡¯s divine sense strength wouldn¡¯t allow him to extend it so far. Even his father Qin Long barely achieved this level. But the Swallowing Sky Toad was intended by Qin Feng to be nurtured as one of the nine Great Demon Kings in his Demon Refining Pot. Their bond was extremely close, allowing Qin Feng to sense everything the Swallowing Sky Toad saw through the pot. Of course, his strength was still too weak, and the Demon Refining Pot itself was broken. It wouldn¡¯t work if it was too far. But the distance to the Huang Family¡¯s Sword Casting Valley was only eleven or twelve miles, which wasn¡¯t a problem for the Demon Refining Pot. The Sword Casting Valley, though said to be an important place for the Huang Family, wasn¡¯t as crucial as imagined. It was merely a place for processing ore and crafting magic artifacts, not their family¡¯s heritage site or treasure storage. Since many clansmen came and went daily, the place wasn¡¯t heavily guarded. An occasional toad jumping in wouldn¡¯t attract much attention. From the largest casting room in the middle, waves of heat escaped through the doors and windows, accompanied by sporadic clanging sounds. Within the Artifact Refiners¡¯ system, only ordinary artifact refiners who crafted iron-based magic tools and spiritual artifacts used iron hammers to minimize impurities in the materials and merge various properties, shaping and imprinting arrays to make the artifacts. Master artifact refiners seldom used iron hammers. They preferred spirit fires for forging and divine skills for hammering. They refined with spells and outlined with divine sense. Only this way could they craft truly powerful treasures. Many other artifact refining masters who specialized in crafting vestments or wood-element, water-element treasures also didn¡¯t use iron hammers. Otherwise, it wouldn¡¯t be called artifact refining but intentionally destroying materials. That night, deep in the night, with the clear moon high, a bright golden light suddenly appeared from the central casting room, illuminating it with a radiant glow. Though it quickly faded, the sharp aura alerted others in the Weapon Casting Valley. ¡°Hahaha, it¡¯s done. I¡¯ve finally crafted the Gold-Plated Slash!¡± An old voice echoed, bringing joy to the few Huang Family cultivators who hurried over. Even if the Great Elder couldn¡¯t frequently craft artifacts due to his age, his occasional guidance could seriously improve the family¡¯s artifact crafting level. ¡°Congratulations, Great Elder, on successfully crafting a spiritual artifact and officially becoming an Artifact Refiner.¡± The Huang Family clansmen congratulated him one after another. ¡°Don¡¯t just stand around outside, come in.¡± The elder¡¯s voice rose as the door opened, letting them in. Inside, a few Huang Family clansmen surrounded an elder with white hair and beard, inspecting the floating spirit sword before him. The flying sword, Gold-Plated Slash, was a low-rank spiritual artifact flying sword. Though low-rank, it was exceedingly powerful, far surpassing top-tier magic artifacts. Moreover, if nurtured by a sword cultivator¡¯s own True Yuan, it could advance as the sword cultivator grew. Of course, refining it into a treasure would still require help from a master artifact refiner. ¡°Great Elder, now that the spiritual artifact is complete, should we inform the clan leader immediately?¡± ¡°Yes, the clan leader would be thrilled to know.¡± After a while of admiring, the clansmen discussed. ¡°Nonsense.¡± The Great Elder reprimanded, ¡°It¡¯s the middle of the night. Doesn¡¯t the clan leader need to cultivate? Why disturb him now? Inform him first thing in the morning.¡± ¡°Yes, Great Elder, you¡¯re right.¡± The cultivators agreed quickly. ¡°Alright, for this artifact, I haven¡¯t rested for days, extremely weary now. I¡¯ll go rest first. Tidy up the casting room for me. Besides, the newly refined spiritual artifact would benefit more from the nurturing array. After cleaning up, activate the array on the casting platform to nurture the Gold-Plated Slash.¡± ¡°Yes, Great Elder, leave it to us.¡± The few respectfully escorted the Great Elder out. After he went to rest in the back room, they returned to the casting room. Not in a hurry to clean, they took out the Gold-Plated Slash, admiring it for a long time before reluctantly placing the newly refined flying sword on the casting platform. They activated the spirit-nurturing array with a few spirit stones, extinguished the furnace flames, cleaned the room, and finally left, returning to their quarters to rest. Time passed quietly in the Weapon Casting Valley until everything fell silent. As dawn approached, the Sword Washing Pond in the valley started to ripple slightly. Chapter 34 - Chapter 34: Chapter 34: The Toad Bandit Chapter 34: Chapter 34: The Toad Bandit Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation The Swallowing Sky Toad silently stuck its head out of the water, its large eyes observing the surroundings. After carefully investigating for a moment and finding no one around, it then leapt out of the water. Its skin was sleek and smooth, leaving no trace of water behind. Upon landing, the Swallowing Sky Toad lightly hopped a few times, instantly covering dozens of yards, and arrived in front of the largest Casting Room in the Weapon Casting Valley. Qin Family Residence. In his room, Qin Feng sat cross-legged on the bed. Using the Demon Refining Pot, he projected his spirit onto the Swallowing Sky Toad, allowing him to see everything the toad saw. His power of spirit directed the Swallowing Sky Toad, which lightly jumped to the window. Its limbs stuck to the wall like a gecko, showing no signs of falling, as it gently pried open the window and jumped inside. The Swallowing Sky Toad¡¯s eyes were large and bright, enough to see in the dark. It hopped twice in the Casting Room, reaching a high vantage point, where it could see everything inside. Soon, it spotted the glittering Flying Sword placed on the Casting Platform. The Gold-Plated Slash was a type of Flying Sword at the Spiritual Artifact level, but it wasn¡¯t extremely powerful. Otherwise, the forging skill for this wouldn¡¯t have been passed down to the Huang Family. Following Qin Feng¡¯s command, the Swallowing Sky Toad opened its mouth, and its long tongue wrapped around the Flying Sword, instantly swallowing it into its abdominal space. The Yunling Array was merely a prohibition array that gathered spiritual energy to nourish the Spirit Sword, without any offensive or defensive capabilities. It was naturally incapable of stopping the Swallowing Sky Toad. Originally, after retrieving the sword, Qin Feng intended to urge the Swallowing Sky Toad to return quickly. However, upon seeing the large iron hammer on the Casting Platform, along with the various sorted materials for casting spirit artifacts and magic artifacts, his eyes lit up, and he began a sweeping operation. The Swallowing Sky Toad opened its mouth wide, continually swallowing various refined iron, red copper, xuanjin, and other materials, including the large iron hammer used by the Huang Family Great Elder for casting spirit artifacts, as well as their family¡¯s generational inheritance¡ªa spiritual artifact level Artifact Refining Furnace, all swallowed into its belly. Qin Feng was somewhat greedy, wanting to swallow the giant Casting Platform as well. Unfortunately, the space in the Swallowing Sky Toad¡¯s belly was full and couldn¡¯t contain anything more, so he had to give up. At this moment, a furious roar suddenly came from the courtyard at the rear of the Weapon Casting Valley: ¡°Who dares trespass on the Huang Family¡¯s restricted area?¡± It turned out that after the Swallowing Sky Toad swallowed the large iron hammer used by the Huang Family Great Elder for casting spirit artifacts, it immediately alerted the elder. After all, it was a magic artifact he had been refining for many years, connected to his spirit. Earlier, due to the exhaustion from many days of artifact refining, and being inside his own Casting Room, he forgot to put it away. He fell into deep sleep to recover the energy spent on casting the Spirit Sword, only to suddenly sense that his large iron hammer had lost connection with him. Shocked, he woke up from his sleep. Hearing the roar, Qin Feng was startled and hurriedly urged the Swallowing Sky Toad to leap out of the Casting Room, quickly jumping into the Sword Washing Pond, swiftly swimming towards the Spiritual Well. ¡°Boom¡­¡± Just a few moments after the Swallowing Sky Toad leapt into the Sword Washing Pond, the figure of the Huang Family Great Elder flew over from the rear courtyard. The elder landed on the roof of the Casting Room, his late-stage Foundation Establishment cultivation bursting forth, sweeping across the entire Weapon Casting Valley. After several sweeps, he found no abnormal presence. His expression changed, and he suddenly descended to the ground, pushing open his Weapon Casting Room door. With just one glance inside, the Great Elder became furious: ¡°Bastard!¡± At this moment, the Great Elder was so angry he nearly spat blood. The thief who infiltrated the Weapon Casting Valley had not only stolen his freshly forged Gold-Plated Slash Flying Sword but also taken his refining hammer and Artifact Refining Furnace. Worse, the materials the family had painstakingly gathered for refining spiritual artifacts were also gone. The entire Casting Room was empty, save for the heavy Casting Platform. Without refining materials, they could be slowly collected again. Losing the Gold-Plated Slash was bearable; another could be forged for Huang Yulang. But without the refining hammer and Artifact Refining Furnace, how could they forge spirit swords now? Especially the Artifact Refining Furnace, handed down from the family founder, it wasn¡¯t something easily obtained. Its refining process was complex, requiring not just highly skilled Artifact Refiners, but Artifact Refining Masters to easily forge a spiritual artifact level Artifact Refining Furnace. By now, the rest of the valley¡¯s inhabitants had been awakened by the Great Elder¡¯s furious roar and came running out. Someone asked: ¡°Great Elder, what happened?¡± The white-haired Great Elder¡¯s chest heaved a few times before he suppressed his anger, replying furiously: ¡°Someone infiltrated the valley and stole my freshly forged Flying Sword Gold-Plated Slash, as well as my refining hammer and Artifact Refining Furnace.¡± ¡°What?¡± Everyone was shocked and then filled with rage. ¡°Who could be so brazen to steal from our Huang Family, seeking death.¡± The Great Elder shouted sternly: ¡°Notify the Family Head immediately, gather all family cultivators, block all nearby roads, and search for any suspicious traces!¡± ¡°Yes, Great Elder.¡± At that moment, no one cared about disturbing the Family Head¡¯s cultivation. Some cultivators used the Divine Movement Technique and sped towards the family residence to inform the Family Head of the intruder in the Weapon Casting Valley, and to gather everyone to search the area. The Great Elder, with a grim face, circled the Weapon Casting Valley multiple times. Not only did he fail to find any non-family members, but he completely lost contact with his refining hammer. He knew the thief must have used some method to conceal the hammer¡¯s aura, preventing him from sensing it. But he couldn¡¯t fathom that the thief was actually a Swallowing Sky Toad, only the size of a child¡¯s fist. The space within the Swallowing Sky Toad was much superior to the forcibly modified spaces like those created through the prohibition technique of a storage bag. With its internal space, it was impossible for the Great Elder to sense the aura of his magic artifact. ¡­ The Huang Family was in chaos. Upon hearing about the Weapon Casting Valley theft, Family Head Huang Tingyuan was furious, mobilizing all the family cultivators to lock down Kun City and all nearby escape routes. Given the commotion, the Qin Family soon caught wind of it. The Qin Family would never approve of Kun City¡¯s lockdown as many of their businesses required active operations. Fortunately, the Huang Family cultivators didn¡¯t intend to trouble the Qin Family, preventing a conflict between the two. Receiving news of the theft at the Huang Family¡¯s Weapon Casting Valley, the Qin Family mainly saw it as a joke and had no intention of provoking the Huang Family at this time. While the Huang Family conducted a thorough search, Qin Feng walked briskly to the Spirit Fruit Garden. The family members tending the Spirit Fruit Garden had grown accustomed to him making rounds there. To maintain appearances, Qin Feng genuinely learned about caring for spirit plants from the elders. Given his high growth potential and sweet-talking nature, the uncles were fond of him, willingly imparting their knowledge, hoping he would progress in the Beast Taming Sect and grow strong enough to protect the family. However, this morning, Qin Feng informed them that he would focus his efforts elsewhere, no longer coming to learn, which they found regrettable. Yet, they didn¡¯t want to waste his time learning other skills and gave him a few spirit fruits as he left. The caregivers, who had long worked in the Spirit Fruit Garden, considered this a minimal benefit, and giving Qin Feng some spirit fruits wasn¡¯t a big deal. They had no idea that Qin Feng had, meanwhile, gone to the Spiritual Well to retrieve the Swallowing Sky Toad. The Swallowing Sky Toad wasn¡¯t pleased. It had hoped its master would let it feast in the Spirit Fruit Garden, but instead, it had to lurk in the water for days, only to return with a belly full of iron. PS: Brothers, while others release one or two chapters during the new book period, I post three chapters a day, showing my sincerity! How about showing some support with recommendation votes? Chapter 35 - Chapter 35: Chapter 35 Making a Big Profit Chapter 35: Chapter 35 Making a Big Profit Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation In the room, Qin Feng held the Swallowing Sky Toad in one hand and the Lingqi Flying Sword Gold-Plated Slash in the other, feeling very satisfied. A Spiritual Artifact, the Qin Family hadn¡¯t accumulated many Spiritual Artifacts over the years. Although this was related to the Qin Family investing most of their resources in Spiritual Beasts, it also demonstrated the preciousness of Spiritual Artifacts. However, this Flying Sword was crafted by the Huang Family Great Elder. He couldn¡¯t openly use it, otherwise, if the Huang Family discovered it, they wouldn¡¯t let him off easily. Moreover, he couldn¡¯t let his father help dispose of the things obtained this time because he hadn¡¯t yet joined the Beast Taming Sect, making it hard to explain how he subdued the Swallowing Sky Toad. But it didn¡¯t matter; after joining the Sect in a while, he could openly sell this Gold-Plated Slash to others. Although the Beast Taming Sect disciples mainly focused on Beast Taming, they didn¡¯t completely avoid using Magic Artifacts. They just didn¡¯t value Magic Artifacts as much as Spiritual Beasts. Even though the Gold-Plated Slash was just a low-rank Spiritual Artifact Flying Sword, it was worth several hundred Spirit Stones. Moreover, this Flying Sword was very eye-catching with its golden shine, making it very marketable. In addition to the Gold-Plated Slash, he had also acquired the iron hammer and the Artifact Refining Furnace used by the Huang Family Great Elder for weapon casting, along with quite a few Artifact Refining Materials. He estimated that if he sold all these items, he could get at least three to four thousand Spirit Stones. Mainly because the Artifact Refining Furnace was quite valuable; even though the Refining Furnace was only of middle-rank Spiritual Artifact quality, its special nature made its price no less than that of a top-level Spiritual Artifact. However, such a thing could only be sold to Artifact Refiners, unlike top-level Spiritual Artifacts that had a broader audience. Although he was tempted, Qin Feng didn¡¯t take out the large iron hammer and the Refining Furnace. Instead, he had the Swallowing Sky Toad place these two items in the Demon Refining Pot, to prevent the Huang Family Great Elder from sensing them and finding him. The space within the Demon Refining Pot was far more powerful than the space within the Swallowing Sky Toad. Even if the Huang Family Great Elder was at the Foundation Establishment Late Stage, he wouldn¡¯t be able to sense its presence even if he became an Immortal. Qin Feng joyfully put away the Gold-Plated Slash. With these resources as a foundation, he felt much more secure, otherwise, he would only be slightly better off than ordinary disciples without family support. After all, the Qin Family wasn¡¯t a large clan and couldn¡¯t just provide him with cultivation resources worth thousands of Spirit Stones all at once. Qin Feng stroked the smooth, glossy skin of the Swallowing Sky Toad, smiling with satisfaction. Acquiring this Swallowing Sky Toad was a good deal. Although it was a super big eater, it instinctively controlled space divine power, allowing it to confine its demon energy within a certain space around it. Because the demon energy didn¡¯t leak outward, it had a strong deceptive quality, making it hard to detect unless specifically observed. This allowed it to wander and devour spiritual objects without being killed by other demon beasts early on. Its aura wouldn¡¯t be noticed, and when the opponent discovered it, it would be within a very close range, making it easy for the Swallowing Sky Toad to launch a successful surprise attack. The Swallowing Sky Toad¡¯s belly swelled, emitting soft gurgling sounds. Due to their mental connection, Qin Feng understood it. This guy was asking for food. Qin Feng smiled wryly. He had just praised it, and now it was begging for food. He shook his head helplessly; it had just accomplished a feat, so it deserved a reward. He took out all the Spirit Fruits that his clan members had given him from the Spirit Fruit Garden. Seeing the Spirit Fruits, the Swallowing Sky Toad croaked happily twice, then opened its mouth wide and rolled its tongue, swallowing the Spirit Fruits one by one. At this moment, footsteps of Qin Long came from outside the courtyard. He excitedly walked in, saying with a smile, ¡°Feng, good news, have you heard? The Huang Family¡¯s Sword Casting Valley was robbed. Last night, someone broke into the Sword Casting Valley and stole all the Artifact Refining Materials that the Huang Family had spent a fortune on, as well as their ancestral Refining Furnace. The stolen spiritual objects were worth thousands of Spirit Stones in total. Haha, this will deeply wound the Huang Family¡¯s vital energy. After all, they exhausted their family funds to buy those Artifact Refining Materials, hoping their Great Elder could craft some Spiritual Artifacts to sell and make a big profit. They didn¡¯t expect this mishap. Humph, let¡¯s see how they can cultivate Huang Yulang now. Feng, the Huang Family¡¯s next generation is done for. When you join the Beast Taming Sect, you must train hard. If you reach Foundation Establishment in twenty years and the Huang Family¡¯s next generation doesn¡¯t have cultivators advancing, our Qin Family might avenge the past grudges and seize the Huang Family¡¯s mines, enhancing our family power.¡± Saying this, Qin Long¡¯s eyes flashed with a trace of ruthlessness, ¡°A hundred and twenty years ago, our Qin Family was in a precarious state, almost wiped out by the Huang Family. If it weren¡¯t for our Family Head advancing successfully in the Sect and bringing back some helpers, our family¡¯s properties would have been taken by the Huang Family long ago. Now, the Huang Family Great Elder is old and may not hold on for long. If their next generation fails to rise, it will be our Qin Family¡¯s opportunity for revenge.¡± Qin Feng replied, ¡°Father, don¡¯t worry, I will train diligently and strive to advance as soon as possible.¡± He had heard about the family¡¯s crisis a century ago from his father and other elders numerous times. Such oral teachings ensured that the younger generation didn¡¯t forget the crisis, prompting them to train harder under pressure. Qin Long nodded with satisfaction, then looked around curiously, ¡°I think I heard a frog croaking while I was outside the courtyard?¡± ¡°This¡­¡± Qin Feng didn¡¯t know how to answer for a moment, feeling a bit awkward. Seeing his son¡¯s embarrassed look, Qin Long suddenly realized, ¡°Was that you mimicking a frog?¡± ¡°¡­Yes.¡± Qin Feng replied reluctantly, ¡°I was just playing around¡­¡± He couldn¡¯t continue. Admitting that he was mimicking a frog at his age would be very embarrassing if it got out. ¡°Haha, never mind, never mind. My son is still young; a bit of playfulness is normal.¡± Seeing his son¡¯s youthful appearance, Qin Long couldn¡¯t help but laugh heartily. This son had been sensible since childhood and rarely misbehaved. He hadn¡¯t expected him to have such a childlike side. Seeing his father¡¯s doting look, Qin Feng felt helpless. He was being treated as a child. But fortunately, his father wasn¡¯t a gossip, and wouldn¡¯t casually tell others about his embarrassment. Chapter 36 - Chapter 36: Chapter 36: The Girl Qin Xi Chapter 36: Chapter 36: The Girl Qin Xi Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation ¡°¡±¡± Kun City was located in the southwest. Even in winter, the trees and plants in the forest only dulled in color slightly, without shedding many leaves. However, the air in the forest became extremely chilly, and few were willing to go out during this time. Of course, cultivators didn¡¯t pay much attention to such a chilly atmosphere. Qin Feng walked leisurely in the outer forest of Qifeng Mountain. Because he never ventured deep, he seldom encountered danger. Even if he came across some tigers, leopards, wolves, or bears, with his current strength at the third level of Qi Refinement, dealing with these ordinary beasts was not a problem. Moreover, he was accompanied by a Swallowing Sky Toad. Ribbit, ribbit¡­ Several croaks came from the forest, and the shadow of the Swallowing Sky Toad flashed, leaping out from the depths of the forest and landing on Qin Feng¡¯s shoulder. In the past few months, Qin Feng had taken it into the mountains nearly every day to forage for food. With the Swallowing Sky Toad¡¯s strength equivalent to the late stage of Qi Refinement, there was almost no danger in the outer area of Qifeng Mountain. Qin Feng followed behind, searching the forest for rare spiritual medicines and occasionally coming across a few spiritual trees. He had tried to transplant those spiritual trees into the Demon Refining Pot, but unfortunately, the pot had no spiritual energy, so the trees couldn¡¯t survive. Instead, the pot absorbed all the spiritual energy within the trees. During this time, the Swallowing Sky Toad also hunted several demon beasts, which Qin Feng refined using the Demon Refining Pot, slightly increasing his cultivation. ¡°It¡¯s time to go back.¡± Qin Feng looked at the sky, reached out to hold the cool body of the Swallowing Sky Toad, chuckled lightly, and turned to walk out of the mountain. Today was the day for the family selection to compete for disciple quotas. Although the Family Head had directly given him one of the spots upon showing his cultivation at the third level of Qi Refinement, and there was no need to compete with other youths, he still needed to make some preparations. After all, once the selection was over, they would head to the Commandery and follow the Elder from the Beast Taming Sect, who came to Tieling County to recruit disciples, back to the sect¡¯s mountain gate. His father likely had many things to say to him. Even though what needed to be said had already been said, his father only had him as a son, and after raising him with difficulty, the separation was bound to be filled with reluctance. ¡­¡­ At the Qin Family ancestral hall, Clan Leader Qin Guanbao personally presided over the ancestral worship ceremony. After the clansmen finished worshipping the ancestors, the Clan Leader looked around and said, ¡°This year, it¡¯s again the time to send family disciples to join the Beast Taming Sect for cultivation. Our Qin Family is small and humble, with not many quotas to enter the sect, nor can we afford to send too many clansmen to the Beast Taming Sect. Otherwise, apart from being unable to support them, it would also cause a gap in the family¡¯s cultivators. Therefore, the ancestors stipulated that each generation could only send two cultivators at most to the Beast Taming Sect for cultivation. Of course, the world is unpredictable, with fortune and misfortune coming hand in hand. Joining the Beast Taming Sect is both an opportunity and possibly a misfortune for them. Not only due to the cruelty of the cultivation world, but the competition within the Beast Taming Sect¡¯s outer sect is also extremely fierce. A slight carelessness can result in death and destruction. Twenty years ago, the two children we sent to the sect didn¡¯t survive. Within a few years of entering the sect, they both died during a mission. This is also why the family doesn¡¯t dare to send too many disciples to the sect.¡± Qin Guanbao sighed lightly, clearly pained by the deaths of those two juniors. Realizing that his words might dampen the spirits of the clansmen, especially since two juniors were being sent to the sect today, he quickly added, ¡°But don¡¯t worry. As long as you are cautious and don¡¯t do things beyond your capabilities, generally, there won¡¯t be any accidents. For instance, both Qin Long and I gained opportunities for Foundation Establishment in the sect.¡± After smoothing things over, he then beckoned to Qin Feng and another fifteen or sixteen-year-old pretty girl standing not far away. The two immediately stepped forward, not daring to delay. They were the excellent disciples selected by the Qin Family this time. There was no need to mention Qin Feng. With his third-level Qi Refinement cultivation, no other youth could compete with him for the spot, so he had already secured the quota to join the Beast Taming Sect without needing to contend with others. The girl, Qin Xi, came from a collateral branch of the family, and her parents were ordinary people. However, she had an extraordinary root bone and worked hard. At fourteen, she penetrated her meridians, opened her spiritual acupoints, and became a cultivator. Thus, she was accepted into the ancestral home to be taught cultivation techniques by the clan elders. She advanced to the second level of Qi Refinement in less than two years, overcoming various challenges to snatch this quota from her peers. Qin Guanbao looked at the two youthful faces in front of him with a sense of satisfied relief. ¡°Back then, I was your age when I joined the Beast Taming Sect. Time flies, and in the blink of an eye, a hundred years have passed. I¡¯m now one hundred sixty-seven and can¡¯t protect the family for many more years. In the future, the family will depend on you young people. As you join the Beast Taming Sect, the family will provide you with some resources to help you have a smoother journey in the sect. However, you must not rely solely on the family¡¯s resources for cultivation but must seek your own opportunities within the sect. Otherwise, your progress in cultivation might not be far-reaching. Furthermore, as cultivators from the Qin Family, remember to support each other. Our Qin Family¡¯s foundation in the sect is shallow. If you don¡¯t work together, the path will only be more difficult.¡± Qin Feng replied, ¡°Rest assured, Clan Leader. We will cultivate well and support each other, never betraying the family¡¯s expectations.¡± The girl, Qin Xi, also nodded with a determined expression. Though she was introverted and somewhat unfamiliar with the clansmen at the ancestral home due to her background, she still rarely spoke. Qin Guanbao took two storage bags from a tray held by a clansman and handed one to each of them, saying, ¡°These contain some resources from the family. Every year, the family will send some resources to you through trusted channels. If you have any needs, you can also relay them through the sect¡¯s affiliate merchant guilds. The family has connections with the merchant guilds in the Commandery capital and can receive your messages. Additionally, the family can¡¯t provide endless resources. Ten years later, after you have adapted to life in the Beast Taming Sect, everything will depend on you.¡± Saying this, Qin Guanbao turned his gaze to Qin Feng and continued, ¡°Currently, the only family member in the Beast Taming Sect is your clan uncle, Qin Ying, who entered the sect with your father. He now works at Spiritual Vulture Peak in the outer sect. When you enter the sect, pay him a visit. He will look after you and guide you on how to navigate sect matters, sparing you many detours.¡± ¡°Yes, Clan Leader, we understand.¡± The two agreed quickly. Having someone in the sect to look after them was a good thing and was, in fact, a Qin Family tradition. Generally, unless something unexpected happened, even if Qin Family cultivators in the sect couldn¡¯t establish a foundation, they would stay a few more years to look after the younger generation joining the sect. Only after these juniors had a firm foothold would they consider returning to the family. Qin Ying was like this. He entered the Beast Taming Sect with Qin Long forty years ago, but due to lack of talent and opportunities, he was now nearly sixty and still hadn¡¯t reached Foundation Establishment. Originally, he should have returned to the family long ago. However, given the accidents that happened to the two Qin Family members of the next generation who joined the sect¡ªthey both died during training¡ªhe had to stay to personally look after Qin Feng¡¯s generation of family disciples. ¡°Alright, you two go home and arrange your affairs. Tomorrow morning, follow me to the Commandery city.¡± With a wave of his hand, Qin Guanbao dismissed everyone. ¡°¡±¡± Chapter 37 - Chapter 37: Chapter 37 Tieling County Chapter 37: Chapter 37 Tieling County Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation Early morning, the red sun was about to rise, and the thin mist had not yet dissipated. A crowd of clan members gathered in the square in front of the mansion to bid farewell to the two family juniors who were about to enter the sect. Qin Long patted his son on the shoulder and smiled heartily, ¡°I¡¯ve already told you everything that needs to be said, no need to nag anymore. My son, just go to the sect and cultivate; don¡¯t worry about me. When your cultivation is accomplished in the future, just remember to come back and visit.¡± Qin Feng tugged at the corner of his mouth, trying to smile, but he couldn¡¯t, so he just nodded and grunted softly. Not far away, Qin Xi was being held tightly by a weeping woman. This was her mother. To the woman, her daughter had now become a cultivator, and their family had received the care of the clan, living a life of no worries about food and clothing. Just cultivating well within the family was enough, so why go to the sect? The two clan members who had joined the sect from the previous generation had not survived, so she was somewhat worried about her daughter¡¯s safety, thinking the sect must be full of dangers. However, Qin Xi was gentle on the outside but strong-willed inside, filled with longing for cultivation. Otherwise, she wouldn¡¯t have stubbornly snatched this spot from several direct lineage youths in the family. At this moment, the clan leader walked out from the mansion. Qin Xi¡¯s father quickly pulled away his wife to avoid delaying important matters, ¡°Alright, alright, it¡¯s a great fortune that Xi can join the sect. Why are you always crying?¡± Qin Xi also said, ¡°Mother, don¡¯t worry. I will take good care of myself. Besides, there are family elders in the sect to look after me; nothing will happen.¡±After some persuasion, Qin Xi¡¯s mother finally stopped crying and stepped aside after a few more admonishments. The old clan leader stepped forward, said a few simple farewell words, then summoned the Shadow Leopard, ready to depart. Qin Feng bowed deeply to his father, performing a full ritual before standing up and sitting on the Shadow Leopard¡¯s back with Qin Xi. The old family master then took them flying towards the commandery city. Qin Long did not accompany them; as the clan leader, he needed to stay behind to hold the fort. Otherwise, with only the third granduncle, an ordinary Foundation Establishment cultivator with weak war power, it would be hard to deter outsiders. After all, the Huang family had recently suffered a significant loss due to an intruder. The Qin family couldn¡¯t be careless. Qin Long thus didn¡¯t personally see his son off to the commandery city. One could only imagine his thoughts if he knew that it was actually his son who caused the Huang family¡¯s troubles. The Shadow Leopard soared high, and Qin Xi turned her head to look at her parents below, waving at them. This spiritual beast flew extremely fast, and soon, they could no longer see the figures of their clan members below. Qin Xi wasn¡¯t overly worried about her family. No matter how things turned out in the sect, the clan would take care of her parents, and she had two younger siblings to honor their parents. However, being away from home for the first time, she felt a bit uncomfortable. The old family master sensed their low spirits and laughed heartily, ¡°No need to be sad. After you join the sect, it¡¯s not like you can¡¯t come back to visit. Once you have achieved some cultivation, you can take some sect missions that involve traveling out. If it¡¯s on the way, you can come back and have a look.¡± Hearing this, Qin Xi¡¯s eyes lit up, and she quickly asked, ¡°Grandpa, are there many missions outside the sect? Are they dangerous?¡± She was slender, with a delicate face, and her voice was soft and pleasant. But her voice wasn¡¯t loud. If it weren¡¯t for Qin Guanbao¡¯s profound cultivation, he wouldn¡¯t have been able to hear her on such a fast flight. ¡°There are indeed many missions. As long as you know your limits and act accordingly, you generally won¡¯t encounter much danger.¡± Qin Guanbao didn¡¯t want to dampen their spirits but still warned, ¡°The path of cultivation requires both opportunities and resources, but never let greed cloud your judgment, or you may find yourself in a situation of no return. There are countless cultivators in the world, with endless cunning tricks. Some people specifically set traps to exploit others¡¯ greed to gain resources for their cultivation. Of course, even though such people can profit temporarily, they may easily encounter tough opponents and, if exposed, won¡¯t escape death.¡± At this point, the old family master began to tell them about various traps and methods commonly encountered in the cultivation world. Having lived long and experienced much, his humorous and witty manner made these gruesome stories quite captivating for Qin Feng and Qin Xi. Finally, he instructed, ¡°I tell you these not to make you plot against others, but to make you more thoughtful in handling matters to avoid falling into others¡¯ traps and losing your lives in vain.¡± They both nodded, acknowledging his words, feeling a deeper sense of caution towards other cultivators in the cultivation world. Qin Guanbao¡¯s lifebound spiritual beast, the Shadow Leopard, was not particularly large among Foundation Establishment Demon Beasts but still about fifteen feet long. Its smooth fur made the ride quite comfortable for Qin Feng and Qin Xi. Although the Shadow Leopard flew swiftly, with the sound of wind whistling past their ears, Qin Guanbao had raised a spell shield in front of them to shield them from the cold wind. Otherwise, at such a speed, talking would have been difficult, as opening their mouths would let in a mouthful of cold wind. Half a day later, they arrived at Tieling County. This city was built beside a tall mountain ridge. The mountain was rich in metal veins, producing large amounts of refined iron used in artifact refining each year. Many forces came to buy refined iron and ore here, transporting them to various places for sale, greatly benefiting the families controlling the commandery city. Outside the city gates, the Shadow Leopard landed. The people coming and going here were evidently accustomed to seeing various cultivators. Additionally, the Zhao family of the commandery city was from the Beast Taming Sect, so the city residents often saw various spiritual beasts. Thus, they merely glanced curiously at the Shadow Leopard, without avoiding it. Qin Guanbao put his lifebound spiritual beast into the Spiritual Beast Bag and led Qin Feng and Qin Xi into the city. As cultivators, they didn¡¯t need to queue up like ordinary people and directly entered through the main gate. No gate soldiers dared to stop them. The commandery city was clearly much more prosperous than a small place like Kun City. According to the old family master, the resident population here was three to four hundred thousand, with countless people coming and going along the streets. Qin Feng didn¡¯t mind; he had seen more bustling cities before and apart from finding it novel, had no other thoughts. As for Qin Xi, though she found it fascinating, her gentle and quiet nature meant she merely followed silently behind the old family master, without lingering because of the city¡¯s prosperity. It wasn¡¯t until Qin Guanbao led them to the cultivator market in the north of the city that the bustling scenes diminished. In fact, there weren¡¯t fewer people in the cultivator market, just not as crowded as outside. Coming here, Qin Feng¡¯s eyes were opened wide, whether at the market¡¯s shops or the loose cultivators selling various spiritual objects on the roadside. The sights were overwhelming. This was his first time seeing so many spiritual objects. Qin Guanbao, seeing their amazement, stroked his beard and smiled slightly. Recalling his first visit here, he had performed much worse than these two children, showing that they indeed had some self-control. ¡°This entire area is actually a residential zone for cultivators, separated by an array. Though within Tieling County, it¡¯s like a city within a city. Except for a few ordinary clan members from cultivator families who work here, ordinary people generally don¡¯t come here. Of course, they wouldn¡¯t be able to enter even if they wanted to. Although the Eye-Blocking technique at the entrance is simple, it¡¯s beyond the sight of ordinary people, thus preventing them from inadvertently offending any cultivators and losing their lives.¡± Qin Guanbao smiled slightly, ¡°Let¡¯s go. We¡¯ll first settle at the sect¡¯s station, then come out for some sightseeing.¡± Chapter 38 - Chapter 38: Chapter 38: Ten Thousand Demons Pavilion Chapter 38: Chapter 38: Ten Thousand Demons Pavilion Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation ¡°Ninth Granduncle, does the sect have a station in Tieling County?¡± Qin Feng was slightly taken aback and asked with some confusion. His father had mentioned matters concerning the Commandery before and had not said anything about a station. ¡°Hehe, calling it a station might be an overstatement. It¡¯s actually Ten Thousand Demons Pavilion, a shop under the sect¡¯s Foreign Affairs Hall.¡± Qin Guanbao laughed. ¡°Every time the sect recruits disciples, this place is used as a temporary station, hence the name.¡± ¡°I see.¡± Qin Feng nodded and didn¡¯t ask further. In fact, he still felt a bit puzzled inside. Although he knew that the sect didn¡¯t recruit many disciples every year from Tieling County and its nine affiliate cities, Tieling County was only one of the twenty-eight counties in the Chu Kingdom. When the Outer Sect Elders travel through the counties of the Chu Kingdom to recruit disciples, they are usually accompanied by at least a thousand disciples by the time they reach Tieling. Could a small branch of the Ten Thousand Demons Pavilion really accommodate so many people? However, his doubts dissipated completely as they arrived at the Ten Thousand Demons Pavilion. The Ten Thousand Demons Pavilion was indeed a shop, but it was entirely different from any shop Qin Feng had known. It wasn¡¯t just because of the Pavilion¡¯s grand and luxurious appearance, but mainly because the vast expanse of land behind the shop belonged entirely to the Pavilion, with its various buildings forming a large estate, more than ten times larger than the Qin Family¡¯s mansion. In fact, the place was mostly used as a warehouse. It was only during the annual disciple recruitment that it was used to host the sect¡¯s Elders and the numerous new disciples. ¡°Haha, Old Yang, an old friend has come, aren¡¯t you going to greet us?¡± As soon as they entered the pavilion, Qin Guanbao laughed heartily and called out to an elder inside. The elder was Yang Kaitai, the manager of the Ten Thousand Demons Pavilion. Manager Yang looked up and couldn¡¯t help but laugh. ¡°Senior Brother Qin, didn¡¯t you just visit the Commandery a while ago? According to your habits, shouldn¡¯t you come back in a few months? Why are you here so early this time? Could it be something about Baihua Pavilion¡¯s Fuxiang¡­¡± ¡°Mind your words!¡± Before he could finish his sentence, Qin Guanbao interrupted him. The Old Family Master adopted a stern expression. ¡°What nonsense about Fuxiang? I have always conducted myself with propriety. How could I be a person seeking fleeting pleasures? It¡¯s fine if you joke with me usually, but today there are juniors present. Don¡¯t tarnish my reputation.¡± Upon hearing this, although Manager Yang inwardly scorned the old man¡¯s fake propriety, he quickly realized something when he saw the young couple behind Qin Guanbao. It seemed the Qin Family intended to send family members into the sect this year. He immediately changed his tone. ¡°Haha, just kidding, Senior Brother Qin, don¡¯t take it to heart.¡± Saying this, he put down the ledger in his hand, came forward to greet them, and looked at Qin Feng and Qin Xi with a smile. ¡°The juniors personally chosen by Senior Brother Qin must be outstanding talents. Hmm, this child has already reached the third level of Qi Refinement, indeed not bad. He will surely achieve great things in the future upon joining the sect.¡± ¡°Hehe.¡± Qin Guanbao smiled with satisfaction. ¡°Of course, don¡¯t you know my discerning eye?¡± He turned to Qin Feng and the others. ¡°This is my old friend Yang Kaitai, whom I met back in the sect. He is now the manager of the Ten Thousand Demons Pavilion in Tieling County.¡± ¡°Greetings, Manager Yang.¡± Qin Feng bowed slightly, and Qin Xi followed suit without saying a word. Manager Yang laughed heartily, waved his hand, and after a brief chat with Qin Guanbao, personally led the three of them to the residence behind the pavilion, where he picked a small courtyard for them. Though they would only stay for a few days and leave soon after the Outer Sect Elders from the Beast Taming Sect arrived to recruit disciples, they were still very pleased with Manager Yang¡¯s arrangements. Actually, Manager Yang mainly did this as a favor to Qin Guanbao. Otherwise, if it were any other small family from other cities, they might not receive such preferential treatment. After familiarizing themselves with their respective rooms, they followed Qin Guanbao out of the courtyard to explore the surroundings. After all, it was the first time these two juniors had gone out. It was good to show them the world, and now with him around to teach them some experiences of traveling, they would have to rely on themselves in the future. Their first destination was actually their sect¡¯s shop, the Ten Thousand Demons Pavilion. ¡°Ten Thousand Demons Pavilion handles the sect¡¯s various businesses, collecting various cultivation resources to supply the sect¡¯s cultivation needs.¡± As Qin Guanbao led them through the pavilion filled with a dazzling array of items, he said, ¡°Of course, the pavilion mainly deals with matters related to demon beasts. Whether it¡¯s various live demon beasts and spiritual beasts or any related resources, elixir pills, including fur, scale armor, teeth, claws, bones, or demon cores¡ªeverything is here. After all, our Beast Taming Sect might lack many things, but one thing it doesn¡¯t lack is all kinds of demon beasts. In fact, whether for alchemy, artifact refining, or talisman making, some materials from demon beasts are often required, so the pavilion¡¯s business is quite good.¡± As he spoke, they had already arrived on the third floor. Unlike the first two floors filled with various items and elixirs, the third floor¡¯s hall was lined with cages of various sizes, containing all sorts of demon beasts and their cubs, which intrigued Qin Xi. She asked, ¡°Do cultivators of other systems also tame spiritual beasts?¡± She had thought that only cultivators from the Beast Taming Sect tamed demon beasts, but she didn¡¯t expect to see so many here. Qin Guanbao smiled slightly. ¡°The cultivation world is not limited to the Beast Taming Sect for raising demon beasts. Many accomplished or wealthy individuals also like keeping a spiritual beast by their side. They can act as pets but, more importantly, have formidable war power and can help in critical moments. They merely use the spiritual beasts to assist them in battle. To truly unleash the full potential of these beasts, only our Beast Taming Sect knows how.¡± As he said this, the Old Family Master couldn¡¯t help but show a hint of pride on his face. After all, the reputation was built upon the Beast Taming Sect¡¯s strength over the years. Qin Feng circled the cages and found that apart from a few adult demon beasts restricted by Spiritual Beast Rings, most were young demon beasts. Moreover, these young beasts were mostly those with cute and attractive appearances. Especially when he saw the cute cat demons, spiritual minks, little spiritual foxes, and tiny squirrels, he almost thought it was a store specializing in selling cute pets. After voicing his doubt, Qin Guanbao laughed. ¡°These young beasts are mainly sold to female cultivators. Many female cultivators like these kinds of spiritual beasts, so the pavilion caters to their preferences. As for the adult demon beasts, they are mainly sold to cultivators preparing to travel or seek treasures in dangerous places. Having a demon beast by their side, apart from having an extra helper in critical moments, many demon beasts have unique abilities.¡± He pointed to a slender spiritual dog nearby and said, ¡°This is a Thin-Belt Spiritual Dog, specially trained by the sect¡¯s Beast Taming Hall. It has exceptional scent sensitivity. It¡¯s very effective for searching for spiritual objects or tracking opponents. That Golden-Eyed Eagle over there flies high and fast. Its natural golden pupils can clearly see everything within a hundred miles, making it excellent for scouting.¡± Chapter 39 - Chapter 39: Chapter 39 Spiritual Beast Ring Chapter 39: Chapter 39 Spiritual Beast Ring Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation ¡°Look at that white fox over there, naturally proficient in illusion techniques; if it can bewilder the opponent¡¯s spirit during a fight, you can imagine the outcome. Next to the white fox is a Vajra Fierce Ape. Although its bloodline is impure, it¡¯s still quite formidable in combat. This creature fights with unparalleled ferocity, rarely facing opposition from cultivators of the same level.¡± Qin Guanbao introduced the strengths and weaknesses of these spiritual beasts to them one by one. Although the family¡¯s Spiritual Beast Record did document many demon beasts, it was merely the basic level version, simplified by the Beast Taming Sect for the enlightenment of new disciples. Many demon beasts were not recorded within it, and Qin Guanbao took this opportunity to instruct them on these creatures. Qin Feng gazed with some surprise at the huge iron cage in the distance, within which a towering fierce ape was confined. He asked, ¡°For such powerful demon beasts, would the sect really sell them?¡± ¡°Hehe!¡± Qin Guanbao looked around and, finding no one else on the third floor apart from a few servant disciples from the Ten Thousand Demons Pavilion, he spoke softly, ¡°If it were a truly potential-filled demon beast, the sect would not sell it easily. But this Vajra Fierce Ape is different. Although its combat power is strong, look at its black fur and green eyes; its impure bloodline makes advancement challenging and limits its potential. That¡¯s why it is up for sale here.¡± Qin Feng raised an eyebrow, understanding in his heart. The Beast Taming Sect was most knowledgeable about various spiritual beasts and demon beasts, with many powerful figures within the sect possessing far superior insight compared to him. They would never engage in a losing trade. With this realization, he no longer asked further, continuing to listen as the old family head introduced other demon beasts to them. ¡°How do other cultivators control their demon beasts? Can they only use these spiritual beast rings?¡± Qin Xi asked. ¡°That depends on the cultivator¡¯s methods.¡± Qin Guanbao smiled lightly, ¡°If they have unique means to control the demon beasts, that would be good. If not, the Beast Taming Sect¡¯s spiritual beast rings are reasonably priced. Whether it¡¯s for controlling ordinary Qi Refinement Realm demon beasts or Foundation Establishment Stage demon beasts, the rings are only twice the price of spiritual artifacts of the same level.¡± Qin Feng gave the old family head a strange look. Twice the price of the same-level spiritual artifacts, and that¡¯s considered reasonable? Ignoring him, the old family head continued, ¡°To imprison demon beasts that have condensed a demon core, the spiritual beast ring must be of magical treasure grade. Such rings are extremely precious, and the sect hasn¡¯t produced many, thus seldom letting them out. However, any that do circulate are priced very high, some even reaching the value of spiritual treasures.¡± Hearing this, Qin Feng highly suspected that the price was inflated by the sect itself. After all, if these items were truly that precious, the Beast Taming Sect would never allow these spiritual beast rings to be scattered outside. Moreover, the Beast Taming Sect, being experts in beast taming, had numerous ways to control demon beasts. If any sect disciples still used spiritual beast rings to control demon beasts, they would be laughed at by their peers. Qin Feng thus believed that these spiritual beast rings were made to be sold for profit from the beginning. The elder in charge of the Ten Thousand Demons Pavilion at the Sect External Affairs Hall must be a master in doing business! Because there were no other customers on the third floor, Qin Guanbao explained in great detail, describing the advantages and disadvantages of these demon beasts, their preferences and weaknesses, and how to deal with them when encountered. Of course, he only glossed over techniques involving sect secret methods, as it was not appropriate to share them. After viewing all the various demon beasts, both Qin Feng and Qin Xi felt they had gained a lot. The only regret for Qin Feng was that he did not see any Spiritual Toad-like demon beasts here. Although he was not in a rush to awaken additional divine skills for the Swallowing Sky Toad through bloodline fusion, he could not help but pay attention to various spiritual toads in preparation for future bloodline fusion. However, this branch of the Ten Thousand Demons Pavilion was just a store in a single town, and the spiritual beasts and demon beasts for sale were relatively ordinary. Even though most appeared impressive, it was challenging to find significant ones worth focusing on. As for the young beasts, none were high-grade spiritual beasts, and many in a nest could produce several, incurring low costs for the sect, yet still sold at high prices by the Ten Thousand Demons Pavilion. Qin Feng did not want to be taken advantage of here. If he truly wished to purchase from the Ten Thousand Demons Pavilion, he could wait until he joined the sect, then visit the headquarters to find suitable demon beasts for his use. After all, there were internal prices for sect disciples, and the headquarters had the most complete collection of various spiritual beasts, unlike the small selection at the Tieling County branch. Qin Guanbao then led the two out of the Ten Thousand Demons Pavilion, strolling through the market and occasionally browsing the shops along the way. The market had a few large shops comparable to the Ten Thousand Demons Pavilion, such as Taiyi Mountain Golden Light Cave¡¯s Sword Qi Lingxiao Tower, specializing in various types of flying swords. Danxia Sect¡¯s Ten Thousand Pills Hall exuded an inescapable elixir fragrance upon entry, with elixir pills of various grades tempting Qin Feng and Qin Xi. The Divine Weapon Pavilion of the Divine Weapon Family in Skywind Valley displayed an array of sharp magical artifacts and spiritual artifacts, dazzling to the eyes. Additionally, there was the Fog Hidden Sect¡¯s Spirit Talisman Pavilion, hosting a Master of Talisman Making who not only sold various powerful spirit talismans but also various talisman-making materials. These ranged from specially made talisman paper to talisman pens for increased success rates and ready-mixed cinnabar, all available. Although the Fog Hidden Sect was a small sect, its location on Fog Hidden Mountain within the Chu Kingdom was only a thousand miles away. Due to the relatively weak strength of the sect, unable to extend its reach too far, more effort was focused on businesses in nearby towns. Consequently, they appeared to compete well with the business of larger sects like the Beast Taming Sect. Other shops, though not as grand as the Ten Thousand Demons Pavilion, each had their distinct features, showcasing the myriad of cultivation arts. The most prevalent, however, were shops for crafting various magical artifacts and spiritual artifacts. Tieling County¡¯s greatest specialty was various metal spirit ores, making the purchase of artifact refining materials relatively cheaper. Therefore, many artifact refiners gathered here. Many loose cultivator artifact refiners settled down and started legitimate businesses, taking on various crafting tasks. The artifact refiners associated with various powers often had sect disciples visiting the shop for training, with good luck possibly resulting in a few high-quality spiritual artifacts crafted by these disciples. The small store owned by the Huang Family specializing in selling magical artifacts was unremarkable here, and they followed Qin Guanbao to the edge of the market before spotting the sign for Huang¡¯s Magical Artifact Shop in a corner. Many cultivators who knew purchasing magical artifacts and spiritual artifacts was relatively cheaper in Tieling County often visited to find suitable artifacts. As for magical treasures, they were rare. Only Golden Core Realm artifact refining masters could refine such items, making them extremely expensive, beyond the reach of small cultivators like Qin Feng and his companions. Chapter 40 - Chapter 40: Chapter 40: Scheming and Struggling in the Cultivation World Chapter 40: Chapter 40: Scheming and Struggling in the Cultivation World Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation Qin Guanbao did not only take them to those shops to broaden their horizons but also frequented the stalls of scattered cultivators along the street. The mysterious items on these stalls came in many varieties, with some glittering brilliantly, looking rather extraordinary, while others appeared dim and unremarkable, and their spiritual energy was not evident. According to these loose cultivators, these were treasures they brought back from expeditions in secret lands, and if not for the need for resources for cultivation, they would never part with these items. Many small cultivators from out of town often felt dizzy from the pitches of these loose cultivators, and some did buy these seemingly useless items and took them back home. At such times, Qin Guanbao would take them to watch from a distance, letting these two young ones witness the consequences of being swindled, teaching them not to easily believe the words of these loose cultivators, or they might end up losing their last spirit stone. ¡°These loose cultivators are here every day, often not leaving town for years. Where would they find the time to go on secret land adventures,¡± Qin Guanbao laughed, ¡°When you visit other markets in the future, you¡¯re bound to encounter similar situations. Make sure not to be deceived and end up with a pile of useless junk after spending a lot of spirit stones. Look over there, those two young girls are definitely being scammed.¡± Qin Xi looked in the direction pointed out by the old family master and saw two young girls, probably from some family, being fooled by a loose cultivator into buying a so-called treasure map for hundreds of spirit stones, thinking they had struck gold and ran back happily to inform their elders. As soon as they left, the loose cultivator packed up his stall and left. Not long after, a middle-aged Foundation Establishment Cultivator returned angrily with the two girls, but the loose cultivator was nowhere to be found! Qin Xi shook her head in amazement, secretly clutching her storage bag. This was her family¡¯s cultivation resources and all her possessions. She couldn¡¯t afford to be cheated, or her cultivation speed would slow down terribly. She asked nervously, ¡°Clan Leader Grandpa, does it mean we can never buy things from these stalls?¡± ¡°Not necessarily.¡± Qin Guanbao laughed, ¡°If it¡¯s just some ordinary spirit talismans, magic artifacts, or spirit grass, you can still buy them from these stalls, and they might even be a bit cheaper than in the shops. Sometimes, you might even encounter something good at these loose cultivators¡¯ stalls. Loose cultivators, after all, are loose cultivators. Most of them do travel and adventure in different places, seeking cultivation resources, so they can get some treasures. Sometimes, due to their limited knowledge, they might sell treasures as ordinary items. However, many stall owners take advantage of cultivators¡¯ hope for bargains, creating the illusion of a great deal and selling them a pile of useless junk.¡± He then warned, ¡°If you want to buy something expensive, it¡¯s better to purchase it from the official shops under the major sects¡¯ influence. Although it¡¯s pricier, you won¡¯t be deceived. Plus, some loose cultivators publicly sell goods but secretly monitor wealthy outsiders. If they find a weak cultivator with many spirit stones, they might follow them and, once out of town, find a secluded place to rob them. Such things are common, so be careful and avoid showing your wealth when you¡¯re not powerful enough.¡± Seeing Qin Xi¡¯s pale face, Qin Guanbao realized he had frightened her and quickly added, ¡°But don¡¯t worry too much. Once you join the Beast Taming Sect, you will be disciples of the sect. In the Southern Domain, few loose cultivators would dare to target the Beast Taming Sect disciples. If discovered, the sect would ensure they face severe consequences.¡± Hearing this, Qin Xi¡¯s face eased a bit. Though she was resilient, she was still a young girl who had rarely left home or seen much of the world. Today¡¯s teachings from the old family master made her acutely aware of the world¡¯s malevolence outside. Qin Feng laughed, ¡°Sister Xiaoxi, don¡¯t be afraid. When you go out in the future, you can call me or travel with other sect elders or friends. As long as you¡¯re not alone, there should be no problem.¡± Qin Xi nodded at his words, secretly deciding to stay in the sect as much as possible and only travel once her cultivation was higher, making loose cultivators less likely to target her. The old family head was indeed very responsible to the younger generation, explaining many intricacies of the cultivation world to them. In fact, many traps were obvious if one remained clear-headed, but unfortunately, people often learned their lessons only after suffering losses. After touring the market, it was already evening. Qin Guanbao hadn¡¯t brought them out just for shopping but to teach them valuable lessons, so it took a long time. As night fell, the three returned to the courtyard behind the Ten Thousand Demons Pavilion. Servant disciples brought them meals. Qi Refining cultivators hadn¡¯t reached the fasting stage yet; though they could go a few days without eating by relying on spiritual power, it couldn¡¯t last too long. Because of Manager Yang¡¯s special instructions, the servant disciples took good care of them. The meals, though not overly elaborate, were quite sumptuous. Especially a few dishes cooked with Demon Beast meat; not only were they delicious, but they also contained a lot of spiritual power, making Qin Feng and Qin Xi very happy as they enjoyed the feast. Apart from family hunts, they usually didn¡¯t get to eat food cooked with Demon Beast meat. For the next three consecutive days, Qin Guanbao took them around the market, showing them various mystical items, countless magic artifacts, elixir pills, spirit talismans, and array flags with different effects, along with many other skills. Apart from the four major trades of elixir pills, spirit talismans, array artifacts, and magic artifacts, the market had many other businesses. There were inns catering specifically to cultivators, with each room guarded by prohibitions, providing a place for visiting cultivators to rest. There were restaurants that made food and wine using various spiritual objects, available for cultivators to enjoy. There were teahouses where spiritual tea was brewed by special methods, offering excellent flavors. There were qin masters who played music reminiscent of cascading rivers and mountains, cleansing the hearts of cultivators and helping them focus on their cultivation. There were workshops specializing in brewing spiritual wine, filling the streets with its aroma. And there was a place called Baihua Pavilion, with beautifully adorned girls who captivated people¡¯s hearts. However, every time they passed Baihua Pavilion, the old family master kept his gaze straight ahead, exuding a demeanor worthy of respect from the younger ones. PS: Baihua Pavilion girls: ¡°Sir, come join us. Don¡¯t forget to leave a recommendation ticket when you go; freeloading is unethical.¡± Chapter 41 - Chapter 41: Chapter 41: Old Family Master Takes You to Eat Papaya Chapter 41: Chapter 41: Old Family Master Takes You to Eat Papaya Several days had passed, and numerous people had been settled around their courtyard. Among them were families from other cities overseen by Tieling County, similar to the Qin Family, all vassal families under the Beast Taming Sect, with a few also sending family disciples, preparing to join the Sect. However, there were even more ordinary young men and women, similar to Qin Xi. Due to their good aptitudes and willingness to work hard, they had opened their Spiritual Acupoints. After preliminary assessments by some disciples of the Beast Taming Sect who traveled outside, they were arranged to stay here, waiting for the Outer Sect Elders to arrive and take them together. There were dozens of these youngsters, whereas disciples like Qin Feng, who came from a clan background, were less than ten. Indeed, these families were weak and lacked sufficient resources to nurture many clan members. Only the Zhao Family of the Commandery had six family disciples prepared to join the Sect this year. There was no comparison; the Zhao Family was affluent and resourceful, capable of providing for its younger generations. However, these Zhao Family disciples didn¡¯t mingle with Qin Feng and the other youngsters. They hadn¡¯t even been to the Ten Thousand Demons Pavilion but were instead staying at their family mansion, waiting to leave with the Outer Sect Elder. The old Clan Chief of the Zhao Family was powerful, not far from the Purple Mansion Realm. Once he achieved a breakthrough, he would become a prominent figure in the entire Chu Kingdom, so the Outer Sect Elder coming to take disciples would still give him this bit of face. However, the Outer Sect Elder responsible for taking these new disciples back this year was a few days later than usual, unclear what had delayed him on the road. Qin Guanbao was getting impatient. He had originally thought that he would only need to stay here for a couple of days to send Qin Feng and the other away, but it had already been five or six days, and the Elder meant to receive the new disciples hadn¡¯t arrived yet. In the past few days, the old Family Head had been teaching Qin Feng and Qin Xi daily, feeling that he had already imparted a lot of experience to them. The rest they would need to comprehend and perceive on their own. Thus, unable to bear the loneliness, the old Family Head, under the guise of visiting friends, would go out ¡®to visit friends¡¯ every night! He truly managed to leave at sunset and return at dawn. Teaching two juniors during the day and still laboring like this at night made Qin Feng and Qin Xi extremely grateful. They felt that the old Family Head, at such an advanced age, was still working so hard. They felt slightly guilty and wanted to help but didn¡¯t know where to start. That evening, after the old Family Head had left, Qin Feng felt stuffy in the room and decided to go out for a walk. He knocked on Qin Xi¡¯s door and asked, ¡°Sister Xiaoxi, I plan to go out for a stroll. I heard there¡¯s also a night market in the Market area, would you like to come with?¡± ¡°I still need to cultivate,¡± came Qin Xi¡¯s gentle voice from inside the room. ¡°Be careful on your own out there. Don¡¯t buy random things and don¡¯t come back too late.¡± Hearing this, Qin Feng couldn¡¯t help but smile. It seemed that Qin Xi was really frightened by the old Family Master¡¯s words, even specifically warning him not to squander Spirit Stones. ¡°Alright, I understand.¡± Qin Feng replied, then turned and walked outside. Because Cultivators cultivate their methods, they are a group of energetic folks. Even Qi Refinement Realm cultivators, though small, could manage a few days without sleep without much issue. There were some cultivators whose cultivation techniques were particularly effective in enhancing the Divine Soul, making them more vigorous. So even at night, many cultivators strolled around leisurely. With extraordinary abilities, the streets at night, though not as bright as day, weren¡¯t much dimmer. Some shops had Glazed Cups hanging at the entrance, illuminating an area of a hundred yards. Others had only a candle lit, its light seemingly dim like a bean, but it emitted a soft radiance that was very comfortable to behold. Even more dazzling, some stores¡¯ signboards were made using the methods of refining Spiritual Artifacts, exuding brilliant light at night and attracting people¡¯s attention. Qin Feng leisurely walked on the street, glancing at the scattered stalls with Spiritual Objects on either side, and to be honest, he was quite tempted. Previously, his family had supported him and Qin Xi with three hundred Spirit Stones each, along with some Elixir Pills for cultivation assistance and Spirit Talismans for protection. Three hundred Spirit Stones each might not seem much, but together, they accounted for thirty percent of the family¡¯s annual income, which was no small amount. The Qin Family relied on their three hundred acres of Spiritual Fields and some other scattered income, earning just over two thousand Spirit Stones a year. The family managed to allocate six hundred Spirit Stones every year to maintain the normal cultivation of over a hundred cultivators, which was not easy. Although he had items obtained from the Huang Family, which could make him a fortune once dealt with, the Spirit Stones he had were still insufficient. He was different from other newbie cultivators; not only did he have the Swallowing Sky Toad, a glutton, but also the Demon Refining Pot, a treasure. Not to mention the substantial cost required to restore the Demon Refining Pot to its original state, just aiding the Swallowing Sky Toad in integrating its bloodline consumed a vast amount of resources. The integration of bloodlines could only be done once per realm; for further integrations in the next realm with other Demon Beast bloodlines, the resources required would multiply. The higher the realm, the more resources were needed, and the assets he had were truly not enough. Thus, Qin Feng began to linger around various stalls, hoping to pick up some treasures. Although the chances were slim, such things could still happen; perhaps he could be the lucky one? Unfortunately, many young people harbored this thought, but very few actually found bargains. This luck did not fall upon him either; instead, several Loose Cultivators, thinking he was na?ve due to his youth, tried to sell him so-called treasures in a mysteriously deceptive manner, which left him speechless. After wandering around for nearly half an hour and finding no missed opportunities, he no longer focused on this and began to seriously examine the goods. The same items sold by these Loose Cultivators at their stalls were about ten to twenty percent cheaper than in the stores; he just needed to be careful not to be fooled by fake goods. Just as he bargained a reasonably good-looking Flying Snake Orchid down from fifteen to five Spirit Stones and the Loose Cultivator was about to agree to the deal, Qin Feng¡¯s eyes lit up as he saw the Old Family Master, Qin Guanbao, approaching from not far away. The Old Family Master was somewhat unsteady on his feet and reeked of alcohol, evidently having imbibed a bit too much while socializing with friends. Seeing the Old Family Master stagger and nearly trip, Qin Feng wasn¡¯t concerned about buying the Flying Snake Orchid anymore. He quickly left the stall owner and went up to Qin Guanbao, ¡°Uncle Jiushi, are you done socializing so soon today?¡± A bit tipsy, Qin Guanbao looked up and saw Qin Feng, immediately bursting into laughter, ¡°You little rascal, what are you doing here? Well, since we¡¯ve bumped into each other, consider yourself included. Come on, Grandpa is taking you out for some papaya tonight!¡± PS: Hurry, hurry, vote! The old man is driving now. Exchange your votes for a ticket, and if you vote enough, you might even get to ride in a VIP compartment! Chapter 42 - Chapter 42: Chapter 42 Plump Young Woman Chapter 42: Chapter 42 Plump Young Woman ¡°Papaya? What papaya?¡± Qin Feng was somewhat bewildered. Why on earth would they eat papaya out of the blue? Could it be that the old master hadn¡¯t eaten his fill earlier? But even if he hadn¡¯t, they could just go to Ten Thousand Demons Pavilion for a meal, right? Could that papaya really taste better than the Demon Beast Meat offered at the Ten Thousand Demons Pavilion? ¡°Hehe¡­¡± The Old Family Master chuckled proudly and said, ¡°This papaya, well, it isn¡¯t the kind we grow in our Spiritual Field. It¡¯s a top-quality papaya from the Western Regions, big and soft¡­ ahem, never mind, you wouldn¡¯t understand. Come on, come on, Grandpa will take you to broaden your horizons. Today an old friend is treating us to a meal; the opportunity is rare, and usually, I don¡¯t have that many Spirit Stones to take you there.¡± With that, he put his arm around Qin Feng¡¯s shoulder and, without any regard for appearances, walked arm in arm with his nephew toward the other end where Baihua Pavilion was located. The problem was that he had drunk too much Spiritual Wine, his head somewhat muddled, and he had forgotten to maintain a dignified image in front of his junior. ¡°Hey, aren¡¯t we going? Don¡¯t you want the Flying Snake Orchid anymore?¡± The Loose Cultivator from the stall next to them wanted to curse in frustration. After all, Qin Feng spent half a day haggling with him, and just as he was about to have Qin Feng pay up with Spirit Stones, the Old Family Master pulled him away. Unfortunately, Qin Guanbao exuded the aura of a Foundation Establishment Cultivator so strongly that the Loose Cultivator didn¡¯t dare to voice his anger. He could only grumble in his heart and somewhat petulantly tossed the Flying Snake Orchid back to its original spot. ¡­ ¡°Yo, Master Qin, you¡¯re here.¡± As soon as they entered the Baihua Pavilion, a beautiful woman around thirty greeted them with a smile and called out to Qin Guanbao, ¡°You know, this morning, Xianglan was complaining to me, saying Master Qin didn¡¯t come to see her when he was here. That girl still thinks about you privately.¡± ¡°Ha-ha, Yunniang, that mouth of yours is still as sweet as ever. Come here, let me taste whether you¡¯ve put honey on it.¡± Then, in Qin Feng¡¯s stunned gaze, he watched as the normally stern and serious Old Family Master flirted openly with the buxom, beautiful woman at the entrance of Baihua Pavilion. ¡°Go on, go on, you old rascal! When I was young, you bullied me no small amount. Now that I¡¯m an old lady past my prime, you obviously don¡¯t fancy me anymore, so why come and tease me for no good reason?¡± Yunniang was stunningly beautiful with a voluptuous figure, like a ripe peach, exuding an allure unique to mature women. She pushed Qin Guanbao¡¯s hands away while taking a quick glance at Qin Feng, trailing a couple of steps behind. Seeing this young man¡¯s tall figure and handsome face, she couldn¡¯t help but take a few more looks. Compared to the old man Qin Guanbao, a vibrant and handsome young man like this was far more captivating to a woman¡¯s gaze. Especially for a woman of her age. In her younger years, Yunniang had been an Oiran at Baihua Pavilion. But as she grew older, knowing she could not compete with the younger, more attractive girls, she smartly stepped down early, ceding the title of Oiran to other women. Instead, she used her skills to become the Manager of Baihua Pavilion, responsible for training the girls on how to better serve men. After stepping down as Oiran, she had never been touched by a man again and sometimes felt lonely. Seeing such a tender and handsome young man, she instinctively felt a slight fondness. Especially when compared to the groping old man in front of her, the young man seemed all the more exceptional. As someone who had seen all walks of life, Yunniang could tell from the young man¡¯s shocked expression that he was undoubtedly inexperienced, probably never having visited such a place of debauchery before. She asked Qin Guanbao, ¡°It¡¯s rare for you to bring someone along. It¡¯s quite novel today; you¡¯ve even brought a young master with you. May I ask how this young master is addressed?¡± ¡°Uh¡­¡± Upon being questioned, Qin Guanbao instantly sobered up, and the eyes that had been somewhat intoxicated by the Spiritual Wine became clear in a moment. Then he remembered that Qin Feng was following behind him. Oh no, didn¡¯t the youngster see everything that just happened? It was all over, the image that he had struggled so hard to maintain was utterly destroyed! Although he didn¡¯t care much about his image in front of others, and even his old friends knew his preferences, he still cared about his image in front of the younger members of his family. Qin Guanbao felt troubled. The Spiritual Wine he had drunk today had been too potent; it was just that he had greedily consumed a couple more pots, but how on earth did he end up bringing this kid along. He turned back and glanced at Qin Feng, remembering what he had said on the way about showing him around, and his face couldn¡¯t help but flush. But now that they were here, he couldn¡¯t very well send him back, could he? Better to think of a way to remedy the situation. ¡°Ahem, this is my¡­ junior relative. Today, the Family Head of the Qian Family from Liu City, Qian Wanchong, is hosting me at the Snow Lotus Courtyard, and I¡¯m merely bringing him here to see some old friends.¡± ¡°Oh, is that so? Then let this servant take you there.¡± Yunniang¡¯s smile did not wane, but not a hint of flirtation showed; instead, she appeared rather dignified, much like a lady of a great clan, possessing an elegant air that seemed untouchable. ¡°Is this the young master¡¯s first visit to our Baihua Pavilion? You must come more often in the future. I¡¯ll introduce some girls to you later, guaranteeing you¡¯ll be satisfied.¡± Saying this, she giggled, her fan partially covering her face, her gaze dancing with a mix of modesty and allure: ¡°If you think the young ladies don¡¯t know how to attend to guests, you can come looking for me¡­¡± Although Qin Feng was not inexperienced in matters of love, the feeling of being teased by an older sister still made his face heat up and his heart race, and his face showed a hint of embarrassment. However, to a woman like Yunniang who had seen it all, she found the shyness of such a young man even more appealing. Seeing him like this, she let out a bell-like laugh, about to tease the young brother a bit more when Qin Guanbao, the old coot, reached out and slapped her plump and curvy behind with a smack. Qin Guanbao scolded with a laugh: ¡°Stop trying to seduce my nephew; we are here on serious business today. Lead the way.¡± Yunniang rolled her eyes at him. Serious business? What serious business could there be at a place like the Baihua Pavilion? But she didn¡¯t ruin the moment; instead, with a beaming smile, she gave Qin Feng a quick glance with her charming eyes and turned to lead the way. Compared to the old curmudgeon Qin Guanbao, she preferred the innocently youthful Qin Feng. As they passed several courtyards, the sounds of music and the playful laughter of women could be heard, itching at one¡¯s desires. Yet Qin Guanbao was pretending to be calm, displaying an image of moral integrity that left Qin Feng speechless at his side. You¡¯re already in this kind of place; why keep up such a pretense? Are you expecting me to forget everything I saw just now? Qin Guanbao felt unsure within, frowning and pondering along the way, wondering if there was any chance to salvage his image. But after much thought, the chances seemed slim. Unless Qin Feng was particularly easy to fool, the only solution seemed to be drawing him in to join in the mire, so he¡¯d be too embarrassed to mention tonight¡¯s events to others. Chapter 43 - Chapter 43: Chapter 43 Drunkenness in the Brothel Chapter 43: Chapter 43 Drunkenness in the Brothel Snow Lotus Courtyard was a recently constructed complex within the Baihua Pavilion, designed to accommodate the beauties from the Western Regions. Perhaps it was out of curiosity, after all, the vast majority of people had never encountered the beauties of the Western Regions in their lifetimes. Moreover, Baihua Pavilion had long been singing their praises to the skies. As a result, many seasoned patrons of pleasure quarters came to Snow Lotus Courtyard with a sense of novelty, eager to experience the charms of Western Region women and discern how their physiques differed from those of the Southern Domain. Under these circumstances, the prices at Snow Lotus Courtyard had been driven up by Baihua Pavilion, making it now one of the most lucrative places. In such a scenario, being able to invite a couple of good friends to gather here was definitely a matter of great prestige. After all, this was tantamount to booking the entire Snow Lotus Courtyard, a decidedly expensive affair. And tonight, the man basking in this prestigious company was none other than the Family Head of the Qian Family from Liu City, Qian Wanchong. Within the hall, exotic tunes filled the air, as several lightly veiled women from the Western Regions swayed and twisted their bodies like serpents. They danced enchantingly, stirring the senses. Their dancing figures were alluring, almost like a group of demons in a wild dance, or seductive snake-like banshees, compelling one to almost fling themselves into their arms and join the dance. Qian Wanchong sat at the center, softly chatting and laughing with Yang Kaitai, the Manager of the Ten Thousand Demons Pavilion, discussing the mystique of these Western Region women. Just then, Yunniang led Qin Guanbao and Qin Feng into the room. The Dancing Girls had keen eyes¡ªthey subtly shifted their forms to clear a path in the middle. Yet, as they moved out of the way, they drew their bodies close to the young and the old men passing by. The near touches were tantalizing, almost causing Qin Feng, on the cusp of the rowdy years of youth, to embarrass himself. Having cultivated from a young age, his physical development was significantly more robust than his peers. Whether in energy or constitution, he far surpassed the ordinary, and had he not promptly harnessed his Spiritual Power to suppress certain impulses, there might have been some indescribable reactions when the Western Region Dancing Girl¡¯s soft hands grazed his body. Qin Feng awkwardly avoided the woman¡¯s bodily touch, beginning to regret his decision to follow them inside. Not to mention that his mind was currently not set on the pleasures of the flesh¡ªeven if he had harbored such thoughts, he surely wouldn¡¯t have gone to a brothel with the old Family Head! ¡°Ha ha, Senior Brother Qin is here.¡± The two seated men greeted Qin Guanbao as they stood up. Yang Kaitai gave Qin Feng a surprised glance before turning to Qin Guanbao and asking, ¡°Why did you bring the kid along?¡± ¡°Cough.¡± Shielding Qin Feng behind him, Qin Guanbao covertly signaled to his two old friends, saying, ¡°Earlier, while drinking with Xie Wuyang, I had a few too many cups. Coincidentally, I ran into this nephew of mine on the way, so I brought him along to broaden his horizons¡ªthere was no other intention. Cough, well, Yunniang, could you tell the kitchen to prepare a papaya? I promised my nephew a taste of the Western Regions¡¯ papayas.¡± Hearing this, Yunniang couldn¡¯t help but chuckle softly, then quickly covered her smiling face with a fan. Her beautiful eyes passed over Qin Feng, she acknowledged with a nod, and glided away. Qian Wanchong and Yang Kaitai immediately understood; Qin Guanbao must have misspoken after drinking too much and inadvertently brought along his junior relative in a haze. The portly Qian Wanchong laughed heartily: ¡°No matter, no matter. We old friends are also here to chat. We won¡¯t be doing anything else. However, speaking of the papayas from the Western Regions, they indeed have a unique flavor. The young friend really should have a taste. Come, come, young friend, sit here. Besides the papaya, the wines from the Western Regions are also quite rare; you must drink more today.¡± As he spoke, the Old Master enthusiastically beckoned Qin Feng to take a seat and personally poured him a cup of amber-colored grape wine. Then with a wave of his hand, two Western Region women, cloaked in sheer veils exposing their fair arms and waists, crowded around and seated Qin Feng. Qin Guanbao glared; he knew full well that Qian Wanchong was doing this deliberately; otherwise, the man wouldn¡¯t act so despite the clear hints he had given. Yet Qian Wanchong appeared completely unabashed, enveloping a Western Region beauty in his arm and laughing heartily as he said to Qin Feng, ¡°Young friend, just enjoy drinking and reveling to your heart¡¯s content, and pay no mind to anything else. ¡± ¡°I remember when I was a lad your age, I used to frequent places like this too. It¡¯s part of being young, isn¡¯t it? Otherwise, everyone would be like those old fogies, burying their heads in cultivation. What joy would there be in life?¡± With a wry smile, Qin Feng extricated his hands from the entwining clutches of the women around him and cupped his fists towards Qian Wanchong, ¡°Thank you for your kind intentions, Elder, but I actually¡­¡± ¡°Enough said, you¡¯re already here, don¡¯t spoil the fun. Come on, let¡¯s drink.¡± Qian Wanchong laughed heartily and raised his glass to invite everyone to drink together. Following his meaningful glance, a dancing girl sitting next to Qin Feng picked up a cup and brought it to his lips. Qin Feng had no choice but to drink the wine in the cup, assisted by the hand of the dancing girl. The grape wine was sweet to the taste, and a refreshing wave of spiritual energy rose up from his belly, almost equaling a full day¡¯s worth of cultivation. His eyes lit up, and when the dancing girl poured him another, he didn¡¯t refuse. Qin Guanbao, unsure of what to say, simply sat aside, chatting and laughing with his two old friends. Given he was in Qin Feng¡¯s presence, Qin Guanbao couldn¡¯t quite let loose, so instead of being waited on closely by the dancing girls from the Western Regions, he merely had one help with the wine, even maintaining a distance of more than a foot from her. This puzzled the dancing girl at his side. Family Head Qin had not acted like this during previous visits. She remembered that he had been very interested in her then, his hands hardly behaving themselves. Why was he acting like a completely different person tonight? As they drank and talked, enjoying the song and dance of the Western Regions beauties, Old Master Qian kept urging Qin Feng to drink more as if intending to get him drunk to witness some embarrassment. And Yang Kaitai, seated beside him, was secretly helping the effort, eager to witness this grandfather and grandson¡¯s glorious stay at Baihua Pavilion. Qin Feng was still young and had barely drunk before; his alcohol tolerance was not strong. After downing nearly half a jug of spiritual wine, despite his cultivation technique working continuously inside him, he couldn¡¯t help but feel a little lightheaded. He knew that he couldn¡¯t go on drinking, or he would surely end up drunk here. If in his ignorance he were to lose his virgin blood, wouldn¡¯t that be a huge loss! He planned to leave the place. However, he could tell that Older Master Qian was intentionally trying to intoxicate him, perhaps planning to have him compromised. He quickly feigned a drunken manner, swaying as if he were about to tumble. Seeing this, Qian Wanchong burst out laughing. ¡°Young friend, you can¡¯t hold your liquor, then drink no more.¡± Saying this, he signaled to the two Western Regions dancing girls, ¡°What are you waiting for? Help Young Master Qin to rest, and remember to ¡®take good care¡¯ of him.¡± ¡°Yes!¡± The two women respectfully supported Qin Feng and walked him out. ¡°Ah¡­¡± Qin Guanbao reached out to intervene but was waved off by Qian Wanchong, who signaled the women to hurry and take Qin Feng away. Only then did he turn to Qin Guanbao, with a raise of the eyebrows, and said, ¡°What¡¯s there to worry about? Didn¡¯t you also visit the brothel at his age and still continued your cultivation without much delay? Such matters can also reveal a person¡¯s character, seeing whether this junior is worthy of your family¡¯s investment. As long as he doesn¡¯t get lost in it, he will surely achieve success in his cultivation.¡± Qin Guanbao dismissed his perverted logic with a sneer, yet he was too indifferent to bother with Qin Feng anymore. After all, in his inebriated state, as long as the two women did not take the initiative, he wouldn¡¯t be able to do anything inappropriate. However, with Qin Feng now gone, the old family head suddenly reverted to his old ways, drawing the slender-wasted beauty into his embrace, eliciting a coy squeal from her. PS: The beauty says, ¡°Lord, without your recommendation tickets, I won¡¯t succumb to you!¡± Chapter 45 - Chapter 45: Chapter 45 Iron Head Centipede Chapter 45: Chapter 45 Iron Head Centipede Qin Feng¡¯s eyes narrowed, realizing he had fallen into the opponent¡¯s trap. The lanky man had originally intended to steal his storage bag, and if Qin Feng had not pursued, they would naturally have been pleased to get away easily. But now that he had caught up, these few characters clearly didn¡¯t mind taking his life. From their well-coordinated actions, it was evident this wasn¡¯t their first time doing such a thing. Even the reason they had attacked him was probably premeditated; because he wasn¡¯t very strong, was young, and was obviously a novice who had just stepped into the Cultivation World, especially since he had just come out of the Baihua Pavilion. Those who could enter and leave the Baihua Pavilion must have some possessions, so the group targeted him. It turned out he was still green behind the ears. Although the Old Family Master had taught them quite a few things these past days, when it came to the crunch, he still suffered from lack of experience. ¡°Kid, just hand over the magic artifacts on you, and we¡¯ll spare your life,¡± came the threatening demand. The woman¡¯s voice was somewhat sharp, ¡°Otherwise, I will feed you to my darling.¡± As soon as her words ended, a rustling sound emerged from the dark urn she was holding, remaining a mystery as to what she was keeping inside. Qin Feng glanced at her, then turned his head to look at the lanky man who had led him here. He saw that the man now had a knife in his hand. A very small knife, thin as paper, not longer than a finger, shaped like a willow leaf. As the man rotated it on his fingers, the tiny willow leaf knife appeared to dance among them, flickering with a cold light. Qin Feng shook his head and sighed softly. It was only himself. If it were any other small cultivator at the third stage of Qi Refinement, he probably would have lost his life here today. Both the man and woman opposite had the cultivation of the fifth or sixth stage of Qi Refinement, each wielding a magic artifact, and the lanky man behind them, although only at the third stage of Qi Refinement, wielded the dangerously sharp little willow leaf knife. Alone with his cultivation, Qin Feng really didn¡¯t see a way to break out from their hold. As for the talk about sparing his life if he handed over his magic artifacts, that was just a bluff to fool naive children. Even if he did have other magic artifacts, he wouldn¡¯t just hand them over, letting them have their way. Seeing his reaction, the men knew he wouldn¡¯t comply easily. The scar-faced man holding double hooks sneered coldly, ¡°Kid, since you refuse the toast and must drink a forfeit, grandpa will send you on your way!¡± Before his voice fell, his figure darted forward, soon reaching near Qin Feng, the sharp iron hooks¡ªone aimed at Qin Feng¡¯s neck, the other at his abdomen. If Qin Feng had been caught by these two hooks, not only would his head be at risk, but his stomach would be ripped open. However, just as the man nearly reached him, he exclaimed in surprise, retreating even faster while swaying the double hooks rapidly in defense, trying to protect himself with streaks of cold light. Yet a shadow, like a long spear, was faster and fiercer than his retreating figure and his iron hooks. In a flash, it pierced through his chest, causing severe injury. ¡°Ah¡­¡± The scar-faced man cried out in pain, falling to the ground, his chest torn open to reveal a fist-sized hole, blood gushing out and quickly staining his clothes. Despite the severe injury, he was lucky to be alive. Clutching his chest wound, he circulated his spiritual power, trying to stop the bleeding. ¡°Boss?¡± The woman screamed, flipping her hand and grabbing a bottle of elixir pills to rush over to him. ¡°Careful, don¡¯t come over.¡± With the scar-faced man¡¯s warning, the woman quickly realized, fiercely slapped the bottom of the urn, and a cloud of black mist billowed out. Accompanying the mist, a tangle of large centipedes, each a foot or two long, scuttled out and soared through the air, charging toward Qin Feng. Seeing this, Qin Feng was not frightened but actually laughed. Then, appearing in his hand was a Swallowing Sky Toad, its mouth wide open and tongue flickering rapidly. Before the hundred or so centipedes even reached him, the Swallowing Sky Toad had already devoured them completely. ¡°No, my Iron Head Centipedes¡­¡± The woman never imagined her precious poison insects, meticulously raised using the Five Poisons Secret Techniques, would be gobbled up by a small toad in such a short time. Usually, a cultivator at the later stages of Qi Refinement, if unprepared, would succumb to her Iron Head Centipedes. But now, she had been thwarted by a small cultivator in the early stages of Qi Refinement. ¡°You will pay!¡± Her eyes bloodshot, she gazed at Qin Feng and suddenly let out a piercing scream. The sound was sharp and high-pitched, attacking Qin Feng. Qin Feng¡¯s expression changed dramatically. He felt an invisible fluctuation continuously attacking him, causing his eardrums to throb, his head to ache, and his Sea of Consciousness to wobble. ¡°Ah¡­¡± Unable to bear the pain, he let out a loud shout, trying to interrupt the woman¡¯s scream. But obviously, that wasn¡¯t effective. The woman¡¯s scream was clearly a type of sonic spell, and his own cries were not enough to counteract it. Qin Feng felt his head was about to split, and if things continued this way, he wouldn¡¯t die, but the woman¡¯s screams could still leave him severely injured. Fortunately, the woman stopped screaming soon after. It wasn¡¯t that she didn¡¯t want to continue using that spell, but rather that she couldn¡¯t. Because, just as she was applying all her effort to cast the spell, a ghostly figure like a spear pierced through her brow, destroying her Sea of Consciousness and Divine Soul. The Swallowing Sky Toad made its move¡­er, stuck out its tongue. The moment Qin Feng sensed the danger, he had the Swallowing Sky Toad strike and kill the enemy. This woman, who was at the fifth layer of Qi Refinement, was originally no match for the Swallowing Sky Toad. Pained by the loss of her carefully raised Poison Insects, and unsettled in spirit, she was fully occupied with casting her sonic spell and couldn¡¯t dodge in time, thus she was directly killed by the Swallowing Sky Toad in one strike. The gaunt man behind Qin Feng was so shocked to see this that his hands flashed coldly, and the Willow Leaf Saber was thrust straight towards Qin Feng¡¯s back. He himself, however, flickered through several movements, lightly jumped, and was already flying up the wall, abandoning the Willow Leaf Saber and planning to escape. But before that flash of cold light reached Qin Feng, the Swallowing Sky Toad suddenly leapt from Qin Feng¡¯s hands and instantly positioned itself behind him. It emitted a murky glow from its small body, forming a spell barrier that directly blocked the Willow Leaf Saber. Then, opening its mouth wide, its long tongue shot out like an arrow, piercing through the gaunt man¡¯s heart from several meters away, killing him on the spot. Qin Feng turned around, his face deathly pale. He had been shaken by the woman¡¯s scream, causing instability in his Sea of Consciousness and damage to his Divine Sense. Although the injuries were not severe, it would still take him a few days to fully recover. However, as long as he rested quietly for the next few days and didn¡¯t arbitrarily use his Divine Sense, there shouldn¡¯t be any serious consequences. Shaking his still aching head, he first picked up the Willow Leaf Saber that the Swallowing Sky Toad had blocked. Then, he walked over to the gaunt man, retrieved not only his own Storage Bag but also took the other party¡¯s Storage Bag. Then, he finally turned his attention to the scar-faced man who had first been severely injured by the Swallowing Sky Toad. The man gave a bitter smile, putting down the Spirit Pill he had just taken out. He knew that this youth was certainly not going to spare him. Since his death was certain, there was no need to take the Spirit Pill any longer. Qin Feng looked at the man¡¯s face full of bitterness, but he didn¡¯t show the slightest mercy. Since these people had chosen this method to obtain Cultivation Resources, they had to be prepared for the possibility of being killed in retaliation. Moreover, judging by their appearance, this clearly wasn¡¯t their first time doing this. There was even less reason to show mercy to such repeat offenders. These people were by no means good, and to momentarily show compassion by sparing them would potentially lead to more lives being endangered by these individuals. This time, he didn¡¯t use the Swallowing Sky Toad. Instead, he personally molded a spell and summoned a tiger-shaped apparition. Under his spell, the apparition slowly condensed into a Wind Blade and sliced towards the head of the scar-faced cultivator. The man had already prepared to be killed by Qin Feng, but seeing the slow pace of the youth¡¯s spell-casting, he couldn¡¯t help but curse silently, thinking that the youth was deliberately slowing down to instill fear and torment him. However, he didn¡¯t know that Qin Feng¡¯s spell abilities were not very sophisticated. If he had directly summoned the tiger-shaped apparition, although it could have killed the powerless scar-faced man, the scattered power may have resulted in a more bloody scene. Thus, he laboriously compressed the tiger-shaped Wind Blade and directly severed the opponent¡¯s head. PS: Whether the bridge of magpies really forms or not, every year on this night it meets the weaver girl. People should not wonder at the gap of years, for it¡¯s better than the many long separations in the human world. Today is Qixi, wishing all couples separated by distance a swift reunion! Chapter 46 - Chapter 46: Chapter 46: Young People Chapter 46: Chapter 46: Young People This was Qin Feng¡¯s first time killing someone. Since he had already set foot on the path of cultivation, it was certain he would encounter other opponents; killing was inevitable. Rather than waiting until later when he might find himself in a panic at the critical moment, it was better to use this scar-faced cultivator to practice his courage now. After all, this fellow had attempted to rob him, never intending to let him live. Given that, killing him would not create any psychological burden for Qin Feng. After he really made the move and killed his opponent, he discovered he didn¡¯t feel any discomfort, nor did he experience the nausea or vomiting that rumors sometimes suggested. He thought about it and then suddenly laughed. Indeed, he had only read in certain books that one should feel sick and vomit after their first kill, almost as if they were more susceptible to nausea than a two-month pregnant woman. But those were just fabrications by others, not to be taken seriously. He was no stranger to the sight of blood; just in the past few months, he had killed many fierce beasts and poisonous insects on the outskirts of Qifeng Mountain to hone his spells. Although there was some discomfort in his heart from taking a life for the first time, he was not so weak as to vomit at the mere smell of blood. Qin Feng collected the items from the three men¡¯s bodies, then piled their corpses together. Channeling his Spiritual Power, he manipulated a spell, and with a bang, flames shot up in his hand. As he pointed with his hand, the flames fell upon the corpses, engulfing them in fire. After death, since the bodies had no Spiritual Power to protect them, although physically stronger than the average untrained person, their strength was limited and could not withstand flames fueled by Spiritual Power. Therefore, in just a short while, the raging flames reduced the three loose cultivators, who had turned to murder and plunder, to but a few white bones. Qin Feng swept his sleeves and a gust of wind howled forth, blowing the ashes and the remaining few bones to a nearby overgrown and uninhabited broken courtyard. Only then did he turn and leave. Returning to his residence at the Ten Thousand Demons Pavilion, he glanced toward the room of the old Family Head, Qin Guanbao. Inside the house was pitch-black; evidently, the old Family Head had not returned. He shook his head and stopped paying attention to these matters, retreating to his own room. Sitting cross-legged on the bed, he silently operated his cultivation technique for over half an hour, finally feeling much better; his headache was also not as painful as before. After regaining his spirit, he reached out to examine the spoils of war he had gathered earlier, inspecting them carefully and discovering that although the thin man¡¯s Willow Leaf Saber was small, it was a Middle Grade Magic Artifact and extremely sharp. On the other hand, the Qi Refining Middle Stage scar-faced cultivator¡¯s Short Hooks were only Low Level Magic Artifacts. As for the woman¡¯s earthen jar, though it also qualified as a Middle Grade Magic Artifact, it had no offensive or defensive power and could only be used as a vessel to cultivate Poison Insects. Next, he began to gather the Spiritual Energy within his body to erase the remaining Divine Sense imprint from the three Storage Bags. After nearly a whole night of effort, nearly depleting his Spiritual Energy, he finally managed to open all three Storage Bags. Qin Feng poured out the contents of the Storage Bags, realizing that although these cultivators engaged in the unlawful business of killing and looting, they were not wealthy. In fact, they were so poor it was almost laughable. All the Spirit Stones from the three Storage Bags amounted to less than one hundred. ¡°Pah, paupers!¡± Qin Feng scoffed inwardly. However, his eyes soon lit up as he turned his attention toward two Jade Scrolls. Picking up a Jade Scroll, he probed it with his Divine Sense and discovered it was a Wind Element Technique called ¡°Instantaneous Gale.¡± This Technique was a cultivation method passed down from the Kuangsha Palace, a major Sect deep within the boundless northwest desert. It specialized in the Wind Escape Technique and cultivated a fierce wind. If one were to achieve Great Success in this Technique, they could cover a thousand miles in an instant. The fierce wind would scream across half the sky, stirring up sand and stones, sweeping through heaven and earth with formidable power. ¡°` Unfortunately, the real core inheritance of Kuangsha Palace would of course not be disclosed publicly, so the jade scroll Qin Feng had only contained the cultivation methods up to the Foundation Establishment Stage. However, he wasn¡¯t disappointed, as this was the most common occurrence in the cultivation world. In fact, many sects would teach some of the less important cultivation methods, and if a talented loose cultivator obtained this inheritance and cultivated it to its limits and then wished to advance their technique, they would have to join one of those sects. After thorough screening to ensure that these individuals weren¡¯t spies sent by enemy forces, the sects would then choose to admit only the most outstanding few into their ranks. Although these loose cultivators, not having been raised by the sect from a young age, wouldn¡¯t be taught the core direct inheritance techniques, these talented individuals often could still cultivate to relatively high realms after joining, becoming powerful enforcers for the sect. After briefly browsing through the Wind Element Technique, Qin Feng no longer paid attention to it and instead picked up another jade scroll. When he projected his Divine Sense into it, he immediately felt a surge of joy. For the jade scroll contained the very Ghost Dao Technique ¡°Soul Shattering Roar¡± that the woman had used earlier, originally a spell that could scatter the Soul Bodies of Fierce Ghosts with a single roar. However, it was later adapted by cultivators who drew inspiration from the Ghost Cultivation Technique, turning it into a spell that ordinary people could also practice. Qin Feng studied the method of casting the spell closely and discovered that perfecting it would truly require some effort. This was a spell that primarily used Divine Sense, with voice as a supplement, resonating voice and Divine Sense at a particular frequency to damage an opponent¡¯s Divine Soul. He tried to practice it and immediately felt intense pain in his head, which reminded him that he had previously been injured by this spell and had not yet recovered. With no other choice, he shook his head helplessly and set the jade scroll aside, then reached out for a palm-sized piece of beast skin. The beast skin was densely covered with writing; upon closer inspection, it was actually a technique on how to cultivate and control centipedes. No wonder that woman kept so many centipedes. The Iron Head Centipedes cultivated according to this technique were quite powerful, and if brought to Great Success, even Foundation Establishment Cultivators could be dealt with. However, this required substantial resources, in addition to years of meticulous care. As for such techniques, Qin Feng just glanced at them and didn¡¯t take them too seriously. Once he joined the Beast Taming Sect, he just needed to focus on cultivating his own Spiritual Beast, without the need to waste thoughts on these common Poison Insects. With that effort, he might as well cultivate the Swallowing Sky Toad, because to the toad, these Iron Head Centipedes were nothing more than a pile of little snacks. Qin Feng waved his hand and collected up all of the items, planning to rest for a while. Once his Sea of Consciousness was fully restored, he would then practice ¡°Soul Shattering Roar.¡± The next day, at noon. Qin Guanbao returned to the courtyard full of spirit, just in time to see Qin Feng walking out of the room with a pale face, looking listless and dejected. The Old Family Master shook his head repeatedly; young people, after getting a taste of the pleasures of the flesh, just don¡¯t know moderation. Just by looking at the complexion, it was clear that all his energy had been drained; otherwise, he wouldn¡¯t look so depleted. The Old Family Master felt that he should find some time to properly enlighten him. Otherwise, if his grandnephew became immersed in the matters of men and women, it could affect his cultivation. ¡°Young man, moderation is key!¡± During the meal, the Old Family Master said to Qin Feng with a meaning-laden face, ¡°Never think that just because you are young, you can be reckless with your body; otherwise, when you get older, you¡¯ll understand what it means to be willing but powerless.¡± PS: Old Family Master: Young man, leave your recommendation tickets behind, and this old man will teach you a technique to strengthen your back! ¡°` Chapter 47 - Chapter 47: Chapter 47 Elders Arrival Chapter 47: Chapter 47 Elder¡¯s Arrival ¡°Moderation, moderation in what?¡± Because his head was still throbbing, Qin Feng¡¯s attention was somewhat scattered, and he hadn¡¯t grasped the meaning behind the Old Family Master¡¯s words for a moment. Sitting beside him, Qin Xi also didn¡¯t catch on, this girl merely looked at him with a face full of concern, worriedly asking, ¡°Afeng, why do you look so pale? Did something go wrong with your cultivation?¡± ¡°Oh, no.¡± Qin Feng shook his head and said, ¡°I was just about to tell you all, last night¡­¡± ¡°Cough!¡± Before he could finish his sentence, the Old Family Master gently coughed to interrupt him. The Old Family Master looked at Qin Feng with a kind face and said smilingly, ¡°You drank too much last night, there wasn¡¯t anything else was there.¡± ¡°Ah?¡± Qin Feng was stunned, then he realized that the Old Family Master had misunderstood him, thinking he was about to talk about his visit to Baihua Pavilion last night, that¡¯s when it jogged his memory. He hurriedly said, ¡°Thank you, Uncle Jiugong, for your concern. I¡¯m fine, last night after I drank too much, on my way home, a few Loose Cultivators tried to rob me¡­¡± ¡°Yah?¡± Qin Xi was startled, only then realizing why his complexion was so pale, she quickly asked, ¡°Did you, did you get hurt anywhere?¡± Old Family Master Qin Guanbao was also slightly taken aback, and then his face darkened. He didn¡¯t expect that there were Loose Cultivators daring enough to target a junior of his family? Hmph, those scoundrels were too audacious. It seemed like it was time to ask the enforcement team to clean up. At the same time, he also felt some relief. Fortunately, Qin Feng was unharmed, otherwise, he didn¡¯t know how he¡¯d explain it to Qin Long when he returned. ¡°What happened, tell me everything.¡± The Old Family Master commanded. ¡°Yes.¡± Qin Feng answered and said, ¡°It was like this at the time, after I left Baihua¡­ that is, after leaving the tavern, one Loose Cultivator pretended to be drunk and leaned towards me, and then¡­¡± He recounted the event simply but didn¡¯t mention that he had relied on the Swallowing Sky Toad to confront the enemy. Instead, he said that he had relied on the Spirit Talisman his father had privately given him to save his life to kill those Loose Cultivators, which is how he safely returned. Although he concealed many things in his words, it still reminded Qin Xi, and she murmured, ¡°It seems that from now on, I should also keep my possessions in separate places. Otherwise, if I ever lose my Storage Bag, wouldn¡¯t I lose everything inside?¡± Qin Feng laughed and said, ¡°Sister Xiaoxi is right. Even a smart rabbit has three burrows, and we Cultivators must naturally prepare several backups.¡± With that, he handed a Storage Bag to Qin Xi, ¡°This Storage Bag is for you, so you can keep your self-defense items in different places.¡± ¡°This¡­¡± Qin Xi hesitated. After all, a Storage Bag was worth several dozen Spirit Stones, and aside from what the family had given her, she had never received such a valuable gift. ¡°Take it, Sister Xiaoxi.¡± Qin Feng smiled, ¡°It was a gift anyway, I have two more here, so having too many of these isn¡¯t very useful.¡± ¡°Then, all right.¡± Qin Xi thought it over and did not refuse anymore. After all, we are one family, and when we go to the Sect in the future, we must support each other; there is no need to be so estranged. Seeing her accept it, Qin Feng took out the rest of the items and handed the two jade scrolls and the beast skin that recorded the technique of taming and controlling the Iron Head Centipede to the Old Family Master, indicating for him to take a look. ¡°Eh?¡± The Old Family Master first picked up the beast skin, and upon seeing the technique for controlling the centipede, his eyes lit up, ¡°Could this be a technique passed down from the Five Poisons Sect? Not bad, this technique may not compare to the Beast Taming inheritance of the Sect, but since the Sect¡¯s Beast Taming inheritance cannot be disclosed, currently only I and your father and a few others in the family can control Spiritual Beasts, leaving the methods for the rest of the family members not to be considered outstanding.¡± He turned the beast skin over and over, nodding in satisfaction a few times, ¡°Although the centipedes cultivated using this method may not be particularly strong, and it also requires the consumption of quite a few resources, with the accumulation of the family over these years, we can still select a few family members to secretly tame Poison Insects as a contingency.¡± Hearing this, Qin Feng nodded and pushed the pitch-black earthen jar toward the Old Family Master, ¡°This jar is the vessel that the woman used to cultivate centipedes, and it¡¯s also a Middle Grade Magic Artifact. If Ninth Grandpa is selecting family members, I think Cousin Qin Yang would be suitable.¡± ¡°Um.¡± Qin Guanbao gently nodded. He understood Qin Feng¡¯s intention. This was to give the earthen jar to Qin Yang, allowing Qin Yang to have an additional means of defending against enemies. Then he picked up the two jade scrolls. The Cultivation Method ¡°Thousand-Mile Instant Wind and Waves¡± was not particularly concerning for him; the family had already collected many Foundation Establishment Techniques of similar level, bringing it back would only add another collection to the Scripture Pavilion. However, the other ¡°Soul Shattering Roar¡± caught his attention. This was not a Cultivation Technique, but a Spell. But in Qin Guanbao¡¯s view, this Spell was much more useful than the Cultivation Technique recorded on the other jade scroll. Once mastered, using this technique during battle could often achieve miraculous effects. ¡°Haha, excellent, truly excellent.¡± Qin Guanbao happily patted Qin Feng¡¯s shoulder, and said with satisfaction, ¡°This Spell, along with the technique to control the centipede, will be very useful to the family. You have done a great service for the family. Thus, in the next three years, the resources provided by the family to you will be doubled as a reward.¡± ¡°Thank you, Ninth Grandfather.¡± Qin Feng did not refuse. Spirit Stones are good things ¨C he would certainly not complain about having too many. Given that the Old Family Master had made this decision, it was clear that the family could afford these expenditures with their current income. Qin Guanbao looked over the jade scroll that recorded ¡°Soul Shattering Roar¡± a few more times, committing it to memory before passing it to Qin Xi, asking her to take a look. If she could learn it too, it would be another method to defend against enemies. The only regret he had was that his own Shadow Leopard was not a lion or tiger type of powerful Spiritual Beast, unsuitable for using roaring as a method of attack. Otherwise, if combined with the appropriate Lifebound Spiritual Beast to execute this Spell, its power could greatly increase. As for Qin Long, it was a pity. The Old Family Master sighed softly in his heart. Originally, Qin Long¡¯s Lifebound Spiritual Beast was a Fiery Flame Fierce Tiger, most suitable for cultivating the ¡°Soul Shattering Roar¡± Spell. However, he was plotted against in his early years, not only was his Lifebound Spiritual Beast slain, but his Divine Soul Origin also suffered serious damage. If not for this, given Qin Long¡¯s talent, he wouldn¡¯t still be stuck at the Foundation Establishment Early Stage after so many years. Qin Guanbao felt regret, but he soon collected himself and did not show any negative emotions in front of the younger generation. Occasionally, he instructed Qin Feng and the other to not go out alone at night, in order to avoid repeating similar incidents. After that, he went to find Manager Qian Jiang, who was in charge of Tieling County¡¯s Ten Thousand Demons Pavilion, and asked him to take action to have the Market¡¯s enforcement team clean up the Loose Cultivators who had broken the rules. Upon learning that there were Loose Cultivators bold enough to target disciples prepared by their own Sect, Manager Qian was furious. He immediately summoned all the enforcement teams, sweeping through the Market inside and out, resulting in quite a few unscrupulous Loose Cultivators getting implicated. As a result, the Market became much more orderly, and even those old, slick peddlers who had been setting up stalls for years were no longer conning visiting Cultivators. A few days passed like this, and the much-anticipated Outer Elder who was coming to take in disciples finally arrived at Tieling County. Chapter 48 - Chapter 48: Chapter 48 Tower Ship Sword Boat Palace in the Clouds Chapter 48: Chapter 48 Tower Ship Sword Boat Palace in the Clouds That afternoon, a dragon¡¯s roar suddenly echoed from afar, resonating through heaven and earth, shaking the spirit of every living being. In an instant, every cultivator and civilian in Tieling County couldn¡¯t help but turn their gaze toward the direction from which the roar had come. They saw a hundred-zhang long, azure Jiao Dragon soaring through the distant sky. This Jiao Dragon was massive, its scales like armor, baring its fangs and claws as it controlled the sky, its howl spreading across a hundred miles, causing many birds and beasts to tremble in fear. And on the dragon¡¯s back, thick chains extended to the rear, pulling a several hundred-zhang long tower ship, headed toward the county. Such a fierce Jiao Dragon, merely being used as a beast of burden, left many cultivators who were witnessing this sight for the first time in utter shock. However, many old residents of Tieling County weren¡¯t surprised at all; instead, they boasted to those around them with shocked expressions, for they had seen this Jiao Dragon every dozen or so years. This was a Jiao Dragon tamed by the Beast Taming Sect, specifically used to pull tower ships to welcome new disciples. At the same time, it also showcased the Beast Taming Sect¡¯s overwhelming strength, planting the concept of their might in the hearts of the people, thereby making families with exceptionally talented offspring think of sending their descendants to the Beast Taming Sect. Of course, the powerful Demon Beasts used by the Beast Taming Sect for pulling were not limited to this Jiao Dragon; there were many other types of ferocious Demon Beasts. This year just happened to be this Jiao Dragon¡¯s turn to come to Chu Kingdom. ¡°Hmph!¡± Just as the Jiao Dragon¡¯s roar shook the heavens and the earth, suddenly, a cold voice was heard, followed by the sound of a sword cry. Everyone looked up and saw sword light flickering in the distant void, as a sword boat shaped like a Flying Sword approached at high speed. This was the signature magical treasure of Taiyi Mountain Golden Light Cave, the Flying Escape Sword Boat. Although the sword boat looked sharp and flew through the void at a very high speed, it was somewhat slender due to its shape, and therefore, its interior space was far less spacious than that of the Beast Taming Sect¡¯s tower ship. Not far behind the tower ship and the sword boat, a palace surrounded by clusters of white clouds flew overhead. This majestic palace was emanating the fragrance of elixirs, and knowledgeable cultivators recognized it right away¡ªit was the Xiaguang Hall of Danxia Sect, a luxurious magical treasure crafted specifically for them, a wealthy Alchemy Sect. It boasted tremendous capabilities, both in flying escape through the void and in defense. Many cultivators were surprised, as they didn¡¯t expect these three major Sects to arrive in Tieling County together, which was indeed quite unusual. Although they all took in disciples at this time, under normal circumstances, they would stagger their routes to avoid direct overlap. This year, however, they all converged on Tieling County. Could it be that Tieling had produced some kind of genius figure this year, attracting all three major Sects to come and compete for the talent? With this thought, many cultivators became excited. Although the emergence of a genius didn¡¯t have much to do with them, it was still a topic of conversation, and in the future, it would add more weight when they boasted to others. Even more so, if they could find out the origin of this genius figure, they might be able to get close to the genius¡¯s family, and if they could even forge a marriage alliance with that family, once the genius grew up, they might even get a boost. In fact, there were quite a few harboring such ideas. Many cultivators quietly discussed among themselves, watching enviously as three large flying escape treasures rapidly approached through the air, lamenting their lack of opportunity to join these major Sects. Meanwhile, Qin Feng and other young men and women about to enter the Sect were preparing to greet the Outer Elder under the guidance of Manager Qian Jiang of the Ten Thousand Demons Pavilion. It was only today that the Zhao Family disciples arrived at the Ten Thousand Demons Pavilion to meet everyone, and Qin Feng saw Zhao Jinglei once again. Of course, Young Master Zhao did not recognize him. At this moment, Zhao Jinglei was brimming with energy and in excellent condition, obviously having been cured of all Yin Evil within his body by his family using Spiritual Elixirs and Miracle Medicine. Moreover, it seemed like his cultivation had advanced one step further because of this. Qin Feng felt envious in his heart¡ªthis was the power of a major family, never lacking in resources for Spiritual Medicine. However, he quickly reined in his spirit and stopped dwelling on these irrelevant thoughts. Rather than envying others, it would be better to focus on improving oneself. As long as his cultivation steadily increased, it wasn¡¯t impossible to one day surpass these Noble Heirs. Moreover, he had the Demon Refining Pot, which represented a great opportunity. As the Jiao Dragon approached, a gust of wind buffeted the onlookers, causing their clothes to flap wildly and making it hard to breathe. With a thud, the hundred-zhang long Jiao Dragon landed on the ground, its trailing Tower Ship, however, did not touch down, but floated about three feet above the ground. The Jiao Dragon¡¯s four claws touched the blue stone slabs on the ground, sinking into them as if they were decaying earth. The originally firm stone slabs were deeply pierced by its sharp claws. It looked at the group of young boys and girls in front of it with some curiosity, its vertical, turquoise pupils gleaming. Slightly open, its huge mouth revealed rows of sharp teeth, exuding a fierce and cruel aura that panicked the teenagers and girls, causing the more timid among them to retreat continuously, hiding behind the others. ¡°What are you afraid of?¡± Manager Qian turned around and rebuked the crowd, ¡°This Jiao Dragon is tamed by our Sect, it¡¯s not going to eat you, is it?¡± ¡°Haha, Junior Brother Qian, there¡¯s no need to blame the children. When you and I first joined the Sect, weren¡¯t we the same?¡± A hearty laugh came from the Tower Ship, followed by the appearance of a burly middle-aged man with a disheveled beard, who lightly floated down from the ship. ¡°Greetings, Senior Brother Yan.¡± Qian Jiang bowed with hands clasped together and then asked with some confusion, ¡°Senior Brother, why did you come later than usual this time?¡± Yan Zhongli chuckled, his face filled with joy, but he did not disclose the reason in the midst of the crowd. Instead, he conveyed through a private message, ¡°A peerless talent with an Innate Dao Heart has emerged from Fengyang County. She can sense the intentions of all living beings¡­¡± Upon hearing this, Qian Jiang was greatly shocked, ¡°Talent with an Innate Dao Heart? Senior Brother, have you taken the disciple into our Sect?¡± Yan Zhongli¡¯s expression was one of pride, ¡°With my personal intervention, success was a matter of course. However, Taiyi Mountain Golden Light Cave and Danxia Sect also received the news and wanted to contest with our Beast Taming Sect for the disciple. In the process, an unforeseen incident occurred where Demon Sect agents infiltrated and kidnapped the child right under our noses. It took me quite some effort to rescue the girl.¡± He was truly pleased with himself. The young girl had been raised in the deep mountains, and her mind was pure. Naturally, she could sense the intentions of all plants, flying birds, and animals. Wherever she went, the grass and trees rejoiced, and the beasts welcomed her. Even those Demon Beasts that had gained sentience would not harm her. Such talent was indeed most suitable for practicing the techniques of the Beast Taming Sect. Of course, it was also suitable for practicing other techniques, such as the Sword Dao. She could easily comprehend Sword Intent, perceive Sword Heart, and achieve the realm of Sword Heart Clarity. Otherwise, Taiyi Mountain Golden Light Cave would not have contested with the Beast Taming Sect for the disciple. It could be said that any Sect would treat this girl as a core direct disciple to cultivate. As long as she did not fall midway, she was destined to grow into a mainstay of the Sect. After Yan Zhongli had rescued her from the hands of the Demon Sect, the girl naturally became a disciple of the Beast Taming Sect. Qian Jiang envied him. He knew that with Yan Zhongli having taken in such a talented disciple, the Sect would surely reward him upon his return. At the same time, he also felt a hint of loss. Fengyang County bordered Tieling County and was just on the other side of Qifeng Mountain. If only the girl with the Innate Dao Heart had been born in Tieling County, he too might have shared in the glory and perhaps would have been called back to the headquarters of the Ten Thousand Demons Pavilion. Regrettably, she was born in Fengyang County, just a mountain away. Qian Jiang sighed inwardly. He had been managing the Ten Thousand Demons Pavilion¡¯s branch in Tieling County for sixty years and had no idea when he would be able to return to the Sect. Chapter 49 - Chapter 49: Chapter 49: Evil Suppressing Dharma Eye Chapter 49: Chapter 49: Evil Suppressing Dharma Eye ¡°Senior Brother.¡± Qian Jiang bowed and said, ¡°Junior Brother has already prepared a banquet to welcome Senior Brother. Please, move this way.¡± ¡°This time, let¡¯s not.¡± Yan Zhongli gently shook his head, ¡°It¡¯s not that I¡¯m rebuffing your kindness, it¡¯s just that this time, in rescuing people from that demon, several days have already been delayed. I cannot stay here any longer; otherwise, it would be hard to explain if I return too late.¡± Qian Jiang understood, nodded, and did not insist further. According to the usual itinerary, Yan Zhongli still had more than ten commanderies to visit. If he were to stop at each commandery, he definitely wouldn¡¯t be able to return to the Mountain Gate on time. ¡°In that case, Junior Brother will not keep Senior Brother any longer.¡± Qian Jiang reached out and took out a roster with detailed records of each disciple¡¯s origin and background. Before all new disciples are initiated, these cultivators stationed in various locations conduct thorough investigations on each prospective young initiate to ensure each disciple¡¯s background is clean, preventing individuals with ill intentions from infiltrating the Sect. This was only for Outer Disciples; entering the Inner Sect required passing through even more rigorous tests to eliminate all possible insiders to the greatest extent. Yan Zhongli took the roster in his hands, glanced over it briefly, and turned to beckon to a young man lying next to a Bengal tiger on the tower ship, ¡°Fang Zheng, you arrange these new disciples.¡± ¡°Yes, Martial Uncle.¡± The young man, accompanied by the tiger, quietly leaped down, taking the roster respectfully with both hands. He was called Fang Zheng, and his name was as upright as his appearance; his face radiated integrity, making it apparent he was a just and upright young man. Such a person, though not very tactful in handling matters, always adhered to the rules and was most trustworthy. Of course, he was also quite stubborn; once he believed in something, it was hard to persuade him otherwise. He turned to the group of young men and spoke loudly, ¡°My name is Fang Zheng, you can call me Senior Brother Fang. I am ordered by Martial Uncle Yan to escort all Junior Brothers to the Sect. To avoid delaying our return to the Sect, we will not stay here. I trust everyone has already said farewell to their families. Now, anyone whose name I call, should come up to the tower ship.¡± As his words fell, a rope ladder was dropped from the tower ship behind him. This rope ladder was specially prepared for these new disciples, as many had just opened their Spiritual Acupoints and had low Dao Cultivation; without this ladder, it would truly be difficult for these young men to climb aboard. ¡°Zhao Jinglei.¡± Fang Zheng opened the roster and meticulously read out the first name. ¡°Present.¡± The young heir of the Zhao Family quickly responded, stepping forward. Fang Zheng did not show any preferential treatment because he was a member of the Zhao Family; his expression unchanged, he just seriously looked him in the eye. And following Fang Zheng¡¯s gaze towards Zhao Jinglei was also the Bengal tiger by his side. The moment Zhao Jinglei was scrutinized by both man and tiger, he felt a shock in his heart, almost as if his deepest secrets were being seen through, making him somewhat uneasy. Fortunately, Fang Zheng soon shifted his gaze away from him and said lightly, ¡°Go ahead.¡± Zhao Jinglei then hurriedly gathered his spirit, somewhat frantically approached the rope ladder, and using his Light Body Skill, lightly tapped several times on the ladder and rather gracefully boarded the tower ship. After handing over the roster to Fang Zheng, Yan Zhongli stood beside Qian Jiang, watching these young men and softly chatting. After seeing Zhao Jinglei¡¯s performance, he couldn¡¯t help but frown slightly and glanced at Qian Jiang beside him, asking, ¡°Is this the descendant of Zhao Tianyi? He doesn¡¯t look very impressive!¡± Qian Jiang shook his head, ¡°Although this year¡¯s disciples are fairly decent, if you¡¯re talking about outstanding talents, there are none. Even though that Zhao Family boy has reached the late stage of Qi Refinement, his progress wasn¡¯t through his own painstaking cultivation but rather by relying on external forces to advance, merely staying ahead of others temporarily; he¡¯s not truly exceptional.¡± He sighed inwardly, thinking that the disciples from Tieling County this year were just mediocre, no different from previous years. After all, geniuses are hard to come by, easily. ¡°So it is.¡± Yan Zhongli glanced over the group of youths a few times then didn¡¯t bother to look further. As Qian Jiang had said, these disciples were mediocre and none stood out. However, his face soon regained a smile, ¡°That¡¯s my greed talking. True, ordinary talents are plentiful, but those once-in-a-millennium cultivation seeds are naturally not as abundant, discovering even one is a stroke of tremendous luck.¡± Meanwhile, Fang Zheng was reciting the names of the youths selected from Tieling County, pausing to scrutinize each youth as they passed in front of him. Each youth scrutinized by him couldn¡¯t help but feel a sense of reverence deep in their hearts towards him. Soon, Qin Feng heard his name. As he approached Fang Zheng, he immediately understood why the preceding youths had acted so unnaturally in front of him. It was because the other¡¯s gaze seemed to contain endless authority, revealing the true nature of anyone with ill intentions and instilling fear in the hearts of those who had committed misdeeds. This appeared to be some special Divine Skill. Even though Qin Feng considered himself a person with principles, he felt extremely uncomfortable under that gaze, as if someone was righteously criticizing his past misconduct. Fortunately, Fang Zheng only examined these disciples for a moment, and as long as no one was impersonating others, the rest didn¡¯t concern him. Thus, to avoid putting too much pressure on the new disciples, he quickly withdrew his gaze. ¡°Go ahead.¡± Upon hearing this, Qin Feng breathed a sigh of relief and hurriedly grabbed the rope ladder, propelling himself upwards with a few quick steps until he was on the tower ship. His ascent was relatively smooth, after all, he had reached the third level of Qi Refinement, and his practice of common spells was also very proficient during this period. Those youths from poor families had comparatively weaker cultivation, mostly at the first or second level of Artifact Refining, with a few who had just recently opened their Spiritual Acupoints and didn¡¯t know any spells, clumsily using their hands and feet to climb laboriously. Qian Jiang, observing the youths¡¯ awestruck demeanor in front of Fang Zheng, couldn¡¯t help but praise, ¡°Nephew Fang indeed has excellent fortune and talent, having been able to cultivate Divine Skills ahead of time. Given his current realm, he might be able to form a Golden Core within a few years.¡± Yan Zhongli nodded, ¡°Indeed, Nephew Fang¡¯s talent is truly remarkable, and what¡¯s rarer is his Daoist Heart¡¯s strong alignment with his Lifebound Spiritual Beast, which enabled him to cultivate Divine Skills prematurely due to a fortuitous match. In fact, based on his abilities and talent, he should have entered the Inner Sect a long time ago, but unfortunately, during the evaluation that year, he was sabotaged by a few Noble Heirs using underhanded tactics, ultimately exhausting his Spiritual Power and failing to advance, forcing him to continue his cultivation in the Outer Sect.¡± Hearing this, Qian Jiang raised an eyebrow but said nothing. He too was a Noble Heir from a Sect family, and it was indeed hard to respond to that remark. Yan Zhongli didn¡¯t mind and continued, ¡°However, it¡¯s not too late now. Nephew Fang¡¯s Lifebound Spiritual Beast possesses the Bi¡¯an Bloodline, whose Innate Divine Ability can distinguish loyalty from treachery, discern good from evil, and intimidate the unlawful; all who harbor ill intentions are unable to hide in its presence. Once Nephew Fang cultivated this Evil Suppressing Dharma Eye with the help of his Lifebound Spiritual Beast, he was designated by the Law Enforcement Hall¡¯s Mingxin Hall Master as a potential disciple for the Inner Sect, just waiting for him to complete his trial. Speaking of which, this lad¡¯s future prospects could be much stronger than those juniors who schemed against him.¡± Qian Jiang smiled and remained silent. He knew Yan Zhongli¡¯s disposition, and the words were not intended to stir up tension between Sect families and disciples from poorer backgrounds, but were simply a spontaneous remark. Chapter 50 - Chapter 50: Chapter 50 The Disaster of the Pond Fish Chapter 50: Chapter 50 The Disaster of the Pond Fish After Qin Feng had boarded the towering ship, even though he had long known this vessel was incredibly large, the sight in front of him still left him somewhat astounded. The ship spanned about three hundred yards in length and sixty yards in width, featuring five levels of space. Apart from a large hall on the topmost layer, the remaining floors were densely packed with numerous rooms. At that moment, the deck was crowded with hundreds of young men and women, many of whom leaned against the railings, chatting and laughing as they looked down at the crowd below. These youngsters, like Qin Feng, had been selected from various counties and were about to join the Beast Taming Sect as disciples. While Qin Feng was still looking around, a young man dressed in the Beast Taming Sect¡¯s disciple attire called out to him. After asking his name, the young man registered it in a booklet, then handed him a small wooden plaque inscribed with the characters for ¡°Bing, One Hundred and Twenty-Eight.¡± ¡°This is your room token. Follow up to the second floor on your own, and for the next few days, you can focus on cultivating there. If you feel stifled, you can also come up to the deck for some air.¡± The young disciple casually instructed him and then waved him off, shifting his attention to another young man following behind Qin Feng. Qin Feng paused for a moment, waiting until Qin Xi came up and also received her room number, only to find they were on the same floor, albeit one on the left and one on the right. As he accompanied Qin Xi to the right to help her find her room, he realized this side was entirely occupied by female disciples. Clearly, male disciples did not usually come to this side, which caused the dozens of young girls to all turn their gaze towards Qin Feng with pairs of curious eyes that made him feel quite uncomfortable. After helping Qin Xi find her room and agreeing to meet later to go to the deck, he quickly hurried away. Soon, he found his own room on the other side. Upon opening the door and glancing around, he noticed the furnishings were exceptionally simple, lacking even a bed. This tower ship was not originally built for these yet-to-be initiated disciples, but rather used when sect disciples mobilized en masse. It was only temporarily repurposed to acclimate them. The sect had clearly not considered the feelings of these new disciples when constructing the tower ship, hence the room was simple: just two cushions and a low table, with nothing else. In fact, disciples in the Qi Refinement Realm could already replace sleep with meditation, though many newly initiated small cultivators were still not quite accustomed to it. Qin Feng had all his belongings in a storage bag, so there was nothing much to unpack. He just looked around and then turned to go out, meeting up with Qin Xi, who was waiting nearby. Together, they descended the stairs to the deck to bid farewell to the old family master. They didn¡¯t have much to say, as all necessary conversations had been held over the past few days. Instead, the old family master transmitted a few more words of caution, advising them to diligently practice their cultivation at the sect and avoid causing trouble or unnecessarily provoking disciples with influential backgrounds to avoid attracting misfortune. Although these were often-repeated phrases, they listened with utmost seriousness. The old family master may have had a somewhat reckless lifestyle, but apart from regularly using spirit stones to care for the unfortunate women at Baihua Pavilion, he had no other vices and took good care of his family¡¯s younger generation. This was evident from his tireless repeated reminders of these trivial matters to Qin Feng and Qin Xi. Soon, dozens of youths from Tieling County had all boarded the ship, and Fang Zheng, who had checked their identities, also leapt onto the deck. With his arrival, many of the young men and women on the deck felt somewhat ill at ease, likely all having been scrutinized by his Evil Suppressing Dharma Eye previously. These new disciples had low cultivation, so it was normal for them to feel a bit intimidated. However, Fang Zheng handled the situation well and did not leave any lasting shadows in these young minds, as that would have been extremely detrimental to their future cultivation. Thus, the group of youngsters quickly returned to normal. Although they subconsciously spoke in lower voices, they were not overly fearful of Fang Zheng. Instead, many of them were curiously looking at the fierce tiger beside him. Among these youngsters, several came from families no less prestigious than Zhao Family of Tieling. Their elders had told them about Fang Zheng¡¯s prowess when they were boarding the tower ship and also mentioned his lifebound spiritual beast contained Bi¡¯an bloodline, warning their descendants not to provoke Fang Zheng. Over the course of several days aboard the tower ship, one of the noble heirs spread this information, making many envious of Fang Zheng¡¯s lifebound spiritual beast. Bi¡¯an is considered a Dragon Son, possessing extremely pure Dragon Clan bloodline, regarded as a type of divine beast. With Fang Zheng¡¯s lifebound spiritual beast harboring divine beast bloodline, his future prospects appeared exceedingly bright. Even if the tiger¡¯s bloodline was not pure, it might still ascend in bloodline purity, evolving into a true Dragon Son Bi¡¯an. These youngsters felt envious, desiring such a majestic and potentially limitless lifebound spiritual beast for themselves. Unfortunately, spiritual beasts with divine beast bloodline were exceedingly rare, and even if found, with their current strength, they might not be able to subdue such spiritual beasts. Although Yan Zhongli had stated he wouldn¡¯t stay here long, he wasn¡¯t indifferent, intentionally waiting a short while longer after all the Tieling County¡¯s youngsters had boarded. He allowed some of them to say farewell to their family elders. After all, it might be a short while before they saw each other again, or perhaps, they might never meet again. The cultivation world was never safe, with various crises lurking, potentially leading to sudden perilous situations that could cost them their lives. Shortly afterward, Yan Zhongli bid farewell to Qian Jiang and others, leapt onto the tower ship, and commanded to set sail. The fierce green Jiao Dragon, covered in scale armor, roared softly. With a gentle press of its claws on the ground, its body soared into the air, pulling the entire tower ship into the sky. Qin Feng and Qin Xi waved towards the old family master, watching until the Jiao Dragon carrying the tower ship vanished into the clouds and the old family master¡¯s figure disappeared from view. They then lowered their hands with a hint of melancholy. ¡°From now on, I am truly stepping into the cultivation world,¡± Qin Feng murmured to himself. If he had stayed with his family, under the protection of his father and family in a remote small city like Kun City, he would likely not encounter any great danger. But he was not content with mediocrity, harboring a heart aspiring for longevity. The moment he stepped out of his home, he was prepared to face the harshest aspects of the cultivation world. Indeed, having previously been ambushed by three loose cultivators at the market had given him a glimpse of the dark side of the cultivation world. But since that was merely a skirmish among lower-level small cultivators and he hadn¡¯t suffered much, instead gaining some advantage by killing them, he hadn¡¯t taken it too seriously. He felt that given his modest cultivation, facing a major crisis would likely be far in the future, as with his current Dao cultivation, realistically speaking, he shouldn¡¯t even be able to encounter powerful cultivators. However, he had forgotten one phrase, called the disaster of the pond fish. Chapter 51 - Chapter 51: Chapter 51: Ambushed Midway Chapter 51: Chapter 51: Ambushed Midway The azure sky was filled with slowly drifting white clouds that constantly changed shape under the blowing of the Nine Heavens Gang Wind. A blue Jiao Dragon dragged a massive tower ship that was hundreds of meters in length, slicing right through the middle of a cloud, splitting it in two. Qin Feng stood at the railing of the ship¡¯s bow, gazing far into the horizon. He watched the sea of clouds surge and overlooked the rivers and mountains below, his mood greatly uplifted. Despite the fierce Gang Wind high in the Void, a protective shield had risen around the tower ship, so he did not feel the slightest chill while standing on the deck; instead, the setting sun¡¯s rays made it feel exceptionally warm. Such high altitudes were not usually flown by Foundation Establishment Cultivators either. The higher one flew, the more intense the Void Gang Wind became. Flying against the wind not only limited speed but also required consuming a substantial amount of True Yuan to withstand the wind¡¯s assault. Although Foundation Establishment Cultivators could fly using Spiritual Artifacts, they generally did so below the clouds, rarely above them. Only those who had achieved the Golden Core, significantly enhancing their controlling power over nature¡¯s spiritual energy, could fly freely into the high skies without fear of the fierce Gang Wind of the Void. Thus, such heights were not places for low-level cultivators. Qin Feng, being able to enjoy sights unseen by ordinary cultivators, was naturally in a pleasant mood. If not for those few annoying people nearby, it would have been even better! He turned and glanced back at Zhao Jinglei and the others, feeling disheartened. Did these guys not need to cultivate? How did they always end up near him? He didn¡¯t like Zhao Jinglei. In the previous several days, as the Jiao Dragon dragged the tower ship across the twenty-eight counties of Chu Kingdom, numerous disciples, ranging from dozens to hundreds, were picked up from each Commandery. Among them, some from the Commanderies were quite talented, managing to gather the youths of their areas together, forming small factions. Upon seeing this, Zhao Jinglei grew envious, so he gathered about dozens of individuals from Tieling County, spoke a few brazen words, essentially suggesting that they should rally around him once they joined the Sect. In essence, his goal was to enlist these people under his command to wield power as his underlings. Qin Feng could have ignored such an arrogant second-generation, but what he didn¡¯t expect was that this guy started to set his sights on Qin Xi. Knowing the nature of such noble heirs, Qin Feng had heard of Zhao Jinglei¡¯s reputation in the market, a man accustomed to being a playboy in the Commandery. He was just casually flirting with Qin Xi now, not caring whether it would lead to anything serious, and wouldn¡¯t take it to heart afterward. Although annoyed, Qin Feng did not confront him openly since the other¡¯s family was much more powerful than his. If he couldn¡¯t afford to offend him, then it was best to keep distance, and once he entered the Sect, there would be no need to bother about this person. Disciples of the Outer Gate of the Beast Taming Sect were scattered everywhere. As long as they weren¡¯t assigned to the same peak, it was unlikely for the two to cross paths again. ¡°Junior Sister Jingxin.¡± Just as Qin Feng was contemplating keeping his distance from Zhao Jinglei, he suddenly heard several respectful words coming from behind. Looking back, there was a young girl in white descending the stairs, heading toward the deck. This girl, appearing around fourteen or fifteen years old, did not possess a high level of cultivation; around the fifth or sixth stage of Qi Refinement at most. Yet everywhere she went, disciples of all ages and cultivation levels respectfully greeted her. Even several individuals, who considered their family backgrounds extraordinary, including Zhao Jinglei, went up to enthusiastically offer their services. In fact, the girl¡¯s appearance was not strikingly beautiful, but she exuded an aura of spirituality, warmth, and peace, making everyone around her feel at ease. Even those noble heirs who approached her with ulterior motives found their malintent dissipate as they got closer, replaced by a sense of shame deep within their hearts. Because of the peaceful aura she emitted, even the more acerbic female disciples rarely spoke ill of her. Qin Feng knew this girl; her name was Lin Jingxin. Although she rarely showed herself, staying mostly in her room on the fourth floor with the character ¡®A¡¯ for cultivation, her few outings inevitably made her widely recognized. It was said she was from Fengyang County, separated from Qin Feng¡¯s hometown, Kun City, by just one mountain range. However, Qin Feng had no intention of greeting her, and even actively moved a few dozen feet away to avoid the group of noble heirs around Lin Jingxin when he noticed she was also walking towards the bow. Lin Jingxin glanced at Qin Feng, who had deliberately avoided her, and then at the noble heirs beside her, unable to suppress a slight frown. She was of a mild temperament, rarely getting angry and capable of maintaining a calm and gentle heart towards people and all living beings. But her spirit was too pure, allowing her to easily sense whether others¡¯ intentions towards her were good or evil, sincere or ill-willed. Although other youths also admired her, they dared not show it openly, while those noble heirs nearby were full of vile intentions, which irritated her. Regrettably, they lacked the sense to keep their distance, sticking to her like a plaster every time she wanted to get some fresh air, much to her annoyance. If only these noble heirs could keep their distance like the young man not far away, allowing her some peace and quiet. Meanwhile, the youth who had kept his distance had turned his attention to the Jiao Dragon pulling the tower ship. This Jiao Dragon had a massive body, each scale the size of a palm and a single horn atop its head; its robust legs were armed with four sharp claws. He had witnessed the sharpness of the Jiao Dragon¡¯s claws back in Tieling County¡ªjust a casual landing could break the bluestone slabs on the ground, not to mention the fearsome damage it could inflict on a person. Qin Feng remembered his father once told him that the Long Family, the leader among the nine affiliated families of the Sect, cultivated Jiao Dragons as their main Lifebound Spiritual Beasts. He felt a twinge of envy¡ªno wonder the Long Family had grown so formidable. Any Jiao Dragon could become a powerful force when matured, obviously beyond the reach of average disciples. It was only due to the difficulty in breeding Jiao Dragons that the Long Family could not ensure that every generation received a young Jiao Dragon as a Lifebound Spiritual Beast, otherwise, if every family member possessed one, their family¡¯s strength would be overwhelmingly terrifying. As he was engrossed in his thoughts, suddenly, a deafening roar from the Jiao Dragon shook Qin Feng and those around him on the bow, causing their blood to surge. The many young disciples on the deck were alarmed, unsure what had enraged the dragon. However, before their gaze could fully settle on the Jiao Dragon, a sudden pitch-black light burst upward with a loud crash, breaking through the tower ship¡¯s protective shield and even leaving a deep gash across the sturdy body of the ship. Chapter 53 - Chapter 53: Chapter 53: Tower Ship Lands, Demon Beast Attacks Chapter 53: Chapter 53: Tower Ship Lands, Demon Beast Attacks Yan Zhongli merged with his lifebound spiritual beast, transforming into a thirty-foot giant ape that possessed infinite strength. He made the first move, striking toward the red-dressed enchantress. His palm carried an immense force, and even before it landed, the woman felt somewhat suffocated. With a cold snort, the woman flipped her palm upward, and her bright red sleeves suddenly enlarged, transforming into a red sea, softly blocking above her head. Boom! Yan Zhongli¡¯s strike descended but felt as though it hit nothing substantial, as the layered red gauze diffused much of the power. Even so, the small fraction of remaining power was still not easy to handle. His lifebound spiritual beast, the Great Strength Divine Ape, possessed innate divine strength. If cultivated to a profound realm, moving mountains and filling seas were mere trifles. Moreover, he had used the Beast Taming Sect¡¯s secret techniques to help the Divine Ape devour a considerable amount of the Thunder Giant Ape¡¯s essence blood, allowing his lifebound spiritual beast to comprehend thunder magic, making its power three times stronger than before. The Demon Beasts devouring each other to strengthen their own bloodlines wasn¡¯t uncommon. Qin Feng¡¯s Demon Refining Pot merely enhanced this ability; in essence, refining other demon beast¡¯s essence blood and integrating it into oneself was the most basic evolutionary path from countless years of demon beast slaughter. Since its foundation, the Beast Taming Sect had been researching how to tame spiritual beasts, how to raise their realm and war power; therefore, the use of demon beast essence blood had reached an ultimate level, much more sophisticated than the barbaric devouring of many demon beasts. Only in this way, could they maximize the advancement of the spiritual beasts they reared. As an outer sect elder of the Beast Taming Sect and a Golden Core Late Stage cultivator, Yan Zhongli of course took great care in nurturing his lifebound spiritual beast. Even more so, the strength of his lifebound spiritual beast surpassed his own; after devouring the Thunder Giant Ape¡¯s essence blood, it had already reached the peak of the Demon Core, just one step away from developing a Purple Mansion. So when his strike landed on the Demon Heart Envoy¡¯s red sleeves, it carried an immense force along with potent Thunder Power. ¡°Damn!¡± The color drained from the red-dressed woman¡¯s face. Once a Beast Taming Sect cultivator merged with their lifebound spiritual beast, it was never as simple as just adding one plus one. Spiritual beasts all have innate divine abilities, immensely powerful; and Yan Zhongli¡¯s Divine Ape had been trained to wield thunder, which, combined with his own strength and intellect, made his war power far exceed what it had been before. That was why Yan Zhongli was confident in facing four against one, holding off four Golden Core Late Stage cultivators. As thunder magic shattered illusions, the red-dressed woman dared not take the hit head-on. She quickly flashed her figure, spinning away from the spot, avoiding Yan Zhongli¡¯s power. At that moment, Yan Zhongli heard Daoist Gui Xin¡¯s shout and his face changed immediately. A glance downward revealed wisps of black smoke rising, transforming into ropes that entangled the tower ship. Simultaneously, two other figures burst forth, lunging towards the tower ship. ¡°How dare you!¡± Yan Zhongli bellowed, ¡°Green Fox, Yin Snake, you dare strike against the disciples of my Beast Taming Sect, do you wish for your clans to be annihilated?¡± Upon hearing Yan Zhongli¡¯s roar, the two figures trembled slightly, fear dominated by the long-time dominance of the Beast Taming Sect surging in their hearts. However, Daoist Gui Xin quickly spoke, ¡°Green Fox, you have already shown yourselves, there is no turning back. Even if you retreat now, do you think the Beast Taming Sect would spare your clan?¡± ¡°Don¡¯t be foolish, now the only choice is to help us,¡± a voice echoed, ¡°If you help us capture that girl, you¡¯ll have rendered a great service. Taking refuge under our Yin Spirit Holy Sect is far better than suffering under the oppression of the Beast Taming Sect.¡± Below, two Demon Clan members who had reached the Demon Core Realm exchanged glances, both seeing the ferocity in each other¡¯s eyes. ¡°Let¡¯s go all out.¡± The slender Three-Tailed Green Fox snorted coldly, ¡°Instead of being used as target practice by the Beast Taming Sect to train their disciples, we might as well gamble on this chance. If we succeed, we might gain our freedom.¡± Another creature, a black-scaled python over ten zhang in length, nodded its massive head and hissed in agreement, ¡°Fine. After this is done, I want that Jiao Dragon¡¯s inner core. If I swallow the Jiao Dragon Inner Core, perhaps I can transform into a Yin Jiao.¡± Without further hesitation, the two Demon Core Realm Demon Monsters launched themselves towards the Tower Ship. The Green Jiao Dragon pulling the ship twisted its body, breaking free from the chains that bound it. With a mighty roar, it conjured a burst of white froth in front of it, transforming into streams of water, blocking the path of the two attackers. The Green Fox scoffed and raised its claws to tear through the water defenses, ripping through layer upon layer of water light with its phantom-like strikes. The black-scaled Yin Snake opened its jaws and spewed a stream of black water. This Poison Water was exceptionally toxic, releasing a foul stench that spread for miles around, corroding several layers of the water light defense in an instant. The three Demon Beasts fought viciously together, their presence enormous and the Demon Energy rising to the heavens. Due to the proximity to the Tower Ship, the already damaged vessel began to wobble and shake. Moreover, the noxious Poison Water spewed by the Yin Snake was aimed at the Jiao Dragon, but the fumes that dispersed made the young cultivators aboard the ship feel tight-chested, breathless, and struggling to breathe. ¡°All disciples obey, take cover in the nearest rooms or cabins!¡± At the moment when panic washed over the boys and girls on the ship, Fang Zheng, who leapt into the air on his black tiger, bellowed the command, instantly providing a pillar of support for the disciples who hurried towards the closest rooms and cabins. Qin Feng executed the Divine Movement Technique and Light Body Skill, instantly becoming light as a swallow, quickly outpacing most of the disciples. With a leap, he jumped from the deck to the second floor, rushing to Qin Xi¡¯s side and pulling her into a room. Before all the disciples could take shelter in their cabins, the ropes transformed from black smoke suddenly tightened. A powerful pulling force from below started to drag the Tower Ship downwards. Because the ship¡¯s Prohibition had been partially damaged and could not be fully powered, it couldn¡¯t break free from this pulling force. As the Tower Ship closed in on the ground, the Sect Disciple controlling the vessel became extremely anxious. ¡°Crash it down.¡± Seeing the ground forces controlling the Array, a congregation of Little Demons, Fang Zheng¡¯s face went cold as he yelled to the disciple at the ship¡¯s helm, ¡°If it can¡¯t be freed, then crash it down hard into the area with the highest concentration of Demon Monsters!¡± The disciple, without hesitation, steered the ship viciously towards the gathering place of the Demon Monsters below. Boom, boom, boom¡­ A massive noise erupted, dust billowed into the sky, and the ground Array was destroyed by the crashing Tower Ship, which also fell to the ground, crushing dozens of Little Demons in the process. However, these Demon Monsters, not yet capable of Transformation and driven by a low intelligence and a ferocious bloodlust, swarmed towards the Tower Ship as soon as it hit the ground. There were hundreds of them, primarily from the Fox Clan and the Snake Clan. Foxes with sharp, hook-like claws screeched and leaped onto the deck, scrabbling against the hull. Colorful poisonous snakes and pythons hissed as they slithered their bodies up the ship, spewing venomous fog, following the various scents lingered in the air, and pursued the direction where the young boys and girls sought refuge. Chapter 54 - Chapter 54: Chapter 54 Noble Heirs Way of Combat Chapter 54: Chapter 54 Noble Heirs¡¯ Way of Combat ¡°You¡¯re courting death!¡± Yan Zhongli bellowed angrily, and with a wave of his hand, released two more Spiritual Beasts. One was a great eagle with wings nearly thirty meters wide, and the other was a snow wolf with silvery-white fur. Both of these Spiritual Beasts had the Cultivation of early-stage Demon Cores. Although Yan Zhongli had dedicated the majority of his energy and Cultivation resources to his Lifebound Spiritual Beast, he wasn¡¯t without other Spiritual Beasts for combat; it was just that these beasts¡¯ strength paled in comparison to that of his Lifebound one. Originally, he did not want to deploy these two Spiritual Beasts, for their early-stage Demon Core Cultivation would hardly make a difference against several Demon Cultivators at the late Golden Core stage, and there was a risk they could be injured or worse. But now, he could not afford to be so cautious. Releasing these two Spiritual Beasts, he ordered them to go down and slaughter the Little Demons attacking the Tower Ship, to prevent heavy casualties among the younger disciples, which would make it difficult for him to report back to the Sect. ¡°Facing the four of us and still trying to divide your attention, Daoist Fellow Yan, you are underestimating us too much.¡± The woman in red let out a cold laugh as she waved her sleeve, which extended a hundred meters, blocking the path of the two Spiritual Beasts. The other three unleashed their moves, swirling with Demonic Qi and chilling Ghost Energy, in a fierce battle with Yan Zhongli that was difficult to resolve. ¡°Hiss hiss¡­¡± A thick, spotted snake spat out a jet of poison mist at Fang Zheng, covering a radius of several meters and forcing nearby Fox Demons to dodge. The Snake Demons, however, were fearless and slithered around within the mist. ¡°Ignorant of your own mortality.¡± Fang Zheng¡¯s face turned cold, and his eyes bulged. In an instant, the Bengal Tiger under Fang Zheng¡¯s seat pounced close, raised its fan-like paw, and with one swipe, turned the snake¡¯s head into mush. At the same time, figures shot out from various parts of the Tower Ship, each with the Cultivation of the Foundation Establishment stage. These were the Beast Taming Sect¡¯s Cultivators assigned to protect the new disciples during their inauguration. When they appeared, they cried out loud, each summoning three to five Spirit Beasts from their Spiritual Beast Bags. Although the power of these Spirit Beasts varied greatly, with some at the late Foundation Establishment stage and others only at the Qi Refinement Realm, the arrival of these Spirit Beasts caused the assault of the Fox Demons and Snake Demons to stutter momentarily as these Spirit Beasts intercepted several of the more powerful Demon Beasts. This was the combat method of the Beast Taming Sect¡¯s disciples ¨C never fighting alone, but instead summoning their Spirit Beasts to attack the enemy together. However, the number of Fox Demons and Snake Demons was vast, with three to four dozen at the Foundation Establishment level. Even with the disciples each having one or two Foundation Establishment Spirit Beasts, it was difficult to hold all these Demon Beasts back. Fortunately, the Tower Ship itself served as a battle fortress, with individual prohibitions for defense in every room, which ordinary Demon Beasts found hard to break through and invade in a short time. However, eight Foundation Establishment Cultivators, including Fang Zheng, grew desperate and merged with their Lifebound Spiritual Beasts, transforming into half-human, half-beast forms. With the innate Divine Abilities and mighty physiques of the Spiritual Beasts, they slew many Demon Beasts. Especially Fang Zheng, now half-man, half-tiger, with his hands transformed into razor-sharp tiger claws. With a swipe, he burst the head of a Foundation Establishment Snake Demon, and with a sweep of his tiger tail, he shattered another Fox Demon¡¯s head. At that moment, Fang Zheng¡¯s displayed war power was so strong that calling him a Half-Step Golden Core would not be an exaggeration. As the Beast Taming Sect was named after Beast Taming, its research on various Demon Beasts was naturally second to none. Since Fox Demons and Snake Demons were common Demon Monsters, these Foundation Establishment Cultivators could often find their weak spots and manage to kill them with a single blow. It was precisely through the fierce combat display by Fang Zheng and the others that they managed to block the way for the vast majority of the Foundation Establishment Demon Beasts. Still, some formidable Demon Beasts managed to bypass them and charged toward the cabins. More than ten of them were headed for the upstairs, aiming for Lin Jingxin. After all, this Human Clan woman was their target. If they captured her, their two clans could follow the Yin Spirit Sect¡¯s Holy Envoys and leave this place in search of a new sanctuary. Although not all the Demon Monsters necessarily understood why their leader wanted to relocate, it didn¡¯t matter if they didn¡¯t understand; they just needed to follow orders. At this moment, inside the central hall on the fourth floor¡ªthe one with the strongest defense¡ªLin Jingxin and the other late-stage Qi Refinement disciples were on high alert. Those who could reach the late-stage Qi Refinement cultivation at such an age were either exceptionally talented or came from great noble families. When these Noble Heirs went out, the elders of their families naturally worried about them, so they bestowed upon them plenty of life-preserving objects. When the Foundation Establishment Demon Beasts combined forces to breach the doors of the ship¡¯s cabin on the fourth floor, the overwhelming one-sided slaughter they expected did not occur. Instead, the moment the doors were opened, they were caught off guard by a rebuttal of various powerful Spirit Talismans and Spiritual Artifacts. Not only were two Fox Demons at the forefront killed outright, but the remaining Demon Monsters also suffered injuries of varying degrees. The Demon Beasts looked somewhat stunned at the group of Noble Heirs wielding Spirit Talismans and Spiritual Artifacts, hesitating whether they should continue their attack. To attack meant to endure the onslaught of Spirit Talisman attacks from these Noble Heirs, and besides, each of the Noble Heirs was enveloped in shimmering spirit light, all protected by their own Defensive Magic. It was unlikely the Demon Beasts could breach their defenses in a short period. However, if they retreated now, failing to capture Lin Jingxin, the Yin Spirit Sect might not be willing to shelter their group, which meant they would have to face the wrath of the Beast Taming Sect alone. But with their small tribe, how could they possibly stand up to the crushing power of the Beast Taming Sect? They wouldn¡¯t even be able to flee. A few Demon Beasts exchanged glances and decided to go all out! Boom, boom, boom¡­ Despite the barrage of Spirit Talisman attacks from the Noble Heirs, the Demon Beasts forcibly charged into the cabin. Then they were greeted with even more Spirit Talismans and Spells. Upon seeing the Demon Beasts breaking in, the Noble Heirs scrambled, throwing out various life-preserving objects in panic, managing to nearly halve the dozen or so Foundation Establishment Demon Beasts, while the few survivors, battered and bruised, had no choice but to retreat from the cabin and face off once more. For a time, both parties held back, cautious of each other. The life-saving Spirit Talismans on the Noble Heirs weren¡¯t too numerous. A few of the more timid ones had already expended all their Spirit Talismans in the shock of the moment, and now without means to repel foes, could only hide in trepidation behind those young ones who still held Spirit Talismans. On the second floor, Qin Feng and Qin Xi stayed tense in their room, listening to the various sounds of combat outside. He sensed Qin Xi¡¯s nervousness and softly comforted her, ¡°Don¡¯t be afraid; those demons can¡¯t breach our defenses. The high-level Cultivators from the nearby markets will soon receive the news and come to our rescue. By then, not only will those demonic heads meet their end, but the Demon Monsters outside will also not escape death.¡± Qin Xi nodded her head, took a deep breath to calm her emotions, and said, ¡°I¡¯m not afraid; it¡¯s just that this is my first time seeing such a situation, so I¡¯m a bit nervous.¡± ¡°Right.¡± Qin Feng thought for a moment, then took out a Middle Grade Magic Artifact Willow Leaf Saber from his Storage Bag and handed it to her, ¡°Sister Xiaoxi, we haven¡¯t been admitted to a Sect yet, and apart from the ordinary talismans given by our family, we have no substantial means of self-defense. The power of this artifact is decent enough; refine it quickly. That way, in case the Demon Beasts do break in, you won¡¯t be without the power to fight back.¡± ¡°This¡­¡± Qin Xi hesitated; after all, the Willow Leaf Saber was a Middle Grade Magic Artifact and worth quite a few Spirit Stones. Just then, a thud of something heavy falling sounded outside their door. The two of them were startled and quickly held their breath in caution, staying on guard. After a moment, when no other sounds were heard, they finally relaxed. ¡°What are you thinking about at a time like this?¡± Without further ado, Qin Feng directly stuffed the Willow Leaf Saber into Qin Xi¡¯s delicate hand, ¡°Refine it quickly, I will go check the situation at the door.¡± Saying that, he rose and walked to the door, pressing his ear against it for a while but he didn¡¯t hear any sound. Qin Feng finally heaved a sigh of relief and gently cracked open a slit in the small window of the door, squinting his eyes to peep outside. Then he saw a pair of bloodshot eyes, staring straight back at him. PS: Thanks to Titanium Leek, Scholar with a Strong Memory, Wind Stops When Love Leaves, Pandora¡¯s Tribute, Ink Water, Orange Loving Monkey123, Swimming in the Desert, Jeweled Guard, a reader from 20181126014804840, and others for their donations! Your support leaves the author deeply moved. Enjoy the hefty 2500-word chapter¡ªheehee¡­ Chapter 55 - Chapter 55: Chapter 55 Cold Ice Sword Talisman Slays Green Fox Chapter 55: Chapter 55 Cold Ice Sword Talisman Slays Green Fox ¡°Ah¡­¡± Qin Feng was startled by those eyes and jerked backward. The eyes outside stared at him strangely, unsure why he had made such a noise. Then, they slightly tilted back, revealing a furry fox face. This was a Fox Demon with Foundation Establishment strength, which had been severely injured and blasted from the fourth floor to the second, landing right in front of Qin Xi¡¯s door. Originally, the Fox Demon was about to get up and leave, but just then Qin Feng had opened a crack in the window, causing it to notice and turn its head toward it. Upon discovering that there were two Small Cultivators hiding in the room, a cruel smile appeared on the Fox Demon¡¯s face. Then, its eyes flashed a dark light, staring fixedly at Qin Feng through the small window. Qin Feng felt his spirit become dizzy, and he staggered forward two steps, about to open the Prohibition and the door. ¡°Afeng, what are you doing?¡± Qin Xi was slightly stunned and immediately noticed something wrong with Qin Feng. She hurriedly pulled him back and also activated a Talisman, which transformed into a fireball and shot out the window. Outside, the Fox Demon quickly avoided its eyes, and the fireball hit the fur behind its ears. Though the Fox Demon quickly extinguished the fire with its Demon Energy, its fur was still singed. Pain came, and the Fox Demon felt annoyed, raising its claw and striking the door with a bang. The door was protected by a Prohibition and flickered with Spirit Light a few times without being breached. Regardless, the Fox Demon continually struck with its claws, bringing sharp gusts of air as it attacked the door. In the room, once Qin Feng was out of the Fox Demon¡¯s sight, he quickly regained his senses. Recalling his previous actions, he broke out into a sweat. ¡°That was a powerful Illusion Technique.¡± Qin Feng felt a chill, not expecting the Fox Demon¡¯s Illusion Technique to be so sophisticated that just a glance through the door crack could bewitch his spirit. With a snap, he closed the small window in the door. He felt it was better not to look out, as the battle outside was not something he could handle. It was wiser to hide here and wait for the Sect Cultivators to come to their aid, which would ensure their safety. He still wished to cultivate into an Immortal and achieve eternal life. If he didn¡¯t even enter the Sect and ended up dying on the way like those unfortunate ones on the deck earlier, it would be far too grievous. However, as much as he wanted to hide, the Fox Demon outside did not intend to let them go, attacking consecutively and gradually weakening the Prohibition on the door. Due to the damage to the Tower Ship and the absence of Disciples to manage the defensive Array, the door¡¯s Prohibition could not receive Spiritual Energy supplements and soon began to falter under the Fox Demon¡¯s attacks. Inside the room, both Qin Feng and Qin Xi¡¯s expressions changed. Despite feeling uneasy, both prepared themselves for a desperate struggle. Qin Xi held a Willow Leaf Saber given by Qin Feng and a few family-provided Talismans for self-defense in her other hand. Being from a smaller household, the Qin Family was not strong, so the Talismans they had were only as powerful as the attacks of someone in the Late Qi Refinement Stage. They couldn¡¯t possess as many powerful Spiritual Objects for survival like the Noble Heirs on the fourth floor. Still, they were not truly without means to fight the Fox Demon. At the very least, Qin Feng still had a Cold Ice Sword Talisman in his hand. This was a Spirit Talisman that Li Tianchou had given to Qin Feng for self-defense. Although it hadn¡¯t been used afterward, he didn¡¯t have the heart to take it back. Qin Feng reached out and took out the Sword Talisman, feeling a sudden boost in confidence. Then, he quietly summoned the Swallowing Sky Toad from the Demon Refining Pot. Although the power of the Swallowing Sky Toad was nowhere near that of a Demon Beast at the Foundation Establishment Stage, its small size and condensed Demon Energy made it a potential candidate for a surprise attack that could play a crucial role. Bang Bang Bang¡­ A series of attack sounds reached their ears, and they watched helplessly as the prohibition on the door weakened gradually until, with a crack, the door was shattered, revealing the Green Fox standing in the hallway outside. This Green Fox had two tails and its size was more than ten times that of a normal fox, resembling a small calf. It swung its two tails, stepping elegantly over the debris from the shattered door, walking toward the two people inside the room. In its eyes, these two members of the Human Clan were weak and easily defeated. Had it not encountered them by chance and been burned by the spell cast by the girl, which scorched its beautiful fur, it might have spared them. But now, having broken the prohibition on the door, it didn¡¯t mind using the Essence Blood from these humans to replenish its own energy after it had been injured. This excited it greatly. After all, usually, they could only stay in the mountains, waiting for the disciples of the Beast Taming Sect to come fight them, serving as training targets for the sect. However, now it had the chance to taste the flesh and blood of Beast Taming Sect disciples, a thought that thrilled it. But just as it had almost completely entered the room, its body suddenly stiffened, and its eyes widened. Because, it saw that the young man opposite had a Spirit Talisman in his hand¡ªjust like the powerful ones held by the Noble Heirs they had encountered on the fourth floor. Having just suffered from a Spirit Talisman, it certainly didn¡¯t want to experience another potent spell. It wanted to back out. But it was already too late. A flash of Spirit Light appeared in the young man¡¯s hand, and a chilling Sword Qi arose from the Spirit Talisman. This Sword Qi was cold and frightening, carrying an astonishing chill, yet it also exuded a sharp aura¡ªthis was the Cold Ice Sword Qi that Li Tianchou had painstakingly cultivated for many years. Ssh! With a soft sound, the Spirit Talisman shattered, and the Sword Qi, as cold as chilling frost and as fast as lightning, slashed towards the Green Fox in an instant. The Green Fox, seeing it couldn¡¯t dodge in time, suddenly stretched out its two long tails, which were glowing with a dense Clear Light, to meet the slashing Sword Qi. However, the power of this Sword Qi was beyond its expectations. At the moment its tails met the Sword Qi, it felt a chilling sensation that seemed to freeze its entire body, spreading instantly from the Sword Qi through its entire body. Then, a piercing pain followed, and its two tails were cut into four pieces. A Fox Demon¡¯s tails are of utmost importance, as their strongest Divine Skills reside within their tails. Now, having its tails cut off by the Sword Qi left the Green Fox both annoyed and enraged, as well as shocked and frightened. More critically, although the Sword Qi had expended much of its energy in cutting off its tails, it had not dissipated and continued to slash towards its body. PS: Brothers, don¡¯t complain about fewer updates anymore. This is a new book period, and being able to update three times a day has even moved me. Such a conscientious author surely deserves a recommendation vote as a reward, right? Chapter 56 - Chapter 56: Chapter 56 Human-Beast Integration Chapter 56: Chapter 56 Human-Beast Integration The Green Fox desperately dodged its head, but the Sword Qi slashed its abdomen, nearly severing it in half. ¡°Whimper¡­¡± The Green Fox whimper in pain a few times, then turned its blood-red eyes, fueled by rage, toward Qin Feng, wishing to bite this damned youth to death. However, when it noticed that Qin Feng reached into his Storage Bag and drew several other Talismans, it was startled and, disregarding its desire for revenge, it turned to flee, enduring the pain. But it quickly came to its senses. That was because it didn¡¯t perceive the same kind of danger from these Talismans as it did from the Spirit Talisman earlier. These Talismans were merely ordinary Spell Talismans. Realizing it had been tricked, the Green Fox seethed with anger and whipped around, intending to tear the two humans to shreds. But just at that moment, several beams of Spirit Light suddenly appeared, striking its body. It was Qin Feng, taking advantage while the Green Fox hadn¡¯t turned back yet, activating several Talismans in rapid succession, and even having the Swallowing Sky Toad sneak attack, or else once the Green Fox had time to react, it would have surely torn them apart. Qin Xi, although somewhat gentle in nature, had very strong combat awareness and tremendous timing in seizing the opportunity, immediately taking action alongside Qin Feng. She not only activated the Talismans in her hand but also brought out the Willow Leaf Saber that Qin Feng had just handed to her, aiming straight for the Green Fox¡¯s head. This Magic Artifact was extremely sharp; even though she had only briefly refined it and hadn¡¯t fully completed the process, under the control of her Spiritual Power, it burst forth with an extraordinary force and truly pierced the Green Fox¡¯s body. After all, the Fox Demon wasn¡¯t from a race known for strong physical bodies, otherwise, it wouldn¡¯t have been so easily penetrated by a middle-grade Magic Artifact like the Willow Leaf Saber. It tried to dodge these attacks. But it was already seriously wounded, and after its tails were severed by the Cold Ice Sword Qi, injuring its body further, its injuries were now severe. In its haste, it couldn¡¯t dodge in time and was hit repeatedly by both their Talismans and Spells, worsening its condition. That could have been the end of it, for it was from the Demon Clan with Foundation Establishment Cultivation, and could have resisted these Spell attacks. However, when the Swallowing Sky Toad¡¯s tongue shot out like a spear through the wound in its abdomen, stirring wildly inside and not only causing complete havoc of its internal organs but even reaching into its heart chamber and snatching its heart away, it couldn¡¯t hold on any longer. With a pained whine, it fell to the ground, unable to rise. Nevertheless, being a creature of the Demon Clan, even with such severe injuries, it hadn¡¯t completely died yet. Unsure whether it had a last-ditch effort at fighting for its life, Qin Feng pulled Qin Xi back, not rashly approaching to check but instead allowed the Swallowing Sky Toad to strike once more, piercing through its head, and only then did he relax. Foundation Establishment Cultivation wasn¡¯t enough for it to gather its Divine Soul and seize another body for rebirth; once its head was pierced, it was, of course, dead beyond doubt. Qin Xi looked at Qin Feng somewhat astonished, not expecting him to have such a technique. Because the Swallowing Sky Toad¡¯s tongue moved too swiftly, she hadn¡¯t seen clearly what it was, assuming it was some kind of Magic Artifact that Qin Feng had kept hidden. Since Qin Feng hadn¡¯t mentioned it, she didn¡¯t ask further. Qin Feng walked over and waved his hand over the dead body of the Green Fox, immediately collecting it into the Demon Refining Pot. To deal with this Green Fox, he had used even his most powerful Cold Ice Sword Talisman; he certainly had to collect some interest in return. Qin Xi naturally had no objections; after all, killing the Green Fox relied mainly on Qin Feng. Although she had also launched several Talismans and struck the Fox Demon with the Willow Leaf Saber, she hadn¡¯t inflicted any significant injuries on it. After collecting the Fox Demon¡¯s corpse, Qin Feng cautiously stepped to the doorway and gingerly stuck half his head out to look. The first thing he saw was several Foundation Establishment Cultivators from Beast Taming Sect on the deck, blending in unity with their Spiritual Beasts, slaughtering all around. Despite being few in number, they were forcefully killing off the numerous Demon Clan members, the deck already littered with the corpses of those Demon Monsters. Even with a dozen Foundation Establishment Realm Demon Clan members joining forces to resist, they were still falling behind, being beaten back step by step. Especially Fang Zheng, whose strength was incredibly shocking. After merging with his Lifebound Spiritual Beast, his war power was simply awesome. The Demon Beast battling him couldn¡¯t withstand the force of his Evil Suppressing Dharma Eye and was so intimidated by this Divine Skill that it couldn¡¯t continue to resist his attacks. Therefore, the highest number of Foundation Establishment Demon Beasts congregated around Fang Zheng. They simply had to surround him, for once they allowed Fang Zheng to roam freely in battle, not a single Demon Beast could withstand his assaults. Qin Feng gazed enviously at the hundreds of Demon Beast corpses on the deck. If he could take them all into the Demon Refining Pot, he was confident that, as long as he could endure such a massive infusion of Spiritual Energy, he would probably reach the Foundation Establishment Realm within a few months. He wouldn¡¯t even have to worry about how to accumulate resources for the Swallowing Sky Toad¡¯s advancement. Regrettably, he could only look on with envy; it was impossible for him to go down to collect the corpses, nor did he dare to. After all, there were still so many Demon Beasts below. With his current third layer Qi Refinement Cultivation, descending would be like delivering food to those Demon Beasts. Before he could even finish marveling at Fang Zheng¡¯s formidable, aggressive tactics, he was immediately startled by a battle in the distant sky. Looking up, he saw that a mere thousand yards from the Tower Ship, a Three-Tailed Green Fox and a dozen-yard-long Black Scaled Python were jointly battling a Jiao Dragon. The strength of these two Demon Beasts was clearly inferior to that of the Jiao Dragon; even together, they barely managed an advantage using their individual techniques, but they couldn¡¯t disengage to attack the Tower Ship. The Jiao Dragon¡¯s Cultivation was not much higher than theirs. The key was that the Jiao Dragon¡¯s body was too massive and its Physical Body and Scale Armor too formidable. The Yin Snake¡¯s Poison Water sprayed onto the Jiao Dragon had hardly any effect, and the Green Fox¡¯s claws could only tear off one or two scales at most, hardly enough to severely injure the Jiao Dragon. The Three-Tailed Green Fox was not adept at brute-force combat and often found itself outmaneuvered by the Jiao Dragon¡¯s overwhelming Physical Body, forcing it to dodge awkwardly. Fortunately, it was adept in Illusion Techniques, which allowed it to confuse the Jiao Dragon and dodge its attacks at critical moments. Otherwise, it would have been defeated long ago. The Yin Snake was valiantly fierce, but its dozen-yard-long snake body was far too small compared to the hundred-yard Jiao Dragon. Moreover, with the Jiao Dragon¡¯s dominant Bloodline bringing pressure that stirred a slight fear deep within the Yin Snake, it couldn¡¯t fully exert its strength. Further afield, Yan Zhongli was fighting four opponents alone, with two Spiritual Beasts helping him hold back a woman in red, while he himself transformed into a ten-yard-tall Divine Ape, with terrifying War Power, equally matched against several Demon Cultivators from the Yin Spirit Sect. At one point, the woman in red tried to break away and fly towards the Tower Ship. But those two early-stage Demon Core Spiritual Beasts couldn¡¯t block her path. Unexpectedly, Yan Zhongli suddenly used the Thunder Escape Technique, rapidly intercepting her, and within moments, nearly managed to ruthlessly eliminate her. It was only the timely pursuit of the other Demons that stopped his attack; otherwise, their group would have been diminished from today. The group was secretly shocked, not expecting Yan Zhongli to have cultivated his Lifebound Spiritual Beast to such an extent as to even master the Thunder Escape Technique. It is known that the Great Strength Divine Ape is naturally a battle-strong Exotic Species Spiritual Beast. Now, with the incredibly fast Thunder Escape Technique, its strength surged dramatically. After witnessing the encounter with the woman in red, the other Demons didn¡¯t dare to split up anymore, lest Yan Zhongli defeat them one by one. But such a deadlock could not continue. Although this was not the heartland of the Beast Taming Sect, the surrounding kingdoms still fell within the influence of the Beast Taming Sect. If they delayed any longer, it wouldn¡¯t take long for experts from the Beast Taming Sect to arrive, and then they could only retreat in disarray. To ensure a successful mission, they had promised quite a lot, which had persuaded the two Demon Core Realm Demon Cultivators in the mountains to agree to collaborate. If they were to return empty-handed, not only would they gain nothing, they would also have wasted a significant amount of resources, which would be a considerable loss. With this in mind, the group of Demons steeled themselves and prepared to join forces to deploy their final, lethal move. Chapter 57 - Chapter 57: Chapter 57 Teleportation Chapter 57: Chapter 57 Teleportation ¡°Don¡¯t waste any more time.¡± Daoist Gui Xin secretly transmitted his message, ¡°Let¡¯s join forces and execute the ¡®Mind-Bewildering Soul-Disrupting Yin Spirit Supreme Slash¡¯. We must hurry and finish off Yan Zhongli, so we can take that girl and leave this place. Otherwise, if we delay any longer, reinforcements from the nearby Beast Taming Sect could arrive at any moment.¡± ¡°Are you insane, can we even wield such a great divine power?¡± The red-robed woman scolded, ¡°Even if the four of us work together to barely execute it, it will consume our potential and affect our life span. After returning, we will need at least sixty years of recovery to get back to normal. In that much time, those pretty boys I snatched from the Righteous Path Sects to serve as my Cauldron will have all turned into old men. Gui Xin, you old thing, are you just jealous that I¡¯m about to achieve the Demon Technique and purposely trying to ruin my plans?¡± ¡°Idiotic.¡± Daoist Gui Xin snorted coldly, ¡°You only see the sacrifices we have to make after executing this divine skill, but fail to see the numerous benefits of bringing that girl back. Ever since the Holy Daughter of our sect was slain by Zhan Jiuxiao of the War God Palace seven hundred years ago, no one has been able to take up the position of Holy Daughter in our sect for hundreds of years. The supreme demon technique, ¡®Ten Thousand Tribulations Yin Spirit Nine Revolutions Saint Method¡¯, also remains without a successor, causing the Yin Spirit Holy Fire within our sect to fall into decline, reduced to merely a fire seed passed on, awaiting someone to rekindle it. That girl called Lin Jingxin has an Innate Dao Heart, a perfect affinity with all spirits. If she cultivates the ¡®Ten Thousand Tribulations Yin Spirit Nine Revolutions Saint Method¡¯, she is bound to advance by leaps and bounds, become a Holy Spirit, and reignite the Holy Fire. When that time comes, why worry that our Yin Spirit Holy Sect would not flourish? With such merits, the Sect Hierarch will not only make up for our losses but will also bestow countless rewards. We will be allowed to cultivate most of the sect¡¯s inheritances. Do you really still care about these trivial gains and losses? Demon Heart, once we receive the True Inheritance of our sect, you might as well not bother with your ¡®Yin Yang Life-Reversing Eternal Youth Technique¡¯. If you truly wish to find a man, the Demon Heart Envoy is a fine candidate. With his constitution, he should be able to satisfy you.¡± ¡°Ptui, as if I need you to worry about my affairs!¡± The red-robed woman spat, but secretly, she was somewhat tempted. Of course, it wasn¡¯t that she was attracted to the Demon Heart Envoy but was considering the proposal made by Daoist Gui Xin. If they brought back that girl with the Innate Dao Heart, it might actually turn out as Daoist Gui Xin had said. Once the girl takes up the position of the Holy Daughter, becomes a Holy Spirit, and ignites the Holy Fire, it would be to the benefit of the entire Yin Spirit Sect and all its cult members. The Sect Hierarch would surely bestow great rewards upon the four of them for such an achievement. By then, it wouldn¡¯t just be about reaching the Purple Mansion, there might even be hope of becoming a Demon Immortal. With that thought, the red-robed woman¡¯s heart ignited with fervor. In fact, it wasn¡¯t just her; the other three felt the same way. They communicated secretly, and due to the time pressure, they quickly decided to join forces and execute the ¡®Mind-Bewildering Soul-Disrupting Yin Spirit Supreme Slash¡¯, aiming to slay Yan Zhongli in one fell swoop and take Lin Jingxin away from there. While they were conspiring in secret, Yan Zhongli also seemed to notice something amiss, as the actions of these people had noticeably slowed, and the power of their various spells had diminished. He felt puzzled and couldn¡¯t help but raise his guard a bit more. After all, the Demon Path was unpredictable, and they might use some special technique to harm him. He didn¡¯t need to rush to repel these four now; he just needed to buy some time. After battling for so long, his distress signal should have been received, and within a short while, someone would come to his aid. With reinforcements, he could take his time to slay these people later on. Therefore, Yan Zhongli remained cautiously on guard to avoid being ambushed by these demons. Just then, suddenly the four Demon Heart Envoys flashed and positioned themselves around him from four directions. Subsequently, each of them transmitted a strange aura between their two hands. The four auras interconnected, and their spirits communicated, suddenly emitting a series of peculiar spiritual waves aiming directly at Yan Zhongli. With a grand gesture, Yan Zhongli cast a layer of thunder-light around himself. ¡°` However, his face quickly changed. Because the thunderous light was barely effective against the tide-like surges of spiritual waves, though it had weakened the mental assault somewhat, he still had to endure the brunt of the psychic attack. Then, various negative emotions emerged in his spirit, endless temptations lured him towards corruption, and boundless rage disrupted his concentration, making it difficult to focus against his adversary. ¡°Huoxin Chaotic Divine Yin Spirit Defying Heaven Slash¡± is a great divine power secretly transmitted by the Yin Spirit Sect. It is divided into two ways to attack an enemy, one to confound the spirit and the other to defy heaven and slash the soul. To practice the way of the Yin Spirit, one must face endless calamities and walk against heaven to stand even a slim chance. Therefore, the techniques of the Yin Spirit Sect tend to be extremely radical, and with ¡°Huoxin Chaotic Divine Yin Spirit Defying Heaven Slash¡± named after defying heaven, its power is certainly formidable. If an old demon of the Yin Spirit Sect who cultivated this technique were to use it, even Daoists who had achieved their Primordial Spirit would have their spirits confused and find it difficult to defend themselves, likely meeting their demise under this heaven-defying slash. The strength of the four envoys of the heart was insufficient to fully master this great divine power, but when they joined forces, they could barely execute it. At this moment, Yan Zhongli¡¯s gaze was scattered, his hands and feet seemingly not obeying his commands. A tide of madness continually emerged within his Sea of Consciousness, disturbing his concentration and making it hard for him to engage in the fight. Therefore, he had no choice but to conjure a series of thunderous protective shields around him, and his body awkwardly flew towards the edge, trying to break free from the encirclement of these people. The demon cultivators watched as thunderous light continuously emerged around Yan Zhongli, not only untroubled but rather delighted. These thunderous protective shields were strong in defense. If they attacked separately, they would not be able to break through them quickly. But to rely on these to defend against the Yin Spirit Defying Heaven Slash would be a fool¡¯s dream. Seeing Yan Zhongli¡¯s awkward escape skill made them even more self-satisfied. ¡°Ha ha, his spirit is in turmoil; he can¡¯t escape. Quick, quick, quick, Yin Spirit Defying Heaven Slash, cut down his body, obliterate his divine soul.¡± They stimulated their potential using secret techniques, but they could not maintain it for long. Afterwards, they still needed to save some energy to flee the place to avoid pursuit from the Beast Taming Sect, so they dared not delay. The aura on their bodies changed again, a demonic aura that seemed capable of slicing through heaven and earth surged forth, turning into a hundred-yard cold light, and¡ªin a flash¡ªit disappeared, instantly appearing in front of Yan Zhongli, slashing down right at his head. Swish! The body was split in half, and blood mist sprayed across the sky. But the faces of these demons changed dramatically. Because the one who died was not Yan Zhongli, but an eagle. An eagle that was Yan Zhongli¡¯s spiritual beast, at the initial stage of its Demon Core. ¡°What¡¯s going on?¡± The four demons scanned the void with their divine sense, quickly locating Yan Zhongli. At this time, he was standing where the eagle had been. ¡°Teleportation, instant shift!¡± Daoist Gui Xin instantly understood what had happened. The red-clad woman¡¯s face twisted, and she screamed frantically, ¡°This is impossible, Yan Zhongli, your lifebound spiritual beast is the Great Strength Divine Ape. It¡¯s already outrageous that you¡¯ve been able to cultivate it to have Thunder Divine Power. But to say it also possesses the power of teleportation? I don¡¯t believe it!¡± At this moment, this beautiful woman was as furious as thunder, almost driven to madness. To use the ¡°Huoxin Chaotic Divine Yin Spirit Defying Heaven Slash,¡± the four of them had spared no effort to stimulate their potential and expend their life span. It was only with great difficulty that they had managed to cast this great divine power. As a result, they had paid such a tremendous cost, only to have killed an opponent¡¯s spiritual beast at the initial stage of its Demon Core¡ªwhich made them nearly insane. ¡°` Chapter 58 - Chapter 58: Chapter 58: Still Want to Leave? Chapter 58: Chapter 58: Still Want to Leave? ¡°Hehe¡­¡± Yan Zhongli sneered, ¡°A few devils from the Demon Path actually think they can outsmart me; they truly don¡¯t know whether to live or die.¡± Though his words conveyed satisfaction, he felt a lingering fear inside. His Lifebound Spiritual Beast indeed was not capable of Teleportation, but his Eagle could, and not only that, it could also swap places with him in an instant. Moreover, those demons had only barely managed to use ¡°Huoxin Chaos Yin Spirit Ultimate Slash¡± on him and had not completely locked down his Divine Soul, which allowed him to narrowly escape death. Otherwise, he would have found it difficult to avoid a fatal outcome. However, now that he had dodged the enemy¡¯s lethal strike, Yan Zhongli naturally wanted to take advantage of the moment when those devils¡¯ Primordial Qi was greatly depleted to eliminate them. Otherwise, his Eagle would have died in vain. The Four Heart Envoys used secret techniques to stimulate their potential and still had the strength for one last fight, but Yan Zhongli absolutely did not believe they had the ability to cast ¡°Huoxin Chaos Yin Spirit Ultimate Slash¡± again. Such Great Divine Powers were simply not meant to be used by individuals at their realm. As long as he delayed these demons and prevented them from escaping, it wouldn¡¯t take long before the effects of their stimulated potential wore off, and they would become dead souls under his command. Just then, two figures suddenly flew in from a distance. Although they were not yet close, from the Spiritual Beasts they were riding, it was clear that these were Beast Taming Sect cultivators coming to the rescue, who were stationed outside the market. ¡°Go, split up and run!¡± Daoist Gui Xin shouted, twisting his form, preparing to escape. Failing to kill Yan Zhongli already indicated their mission had failed, and now that two reinforcements arrived¡ªand likely more to follow¡ªit was clear that if they didn¡¯t leave this place immediately, they were destined for a graveless death. ¡°Still trying to escape?¡± Yan Zhongli sneered, ¡°You stay right there.¡± With a wide sweep of his hand, his ape arm, several zhang long, reached for Daoist Gui Xin with astounding might. At the same time, Yan Zhongli did not forget the others; his body flickered with Thunder, and in an instant, he released more than a hundred bolts of lightning. The characteristic of Thunder Magic is its quick speed and formidable power, but unleashing so much lightning at once also represented a tremendous drain on him. However, this consumption was worth it, for this barrage of lightning prevented the other Demon Cultivators from escaping immediately. By now, the two Beast Taming cultivators had arrived nearby, and upon surveying the scene with a sweep of their eyes, they were instantly furious. These demons dared to intercept their Sect¡¯s Tower Ship that was transporting new disciples, what were they intending to do? Were they trying to destroy the very foundation of the Beast Taming Sect? Fueled by their anger, they didn¡¯t bother with words, and from afar, they released their own Spiritual Beasts, casting spells to attack the Demon Cultivators. Although their Dao Cultivation wasn¡¯t on par with that of the Demon Cultivators, enlisting their Spiritual Beasts to entangle the enemies posed no problem. The Four Heart Envoys were both shocked and terrified, desperately defending against the attacks from the Beast Taming Sect cultivators and their beasts while attempting to use Escape Techniques to flee. Regrettably, Yan Zhongli and the others simply did not give them the chance to fully deploy their Escape Skills. Particularly since one of the Beast Taming Sect¡¯s cultivator¡¯s Lifebound Spiritual Beast turned out to be a Lightning Mink. Though this Spiritual Beast was small and adorable, merging with it did not make the cultivator¡¯s stature as immense as Yan Zhongli¡¯s, but his Escape Skill was even faster than Yan Zhongli¡¯s Thunder Escape Technique. Like a bolt of lightning capable of twisting in any direction, he darted around the Demon Cultivators, significantly slowing down their attempt to escape. On the second floor of the Tower Ship, at the shattered doorway, Qin Feng and Qin Xi each peered out, staring in stunned silence at the battle in the sky between several Golden Core Cultivators and the Demon Cultivators, their hearts filled with deep shock. Although they had seen the Old Family Master and Qin Long, the Tamer, command the might of Spiritual Beasts before, it was incomparable to the prowess of Yan Zhongli and the other Golden Core Cultivators, the difference was simply jaw-dropping. Qin Feng looked on with envy at Yan Zhongli¡¯s figure. He thought that at this moment, Yan Zhongli seemed incredibly powerful, managing to beat two Golden Core Realm Demon Cultivators until they spat blood incessantly. Could it be that the Great Strength Divine Ape was this formidable? He felt a stir of excitement. Perhaps he too could tame a Great Strength Divine Ape to be his Lifebound Spiritual Beast. Not far from the Tower Ship, the Green Fox and the Yin Snake were engaged in battle with the Jiao Dragon. When they saw that reinforcements from the Beast Taming Sect had arrived, they nearly died of fright. These beasts were different from the Demon Cultivators; having lived in the shadow of the Beast Taming Sect for years, their fear of the sect was bone deep. Thus, the Green Fox and the Yin Snake regretted their decision. They had just realized their previous thoughts had been too naive. As Demon Cultivators who had never left the mountain, they had limited worldly experience. They believed that the Yin Spirit Sect, which was also a Great Force, should have been able to protect their two clans, completely forgetting the terror of the Beast Taming Sect. Moreover, these few Demon Cultivators were only of the Golden Core Realm. How could they guarantee the beasts¡¯ safety? Now, to talk about fulfilling the promises they had previously made to them was out of the question; even these few Demon Cultivators themselves could potentially lose their lives at any moment. The two Demon Beasts exchanged a glance and saw the terror in each other¡¯s eyes. Escape! They needed to escape quickly! Otherwise, once the Beast Taming Sect¡¯s Golden Core Cultivators were free to deal with them, the outcome would definitely not be favorable. Even the chance to show their loyalty and voluntarily become the sect¡¯s Spiritual Beasts was no longer there. Having lived for hundreds of years, these members of the Demon Clan knew all too well the methods the Beast Taming Sect¡¯s Cultivators used against traitorous Demon Beasts. Although they were not directly under the Beast Taming Sect¡¯s command, they belonged to the Demon Clan which the sect semi-domesticated. Today, they had dared to conspire with the Demon Sect to attack the sect¡¯s Tower Ship transporting new Disciples, committing a grave taboo against the Beast Taming Sect. What awaited them could only be grim. Thus, after exchanging a glance, the two Demon Beasts fled in opposite directions. One headed south and the other north, each escaping on their own. The Jiao Dragon, though fierce, could at most entangle with one of them, so it was still possible for the other to escape. Indeed, when the Jiao Dragon saw them splitting up to flee, it hesitated for a moment before letting out a thunderous roar and pounced directly in front of the Yin Snake, cutting off its escape route. Relatively speaking, the Yin Snake was more vulnerable to the Jiao Dragon, while the Green Fox was adept in Illusion Techniques and could deceive its eyes. Hence, the Jiao Dragon opted to block the Yin Snake, which was an easier target for it. On the other hand, before the Green Fox could feel any joy from its chance of escape, a sudden tiger¡¯s roar sounded by its ear, and it was hit by a powerful gust of wind. The Green Fox managed to dodge the attack, then looked up to see a young man with an upright appearance, riding a Bengal Tiger, standing in its path. The Green Fox knew him; earlier on the Tower Ship, it was this young man who had been the most ruthless. But it had never imagined that he, a mere Foundation Establishment Cultivator, would dare block its way. Immediately, a fierce light flashed in the Green Fox¡¯s eyes. Things had come to this point. The Beast Taming Sect was not going to spare it anyway, so it might as well kill another Beast Taming Sect Cultivator before dying¡ªthat way, its death wouldn¡¯t be in vain. The Green Fox¡¯s eyes shimmered with Spirit Light as it instinctively used its Illusion Techniques to bewilder its foe and lunged forward, aiming to crush the young man¡¯s skull with a swipe of its paw. But to its astonishment, its Illusion Techniques had no effect whatsoever. Instead, a tiger¡¯s roar rattled its spirit, and amidst the confusion, the young man seized the opportunity to cast a Spell, slicing open a wound on its soft belly. The injury was not severe, but it still left the Green Fox in astonishment. It was Fang Zheng¡¯s intervention that caused the Green Fox to miss its best opportunity to escape. Suddenly, a cry of a crane was heard in the sky, followed by the sight of a majestic Spiritual Crane arriving on a gust of wind. Its wings flapped, creating a storm that engulfed a radius of several dozen yards around them, trapping the Green Fox within. This was one of the Cultivators battling the Demon Cultivators. Seeing Fang Zheng intercepting the Green Fox, and fearing for the disciple¡¯s safety, he hastily sent his own Spiritual Beast to aid him. Qin Feng and his companion were engrossed in the scene when they suddenly felt a foul wind approaching. They quickly ducked their heads and retreated back into their room. Then they saw a poisonous snake, thick as an adult¡¯s thigh, retract its head from the sneak attack and slither along the railing towards them. PS: It¡¯s not that I deliberately post such short chapters. In fact, I can write much longer ones. It¡¯s just that the timing isn¡¯t right, and it¡¯s not appropriate to reveal them yet. The protagonist is about to enter the Sect. He really wants to say to those waving their recommendation tickets: Come on, smash your recommendation tickets this way! Chapter 59 - Chapter 59: Chapter 59 Subduing the Demon Beast Chapter 59: Chapter 59 Subduing the Demon Beast ¡°Sssss¡­¡± The venomous snake raised its soldering iron-shaped head high, its yellow-green body coiled briefly at the door before it suddenly lunged at Qin Feng, who was closest to it. Qin Feng quickly channeled spiritual power into the talisman in his hand, activating the talisman to burst into a ball of flames that shot into the gaping mouth of the poisonous snake. With a thunderous boom, the flames exploded, blasting the snake¡¯s head to pieces. It was merely a Qi Refining Middle Stage poisonous snake, with weak demon energy, still wild and unaccustomed to using spells, preferring to wrap its body around its opponent and strangle them to death¡ªthis type of demon beast was relatively easier to deal with. However, soon the commotion they caused caught the attention of other nearby demon beasts. After all, there were many little demons, and Fang Zheng and the others had been mainly dealing with Foundation Establishment Realm demon beasts; the Qi Refining Realm little demons found it difficult to break through the room¡¯s door prohibition, so naturally, they would not abandon those fierce demon beasts to specifically kill these little ones. Thus, numerous snake demons and fox demons were wildly scurrying across the ship, searching for prey. Sensing the disturbance here, immediately, a dozen snake demons and a few fox demons pounced over. Both of them were startled, realizing it was because their door had been broken open. Even if they were careful not to make noise, the snake demons would still locate them by scent soon enough, not to mention the fluctuations from the explosion of flame magic. Fortunately, these little demons ultimately lacked high spiritual intelligence. Coupled with the narrow doorway, they were not facing an onslaught from a horde of demons, which gave them some room to maneuver. Just now, the Green Fox and Yin Snake were only focused on their escape and had not taken care of these little demons, so the little demons on the tower ship had not yet discovered that their leaders were attempting to flee. Even if a few saw the Green Fox and Yin Snake, they merely noticed they were fighting their respective adversaries. Thus, these little demons were still loyally executing their leaders¡¯ orders, running amok across the ship, looking for opportunities to attack the vulnerable new disciples to disturb the minds of the other cultivators. ¡°Damn it!¡± Qin Feng cursed under his breath and quickly connected with the Demon Refining Pot using his divine sense, refining the Foundation Establishment Fox Demon he had previously captured into spiritual energy. He had originally planned to refine the fox demon¡¯s corpse after settling down in the sect to advance to Qi Refining Middle Stage. With Foundation Establishment strength, though only the purest tenth of its spiritual energy could be obtained after refining through the Demon Refining Pot, if he took his time to refine it slowly, it would have been enough for him to break through to the fifth level of Qi Refinement. But now, pressed for time, he had no choice but to refine it directly. A faint glow flashed within the Demon Refining Pot, and in an instant, the fox demon¡¯s physical body was completely refined into a stream of pure spiritual power that surged into Qin Feng¡¯s body. The untouched meridians and acupoints in his body were forcefully opened, and the pure spiritual energy circulated a few times in his meridians before becoming his own spiritual power, which he then absorbed into his dantian. However, the spiritual energy continued to pour in relentlessly. The rushed breakthrough left no time to carefully refine his meridians and expand his dantian¡¯s capacity, so he soon felt a sense of fullness in his meridians. He had to stop cultivating and gave the remaining majority of the spiritual energy to the Swallowing Sky Toad all in one go. The Swallowing Sky Toad croaked joyfully twice, opened its mouth wide, and swallowed all the spiritual energy. It found that, though it might not get to eat every day following its master, the occasional intake of such pure spiritual energy was much more effective than its former foraging. After this pure spiritual energy entered its stomach, it was quickly transformed into its own spiritual power, slightly enlarging its body imperceptibly. Now nearing the Qi Refining Peak, its advancement was not far off. The Swallowing Sky Toad thought that if it could receive ten or eight more sessions of spiritual energy like this, it might successfully advance. If Qin Feng knew its thoughts, he would surely curse it as a glutton. Other Qi Refining Peak demon beasts, given a complete Foundation Establishment Demon Beast body, would likely advance after consuming it, but this Swallowing Sky Toad might require a dozen or more to possibly advance. No wonder there were so few sightings of Swallowing Sky Toads in the cultivation world. There really shouldn¡¯t be too many of these creatures, otherwise, how many resources would they consume! Qin Feng and Qin Xi stood inside the room, greeting any approaching demon beasts first with a spirit talisman. The door was after all not wide, allowing only one or two Demon Beasts to enter at a time, which gave them the opportunity to break them one by one. Activating a Talisman was not only extremely fast but also consumed relatively little Spiritual Power. In such moments, they naturally chose to confront the enemy with Talismans. Fortunately, each of them carried dozens of different Talismans on their person, enough for the time being. Sometimes, when they felt overwhelmed, they could throw out a few Defensive Talismans, transforming into various Defensive Magic to block the doorway, buying them some time to catch their breath. At the same time, the Magic Artifacts in their hands were not idle. Seeing a Demon Fox from outside wanting to rush in, Qin Feng pointed his hand and the Binding Spirit Net fell, tightly wrapping the Demon Fox. Before it could make a move, Qin Xi¡¯s hand flashed with a cold light, and her Willow Leaf Saber thrust out, accurately piercing through the mesh of the Binding Spirit Net into the struggling Demon Fox¡¯s neck, killing it with a single blow. ¡°Hey, don¡¯t¡­¡± Qin Feng hurriedly called out, but unfortunately, Qin Xi¡¯s battle instincts were strong. Before his voice could be heard, the Green Fox in the Binding Spirit Net was already slain by Qin Xi. ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± Qin Xi looked at him with some surprise. Surely they weren¡¯t expected to show mercy at a time like this? Qin Feng felt like crying but had no tears: ¡°Sister Xiaoxi, your attack was indeed swift; next time when I use the Binding Spirit Net to catch Demon Beasts, if it¡¯s not too urgent, don¡¯t kill the Demons inside the net.¡± ¡°Hmmn?¡± Qin Xi paused, ¡°You¡­ want to tame these Demon Beasts?¡± ¡°That¡¯s right.¡± Qin Feng did not dodge the question and nodded directly. Since he had this idea, it was impossible to hide it from Qin Xi¡¯s eyes, better to just admit it outright. ¡°You can suppress these Demon Beasts?¡± Qin Xi was somewhat surprised. Qin Feng¡¯s Cultivation was indeed higher than hers but only by a small margin, and yet he was talking about suppressing these Demon Beasts. It seemed he must have some treasure on him. She thought it might be something Qin Feng¡¯s father gave him, which could only be used to suppress Demon Beasts of the Qi Refining Realm, but at their current stage, it was still an incredibly powerful treasure. As for Qin Feng directly taming these Demon Beasts, it was something she had not even considered. Suppression and taming were two different concepts and should not be confused. Neither of them had entered the Beast Taming Sect, nor did they have the means to tame these Demon Beasts. Although not only the Beast Taming Sect in the Cultivation World was adept in the method of taming Demon Beasts, many Sects and Loose Cultivators also had their own techniques. However, the Qin Family had never collected such Techniques; otherwise, the Family members who joined the Beast Taming Sect wouldn¡¯t be the only ones to possess Spiritual Beasts for protection. ¡°Sort of.¡± Qin Feng did not elaborate. Upon hearing this, Qin Xi did not ask any further but simply nodded, indicating that she would not easily kill the Demon Beasts trapped by him. So, the two joined forces, and each time only one Spiritual Beast broke in, Qin Feng would take action to try to bind it with the Binding Spirit Net. If successful, Qin Xi would immediately use a Defense Spiritual Talisman to temporarily hold the other Demon Beasts outside the door. She then discovered to her amazement that whenever Qin Feng reached out and touched the Demon Beast bound by the Binding Spirit Net, the creature would vanish into thin air, just like when their Family Head would store Spiritual Beasts into the Spiritual Beast Bag in the past. It¡¯s just that Qin Feng had collected quite a few, and in the span of a quarter of an hour, he had already obtained two Green Foxes and three different colored Snake Demons. PS: Guys, if there are any typos, please point them out to me, and I will correct them. Chapter 60 - Chapter 60: Chapter 60: End of the Battle Chapter 60: Chapter 60: End of the Battle Qin Xi watched in amazement, never expecting Qin Feng to possess such means. But this girl was quite astute at heart. Since Qin Feng was not forthcoming, she reasoned there must be a cause for his silence, and she did not press the matter further. Moreover, being from the same clan, Qin Feng¡¯s empowerment was to her advantage, so she silently helped Qin Feng fend off the Demon Beasts outside the door. Qin Feng felt incredibly excited in his heart. Other cultivators needed to spend a considerable amount of their spirit taming Demon Beasts, whether through secret techniques and slow taming after imprisonment or through forceful subjugation with a Spiritual Beast Ring; however, none was as swift and rapid as his method. Even those subdued directly with a Spiritual Beast Ring could potentially bite back at their master. After all, the Spiritual Beast Ring was merely a powerful means of imprisonment, similar to the Headband on Sun Wukong¡¯s head. If the Demon Beasts would rather die than surrender, fighting desperately, they could cause much trouble. Thus, regardless of which method was used, it would invariably require a lot of time to gradually tame the ferocity of the Demon Beasts before securing their loyalty. But Qin Feng was different, for he had the Demon Refining Pot. This Magic Artifact was originally intended for a powerful Demon King from the Demon World to subjugate his followers, formidable and authoritarian to an extreme. Any Demon Clan member caught within it would, unless it could resist the Refining and Dao Prohibition within, have their life and death utterly controlled by the Demon Refining Pot. The Demon Beasts Qin Feng put into the Demon Refining Pot were merely some low-level Qi Refining Realm Demon Beasts, of course unable to contend with the might of the Demon Refining Pot, and were swiftly subdued, becoming Demon Beasts under his command. Although these few Demon Beasts were not very powerful, except for a Green Fox at the Late Stage of Qi Refinement, the rest were in the Initial and Middle Stages of Qi Refinement, it was still a significant force for any small cultivator in the Qi Refinement Realm. If he released these Demon Beasts to block the door, it¡¯s unlikely that the other Demon Beasts outside would be able to break through. Of course, he didn¡¯t dare to deploy these Demon Beasts against enemies right now. Temporarily suppressing these Demon Beasts before slowly taming them would still be acceptable, as many Defense Spiritual Talismans or Spiritual Artifacts could suppress low-level Demon Beasts. But if he could command these Demon Beasts without a Spiritual Beast Ring, that would be hard to explain. Even though he couldn¡¯t deploy them against enemies now, having acquired these few Demon Beasts for his ranks made Qin Feng feel all the more confident. He had heard from his father that ordinary Outer Disciples of the Beast Taming Sect, unless they were from wealthy families, rarely had cultivators who tamed multiple Spiritual Beasts. Taming Spiritual Beasts was not as simple as just subduing them; other cultivators even required daily nourishment for refined Magical Treasures, let alone living creatures like Spiritual Beasts. The combat strength of a Beast Taming Sect disciple largely depended on their Spiritual Beasts; to become more powerful in battle, in addition to personal cultivation, one also needed to aid their Spiritual Beasts¡¯ advancement. Though the resources required for daily cultivation and advancement of each Spiritual Beast differ, they are certainly not negligible. Often, to maintain the cultivation pace of Spiritual Beasts, they consume more resources than the Beast Taming Sect disciples do in their own cultivation. And if a disciple were to tame a Super glutton like the Swallowing Sky Toad, that would be seriously bad luck. Even pouring all their resources into it might not be enough to advance such a Demon Beast. Hence, ordinary Outer Disciples could not afford to raise multiple Spiritual Beasts, and only those disciples who have powerful family backing or strong cultivation could afford to nurture several Spiritual Beasts. Qin Feng had easily subdued those Demon Beasts, but he was actually facing a resource issue. Currently, the Demon Refining Pot lacked a Spirit Vein and couldn¡¯t generate Spiritual Energy on its own to support the Demon Beasts¡¯ cultivation inside. If he wanted to foster these Demon Beasts, it would also consume considerable resources. However, he had no intention of nurturing these foxes and Snake Demons, subduing them was purely to make a few extra fighters, with the Swallowing Sky Toad being the one he actually needed to focus on cultivating. Both in potential and in Divine Skills, the Swallowing Sky Toad was far superior to those Green Foxes and Snake Demons; there was no need for him to cast his efforts on these ordinary Demon Beasts. Just as he was gleefully planning to cast the Binding Spirit Net again to capture another Demon Beast preparing to rush in, he heard Qin Xi shouting, ¡°Afeng, we¡¯ve run out of Defense Spiritual Talismans; don¡¯t go forward anymore, watch out for injuries from other Demon Beasts.¡± Qin Feng, although regretful, was no longer greedy. He conjured two Iron Hooks that glimmered with cold light and hurled them at the Snake Demon at the entrance. Though these Iron Hooks were Low Grade Magic Artifacts, the scales of the Snake Demon had not yet reached the level where they could withstand Magic Artifacts and remain unharmed, so he swiftly drew several wounds on the snake¡¯s body with his pair of Iron Hooks. It was a pity that these Iron Hooks were a peculiar type of Magic Artifact, and he wasn¡¯t using them properly; hence, he couldn¡¯t unleash their full power. In the end, it was Qin Xi who cast the Willow Leaf Saber, killing the Snake Demon with one strike. Just as the Spiritual Talismans on their bodies were about to be exhausted, a roar suddenly came from outside. Then, a Bengal Tiger over two zhang in length leaped down from the void and, with a few swipes of its paws, patted to death over a dozen Demon Beasts that had gathered in the corridor. Soon after, a pale-faced Fang Zheng appeared at the door. He had forcibly tried to stop the Green Foxes from leaving previously, and despite the assistance from a Demon Core Realm Spiritual Crane, he was still struck by a Green Fox and sustained a serious injury. Fang Zheng glanced at the two of them, nodded slightly, and praised, ¡°Not bad, you¡¯ve managed to last this long and have even slain over ten Demon Beasts; very good.¡± Although he could tell that the Demon Beasts were slain by Talismans, the fact that two young men and women who had yet to begin their path could achieve this was, of course, commendable. ¡°Thank you for your praise, Senior Brother Fang.¡± Qin Feng quickly cupped his hands together, ¡°May I ask, brother, how¡¯s the battle outside?¡± ¡°The two Demon Beasts have been beheaded.¡± Fang Zheng said, ¡°As for the several Demons from the Yin Spirit Demon Sect, Martial Uncle Yan and several elders are currently besieging them. If all goes well, there should be a result soon.¡± The Green Fox and the Yin Snake, two great Demon Cores of the Great Demon rank, had fled in different directions, only to have their escape paths blocked. The Yin Snake was already suppressed by the Jiao Dragon and, without the Green Fox¡¯s assistance, didn¡¯t hold out for long before being bitten to death by the Jiao Dragon. The Jiao Dragon then went after the Green Fox, and with the assistance of the Spiritual Crane, it easily slew the Green Fox, not allowing it to escape using Illusion Techniques. Upon hearing this, Qin Feng and Qin Xi sighed in relief. It was finally over. Although in all fairness, the duration of the battle wasn¡¯t very long, their strength was not formidable; having their room¡¯s door broken through by a Foundation Establishment Fox Demon, then being besieged inside by so many Demon Beasts, had indeed taken a psychological toll on them. Seeing that they were unharmed, Fang Zheng didn¡¯t linger and went elsewhere. There were still plenty of Demon Beasts on the Tower Ship. It was better to quickly deal with them, to prevent any more disciples from getting injured. Chapter 61 - Chapter 61: Chapter 61 Digital Golden Core Chapter 61: Chapter 61 Digital Golden Core After Fang Zheng left, Qin Feng turned to Qin Xi and said, ¡°Sister Xiaoxi, I¡¯ll keep the Demon Beasts¡¯ corpses for now and find a way to deal with them later. When that time comes, I¡¯ll share the Spirit Stones with you.¡± ¡°Okay.¡± Qin Xi nodded in agreement. She had not yet learned how to process Demon Beast corpses, nor did she know how to harvest valuable parts from them, and the space in her Storage Bag was not very large either; it probably couldn¡¯t hold so many large snakes and Fox Demons. Since Qin Feng had taken the initiative to handle the Demon Beasts, she naturally had no objections. Qin Feng wasn¡¯t really sure how to handle them either and hadn¡¯t really planned on doing so. He walked forward a few steps, and directly gathered all of them into the Demon Refining Pot, planning to refine them into pure Spiritual Energy for his Cultivation later. Afterwards, he would compensate Qin Xi with some Spirit Stones. As for those killed outside by Fang Zheng, although he was tempted, he didn¡¯t dare to take them. Those were their rightful spoils of battle, and taking them would have been acceptable. However, they had not yet officially entered the Sect, and trying to take advantage of others could easily leave a bad impression. Fang Zheng had looked at them with admiration earlier, and Qin Feng did not want to turn that admiration into wariness. After collecting the corpses of the Demon Beasts in the room, they both finally relaxed and noticed the strong smell of blood in the room. They hadn¡¯t noticed it before due to the tension. Now that the battle had stopped and they had gotten used to the smell of blood, they did not react much. The two looked outside the door again. They then saw several Foundation Establishment Cultivators on the tower ship besieging the few remaining Demon Beasts. The green Jiao Dragon was circling in front of the ship, protecting the disciples on the ship, and did not go to help Yan Zhongli and the others deal with the Demon Cultivators. In fact, it wasn¡¯t necessary for it to help, as several Golden Core Cultivators had come to assist over time. With the Escape Techniques of Golden Core Cultivators, a few hundred miles wouldn¡¯t take much time to cover. Seeing that there was no more danger, Qin Feng and Qin Xi walked out of the room, stepping over a dozen Demon Beast corpses to reach the cleaner side of the corridor. By then, the corpses of Demon Beasts could be seen everywhere on the ship, most of them on the deck, where hundreds of colorful Snake Demons and Fox Demons nearly covered the deck, blood splattered everywhere, and the ship was permeated with a fierce aura. The battle had come to a halt; after all, attackers were just some wild ordinary Demon Beasts, no match for the elite disciples of the Beast Taming Sect! Led by Fang Zheng, disciples who had hidden in various rooms and cabins slowly emerged, and their faces changed instantly at the bloody sight. After all, they were just a group of youths; except for a few, most had never seen such a bloody and gruesome scene. But the Foundation Establishment Disciples of the Beast Taming Sect unapologetically ordered them to move all the ordinary Qi Refinement Realm Demon Beast corpses to the ship¡¯s storage. As for themselves, they directly skinned and deboned the Foundation Establishment Demon Beasts on the deck, sliced their flesh, pulled out their claws and teeth, and extracted their Essence Blood. These were all valuable materials, useful for various purposes. Despite the attack, which had broken the tower ship and killed a few new disciples, the loss wasn¡¯t considered large; in fact, it had yielded a rich harvest. These Foundation Establishment Demon Beasts could be exchanged for many resources, whether for nurturing Spiritual Beasts or for Cultivation, allowing them to be lavish for a while. However, they did not touch the corpses of the Green Fox and Yin Snake in the Demon Core Realm. The main credit for killing those two Demon Core Demon Cultivators must go to the Jiao Dragon, but since the Jiao Dragon was a Spiritual Beast kept by the Sect and would not consume the Demon Beasts it killed without orders, the bodies of the Green Fox and Yin Snake would also be sent to the storage, awaiting the return to the Sect, where the elders of the Ten Thousand Beasts Hall would naturally reward the Jiao Dragon. The new disciples began grudgingly to work. Some of the stronger ones could drag a giant python to the warehouse by themselves, while most of the weaker disciples, with only one or two layers of Cultivation, would gather in groups of three or five to transport the corpses of the Demon Beasts. Qin Feng followed beside Qin Xi, and together with two sisters Qin Xi had befriended in the past few days, they carried a thirty-foot-long Snake Demon towards the warehouse in the belly of the tower ship. Qin Xi was fine; she had just slain several Snake Demons and was not at all afraid of these creatures, but the two young girls she had recently befriended were pitiful, looking like they wanted to cry but dared not. They had probably never seen a snake before, let alone handle such a thick and long one, and naturally, they were not accustomed to it. When their pale hands touched the snake¡¯s body, they almost cried out. It was not that there were no young girls with little courage who cried, but after one of them was scolded by a Foundation Establishment Cultivator, no other girl dared to cry again. The Foundation Establishment Cultivator made it clear that if they were too scared to even touch these minor Qi Refinement Realm Snake Demons, it would be best to return to their families and not join the Beast Taming Sect, as it would just be a waste of resources and they might end up being devoured by a Demon Beast someday. In fact, having these new disciples move the corpses of the Demon Beasts to the warehouse was not meant to be difficult for them; it was simply a way to test their courage. Especially for those girls, if they could not even pass this test, they would truly be sent back home to avoid wasting a disciple¡¯s spot in the Sect and tarnishing the prestige of the Beast Taming Sect. Since there were many new disciples, after going back and forth a couple of times, they moved all the demon beasts to the warehouse. Then the disciples voluntarily activated their spells, cast water element techniques, and cleaned the tower ship, washing away all the blood until there was no trace left, except for Fang Zheng and others who were still handling the corpses of the Foundation Establishment Demon Beasts. A moment later, seven or eight figures flew from the distance. Leading them was Yan Zhongli. The people beside him, all cultivators who had hurriedly arrived to help upon receiving the news, were either deacons from the market¡¯s Ten Thousand Demons Pavilion or clan cultivators affiliated with the Beast Taming Sect, all with at least Golden Core Stage Cultivation. With the help of these Golden Core Cultivators, they jointly defeated the four heart emissaries of the Yin Spirit Sect and returned victorious. The young disciples on the tower ship looked at several Golden Core Cultivators, all riding various powerful Spiritual Beasts, and couldn¡¯t help but show a look of longing in their eyes. They too wished to possess such mighty Spiritual Beast mounts, which surely must feel impressive to ride on. ¡°Disciples pay respects to all the Honored Uncles.¡± Fang Zheng and the others stood up and respectfully saluted Yan Zhongli and the others. ¡°Enough, dispense with the formalities.¡± Yan Zhongli had already regained his usual demeanor. He waved his hand, signaling everyone to rise, and then turned to an elderly man with white hair beside him, saying, ¡°Senior Brother Qi, among us, you are the most skilled in the Array Dao. Please help us repair the tower ship.¡± The elder with white hair gave a wry smile: ¡°I have only studied Array Dao for a few years; this tower ship is a grand magical treasure. You¡¯re asking me, an amateur array master, to repair a magical treasure for you, it¡¯s quite something for you to ask.¡± Yan Zhongli laughed heartily: ¡°Brother, at least you have studied Array Dao, which is much better than any of us. It¡¯s not necessary to fully repair the tower ship. Just temporarily restoring the prohibitions is fine, to prevent any trouble on the way.¡± Hearing this, the elder reluctantly nodded, ¡°Well then, I shall try my best reluctantly. Additionally, the few of us will accompany you back to the sect. It won¡¯t waste much time either way.¡± ¡°That¡¯s good, we thank you for your troubles.¡± Yan Zhongli did not refuse, and directly nodded his thanks. He indeed feared that the upper echelons of the Yin Spirit Sect had also received the news and were coming to capture him. Chapter 62 - Chapter 62: Chapter 62 Beast Taming Mountain Gate Chapter 62: Chapter 62 Beast Taming Mountain Gate Accompanied by the clear chant of the Jiao Dragon, the Tower Ship took to the skies once more, heading back in the direction of the Beast Taming Sect. This time, with several Golden Core Cultivators on board, all the disciples felt much safer. They huddled together, excitedly discussing the previous battle with great enthusiasm. Particularly those Noble Heirs on the fourth floor, all of whom had once thrown Spirit Talismans at Demon Beasts, and had indeed managed to kill seven or eight of the Foundation Establishment Demon Beasts, regardless of the cost. Although after the battle they had nearly used up all their Spirit Talismans, this didn¡¯t prevent them from boasting about their achievements. In the end, these fellows each attributed the final blow that killed the Demon Beasts to themselves. When someone tallied it up, they found that if they were to count according to their boasts, there wouldn¡¯t be enough Foundation Establishment Demon Beasts even including all those that came to attack. On the top floor, in a spacious hall, Yan Zhongli and others sat cross-legged, sipping tea and chatting with laughter. ¡°Ah, to be young!¡± said Senior Brother Qi, his hair and beard all white. ¡°Seeing these children reminds me of my own time when I first joined the Sect, when I was just as carefree.¡± He gave a bitter laugh, ¡°In the blink of an eye, so many years have passed, and I¡¯m still circling around the Golden Core Realm. To take a step further is incredibly difficult. These children admire us, not knowing that we also look up to Cultivators of higher realms. Alas, the path of Cultivation is fraught with hardships and countless tribulations; a single misstep can send one tumbling into an abyss. Who knows how many among these children will surpass us and tread further on the path of Cultivation.¡± Unlike the old man¡¯s worries, Yan Zhongli laughed heartily, ¡°Senior Brother Qi should not disparage himself. How many are there among us who could stand out from the ordinary Outer Disciples and achieve the Dao Cultivation you have today? Brother Qi, you must not give up because the journey is difficult, or that would truly be where you stop. We who practice Cultivation can only advance by facing difficulties head-on. Knowing the hardships, yet still pressing forward, is the only way one has a chance of proving the Dao. Otherwise, what use is natural Talent and strong Root Bone if one does not possess the perseverance to overcome obstacles? Sooner or later, one would still fall on the road to Longevity and become naught but a pile of dry bones.¡± Hearing this, Senior Brother Qi shook his head and chuckled, ¡°Junior Brother Yan, you are still young, not like me. But it¡¯s good that you have such spirit. Only with such mentality can one possibly go further.¡± As they talked, the Tower Ship gradually moved farther away. The Jiao Dragon, pulling the Tower Ship, traversed mountains and rivers, vast forests, and after nearly two days of continuous flight, finally arrived in front of a grand mountain. The mountain was called Manghuang, and in Ancient Times, it was occupied by the Demon Clan, inhabited by countless members of the Demon Clan. Later, it was captured by the ancestors of the Beast Taming Sect with their Disciples. After tens of thousands of years of development, it became what is now the Beast Taming Sect. From afar, one could see numerous peaks rising straight into the clouds, the mountain range stretching for thousands of miles. The mountains were dotted with countless buildings, with figures moving about everywhere. An untold number of Spiritual Beasts were hidden among them, with their cries and roars echoing through the forests from time to time. Here, one might see tigers and wild boars walking together, giant wolves and mountain goats side by side, a Divine Bird with wings spanning a hundred zhang soaring into the sky, or a Jade Rabbit barely larger than a palm crossing a hundred zhang of space. This was the Mountain Gate of the Beast Taming Sect, home to the most complete variety of Demon Beasts in the world. Many Exotic Beasts rarely seen outside could be found here. On the Tower Ship, all the Disciples had already emerged from their rooms. Some were crowding along the railings, watching in amazement, while others were clustered in groups, imagining the bright future ahead after entering the Sect. The Jiao Dragon towed the Tower Ship along the outside of the mountain, flying laterally for a thousand miles before landing on a vast plaza. Yan Zhongli¡¯s figure flew out from the top level of the Tower Ship and shouted, ¡°Everyone disembark in order. After disembarking, no noise or wandering around. Line up neatly, and wait for the Outer Deacons to settle you in. Only then can you attend to your private affairs.¡± Everyone hurriedly quieted down and disembarked in order, somewhat roughly forming several lines on the plaza. ¡°Ha-ha, Senior Brother Yan, this time your group is the last to return. If you had been any later, you would have missed tomorrow¡¯s celebration,¡± said a middle-aged man with a short beard, stepping out from a grand hall in front of the plaza, laughing as he spoke to Yan Zhongli. However, when he saw the damaged hull of the Tower Ship and the other Golden Core Cultivators who appeared together with Yan Zhongli, his heart skipped a beat. He immediately asked, ¡°Brother, what happened on this trip?¡± Yan Zhongli saw that there were still quite a few disciples bustling about the square and didn¡¯t say much. He just laughed, ¡°It was merely a few demons from the Yin Spirit Demon Sect who wished to attack us, but they have already been slain. Junior Brother Li should settle these new disciples first before discussing further.¡± ¡°Yin Spirit Demon Sect?¡± Li Qing heard this and sneered a few times, ¡°They really have the audacity to attack the Beast Taming Sect. It seems that the suppression by the Righteous Path Sects on the Demon Sect is still not severe enough!¡± Then, without saying much more, he turned his head and instructed the Deacon Disciples behind him to come forward and settle the new disciples brought by Yan Zhongli. As for the matter of the Yin Spirit Demon Sect, they only needed to report it to the higher echelons of the Sect. In due time, higher-ups would dispatch staff to repress the Yin Spirit Demon Sect. Since the adversary dared to launch a sneak attack on them, they had to be ready to face retaliation from the Beast Taming Sect. If they did not make the Yin Spirit Demon Sect tremble with fear, perhaps other Demon Sects would also think that the Beast Taming Sect was easy to bully and plan to step on them too. Several Foundation Establishment Cultivation Deacons took over the registers handed by Fang Zheng, counted all the disciples, and then led the disciples away in teams to settle them temporarily. After they formally entered the Mountain Gate, they would then be assigned to the various peaks of the Outer Sect. As for the several young boys who died on the way, the Sect would also send people to inform their families. Although the fate of those boys who had suffered misfortune before even entering the Sect was somewhat tragic, since they chose to step into the Cultivation World, they had to be prepared to face all sorts of dangers. The Cultivation World is never short of unexpected situations. When powerful cultivators fight, a slight mishap could affect ordinary cultivators, causing death and injury. Such incidents were far from rare. When encountered, one either had to stay far away or simply accept it as bad luck. Qin Feng was separated from Qin Xi. After all, there is a distinction between men and women, and those female disciples would be settled elsewhere. He and over a hundred boys followed an Outer Deacon towards the east side of the square. There were rows of houses there, specially used to accommodate new disciples. These courtyards were usually uninhabited and only became busy for a few days each year when new disciples were admitted. They would first settle down here and then participate in a ceremony with all the new disciples admitted this year. Only after that would they officially become Outer Disciples of the Beast Taming Sect. Qin Feng and the others arrived last, so the area of houses they were assigned to was at the very back and the most rudimentary. Except for a few complaints from delicate Noble Heirs, the others did not mind. For most of the boys, they would only stay here for one night anyway, and leave the next day, so they didn¡¯t care about the quality of their environment. As for those Noble Heirs, no one cared about their complaints. This is a Sect, not their family homes. Even their families were merely forces affiliated to the Sect, without the privilege to order around here, nor would any Outer Deacon cater to their demands. Qin Feng entered his room, glanced around casually, and saw that the only thing better here than on the Tower Ship was a wooden plank bed. Since the room was equipped with a simple dust-proof Prohibition, there was no need for special cleaning to make it habitable. He closed the room door, lay down on the wooden bed, and closed his eyes, drifting off to sleep. Although he couldn¡¯t exactly say he was exhausted on the Tower Ship, the battle had left him somewhat mentally tired, and he remained anxious along the way, fearing another attack. If there were indeed another attack, it would undoubtedly involve beings with higher Dao Cultivation Realms than those first few demons, and just a few Golden Core Cultivators like Yan Zhongli might not be able to hold them off. Fortunately, such an event did not occur. Now that he had arrived at the Sect, he could truly relax and wanted nothing more than to lie down in bed and get a good sleep. In his sleep, he dreamed that he had become a top-level Great Cultivator of the Beast Taming Sect, transformed into a Divine Ape ten zhang tall, riding a Jiao Dragon a hundred zhang long, with Spiritual Cranes flying around and a White Tiger following, looking majestic as could be. PS: My neck hurts, I¡¯m going to the hospital to have it checked out. Bros, I still need to ask for recommendation tickets. Considering that the author is typing despite being under the weather, please show some extra support. Chapter 63 - Chapter 63: Chapter 63 Spiritual Vulture Elder Chapter 63: Chapter 63 Spiritual Vulture Elder As the last trace of darkness before dawn quietly disappeared, a touch of fish-belly white rose in the eastern sky. Outside the window, several brightly colored birds emitted chirps that awakened Qin Feng, who had been asleep all night. He got up from his bed, stretched himself thoroughly, and then pinched a spell to summon a stream of water to wash his face, feeling instantly refreshed and energized. Opening his room door, he stepped out, intending to take a walk and stretch his limbs. But once he was outside, he realized that he had actually gotten up relatively late. Especially those young ones living in the rows in front of him, who had arrived earlier and had been here for several days already, were eagerly looking forward to the initiation ceremony to begin cultivating the Beast Taming Technique. And today was the day to worship the Ancestor and enter the Mountain Gate, so these youths, excited as they were, naturally did not feel much like sleeping. Before long, a group of Outer Sect Deacons came and summoned everyone to the plaza. Qin Feng and the others followed the Outer Sect Deacon who brought them here the previous day, and upon arriving at the plaza, under the Deacon¡¯s guidance, stood in an area to the left. At this time, the place was already densely packed with people; at a glance, there seemed to be at least tens of thousands. He looked around and soon spotted the figure of Qin Xi among the female disciples. Qin Xi, sensing his gaze, smiled at him with pursed lips. However, as they were dozens of meters apart, they did not go over to talk to each other but stood properly in place. With so many young people gathered together, naturally, there was excited discussion about what would happen after they joined the Sect, and Qin Feng overheard Zhao Jinglei, not far in front of him, discussing with a few companions which mountain peak in the Outer Sect they would be assigned to. This was very important for the vast majority of disciples, for it concerned not only the direction of their Beast Taming but also the kinds of miscellaneous tasks they would undertake in the future. The Spiritual Beasts cultivated by each mountain peak of the Outer Sect were different, and the Techniques cultivated were also more in line with the Spiritual Beasts that the peaks raised. Aside from those Noble Heirs who could receive their families¡¯ prepared Spiritual Beasts, most ordinary disciples would typically choose the type of Spiritual Beast cultivated by their mountain peak as their Lifebound Spiritual Beasts. As for the miscellaneous duties, that was relatively fair. It did not matter if one was like Zhao Jinglei, who could only show off within Tieling County, or a direct heir from one of the Sect¡¯s nine great Noble families, or a prodigy with an Innate Dao Heart like Lin Jingxin. After joining the Beast Taming Sect, they would not get any preferential treatment. At least not during the first year of entrance. They would be just like all other youths of ordinary birth, needing to perform various miscellaneous Sect duties to earn their cultivation necessities. This was a rule established by the Sect Ancestor, said to hone the disciples¡¯ character and prevent those with exceptional talent or reliance on elder family members from developing an attitude of looking down on others while not tending to their abilities. However, as the saying goes, where there¡¯s a policy, there¡¯s a countermeasure; after a full year of Sect chores, a change was possible, and the great families obviously had members holding high positions within the Sect. After their younger family members¡¯ first year, they could use their connections to let their juniors undertake lighter duties with more resources, allowing them more time for Cultivation. As for the ordinary disciples, if they wanted to switch positions, they would have to go to the Foreign Affairs Hall and find the duties they wanted to perform. As the crowd buzzed with discussions and the plaza grew noisy, suddenly, a fierce cry echoed in the distance. The sharp sound pierced deep into the soul, startling everyone into silence and compelling them to look up in the direction the sound came from. Then, they saw a massive predatory bird flying towards them from afar. This was a vulture with wings spanning several dozen feet, its eyes revealing a fierce nature. Its feathers, both thick and hard, were like refined iron cast into shape, and as it flapped its wings midair, it whipped up a violent wind that sent many of the young disciples below swaying unsteadily to and fro. Atop the fierce bird¡¯s back stood an old woman with chicken skin and crane hair. It was unknown just how old this woman was. Her sparse hair, hunched back, and the wrinkles that covered her face resembled the craggy bark of ancient trees. She also leaned on an eagle-headed staff that towered over her by a good measure. In the instant that this woman rode the vulture over, a fierce aura swept across the whole arena, prompting all the disciples to shut their mouths and dare not speak. And the Golden Core Elder Li Qing, who Qin Feng and the others had seen just yesterday, upon seeing this old woman, hurriedly paid his respects, calling her Senior Aunt in a respectful manner, despite the fact that the old woman did not show him a friendly face, nor did he dare reveal any sign of dissatisfaction. ¡°This must be the Spiritual Vulture Elder of the Outer Sect¡¯s Spiritual Vulture Peak.¡± A Noble Heir whispered, ¡°It is said that she was an old Golden Core powerhouse from the previous generation, and she was once a genius of the Beast Taming Sect. However, her temper is not too good, and she damaged her origin during a fight, otherwise she would have achieved the Purple Mansion long ago.¡± While they were speaking, a roaring tiger¡¯s roar, resounding through heaven and earth, made everyone¡¯s eardrums ache. Soon after, a strong man built like a mountain rode on a black tiger using Wind Control Technique, landing on the stage in front. ¡°This is Elder Lei from Tiger Roar Peak, known as Lei the Tiger. Despite being fierce and overbearing, he is also extremely protective of his own. Plus, in terms of war power among the Outer Sect¡¯s peaks, Tiger Roar Peak ranks among the top few powerful peaks, and tiger-type Demon Beasts are known as the kings among beasts. If only I had the fortune to join Tiger Roar Peak.¡± Another disciple recognized this Elder Lei of Tiger Roar Peak. Following that, a Jiao Dragon flew over. An even more massive and fierce Jiao Dragon than the one that had previously pulled the tower ship. A young man sat on the back of this Jiao Dragon. His features were handsome and his brows sharp. At first glance, there was a somewhat androgynous feel about him. ¡°Who would have thought that this time Heavenly Dragon Peak would be personally led by Elder Lingxiao? It seems the rumours are true, Elder Lingxiao really is taking over Heavenly Dragon Peak.¡± In the front, Zhao Jinglei stared fixedly at the impressive Jiao Dragon beneath the incredibly handsome Elder Lingxiao. He wanted to enter Heavenly Dragon Peak, and he also wanted to possess such a majestic Jiao Dragon. Before he came here, the elders in his family had told him that beneath Heavenly Dragon Peak lies Black Dragon Pond, which is a place where the Sect rears Jiao Dragons. Every ten years, Heavenly Dragon Peak selects the most outstanding young disciple among its ranks to bestow a young Jiao Dragon upon. Even the Long Family, a vassal family of the Sect, could afford to rear Jiao Dragons, so of course, the Beast Taming Sect wouldn¡¯t lack such places. Not only did the Outer Sect have one, but the Inner Sect had one as well, one that is more than ten times larger than the Black Dragon Pond of Heavenly Dragon Peak of the Outer Sect. However, Heavenly Dragon Peak does not recruit many disciples each year, and even fewer are granted a Jiao Dragon. Whether or not they could become a disciple of Heavenly Dragon Peak all depended on how they were selected. When it comes to which disciples are recruited by each peak, no outsider dares to interfere. Even the Long Family, which takes Jiao Dragons as their Lifebound Spiritual Beasts, would not lightly go knocking on their doors to have their own disciples admitted to Heavenly Dragon Peak. Because doing so could easily arouse the dissatisfaction of other high-ranking members of the Sect, suspecting that the Long Family was trying to take control of Heavenly Dragon Peak and monopolize all the Jiao Dragon resources. PS: Being an author really isn¡¯t easy. Less than a year into writing, I¡¯ve developed cervical spondylosis. It¡¯s quite painful! Brothers, you should also take good care of your health, yeah? It¡¯s best to find time to exercise and boost your immunity. Stay strong and healthy! Chapter 64 - Chapter 64: Chapter 64: The Entrance Test Chapter 64: Chapter 64: The Entrance Test Subsequently, various Spiritual Beasts and Spiritual Birds flew through the sky from time to time. There were Fiery Fire Lions with bodies aflame, Thunder Hawks manipulating lightning, Divine Apes with the strength to uproot mountains, Giant Bears that could shake the land, Spiritual Deer treading upon auspicious clouds, and snow-white Divine Bulls¡­ One powerful Spiritual Beast after another appeared, leaving all the youngsters on the square utterly dumbfounded and profoundly shocked. From the Outer Sect¡¯s one hundred and eight peaks, a potent Golden Core Elder from each peak arrived, riding upon their mighty Spiritual Beasts, and within a mere quarter of an hour, all had assembled. Qin Feng, too, was left clicking his tongue in amazement. A family like the Zhao Family of Tieling County, which possessed a Golden Core Peak powerhouse, had already the capacity to call the wind and summon the rain in the Commandery, making small families like the Qin Family look up to them. And now, here in just the Outer Sect of the Beast Taming Sect, so many exceptional Golden Core Elders had emerged, making the Zhao Family utterly insignificant by comparison. He barely dared to imagine, if the Outer Sect was already this formidable, how overwhelmingly powerful must the Inner Sect be? At that moment, Qin Feng¡¯s heart swelled with a strong yearning. He wanted to enter the Inner Sect, to witness the glory within. And this was not just his own desire; every Outer Disciple of the Beast Taming Sect harbored this aspiration. There was no one who did not wish to be admitted to the Inner Sect. Only by entering the Inner Sect could one be freed from the miscellaneous duties of the Outer Sect and could one receive the True Inheritance, cultivating in peace with the possibility of achieving longevity. ¡°Silence.¡± Following the reprimand from the Outer Sect Elder Li Qing, the disciples, who had been whispering and discussing amongst themselves, immediately quieted down and looked up at him. However, Li Qing did not preside over the ceremony. Instead, he invited an authoritative-looking elder onto the stage. ¡°This is Elder Yang Wuhui from our Beast Taming Sect¡¯s Law Enforcement Hall; Elder Yan will now guide you to join the Sect,¡± he announced. After speaking, he stepped back two paces to give way to Elder Yan. Yang Wuhui¡¯s gaze was piercing as he swept it across the entire crowd. All the disciples were made uneasy by his look that seemed to see into their hearts, preventing them from harboring any frivolous thoughts. Qin Feng secretly marveled, he faintly felt that Elder Yan¡¯s authority surpassed that of all the Outer Sect Elders present, and their respectful attitudes towards this elder appeared to confirm this. He could not even fathom what Cultivation level this Elder might have achieved. Could it be that he had already transcended the Golden Core Realm to become a being of the Purple Mansion? ¡°Our Beast Taming Sect has been established for tens of thousands of years, with a lineage tracing back to the beginning of the Ancient Great Tribulation,¡± Elder Yan¡¯s voice was resonant and strong, his enunciation clear, ensuring that his words reached the ears of every disciple: ¡°During the Ancient Great Tribulation, invaders from all realms and the rampaging Demon Clan committed countless acts of slaughter, leading to the devastation of all life forms. Our founding master could not bear to watch the common people suffer and, with heavenly wisdom, created the Beast Taming Technique. He established our Sect, guarded the Southern Wilderness, and suppressed countless members of the Demon Clan. During the Ancient Great Tribulation, he established a resounding reputation and accomplished numerous great deeds.¡± At this point, he paused for a moment before continuing, ¡°In the tens of thousands of years following the Great Tribulation, our Beast Taming Sect has upheld our ancestor¡¯s last wishes, suppressed demons and devils, and saved countless lives, never falling behind others. You all desire to join our Beast Taming Sect, and must therefore embrace this philosophy. When heaven and earth face catastrophe, and our Sect faces calamity, you must be willing to make selfless sacrifices, unafraid of hardships, bravely stepping forward to fight for your lives. Can you do this?¡± The disciples hastily replied, ¡°We are willing to give our lives for the Sect!¡± ¡°Hmm.¡± Elder Yan slowly nodded his head, then said, ¡°Our Beast Taming Sect has ten major precepts; first, you must not deceive your masters or destroy your ancestors; second, you must not betray the Sect; third, you must not harm your fellow disciples; fourth, you must not commit adultery¡­ Keep in mind that these ten precepts must not be violated, or you will be subjected to severe punishment without mercy!¡± The crowd responded once again, ¡°The disciples dare not.¡± ¡°Alright, next, let us invite the image of the Ancestor. After all the disciples pay homage to the Ancestor, you will be considered disciples of the Beast Taming Sect.¡± With Elder Yan¡¯s words falling, a series of lights suddenly rose in the front of the main hall at the plaza. Countless lights converged together, transforming into a figure hundreds of feet tall. Everyone looked up to see that it was the image of an elder with a kind and benevolent face. Following the appearance of this divine image, everyone, including Yang Wuhui and the Outer Elders from the one hundred and eight peaks, all respectfully bowed deeply. Afterward, Yang Wuhui stood up, turned to the young people in the field, and commanded, ¡°Disciples, pay your respects to the Ancestor.¡± In an instant, all the disciples knelt down, and after three prostrations and nine bows, they were considered part of the Beast Taming Sect. Elder Yan¡¯s expression seemed to soften a bit as he nodded slightly, ¡°Now that you¡¯ve joined our Beast Taming Sect, you must abide by the rules and diligently pursue cultivation, striving to achieve something at the earliest. Alright, next, activate the Array. All disciples will step forward on their own, each depending on their own fate which Outer Elder you manage to reach, you will join that peak. And if in the end, you cannot make it out of the Illusion Array, don¡¯t worry. The Sect will still assign you to the various peaks, so your cultivation will not be delayed.¡± Elder Yan waved his large sleeve, and behind him, Li Qing and the others quickly formed spells to activate the Array. With a rumbling sound, a heavy noise came, and then in front of the main hall at the plaza, one thousand eight hundred and eight platforms rose. The Outer Elders of the various peaks flew up and landed on the platforms, and as they channeled their Mana into the platforms, illusory images emerged before them. At the same time, the space of the plaza seemed to shift for a moment, and when the disciples opened their eyes again, they found that the scene before them had changed completely, completely different from before; there was no main hall, no Elders, and no other disciples in sight. Each of them seemed to be in a strange world, enveloped in a vast expanse of white fog, seeing nothing, with only a voice seemingly tempting them to move forward. This was a test for the new Outer Disciples of the Beast Taming Sect, designed to test the disciples¡¯ temperament and their subconscious preference for certain types of Spiritual Beasts. Of course, this was just a minor test at this stage and did not represent the future achievements and choices of Spiritual Beasts for these disciples. After all, they were still young, their nature could still grow, and their preferences could change. What the future held, nobody could be certain. Qin Feng walked forward in a daze, not knowing how long or how far he had gone, as if it were but a moment and yet many days had passed. The feeling frustrated him, and he wanted to stop for a proper rest. However, it seemed as if another voice in his heart was urging him to keep moving. Ultimately he was of a resolute nature, so instead of stopping to rest, he continued to walk. Finally, when his patience was almost exhausted, some scenery began to appear ahead, no longer just an endless expanse of white. Qin Feng felt a surge of joy and looked up carefully to see many illusory images emerging through the mist¡ªdragons and phoenixes, tigers and bears, all kinds of creatures from the animal kingdom; anything that existed in the world was present here. In the midst of it, he had an epiphany and walked towards the illusory shadow of the Demon Beast he was most familiar with. At last, he approached the shadow and was about to reach out to touch it when his spirit was suddenly jolted, and he came to his senses, only to find that there was no such illusory shadow, and the vast white fog had also dissipated into nothing. And he had unknowingly reached the front of a platform. He looked up, and on the platform stood a beautiful woman with a graceful figure. The woman felt his gaze and also looked down at him. PS: The beautiful woman with hands on hips and chest puffed out: What are you looking at? Hand over your recommendation tickets quickly, or else I¡¯ll let out really fierce and ferocious beasts! Owooooo¡­ Chapter 65 - Chapter 65: Chapter 65 Spiritual Snake Peak Liu Xuanling Chapter 65: Chapter 65 Spiritual Snake Peak Liu Xuanling Qin Feng looked up at the high platform, and his spirit involuntarily leapt. It was not because of the woman¡¯s appearance; in fact, he hadn¡¯t seen her face at first glance. Being too close to the high platform, when he looked up, he hadn¡¯t directly seen her face until she leaned forward, revealing a stunningly beautiful visage, and he realized he had arrived below the platform of Elder Liu Xuanling of the Spiritual Snake Peak. He remembered Liu Xuanling¡¯s name because her arrival had caused quite a stir. At that time, all the disciples were amazed at the beauty of this female elder, especially when she stood next to the Spiritual Vulture Elder, the contrast was stark. Qin Feng was somewhat dazed, never expecting to find himself before Liu Xuanling. He had originally thought he would choose Heavenly Dragon Peak, Divine Ape Peak, or Tiger Roar Peak, since these peaks not only had stronger power but also housed potent spiritual beasts available for outstanding disciples to select, and if one performed well enough, even those with a divine beast bloodline might be rewarded. If he had joined one of these peaks, he was confident that he could have obtained an extremely excellent and powerful spiritual beast. However, he had unconsciously chosen Spiritual Snake Peak. After receiving a glance from Liu Xuanling¡¯s charming phoenix eyes, Qin Feng snapped back to reality, promptly bowed, and stepped back several steps. He dared not stay there looking up any longer, fearing that the beautiful elder might notice the inappropriate thoughts hidden in his gaze and decide to give him some troubles. After stepping aside, he noticed that apart from himself, there were over a dozen other young men and women standing below the platform of Spiritual Snake Peak. They also dared not speak, lest they disturb the disciples who were still navigating the Illusion Array, instead they nodded at each other as a form of greeting. Qin Feng glanced somewhat melancholically toward Heavenly Dragon Peak in the near distance, where Elder Lingxiao, who had arrived on a Jiao Dragon, stood on the platform, watching the disciples who approached with an indifferent expression. Alas, it seemed he was destined not to be associated with the Jiao Dragon of Black Dragon Pond. Qin Feng shook his head slightly, quickly regaining his composure, deciding not to dwell on it further. With things as they were, it was probably best to be honest, lest Elder Liu on the platform think he looked down on Spiritual Snake Peak, which could lead to complications. He had never had any prior contact with Elder Liu, and he didn¡¯t know what kind of a person she was; if she were to be petty, he really needed to tread carefully. After calming down, he recalled the moment in the Illusion Array when, lost in confusion, he had instinctively moved toward a figure of the demon beast he was most familiar with. But this most familiar demon beast was not the Swallowing Sky Toad that he had tamed, but his father¡¯s Green-Eyed Spirit Snake. From a young age, he had often clung to his father riding on the back of the Green-Eyed Spirit Snake, flying through the skies; thus, deep inside, he was most familiar with the Spiritual Snake, which was probably why he had subconsciously chosen this place. Qin Feng cast his gaze toward the many disciples still lost within the Illusion Array, searching for Qin Xi¡¯s figure. Having just experienced the sensation of losing one¡¯s mind in the Illusion Array, he knew that without a resolute heart, one could not escape it. Only by persistently moving forward could one see the phantom of the spiritual beast and thus choose the existence most familiar to one¡¯s deepest heart. Because his father had taught him and allowed him access to a spiritual beast like the Green-Eyed Spirit Snake, but Qin Xi hadn¡¯t had that, and he didn¡¯t know if she would be able to find her way out. After searching for a long time and failing to spot Qin Xi, he reluctantly gave up looking and turned his attention to the disciples under each high platform, curious to see who had made it out. ¡°` Then, unexpectedly, he saw Qin Xi beneath a high platform. Qin Xi had already noticed Qin Feng searching for her among the crowd, but since they were quite far apart, it was difficult for her to come over and greet him, so she could only watch as Qin Feng anxiously looked around for a long time. Now, seeing Qin Feng look her way, she couldn¡¯t help but purse her lips into a smile, her expression clean and clear, revealing a touch of smugness. Qin Feng was overjoyed and looked up at the platform where she was for a moment longer. The person standing on the platform seemed to be an Elder from the Creation Peak. Creation Peak was the only one among the 108 peaks of the Outer of the Beast Taming Sect that wasn¡¯t named after a Spiritual Beast. This was because the main beasts tamed on this mountain were not various Spiritual Beasts but creatures born from nature¡¯s Creation Fire such as Flame Spirits born in fire and Thunder Spirits born from thunder, and even Spirit Monsters like stones and plants that had, over long periods, absorbed the Sun and Moon¡¯s Essence and nature¡¯s spiritual energy by chance, had developed Spiritual Intelligence. These were the primary choices for the disciples of Creation Peak. Due to the rarity of these naturally formed spirits, the number of disciples at this peak was also one of the fewest among the peaks of the Outer. However, this did not mean they were weak. In fact, the strength of the disciples from Creation Peak was among the top across all peaks because their lifebound beings were usually the most primordial creatures from various elements, possessing pure power and astonishing Divine Skills, which also made cultivation easier for them. Qin Feng was somewhat surprised; he hadn¡¯t expected that not only had Qin Xi walked out of the Illusion Array, but she had also made her way to the base of Creation Peak. It seemed he had still underestimated Sister Xiaoxi¡¯s character. Immediately, he felt a surge of happiness for Qin Xi. Although escaping from the Illusion Array didn¡¯t necessarily mean one would be able to cultivate to a high Realm later on, it at least meant that the different peaks would provide some corresponding care, assigning lighter miscellaneous duties and allowing them more time to cultivate. At this moment, most of the tens of thousands of people had already stopped moving. Even if a minority hadn¡¯t given up, they were just aimlessly wandering without awareness, obviously trapped within the Illusion Array and unable to break through their own hearts. Out of those who truly managed to walk out of the Illusion Array, fewer than three thousand people were successful; each platform had varying numbers of disciples below it, ranging from as few as three or five to as many as over a hundred, with significant disparities. Among these disciples, Qin Feng spotted the figure of Lin Jingxin. This girl hadn¡¯t joined Creation Peak but had appeared under the platform of the Spiritual Tree Peak. Spiritual Tree Peak was the mountain named after various types of trees and flora recognized as their lifebound Spiritual Beasts. In fact, Lin Jingxin was one of the most unique disciples¡ªall the phantom figures in the Illusion Array had been open to her choice, and her spirit could resonate with any of the Spiritual Beasts. But in the end, she chose a Spiritual Tree that felt most comfortable to her. She felt this Spiritual Tree suited her soul best. This brought a genuine smile to the face of the Elder from the Spiritual Tree Peak, and it also made the other Elders who knew she possessed an Innate Daoist Heart feel regret. But this was the disciple¡¯s own choice, so they couldn¡¯t force her otherwise. However, some were already considering making contact with this disciple privately¡ªthey could introduce her to other Spiritual Beasts so that when she entered the Inner later on, she could still be part of their lineage. As a bell rang out, the Illusion Array vanished, and all disciples regained their senses, casting envious glances at those who had already reached the base of the platforms. Qin Feng noticed that many Noble Heirs who had cultivated to the late stage of Qi Refinement had not made it out, clearly indicating that this test was not about cultivation, but purely an assessment of the disciples¡¯ character. ¡°` Chapter 66 - Chapter 66: Chapter 66 Ten Thousand Snakes Cave Chapter 66: Chapter 66 Ten Thousand Snakes Cave Elder Li Qing of the Foreign Affairs Hall stepped forward and said softly to the chaotic crowd on the square, ¡°Alright, all disciples return to your original positions and stand properly. The allocation of disciple quotas for each peak will now begin.¡± In fact, the matter of how the newcomers were to be allocated had already been discussed and decided upon by the peak elders beforehand. Now, it was merely a matter of re-dividing the disciples who had been unable to exit the illusion array based on the number of people in each respective peak. These disciples didn¡¯t have much to be picked over; since they couldn¡¯t exit the illusion array, it was clear that their current state of mind needed improvement. Although their cultivation levels varied, with a few from prestigious families possessing the strength of the late Qi Refinement stage, these small cultivation levels weren¡¯t significant in the eyes of the Golden Core Elders; there was certainly no need to cause a commotion over them. Thus, under the direction of the Foreign Affairs Hall, the peak elders quickly finalized the quotas. The division by the Foreign Affairs Hall was interesting; they did not group the disciples from the same country or prefecture together but dispersed them all. This also prevented the peak elders from gathering all the newcomers from their regions and forming separate groups within the sect. Once all the disciples were allocated, the elders from the Outer Peaks simply gave a few instructions and then flew away on their respective spiritual beasts. These newcomer disciples were escorted to their respective peaks by the Foundation Establishment Deacons of the Foreign Affairs Hall; there was no need for the Golden Core Elders to worry about them. Soon, nine large tower ships flew in, landing at the edge of the square. Qin Feng glanced at them a few times. The tower ship that had brought them to the Beast Taming Sect was not among them, presumably because it had been damaged in a previous battle and sent for repairs. As soon as the tower ships landed, a cultivator on one of them, pulled by a Moon Watching Spirit Rhinoceros, called out, ¡°Disciples of Spiritual Snake Peak, Spiritual Ape Peak, Spirit Rhinoceros Peak, Fire Crow Peak, Heavenly Silkworm Peak, Spiritual Butterfly Peak, Heavenly Horse Peak, Profound Turtle Peak, Mystic Bird Peak, Baoxiang Peak, Sky Wolf Peak, and Golden Camel Peak, come here.¡± Clearly, this tower ship was tasked with transporting the disciples from these twelve peaks. Under the guidance of several Foundation Establishment Cultivators, Qin Feng and others boarded the tower ship. Once everyone was on board and it was confirmed that no one was left behind, the cultivator then ordered the ship to take off. The large Moon Watching Spirit Rhinoceros growled softly, slowly rising to its feet. Treading the void, it pulled the tower ship and flew off into the distance. Though the creature¡¯s movements were slow, its flying speed wasn¡¯t slow at all; it quickly soared into the sky and flew away into the distance. The Beast Taming Sect covered thousands of miles, with the entire mountain range under their control. The Outer Peaks were scattered in various locations, and it would take these disciples half a month on foot without these tower ships to reach their destinations. With the tower ships, however, it only took half a day to transport all the peak disciples. ¡°Thank you, senior brothers,¡± At a flat area at the foot of Spiritual Snake Peak, Junior Brother Chen Qiao, a Foundation Establishment Cultivator who had come to welcome the newcomers, bowed to several Foundation Establishment Cultivators on the tower ship who had delivered these disciples. ¡°Junior Brother Chen is too kind,¡± The ship¡¯s leading elder, a Foundation Establishment Peak cultivator, chuckled, ¡°We still have disciples from several peaks to deliver. We won¡¯t linger here. Junior Brother Chen, when you come to the Foreign Affairs Hall next time, remember to join us for tea.¡± ¡°Certainly, certainly,¡± Chen Qiao responded with a full-faced smile. After the cultivators commanding the Tower Ship had left, he turned around and said to the crowd, ¡°I am Junior Brother Chen Qiao, a Deacon Disciple from Spiritual Snake Peak, sent to arrange accommodations for you all. First, follow me to register and collect your Identity Jade Token and Beast Taming Sect Magic Robes, among other items, and then I will arrange your accommodations and various other affairs.¡± Everyone nodded repeatedly, of course having no objections, and they all followed behind Chen Qiao, heading towards a courtyard halfway up the mountain. That place was the Deacon Room of Spiritual Snake Peak, considered a subordinate institution of the Internal Affairs Hall of the Sect, although each Peak arranged for its own disciples to take control; the Elders of the Internal Affairs Hall generally did not wish to interfere in the internal affairs of the Peaks. Qin Feng and the others followed Chen Qiao up the mountain while curiously looking around. Nearly one hundred and fifty disciples had been assigned to Spiritual Snake Peak, the majority of whom came from commoner backgrounds and had very limited understanding of the Beast Taming Sect; they only knew that it was a powerful Sect, but did not know exactly how powerful it was or what the internal set-up of the Sect looked like. The rest, like Qin Feng from smaller clans, had their clan elders tell them quite a bit about the Sect. But those elders, during their time at the Sect, had only entered one of the Peaks, and not every generation could produce a Foundation Establishment Cultivator; being lower-level cultivators, they also did not know too much about the rest of the Peaks in the Sect. Thus, not only were those youngsters from commoner backgrounds immensely curious about Spiritual Snake Peak, but even disciples from small families like Qin Feng looked around curiously, taking in the sights of Spiritual Snake Peak. In their imaginations, Spiritual Snake Peak should have been the place within the Outer Peaks with the most snake-type Spiritual Beasts. However, as Qin Feng and the others looked around, they not only failed to see many Spiritual Snakes, but they also felt that this mountain peak was exceptionally beautiful and majestic, brimming with Spiritual Energy; they barely sensed any Demon Energy, making it resemble more the residence of a Sect practicing orthodox Daoism Cultivation Techniques. ¡°Chen¡­ Senior Brother.¡± One of the disciples looked at Chen Qiao, slightly puzzled, and asked, ¡°Isn¡¯t this Spiritual Snake Peak? How come we haven¡¯t even seen a few Spiritual Snakes?¡± Seeing the curious looks from everyone, Chen Qiao couldn¡¯t help but smile lightly, ¡°Do not be surprised. Although our Beast Taming Sect excels in manipulating Spiritual Beasts in battle, after all, it is still a Sect for Cultivation, and naturally, we prioritize our own Cultivation practices. Spiritual Snake Peak is our place of Cultivation, of course, it has to be made more suitable for Cultivation, which makes it more comfortable to reside in. As for the place where Spiritual Snakes are bred, it is in the Ten Thousand Snakes Cave.¡± ¡°Ten Thousand Snakes Cave?¡± The group became even more astonished, ¡°Is the Ten Thousand Snakes Cave not on Spiritual Snake Peak?¡± ¡°Of course not.¡± Chen Qiao explained, ¡°The several mountain peaks surrounding Spiritual Snake Peak and the territory within one to two hundred miles belong to Spiritual Snake Peak. Ten Thousand Snakes Cave is located between two mountains to the south, deep inside a cavern in the valley. The rest of the territory either houses some special types of Spiritual Snakes or cultivates various kinds of Spiritual Medicines that enhance the Cultivation evolution of Spiritual Snakes; there are also some rare Spiritual Medicines that can only grow in the areas frequented by these Spiritual Snakes.¡± He looked at everyone, a playful smile on his face, ¡°If any disciple is assigned to some special areas, tasked with taking care of the Spiritual Snakes and Spiritual Medicines there, be very careful not to violate any taboos. Otherwise, if you were to anger some fierce-tempered Spiritual Snakes and they swallowed you whole, you could only pray for the Sect to avenge you.¡± Chapter 67 - Chapter 67: Chapter 67: The Cruel Competition Among Outer Disciples Chapter 67: Chapter 67: The Cruel Competition Among Outer Disciples The disciples were shocked when they heard Chen Qiao¡¯s words. They immediately reminded themselves to be more cautious in the future since handling Sect tasks wasn¡¯t always safe. In the midst of their conversation, the group had followed Chen Qiao to the Deacon Room. There, Chen Qiao handed them over to the disciples of the Deacon Room, who registered their identities one by one. He then distributed Identity Jade Tokens to them, instructing them to imprint their Spiritual Power and Divine Sense into the tokens to prevent others from impersonating them. Afterward, Chen Qiao took them to the storage room to collect the standard benefits reserved for new disciples, including a Magic Robe, a Storage Bag, and a Spiritual Beast Bag each. Moreover, there were special Detoxification Pills and Snake Repelling Pills from Spiritual Snake Peak; essentials to prevent the disciples from being accidentally bitten by Spiritual Snakes. Qin Feng closely examined his newly-acquired Storage Bag and Spiritual Beast Bag several times, discerning that they were only Low Level and weren¡¯t worth many Spirit Stones. It seemed these items were mainly intended for youngsters from commoner backgrounds. However, Qin Feng wouldn¡¯t refuse such benefits from the Sect, as he wasn¡¯t yet in a position to turn them down. After receiving their items, the Deacon Room had already arranged the miscellaneous tasks they were responsible for. Qin Feng and a dozen other youths, because they had emerged from the Illusion Array during the testing in the plaza, were afforded some preferential treatment, resulting in relatively lighter duties. Qin Feng reviewed the tasks he had been assigned and saw that he was responsible for feeding the Cold Ice Pythons in the Cold Pond to the west of Spiritual Snake Peak. Though it was called ¡°taking care of,¡± it essentially meant delivering other birds and animals raised on Spiritual Snake Peak to feed them every few days. These Spiritual Beasts didn¡¯t fall sick and had no natural predators under the protection of the Beast Taming Sect, so there was no need for him to care for them attentively. He just had to ensure they were fed regularly without starvation. Every few years, these Cold Ice Pythons would lay a clutch of eggs, hatching more juvenile Cold Ice Pythons, ensuring a steady supply for Spiritual Snake Peak. Additionally, there were several Snow Jade Lotus plants growing in the Cold Pond, a rare type of Spiritual Medicine. He was required to harvest them when they matured, as these were special plantations the Sect didn¡¯t allow disciples to take for themselves. Qin Feng found this to be an extremely easy task and he was more than capable. He only needed to visit every few days, which left him plenty of time for cultivation. Their Identity Jade Tokens were custom-made by Spiritual Snake Peak, ensuring that the snakes within its domain would generally not attack them upon detecting the Token¡¯s aura. As for Chen Qiao¡¯s earlier warning about the possibility of being devoured by angered Spiritual Snakes, it served more as a caution to the new disciples not to intentionally provoke the snakes. In the past, there had been a few reckless disciples who, relying on their Identity Jades, provoked Spiritual Snakes, thinking they wouldn¡¯t be attacked. Eventually, they encountered a few particularly vicious ones that ended up swallowing them whole. Thus, he reminded the disciples to avoid making similar mistakes. ¡°There are one hundred and eight peaks within the Outer Sect of the Beast Taming Sect, and each one possesses its own Preaching Pavilion,¡± said Chen Qiao. ¡°Every day, disciples with Foundation Establishment Cultivation lecture there, and on the first and fifteenth of each month, Golden Core Elders come to preach and resolve your doubts.¡± ¡°You¡¯ve just joined the Sect, and you won¡¯t be assigned overly complicated tasks. Each of you will have at least half a day of free time to attend lectures at the Preaching Pavilion. I urge all of you to seize this opportunity to cultivate diligently, for after one year, you won¡¯t be new disciples anymore and will have to take on various tasks just like the older disciples. And some of those tasks require great focus and might not leave you any free days throughout the year, to say nothing of attending lectures.¡± The group looked at each other upon hearing this. One asked, ¡°Senior Brother Chen, if the Sect¡¯s tasks are so burdensome, then how are we, the Outer Disciples, to practice cultivation?¡± Chen Qiao glanced at the disciple who asked and answered, ¡°It¡¯s not as severe as you think. Some tasks do require constant attention, but you can take turns with others. You can work during the day and still cultivate at night as long as you manage your time wisely. Besides, the more you give, the more you receive. The Sect provides various resource rewards for these tasks, and the more time-consuming tasks yield greater rewards.¡± ¡°With resources, cultivation becomes much simpler,¡± he said. He chuckled, then continued, ¡°Of course, if you don¡¯t wish to take on the cumbersome chores, you can opt for relatively easy tasks. Such as guarding the palace or sweeping the courtyard. However, although these tasks are relatively easy, they won¡¯t earn you many Spirit Stones as rewards. Whether you want to earn more cultivation resources or to have more free time for meditation and cultivation, the choice is up to you, unless it¡¯s a chore that really can¡¯t be filled. Generally speaking, the sect won¡¯t force you to do anything. Additionally, within the first ten years after entering the door, as long as you have confidence, every disciple can participate in the sect¡¯s annual competition. If you stand out and defeat numerous opponents to rank among the top hundred disciples, you can directly join the Inner Sect.¡± With these words, all the disciples were stirred, for joining the Inner Sect was their most fervent desire. Chen Qiao had explained things so clearly, and everyone understood the implications. To join the Inner Sect, mere hard work in cultivation wasn¡¯t enough; one needed ample cultivation resources. With resources, you can progress faster, cultivate to a higher level within ten years, train powerful Spiritual Beasts, sweep through the ranks of the Outer, and earn a promotion. And to acquire cultivation resources, one must be willing to work and earn them. Of course, that applies to ordinary disciples. For those disciples from noble families, the resources provided by their families are substantial and allow them to engage in lighter duties to pass the time while using the family resources for cultivation. Qin Feng was no different. His family provided him and Qin Xi with a sum of Spirit Stones every year to enable them to carve out more time for cultivation in the hopes of bolstering their chances of reaching the Foundation Establishment and, with some luck, joining the Inner Sect¡ªa cause for great celebration for the entire family. Ordinary disciples, lacking such family backgrounds, had to rely on their own hands to earn their cultivation resources, a challenge incomparable to theirs. After explaining all the necessary details, Chen Qiao didn¡¯t say much more, and led the new disciples to their accommodations directly. These quarters, located near the foot of the Spiritual Snake Peak, were made up of rows of small courtyards. Though not large, they were quite elegant. More importantly, all these courtyards were built upon the branches of the Spirit Veins beneath Spiritual Snake Peak, so the concentration of Spiritual Energy was plentiful, much to their satisfaction. Qin Feng used his Identity Jade to open the prohibition on his own courtyard and entered. After briefly inspecting the few rooms, he felt no need to look further. Apart from some simple furniture, there was nothing else, and nothing particularly intriguing. He walked into his bedroom, lay down on the bed, placed his hands behind his head, and stared at the ceiling with squinted eyes, his mind preoccupied with thoughts. The competition in the Outer Sect of the Beast Taming Sect was incredibly fierce, even brutal. After all, there were simply too many disciples in the Outer Sect. With the sect¡¯s reach extending across nine neighboring countries, even if each country only recruited a little over a thousand people every year, the total would still be tens of thousands. Over ten years, this would equate to well over a hundred thousand. Yet within these multitudes, only around a hundred places were up for contention each year. If the struggle wasn¡¯t intense, it would be truly bizarre. It wasn¡¯t only during the sect competition that disability could occur from a moment¡¯s carelessness; even on regular days, there was severe rivalry among the Outer disciples. PS: The protagonist believes that to stand out from such fierce competition, recommendations from everyone are crucial. To be admitted into the Inner Sect and learn more profound techniques, Qin Feng has decided to shamelessly ask everyone for their recommendation votes. Chapter 68 - Chapter 68: Chapter 68: Mastery of the Ten Thousand Beasts Origin Scripture Chapter 68: Chapter 68: Mastery of the Ten Thousand Beasts Origin Scripture The next day, early in the morning. Qin Feng woke up early for his morning practice, and after sitting in meditation to regulate his breathing, he got up and left the courtyard, heading towards the Preaching Pavilion located halfway up the mountain. The Preaching Pavilion was independently established by each of the Outer Sect¡¯s peaks; aside from being under the jurisdiction of the Inner Sect¡¯s Preaching Hall, all other matters were decided by the peaks themselves. As Qin Feng made his way there, he quickly encountered quite a few fellow sect members. However, they were all new disciples who had joined the Sect the day before. The senior disciples knew that the pavilion would primarily be teaching basic spells in the next few days due to the arrival of newcomers. Hence, after the new disciples¡¯ cultivation was on the right track in a few days, other topics would continue to be taught. Because of this, the older disciples seldom wasted their time at the pavilion during this period. ¡°Senior Brother Qin.¡± At that moment, a lean young man saw Qin Feng¡¯s figure and hurriedly caught up, greeting him. This youngster was also from the Chu Kingdom. The two had met on the Tower Ship on the way here. He came from a small family in Fengyang County and was named Liu Wuxiang. Like Qin Feng, he was a disciple who had emerged from the Outer Sect¡¯s Illusion Array test. Since the two families they originated from weren¡¯t too far apart, they had even chatted for a bit on the road to Spiritual Snake Peak previously. Liu Wuxiang¡¯s cultivation was at the third level of Qi Refinement, which was already quite outstanding among disciples from small families, considering him to be something of a prodigy. He had heard about Qin Feng and Qin Xi¡¯s deed of jointly slaying over ten Demon Beasts, so the young man held considerable respect for Qin Feng in his heart, believing Qin Feng to be extremely formidable. Now that both had joined Spiritual Snake Peak, he naturally wanted to make friends with Qin Feng. ¡°Junior Brother Liu,¡± Qin Feng saw the young man and greeted him with a smile, ¡°Let¡¯s walk a bit faster to avoid falling behind everyone. If we miss anything during the lecture, that wouldn¡¯t be good.¡± ¡°You¡¯re right, Senior Brother,¡± Liu Wuxiang nodded quickly, and the two of them hurried along, overtaking many people along the way and quickly entering the Preaching Pavilion. Even so, there were already twenty or thirty people who had arrived earlier, taking up seats in the front rows in the middle. After exchanging a glance, the two hurriedly took their places on cushions in the third row to the left. All the new disciples who had recently joined were eager and arrived early. In about a quarter of an hour, all the new disciples had arrived. The crowd didn¡¯t dare to make a racket but spoke in hushed tones, speculating about which Elder would come to impart teachings. After all, this was a key moment for the new disciples¡¯ initiation. The Sect Elders were worried that ordinary Foundation Establishment Cultivators might not teach well, so every year at this time, Golden Core Elders would personally come to teach the new disciples the initiation techniques. About another quarter of an hour passed before someone finally walked in from outside. The crowd looked up and saw that the person was none other than the beautiful Elder Liu Xuanling, who had been recruiting disciples at the square the day before. Additionally, she was one of the three highest-cultivating Golden Core Practitioners in Spiritual Snake Peak and held the position of Peak Master. Of course, all this had been told to them by Chen Qiao when he received them yesterday. As Chen Qiao had said, their Peak Master was capricious, so he especially warned everyone not to anger the Peak Master, otherwise they might be punished by being sent deep into the Ten Thousand Snakes Cave to have a heart-to-heart with a Beauty Snake. ¡°Pay respects to the Peak Master.¡± The disciples quickly stood up and performed their salutations. Liu Xuanling¡¯s face, beautiful enough to overthrow states and cities, carried a hint of a smile, making her seem as approachable and kind as the girl next door. Her figure was curvy with both a pronounced bust and hips, and even the loose magic robe she was wearing could not conceal her voluptuous body, with her chest trembling slightly as she moved. However, no disciple dared to brazenly stare at Liu Xuanling¡¯s chest, lest they be randomly slashed by the beautiful Peak Master¡¯s blade. Some disciples from noble families had heard elders mention gossip about Liu Xuanling. They knew that in her early years, she hadn¡¯t spared those in the sect who dared to fancy her, with quite a few having their arms and legs broken by her. There was even an occasion when, during an outing, a direct descendant of a Giant Spirit Sect Inner Sect Elder merely teased her with a comment and was directly killed by her sword, his body completely devoured by her Spiritual Snake without any regard for the strength behind him. The incident instantly subdued all the disciples within and outside the sect, no longer daring to harbor any improper thoughts about this exquisite beauty. And this became an essential warning that every generation of old disciples at Spiritual Snake Peak would give to the new disciples, fearing that some clueless newcomer might get themselves involved. Liu Xuanling walked elegantly to the platform and gracefully took her seat before giving the disciples a nod and instructing, ¡°Alright, take your seats.¡± Upon hearing this, everyone found their places and fixed their gaze on Liu Xuanling. Liu Xuanling¡¯s face lost its smile as she looked at the crowd, lightly parted her red lips, and solemnly said, ¡°Our Beast Taming Sect has a heritage spanning tens of thousands of years, and now has countless cultivation techniques. Each peak of the Outer Sect has its own tradition, and among the Inner Sect branches, there are also secret cultivation methods to be passed down. However, tracking the roots of these cultivation techniques, they all originate from the ancestral ¡®Ten Thousand Beasts Origin Scripture¡¯ passed down by our founders. Over these tens of thousands of years, our Beast Taming Sect has passed through hundreds of generations, and our predecessors have constantly innovated this technique, deriving many methods to control various Spiritual Beasts, utilizing Lifebound Spiritual Beasts to aid in cultivation and speed up progress, to avoid delay due to nurturing Spiritual Beasts. Thus, we have the many heritages of the Inner Sect and the one hundred and eight peaks of the Outer Sect.¡± Here, she swept her gaze over everyone below the stage and continued, ¡°Among the peaks of the Outer Sect, while some are stronger and some weaker, some more populous and some less, this does not mean that the traditions of lower-ranked peaks are less impressive, nor does it imply that greater numbers equate to greater strength. The key is whether the disciples of each peak are outstanding enough and have found the Spiritual Beast that best suits them. You are all of low cultivation, only at the Qi Refining Early Stage, and even if a few of you come from noble families with prepared Spiritual Beasts, with your cultivation, it is impossible to subdue a very powerful Demon Beast.¡± At this point, many disciples of ordinary background couldn¡¯t help but look pained as they did not have families to prepare these for them. Liu Xuanling noticed the expressions of these disciples and smiled lightly, ¡°But you need not worry, our Beast Taming Sect, besides being able to use Spiritual Beasts to aid in cultivation and combat, is also most proficient at nurturing various Spiritual Beasts, in this respect, we¡¯re even stronger than many Demon Beasts¡¯ own evolutionary paths. Even if during the early stages of cultivation only an ordinary Spiritual Beast is refined as a Lifebound Spiritual Beast, it does not mean that later on, this Spiritual Beast cannot be trained to an incredibly high level. In fact, such examples abound in our Beast Taming Sect. Every year, among the disciples who join the Inner Sect from the Outer Sect, many come from ordinary backgrounds, starting with relatively weak Lifebound Spiritual Beasts, but later, given opportunities, they train their Lifebound Spiritual Beasts to very formidable levels, sweeping away countless fellow disciples and seizing the chance to join the Inner Sect.¡± Chapter 69 - Chapter 69: Chapter 69: The Difference Between Spiritual Beasts and Demon Beasts Chapter 69: Chapter 69: The Difference Between Spiritual Beasts and Demon Beasts Liu Xuanling recounted the origin of the Sect¡¯s cultivation technique, then said, ¡°Since our Beast Taming Sect¡¯s cultivation technique requires taming Spiritual Beasts for combat, it necessitates that our own Divine Sense is far stronger than that of the Spiritual Beasts. Otherwise, we cannot achieve this. Therefore, disciples of our Beast Taming Sect have always been unique in the cultivation of the Divine Soul, far surpassing most cultivators in this world. Moreover, every Spiritual Beast you control will consume a portion of your spirit, and if you tame too many, it will become a burden to you, which is extremely detrimental to cultivation. So in the future, when you want to tame Spiritual Beasts, you must be cautious not to indiscriminately tame any Spiritual Beast you come across. You must consider whether you truly need this type of Spiritual Beast. If not, it¡¯s better not to waste your spiritual power, lest you be hindered by too many Spiritual Beasts in your cultivation.¡± She seemed to think of something and suddenly laughed, ¡°Of course, there are exceptions. Inside the Inner Sect, there are a few powerful Elders who have tamed leaders of Demon Beast Tribes, the Demon Kings, and they can command their original subordinates through these Demon Kings, which is one way to avoid depleting their own spirit.¡± Upon hearing this, the eyes of the disciples below lit up, feeling greatly enlightened. If they could also tame a leader of a Demon Beast Tribe, wouldn¡¯t they gain the loyalty of a large group of Demon Beasts? Liu Xuanling looked at these disciples with a smiling gaze, then slowly continued to dampen their spirits, ¡°If you have enough resources to maintain a tribe of Demon Beasts, of course, you can command a large number of Demon Beasts in battle. But, can you afford that? Let¡¯s not talk about those of you from ordinary backgrounds. Even among those of you from noble families, can your families truly provide unlimited resources? I¡¯m afraid that even if you drain your family treasures dry, you won¡¯t be able to maintain so many Demon Beasts!¡± With these words, the little enthusiasm that had just ignited in the hearts of the disciples was thoroughly doused. Qin Feng looked around and suddenly felt like laughing. He noticed that this Peak Master seemed to take some perverse pleasure in demoralizing these junior disciples. Because of the Demon Refining Pot he possessed, he didn¡¯t care about taming the leaders of Demon Beasts. As long as he could repair the Demon Refining Pot in the future, wouldn¡¯t all the Demon Beasts in the world be at his command? Thus, he didn¡¯t harbor any other thoughts like the rest, and he wasn¡¯t affected by Liu Xuanling¡¯s words. Then he heard Liu Xuanling continue, ¡°Moreover, those Demon Beasts led by a Demon King are different from the Spiritual Beasts you refine on your own; they can resist. If those Demon Beasts don¡¯t obey commands at critical moments or even rebel, it¡¯s best that you don¡¯t even dream about it. With your current strength, even if you truly gain the loyalty of a leader of a Demon Beast Tribe, you won¡¯t be able to withstand other Demon Beasts¡¯ attacks.¡± She wasn¡¯t merely joking with these new disciples and promptly added, ¡°So you better sincerely choose a Spiritual Beast with decent potential as your Lifebound Spiritual Beast and focus all your resources on it. Lifebound Spiritual Beasts are intimately connected to your cultivation. If you can cultivate your Lifebound Spiritual Beast to the Foundation Establishment Realm, you can let the Spiritual Beast nourish your cultivation, raising your cultivation to a higher realm.¡± The various disciples below came back to their senses, looking helplessly at the beautiful female Peak Master on the stage. Since we have no chance of subduing a leader of the Demon Beasts, why bother telling us all this? Liu Xuanling ignored their gazes, skipped over the previous topic, and asked, ¡°Do you know the difference between Demon Beasts and Spiritual Beasts?¡± A scholarly-looking young disciple said, ¡°Spiritual Beasts are naturally born with spiritual nature and are generally more docile, whereas Demon Beasts refer to those of the fierce and brutal nature from the Demon Clan.¡± Liu Xuanling gave that disciple a glance and said indifferently, ¡°What you¡¯ve described are the definitions of Spiritual Beasts and Demon Beasts according to other sects. For our Beast Taming Sect, those under our control are Spiritual Beasts; those not under our control can all be categorized as Demon Beasts.¡± ¡°Isn¡¯t that a bit too arbitrary?¡± The young man asked, somewhat puzzled, ¡°Those gentle Spiritual Beasts wouldn¡¯t harm us humans without reason. I think they should still be classified with the rest of the Spiritual Beasts.¡± ¡°Ha¡­¡± Liu Xuanling curled her vivid red lips, revealing a hint of mocking smile, ¡°Gentle? That is all relative. If those so-called gentle Spiritual Beasts you speak of gained formidable power, they would inevitably engage in countless slaughters. During the Ancient Great Tribulation when beings from All Realms invaded, innumerable members of the Demon Clan bred within the Biluo Great World were seduced by the Demon World, and they turned against the Human Clan, causing untold carnage. Countless members of our clan fell to the claws of those gentle Spiritual Beasts you mention. Moreover, their betrayal came so abruptly that many Sects were utterly unprepared. Thus, when the battles began, numerous Sects were caught off guard by the rebellion of their own Spiritual Beasts, which in collusion with the Demon World¡¯s armies breached the Mountain Gate¡¯s Great Array and severed many lineages. Those rebellious Spiritual Beasts included the Spiritual Cat, Spiritual Fox, Spiritual Crane, Spiritual Bird, Spiritual Mouse, Spiritual Mink, and all manner of other beasts you would label gentle.¡± Upon hearing this, the disciples below were in uproar. None could have imagined that the Cultivation World had such a history. Some disciples, hailing from noble families, recalled that their households also nurtured several docile Spiritual Beasts. While seemingly cute, those Spiritual Beasts were not without Attack Power. Should they launch a sudden ambush, they could indeed cause serious injury or death within the family. If those Spiritual Beasts really conspired with outsiders to attack their own people, it would be nearly impossible to guard against. After all, in a typical situation, no one would suspect that Spiritual Beasts they had raised for many years would turn against them. Liu Xuanling continued, ¡°What you call ¡®gentle¡¯ only exists when they are weak. They show this side to you only because of their lack of strength. Just like you, if you possessed the power to dominate the Southern Domain, would you still sit here obediently listening to me ramble? Similarly, if those Demon Beasts possessed formidable power, they too would claim a domain. Even if they didn¡¯t actively bring harm to the world, what about their progeny? What about those of the Demon Clan under their rule? The term ¡®Spiritual Beast¡¯ is merely a designation we of the Human Clan have imposed to distinguish some relatively tranquil Demon Beasts; it¡¯s a name we forced upon them. Yet in the hearts of all Demon Beasts, they only acknowledge their identity within the Demon Clan. Thus, within the Beast Taming Sect, only those under our control are defined as Spiritual Beasts; any that are uncontrollable are Demon Beasts.¡± Her gaze swept over the crowd, her expression solemn, and her eyes authoritative as she spoke with a cold voice, ¡°Remember this well, our Beast Taming Sect was established during the Ancient Great Tribulation, a time when the Human Clan nearly faced extinction. Since our Sect¡¯s founding, we have endured endless conflicts and suffered innumerable casualties, all to secure the chance for future generations to peacefully practice Cultivation. Now, Divine State is peaceful, each region has the chance to recuperate, thanks to the ceaseless battles fought by our ancestral predecessors. However, this doesn¡¯t mean we are safe now. In fact, countless dangers still lurk in the shadows; it¡¯s just that your Cultivation is too low to be privy to these matters.¡± Here, her expression softened a little, and she didn¡¯t continue the topic any further. Instead, she shifted focus, ¡°Let¡¯s drop this subject. If you don¡¯t even make it into the Inner Sect, you might never have the chance to learn about these things, living your entire life under the protection of the Beast Taming Sect without encountering too much danger. Next, I will explain to you the Cultivation Techniques of Spiritual Snake Peak so that you may sooner Refine your own Lifebound Spiritual Beasts and assist in your Cultivation.¡± PS: Youngster, do you want your own Spiritual Beast? Quickly cast your recommendation vote; Sister Liu will pass on the supreme Dual Cultivation Technique to you, letting you nurture your very own Divine Beast as soon as possible. Chapter 70 - Chapter 70: Chapter 70: 9 Types of True Inheritance Chapter 70: Chapter 70: 9 Types of True Inheritance Hearing that Liu Xuanling was going to impart a cultivation technique, the disciples who were still slightly heavy-hearted immediately regained their spirits. They were, after all, just a group of youths with modest strength. If there really was a crisis, the higher-ups of the sect would stand against it. They had just started on their journey, and for now, their most important task under the protection of the sect was to diligently cultivate. ¡°You are all still in the Qi Refining Realm and do not need to learn cultivation techniques that are too profound. I will first teach you the introductory spells of the ¡®Ten Thousand Beasts Origin Scripture.''¡± ¡°Once you have refined your own Lifebound Spiritual Beasts, you can then choose your future direction of cultivation based on the different Lifebound Spiritual Beasts.¡± Liu Xuanling continued, ¡°Since you are disciples of the Spiritual Snake Peak, it is best to choose from various kinds of Spiritual Snakes when selecting your Lifebound Spiritual Beasts, as our lineage is most adept in this type of technique. The Spiritual Snake Peak has existed since the founding period of our sect, a heritage of tens of thousands of years, and one of the original nine veins of the Beast Taming Sect. Do not be fooled by the apparent prestige of the Heavenly Dragon Peak, which ranks high among the outer one hundred and eight peaks. In reality, the Heavenly Dragon Peak is just a branch that split off from the Spiritual Snake Peak. Not only does it have less accumulated resources than the Spiritual Snake Peak, but a large part of their cultivation technique inheritance is also brought over from the Spiritual Snake Peak. Over the years, they haven¡¯t derived many powerful techniques of their own.¡± These words immediately surprised all the disciples. They had not expected such a state of affairs. They had always viewed Elder Lingxiao of the Heavenly Dragon Peak, who commanded the Jiao Dragon, as very powerful. They had never imagined that the Heavenly Dragon Peak, compared to their own Spiritual Snake Peak, was actually subordinate. Liu Xuanling did not mind the disciples¡¯ astonishment and went on to say, ¡°Over tens of thousands of years, our predecessors have, on the basis of the ¡®Ten Thousand Beasts Origin Scripture¡¯ handed down by the Ancestors, separately contemplated and derived numerous techniques. Among these cultivation techniques, there are nine spells that lead directly to the Immortal Dao, namely, ¡®Heavenly Snake Swallowing the Moon Technique,¡¯ ¡®Spiritual Snake Illusion Heart Technique,¡¯ ¡®Qiankun Giant Snake Shaking Star Divine Skill,¡¯ ¡®Ba Snake Swallowing Sky Technique,¡¯ ¡®Nine Realities and Nine Illusions Dragon and Snake Transformation,¡¯ ¡®Spiritual Snake Nine Transformations Dragon Technique,¡¯ ¡®Nine Abysses Hidden Dragon Technique,¡¯ ¡®Netherworld Yin Snake Seven Incantations,¡¯ and ¡®Bone-Eroding Soul-Destroying Heavenly Evil Technique.¡¯ Each one of these nine techniques has allowed our sect¡¯s predecessors to achieve the Immortal Dao and attain longevity.¡± Now, not just the disciples, but even Qin Feng was excited. Nine different roads to immortality and longevity from the Spiritual Snake lineage alone proved that the long-standing great force deserved its reputation. It was truly impressive. Moreover, in that instant, a sense of pride involuntarily surged in the heart of every disciple. Joining the Spiritual Snake lineage was indeed their greatest honor! What about the Heavenly Dragon Peak, what about the Tiger Roar Peak? At this moment, they were all cast out of mind. Compared to the Spiritual Snake Peak, they were all just juniors. Liu Xuanling was accustomed to such scenes and was unperturbed as she continued, ¡°Among our lineage¡¯s nine great inheritances, the ¡®Heavenly Snake Swallowing the Moon Technique,¡¯ ¡®Spiritual Snake Illusion Heart Technique,¡¯ ¡®Qiankun Giant Snake Shaking Star Divine Skill,¡¯ and ¡®Ba Snake Swallowing Sky Technique¡¯ have always used the Spiritual Snake as the Lifebound Spiritual Beast without change. The three cultivation methods ¡®Nine Realities and Nine Illusions Dragon and Snake Transformation,¡¯ ¡®Spiritual Snake Nine Transformations Dragon Technique,¡¯ and ¡®Nine Abysses Hidden Dragon Technique,¡¯ follow the path from snake to dragon transformation. The day when the transformation to dragon is successful is the day of achieving Dao and longevity.¡± ¡°Netherworld Yin Snake Seven Incantations¡± is achieved through curses, allowing a cultivator to strengthen oneself, or curse kill an enemy. The spell is unpredictable, enigmatic, and immensely powerful, yet its cultivation is extremely challenging, and therefore, few cultivators throughout history have mastered it. However, each individual who has attained some measure of success with this spell has become a formidable existence whom others are reluctant to provoke easily. The last technique, ¡°Bone-Eroding Soul-Destroying Heavenly Evil Technique,¡± requires one to use poison as a path to cultivation. To practice this technique, one must find the most virulent poisonous snakes, only then can one begin to cultivate the technique.¡± Seeing the many disciples below, eyes shining with eagerness, Liu Xuanling¡¯s lips curled up into a smile, ¡°However, these are true inheritances that can only be obtained after entering the Inner Sect. If you¡¯re not in the Inner Sect, don¡¯t even think about it. Therefore, you should now focus on cultivating diligently, show your full potential, and strive to enter the Inner Sect.¡± The group of Disciples was dealt another blow, their excitement subsided, and they began to doubt their future again. The Beast Taming Sect had very few spots for entering the Inner Sect; every disciple that managed to enter were one in a hundred, or even one in a thousand, a real talent. Among these seated disciples, very few were confident in competing for those spots. A disciple sighed and said, ¡°We of humble origins, with no family backing, how can we possibly compete with the Noble Heirs!¡± This statement resonated with many disciples. Those from great families, even without any Sect chores, always had access to ample cultivation resources, while these disciples had to toil every day to gain just a little from the Sect. The disparity was simply too great. Liu Xuanling smiled faintly, ¡°You needn¡¯t be so disheartened; although disciples of Noble families possess some innate advantages, they are fewer in number and, furthermore, some prefer reveling in pleasure rather than genuinely cultivating. In fact, among the disciples who pledge to the Inner Sect every year, those of humble birth make up the majority. The cultivation journey immensely values opportunity. With luck and a willingness to fight for it, obtaining such an opportunity and then advancing several levels in Qi Refining Realm in one leap, or even direct advancement to Foundation Establishment Realm, is not uncommon. So, you should not underestimate yourselves; the matter of opportunity has always been unpredictable, and for all you know, it might fall upon you at any moment. Of course, if you give up in your hearts before even starting to struggle, then regard my words as if I¡¯ve said nothing.¡± ¡°Additionally, even if you can¡¯t make it into the Inner Sect during the Sect¡¯s grand competition, it doesn¡¯t mean there are no other opportunities later on. If you continue your cultivation without faltering in the Outer Sect, you can still form a Golden Core ¡ª at that point, you will still be able to enter the Inner Sect.¡± Liu Xuanling spoke solemnly, ¡°Alright, you have all just started on your path; these matters are not what you need to consider at the moment. We¡¯ll discuss them further when your cultivation reaches that stage, but for now, I will continue talking about cultivation. Although it is common for disciples of Spiritual Snake Peak to refine a Spiritual Snake as their Lifebound Spiritual Beast, there are still those who have chosen other kinds of Spiritual Beasts, and such disciples are not uncommon in other peaks. There are many different kinds of Demon Beasts in the world, with some possessing special Divine Skills that captivate many. This is not unusual. If any of you do not find a suitable Spiritual Snake, or if by chance you come across another type of Spiritual Beast with greater potential, there is no harm in that. As long as you truly like it, you can still refine it into your Lifebound Spiritual Beast. The Scripture Pavilion of our Sect holds a plethora of Cultivation Techniques for all kinds of Lifebound Spiritual Beasts. You will not lack a Cultivation Method; we elders will devote our hearts and minds to guide you in your Cultivation.¡± PS: If it were you, what kind of Spiritual Beast would you choose and which Divine Skill would you desire? Sister Liu is proficient in various secret techniques and inheritances; do you seek Sister Liu¡¯s guidance in your Cultivation? Cast your recommendation votes now to win Sister Liu¡¯s favor! Chapter 71 - Chapter 71: Chapter 71 Binding Spell Chapter 71: Chapter 71 Binding Spell Subsequently, Liu Xuanling began to explain the introductory cultivation methods of the ¡°Ten Thousand Beasts Origin Scripture¡± to them. Her explanation was very detailed, and any disciple who did not understand could ask her questions to avoid any issues when switching to this cultivation technique. This technique was the most fundamental cultivation method of the Beast Taming Sect; all other spells were derived from this foundational technique. Therefore, the ¡°Ten Thousand Beasts Origin Scripture¡± had become the basic cultivation technique that all disciples needed to practice. Once they had reached a certain level and possessed their own Spiritual Beasts, they could choose to continue this path or select a technique that best suited their Lifebound Spiritual Beast. This lecture took up most of the day. Liu Xuanling discussed the details of all the levels from Qi Refinement Stage One to the perfection of Qi Refinement Stage Nine. After all, among these new disciples, there were those at every cultivation realm within the Qi Refining Stage. Qin Feng, like the other disciples, listened with rapt fascination. He had never thought that the process of Qi Refining could be explained so perfectly. Excitement fluttered in his heart, and many questions he had about cultivation were clarified through Liu Xuanling¡¯s explanations. So, this was another way to cultivate in the Qi Refining Stage. And the sophistication of the ¡°Ten Thousand Beasts Origin Scripture¡± far surpassed his imagination. In his original understanding, he thought that to tame Spiritual Beasts, Beast Taming Sect disciples simply needed to subdue them and control them with secret techniques. It was only after Liu Xuanling¡¯s explanations that he realized the traditions of the Beast Taming Sect were completely different from what he had imagined, and that there were no fewer than a dozen methods for manipulating Spiritual Beasts in the cultivation world. However, what Beast Taming Sect disciples favored the most was still their own inherited techniques. As for the others, they were relatively ordinary methods and were not uncommon in other sects of the cultivation world. The fundamental method for Beast Taming Sect disciples to control Spiritual Beasts was to refine a part of their Divine Sense into the Binding Spell of the sect¡¯s secret transmission. Then, they would implant the Binding Spell into the sea of consciousness of the Spiritual Beast, entwining it around the Divine Soul of the beast. Once this step was completed, they effectively controlled the life and death of the Spiritual Beast, leaving no possibility for it to betray. The Binding Spell was divided into nine levels; the first level was all that Liu Xuanling had imparted for now. To learn beyond the third level, one would need to be accepted into the Inner Sect. It was precisely because of this secret Binding Spell technique that every Beast Taming Sect disciple might possess more than one Spiritual Beast. The specific number and grade of Spiritual Beasts they could subdue depended on their personal Divine Sense strength. The higher the grade of a Spiritual Beast, the stronger the Divine Sense required. Therefore, the lower the grade of the Spiritual Beasts, the more one could subdue. Of course, if a Spiritual Beast was killed, their Divine Sense would also suffer damage. As for the Lifebound Spiritual Beast, it was much more complex than controlling ordinary Spiritual Beasts. For ordinary Spiritual Beasts, one simply needed to implant the Binding Spell to subdue them. However, a Lifebound Spiritual Beast required gradual refinement. The first step in refining was to erase the spiritual intelligence of the Demon Beast selected as a Lifebound Spiritual Beast. Upon hearing this, a disciple frowned and asked, ¡°Peak Master, how is this Lifebound Spiritual Beast different from a puppet?¡± ¡°Indeed, without spiritual intelligence, it cannot autonomously fight. To have the Lifebound Spiritual Beast engage in battle, wouldn¡¯t that require the consumption of more Divine Sense?¡± Liu Xuanling¡¯s eyebrows rose as she glanced at those few disciples and let out a cold hum: ¡°What do you know?¡± With that statement, she quelled all the noise and continued, ¡°Initially, our ancestors in the Sect did not do it this way. However, after continual incidents of Lifebound Spiritual Beasts turning on their owners and causing the loss of many fellow disciples¡¯ lives, the Sect established this rule. Of course, you can choose not to follow it, just hope that your Lifebound Spiritual Beast cooperates honestly during critical moments of your cultivation or ascension in realm, and does not show any signs of backlash. Otherwise, hmph¡­¡± She did not finish, but everyone understood. If a backlash occurred during advancement, one might at the least suffer mental derangement, or at worst, die on the spot. ¡°We, the disciples of the Beast Taming Sect, not only need our Lifebound Spiritual Beasts to aid our cultivation, but when we reach a certain realm, we also need to merge with them to boost our combat power. Furthermore, when comprehending Divine Skills with the help of Lifebound Spiritual Beasts, it is even more essential to have a perfect fit. All that aside, if any of you have profound fortune and cultivate to the Dharma Image realm, you can merge your Lifebound Spiritual Beast with your Dharma Image to greatly increase the power of your Dharma Image. This is why Beast Taming Sect cultivators can surpass other sects in individual combat power at higher realms of cultivation. By then, do you still want your Dharma Image to possess a separate consciousness? Aren¡¯t you afraid that after sustaining severe injuries, another consciousness will usurp your place, extinguish your Divine Soul, and take over your nest?¡± At these words, everyone¡¯s expression changed and the few disciples who had been reluctant to accept fell silent. ¡°Remember, a Demon Beast is a Demon Beast, even if you transform it into your Spiritual Beast, the wildness remains in their hearts. Never, because of your personal desires, place the Demon Beast above our Human Clan.¡± Liu Xuanling squinted her eyes and said indifferently, ¡°In our Beast Taming Sect, if you dare to regard a Demon Beast as more important than a human, be careful, as it may bring about a disaster that you cannot afford.¡± After admonishing the disciples, she continued the previous discussion and proceeded to explain the Cultivation Techniques to everyone. However, she only discussed the Qi Refining Cultivation Methods. As for the future Cultivation Techniques, Liu Xuanling did not pass them on; if their realms had not been reached, passing on the information would be useless. She simply told them that in the early stages of cultivation, they could treat their Lifebound Spiritual Beasts as wholly controlled avatars, and the higher the compatibility, the better for their future progression. But even just the Qi Refining Technique made Qin Feng feel it was exponentially better than the Cultivation Method he had originally practiced. No wonder his father did not care which Qi Refining Cultivation Method he chose; it was only now that he truly understood the gap between them. The ¡°Ten Thousand Beasts Origin Scripture¡± involved not only conventional Qi refining but, most importantly, techniques for cultivating the Divine Sense. Cultivating this scripture not only made one¡¯s Divine Sense far exceed that of ordinary cultivators of the same level, but one could also split off Divine Thoughts to control Spiritual Beasts in combat from afar. That was also why Qin Long, who was merely a Foundation Establishment Early Stage cultivator back then, was able to pursue the Swallowing Sky Toad with the Green-Eyed Spirit Snake for over ten miles. A normal Foundation Establishment Cultivator, let alone at the early stage, even at the peak, might not be able to extend their Divine Sense that far. Of course, in terms of head-on combat ability, if Beast Taming Sect disciples didn¡¯t have the help of a Spiritual Beast, relying solely on the ¡°Ten Thousand Beasts Origin Scripture¡± might make them less likely to match up against other cultivators. After all, each Cultivation Method pursues a different direction, and once one¡¯s cultivation is achieved, they will only dominate their respective domains. ¡°Alright, disperse now.¡± Liu Xuanling stood up, waved her hand in boredom, and said, ¡°Go back and cultivate on your own. Don¡¯t rush the conversion of Spiritual Power. If there are any mistakes, you can always come to the Preaching Pavilion to inquire. There are Foundation Establishment Cultivators here every day. Such minor issues, they can easily resolve for you.¡± ¡°Yes, disciples respectfully see off the Peak Master.¡± A group of young disciples bowed respectfully and saw Liu Xuanling off. Only after her figure disappeared did the disciples begin to discuss among themselves excitedly. Especially disciples like Qin Feng, who came from clan backgrounds, had been soaked in such influences since childhood and had seen their elders taming Spiritual Beasts with flair, they were already extremely eager for the Beast Taming Techniques. Now they had finally joined the Beast Taming Sect and received the Beast Taming heritage, they could not help but feel ecstatic. Liu Wuxiang, who was at Qin Feng¡¯s side, was also exceptionally excited. The lean youth chattered excitedly with Qin Feng for a while before they both left together, preparing to head to the dining hall for a meal. At this stage, they did not have the ability to fast. Going without food for a day or two was fine, but any longer would be unbearable. Since there were no commoners within the Beast Taming Sect, the dining hall on Spiritual Snake Peak was also run by Outer Disciples of the peak, as a kind of menial task. Working in the dining hall was pretty good in terms of benefits. Not only did the Sect provide Spirit Stones and Elixir Pills, but they could also prepare some Spiritual Meals for themselves as a treat. After Qin Feng and Liu Wuxiang had eaten, they returned to their respective dwellings to start their cultivation. Sitting cross-legged on a cushion, Qin Feng closed his eyes and meticulously recollected the Technique Liu Xuanling had explained today several times to make sure he hadn¡¯t missed anything before he began to cultivate. First, he needed to transform the Spiritual Power within his body into the True Yuan of the ¡°Ten Thousand Beasts Origin Scripture,¡± which was not too difficult. Since the Cultivation Method he had practiced before was relatively primitive and his own Spiritual Power was extremely pure, he easily converted his Spiritual Power, acquiring True Yuan with the characteristics of the ¡°Ten Thousand Beasts Origin Scripture.¡± Then, Qin Feng started cultivating according to the methods outlined in the scripture for nurturing the Divine Soul. This was of utmost importance, as only with a strong Divine Sense could Beast Taming Sect disciples manipulate more Spiritual Beasts. But soon, Qin Feng recalled something. He owned a Demon Refining Pot! The Demon Refining Pot itself was capable of refining and subduing countless Demon Beasts¡ªso even if his Divine Sense was not strong, he could have more Spiritual Beasts than other disciples. Did he still need to invest so much Spiritual Power into nurturing his Divine Soul? PS: I¡¯m in a hospital queue, typing on my phone is very slow, so the update is a bit late, please forgive me. Chapter 72 - Chapter 72: Chapter 72 Cold Ice Python Chapter 72: Chapter 72 Cold Ice Python ¡°` Alas! Qin Feng sighed with a face full of bliss, aware that the troubles of having a cheat were incomprehensible to others. While other disciples exhaust their spiritual power nurturing their divine souls and strengthening their divine sense, just to be able to conjure the Binding Spell to subdue a few Spiritual Beasts, he could effortlessly tame dozens or even hundreds. This was only because the internal space of the Demon Refining Pot was not big enough; if the pot were to be fully repaired, he himself did not know how many Spiritual Beasts he could tame. At that time, it would depend on the capacity of the internal space of the Demon Refining Pot and how many Spiritual Beasts the Spirit Vein within his Cave Heaven World could support in their cultivation. How should he choose? Qin Feng scratched his head, feeling somewhat indecisive. The reason the disciples of the Beast Taming Sect were not strong in combat was that they devoted half of their True Essence to nurturing their divine souls, leading to their own slow cultivation pace and weaker True Essence. If he used most of his Spiritual Power for cultivation, wouldn¡¯t his combat power also increase by a lot and progress faster than average disciples? After a moment of frowning in deep contemplation, Qin Feng shook his head. Forget it, it¡¯s better to cultivate step by step according to the cultivation technique, to avoid any mistakes. Moreover, if his divine sense were average, but he controlled too many Spiritual Beasts, it would be easy for others to notice something. Even to avoid exposing the Demon Refining Pot, he would still need to have a stronger divine sense than others. Besides, nurturing the divine soul had many benefits. Not only would it make understanding the essence of cultivation techniques easier, but it would also allow his divine sense to reach further, detecting many dangers in advance¡ªmuch stronger than merely increasing his own slight combat power. After all, he was a disciple of the Beast Taming Sect. His focus was on commanding Spiritual Beasts to fight; it didn¡¯t matter much if his own combat power was slightly weaker, as long as his Spiritual Beasts were numerous and strong. Besides, he still had the Demon Refining Pot, a treasure that aided in cultivation. If he had the opportunity to refine more Demon Beast corpses into pure Spiritual Qi, his cultivation pace wouldn¡¯t be slow either. As long as he groomed his Lifebound Spiritual Beasts to have strong enough combat power, it would be akin to having strong personal combat power himself. Just like Yan Zhongli, who, after merging with his Lifebound Spiritual Beast, could single-handedly resist several Demon Cultivators in the Golden Core Late Stage. Having made up his mind, Qin Feng quickly gathered his spirit and began to nurture his divine soul by circulating his True Essence with a secret technique. The feeling was very comfortable, as if his whole being were immersed in warm water, floating. He felt as if his divine soul was about to leave his body. Of course, this was just an illusion. A mere Qi Refining Realm cultivator¡ªif his divine soul left his body, a gust of wind could dissipate it like smoke and clouds. ¡­ The next day, Qin Feng went to the Deacon Room and formally received the miscellaneous tasks assigned to him. This was because the valley that housed the Cold Pond was protected by a unique array, and he needed to receive the token to activate the array; otherwise, he wouldn¡¯t be able to enter. Since this was his first task, the disciples in the Deacon Room even gave him some detailed guidance. Following the directions of the Deacon Disciple, Qin Feng first went to another place where Rat Demons were raised, preparing to collect them to feed the Cold Ice Python. Among the 108 peaks of the Outer Sect, there was one specifically for raising various types of Spiritual Mice¡ªSpiritual Rat Peak, where the most comprehensive array of Spiritual Mice were fostered. The ones raised at Spiritual Snake Peak were actually the most suitable breeds supplied from Spiritual Rat Peak for feeding Spiritual Snakes. ¡°` Do not be fooled by the low rank and the weak bloodline of these Rat Demons; their breeding strength is shockingly fierce, and they grow at a rapid pace. Therefore, they have become one of the best foods for nurturing Spiritual Snakes on Spiritual Snake Peak. Qin Feng took a large Spiritual Beast Bag given to him by the Deacon Room and collected a dozen or so grey-haired rats the size of earth dogs from the disciple responsible for raising the Rat Demons. He then used the Light Body Skill and the Divine Movement Technique, sprinting over two hundred miles, and it took him the better part of the day to arrive at a deep valley on the westernmost side of Spiritual Snake Peak. ¡°Phew¡­¡± In front of the deep valley, Qin Feng stopped for a break, panting softly while scanning the area to make sure he hadn¡¯t taken a wrong turn before he finally relaxed. He rubbed his sore legs, somewhat reluctantly thinking that if he had the chance, he must tame a Spiritual Beast for transportation as soon as possible. Otherwise, this one trip back and forth was four or five hundred miles. Not only did running with the Divine Movement Technique consume a significant amount of True Yuan and physical strength, but it also left him quite exhausted. Plus, if he were delayed for a bit, he might not be able to return the same day. Fortunately, he didn¡¯t have to come here every day; otherwise, he would have no time left for cultivation. ¡°Clip-clop, clip-clop¡­¡± A brisk sound of horse hooves rang out. Qin Feng glanced at a Cultivator who rode a majestic horse, its figure whistling past the base of the mountain two or three miles away, his eyes filled with envy. The horse was nine feet tall and more than a zhang long, exceptionally graceful, with hooves flying as it ran through the rugged mountains as if on flat ground. It leapt tens of feet in a single bound, and in an instant, had run out several miles, disappearing among the distant peaks. Qin Feng estimated for a moment that, with the speed of that Spiritual Horse, in less than half a day, he could have made the round trip from Spiritual Snake Peak to here. He sighed softly to himself; it was a pity that the few Spiritual Beasts in his Demon Refining Pot were not suited for riding. The Swallowing Sky Toad could carry him, but it was too small; he couldn¡¯t even stand on it with one foot. Moreover, when the Swallowing Sky Toad moved, it hopped, and if people saw him hopping on the ground on a fist-sized Little Toad, he would surely be the laughing stock of his peers. The other few Green Foxes and Snake Demons were also unsuitable for riding. The Green Foxes were not large enough, and riding them would be like riding an oversized goat. The Snake Demon could only crawl on the ground for now, and its speed was even slower than his own Divine Movement Technique. Shaking his head, Qin Feng stopped dwelling on the thought and reached out for the Jade Talisman given to him by the Deacon Room. He cast a spell on it, and immediately ripples emerged in the empty space in front of the valley, revealing a magical entrance. He quickly stepped through. As soon as he entered, he immediately felt a chill hitting him head-on. The bone-chilling breath made him shiver involuntarily, so he rapidly circulated the True Essence within his body, and only then did he feel much more comfortable. Looking ahead, he saw the ground of the valley covered with a layer of frost. In this cold environment, no vegetation grew in the entire valley, making it particularly desolate and barren. Only in the Cold Pond deep in the valley could one see a hint of vibrant green. That was the Snow Jade Lotus growing in the Cold Pond. With verdant leaves and snow-white flowers, this was an Exotic Species of Spiritual Medicine that could only grow under extreme Cold Spirit Qi. Even though it was not yet mature, Qin Feng could smell a breath of cold, refreshing fragrance. Because it was his first time here, he was uncertain about the habits of the Cold Ice Pythons, so he did not get too close. He walked a few dozen zhang into the valley and then stopped, releasing the Rat Demons from the Spiritual Beast Bag. ¡°Squeak, squeak, squeak¡­¡± Although these Rat Demons had low Spiritual Intelligence, they too smelled a dangerous scent amid the cold, causing them to scatter in all directions. A few of them ran to the corner of the valley and attempted to dig a hole to hide. Just then, a loud splash was heard, and several Cold Ice Pythons of varying lengths, each with white scales and measuring several zhang, emerged from the Cold Pond. Chapter 73 - Chapter 73: Chapter 73 Handling Stolen Goods Chapter 73: Chapter 73 Handling Stolen Goods Rustling softly amidst silent whispers, the Cold Ice Pythons slithered out from the Cold Pond, hissing as they flicked their tongues, gliding towards the Rat Demons. Sensing the breath of the Cold Ice Pythons, the Rat Demons panicked as if the end of the world had come upon them, frantically fleeing throughout the mountain valley; two even attempted to scale the rocky walls in desperation. Alas, their strength was too weak, and what¡¯s more, the valley had long been enveloped by an array¡ªthere was no escape. A Cold Ice Python chased up to the base of the rock wall, opened its mouth, and exhaled a thick white mist of frost, instantly turning those two Rat Demons into icy bumps that fell from the wall. The Cold Ice Python caught them with its gaping maw and gulped them down in a few swift motions. Qin Feng stood still, motionless, until he noticed the Cold Ice Pythons deliberately avoiding his position, and only then did he relax. Watching the Cold Ice Pythons swim around, it took only a moment to devour the dozen or so Rat Demons, and Qin Feng felt a stirring of excitement. These Cold Ice Pythons were quite powerful, each possessing strength surpassing Foundation Establishment, able to freeze the Rat Demons¡¯ blood solid in an instant with the cold breath they exhaled¡ªindubitably, they would be highly effective against enemies. Comparing these Cold Ice Pythons to the ordinary Snake Demons in his Demon Refining Pot, Qin Feng suddenly felt a sense of disdain. Indeed, some things should not be compared, for upon comparison, the gap was found to be truly too vast. Even if the Snake Demons in his Demon Refining Pot had equivalent strength to the Cold Ice Pythons, the frost breath of the latter could still immobilize his own Snake Demons. The Snake Demons he had subdued were but common breeds and could not compare to the exotic species of the Cold Ice Pythons; this was only natural. Unfortunately, Cold Ice Pythons were not plentiful. To obtain one, a disciple from the Spiritual Snake Peak would need to have made enough contribution, or else, he truly fancied trying to cultivate one himself. Qin Feng shook his head in regret, and after the Cold Ice Pythons had submerged back into the Cold Pond, he did not linger and turned to leave. The valley was desolate, nothing of interest, and he needed to hurry back. Otherwise, he might end up having to travel at night. The next morning, after completing his cultivation, Qin Feng didn¡¯t go to the Preaching Pavilion for lectures¡ªafter all, he had already finished converting his Cultivation Technique, and there was no urgency for the rest. He went to the courtyard next to the Deacon Room and rented a large eagle about a zhang in size from the disciples there. Here, the disciples specially tamed some flying Spiritual Beasts, catering specifically to new disciples, and the price was not expensive¡ªonly one Spirit Stone a day. Of course, ¡®not expensive¡¯ was relative to disciples like him, with family support. For the vast majority of disciples from ordinary backgrounds, it was quite costly, since earning ten to eight Spirit Stones a month as a new disciple was already considered good; they wouldn¡¯t normally afford such an expense. The real opportunity for Outer Disciples to earn a significant amount of Spirit Stones came from performing tasks outside the Mountain Gate. That was the chance for an Outer Disciple to stand out from the countless others and find their fortune. Qin Feng paid the Spirit Stone and took an Iron Token from the hands of an elderly cultivator. This was a common Beast Taming technique, controlling Spiritual Beasts through Forbidden Techniques. A cultivator could simply manipulate the beast via an Iron Token that connected to the Forbidden Technique within the beast¡¯s body. However, this method of Beast Taming was quite rudimentary and brutal, only allowing simple commands to be issued through the Iron Token, and not as delicate as the Binding Spell, which allowed precise control over the Spiritual Beast. Hence, this technique was only circulated among certain peaks of the Outer Sect and was seen by many in the Beast Taming Sect as somewhat unsophisticated. Still, many Spiritual Beasts sold by the Sect to outsiders were restrained in this manner, to facilitate usage by cultivators unfamiliar with Beast Taming Techniques. Qin Feng sat on the eagle¡¯s back, issued instructions through the Iron Token, and quickly, the eagle flapped its wings and took off, flying towards the Market outside the Mountain Gate. He had agreed with Qin Xi to visit their Clan Uncle Qin Ying at Spiritual Vulture Peak, but before heading there, he intended to take care of some business at the Market, dealing with items like the Gold-Plated Slash he had acquired from the Huang Family. Last time, on the Tower Ship, he and Qin Xi had together slain more than a dozen Demon Beasts. All of them were collected into his Demon Refining Pot, promising to deal with them later and share Spirit Stones with Qin Xi. Planning to meet Qin Xi, he intended to sell everything he had on him first, so that he could have Spirit Stones ready to share with her. The Beast Taming Sect¡¯s mountain gate covered a vast area, with a total of twelve markets surrounding it. Even the closest Qingyun Square to the Spiritual Snake Peak was three hundred miles away, and Qin Feng certainly did not want to make the journey on foot again. Although it could be said that outside the mountain gate of the Beast Taming Sect, generally no one had the gall to ambush a sect disciple like him, he was ultimately just a new Outer Disciple. If someone discovered the thousands of Spirit Stones he had on him, it might arouse their greed. To be on the safe side, he had rented this eagle. Not only did this spare him the back-and-forth trouble, but he could also directly control the eagle to fly to Creation Peak later to find Qin Xi, completing the task within a day instead of dragging it out for two or three. All of the twelve markets outside the mountain gate were exclusively established by the Beast Taming Sect, attracting countless cultivators from other regions to explore and seek treasures. Each was bustling with activity, and Qingyun Square was no exception. Apart from the countless businesses run by the Beast Taming Sect itself, there were forces from other regions conducting business with the sect, transporting resources produced elsewhere here. Given the sect¡¯s enormous size, they had no trouble earning Spirit Stones. In the sky, various Spiritual Beasts flew past frequently, and occasionally, a few large and powerful Spiritual Beasts would pass by, causing many ordinary Spiritual Beasts to hastily avoid them, fearful of obstructing the path of these formidable creatures. There were many cultivators heading to Qingyun Square, and Qin Feng followed a few Foundation Establishment cultivators from the Beast Taming Sect. He landed outside the market, put the eagle into his Spiritual Beast Bag, and stepped into the market. This market was enormous, more than a hundred times larger than the Tieling Market in Tieling County. The spacious streets, luxurious tower buildings, and shops conducting various types of business dazzled him with their strong emanations of Spirit Light, leaving him amazed and tongue-tied. Especially those wealthy powers¡ªthey had not only built their buildings extremely lavishly, but even a signboard or storefront alone was made from high-quality Artifact Refining Materials. These things, if placed elsewhere, could have been directly used to refine a Magical Treasure. Yet here, they were merely fashioned into eye-catching signboards. After wandering along the street for a quarter of an hour, observing the variety around him, Qin Feng finally entered a relatively ordinary Artifact Refining Shop on the side of the road. This shop dealt with the refinement and sale of all kinds of Magic Artifacts, Spiritual Artifacts, and Magical Treasures, which would have been first-class in Tieling Market, but in Qingyun Square, it was just average. This was because too many Great Forces had businesses here, and the items they sold were much better than those in this shop. But the items Qin Feng carried were of no interest to those Great Forces, so he figured it might be better to sell them directly in an ordinary shop. Upon entering, he was immediately greeted by a robust middle-aged man. Seeing his Magic Robe, the man knew he was a disciple of the Beast Taming Sect. It was important not to offend a disciple when doing business on their turf, so even though the man¡¯s Cultivation was much higher than Qin Feng¡¯s, he still met him with a warm smile, showing great enthusiasm, ¡°This junior from the Beast Taming Sect, welcome. Are you looking to purchase a Magic Artifact?¡± ¡°You flatter me, elder. I did not come to purchase Magic Artifacts.¡± Qin Feng shook his head and said, ¡°I have some items I¡¯d like to offload. I wonder if your shop is interested.¡± ¡°Oh?¡± The middle-aged man wasn¡¯t surprised at all¡ªsuch matters were common. Although their shop had fixed procurement channels, if other cultivators wanted to sell some Artifact Refining Materials, they could procure them at a lower price, thus saving on material costs. ¡°I wonder what you intend to sell, young friend. Take them out and let¡¯s have a look. If they¡¯re suitable, my shop doesn¡¯t mind buying them all.¡± ¡°Alright.¡± Qin Feng raised his hand and took out the Gold-Plated Slash, along with the Huang Family Great Elder¡¯s big iron hammer and Artifact Refining Furnace used for refinement, as well as other materials. ¡°Eh?¡± The middle-aged man was slightly taken aback. He initially thought the young man would only bring out some Artifact Refining Materials, but he hadn¡¯t expected an Artifact Refining Furnace to be among them¡ªsomething rarely sold by cultivators. He inspected the Artifact Refining Furnace carefully and even activated the Forbidden Technique within it to check for any damages. PS: Considering that the author is still up late typing and updating, shouldn¡¯t everyone show some support with their recommendation tickets? Chapter 74 - Chapter 74: Chapter 74: The Girl by the Creek Chapter 74: Chapter 74: The Girl by the Creek A moment later, the middle-aged man nodded with satisfaction, ¡°Not bad, this is a fully intact middle-grade Artifact Refining Furnace.¡± ¡°Senior, please take a look at the other items.¡± Qin Feng smiled and gestured. Since the middle-aged cultivator had said ¡°not bad,¡± then even if it were out of consideration for the Beast Taming Sect, he wouldn¡¯t give Qin Feng too low a price. If the price was suitable, he would be too lazy to run to another shop to ask. ¡°Alright.¡± The middle-aged cultivator picked up the Gold-Plated Slash and casually glanced at it. He slightly frowned, tapped a finger on the blade to listen to its ring, shook his head lightly, and placed it aside without much care. He then examined the Artifact Refining Materials Qin Feng had taken out, estimated their value in his mind, and finally said to Qin Feng, ¡°Since you¡¯re a disciple of the Beast Taming Sect, I won¡¯t beat around the bush. These materials are only used for making ordinary Spiritual Artifacts and aren¡¯t particularly precious. Generally, when someone comes to sell items like these in the shop, we acquire them at about seventy to eighty percent of the outside price. I won¡¯t take advantage of you¡ªthe materials I¡¯ll price at two thousand Spirit Stones. What do you think?¡± Qin Feng nodded. Back in Tieling County City, he had already inquired about the prices of these Artifact Refining Materials, so he knew that the cultivator¡¯s offer was very fair. Seeing him nod, the middle-aged cultivator continued, ¡°The craftsmanship of this Flying Sword isn¡¯t very clever. If I¡¯m not mistaken, it must have been made by a novice Artifact Refiner. Normally, I wouldn¡¯t buy such poorly crafted Spiritual Artifacts. After all, I mainly deal in the forging of Spiritual Artifacts, and selling such mediocre-looking items in my shop could easily harm my reputation. However, since you are a disciple of the Beast Taming Sect, I¡¯ll give you a price of three hundred Spirit Stones for it, and including that other high-grade Magic Artifact hammer, let¡¯s make it a total of five hundred Spirit Stones. After all, I need to make a profit too. If you think it¡¯s too little, you are welcome to sell it elsewhere.¡± Clearly, the cultivator wasn¡¯t very impressed with the Gold-Plated Slash crafted by the Huang Family Great Elder¡ªso much so that he felt displaying such an ordinary Flying Sword in his own shop was demeaning. However, since the seller was from the Beast Taming Sect, and what he really cared about was the Artifact Refining Furnace, he reluctantly agreed to take the Gold-Plated Slash. Finally, he turned his attention to the Artifact Refining Furnace and said, ¡°This middle-grade Artifact Refining Furnace is very good. It just so happens that several of my disciples have reached the stage where they can craft Magic Artifacts independently. In light of this, I¡¯ll price the Artifact Refining Furnace at three thousand Spirit Stones for you, plus the rest, a total of five thousand five hundred Spirit Stones. What do you think?¡± The price was actually a bit higher than Qin Feng had expected, so naturally he wouldn¡¯t disagree. He quickly nodded, ¡°Good, let¡¯s go with the price you¡¯ve mentioned, senior.¡± ¡°Very straightforward, young friend.¡± The middle-aged cultivator laughed heartily and took out fifty-five middle-grade Spirit Stones directly from his Storage Bag and handed them to Qin Feng, who looked on with some envy. These cultivators that did business in the market really did have money¡ªinstead of using low-grade Spirit Stones, they settled with middle-grade ones. ¡°Thank you, senior.¡± After receiving the Spirit Stones, Qin Feng gave his thanks. ¡°There¡¯s no need for courtesy, young friend. If you have any more good items in the future, feel free to come here. I assure you of a satisfying price,¡± the middle-aged cultivator said jovially. ¡°By the way, would you like to take a look at the Magic Artifacts? Although you Beast Taming Sect disciples mainly control Spiritual Beasts, carrying a few Magic Artifacts for self-defense can sometimes have unexpected effects.¡± ¡°Uh¡­ no need.¡± Qin Feng quickly waved his hand. Indeed, this was how business was conducted¡ªwhether it was a cultivator or someone else, they always thought about getting others to take out their wallets to buy their products. Qin Feng was just a beginner who didn¡¯t even have a Lifebound Spiritual Beast yet; the plan to promote his Swallowing Sky Toad hadn¡¯t even been confirmed, so where would he have spare money to purchase Magic Artifacts! ¡°` At present, he needed to channel all his resources into his own cultivation and the training of his spiritual beast; regarding other matters, he¡¯d think about them after he had an abundance of Spirit Stones. Seeing him refuse, the middle-aged cultivator felt somewhat disappointed but did not say anything further. After all, disciples of the Beast Taming Sect did not have as great a need for magic artifacts as other cultivators. In fact, if it weren¡¯t for the opportunity to acquire materials from various spiritual beasts at a cheaper rate here, he would have left this place and gone elsewhere to do business. Qin Feng left the Artifact Refining Shop with the middle-aged cultivator¡¯s hearty farewells. He strolled around the market for a while and eventually decided to visit the shop opened by his own Sect, where he spent nearly two hundred Spirit Stones to purchase two second-tier Spirit Talismans at a ten percent discount. They were the defensive Golden Armor Talisman and the offensive Heavenly Thunder Talisman; one for defense, one for the attack, enabling even a Foundation Establishment Cultivator to withstand attacks for a moment. With these two Spirit Talismans on hand, he felt a bit more confidence in his heart. He dared not spend the remaining Spirit Stones, as he needed to save them to help his Swallowing Sky Toad integrate the Bloodline Divine Powers of other Spiritual Toads. Until that was successful, he felt uncertain, not knowing how many Spirit Stones he would have to invest in the Demon Refining Pot for success, so now was not the time for him to be spendthrift. Having left the market, Qin Feng summoned the eagle, leaped onto its back, and flew towards Creation Peak. Originally, Qin Feng thought that Spiritual Snake Peak was already an exceptional place for cultivation, but after arriving at Creation Peak, he realized that in terms of spiritual beauty, this mountain surpassed Spiritual Snake Peak by a notch. The peaks were exquisite, the scenery delightful, streams burbled, ancient trees soared high, and everywhere was teeming with vitality, making anyone who saw it feel refreshed and uplifted. Qin Feng did not dare to ride the eagle through Creation Peak haphazardly, so he landed far away, retracted the eagle into the Spiritual Beast Bag, and proceeded on foot. However, Creation Peak was different from Spiritual Snake Peak. The number of Outer Disciples on Spiritual Snake Peak was in the thousands; it was lively with people constantly coming and going. But Creation Peak was the least populated among the One Hundred and Eight Peaks of the Outer Sect, rarely seeing a human figure, making it somewhat challenging even to find someone to ask for directions. After walking for a while, he finally saw someone. It was a young girl, barefoot, sitting on a green rock by the stream. The girl appeared to be around fifteen or sixteen, cute and delicate. Her pale little feet swung back and forth, kicking up strings of sparkling and translucent droplets from the water. ¡°Excuse me¡­ Senior Sister.¡± Qin Feng called out hesitantly, intending to ask her for directions. ¡°Senior Sister?¡± The girl looked at Qin Feng in surprise, and upon seeing he was just a small Qi Refinement level four cultivator, she realized he must be a new disciple and asked, ¡°What do you need?¡± For some reason, Qin Feng felt a bit flustered under her curious gaze and quickly said, ¡°I have a cousin named Qin Xi. She just became a disciple of Creation Peak this year. I came to find her for some urgent matters and wanted to ask where the new Disciples of Creation Peak are settled?¡± ¡°You¡¯re Qin Xi¡¯s cousin?¡± The girl sized him up with her clear, large eyes, her lips curving into a mischievous smile, and pointed with her delicate fingers towards the right: ¡°Just follow this path in that direction. About three miles out, there are a few small courtyards in a valley; that¡¯s where you¡¯ll find them.¡± ¡°Thank you for your guidance, Senior Sister.¡± Qin Feng thanked her and turned to head in the direction she had pointed. He couldn¡¯t shake the feeling that the girl was still watching him from behind, which felt somewhat eerie. He looked back, only to see the girl wearing an innocent smile on her face. Though she looked harmless, her playful demeanor left him inexplicably with an uneasy feeling. ¡°` Chapter 75 - Chapter 75: Chapter 75 Spiritual Vulture Peak Chapter 75: Chapter 75 Spiritual Vulture Peak Qin Feng felt extremely uncomfortable under the gaze of that young girl, so he quickened his pace until he turned a corner at a tranquil bamboo grove, only then did he feel the watchful eyes behind him disappear. Creation Peak exuded a spiritual aura everywhere, with beautiful scenery around; however, there were very few people on this peak. They rarely took in disciples, only accepting those who passed the Illusion Array test and reached their platform during the annual entry of new disciples. Therefore, each year at most they would take in three to five people. In years with fewer, it was possible that no one might pass the Illusion Array and reach their platform for several consecutive years. At such times, Creation Peak was unconcerned and would not take in a single disciple for several years, making the vast Creation Peak seem almost deserted. Fortunately, the young girl who had given directions to Qin Feng earlier was a bit strange, but the path she pointed out had no issues, and soon at the end of the narrow path, he saw a serene valley. At the mouth of the valley, a thirteen or fourteen-year-old girl was happily feeding a deer some common Spirit Fruits. Noticing someone approaching from behind, the deer immediately jumped behind the girl, watching Qin Feng with a pair of moist and gentle eyes. The girl stood up and looked at Qin Feng, asking, ¡°Senior Brother, what brings you here?¡± ¡°Junior Sister, please.¡± Qin Feng hurriedly replied, ¡°I¡¯m looking for Qin Xi; she¡¯s my cousin.¡± The girl nodded, and pointed toward a small building built near a few ancient trees, ¡°There, that¡¯s where Sister Qin Xi lives.¡± ¡°Thank you for the guidance, Junior Sister.¡± After thanking her, Qin Feng walked toward the small building. After arriving at the door and gently knocking a few times, after a moment, Qin Xi came out, and upon seeing him, she couldn¡¯t help but smile, ¡°I thought you weren¡¯t coming today. Why are you so late?¡± ¡°I went to the market to deal with some matters concerning the things I carry.¡± Qin Feng spoke as he handed her a small bag, ¡°This is the income from those Demon Beasts on the tower ship.¡± Qin Xi took it and glanced inside, her eyebrows slightly furrowing, ¡°This is too much. Those were just ordinary Demon Beasts, how could they be worth so many Spirit Stones?¡± While speaking, she handed the bag back, ¡°You don¡¯t need to share it with me. The Storage Bag and the Middle-Grade Magic Artifact Willow Leaf Saber you gave me earlier are already worth more than these ordinary beasts. I don¡¯t need these.¡± She was not a greedy person. Qin Feng had already taken good care of her before, and she did not want to leave a bad impression on her younger cousin. Qin Feng smiled casually, ¡°Just accept it, Sister Xiaoxi. We¡¯ve just entered the sect, whether it¡¯s for personal cultivation or finding a suitable Spiritual Beast, we¡¯ll need to use Spirit Stones. Besides the resources given by our family, Father also gave me quite a few things. I¡¯m much wealthier than you, so don¡¯t be too polite.¡± ¡°Alright then.¡± Seeing him insist, Qin Xi no longer refused and stuffed the Spirit Stones into her Storage Bag, saying, ¡°Shall we go to Spiritual Vulture Peak now? I need to find my Senior Sister to borrow a Flying Spirit Beast.¡± ¡°No need, I rented an Eagle at Spiritual Snake Peak, it¡¯s enough to take us both there.¡± Qin Feng waved his hand and directly released the Eagle, then asked, ¡°Sister Xiaoxi, is there anything else you need to pack? If not, let¡¯s go now.¡± Qin Xi glanced at the Eagle, shook her head and said, ¡°Nothing to pack, let¡¯s go.¡± The two jumped onto the back of the Eagle, which then flew them away. They flew for over an hour before they finally arrived near Spiritual Vulture Peak. Having reached their destination, they expertly maneuvered the Eagle to the ground. Because, unlike Spiritual Snake Peak and Creation Peak, Spiritual Vulture Peak houses large flying creatures¡ªthe spiritual vultures¡ªand not just creatures like the spiritual snakes that predominantly occupy the Ten Thousand Snakes Cave. Even if there were many on the ground, they wouldn¡¯t dominate the skies. However, above Spiritual Vulture Peak, various fierce spiritual vultures could be seen flying around; their presence visibly frightened the eagle they rode upon arriving here. Fortunately, those spiritual vultures did not attack them without reason, but merely flew around them out of curiosity for a few rounds. After landing, the two headed towards Spiritual Vulture Peak. They knew that Outer Disciples typically resided at the foot of the mountain. Only those who had advanced to Foundation Establishment were permitted to live higher up the mountain on better spirit veins. As for the summit, that was where Golden Core Cultivators opened their cave mansions. After asking around, they quickly found Qin Ying who was busy in a nest. At that moment, Qin Ying was carefully tending to several young spiritual vultures that hadn¡¯t yet grown full feathers. Seeing a fellow sect member leading two young men in, and upon hearing they were his kin, his face lit up with joy, and he quickly spoke, ¡°Please wait here a moment while I finish taking care of these little ones, then I¡¯ll come with you.¡± Qin Feng smiled, saying, ¡°Take your time, Uncle Ying, we¡¯ll just watch here.¡± ¡°Alright.¡± A flash of cold light shone from Qin Ying¡¯s hand, and he swiftly sliced a large chunk of tender meat into strips. While carefully feeding the young spiritual vultures, he explained, ¡°These spiritual vultures were specially requested by a Foundation Establishment Cultivator. They have decent bloodlines and cannot be neglected. They must be well-cultivated. If not for them, I would have waited at my residence for you.¡± Shortly after the young spiritual vultures had eaten, Qin Ying¡¯s hands lit up with spirit light, and using the secret techniques of Spiritual Vulture Peak, he gently stroked the chicks, coaxing them to sleep before finally standing up and leading Qin Feng and his companion out of the nest towards his courtyard. On the way, Qin Ying seemed extremely excited. After all, it had been a long time since he had seen anyone from his family since Qin Long had left the Sect to return to their family. Upon reaching the courtyard, he brought out all his finest treasures to entertain the two. ¡°Back when your father was still in the sect, he did quite well at Tiger Roar Peak. After a decade of cultivation, he reached Foundation Establishment. His lifebound spiritual beast was also extremely powerful. Unfortunately, he later faced danger. Otherwise, with his cultivation progress, he might have been able to reach Golden Core and enter the Inner Sect.¡± Qin Ying looked at Qin Feng, unable to suppress a few sighs. ¡°I¡¯m not as talented; my cultivation progress is slow. If it weren¡¯t for the two clan members from your parents¡¯ generation who joined the sect and died tragically, I would have feared that without anyone to look after this generation in the sect, I would have returned to the family. Ah, when one grows old, they yearn for the leaves to return to their roots.¡± Seeing his graying temples, Qin Feng and Qin Xi felt a bit of melancholy but still encouraged, ¡°Uncle Ying, you are just in your fifties, not old at all. Maybe with a few more years of hard work, you could succeed in Foundation Establishment and bring great aid to the family.¡± ¡°Haha¡­¡± Qin Ying laughed, saying, ¡°Foundation Establishment is not that easy. In the Beast Taming Sect, there are hundreds of thousands of Outer Disciples, but only around ten thousand manage to reach Foundation Establishment. That¡¯s only one in several dozen disciples. I¡¯m old, my vitality is declining, and I don¡¯t have the same drive as in my youth. I think I¡¯ll stay in the sect for a few more years to look after you two. Once your cultivation is on the right path, I¡¯ll return to the family and retire in peace. Ah, it¡¯s been so many years since I¡¯ve been back; I wonder what the family looks like now.¡± At that, Qin Feng and Qin Xi briefly updated Qin Ying on the family¡¯s affairs over the years. In truth, not much had happened, primarily because Qin Ying had been away for so long and was particularly eager for news of home. However, when Qin Xi mentioned that the family¡¯s age-old adversaries, the Huang Family, had suffered a severe loss due to a mysterious great thief breaking in and stealing from them, Qin Ying couldn¡¯t help but burst into laughter, ¡°Good, good, good, those Huang Family folks. When I was young and went with the family to hunt demon beasts, I almost fell victim to their schemes and almost lost my life to the demon beasts they lured. And this time, I don¡¯t know which cultivator did it, but they even made off with the Huang Family¡¯s inherited Artifact Refining Furnace. Haha, I wonder how many years it will take them to save up enough to buy another Spiritual Artifact Level refining furnace.¡± Qin Feng stood by, joining in the laughter without a word. What could he say? Surely not that he had sent the Swallowing Sky Toad to play the role of a gigantic toad thief, plundering the Huang Family Great Elder¡¯s possessions. Chapter 76 - Chapter 76: Chapter 75 Survival of the Fittest Clan Uncle Gifts a Beast Chapter 76: Chapter 75 Survival of the Fittest Clan Uncle Gifts a Beast After laughing for a while, Qin Ying turned serious and began to discuss important matters. ¡°The Clan Leader must have told you a lot and taught you how to conduct yourselves after joining the Sect. I won¡¯t go into detail about that to avoid boring you.¡± Qin Ying looked at the two younger Clan members in front of him, who still had traces of naivety on their faces, and asked, ¡°Back when you were in the family, you always heard from our Clan members about how powerful the Sect was, and how joining the Sect was like climbing up a ladder to heaven, right?¡± Qin Feng and Qin Xi nodded. That was true. From a young age, they were raised amidst the reverent words of their elders about the Beast Taming Sect. Thus, all members of the Qin Family had an immense yearning for the Sect and considered it an honor to join. Among the three Foundation Establishment Cultivators in the family, the Family Head Qin Guanbao and Qin Long, both had advanced in their cultivation after joining the Sect and had subdued powerful Spiritual Beasts, possessing strength far surpassing ordinary Foundation Establishment Cultivators. As for the only Clan Uncle who reached the Foundation Establishment Realm by cultivating within the family, he not only had limited potential, but his combat abilities were also far inferior to the others. In such a stark contrast, it was inevitable that Qin Feng and Qin Xi would have a favorable impression of the Sect. ¡°Actually, it¡¯s true. Our Qin Family has been able to survive and avoid decline by affiliating with the Beast Taming Sect. However, this does not mean that the Sect is really a holy land for cultivation, at least not for the vast majority of ordinary Outer Disciples.¡± Qin Ying had a hint of bitterness on his face: ¡°Although Outer Disciples are also called disciples, what they do is the work of servants. In fact, calling Outer Disciples servant disciples wouldn¡¯t be wrong.¡± ¡°Ah?¡± The statement made the two somewhat stunned. ¡°What, don¡¯t believe it?¡± Qin Ying said with a light smile, ¡°You are now part of the Sect and surely know that all Outer Disciples have duties like servants. This is true regardless of whether they come from noble families or are selected from the common folk. But don¡¯t you think that there are too many Outer Disciples in our Beast Taming Sect? Compared to the Taiyi Mountain Golden Light Cave, which has a similar influence to our Sect, they have only ten thousand Outer Disciples, which is tens of times fewer than ours. To the west of us, the Golden Court Mountain Giant Spirit Sect has only tens of thousands of Outer Disciples. Even some Sects stronger than our Beast Taming Sect rarely have so many Outer Disciples. Do you know why? There are hundreds of thousands of Outer Disciples, yet the Sect only recruits a hundred people into the Inner Sect each year. Do you know why?¡± The two shook their heads continually. They had never even left Kun City before, how could they know these things. ¡°The main reason lies in the fact that our Beast Taming Sect¡¯s Cultivation Techniques are different from other Sects. Other Sects¡¯ Techniques require only their own Cultivation, but our Sect, besides cultivating ourselves, also needs to provide for the cultivation of Spiritual Beasts, and often more than one. Cultivation requires resources, and so does maintaining Spiritual Beasts. Even more resources are consumed by Spiritual Beasts than are used by Cultivators themselves, since Spiritual Beasts don¡¯t cultivate as quickly as Human Clan Cultivators. To maintain their progress, of course, requires even more resources.¡± Qin Ying¡¯s words carried an indiscernible hint of meaning that left Qin Feng and others puzzled. He continued softly, ¡°Because of the massive consumption of resources, we need a huge number of people to work for the Sect and provide ample resources. Therefore, the Beast Taming Sect¡¯s Outer Sect originally had nine branches, which then expanded to thirty-six peaks, later to seventy-two peaks, and now to one hundred eight peaks. And the number of Outer Disciples has continued to increase, from the initial thousands to tens of thousands, and now to hundreds of thousands. Every year, the various peaks of the Outer Sect provide a large amount of resources to the Inner Sect, along with numerous industries outside the Sect which also garner countless cultivation resources. But even so, the Sect still dares not recruit too many disciples into the Inner Sect.¡± ¡°Because, we really can¡¯t afford it.¡± He showed a bitter smile on his face, ¡°Each Inner Sect Disciple is like a gold-eating beast, needing a huge amount of resources to build up, even just to cultivate their Lifebound Spiritual Beasts, they need resources several times more than disciples from other Sects. And those cultivators who suddenly raise several Spiritual Beasts consume even more resources to the point of heartache. You say, under these circumstances, how could the Sect dare to recruit more disciples into the Inner Sect? Because of this, the competition in the Outer Disciples of the Beast Taming Sect is also the most fierce. From the moment all Outer Disciples join, not only do they have to compete with disciples from the same year, but they also have to compete with the older disciples. Frankly speaking, although the Outer Sect of the Beast Taming Sect is not as harsh as some extreme Sects or like the Demon Sect¡¯s poison-nourishing cultivation style, for those who want to enter the Inner Sect, it¡¯s not much different. The only difference is that their struggle is external, not internal. Ordinary disciples wanting to obtain cultivation resources to nurture Spiritual Beasts find that relying solely on doing servant duties for the Sect and earning a few Spirit Stones is far from enough. They can only desperately compete outside, surviving the survival of the fittest, and only the very best among those who ultimately survive might have a chance to be accepted into the Inner Sect.¡± ¡°Is it really that dangerous?¡± Qin Xi looked incredulously at this Clan Uncle. She felt that what she heard today was totally different from her previous impression of the Sect. ¡°Exactly, once your cultivation reaches, the Foreign Affairs Hall of the Sect will have many tasks for you to choose from.¡± Qin Ying knew his words had greatly shocked them, but he still said, ¡°Our Qin Family is just a small clan. If you want to enter the Inner Sect, merely relying on the family¡¯s resources isn¡¯t enough. You will have to venture out of the Mountain Gate and acquire more resources yourself. Even if you want to advance to Foundation Establishment, you also have to take on relatively dangerous tasks once your cultivation reaches a certain realm in order to obtain more rewards from the Sect. Of course, if you feel the outside is too dangerous and think the tasks risk your lives too much, then don¡¯t take them. Just like me, like most ordinary Outer Disciples, stay in the Mountain, contribute faithfully to the Sect, and you¡¯ll definitely not encounter danger. Otherwise, you might end up like the two family members from the previous generation who joined the Sect and died during a mission.¡± ¡°If you¡¯re not content with this, then go fight for it yourself, struggle to do everything to enter the Inner Sect. Only by entering the Inner Sect can you shed the identity of a Servant Disciple, receive the true teachings of the Beast Taming Sect, gain a vast amount of cultivation resources from the Sect, get the best Spiritual Beasts, and receive the best treatment.¡± While saying this, Qin Ying¡¯s face also bore a hint of longing. Regrettably, ever since he encountered danger during a team mission with fellow disciples in his earlier years, where all the cultivators died except for him who barely escaped, he had extinguished the thought of fighting desperately outside. After all, with his mediocre aptitude, even if he tried harder, he might not necessarily advance to Foundation Establishment, so why bother risking his life outside. Thus, he had spent these years at Spiritual Vulture Peak dedicated to researching the methods of nurturing Spiritual Vultures, living quite a stable life. ¡°Today, I¡¯m telling you all this not to encourage you to take on those dangerous missions, nor do I want you to learn from me and barely survive in the Sect for decades. I¡¯m telling you this just to help you understand your current situation. Whatever path you choose to follow in the future, I will not stop you because it¡¯s your own choice.¡± After saying this to them, Qin Ying changed the subject and began explaining some intricacies of the Sect and the taboos of interacting with cultivators from various peaks. He also told the two what they needed to learn as Outer Disciples and shared some experiences on identifying and nurturing Spiritual Beasts. Finally, as the sun tilted westward and the Golden Crow was about to set, Qin Ying somewhat reluctantly stopped his instruction, then said, ¡°Since you¡¯ve just joined the Sect, it¡¯s best to go to the Preaching Pavilion every day to listen to teachings. I won¡¯t keep you any longer, lest I delay your cultivation.¡± Saying so, he took out two Spiritual Beast Bags from his person and handed them over with a smile, ¡°I knew you would definitely come, so I specially exchanged two young Spiritual Vultures with a fellow disciple several days ago. This will give you a chance to practice and get used to the feeling of subduing Spiritual Beasts. Don¡¯t be misled by the fact that these two Spiritual Vultures are not yet mature; actually, their bloodline is quite good, possessing a part of the Rift Wind Vulture¡¯s bloodline, and their Wind Control Divine Power is quite extraordinary. Even if you don¡¯t belong to my Spiritual Vulture Peak or wish to make the Spiritual Vultures your Lifebound Spiritual Beasts, you can still use them as a means of transportation, saving you the trouble of borrowing from other disciples.¡± ¡°This¡­¡± Qin Feng and Qin Xi hadn¡¯t expected this Clan Uncle to actually gift them two large birds, and for a moment they hesitated whether to accept or not. Chapter 77 - Chapter 77: Chapter 76 Azure Dragon Square Seeking the Spiritual Toad Chapter 77: Chapter 76 Azure Dragon Square Seeking the Spiritual Toad The Rift Wind Vulture was a formidable Wind Element Demon Bird, which could wield the power to tear through storms once it reached adulthood, possessing considerable strength. With Uncle Ying¡¯s assets, of course, he couldn¡¯t afford a pure-blooded Rift Wind Vulture, but even a Spiritual Vulture with just a trace of the Rift Wind Vulture¡¯s bloodline was bound to be expensive. Thus, Qin Feng and Qin Xi were somewhat hesitant and didn¡¯t take it immediately. Uncle Ying let out a hearty laugh, placing the Spiritual Beast Bag into their hands, ¡°Don¡¯t be shy, I am your elder. Over the years, I haven¡¯t made much contribution to the family, and now that both of you have joined the Sect, it¡¯s only right for me, as an elder, to show some support. Besides, I was born in Spiritual Vulture Peak, and I have a good relationship with the fellow disciple who sold me these two Spiritual Vultures, so the cost was not too much.¡± ¡°In that case, thank you, Uncle Ying.¡± Seeing this, Qin Feng had no choice but to express their thanks and accept it. ¡°Alright, it¡¯s getting late, you both should head back now.¡± Uncle Ying sent them on their way, admonishing, ¡°If you ever encounter any issues in the future, feel free to come to me. After all, I¡¯ve been in the Sect for decades and know disciples from most of the peaks. I could help you out with problems that arise.¡± ¡°Yes, Uncle Ying, we¡¯ll remember that.¡± After saying goodbye to Uncle Ying, they mounted the Eagle and departed. Qin Feng first dropped Qin Xi off at Creation Peak, then flew through the glittering starry sky on the Eagle. Sitting cross-legged on the Eagle¡¯s back, he pondered the words Uncle Ying had shared with them today. Those words had greatly altered his initial impression of the Beast Taming Sect. He had only known that it was rather difficult for an Outer Disciple to enter the Inner Sect, but never imagined it would be this challenging. Although the Beast Taming Sect didn¡¯t follow the practices of the Poison Nourishing method to cultivate disciples, they still selected the best among the best, having them fight against rival Sects and tempering them through various tasks to ultimately choose the disciples. No wonder his father had harbored such great hopes for him, hoping he would be able to enter the Inner Sect. Qin Feng sighed lightly; without the Demon Refining Pot, an artifact of his own, he almost certainly wouldn¡¯t have the chance to enter the Inner Sect based on his talent and background alone. A sense of pressing weight inevitably rose in his heart. If he continued to cultivate within the Sect, he would hardly receive any resources, and even with the Demon Refining Pot, it wouldn¡¯t be of much use. It appeared he would inevitably have to tread the same path as those disciples eager to join the Inner Sect, facing many dangers and conflicts. However, after a while, he smiled with detachment. Without tempering, how could he stand out among the many Outer Disciples? It¡¯s just tasks, just fighting against rival Sects, and just battling other demons, devils, and monsters, right? With so many wonders in the world, if he didn¡¯t go out to see them, wouldn¡¯t his journey through this life be a waste? He still had the Demon Refining Pot, an artifact that could assist in his cultivation, which already gave him an advantage over the other Outer Disciples. If he were still timid, then it would be better not to venture beyond the Mountain Gate or harbor thoughts of longevity. Since he wished to strive for longevity, how could he allow the fear of danger to stop him from moving forward! Thinking it over, Qin Feng¡¯s mood instantly became much lighter. Traveling through the night, he hurried back to Spiritual Snake Peak. After returning the Eagle, he went back to his own dwelling, took out the Spiritual Vulture that Qin Ying had given him, and pondered over the task of taming the Spiritual Vulture. To be honest, he had just come into contact with the Binding Spell and hadn¡¯t even begun to practice it. Taming the Spiritual Vulture with the Binding Spell would be rather difficult. Although the Spiritual Vulture was not yet mature, its strength was exceptional, already possessing the power of a Qi Refining Middle Stage. It might not be much weaker than him. In such a case, trying to tame the Spiritual Vulture with his own power would certainly present many difficulties. Should he encounter strong resistance while implanting the Binding Spell in the vulture¡¯s Divine Soul, there was a good chance he could injure his Divine Sense. However, there was no need to insist on using the Binding Spell to tame it before his own Binding Spell was refined. Qin Feng chuckled softly and directly took the Spiritual Vulture into the Demon Refining Pot, using the power of the pot to tame the vulture. But he didn¡¯t relax his practice of the Binding Spell. He planned to use the several Spiritual Beasts inside the Demon Refining Pot to test the effectiveness of his newly condensed Binding Spell. After all, when it came time to refine his Lifebound Spiritual Beast, he certainly couldn¡¯t rely on the Demon Refining Pot to do the taming. He would definitely need the Binding Spell, so experimenting a few more times now would be beneficial. At worst, once successful, he could slowly lift the Binding Spell later. It wouldn¡¯t really tie up too much of his Divine Sense¡¯s power with these few Spiritual Beasts. The next day, Qin Feng¡¯s life became more regular: in the morning, he went to the Preaching Pavilion for lectures, in the afternoon, he visited the Book Collection Pavilion at Spiritual Snake Peak to read, and in the evening, he went back to his courtyard for cultivation. Those Foundation Establishment Cultivators at the Preaching Pavilion, and the occasional Golden Core Cultivator, would teach them, the Qi Refining Realm disciples, all kinds of knowledge about cultivation, their understanding of Spiritual Beasts, and the application of various spells. They even passed on how to identify Demon Beasts¡¯ auras in the wild, track their trails, and specialized guidance on the habits of various Demon Beasts and methods of dealing with them. Additionally, some Foundation Establishment Cultivators taught how to harvest materials from Demon Beasts, how to extract Essence Blood, and how to remove skin, fur, bones, and teeth, among others. Countless pieces of knowledge made Qin Feng momentarily forget the heavy pressure and immersed him in the exploration of new knowledge. Every afternoon, he would also go to the Scripture Pavilion on Spiritual Snake Peak to absorb a variety of books and Jade Scrolls¡ªwhether it was common knowledge of cultivation, secrets of the Cultivation World, or various kinds of knowledge about Spiritual Beasts, he did not let any of it pass by him. He felt extremely fortunate now because the Deacon Room had initially assigned him relatively light miscellaneous duties¡ªhe only needed to feed the Cold Ice Python once every few days, and now with the Spiritual Vulture he could ride, he could make the round trip in just an hour, leaving him a large amount of time to fill his relatively lacking cultivation knowledge. If he had, like the other ordinary disciples, been assigned to tedious miscellaneous work, although he would have earned a few more Spirit Stones every month, it would have been too much of a waste of time. Because he was immersed in learning, Qin Feng didn¡¯t pay too much attention to the passage of time, and before he knew it, more than half a year had passed. During this time, he also didn¡¯t forget about helping the Swallowing Sky Toad with its Bloodline fusion. In his spare time from cultivation, he had also flipped through a lot of information about Spiritual Toad beasts in the Scripture Pavilion. After he had diligently studied hundreds of books and Jade Scrolls on Spiritual Toads in the Scripture Pavilion on Spiritual Snake Peak, he had a general direction for the future evolution of the Swallowing Sky Toad. There were many types of Demon Toads, and theoretically, as long as they were of the same kind, the Demon Refining Pot could help with the fusion. However, each fusion required a large amount of Spiritual Energy to assist in the operation of the Demon Refining Pot. Also, as the Swallowing Sky Toad grew stronger in cultivation, the Spiritual Energy required would increase tenfold or a hundredfold. So, Qin Feng was not willing to waste the resource-efficient first fusion on an ordinary Spiritual Toad. At the very least, he would need to find a Spiritual Toad with a strong Bloodline. If the potential was too low, it would not only exhaust all his current resources, but the fusion would also bring little benefit to the Swallowing Sky Toad. Having made up his mind, Qin Feng mounted the Spiritual Vulture and set off straight for Azure Dragon Market. Azure Dragon Market was the largest among the twelve markets controlled by the Beast Taming Sect and was also the headquarters of the Ten Thousand Demons Pavilion. At the headquarters of the Ten Thousand Demons Pavilion, any kind of Demon Beast could be found, and if not, they could be summoned from the Sect at any time. Thus, this was not only the main place for Sect disciples to purchase Demon Beasts, but it also attracted countless cultivators from other regions to buy various kinds of Demon Beasts. Of course, when Qin Feng wanted to find a powerful Bloodline Spiritual Toad, this was his first choice. Chapter 78 - Chapter 78: Chapter 77 Green Water Cold Toad Chapter 78: Chapter 77 Green Water Cold Toad Azure Dragon Square, as the largest marketplace under the control of the Beast Taming Sect, was indeed bustling with activity. Every day there were countless cultivators coming and going. Disciples of the Beast Taming Sect driving Spiritual Beasts and cultivators from other regions would come in and out, spending large amounts of Spirit Stones on various items, making the sect¡¯s coffers overflow. Qin Feng stored his Spiritual Vulture and headed straight for the headquarters of the Ten Thousand Demons Pavilion upon entering the market. The headquarters of the Ten Thousand Demons Pavilion were built with extravagant luxury, covering an area of ten thousand square feet and divided into several zones, each selling different items. Here, the variety of Spiritual Objects was so vast that it could dazzle the eyes. Even cultivators who had not initially planned to buy anything would be attracted by the countless treasures here, kindling a desire to possess them. Each area was crowded, with countless cultivators shuttling back and forth. However, only a few people entered the main building directly opposite the main gate. Because there were no Spiritual Objects displayed for sale in the main building; instead, it was used exclusively to host forces that came to discuss major transactions. The negotiations that happened here involved transactions of Spirit Stones amounting to over one million each. Qin Feng was somewhat bewildered after entering the great door of the Ten Thousand Demons Pavilion. The place was so vast that he was temporarily unable to find where the Spiritual Beasts were being sold. After asking a disciple also clad in a Beast Taming Sect¡¯s magic robe, he finally located the Spiritual Beast Garden, as directed. Once inside the garden, Qin Feng found it brimming not only with numerous Spiritual Beasts which left him amazed but also with an excessive number of cultivators. Although many were merely there to see something exotic, and the actual buyers were still few, it still contributed to an incredibly lively atmosphere. Qin Feng approached the iron cages displaying the Spiritual Beasts. Looking over, he saw rows upon rows, easily numbering in the tens of thousands. Near the entrance of the garden, in several areas, no cages were placed. Instead, prohibitions were set up, confining various large Demon Beasts for people¡¯s viewing pleasure. Here, he saw the enormous Jiao Dragon, the vibrant Phoenix Sparrow, the mountain-like Barbaric Elephant, the Lion covered in fiery flames¡­ Each of these Demon Beasts was not only huge in size but also possessed a strong and formidable aura. Each one had a cultivation level above the level of the Demon Core Realm, making countless people¡¯s hearts stir with desire. Regrettably, only a few could afford such powerful Spiritual Beasts. Qin Feng was likewise awed here, a strong desire welling up within him. If he could own such a powerful Spiritual Beast, he wouldn¡¯t have to be so cautious every day. He could simply ride the Spiritual Beast on journeys across various lands, gaining opportunities for rapid advances in cultivation, and joining the Inner Sect would be as easy as flipping his hand. But he was only fantasizing for now, as these Golden Core Realm Demon Beasts were beyond his current reach. Thus, he quickly turned away and began searching through row after row of Demon Beasts. Moments later, he found the area with the Spiritual Toads. Looking at the Spiritual Toads of various sizes and shapes, Qin Feng scanned quickly and excitedly and soon located the one he liked. It was a Swallowing Star Toad the size of a grinding plate, its back covered with beautiful starlights, resembling the countless stars in the night sky. The Swallowing Sky Toad was also an exotic species, extremely rare, known to draw upon the Nine Heavens Star Power for cultivation. It was said that in the Ancient Demon Realm, there once was a Swallowing Star Toad Demon King that could swallow stars, not only immense in size but also incredibly powerful. Qin Feng felt that the bloodline of this Spiritual Toad was highly compatible with the Swallowing Sky Toad. If the bloodlines were merged, the Swallowing Sky Toad could also draw Star Power for cultivation, which would significantly speed up his advancement. He looked at the price with great joy, but his heart instantly turned cold. Because it was clearly written on a small iron token hanging next to the cage: Exotic Species Spiritual Beast, Swallowing Star Toad, Foundation Establishment Late Stage cultivation, valued at two hundred thousand Spirit Stones. He couldn¡¯t afford two hundred thousand let alone twenty thousand. After a while, Qin Feng steadied his mind and comforted himself internally. After all, the Swallowing Star Toad was too powerful. With his current resources, he was surely unable to aid the Swallowing Sky Toad in merging with this Spiritual Toad¡¯s bloodline. He would better look for a Qi Refinement Realm Spiritual Toad. Forcing himself to suppress the heartache, he turned away from the Swallowing Star Toad and looked towards other Spiritual Toads. Not far away in a cage, there was a Green-Eyed Spirit Toad the size of a cushion. This Spirit Toad excelled in Water Manipulation Divine Power and had the strength of the Foundation Establishment Late Stage. Its price was sixty-eight thousand Spirit Stones, which was about two-thirds cheaper than the Swallowing Star Toad. Qin Feng twitched the corners of his mouth¡ªhe couldn¡¯t afford it either. Looking further, there was the Taiyin Moon Toad, cultivating Power of Taiyin, with boundless potential, priced at two hundred and eighty thousand Spirit Stones. The Three-Eyed Heavenly Toad, born with divine eyes and strong divine skills, was even more expensive¡ªthree hundred and sixty thousand Spirit Stones. Qin Feng was speechless and simply stepped around this area and walked further back. Otherwise, he feared that if he continued looking, he would feel utterly inferior. Honestly speaking, based on their current strength alone, these Spirit Toads were certainly not worth these prices, not even the Spiritual Beasts in the Demon Core Realm could fetch such high prices. But what mattered most in Spiritual Beasts wasn¡¯t their current strength but their bloodline and developmental potential. Ordinary Spiritual Beasts have limited potential, and even if they are momentarily strong, their future prospects are limited, with only a small possibility of advancement. Whereas the Swallowing Star Toad, the Taiyin Moon Toad, and the Three-Eyed Heavenly Toad, although currently not very strong¡ªmost only reaching the Foundation Establishment Late Stage at best¡ªeach had enormous potential. If cultivated properly, they all had the hope of advancing to the Purple Mansion Realm, which explains their high prices. If someone were to buy several Spiritual Beasts and cultivate them well, once they advanced to the Purple Mansion, they could reap huge profits, with their price possibly increasing tenfold or even a hundredfold. Of course, by then, no one would be willing to sell them. Unable to afford these Spiritual Toads with robust bloodlines and high prices, Qin Feng could only continue walking to the back to look at some ordinary, low-level Spiritual Toads. Afterward, he checked out many regular Spirit Toads like the Swamp Poison Toad, Illusion Toad, Golden Thread Spirit Toad, Stone Toad, Arrow Poison Toad, and Tiger Striped Giant Toad, among others. After seeing them all, Qin Feng hesitated. What he truly desired was a Spirit Toad with strong bloodlines; only by merging with those that possessed robust bloodlines could his Swallowing Sky Toad obtain the greatest benefits and advance to the Foundation Establishment Realm in the shortest time, becoming a significant help to him. But a strong bloodline also meant a high price. With the Spirit Stones he had, not to mention not being able to afford those strong-bloodlined Spirit Toads, even selecting a few from the ordinary ones turned out to be expensive. The cheaper ones cost a couple of thousand Spirit Stones and the more expensive ones amounted to several thousands. Although he could afford them, the remaining Spirit Stones would definitely not be enough for the Swallowing Sky Toad¡¯s bloodline merging. No wonder most of the ordinary Outer Disciples at the Beast Taming Sect chose to be servants within the Sect, with only a few elite disciples relentlessly undertaking missions to earn resources and improve themselves. Not to mention anything else, the prices of these Spiritual Beasts alone could deter most people. Of course, being an Outer Disciple didn¡¯t mean there was no chance to obtain a top-level Spiritual Beast without spending Spirit Stones. Aside from the chance of being rewarded for exceptional performance within the Sect, one could also encounter them during missions or journeys and capture them, thereby obtaining a powerful potential Spiritual Beast. Just like Qin Feng himself had fortuitously come across a Swallowing Sky Toad. Although the advancement of the Swallowing Sky Toad was exceedingly slow, it was a naturally born Exotic Species that, once cultivated to a higher realm, its strength would far exceed that of ordinary members of the Demon Clan. Many ambitious disciples didn¡¯t rush to refine their Lifebound Spiritual Beasts. Due to the lack of suitable Spiritual Beasts, some even waited until they were in the Foundation Establishment Realm, still perseverantly searching for Spiritual Beasts that matched their desires. After all, Lifebound Spiritual Beasts were crucial to their future paths. It didn¡¯t matter if the refining was delayed a bit, but if the Lifebound Spiritual Beast had limited potential, their future cultivation to higher realms would also become challenging. This was unacceptable for all disciples who considered themselves prodigies. Qin Feng touched the Storage Bag at his waist and sighed helplessly. Because he didn¡¯t have enough Spirit Stones, he had no choice but to lower his target again, turning his eyes towards the Spirit Toads priced below a thousand. After hesitating for a long time, he eventually settled on a Green Water Cold Toad the size of a watermelon. Chapter 79 - Chapter 79: Chapter 78 Fusion of Bloodlines Chapter 79: Chapter 78 Fusion of Bloodlines Green Water Cold Toad excelled in both Water Element and Ice Element Techniques, able to summon tidal waves and shoot Cold Ice Arrows to harm the enemy. With the strength of this Green Water Cold Toad, if it exerted all its power, it could freeze an area of twenty to thirty zhangs around it¡ªquite a commendable strength among low-level Spiritual Toads. However, its potential was far from comparable to that of the Taiyin Moon Toad and the Three-Eyed Heavenly Toad who had strong bloodlines. But it was already the most suitable Spiritual Toad for Qin Feng¡¯s current financial situation, after he had spent most of the day comparing the types and prices of Spiritual Toads in that area. Although the bloodline of the Green Water Cold Toad was not very robust, its bloodline power was still pretty decent, and the utility of the Water Element Technique was broad. More importantly, it was cheap enough, only requiring six hundred Spirit Stones. Qin Feng directly approached the Servant Disciple at the Ten Thousand Demons Pavilion, bought the Green Water Cold Toad, and after reluctantly looking at the Swallowing Star Toad, Three-Eyed Heavenly Toad, and a few other powerful bloodline Spiritual Toads for a while, he finally turned and left. Once he left the Market, he rode the Spiritual Vulture back to his courtyard in Spiritual Snake Peak. Once back, Qin Feng locked himself in his room and placed most of his Spirit Stones and the Green Water Toad into the Demon Refining Pot. Hum¡­ Driven by his mind, the Demon Refining Pot¡¯s interior space trembled lightly, and a surge of light engulfed the Green Water Spirit Toad. As the light trembled, the Green Water Cold Toad quietly transformed into a mass of blood mist. The blood mist was purified under the light, and then the light enveloped and slowly seeped into the Swallowing Sky Toad. Time passed slowly, and fifteen minutes later, Qin Feng frowned slightly. He sensed that there was a lack of Spiritual Energy coming from the Demon Refining Pot. Though most of the blood mist had already merged into the Swallowing Sky Toad, and even if the process stopped now, the Swallowing Sky Toad would still acquire most of the Green Water Cold Toad¡¯s bloodline power, it certainly wouldn¡¯t be as strong as a complete bloodline fusion. With no other choice, he took out the remaining two thousand Spirit Stones, thought for a moment, but eventually, he decided to keep three hundred for himself and threw the rest into the Demon Refining Pot. About another fifteen minutes later, the bloodline finally merged completely, and the light enveloping the Swallowing Sky Toad in the Demon Refining Pot disappeared. The Swallowing Sky Toad lay on the ground, blinked its large eyes, and felt both puzzled and excited, not knowing why this change had occurred and that it had unexpectedly gained two new abilities under the glow¡¯s irradiation. It felt like the Demon Power in its body could now transform into flowing water or spread as cold air, abilities it had never felt before. While it was still pondering, suddenly, everything brightened, and it found itself in the outer room. Qin Feng held the Swallowing Sky Toad in his hands, which felt ice-cold to the touch. Indeed, there was a new cold energy inside the Swallowing Sky Toad, or else it wouldn¡¯t feel so cold. ¡°This time, to help you merge bloodlines, I have put most of my Spirit Stones into it, I hope you won¡¯t let me down!¡± Qin Feng stroked the Swallowing Sky Toad¡¯s body and said softly. The Swallowing Sky Toad then realized that its master had helped it merge with the bloodlines of other Spiritual Toads. Although it could feel that the other Spiritual Toad¡¯s bloodline was far inferior to its own, it now had the ability to absorb Water Element Spiritual Energy for cultivation. As long as it could cultivate to the Foundation Establishment Realm with Water Element Demon Power, even if the space within its body didn¡¯t advance due to a lack of Spiritual Energy, it would still be considered a Foundation Establishment Spirit Beast with Space Divine Power. ¡°Croak, croak, croak¡­¡± Upon understanding these things, the Swallowing Sky Toad joyously croaked at Qin Feng a few times. Qin Feng was interested in testing to what extent the Swallowing Sky Toad could now control the new abilities of the Green Water Cold Toad¡¯s bloodline. Bloodline abilities are innate, and since the bloodline of the Green Water Cold Toad had merged into the body of Swallowing Sky Toad, Swallowing Sky Toad now could definitely use the original spells of the Green Water Cold Toad, albeit the question was merely of the power¡¯s magnitude. Yet when he glanced at his room, he set aside the thought; he did not want Swallowing Sky Toad to wreak havoc where he lived. Qin Feng took Swallowing Sky Toad out of the courtyard and, mounting the Spiritual Vulture, flew to a lake several miles away to let Swallowing Sky Toad try casting a spell. With a loud croak, as demon energy surged from its body, a wave about a zhang high suddenly rose from the lake and plunged towards its center. Before the wave could fall, Swallowing Sky Toad suddenly opened its mouth and spewed out a breath of cold air, attempting to freeze the wave. However, the cold air inside it was still weak; although it managed to freeze a two-inch-thick layer of ice on the surface of the wave, it could not stop the wave¡¯s momentum. With a crash, the ice shattered, and fragments of cold ice bobbed on the surface of the lake. Swallowing Sky Toad blinked, seemingly dissatisfied, and with another opens of its mouth, it spewed out a Cold Ice Arrow that abruptly flew dozens of zhang and buried deep into the depths of the lake. Qin Feng nodded in satisfaction. Although the cold air inside Swallowing Sky Toad was not yet dense, having such abilities right after fusing the bloodlines was commendable. With its future cultivation, the cold air would naturally become stronger. Moreover, Swallowing Sky Toad used to rely mainly on its tongue as a weapon for attacks, which was limited in range, only capable of attacking within about ten zhang of itself. Now possessing the spell to spit Cold Ice Arrows, it had acquired the capability for long-range attacks, which was a significant improvement over the past. While he was thinking, there suddenly was a disturbance in the lake, and soon after, with a splash, water exploded upward as a seven to eight zhang long green-scaled giant python emerged, raising its head high and fixing its cold and vertical pupils firmly on them. Swallowing Sky Toad, startled, leaped forward abruptly, shielding Qin Feng with a loud croak, ready to spurt out a Cold Ice Arrow at the giant snake in the lake. ¡°Don¡¯t be reckless.¡± Qin Feng quickly halted Swallowing Sky Toad, gripping its mouth with his hand and holding it. Then he spoke to the giant snake in the lake, ¡°My spiritual beast was merely testing its spells here and didn¡¯t mean to disturb you. Please excuse us; we are leaving now.¡± After saying so, he bowed to the giant snake and turned to leave. This was a giant snake bred by the Spiritual Snake Peak, presumably disturbed from its slumber when Swallowing Sky Toad¡¯s ice arrow shot into the lake, causing it to surface and investigate. The giant snake was not weak by any means, with its seven to eight zhang long body and dense demon energy, it should possess the strength of the Peak of Foundation Establishment and wasn¡¯t far from condensing its Demon Pill. However, since Qin Feng was a disciple of the Spiritual Snake Peak, it naturally did not dare harm him. Seeing the other party leaving with the little toad that had disturbed its peaceful slumber, the giant snake also retracted back into the water, disappearing from sight. Qin Feng returned to the courtyard and casually let Swallowing Sky Toad absorb spiritual energy and cultivate on its own, while he sat cross-legged on a cushion, absorbing the spiritual energy from the previously used Demon Refining Pot into his body. Since joining the Spiritual Snake Peak half a year ago, the spiritual energy here far surpassed that of his hometown, Kun City. Coupled with his already quick cultivation pace, he had progressed from the initial stages of the fourth layer of Qi Refinement upon entering the Mountain Gate to reach the peak, and now, refining the spiritual energy in the Demon Refining Pot, he had directly broken through to the fifth layer. Moreover, the spiritual energy was not yet fully exhausted. Once he finished refining it entirely, he would not be too far from reaching the sixth layer. He was elated in his heart; given his usual pace of cultivation, even without any additional aid and just proceeding with his training, he could break through to the sixth layer of Qi Refinement by the year¡¯s end. But after his moment of joy, thinking about his now empty Storage Bag again made him sigh. He now understood the words of his clan uncle, Qin Ying. No wonder the Inner Sect hesitated to accept more disciples; nurturing spiritual beasts truly was like watching money flow like water. This was merely helping Swallowing Sky Toad fuse with a bloodline once, and it had nearly drained all his savings. If, in the future, he acquired other spiritual beasts and nurtured them this way, even selling himself wouldn¡¯t garner enough Spirit Stones! Clearly, he should not rely on spending Spirit Stones to acquire spiritual beasts in the future; he needed to find ways to obtain other spiritual beasts and resources. ps: Last night my eyes were also uncomfortable, so I finished typing early and shut down the computer. This morning when I woke up and saw that this chapter was still sitting in the draft box and hadn¡¯t been uploaded, I was truly speechless. Chapter 80 - Chapter 80: Chapter 79 Trial Land Chapter 80: Chapter 79 Trial Land Although buying Spiritual Beasts directly from the Ten Thousand Demons Pavilion was simple and quick, Qin Feng simply could not afford those with powerful bloodlines. He couldn¡¯t always rely on merging with commonplace Spiritual Beasts. As the Swallowing Sky Toad grew, it would provide limited help, so he still needed to find a way to get a few Spiritual Toads with potent bloodline potential in the future. Sigh, this was forcing him to be like those elite disciples who only took on Sect tasks and ventured outside to find opportunities and Spiritual Beasts. However, while Sect tasks did carry certain risks, danger often coexisted with opportunity. As long as he was cautious, he would have a chance to amass more Spiritual Beasts as subordinates in the future, significantly increasing his chances of survival compared to ordinary disciples. Typically, Outer Disciples in the Qi Refining Realm wouldn¡¯t have many Spiritual Beasts with them, aside from their Lifebound Spiritual Beasts; possessing three or four to assist in battle was already considered quite luxurious. After all, maintaining so many Spiritual Beasts not only required more resources but also consumed a lot of Divine Sense. Once too many Spiritual Beasts were tamed, being overly stretched thin on Divine Sense could slow down their Cultivation progress, a loss outweighing the gains. But Qin Feng was different; he possessed the Demon Refining Pot and didn¡¯t have to worry about the Divine Sense issue. As long as the small area within the Demon Refining Pot could handle it, he could tame more Spiritual Beasts. If he ever truly fell into a trap and was surrounded by enemies, being able to release more Spiritual Beasts would allow him to counterattack all adversaries. Even Foundation Establishment Cultivators wouldn¡¯t likely withstand a relentless siege from Qi Refining Realm Demon Beasts. Having thought this through, Qin Feng wasn¡¯t in a hurry to take on any Sect tasks immediately. As a disciple who had just joined this year, the Sect would surely take care of him for the first year. For instance, many new disciples only needed to do half a day¡¯s servant work, with the rest of the time free for learning various Cultivation knowledge. Qin Feng felt that he could definitely take advantage of this period to learn more and practice several Spells, waiting until the year was over before heading to the Foreign Affairs Hall to take on tasks. Moreover, he was confident that by the end of this year, he would advance to the sixth level of Qi Refinement, and by then, the Spirit Stones supported by his family for him and Qin Xi would have been delivered. Previously, he had slain a few Loose Cultivators in Tieling Market who had sought to ambush him, acquiring several Techniques useful for the family. Therefore, the Clan Leader rewarded him with doubled resources for the next three years from the family, amounting to six hundred Spirit Stones annually, plus the three hundred he currently had, along with other miscellaneous items, which also tallied up to some value in Spirit Stones. Calculating this way, by the end of the year, he would have a total of over a thousand Spirit Stones. If he invested them all into the Demon Refining Pot to refine them into pure Spiritual Energy, it was very possible that he could break through to the seventh level of Qi Refinement and reach the late-stage Cultivation Realm in one fell swoop. Having late-stage Qi Refinement Realm ability for taking on Sect missions would give him greater confidence. Moreover, since he had only joined the Sect recently, his overall experience paled in comparison to elder disciples. To acquire resources during missions, he needed to know more. Otherwise, even with benefits right before his eyes, he could likely miss out on opportunities due to recognition failures. With this realization, Qin Feng directed more energy into studying; not only did he attend teachings at the Preaching Pavilion daily, but he also frequented the Scripture Pavilion to browse various texts, such that apart from Liu Wuxiang, with whom he was relatively familiar, he barely spoke much with other disciples who had joined the Sect together with him. And his diligent attitude had also influenced Liu Wuxiang, causing the young man to frequently join him in the Book Collection Pavilion to sift through various texts. Qin Feng felt that the disciples of the Beast Taming Sect should be considered very knowledgeable and talented cultivators, as they needed to learn an extensive array of subjects. Even specializing in the knowledge of a single type of Spiritual Beast could take years of dedicated study. Those disciples who often undertook missions outdoors and roamed through wilderness and mountains needed to understand as much as possible about the Magic Divine Powers, habits, and exploitable weaknesses of various Demon Beasts. When immersed in the pursuit of knowledge, time passed exceedingly quickly, and before they knew it, several months had slipped by. One day, Liu Xuanling gathered all the new disciples to announce something, ¡°All disciples, one year after your initiation, the Sect will give you a chance to undertake a trial to find a suitable Spiritual Beast. The trial lands of the one hundred and eight peaks of the Outer Sect differ, but generally, they are not too dangerous. After all, most of you have just joined the Sect for a year, and you are mostly in the Qi Refining Early Stage, so the Sect wouldn¡¯t send you to exceedingly perilous areas. However, if some of you believe your strength is adequate and choose to venture deeper in search of better Spiritual Beasts, that is up to you.¡± Liu Xuanling¡¯s tone was indifferent, ¡°The trial land for my Spiritual Snake Peak is in Mist Swamp. Let me remind you that this swamp is teeming with Poison Insects and many of the Demon Beasts living there are adept at camouflage. It would be best if you prepared in advance to avoid panic when the time comes. This time, Elder Yin Qi will lead the team. Later, each of you will receive a Spirit Talisman for emergency use; if you face danger, you can activate it. However, whether you can hold on until Elder Yin Qi arrives will depend on your luck. After all, Mist Swamp is vast, and you will definitely not stay together. If you scatter in different directions to seek your own fortunes, Elder Yin Qi might not be able to reach you in time. Therefore, I advise those of you who are not strong, not to wander around like those disciples with higher Cultivation and end up losing lives as has often happened in the past.¡± These words immediately caused unease and worry among the disciples. They had initially thought that the Sect arranging trials was an opportunity to find Spiritual Beasts, not anticipating the danger. However, they couldn¡¯t object, after all, the Sect couldn¡¯t possibly arrange for highly cultivated cultivators to provide one-on-one protection during the trial. On the other hand, those disciples from noble families seemed unperturbed; they had long been aware of these matters and, possessing higher levels of Cultivation and some already in the Qi Refining Late Stage, believed they were well-prepared and considered the trial for new disciples below their concern. In fact, Liu Xuanling left out some details. The trial lands for new disciples had been cleared by the Sect beforehand and weren¡¯t dangerous. Essentially, these trials were intended by the Sect to test the disciples¡¯ Cultivation and knowledge, while also giving them a chance to find a Spiritual Beast. Even if many disciples were lacking in Cultivation, as long as their knowledge was solid, they could still find their opportunities in the trial lands. It all depended on whether they had listened attentively in the Preaching Pavilion and mastered the teachings passed down by their predecessors. ¡°You have two days to prepare. Gather here the morning after next; do not miss the time, as no one will wait for you.¡± With a lazy wave of his hand, Liu Xuanling said, ¡°Alright, I¡¯ve said all I need to, you can disperse now.¡± Chapter 81 - Chapter 81: Chapter 80 Elder Yin 7 Chapter 81: Chapter 80 Elder Yin 7 Qin Feng returned to his residence and wrote a message on a piece of Talisman Paper about the trial he was about to participate in. He then summoned a small Green Bird, letting it take the Talisman Paper to find Qin Xi, and asked whether the Creation Peak, where his younger cousin resided, also had a trial, and if it might be dangerous. This kind of Green Bird was a low-level Spiritual Bird specifically nurtured by the Beast Taming Sect¡¯s Mystic Bird Peak for delivering messages. Similar birds such as Skylarks, Yellow Orioles, and Painted-Skin Birds were also used for this purpose. Not only were they exceedingly fast in flight, but they also possessed high Spiritual Nature, making them difficult to capture by outsiders, hence they were quite popular among the Outer Disciples. Soon, Qin Xi sent a reply, informing him that the new disciples at Creation Peak also faced a trial, but it was not in the same location as Spiritual Snake Peak, nor was it in a poison and miasma-filled swamp like the Mist Swamp; instead, it was in a beautifully scenic area. This was because the Master of Creation Peak had recently been invited to attend the grand Baihua Conference by Baihua Palace. Since Creation Peak had altogether accepted only three disciples this year, they decided to simply bring them all to visit Baihua Palace, traveling around Baihua Valley nearby as their trial. This made Qin Feng feel extremely envious. Both were trials, yet why did he have to venture into a swamp teeming with poison and miasma, while Creation Peak could go to Baihua Palace, the disparity was just too great. Baihua Palace was quite renowned in the Southern Domain, with its disciples all being women of stunning beauty. Their cultivation method was also related to various Spirit Flowers, and their feats of spellcasting were magnificent and extremely beautiful, earning them the title of Fairies among the Flowers in the Cultivation World. As Baihua Palace always maintained neutrality and hardly engaged in conflicts with other Sects, they were all the more pursued by cultivators. Moreover, their disciples were not forbidden from marriage, resulting in many female disciples marrying into noble clans and powerful Sects, as well as several ladies from great families entering Baihua Palace for cultivation. Although the strength of Baihua Palace was not considered very strong, their network was extensive, and few would provoke this Sect, for it might lead to the intervention of some powerful figure related by marriage to their disciples. Knowing that Qin Xi was heading to Baihua Palace, Qin Feng put his mind at ease, seeing that her trial would definitely not encounter any danger. Just three disciples, and they were accompanying the Golden Core Realm Master of Creation Peak; encountering any danger would indeed be strange. No longer worried about Qin Xi, he began to consider his own trial. After some thought, he rose and made his way to the Scripture Pavilion again, where he found and reviewed several books relevant to swamps, giving him a rough idea of what to expect. After leaving the Scripture Pavilion, Qin Feng rode his Spiritual Vulture directly to Qingyun Square. He planned to purchase some items there, such as Detoxification Pills, Anti-Miasma Pills, and Insect Repellent Powder. In terms of detoxification and insect repelling medicines in the Southern Domain, aside from the Five Poisons Sect, which could compete with the Beast Taming Sect, other Sects were somewhat inferior. As a disciple of the Beast Taming Sect, Qin Feng naturally considered supporting his own Sect first. Therefore, Qin Feng did not head anywhere else but directly to the Ten Thousand Demons Pavilion. Not only could he buy the best products there, but he could also get a 10% discount by using his identity as an Outer Disciple of the Beast Taming Sect. Besides these items, Qin Feng also bought more than ten first-tier, high-quality Spirit Talismans, supplementing the two second-tier Spirit Talismans he already had, which ensured his safety during the trial. After all, places designated for new disciples¡¯ trials generally didn¡¯t contain anything too perilous. Just before leaving, he purchased some Snake Repelling Powder made from Impatiens and Wild Cassia. While this product wouldn¡¯t have much effect on fully-enlightened Snake Demons, it could still instinctively repel snake creatures. With this, he could find a place to rest in the swamp without the disturbance of snakes or insects. After preparing thoroughly, Qin Feng was full of confidence. Moreover, with the assistance of the several Spiritual Beasts in the Demon Refining Pot, he believed he could reap significant benefits from the trial. Two days later, early in the morning. All the new disciples had gathered in the small square of Spiritual Snake Peak. No one dared to be late for the Sect trial, especially the Ordinary Disciples. Compared to the disciples from prominent families, they had fewer opportunities to obtain Spiritual Beasts and certainly wouldn¡¯t pass up such a great chance. Standing in front of these disciples were ten Foundation Establishment Realm Deacon Disciples from Spiritual Snake Peak. They would also accompany the group to the Mist Swamp, safeguarding the disciples. Given that the Mist Swamp stretched over hundreds of miles, although these disciples might not dare to venture too deeply, having the disciples scatter in all directions made it impossible for a single Golden Core Elder to look after everyone adequately. Thus, each time the Sect held a trial, several more Foundation Establishment Disciples would usually be arranged to accompany them. Of course, peaks with fewer disciples like Creation Peak did not need this arrangement. The crowd did not have to wait long, just a moment later, an elder with a stern face descended from the sky and landed in front of everyone. The elder had graying hair and a cold gaze. As his eyes swept over the disciples, they all couldn¡¯t help feeling tightened inside, as if a hidden viper had targeted them, sending shivers down their spines. ¡°Disciples pay respects to Elder Yin.¡± The disciples quickly bowed deeply, not daring to show the slightest disrespect. Because Elder Yin Qi was known for his gloomy character and rarely smiled, as if he was always ready to pounce to kill, no disciple dared to be impolite in front of this elder. Elder Yin Qi wasn¡¯t the seventh elder in rank; his name was simply Yin Qi. In the entire Spiritual Snake Peak, only Liu Xuanling would call him by his name. Everyone else, including the other Golden Core Elder, would respectfully address him as Elder Yin. After glancing at the disciples and seeing that everyone had arrived, Elder Yin Qi nodded slightly. With a wave of his sleeve, he released a Flying Boat. Although it was not as massive as the tower ships used to welcome new disciples outside the Sect, it was still large enough to carry the more than a hundred people including Qin Feng. ¡°Get on, prepare to depart.¡± His voice was raspy, almost serpent-like, giving a strangely eerie feeling to those who heard it. ¡°Quick, hurry onto the Flying Boat.¡± The Foundation Establishment Disciples urged everyone to avoid wasting time, lest they displease Elder Yin Qi. There were few on Spiritual Snake Peak who weren¡¯t afraid of Elder Yin Qi. The group of disciples each used their own methods to leap onto the Flying Boat. Even the disciples in the Qi Refining Early Stage, aided by the Light Body Skill, could jump up to several meters. Thus, the disciples one by one briskly boarded the Flying Boat quickly and agilely, taking only a dozen or so breaths to all get on board. Elder Yin Qi¡¯s figure flashed, and he directly entered the Flying Boat¡¯s cabin. He didn¡¯t need a Spiritual Beast to pull the Flying Boat; instead, he directly commanded it to soar into the sky using his True Yuan, and in an instant, they had left the Mountain Gate, flying southward. PS: Special thanks to the generous supporters, deeply appreciated. Chapter 82 - Chapter 82: Chapter 81 Mist Swamp Chapter 82: Chapter 81 Mist Swamp Mist Swamp, not too far from Beast Taming Sect¡¯s Manghuang Mountain, lay eight thousand li to the south after leaving the Mountain Gate. This place, located deep within the jungle, was originally abundant with flora. However, due to its slightly lower terrain, it would be covered in water every rainy season, thus gradually forming a swamp over the years. The damp and warm climate nourished countless Poison Insects and various birds and beasts; over time, it also gave birth to many creatures that learned to absorb nature¡¯s spiritual energy and the essence of the sun and moon. A flying boat, several dozen zhang long, broke through the gloomy clouds and arrived at a clearing on the outskirts of the swamp, descending slowly. ¡°Alright, I¡¯ve already given you all the necessary warnings,¡± said Elder Yin Qi, ¡°I won¡¯t say much more, just one sentence: your life is your own. Don¡¯t try to act tough. If you encounter danger, quickly activate the Spirit Talisman for preserving life. I, along with nearby Foundation Establishment Disciples, will see it and come to your rescue.¡± Although Elder Yin Qi¡¯s face looked sinister and he didn¡¯t seem like a good person¡ªwhich he indeed wasn¡¯t¡ªhe still harbored some caring intentions toward the disciples of his own sect. After his warning, he waved his hand, signaling the disciples to depart on their own. The disciples respectfully saluted Elder Yin Qi and then jumped off the flying boat one after another, heading toward the swamp. Qin Feng was comparatively mature, so unlike the other youths, he didn¡¯t rush directly into the swamp as if delaying would mean all the benefits would be seized by others. These disciples, after all, were still teenagers; their considerations could not be too thorough. Hence, it didn¡¯t take long for one of them to accidentally step into a poisonous area, nearly becoming poisoned on the spot. Fortunately, being cultivators, their reactions were fairly quick. They promptly sealed their noses and mouths, retreated a few steps, circulated their cultivation technique to expel the poison absorbed into their bodies, and swallowed an Elixir Pill to counteract the poison. Thus, they avoided becoming the first disciple to fail the trial upon entering the swamp. Seeing this, the other disciples took heed and became cautious. Whenever they saw abnormal mist ahead, they would detour far around it. Qin Feng shook his head. In his view, since the swamp was so vast and likely teeming with Low Rank Demon Beasts and Spiritual Medicine, there was absolutely no need to worry about not encountering Demon Beasts; otherwise, the Sect wouldn¡¯t have arranged for them to undergo a trial here. He first scanned the area around him and observed the terrain, then looked toward the distance. Although it was daytime, the air was still filled with a faint mist, obstructing his sight and allowing him to see only vaguely to a distance of about a hundred zhang. The sky looked rather overcast, as if it was going to rain soon. However, with such oppressive weather, even if it did rain, it wouldn¡¯t be heavy, so they needn¡¯t worry about the water level in the swamp rising and increasing the difficulty of their trial. ¡°Senior Brother, I¡¯m going ahead,¡± said Liu Wuxiang, glancing around a few times, seemingly unable to contain his impatience, to Qin Feng. ¡°Alright, be careful. There are some creatures in the swamp adept at hiding their presence; don¡¯t let them catch you off guard,¡± Qin Feng cautioned. At Spiritual Snake Peak, Liu Wuxiang was the person Qin Feng got along with best. The two not only attended lectures together at the Preaching Pavilion every day but also frequently visited the Scripture Pavilion to read various scriptures. Spending much time together, they naturally developed a very good relationship. However, this trial was not a mission, but a test by the Sect for them, requiring them to complete the trial individually. Otherwise, if a group of them teamed up to kill a Qi Refining Realm Demon Beast, it would be too simple, rendering the trial meaningless. Therefore, they couldn¡¯t form teams for the trial and had to act individually. After Liu Wuxiang left, Qin Feng didn¡¯t linger. He randomly chose a relatively walkable direction, cast the Light Body Spell on himself to avoid getting trapped in swamp mire, and then he began walking forward. Behind him, Elder Yin Qi and the dozen or so Foundation Establishment Cultivators took to the skies, following from a distance. Unless these disciples called for help, even if they encountered danger, these elders would not intervene casually, as they also didn¡¯t know whether these disciples had other hidden trump cards that could turn the situation around. Moreover, their attention was focused on a region, making it impossible to constantly focus on any specific individual. If someone, unfortunately, got ambushed by a Demon Beast and didn¡¯t have enough time to use a Spirit Talisman to save themselves, then they could only blame their bad luck. Even Elder Yin Qi, the strongest among them, was only a Golden Core Cultivator¡ªhe didn¡¯t have the ability to take care of the entire swamp in an instant. Qin Feng moved lightly, whether it was crossing grassy mudlands or water surfaces, he walked as if on flat ground. This was the effect of the Light Body Skill. As his cultivation grew, the Light Body Skill, a minor spell, appeared more graceful, making his body seem like a falling leaf. With any bit of force, he would float forward by a dozen feet. Suddenly, a poisonous insect leaped out of the grass and fast approached Qin Feng. Swoosh¡­ Before the poisonous insect could get close, the Swallowing Sky Toad caught it with its tongue shot out and reeled it into its mouth. ¡°Croak, croak¡­¡± The Swallowing Sky Toad chirped happily in Qin Feng¡¯s hand. It liked the environment here, with relatively dense Water Element Spirit Qi around. After merging with the Green Water Cold Toad¡¯s bloodline, it had gained the ability to absorb Water Element Spirit Qi for cultivation and was no longer limited to constantly eating food to enhance its Spiritual Power. Of course, compared to the humid water vapor here, it preferred the food even more. Ever since Qin Feng had summoned it from the Demon Refining Pot, it had keenly sensed the numerous poisonous insects hiding in the swamp¡¯s grass, many of which contained some Spiritual Energy, which thrilled it even more. After all, the Swallowing Sky Toad¡¯s bloodline was its foundation; cultivating by absorbing Water Element Spirit Qi was nowhere near as satisfying as devouring food. Thus, as Qin Feng ventured deeper into the swamp, the Swallowing Sky Toad would intermittently stretch out its long tongue, capturing and swallowing the poisonous insects. Qin Feng was indifferent to this and let the Swallowing Sky Toad feed on its own. Now that he had joined the Beast Taming Sect and learned the Beast Taming Technique, he wasn¡¯t worried about anyone discovering he owned a Spiritual Beast. Although he had slightly more Spiritual Beasts than other disciples, it wasn¡¯t something unusual. In the sect, some disciples with extraordinary talents also had more Spiritual Beasts around them. Some were due to their exceptionally strong Divine Sense, which allowed them to tame multiple Spiritual Beasts without affecting their cultivation progress, while others, like Lin Jingxin, had a way to make certain Spiritual Beasts particularly fond of them. Although rare, such individuals would appear every few years. Even if he hadn¡¯t yet revealed the other Spiritual Beasts he carried, exposing them might even build his reputation as a prodigy, certainly garnering attention from the higher-ups in the Sect. Later, when he joined the Inner Sect, he would receive more resources. Qin Feng sped along and in half an hour, he had traveled dozens of miles deep into the swamp. His cultivation was still at the Qi Refining fifth layer peak, just shy of breaking through to the sixth layer. Logically, it would be best not to venture too deeply into the swamp, as the deeper one went, the stronger the Demon Beasts became. However, the Swallowing Sky Toad¡¯s power was now equivalent to a beast at the Qi Refining Perfection Realm. As long as he wasn¡¯t ambushed by a large group of Demon Beasts, Qin Feng felt confident that the Swallowing Sky Toad¡¯s power was sufficient to ensure his safety. Therefore, he had little desire to compete with lower-level disciples for common Demon Beasts at the periphery of the swamp but intended to go deeper and search for more powerful Demon Beasts and resources. As he was walking, Qin Feng suddenly made a soft sound of surprise and his nose twitched slightly. He seemed to smell a faint, elusive fragrance. PS: Please vote for this, brothers, don¡¯t spare me because I¡¯m delicate¡ªI prefer your recommendations to come like a storm. Chapter 83 - Chapter 83: Chapter 82: Bronze Giant Crocodile Chapter 83: Chapter 82: Bronze Giant Crocodile Qin Feng¡¯s expression subtly changed, and he halted his steps, executing the Smell Wind Skill. He reached into the air, grasped a breeze, and brought it to his nose for a gentle sniff. Last year, when he was still with his family, Elder Five had asked his father to go to the Spirit Fruit Garden to look for the Swallowing Sky Toad that was stealing Spirit Fruits. At that time, his father had also used the Smell Wind Skill, leaving Qin Feng envious. Now that he had joined the Beast Taming Sect, he naturally had learned such spell for distinguishing scents. He quickly identified the source of the fragrance from the wind and looked towards the front left. There, in a body of water some dozens of meters away, grew a tricolored exotic flower, the source of the faint, ethereal fragrance. Qin Feng didn¡¯t know the name of this exotic flower. After all, he hadn¡¯t been cultivating for long, and all his energy this past year had been dedicated to learning as much as possible about Spiritual Beasts and Demon Beasts. If a Demon Beast appeared before him, even if unrecognizable, he could make a rough analysis based on its appearance. However, his knowledge of various exotic flowers, spiritual fruits, and spiritual medicines was very lacking. Not recognizing this flower was normal. But not recognizing it didn¡¯t matter as long as he knew it was something valuable. Qin Feng joyfully walked towards the water. He planned to pick the bizarre flower. Merely from the fragrance and spiritual energy it emitted, he knew this flower must be a Spiritual Medicine beneficial for cultivation. Although he didn¡¯t know its specific value, with such abundant spiritual energy that just a whiff of its fragrance revitalized him, it would at least sell for dozens of Spirit Stones. Indeed, only a venture outside for exploration offered such opportunities. In the sect, he couldn¡¯t even dream of earning dozens of Spirit Stones all at once; even earning just a few required him taking care of a Cold Ice Python for a month. However, he didn¡¯t rush headlong to pluck the treasure he saw. This place was the Mist Swamp, teeming with Poison Insects and rampaging Demon Beasts, not the controlled environment of the Beast Taming Sect Mountain Gate, forcing him to be more cautious. With the exotic fragrance that the tricolored flower emitted, he couldn¡¯t be the only one to have smelled it; surely other Demon Beasts also sensed it. Yet to this moment, the flower was still intact in the water, indicating that it must be guarded by a Demon Beast. Moreover, this Beast was not only powerful but also quite clever to not consume the exotic flower to enhance its cultivation, but instead use its scent to lure other Demon Beasts. It surely sought to take this opportunity to devour these other Demon Beasts, perhaps having already attacked more than one. Qin Feng cautiously tiptoed through the underbrush to a spot ten yards away from the water and stopped, no longer advancing. He carefully examined his surroundings; no Demon Beast was lurking in the bushes. In fact, there wasn¡¯t even a single Poison Insect in the bushes around him, plunging the area into eerie silence. Qin Feng squinted toward the murky waters ahead. The water was turbid, obscuring his view of what lay beneath. Qin Feng thought for a moment, then chuckled softly, refraining from projecting his Divine Sense to avoid alarming the Beast hiding beneath. Instead, he gently patted the Swallowing Sky Toad in his hand, conveying his intentions. Then, the Swallowing Sky Toad abruptly opened its mouth, and its tongue, quick as lightning, lashed out towards the exotic flower in the water. With the strength of its tongue, it would easily secure the flower. However, just as the Swallowing Sky Toad was about to succeed, a stream of water suddenly shot up from under the water, making a splash and blocking in front of the exotic flower. Although the Swallowing Sky Toad¡¯s tongue was like a spear and still pierced through the stream, its strength was drained after piercing the water, and it dared not continue to reach for the exotic flower. It quickly retracted its tongue. With a loud bang, the surface of the water exploded, raising a splash more than ten feet high. Immediately afterward, a massive creature emerged from the water, opening its fanged maw aimed at Qin Feng. This Demon Beast had clearly realized that it could not wait for its prey anymore, so it decided to take the initiative. Its body, several meters long, shot forward like an arrow released from its string with fierce wind, pouncing toward him. Qin Feng, who had been on guard, lightly stepped on the ground and retreated several meters, dodging the Demon Beast¡¯s attack. Once he stabilized himself, he took a proper look and realized it was a Bronze Giant Crocodile with a body covered in bronze-colored scales. The Giant Crocodile, more than ten meters long, had its gaping jaw filled with uneven and sharp fangs. Qin Feng was certain that if he hadn¡¯t dodged the crocodile¡¯s pounce, he would have been bitten in half by it. However, no matter how ferocious and cunning this Giant Crocodile was, it was still just a low-level Demon Beast. It could not possibly compare to the intelligence of the Human Clan. Since Qin Feng had already seen through its intent to conceal itself under the water, it certainly couldn¡¯t ambush him. The bronze-colored eyes of the Bronze Giant Crocodile glinted with cruelty. Just as it was about to pounce again and topple the bipedal creature for a sumptuous feast, a sudden croaking sound interrupted. Then, Qin Feng saw a small toad in his hand open its mouth, and immediately several sharp Cold Ice Arrows shot toward the crocodile. The Giant Crocodile shook its head to avoid the vital points on its skull, and with several thudding sounds, the Cold Ice Arrows hit its thick scales. Although these Cold Ice Arrows caused it a heart-piercing pain, apart from intensifying the savage nature in its heart, they did not cause any substantial injury. The Bronze Giant Crocodile was naturally a rugged and heavily-defended Demon Beast, its scales incredibly tough. The Swallowing Sky Toad, having recently merged with the bloodline of a Green Water Cold Toad, did not have sufficient cold energy to pierce through the scales of the Bronze Giant Crocodile with the Cold Ice Arrows. However, the piercing pain on its body still angered the Bronze Giant Crocodile. It opened its massive mouth and emitted a deep and strange sound. Giant Crocodiles do not have vocal cords and usually don¡¯t make any noises, but when they are angered, they will vibrate their throats to produce a sound indicative of their anger. Qin Feng did not expect this Giant Crocodile¡¯s defense to be so strong, its aura clearly having reached the peak of the Qi Refining Realm. No wonder it hadn¡¯t devoured that exotic flower. It had intended to use the exotic flower to lure other Demon Beasts to be devoured, in order to advance to Foundation Establishment. Actually, each time the Sect conducted a trial for new disciples, some unexpected situations would arise. The biggest of these accidents was the appearance of Demon Beasts that far surpassed what the disciples could handle, even though the trial sites had been cleared by Sect disciples in advance. Such incidents still occasionally occurred. Just like the Bronze Giant Crocodile in front of Qin Feng, which might break through the Qi Refining Realm at any moment. If it devoured a few more Demon Beasts and its inner aura became extremely potent, it would advance to Foundation Establishment, potentially causing significant harm to the new disciples. Even though this Giant Crocodile had not yet advanced, it was already at the peak of the Qi Refining Realm, its bronze scales providing formidable defense, making it difficult to kill. Normally, these vicious Demon Beasts were not something ordinary disciples could contend with. However, Qin Feng was not an ordinary disciple, and the Swallowing Sky Toad was not an ordinary Spiritual Beast either. Although the Swallowing Sky Toad¡¯s current strength was low and it had not yet reached the point where it could display the full capabilities of a Space Element Spiritual Beast, the Bronze Giant Crocodile also lacked the strength to devour it. But with its small current physique, it definitely could not withstand a head-on collision with the Bronze Giant Crocodile. Qin Feng¡¯s eyes moved around. It seemed, other methods were necessary to deal with this Bronze Giant Crocodile. Chapter 84 - Chapter 84: Chapter 83 Cultivation Promotion Chapter 84: Chapter 83 Cultivation Promotion Before he could make up his mind, the Bronze Giant Crocodile had already pounced with fierce might. Qin Feng swiftly dodged, hurriedly evading. Had he been struck by the giant crocodile, his small frame, even if not bitten to death, would have been crushed into broken bones and torn ligaments by the opponent¡¯s massive size. However, after dodging the attack, he reached out and summoned the Green Fox from the Demon Refining Pot, which had reached the late stage of Qi Refinement. Before the Green Fox could comprehend the situation, it received orders from Qin Feng and, upon seeing the Bronze Giant Crocodile about to pounce again, it quickly deployed its best Illusion Technique out of shock. Then, just as the Bronze Giant Crocodile was about to strike, its movement halted, stopped in its tracks. For it saw that the human it had considered prey had suddenly transformed into a more than thirty-foot-long Yin Snake, and in front of the Yin Snake was a similarly massive Green Fox. Both Demon Beasts gazed down at it with contempt, as if they could squash it with a mere flick. Even though the Bronze Giant Crocodile was inherently ferocious and knew how to lure other Spiritual Beasts with exotic flowers, its low spiritual intelligence was startled by this sudden scene. Before it could react, it suddenly felt a stabbing pain in its left eye, as the Swallowing Sky Toad took advantage of its entrapment in the illusion, attacking with a Cold Ice Arrow. However, the attack did not take its life but instead, due to the severe pain, allowed it to break free from the illusion. Once it realized that the massive Yin Snake and Green Fox were merely illusions, it became furious. The strength of the Bronze Giant Crocodile was indeed greater than that of the Green Fox, and since it had broken free, even if the Green Fox tried to entrap it in an illusion again, it would be hard to confuse its mind once more. The Bronze Giant Crocodile, nearly mad with pain, crawled forward a few steps and lunged to bite the Green Fox. The Green Fox deftly leaped to the side, evading the crocodile¡¯s bite, prepared to continue using illusion techniques to constrain the crocodile. However, it saw the crocodile roar, its huge tail lashing out and sending the Green Fox flying. Following that, it dodged another Cold Ice Arrow aimed at its right eye by the Swallowing Sky Toad, issuing another roar. The water surged, rolling out waves many meters high toward Qin Feng and the Swallowing Sky Toad. Yet, as the wave was about to pass by it and surge onward, the Swallowing Sky Toad suddenly puffed up its small belly and violently expelled all the cold air within. An instant later, a gust of white, chilling air rushed forth, freezing the water around the crocodile into ice. Though soon, cracks appeared in the large ice block with snapping sounds, broken by the struggling crocodile, its spell had nonetheless lost its effectiveness. Moreover, before the crocodile could completely break free from the ice, the Swallowing Sky Toad¡¯s tongue, sharp as a spear, had already pierced its body once more. The Bronze Giant Crocodile attempted to dodge, but the angle of the Toad¡¯s long tongue shifted, targeting its already blinded left eye, and with a splat, the tongue pierced through the eye socket into the skull. Suffering this severe injury, the crocodile¡¯s body trembled violently, then it collapsed to the ground, quivering a few times before falling utterly silent. ¡°Well done.¡± Qin Feng, pleased, patted the small body of the Swallowing Sky Toad, complimenting it. All of this was under his control. Although the Bronze Giant Crocodile¡¯s strength was formidable and its Bronze Scale Armor was extremely tough, it wasn¡¯t without weaknesses. More importantly, Qin Feng had numerous tactics at hand, from Cold Ice Magic to the illusions of the Green Fox, and under his command, what chance did a simple wild Qi Refining Realm Demon Monster like the Bronze Giant Crocodile have against him? Qin Feng stepped forward and collected the corpse of the Bronze Giant Crocodile into the Demon Refining Pot. He was just a hair¡¯s breadth away from reaching the sixth level of Qi Refinement, so he planned to refine the Bronze Giant Crocodile into pure Spiritual Energy for his own advancement. However, this place was not suitable for cultivation, so it was best to quickly pick the exotic grass and leave to find a safer place to cultivate, lest other Demon Beasts detect the scent of battle and come to sneak an attack. He quickly walked to the edge of the water, not entering himself, but instead had the Swallowing Sky Toad extend its long tongue to roll the exotic grass back. Qin Feng reached out and took the exotic grass from its mouth, placing it in a Jade Box he had prepared in advance. Such exotic grasses are best kept in Sealing Spirit Jade Boxes to prevent the leakage of Spiritual Energy and the loss of medicinal properties. After securing the exotic grass, he did not put the Green Fox back into the Demon Refining Pot but instead called out to it, asking it to scout ahead for an area devoid of Demon Beasts, making his meditation and absorption of Spiritual Energy easier. In midair, a red-eyed crow with a wingspan of about a zhang was gently gliding and circling. The Foundation Establishment Cultivator riding on the crow¡¯s back gave Qin Feng a surprised look. He did not expect that among the new disciples this year, there would be such a character who, though only at the Qi Refining Middle Stage, was able to subdue two late-stage Qi Refining Spiritual Beasts, and in cooperation, could even kill a Qi Refining Peak Bronze Giant Crocodile. This strength was truly commendable. Even those later-stage Qi Refining disciples from notable families had powerful Spiritual Beasts protecting them, but without using additional methods, they might not have been able to handle the fierce Bronze Giant Crocodile. He had originally rushed here upon sensing the intense fluctuations of the battle, thinking the disciple below might retreat defeated, only to find that the Bronze Giant Crocodile was the one killed. However, disciples of the Beast Taming Sect were known for their intricate methods. Having many Spiritual Beasts allowed them to use numerous tactics, and finding a Demon Beast¡¯s weakness to secure a victory was quite normal. Thus, the Foundation Establishment Cultivator quickly turned his attention elsewhere, focusing on other ongoing battles. Under the guidance of the Green Fox, Qin Feng ran for over ten li before they found a relatively secluded area. While there were still many Poison Insects around, there were no signs of other Demon Beasts. Qin Feng nodded in satisfaction and ordered the Green Fox and the Swallowing Sky Toad to protect him while he prepared to cultivate. The Swallowing Sky Toad¡¯s long tongue flashed repeatedly, devouring all the Poison Insects within dozens of zhang, creating a distraction-free environment for its master. Qin Feng was even more pleased with this. Having such a Spiritual Beast capable of dealing with Poison Insects was truly beneficial. Yet, he still set up a tent he had bought from Qingyun Square. Although the tent was made from ordinary materials and didn¡¯t possess much defensive capability, it provided shelter from the wind and the rain and prevented bugs from burrowing up from the ground to bite him. Inside the tent, Qin Feng began his cultivation with peace of mind. This cultivation session went very smoothly; he was already close to the sixth level, and once the Demon Refining Pot refined the Bronze Giant Crocodile into pure Spiritual Energy and he absorbed it, he naturally advanced to the Qi Refining Sixth Realm. PS: My eyes have been uncomfortable recently, and during my hospital visit today, I stopped by the ophthalmology department. The doctor said it was eye pain caused by excessive use, prescribed me some medication, and advised more regular living habits, more exercise, and less computer and smartphone use. I could handle my cervical spine issues, not missing my daily writing even when returning from the hospital after massages, but I really can¡¯t ignore my eye problems. Thus for the next while, I¡¯m forced to say goodbye to my beloved short videos. I¡¯ll temporarily return to two posts per day until my eyes recover. It¡¯s also an opportunity to ponder over the plot development. Regarding the release schedule, it¡¯s still early since I managed to meet the word count for release early just by posting three times a day, as per the editor¡¯s plan. We¡¯re set for the end of the month at the earliest, and it might even be pushed to the start of next month. No need to worry¡ªonce my eyes are better, I¡¯ll resume posting thrice daily. Chapter 85 - Chapter 85: Chapter 84 Two Beavers Gnawing on the Green Willows Chapter 85: Chapter 84 Two Beavers Gnawing on the Green Willows Within the tent, Qin Feng sat cross-legged, refining Spiritual Energy. The Spiritual Energy provided by the Bronze Giant Crocodile was not insubstantial, allowing him to have surplus energy to consolidate his Cultivation at the sixth level of Qi Refining. After he had refined all the Spiritual Energy, his Cultivation at the sixth level of Qi Refining had become thoroughly stable. Qin Feng opened his eyes with a face full of joy, feeling satisfied in his heart. The Demon Refining Pot indeed was a treasured item, and the Mist Swamp was equally a good place; he had only refined a Bronze Giant Crocodile, and it had already stabilized his Cultivation at the sixth level of the Qi Refining Realm. If he hunted a few more Demon Beasts, he might directly break through to the seventh level. After all, the Qi Refining Realm was just the introductory phase, with no significant bottlenecks. Although it¡¯s somewhat harder to break through from the middle to the late stage, the difficulty was limited. At worst, he would just have to refine a few more Demon Beasts, and there was no worry about not being able to advance. At this moment, he was brimming with confidence. It seemed that the time for him to advance to the late stage of Qi Refining would come sooner than he had previously estimated! Just as he was considering where to go next to find Demon Beasts, he suddenly heard a sharp cry of a bird from outside, followed by the sound of something cutting through the air, drawing closer. Qin Feng was startled and hurriedly projected his Divine Sense to find out what was happening. Then he saw a not-so-small White Egret suddenly dive from midair, pecking toward the Swallowing Sky Toad guarding the side of his tent. Was this¡­ mistaking the Swallowing Sky Toad for prey? Qin Feng was speechless. Were you here to hunt, or did you deliver yourself into the Swallowing Sky Toad¡¯s mouth? Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ????????????????????.co It was also because the Swallowing Sky Toad¡¯s outward appearance was so deceptive. Its Space Divine Power could conceal its Demon Energy, so it appeared weak, which is why it was targeted by the White Egret. Indeed, as Qin Feng had anticipated, before the beautifully feathered White Egret could even peck at the Swallowing Sky Toad, he saw the toad open its mouth wide, its tongue shooting out like lightning, which bypassed the egret¡¯s long beak, wrapped around the egret¡¯s slender neck, and pulled it down directly into its gaping maw. The White Egret didn¡¯t understand what had happened to it till its death. Although it had the strength of the Qi Refining Middle Stage, the Swallowing Sky Toad was too quick. Before it had a chance to struggle, it was swallowed into a dark space, becoming food for the toad¡¯s evolution. Qin Feng shook his head, inwardly lamenting the loss. Such a beautiful White Egret being eaten by the Swallowing Sky Toad in one gulp was somewhat anticlimactic. If he had caught and sold it, it would have fetched quite a few Spirit Stones. After all, the appearance of this White Egret was truly beautiful. Just in terms of looks alone, it was much more beautiful than his own Spiritual Vulture mount. Although his Spiritual Vulture was fierce, its bald head really didn¡¯t match up to the word ¡®beautiful.¡¯ Qin Feng got up, packed up his tent, and signaled to the Swallowing Sky Toad and the Green Fox to leave the area. The Mist Swamp spanned hundreds of miles, and aside from the annoying miasma and swamps difficult to escape from, this region could also be considered a good place, with rivers crisscrossing and lush vegetation, home to many species. Apart from the Giant Crocodiles and Pythons at the top of the food chain, there were many birds and beasts, among which a good number were Demon Beasts that understood how to swallow nature¡¯s spiritual energy for Cultivation. With the perceptions of the Green Fox and the Swallowing Sky Toad, they quickly located a Beaver Demon in a small willow grove, crunching on the bark of a tree. If such Demon Beasts had yet to transform, their round bodies could be quite adorable, but the Beaver Demon in front of Qin Feng was eight feet long, not much smaller than an average water buffalo, and naturally, it lacked that endearing appearance. Its teeth were even sharper, severing a willow tree over a hundred years old with just a few bites. Such teeth made Qin Feng¡¯s eyes widen with envy. However, when the Beaver Demon noticed him and then opened its mouth to bite at him, he immediately stopped feeling envious. The Beaver Demon¡¯s teeth were probably much sharper than those of the Giant Crocodile from before; if it really bit him, his bones would be snapped instantly. But this Beaver Demon also didn¡¯t seem too intelligent, otherwise it wouldn¡¯t have attacked him instead of fleeing upon seeing him. Before the Swallowing Sky Toad could act, the Green Fox leaped out, its eyes sparkling as it attempted to confuse the Beaver Demon with an illusion. The moment the Beaver Demon was caught in the illusion, the Green Fox sprang forward, aiming to bite at the Beaver Demon¡¯s thick, short neck. Just as the Beaver Demon was about to die in the jaws of the Green Fox, a vine suddenly flew out from behind another willow tree not far away, lashing toward the Green Fox. With a quick reaction, the Green Fox lightly leaped to dodge the emerald-green vine and turned its head to see another Beaver Demon of the same plump size emerging from behind the willow tree. With the help of its companion, the Beaver Demon that had been confused by the Green Fox¡¯s illusion instantly regained clarity and, together with its ally, charged at the Green Fox. In their minds, this fox that could use illusions was definitely no good thing; it was best to eliminate it first. However, just as they manipulated grass and vines on the ground to block the Green Fox¡¯s retreat and prepared for a direct confrontation, ¡®gua gua¡¯ sounds of frog croaks suddenly rang by their ears. Following that, a tonguelike a sharp sword arrived instantly; even though both Beaver Demons tried to dodge, they were too hasty and couldn¡¯t escape in time. Ultimately, the tongue pierced through the hind leg of one of the Beaver Demons. Simultaneously, Qin Feng was not idle either. He was also casting spells to attack the two Beaver Demon Beasts, testing the potency of his current spellcasting efficacy. The result was somewhat disappointing. Although he had learned quite a few spells at the Beast Taming Sect over the past year, neither his spellcasting speed nor the power of the spells themselves were sufficient to be the decisive factor in the outcome of the battle. Qin Feng sighed softly, realizing that his combat powers indeed were not strong, at least for now he still had to rely on Spiritual Beasts. If only he could, like Fang Zheng, make use of his Lifebound Spiritual Beast to acquire Divine Skills early on. Unfortunately, not to mention his current low level of Dao Cultivation, which left him without the ability to acquire Divine Skills, even if he had the capacity, there was no way to begin the cultivation. Because he did not even have a Lifebound Spiritual Beast, naturally, he could not cultivate Divine Skills. Maybe because these two Beaver Demon Beasts had been gnawing on Spiritual Wood for many years, their Demon Energy within them was of the wood attribute, and the spells they cast were the same. Not only could they release a greenish Demon Energy to hurt their enemies, they were also able to manipulate the wild Spirit Grass growing on the ground to entangle Qin Feng and the Green Fox, causing them to be somewhat in a tight spot for a while. However, these spells had little effect on the diminutive Swallowing Sky Toad. With a push from its hind legs, the Swallowing Sky Toad sprang high into the air. Qin Feng felt a great force emanating from its small body. As he stabilized his hand that almost flung his arm out, the Swallowing Sky Toad had used the momentum of its leap to approach the two Beaver Demons. Its tongue flickered out repeatedly, creating a bloody hole in the Beaver Demon which it had previously injured on the hind leg. With the injury penetrating deep into its organs, the Beaver Demon Beast was severely injured and toppled to the ground, its ferocity gone. The other Beaver Demon tried to rescue its injured companion but by this time the Green Fox had freed itself from the entwining vines, and it bit down on the back of the Beaver Demon¡¯s neck, killing it with a few snaps. Qin Feng breathed a sigh of relief. Although these two Beaver Demons weren¡¯t overly formidable, they were quite tenacious. This kind of spellcasting that manipulated vegetation and vines was a headache for low-level cultivators in combat, as one could easily get entangled if not careful. PS: Brothers, even when besieged by illness, the author has maintained continuous updates; such inspirational and touching deeds had moved me to tears several times. Doesn¡¯t this deserve recommendation tickets as support? Chapter 86 - Chapter 86: Chapter 85: A Line of White Egrets Enters the Jar Chapter 86: Chapter 85: A Line of White Egrets Enters the Jar Qin Feng stepped forward a few paces and examined the two Beaver Demon Beasts before finally rummaging through his belongings, eventually pulling out a pair of Iron Hooks that he had almost forgotten about. Because he rarely had the opportunity to fight with others, and since he had not used these Iron Hooks since his initiation, they had always remained in his Storage Bag. If it hadn¡¯t been for the lack of a handy Magic Artifact at that moment, he might have completely forgotten that he owned such a pair. With these hooks, Qin Feng pried off the teeth of the two Beaver Demon Beasts, especially the two pairs of incisors, strong and sharp, which were definitely good materials for crafting Magic Artifacts. He planned to collect these materials and sell them at the Market once he returned. At the same time, he also planned to dispose of the Iron Hooks and buy a more suitable Magic Artifact when the time came. These hooks were not handy at all; even for processing the materials from the bodies of Demon Beasts, they made him feel incredibly awkward. After he had pried off the sharp large teeth, he waved his hand and put the two Beaver Demon Beasts into the Demon Refining Pot. For now, he would hold on to them and use them for Cultivation later, aiming for a breakthrough to the Qi Refinement Late Stage all at once. With a wave of his hand, the majestic Qin Feng, accompanied by the two Demon Beasts, exited the small grove and continued deeper into the swamp. However, although there were no Demon Beasts above the Foundation Establishment Realm strong enough to overpower them, the swamp was not without other dangers. As they passed a clump of grass, suddenly, the Green Fox, which was scouting ahead, let out a shrill scream, leaping about ten feet high and frantically slapping its body with its paws. Startled, Qin Feng stopped immediately and looked toward the Green Fox. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ????????????????????.co He saw thousands of black Poison Insects crawling all over its body. Originally, a horde of Poison Insects had been inhabiting the grass where the Green Fox walked. These insects fed by sucking the blood of living beings. When the Green Fox attempted to pass through the grass, the scent of a living being triggered the insects, and they buzzed into the air, swarming onto the Green Fox that had first entered the grass. Instantly, the Green Fox¡¯s head and body were covered with large and small Poison Insects, causing it to jump frantically. Despite repeatedly slapping itself with its paws, the insects¡¯ hard carapaces made them difficult to kill in one swipe. Even if some were knocked off, they would quickly fly back up and sink their sharp mouthparts into its skin to suck its blood. Demon Energy furiously surged out of the Green Fox, but its strongest skill was the Illusion Technique, and its other Spells were not powerful enough to get rid of these hard-shelled Poison Insects. Luckily, it was not traveling alone; otherwise, the swarm of insects might have drained it completely dry. Following several steps behind the Green Fox, Qin Feng was shocked as well. While he felt relieved that the Green Fox was scouting ahead, he quickly ordered the Swallowing Sky Toad to help clean up the Poison Insects. With a sweep of its long tongue, the Swallowing Sky Toad devoured all the thousands of Poison Insects in just a few moments, and regardless of their frantic crawling on the Green Fox, they couldn¡¯t escape the fate of being caught by the Swallowing Sky Toad¡¯s tongue. No matter how hard their carapaces were, once inside the Swallowing Sky Toad¡¯s stomach, they would be completely digested. However, the Green Fox was rather miserable during those brief moments as a substantial amount of blood had been sucked from its body, and it was severely poisoned. Although it wasn¡¯t lethal, the poisoning weakened it, leaving it without its previous vigor. With the danger eliminated, they resumed their journey. However, not long after, Qin Feng noticed something was amiss. Because several Poison Insects had bitten the Green Fox¡¯s nose, swelling it up like a black garlic bulb, it lost its original keen sense of smell, making it unable to detect the scent of other Demon Beasts. As for the Swallowing Sky Toad, it was not known for a keen sense of smell. Qin Feng didn¡¯t want to wander randomly relying on luck to find Demon Beasts. Since the Green Fox could no longer detect the scent of other Demon Beasts and was also poisoned, he simply put it back into the Demon Refining Pot for a good rest. He then released one of the three Red-Scaled Snake Demons he had tamed earlier, letting this Qi Refining Middle Stage Snake Demon scout the way. Although not as powerful as the Green Fox, this Snake Demon was perfectly capable of scouting. Red Snake flicked its forked tongue, moving ahead to track other Demon Beasts as instructed by its master. It had to be said that the sense of smell of snakes really had its unique traits; in just a short time, it had found a Qi Refining Middle Stage Swamp Mongoose Demon and a nest of Water Field Rat Demons, which made Qin Feng quite satisfied. The only regret for him was that this Red Snake had its neck bitten off by the strongest Rat Demon during the hunt. After the battle, Qin Feng regretfully tossed the dead body of the Red Snake back into the Demon Refining Pot and casually pulled out a Mountain Wind of about ten feet long to continue scouting ahead. These Snake Demons were not strong and had average talents; keeping them in the Demon Refining Pot also drained his resources, as he had to buy Blood Food to feed them every so often. Qin Feng felt it would be better to focus on quality in the future, as there was no need to waste limited resources on these ordinary Snake Demons with little use. In the future, if he were to subjugate Spiritual Beasts, they had to at least be those with special talents, like the Green Fox. Although its combat power was nowhere near that of the Swallowing Sky Toad, its mastery of Illusion Techniques could still be useful at critical moments. This newly released Mountain Wind was quite fast, moving swiftly like the wind, and soon found a nest of White Egret Demon Birds. This delighted Qin Feng greatly. Previously, during his cultivation, he had felt pity for the White Egret swallowed by the Swallowing Sky Toad. Such a beautiful bird should have been taken to the Market to exchange for Spirit Stones. It was somewhat wasteful to swallow it whole. Unexpectedly, he had so quickly found their nest. However, before he could devise a strategy for battle, the Snake Demon had recklessly burst out of the bushes, exposing itself to the Demon Birds on guard and inadvertently revealing Qin Feng too. ¡°Screeee¡­¡± Sharp cries rang out, and the Demon Birds guarding the nest instantly surrounded the Mountain Wind, pecking it to death in a matter of seconds. This was a nesting site for the White Egret Clan to hatch their offspring, with seven or eight young White Egrets who hadn¡¯t even grown full feathers yet. A Snake Demon suddenly attempting to raid their nest meant no mercy from them. ¡°Useless thing.¡± Qin Feng cursed under his breath in annoyance. But seeing the Demon Birds about to swoop at him caused a tremor in his heart. The Mist Swamp had no Demon Beasts above the Foundation Establishment, but it was home to tribes of Demon Beasts. There were groups of Giant Crocodiles, Rat Demons that burrowed underground, and of course, Demon Birds that liked to nest together. Typically, new disciples in their trials would steer clear of these grouped Demon Beasts to avoid getting surrounded. Otherwise, they might not even escape. Qin Feng was inclined to retreat, but those White Egret Demons had already flapped their wings and were attacking. Even if he wanted to run, he certainly couldn¡¯t outpace the flying White Egret Demons. With no other choice, he could only inwardly curse that foolish Snake Demon while releasing all his fighting beasts. Even the Green Fox, which he had just taken back into the Demon Refining Pot, was let out. Bang! As soon as they were released, two Fox Demons used their Illusion Techniques together, confusing the minds of the White Egret Demons, while the Spiritual Vulture, usually used by Qin Feng as a Riding Tool, fiercely attacked, tearing and biting, quickly overturning a White Egret Demon on the ground. The Swallowing Sky Toad was even more formidable, its long tongue flickering repeatedly, piercing through three White Egret Demon bodies in succession, and the last White Egret Demon was subdued by the two Green Foxes together, swiftly securing victory. It was mainly because these White Egret Demons weren¡¯t strong and had been confused by the Illusion Techniques of the Green Foxes. They couldn¡¯t break free in time, which allowed the Swallowing Sky Toad to launch a swift surprise attack. Qin Feng joyfully prohibited the two severely injured yet not dead White Egret Demons, planning to take them back to sell. Then, he turned his attention to the chirping young White Egrets, secretly making calculations. Moments later, everything returned to normal. After half an hour, a group of White Egrets flew from the distance, returning from their hunt. Chapter 87 - Chapter 87: Chapter 86 Black Water Mysterious Snake Chapter 87: Chapter 86 Black Water Mysterious Snake These White Egrets, which had ventured out to hunt, were clearly still unaware of the danger. While in the sky, they saw everything was as usual below their nests; some White Egrets were strolling around or caring for their chirping chicks, and they thought nothing of it as they descended toward their nest. Then, they realized something was off about the location of the nest¡ªit seemed a bit too cramped. However, before they could figure out what was wrong, suddenly, a large snake sprang out from behind the nest, opened its mouth wide, and attempted to swallow the nestlings. Several adult White Egret Demons were enraged and flapped their wings fiercely, rushing forward to peck the audacious long worm to death and turn it into their meal. Then, something unexpected happened. The moment they pecked at the large snake, it turned into an illusion, causing all their pecks to miss. Before they could recover from their confusion, a large net shimmering with Spirit Light fell from the sky, enveloping all the White Egret Demons. ¡°Hahaha¡­¡± Qin Feng couldn¡¯t help but laugh proudly. Indeed, with a well-laid plan, no Demon Beast could escape. Of course, this was also inseparable from the Illusion Technique of the two Green Foxes. The nest on the ground was real, and so were the few little White Egrets, but the other Egrets were all illusions created by the Green Foxes, including the supposed Snake Demon. The purpose was to gather these White Egret Demons together and capture them all with the Binding Spirit Net. Without the help of the Green Foxes¡¯ Illusion Technique, Qin Feng alone could never have achieved such a feat. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ????????????????????.co However, he didn¡¯t dare to be too proud for long. The Binding Spirit Net was, after all, only a Middle-Grade Magic Artifact with average power; it couldn¡¯t completely seal the Demon Energy inside the bodies of the White Egret Demons. Seeing the White Egret Demon Birds struggling desperately, showing signs of breaking free, Qin Feng hurriedly circulated his True Yuan into the Binding Spirit Net to forcefully suppress them, while he ordered the Swallowing Sky Toad and the others to knock these Demon Birds unconscious. There was no need to kill them this time. Killing them would only allow their energy to be refined into Spiritual Energy in the Demon Refining Pot; it was better to take them back and sell them for Spirit Stones. With those Spirit Stones, even if he put them in the Demon Refining Pot, he could refine more Spiritual Energy, not to mention that he could also trade the Spirit Stones for Elixir Pills, Magic Artifacts, and other resources. With the beauty of the White Egret birds, there was no worry about finding buyers. After the busy work, half an hour later, with the help of several Spiritual Beasts, Qin Feng finally gained complete control over these White Egrets. Including what he had captured earlier, he had caught a total of nine adult White Egret Demon Birds, one of which was at the Late Stage of Qi Refinement, while the rest were ordinary White Egrets at the early and middle stages of the Qi Refining Realm. As for the little White Egrets, he had also stuffed them all into the Spiritual Beast Bag. It wasn¡¯t that he didn¡¯t want to put them in the Demon Refining Pot, but once they were in there, they would be refined by the pot and become Spiritual Beasts controlled by it. With his current Cultivation level, he had no strength to break the Demon Refining Pot¡¯s imprisonment. If he wanted to sell these White Egret Demons for Spirit Stones, he could only put them in the Spiritual Beast Bag. After resting here for a while, Qin Feng, along with several Spiritual Beasts, set off again, delving three hundred miles into the swamp, slaughtering dozens of Demon Beasts, and reaping a rich harvest. By the time he had thoroughly refined those slain Demon Beasts, not to speak of advancing to the seventh level of Qi Refinement, even reaching the eighth level might not be impossible. Moreover, near some of the Demon Beasts¡¯ nests, Spiritual Medicine had appeared, and he had also obtained some materials like scales, claws, and teeth from these Demon Beasts, all of which added up to quite a bit of value in Spirit Stones. Although during these days of battle, the three Snake Demons and the Green Fox at the Qi Refining Middle Stage he had previously subdued had perished, with the Demon Refining Pot by his side, he could always subdue more Demon Beasts whenever necessary. Now, apart from the Swallowing Sky Toad, the Green Fox, and the Spiritual Vulture, he had also newly subdued a not-too-large but incredibly fast Water Snake, a dish-sized, extremely venomous Ghost-Faced Spider, and a fierce Giant Crocodile. The newly acquired three Spiritual Beasts all had the strength of the Late Stage of Qi Refinement. Frankly, Qin Feng hadn¡¯t initially planned to subdue the Giant Crocodile because its size alone told him it would demand a huge appetite, and he wasn¡¯t ready to care for such a gluttonous creature. However, as he observed the Giant Crocodile¡¯s fierce nature and its ferocity in battle, he finally captured it into the Demon Refining Pot to serve as his enforcer. As for the Ghost-Faced Spider, Qin Feng had nearly suffered at its hands when he first encountered it. It was getting late at the time, and to prevent being ambushed by Demon Beasts at night, he sought refuge in what seemed to be a safe grove of trees. Unexpectedly, a Ghost-Faced Spider was hiding in the grove and, taking advantage of the deep night, silently spun its web around the entire area, trapping him without a sound until his Lifebound Spiritual Beasts alerted him. The spider¡¯s threads were not only incredibly tough but also infused with deadly poison. Carelessly touching them could result in the toxin entering one¡¯s body. If it weren¡¯t for Qin Feng¡¯s numerous Spiritual Beasts, which suffered losses breaking through the web, he would¡¯ve hardly escaped. Yet, this encounter sparked his interest in the Ghost-Faced Spider, and instead of killing it, he captured it alive and stored it in the Demon Refining Pot, making it one of his subordinates. Time flew by swiftly, and three days passed in a blink, signaling the trial was nearly over. Qin Feng was too lazy to walk back from the swamp, so he flew back to the Flying Boat parked at the swamp¡¯s edge aboard a Spiritual Vulture. He returned relatively early, and the Flying Boat had only a few disciples who had come back. Moreover, those who had returned were all severely injured, clearly having been rescued by Foundation Establishment Cultivators after activating their life-preserving Spirit Talismans. Their dejected expressions were a dead giveaway that their journey had yielded little. Gradually, more figures emerged from the marsh¡¯s mist, some beaming with joy, others downcast, some injured, and others carrying packages made of Beast Skin. Clearly, those with packages had reaped considerable rewards. It was unknown what treasures they had found in the swamp that even their Storage Bags couldn¡¯t hold, making some disciples¡¯ eyes light up. ¡°Senior Brother, Senior Brother¡­¡± Liu Wuxiang leaped onto the Flying Boat, looking around excitedly before approaching Qin Feng. ¡°How did it go, got a good haul?¡± Qin Feng asked with a smile. Seeing the uncontainable joy on Liu Wuxiang¡¯s face, it was clear the young man had indeed made a significant find, otherwise, he wouldn¡¯t look like that. ¡°Hehe¡­¡± Unable to restrain his pride, Liu Wuxiang laughed a few times before leaning close to Qin Feng and whispering, ¡°Senior Brother, I got lucky this time and caught a young Black Water Mysterious Snake. I plan to raise it as my Lifebound Spiritual Beast.¡± ¡°Oh?¡± Qin Feng was momentarily taken aback, surprised to find such an Exotic Species like the Black Water Mysterious Snake in Mist Swamp. This type of Spiritual Snake was incredibly venomous and adept at wielding Water Element Divine Power, growing extremely powerful once mature. ¡°Congratulations.¡± Qin Feng couldn¡¯t help but punch Liu Wuxiang¡¯s shoulder, ¡°You¡¯re really lucky, kid. Why didn¡¯t I encounter such an Exotic Species Spiritual Snake?¡± Liu Wuxiang¡¯s face was jubilant, unfazed by the punch on his shoulder, and chuckled, ¡°This was just a fortunate coincidence. Don¡¯t worry, Senior Brother, choosing a Lifebound Beast shouldn¡¯t be rushed. You¡¯ll find one eventually.¡± PS: Brothers, leave the recommendation tickets before you go out and flaunt them, otherwise I worry those tickets in your pockets might lead to misbehavior. Chapter 88 - Chapter 88: Chapter 87 White Bone Skeleton Chapter 88: Chapter 87 White Bone Skeleton Between exchanges with Liu Wuxiang, Qin Feng and many other disciples gradually gathered, and Elder Yin Qi, along with those ten Foundation Establishment Cultivators, had all made their appearance. One of the Foundation Establishment Cultivators began to count the numbers but soon frowned. He turned and quietly reported, ¡°Elder, there are two disciples who haven¡¯t returned on time.¡± Elder Yin Qi¡¯s old face darkened, and after several moments of silence, he extended his hand and released a Spiritual Snake. The snake was merely a foot long, emerald green all over, and when it coiled around Elder Yin Qi¡¯s wrist, it looked as exquisite and beautiful as a jade bracelet. Upon Elder Yin Qi¡¯s command, the Spiritual Snake flicked out its tongue, sampling the air momentarily, identifying the auras of all the present disciples before beginning to search for the lingering auras of the two disciples who hadn¡¯t returned. Elder Yin Qi, as the leading elder of this Spiritual Snake Peak trial, had already instructed his Spiritual Beast to memorize the auras of these disciples before they even left the Mountain Gate. It was just that the delicate and petite green snake had gone unnoticed by Qin Feng and the younger generation. The green snake¡¯s form soared through the void, and Elder Yin Qi followed behind without a word, flying deep into the swamp and out of sight in the blink of an eye. Moments later, Elder Yin Qi flew back, waving his sleeve and releasing one unconscious disciple and the white bones of a skeleton picked clean by Poison Insects, bereft of any flesh. The unconscious disciple still looked better off. His face was darkened, but it seemed that Elder Yin Qi had already applied his magic for treatment before bringing him back, and he would be able to wake once the poison within his body was expelled. But the other, having been reduced to a skeleton, was obviously beyond the realm of the living. The stark white skeleton was still dressed in the Magic Robe of an Outer Disciple of the Beast Taming Sect, with the Storage Bag still on, and even the Sect-issued Spirit Talismans meant to save one¡¯s life were intact. However, he had not managed to use them in time¡ªperhaps he had forgotten to in his panic¡ªand now, some sort of Poison Insect in the swamp had gnawed away all the flesh from his body. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ????????????????????.co The other disciples shivered inwardly at the sight, once again realizing the dangers of the Cultivation World. Even in a trial for them as new disciples, there was still the possibility of death. And this trial was the last benefit bestowed by the Sect to them during their time as new disciples; soon after their return, the Sect would welcome a new batch of disciples. By then, they would lose their status as new disciples and, like the older ones who had entered before them, would formally take up the Sect¡¯s Servant work, no longer having so much time to listen at the Preaching Pavilion each day or the leisure to view the volumes in the Scripture Pavilion. Unless they chose to accept potentially dangerous missions from the Foreign Affairs Hall, they would just have to stay at the Sect and dutifully carry out Servant duties. Of course, Servant work had its rewards and could lead to improved strength, but the process of advancement was much slower. However, once their Cultivation reached the Late Stage of Qi Refining, they could then consider whether to take on dangerous missions. Having witnessed their fellow disciples reduced to mere bones, all the disciples felt a heaviness in their hearts. Though they had been happy with the gains from this trial, they now fell silent and lost the desire to talk. ¡°Tsk¡­¡± One of the older Foundation Establishment Cultivators sneered, ¡°What, are you scared now, feeling the pressure of Cultivation? There are plenty of dangers on the path of Cultivation, and ninety-nine percent of Cultivators fall for various reasons on the quest for Longevity, with truly enlightened ones being few and far between.¡± ¡°But cultivators all over the world still pursue the path to longevity with unwavering dedication,¡± he snorted, ¡°even if they have to go through all kinds of hardships and never look back. If you can¡¯t even withstand such a trivial matter, then there¡¯s no need for you to cultivate at all.¡± He let out a cold snort, ¡°Our cultivation is, after all, a defiance of the heavens. Human beings are born with short lifespans, neither possessing the various innate divine abilities of those naturally powerful creatures nor the sharp claws and teeth of birds and beasts. The reason why the Human Clan can stand tall between heaven and earth, becoming sovereigns of this world, is because of their indomitable will. If the ancient ancestors were like you, hesitating at the sight of a dead person, our Human Clan would have been extinct long ago. Where would there be a ¡®now¡¯ for you!¡± His gaze swept through the crowd, observing the expressions of these young men and women, and he spoke slowly, ¡°You all need not overthink. Although the path of cultivation is full of trials and tribulations, compared to those ordinary people who cannot cultivate, you are already very fortunate. Everyone has their own fate, which is preordained by the heavens. Both fortune and misfortune come hand in hand; only by surviving the trials can one enjoy the blessings. The deceased disciple, evidently, was not blessed; hence he fell here. But you are different; you avoided disaster, withstood danger, and through your own efforts, you¡¯ve gained corresponding opportunities. I know that among you, some have found Spiritual Beasts they desire and plan to refine into Lifebound Spiritual Beasts, some have discovered valuable Spiritual Medicine that can improve your cultivation, and some have acquired various Spiritual Materials that can be sold for cultivation resources. All these are the fruits of your cleverness and bravery against Demon Beasts. The very fact that you have these is a success in itself. As long as you work hard in cultivation, you will encounter even more opportunities in the future. Therefore, there is no need to let the death of your fellow disciples spoil your state of mind.¡± ¡°Hehe¡­¡± Another young Foundation Establishment Cultivator chuckled from nearby, ¡°Senior Brother Li is as kind-hearted as ever. It¡¯s just a minor matter, why bother telling them all this? In a few days, they¡¯ll naturally come to terms with it. Even if they don¡¯t, they¡¯ll get used to it after encountering similar situations more frequently in the future.¡± The Foundation Establishment Cultivator known as Senior Brother Li smiled gently, ¡°Looking at them reminds me of my own time when I first joined the Sect. Since I¡¯ve got nothing better to do, I might as well offer them some guidance. Who knows, perhaps in the future, there will be a few outstanding disciples among them.¡± A few Foundation Establishment Cultivators exchanged a few jokes and then dispersed. With their departure, the disciples gradually became more lively again, no longer as silent as before, and even started to trade some of the resources they had obtained. Qin Feng and Liu Wuxiang found a corner to sit down in and talked about some of the experiences they had encountered during their tribulations. Both of them had sizable gains, so naturally, their moods were not as heavy as the others. Qin Feng, needless to say, had slain dozens of Demon Beasts; although most of them were ordinary ones in the early to middle stages of Qi Refinement, the sheer number he had got still made him the disciple with the most bountiful harvest. He just did not show off his achievements, that¡¯s all. As for Liu Wuxiang, this young man had obtained the most valuable prize among all the disciples. Although Qin Feng had the largest number of kills, the combined worth of the Demon Beasts he killed couldn¡¯t match Liu Wuxiang¡¯s Black Water Mysterious Snake. If Liu Wuxiang was willing to sell that Black Water Mysterious Snake, he could easily obtain tens of thousands of Spirit Stones, and that¡¯s only considering the serpent¡¯s current cultivation within the Qi Refinement Realm. But while Spirit Stones are tempting, as a disciple of the Beast Taming Sect, Liu Wuxiang would not abandon his future for them. Compared to Spirit Stones, a formidable Lifebound Spiritual Beast is the true foundation of power for a Beast Taming Sect disciple. Once his cultivation becomes strong, where can¡¯t he earn Spirit Stones? Chapter 89 - Chapter 89: Chapter 88: Returning to Qingyun Square Chapter 89: Chapter 88: Returning to Qingyun Square The Flying Boat sped across the sky, covering thousands of miles in half a day and returning to the gates of Manghuang Mountain. At the peak of Spiritual Snake, the disciples disembarked from the Flying Boat and went their separate ways. They had a few days to adjust themselves; in a few more days, new disciples would join, and they would become senior disciples, starting a new method of cultivation. Except for Qin Feng, who could break through to the Qi Refining Late Stage at any time, only a handful of disciples with the strength of the Qi Refining Late Stage had the opportunity to choose whether to serve in the sect or to go on missions. The other disciples, with their lower cultivation, including Liu Wuxiang, who was only at the Qi Refining Middle Stage, faced far greater dangers once they ventured outside compared to those at the Late Stage. Hence, most ordinary Outer Disciples would stay within the sect to continue doing servant work or opt to work at the Ten Thousand Demons Pavilion or other sect enterprises as servant disciples. After returning to the mountain gate from Mist Swamp, it was late afternoon, and it would be nightfall in an hour or two. Instead of heading directly to the market, Qin Feng decided to rest and would deal with his gains at the market tomorrow. Technically, he could have processed them within the sect¡ªeither at the Foreign Affairs Hall or any peak¡¯s Deacon Room which accepted various spiritual objects obtained by the disciples and rewarded them with merit and prizes. However, Qin Feng, yet to break through the Qi Refining Late Stage, did not wish to explain how a small cultivator at the Qi Refining Middle Stage managed to capture so many Spiritual Beasts; hence, he did not opt to exchange for Spirit Stones and Elixir Pills directly at the Spiritual Snake Peak¡¯s Deacon Room. In his room, Qin Feng sat cross-legged on a cushion, reflecting on the trial, analyzing his performance. He then calmed his spirit and started to cultivate. The Demon Refining Pot trembled slightly, and with a flash of light, it refined the power from the bodies of the dozens of Demon Beasts he had captured into pure Spiritual Energy for him to absorb and refine. As continuous Spiritual Energy surged into his body, he ceaselessly circulated his cultivation technique, first nurturing his Divine Sense with Spiritual Power. When he felt his Divine Sense had reached the peak of his current realm, he began to tackle the bottleneck of the seventh layer of Qi Refining. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ????????????????????.co Ordinarily, disciples needed a period of accumulation to progress from the Qi Refining Middle Stage to the Late Stage, which allowed for a rapid, impactful breakthrough. But Qin Feng did not need to. His True Yuan was sufficiently pure and far denser than that of ordinary disciples. When breaking through realms, he did not need to polish it bit by bit like other disciples. Supported by the continuous pure Spiritual Energy from the Demon Refining Pot, he could just keep assaulting the barrier without fear of exhaustion. With the aid of the vast Spiritual Energy, he broke through the Late Stage¡¯s barrier swiftly and advanced to the seventh level of Qi Refining. Afterward, Qin Feng, pushing onwards, continued absorbing Spiritual Energy until a pain in his meridians made him stop. His meridians were somewhat overwhelmed. Realizing this, he immediately ceased absorbing energy from the Demon Refining Pot and instead used his True Yuan to nourish his meridians, enhancing their resilience. However, this strengthening process was slow. Qin Feng thought it would be better to buy some Spiritual Medicine that could enhance the resilience of his meridians, speeding up his cultivation without having to halt due to inadequate meridian strength despite having surplus Spiritual Energy. Though he hadn¡¯t directly advanced to the eighth level and felt some regret, he didn¡¯t sigh over the matter. With the support of the Demon Refining Pot, he would soon surpass the disciples from prominent families and stand out among all disciples. He considered that, with the Demon Refining Pot, his advancement in cultivation would undoubtedly be swift, seeing no need to remain low-key, which would only raise suspicions. Only by gaining a reputation as a genius would his future cultivation be more convenient. In the eyes of the world, it was normal for a genius to cultivate faster than ordinary people. And for peerless geniuses, even if their cultivation speed was incredibly fast, it would still be acceptable to people. After all, a peerless genius, without overwhelming Qi Fortune and opportunities of the era, wouldn¡¯t deserve such a title. Such geniuses, in fact, were not rare in the Cultivation World; there were always some fortuitously blessed disciples who acquired various opportunities and legacies, advancing to astonishingly high realms at an eye-opening speed. Moreover, the Early Stage of Cultivation itself was an opportunity to advance quickly with ample resources. Though Qin Feng didn¡¯t consider himself comparable to those immensely fortunate peerless geniuses, he believed that, with the Demon Refining Pot, he should at least be stronger than typical geniuses. The next day. Qin Feng got up early in the morning and hurried to Qingyun Market. He needed to quickly deal with this time¡¯s harvest. Collecting various Spiritual Materials was no big deal, but he couldn¡¯t delay dealing with the dozen or so Demon Beasts, large and small, especially the little White Egrets, each of which was begging for food. He didn¡¯t have the energy to care for them. After entering the market, he headed straight for the Ten Thousand Demons Pavilion. Outside the mountain gate of the Beast Taming Sect, no other power dared to compete with the Beast Taming Sect in selling Spiritual Beasts. It wasn¡¯t that the Beast Taming Sect was overbearing and didn¡¯t let other powers do business; it was simply that no one could compete. Thus, in the twelve markets of the Beast Taming Sect, except for a few Outer Disciples of the Beast Taming Sect who incidentally sold a few of the Spiritual Beasts they raised while setting up their stalls, the only place you could see various Spiritual Beasts was the Ten Thousand Demons Pavilion. If Qin Feng wanted to earn more Spirit Stones, he could set up a stall in the market to sell those White Egret Demons. Whether it was fellow disciples or Cultivators from other regions, anyone might buy them. But he didn¡¯t know how long he would need to keep the stall to sell everything. Instead of paying Spirit Stones to rent a stall in the market and wasting his time and energy, it was better to let the Ten Thousand Demons Pavilion handle it. After arriving at the Ten Thousand Demons Pavilion, Qin Feng greeted a young Servant Disciple, ¡°Brother, I¡¯m in your care.¡± All the Servant Disciples of the Ten Thousand Demons Pavilion originated from Outer Disciples of the Beast Taming Sect. Working as servants in the Sect¡¯s external businesses, they actually earned more Spirit Stones than working as servants within the Sect, but they had more tasks and less time for cultivation each day. Additionally, some remote places might even be dangerous. The Beast Taming Sect¡¯s enterprises spread all over, and they needed manpower in many places. If any Outer Disciple felt that their aptitude was insufficient for achieving Foundation Establishment and wanted to earn more Spirit Stones, most would choose to work in the Sect¡¯s external businesses. Seeing him in the garb of an Outer Disciple, the man smiled warmly, ¡°What brings the junior brother here?¡± Qin Feng said, ¡°Brother, I¡¯ve recently captured some Spiritual Beasts and want to sell them. Could you give me an estimate?¡± ¡°Oh, I thought it was something else.¡± The Servant Disciple smiled slightly, ¡°Come with me, I¡¯ll take you to Steward Zhou. We Servant Disciples are only responsible for receiving guests and do not have the authority to purchase goods.¡± ¡°Thank you for the trouble, brother.¡± Qin Feng expressed his gratitude. ¡°No trouble at all, we¡¯re all from the same Sect, no need for formalities.¡± As they spoke, the Servant Disciple led Qin Feng to a room and reported to an elderly Foundation Establishment Cultivator. Steward Zhou sized up Qin Feng and nodded, asking, ¡°What Spiritual Beast are you selling? Show me.¡± ¡°Mainly a nest of White Egret Demons. There are also a few Snake Demons and Giant Crocodiles.¡± As Qin Feng spoke, he took out several Spiritual Beast Bags from his waist and passed them over. Since he didn¡¯t have enough Spiritual Beast Bags, he had stuffed several similar Demon Beasts into one, which enabled him to bring these Demon Beasts back from Mist Swamp. Steward Zhou took them, examined them with his Divine Sense, and even reached in to grab a White Egret Demon to check its feathers. Quite satisfied, he said, ¡°These White Egret Demons are acceptable. I¡¯ll give you three hundred Spirit Stones for the one at the Late Stage of Qi Refinement, two hundred for the two in the Middle Stage, and one hundred for the Early Stage. I¡¯ll count one hundred Spirit Stones for each of those young birds too. Additionally, the few Snake Demons and Giant Crocodiles are of average quality, their War Power and Talent are also average, only considered ordinary Qi Refinement Spiritual Beasts. Normally, the Ten Thousand Demons Pavilion wouldn¡¯t buy beasts of this quality, but seeing your condition, you must have just returned from the Trial Land, right? Consider it the Sect taking care of its disciples. I¡¯ll count one hundred Spirit Stones each for them, how does that sound?¡± PS: There are always brothers urging me to quickly introduce the Lifebound Spiritual Beast. There¡¯s no need to be so impatient; writing a book isn¡¯t like entering a bridal chamber. The plot hasn¡¯t developed to that step yet, and being anxious is useless. As you keep urging me daily, I can only accelerate the pace, hoping that cutting some parts of the plot wouldn¡¯t seem too abrupt. Also, don¡¯t forget to leave your recommendation tickets behind; otherwise, I will definitely take them out for a run again. After all, there aren¡¯t many good men like me who are handsome, dashing, honest, reliable, and loyal left in the world. Chapter 90 - Chapter 90: Chapter 89: A Bowl of Aged Wine Chapter 90: Chapter 89: A Bowl of Aged Wine ¡°Alright.¡± Qin Feng didn¡¯t hesitate at all and nodded in agreement. He knew very well that the Snake Demons and the Giant Crocodile were of average quality not unlike the White Egret Demon, which was not only beautiful but could also be cultivated as a flying Riding Tool. Those Snake Demons and the Giant Crocodile weren¡¯t of much use to the average Cultivator, making them hard to sell. Steward Zhou was willing to take them off his hands, truly a favor done for the sake of the Sect. ¡°I¡¯ve also collected some Spiritual Materials and Spiritual Medicines, please take a look at those as well.¡± Saying this, he took out those materials from his Storage Bag and asked Steward Zhou to give him an estimate. Steward Zhou casually flipped through the items, most of which were materials from Demon Beasts, such as scales, claws, sharp teeth, and Beast Bones. There were also more than twenty types of Spiritual Medicines, a Hive from a Demon Bee, a piece of Wood Heart from a hundred-year-old peach tree, and some pale white Beast Bones. He had dealt with these common Spiritual Materials for years and could estimate their value at a glance, quickly offering a price. Ten Thousand Demons Pavilion wouldn¡¯t cheat their own Disciples in this regard. So, the price they offered was not just fair but even higher than what Qin Feng would get elsewhere, which greatly satisfied him. ¡°One late-stage White Egret Demon, five middle-stage, three early-stage, and eight juvenile White Egrets, worth a total of two thousand four hundred Spirit Stones. Three middle-stage Snake Demons and two Giant Crocodiles, I¡¯ll give you five hundred Spirit Stones. For the rest of the materials and Spiritual Medicines, except for these two which are still decent, the rest are quite common, so I¡¯ll round it up for you, let¡¯s say six hundred Spirit Stones, making a total of three thousand five hundred Spirit Stones for you.¡± Steward Zhou took the Spiritual Beasts and materials and promptly gave him the Spirit Stones, then encouragingly said to Qin Feng, ¡°You¡¯ve done well. It¡¯s rare for an Outer Disciple to have such a bounty all at once. Now that you¡¯ve reached the late stage of Qi Refining and have so many Spirit Stones, focus on your Cultivation after you go back, aim to push your Cultivation even further. Perhaps one day you can even enter the Inner Sect.¡± Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ????????????????????.co ¡°Thank you very much, I appreciate your auspicious words.¡± Qin Feng quickly expressed his thanks and then didn¡¯t delay any further, taking his leave to avoid holding up the business. However, he didn¡¯t leave the Ten Thousand Demons Pavilion but instead went to check out the area where Magic Artifacts were sold. Eventually, he picked a superior-grade Demon Slaying Saber, quite popular among the Outer Disciples of the Beast Taming Sect. As its name suggested, the saber was designed specifically for slaying Demon Beasts. But the reason why the Disciples of the Beast Taming Sect used this kind of Magic Artifact was mainly that the Demon Slaying Saber was particularly suited for harvesting materials from the bodies of Demon Beasts. Whether it was for skinning, cutting meat, boning, or even chopping off horns, it was extremely useful. In fact, the Demon Slaying Saber was an essential item for the Sect¡¯s Disciples when traveling outside. Although it was quite expensive, costing three hundred sixty Spirit Stones, which was more than what he got for the late-stage White Egret Demon, he didn¡¯t hesitate for a second to buy it considering he had just made a tidy profit and was feeling quite wealthy. He then went to the Elixir Pill area and bought a bottle of Expanding Vein Pills to strengthen his meridians and a bottle of Protecting Veins Pills to improve their resilience. The two Elixir Pill bottles cost him another one hundred eighty Spirit Stones. While he lamented the high cost of Elixir Pills, he was also secretly relieved that, to a large extent, he didn¡¯t rely on Elixir Pills for Cultivation, nor did he need to feed his Spiritual Beast Beast Spirit Pills to enhance its Cultivation. Otherwise, given the number of Spirit Stones he had, it wouldn¡¯t take long before they were all squandered. After buying the Magic Artifact and Elixir Pills, he took a stroll in the Spiritual Beast Area. And then, he could only leave the Spiritual Beast Area with a resigned look on his face. He couldn¡¯t afford the Spiritual Beasts that he liked, and he had no interest in the cheaper ones. The main reason was that he wanted to find a Spiritual Toad with an impressive Innate Divine Ability, which would give the Swallowing Sky Toad more formidable powers. Unfortunately, none of the Spiritual Toads with strong Bloodlines were within his budget. Leaving the Ten Thousand Demons Pavilion, Qin Feng strolled leisurely through the marketplace, occasionally pausing to look at the various shops lining the streets and observe the multitude of Spiritual Objects within, broadening his horizons. In the year since he had joined the Sect, he spent his days either rushing to the Preaching Pavilion to listen to teachings or to the Scripture Pavilion to read books, learning various types of knowledge, practicing various spells. He had only visited the marketplace a few times, and even then, it was always in such haste that he never really had the chance to truly wander around the marketplace. Now that he had time, and more importantly, having just made a good sum of money from selling off his items, he decided to stroll through the marketplace to relax his mood. Walking down the streets of Qingyun Square, Qin Feng felt as if his eyes were being opened to a whole new world. He had not expected the Cultivation World to hold so many exotic and unusual things, with some magic artifacts and elixir pills having effects that were simply astonishing. After wandering around for a half-day, Qin Feng suddenly caught the enticing scent of something delicious. Turning his head in the direction of the aroma, he saw a not too large nor too small inn at the street corner ahead, with the sign ¡°Drunken Immortal Inn¡± hanging above the entrance. Qin Feng touched his stomach. During those few days in the Mist Swamp, he had hardly eaten anything proper, and it had been a while since he had a Spiritual Meal. The scent wafting from the inn triggered a craving in his stomach, and so he embarrassingly followed the tantalizing aroma over to the establishment. The Drunken Immortal Inn was an inn that had been passed down through generations. Not only were its Spiritual Meals exceptionally tasty, but its signature Spiritual Wine, the Drunken Immortal Brew, was also irresistible, often drawing old customers to support the business. It was not yet noon, so there weren¡¯t many patrons inside the inn, with only a few tables occupied. Qin Feng picked out a table by the window and sat down. When the waiter came over to serve him, he glanced over the menu hanging on the wall. He didn¡¯t dare order the house specialties, as they were too expensive¡ªeach dish costing dozens of Spirit Stones¡ªa price point not meant for a mere Qi Refining Master to squander casually. He ordered several ordinary Spiritual Meals and a small pot of Drunken Immortal Brew, intending to sample the flavor of this renowned wine. Shortly after, the waiter brought up the dishes he ordered. Qin Feng tasted a few bites. The Spiritual Meals were indeed delicious, and the Spiritual Wine had a sweet and mellow taste, although the specific kind he ordered was rather ordinary and somewhat spicy. As he was concentrating on his meal, he suddenly heard a tender and childlike voice: ¡°Innkeeper¡­¡± Qin Feng looked up upon hearing the voice and saw a cute little girl of about four or five years old, with a rosy, lovable face, standing in front of the counter looking up, her chubby hands holding up a Spirit Stone high: ¡°Give me a bowl of old wine, and a dish of fennel peas too.¡± ¡°Pfft¡­¡± Qin Feng nearly spat out his food. Whose little lass was this, coming here to be amusing? The old shopkeeper, who had been busy tallying up accounts with an abacus behind the counter, stood up and peered out. He then saw a plump little girl standing at the counter, her large, sparkling eyes expectantly fixed on him. ¡°Whose child are you, and how come you¡¯re by yourself? Where are your parents?¡± the old shopkeeper asked. ¡°My sister is buying something across the street. I got hungry when I smelled the scent from your shop, so I came over,¡± replied the soft and cute little girl. ¡°Oh, what would you like to eat? I¡¯ll have someone make it for you,¡± the old shopkeeper spoke kindly. He didn¡¯t make things difficult for the adorable little girl. Instead, he asked gently. ¡°I heard from Daddy that your Drunken Immortal Inn¡¯s old wine is very famous. I want to try it,¡± said the little girl, holding up the Spirit Stone in her hand. ¡°And I would like a dish of fennel peas to go with the wine.¡± Chapter 91 - Chapter 91: Chapter 90 Li Miaozhen of the White Tiger Lineage Chapter 91: Chapter 90 Li Miaozhen of the White Tiger Lineage The shopkeeper was somewhat at a loss for words. Although it was true that his establishment was a tavern, he couldn¡¯t just take any customer¡¯s money. If a young girl ended up getting drunk here, even if her family didn¡¯t come to trouble him, the rumors wouldn¡¯t sound good. Just as he was feeling troubled, he saw another woman walk in from the entrance. Not only was this woman extremely beautiful and tall, but she was also significantly taller than most men, with long and straight legs that made a swishing sound as she walked. She exuded a vigorous heroism unlike the usual softness of other women; there was even a hint of fierceness in the corners of her eyes and brows. Qin Feng glanced at her a few times, admiring such a rare temperament in a woman. However, he didn¡¯t dare look too long because he realized he couldn¡¯t quite see through her cultivation. That was normal; he had just reached the late stage of Qi Refinement, and his vision was limited. Moreover, casually projecting Divine Sense to inspect others was frowned upon and could easily cause dissatisfaction, so of course, he couldn¡¯t determine her cultivation level. ¡°Luoluo, are you being mischievous again?¡± Li Miaozhen¡¯s face showed a hint of helplessness as she quickly approached, poking the little girl¡¯s head with her finger: ¡°Don¡¯t be naughty, what are you doing drinking wine as a child?¡± ¡°Why can¡¯t children drink wine?¡± The little girl named Luoluo protested, ¡°Daddy can drink, mommy can drink, and you, senior sister, often drink too. Why can¡¯t I drink?¡± Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ????????????????????.co ¡°You¡¯re still young, you can¡¯t drink this Spiritual Wine, wait until you¡¯re grown up.¡± Li Miaozhen felt a headache coming on. Fighting and battling were no problem for her, but dealing with kids, especially her younger apprentice sister who was at an age bursting with curiosity about the world, had been quite the handful these last few days. Li Miaozhen sat her little apprentice sister down at a nearby table and ordered several dishes of Spiritual Meals that the child usually enjoyed. Little Luoluo pouted with her tender lips, puffing up her cheeks, seemingly quite displeased. Her curiosity was strong; she had grown interested in Spiritual Wine because she had seen her father drinking quite often. However, she was too young, and the adults naturally wouldn¡¯t let her have any. Today, seizing the chance while her senior sister took her out, she sneaked away hoping to taste Spiritual Wine, and remembered to order a dish of Fennel Peas as a snack like her old man would in the tavern. Unfortunately, before she could succeed, she got caught red-handed by her senior sister. The little girl, with her feet dangling, sat uneasily on the stool wriggling around and looked around the tavern. Her eyes lit up as she saw Qin Feng at the next table taking a swig of Spiritual Wine. Qin Feng had just put down his cup when he noticed the little girl staring intently at the wine pot on his table with shining eyes. Seeing her look, Qin Feng couldn¡¯t help but chuckle and asked her, ¡°Little sister, do you really want to try some wine?¡± ¡°Uh-huh, uh-huh!¡± Luoluo nodded, ¡°Daddy says real men must drink wine, and I want to be a great hero like daddy, which obviously means drinking with a big bowl and eating meat in big bites. Big brother, can you treat me to some wine?¡± ¡°Hehe¡­¡± Qin Feng laughed lightly, noticing that the child was heavily influenced by her father. He glanced at the woman sitting beside Luoluo, thought for a moment, then said with a smile, ¡°It¡¯s not impossible for me to treat you to some wine. However, do you know there are different grades to this drink?¡± ¡°Ah?¡± Luoluo had no idea and shook her little head honestly, ¡°I don¡¯t know.¡± ¡°Ordinary Spiritual Wine, although each has its benefits, is sharp to the taste. Such is considered low-grade and not suitable for you to drink. Only the finest Jadescent Nectar, which is sweet and refreshing, is the real fine wine of this world. However, this wine is extremely rare; I just happen to have a bit of it. If you really want to try, I wouldn¡¯t mind letting you taste it.¡± ¡°Really?¡± The little girl immediately became excited, slid off the stool, and dashed to Qin Feng¡¯s side, her bright eyes curving into crescents, ¡°Jadescent Nectar, I¡¯ve heard my daddy mention it¡ªthat¡¯s Immortal Wine! Even daddy has never had it. Big brother, are you really going to treat me to such Immortal Wine?¡± Li Miaozhen furrowed her brows slightly, looking towards Qin Feng. The young man wouldn¡¯t really dare to give his little apprentice sister wine, would he? However, although she and Luoluo were not wearing the Sect¡¯s Magic Robes, the sleeves of their clothes bore the mark of the Beast Taming Sect, so she believed the young man must have seen it. Thus, she wasn¡¯t too worried about him having any ill intentions. Qin Feng responded to her gaze with a slight smile, signaling there would be no issue, and then he reached out and retrieved a large bowl from an empty table nearby. He said to Luoluo, ¡°Since you want to drink from a big bowl, then I shall fulfill your wish.¡± As they spoke, he quietly played an Eye-Blocking Technique on Luoluo. In a place out of the little girl¡¯s sight, he took out several Ice Spirit Fruits and a few Red Mountain Fruits. Under the pressure of his True Yuan, he directly squeezed the juice into a bowl, then took out a porcelain bottle and poured some honey into the bowl, stirring until it was evenly mixed. Whether it was Spirit Fruit or honey, he had obtained them both in the Mist Swamp. Since Spirit Fruits contained little Spiritual Energy and were not valuable, he hadn¡¯t sold them. As for the honey, he had taken the opportunity to fill a bottle when he was harvesting a Demon Bee¡¯s hive, intending to bring it back as a gift for Qin Xi. The honey produced by Demon Bees contained a fair amount of Spiritual Energy and was one of the main ingredients in making Beauty Pills, making it very popular among female cultivators. While his Eye-Blocking Technique had deceived Luoluo, he had not purposely hidden his actions from Li Miaozhen. In fact, he had even made sure she could see everything clearly to avoid any suspicion of having sinister intentions. Sure enough, upon seeing his actions, Li Miaozhen didn¡¯t interfere. Instead, she watched with interest. Her own little Junior Sister could be a headache when she was being mischievous, and now that she wasn¡¯t clinging to her demanding alcohol, of course, she would not expose Qin Feng¡¯s Eye-Blocking Technique. After the fruit juice and Spiritual Honey were mixed, Qin Feng placed the bowl on the table next to him, ¡°Here, taste this. Is it good or not?¡± Luoluo hopped onto a stool, sat properly, and held the bowl with her chubby little hands, mimicking the bold manner in which her father drank alcohol. After taking a sip, she immediately found this ¡®Jadescent Nectar¡¯ to taste sour, sweet, cold, and refreshing, which was very pleasant, and she instantly grinned from ear to ear. After drinking a few more sips, she asked with slight curiosity, ¡°Why does this Jadescent Nectar smell a bit different from those Spiritual Wines father has?¡± ¡°This is Jadescent Nectar, of course, it¡¯s very different from ordinary Spirits,¡± replied Qin Feng with a smile. He smiled, took another cup, poured her a cup of Spiritual Wine, and laughed, ¡°Try this and you¡¯ll know the huge difference between ordinary Spiritual Wine and Jadescent Nectar.¡± Luoluo took the cup with a puzzled hand, sniffed it, and it seemed to smell much like her father¡¯s Spiritual Wine. She tentatively took a sip and immediately felt a sharp, spicy taste spread in her mouth. With a ¡°pfft,¡± she spat it out. ¡°This Spiritual Wine is way too hard to drink, right?¡± She quickly picked up the large bowl and drank two mouthfuls of ¡®Jadescent Nectar¡¯ to suppress the spicy taste in her mouth before feeling much better. ¡°I never thought father would drink such awful-tasting Spirits. I used to think they were delicious, but they are far inferior to this Jadescent Nectar. Hmph, father said he never had Jadescent Nectar. When I get back, I will definitely boast about it in front of father.¡± The little girl looked proud, and Qin Feng couldn¡¯t help but chuckle. Li Miaozhen blinked her eyes, finding this amusing. She hadn¡¯t expected this bothersome issue, which had troubled her for so long, to be so simply resolved by this young man. From now on, her little Junior Sister likely wouldn¡¯t mention drinking alcohol anymore. And if she still wanted to drink, Li Miaozhen could just replicate this method and create some more of this so-called ¡®Jadescent Nectar¡¯ to appease her. She stood up, moved to Qin Feng¡¯s table, and sat beside her little Junior Sister, her face bearing a somewhat breezy smile: ¡°I am Li Miaozhen, a disciple of the White Tiger Lineage. This is my little Junior Sister Luoluo. May I know, Junior Brother, on which peak do you cultivate?¡± Qin Feng smiled slightly, ¡°Senior Sister Li is too polite. I am a disciple of Spiritual Snake Peak, Qin Feng.¡± Li Miaozhen nodded and instructed the waiter to serve all the Spiritual Meals she had ordered to their table. Afterward, she casually chatted with Qin Feng. The woman¡¯s manner was free and easy, and her speech was clear and concise, easily endearing her to others. Furthermore, she was well-informed and knew that Qin Feng had just completed the new disciple¡¯s trials and was planning to go to the Foreign Affairs Hall to take on some assignments. She specifically gave him some advice, making Qin Feng aware of many things to be cautious of while undertaking missions. Qin Feng was quite grateful, and he offered a toast to Li Miaozhen. He then discovered that she was even more heroic when drinking, consuming several jars of Spiritual Wine without even changing her expression, leaving Qin Feng amazed. Luoluo, the little girl, also held up her bowl of ¡®Jadescent Nectar,¡¯ pretending to drink boldly alongside her. Qin Feng now understood why the little girl insisted on drinking alcohol; she spent every day with such a heavy drinker, and it would be strange if she wasn¡¯t influenced. Even though Qin Feng only sipped a little each time, he still ended up with a flushed face, feeling a bit unsteady, and promptly surrendered, not daring to drink anymore, lest he wouldn¡¯t be able to return home that day. ¡°Haha, Junior Brother Qin, you really can¡¯t hold your liquor.¡± Li Miaozhen didn¡¯t force him to drink more and simply laughed, ¡°A mere half jar of Spiritual Wine and you¡¯re already done. Poor tolerance, you need more practice to not lose your manly pride.¡± Qin Feng laughed bitterly, ¡°Senior Sister Li, you are most generous. I¡¯m far from your equal.¡± Li Miaozhen¡¯s nature had always been hearty, and after drinking she became even more spirited. They talked about everything under the moon, and Qin Feng learned of many interesting things. After having their fill of food and wine, Li Miaozhen paid the bill for both of them. On leaving, she laughed, ¡°Thank you for today, Junior Brother Qin. When I am free in the future, let¡¯s have a drink together.¡± Qin Feng knew she was referring to the matter with little Junior Sister Luoluo, which he didn¡¯t mind¡ªit was just a way to pacify a child, after all. However, he did have a good impression of the genuine and spirited Li Miaozhen, and upon hearing her invitation, he said with a smile, ¡°Senior Sister Li, no need to be so courteous. If fate allows, I shall certainly accompany you.¡± ¡°Haha, I hope you won¡¯t get knocked out by me next time.¡± Li Miaozhen laughed heartily, picked up Luoluo, and left. Qin Feng sat on the stool for a while, drank a cup of tea to sober up a bit, then got up and left the Drunken Immortal Inn, heading toward the Market. Chapter 92 - Chapter 92: Chapter 91: Foreign Affairs Hall Chapter 92: Chapter 91: Foreign Affairs Hall ¡°Whoooosh¡­¡± A cry resounded through the sky. Qin Feng stood on the broad back of the Spiritual Vulture, flying towards Spiritual Vulture Peak. He had previously received a flying bird message from his Clan Uncle Qin Ying, asking him to make a trip over as the family¡¯s support in the form of Spirit Stones had arrived, and he was to go and collect them. Half an hour later, Qin Feng, guiding the Spiritual Vulture, landed outside the courtyard where Qin Ying was located, knocked on the door and entered, only to find that Qin Xi had already arrived. ¡°Eh?¡± Seeing Qin Xi, Qin Feng couldn¡¯t help but emit a soft exclamation. Because he discovered that Qin Xi¡¯s Cultivation progress wasn¡¯t slow at all, even surpassing his expectations; she had actually Cultivated to the sixth level of Qi Refinement, merely one level behind him. This surprised Qin Feng quite a bit. He knew his family affairs well; without the Demon Refining Pot, it would be impossible for him to Cultivate so quickly. What was going on with Qin Xi? ¡°Sister Xiaoxi, when we met a few months ago, you were only at the third level of Qi Refinement. How is it that in half a year, your Cultivation has progressed so rapidly that you have now reached the sixth level?¡± He asked with a hint of curiosity. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ????????????????????.co ¡°Hehe¡­¡± Qin Xi couldn¡¯t help but chuckle: ¡°Before the trial, I had already advanced to the Middle Stage of Qi Refinement. A few days ago, the Peak Master took us as guests to Baihua Palace and let us complete the trial in the secret realm of Baihua Palace. As it happened, when we entered the Secret Realm, a Youtan Flower bloomed, attracting countless amounts of Spiritual Energy. Moreover, the fragrance emitted by the Youtan Flower has many effects, aiding in focusing the Spirit and is quite beneficial for Enlightenment in Cultivation. It was because of that opportunity that my Cultivation improved by two stages all at once, reaching the sixth level of Qi Refinement.¡± ¡°Oh, there¡¯s such a good fortune?¡± Qin Feng heard this and couldn¡¯t help but marvel. The Youtan Flower required an extremely harsh environment to grow, making it a rare Spirit Flower seldom witnessed in the outside world. Moreover, the Youtan Flower blooms only once every three thousand years. With it as the main ingredient, supplemented by several other rare Spiritual Medicines, one could refine Enlightenment Pills, which help Cultivators better understand the profoundness of the Dao and successfully advance in their Realm during Cultivation breakthroughs. The mysterious essence released during its blooming was merely incidental. Even so, it had allowed Qin Xi and others who happened to encounter the blooming Youtan Flower to make significant strides in their Cultivation. Qin Feng sighed lightly, ¡°How come we disciples of Spiritual Snake Peak don¡¯t get such opportunities.¡± Qin Xi gave him a light glare: ¡°You¡¯ve already Cultivated to the Late Stage of Qi Refinement; what¡¯s there to envy about me?¡± ¡°Hahaha¡­¡± Beside them, Qin Ying laughed and said, ¡°Good, good. I didn¡¯t expect that both of you would be such talented Cultivators. To achieve such accomplishments within a year of joining, you¡¯re indeed much stronger than us elders. If you continue to Cultivate well in the future, you will definitely reach Foundation Establishment. By then, let¡¯s see if the Huang Family dares to have any more wicked ideas.¡± He was delighted inside, not expecting that the family would actually produce two little geniuses. As long as Qin Feng and Qin Xi both advanced to the Foundation Establishment Realm, the Qin Family would be able to maintain their legacy. In fact, the Qin Family was currently in an awkward position; the Old Family Master was aging, and at most, he had only twenty to thirty years left before his time came. Uncle San¡¯s cultivation wasn¡¯t high, but he was older in age. Although Qin Long was young, it was a pity that he had damaged his divine soul in the past and made slow progress. If the Qin Family didn¡¯t produce a few more Foundation Establishment cultivators, once the Old Family Master and Uncle San passed away one after another, and if only Qin Long was left to uphold the family, the decline of the Qin Family would be inevitable. Seeing these two juniors excel so much, Qin Ying was, of course, delighted. He handed over two bags to them, which were filled with Spirit Stones that the Ten Thousand Demons Pavilion caravan had been entrusted by the family to deliver, supporting the cultivation resources for the two juniors. Qin Feng and the others didn¡¯t stand on ceremony and took them directly. The three of them sat together and talked for over half an hour, each sharing their own cultivation experiences, until someone came looking for Qin Ying. Only then did they bid farewell and leave. Upon leaving Spiritual Vulture Peak, Qin Feng bid farewell to Qin Xi and flew to the mountain peak where the Foreign Affairs Hall was located. The Beast Taming Sect¡¯s Mountain Gate covered an exceptionally large area, and in order to accommodate the Outer Disciples with lower cultivation, several sub-halls of the Foreign Affairs Hall were set up in the Outer sect for the convenience of the Outer Disciples¡¯ travels. Otherwise, for those disciples who lived far away, even if they had a flying Riding Tool, a trip to the Foreign Affairs Hall would take a day or two, which would be too much trouble. And for disciples without flying Spiritual Beasts, getting to the Foreign Affairs Hall would be even more of a hassle. As he approached the mountain peak where the Foreign Affairs Hall was located, in the sky there were frequently Outer Disciples flying past on various Spiritual Birds. Many of them were even Spiritual Birds with Foundation Establishment cultivation,, not only larger in size but also extremely fast, flapping their wings and soaring a great distance in a blink. Just as Qin Feng was observing a golden-winged great eagle with wings spanning more than three zhang wide, he suddenly heard a clear cry from behind and to the side, and then saw a peacock with brilliantly colored feathers and a proud head travel swiftly past him. On the back of the peacock sat a young man. The young man had an indistinguishably androgynous and beautiful face, skin clear as jade, eyes sparkling like cold stars, and was dressed in colorful, lavish attire that was as striking as the peacock he was riding. Qin Feng, with sharp eyes, saw clearly that when the young man passed by him, his eyes, bright as stars, flashed a look of disdain. It wasn¡¯t directed at him but at the Spiritual Vulture he was riding. Qin Feng¡¯s heart slightly jolted. Was this¡­ looking down on his mount? He looked up at the peacock, then down at his own Spiritual Vulture, and indeed there was no comparison. The peacock not only exuded the aura of a Qi Refining Peak, but its gorgeous plumage was also incomparably splendid, far outstripping the Spiritual Vulture. The handsome young man quickly overtook him, riding the peacock down towards the square where the Foreign Affairs Hall was located. Hmph, such a sissy, what use is looking so good? Qin Feng muttered jealously to himself. He, who once prided himself as the number one beauty of Kun City, felt like an ugly duckling when compared to that young man. The beauty of the young man riding the peacock was flawless to the point that even women might feel jealous upon seeing him, not to mention young men like Qin Feng who considered themselves handsome. He patted the Spiritual Vulture¡¯s back, and with a flap of its wings, it sped up, quickly descending towards the square. Qin Feng landed, tucked away the Spiritual Vulture, and looked around. Here, Outer Disciples accompanied by various kinds of Spiritual Beasts could be seen everywhere, the majority possessing the cultivation of the Qi Refinement Late Stage. A few who were not at Qi Refining Late Stage turned out to be predominantly Foundation Establishment Cultivators. It made sense after all, this was the Foreign Affairs Hall, the place where the Sect issued missions to the outside world. If their Cultivation wasn¡¯t sufficient, or they lacked confidence in themselves, they wouldn¡¯t come here at all. He quickly withdrew his gaze and walked towards the Foreign Affairs Hall. Once inside the great hall, it was bustling with people. Outer Disciples were handling the handovers for various missions; some were gathered in groups, laughing and chatting, discussing various dangerous experiences during their missions; more people were clustered in front of a stone wall, checking out the Sect¡¯s newly posted mission information. Chapter 93 - Chapter 93: Chapter 92 Qi Wushang Chapter 93: Chapter 92 Qi Wushang ¡°A group of Wolf Demons has emerged from Cuiping Mountain, bringing disaster to the area, causing significant death and injury among the common folk. The local cultivator families are not strong enough and have asked the sect for help. Those who eliminate the Wolf Demons will receive ten bottles of high-quality Spiritual Beast Pills.¡± ¡°Nanyue Country has discovered followers of the Demon Sect secretly preaching and bewitching the hearts of the people. Those who exterminate the Demon Cultivators will be credited with a meritorious deed and awarded ten Green Splendor Pills.¡± ¡°Recently, it has been rumored that a Red Fire Spirit Ape has been spotted in Fire Cloud Mountain. Elder Li from Spiritual Ape Peak has issued a task to capture the Red Fire Spirit Ape, with a reward of three thousand Spirit Stones!¡± ¡°We are recruiting disciples to go to White Bone Ridge to collect Ghost Bamboo, the more the better, with no upper limit. A hundred-year-old piece of Ghost Bamboo can be exchanged for sixty Spirit Stones at the Foreign Affairs Hall.¡± Qin Feng stared unceasingly at the tasks posted on the stone wall, the variety of tasks making him somewhat dazzled, especially being attracted by those generous rewards. However, he eventually shifted his gaze away from those highly rewarding tasks. Because, any task that offers a reward of over a thousand Spirit Stones would at least require Foundation Establishment Disciples to complete, which were not tasks he could take on at the moment. Qin Feng shifted his gaze downward, looking towards the tasks with lesser rewards at the very bottom. This was where disciples like him, who had just entered the late stage of Qi Cultivation, ought to focus. Although the rewards here were not very substantial, ranging from a few tens to a few hundreds of Spirit Stones, they were relatively safer and most suitable for disciples like him who were undertaking tasks for the first time. As he was searching for a task that suited him, he suddenly felt some commotion among the cultivators beside him, who began to step aside. In his moment of hesitation, a large man with several pockmarks on his face pulled him aside. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?????????????????.co Then he saw a young man, radiating an aura of wildness, walking arrogantly through the path that had opened up among the crowd. This young man was tall and fierce, especially his eyes, which displayed a beastly ferocity, sending a chill through anyone he glanced at. ¡°Awesome!¡± Qin Feng muttered softly to himself. Although the young man did not deliberately look towards him, the glance this person gave him still instilled a strong sense of crisis in his heart, as if this youth were an Ancient Fierce Beast in human skin, bringing intense oppression. ¡°That¡¯s Qi Wushang, of course he¡¯s formidable.¡± The pock-marked man who had pulled him aside said, then sized Qin Feng up and suddenly a kind-hearted smile appeared on his face: ¡°Is this your first time here at the Foreign Affairs Hall to pick up tasks?¡± Qin Feng was startled, ¡°How did you know?¡± ¡°You don¡¯t even recognize Qi Wushang, one of the top ten disciples of the Outer Sect. It¡¯s obvious you seldom come to the Foreign Affairs Hall.¡± The large man laughed, ¡°Although Qi Wushang isn¡¯t the strongest among the Outer Sect disciples, he is definitely the last one anyone would want to provoke. If you had been here before, at the very least you should have heard of his reputation.¡± Qin Feng bowed to the large man, ¡°I am Qin Feng, junior brother. Since entering the sect, I have always been cultivating on Spiritual Snake Peak, and indeed this is my first time here at the Foreign Affairs Hall. May I know how to address you, senior brother?¡± The large man looked surprised and scrutinized Qin Feng¡¯s somewhat youthful face, then nodded and said, ¡°So it turns out you are one of last year¡¯s new disciples, not bad at all, reaching the late stage of Qi Cultivation in just one year. I am Ma Jiu from Sky Wolf Peak. Just call me Brother Ma.¡± ¡°Pleased to meet you, Brother Ma.¡± Qin Feng curiously asked, ¡°Top ten disciples of the Outer Sect, why hasn¡¯t anyone mentioned them before?¡± ¡°Outer Disciples are divided into two circles, those who stay in the sect as servants and those like us who go out on missions. Moreover, this so-called ¡®top ten disciples¡¯ is just a term that has come into use in recent years. You were a new disciple before and didn¡¯t have contact with our circle, so it¡¯s normal that you don¡¯t know these things.¡± Ma Jiu chuckled, ¡°Originally, the title of the top ten disciples was just something that ten disciples from noble families used to praise each other, in order to lift their own value and gain some reputation. However, while these noble heirs were elevating themselves, they inevitably put others down. Then, some people with ulterior motives exaggerated and spread rumors, which caused dissatisfaction among some of the skilled Outer Disciples. After several conflicts, most of the disciples from noble families were kicked out. Now, a large majority of the so-called top ten disciples are of ordinary origin, and Qi Wushang is one of them.¡± At this point, Ma Jiu couldn¡¯t help but sigh, ¡°The current top ten disciples not only have formidable combat prowess, but their potential is astonishing too. Each one has refined a powerful Lifebound Spiritual Beast, and three of them have even developed Divine Power Seeds in advance. They¡¯re just waiting to ascend to the Golden Core stage to achieve complete divine powers.¡± ¡°Divine Power Seeds?¡± Qin Feng was taken aback. Having spent the past year often reading books in the Scripture Pavilion, he knew exactly what these Divine Power Seeds were. Typically, a cultivator¡¯s methods for self-defense and protecting the Dao include magical treasure divine weapons, alongside Daoist skills, spells, and divine powers. Daoist Skills, specifically, refer to the abilities cultivators gain from comprehending the Heavenly Dao and understanding the Dao Principles, allowing them to use these principles. As for spells, they are merely the action of deploying one¡¯s True Yuan in a set manner, without any involvement of Dao Principle power or additional enhancements. The power emitted depends entirely on how much True Yuan is used. Divine powers, however, are divided into five levels and two main categories. The five levels are Divine Power Seed, Small Divine Power, Divine Power, Great Divine Power, and Supreme Divine Power. The two categories are Physical Body Divine Power, which is most common among the Demon Clan, who simply need to awaken their bloodline legacy to easily develop various innate divine abilities with varying strengths depending on their racial talents and uses. The Human Clan, born with weaker physical bodies, do not have the inherent advantages of the Demon Clan and generally rely on cultivating methods to gain divine powers, which is hard. Typically, only by reaching the Purple Mansion Realm and glimpsing the Heavenly Dao Laws can one comprehend the corresponding divine powers. Another category is Body Cultivation, like the practitioners from the Giant Spirit Sect, who cultivate their physical body, break through various bloodline constraints, and naturally develop various Small Divine Powers when reaching the Golden Core Realm. Once they advance to the Purple Mansion Realm, they can further elevate their divine powers. The Beast Taming Sect, on the other hand, took a shortcut. They don¡¯t need to wait until the Purple Mansion Realm and can use their Lifebound Spiritual Beasts to acquire divine powers in advance. Some talented geniuses can develop a Divine Power Seed in the Foundation Establishment Realm through their Lifebound Spiritual Beasts. As soon as they advance to the Golden Core, they complete the cultivation of their divine powers, becoming even more powerful than ordinary Golden Core Cultivators. Certainly, there are also demonic methods that forcibly seize the divine powers of others and turn them into Divine Power Seeds, which after refining, can be used directly without arduous cultivation. Fang Zheng, who initially led you new disciples into the sect, was such a prodigy who had developed a Divine Power Seed ahead of time. Qin Feng thought it was impressive enough that an Outer Disciple like Fang Zheng existed, but he never imagined there would be more than one such genius. Ma Jiu didn¡¯t pay attention to Qin Feng¡¯s shock and continued, ¡°Qi Wushang is one of those geniuses who has comprehended a Divine Power Seed. His Lifebound Spiritual Beast is a Fierce Ape with the Zhu Yan Bloodline. I don¡¯t know if it¡¯s the influence of his Lifebound Spiritual Beast, but this guy is extremely fierce in combat. Two years ago, he was in a fight with an Inner Sect Disciple from the Giant Spirit Sect and literally tore that disciple to pieces. While being hunted by disciples of the Giant Spirit Sect, he even counter-killed dozens of their members, and his name is still on the Giant Spirit Sect¡¯s bounty list. Last year, there were a few disciples from noble families in the Outer Disciples who had a disagreement with him. They challenged each other to a duel, and if it weren¡¯t for the timely rescue by a sect elder, those disciples would have been crippled by him. It¡¯s precisely because he¡¯s so ruthless that no one wants to provoke him. Why do you think so many disciples voluntarily make way for him?¡± PS: Brothers, please vote for me! I find that unless I ask, the number of votes drops. Let¡¯s go strong, brothers! I don¡¯t want to be a thick-skinned guy who¡¯s also good-looking because even though I might feel embarrassed asking for votes every day, it¡¯s necessary. Chapter 94 - Chapter 94: Chapter 93 Mission Chapter 94: Chapter 93 Mission Qin Feng nodded understandingly, it made sense that not many people would want to provoke such a fierce person. Then Ma Jiu continued, ¡°Actually, among the top ten Outer disciples, some have made the list primarily because they have been cultivating for a long time, have a higher realm, and are just one step away from advancing to Golden Core. But if we really talk about potential, not to mention not comparing to Qi Wushang, even when compared with some of the emerging talents, they are somewhat lacking. Dragon Qian of Heavenly Dragon Peak, Wei Yan of Heavenly Silkworm Peak, Qi Hengshan of Divine Bull Peak, Kong Xuan of Mystic Bird Peak, and Lin Jingxin who joined last year, they all possess extraordinary talents. It¡¯s just that their current cultivation is still low, not yet reaching the level of Qi Wushang and others; otherwise, they would definitely occupy a spot among the top ten disciples. Hey, do you see that one over there?¡± As he spoke, he gestured with his eyes for Qin Feng to look towards a youth in splendid attire not far away, ¡°That is Kong Xuan, the direct descendant of the Kong Family, intelligent since childhood with exceptional talent. His lifebound spiritual beast is a peacock with the innate divine ability of the Five Elements, extremely formidable. However, with the Kong Family guarding him and his own strong talent, he surely won¡¯t stay in the Outer Sect to compete for the title of the top ten disciples. I estimate he will be promoted to the Inner Sect after the ranking competition next year.¡± Qin Feng followed his gaze and was taken aback. Because the person Ma Jiu was pointing out was the same splendidly dressed youth he had encountered in mid-air earlier. Qin Feng¡¯s impression of this youth was extremely profound. Because, in front of that youth¡¯s perfection to the utmost face, even Qin Feng had to admit he was ¡®slightly inferior¡¯! ¡°Senior Brother Ma Jiu, is this guy male or female? He¡¯s not a woman in disguise, is he?¡± Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ????????????????????.co Qin Feng couldn¡¯t help but ask out of curiosity as he looked at Kong Xuan¡¯s delicate face that would inspire envy and jealousy in women. ¡°Shh, don¡¯t talk recklessly,¡± Ma Jiu got a fright, turned his head to glance at Kong Xuan, and noticed that he had not been overheard, then he quietly sighed in relief. ¡°Kong Xuan is proud and usually doesn¡¯t deign to argue with others, but he is most sensitive to jokes about his appearance. Remember not to speak recklessly about this in the future. If he hears you, you will suffer.¡± ¡°Thanks for the advice, Senior Brother. I¡¯ll keep that in mind,¡± Qin Feng hurriedly said. ¡°That¡¯s good!¡± Ma Jiu spoke earnestly, ¡°You are still young and have just come to the Foreign Affairs Hall. You must speak less and listen more and be very careful not to speak out of line to avoid trouble for yourself.¡± ¡°Senior Brother is right,¡± Qin Feng nodded repeatedly, showing he had taken the lesson to heart. Seeing his respectful attitude, Ma Jiu felt his long-time earnest advice had probably established an image in the young man¡¯s heart of himself being tall, upright, and willing to look after his fellow Sect disciples. Therefore, he began to inquire, ¡°Junior Brother Qin, it¡¯s your first time at the Foreign Affairs Hall, so you must still be hesitant, unsure of what mission to choose, right?¡± ¡°Indeed.¡± Qin Feng nodded, ¡°I¡¯ve made you laugh, Senior Brother. It¡¯s my first time dealing with these matters, so I indeed feel quite indecisive. Do you have any advice?¡± ¡°I wouldn¡¯t say advice; however, as someone who has been in the Outer Sect for over a decade, I have a general understanding of the missions from the Foreign Affairs Hall.¡± Ma Jiu laughed, ¡°Actually, if you talk about it, the difficulty of the missions from the Foreign Affairs Hall is easy to discern. Just look at the rewards offered, and you can get a rough idea. Under normal circumstances, the more generous the reward, the higher the risk. I see that you, Junior Brother, have only reached the seventh layer of Qi Cultivation. If no one guides you, it is indeed not suitable to undertake those high-reward missions. You can only start with the most common tasks. As a result, each time you can only earn a few dozen Spirit Stones, at most it¡¯s just making ends meet after a year. Not to mention nurturing spiritual beasts, just ensuring your own progress in cultivation would be quite good.¡± If an accident occurs and injuries are sustained, one still needs to spend a considerable amount of Spirit Stones to buy Healing Pills.¡± At this point, Ma Jiu sighed and shook his head with a look of regret: ¡°I¡¯ve been through that time myself, so I deeply understand how it feels. But there¡¯s no helping it, we are not like those disciples from noble families; we have to rely solely on ourselves to struggle and survive.¡± Qin Feng glanced at him, always feeling that the man had an ulterior motive. However, he still agreed, ¡°Senior Brother is right, it¡¯s indeed not easy for us ordinary disciples to make a name for ourselves.¡± Ma Jiu felt he must have earned the trust of this newcomer to the Foreign Affairs Hall. After all, youths of this age have not been hardened by society¡¯s tough knocks and still retain a sense of innocence, easily trusting others. So he began, ¡°Actually, Senior Brother has recently taken note of a task, which would be somewhat difficult to complete on my own. I need a partner to accomplish it. I was originally planning to invite some acquaintances from the same sect to take on this mission with me, but those few friends of mine just happen to be away from the Mountain Gate. I think you, Junior Brother Qin, are a good person. If you are willing, I can take you on this mission with me.¡± ¡°Hmm?¡± Qin Feng was startled, not having expected this guy to invite him to take on a mission together. No wonder he had been so attentive earlier. But why does he want me? Could it be that he¡¯s scheming to rob and harm me for my possessions? It seemed unlikely. He had not met him before, and this man certainly didn¡¯t know he had the Demon Refining Pot on him. Besides the Demon Refining Pot, he didn¡¯t feel he had anything else worth coveting. Even if someone wanted to rob and harm him, they would target those with more substantial worth. Since he hadn¡¯t yet undertaken any tasks to earn Sect rewards, he shouldn¡¯t be seen as a prime target. Moreover, the Sect strictly prohibited killing fellow disciples. If discovered, one would definitely receive the severest of punishments. Therefore, under normal circumstances, no disciple would dare harbor such thoughts against a fellow sect member. Qin Feng quickly ran through various thoughts in his mind, his face showing a hint of curiosity: ¡°May I ask what mission Senior Brother is referring to? I have only recently reached the late stage of Qi Refinement and my strength is modest; I might not be much help to Senior Brother.¡± ¡°Heh, you don¡¯t need to sell yourself short. Although our Beast Taming Sect disciples¡¯ cultivation speed is not the fastest, with the help of a Spiritual Beast, our combat power is much stronger than that of ordinary cultivators.¡± Ma Jiu chuckled, then said earnestly, ¡°Not far from Chaotic Sky Valley, Liang City recently has been plagued by a gang of bandits. Their cultivation isn¡¯t high, but they are audacious, raiding all over and have committed numerous crimes. What¡¯s more critical is that they dared to attack a small family affiliated with our Beast Taming Sect, the Zhang Family, taking advantage of the accidental absence of the two Foundation Establishment Cultivators from the family, and looted the Zhang household. The remaining members of the Zhang Family have since sought help from the Sect. Naturally, the Sect cannot ignore this and has issued a mission with a reward of five hundred Spirit Stones for the elimination of these criminals.¡± He looked at Qin Feng and continued, ¡°A few days ago, the Outer Sect disciples from various peaks participated in the trials. With your strength, you should have been able to subdue at least one or two late-stage Qi Cultivation Spiritual Beasts. Senior Brother here hasn¡¯t been idle over the years and has a few powerful Spiritual Beasts at my disposal. If you and I join forces and strike from the shadows, dealing with those ruffians will definitely be no problem.¡± Qin Feng was somewhat astonished, ¡°To rob a vassal power of our Beast Taming Sect, that indeed takes great audacity. I do indeed have a late-stage Qi Cultivation Spiritual Beast at hand, but are you sure just the two of us can handle those Bandit Cultivators?¡± ¡°Those who are prepared can surprise the unprepared. If we stealthily eliminate a few at the start, there will be no problem.¡± Ma Jiu, with a smile, patted Qin Feng on the shoulder, ¡°Junior Brother, rest assured, every mission is recorded by the Sect. If something goes wrong, the Sect will definitely investigate. Senior Brother here will not bring harm upon you. However, let me be upfront about something. I can split the Sect reward for the mission with you, but whatever the Bandit Cultivators have on them belongs to the one who gets it.¡± Hearing this, Qin Feng understood; so this was the man¡¯s angle. He couldn¡¯t take down those Bandit Cultivators alone and wanted a helping hand but was also worried that the experienced disciples from the Outer would snatch away too many of the spoils. That¡¯s why he deliberately approached someone like him, a novice who could be of help but would surely not outmatch him. Chapter 95 - Chapter 95: Chapter 94 Chaotic Sky Valley Chapter 95: Chapter 94 Chaotic Sky Valley ¡°Okay.¡± Qin Feng smiled, his smile so pure and innocent, as if he really were just a naive young man. His face showed a hint of admiration, ¡°I never realized that Brother Ma Jiu would care so much about his fellow sect members. Nowadays, it¡¯s hard to find good-hearted people with such old-fashioned integrity. Since Brother values me so highly, I¡¯d be ungrateful to decline any further. I¡¯ll join Brother Ma Jiu on this mission, and I hope for his continued guidance in the future.¡± ¡°Of course, of course, it¡¯s only right for sect members to help and support one another¡ªit¡¯s always been my personal principle,¡± Ma Jiu said, unable to hide his joy, ¡°Don¡¯t worry, Junior Brother. Those who have gone on missions with me always have a deep impression of me. I¡¯m sure that after we return this time, you will have learned a lot, he he he¡­¡± Ma Jiu was secretly pleased with himself; young people these days were so easy to fool. With just a few words, he managed to trick one into becoming his assistant¡ªha, Ma Jiu is truly a genius! Although he would have to share half of the mission rewards, he didn¡¯t care. The mission rewards were just a few Spirit Stones; the real prize was the wealth the bandit cultivators had looted over the years. As long as he seized the right opportunity, he was confident he could make a big profit this time. Trying to curb his excitement, he took Qin Feng directly to the Foreign Affairs Hall. The two presented their Identity Jade Tokens, let the hall¡¯s disciples record their details, and then accepted the mission. ¡°Since it¡¯s Junior Brother Qin¡¯s first mission, you¡¯d better prepare more Elixir Pills and Spirit Talismans. These things can save your life when it matters.¡± Ma Jiu, feigning concern, gave him a few reminders; in his heart, however, he was hoping Qin Feng would spend more Spirit Stones to prepare these life-saving items. If an emergency were to arise, it would be much better for the boy to use them than to bleed his own reserves. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ????????????????????.co Qin Feng, looking a little embarrassed, said, ¡°Brother doesn¡¯t know. In order to advance to the late Qi Refining stage, I¡¯ve already spent most of my Spirit Stones and don¡¯t have much left. Otherwise, I wouldn¡¯t be so eager to take on a mission.¡± Since he had already guessed Ma Jiu¡¯s intentions, Qin Feng certainly wasn¡¯t going to give him any chance to take advantage. This guy had been hanging around the Foreign Affairs Hall for many years; he must have plenty of protective treasures. If danger really struck, it would be better for Brother Ma Jiu to take a hit. Of course, Qin Feng wasn¡¯t going to tell Ma Jiu that he still had second-tier Spirit Talismans at the ready. ¡°Poor as a church mouse!¡± Ma Jiu cursed inwardly but didn¡¯t show it on his face. Instead, he laughed heartily, feigning generosity, ¡°No matter, if we really encounter danger, just hide behind me, and I will ensure your safety.¡± Since there was not much to prepare, the two didn¡¯t stay long at the mountain gate and left the Foreign Affairs Hall straight away. They released their own flying Spiritual Beasts and took to the sky. This was where Beast Taming Sect disciples excelled over others; even those in the Qi Refining Realm could still traverse the skies by relying on their Spiritual Beasts. In other sects, Qi Refining Realm cultivators could usually only watch from below, enviously. Ma Jiu¡¯s flying beast was an Iron Feathered Eagle in the late Qi Refining stage. A common breed with no special bloodline, although somewhat stronger than Qin Feng¡¯s Spiritual Vulture, it didn¡¯t possess the Vulture¡¯s powerful Wind Control Power, so their speeds were not much different. Ma Jiu was satisfied; since Qin Feng¡¯s flying mount wasn¡¯t slow, there would be no need to worry about delays. After all, Chaotic Sky Valley was extremely far from the sect. If Qin Feng didn¡¯t have a flying beast, their round trip could take a much longer time. The two rode their beasts for more than ten days before finally arriving in the outskirts of Liang City, near Chaotic Sky Valley. Chaotic Sky Valley was the entrance to an Ancient Battlefield, where space distortions and turbulence were often seen. And this was just the entrance to the battlefield. Venture deeper, and one would discover that the entire Ancient Battlefield, stretching tens of thousands of miles across, had been devastated by mighty beings in ancient times, leaving the laws of nature in utter chaos. Furthermore, countless lives have perished there, among them practitioners of formidable Dao cultivation beyond measure. Even though these mighty beings have died, the lingering Power of Laws has turned this place into a chaotic realm of death. However, there have always been those who are not afraid of death, and since the periphery of the battlefield is not as dangerous as the interior, many cultivators have ventured in to search for treasures. After innumerable cultivators¡¯ explorations, some patterns were gradually discovered. In the Ancient Battlefield, the stronger one¡¯s strength, the greater the likelihood of triggering some bizarre dangers. Over these tens of thousands of years, there have been no lack of immortals who met their end deep within the Ancient Battlefield. Therefore, the Major Sects allowed numerous Loose Cultivators to enter and investigate. Although many low-level cultivators died or were injured, their cultivation was not strong, and under normal circumstances, they would not trigger any anomalies in the Ancient Battlefield. Hence, quite a few were able to return alive after exploring the periphery. Gradually, some cultivators reaped considerable benefits, and even, some people managed to obtain Immortal Artifacts. Although the Loose Cultivator who obtained the Immortal Artifact accidentally revealed the news of his find and quickly attracted the covetousness of others, he was not only robbed of the treasure but also lost his life in the end. Nevertheless, this incident attracted even more cultivators from other regions to come here in search of treasures, in case they might indeed find something valuable and make their fortune. Such occurrences were not uncommon. The now renowned Loose Immortal Sage Fuyun, as well as the Fog Hidden Sect, which had only been established for a few thousand years but had already made a name for itself, both received Ancient Inheritances from within this Ancient Battlefield. And Liang City was established thirty miles outside of Chaotic Sky Valley specifically to do business with those cultivators coming here to explore. The Zhang Family of Liang City, similar to the Qin Family of Kun City, were both descendants of bloodlines stemming from the Beast Taming Sect disciples. They also served as a monitoring point for the Beast Taming Sect outside Chaotic Sky Valley, so that if any significant treasures were to appear again, the Beast Taming Sect would be among the first to receive the news. Because many cultivators from other regions come here every year, the vicinity of Liang City is quite chaotic, and incidents of cultivators robbing each other occur frequently. The fact that the Zhang Family was only troubled after the fall of their Foundation Establishment Cultivator ancestors could already be considered fortunate. Some Sect-related powers that were placed here have experienced being completely uprooted by others. ¡°We pay our respects to the two Upper Envoys.¡± Within the somewhat dilapidated Zhang Family estate, the few cultivators who had luckily survived hurriedly came forward to pay their respects upon seeing the Identity Jade Token of Beast Taming Sect disciples presented by Ma Jiu. Although they felt somewhat dissatisfied that the Sect had only sent two Qi Refining Realm cultivators, they did not dare show any negligence. ¡°Enough, there¡¯s no need for such formalities,¡± Ma Jiu waved his hand. ¡°Your family¡¯s affairs are already known by the Sect. We have come here to avenge the Zhang Family and eliminate those Bandit Cultivators. In addition, you need not worry. The Zhang Family has served the Sect for many years; the Sect will not abandon you. Your family¡¯s businesses in Liang City can no longer be maintained, but the Sect will arrange for your resettlement. In the upcoming years, the Sect will allocate a few more spots to allow more descendants of the Zhang Family to join, so that your family line will not perish.¡± ¡°Thank you, Upper Envoys, thank you so much,¡± Ma Jiu, cunning as he was, said a few words that made the Zhang Family cultivators¡¯ eyes light up. In truth, these cultivators were merely from collateral branches of the Zhang Family; the Direct Lineage had been killed off during the chaos within the family. Now that they heard the Sect was willing to grant the Zhang Family additional spots to join the Sect, given that their Direct Lineage was already exterminated, it would naturally be their descendants who would be joining the Sect. For them, this misfortune had turned into a blessing. Therefore, these cultivators quickly wiped away the sadness from their faces and began to shower Ma Jiu and Qin Feng with flattering words. ¡°Alright, enough of that, no need for flattery. Get to the point and tell us the details about those Bandit Cultivators,¡± ¡°Yes, yes, the situation at the time was like this¡­¡± ps: Don¡¯t forget to vote, brothers (¡ä???¨F) Chapter 96 - Chapter 96: Chapter 95: Ten Directions Ghost City Chapter 96: Chapter 95: Ten Directions Ghost City The Zhang Family had established their presence in Liang City for three hundred years; in the world of cultivation, this was considered rather brief. However, Liang City was an extremely special place, with more than half of its cultivators hailing from other regions, making it particularly chaotic. Moreover, when cultivators occasionally found treasures in the Ancient Battlefield and did not keep their actions secret, even the slightest leak would attract the covetousness of others, leading to frequent skirmishes, battles, and even plundering. For a small clan like the Zhang Family to have flourished for three hundred years without being exterminated was already quite commendable. The gang of bandit cultivators who plundered the Zhang Family resided fifty miles outside Liang City on Black Wind Mountain. They once had a Foundation Establishment Cultivator as their leader, who was executed by the Zhang Family for stealing from them several years ago. Although the remaining bandit cultivators escaped swiftly and were not completely annihilated, only a few Qi Refining Cultivators managed to flee. The Zhangs didn¡¯t consider it necessary to take them too seriously. However, they never expected that these bandit cultivators were not so easily dealt with. They secretly followed two of the Zhang Family¡¯s Foundation Establishment Cultivators into the Ancient Battlefield, risking death to trigger some of the dangers within and ultimately killing the two from the Zhang Family. Following that, the bandit cultivators took advantage of the Zhangs¡¯ state of shock and swiftly attacked, killing every living person within the Zhang Family Mansion. Only a few fringe cultivators, each managing different affairs, were spared. After confirming the situation of those bandit cultivators several times, Ma Jiu couldn¡¯t help but shake his head internally. The Zhang Family cultivators who survived knew very little about the bandit cultivators. That was to be expected, though¡ªif just any cultivator could easily know the details of bandit cultivators, then the bandits wouldn¡¯t have been able to roam free up until now. Since they couldn¡¯t glean more information, Ma Jiu didn¡¯t wish to waste any more time. He and Qin Feng left the Zhang Family Mansion and headed towards Black Wind Mountain, fifty miles away. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ????????????????????.co The Black Wind Mountain range stretched over hundreds of miles, with high peaks and dense forests, offering countless hiding places. In fact, there was more than one band of bandit cultivators living there, but Qin Feng and Ma Jiu didn¡¯t need to eliminate all of them¡ªa feat they couldn¡¯t achieve anyway. Their only task was to exterminate the bandits who plundered the Zhang Family, thus completing their Sect¡¯s mission. Finding the exact location of those bandits in the vastness of Black Wind Mountain was, however, a daunting challenge. As several bandit factions hid within the mountain range, they dared not ride their Spiritual Beasts around the mountain at will. Otherwise, they might attract the attention of the more formidable bandits, and an attack from them would mean suffering a loss not worth the gain. It also didn¡¯t help that several days had passed since the Zhang Family was raided, as any residual scents had long dissipated. Otherwise, with the sensitive noses of their Spiritual Beasts, they might have been able to track down the bandits. Fortunately, Ma Jiu could be considered an experienced veteran in the cultivation world, so this challenge was not too difficult for him. Before long, he led Qin Feng towards some villages at the foot of Black Wind Mountain, intending to gather information there before making further plans. ¡­ ¡°Ditty ditty¡­dah dah¡­¡± The melodious and varying tones of the suona carried far and wide. A wedding procession made its way along the road, cheerfully playing music. The groom was a boy of about sixteen or seventeen, his face brimming with happiness as he rode atop a black-furred, white-lipped donkey. Behind the boy, eight sturdy farmers carried a big red bridal sedan chair, heading towards a nearby village. By the roadside, Qin Feng and Ma Jiu quietly watched the procession pass by, ready to move on, when suddenly Ma Jiu uttered a soft exclamation. ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± Qin Feng turned and asked. ¡°I smell a hint of Yin Qi,¡± Ma Jiu said, and with a flash of light in his eyes, he looked towards the wedding procession. Moments later, he laughed, ¡°Who would have thought that in such a place, one could actually encounter a living man taking a Ghost Wife?¡± Qin Feng was taken aback, ¡°Senior Brother, are you saying that the bride in the palanquin is not a living person?¡± ¡°That¡¯s correct.¡± Ma Jiu grinned and said, ¡°I have no idea where this Groom found such a bride, but chances are he¡¯s been ensnared by a Ghost Item. Since we¡¯ve come across it, we cannot ignore the situation. Besides, we are not in a rush to enter the mountain, so let¡¯s deal with this Ghost Item first and take the opportunity to ask the village elders if they know anything about what¡¯s inside the mountain.¡± Although he could be somewhat deceitful and would never pass up an opportunity for advantage, he was, after all, a disciple of the Beast Taming Sect, and the founding philosophy of the Beast Taming Sect was to protect the Human Clan. Even though the Beast Taming Sect had had its share of conflicts with other Sects over the years, this founding philosophy had been passed on when instructing disciples. Therefore, even Ma Jiu, upon encountering ordinary folk entangled by demon beasts or Ghost Items, would not turn a blind eye. Qin Feng manipulated a spell, summoning Spiritual Energy to his eyes, but he could only sense a faint ripple of Yin Qi, without catching anything else. Seeing him frown, Ma Jiu chuckled, ¡°The bridal dress on that Ghost Item is a Ghost Dao Magical Artifact that conceals her aura. If I hadn¡¯t cultivated the Illusion True Eye spell, capable of seeing through illusions and discerning the truth, I wouldn¡¯t have discovered her abnormality. Junior Brother, it¡¯s quite normal for you not to see through that Ghost Item, having not cultivated such spells.¡± Qin Feng nodded, withdrew his gaze, and dared not look any longer for fear of alarming the ghost in the palanquin. Startling it might cause it to act prematurely if it suspected its cover was blown, and they might not be able to save the men carrying the palanquin. However, this incident had Qin Feng looking up at Ma Jiu. Despite his cunning nature, his actual strength was not weak at all, as he had immediately noticed something off about the bride in the palanquin. Although it was related to the Spiritual Eye spell he cultivated, his Cultivation level was at least at the ninth level of Qi Refinement. Perhaps he was already accumulating resources in preparation for Foundation Establishment. As Qin Feng walked towards the village alongside Ma Jiu, he pondered whether he should find a Spiritual Beast capable of the Spiritual Eye Divine Power. With such ability, he could see through any illusions or falsehoods and not be as helpless as he was now, knowing a Ghost Item was right before him, yet unable to discern its anomaly. Shortly thereafter, they followed the wedding procession into a simple farmstead. Although the courtyard and house had been cleaned, it was still evident that this family was not wealthy. Still, this household seemed to be hospitable. Perhaps because it was a day of great joy and they did not wish to trouble themselves further, or perhaps upon seeing their extraordinary attire, they not only did not chase them away but arranged for them to sit by an Eight Immortals Table, awaiting the couple¡¯s completion of their ceremonial bows before the feast would be served. Qin Feng casually glanced around and suddenly saw a young Taoist watching the bride with great interest. ¡°Senior Brother.¡± Qin Feng elbowed Ma Jiu and signaled towards the young Taoist. ¡°Eh?¡± Ma Jiu was also taken aback, ¡°The Ghost Controlling Sect is far in the East Domain, so how come its disciples have come here?¡± ¡°Ghost Controlling Sect?¡± Qin Feng thought for a moment and soon recalled the information he had seen in the Scripture Pavilion regarding the Ghost Controlling Sect. This was an Ancient Sect that rose at about the same time as the Beast Taming Sect, but the Beast Taming Sect focused on Demon Beasts while the Ghost Controlling Sect dealt with Ghost Items. During the Ancient Great Tribulation, the Netherworld Ghost Realm was one of the invaders, and countless Ghost Items roamed wild, which gave rise to the Ghost Controlling Sect. However, the strongest force against the Netherworld Ghost Realm was not the Ghost Controlling Sect, but the Ten Directions Ghost City located in the Extreme North of the Northern Domain. The founding patriarch of the Ghost Controlling Sect was actually one of the founders of the Ten Directions Ghost City, but later fell out with the Ghost Ancestor Cang Yang and took flight to create the Ghost Controlling Sect in the East Domain. The young Taoist shortly became aware of being watched and turned towards the direction of the gaze. Upon seeing Qin Feng and Ma Jiu, he was a bit surprised that two more Cultivators had come, but he wasn¡¯t overly concerned. Instead, he greeted them with a smile and a respectful bow. Chapter 97 - Chapter 97: Chapter 96: Lift Your Veil Chapter 97: Chapter 96: Lift Your Veil Qin Feng and his companion raised their hands in return to the Taoist¡¯s salute, then shifted their gaze away. Ma Jiu whispered, ¡°That Taoist clearly sensed something amiss with this family and has been waiting here early on, ready to subdue the Ghost Item. With a Taoist from the Ghost Controlling Sect taking action, it saves us a lot of trouble.¡± ¡°Indeed.¡± Qin Feng nodded in agreement. Their Beast Taming Sect excelled in dealing with Demon Beasts whereas the Taoists from the Ghost Controlling Sect were more adept at handling Ghost Items. Since that young Taoist was already here, there truly was no need for them to exert themselves. Otherwise, even if they ended up killing the Fierce Ghost, the Ghost Body would dissipate into nothing, bringing them no benefit. On the contrary, Cultivators from the Ghost Controlling Sect could Refine Ghost Items and utilize various Ghost Energy against enemies. For the time being, the two were in no rush, content to sit at the Eight Immortals Table, keen on witnessing the young Taoist¡¯s method of capturing ghosts. During the bustling ceremony in the courtyard, with all the villagers gathered around the couple paying respects to heaven and earth, suddenly, a series of rapid hoofbeats approached from outside. On the road leading to the hamlet, four or five burly men rode well-fed Red Flame Colts. They didn¡¯t bother with the gate; instead, they spurred their horses and leaped over the one and a half zhang tall earthen wall, landing within the village. Without pausing, the brawny men galloped along the central path of the village and quickly arrived at the household that was celebrating a joyous occasion. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ????????????????????.co Drawn by the lively sounds and bustling atmosphere¡ªas the entire village had converged here¡ªthe men followed the commotion. Upon reaching the entrance, they didn¡¯t dismount. The leader pulled on the reins, causing his Red Flame Colt to raise its front hooves and stomp forward, shattering the gatehouse with a thunderous boom. Amidst clouds of dust, the robust men rode into the courtyard. ¡°Ah, what a lively scene!¡± The men rode back and forth a few paces, their cold smiles showing in the way they bared their teeth while looking at the crowd inside. Instantly, the previously lively scene quieted down, with the villagers looking at the group in fear and alarm. Upon seeing the Red Flame Colts, Qin Feng and Ma Jiu¡¯s expressions also changed¡ªbut not out of fear; they were actually pleased. The Red Flame Colts were low-level Spiritual Beasts specially bred by the Beast Taming Sect. In Liang City¡¯s territory, only the Zhang Family had raised a batch for pulling carts and conducting business between Liang City and surrounding towns. The surviving Cultivators of the Zhang Family had mentioned that after their clan was attacked, not only were all the Spiritual Objects looted, but even the Red Flame Colts kept in their stables had been stolen. They had thought it would take some Time to locate these Bandit Cultivators, yet these rogues had the audacity to brazenly ride the Red Flame Colts around, practically delivering themselves to their doorstep. On the other hand, an elderly villager with graying hair came forward. Despite the evident fear on his face, he still stepped up and asked with a cupped fist, ¡°First Gu, what brings you here again? If those boys didn¡¯t handle things efficiently, rest assured, I¡¯ll certainly teach them a lesson later.¡± ¡°No need for that.¡± The stocky Cultivator at the forefront snorted coldly, ¡°Those fools didn¡¯t work properly and even dared to run around. They happened to encounter First Gu during his training and accidentally got themselves killed. I¡¯m here to inform you to pick out a few more capable hands. I need to take them with me.¡± ¡°What? My son, my son is dead?¡± As soon as First Gu uttered those words, a wave of shock spread among the villagers, and several women couldn¡¯t help but wail loudly. ¡°This¡­ this¡­¡± The village elder was stunned, ¡°First¡­ First Gu, this isn¡¯t what you promised us. When you initially asked us for people, didn¡¯t you say they¡¯d be returned after a few years? Why now¡­¡± ¡°Hmph, they sought their own deaths trying to escape. Who else is there to blame?¡± First Gu barked coldly, ¡°Enough talk, send out another ten people from your village. I still have to visit other villages to make up the numbers. Old man, are you going to arrange for them to come with us, or shall I pick them myself?¡± During the conversation, he didn¡¯t wait for the village elder to respond, and simply stretched out his hand to point at the young man dressed in the groom¡¯s attire, baring his teeth and smiling, ¡°Kid, count yourself in, come with us.¡± ¡°Ah?¡± Upon hearing this, the young man immediately trembled, stepped back in fear, and all traces of joy for his marriage vanished from his face. ¡°It can¡¯t be done, ah, it can¡¯t be done.¡± The young man¡¯s father ran up, bowing continually, ¡°Master Ma Jiu, it simply cannot be done. Our family line has been passed down from generation to generation, and we are counting on my son to carry on our legacy. I implore you to show mercy and leave us a descendant.¡± ¡°Wishing for a descendant is simple; that, Master Ma Jiu can help you with.¡± As he spoke, amidst the raucous laughter of several brawny men beside him, a lecherous glint flashed in Ma Jiu¡¯s eyes. He dismounted his horse and walked toward the bride, ¡°Today, Master Ma Jiu is feeling especially merciful, so I¡¯ll leave a seed for your family.¡± ¡°Master Ma Jiu, you mustn¡¯t!¡± The old man fell to his knees with a plop in front of Master Ma Jiu, pleading, ¡°Today is my son¡¯s joyous occasion, please spare us¡­¡± Before he could finish speaking, Master Ma Jiu kicked him away with his foot. Seeing the old man trying to persist, Master Ma Jiu sneered viciously, ¡°Either step aside willingly for me or I¡¯ll take your son to the stronghold to labor. Old man, what will it be? Your son or your daughter-in-law?¡± ¡°This¡­¡± The old man froze on the spot, his gaze shifting back and forth between his son and daughter-in-law, ultimately unable to take another step forward. ¡°Ha ha ha¡­¡± Master Ma Jiu¡¯s triumphant and wild laughter echoed as he strode toward the bride, who stood pretty in the hall. The young groom, though, had some spirit; with a face resolute to die rather than submit, he stepped in front of the bride, only to be directly slapped away by Master Ma Jiu. Following that, Ma Jiu chuckled lewdly a few times, grabbed the bride¡¯s little hand and pulled her into his arms, cackling, ¡°Come here, let¡¯s have a good look at that pretty face first.¡± As he said this, he reached out his other hand to grab the bright red veil on the bride¡¯s head, intending to lift it and see her face. However, as he lifted the red veil and just caught a glimpse of a pale and delicate chin beneath, it was as if he had lifted some sort of seal. Thick and cold ghost energy began to emanate from the bride. ¡°Fuck!¡± The filthy lust in his heart was extinguished as if a bucket of cold water had been poured over his head, sending a chill through Ma Jiu¡¯s heart. This wasn¡¯t some pretty little lady; it was clearly a resentful female ghost! Startled, Ma Jiu¡¯s figure suddenly retreated backward, attempting to get away from the female ghost. But he immediately felt a tightening on his hand; his hand, which he thought to release, was instead grasped tightly by the female ghost¡¯s pale hand. As the female ghost¡¯s figure seemed to float toward him, driven by the force of Ma Jiu¡¯s retreat, her other hand suddenly grew sharp nails, like spikes radiating a dense black aura, and clawed at Ma Jiu¡¯s heart. ¡°Damn it!¡± Ma Jiu cursed angrily. He thought of killing the whole family. To hold a wedding and bring back a female ghost¡ªwhat was the meaning of this? It had caused him an unnecessary excitement. Fortunately, they hadn¡¯t entered the bridal chamber yet. Otherwise, if he¡¯d been naked and ready for action only to see a ghostly figure like that, it might have been enough to scare him into sickness. PS: Thanks to Yang0Di, Book Friend 20200907194354023, Bai Ye who Cuts Sister, Who Isn¡¯t Just a Bystander, The Full Splendor of Youth, and Qi Qi for their rewards, much appreciated. I have no idea why the previous chapter was blocked. The request to unblock it failed, so I had to repost it in the afternoon. Don¡¯t worry about it. Chapter 98 - Chapter 98: Chapter 97: Subduing the Ghost Chapter 98: Chapter 97: Subduing the Ghost His eyes watched in horror as the female ghost¡¯s pitch-black fingers neared his chest; Ninth Master hurriedly conjured a burst of Spirit Light in his hand to block the strike. But in his haste, he didn¡¯t manage to channel much of his True Yuan. Although he raised his hand to his chest, the ghost¡¯s fingers still curled inwards, and with a ripping sound, tore through his arm. At the same time, her other hand lashed forward, her nails growing exponentially as they pierced into Ninth Master¡¯s palm, causing him to roar in agony. But no matter how he struggled, he couldn¡¯t break free from the grip of the female ghost. Moreover, with the ghost having struck, her Ghost Energy could no longer be concealed by her bridal gown as it had before, allowing Ninth Master to easily sense her cultivation level. To his shock and anger, she was above him, already at the Peak of the Qi Refining Realm, only a step away from becoming a Foundation Establishment Ghost Cultivator. This realization both startled and enraged him. Seeing no way to free himself from the clutch of the ghostly hand, he flipped his hand to pull out a Heavy Hammer from his Storage Bag. While swinging it at the female ghost, he called for several of his underlings to come to his aid. By the time his subordinates arrived, the surrounding townsfolk had already scattered in panic. Everyone was completely taken aback, unable to fathom how the beautiful bride had suddenly turned into a ghost. The only one who didn¡¯t flee was the Groom. The young man stood there, dazed, as memories of his encounters with the female ghost from the beginning played through his mind. At that moment, all his past confusions unraveled, and his previously deluded mind became completely clear. His face turned pale, thankful that today¡¯s wedding had been disrupted; otherwise, he would likely have died on what was meant to be his wedding night, doomed to become a deadly pair with the female ghost. His father stood not far away, shivering as he hurried to grab his son and join the fleeing crowd. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ????????????????????.co After all, this was their only son; they could not afford to lose him. Ninth Master didn¡¯t last long; soon enough, he felt his arm turn chillingly cold, and half of his body stiffen. This was the result of the Ghost Energy invading his body. If he hadn¡¯t been caught by the ghost¡¯s palm from the start, with his strength and items like the Magic Artifact and Spirit Talismans, he might have been able to escape unscathed even if outmatched. But now, one of his hands was still firmly held by the ghost, with relentless Ghost Energy pouring into his body through the wound on his palm. His underlings, only at the Qi Refining Middle Stage, failed to pose any significant threat to the female ghost. Instead, one of them had his innards torn by a sudden extension of the ghost¡¯s arm, which scared the others not to approach carelessly, only daring to circle the periphery, trying to contain her without getting close. Although they were his subordinates, they definitely wouldn¡¯t risk their lives to save him. As Ninth Master¡¯s condition worsened, his men retreated further and further, ready to flee the scene at any moment. Otherwise, once Ninth Master was killed, the ghost would surely come after them. Their intense Yang energy couldn¡¯t compare to ordinary people¡¯s. If the female ghost devoured their Yang energy, it would certainly advance her Dao Cultivation. Feeling increasingly cold and stiff inside, Ninth Master¡¯s eyes filled with despair. Even though the female ghost had let go of his palm, he knew he was bound to die. His lifeforce was being eroded, and his True Yuan was thrown into disarray by the Ghost Energy; he no longer had any chance to escape. It seemed today was the day he would meet his end. But soon, a vicious gleam flickered in his eyes. After all, he was a Bandit Cultivator who had taken many lives; even in death, he refused to let his enemies off easily. He began to thrash wildly, swinging the Heavy Hammer in his right hand, forming a barrage of hammer blows. But the female ghost moved elusively, dodging left and right, making it hard for him to pin down her figure. Suddenly, his body staggered, his True Yuan depleted, his grip on the hammer faltered, and he almost dropped it. Before he could recover, he felt a sharp pain in his chest. Looking down, he saw a ghostly hand emerge from his chest, clutching a heart that was still beating. ¡°This is¡­ my heart¡­¡± In an instant, Ninth Master realized this truth. With the last of his strength, he swung the Heavy Hammer behind him. ¡°` And in the moment he swung the hammer, his palm released it, and he took out a Spirit Talisman from his Storage Bag at his waist. With a thunderous roar, it was promptly activated, transforming into a roaring flame that enveloped a space of three yards around him. Since he was about to die anyway, there was no need for him to hold back any longer. So, he directly activated the Spirit Talisman, planning to perish together with the female ghost. Bang! The female ghost clearly did not expect him to have this move up his sleeve. By the time she reacted and tried to dodge using her Ghost Energy, it was already a moment too late. Although she ultimately managed to escape, she could not avoid being severely injured by the Spirit Talisman, her Ghost Body and Yin Qi considerably damaged. Before the female ghost could regain her stance, suddenly, a young Taoist sprang out beside her, shaking his hand and releasing twelve Talismans. He quickly set up a simple Talisman Array, trapping her within. The female ghost¡¯s Yin Qi surged, and her two Ghost Claws tore towards the Talisman Array. She sensed danger from this little Taoist and wanted to escape. However, before she could tear through the Talisman Array, she saw the little Taoist reach for the oil-paper umbrella slung on his back. With one stretch of the umbrella, a loud pop reverberated, and countless Runes emerged, enveloping the female ghost, leaving her no chance to resist and was directly captured by the little Taoist into the umbrella. All of this happened in an extremely short span of time, fast as a lightning bolt. In a few instants, the female ghost was suppressed by the little Taoist. It was only then that the man who had ignited himself with the Spirit Talisman collapsed with a thunderous sound, disintegrated into ash. Not even a single bone was left behind, as he was burned to ashes by the flames released from the Spirit Talisman. As for his subordinates, by this time, they had already mounted their Red Flame Colts and were nearly out of the village. Qin Feng and Ma Jiu did not try to stop them. They still needed these few to lead the way for them, to guide them to the adversary¡¯s lair. ¡°Infinite Heavenly Venerable.¡± The little Taoist slung the umbrella over his shoulder, bowed to Qin Feng and Ma Jiu, ¡°I, Daoist Fellow Xiu Xin from Ghost Controlling Sect, have the honor of meeting two Daoists from Beast Taming Sect.¡± Apparently, the little Taoist could tell their origins from the badges on their Magic Robes. ¡°Daoist Fellow is polite.¡± They returned the salute and exchanged names. Only then did Qin Feng curiously ask, ¡°Daoist Fellow Xiu Xin, your sect is far in the East Domain, a great distance from here. How did you come to this place?¡± ¡°Hehe, actually, I came here following my Grandmaster.¡± Daoist Fellow Xiu Xin said with a chuckle, ¡°Recently, strange events have been happening in all the domains, and many great forces are interacting with each other. Although our Ghost Controlling Sect is far apart from your Beast Taming Sect, our two sects have collaborated on many occasions during the Ancient Great Tribulation. My sect¡¯s Ghost Teeth Ancestor and your sect¡¯s Heavenly Destruction Ancestor were also close friends. This time, my Grandmaster came to the Southern Domain to visit your sect and also brought along some juniors to experience the Southern Domain. Chaotic Sky Valley is one of the battlefields left from ancient times, rumored to hold many opportunities. I came here specifically to explore and just happened to see a young man from this household wrapped in Death Qi. I paused to help them solve this trouble and did not expect to meet two Daoist Fellows here. It is indeed a fortune for me.¡± ¡°I see.¡± Qin Feng and Ma Jiu nodded upon hearing this, now understanding why the Daoist could cross such a vast distance to arrive here with his mere Qi Refining Realm cultivation. ¡°Do the two Daoist Fellows have matters here that require assistance, or do you need a little help from Daoist?¡± Daoist Fellow Xiu Xin inquired. ¡°We do have some matters, but we can resolve them ourselves, so there¡¯s no need to trouble Daoist Fellow.¡± Ma Jiu declined promptly. What a joke. An extra person would mean one more share of the spoils to distribute. Of course, they couldn¡¯t let this little Taoist get involved. ¡°Since the female ghost has been subdued, my brother and I have matters to attend to and cannot delay. We will take our leave now, and hope to meet again if fate allows.¡± While they were speaking, those Bandit Cultivators had already ridden the Red Flame Colts seven or eight miles away. They didn¡¯t wish to stay long and planned to follow after them, to find the adversary¡¯s lair and eradicate all the bandits in one fell swoop. Seeing this, Daoist Fellow Xiu Xin naturally could not insist on detaining them, so he bowed and said, ¡°Then, I will not see you off any further. Daoist Fellows, I bid you farewell.¡± ¡°Take care.¡± After bidding farewell to the little Taoist, they left the courtyard. To avoid being detected by those Bandit Cultivators, they did not summon their flying mounts but instead used their own techniques to stealthily follow behind. ¡°` Chapter 99 - Chapter 99: Chapter 98 Stunned Chapter 99: Chapter 98 Stunned In the forest, Ma Jiu was riding on the back of a Silver Wolf. This Silver Wolf had a coat of silvery-white fur, which looked extremely beautiful. It was bigger than a typical horse and carried Ma Jiu running as fast as flying, causing Qin Feng, who was running beside them on two legs, to be utterly envious. He felt somewhat helpless. He had originally thought that having the Spiritual Vulture as a flying riding tool would be enough, but now it seemed he still needed to find another riding tool that could run on the ground. Otherwise, in times when he couldn¡¯t fly in the sky, he couldn¡¯t always rely on his legs to travel. Ma Jiu comfortably sat on the Silver Wolf¡¯s back, turned his head to look at Qin Feng, who had pushed his Divine Movement Technique to the limit, his legs moving like windmills, and chuckled, ¡°Junior Brother Qin, would you like to come up and ride with me?¡± ¡°Uh¡­ no need.¡± Qin Feng quickly declined. He wasn¡¯t used to being too close to other men, and besides, if he really rode together with Ma Jiu, would he sit in the front or the back? Now, they weren¡¯t afraid of those bandit cultivators getting away. Even without the Red Flame Colt, with two Spiritual Birds circling near those bandit cultivators, they weren¡¯t worried about losing track of them. The Beast Taming Sect¡¯s Communication Spirit Birds were not just for messaging; they could also be used as scouting Spiritual Beasts. Since these birds were small and fast, ordinary cultivators could hardly detect them. Although the Red Flame Colt was the lowest level of Spiritual Beast, it was still a Spiritual Beast. It ran through the forest as if flying, hardly affected by the terrain, so its speed was almost as fast as on the flat roads outside the mountains. Qin Feng and Ma Jiu continued to follow behind for over an hour before they finally stopped. They concealed their aura and hid behind a large tree in the forest, quietly observing the situation ahead. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ????????????????????.co This place was deep within Black Wind Mountain. The bandit cultivators hadn¡¯t set their lair on a mountain peak, as that would be too conspicuous for cultivators. If someone flew over from above, it would be easy to spot their tracks. Therefore, the group of bandit cultivators had set their lair in a valley, directly carving out caves on the cliff walls for them to reside in. After those bandit cultivators returned, they quickly caused some commotion, especially since one of their leaders, Jiuye, had been involved. But they couldn¡¯t blame anyone else¡ªafter all, who could have imagined that guy would encounter such a powerful ghost while harassing someone else¡¯s bride? The bandit cultivators discussed among themselves, and in the end, none were willing to venture out to avenge Jiuye. It wasn¡¯t necessary to risk their lives against such a formidable ghost just for a fallen comrade. Their bonds hadn¡¯t reached that extent. Instead, after Jiuye¡¯s death, his position sparked some covetous gazes. Ma Jiu¡¯s eyes flashed a silver light as he discreetly surveyed the situation in the valley, careful not to stare too long at the bandit cultivators before quickly retracting his gaze. But he had already gained a rough understanding of the bandit cultivators. Although there were quite a few of them, and eight were at Qi Refining Late Stage, as long as they could successfully ambush them, the rest surely couldn¡¯t escape from their hands. He looked up at the sunset about to sink, and said, ¡°As soon as it gets dark, we¡¯ll make our move. See those few at the Qi Refining Late Stage? We¡¯ll ambush them first.¡± ¡°Senior Brother, why not wait until the second half of the night to make our move?¡± Qin Feng asked curiously, ¡°A surprise attack on those at Qi Refining Late Stage might not be successful at one stroke. If they notice, won¡¯t that alert the others?¡± ¡°Hehe¡­¡± Ma Jiu laughed upon hearing this, ¡°Junior Brother Qin, this must be your first time attempting such a thing, and you¡¯re being somewhat naive. Do you think we can really attack everyone silently? Waiting until the second half of the night when they are cultivating, they will definitely set up forbidden techniques outside their caves. Although they won¡¯t be very strong, as soon as our Spiritual Beasts get close, they will detect them, voiding any surprise effect. It¡¯s best to act now while they are still unguarded. We let our Spiritual Beasts sneak up first, and when they emerge from the main cave, we strike immediately. If we can take down three or four of those at Qi Refining Late Stage first, the rest of the bandit cultivators, even if they resist, couldn¡¯t possibly match us.¡± ¡°Senior Brother is indeed thorough in his considerations.¡± Qin Feng raised his thumb, praising him. A smile appeared on Ma Jiu¡¯s face, ¡°After you have done a few more missions like this, you¡¯ll also accumulate this kind of experience.¡± He then asked, ¡°You are a disciple from Spiritual Snake Peak, so your Spiritual Beast is a Spiritual Snake, right?¡± Qin Feng nodded, ¡°Indeed, Junior Brother has a Qi Refining Late Stage Spiritual Snake.¡± ¡°That¡¯s good.¡± Ma Jiu pointed toward the creek nearby and said, ¡°Later, let your Spiritual Snake follow the creek and sneak into the pond in the valley. Once those bandit cultivators come out, my spiritual beasts will strike first, forcing the bandits to scatter, and then have your Spiritual Snake ambush from behind. Moreover, to prevent those bandit cultivators from escaping, we will split into two groups. I will stay here to block their path from the front, and Junior Brother, you go to the back slope to guard. If I am not mistaken, there should be bandit cultivators fleeing toward the mountain behind. Junior Brother can intercept them, and if they¡¯re not strong, just kill them.¡± Qin Feng gave him a glance, a hint of suspicion flashing through his mind. This guy really wants to monopolize the Spiritual Objects looted by those bandits, even sending him to guard such a distant place. However, he didn¡¯t say much and simply agreed verbally. Not long after, the setting sun dipped below the horizon, and the mountain forest quickly plunged into darkness. Ma Jiu released three Qi Refining Late Stage spiritual beasts: a diminutive Lightning Mink, an eight-feet-long Pangolin, and his Flying Spirit Beast, the Iron Feathered Eagle. The Lightning Mink flashed and darted into the forest, disappearing from sight. The Iron Feathered Eagle flapped its wings and soared straight into the sky, ready to swoop down at any moment. The Pangolin, with a dun-colored Spirit Light emerging on its body, burrowed straight into the ground, becoming invisible. This deeply surprised Qin Feng. He hadn¡¯t expected Ma Jiu to possess so many Spiritual Beasts, including his Lifebound Silver Wolf, making four Qi Refining Late Stage Spiritual Beasts in total. Ma Jiu¡¯s strength appeared stronger than Qin Feng had estimated, likely having reached Qi Refining Perfection. Otherwise, he wouldn¡¯t have been able to control so many Spiritual Beasts. Ordinarily, Outer Disciples of the Beast Taming Sect only managed one or two Spiritual Beasts, and many solely refined a Lifebound Spiritual Beast. This was not only because more Spiritual Beasts consumed more resources, but also because controlling them could divide one¡¯s Divine Sense, affecting their cultivation. Only those elite disciples who were not lacking in resources and whose Divine Sense could withstand the strain of so many Spiritual Beasts, would cultivate more than one. With the strength that Ma Jiu was displaying, aside from being somewhat older, he was definitely not inferior to those prodigies in other aspects. However, it seemed all his Spiritual Beasts were quite suited for ambush! The Lightning Mink¡¯s speed, the Pangolin¡¯s Earth Escape, the aerial attacks of the Iron Feathered Eagle, and his Silver Wolf, which, if Qin Feng wasn¡¯t mistaken, must possess the Bloodline Divine Power of Clone Illusion like a Silver Moon Demon Wolf. Qin Feng muttered to himself inwardly, it seemed this guy had chosen his path when he had started subduing Spiritual Beasts, focusing only on those suited for surprise attacks. Ma Jiu, glancing at Qin Feng whose expression showed surprise, couldn¡¯t help revealing a smug smile. These were the Spiritual Beasts he had cultivated with much effort, even slowing down his cultivation speed for it. But it was also because of these Spiritual Beasts that he had been able to cultivate up to this point with relative safety. ¡°Junior Brother, there¡¯s no need to envy. Once you have enough resources, you can also cultivate this many Spiritual Beasts.¡± Ma Jiu said with a smile, ¡°Junior Brother, summon your Spiritual Beast as well and get ready to sneak into the valley.¡± ¡°Alright.¡± Qin Feng chuckled lightly, offering no resistance. After all, battle was about to commence, and of course, he had to release his own Spiritual Beast, lest Ma Jiu mistake it for one of the bandit cultivators¡¯ beasts. Then, in front of a flabbergasted Ma Jiu, he waved his hand and released even more Spiritual Beasts. Chapter 100 - Chapter 100: Chapter 99: Its time to show the real ultimate skill. Chapter 100: Chapter 99: It¡¯s time to show the real ultimate skill. Ma Jiu¡¯s expression grew somewhat unsightly. He had just boasted about not letting Qin Feng envy the number of his Spiritual Beasts, when in the blink of an eye, this kid released even more Spiritual Beasts than him, all of which also possessed Qi Refinement late-stage Cultivation. Besides a Spiritual Snake, there was also a Giant Crocodile, a Green Fox, a Ghost-Faced Spider, and a fist-sized Little Toad. Ma Jiu¡¯s lips twitched, and he kind of wanted to swear. Were youngsters so formidable these days? Back when he was a new disciple undergoing trials, he had taken great pains to subdue just one Spiritual Beast. How could this junior sect brother be so formidable, having obtained several late-stage Qi Refinement Spiritual Beasts within a year of joining? Wasn¡¯t he afraid of hindering his Cultivation journey? However, Ma Jiu was an old hand at this and quickly came to his senses, clearing his throat, ¡°Since Junior Brother has so many Spiritual Beasts to protect you, I can rest easy. Night brings many dreams, let¡¯s split up and take action now.¡± ¡°Senior Brother is right.¡± Qin Feng nodded, instructing the Spiritual Snake and Giant Crocodile to silently slip into the water, one in front and one behind, swimming toward the pond in the valley. Then, with a wave of his hand, he signaled the Green Fox and Ghost-Faced Spider to hide in the jungle, keeping only the Swallowing Sky Toad close for protection. Afterward, he circled around the mountain peak and climbed up the slope from the back of the valley, settling down to wait with ease. In the valley, raucous noises continuously spilled from the largest cave in the center, evidently the bandit Cultivators were indulging in drink and merriment. Qin Feng¡¯s eyes darted around, ordering the Ghost-Faced Spider to lay down a web of poison in the woods to prevent the bandits from escaping. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ????????????????????.co Near the entrance of the valley, Ma Jiu wore a strange expression. The basin-sized Ghost-Faced Spider was diligently spinning its toxic web not far from him, blocking off every possible escape route except for the path in front of him. Given enough time, it could even seal off the entire valley. A sudden, uneasy premonition rose in Ma Jiu¡¯s heart that this mission might not be as beneficial as previous ones. After all, with Qin Feng also in possession of so many Spiritual Beasts, he was bound to reap a considerable harvest. It seemed he had to move quickly, getting the jump on this younger disciple, and ransack the bandit lair first. Otherwise, he might not be able to gather the resources he wanted from this outing. Time ticked away, and soon, the moon reached its zenith, roughly the second watch of the night. Finally, from that mountain cave in the center of the valley, a group of bandit Cultivators emerged, laughing and joking as they walked out. Although Ninth Master had died, few truly cared; the extended time spent inside was nothing more than a bout of revelry. Just as the bandits were joking and about to scatter, suddenly, a flash-like shadow darted through the void, landing instantly on one of them. With a whoosh, sharp claws drew a bloody mark across the bandit Cultivator¡¯s neck. Before that bandit could react, the ground where they stood suddenly quivered and collapsed violently. Several unprepared bandits fell straight down as a Pangolin, flickering with yellow light, burst out with scales sharp as blades, lunging directly at them. ¡°Who¡¯s there?¡± ¡°How audacious!¡± ¡°Demons Beasts have infiltrated! Everyone be careful¡­¡± ¡°First Gu, we¡¯ve been invaded.¡± The bandits scattered in all directions, avoiding the Pangolin¡¯s spell radius. However, a few bandits had just retreated to the edge of a nearby pond, still not having a clear view of the attacking Demon Beasts, when suddenly, they heard splashing from the water behind them. Splash! Then they saw two slender figures leap from the water, biting towards them. One was a slender Spiritual Snake, the other a ferocious Giant Crocodile. The Giant Crocodile opened its jaws wide and, with a crunch, bit a late-stage Qi Refinement Cultivator clean in half. That fellow was really out of luck, preoccupied with avoiding the sudden ground sinking spell launched by the Pangolin, he had not been on guard for Spiritual Beasts in the pond. On another side, the Spiritual Snake did not bite directly but instead sprayed out a large cloud of poison mist. In an instant, the poison engulfed several nearby bandits, and then, with a flash of movement, the snake ascended from below, climbing up the legs of one of the bandits poised to resist. With a bite on the arm, the potent venom entered the bandit¡¯s body, swiftly sapping his strength and leaving him twisted and broken, his body contorting into a twisted shape. ¡°Not good, it¡¯s poisonous.¡± Surprised by the poison mist, several Cultivators were struck, finding no need to inhale as the mere touch of the mist brought a numbing itch, compelling them to scratch incessantly. Once their skin was broken, more of the poison mist adhered instantly, numbing the afflicted flesh. At this time, the other Spiritual Beasts also seized the opportunity to launch their attacks, catching the bandits completely off guard and scoring successes beyond what Ma Jiu had previously anticipated. ¡°` After all, the addition of Qin Feng¡¯s several Qi Refining late stage Spiritual Beasts greatly increased their side¡¯s war power, otherwise they wouldn¡¯t have so easily killed so many bandit cultivators. ¡°` ¡°` Amidst the chaos outside, a tall and thin silhouette quickly floated out from the largest cave. ¡°` ¡°` It was a young man with a sinister gaze, the leader of this group of bandit cultivators, Gu Cheng. ¡°` ¡°` He was the son of the previous leader, and after his father was ambushed and killed by the Zhang Family¡¯s conspiracy, he had deterred the remaining bandit cultivators with extremely ruthless methods, then personally led people to follow the two Foundation Establishment Cultivators from the Zhang Family into the Ancient Battlefield. They risked triggering some dangerous prohibitions there, killing the two Foundation Establishment members of the Zhang Family, and then looted the Zhang Family clean. Only then did he truly secure his position as the head. ¡°` ¡°` He just didn¡¯t expect that it wouldn¡¯t be long before someone would strike at their hideout. ¡°` ¡°` Although it was the Spiritual Beasts that were currently killing, he knew for sure that these were beasts manipulated by people; otherwise, there wouldn¡¯t be such a variety of different types of Spiritual Beasts gathered here assaulting them. ¡°` ¡°` ¡°Beast Taming Sect¡¯s disciples?!¡± ¡°` ¡°` He quickly guessed the origin of these Spiritual Beasts, after all, the Zhang Family was also a vassal force of the Beast Taming Sect. ¡°` ¡°` He was secretly shocked at how quickly the disciples from the Beast Taming Sect had found their doorstep, somewhat disrupting his plans. ¡°` ¡°` However, when he discovered that there were only a few Qi Refining Realm Spiritual Beasts, he immediately breathed a sigh of relief. ¡°` ¡°` It seemed that the Beast Taming Sect didn¡¯t take them seriously and hadn¡¯t sent any Foundation Establishment Cultivators over; otherwise, there would have been several Foundation Establishment Spirit Beasts appearing. ¡°` ¡°` ¡°What is there to fear, they¡¯re just some Qi Refining Realm Spiritual Beasts, kill them for me.¡± ¡°` ¡°` Gu Cheng bellowed, ready to gather his men and encircle those Spiritual Beasts. ¡°` ¡°` But he somewhat underestimated the strength of these Spiritual Beasts, especially the Green Fox with its Illusion Technique. Under the interference of its illusions, the other Spiritual Beasts could easily kill the bandit cultivators who failed to break free from the illusions. ¡°` ¡°` Consequently, quite a few bandit cultivators couldn¡¯t help but scream out, scattering and fleeing. ¡°` ¡°` However, before they could get far, they were stopped by spider webs blocking their path. A few unlucky ones didn¡¯t see the webs and crashed into them, immediately having their bodies corroded by the deadly poison of the webs, leaving black lines across their bodies. ¡°` ¡°` And one ran straight into the Ghost-Faced Spider itself, which spat out its web to firmly trap them and then bit them to death. ¡°` ¡°` Although this Ghost-Faced Spider¡¯s frontal combat ability wasn¡¯t as fierce as the other Spiritual Beasts¡¯, its early setup of spider webs to intercept those that attempted to flee proved extremely effective. ¡°` ¡°` Seeing that many places in the mountains and forests were entwined with spider silk, the bandit cultivators immediately changed their color. Had they been trapped like dumplings? ¡°` ¡°` A few cultivators suddenly released several Paper Kites. ¡°` ¡°` These were one-time use Flying Artifacts capable of carrying cultivators for hundreds of miles. ¡°` ¡°` Just as they had risen dozens of feet high, two bird cries suddenly came from above, and a great eagle and an Iron Feathered Eagle circled a few times, destroying the Paper Kites below them. Suspended in midair with no way to exert force, they were killed one by one by the two Spiritual Birds. ¡°` ¡°` ¡°Idiots!¡± ¡°` ¡°` Ma Jiu snorted coldly. ¡°` ¡°` Daring to fly with such low-level artifacts in front of Beast Taming Sect disciples, weren¡¯t they asking for death? ¡°` ¡°` Gu Cheng¡¯s face became ugly. ¡°` ¡°` The severity of these Spiritual Beasts exceeded his imagination; after that round of slaughter, there were only about a dozen or so of his men left alive, some of which were wounded. ¡°` ¡°` Seeing as the Spiritual Beasts around them continued to launch attacks, apart from the Green Fox that constantly cast Illusion Techniques to disturb their spirit and prevent them from wholeheartedly defending against the Spiritual Beasts¡¯ assault, there was also a Spiritual Snake capable of spewing poison mist, shrouding a radius of more than a dozen zhang in a haze of venom. ¡°` ¡°` Even though they had taken Detoxification Pills, they dared not continue to remain within the poison fog, as these ordinary Detoxification Pills were not specific antidotes, and they would be unable to endure if they stayed longer. ¡°` ¡°` ¡°Follow me, and let¡¯s break out!¡± ¡°` ¡°` Gu Cheng yelled, leading the remnants of his men towards the valley exit. ¡°` ¡°` At the mouth of the valley, Ma Jiu narrowed his eyes, eyeing the bandit cultivators who were both entangled with the Spiritual Beasts and retreating towards his direction. He suddenly regretted tricking Qin Feng into leaving. ¡°` ¡°` Among these bandit cultivators, there were three from the late stage of Qi Refining. If he wished to stop all the bandit cultivators, relying on just one Silver Wolf was not enough. ¡°` ¡°` Moreover, this Silver Wolf was his Lifebound Spiritual Beast, and he couldn¡¯t bear to let the Silver Wolf face so many bandit cultivators alone and risk being killed by some fatal tactic; he would be devastated. ¡°` ¡°` It seemed, it was time to unveil his true trump card. ¡°` Chapter 101 - Chapter 101: Chapter 100 Soul Punishment Needle Chapter 101: Chapter 100 Soul Punishment Needle Ma Jiu took a deep breath, his Silver Wolf suddenly flashed and leapt into his body, instantly merging with him to transform into a werewolf with a head full of silver hair. At a distance, Qin Feng watched in astonishment. What¡¯s happening? Ma Jiu had actually merged with a Spiritual Beast. Although there were indeed a very few talented disciples in the Sect who could get ahead in cultivation, such as Fang Zheng and Qi Wushang, who could condense a Divine Power Seed during the Foundation Establishment Realm. Kong Xuan, Long Qian, and Wei Yan stood out from the Qi Refining Disciples and were hailed as geniuses precisely because they could merge with a Demon Beast one step earlier, even when they were in the Qi Refining Realm. Nevertheless, Qin Feng had never imagined that Ma Jiu could accomplish this feat as well. Such a thing was generally only seen among talented disciples; could it be that Ma Jiu was also a genius? But if he truly was a genius, why was he still struggling in the Qi Refining Realm? Qin Feng shook his head. There were many capable individuals in the Cultivation World, and everyone had their own fortunes. Although Ma Jiu was somewhat sly, it was not right to deny his efforts. Since Ma Jiu had cultivated to this level, he could certainly be considered a genius, albeit older than those young talents like Kong Xuan. Seeing all the bandit cultivators fleeing towards the valley entrance, Qin Feng no longer just stood by, but with a light tap of his foot, he flew several zhang and quickly headed towards the valley entrance. He did not take advantage of the chaos caused by Ma Jiu fighting the bandits to plunder their lair. It was better not to do such things when on a mission with fellow Sect members; otherwise, word would get out and tarnish his reputation within the Sect. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ????????????????????.co Ma Jiu had no idea what Qin Feng was thinking, and even if he knew, he would not care because Gu Cheng and the others had already approached, viciously attacking him. Clearly, these bandit cultivators planned to repel, or even kill him, in order to carve out a path of survival for themselves. However, when a Beast Taming Sect disciple merges with their Lifebound Spiritual Beast, the result is not as simple as just adding two individuals together. At this moment, Ma Jiu¡¯s combat power soared multiple times. He himself had reached the peak of the Qi Refining Realm, and coupled with his Lifebound Spiritual Beast of the same Realm, although their merged form did not have as potent True Yuan as a Foundation Establishment Cultivator, in terms of combat power alone, it was not much less than a cultivator who had just entered Foundation Establishment. Moreover, under such circumstances, he could also use the innate Divine Ability of the Silver Wolf¡ªIllusion Clone. Just as Gu Cheng, along with two late-stage Qi Refining cultivators wielding magic artifacts, combined forces to attack Ma Jiu, Ma Jiu¡¯s figure flashed, and in an instant, he split into three, each attacking the three bandit cultivators. Gu Cheng and his companions were taken aback; their joint effort instantly crumbled as they each wielded their magic artifacts to block the attacking Ma Jiu. With two bangs, two clones shattered, dissipating into nothingness. But at the same moment, a bandit cultivator to Gu Cheng¡¯s left suddenly let out a scream, having been caught off guard by Ma Jiu and sent flying with a swipe of a claw. Before the bandit cultivator could fall to the ground, a Giant Crocodile that had been relentlessly pursuing him lunged up and bit down hard. With a crunch, blood spurted out, and he was killed instantly by the Giant Crocodile¡¯s bite. The faces of Gu Cheng and the others changed again, not expecting to have one of their own cut down in just an exchange of blows. However, no matter how strong the opponent was, they had to exert all their strength to break through; this was their only way out. Thus, they all employed their abilities to the fullest, defending against the attacking Spiritual Beasts while also using Spirit Talismans and other magic artifacts against Ma Jiu. The leading Gu Cheng even emitted a dense Yin Evil Qi, transforming it into a huge hand with a radius of several zhang, reaching out from the sky towards Ma Jiu. ¡°Eh?¡± Ma Jiu¡¯s figure flickered like a silver phantom, retreating more than a dozen zhang in an instant, casting uncertain glances at Gu Cheng¡¯s Yin Evil Hand. Feeling the chilling Demonic Qi within, he couldn¡¯t help but feel a shiver cross his face. ¡°This is a Demon Path technique; are you a Demon Cultivator?¡± Gu Cheng remained silent, grimly manipulating the large hand to strike again at Ma Jiu. The technique he cultivated was not something to be displayed openly, but now he had no choice but to use it. Otherwise, once his subordinates were killed, leaving him alone, he would definitely not be able to escape the besiegement of Ma Jiu and the many Spiritual Beasts. Moreover, having now used this technique, even if he couldn¡¯t kill Ma Jiu, he needed to escape the area quickly. Otherwise, once it became known that he practiced Demon Technique, he would undoubtedly become the target of many seeking his death. With this in mind, not only did Gu Cheng continue to direct the Yin Evil Demon Hand at Ma Jiu, but he also quietly released a dark light from his sleeve. This was the God Slaying Spear, a Demon Path magic artifact he had secretly refined, capable of wounding the Divine Soul. However, despite being somewhat surprised by his tactics, Ma Jiu was not the least bit fearful, but instead sneered, ¡°Boy, your Demon Path tricks might work on others, but they¡¯re not good enough against me.¡± As he spoke, his figure became like a beam of silver light, swiftly moving towards Gu Cheng and again creating two illusionary clones, making it difficult for Gu Cheng to discern which one was his true form. With a bang, the Yin Evil Demon Hand dispersed one of the illusionary clones, and the Soul Punishment Needle also pierced through another form. However, both were mere illusions; the real Ma Jiu had already closed in, his wolf claws lashing out like iron hooks towards Gu Cheng. A shock went through Gu Cheng¡¯s heart, not expecting his strongest measures to hit merely illusions. It was too late to recall the Yin Evil Demon Hand and the Soul Punishment Needle. With no time to dodge and other Spiritual Beasts striking at him from behind, he quickly took out a Spirit Talisman from his Storage Bag and activated it, forming a barrier of water light to protect himself. ¡°A mere second-order Spirit Talisman won¡¯t save your life.¡± Ma Jiu sneered coldly. His war power at this time was not much less than that of a cultivator who had just entered the Foundation Establishment, and with the assistance of other Spiritual Beasts, it would take just a moment with a single Defense Spiritual Talisman to overwhelm him. Moreover, Gu Cheng had the protection of a Spirit Talisman, while the other bandits did not. Ma Jiu¡¯s figure flashed, suddenly appearing in front of the other bandit cultivators, raised his sharp wolf claws, and plunged them into the opponent. He wasn¡¯t worried about Gu Cheng escaping, because as soon as he had entered the valley, Qin Feng¡¯s Ghost-Faced Spider had already started spinning webs at the valley entrance. Even if Gu Cheng used Yin Evil Ghost Hand to destroy the spider¡¯s silk, it would take some time, and with the extremely fast speed of Ma Jiu merged with his Lifebound Spiritual Beast, that little bit of time was enough to intercept the bandit leader. Besides, Qin Feng had caught up by now. He didn¡¯t get too close either, to avoid being sneaked upon by Gu Cheng¡¯s God Slaying Spear; so he stayed far behind several Demon Beasts, releasing the Demon Slaying Saber to harass the bandits. There were only a few bandits left; although several of Qin Feng and his partner¡¯s Spiritual Beasts were also injured, it wasn¡¯t too serious. Victory was now assured¡ªeliminating these few bandits and relying solely on that bandit leader who practiced Demon Path Cultivation Methods would ensure his definite demise. Seeing this, Gu Cheng¡¯s eyes flashed with a fierce light, suddenly recalling the Yin Evil Demon Hand, merging all the Yin Evil Qi into himself. In an instant, his figure swelled greatly, his originally slender frame suddenly becoming muscular and immensely powerful. He then let out a roar and, ignoring the remaining few bandit cultivators, dashed toward the valley entrance. His figure was as quick as lightning and, in the blink of an eye, he had reached the entrance of the valley. Facing the dozens of webs spun by the Ghost-Faced Spider, he recklessly charged through. Bang, bang, bang! A few light sounds, and Gu Cheng forcibly broke through all the spider silk, turning into a black whirlwind, dashing out with a remarkable speed. ¡°Eh?¡± Ma Jiu¡¯s heart skipped a beat, not having expected this guy to have such a technique up his sleeve¡ªbeing able to draw Yin Evil into his body, temporarily enhancing his strength. While this method had severe side effects and would surely cause great damage to his body, at this moment, it had significantly boosted the bandit leader¡¯s strength, or else he wouldn¡¯t have easily broken through the Ghost-Faced Spider¡¯s silk. ¡°Junior Brother, you deal with these few bandits, I¡¯ll chase after him.¡± With that, Ma Jiu¡¯s figure flashed, pursuing with an equally high speed. Gu Cheng was the leader of these bandits, the one with the most treasures on him; Ma Jiu couldn¡¯t bear to let him just run away. Qin Feng agreed with a shout and turned to look at the few remaining bandit cultivators. With the most concerning bandit leader having fled, the rest were simply of no concern to him, and there was no need to be as cautious as before. The Swallowing Sky Toad, which had always been kept by his side for protection, finally showed its prowess, spitting out an Ice Spur directly piercing through one person, and then with its tongue flashing, it zapped the remaining bandit cultivators in cooperation with the other Spiritual Beasts in just a few moments. Qin Feng leisurely began to collect the spoils of the battle, waiting for Ma Jiu to return. Since the two of them killed these bandits together, he gathered the items, waiting to split them with Ma Jiu when he returned. A quarter of an hour later, Ma Jiu returned with a sulky look. ¡°What, he got away?¡± Qin Feng asked, somewhat surprised. ¡°Hmm.¡± Ma Jiu grunted: ¡°After all, I haven¡¯t reached Foundation Establishment, so I can¡¯t merge with a Spiritual Beast for too long, therefore, that guy got away. But, he first stimulated his potential with a secret technique, and then I caught up and injured him; he shouldn¡¯t get far. Let¡¯s quickly tidy up here and follow the trail; we might still catch him.¡± ¡°Okay.¡± Qin Feng had no objections. Most disciples from the Beast Taming Sect have some tracking skills, otherwise, when encountering suitable Spiritual Beasts outside, it would be difficult not to know how to pursue. Besides, even if they didn¡¯t know how to track, it didn¡¯t matter because they had Spiritual Beasts. Many Spiritual Beasts had an innate sensitivity to various scents; unless that bandit leader knew some special Techniques to mask his scent, it would be hard for him to evade the pursuit of Spiritual Beasts. The two then hurried, not bothering to patiently erase the Divine Sense marks left on the storage bags of the bandit cultivators, directly and equally divided the Magic Artifacts, and the Spiritual Objects scavenged from the bandits¡¯ caves. They didn¡¯t haggle over who should get more and immediately set off in the direction the bandit leader had escaped. Considering that the guy was the bandit leader, the Spiritual Objects on him must be abundant, and capturing him would surely reap a good profit. Moreover, that bandit leader was related to the completion of their mission, and if they did not eliminate him, Qin Feng¡¯s task wouldn¡¯t be considered fully accomplished, reducing the Sect¡¯s reward by a lot. ps: Brothers, don¡¯t rush me; after finishing off the bandit cultivators, tomorrow I¡¯ll start writing the scenario about the Lifebound Spiritual Beast. After all, a Lifebound Spiritual Beast can¡¯t just pop out of nowhere; it always requires a scenario for buildup. Additionally, asking for a recommendation ticket, after all, writing books still requires everyone¡¯s support. Chapter 102 - Chapter 102: Chapter 101 Blood Demon Pill Chapter 102: Chapter 101 Blood Demon Pill ¡°Ssssss¡­¡± The Spiritual Snake was hissing as it quickly followed Gu Cheng¡¯s lingering scent, with Qin Feng and another person employing the Divine Movement Technique to keep up from behind. Although Ma Jiu¡¯s Silver Wolf was also a scent-sensitive Spiritual Beast, it was his Lifebound Spiritual Beast, and given Ma Jiu¡¯s cautious character, he certainly wouldn¡¯t let his Lifebound Spiritual Beast take the lead. Who knew if the Bandit Leader still had any lethal tricks up his sleeve? Currently, Ma Jiu was preparing for Foundation Establishment and was unwilling to risk his Lifebound Spiritual Beast getting injured. The two of them pressed on and chased for several dozen miles, nearing Liang City, yet they still hadn¡¯t caught up with their target. However, the Bandit Leader hadn¡¯t managed to shake them off either. After all, he had sustained severe injuries and could not possibly run very fast. If they continued at this pace, it wouldn¡¯t take long for the two to catch him. Yet, when they reached the foot of a mountain, they stopped and frowned as they looked around. Because from this point on, the scent of their quarry split in two and went off in different directions. ¡°Hmph, what good are these petty tricks?¡± Ma Jiu sneered, ¡°That guy mustn¡¯t be far from us, or else he wouldn¡¯t have detected us and wouldn¡¯t have used such a method to try to confuse and separate us. Junior brother, let¡¯s split up and pursue him, but be careful. Even though that man is severely injured, he might still have the strength to fight back. Don¡¯t let him catch you off guard.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t worry, senior brother. I won¡¯t take it lightly.¡± Qin Feng agreed and went off to follow Gu Cheng¡¯s scent, heading north as Ma Jiu went south. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ????????????????????.co His Spiritual Snake moved incredibly fast, its body raised high as if it was flying over the grass, a speed that even Qi Refining late-stage cultivators would struggle to match. To prevent ambush from Gu Cheng, Qin Feng didn¡¯t follow directly behind the Spiritual Snake. Instead, he settled on the back of a Spiritual Vulture, circling at a hundred zhang high. Even if the other wanted to ambush him, it was impossible; Spells from a Qi Refining cultivator couldn¡¯t reach such a height. Next to a withered tree covered with dead branches and leaves, Gu Cheng was hiding underground. He was in bad shape, his face was devoid of any color, his meridians inside his body were a tangled mess, and he had numerous other injuries that caused him pain like being scraped by a knife whenever he tried to mobilize his True Yuan. Gu Cheng knew that with his current condition it would be difficult to escape. That¡¯s why he had divided his scent, separating his two pursuers, planning to ambush and kill one of them here. Or even killing the Spiritual Beast they used to pursue him would do, buying him some more time to escape. As long as he could get into Chaotic Sky Valley, he was confident he could escape by making use of his familiarity with the Ancient Battlefield. Even if those Beast Taming Sect disciples dared to pursue him into it, he could use the dangers of the Ancient Battlefield to his advantage to trap kill them, just as he had with the Zhang Family¡¯s two Foundation Establishment Cultivators. But when he saw, through a slit he had left, that the Spiritual Snake was not followed by Beast Taming Sect disciples, he was momentarily dumbfounded. Squinting for a good while, he finally spotted Qin Feng sitting atop a Spiritual Vulture in mid-air. ¡°Despicable scoundrel!¡± Gu Cheng was nearly exploded with rage. He was already so badly injured, yet Qin Feng was still so cautious, not even giving him a chance for a sneak attack. Were all the cultivators from the Beast Taming Sect this cunning? Using a Spiritual Beast to chase after him while hiding himself in mid-air, this move made Gu Cheng feel so frustrated he wanted to spit blood. However, even though Qin Feng wasn¡¯t coming down, he had no choice but to take action. The Spiritual Snake had begun to circle the area, sensing that the enemy was near. Gu Cheng had obscured his own scent and laid down some tricks nearby, so the snake hadn¡¯t found him yet. But as the Spiritual Snake continued to narrow its search, it was only a matter of time before it would find him. In midair, Qin Feng clearly sensed something was wrong as well. He understood, via the waves of intent from the Spiritual Snake, that the Bandit Leader was hiding right here. ¡°Retreat!¡± Qin Feng commanded the Spiritual Snake. Since that guy was hiding here, he was in no hurry now. He planned to release all of his Spiritual Beasts to force the enemy into the open and have several beasts launch a group attack, which was better than letting the Spiritual Snake face the Bandit Leader alone. If the enemy refused to show himself, he would instruct the Ghost-Faced Spider to weave a Spider Web Great Array around the area. He refused to believe that the Bandit Leader, with his severe injuries, could easily break through the Ghost-Faced Spider¡¯s web. But the moment the Spiritual Snake pulled back, Gu Cheng couldn¡¯t hold back any longer. With a ¡®bang¡¯, he burst out from under the dead branches and leaves, his figure shot out like a ghostly shadow towards the Spiritual Snake, holding a Flame Saber in his hand and slashing at the snake¡¯s body. Had it been one of Qin Feng¡¯s other Spiritual Beasts, it would have likely not been able to dodge this sudden sneak attack. Yet the Spiritual Snake was known for its speed, and in the blink of an eye, it twisted its body and narrowly avoided Gu Cheng¡¯s strike, instinctively spraying a puff of poisonous mist at him. ¡°Damn it!¡± Gu Cheng cursed under his breath, not expecting that the Spiritual Snake¡¯s sudden retreat would cause his sure-kill strike to miss its mark, and the snake actually dodged it. Seeing the poisonous mist about to reach him, Gu Cheng quickly dodged, which in turn provided the Spiritual Snake with a chance to recover. By the time he advanced and swung his saber again, he had lost the advantage of his surprise attack. With the snake¡¯s speed, he found it difficult to kill it in a fleeting moment. Qin Feng quickly directed the Spiritual Vulture to land, then released several other Spiritual Beasts, ordering them to surround and attack Gu Cheng. Gu Cheng saw that the situation was dire and turned to flee. But he had only escaped a hundred meters when he stopped on his own initiative. With his current condition, he couldn¡¯t run for long, and the spiritual beasts behind him kept unleashing spells from time to time, forcing him to dodge left and right. When he couldn¡¯t dodge, he had to exert himself to block the spells, which significantly slowed his escape. Gu Cheng, with no other choice, turned back to look at the pursuing spiritual beasts, then glanced at Qin Feng who was following far behind. He shouted, ¡°Kid, what skill is there in fighting me with spiritual beasts? If you have the guts, come at me yourself, and let me see if your Beast Taming Sect has any other capabilities!¡± Qin Feng looked at him as if he were an idiot: ¡°Are you crazy? You know I¡¯m a disciple of the Beast Taming Sect and yet you still expect me to abandon my spiritual beasts to fight you in close combat?¡± ¡°You¡­¡± Gu Cheng was furious, and just as he was about to yell, his vision blurred and he saw the Green Fox transform into a massive three-tailed fox demon with an intimidating presence, looking down at him. ¡°Not good!¡± Gu Cheng was startled, knowing he had fallen for an illusion technique. He hurriedly cast a spell to steady his spirit, but as soon as he broke free from the illusion¡¯s influence, he saw a giant crocodile, several meters long, fiercely pouncing at him. The sight of the giant crocodile¡¯s gaping maw filled with thick, six-inch-long teeth sent a chill through his heart. No longer at his peak, Gu Cheng didn¡¯t dare to meet the giant crocodile¡¯s attack head-on. He swiftly moved aside, only to be met by a sharp ice spur. With a loud bang, his Flame Saber shattered the ice spur, but a burst of spider silk threatened to wrap around him from the side. As he tried to dodge to the left, he saw the Spiritual Snake already spewing poison mist in that direction. The Swallowing Sky Toad, Green Fox, Giant Crocodile, Spiritual Snake, and Ghost-Faced Spider¡ªfive late-stage Qi Refining Spiritual Beasts attacking at the same time¡ªGu Cheng, severely injured as he was, couldn¡¯t have withstood their assault even at his best, let alone now. Ultimately, he failed to evade all attacks and was struck by the Giant Crocodile¡¯s thick tail, flung over thirty meters away, and brutally smashed into the ground. ¡°Ah¡­¡± Blood spewed from Gu Cheng¡¯s mouth as he roared, ¡°You forced me to do this, kid! Even if I die, I won¡¯t let you off easily.¡± As he spoke, he pulled out a pitch-black vial, poured out a blood-red elixir pill, and swallowed it. Soon, violent energy surged through his body, and his strength astonishingly returned to its peak within a short time, even seemingly stronger. ¡°Kid, you¡¯ve driven me to this point; I¡¯m going to kill you!¡± Gu Cheng¡¯s eyes bloodshot, he stared intently at Qin Feng and charged toward him. The Giant Crocodile lunged forward, opening its jaws to bite him. ¡°Get lost!¡± Gu Cheng raised his sword and slashed at the Giant Crocodile. With a bang, a wave of Flame Saber Qi forcefully sent the Giant Crocodile flying several meters away, causing it to bleed profusely, nearly splitting it in two. Gu Cheng then made a mad dash toward Qin Feng. His heart was filled with hatred, wanting nothing more than to tear Qin Feng to pieces. With his current physical condition, taking the Blood Demon Pill, a violently potent elixir, was tantamount to suicide. But he was ruthless, resolved to drag down the person who drove him to this point even in his dying moments. However, before he could reach Qin Feng, he saw Qin Feng suddenly motion with his hand, calling down the hovering Spiritual Vulture from above, leaping onto its back and soaring high into the air. ¡°Ah ah ah¡­¡± Gu Cheng was almost driven mad, his Flame Saber releasing several strands of Sword Energy from afar, but he wasn¡¯t even able to hit the tail of the Spiritual Vulture. With red eyes, he cursed, ¡°Kid, if you have the guts, come down and fight me for three hundred rounds! What kind of skill is hiding up there?¡± Qin Feng chuckled, ¡°No hurry. I¡¯m not one to take advantage of others. Seeing you¡¯re badly wounded, I¡¯ll give you some time to recover your injuries. After an hour, I¡¯ll come down and fight you to the death.¡± Upon hearing these words, Gu Cheng couldn¡¯t hold back the raging anger in his heart any longer, and spewed out a mouthful of blood. He wouldn¡¯t last half an hour, let alone a quarter of it. Once the power of the Blood Demon Pill wore off, he¡¯d be like a lamb to the slaughter. No matter how Gu Cheng taunted and cursed from below, Qin Feng wouldn¡¯t come down. Let him curse. Once his peak condition passed, I will make him pay a hundredfold. Qin Feng was cunning. Not only did he refrain from going down himself, but he also did not allow the Swallowing Sky Toad and others to attack proactively. Unless Gu Cheng attacked them, these Spiritual Beasts would just roam around him, waiting for his fall. Now, there was no need to sacrifice his spiritual beasts anymore, just waiting for the Bandit Leader to die would suffice. True to prediction, not even half an hour had passed when the once vigorous Gu Cheng quickly dissipated his energy and wilted. With a thud, he collapsed to the ground, his body penetrated by several Ice Spurs from the Swallowing Sky Toad. Chapter 103 - Chapter 103: Chapter 102: Witnessed Something Shocking Chapter 103: Chapter 102: Witnessed Something Shocking After confirming that Gu Cheng was indeed dead, Qin Feng landed and decisively picked up the other¡¯s Flame Saber, collected his Storage Bag, and searched his body thoroughly. Ensuring there was no treasure left behind, he then swung the newly-acquired Flame Saber, releasing several streaks of Flame Saber Qi to incinerate Gu Cheng¡¯s physical body to ashes. Next, he recalled the few Spiritual Beasts, while using his True Yuan to erase the lingering Divine Sense mark on Gu Cheng¡¯s Storage Bag, leisurely heading back the way he came. He wasn¡¯t in a rush to meet up with Ma Jiu; if Ma Jiu sensed something was amiss, he would naturally follow. Qin Feng now planned to first inspect what good items the Bandit Leader¡¯s Storage Bag contained. A quarter of an hour later, the mark on the Storage Bag was erased by his True Yuan, and upon probing its contents with his Divine Sense, he couldn¡¯t help but feel elated. This guy was truly worthy of being the Bandit Cultivators¡¯ leader, as there were quite a few valuable items inside the Storage Bag. Even a rough count totaled at least two to three thousand Spirit Stones. He reached into the Storage Bag and took out a pitch-black vial¡ªthis was precisely the container for the blood-colored elixir that Gu Cheng had taken earlier. Opening the vial, a bloody, sweetly sickening scent immediately wafted out. ¡°Could this be the Blood Demon Pill of the Blood Demon Sect?¡± Qin Feng muttered. The Blood Demon Pill was a nefarious elixir that could burn one¡¯s essence blood to temporarily increase strength. He had never seen this kind of pill before, yet he had read many books in the Scripture Pavilion detailing various elixirs¡¯ effects, and the effects after the Bandit Leader swallowed the pill bore a striking resemblance to those of the Blood Demon Pill mentioned in the records. This was the depth of heritage of a long-standing, reputable sect. Ordinary Loose Cultivators, with only hearsay to guide them, certainly wouldn¡¯t know so many secretive matters. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ????????????????????.co Qin Feng glanced at the vial and saw there were still eight Blood Demon Pills left. He didn¡¯t pay much mind and casually stored them away. He wasn¡¯t willing or daring to consume such evil elixirs; it would be better to have someone appraise them once he returned and then see if he could sell them. Just as he was happily inspecting the other Spiritual Objects in the Storage Bag, he suddenly heard voices not far away. Initially, Qin Feng didn¡¯t pay much attention; it was normal for Cultivators to be near Liang City. However, once he heard the words ¡°Golden Light Cave,¡± he became instantly alert. The Golden Light Cave of Taiyi Mountain and their Beast Taming Sect were sworn enemies; the enmity between the Sects ran deep, and it was not uncommon for their Disciples to kill each other. Encountering them alone was not a good thing; if killed, he might not even have a place to bury his corpse. Qin Feng quickly concealed his aura, and with a flicker, silently hid behind a bush. Being too close, he didn¡¯t dare to flee. Whether it was releasing the Spiritual Vulture to ascend or using a Spell to escape, any of those actions would cause fluctuations in Spiritual Energy, which would definitely attract the attention of the Golden Light Cave Disciples. Shortly after hiding, Qin Feng peeked through the bushes and vaguely saw two figures approaching. It was a man and a woman; the man had a tall stature and handsome appearance, exuding a sense of righteousness like a young talent. The girl, dressed in a light blue garment, was pretty and delicate, with the aura of a gentle young lady. Then he heard the girl in blue speaking, ¡°Senior Brother, we¡¯ve been together for so long; when do you plan to ask my father for my hand in marriage?¡± The man glanced at her and said softly, ¡°Junior Sister, you know how I feel. I, Zhuo Feifan, am not heartless. My affection for you comes from the heart.¡± ¡°I naturally know this, otherwise I wouldn¡¯t be with you¡­¡± The woman said this much, a few shades of red blossoming on her face, feeling shy in her heart, so she didn¡¯t continue speaking. Zhuo Feifan then said, ¡°Junior Sister, I¡¯m aware of your affections for me. In truth, I should have asked for your hand in marriage much earlier. But as you know, in two more years, it will be time for our lineage to compete for the position of True Disciple. Right now, I cannot afford to be distracted. If the elders of our sect ever think that I am less dedicated to the Sword Dao than Senior Brother Chen, they will definitely favor him. Although my master is quite fond of me, at my insistence, he has passed on the ¡®Taiyin Golden Light Evil Slayer Sword Technique¡¯ to me. However, this sword technique is profound and mysterious; who knows how long it will take to master it to great success, and similarly, Senior Brother Chen and the others are not lacking in profound sword techniques.¡± As he talked, a surge of pride filled Zhuo Feifan¡¯s heart, ¡°Since childhood, the master took me under his wing. After a decade of rigorous training, I have made significant achievements in the Sword Dao, defeating nineteen fellow disciples in the sect competition, and being recognized as one of the most likely candidates for the True Discipleship. All these, I fought for on my own. But what about Senior Brother Chen? Just because he is of the direct lineage of the Chen Family and the grandson of Elder Chen, not only does he have access to far more cultivation resources than I do, many elders seem to favor him, wanting to reserve the position of True Disciple for him. Thus, Junior Sister, now is not the time to reveal our relationship. Everything must prioritize the position of True Disciple. Junior Sister, you should be able to understand my painstaking efforts, right?¡± He paused, then continued, ¡°The reason I came here this time is because I received news that someone has discovered an Ancient Spirit Sword on the Ancient Battlefield. Based solely on the ¡®Taiyin Golden Light Evil Slayer Sword Technique¡¯, I don¡¯t have absolute confidence that I could suppress Senior Brother Chen and the others. But if I could obtain the Spirit Sword and gain its recognition, leveraging the power of the Ancient Spirit Sword, I could definitely stand out upon returning and seize the position of True Disciple. Once I become a True Disciple, I would then have the qualifications to contend for the next Sect Leader. After a few hundred years, it¡¯s not impossible for me to become the new Sect Leader of the Golden Light Cave.¡± Qin Feng hid himself dozens of yards away. Although the two individuals were speaking softly, his Divine Sense was acute and his hearing extraordinary, so he could hear them clearly. He was secretly astonished; this Zhuo Feifan actually had hopes of seizing the position of True Disciple of the Golden Light Cave. It seemed this man was indeed a genius. With this thought, he became even more careful in concealing himself. Fortunately, the cultivation of those two disciples from Taiyi Mountain¡¯s Golden Light Cave, though higher than his, was only at the initial stage of Foundation Establishment. Such cultivators usually wouldn¡¯t carelessly extend their Divine Sense unless necessary, so they did not detect Qin Feng hiding behind the bushes dozens of yards away. After listening to Zhuo Feifan, the woman in the green dress lowered her head in silence for a moment, without speaking. Zhuo Feifan¡¯s face was full of tenderness, ¡°Junior Sister, don¡¯t you trust me? Everything I¡¯m doing now is for your sake! Once I become a True Disciple in two years, I will certainly propose to your family honorably, which is far better than marrying an ordinary Inner Sect Disciple right now. Perhaps, in the future, I might even make you the Sect Leader¡¯s Wife. Junior Sister, you will support me, won¡¯t you?¡± ¡°Senior Brother, of course I will support you.¡± The woman in the green dress said, ¡°But you previously said that once you succeeded in Foundation Establishment, you would propose to my family, and now you¡¯re¡­¡± Zhuo Feifan¡¯s expression became somewhat embarrassed, and he subconsciously smoothed his robe, saying, ¡°That¡­ haven¡¯t I already explained? Junior Sister, wait for me for two more years. Once I have become a True Disciple, I will grandly propose to your family. By then, your father will surely be pleased that you have found such a good husband.¡± He said this with full confidence, as if the position of True Disciple was within easy reach. However, instead of showing any sign of joy, the green-clad young woman¡¯s face was on the verge of tears, ¡°But, but I can¡¯t wait any longer, Senior Brother, I¡¯m¡­ I¡¯m already with child.¡± ¡°With child, what do you mean with child?¡± Zhuo Feifan looked puzzled, glancing at the young woman in green with confusion. ¡°I¡¯m already pregnant, and I can¡¯t even wait a few months, let alone two years for you,¡± sobbed the girl. ¡°Senior Brother, if you don¡¯t marry me now, how am I supposed to return to the Mountain Gate with a belly? How can I face anyone? My dad cares most about face. If he finds out that I¡¯m pregnant before marriage, he will definitely kick me out of the house.¡± Zhuo Feifan felt like his head had been struck by a bolt of lightning upon hearing her words and was utterly flabbergasted, ¡°You you you, you¡¯re pregnant?¡± He grabbed the girl¡¯s wrist and probed into her body with his True Yuan. In an instant, he discovered that what she was saying was indeed true. This revelation left him speaking incoherently, ¡°The last time we were together was before I went into seclusion for cultivation, and it¡¯s been over four months since then. That means you¡¯ve been pregnant for more than four months. Even if we get married right now, you will give birth in less than half a year. If¡­ if this gets out, my reputation will be ruined. The disciples who support Senior Brother Chen will definitely start rumors, and even if my strength exceeds theirs, the Elders in the Sect might consider the impact and exclude me from the True Disciples.¡± ¡°Damn, this is huge news!¡± Hidden behind the bushes, Qin Feng was thrilled to hear this, almost losing control of his breath and revealing himself. He couldn¡¯t help but take another look at Zhuo Feifan, surprised that this guy actually managed to secretly knock up his own Junior Sister. Heh, you¡¯re afraid of it getting out, aren¡¯t you? Don¡¯t worry, when I get back, I¡¯ll definitely spread the word among our fellow disciples. By then, someone is sure to spread it all the way to your Taiyi Mountain. Zhuo Feifan was stunned for a moment, then suddenly seized the girl by her shoulders, pulled her fragile body in front of him, and barked, ¡°We¡¯ll go to Liang City later, and I¡¯ll buy some abortion pills for you to take. You must drink them and abort the child. This is not the time to have a child. It absolutely cannot be born. Otherwise, all my hard work and effort over the years will be wasted. My reputation, my future¡ªI¡¯ve cultivated painstakingly for over a decade and have finally achieved what I have now. I can¡¯t let the little bastard inside you ruin it all.¡± ¡°What did you just say?¡± The girl in the green dress screamed, pushing Zhuo Feifan¡¯s hand away angrily, ¡°This is our child, your son, and you call him a bastard and ask me to abort him?¡± She was furious, ¡°No, I won¡¯t abort him. I can feel him inside my belly; he¡¯s flesh and blood connected to my veins. I won¡¯t do it, I won¡¯t. Senior Brother, this is our child. How can you be so heartless as to say such things?¡± ¡°Junior Sister!¡± Zhuo Feifan shouted, ¡°This is not the time for you to be petulant; that child must be aborted, otherwise, I¡¯ll lose my reputation and my future. I¡¯m still vying for the position of True Disciple. Do you know how important the True Disciple of the Golden Light Cave is, how prestigious Taiyi Mountain is in the outside world? Once I become a True Disciple, next I could vie for the Sect Leader¡¯s position. Once I become the Sect Leader, all the disciples of the Taiyi Mountain Golden Light Cave will heed my command, and I will have my pick of all the cultivation resources. So, for the sake of my reputation, this disaster cannot be allowed to remain.¡± ¡°Senior Brother, what are you talking about?¡± The green-dressed girl stood there dumbfounded, saying, ¡°Is the position of True Disciple really that important? Can¡¯t you still cultivate if you¡¯re not a True Disciple? Why must you contend for those things? Senior Brother, come back with me. Let¡¯s go and explain everything to father right now. Father still loves me, and as long as we make things clear, he will agree to our marriage.¡± ¡°No, becoming a True Disciple has been my long-cherished wish, and I will not give up. In our Taiyi Mountain, from the Sect Leader to the various Hall Masters, they have always been chosen from among the True Disciples. Without becoming a True Disciple, no matter how high one¡¯s cultivation is, at most one could only become an ordinary Elder. How could one even compare with those Hall Masters who wield great power?¡± Zhuo Feifan¡¯s face turned an iron blue, ¡°Junior Sister, don¡¯t be reckless, we must prioritize the overall situation right now!¡± ¡°The overall situation? What overall situation?¡± The girl in green wept, ¡°I don¡¯t care about any overall situation, I¡¯m going back now. I will tell father to arrange our wedding, and I am determined to give birth to our child.¡± Having said that, she turned and mounted her Flying Sword, ready to leave on her sword. ¡°Junior Sister¡­¡± Zhuo Feifan was shocked and hurriedly shouted, ¡°Come back, let¡¯s talk nicely. If it comes to it, once I become a True Disciple, we can have more children. You, don¡¯t go, do you hear me? Damn it, are you intent on ruining my future?¡± Seeing the girl disregarding his words and preparing to leave on her own accord with her Flying Sword, a surge of anger filled his heart. His originally handsome face contorted with ferocity. He pointed a finger and a Flying Sword flew at high speed towards the girl in green, intending to intercept her. However, the girl was clearly distraught and did not expect her Senior Brother to harm her, so she did not dodge. Then there was a ¡®pu chi¡¯ sound¡ªthe Flying Sword had pierced through her, chilling her to the core. ¡°Senior¡­ Senior Brother, you¡¯re killing me?¡± The girl fell to the ground, her face full of disbelief, ¡°You actually used the Haoyang Sword I gave you to kill me? Senior Brother, your heart is so cruel¡­¡± Before she finished speaking, she spat out a mouthful of scorching hot blood and fell dead to the ground. Zhuo Feifan was also stunned and stammered, ¡°Junior Sister, I, I didn¡¯t do it on purpose. Why didn¡¯t you dodge?¡± Unfortunately, his Junior Sister could no longer hear his words. Zhuo Feifan looked at the corpse of his Junior Sister blankly; after a long while, a fierce look crossed his face, ¡°Junior Sister, don¡¯t blame me, I didn¡¯t mean to kill you intentionally. I only drew my sword to make you stop. I thought you would dodge. Who knew you would be so foolish? You are already dead now, and you surely wouldn¡¯t want me to bear the guilt of killing a fellow disciple. Since your heart was favorable towards me, you should consider my position. I, I had no other choice.¡± While speaking, he stepped forward and drew out the Haoyang Sword from the girl¡¯s chest. Then he took out a razor-sharp beast claw from his Storage Bag and plunged it fiercely into the girl¡¯s wound, erasing the traces of his Sword Energy and making it look as if she had been killed by a Demon Beast. From behind the bushes, Qin Feng felt a shiver run through his spirit. This guy, he truly is ruthless. Just then, a small green bird flew in, circling in midair, and landed in front of the bushes where Qin Feng was hiding, opening its goose-yellow beak to emit several clear chirps. This was Ma Jiu¡¯s Communication Bird, clearly, he had realized he was following the wrong direction and had sent the Communication Bird to find where Qin Feng was. Damn! Qin Feng¡¯s heart almost leaped out of his chest, and he hastily gestured to the green bird to quickly leave. Unfortunately, it was too late. Zhuo Feifan¡¯s cold and sharp eyes had already fixed on the green bird. He felt the bird radiated Spiritual Energy and his Divine Sense instinctively swept over the bird, and then he discovered Qin Feng crouched behind the bushes. Chapter 104 - Chapter 104: Chapter 103: Righteous and Stern Chapter 104: Chapter 103: Righteous and Stern ¡°Run!¡± The thought flashed through Qin Feng¡¯s mind, and without a second thought, he darted out of the bushes, moving as fast as lightning to escape. With a whoosh. Just as he left, the bushes where he had been hiding were slashed by a sword light, which then exploded, slicing everything in that area into pieces, including Ma Jiu¡¯s Communication Spirit Bird, which was killed by the Sword Qi. Qin Feng felt the sharpness of the sword light behind him and couldn¡¯t help feeling terrified in his heart. Without a second word, he took out the Golden Armor Talisman, a second-tier Spirit Talisman he had bought earlier for protection, and activated it. In an instant, the Golden Armor covered his body, and just then, the Flying Sword struck again. Fortunately, he had the protection of the Spiritual Power Golden Armor, which managed to block Zhuo Feifan¡¯s Flying Sword; otherwise, the sword would have cut him in half. However, since sword cultivators¡¯ attacks are sharp, if he let the opponent¡¯s Flying Sword strike continuously, it would break through his Golden Armor in no time, and his speed of escape would definitely not match the speed of the opponent¡¯s Sword Controlling flight. Therefore, Qin Feng flipped his palm and took out the Heavenly Thunder Talisman meant for attack, poured his True Yuan into it, and with a loud boom, a thunderbolt struck down towards Zhuo Feifan. ¡°Ah¡­¡± Zhuo Feifan was a Sword Cultivator. Aside from his life-bound Flying Sword, he had no other Spiritual Artifacts with him. With his power, whether it was calling back his Flying Sword for defense or dodging, neither would have been a problem. However, he suddenly realized that someone had seen all his previous actions, causing great turmoil in his spirits. His mind was filled with thoughts of killing to silence the person, and he completely failed to anticipate that this minor Qi Refining Realm cultivator could counterattack under his Flying Sword. By the time Qin Feng activated the Heavenly Thunder Talisman, it was too late for Zhuo to dodge, and in haste, he could only muster up the Sword Dao True Essence within his body to form a layer of defense in front. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ????????????????????.co But the hastily set-up Defensive Magic clearly couldn¡¯t withstand the thunderbolt. It directly broke through his defense and struck him. However, as the Heavenly Thunder broke through his defense, it also used up a great deal of its force, so although it still caused him to spit blood and sustain injuries, the injuries were not severe, just extremely embarrassing. His complexion was dark, his hair stood on end, and smoke was emanating from his body. He had a cold expression, filled with anger, and also a hint of panic. He must kill this disciple of the Beast Taming Sect; otherwise, once he let the news out, even if most of the disciples of Taiyi Mountain wouldn¡¯t believe the words of a Beast Taming Sect disciple, it would not prevent his rivals from using it to slander him. Moreover, Junior Sister¡¯s father was one of the Elders in the Sect, with exceptional strength. If he began to suspect him, there were plenty of ways to make him confess the truth. Furthermore, although he had sabotaged Junior Sister¡¯s injury, the fetus in her womb was intact¡ªsomething he hadn¡¯t thought of until now, presenting a huge flaw. It seemed he still needed to find a way to destroy all evidence. He controlled his Flying Sword and slashed towards Qin Feng repeatedly. Even though Qin Feng defended from left to right, he couldn¡¯t possibly block his Sword Light, and soon he would break through the defensive Golden Armor on the opponent¡¯s body. Just when Qin Feng was out of options, suddenly a wolf howl came from afar, followed by the appearance of Ma Jiu. ¡°Hey, a Foundation Establishment Cultivator from Taiyi Mountain?¡± Ma Jiu had initially thought Qin Feng was still with that Bandit Leader in Great Capital, but immediately noticed something was off. Upon closer inspection, he was shocked. However, seeing that Qin Feng could still hold on for the moment, and noticing Zhuo Feifan looking somewhat embarrassed, Ma Jiu quickly weighed his options mentally and felt confident that with his trump cards, he had a good chance of rescuing Qin Feng from the opponent¡¯s hands, perhaps even repelling him. With that thought, he no longer hesitated. The Silver Wolf beneath him merged into his body, integrating humans and beasts into a werewolf, and then with a flash of his figure, he pounced towards Zhuo Feifan with extreme speed. ¡°Uh, another one came, and he can even perform the Human-Beast Integration technique?¡± Although Zhuo Feifan was somewhat surprised, he prided himself on his mastery of the Sword Dao and did not take the two Qi Refining Realm cultivators seriously. He manipulated the sword technique with his hand, pointed his finger, and the Flying Sword, carrying fierce Sword Qi, slashed toward the charging Ma Jiu. However, his expression soon changed. He saw Ma Jiu¡¯s figure flicker, displaying the Clone Illusion, and three figures simultaneously pounced toward him. Although his Flying Sword pierced one of the illusions, the remaining two figures had already closed in. Zhuo Feifan¡¯s talent in the Sword Dao was high, and his cultivation was not bad either, but his combat experience was far less than that of an old hand like Ma Jiu, which allowed Ma Jiu to easily get close to him. Ma Jiu¡¯s hands turned into wolf claws, and with a puchi sound, he tore through Zhuo Feifan¡¯s defensive magic, striking him hard. If it weren¡¯t for the strong defense of his magic robe, he might have been killed by Ma Jiu on the spot. Nonetheless, having higher cultivation, Zhuo Feifan quickly reacted, immediately controlling his Flying Sword to protect himself tightly, not giving Ma Jiu another chance to approach, while also activating a Communication Talisman, calling for fellow disciples to come and help. He was a potential True Disciple, naturally surrounded by many fellow disciples willing to be on good terms, even to follow him, so that as he grew stronger, those fellow disciples could also rise with the tide. Thus, when he came to the Ancient Battlefield this time, he was accompanied by several fellow disciples, brothers and sisters; it was just that earlier, he had gone out for a walk with a junior sister, and there was no need to bring along those fellow disciples. Now that they received his message, several sword lights quickly flew out from Liang City, speeding toward this area. Seeing this, Ma Jiu felt shocked, swiftly launched several fierce attacks, pushing Zhuo Feifan back a few steps, then took the opportunity to throw several talismans all at once at Zhuo Feifan, afterwards retreating while pulling Qin Feng to run. However, those few talismans Ma Jiu used were just ordinary first-grade superior ones, with limited power, so naturally, they could not injure Zhuo Feifan but merely delayed him for a few moments. By that time, the several sword lights had already reached close by. Several disciples from Taiyi Mountain, witnessing this scene, were all shocked and quickly landed, asking, ¡°Junior Brother Zhuo, what happened?¡± Zhuo Feifan coughed lightly a few times, secretly circulated his True Yuan, sending a shock through his viscera, forcing himself to spit out a mouthful of blood, then said, ¡°I was walking here with the junior sister, when suddenly two cultivators from the Beast Taming Sect launched a sneak attack. The junior sister¡­ she¡­¡± At this point, tears rolled down from Zhuo Feifan¡¯s eyes, and he fiercely slapped his own face, his expression full of pain and self-blame: ¡°It¡¯s all my fault, I failed to protect the junior sister, she has already been killed by the disciples of the Beast Taming Sect.¡± ¡°What?¡± ¡°What?¡± ¡°Junior Sister Jiang was killed?¡± The cultivators were shocked and furious, their anger boiling: ¡°The disciples of the Beast Taming Sect have gone too far, daring to sneak attack the genius of our Taiyi Mountain. They must be jealous of Junior Brother Zhuo¡¯s exceptional talent, wanting to ruin the life of our sect¡¯s genius and cut off the roots of our sect¡¯s rise.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t waste time talking, hurry up and chase after them, kill those two to avenge our junior brother and Junior Sister Jiang!¡± ¡°Yes, revenge, kill them.¡± Several disciples immediately deployed their Flying Swords, preparing to chase and kill the two disciples of the Beast Taming Sect. ¡°Junior Brother Zhuo, you are injured, just stay here, we are enough to chase them.¡± ¡°No.¡± Zhuo Feifan spoke righteously, ¡°What¡¯s a minor injury? The pain in my body is nothing compared to the agony of watching the junior sister die before my eyes. I must personally kill the one who killed the junior sister, to avenge her and wash away the hatred.¡± Chapter 105 - Chapter 105: Chapter 104: Entering the Ancient Battlefield Chapter 105: Chapter 104: Entering the Ancient Battlefield Zhuo Feifan certainly did not trust his fellow disciples to go and kill Qin Feng. If they were not efficient and gave Qin Feng a chance to speak up, revealing his past misdeeds, it would be an immense trouble for him. However, to the ears of his fellow disciples, his words were quite reassuring. ¡°Good, we indeed did not misjudge. Junior Brother Zhuo truly is a man of integrity and loyalty.¡± Surrounded by his fellow disciples, Zhuo Feifan took off his magic robe, laid it over the body of the girl on the ground, picked her up, placed her in his storage bag, and then led the group in pursuit of Qin Feng and Ma Jiu. Ahead, Qin Feng and Ma Jiu were each riding a spiritual bird in desperate escape. But the spiritual birds they rode were, after all, not as strong and could fly long distances but could not match the speed of the sword cultivators following them. As such, it did not take long for several cultivators from Taiyi Mountain to close in to within a few hundred yards. Ma Jiu looked back, his face filled with helplessness: ¡°Junior Brother, why in the world did you provoke these guys for nothing? Sure, our Beast Taming Sect and Taiyi Mountain Golden Light Cave are sworn enemies, but you have to consider the strength of your opponent too!¡± Qin Feng gave a wry smile: ¡°I certainly know my own limits; why would I provoke a Foundation Establishment cultivator deliberately? I was hiding well, but then your communication spirit bird suddenly came looking for me and that¡¯s how he discovered me.¡± Hearing this, Ma Jiu was speechless; it turned out he was part of the reason. But now was not the time to assign blame. Seeing the sword cultivators behind them getting closer, he quickly said, ¡°Junior Brother Qin, let¡¯s split up and run. Whether or not we can survive will depend on our luck.¡± ¡°Alright.¡± Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ????????????????????.co Qin Feng didn¡¯t say more, just nodded in agreement. Even if he stayed with Ma Jiu, it would be of no use since Ma Jiu, despite being able to merge with spiritual beasts, had not yet reached Foundation Establishment and couldn¡¯t defeat those sword cultivators. Rather than drag Ma Jiu down with him, it was better to escape separately. Zhuo Feifan would certainly focus his attention on him, and most of the sword cultivators by his side would also remain with him. With Ma Jiu¡¯s strength and his cunning nature, he had a good chance of escaping. As for himself? Qin Feng clenched his teeth and, with a determined heart, directed the vulture toward Chaotic Sky Valley. There lay the entrance to the Ancient Battlefield. The Ancient Battlefield was fraught with danger, and usually, he would not consider entering. But now that he couldn¡¯t escape, he decided to put himself at death¡¯s door to seek life afterward, trying to use the dangers of the Ancient Battlefield to evade the pursuers behind him. He looked back and indeed, Zhuo Feifan and the four sword cultivators with him were in pursuit of him, with only two going after Ma Jiu. Zhuo Feifan and his people clearly saw what he was planning, their faces showing cold smiles. Their sword-controlling flight was extremely fast, far surpassing Qin Feng¡¯s spiritual vulture, confident they could intercept him before he entered Chaotic Sky Valley. Qin Feng¡¯s heart was pounding with urgency; if truly caught up by the enemy, he would have no chance of survival. But no matter how much he urged, the spiritual vulture couldn¡¯t fly any faster. Just when he was on pins and needles, a flash of spirit light suddenly appeared in his mind, reminding him of that bottle of Blood Demon Pills. Although the side effects were very severe, in critical moments, the pills could still serve as a lifesaving remedy. Since the Bandit Cultivator could consume it, presumably Spiritual Beasts could do the same. He flipped his hand, took out a Blood Demon Pill, poured one out, and directly stuffed it into the beak of the Spiritual Vulture, making it swallow. Soon, a layer of blood glow emerged on the body of the Spiritual Vulture that had eaten the Blood Demon Pill. Its aura surged wildly, and with a flap of its wings, the sound of wind whooshed, its speed significantly faster than before. Although he had not yet managed to shake off the Sword Cultivators behind him, he was able to maintain a considerable distance, making it difficult for them to approach. ¡°Dammit, what¡¯s going on here?¡± Zhuo Feifan¡¯s face was ashen as he watched the Spiritual Vulture in front suddenly pick up speed, and he was extremely irritated inside. ¡°Junior Brother, there¡¯s no need to worry. That kid must have used some secret technique to stimulate potential, which is why that Spiritual Bird¡¯s speed has increased so drastically. But it won¡¯t last long. In no time, his Spiritual Bird won¡¯t even have the energy to fly.¡± A Foundation Establishment Cultivator, who looked to be in his thirties, spoke up. ¡°Uh-huh.¡± Zhuo Feifan nodded. He didn¡¯t say anything more, but he was somewhat anxious inside, fearing that before the Spiritual Bird ran out of energy, that little Beast Taming Sect guy who was spying on him would have already escaped into Chaotic Sky Valley. Sure enough, just as expected, the moment when the entrance to Chaotic Sky Valley appeared in front, Qin Feng did not hesitate in the slightest and directly drove the Spiritual Vulture into it. Behind, the Taiyi Mountain Sword Cultivators hesitated. Their figures paused for a moment as they looked towards Zhuo Feifan and asked, ¡°Junior Brother, do we still pursue?¡± ¡°Of course we chase!¡± Zhuo Feifan asserted decisively, ¡°This person killed my Junior Sister; this vengeance is irreconcilable. If I don¡¯t kill him to avenge my Junior Sister, my heart will not be at peace. Besides, I also can¡¯t explain it to Martial Uncle Jiang when I go back.¡± Having said this, he took the lead in pursuing into Chaotic Sky Valley. The other cultivators exchanged glances, and without hesitation, they all followed suit. Their trip was originally intended to enter the Ancient Battlefield and help Zhuo Feifan obtain the Ancient Spirit Sword. Although they were not quite fully prepared, given the situation, there was nothing left to hesitate about. Qin Feng was flying the Spiritual Vulture at a low altitude. He didn¡¯t dare to fly too high. Chaotic Sky Valley had many Space Rifts¡ªthe higher the place, the more numerous they were. Hence, many cultivators usually walked on the ground when they entered. However, Qin Feng was currently fleeing for his life, so he couldn¡¯t worry about that. He had to keep his eyes wide open, intently watching the void in front of him. Whenever he spotted a Space Rift, he would manipulate the Spiritual Vulture to dodge it in time. Though the Spiritual Vulture became somewhat irritable after swallowing the Blood Demon Pill, it was a Spiritual Beast tamed by the Demon Refining Pot and couldn¡¯t go against Qin Feng¡¯s will. This was why it could avoid those pitch-black Space Rifts at critical moments and fly deeper into the valley. But after entering the Ancient Battlefield through Chaotic Sky Valley, the Space Rifts here were actually fewer. To be accurate, it¡¯s not that there were fewer here, but the Space Rifts in the Ancient Battlefield were mostly concentrated in certain regions. There were many places where the space was extremely unstable, and any external disturbance might cause a massive outbreak of Space Rifts¡ªor even a spatial collapse, sucking in everything nearby. And in places without Space Rifts, other dangers lurked, such as Prohibitions, miasma, Array Formations, the will of Ancient Great Ones¡¯ Divine Thoughts, or some unspeakable strangeness. Any of these could easily kill ordinary cultivators. During the Ancient Great Tribulation, the Human Clan used this place as one of the battlegrounds against formidable foes from the Outer Realms. They laid down countless Array Formation Restrictions, serving as means of defense and offense. Even though this place had become a wasteland after that devastating war, it still harbored many dangers and lethal prohibitions. Cultivators with lower cultivation could enter relatively safely, their low Realms not necessarily triggering certain hazards. But those with powerful Dao Cultivation might activate the Residual Souls of some ancient powerhouses, setting off a series of crises. This was also the reason why cultivators with profound Dao Cultivation no longer ventured here. Even with knowledge of fortunes to be found, they dared not barge in carelessly, fearing they might stay forever, accompanying Ancient Remnant Souls in death. Chapter 106 - Chapter 106: Chapter 105: No-Fly Array Chapter 106: Chapter 105: No-Fly Array Qin Feng rode on the back of the Spiritual Vulture, dashing through the air like lightning, heedless of the dangers here, quickly passing through Chaotic Sky Valley and flying towards the depths of the Ancient Battlefield. Along the way, he encountered some Cultivators who had come here to search for treasures, most of whom were Loose Cultivators with no Sect affiliation. Those Cultivators looked at Qin Feng¡¯s figure in astonishment, somewhat dazed, wondering how there were still people who were so reckless these days. Could he truly dare to fly at such speeds in the Ancient Battlefield, without fearing being directly devoured by a Void Crack? Before those Cultivators could finish their musings, they heard the sounds of whooshing Sword Qi tearing through the void behind them. Then, they saw several Foundation Establishment Sword Cultivators also speeding by at an extremely fast pace, chasing after the young man on the large bird. ¡°Big brother,¡± Below, a young Cultivator looked towards an older brother several years his senior and said, ¡°These Cultivators flying so recklessly won¡¯t live long. Why don¡¯t we follow and see? Maybe we can pick up some treasures left behind.¡± The other person was clearly tempted but quickly shook his head, ¡°Judging by the Magic Robe design on those behind us, they are most likely Sword Cultivators from Taiyi Mountain. It¡¯s not wise to take advantage of a Major Sect; taking their things could bring disaster upon us. Besides, even if we did follow, it would be useless. We wouldn¡¯t dare to fly as fast as they do. Who knows where these guys will end up. Following behind would just result in us losing them anyway, so there¡¯s no point in chasing.¡± Hearing this, the young Cultivator felt a bit regretful, yet he didn¡¯t insist. In a place where dangers could arise at any time, it was better to play it safe. Qin Feng delved deeper into the Ancient Battlefield. At first, he still encountered some Cultivators, but later on, there were basically no more signs of anyone. The Ancient Battlefield was simply too vast, and the vast majority of Cultivators dared not delve too deeply into it. It was rare to see other Cultivators here, and even if they did meet, they would stay wary of each other, keeping their distance to avoid being robbed or killed by the other. After all, near Liang City, there were quite a few Bandit Cultivators engaging in such risk-free profiteering. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ????????????????????.co Though the Ancient Battlefield was desolate, it was not devoid of life. In addition to plants, there were Poison Insects and Exotic Beasts lurking about¡ªfew in number, but each one a dangerous entity. Bang¡­ Over a piece of dilapidated ancient architecture, the Spiritual Vulture, previously flying in haste, suddenly trembled and plummeted to the ground. Qin Feng was startled and leaped off, releasing the Swallowing Sky Toad to remain on guard. The effects of the Blood Demon Pill hadn¡¯t yet worn off, and the Spiritual Vulture¡¯s vitality was still surging, so it wasn¡¯t out of strength yet for flying. But before, they had sensed a vast Imprisonment force pulling them down from the sky. Qin Feng looked around and, upon seeing no formidable presence as he had imagined, immediately realized that there must be a No-Fly Array here, not any other danger. Realizing this, Qin Feng felt a surge of joy. Because this meant that those Sword Cultivators following behind would also lose their ability to control their swords for flight. On the ground, they certainly couldn¡¯t be much faster than him. The ancient structures, although in ruins, spread out for more than a dozen miles, so he might be able to use the terrain to elude the pursuit of Zhuo Feifan and others. ¡°Haha, that kid¡¯s Spiritual Bird has run out of strength. Brothers, hurry up and catch him¡ªkill him!¡± Zhuo Feifan saw Qin Feng¡¯s mount suddenly fall to the ground and was overjoyed. His True Yuan surged wildly within his body, and his Sword Controlling speed increased by a third. The others also perked up and quickly followed suit. This was the Ancient Battlefield, after all. They were worried about unforeseen dangers should things drag out too long. Obviously, it was best to take care of this young Beast Taming Sect fellow as soon as possible. Inside the ancient buildings, Qin Feng glanced back at them, his thoughts racing, and released three Spiritual Beasts: the Green Fox, the Spiritual Snake, and the Ghost-Faced Spider. He had the Green Fox create an Illusion Array to conceal their forms and then, without hesitation, he turned and walked away. Soon, Zhuo Feifan and the others caught up. Their Sword Controlling flight was extremely fast, and they headed straight for Qin Feng¡¯s figure. Then, as quickly as they flew, that¡¯s how fast they fell. With a series of thuds, they all became tumbling gourds under the No-Fly Array. Unlike Qin Feng, who had the Spiritual Vulture cushion his fall and didn¡¯t get injured at all, these few relied on their own Sword Controlling flight. Even though they weren¡¯t flying very high, the sudden fall from twenty to thirty feet in the air still caused them not a little harm. Before they could recover, they saw a mass of spider silk descending from above. At the same time, a Green Fox and a Spiritual Snake launched themselves at them, biting towards them. ¡°` The Green Fox wasn¡¯t too much of an issue, as its main ability lay in Illusion Techniques, and it didn¡¯t have a strong biting force, so it didn¡¯t inflict severe injuries on the Cultivators. But the Spiritual Snake possessed intense venom, and even Foundation Establishment Cultivators had to immediately expel the poison if bitten. ¡°Ah¡­¡± One of the Cultivators failed to dodge in time and was bitten on the wrist by the Spiritual Snake. As the poison liquid crazily injected into him, his arm swelled visibly to the naked eye, and black qi rapidly spread upwards. The afflicted Cultivator cried out in pain, hastily gathering True Yuan within his body in an attempt to shake off the biting snake, while with his other hand, he performed a sword technique, summoning his fallen Flying Sword off the ground with a whoosh, slicing directly towards the body of the Spiritual Snake. ¡°Courting death!¡± Zhuo Feifan and his companions were somewhat flustered in dodging the Green Fox¡¯s bites and the spider silk overhead, each of them maneuvering their Flying Swords, trying to slay the Spiritual Beasts. From a distance, Qin Feng quickly directed the Spiritual Beasts to flee. Of course, he knew well that these Spiritual Beasts were no match for Zhuo Feifan and the others. He had released them for a sneak attack, hoping to gain the upper hand. If the ambush succeeded, all the better; even if it didn¡¯t, it could buy him precious time to escape. The Green Fox, agile and clever, quickly darted in the opposite direction, ironically evading the slashes of several Flying Swords. The Ghost-Faced Spider, being a bit further away from the group, received Qin Feng¡¯s command and immediately scurried away behind some damaged walls and ruins, stealthily escaping into the distance. Only the Spiritual Snake failed to escape. Although it fled swiftly, it couldn¡¯t outpace the Sword Cultivators¡¯ Flying Swords. Moreover, it had delayed its escape by a fraction of time to inject its poison into a Cultivator, failing to hit and run as the Green Fox and Ghost-Faced Spider did, and was thus entangled by the Cultivator in front of it. Then several Sword Cultivators acted in unison, slicing it into seven or eight pieces; Sword Qi invaded its body, snuffing out all of the Spiritual Snake¡¯s life force in the blink of an eye. Qin Feng didn¡¯t even have time to lament the death of the Spiritual Snake. He directed the Green Fox and the Ghost-Faced Spider to take a detour and meet up with him while he pushed the Divine Movement Technique to its limit and dashed frantically into the distance. This Ancient building backed onto a mountain and must have once been a sect¡¯s Mountain Gate, with many Prohibitions left in place to guard it. Otherwise, the damaged palaces and houses, despite the long passage of Time, would have been plundered clean by countless Cultivators seeking treasures in the Ancient Battlefield. Behind him, the Cultivator bitten by the Spiritual Snake had his face enveloped in black qi. It wasn¡¯t out of anger, but due to the snake venom spreading in his body. He fished out a bottle of Detoxification Elixir Pills from his Storage Bag, swallowing three in succession, only just managing to suppress the poison. Still, he felt numbness in half his body, and the arm that had been bitten almost lost all sensation. Unless he had access to Spiritual Medicine specifically for this snake venom, he felt he wouldn¡¯t return to normal for three or five months. ¡°Senior Brother Hao, are you okay?¡± Zhuo Feifan looked at the Cultivator bitten by the Spiritual Snake, his face showing concern. After all, this was a Senior Brother who followed him, someone he counted on for future endeavors; naturally, he didn¡¯t want him to be seriously injured. Hao Ming internally rolled his eyes, thinking, I¡¯m as black-faced as the bottom of a pan. Do I look fine to you? However, these thoughts clearly couldn¡¯t be voiced. He forced a slight smile on his face, ¡°No matter, I can hold on. But that snake¡¯s venom is extremely potent. I need True Yuan to suppress the venom¡¯s effects, so pursuing that youngster will have to rely on all of you.¡± ¡°It¡¯s good that Senior Brother Hao is not in serious trouble. Leave the rest to us.¡± As an Inner Sect Disciple of Taiyi Mountain, Zhuo Feifan was also experienced and quickly spotted the anomaly, ¡°This place is enveloped by an Ancient No-Fly Array, which prevents us from flying with swords. However, it doesn¡¯t matter. With the strength of a few Foundation Establishment Cultivators like us, it will be as easy as turning over one¡¯s hand to catch and kill that youngster once we catch up.¡± ¡°The Junior Brother speaks the truth.¡± The others nodded and agreed. ¡°After all, this is the Ancient Battlefield, filled with countless unknown dangers. We should quickly kill that youngster and then search for the Ancient Spirit Sword.¡± Another older Cultivator spoke. ¡°Right, let¡¯s hurry and pursue.¡± The Sword Cultivators chased after Qin Feng in the direction he had fled. ¡°` Chapter 107 - Chapter 107: Chapter 106 True Monarch of the Ten Lifetimes No content Chapter 108 - Chapter 108: Chapter 107: Ruyi Golden Snake No content Chapter 109 - Chapter 109: Chapter 108 Township Stone Tablet No content Chapter 110 - Chapter 110: Chapter 109: Void Shattering Ancestor No content Chapter 111 - Chapter 111: Chapter 109 Its a Male Chapter 111: Chapter 109 It¡¯s a Male Qin Feng didn¡¯t dare to provoke the Ruyi Golden Snake; with his current abilities, he simply couldn¡¯t handle the Spiritual Snake. The Demon Slaying Saber was out of the question; it was previously treated as food by the Ruyi Golden Snake, leaving a large notch with damaged prohibitions inside, significantly reducing its power. The Binding Spirit Net was only a Middle Grade Magic Artifact, too low-level to trap the Ruyi Golden Snake. As for his Spiritual Beasts, the Swallowing Sky Toad¡¯s body contained its own space, and should it manage to swallow the Ruyi Golden Snake, there wouldn¡¯t be worries about the snake escaping. However, the Toad¡¯s speed was no match for the Ruyi Golden Snake, making this option utterly impossible. The web of the Ghost-Faced Spider was potent with poison and very adhesive, yet it also couldn¡¯t trouble the opponent. The only thing that might have a slight effect was the Green Fox¡¯s Illusion Technique. But the Ruyi Golden Snake was an Exotic Species from birth. Its powerful Bloodline didn¡¯t only grant it Innate Divine Abilities; its other abilities were also strong, just not as prominent, and did not mean that a beast with a low-level Bloodline like the Green Fox could suppress it¡ªits golden eyes could probably see through the Green Fox¡¯s illusions with ease. After weighing all his options, Qin Feng felt a headache coming on. Here was a Spiritual Snake with enormous potential right before his eyes, trapped within this Cave Mansion¡¯s space unable to flee far, and yet he couldn¡¯t capture it, which was infuriating. He thought of Liu Wuxiang and wondered how that fellow managed to obtain the Black Water Mysterious Snake in the Mist Swamp back then¡ªLiu¡¯s luck made him somewhat envious. The Ruyi Golden Snake ranked lower than the Black Water Mysterious Snake on the Ten Thousand Snakes Map of Spiritual Snake Peak, so why was it so difficult to catch? Ultimately, it was mainly because the innate divine abilities of the two kinds of Spiritual Snakes were different. The Black Water Mysterious Snake excelled in Water Manipulation and using poison; it was nowhere near as fast as the Ruyi Golden Snake. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï???.§ã¦Ï The Ruyi Golden Snake had wings on its back, allowing it to fly through the sky or burrow underground; its speed was as fast as lightning. Very few Spiritual Snakes of the same Realm could surpass it in speed, so it was tough to capture. After reflecting for a while, Qin Feng ultimately placed his hopes on the Township Stone Tablet. If he could refine the Township Stone Tablet, he would be able to control the Prohibition Great Array of the Cave Mansion and capturing the Ruyi Golden Snake, still in its juvenile phase, would be as easy as turning his hand over. In fact, he wouldn¡¯t even need to capture the Ruyi Golden Snake; if he could incorporate this Cave Mansion into the Demon Refining Pot, the Ruyi Golden Snake would be subdued by the Demon Refining Pot and become his Spiritual Beast, and then he could refine it using the Technique for refining Lifebound Spiritual Beasts in the same way. After Qin Feng joined the Sect and learned the orthodox Cultivation Methods of the Beast Taming Sect, he had thought more than once about how to cultivate a Lifebound Spiritual Beast. And what better place could there be to cultivate a Lifebound Spiritual Beast than the Demon Refining Pot? Ordinary disciples of the Beast Taming Sect had to consume countless resources and essence blood from other Spiritual Beasts to elevate their Lifebound Spiritual Beasts. Just like Yan Zhongli, whose Lifebound Spiritual Beast was the Great Strength Divine Ape. In order to endow it with the Thunder Power of the Thunder Giant Ape, he nearly emptied his wealth to succeed. As a result, his other two Spiritual Beasts, lacking the resources for cultivation, remained at the initial stage of their Demon Core Cultivation, hardly helping him in battle. Qin Feng was different; by sending the Ruyi Golden Snake into the Demon Refining Pot, he could easily integrate the Bloodline Divine Powers of other Spiritual Snakes into the Ruyi Golden Snake, granting his Lifebound Spiritual Beast various powerful Divine Skills with relatively fewer resources. This method was not only effortless and convenient but also allowed for multiple fusions, unlike Yan Zhongli, who spent over a decade and several fusion attempts to successfully integrate the Thunder Power of the Thunder Giant Ape. Once this Cave Mansion was incorporated into the Demon Refining Pot, an unexpected bonus for Qin Feng was the Spirit Vein contained within the mansion. The Spiritual Energy emanating from this Spirit Vein not only allowed Spiritual Beasts to cultivate normally within the Demon Refining Pot, but he also wouldn¡¯t need to invest extra resources during the fusion of the Ruyi Golden Snake with other Spiritual Snake Bloodline Divine Powers. With the strength of this Spirit Vein, it could at least support the Ruyi Golden Snake¡¯s progression to the Demon Core Realm. The Demon Refining Pot was connected to his spirit. Sending the Lifebound Spiritual Snake inside wouldn¡¯t impact him, but instead would add an extra layer of imprisonment, eliminating any uncontrolled incidents. The only drawback was that if the Demon Refining Pot were stolen and refined by someone else, his Lifebound Spiritual Beast would also fall under their control. However, Qin Feng felt this risk was negligible. If someone could forcibly take the Demon Refining Pot from his Sea of Consciousness, he would probably already be dead, and there would be no need to consider these issues any longer. After understanding these matters, Qin Feng sat cross-legged under the stele, beginning to restore his True Yuan within his body. After his True Yuan had been restored, he did not continue refining the stele, but instead, he placed the Spirit Stones he had prepared in advance into the Demon Refining Pot, allowing it to purify Spiritual Energy for his cultivation. Before visiting the Foreign Affairs Hall, he had already reached the late stage of the Qi Refining Realm¡¯s seventh level. He had originally planned to properly temper his True Yuan and wait a while longer before advancing to the eighth level. But given the current situation, it was better to make a breakthrough as soon as possible. Once he had reached the eighth level of Qi Refining, his True Yuan would be much denser than at the seventh level, and the speed at which he could refine the Township Stone Tablet would increase by thirty percent. The True Yuan within his body was extremely pure and dense; it was only lacking in the long-term tempering that could cause an unstable foundation. Compared to the current predicament, a slightly unstable foundation was nothing to worry about. At worst, he could simply refine his skills carefully after getting out and avoid advancing his cultivation for the short term. With streams of Spiritual Energy surging out of the Demon Refining Pot, Qin Feng continuously circulated his cultivation technique to refine the Spiritual Energy. The speed at which the Spiritual Energy traveled through his meridians became faster and faster, and his True Yuan grew denser. Finally, with the opening of some acupoints, he officially stepped into the eighth level of the Qi Refining Realm. His True Yuan had nearly doubled in strength compared to before, and he also felt a sense of fullness in the meridians throughout his body. This was the result of his meridians becoming much stronger than before after ingesting the Expanding Vein Pill and the Protecting Veins Pill. Without those two Elixir Pills, he would have needed at least three more months to slowly nurture his meridians before he could advance to the eighth level of Qi Refining. After advancing in his cultivation, Qin Feng began tirelessly infusing his True Yuan into the Township Stone Tablet, refining its layers of prohibitions one by one. To say he was refining wasn¡¯t quite accurate; the layers of prohibitions within the Township Stone Tablet were too powerful. Even though all the prohibitions had been opened for his refining, with his cultivation at the Qi Refining Realm, he couldn¡¯t completely refine them but could only barely overlay his True Yuan on those prohibitions. If he wanted to deeply refine them, he would at least need to reach the Golden Core Realm. While refining the Township Stone Tablet, he dared not exhaust all his True Yuan since he still needed to be wary of the Ruyi Golden Snake. In case the Ruyi Golden Snake found gnawing on bones a bit dry and wanted to switch to something wetter, like drinking fresh blood, he couldn¡¯t afford to be powerless to fight back. Therefore, he not only released all his Spiritual Beasts to act as guards, protecting him, but he also stopped to absorb Spiritual Energy to restore his True Yuan whenever it was more than half depleted during the refining process. Thus, in a cycle of constant consumption and cultivation, after more than a month, he finally managed to leave his own True Yuan mark on all the prohibitions within the Township Stone Tablet. During this period, as he continually consumed and cultivated, he was trapped in a cycle. If it weren¡¯t for feeling some progress with each input of True Yuan, he would have gone mad; such a monotonous process was a torture for him. But he dared not stop because he had run out of Fasting Pills, and the edible supplies in his Storage Bag were nearly depleted. If he didn¡¯t hurry to finish refining, he might starve to death here. Of course, while he was starving, he couldn¡¯t help but sneak peeks at several of his Spiritual Beasts. The Swallowing Sky Toad was out of the question¡ªit was too small and barely had any meat on it. The Ghost-Faced Spider was too ugly, and its body was filled with deadly poison and fluids¡ªQin Feng had no interest in it either. But the Green Fox, the Giant Crocodile, and the Spiritual Vulture were different. They were large and meaty. Then, these Spiritual Beasts often sensed their master looking at them with a strange, intense longing in his eyes, as if he wanted to engage in some intimate behavior with them. This scared the Green Fox, which had the highest Spiritual Intelligence, out of its wits. What did the master want to do? It unconsciously clamped its tail tightly. It was not of the same race as its master and had never considered engaging in an interspecies romance with a human. More importantly, it was male! PS: Thank you for your votes, and thanks to Tai Bu Guai, $Ming Yue Cai Hong$, Bu M Qiu, |Xu|, Wandering Adventurer, Lovely Yaya Ah Ah Ah, Shi Xia Xia Yo Mx, Yu Qi¡¯s Daddy, Fei Fei Fei Fei Wo, Ting Sheng Wen Xiang, Fiery Desert, Book Friend 140410140414322, Book Under Moonlight, Xing Chen Cang Yu for your support and rewards, mwah, love you all~ Chapter 112 - Chapter 112: Chapter 110 Ambush Chapter 112: Chapter 110 Ambush On the sixth day after consuming the last Fasting Pill, Qin Feng finally imprinted his True Yuan on all the prohibitions within the Township Stone Tablet, then hurriedly took out the Demon Refining Pot, used the Township Stone Tablet to withdraw the Cave Mansion, and directly sent it into the Demon Refining Pot. Then, he appeared outside. The mountain was still the same mountain, only the Cave Mansion was gone, leaving only a bare mountaintop. Qin Feng, nervous, summoned all the Spiritual Beasts including the Swallowing Sky Toad, cautiously on guard for a moment. Seeing no danger and that Zhuo Feifan hadn¡¯t ambushed him, he let his guard down, sank his spirit into the Demon Refining Pot, and sensed the situation inside. At that moment, as the Void Shattering Hammer Cave Mansion merged, the second layer space of the Demon Refining Pot suddenly lit up, then shook for a full fifteen minutes before calming down, with the Void Shattering Hammer Cave Mansion occupying the second layer space of the pot. This Cave Mansion was much larger than the first layer, so even if he gathered more Spiritual Beasts in the future, there wouldn¡¯t be a worry about congestion. Moreover, because the Void Shattering Hammer Cave Mansion inherently contained a Spirit Vein, the Demon Refining Pot now had much more Spiritual Energy and vitality. If he transplanted some Spirit Plants in there, they should survive too, of course, this was only for the second layer. The first layer remained unchanged. The nine-layer space inside the Demon Refining Pot was roughly equivalent to nine heavens, each layer an independent world, so the Spiritual Energy from the Void Shattering Hammer Cave Mansion in the second layer didn¡¯t dissipate to the lowest layer, and even the Spiritual Beasts inside the pot could only live in their respective spaces. Of course, if Qin Feng could gather nine Cave Heaven worlds and restore the Demon Refining Pot to its original state, he could open passages between the nine layers, and then, the Spiritual Beasts inside could also enter the other layers. However, as the master, Qin Feng could send the other Spiritual Beasts, including the Swallowing Sky Toad, to the second layer to cultivate. Only while integrating Bloodline into the Swallowing Sky Toad would he need to send it back to the first layer, as it was the leader there. Once the second layer space of the Demon Refining Pot stabilized and completely merged with the Void Shattering Mansion¡¯s space, the Ruyi Golden Snake was quickly subdued by the Power of Laws within the pot and became his Spiritual Beast. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?0¦Í?0.§ã¦Ï Qin Feng was overjoyed in his heart, and with a thought, he summoned the Ruyi Golden Snake. He then felt a heaviness in his hand as the Ruyi Golden Snake appeared. Although this Spiritual Snake was small in size, it was quite heavy; its body, only slightly thicker than chopsticks, was more than ten times heavier than the Refined Iron of similar size. ¡°Hahaha¡­¡± Qin Feng, feeling the cool sensation in his hand, couldn¡¯t help but laugh proudly a few times. A Lifebound Spiritual Beast, and he too had one now, moreover, a powerful Ancient Mutant Species like the Ruyi Golden Snake. Now, as long as he followed the Techniques taught by his Sect, he could directly refine it into his Lifebound Spiritual Beast. However, before he could finish laughing, a rumbling sound suddenly came from his stomach, immediately stiffening his expression. A regular Fasting Pill could only support for three days, and it had already been five or six days since he last consumed one. Although he had the support of True Yuan and wouldn¡¯t starve to death in the short term, the empty hunger pangs were truly uncomfortable. ¡°Let¡¯s leave this place first and deal with the food issue later,¡± Qin Feng shook his head, flipped his palm, and put away the Ruyi Golden Snake. Since the little snake had already been subdued by the Demon Refining Pot, and couldn¡¯t escape, there was no need to rush. He steered well clear of the nearby lake to avoid being lured by the eerie presence in the lake. If he really went into the lake, he didn¡¯t believe he would still have a life to come out alive. Leaving the ancient structures at the foot of the mountain also meant leaving the area covered by the No-Fly Array. Unfortunately, the Spiritual Vulture, having ingested the Blood Demon Pill and burnt a large amount of Essence Blood, would take months to recover. Moreover, during this time, while he was trapped in the Void Shattering Hammer Cave Mansion and lacked even his own food, he most certainly didn¡¯t have enough to feed the Spiritual Vulture. Unable to replenish Essence Blood with food, the Spiritual Vulture still lay weakly in the Demon Refining Pot recuperating, and Qin Feng felt it inappropriate to pull it out to use as a Riding Tool. Moreover, with its current condition, it couldn¡¯t carry him anyway. Qin Feng lamented again his insufficiency in Spiritual Beast numbers, realizing he should perhaps tame a few more in the future, otherwise not utilizing the Demon Refining Pot would be a waste of such a fine treasure. Although having many subjugated Spiritual Beasts increased the expense on food, this expenditure was still bearable for him. After all, he didn¡¯t plan to treat all the Spiritual Beasts equally; aside from the Swallowing Sky Toad and Ruyi Golden Snake, the rest were just common fighters. Enduring the hunger in his belly, Qin Feng put away a few Spiritual Beasts and only kept the alert and fast-running Green Fox in front to scout the path toward Chaotic Sky Valley. The keenly sensing and vigilant Green Fox was suited for long-distance running, unlike the Ghost-Faced Spider and Giant Crocodile, which were fine for short distances but having them run fast for hundreds of miles was merely taxing them. Regarding the Swallowing Sky Toad and the Ruyi Golden Snake, due to their small sizes which made them easy to hide, Qin Feng preferred to keep them by his side as his trump cards, rather than using them to scout the area. These two were the spiritual beasts he focused on cultivating, especially the Ruyi Golden Snake, which he regarded as his lifebound spiritual beast. There were many dangerous places in the ancient battlefield, and it would be a pity if they carelessly died here. Qin Feng used the Divine Movement Technique to follow the Green Fox, speeding along the way. When he had arrived, he had ridden the Spiritual Vulture, and its flying speed was extremely fast. He had penetrated at least two to three hundred li into the ancient battlefield. Now relying on the Divine Movement Technique to travel, and also needing to bypass many dangerous areas, it would require more time to return. He hurried along, and it wasn¡¯t until near dusk that he finally saw Chaotic Sky Valley from a distance. Qin Feng let out a sigh, calmed the boiling blood within his body, and was just about to continue forward when he suddenly heard the Green Fox shriek. It then leaped about ten meters high, retreating backwards. However, its reaction was a bit slow. Suddenly, several beams of light rose around it, slashing towards its body. Even though the Green Fox tried its best to dodge, it was still hit by two of the beams, resulting in serious injuries. ¡°Ambush!¡± For a moment, Qin Feng thought Zhuo Feifan was ambushing him here. However, he soon realized that was not the case, as the ambush tactics were very crude, and among the few people who appeared afterward, Zhuo Feifan was not among them. He looked for a moment¡ªthese were a few loose cultivators, the strongest among them being at the Qi Refining Perfection Realm, and the rest were also cultivators in the later stages of Qi Refinement. So they were bandit cultivators who ambush and rob! Qin Feng was relieved. Since they were not cultivators from Taiyi Mountain, he had nothing to fear. A few Qi Refinement realm bandit cultivators who dared not show their true faces, he did not even consider them a threat. ¡°Boy, seeing you hurry along, did you find some treasures in the ancient battlefield?¡± The leading cultivator shouted, ¡°Hand over the treasures obediently, and we won¡¯t make it difficult for you. Otherwise, this will be your burial ground.¡± Qin Feng snorted lightly, ¡°Hiding your heads and showing your tails, yet daring to speak so arrogantly, truly asking for death.¡± ¡°Boy, if you are seeking death, then we brothers will fulfill your wish.¡± While speaking, the leading cultivator waved his hand, and several people around him simultaneously swung their magic artifacts, attacking him. Qin Feng¡¯s mouth slightly curled, ¡°Relying on numbers to bully the few, huh? No worries, disciples of the Beast Taming Sect also like doing these kinds of outnumbered fights!¡± While speaking, he released his several spiritual beasts. The Giant Crocodile was the most ferocious and, having not eaten for a long time, was especially ravenous. Now encountering a fight, it excitedly pounced first, biting at one of the fat-bodied cultivators. The Ghost-Faced Spider did not pounce forward but instead, with a butt thrust, spit out a stream of spider silk that wrapped around the opposite cultivator. At the same time, the Swallowing Sky Toad¡¯s tongue thrust forward. However, the fastest was not them. Before their attacks could reach the cultivators, a streak of golden light, fast as lightning, directly pierced through a cultivator¡¯s chest, leaving a bloody hole. ¡°Ah¡­¡± That cultivator screamed miserably, his eyes filled with immense unwillingness and disbelief, and collapsed to the ground with a thump. ¡°What?¡± The remaining bandit cultivators, seeing this, were instantly shocked and terrified, not expecting this encounter to be so stabbing, as one of their own was instantly killed. The leading Qi Refining Perfection realm cultivator asked, ¡°Are you a disciple of the Beast Taming Sect?¡± Qin Feng smiled faintly, ¡°Besides my Beast Taming Sect, which other cultivators would have so many spiritual beasts by their side?¡± ¡°Misunderstanding, misunderstanding!¡± The cultivator hurriedly said, ¡°We mistook you for someone else; please, fellow Daoist of the Beast Taming Sect, spare our lives.¡± ¡°Bandit cultivators who rob others, worthy to call a disciple of the Beast Taming Sect a Daoist Fellow?¡± Qin Feng¡¯s voice was cold, his eyes indifferent, ¡°Since you have engaged in this profitless trade, you should be prepared to be killed in retaliation.¡± Chapter 113 - Chapter 113: 111 chapters 30 Cold Stars Chapter 113: 111 chapters 30 Cold Stars Qin Feng had barely finished speaking when screams erupted again. While they were talking, the battle had not ceased. The Ghost-Faced Spider swiftly crawled underground, seizing the moment when one cultivator was distracted by the Green Fox Illusion Technique to shoot a web that entangled the cultivator¡¯s arm and magic artifact. The spider¡¯s silk not only contained fierce poison but also possessed extreme stickiness, making it difficult to remove through ordinary means. However, this cultivator practiced a Fire Element Technique. Seeing that his arm and magic artifact were entangled by the spider¡¯s silk, he quickly cast a Flame Spell, causing roaring fiery fire to surge over his arm and magic artifact, burning the spider silk to ashes. But before he could feel relieved, a shadow flashed by and his body was pierced by the Swallowing Sky Toad¡¯s long tongue. The leading cultivator, realizing this young man would not let them go, hardened his heart with a deadly resolve. Only by killing this young man would they have a chance to survive. With a flip of his hand, he took out a second-tier Skyfire Talisman and activated it immediately, transforming it into a massive ball of fire that crashed towards Qin Feng. The Swallowing Sky Toad, held in Qin Feng¡¯s hand, spat out a stream of water, forming a wave of equal size that met the fire. With a sizzle, the moment the water and fire collided, a large swath of mist burst forth. Although the fire was cast from a second-tier Spirit Talisman, to be honest, the power sealed by the Talisman Maker in the Spirit Talisman was significantly less than that of a spell cast directly by a cultivator. Moreover, this spirit fire had only one shot, while the Swallowing Sky Toad continuously spit out streams of water to counter it. Although initially at a disadvantage, the spirit fire¡¯s force eventually diminished and naturally dissipated after a moment. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?0¦Í?0.§ã¦Ï Qin Feng felt there was no need for him to clash head-on with the opponent, especially if that bandit cultivator produced a few more Spirit Talismans, which could threaten him. Thus, he upheld the fine tradition of the Beast Taming Sect disciples used in combat¡ªhis figure flashed, and he swiftly retreated over thirty feet, distancing himself from the cultivators and letting his spiritual beasts confront the enemies. At this moment, the Qi Refining Perfection bandit cultivator took out a two-foot-long pitch-black wooden box. This was a treasure found in the treasure room of a small family clan they had plundered, named Thirty Cold Stars¡ªan exceptional mechanical magical device capable of firing thirty small Armor-Breaking Cones resembling cold stars, turning the target into a sieve. Mechanical magical devices were extremely rare in the Cultivation World and were immensely powerful; even a Foundation Establishment Cultivator caught off-guard and struck by the Thirty Cold Stars would have their defenses broken and meet a violent death. Such devices were best manufactured by Central Region Mechanism City, and it was unknown how this one had ended up in the Southern Domain. This mechanical magical device was also the reason these bandit cultivators dared to raid passing cultivators here; they had indeed ambushed a Foundation Establishment Cultivator with it before. However, just as this bandit cultivator aimed the wooden box at Qin Feng and looked up, he saw that Qin Feng had distanced himself so far away, which nearly made him spit up blood in frustration. ¡°Boy, if you have the guts, don¡¯t run away. If you¡¯re a man, come and fight me!¡± The cultivator swept his sword, knocking a Giant Crocodile that had pounced towards him flying, and bellowed at Qin Feng. Qin Feng had been on guard the moment the other took out the wooden box, and hearing his words now, he immediately knew that the wooden box was definitely a lethal weapon, otherwise this guy wouldn¡¯t have been so infuriated. Thus, far from advancing, he even more sincerely retreated a few more feet, giving the bandit no chance to strike at him. After all, with two of their men already down, the remaining three were definitely no match for his spiritual beasts; there was no need for him to personally risk himself any further. True enough, under the fierce assault of a few spiritual beasts, the situation of the bandit cultivators quickly became precarious. Especially the Ruyi Golden Snake, swift as lightning, darting around and raiding near them. Despite these cultivators defending with all their might, they could hardly withstand the Ruyi Golden Snake¡¯s attacks. In just a few breaths, another was breached by the golden light on its body, almost having an arm severed by its wings. Mainly because this small snake was not only fast, but its defense was so strong it left them feeling hopeless. No matter what they tried, they couldn¡¯t injure the Ruyi Golden Snake in the slightest, and instead, their magic artifacts were even bitten a few times by the Ruyi Golden Snake. This, indeed, terrified them. It seemed that the Beast Taming Sect¡¯s cultivators were not ones that these background-less loose cultivators could afford to provoke. The Ruyi Golden Snake didn¡¯t care about what they thought. Suddenly, its body burst with golden light, casting the Ruyi Golden Light on its wings, which flapped like two scythes horizontally slashing, directly beheading one of the bandit cultivators. On another front, the Green Fox, having been ambushed and injured, was furious and recklessly used its Illusion Technique to forcefully drag another bandit cultivator into an Illusion Realm, then pounced, clawing the cultivator¡¯s face. The man screamed as his face split open, blood covering his features, barely avoiding having his skull cracked open by the Green Fox. But just as he struggled free from the pain and the illusion, before he could retaliate, he was entangled by the spider silk from the Ghost-Faced Spider, which then ¨C moving on its eight long legs ¨C pounced forward, its legs like spears, directly piercing through the cultivator¡¯s chest. From the start of the battle until now, it had only been a brief moment, yet four out of five bandit cultivators had been killed. The last remaining Qi Refining Perfection bandit cultivator, seeing all spiritual beasts about to advance upon him, knew he certainly couldn¡¯t survive alone. With a roar, ignoring the incoming Ruyi Golden Snake, he dodged only the vital parts, letting the sharp wings of the Ruyi Golden Snake slice a fine, long wound on his body. Then, stepping on the head of the charging Giant Crocodile, he leaped forward, rapidly closing the distance to Qin Feng while raising the mechanical wooden box. Although the power of the Thirty Cold Stars was formidable, capable of breaking through a Foundation Establishment Cultivator¡¯s defense, being a magic artifact, its attack range was limited, and its power decreased with distance, which was why he desperately dashed forward, planning to get closer to Qin Feng before pressing the trigger. Qin Feng saw this and immediately knew what the fellow was planning. Without a second thought, he kicked the ground and rapidly retreated backward, at the same time ordering the Ruyi Golden Snake to increase its attack speed. As for the Green Fox Ghost Face Spider and the Giant Crocodile, he had already given up on them. Those spiritual beasts were relatively ordinary and simply couldn¡¯t be of any use at this critical moment. ¡°Qua¡­¡± The Swallowing Sky Toad spat out a sharp Cold Ice Arrow, aiming it at the cultivator¡¯s body. Pff! The cultivator didn¡¯t dodge or evade. Even though the Cold Ice Arrow pierced his abdomen, bringing up a spray of blood, his figure didn¡¯t pause at all. However, he had already felt the relentless sharpness brought by the Ruyi Golden Snake behind him and knew that there was no chance to close any more distance, so he suddenly pressed down on a mechanism. The wooden box made a clacking sound and then suddenly changed shape. Numerous tiny holes appeared on the body of the box, and from each hole a cold star shot out, tracing beautiful arcs in the air, aiming for Qin Feng. In an instant, Qin Feng felt his hair stand on end, and a strong sense of crisis surged in his heart. He pushed his True Yuan to its limit, rapidly retreating backwards, his True Yuan gushing crazily outward, forming a defensive spell around him. At the same time, he took out several defensive talismans from his storage bag and activated all of them to protect himself. Bang, bang, bang¡­ Eventually, the thirty cold stars still caught up to his figure, breaking through several defenses. Fortunately, Qin Feng had retreated quite a distance from the start. When the cultivator pursued him, Qin Feng cleverly retreated again so that by the time the thirty cold stars reached him, their power had greatly diminished. However, these Armor-Breaking Cones, which contained a penetrating force, didn¡¯t strike him at the same time. There were slight differences in their sequence, allowing them to pierce through his multiple layers of defensive spells, flashing with cold light. Though only three or five were left in the end, Qin Feng still got quite a scare. Two of them were aimed directly at his head. Fortunately, the Swallowing Sky Toad sensed his thoughts and quickly leaped in front of him, opening its mouth wider than its body, and forcefully swallowed those two Armor-Breaking Cones. Pfft, pfft, pfft! The remaining three pierced into Qin Feng¡¯s body, although they didn¡¯t hit any vital points. Even though he was injured, they weren¡¯t severe. Even so, it badly frightened Qin Feng, with his heart pounding furiously, taking a good while to calm down. In that moment, he truly felt the threat of death. He had never expected the bandit cultivator to possess such a powerful magic artifact. It seemed, he lacked not just a riding tool but also a powerful defensive spiritual beast. He decided that he definitely needed to find an opportunity to subdue a few spiritual beasts with strong defensive capabilities in the future, otherwise, he felt he lacked a sense of security. Also, he¡¯d better refine the Ruyi Golden Snake soon. As long as he could cultivate to the point of merging with his lifebound spiritual beast, with the defensive power of the Ruyi Golden Snake, he could directly ignore the attacks of most cultivators of the same level. Ahead, the cultivator seeing that Qin Feng hadn¡¯t been severely injured or killed, couldn¡¯t hide the disappointment in his eyes. He felt a strong sense of unwillingness and wanted to kill Qin Feng again, even if it meant taking Qin Feng down with him as he died. Unfortunately, he had no chance left. The Ruyi Golden Snake had already flown in front of him, swiftly circling him three times with its sharp gold wings flashing intense golden light, chopping his body into several segments. He was as dead as could be. Qin Feng steadied his spirit, settled his emotions, and then pulled out the few half-inch Armor-Breaking Cones from his wounds. These items, capable of breaking defenses and laws, were truly not to be underestimated. Seeing the Ruyi Golden Snake approaching, about to nibble on the Armor-Breaking Cones on the ground, Qin Feng quickly stopped it. He not only picked up all the cones that had fallen to the ground but also had the Swallowing Sky Toad spit out the two it had swallowed earlier. Then he stepped forward, picked up the wooden box the cultivator had been using, and examined it carefully for a few moments. The biggest advantage of this type of mechanical magical device was that it didn¡¯t require much True Yuan to use. If he suddenly used it when his mana was depleted, it would definitely catch an opponent off guard. He didn¡¯t look further, quickly storing these objects in his storage bag. Chaotic Sky Valley wasn¡¯t a place to linger long. The fight had taken place here, and it wouldn¡¯t be long before other cultivators nearby came to investigate. Currently, with injuries, he didn¡¯t want to invite further trouble, so he quickly gathered the spoils of war and left immediately. Chapter 114 - Chapter 114: Chapter 112: Lifebound Spiritual Beast and Future Path Chapter 114: Chapter 112: Lifebound Spiritual Beast and Future Path Liang City was constantly frequented by cultivators from other regions; therefore, the city gates remained open even at night, to facilitate the entry and exit of cultivators. Otherwise, letting these cultivators fly in and out every day would create even more hidden dangers. Qin Feng entered the city, found an inn directly, booked a top room, ordered heaps of food, ate and drank his fill, and took a hot bath, feeling refreshed and rejuvenated both in body and spirit. Originally, the magic robe he wore had a dust-repelling effect. However, after being torn several times, its prohibitions were no longer systematic, naturally resulting in the loss of its dust-repelling capabilities. Add to that the fact he had been trapped in the Void Shattering Hammer Cave Mansion for over a month, where he spent each day either expending True Essence to refine the Township Stone Tablet or meditating to restore True Essence, looking unkempt all day. When he first emerged, he was dirty and disheveled, resembling a beggar. After grooming himself, he obviously felt much more comfortable. That night he did not practice cultivation and instead went straight to bed and fell asleep. Not until the next day, when the sun was already high, did Qin Feng wake up from his deep sleep. He shook his somewhat groggy head and got up to wear that somewhat tattered magic robe. Although the robe was damaged, it bore the emblem of the Beast Taming Sect, representing his identity as a disciple of the sect; it helped him avoid many unnecessary troubles while traveling. Therefore, Qin Feng didn¡¯t change into other clothes. First, he had a sumptuous breakfast in the inn¡¯s main hall, and then he went to several shops in the city to buy various supplies. In this land of chaos, it¡¯s better to shop frugally and visit several stores separately rather than buying everything in one go. Otherwise, if observed by some cultivators with ill intentions, one might be secretly followed, and upon leaving the city, an ambush could occur. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í?¦Ï.§ã? Both his father and the old family master had taught him these experiences, so Qin Feng wouldn¡¯t make such low-level mistakes. He wouldn¡¯t buy everything he needed from one shop just for the sake of convenience. Additionally, with his robe in tatters, there really weren¡¯t many people who would pay attention to him. His series of injuries had nearly depleted his supply of medicines, so he needed to buy some elixir pills in Liang City to heal his wounds. Furthermore, his flying mount, the Spiritual Vulture, had lost too much essence blood and needed some restorative elixir pills and spiritual objects to recover as soon as possible. Otherwise, the distance back to the sect was too far. It had taken over ten days of flight on the Spiritual Vulture to get here; without it, it would take him months to return. Therefore, he needed to stay in Liang City for a while, not only to replenish the essence blood of the Spiritual Vulture but also to take this time to refine the Ruyi Golden Snake into his lifebound spiritual beast. After Qin Feng finished buying his supplies, he returned to the inn and instructed the staff not to disturb him unless he called for them. Then he began his closed-door cultivation in his room. This inn catered exclusively to cultivators, each room protected by its own prohibition. Although not particularly strong, once activated, it could ensure quiet and freedom from disruptions. The state of his injuries wasn¡¯t too concerning. The wounds he sustained from the Taiyin Mountain Sword Cultivators in the Void Shattering Hammer Cave Mansion had already healed completely. Currently, his primary concern was the injuries inflicted by the Mechanical Magical Device, the Thirty Cold Stars. Though those tiny Armor-Breaking Cones nearly pierced through his body, they had avoided his vital points and were not considered severe. A few days¡¯ rest should suffice, so he focused most of his energy on refining the Ruyi Golden Snake. When other Beast Taming Sect disciples refined their lifebound spiritual beasts, it usually took several months to fully refine them, reaching the point where their essences resonated with each other. The reason it took so long was primarily that the lifebound spiritual beasts they subdued would resist, innately rejecting such refining, which resulted in most Beast Taming Sect disciples encountering slow progress in their refinement. But Qin Feng was different; with the Demon Refining Pot in hand, the Ruyi Golden Snake had no possibility of resisting after being subdued by the pot, so his refining process was very smooth. Once the refining was successful, Qin Feng only needed to cultivate daily with the Ruyi Golden Snake, absorbing and exhaling Spiritual Energy together, purifying the Demon Energy within it, and gradually transforming the nature of its power, achieving a unity of auras and a melding of True Essence Power of water and fire. Then he could slowly attempt the Sect¡¯s secret technique of merging with his Lifebound Spiritual Beast. In the Beast Taming Sect, aside from a few talented disciples, more than ninety-nine percent of the disciples only reached this step after advancing to the Foundation Establishment Realm. This was because the True Yuan within ordinary disciples wasn¡¯t pure and robust enough; they couldn¡¯t thoroughly cleanse the Demon Energy within their Lifebound Spiritual Beast, making it difficult to perfectly transform its power. Only after reaching the Foundation Establishment Realm, when the cultivator¡¯s True Yuan was sufficiently robust, could they achieve this step. However, advancing to Foundation Establishment was not easy, otherwise the Beast Taming Sect wouldn¡¯t have so many Outer Qi Refining Disciples. And those talented disciples who could merge with their Lifebound Spiritual Beasts in the Qi Refining Realm not only had a much higher success rate in Foundation Establishment compared to ordinary disciples, but they could even allow their Lifebound Spiritual Beasts to advance to Foundation Establishment first. Then, using their beasts to assist their own cultivation and advancement, their cultivation speed could also be quicker. In fact, many Beast Taming Sect cultivators, when facing great bottlenecks during advancement and feeling that success was unlikely, would choose to first help their Lifebound Spiritual Beast to advance, and then let the beast nourish them in return to increase their chances of a successful advancement. This was a shortcut, but it was a very practical method; many disciples who had originally lost hope of advancing were able to take another step in their cultivation because of this technique. Even among the countless years of the Beast Taming Sect¡¯s inheritance, there were several ancestors of the Immortal Dao who had achieved longevity by using this method. Qin Feng felt that with the purity of his True Yuan, he should be able to thoroughly cleanse his Lifebound Spiritual Beast of its Demon Energy even in the Qi Refining Realm. Moreover, the compatibility of the ¡°Ten Thousand Beasts Origin Scripture,¡± passed down by the patriarchs, was extremely strong. No matter which power system the Lifebound Spiritual Beast¡¯s power belonged to, the Origin Scripture could accommodate it until he entered the Inner Sect, where he could then select a suitable Technique from the True Inheritance Skills for his Cultivation. If there wasn¡¯t one, he could even create his own unique Cultivation Method based on the ¡°Ten Thousand Beasts Origin Scripture¡±; such occurrences were not uncommon in the history of the Beast Taming Sect, otherwise there wouldn¡¯t be as many Cultivation Technique inheritances and the Outer Sect wouldn¡¯t have as many as one hundred and eight peaks. The Ruyi Golden Snake was a pure Gold Element Spiritual Beast, its power full of endless sharpness, and it was best at attacking and fighting. Although no one from the Beast Taming Sect had ever obtained a Spiritual Beast like the Ruyi Golden Snake before, and none of the nine True Inheritance Techniques of the Inner Sect¡¯s Spiritual Snake Lineage was based on the Ruyi Golden Snake, he was not at all worried about not having a Cultivation Method once he entered the Inner Sect. Because he never intended to let the Ruyi Golden Snake follow the Gold Element Path to a dead end. Now that he had installed the Ruyi Golden Snake as the leader of the second layer of the Demon Refining Pot, he would certainly help his Lifebound Spiritual Beast integrate the formidable Divine Skills of other Spiritual Snakes. The more Divine Skills his Lifebound Spiritual Beast had, the more Divine Skills he would be able to cultivate in the future. Fang Zheng, a disciple of Tiger Roar Peak, had the Bloodline of the Dragon Son and Bi¡¯an in his Lifebound Spiritual Beast. Leveraging this, he had cultivated the Evil Suppressing Dharma Eye Divine Skill, making him one of the top characters among the Outer Disciples. Elder Yan Zhongli of Spiritual Ape Peak, besides cultivating the Great Strength Divine Power, later cultivated a Thunder Divine Power, his War Power reaching the level where he could contend against several Demon Cultivators in the Golden Core Late Stage at the same time. Qin Feng felt that if he integrated several Divine Skills into the Ruyi Golden Snake, then not only would he not have to worry about the issue of Cultivation Methods in the future, but once his Cultivation reached a Realm not far from Yan Zhongli, his War Power would certainly be even more formidable. As for Techniques, he felt that if possible, he should cultivate one or two more, such as the ¡°Netherworld Yin Snake Seven Incantations.¡± Although he was reluctant to make this Technique his main Cultivation Method, fearing that once he mastered it, he might be influenced by the Technique and become as gloomy and cold as Elder Yin Qi, he still greatly coveted its power. If he only considered the ¡°Netherworld Yin Snake Seven Incantations¡± as a supplementary Technique, it should not have too much of an impact. Chapter 115 - Chapter 115: Chapter 113: Return to the Sect Chapter 115: Chapter 113: Return to the Sect That day, in between his cultivation sessions, Qin Feng took out the Mechanical Wooden Box and after refining it with his True Yuan, he roughly understood how to use the Mechanical Magical Device. He repositioned the thirty Armor-Breaking Cones he had collected earlier back into the box, gently tapped on the wooden box, and it immediately reverted to its original two-foot-long form. Qin Feng extended his Divine Sense into it, and although some mechanisms inside were obscured by special means preventing thorough visibility, the mere sight of those things was already awe-inspiring. The cultivators of the Central Region Mechanism City were truly ingenious; a single Magical Device-level Mechanical Box could achieve such meticulousness. He pondered how formidable the large Mechanical Puppets must be. Qin Feng recalled the brief records about Mechanism City he had seen in the Scripture Pavilion. It was said that the whole Mechanism City was constructed from countless mechanisms, every house, every street, every section of the city wall, even every brick, tile, blade of grass, and tree, were all connected to various intricate mechanisms, sophisticated yet majestic. Just thinking about it filled him with awe. Qin Feng played with the wooden box for a while, and after figuring out how to use it, he stored it away and turned his attention to the Demon Refining Pot. At this time, in the second floor of the Void Shattering Hammer Cave Mansion, apart from the Ruyi Golden Snake, all of Qin Feng¡¯s Spiritual Beasts were housed here. The Spiritual Vulture was lying next to one of the skeletons, eyes closed in rest. After Qin Feng had substantially replenished its vitality with Elixir Pills and food, the vulture¡¯s essence blood had mostly recovered, and it was capable of flying him. Qin Feng felt it would be better to return to the Mountain Gate sooner rather than later. It was somewhat improper to stay outside for too long. Since the Spiritual Vulture could now fly, it was time to leave Liang City and let the vulture recuperate slowly once back at the Sect. However, the vulture was perhaps a bit too close to that skeleton. Qin Feng frowned slightly. The skeletons in the Void Shattering Hammer Cave Mansion were all formidable beings in their lifetimes, and although dead for tens of thousands of years, many still emitted a mysterious aura that instilled an inexplicable sense of dread. How could the vulture dare to be so close? Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?0¦Í?¦Ï.§ã¦Ï Could it be due to its innate vulture nature, still hoping to chew on a few bones? But even if it did swallow them, it seemed pointless; although these bones still retained some trace of Spiritual Energy, it wasn¡¯t much. Swallowing them wouldn¡¯t bring much benefit. Qin Feng sensed the spirit of the Spiritual Vulture; unfortunately, though it had awakened its Spiritual Intelligence, its intelligence was still limited, and it couldn¡¯t fully express its intentions. Qin Feng could only vaguely sense that the vulture was using the aura emitted from the skeleton to cultivate. Never mind, let it be! Since the vulture was fine, Qin Feng stopped paying attention to it and looked towards the other Spiritual Beasts. The Swallowing Sky Toad was sitting on a platform, its small white belly expanding and contracting, absorbing the mansion¡¯s Spiritual Energy to cultivate. The Green Fox¡¯s injuries had also healed, and it was lying comfortably on the ground, licking the fur on its paws. Qin Feng had recently bought them a lot of food, and the Green Fox had just eaten, feeling very content. The Ghost-Faced Spider had made the Void Shattering Hammer Cave Mansion its home, spinning a large web in one corner of the mansion, quietly staying in the center of the web. Unfortunately, there were only a few Spiritual Beasts here, and no prey came to visit. The Giant Crocodile lay on the ground in deep slumber. This creature, low in intelligence and fierce in nature, spent its days hunting or sleeping before Qin Feng confined it in the Demon Refining Pot. Now, freed from the need to hunt, it spent most of its time in deep sleep. Qin Feng didn¡¯t mind; after all, he had only subdued the Giant Crocodile because it was ferocious in battle, merely keeping it as a fighter. It could do whatever it wanted normally. After observing his Spiritual Beasts, he withdrew his spirit, shifting his attention to his own wrist. Like a golden bracelet, the Ruyi Golden Snake coiled around his wrist, its scales finely detailed and shining brightly. If one didn¡¯t look closely, it was hard to tell it was a Spiritual Snake. At this moment, the demon energy inside the Ruyi Golden Snake was faint; it had been almost completely refined by Qin Feng during this period. He now wore the Ruyi Golden Snake every day, cultivating with it, infusing his True Yuan into its body, familiarizing himself with the snake¡¯s power, and gradually completing the transformation. Even when not cultivating, he would always try to keep his breath in sync with the Ruyi Golden Snake to accelerate their integration. Qin Feng caressed the cool body of the Ruyi Golden Snake, feeling satisfied. Although this mission had involved several dangers, he felt that all his efforts were worthwhile. Now that he had his Lifebound Spiritual Beast, his cultivation path was clear, and he no longer felt as lost as before. Thinking of this mission, he remembered Ma Jiu and wondered if that fellow had escaped the pursuit of the two Foundation Establishment Sword Cultivators from Taiyi Mountain. However, considering Ma Jiu¡¯s cunning nature, it was unlikely that he didn¡¯t have hidden tricks up his sleeve. Qin Feng felt that there was a greater possibility that he had escaped. To ensure that the Spiritual Vulture had enough strength for their flight, Qin Feng had deliberately stayed two more days in Liang City. After the Spiritual Vulture¡¯s vitality had recovered somewhat, he left Liang City and rode the Spiritual Vulture, heading towards the direction of his Sect. Unlike his journey to the mission, he returned alone, without the experienced Ma Jiu accompanying him. He was extra cautious. Whenever he encountered other cultivators flying by in the sky, he kept his distance. As a Qi Refining Realm disciple from the Outer Sect of the Beast Taming Sect, his cultivation was weak. Those cultivators who managed to fly were at least at the Foundation Establishment Realm. As long as he didn¡¯t seek trouble proactively, no one would bother him. Although the journey was somewhat lonely, he encountered no danger. After over ten days, Qin Feng returned to the Sect and went straight to the Foreign Affairs Hall to report the completion of the mission and to collect his rewards. ¡°Qin Feng?¡± The disciple from the Foreign Affairs Hall who received him was somewhat surprised, looking at him and then at the details recorded about the mission, he said in astonishment, ¡°You were on a mission with Ma Jiu. He returned earlier and mentioned you were being pursued by disciples from Taiyi Mountain and might have been killed. I didn¡¯t expect you to return safely?¡± ¡°Senior brother is making fun of me.¡± Qin Feng said, ¡°I was indeed pursued by disciples from Taiyi Mountain and ended up in the Ancient Battlefield. I was trapped in a perilous place but finally managed to escape and returned to the Sect.¡± ¡°It¡¯s good that you¡¯re back.¡± The disciple noted Qin Feng¡¯s safe return in the mission book. The Sect would keep a record of these events. If Qin Feng could enter the Inner Sect in the future, the Sect would conduct a more comprehensive assessment of him, and all these details would be useful. ¡°Originally, if you hadn¡¯t returned, the Sect would have considered you as having died on duty and would have given your family some resources as compensation. However, since you have returned, those compensations are naturally needless. Now, I will give you the rewards for the completion of the mission as usual.¡± With that, the Foundation Establishment disciple took out two hundred and fifty Spirit Stones from behind and handed them to him, ¡°Here you go. The reward for this mission was initially five hundred Spirit Stones, divided equally between you and Ma Jiu. Keep it safe.¡± ¡°Thank you, senior brother.¡± Qin Feng took the Spirit Stones and excused himself. After he returned to his place at the Spiritual Snake Peak, he sent a Green Bird to inform Qin Xi and Qin Ying of his safe return. After a moment¡¯s thought, he also sent a Green Bird to inform Ma Jiu. Less than half an hour later, Qin Xi and Qin Ying arrived one after the other. Qin Xi¡¯s eyes were still somewhat red when she saw him. Ma Jiu had previously visited them to inform them about Qin Feng being pursued by Foundation Establishment Sword Cultivators from Taiyi Mountain. They had waited for a long time without Qin Feng¡¯s return, leading them to believe that he might have met with a mishap, so Qin Xi had been grieving for Qin Feng during this period. Now that she saw Qin Feng returned safely, she was overjoyed and soon asked about his experiences during the mission. Qin Feng concealed the matter of the Void Shattering Hammer Cave Mansion and simply relayed to them a brief summary, not revealing everything. While he had not even finished his story, loud laughter echoed from outside, ¡°Junior Brother Qin, you¡¯re back safely, haha¡­ That¡¯s great, senior brother here looked for you for several days and couldn¡¯t find you, I even thought something had happened to you!¡± Qin Feng smiled slightly, stood up, and welcomed Ma Jiu inside. The two had fought side by side on two separate occasions and had formed a bond. They were both very happy to see each other. Qin Feng even specially went to the Spiritual Meal Hall and called for some wine and dishes for them to enjoy and chat over. They drank deep into the night before each went their separate ways. Chapter 116 - Chapter 116: Chapter 114 Peak Master Cultivation Chapter 116: Chapter 114 Peak Master Cultivation The next day, Qin Feng went to the Preaching Pavilion. He had just completed a mission, and having recently advanced to the eighth level of Qi Refinement, it was a time to stabilize his realm, so there was no need to rush to take on other missions. Besides, he had reaped a considerable harvest from this trip. Not to mention the Spiritual Objects he acquired from those two groups of bandit cultivators, just from the Storage Bags of a few Foundation Establishment Sword Cultivators of Taiyi Mountain, he had obtained a large number of Spirit Stones and various resources, enough to allow him to splurge for a while, so he decided to focus on cultivating well. Moreover, today was the first day of the lunar month when a Golden Core Elder from Spiritual Snake Peak would visit the Preaching Pavilion to lecture, a chance he certainly did not want to miss. Since he arrived early, he managed to occupy a cushion in the front row and sat down. Two quarters of an hour later, Liu Xuanling entered the Preaching Pavilion, her chest held high with pride. Standing on the high platform, she casually glanced downwards and hesitated slightly when she saw Qin Feng. She was the Peak Master of Spiritual Snake Peak, and the various affairs of the peak were reported to her. Last month, she received news from the Foreign Affairs Hall that Qin Feng, a disciple of Spiritual Snake Peak, was killed by a disciple from Taiyi Mountain while on a mission. She had some impressions of Qin Feng. Or rather, she had impressions of any disciple whose cultivation progressed well. For disciples like Qin Feng who managed to advance to the late stage of Qi Refinement within one year of entry, she would pay more attention to see if they were promising candidates for cultivation, worth the focus of Spiritual Snake Peak, and potentially securing an entry spot for the Inner Sect in the major Outer competition. Although it was a pity that such a disciple died outside, she initially didn¡¯t take it too much to heart. There were many disciples under Spiritual Snake Peak, and it was common for some to encounter dangers and not return while carrying out missions. She had become accustomed to such occurrences, but she didn¡¯t expect that this individual, who was reported dead, had come back alive. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ??¦Í?¦Ï.§ã¦Ï This made her take another look at Qin Feng, and then her heart stirred. With her strength, she easily sensed the Ruyi Golden Snake on Qin Feng¡¯s wrist. As the Peak Master of Spiritual Snake Peak, she was quite familiar with all types of spiritual snakes but had never seen a Ruyi Golden Snake before. She couldn¡¯t help but extend her Divine Sense stealthily to inspect it carefully, confirming that it should indeed be the Ruyi Golden Snake as recorded in the Ten Thousand Snakes Map. She narrowed her beautiful phoenix eyes in slight surprise, maintaining the pride suited to her role as a Peak Master and began to lecture while sitting cross-legged on the high platform. For some reason, she abandoned her original plan to explain the scriptures and instead discussed the techniques and experiences of refining the Demon Energy within Lifebound Spiritual Beasts after taming them, disappointing all the Foundation Establishment Disciples who had specially arrived today. They were already capable of merging with their Lifebound Spiritual Beasts, so listening to such topics at this point was of no use to them. However, those Qi Refining Realm disciples who were in this stage found it extremely enlightening, including Qin Feng, who also felt greatly benefited. He was currently worried about the last trace of Demon Energy within the Ruyi Golden Snake that was difficult to dissolve. He thought he would need to further his cultivation to accomplish it, but upon hearing Liu Xuanling¡¯s explanation, he suddenly gained some important insights. It turned out there were such techniques for refining Demon Energy. Two hours later, Liu Xuanling waved her hand lightly, dismissing everyone. Then, when Qin Feng was about to leave, she stopped him. Qin Feng was somewhat stunned but didn¡¯t dare to ask more questions. Under the envious gazes of the other disciples, he obediently stayed where he was. Those disciples thought Qin Feng had gained the favor of their Peak Master, perhaps preparing to give him special guidance. It was not uncommon for such events to happen. Several Golden Core Elders had done so before, and some exceptionally talented individuals had even been taken in as disciples by some elders. Liu Xuanling sat with a dignified bearing on the platform. There was a hint of indescribable meaning in her eyes as she spoke softly, ¡°Taiyi Mountain has sent word that the only daughter of Elder Jiang Dongliu from Punishment Sword Hall died outside Chaotic Sky Valley, claiming she was ambushed and slain by an Outer Disciple from our Beast Taming Sect. Was this your doing? You indeed have some guts, daring to ambush Foundation Establishment Sword Cultivators from Taiyi Mountain. I hear Jiang Dongliu was furious, nearly mounting an assault on our Beast Taming Sect. Of course, that old guy was just posturing; someone at the Purple Mansion Realm doesn¡¯t have the guts for such a bold move. Should he truly come, I guarantee he wouldn¡¯t step foot within three thousand miles of the Beast Taming Sect without being utterly annihilated. With the Sect¡¯s protection, we won¡¯t let you youngsters be bullied by those old folk. Tell me, how did you survive being hunted by so many Foundation Cultivators?¡± Liu Xuanling thought highly of this disciple, seeing a bit of herself in his younger days. During her Qi Refining and Foundation Establishment stages, she often caused trouble and killed far more than Qin Feng had. However, conflicts among these younger generations didn¡¯t usually escalate to the Sect¡¯s higher levels; if the mentors of the killed had complaints, it would be handled by the higher echelons of the Beast Taming Sect. The mighty Beast Taming Sect was indeed capable of protecting a few troublesome disciples. Qin Feng gave a wry smile and replied, ¡°Peak Master, with my humble cultivation, how could I dare to ambush Foundation Cultivators. In fact, that Taiyi Mountain female cultivator was not killed by me but by a fellow named Zhuo Feifan.¡± ¡°Hmm? Is there internal strife among the Taiyi Mountain disciples?¡± Liu Xuanling suddenly became interested. ¡°It¡¯s like this: Zhuo Feifan and that female had an affair, and she was several months pregnant. However, Zhuo Feifan, aiming for the position of true disciple, was unwilling to marry her at this point. The two could not resolve their differences, and Zhuo Feifan, being ruthless for his own gain, decided to kill his junior sister in a surprise attack.¡± Actually, Zhuo Feifan had not initially intended to kill his junior sister, but Qin Feng certainly wouldn¡¯t defend him and took the opportunity to tarnish his reputation further. It was much more effective to have Liu Xuanling spread the scandal about Zhuo Feifan than to spread it himself. ¡°Despicable and shameless scoundrels!¡± As expected, Liu Xuanling couldn¡¯t help but curse upon hearing the words. Then, she gritted her silver teeth and said, ¡°There isn¡¯t a single good man in this world.¡± ¡°Um¡­¡± Qin Feng was speechless, wondering how he had also been dragged into this. After Liu Xuanling had a small outburst, she asked, ¡°How did you manage to escape later?¡± ¡°To escape, I fed my riding tool, the Spiritual Vulture, a Blood Demon Pill. With the vulture burning its essence blood, its speed was not inferior to those Sword Cultivators, and since we were not far from the Chaotic Sky Valley, I took the risk of rushing into it, hoping to use the dangers of the Ancient Battlefield to shake off those guys.¡± ¡°Blood Demon Pill?¡± Liu Xuanling slightly furrowed her brows, ¡°Where did you get a Blood Demon Pill?¡± ¡°I seized it from a Bandit Cultivator while completing a Sect mission,¡± Qin Feng explained. Qin Feng recounted how he had snatched the Blood Demon Pill from the Bandit Leader and then took out the vial of Blood Demon Pills to show Liu Xuanling. Liu Xuanling stretched out her hand to summon the black jade bottle into her hands, opened it to take a look, nodded, and then casually tossed it back to him. ¡°What about after that? How did you get rid of those Taiyi Mountain disciples in the Ancient Battlefield?¡± she asked. ¡°By accident, I entered a ruinous building with a No-Fly Array. As the effects of the Blood Demon Pill wore off, my mount could no longer fly, so I decided to use the No-Fly Array to dodge their pursuit. Later, when climbing the mountain, I encountered a small lake where a Heavenly Connecting Lotus was growing¡­¡± ¡°Heavenly Connecting Lotus?¡± Liu Xuanling suddenly stood up and moved quickly to his front, her breath somewhat hurried, her chest heaving up and down, and she looked down at Qin Feng who was sitting on the cushion and asked, ¡°Are you sure it¡¯s the Heavenly Connecting Lotus, no, how did you even know about the Heavenly Connecting Lotus?¡± ¡°Um¡­¡± Qin Feng felt that looking up at two large mountains was somewhat disrespectful to the beautiful Peak Master, so he quickly stood up from the ground. Then, feeling that he was a bit too close to the Peak Master, he took a step back before speaking, ¡°Actually, I don¡¯t recognize that lotus either. It was those Taiyi Mountain Sword Cultivators who said so. I was paying close attention to them with my Divine Sense, so I heard it clearly. One of them even mentioned an Ancient True Monarch who used the leaves of the Heavenly Connecting Lotus to make numerous Death Replacement Talismans. Later, one of those Taiyi disciples grew greedy, entered the lake to pick them, and then mysteriously sank into the lake and never surfaced again.¡± ¡°I see.¡± Liu Xuanling nodded, asked again about the appearance of that lotus meticulously, and finally confirmed without a doubt that it was the Heavenly Connecting Lotus. Pleased, she nodded again, seemed a bit distracted as she sat back down, and then asked him about subsequent events. Qin Feng did not dare to conceal too much from the Peak Master. He discussed his entry into the Cave Mansion, how the Taiyi Mountain disciples triggered the Prohibitions within the mansion, and apart from Zhuo Feifan who escaped with a Secret Treasure, the rest were all killed by the mansion¡¯s Prohibitions. However, he did not mention that he had refined the Void Shattering Hammer Cave Mansion, just that he had luckily avoided the Prohibition¡¯s attacks by hiding on a stone platform. After Zhuo Feifan had disappeared, he quickly left there, healed his injuries, and only then returned to the Sect. ¡°Alright, I understand.¡± Liu Xuanling pondered for a moment before saying, ¡°You mustn¡¯t spread this incident, including the matter of Zhuo Feifan killing his fellow disciple. That guy is just an Inner Sect Disciple, not really significant. Even if you use this incident to ruin his reputation and let Jiang Dongliu kill him, it won¡¯t cause any substantive loss to Taiyi Mountain. As such, there¡¯s no need to leak this matter now. Hmph, he wants to compete for the True Inheritance position of Taiyi Mountain, right? Maybe we can help him by eliminating a few of his competitors and aiding his ascent.¡± Upon hearing this, Qin Feng immediately understood, ¡°The Peak Master means, once he becomes a True Disciple, then use this as leverage¡­¡± Liu Xuanling glanced at him with a hint of a smile on her lips, ¡°Correct, you are quite clever.¡± Qin Feng chuckled in agreement but said nothing. ¡°As for the Heavenly Connecting Lotus, it¡¯s not something I can handle.¡± Liu Xuanling thought for a moment and said, ¡°Zhuo Feifan will surely inform his Sect elders when he returns. Maybe some from Taiyi Mountain have already rushed there. I¡¯ll go to the Inner Sect now and discuss this matter with my master, and let the Sect handle it.¡± As she spoke, she stood up, looked at Qin Feng, nodding in approval, ¡°You¡¯ve done well this time, and you will receive your reward. Cultivate diligently, and I will list you as a promising disciple of the Spiritual Snake Peak to nurture. If you can make it into the Inner Sect through the Outer Disciple Competition within ten years, I will take you as my apprentice.¡± Qin Feng was overjoyed, ¡°Thank you, Peak Master, for your cultivation. I will definitely cultivate diligently and not disappoint your expectations.¡± ¡°Alright, off you go.¡± Liu Xuanling nodded and waved her hand, indicating that Qin Feng could leave. Qin Feng respectfully bowed and took his leave. As soon as he left, Liu Xuanling directly mounted a stream of Light Escape, flying straight to the Inner Mountain Gate. Chapter 117 - Chapter 117: Chapter 115 Dragon Blood Fruit Tree Chapter 117: Chapter 115 Dragon Blood Fruit Tree Qin Feng returned to his residence, feeling quite delighted. He had been a disciple of the Spiritual Snake Peak for over a year and had come to understand a thing or two about the esteemed Peak Master. Liu Xuanling was absolutely a genius in the realm of cultivation. Having not yet reached the age of a hundred, she had already advanced to the peak of the Golden Core Realm and was merely a step away from the Purple Mansion Realm. Should she advance to the Purple Mansion, her status would rise instantly, elevating her to the level of an Inner Sect Elder. Qin Feng felt that having such a powerful figure as his backer was very nice indeed. Liu Xuanling, despite her somewhat peculiar personality¡ªwhich had not spared her from making enemies in the past¡ªpossessed a fiercely protective nature. Qin Feng didn¡¯t doubt that if he could become her disciple, he wouldn¡¯t have to fear being bullied by others. Elsewhere, Liu Xuanling¡¯s escape technique was impressively swift, her figure blurring between the real and the illusory, and in an instant, she had flown a great distance. She flew directly into the Inner Sect and descended upon a picturesque mountain peak, striding into a simple wooden hut. ¡°Master, Master¡­¡± No one was inside the hut, and she quickly exited, standing in front of the wooden house and calling out a few times. ¡°Is Junior Sister Liu back?¡± Not far away, in a modest Spiritual Medicine Garden, a somewhat plump cultivator who was tending to an oddly shaped fruit tree that was taller than a person lifted his head upon hearing her and chuckled lightly, ¡°Junior Sister, you usually hole up at Spiritual Snake Peak and seldom come back here all year. There hasn¡¯t been any major event recently, what brings you here now?¡± Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í??.?? ¡°Mind your own business!¡± Liu Xuanling shot him a glare and demanded brusquely, ¡°Where is Master?¡± ¡°You this girl?¡± The plump young cultivator forced a bitter smile, ¡°How could you forget? I¡¯m your second senior brother. I took care of you when you were little, but now that you¡¯ve grown up, you¡¯ve become so fierce, you don¡¯t even call me senior brother anymore.¡± He was about to continue when suddenly, Liu Xuanling¡¯s glare intensified, and he promptly surrendered, ¡°Alright, alright, I¡¯ll stop rambling, Master is at the peak. If you want to¡­ hey, where did she go?¡± After looking around, the plump cultivator found that Liu Xuanling had already left. He couldn¡¯t help but shake his head and sigh lightly, ¡°Junior Sister Liu was more fun as a child. Now that she is grown up, she has lost all the innocence and cheerfulness of her childhood!¡± Before he could finish his thought, a Spirit Fruit that had been bitten into flew out of the void and smacked him on the head with a thump. ¡°Uh¡­¡± His face froze. He looked down at the fallen Spirit Fruit and recognized its familiar shape, then glanced at the small tree which now had only two fruits left, and cried out in grief and anger, ¡°My Dragon Blood Fruit¡­¡± From behind a large tree not far away, a messy head popped out to peek over at him, and with a snicker, ¡°Serves you right. Who told you to always bully the little junior sister back then? It¡¯s not like you didn¡¯t know her vengeful nature. I warned you back then, but you never took it seriously. How does it feel now to suffer the consequences?¡± ¡°Elder brother, shouldn¡¯t you stand up for me and seek justice? I¡¯ve been meticulously nurturing this Dragon Blood Fruit Tree for over a hundred years, and it barely yielded three fruits, only for one to be wasted by her.¡± The plump young man cried out in pain. ¡°What justice is there to seek? You¡¯re not strong enough to defeat Junior Sister Liu, who else is there to blame?¡± Another cultivator snorted, ¡°I¡¯ve told you before to focus on your cultivation, but you never listened, preferring instead to fiddle around with all these bizarre and peculiar things. It¡¯s not too bad now, but wait a few years. If Junior Sister Liu advances to Purple Mansion, by then I reckon you¡¯ll have no power to resist, and she might just take all these things from you. Then what will you do?¡± ¡°I¡­¡± The plump cultivator looked at him with a pitiful expression, ¡°Elder brother, you¡¯ll help me then, right?¡± ¡°What do you think?¡± The elder brother chuckled and didn¡¯t bother to answer any more. At the peak, beneath an ancient pine tree several dozen feet tall, a middle-aged cultivator with a scholarly appearance sat cross-legged, with a set of tea utensils laid out on the jade table in front of him, holding an ancient scroll and studying it intently. ¡°Master!¡± Liu Xuanling called out loudly, her figure flashing to sit across from the middle-aged cultivator. Ning Wuxu looked up at her and asked, ¡°What¡¯s got you in such a rush to find your master this time? Let¡¯s get one thing straight, don¡¯t bring up the matter of the Dao Golden Pill anymore. Even Danxia Sect may not refine such an Immortal Pill that contains Dao Principles once in hundreds of years. I don¡¯t have a way to procure one for you. If you want to advance to the Purple Mansion Realm, just focus on your cultivation. There¡¯s no need to compete with others.¡± Liu Xuanling shook her head, ¡°Master, I¡¯ve not come to talk about the Dao Golden Pill this time.¡± ¡°Oh, that¡¯s good then.¡± Ning Wuxu breathed a sigh of relief internally upon hearing this. His young disciple had been traumatized some years ago when a former rival, blessed with a great opportunity, had surpassed her in cultivation and defeated her with ease, which had greatly distressed the girl. Since then, she had been eager to progress swiftly to the Purple Mansion Realm to regain her position. Because of this, she had frequently worn down her master in recent years, asking him to come up with a solution. ¡°Here, have a cup of tea, and your master will assess your progress in cultivation.¡± Ning Wuxu summoned a cup of clear tea from the quaint and simple teapot with a flick of his finger, sending it flying in front of Liu Xuanling with a smile. ¡°This is an exquisite Spiritual Tea, Cloud Top Snow Buds, which your master managed to obtain from the Spiritual Tree Elder only after much effort. This tea must be savored slowly to truly appreciate¡­¡± Before he could finish his sentence, he saw Liu Xuanling drink the Spiritual Tea in one gulp as if she hadn¡¯t heard a thing, choking off Ning Wuxu¡¯s next words. He twitched the corner of his mouth and subtly moved the teapot closer to himself, no longer considering assessing her cultivation, and asked helplessly, ¡°Speak then, what brings you to me this time?¡± ¡°Master, a disciple from Spiritual Snake Peak has discovered a Heavenly Connecting Lotus¡­¡± ¡°Hmm?¡± Ning Wuxu¡¯s eyebrows raised, a glint of light flashed in his originally calm eyes before disappearing. He looked at his disciple and inquired, ¡°A Heavenly Connecting Lotus? Where was it discovered?¡± Liu Xuanling didn¡¯t hide anything and related the incident of Qin Feng being chased by Taiyi Mountain disciples into the Ancient Battlefield and how he found the Heavenly Connecting Lotus. After finishing her account, she looked at Ning Wuxu with her phoenix eyes and said, ¡°Master, the Heavenly Connecting Lotus is a rare treasure. Why don¡¯t you make a move yourself and take back the lotus?¡± ¡°The Ancient Battlefield?¡± Ning Wuxu fell silent for a moment, then said with a wry smile, ¡°You do put me in a difficult position. The Ancient Battlefield is full of perils, and it¡¯s not safe for someone with my cultivation level. The eerie things happening in the lake that gave birth to the Heavenly Connecting Lotus are most likely due to the Resentful Spirit that has formed from the lingering thought of a powerful ancient being who died there. Having survived from the Ancient times until now, I can¡¯t even begin to fathom how formidable that Resentful Spirit has become. If I were to fight with the Resentful Spirit and the commotion is too great, it could very well trigger the Chaos Principle of the Ancient Battlefield, causing unpredictable danger. Even with my profound cultivation, I could be in danger of falling.¡± Liu Xuanling¡¯s eyes shifted as she smiled and said, ¡°Master, you don¡¯t necessarily have to deal with that Resentful Spirit in the lake yourself. That Zhuo Feifan, lacking the ability to seize the Heavenly Connecting Lotus himself, and being at the critical moment to compete for the position of True Disciple, will surely report this to the sect to gain more support from the seniors. The cultivators from Taiyi Mountain, once they learn of the existence of the Heavenly Connecting Lotus, will inevitably be tempted. You can just hide in the shadows and wait for the Taiyi Mountain cultivators to make their move. The Resentful Spirit has survived for tens of thousands of years, and it¡¯s definitely not easy to deal with. Let them make the first move to test the waters. If they can successfully obtain the Heavenly Connecting Lotus, then you can snatch it from them. If they fail, it can also reveal the level of danger in that area, so you can plan accordingly afterward.¡± Ning Wuxu looked at her, unable not to laugh, ¡°Fine, if that¡¯s the case, then I¡¯ll make the trip myself.¡± A Heavenly Connecting Lotus, he too was tempted by such a treasure. Although he had been involved in the Dao for a long time and did not need the Dao Principles contained within the Heavenly Connecting Lotus, its leaves were the best material for crafting Death Replacement Talismans. With the Cultivation World becoming increasingly unstable and forces from beyond frequently appearing, war could break out at any moment, and he too would face crisis. Having one or two Death Replacement Talismans would make him much safer. Chapter 118 - Chapter 118: Chapter 116 Lifebound Merge Chapter 118: Chapter 116 Lifebound Merge The scorching summer sun hung high in the sky. The sweltering weather outside did not affect Qin Feng¡¯s mood; his face was filled with joy. It had been several months since he returned to the Sect, and these months of dedicated cultivation had completely solidified his foundation. The True Yuan within his body had been refined to a pure and robust state, his meridians tough, no longer bearing any lingering adverse effects from his previously rapid advancement. In the last mission, he had obtained numerous Spirit Stones and various resources. With the help of the Demon Refining Pot, once his foundation had solidified, he had repeatedly absorbed Pure Spirit Qi from the pot for cultivation, and now he was not far from reaching the ninth level of Qi Refinement. He had not advanced directly to the ninth level of Qi Refinement because he had learned from past experiences. Although absorbing a large amount of Spiritual Energy rapidly sped up the advancement process, it also required time and resources afterward to stabilize the realm, which was ultimately not worth it in the long run. Therefore, even though he was also using the Demon Refining Pot for cultivation now, he did not advance directly as before but instead chose a more secure method of cultivation. All these progresses were within Qin Feng¡¯s expectations. The real reason he was grinning ear to ear in his room was that not only had he purified the Demon Energy inside the Ruyi Golden Snake half a month ago, but after hundreds of trials, he finally managed to merge with his Lifebound Spiritual Beast. Of course, this was closely related to the guidance of Liu Xuanling. Since Liu Xuanling had returned from her master, she would occasionally summon Qin Feng to give him some pointers; that was the real reason he could merge with his Lifebound Spiritual Beast so quickly. Without Liu Xuanling¡¯s guidance, according to his original pace, it would have taken him at least another year to achieve this step. After merging with the Ruyi Golden Snake, Qin Feng¡¯s body did not change much, except for a pair of sharp, knife-like wings on his back and a layer of nearly invisible golden scales on his body. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï???.§ã¦Ï He secretly felt relieved; thankfully, he did not look bizarre after the merge. Many disciples of the Beast Taming Sect underwent significant changes in appearance after merging with their Spiritual Beasts. For example, Yan Zhongli, each time he merged with his Lifebound Divine Ape, would turn into a ten-zhang-tall humanoid giant ape. Although immensely powerful, it was not very aesthetically pleasing. It was only because his transformed form was covered in long fur; otherwise, some indecent parts might have been exposed to public view. Each disciple of the Beast Taming Sect, due to different cultivations and fortuities, would take on varied appearances after merging with their Lifebound Spiritual Beasts. Even if they refined the same Spiritual Beast, the appearance after merging could differ; however, they usually displayed the strongest attribute of their Lifebound Spiritual Beast. Since the Ruyi Golden Snake had a pair of sharp, incomparable golden thin wings, Qin Feng also had this most striking feature after transforming. Moreover, the power within the Ruyi Golden Snake was far stronger and more profound than his True Yuan, only a step away from reaching Foundation Establishment. Now merged, their combined powers gave him a sense of immense strength. What truly delighted Qin Feng was the Innate Divine Ability of the Ruyi Golden Snake, Ruyi Golden Light. The Golden Light was like water, shifting as desired, yet it was also sharply revealing, its spirit compelling. He tried to manipulate the Ruyi Golden Light, blowing out a breath. The breath shimmered with a golden glow, swiftly flying a zhang away. It circled around the tea cup on the case table seven or eight times before flying back. Qin Feng stretched out his finger, and the swipe of golden light twined around his hand, changing unpredictably with his thoughts. At times, it transformed into an exquisite ring, and at others, it took the forms of various weapons like knives, spears, swords, and halberds. After playing for a moment, the golden light dispersed from his hand, seeping into his body, and disappeared. He waved his hand slightly, and the tea cup on the nearby case table tipped over with a clatter, having already been sliced into seven or eight rings by the golden light, with only the base of the cup remaining in its original place. Qin Feng felt satisfied. The Ruyi Golden Snake truly lived up to its reputation as an Ancient Mutant Species; its Ruyi Golden Light, in terms of sharpness, matched that of a Spiritual Artifact Level Flying Sword. This was within reason¡ªthe attack power of Gold Element Demon Beasts was extremely powerful. Like the Golden Winged Great Peng, it was among the elite, with an attack power so formidable it was horrifying to hear. ¡°I don¡¯t know if there are any Elders in the sect who have the Golden Winged Great Peng as their Lifebound Spiritual Beast, but if there are, then their strength must be fearsomely strong.¡± Just as Qin Feng was contemplating how to cultivate his Lifebound Spiritual Beast, he suddenly heard a knocking sound from outside. Sweeping his Divine Sense, he ascertained the visitor was none other than Ma Jiu. With a flash of Golden Light, Qin Feng deactivated the Merge State, and the Ruyi Golden Snake reverted to its original form, coiling around his wrist again like a golden snake-shaped bracelet. He got up, opened the courtyard door, and welcomed Ma Jiu inside. ¡°Senior Brother is a rare visitor, what made you think of coming over today?¡± ¡°Ha ha¡­¡± Ma Jiu laughed heartily, ¡°Unlike you, Junior Brother, I am not so leisurely. I¡¯ve been running around gathering resources for Foundation Establishment.¡± As he spoke, he sensed Qin Feng¡¯s aura and couldn¡¯t help but be a bit shocked. He remembered the first time he met Qin Feng in the Foreign Affairs Hall several months ago, the kid had just entered the Late Stage of Qi Refinement, but now his progress was unexpectedly rapid, almost reaching the ninth level of Qi Refinement. It seemed those disciples from the Spiritual Snake Peak were right; this kid really might catch the eye of Peak Master Liu and be taken in for cultivation. Otherwise, how could he have improved so quickly? Ma Jiu wasn¡¯t aware of the details but assumed that Qin Feng had caught the eye of Liu Xuanling, which accounted for his rapid progress. However, this situation was common in each peak. For some talented disciples, the Elders would invest more effort into their cultivation. Otherwise, if they failed to secure a spot in the Inner Sect during the sect competition, it would be a shameful reflection on the Elders. Ma Jiu himself had started with a low cultivation base when he first joined, spending several years in the Outer Sect before gradually building his cultivation level and earning resources through various missions to achieve his current realm. He always felt that his starting point was too low; otherwise, he might have been highly regarded by the Elders of the Sky Wolf Peak. Shaking his head to dismiss those chaotic thoughts, Ma Jiu said, ¡°I found a mission in the Foreign Affairs Hall that could earn us a large sum; I think you are quite suitable for it. How about it, do you want to join me and make a fortune?¡± Qin Feng, curious, asked, ¡°Senior Brother, don¡¯t you always prefer to work with newcomers? Why did you think of me this time?¡± Ma Jiu chuckled, his face showing no embarrassment, ¡°Working with others is for completing missions to gather resources, not for sending them to their deaths. Usually, I only seek out new disciples when I am confident in the mission, otherwise if the disciples who accompany me keep dying, not only will nobody want to work with me in the future, but the sect might even investigate me to determine if I am deliberately sabotaging fellow disciples. This mission cannot be handled by myself; it requires teamwork, and since it is somewhat dangerous, I can¡¯t afford to send newcomers to their deaths. Didn¡¯t I think of you, Junior Brother, because you are notably capable?¡± Qin Feng reflected for a moment and then declined politely, ¡°Junior Brother has been engrossed in cultivation recently and has no interest in taking on missions.¡± His cultivation had advanced rapidly lately; he was planning to focus on cultivation for a while to break through the ninth level of Qi Refinement and, naturally, did not want to be distracted by trivial matters. Ma Jiu was not discouraged and smiled, ¡°In cultivation, we should avoid becoming blindly obsessed; a balance between tension and relaxation is the Righteous Path. Junior Brother Qin, you haven¡¯t been cultivating for long. While you¡¯re young, you should participate in more missions outside to broaden your experience and insight¡ªit will benefit your future cultivation. Otherwise, if you become like those old cultivators who spend all year in the mountains, grinding away at cultivation from a young age, over the years, you¡¯ll grow accustomed to that life, lose your edge, and become as dismal as those old cultivators. That is not desirable. Young people should act like young people. If you don¡¯t dare to venture out now, are you going to wait till you are old to struggle? By then, you might have lost the courage for a desperate fight, becoming mediocre, just like the majority of Outer Disciples in the Sect, wishing for nothing more than a peaceful life under the sect¡¯s protection.¡± Qin Feng chuckled lightly, not expecting this guy to be quite the persuader. Normally, a young person might get hot-blooded by such talk. Although he was not as easily impulsive as most youths, he acknowledged that Ma Jiu had a point. If he developed a mindset only focused on seclusion and cultivation at the Mountain Gate, never undertaking a mission throughout the year, he might indeed lose his sharpness. Cultivation was not a race against time; hence, he decided to go along with Ma Jiu, to see the world outside and gain some experience. Chapter 119 - Chapter 119: Chapter 117 Undying Heavenly Silkworm Chapter 119: Chapter 117 Undying Heavenly Silkworm ¡°Senior Brother, what task has caught your interest this time?¡± Qin Feng asked. Upon hearing this, Ma Jiu was overjoyed, ¡°I knew a genius like Junior Brother Qin would not be content with just mediocrity in the Mountain Gate Cultivation.¡± Qin Feng was noncommittal to his words. He was well aware of whether he was a genius or not; although his aptitude was decent, it was only above average. Compared to those cultivation geniuses, he still had a long way to go. It was only because he possessed the Demon Refining Pot that he had been able to attain his current realm. Otherwise, it would have taken him ten or eight years to achieve this level of cultivation. Ma Jiu, seeing him like this, took him for a steady person and silently praised him, then continued, ¡°This task is somewhat special. Several months ago, Nanyue Country had already reported to the Sect about the sighting of Demon Sect Cultists. At the time, the Sect sent some people there to eliminate those Demon Cultivators, thinking it would calm things down for a while, but it wasn¡¯t long before a new group of Demon Sect Disciples emerged. And the later group of Demon Cultivators was even more brutal, not only did they massively mislead the people and gathered many followers of the Demon God, but they also went around killing and causing trouble, creating many disasters.¡± ¡°Demon Sect Disciples?¡± Qin Feng frowned upon hearing this. If one could say that Taiyi Mountain Golden Light Cave and their Beast Taming Sect were archenemies, only just mutually hostile, then the Demon Sect was the common enemy of all Righteous Path Cultivators, and everyone was justified in killing them. This was not only because the Demon Sect¡¯s cultivation philosophy eradicated human nature but also because the Demon Sect was inherited from those traitors who had allied with the Demon Clan during the Ancient Great Tribulation, even now, these people were trying every means to communicate with the outer realms, attempting to contact the Demon King of the Heavenly Demon Realm once again. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í??.?0 It was only because the Demon Sect was elusive and good at hiding, rarely caught by anyone, otherwise they would have been exterminated by countless Righteous Path Sects long ago. However, those guys would stir trouble whenever they had the chance, causing panic and chaos everywhere. ¡°People from the Demon Sect are not easy to deal with; they are sly and venomous, their methods unpredictable and strange, it¡¯s easy to fall into their traps, this task is not an easy one!¡± Qin Feng was somewhat hesitant, ¡°The key point is they dare to preach openly, they must have something to rely on; just the two of us undertaking this task seems inappropriate.¡± ¡°Junior Brother Qin is right to be cautious, but you don¡¯t need to worry too much.¡± Ma Jiu smiled, ¡°According to the intelligence given by Nanyue Country, the group of Demon Cultivators that surfaced later on are mostly not very strong, many are just beginners in cultivation, it¡¯s just that they suddenly grew rapidly and misled too many followers, which led to this repeated call for help. Moreover, the Sect also thinks there might be another reason for such frequent appearances of the Demon Sect, so not only did they issue the task at the Foreign Affairs Hall, they also specifically sent two Golden Core Elders to oversee; besides Elder Gu Qinghan from Spirit Turtle Peak who volunteered, your Elder Yin Qi from Spiritual Snake Peak will also go along. Also, because the Demon Cultivators are wreaking havoc over a wide area, just those two Golden Core Elders won¡¯t be enough, so a large number of ordinary disciples need to join in the search and investigation. Besides you and me, at least a dozen Foundation Establishment Disciples and over a hundred Qi Refining Realm Cultivators will be mobilized.¡± ¡°That many?¡± Qin Feng was somewhat surprised. ¡°No way around it, those Demon Cultivators have already spread across two counties; we can¡¯t manage with fewer people. Moreover, Junior Brother might not know, exterminating Demon Sect Cultists has always been a high-income and high-return task; the head of each Demon Sect Cultist is worth quite a few Spirit Stones. Hence, for tasks like this large-scale roundup of Demon Sect Disciples, truly experienced disciples would vie for it. I won¡¯t lie, I¡¯ve been in Qi Refining Perfection for two years, always consolidating my cultivation and saving resources. Now, I feel I¡¯m not far from advancing to Foundation Establishment. I planned to earn a good sum this time and advance to Foundation Establishment together with my Lifebound Spiritual Beast. It¡¯s just that those Demon Cultivators¡¯ methods are so unpredictable, I was worried about falling into their tricks during the fights, so I wanted to find a reliable partner.¡± Ma Jiu asked with a chuckle, ¡°What do you say, how about joining me on this trip, you know me, I generally don¡¯t take on tasks without a lucrative upside. The Foreign Affairs Hall has already announced the rewards for this task: the head of an Early Stage Qi Refinement demon cultivator is worth fifty Spirit Stones, Mid-Stage is one hundred, Late Stage is two hundred. With you and me joining forces, finding just one gathering place of the Demon Cultivators, making a big profit would be hard to avoid.¡± ¡°Oh?¡± Upon hearing this, Qin Feng was immediately tempted; no wonder those experienced elder disciples chose such tasks, the rewards were indeed generous. Moreover, those Demon Cultivators who misled the common people were actually not of high cultivation; the truly profound Demon Cultivators would never stoop to do such degrading tasks personally. Hence dealing with those generally weak Demon Cultivators wouldn¡¯t be difficult. Together with Ma Jiu, if they took down a few lairs of the Demon Cultivators, earning a few thousand Spirit Stones was certainly feasible. Although he still had quite a few resources on him, he couldn¡¯t even afford to buy a Spiritual Beast with powerful potential, so naturally, he was not willing to miss this opportunity to earn Spirit Stones. Moreover, he had already cultivated to the point where he could merge with the Ruyi Golden Snake, his war power skyrocketing. Even if he encountered a Foundation Establishment Cultivator, he had the strength to fight back. Plus, with Ma Jiu who also possessed considerable combat prowess, as long as they were careful not to fall into an ambush by several Demon Cultivators at the Foundation Establishment level, there would be no problems. With this in mind, he nodded. ¡°Alright, then I¡¯ll go with Senior Brother.¡± ¡°Junior Brother is straightforward.¡± Ma Jiu laughed heartily. ¡°In that case, we should hurry. Otherwise, if we are late and others take up the mission, we¡¯ll miss the opportunity.¡± Qin Feng nodded, not wasting any words, and followed Ma Jiu out the door, heading straight for the Foreign Affairs Hall. This is the advantage of Cultivators, everyone has a Storage Bag and there¡¯s nothing much to pack, making it extremely convenient to travel. Upon arriving at the Foreign Affairs Hall, the two received a mission to besiege Demon Sect Cultists. The disciple handling their mission advised, ¡°Don¡¯t go far; just wait outside the hall for a bit. The group is almost complete, and soon, two Elders will come and lead you to Nanyue Country.¡± ¡°Alright, thank you for the heads up, Senior Brother.¡± Both of them replied and then went to sit at the edge of the square to wait. Half an hour later, a Flying Boat arrived in the distant sky and landed on the square. Qin Feng recognized it; this seemed to be Elder Yin Qi¡¯s Flying Boat, which the disciples from Spiritual Snake Peak had taken when they went to Mist Swamp for trials. Shortly after, an exceptionally graceful figure flew towards the Flying Boat and landed on its deck. Ma Jiu elbowed Qin Feng and whispered, ¡°That, is Elder Gu Qinghan of Spirit Turtle Peak.¡± Qin Feng was momentarily stunned; he had never expected Elder Gu Qinghan of Spirit Turtle Peak to be such a charming and graceful woman. He could hardly imagine what this beautiful Fairy would look like if she merged with her Lifebound Spiritual Beast. If she ended up with a huge turtle shell on her back, that would really be an image spoiler. At that moment, the Deacon Disciple from the Foreign Affairs Hall came out to gather everyone, telling them to hurry onto the Flying Boat to head towards Nanyue Country. Qin Feng and Ma Jiu were in no rush. They waited until almost everyone was aboard before leaping onto the Flying Boat. Once aboard, they immediately noticed a stunningly handsome youth in exquisite garments standing a few steps away by the railing, nonchalantly gazing at the distant view, a hand casually held behind his back. With just one glance at his flawless profile, Qin Feng recognized him as Kong Xuan from Mystic Bird Peak. ¡°This guy is here too.¡± Qin Feng was somewhat surprised. ¡°Not just him but also Wei Yan from Heavenly Silkworm Peak and Ma Xingkong from Heavenly Horse Peak.¡± Ma Jiu was also surprised. ¡°It¡¯s rare; how come all these guys are here?¡± Knowing Qin Feng wasn¡¯t acquainted with many people, he pointed toward a young cultivator nearby who maintained a stern face, and explained, ¡°That¡¯s Wei Yan, the prodigy of Heavenly Silkworm Peak. By the end of the year, during the Outer Gate¡¯s grand competition, he¡¯s definitely entering the Inner Sect. This guy originally had an ordinary background, but by a twist of fate, he obtained an Undying Heavenly Silkworm. His luck is truly against the heavens.¡± Hearing this, Qin Feng couldn¡¯t help but feel envious. The Undying Heavenly Silkworm was absolutely top among all Spiritual Silkworms, undergoing nine life-and-death transformations to become a True Immortal. With such a fortuitous encounter, Wei Yan¡¯s future was almost foreseeable. In a few years, he would surely become one of the pillars of the Beast Taming Sect. ¡°That one over there, circling around the female disciples with a long face, that¡¯s Ma Xingkong from Heavenly Horse Peak. He is also from one of the nine major affiliated families of the Beast Taming Sect, the Ma Family¡¯s direct-line eldest grandson. In terms of status, he is not much lesser than Kong Xuan. However, he likes to flirt and mess around with Female Cultivators on usual days, so he doesn¡¯t enjoy a very good reputation.¡± Qin Feng followed the direction of Ma Jiu¡¯s pointing finger and was taken aback. It wasn¡¯t that the guy dressed in white pretending to be lofty, who actually exuded a roguish aura all over, had anything wrong. Instead, he recognized among the female cultivators being pestered, there was his own little cousin, Qin Xi. Chapter 120 - Chapter 120: Chapter 118: Oblivious Young Master Ma (Please Subscribe) Chapter 120: Chapter 118: Oblivious Young Master Ma (Please Subscribe) Ma Jiu saw that Qin Feng¡¯s expression seemed somewhat off and turned his head for a closer look, immediately recognizing Qin Xi and couldn¡¯t help but be startled as well. Qin Feng, from a distance, saw a hint of impatience on Qin Xi¡¯s face, so he quickly walked over. Ma Jiu sighed softly to himself. Although he did not wish to start any disputes with Ma Xingkong, Qin Feng had been invited by him, and he couldn¡¯t just ignore the situation, so he reluctantly shrugged his shoulders and followed. The two reached them, and Qin Feng called out from a few steps away, ¡°Sister Xiaoxi, how come you also took on this task?¡± As he spoke, he approached, seemingly not noticing Ma Xingkong at all, and directly stepped in between Ma Xingkong and Qin Xi. ¡°Afeng, have you taken on this mission as well?¡± Qin Xi looked at Qin Feng with some surprise and felt reassured by his arrival. ¡°Yes, Senior Brother Ma Jiu invited me. I thought hunting demon cultivators might be dangerous, so I didn¡¯t call you. I didn¡¯t expect you to be here.¡± Qin Feng indeed knew that she had recently advanced to the late stage of Qi Refinement and had planned to undertake some missions with Qin Xi once his own cultivation improved a bit more so that she could gain some experience. He did not expect her to be so bold as to even accept a task to battle against Demon Sect disciples. ¡°We came with Senior Sister.¡± Qin Xi pointed to a gentle-looking female cultivator next to her and said, ¡°This is Senior Sister An Ruhui, and Senior Sister An is quite formidable.¡± Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í?0.§ã¦Ï ¡°Nice to meet you, Senior Sister An.¡± Qin Feng politely greeted the woman, ¡°We¡¯ll have to trouble Senior Sister to take good care of my cousin during this mission.¡± The woman had reached Foundation Establishment, and while he couldn¡¯t discern the depth of her cultivation, he could faintly sense the power emanating from her, not to be underestimated. An Ruhui smiled softly, ¡°Junior Brother Qin, you¡¯re too courteous. Since Xiaoxi and I come from the same peak, it¡¯s only right to look out for each other.¡± Qin Xi then pulled over a girl who looked a year or two younger than herself and said, ¡°This is Junior Sister Wen Qing¡¯er.¡± Qin Feng remembered her as the girl who took care of the Spiritual Deer that he had met at the valley entrance the first time he went to find Qin Xi. Wen Qing¡¯er, with her sparkly large eyes, looked at Qin Feng and giggled, ¡°Senior Brother Qin, we met last year when you came to Creation Peak to find Senior Sister.¡± ¡°Right, I have to thank Junior Sister for pointing the way back then.¡± Qin Feng nodded politely at her. ¡°Afeng, why don¡¯t you join us? With Senior Sister An taking care of us, there definitely won¡¯t be any trouble.¡± Qin Xi extended the invitation. She felt that Senior Sister An Ruhui was very capable, and if Qin Feng joined them for the mission, he would certainly be much safer. ¡°That¡¯s¡­¡± Qin Feng hesitated and said, ¡°I came out here with Senior Brother Ma Jiu, it wouldn¡¯t be right to leave him.¡± ¡°No problem, then let¡¯s have Senior Brother Ma Jiu come over as well.¡± Wen Qing¡¯er¡¯s face was full of innocence, and she didn¡¯t seem too concerned about the amount of resources that might be obtained during the mission. ¡°Count me in, count me in.¡± Before Qin Feng could open his mouth to speak, Ma Xingkong had already been looking on enviously and quickly squeezed past Ma Jiu, shamelessly moving closer, ¡°We¡¯re all from the same sect, looking out for one another is only right. Senior Sister An and the two Junior Sisters rest assured, with me, Ma Xingkong here, I definitely won¡¯t let those Demon Sect villains harm you.¡± ¡°Hmph.¡± Wen Qing¡¯er, the young girl, wrinkled her nose and pouted as she spoke, ¡°We were inviting Senior Brother Qin, what does it have to do with you? You¡¯re such a slick talker, one glance and anyone can tell you¡¯re not a good person. There are so many fellow disciples on the flying boat you could join, so why insist on swarming around us?¡± Ma Xingkong¡¯s face was not only long, but his skin was also quite thick, utterly unmoved by Wen Qing¡¯er¡¯s accusation of him being a slick talker. However, when his small eyes passed over Ma Jiu, he suddenly felt indignant. That guy called Qin Feng might be barely presentable, with about a third of his own handsomeness. But what was good about Ma Jiu? Not remotely as handsome or dashing as himself, nor necessarily more advanced in cultivation; even such an ugly guy could be invited by the disciples of Creation Peak, he absolutely could not lose to such a person. Ma Xingkong, considering himself the second-handsomest man of the Beast Taming Sect (self-proclaimed), absolutely could not accept the humiliation of defeat. If he lost to Kong Xuan, whose looks he grudgingly admitted were slightly better than his own, that would be one thing, but compared to Ma Jiu, there was simply no contest in terms of looks. If someone were to say in the future that he was less popular with the female disciples than a pock-marked face, that wouldn¡¯t just be embarrassing for him, but, more importantly, how could he face continuing to mix in the flowerbeds? So, this guy started to make a nuisance of himself with his thick skin, pestering incessantly to hang out with them. An Ruhui knew of Ma Xingkong¡¯s identity, and although she somewhat disdained him, it wasn¡¯t appropriate to tell him to leave, so she could only helplessly let her Junior Sister Wen Qing¡¯er full of disdain argue with him. ¡°Haha, please go ahead, Senior Brothers.¡± When Wen Qing¡¯er, puffing with anger, turned her back to ignore him, Ma Xingkong finally smiled and, with a cupped fist salute toward Qin Feng and Ma Jiu, said, ¡°My name is Ma Xingkong, a disciple from Heavenly Horse Peak. May I know how to address you two?¡± Qin Feng turned his head and glanced at Ma Xingkong. This guy had a pair of small eyes, a bulbous nose, paired with his long face, he was certainly distinctive. No wonder he merged with his Heavenly Horse early on; the fittingness of his face was simply too high. Aside from his unforgettable facial features, there was still something about this guy that was not ordinary. Even after being so disliked by Wen Qing¡¯er, he was still able to talk calmly without blushing. But by now, he noticed that although this person might talk big, he had not actually disrespected the female disciples in any critical way, nor had he been handsy. It seemed that Ma Xingkong was quite different from entitled heirs like Zhao Jinglei. And indeed, although Heavenly Horse Peak ranked only midway among the 108 Outer Peaks, it had its unique aspects. Especially Ma Xingkong. It was said that his Lifebound Spiritual Beast was a Heavenly Horse, not only was it extremely fast in running and flying, but it also had some special abilities. Given the circumstances, if this guy wanted to follow, then let him. Howsoever, he must be a Direct Lineage of the Ma Family. He definitely had many treasures to save his own life. If danger was encountered on this trip, it would surely be useful to have him handy to fend off an attack or two. Thinking up to here, Qin Feng smiled slightly, ¡°Senior Brother Ma is too polite. I am a disciple of Spiritual Snake Peak, Qin Feng, and this is Senior Brother Ma Jiu from Sky Wolf Peak. It¡¯s inevitable that we¡¯ll face some dangers when we¡¯re rounding up the Demon Sect villains, and Senior Brother Ma¡¯s profound cultivation will surely be a great help. We must ask you to take good care of us then.¡± ¡°Not at all, Junior Brother, you¡¯re too kind.¡± Ma Xingkong, seeing that Qin Feng didn¡¯t exclude him, was instantly overjoyed, ¡°You must be Junior Sister Qin¡¯s cousin, right? Don¡¯t worry, with me here, I¡¯ll ensure you siblings remain safe and sound.¡± Qin Feng¡¯s mouth twitched, a sudden urge to hit someone surging within him. No wonder he was so unpopular among the female cultivators of the sect; this guy simply couldn¡¯t keep away from mentioning women in his conversation. Chapter 121 - Chapter 121: Chapter 119: Where is the Promised Cunning and Slyness? Chapter 121: Chapter 119: Where is the Promised Cunning and Slyness? The flying boat, swift as an arrow, traversed the clouds, and after two days, they finally arrived within the territory of Nanyue Country. Nanyue Country was situated thousands of miles away from the Beast Taming Sect¡¯s Mountain Gate at Manghuang Mountain, which could be considered an outer region of the Beast Taming Sect¡¯s influence. This area was also where the disputes between the Beast Taming Sect and the Giant Spirit Sect were most frequent. Beyond Nanyue Country to the west lay the core territory of the Giant Spirit Sect. This time, the two Commanderies that had suffered incidents were under the influence of the Beast Taming Sect, so the Giant Spirit Sect¡¯s people didn¡¯t bother coming as they wouldn¡¯t want to help the Beast Taming Sect without cause. The flying boat gradually descended onto the deck. Elder Yin Qi and Gu Qinghan emerged from the cabin, and the disciples promptly rose to greet them. ¡°It troubles everyone this time.¡± Gu Qinghan was originally from Nanyue Country, which was why she took the initiative to come and handle the matters here. ¡°Nowadays, the Demon Path is increasingly wreaking havoc in Nanyue, slaughtering the common people. We of the righteous sects naturally cannot stand idly by. This time, Elder Yin Qi and I have come personally to resolve this matter thoroughly. However, our energies are limited after all. With such a large area, we must rely on everyone to seek out the nests of those demon cultivators. Relying solely on Elder Yin Qi and myself, it would be difficult to capture all the demon cultivators. We need our fellow sect members to exert their efforts to prevent more innocent lives from being slaughtered.¡± Her tall figure paired with a soft voice: ¡°Of course, if you encounter an impossible-to-defeat demon, don¡¯t try to be brave, activate the Communication Spirit Talisman immediately. Elder Yin and I will come to assist as quickly as possible.¡± Compared to Gu Qinghan¡¯s gentle words, Elder Yin Qi was much more straightforward. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ??¦Í??.§ã¦Ï After she finished, Elder Yin Qi stepped forward, his gaze sweeping icily over everyone, and he coldly said, ¡°Whenever you encounter a fiend from the Demon Sect, exert your utmost to eliminate them completely.¡± The murderous tone in his voice sent chills down everyone¡¯s spine, making one wonder how much accumulated resentment the elder held. ¡°I know many of you are out on a mission for the first time. Since there are others around to cover you, go ahead. Just remember, the people of the Demon Path are exceedingly cunning and deceptive, especially ruthless in combat, and very skilled at disguise, impersonating others. Be cautious. Don¡¯t be deceived by the Demon Sect¡¯s tricks; if you get too close and are caught by surprise, you will simply lose your life in vain.¡± ¡°Thank you, Elder, for the guidance.¡± The crowd respectfully expressed their gratitude. Elder Yin Qi was indifferent and merely signaled for the dozen Foundation Establishment cultivators to prepare the Qi Refining Realm cultivators for action. Due to Qin Xi¡¯s relationship, Qin Feng and Ma Jiu chose to follow closely with An Ruhui, along with Young Master Ma, who had thick-skinnedly tagged along. The group of six rode their respective flying spirit beasts, heading towards Qingyang City, which was assigned to them. The other people¡¯s flying spirit beasts were mostly various birds, and the mounts of An Ruhui and Wen Qing¡¯er were especially beautiful spiritual birds. Ma Xingkong, however, was different¡ªhis mount was a majestic Heavenly Horse. This Heavenly Horse had wings on its back, its entire body snow-white without a speck of color. Its narrow horse face actually matched Ma Xingkong quite well. However, this Heavenly Horse did truly move swiftly, showing no signs of urgency as it galloped through the air like a leisurely trot, its wings flickering from time to time, keeping them steadily by everyone¡¯s side without falling behind. Qingyang City was a small city named for its location at the foot of Qingyang Mountain. They landed a good distance outside of Qingyang City to prevent being detected by the Demon Sect disciples, who might set an ambush to encircle and attack them. ¡°There used to be a cultivator family on Qingyang Mountain. Unfortunately, during the last uprising of the Demon Sect, the cultivator family¡¯s residence was breached by the Demon Sect disciples who slew everyone.¡± An Ruhui sighed lightly, then continued, ¡°Let¡¯s first head into Qingyang City to see if we can find any traces of demon cultivators. If not, we will look elsewhere. Demon cultivators are malicious; it¡¯s best not to act alone or you might easily become their target for a sneak attack and ambush.¡± ¡°You are right, senior sister.¡± Ma Xingkong nodded repeatedly, heavily flattering her. The others had no objections. When facing demon cultivators, it indeed warranted extra caution. However, as they entered the city, they immediately saw something nearly shattering their worldview. They saw a few Demon Sect disciples, with faint demonic Qi emanating from them, openly promoting the benefits of joining the Demon Sect and heavily persuading the public. Even more boldly, upon spotting the group, they did not run but instead blocked their way and urged them to join the Demon Sect and worship the Demon God. Qin Feng and the others were stunned by this development. What the hell was going on? Since when had the Demon Sect disciples dared to openly preach in the territory of the Beast Taming Sect? And more importantly, they even tried to recruit disciples of the Beast Taming Sect. Crazy, right? They stared at the few Demon Sect disciples in front of them, grinning widely and persuading fervently, feeling an absurd and bizarre sensation rising in their hearts. For a moment, Qin Feng even felt that these guys resembled the ruffians who peddled the Golden Spear Undying Pills outside Baihua Pavilion. The tone, the expression, the way of speaking, it was exactly the same. Of course, he had never bought such pills. With his physique, he didn¡¯t need that kind of thing. But where were the promised cunning and deceit? Where were the ruthless tactics of poisoning, ambushing, and backstabbing? Could it be that their movements had already been exposed under the eyes of the Demon Cultivators, and these were plotting against them? However, observing the expressions on the faces of the others, that didn¡¯t seem to be the case; the few had very serious expressions, as if they were genuinely preaching some doctrine. They wondered if these people had not recognized them as cultivators. Although they had already swapped their Beast Taming Sect¡¯s standard magic robes for ordinary clothes to avoid prematurely attracting the attention of the Demon Cultivators, they had not deliberately concealed their cultivator aura. Or was it that the other party didn¡¯t care whether they were cultivators, and anyone who joined the Demon Sect could be considered one of their own? ¡°Ahem.¡± Qin Feng coughed lightly, forcibly suppressing the urge deep within him to just kill these few Demon Cultivators, and asked, ¡°Are you truly cultivators of the Holy Sect?¡± ¡°Of course.¡± The leader, a skinny man shaped like a big monkey, said proudly, ¡°You can ask around on the streets of Qingyang City. Who doesn¡¯t know the reputation of Hou San; could I possibly deceive you?¡± ¡°What are the benefits of joining your Holy Sect?¡± Qin Feng asked further. ¡°Benefits, ha, take a look!¡± As he spoke, immense Demonic Qi fluctuated violently from the skinny man¡¯s body, and then a clump of crimson flames appeared in his hand. Although the flames were only the size of a fist, they contained an extremely violent power and an aura that seemed to want to burn all life in the world. Qin Feng and the others carefully sensed the power of the flames in the opponent¡¯s hand and frowned slightly. This Hou San¡¯s power was ordinary, at most equivalent to around the third or fourth level of the Qi Refining Realm, but the power of these flames was no small matter. ¡°In the past, Tiger Boss from West Street often bullied us, but since last month, my brothers and I joined the Divine Sect. By sacrificing to the Demon God, we quickly received the power bestowed by the Demon God and took care of Tiger Boss, driving him to the brink of death.¡± Hou San chuckled, his tone filled with pride and arrogance. Qin Feng and his group were shocked upon hearing this. These few had only joined the Demon Sect a month ago and were already capable of wielding such mighty power; this was truly astonishing. Even though there were many rapid cultivation techniques within the Demon Sect, it shouldn¡¯t be so far-fetched. This was much faster than the cultivation speed of disciples on the Righteous Path. Wait, something was off. This man had just said that the power in their bodies was bestowed by the Demon God. That means their power wasn¡¯t attained through their own cultivation but rather was an external force. The group exchanged looks, no wonder they all felt something was off about the aura of Skinny and the others; they didn¡¯t even bother to conceal their aura, as their power had indeed been forcefully infused into their bodies. Qin Feng¡¯s face showed a hint of interest as he asked, ¡°So, by believing in the Demon God, one can gain power and become a cultivator?¡± ¡°Of course not.¡± The skinny man continued, ¡°To receive power bestowed by the Demon God, you must provide enough sacrifices. Without sacrifices, do you think you can just reap the benefits without making any contributions?¡± Chapter 122 - Chapter 122: Chapter 120 Demon God Statue Chapter 122: Chapter 120 Demon God Statue ¡°This is no problem, brother here still has some valuables on him. I¡¯ll just go to the butcher¡¯s and buy a few pig heads¡­¡± Before Qin Feng could finish his sentence, he was interrupted by the laughter of Skinny and the others. ¡°Ha ha ha, that kills me.¡± After laughing and holding his belly for a moment, Hou San finally said, ¡°What are you thinking? Does the Demon God lack those few pieces of pig head meat? The offerings needed for the Demon God are¡­¡± He suddenly stopped mid-sentence, squinted his eyes, and glanced over the three women behind Qin Feng. His gaze finally settled on An Ruhui, as he felt she was the most pleasant to look at. Then, he leaned in close to Qin Feng and asked quietly, ¡°Who are these girls to you?¡± Qin Feng glanced at him and replied, ¡°They¡¯re my cousins.¡± ¡°One family, huh? That makes things easier.¡± Hou San said, ¡°Kid, if you want to join our sect and receive the powers bestowed by the Demon God, you can¡¯t expect to contribute nothing, right?¡± ¡°What do you want?¡± ¡°Heh heh, I want her!¡± Saying this, Hou San pointed a finger at An Ruhui. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í?0.?0 ¡°This¡­¡± Qin Feng had originally planned to play along with this guy, to get him to take himself and the others to the place where the Demon God was worshipped, but before he could put his plan into words, Ma Xingkong couldn¡¯t hold back anymore. With a bound, the man jumped out, ¡°You cur, looking for a beating? Can¡¯t you just pee and look at your own reflection? A beauty like Senior Sister An is not something someone of your sort can covet.¡± The women Young Master Ma set his eyes on were not for such lowlifes to plan on. However, his words instantly enraged Hou San, who hated most of all when others made fun of his looks. But when he got a good look at Ma Xingkong¡¯s face, he couldn¡¯t help but snicker, ¡°Kid, Marquis might not have the best looks, but that doesn¡¯t give you the right to mock me! Did you even take a look at yourself before you had the gall to criticize my appearance?¡± Ma Xing heard this and instantly became furious, ¡°Dead monkey, what do you mean, are you saying I¡¯m ugly?¡± ¡°Kid, ever since I, the Marquis, received the power bestowed by the Demon God, no one in Qingyang City has dared talk to me like that. Are you looking for death?¡± As he spoke, several wisps of black qi appeared around Hou San, and a hint of red fire emerged in his hands. Qin Feng quickly grabbed Ma Xingkong to prevent Young Master Ma from slapping Skinny dead in a fit of rage. He spoke to Hou San, ¡°Big brother, please calm your anger. My brother here did not intend to pick a fight with you. As you can see, my cousin is quite beautiful; it¡¯s natural for others to fall in love. Young Master Ma is one of them. But matters of men and women require the consent of parents and matchmakers. Brother, if you wish to marry my cousin, it would at least need the approval of our elders, right? Of course, with your abilities, brother, I doubt any family would refuse a young and promising individual like you. How about this? If you can bring me into the sect, then I will introduce our elders to you, how¡¯s that sound? After all, our family elders are not far from here, so meeting up is quite convenient.¡± Qin Feng wore a broad smile, wondering if this guy would still dare to be so presumptuous after meeting Elder Yin Qi. ¡°Uh, you kid, you do have a way with words.¡± Hou San made a show of retracting the flame in his hand and looked disdainfully at Ma Xingkong, snorting coldly, ¡°If it weren¡¯t for the fact that you came here with these ladies, I would have certainly sacrificed you to the Demon God today.¡± These words caused Qin Feng and the others to feel unsettled, realizing that the ¡°sacrifices¡± mentioned by the other party were actually living people. Hou San muttered to himself before saying to Qin Feng, ¡°Since you¡¯re about to become my big brother-in-law, today I¡¯ll take you into the sect. However, that kid won¡¯t do.¡± With these words, he pointed at Ma Xingkong. Upon hearing this, Young Master Ma started to lash out but was kicked discreetly by Wen Qing¡¯er, causing him to quiet down. ¡°Big brother, there¡¯s no need to lower yourself to the level of such a petty person.¡± Qin Feng quickly advised, ¡°In my opinion, big brother might as well take him into the sect too and keep him by your side as a lackey to do all the dirty and tiring work. Wouldn¡¯t that be even more satisfying?¡± ¡°Haha, you¡¯re quite something, kid. Alright, let¡¯s do that. I¡¯ll have him stay by Master Monkey¡¯s side and pour night incense.¡± Hearing this, Hou San nodded repeatedly, feeling that this was not a bad idea. Young Master Ma held back again and again, and ultimately, under the fierce gaze of the young lady Wen Qing¡¯er, he swallowed his anger and did not make a scene on the spot. The group followed Hou San out of the city, coming to a manor a few miles away. Entering the manor, Qin Feng and his companions felt their eyelids twitch uncontrollably. Because there were so many Demon Cultivators here, at a glance, there seemed to be more than a hundred of them. Although they did not unleash their Divine Sense to avoid alarming their quarry, they could vaguely sense that there were many more Demon Cultivators in other areas of the manor. However, most of them were at a level not much different from Hou San¡¯s, just in the Qi Refining Early Stage. There weren¡¯t many in the middle and late stages of Qi Refinement, and each one¡¯s Demonic Qi was prominent, making no attempt to conceal it. Qin Feng and his companions exchanged glances and could not help but frown. They wondered what the Demon God behind these people was thinking to allow them to swagger about openly like this, unafraid of attracting powerful Cultivators who could wipe them out in one fell swoop. Or perhaps, the higher-ups in the Demon Sect were orchestrating some grand conspiracy, deliberately sending out these mediocre Cultivators to wreak havoc and attract the attention of Righteous Path Cultivators, while they carried out some major scheme under the cover of darkness. But these were matters they could not ascertain. After returning, they would report to the two Elders, and they would make the final decision. ¡°Oh wow, Hou San, the goods you¡¯ve brought this time aren¡¯t bad at all!¡± a tall, burly man blocked their path, his eyes ogling greedily over An Ruhui and the other two ladies, ¡°Such beauties would be a waste to sacrifice to the Demon God. How about you give them to me? I¡¯ll exchange them for double the number of people for those three girls, what do you think?¡± ¡°Get lost!¡± Hou San¡¯s face darkened, ¡°They¡¯re my people, not for sacrifice. Yang, I¡¯m telling you, stop having such crooked ideas, otherwise, you won¡¯t be able to handle the consequences.¡± ¡°Humph¡­¡± The tall man huffed coldly, a fierce look flashing across his face, but he did not say anything else and stepped aside to make way. He wasn¡¯t afraid of Hou San; rather, he did not dare stir up trouble here. Hou San led the group into the inner courtyard, heading straight for the main hall. At the entrance of the hall, several individuals with formidable auras stood guard. Inside the hall, which had been arranged to resemble a Divine Temple, a large Demon God Statue was enshrined. The Demon God had a strange appearance, with seven horns on its head and bone spurs on its back, its body covered with fine scales. Out of its wide open mouth protruded sharp fangs, and its eyes conveyed a brutal ferocity as if ready to devour people. ps: Because I accidentally deleted a chapter, I had to rewrite it, which definitely means there are some differences from the original. Also, these two chapters were uploaded in a hurry, so if there are any discrepancies, please point them out. Chapter 123 - Chapter 123: Chapter 121 Arrogant and Domineering Young Master Ma Chapter 123: Chapter 121 Arrogant and Domineering Young Master Ma ¡°Greetings, Hall Master.¡± Hou San asked several people to wait outside while he entered first, paying respects to an elder who appeared to be in his sixties or seventies. The elder hummed faintly, opened his eyes, glanced at him, and asked, ¡°What¡¯s the matter?¡± ¡°Reporting to the Hall Master, I plan to recommend a few people to join the sect. I seek your approval.¡± Hou San was utterly respectful, lacking any of the arrogance he had shown in the city. ¡°Bring them in.¡± The elder spoke, ¡°The more believers we have, the stronger the Divine Power our lord can bring to this world. If you can turn all the residents of Qingyang City into devotees of our lord, you will surely receive even greater rewards.¡± Upon hearing this, a fervent gleam flashed in Hou San¡¯s eyes. Having gone from a street hoodlum to a revered Cultivator overnight, he owed his transformation to the grace of the Demon God, and of course, he hoped for its strength to grow even more potent. He stood up, went outside, and beckoned Qin Feng and the others to follow him in. No sooner had Qin Feng and his companions entered the hall than they felt a sudden tightness in their spirits, as though something unfathomable had set its sights upon them. Yet this sensation was so faint as to be nearly negligible. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?0¦Í?¦Ï.§ã¦Ï However, as disciples of the Beast Taming Sect with Divine Sense far exceeding that of ordinary cultivators, they keenly detected that the feeling originated from the ghastly and fearsome statue of the Demon God in front of them. Probing with their Divine Sense, they found the Demon God statue to be merely carved from ordinary stone with no apparent anomalies on the surface, except for a faint and disconcerting aura at the brow of the statue. They understood that the statue must embody a strand of the Demon God¡¯s Divine Thought, yet this strand was not powerful and lay dormant; otherwise, it wouldn¡¯t have allowed their Divine Sense to enter its statue without any reaction. Having ascertained the nature of the Demon God statue, they all breathed a sigh of relief. It wasn¡¯t an avatar of the Demon God, which was a relief. They withdrew their Divine Sense without alerting the Divine Thought within the Divine Demon statue; such beings were beyond their capability to handle. The group¡¯s gaze then shifted back to the elder, revealing a hint of surprise. This elderly figure appeared frail and decrepit but emitted an incredibly potent aura, almost as strong as that of a mid-stage Foundation Establishment Cultivator. Behind him were two others, an old crone close in age to him and a child of about eight or nine, sound asleep in the crone¡¯s embrace. The child, large-headed and small-bodied with flat brows and a collapsed nose, was grotesque in appearance. Asleep, he seemed to be dreaming of eating, judging by the large patch of drool. Yet, the aura emanating from the child and the crone was also incredibly strong, not much weaker than that of the elder. To think that within this modest estate, there would be three Demon Cultivators with Foundation Establishment Cultivation. ¡°What are you looking at? Kneel down at once.¡± Hou San saw them looking around upon entering and quickly rebuked them, saying, ¡°Show respect; harbor no irreverence in your hearts. When you recite the vow of fealty to the Demon God with the Hall Master later, you must not misspeak a single word. Otherwise, if you incur the punishment of the Demon God, don¡¯t blame me for not warning you.¡± ¡°The punishment of the Demon God?¡± Ma Xingkong looked at him with an amused yet nonchalant gaze. Hou San¡¯s brow furrowed, sensing something odd about this man. However, remembering that this man had come under his recommendation and would be his subordinate, and that this was not the place for his outburst, he disdainfully said, ¡°Just do as you¡¯re told; why ask so many questions? Do you still want to become Cultivators or not? If not, I don¡¯t mind offering you up as a sacrifice to the Demon God.¡± ¡°Offer me as a sacrifice to the Demon God? Heh¡­¡± Ma Xingkong, from seemingly nowhere, produced a folded fan, snapped it open with a flick, fanned himself pretentiously a couple of times, then sneered, ¡°As if you were worthy!¡± ¡°You¡­¡± At this, Hou San burst into a fury, utterly astonished that someone he had brought along dared to be so insolent here. ¡°Fine, fine, fine, Marquis, I kindly offer you a clear path, but you refuse to take it. Since you¡¯re so eager to seek death, I¡¯ll grant your wish,¡± As he spoke, Hou San¡¯s aura surged. He stepped forward, raising his hand towards Ma Xingkong¡¯s neck. He intended to twist this youngster¡¯s head off personally, just as he had done with Tiger Boss, who had once bullied him. Ever since he offered a sacrifice to the Demon God and received an incredibly powerful strength, he considered himself a superior cultivator, no longer regarding ordinary mortals. However, his hand had only stretched out halfway when Ma Xingkong slapped him across the face. ¡°Slap¡­¡± A resounding slap landed on Hou San¡¯s face. Hou San screamed miserably, spun three times in place, spat out several teeth, and then¡ªwith a thud¡ªsmashed against a nearby pillar, collapsing to the ground. ¡°Hmm?¡± Seeing this sudden turn of events, the other Demon Sect cultists in the hall were shocked. Even the elder showed a look of surprise on his face, lifting his head to look over at Ma Xingkong. At this moment, a child who had been soundly asleep was startled awake by the clear sound of the slap. He rubbed his bleary eyes, looked around in confusion, and paid no attention to Hou San groaning on the ground; instead, his eyes lit up when he saw Wen Qing¡¯er. ¡°Grandpa, grandpa, I want her to be my bride,¡± the child tugged eagerly at the elder¡¯s sleeve and cooed. ¡°Good! My dear grandchild is grown up, wanting a bride. Let¡¯s leave her behind to be your little wife,¡± the elder said, indulgingly patting the child¡¯s head, agreeing without hesitation. Hearing this, the old crone scrutinized Wen Qing¡¯er with a critical eye and nodded, ¡°She¡¯s quite pretty and could barely match my Dog Egg, but her buttocks are too small; who knows if she can bear children.¡± These words infuriated Wen Qing¡¯er, making her roll her eyes. Before the young lady could explode, Ma Xingkong stepped forward and aimed a kick at Hou San. ¡°You scoundrel, with your face looking like a split watermelon, you still dare to mock me, Young Master Ma? You truly have a death wish,¡± he said with increasing anger, kicking Hou San with growing force, causing him to cry out in agony. ¡°And you dare to covet the woman that I, Young Master Ma, have taken a liking to; do you think you have the heart of a bear and the courage of a leopard? You even want me, Young Master Ma, to serve you? I¡¯ll knock the ¡®fragrance¡¯ out of you right now,¡± he said, and with a fierce stomp on Hou San¡¯s belly, almost made Hou San vomit his gall. From behind, Wen Qing¡¯er looked at Ma Xingkong with disdain and said to Qin Xi and An Ruhui, ¡°Sister, that guy is really disgusting. Let¡¯s ditch him later and not stay with him any longer.¡± ¡°Uh¡­¡± Ma Xingkong¡¯s movements stiffened, and he quickly stopped his foot, chuckling awkwardly, ¡°I was just saying that; I wouldn¡¯t really do such disgusting things.¡± ¡°Who exactly are you people?¡± The elder frowned and asked, ¡°How dare you cause trouble before the idol of my lord? Do you have a death wish?¡± ¡°Old man, quit your pretense,¡± Young Master Ma was polite to the young lady, but he showed no such courtesy to this old geezer: ¡°You have the audacity to worship a Demon God on the land of Beast Taming Sect; you truly have a death wish. So, what, you want to try to lay a hand on me, Young Master Ma? Hmph, you lot, thinking you¡¯re cultivators just because you have some power that doesn¡¯t belong to you? Even if you all came at me together, I wouldn¡¯t bat an eye at you.¡± Chapter 124 - Chapter 124: Chapter 122: A Curtain of Dreams VS Star Sky Chapter 124: Chapter 122: A Curtain of Dreams VS Star Sky The elder¡¯s face darkened. He was originally just an old farmer from a remote mountain village, never having left the village more than a few times in his life. It was not long ago that he had become a follower of the Demon God, unaware of the renown of the Beast Taming Sect. Moreover, ever since he had started worshipping the Demon God, he had suddenly gained tremendous power through brutal means, along with many subordinates at his beck and call, which inflated his confidence to the utmost. Although he inferred from Ma Xingkong¡¯s words that these young men and women were likely from a Cultivator Sect, he considered himself to have many followers and overwhelming personal strength, so he didn¡¯t take these few individuals seriously. At this moment, hearing Ma Xingkong still daring to speak insolently in front of him, he suddenly bellowed, ¡°I don¡¯t care who you are, come on, take them down for me. Leave that girl for my obedient grandson to marry, the rest, to be sacrificed to the Demon God.¡± ¡°Yes.¡± At the elder¡¯s command, a large group of people inside and outside the hall burst forth with Demonic Qi, rushing towards them with fierce expressions. A few men, bearing sleazy and cruel smiles, directly lunged at An Ruyi and the other Female Cultivators. ¡°Truly courting death.¡± With a collective sigh, they each released their Spiritual Beasts. In an instant, tiger roars and wolf howls, the cries of all sorts of birds and beasts filled the air. The hall, which was originally quite spacious, became overcrowded due to the sudden appearance of a dozen or so Spiritual Beasts. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í?¦Ï.§ã¦Ï Among them were the forms of a massive tiger, giant crocodile, and ferocious bear, as well as relatively smaller creatures like the Green Fox, Ghost-Faced Spider, Lightning Mink, and Fiery Flame Beast. Additionally, there were two Flower Demons. These were released by the two young girls, Qin Xi and Wen Qing¡¯er. One was ¡°Yumei,¡± and the other, ¡°Star Sky.¡± These Flower Demons had been subdued by them during their last trip with the Creation Peak Master to visit Baihua Palace, followed by an excursion into the Baihua Secret Realm. Under Qin Xi¡¯s direction, ¡°Yumei¡± swiftly hung down thousands of vines from the ceiling beams of the great hall; countless flowers emitting a rich fragrance that caused drowsiness. The Demon God Believers, possessing strength but ignorant in any Cultivation methods, were instantly affected, with many of them barely able to keep their eyes open, almost falling into a deep slumber. Wen Qing¡¯er giggled lightly, and with a flick of her hand, ¡°Star Sky¡± sprinkled countless tiny petals. There wasn¡¯t much Killing Power in these petals, but they contained an intense density, enough to disorient the Believers in the hall and confuse their sense of direction. ¡°Ah¡­¡± ¡°Help¡­¡± In a moment, screams of agony rose and fell ceaselessly. These Believers were either common folk or came from the streets. Though they had been granted power above that of normal humans by the sacrifices to the Demon God, they had no knowledge of how to wield it, much less understand the ways of Divine Sense Cultivation. Now, first confounded by the fragrance of ¡°Yumei,¡± then blinded by the obscured vision from ¡°Star Sky,¡± they could only lash out blindly, not only failing to harm the Spiritual Beasts but many also died by the spells of their own allies. And the Spiritual Beasts, unaffected by all this, made the battle swiftly turn into a one-sided slaughter. In just a short time, the Believers in the hall were mostly slain by the dozen Spiritual Beasts. ¡°Worthless!¡± The elder, enraged, abruptly stood up, no longer showing his previously frail old appearance, standing tall with his aura surging. He did not know how these individuals managed to summon so many fearsome Spiritual Beasts, but seeing his subordinates being slaughtered in mere moments filled him with rage he could no longer contain. The old man shrouded in a black aura waved his hand, and blazing Flame Magic erupted, sweeping across a large portion of the hall toward Qin Feng and the others. The spell of Flame Magic he issued carried an incredibly violent aura that incinerated everything in its path, whether it be ¡°Star Sky¡¯s¡± petals or ¡°Yumei¡¯s¡± vines. Even the Tiger Demon released by Ma Xingkong was struck by the flames, howling as it leapt back several yards. Its body surged with Demon Energy as it struggled to extinguish the flames. Seeing this, An Ruhui quickly formed a spell with her hands, her powerful True Yuan generating a Defensive Magic barrier that blocked the fiery onslaught. Qin Xi and Wen Qing¡¯er hurriedly retracted their respective Flower Demons. Wen Qing¡¯er¡¯s ¡°Star Sky¡± fared better and was just drained of its demon Power, but Qin Xi¡¯s ¡°Yumei¡± had several of its vines burned, needing time to rest and recover to its original state. Although the two Flower Demons were not of the attacking type, their role in this battle was far from negligible. Without these two Flower Demons, the others¡¯ Spiritual Beasts would not have achieved such significant results so easily. The Believers might not have cultivated Divine Sense, but the Demonic Qi within them was strong, and each of their spells posed a considerable threat. ¡°Heh heh, the little maiden has some skill to block my attack.¡± The elder squinted at the corpses of his subordinates in the hall, not the least bit concerned. In his view, as long as the world witnessed the might of the Demon God, there would be plenty willing to become devotees, and he was not worried about running out of minions. He believed that by overpowering these young men and women with sheer force, Qingyang City would still be his domain. The black aura around the elder grew denser; with a thunderous roar, he transformed into a blazing fire man. With a sweep of his arms, furious flames like a Fire Dragon enveloped themselves towards An Ruhui. However, his determined strike did not have the desired effect; instead, it blasted a large hole in the hall. Looking at An Ruhui again, she had already risen a dozen feet into the air, with slender threads of cool breeze appearing around her. The Creation Peak Disciples preferred elemental Lifeborn Spiritual Beasts, and Ruhui¡¯s Lifebound was an elf born from the wind, thus she specialized in the Wind Element Dao Technique. Now her form floated with the wind, untouchable by the elder¡¯s efforts to control the flames. Instead, she was busily carving wounds on him with her Wind Blades. Had it not been for the old man¡¯s body brimming with Demonic Qi, which mitigated most of the Wind Blade¡¯s might, he would¡¯ve been sliced into several parts long ago. ¡°Damn it, why can¡¯t I hit you?¡± The old man was furious as the flames on his body intensified alarmingly, causing Qin Feng and the others to be apprehensive. They were unwilling to directly confront these flames and, along with their Spiritual Beasts, retreated from the dilapidated hall; otherwise, even if the old man¡¯s flames couldn¡¯t hurt them, they could harm their Spiritual Beasts. Moreover, there were still many Demon God Believers in the manor that needed to be dealt with. Once outside, they immediately directed their Spiritual Beasts to attack the rest of the people. Inside the hall, the old man was struggling to hold his own against An Ruhui. He clearly felt that his strength was superior to that of the woman¡¯s, but he couldn¡¯t injure her at all. ¡°Old wife, Doggy, come help me, let¡¯s kill her together.¡± At the old man¡¯s cry for help, the old woman and the child responded, each of them manifesting flames similar to the old man¡¯s. The trio joined forces to besiege An Ruhui. Outside, Ma Xingkong sneered, ¡°Do you think you have the numbers?¡± He folded up his fan, and with a flicker of his form, he merged with his Lifebound Spiritual Beast, transforming into a centaur with wings on his back. Then, he galloped through the air, swift as a white colt passing by, and in an instant, he was in front of the child, kicking him to the ground with one forceful hoof. ¡°Ah¡­ how dare you harm my dear grandson?¡± The old woman roared furiously, immediately ignoring An Ruhui and lunging towards Ma Xingkong with bared teeth and claws. However, her movements lacked any technique, resembling a common woman scrapping and fighting, attempting to claw at Ma Xingkong¡¯s face with both hands. Ironically, this was fortuitous, as Young Master Ma cared about nothing else as much as he did his handsome face. Therefore, seeing the old woman furiously trying to ruin his peerless beauty, he got a fright, quickly dodging far away and no longer daring to approach the old woman. Outside, Ma Jiu was preparing to merge with his Sky Wolf and transform into a werewolf, but then he saw a flash of golden light from Qin Feng¡¯s body. A pair of Golden Wings suddenly sprouted from his back, and with a whoosh, he dashed into the hall, heading straight for the old woman. Ma Jiu¡¯s eyes widened; he hadn¡¯t expected Qin Feng to have not only found his Lifebound Spiritual Beast but had also managed to merge with it within such a short period. Such talent filled his heart with envy. It seemed that another genius was about to be recognized in the Sect. Qin Feng moved with the swiftness of lightning, almost as fast as Ma Xingkong. Unfurling his golden wings, sharp as blades, with a swoosh, he cleanly severed one of the old woman¡¯s arms. The woman, possessing great magic power but not knowing how to use it, couldn¡¯t react in time. Before she could even scream from the pain, Qin Feng had already circled around her, and the sharp golden wings decapitated her. ¡°Amazing!¡± Ma Xingkong cried out with a strange yell. A flap of the snowy white wings on his back and he stomped down with his hoof, crushing the child enveloped in rising Demon Flames, snapping his bones and leaving him to a tragic fate. ¡°Ah¡­¡± The old man was filled with agony, ¡°You killed my old wife and dear grandson; I want your lives in exchange.¡± However, despite his vociferous threats and the indeed strong power of his flames, he couldn¡¯t hit any of them; he couldn¡¯t even follow Qin Feng and the others with his eyes. This was the disadvantage of having sheer brute force but not cultivating Divine Sense. ¡°Don¡¯t kill him.¡± Qin Feng sent a telepathic message to An Ruhui and Ma Xingkong, saying, ¡°This place can¡¯t be their nest. Let this old man find a chance to flee and then we¡¯ll chase him, forcing him to lead us to their lair.¡± ¡°Okay.¡± They both nodded in agreement. If the rest of the Demon God Believers were like the ones here, possessing plenty of magic power but not knowing how to wield it, even if they faced ten times their number, they were confident of victory. The old man went berserk for a while, then suddenly turned and knelt in front of the Demon God statue, praying loudly, ¡°Great Lord, Your believers are being slaughtered. I implore you to descend Divine Power, vanquish the strong enemies; I will offer a thousand lives in sacrifice for my Lord afterward.¡± As the old man¡¯s words spread, the Demon God statue seemed to come alive, flames flickering in its eyes, together with an immense pressure. ¡°Bang!¡± Before the flames in the eyes of the Demon God statue could fully materialize, suddenly, a hoof as large as a bowl swept down from the sky, crashing directly onto the head of the statue. The immense force shattered the statue into debris. ¡°My Lord¡­¡± The old man was dumbfounded. The mighty, omnipotent Demon God had been stomped to smithereens with a single hoof? No, this was wrong. The Demon God statue here only had a trace of will imparted by the Demon God and had not fully awakened, allowing the surprise attack to succeed. If it were the statue in the main temple, it probably could have subdued these Cultivators with a single glance. Furthermore, there were Holy Envoys at the headquarters; if he could lead them there, wouldn¡¯t he be able to use the Holy Envoys¡¯ power to avenge his wife and grandson? The old man¡¯s thoughts at this moment aligned with Qin Feng¡¯s, although he was not aware of Qin Feng¡¯s intentions. PS: These few chapters are not filler; rooting out the Demon God Believers will tie into other matters and serve as an important transitional phase, which I can¡¯t simply skip over. Moreover, I hadn¡¯t anticipated going live today, so I got stuck at this stage, rather than at another climax of the plot. Chapter 125 - Chapter 125: Chapter 123 Beauty Kong Chapter 125: Chapter 123 Beauty Kong The Elder had lived for six or seven decades after all, and although he was filled with hatred because his wife and precious grandson had been killed, his cunning nature still led him to choose escape. It would be best if he could lure these people to the main temple, but even if he couldn¡¯t, he still needed to escape with his life and then seek the Holy Envoy to send someone to avenge him. With this in mind, a fierce light flashed in the Elder¡¯s eyes, and flames suddenly exploded from his body, sweeping through the entire hall. As several young people exclaimed in surprise and dodged, he suddenly rose and slammed into the front, creating a large hole in the wall with a thunderous noise and then crazily running away at a speed that belied his age. Above the great hall, Qin Feng and Young Master Ma maintained their figures mid-air, flapping the wings on their backs, watching the escaping figure of the Elder. Ruhui took it easy, the gentle breezes swirling around her could easily lift her figure, allowing her to fly in the Foundation Establishment Realm without the aid of any object. ¡°Don¡¯t waste time, hurry up and kill the rest of the Demon God Believers, and chase after him.¡± Though she was gentle, she had not a shred of pity for those cultists who sacrificed the lives of others to the Demon God for power. ¡°Sister is right.¡± Everyone responded and rushed towards the Demon God Believers. The battle ended quickly. Although these Demon God Believers could cast powerful spells, they had the spells but did not know how to lock down their opponents, which made it easy for the cultivators to avoid. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í??.§ã0 But the spells from Qin Feng and the others, they couldn¡¯t dodge. Although these people had magic power in their bodies, they were ultimately just untrained mortals. Suddenly gaining strong magic power, they could only show off among mortals, but in front of real cultivators, they were simply no match. In the battle, Qin Feng and Ma Xingkong displayed great fighting strength, not only were they extremely fast, but they also had powerful means of their own, dealing with those Demon God Believers as easily as chopping melons and cutting vegetables. Ma Jiu, feeling a bit resentful at their display of power, also transformed into a werewolf, howling as his figure split into three, swiftly passing several Demon God Believers and ripping their hearts apart. Ruhui was both surprised and astonished. It was well-known that Ma Xingkong could merge with his Lifebound Spiritual Beast, but she did not expect that Qin Feng and Ma Jiu were also capable of such feats. When did disciples in the Qi Refining Realm become so formidable? However, a hint of joy quickly flashed in her eyes. She was originally tasked with leading two junior sisters out for experience, and thought they should be cautious and not act rashly. But now it was different, since the strength of these three companions far exceeded those of the same level, there was no need to be as wary as before, for this mission, she should also be able to gain quite a bit of merit and achievement. A moment later, the group had slain all the Demon God Believers, and even those who tried to run were chased down and cleanly killed by their Flying Spirit Beasts. Then Ruhui sent a Communication Bird back to the Flying Boat to report the situation to the two Elders, and without bothering to clean up the battlefield, she directly led the fellow disciples in the direction of the Elder¡¯s escape. These Demon God Believers did not even have a Storage Bag on them; the most valuable thing they had was gold and silver, which ordinary people regarded as treasures, useless to them. They had already reported the situation here, and local forces would naturally come to deal with the bodies later; there was no need for them to bury them. The group rode their Flying Spirit Beasts, leisurely flying through the high sky while watching the Elder frantically fleeing on the ground, talking and laughing softly. The Elder kept looking back in panic as he fled, fearing that he would be caught by the cultivators. Though he could match a Foundation Establishment Cultivator in strength, he did not know how to fly, so he could only run wildly on the ground. And whenever he felt tired and was about to stop for a rest, Ma Jiu¡¯s Lightning Mink left on the ground would appear just in time, striking the Elder with lightning, making his heart tremble, and forcing him to flee for his life again. The group felt no pity for the Elder; this old man, with just his frail body, had such strong power, so the number of lives he had sacrificed to the Demon God was certainly not few. Killing such a vicious man was letting him off easy. Two hours later, the Elder who had run wildly for more than three hundred miles came to a large castle. ¡°` Here lay the main altar of the Demon God Believers. It was also their pilgrimage site. ¡°Qingyang Hall Master requests an audience with the Holy Envoy.¡± The old man arrived in front of the castle, gasping for breath, and called out hoarsely. ¡°Old Tan, why aren¡¯t you staying in Qingyang City? What brings you to the main altar?¡± A middle-aged man with a formidable presence at the castle gate asked in surprise, ¡°It isn¡¯t even time for your tribute yet, is it?¡± ¡°My hall has been destroyed!¡± The old man glanced back anxiously, making sure no one had followed him, before he sighed in relief. Then grief overtook him, and tears streamed down his face: ¡°Woe for my old wife and grandson at home. They didn¡¯t get to enjoy even a few months of peace before those vile cultivators killed them.¡± ¡°Ah?¡± The middle-aged man was shocked: ¡°Cultivators attacked your Qingyang Hall? How many came, and what sort of power did they possess?¡± ¡°There were six of them in total. Three of them could fly. Judging by the intensity of their spell attacks, they should be around my level, I guess?¡± The old man said uncertainly. He knew so little about cultivators; he could only roughly estimate An Ruhui and the others¡¯ strength. ¡°Just six? Then that¡¯s a relief.¡± Hearing this, the middle-aged cultivator breathed a sigh of relief. They had dealt with cultivators before; many cultivators had come under the pretense of exorcising demons, attempting to kill them in the name of guarding the Righteous Path. Among them were several flying cultivators, but in the end, they were all blasted to death on the spot by their overwhelming power. This made them much less in awe of cultivators, believing that the power bestowed by the Demon God was enough to contend with those cultivators. Moreover, they outnumbered them, and their Holy Envoy was also a formidable being capable of flight. Why would they fear just six cultivators? They were just talking when suddenly another figure rushed towards them from afar. This time, it was a burly man, also the Hall Master of a city. ¡°Zhao Erhu, what brings you here?¡± ¡°I¡¯m here to seek help from the Holy Envoy. The Lin City Hall has been breached,¡± said the burly man. ¡°What?¡± The middle-aged man was almost in disbelief. What was going on today? In such a short time, news of two halls being destroyed had reached him. ¡°Come, follow me to see the Holy Envoy right away.¡± The middle-aged man couldn¡¯t sit still any longer and immediately led the two men into the castle, heading towards the central Divine Temple. In midair, Qin Feng and the others suddenly turned their heads towards the distance. A team of seven or eight cultivators was flying towards them on Spiritual Beasts. At the head were two people, one a middle-aged cultivator riding a Spiritual Crane, and the other a handsome young man riding a Five-Colored Peacock. ¡°Oh, Beauty Kong, you¡¯ve come too?¡± ¡°` Chapter 126 - Chapter 126: Chapter 124 Bizarre Pattern (Two in One, Subscription Requested) Chapter 126: Chapter 124 Bizarre Pattern (Two in One, Subscription Requested) With Young Master Ma¡¯s teasing remark, the face of Kong Xuan, who was riding on the back of the Five-Colored Peacock, instantly turned cold. ¡°Ma Xingkong, are you asking for another beating?¡± Kong Xuan¡¯s tone was icy, and his beautiful face took on an angry and embarrassed expression. In his life, he hated most when others mistook him for a woman, and yet Ma Xingkong, that bastard, had enjoyed teasing him about this since they were young. Even though Kong Xuan had given Ma Xingkong more than a few beatings for it, the guy just couldn¡¯t seem to change his ways, no matter how much he was taught a lesson; his nature remained the same afterward. That¡¯s why he never showed a pleasant face whenever he saw Ma Xingkong. However, he was just too handsome, and the sight of his little face, not much bigger than a palm, getting angry not only failed to frighten anyone but seemed even more endearing instead. At least Qin Xi and Wen Qing¡¯er, the two young girls, just couldn¡¯t stop staring. Being girls themselves, they weren¡¯t nearly as attractive as this boy, which made them sigh in secret but, oddly enough, they couldn¡¯t feel any jealousy. Of course, it would be a different matter if Kong Xuan were actually a girl. Ma Xingkong approached Kong Xuan with a cheeky smile, completely indifferent to Kong Xuan¡¯s cold words and sharp tone. Their families had been friends for generations, and their family estates were not far apart, so they had interacted a lot since they were young. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í?0.§ã? However, because of Ma Xingkong¡¯s nasty character, he had received more than a few beatings from Kong Xuan since childhood. Although Kong Xuan was exceptionally delicate in appearance, he was ferociously fierce when it came to fighting. Among his peers in the Beast Taming Sect, there really wasn¡¯t anyone who dared say they could withstand his violent attacks. The Foundation Establishment Cultivator leading Kong Xuan and the other disciples smiled faintly and ignored the two who were bickering. He gently patted the back of the Spiritual Crane and flew toward An Ruhui. ¡°I originally thought we were the first to detect the trail of the Demon God Believers, but I didn¡¯t expect Junior Sister An to have arrived even earlier than us.¡± The middle-aged cultivator smiled and asked, ¡°Has Sister found anything upon her arrival?¡± ¡°Senior Brother Chu is too courteous. We have just arrived and haven¡¯t had a thorough investigation yet,¡± An Ruhui nodded slightly and said, ¡°However, these Demon God Believers are different from the Demon Sect disciples; they only possess brute strength and are essentially easy to defeat, so we don¡¯t need to be too cautious. It¡¯s good that Senior Brother has come. We were a bit worried about there being too many Demon God Believers in this castle, which might be troublesome to deal with. Now that you and I can join forces, we should be able to achieve a great feat.¡± ¡°Junior Sister¡¯s words are exactly what I had in mind.¡± Chu Suiliang chuckled lightly and nodded in approval. He had rushed here so quickly this time because he had seen through the true nature of those Demon God Believers, which is why he had hurriedly led his team here, aiming to secure the first achievement. Although he didn¡¯t expect An Ruhui and others to have located the enemy¡¯s headquarters before him, since these fellow sect members hadn¡¯t made their move yet, his share of the credit was certainly not going to be lacking. ¡°Lest we give our enemies too much time to dream at night, let¡¯s move quickly and eradicate these Demon God Believers,¡± Chu Suiliang said. He was worried that if they waited any longer, other fellow sect members might arrive, and by then, the credit would be spread even thinner. ¡°Alright, let¡¯s go on the offensive.¡± An Ruhui, of course, had no objections, and then gathered everyone to head down to the castle. Although the Demon God Believers were numerous and strong, they didn¡¯t even understand the most basic Array Formation Restriction. The entire castle had many believers guarding it but couldn¡¯t stop them from descending from the sky at all. As a group of Beast Taming Sect disciples landed inside the castle, the battle instantly escalated into a fever pitch. Dozens of Spiritual Beasts were summoned by these disciples, and the massive beasts rampaged through the castle, killing the Demon God Believers who cried out for their fathers and mothers in terror. The smaller and more agile Spiritual Beasts constantly struck the crowd, creating chaos and plunging the entire castle into a state of panic. However, the Demon God Believers were after all numerous. With so many people casting Spells together, the power was still formidable, especially with dozens of them possessing strength comparable to Foundation Establishment, who could harm seven or eight Spiritual Beasts when they worked together. There was even a disciple who was careless and was severely injured, nearly losing his life. But as soon as An Ruhui and Chu Suiliang took action with all their might, they quickly subdued the arrogance of the Demon God Believers. Qin Feng, Ma Jiu, Kong Xuan, and Ma Xingkong also merged with their Lifebound Spiritual Beasts one after another. Their combat power was no less than that of ordinary Foundation Establishment Cultivators. With their powerful Divine Sense and Spells, plus the Innate Divine Ability of the Spiritual Beasts, slaughtering these Demon God Believers was not difficult. Especially since they were extremely fast, making it impossible for the Demon God Believers without Divine Sense to track them, leaving them to passively take hits. Qin Feng unfolded his Golden Wings behind him and circled the crowd like a golden streak of light. With the enhancement of the Ruyi Golden Light, his speed could increase by another thirty percent. The two Golden Wings, like the sharpest Divine Sabers, left a trail of severed limbs and mutilated corpses. Ma Jiu changed shape, splitting into three, making it impossible to distinguish which one was real and which were false. Thus, his opponents were often smashed to pieces by his Sky Wolf Claw in the blink of an eye, their skulls shattered and their entrails reduced to mush. Ma Xingkong retracted the wings behind him and unleashed one of the Heavenly Horse¡¯s Divine Skills, ¡°White Colt Passes,¡± making his figure as fast as lightning. In the blink of an eye, he appeared before a powerful Demon God Believer and shouted, ¡°Heavenly Pegasus Meteor, fist dominates the world!¡± Then, in an instant, he blasted out nearly a hundred punches, the sky full of fist shadows crushing his opponent into broken bones and a limp mess. This was a boxing technique created by his family¡¯s ancestor, combining the Heavenly Horse¡¯s Divine Skill of swift movement, and its power would grow stronger as his Realm improved. However, if one were to pick the most eye-catching technique, it would have to be Kong Xuan. This extremely handsome young man, with his peacock tail feathers in display behind him, unleashed Five Elements Spells with each shake of his tail¡ªGolden Wind, Wood Spur, Water Blade, Flames, and Rocks intertwined in a violent assault like a ferocious storm, leaving many of the Demon God Believers in a complete mess, scrambling for cover. And this was just his most basic Spell attack; occasionally, when he encountered particularly powerful Demon God Believers, he would switch tactics and use even more powerful Magic Divine Powers to execute his opponents. Qin Feng and the other disciples witnessing Kong Xuan¡¯s Spellcasting for the first time were all taken aback, realizing just how formidable this famous genius of their Sect could be. Naturally, even someone like Kong Xuan had weaknesses. The biggest weakness was that casting Spells so rapidly would lead to excessive consumption of True Yuan. After all, he was still in the Qi Refining Realm and couldn¡¯t maintain his output for too long. But obviously, these Demon God Believers with no battle awareness couldn¡¯t last until Kong Xuan¡¯s True Yuan ran low. With the eruption of these few, coupled with the rampant slaughter by the two Foundation Establishment Cultivators, the Demon God Believers within the castle soon fell apart. Although the Demon God Believers had intense worship for the Demon God, they had not been followers for long, and when their lives were threatened, their instinct to pursue gains and avoid harm suddenly took precedence. Many Demon God Believers had already started to flee in all directions. ¡°How dare you!¡± Just then, a cold, angry female voice rang out. Suddenly, the figure of a young woman clad in a black robe emerged in the air. The moment she appeared, a powerful aura instantly intimidated the entire scene. ¡°A Golden Core?¡± The disciples were shocked to their core. Such a powerful aura couldn¡¯t possibly belong to a Foundation Establishment Cultivator. ¡°Saintess, save us¡­¡± As soon as the woman appeared, those Demon God Believers who had been scattered and fleeing for their lives seemed to find their backbone and converged towards her. ¡°Who are you people, daring to slaughter the followers of my lord?¡± The young Female Saint Envoy looked on with a murderous glare in her eyes at the disciples of the Beast Taming Sect. An Ruhui and Chu Suiliang extended their Divine Senses to carefully observe the woman for a moment before they finally relaxed. Although the woman¡¯s aura was strong enough to be comparable to a Golden Core Cultivator, she was essentially no different from the rest of the Demon God Believers, only her magic power was stronger, and she knew more spells. Chu Suiliang snorted coldly, ¡°Ignorant demoness, you dare to harm the common people and offer sacrifices to the Demon God. We are disciples of the Beast Taming Sect, acting on our sect¡¯s orders to eliminate the scum of the Human Clan like you and give the people a peaceful place to live.¡± ¡°Beast Taming Sect?¡± The Saintess had fought with several cultivators over the past few months and had heard of the Beast Taming Sect¡¯s reputation; it seemed to be a great sect. However, she felt the strength of the people before her and found that even the two strongest were more than ten times weaker than herself, and she snorted with disdain, ¡°Just with you, you also want to run wild here? Then I¡¯ll capture you all and sacrifice you to the Demon God.¡± As she spoke, ten feet of flames suddenly rose from her body, and with a light shout from her, the flames turned into several fire snakes that pounced towards the leading Chu Suiliang and the others. The two of them, seeing the power of the flames, didn¡¯t dare to receive them head-on and quickly dodged. With a loud boom, the fire snakes flew past their figures and fell onto a nearby house, instantly causing it to collapse. After that, the woman kept shooting flames at them over and over again. After a moment, the two of them laughed. Although the woman¡¯s flames were fierce and her spells were powerful, her spells came straight at them without tracking the enemy. They were easy to send out but not to retract, attacking relentlessly with strong magic power without injuring them in the slightest¡ªinstead, nearly half the castle was destroyed. ¡°You know nothing about power, yet you dare to harm the people here, truly seeking death.¡± As Chu Suiliang coldly laughed, the Spiritual Crane circling above his head suddenly flew towards him. In the blink of an eye, man and crane merged into one. Chu Suiliang flapped his crane wings behind him, and beams of clear light slashed towards the Saintess. At the same time, An Ruhui turned her figure and a several feet thick tornado formed around her, howling as it pounced towards the Saintess. The Saintess dodged again and again in mid-air, only to find that the attacks of the two were different from hers, actually following her figure, forcing her to use powerful spells to scatter their attacks. But those two disciples of the Beast Taming Sect were cunning¡ªthey soon stopped using powerful spells and instead attacked her with spells that were a threat to her but consumed less True Yuan. The Saintess understood that those two wished to deplete her magic power. However, although she understood, she had no other way to respond. She knew few spells, and when she had prayed to the Demon God to learn spells in the past, she had always pursued more powerful spells. Now, she realized that while those spells were indeed powerful, they couldn¡¯t hit the enemy, and the enemy only needed to use some moderately powerful spells to force her to use high-powered spells to counter theirs. Thus, if she didn¡¯t quickly slay these two people, she would definitely fall into their battling rhythm, and by then, escaping death would likely be difficult. She had no thoughts of fleeing. First, her flying magic wasn¡¯t faster than those two, and second, she was utterly loyal to the Demon God and unwilling to abandon him and leave. She felt the Demon God had given her everything; if it weren¡¯t for the Demon God, she would have already died at the hands of that heartless man. It was the Demon God who had revived her from the brink of death and bestowed upon her great strength, allowing her to take her revenge. She had long decided to dedicate her everything to the Demon God, so when the Demon God said he needed believers, she worked hard to develop believers for him, and only then did she create the current vast situation. Now was the time to show her loyalty to the Demon God, even if it meant sacrificing her life. She was not afraid of death, so when she sensed her predicament getting worse, she began an even more frenzied counterattack, hoping to kill these two strong enemies, even if it meant trading life for life. As long as she killed these two, she could arrange for someone to take the Demon God¡¯s statue to a safe place, gather believers anew to worship the Demon God, and as long as the power of the Demon God¡¯s faith was strong to a certain extent, he could descend into this world. While An Ruhui and her companion were battling the Holy Envoy, Qin Feng and his group were also busy, launching another attack on the Demon God believers. This time, because the Demon God believers had all gathered together, it made their attack even easier. These fellows¡¯ fighting consciousness was really too weak, a chaotic bunch recklessly casting spells in retaliation, each looking out for themselves without any system; it was hardly effective. The many Spiritual Beasts also brought fear to these Demon God believers. Especially a few Tiger Demons and Bear Demons with bodies several meters long, their fierce teeth bared as if choosing someone to devour, scared these Demon God believers out of their wits, not nearly as brave as when they were capturing civilians to sacrifice to the Demon God. Especially when Chu Suiliang used his Lifebound Spiritual Beast¡¯s Innate Divine Ability to forcefully break through the Holy Envoy¡¯s defensive magic, his sharp crane claws wounding her body, those Demon God believers saw even their seemingly invincible Holy Envoy injured and immediately collapsed in complete disarray, fleeing like headless flies. Qin Feng did not pay special attention to those common believers, with many Spiritual Beasts guarding the periphery, they could not escape the manor. At this moment, his focus turned to two leaders who were frantically trying to escape; both of them had Magic Power within their bodies that could compare to those in the Foundation Establishment Realm. This mission was undoubtedly the easiest one. No one had anticipated beforehand that the Demon Sect disciples, originally thought to be difficult to deal with, would turn out to be these brute force Demon Sect believers, and this gave all the participating disciples a lucrative opportunity. The Beast Taming Sect was a Great Force, and the rewards set for its disciples were definitely honored, and even if the leaders among these believers could only be counted as the lowest level of Foundation Establishment Cultivators, each one still carried a reward of thousands of Spirit Stones, so Qin Feng would obviously not give up on these two leaders in the middle of escaping to chase after those common believers. Qin Feng was shrouded in a faint golden light, chasing after them like lightning, easily evading the attacks of the two, lifting his left wing, he severed the arm of one who was preparing to cast a spell, then his Ruyi Golden Light transformed into a Long Sword, with one strike severing the opponent¡¯s head. Watching the other leader crash through a wall with a bang and enter a grand hall, Qin Feng did not hesitate, lifting his leg and following the broken hole into the hall. Inside the hall, the leader trembled and took two steps back, then thudded to the ground, his mouth praying, hoping his Demon God would come to his rescue. Qin Feng couldn¡¯t be bothered to listen to his nonsense, with a flash of golden light, he slew the man who had already been scared out of his wits. ¡°Phew¡­¡± He let out a long sigh, separating from his merged state with the Ruyi Golden Snake. After all, not having reached the Foundation Establishment, the merging time could not be too long, or it would bring a great burden to him. At this moment, he suddenly noticed that the blood flowing out from the man he had killed was slowly outlining a strange pattern on the ground. That pattern seemed to be a strange Array, actually absorbing the blood of the believer. Chapter 127 - Chapter 127: Chapter 125: Fooling the Demon God Chapter 127: Chapter 125: Fooling the Demon God ¡°Hmm?¡± Qin Feng was slightly taken aback. Weren¡¯t these Demon God Believers supposed to be ignorant of Array Formation Restrictions? What was the deal with this Array on the ground that reeked of a bizarre aura? He examined it carefully and discovered that the Array in front of him was completely different from any Array or Prohibition he knew of, and even the weird, twisting runes on it were something he had never seen before. This was a type of Array that had never appeared before. Maybe it had existed in the Cultivation World, but his cultivation level was too low to come into contact with such things. However, regardless of what this Array was, the eerie aura it emitted made it clear it was nothing benign. Qin Feng stepped forward, a ball of fire condensing in his hand. He intended to destroy the Array on the ground. But just as his spell was about to strike, the Array suddenly emitted a huge suction force, draining all the blood from the body of the slain believer. In the instant the body on the ground became a mummified corpse, the blood in the Array flowed rapidly through all the runes. When all the runes were smeared with blood, a beam of blood light emerged, blocking Qin Feng¡¯s spell. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í??.§ã¦Ï Then, all the blood light converged into a stream and shot towards the Demon God Statue above the great hall. Just as Qin Feng prepared to cast another spell, his body suddenly stiffened. He felt as if he was being targeted by an incredibly powerful presence, a dangerous aura so strong he didn¡¯t dare move. ¡°Human, was it you who killed my believer?¡± A commanding and imposing voice sounded, causing Qin Feng¡¯s spirit to tremble. But soon, he calmed himself down. Although he knew he faced an incredibly powerful entity, the actual body of the being wasn¡¯t here¡ªit was just a Spiritual Imprint on the Demon God Statue. He didn¡¯t know if the entity had the power to crush him outright, but since the Demon God hadn¡¯t exterminated him immediately, it implied that it wanted something from him. Thus, while he communicated with his Spiritual Beasts to have them return to his side, he straightforwardly nodded in admission, ¡°Yes, the person on the ground was killed by me.¡± Denial was pointless; the facts were there, and there was no use in arguing. ¡°Your courage is great.¡± The Demon God Statue seemed to come to life at that moment, its pitch-black eyes flashing with a strange dark glow as it looked straight at Qin Feng. Though its mouth did not move, a voice directly penetrated his heart, ¡°You dared kill my believer right in front of me. Aren¡¯t you afraid I might kill you?¡± ¡°Fear!¡± Qin Feng spoke without concealing his feelings, ¡°I did not know beforehand that you would appear. If I had known, I would definitely not have pursued him here, let alone kill him in front of you.¡± The Demon God Statue was silent for a while and then said, ¡°I¡¯ll give you a chance to live. Pledge loyalty to me, believe in me, I won¡¯t kill you, and I will grant you even greater power.¡± He had seen the battlefield outside through the eyes of the Female Saint Envoy and sensed that his believers in this realm were rapidly decreasing. He also noticed the two members of the Human Clan fighting the Female Saint Envoy were not very strong yet they managed to defeat the much more powerful Female Saint Envoy through clever battle tactics. He was somewhat surprised by this but did not pay it too much attention. Since he had taught the Female Saint Envoy all her spells, he knew exactly what her combat capabilities were. Seeing that the outside battle was nearing its end, he couldn¡¯t delay any longer. He said to Qin Feng, ¡°I know you possess decent combat skills, but your strength is too weak. Believe in me, and you will be the new Saint Envoy. I will bestow upon you power greater than that woman. With such mighty power, combined with your combat skills, you will be formidable enough to dominate. Will you accept?¡± Although it sounded like a question, his tone carried a powerful murderous intent as if Qin Feng¡¯s response, if not in accordance with his will, would lead him to employ formidable measures to instantly annihilate this young man from the Human Clan. ¡°I¡­accept.¡± Qin Feng hesitated for a moment but eventually capitulated under the immense threat of the Demon God. At this moment, a toad the size of a fist hopped into the hall, followed by a Ghost-Faced Spider as large as a washbowl. As for the Green Fox and the Giant Crocodile, they were blocked by the randomly running Demon Sect believers and hadn¡¯t yet managed to come to the rescue. ¡°Gulp¡­ Gulp¡­¡± The Swallowing Sky Toad had just entered the hall when it instantly felt an immense pressure, as if the hall had transformed into a bizarre space filled from all directions with this tremendous pressure. However, thanks to its powerful bloodline, it managed to resist the pressure and hopped next to Qin Feng, glaring intently at the Demon God Statue ahead. Behind it, the Ghost-Faced Spider¡¯s eight legs trembled, nearly fainting from the aura emitted by the Demon God Statue. Had it not been subdued by the Demon Refining Pot, it might have turned and fled by now. When it crawled next to Qin Feng, unlike the Swallowing Sky Toad, it dared not look directly at the Demon God Statue and instead laid low on the ground, appearing very submissive. Qin Feng saw this and couldn¡¯t help but curse inwardly. He simply waved his hand and collected it back into the Demon Refining Pot, for it was useless to leave it here except for bringing shame. The Demon God ignored the two Demon Beasts that came in behind. For an existence like him, such a weak being was really not worth his attention. Had he not needed to use Qin Feng right now, he would not have bothered to talk to such a trivial character. ¡°Very well, since you are willing to follow me, I naturally will not treat you poorly.¡± The Demon God said, ¡°Now, open your spirit and accept my power.¡± Qin Feng narrowed his eyes and remained silent. ¡°What, you disagree?¡± As soon as the Demon God¡¯s words fell, Qin Feng instantly felt boundless killing intent. ¡°No, not at all.¡± He hurriedly said, ¡°I am opening my spirit now.¡± ¡°Hmph!¡± A pitch-black light suddenly shot out from the two eyes of the Demon God Statue, directly towards Qin Feng¡¯s forehead. ¡°Hum¡­¡± At the thought, Qin Feng summoned the Demon Refining Pot instantly to his forehead, taking in the black light into the body of the Ghost-Faced Spider. Then, as the black light continuously poured in, the aura inside the Ghost-Faced Spider surged and in a short moment, it broke through the Qi Refinement¡¯s cultivation realm, attaining the strength of the Foundation Establishment Stage. Moments later, the black light dissipated, and the power of the Ghost-Faced Spider firmly stabilized around the mid Foundation Establishment Realm. Of course, this external force was somewhat incompatible with its own cultivation power, yet the enhancement of power was not faked at all. As the black light faded, Qin Feng swiftly released the aura of the Ghost-Faced Spider from the Demon Refining Pot. After all, the Demon Refining Pot was inside his body, as if he himself were releasing the aura. He also made a face of surprise and repeatedly bowed in gratitude, ¡°Thank you, Demon God, for bestowing such mighty power on your servant. I will surely devote myself wholeheartedly to serving you in the future.¡± He was only able to deceive the Demon God because it was merely a divine thought and could not examine in detail, thus not seeing through his ruse. If he were truly standing before the main body of the Demon God, he would certainly have been seen through immediately. ¡°As long as you diligently serve, you will naturally be granted even greater power in the future. Of course, should you dare to rebel, the power I have left inside you can also take your life¡­ do not attempt to find out the price of betrayal.¡± ¡°I would not dare.¡± Qin Feng swiftly bowed and asked, ¡°May I know what you require of me, my lord?¡± The voice of the Demon God came, ¡°This place is about to be breached, no place to linger longer. I want you to take this statue of mine and find a safe place to recruit followers for me.¡± He had barely managed to get a divine thought across the boundary and lodged it into this statue; if the statue were destroyed, re-entering this world would be difficult for him. Qin Feng¡¯s heart raced a beat, he quickly steadied his spirit, bowed his head, and replied, ¡°I have a Storage Bag here which can accommodate your statue. Please forgive me, my lord. Once we arrive at a safe place, I will build a palace for you.¡± ¡°Good, act quickly, lest those people discover you and perhaps even provoke a dispute.¡± ¡°Yes.¡± Qin Feng, responding promptly, took out an empty Storage Bag, stepped forward a few paces, put the statue about a meter tall into it, then quickly took out several Sealing Spirit Talismans and stuck them on it, thinking whether it seemed somewhat insecure. However, he ultimately did not put it into the Demon Refining Pot. The statue had a strand of the Demon God¡¯s divine thought; if it entered the Demon Refining Pot and conflicted with the laws inside, it would be difficult for him to handle. After all, he planned to hand this statue over to his Sect, and he could not expose the existence of the Demon Refining Pot. Pondering, he tossed the Storage Bag sideways, the Swallowing Sky Toad leaped up, swallowed the Storage Bag into its belly. This fellow naturally had a space inside its body, which could serve as a storage place; temporarily keeping it here should be fine. After handing over the Demon God Statue to the Sect, perhaps the Sect elders could find the antagonist¡¯s lair from this statue and dig out this Demon God. Having secured his belongings, he turned and left the palace, joining in the battle against the remaining Demon God Believers. Soon, the battle ended, and after resting for a short half an hour, they began to head back to the Flying Boat to report the battle situation to the two Elders. Shortly after their departure, several other squads arrived at the site, only to discover that it had become a pile of ruins and many Demon God Believers had already been slain, making the faces of the disciples from those squads turn ugly. ¡°Too late by a step, who seized the opportunity?¡± Someone couldn¡¯t help feeling envious, missing such a great opportunity to distinguish themselves because they discovered the situation of those Demon God Believers a step too late. ¡°Let it go, let¡¯s head back. This place is now a ruin, lingering here is futile.¡± With a sigh, the group of disciples turned, riding their Spiritual Beasts away from the place. Chapter 128 - Chapter 128: Chapter 126 Teased Chapter 128: Chapter 126 Teased Aboard the Flying Boat, Elder Yin Qi and Gu Qinghan furrowed their brows upon hearing the report from An Ruhui and the others. Their perspective differed greatly from that of the disciples. For Qi Refining Realm disciples like Qin Feng, most were merely hoping to take advantage of the mission to make a fortune, eagerly anticipating how many Spirit Stones they would receive once the Sect issued its rewards. Even Foundation Establishment Cultivators like An Ruhui and Chu Suiliang were ultimately still Outer Disciples with insufficient Cultivation to access many secrets. But Elder Yin Qi was different. Though they served as Elders at the Outer Peaks, they were in fact Inner Sect Disciples sent by their mentors to oversee those Peaks. Thus, they were privy to much that was hidden. Where ordinary Disciples thought of personal gain from the mission, they wondered where this Demon God had come from, what strength it possessed, and whether there were more followers elsewhere. Such elusive Demon Gods were truly the most troubling because discovering their true form was exceedingly difficult. As they were deep in thought, Qin Feng quietly approached the cabin door and knocked to request an audience. ¡°Disciple Qin Feng greets the two Elders.¡± Elder Yin Qi glanced at him and recognized a disciple from his own Spiritual Snake Peak. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?0¦Í?¦Ï.§ã¦Ï However, since he habitually wore a cold expression as though everyone owed him a great debt of Spirit Stones, his gaze toward Qin Feng, while not harsh, was also devoid of warmth. ¡°What is it?¡± he asked. ¡°Reporting to the Elder, during this mission when I, along with several fellow disciples, encircled the Demon God Believers, while chasing one I accidentally entered their grand hall. The Demon God pressured me with threats and temptations, forcing me to carry a stone statue imbued with its Divine Sense to help it escape,¡± Qin Feng said frankly. ¡°The Demon God even wished for me to establish a new sect on its behalf to gather followers. Left with no choice, I pretended to agree, and now I have the Demon God Stone Statue in my possession¡­¡± ¡°What did you say?¡± Even the usually stoic Elder Yin Qi couldn¡¯t maintain his composure, suddenly rising to his feet, his gloomy triangular eyes focusing on Qin Feng, ¡°You have the stone statue with the Demon God¡¯s Divine Sense?¡± ¡°Uh¡­ Yes.¡± Startled by his intense reaction, which was out of character for Elder Yin Qi, Qin Feng was taken aback. No longer concerned with maintaining his aloof image, Elder Yin Qi urged anxiously, ¡°Quickly, bring it out for me to see?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± Qin Feng complied, reaching towards the glistening belly of the Swallowing Sky Toad and pressing it softly. The Swallowing Sky Toad gave a slight cooing sound and then spat out a Storage Bag. Elder Yin Qi¡¯s mouth twitched. Under normal circumstances, he would have been surprised that a disciple had tamed a resource-consuming glutton like the Swallowing Sky Toad as a Spiritual Beast. But with his mind preoccupied with the Demon God Stone Statue, such details were of little concern to him. With a wave of his hand, the Storage Bag flew into it. Elder Yin Qi examined the seven or eight common Sealing Spirit Talismans stuck to it, giving Qin Feng a strange look. He intended to peel off the Talismans and probe with his Divine Sense, but he feared disturbing the Demon God within. After a moment¡¯s thought, he asked again, ¡°Are you certain the Stone Statue you put into the Storage Bag contains the Demon God¡¯s Divine Sense?¡± ¡°It shouldn¡¯t be wrong,¡± Qin Feng explained, ¡°It said it wanted me to become its new Holy Envoy and would bestow power upon me. At the time, I used some trickery to muddle through.¡± He released the Ghost-Faced Spider, saying, ¡°Elder, please look. My Ghost-Faced Spider initially had only the strength of the late Qi Refining Realm. When the Demon God forcefully infused its Magic Power into me, I transferred it into the Ghost-Faced Spider. Now its strength has increased by more than tenfold. The Demon God, thinking it had control over me, is unlikely to abandon the Divine Sense in the statue lightly.¡± Elder Yin Qi watched the Ghost-Faced Spider for a while, then looked to Gu Qinghan thoughtfully. Gu Qinghan¡¯s eyes twinkled with Spirit Light as he calculated for a moment and said, ¡°To be safe, we better not probe hastily. Let¡¯s quickly summon the disciples back to the Mountain Gate and hand this over to the Sect Elders. We will know whether it is genuine once they examine it.¡± ¡°Good.¡± Elder Yin Qi nodded and then told Qin Feng, ¡°Keep this matter to yourself. Once we return to the Mountain Gate, I will ensure your contributions are recognized. If this turns out to be true, you will certainly be rewarded.¡± ¡°Thank you, Elder.¡± Qin Feng bowed and expressed his thanks. ¡°Okay, you may go now.¡± Elder Yin Qi waved his hand, and after Qin Feng had left the cabin, he looked at the storage bag in his hand and suddenly produced several high-grade Spirit Talismans with flashing Spirit Light. These included Sealing Spirit Talismans, Sealing God Talismans, and Demon Suppression Talismans, pasting another layer onto the small storage bag. After finishing this task, he went out, instructed two Foundation Establishment Cultivators to stay behind and to find those disciples who hadn¡¯t returned yet. He ordered them to continue searching for the Demon God Believers and to exterminate them all, not sparing a single one to prevent those who had suddenly gained power from wreaking havoc. He needed to return to the Sect immediately, so he wouldn¡¯t wait here any longer. As for those disciples who were left behind, after clearing out all the Demon God Believers, they were to return on their own. After giving his orders, the Elder, without another word, drove the Flying Boat directly into escape, leaving behind two Foundation Establishment Cultivators who felt somewhat baffled, not understanding what madness Elder Yin Qi was up to now. However, they dared not ask and could only heave a light sigh before splitting up to inform the teams that hadn¡¯t returned yet. The Flying Boat zipped away like lightning, nearly fifty percent faster than on the way there. Under Elder Yin Qi¡¯s disregard for the consumption of resources, it took only a little over one day to return from Nanyue Country to the Mountain Gate. If it had not been for the assistance of Gu Qinghan midway, he wouldn¡¯t have been able to sustain such a massive consumption. Upon returning to the Sect, before they could even report the details of the mission to the Elder of the Foreign Affairs Hall, they left all the disciples behind and drove the Light Escape directly to the Inner Sect. An Ruhui and the others were also somewhat at a loss, but they didn¡¯t think too much about it and went straight into the Foreign Affairs Hall to recount the details of the mission to the Deacon there. Since this mission was quite special, the rewards could only be distributed after Yin Qi and Gu Qinghan returned to clarify the situation to the Foreign Affairs Hall. The Deacon of the hall recorded their exploits and achievements and then let them go back first. ¡°Senior Sister, let¡¯s go.¡± Wen Qing¡¯er pulled Qin Xi¡¯s hand, ready to leave. After thinking for a moment, Qin Xi said, ¡°You go back with Senior Sister An first, I have something to talk about with Afeng. I¡¯ll return to Creation Peak later.¡± Wen Qing¡¯er glanced at Qin Feng, didn¡¯t say much, nodded her head, and after saying goodbye to them, she left with An Ruhui. After greeting Ma Jiu and the others, Qin Feng and Qin Xi returned to Spiritual Snake Peak. ¡°Afeng, when did you succeed in merging with your Lifebound Spiritual Beast?¡± As soon as she entered the room, without even waiting to sit down and rest, Qin Xi, with eyes shining, couldn¡¯t wait to ask the question. She was really too curious. To be able to merge with a Lifebound Spiritual Beast in the Qi Refining Realm was something that usually only happened to the top-tier talent of the Outer Sect, like Kong Xuan and Ma Xingkong. She never expected that her own cousin could achieve this as well. Could it be that the Qin Family was really about to produce an Inner Sect Disciple? Previously, she was concerned about revealing Qin Feng¡¯s privacy due to the many people around and had forcefully held back from asking, but now, back at Qin Feng¡¯s residence, the girl couldn¡¯t help but give in to her curiosity and ask. ¡°Hehe¡­¡± Seeing her shining eyes, Qin Feng couldn¡¯t help but find it amusing and said, ¡°Actually, it was just a few days ago. If it weren¡¯t for the fact that I could merge with my Lifebound Spiritual Beast, I really wouldn¡¯t have dared to take on the mission to encircle and suppress the Demon Cultivators so easily.¡± ¡°So that¡¯s how it is.¡± Qin Xi nodded and then asked curiously, ¡°What exactly is your Lifebound Spiritual Beast? I can¡¯t recognize it. Those golden wings were so strange. Did you not choose a type of Spiritual Snake as your Spiritual Beast?¡± ¡°It¡¯s the Ruyi Golden Snake.¡± As Qin Feng spoke, he extended his hand and the Ruyi Golden Snake immediately slithered to the palm of his hand. He even spread its wings for Qin Xi to get a clear look: ¡°Look, this is the Spiritual Snake.¡± Qin Xi gazed with wide eyes for a moment, even reaching out her fair little hand to touch the Ruyi Golden Snake a few times: ¡°Such a strange Spiritual Snake, I¡¯ve seen Winged Snakes, Feathered Snakes, and Flying Snakes in the Ten Thousand Demons Catalog, but I never thought that in addition to those species, there would be this kind of winged Spiritual Snake.¡± ¡°The Ruyi Golden Snake is indeed rare. In the records of Spiritual Snake Peak, it has appeared only once in tens of thousands of years during the Ancient Great Tribulation, so it¡¯s normal you don¡¯t know of it.¡± Qin Feng smiled: ¡°This is a Gold Element Exotic Species, with a very strong attack power. I acquired it by chance.¡± ¡°Hmm.¡± Qin Xi nodded enviously. Her cousin could already merge with his Lifebound Spiritual Beast, while she hadn¡¯t even found a shadow of hers. Sigh, she wondered when she would find her own Lifebound. She quickly suppressed these thoughts. The disciples of Creation Peak did not compete with others in terms of the speed of cultivation because the elves born from the creation of the world were too rare and not as common as other Spiritual Beasts, so acquiring them still relied on chance. Of course, that didn¡¯t mean there weren¡¯t established ways to find them. Otherwise, the Creation Peak lineage would have ended long ago. When their cultivation reached a certain point, the Peak Master would naturally guide them to where they can find their Lifebound. Qin Xi playfully teased the Ruyi Golden Snake for a while, then suddenly remembered that this Spiritual Snake had been refined by Qin Feng as his Lifebound Spiritual Beast, which was different from ordinary Spiritual Snakes since it was controlled by Qin Feng¡¯s Divine Sense. She quickly retracted her fingers. Qin Feng also felt a bit awkward, as if he were being teased by his little cousin. He put away the Ruyi Golden Snake with a flip of his hand and deliberately changed the subject, ¡°By the way, Sister Xiaoxi, I heard that the disciples of Creation Peak will go to various Spiritual Lands and Secret Realms to seek their fates. Now that you¡¯re in the late stage of the Qi Refining Realm, are you also starting to prepare for the matter of the Lifebound?¡± Chapter 129 - Chapter 129: Chapter 127 Ten Thousand Demons Cave Heaven Chapter 129: Chapter 127 Ten Thousand Demons Cave Heaven ¡°Indeed,¡± Qin Xi said, ¡°The Peak Master mentioned some time ago that Heavenly Pool Secret Realm will open, and if we¡¯re willing, we can go in and seek our fortunes.¡± ¡°Heavenly Pool Secret Realm?¡± Qin Feng¡¯s expression changed. The Heavenly Pool Secret Realm was not like any other place; it did not solely belong to the Beast Taming Sect but was instead held collectively by various forces and Sects within a radius of ten thousand miles. The Secret Realm was originally an ancient Major Sect¡¯s Cave Heaven World. During the Ancient Great Tribulation, that Sect was destroyed by enemies from beyond their domain. However, their Grotto Heaven World was extremely unique, hidden deep within the void. Nevertheless, that Cave Heaven was not truly detached from the mortal world, as it would surface once every sixty-year cycle with the ebbing tides. But because it appeared for only a brief period, ordinary Cultivators, even if they encountered it, had a hard time entering. Moreover, if they did not exit in time, they¡¯d be obliterated by the Power of Laws of the Cave Heaven World, which is why its existence remained largely unknown to the outside world. Thousands of years ago, by chance, a Cultivator from a minor Sect discovered its pattern of emergence and even gained a massive haul of heaven-sent treasures and Cultivation resources. That should have been the opportunity for that small Sect to rise. However, a slip of the tongue by one of the Sect¡¯s Disciples soon attracted the covetousness of many great forces. After a lengthy struggle with heavy casualties and no side gaining an advantage, the contending parties negotiated to jointly send Disciples from all the involved Sects to explore the realm. But this also sowed the seeds of disaster. When Disciples of different Sects encountered each other inside, conflicts were inevitable, leading to significant losses every time. The worst was an instance when out of three thousand entrants, fewer than a hundred survived. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í?0.§ã0 Even though it was later understood that a coveted treasure was the cause of the fierce fighting and heavy casualties, even during normal times, nearly half would be injured or killed. ¡°That place is far too dangerous.¡± Qin Feng furrowed his brows, reluctant to let Qin Xi risk going to the Heavenly Pool Secret Realm. ¡°Where in the Cultivation World is without danger?¡± Qin Xi chuckled lightly, ¡°Once you step onto the path of cultivation, danger will always be at your side. Not to mention traveling or undertaking missions, even cultivating within the Mountain Gate does not guarantee safety. What if one succumbs to devilish energy during practice? That¡¯s equally dangerous!¡± ¡°It¡¯s different.¡± Qin Feng shook his head and said, ¡°The fighting in Heavenly Pool Secret Realm is too brutal. Disciples from various Sects will show no mercy in their scramble for treasures, and even those who are usually deferential to the Beast Taming Sect, if given the chance, wouldn¡¯t hesitate to attack us from the Major Sects. After all, some treasures there are so precious that obtaining them could lead to a meteoric rise. And should you die there, the Sect would not exact vengeance just for a few Disciples¡¯ deaths, especially us from the Outer Sect.¡± ¡°I know, but I cannot simply avoid it, or else I¡¯ll always wander aimlessly in search of naturally raised life.¡± Qin Xi shook her head helplessly, ¡°I¡¯m well aware of the dangers of Heavenly Pool Secret Realm, but Creation Peak is different. If Disciples of your Spiritual Snake Peak fail to find a suitable Spiritual Snake, they can take their time choosing. However, we who wish to seek our Lifebound beasts must venture into those rarely-trodden treasured lands to find opportunities.¡± *Sigh* Qin Feng sighed lightly at her words and found no further reasons to persuade her otherwise. ¡°The Peak Master is also aware of the dangers of Heavenly Pool Secret Realm, which is why he let Senior Sister An take me and Junior Sister Wen out for training, to gain some battle experience. I thought this trip would involve combat with Disciples of the Demon Sect, but we only encountered a few followers of the Demon God who posed little threat. It seems in the coming time. We¡¯ll need to undertake more missions to hone our war power.¡± Qin Xi smiled, ¡°You don¡¯t need to worry so much. It¡¯s not like I¡¯m going in there alone. This time Creation Peak has three spots, and Senior Sister An will be joining us. Besides, it¡¯s a vast space, with tens of thousands of miles of territory, and it¡¯s not easy to encounter opponents from hostile Sects. If I do face danger, I can still run!¡± Her words seemed carefree, but Qin Feng was anything but relaxed. The Disciples of Creation Peak might be formidable, but that was under the premise that they had already Refined their Lifebound beasts. Before obtaining their Lifebound beasts, their combat ability was no different from an ordinary Outer Disciple. Previously, whenever Disciples from Creation Peak entered Heavenly Pool Secret Realm, it wasn¡¯t a guarantee they¡¯d return safely. Especially since they often had to venture into areas rich in Spiritual Energy to find naturally arisen life, which increased the likelihood of encountering danger. ¡°Then I will go with you.¡± Qin Feng said solemnly. ¡°There¡¯s no need, Senior Sister An will protect us,¡± Qin Xi quickly shook her head and declined. It wasn¡¯t that she didn¡¯t want Qin Feng to help her. She knew he was worried she might fall within the Secret Realm, which was why he wanted to accompany and protect her. But she also worried that if they encountered danger, what would happen if both of them fell within the Secret Realm? Both members of the last generation of the Qin Family had died on a mission and hadn¡¯t returned, and the previous generation¡¯s Qin Ying had lost his courage, so it was unlikely he could cultivate to a much higher realm. Although Qin Long had succeeded in his Foundation Establishment, his Origin had been damaged, and his Lifebound Spiritual Beast had been killed. If he couldn¡¯t mend the damage to his Divine Soul, his progress would slow to the point where he¡¯d been stuck in the Foundation Establishment Early Stage for years. Therefore, Qin Xi did not want Qin Feng to join her in the Heavenly Pool Secret Realm; the family could not withstand another blow. ¡°Let¡¯s talk about it when the time comes; there are still a few months left.¡± Qin Feng did not insist; he planned to improve his Cultivation Realm as quickly as possible. If he could achieve Foundation Establishment ahead of time, his combat power would greatly increase. Furthermore, he could tame several Spiritual Beasts of Foundation Establishment Realm to serve him. In doing so, even if he faced an ambush within the Heavenly Pool Secret Realm, he need not fear. Upon encountering enemies, he could release several Foundation Establishment Realm Spiritual Beasts and turn the tide against his foes. ¡°` Unlike now, although his battle strength could briefly match that of a Foundation Establishment Cultivator after merging with the Ruyi Golden Snake, it ultimately couldn¡¯t last, making it difficult to subdue those powerful Foundation Establishment Demon Beasts. After chatting for a while, Qin Xi didn¡¯t stay long and got up to return to Creation Peak. Qin Feng began another period of secluded cultivation. Before undertaking this mission, he had predicted it would take him more than a month to naturally progress to the ninth level of Qi Refinement. However, after killing several Demon God Believers who were as powerful as Foundation Establishment Cultivators during the mission, his potential was inadvertently stimulated. With systematic cultivation, he wouldn¡¯t need a month to break through to the ninth level. But now he was somewhat worried about Qin Xi, so he planned to accelerate his cultivation speed, striving to succeed in Foundation Establishment before the Heavenly Pool Secret Realm opened. This made time seem particularly pressing. He didn¡¯t delay and began to harness the Spiritual Energy within the Demon Refining Pot for cultivation. In just over ten days, he broke through the minor bottleneck of the eighth level of Qi Refinement and reached the ninth level. ¡°Qin Feng, Qin Feng¡­¡± Just as he was gearing up to continue his intense cultivation and close off again, a Communication Spirit Bird suddenly flew in, circling several times overhead in his courtyard, emitting several strange calls from its beak. Qin Feng lifted the prohibition on his courtyard, letting the brightly feathered Spiritual Bird in. The Spiritual Bird spoke, ¡°Qin Feng, the Peak Master summons you. Hurry to the peak to see her.¡± This was Liu Xuanling¡¯s Communication Bird, which she had cultivated to the point of refining its throat bone, allowing it to speak, so it didn¡¯t bring him a written message. ¡°Alright.¡± Qin Feng nodded. Seeing that he had agreed, the Spiritual Bird flashed its small wings and vanished into the high sky in the blink of an eye. Although he didn¡¯t know why the Peak Master was summoning him at this time, Qin Feng did not dare to neglect the call, and he quickly left his courtyard and hurried toward the peak. However, when he entered Liu Xuanling¡¯s Cave Mansion at the top of the peak, his heart suddenly stirred. Because he saw that Elder Yin Qi was also there. Could it be that the issue with the Demon God Stone Statue had already been resolved? He wondered if the Sect¡¯s higher-ups had uncovered the Demon God¡¯s true form. Such a ferocious Demon God, who demanded sacrifices of life, it¡¯s indeed more reassuring to kill him sooner rather than later. If it hadn¡¯t been resolved, Qin Feng felt that he should give up the Ghost-Faced Spider as soon as possible; otherwise, once that Demon God learned he had been deceived, in its rage, it might trace the Ghost-Faced Spider¡¯s scent to find him. ¡°Disciple Qin Feng, greets the Peak Master and greets Elder Yin.¡± He respectfully bowed to both of them. ¡°Mm.¡± Liu Xuanling lazily nodded her head and pointed to the cushion on the ground, ¡°Sit. I have something to discuss with you.¡± ¡°Yes.¡± Qin Feng, not one to waste words, obediently sat down. He had interacted with Liu Xuanling several times and had roughly figured out the temperament of the Peak Master. She didn¡¯t like cumbersome formalities or being bound by too many rules, so she was quite casual in her daily life. As long as he didn¡¯t provoke her and acted in accordance with her mood, there would definitely be no problem¡ªshe might even reward him handsomely when pleased. But if he managed to annoy her, it would be very troublesome, for this Peak Master was also quite vengeful. Qin Feng had heard some of the older disciples from Spiritual Snake Peak privately recalling how years ago, an Inner Sect true disciple from the Five Poisons Sect had lightly flirted with her as a joke and managed to anger her on the spot. Not only did she beat him up then and there, but she also continued to beat him every time she saw him from then on. Eventually, that true disciple from the Five Poisons Sect would flee at the sight of her, clearly terrified. And this was considering Liu Xuanling showed restraint for the Five Poisons Sect¡¯s good relationship with the Beast Taming Sect; otherwise, that disciple might have been crippled. If it had been a disciple from another Sect, they probably would have been long gone. ¡°This time, I have called you here because of the Demon God Stone Statue matter.¡± Liu Xuanling glanced at Elder Yin Qi sitting beside her, who had a cold expression and hadn¡¯t said a word. Knowing his temperament, he could go as long as three months without speaking unless necessary. Having no choice but to speak herself, she said to Qin Feng, ¡°You have contributed significantly, and the Sect¡¯s Elders have decided to reward you with an opportunity to enter the Ten Thousand Demons Cave Heaven. You may cultivate there for three months, and you are permitted to subjugate any Spiritual Beast of your choosing.¡± ¡°Ten Thousand Demons Cave Heaven?¡± Upon hearing this, a surge of ecstasy flooded Qin Feng¡¯s heart. That place was the foundation of the Beast Taming Sect, a Cave Heaven World belonging to the Sect. It was rumored that the Ten Thousand Demons Cave Heaven was divided into an inner and outer layer, with the core area being where the Supreme Elders of the Sect sequestered themselves for cultivation, and the outer area was for breeding Spiritual Beasts. There, most of the rarest Spiritual Beasts in the world were raised, and many species rarely seen outside could commonly be found within the Ten Thousand Demons Cave Heaven. Creatures such as the Swallowing Star Toad and the Black Water Mysterious Snake were readily available. The Sect was not only allowing him to cultivate there for a time, but they were also allowing him to capture a Spiritual Beast to bring back. This was practically a golden opportunity; powerful bloodline Spiritual Beasts, any of which could make him the wealthiest Outer Disciple if he caught one. Of course, he certainly didn¡¯t plan to sell any he caught. However, Qin Feng was also somewhat puzzled. Was a mere Demon God Stone Statue truly worth so much reward? Not to mention cultivating in the Ten Thousand Demons Cave Heaven, just a Spiritual Beast with a top-level bloodline alone would command a price so steep it would deter an average cultivator, yet they had so readily rewarded him with one. Could there be something special about that Demon God Stone Statue? ¡°` Chapter 130 - Chapter 130: Chapter 128: Cross-Domain War Chapter 130: Chapter 128: Cross-Domain War ¡°So,¡± he voiced the doubts in his heart, ¡°Peak Master, why is this reward so generous?¡± It was known that a normal Outer Disciple would consider it good to receive a reward of a few hundred Spirit Stones for a mission, yet he had merely brought back a Demon God Stone Statue and was given such a shockingly substantial reward. This left him ecstatic, yet also somewhat incredulous. ¡°Ha, what, do you think it¡¯s too much?¡± Liu Xuanling straightened up, no longer lounging lazily, a flicker of dissatisfaction crossing her face, ¡°If you weren¡¯t still an Outer Disciple, the Sect would have rewarded you even more. ¡®Hmph, those tight-fisted old men,¡¯ she grumbled. ¡®Not to mention, what¡¯s the use of keeping those Spiritual Beasts in the Ten Thousand Demons Cave Heaven without awarding a few more as prizes?¡± Elder Yin Qi glanced at her, only to receive a fierce glare from Liu Xuanling, ¡°What are you looking at? Am I wrong? Those Spiritual Beasts are fat and healthy, but how many of them raised in such an environment understand fierce battle and staking their lives? The great Ten Thousand Demons Cave Heaven has been turned into nothing better than a pig farm by those old men!¡± ¡°Ahem¡­¡± Even with Elder Yin Qi¡¯s temperamental nature, he couldn¡¯t help but roll his eyes. Qin Feng was secretly astounded as he listened ¡ª their Peak Master really dared to say anything. Wasn¡¯t she afraid that those Supreme Elders would hear? Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ??¦Í?0.§ã¦Ï ¡°The Demon God Stone Statue you brought back not only harbors a trace of that Demon God¡¯s Divine Soul but also serves as coordinates for the Demon God to connect with this world. Because of this statue, he was able to transmit his power through the endless void. Similarly, we can use the connection between him and the statue to verify his world. Even though the Demon God realized something was amiss and severed the connection to the statue in time, abandoning that trace of Divine Soul, Elder Gu Guiling and Elder Kongkong joined forces and still locked onto his world.¡± Liu Xuanling¡¯s lips curled into a cold smile, ¡°That Demon God is quite audacious, not only wishing to have our Human Clan worship him but also attempting to use the Power of Faith to coalesce an avatar in this world. Is he planning to invade our Biluo Great World? ¡®Humph, just a native Demon God from a medium world daring to harbor such thoughts, truly ignorant of life and death. Now, since the two Elders have located his world, once we ascertain the details of that world, we can strike there. At that time, I¡¯d like to see what sort of existence this Demon God is to dare provoke a Great World!¡± Qin Feng felt his heart pounding. What did Liu Xuanling mean by that? From her words, could it be that the Sect was considering initiating a cross-world battle? Thinking of this possibility made Qin Feng¡¯s scalp numb. A cross-world battle consisted of traversing millions of miles of void to attack another world. Just as during the Ancient Great Tribulation, various worlds had crossed the cosmic void to attack this world. Cross-world warfare is incredibly perilous, entailing a far-reaching expedition without any logistical support or reinforcements. Victory could only be secured through sheer strength, sustaining the fight through battle; any mishap could lead to the total annihilation of the forces. However, once victorious, the spoils could make anyone¡¯s heart race with envy. The opposing world would also have no means of escape; if their world were breached, the entire realm would fall under the control of the invaders, and the native race would be subjected to enslavement. Even if a few strong individuals barely managed to survive, they would only have two choices: surrender or flee. If they fled, they would have to wander the endless void unless they could invade other worlds and find a new place to settle and establish themselves. Liu Xuanling glanced at him and smiled, ¡°So, do you also wish to join this war? Then, train diligently. With your current strength, you are not qualified to partake in it. The Sect has awarded you exceptionally this time because the two Supreme Elders have locked onto the coordinates of the opposing world from the Demon God Stone Statue. Once we break through that world, the harvest will far exceed your imagination, and then you won¡¯t feel these rewards are too generous.¡± She paused momentarily, seemingly recalling something, then continued, ¡°Also, I¡¯ve heard that you can now merge with your Lifebound Spiritual Beast, which is excellent; you have not let me down. In a few months, the Heavenly Pool Secret Realm will open. I¡¯m giving one of the two spots from Spiritual Snake Peak to you. Go there and seek your fortune, aiming to reach Foundation Establishment soon, so you can confidently enter the Inner Sect at the end of the year¡¯s competition. At that time, I¡¯ll take you as my disciple. How does that sound? Are you moved? Nowadays, masters who think so considerately for their disciples are rare.¡± Qin Feng¡¯s mouth twitched, feeling that his Peak Master was quite unconventional. Most people who valued their disciples tried to keep them from dangerous places, but this one, who hadn¡¯t even officially taken him as a disciple yet, was already planning to send him into the perilous Heavenly Pool Secret Realm, making him doubt whether joining her tutelage would be good or bad. Liu Xuanling didn¡¯t wait for him to respond, continuing on her own, ¡°Our path of cultivation is inherently about defying the heavens; without trials and tribulations, one cannot become truly great. Those who appear to worry about their disciples encountering mishaps and thus keep them from all danger, providing them with the best protection, only end up raising a bunch of incompetents with high aspirations but low strength. The truly profound cultivators are those who have endured countless calamities and triumphed.¡± ¡°Boy, do well, I have high hopes for you!¡± Looking at the meaningful smile on Liu Xuanling¡¯s face, Qin Feng felt somewhat apprehensive. In the future, if she became happy, would she send him to some even more dangerous place for training under the guise of it being for his own good? He wasn¡¯t afraid of training, but he certainly wouldn¡¯t agree to a deliberate death sentence! ¡°Why, are you unwilling to go?¡± Seeing that Qin Feng hadn¡¯t spoken, Liu Xuanling asked curiously, ¡°The Heavenly Pool Secret Realm only opens once every 60 years. Although it¡¯s somewhat dangerous, considering the divine skills of your lifebound Spiritual Snake, the danger isn¡¯t great as long as you don¡¯t enter the core area. Moreover, there are numerous treasures and resources inside. As long as your luck isn¡¯t too bad, you¡¯ll definitely get a hold of some treasures. The spots to enter the Heavenly Pool Secret Realm are limited. Each of the major sects, including ours, only gets two hundred spots, and even from our Spiritual Snake Peak, only two are allocated. Ordinary disciples don¡¯t even get a chance. If you don¡¯t want to go, I¡¯ll have to give your spot to someone else?¡± ¡°I am willing to go.¡± Qin Feng hurriedly said, ¡°Thank you, Peak Master, for giving me this opportunity. I am immensely grateful.¡± He had only previously read a brief record of the Heavenly Pool Secret Realm in the Scripture Pavilion and hadn¡¯t known that the Sect¡¯s allotment was so limited. With this in mind, he couldn¡¯t refuse; otherwise, he could only watch helplessly as Qin Xi went in, and he would be unable to help. The two of them represented the hope of their generation in their family. The loss of either would be a significant blow to the family, especially since, aside from his father, Qin Long, the other two Foundation Establishment Cultivators in the family were getting too old. In another ten or twenty years, they could reach the end of their lifespans at any time. As for himself, with his abilities, self-preservation shouldn¡¯t be too difficult. If he could find a suitable lifebound companion for Qin Xi this time, her path in cultivation would be much smoother in the future. ¡°You dare to go, that¡¯s enough.¡± Liu Xuanling nodded. She certainly didn¡¯t want a coward as a disciple. ¡°Don¡¯t utilize the reward for entering the Ten Thousand Demons Cave Heaven yet.¡± She instructed further, ¡°I suggest waiting until your cultivation progresses further and you become an Inner Sect Disciple before you go to the Ten Thousand Demons Cave Heaven to capture a Spiritual Beast. As for the three months of cultivation time that the reward grants you, there¡¯s no specific restriction. You could completely wait until you advance from Foundation Establishment to Golden Core. Otherwise, although there are some benefits to going regularly, relative to speaking, it would still waste such an opportunity.¡± ¡°Disciple understands, thank you, Peak Master, for planning for me.¡± Qin Feng bowed in thanks. ¡°Good.¡± Liu Xuanling reverted back to her original lazy posture and randomly waved her hand, ¡°I called you here just to tell you this. There¡¯s nothing else. Go back and continue your cultivation.¡± ¡°Yes, disciple will retire.¡± Qin Feng gave a bow to both of them and exited Liu Xuanling¡¯s Cave Mansion, heading down the mountain. Once he left, Elder Yin Qi looked at Liu Xuanling somewhat strangely and asked, ¡°You actually plan to take him as your disciple?¡± Liu Xuanling glanced at him lightly, ¡°Why, is that a problem?¡± ¡°It¡¯s not that it¡¯s a problem, just a bit unexpected.¡± Elder Yin Qi said, ¡°Considering your current situation, it¡¯s not suitable for you to take a disciple. I think it¡¯s better you focus on your cultivation, and discuss taking a disciple after advancing to the Purple Mansion Realm.¡± ¡°Humph, what do you know?¡± Liu Xuanling remembered that her master had left the Mountain Gate several months ago, guarding outside Chaos Sky Valley. Recently, news had come from Taiyi Mountain that Elder Xin Jian, who had been in seclusion for a long time, had come out and gone to Liang City with two disciples from the Purple Mansion Realm. It looked like those fellows from Taiyi Mountain ultimately couldn¡¯t resist the lure of the Heavenly Connecting Lotus! After they fight the Mysterious Resentful Spirit in the small lake where the Heavenly Connecting Lotus is growing and both suffer great losses, her master could take advantage of the situation to seize the Heavenly Connecting Lotus. By then, advancing to the Purple Mansion Realm for her would be simple. ¡°Humph, Mu Qingli, although you¡¯ve reached the Purple Mansion Realm one step ahead of me by relying on your opportunity, your accumulation is not as good as mine. Once I reach the Purple Mansion Realm, I can still surpass you.¡± She squinted her eyes, thinking about these matters. However, she would not share any of this with Elder Yin Qi. Although the two of them were both disciples of the Spiritual Snake Lineage, they had different mentors, and there was internal competition. To avoid any accidents, she had to keep her lips sealed and absolutely not expose her master¡¯s whereabouts. Even though Elder Yin Qi probably wouldn¡¯t harbor any ill intentions, she was not accustomed to testing other¡¯s hearts with her own future. Everything was better controlled personally. Chapter 131 - Chapter 131: Chapter 129: Make a Fortune Chapter 131: Chapter 129: Make a Fortune Qin Feng returned to his residence and sat cross-legged in the cultivation room, summarizing the news he had heard from Liu Xuanling today, pondering for a long time. To be honest, he was quite shocked by the information revealed in Liu Xuanling¡¯s words. But now that he thought about it, those matters were not immediately related to him. He was just a minor Outer Disciple, and with his current level of cultivation, if he were to participate in the major battles between his Sect and the outside world, he would only be cannon fodder. He felt that all he needed to do now was to focus on cultivating well, without concerning himself about things that had not yet begun. Even if his Sect wanted to initiate an interworld war, they could not just start the war immediately; at least a few years of preparation would be necessary, otherwise, they might face unforeseen circumstances if they acted too hastily. Moreover, with the power of the Beast Taming Sect alone, whether they could occupy another world was uncertain unless some reclusive Supreme Elders of the Sect, who were immensely powerful, could dominate with absolute strength and suppress the presence of the Demon Gods of the opposing world. Otherwise, once the war reached a deadlock, it would be unfavorable for them. Invading other worlds inherently meant they wouldn¡¯t have home-field advantage. Subjected to the pressure of the opposing World Principles, without overwhelming strength, their chances of victory were uncertain. Even if they could win, the Sect would not dare deploy all its forces to the Outer Realm; they would need to leave at least half of their manpower to guard the Sect¡¯s base. Otherwise, if the enemy forces managed a surprise attack and breached their Mountain Gate, they would end up rootless. Qin Feng thought that to be cautious, the Sect would definitely invite several allied forces to participate and share the resources and wealth of the otherworld. Among these forces, how much manpower and resources each would contribute, and how the territories would be distributed after the war¡ªall of these would require much time to negotiate slowly. After a while, he shook his head and laughed at himself. Being just a minor Qi Refining Disciple, why burden himself with these concerns? Rather, he should think of ways to enhance his own strength. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í??.§ã¦Ï He then remembered that since the senior levels of the Sect had already determined his reward, the Foreign Affairs Hall must have already verified the events of their last raid against the Demon God Believers. With this thought, Qin Feng stood up, left his residence, and rode a Spiritual Vulture to the Foreign Affairs Hall to collect his previous rewards. During the raid against the Demon God Believers, he had obtained considerable spoils, especially having consecutively slain six Demon God Believers whose magic power was comparable to Foundation Establishment Cultivators. Moreover, he had killed dozens of ordinary believers. Now, it was to see if the Sect would settle the rewards as originally promised. If the rewards remained unchanged, he could obtain at least tens of thousands of Spirit Stones this time. The Foreign Affairs Hall was still bustling with disciples either searching for suitable missions, returning to report on their missions, or collecting various rewards for cultivation resources. ¡°Senior Brother, may I ask if the rewards for the last mission to Nanyue Country to kill the Demon God Believers have been determined?¡± Qin Feng approached a counter and inquired with the disciple behind it. ¡°Oh, you were part of that mission too?¡± The disciple looked at Qin Feng and smiled, ¡°You¡¯re quite lucky, that mission was one of the highest rewarding and easiest to complete in recent years. What¡¯s your name, so I can check your rewards?¡± ¡°Junior Brother Qin Feng, thank you, Senior Brother.¡± Qin Feng spoke politely. ¡°Alright, just a moment.¡± The disciple picked up a book, light flickered from his hand as he wrote down the words ¡®Nanyue, Demon God Believers¡¯ on the book. Quickly, the book flipped automatically, revealing detailed information about that mission. He then found Qin Feng¡¯s name and glanced at his achievements and rewards, unable to hide his envy: ¡°Junior Brother Qin truly has good fortune. You¡¯ve slain so much. The Sect¡¯s reward hasn¡¯t changed; this time you killed six Demon God Believers equivalent to Foundation Establishment Cultivators, fourteen people with power comparable to the late stages of Qi Refinement, and forty-six early to middle stage individuals.¡± ¡°The reward for Foundation Establishment Cultivators is one thousand Spirit Stones each, two hundred for late stage Qi Refinement, one hundred for mid-stage, and fifty for early stage. After calculation, you have earned a total of eleven thousand eight hundred Spirit Stones for this mission.¡± When these words were spoken, several disciples waiting behind Qin Feng to hand over their missions immediately became envious. At the same time, they regretted their earlier decision not to participate, as they had seen the mission too but had thought that rounding up Demon Sect disciples was too dangerous. They had not anticipated missing such an opportunity. The disciple behind the counter took Qin Feng¡¯s Identity Jade Token, verified his identity, and then took out one hundred middle-grade Spirit Stones and one thousand eight hundred low-grade Spirit Stones from the wooden cabinet behind him, handing them to Qin Feng. ¡°Thank you, Senior Brother.¡± Qin Feng joyfully put away the Spirit Stones. Indeed, it¡¯s beneficial to be under the shelter of a big tree; joining the sect had facilitated his cultivation. If he were still in his family, he would likely never have amassed such a wealth of Spirit Stones in his lifetime. Rising and leaving the Foreign Affairs Hall, Qin Feng thought it over and jumped onto a Spiritual Vulture, heading directly to the Qingyun Square. With such a large sum of Spirit Stones suddenly in his possession, his heart felt very comfortable. Soon, he would go to the Heavenly Pool Secret Realm, and of course, he needed to enhance his strength as quickly as possible. Now, with just over three months until the opening of the Heavenly Pool Secret Realm, he felt that with his current level¡ªjust entering the ninth layer of Qi Refinement¡ªit was somewhat forced to strive for the Foundation Establishment Realm in this time frame. Even though the Demon Refining Pot could speed up his cultivation, cultivation was never merely about absorbing Spiritual Energy¡ªit involved many facets. Whether it was comprehending Cultivation Techniques or nourishing the meridians and acupoints within his body, these processes required time to settle. Otherwise, forcibly advancing could easily lead to unstable foundations; after all, it had only been a little more than two years since he had awakened his Spiritual Acupoints and broken through to the Qi Refining Realm. That he possessed his current level of Cultivation was already rather remarkable. If he disregarded caution to further speed up his cultivation, he would definitely need to spend much more time later compensating for his shaky foundation. Since he needed some time to solidify his foundation and shouldn¡¯t be rash, he thought he might as well find a way to enhance the strength of his Lifebound Spiritual Beast. By elevating the Ruyi Golden Snake to Foundation Establishment Cultivation, he would greatly improve his own combat power. Indeed, once the Ruyi Golden Snake advanced, this would, in turn, boost his cultivation speed, making his future cultivation efforts much more potent. With this, he might just be able to advance to the Foundation Establishment solidly before the opening of the Heavenly Pool Secret Realm. However, when he arrived at the Ten Thousand Demons Pavilion and inquired about treasures suitable for advancing a Gold Element Spiritual Beast, he hesitated immediately. All treasures used for advancement were exorbitantly expensive; the cheapest were thousands of Spirit Stones and had moderate effects. Those more costly varied from thousands to tens of thousands of Spirit Stones, and these were merely for Qi Refinement and Foundation Establishment Realm treasures. Qin Feng was not unable to afford the items needed for the Ruyi Golden Snake¡¯s advancement, but he felt they were not worth it. Even without these treasures, he was confident of advancing to Foundation Establishment by the end of the year. If it was just to save a few months¡¯ time, spending so many Spirit Stones would seem overly extravagant. After some thought, he abandoned the idea and turned towards the Spiritual Beast Garden. Compared to saving a few months of cultivation time, he preferred to choose something more long-term. For example, selecting a Spiritual Snake with exceptional Innate Divine Abilities and integrating its Divine Skills into the Ruyi Golden Snake¡¯s body would be the most cost-effective move for him now. Chapter 132 - Chapter 132: Chapter 130 Earth Escape Chapter 132: Chapter 130 Earth Escape In the Spiritual Beast Garden, Qin Feng¡¯s visit this time was different from before. Before, his main focus had been on wandering amongst the Spiritual Toads, but today he specifically came to the area where the Spiritual Snakes were kept. In fact, when it came to the variety and quantity of Spiritual Snakes, Spiritual Snake Peak had the most. The quantity at the Ten Thousand Demons Pavilion wasn¡¯t considered abundant because, compared to other types of Spiritual Beasts, Spiritual Snakes weren¡¯t particularly favored by cultivators. In reality, aside from the disciples of the Beast Taming Sect, most cultivators in the Cultivation World would choose Spiritual Birds or Exotic Beasts of good appearance as their riding tools, with few opting for snake-like Spiritual Beasts. The bestseller at the Ten Thousand Demons Pavilion was the Spiritual Crane. This type of Spiritual Bird was not only beautiful, but also had a decent flying speed. Sitting on the back of a Spiritual Crane invisibly added a sense of Immortal-like charm, hence it was most welcomed by cultivators. Next were some small and cute-looking minor Spiritual Beasts. Although most were not powerful, they were particularly loved by female cultivators. After that came those beasts with various unique abilities, followed only then by those powerful and fierce creatures used for combat. Having been in business for many years, the Ten Thousand Demons Pavilion had already summarized countless experiences, knowing which Spiritual Beasts were more popular and which ones usually sold for an average price. Hence, although there were quite a number of Spiritual Snakes here, more were placed just for show, with the majority sold to their own disciples. In fact, if the disciples of each peak of the Beast Taming Sect accrued enough merits, they could also exchange for a Spiritual Beast within their peak. Otherwise, those disciples with average talent and low cultivation wouldn¡¯t be able to acquire a Lifebound Spiritual Beast. Qin Feng knew this, but he had only completed two tasks so far, and the little merit he had was nothing to boast about. He certainly couldn¡¯t just exchange for a common garden snake to bring back. Ordinary tasks didn¡¯t accumulate much merit either. To obtain those Spiritual Beasts with extremely high bloodline talent, one either had to accumulate merits over many years or make significant contributions to the Sect. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï??0.§ã¦Ï Like the Demon God Stone Statue he had brought back, the Sect awarded him with an opportunity to capture a Spiritual Beast in the Ten Thousand Demons Cave Heaven. However, he listened to Liu Xuanling¡¯s advice to wait until after his Foundation Establishment to go to the Ten Thousand Demons Cave Heaven, otherwise, with his current strength, he wouldn¡¯t be able to capture too powerful a Spiritual Beast. In fact, he didn¡¯t know that the news about the Heavenly Connecting Lotus could let him exchange for a top-tier talented Spiritual Snake from Liu Xuanling already. It was just that the Heavenly Connecting Lotus had not yet been obtained, and Liu Xuanling intended to cultivate Qin Feng as a disciple, so she hadn¡¯t brought up this matter. But with Liu Xuanling¡¯s character, once he joined the Inner Sect, she would naturally not skimp on the benefits. Even now, Liu Xuanling hadn¡¯t treated him unfairly, like the quota for entering the Heavenly Pool Secret Realm. The entire Beast Taming Sect only had two hundred spots, and those disciples from the Inner Sect could hardly even ask for one, yet she had directly given Qin Feng a spot. Although the Heavenly Pool Secret Realm posed some dangers, relative to the treasures within, it was certainly worth the risk. Otherwise, every time the Secret Realm opened, so many Inner Sect disciples wouldn¡¯t go to such lengths to secure an opportunity. Qin Feng walked slowly through the area where the Spiritual Snakes were kept, looking at the variously sized and colored snakes, silently comparing them in his mind. The Thunder Snake, with the Innate Divine Ability of Thunder Claps, had a Demon Core cultivation level, was thirty feet long, enveloped in thunder and lightning. Even though its cultivation was already imprisoned, one could still see sparks of electricity emerge on its scale armor. When Qin Feng¡¯s hand touched the iron cage, he could feel his palm tingling. Qin Feng didn¡¯t even look at the price and simply continued walking forward. Such a powerful Spiritual Snake, he certainly couldn¡¯t afford. The Purgatory Fire Snake, with a Demon Core cultivation level, was eighteen feet long, completely crimson as fire, emitting an intensely hot aura, its Divine Power being Purgatory Demon Fire. The Illusion Spirit Snake, with the Innate Illusion Technique Divine Ability, can envelop an entire area within an Illusion Realm, making it hard to distinguish between reality and illusion, whether used for combat or ambush, it was an excellent aid. This piqued Qin Feng¡¯s interest, for such Illusion Technique ability was much stronger than that of the Green Fox, fitting his taste quite well. The only issue was that the price was a tad high¡­ The Medicine King Snake had a slender body with a head shaped like a medicinal ladle, was naturally gifted with a strong perception of various Spiritual Medicines, and was exceptionally good at finding them. Whether traveling outside or treasure hunting in a Secret Realm, it was an invaluable assistant. Sadly, the price of the Medicine King Snake was just as envy-inducing as its ability to find Spiritual Medicines. Thus, Qin Feng could only look on enviously and turn his gaze elsewhere. After looking at several more pricy Spiritual Snakes, Qin Feng quickly put the joy of obtaining over ten thousand Spirit Stones behind him. Forget it, those powerful Spiritual Snakes are prepared for cultivators with higher realms. He should stop discouraging himself here. Besides, at his current Realm, the Ruyi Golden Snake couldn¡¯t merge with the Essence Blood of these powerful snakes. He might as well look at some Qi Refining Realm Spiritual Snakes. Thinking this, he quickly walked past this area and continued forward. ¡°` ¡°Eh, a Cold Ice Python?¡± Qin Feng quickly recognized a somewhat familiar figure. When he had just joined the Sect, he had once raised a Cold Ice Python and was quite familiar with this type of giant serpent. However, he didn¡¯t choose the Cold Ice Python because the Swallowing Sky Toad already possessed the power of cold ice, and there was no need to add such an Innate Divine Ability to the Ruyi Golden Snake at this time. He walked past the Cold Ice Python in a few steps and continued looking. Two snakes, skilled in poison and Water Element Techniques, weren¡¯t of much use to him at the moment. The Tree Python, a Wood Element Spiritual Snake with a huge body but low combat power. The Red Refinement Snake, entirely fire red like a chain, could manipulate flames. The Golden Ring Snake could solidify the golden ring patterns on its body into tangible rings to imprison its opponents. Qin Feng stroked his chin; this ability was indeed quite good. But, let¡¯s look further. The Profound Yin Water Snake, adept at Water Element Techniques. The Great Desert Viper, an Earth Element Spiritual Snake, proficient in Earth Escape¡­ ¡°Eh, Earth Escape?¡± Qin Feng¡¯s eyes suddenly lit up; this Innate Divine Ability seemed pretty good. For him in his current stage, it absolutely qualified as a life-saving Divine Skill. The reputation of the Five Elements Escape Technique was grand, but those who truly mastered it weren¡¯t many. It wasn¡¯t just an issue of inheritance but also because it wasn¡¯t a common spell; strictly speaking, it should be categorized as Divine Skill. Divine Skills are hard to cultivate, and ordinary cultivators usually have to reach their Golden Core before they can start cultivating them. Qin Feng felt that there was no need to integrate any powerful attack Divine Skills into the Ruyi Golden Snake right now. When your Realm is low, no matter how strong your attack is, it¡¯s limited. It¡¯s better to enhance one¡¯s life-saving abilities first. And the Earth Escape Technique definitely counted as an excellent method for preserving one¡¯s life. In the face of danger, he just needed to escape into the ground, where even Golden Core Cultivators would find it hard to attack a spot more than a dozen meters deep. What¡¯s more, after escaping underground, he wasn¡¯t immobile; even if the opponents on the surface didn¡¯t want to let him go, he could still escape from beneath them. Thinking this, Qin Feng¡¯s heart was greatly stirred. He glanced at the price, twelve thousand Spirit Stones. This price¡­ was really damn coincidental, he had just earned that many Spirit Stones today, and now he was expected to shell them all out. For a moment, he even wondered if someone was plotting against his Spirit Stones. However, he quickly calmed his thoughts. The Ten Thousand Demons Pavilion was so vast; they would hardly care about the few Spirit Stones he had. The viper¡¯s combat power wasn¡¯t particularly strong, but the Earth Escape Divine Power was extremely rare among Spiritual Beasts, which probably justified its high price. Qin Feng had heard that there were disciples from Spiritual Snake Peak who used this sort of viper as their Lifebound Spiritual Beast. When they went on missions, they were known for their elusiveness, making it difficult for the vast majority of cultivators to deal with them. Although the price of the viper was somewhat high, he thought inversely; spending just over ten thousand Spirit Stones to gain the Earth Escape from the Five Elements Escape Techniques was far from a loss; in fact, it was a great bargain. With this thought, his mood instantly improved. He hurriedly sought out a Servant Disciple from the Ten Thousand Demons Pavilion and bought the viper. Then he thought it over and in the end, he didn¡¯t leave directly but went to the area selling Spiritual Medicine instead. He spent three thousand six hundred Spirit Stones to buy a bottle of Spirit Transformation Golden Pills for the Ruyi Golden Snake to advance in rank. This Elixir Pill was specially designed for Gold Element Spiritual Beasts to advance; it contained powerful Golden Spirit Qi. Although it wasn¡¯t the best, with the Ruyi Golden Snake¡¯s strength, it should be enough to help it reach Foundation Establishment. Chapter 133 - Chapter 133: Chapter 131: Iron Armor Rhinoceros Chapter 133: Chapter 131: Iron Armor Rhinoceros As long as the Ruyi Golden Snake successfully advanced, it could provide him with a substantial amount of Spiritual Energy, boosting his cultivation speed and enhancing the effectiveness of his cultivation by about fifty percent each time. This wasn¡¯t merely his own guess; many disciples from the sect, feeling their progress was slow, would focus on nurturing their Lifebound Spiritual Beasts. After the beasts advanced, indeed, this effect was evident. However, after he left the Ten Thousand Demons Pavilion, he still couldn¡¯t help feeling a pang of heartache. Even though he had obtained quite a few Spirit Stones and resources from several Bandit Cultivators and Taiyi Mountain disciples previously, his extravagant spending left him with only three to four thousand Spirit Stones. He dared not spend these stones, as he would need to buy some Spirit Talismans for protection and some elixirs for healing when he went to the Heavenly Pool Secret Realm after some time. Additionally, his Magic Artifact, the Demon Slaying Saber, was ruined by the Ruyi Golden Snake during their time in the Ancient Battlefield. Seeing that the saber was utterly unusable, he felt too lazy to bring it back for repair and fed it directly to the Ruyi Golden Snake. Thus, now besides one Binding Spirit Net and the thirty Cold Ice Stars he reserved as his trump card, he didn¡¯t possess any other magic artifacts. Qin Feng didn¡¯t buy another magic artifact, feeling he wasn¡¯t far from reaching the Foundation Establishment Realm. He planned to buy one or two Spiritual Artifacts to use for defense post-Foundation Establishment, which were far more powerful than magic artifacts. However, this was not urgent; he would wait until after the Ruyi Golden Snake had advanced. Besides, most of the combat strength of the Beast Taming Sect¡¯s disciples lay in their spiritual beasts. Even without a magic artifact at hand, they wouldn¡¯t be inferior to others. Now, it was crucial to integrate the Earth Escape Divine Ability of the Viper into the Ruyi Golden Snake. Merely possessing the Divine Ability didn¡¯t mean it could be used at will; it needed to absorb Earth Element Spiritual Energy to activate this divine ability. Just like the Swallowing Sky Toad couldn¡¯t use Water Element Techniques and Cold Ice Arrows if it didn¡¯t absorb Water Spirit Energy and foster cold energy within its body. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í¨À?.§ã¦Ï Moreover, after acquiring a divine ability, it needed much practice. Otherwise, unable to escape far when in danger and being pulled out from the ground would be problematic. Flying back to Spiritual Snake Peak on the Spiritual Vulture, as soon as Qin Feng returned to his courtyard, he hurriedly placed the Viper into the Demon Refining Pot. With the support of the spirit vein inside the mansion, the integration of the bloodline within the Qi Refining Realm in the second layer of the Demon Refining Pot didn¡¯t require Qin Feng to invest any additional Spirit Stones; otherwise, the Spirit Stones he had wouldn¡¯t suffice. Buzz¡­ The Viper, just introduced to a new environment, hadn¡¯t even had a chance to look around when the Demon Refining Pot directly refined the essence blood from its body, enveloping the Ruyi Golden Snake in a cloud of blood mist. Qin Feng could distinctly feel a Rule Power controlling the body of the Ruyi Golden Snake. As the Bloodline Power slowly permeated, a new strength gradually awakened within the snake¡¯s body. A quarter of an hour later, the bloodline integration completed, and the body of the Ruyi Golden Snake returned to normal. Qin Feng gestured with his hand, and the Ruyi Golden Snake appeared in his palm. He touched the wings of the Ruyi Golden Snake, silently sensing the changes it brought about now. Not only could it absorb Gold Element Spiritual Energy for cultivation, but it also became very sensitive to Earth Element Spiritual Energy. As he willed it, the Ruyi Golden Snake began absorbing both Gold and Earth Element Spiritual Energies. Far from conflicting, they complemented each other, with the Gold Element Spiritual Energy growing stronger under the nourishment of the Earth Element Spiritual Energy. As it absorbed and refined the Earth Element Spiritual Energy, a yellow glow gradually rose around the Ruyi Golden Snake. Swoosh¡­ With a flap of its wings, the Ruyi Golden Snake soared in the air, circled, then dove into the ground, disappearing. However, since it was its first time using the Earth Escape, lacking proficiency and sufficient Earth Element Primordial Qi, the Ruyi Golden Snake only managed to burrow two feet deep and consumed all the absorbed Earth Element Spiritual Energy, getting stuck underground. Of course, such a shallow depth couldn¡¯t trap it. Qin Feng didn¡¯t let the Ruyi Golden Snake come up directly but experimented with converting Gold Element Spiritual Energy into Earth Element Spiritual Energy to continue using the Earth Escape. He found that although it consumed more energy, it was indeed feasible, which relieved him. Currently, the main issue was that the Ruyi Golden Snake didn¡¯t possess enough Earth Element Spiritual Energy internally to sustain the Earth Escape for long, and also, the escape depth was shallow, making it easy for someone to detect its trace. It seemed, in the upcoming period, more effort should be put into this area to aim to master the Earth Escape to the point of divine proficiency before heading to the Heavenly Pool Secret Realm. Especially after merging with the Ruyi Golden Snake, he must be able to burrow into the ground immediately. Qin Feng felt that in the future, it would be best to seize the opportunity to acquire the Golden Escape Technique, making him a perfect match with the Ruyi Golden Snake. Of course, if he could master the Five Elements Escape Technique as a set, that would be even better. Regrettably, though there were many Spiritual Snakes capable of Water Escape, those with innate divine abilities to understand the other escape techniques were rare, and even the Sect might not be able to gather them all. To collect the Five Elements Escape Techniques, he probably needed to look beyond the Spiritual Snakes to other Spiritual Beasts. The yellow glow underground flashed, and the Ruyi Golden Snake burst forth from the ground into Qin Feng¡¯s hands, still radiating golden light, its body completely free of soil. Qin Feng, with a smile, took out a Spirit Transformation Golden Pill and fed it to the Ruyi Golden Snake. The Spirit Transformation Golden Pill had a potent effect¡ªit was specially concocted by the Sect¡¯s alchemists for the advancement of Gold Element Spiritual Beasts because the Gold Element Spiritual Energy contained within was too sharp; only the robust physique of a Spiritual Beast could withstand it. Ordinary cultivators dared not ingest such a substance for fear that the sharp Gold Element Spiritual Energy might damage their internal organs. A bottle of Spirit Transformation Golden Pills contained ten pills, and Qin Feng fed one to the Ruyi Golden Snake every seven days; by the time they finished, over two months had passed. After consuming these golden pills, the Golden Qi within the Ruyi Golden Snake had intensified to the extreme, eventually undergoing a qualitative change due to the quantitative accumulation and successfully advanced to become a Foundation Establishment Realm Spiritual Beast. Qin Feng delved deeply into the sensations of the Ruyi Golden Snake¡¯s advancement. Although his human body differed from a snake¡¯s, the Ruyi Golden Snake was his lifebound Spiritual Beast, and there was a close connection between them; he still gleaned quite a lot from the experience. Once the Ruyi Golden Snake had successfully advanced, Qin Feng immediately felt a surge of pure Spiritual Power enter his body, surprisingly stimulating the cultivation of his True Yuan inside. Unbeknownst to him, half a day passed, and when he came to his senses again, it was already night. At the time, the True Yuan within his body had thickened considerably compared to before. Although he felt that he was still a hair¡¯s breadth away from reaching the Qi Refining Perfection Realm, with further cultivation for a period, he could be on the verge of advancing to Foundation Establishment at any time. Qin Feng was overjoyed¡ªit was indeed beneficial to have a lifebound Spiritual Beast, something other Sect cultivators could not comprehend. Now, the power inside the Ruyi Golden Snake was more condensed than his True Yuan; if his True Yuan were to be described as mist, then the power inside the Ruyi Golden Snake was like a flowing stream. Every time his True Yuan interacted with the Ruyi Golden Snake¡¯s, it became denser, seemingly on the verge of transforming into a stream. He secluded himself in the courtyard for another seven or eight days until the Ruyi Golden Snake¡¯s realm was completely stabilized. By that time, his own cultivation had also strengthened by a few degrees. That day, Qin Feng left the courtyard and headed straight for the Foreign Affairs Hall. After the Ruyi Golden Snake¡¯s successful advancement, his strength was also considerably greater than before, and he needed to find an opponent to test his current war power. He didn¡¯t want to spar with fellow disciples as that held little meaning for him. Neither side could fight lethally, making the combat awkward and constrained; he might as well look for a suitable mission in the Foreign Affairs Hall, both to hone his war power and to earn some rewards and merits. Upon arriving at the Foreign Affairs Hall, Qin Feng confidently walked up to the stone wall where missions were posted, searching for one that suited him. He avoided tasks too distant from the Sect, fearing they would take too long and possibly cause him to miss the opening of Heavenly Pool Secret Realm. He didn¡¯t choose complicated tasks either, as he currently only wanted to take on tasks that would hone his skills, not to handle trivial matters. A moment later, his eyes lit up when he spotted a mission to clear out Demon Beasts. A small group of Iron Armor Rhinoceroses had appeared three thousand miles away from the Sect, within the territory of Sang City. Though the group of Iron Armor Rhinoceroses was not very strong, their thick skin and powerful defenses made it difficult even for the two small families¡¯ Foundation Establishment Cultivators in Sang City to kill or drive them away; instead, many Spiritual Mulberry Trees were destroyed by them. If this destruction continued, Sang City would suffer significant losses, possibly reducing the resources contributed to the Sect next year. Qin Feng carefully considered his options. The Iron Armor Rhinoceroses were immensely strong but heavily focused on defense, making them an ideal opponent for him. These creatures were large and slow to react, unlikely to hurt him easily, apt for refining his war skills. Even if he were accidentally caught in their attack, he could rely on the Earth Escape to evade, making sure he wouldn¡¯t be trapped and unable to escape. With the Ruyi Golden Snake¡¯s formidable attack power, he should be able to break through the defenses of the Iron Armor Rhinoceroses without returning empty-handed. Having made up his mind, he no longer hesitated and went directly to the disciple handling missions LatLng{} to take on the task against the Iron Armor Rhinoceroses, then promptly set off, riding the Spiritual Vulture toward Sang City. Chapter 134 - Chapter 134: Chapter 132 Ruyi Golden Light Slash Rhinoceros Chapter 134: Chapter 132 Ruyi Golden Light Slash Rhinoceros Sang City was not large, but its citizens were relatively prosperous because most of them raised silkworms and grew mulberry trees for a living, which provided a higher income than that of ordinary farmers who only grew crops. The two cultivator families outside the city, the Zhang Family and the Liu Family, also cultivated plenty of spiritual mulberries on their respective family¡¯s spiritual vein land and bred spiritual silkworms for profit. Located in the territory of the Beast Taming Sect, Sang City was not like the fringe small towns such as Kun City, where several families belonged to different factions. Both the Zhang and Liu families were affiliated powers of the Beast Taming Sect, and whenever the children of the families entered the sect, they all joined the Heavenly Silkworm Peak lineage. Therefore, these two families did not compete against each other. Instead, they had a great relationship, intermarried, and jointly controlled the Sang City territory. However, the spirit vein belonging to Sang City was small, with limited output. Coupled with the protection of the Beast Taming Sect, there usually was no danger and no sense of crisis, so the strength of these two cultivator families was not strong. Together, they only had four Foundation Establishment Cultivators, one of whom was serving the Beast Taming Sect. At the Zhang Family Mansion, the heads of the Zhang and Liu families gathered together with anxious expressions, clearly worried about the Iron Armor Rhinoceroses. Those Iron Armor Rhinoceroses could sense some benefits in their spiritual vein lands, so they charged into their spiritual fields. Not only did they trample a vast amount of land, but during the attempt to drive away those Iron Armor Beasts, many spiritual mulberries were also destroyed by the beasts. Now, those Iron Armor Beasts were lingering in the forests outside the city and would come to eat the grass and trees in their spiritual fields every day, even directly breaking the spiritual mulberries to eat the tender leaves. Even though the Iron Armor Rhinoceroses did not actively attack them, if this continued, their family-raised spiritual silkworms would not have enough food and would surely die in large numbers, which would be a tremendous loss. ¡°Sigh, who knows when the assistance from the sect will arrive. If there¡¯s another day or two of delay, our two families might be in trouble for the next few years,¡± lamented Zhang Wuxu, family head of the Zhang Family. Beside him, Liu Shaofeng, family head of the Liu Family, also had a worried frown, ¡°Indeed, if they were just eating some grass and mulberries it wouldn¡¯t matter much. But those spiritual mulberry trees have been planted for many years to grow to their current size. If they continue to be ravaged by that group of Iron Armor Rhinoceroses, I¡¯m afraid we won¡¯t be able to grow enough spiritual mulberries within a decade.¡± While they were sharing their troubles, a Liu Family member rushed in frantically: ¡°Clan Leader, it¡¯s bad! Those Iron Armor Rhinoceroses are approaching our spiritual field again.¡± Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í?0.?¦Ï ¡°What?¡± Liu Shaofeng was both shocked and angry upon hearing this, ¡°Didn¡¯t they just come to our place yesterday? How come they are heading to our spiritual field again?¡± According to the pattern, they should be visiting the Zhang Family today. Otherwise, he would not have accepted the invitation of the Zhang Family head to come and help. Why were those Iron Armor Rhinoceroses not following the usual pattern today? He dared not hesitate and quickly stood up to say to Zhang Wuxu beside him, ¡°Brother Zhang, please lend me a hand.¡± ¡°There¡¯s no distinction between you and me for our two families. Let¡¯s go together,¡± Zhang Wuxu replied with a look of urgency on his face, but he secretly breathed a sigh of relief inside. As long as they didn¡¯t come to our house, that¡¯s good. The two of them released two spiritual birds and flew toward the Liu Family¡¯s spiritual field. On the ground, more than a dozen Iron Armor Rhinoceroses, each around twenty to thirty feet long, shook their hefty bodies, moving slowly yet resolutely towards the spiritual field in front. Leading them was an Iron Armor Rhinoceros that was more than fifty feet in body length. Its majestic physique was like a small hill, with one large and one small, sturdy horns above its nose¡ªa larger horn that was over three feet long, and a shorter horn about a foot and a half, both with sharp tips gleaming with a metallic color. The group of Iron Armor Rhinoceroses was so enormous that their movement sounded like a thunderous army on the march, a formidable presence. Standing in front of the Liu Family¡¯s spiritual field was a pale-faced Foundation Establishment Cultivator. He was another Foundation Establishment Cultivator from the Liu Family who had been injured in battle with the Iron Armor Rhinoceroses the day before. His wounds had not yet healed, but with the Iron Armor Rhinoceroses trampling their family¡¯s spiritual field again, he had no choice but to stand up to stop them. Fortunately, the Iron Armor Rhinoceroses moved slowly, and the heads of the Zhang and Liu families arrived in time to support. Even though all three were Foundation Establishment Cultivators, they couldn¡¯t help but frown. Although both family heads were cultivators from the Beast Taming Sect, their lifebound spiritual worms weren¡¯t considered to have strong war power as spiritual beasts, with no way to deal with these Iron Armor Rhinoceroses with strong defense power. The Iron Armor Rhinoceroses had stout build and immense strength. Once adult, they possessed the power of the late stages of the Qi Refinement Realm, and most importantly, not only was their thick hide defensive, but once they activated their demon energy, their entire body became like clad in Iron Armor, making it difficult for even regular Foundation Establishment Cultivators to harm them. Moreover, they also had a savage charge ability. When they ran wild, their momentum was unstoppable and irresistible. In fact, most of the Spiritual Mulberry trees of both families had been destroyed in this way. ¡°Under no circumstances can we let them get into the Spiritual Field again, otherwise there won¡¯t be many Spiritual Mulberry trees left in my family.¡± Liu Shaofeng¡¯s body flashed with Spirit Light as his Lifebound Spiritual Silkworm possessed him, and he spat out a breath of cold air, attacking the leading Iron Armor Rhinoceros. His Lifebound Spiritual Silkworm was an Ice Silkworm, with fairly decent Attack Power. Normally, if an average Demon Beast of the same level faced his attack, it would definitely avoid its edge so as not to have its blood frozen by the cold air. But the Iron Armor Rhinoceros Leader didn¡¯t dodge or evade at all, allowing Liu Shaofeng¡¯s breath of cold air to hit it, forming a layer of Cold Ice about a foot thick on its exterior. Then, as if unfazed, the Iron Armor Rhinoceros continued to stride forward, the Cold Ice cracking with a snap and falling to the ground in large chunks, not hindering it in the slightest. The complexion of Zhang Wuxu standing nearby turned sour. His Lifebound Spiritual Silkworm was a Spring Silkworm, which specialized in healing and had an even weaker attack. Just as the two Foundation Establishment Cultivators from the Liu Family were anxiously preparing to fight desperately, they suddenly heard a sharp cry of a bird from the sky. Then, they saw a Spiritual Vulture flying toward them rapidly from afar and landing in front of them. ¡°Reinforcements from the Sect have arrived!¡± The cultivators from both families were overjoyed. However, when they saw that it was only a late-stage Qi Refining youth, their expressions immediately fell. They were Foundation Establishment Cultivators and already unable to handle those Iron Armor Rhinoceros; what use could there be in a late-stage Qi Refining youth? ¡°Are you Zhang and Liu, the Family Heads?¡± Qin Feng came down and asked the two Foundation Establishment Cultivators standing at the front. ¡°Yes, may I ask if you are the fellow Sect member sent to support our families, and is there anyone else coming?¡± Liu Shaofeng asked anxiously. ¡°There¡¯s no one else, just me.¡± Qin Feng¡¯s words immediately made the hearts of the cultivators from both families turn cold. ¡°Alas¡­¡± From behind, someone sighed. The Sect had actually only sent a Qi Refining Realm cultivator over; this felt like a brush-off. Qin Feng glanced at the faces of these people and immediately understood in his heart that he was being underestimated. However, this was also normal. He wasn¡¯t a renowned genius like Kong Xuan or Wei Yan, so it was normal for these people to react this way when they hadn¡¯t heard of his reputation. Seeing the group of Iron Armor Rhinoceros closing in, he didn¡¯t bother to explain and just smiled, ¡°Family Heads, please wait a moment. I¡¯ll go take care of these Iron Armor Rhinoceros first, then I¡¯ll come back and chat with you.¡± With that said, he flashed with Golden Light, and his wings vibrated behind him. He rushed like lightning toward the Iron Armor Rhinoceros Leader, several meters away. His wings slashed continuously with a ringing sound, causing sparks to fly from the Iron Armor Rhinoceros Leader¡¯s body. Clearly, the Iron Armor Rhinoceros Leader had felt that his attack was too sharp, which is why it finally activated its Innate Divine Ability, Iron Armor Protection. However, even so, that couldn¡¯t block Qin Feng¡¯s slashes. The wings of the Ruyi Golden Snake were originally extremely sharp, and after Qin Feng realized the Iron Armor Rhinoceros¡¯ defense was strong, he directly called upon the Ruyi Golden Light, attaching it to his wings. Immediately, the already sharp wings became even more lethal. After slashing rapidly with several dozen blows, he finally pierced through the Iron Armor Rhinoceros Leader¡¯s defense and wounded its body. ¡°Mooh¡­¡± The Iron Armor Rhinoceros Leader let out a low bellow as its body swayed. It lowered its head and charged at Qin Feng. However, it couldn¡¯t match Qin Feng¡¯s speed. As his wings unfolded behind him, his figure moved like a streak of Golden Light, easily dodging its charge. Chapter 135 - Chapter 135: Chapter 133: Submission Chapter 135: Chapter 133: Submission ¡°Moo¡­¡± With another low roar from the Iron Armor Rhinoceros Leader, the dozen or so Iron Armor Rhinoceroses following it immediately launched their four hooves and thundered toward Qin Feng, hoping to overwhelm him with their numbers. Qin Feng chuckled lightly, flapped the wings on his back, and flew several meters high, leaving the group of Iron Armor Rhinoceroses charging at thin air. However, his expression soon changed. Although the Iron Armor Rhinoceroses could not fly and were slower than him, they were still Demon Beasts capable of using spells to attack. The leading Iron Armor Rhinoceros suddenly lifted its front hooves and stomped fiercely on the ground, causing a loud boom as over a dozen sharp Earth Spur Spell shot up from the ground towards him. Qin Feng¡¯s figure flickered, narrowly avoiding these earth spurs, only to see the rest of the Iron Armor Rhinoceroses do the same, stomping the ground and sending hundreds of earth spurs flying towards him consecutively. ¡°Bang, bang, bang¡­¡± Realizing there were too many earth spurs to dodge, Qin Feng rapidly spun around, his wings like blades, slicing through all the incoming earth spurs. However, with the overwhelming numbers of Iron Armor Rhinoceroses, if he continued to passively take hits, he was unlikely to last very long. Therefore, after enduring a wave of attacks, Qin Feng leveraged the situation to fly back and landed behind the group of Iron Armor Rhinoceroses. In his hand, the Ruyi Golden Light Sword flashed, and with a swift slash, he carved a bloody mark on the back of a slightly smaller Iron Armor Rhinoceros. An Iron Armor Rhinoceros Leader at the Foundation Establishment Realm could withstand his flurry of attacks for a short while, but these Qi Refining Realm Iron Armor Rhinoceroses were much weaker. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?0¦Í??.§ã¦Ï With the pained cry from the injured Iron Armor Rhinoceros, the rest clumsily turned around and charged at Qin Feng again. Qin Feng fought while retreating and, in a short while, had drawn the group of Iron Armor Rhinoceroses hundreds of meters away, away from the Liu Family¡¯s Spiritual Field. The cultivators around were dumbfounded, having not expected that the Iron Armor Rhinoceroses, which neither their families together could handle, were thus led away by the young man in the Qi Refining Realm. Liu Shaofeng and Zhang Wuxu exchanged glances, prepared to step forward to help. After all, they were Foundation Establishment Cultivators. Without the Iron Armor Rhinoceros Leader, dealing with ordinary Iron Armor Rhinoceroses would still be manageable. From afar, Qin Feng saw them and shouted loudly, ¡°Family heads, there¡¯s no need to come help. I can handle these creatures alone. This is my mission, and you need not intervene.¡± The two frowned but eventually stopped. This young man, being able to merge with his Lifebound Spiritual Beast at the Qi Refining Realm, clearly was also a top-tier genius. Such geniuses, whom they had seen during their time at the Beast Taming Sect, were like stars held up by the masses in the Outer Sect and would definitely be accepted into the Inner Sect unless something unexpected happened. These two family heads were shrewd; since the other party wanted them to keep their distance, it was better for them to obediently remain behind. Or else, witnessing any techniques the other might want to keep secret could potentially bring trouble. In fact, Qin Feng also wanted to conceal the fact that he knew the Earth Escape Technique, particularly before the Heavenly Pool Secret Realm opened. He did not want to be observed. Otherwise, if words spread out, he might face targeted attacks in the Secret Realm, which could prove disadvantageously. So, for now, he didn¡¯t go for a fatal strike but instead continually provoked the Iron Armor Rhinoceroses¡¯ ire, leading them far into the mountain woods. Arriving here, where no one was around, Qin Feng no longer had any concerns. With his full war power unleashed and golden light radiating all around him, his wings transformed into divine blades, slashing and cutting through the air. He fiercely dealt severe injuries to most of the Iron Armor Rhinoceroses, drawing their pitiful howls. Despite the Iron Armor Rhinoceros Leader¡¯s furious bellowing, Qin Feng relied on his speed to dodge its charge. He even used other Iron Armor Rhinoceros to block its path, constantly avoiding face-to-face confrontation, letting the leader bellow furiously yet unable to touch him in the slightest. However, Qin Feng didn¡¯t keep dodging forever. The Ruyi Golden Snake had achieved Foundation Establishment, and its strength had greatly increased, which also shortened the time he could merge for combat. Unless he too could achieve Foundation Establishment, he would have to withdraw from this state after, at most, a quarter of an hour. After Qin Feng had injured some ordinary Iron Armor Beasts, he quickly turned his attention to their leader. ¡°Moo¡­¡± Enraged, the Iron Armor Rhinoceros charged at him again. Qin Feng wanted to test the defensive power of the Ruyi Golden Snake, so he didn¡¯t dodge but crossed his wings in front of him, staunchly resisting the attack. With a loud crash, Qin Feng was sent flying. He flew several dozen feet before landing. After landing, Qin Feng stumbled back a few steps, his footing unstable. He finally stomped down hard on the ground, sinking half a foot into the earth, before he stabilized himself. ¡°What tremendous strength!¡± Qin Feng twisted his neck, easing his numb body from the shock, and looked at the Iron Armor Rhinoceros Leader charging at him again. He couldn¡¯t help but exclaim. ¡°However, it¡¯s just a barbaric beast with greater strength.¡± As the Iron Armor Rhinoceros charged toward him, its three-foot-long horn aiming again, Qin Feng¡¯s body suddenly flashed with a yellow light, and he instantly disappeared. ¡°Boom¡­¡± The Iron Armor Rhinoceros couldn¡¯t stop in time and smashed into a large tree two yards away, shattering the thick tree and scattering branches and leaves everywhere. It looked around bewilderedly with its small eyes, unable to comprehend how its opponent had suddenly vanished. ¡°Hey¡­¡± From behind, Qin Feng grasped a piece of the tree branch that had flown towards him and threw it at the Iron Armor Rhinoceros¡¯s head, ¡°I¡¯m over here.¡± The Iron Armor Rhinoceros turned around instantly and began another charge with its four hooves thumping the ground. Qin Feng shook his head. Ultimately, it was a simple-minded Demon Beast, easily provoked and swayed by emotions. As the Iron Armor Rhinoceros charged at him, he used the Earth Escape Technique again to hide underground. However, just as the Iron Armor Rhinoceros was about to pass over him, Qin Feng suddenly rose from the ground, raised his arms high, mustered all his strength, and with the help of the charging speed of the Iron Armor Rhinoceros, flipped it into the air. With a thunderous sound, the body of the Iron Armor Rhinoceros Leader rolled several times on the ground, knocking down two trees before it finally stopped rolling and staggered to its feet with a dazed head. The creature was tough and thick-skinned; it wasn¡¯t injured but was surely dazed from the fall. Having learned from its mistake, it seemed a bit smarter and didn¡¯t charge forward recklessly, but instead, it used the Earth Spur Spell again, attempting to attack with magic. Qin Feng¡¯s body flashed with yellow light once more and he dove back underground. This time, the Iron Armor Rhinoceros Leader sensed something, it stomped its front hooves violently, and with a thunderous roar, the ground sunk more than six feet deep. Underground, Qin Feng suddenly felt a great force attack him, as if it wanted to crush him into a meat pie. However, after merging with the Ruyi Golden Snake, his defense was extremely strong, so he was not severely injured by this force, but his internal organs were still somewhat weak. Although he hurriedly used the Ruyi Golden Light for protection, he inevitably suffered internal injuries from the crushing force and almost vomited blood in discomfort. He smiled bitterly in his heart, realizing that he should not underestimate the Iron Armor Rhinoceros. He had thought it was just a rhinoceros with brute strength, but it turned out to be very sensitive. Nevertheless, this served as a reminder for him to be careful of attacks from the ground when he used the Earth Escape Technique in the future, protecting himself well. This time it was okay, as he had chosen his opponent himself, and the attack power of the Iron Armor Rhinoceros was not too strong, so he did not really suffer any serious internal injuries. But without this battle, he might have suffered a great loss in the Heavenly Pool Secret Realm due to carelessness, as that place gathered many elite disciples from various sects, among whom some surely knew mysterious techniques and possessed strange Spiritual Artifacts capable of attacking him while using the Earth Escape Technique. ¡°Let¡¯s end the fight!¡± Thinking this, Qin Feng quickly turned twice underground. Above ground, the Iron Armor Rhinoceros could barely capture some of Qin Feng¡¯s aura. Following the trace of the aura, it chased after Qin Feng¡¯s figure, but its massive body hindered its speed. After turning in place twice, it not only failed to catch up with Qin Feng but almost tripped over itself. At that moment, Qin Feng suddenly burst forth from behind it. His body shone with a brilliant golden light, forcefully flipping it over onto the ground again, then he gathered all his strength, attempting to capture it into the Demon Refining Pot. The Iron Armor Rhinoceros struggled wildly. Qin Feng¡¯s strength was ultimately no match for it, so it broke free. Qin Feng frowned, surprised that this creature was so resilient. After some thought, he released the Ghost-Faced Spider. Now, the Ghost-Faced Spider looked significantly different, its body several times larger than before, and on the terrifying ghost face on its back, there were many more dark fiery patterns. This was due to it absorbing and refining the power of a Demon God. The Demon God, having severed its connections with this world, had its magic power lose control by the Demon God and gradually absorbed and refined by the Ghost-Faced Spider, turning into its own power. Qin Feng did not know if this was problematic for the Ghost-Faced Spider, but it did not matter to him; the Ghost-Faced Spider was not his main Spiritual Beast and only needed to serve as a competent fighter. After the Ghost-Faced Spider appeared, it arched its abdomen and rapidly sprayed out a large amount of spider silk. The spider silk it now produced was much thicker than before and had a reddish color, faintly emitting a fiery aura. Although the power of the Iron Armor Rhinoceros was strong enough to break the spider silk, its slow speed couldn¡¯t match the Ghost-Faced Spider. As the spider silk increasingly wrapped around the Iron Armor Rhinoceros, it soon lost the strength to resist and was captured into the Demon Refining Pot by Qin Feng and refined into his own Spiritual Beast. The remaining Iron Armor Beasts were somewhat stunned, not knowing why their leader had suddenly disappeared. Just as they hesitated whether to flee, Qin Feng released the Iron Armor Rhinoceros leader again, freeing it from the spider silk. Then, with a roar from the Iron Armor Rhinoceros leader, the other Iron Armor Rhinoceroses immediately became submissive, approached Qin Feng, and one by one, he sent them into the Demon Refining Pot. He did not plan to keep these creatures forever; the Iron Armor Rhinoceroses at the Qi Refining Realm required a lot of grass daily, and raising them was too wasteful of his time and resources. But now, as he was about to enter the Heavenly Pool Secret Realm, he took the opportunity to subdue a few more Demon Beasts, which could also help block opponents at critical moments. After capturing all the Iron Armor Rhinoceroses into the Demon Refining Pot, the golden light on his body faded, and the Ruyi Golden Snake automatically slithered onto his wrist to coil there. Qin Feng felt the depletion of most of his Spiritual Power within him and thought for a moment. He did not leave immediately but instead had the Ghost-Faced Spider and Iron Armor Rhinoceros stand guard on the periphery to protect him as he took out a middle-grade Spirit Stone and began to cultivate to restore his True Yuan. Once he had recovered most of his True Yuan, he finally stood up and headed toward the Liu Family estate. After all, the task was completed, and he needed to inform the cultivators of the two families and have them provide a certificate so that he could return and report on his mission. ¡°Little Friend Qin, you haven¡¯t been injured, have you?¡± Outside the Spiritual Field of the Liu family, the cultivators from both families were waiting there, with Liu Shaofeng and Zhang Wuxu both eagerly anticipating. They had sensed that the battle in the forest had ceased, but since Qin Feng had not spoken, they did not intrude to investigate. Now seeing Qin Feng approach, they quickly stepped forward a few paces, to greet him courteously. ¡°It¡¯s nothing.¡± Qin Feng showed a slight smile on his face, nodded at them, and said, ¡°I have dealt with all the Iron Armor Rhinoceros. I would like to ask the two Clan Leaders to provide me with a certificate so I can return and report to the Senior Brother of the Foreign Affairs Hall.¡± ¡°Ah, all of them have been dealt with?¡± They looked at each other, surprised and delighted that this young man had managed to take care of the troublesome group of Iron Armor Rhinoceros so quickly. Liu Shaofeng hurriedly said, ¡°It¡¯s still early in the day, Little Friend. Why not come to my residence for a chat, to let both our families extend our hospitality and properly thank you for your help this time.¡± ¡°Thank you for the kind offers from both Family Heads.¡± Qin Feng spoke politely, ¡°However, I have matters to attend to recently and cannot stay long outside. I need to hurry back to the Mountain Gate. If there¡¯s a chance in the future, I¡¯d be pleased to have a drink with both Family Heads.¡± ¡°That¡­ alright.¡± Seeing his intentions, they could not insist on his staying and simply took out the certificate they had kept when they had asked the Sect for help and handed it to Qin Feng. Seeing Qin Feng about to leave after taking the item, Zhang Wuxu spoke up, ¡°Please leave your name, Little Friend. Your assistance this time has spared our two families a great loss. If there is ever a need in which we can aid you, Little Friend, feel free to ask, and we¡¯ll do everything within our reach to help.¡± Qin Feng looked at the old man with a smile that was not quite a smile, ¡°Family Head Zhang is too kind. I am Qin Feng, a disciple of Spiritual Snake Peak. If fate allows, we shall meet again. Farewell.¡± With that, he leaped onto the back of the Spiritual Vulture. The Spiritual Vulture spread its wings and disappeared into the distant void moments later. ¡°Ah!¡± Zhang Wuxu sighed softly, ¡°Originally, I wanted to strengthen our ties, but it seems this young man does not wish to become too involved with us.¡± ¡°That¡¯s normal.¡± Liu Shaofeng said, ¡°Such a genius disciple, as long as he doesn¡¯t die prematurely, will surely join the Inner Sect. What kind of ties can we, small families, have with him? Even if we wished to connect with him, what benefits could we offer that would make him want to associate with us?¡± Zhang Wuxu stroked his beard, then suddenly said, ¡°My son currently has made some achievements at Heavenly Silkworm Peak. How about letting him try to befriend this Little Friend Qin? Though Little Friend Qin has not yet achieved Foundation Establishment, with my son¡¯s Foundation Establishment Cultivation, he should give him due consideration. If they could really become acquainted, perhaps it could become a support for my son in the Sect later on.¡± Liu Shaofeng pondered for a moment and then nodded, ¡°Let him try then. If it works, that¡¯s great; if not, there¡¯s no loss.¡± Chapter 136 - Chapter 136: Chapter 134 Qingluo Robe Chapter 136: Chapter 134 Qingluo Robe Qin Feng returned to the Mountain Gate, and while he was going to the Foreign Affairs Hall to hand over his completed assignments, he paused in front of the mission stone wall to look for another suitable assignment to deal with Demon Beasts. Such assignments were in fact quite numerous, but most were located far from the Sect, with few as close as Sang City which was only three thousand li away. This was, after all, to be expected, as it was hardly conceivable for the Beast Taming Sect¡¯s core controlled area to have many Demon Beast upheavals; otherwise, the Sect would no place to save face. Since there were no more Demon Beast elimination assignments near the Sect, he did not take on any new tasks. As the opening of the Heavenly Pool Secret Realm was not far off, coupled with several days of travel to reach it, he felt it best to stay at the Mountain Gate to avoid missing the event. After some thought, he went to the Ten Thousand Demons Pavilion in Qingyun Square, planning to purchase some treasures to save his life. He first visited the Spiritual Medicine Area, where he bought a good number of Elixir Pills, mainly those for treating injuries and restoring True Yuan and Divine Sense. Common types such as Healing Powder, Hemostatic Pill, Protecting Organ Pill, Protecting Veins Pill, and Bone Healing Pill, he bought two to three bottles of each to have on hand. As for the more expensive Revive Pill, Yunshen Pill, and Life Creation Pill, he did not pass them up. Although these few types of Elixir Pills were pricey, they could be lifesaving miracle medicines at critical moments. The only problem was after purchasing them, he had spent most of his Spirit Stones, leaving only about fifteen to sixteen hundred. The ordinary Elixir Pills were manageable, not too pricey, totaling a few hundred Spirit Stones. But Elixir Pills like the Revive Pill were worth hundreds of Spirit Stones each, so he didn¡¯t dare buy too many, picking up only one or two of each type. Even so, it nearly emptied his pocket of Spirit Stones. Qin Feng, enduring the pang of spending so much, left the Elixir Pills area, and even briefly considered whether he should learn Alchemy in the future, as becoming an Alchemist didn¡¯t seem like a bad idea. But he quickly abandoned this thought. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?0¦Í?¦Ï.?¦Ï Putting aside whether he was cut out to be an Alchemist, considering that the war of the Sects was not far off, it would be the height of folly to focus on learning Alchemy instead of using the Demon Refining Pot to enhance his own strength. Alchemy requires years of accumulation to achieve a higher degree of proficiency, and he simply did not have that much spare time right now. Only by improving his strength as much as possible could he survive the upcoming war. Once he survived, he could seize ample resources from the war, which seemed much better than becoming an Alchemist. Of course, if he became stronger in the future and had more spare time, he wouldn¡¯t mind researching the skill of Alchemy; who knows, he might even make some achievements. With these thoughts in mind, Qin Feng stepped into the area selling Spiritual Artifacts. With his current war power, ordinary Magic Artifacts were practically useless in his hands. The wings of the Ruyi Golden Snake were comparable to Divine Weapons: not only extremely sturdy but also incredibly sharp. If he could reinforce them with the Ruyi Golden Light, they would certainly not fall short of a Flying Sword at the Spiritual Artifact Level. No wonder his family had not accumulated many Spiritual Artifacts over the years. First, there was little use in having too many Spiritual Artifacts, as the family only had two or three Foundation Establishment Cultivators who could use them; second, their Lifebound Spiritual Beasts were so powerful that they seldom needed to use Spiritual Artifacts. This attitude was shared by the majority of the Beast Taming Sect Disciples. Given the choice of resources, they would rather spend them on their Lifebound Spiritual Beasts. ¡°Senior Brother, could you introduce me to some Spiritual Artifacts with strong defensive capabilities?¡± Qin Feng wanted to first look at defensive Spiritual Artifacts. If there were any Spirit Stones left after purchasing a defensive Spiritual Artifact, he would then buy an offensive one. If not enough Spirit Stones remained, he would temporarily forego purchasing. However, after looking around for a while without finding anything to his liking, he felt dizzy from the array of Spiritual Artifacts and decided not to search on his own any longer, instead turning to ask a Servant Disciple for assistance. The Servant Disciple, in his thirties with low Cultivation at around the fourth or fifth level of Qi Refinement, likely was not talented or promising enough, or he wouldn¡¯t be working there. Seeing that Qin Feng, a disciple in the late stage of Qi Refinement, referred to him as Senior Brother, the disciple felt somewhat pleased and smiled, ¡°Junior Brother wants a defensive Spiritual Artifact, may I know which type you are interested in? Defensive Spiritual Artifacts can be divided into many kinds. The most common are Shields, Armor, and Magic Robes.¡± As he spoke, he took several Spiritual Artifacts from the counter and placed them in front of Qin Feng. Qin Feng glanced at them: there was a palm-sized red bronze token, a fist-sized turtle shell, a metallic piece of Armor, and a purple Magic Robe. ¡°The token here is a Red Fire Token, forged from Red Copper at the Basic Level of Spiritual Artifacts. Not only is its defense solid, but it also has an exceptionally strong resistance against Fire Element Magic. Next to it is the Turtle Shell Refining from a Profound Turtle¡¯s shell. Though it¡¯s a Middle-Grade Spiritual Artifact, its defensive power outclasses many Higher-Grade ones. The Green Wood Armor offers strong defense on its own. Once activated, it also forms a Green Wood Barrier around the body, providing dual-layer protection. And the last piece here is the Eight Trigrams Purple Cloud Robe. When attacked, it will manifest multiple layers of purple clouds for defense, making it quite a practical Magic Robe. Apart from these, many other types of defensive Spiritual Artifacts are available.¡± During his explanation, he took out a few more items from behind and continued, ¡°This Nine-Tiered Pagoda is modeled after the Spirit Treasure Exquisite Tower and can not only protect oneself but also trap opponents inside and Refine them with Spiritual Fire. The White Jade Tripod beside it is not for Alchemy but purely a defensive Spiritual Artifact. When attacked, one can hover it above their head, and it will automatically cast a protective Spell. And that Green Paper Umbrella, known as the Sealing Spirit Umbrella, can fend off enemies when opened and Seal Ghosts when closed. If encountering sinister Ghost Items, it has a unique effect.¡± ¡°What about this bowl?¡± Qin Feng pointed curiously at a big, black bowl next to him. The rim seemed to have a chip missing, making it look somewhat shabby. ¡°This one?¡± The servant disciple chuckled lightly, ¡°This is no ordinary bowl. It is a Spiritual Artifact refined by a wandering Beggar King Senior who later developed a craving for alcohol and exchanged this bowl for a few jars of Spiritual Wine. Despite its unattractive appearance, its defensive power is actually quite decent. How about it, junior brother, are you interested?¡± ¡°Forget it.¡± Qin Feng shook his head. It was too ugly, and he wasn¡¯t interested. He had only asked out of curiosity. ¡°Then, junior brother, what type of artifact has caught your eye? If you don¡¯t fancy any of these, I have many more, and you¡¯re bound to find one you like.¡± Qin Feng surveyed the Spiritual Artifacts on the counter and finally asked, ¡°Senior brother, could you show me a few more magic robes?¡± He ultimately wanted to select a magic robe with strong defensive power because many magic robes had trigger-based defenses, which didn¡¯t require any extra spell casting from him. ¡°Oh, you¡¯re interested in magic robes?¡± The servant disciple¡¯s eyes gleamed, as among the defense artifacts, robes tend to be relatively expensive. ¡°Just wait a moment.¡± The servant disciple put away the other artifacts and took out a dozen or so robes, presenting them one by one, ¡°Purple Cloud Robe, Qingluo Robe, Fiery Flame Robe, Water-Shielding Robe, Ice Silkworm Robe, Thunder Robe¡­¡± He introduced Qin Feng to twelve different magic robes of Spiritual Artifact Level, each with a remarkable defensive ability and some providing extra powerful defenses against specific spells. In the end, Qin Feng chose a Qingluo Robe, refined from Heavenly Silkworm Silk. This robe was produced by the Heavenly Silkworm Peak of the Beast Taming Sect; an artifact from his own sect was a bit more trustworthy. Besides, the robe¡¯s defense was indeed satisfactory. Heavenly Silkworm Silk was very flexible on its own. Even without defense enhancements, it was difficult to cut through with ordinary magic artifacts. Moreover, this robe was not only made of high-quality material but could also deploy a Qingluo Magic Shield, offering him all-encompassing protection. However, defensive artifacts were inherently pricey, and robes, being considered somewhat of a luxury, were even more expensive. The most common low-grade Spiritual Artifacts could be bought for three to five hundred Spirit Stones, middle-grade artifacts started at least at seven to eight hundred, and middle-grade robes were priced even higher, usually around one thousand. In the end, considering they were from the same sect, he was given a discount and paid nine hundred Spirit Stones. After buying the robe, Qin Feng felt the remaining few Spirit Stones in his possession and ultimately decided to exchange them all for a few second-order Spirit Talismans to prepare for unexpected needs. Having made his purchases, Qin Feng was now left with only a few dozen Spirit Stones, even poorer than when he first joined the sect. However, no one would foolishly carry a load of Spirit Stones into the Heavenly Pool Secret Realm to seek treasures. Qin Feng believed that over ninety percent of cultivators would exchange their Spirit Stones for various life-saving treasures before venturing into the Secret Realm. After returning, he went to find Qin Xi and Qin Ying to inform them that he had obtained a slot to enter the Heavenly Pool Secret Realm from Liu Xuanling. Upon receiving this news, Qin Ying felt both joy and concern. He was pleased that two younger relatives had been granted the opportunity by two Peak Masters to enter the Heavenly Pool Secret Realm, a clear indication of their potential. Having spent decades in the Beast Taming Sect, he was certainly aware of the benefits of the Secret Realm. If Qin Feng and Qin Xi could obtain treasures from within, it was possible they would soar to great heights in the future. What worried him, however, was that the Heavenly Pool Secret Realm was not a benign place. It was extremely dangerous, and once inside, cultivators from various sects wouldn¡¯t necessarily abide by any rules. Indeed, some disciples from smaller sects might even take the opportunity to launch sneak attacks on those from larger ones. Moreover, the Secret Realm itself was dangerous, harboring both ancient sects¡¯ various prohibition arrays and descendants of ancient Spiritual Beasts. Of course, there were no overly powerful Spiritual Beasts present. Even if there were, they would be under various restrictions; otherwise, the sects wouldn¡¯t dare to let their disciples venture inside to explore for treasures and resources. Regarding Qin Feng also going to the Heavenly Pool Secret Realm, Qin Xi felt helpless but refrained from objecting, as there was not much a minor Qi Refining disciple like her could do against Liu Xuanling¡¯s personal nomination. If Qin Feng rejected it, he would undoubtedly be viewed less favorably in the future. After discussing the matter with Qin Ying, they returned to make their final preparations. Several days later, Liu Xuanling called for them, and they headed to the Mountain Gate¡¯s Grand Hall to gather with everyone else, ready to depart. PS: Brothers, starting from now the chapter that was usually posted at nine in the morning will be delayed by an hour to ten o¡¯clock, as I would only be able to produce around two thousand words due to time constraints, which seems a bit short. If I delay until ten, I¡¯ll try to write over three thousand words. Otherwise, it feels too rushed to fully express a plot point. Chapter 137 - Chapter 137: Chapter 135: Heading to the Secret Realm Chapter 137: Chapter 135: Heading to the Secret Realm In midair, a spiritual snake of thirty meters in length slithered through the air, agile and swift, rushing towards the Mountain Gate¡¯s grand hall like a bolt of lightning. Qin Feng stood on the back of the spiritual snake, glancing ahead at Liu Xuanling¡¯s curvaceous figure. This peak master was not only possessed of breathtaking beauty, but also an exceptional figure. However, he dared not stare too long, quietly turning his head to admire the distant mountain scenery instead. Throughout the journey, they occasionally encountered several powerful spiritual beasts, which were the elders of other peaks within the Outer Sect, escorting disciples who were preparing to enter the Heavenly Pool Secret Realm to congregate at the Mountain Gate¡¯s grand hall. Among the one hundred and eight peaks of the Outer Sect, the number of people varied, with some having tens of thousands and others less than a hundred. However, the strength of the peaks in the Outer Sect was not determined by the number of people, but by the influence each peak held in the Inner Sect. For example, Creation Peak had at most only a hundred people, and often went many years without taking in disciples, which could lead to even fewer numbers. But Creation Peak had a Supreme Elder who had cultivated to the Heavenly Immortal level seated within the sect, granting them an exceptional status. Even though the number of people in each generation wasn¡¯t large, they never lacked benefits. Therefore, whenever the Heavenly Pool Secret Realm was opened, the number of entries for Creation Peak was determined based on their number of disciples. Last year, because only Qin Xi and Wen Qing¡¯er were initiated into Creation Peak, along with one additional Foundation Establishment Disciple assigned as their escort, they occupied three entries. Whereas some peaks, such as Heavenly Silkworm Peak which primarily produces resources, although having more than ten thousand disciples, had very little influence in the Inner Sect and thus received only one entry to the Heavenly Pool Secret Realm. If the Spiritual Snake Peak lineage desired, they could ask for a few more entries. However, the Supreme Elders also knew to balance the strengths of the peaks and would not show favoritism for such minor resources. Otherwise, it would be difficult for the newer split-off peaks to emerge. As for the disciples of Creation Peak, extra entries were necessary as they were searching for their Lifebound entities. The spiritual snake, guided by Liu Xuanling, lightly landed in front of the Mountain Gate¡¯s grand hall. Its head stretched forward, allowing Liu Xuanling and Qin Feng to step down. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í?¦Ï.§ã? ¡°Junior Sister Liu.¡± Beside them, Elder Lingxiao of the Heavenly Dragon Peak greeted Liu Xuanling and glanced at Qin Feng behind her, asking with a smile, ¡°Is this the disciple from your Spiritual Snake Peak entering the Heavenly Pool Secret Realm? I thought it would be Zhao Qinglin.¡± This Elder Lingxiao was beautiful and enchantingly fair-skinned, his smile eliciting an astounding impression. Nevertheless, Liu Xuanling ignored his smiling face, and retorted indifferently, ¡°Who my Spiritual Snake Peak sends in is none of your business!¡± ¡°There¡¯s that phrase.¡± Accustomed to her cold retorts, Elder Lingxiao smiled and said, ¡°After all, we¡¯re from the same sect. These juniors will need to support each other once inside. Otherwise, if they are deliberately targeted, the loss could be substantial.¡± Saying so, he gestured to a tall and burly youth behind him, ¡°Long Qian, come over and meet this brother from the Spiritual Snake Peak. If you encounter each other inside, remember to look after each other and prevent others from bullying our fellow sect members.¡± ¡°Yes.¡± The youth replied, casually bowing to Qin Feng, ¡°I am Long Qian. If brother encounters any difficulties inside, feel free to find me.¡± Qin Feng raised an eyebrow. He knew this person. Not only was Long Qian the most outstanding disciple of this generation in Heavenly Dragon Peak, but he was also a direct descendant of the Long Family, which was the foremost among the nine great families affiliated with the sect. Known as a prodigy, he was reportedly rewarded by his family ancestor with a young Jiao Dragon as his Lifebound Spiritual Beast for his exceptional performance at a young age, granting him extraordinary combat power. However, while the fellow¡¯s words were seemingly normal, he had not asked for Qin Feng¡¯s name, and his face betrayed a hint of arrogance. Clearly, this talented disciple did not quite respect Qin Feng, an obscure and hardly noteworthy individual. ¡°Thank you, Senior Brother Long.¡± Qin Feng replied perfunctorily, showing no further interest in engaging. Yet, he felt somewhat peculiar inside. He had long heard some rumors within the sect that Elder Lingxiao of Heavenly Dragon Peak harbored affection for Liu Xuanling. Today seemed to be an attempt to curry favor in front of her, and it was bold of Long Qian to speak in such a manner. Beside them, Liu Xuanling scoffed lightly and paid no mind to these minor matters. Seeing a female cultivator greeting her from afar, she walked off to catch up with her. From time to time, powerful spiritual beasts continued to land from the sky, with cultivators disembarking and soon, the area in front of the hall gathered hundreds of individuals. Once the Outer Sect elders brought all their disciples, it wasn¡¯t long before more massive spiritual beasts flew out from the direction of the Inner Sect, bringing people to converge. ¡°Sister Xuanling.¡± A beautiful woman, appearing around her thirties, waved at Liu Xuanling. ¡°Senior Sister Mo.¡± Seeing the beautiful woman, Liu Xuanling hurried over, smiling at the younger woman behind her, ¡°Sister, I¡¯m surprised you¡¯d let your daughter go to the Heavenly Pool Secret Realm. It is truly beyond my expectation.¡± ¡°You jest, sister.¡± Elder Mo Li chuckled lightly, ¡°A gem cannot be polished without friction. How could she grow if sheltered from risks? This girl has been too comfortable with favorable conditions. If she¡¯s not tempered now, she may face a difficult path ahead.¡± Then, looking towards Qin Feng who was behind Liu Xuanling, she expressed surprise, ¡°A Qi Refining disciple? I thought you would send a Foundation Establishment disciple.¡± Liu Xuanling chuckled lightly, ¡°Foundation Establishment Disciples have their own range to explore for treasures, and Qi Refining Disciples have their opportunities as well. In the end, the Heavenly Pool Secret Realm is just a place for the young disciples to explore opportunities. Cultivation levels don¡¯t really matter much, since we don¡¯t expect them to bring much benefit to the Sect from the inside.¡± ¡°That¡¯s also true.¡± The beautiful woman nodded in agreement. The Heavenly Pool Secret Realm had been explored by many Sects¡¯ disciples for thousands of years. Although it still held many benefits, it was nothing compared to the envy it sparked when it was first opened. Now, it has simply become a place for juniors to seek opportunities. Liu Xuanling said to Qin Feng, ¡°This is Elder Mo Li from our lineage, come and pay your respects.¡± Qin Feng quickly stepped forward, bowing deeply, ¡°Disciple pays respects to Elder Mo.¡± His attitude was very respectful, knowing that to hold a position as an Elder in the Inner Sect, one must at least possess the cultivation of the Purple Mansion Realm. ¡°Ah, no need for excessive formalities.¡± The beautiful woman nodded, glancing at his wrist. The Qingluo Robe couldn¡¯t block her sight, so she directly saw the Ruyi Golden Snake coiled around his wrist. She was quite surprised; she did not expect the disciple in front of her to have managed to acquire such a Spiritual Snake as his Lifebound Spiritual Beast, and had even cultivated it to the Foundation Establishment Realm. No wonder Liu Xuanling had chosen him to enter the Heavenly Pool Secret Realm; it seems he does have some abilities. ¡°Han Yan, come meet this junior brother.¡± Elder Mo said to the young girl behind her. The girl had a cold aura, totally unlike her mother, most likely tied to her own Lifebound Spiritual Beast. ¡°Junior Brother Qin Feng, pleased to meet Senior Sister.¡± Qin Feng took the initiative to greet her. After all, she was also a Foundation Establishment Inner Sect Disciple, with a mother possessing the cultivation of the Purple Mansion Realm and perhaps an even more powerful father. Being polite to such a well-connected disciple couldn¡¯t hurt. ¡°Junior brother is too polite.¡± Chu Hanyan nodded towards Qin Feng. Her disposition was cool, and she was not fond of talking much. Besides, she did not know Qin Feng previously, so there wasn¡¯t much else to discuss. At this moment, a tall, burly man flew across from the distant sky. This man wasn¡¯t riding any Spiritual Beast; he was directly using Light Escape to fly over. But the moment he appeared, regardless of whether they were from the Inner Sect or Outer, all the Elders bowed deeply: ¡°We pay respects to Elder Luo.¡± ¡°Hahaha¡­¡± The burly man¡¯s laughter boomed like thunder, echoing all around, ¡°There¡¯s no need for such formality. Is everyone here?¡± From below, a deacon of the Internal Affairs Hall, who had already counted the attendees, promptly replied, ¡°Elder Luo, all the disciples from each Peak and each lineage are here, and all the accompanied Elders have also arrived.¡± ¡°Good, since that¡¯s the case, let¡¯s not delay any further. It happens only every sixty years, there¡¯s no need for pomp, just head out.¡± The burly, towering Elder Luo was obviously very decisive in action. ¡°Yes.¡± At the directive from the Internal Affairs Hall below, suddenly a massive Jiao Dragon pulling a towering and luxurious Tower Ship flew over and landed in the square. This Jiao Dragon was even larger than the one Qin Feng saw when he first entered the Sect, its aura ten times fiercer than before. Following that, the disciples prepared to head to the Heavenly Pool Secret Realm and some high-level Sect members ascended onto the Tower Ship. Liu Xuanling and Elder Mo Li, along with Qin Feng and Chu Hanyan, also flew up. This time, the Outer each Peak was to deploy thirty-six Golden Core Realm Elders to accompany and jescort; Liu Xuanling, finding it uninteresting to stay in the Sect, left Elder Yin Qi behind and went on the trip herself. As for Elder Mo Li, she came because of her daughter and was also one of the four Purple Mansion Elders dispatched from the Inner Sect. As for the towering Elder Luo, he was the primary official in charge of this trip to the Heavenly Pool Secret Realm and was also a grand master of the Dharma Image Realm. The Tower Ship was immense; with two hundred disciples plus several dozen Elders escorting them, totaling fewer than three hundred people, even the Qi Refining Realm disciples like Qin Feng were allocated their own rooms to rest properly. The Heavenly Pool Secret Realm was far from the Sects, and even with the speed of the Tower Ship, it would take several days to reach. On board the Tower Ship, a disciple from the Internal Affairs Hall distributed a Jade Scroll to each person, which contained a map of the Heavenly Pool Secret Realm drawn by previous disciples. It marked areas that were particularly dangerous and where certain resources might be found. Only such powerful Sects could produce such detailed maps. Lesser Sects, limited in the number of people they could send each time, risked full casualty inside and struggled to produce detailed maps. Thus, after they reviewed them, before descending from the Tower Ship, the disciples from the Internal Affairs Hall took back those Jade Scrolls, preventing loss or injury in the Secret Realm that might result in these scrolls falling into other powers¡¯ hands. Chapter 138 - Chapter 138: Chapter 136 Panlong Chapter 138: Chapter 136 Panlong High in the sky, the tower ship flew swiftly under the pull of a Jiao Dragon. Qin Feng sat in the room assigned to him, sinking his spirit into the Jade Scroll to examine the map within. This map differed from those drawn in mortal kingdoms; the methods of cultivators were not something mortals could comprehend. The scenes within the Heavenly Pool Secret Realm were captured by the Beast Taming Sect cultivators using the technique of shadow drawing. When he immersed his spirit into it, he could directly see the scenes as if he were there in person. Moreover, it included numerous descriptions, such as what kinds of Prohibition Arrays some places had, what kind of Demon Beasts lurked in certain perilous areas, and what treasures those beasts were guarding, and so on. However, this was only a rough outline. The Heavenly Pool Secret Realm was vast, nearly ten thousand li in size, and the disciples who went in previously were primarily focused on treasure hunting; it was impossible to explore every nook and cranny thoroughly. There were undoubtedly many places that had been overlooked, just as the map of the Beast Taming Sect marked some secret benefits unknown to other sects, and other sects likely had similar hidden discoveries that were not announced. While he was examining the map, memorizing the scenes to the best of his ability, a firm knocking suddenly came from outside the door. Qin Feng stood up and opened the door to see Qin Xi arriving. ¡°Sister Xiaoxi.¡± Qin Feng smiled, inviting her in, and asked, ¡°Each time you from Creation Peak enter, it¡¯s mainly to search for Lifebound beings; you must have some rough targets, right?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± Qin Xi nodded, ¡°There are thirteen places that have been found to give birth to Natural Creatures in the past. Although most places have birthed only one, there are also a few areas where new Natural Creatures might appear every few hundred years. Of course, there might be other places too; it¡¯s just that we haven¡¯t discovered them yet.¡± Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í??.?? She then took out her own Jade Scroll and pointed at it, causing the map within to appear and indicating the locations where Natural Creatures had previously been born, for Qin Feng to memorize. She then handed Qin Feng a Jade Talisman, saying, ¡°This is a positioning Spirit Talisman crafted for us by the Peak Master. I specifically asked for an extra one so that once you refine it, you will be able to sense the location of me and Senior Sister An, Junior Sister Wen in the secret realm.¡± This was an essential item for disciples of Creation Peak whenever they entered the Heavenly Pool Secret Realm. The reason for preparing such Spirit Talismans was because the Heavenly Pool Secret Realm floated in the depths of the Void. It wouldn¡¯t open its portals actively without the secret techniques of the Ancient Sects; each time it intersected with the real world, the powerful figures from various forces would cast spells to hold it for a while, delaying the realm from falling back into the Void. Then, using great power, they would forcibly open a space channel to send numerous disciples inside. Since the space channel was forcibly opened, it was somewhat unstable, and upon entering, the fluctuating laws of space would randomly transport them, dispersing them throughout the secret realm. They could only rely on these positioning Spirit Talismans to gather together. However, only Creation Peak really did this as, without having refined their Lifebound beings, their strength was generally low¡ªperhaps the weakest among all disciples entering the realm. Without the protection of cultivators at the Foundation Establishment Realm, not to mention finding and capturing Natural Creatures as Lifebound beings, they might be casually killed by others before even finding the Natural Creatures. The other peaks didn¡¯t need these positioning Jade Talismans. They went in primarily to seek their own fortunes and generally didn¡¯t need to join forces with others; besides, in such a vast secret realm, just gathering together took considerable time. And with so many people together, who would take ownership of any discovered treasure? And there was also the risk that if someone captured a disciple with a Jade Talisman, they could use their talisman to locate and systematically kill other disciples of the Beast Taming Sect, resulting in a significant loss. Qin Feng took it, inputting his True Yuan into it, and indeed sensed three other presences through the Jade Talisman. ¡°Once inside, first find the nearest person to oneself, and then regroup with the others.¡± Qin Xi stated, ¡°Generally, just after entering, unless encountering members from hostile sects, it¡¯s rare for anyone to immediately attack another. However, after a few days, many will ambush and sneak attack others, plundering the treasures found by others, so we must try to regroup within the first few days.¡± Qin Feng nodded, ¡°Okay, be careful yourself. If you feel danger, don¡¯t run around; it¡¯s best to find a safe place to hide. I will find you as soon as possible.¡± With these words, he took out several second-tier Spirit Talismans and handed them to Qin Xi. Qin Xi smiled and waved her hand, ¡°No need; we¡¯ve been doing quite a few tasks with Senior Sister An these past days and received many rewards. Additionally, the Peak Master gave us some lifesaving items, so we are well-prepared. You don¡¯t need to give me anything.¡± ¡°Alright then.¡± Seeing her say this, Qin Feng didn¡¯t insist and simply put the Spirit Talismans back. In reality, with his current strength, these second-tier Spirit Talismans weren¡¯t of much use to him. Whether it was the combined strength with his Lifebound Spiritual Beast or the combat power of the two Foundation Establishment Realm Spiritual Beasts within the Demon Refining Pot, both were much stronger than these Spirit Talismans. After all, Spirit Talismans were merely encapsulations of a Talisman Maker¡¯s spell, inherently weaker than directly using the spell by 30%, and unless in significant quantities, just three or five second-tier Spirit Talismans posed little threat to a Foundation Establishment Realm Cultivator. Unless Qin Feng¡¯s True Yuan was exhausted, he really didn¡¯t need these Spirit Talismans. He had bought them initially just in case. After discussing matters regarding the Heavenly Pool Secret Realm for a while, Qin Xi took her leave. After memorizing the map in the Jade Scroll, Qin Feng put it away and began to meditate and cultivate. Recently, the Demon Refining Pot had extracted a significant amount of Spiritual Energy from the Spirit Vein while helping the Ruyi Golden Snake merge with Divine Skills, causing a deficiency in Spiritual Energy inside the pot. It would take some time for the Spirit Vein to recover and return to its original concentration. Therefore, his cultivation had to rely solely on absorbing the Spiritual Energy from the outside environment, and, for the time being, he could not extract Spiritual Energy from the Demon Refining Pot. Qin Feng didn¡¯t mind this; it was a good opportunity to refine his skills. Time flew by, and several days passed. The Tower Ship had traversed countless mountains and rivers, flying over many nations, and finally arrived at Panlong Mountain, where the Heavenly Pool Secret Realm was located. From a distance, the mountain resembled a dragon coiled across the land, winding and extending for thousands of miles, which was why it was named Panlong. Originally, there was a sect here¡ªthe small sect that first discovered the Heavenly Pool Secret Realm, but it had been annihilated thousands of years ago by other powers for refusing to concede. However, when the sect was destroyed, several of its disciples escaped and spread the news about the Heavenly Pool Secret Realm far and wide, causing those who obliterated their sect little gain and pulling them into a vortex instead. To the east of Panlong Mountain, a few peaks arranged in the formation of the Big Dipper encircled a valley in the center. One of the peaks was already overcrowded, with many people camping at its base instead of moving to other peaks. Because those peaks were the foundations of the six major sects, they did not dare to offend them lightly. To the north, a Sword Boat floated above a high peak, the unique Flying Escape Treasure of the Taiyi Mountain Golden Light Cave. Next to them, a large castle stood on another peak, its inhabitants all nearly ten feet tall, burly and robust¡ªeven the dozen or so female cultivators among them possessed bodies far larger than ordinary people. These were the cultivators of the Giant Spirit Sect. The Giant Spirit Sect and the Taiyi Mountain Golden Light Cave were allies, not because their relationship was particularly good, but because circumstances forced them into a strategic alliance. Beside them, on another peak, a magnificent palace floated, which was the large Flying Escape Treasure of the Danxia Sect. Opposite the Giant Spirit Sect, atop the peak, stood a group of cultivators¡ªmen and women, old and young, dressed unlike ordinary people. Several young and beautiful women wore revealing outfits, showing off their fair waists and arms, attracting frequent glances from disciples of smaller sects on the neighboring peak. Those disciples were still young and had rarely seen such scenes, so they watched with great curiosity. However, none of them dared to flirt or even continued to look when those women playfully waved at them, fearing they would fall into a trap. Because those women were disciples of the Five Poisons Sect, experts in using gu and poisons to kill invisibly¡ªhow could the disciples of the smaller sects dare to provoke such terrifying beings? While the young women from the Five Poisons Sect were teasing the young disciples, suddenly a Dragon Roar was heard nearby. Turning their heads, they saw a Jiao Dragon in the distance, clawing through the air as it pulled the Tower Ship. To the north, on the Sword Boat, a middle-aged sword cultivator in white robes huffed coldly. His sharp gaze lingered on the Jiao Dragon¡¯s neck for a moment, causing the dragon, which was in mid-roar, to shiver and stop its cry. ¡°Hmm?¡± On the top of the Tower Ship, Elder Luo, as tall as the disciples of the Giant Spirit Sect, opened his eyes with a glint and glanced dismissively at the sword cultivator: ¡°This Yin Bieli, having cultivated to his current realm, still behaves so pettily, only using these underhanded tactics unfit for public display. Truly, he has lost my respect.¡± Among the several Purple Mansion Realm Elders nearby, one chuckled: ¡°That fellow has often been defeated by Elder Long Wuyou in his youth. Once, he was even clawed across the face by Elder Long¡¯s Jiao Dragon. As a result, he didn¡¯t dare show his true face for ten years, not to mention that the disciple he had pursued for many years ended up marrying someone else, so his particular dislike for Jiao Dragons is somewhat understandable.¡± ¡°Hehe¡­¡± The other Elders laughed softly, indifferent to the petty maneuvers of the sword cultivator from Taiyi Mountain. There was no need to stoop to similarly petty behavior. Moreover, since the opponent was a sword cultivator of the Dharma Image Realm, Elder Luo would not make a move, and they were not a match for Yin Bieli either. Chapter 139 - Chapter 139: Chapter 137 Heavenly Silkworm Immortal Lady Chapter 139: Chapter 137 Heavenly Silkworm Immortal Lady Jiao Dragon dragged the huge tower ship and landed on the mountain peak directly facing the Taiyi Sword Boat. Although the Jiao Dragon was a bit startled by Yin Bieli¡¯s murderous gaze just now, its enormous size and the powerful aura it emitted still managed to attract the eyes of most people on several mountain peaks in an instant. Many disciples from small sects couldn¡¯t help but gasp. Such a powerful Jiao Dragon, which would rank at the top in their sects, was reduced to pulling a ship in the Beast Taming Sect, showing just how formidable the Beast Taming Sect was. Many disciples from medium and small sects, seeing such a scene for the first time, felt awe, and the elders of those sects had to admit that the Beast Taming Sect indeed had a superior presence, achieving the effect of striking awe before even speaking. After the tower ship landed, a girl from the Five Poisons Sect, looking only about thirteen or fourteen years old and with a delicate appearance, chuckled, ¡°Luo Zhancheng, how come it¡¯s you leading the team this time? I remember nineteen years ago, you were ordered by the Supreme Elder of your sect not to leave the Mountain Gate easily because of that incident. Aren¡¯t you afraid of being punished when you go back, flaunting your presence here?¡± Despite her youthful, cute appearance, when she spoke, she addressed Elder Luo by name, implying familiarity on equal footing. ¡°It¡¯s fine. I officially took a task from the Sect Master, so even if the Supreme Elder knows, it doesn¡¯t matter. If asked, I¡¯ll say it was the Sect Master who sent me out to handle affairs.¡± On top of the tower ship, Elder Luo placed all responsibility on the Sect Master, then stepped out of the cabin in a single stride, shrinking the ground beneath his feet to mere inches, and instantly appeared on the deck smiling at the girl, saying, ¡°Silly Worm, surprising to see you so willing to come out?¡± Hearing this, the girl immediately puffed her cheeks and retorted sharply, ¡°Stop calling that, I have grown up now, call me Heavenly Silkworm Immortal Lady.¡± ¡°Heavenly Silkworm Immortal Lady? Hahaha¡­¡± Luo Zhancheng burst into hearty laughter that echoed like thunder, resonating through the mountains, causing the ears of many lower cultivation disciples to buzz. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í?0.§ã? ¡°What are you laughing at?¡± ¡°Nothing!¡± Luo Zhancheng, barely holding back his mirth, said, ¡°It just reminded me of the first time I saw you, you were only this tall.¡± He stretched out his hands, indicating a distance only slightly over a foot, ¡°Back then, you weren¡¯t even as tall as my calf, but you still liked running around everywhere, and then¡­¡± Disciples from various sects on the other mountain peaks, hearing his words, couldn¡¯t help but turn their gazes to the girl. Although she appeared to be a young girl of not yet marriageable age, she was actually an ancient being who had lived for hundreds of years and was now a renowned Dharma Image Realm master in the Five Poisons Sect, a force not casually trifled with in the outside world. Now, as Elder Luo of the Beast Taming Sect shared her gossip, everyone found it quite intriguing. ¡°Stop it, those are centuries-old past events, why bring them up again?¡± The girl, annoyed by him endlessly revealing her secrets, stomped her foot in anger, causing a loud thud on the mountain, rolling rocks, and cracking several fissures in the cliff a dozen zhang away. Seeing her slightly embarrassed and annoyed, Luo Zhancheng stopped pushing it further, closing his mouth, but his bearded face was still full of smiles. They knew each other from earlier times, so they spoke more casually. After chatting casually for a while, Luo Zhancheng looked around and greeted the white-haired and white-bearded elder leading the Danxia Sect team, and many from the smaller sects also knew him and cautiously greeted him, then dared not say more. Because this fellow was very aggressive, and although he had controlled his killing in the past, a certain incident nineteen years ago led him to annihilate three sects and five aristocratic families, cutting off the lineage and bloodline of those who opposed him. This act terrified many cultivators and made many small sects and forces uneasy, fearing unintentionally provoking him and having him come after them. Half a day later, another pavilion flew in from the distant sky. The pavilion controlled the sky, appearing slow but moving rapidly, swiftly flying from the horizon to the forefront, and landed on the last vacant mountain peak. ¡°Apologies, apologies, I didn¡¯t expect that my Ten Thousand Treasures Building would be the last to arrive.¡± As the pavilion landed, a plump man came out and greeted everyone around him with folded hands. ¡°Elder Qi is too polite, there is still some time before the Secret Realm opens.¡± On the Taiyi Sword Boat, Yin Bieli politely responded. Among these six great forces, the Danxia Sect and Ten Thousand Treasures Building were always neutral, not engaging in any sectorial conflicts, and the rest had numerous business dealings with these two forces, whether it concerned Elixir Pills or other treasures. As a purely Sword Cultivation Sect, Taiyi Mountain naturally could not compare with these two Sects in terms of Alchemy and other skills, as they often relied on others, they were quite polite to them. Some familiar Elders from various Sects interacted with each other, chatting animatedly since there was still some time before the opening of the Secret Realm, they were not in a hurry. However, the disciples from these major Sects did not move around at will. After entering the Secret Realm, they would all become competitors, even the two Sects that had formed an alliance would certainly not give way easily if they encountered an extremely valuable treasure, so there was no need for these youngsters to meet each other now. Soon, a night passed, dawn was approaching, the moment of twilight, right in the midst of the Seven Stars Cradling the Moon Valley, a subtle space fluctuation suddenly emerged. Then, within the Void, a scene suddenly appeared, featuring mountains and rivers, the scenery beautiful and pleasing to the eye. However, the scenery gave an impression of being obscured, like looking at flowers through fog, making it hard to see clearly. ¡°Daoist Fellows, the time is now, take action.¡± The moment the space fluctuation appeared, an Elder with a white beard from the Danxia Sect shouted lightly, taking the lead by raising a Pill Furnace which transformed into a hundred zhang size. The mouth of the Pill Furnace opened, exerting a huge Absorption Force that tightly adhered to the Secret Realm. The leading Elders of the other Sects did not dare to delay either; they all made their moves to secure the Secret Realm, otherwise, it wouldn¡¯t take long before the Secret Realm would leave this place and dive deep into the Void again. Elder Qi from the Ten Thousand Treasures Building waved his large sleeve, throwing out a Treasure Mirror. Where the Mirror Light shone, the Space Power immediately condensed, as if water had turned into Cold Ice, freezing the Secret Realm in place. From aboard the Taiyin Sword Boat, Yin Bieli released a flash of Sword Light from his hands, slicing through the Void, and with the transverse Sword Qi, supported the Secret Realm. The leading Elder of the Giant Spirit Sect was a burly man who looked similar to Luo Zhancheng at first glance, but their auras were completely different. This burly man¡¯s large muscles gave off an impression of immense strength, while Luo Zhancheng exuded a fierce and brutal aura, like a ferocious beast choosing its victims, intimidating to behold. The Elder of the Giant Spirit Sect shouted loudly; his already large stature suddenly swelled again, turning into a hundred zhang tall, like a Sky-Reaching Giant. He then did not use any Magical Treasure, but rather stretched out his great hand, directly penetrating deep into the Void; he grasped onto the Heavenly Pool Secret Realm above, preventing the realm from escaping for a short time. The Heavenly Silkworm Immortal Lady glanced at the Elder of the Giant Spirit Sect, displaying scorn for his hundred zhang height, then stretched out her pale hand and pointed, silkworm threads emerged, reaching deep into the Void and wrapping around the Secret Realm. The last to act, Luo Zhancheng laughed heartily, his hand reached out and a nine-foot Long Sword appeared in his grasp. He did not unsheathe the Long Sword, instead, he inserted it with its scabbard into the Void, blocking the original escape route of the Secret Realm. With their strength, it was not enough to pull the Secret Realm out of the Void, but temporarily holding it here was still feasible. After securing the Secret Realm, they simultaneously cast spells, creating an opening in the Secret Realm, and then spent some time barely stabilizing the opening. However, this was not the correct method to enter the Secret Realm, thus the temporarily opened channel was very unstable and did not allow too powerful auras to pass through; otherwise, it could possibly trigger a chaotic Space turbulence. ¡°All Sects¡¯ Disciples hurry in, remember the Secret Realm will only remain open for nine days, after nine days you must exit through the exit, otherwise once the Secret Realm fully closes, the Power of Laws inside will obliterate you.¡± The Elder from the Danxia Sect reminded, then one by one, he let the Disciples from each Sect enter. Certainly, the Disciples from these major Sects were the first to enter. Until their Disciples entered, other medium and small Sects dared not enter rashly. Fortunately, although there were many people, they were all disciples with Cultivation, even the worst among them were at the late stage of Qi Refinement, each moving swiftly, and it didn¡¯t take long at all before they all had passed through the Space Channel. After all the disciples had entered, the Elder from the Danxia Sect shouted again, ¡°The few of us need to engage the Secret Realm to prevent it from plunging into the Void, the task of maintaining the Space Channel will be done by other Daoist Fellows.¡± This was directed at the Elders of those medium and small Sects. Among them, there were also experts at the Dharma Image Realm, and quite a few at the Purple Mansion Realm; they were, after all, high-ranking members of a Sect, so their strength could not be too weak. The so-called medium and small Sects were just relative to these few major Sects. The Elders from various Sects looked at each other and nodded, extending their hands to maintain the Space Channel. Otherwise, once the Space Channel closed, the Power of Laws inside would activate, and it wouldn¡¯t take long before it obliterated all foreign auras in the Secret Realm. As for the Beast Taming Sect and a few other Sects that came along with the Purple Mansion Realm Cultivators, they did not make a move, but instead protected around their respective Dharma Image Elders, to prevent anyone from taking advantage of the Dharma Image Elders holding the Secret Realm to launch a sneak attack. Meanwhile, on the outer perimeter, Liu Xuanling and other Golden Core Elders also joined forces to lay down a Prohibition Array, guarding from the outside. Chapter 140 - Chapter 140: Chapter 138: Enemies on a Narrow Road Chapter 140: Chapter 138: Enemies on a Narrow Road Qin Feng had just entered the Space Channel when he felt the world spinning violently, various lights and shadows morphing before his eyes before they finally stopped. His body lost balance, and with a thud, he fell into a clump of grass, startling a small bird nearby that was catching insects, causing it to flutter away with rapid beats of its tiny wings. He shook his somewhat dizzy head, calming his spirit, and regained his senses. He got up and looked around. He was in the middle of a forest, unable to see the distant scenery. Looking up at the sky, he could clearly sense that the Space Channel was hundreds of miles above this place in the sky. His Divine Sense and eyes couldn¡¯t see that far, of course, but the Space Channel was very special. If one regarded the Heavenly Pool Secret Realm as a world, the Space Channels opened up by the Dharma Image Cultivator factions were like poking holes in the sky of this world. Even if far apart, one could still feel the breath that did not belong to this world. Qin Feng did not linger. These disciples only needed to be transmitted back through the Space Channel on the last day. For now, it was more important to ascertain his own position and find Sister Xiaoxi. He began walking out of the forest. However, before he had taken a few steps, a gigantic bloody mouth suddenly protruded from a nearby large tree, its sharp fangs aiming for his head. Whoosh¡­ A streak of Golden Light flashed, and the figure of Ruyi Golden Snake zoomed past behind that huge mouth, chopping off the head of the Demon Beast python that was as thick as a bowl, spilling blood. Before the blood could reach him, Qin Feng moved away like a breeze. He paid no heed to the python¡¯s sneak attack. As a disciple of the Beast Taming Sect, his Divine Sense was sharp. In this unfamiliar place, how could he possibly not be cautiously on guard? A mere Demon Beast python at the Qi Refining Early Stage thinking of sneaking up on him was wishful thinking. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï??0.?¦Ï Putting away the Ruyi Golden Snake, Qin Feng hastened his steps and soon left the small forest. Surveying the surroundings, he saw a plain with no peculiar mountains, rivers, or landmarks, making it impossible to determine his current location. Shaking his head slightly, yet undiscouraged, he took out the Jade Talisman given by Qin Xi. Sensing the three strands of aura on it, he found they were all quite far from him, the nearest one several hundred miles away. He did not know if the closest was Qin Xi since the Creation Peak Master didn¡¯t specifically craft the Jade Talisman to distinguish the auras. There were only three people from the Creation Peak who entered, so there wasn¡¯t a need for such clear distinction. Qin Feng didn¡¯t think too much about it and decided to meet up first. After all, they were all fellow sect members. Several hundred miles was neither too far nor too near. It would take a long time if he relied on walking on foot, but with a flying mount, he could save a lot of time. Summoning the Spiritual Vulture, Qin Feng mounted it and flew towards the location indicated by the sensed aura on the Jade Talisman. Except for some special areas, flying was not prohibited in the Heavenly Pool Secret Realm, only that one couldn¡¯t fly too high. After all, this was still a Grotto Heaven crafted by another sect. Their aura from different cultivation techniques could easily attract suppression from the laws within the grotto if they flew too high. The Spiritual Vulture flew about twenty to thirty feet above the ground, flapping its wings swiftly. However, this height was not safe and made it easy to be attacked by Demon Beasts below. In just over a hundred miles of flight, Qin Feng had already encountered three sneak attacks. Yet, anxious to find Qin Xi, he did not stop to deal with these Demon Beasts. After blocking their attacks, he simply flew away. There was no need to bother with those Demon Beasts; it was a waste of time. Just as Qin Feng maneuvered the Spiritual Vulture around the middle of a mountain, planning to continue forward, suddenly a few people flew over from behind the mountain. It was just the beginning of the exploration in the Secret Realm, and disciples from various sects had just started treasure hunting. There were rare fights at this time because there wasn¡¯t much benefit involved. As Qin Feng was about to pass by these people, his eyes suddenly narrowed. Because he recognized someone. Zhuo Feifan!! Damn, how did this guy get here? When he was on the Tower Ship, he had specifically looked over at the Sword Boat of Taiyi Mountain several times and did not spot this guy. Where did he pop up from? Qin Feng cursed inwardly and patted the back of the Spiritual Vulture. The Spiritual Vulture vibrated its wings, tracing a beautiful arc in midair as it flew away into the distance. Behind him, Zhuo Feifan¡¯s expression also froze. He hadn¡¯t expected this guy to still be alive? After fleeing the Void Shattering Hammer Cave Mansion with the Sword Talisman bestowed by his master, worried that Qin Feng had survived, he had specifically returned, only to find the entrance of the cave mansion sealed by an array, inaccessible. Later, worried, he hid in the shadows and watched for a month. Seeing no change in the Void Shattering Ancient Mansion, he then left and went in search of traces of the Ancient Spirit Sword. Unfortunately, his luck was poor. Before he could find the Ancient Spirit Sword, he was severely injured in the Ancient Battlefield and had no choice but to retreat. Zhuo Feifan, returning to Taiyi Mountain, delivered his carefully fabricated lies. Although Elder Jiang Dongliu of the Punishment Sword Hall was furious over his daughter¡¯s death, Zhuo Feifan was protected by his master and other elders because he brought back news of the Heavenly Connecting Lotus. He also shifted the blame for the sister¡¯s death onto a disciple of the Beast Taming Sect, avoiding punishment. Instead, thanks to the news about the Heavenly Connecting Lotus, he received a reward from his master. Originally, he thought that the lad had perished in that cave mansion, his secrets forever unknown, so he brazenly told Jiang Dongliu that he had avenged his daughter. But now, what a turn of events, a disciple of the Beast Taming Sect, who was believed to have died on the Ancient Battlefield, was blatantly flying right past him, startling Zhuo Feifan greatly. However, his reaction was swift; despite his shock, seeing Qin Feng about to escape riding the Spiritual Bird, he didn¡¯t hesitate and struck at Qin Feng with his sword. Qin Feng did not use the Ruyi Golden Snake to defend himself; he wanted to keep it as a trump card, planning to catch them off guard and perhaps even launch a sneak attack later. So he took out a second-level Defense Spiritual Talisman and activated it immediately, defending against the opponent¡¯s Flying Sword. Zhuo Feifan felt a sense of panic, fearing that Qin Feng would reveal what he had initially done. It wouldn¡¯t be good if the two fellow sect members by his side heard it and brought the news back, so his Flying Sword moved incredibly fast, delivering one swift strike after another, attempting to kill Qin Feng before he could speak. The two Sword Cultivators following him didn¡¯t care about Zhuo Feifan attacking a disciple of the Beast Taming Sect directly; firstly, the two sects were archenemies, and furthermore, Zhuo Feifan had proclaimed on several occasions that since a disciple of the Beast Taming Sect had killed his junior sister, he would be irreconcilable with the Beast Taming Sect. Seeing that Qin Feng¡¯s cultivation wasn¡¯t high, clearly not having reached the Foundation Establishment stage, they initially didn¡¯t take him seriously. But seeing several of Zhuo Feifan¡¯s attacks getting blocked, they too began to launch their Flying Swords at Qin Feng. With their extensive combat experience and frequent clashes with the Beast Taming Sect disciples, they also were familiar with some tricks and weaknesses of the Beast Taming Sect, so one of their Flying Swords did not attack Qin Feng but aimed at the Spiritual Vulture instead. If they killed the flying mount, could a mere Qi Refining Realm disciple possibly escape by flying? Seeing this, Qin Feng couldn¡¯t help but curse silently. Up against three Foundation Establishment Sword Cultivators, he was certainly no match, especially since they attacked his Spiritual Vulture at such a tricky angle. With a swoosh, a Flying Sword passed through the Spiritual Vulture¡¯s wing, leaving a bloody hole. The Spiritual Vulture screeched in pain; the wing injured by the Flying Sword immediately surged with Sword Qi, causing unbearable pain and making it unable to maintain flight. They spiraled down towards the ground. With a rustling sound, the man and bird broke many branches, falling into the forest below. Zhuo Feifan and the others relentlessly pursued with their Flying Swords, slashing towards the area where they had fallen. However, just moments later, the three instinctively stopped and retracted their Flying Swords, frowning in observation. Despite scouring the area several hundred feet around numerous times with their Divine Sense, they found no trace of him. Not to mention a person, they didn¡¯t even see a single feather of the Spiritual Vulture. ¡°It seems that kid must have some treasure on him, otherwise he couldn¡¯t have hidden so thoroughly,¡± one Sword Cultivator guessed. ¡°Let¡¯s go down and check!¡± Zhuo Feifan said coldly. ¡°Alright.¡± The other two were also Foundation Establishment Sword Cultivators; together, they weren¡¯t afraid of a Qi Refining Realm disciple from the Beast Taming Sect. But even though the opponent¡¯s strength was inferior to theirs, they didn¡¯t grow careless; before descending, they slashed out with their Flying Swords, turning the sword Qi into a net, clearing out a space in the forest below to confirm that Qin Feng was not in the area of their sword Qi before landing where Qin Feng had fallen. Looking around in surprise, one of them speculated, ¡°Could that kid have some sort of teleportation Spiritual Talisman, and he¡¯s already transported elsewhere?¡± ¡°That¡¯s possible.¡± Another one said, ¡°Looking at his mere Qi Refining Realm cultivation level, since he managed to enter the Heavenly Pool Secret Realm, he clearly had to have been favored by an elder from the Beast Taming Sect; otherwise, ordinary Qi Refining Realm disciples wouldn¡¯t have the chance to come here. In that case, having some life-saving methods is normal. Junior Brother Zhuo, Junior Brother Zhao, since we can¡¯t find him, we might as well¡ªOh!¡± He couldn¡¯t finish his words when he suddenly sensed a chillingly sharp aura coming from behind him. His heart screamed danger, and he wanted to dodge, but the attack was too sudden and too close to evade. He only felt a chill on his neck, then was immediately plunged into darkness. ¡°How dare you!¡± ¡°Senior Brother Li¡­¡± Zhuo Feifan and the other person were shocked. They hadn¡¯t expected Qin Feng to appear so silently close behind them and to launch a sneak attack. As they watched the decapitated head of the attacked Senior Brother soar into the air, both of them, filled with shock, hastily commanded their Flying Swords towards Qin Feng. With a clang, their Flying Swords were blocked by two Golden Wings, and then Qin Feng, covered in a yellow light, vanished from the spot instantly. Previously, when he and the Spiritual Vulture had fallen, he¡¯d directly stowed the bird in the Demon Refining Pot, while he himself had used the Earth Escape Divine Power at the moment of touching the ground to burrow underground, thus avoiding their search. Then, taking advantage of their unpreparedness, he quietly emerged and successfully ambushed one of them. Chapter 141 - Chapter 141: 139 Chapter 141: 139 ¡°Earth Escape Technique?¡± Senior Brother Zhao frowned. ¡°No, it¡¯s the Earth Escape Divine Power.¡± Zhuo Feifan¡¯s face looked troubled, ¡°The Earth Escape Technique is merely a spell derived from the more sophisticated Earth Escape Divine Power by the ancients. It can only travel a few dozen feet underground. Only the Earth Escape Divine Power can truly integrate oneself with the earth and conceal one¡¯s breath to such a faint level. The disciples of the Beast Taming Sect have all sorts of bizarre Lifebound Spiritual Beasts. It seems this fellow¡¯s Lifebound Spiritual Beast is one that possesses the Earth Escape Divine Power.¡± While he was speaking, his expression suddenly changed, and he quickly drew his sword, barely missing Senior Brother Zhao and striking the ground behind him. Senior Brother Zhao was startled, then realized what Zhuo Feifan was doing¡ªhe was saving him. Because he had already sensed an unusual presence. That Beast Taming Sect brat was planning to use the same old trick again, attempting to sneak up from behind and launch a stealth attack. If it weren¡¯t for Zhuo Feifan¡¯s quick response, he might have been successfully ambushed. A muffled clang of metal upon metal came from below, and Qin Feng once again fled to even deeper depths. Zhuo Feifan¡¯s Flying Sword suddenly spun, piercing the ground to chase after him, but after descending some seven or eight dozen feet, it had to be retracted. The Flying Sword was greatly hindered underground; it couldn¡¯t spin freely like it could in the air. If his opponent took the opportunity to severely damage his Flying Sword, his war power would be greatly affected. ¡°Thank you, Junior Brother Zhuo, for the rescue. Had you not acted in time, I would have been severely injured or worse,¡± Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï???.?¦Ï Senior Brother Zhao gratefully said to Zhuo Feifan. ¡°There¡¯s no need for formality between us, Senior Brother. Let¡¯s just be vigilant to prevent that kid from launching another stealth attack,¡± Zhuo Feifan replied. ¡°Alright.¡± Neither dared to stay on the ground any longer, fearing Qin Feng might emerge from anywhere for a sneak attack. They both flew up on their swords, extending their Divine Sense to scout around. Dozens of feet deep underground, Qin Feng was enveloped by a hazy yellow light. Once he deployed the Earth Escape Divine Power, he moved through the earth as freely as a fish in water. Of course, there was still resistance when moving underground, and he wasn¡¯t as fast as above ground. The deeper he descended, the greater the pressure he faced. With his current Cultivation, he could only manage a depth of around ten to twenty feet or so. Any deeper, and he might not withstand the immense pressure. At that moment, he slightly furrowed his brows. Now that those two had ascended on their swords, another stealth attack was impossible. After a moment¡¯s thought, he moved directly beneath the earlier battlefield, quietly ascended, then grabbed the body of the slain Senior Brother Li and dragged it down with him. ¡°How bold!¡± Above ground, seeing Senior Brother Li¡¯s body suddenly sinking and about to disappear into the soil, Zhuo Feifan and his companion became furious, aware that the other party wanted to take Senior Brother Li¡¯s body. They quickly commanded their Flying Swords to strike downwards toward the body. However, the Ruyi Golden Snake was sturdy as refined gold, and its pair of Golden Wings were both offensive and defensive. With a swift barrier, it blocked their Flying Swords. Qin Feng quickly pulled Senior Brother Li¡¯s headless corpse dozens of feet below, then fled hundreds more feet away, to avoid any chance of those two being able to imprison the ground he was in and strike at him. He checked and found that the two had not located his position, so he calmly removed Senior Brother Li¡¯s Storage Bag, rummaged through the corpse, and took off a ring from the man¡¯s finger. Using his Divine Sense to inspect it, he found that the ring was a Magic Artifact containing three threads of Sword Qi. This item wasn¡¯t of much use to him, so he stored it along with the Storage Bag, planning to deal with it after he left the area. With the spoils secured, he left Senior Brother Li¡¯s body where it was, a fitting burial. Qin Feng had no intention of emerging again. Since those two weren¡¯t providing him with an opportunity for a sneak attack, there was no point staying in the area. He decided to hurriedly leave and reunite with Qin Xi and the others. Now that the Spiritual Vulture was injured and he had lost his Riding Tool, it would take him much longer than anticipated to catch up with Qin Xi and her group. Zhuo Feifan and his companion pushed their Divine Sense to the limit, and after a full fifteen minutes, Qin Feng did not reappear. ¡°Let it be, let¡¯s go,¡± Senior Brother Zhao shook his head with a sigh, ¡°It seems that kid has already left. Let¡¯s go bury Senior Brother Li¡¯s head.¡± Zhuo Feifan said nothing, merely breathing out quietly. He had been worried that Qin Feng might suddenly surface from below and reveal his actions. Although he didn¡¯t know why the other party had remained silent up to now, it was a good thing for him. But, leaving the kid alive in the Heavenly Pool Secret Realm was always going to be a risk. He clenched his fists tightly, his eyes revealing intense murderous intent. No matter what, he couldn¡¯t allow that kid to leave the Heavenly Pool Secret Realm alive; otherwise, he would never have peace of mind. Speaking of which, he still didn¡¯t know Qin Feng¡¯s name. At that time, when he was chasing after Qin Feng, he only thought of quickly killing his target to silence him, not bothering to find out who he was. Now that Qin Feng had stealthily escaped underground with the Earth Escape Divine Power, Zhuo Feifan had no clue where to find him. His only hope was to encounter him again in the Secret Realm. If they did not meet, Zhuo Feifan had firmly resolved to set an ambush near the Space Channel before the end of the Secret Realm event, adamant that he must eliminate Qin Feng. Qin Feng had traveled more than ten miles underground before resurfacing. Being underground wasn¡¯t always safe; sometimes he would encounter Demon Beasts burrowing and nesting below. More importantly, using the Earth Escape Divine Power consumed a considerable amount of True Yuan. It was better to conserve his strength within the Secret Realm, as any unforeseen circumstances could prove dangerous. After emerging from the ground, Qin Feng activated his Divine Movement Technique and started hurrying forward. Although within the Demon Refining Pot he had an Iron Armor Rhinoceros, large enough to serve as a mount, its bulk caused the ground to tremble when it ran, easily attracting attention. Therefore, he could only rely on his two legs to travel. It wasn¡¯t that he didn¡¯t want to tame more Spiritual Beasts suitable as mounts; it¡¯s just that his time spent on the path of Cultivation had been too short, and he had used most of his time on learning and Cultivation, leaving him no leisure to tame more Demon Beasts. Otherwise, it wouldn¡¯t have been as hard as it was now. Qin Feng sighed silently to himself. No wonder the many old fogies in the Cultivation World were so powerful¡ªaside from anything else, with the vast time they had for Cultivation, just the treasures they accumulated were beyond what ordinary Cultivators could contend with. If he had cultivated for a few thousand years, not to mention his Cultivation Realm, at the very least the Spiritual Beasts in his Demon Refining Pot would definitely be plentiful and varied. He ran wildly in the direction indicated by the Qi on the Jade Talisman, and also noticed that the other party was moving towards him. Looking at it this way, they would be able to meet within half an hour. Just as Qin Feng was burying his head in haste, he suddenly perceived spiritual power fluctuations coming from the forest to his front left, followed by a buzzing sound. Turning his head, he saw a person running out of the forest two hundred zhang away. Around this person, there were countless Tiger-Headed Demon Bees swarming like a blanket, enveloping him into a mass. The Tiger-Headed Demon Bees emitted a faint demon energy, considered the lowest level of Demon Beast, each about the length of a finger, with their tail¡¯s stinger nearly an inch long, flickering with dark and sharp menace. Qin Feng inwardly clicked his tongue in amazement, not knowing which Sect this unlucky individual belonged to, daring to provoke so many Tiger-Headed Demon Bees. Although the Beast Taming Sect did not specifically use Demon Insects as their main focus, among the 108 peaks of the Outer Sect, there were some peaks that raised countless Strange Insects, such as Heavenly Silkworm Peak, Sky Scorpion Peak, and Spiritual Butterfly Peak, which specialized in various Strange Insects. Therefore, disciples of the Beast Taming Sect also had quite a bit of knowledge about various Strange Insects, at the very least, Qin Feng could recognize common flying insects like the Tiger-Headed Demon Bees at a glance. Among all Demon Bees, Tiger-Headed Demon Bees were definitely one of the most ferocious; with such a huge number of them, it was truly suicidal for that Cultivator to provoke them. However, judging by that Cultivators beard on the chin, his age was not small, probably a Cultivator from some Minor Sect. Because a Major Sect like the Beast Taming Sect would prefer giving opportunities to enter the Secret Realm to younger disciples with potential, allowing them to seek their own chance within the realm. Only those Minor Sects, in order to collect resources and also to prevent talents in the Sect from dying within the Secret Realm, would send some older disciples with Limited potential to try their luck. The person had the Cultivation of the Foundation Establishment Stage, if there were only a few poison bees, naturally they would not be his opponent, but there were so many of these Tiger-Headed Bees, and it was unknown just how many there were; even though he tried to ascend into the sky several times in a row intending to escape through Sky Controlling, it was a pity that he was forced down by the sheer number of poison bees. Having no other choice, he could only prop up a Defensive Shield and, while running wildly, cast Fire Element Magic to bombard those Tiger-Headed Bees. His Spell was powerful, truly burning quite a few Tiger-Headed Bees under the attack of his Flame Magic, but the poison bees were fearless in death; however many died, just as many would swam him again, causing him considerable distress. In his desperation, he suddenly spotted Qin Feng and immediately shouted in surprise, ¡°Daoist Fellow, please save me!¡± While crying out, he ran towards where Qin Feng was. Seeing this, Qin Feng didn¡¯t say a word and turned to run in another direction. Not to mention that he didn¡¯t know the person at all, but even if he did, you can¡¯t just lead so many poison bees to me like that! The person, seeing Qin Feng run away, hurriedly chased after him, calling out, ¡°Daoist Fellow, please wait.¡± That request made Qin Feng run even faster. ¡°Ah, Daoist Fellow, don¡¯t go, I discovered a thousand-year Vermilion Fruit; if Daoist Fellow is willing to lend a hand, I am willing to share it with you.¡± Qin Feng turned a deaf ear to his promises. ¡°Just joking, with the sky filled with poisonous bees that even Foundation Establishment Cultivators could only desperately flee from, he was merely a small Qi Refinement Stage cultivator now; where would he find the means to deal with so many poisonous bees?¡± ¡°Besides, this place is the Heavenly Pool Secret Realm, a dangerous land where nearly half of the cultivators who enter each time would end up injured or dead; it certainly wasn¡¯t the place for him to show off his kindness.¡± ¡°He wasn¡¯t without any life experience, a na?ve youth; how could he easily trust other cultivators from Sects he did not recognize?¡± ¡°However, the Vermilion Fruits were indeed a good thing. The fruits that grew on a millennium-old tree had definitely great effects. If what that cultivator had said was true, and the Tiger-Headed Demon Bees had been lured out of the hive, Qin Feng felt he might as well go and see if he could harvest some for himself.¡± Thinking thus, he quickened his pace and dived into the bushes not far away. Then, in a spot where that cultivator couldn¡¯t see him, his figure suddenly sank into the ground and using the Earth Escape Divine Power, he traveled around in a half-circle towards the direction from which that cultivator had come. As the cultivator, with Tiger-Headed Demon Bees hot on his heels, reached the spot where Qin Feng had vanished and looked around, he was puzzled and couldn¡¯t figure out where the young cultivator had hidden. Since he couldn¡¯t find another person to share the burden of fending off the Tiger-Headed Demon Bees, he had no choice but to start fleeing once again. Otherwise, if he stopped and became surrounded by the bees, chances were he would be dragged away by their sheer number, making it hard for him to escape. The stingers of these Demon Bees were extremely sharp, when they struck his Protective Shield, it caused huge consumption of his True Yuan, forcing him to constantly cast Flame Magic to attack the Demon Bees. Meanwhile, Qin Feng quietly poked his head out from underground, following the route of the fleeing cultivator into the forest. He wasn¡¯t worried about losing the way, for along the path many poisoned bees had been burnt to death by that cultivator¡¯s Fire Element Magic. All he needed to do was follow these traces and he would surely find their source. Following the traces deep into the forest for a few miles, he finally found the location of the Hive, and really did discover a two-zhang tall, with winding branches, Vermilion Fruit Tree near the Hive. However, the tree was empty; the Vermilion Fruits had already been picked by that cultivator earlier. Damn! Qin Feng cursed silently in his heart, that guy really wasn¡¯t a good person at all. He had already picked the Vermilion Fruits, yet he still tried to lure him in to help. ¡°Hmph, the deception in the Cultivation World is indeed rife; I really need to be more careful from now on.¡± Since there were no benefits left here, Qin Feng didn¡¯t stay any longer because the Tiger-Headed Demon Bees left in the Hive had already detected his presence, and a few of them were already buzzing towards him. He wasn¡¯t in the mood to settle scores with that cultivator. With his own strength, he had already encountered several ambushes. Qin Xi¡¯s strength certainly was not as good as his; it was better to quickly find her. Without wasting any more time, Qin Feng didn¡¯t turn back to leave the forest but instead crossed straight through from within, heading in the direction indicated by the Jade Talisman. After traveling over a hundred miles, although he was still in the forest, he felt that he was getting closer and closer to the presence sensed by the Jade Talisman. But shortly after, Qin Feng¡¯s expression suddenly changed. Because he found that the presence on the Jade Talisman was no longer approaching him directly, but was flickering from left to right, very erratic. This clearly showed the other party had encountered danger; probably being chased, otherwise such a situation would not occur. Qin Feng silently sensed it for a brief moment, concluding that the distance from the other party wasn¡¯t too far, just about twenty to thirty miles away. So, a flash of Golden Light enveloped him, and he instantly merged with the Ruyi Golden Snake. Beating his Golden Wings on his back, he shot forward like a bolt of lightning towards their location. Moments later, he heard a few urgent birdsongs from ahead, accompanied by the cry of a young girl. PS: Happy National Day on the 11th. Wishing our great country prosperity and strength. Chapter 142 - Chapter 142: Chapter 114 Yimu Escape Technique Chapter 142: Chapter 114 Yimu Escape Technique ¡°Don¡¯t¡­ don¡¯t come any closer.¡± Wen Qing¡¯er¡¯s somewhat panicked voice rose. Unfortunately, her words not only failed to have any effect but even aroused a sense of amusement in the two men opposite her. One of the Qi Refining Realm sword cultivators snickered, ¡°Little girl, Senior Brother Qian is a Foundation Establishment Realm sword cultivator. With your meager cultivation, thinking you can escape from Senior Brother Qian¡¯s sword is pure wishful thinking.¡± The expression of the sword cultivator with Foundation Establishment Cultivation beside him also showed a hint of playful amusement, ¡°Looking at your weak cultivation, could it be that you¡¯re a disciple from Creation Peak? Your Beast Taming Sect only sends such weak cultivators here from Creation Peak, letting us stumble upon an easy pick. It has been long since our Taiyi Mountain Merit Hall decreed that for every Beast Taming Sect disciple killed, one would receive a reward. I just didn¡¯t expect it to be so easy this time.¡± Qin Feng, who was far away, heard the voices. Since he didn¡¯t know the situation and didn¡¯t dare to rashly probe with his Divine Sense for fear of alerting the others, in case they realized there was reinforcement coming for Wen Qing¡¯er, they might just outright kill her. So he didn¡¯t rush out immediately but instead concealed his breath and peered carefully through some low shrubs ahead. There was Wen Qing¡¯er, leaning against a large tree, her hands tightly holding her brightly feathered spiritual bird, and in her large eyes looking at the two sword cultivators in front of her, there seemed to be a flash of panic. ¡°Can you please not kill me?¡± Wen Qing¡¯er, perhaps frightened, spoke nervously, ¡°My senior sister will be here soon. If you kill me, you won¡¯t gain any benefits. Would it be better to let me go and when my senior sister arrives to give you some treasures?¡± Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ??¦Í??.§ã¦Ï ¡°Oh? What is your senior sister¡¯s cultivation level, and where is she?¡± The Foundation Establishment sword cultivator turned his eyes, calculating in his mind what the chances of success would be if he used the girl in front of him as bait to ambush her senior sister. ¡°Isn¡¯t she just behind you?¡± Wen Qing¡¯er said, batting her innocent large eyes. ¡°What?¡± The two of them were startled and quickly turned to look behind them. It was at this moment that two Spirit Talismans suddenly appeared in Wen Qing¡¯er¡¯s hands. One of them she activated instantly, turning into hundreds of ice spurs, shooting at the two men in front of her. The other turned into a dazzling golden Defensive Magic, protecting her and the spiritual bird within it. ¡°Not good, we¡¯ve been had!¡± The moment the two turned their heads and saw no one, they immediately sensed something was wrong. On seeing the hundreds of ice spurs that almost instantly flew towards them, their faces dramatically changed, and they quickly waved their Flying Swords in full force to slash at the ice spurs. However, the binding power of the Spirit Talisman was extremely strong, and even the Foundation Establishment sword cultivator failed to fully defend against it, instead being pierced through the left arm by an ice spur, suffering a serious injury. The Qi Refining Realm sword cultivator, on the other hand, unexpectedly remained unscathed. Because a Defensive Magic suddenly rose up from his Magic Robe, forcefully blocking most of the ice spurs for him. Although the Defensive Magic on the robe was soon pierced by the ice spurs, the few remaining were not enough to hurt him. The injured Foundation Establishment sword cultivator glanced enviously at the other¡¯s robe. But the opponent was a descendant of a major family, with support from the family, he did not need to worry about resources and could certainly afford such a powerful Defensive Magic Robe; this was something he simply couldn¡¯t envy. He turned his gaze back to Wen Qing¡¯er in front of him. At first, seeing her young age and pure gaze, they thought she was just an innocent girl who didn¡¯t know the ways of the world, which is why they were so easily deceived. But it turned out this girl not only tricked them with her little schemes but also had such powerful Spirit Talismans on her, one strike causing him injury. This had to be at least a top-level Tier 2 Spirit Talisman; otherwise, it wouldn¡¯t be able to unleash power comparable to that of a Foundation Establishment Peak cultivator casting a spell. ¡°How dare you trick me?¡± The Foundation Establishment sword cultivator¡¯s expression turned icy cold, he channeled his True Yuan to stop the blood from continuing to flow from the wound, his eyes flashing with a trace of killing intent, and he brandished his sword to strike at Wen Qing¡¯er. However, the golden Defensive Magic shield outside her was incredibly strong, and after several consecutive sword strikes, he couldn¡¯t break through the defense. This made the Foundation Establishment sword cultivator even more irritated. He suddenly threw his Flying Sword in front of him and formed a hand seal to prepare to use a powerful Sword technique. Just as he was about to reach the zenith of his sword technique, he suddenly felt a strong wind from behind and instinctively felt the hair on his neck stand on end, a strong sense of crisis overwhelming him. In no condition to keep casting the Sword technique, he moved suddenly in a diagonal forward motion, trying to dodge the crisis from behind him. Unfortunately, he was just a bit too late in recognizing the danger. With a ¡®puff,¡¯ a streak of golden light flashed past, decapitating him. In the dying cultivator¡¯s mind flashed a hint of unwillingness; if he had a Defensive Magic Robe with strong protection like the other¡¯s, perhaps he would not have been so easily ambushed. Beside him, the Qi Refining Realm sword cultivator suddenly dashed forward, having no intention of engaging in combat with the suddenly appeared Qin Feng, and turned to flee. But he had just taken a few steps when he suddenly felt a tightening around his ankles, entangled by something unknown, and he became unsteady and fell to the ground. He quickly looked down and saw that it was a strand of spider silk, exuding a scorching aura, tightly wrapped around his calves. And at the other end of the spider silk was a Ghost-Faced Spider as big as a water jar. The spider emitted a strange yet powerful aura. With just a brief sense of it, he knew he was far inferior to the Ghost-Faced Spider. The young man¡¯s long sword swept out and directly severed the spider silk; clearly, the Flying Sword in his hand was no ordinary object and was many times sharper than the typical Spiritual Artifact Flying Sword. After cutting the spider silk, the youth tried to get up and escape when he suddenly felt a pain in his back. A pliable and sticky thing wrapped around his neck, pulling him back. It was the Swallowing Sky Toad that had shot out its tongue, wrapping it around the youth¡¯s neck. It had originally intended to pierce the young man¡¯s heart but was blocked by the Magic Robe he was wearing. Instead, it coiled its tongue around the opponent¡¯s neck and pulled him close to its own master. ¡°Ah¡­¡± Fear rose in the heart of the young sword cultivator; his Flying Sword swung repeatedly as he tried to cut the binding around his neck, but then he felt his arms tighten as they were immobilized by Poison Silk sprayed out by the Ghost-Faced Spider. Golden Light flashed in Qin Feng¡¯s hands; he broke through the opponent¡¯s defense and ended the young man¡¯s life. Afterward, he turned his gaze toward Wen Qing¡¯er. Who would have thought this girl could be quite deceptive? Indeed, the prettier the woman, the more deceitful she seems to be. Although the girl had yet to grow up, she definitely could be considered beautiful. The young girl¡¯s face revealed a happy smile, ¡°Senior Brother Qin, it¡¯s you! I thought Senior Sister An had come. Thank you for saving me.¡± Qin Feng smiled slightly, ¡°As long as you take out a few more Talismans like the one you just used, even if I didn¡¯t make a move, you would have been able to kill them, right?¡± ¡°Hehe¡­¡± Wen Qing¡¯er stuck out her tongue playfully and showed a mischievous smile, ¡°Isn¡¯t it because I sensed Senior Brother approaching? I only have a few Spirit Talismans on me; I still need to keep some to subdue my Lifebound beast. I can¡¯t waste them all on those guys.¡± Qin Feng smiled lightly, said nothing more, and began to gather the loot, plucking off the fallen young man¡¯s Magic Robe. Then he spoke to Wen Qing¡¯er, ¡°My Spiritual Bird was wounded earlier and can¡¯t fly at the moment; I¡¯ll have to trouble you, Junior Sister, to take me along. Let¡¯s go look for Sister Xiaoxi and the others.¡± ¡°Alright, no problem.¡± Wen Qing¡¯er nodded her head. Her Riding Tool had been forced down from the sky by the two sword cultivators but had not sustained any serious injuries and was still capable of flying. The only issue was that her Spiritual Beast wasn¡¯t very large. It was fine for her alone, but it would be a bit crowded with two people riding. But Qin Feng was anxious to find Qin Xi and couldn¡¯t be bothered with these trivial matters. He packed up the Swallowing Sky Toad and Ghost-Faced Spider, hopped onto the back of Wen Qing¡¯er¡¯s Spiritual Beast, sat down close to the young girl, and flew off in the direction indicated by the Jade Talisman. Shortly after Qin Feng and his companion left, two figures emerged from a large tree not far away. They were two young cultivators clad in green robes. The one on the left showed a flash of surprise in his eyes, glancing at the high-flying Qin Feng, who was about to vanish in the distance, ¡°I was hoping to pick up a bargain but didn¡¯t expect another creature adept in Earth Escape Divine Power to show up and so decisively kill those two from Taiyi Mountain.¡± The other nodded and said, ¡°The Beast Taming Sect truly lives up to its reputation. The way they refine their Lifebound Spiritual Beasts is astonishing; even a Qi Refining Realm cultivator can execute Earth Escape Divine Power with the help of their Lifebound Spiritual Beast, truly putting the likes of us to shame.¡± He shook his head with a wry smile, ¡°I had been rather pleased with myself for mastering the Yimu Escape Technique, but it seems I had been too narrow-minded and a bit too proud before.¡± ¡°Why should you belittle yourself, Senior Brother? Though the Beast Taming Sect might be strong, our Green Wood Sect also ranks near the forefront among the mid-sized sects. Moreover, the Escape Skills we have cultivated ourselves differ greatly from relying on a Lifebound Spiritual Beast like those Beast Taming Sect disciples do. But speaking of which, what exactly is that guy¡¯s Lifebound beast? To be able to wield Earth Escape Divine Power and possess such sharp Gold Element Power, it¡¯s indeed alarming.¡± ¡°What does it matter what kind of Spiritual Beast it is? There are countless extraordinary Spiritual Beasts in this world. We¡¯re not disciples of the Beast Taming Sect; it¡¯s normal not to recognize them.¡± The two approached and inspected the two corpses on the ground, then shook their heads and said, ¡°Let¡¯s go, that Beast Taming Sect disciple cleaned them out thoroughly, not leaving us any spoils.¡± Since they could no longer gain anything from the Taiyi Mountain disciples, it was best to hurry and hunt for treasures elsewhere. Although the Heavenly Pool Secret Realm was vast, many people had entered, and many knew of the good items in certain places. If they were too late, they might miss their chance to obtain those treasures. The Secret Realm was only open for nine days, and if they failed to find enough treasures within this time, it would be a significant loss for them. Immediately, the two turned into two streaks of green light, flying swiftly towards the distance. Chapter 143 - Chapter 143: Chapter 141 Giant Spirit Chapter 143: Chapter 141 Giant Spirit The Phoenix-Tailed Sparrow was a kind of Spiritual Bird with splendid feathers, remarkably beautiful. Although its combat strength was not particularly strong, its flying speed was decent, and its long tail feathers sweeping through the void gave an extraordinary sense of beauty. However, the Phoenix-Tailed Sparrow was not large, its wingspan only about three meters wide. Previously, it wasn¡¯t an issue when only Wen Qing¡¯er rode it, but now with the addition of Qin Feng, it became somewhat crowded. Qin Feng sat behind Wen Qing¡¯er, and between breaths, he could clearly smell the body fragrance emanating from the young girl. Because of the limited space on the back of the Phoenix-Tailed Sparrow, he couldn¡¯t sit cross-legged and had to ride like Wen Qing¡¯er. Despite shifting his body as far back as possible, he inevitably touched the girl, which made him feel somewhat embarrassed. Fortunately, he harbored no ill intentions. Given his moral standards, he wouldn¡¯t conceive any corrupt thoughts toward a girl who appeared to be only thirteen or fourteen years old. Moreover, the girl was petite and unremarkable in both body and face, not yet fully developed, giving the first impression of pure innocence, which easily evoked a desire to protect her rather than any other thoughts. Of course, Qin Feng was not a saint without desires. If it were a voluptuous mature woman sitting with him in such close quarters, he couldn¡¯t guarantee his mind would remain untroubled. Thinking of this, for some reason, he suddenly envisioned Peak Master Liu Xuanling of his own sect. With Liu Xuanling¡¯s figure, where she was curvy to the point you couldn¡¯t see her feet when looking down¡­ Cough! Qin Feng quickly suppressed the wild thoughts in his mind. It was better not to think about such things. Otherwise, he might slip up in front of Peak Master Liu someday, and he would definitely be at a disadvantage. The two rode the Phoenix-Tailed Sparrow heading west. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í??.§ã¦Ï Through the Jade Talisman, they could sense that Qin Xi and An Ruhui had already met up, which greatly relieved Qin Feng. With An Ruhui¡¯s strength, as long as she wasn¡¯t besieged by multiple attackers, she could definitely protect Qin Xi. At this moment, their qi was slowly moving but did not fly directly towards them; instead, it veered slightly northward. Qin Feng surveyed the surrounding terrain and checked the previously reviewed map of the Secret Realm, quickly deducing that they had gone to explore the nearest place known to have fostered Natural Creatures. He spoke to Wen Qing¡¯er, and soon, the Phoenix-Tailed Sparrow changed direction, flying towards that location. The Phoenix-Tailed Sparrow sped across the sky, flying thousands of miles until they approached the area where Qin Xi and An Ruhui were located by evening. Along the way, they faced numerous attacks and saw several cultivators fighting desperately over treasures, even witnessing rare Spiritual Medicine growing in lands rich with Spiritual Energy. Many cultivators formed temporary alliances to break through certain Prohibitions and tackle powerful Demon Beasts. There were also disciples from the same Sect cooperating to slay solitary cultivators. Qin Feng noticed that it was common for disciples from various Sects to collaborate, but it was rare to see Beast Taming Sect disciples do the same. It wasn¡¯t because Beast Taming Sect disciples lacked unity, but often they could handle difficulties on their own. Disciples from the Beast Taming Sect who came to the Heavenly Pool Secret Realm were considered elite in their Sect, each having subjugated more than one or two Spiritual Beasts. Whether flying Spiritual Birds, fierce beasts proficient in terrestrial combat, or Water Demons adept in water, they nearly had them all, making them self-sufficient teams capable of acquiring numerous treasures without needing to form groups. Along the way, they were approached for help and attacked by rival Sects. The two did not linger at all and even ignored rare Spiritual Medicine growing in the land of the Spiritual Vein, simply flying away. After all, formidable Demon Beasts likely guarded those Spiritual Medicines, or they might have been targeted by other cultivators. If they tried to seize them, it would not only waste time but also might not be successful. Besides, their main purpose in entering was to find Lifebound instances for both Qin Xi and Wen Qing¡¯er, so it wasn¡¯t appropriate to be distracted by other matters. If they were tempted by treasures, they wouldn¡¯t have much time to search for Lifebound instances. As darkness neared, they finally met up with Qin Xi and An Ruhui. It was clear that the two hadn¡¯t encountered any danger; their Magic Robes were clean and tidy, without a hint of disarray. They, too, didn¡¯t participate in the treasure-hunting but focused all their attention on finding Natural Creatures, not being overly enticed by some treasures, avoiding battles with the beasts guarding them. ¡°Sister¡­¡± Wen Qing¡¯er, seeing them from afar, immediately cheered and, without waiting for the Phoenix-Tailed Sparrow to land, jumped down and darted towards them like a joyful little rabbit. She then chattered on about her encounter with danger and how Qin Feng had saved her. She focused particularly on her clever maneuvers, clearly quite pleased with herself for her earlier use of the Talisman to injure the Foundation Establishment Sword Cultivators from Taiyi Mountain. Listening to her account, An Ruhui knew the young girl was boasting about her merits and couldn¡¯t help but chuckle softly, stroking her head before turning to Qin Feng and saying, ¡°We owe much to Junior Brother Qin¡¯s timely intervention, or Junior Sister Wen might have been in danger.¡± ¡°It¡¯s all part of being Sect members, sister. There¡¯s no need to be so formal,¡± Qin Feng said, ¡°Sister, have you found anything here?¡± ¡°No,¡± An Ruhui shook her head, ¡°Natural creatures are hard to birth, any slight mishap may cause premature death, or they may be devoured by Demon Beasts, or their evolution interrupted by other accidents, ultimately only transforming into various Spiritual Objects. The Heavenly Pool Secret Realm is perpetually in a closed state for this very reason, allowing one or two natural creatures to be born every few years. If it was in the outside world, such a Spiritual Land would have long been occupied by Cultivators, and it would be impossible for so many natural creatures to be born.¡± ¡°Given that, let¡¯s head to the next location,¡± Qin Feng glanced at the sky. Although night had fallen, this Secret Realm still lies within the void of the Main World, so the light of the sun, moon, and stars from the outside world still sprinkled into the Grotto Heaven, preventing the place from becoming pitch dark at night. ¡°I was thinking the same,¡± An Ruhui nodded, ¡°However, travelling at night is riskier. Not only do many Demon Beasts like to hunt in the darkness, but some ill-intentioned Cultivators may also take advantage of the night to launch surprise attacks. Everyone, stay vigilant and beware of hidden threats.¡± Everyone hastily nodded, signaling that they would all be careful. Even though they could extend their Divine Sense, they couldn¡¯t do so continuously. They were just several low-level Small Cultivators after all, with limited Divine Sense power and without the tempering of Heavenly Tribulations. The Divine Sense was Yin-natured and consumed a lot when projected outside the body, and recovering it was not as simple as restoring True Yuan. For Cultivators, running out of True Yuan was no big deal, just absorbing enough Spiritual Energy would restore it back to normal, but recovering Divine Sense required special Techniques to nourish properly. With their current strength, they were incapable of nourishing Divine Sense with Spiritual Energy or of transforming True Yuan into Divine Sense power, that was something only Cultivators above the Purple Mansion Realm could accomplish. The group set off once more. This time, Qin Feng was too embarrassed to squeeze with Junior Sister Wen Qing¡¯er and instead directly jumped onto Qin Xi¡¯s Spiritual Vulture, sharing the ride with his cousin. The Spiritual Vulture, not only fierce in temperament but also stronger in combat power than the Phoenix-Tailed Sparrow and much larger in size, gave plenty of space for two people sitting cross-legged on its back. An Ruhui led the way on her Riding Tool, ¡°There is a mountain peak about eight hundred li to the west from here, named Moyun Ridge, the tallest peak within the Heavenly Pool Secret Realm, shrouded in clouds and mist all year round, where a Cloud Elf once appeared. Let¡¯s head there first.¡± ¡°Alright,¡± None of the others had any objections. An Ruhui had entered this time under the orders of the Creation Peak Master, to assist two fellow Sect Junior Sisters in finding their Lifebound, thus Qin Xi and the others principally followed her lead. Qin Feng, coming along to help, naturally couldn¡¯t disrupt the order, so they all followed An Ruhui¡¯s commands and flew towards Moyun Ridge together. ¡°Roar¡­¡± From afar, the forests carried the eerie howls of various Demon Beasts and some spine-chilling sounds, their sources unknown. An Ruhui led them to conscientiously avoid several places where they sensed powerful auras, trying to avoid combat as much as possible. However, even if they didn¡¯t want any unnecessary trouble, some dangers were inevitably forced upon them, leaving no room to escape. For instance, right now, several boulder-sized stones were hurled from the ground like shooting stars targeting An Ruhui at the forefront. Qin Feng, quick-eyed, followed the trajectory of the stones and saw two tall, burly figures. His eyes narrowed, such uncommonly large figures were easy to recognize¡ªthese were Giant Spirit Sect¡¯s Disciples! Only the Cultivators from the Giant Spirit Sect would possess such enormous physiques and brute strength, using such methods to attack enemies. Ahead, An Ruhui let out a shout and waved her hand, conjuring several whirlwinds out of thin air that gently wrapped around the stones, spinning lightly to change the direction of their flight, then spinning the huge boulders back towards the two tall figures on the ground. Boom, boom, boom! The two Cultivators from the Giant Spirit Sect raised their hands, and a few punches shattered the stones. Then, one of them pulled a Mountain-Opening Giant Axe from behind their back, and the other unhooked a pair of Heavy Hammers from his waist, stomping on the ground with a boom that created shallow pits over a foot deep, their figures soaring up like giant apes, their heavy weapons raised high as they charged toward them. An Ruhui slightly furrowed her brows; she was reluctant to engage with these barbarians. Indeed, in her eyes, Cultivators from the Giant Spirit Sect were barbarians: brutish and overbearing, relying on brute strength to bully others, vastly different from common Cultivators. Moreover, what Cultivators from the Giant Spirit Sect excelled at most was using their physical advantages for close combat. Once they managed to get close, it was easy to get caught up in their rhythm of combat, aside from those exceptionally skilled in hand-to-hand combat, very few people could handle them at close range. Chapter 144 - Chapter 144: Chapter 142: Forceful Killing Chapter 144: Chapter 142: Forceful Killing The two Foundation Establishment disciples from the Giant Spirit Sect leapt high into the air, their massive bodies, a good ten feet tall and rippling with muscles, exuded savage strength. The heavy weapons in their hands whistled through the air as they ferociously smashed toward An Ruhui. To them, only the Foundation Establishment Female Cultivator before them was worth their full effort. The other Qi Refining Realm disciples from the Beast Taming Sect were too weak to pose a challenge; once they killed this woman, the rest would be easy to slaughter. An Ruhui¡¯s delicate brows furrowed slightly. Had she been alone, she would definitely have chosen to temporarily avoid the brunt of their assault, distancing herself to attack from afar with spells. However, fearing sudden attacks along the way, she was concerned for her weaker fellow disciples, Qin Xi and Wen Qing¡¯er, who might not be able to defend themselves in time if ambushed; hence they were staying closely together. If she dodged the attack from the two from the Giant Spirit Sect, the closely following Wen Qing¡¯er would surely be hit; she had no choice but to brace herself and take the hit from the two men. An Ruhui had previously fought with cultivators from the Giant Spirit Sect and knew their attack was fierce. Therefore, she held nothing back when she struck, summoning all her True Yuan to instantly release dozens of Wind Blades that swiftly struck toward the two men. She refused to naively adopt a defensive stance, waiting for the two men to strike. Such an approach would only have fallen into the opponents¡¯ rhythm. To fight against disciples of the Giant Spirit Sect, it was essential to disrupt their offensive momentum to stand a chance at winning. Otherwise, once entangled by the opponent, she would be caught in their brutal assault. Sure enough, when the two Giant Spirit Sect disciples saw the numerous Wind Blades slashing toward them, they could only wave their weapons to break apart the Wind Blades. Though their bodies were extraordinarily tough due to their training, they had not reached the level where they could withstand the spells of a fellow cultivator without any harm. But as they scattered the Wind Blades, their previously accumulated momentum abruptly deflated, not as ferocious as before. The speed of An Ruhui¡¯s casting also far exceeded their expectations. Just as they had dispersed the Wind Blades, An Ruhui clapped her hands together, and a small tornado appeared in the center of her palms. As she pushed her hands forward, the tornado grew larger and began to roar as it swept toward one of them. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï???.§ã¦Ï This was the formidable ability of a disciple from Creation Peak. Once they refined their Lifebound essence, they could draw upon that power to connect with nature¡¯s spiritual energy and transform it into spells to assault the enemy. An Ruhui¡¯s Lifebound was an Elf born of wind; thus, she could readily harness the omnipresent force of wind between heaven and earth to easily execute various Wind Element Spells. Had she been facing only one opponent, she could have easily played them like a kite in the wind. Unfortunately, there were two of them, both formidable in body cultivation. While she launched the tornado at one, the other one had already shattered the Wind Blades and reached her. Watching the burly man raise his double hammers, coming down with a ferocious force toward her, An Ruhui sighed internally. She no longer had time to cast Defensive Magic, her only option was to dodge. However, she could dodge, but her tamed Spiritual Bird would suffer. Just then, she suddenly heard a sharp call from beside her, and soon saw Qin Feng rush over like golden lightning from behind Qin Xi. His wings crossed in front of him, blocking the strike from the double hammers. With a loud crash, Qin Feng¡¯s body was directly thrown a dozen meters away by the overpowering force of the opponent. Seeing this, Qin Xi shuddered internally, but she reacted quickly, raising her hand to instantly activate a Talisman that transformed into a massive Fireball hurling toward the Giant Spirit Sect¡¯s Foundation Establishment Cultivator to prevent him from pursuing his advantage. Then she turned her head toward Qin Feng, asking anxiously, ¡°Afeng, are you alright?¡± ¡°I¡¯m fine.¡± Qin Feng shook his head. Boy, he felt that the cultivator from the Giant Spirit Sect was even more powerful than the Iron Armor Rhinoceros he had subdued. When he had withstood the charge from the Iron Armor Rhinoceros, he had only been left slightly numb on one side of his(body, yet the strike he had just braced from the Giant Spirit Sect¡¯s cultivator had almost caused him internal injuries. Are the physical bodies of the Giant Spirit Sect¡¯s cultivators so formidable? Qin Feng regulated the True Yuan within his body, steadying his fluctuating blood and gradually landed on the ground, casting his gaze toward the two men from the Giant Spirit Sect. They had already locked their qi onto them, and before defeating these two, it wouldn¡¯t be wise to directly control the Spiritual Bird to fly away; being so close to the ground, they would definitely be attacked by them. ¡°Young lad, not too shabby.¡± Ten meters away, the other cultivator waved his large hammer twice, his eyes as large as copper bells gleaming with a ferocious light, ¡°But, I wonder how many more of my strikes you can take.¡± ¡°Ha¡­¡± Qin Feng chuckled coldly, ¡°Just a brute relying on sheer strength acting tough. How dare you be so arrogant?¡± This guy even wanted to provoke him verbally, hoping to make him withstand another of his hammer strikes by pure will, which was purely delusional. He had only chosen to withstand that hit earlier for An Ruhui. Now on the ground, there was no need to clash directly with the opponent; he wasn¡¯t foolish enough to challenge an opponent¡¯s strength with his weakness. The opponent was proficient with power, while he excelled in speed. While at the Preaching Pavilion on Spiritual Snake Peak, Qin Feng had heard the elders mention that the cultivators from the Giant Spirit Sect, before developing their Divine Skills, had limited techniques to use. Once the restraining method was found, dealing with them wasn¡¯t too difficult. Of course, even if ordinary cultivators found the method, breaking through the formidable physical bodies of these cultivators wasn¡¯t easy. The Giant Spirit Sect believed in the limitless potential of the physical body and focused solely on body cultivation. They could enhance their bodies to unimaginable levels, thus unlocking various Divine Skills. But that applied only once they had cultivated to a certain stage. Even if the body cultivation of Foundation Establishment Realm cultivators was far superior to ordinary cultivators, it still had its limits. Qin Feng wanted to test the opponent¡¯s limit. His figure flashed, leaving behind a trail as he circled around the Giant Spirit Sect cultivator, occasionally launching a sneaky attack. However, the Giant Spirit Sect cultivator was not only more advanced in cultivation but also had a very solid foundation; despite Qin Feng¡¯s figure flickering at the periphery, the cultivator remained unmoved. His two large hammers flew up and down, easily blocking Qin Feng¡¯s ambushes. Seeing this, Qin Feng frowned and immediately retreated backward. When the cultivator saw him retreat, he thought that Qin Feng was running out of strength and prepared to flee, so he took steps to pursue. Suddenly, he saw Qin Feng stretch out his hand and summon a Green Fox. The Green Fox glanced at him, and then it seemed like a massive mountain was pressing down upon him. ¡°Hmph!¡± The burly man¡¯s eyes widened, instantly seeing through the Green Fox¡¯s illusion technique. But immediately after, his expression changed. Because in front of him appeared an Iron Armor Rhinoceros several meters in length. At that moment, the Iron Armor Rhinoceros, much larger than him, was charging towards him with its horn pointed straight. ¡°Get out of the way!¡± The burly man roared, swinging his hammer towards the Iron Armor Rhinoceros. With a loud boom, the man and the rhinoceros collided. It must be said that the Giant Spirit Sect cultivator¡¯s physical body was indeed formidable. Not only did he hold his ground against the Iron Armor Rhinoceros, but he also pushed it back several steps. However, instead of any trace of joy on his face, taking advantage of the impact from the rhinoceros, he continuously retreated, planning to escape directly. Because, what Qin Feng had released was not just the Green Fox and the Iron Armor Rhinoceros, but also a Ghost-Faced Spider with Foundation Establishment strength. Unfortunately, his speed was not as fast as Qin Feng¡¯s. Now that the battle had begun, how could Qin Feng let his opponent retreat unharmed? His figure flashed, directly chasing behind the opponent, blocking his way. The burly man roared and raised his hammers to strike. Qin Feng didn¡¯t meet the attack head-on; he merely tangled with the opponent to prevent him from escaping. Meanwhile, the Iron Armor Rhinoceros occasionally charged, and the Ghost-Faced Spider¡¯s webs continuously shot out, wrapping around the Giant Spirit Sect cultivator¡¯s body. The Swallowing Sky Toad also spat out Cold Ice Arrows nearby, harassing the cultivator. While its Cold Ice Arrows couldn¡¯t break through the Giant Spirit Sect cultivator¡¯s physical body, they were painful when hitting his body. Moreover, the Cold Ice Arrows also attacked the vital points like the cultivator¡¯s orifices, forcing the burly man to dodge repeatedly. Soon, the cultivator was entangled by the webs of the Ghost-Faced Spider, and with his movements hindered, he was directly knocked to the ground by the Iron Armor Rhinoceros. Then, he was quickly slain by Qin Feng in cooperation with several spirit beasts. Elsewhere, another Giant Spirit Sect cultivator, who was already in a sorry state from An Ruhui¡¯s Wind Element Magic, saw this and immediately panicked, turning around to flee. However, An Ruhui¡¯s casting was extremely fast, not giving him a chance to escape. Moreover, a nimble, small-bodied Spiritual Monkey, which was another one of An Ruhui¡¯s Foundation Establishment Realm spirit beasts, occasionally stretched out its claws to scratch him. This Spiritual Monkey, an adept Wind Element beast with claws swift as lightning, could leave marks on the body even of a Giant Spirit Sect Foundation Establishment cultivator with its sharp claws. Seeing his companion killed, the cultivator in panic was immediately taken advantage of by An Ruhui. With the Spiritual Monkey capturing the cultivator¡¯s attention, she released nearly a hundred Wind Blades, killing him on the spot. ¡°Senior Sister An, that was impressive,¡± Qin Feng couldn¡¯t help but praise An Ruhui after seeing the speed of her spellcasting. An Ruhui gave a gentle smile, ¡°Junior Brother Qin, you praise me too much. Seeing that your lifebound spirit beast has already entered the Foundation Establishment stage, it won¡¯t be long before you too successfully reach Foundation Establishment.¡± In fact, she was somewhat surprised inside; she hadn¡¯t expected that in addition to his lifebound spirit beast, Qin Feng also had two other Foundation Establishment spirit beasts, making his strength no weaker than hers. ¡°This is not a place to stay for long, we should leave quickly.¡± After cleaning up the battlefield, An Ruhui called out. The noise from their fight was significant, and it was likely that nearby cultivators might have heard and could be lurking around to check the situation. Their mission was to search for lifebound spirit beasts for the two junior sisters, and they did not want any unnecessary complications. ¡°Senior Sister An makes a good point.¡± Qin Feng and the others nodded, realizing that it was not only possible that other cultivators might come to take advantage, but also that Demon Beasts lurking in the nearby woods might appear. Chapter 146 - Chapter 146: Chapter 144: Corpse, Vine Chapter 146: Chapter 144: Corpse, Vine An Ruhui moved swiftly like the wind, reaching the vicinity of the clouds in the blink of an eye. Seeing the Water Spirit attempting to escape within the clouds, she raised her hand and released several Spirit Talismans while softly chanting, ¡°Seal! Bind! Subdue the Spirit!¡± Instantly, immense forces bound all Spiritual Power within a radius of several dozen yards. Over the years, the lineage of Creation Peak had deeply studied various Natural Creatures and amassed countless experiences and methods to capture them. Furthermore, because the descendants of Creation Peak were few, the sect took extra care of each generation of disciples, especially in assisting them with the capture of their Lifebound entities, which was a particularly attentive matter. Before their departure, the Creation Peak Master prepared measures against various Natural Creatures to prevent them from escaping upon encounter. Natural Creatures, born from the Creation of heaven and earth, inherently mastered various Escape Techniques. Thus, these sealing and suppressing Spirit Talismans were essential items for them. At this moment, the Spirit Talismans triggered by An Ruhui were the most commonly used methods by the lineage of Creation Peak for capturing Natural Creatures. They could bind all Spiritual Power within a hundred yards and suppress all life within that space, unless the strength of this Water Spirit was formidable enough to rival a Golden Core and break free from this binding force in an instant. However, no foreign lifeform was allowed to break through to a power greater than Golden Core in this secret realm, a rule set by the owner of the Heavenly Pool Secret Realm. The reason why this Cave Heaven World drifted in the void was due to the Demon Clan¡¯s invasion during the Ancient Great Tribulation period. The Ancient powerhouse controlling this Cave Heaven World had no choice but to exile the core area of their sect deep into the void. At the same time, to limit the strength of the Demon Clan, they altered the laws of the Cave Heaven World to its current state. While powerful demons could still fight against the suppressive force of the Cave Heaven, they were definitely affected significantly. After the strongest demons and Human Clan powerhouses fell one after another, the surviving demons might have won, but they lost the ability to leave the Heavenly Pool Cave Heaven and ultimately perished here. However, those original demons left behind their bloodline; otherwise, so many Demon Beasts wouldn¡¯t appear here. Even so, these Demon Beasts were restricted by the laws of the Cave Heaven World, able to cultivate only up to the peak of Foundation Establishment. Any further advancement would trigger the Cave Heaven Law and invoke the suppressive force. This also reassured various Sects to allow less powerful disciples to enter in search of opportunities. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í??.?? They even hoped that if their disciples were fortunate enough and stumbled upon the inheritance of this Cave Heaven by coincidence, they might refine and assimilate this Cave Heaven. A Cave Heaven Blessed Land, for any sect, was a crucial opportunity for growth. Because not only was the Cave Heaven World abundant with Spiritual Energy, making it an excellent cultivation blessed land, it could also be concealed, making it difficult for enemies to discover. It could serve as the core inheritance land for a sect. Even if their external Mountain Gate was destroyed, as long as the Cave Heaven remained, they would still have a chance to rise again. Of course, in cases like the Heavenly Pool Cave Heaven, where even the people inside perished, it would simply benefit others. Cave Heavens were rare; the Beast Taming Sect had only the Ten Thousand Demons Cave Heaven, and Taiyi Mountain had only the Golden Light Cave Heaven, yet these became their strongest foundations. In fact, only sects that owned an independent Cave Heaven World could be considered a Great Force. Many medium and small sects developed slowly simply because they lacked such blessed lands to accumulate foundations and cultivate disciples. Unfortunately, many coveted this Cave Heaven, but to this day, no one had obtained the inheritance of the Heavenly Pool Secret Realm. Some speculated that perhaps the inheritance here was destroyed by the invading Demon Clan during the Ancient Times. Of course, it was also possible that the Ancient Human Clan powerhouses, to prevent it from falling into demonic hands, had hidden the inheritance in some secret location within the Secret Realm yet to be discovered. With An Ruhui¡¯s sealing, the Water Spirit immediately became immobile. Although it possessed Innate Divine Abilities, its birth was not long ago, and influenced invisibly by the Cave Heaven Law, its Spiritual Intelligence was vague, acting only on instinct, hence its strength wasn¡¯t very strong. Subdued and sealed from all directions by An Ruhui¡¯s successive Spirit Talismans, it directly lost the ability to escape. Yet this Water Spirit was indeed gifted. Sensing that it couldn¡¯t use the external Spiritual Power, a stream of water suddenly gushed from its body, transforming into thousands of droplets like arrows, whistling toward An Ruhui while desperately struggling to break free and escape. An Ruhui¡¯s body emitted a flash of Spirit Light, using the Wind Elf¡¯s Divine Skills to transform herself into a breeze, letting the raindrops pass through her body without causing any harm. Of course, this was also due to the Water Spirit¡¯s inadequate strength. If it were any stronger, An Ruhui wouldn¡¯t dare allow its attacks, as the breeze she transformed into might get dispersed, potentially causing her serious injury. After turning into a breeze, An Ruhui quickly arrived in front of the Water Spirit, took a close look, and discovered that the Water Spirit was actually a clear stream of water with no fixed form, capable of changing its shape at will. She didn¡¯t linger, fearful that the Water Spirit might have some means of escape, and promptly took out a Jade Bottle, capturing the Water Spirit inside and sealing the bottle. Only then did she descend with a face full of joy. ¡°Ha ha, this trip is really lucky.¡± An Ruhui handed the Jade Bottle to Qin Xi, smiling, ¡°Junior sister, keep it for now. This isn¡¯t the time to refine it. Once we return to the Mountain Gate, you can refine it into your Lifebound.¡± ¡°Thank you, senior sister.¡± Qin Xi also received the Jade Bottle with a face full of surprise. Although she couldn¡¯t see the Water Spirit inside, she couldn¡¯t help but stroke the bottle for a few moments before carefully putting it away. With the Water Spirit, her path of cultivation was now certain. Beside her, Wen Qing¡¯er was both happy and envious. After congratulating Qin Xi for a few sentences, she couldn¡¯t help but imagine what kind of natural creature her own lifebound spirit would be. Meanwhile, she was also worried, unsure whether there were other natural creatures born in the Heavenly Pool Secret Realm. If not, she would have to return empty-handed. ¡°Let¡¯s go, let¡¯s look around Moyun Ridge once more; if we don¡¯t find anything, we¡¯ll search elsewhere.¡± An Ruhui suppressed the joy in her heart and led the group up the mountain. After spending another hour, they scoured the areas above the clouds of Moyun Ridge but didn¡¯t discover a second natural creature. As expected, they weren¡¯t discouraged; thus, they left Moyun Ridge and continued searching elsewhere. Over the next three days, they visited places where predecessors from Creation Peak had found natural creatures, but to no avail. Wen Qing¡¯er let out a sigh. It was an unavoidable situation. The conditions for the birth of natural creatures were extremely stringent. Even though the Heavenly Pool Secret Realm was rarely visited, every sixty years, thousands of cultivators would enter, significantly disturbing many areas and thus also killing the potential for some natural creatures to be born. Finding one this time was already quite fortunate. ¡°Don¡¯t lose heart.¡± An Ruhui smiled and comforted her, ¡°Let¡¯s look in other places; the secret realm is so vast, there might be natural creatures born in some hidden spots. Even if there aren¡¯t, we can search other places after leaving. Don¡¯t worry, the Peak Master won¡¯t neglect you.¡± ¡°Okay.¡± Wen Qing¡¯er nodded her little head and perked up again. With the support of her senior sister and the elders from Creation Peak, sooner or later, she would find a suitable lifebound spirit. It was just a matter of time, and there was no reason to be upset. This time, they were no longer in a rush. They started heading towards areas where spiritual energy gathered. After all, the birth of natural creatures definitely relied on spiritual energy; generally speaking, the places with thicker spiritual energy were more likely to give birth to such creatures. The original large Spirit Veins of the Heavenly Pool Secret Realm had been scattered during the Ancient Great Tribulation by powerful beings of the Demon Clan, making the veins particularly disjointed, broken into hundreds of medium and small Spirit Veins scattered around. Unless a powerful being gathered these veins to reform a large Spirit Vein, it was difficult to restore it to the state from ancient times. Now, Qin Feng and the others headed towards these gathering spots of Spirit Veins and in the course of their journey, they started competing with Demon Beasts and cultivators from other sects for various spiritual medicines. Since they no longer had a specific destination, they were not in a hurry and took the opportunity to seize some treasures. Two days later, they reached a dense forest. This forest was lush with vegetation, and the trees were tall and straight, making them feel as if they were dwarfs in a Giant Kingdom as they walked through it. Continuing forward, they ventured deep into the forest, eventually reaching the core area. While the group talked softly and collected some spiritual wood and medicines, they suddenly heard intense sounds of fighting coming from ahead. They immediately lightened their steps and concealed their presence, cautiously moving towards the source of the noise. Shortly after, they came upon a huge, round pit in the forest ahead. The pit was three hundred zhang in diameter and several dozen zhang deep; it grew deeper towards the inside as if a massive meteor had created the pit. Inside the pit lay scattered bones, both human and various Demon Beasts. Except for a few corpses that had died recently, most of the skeletons had turned eerily white, clearly dead for many years. And at the center of the pit lay a unique corpse. This skeleton was dozens of zhang large, recognizable by its sharp teeth and the thick bones and claws on its body; it was obviously a powerful member of the Demon Clan during its life. On the skull of the skeleton grew a green vine, which bore a blood-red flower, emitting a faint fragrance. Around it, several cultivators from the Human Clan and Demon Beasts were fighting over the vine. Chapter 147 - Chapter 147: Chapter 145 Thumbelina Chapter 147: Chapter 145 Thumbelina The battle was extremely brutal, with both the Human Clan Cultivators and Demon Beasts disregarding their own lives as they plunged into the frenzy of combat. Some of the cultivators and Demon Beasts had their limbs severed, chests and abdomens pierced, blood flowing everywhere, and covered in wounds, yet they still didn¡¯t make any moves to flee, holding their Spiritual Artifacts, casting various spells, and even lunging forward to attack their opponents in madness. Such frenzied slaughter deeply shocked Qin Feng and the others, and Wen Qing¡¯er was particularly terrified by the bloody and brutal scene. They couldn¡¯t believe these people were so desperate. Could that vine or the flower be so precious as to make them ignore their very lives? If anyone could emerge victorious from this style of battle, they would still be left with severe injuries, their strength reduced to barely a tenth of their peak. To suffer such grievous wounds within the Heavenly Pool Secret Realm, let alone becoming a target for other cultivators, they likely wouldn¡¯t even make it out of the forest but would end up in the stomachs of other Demon Beasts. Or was it that these people were confident that the mysterious flower could heal their wounds in a short amount of time and bring them substantial benefits? But what kind of mysterious item was it? After discussing among themselves, Qin Feng and his companions confirmed that none of them recognized the mysterious flower. Could it be that those embroiled in the battle below had wider knowledge than them? But looking at their clothing and appearance, among them were quite a few who clearly belonged to minor sects; their horizons and knowledge couldn¡¯t possibly be greater than the disciples of the Beast Taming Sect. However, they noticed that among the cultivators fighting over the enormous carcass, there were no disciples of the Beast Taming Sect. The Demon Beasts that appeared here were likely all wild beasts from within the Heavenly Pool Secret Realm. This relieved Qin Feng and his companions. Since there were no fellow sect members here, they were in no rush to show themselves. The intensity of the battle was such that if they were to join, any slight misstep could lead to their deaths; the risk was too high. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í??.§ã? They cautiously hid on the periphery, carefully watching. Perhaps, they could wait for these cultivators and Demon Beasts to finish fighting, then swoop in to take advantage of the situation. Although they didn¡¯t know what kind of celestial plant the vine was that it could drive these people to fight to the death over it, nor did they know the specific miraculous effects of the flower that bloomed from it, the flower was clearly extraordinary. They could distinctly smell its fragrance from over three hundred yards away. Inhaling that faint enchanting scent, they felt refreshed and clear-headed. As they smelled it longer, it felt as though even their Divine Sense had grown stronger and their Divine Souls felt somewhat uplifted, making them unable to resist the urge to move closer. ¡°That flower must be an exceptional treasure. Even from such a distance it is so alluring; I wonder how many benefits we would gain from refining it.¡± An Ruhui spoke softly, her gaze somewhat hazy. A gleam of fiery longing flashed through Qin Feng¡¯s heart, and he nodded in agreement, ¡°Yes, if we could bring it back and have the sect elders refine it into Elixir Pills for us to consume, it would surely bring endless benefits to our future Cultivation, and we would have hopeful prospects on the Immortal Dao.¡± ¡°The flower is so beautiful. Why don¡¯t we also try to snatch that miraculous flower?¡± At that moment, Wen Qing¡¯er seemed to have mustered quite a lot of courage as she said, ¡°Those people are already severely injured; they couldn¡¯t possibly be our match.¡± ¡°This¡­¡± For some reason, they all vaguely felt something was amiss, yet they couldn¡¯t pinpoint where that feeling of inappropriateness was coming from. Among them, An Ruhui had the strongest Cultivation, yet even she didn¡¯t detect anything wrong. At this moment, for some reason, the image of a person appeared in her mind. He was tall and straight, handsome with a determined look in his eyes, powerful, his whole being exuded an unyielding spirit, as if he dared to contend with the heavens and battle the earth, never surrendering, valiant and fearless. That person was a secret buried in the deepest part of her heart. The year she first met him, she was deeply captivated by him. She thought, maybe that was what liking someone was like. However, he held a high status, and his Cultivation was strong, which made her feel ashamed and unworthy, so she kept that thread of affection buried in her heart, never speaking of it to anyone. But now, she felt that if she could obtain that enchanting miraculous flower, she might have a chance to accomplish the Dao, to be worthy of his status. Thus, a desire arose in her heart, as if obtaining that miraculous flower would fulfill her dreams, giving her everything she desired. So, she spoke those words and agreed with Qin Feng and Wen Qing¡¯er, even contemplating charging over to slay all the fighting cultivators and Demon Beasts and seize the miraculous flower for herself. Yet she still had a vague sense that something was not quite right, and she found herself struggling with the decision. Qin Feng, too, was overcome by the impulse to rush down there. Compared to An Ruhui, his desire for immortality was even stronger. He no longer wanted to experience the fear of death and yearned for longevity, eternity, inexhaustible life, and formidable strength. He wanted to heal his father¡¯s Divine Soul injury, a long-held wish of his. He wanted his father to join him on the path to longevity; otherwise, being alone felt too lonely. And it seemed that obtaining that miraculous flower could make all his thoughts a reality. Qin Xi¡¯s mind was filled with memories of her childhood, recalling the poverty she had experienced until she became a cultivator and opened her Spiritual Acupoint, which led to her being taken into the family estate and taught the ways of Cultivation. She remembered her affectionate mother, her hardworking father, and her younger siblings. Once, she too had thought how wonderful it would be if her whole family could cultivate. Unfortunately, that notion was fleeting and was soon suppressed, as she knew it was simply impossible. Now, however, it seemed that if she could obtain that miraculous flower, she might be able to make it all happen. Beside her, Wen Qing¡¯er was daydreaming too. The girl¡¯s eyes shone as she stared fixedly at the miraculous flower, a pure smile appearing on her face. She reached out her hand, wanting to grab that flower. If she could wear it on her head, she would be the most adorable girl in not just Creation Peak¡­ but in the entire Beast Taming Sect. At that time, the Peak Master would pat her head and praise her for being sensible, and her fellow disciple sisters would look at her with envy, complimenting her beauty. But the flower was too far away; her hand couldn¡¯t reach it. So she walked forward, intending to get in front of the enchanted flower and pick it. As for the cultivators and Demon Beasts that were fighting fiercely for their lives, they no longer existed in her eyes. With her movement, Qin Feng and the others were also affected, involuntarily following her and moving forward. Although they vaguely felt that something was wrong, the allure of the enchanted flower was too great, tempting even An Ruhui, whose Cultivation was the highest, to walk forward. ¡°Ouch¡­¡± Suddenly, Wen Qing¡¯er cried out in pain, stumbling over a stone and falling to the ground, her little head banging against a large tree root in front of her, raising a big lump on her head instantly. The little girl, with tears brimming in her eyes, reached out her small hand to cover her forehead, and after getting up somewhat awkwardly, she indignantly stomped on the tree root a couple of times to vent her frustration before she felt better. Then, lifting her head, she saw Senior Sister An and her fellow disciples, Qin Feng and Qin Xi, still dazedly walking past her. She pulled on An Ruhui¡¯s sleeve in confusion and asked, ¡°Senior Sister, they haven¡¯t finished fighting yet, are we going over there now?¡± When An Ruhui was pulled by her, she immediately snapped out of it, and without saying another word, she took out a Heart-Clearing Talisman and activated it. An invisible energy swept across the area, bringing Qin Feng and Qin Xi back to their senses as well. ¡°That flower is strange, its scent is problematic, hold your breath, let¡¯s get out of here first.¡± The group quickly fled from the area, running toward the distance, until they were more than a hundred paces away. They could still smell the faint fragrance of the flower. An Ruhui stopped walking and summoned a gust of wind with a wave of her hand, dispersing all the surrounding scents. Then she rapidly laid down a simple Forbidden Technique on the ground to block the outside scent from invading, then she finally breathed a sigh of relief. ¡°That¡¯s definitely not some miracle flower that enhances one¡¯s Cultivation Dao, it¡¯s a malevolent object that can bewitch the mind.¡± An Ruhui spoke up, ¡°Those people probably weren¡¯t fighting over the flower itself but were seduced by its scent and lost their sanity, resulting in frenzied combat.¡± ¡°How terrifying.¡± Wen Qing¡¯er, who already remembered her earlier uncontrollable action, couldn¡¯t help but feel a surge of fear in her heart. She didn¡¯t want to end up like those cultivators who lost their reason and fought madly, so she looked toward An Ruhui and said, ¡°If that thing is so dreadful, Senior Sister, let¡¯s hurry up and leave this place.¡± ¡°No rush; we¡¯re quite far from there. As long as we don¡¯t continuously smell the scent of that flower, there shouldn¡¯t be any major problems.¡± After pondering for a moment, An Ruhui continued, ¡°I¡¯ve seen something similar recorded in the Sect¡¯s ancient scrolls documenting the Ancient Great Tribulation. Back when the Heavenly Demon Realm invaded, there were powerful beings from the Heavenly Demon Clan who used the Confusing God Flower to lure Human Clan Cultivators into fighting each other, triggering a civil war within the Human Clan, which led to heavy losses.¡± ¡°That flower might very well be the Confusing God Flower, it¡¯s just that it hasn¡¯t grown to the legendary stage yet. Otherwise, even if we hadn¡¯t approached it, we wouldn¡¯t have been able to wake up so easily. Such a wondrous object, it would really be a pity to let it go. Let¡¯s try to see if there¡¯s a way to take the vine with us as well. If it can be cultivated in the future, it might be very useful for the Sect.¡± Wen Qing¡¯er was somewhat baffled, ¡°But as soon as we go over, we might get lost, how do we collect it?¡± ¡°Wait and see for now, let¡¯s wait until all the cultivators and Demon Beasts are dead and see if the fragrance of the flower dissipates.¡± After saying this, An Ruhui raised her hand to release her Spiritual Bird, letting it fly to a high place in the sky where it couldn¡¯t smell the fragrance, to help her observe the battle below. Seeing that Wen Qing¡¯er and Qin Xi were also about to release their Spiritual Birds to watch the fight, Qin Feng gestured with his hand and said, ¡°Keep the Spiritual Birds, if there are several different types of Spiritual Birds circling in the sky at the same time, it¡¯s very likely to attract the attention of other cultivators. They might come over to investigate, and no matter if we can collect the Confusing God Flower or not, it will cause some trouble.¡± ¡°That makes sense.¡± The two women nodded at his words and obediently put their Spiritual Birds back into their Spiritual Beast Bags. However, Qin Feng simply waved his hand, and the Ruyi Golden Snake on his wrist transformed into a streak of golden light and flew out. He planned to use the Ruyi Golden Snake to take a look at the state of the battle. The Ruyi Golden Snake was under his control, and as long as he did not lose himself, he could always call back the Ruyi Golden Snake, so he was not afraid of his Lifebound Spiritual Beast being enticed by the Confusing God Flower. However, just to be safe, he first let it probe cautiously from outside the prohibited area. When he discovered that although the fragrance also invaded the Divine Sense of the Ruyi Golden Snake, his own body was not much affected, he then confidently let the Ruyi Golden Snake go over to investigate. In the deep pit, the gruesome battle had nearly reached its end, all Demon Beasts had been slain by cultivators, and among those cultivators, only the last two were still crazily fighting. Soon, the battle was over, with only one cultivator left, covered with wounds, staggering forward. He laboriously tried to climb onto a corpse¡¯s skull to pluck that enchantingly beautiful and odd flower. However, just as he approached the corpse, and got near to the vine, the vine suddenly lashed out, entangling his entire body. Afterward, fine tendrils extended from the vine, piercing deep into his body, sucking away his blood and Spiritual Power. In just a moment, the cultivator was shriveled up into a mummy. At the same time, even more vines, like sinuous Spiritual Snakes, started to climb over the bodies of the already dead cultivators and Demon Beasts, similarly enveloping them, beginning to suck away the qi and blood as well as the Spiritual Power. As Qin Feng, controlling the Ruyi Golden Snake, flew closer to observe, he could even hear the sizzling sound of absorption. Qin Feng felt a chill in his heart as he watched; this truly might be something left by the Ancient Heavenly Demon Realm, otherwise, how could it be so vicious and terrifying? After absorbing, the lush green leaves on the vines turned vibrant, as if they were tree leaves soaked with new rain, brimming with vigorous vitality. And the enchantingly beautiful red flower on the vine had grown even more vivid, so red it seemed like it could drip blood. Afterward, the originally half-open red flower suddenly bloomed completely, then a thumb-sized figure emerged from the flower. That figure wore a bright red dress and even had a pair of crimson butterfly wings on her back, flapping slightly as she hovered midair, captivating and beautiful. Chapter 148 - Chapter 148: Chapter 146 Confusing God Flower Spirit Chapter 148: Chapter 146 Confusing God Flower Spirit ¡°What is that?¡± Qin Feng squinted his eyes and maneuvered the Ruyi Golden Snake to fly closer for a careful look, confirming that what flew out of the flower was indeed a Flower Elf and not some strange and peculiar insect. His face wore a bemused expression as he turned back to glance at Wen Qing¡¯er, the slightly dazed yet somewhat clever girl who was in good luck. She had been worrying about not finding her Lifebound entity, and a Flower Elf had just flown out of the Confusing God Flower. Although generally speaking, the strength of elves born from flowers might not be strong, that also depended on the type of the flower. Since the Confusing God Flower had made a name for itself during the Ancient Great Tribulation, it was clearly not a common item. Given that the Flower Elf was born from the Confusing God Flower, it definitely possessed the abilities of the Confusing God Flower. Qin Feng recalled how moments ago, even at such a distance, they had nearly been seduced by the fragrance of the flower, and thought of the cultivators and Demon Beasts that had previously fought each other frantically; he couldn¡¯t help but crack a smile. This Confusing God Flower Spirit really couldn¡¯t be treated like an ordinary Flower Elf. Moreover, Spiritual Bodies born from plants had an inseparable connection with their original form; if Wen Qing¡¯er refined the Confusing God Flower Spirit, she could also take away the plant¡¯s very own vine. Considering how the vine absorbed qi and blood when it bound people, its attack power was obviously not weak. ¡°Senior Sister, what should we do?¡± Qin Feng looked at An Ruhui for guidance, his gaze searching. An Ruhui was not only the cultivator with the highest level of Cultivation among them, but she also had far superior methods in capturing these Natural Creatures at Creation Peak. Therefore, he wanted to ask An Ruhui¡¯s opinion on this matter first. ¡°To think a spirit would be born from this Confusing God Flower?¡± Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï??0.?¦Ï An Ruhui too was somewhat surprised. She wanted to let her Spiritual Bird get a closer look, but remembering the mind-confusing fragrance, she discarded that thought. Her Spiritual Bird was not her Lifebound Spiritual Beast; she could only issue orders for it to act and couldn¡¯t directly control it like a Lifebound Beast. If it really lost its mind, it might be sucked dry of its blood by the vine and die. ¡°Junior Brother Qin, can your Spiritual Beast determine the strength of that Flower Elf?¡± She asked Qin Feng. They had to understand the strength of the Confusing God Flower Spirit first; if the little thing was stronger than her, getting close might instantly bewilder her mind. Through the eyes of the Ruyi Golden Snake, Qin Feng watched for a moment but found the aura of the Flower Elf somewhat strange, making it hard for him to discern, so he said, ¡°I¡¯ll let my Lifebound Spiritual Beast try to test it.¡± With that, he commanded the Ruyi Golden Snake¡ªits wings unfolded quick as lightning¡ªto fly toward the Flower Elf. He had already noticed that although the Confusing God Flower was extremely powerful in making one lose their mind, it was not without countermeasures. One was to wrap oneself completely, not affected by external scents, thus immune to the lure of the flower¡¯s fragrance. Another was to remotely control his Lifebound Beast or use other Mechanical Puppets and mindless objects, all of which were also unfazed by the temptation of the Confusing God Flower. For now, with the Confusing God Flower¡¯s current abilities, it had yet to bewilder his mind through the connection with his Lifebound Beast. ¡°Scared?¡± As the Ruyi Golden Snake closed in quickly, the inch-sized Flower Elf was immediately startled. It had never seen a life form approach it without going mad. Seeing the Ruyi Golden Snake drawing closer, the Flower Elf flapped its crimson little wings and dropped down, directly vanishing into the lush vines and out of sight. ¡°Huh?¡± Qin Feng was slightly taken aback. ¡°It can actually use Wood Escape Divine Power?¡± The Ruyi Golden Snake circled around the vines¡¯s perimeter but failed to spot the Flower Elf reappearing. After a brief contemplation, Qin Feng commanded the Ruyi Golden Snake to fly towards the Confusing God Flower, while the Golden Wings on his back flickered with sharp Golden Light, as if he was about to cut down the Confusing God Flower. The Flower Elf hiding in the shadows panicked upon seeing this, promptly stimulating the vines to lash at the Ruyi Golden Snake. The Confusing God Flower was not only its dwelling place, but also the source of its power. It couldn¡¯t be cut down by the Ruyi Golden Snake; otherwise, its strength would not grow for a very long time. Under its command, the vines danced in the sky like an octopus, flailing vine tendrils at the Ruyi Golden Snake. The force of the vine¡¯s strike was strong, possessing the power of a Foundation Establishment, but the vine¡¯s speed was far inferior to the Ruyi Golden Snake¡¯s. In addition, given the Ruyi Golden Snake¡¯s slender form, barely a foot in length, a light flicker was all it took to evade most of the vine attacks, then it continued straight toward the Confusing God Flower, appearing ready to slice the flower down. Qin Feng, of course, had no intention of cutting down the Confusing God Flower. Such a miraculous flower was hard for him to destroy; it would be better left to Wen Qing¡¯er, the girl who might cultivate the Confusing God Flower to an extremely formidable level in the future. If used well, this thing would surely become a great treasure that could influence the outcome of battles. However, the Flower Elf had no clue about Qin Feng¡¯s intentions; it only saw the Ruyi Golden Snake flying closer and closer, seemingly about to breach the multi-layered vine blockades and reach the Confusing God Flower. It couldn¡¯t hold back, quickly showing itself among the vines, flapping the butterfly-shaped wings behind it, and sending strong waves of Confusing God Flower Fragrance towards the Ruyi Golden Snake. At the same time, its eyes shone fiercely as its two small hands waved gently, and its ten slender fingers transformed into long tentacles, stabbing towards the Ruyi Golden Snake. As soon as it made its move, Qin Feng instantly gauged its strength. The Confusing God Flower Spirit wasn¡¯t particularly strong; the truly formidable part was the vine itself. Although the spirit originated from the Confusing God Flower, it hadn¡¯t been formed for long and lacked the substantial power of the main body. Excluding the effects of the Confusing God Flower fragrance, its combat capability was only equivalent to that of a cultivator in the late Qi Refinement stage. Of course, if one lacked the means to resist the fragrance, even a Foundation Establishment Cultivator could fall prey to bewilderment. It was one of those creatures with a single killer move that, unguarded, almost always led to certain death. Now, however, the Ruyi Golden Snake, under Qin Feng¡¯s remote control, remained unaffected and ignored the Flower Spirit¡¯s attacks entirely. With the Ruyi Golden Snake¡¯s formidable defense, even if it did not dodge and allowed the Flower Spirit¡¯s attacks to land on its body, it would only result in crisp clinks. The attacks not only failed to break the snake¡¯s scale armor but also painfully grazed the finger-like tendrils that had transformed from it. The Flower Spirit was fierce in nature, but the fact remained that this spiritual body¡¯s combat strength was mediocre. So, when the Ruyi Golden Snake approached, it suddenly released strands of Ruyi Golden Light from its body and effortlessly bound the Flower Spirit tightly. The Flower Spirit was alarmed and quickly commanded the vines to cover it. As long as it made contact with the vines, it could employ the Wood Escape Divine Power to break free from the Ruyi Golden Snake¡¯s binding and hide within the vines. But its wish was dashed almost immediately. Under Qin Feng¡¯s operation, the Golden Light from the Ruyi Golden Snake flared up, forming a shield that enveloped the Flower Spirit completely. Then, it opened its mouth, picked up the shield, and flew outwards, unaffected by the oncoming strikes of the vines. After all, the vines were neither painful nor capable of restraining it. Given its minuscule size comparable to the thickness of chopsticks, the vines had no chance of wrapping around it. Even if they could, it was futile¡ªmetal overcomes wood, after all. The Ruyi Golden Snake only needed to flap its Golden Wings a few times, swiftly slashing apart the encroaching vines and breaking free, transforming into a beam of Golden Light flying toward the group. Qin Xi and Wen Qing¡¯er were shocked when they saw the Ruyi Golden Snake flying back carrying a tiny Flower Spirit. In such a short time, he had captured such a treasure. An Ruhui was somewhat surprised as well; it seemed she had underestimated Junior Brother Qin¡¯s strength. Even though the Confusing God Flower had little effect on his Lifebound Spiritual Beast, if it were someone else, they surely wouldn¡¯t have been able to bring back this little thing so effortlessly. ¡°Senior Sister, please suppress this Flower Spirit.¡± Qin Feng handed the shield made of Ruyi Golden Light to An Ruhui. Once An Ruyi retrieved a Sealing Spirit Jade Box and imprisoned the Confusing God Flower Spirit, he withdrew the Golden Light. This power was a fundamental Divine Skill of the Ruyi Golden Snake; any loss was unacceptable, as restoring it would not be a short-term feat. Far away, the vines in the deep pit became silent following the Flower Spirit¡¯s suppression, lacking further commands. They lay quietly on the ground like ordinary vines. ¡°How do we collect that vine?¡± Qin Feng inquired. Even though the Flower Spirit was suppressed, the fragrance of the Confusing God Flower lingered. Approaching it would surely affect them. ¡°This?¡± An Ruhui was also a bit troubled. Plant Spirits were different from other Natural Creatures; aside from their spiritual bodies, they also had a symbiotic main body. If the spirit body died, the main body could still survive, though it would become devoid of Spiritual Intelligence, no different from ordinary flora. But if the main body died, the spirit bodies, even if they survived, would be greatly impacted. Of course, some Plant Spirits with profound Dao Cultivation didn¡¯t place much importance on their main bodies. They could even refine their main bodies into Lifebound Spiritual Treasures, which were not only powerful but also impeccably attuned to them. However, that was a trait of profoundly cultivated spirits, not of a Flower Spirit that had only recently come into being. After pondering for a while, An Ruhui finally suggested, ¡°Why don¡¯t we let Junior Sister Wen try to Refine it? Once it becomes her Lifebound, she won¡¯t be affected by the Confusing God Flower Fragrance and can easily collect the vine.¡± ¡°That will have to do.¡± Qin Feng nodded, as there were no better options at the moment. It all depended on Wen Qing¡¯er¡¯s refining speed. If she could succeed soon, they would still have time to search for various treasures elsewhere. If she failed, they¡¯d have to take a risk and see if they could directly collect the Confusing God Flower itself. If that was impossible, they could only wait for the Secret Realm to open again, allowing Wen Qing¡¯er to collect it next time. However, in the meantime, Wen Qing¡¯er¡¯s Cultivation pace would undoubtedly be affected to some extent. After all, the Confusing God Flower Spirit wasn¡¯t yet robust, and parting from its main body so early would result in slow progress. ¡°Thank you, Senior Brother Qin. Thank you, Senior Sister An.¡± With a face full of joy, Wen Qing¡¯er gratefully accepted the imprisoned Confusing God Flower Spirit from An Ruhui, happily following their plan and began to Refine it on the spot. Chapter 149 - Chapter 149: Chapter 147 Fire Ape Chapter 149: Chapter 147 Fire Ape Refining a Lifebound usually takes more or less time depending on what kind of creature one chooses as their Lifebound, and their strength. Choosing a Demon Beast of extraordinary birth and powerful bloodline will certainly make the refining difficult. Conversely, if one picks an ordinary Demon Beast, the process will be relatively simple, as ordinary beasts have neither the strength nor soul fortitude in comparison to those born with bloodline inheritance. However, Qin Feng was an exception. With the help of the Demon Refining Pot, he could easily refine the Ruyi Golden Snake into his Lifebound Spiritual Beast. As for the disciples from the line of Creation Peak, it was to one extreme or the other. Natural Creatures born from spontaneous creation were very rare. Before these creatures awakened their Spiritual Intelligence, many had already manifested their Spiritual Nature. Though the time it takes for them to awaken their Spiritual Intelligence is short, their span of existence is very long. If, by chance, one encountered an especially ancient creature, the refinement would be extremely difficult. But if one encountered newly born Natural Creatures, it would be simple, as they only possess a rudimentary Spiritual Nature and lack complete Spiritual Intelligence, making them easily refined into a Lifebound. Like Qin Xi¡¯s Water Spirit, newly born and only possessing an unlearned Spiritual Nature, still without full wisdom, she spent merely a day to refine the Water Spirit into her Lifebound. Previously, none of them had thought of refining Lifebounds in the Secret Realm. Firstly, they were uncertain about the duration Qin Xi¡¯s refining would take, and then there was the matter of finding a Lifebound for Wen Qing¡¯er. Moreover, they were planning to gather some Spiritual Medicines and Treasures in the Secret Realm as Cultivation Resources for the future, making them reluctant to spend the precious time of the Secret Realm on early refining. Qin Xi wasn¡¯t in a rush either; after all, it was just a matter of a few days. She preferred to search for treasures in the Secret Realm to aid her Cultivation. But now, because of the Confusing God Flower incident, they had to let Wen Qing¡¯er give it a try, so Qin Xi also began to cultivate within the Prohibition set by An Ruhui, and ended up refining the Water Spirit into her Lifebound. After the successful refining, she quickly mastered the Divine Skills of the Water Spirit. Her Water Spirit did not originate from common rivers and lakes but was born from the clouds of Moyun Ridge. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï??¦Ï.§ã0 Originally, it should have been a Cloud Spirit, but due to an unexpected incident, numerous clouds converged to form rain clouds, and as fate would have it, the spirit became a Water Spirit endowed with Spiritual Nature. Consequently, the Water Spirit possessed three Divine Skills: transforming into fog, transforming into rain, and Water Escape. It may seem ordinary, but that was not truly the case. Divine Skills grow with the increase in Cultivation, and she could further cultivate the Water Spirit and Refine Water Element Treasures such as the True Water born from heaven and earth or some extremely Yin Cold Treasures, endowing her Water Spirit with an immensely Yin Cold power. With the right opportunity, anything is possible. What¡¯s more, the method of Cultivation at Creation Peak mainly involves using these Natural Creatures to communicate with nature¡¯s Spiritual Energy and thence grasp the corresponding Dao Principle. Even though Qin Xi was still far from reaching the Realm of perceiving the Dao Principle, she could now use the Water Spirit to communicate with the Water Element Spirit Qi and wield many Spells. Take An Ruhui, for instance. Her Lifebound was originally just a wisp of breeze, yet in her hands, it could invoke numerous Wind Element Magic through Wind Control. Not only was the casting extremely fast, but it was also immensely powerful, and ordinary Foundation Establishment Cultivators stood no chance against her. Even now, An Ruhui has started to evolve her Wind Elf. She is looking for treasures to imbue her Wind Elf¡¯s Innate Divine Ability with Yin Cold Power, transforming a gentle breeze into a Bone-Scraping Cold Wind; a method that kills invisibly is formidable indeed. Qin Xi quietly contemplated the Divine Skills of her Water Spirit, and suddenly, with a wave of her hand, a small curtain of rain appeared in front of her, hitting a large tree not far away. After a series of slapping and smacking noises, not only were branches and leaves broken off the tree, but the trunk was also peppered with small holes several inches deep. This was now her most potent offensive method. With her current low Cultivation Realm, the range of her Rain Transformation was limited, but once she reached a certain level, just a thought would summon a deluge, each raindrop infused with various forces, akin to a sky full of arrow rain, falling overwhelmingly. It was undoubtedly the best method for group combat. Of course, if used against a singular individual, it could easily exhaust the opponent. After all, a Divine Skill that instantaneously unleashes countless attacks can be troublesome to deal with. The only weakness was the dispersion of force. If the opponent were mighty and could withstand her attacks, she would then have no choice but to use Water Escape to flee. However, she wasn¡¯t too concerned about this; she¡¯s a Cultivator, not one without other means to Cultivate. Besides being able to train other Spiritual Beasts as helpers, she could cultivate more Spells to make up for her shortcomings. Things went smoothly for Qin Xi, but Wen Qing¡¯er was making slow progress, not yet completing the refinement after two consecutive days. Adding the preceding days, they had been in the Heavenly Pool Secret Realm for over six days. While they refined their Lifebounds, Qin Feng wasn¡¯t constantly guarding them. With An Ruhui there, their safety was sufficiently ensured. Furthermore, the location they chose for Cultivation was secluded, not a place rich in Spiritual Energy, meaning rarely would anyone come there. Even if other Cultivators encountered them, they wouldn¡¯t spontaneously engage in conflict without cause. Without a treasure to vie for, there was no need for senseless killing. Thus, Qin Feng started to venture out for treasure. Initially, he just roamed the forest, and once he had a rough lay of the land, he began to advance to other areas. Every night, however, he would return to this place, planning to leave the Secret Realm together with everyone once they completed this phase, to avoid being ambushed on the way. One day, just as Qin Feng was collecting some common Spiritual Medicines in the forest, he suddenly heard a beast¡¯s roar in the distance. The roar was thunderous, startling the wildlife of the forest into chaos. ¡°Eh?¡± Qin Feng was momentarily startled. As a disciple of the Beast Taming Sect, he understood Demon Beasts far better than other cultivators; thus, he could detect something different in the roar. Although the roar was filled with boundless rage, to Qin Feng, this was nothing special. Most Demon Beasts were irritable and easily angered. If someone trespassed into their territory, it was easy to provoke their fury and trigger an attack. But for the roar to carry so far and still be so powerful, that was strange. This level of deterrence should not belong to a Demon Beast at the Foundation Establishment Stage; even those naturally strong and fierce Demon Beasts couldn¡¯t possess such might before reaching the corresponding realm. A thought flashed through Qin Feng¡¯s mind: surely there wasn¡¯t a Demon Beast breaking through to the Demon Core Realm? Apart from the Demon Core Realm, he couldn¡¯t think of any other Demon Beast that would have such a presence. Perhaps someone had pushed a Demon Beast at the peak of Foundation Establishment to a dead end, so the Beast had decided to take the risk of advancing its cultivation, attempting a breakthrough in order to kill its opponent with greater strength. He looked up at the sky and, as expected, anomalies had begun to appear; Spiritual Energy was starting to gather in the sky not far away. Clearly, the aura of the Demon Beast had already touched the Power of Laws of the Cave Heaven World. ¡°Heh, interesting.¡± Qin Feng chuckled lightly. He wondered which sect¡¯s disciple was so audacious to push a Demon Beast to this extent. Did they not fear getting involved and being annihilated by the Power of Laws as well? He rose to his feet and darted in that direction, wanting to witness firsthand how the Power of Laws would punish the Demon Beast. Demon Beasts at the Demon Core Realm were indeed formidable for these low-level cultivators, but under the Power of Laws, they were nothing more than creatures to be casually crushed. He wanted to go and see; it was rare to encounter a Demon Beast that had achieved a Demon Core. If there was a chance to include it in his Demon Refining Pot, it would provide him with much pure Spiritual Energy. Continuing on his way, he quickly arrived at a mountain peak about a dozen miles away and landed, looking ahead. Before him, over a dozen Taiyi Sword Cultivators had congregated, deploying a Sword Array against a Fire Ape over five zhang tall. The Fire Ape had staunch and formidable limbs; its body was even covered in brown rock armor formed by solidified stones, suggesting its defenses must be very strong. However, it had many dark wounds on its body, from which fresh blood flowed freely, some even exposing chilling white bones. It was evidently badly wounded. But its aura was now surging tumultuously, its ferocity appalling; every time it opened its mouth, thick flames sprayed out, forcing the Taiyi Mountain Sword Cultivators opposite to dodge everywhere. ¡°Don¡¯t panic, it won¡¯t last much longer,¡± one of them commanded. ¡°Keep the Taiyi Golden Light Sword Formation in order, and remember, later on, don¡¯t let it stabilize its Demon Core completely, and don¡¯t let it escape. Junior Brother Zhuo, you retreat. Once the Fire Ape breaks through the realm, use the Sword Talisman Uncle-Master gave you to attack.¡± ¡°Yes, Senior Brother Chen.¡± In the crowd, Zhuo Feifan responded and stepped back, taking out a three-inch Jade Talisman in his hands and firmly locking onto the Fire Ape¡¯s form. The Jade Talisman was sealed with Sword Qi, something his master had given him to save his life. He didn¡¯t really want to use it now; he preferred to save it for the last day to ambush at the Space Channel, using this Sword Talisman to attack Qin Feng. Unfortunately, they had another mission this time upon entering the Heavenly Pool Secret Realm, and during moments like this, he had no choice but to follow the orders of that Senior Brother Chen. Otherwise, if he caused the mission to fail, he would face severe punishment upon returning to the Mountain Gate. He harbored secret resentment, wondering why Chen Buqi wouldn¡¯t use his own Sword Talisman, forcing him to exhaust his own life-saving item? Hmph, damned thing, just you wait, once I become a True Disciple, there will come a time for you to suffer! Zhuo Feifan concealed his discontent well, not letting a trace of emotion show in his eyes. He discovered that since returning to the Mountain Gate last time, he had changed from how he used to be. Perhaps, because he had a secret in his heart that he couldn¡¯t let others know, he had become more somber and had learned how to better mask his feelings. Chapter 150 - Chapter 150: Chapter 148: Golden Light Mirror Chapter 150: Chapter 148: Golden Light Mirror ¡°Everyone, give it your all and do not delay,¡± Chen Buqi urgently urged. ¡°Otherwise, attracting too much attention will bring us trouble.¡± His background was not ordinary; the Chen Family on Taiyi Mountain was akin to the Kong Family of the Beast Taming Sect, with his family¡¯s ancient ancestor being one of the Supreme Elders of Taiyi Mountain. However, the Elder spent most of his days in seclusion within the Golden Light Cave, and with countless generations separating them, naturally, the Elder would not offer him any special care. Even so, since birth, he enjoyed more resources than ordinary disciples. For this long-planned Sect operation, his father had exerted great effort to secure this opportunity for him. If he could complete it smoothly, upon returning to the Sect, he would not need to compete for a True Disciple position ¨C one would be waiting for him. As for Zhuo Feifan? With a sidelong glance at that fellow, Chen Buqi snorted disdainfully in his heart. That guy might think highly of himself and compete with him at every turn, but be it status, background, or cultivation resources, he could not compare to Chen Buqi. The only aspect in which Zhuo Feifan could compare to him was a decent talent and the willingness to practice diligently. But talent and hard work alone were not enough. Otherwise, the Sect would not have given such an important mission to him as the lead. Chen Buqi watched the Fire Ape, which they were gradually suppressing, and couldn¡¯t help feeling excited. If the plan went well and he accomplished the task the Sect had planned for many years, then the vast Heavenly Pool Secret Realm would become the second Grotto Heaven of Taiyi Mountain. By then, having established such great merit, he would surely receive countless benefits. With this in mind, he redoubled his efforts. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í?0.§ã¦Ï Under his command, more than a dozen Foundation Establishment Sword Cultivators relentlessly pressed the Fire Ape, which roared thunderously. Its entire body burst into blazing crimson flames, and even the stone armor on its body melted into magma, dripping to the ground. Hundreds of zhang away, Qin Feng squinted at the battle, a hint of doubt crossing his mind, not understanding what these people were planning. They obviously had an overwhelming advantage and had severely injured the Fire Ape within the Sword Array. Yet, curiously, they did not use any finishing moves. Whenever the Fire Ape seemed to falter, they would ease their attacks. It seemed that these people had other plans. Could it be they wanted the Fire Ape to advance to the Demon Core Realm? But what benefit would there be for them? This was too strange; they couldn¡¯t possibly be after the Fire Ape¡¯s Demon Core. Of course, Qin Feng was the first to disbelieve this thought. If these Inner Sect Disciples of Taiyi Mountain really wanted a Demon Core, they could have obtained one outside; there was no need to waste so much effort in the Secret Realm. So, what then was the purpose of their attack on the Fire Ape? Qin Feng¡¯s gaze moved past the group of Sword Cultivators and the Demon Beast to a not-so-distant cliff. That cliff was strange, hundreds of zhang tall, but its face was as smooth as a mirror, as if sliced by a knife. It was so polished that not a blade of grass grew on it. It didn¡¯t look like a cliff at all but more like a flawlessly crafted jade stone. At the moment, an imposing amount of Spiritual Energy was converging in midair, causing quite a commotion. Anyone within a hundred li could see it. Since Qin Feng was very close, he arrived relatively early. He could sense others approaching from afar. However, considering the vastness of nearly ten thousand li in the Heavenly Pool Secret Realm, and the many Cultivators that entered, their presence was not very noticeable, scattered throughout the vast Secret Realm. Therefore, only a few Cultivators noticed the disturbance here and came over to investigate. The Sword Cultivators of Taiyi Mountain were obviously aware of this, but they did not care. Cultivators from small and medium Sects would not dare entertain the thought of taking advantage when they saw so many of them gathered. As for the disciples of the other major Sects who arrived, they did not know what they were doing. If they dared to spoil their plans, the Taiyi Mountain disciples would just kill them. These many people, plus the treasures bestowed by their elders, were they really to be afraid of other Sect¡¯s Cultivators? In any case, they were not about to seize the Heavenly Pool Secret Realm immediately. That was not something these Foundation Establishment Disciples could achieve. They just needed to ensure the Array was properly set up, and naturally, the Supreme Elders of the Sect would be able to lock down the Heavenly Pool Secret Realm. They would deceive the Laws of this place with a trick, consequently refining this Grotto Heaven. The Fire Ape roared incessantly, frantically absorbing the nature¡¯s spiritual energy from the outside world; Demon Energy surged within it, on the verge of forming a Demon Core. The Power of Laws in the sky sensed its presence. With a loud thunderous boom, a lightning bolt thick as a water bucket struck down directly onto the Fire Ape. ¡°Ao¡­¡± With a skyward roar, the Fire Ape¡¯s rage soared to the heavens, and the flames on its body grew more intense, suddenly exploding and breaking through the Sword Array¡¯s containment. The scorching flames blasted towards the Sword Cultivators. ¡°Not good!¡± ¡°Dodge quickly¡­¡± With a bang, Chen Buqi¡¯s chest lit up with white light, transforming into a Defensive Magic to block the oncoming flames. He raised his sword and slashed towards the Fire Ape, angrily shouting, ¡°Do not retreat, form the Sword Array immediately, and suppress the Fire Ape.¡± The others¡¯ expressions changed. They did not possess defensive treasures as powerful as Chen Buqi¡¯s. For them to block the flames while setting up the Sword Array to suppress the Fire Ape was expecting too much. However, they all understood the importance of the mission, even if they resented it. They had no choice but to grit their teeth and halt their retreat. While defending against the flames, they formed the Sword Array once again and attacked the Fire Ape. Nevertheless, nearly half of the Sword Cultivators suffered burns to varying degrees, two of them severely, with half their bodies scorched. Thankfully, these injuries were not fatal, and despite intense pain, they continued to fight with determination. ¡°Ao¡­¡± With a great roar, the Fire Ape suddenly spat out a fiery red Demon Core towards the leading Chen Buqi. ¡°Zhuo Feifan, if not now, when will you make a move?¡± Seeing the Fire Ape had formed a Demon Core and was attacking him, Chen Buqi suddenly bellowed. Behind him, Zhuo Feifan¡¯s eye twitched. This guy really thought of him as his underling. But now was not the time to squabble over this. He promptly activated the Sword Talisman in his hand. Instantly, a Sword Qi shot out like lightning, and in the blink of an eye, it pierced the scarlet Demon Core. With a loud burst, it shattered it completely. ¡°Ao¡­ ao ao¡­¡± Just as the Fire Ape had formed its Demon Core, it was pierced by a Sword Talisman. After a few reluctant howls, it deflated like a punctured balloon, with its energy rapidly dwindling. But the Power of Laws in the sky didn¡¯t care whether the Fire Ape¡¯s Demon Core still existed or not; as long as the Fire Ape¡¯s breath had not completely vanished, the Power of Laws would continue to bombard it relentlessly. With a thunderous boom, just one strike severely injured the Fire Ape, sending it crashing to the ground. Even when its Demon Core had been intact, it could hardly withstand several thunderstrikes, let alone now that its Demon Core was shattered; naturally, it was even less capable of resisting. However, it was not dead. Because the Sword Cultivators of Taiyi Mountain needed it alive to attract the Rule Power. Suddenly, Chen Buqi took out a small mirror shimmering with golden light from his body, threw it in front of him, and the small mirror floated above the Fire Ape¡¯s head. Thunder rumbled again as lightning struck in quick succession. But when the lightning struck the mirror, a flash of golden light deflected the lightning onto the cliff wall. Despite the bombardment of lightning, the cliff remained unscathed; instead, it seemed to have absorbed the power of the lightning, and a faint glow passed over it. ¡°Ah?¡± Not far away, someone exclaimed in surprise and leaped out, looking at the small mirror with a face full of wonder, ¡°Chen Buqi, what treasure is this? It looks a lot like the Golden Light Mirror, your Taiyi Mountain¡¯s treasure. Surely you didn¡¯t really bring your Sect¡¯s treasure here, did you? Aren¡¯t you afraid of it being stolen? Hmm, no, if it were truly the Golden Light Mirror, your Cultivation would not be strong enough to manipulate it. Could it be that this mirror is a treasure forged in imitation of the Golden Light Mirror?¡± Chen Buqi, who was manipulating the small golden mirror, turned to the source of the voice and narrowed his eyes, ¡°Li Miaozhen?¡± The tall woman standing on a large bluish rock nearby was none other than Li Miaozhen, a disciple of the Beast Taming Sect of the White Tiger Lineage. At that moment, she was curiously looking at the small golden mirror, her face betraying a desire to snatch it away for her own inspection. Chen Buqi¡¯s complexion turned somewhat ugly. He had dealt with Li Miaozhen before and knew this woman¡¯s beauty was matched by a fierce temperament and overwhelming combat strength, which he dreaded. He now only hoped that she wouldn¡¯t ruin his plans! Hiding on the other side, Qin Feng was also taken aback. He spent most of his time cultivating in his room while on the Tower Ship and hadn¡¯t seen Li Miaozhen. He was surprised that she was here too. But he did not show himself and continued watching from the shadows. He was no match for so many Foundation Establishment Sword Cultivators; better to stay put and see how things unfolded. ¡°Chen Buqi, what are you doing?¡± Li Miaozhen asked with a puzzled face. Chen Buqi¡¯s expression darkened, ¡°What Taiyi Mountain¡¯s disciples do is none of your business, right? Humph, Li Miaozhen, you¡¯re sticking your nose into too many things!¡± ¡°Hehe¡­¡± Seeing his reaction, Li Miaozhen laughed instead, ¡°It seems you are indeed up to some secretive affair.¡± She looked up interestedly at the lightning gathering in the sky due to the Rule Power, then at the Fire Ape and the small golden mirror, speculating, ¡°You are forcing the Demon Beast to advance and not killing it but using the aura on the Fire Ape to attract the Rule Power. And you specifically prepared a replica of the Golden Light Mirror to redirect the Rule Power to that cliff wall. What exactly are you trying to do? Could it be that you¡¯ve really discovered some lingering inheritance from an Ancient Sect?¡± As they spoke, the lightning in the sky struck faster and faster, and the thick bolts of lightning reflected off the mirror light onto the luminous cliff. What had once been a smooth wall of stone began to look somewhat illusory, a dimly outlined entrance appeared. ¡°Hm? You really found an inheritance here?¡± Li Miaozhen was astonished. She had spoken offhand without expecting it to be true. Although it might not necessarily be the inheritance within the Heavenly Pool Secret Realm, it was certainly something very important. With this thought, she wasted no words, slapped her hand on the Spiritual Beast Bag at her waist, and a small Communication Spirit Bird flew out, heading toward the distance. She planned to summon her Sect mates; whether or not Taiyi Mountain¡¯s disciples had found the inheritance within the Heavenly Pool Secret Realm, she could not let them continue. If they were to take control of the Heavenly Pool Cave Heaven, it would be bad news for the Beast Taming Sect. ¡°She wants to call her Sect mates?¡± Chen Buqi was alarmed at Li Miaozhen¡¯s action and hastily ordered, ¡°Stop that Communication Bird!¡± No sooner had he spoken than a sharp Sword Qi surged from behind a large tree a hundred feet away from Li Miaozhen. With a swoosh, the Sword Qi pierced through the air, slaying the Communication Spirit Bird on the spot. ¡°Hm?¡± Li Miaozhen squinted her eyes. The Green Bird had been nurtured by her for many years. Although it didn¡¯t possess much combat power, its speed was incredibly fast. A being capable of killing her Communication Spirit Bird with one stroke was anything but ordinary. ¡°Li Miaozhen, since you have come, you shall not leave. It¡¯s time to slay you in vengeance for the comrades you¡¯ve killed in the past.¡± A sinister voice resounded. It was a middle-aged Sword Cultivator. Even though he had revealed himself now, his aura was still hardly fluctuating, clearly a master of concealment. ¡°Kill, kill this woman, and don¡¯t spare anyone else lurking in the dark¡ªall must be slain,¡± ordered Chen Buqi in an icy tone. Following his order, three more Sword Cultivators emerged from different directions, all with strong auras of Foundation Establishment. As they appeared, they attacked the Cultivators who had come to investigate. Qin Feng watched as the several Sword Cultivators dashed rapidly towards different directions, and soon, several Cultivators appeared in those areas. ¡°We have no wish to make enemies of Taiyi Mountain; we will leave now.¡± Someone called out and swiftly flew away. ¡°Too late.¡± The Sword Cultivator pursuing him snorted coldly, ¡°Thinking of leaving now? Wishful thinking!¡± Chapter 151 - Chapter 151: Chapter 149: Overwhelming Power Chapter 151: Chapter 149: Overwhelming Power ¡°` Amidst conversation, the sword cultivators from Taiyi Mountain had already made their move, their Sword Qi a rainbow, slashing horizontally across the void, aiming to kill a cultivator who was fleeing midair. That cultivator inwardly cursed his luck, having come over just to see what was causing such a commotion, only to find the disciples of Taiyi Mountain so domineering. He had barely arrived and taken a few glances when they decided to slay him¡ªit was truly unreasonable with nowhere to appeal for justice. A few cultivators who were originally hiding and watching from the shadows thought to escape, but they were not as fast as the Taiyi Mountain sword cultivators. In no time, they were caught up to, and a fierce battle ensued. Even though the fleeing cultivators were not as powerful as those from Taiyi Mountain, they had the strength of the Foundation Establishment Realm and naturally wouldn¡¯t just await their deaths. They each controlled their Spiritual Artifacts to defend against the attacks, fighting while retreating, trying to find the slightest chance to escape. The sword cultivator who had slain Li Miaozhen¡¯s Communication Spirit Bird was now also in front of her, striking with his sword towards her. ¡°Die!¡± This person had profound cultivation and a ruthless nature, merciless in his attacks. His Flying Sword moved through the void, cleaving a swath of Sword Qi dozens of feet long towards Li Miaozhen. ¡°Just you?¡± Li Miaozhen said disdainfully, curling her lips. She casually struck with her palm, and with a thump, scattered the Sword Qi. The middle-aged sword cultivator¡¯s face changed, shocked that Li Miaozhen¡¯s strength was so formidable; just one strike was enough to shatter his Sword Qi. His hand changed sword techniques rapidly, swinging his Flying Sword, sending out a rain of Sword Light, stabbing towards Li Miaozhen from all directions. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?0¦Í?0.§ã¦Ï ¡°Bang!¡± A light sound followed as Li Miaozhen forcefully stepped down, immediately causing several cracks on the large bluestone she stood upon. Her figure, accompanied by the violent sound of the wind, pounced towards the middle-aged sword cultivator like a fierce tigress descending the mountain. Before she even got close, she reached out with a claw. Instantly, a vast tiger claw phantom emerged from her hand, not only shattering all the Sword Light in front of her but also continuing with undiminished force towards the middle-aged cultivator¡¯s body. A tearing sound was heard as the middle-aged cultivator¡¯s Magic Robe was ripped apart, leaving several bloody marks on his body. His face paled as he realized the ferocity of Li Miaozhen. He had thought that his many years of arduous training in the Sword Dao made him no weaker than anyone else at his level. It was only now that he discovered there was a significant gap as he directly found himself on the losing side. No wonder many of his sect fellows had previously fallen to this woman. He dared not be arrogant anymore and quickly called out to the other Taiyi disciples, ¡°This woman is formidable, hurry and help me.¡± Chen Buqi also said, ¡°Keep a few to protect me from being disturbed; the rest should assist. Zhuo Feifan, you go too. Li Miaozhen is a True Disciple of the White Tiger Lineage from the Beast Taming Sect. Killing her would be a great achievement.¡± Zhuo Feifan¡¯s facial muscles twitched. Was this some sort of joke? Li Miaozhen was the True Disciple of the White Tiger Lineage from the Beast Taming Sect of her generation, an absolute terror among the younger generation that no one wanted to provoke. Having fought countless battles from her cultivation journey, many disciples from his own Taiyi Mountain had paid with their lives to fortify her notorious reputation. Even though Zhuo Feifan prided himself highly, he did not believe that with his recent advancement to Foundation Establishment, he would be a match for Li Miaozhen. ¡°` ¡°` However, he ultimately refrained from saying much more. When they had left, his Sect elders had already issued orders that the mission was to be led by Chen Buqi. Even if he felt dissatisfied in his heart, now was not the time to turn against Chen Buqi; otherwise, he would appear tactless and disregarding of the bigger picture. If anything went wrong, he could not bear that responsibility. Over ten people were divided into two groups. The four disciples who were already on good terms with Chen Buqi stayed close by his side. The remaining few exchanged glances, then leapt into the air, some charging toward Li Miao Zhen and others toward the several Sword Cultivators engaged in battle. As long as they took care of those Cultivators, they would have additional fellow disciples to besiege Li Miao Zhen. To be honest, these people had not expected the Beast Taming Sect to be willing to let Li Miao Zhen enter the Heavenly Pool Secret Realm. You see, although the Secret Realm was a rare opportunity, the fortunes it offered to the Sect¡¯s True Disciples were actually not that substantial. For True Disciples, whether it was treasures or Cultivation resources, the Sect would not let them miss out. Under normal circumstances, Major Sects would not be willing to let their own True Disciples venture into such Secret Realms. If discovered by rival Sects, they might conspire to besiege and kill them inside, which could result in a significant loss. However, when they remembered who Li Miao Zhen¡¯s master was, they came to understand. That notorious White Tiger Hall Master seemed never to fear that her disciples would die in battle; on the contrary, she would find as many opportunities for combat as possible for them. And Li Miao Zhen seemed to have inherited her Master¡¯s combat-loving nature. She never shied away from a fight, and would even challenge disciples from other families when she had the chance, let alone now when the fight was brought straight to her door. Facing the approaching Sword Cultivators, Li Miao Zhen indeed showed no fear; instead, she let out a hearty laugh, ¡°A bunch of chickens and dogs also dare to battle with me. Today, I¡¯ll slaughter a few more Sword Cultivators from your Taiyi Mountain.¡± ¡°Demoness, you dare to be so rampant. Prepare to die.¡± Several Cultivators from afar raised their Flying Swords and thrust them at Li Miao Zhen. Li Miao Zhen¡¯s eyes flashed with excitement, and with a hearty laugh, she unexpectedly charged straight at the Cultivators. Meanwhile, Qin Feng was intently watching the battle between Li Miao Zhen and the several Sword Cultivators, internally marveling at Li Miao Zhen¡¯s courage. Suddenly, he felt a chill in his heart as someone launched a sneak attack on him from behind. Qin Feng had no time to turn around and made a swift dash forward, leaving his hiding spot. A Flying Sword pierced the tree he had been using as cover with a ¡°pu-chi¡± sound, then spun back into the hands of a Taiyi Sword Cultivator who was behind him. ¡°Heh heh, kid, you¡¯ve got guts. Instead of escaping while I was preoccupied with pursuing others, you dare to hide here. What, do you think your Qi Refining Realm¡¯s Concealing Breath Technique can really hide from me?¡± The Cultivator sneered a few times, looking at Qin Feng. Qin Feng realized that he probably had been spotted the moment he arrived. The only reason he had not been killed right away was that the Cultivator did not consider his Qi Refining Cultivation worthy of attention and felt that it wasn¡¯t too late to kill him after dealing with the hidden Foundation Establishment Cultivators. ¡°Why waste words on the kid? Just kill him and go help Senior Brother Han.¡± From a distance, another Taiyi Sword Cultivator called out, ¡°We must not let Li Miao Zhen leave here alive. Otherwise, she might bring people back here and mess up our big plans.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t worry, brother; I¡¯ll kill him right away.¡± That Sword Cultivator quickly controlled his Flying Sword to slash at Qin Feng. In his eyes, to kill a mere Qi Refining Realm Cultivator with his strength would be a piece of cake. ¡°` His expression changed quickly. Because Qin Feng had actually summoned several Spiritual Beasts, among them a powerful Ghost-Faced Spider. Even though his combat prowess was not weak, it was not possible to easily slaughter so many Demon Beasts, so the battle became deadlocked for a time, and at the very least, he could not join the siege on Li Miaozhen right away. Qin Feng was not giving his all, as he neither released the Iron Armor Rhinoceros nor revealed his ability to merge with the Ruyi Golden Snake, planning to keep these as trump cards. If Li Miaozhen could not stand against those few people, he would breakout with the Ruyi Golden Snake. Hundreds of feet away, Li Miaozhen cast a glance this way. Seeing that Qin Feng was not in danger, she stopped intervening and began to fight with the cultivators besieging her. However, for some reason, this true disciple of the Beast Taming Sect neither merged with her Spiritual Beasts nor unleashed the Spiritual Beasts she had nurtured to assist her. Relying solely on her own strength to fight those Sword Cultivators, she seemed to have fallen into a disadvantage. At the cliff face, Chen Buqi, looking somewhat pale, manipulated the small mirror, continuously refracting the thunder falling from the sky toward the cliff. Even though the small mirror was the one truly in action and he was only assisting, the consumption of True Yuan in his body was still not a small amount. Fortunately, by this time the cliff had absorbed a great deal of rule lightning power, and gradually reached saturation. The originally vague entrance took shape completely, revealing an entrance several zhang large. He turned his head to look at Li Miaozhen, who was falling into disadvantage under the siege of several fellow sect members, then glanced at another battlefield, where it seemed his side had an absolute advantage. In that case, there was nothing to worry about. He¡¯d better hurry inside and set up the Array. ¡°Let¡¯s go, let¡¯s quickly enter. After setting up the Array, we¡¯ll come out. Even if people find out my Taiyi Mountain¡¯s arrangement, what of it? Humph, the other sects really think this Cave Heaven World is a Secret Realm where everyone can come in searching for treasures, how laughable. Little do they know, the greatest treasure is the Secret Realm itself.¡± Chen Buqi led several fellow disciples quickly into the entrance and soon disappeared from sight. Outside, once Li Miaozhen saw that he had completely entered, she suddenly changed from the restricted combat situation she had been in before. A fierce light flashed on her body, as she merged with her Lifebound Spiritual Beast, and her combat power skyrocketed, far surpassing her previous state. With a bang, she actually grasped a Flying Sword that flew towards her, twisted it with both hands, and with a snap, she actually twisted the Flying Sword into a twisted shape, breaking it into several pieces. Not far away, a Sword Cultivator suddenly opened his mouth wide and spewed out a mouthful of fresh blood. His face turned deathly pale. He hadn¡¯t expected that Li Miaozhen, who had previously been at a disadvantage, would suddenly become so fierce, destroying his Lifebound Flying Sword with a single grab. Before he could recover, he suddenly felt a pain in his body. He had been reached by Li Miaozhen and had his internal organs shattered with a palm. ¡°Damn it!¡± The middle-aged Sword Cultivator shouted angrily, ¡°Everyone, attack together, form the Seven Stars Sword Formation, and kill this woman.¡± As he spoke, he took the position of the Tianji Star, along with the others setting up the Sword Array to besiege Li Miaozhen. However, when their Flying Swords cut towards Li Miaozhen with cold light, she did not dodge or evade. Instead, she suddenly opened her mouth and roared, ¡°Roar¡­¡± The roar turned into waves of white sound, not only shattering their Sword Qi but even causing the Flying Swords to tremble repeatedly, some seemingly disobedient. Then Li Miaozhen moved rapidly, her hands assuming the shape of tiger claws, and she continuously struck out, directly breaking the Flying Swords of two people, and then blew their heads apart. The remaining few changed expression drastically, and for a time, they hesitated to come forward. Li Miaozhen sneered, taking the initiative to attack and focusing her target on the middle-aged Sword Cultivator. ¡°What? You want to kill me? Come on then, show me what you¡¯ve got and how you dare claim you can kill me.¡± Li Miaozhen mocked as she spoke, ¡°Earlier, I was merely waiting for that kid Chen Buqi to fully open the entrance. Did you really think I was no match for you? How ignorant to even think about killing me!¡± Her figure leapt like the wind, and in the blink of an eye, she was already in front of the Cultivator, striking a palm down onto his chest. The middle-aged Sword Cultivator¡¯s face drastically changed as he raised his sword to defend, all the while his body flickering as he tried to put some distance between him and Li Miaozhen. But Li Miaozhen, like a shadow, was unshakeable, her hands flickering with Spirit Light as she forcefully shattered all of the Sword Cultivator¡¯s Sword Light, and eventually struck down directly with her palm, smashing his skull. On the other side, Qin Feng and another Sword Cultivator fighting him were both somewhat stunned. They had not expected Li Miaozhen to swiftly kill four people in an instant. Could this truly be the strength of a Foundation Establishment Cultivator? Qin Feng was deeply shocked. He knew that this Senior Sister Li would be incredibly powerful, but he didn¡¯t anticipate she would be to this extent. Being new to the Sect with little time passed since his entry, and with practically no communication between the Outer and Inner Sect, he was unaware of the Inner Sect¡¯s affairs until just moments ago when he heard Chen Buqi¡¯s words. That was when he learned Li Miaozhen was also the True Disciple of the White Tiger Lineage. Early summer, Sea City. Mu Lan clutching a document bag drove towards the Empire Building, it contained the drafted divorce agreement. Throughout the journey, Mu Lan¡¯s expression was calm, showing no signs that she was a woman about to get divorced. At eighteen, Mu Lan had tried everything to marry Huo Tingxiao. Seven years had passed, and she thought even a stone would have warmed up by then. Unfortunately, no matter what she did, Huo Tingxiao treated her as if she were air, just as he had said those years ago, ¡°You will only get the title of Mrs. Huo, nothing more.¡± Pale fingers gripped the steering wheel, and during the drive, she received a call. Whatever the other person said, Mu Lan got distracted. To avoid a pedestrian suddenly crossing the road, she instinctively made a sharp turn, causing her white Maserati to spin out of control and crash into the roadside railing. With a ¡°bang¡±, the airbag deployed instantly! The huge impact buzzed in her head, the sudden car crash drew more and more onlookers. ¡°There¡¯s someone in the car, call 120 quickly.¡± ¡°My gosh, she¡¯s bleeding so much, the lady looks badly hurt.¡± ¡°Miss, miss, can you hear me speak? Can you tell me your family¡¯s contact information?¡± Mu Lan¡¯s vision was blurry; she could only see the mouths of the people around her moving, but couldn¡¯t hear their voices. Her mind was filled with the words the person on the phone had said, continuously agitating Mu Lan. Suddenly, her eyelids uncontrollably drooped, and the next second, she lost consciousness entirely. ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª The next morning. High-level surgical ward at the First People¡¯s Hospital. Standing beside the bed, the man frowned deeply at the still-unconscious Mu Lan. Upon receiving the news of Mu Lan¡¯s car accident and hospitalization, Huo Tingxiao did not rush back immediately but waited until he had finished all his work before arriving at the hospital. His physique was tall and straight, wrapped in a dark shirt, and his features were sharp, especially his eyes, which, when looking at someone, resembled a black panther locking onto its prey, emitting an intimidating aura. ¡°Why hasn¡¯t she woken up yet?¡± The tone was as cold as an ice-pick, scaring the attending physician behind him into shivering. ¡°Huo¡­ Mr. Huo, Mrs. Huo¡¯s condition is somewhat special; the car accident caused a head impact, thus forming a clot, so¡­¡± Before he could finish explaining, Mu Lan showed signs of response on the bed. This made the attending physician sigh with relief; thank goodness, if she hadn¡¯t woken up, he really feared that Huo Tingxiao would freeze him to death with his gaze. However, before his heart could settle, a new crisis emerged. Mu Lan moved slightly, and involuntarily let out a moan from her lips. ¡°Hiss¡­¡± Headache! She slowly opened her eyes, looking bewildered at the entirely unfamiliar surroundings. Mu Lan¡¯s mind blanked for a moment. The white ceiling, the faint smell of disinfectant in the air, and certain fragmented images momentarily flashed through her mind. Her gaze landed on the unfamiliar man before her, and instinctively, Mu Lan became somewhat defensive. ¡°This¡­ Where is this? Sir, you¡­ who are you?¡± Sir?! This term made Huo Tingxiao¡¯s already furrowed brow look even more twisted. The doctor was also confused by the situation in front of him, a bad premonition swirling in his mind. He held out two fingers in front of Mu Lan and waved them. ¡°What is this?¡± Mu Lan couldn¡¯t help but roll her eyes. ¡°2¡± ¡°What¡¯s your name?¡± ¡°Mu Lan.¡± ¡°And him¡­ who is he?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t recognize him.¡± Huo Tingxiao¡¯s face completely darkened, already somewhat unapproachable, now he looked even more like King Yama. The attending physician, on the verge of tears, wondered if this was some kind of stunt Mrs. Huo was pulling during an argument. ¡°Then do you remember what happened before?¡± ¡°Of course I remember. I felt awful with menstrual pain during the comprehensive science exam this morning, and I fainted right after I finished the answer sheet¡­¡± Mu Lan sat up, her tone already somewhat impatient. What was with this doctor, asking her all these unnecessary questions. ¡°Exam¡­ Comprehensive science? Filling in an answer sheet?¡± This answer baffled the attending physician. Of course, seeing him like this, Mu Lan was even more confused. ¡°Yes, it¡¯s the second day of college entrance exams today, the comprehensive science test in the morning. This¡­ isn¡¯t this the school infirmary?¡± ¡°Mu Lan, enough, this act is really boring.¡± The tone of Huo Tingxiao¡¯s voice made Mu Lan frown and retort sharply. ¡°Who are you, sir? Speaking so rudely. What¡¯s this about boring or not boring? Glancing at the wall clock, Mu Lan, in a rush, pulled out the IV needle from her hand and attempted to get out of bed. ¡°It¡¯s already noon, and I still have an English exam at three. I don¡¯t have time to dilly-dally with you all.¡± But she had barely lifted the corner of the blanket when Huo Tingxiao restrained her, the difference in strength rendering her completely immobile, crouching on the hospital bed like a small quail. Their distance suddenly so close they could feel each other¡¯s breath, Mu Lan staring blankly at the handsome face before her, the complex emotions in Huo Tingxiao¡¯s eyes deep as dark pools, almost seeming to suck her in completely, leaving her momentarily disoriented. The situation was completely unexpected, frightening the attending physician into hastily arranging a series of tests for her. But just after the CT scan, Mu Lan protested. ¡°What¡¯s wrong with you people? I just have menstrual pain, I don¡¯t need any tests. If you delay any longer, what if I¡¯m late and can¡¯t take the exam? Can you all just let me be? Hey! Why are you carrying me?! Ah! Help! Kidnapping! Is there no law anymore?!¡± The attending physician secretly wiped the cold sweat from his forehead, pondering to himself ¡ª law? In Sea City, the law is Huo Tingxiao. After the examination, Mu Lan was taken back to the ward by the bodyguards, while Huo Tingxiao was led to the consultation room, where five or six specialists and the dean surrounded the new CT and lab reports, discussing her condition. The conclusion reached was ¡ª Mu Lan might have lost her memory. ¡°Memory loss?¡± A tone full of skepticism. Clearly, Huo Tingxiao did not accept this conclusion. And with their level of strength, they would definitely not be able to stop her. Better to preserve their lives to return and report the situation to the Sect¡¯s elders, than be killed by Li Miaozhen. This way, when the Secret Realm opened next time, they could still maintain some initiative. Chapter 152 - Chapter 152 Chapter 150 White Tiger Bloodline ?Chapter 152: Chapter 150 White Tiger Bloodline Chapter 152: Chapter 150 White Tiger Bloodline ¡°Quick, split up and run.¡± Zhuo Feifan, who had been hiding in the rear and attacking with his Flying Sword from a distance since the battle began, never getting too close, urgently called out, ¡°Li Miao Zhen is too formidable for us to handle. Scatter and escape, and go back to inform the Sect that something has gone wrong.¡± Before his words even finished, he had already taken the lead to retreat and flee into the distance. However, the direction in which he flew just so happened to take him past Qin Feng. ?¦Ï¦Í??.§ã? It was no coincidence; he wanted to try and see if he could kill Qin Feng in passing. Zhuo Feifan was considered a Sword Dao prodigy, otherwise, his master wouldn¡¯t have noticed him from a young age and taken him in as a disciple. His talent in Sword Dao was strong, his understanding of various sword techniques was profound, and he even had some unique insights, integrating and mastering various sword techniques as his own. But his time spent cultivating was not as long as Li Miao Zhen¡¯s, and his realm of cultivation was much lower. Not only was Li Miao Zhen a True Disciple of the White Tiger Lineage, but she was also an expert at the peak of the Foundation Establishment Realm, and even her Lifebound Spiritual Beast, the White Tiger, was at the peak of Foundation Establishment as well. Both she and her Spiritual Beast possessed combat power far beyond their peers, and when merged, they could even rival Golden Core Early Stage Cultivators. Naturally, they were not opponents the Sword Cultivators like Zhuo Feifan could contend with. In fact, like Li Miao Zhen, True Disciples of major sects often fought above their level before reaching the Purple Mansion Realm. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í??.?0 The True Disciples of Taiyi Mountain also possessed similar combat power, but Taiyi Mountain refrained from sending their True Disciples to avoid attracting other Sects¡¯ attention, which is why they hadn¡¯t expected Li Miao Zhen to be an exception. With Li Miao Zhen¡¯s cultivation, had it not been for this trip to the Heavenly Pool Secret Realm, she could have broken through to form her Golden Core long ago. The reason she suppressed her realm and didn¡¯t advance was not to search for fortune in the Heavenly Pool Secret Realm; as a True Disciple, she really didn¡¯t value this secret realm that had been explored by countless people over thousands of years. The real treasures had been picked clean by predecessors, and anything left was not worth her attention. She was here because she had been ordered by her Sect to investigate the movements of the Taiyi Mountain disciples. During previous openings of the Secret Realm, the Taiyi Mountain disciples were secretly up to something, which had caught the attention of the Beast Taming Sect, and similar messages had also been sent back by spies planted within Taiyi Mountain. Therefore, she came in, and indeed found traces of Chen Buqi and others at several spots suggested by her Sect, leading to her overwhelming defeat and killing of these Sword Cultivators. ¡°Think you can run?¡± When Li Miao Zhen saw them fleeing in different directions, her expression turned cold, and killing intent surged. With a light snort from her nose, her figure flashed like lightning, and in the blink of an eye, she caught up to one of them. With a slender palm, she directly shattered that person¡¯s skull. Then she separated from her merge state with her Lifebound Spiritual Beast, chasing the remaining two fleeing Sword Cultivators, one on each side. At this moment, Qin Feng was also facing an attack from Zhuo Feifan. Zhuo Feifan moved like lightning, without the slightest hesitation. As he passed Qin Feng, he unleashed a powerful sword attack, consigned with all his strength. It would be great if he could kill Qin Feng, but if not, he wouldn¡¯t delay. If he did, by the time Li Miao Zhen dealt with the other disciples, he might not be able to escape her pursuit. His choice to flee past Qin Feng was motivated by the intention to kill Qin Feng and the hope that it might make Li Miao Zhen think someone was holding him back there so she would instinctively chase the others, buying him time to escape. As for whether Qin Feng could stop him, Zhuo Feifan had never considered it. He had chased Qin Feng before and still regarded Qin Feng as the same low-cultivation cultivator as before. Even if Qin Feng¡¯s cultivation had improved a lot and he had merged with a Foundation Establishment Realm Spiritual Beast, Zhuo Feifan had also progressed! He was no longer a novice at Foundation Establishment. After returning from the Ancient Battlefield to Taiyi Mountain, he practiced night and day. Not only did he master the ¡°Taiyin Golden Light Evil Slayer Sword¡±, but with the help of numerous Spiritual Elixirs and Miracle Medicines, he had advanced to the mid-stage of Foundation Establishment. His strength was far greater than before, of course, he didn¡¯t see Qin Feng, who was still in the Qi Refining Realm, as a threat. Even if his all-out attack didn¡¯t kill Qin Feng, it would still injure him, and Qin Feng wouldn¡¯t have the strength left to stop him from leaving. However, all of this was just his speculation. Indeed, the power of that sword attack was tremendous, and even an ordinary cultivator at the early stage of Foundation Establishment might not be able to block it. But the likelihood of it severely injuring Qin Feng was slim. Back in the Void Shattering Hammer Cave Mansion, Zhuo Feifan had failed to injure the Ruyi Golden Snake, and it was similarly unlikely to break through with one sword now. Qin Feng, meanwhile, had summoned all his Ruyi Golden Light to bolster his Golden Wings on his back. Crossing his wings in front of him, he had valiantly blocked Zhuo Feifan¡¯s Flying Sword. Even though he looked disheveled and was knocked to the ground with both legs embedded two feet into the ground, his defensive power after merging with the Ruyi Golden Snake was so formidable that he remained unharmed, just slightly unstable in his inner energy. If Zhuo Feifan pursued the attack, Qin Feng certainly wouldn¡¯t stand a chance, and in his unstable state, he might not last long. But Zhuo Feifan was intent on escaping. Upon seeing Qin Feng alive, he regretted not finishing him but dared not linger in combat, and quickly flew away on his sword light. Just at that moment, a mass of webs suddenly appeared in front of him. He swiftly cut through the webs, but before he could fly away again, he felt a chilling sense of immense danger. Divine Sense swept across the area, and in an instant, Qin Feng noticed dozens of icy glints shooting towards him like meteorites, tracing beautiful arcs through the air. Just as he had severed the spider silk, Qin Feng retrieved thirty Armor-Breaking Cones, activated the mechanism, and suddenly thirty tiny projectiles burst through the air towards him. The distance was too close, less than twenty yards away, perfectly maximizing the lethality of the thirty icy stars. Zhuo Feifan didn¡¯t even think before instinctively flicking his Flying Sword and executing a set of sword techniques, which generated streaks of Sword Light like rain to meet the chilly glints. After a series of clashing sounds, Zhuo Feifan shielded himself tightly and was not hit by even one of the Armor-Breaking Cones. However, this gave Qin Feng time to recover his breath. Then, with a kick of his legs and a flap of his wings, Qin Feng pounced towards Zhuo Feifan like a bolt of golden lightning. Foundation Establishment Sword Cultivators excel in long-range attacks, killing enemies from a thousand yards away. Although they are not weak in close combat, they are accustomed to long-range assaults because it allows for more operational flexibilitya€¡±as they can advance or retreat. Qin Feng didn¡¯t have such long-range attack magic at the moment, and although he was not Zhuo Feifan¡¯s match in close combat, the strong defense of his Ruyi Golden Snake was enough to entangle Zhuo Feifan for a moment. That moment was enough time for Li Miao Zhen to arrive. Zhuo Feifan was extremely anxious, he had never expected this youngster to be so troublesome; not only had his own sword strike failed to severely injure Qin Feng, but it had also allowed the latter to catch up to him. Of course, without the Ghost-Faced Spider and the Mechanical Box of thirty Armor-Breaking Cones, Qin Feng couldn¡¯t have achieved this. But now, not only did Zhuo Feifan have to deal with Qin Feng¡¯s entanglement, but he also had to be wary of the Ghost-Faced Spider¡¯s sneak attacks, which gave him quite a headache. He pushed his Sword Dao to its limits, forcing Qin Feng to retreat again and again, but every time he tried to break away, a strand of spider silk would shoot up from below to block his path, accompanied by spell attacks from several other Spiritual Beasts. He had to split his focus to deal with them, allowing Qin Feng to catch up once more. Zhuo Feifan was now furious and impatient, even feeling a strong hatred towards Chen Buqi; if that guy hadn¡¯t insisted on using up the Sword Talismans given by his master, he could have definitely slain this Beast Taming Sect disciple with one of them. Just as he was furiously attacking Qin Feng with his flying sword, even more fiercely than before, he suddenly heard a voice from behind him, ¡°Junior Brother Qin¡¯s cultivation has improved a lot, you¡¯ve actually managed to stop this guy.¡± Zhuo Feifan felt like his soul was about to leave his body; Li Miao Zhen had caught up. Before he could even mount a defense, he felt an immense force strike him from behind, shattering his True Yuan and cracking his internal organs. He spat out a mouthful of fresh blood, his energy fading, unable to escape flying and tumbled to the ground. Behind him, Li Miao Zhen was holding someone by the neck, descending leisurely. In the distance, a three-yard-long White Tiger held someone in its mouth, leaping dozens of yards at a time and quickly reaching them, then opened its jaws and tossed the person onto the ground. Qin Feng glanced at the White Tiger and of course knew that it couldn¡¯t be a purebred White Tiger Divine Beast, otherwise it wouldn¡¯t just have the strength of the Foundation Establishment Realm. Divine Beasts are inherently powerful and even as cubs can use some potent Bloodline Divine Powers, not comparable to the ordinary Demon Clan. However, this white tiger definitely carried the bloodline of a White Tiger Divine Beast in its body, otherwise, it wouldn¡¯t impose such a powerful sense of might on him. ¡°I¡¯ve seen Senior Sister Li.¡± Qin Feng took another look and then withdrew his gaze, bowing his hand to Li Miao Zhen, ¡°I didn¡¯t expect Senior Sister to come to the Heavenly Pool Secret Realm too.¡± Li Miao Zhen waved her hand, ¡°Junior Brother Qin, there¡¯s no need for such courtesies. This isn¡¯t a place to catch up. Let¡¯s see what they have to say about what Taiyi Mountain is really up to.¡± ¡°Please go ahead, Senior Sister.¡± Qin Feng nodded and stood to the side, looking at the three people who had been captured alive on the ground. Li Miao Zhen was indeed decisive in her actions. She asked one of them, ¡°Tell us what you¡¯ve found out. What does that cave lead to? Could it truly be an Inheritance Land from an Ancient Sect?¡± ¡°Pah, you demoness, don¡¯t think to get any information out of me!¡± The Sword Cultivator was defiant, ¡°Even if you kill me, I won¡¯t tell you a word.¡± ¡°Oh.¡± Li Miao Zhen remained indifferent, motioned with her hand, and smashed his head into pulp with a palm from afar; blood splattered wildly, and his brains burst, drenching the other two Sword Cultivators. Then she turned her gaze to another person and asked calmly, ¡°How about you, will you talk?¡± Chapter 153 - Chapter 153 Chapter 151 Smooth Talker ?Chapter 153: Chapter 151: Smooth Talker Chapter 153: Chapter 151: Smooth Talker ¡°Hmph!¡± The cultivator sneered arrogantly, ¡°Li Miao Zhen, as disciples of Taiyi Mountain, how could we fear death? Kill or slaughter as you please. However, don¡¯t be too presumptuous, sooner or later a fellow sect member will kill you to avenge us¡­¡± Bang! Before he could finish his sentence, Li Miao Zhen struck him down with a palm. Finally, she turned her attention toward Zhuo Feifan, ¡°What about you, will you talk or not?¡± Zhuo Feifan¡¯s face turned somewhat pale. He had heard of the ferocity of the Beast Taming Sect¡¯s Li Miao Zhen, but only when facing her directly did he truly understand how formidable this woman was. ¡°I¡­¡± He wanted to show a tough side, not fearing death. He wanted to curse Li Miao Zhen aloud, displaying his unyielding spirit at the moment of death. But as soon as he opened his mouth, he found his voice was somewhat hoarse, his throat a bit dry. He felt the internal struggle deep within. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï???.?¦Ï He didn¡¯t want to die; he still had a bright future ahead, still yearned to continue on the path of cultivation, to achieve the Immortal Dao, longevity, and immortality. However, after hesitating for a few moments, he finally shook his head, ¡°I will not betray my sect.¡± He was a smart man. He knew that even if he revealed everything, Li Miao Zhen wouldn¡¯t spare him. Since death was inevitable, why bear the infamy of a traitor after death? After he spoke, he closed his eyes, waiting for death to come. ¡°It¡¯s enough, I will go and investigate that cave myself.¡± Li Miao Zhen gently shook her head. The reason she hadn¡¯t directly entered the cave was due to her uncertainty about what lay inside. After all, it was a secret place left by an Ancient Sect, and the Heavenly Pool Cave Heaven had once been breached by the Demon Clan. If they had set up any deadly arrays, she might encounter danger by rashly barging in. Questioning these people was to find out what was inside the cave and if possible, to better understand Taiyi Mountain¡¯s schemes. But since these people refused to talk, she had no choice but to kill them and go see for herself. After all, her mission entering this place was to investigate Taiyi Mountain¡¯s plans thoroughly. Even if she couldn¡¯t seize the inheritance left within this cave heaven, it was crucial to spoil their schemes. The Beast Taming Sect wasn¡¯t greedy for other sects¡¯ inheritance, but they couldn¡¯t allow a rival sect to claim this cave heaven. Otherwise, once Taiyi Mountain acquired this cave heaven and reconsolidated its spirit veins, it would definitely strengthen Taiyi Mountain¡¯s foundation. In a few thousand years, perhaps their development would completely surpass that of the Beast Taming Sect. In that case, the Beast Taming Sect would indeed be in danger. The True Yuan surged in Li Miao Zhen¡¯s hands as she prepared to kill this somewhat tough disciple of Taiyi Mountain. ¡°Sister, hold on a moment!¡± Qin Feng stepped forward, stopping Li Miao Zhen from killing Zhuo Feifan. ¡°What is it, Junior Brother Qin?¡± Li Miao Zhen looked towards him. ¡°Sister, let me talk to him for a bit? How about that?¡± ¡°Be my guest.¡± Li Miao Zhen indifferently withdrew her hand. Although Chen Buqi and others had already entered that cave a while ago, she wasn¡¯t too worried. ?¦Ï¦Í??.§ã0 Even if there truly was an Ancient Inheritance inside, it wouldn¡¯t be easy to obtain. Any major sect¡¯s inheritance would have multiple tests to select the appropriate successor, so she wasn¡¯t in a rush to go inside. Moreover, in her view, the disciples of Taiyi Mountain had little chance of obtaining the Ancient Inheritance inside. Taiyi Mountain¡¯s Sword Cultivation Techniques differed significantly from other Cultivation Techniques. The True Yuan cultivated was too sharp, suited for slaughter, definitely not suitable for mixed or converted cultivation. Thus, she felt that even if there was an inheritance inside:UIControlEvent possible for Taiyi Mountain¡¯s sword cultivators to be chosen was not high. Qin Feng took two steps forward, looked at Zhuo Feifan, and revealed a smile, ¡°Brother Zhuo.¡± Zhuo Feifan¡¯s eyelids twitched twice, then he finally opened his eyes to look at Qin Feng. He remained silent. At this moment, he was a fish on the chopping block, his life and death controlled by others, leaving him no mood for more words, even now facing Qin Feng. For him now, that past matter was no longer important. Once he died, all would end; that secret, even if revealed, what harm could it do to him? ¡°Brother Zhuo, as a genius disciple of Taiyi Mountain with excellent talent and supreme aptitude, why seek death relentlessly?¡± Qin Feng spoke with a beaming smile, ¡°With Brother Zhuo¡¯s talents and nature, as long as you live, you will certainly accomplish great deeds in the future. The Dao of Longevity is endlessly profound; do you really no longer wish to pursue it? I remember that Brother Zhuo once said, you planned to strive for the position of True Disciple and even compete for the next Sect Leader of Taiyi Mountain. Have you forgotten all those lofty statements, Brother Zhuo?¡± Zhuo Feifan¡¯s face flushed red, ¡°Are you shaming me?¡± He thought Qin Feng was trying to embarrass him by uncovering his past flaws with his last words, so he deliberately said these things. Qin Feng shook his head sincerely, ¡°Brother Zhuo, you misunderstood me, I have no such intentions.¡± Zhuo Feifan stared at him without speaking, but the expression in his eyes clearly showed he didn¡¯t believe it much. ¡°Hehe¡­¡± Qin Feng chuckled lightly, ¡°Junior Brother is not mocking Brother Zhuo, but genuinely feeling sorry for him. In fact, I also did not publicize Brother Zhuo¡¯s last incident. I even never mentioned it to outsiders.¡± Of course, since Liu Xuanling was one of us, not an outsider, this statement was not deceptive. ¡°Really?¡± Zhuo Feifan was skeptical. ¡°Why would I lie to you?¡± Qin Feng smiled, ¡°If I really intended to publicize that incident, Taiyi Mountain would probably be buzzing with the news by now, and how could Brother Zhuo still be cultivating peacefully at the mountain gate or have the opportunity to enter the Heavenly Pool Secret Realm?¡± Hearing this, Zhuo Feifan nodded his head; indeed, he had never heard any rumors about that past incident. He had initially thought Qin Feng died in that cave mansion, but now it seemed it was because he had not spread the word. ¡°What are you telling me all this for now?¡± His face showed some hesitation, ¡°Even if I have done wrong in the past, if you think to blackmail me with that incident to betray my sect, that¡¯s absolutely impossible! My master has treated me with great kindness, I would rather die than betray my sect, I¡¯m not afraid of death, let alone your threats.¡± Li Miao Zhen looked at Qin Feng in surprise, not expecting Zhuo Feifan to have fallen into this Junior Brother Qin¡¯s hands. Qin Feng ignored her, continuing to speak to Zhuo Feifan, ¡°Brother Zhuo is joking. Junior Brother has no intention of blackmailing you or suggesting you betray your sect. The reason I¡¯m telling you this is just to strike some mutually beneficial agreements.¡± ¡°Agreements, what agreements?¡± Zhuo Feifan¡¯s expression gradually eased. ¡°Here¡¯s the thing.¡± Qin Feng seriously said, ¡°Brother Zhuo knows well that the Cultivation World is fraught with treachery and peril, and even a talented individual like yourself could accidentally meet your demise. Not to mention someone like me. I, though lacking in talents, entered the path of cultivation just a few short years ago and have encountered dangers many times. As the saying goes, ¡®One cannot frequent the riverside without getting their shoes wet.¡¯ A mishap in encountering danger could result in death and the end of one¡¯s cultivation.¡± Zhuo Feifan nodded in agreement. Back when he was studying under his master, he had not felt it much, but after his last outing to the Ancient Battlefield, where he accidentally killed a junior sister in a moment of excitability, it had been like a long nightmare. He constantly worried someone would discover his secret, or that his junior sister¡¯s father would seek revenge and strike him down with a sword. At the Ancient Battlefield, he faced several crises, and this time entering the Heavenly Pool Secret Realm was even more dangerous. Just now, if not for Qin Feng¡¯s intervention, Li Miao Zhen¡¯s strike would have killed him. Qin Feng continued, ¡°Feeling the hardship of cultivation, I thought to propose an agreement with Brother Zhuo. Why don¡¯t we support and assist each other, to go further on the path of Longevity Dao?¡± ¡°Support each other? With you?¡± Zhuo Feifan looked at Qin Feng as if he were an idiot. ¡°My Taiyi Mountain and your Beast Taming Sect are sworn enemies. How could you possibly think of mutual assistance?¡± ¡°Nothing is impossible.¡± Qin Feng smiled, ¡°It¡¯s true our sects are enemies, but to be frank, those are old grievances from who knows how many years back. Do they have a direct connection to us younger generation? Brother Zhuo, if it weren¡¯t for our chance encounter outside Chaotic Sky Valley, we probably wouldn¡¯t even recognize each other. So, there¡¯s no enmity between us personally. The path of cultivation is too difficult. If disciples from both sects start fighting and killing each other upon meeting, causing numerous deaths and cutting short many cultivators¡¯ paths, that would not be favorable.¡± Qin Feng sighed lightly, then spoke, ¡°That¡¯s why I want to reach an agreement with you, oh, and Senior Sister Li too. Let¡¯s all three form a mutual assistance pact. We could choose not to kill you, and even help clear obstacles for you. Don¡¯t you want to become a True Disciple? I know, your Senior Brother Chen is your biggest competitor. So, to show sincerity, how about Senior Sister Li and I help you remove him? Without him as your major competitor, securing your position as a True Disciple would be almost guaranteed! Even later, when you vie for the position of Sect Leader of Taiyi Mountain, we can still help you clear out competitors.¡± Upon hearing these words, Zhuo Feifan¡¯s face changed repeatedly, and he was speechless for a long while. ¡°Brother Zhuo, the opportunity has been presented to you. Whether you grasp it or not is up to your decision.¡± Qin Feng looked into his eyes, speaking earnestly, ¡°Brother Zhuo, you really have to think it over. Do you choose to be a True Disciple with a promising future, or do you choose to die here, with your bones not even left undevoured by the Demon Beasts?¡± Zhuo Feifan¡¯s face reflected his inner conflict, and after a long while, he dryly said, ¡°Are you trying to make me a clandestine agent for your Beast Taming Sect, betraying my sect¡¯s interests to you?¡± Upon hearing these words, Qin Feng immediately laughed. He knew Zhuo Feifan was tempted but was just reluctant to admit it, hence his statement. The smile on his face was devilish, filled with endless temptation, ¡°Brother Zhuo, you speak amiss. To put it bluntly, what do Taiyi Mountain¡¯s interests have to do with you, and how many there truly care for you? Apart from your master, there must not be many who genuinely support you, like that Chen Buqia€¡±what does his life or death have to do with you? No, I should say, his death would actually benefit you greatly. Perhaps even you, Brother Zhuo, secretly wish he would die sooner.¡± Qin Feng chuckled, ¡°If Brother Zhuo¡¯s status and position aren¡¯t high and you don¡¯t ascend the throne of a True Disciple, even if Taiyi Mountain annexes this Heavenly Pool Secret Realm, how much benefit can you, Zhuo Feifan, really gain? Unlike Chen Buqia€¡±once he returns to the sect, he will definitely be rewarded for his merits, and the gap between you will only widen. Brother Zhuo, do you really want to give up your own life for something from which you gain nothing?¡± ¡°I¡­¡± Zhuo Feifan hesitated. Qin Feng continued, ¡°Brother Zhuo, you don¡¯t need to worry that we will make you do anything detrimental to Taiyi Mountain. A great calamity is approaching, and we Human Clan Cultivators need to unite and help each other. Compared to the future calamities of the Human Clan, past grievances truly aren¡¯t worth mentioning. Brother Zhuo, I truly hope you can take the position of Sect Leader of Taiyi Mountain. Perhaps then we can resolve the past grievances between our two sects. If both sects could bury the hatchet, it would be a blessing for our Human Clan!¡± Chapter 154 - Chapter 154 Chapter 152 Subduing the Fire Ape ?Chapter 154: Chapter 152 Subduing the Fire Ape Chapter 154: Chapter 152 Subduing the Fire Ape Qin Feng¡¯s words seemed to be filled with endless temptation, ¡°Brother Zhuo, one only has one life, and only by surviving can one have the chance to obtain everything you desire. Only by surviving can one become stronger, and when you are strong, you can acquire even more. If you manage to become a Sword Immortal, or even the most powerful entity in your Taiyi Mountain, what would it matter if people learned about today¡¯s events? They would be too busy trying to ingratiate themselves with you to dare speak ill of you behind your back, right? Even if you possessed enough strength, as long as you killed Sister Li and me, nobody would ever know about today¡¯s incident.¡± Zhuo Feifan¡¯s heart was pounding, but he quickly said, ¡°How could that be? My cultivation is far inferior to Daoist Fellow Li¡¯s; how could I possibly kill you both?¡± Qin Feng sneered inwardly, this fellow¡¯s focus was on the inability to kill them, not on the unwillingness to do so. His mind was so obvious, why even bother to make excuses? However, he pretended not to notice and continued, ¡°To cultivate to a higher realm, the position of a True Disciple is indispensable. Only then can you have the qualifications to compete for the Sect Leader¡¯s seat in the future. Only by assuming the position of Sect Leader can you control a large number of resources to aid your own cultivation, and have the chance of achieving longevity and becoming a Sword Immortal. On your own, and no offense, Brother Zhuo, while you have talent, you ultimately lack sufficient backing and assistance. It is hard for you to fulfill your wishes. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?0¦Í??.§ã¦Ï But we can be your best helpers.¡± Qin Feng¡¯s smile grew even brighter, ¡°We can clear all obstacles for you, eliminate all stumbling blocks on the path of cultivation. With our help, you¡¯ll soon become a True Disciple of Taiyi Mountain, and when the time comes for you to contend for the Sect Leader¡¯s position, we will eliminate those competitors for you as well. All you need to do is provide us with a small token of gratitude for our assistance, Brother Zhuo. After all, it¡¯s not unreasonable for us to ask for a little benefit in return for helping you so much, is it?¡± Zhuo Feifan nodded vehemently, ¡°Fine, I agree to your terms. However, I expect you to keep our agreement confidential. If word of today¡¯s incident were to spread, I would surely face death, but you would also not gain any further benefits from me.¡± ¡°Rest assured, Brother Zhuo, we are well aware of that,¡± Qin Feng replied with a beaming smile. ¡°After all, the higher your status, Brother Zhuo, the more benefits you can bring us, right?¡± Li Miaozhen was stunned by the turn of events. She hadn¡¯t expected that this Junior Brother Qin, whom she had only met once, would in a moment persuade a Taiyi Mountain disciple who had been adamantly unyielding to become their inside man. Although Qin Feng¡¯s words were nice, claiming a partnership and alliance, this did not change the fact that Zhuo Feifan would provide them with plenty of Taiyi Mountain¡¯s inside information in the future. Moreover, as Zhuo Feifan¡¯s cultivation rose, his competitors within Taiyi Mountain would grow stronger. Helping him eliminate these competitors meant killing off Taiyi Mountain¡¯s elite disciples. This not only rid them of some powerful individuals with potential in Taiyi Mountain but also brought other benefits. Truly, it was killing two birds with one stone. She wondered if she should also learn to employ these tactics in the future, as they seemed much more useful than simply killing the opposition. However, she quickly abandoned this line of thought. Never mind, it did not suit her nature to engage in such dealings ¨C better to leave it to those who were proficient in these matters. ¡°Brother Zhuo, since we have reached a consensus, to show our sincerity, we will take care of Chen Buqi for you, paving the way for your true inheritance.¡± Qin Feng looked at Zhuo Feifan and smiled, ¡°Is it not time for you to show your sincerity, Brother Zhuo? What exactly is your sect¡¯s plan in the Heavenly Pool Secret Realm?¡± Zhuo Feifan gritted his teeth, having reached this point, there was not much left to hide. He said, ¡°Two hundred and forty years ago, a disciple of Taiyi Mountain obtained a damaged Jade Scroll in the Heavenly Pool Secret Realm that contained some information about this Cave Heaven World, including a method to activate the power of the rules and open that portal. But that Jade Scroll is now nearly ruined, and only after several explorations was our elder able to pinpoint this area.¡± ¡°Is there something in that cave, an Ancient Inheritance perhaps?¡± Li Miaozhen asked. This was the question she cared most about; she had entered to find out what exactly the Taiyi Mountain disciples were searching for. ¡°No, there is no Ancient Sect¡¯s inheritance there.¡± Zhuo Feifan said, ¡°The true inheritance was likely destroyed during the Ancient Great Tribulation, otherwise the Jade Scroll we obtained wouldn¡¯t be so damaged.¡± The cave was actually a passageway leading to the heart of the Cave Heaven World. The Sect instructed us to establish a Guiding Array deep within the Earth Core, and then place the imitation Golden Light Mirror within the array. After the Secret Realm closed, the Supreme Elder of our Sect would hold the genuine Golden Light Mirror. Through the connection with the imitation, they would lock onto the position of this Cave Heaven World in the Void, and then transport themselves here through the Great Array. Although this Cave Heaven World possesses the power to suppress laws, preventing those with too great strength from entering, the suppression of the laws is weak deep within the Earth Core. Moreover, the Great Array that the Sect has acquired at great expense is capable of deceiving and evading detection, hiding one¡¯s presence. It can guide the Supreme Elder inside, who can then slowly refine the Cave Heaven Principle and assimilate it for their own use.¡± ¡°So that¡¯s how it is.¡± Li Miaozhen suddenly understood, ¡°Your Taiyi Mountain has made thorough preparations.¡± Zhuo Feifan curled the edge of his mouth but said nothing. Qin Feng thought for a moment and asked, ¡°Is it difficult to set up that array?¡± ¡°Not particularly.¡± Zhuo Feifan said, ¡°Since the Sect Elders feared we wouldn¡¯t understand the Array, they specially commissioned someone to craft the Array Map and the necessary materials for arranging the Array. As long as we follow the Array Map, there should be no mistakes.¡± ¡°Is that so?¡± Qin Feng stroked his chin in thought and said to Li Miaozhen, ¡°Senior Sister, we should hurry inside and take a look. I think it would be better for you to eliminate Chen Buqi as soon as possible. If that guy senses danger and doesn¡¯t dare to come out, it would be troublesome if they manage to guide their Supreme Elder here ahead of time.¡± ¡°Mm, I was thinking the same.¡± Li Miaozhen nodded in agreement. ¡°Brother Zhuo.¡± Qin Feng looked at Zhuo Feifan, his face blossoming into a warm smile, ¡°Your injuries are not serious, are they?¡± Zhuo Feifan glanced at him and said, ¡°Daoist Fellow Li¡¯s cultivation is profound. One strike from her and I suffered severe internal injuries and damage to my meridians. Now, I can¡¯t even exert half the strength I had at my peak. Without several months to recover, it¡¯s impossible to return to my original state.¡± ¡°Oh?¡± Qin Feng looked at him in surprise. This guy was really strong, having taken a blow from Li Miaozhen and still able to exert nearly half of his strength. Of course, that had to do with Li Miaozhen¡¯s intention to capture him alive for questioning at the time. ¡°Since Brother Zhuo is still able to move, please accompany us on this trip. Perhaps we¡¯ll need Brother Zhuo¡¯s cooperation later on.¡± Zhuo Feifan was silent for a moment, then nodded slightly and stood up to lead the way. He knew that the two of them still somewhat distrusted him, which is why they let him take the lead. If something went wrong, with his current condition, he would definitely not be able to withstand a single blow from Li Miaozhen and would perish. The group made their way towards the cave. Zhuo Feifan walked in front, entering the cave first. Qin Feng and Li Miaozhen followed closely behind, no more than two or three steps away. With Li Miaozhen¡¯s formidable strength, they had no fear of him trying anything. However, upon entering the cave, they were surprised to find the Fire Ape there, barely clinging to life, yet still alive. It had been severely injured by a Sword Array from the Taiyi Mountain disciples and had just broken through to condense a Demon Core when Zhuo Feifan shattered it with a Sword Talisman. Then, when Chen Buqi and the others entered the cave and the reflection from the Golden Light Mirror was lost, the rule-enforced Thunder struck the Fire Ape, nearly killing it on the spot. The Fire Ape barely managed to hide inside the cave. Plus, its life force was weakening, nearing death, and concealed by the aura of the cave, the force of the outer rules gradually dissipated, allowing it to barely hang onto life. Seeing that Li Miaozhen did not care about the Fire Ape, knowing she probably had enough Spiritual Beasts and did not want to waste resources on another, Qin Feng ran over and placed the Fire Ape into the Demon Refining Pot. If the Fire Ape were at its peak, it would never let him get close; even with a shattered Demon Core, it was still a demon beast at the Foundation Establishment Peak, capable of spewing flames that would make Qin Feng flee. But now it was gravely wounded and on the brink of death, its consciousness slipping into semi-consciousness, and thus, it offered no resistance as Qin Feng took it into the Demon Refining Pot. It was then refined by the Demon Refining Pot and became Qin Feng¡¯s Spiritual Beast. Qin Feng felt joyful inside. This was a powerful Spiritual Beast that had once condensed a Demon Core and had the experience of Core Formation. If its injuries were properly treated, it might not take many years to accumulate enough power to condense a Demon Core once more. ?¦Ï¦Í?0.?0 In the Secret Realm, the Fire Ape¡¯s progression was suppressed and did not dare to advance, as that would be a death sentence, but once taken out, there would be no such restrictions. Once the Fire Ape formed a Demon Core, his own strength would truly be formidable. Not to mention anything else, with this Fire Ape, if he returned to his hometown, he could sweep through Kun City entirely. At that time, the small Huang Family wouldn¡¯t amount to much. Qin Feng forcefully suppressed the joy in his heart and covertly manipulated the Spiritual Energy within the Demon Refining Pot to aid the Fire Ape¡¯s recovery. Although without the corresponding Spiritual Elixirs, the recovery was very slow, it was much better than its previous unconscious state, lying on the ground awaiting death. Moreover, he put several Healing Pills from his own supply into the pot for the Fire Ape to consume. Among them, the Revive Pill and the Life Creation Pill were both top-grade Spirit Pills for treating injuries. Although the effects were moderate on the Fire Ape, they significantly improved its condition. Chapter 155 - Chapter 155 Chapter 153 Underground Space ?Chapter 155: Chapter 153: Underground Space Chapter 155: Chapter 153: Underground Space Li Miao Zhen glanced at Qin Feng, noticing that he had captured the Fire Ape without much concern. Although the Fire Ape¡¯s strength was decent, all of her own Spiritual Beasts had been carefully selected for their stronger war power and their varied uses. She had no need to subdue another Fire Element Spiritual Beast, as doing so would occupy too much of her Divine Sense, which could interfere with her cultivation. Besides, the Fire Ape had first suffered destruction of its Demon Core and then was bombarded by thunder, which had damaged its foundation. Even if provided with elixir pills to strengthen and nourish its essence, it would take a considerable amount of time to recover. She had long been able to advance to the Golden Core Realm and planned to retreat for cultivation to condense her Golden Core after completing this mission and returning to the Mountain Gate. Once her cultivation reached the Golden Core Realm, the severely injured Fire Ape would no longer be of significant help to her. It would simply distract a portion of her Divine Sense, becoming a burden, so she had no intention of taming it. But for Qin Feng it was different; he had not yet reached Foundation Establishment. Having such a Fire Ape could be a great help to him in the future. The only issue was whether Qin Feng could heal the wounds of the Fire Ape. ¡°Do you want to subdue that Fire Ape, or do you plan to kill it for its materials and Essence Blood? If you¡¯re planning to subdue it, you should quickly implant a Binding Spell in its Sea of Consciousness while it is severely injured and its consciousness is unclear. Having cultivated for many years and formed a Demon Core, that Fire Ape¡¯s Divine Soul is much stronger than ordinary Foundation Establishment Demon Beasts. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í?¦Ï.?¦Ï Once it regains consciousness, with your current level of Divine Sense, it would be impossible to succeed. Even so, be cautious. Your cultivation is still too weak. ?0¦Í??.§ã¦Ï You should advance to Foundation Establishment quickly; otherwise, be careful of being backfired upon by the Fire Ape.¡± Li Miao Zhen earnestly advised Qin Feng. ¡°Thank you for the guidance, Senior Sister. I understand,¡± Qin Feng nodded and replied. He possessed the Demon Refining Pot. Once captured inside, any Demon Beast that had not comprehended the Dao Principles would have no chance of resistance under its suppression, and would be directly subdued by the pot. Only those Demon Beasts that had begun to comprehend the Dao Principles from the Purple Mansion Realm upward would have some power to resist. With Qin Feng¡¯s current level of cultivation, he could not provide any assistance to the Demon Refining Pot; he could merely rely on the innate abilities of the pot to subdue Demon Beasts. Should he encounter any formidable Great Demons who had comprehended the principles and struggled fiercely, there was indeed a chance they could break free. Only after Qin Feng advanced to the Golden Core would he be able to further refine the Demon Refining Pot, deepen his connection with it, and manipulate it to exert greater power. And once he comprehended the Dao Principles himself, he would be able to unleash most of the pot¡¯s power. At that time, any Demon Beast that hadn¡¯t become an Immortal and was trapped inside the pot would have no possibility of escaping. They proceeded, and the ground gradually sloped downward, leading them to an unknown depth underground. It was uncertain how the passage had formed, but faint light filtered through, preventing total darkness. They moved swiftly, yet it still took a good fifteen minutes before the sounds of activity and Chen Buqi¡¯s voice urging his fellow Sect members could be heard ahead. ¡°Quick, quick, quick,¡± Chen Buqi¡¯s tone carried a hint of urgency. ¡°Everyone, pick up the pace. The entrance above can only be maintained for an hour. If we don¡¯t finish setting up the Array in time, we¡¯ll be trapped here. We¡¯ll have to wait until the Secret Realm closes and the Supreme Elder from our Sect comes to refine the Grotto Heaven before we can leave and return to the Mountain Gate. If the refining goes poorly, we could be stuck here for years, even decades. I certainly don¡¯t want to spend decades in this godforsaken place.¡± ¡°Rest assured, Senior Brother Chen, we¡¯ve already set up nearly half. In at most another half an hour, we¡¯ll complete the Array,¡± a Disciple replied while working diligently. ¡°Good,¡± Chen Buqi acknowledged. Another disciple flattered, ¡°After this mission, Senior Brother Chen will surely have made a great achievement. The position of True Disciple is yours to claim!¡± ¡°Isn¡¯t that obvious?¡± another Disciple chimed in. ¡°What¡¯s Zhuo Feifan but a joke? Relying on a bit of talent, he actually thinks he can compete with Senior Brother Chen for the position of True Disciplea€¡±it¡¯s ludicrous. Who supports him from behind? Even with backers, they couldn¡¯t offer him any significant opportunities. Just like our mission to this Heavenly Pool Secret Realm, the fact he could participate is already his limit, but the idea he could earn considerable merit is pure fantasy.¡± ¡°Indeed,¡± someone mocked. ¡°The most laughable are those clueless disciples who have gathered around him, hoping to rise with the tide when he becomes a True Disciple. Ha, a bunch of fools who can¡¯t see the forest for the trees, daring to blindly follow him into the Ancient Battlefield. So many died last time; those few who still follow him must have woken up by now.¡± Chen Buqi spoke in a flat tone, ¡°Never mind him, just a clueless fool with no self-awareness. If he had stayed obediently as my stepping stone, I wouldn¡¯t even have bothered with him. Instead, that guy dares to delusionally vie for the True Inheritance position with me; he¡¯s digging his own grave. If he continues to be so reckless, by the time of the great competition, I won¡¯t hesitate to cripple him thoroughly.¡± In the tunnel, Zhuo Feifan¡¯s eyelids twitched furiously, his heart filled with raging fury. These disciples who followed Chen Buqi dared to slander him so behind his backa€¡±they truly deserved death. And as for Chen Buqi, he also held such disdain for him, even contemplating crippling him. Hmph, since you harbor such thoughts, don¡¯t blame me for being heartless! Zhuo Feifan, who had initially felt a trace of shame in his heart for exploiting Qin Feng and Li Miao Zhen to kill Chen Buqi, cast aside all feelings of guilt upon hearing Chen Buqi¡¯s words. Since it was Chen Buqi who acted unkindly first, then he couldn¡¯t blame Zhuo Feifan for being ruthless. If Chen Buqi thought he could use Zhuo Feifan as a stepping stone for his own cultivation path, taking advantage of Zhuo¡¯s reputation as a genius to build his own fame, then he had to accept Zhuo Feifan¡¯s decision to eliminate him in advance. In the end, it wasn¡¯t Zhuo himself who personally took action to kill him; it was the disciples of the Beast Taming Sect. Even if the sect invited someone to perform divination, it would only trace back to Li Miao Zhen, and Zhuo Feifan would be uninvolved. Qin Feng glanced at Zhuo Feifan, who was seething with anger, and chuckled silently to himself. It seemed this fellow had truly abandoned all his moral principles. From now on, any powerful rival who blocked his rise to power would probably be targeted for elimination. Of course, from now on, it might not be him or Li Miao Zhen taking action. After returning, he would certainly report this matter to the sect. Then, naturally, the sect¡¯s higher-ups would handle it, seamlessly and without any trace leading back to Zhuo Feifan. Qin Feng wasn¡¯t afraid of Zhuo Feifan¡¯s ambition; the greater his ambition, the more issues he would later bring to the Beast Taming Sect. Undeniably, Zhuo Feifan was a cultivation genius, and it only made sense that a genius¡¯s rival would also be a genius; otherwise, it would just show that Zhuo was incompetent. Every opponent of Zhuo Feifan that they killed was like eliminating a genius with boundless potential from Taiyi Mountain, reducing Taiyi Mountain¡¯s future development potential. ¡°Brother Zhuo, you heard it too. Chen Buqi absolutely didn¡¯t regard you as a fellow disciple. He even planned to cripple you during the sect¡¯s grand competition. Such an enemy must not be spared, or else your future on Taiyi Mountain will be in danger. Since he does not have the slightest fellow disciple sentiment towards you, you need not feel any guilt towards him. Brother Zhuo, rest assured, we will help you kill him to prevent any future troubles from him stirring up whilst alive.¡± Qin Feng transmitted his voice. Until this moment, he did not forget to instill these notions in Zhuo Feifan¡¯s mind. Zhuo Feifan nodded and transmitted back, ¡°If so, then I¡¯ll have to trouble the two of you. I will remember this favor and surely repay it in the future.¡± ¡°Good, Brother Zhuo truly is a person of great ambition. I knew that collaborating with Brother Zhuo would definitely not leave us at a loss.¡± Qin Feng¡¯s face was filled with a smile as he flattered Zhuo Feifan, and then he turned to Li Miao Zhen, saying, ¡°Sister, my cultivation is inadequate. I will need you to unleash your divine power and eliminate those few individuals, clearing the obstacles for Brother Zhuo.¡± Li Miao Zhen gave Qin Feng a look, speechless. Even now, this guy still framed the killing of Chen Buqi and the others as for the sake of Zhuo Feifan. ¡°Right, Brother Zhuo.¡± Qin Feng suddenly remembered something and quickly asked, ¡°Chen Buqi comes from an extraordinary background and is likely to have some life-saving items on him. Do you know anything about this?¡± ¡°I know some.¡± Zhuo Feifan thought for a moment and decided to lay all his cards on the table lest Chen Buqi managed to escape, which would not be to his benefit. ¡°He¡¯s different from me; I only have one Sword Talisman given by my master, while he has at least three on him. Besides the Sword Talisman for attacking, he must also possess one or two treasures for protection and escape. Later on, Daoist Fellow Li should be careful, and not be caught off guard and injured by him.¡± Li Miao Zhen thought for a moment, then suddenly took out a Spirit Talisman. With a flick of her finger, she activated it, and it instantly formed a barrier sealing off the entire passage entrance. She was taking precautions against Chen Buqi¡¯s escape, preemptively sealing the passage to trap him. As for the life-saving items Chen Buqi had on him, she did not pay too much attention. Because before she came in, the Beast Taming Sect had prepared even more for her. ¡°Who¡¯s there?¡± The activity from the Spirit Talisman was not very loud, but in the silent depths of the Earth Core, it was still easily noticeable, especially since it was so close to the Underground Space below. However, Li Miao Zhen had no intention of hiding her movements. With her strength, there was no need. And so, she took a step forward and walked out. ¡°Li Miao Zhen?¡± The few people who were arranging an Array changed their expressions dramatically, not expecting her to appear in the Underground Space. ¡°Zhuo Feifan and his bunch are just useless.¡± Chen Buqi cursed furiously, ¡°Didn¡¯t they already subdue her earlier? How did they let her come down here?¡± Li Miao Zhen laughed lightly. Then, with a step that brought a gust of wind, she quickly approached the group, reaching out with a claw-like hand towards the head of one of them. ¡°Attack together and stop her.¡± Chen Buqi shouted fiercely, taking the lead in summoning his Flying Sword and stabbing towards Li Miao Zhen. As he did so, his hand flipped, and he already took out a Jade Talisman. The Jade Talisman was crystal clear, with a Sword Qi sealed at the center. As Li Miao Zhen defended against their Flying Swords, he suddenly activated the Jade Talisman, transforming it into a stunning Sword Qi that slashed toward Li Miao Zhen. Chapter 156 - Chapter 156 Chapter 154 Not Abandoned ?Chapter 156: Chapter 154 Not Abandoned Chapter 156: Chapter 154 Not Abandoned ¡°I knew you would resort to these methods.¡± Li Miaozhen chuckled lightly, her body suddenly emitting a burst of cyan light that blocked the swiftly approaching Sword Qi. Then, with a wave of her hands, she deflected several Flying Swords that were aimed at her and surged forward. Her palm transformed into a tiger claw, ripping through the defensive Spirit Light of the Sword Cultivator¡¯s robe. With a horrified look in his eyes, she grabbed his neck like picking up a small chicken, snapped his neck with a sharp crack, and with a kick, shattered his organs, killing him violently. This was a True Disciple meticulously trained by the major sects, each possessing overwhelming combat power that far surpassed their peers. Under the meticulous guidance of the sect¡¯s upper echelons and various Secret Techniques and resources, battling beyond their levels was not difficult for them, let alone facing these cultivators whose Cultivation Realm was inferior to theirs. Several disciples from Taiyi Mountain had displeased expressions and were internally panicked. Although they had long heard of Li Miaozhen¡¯s fierce reputation, only after truly clashing with her did they realize that her strength far exceeded the rumors. They were the new generation of disciples from Taiyi Mountain, having little interaction with the sect¡¯s famous longstanding True Disciples, mostly interacting only with Chen Buqi, a seed for True Discipleship. But Chen Buqi, after all, had not yet received the treatment accorded to True Disciples, nor had he been given significant support from Taiyi Mountain. Although his strength was decent, both his Cultivation Realm and war power were far less than Li Miaozhen¡¯s. So, only now did they realize the vast gulf between themselves and a True Disciple. The Sword Cultivators quickly gathered around Chen Buqi. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í?¦Ï.§ã¦Ï Since Chen Buqi possessed a life-saving trump card given by his elder, it might be possible to injure Li Miaozhen. Li Miaozhen, having overheard their conversation, knew that time was limited. Soon, the cave entrance on the cliff outside would close, and it might be difficult to leave then. Thus, she didn¡¯t waste time, and with a shout, she merged rapidly with her Lifebound Spiritual Beast, her palm turning into a tiger claw and a long tiger tail growing behind her that swept the ground, causing cracks to appear. Her aura was fiercely oppressive. Suddenly, she opened her mouth to emit a roaring tiger sound, creating waves of sound that reverberated in the underground space, causing Chen Buqi and the others to feel dizzy and oppressed in their chests. Even a Foundation Establishment mid-stage disciple couldn¡¯t withstand the waves of sound and vomited a mouthful of fresh blood, having been internally wounded by the sound waves. In the passageway, Qin Feng and Zhuo Feifan quickly circulated their Cultivation Techniques to protect themselves. Even though Li Miaozhen¡¯s Tiger Roar wasn¡¯t aimed at them, they were still greatly shaken, with a constant buzzing in their ears. Qin Feng inwardly marveled at the tremendous prowess of Sister Li¡¯s Tiger Roar Divine Ability. Indeed, it was a Divine Ability; otherwise, no mere Tiger Demon, even one that had formed its Demon Core, could cause such destruction with a roar. Only a Tiger Demon that had awakened a Sound Attack Divine Power could have such an astonishing roar. Li Miaozhen¡¯s Lifebound Spiritual Tiger contained the bloodline of the White Tiger Divine Beast, and its Innate Divine Abilities were Wind Control and Tiger Roar, both incredibly powerful. As for Fang Zheng, a disciple from the Outer Tiger Roar Peak, his Lifebound Spiritual Tiger contained the bloodline of the Dragon Son and Bi¡¯an, making the first Divine Ability he awakened different from most Tiger Demons; his Spiritual Tiger possessed the Evil Suppressing Dharma Eye, a unique rarity among all tiger-type Demon Beasts. Across from Li Miaozhen, Chen Buqi and the others, even after linking their defensive spells together, could hardly withstand the continuous onslaught of the sonic attack of the Tiger Roar. They released their Flying Swords in an attempt to disrupt Li Miaozhen and stop her from launching further sound attacks. Whoosh¡­ A gust of wind arose around Li Miaozhen, with numerous Wind Blades suddenly appearing and circling her. These intermittently visible Wind Blades were extremely sharp; even a minimal contact with the ground was enough to smoothly slice open a fine crack in the rocks. As the Sword Cultivators¡¯ Flying Swords approached, Li Miaozhen waved her hands, blocking all the Flying Swords not just with the existing ones, but even more Wind Blades swept toward Chen Buqi and the others. Moreover, she continuously generated Wind Blades around her, seemingly endless, large and small, long and short, densely packing the space within about thirty feet of her, commanding the countless Wind Blades to surge forward like waves. Bang bang bang¡­ The Sword Cultivators wielded their Flying Swords as if they were fiery wheels, but they couldn¡¯t block so many Wind Blades. Very quickly, the disciple who had been injured earlier by the Tiger Roar was the first to suffer; a Wind Blade first struck away his Lifebound Flying Sword, then countless Wind Blades swept over his body, and in a moment, he exploded into a mist of blood. Chen Buqi felt chilled to the core and, grinding his teeth, loudly declared, ¡°Give me a moment to pin her down, I have a Secret Technique that can hurt her.¡± The other two Sword Cultivators exchanged a look and nodded fiercely, ¡°Alright, we¡¯ll risk it all with her, Junior Brother Chen, you must act quickly, or else we can¡¯t hold on for long.¡± ¡°Rest assured.¡± Chen Buqi responded and even pulled out a Jade Talisman from his hand, his body glowing with surges of Sword Light, apparently preparing to use an extremely powerful Secret Technique. The two Sword Cultivators each spat a mouthful of Essence Blood onto their Flying Swords, whereupon the Sword Qi surged, becoming many times stronger than before. Both shouted sharply, their True Yuan circulating to the extreme, wildly executing their most powerful sword techniques as they charged at Li Miaozhen. They were, after all, Foundation Establishment Late Stage Sword Cultivators, driven to desperation now, and even cultivators at the Foundation Establishment Perfection Realm had to avoid their powerful sword attack, forcing Li Miaozhen to also employ methods to fend off their Sword Light. And just then, Chen Buqi, who should have been using a Secret Technique to attack Li Miaozhen, suddenly had a surge of Sword Light engulf his body, swiftly carrying him toward the direction of the passageway. It was a life-saving item given by a clan elder that, once activated, allowed him to escape thousands of miles away. ¡°Junior Brother Chen, what are you doing?¡± ¡°Chen Buqi, you used us¡­¡± The other two Sword Cultivators saw this, their eyes nearly splitting with anger. ?¦Ï¦Í??.?? Unexpectedly, Chen Buqi chose to abandon them while they were entangled with Li Miaozhen and escaped alone. Chen Buqi completely ignored their words, his figure like lightning, enveloped by Sword Qi as he fled outside. Just as he was about to enter the tunnel, he suddenly discovered a giant golden hand appearing in front of him. This hand was tens of meters large, not only blocking the entire tunnel entrance but also striking swiftly towards him. Under this giant hand, Chen Buqi felt like a fly about to be swatted, the overwhelming power of the hand giving him a sense of unstoppable helplessness. This was because Li Miaozhen had activated a treasure given to her by the Sect for protection, which contained the spell ¡°Qiankun Giant Hand¡±. ¡°Heh¡­¡± Li Miaozhen¡¯s mocking laughter rang out from behind, ¡°Thinking you can slip away from me, dream on!¡± ¡°Ah!¡± Chen Buqi roared, activating a Sword Talisman in his hand, turning it into a streak of Sword Qi slashing at the giant hand. Although his own Cultivation was low and indeed powerless to resist the Qiankun Giant Hand, he still had the Sword Talisman. As long as he could slice open the Qiankun Giant Hand with the Sword Qi sealed in the talisman, he could still escape. Bang¡­ The Sword Qi slashed viciously onto the giant hand, erupting with formidable power, shaking the entire underground space. These two spells collided fiercely, eventually neutralizing each other and dissipating into nothingness. Before the massive force had completely dissipated, Chen Buqi moved to escape. On the other side, Li Miaozhen, fearing that Qin Feng in the tunnel might be injured, suddenly struck, sending the unstable Flying Swords of the two Sword Cultivators flying, and then her figure flashed, blocking Chen Buqi¡¯s path like teleportation. Chen Buqi gritted his teeth, taking out another Sword Talisman and activating it, slashing towards Li Miaozhen¡¯s head. This was the last attack Sword Talisman he had. If it couldn¡¯t repel Li Miaozhen, he would likely find it hard to escape. Li Miaozhen snorted lightly, a pendant hanging on her chest suddenly exploded, turning into a golden light that protected her in the middle. This Defensive Magic was solid as gold. Even the immensely powerful Sword Qi slashing on it only dimmed the golden light a bit without injuring her at all. ¡°Chen Buqi, how many more Sword Talismans do you have?¡± Li Miaozhen sneered, ¡°Just in case, my master specifically asked for quite a few treasures from the Sect¡¯s treasure vault before I left. Let¡¯s see, do you have more Sword Talismans, or do I have more treasures on me!¡± Chen Buqi¡¯s face looked terribly ugly, he suddenly turned around, escaping towards the distance. He wanted to see if there were any other exits in this underground space that he could leave through, knowing that his mission had definitely failed when Li Miaozhen arrived. Failure meant nothing; at worst, he¡¯d go back and face some punishment. With his family¡¯s protection, he was sure not to lose his life, but if he stayed here, he was very likely to die, because he was definitely no match for Li Miaozhen. ¡°Thinking of running?¡± Li Miaozhen, with a gust of wind appearing around her, chased after Chen Buqi, and the two of them vanished from sight in an instant. Qin Feng squinted his eyes, suddenly twisting his figure to escape underground, leaving Zhuo Feifan staring blankly in place. Before setting up most of the array, the two Sword Cultivators exchanged glances. Although they were angry with Chen Buqi¡¯s betrayal, out of loyalty to their Sect, they did not immediately choose to escape towards the tunnel entrance but instead lifted their Flying Swords to slash at the Great Array in front of them. Since the mission had failed, they had to destroy this Great Array; otherwise, if it fell into the hands of the disciples of the Beast Taming Sect, the trouble would be great. Besides, they now thought it unlikely they could leave even if they wanted to. Li Miaozhen had already set up defenses in the tunnel, and they did not believe they could break through that defense. Moreover, their Divine Sense had detected two people hiding in the tunnel. Although both were desperately concealing their presence, making it impossible for them to recognize who they were, since they had come with Li Miaozhen, they had to be disciples of the Beast Taming Sect in their eyes. Unable to run, unable to leave, they could only destroy the Guiding Array in front of them, to prevent the Beast Taming Sect from gaining an advantage. However, just as they were about to use their True Essence to destroy the array, they suddenly sensed a faint fluctuation from beneath, followed by two attacks shooting up rapidly, like lightning towards them. Chapter 157 - Chapter 157 Chapter 155 White Tiger Saber (Major Chapter, Please Subscribe) ?Chapter 157: Chapter 155 White Tiger Saber (Major Chapter, Please Subscribe) Chapter 157: Chapter 155 White Tiger Saber (Major Chapter, Please Subscribe) The two Sword Cultivators suddenly felt a chill strike their tailbones, directly targeting the vulnerable parts of their backs. Startled, they didn¡¯t have time to worry about destroying the Great Array and quickly dodged to the side. When they moved back more than thirty feet, they looked back with lingering fear and realized that the ones who attacked them were two Spiritual Beasts. One was a Ghost-Faced Spider the size of a water jar, and the other was a Little Toad only as big as a fist. At the moment they evaded, a stream of spider silk and a Cold Ice Arrow shimmering with sharp aura shot from their original position toward the sky. Had they not dodged, they would have certainly suffered severe injuries. Before they could steady themselves, suddenly the ground shook. Looking up, they saw an Iron Armor Rhinoceros several dozen feet tall charging at them with thundering hooves. The two figures flashed, one to the left and one to the right, evading the rhino¡¯s charge, and their Flying Swords slashed fiercely. However, the Iron Armor Rhinoceros¡¯s body was too tough; unless they could hit its vital points, it was difficult to kill it with a single sword strike. On the other side, the Ghost-Faced Spider and the Swallowing Sky Toad joined forces to attack one of them, continuously spewing out spider silk and Cold Ice Arrows. But this time, the Sword Cultivator was on guard and naturally did not fear the attacks of the two Spiritual Beasts. His Flying Sword slashed repeatedly, cutting the spider silk and shattering the Cold Ice Arrows. Just as he planned to step forward to kill them, he suddenly felt something tight around his foot. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í?¦Ï.?? Looking down, he found his ankle had been grabbed by a hand that had stretched out from the ground. Moreover, the hand was pulling him forcefully downwards. This Cultivator was taken aback. If it were merely a hand reaching out, it wouldn¡¯t be much of a concern. Earth Escape Divine Power was rare, but he had seen it before and wasn¡¯t scared by it. But the key was that the hand was pulling him down with a kind of ochre Spirit Light that wrapped around his left leg. As his leg sank into the soil in an instant, he suddenly became unstable, with one leg above ground and the other buried, making his posture not only ungraceful but unbalanced. He was then squarely bound by the incoming spider silk. Before he could free himself from the spider silk, the Iron Armor Rhinoceros had already charged at him. With a pfft sound, its huge and sharp horn pierced through his Magic Robe and his chest, then charged a few steps forward, smashing into the nearby stone wall. The stone wall erupted with a loud boom, and the Sword Cultivator impaled on the rhino¡¯s horn was completely mangled. ¡°Ah, die for me!¡± The other Sword Cultivator suddenly slashed his sword towards Qin Feng¡¯s location, with Sword Qi that was sharp and could penetrate several dozen feet into the ground. Qin Feng had previously held on to the Cultivator to create an opportunity for his Spiritual Beasts to strike, so he hadn¡¯t retreated in time and was locked onto by the Sword Qi of the other Sword Cultivator, slicing down towards him. However, he was in the midst of merging with the Ruyi Golden Snake, and with a horizontal sweep of his wings on his back, clang! He blocked the sword strike. In reality, with his current strength, he was no match for the Sword Cultivator, who had the cultivation of the Foundation Establishment Late Stage and was an attacking powerhouse. But the guy had been deceived by Chen Buqi earlier, using secret techniques while expending Essence Blood to entangle with Li Miaozhen. His strength was no longer at its peak, so Qin Feng was able to contend with him using strong defense and speed. Moreover, he had several Spiritual Beasts that could help, outnumbering and thereby gaining advantage in quantity. Qin Feng waved his hand and released most of his Spiritual Beasts, especially when more than a dozen Iron Armor Rhinos lined up in two rows and charged towards the Cultivator with a thunderous momentum, they did have quite the presence. Even if the opponent rose with his sword, those Iron Armor Rhinos could also cast the Earth Spike Technique to attack him. After all, they were underground, and only dozens of feet above was the ceiling, so the Sword Cultivator¡¯s space to maneuver was limited, exactly within the attack range of those Iron Armor Rhinos. The Ghost-Faced Spider and the Swallowing Sky Toad¡¯s attacks also did not stop, continuously harassing the Sword Cultivator, forcing him to either run around dodging or merely swing his sword to defend. The number of spiritual beasts was too many, and even though most of them were only in the Qi Refining Realm, the barrage of spells they launched still caused the sword cultivator some disarray. Of course, his cultivation level was certainly much higher than these spiritual beasts, and making an escape would not have been difficult, but the passage had already been blocked. Where could he run in this underground space? Gritting his teeth, the cultivator suddenly burst forth with energy, unleashing more than a dozen sword strikes in rapid succession, violently disrupting the formation of the spiritual beasts and paving a way through them, aiming to completely destroy the array map and the Guiding Array. Seeing this, Qin Feng would not let him succeed. His body shimmered with golden light. Relying on the formidable defense of the Ruyi Golden Snake, he blocked the sword cultivator¡¯s path and forced him back into the attack radius of the spiritual beasts. Right after that, he personally took action, working together with a multitude of spiritual beasts to knock the cultivator down. Particularly problematic was the Ghost-Faced Spider; its silken threads were incredibly tough to deal with. Once entangled by the web, it was difficult to break free. Furthermore, Qin Feng exploited the speed of the Ruyi Golden Snake to weave around his opponent, offering him no chance to extricate himself from the threads. Thus, the moment the first strand of webbing wrapped around him, his fate was sealed. With a ¡®puff¡¯, Qin Feng swung his Golden Wings, severing his opponent¡¯s head, and finally he breathed a sigh of relief. Afterward, he called back his spiritual beasts and looted the belongings of the two cultivators before turning to face the Array that was nearly completely set up. However, he had almost no knowledge of arrays, which made him scratch his head in confusion, with no idea where to start. Luckily, Li Miaozhen soon flew back, and he decided to hand over this headache-inducing issue to his senior sister. While the murderous aura of Li Miaozhen was not as dense as earlier, because she had just killed someone, the air of ruthlessness was still quite intense. ¡°Senior Sister, is Chen Buqi dead?¡± Qin Feng asked. ¡°With me taking personal action, how could he possibly have escaped my pursuit?¡± Li Miaozhen lifted her delicately fair chin, her tone revealing a trace of pride. As they spoke, she casually threw out a corpse, which hit the ground with a thud. Qin Feng glanced at it briefly before ignoring it and turning to ask, ¡°Senior Sister, do you have any knowledge of arrays? If we manage to set up this Guiding Array properly, could we summon a Supreme Elder from our sect to refine the Heavenly Pool Secret Realm?¡± Li Miaozhen¡¯s previous arrogance vanished instantly, leaving her slightly embarrassed as she said, ¡°In recent years, I¡¯ve devoted all my energy to cultivation and combat, and I¡¯ve barely studied the various arts of cultivation.¡± Qin Feng frowned slightly but quickly came up with an idea, shouting towards the direction of the passage, ¡°Brother Zhuo, please come over for a chat. I have something to consult with you.¡± Moments later, Zhuo Feifan emerged from the passage, his expression complex as he glanced over the bodies of several Taiyi Mountain sword cultivators on the ground. However, when he saw Chen Buqi¡¯s corpse, he quickly concealed his complicated emotions, with a hint of joy almost imperceptibly flickering in his eyes. Qin Feng greeted with a hand-clasped smile, ¡°I must also congratulate Brother Zhuo. Now that Chen Buqi has been slain by Senior Sister Li, Brother Zhuo¡¯s path in Taiyi Mountain is sure to be smooth, and you will easily obtain the position of receiving the True Inheritance. I take this opportunity to congratulate you in advance.¡± Zhuo Feifan forced a stiff smile onto his face, as it was improper to appear happy when his sect mates had just died. Qin Feng didn¡¯t mind and continued, ¡°Since Brother Zhuo has participated in this mission, I presume you have some understanding of this Guiding Array. Would you be so kind as to help us complete the setup of the array?¡± ¡°Me, set up the array?¡± Zhuo Feifan¡¯s brows furrowed slightly. Although he had now boarded the ¡°thief ship¡± of Qin Feng and Li Miao Zhen, he still had some feelings for Taiyi Mountain at the bottom of his heart. He understood what Qin Feng wanted by asking him to perfect the array, wasn¡¯t it just to let the Beast Taming Sect acquire this Grotto Heaven? This made him feel somewhat conflicted. From the standpoint of Taiyi Mountain, of course, he wouldn¡¯t want to see that happen. But if he dared to refuse to help, he was afraid that these two might not let him go. Just as he hesitated, Qin Feng spoke again, ¡°How about this, Brother Zhuo, if you are willing to help, afterward my Beast Taming Sect will act on your behalf three times for free, eliminating three of your rivals, and we definitely won¡¯t make any demands on you. What do you think?¡± At these words, Zhuo Feifan was immediately tempted. He had originally thought about how much it would cost to ask the Beast Taming Sect for help in the future. Now that Qin Feng had made such an offer, he certainly wouldn¡¯t refuse. After all, the array was definitely going to be set up. Otherwise, it was highly likely that these two wouldn¡¯t let him go. He didn¡¯t want to risk his life on whether or not they would kill him. Now that the other party promised to help him three times for free, why wouldn¡¯t he take the offer? ¡°Fine.¡± Zhuo Feifan nodded firmly, immediately agreeing to it. Even if the Heavenly Pool Secret Realm was obtained by Taiyi Mountain, he wouldn¡¯t reap much benefit. Since that was the case, why not trade this unrelated matter to the Beast Taming Sect for a chance to act on his behalf? As for whether the Beast Taming Sect¡¯s power would surpass Taiyi Mountain after acquiring this Grotto Heaven, that wasn¡¯t something he was currently considering. The thousands or even tens of thousands of years it could take were far too distant. He wasn¡¯t even sure he would be alive by that time; better to take care of the present first. Moreover, even if the array were set up, the Beast Taming Sect might not be able to transport people inside. Because to rely on the Guiding Array to transport people in, they would need an item for positioning. What they of Taiyi Mountain had prepared was a small mirror fashioned after the Sect¡¯s treasure Golden Light Mirror, connected in aura to the main body of the Golden Light Mirror, so it could serve as the coordinates to lock onto the Void Grotto Heaven. And Li Miao Zhen and Qin Feng certainly didn¡¯t have any such item from the Supreme Elders of the Beast Taming Sect on them, which basically made it impossible to locate the position of the Heavenly Pool Secret Realm. Therefore, after hearing Qin Feng¡¯s offer, Zhuo Feifan agreed without a second word. He had decided that unless it was necessary, he would not lightly use those three opportunities. It would be enough to call upon the Beast Taming Sect to eliminate his most powerful rivals at the most critical moment. Zhuo Feifan stepped forward to pick up the materials scattered on the ground and used the technique given to him by his sect earlier to properly set up the Guiding Array. Qin Feng watched Zhuo Feifan for a long time, then transmitted his voice to Li Miao Zhen, ¡°Senior Sister, do you have a treasured item that can locate positions?¡± Li Miao Zhen shook her head. Who would carry such items on them as a matter of course? Didn¡¯t they fear being located by others? ?¦Ï¦Í??.§ã¦Ï ¡°Then this array would be of no use.¡± Qin Feng¡¯s brows furrowed slightly. ¡°It¡¯s not that there¡¯s no way.¡± Li Miao Zhen thought for a moment and also quietly transmitted her voice, ¡°If all else fails, I¡¯ll just leave the White Tiger Saber my master temporarily gave me for self-defense. It¡¯s a Spiritual Treasure he has cultivated for many years, and it¡¯s connected to his spirit. Even when he was cultivating that saber, he split a part of his Dharma Image and merged it into the saber. Even though we might be far apart, he would be able to have a vague sense of it. Although with my master¡¯s strength, getting trapped in the Void would be troublesome, if a Supreme Elder were protecting him, there shouldn¡¯t be a problem.¡± ¡°How confident are you, Senior Sister?¡± Qin Feng hesitated. ¡°Let¡¯s not end up with nothing and lose your master¡¯s Spiritual Treasure in the process. If that happens, it might be difficult to explain when you return, right?¡± ¡°Let¡¯s give it a try.¡± Senior Sister Li was quite nonchalant about it, ¡°At worst, we¡¯ll just leave the White Tiger Saber here for sixty years, and reclaim it the next time the Heavenly Pool Secret Realm opens. But if we can really get a Grotto Heaven, we¡¯ll have made a huge profit. There¡¯s no significant risk involved, so it¡¯s worth a try.¡± ¡°Alright then.¡± Since Senior Sister Li had already said so, Qin Feng certainly wouldn¡¯t try to dissuade her anymore. It wasn¡¯t his master¡¯s Spiritual Treasure, so if it really were lost, he couldn¡¯t be blamed for it. Momentarily, Zhuo Feifan completed the Array setup, and he turned his gaze towards the two of them. Now, without him needing to say anything, Qin Feng and Senior Sister Li could both see that a spot had opened up right in the center of the Arraya€¡±a spot that was likely meant for placing the replicated Golden Light Mirror. However, that small mirror was now Senior Sister Li¡¯s spoil of war, so of course, she wouldn¡¯t place the mirror there again. Senior Sister Li promptly waved her hand and summoned a precious saber. This saber, six feet and four inches long and wider than a palm, did not appear heavy. Instead, it exuded a boundless sharp edge. Moreover, as soon as the saber appeared, it displayed a limitless ominous aura that forced Qin Feng and Zhuo Feifan to keep retreating. Upon a closer look, they could see the aura on the saber take shape, with an indistinct image of a White Tiger roaring fiercely, exuding an unmatched dominance. ¡°The White Tiger Saber!¡± Zhuo Feifan¡¯s face was full of shock, ¡°Your master actually entrusted you with this treasure for protection; no wonder you could easily break through Chen Buqi¡¯s defenses.¡± ¡°Hmph, breaking through his defenses doesn¡¯t really require my master¡¯s White Tiger Saber!¡± Senior Sister Li proudly puffed out her chest, tossing the White Tiger Saber into the air. A flash of cold light streaked across the blade, and with a ¡®whoosh¡¯ sound, it landed right in the middle of the Array. The sharp edge of the saber plunged directly into the surface of the Array Platform. Only after burying half of its blade did it come to a halt. Qin Feng was somewhat astonished. He saw clearly that Senior Sister Li didn¡¯t use any True Yuan; she merely threw it casually, and the White Tiger Saber penetrated the Array Platform entirely by its own sharpness. With such a sharp treasure saber, one could only imagine how much power it would release against an opponent. ¡°All right, our business here is finished, let¡¯s hurry up and get out, lest the entrance outside gets sealed again and traps us here. That would be the sealing of the Rule Power, not something you or I could break, nor could you slip out with your Earth Escape Divine Power, Junior Brother Qin.¡± Senior Sister Li chuckled lightly and led the two of them out. She was carefree by nature; having left her master¡¯s White Tiger Saber behind, she stopped thinking about what the consequences might be afterward. Even if her master ultimately couldn¡¯t locate the Heavenly Pool Secret Realm, it wasn¡¯t a big deal. At worst, they would just fight it out with Taiyi Mountain once the Secret Realm opened next time and firmly establish its ownership. Exiting the cave, Senior Sister Li looked around and saw no signs that others had been around. Only then did she let down her guard and said to Qin Feng, ¡°I see your Cultivation has reached Qi Refining Perfection, just one step away from Foundation Establishment. Earlier, when I was searching for the disciples of Taiyi Mountain, I stumbled upon a treasure land. I think that place is quite suitable for your Cultivation. I¡¯ll take you there later; your Cultivation is too weak, you should establish your Foundation as soon as possible.¡± Chapter 158 - Chapter 158 Chapter 156 Earth Milk Essence ?Chapter 158: Chapter 156 Earth Milk Essence Chapter 158: Chapter 156 Earth Milk Essence Zhuo Feifan was far more cautious than Qin Feng and Li Miao Zhen. The moment he walked out of the cave entrance, he had already extended his Divine Sense. He definitely did not want anyone to see him in the company of disciples from the Beast Taming Sect. Should there be witnesses, he might have had no choice but to kill them to silence them. After sweeping his gaze across the mountains and forests several times and confirming that there was no one else hidden around, he finally relaxed. The Heavenly Pool Secret Realm was so vast that the scattering of thousands of people upon entering was indeed inconspicuous. The commotion that had been caused was significant, but it likely only affected an area within a few dozen li. With the Divine Sense and vision of a Foundation Establishment Cultivator, it was impossible to see scenes hidden by mountains hundreds of li away. Therefore, apart from the few cultivators who had been slain by the disciples of Taiyi Mountain earlier, there was no one else nearby. Zhuo Feifan turned his head to glance at Qin Feng and Li Miao Zhen, and after a brief consideration, he said, ¡°You two, I shall take my leave first. As a disciple of Taiyi Mountain, it is inconvenient for me to stay with you. Especially since this time, all of Chen Buqi¡¯s group died here. If someone sees us, it would be difficult for me to explain when I return.¡± ¡°Understood, Brother Zhuo, please do as you please.¡± Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í??.§ã0 We won¡¯t disappoint you, Brother Zhuo. Oh, right, it¡¯s surely not convenient for Brother Zhuo to contact us directly, and even with a Long-Distance Sound Transmission Talisman, there¡¯s a possibility it could be intercepted. How about this, Brother Zhuo, give me a token, then let¡¯s set a date. You find a restaurant in the market outside of Taiyi Mountain, and we will send someone with the token to meet with you. When you have matters, you can just pass the message through the person in the market who meets you. This way, we can avoid a lot of potential discoveries. What do you think, Brother Zhuo?¡± ¡°That would be excellent.¡± Zhuo Feifan nodded, took a square two-inch piece of Spirit Jade from his person, and with a flash of Sword Qi in his hand, he cut the Spirit Jade into two halves. He handed one half to Qin Feng and said, ¡°This jade can serve as the token. In the largest market outside of Taiyi Mountain, there is a restaurant named Fresh Delights. At the beginning of next month, I will go there to drink. ??¦Í?0.§ã¦Ï Arrange for someone to find me there.¡± ¡°Good, you can count on us, Brother Zhuo.¡± Qin Feng took the half piece of Spirit Jade and watched as Zhuo Feifan flew away on his sword. Li Miao Zhen watched Zhuo Feifan¡¯s fading silhouette with disdain and snorted, ¡°Scum.¡± ¡°Senior Sister, it¡¯s better not to speak of such things in the future, lest he hears it. After all, we will still need to use him to weaken Taiyi Mountain¡¯s strength and even to gather some of Taiyi Mountain¡¯s secrets.¡± Qin Feng said with a smile, ¡°Although I also despise his character, I cannot deny that such people can sometimes bring us great benefits. It¡¯s appropriate to show him some respect, at the very least to make him feel valued here, and then he will be more willing to cooperate with us. Such people have boundless greed. Even if he still has some self-control now, once he tastes the benefits, he will only become more extreme later on. In the long run, it will be very beneficial for our Beast Taming Sect.¡± Li Miao Zhen nodded and said, ¡°I know, it¡¯s just that I disdain such a person who betrays his own sect.¡± As she spoke, her face showed a curious expression and she asked, ¡°By the way, when I saw you earlier, it seemed like you had some other leverage over him, what is it?¡± ¡°Just last time¡­ um, Senior Sister, you won¡¯t go around spreading this, will you?¡± Qin Feng was about to speak thoughtlessly when he suddenly remembered something. It seemed many people liked to spread others¡¯ secrets as gossip. Especially among these female cultivators who, in casual conversation with close companions, might inadvertently spill some details. Zhuo Feifan was still very useful to the Beast Taming Sect, and Qin Feng did not want Zhuo Feifan¡¯s reputation to be ruined so soon. If Li Miao Zhen were to blurt out the matter while chatting for the sake of a moment¡¯s enjoyment, it would not be long before the scandal spread far and wide. Especially if Zhuo Feifan secured the position of a True Disciple of Taiyi Mountain, he would definitely become well-known. The cultivation world always took great interest in embarrassing incidents among the major sects. If they heard about a scandal involving a True Disciple of Taiyi Mountain, it would certainly spread through all the surrounding sects, both large and small, in no time. After considering this possibility, Qin Feng thought it best not to tell Li Miao Zhen about the matter. ¡°Why would I? I¡¯m the kind to keep my mouth shut, never speaking carelessly in front of others.¡± Li Miao Zhen declared confidently, ¡°Moreover, with such an important leverage, I will certainly keep it confidential.¡± However, Qin Feng felt even less reassured after hearing her words. Typically, people who say such things are the ones whose mouths can¡¯t keep a secret. ¡°Quickly tell me, what other leverage do you have over Zhuo Feifan?¡± Curiosity was written all over Li Miao Zhen¡¯s face. Qin Feng considered for a moment, then probed, ¡°Senior Sister, does your master¡­ have any bad habits?¡± ¡°My master? Drinking, fighting, swearing, being arrogant and unreasonable, never willing to reason with others, he¡¯ll draw his knife and slash at the slightest disagreement.¡± Li Miao Zhen listed them off as if recounting treasures, ¡°Especially when he has drunk wine, once he gets excited, he¡¯ll just let loose without restraint, even daring to badmouth the Supreme Elders of the sect. For that, he¡¯s been punished by the Grandmaster many times.¡± Hearing this, a chill went down Qin Feng¡¯s spine. If Senior Sister couldn¡¯t refrain from discussing her own master¡¯s faults, how could he expect her to keep a secret? ¡°Uh, then how does Senior Sister¡¯s drinking compare to your master¡¯s?¡± Qin Feng asked cautiously. Li Miao Zhen looked at him strangely and said, ¡°Haven¡¯t you seen me drink before? We drank together at the market last time.¡± ¡°I remember Senior Sister drinking very boldly. By the way, you didn¡¯t get drunk at that time, did you?¡± ¡°How could I? Such spiritual wine is quite mild. I would need at least a few more jars to possibly get drunk. I remember sneaking a few drinks from the spiritual wine that Master had hidden away for hundreds of years. Now, that was truly fine wine. I only had half a jar and was already tipsy.¡± Li Miao Zhen said, nostalgically, ¡°I remember one time I got so drunk, I don¡¯t even know how it happened, but in a daze, I stumbled into Master¡¯s alchemy room and ate a batch of spirit pills that she had just refined, ruining the room. Afterward, it was telling Master that I had discovered several of his hidden wine cellars that spared me from punishment.¡± Hearing this, Qin Feng felt it was better not to say anything carelessly around her. He cleared his throat and said, ¡°Senior Sister, weren¡¯t you going to take me to a treasure site for cultivation? It¡¯s getting dark, let¡¯s hurry over to avoid any delays.¡± ¡°Ah?¡± Li Miao Zhen looked up with a puzzled face at the sun that had only just started to set in the west: ¡°It¡¯s still early!¡± ¡°That¡¯s the thing. Junior Brother has an arrangement with An Ruhui from Creation Peak to act together. A couple of days ago, we happened to come across a Flower Elf born from a Confusing God Flower. Wen Wan¡¯er needs to refine the Flower Elf before she can take the flower, so they are now in a secluded place cultivating. I need to rush over to meet up with them after dark.¡± Qin Feng started to change the subject, trying to divert Li Miao Zhen¡¯s attention. ¡°Confusing God Flower?¡± Indeed, Li Miao Zhen was momentary startled by the name, ¡°There¡¯s such a thing in the Heavenly Pool Secret Realm?¡± As a core disciple from the Inner Sect, although her personality led her to focus most of her efforts on cultivation and battle, she was aware of all the secret matters she needed to know, including tales from the elders about the source of internal strife within the Human Clan during the Ancient Great Tribulation period. ¡°That¡¯s right.¡± Qin Feng sighed, ¡°Junior Sister Wen Wan¡¯er is a bit weak. If she doesn¡¯t refine the Flower Elf in these two days, we¡¯ll have to wait sixty years to collect it again.¡± ¡°I see, then let¡¯s hurry.¡± Li Miao Zhen glanced back. The entrance had disappeared, covered again by the rock wall, leaving nothing but some signs of a past battle. ¡°I¡¯ll take you to level up your cultivation first, and then we¡¯ll go check on their cultivation site. I have some treasures that could speed up the refining process. Hehe, Confusing God Flower, what a treasure. I must take it back; it will definitely come in handy in the future.¡± Hearing this, Qin Feng couldn¡¯t help but feel envious. True Disciples really were wealthy, casually gifting treasures with such remarkable effects. Li Miao Zhen summoned her White Tiger, inviting Qin Feng to ride together. Her Lifebound Spiritual Beast possessed an Innate Divine Ability of Wind Control, which allowed faster flying than many Spiritual Birds. Qin Feng sat on the White Tiger¡¯s back, reaching out to stroke its soft, short fur. It felt quite nice and comfortable to sit on. Usually, the fur of Tiger Demons was coarse and hard, and they were too large-boned to ride comfortably. This White Tiger, however, had fur that was both soft and thick, sitting on it didn¡¯t chafe at all. ¡°By the way, Junior Brother Qin, you still haven¡¯t mentioned what dirt you have on Zhuo Feifan?¡± On the way, Li Miao Zhen hadn¡¯t forgotten about this matter. ¡°Have I? Senior Sister, you must have heard wrong. There¡¯s no such dirt.¡± Qin Feng steadfastly denied, ¡°Since I¡¯ve known Brother Zhuo, we¡¯ve always treated each other with respect, how could there be any dirt?¡± Hearing his blatant fibs, Li Miao Zhen was almost tempted to kick him off mid-air. This guy, not a single word of truth in his mouth, is he trying to con me like he did Zhuo Feifan? She could tell that Qin Feng didn¡¯t want to share the matter with her, but the more he resisted, the more curious she got, continuously pressing him for answers. Qin Feng, skillfully evading the topic, managed to grasp Li Miao Zhen¡¯s thoughts, always diverting the conversation when she was on the brink of frustration, so as to distract her. The White Tiger sped through the air, rushing nearly a thousand miles to a tall mountain. Li Miao Zhen moved a millstone-sized rock to reveal a cave behind it and said, ¡°I killed several Foundation Establishment Peak Long-Armed Demon Apes here before, and something felt off about it. Normally, the strength among Demon Beasts varies, so it¡¯s rare to find a group all at the same realm. Then I followed their scent and found this cave with a Spiritual Pool of Earth Milk Essence inside. That stuff isn¡¯t of much use to me, but it¡¯s just right for your current level of cultivation.¡± Chapter 159 - Chapter 159 Chapter 157 Advancing to Foundation Establishment ?Chapter 159: Chapter 157: Advancing to Foundation Establishment Chapter 159: Chapter 157: Advancing to Foundation Establishment Qin Feng was overjoyed upon hearing this. The essence of Earth Milk was gentle and often used by alchemists to neutralize various Spiritual Medicines as an auxiliary material for Alchemy. Although it was far from being a top-level heavenly resource, it was still a rare find. Moreover, due to its gentle properties, it could be directly absorbed and refined to enhance one¡¯s True Yuan, stabilize the meridians, and for his current situation, it was undoubtedly the most suitable treasure for cultivation and advancing through the ranks. Li Miao Zhen led him into the cave, taking two turns, and at the end of the passage, she formed a hand seal, breaking the seal she had left behind. As the prohibition was lifted, Qin Feng immediately felt a surge of rich Spiritual Energy rushing toward him. Looking up into the cavern, he saw a space tens of feet in diameter. The ceiling was covered with stalactites of various lengths, nourished by Spiritual Energy all year round, crystal clear and shimmering with multicolored Spirit Light, making the whole cave dazzlingly beautiful. ¡°This place is quite beautiful.¡± Qin Feng couldn¡¯t help but praise. ¡°Mhm.¡± Li Miao Zhen nodded slightly, ¡°If it weren¡¯t for the fact that this place is situated within a Secret Realm, I would have considered turning it into a private residence.¡± Qin Feng glanced at her, his yearning for the treatment of Inner Sect True Disciples growing even stronger. Such a place rich in Spiritual Energy was merely seen as suitable for a private residence by Li Miao Zhen; he couldn¡¯t imagine what the abodes of True Disciples were like. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í?¦Ï.§ã¦Ï After thinking it over, he said, ¡°Perhaps Sister can arrange it in advance. If the Sect elders really refine this Grotto Heaven, maybe you can actually claim this place.¡± ¡°Hehe, forget it, it was just a casual remark.¡± Li Miao Zhen laughed lightly and pointed to a small pool in the depths of the cave, ¡°There, that pool contains the essence of Earth Milk. Go and cultivate on your own. I¡¯ll be here to protect you; you can break through without worry, and no one will disturb you.¡± Qin Feng looked in the direction she was pointing. The pool was about one zhang in size, filled with milky white liquid, and a layer of mist floated on the surface. That was the Spiritual Energy emitted by the essence of Earth Milk; because it was so concentrated, it had formed into Spiritual Fog. ¡°Thank you for your kindness, Sister. Then, I shall go and cultivate.¡± Saying so, Qin Feng walked toward the pool and, to Li Miao Zhen¡¯s astonishment, directly jumped into it. ¡°Youa€|why did you jump in?¡± Qin Feng was puzzled, ¡°Didn¡¯t Sister ask me to come and cultivate?¡± ¡°I told you to go and cultivate, but I didn¡¯t tell you to take a bath! You¡¯re just advancing from the peak of Qi Refining to Foundation Establishment; a bit of the essence of Earth Milk would be enough. Do you think you can absorb and refine the entire pool?¡± ¡°Ah?¡± Qin Feng was somewhat bewildered, ¡°I thought that using the essence of Earth Milk for cultivation meant I had to soak in the pool. Should I get out now?¡± Li Miao Zhen looked at him speechlessly and eventually waved her hand helplessly, ¡°Fine, fine, you¡¯re already in there, just continue cultivating inside. This way of cultivating is indeed stronger than simply consuming it. Hehe, originally, I was thinking of leaving this place for disciples who come in later, to help them use the essence of Earth Milk here to advance. With what you¡¯ve done, won¡¯t the future disciples be drinking your bathwater?¡± Qin Feng¡¯s expression was awkward, feeling a bit embarrassed inside. He had thought utilizing the essence of Earth Milk for cultivation was like the medicinal baths of the past, where one immersed their entire body. Only now did he realize his lack of knowledge had caused him to become a laughingstock. He gave a light cough to suppress the embarrassment in his heart. The essence of Earth Milk was pure and gentle, and it was not going to be unusable just because he went in once. After calming his spirit, he sat cross-legged in the pool, closed his eyes, began circulating his Cultivation Technique, and started cultivating. Li Miao Zhen was right; cultivating while sitting in the pool of Earth Milk essence truly had a better effect. He could clearly feel streams of gentle Spiritual Power entering his body through the pores, and although this Spiritual Power was not as pure as the energy refined by the Demon Refining Pot, it contained a moist and nurturing quality that the energy in the pot lacked. The nurturing energy constantly moistened his Physical Body and meridians, making his body more robust and the flexibility of his meridians stronger, able to withstand even more violent impacts of True Yuan. He circulated his Cultivation Technique over and over again, the True Yuan that he had thought to be already perfected became even purer and more substantial with the infusion of the Earth Milk essence. The vaporized True Yuan grew denser, almost to the point of seeming to drip out like water. As he continued to practice his technique, the True Yuan within his Dantian also spun and compressed wildly. This consumption was immense, and the strain on the Dantian and meridians was equally substantial. Under such strenuous circulation, he could not hold on for long. If he couldn¡¯t advance to the Foundation Establishment within three hundred and sixty circulations, he would have to stop immediately to repair the damage to his Dantian and meridians caused by the overloading circulations. Although many cultivators at the peak of the Qi Refining Realm prepare a plethora of Elixir Pills and spend many days in seclusion when advancing to Foundation Establishment, making it seem like a grand affair, no matter how long the seclusion, they are merely preparing for that last moment of advancement. However, this step stumps the vast majority of cultivators at the Qi Refining Realm. Due to various limitations, the lack of resources, or insufficient strength of their meridians, few can withstand such long and rapid circulation. Some, driven by desperation, push themselves too hard, leading to their meridians shattering and their bodies exploding, resulting in deatha€¡±a not uncommon sight. Ordinary cultivators at the Qi Refining Realm have limits to their daily cultivation time; they can¡¯t meditate and refine Qi all day long. ?¦Ï¦Í?¦Ï.§ã? Indeed, if they continuously absorbed Spiritual Energy for many days, the first thing that would give out would be their meridians and Dantian. Even if one can endure it, the True Yuan they cultivate without meticulous refinement will contain many impurities and lack purity. This is why many cultivators at the peak of the Qi Refining Realm linger in that stage for so long, only beginning to prepare for advancement after many years of polishing. However, while Qin Feng was cultivating, the Demon Refining Pot provided him with a great amount of pure Spiritual Energy, invisibly saving him considerable time in refinement. Therefore, his cultivation speed was fast, yet his True Yuan remained very pure. Now that he intended to advance, with the inexhaustible supply of Earth Milk Essence, he naturally didn¡¯t need to go into seclusion for as long. Moreover, cultivating in the pool of Earth Milk Essence was even more effective than most elixir pills that assisted with Foundation Establishment. Finally, as he ran his cultivation technique fervently, the foggy mist in his Dantian became increasingly dense, until with a thunderous rumble, it condensed into a droplet of True Yuan. Liquification of the True Yuan was one of the signs of achieving Foundation Establishment. Next, he not only needed to convert all his fog-like True Yuan into liquid form, but also to use this True Yuan to nourish his physical body, bones, viscera, and to supplement his Divine Soul. After repeated refinement and nourishment, he could finally establish a true Daoist Foundation. This was a long process, with the specific timeframe depending on the individual. The whole realm of Foundation Establishment was about laying the groundwork for future cultivation. Before ancient times, cultivation realms were not divided as finely as they are now. Foundation Establishment was just that, the foundation for constructing the Taoist body. Only if the foundation was solid enough could one hope to achieve higher realms in the future. Should one be hasty during Foundation Establishment, treating it merely as one cultivation realm among others, and focusing solely on hastening cultivation speed, they would eventually feel the effects of a shaky foundation as their cultivation level rose. This would limit the heights they could reach in the future. Although the True Yuan in his body had liquefied, this also left his once full Dantian feeling empty. He needed a large amount of Spiritual Power to fill it; thus, he remained soaked in the Earth Milk Essence pool. Under the nourishment of a vast amount of Earth Milk Essence, the True Yuan within his body visibly grew. It went from a few sparse droplets of liquefied True Yuan to a pigeon egg-sized mass, until a feeling of distension and pain transmitted from his meridians, prompting him to slow down his actions. But he didn¡¯t stop cultivating completely. Instead, he absorbed and refined gradually. In secret, he directed some of the Earth Milk Essence into the Demon Refining Pot, aiding the Fire Ape and Spiritual Vulture in healing their internal injuries, and he also set aside some for his other Spiritual Beasts. As the Iron Armor Rhinoceros was too large and would not greatly benefit from eating just a few, he didn¡¯t waste the Earth Milk Essence on it. He gave most of the Earth Milk Essence he collected into the Demon Refining Pot to the Swallowing Sky Toad and Ruyi Golden Snake, as these two were the Spiritual Beasts he valued most. Especially the Ruyi Golden Snake, his Lifebound Spiritual Beast, naturally, the stronger it was the better. He didn¡¯t mind piling all his treasures onto it. It was just a pity that it was too small now, even if soaked in the pool of Earth Milk Essence, it could not absorb much. The real glutton was the Swallowing Sky Toad; a good part of the Earth Milk Essence Qin Feng collected into the Demon Refining Pot ended up in its stomach. Although it had not yet reached Foundation Establishment due to its vast need for internal space, despite absorbing so many treasures, it had already reached the peak of the Qi Refining Realm. Qin Feng felt that feeding the Swallowing Sky Toad a few more Foundation Establishment Demon Beasts should enable it to advance. In fact, the Swallowing Sky Toad¡¯s true strength would come in the later stage when it understood the methods of utilizing the Principle of the Space Dao. Even if it hadn¡¯t comprehended the Dao Principle in the Demon Core Realm, it could already begin to employ Space Power, unmatched by ordinary Demon Core Realm Demon Beasts. After a while, Qin Feng opened his eyes. Spirit Light flickered within them, subsiding only after several moments. Feeling the strength of his physical body and True Yuan, far stronger than before, happiness surged within Qin Feng. He finally attained Foundation Establishment! Once, many cultivators aimed for Foundation Establishment as their objective, and cultivators from small families like the Qin Family were no exception. By cultivating to the Foundation Establishment Realm, one could enjoy a lifespan of two hundred years and become the pillar of their family. It wasn¡¯t that they didn¡¯t aspire to cultivate to higher realms; it was simply that cultivation was too difficult. Over ninety percent of cultivators were unable to pass Foundation Establishment, and most of those who cultivated to the Foundation Establishment Realm managed to fashion a Daoist body after decades to a century of effort that was only average. Without a large number of precious resources to assist their cultivation, it was difficult for them to cultivate their Daoist body to perfection, hence unable to advance to the Golden Core. If not for the aid of the Demon Refining Pot in his cultivation, with his level of talent, Qin Feng would¡¯ve done well to have reached the Qi Refining Middle Stage by now. Then he would have been like most Qi Refining Realm cultivators, slowly progressing to the Qi Refining Late Stage after ten or twenty years of cultivation, and eventually refining the True Yuan bit by bit until he had the chance to attempt Foundation Establishment, likely not until he was in his thirties or forties. But chances come as they do. With the Demon Refining Pot, he was destined to stand out from ordinary cultivators; otherwise, such a treasure would be greatly undervalued. With a splash, Qin Feng leaped from the Earth Milk Essence pool. In midair, he gracefully rotated, and the Earth Milk Essence he stirred up returned neatly to the pool under the binding of his True Yuan without spilling a drop. Landing, his Qingluo Robe was clean and dry, showing no sign of being drenched. Li Miao Zhen studied him for a moment and nodded in appreciation, ¡°Not bad, the foundation is stable, the True Yuan is profound. Keep cultivating hard, making your foundation even stronger, and do not rush to advance.¡± Qin Feng quickly made a respectful gesture, ¡°Thank you, Senior Sister, for the guidance. If it weren¡¯t for Senior Sister bringing me to such a precious place, I¡¯m afraid my Foundation Establishment would have been delayed substantially.¡± ¡°It¡¯s what you did before that was of great benefit to the Sect, and you established such meritorious service. Bringing you here to cultivate is nothing much; consider it a small reward,¡± Li Miao Zhen replied. Glancing at the pool of Earth Milk Essence, which was now more than half a foot lower, she commented with amusement, ¡°I just didn¡¯t expect you to consume so much Earth Milk Essence. If everyone cultivated like you, I¡¯m afraid this pool of Underground Palace¡¯s essence wouldn¡¯t withstand a few disciples¡¯ consumption and would be drained.¡± Qin Feng felt a bit embarrassed, ¡°Uh¡­ mainly, I have several Spiritual Beasts that consume a lot of resources, which is quite laughable to Senior Sister.¡± ¡°It doesn¡¯t matter,¡± Li Miao Zhen waved her hand dismissively and said, ¡°This place is of no use to me; it was supposed to be used by you and other disciples who are about to advance. If you consume a little more, it¡¯s not a problem. Let¡¯s go, take me to see the Junior Sisters at Creation Peak. I¡¯ve long heard of the Confusing God Flower¡¯s reputation; I would¡¯ve never thought I¡¯d actually have a chance to see such a rare treasure.¡± Chapter 160 - Chapter 160 Chapter 158 The Unrestrained Li Miaozhen ?Chapter 160: Chapter 158: The Unrestrained Li Miaozhen Chapter 160: Chapter 158: The Unrestrained Li Miaozhen Qin Feng, of course, had no objections and quickly nodded in agreement. Li Miao Zhen once again set up a prohibition spell, sealing the leakage of Spiritual Energy from the Earth Milk Essence. As long as no one entered the cave, it would be impossible to detect what was inside. Those cultivators who entered the secret realm to hunt for treasures usually headed to places abundant in Spiritual Energy, searching for treasures; this place, sealed and hidden by rocks, was unlikely to be discovered. This location was quite far from the forest. Although Qin Feng¡¯s Spiritual Vulture¡¯s condition had almost healed, its flight speed couldn¡¯t compare to Li Miao Zhen¡¯s White Tiger. She was impatient to fly so slowly; otherwise, it would probably be past midnight when they arrived. Thus, Qin Feng had the fortune to ride on Senior Sister¡¯s White Tiger once again. The White Tiger raced through the wind, its escape technique incredibly fast, and not long after nightfall, it entered the forest. Before they even got close to the hiding spot of An Ruhui and the others, they sensed a fluctuation of Spiritual Power coming from ahead. Both their expressions changed. ¡°Not good, Senior Sister An Ruhui and the others must be in trouble.¡± Qin Feng felt a surge of urgency: ¡°The Spiritual Power is coming from the direction where they¡¯re hiding.¡± Without another word, Li Miao Zhen slapped the back of the White Tiger, prompting it to generate a burst of wind from its paws, increasing its speed by fifty percent as it flew toward the source of the Spiritual Power wave. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï??0.§ã¦Ï As they drew nearer, they could hear the roars of beasts and intense sounds of battle coming from ahead. Li Miao Zhen, originally sitting on the White Tiger, suddenly stood up, her feet lightly touching its head as she gazed into the distance toward the battleground a thousand meters away. There, two towering figures, each over ten feet tall, were fighting with An Ruhui and her companions. The two men looked strikingly similar, as if cast from the same mold, their faces bearing a similar haughtiness. The only difference was the weapons in their hands: one wielded a thick Wolf Fang Club, and the other wielded two Shaking Mountain Maces, both employing heavy weapons that carried the distinctive aura of the Giant Spirit Sect Body Refining Cultivators. They were extremely powerful, and each movement they made was immensely forceful, pushing back several Spiritual Beasts before them and forcing An Ruhui and the others to keep their distance, only able to harass from afar with spells. However, their spells were hardly a threat to the two men; especially for Qin Xi and Wen Qing¡¯er, their magical attacks were like nothing more than tickles unless they targeted their vitals directly. The two men wouldn¡¯t even dodge. Clearly, these two had succeeded in Body Refinement and feared no common magical attacks. The only person who posed some threat to them was An Ruhui, but unfortunately, she only had mid-stage Foundation Establishment Cultivation, while both adversaries were at the Peak of Foundation Establishment. Even though An Ruhui could cast spells very quickly, normal attacks, even if they hit, only left white marks on their robust bodies. If she used more powerful spells, the two men could easily block them with a simple raise of their weapons. Fortunately, she had a swift Spiritual Monkey to assist her; it scampered around the two men, occasionally scratching at their vital parts. Although their physical bodies were robust, their movements were slightly slow, unable to catch the incredibly agile Spiritual Monkey, providing them with a brief respite. As for the Spiritual Beasts of Qin Xi and Wen Qing¡¯er, both had Qi Refinement mid to late-stage War Power, which was too weak compared to these physically strong opponents; they couldn¡¯t break through their defenses and could only assist the Spiritual Monkey by continuously distracting them with various spells. But these two were ferociously fierce; if any Spiritual Beast dared to approach them, they were swiftly killed with a strike. In fact, two Spiritual Beasts had already been killed by them earlier. An Ruhui was intent on fleeing with her two junior sisters, but those two firmly locked onto their figures. Unless she could somehow instantly transport her junior sisters out of the Divine Sense range of the two, retreating would definitely expose them to a powerful and forceful attack due to their aura connection. But continuing this way was not a solution either; to maintain their spell attacks and prevent the two men from getting too close, she was losing True Yuan rapidly. ??¦Í?0.§ã¦Ï In a short while, once her Mana was depleted, all three of them would have a hard time escaping death. Suddenly, An Ruhui¡¯s expression changed because the two Giant Spirit Sect Disciples swung their weapons together, cornering her Spiritual Monkey where it could no longer escape. If her Spiritual Monkey were killed, the remaining Spiritual Beasts would not be able to restrain those two, and they would then be in great trouble. ¡°Squeak¡­¡± Just as An Ruhui was frantically worrying, suddenly Qin Xi controlled her own Spiritual Vulture to swoop down sharply, its sharp claws aiming directly for the eyes of the cultivator wielding double maces, and its beak pecked fiercely at the opponent¡¯s forehead. ¡°Damn feathered beast.¡± The cultivator cursed, and having no choice, he tilted his head to dodge, avoiding his eyes. There was a grating sound as the skin on his face was scratched, leaving several white marks, and his head was harshly pecked by the Spiritual Vulture. Although it didn¡¯t break his defense, it was painfully hurt. This action immediately infuriated the cultivator, who raised his double maces abruptly and smashed them down fiercely on the body of the Spiritual Vulture. With a loud bang, blood mist sprayed, feathers flew, and the Spiritual Vulture¡¯s body burst open, its flesh and bones scattering everywhere. Qin Xi¡¯s face turned pale, and a piercing pain shot through her mind. This was the pain caused by the damage to the Divine Sense she had extended to her Spiritual Beast upon its death. She felt a pang of regret; this Spiritual Vulture was a gift from her Clan Uncle Qin Ying and was her first Spiritual Beast. Now it had been killed like this. But there was no time to dwell on that loss. The death of the Spiritual Vulture was much better than if An Ruhui¡¯s Spiritual Monkey were killed; otherwise, if these two killed the monkey, they would be the next targets. Even so, they wouldn¡¯t last much longer. Qin Xi inwardly prayed, hoping Qin Feng wouldn¡¯t return at this time. If he joined the battle, not only would he be of no use, but he might also get himself killed. However, her prayers seemed ineffective as she had already spotted the familiar golden light rapidly approaching from afar. Qin Xi became anxious and was about to tell him to leave. But before she could speak, a violent tiger¡¯s roar suddenly erupted near her ear, causing her to tremble and forget her original words as she looked towards the direction of the roar in horror. Even if she had managed to speak, her voice would have been drowned out by the powerful roar. It was a white tiger, over three zhang long and looking mighty and dominant. Perched atop its massive head was a dashing woman. Most people, upon their first sight of Li Miaozhen, would think of the phrase ¡°dashing figure.¡± Her expression and demeanor were so unique that it was easy to overlook her originally beautiful face. Qin Xi and Wen Qing¡¯er were no exceptions, just that their curiosity wondered which fellow disciple she could be. With such a unique aura, she must be an Inner Sect Disciple; otherwise, there was no way they wouldn¡¯t have heard of such a distinctive and powerful female disciple in the Outer Sect. Before they could think much further, they saw the woman lightly tap her foot, and with a swift, fierce motion, she surged forward, reaching out to grab at the two Giant Spirit Sect Body Refining Cultivators from afar. She actually planned to fight barehanded against the weapons of those two body cultivators! This action shocked Qin Xi and Wen Qing¡¯er greatly. However, they didn¡¯t notice that upon seeing Li Miaozhen, the faces of the two men changed drastically. They recognized Li Miaozhen, but they hadn¡¯t expected this woman to also have entered the Heavenly Pool Secret Realm. The men inwardly cursed their luck. When they had entered, they hadn¡¯t seen Li Miaozhen at all. Otherwise, many from their sects would have preferred to withdraw from this expedition than to enter with her. It wasn¡¯t that her murderous intent was as severe as her master¡¯s, but in the few years since she had become famous, many disciples from various sects had fallen at her hands. ¡°Kill!¡± Both men roared, raising their weapons and striking at Li Miaozhen. At this point, only by repelling Li Miaozhen could they have a chance to escape. Fortune is such a curious thing; just moments ago, they were dominating and proudly prepared to kill these female cultivators. But now, with unexpected reinforcements, they were immediately thinking of fleeing. Bang! Bang! Two soft sounds emerged as Li Miaozhen¡¯s palms collided with their weapons. The two Giant Spirit Sect cultivators staggered backward three steps. But Li Miaozhen was sent flying backward directly by them. Though her strength was formidable, she couldn¡¯t overpower these two Giant Spirit Sect disciples in strength. Both were at the Foundation Establishment Perfection Realm of Body Refinement, and without merging with her Lifebound Spiritual Beast, she couldn¡¯t possibly have the upper hand. Li Miaozhen flew over twenty zhang backward, then landed squarely on the arriving White Tiger¡¯s head. ¡°Li Miaozhen, how are you here?¡± The cultivator wielding the Wolf Fang Club demanded, ¡°We didn¡¯t see you among the Beast Taming Sect disciples earlier.¡± ¡°Heh, do I need to inform you when I come in?¡± Li Miaozhen would never tell them that she had changed her appearance before entering to avoid Taiyi Sect cultivators from easily revealing their plots. She laughed coldly, ¡°But as for you, Zheng Family¡¯s twin heroes, you barely escaped with your lives back then. You entered the Secret Realm but rather than seeking opportunities honestly, you dared to ambush our Beast Taming Sect disciples. Today, it seems I must eliminate you to prevent future troubles.¡± Meanwhile, Qin Feng had already flown ahead of Qin Xi and An Ruhui, just about to ask if they were injured when he suddenly heard Li Miaozhen¡¯s assertion. He was stunned. He seemed to have heard the term ¡®old man¡¯ from Li Miaozhen more than once now. He hadn¡¯t noticed it in their previous cliff-side encounter with Taiyi Mountain Sword Cultivators, but this time he heard it loud and clear. Although Li Miaozhen was more boisterous than most men, considering her even more expansive spirit, Qin Feng could be sure that she was definitely a woman. Thus, Qin Feng was somewhat puzzled, not knowing why she liked referring to herself in that manner. The Zheng brothers didn¡¯t plead for mercy since they knew that with Li Miaozhen¡¯s character, having said those words, she would not let them go easily. If they wanted to live, they had to rely on their own abilities. The brothers exchanged a glance, each seeing determination in the other¡¯s eyes. If it had come to this, they would stake everything on their weapons to carve a path to survival. Chapter 161 - Chapter 161 Chapter 159 Four Phases Divine Art ?Chapter 161: Chapter 159: Four Phases Divine Art Chapter 161: Chapter 159: Four Phases Divine Art The Zheng brothers had never considered that they could win. It was impossible. Li Miaozhen was a True Disciple of the White Tiger Lineage of the Beast Taming Sect, a lineage known for its proficiency in combat and slaying, with war power far superior to others at the same level. Although the cultivation realm of the two brothers was not weak, cultivation realm alone could not completely represent war power, and they were not true disciples of the Giant Spirit Sect. Compared to Li Miaozhen, there was still a significant gap in their war power. ¡°Kill!¡± The two brothers shouted in unison once again, swinging their weapons and unleashing fierce power towards Li Miaozhen. Their weapons had special effects. The Shaking Mountain Mace possessed the ability to create tremors. Upon contact with the opponent, it would transfer nine shocks. If one was not prepared, they could easily be taken by surprise by this tactic. And the other brother¡¯s Wolf Fang Club was even more powerful, capable of crushing everything with its ferocious attack, specializing in breaking defenses. The Defensive Magic Shield of an ordinary Foundation Establishment Cultivator could not withstand a single blow from him. Once the defense was breached, the power of the Wolf Fang Club would shatter the opponent¡¯s bones, muscles, and flesh. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï??0.§ã¦Ï However, Li Miaozhen didn¡¯t care at all; with a flash of Spirit Light on her body, she instantly merged with the White Tiger beneath her, roared, and charged towards the two men. She was naturally combative. As long as the realm suppression was not too severe, she never feared any battle, even if the two in front of her were Body Refining Cultivators with formidable physical bodies. Her body was equally strong, so she closed the distance and clashed head-on with them. Body Refining Techniques were not exclusive to the Giant Spirit Sect. As a sect with the most diverse cultivation methods, the Beast Taming Sect also had individuals who practiced Body Refining Techniques. Among them, the most powerful were known as the Four Phases Divine Arts, and what the White Tiger Lineage inherited was the White Tiger Divine Technique. In fact, the Four Phases Divine Arts from the Beast Taming Sect could also be considered top-level Body Refining Techniques, but the difficulty of practicing these techniques was too great. They not only consumed a vast amount of resources but also required a corresponding Lifebound Spiritual Beast, making it impossible to become as widespread as the Body Refining Techniques of the Giant Spirit Sect. Thus, the Four Phases Divine Arts were classified as the core inheritance of the Beast Taming Sect, and only true disciples of each generation could cultivate these divine arts under the sect¡¯s grooming. And the White Tiger Divine Technique, among the Four Phases Divine Arts, was known for being the most vicious, extremely difficult to practice, requiring one to endure immense pain. If one¡¯s willpower wasn¡¯t strong enough, it was very easy to fail completely. Yet, once someone made progress in their cultivation, the power revealed by Li Miaozhen¡¯s formidable prowess showed just how powerful this technique was. Bang Bang Bang! A flurry of intense collision sounds echoed, the powerful air waves snapped the surrounding vegetation. Li Miaozhen¡¯s palms, like they were cast from Refined Iron, clashed with the opponents¡¯ weapons, sparkling with sparks, leaving those behind her dumbfounded. Only then did Qin Feng realize why this Senior Sister was capable of boldly snapping the Flying Sword of a Taiyi Mountain disciplea€¡±a body so formidable, her combat strength could not help but be impressive. Wen Wan¡¯er swallowed and stutteringly asked, ¡°Qin¡­ Senior Brother Qin, who is this Senior Sister, and why is she so powerful?¡± Before Qin Feng could reply, An Ruhui beside him spoke with endless emotion, ¡°This is Li Miaozhen, a True Disciple of the Inner Sect¡¯s White Tiger Lineage. When she was practicing in the Outer Sect, she was unequaled. After entering the Inner Sect, it took her merely a year to secure the position of a True Disciple of the White Tiger Lineage. Ah, actually, when talking about it, my time of advancing to Foundation Establishment wasn¡¯t much different from hers, yet now my strength falls far behind hers.¡± She sighed lightly and told the two junior sisters, ¡°You must focus on your cultivation in the future. Although you definitely won¡¯t have a chance at the True Inheritance of the Creation Lineage, as long as you diligently cultivate, you can join the Inner Sect early. The resources provided by the Inner Sect are far superior to those of the Outer Sect. Although Inner Sect disciples also have their missions, they can focus most of their attention on cultivation, unlike Outer Sect disciples who have to earn their own resources.¡± Wen Qing¡¯er curiously looked at An Ruhui and asked, ¡°Senior Sister, why do Qin Senior Sister and I have no chance of obtaining the True Disciple position of the Creation Lineage? Even if our strength is a bit weak now, we can always strive to improve through cultivation. Why wouldn¡¯t we even have a chance?¡± An Ruhui chuckled softly, ¡°Because someone has already occupied the position of the True Disciple of our Creation Lineage several years ago. Do you really think you can beat her and take her place? If you have that confidence, of course, I¡¯ll support you.¡± Wen Qing¡¯er bit her tender lips, glanced at the battling Li Miaozhen, and cautiously asked, ¡°What is the strength of our lineage¡¯s True Disciple compared to this White Tiger Lineage¡¯s Senior Sister Li?¡± An Ruhui grinned, ¡°I¡¯ve heard that they¡¯ve secretly competed several times and have been evenly matched, but a few months ago, our lineage¡¯s True Disciple has already formed a Golden Core.¡± ¡°Oh.¡± Upon hearing this, Wen Qing¡¯er instantly gave up all thoughts of competing for the True Disciple position, obediently watching the battle before her. Under Li Miaozhen¡¯s fierce offensive, the two men, even though they unleashed all their war power, were no match and were forced to retreat repeatedly. In fact, if Li Miaozhen were alone, even if she could eventually win, she wouldn¡¯t have had such an easy upper hand as now. But the unique cultivation method of the Beast Taming Sect, enhanced by their Lifebound Spiritual Beast, made them much more potent than a simple sum of their parts. When two strong forces merged, their combined war power easily overwhelmed cultivators of the same level, which left the two men in a sorry state. ¡°Second brother, in a moment I¡¯ll hold her off for a bit, you escape.¡± The disciple wielding the Wolf Fang Club communicated telepathically to his twin brother. ¡°No, big brother, let me hold her off, you go.¡± ¡°Cut the nonsense, I¡¯m the elder brother, my word is final!¡± After saying this, the elder brother of the Zheng family roared, activating a secret technique that stimulated his body¡¯s potential. Instantly, his body grew to a height of thirty feet, his aura raging uncontrollably, even invoking the Power of Laws of the Secret Realm. In the sky, Spiritual Energy already started gathering, preparing to send down thunder to obliterate him. Under the stimulation of the secret technique, he actually erupted with the strength of the Golden Core Early Stage. ?¦Ï¦Í??.?¦Ï ¡°Die!¡± With a fierce roar, the Wolf Fang Club in the hands of Zheng Family¡¯s eldest became even thicker under the strong infusion of True Yuan, carrying a wild momentum, smashing towards Li Miaozhen. ¡°Eh?¡± Li Miaozhen¡¯s figure flashed, dodging the strike. Boom! The Wolf Fang Club hit the ground, creating a hole several meters deep. Li Miaozhen looked up and down at the tall figure, her eyes showing continuous astonishment, and she nodded in approval, ¡°Not bad, daring to use such secret techniques, you do have some courage.¡± ¡°Second, why aren¡¯t you running?¡± Having used the secret technique, every muscle in Zheng Family¡¯s eldest¡¯s body swelled immensely, brimming with endless strength, and the dark black veins under his skin protruded, resembling thick roots embedded in the ground. During this conversation, he once again swung the Wolf Fang Club, which looked slightly smaller compared to his huge body, smashing it towards Li Miaozhen. ¡°Big brother¡­¡± Holding the Double Maces, Second Zheng¡¯s eyes filled with tears, he cried out miserably, then without another word, he turned and ran. He knew this was his big brother sacrificing his life to buy him a chance to escape; he had to leave, or his brother¡¯s sacrifice would be in vain. Second Zheng¡¯s steps were rapid, leaping out seven or eight meters in a single bound. After more than ten steps, he had already reached a distance of a hundred meters. Just as he was about to leave the battlefield, the moment his foot landed again, he suddenly felt a severe pain in his sole. Looking down, he discovered a sharp Golden Wing protruding from the ground. Previously, focused only on escaping and ensuring Li Miaozhen wasn¡¯t catching up to him, he hadn¡¯t noticed the movement under his feet, leading to being ambushed the moment his foot was down. The wings of the Ruyi Golden Snake were extremely sharp, enhanced by the Ruyi Golden Light, and were comparable to many top-level Spiritual Artifacts like the Flying Sword. If Second Zheng had been fully defensive, Qin Feng might not have been able to pierce his sole, but the man was unsettled, his attention mostly on whether Li Miaozhen was following him, allowing Qin Feng to ambush successfully. However, it was only this once; with Second Zheng on guard, injuring him again wouldn¡¯t be so easy. ¡°Seeking death!¡± A hint of madness flashed across Second Zheng¡¯s face, raising his Double Maces and fiercely smashing down towards the ground. He intended to use the Shaking Mountain Mace¡¯s trembling force to literally shake to death the Beast Taming Sect cultivator hiding underground. ¡°Hiss¡­¡± Qin Feng¡¯s figure swiftly escaped, but in the moment of fleeing, the Golden Wings sliced, cleanly cutting Second Zheng¡¯s sole in two. ¡°Ah ah ah¡­ I¡¯m going to kill you.¡± In severe pain, Second Zheng was wildly furious, his two Shaking Mountain Maces swinging like the wind, following Qin Feng¡¯s energy trail and relentlessly bombing the ground, causing the earth to boom and tremble continuously. Qin Feng frantically fled underground, but was also shaken violently by Second Zheng relentlessly pursuing him. He knew he couldn¡¯t keep this up; the speed of underground movement could ultimately not compare with moving on the surface. Now he needed to either flee deeper underground to dodge the attacks or emerge and engage in combat; otherwise, if he continued to be shaken, he couldn¡¯t hold on. But if he didn¡¯t want to let this man go, he had to choose to engage in battle. Realizing this, Qin Feng twisted his body and instantly left the ground, soaring into the sky. Second Zheng roared, forcefully pushing off the ground even with an injured sole, not significantly affecting his war power. Using the thrust, his body shot up like a cannonball, his maces viciously aimed at Qin Feng. Bang¡­ Qin Feng¡¯s wings spread across his front, forcibly taking the hit. Then, he realized he had been careless. Although the defense of the Ruyi Golden Snake was strong, the dual maces¡¯ strike hadn¡¯t damaged the Golden Wings, but the combined nine shockwaves transmitted through them, shaking his internal organs violently, causing him to spit out a mouthful of blood. Second Zheng was at the peak of the Foundation Establishment Realm and a high-level Body Refining expert, his strength immense. Qin Feng had not learned any Body Refining Techniques, and engaging such an opponent in close combat was suicidal. Had it not been for his Foundation Establishment state and the significantly improved physical condition after nurturing by True Yuan, that strike might have grievously injured him. Recognizing the danger, Qin Feng did not dare to clash directly anymore and swiftly retreated with a flap of his wings. Though Second Zheng was stronger in realm, his speed was nowhere near as agile as Qin Feng¡¯s. Moreover, before forming a Golden Core, unless some secret techniques were used, cultivators couldn¡¯t physically fly. He had previously managed to catch up with Qin Feng in mid-air only by leveraging the force from kicking off the ground, and though he could now maneuver Spiritual Artifacts to fly mid-air, catching up with Qin Feng was impossible. Besides, now was not the time to continue the brawl with this youngster; it was best for him to quickly leave. Chapter 162 - Chapter 162 Chapter 160 Heavenly Ear Technique ?Chapter 162: Chapter 160 Heavenly Ear Technique Chapter 162: Chapter 160 Heavenly Ear Technique (I was delayed with things and only just got home. Sorry for the late upload, everyone, please don¡¯t mind.) Second Zheng landed, and the moment his feet touched the ground, a yellow glow emerged. He stomped fiercely, propelling himself forward like an arrow released from its bow, escaping into the distance. Even though he had injured one of his feet, his body was excessively robust. Forcibly wrapping his injury with True Yuan, his speed was hardly affected. If it were only Qin Feng alone, he couldn¡¯t possibly stop this physically formidable fellow. However, besides him, there were also An Ruhui and others. Wen Qing¡¯er and Qin Xi, with their insufficient cultivation, couldn¡¯t offer much help, but An Ruhui¡¯s strength was formidable. Enveloped by winding breezesa€¡±a natural phenomenon following her merger with the Wind Elfa€¡±she reached out with both hands. Suddenly, a whirlwind erupted around the fleeing Second Zheng. Initially, the whirlwind appeared insignificant. However, it swiftly grew into a towering tornado connecting heaven and earth, trapping Second Zheng within. Despite his robust physical body, he forcefully swung his Shaking Mountain Mace, dispersing the tornado. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?0¦Í?0.§ã¦Ï But in that brief moment, Qin Feng and An Ruhui had already caught up, blocking his path. Qin Feng did not wish to engage in close combat with this fellow again, having limited long-range options, so he released the dozen or so Iron Armor Rhinoceroses. Led by an Iron Armor Rhinoceros, which was at the Foundation Establishment Realm, the group charged with steps heavy as thundering rumble toward their adversary. Boom boom boom¡­ The massive impact resounded, not upon Second Zheng but as the sound of the Iron Armor Rhinoceroses he sent flying through the air, crashing to the ground. Body Refining Cultivators of the Giant Spirit Sect possess strength that even surpasses that of the Iron Armor Rhinoceroses. Not even the leader of the Iron Armor Rhinoceroses, at the forefront of the Foundation Establishment Realm, could match Second Zheng. With several strikes of his mace, Second Zheng brutally burst its head, killing it tragically. If the leader met such a fate, the lesser Qi Refining Realm Iron Armor Rhinoceroses were even less useful. Relying solely on their massive bodies, they created some obstacles. But they were far from threatening Second Zheng, who flung each one of them tens of meters away, violently smashing them into the ground, all fatally injured. Nevertheless, these Iron Armor Rhinoceroses had bought Qin Feng and his companions some time; otherwise, with the opponent¡¯s superior cultivation, if he had truly focused on escaping, the two of them would truly not be able to stop him. Just as the Iron Armor Rhinoceroses were all slain, and Qin Feng and his companions were about to fail in halting Second Zheng under his frenzied attacks, Li Miaozhen arrived. Although the strength of Zheng Family¡¯s eldest had greatly increased after deploying his secret technique, comparable to the early stages of the Golden Core, Li Miaozhen was not without her significantly more formidable methods. Not to mention the life-saving items on her, just the secret techniques of the direct White Tiger Lineage were enough to allow her to kill her adversary. Upon realizing Li Miaozhen had arrived, Second Zheng let out a mournful shriek, seeing no hope of escape and also wishing to unleash his secret technique in a desperate attempt. But Li Miaozhen didn¡¯t give him a chance. Before he could fully unleash his technique, and while his body had just swollen, she directly drew a long sword and slashed down. This slash carried endless murderous aura, with faint tiger roars that captivated the spirit. And yet, without a hint of power leakage, it directly cleaved upon Second Zheng, splitting the robust-bodied disciple of the Giant Spirit Sect in two. Qin Feng and An Ruhui were stunned by the prowess of this single slash. The impact of this slash was tremendous on them. It wasn¡¯t that the slash was overwhelmingly powerful, but rather that Li Miaozhen, in executing this slash, had reached the brink of triggering the Cave Heaven Principle. Yet she could keep the power confined within the blade without leakage, slaying a Foundation Establishment Perfection body cultivator without alerting the Power of Lawsa€¡±her control over power was simply breathtaking. An Ruhui secretly sighed, not saying a word. Thinking back, she and Li Miaozhen had both reached Foundation Establishment around the same period. Initially, when Li Miaozhen was famous in the Outer Sect, she had harbored the thought of competing with her. In fact, not just hera€¡±because Li Miaozhen¡¯s renown in the Outer Sect was indeed too great, every disciple from various peaks who had some confidence in themselves wanted to measure themselves against her. However, all the disciples who challenged her were defeated by her one by one during the Outer Sect¡¯s grand competition. Afterwards, Li Miaozhen quickly entered the Inner Sect and in a short time seized the position of a True Disciple, disheartening all her former rivals completely. Now, it seemed to her that the gap between her and such a Heavenly Pride like Li Miaozhen was immense, not something she could bridge by merely cultivating diligently. Behind them, Wen Qing¡¯er and Qin Xi, seeing that the fight was over, also ran over. Wen Qing¡¯er approached Li Miaozhen, her eyes gleaming as she circled around, her face full of admiration, ¡°Wow, senior sister is so amazing, to be able to split that guy with a single slash.¡± Li Miaozhen smiled faintly, ¡°If you cultivate diligently, you can be just as powerful.¡± ¡°Really? That¡¯s great!¡± This girl was clearly smitten as Li Miaozhen¡¯s little fan. At this moment, she only cared about circling Li Miaozhen, which made An Ruhui feel a bit sour inwardly. This wretched girl, she used to say her senior sister was the best, but now why is she circling someone else? Humph, wait until we get back; I¡¯ll take care of you. ¡°What¡¯s going on, how did these two guys find this place?¡± Qin Feng looked at Qin Xi, asking. It wasn¡¯t just these two people; actually, five had come earlier.¡± Qin Xi said helplessly, ¡°Originally, our hiding place was quite secret. We didn¡¯t expect that one of them had awakened the Heavenly Ear Technique and could hear our voices through the prohibition from hundreds of meters away, which led to our whereabouts being exposed.¡± ¡°Three more?¡± Qin Feng was startled. If the other three people were also of the same strength as the Zheng brothers, that would indeed be formidable. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, they¡¯re already dead.¡± Next to him, An Ruhui made an excuse. ?¦Ï¦Í??.?¦Ï ¡°Dead?¡± ¡°Correct.¡± An Ruhui smiled and said, ¡°We knew we couldn¡¯t beat them, so we told them that we were here waiting for an Immortal Vine to bloom, and then we lured them over to the Confusing God Flower. The three fools couldn¡¯t resist the temptation, got too close, were bewildered by it, and died there. These two stayed because they were waiting for word.¡± ¡°I see.¡± Qin Feng nodded. However, he was quite interested in the Divine Skills awakened by the disciples of the Giant Spirit Sect, just as some talented disciples from the Beast Taming Sect might obtain Divine Skills from their Lifebound Spiritual Beasts early on. When Giant Spirit Sect disciples¡¯ Body Refining Techniques become formidable to a certain degree or strengthen a particular part of the body exceptionally, they might also awaken a certain Divine Skill prematurely. Interested, Qin Feng asked, ¡°Was it one of these two who had cultivated the Heavenly Ear Technique?¡± He wanted to study it and see if the ears displayed any distinct differences from those of ordinary people after awakening the Heavenly Ear Technique. An Ruhui said, ¡°No, that fellow already died by the Confusing God Flower. Why do you ask, junior brother?¡± Qin Feng smiled slightly, ¡°I just wanted to see it for myself.¡± Now that he knew the cause of the events, he didn¡¯t care anymore since the opponents were already dead. He turned around and collected all the dead Iron Armor Rhinoceroses into the Demon Refining Pot and did not directly refine them into Pure Spiritual Energy but instead fed them all to the Swallowing Sky Toad. Although the Iron Armor Rhinoceroses were large, truth be told, apart from the largest one, the rest were only at the Qi Refining Realm. With Qin Feng¡¯s current wealth, he no longer bothered to strip and dismantle their materials; it was too time-consuming and offered little reward. With the time he had, he could simply wander in the Secret Realm, where he might find more valuable materials than from the bodies of these rhinoceroses. Swallowing Sky Toad was about to advance in level, so feeding it with these rhinoceroses could speed up its cultivation process somewhat. However, due to the large size of the Iron Armor Rhinoceroses, Swallowing Sky Toad could only consume one at a time and needed to digest it before continuing. Moments later, after he had collected the items and returned, Li Miaozhen had already retrieved several Spirit Pills and handed them to Wen Qing¡¯er. These were used to temporarily enhance Divine Sense strength and burst out True Yuan. Although taking these Spirit Pills would leave Wen Qing¡¯er weak for a while afterwards, they would allow her to refine the Confusing God Flower Spirit in the shortest time possible. The night passed, and by noon the next day, Wen Qing¡¯er had recovered quite a bit of her strength. The previous night, with the help of the Spirit Pills, she had managed to refine the Flower Elf into her Lifebound in one go. However, the effect of the pills left her weak all over, with her Divine Sense and True Yuan depleted significantly, and her meridians showed many ruptures and damages due to fast circulation of True Yuan. They gave her numerous tonics, and only by noon was she barely able to recover. Even so, once they returned to the Mountain Gate, she would still need one or two months of recuperation to fully recover. Nonetheless, compared to what she gained, this was a small price to pay. Therefore, when her condition had improved slightly, Wen Qing¡¯er excitedly led them to subdue the Confusing God Flower Vine. The others did not dare get too close, and only Wen Qing¡¯er, bypassing many skeletons, leapt onto a huge skull and placed her hand on the vine. In a brief moment, vines wrapped around Wen Qing¡¯er¡¯s body like Spiritual Snakes, then gradually shrank and were collected by her. Since her True Yuan was greatly depleted, it wasn¡¯t suitable for her to refine the vines further, even though the vines hardly resisted her. Seeing her collect the Confusing God Flower Vine, the others lowered their defenses, left the pit, and approached Wen Qing¡¯er. ¡°Quick, let me see the Confusing God Flower you got.¡± Li Miaozhen, full of curiosity, said to Wen Qing¡¯er, ¡°Release a bit of the flower¡¯s fragrance later, I want to experience it.¡± ¡°Okay, senior sister, be careful.¡± Wen Qing¡¯er obediently extended her hand, revealing a vine in her palm. On the top of the vine was a blood-red Confusing God Flower. The young girl had strong control over the Confusing God Flower; under her command, the flower slowly bloomed, and a faint fragrance lingered in front of Li Miaozhen, not affecting Qin Feng and the others. Li Miaozhen sniffed the fragrance lightly. After a moment, her expression changed, and she quickly stepped back. Chapter 163 - Chapter 163 Chapter 161 Making a Fortune ?Chapter 163: Chapter 161: Making a Fortune Chapter 163: Chapter 161: Making a Fortune Li Miao Zhen¡¯s heart was seized with horror. Although the amount of fragrance released by Wen Qing¡¯er¡¯s Confusing God Flower was minimal, and she had a strong Divine Soul, so she wasn¡¯t truly beguiled, she keenly felt the invisible and traceless Power of Confusion. She was certain that this Confusing God Flower hadn¡¯t dared to advance in rank because it was suppressed by the Cave Heaven Principle, so it should still be in its growing perioda€¡±it was just scared of punishment from the principle and did not dare to grow any further. But even so, she found it somewhat difficult to deal with. The most bothersome thing about the fragrance of the Confusing God Flower was that it was silent and untraceable, making one unconsciously fall into it beyond redemption. If after being affected, one received some suggestions or guidance, then the effect would become even more formidable. Just like when Qin Feng and the others first encountered the Confusing God Flower, the Flower Spirit had infused its spiritual power into the fragrance, secretly inducing the cultivators and Demon Beasts lured by the scent to slaughter each other, effortlessly killing many Foundation Establishment Cultivators. And now that Wen Qing¡¯er had refined the Flower Spirit, she could control this ability through it. Unless a cultivator¡¯s Divine Soul Realm was higher than the level of the Confusing God Flower, or they had an exceptionally keen perception to detect danger and promptly hold their breath, expelling the fragrance already permeating their Sea of Consciousness, once affected, they would be bewildered and fall under the control of the Confusing God Flower. Looking at the young girl before her, Li Miao Zhen saw her still wearing a clueless expression and couldn¡¯t help but reach out to rub her head: ¡°After you go back, cultivate well and enter the Inner Sect as soon as possible, there will be benefits for you then.¡± This gesture was very comforting to Wen Qing¡¯er, who admired her greatly; like a kitten being petted by its owner, her beautiful, large eyes bent into crescent shapes: ¡°Yes, Senior Sister, I will definitely cultivate diligently.¡± ¡°Good.¡± Li Miao Zhen turned to the others and said, ¡°Remember, you must never disclose Junior Sister Wen¡¯s refinement of the Confusing God Flower Spirit; it would bring her fatal disaster. The reputation of the Confusing God Flower is not a good one. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï???.§ã¦Ï During the Ancient Great Tribulation, it incited infighting within several Great Forces. Once it¡¯s known that Junior Sister Wen possesses the Confusing God Flower, other Sects might not wish to offend the Beast Taming Sect and would spare her, but Taiyi Mountain and the Giant Spirit Sect will certainly view her as a thorn in their side and will stop at nothing to kill her. Otherwise, once she grows stronger, it poses too great a threat to ordinary disciples, and could even stir up divisions between Taiyi Mountain and the Giant Spirit Sect without leaving any trace, causing their alliance to disintegrate.¡± Qin Feng and the others hastily assured: ¡°Don¡¯t worry, Senior Sister, the matter concerns Junior Sister Wen¡¯s life, we dare not recklessly spread the word.¡± Wen Qing¡¯er was somewhat worried: ¡°Doesn¡¯t that mean I won¡¯t be able to leave the Sect anymore?¡± ¡°Not necessarily.¡± Li Miao Zhen smiled and said, ¡°As long as you don¡¯t use the Confusing God Flower¡¯s power to bewitch spirits, it won¡¯t be easily exposed. After all, there are not many in the Cultivation World who have seen the true form of the Confusing God Flower, and those who truly recognize it without exception are Great Powers who have survived from the Ancient Great Tribulation. As long as you don¡¯t recklessly confuse others, even if those seniors recognize the Confusing God Flower, they won¡¯t make things difficult for you. Besides the Power of Confusion, the Flower Spirit surely has other spells; use those as your means to fight against enemies normally!¡± ¡°Oh, that¡¯s good.¡± The young girl quickly regained her cheerful demeanor, her thoughts being pure, and didn¡¯t consider much else. Besides the Power of Confusion, the Confusing God Flower Spirit also possessed the Wood Escape Divine Power, along with several other Wood Element Magic spells that were not considered Divine Skills, all of which were also quite powerful. Moreover, the strength of the actual Confusing God Flower Vines was much more formidable than that of the Flower Spirit, enough to protect her. ¡°Alright, let¡¯s go. I¡¯ll take you to find some treasures,¡± Li Miao Zhen said. ¡°Though this Secret Realm has been explored for thousands of years by many, there are still some treasures left, which will be of great use to you.¡± Qin Feng laughed: ¡°Senior Sister, there¡¯s no need to rush elsewhere for treasures. Haven¡¯t you noticed that there are quite a few treasures right here?¡± ¡°Huh?¡± Li Miao Zhen paused slightly, then released her Divine Sense to scan the vicinity, quickly noticing the dead bodies of the cultivators and Demon Beasts in the deep pit, and couldn¡¯t help but laugh: ¡°I had indeed forgotten about these. Well, let everybody collect some belongings.¡± Although the Confusing God Flower Spirit hadn¡¯t existed for long, its vines had been growing for many years, just suppressed by the rules from advancing to a higher realm. However, over these years, the number of cultivators and Demon Beasts it had ensnared was not few. While the majority of the bodies had already turned to White Bone, there were still a few treasures left on them, and many of their Storage Bags remained intact. Since the Secret Realm opened every sixty years, the Storage Bags had mostly been buried by dust and soil, easily missed if one wasn¡¯t paying attention. As a True Disciple backed by the Sect¡¯s strong support, Li Miao Zhen couldn¡¯t care less for common treasures, which is why she overlooked these items. The other girls hadn¡¯t noticed these either, as they were not keen on rummaging through the bones of the dead. Only Qin Feng, having scavenged corpses more than once during his cultivation journey, and seeing several relatively fresh bodies nearby, noticed the items on the bodies, which reminded him of these forgotten treasures. The group then searched through the bones in the deep pit and found several hundred Storage Bags and dozens of Spiritual Artifacts, although they were somewhat damaged from being neglected for a long time. ??¦Í??.§ã¦Ï These items were all left by cultivators who had died here in the past. The Confusing God Flower Vine, which only sucked blood, was not interested in these artifacts. After piling up these items, seeing so many Storage Bags, Qin Feng and others were visibly excited. ¡°These things are too many and too messy; opening all the Storage Bags to check them one by one would be a waste of time,¡± Li Miao Zhen said with a smile. ¡°I think we should divide these Storage Bags and Spiritual Artifacts into four partsa€¡±one part for each persona€¡±and inspect them after leaving the Secret Realm.¡± ¡°Senior Sister, you don¡¯t want any?¡± Wen Qing¡¯er asked curiously: ¡°There are so many Storage Bags, surely there are many good things inside.¡± ¡°I guess I¡¯ll pass.¡± Li Miao Zhen waved her hand, ¡°After returning to the Sect following this, I will advance to the Golden Core Realm. Ordinary treasures are of little use to me. Moreover, I had another task this time, and I¡¯ve already gained significant merit with Junior Brother Qin earlier. The Sect won¡¯t hold back on my reward, so you keep these items for yourselves. Having more resources can make your path in cultivation a bit smoother.¡± ¡°In that case, alright then.¡± No one objected, with her status as a True Disciple, she really wasn¡¯t lacking such ordinary resources, so everyone quickly divided up the Storage Bags and Spiritual Artifacts roughly. Each person took a share; what treasures lay inside those bags would be down to their own luck. However, even though many Spiritual Medicines might have been damaged due to time and improper storage, if even a small portion of the items were intact, that would surely lead to a windfall for them. ¡°There¡¯s just over a day left before the Secret Realm closes. I won¡¯t take you treasure hunting elsewhere. Let¡¯s head towards the Space Channel while looking for treasures along the way.¡± Li Miao Zhen said. The ladies from Creation Peak had, of course, no objections to this. Their main purpose for entering the Heavenly Pool Secret Realm was to find their Lifebound treasures, and now that both Qin Xi and Wen Qing¡¯er had achieved their wishes, they naturally didn¡¯t want any more complications. Qin Feng had originally wanted to venture elsewhere, but considering the limited time left and the trouble it would mean if they encountered a strong enemy and got injured, delaying their return, he abstained from suggesting going out on his own. He obediently followed the group, riding a Spiritual Bird towards the distant location of the Space Channel. They weren¡¯t traveling at a very fast speed; wherever they found a place rich in Spiritual Energy, they¡¯d stop to explore. Sometimes they came away with nothing, having been beaten to the spot by other cultivators. In other places, fierce Demon Beasts guarded the territory, as they joined forces to slay Demon Beasts and seize various Spiritual Medicines and resources; they indeed had their fair share of gains. Especially with Li Miao Zhen among them, they didn¡¯t fear injury at all. Ordinary Demon Beasts, they could handle themselves; should they encounter formidable opponents, Li Miao Zhen would step in and swiftly subdue those at the Foundation Establishment Peak. Qin Feng was the happiest among them. He exchanged other gains with the ladies for the Demon Beasts¡¯ corpses and sent all these beast carcasses to the Swallowing Sky Toad. After the Swallowing Sky Toad devoured all these Demon Beasts, it probably wouldn¡¯t be long before it could ascend to Foundation Establishment. These two days were probably the happiest days of the Swallowing Sky Toad¡¯s life. It had previously been fed a lot of Earth Milk Essence by its master, followed by more than a dozen bulky Iron Armor Rhinoceroses, along with the continual delivery of various Demon Beast carcasses, many of which were from beasts at the Foundation Establishment Cultivation level. With so many Demon Beasts continuously brought to its mouth, the Swallowing Sky Toad felt full for the first time since its birth. The group continued on their way. Along the journey, apart from encountering various Demon Beasts, they also ran into several bands of cultivators causing trouble. In the last couple of days, many cultivators who considered themselves strong raided others in various places, seizing the treasures obtained by other cultivators. Among these cultivators, not many truly recognized Li Miao Zhen. Many from the smaller Sects never expected that the Beast Taming Sect would send a True Disciple into the realm. So, when a lot of cultivators saw the three of them, at Foundation Establishment, accompanied by two Qi Refining cultivators, they thought them easy prey and intended to rob them with the intent to ambush them. Subsequently, Li Miao Zhen plundered all the Spiritual Objects from them, not sparing a single item imbued with a hint of Spiritual Energy. Among them, a few cultivators even had their robes and boots taken away. Most bizarrely, two of them were stripped nearly naked, only able to cover their private parts as they fled. They had to craft grass skirts before they could leave the Space Channel without exposing their bare behinds. However, these fellows, once outside, endured a lot of ridicule. And yet these unlucky individuals could only blame themselves. Even after their Sect Elders learned the full story, they could only sigh and never mentioned seeking revenge. How could they retaliate? They were robbed by a True Disciple of the Beast Taming Sect, and she spared their lives. That was already quite fortunate. When Qin Feng and the others emerged, both junior sisters Wen Qing¡¯er and Qin Xi, despite having seen the state of those cultivators back in the Secret Realm, couldn¡¯t help but blush at the sight of those stripped cultivators. They gained a deeper understanding of Li Miao Zhen¡¯s daring and reckless actions. Li Miao Zhen, on the other hand, didn¡¯t give a second thought to her own exploits. She carefreely boarded the Tower Ship and went to the upper deck to report back to her master. Other major Sects were taken aback at the sight of Li Miao Zhen. Particularly on Taiyi Mountain¡¯s Sword Boat, when someone identified Li Miao Zhen, the faces of the Elders suddenly turned sour. As they anxiously awaited, Zhuo Feifan flew out just before the Space Channel was about to close. As soon as he appeared, someone transmitted a message, urging him to hurry back to the Sword Boat. ¡°Where is Chen Buqi?¡± An Elder asked, ¡°And the others? Why haven¡¯t they come out? And what about the mission? How was the Array set up?¡± ¡°Reporting to the Elders.¡± Zhuo Feifan¡¯s face was filled with sorrow. ¡°Just as we opened the portal on the cliff, Li Miao Zhen of the Beast Taming Sect appeared. She attacked and killed several of our peers and chased after us into the Underground Space. After she severely injured me, I had no choice but to trigger the Sword Talisman my master gave me to save my life and escape from there. As for Senior Brother Chen, he had more life-saving items on him than I, so he should have escaped already.¡± ¡°What, Li Miao Zhen really targeted you all?¡± The Elders from Taiyi Mountain couldn¡¯t sit still: ¡°None of them, including Chen Buqi, have returned. Could they have been killed?¡± Chapter 164 - Chapter 164 Chapter 162 Ill Take the Blame for This ?Chapter 164: Chapter 162: I¡¯ll Take the Blame for This Chapter 164: Chapter 162: I¡¯ll Take the Blame for This ¡°Wait a bit longer.¡± Yin Bieli¡¯s tone was indifferent, his gaze icy as he glanced in the direction of the Beast Taming Sect¡¯s tower ship before turning to Zhuo Feifan, ¡°You, recount the events in detail.¡± ¡°Yes.¡± Zhuo Feifan nodded respectfully in agreement. He had spent most of his time in the Heavenly Pool Secret Realm contemplating how to explain things upon his return, having rehearsed his story numerous times already. When Yin Bieli inquired, he hastily recited the rehearsed script. His narrative contained nine truths and one lie. Except for concealing the agreement made between himself, Qin Feng, and Li Miao Zhen, the rest, though somewhat incomplete, was true. After hearing his report, the elders of Taiyi Mountain confirmed that their last opening of the secret realm had been indiscreet, arousing the suspicions of the Beast Taming Sect, which led them to send Li Miao Zhen to investigate. ¡°Damn the Beast Taming Sect, ruining our plans like this.¡± ¡°The Beast Taming Sect acts vilely, even having their true disciple conceal her presence and change her appearance to enter the secret realm; their intentions are condemnable.¡± ¡°Indeed, there must have been a high-ranking sect member who personally helped Li Miao Zhen with a spell to alter her appearance. Otherwise, with her cultivation, she couldn¡¯t have escaped our detection. If we had discovered her earlier, we could have completely withdrawn and waited for the next opening of the secret realm.¡± Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï??¦Ï.§ã0 A cold-faced male sword cultivator added, ¡°I¡¯ve always said that we should have sent only those at the peak of Foundation Establishment into the secret realm this time, so we wouldn¡¯t have faced this issue. But you all opposed my proposal to avoid drawing the attention of other sects. Well, look what¡¯s happened now!¡± ¡°Hmph, if we really did as you suggested, it certainly would have drawn the attention of other sects. Before entering, they might have instructed their disciples to watch us closely. By that time, we would definitely be discovered by disciples from various sects. Do you think any sect would want to see the secret realm taken by us? Who knows, it might even lead to an all-out attack on our Taiyi Mountain¡¯s disciples by other sect disciples, and rumors spread afterward in the cultivation world might push many neutral sects to side with the Beast Taming Sect.¡± ¡°Enough, what¡¯s the use of arguing about these things now!¡± Yin Bieli snorted coldly, silencing the argument, then looked back at Zhuo Feifan, ¡°What about the Guiding Array in the end, was it destroyed or did it end up in the hands of the Beast Taming Sect¡¯s disciples?¡± ¡°Ia€| I do not know.¡± Zhuo Feifan, not daring to show any sign of emotion, displayed a troubled expression, ¡°At the time when my Sword Talisman was activated, I saw two martial brothers swinging their swords at the incomplete Guiding Array, but as to whether it was destroyed or not, I did not see.¡± A female sword cultivator elder commented, ¡°There¡¯s no need to worry. The Beast Taming Sect wasn¡¯t aware of our plans beforehand; otherwise, they wouldn¡¯t have sent only Li Miao Zhen to investigate. The White Tiger Lineage of the Beast Taming Sect, aside from combat and killing, isn¡¯t well-versed in any other arts and certainly doesn¡¯t delve into arrays. It¡¯s doubtful she even recognized what the array was for. Besides, even if she did recognize it, what good would that do her? Could she understand the Array Map? Hmph, with her brain full of muscles, even if you gave her the array map, she likely wouldn¡¯t know how to set it up!¡± This remark immediately received the agreement of other elders. ¡°Indeed, anyone from Luo Zhancheng¡¯s lineage is a battle maniac, only focusing on how to destroy and kill, and would never spend their spirit on studying complex arrays like these.¡± Yin Bieli nodded slightly, ¡°Regardless, our action this time has failed. I am afraid when the secret realm opens again in sixty years, the disciples from Taiyi Mountain and those from the Beast Taming Sect will have a deadly fight. Then, ownership of the secret realm will depend on who loses and who wins, whose methods are more ingenious.¡± An elder chimed in, ¡°I¡¯m just afraid that if the Beast Taming Sect isn¡¯t confident in achieving a complete victory, they might even invite the Five Poisons Sect to bolster their chances, which would complicate matters.¡± ¡°Theya€| would they be willing to? That¡¯s an entire Cave Heaven World; would the Beast Taming Sect really be willing to share it with the Five Poisons Sect?¡± ¡°Well, it¡¯s not their own property to begin with; even if they only get half of the rights after taking it over, that would still be enough for them to reap countless benefits.¡± ¡°Should we perhaps also involve the Giant Spirit Sect?¡± ¡°This matter requires thorough deliberation. Upon returning, we must report to the Supreme Elders and let them decide.¡± ¡°Aha€|¡± Amidst sighs, the elders looked troubled. An almost acquired Cave Heaven had unexpectedly gone awry, truly proving that man¡¯s calculations are no match for heaven¡¯s. Another almost quarter hour passed, and the space channel grew increasingly unstable, a sign that the Heavenly Pool Secret Realm was about to sink into the depths of the void. The elders watched eagerly, and although a few cultivators made a ragged escape from the inside, they were not their Taiyi Mountain disciples; Chen Buqi and the others did not return. ¡°You may go now.¡± An elder, disheartened, waved Zhuo Feifan away. The reason this scheme had stumbled was mainly because they hadn¡¯t anticipated being discovered by the Beast Taming Sect, who then sent Li Miao Zhen to investigate. These high-ranking sect members weren¡¯t about to put the blame on their subordinate disciples; besides, Zhuo Feifan was just one of the disciples involved in this mission, and since Chen Buqi had led it, any failures couldn¡¯t truly be ascribed to Zhuo Feifan. ¡°Yes, I shall take my leave.¡± Zhuo Feifan bowed respectfully and withdrew. Outside, a disciple who was on good terms with him saw him come out and hurriedly waved, calling out, ¡°Brother Zhuo, come quickly. I¡¯ve found your enemy.¡± ¡°Enemy?¡± Zhuo Feifan, upon hearing this, was stunned. ¡°What enemy?¡± ¡°Look over there.¡± The disciple pointed in the direction of the Beast Taming Sect¡¯s tower ship. Not far from the tower ship, a group of cultivators was engaging in conversation. An elder from the Five Poisons Sect had arrived, and they were catching up with a few elders from the Beast Taming Sect while also bringing their respective disciples together to get acquainted. An Ruhui, accompanied by the girls Qin Xi and Wen Qing¡¯er, was chatting with several female disciples from the Five Poisons Sect and also pulled Qin Feng, who had always stayed with them, over to meet these Daoist fellows of the Five Poisons Sect. In the future, when traveling outside, they would inevitably have dealings with the Five Poisons Sect. On the sword boat, the disciple pointed at Qin Feng and told Zhuo Feifan, ¡°Brother, isn¡¯t that the kid who ambushed and killed Junior Sister Jiang, a disciple of the Beast Taming Sect, outside Chaotic Sky Valley?¡± ¡°Hmm?¡± Upon hearing this, Zhuo Feifan suddenly realized. This disciple had followed him to Liang City, planning to enter the Ancient Battlefield to help him find the Spirit Sword. Later, when they were chasing Qin Feng and Ma Jiu, this disciple was one of the two who pursued Ma Jiu. Because he had not entered the Ancient Battlefield, he had survived. Zhuo Feifan greatly regretted that he had previously focused all his energy in the secret realm on how to deal with the elders¡¯ questions upon his return, forgetting about this matter entirely. If he had known earlier, he should have found this disciple in the secret realm and taken the opportunity to kill him. But now it was too late for regrets. Fortunately, he reacted swiftly, instantly catching on. His face twisted and changed color as if his mind had been clouded by hatred, and he pointed at Qin Feng and shouted loudly, ¡°You little thief from the Beast Taming Sect, I didn¡¯t expect you to enter the secret realm too. Had I known you were in there, I should have found you first and killed you to avenge my junior sister!¡± On the opposite mountain, Qin Feng, hearing the cursing, quickly turned to look and saw Zhuo Feifan pointing and yelling at him. He furrowed his brows, not understanding what this guy was up to. But then, seeing the cultivator beside him, he immediately understood what was going on. He sighed inwardly; unless he exposed Zhuo Feifan¡¯s deeds, he was destined to carry this blame. ¡°What¡¯s going on?¡± Qin Xi asked beside him. ¡°Nothing.¡± Qin Feng shrugged casually and said, ¡°Just that I accidentally killed a disciple from Taiyi Mountain during my first mission. It was Zhuo Feifan¡¯s junior sister.¡± ¡°Oh.¡± Hearing this, Qin Xi didn¡¯t ask further. She thought Qin Feng had merely killed an ordinary disciple of Taiyi Mountain. The sects were hostile towards each other, and private fights resulting in deaths were common. Not until a Golden Core cultivator stood up from the opposite sword boat did she realize something was amiss. It was a female cultivator, her expression cold as she looked at Zhuo Feifan and asked, ¡°Is that the kid who killed Qian¡¯er? Didn¡¯t you say he was already dead? How is he still alive now?¡± She was Jiang Yinghong, sister of Elder Jiang Dongliu of the Punishment Sword Hall and the maternal aunt of Zhuo Feifan¡¯s junior sister. She had no Daoist companion and had always treated her brother¡¯s only daughter as her own child. When she heard of her niece¡¯s death, she was almost driven mad. Only when Zhuo Feifan told her he had avenged her niece did she barely suppress her rage. This time, as one of the Golden Core cultivators escorting the disciples, she originally thought it was just a routine task. ?¦Ï¦Í?¦Ï.?? However, now upon hearing that the murderer of her niece was present, she could not hold back and hurriedly stepped forward to inquire. ¡°Indeed, Martial Uncle Jiang, it¡¯s him.¡± Zhuo Feifan¡¯s face was filled with sorrow and anger: ¡°It was he who took advantage of my junior sister¡¯s unpreparedness and struck with a sneak attack, killing her. In order to avenge my junior sister, I personally led a few senior brothers into the Ancient Battlefield and forced him into a dead end. I thought he had died there and had thus avenged my sister, but unexpectedly, he is still alive. Boo-hoo, I¡¯m useless, I am incompetent. Not only did I fail to avenge my junior sister, I didn¡¯t even realize he had entered the secret realm¡­ I¡¯m truly useless¡­¡± As he spoke, he began to cry, and even slapped himself hard. His sad, self-reproachful demeanor easily elicited sympathy. ¡°Ah, you shouldn¡¯t be too heartbroken.¡± It had to be said, Zhuo Feifan¡¯s performance was indeed good, earning the admiration of many disciples who inwardly labeled him a lovesick man. Even Jiang Yinghong personally offered him a few comforting words. However, afterwards, this Golden Core sword cultivator couldn¡¯t help but unleash all her Sword Intent, her chilling killing intent directly targeting Qin Feng. ¡°Boy, you dared to kill my niece, you deserve to die.¡± Sometimes a woman¡¯s rage can easily burn out of control and erupt regardless of the situation. And this Elder Jiang obviously had such a temperament. At this moment, remembering her niece¡¯s obedient and lovely demeanor from childhood, waves of heartache surged through her. Thus, she released her fury, her killing intent aimed straight at Qin Feng. Chapter 165 - Chapter 165 Chapter 163 If You Dont Accept It, Fight Until You Do ?Chapter 165: Chapter 163: If You Don¡¯t Accept It, Fight Until You Do Chapter 165: Chapter 163: If You Don¡¯t Accept It, Fight Until You Do If it were an ordinary Golden Core Cultivator, they might not harbor such a strong intent to kill, mainly because most cultivators cultivate for the sake of longevity. Therefore, their techniques tend to align with the Heavenly Dao, resulting in a relatively gentler aura. But Sword Cultivators are different. Sword Dao cultivation places the utmost importance on killing and combat, with each Sword Cultivator¡¯s True Yuan being exceedingly sharp. In order to grow, every Sword Cultivator must go through countless battles. Therefore, not only is their Sword Qi fierce, but their intent to kill far exceeds that of ordinary cultivators. Now, as a Sword Cultivator who had cultivated for hundreds of years, Jiang Yinghong was filled with rage and hatred, her intent to kill even stronger than usual. Qin Feng had only just reached Foundation Establishment after all, and even though they were quite far apart, he was significantly shaken by her murderous intent. If it had only been the intimidation of the murderous intent, that might have been the end of it. However, immediately after, he saw the woman raise her hand and a streak of Sword Light flew out, heading towards him like a fleeting gleam. Qin Feng¡¯s heart was filled with horror. Such powerful Sword Qi was definitely not something he could fend off. He wanted to dodge, but even though they were so far apart, he found himself unable to avoid it. It was as if he were rooted to the spot, forced to watch helplessly as the Sword Light advanced towards him. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?0¦Í??.§ã¦Ï This was because the opponent¡¯s sword moved too fast, surpassing his body¡¯s ability to react, which created the illusion of being immobilized. Just as he thought he couldn¡¯t escape, a cold snort suddenly sounded from the Tower Ship. Then, he saw a splash of water-like brilliance descend about thirty feet in front of him, blocking the incoming Sword Light. ¡°Jiang Yinghong, are you seeking death?¡± The languid voice of Liu Xuanling drifted over. She slowly flew out from the Tower Ship, her beautiful figure revealing an extremely stunning silhouette amidst the mountain breeze, making the female disciples from various sects on several nearby peaks envy her beauty. ¡°The grand Taiyi Mountain Golden Core Peak Sword Cultivator is actually attacking a junior from the Beast Taming Sect who has just established their foundation. Taiyi Mountain truly lives up to its reputation as a long-established major sect, with such actions worthy of emulation by our peers.¡± A trace of mockery appeared in her eyes before her expression turned cold. ¡°But to attack our Beast Taming Sect¡¯s disciple in our presence, are you trying to start a war here?¡± Jiang Yinghong¡¯s figure flew out as well, retorting coldly, ¡°He killed my niece, my elder brother¡¯s only child.¡± ¡°Oh, and so what?¡± Liu Xuanling replied indifferently, ¡°Our sects have been enemies for many years, with continuous killings among the disciples. Which year hasn¡¯t resulted in casualties? If everyone acted as you are now, claiming to avenge juniors and directly attacking the younger generation of other sects, the cultivation world would have collapsed into chaos by now. If you kill a Beast Taming Sect disciple today, tomorrow, I would dare strike down hundreds of ordinary disciples from your Taiyi Mountain. Once the rules are disrupted and the higher echelons of sects can freely cut down opposing sect¡¯s younger generations, in a few years, the disciples below will likely all be dead. Do you ancient ones from Taiyi Mountain also plan to personally take in disciples and start teaching from the Qi Refining Realm?¡± Jiang Yinghong¡¯s expression changed. She knew her earlier actions were somewhat impetuous, but she now felt a mysterious flame burning deep inside her, unable to suppress the raging fury. Through clenched teeth, she said, ¡°If that junior had fought in a fair and upfront manner, even if he had killed Qian¡¯er, that would have been the end of it. We would have accepted it as Qian¡¯er¡¯s lack of skill. But that boy used despicable means and a sneak attack to harm my niece, how can I allow him to live?¡± ¡°Hmph, even if he did use a sneak attack, so what?¡± Liu Xuanling was dismissive of Jiang Yinghong¡¯s words. ¡°At the time, he was only at the late stage of Qi Refinement and managed with a seventh layer Qi cultivation to ambush and kill a Taiyi Mountain Foundation Establishment Sword Cultivator. That takes skill. If you¡¯re capable, why don¡¯t you train a Qi Refining Realm disciple to sneak attack a Beast Taming Sect Foundation Establishment Cultivator? The grievances between juniors can simply be resolved by having a few disciples take action. To personally attack like you did today, it seems like you are the one seeking death. If there¡¯s a next time, I will take your life!¡± ¡°Don¡¯t speak such big words.¡± Jiang Yinghong was a proud person at heart. ¡°You¡¯ve only cultivated for a few years, a mere junior, and you think you can kill me? Even your senior brother, Zhao Qiankun, couldn¡¯t kill me all those years ago, and now you dare to boast as well.¡± ¡°Heh¡­¡± Liu Xuanling scoffed coldly. ¡°It was one thing when your strength matched my senior brother¡¯s back then, but now my senior brother has established his Purple Mansion and formed his Nascent Soul. And you? You¡¯ve lived all these years in vain, still stuck in the Golden Core Realm, and you still dare to compare yourself to my senior brother. How preposterous!¡± ¡°You¡­¡± Jiang Yinghong, having her shortcoming pointed out, was furious, with a hint of flame flickering in her eyes as she glared unrelentingly at Liu Xuanling. ¡°What¡¯s wrong, you can¡¯t accept it?¡± Liu Xuanling¡¯s eyes narrowed. ¡°Since you can¡¯t accept it, I will beat you until you do!¡± With those words, she flipped her palm, actually striking directly, sending a moon-white Spirit Light towards the other party. She had never been one to have much patience, and had already grown somewhat tired of talking with the other woman. Since Jiang Yinghong dared to defy her, they might as well have it out and beat her into submission. ¡°How dare you attack me? You¡¯re courting death!¡± Jiang Yinghong¡¯s anger surged, and with a swoosh, her Flying Sword lashed out, blocking the Spirit Light from Liu Xuanling. Her Flying Sword then spun, cleaving towards Liu Xuanling with a sharp Sword Light. Liu Xuanling¡¯s sleeve fluttered, and a Long Silk flew out, wrapping around the oncoming Flying Sword like a Spiritual Snake. That Long Silk of hers was made of no ordinary materiala€¡±flexible yet tough, faintly gleaming with Spirit Light. Jiang Yinghong¡¯s Flying Sword felt an odd resistance when it struck, powerless and ineffective. But once it was tangled by her Long Silk, it would take some effort to break free. Jiang Yinghong was taken aback. It was fortunate that her Flying Sword moved at her will; otherwise, were it any other Golden Core Cultivator facing Liu Xuanling, they would have had a hard time escaping the binding of this Long Silk. Liu Xuanling¡¯s Long Silk grew longer and longer, seemingly endless. She had already released it for several hundred feet. With a slight flick of her wrist, the Long Silk spread in circles in the Void, stirring up space like a giant vortex, trapping Jiang Yinghong¡¯s Flying Sword within it. ¡°Hmph, you really think you¡¯ve got me pinned down?¡± Jiang Yinghong¡¯s expression was ice-cold as she shouted angrily, ¡°Fiery Fire Red Lotus, burn away all in existence, Red Lotus Sword Technique, slash! Slash! Slash!¡± As her voice fell, the Flying Sword that had been trapped in the vortex of Long Silk suddenly transformed. Flames several zhang high surged upon the sword blade, and then the sword spun, slicing through illusion after illusion, like a blooming lotus of fire. Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh! The fire lotus blossomed, and thousands upon thousands of Flame Sword Qi sliced in all directions, actually disrupting the vortex created by the Long Silk. Then, like a downpour, the Sword Qi rained down towards Liu Xuanling. Inside the Sword Boat, Yin Bieli let out a gentle sigh, ¡°Jiang Yinghong is as fiery as a blaze, and her cultivation of the ¡®Fiery Fire Red Lotus Sword¡¯ originally complemented her well. It¡¯s a pity that her heart was trapped by love in her early years, stuck at the Golden Core Peak for two hundred years without any progress. Over the years, she has been frequently scorched by her inner fire, her Daoist Heart unstable. If this continues, I fear she may encounter problems.¡± ¡°Indeed.¡± Another female Elder by her side also felt some emotion, ¡°Back when she and Jiang Dongliu, the siblings, were at Foundation Establishment Realm, they had already made quite a name for themselves. Later on, they both achieved Golden Core, and for a time, no one could match them. I wasn¡¯t her equal back then, but who knew she would fall so deeply in love and be unable to extricate herself? Otherwise, with her talent, she would not have languished at the Golden Core Realm.¡± ¡°Should we ask her to stop?¡± A white-haired old man with a calm disposition spoke, ¡°After all, it was Jiang Yinghong who first broke the rules. If Liu Xuanling gets injured, the Beast Taming Sect certainly won¡¯t let it go easily, and this could trigger a great battle right here.¡± ¡°Hmph, let them fight then. Are we afraid of them?¡± Sword Cultivators from Taiyi Mountain rarely shied away from battle. Upon hearing what the elder had said, they immediately expressed their discontent, ¡°The Beast Taming Sect just relies on their Spiritual Beasts to show off. Without those beasts, relying solely on their own cultivation, they¡¯re not worthy of being enemies with our Taiyi Mountain.¡± ¡°There¡¯s no need to belittle your opponents, because that only serves to lower your own status.¡± The old man said indifferently, ¡°Should it come to fighting, I certainly wouldn¡¯t fear the Beast Taming Sect, but now is not the time to act. Wait until the next time the Secret Realm opens. In the battle for the Heavenly Pool Secret Realm, you¡¯ll find it hard not to fight even if you don¡¯t want to.¡± ¡°Alright.¡± Yin Bieli waved his hand, ¡°Since Jiang Yinghong wants to fight, let her have a bout with Liu Xuanling. With Luo Zhancheng around, Liu Xuanling won¡¯t die so easily.¡± The elder shook his head, ¡°I¡¯m just afraid that once Luo Zhancheng makes a move, things won¡¯t end well. Once that fellow goes berserk, he doesn¡¯t care about the consequences. Escalating things now won¡¯t benefit us.¡± ¡°Heh, who told you Liu Xuanling will definitely lose? She hasn¡¯t even used her Lifebound Spiritual Beast yet.¡± On the Tower Ship of the Beast Taming Sect, Luo Zhancheng was listening to his disciple¡¯s account of her experiences in the Secret Realm while watching the duel between Liu Xuanling and Jiang Yinghong from afar. When he heard Li Miaozhen speak about the Guiding Array, a look of surprise couldn¡¯t help but show on his face, ¡°I didn¡¯t expect Taiyi Mountain to have found something like this. It¡¯s a good thing they didn¡¯t succeed in claiming it, otherwise, we might have had to start a major Sect war ahead of time.¡± Beside him, Elder Mo Li asked, ¡°What should we do now, just let Junior Sister Liu keep fighting with Jiang Yinghong? If Junior Sister Liu happens to kill her, the people from Taiyi Mountain probably won¡¯t just let it go.¡± ¡°Hmph, Jiang Yinghong broke the rules herself, if she gets killed, she deserves it. If those from Taiyi Mountain dare to spout nonsense, I¡¯ll cleave them with my saber.¡± As he spoke, he reached out to grab something from Li Miaozhen, but he caught nothing and was momentarily stunned, ¡°Eh, where¡¯s my saber?¡± ¡°Cough¡­¡± Li Miaozhen coughed lightly and said, ¡°Master, I left your saber in the Heavenly Pool Secret Realm.¡± ¡°What?¡± Luo Zhancheng¡¯s eyes widened, ¡°You damn girl, why would you throw my saber into the Heavenly Pool Secret Realm? Could it be that among the disciples from the various factions that entered, someone was actually a threat to your life, forcing you to abandon your saber and flee?¡± ¡°No, Master, I didn¡¯t have the chance to finish explaining earlier before you interrupted me.¡± ¡°Speak, if you can¡¯t give me a good reason, I¡¯ll throw you into the Hundred Thousand Mountains to struggle for survival for three years.¡± Luo Zhancheng was nearly driven mad with anger; the White Tiger Saber was his most cherished weapon, absolutely irreplaceable. Had it not been for his concern for his disciple¡¯s safety, he would have been reluctant to even lend the saber to her. And now, what had happened was that the wretched girl actually left his White Tiger Saber in the Heavenly Pool Secret Realm, which could put him at a disadvantage in a possible showdown with Yin Bieli should he lack his weapon. Li Miaozhen hurriedly pleaded, ¡°Please calm your anger, Master. It was like this: at that time, Qin Feng slashed to death the Taiyi Mountain disciple who aimed to destroy the Guiding Array, and convinced Zhuo Feifan to help us set up the array properly. So then, I left your White Tiger Saber within the Guiding Array. With your cultivation, you should be able to sense the location of the White Tiger Saber, and later on, you can use the Guiding Array to summon yourself over. ?¦Ï¦Í??.§ã? Then you can also rearrange your methods and transport our Supreme Elders from the Beast Taming Sect into the Underground Space beneath the Heavenly Pool Cave Heaven¡­¡± Before she could finish speaking, Luo Zhancheng stood up with a whoosh, his large and mighty frame reminiscent of a Giant Bear, his eyes gleaming as he looked at his disciple, ¡°Are you saying the Guiding Array is perfectly intact?¡± ¡°That¡¯s right.¡± Li Miaozhen nodded her head. Luo Zhancheng twitched the corners of his mouth and suddenly burst into laughter. This time, his laughter did not escape the cabin, as he had cast a spell to seal it off. ¡°Very good, very good, truly my excellent disciple.¡± Luo Zhancheng raised his huge palm and patted Li Miaozhen¡¯s shoulder, nearly knocking her to the ground. The other eight Elders of the Purple Mansion Realm were also shocked and delighted, not expecting such a pleasant surprise. Luo Zhancheng paced back and forth in the cabin for a few steps, finally calming his excited emotions. He took a deep breath and sat back down, asking, ¡°And just who is Qin Feng?¡± Chapter 166 - Chapter 166 Chapter 164 Heavenly Snake Swallowing the Moon Ice Soul Divine Light ?Chapter 166: Chapter 164 Heavenly Snake Swallowing the Moon Ice Soul Divine Light Chapter 166: Chapter 164 Heavenly Snake Swallowing the Moon Ice Soul Divine Light Li Miaozhen shrugged and said, ¡°Just the one Taiyi Mountain¡¯s Jiang Yinghong wants dead.¡± ¡°Oh, him.¡± Luo Zhancheng chuckled and said, ¡°According to Liu Xuanling, that kid was able to ambush and kill Jiang Dongliu¡¯s Foundation Establishment daughter even while he was at the seventh level of Qi Refinement. Not bad, he has prospects.¡± ¡°Killing a Foundation Establishment disciple is nothing special, the key is he also said that Zhuo Feifan helped us set up the Guiding Array properly.¡± Li Miaozhen said, ¡°Master knows me; I have no understanding of the Array Dao. Even if I took the Array Map, I wouldn¡¯t know how to set it up.¡± Luo Zhancheng nodded, ¡°The Array Dao is deep and mysterious. There aren¡¯t many among the young generation who are proficient in the Array Dao, and even fewer can set up the Guiding Array. Zhuo Feifan really did us a big favor this time. If we really manage to take the Heavenly Pool Cave Heaven into our Beast Taming Sect in the future, we¡¯ll have to properly thank him.¡± ¡°Indeed, we should thank him well.¡± Li Miaozhen giggled, ¡°But we don¡¯t need to give him any treasures or cultivation resources.¡± Luo Zhancheng was puzzled, ¡°How so? Could it be that this young friend comes from a renowned family, so wealthy that he wouldn¡¯t care about the treasures of our Beast Taming Sect?¡± ¡°That¡¯s not it.¡± Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í?0.?? ¡°That¡¯s right, it¡¯s him.¡± Li Miaozhen was candid and forthright, unable to take credit for someone else¡¯s achievements. She straightforwardly said, ¡°Junior Brother Qin must¡¯ve had something on him. When I captured him initially, I wanted to squeeze some information out of him. At first, the kid was all defiant, ready to die rather than yield. But then Junior Brother Qin stepped in and within a few words, he¡¯d talked him round, agreeing to cooperate with usa€|¡± She thereafter explained the entire sequence of events in detail, and in the end, she credited Qin Feng for his achievements, saying, ¡°If not for Junior Brother Qin, even if the Guiding Array hadn¡¯t been destroyed by the Taiyi Mountain disciples, we would not have been able to set up the Great Array. Junior Brother Qin¡¯s contribution has been outstanding, and he should be handsomely rewarded. However, he killed Jiang Dongliu¡¯s daughter of the Taiyi Mountain Punishment Sword Hall; Jiang Dongliu will certainly not let him go, Master, you can¡¯t ignore this.¡± Luo Zhancheng and several other Elders exchanged glances, and couldn¡¯t help but laugh towards Mo Li, ¡°Your Spiritual Snake lineage has produced a fine seedling indeed, having accomplished such a great feat. Haha, let¡¯s put aside the matter of Heavenly Pool Cave Heaven for now. The fact that the boy managed to persuade a Taiyi Mountain disciple to be an inside agent, and if things go as planned, that Zhuo Feifan might indeed become part of the high echelon of Taiyi Mountain in a hundred years or so.¡± Another Elder chuckled, ¡°Good, very good! Well done! Haha¡­ Niece Miao Zhen, rest assured, the matter of him killing Jiang Dongliu¡¯s daughter will be shouldered by the Sect. If Jiang Yinghong and Jiang Dongliu still wish to cause him trouble, then we¡¯ll just do away with them; Qin Feng has made significant contributions to the Sect, and we can¡¯t allow him to be bullied by those from Taiyi Mountain.¡± An Elder asked, ¡°Should we mention to Liu Xuanling about taking out Jiang Yinghong?¡± ¡°Hehe, there¡¯s no need for you to say anything.¡± Elder Mo Li laughed, ¡°Knowing Junior Sister Liu as I do, if there¡¯s an opportunity, she¡¯ll certainly show no mercy. Although Jiang Yinghong¡¯s cultivation isn¡¯t bad, she¡¯s gone astray in her cultivation. I¡¯m also familiar with Taiyi Mountain¡¯s ¡®Fiery Fire Red Lotus Sword.¡¯ While the sword technique is powerful, it has some risks. Her inability to break through her cultivation and advance to Purple Mansion for so many years must have been due to the influence of heart fire; that¡¯s why she¡¯s so easily provoked. Junior Sister Liu has a talent for fighting duels, and if there¡¯s no accident, she¡¯s sure to win this one.¡± ¡°Mmm.¡± Luo Zhancheng nodded in approval, ¡°Miss Liu indeed has a firm grasp on the opportune moments in battle.¡± While the Elders were discussing among themselves, the battle between Liu Xuanling and Jiang Yinghong was growing more intense outside. As Jiang Yinghong¡¯s Fiery Fire Red Lotus Sword Energy grew fiercer, Liu Xuanling felt the pressure and, in a flash, merged with her Lifebound Spiritual Snake, transforming into a figure with the tail of a snake. Aside from a crystal diamond-shaped scale on her forehead, there were no other changes to her upper body, but from her waist down, it transformed directly into a snake¡¯s tail, long and nimble, extending a good several zhang. At the same time, she sacrificed a treasure bead the size of a bowl, which hovered above her head, shining bright and radiant, flickering with a soft glow that from afar looked like soothing moonlight. However, Jiang Yinghong, who was engaged in combat with her, did not underestimate her. On the contrary, she was extremely cautious. Because the light from that treasure bead made her feel an enormous threat. ¡°Ice Soul Divine Light?!¡± She quickly recognized what it was. ¡°Some tens of years ago, an Ice Soul Divine Pearl appeared in the Guanghan Secret Realm. Many high-level cultivators from all parties went to fight for it; I hadn¡¯t expected it to end up in your hands.¡± Jiang Yinghong¡¯s face was cold as the will to kill surged within her. Due to a mishap in her cultivation, she would often suffer from the agony of her heart being scorched by fire. Thus, she required a Pure Yin Treasure to assist her cultivation; otherwise, she feared she might never have a chance to advance beyond the Purple Mansion. Unfortunately, though there were many Yin-attribute treasures, most of them were not pure enough in Yin Qi to be suitable for her use, leaving very few options available. So when she heard news of the Ice Soul Divine Pearl emerging in the Guanghan Secret Realm years ago, she had also gone to vie for it, only to come away without even seeing its shadow. Unexpectedly, it now appeared in the hands of Liu Xuanling. Liu Xuanling had likely just attained her Golden Core back then, yet she had such good fortune to gain the recognition of the Ice Soul Divine Pearl. Jealousy rose within her, compounded by her irritable and volatile nature from enduring the pain of the heart¡¯s fire for many years. Upon seeing the Ice Soul Divine Pearl, an uncontrollable greed surged within her. She wanted to snatch the Ice Soul Divine Pearl to neutralize the fiery Qi within her body. Only such a pure, Pure Yin Treasure could help her ascend to the Purple Mansion; otherwise, if things continued as they were, even if she weren¡¯t burned to death by the heart¡¯s fire, her lifespan would gradually wither away. As for the consequences of taking the Ice Soul Divine Pearl, she did not care. The Beast Taming Sect was already the sworn enemy of her Taiyi Mountain; what would matter if she took a treasure, or even if Liu Xuanling were killed? As long as she advanced to the Purple Mansion, why should she fear the Beast Taming Sect¡¯s retaliation? With this thought, her Sword Qi grew even more fierce, each strike targeting Liu Xuanling¡¯s vital points, as if she wanted to slay her on the spot. She wanted to throw Liu Xuanling into disarray, making her lose focus so that she could find the opportunity to snatch the Ice Soul Divine Pearl. Unfortunately, she had overestimated herself and underestimated Liu Xuanling¡¯s abilities. After merging with her Lifebound Spiritual Snake, Liu Xuanling¡¯s combat power had soared, her True Yuan was more robust than that of Jiang Yinghong, who had cultivated for hundreds of years. Not to mention her own Divine Skills, the Ice Soul Divine Light alone emitted by the Ice Soul Divine Pearl above her head was enough to counter Jiang Yinghong¡¯s Red Lotus Sword Energy, and she had other methods at her disposal as well. As the Ice Soul Divine Pearl spun and scattered numerous beams of Divine Light, it not only resisted Jiang Yinghong¡¯s Fiery Fire Red Lotus Sword Energy but also sent out extremely cold beams that could freeze everything, aiming at Jiang Yinghong and forcing her to dodge quickly. Seeing that she could not continue like this, Jiang Yinghong steeled her heart and suddenly merged with her sword. She became enveloped in a blazing lotus flower, charging straight at Liu Xuanling. ?¦Ï¦Í?0.§ã¦Ï She planned to engage in close combat and snatch Liu Xuanling¡¯s Ice Soul Divine Pearl in the instant she inflicted a severe injury. The disciples of various sects watching from afar on the surrounding peaks were startled to see this. Apart from the likes of the Giant Spirit Sect who specialized in Body Cultivation and Martial Cultivators, few other cultivators chose close-range combat. Especially the Sword Cultivators of Taiyi Mountain, who typically preferred to kill enemies from a thousand yards away, were generally unwilling to engage in close-quarters combat, considering it too dangerous for them. And yet if they did choose to engage in such a way, it meant they had absolute confidence; otherwise, it would be tantamount to forsaking their advantage, likely putting them at a disadvantage. Jiang Yinghong felt she had a good chance of winning. With her years of painstaking practice in the Sword Dao and rich combat experience, she was confident she could overpower Liu Xuanling, a junior with barely a hundred years of cultivation. Regrettably, having long suffered from the invasion of the heart fire, her Daoist Heart was damaged, leading to impulsiveness and anger, and she had forgotten that Cultivators from the Beast Taming Sect, when merged with their Lifebound Spiritual Beasts, were no less capable in close-range combat than others. Liu Xuanling¡¯s Lifebound Spiritual Beast might not be one of those skilled in physical combat, but it was an Exotic Species Spiritual Snake, one of the rare ones in the world. Seeing Jiang Yinghong resort to such tactics and coming close to stake her life in battle, Liu Xuanling snorted coldly, flipped her palm, and took out two crescent-shaped short blades. These were two of her usual Magical Treasures, named Heavenly Snake Teeth. As the name implied, they were treasures forged from snake teeth. She obtained these precious items by chance from the corpse of an Ancient fierce snake, and they were one of the three major Magical Treasures she possessed. With a toss of the Heavenly Snake Teeth in her hands, they transformed into two spinning crescent-shaped hook blades, tearing through the Void towards Jiang Yinghong. Pop, pop, pop¡­ A series of rapid collision sounds followed. Although her methods of controlling the Magical Treasure were not as exquisite as Jiang Yinghong¡¯s Sword Control Technique, they significantly slowed down Jiang Yinghong¡¯s Flying Escape speed. Then, instead of using the Ice Soul Divine Pearl to emit Divine Light to attack the enemy, Liu Xuanling opened her mouth and ingested the entire Ice Soul Divine Pearl. Subsequently, Divine Light burst forth from Liu Xuanling¡¯s body, and a Heavenly Snake Illusion appeared behind her. The Illusion was massive, at least a hundred yards long, with its mouth wide open in a swallowing gesture. Lurching forward, it seemed to want to engulf Jiang Yinghong completely. Liu Xuanling practiced the Spiritual Snake Lineage¡¯s Direct Inheritance Technique, the ¡°Heavenly Snake Swallowing the Moon Technique.¡± This Technique may not have as many variations as the ¡°Spiritual Snake Illusion Heart Technique,¡± its True Yuan not as profound as the ¡°Qiankun Giant Snake Shaking Star Divine Skill,¡± and it lacked the trickiness of the ¡°Netherworld Yin Snake Seven Incantations.¡± However, it was the purest Cultivation Technique of the Spiritual Snake Lineage. Having cultivated the ¡°Heavenly Snake Swallowing the Moon Technique,¡± Liu Xuanling had her entire True Yuan transformed into Taiyin True Qi. Combined with the fortune she had gained earlier in the Guanghan Secret Realm, her foundation was exceptionally solid, and her combat strength far surpassed that of ordinary cultivators. Especially since she had gained the Ice Soul Divine Pearl, which was extremely rare even within the Guanghan Secret Realm, not having appeared for tens of thousands of years. If she could comprehend her own Dao in the future, she might be able to refine the Ice Soul Divine Pearl into a Taiyin Ice Soul Divine Pearl, which would surely increase its power by another level. Seeing Jiang Yinghong approach, Liu Xuanling knew full well what this woman was plotting. Liu Xuanling sneered, and the Heavenly Snake Illusion behind her charged directly at Jiang Yinghong. Chapter 167 - Chapter 167 Chapter 165 Character Design of the White Tiger Lineage ?Chapter 167: Chapter 165: Character Design of the White Tiger Lineage Chapter 167: Chapter 165: Character Design of the White Tiger Lineage Liu Xuanling treated the Ice Soul Divine Pearl as the Cold Moon, swallowing it into her belly where it complemented her practiced Cultivation Technique, and she managed to display a Heavenly Snake Illusion far surpassing her current realm. The Heavenly Snake Illusion, formed by the Heavenly Snake Swallowing the Moon Technique, opened its mouth wide like a black hole and devoured Jiang Yinghong. Jiang Yinghong suddenly felt her skin crawl, a strong sense of crisis rising from the depths of her heart. The Heavenly Snake was ferocious, its devouring force at this moment was wildly overwhelming, making her feel an unavoidable sense of despair. Even her figure had been absorbed by the Heavenly Snake Illusion, leaving her with no place to hide, no way to avoid, only to face it head-on. ¡°Aha€|¡± She let out a frantic scream, and fiery Red Lotus flames burst forth from her body, transforming into thousands of sword lights shooting into the mouth of the Heavenly Snake. She aimed to break the devouring force of the Heavenly Snake with her most potent attack, thereby regaining her freedom. At this moment, Jiang Yingxue realized that Liu Xuanling¡¯s strength and foundation were beyond her expectations, especially when she planned to engage in close combat and the techniques Liu Xuanling displayed made her scalp tingle. She felt it was better to maintain distance and play to the strengths of a Sword Cultivator against Liu Xuanling. Roaring sounds continuously erupted, and although the majority of the Red Lotus Sword Energy was swallowed by the Heavenly Snake and disappeared, some still exploded with formidable power, causing the vast snake mouth, akin to a black hole, to slightly disintegrate. As the snake illusion became more ethereal, Jiang Yinghong felt the external absorption force lessen and her heart jumped with joy. However, before she could retreat, she suddenly saw Liu Xuanling¡¯s tail twist behind her and her figure instantly closed the distance. A long silk shot out, coiling towards her, and Liu Xuanling¡¯s eyes suddenly turned into a pair of golden vertical pupils, casting a subtle light straight into her eyes. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í?0.§ã? In that moment of locking gazes, Jiang Yinghong¡¯s expression stalled, her movements suddenly slowing down. She felt as if Liu Xuanling¡¯s eyes were a bottomless abyss, pulling her spirit and sinking deeper and deeper into it. Fortunately, her Dao Cultivation was profound and her Divine Spirit not weaker than Liu Xuanling¡¯s, allowing her to regain her senses just before completely sinking. ?¦Ï??0.?¦Ï Then, she found herself completely trapped within layers of Long Silk. Although she still had a protective Red Lotus fire around her body, the Long Silk had already entangled her tightly, making it difficult to escape. Cold fear in her heart, Jiang Yinghong dared not look into Liu Xuanling¡¯s eyes again and instead decided to unleash all her Sword Dao True Essence in a desperate attempt to break free from the Long Silk. Otherwise, she was certain to face a dreadful fate. Liu Xuanling gestured with both hands, and the Heavenly Snake Teeth immediately flew back, landing in her palms. She then wielded these exquisite, crescent-shaped daggers like the wind, slicing through the air with chilling brilliance, forcibly breaking through Jiang Yinghong¡¯s protective Sword Qi and slashing toward her true form. ¡°Spare mea€|¡± Suddenly, a soft yell came from afar, and a Sword Light flew over, intending to break the Long Silk that trapped Jiang Yinghong and rescue her. ¡°Humph!¡± On the Tower Ship, Elder Mo Li pointed a finger, and with a loud thump, the Sword Light was shattered. ¡°What, can¡¯t win alone so you plan to gang up?¡± Luo Zhancheng abruptly stood up, his tall and burly figure bursting with an imposing aura so powerful it caused the sky and clouds to change color, as if endless fierce winds were howling between heaven and earth. ¡°Taiyi Mountain indeed has a great presence, repeatedly provoking my Beast Taming Sect. Do you really think Luo Zhancheng is easy to bully?¡± As he exerted his power, an immediate silence dominated the area, and the disciples from various Sects who were originally lively watching the fight between Liu Xuanling and others instantly fell silent, feeling as if they were in the presence of a colossal primordial beast. Those on other peaks were somewhat better off, as Luo Zhancheng¡¯s oppressive aura didn¡¯t target them. These people merely experienced some aftershocks, but it was the Sword Cultivators of Taiyi Mountain who truly suffered. Disciples from Taiyi Mountain suddenly turned pale, their minds blanking, and their bodies involuntarily trembling. If this continued, an indelible shadow might be left in their hearts. Fortunately, it wasn¡¯t long before a Sword Qi, as if capable of piercing the heavens, rose from the Taiyi Sword Boat, forcibly breaking Luo Zhancheng¡¯s pressure and protecting those disciples. On the Taiyi Sword Boat, Yin Bieli, his Sword Intent soaring to the skies, stood firmly against Luo Zhancheng¡¯s pressure. He slowly stood up and said, ¡°Luo Zhancheng, this matter was Jiang Yinghong¡¯s recklessness. I, Taiyia€|¡± ¡°Go to hell!¡± Luo Zhancheng had no intention of listening to his excuses. A flash of ferocity crossed his face, and with a sudden raise of his hand, a punch thundered out, breaking through the void and fiercely smashing toward the Taiyi Sword Boat. ¡°You?¡± Anger flooded Yin Bieli¡¯s face. He had always known Luo Zhancheng to be a crude and brute individual who disliked reasoning, but he didn¡¯t expect him to strike so directly. Irritated, he thought, does this man not consider the bigger picture at all? Both were high-ranking members of their respective Sects, and a careless fight between them could easily cause unnecessary trouble. Moreover, besides their own Sect disciples, there were disciples from other Sects watching. With their Dharma Image Level capabilities, a desperate battle could flatten the surrounding mountains for dozens of miles, potentially causing collateral damage and heavy casualties among other Sects¡¯ disciples. Although these sects were weaker than theirs, there were too many of them, and within those sects, there were many highly cultivated experts. If things really escalated, their two families would also suffer. But now, Luo Zhancheng¡¯s attack was already at his doorstep. He could no longer bother with such considerations and hastily slashed out with his sword, sending out Sword Light that neutralized the punch outside the mountain. Just after he broke that punch, he saw Luo Zhancheng swinging his fists again, casting punch after punch almost instantaneously, and his vision was soon occupied by the myriad of punches. ¡°Madman!¡± Yin Bieli cursed under his breath and hurriedly wielded his sword to defend. But all he did was block these punches without counterattacking, lest he truly provoked Luo Zhancheng. Although Luo Zhancheng had already made his move, he was still restrained, at least not using his White Tiger Saber, fearing that if he retaliated, Luo Zhancheng would completely lose control and draw his saber to strike at people. After all, that guy, when he lost his senses, really didn¡¯t care about the life and death of others. Yin Bieli thought he had grasped Luo Zhancheng¡¯s temperament, but little did he know that Luo Zhancheng was just pretending. At this time, the White Tiger Saber had been left by his disciple in the Heavenly Pool Secret Realm¡¯s Guiding Array, and even if he wanted to use it, he couldn¡¯t. His action of attacking was simply to intimidate Yin Bieli, otherwise, it wouldn¡¯t align with his usual persona. Yes, it was all just a persona, the so-called madness and unreasonableness, the extreme bullying ¨C it was all just pretenses shown to others. The White Tiger Divine Technique he cultivated was indeed domineering, but he wasn¡¯t foolish. If he were, he couldn¡¯t have cultivated to his current realm. All these actions were because the sect needed such a reckless character to create chaos, making other sects wary of the Beast Taming Sect. At any time, some rule-breaking fellows always induced wariness in others, and one wouldn¡¯t easily provoke them. Otherwise, if the opponent recklessly attacked, it could lead to severe damage. And the White Tiger Lineage within the Beast Taming Sect just played this role, so the True Inheritance of the White Tiger Lineage was seen by others as only knowing battle and fighting fiercely. However, those who really considered them rash and ignorant often ended up on the losing side. Yin Bieli formed a Sword technique with his hand, and continuous Sword Light emerged around him, breaking Luo Zhancheng¡¯s punches one by one. Apart from some sects affiliated with their two families, the rest mostly took a cold and bystander attitude towards the fight between these two, uninvolved and unconcerned. Even several mid-sized sects with considerable strength were hoping for these two to fight a big battle, as over the years, the power balance in the Southern Domain had reached saturation. For their development, sufficient territory was essential, and the best territories were mostly held by these major sects. If one or two major sects were gone, they would have more opportunities to rise. Unfortunately, the two soon stopped fighting. Or more accurately, Luo Zhancheng stopped, as Yin Bieli was only defending. Luo Zhancheng ceased because Liu Xuanling had already won. Although she didn¡¯t manage to kill Jiang Yinghong, she severely damaged her Dantian and nearly shattered her Golden Core. Such a severe injury wouldn¡¯t heal soon without a long recovery time and rare heavenly materials and earth treasures. With such a severe injury, unless Jiang Yinghong encountered a great fortune, her cultivation path was cut off, and she likely wouldn¡¯t progress anymore in this life. Liu Xuanling hadn¡¯t managed to kill her because, at the last moment, Jiang Yinghong used a lifesaving method she¡¯d always been reluctant to use, which was also a treasure given to her by the person she cherished most. Because of this treasure, which blocked Liu Xuanling¡¯s lethal strike, she was able to escape with her life amidst her severe injuries. Seeing this, Luo Zhancheng merely snorted coldly and withdrew his fists, not continuing the fight. Otherwise, if the fight escalated, Yin Bieli might discover that he didn¡¯t have the White Tiger Saber with him, which could lead to a real life-and-death battle. Although he wouldn¡¯t necessarily lose without the White Tiger Saber, his combat power was still affected. And it was very likely that Yin Bieli would guess the truth about the White Tiger Saber left in the Heavenly Pool Secret Realm. Once those elders from Taiyi Mountain caught wind of this, they might not have a chance to refine the Heavenly Pool Cave Heaven in advance. Even if they couldn¡¯t always keep an eye on the Beast Taming Sect, just confronting for sixty years would see the Secret Realm reopening, and by then, whether they could procure the Heavenly Pool Cave Heaven was uncertain. ¡°Everyone, come back.¡± Following the Elder¡¯s shout from the Sect, numerous disciples below promptly got up and boarded the Tower Ship. In a moment, the ship trembled, the sound of Dragon Roar resonated through the mountains, and the Jiao Dragon, dragging the Tower Ship, slowly ascended and flew towards the distant sky. Qin Feng bid farewell to Qin Xi, An Ruhui, and others, and hid in his room, blissfully taking out the Storage Bags he had obtained in the Heavenly Pool Secret Realm, breaking the seals one by one, and taking out the items inside to check. Although many Spiritual Medicines had spoiled over time and were no longer usable, some still remained well-preserved inside some Sealing Spirit Boxes. And besides these medicines, the Storage Bags contained several Spiritual Artifacts, numerous Spirit Talismans, and various other types of Spiritual Objects, such as all sorts of Artifact Refining Materials. Qin Feng meticulously sorted these items and roughly estimated that these Spiritual Objects were worth at least two to three hundred thousand Spirit Stones. This was partly because some Storage Bags owned by Qi Refinement Realm disciples contained few good items, which left not much of value. But some bags had plenty of Spiritual Objects, clearly having reaped a full harvest in the Secret Realm; unfortunately, they hadn¡¯t survived the Confusing God Flower, thus benefitting him. Elated, Qin Feng, with these treasures, now considered purchasing a Spiritual Beast possessing top-level Bloodline Divine Powers for his own Spiritual Beast. Once fused with formidable Divine Skills, his own combat power would escalate to the next level. Just as he was lightly tapping his haul from the Secret Realm, Liu Xuanling was called to the top level by Luo Zhancheng to inquire about Qin Feng¡¯s affairs. Chapter 168 - Chapter 168 Chapter 166 Return to Mountain Gate ?Chapter 168: Chapter 166: Return to Mountain Gate Chapter 168: Chapter 166: Return to Mountain Gate ¡°The disciple named Qin Feng, he¡¯s from your Spiritual Snake Peak, correct?¡± Luo Zhancheng looked at Liu Xuanling and asked casually. ¡°That¡¯s right.¡± Liu Xuanling felt somewhat puzzled, unsure why Elder Luo would ask about Qin Feng, though it was indeed Qin Feng that had led to her fight with Jiang Yinghong earlier, but that incident shouldn¡¯t be significant enough for Luo Zhancheng to be concerned about. ¡°Ha ha ha¡­ Your disciple from Spiritual Snake Peak has indeed made great contributions this time.¡± Luo Zhancheng chuckled and waved his hand, signaling Li Miao Zhen to recount the events that had occurred in the Secret Realm to Liu Xuanling. After hearing the details, Liu Xuanling finally knew the magnitude of what they had done in the Secret Realm and couldn¡¯t help but feel astounded. ¡°This person is your Spiritual Snake Peak¡¯s disciple, you should know him well. Tell me, what is Qin Feng like? If there are no problems, the Sect might consider focusing on developing him further.¡± Luo Zhancheng said. ¡°His family background is clean; his ancestors were all Inner Sect disciples of the Beast Taming Sect, each generation having disciples join our sect, and his father, Qin Long, had also practiced in the Outer for many years.¡± Liu Xuanling replied evenly, ¡°Qin Feng¡¯s talent and qualifications are above average, but he has had fortunate encounters. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í??.?¦Ï Despite facing dangerous situations, he not only survived but also acquired the Ruyi Golden Snake, an exotic species, as his Lifebound Spiritual Beast, and his cultivation has progressed rapidly. Moreover, I know about that matter with Zhuo Feifan. The daughter of Jiang Dongliu wasn¡¯t actually killed by Qin Feng, but rather by Zhuo Feifan himself, who killed his own junior sister. It was merely a coincidence that Qin Feng stumbled upon the scene, and so Zhuo Feifan framed him and even pursued him into the Ancient Battlefield. It was in the Ancient Battlefield that he obtained his Ruyi Golden Snake.¡± ¡°So that¡¯s how it is.¡± Li Miao Zhen suddenly realized, ¡°I¡¯ve always been wondering what leverage Qin Junior Brother had over Zhuo Feifan, he just never revealed it. So that was it. No wonder Zhuo Feifan so easily agreed to cooperate with us. It seems this guy was not a good person from the start.¡± She then curiously asked, ¡°It¡¯s been such a long time, why hasn¡¯t Qin Junior Brother spoken out about that incident, needlessly bearing this blame?¡± ¡°It was I who told him not to spread the word.¡± Liu Xuanling stated, ¡°Originally, I wanted to expose this matter after Zhuo Feifan became the Taiyi True Inheritor. Then, it would have been a good time for Taiyi Mountain to be shamed, and it might even stir up internal conflicts within the Sword Punishment Hall and the Heart Sword Lineage. Yet unexpectedly, Qin Feng performed even better than I anticipated and made such great contributions.¡± ¡°Since this child is innocent and has made such great contributions for the Sect, he is indeed a candidate worthy of cultivation. Your Spiritual Snake Peak should focus on nurturing him upon return. Regarding the Heavenly Pool Cave Heaven, it¡¯s premature to speak about it now; we also need to consider the possibility that those old fellows from the Taiyi Mountain Golden Light Cave might be plotting against our Beast Taming Sect. If they have intentionally created such an array to trap our Supreme Elder, that would be unfortunate. We must proceed with caution, so no rewards will be given for now. If there are no traps, and we truly can reclaim the Heavenly Pool Cave Heaven for our Sect, he and Miao Zhen will both be credited with a great achievement, and the Sect will naturally reward them.¡± Liu Xuanling had no objections; after all, the Heavenly Pool Cave Heaven hadn¡¯t been secured yet. It truly wasn¡¯t appropriate to give rewards now, although her Spiritual Snake Peak and even the entire Spiritual Snake Lineage could first take care, offering some benefits before giving proper rewards once everything concerning the Heavenly Pool Cave Heaven was concluded. The other elders also nodded in agreement: ¡°Those old men from Taiyi Mountain are crafty and must be guarded against. Caution is never an error; it¡¯s prudent to take extra preparations, even if they prove unnecessary later. If we indeed capture a Grotto Heaven, all the preparations will have been worthwhile.¡± ¡°Alright, let¡¯s settle the matter here for now and remember the Heavenly Pool Cave Heaven affair must be kept strictly confidential. Until everything is finalized, not a word should be leaked.¡± Luo Zhancheng glanced around sternly and declared, ¡°Otherwise, if something goes wrong, the Sect will undoubtedly investigate thoroughly and the Punishment Sword Hall¡¯s execution blade won¡¯t show any mercy. I hope none of you make a grave mistake.¡± Everyone felt a chill in their hearts and hurriedly agreed. Li Miao Zhen also mused to herself, wondering if she should drink less in the coming years to avoid being tricked into talking while intoxicated. After some thought, she decided against it. It wasn¡¯t worth compromising herself for others. If someone tries to trick her into talking, she could simply knock them out with a punch and drag them to the Law Enforcement Hall for the Law Enforcement Elders to help with a soul search. Given the fearsome extent of the Law Enforcement Elders, if they indeed became suspicious, they could dig out details from three generations of your family; there was nothing to worry about. The tower ship flew smoothly towards the Mountain Gate. With Elder Luo presiding over their security, they encountered no troubles along the way and arrived back at the Sect peacefully, unlike some smaller factions that needed to be extremely cautious to avoid being ambushed and robbed along their journey. In fact, incidents like these were quite common, with some people envious of their gains from the Secret Realm, and each time such a realm opened, there were those who couldn¡¯t enter and would bully others. However, these issues were inconsequential for the Beast Taming Sect; with their strength, it was fortunate that they did not rob others. Who would dare rob them? In front of the great hall of the Mountain Gate, the tower ship gradually came to a stop. After Elder Luo and the other Inner Sect Elders disembarked, the disciples also got off and departed with the Peak Masters who had come to welcome them. Of course, some elders had not received anyone because the disciples they had sent to the Heavenly Pool Secret Realm had perished within and could not return. The Secret Realm offered many benefits, but it was also fraught with dangers, including the inherent perils of the realm itself and the greed of other cultivators. In fact, the number of cultivators who truly died at the hands of prohibitions or Demon Beasts in the realm was not very high, as they could flee from Demon Beasts and avoid powerful prohibitions and arrays. Only those who harbored greed posed the greatest threat to them. ?¦Ï¦Í??.?0 After bidding farewell to Elder Mo Li, Liu Xuanling summoned her Riding Tool and flew back to Spiritual Snake Peak with Qin Feng. Upon returning to her Cave Mansion, Liu Xuanling resumed her usual seat, comfortably stretched, perfectly displaying her beautiful figure, and then turned to Qin Feng, saying, ¡°I¡¯ve heard about what you did in the Secret Realm. You did very well, bringing honor to our Spiritual Snake Peak.¡± Qin Feng quickly heaped praise, ¡°It¡¯s all thanks to the Peak Master¡¯s excellent guidance, otherwise I couldn¡¯t have achieved such success.¡± ¡°Mm.¡± Liu Xuanling nodded in satisfaction, finding the words comforting, but still cautioned, ¡°Remember, until the results are out, you must not reveal a word about that matter.¡± ¡°Rest assured, Peak Master. I know the importance, and I certainly won¡¯t mention it to anyone.¡± Such an important matter would naturally not be discussed carelessly. ¡°That¡¯s good, otherwise if the disciples from the Law Enforcement Hall had to take you away, I wouldn¡¯t be able to retrieve you from those stern faces.¡± Liu Xuanling looked at him a few more times and said, ¡°Normally, according to the rules, half of the items that disciples like you obtain from the Secret Realm must be handed over to the Sect. Without the Sect giving you the opportunity, you wouldn¡¯t have been able to enter the Secret Realm at all. However, this time we¡¯ll make an exception. You have achieved so much, and though it¡¯s not yet confirmed if it¡¯s true and whether it will be successful eventually, it doesn¡¯t mean you should go unrewarded. Besides what you have found yourself, Spiritual Snake Peak will also ensure you are rewarded in the future. Go back and cultivate well. Try to get a good ranking in the year-end competition to avoid having others say that our Spiritual Snake Peak has declined.¡± ¡°Yes, I will do my utmost.¡± Qin Feng agreed verbally, but he was extremely pleased in his heart. His trip to the secret realm had been hugely rewarding, not only advancing his cultivation to Foundation Establishment but also obtaining many treasures from those Storage Bags. With a casual word, Peak Master Liu had just exempted him from handing in more than a hundred thousand Spirit Stones¡¯ worth of resourcesa€¡±it was not a small amount at all. In fact, it was appropriate for disciples from each sect to contribute some of what they found in the Secret Realm back to the Sect because without the Sect, they would have no chance to go in and scavenge for treasures. The Beast Taming Sect only asking for half was already very considerate towards its disciples. He heard that some smaller Sects would demand up to eighty or ninety percent of the resources, and even some poverty-stricken Sects would take everything the disciples obtained and redistribute them. Therefore, many cultivators would try to consume some Spiritual Medicines and Spiritual Objects while in the Secret Realm to enhance their cultivation as much as possible. After finishing her instructions, Liu Xuanling lazily waved her hand, ¡°You can go back now. I still need to visit the Inner Sect and in a couple of days when I¡¯m free, I¡¯ll explain the details of the Foundation Establishment Realm cultivation to you.¡± ¡°Disciple, taking leave.¡± Qin Feng bowed, left Liu Xuanling¡¯s Cave Mansion, and headed down the mountain. Upon returning to the living quarters and seeing those Qi Refining Disciples around, he remembered he had now reached Foundation Establishment and could apply for a residence suitable for Foundation Establishment Disciples at the Deacon Room. Foundation Establishment Disciples were considered the backbone in the Outer Sect, and various assigned Deacon Disciples in the Peaks and the Foreign Affairs Hall were all Foundation Establishment Cultivators. The Sect¡¯s external holdings also required Foundation Establishment Disciples to be stationed, so the benefits and treatment for Foundation Establishment Disciples were quite good, much stronger than those of Qi Refining Outer Disciples. They could earn substantial income from any position. However, the most resource-earning was still from undertaking various danger-filled tasks, and even the disciples sent out earned more resources than the Deacon Disciples within the Sect. After all, working within the Sect equated to safety and couldn¡¯t be compared with those who ventured into risks. Contemplating this, Qin Feng went straight to his room to gather his frequently used items, then locked the door and left for the Deacon Room halfway up the mountain to apply for a residence for Foundation Establishment Disciples. The Mid-mountain courtyard was all single-entry homes, and they were built on top of Spirit Veins, providing richer Spiritual Energy beneficial for his cultivation. His real motive for wanting to move to the courtyard quickly was because his Clan Uncle, Qin Ying, had mentioned returning to the family when he had reached the late stage of Qi Refining. It was just that he was still somewhat worried about the two of them, which was why he had stayed in the Sect and hadn¡¯t left immediately. Now that he had advanced to Foundation Establishment, there was no need for Qin Ying to look after them anymore. He wanted Qin Ying to return to the family in peace, and in the Foundation Establishment Disciples¡¯ courtyard, he planned to properly honor Qin Ying. At the same time, he wanted Qin Ying to go back and inform the family, especially his father, telling them that he had successfully advanced to Foundation Establishment, which could stabilize the family situation. Thinking of how his father would be overjoyed upon hearing the news of his Foundation Establishment, he felt a surge of warmth. Chapter 169 - Chapter 169 167 ?Chapter 169: 167 Chapter 169: 167 Liu Xuanling rode a Light Escape to Heavenly Snake Ridge in the Inner Sect, the place where her lineage practiced cultivation within the Inner Sect. ¡°Yo, Little Junior Sister is back.¡± She hadn¡¯t even landed when the ears heard the familiar voice of Second Senior Brother Hao Shicheng. Liu Xuanling spun her figure, turning back in mid-air to face Hao Shicheng, and asked, ¡°Where¡¯s Eldest Senior Brother?¡± Hao Shicheng complained, ¡°You look for Eldest Senior Brother as soon as you arrive. Isn¡¯t it the same if you tell me?¡± Liu Xuanling rolled her eyes, ¡°How can it be the same? You¡¯re not even as strong as me now, what¡¯s the use of telling you?¡± ¡°¡­¡± Hao Shicheng was choked up and couldn¡¯t speak, he shook his head helplessly after a long while, ¡°You girl, you¡¯re not cute at all like you were when you were younger. Fine, I can¡¯t beat you for now, but once the Spiritual Medicine I¡¯ve grown matures and I refine the Heavenly Repairing Pills, I¡¯ll quickly advance to the Purple Mansion Realm. Then, you¡¯ll be far weaker than me. Let¡¯s see if you dare speak like that again.¡± ¡°Then you definitely won¡¯t have a chance.¡± Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?0¦Í?¦Ï.§ã¦Ï Not to mention whether the time you¡¯ve wasted is worth it, let me just say that you¡¯ve always been cultivating with the aid of external things. Even if you advance to the Purple Mansion Realm, your foundation will definitely be less solid than mine. At the Purple Mansion Realm, you still won¡¯t be a match for me.¡± ¡°Tsk.¡± Hao Shicheng disdainfully said, ¡°Everyone has their own fortune and methods. I originally didn¡¯t have as much talent as you. If I didn¡¯t put more effort into these things, I would have to spend even more time to have a chance of advancing. As long as I reach the Purple Mansion, it doesn¡¯t matter whether or not I rely on external thingsa€¡±if I can advance, then that counts as ability. Countless cultivators like me are stuck at the Golden Core Realm. There are so many who haven¡¯t advanced at all until their life span runs out. I am not a genius, so I don¡¯t need to compare myself to those exceptionally gifted onesa€¡±that would be too exhausting. The essence of cultivation is to be carefree. I pursue my true self and enjoy the happiness, how is that bad? Millions of cultivators in the world, only a very small portion can prove the Dao and become immortals. Since I don¡¯t have the qualifications to become an immortal, why can¡¯t I make myself live a happier life, and enjoy the carefree existence of an immortal in advance?¡± With that, a slight smile appeared on his somewhat plump face, ¡°When I have nothing to do, I plant some exotic flowers and exotic grasses, cultivate some Spirit Fruits and Immortal Elixirs. It not only cultivates sentiment but also aids in cultivation. With such a leisurely life, why should I force myself to practice in seclusion every day, living a tasteless life?¡± Liu Xuanling suddenly held her second senior brother in higher regard, ¡°You actually see things quite clearly, thinking things through thoroughly.¡± ¡°That¡¯s right, I¡¯ve always been this clever. It¡¯s just that you, girl, are too high-minded and always think that I¡¯m not serious about my duties.¡± Hao Shicheng smiled, ¡°Actually, what¡¯s so bad about planting flowers and growing grass every day? Who can say this isn¡¯t another way of cultivating and seeking enlightenment?¡± ¡°Heh¡­¡± Liu Xuanling pursed her lips, ¡°You really pat yourself on the back. Not having enough talent can¡¯t be an excuse for your passive effort in cultivation. There are many seniors in the cultivation world who didn¡¯t start with good talent, yet they still managed to cultivate something through hard work. In my opinion, Second Senior Brother, you should focus your mind on cultivation; that¡¯s the right path. Otherwise, be careful that one day someone will take away all the exotic flowers and exotic grasses you¡¯ve worked so hard to nurture, and with insufficient cultivation, you¡¯ll be forced to watch as your years of hard work become someone else¡¯s possession.¡± Hao Shicheng smiled, ¡°Besides you, who else in the Mountain Gate would rob my things?¡± ¡°Hmph, I can¡¯t be bothered to talk to you anymore. ?¦Ï??0.§ã¦Ï Where¡¯s Eldest Senior Brother? I have something to find him for.¡± ¡°He¡¯s with Master. He said he had some questions about his recent cultivation and went to consult with Master.¡± ¡°Ah, Master is back?¡± Liu Xuanling¡¯s face brightened with joy, ¡°When did he come back?¡± ¡°He¡¯s been back for eight or nine days now. You went to the Heavenly Pool Secret Realm, so we didn¡¯t notify you.¡± Before Hao Shicheng finished speaking, Liu Xuanling¡¯s figure flashed with Spirit Light, and she was already riding the Light Escape flying toward the distance. ¡°Hey, why the rush? Master is just on the mountain and isn¡¯t going anywhere.¡± He scratched his head and muttered, ¡°And I wanted to ask you if any disciples got any rare Spiritual Medicines from the Heavenly Pool Secret Realm this time.¡± Liu Xuanling, who had already flown far away, waved her sleeve, and two green and lush Spiritual Medicines, accompanied by a golden-colored Spirit Bamboo, fell in front of him. These were things she had exchanged from other disciples on the Tower Ship. Just as Hao Shicheng reached out to take the items, a thread of lightning leapt from the small Spirit Bamboo, numbing his fingertips, which startled him, ¡°Incredible, could this be Golden Thunder Bamboo? That¡¯s rare.¡± This made him suddenly happy, and after playing with the Golden Thunder Bamboo in his hand for a while, he turned his attention to the two Spiritual Medicines, frowning slightly, ¡°What kind of Spiritual Medicine is this? I don¡¯t recognize it, could it be a mutated Spiritual Medicine from the Secret Realm?¡± Thinking of this, he turned and left the medicinal fields, planning to go to the Scripture Pavilion to see if he could find similar Spiritual Medicines so he could determine the medicinal properties. ¡°Master.¡± ¡°` Outside the seemingly simple courtyard, Liu Xuanling had just touched the ground when she immediately dashed into the building. Upon seeing her master, she exclaimed with great joy, ¡°Master, you¡¯ve finally returned. Was your trip smooth? Did you encounter any danger?¡± Ning Wuxu chuckled as he stroked his beard and said to his senior disciple sitting across from him, ¡°Look at this girl. She actually cares about her master. Not bad. She¡¯s much more sensible than when she was a child.¡± His senior disciple, Zhao Qiankun, smiled and nodded slightly, ¡°Junior sister has always been clever and sensible.¡± ¡°Haha, you¡¯ve also learned how to talk nonsense.¡± Ning Wuxu laughed heartily, ¡°Clever and sensible, since when could those words be used to describe this girl?¡± Liu Xuanling, not at all bothered by her master¡¯s teasing, asked with sparkling eyes, ¡°Seeing Master so happy, does it mean that you¡¯ve already obtained the Heavenly Connecting Lotus?¡± ¡°Indeed.¡± Ning Wuxu smiled and said, ¡°That Resentful Spirit in the lake was truly formidable. The Heart Sword of Taiyi Mountain took it upon himself to deal with it, yet still, after losing two Purple Mansion Sword Cultivators, they barely managed to slay that spirit. In the process, Heart Sword also got a deathblow from the Resentful Spirit, entangling curse upon his Primordial Spirit. Without a hundred years of arduous cultivation, he probably won¡¯t be able to rid himself of such a powerful curse. After they claimed victory, they didn¡¯t even have a chance to pick the lotus, as several formidable Demon Beasts emerged from the depths of the Ancient Battlefield. They severely injured Heart Sword in one fell swoop, and amid the chaos, the whereabouts of the Heavenly Connecting Lotus became unknown.¡± ¡°Eh?¡± Liu Xuanling blinked her eyes, ¡°So Master didn¡¯t have to reveal yourself to snatch the treasure.¡± After thinking for a while, she asked again, ¡°Why didn¡¯t Master take the opportunity to slay Heart Sword?¡± ¡°It¡¯s not easy to kill.¡± Ning Wuxu shook his head, ¡°Heart Sword¡¯s cultivation is not much weaker than mine. If it came to a life-and-death struggle, even if I could kill him, I too would sustain severe injuries. Getting injured at this juncture is not a good thing. Therefore, I didn¡¯t show myself; I just let a few Spiritual Beasts create a ruckus. You should not be dissatisfied. To obtain the Heavenly Connecting Lotus so effortlessly is already a huge advantage.¡± Saying this, he took a jade box from his sleeve and handed it to Liu Xuanling, ¡°This is the Heavenly Connecting Lotus. Unfortunately, the Dao Principle nurtured within it is fixed and not suitable for alchemy. Even if its potency wouldn¡¯t be diminished, once the Power of Laws disperses into multiple Elixir Pills, it would only reduce the effect of the inherent Dao Principle. Take this and refine it directly, as enjoying it alone could actually help you build a better foundation. However, you must be cautious. After advancing to the Purple Mansion Realm, you must promptly comprehend your own Dao and then absorb and refine the Dao Principle Power. Never rely on the laws of the Heavenly Connecting Lotus as your primary cultivation direction; it is, after all, an external object and should only serve as a catalyst for perceiving the Dao, not as the foundation of your Dao.¡± ¡°Yes, Master. The disciple understands.¡± Liu Xuanling took the jade box, a flicker of Spirit Light shimmering over her fingers, she opened the prohibition on the jade box. Just a glimpse of the rich Dao Rhythm of the Heavenly Connecting Lotus inside, and she couldn¡¯t help but feel elated. ¡°Mm, as long as you understand your limits, that¡¯s fine.¡± Ning Wuxu nodded approvingly and continued, ¡°Besides this lotus, I¡¯ve also gathered several Sky-Reaching Lotus Leaves. It¡¯s inadvisable to entrust such items to outsiders for refining, or else I¡¯d inevitably end up sharing one or two of them, not to mention revealing some of our cards. I plan to put in more effort and refine these leaves into Death Replacement Talismans. Although I am far from being as proficient in Talisman Making as those masters, actually, making Death Replacement Talismans isn¡¯t overly difficult. The challenge lies in finding the materials to craft them. Now that we have the Sky-Reaching Lotus Leaves, it¡¯s sufficient to make several talismans. Once I succeed, each of you will receive one, to be carefully nurtured, and at a critical moment, it could die in your place.¡± ¡°You¡¯ve gone through all this trouble, Master.¡± Both disciples hastily said. ¡°It¡¯s nothing.¡± Ning Wuxu waved his hand, ¡°With a great calamity approaching, it¡¯s better to prepare more. All three of you are my disciples, and of course, I don¡¯t wish for anything to happen to you. But even with Death Replacement Talismans, do not seek trouble yourself. Should you encounter an unbeatable opponent, if you can escape, then escape. Otherwise, if you fell into their hands, even a hundred lives wouldn¡¯t save you from death.¡± He then looked at Liu Xuanling and said, ¡°Cultivate well and try to advance to the Purple Mansion as soon as possible, so I won¡¯t have to worry so much.¡± ¡°Yes, Master. I will go into seclusion now.¡± After speaking, Liu Xuanling got up, holding the jade box and immediately left. Ning Wuxu wasn¡¯t concerned; his young disciple had always been like this. He had just picked up a cup of tea, preparing to take a sip when he suddenly saw Liu Xuanling hurriedly returning after just leaving. ¡°By the way, Master, I forgot to tell you something. This time, a disciple from Spiritual Snake Peak, Qin Feng, has made significant contributions. For the details, you should ask Elder Luo Zhancheng. It¡¯s a matter of importance; he has issued a gag order, and I dare not spread it.¡± Liu Xuanling did not wish to touch on taboos, even in front of her own master, for fear of trouble if those fierce people found out. After thinking a bit more, she added, ¡°I was planning to explain the tricks of the Foundation Establishment Realm to that youngster in a couple of days, but now I¡¯m going into seclusion and won¡¯t have time for him. Maybe Senior Brother or Second Senior Brother could teach him?¡± Ning Wuxu nodded, ¡°Alright, I am informed. Just focus on your seclusion. However, advancing to the Purple Mansion is extraordinary; don¡¯t overexert yourself. It¡¯s best to calm your heart first before refining the Heavenly Connecting Lotus to avoid accidents.¡± ¡°Rest assured, Master. I know what to do.¡± Liu Xuanling finished speaking and ran off again. With the support of the Heavenly Connecting Lotus, she was certain to succeed in her cultivation during this seclusion and reach the Purple Mansion Realm. ¡°` Chapter 170 - Chapter 170 Chapter 168 Return to the Ten Thousand Demons Pavilion ?Chapter 170: Chapter 168: Return to the Ten Thousand Demons Pavilion Chapter 170: Chapter 168: Return to the Ten Thousand Demons Pavilion Qin Feng, guided attentively by a Deacon Room Disciple, arrived at a courtyard situated halfway up the mountain. The scenery here was beautiful, filled with abundant Spiritual Energy. In the courtyard grew a centuries-old osmanthus tree, and behind it, a lush and vibrant forest thrived. Because the disciples of Spiritual Snake Peak rarely cut down these trees, many of them were ancient, and not even several people together could embrace their trunks. Occasionally, massive snakes as thick as water buckets could be seen on those ancient trees, belonging perhaps to some disciple who had let their Spiritual Beast wander. Upon entering the courtyard, Qin Feng felt even more satisfied. Though it was not segmented like the estates back at his old home, living here alone without the need for servants meant there was no reason for it to be built like an estate. Besides, with only the status of a Foundation Establishment Disciple, he did not qualify to have the Sect construct an estate for him. Each room here possessed its unique prohibition, divided into a Qi Refining Room, Alchemy Room, Artifact Refining Room, and Storage Room, among othersa€¡±built for the convenience of disciples skilled in these arts, saving them the expense of constructing their own. Of course, most disciples would not need these, as very few Outer Disciples could master multiple crafts. In the numerous arts of cultivation, each was profound and required substantial concentration and spirit investment to achieve any significant success. Ordinary Outer Disciples, busy with various tasks daily, could hardly spare the energy to engage in alchemy or artifact refining, nor were they inclined to make time for it. Even if some disciples wished to explore alchemy or artifact refining, their cultivation paths did not suit such endeavors. Having a Lifebound Spiritual Beast could enhance their combat power, but it also fixed their cultivation path. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í??.§ã¦Ï Except for those who found the rare Fire Element Spiritual Snakes and could cultivate Spiritual Fire to refine various elixirs and magical artifacts, the average disciple¡¯s cultivation path was not suitable for these tasks. As for studying Spirit Talismans, that required a large amount of materials for a successful creation, which ordinary disciples could rarely afford. Array methods, favored by the brilliantly ingenious, caused headaches for ordinary disciples who found such complex arrays utterly bewildering. Fortunately, many tasks within the various peaks of the Outer Sect involved other kinds of cultivation arts, whether rearing Spiritual Beasts, cultivating various Spiritual Fruits and Medicines, or even like Heavenly Silkworm Peak, focusing on raising silkworms and weaving robes, refining silken magical artifactsa€¡±these too were part of the arts of cultivation, just not as esteemed as elixirs and talisman arrays. After a thorough inspection of the courtyard with the Deacon Disciple, Qin Feng finally nodded in satisfaction and decided to choose this place as his cultivation site. The Deacon Disciple also secretly breathed a sigh of relief in his heart. He had been at Spiritual Snake Peak for over a hundred years and was well-informed, knowing that Qin Feng had just returned from the Heavenly Pool Secret Realm. Disciples chosen by the Peak Master for the Heavenly Pool Secret Realm were definitely intended to be nurtured carefully and had a chance to be taken into the Inner Sect. Although Qin Feng had just entered the Sect two years ago, he had already successfully established his foundation. Barring any mishaps, he was sure to be taken into the Inner Sect. Even if he was defeated at this year¡¯s Outer Disciple competition, he still had eight years to strengthen, and it was only a matter of time before he joined the Inner Sect. For such a disciple with a promising future, who was almost certain to be taken into the Inner Sect, the Deacon Disciple was eager to ingratiate himself and of course would not offend him by personally accompanying Qin Feng to select a cultivation site. This courtyard was currently the best vacant one in Spiritual Snake Peak. If Qin Feng was not satisfied with it, the Deacon would indeed be in a difficult position. After all, he couldn¡¯t expect those in the late stages of Foundation Establishment to vacate a better place for him, as that would surely offend people. After seeing off the Deacon Disciple, Qin Feng directly refined the prohibition arrays in the courtyard, and then he comfortably exhaled. He remembered envying those disciples who lived in the independent courtyards halfway up the mountain on a Spirit Vein when he first joined Spiritual Snake Peak. Those places seemed much better than the small cottages where the numerous Qi Refining Realm disciples like him lived at the mountain base. Now, within just two short years, he had also obtained his own cultivation site halfway up the mountain, which made him feel very fortunate. The Deacon Disciple had mentioned during the introduction that there was a branch of a Spirit Vein beneath this courtyard, so the Spiritual Energy here was better than in most other courtyards. Qin Feng was very satisfied with this, although the branch was somewhat slender. Here there were no outsiders competing for Spiritual Energy with him, unlike his family that had a small independent Spirit Vein but had to share it among hundreds of clan members for cultivation. Now Qin Feng realized why the cultivation speed of his clan members was so slow. A single small Spirit Vein not only had to supply the Spiritual Field yields but also support the cultivation of so many clan membersa€¡±no wonder the clan¡¯s cultivators couldn¡¯t advance quickly. Having resettled his home, Qin Feng immediately sent a message bird to notify Qin Xi and Qin Ying to gather at his place the next day. In reality, there wasn¡¯t much to meet about with Qin Xi, since they had just separated from the Tower Ship. This gathering was mainly for Qin Ying. To provide a support for the younger generation of his family when they first arrived at the Sect, Qin Ying had stayed in the Sect for over twenty years. For a Qi Refining Realm cultivator, that was not a short time. Now nearly sixty, although he still looked middle-aged, his mindset had aged. He was tired and, having lost the confidence to reach Foundation Establishment, was determined to retire peacefully back to the family. Qin Feng understood this, as not every cultivator could reach a great height in their cultivation. Cultivation was like thousands of soldiers crossing a narrow bridge; more than ninety-nine percent of cultivators would fall on this path, and only a few with profound fate could aspire to the Immortal Dao and achieve longevity. Now that he had reached the Foundation Establishment Realm, Qin Feng no longer needed the care of his elder, Uncle Ying, so he let him return early to the clan to retire. The next day, early in the morning, upon receiving the news, Uncle Ying came excitedly to Qin Feng¡¯s courtyard. When they confirmed that their nephew had indeed succeeded in his Foundation Establishment, they immediately burst into joyous laughter. For a small family like the Qin Family, a Foundation Establishment Cultivator was already considered a main pillar of the family. If Qin Xi could also succeed in Foundation Establishment in a few more years, the family wouldn¡¯t have to worry about their lineage discontinuing for the next hundred or two hundred years. After Qin Xi also arrived, the two juniors accompanied their Clan Uncle in a hearty conversation, listening to the elderly man¡¯s continuous chatter. As they were leaving, Qin Ying, feeling sentimental, said, ¡°Seeing you two succeeding puts my mind at ease. You are different from me; I am old now and prefer stability, but you young people always think about venturing into the world to acquire more cultivation resources. I haven¡¯t achieved much myself, so I won¡¯t advise you further, but just be extra careful in everything you do. Don¡¯t be too reckless, as many of our fellow sect members die each year due to various dangers. You are still young and inexperienced, so it¡¯s even more important to prioritize safety. In a moment, when I return to Spiritual Vulture Peak, I¡¯ll apply at the Deacon Room to leave the Mountain Gate and return to the family. You should continue to cultivate diligently in the Sect and strive to progress further.¡± ¡°Rest assured, Uncle Ying, we will work hard.¡± The two of them naturally agreed wholeheartedly. Three days later, Qin Ying officially left the Mountain Gate, joining a merchant convoy of the Ten Thousand Demons Pavilion heading towards Chu Kingdom, embarking on the journey back to his family. Qin Feng and Qin Xi discussed and decided to send some cultivation resources with Qin Ying back to the family. Their recent expedition into the Heavenly Pool Secret Realm had been extremely fruitful and it was time to give back to their family. ?¦Ï¦Í?0.§ã? However, they didn¡¯t send too much, not out of stinginess, but out of concern. Qin Ying himself was only a Qi Refinement Cultivator, so they dared not entrust him with too many resources, fearing it might bring him lethal troubles. After all, in the Cultivation World, there were mysterious techniques that could detect whether someone possessed treasures, some could sense others¡¯ Storage Magical Treasures, some could probe for spiritual mechanisms, and some secret techniques could even deduce the presence of treasures based on a person¡¯s Qi Fortune. Qin Ying was too weak in cultivation, and they dared not let him carry too much. They decided that they would leave more for the family when they themselves had achieved more and visited the family in the future. After sending off their Clan Uncle, Qin Feng thought for a while and decided to visit the Ten Thousand Demons Pavilion. He was not skilled in Artifact Refining or Alchemy, so keeping those Spiritual Medicines and Spiritual Objects wasn¡¯t very useful to him; it would be better to exchange them for Spirit Stones. If he had enough Spirit Stones, he wanted to merge with his Lifebound Spiritual Beast to develop stronger Divine Skills. He flew directly to Ten Thousand Demons Pavilion¡¯s managing steward, whom he met beforea€¡±a familiar Foundation Establishment Manager named Zhou. Since it hadn¡¯t been too long since their last transaction, Steward Zhou still remembered Qin Feng vividly. Seeing him now at the Foundation Establishment Realm, he was greatly surprised, congratulating him repeatedly, ¡°Junior Brother Qin truly possesses exceptional talents. It¡¯s a delight to see you achieving Foundation Establishment so quickly.¡± ¡°Senior Brother Zhou flatters me.¡± Qin Feng smiled slightly, raising his hand in a gesture of respect. ¡°Junior Brother, have you brought some treasures for sale to the Ten Thousand Demons Pavilion again?¡± ¡°Indeed.¡± Qin Feng nodded and replied, ¡°Thanks to the generous favor of our Peak Master, he sent me to the Heavenly Pool Secret Realm. The trip was greatly rewarding. No sooner had I come out than I came directly here, hoping Senior Brother could help me appraise them.¡± ¡°Oh?¡± Steward Zhou felt intrigued, knowing Qin Feng had just come from the Heavenly Pool Secret Realm. With that said, it was certain he would have many rare items on him. With this thought, he smiled even more sincerely, ¡°The Heavenly Pool Secret Realm is a treasure trove indeed. Since Junior Brother claimed a bountiful haul, it must be substantial. Let¡¯s see what you have brought.¡± Qin Feng gave a slight smile and then reached out to retrieve several Storage Bags. The Spiritual Objects were organized in different Storage Bags for easy examination. Once he had taken all the Spiritual Objects out, even Steward Zhou, prepared as he was, was still taken aback. ¡°So many?¡± He never expected that Qin Feng, a disciple who had just advanced to Foundation Establishment, could secure so much from the Secret Realm. It seemed this young Junior Brother¡¯s capabilities far exceeded his expectations. Qin Feng said, ¡°Please help me estimate the value, Senior Brother. I have just established my foundation and need Spirit Stones to nurture my Spiritual Beast. Please offer me a good price.¡± Chapter 171 - Chapter 171 Chapter 169 First Entry into the Inner Sect ?Chapter 171: Chapter 169: First Entry into the Inner Sect Chapter 171: Chapter 169: First Entry into the Inner Sect ¡°Sure thing, sure thing.¡± Steward Zhou suppressed the joy in his heart and hastily agreed. It would definitely be of great benefit to him to close such a large deal, as it would not only earn him the appreciation of the Elders in the pavilion but also ensure a substantial reward at the end of the year. Steward Zhou steadied his spirit and reached to pick up a several hundred year-old Jade Ginseng, observing it for a few moments. Seeing the whole ginseng brimming with spiritual energy and the rich medicinal fragrance, he couldn¡¯t help but nod in satisfaction. With each spiritual object he inspected, he would state its uses and approximate price. This was the special expertise of managers like him. These managers of the Ten Thousand Demons Pavilion might not have strong cultivation or outstanding combat power, but the eye for detail and experience they honed from years of handling various spiritual objects was truly extraordinary. Ultimately, when he tallied the prices of all the items, the total value came to 328,000 Spirit Stones, which was slightly higher than what Qin Feng had estimated himself. Steward Zhou was in an excellent mood and said to Qin Feng, ¡°Since Junior Brother Qin is from our own Sect, I won¡¯t haggle with you. I¡¯ll round up the total for these items to 330,000 Spirit Stones, how about it?¡± Qin Feng nodded, ¡°Alright, we¡¯ll go with the price Brother has said.¡± He knew that the Sect¡¯s enterprises actually took care of their own disciples to a great extent, so he didn¡¯t bargain and agreed immediately. ¡°Brother is straightforward.¡± Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í??.?? After all, such a large sum of Spirit Stones was not something a Foundation Establishment Manager could decide on alone. It had to be approved by the Elders in the pavilion before it could be drawn from the treasury. After he got the 330,000 Spirit Stones and handed them over to Qin Feng, only then did he have people come in to sort and send the spiritual objects to their respective storerooms. ¡°If you have more good items in the future, feel free to come to Ten Thousand Demons Pavilion and look for me. I¡¯ll make sure you get a satisfactory price,¡± Steward Zhou earnestly said to Qin Feng before leaving. After all, such a major client was rare. Usually, only influential powers could engage in such large transactions, and those powers would be personally received by higher-level Grand Managers and Elders from the pavilion. Ordinary managers like themselves could only attend to common cultivators. And among the common cultivators, few would throw around as much as Qin Feng did. Qin Feng responded with a smile, ¡°Thanks to Senior Brother Zhou¡¯s care, if I do come across any treasures in the future, I¡¯ll surely trouble Brother again.¡± Of course, this was just a polite remark. Even Steward Zhou himself didn¡¯t believe that Qin Feng would have the chance to acquire such an abundance of spiritual objects again in a short time, since there weren¡¯t that many secret realms for him to explore. However, Steward Zhou was still overjoyed. If not now, that didn¡¯t mean it would be the same in the future. Perhaps there would come a day when Qin Feng would again bring in a large quantity of spiritual objects. If he was able to conduct several more transactions like this one, he would certainly be promoted to a higher position within the Ten Thousand Demons Pavilion. Qin Feng left the Ten Thousand Demons Pavilion satisfied with the Spirit Stones in hand. Initially, his first thought upon obtaining the Spirit Stones was to buy a top-level bloodline Spiritual Beast for fusion to enhance his own Spiritual Beasts¡¯ strengths, but now he hesitated. It wasn¡¯t that he didn¡¯t want to buy, but that it was somewhat difficult to choose between the Swallowing Sky Toad and the Ruyi Golden Snake on which to cultivate first. Logically, he should choose the Ruyi Golden Snake first since it was his Lifebound Spiritual Beast. But the Swallowing Sky Toad, being his first Spiritual Beast and having been with him for the longest time, also held a significant place in his heart. The Swallowing Sky Toad had consumed many treasures in the secret realm, including the bodies of various Demon Beasts along with numerous heavenly materials and earthly treasures. If it had not yet advanced to Foundation Establishment, it was because it had too much to digest recently, and it was still processing everything. Once all the items in its belly were converted to energy in a few days, it would certainly advance to Foundation Establishment. Once the Swallowing Sky Toad broke through in cultivation realm, its strength would surely rise significantly, and it wouldn¡¯t remain in the ambiguous position it held in the secret realm, where it hadn¡¯t been of much use. And if it was to fuse with the Divine Skills of other Spiritual Toads, its combat power would surely soar. As for the spells like Water Control and the Cold Ice Arrow a€¡° their power was average, hardly matching its reputation. ?¦Ï???.§ã? However, if he helped the Swallowing Sky Toad to fuse, then the Ruyi Golden Snake would be postponed. After all, top-level bloodline Spiritual Beasts were expensive. Although his gains in the Heavenly Pool Secret Realm were not small, they weren¡¯t enough to buy two top-level bloodline Spiritual Beasts. Frowning, Qin Feng thought long and hard but couldn¡¯t decide. Eventually, he shook his head, resigned a€¡° the Swallowing Sky Toad still needed a few more days to advance, so there was no need to rush. He decided to return to the Spiritual Snake Peak to think it over and make a decision after the Swallowing Sky Toad had advanced. Even if he wanted to fuse top-level bloodline into the Swallowing Sky Toad, it would have to reach a comparable cultivation realm first, otherwise, what if the fusion failed and the toad burst as a result? Liu Xuanling had also told him that he would explain the Foundation Establishment Technique to him in a few days, so now he needed to properly sort out his own cultivation path. He had no plans to leave the Mountain Gate in the near future and wasn¡¯t in a hurry to fuse bloodlines or improve combat power for his Spiritual Beasts. However, he found it strange that several days had passed and Liu Xuanling had not come to find him. He wondered what the Peak Master was busy with. While Qin Feng was somewhat puzzled by this, he wasn¡¯t particularly concerned. Since a Golden Core Elder would come to the Preaching Pavilion to preach every month, he could just ask for guidance then. He had only just achieved Foundation Establishment, and even the True Yuan in his Dantian wasn¡¯t fully accumulated yet, so his current cultivation was mainly about accumulating True Yuan. On this day, Qin Feng was meditating and refining Qi when he suddenly heard a knock at the door. Qin Feng slowly ceased his cultivation, wondering who could be seeking him out at this time. Releasing his Divine Sense to probe outside the courtyard, he saw a slightly plump young cultivator standing at the door. The cultivator seemed to sense Qin Feng¡¯s Divine Sense probing and responded with a slight smile visible to the sense, displaying a radiant smile, ¡°Qin Feng, I am Hao Shicheng, an Inner Sect Disciple. I have been instructed by my teacher to summon you to meet with the Inner Sect.¡± ¡°Inner Sect Disciple?¡± Qin Feng was taken aback and, not daring to be negligent, quickly got up, opened the courtyard door, and greeted the plump cultivator with a slight bow, ¡°Please come in, Senior Brother. May I inquire which Elder is your teacher and what matter brings you to me?¡± Hao Shicheng gave a light laugh, ¡°I am the second senior brother to your Peak Master; thus, my master is also your Peak Master¡¯s master.¡± This revelation startled Qin Feng. He inwardly cursed himself for speaking without thinking; since this man was Liu Xuanling¡¯s Senior Brother, he must be at least at the Golden Core Realm. Knowing that the other party was from the Inner Sect, he shouldn¡¯t have carelessly called him Senior Brother. He glanced at the Inner Sect Disciple before him, who appeared amiable and seemed unfazed by his address, which silently relieved Qin Feng. Then he heard Hao Shicheng continue, ¡°As for the exact reason my master summoned you, I¡¯m unaware. He didn¡¯t say, so it wouldn¡¯t be right for me to ask. You needn¡¯t worry about anything; my master¡¯s temperament is one of the better ones among the Elders of the Inner Sect, and given his status, he wouldn¡¯t trouble a junior like you unnecessarily. If you don¡¯t have other matters, come with me so as not to keep my master waiting.¡± ¡°Disciple obeys.¡± Qin Feng replied, closed the courtyard door, and walked over to Hao Shicheng¡¯s side. Next, he saw Hao Shicheng sweep his large sleeve, and a gentle force wrapped around him. By the time he steadied himself, they were standing on the back of a huge snake stretching over a dozen yards long. The giant snake flicked its long tail and swiftly slithered through the void toward the direction of the Inner Sect. This was Qin Feng¡¯s first entry into the Inner Sect. In truth, among the countless disciples of the Beast Taming Sect¡¯s Outer Sect, very few had the opportunity to enter the Inner Sect. Usually even if flying in mid-air, Outer Disciples were not allowed to fly directly over the Inner Sect. To reach the other side of the Mountain Gate, one had to circle around the peaks of the periphery. As they passed through an invisible barrier, Qin Feng¡¯s vision suddenly brightened. Each peak within the Inner Sect stood more majestic and exquisite compared to the Outer Sect, not to mention that the Spiritual Energy was several times more abundant, and various rare exotic grasses and precious Spiritual Wood were found everywhere. Moreover, between the mountains roamed numerous rare Exotic Beasts, and from time to time, various Spiritual Beasts flew across the sky. In just a short moment, Qin Feng had already seen dozens of Spiritual Beasts rare in the outside world. For Hao Shicheng, such sights were commonplace; he seemed indifferent to the varied Spiritual Beasts along the way, guiding the Spiritual Snake directly toward Heavenly Snake Ridge. When they arrived outside the seemingly simple courtyard, Qin Feng was somewhat surprised; during their flight over, he had seen magnificent palaces and splendid towers on many peaks. He had not expected that Liu Xuanling¡¯s master would live in such a modest, even to say rudimentary place, which appeared less luxurious than his quarters at Spiritual Snake Peak. ¡°Master, I have brought Qin Feng.¡± Hao Shicheng called toward the inside of the house. Without waiting for a response, he led Qin Feng inside. In the room, Ning Wuxu put down the Daoist Book he was holding, and his calm eyes turned toward Qin Feng. His gaze was not sharp, nor did it carry the majesty of a superior; however, Qin Feng still felt as if he could see through all of his secrets, causing a tremor in his heart. Fortunately, Ning Wuxu quickly picked up on his discomfort and let out a light chuckle, blinking gently. Instantly, that penetrating sensation vanished, allowing Qin Feng to relax completely. ¡°Junior Qin Feng greets the Elder.¡± Qin Feng was unsure how to address the person before him, but since he was Liu Xuanling¡¯s master and at least of Elder Level in the Inner Sect, such an address should be appropriate. Ning Wuxu smiled, waved his hand, and pointed to the cushion nearby, saying, ¡°Sit.¡± ¡°Yes.¡± Although Qin Feng was still somewhat reserved, he obediently sat down. In the presence of a being with such profound Dao Cultivation, it was best to be obedient rather than trying to be clever by acting humble or declining, which could instead be annoying. ¡°I¡¯ve heard about you from Xuanling. It was you who discovered the Heavenly Connecting Lotus, wasn¡¯t it?¡± Ning Wuxu smiled and, without waiting for his response, continued, ¡°A few days ago, I also heard from Luo Zhancheng about what you did in the Heavenly Pool Secret Realm. Very good. A young man with both courage and wisdom, and even more rare, some strategic acumen. I am quite satisfied.¡± Chapter 172 - Chapter 172 Chapter 170 Becoming a Disciple, Clinging to the Powerful ?Chapter 172: Chapter 170: Becoming a Disciple, Clinging to the Powerful Chapter 172: Chapter 170: Becoming a Disciple, Clinging to the Powerful ¡°Thank you for the praise, Elder, but I truly don¡¯t dare to accept it.¡± Qin Feng swiftly responded with humility, ¡°All of these achievements are thanks to Peak Master Liu¡¯s excellent guidance and giving me the opportunity to enter the Secret Realm. It was sheer luck that I was able to accomplish that task with Senior Sister Li Miaozhen. Without the Peak Master¡¯s care, I wouldn¡¯t have been able to achieve what I have today.¡± ¡°Oh? Hahaha¡­¡± Ning Wuxu was firstly slightly taken aback, then burst into hearty laughter, ¡°I know Xuanling¡¯s temperament and didn¡¯t expect you to understand her nature so quickly. But she has now entered closed-door cultivation and is not here, so there¡¯s no need to flatter her in front of me.¡± Beside him, Hao Shicheng couldn¡¯t help but laugh, ¡°You are quite something, trusting the character of our Junior Sister. Even I, her Senior Brother, wouldn¡¯t be able to humble myself to flatter her. If I did compliment her a bit, she definitely wouldn¡¯t come and meddle with my spiritual medicines anymore.¡± Qin Feng coughed lightly, ¡°Everything I have said comes from the bottom of my heart; I dare not be dishonest in any way.¡± Ning Wuxu shook his head and chuckled lightly, ¡°Your ability to tell such convincing lies so earnestly is indeed impressive, reminiscent of¡­ ahem, of Pavilion Master Hu Yanzhi in his youth.¡± Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í??.?0 He knew that his master was infamous along with Pavilion Master Hu Yanzhi from the Ten Thousand Demons Pavilion during his youth a€¡± not exactly for a good reputation, often associated with cunning and deceit. Now, by saying such things about this young man, wasn¡¯t he implicating himself too? ¡°The Elder is too kind.¡± Qin Feng spoke respectfully, ¡°I am merely an Outer Disciple, nowhere near the stature of a personage like Pavilion Master Hu.¡± Although he was an Outer Disciple with little knowledge about the high echelons of the sect, he had heard of the resounding name of Pavilion Master Hu Yanzhi, who managed most of the sect¡¯s resource allocations and business operations with clever strategies, earning countless cultivation resources for the sect each year. It was said that in his younger days he deceived many, especially those who thought themselves clever and sought to gain an advantage over him, only to be ensnared by Hu Yanzhi¡¯s schemes and lose a great deal, with many still cursing his ruthlessness in secret to this day. Qin Feng wasn¡¯t sure whether Ning Wuxu¡¯s words were meant as praise or something else, and he didn¡¯t dare speculatea€¡±in the presence of such a Sect bigwig whose depth was unknown, it was better to be prudent. Thus, he sat there earnestly, his honest demeanor making him appear to be a trustworthy and upright gentleman. Ning Wuxu looked at the young man before him, finding him more and more amusing, and couldn¡¯t help but say with a chuckle, ¡°You¡¯re quite interesting. Previously, Xuanling said she would explain the cultivation techniques to you, but she¡¯s in closed-door cultivation now and can¡¯t get away. Before she left, she did mention that we should look after you. The matter with the Heavenly Connecting Lotus has yet to be rewarded, and with your significant contributions during this trip to the Heavenly Pool Secret Realm, the specifics aren¡¯t settled yet, so it¡¯s a bit difficult to assign your merit outright.¡± While speaking, he glanced at Qin Feng and noticed the Ruyi Golden Snake on his wrist; after a moment¡¯s contemplation, he suddenly asked, ¡°Would you be willing to take me as your master?¡± ¡°Ah?¡± Qin Feng was a little stunned. Weren¡¯t they discussing rewards? How had it suddenly switched to taking a master? Could it be that this elder intended to withhold his reward? Before he finished his thought, he heard Ning Wuxu saying, ¡°In the Inner Sect, my Spiritual Snake lineage is quite influential, yet due to my laziness and earlier focus on cultivation, I¡¯ve only accepted three disciples so far. I quite like you, my boy. If you¡¯re willing, I could take you under my wing, and as for your reward, the sect certainly won¡¯t shortchange a disciple of Ning Wuxu at the time.¡± Seeing Qin Feng slightly dazed, Hao Shicheng quickly nudged him, ¡°My master oversees Heavenly Snake Ridge and is the Great Elder of the Spiritual Snake lineage. Many people wish to be his disciples but cannot; now that the opportunity has arisen, what are you hesitating for?¡± In an instant, Qin Feng realized the significance. The Great Elder of the Spiritual Snake lineagea€¡±that was a powerful leg to cling to! With such a high-ranking master to protect him, what could he possibly fear in the future? Thus, he quickly knelt and bowed deeply, ¡°Disciple meets his gracious master.¡± After speaking, he knocked his head on the ground seven or eight times robustly. ¡°Hehe, enough, enough, get up,¡± Ning Wuxu waved his sleeve, and a gentle Qi Force lifted him upright, and then he said, ¡°Remember, whenever someone asks, you tell them your master is Ning Wuxu, the Great Elder of the Spiritual Snake lineage.¡± ¡°Yes, Master, your disciple remembers,¡± Qin Feng hastily replied, his heart jubilantly pounding. The Great Elder of the Spiritual Snake lineage! Although this referred to the Elders of the Inner Sect rather than those reclusive Supreme Elders residing in the Ten Thousand Demons Cave Heaven, this was still one of the most influential Elder-level figures in the Beast Taming Sect. He suddenly thought it might have been better to have his Clan Uncle Qin Ying stay a few more days; if only he knew that his own nephew had become a disciple under such a significant figure, how thrilled he would be! When he returned to his family and shared the news with his kin and father, it would certainly bring them great joy and pride. ¡°Taking you as my apprentice was a spur-of-the-moment decision,¡± Ning Wuxu continued, ¡°But the rules of the sect cannot be broken. As you are still an Outer Disciple, you can only be counted as a registered disciple for now. Once you enter the Inner Sect, we can officiate the apprenticeship and include you in our lineage.¡± ¡°Your disciple will hasten his cultivation and strive to enter the Inner Sect to serve the Master as soon as possible.¡± Qin Feng said with an innocent look on his face. ¡°Hehe, stop with that routine, your master is not Liu Xuanling, flattering doesn¡¯t work on me.¡± Ning Wuxu laughed and said, ¡°Underneath me, there are three disciples; your eldest senior brother, Zhao Qiankun, has already achieved Purple Mansion and is one of the higher cultivation ones among the juniors. It¡¯s just that he is currently out on Sect affairs and isn¡¯t at the Mountain Gate. You¡¯ll meet him later. The second disciple, Hao Shicheng, is the one right beside you.¡± Qin Feng glanced at Hao Shicheng, whose face always held a slight smile, and quickly bowed in greeting, ¡°Junior brother Qin Feng, I¡¯ve seen the second senior brother.¡± ¡°No need for such courtesy, Junior Brother.¡± Hao Shicheng waved his hand merrily, ¡°It¡¯s a good thing for me that you have become a disciple under our master. This way, Junior Sister Liu won¡¯t just focus on bullying me every time she comes back.¡± Qin Feng¡¯s mouth twitched slightly, unsure how to respond. Meanwhile, Ning Wuxu didn¡¯t care and continued, ¡°The third disciple is Liu Xuanling, whom you know, so I won¡¯t elaborate. Now you are my fourth disciple. You¡¯re already familiar with the rules of the Beast Taming Sect, so I won¡¯t say much. I only hope that you will diligently cultivate, strictly adhere to the Sect rules, and make greater contributions to the Sect.¡± Qin Feng nodded repeatedly, ¡°Disciple will certainly not break the Sect rules and disgrace our Sect¡¯s reputation.¡± ¡°That¡¯s good.¡± Ning Wuxu nodded and said, ¡°You¡¯ve managed to reach Foundation Establishment in just two years since you¡¯ve joined; your aptitude and talent are quite decent. I see your True Yuan is very pure, which clearly shows diligent refining, which is good. At the Foundation Establishment Stage, you mustn¡¯t rush for a bit of increased war power. This is the very stage for building a solid foundation. For a sturdier path in future cultivation, you must cultivate the most robust foundation. With your speed of cultivation, even if you can¡¯t enter the Inner Sect in the grand competition this year, you¡¯ll likely make it in the next year or two. Bide your time and don¡¯t rush it.¡± ¡°Disciple understands and will certainly cultivate diligently to not disappoint Master.¡± Qin Feng was naturally calm and not as impatient as other youths in his cultivation. Since his position as a direct disciple was now set, there was no need to rush things. Ning Wuxu was very satisfied. Although Qin Feng seemed a bit shrewd, he actually preferred this type of personality; otherwise, if everyone were sober and staid, it would just be too boring. He reached out and grabbed a Spiritual Snake from nowhere. The Spiritual Snake wasn¡¯t big, only about five feet long and as thick as a wrist. It looked no different from an ordinary Spiritual Snake but possessed the cultivation of the Foundation Establishment Stage. Ning Wuxu stroked the snake¡¯s body, and it immediately softened, becoming docile. He sent the Spiritual Snake floating over to Qin Feng and said, ¡°Since you¡¯ve already taken me as your master, naturally I cannot neglect you. Take this Spiritual Snake as a gift from me.¡± ¡°Thank you, Master.¡± Qin Feng was overjoyed and quickly thanked him. Although he wasn¡¯t sure what Divine Skills this Spiritual Snake excelled in, anything handed by Ning Wuxu, a Great Elder of the Spiritual Snake Lineage, could not be ordinary, not to mention a Spiritual Snake given to his disciple. Indeed, Ning Wuxu then added, ¡°This is a mutated Green Snake, whose Innate Divine Ability allows for Big and Small Changes. Though this skill might not have much use now, it can eventually be cultivated into the Great Divine Power of Heaven and Earth, which means huge potential.¡± Qin Feng heard this with shock and delight. Big and Small Changesa€¡±how perfectly suited this sounded for his own Ruyi Golden Snake! While it might seem disrespectful to think about using a gift from his master to advantage another creature right after receiving it, he really wanted to integrate this Innate Divine Ability into his Lifebound Spiritual Beast. Beside him, Hao Shicheng, seeing the master had given a gift, felt he, as a senior brother, should also show his regard, so he fumbled about his person and finally pulled out a bottle of Spirit Pills. He said, ¡°These are Spirit Cleansing Pills, which I refined myself. They will purify the True Yuan of anyone, spirit or demon, who refines them. They should be somewhat useful to you now.¡± ¡°Thank you, Second Senior Brother.¡± Qin Feng respectfully took the Elixir Pills with both hands. These Spirit Cleansing Pills were not just a little useful to him; their utility was enormous. Although his own True Yuan was relatively pure, he didn¡¯t mind it being even purer, especially if used on the Ruyi Golden Snake, the effect would be even better. Although the Ruyi Golden Snake was already completely attuned with him, some differences remained. If the Ruyi Golden Snake consumed the Spirit Cleansing Pills and refined its in-body True Yuan, their merged time would also increase in the future. ¡°Mm, not bad.¡± Hao Shicheng squinted his eyes and smiled, ¡°Indeed better than Junior Sister Liu¡¯s temper. ?0¦Í?¦Ï.§ã¦Ï Junior Brother, keep cultivating well. I have high hopes for you.¡± But what he was thinking was, cultivate well so you can enter the Inner Sect sooner. Then, Junior Sister Liu wouldn¡¯t just torment me alone; there¡¯d be someone else to bear her temper when angry. Qin Feng, unaware of his thoughts, wouldn¡¯t mind them even if he knew. His heart was full of joy, having never anticipated that a mere visit to the Inner Sect would lead to him taking the Great Elder of the Spiritual Snake Lineage as his master. Chapter 173 - Chapter 173 Chapter 171 Methods of Cultivating the Taoist Body ?Chapter 173: Chapter 171 Methods of Cultivating the Taoist Body Chapter 173: Chapter 171 Methods of Cultivating the Taoist Body Ning Wuxu said, ¡°You have yet to enter the Inner Sect, so it¡¯s not appropriate to directly impart the Sect¡¯s cultivation techniques to you. However, the ¡®Ten Thousand Beasts Origin Scripture¡¯ encompasses the foundation of all the cultivation methods within our Beast Taming Sect. There¡¯s no issue with you practicing this Origin Scripture now; it¡¯s just that unlike other techniques, it doesn¡¯t specialize in one particular aspect, so progress might be a bit slow. But this isn¡¯t necessarily a bad thing. Your lifebound Spiritual Beast, the Ruyi Golden Snake, is an exotic species of Spiritual Snake that no one in our Beast Taming Sect has refined as a lifebound beast before. Although among the nine True Inheritances of our Spiritual Snake Lineage, there are several that would suit you to cultivate, ultimately, these are techniques that the ancestors comprehended based on their own circumstances. If you wish to prove the Dao in the future, it¡¯s inevitable that you will need to discard the old to bring forth the new and realize a Daoist technique more suitable for yourself. Therefore, solidly establishing the foundation of the ¡®Ten Thousand Beasts Origin Scripture¡¯ will be greatly beneficial for your future.¡± ¡°Thank you for your guidance, Master.¡± Qin Feng said, ¡°Disciple¡¯s True Yuan isn¡¯t even fully accumulated yet, so I am not in a hurry to switch to another cultivation technique.¡± ¡°Indeed, that¡¯s for the best.¡± Ning Wuxu sighed lightly, ¡°Many disciples, upon entering the Inner Sect, focus all their energies on these techniques, thinking that cultivating these top-level techniques will allow them to become Immortals and attain the Dao. Little do they know that everyone¡¯s path is different. Following the path others have tread may be convenient and quick, but it lacks the insights one could gain along the way. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í?0.?? ?¦Ï¦Í??.?? Even if they ultimately catch up to their predecessors, surpassing them is impossible. Because the path ahead has already been occupied by those who founded the techniques, they cannot possibly pull the predecessors back and take their place. Of course, for the vast majority of cultivators, reaching a certain height on this path is already quite an achievement. To expect them to carve out a new path is essentially impossible. Only those with great willpower, wisdom, and perseverance can forge their own path and leave behind a legacy of their own in the cultivation world.¡± Qin Feng, upon hearing this, felt a significant increase in pressure, ¡°Are you saying that in order to cultivate towards Immortality, one must comprehend a unique cultivation technique that belongs solely to oneself?¡± Seeing the gravity on his face, Ning Wuxu couldn¡¯t help but smile, ¡°Not exactly. Most of those who have cultivated the Immortal Dao in the cultivation world still follow the paths laid by their predecessors. Now is not the ancient times, we don¡¯t need to start completely from scratch. Since countless ancestors have already established many paths of cultivation for our Human Clan, there¡¯s no need for us to start over and painstakingly delve into research from the beginning. There¡¯s no issue with cultivating the techniques passed down by predecessors; however, once you reach a certain realm, you must have your own unique insights to expand upon that path. Even better, if you can branch off and blaze a new trail from that path, that would be ideal. Just like the various inheritances of our Beast Taming Sect now, including the nine True Inheritances of our Spiritual Snake lineage, they are all, in fact, comprehended from the ¡®Ten Thousand Beasts Origin Scripture¡¯ passed down by our ancestors. If we consider the ¡®Ten Thousand Beasts Origin Scripture¡¯ as a great tree, then the other techniques are branches that have grown from this tree, growing alongside it. How high they can grow depends on the individual. Our descendants of the Spiritual Snake Lineage who wish to achieve their own Immortal Dao must also have their insights on these nine True Inheritances. They cannot always walk the path of their predecessors, which is why the cultivation world¡¯s legacies are emerging like a hundred flowers in bloom. You don¡¯t need to worry about these matters now. Researching techniques and forging new paths are not within your current realm of capability. You only need to consider such things when you have reached the Purple Mansion above and begin comprehending the Heavenly Dao Laws.¡± Relieved by his teacher¡¯s explanation, Qin Feng let out a sigh. If he had been expected to research cultivation techniques now, the pressure would have been immense. ¡°The reason I tell you this is just to encourage you to cultivate the ¡®Ten Thousand Beasts Origin Scripture¡¯ with a calm mind. After all, this is the foundation of all techniques within our Beast Taming Sect. Don¡¯t rush into thinking about switching to other True Inheritance techniques.¡± Ning Wuxu said, ¡°Enough about this. Now let me explain to you the things to pay attention to during the Foundation Establishment Stage, to prevent you from straying onto the wrong path.¡± With that, he began to explain cultivation techniques to Qin Feng, passing on the key points to note during practice and sharing the experiences and insights compiled by the predecessors of the Beast Taming Sect. Only after his explanations did Qin Feng realize that Foundation Establishment was not simply about amassing True Yuan, but rather, it involved continuously consuming True Yuan to temper the body, casting the Taoist Body as one¡¯s foundation for cultivation, so as to reach higher realms in the future. If the foundation was not firm enough, future achievements would certainly be limited. Only by creating the most solid foundation could one travel farther on the Dao of Longevity. However, unless one encountered a great opportunity or was a wealthy cultivator with abundant resources, solidifying a strong Daoist Foundation was a challenging process. Many Foundation Establishment cultivators spend their entire lives without reaching the peak of Foundation Establishment, let alone higher cultivation realms. Thus, many cultivators who felt their prospects were bleak resorted to taking shortcuts. When tempering their Daoist Body, they did not put forth genuine effort, performing cursory tempering before accumulating True Yuan and advancing to the next realm, which led to a shaky foundation and limited achievement. The tempering of the Daoist Body during Foundation Establishment is divided into three stages: early, middle, and late. The early stage involves tempering the flesh and acupoints; the middle stage, the bones and meridians; and the late stage, the five viscera and six bowels. Only after the body is fully tempered and the Daoist Body achieved, does one begin to nurture a Golden Core in the Dantian. There are thousands and thousands of cultivation methods in the world, and the Daoist Body formed from each inheritance is different. Cultivating the Five Elements Cultivation Technique can temper a Five Elements Dao Body; cultivating the Star Skill can temper a Star Dao Body. Even within the same attribute of cultivation technique, there are differences. For instance, the Fire Element Technique includes many variations such as Qian Yuan True Fire, Great Sun True Fire, Nanming Leaving Fire, Taiyin Burning Soul Fire, Glazed Heart Purifying Fire, and so on. Each different Fire Element Technique results in a differently tempered Daoist Body. The Beast Taming Sect¡¯s best Foundation Establishment Technique for their disciples was the ¡°Ten Thousand Beasts Origin Scripture,¡± handed down by the Ancestral Master himself. This technique allowed for a Foundation Establishment that was conducive to subsequent cultivation practices. Unfortunately, its comprehensive nature meant the Foundation Establishment process was slow, so many disciples switched to other techniques early on, focusing on a single aspect to complete their Foundation Establishment more quickly. After all, the paths of other techniques were clear, and they were still suitable for cultivation, so why bother with a slow technique? Unbeknownst to him, most of the day had slipped by. When Qin Feng came to his senses, he saw that the sun had already dipped low in the sky, and the evening glow had tinged half the sky red, reflecting off the mountains and making them appear a crimson hue. Observing Qin Feng returning to awareness from his insights, Ning Wuxu nodded approvingly and said, ¡°You haven¡¯t entered the Inner Sect yet, so I won¡¯t keep you here to cultivate. For now, return home. Once you¡¯ve officially become my disciple after the Outer Disciple competition, I¡¯ll let you choose a spot at Heavenly Snake Ridge to cultivate.¡± ¡°Thank you, Master, for imparting the technique.¡± Qin Feng stood up and bowed, ¡°Then, your disciple will take his leave first.¡± Ning Wuxu nodded, ¡°Hmm, go. Shicheng, see your junior brother off.¡± ¡°Yes, Master.¡± Standing beside them, Hao Shicheng got up and smiled at Qin Feng, ¡°Let¡¯s go, Junior Brother, I¡¯ll take you for a ride.¡± ¡°Thank you for the trouble, Senior Brother.¡± Qin Feng did not refuse as he was not yet an Inner Sect Disciple and felt it inappropriate to fly alone within the Inner Sect, risking the breach of some taboo and incurring punishment. Hao Shicheng laughed and led Qin Feng out of the room. After sending him back to Spiritual Snake Peak, he immediately returned to his master. ¡°Master, should we provide some resources to the Junior Brother so that he may enter the Inner Sect sooner?¡± Hao Shicheng inquired. He was eager for Qin Feng to join the Inner Sect soon, so when Liu Xuanling finished his retreat and discovered the new addition of a junior brother, he would likely focus more on Qin Feng and less on himself. ¡°No need,¡± Ning Wuxu waved his hand. ¡°His time in cultivation has been short, and his Foundation Establishment is already advancing at an incredibly fast pace. There¡¯s no need to further accelerate his cultivation speed, as this could easily lead to an unstable foundation. Let him undergo more trials in the Outer Sect for a while.¡± ¡°Disciple thinks, if Master wishes to temper the Junior Brother, it would be best to put some pressure on him,¡± Hao Shicheng proposed with a smile. ¡°Though Junior Brother has just established his foundation, his lifebound spiritual beast is none other than the Ruyi Golden Snake. I¡¯ve seen the records in the Ten Thousand Snakes Map; this type of spiritual snake has a body as hard as refined gold. Even if it hasn¡¯t yet cultivated to the Vajra Unbreakable level, its defensive power is formidable. Ordinary Foundation Establishment Disciples might not necessarily be his match during the Outer Disciple competition.¡± ¡°That¡¯s true,¡± Ning Wuxu pondered briefly and then instructed, ¡°Then spread the word that he has joined under my tutelage as a Registered Disciple and that I see great potential in his talent and believe he¡¯s worthy material for nurturing. ¡°As for my taking in a disciple, it will surely attract much attention. Spread some messages covertly, encouraging the Outer Sect¡¯s Foundation Establishment Disciples to find ways to challenge him. ¡°If they manage to defeat a disciple valued by me, Ning Wuxu, it will certainly make them famous and gain them focused training from their respective peaks.¡± ¡°What if he refuses to fight?¡± ¡°Hehe, he can refuse to fight at normal times, but it won¡¯t be possible to avoid battles during the Outer Disciple competition,¡± Ning Wuxu chuckled while stroking his beard. ¡°During the competition, many Inner Sect Elders will attend to observe and select disciples. Those Outer Disciples will certainly want to prove themselves by defeating him, impressing the Inner Sect Elders with their potential, showing they are even more promising than the disciple I endorsed.¡± Hao Shicheng couldn¡¯t help but laugh, ¡°In that case, the Junior Brother might find it troubling. With so many challenging him, it¡¯s uncertain whether he¡¯ll be able to hold out and secure the final victory in the competitions over the next few years.¡± ¡°No matter. It¡¯s good for him to experience some battles. Spending a couple more years in the Outer Sect will benefit him,¡± remarked Ning Wuxu indifferently. ¡°But, what if Junior Brother breaks out from the encirclement during the Outer Disciple competition and defeats the other disciples?¡± ¡°Hehe, if he is able to come out victorious even under such circumstances, that will show that the Outer Sect is no longer suitable for his cultivation. In that case, he may proceed directly to the Inner Sect,¡± he said with a hearty chuckle. Chapter 174 - Chapter 174 Chapter 172 Change at Will Big and Small Ruyi ?Chapter 174: Chapter 172 Change at Will Big and Small Ruyi Chapter 174: Chapter 172 Change at Will Big and Small Ruyi Qin Feng had no idea that his newly sworn master intended to use certain methods to temper him; he still felt somewhat dizzy and could hardly believe that he had just pledged himself to the Great Elder of the Spiritual Snake Lineage. Yet, looking at the Spiritual Snake he had placed in his Spiritual Beast Bag, touching the Spirit Cleansing Pill that Hao Shicheng had given him, and recalling various inherited knowledge about Foundation Establishment, he couldn¡¯t help but wave his fist in boundless joy after a long while. After a good while, he finally calmed down. Still feeling that his emotions were too stirred up and not suitable for cultivation, he decided to relax tonight and not engage in meditative practice. Thinking it over, he took out the Spiritual Snake given by Ning Wuxu, and after a few glances, he sent it directly into the Demon Refining Pot, where it was quickly subdued. Qin Feng controlled the Spiritual Snake to display its Divine Skills, and finding that it indeed possessed the skill of Big and Small Changes, he was overjoyed. He had been worried about not having enough Spirit Stones to buy two top-level bloodline Spiritual Beasts; now, with this Spiritual Snake, he could directly use it on the Ruyi Golden Snake, allowing him to save Spirit Stones to nurture the Swallowing Sky Toad. While the skill of changing size wasn¡¯t the strongest Divine Skill, if used cleverly, it could be very effective. Moreover, advancing this skill could lead to mastering Fatian Xiangdi, the top-level Great Divine Power and one of the strongest Divine Skills of the Demon Clan. Few in the Demon Clan mastered Fatian Xiangdi, and typically, only those with formidable war power could possibly comprehend it. Ordinary members of the Demon Clan, even if they did understand it, wouldn¡¯t find it suitable to use this Divine Skill. Especially for smaller members of the Demon Clan who are usually agile by nature, even if they increased their bodies a hundredfold or a thousandfold with Fatian Xiangdi, how big could they really get? Enlarging a small cat by a hundred times might not make it as large as a tiger in its natural size, while inherently powerful creatures like ape, lion, tiger, barbarian bull, and other Demon Beasts could become incredibly strong when their size increased by hundreds or thousands of times, capable of moving mountains and filling seas with ease. Although Fatian Xiangdi wasn¡¯t just about enlarging the bodya€¡±which also involved some manipulation of strengtha€¡±physically weak races were indeed unsuitable for cultivating this Divine Skill. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï??0.§ã¦Ï Overjoyed, Qin Feng didn¡¯t hesitate and immediately harnessed the Spiritual Energy from the Spirit Vein inside the Void Shattering Hammer Cave Mansion to activate the Demon Refining Pot and integrate the Essence Blood of the Spiritual Snake into the Ruyi Golden Snake. He had been thinking that the body of the Ruyi Golden Snake was too small, and now the opportunity to enlarge it had arrived. Although it could only enlarge during the activation of the Divine Skill, it was still good and exactly suited for battle. This time, he summoned more Spiritual Power from the Spirit Vein than last time, mainly because the Spirit Vein¡¯s emissions were usually used for the other Spiritual Beasts¡¯ cultivation, leaving not much Spiritual Energy in the second layer of the space; he had to draw from the Spirit Vein to harness the power of the Demon Refining Pot for integration. As time ticked by slowly, the bloody mist slowly integrated into the body of the Ruyi Golden Snake. Through Qin Feng¡¯s Divine Sense, the Ruyi Golden Snake seemed to have gained another ability. Two quarters of an hour later, the integration was finally complete, taking twice as much time as during his Qi Refining Realm. However, this amount of time wasn¡¯t significant compared to possessing another Divine Skill. Even if it took him a year, he would be willing. Qin Feng extended his hand and summoned the Ruyi Golden Snake out of the Demon Refining Pot, holding it in his hand to inspect it. Visually, it looked no different from before, remaining slender and unremarkable. If it weren¡¯t for its entire body shining with golden light, it wouldn¡¯t be very noteworthy. ¡°Grow bigger, bigger, biggera€|¡± As his mind willed it, the newly acquired Transformation Divine Power inside the Ruyi Golden Snake instantly activated. Its body, which was originally the length of chopsticks, spiraled and expanded to the thickness of a finger, two feet in length. Despite further attempts, it didn¡¯t grow any larger. Qin Feng was instantly disheartened; he had been hoping to turn the Ruyi Golden Snake into a large python, but now, with just two feet in length, it had only doubled in sizea€¡±what use was that? Fortunately, he knew that he had just integrated this ability and that it would require gradual cultivation and practice, much like the Earth Escape Divine Power initially, which could only penetrate two or three feet into the ground. After continuous practice and cultivation, he eventually managed to reach several dozen feet deep. Thus, Qin Feng quickly adjusted his mood and let the Ruyi Golden Snake try to shrink. ¡°Smaller, smaller, smaller!¡± Under his control, the size of the Ruyi Golden Snake halved again, barely longer than a middle finger. Looking at the tiny snake in his hand, Qin Feng couldn¡¯t help but burst into laughter. Such a small one, resembling a worm, actually looked quite cute. Ning Wuxu had told him that the original Spiritual Snake could change its body tenfold at most and shrink similarly. If the Ruyi Golden Snake¡¯s body was reduced tenfold, it would probably be less than an inch long, which could be great for sneak attacks. After all, such a tiny Spiritual Snake could easily be overlooked with slight carelessness. Perhaps during battle, it could also be hidden under other offensive methods. Given the Ruyi Golden Snake¡¯s Attack Power, it would certainly be extremely troublesome once it got close. And it could also enlarge its body instantly when it was in close proximity. If it increased tenfold, it would be nearly thirty feet long, enough to utilize the Snake Clan¡¯s most commonly used entanglement skill. As he controlled it, the Ruyi Golden Snake¡¯s transformations became increasingly fitting, which pleased him greatly. He then merged with the Ruyi Golden Snake and tried to use the size-changing divine power to slightly heighten his body by a few inches. After discovering that he felt no discomfort, he confidently began to change his shape. In the room, his body then began to fluctuate in height, at times almost reaching the ceiling, and at other times not even as tall as a table; it was quite amusing. Qin Feng played around for a while, then a sudden thought struck him, and he wondered whether he could eventually refine this size-changing divine power to target just one part of the body. For example¡­ the arms! And the legs. If during close combat, his overall size remained the same, but his arms or legs suddenly extended to strike multiple times their normal length, it would certainly catch his opponent off guard and could be highly effective. Of course, being a well-meaning, exemplary young man, he only considered the application to limbs useful in combat, ignoring other parts of the body that had no use in battle. After playing for a moment, Qin Feng noticed that a significant amount of power had been drained from the Ruyi Golden Snake. He then separated from the merge state and joyfully held the Ruyi Golden Snake in his hands. He thought that perhaps in the future when merging other Spiritual Snake bloodline divine powers into the Ruyi Golden Snake, he should consider those naturally strong-bodied Spiritual Snakes. Only in that way could the body of the Ruyi Golden Snake grow quickly. If the Ruyi Golden Snake reached a size of thirty feet, a tenfold increase would make it as long as three hundred feet. Many Demon Beasts liked close-quarter combat, and once the Ruyi Golden Snake¡¯s body reached such a massive size, ordinary beasts of the same class would hardly have any opportunity to fight back; it would simply outclass them. He thought of the cultivators from the Giant Spirit Sect, who were all physically powerful. In the future, if he merged with the Ruyi Golden Snake and increased their size tenfold, he would truly be a giant. With the Ruyi Golden Snake¡¯s strong defense, he should be able to directly compete with a Giant Spirit Sect cultivator. If he eventually cultivated this size-changing divine power to perfection, resembling ¡®Law Heaven Earth¡¯, his combat power would increase tenfold. Although it would consume a great deal, he would not fear any body refining cultivators. Even if he could eventually learn a body refining technique and pair it with the Ruyi Golden Snake¡¯s Vajra indestructible defense, he would be unmatched in strength among cultivators of the same level. However, there are countless mysterious techniques in the cultivation world, some of which can bypass the robust physical bodies of body refining cultivators and target their divine souls specifically. Just like the cultivators of the Spiritual Snake Lineage who practice ¡°Netherworld Yin Snake Seven Incantations¡±; no matter how strong the opponent¡¯s body, they can directly cast spells to kill them. These types of cultivators might not necessarily be very strong in combat, but they are definitely troublesome and could easily ambush someone if they were careless. After a while, Qin Feng pulled his mind back from these thoughts; such levels were still very far from his reach as he had only just succeeded in Foundation Establishment and was still a minor cultivator. He should focus on how to improve his cultivation first. Without reaching a higher realm, thinking too much was useless. Through the prior explanations from his master, Ning Wuxu, Qin Feng had gained a deep understanding of the cultivation techniques of the Foundation Establishment Realm and the tricks between its various phases. As long as he cultivated according to the direction indicated by his master, there wouldn¡¯t be any problems. Ordinary Foundation Establishment cultivators progress slowly because refining their bodies with True Yuan consumes a lot, and the refining effect is not very satisfactory. Unless aided by some special heavenly materials and spiritual elixirs, which can expedite the refining process. Thus, many Foundation Establishment disciples from the Beast Taming Sect would regularly venture out to complete various missions. Although dangerous, these missions could earn them resources to speed up their cultivation. Whereas those deacon disciples who stayed at the sect¡¯s mountain gate year-round, although they were an indispensable part of the sect, their cultivation lives were too bland. They did not have the determined Daoist hearts that their more experienced counterparts possessed, nor did they have as many opportunities, resulting in their cultivation speed being much slower. There were also many loose cultivators and small family Foundation Establishment cultivators like the old family head of the Qin Family, Qin Guanbao, who had been staying in his family stronghold for years to ensure his family¡¯s succession. Consequently, his advancement had been relatively slow, only reaching the middle peak of the sixth layer at over a hundred and sixty or seventy years old. Qin Feng felt that if he had not had the Demon Refining Pot, like other cultivators, he would have possibly needed decades to reach Foundation Establishment Perfection. However, with the Demon Refining Pot, he was different from other cultivators. He could refine and purify Spiritual Energy, whether from the corpses of Demon Beasts or Spirit Stones, all of which could accelerate his cultivation speed. If he had enough resources and a continuous supply of pure Spiritual Energy, his body refining pace would definitely surpass ordinary people. Moreover, if he didn¡¯t care about depleting the Spirit Vein inside the Void Shattering Hammer Cave Mansion and directly extracted the origin of the Spirit Vein for cultivation, he could reach Foundation Establishment Perfection within three years. ?0¦Í?¦Ï.§ã¦Ï Of course, unless necessary, he was still reluctant to directly consume the Spirit Vein for cultivation; it was too wasteful. Spirit Veins are a renewable resource; as long as the Spirit Vein remains, it could emit Spiritual Energy to fuel the cultivation of the Spiritual Beasts inside the Demon Refining Pot, allowing him to save on feeding resources into it and also enabling the beasts inside to enhance their abilities through cultivationa€¡±killing two birds with one stone. Moreover, he still needed to preserve it for when the Ruyi Golden Snake advanced to the Golden Core Realm and merged with a Demon Core Realm Snake Demon, so it wasn¡¯t prudent to consume too much. Chapter 175 - Chapter 175 Chapter 173 The Obstacle ?Chapter 175: Chapter 173: The Obstacle Chapter 175: Chapter 173: The Obstacle Several days later. Within the cultivation room, Qin Feng slowly stopped his cultivation and opened his eyes. A glimmer of Spirit Light faintly shone in his eyes, a reaction of beginning bodily refinement. Although he had refined his body only a few times, he could already feel his physique was slightly stronger than before. This left him somewhat surprised, as even ordinary cultivators at the Foundation Establishment Realm saw such effects from body refinement; he wondered how the cultivators of the Giant Spirit Sect trained their bodies. These body cultivators were even more extreme than Foundation Establishment Realm cultivators; they did not cultivate True Yuan, nor form Golden Cores, but instead, they ceaselessly tempered their physical bodies, keeping all their strength hidden within their limbs and bones, unlike ordinary cultivators who would gather True Essence Mana within their Dantian. Even those who practiced Martial Arts were not as extreme as body cultivators. Yet, it cannot be denied that those who followed the extreme path of body cultivation possessed incredibly strong physical bodies, to the extent that they developed numerous Divine Skills directly from their flesh, displaying formidable War Power. Moreover, their Life Force was extremely tenacious; unless one could kill them with a single blow, the longer a battle dragged on, the more they were like indestructible cockroaches. Even when seriously wounded, they could still fight on and often would outlast other cultivators. Qin Feng felt that once he entered the Inner Sect, it would be best to also cultivate a set of Body Refining Techniques. Although it wouldn¡¯t be possible for him to practice body cultivation exclusively, like those pure body cultivators of the Giant Spirit Sect, with sufficient resources, the physical body he could develop would not be inferior to theirs. Just like Li Miao Zhen of the White Tiger Lineage. However, Li Miao Zhen was the only one, and each generation of the White Tiger Lineage only had one True Inheritance, whereas the Giant Spirit Sect had countless disciples. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í??.§ã? Even a powerful sect like the Beast Taming Sect would not waste too many resources just to cultivate a few disciples who could match the physical strength of cultivators from rival sects; it was unnecessary. Qin Feng gathered his thoughts and immersed his Spirit into the Demon Refining Pot. On the stone platform, the Swallowing Sky Toad still lay motionless, as if it were carved from a piece of emerald green jade, with only a barely discernible fluctuation emanating from its body. Having come out from the Heavenly Pool Secret Realm and being full, the Swallowing Sky Toad finally stopped consuming and lay there earnestly, digesting the food in its stomach and accumulating strength to break through to a higher Realm. Through the heart and mind connection with the Swallowing Sky Toad, Qin Feng had long since noticed that it was on the verge of advancing. He didn¡¯t disturb the Swallowing Sky Toad¡¯s progression, lest it missed this chance and had to accumulate power all over again. On the other side, the massive Fire Ape was also in deep slumber. This is one of the ways Demon Beasts recover from Severe Injury, by sleeping for extended periods to reduce bodily expenditure and slowly heal. Qin Feng checked the Fire Ape¡¯s current state; the creature¡¯s War Power was actually not weak, in fact, it was quite strong. But it had been too heavily injured, and even though it had absorbed a considerable amount of Earth Milk Essence in the Heavenly Pool Secret Realm, it was far from fully recovered. If released now, it could barely muster the War Power of a Late Stage Foundation Establishment cultivator. This was already quite good. Having just established his Foundation, Qin Feng could count on the assistance of a Late Stage Foundation Establishment Demon Beast. Even if the Fire Ape couldn¡¯t last long in battle right now, it could still serve as a backup for Qin Feng, and at a critical moment, it would undoubtedly play a significant role. Just as he was about to check on the other Spiritual Beasts, he suddenly felt a strong surge of energy coming from the stone platform. With a sweep of his Divine Sense, Qin Feng immediately detected the powerful aura emanating from the Swallowing Sky Toad. Normally, the Swallowing Sky Toad was very good at concealing its own aura, its Demon Energy was hardly noticeable, and even cultivators might be deceived if they were not careful. However, now that it was at the moment of advancement, it naturally could no longer afford to conceal its aura, and that was why such intense fluctuations were being released. Qin Feng looked on with surprise in his heart because the fluctuations that the Swallowing Sky Toad was emitting were stronger than those of an ordinary Demon Beast at the Foundation Establishment Realm. Although he knew that this was due to it having swallowed too many things into its inner space, causing such a tumult during its Foundation Establishment, it also caused the other Demon Beasts in the Void Shattering Hammer Cave Mansion to retreat one after another. Even the Fire Ape, which had been in deep slumber, opened its eyes to look towards the Swallowing Sky Toad a few times before closing its eyes and returning to sleep. The Swallowing Sky Toad¡¯s advancement lasted quite a while, and during the process, it kept opening its massive mouth to continually swallow Spiritual Energy to replenish the void within its body. Finally, when the fluctuations on its body reached the peak, it finally broke through the Realm. ?¦Ï¦Í?¦Ï.§ã¦Ï After a good while, it opened its large eyes, its aura concealed once again, its Demon Energy faint and hard to detect. Qin Feng was overjoyed. Besides his Lifebound Spiritual Beast, the Ruyi Golden Snake, he now also had the Swallowing Sky Toad, the Ghost-Faced Spider, and the Fire Apea€¡±three Foundation Establishment Realm Spiritual Beasts. This strength was definitely among the very few within the many disciples of the Outer Sect. Qin Feng connected his spirit with the Swallowing Sky Toad, feeling its joy at the moment as well as the hunger conveyed by its spirit fluctuations. This glutton! Qin Feng rolled his eyes but still took out several Demon Beast carcasses from his Storage Bag to feed it. The Swallowing Sky Toad¡¯s eyes shimmered, its tongue flicked out, and it swallowed a Demon Beast hundreds of times larger than its small body into its belly. Qin Feng felt that the space within the Swallowing Sky Toad¡¯s stomach had expanded tenfold compared to before, allowing it to devour even more food and resources. He sighed to himself, realizing that unless he was willing to cut off a part of the Spirit Vein in the Void Shattering Hammer Cave Mansion to feed it, he really wouldn¡¯t be able to keep up with its voracious appetite. Only now did he truly understand why the Swallowing Sky Toad was so rarely seen in the Cultivation World and why no Sect chose to nurture such a Spiritual Beast. It was just too consuming of resources; several Demon Beast carcasses were not enough to fill its stomach. If he really let it eat as much as it wanted, Qin Feng, even if he was frugal and did not let the Swallowing Sky Toad merge with other Spiritual Toad Bloodline Divine Powers, would be bankrupted by its appetite. It seemed he had to expedite the integration of a top-level Spiritual Toad bloodline for the Swallowing Sky Toad. Otherwise, relying on devouring food for cultivation and advancement would be too resource-intensive. Only by integrating bloodlines of the same level could the Swallowing Sky Toad gain strength through normal cultivation. Qin Feng made up his mind silently and did not delay any further. Since the Swallowing Sky Toad had successfully advanced, it could now be merged with the Essence Blood of a Foundation Establishment Spiritual Toad. He got up, stepped out of the courtyard, and released the Spiritual Vulture, whose injuries had healed, and flew straight towards Azure Dragon Square outside the Mountain Gate. This was because the headquarter of the Ten Thousand Demons Pavilion at Azure Dragon Square had the most comprehensive collection of Spiritual Beasts, giving him more targets to choose from. The market bustled as ever, and the Ten Thousand Demons Pavilion, as the largest distribution center for various goods in the market, occupied a vast area, with cultivators of various appearances coming and going nonstop. Qin Feng didn¡¯t look around much on his way and headed straight for the area of the Ten Thousand Demons Pavilion where the Spiritual Beasts were sold. ¡°Which one should I choose?¡± He didn¡¯t bother looking at the ordinary Spiritual Toads and instead kept his gaze on the few top-level Spiritual Toads. Swallowing Star Toad, Green-Eyed Spirit Toad, Taiyin Moon Toad, Three-Eyed Heavenly Toad¡­ These top-level Spiritual Beasts, due to their high cost, were generally out of reach for ordinary cultivators. Moreover, since Spiritual Toads weren¡¯t particularly popular, the area didn¡¯t change much. Qin Feng¡¯s gaze swept over these few Spiritual Toads. The Green-Eyed Spirit Toad had slightly weaker war power and mainly excelled in Water Manipulation. Qin Feng didn¡¯t have a specific need for a Water Element Spiritual Beast at the moment, so he immediately skipped it. The Swallowing Star Toad was the one he initially wanted to merge with the Swallowing Sky Toad, but at that time, he only had a few thousand Spirit Stones on him, so of course he couldn¡¯t afford such a top-level bloodline Spirit Toad. But now, well, he could take out two hundred thousand Spirit Stones if needed. The Taiyin Moon Toad, which absorbed the power of moonlight for its ice-like Divine Skills, had great potential. It cost two hundred and eighty thousand Spirit Stones, worth considering. The Three-Eyed Heavenly Toad was the most expensive, three hundred and sixty thousand Spirit Stones. And this was just for those at the Foundation Establishment Realm. If it were a Demon Core Realm beast, the price would at least double. The reason for such high prices was that these top-level bloodline beasts were being sold not for their current cultivation strength, but for their bloodline potential. Relatively speaking, these beasts had more value for cultivation. Otherwise, why would other ordinary Foundation Establishment Spirit Beasts sell for just a few thousand, while these could sell for hundreds of times more? Ordinary Spiritual Beasts had limited potential and were difficult to advance in realms, but beasts like the Three-Eyed Heavenly Toad had powerful ancestors who were formidable Demon Kings, giving them inherently formidable bloodlines. Once they reached a certain realm in their cultivation, they could awaken certain Divine Skills, and their potential far surpassed that of common Demon Beasts. After observing for a moment, Qin Feng finally decided first to rule out the Three-Eyed Heavenly Toad. Although the Divine Skills of the Three-Eyed Heavenly Toad were the most formidable, with rumors saying at the peak of its cultivation, the third eye on its forehead could peer into the Heavenly Dao, gaze upon the Netherworld, see through the duality of the Yin Yang worlds, and understand the Karma Threads. Besides that, it could also unleash incredibly powerful spells, making it exceptionally strong. Such Divine Skills were very tempting to Qin Feng. It¡¯s just a pity that he only had three hundred and thirty thousand Spirit Stones on him. If he wanted to buy the Three-Eyed Heavenly Toad, he would have to gather more Spirit Stones to afford the most expensive of them all. Even if he did buy it, it would be of no use; the first layer of the Demon Refining Pot didn¡¯t have a Spirit Vein, and he would need to expend a large number of Spirit Stones to supply the Demon Refining Pot with Spiritual Power. Aside from the currently unaffordable Three-Eyed Spirit Toad, he had only the Taiyin Moon Toad and the Swallowing Star Toad to choose from. After much thought, Qin Feng eventually decided to buy the Swallowing Star Toad. Even though he could afford the Taiyin Moon Toad, starting the Demon Refining Pot would consume a considerable number of Spirit Stones, not a small amount. When the Swallowing Sky Toad was still in the Qi Refining stage, helping it merge with the Green Water Cold Toad already used up thousands of Spirit Stones. Now, merging a Foundation Establishment Realm Spirit Toad would definitely cost even more, and he did not want to end up half-way through the merge due to insufficient supply of Spiritual Energy, causing the Demon Refining Pot to stop operating midway a€¡° that would be a huge embarrassment. The Swallowing Star Toad was priced at just two hundred thousand Spirit Stones, eighty thousand less than the Taiyin Moon Toad, enough for him to confidently activate the Demon Refining Pot without worrying about any interruptions. Moreover, the Innate Divine Ability of the Swallowing Star Toad was not much less potent than that of the Taiyin Moon Toad. The main reason for the cost difference was the disparity in strength between the two; the Taiyin Moon Toad was already at the Peak of the Foundation Establishment Realm, not far from forming a Demon Core. If someone was willing to invest heavily, it would probably not be long before they could have a Demon Core Realm Spirit Toad. Qin Feng turned around and planned to find a Manager of the Ten Thousand Demons Pavilion to discuss purchasing the Swallowing Star Toad, hoping they might offer a discount in light of the Sect¡¯s reputation. Although there were Servant Disciples of the Ten Thousand Demons Pavilion nearby, such a significant transaction couldn¡¯t be handled by ordinary servants, and they certainly couldn¡¯t offer discounts. It was better to find a higher-status Manager. Being the largest market of the Beast Taming Sect, Azure Dragon Square saw many foreign cultivators every day, and many cultivators were visiting for the first time. Therefore, they inevitably came to the Spiritual Beast Area of the Ten Thousand Demons Pavilion to see something new and to witness the Spiritual Beasts sold by the Beast Taming Sect. Qin Feng weaved through the crowd. Preoccupied with matters of the Spiritual Beasts, he was somewhat distracted and nearly collided with a cultivator who came walking from the side. ¡°Watch where you¡¯re going.¡± The man was tall and burly, with a loud and resounding voice that clearly indicated he was not someone to be trifled with, chastising Qin Feng right away. ¡°Sorry.¡± Qin Feng raised his hand in apology, an acknowledgment of the near mishap. Since he hadn¡¯t really bumped into the man, he didn¡¯t take the matter to heart. As he turned to leave, he heard the burly man let out a light exclamation: ¡°You¡­ hold on.¡± Qin Feng paused and looked up at the man. This was the Ten Thousand Demons Pavilion; surely no one would dare cause trouble here, right? He observed the man for a moment, noting that he seemed quite young, but his face covered with dense short beard made him look like a man in his late thirties. Yet, this man had a robust physique that seemed to overflow with endless strength, giving the impression one should not underestimate him. Now, he was staring at Qin Feng with a pair of bell-like eyes, hesitating for a moment before asking, ¡°Are you Qin Feng, a disciple of the Spiritual Snake Peak?¡± Qin Feng was somewhat surprised, ¡°Do you know me, brother?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t know you.¡± The robust man shook his head bluntly and then said, ¡°I am Lan Qinhu, a disciple of Tiger Roar Peak. I¡¯ve heard of your reputation. Some say you have extraordinary talent and exceptional aptitude, and that you¡¯ve been favored by the Great Elder of the Inner Sect¡¯s Spiritual Snake Lineage, and have been taken in as a disciple. Is this true?¡± ¡°Huh?¡± Qin Feng was puzzled, wondering how this man knew about his induction as a disciple, which had only occurred several days ago. Chapter 176 - Chapter 176 Chapter 174 Swallowing Star Toad Acquired ?Chapter 176: Chapter 174: Swallowing Star Toad Acquired Chapter 176: Chapter 174: Swallowing Star Toad Acquired ¡°Turns out it¡¯s a senior brother from Tiger Roar Peak, the younger brother offers his respects.¡± Qin Feng clasped his hands and asked, ¡°Indeed, I had the fortune to become a disciple under my respected mentor earlier, but I wonder, senior brother, how did you come to know of this?¡± ¡°Heh¡­¡± Lan Qinhu¡¯s face revealed a hint of cold sneer, ¡°Over the years, there have been very few who catch the attention of an Inner Sect Elder and are taken as disciples before even joining the Inner Sect. Brother Fang Zheng of our Tiger Roar Peak is one of them. However, Brother Fang Zheng not only has mastered divine skills, his cultivation is exquisite and far surpasses ours. We disciples naturally submit to him. I¡¯m just curious, what skills does Junior Brother Qin possess to be so valued by Elder Ning?¡± At this point, Qin Feng understood. Even though he didn¡¯t know how this guy learned that he had become a disciple under Ning Wuxu, from his sarcastic words, how could he not hear the envy, jealousy, and lack of acceptance in them? He narrowed his eyes, pondered briefly in his heart, and made up his mind. He slightly raised his chin, deliberately adopting an expression of arrogance, ¡°Didn¡¯t Senior Brother Lan just say, my talent is unmatched, my abilities exceptional? The reason my mentor accepted me is obviously because he saw my superb talent for cultivation.¡± Previously, he had planned to add the halo of genius to himself. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï??0.§ã¦Ï Not only would it make the sect pay more attention to him, but it would also be more conducive to his cultivation. Otherwise, if he were to be categorized as someone with mediocre talent, once it was discovered that his cultivation speed was too fast, it could easily draw the attention of others, thinking he¡¯d come across some great opportunity. Perhaps then someone might become greedy and plot against him, trying to steal treasures and resources from him. But it¡¯s different for genius disciples. No matter how fast their cultivation speed is compared to ordinary people, it won¡¯t seem inappropriate when attributed to a genius. Moreover, any Sect offers strict protection over genius disciples, and if anyone dares plot against another Sect¡¯s genius, they would certainly incur retaliation. As for disciples of their own Sect, unless they intend to betray their Sect, there really aren¡¯t many who dare to attack the Sect¡¯s geniuses. Even Zhuo Feifan, who had thought countless times about killing Chen Buqi, never actually made a move. In the end, he only took advantage of Qin Feng and Li Miaozhen to eliminate Chen Buqi, his biggest rival. Therefore, at that moment, Qin Feng deliberately displayed a lofty pride unique to genius disciples. Even though many geniuses know how to respect the wise and seek friends among peers, they still have a sense of superiority in their hearts. Qin Feng merely chose to display this arrogance openly. ¡°You¡­¡± Lan Qinhu¡¯s complexion changed slightly. He didn¡¯t expect Qin Feng to be so forthright, to exhibit such arrogance, boasting right herea€¡±wasn¡¯t his skin a bit too thick? Even if you truly have superb talent, there¡¯s no need to be so blunt, is there? And what do you mean by looking at me with that expression and speaking such arrogant words? Are you looking down on my talent as inferior to yours, and that¡¯s why I wasn¡¯t valued by an Inner Sect Elder? At that moment, Lan Qinhu felt his self-respect had been insulted, his dignity challenged, and his eyes grew cold, ¡°Since Junior Brother Qin has such talent, I imagine your strength must also be exceptional. I may not be much, but I¡¯d like to ask for some guidance, would Junior Brother Qin be willing to enlighten me?¡± The two standing amidst the crowd without leaving were already drawing attention, but now when a fight was mentioned, a number of cultivators quickly gathered around, ready to watch the excitement. Qin Feng snorted coldly, his chin nearly lifted to the sky, ¡°You want to seek guidance just like that? If any random person comes to ask me for guidance, when would I have time for cultivation? I¡¯m busy, I have no spare time.¡± With that, he turned around, his demeanor haughty, and pushed through the crowd, leaving directly. Lan Qinhu watched Qin Feng leave with a chilling gaze, unable to suppress the surge of anger in his heart. Humiliation! Qin Feng¡¯s words had humiliated him! He considered himself a bit of a genius in Tiger Roar Peak, having joined for eight years, and thanks to his brave and fearless nature, often completing various missions and acquiring plentiful resources, he reached the Foundation Establishment last year. This made him somewhat proud, feeling that his talent wasn¡¯t inferior to others, and that he also had a chance to be selected for Inner Sect cultivation through the Outer Disciple competition. Of course, that was just a possibility. Even a talent like Fang Zheng had been pushed down in his time, and Lan Qinhu¡¯s own strength was not as good, leaving him without certain confidence. As a result, his hard work in cultivation had barely earned him the possibility of joining the Inner Sect. Whether he¡¯d succeed would depend on his performance at the Outer Disciple competition, fighting and defeating all rivals. And joining the Inner Sect didn¡¯t guarantee getting an Elder for a mentor. But Qin Feng? In just two years after joining, he had already been taken in by Ning Wuxu, the Great Elder of the Inner Sect lineage, the gap between them was enormous. If it were a long-famed genius like Kong Xuan, that would be one thing, but Qin Feng was not that well-known before. Coupled with insinuations from certain individuals, many self-proclaimed geniuses from different peaks of the Outer Sect were gearing up, preparing to make a big splash. They planned to increase their fame by defeating Qin Feng, and with enough renown, perhaps they too could catch the eye of an Inner Sect Elder. Especially after they inquired into Qin Feng¡¯s background, their dissatisfaction only grew. Who was Qin Feng, after all? He was nothing but a successor of a declining minor clan who had joined the Mountain Gate only two years ago. Even if his cultivation speed was fast, was there a shortage of talented geniuses with rapid cultivation speeds among the hundred and eight peaks of the Outer Gate? The ordinary disciples might have let it go, but those from great clans and noble families were dissatisfied in their hearts. Many of their family elders were Inner Sect Elders, yet they did not see them being directly accepted by any Inner Sect Elder. So why should such an obscure youngster receive this opportunity? Under Hao Shicheng¡¯s arrangements, the news that Qin Feng had been accepted as a disciple by Ning Wuxu spread extremely fast. In the eyes of the talented disciples from various peaks of the Outer Gate, he became a lucky fellow who had fortunately caught the attention of an Inner Sect Elder, and thus became the person many disciples who wished to make a name for themselves wanted to defeat the most. Lan Qinhu was but one of them. It just so happened that he encountered Qin Feng today, which led to the scene that had just unfolded. And that scene, witnessed by several Outer Disciples nearby, quickly spread with various versions going around. Some said Qin Feng was arrogant, others said he was disdainful, and some said he thought too highly of himself, looking down on the talents of various peaks. In any case, with deliberate spreading by people with intentions, it was believed that Qin Feng would soon be facing all sorts of challenges. This was also an ordeal that one must go through to become a recognized genius. No genius was ever made by just relentless hard work in seclusion; it was only through battle after battle, victory after victory, that one could be acknowledged by others and be called a genius. Just like Li Miaozhen before. During her time in the Outer Gate, she was the most prominent, overshadowing disciples of all hundred and eight peaks, male and female alike. She defeated all those who dared to challenge her so badly that they were in disarray, and even now, they did not dare to confront her. Qin Feng was still completely in the dark about all these things. He thought that it would take a long time to build up his reputation as a genius, and today he was merely starting his performance beginning with Lan Qinhu. Little did he know, his second senior brother was already finding people to secretly spread word for him, including exaggerating his performance today, all to incite the dissatisfaction in the hearts of other talented disciples and prompt them to come looking for trouble with him, using this to properly temper his junior brother. Hao Shicheng found the act of playing pranks rather interesting while doing this, feeling somewhat unable to stop, only now understanding how his junior sister must have felt when pranking him. Qin Feng didn¡¯t care about Lan Qinhu¡¯s frustration and went directly to the manager of the Spiritual Beast Garden to tell him that he wanted to buy a Swallowing Star Toad. ¡°Which peak do you cultivate at, junior brother?¡± the manager asked with joy upon hearing that someone wanted to buy a Swallowing Star Toad. After all, such expensive Spiritual Beasts rarely had buyers who could afford them. Sometimes, they might not even get a single purchase in a month. But whenever they managed to sell one top-level Bloodline Spiritual Beast, they would make a huge profit. As the manager responsible for the Spiritual Beast Garden area of the Ten Thousand Demons Pavilion, he was well aware of the true worth of these so-called top-level Bloodline Spiritual Beasts. The Bloodline of these Spiritual Beasts was indeed not fake, but they were common goods eliminated from the Ten Thousand Demons Cave Heaven. Among the same species of Spiritual Beasts, they were very average. After being subjected to special taming and feeding techniques, their strength was elevated by a notch, and that was the reason for their current price. Of course, it wasn¡¯t to say these Spiritual Beasts weren¡¯t good, as they were still top-level Bloodlines; even if inferior, they were still much stronger than ordinary Spiritual Beasts. With proper cultivation in the future, they might not necessarily be worse than other Spiritual Beasts of the same kind. It¡¯s just that they would require more resources. ??¦Í??.§ã¦Ï Since Qin Feng was a disciple of his own Sect, the manager would not deceive him like an outsider, so he intended to clarify which peak¡¯s disciple Qin Feng was and then give him some advice about the Spiritual Beast he wanted to buy. ¡°Junior brother Qin Feng here, from Spiritual Snake Peak.¡± Qin Feng was courteous to the manager, hoping that the manager would do him the favor of giving a discount in consideration of their same Sect members, which called for not presenting an arrogant attitude. ¡°Ah, are you the disciple Qin Feng accepted by Inner Sect Elder Ning Wuxu?¡± The manager evidently had heard about Qin Feng as well and was a bit surprised. ¡°Uha€| I am indeed,¡± responded Qin Feng, somewhat perplexed. Why did everyone seem to know who he was? While his master¡¯s status was high, surely taking on a disciple couldn¡¯t become such widely known news. The manager took a few more looks at Qin Feng and smiled, ¡°Since you are Elder Ning¡¯s disciple, naturally, we should offer you an extra discount. How about thisa€¡±I¡¯ll take charge and let it go for a hundred and eighty thousand Spirit Stones. Although Junior Brother Qin has not yet entered the Inner Sect, it¡¯s a done deal, and I¡¯ll settle the account as if you¡¯re an Inner Sect Disciple. Are you satisfied with this, Junior Brother Qin?¡± ¡°Very satisfied, very satisfied, thank you, Senior Brother,¡± Qin Feng hurriedly nodded. There was nothing to be dissatisfied about. He had not expected his master¡¯s reputation to be so effective, just like that, twenty thousand Spirit Stones were wiped off the pricea€¡±a significant sum indeed. The manager added, ¡°Good to hear you¡¯re satisfied, Junior Brother Qin. However, there are some things I still need to let you know about. The foundation of that Swallowing Star Toad is a bit flimsy, so after you take it back, make sure you stabilize its cultivation.¡± He didn¡¯t spell it out too clearly, but as a disciple of the Beast Taming Sect, how could Qin Feng not understand the implications? So, he nodded with a smile, ¡°Thank you for the tip, Senior Brother. I¡¯ll be careful.¡± What he needed was the Swallowing Star Toad¡¯s Bloodline Power; he wasn¡¯t too concerned about its Cultivation Realm or even its Root Bone quality. Seeing his reaction, the manager said no further and led him to pay the Spirit Stones, placing the Swallowing Star Toad into a Spiritual Beast Bag and handing it over to him. This Spiritual Beast Bag was a bonus gift. It looked exquisite and suitable for a top-level Bloodline Spiritual Beast, but in reality, the space inside wasn¡¯t that ample. It was just crafted using some special techniques. Qin Feng took the Swallowing Star Toad with great joy and turned to leave the Ten Thousand Demons Pavilion, planning to head back. Having spent only one hundred and eighty thousand Spirit Stones on this Spiritual Beast, he still had one hundred and fifty thousand Spirit Stones on him, which he could consider investing in himself to enhance his cultivation another step. Chapter 177 - Chapter 177 Chapter 175 Divine Skills of Space Movement ?Chapter 177: Chapter 175 Divine Skills of Space Movement Chapter 177: Chapter 175 Divine Skills of Space Movement Spiritual Snake Peak. Qin Feng, feeling pleased, jumped down from the back of the Spiritual Vulture. Just as he was about to perform a hand seal to open the prohibition and enter the courtyard, he suddenly noticed a young male and female disciple walking out from a nearby fork in the road. The male disciple¡¯s face, originally smiling and talking with the female disciple beside him, suddenly turned gloomy upon seeing Qin Feng. He snorted coldly and led the female cultivator towards another courtyard not far away. Qin Feng recognized that guy, and though they were not close, he knew his name was Zhao Qinglin. This guy had quite a reputation in Spiritual Snake Peak, and it was said that he had once even killed a Foundation Establishment Cultivator while at the Qi Refinement Realm. He could have had the chance to join the Inner Sect last year, but he ultimately missed out due to a slight misstep and being defeated by someone, resulting in another year of secluded cultivation in the Outer Sect. ?¦Ï¦Í??.§ã0 Qin Feng remembered that some time ago, when he followed Liu Xuanling to the Heavenly Pool Secret Realm, Elder Lingxiao of Heavenly Dragon Peak had curiously asked Liu Xuanling why Zhao Qinglin wasn¡¯t chosen to go to the Heavenly Pool Secret Realm. Clearly, this guy was seen as a disciple with great potential by many. Qin Feng had only moved here a few days ago and genuinely did not know that this guy¡¯s cultivation place was so close to his own. He squinted his eyes. It seemed that Zhao Qinglin was somewhat dissatisfied with him! Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ??¦Í?0.§ã¦Ï Indeed, anyone who thought they had a secure chance to enter a secret realm but suddenly had it snatched away would naturally feel upset. It was normal for Zhao Qinglin to have some resentment, and Qin Feng didn¡¯t mind it. Whatever his dissatisfaction was, as long as he did not provoke Qin Feng, it was fine. Otherwise, Qin Feng wouldn¡¯t mind showing this guy his true power. Though Zhao Qinglin had been a disciple a few years longer than himself, what did that amount to? His clan uncle, Qin Ying, had joined the sect decades before him, and he hadn¡¯t achieved much. Zhao Qinglin might have some renown, but he definitely wasn¡¯t a top-notch genius. True geniuses were like Kong Xuan from Mystic Bird Peak, known across peaks while still in the Qi Refinement Realm, or like Lin Jingxin from Spiritual Tree Peak, known even before entering the Mountain Gate for her Innate Dao Heart, not someone like Zhao Qinglin who only gained fame after several years into his discipleship. Although Qin Feng had only recently entered the Foundation Establishment Stage, relying solely on the various Divine Powers of the Ruyi Golden Snake, he had already secured a position among the many Foundation Establishment Disciples of the Outer Sect. Not to mention, he also possessed the Swallowing Sky Toad, Ghost-Faced Spider, and Fire Ape, several Spirit Beasts at the Foundation Establishment Realm. Unless facing those veteran Foundation Establishment Late Stage disciples with substantial accumulations, he truly feared no one in the Outer Sect. Back in the cultivation room, Qin Feng couldn¡¯t wait to place the Swallowing Star Toad into the Demon Refining Pot, and after sending the Swallowing Sky Toad back to a spatial layer, he directly took out a large quantity of Spirit Stones and put them into the Demon Refining Pot, activating it to begin integrating the bloodline for the Swallowing Sky Toad. This time, without the support of a Spirit Vein, Qin Feng truly experienced what it felt like for money to flow like water. Tens of thousands of Spirit Stones were visibly depleted under his Divine Sense¡¯s watch, drained of all Spiritual Energy by the Demon Refining Pot, yet it was still not enough. Qin Feng gritted his teeth, enduring the pain, and continued to put more Spirit Stones inside. The last time he had integrated bloodline for the Swallowing Sky Toad, due to its only being at the Qi Refinement Late Stage, the consumption had not been too great. Although it still left him penniless, it only cost a few thousand Spirit Stones. Now that the Swallowing Sky Toad had reached Foundation Establishment, its strength far surpassed that of before, and the required number of Spirit Stones had multiplied tenfold, causing Qin Feng great distress. It took great effort to gather these Spirit Stones, and he had hoped to save some to buy Spiritual Elixirs that could accelerate the refining of his physical body, but he couldn¡¯t afford to use them all up. Even though it pained him to use so many, he couldn¡¯t stop now. He had already fused more than half, and stopping midway would be the greatest waste. Finally, after he had invested 68,000 Spirit Stones, the Demon Refining Pot finally gave a feeling of saturation, and the fusion with the Swallowing Sky Toad completely ended. Qin Feng breathed a sigh of relief and was also secretly glad that he had resisted the temptation to buy the more expensive Taiyin Moon Toad. Otherwise, he wouldn¡¯t even have had enough Spirit Stones for the fusion, and ending it halfway would truly have been a devastating loss. He still had about 80,000 Spirit Stones left, enough for a Foundation Establishment Disciple to be extravagant with. With only a few months left until the year-end Outer Sector Competition, he planned to use these Spirit Stones to buy a large amount of Spiritual Medicine to aid in his cultivation, aiming to advance his cultivation further before the competition to ensure his entry into the Inner Sect. For him, getting into the Inner Sect as early as possible was preferable to staying in the Outer Sector, as the difference in treatment between the Inner and Outer Sects was too vast; he preferred to enter the Inner Sect and focus on his cultivation. For many years, his family had always hoped to nurture an Inner Sect Disciple. Frankly, if he hadn¡¯t fortuitously obtained the Demon Refining Pot, with his original aptitude, it wouldn¡¯t have been possible for him to enter the Inner Sect so easily. The most likely scenario would have been following his father¡¯s old path, spending tens of years to achieve Foundation Establishment, or if he was unwilling to retire to his family, he would slowly cultivate in the Sect, hoping one day to achieve the Golden Core. Now that he was a disciple of Ning Wuxu, entering the Inner Sect was already a certainty; the key was that he had to earn his place through his own efforts in the Outer Sector Competition to officially become a direct disciple of his master. If he couldn¡¯t even pass this test in the Outer Sector, that would make him seem too incompetent. Even if Ning Wuxu said nothing, he probably wouldn¡¯t have the face to claim he was Ning Wuxu¡¯s disciple. Taking a light breath, Qin Feng gathered his spirit and summoned the Swallowing Sky Toad. After its advancement, the Swallowing Sky Toad had grown a bit larger, transforming from the size of a fist to that of a palm. As it continued to eat and cultivate, its body would keep growing, and it might eventually become a massive beast. The mature Swallowing Sky Toad was naturally large; it had only been fist-sized because it was still juvenile. Now, having entered the Foundation Establishment Realm and fused with the Swallowing Star Toad¡¯s bloodline, its body would surely continue to grow. Qin Feng cradled the Swallowing Sky Toad in one hand while gently stroking its smooth back with the other. At that moment, the toad¡¯s back was covered with dazzling star patterns that echoed the stars in the distant heavens. From now on, its cultivation would focus on two aspects: one was the Space Dao inherent to the Swallowing Sky Toad, its current stage still focused on devouring various foods, using spiritually rich objects to nourish the space within its stomach. The other was harnessing the power of the stars for cultivation. The stars of the Nine Heavens were infinite, present in the cosmic sky night and day, though invisible during daylight to the common eye. However, the Swallowing Sky Toad could directly use the star patterns on its back to connect with the Nine Heavens Star Power and continuously absorb and refine it. Moreover, because the Swallowing Star Toad¡¯s Bloodline Power was perfectly integrated into its body, the star power it absorbed also merged with the space in its stomach. Qin Feng, through his spirit sensing, discovered that its stomach walls now seemed to contain countless tiny stars, mysterious and beautiful, brightening the space within, which was no longer pitch black as before. Additionally, it could also absorb water Spirit Energy for cultivation. Although its Water Manipulation Divine Power and Cold Ice Arrow were far less potent than its space and star abilities, they were still directions for cultivation, and as its realm increased, it could also elevate its comprehension of the Water Element Dao. ¡°Show me your current abilities.¡± Qin Feng said to the Swallowing Sky Toad. ¡°Gurgle, gurgle¡­¡± The Swallowing Sky Toad let out a couple of light croaks, then pushed off with its limbs from his hand, and leapt forward. ¡°Huh?¡± Qin Feng felt a slight fluctuation of energy from the Swallowing Sky Toad, and then he lost sight of its figure. He hurriedly released his Divine Sense to scan the area and found that the Swallowing Sky Toad had already appeared at the doorway. ¡°Is this¡­ Space Movement?¡± Qin Feng was both surprised and delighted. Such a Divine Skill was indeed impressive. At the very least, before a cultivator had reached a profoundly high level of Cultivation, they had virtually no sense of space, and even existences at the Dharma Image Realm like Luo Zhancheng wouldn¡¯t dare to easily step into the void. The innate Divine Ability of the Swallowing Sky Toad was related to space, which allowed it to comprehend the Divine Skill of Space Movement right after its Foundation Establishment. If the Swallowing Sky Toad could grasp the Dao of Space and fully control the power of space within its body, it could advance further and transform Space Movement into Void Shifting, a Great Divine Power. Space Movement only allowed for short-range movements within a certain boundary, whereas Void Shifting was a method to traverse the cosmic starry skya€¡±the two, although intricately linked, were profoundly different in practice. The Swallowing Sky Toad let out a few more ¡°gurgles¡±, and Qin Feng understood its message; it had just recently advanced, was still weak, and could only move about twenty or thirty yards at most in one go. If it wanted to travel further, it would have to wait until the power of space within it grew stronger. Next, it demonstrated another new Divine Skill related to the stars. Behind it, starlight shone brilliantly, and bits of Star Power gathered like rain before suddenly striking the wall. ¡°Come on, you financial burdena€¡±are you done yet?¡± Qin Feng complained internally. I just asked you to show your strength; was there any need to destroy the wall? Luckily, the Cultivation Room had been set up with prohibitions when it was built, and he quickly formed a hand seal and activated the room¡¯s Forbidden Technique to block the attack. Still, the wall was marked with many fine shallow pits, a result of the Star Power¡¯s sharpness, which was especially good at penetrating defenses. Of course, Star Power was even better at breaking magic. During the Ancient Great Tribulation, the cultivators from the Northern Domain Wuji Star Palace were the main force resisting the Heavenly Demon Realm, and they relied on Star Power Divine Skills to slay countless demons. Though the Star Power within the Swallowing Sky Toad was still weak, it possessed the Breaking Law Attribute unique to the Nine Heavens Star Power. Qin Feng was thrilled. With such capacities, the Swallowing Sky Toad could once again become a significant aide for him, no longer just a minor actor. Of course, it still needed a long time to gain enough Star Power and convert it into Star Power True Essence. Qin Feng decided to let the Swallowing Sky Toad stay outside to absorb Star Power for its Cultivation from now on, unless he needed to take it with him. Usually, he would try not to put it back into the Demon Refining Pot. Since the room had prohibitive barriers, absorbing Star Power there would greatly affect the Swallowing Sky Toad and significantly reduce the effectiveness of its Cultivation. Hence, Qin Feng tossed the Swallowing Sky Toad into the courtyard and let it cultivate on its own. Thus, the Swallowing Sky Toad began its miserable life, having to lie on the rooftop every night to draw in Star Power and mostly hiding under the osmanthus tree in the courtyard during the day to avoid the sun and continue Cultivating. Since Cultivation could enhance its power, Qin Feng wasn¡¯t keen on wasting resources on feeding it too much. It only ate occasionally, just enough not to starve. Otherwise, with its huge appetite, even if Qin Feng spent all his remaining eighty thousand Spirit Stones on it, it wouldn¡¯t be enough for the Swallowing Sky Toad to advance to the Demon Core. Developing space was much more troublesome than tempering the physical body and accumulating True Yuan, and the resources required were far beyond what Qin Feng could currently afford. That day, after finishing his Cultivation, Qin Feng was planning to read some Daoist books and learn some new spells when he suddenly heard a series of knocking sounds from outside. A sweep of his Divine Sense revealed the skinny youth standing at the door was none other than Liu Wuxiang. Qin Feng stood up to greet him. Liu Wuxiang was his best friend at Spiritual Snake Peak. While he knew many other disciples, they were mostly just acquaintances with whom he occasionally exchanged a few words. It wasn¡¯t that he was antisocial, but he spent most of his time on Cultivation. His purpose in joining the Beast Taming Sect was to cultivate for longevity and not to make friends, so naturally, he wouldn¡¯t put the cart before the horse. His youth was the prime time for Cultivation, and he was unwilling to waste it on making so-called friends and delay his own progress. Thus, in the two years since he joined the Sect, Liu Wuxiang was really the only one from Spiritual Snake Peak whom he got along well with. In fact, Liu Wuxiang had also been quite influenced by him, so his daily routine was very similar to Qin Feng¡¯s, spending most of his time Cultivating or in the Scripture Pavilion watching Daoist books unless he had to complete necessary tasks. Moreover, Liu Wuxiang¡¯s Lifebound Spiritual Beast was the Black Water Mysterious Snake, possessing great potential, and his personal prospects were much more significant than those of ordinary Outer Disciples. Therefore, he also carried a bit of pride and naturally disdained to just get by like other ordinary Outer Disciples. ¡°Brother Wuxiang, what brings you here today?¡± Qin Feng smiled warmly as he opened the courtyard gate and welcomed Liu Wuxiang inside. He observed the aura around the youth and found that he had also reached the Late Stage of Qi Refinement. Qin Feng congratulated him, ¡°Congratulations, Junior Brother! Having reached the Late Stage of Qi Refinement, you can now take on tasks from the Foreign Affairs Hall. As long as you¡¯re careful, you¡¯ll earn more Cultivation resources outside than staying within the Mountain Gate, which will speed up your Cultivation.¡± ¡°Senior Brother is kidding me; my Cultivation is nothing compared to yours.¡± Liu Wuxiang gave a wry smile. ¡°You¡¯ve already reached Foundation Establishment, while I¡¯ve only just reached the Late Stage of Qi Refinement with my family¡¯s support.¡± Chapter 178 - Chapter 178 Chapter 176 Challenge ?Chapter 178: Chapter 176: Challenge Chapter 178: Chapter 176: Challenge Liu Wuxiang¡¯s family, upon learning that he had refined the Black Water Mysterious Snakea€¡±a top-level bloodline Spiritual Snakea€¡±as his Lifebound Spiritual Beast, naturally focused on nurturing him, thus in just one year his cultivation had increased several levels, elevating him from Qi Refinement fourth level to his current Qi Refinement seventh level. Originally he felt quite content with himself, but after meeting Qin Feng, he promptly discarded any pride he had harbored. They had both entered the Beast Taming Sect and joined the Spiritual Snake Peak together. Although initially Qin Feng¡¯s cultivation had been somewhat stronger than his, the difference was marginal. However, now that he had the full support of his family, instead of narrowing the gap between them, it had widened even more, which left him feeling quite frustrated. Following Qin Feng into the courtyard, Liu Wuxiang looked around and finally couldn¡¯t help but reveal a young man¡¯s true nature, saying enviously, ¡°I wonder when I could have my own cultivation spot on the mountain like Senior Brother.¡± Qin Feng led Liu Wuxiang into a room and sat down, consoling him, ¡°With Junior Brother¡¯s rate of cultivation, it shouldn¡¯t take too long.¡± ¡°Not so easy.¡± Liu Wuxiang shook his head, ¡°Even though I have my family¡¯s support and haven¡¯t stopped receiving cultivation resources this past year, I can¡¯t just consume Elixir Pills like they¡¯re food. The cultivation I have achieved so far is already incredibly fast. To reach Foundation Establishment, it will probably take several years.¡± ¡°It shouldn¡¯t.¡± Qin Feng smiled, ¡°You differ from the other disciples. Ever since you refined the Black Water Mysterious Snake, you¡¯ve definitely caught the eye of the Peak Master and the other two Elders. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í?0.§ã¦Ï They might discreetly set some tasks for you to test your character and abilities. ?¦Ï???.§ã¦Ï As long as you pass their tests, they will surely view you differently, and more resources will undoubtedly be allocated to you, which will further accelerate your cultivation pace.¡± ¡°Really?¡± ¡°Why should I deceive you? The Sect supports true talents, especially the Outer Peaks. Each one has a few talented disciples to hold their ground; otherwise, it would be embarrassing if they couldn¡¯t secure even a single spot in the Inner Sect over several years. Your talent is good, your personality is also good, and the Lifebound Spiritual Beast you refined is the Black Water Mysterious Snakea€¡±a top-level bloodline Spiritual Snake. The handlers of the Spiritual Snake Peak, being the Peak Master and others, couldn¡¯t possibly neglect you. The fact that you acquired the Black Water Mysterious Snake in the Mist Swamp must also be known to Elder Yin Qi who led the team. The reason you haven¡¯t received special treatment probably stems from your lack of tasks outside. You¡¯ve always been practising within the Sect, which makes it somewhat difficult for the Elders to test you. Therefore, I personally suggest that you better complete several tasks through the Foreign Affairs Hall.¡± Hearing this, Liu Wuxiang immediately rejoiced, ¡°Thank you for the advice, Senior Brother. I will definitely undertake some tasks and in the future, I will cultivate more diligently to let the Elders see my efforts.¡± ¡°It¡¯s not just about cultivating diligently; you also need to stand out while performing tasks so that you can gain the Elders¡¯ recognition sooner.¡± Qin Feng elaborated, ¡°Look at Kong Xuan from the Mystic Bird Peak, Wei Yan from the Heavenly Silkworm Peak, Long Qian from the Heavenly Dragon Peak, and Ma Xingkong from the Heavenly Horse Peaka€¡±all these disciples possess top-level bloodline Spiritual Beasts and, coupled with their excellent cultivation talents, receive key training in their respective Peaks. Currently, there are few in the Spiritual Snake Peak who can compare to them. Ordinary disciples, irrespective of their cultivation aptitude, simply cannot contend with them in combat because the Spiritual Beasts they possess are inferior. In this regard, you have a big advantage. Your Lifebound Spiritual Beast is in no way inferior to any of theirs. If the Spiritual Snake Peak wants to maintain its position in the top ten among the Outer Peaks, it must focus on nurturing disciples like you. Take Zhao Qinglin, for example; wasn¡¯t he unknown when he first joined the Sect? But why did he dramatically advance and cultivate to his current realm? Isn¡¯t it because he refined an Exotic Species Spiritual Snake as his Lifebound Spiritual Beast, thereby catching the eyes of several Elders?¡± After hearing all this from Qin Feng, Liu Wuxiang¡¯s confidence soared, ¡°So, I should aim to match Zhao Qinglin.¡± ¡°No, you need to be stronger than him.¡± Qin Feng shook his head, ¡°I heard that Zhao Qinglin lost to a disciple from the Heavenly Dragon Peak in last year¡¯s Outer Sect competition and didn¡¯t make it to the Inner Sect. Although his cultivation is stronger than last year, honestly, one year isn¡¯t enough to significantly enhance one¡¯s realm in Foundation Establishment. At the early stages of Foundation Establishment, the gap in cultivation between the first and the second level isn¡¯t significant enough to be decisive.¡± He was defeated in the great competition and eventually eliminated from it, which indicates he wasn¡¯t talented enough. You need to perform better than him. When your cultivation is sufficient, strive to achieve success in the Outer Sect¡¯s great competition and avoid repeated failures. Otherwise, those elders will certainly give up on allocating too many resources to you.¡± Liu Wuxiang¡¯s face showed a hint of surprise. ¡°Senior Brother, are you saying that Zhao Qinglin has already been abandoned by several elders?¡± Qin Feng smiled faintly. ¡°Not exactly abandoned, but they surely won¡¯t use the best resources on him anymore.¡± ¡°Oh!¡± Liu Wuxiang nodded, understanding what Qin Feng implied. Just like the opening of the Heavenly Pool Secret Realm, if it hadn¡¯t been for Qin Feng, Zhao Qinglin would likely have secured the entry spot. Unfortunately, he hadn¡¯t grown enough to earn special regard from people like Liu Xuanling, especially after his defeat at last year¡¯s Outer Sect competition, which further lowered his status in their eyes. It was precisely because of this that when Liu Xuanling casually offered Qin Feng the entry spot to the Heavenly Pool Secret Realm, Elder Yin Qi had no objection. Although Qin Feng¡¯s cultivation was somewhat insufficient at the time, Yin Qi didn¡¯t care much and had no intention of fighting for Zhao Qinglin. To be valued by the elders, one must at least have something valuable to offer, which Zhao Qinglin evidently did not. Even now, he might not realize that he had already started to lose favor with several elders. Though Liu Wuxiang couldn¡¯t have guessed all of this, he generally grasped the meaning behind Qin Feng¡¯s words. ¡°I almost forgot about the important matter.¡± After chatting for a bit longer, Liu Wuxiang suddenly slapped his forehead. ¡°Senior Brother, is it true that you have been taken in as a disciple by Elder Ning Wuxu of the Inner Sect?¡± ¡°Eh?¡± Qin Feng was taken aback. ¡°You know about that too?¡± ¡°Which peak at the Outer Sect hasn¡¯t heard?¡± Liu Wuxiang said, ¡°The news of Elder Ning taking you in has spread far and wide. Many talented disciples from all peaks are gearing up to defeat you in order to make a name for themselves. By defeating you, they hope to catch the attention of the Inner Sect¡¯s elders and perhaps be taken in as disciples. Senior Brother, you must be careful. With the news spreading so quickly in such a short time, I suspect someone might be scheming against you.¡± ¡°Oh? Scheming against me?¡± Qin Feng narrowed his eyes. ¡°I have only been in the sect for two years, and I usually stay at the Spiritual Snake Peak to cultivate. I haven¡¯t offended many people. How could someone be scheming against me?¡± ¡°Senior Brother, do you think it could be Zhao Qinglin?¡± Liu Wuxiang leaned closer and whispered, ¡°Perhaps he feels that you stole his chance to enter the secret realm and harbors resentment. He might have deliberately spread this news to make you a target for everyone. That way, at the end of the year¡¯s great competition, he could still emerge as the strongest disciple of the Spiritual Snake Peak and stand unrivaled. Otherwise, if you were to shine at the Outer Sect¡¯s great competition as well, wouldn¡¯t you completely surpass him?¡± ¡°Hmm, your words do make some sense.¡± Qin Feng nodded but soon added, ¡°However, the likelihood that it was him is very small.¡± ¡°Why?¡± ¡°He¡¯s just an Outer Disciple, after all. He wouldn¡¯t have extended his reach that far and initially, he couldn¡¯t have known about me being accepted by Master.¡± Qin Feng frowned, his mind filled with many unanswered questions. ¡°Even if Master and Senior Brothers might mention my apprenticeship to their close Sect mates, it should only be known amongst a few in the Inner Sect. How could it spread so fast? Hmm, it must have been accidentally leaked to the Outer Sect, then picked up by those with ulterior motives, plotting against me in the dark. I also don¡¯t know who would be so shameless to use such despicable means against me, deliberately trying to spoil my good fortune and prevent me from entering the Inner Sect.¡± He had already figured it out. During the competition time in the Outer Sect, many would likely aim to defeat him to gain fame and catch the eyes of the Inner Sect Elders. Humph, Qin Feng thought, what grievances do I have with you that you dare to block my path. Do not let me catch you; otherwise, I won¡¯t let it go! At this moment, the mastermind behind this, Hao Shicheng, was still tending his Spiritual Medicine Garden, feeling extremely pleased as he thought of his little junior brother¡¯s frantic struggles in the Outer Sect. Unfortunately, Qin Feng¡¯s resentment was too slight, and Hao Shicheng had not yet comprehended the Dao Principle, so he did not sense even that small amount of resentment. Liu Xuanling advised, ¡°Senior Brother, you should be more careful recently, it¡¯s best not to go out or you will definitely be challenged.¡± ¡°Let them challenge me, am I supposed to be scared of them?¡± Qin Feng sneered, ¡°Although I haven¡¯t been here long, if they underestimate me because of that, they¡¯ll be taught a hard lesson.¡± Those eligible to participate in the Outer Sect competition were subject to age restrictions; the veteran Foundation Establishment Disciples had no reason to challenge him. As for the disciples who had joined the Sect within the last ten years, there definitely wouldn¡¯t be any at the Foundation Establishment Late Stage. If anyone had such strength, they would have long secured a place in the Inner Sect instead of wasting time in the Outer Sect. And he had a Fire Ape at the peak of Foundation Establishment. Even though the Fire Ape was injured, its war power was still beyond what ordinary Foundation Establishment disciples could handle. Thus, he was not afraid of any disciple seeking fame by challenging him. ¡°No need.¡± Liu Xuanling advised again, ¡°Senior Brother, your strength is indeed formidable, but how many can you fight? With 108 peaks in the Outer Sect, if one or two from each come to challenge you, can you truly handle all of them? Besides, even if you win every fight, can you guarantee you won¡¯t get hurt? Once injured, just the recovery period would take a considerable amount of time. You might not even have enough time to cultivate properly before the year-end competition.¡± ¡°Uha€|¡± Qin Feng was momentarily stunned and fell silent. Although confident, he wasn¡¯t arrogant enough to think he could withstand that many battles. Moreover, if disciples from each peak decided to challenge him, surely, each would be the finest talents of their peaks, each possessing unique skills. If he happened to face someone with a special Spiritual Beast and got injured, it certainly would affect his Cultivation progress. His brow furrowed. ¡°But I can¡¯t just not go out, right? Even if I don¡¯t go out for missions, I still need to go to the Market to purchase some Elixir Pills and other Spiritual Objects necessary for Cultivation. Furthermore, if I hide in Spiritual Snake Peak for fear of being challenged, even if others don¡¯t mock me, I won¡¯t be able to overcome this hurdle in my Daoist Heart. If fear takes root, my future progress will definitely be slow.¡± ¡°Thisa€|¡± Liu Xuanling was at a loss. He had come here just to warn Qin Feng to be cautious but had forgotten about the Daoist Heart, which couldn¡¯t afford to keep retreating, else it could turn into a mental blockage and perhaps even become a vulnerability in his spirit later. ¡°Never mind, I¡¯ll focus on cultivation for now. As long as those guys don¡¯t go too far, I¡¯ll just ignore them. If it gets too much, I¡¯ll settle it all during the Outer Sect competition.¡± Qin Feng quickly put aside these concerns and didn¡¯t dwell on them. Currently, he still possessed tens of thousands of Spirit Stones. If used properly, he could surely elevate his cultivation another level before the year-end competition. By then, as long as he was powerful enough, he could defeat all dissentersa€¡±there was no need to worry about these people and delay his cultivation now. ¡°As long as you know what you¡¯re doing, Senior Brother.¡± Liu Xuanling stood up, smiling as he prepared to leave, ¡°Since Senior Brother has a plan, I needn¡¯t worry. Thanks for the tip earlier, Junior Brother intends to head to the Foreign Affairs Hall to pick up a mission now. Senior Brother¡¯s cultivation is progressing swiftly, and I too must try to catch up quickly, lest I fall too far behind and feel discontent.¡± ¡°Alright, since that¡¯s the case, I won¡¯t keep you any longer.¡± Qin Feng stood up to see Liu Xuanling out. As Liu Xuanling walked out, he passed by a centuries-old Osmanthus tree in the courtyard and suddenly noticed a palm-sized green-skinned toad lying underneath. He couldn¡¯t help but take a closer look, intrigued. The toad, with its intriguing emerald back dotted with star-like patterns, appeared faintly breathless, akin to a newly cultivated Spiritual Toad. But Qin Feng had already reached the Foundation Establishment Realm and certainly wouldn¡¯t nurture a newly intelligent Spiritual Toad as a Spiritual Beast, which would be of no benefit to him and would just take up part of his Divine Sense. If it weren¡¯t a low-level Spiritual Beast, then this green-skinned toad must possess a very advanced skill in concealing its aura through Divine Skills. Liu Xuanling was puzzled. He had seen many books and charts on various Spiritual Beasts, yet he couldn¡¯t recall any that resembled this type of Spiritual Toad. Perhaps Liu Xuanling had been staring for too long; the Swallowing Sky Toad opened its tightly shut eyes and looked towards him. For a moment, Liu Xuanling felt a twinge of nervousness. He soon realized that the strength of this Spiritual Toad must surpass his own, which was causing this reaction. ¡°Not only is Senior Brother Qin¡¯s cultivation progressing rapidly, but even the Spiritual Beasts with him are impressive. Looking at this Spiritual Toad, it must already be at the Foundation Establishment Realm, otherwise it wouldn¡¯t cause such a nervous response in my spirit. It seems I need to work harder, otherwise, I¡¯ll only fall further behind Senior Brother Qin.¡± Thinking this, Liu Xuanling hastened his steps and soon left the yard, bidding farewell to Qin Feng. Chapter 179 - Chapter 179 Chapter 177 Ten Thousand Pills Pavilion ?Chapter 179: Chapter 177 Ten Thousand Pills Pavilion Chapter 179: Chapter 177 Ten Thousand Pills Pavilion After Liu Wuxiang left, Qin Feng did not return to his room to cultivate; instead, he paced back and forth in the courtyard a few times before sitting beneath the osmanthus tree, lost in thought. He had not expected the news of his acceptance as a disciple to spread so widely, creating such a stir. If it had simply been a matter of talk, it would have been fine, but it attracted the attention of talented disciples from the other peaks of the Outer Sect, even stirring up thoughts of challenge among thema€¡±that was troubling. Someone must be plotting behind the scenes! Qin Feng thought that perhaps someone wanted to strike at him for their own benefit, or perhaps his apprenticeship had coincidentally become a shield for some people to act in secret. ?¦Ï¦Í??.§ã¦Ï However, no matter the intent of those behind the scenes, they had undoubtedly caused him great distress. Especially when the time came for the Outer Sect competition, he could already foresee the scenario where many would challenge him. Of course, those truly top-level geniuses probably wouldn¡¯t do so. Top talents have their pride; moreover, they had no need to gain fame by defeating him, as their reputations were already significant. For talents like them, the elders of each peak had surely arranged for their entry into the Inner Sect and they needn¡¯t worry about finding a master. Only Qin Feng, who had risen to prominence abruptly and whose strength remained untested by others, might normally arouse the thought of challenge. Beside him, the Swallowing Sky Toad was using all four limbs to slowly crawl, its small webbed feet clutching Qin Feng¡¯s pant leg as it climbed onto his thigh and comfortably settled down. Qin Feng stroked its sleek skin with one hand, while his other hand absentmindedly tapped on the stone table. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?0¦Í??.?¦Ï After pondering for a while, he burst out laughing. ¡°Is it just a challenge? What is there to worry about? Those who have been in the sect for so long without progressing to the Inner Sect now think to gain fame by challenging me; it¡¯s fascinating that such disciples dare to call themselves geniuses. Truly laughable.¡± In his view, those who wished to challenge him could at most be considered talents with decent aptitude, but they were far from being true geniuses; otherwise, why would they need to seek attention through challenging him? If they were truly geniuses, they would have already been recognized and reported by the peak masters and elders, and the elders of the Inner Sect branches would have pre-arranged their mentorships. Having resolved these issues, Qin Feng put aside all concerns, picked up the Swallowing Sky Toad, and strode out of the courtyard gate. Along the way, he encountered many disciples whose expressions were complex, their hearts filled with either envy or jealousy. However, being disciples from the same peak, those acquainted with him still approached and complimented him, congratulating Qin Feng on catching the eye of the Great Elder of the Spiritual Snake lineage. Disciples of the Spiritual Snake Peak were generally much more composed compared to those from other peaks. Even if some harbored jealousy, they dared not rashly challenge Qin Feng, as they were all disciples of the Spiritual Snake lineage and wouldn¡¯t want to recklessly offend the Great Elder¡¯s authority. A gentle smile appeared on Qin Feng¡¯s face, looking no different than usual. After greeting the crowd, he rode the Spiritual Vulture towards the Mountain Gate. He planned to go to the market to purchase some spiritual objects that would aid in refining his body, aiming to further enhance his strength before the grand competition. As soon as he left, the nearby disciples immediately began discussing. Many wore expressions of both envy and emotion, especially those disciples of the same batch who had joined the Spiritual Snake Peak; they regretted not having befriended Qin Feng better. Perhaps then, they could have gained familiarity in front of some elders and maybe even caught an elder¡¯s eye. Of course, there was much lamentation as well. They had entered the sect at the same time as Qin Feng, yet now Qin Feng had already reached Foundation Establishment, while most of them were still mingling in the early to mid-stages of Qi Refinement, with only a few in the late stage, who mostly came from Noble Heirs. Because the Noble Heirs came from families much more powerful than small clans like the Qin Family, they were used to others seeking to befriend them and disdained to take the initiative to befriend those who were inferior, so they were not familiar with Qin Feng either. Qin Feng paid no mind to what those disciples were discussing behind his back. Riding the Spiritual Vulture, he flew straight to Qingyun Square. This time, he did not go to the Ten Thousand Demons Pavilion. While the expertise of the Beast Taming Sect was in taming Spiritual Beasts, in other areas, they were not as proficient as those sects that specialized in a single field. For instance, Artifact Refining. In the Southern Domain, the most famous was the Divine Weapon Family, where each cultivator of the family was proficient in the methods of refining various magical treasures. Any family member who couldn¡¯t independently refine a qualified magical treasure was not recognized as a formal member of the clan. Legend even had it that every generation¡¯s successor of the clan leader of the Divine Weapon Family had to refine an Immortal Artifact before they could take the position, otherwise they would rather leave it vacant until some successor met the requirements. On the other hand, artifact refiners of the Beast Taming Sect preferred to refine various magic artifacts from various demon materials, and their skills diminished without these materials. Similarly, in terms of Alchemy, the most famous in the Southern Domain was the Danxia Sect. Although other sects and even Loose Cultivators also had many Alchemy Masters, Danxia Sect was the most renowned. However, the alchemists trained by the Beast Taming Sect specialized in refining Elixir Pills that enhanced the strength of Spiritual Beasts, not Spirit Pills intended for human consumption. Qin Feng wished to purchase Miracle Medicine that could accelerate his Foundation Establishment, but had no desire to treat his Physical Body like a Spiritual Beast, as it could not bear such violent medicinal power. So, this time he directly went to the Ten Thousand Pills Pavilion set up by the Danxia Sect in the market. Although the prices offered by the Danxia Sect were more expensive for ordinary Cultivators, Qin Feng believed that the high cost was justified. Not only could the Danxia Sect guarantee the quality of their Elixir Pills, but their effects were also exceptional. They would never tarnish their own reputation by selling inferior quality Elixir Pills. Moreover, doing business in front of other factions¡¯ forces made it even more crucial not to spoil their reputation. ¡°What would you like, young friend?¡± He was greeted by a middle-aged Manager. This Manager, also at the Foundation Establishment Late Stage, had a faint fragrance of Elixir Pills on him, clearly someone who dealt with various Spirit Pills year-round; otherwise, his body would not have been imbued with so much fragrance from the Elixir Pills. ¡°Daoist Fellow is welcome.¡± Qin Feng raised his hand in return, ¡°I plan to buy some Elixir Pills for body tempering. May I know if you have any recommendations?¡± ¡°Oh?¡± The middle-aged Manager looked at Qin Feng a few times upon hearing this. His gaze was not sharp but rather gentle, which did not give one the feeling of being scrutinized. After sensing the aura emanating from Qin Feng, he said, ¡°Judging from your aura, young friend, you have established your foundation not long ago. However, your aura is pure, clearly indicating a solid foundation and very refined True Yuan. This is good, as it can save quite some time in cultivation and spare many Spirit Pills needed for purifying True Yuan. According to your current situation, I recommend the second-grade superior Body Tempering Pill, Blood Swapping Pill, and Heart Cleansing Pill. Furthermore, if you are not short of Spirit Stones, you can also pair these with our Danxia Sect¡¯s unique Body Tempering Spirit Liquid for cultivation. This Body Tempering Spirit Liquid is concocted by our Danxia Sect from Nine Heavens Dew blended with ninety-nine types of Spiritual Medicine. It has miraculous effects on Foundation Establishment Cultivators in refining their Taoist Body. Combined with the other Elixir Pills, it could increase your body tempering speed by tenfold.¡± ¡°Is it that powerful?¡± Qin Feng was somewhat surprised. ¡°Hehe, rest assured, young friend. Our Danxia Sect has always been truthful about the effects of our Elixir Pills and never exaggerates their efficacy to deceive others in business.¡± The middle-aged Manager said, ¡°Besides, we are currently on the land of the Beast Taming Sect, and you are a disciple of the Beast Taming Sect. We certainly won¡¯t cause any trouble. This Ten Thousand Pills Pavilion has been operated in Qingyun Square for thousands of years without ever having swindled a single disciple from the Beast Taming Sect.¡± Qin Feng nodded, ¡°The reputation of the Danxia Sect is well-regarded in the Southern Domain. I am not questioning it; I am just surprised that the Danxia Sect could refine such effective treasures.¡± ¡°Hehe, our Danxia Sect uses Elixir Pills as a path to attain Dao. We always strive for perfection in our Elixir Pills, naturally aiming for the strongest effects possible. When it comes to Elixir Pills that refine the Taoist Body, only the Giant Spirit Sect¡¯s Qi Blood Pool and the War God Palace¡¯s Nine Revolutions Body Refining Golden Pill can compare with ours.¡± At this point, the middle-aged Manager appeared quite pleased with himself. ¡°Young friend, feel free to look around at which Spirit Pills you need. If you find these a bit pricey, I have some more reasonably priced Spirit Pills here as well.¡± ¡°No need. I¡¯ll take the ones you mentioned earlier.¡± Qin Feng shook his head and directly said, ¡°Also, add some of that Body Tempering Spirit Liquid.¡± ¡°Young friend is straightforward.¡± Pleased with his response, the Manager asked, ¡°How much would you like? The Body Tempering Pill is two hundred Spirit Stones per bottle, Blood Swapping Pill one hundred eighty per bottle, and the Heart Cleansing Pill is a bit more expensive at three hundred per pill. However, this Elixir Pill does not need to be taken frequently; once every ten days or half a month is sufficient. As for the Body Tempering Spirit Liquid, since it is quite complicated to concoct and extremely potent, it costs even more at one thousand Spirit Stones per bottle.¡± ¡°How many times can one bottle of Body Tempering Spirit Liquid be used?¡± ¡°Ten times.¡± Qin Feng grimaced, so each use would consume more than a hundred Spirit Stones.ufreqD?????ely ?>> Chapter 180 - Chapter 180 Chapter 178 Three Lifetimes Immortal Wine ?Chapter 180: Chapter 178: Three Lifetimes Immortal Wine Chapter 180: Chapter 178: Three Lifetimes Immortal Wine After leaving the Ten Thousand Pills Pavilion, Qin Feng stood on the street and looked back. He wanted to glance at the Ten Thousand Pills Pavilion¡¯s sign again, reflecting on the Danxia Sect¡¯s methods of amassing wealth, but as he turned around, he was met instead with the manager¡¯s full-moon-like smiling face. Qin Feng politely nodded towards the other party, though inwardly, he couldn¡¯t help but wryly smile. The ten bottles of Body Tempering Spirit Liquid had cost him ten thousand Spirit Stones, and together with the Blood Swapping Pills, Body Tempering Pills, and Heart Cleansing Pills, the total came to sixteen thousand and eight hundred Spirit Stones, just for these few Elixir Pills. Indeed, relying on resources for cultivation consumed an immense amount of resources, if he kept cultivating this way, the Spirit Stones he had left wouldn¡¯t last two years, they would be completely spent. But under normal circumstances, no Cultivator would cultivate as extravagantly as he did. There were much cheaper pills available, and most Foundation Establishment Cultivators wouldn¡¯t consume a few pills in a month. ?¦Ï¦Í??.§ã0 Who would think of cultivating every day like he wanted, wasting resources so extravagantly? Yet Qin Feng felt that Spirit Stones were meant to be spent. What was the use of hoarding a pile of them? The right way to use them was to exchange them for cultivation resources and improve his own strength. After all, Spirit Stones were mere external objects, the currency used to exchange resources in the Cultivation World. Using these resources to gain strength was essential. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?0¦Í??.?¦Ï Standing on the street and looking around, he did not go directly back to Spiritual Snake Peak. Instead, he headed for the Drunken Immortal Inn run by Wine God Valley. Qin Feng didn¡¯t particularly enjoy drinking; his visit to Drunken Immortal Inn was not to drink but to purchase a type of Ice and Fire Spirit Wine that could speed up the Body Tempering process. The Cultivators from Wine God Valley entered the Dao through wine, specializing in brewing various types of Spiritual and Immortal Wines, each with different effects. Though the number of disciples in the valley was not large, each of them was adept at brewing Spiritual Wine. Moreover, the method Wine God Valley used to select their True Disciples was also quite unique. They let all disciples research new Spiritual Wines; whoever brewed a Spiritual Wine with strong effects and a sweet taste would become a True Disciple of Wine God Valley. The Ice and Fire Spirit Wine was brewed by a normal disciple, who is now the Valley Master Situ Sansheng, during the competition for True Discipleship a thousand years ago. Valley Master Situ Sansheng entered the Dao through wine, and his most famous Immortal Wine was called ¡°Drunk Three Lives,¡± meaning ¡®to be drunk as if passing through three lifetimes, and upon awakening, to realize the sorrows of the world.¡¯ The Drunk Three Lives Wine could let a person experience three lifetimes in their drunken state, gaining insight into their true nature and strengthening their Daoist Heart, making it an excellent aid for cultivation. Of course, the price was shockingly high; not many people could afford to buy it. As for the Ice and Fire Spirit Wine, it naturally could not be compared with Situ Sansheng¡¯s Drunk Three Lives Wine, which he had used for Proving Dao. Still, it was quite effective for Foundation Establishment Cultivators to temper their Taoist Body. Although certainly not as effective as the Danxia Sect¡¯s Body Tempering Spirit Liquid, it tempered the body from inside out. After ingesting the wine, one could experience the tempering effects of both ice and fire. Qin Feng¡¯s plan was simple. Since he was determined to make a name for himself in the upcoming Outer Sect competition by the end of the year and advance directly to the Inner Sect, he was willing to spend a significant amount of Spirit Stones to acquire more resources and push his Cultivation to the limits. He aimed to defeat all his opponents and become an official disciple of his master. After leaving the Drunken Immortal Inn, he had spent nearly twenty thousand Spirit Stones, but the Spiritual Objects he bought were only enough for him to cultivate until the Sect¡¯s major competition. This made Qin Feng reflect; no wonder the Qin Family had not managed to cultivate a disciple who entered the Inner Sect over the years. If it hadn¡¯t been for the fortune he stumbled upon in the Heavenly Pool Secret Realm, he wouldn¡¯t have been able to afford such cultivation. Of course, if he chose a more reasonable way to cultivate, he wouldn¡¯t need to spend so much. He had only been a Disciple for two years and could have taken his time to cultivate. As long as he stood out in the Outer Sect¡¯s competition in the next seven or eight years, he would have been able to enter the Inner Sect just the same. But an ordinary Inner Sect Disciple like that would not be valued by the Sect. Only by entering the Inner Sect earlier would he be treated as a talent to be nurtured. Besides, he felt an urgency in his heart that made him unwilling to waste any more time in the Outer Sect. He wanted to enter the Inner Sect as soon as possible, not just because the resources were richer and the inheritance of Cultivation Techniques was more complete there, but also because he knew some things that others did not. He had heard from Liu Xuanling that a great calamity was impending in the world, though what exactly it was remained unclear. It could be a civil war that erupted between various powers within the world, an invasion by powerful entities from otherworlds, or some other unknown danger. Qin Feng didn¡¯t know when these calamities would occur or how dangerous they would be, but ever since he learned of them, he couldn¡¯t help but feel anxious and impatient to enhance his own strength. Furthermore, even if no great calamity happened, the Sect was already preparing to launch a war offensively. The Supreme Elder hidden in the Ten Thousand Demons Cave Heaven had used the Supreme Divine Power to identify the world region of the Demon God through the Demon God Stone Statue that he had previously brought back from Nanyue Country. The Sect had begun preparations for war, and it seemed that they might be ready to launch attacks on otherworlds in a few years if things went well. He did not want to die on a battlefield in a Foreign Realm because of his lack of strength. Once the Sect¡¯s war summons was issued, no one could stay out of it. Even if he was lucky enough not to be selected as one of the first batch of disciples to campaign against the Foreign Realm, there would always come a time when he could not avoid it. For these reasons, his desire for increased strength grew even stronger, explaining why he was now so willing to spend a large amount of Spirit Stones to boost his power quickly. After leaving Drunken Immortal Inn, he went to the Ten Thousand Treasures Building, planning to buy some Thunder Origin Fruits. These Spirit Fruits contained a relatively gentle Thunder Power; after consumption, faint traces of thunder would temper the Physical Body without fear of harming it. The Ten Thousand Treasures Building conducted business in the entire Southern Domain, involving various Domains. Although Thunder Origin Fruits were relatively rare, given the background of the Ten Thousand Treasures Building, they still had a considerable stock. As he was negotiating the purchase of the Thunder Origin Fruits with the shop¡¯s clerk, a group of young people laughing and joking escorted a luxuriously dressed young man into the store. Qin Feng didn¡¯t pay much attention; it was normal for people to enter the Ten Thousand Treasures Building since it was a commercial establishment, and at the moment, he was solely focused on his cultivation, eager to buy the Thunder Origin Fruit and return to his training. However, just because he wasn¡¯t concerned about others didn¡¯t mean others wouldn¡¯t take notice of him. One of them glanced over in his direction and immediately caught sight of Qin Feng, involuntarily letting out a light exclamation. ¡°What¡¯s wrong, Junior Brother Jinglei?¡± A person next to him asked curiously. ¡°Senior Brother Yun, I saw Qin Feng.¡± Zhao Jinglei said. ¡°Qin Feng?¡± ¡°The very same Qin Feng who has recently risen to fame?¡± ¡°Where is he?¡± Hearing the conversation of several fellow disciples, Zhao Jinglei pointed towards Qin Feng, ¡°There, isn¡¯t that him?¡± The group followed the direction of his finger, and after sizing him up a few times, they couldn¡¯t help but feel deeply disappointed, ¡°I thought he would have something special about him, but he doesn¡¯t seem all that remarkable, does he?¡± ¡°Exactly, I thought someone who caught the eye of Elder Ning and was taken as a disciple would be more impressive. He falls far short compared to Senior Brother Xie.¡± ¡°That¡¯s right, if only Senior Brother Xie were not a disciple of the Spiritual Snake Peak, there wouldn¡¯t have been a day for this Qin Feng to shine.¡± The lead disciple, wearing an ornate magic robe, Senior Brother Xie, feigned modesty with a smile, ¡°My fellow Junior Brothers, don¡¯t be rash in your judgment. If Qin Feng was noticed by Elder Ning, it means he must possess some skills. Otherwise, he wouldn¡¯t have caught the eye of an Inner Sect Elder.¡± A disciple on the side chimed in, ¡°I heard that Elder Ning decided to take Qin Feng under his name because this person had a stroke of good luck during a mission in Nanyue Country and made great contributions, which led Elder Ning to summon and take him as a registered disciple.¡± ¡°Is that so? What mission? I haven¡¯t heard of it.¡± The rest of the group expressed their curiosity. ¡°You guys don¡¯t know?¡± The disciple¡¯s face gleamed with a touch of pride as he was pleased with his well-informed status, ¡°Some people have inquired at the Foreign Affairs Hall recently. It turns out that there was chaos in Nanyue Country caused by an Evil God gathering believers. Initially, our Sect dispatched two Golden Core Elders along with hundreds to suppress them. It was during that time when others were exterminating the Demon God Believers that Qin Feng sneaked into the Demon God Hall. He stumbled upon a great opportunity and made significant achievements. It¡¯s said that the Sect¡¯s higher-ups even allowed him to cultivate in the Ten Thousand Demons Cave Heaven.¡± ¡°To think there was such a good opportunity? This Qin Feng really is lucky.¡± Upon hearing this, Zhao Jinglei instantly felt a bit dejected, ¡°If I had known the mission in Nanyue Country was like this, I should have gone as well. At that time, a Senior Brother invited me to join them, but I thought fighting against Demon Cultivators was too dangerous and didn¡¯t participate. Now thinking about it, I truly missed a huge chance.¡± ¡°That¡¯s indeed a pity.¡± Upon hearing this, the others also shared in Zhao Jinglei¡¯s regret as if, had he gone to Nanyue Country, he might have been able to snatch the achievements that fell into Qin Feng¡¯s hands. On the other side, while this group chatted away like ducks, chattering and pointing at him, Qin Feng naturally felt the scrutinizing gazes from these people. But he only turned his head for a glance, and after noting they were fellow disciples from the Beast Taming Sect, he chose to not pay them any further attention. A group of youths who hadn¡¯t yet endured the brutal hardships of the cultivation world was not worth wasting his energy on a war of words. ¡°Junior Brother Zhao, I heard that this Qin Feng is from the same place as you?¡± A tall, handsome young man turned to Zhao Jinglei and asked. ¡°That¡¯s right.¡± Zhao Jinglei nodded, ¡°He comes from Kun City, one of the nine cities under the jurisdiction of Tieling County. The Qin Family is one of the three cultivator families that govern Kun City.¡± ¡°Oh, so he is a cultivator from a minor family.¡± Upon hearing this, a sense of pride flashed across the faces of the others. Their own families were all cultivation households not inferior to the Zhao Family of Tieling. Naturally, they felt a congenital sense of superiority facing cultivators from minor families that only had Foundation Establishment Cultivators in charge. And the leading Senior Brother Xie, a descendant from one of the nine great affiliated families of the Beast Taming Secta€¡±the Xie Familya€¡±was deemed far superior to ordinary families, despite being ranked at the bottom among these nine families. Chapter 181 - Chapter 181 Chapter 178 Rapid Progress ?Chapter 181: Chapter 178: Rapid Progress Chapter 181: Chapter 178: Rapid Progress Qin Feng received a box of Thunder Origin Fruit with sealed spiritual power fluctuations from the attendant of the Ten Thousand Treasures Building and, having paid with Spirit Stones, turned to leave. Just as he had taken a few steps, he was blocked by several young men. ¡°What can I do for Junior Brothers?¡± Qin Feng narrowed his eyes slightly, donning a gentle smile while inquiring in a gentle tone. ¡°Junior Brother Qin, please.¡± The speaker was a descendant of the southern Yun family named Yun Qian, who had joined the Sect a few years before Qin Feng and possessed the Cultivation of the Foundation Establishment Realm. Except for Zhao Jinglei and one other young man, all the others were Foundation Establishment Realm disciples; judging by their demeanor, they were older disciples who had joined the Sect years ago. Therefore, Qin Feng courteously addressed them as Senior Brothers. ¡°Recently, we¡¯ve often heard about Junior Brother Qin¡¯s reputation. We¡¯ve long wanted to see you, but never had the chance, and to think we would run into you at the Ten Thousand Treasures Pavilion; it must be fate.¡± Yun Qian said with a chuckle, ¡°Junior Brother Qin is the genius of the Spiritual Snake Peak, otherwise you wouldn¡¯t have been taken as a disciple by Elder Ning. Geniuses of course like to mingle with other geniuses. Come, let me introduce you, this is Senior Brother Xie Ding from my Sky Scorpion Peak. Not only is Senior Brother Xie a direct lineage heir of the Xie Family in the southwest, but he¡¯s also the most outstanding disciple of the Sky Scorpion Peak in recent years. Senior Brother Xie¡¯s Cultivation is profound; he¡¯s just waiting to earn a spot in the year-end competition, so he can join the Inner Sect Cultivation. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï??0.§ã¦Ï When Junior Brother Qin also enters the Inner Sect later, you can definitely get closer to each other.¡± Qin Feng lightly coughed, pressing down the laughter in his heart as he glanced at Xie Ding¡¯s forehead. Noticing the hairline was a bit high but without any sign of balding, he managed to suppress the urge to laugh and saluted Xie Ding, ¡°I have heard of Senior Brother Xie¡¯s reputation at the Sky Scorpion Peak. Meeting you today, I can see that you truly have the demeanor of someone from a prestigious noble family, which makes me feel rather ashamed.¡± Xie Ding, with a restrained yet proud nod, said slowly, ¡°Junior Brother Qin is too courteous.¡± After a pause, he added, ¡°I hear that Junior Brother Qin¡¯s Cultivation is extraordinary. If Junior Brother Qin has some free time, perhaps we could find a place to have a friendly exchange?¡± Qin Feng¡¯s smile progressively faded. It looks like this guy also wants to gain a reputation by defeating me! More and more, he felt dissatisfied with the person scheming against him from behind. It was indeed adding far too much trouble for him; he did not like to be involved with these fellows nor did he like to fight with them without good reasona€¡±a waste of time not to mention, if either party got injured, it wouldn¡¯t be easy to explain. After a few moments of silence, he spoke indifferently, ¡°Senior Brother Xie jests, you entered the Sect several years before I did, and your Cultivation is profound. I admit I am not your match, so let¡¯s skip the idea of having a sparring match.¡± ¡°What, are you scared?¡± A lanky young man with a hawk-like nose and a disdainful gleam in his eye interjected, ¡°Rest assured, Senior Brother Xie is highly cultivated and will measure his strength. He won¡¯t hurt you.¡± Qin Feng glanced indifferently at the person who had spoken. Without retorting, he merely stated, ¡°I must go back and continue my Cultivation; I don¡¯t have time to engage in idle play here. If Senior Brothers like to spar, you might as well go to the Foreign Affairs Hall and pick up some tasks to alleviate the Sect¡¯s concerns. I heard that there¡¯s been trouble again recently in the west, bordering the Giant Spirit Sect. If Senior Brothers dare to go, you won¡¯t be at a loss for opponents.¡± ¡°You¡­¡± Several people¡¯s faces immediately flushed with a hint of shame and anger, ¡°Qin Feng, Senior Brother Xie wanting to exchange pointers with you is an honor. It¡¯s fine if you decline, but why do you speak so insensitively here? Do you think we are all playboys who have never contributed to the Sect? Humph, we were taking on missions outside when you hadn¡¯t even joined the Sect yet!¡± ¡°Oh? Well then, I¡¯m truly honored by your high regard.¡± Qin Feng saluted, ¡°I need to hurry back to Spiritual Snake Peak, so I won¡¯t accompany Senior Brothers in idle chatter here. We can meet another day.¡± With that, he turned to bypass these clueless noble heirs. The lanky young man¡¯s eyes turned sharp as he stepped to the side to block Qin Feng¡¯s path. ¡°What, do Senior Brother want to make a scene here?¡± Qin Feng chuckled, ¡°This is the Ten Thousand Treasures Building; even though this Ten Thousand Treasures Building is located within our Beast Taming Sect¡¯s Market, there are still rules. Are you sure you want to cause a disturbance here?¡± The young man¡¯s face changed color, glancing at the Ten Thousand Treasures Building¡¯s Deacon who was already frowning in their direction. Hurrying, he said, ¡°Qin Feng, don¡¯t wrong a good person. We just wanted to make your acquaintance with no ill intentions.¡± ¡°But I am not interested in your acquaintance right now.¡± Qin Feng sidestepped and walked past him, heading towards the exit without looking back. ¡°You¡­ huh, this guy is way too arrogant,¡± the lanky young man said, visibly annoyed as he watched Qin Feng¡¯s departing silhouette, his face reddening. Yun Qian snorted coldly, ¡°If you ask me, he knows of Senior Brother Xie¡¯s renown and doesn¡¯t dare to engage, so he used such a lame excuse to leave.¡± ¡°Indeed, Senior Brother Xie¡¯s Cultivation is profound. His Lifebound Spiritual Beast, the Three-Tailed Poison Scorpion, has mystical Divine Skills and incredible power. Qin Feng is not his match.¡± ¡°Hmph, at least he knows his place. He¡¯s just a novice at Foundation Establishment; not to talk of fighting with Senior Brother Xie, even we brothers could probably defeat him easily.¡± Surrounded by the flattery of his fellow disciples, Xie Ding felt increasingly elated. However, he still suppressed the triumph in his heart; despite his expression betraying his emotions, he nonetheless spoke in what he assumed to be a modest tone, ¡°Don¡¯t speak like that, fellow disciples. Qin Feng must have some ability; we shouldn¡¯t underestimate him just because he has just established his foundation.¡± ¡°Senior Brother Xie is right. A lion uses all its strength even when hunting a rabbit.¡± ¡°` ¡°Hmph, Senior Brother kindheartedly offered him friendship, even wanted to exchange pointers and guide him in his cultivation. Yet that Qin fellow didn¡¯t know what was good for him and refused Senior Brother Xie¡¯s goodwill. With such a temperament, who would want to associate with him in the future?¡± ¡°When the great competition of the Outer Sect arrives, and disciples from all peaks gather, even if Qin Feng doesn¡¯t want to compete, it won¡¯t be possible anymore. At that time, Senior Brother Xie can fight him fair and square and show him the might of our Sky Scorpion Peak.¡± Birds of a feather flock together, people are sorted into groups. Xie Ding, being born into a family of nobles, surrounded himself with disciples from other cultivating families after joining the sect. Although he himself practiced diligently and had decent talent, the character he developed under such circumstances is indeed indescribable. Zhao Jinglei coldly watched as several people fawned over Xie Ding, but this time, he did not join in. Ever since he saw Qin Feng at the Ten Thousand Treasures Building, he had become reticent. Suddenly, he realized that the young man who had arrived at the sect with him on the same tower ship, the one whose cultivation was much weaker than his, had now surpassed him in cultivation level. When they first entered the sect, Qin Feng was at the fourth level of Qi Refinement while he was already at the seventh. On the tower ship, he even gathered the disciples from Tieling County, trying to subdue them to his will. Yet now, two years had passed, and he had only advanced from the seventh level to the eighth. Although this pace of cultivation would be considered good for an ordinary cultivator, it paled in comparison to Qin Feng¡¯s progress. In truth, he possessed some self-awareness, knowing that he was not a supreme talent unlikely to enter the Inner Sect through the Outer Sect competition, which is why he focused more on making friends. Now that he had seen Qin Feng, who was once far inferior to him in both status and cultivation, who had now become a Foundation Establishment disciple, an existence he had to look up to, he realized his past life might have been too mundane. The joy and merriment he thought he had, as well as the considerable effort he put into making these fellow disciples his friends, did not seem to make him any stronger. A realization gradually dawned on him in his heart, the true essence of cultivation. He listened as his friends continued to sing Xie Ding¡¯s praises, speaking irrelevant flatteries, and Zhao Jinglei suddenly felt that if he continued to live this way, it didn¡¯t seem to hold much meaning. Perhaps, he could try a different way of living. ¡­ Qin Feng left the Ten Thousand Treasures Building without taking the earlier incident to heart. They were just a few worldly-unwise noble heirs, albeit with some small schemes, but they hadn¡¯t caused him much trouble, and he wasn¡¯t about to brood over it. After leaving the market and riding the Spiritual Vulture back to Spiritual Snake Peak, Qin Feng shut himself in his yard, practicing diligently every day. Consuming elixir pills in conjunction with Body Tempering Spirit Liquid for cultivation allowed him to experience what it was like to fly. If his previous body tempering speed could be described as a tortoise¡¯s pace, then now, his cultivation speed had become like a crazed young mustang. Only now did he discover how delightful it was for one¡¯s cultivation speed to advance rapidly. The deacon from the Ten Thousand Pills Pavilion had not lied. Indeed, after Qin Feng used the elixir pills and spiritual objects he recommended, his cultivation speed increased by far more than tenfold. Before the effects of the elixirs wore off, he could clearly feel his physical body being refined by an abundant flow of Spiritual Power every moment, causing intense changes to his physique. ¡°` His blood and qi were pure and weighty, and his skin and flesh had become crystal-clear and translucent, which even made his meridians more resilient and broader. His acupoints had also deepened, capable of harboring more True Yuan circulations and enabling him to reach for higher realms. After the effects of the Body Tempering Spirit Liquid and the Elixir Pills had faded, he would rest for two hours to read Dao Scriptures and practice spells, then consume Thunder Origin Fruit as nourishment. While refining the Spirit Fruit, his body would experience bursts of tingling sensations. That was the force of mild thunder and electricity circulating within and without his body, stimulating each inch of his flesh and igniting the potential within, enhancing the efficacy of tempering his Taoist Body by threefold. By evening, he would then sip a few mouthfuls of Ice and Fire Spirit Wine, savoring the exhilarating interplay of extreme cold and fiery heat. After the bone-chilling cold had passed, he would immediately feel the searing sensation of flames. This cycle of being frozen solid only to then feel as if roasting alive was indeed so intense that he felt torn between the realms of immortals and mortals, helplessly addicted. Fortunately, the agony was short-lived, and once the cold and heat dissipated, the Spiritual Energy contained within the wine would slowly nourish his Primordial Qi, replenishing his body which had been emptied by the tempering. With the aid of these various cultivation methods, Qin Feng¡¯s cultivation grew day by day, the True Yuan in his Dantian becoming increasingly dense, and the tempering effect surprisingly good. If he could continue this cultivation routine without interruption, he might even complete the early stage Foundation Establishment tempering before the big competition, thoroughly tempering his flesh and acupoints. With a bit more luck, advancing directly to the mid-stage of Foundation Establishment wasn¡¯t entirely out of the question. Of course, while his progress was fast, it was also costlya€¡±this was the pace he maintained at the expense of twenty to thirty thousand Spirit Stones. Honestly, even Noble Heirs from great families wouldn¡¯t spend so much every day on cultivation, and as one progressed, the required resources and the cost in Spirit Stones would increase even more. If he were to continue cultivating in this manner, the remaining tens of thousands of Spirit Stones he had would definitely not suffice. However, Qin Feng wasn¡¯t thinking so far ahead; he was seized with urgency for the moment. As long as he was victorious in the year-end big competition, all the resources he had expended would be worthwhile. Besides, his cultivation had already improved, and once he entered the Inner Sect, it would be no trouble to find new opportunities and means to earn more Spirit Stones. He reckoned that earning Spirit Stones as an Inner Sect Disciple compared to an Outer Disciple should be much simpler and present many more avenues. Even without such means, Qin Feng felt his master and senior brothers would not leave him unsupported. Even if they couldn¡¯t directly provide him with cultivation resources, they would surely guide him on how to earn more. ?¦Ï¦Í??.§ã0 Time marched on, day by day, and Qin Feng¡¯s cultivation continued to strengthen. As the year¡¯s end drew closer, the atmosphere amongst the various Outer Peaks grew increasingly tense. Especially those who believed they had a chance to enter the Inner Sect were heavy-hearted, fearing defeat and the loss of such a valuable opportunity. In addition to the Outer Sect competition, the Sect would also dispatch Elders and Disciples from the Outer Peaks to various locations to recruit new disciples. The Beast Taming Sect had a vast enterprise and an enormous demand for disciples, thus recruiting a significant number of new disciples each year. Then, from among such a vast number, the Outer Peaks would select the true talents for cultivation. Chapter 182 - Chapter 182 Chapter 179 I Shall Care for Your Wife and Daughters ?Chapter 182: Chapter 179: I Shall Care for Your Wife and Daughters Chapter 182: Chapter 179: I Shall Care for Your Wife and Daughters Within the depths of the Endless Void, spatial turbulence surged everywhere. This was an attached space of the Biluo Great World, distinct from the boundlessly vast cosmic starry sky, where the spatial turbulence seemed especially chaotic, much like the tides within the ocean, appearing out of the void storms at any given moment. Two figures emerged in the void, one tall and formidable, radiating a fierce aura, and the other small and wiry, his back slightly hunched, appearing from a distance almost like a large rat of an old man. ¡°Elder, I¡¯ve sensed it; my White Tiger Saber is nearby in this expanse of void.¡± Luo Zhancheng spoke reverently to the diminutive old man beside him, ¡°But ever since arriving in this region, I¡¯ve flown for nearly two hours, following the sensation, and couldn¡¯t get any stronger leads. Is there something peculiar about this area that¡¯s keeping me looping around here?¡± ¡°Oh?¡± The old man¡¯s eyes, previously squinted, suddenly popped open round as two sharp glints shot out, scanning the surrounding void. After a long while, he chuckled, ¡°It¡¯s not that there¡¯s some maze within the void here, it¡¯s that we are near Heavenly Pool Cave Heaven. It¡¯s just that the Cave Heaven has been concealed, thus we cannot see where it lies. That¡¯s why you¡¯ve been circling around the outskirts of Heavenly Pool Cave Heaven.¡± ¡°I see.¡± Luo Zhancheng heaved a sigh of relief upon hearing this. His combat strength was formidable, and he could traverse even the outer starry space, but strong combat strength did not equate to a deep understanding of the Space Dao. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï??¦Ï.?¦Ï From the moment he entered this spatial turbulence, he felt somewhat apprehensive. This place was dangerous, and if it weren¡¯t for Elder Kongkong occasionally pulling him out of peril, he likely would have perished in this vast void by now. ¡°Elder, do you have a way to find exactly where Heavenly Pool Cave Heaven is?¡± Luo Zhancheng asked. He had great confidence in Elder Kongkong. In fact, had Elder Kongkong not personally escorted him on this journey, he would not have dared to venture here. Among all the Supreme Elders of the Beast Taming Sect, only Elder Kongkong¡¯s exploration of the Space Dao was the most profound. ¡°Hehehe¡­¡± Elder Kongkong¡¯s laughter was filled with slyness and sleaziness, making it easy to feel that the old man seemed to be plotting something bad. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, don¡¯t worry. Now that we¡¯re certain that Heavenly Pool Cave Heaven is in this area, it can¡¯t possibly escape the eyes of this elder.¡± As he spoke, a giant rat suddenly appeared above his head. The rat was a hundred zhang in length, completely white, and what was most astounding was that its slender tail was more than three times the length of its body. This wasn¡¯t his Spiritual Beast; instead, it was the manifestation of his Dharma Image Primordial Spirit. Once Beast Taming Sect cultivators reached the Dharma Image Realm, they would merge their Lifebound Spiritual Beasts into their Dharma Images, eventually uniting them with their Primordial Spirits. They could possess both human and Spiritual Beast forms, with all the abilities of the Spiritual Beast fully becoming the cultivators¡¯ own. Moreover, since their Spiritual Beasts¡¯ strengths were fully integrated with their own, they became much more powerful than ordinary Dharma Image cultivators upon their initial promotion. Engaging in combat in the form of their Spiritual Beast would also make their combat abilities even more formidable. In fact, the Cultivation World had all sorts of Dharma Images, including various dragons, phoenixes, Qilins, and other Divine Beasts and Fierce Beasts within other sects. There were also Dharma Images of swords, spears, blades, halberds, mountains, rivers, and even ghosts, demons, and other forms, plenty in number, each unique; the Beast Taming Sect, however, specialized in this particular method. Above, the giant rat, with eyes shining brightly, looked around, its gaze whirling erratically at the void in all directions. After a long while, Elder Kongkong¡¯s sparse eyebrows furrowed slightly, and he snorted coldly, ¡°Heavenly Pool Ancestor truly has some skills, managing to hide the Cave Heaven to this extent. Even I can¡¯t easily see through it. If it weren¡¯t for you confirming that the White Tiger Saber is nearby, I might have doubted that Heavenly Pool Cave Heaven was even here.¡± ¡°Is it that hard to find?¡± Luo Zhancheng was surprised. Elder Kongkong¡¯s command of Space Law was not only the strongest within the Beast Taming Sect but also among the few in the entire Southern Domain who could claim to surpass him in this aspect. It was unexpected that even Elder Kongkong found it difficult to locate Heavenly Pool Secret Realm, which showed that the concealment techniques employed by this Cave Heaven were indeed extraordinary. ¡°Hehe, not to worry; they¡¯re just some small concealment tricks. It will take me a bit more effort, that¡¯s all.¡± Elder Kongkong snickered, ¡°I¡¯ll use a few more methods to test it out. Now that we¡¯ve confirmed this area, there can¡¯t be no traces left behind. After all, the Cave Heaven also needs to follow a specific orbit. ?¦Ï¦Í?0.§ã¦Ï As long as I find its pathway, I will be able to completely pinpoint it.¡± With that, the giant rat above darted off, suddenly running around the void spanning a thousand li. As the rat ran, an invisible wave spread in all directions from its body, and gradually, the void within a thousand li came under Elder Kongkong¡¯s perception. Then, like a flash of lightning, the rat began to circle the area of the void, continually shrinking the space; in just an hour or two, it had already circled the region hundreds of times. The area now enclosed by its route had been reduced to merely four or five hundred li. As the range narrowed, its speed also increased more and more rapidly. Suddenly, a series of squeaking noises emitted from its mouth. The sound was so headache-inducing and offensively unpleasant to listen to, but Elder Kongkong¡¯s face lit up with delight. With a flash, he whisked Luo Zhancheng through the void and appeared directly above the giant rat. He had to bring Luo Zhancheng with him; otherwise, in the wildly turbulent spatial currents, it wouldn¡¯t be long before the man was swept away, eventually torn into pieces by the incessantly shifting void. After Elder Kongkong arrived above the giant rat¡¯s head, he sat down cross-legged, sinking his spirit into the space below, and closed his eyes to feel it out carefully. Gradually, he locked onto a part of the void through the sound and fluctuations of breath. ¡°Found it.¡± Suddenly, Elder Kongkong opened his eyes and looked towards a corner of the void, chuckling, ¡°Excellent, excellent, excellent. Such a clever means to conceal a Cave Heaven. I¡¯ve learned something new, heh heh heh. In the future, when I hide things in the void, I can also use this method for reference.¡± Luo Zhancheng was speechless, ¡°Elder, you¡¯re always the one stealing from others. When has anyone ever stolen from you to the extent that you need to hide things so secretly? And you, hiding so many things all over the place, aren¡¯t you worried you¡¯ll forget where they are over time? It would be like throwing away treasures for nothing.¡± Elder Kongkong shot him a disdainful look and said, ¡°What do you know? I have to leave some tricks up my sleeve for the Sect. Otherwise, if the Sect were to face calamity in the future, it wouldn¡¯t be able to rise again without resources. If we don¡¯t conceal things well enough, they¡¯ll be hunted down by the numerous Sects of the Southern Domain as the Heavenly Pool Cave Heaven is, explored countless times over. The treasures within the Cave Heaven have long since been plundered, with only some common Spiritual Objects left. Even if the Heavenly Pool Ancestor did leave a legacy, his disciples would struggle to develop using the Cave Heaven now.¡± ¡°But if you hide it so well that no one can find it, aren¡¯t you worried?¡± ¡°What¡¯s there to worry about? If the Sect truly faces a catastrophe, I¡¯ll obviously leave clues for the future generations.¡± While Elder Kongkong said this, the giant rat continued to carry them forward, breaking through the swirling spatial currents until they arrived in front of an invisible barrier and finally stopped. ¡°This is it?¡± Luo Zhancheng probed curiously with his Divine Sense and faintly discovered something odd about this place. ¡°Heh heh, the chaotic spatial currents outside the Cave Heaven World must have been interfered with by the Heavenly Pool Ancestor.¡± Elder Kongkong¡¯s voice sounded with a peculiar laugh while he swiftly set up a Teleportation Array. ¡°Get on the Array. Take out that imitation Golden Light Mirror; it¡¯s a trigger for the Guiding Array inside. Place it in the center of the Teleportation Array and connect to your White Tiger Saber with your Divine Sense to lock the position. In a moment, I¡¯ll break the spatial barrier of the Heavenly Pool Cave Heaven and disrupt the defensive Power of Laws. Following that, you¡¯ll initiate the Teleportation Array to enter. Don¡¯t worry, the Guiding Array where the White Tiger Saber is will receive you and take you through.¡± Luo Zhancheng nodded and obediently stood on the Teleportation Array. He was somewhat nervous at heart. Honestly, if the Cave Heaven weren¡¯t of great use to the Sect, he really wouldn¡¯t want to take this risk. The laws within the Heavenly Pool Cave Heaven were relatively intact. If anything went awry and he didn¡¯t teleport into the underground space, with his power, he would hardly be able to withstand the Power of Laws for long before potentially being completely suppressed by it. ¡°Don¡¯t be afraid, don¡¯t be afraid; I¡¯m here. You¡¯ll definitely be safe and sound.¡± The gleam in Elder Kongkong¡¯s eyes shone brightly as he looked around the outside of the Heavenly Pool Cave Heaven for a suitable spot to intervene, comforting him, ¡°Considering how well this Cave Heaven is hidden, it¡¯s very likely not set up by those old timers from Taiyi Mountain. Given their understanding of the Space Dao, they definitely couldn¡¯t achieve this. So don¡¯t worry. Even if there¡¯s a glitch in the teleportation, as long as you can hold out for a quarter of an hour, I can fish you out.¡± ¡°What if I can¡¯t hold out for a quarter of an hour?¡± ¡°Oh, then you don¡¯t have to worry about what happens afterward. I will take care of your wife and children. With me here, no one will bully them.¡± Elder Kongkong replied without much concern, which nearly choked Luo Zhancheng. He glared with eyes wide as copper bells, staring intently at Elder Kongkong¡¯s slender neck for quite some time. If he didn¡¯t know that he was no match for the Supreme Elder, he might have wanted to grab Elder Kongkong by the neck and give him a good thrashing. Unfortunately, this idea he could only entertain in his mind and never dared to act on, or he might find himself trapped by the Supreme Elder in some corner of the void, left to reflect on what it means to respect the elder and love the young. Elder Kongkong then instructed, ¡°After teleporting, remember to set up the Array Plate I gave you; only then can I teleport over. Otherwise, if I force my way in, it¡¯s hard to say whether I could withstand the Cave Heaven¡¯s laws, let alone refine the Cave Heaven itself.¡± ¡°Mmm.¡± Luo Zhancheng responded with a sullen hum, which was as close to agreement as he could muster. Chapter 183 - Chapter 183 Chapter 180 Outer Sect Grand Competition ?Chapter 183: Chapter 180: Outer Sect Grand Competition Chapter 183: Chapter 180: Outer Sect Grand Competition ¡°Right now.¡± Elder Kongkong, originally circling the Heavenly Pool Cave Heaven, suddenly had his eyes sparkle, a sharp gleam swiftly contracted into a single line before bursting forth, shooting straight at an empty expanse ahead. With a thunderous boom, the Heavenly Pool Secret Realm suddenly trembled, a crack appearing due to the light that shot from his eyes. This was the Breaking Void Divine Light, a supreme divine power created by combining his own techniques after perfecting the Rat Gaze Divine Skill, specialized in penetrating through all kinds of spatial barriers. After causing a crack in the outer spatial barrier of the Heavenly Pool Secret Realm, Elder Kongkong¡¯s figure plummeted downward, merging instantly with a giant rat, his sharp and pointed claws seized the crack and tore it apart, the sound of shattering glass ringing through the air as he ripped open a gap several meters wide. ¡°Luo Zhancheng, activate the array and teleport in now.¡± Hearing Elder Kongkong¡¯s shout, Luo Zhancheng did not dare to delay. True Yuan surged through his body, directly activating the teleportation array, his figure slicing through the void, wrapped by a force of spatial power, plunging deep into the Heavenly Pool Secret Realm. Although Luo Zhancheng had vanished, Elder Kongkong still extended his claws, tightly gripping the spatial crack, even as the principle power within the Heavenly Pool Secret Realm gathered into a formidable force aiming to strike him. He merely radiated spirit light all over, casting spells to resist and stubbornly preventing the Heavenly Pool Secret Realm from reverting to its original state. Otherwise, should the spatial crack close, it would be too late to rescue Luo Zhancheng if something went awry. Fortunately, no danger had occurred as feared. Elder Kongkong probed for a long while, and sensing that the principle power was only attacking him and not gathering anywhere else, he ascertained that Luo Zhancheng had entered the depths of the underground space, undetected by the Heavenly Pool Cave Heaven. He silently breathed a sigh of relief; as long as it wasn¡¯t Taiyi Mountain¡¯s scheme, it was okay. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ??¦Í??.§ã¦Ï But on reflection, even if Taiyi Mountain obtained this cave heaven, they might not necessarily be willing to use it to scheme against him. After all, given his achievement in the Dao of Space, those Supreme Elders of Taiyi Mountain might not be able to retain him. Should he escape into the void, there were plenty of ways to free himself. Moreover, this cave heaven had been heavily damaged since ancient times, its top-level Spirit Veins shattered and dispersed into hundreds of medium and small-sized Spirit Veins. If there were numerous immortals fighting within the cave heaven, it might completely destroy this place, and he doubted Taiyi Mountain would be willing to pay such a hefty price. However, Elder Kongkong was currently facing difficulty. He needed to maintain the spatial crack from closing, which although required immense immortal power, was manageable for him since his comprehension was in the Space Dao, not relying on brute force. But the key issue was that he couldn¡¯t leave, forcing him to remain and endure the bombardment of the cave heaven¡¯s principle power. Elder Kongkong was not known for his combat abilities. He usually confounded his opponents with his proficient escape skills by navigating through the void, and standing his ground to endure attacks was excruciating for him. ¡°If only I had called Old Turtle to come along.¡± Elder Kongkong felt extremely frustrated internally. His Dharma image was fused with that of a Void Rat, adept at escaping and hiding, far inferior in defense compared with other immortals of his level. ¡°Damn Luo Zhancheng, why are you so slow? If this continues, I¡¯ll just leave you here,¡± he cursed under his breath. However, he could only reluctantly boost his defenses, occasionally swinging his long tail behind him to whip out cracks in space, scattering the power unleashed from the Heavenly Pool Cave Heaven. His round eyes blazed with a fierce gleam, clashing with the power striking at him. Otherwise, if he kept defending passively, he wouldn¡¯t last much longer. Finally, just as his patience was waning, a faint light flickered on the transmission array beside him. This was the signal from Luo Zhancheng after arranging the Array Plate provided by him, indicating that Luo Zhancheng had encountered no danger inside; otherwise, this Array Plate wouldn¡¯t have been set up. Elder Kongkong¡¯s body suddenly radiated bright light, deploying the Space Dao Divine Skills, forcibly widening the crack before him; then, with a special technique, he fixed it momentarily. It wouldn¡¯t completely close before his power dissipated. He then reverted to human form, dashed to the Teleportation Array, activated the Array, and transported himself through the spatial rift directly into the depths of the underground space. Upon his arrival on the Array Plate, he didn¡¯t even glance at Luo Zhancheng; instead, he released his tremendous Divine Sense. After sensing for a while and confirming there were no ambushes, he finally relaxed and focused his spirit on the Cave Heaven Principle. A moment later, Elder Kongkong couldn¡¯t help but snicker, ¡°Good, good, good, those old fools at Taiyi Mountain finally did something worthwhile. This Cave Heaven truly has no master. Even if I can¡¯t find the core treasure controlling the Cave Heaven Principle¡¯s power right away, as long as I¡¯m not attacked by the Principle, I can slowly refine it. Hehehe, once I completely refine this Cave Heaven, I¡¯ll take it back to the Sect and convert it into a War Fortress. With this Cave Heaven War Fortress, we can avoid a lot of trouble. The original plan of conquering the Otherworld can be abandoned; we can directly control this Cave Heaven and pass through to the Void without deploying so many large Flying Escape Treasures.¡± ¡°That¡¯s great,¡± Luo Zhancheng, standing beside him, was also overjoyed, ¡°Using the Cave Heaven World as a War Fortress not only provides a stable headquarters but also allows for a retreat at any moment should the battle turn unfavorable. It won¡¯t be as troublesome as those large Flying Escape Treasures. Moreover, the Cave Heaven World has its own set of principles, so as long as one is inside, they won¡¯t be suppressed by the laws of the Otherworld. It provides a resting place for the army sent to conquer Otherworlds. By then, integrating the Spirit Veins within the Cave Heaven, we can supply ample resources for many disciples to cultivate. Those cultivators who suffer severe injuries in the war will also not worry about a safe place for recovery.¡± ¡°Mhm.¡± Elder Kongkong suppressed his excitement, ¡°Alright, to avoid any unforeseen complications, I¡¯ll start refining now. You stand by as my protector and don¡¯t disturb me unless necessary.¡± Saying this, he sat down cross-legged on the ground. Despite a slightly hunched back and not very dignified posture, he emanated a commanding aura, dispersing his Primordial Spirit Power, beginning to sense and latch onto the source of the Cave Heaven Principle¡¯s power, getting ready to capture and refine it. By refining just half of the internal principles of the Cave Heaven, he would directly locate the core of the Principle Power, thus refining the treasure controlling the entire Cave Heaven for his own use. Luo Zhancheng dared not disturb him; he obediently retrieved his White Tiger Saber and sat behind, acting as his protector. ¡°` Beast Taming Sect, the annual Outer Disciple Competition was about to commence. Although there were many Outer Disciples, not too many were truly qualified to participate. Those who lacked confidence to compete for a spot wouldn¡¯t lightly step into the arena, fearing injury that might delay their cultivation and set them back, leaving them without a chance in the following year as well. For some disciples who felt they were still slightly lacking, they¡¯d rather spend the next few years accumulating experience, honing themselves, and cultivating to a higher realm. As long as they could reach a profoundly high level within ten years of joining, they still had a chance to win a place in the competition and earn the opportunity to enter the Inner Sect. Since many chose not to participate, and fights among low-level cultivators rarely resulted in prolonged stalemates, the competitions did not waste much time. Therefore, each competition would conclude before the induction of new disciples. Spiritual Snake Peak. In the cultivation room, Qin Feng slowly opened his eyes. His brows were slightly furrowed, showing some annoyance. After consuming vast resources, his cultivation had rapidly progressed, and he had managed to complete the early stages of Foundation Establishment in the months before the competition, refining his flesh and meridians to a near-perfect state. Yet it was only near-perfection. Since a few days ago, no matter how hard he tried, he still found himself slightly short of reaching the peak of the early Foundation Establishment stage. He didn¡¯t know why this was happening. He initially thought he had developed a resistance to the several common Elixir Pills he used. Even after he went to the market to purchase other types of Elixir Pills and Spiritual Objects to aid in his cultivation, he still hadn¡¯t truly reached the realm of perfection. ?¦Ï¦Í?0.?? Although he could start refining his bones now, he was still young and had a promising future ahead. He didn¡¯t want to rush and risk leaving flaws in his Taoist Body. Thus, even though his recent cultivation efforts had been fruitless, he hadn¡¯t recklessly attempted a breakthrough. If he compromised his foundation now, it would not be easy to repair it later when his cultivation was higher. Qin Feng let out a soft sigh to calm the restless emotions within him. After all, who doesn¡¯t encounter some bottlenecks in cultivation? Rushing in such situations is futile. With the Outer Disciple Competition about to start, he didn¡¯t want to practice hastily and risk a surge of True Yuan damaging his meridians, which would prevent him from participating in this year¡¯s competition. ¡°Knock, knock, knocka€|¡± There was a knock at the door. Outside the yard, knocking on the door was Liu Wuxiang. With a creak, Qin Feng opened the door. ¡°Senior Brother, let¡¯s go early to grab good seats.¡± Liu Wuxiang¡¯s face was filled with excitement. Although his own cultivation had not yet reached the level to compete for a spot in the Inner Sect, he didn¡¯t mind watching the fights among the elite Outer Disciples to broaden his horizons and gather some experience for his future participation in the Outer Disciple Competition. In the past few months, he had taken on several tasks from the Foreign Affairs Hall and gradually adapted to earning Sect rewards through missions. With the biased support of the Spiritual Snake Peak Elders and the strong backing of his family, his cultivation speed had recently increased. Liu Wuxiang felt that if he could maintain his current pace, he would reach the ninth level of Qi Refinement and be ready to start preparing for Foundation Establishment next year. As long as he succeeded in Foundation Establishment, and with the strength of his Lifebound Spiritual Beast, the Black Water Mysterious Snake, ordinary Foundation Establishment Disciples wouldn¡¯t stand a chance against him. If all went well, he would also likely become an Inner Sect Disciple within a year or two. Qin Feng looked at Liu Wuxiang and smiled, his mood slightly lifted, ¡°Alright, then let¡¯s head out early.¡± As they spoke, Qin Feng gestured with his hand. The Swallowing Sky Toad, which had been lying under the Osmanthus Tree, leaped out several meters and landed in his hand. ¡°Let¡¯s go.¡± Qin Feng closed the yard door, and the prohibition automatically sealed it. The two of them each rode their Spiritual Birds and flew towards the Mountain Gate¡¯s main hall. In the sky, it wasn¡¯t just the two of them; looking around, one could see countless figures, each Outer Disciple riding their mounts, converging like a river flowing into the sea towards the same direction. Although the vast majority of disciples would not personally compete, and many older Outer Disciples had already surpassed the age limit for competing, this did not stop them from going to watch the excitement. In fact, unless they were occupied with missions or wholly focused on their cultivation, most Outer Disciples enjoyed watching how those who touted themselves as geniuses struggled and fought, using the event also as a chance to relax their minds. Last year, both Qin Feng and Liu Wuxiang had been fresh disciples who had just joined for a year, focusing all their energy on learning and making the most of the Sect¡¯s protective phase for new disciples, so they hadn¡¯t watched the Outer Disciple Competition. Lacking experience, the two had originally thoughtwing to the site early in the morning was quite prompt, but seeing the sky filled with fellow disciples flying on their mounts, they were momentarily taken aback. ¡°Hurry, let¡¯s go.¡± Qin Feng turned to push Liu Wuxiang, ¡°If we follow behind everyone else, we might not even squeeze in later, and I don¡¯t want to end up missing the registration.¡± ¡°Haha¡­ Senior Brother, your cultivation has greatly improved; you can¡¯t miss the chance to enter the Inner Sect because of this,¡± Liu Wuxiang laughed heartily, patted his mounta€¡±the Black Feathered Great Birda€¡±to increase its speed. The two then sped through the sky, riding their mounts swiftly onward. ¡°` Chapter 184 - Chapter 184 Chapter 181 Raising the Curtain ?Chapter 184: Chapter 181: Raising the Curtain Chapter 184: Chapter 181: Raising the Curtain The closer they got to the direction of the Mountain Gate Hall, the more disciples they saw in the sky, riding all kinds of mounts. Qin Feng and Liu Wuxiang also had their eyes opened, as the sky was filled with countless Spiritual Birds and Exotic Beasts. Although the majority were various Spiritual Birdsa€¡±since birds by their nature can fly and were the preferred mounts for Qi Refining Realm disciples of the Beast Taming Secta€¡±there were also quite a few Exotic Beasts. In addition, there were some peculiar disciples riding on top of huge Strange Insects, including giant dragonflies with wingspans of three zhang, ladybugs with shells as large as grinding plates, slender jade praying mantises, and colorful butterflies adorned with beautiful patterns. But the most bizarre was a young cultivator sitting cross-legged on the back of a stink bug. As they approached the Mountain Gate Hall, people and shadows were everywherea€¡±above and belowa€¡±and considering the size of everyone¡¯s mounts, even the sky seemed rather crowded. However, upon noticing the disciple riding the stink bug, all other disciples made way for him to pass first. The reason was simple: the stink bug, which had transformed into a demon, emitted a very strong odor, and no one wanted to be overwhelmed by its scent. So that disciple, with a smug grin on his face, bulldozed his way through the dense crowd, making his way unimpeded. Qin Feng and his companion couldn¡¯t help but admire the sight, wondering how eccentric a disciple had to be to tame such a stinky creature as a mount, and not mind being shunned by others on a daily basis? They flew back and forth through the crowd, winding left and right, and finally, after a lot of effort, made their way toward the Mountain Gate Hall. In front of the hall, a high platform had been raised, on both sides of which, many disciples from the Internal Affairs Hall were busy recording the names of those who had come to register for the Outer competition. A tally had to be done before the competition began, and these tasks were in charge of the Internal Affairs Hall Elders and their disciples. Qin Feng lined up, while Liu Wuxiang waited by the side. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï???.§ã0 Looking around, he saw that the peaks surrounding the plaza were already filled with people and couldn¡¯t help but sigha€¡±it seemed they would have to find any corner to watch the competition later. A good half an hour later, Qin Feng returned with a jade token in hand. This token wasn¡¯t particularly useful; it merely recorded their battle achievements. In the end, a tally would be made, and if a disciple¡¯s strength and Talent were impressive, even if they were unlucky and repeatedly faced strong opponents and were defeated, they would still get another chance to challenge. The Sect organized the Outer competition not merely for fairness but to choose outstanding Talents for cultivation in the Inner Sect, so they didn¡¯t mind giving defeated disciples a chance. However, continuous defeats warranted a retreat to avoid angering the Sect Elders. After receiving his token, Qin Feng and Liu Wuxiang walked to the edge of the plaza, looking around as they went. He hoped to find Qin Xi, but with a sea of people and a large number of Spiritual Beasts flying back and forth in the sky, it was too difficult to locate the Creation Peak disciples. So, he quickly gave up the idea. Qin Feng needed to compete later, so he didn¡¯t leave the plaza, just found a place on the edge to wait quietly. He chose not to stay in the center of the plaza because it was already crowded with people, and later, when the competition started, stages would be raised, and everyone would have to leave again. Cultivators worked quickly, and within half an hour, not only had all the disciples prepared for the competition finished registering, but all the Outer disciples planning to watch had arrived as well. Since a Golden Core Elder from the Inner Sect would preside over the competition, none of the disciples dared arrive too late; being late when an Inner Sect Elder spoke would seem quite impolite. If recognized, one might get labeled as arrogant. Once all the Outer disciples landed and occupied the space around the plaza and the mountaintops, the Peak Masters and Elders from the 108 peaks of the Outer Sect also arrived. Qin Feng looked specifically in the direction of Spiritual Snake Peak and did not see Liu Xuanling among them, only Yin Qi and another Golden Core Realm Elder who came to watch. He found it strange, as Liu Xuanling had seemingly vanished since their return from the Heavenly Pool Secret Realm. His mentor had mentioned going into seclusion for Cultivation, and he wondered what Cultivation Technique he was practicing, since he hadn¡¯t even appeared for the Outer competition. As Qin Feng pondered, he suddenly saw more than a dozen streaks of light soaring from the Inner Sect, arriving above the high platform with astonishing speed. These were the Inner Sect Elders, each with distinct appearances: some were tall and sturdy as bears, others had an ethereal presence befitting immortals, while some were so slender they seemed they could be blown away by a gust of wind. Qin Feng looked carefully and noticed the slender Elder was always surrounded by whirling winds, agile and extraordinarya€¡±it seemed he didn¡¯t need the wind to blow him away, for he could become the wind at will if he pleased. Soon, a stern-faced Elder with a black beard from the Law Enforcement Hall stepped forward in front of the high platform, his icy voice reaching out in all directions, ¡°I am Elder Lu Wu from the Law Enforcement Hall, here by the order of our Hall Master to supervise this Outer competition, ensuring its fairness and that no cheating occurs. All disciples should give it their all to seize the opportunity to enter the Inner Sect. This is a rare chance, and I hope all of you cherish it.¡± This Elder from the Law Enforcement Hall spoke succinctly. After finishing his brief words, he stepped aside, and immediately two rows of black-clad Law Enforcement Disciples emerged, their sharp eyes intimidating many disciples from meeting their gaze. Another Elder took the stage, and this one appeared much more amiable. With a smile on his face, he said, ¡°Fellow disciples, I am Li Hong, the Vice Hall Master of the Preaching Hall of the Inner Sect, and by the order of our Sect Master, I preside over this Outer Sect tournament. ¡°Since the founding of our Beast Taming Sect in ancient times, our legacy has endured for tens of thousands of years. We have emerged through the Ancient Great Tribulation, faced calamities, shown bravery, and countless predecessors have sacrificed their lives and shed their blood to ensure the unbroken legacy of our Sect, which accounts for its current strength. ¡°To guarantee the continuation of our Sect and to expand its glory, selecting promising talents has become one of the most critical tasks. Each Outer Sect tournament selects numerous outstanding disciples, thereby further solidifying the foundation of our Beast Taming Sect and enhancing our collective strength. None of this would be possible without the dedication of every one of our fellow disciples. ¡°Of course, those not passing the tournament and entering the Inner Sect need not lose heart. As long as you have the aptitude and potential, there will be no lack of Cultivation Techniques for you in the Outer Sect. Should you prove your potential by reaching the Golden Core in the Outer Sect, the Inner Sect will still welcome you with open doors.¡± Different from Elder Lu Wu of the Law Enforcement Hall, who had spoken plainly and concisely, this Elder from the Preaching Hall went on at length, talking from the times of the Ancient Great Tribulation to the present, and only after a full half-hour did he seem to reluctantly close his speech. Fortunately, his words contained an invisible energy that stirred the blood of the disciples listening, even invigorating those who had heard these tales countless times, causing their excitement to swell dramatically. Seeing that his speech had successfully aroused the emotions of the surrounding disciples, Elder Li Hong nodded in satisfaction and continued, ¡°Alright, time is of the essence, and I¡¯m sure everyone is eager to begin. I shall not belabor the point any further. ¡°Disciples of the Internal Affairs Hall, activate the platforms immediately. As per tradition, each peak of the Outer Sect shall send a Golden Core Cultivator to guard the platforms. We must ensure our disciples can compete without causing undue harm to their fellow Sect members.¡± The Golden Core Cultivators from the various peaks bowed and accepted their orders. In the presence of these Inner Sect Elders, they dared not refer to themselves as Elders, for among the Inner Sect Elders present, some were their own mentors. It was best to maintain proper etiquette and respect before their seniors. Upon Elder Lu Wu¡¯s soft command from the Internal Affairs Hall, numerous platforms suddenly rose in front of the hall. This was the unique selection method of the Beast Taming Sect. Since the Inner Sect only recruited one hundred disciples each year, they simply and directly set up numerous platforms. Any disciple wishing to become an Inner Sect Disciple must first defend a platform. Only by holding a platform without being defeated could one hope to become an Inner Sect Disciple. Of course, those who were overcome need not worry too much, as the Sect would consider if they failed due to excessive prior exertion before being defeated, so generally, each disciple had more than one opportunity to challenge others. Particularly for those disciples who successively defeated opponents, the Sect would grant them one or two additional chances to challenge others, based on their number of victories. However, if one were truly unlucky, depleted of True Yuan, and also happened to suffer severe injuries, then in all likelihood, they would lack the strength to fight again. This was what happened with Fang Zheng. He was powerfully skilled and formidable in battle, but due to issues with his temperament, he frequently clashed with the Noble Heirs, who then purposefully employed a strategic rotation during the Outer Sect tournament to challenge him. Eventually, they wore him down until he didn¡¯t have any fight left in him, depleting his True Yuan and costing him the opportunity to enter the Inner Sect directly. However, those who faced him didn¡¯t get off lightly either; many were injured by him during their opportunities, leading to more of his challengers being eliminated than not, resulting in a situation where neither side truly won. ?¦Ï??0.§ã¦Ï Nevertheless, Fang Zheng¡¯s performance caught the attention of the watching Vice Hall Master Mingxin of the Law Enforcement Hall. He was immediately taken as a Registered Disciple by Hall Master Mingxin, and upon entering the Inner Sect, he could directly report to the Law Enforcement Hall. For this reason, the Noble Heirs who had opposed him were extremely frightened, fearing that once Fang Zheng joined the Law Enforcement Hall, he would seek retribution against them. If they caught the attention of a Law Enforcement Disciple, their days would be far from pleasant. Even if Fang Zheng, true to his nature, did not engage in personal vendettas, any mistake they made that he caught would likely result in a harsh lesson. Swoosh, swoosh, swoosh! Figures landed on the platforms, the Golden Core Elders of the various Outer Sect peaks. Standing atop the platforms, they called out lightly in all directions, and each disciple promptly leaped onto the platforms. Many disciples were actually reluctant to be the first to step up. They felt that ascending the platform early would lead to an undue depletion of their strength, and gradually reveal their tactics during combat, so they preferred to wait until later to take the stage. Yet, there were also those disciples who felt there were advantages to ascending early, as those talented cultivators with advanced Cultivation considered themselves too prestigious to engage first, thereby providing an opportunity for these earlier participants to secure victories. They could defeat several opponents early on, ensuring that, even if later defeated, they retained the chance to challenge again. But if they failed to secure even a single victory, unless they had some special skill, chances to climb the platform again were slim. Once the defending disciples were on the platforms, the Golden Core Elders disembarked. After all, this place was meant for the disciples to compete, and there was no need for the Elders to remain so close, least they become a distraction. Even with the Golden Core Elders at a distance, their Golden Core Realm cultivation ensured that no major mishaps would occur. Soon, the disciples on the platforms began calling out eagerly, inviting other disciples to join them in combat. Chapter 185 - Chapter 185 Chapter 182 The Challenge from Lan Qinhu ?Chapter 185: Chapter 182: The Challenge from Lan Qinhu Chapter 185: Chapter 182: The Challenge from Lan Qinhu Soon, under the protection of the Golden Core Elders of the Outer Peak and the watchful eyes of the Law Enforcement Disciples in the Law Enforcement Hall, the disciples on the stage announced their names and then began to fight. The platform was large, each one spanning dozens of meters in circumference, arranged in several rows and occupying more than half of the plaza. However, the disciples watching the matches did not approach too closely. For one thing, there were too many people and it would seem too crowded if they all moved close. Furthermore, there were many disciples from various peaks participating in the tournament, with few from peaks like Creation Peak, where only a handful of disciples competed, to many like Spiritual Snake Peak, where nearly a hundred disciples entereda€¡±adding up to several thousand participants. To facilitate these competitors¡¯ access to the stage, the disciples who were not participating in the tournament consciously left space in the plaza for those who were. The battles on the platforms were extremely exciting in the eyes of many disciples, especially since there were quite a few disciples who could subdue rare exotic beasts and display various wondrous spells and divine skills. The spectacle of roaring tigers, bellowing lions, birds and beasts chiming in unison, and the cacophony of lightning, gales, and the elements of earth, water, fire, and wind, presented tactics aplenty that received cheers from the cultivators who had long been in the Mountain Gate. However, for the disciples participating in the tournament, competing on the platform was not entirely fair. ?¦Ï???.?¦Ï Their methods were too multifarious, and although the platform was not small, it was not that large either, often limiting their performance. Some disciples¡¯ spiritual beasts were best suited for warfare in the mountains and forests, and some water element spiritual beasts, when on the stage, could hardly unleash half of their strength, but some creatures made for head-on battles, such as the Great Strength Divine Ape and Fierce Giant Bear, were able to perform beyond their normal capabilities on this small stage. The higher-ups of the Beast Taming Sect were aware of this, but they still chose to select disciples through the platform tournament. It wasn¡¯t for convenience, but because in their view, every disciple of the Beast Taming Sect should develop in all aspects, able to subdue several spiritual beasts suited for combat in various terrains. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ??¦Í?0.§ã¦Ï Any disciple who overly specialized in one aspect was considered unqualified. Only those who covered all basesa€¡±whether it was combat in the sky, on land, underwater, using poisons, stealth, or delivering fatal blowsa€¡±were deemed qualified disciples of the Beast Taming Sect. So it wasn¡¯t long before some disciples performing poorly on the platforms were defeated and sent packing. Some performances on the platforms were eye-catching, with a few disciples¡¯ spiritual beasts displaying tremendous war power that impressed onlookers. What was most striking, however, was that among those defending the stages, there were actually Qi Refining Realm disciples. This was rare because those participating in the tournament were mostly disciples who had been in the sect for a longer time. Those with decent aptitudes, after nearly a decade of accumulation, had already covered much ground in the Foundation Establishment Stage, and even mid-stage Foundation Establishment was not uncommon. Under such circumstances, very few dared to take the stage in the late Qi Refining stage. Those Qi Refining Realm disciples who did dare to compete were without exception the geniuses of various peaks, not only possessing exquisite spells but also having at least one Foundation Establishment spirit beast backing them. Otherwise, they would not have dared to challenge others on the stage. Qin Feng felt that these Qi Refining Realm disciples did not expect to enter the Inner Sect this time around, as it was practically impossible. So their intention must have been to garner some reputation through this Outer Disciple tournament and gain the cultivation from their peak¡¯s Elders. Of course, it would be even better if they could catch the eye of an Inner Sect Elder. On the platform, Qin Feng also saw a few familiar faces, such as Lan Qinhu from Tiger Roar Peak and the talented disciple Ma Xingkong from Heavenly Horse Peak. Ma Xingkong had already advanced to Foundation Establishment after such a long time. Usually, a talented disciple like him would not take the stage so early, but Young Master Ma was differenta€¡±he always loved being in the spotlight. So he stepped onto the stage early to challenge others, and after merging with his Heavenly Horse, he became as fast as a shooting star. With a single kick at a time, he knocked off his opponents¡¯ spiritual beasts and even bruised and bloodied the Qi Refining Realm disciples he faced, winning with ease. After being kicked off the stage, one of the disciples, holding his bleeding nose and spitting out a tooth that had been kicked out, lamented in anger, ¡°Ma Xingkong, you bastard, this is personal vengeance; you dare to spoil my good fortune in the tournament, I won¡¯t let this go.¡± Young Master Ma took out his folded fan with a flourish and gently waved it a few times before saying with feigned nonchalance, ¡°Lang Shanghong, you should take a look at yourself. You dare to covet Sister Kong with your sheer audacity. You truly do not know your own limitations. Beating you serves as a lesson. In the future, stop shamelessly fawning over Sister Kong.¡± He said with a mocking shake of his head, ¡°You don¡¯t even consider your own looks; you¡¯re so ugly and still have the gall to approach Sister Kong. Don¡¯t you feel ashamed?¡± ¡°You¡­¡± Lang Shanghong seethed with anger, ¡°Even if I look worse, I am still much better than you. You¡¯re only bullying me now because I haven¡¯t reached Foundation Establishment. Just you wait; when I do establish my foundation, I won¡¯t let you off the hook.¡± He was a descendant of the Flat Peak Mountain¡¯s Lang Family. He had originally intended to make a name for himself during this tournament, yet right as he entered the stage, Ma Xingkong ruined his plan, so he was furious and indignant. ¡°Pah, a defeated underling dares to speak bravely?¡± Ma Xingkong scorned, too lazy to pay any further attention to the defeated opponent he had knocked down from the stage. Instead, he swept his gaze across the crowd, awaiting the next challenger. Qin Feng glanced a few times but didn¡¯t care much; there were some unwritten rules among the different peaks. That is, talented disciples like Ma Xingkong and Kong Xuan wouldn¡¯t casually challenge each other before the competition slots were determined, as it would certainly result in one party¡¯s defeat, a loss greater than the gain. If these talented disciples wanted to determine the victor, they would typically wait until after the slots were confirmed, before sparring in the ranking competition to decide the superior. Thus, it was mostly older disciples, who had been in the sect for eight or nine years, who challenged these talents. With their more profound accumulation, they attempted to defeat the talents through their depth of cultivation and thereby secure a slot. As Qin Feng stood by the side, looking around and watching the other disciples¡¯ battles, a loud roar came from Lan Qinhu on a stage not far from Ma Xingkong. His figure surged violently, and he sent a fierce blow that shattered his opponent¡¯s defense, sending a disciple wrapped in vines flying out of the ring. Then, the man stood on the stage, looking around proudly, laughing loudly a few times, and inadvertently caught a glimpse of Qin Feng, who was watching other battles not far from the stage. His eyes lit up, and without waiting for someone else to challenge him, he bellowed, ¡°Qin Feng, do you dare to come up and fight?¡± His voice was so loud that it immediately attracted the attention of many. Although Qin Feng¡¯s reputation wasn¡¯t as sensational as it was at the beginning, the fact that he, an Outer Disciple, had been taken under the wing of the Spiritual Snake Lineage¡¯s Great Elder, was still a topic of discussion among many Outer Disciples. Previously, there had been quite a few disciples who went to the Spiritual Snake Peak trying to challenge Qin Feng, but he had always refused to appear, leaving those challengers vexed, believing that Qin Feng was afraid of them and therefore dared not respond to the challenge. As a result, many gossips about Qin Feng¡¯s cowardice spread among the Outer Peaks. Lan Qinhu, too, was influenced by such talk; he believed that if Qin Feng were truly talented, he would not consistently avoid challenges. What Lan Qinhu didn¡¯t know was that Qin Feng simply didn¡¯t dare to start this precedent; once he accepted any challenge, an endless stream of challengers would follow. He needed to cultivate and couldn¡¯t be bothered to waste time building others¡¯ reputations, which is why he kept his door closed. But now, during the Outer Sect competition, he could no longer afford to hide in the cultivation room. Fearful that someone else might challenge Qin Feng first, Lan Qinhu bellowed out his challenge, drawing the gaze of most Outer Disciples to his side. Enjoying the sensation of being the center of attention, he felt that once he defeated Qin Feng, the crowd¡¯s admiration for him would increase even more. Moreover, with numerous Inner Sect Elders present, if they saw him defeat a disciple of the Spiritual Snake Lineage¡¯s Great Elder, perhaps one would recognize his potential and take him as an apprentice. With this thought, he felt even more that challenging Qin Feng now was the best choice. Seeing Qin Feng hadn¡¯t moved, he pointed directly and said, ¡°Qin Feng, you might have been afraid to accept challenges before, but now it¡¯s the Sect¡¯s grand competition. Surely you can¡¯t avoid a fight today, can you?¡± As he pointed, the disciples around Qin Feng stepped back with a swish, revealing Qin Feng to everyone. When Qin Feng had first become well-known, few knew him by sight. Later, as his fame spread among the peaks, he had always been cultivating in his courtyard, so aside from the Spiritual Snake Peak, very few from the other peaks had actually seen him. Now, many disciples looked over, curious to see what this disciple taken in by Martial Uncle Ning Wuxu looked like. Atop a platform in front of the grand hall, a middle-aged Elder turned to Zhao Qiankun beside him and smiled, ¡°Junior Brother Zhao, is that the young disciple Martial Uncle Ning has taken in? Hmm, he looks not bad. Reaching the Early Stage Peak of Foundation Establishment in two years, his cultivation speed is indeed fast, already comparable to those top geniuses. However, his reputation in the Outer Sect is not small. Once he steps on the stage, I suppose there will be no shortage of challengers.¡± Zhao Qiankun shook his large head and then chuckled, ¡°This is also my first time seeing this little junior brother. But Junior Brother Hao told me that our master intends to toughen up this junior brother a bit, so he deliberately let those words out, to invite challenges. Hehe, I didn¡¯t expect him to be so forbearing; he¡¯s managed to lie low on the Spiritual Snake Peak for a long time and hasn¡¯t accepted any challenges from the others. Quite smart, he hasn¡¯t been blinded by sudden fame. I heard he achieved Foundation Establishment in the Heavenly Pool Secret Realm, and now he has already reached the Early Stage Peak of Foundation Establishment. It seems he gained a lot in the Secret Realm, though his aura seems somewhat unsubstantial.¡± ¡°Just be content.¡± The neighboring Elder laughed and said, ¡°He has improved so much in only a few months; it¡¯s clear he must have used abundant resources and Spirit Pills to boost his cultivation. It¡¯s normal to be a bit unsubstantial. If he could improve so rapidly and still have a solid foundation, what chance would others have?¡± Chapter 186 - Chapter 186 Chapter 183 Swallowed in One Gulp ?Chapter 186: Chapter 183 Swallowed in One Gulp Chapter 186: Chapter 183 Swallowed in One Gulp Qin Feng looked at Lan Qinhu on the platform, who appeared somewhat arrogant, and could not help but shake his head helplessly. Although he knew that once he came here, someone would definitely challenge him, he did not expect it to happen so quickly. He had originally planned to observe the performance and techniques of other disciples on the platform for a while to have a clearer understanding before stepping up, at least waiting until about halfway through. As it turned out, many fights on the platforms had not even concluded their first round when someone forced him to step up. This meant he might have to fight from the beginning to the end. ??¦Í??.§ã¦Ï After all, he did not want to lose to anyone on the platform. Now, the only problem was whether he could last that long. Perhaps, when his True Yuan was about to be depleted, he could voluntarily admit defeat and step down. In that way, it wouldn¡¯t really count as a loss, and he thought his opponent wouldn¡¯t have the nerve to boast about defeating him. Forget it, we¡¯ll see when the time comes. Seeing Lan Qinhu continue to provoke him with insolent words from the platform, Qin Feng¡¯s expression remained unchanged, but he inwardly snorted. This guy, ruining his plans and speaking such bold words without shame, should not blame me for not leaving him any face. He had also watched Lan Qinhu fighting with others for a moment and did not think this person¡¯s strength was any formidable. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?0¦Í??.§ã¦Ï With his current cultivation level, he was confident about defeating Lan Qinhu without any worry. Qin Feng lightly tapped his foot, and like a bird, he elegantly landed on the platform. ¡°Ha ha haa€|¡± Lan Qinhu¡¯s face revealed a mocking and smug laugh, ¡°Qin Feng, you finally dare to show up.¡± Qin Feng rolled his eyes, ¡°When have I ever dared not to show up?¡± ¡°All this time, you have been hiding at Spiritual Snake Peak and not accepting challenges from fellow disciples, just because you feared being defeated, huh? If you were really scared, you shouldn¡¯t have joined this year¡¯s grand competition. Since you¡¯re here, I will let you knowa€|¡± ¡°Idiot!¡± Qin Feng, not wanting to listen to more nonsense, directly turned to a nearby Golden Core Elder and cupped his hands, ¡°Elder, may we begin?¡± This Golden Core Elder was the Six-Toothed Sage from White Elephant Peak, known for this title not because he only had six teeth, but rather because his Lifebound Spiritual Beast was a Six-Toothed Giant Elephant. ¡°Once you¡¯re on the platform, it means you¡¯ve started. Just make your move.¡± The Six-Toothed Sage, being a cultivator at the Golden Core Late Stage, evidently did not wish to watch the two youngsters engage in a verbal duel on the platform and straightforwardly announced the start of the match. ¡°Disciple understands.¡± Qin Feng nodded. It seems there¡¯s still some room for maneuver here! Lan Qinhu, having been interrupted by Qin Feng earlier, felt some displeasure. Seeing the Six-Toothed Sage announcing the start, he snorted coldly from his nose, ¡°Since you so desire to experience my techniques, then I willa€|¡± Before he could continue, the Little Toad that Qin Feng had been holding in his hand gently leapt and disappeared, then reappeared right in front of him. Lan Qinhu was startled, not knowing what Divine Power the Little Toad had used to appear so mysteriously. However, his quick reaction allowed him to activate the defense of his Magic Robe, preparing to withstand an attack from the Swallowing Sky Toad while he merged with his Lifebound Spiritual Beasts, ready for battle. But under Qin Feng¡¯s command, the Swallowing Sky Toad did not cast any spell but instead used its four short legs to push forcefully against him, instantly sending a great force that flung him away. Bang! Lan Qinhu was knocked a few feet off the ground, landing on the ground behind the platform and taking a couple of steps back before he could stabilize himself. He shook his head, slightly stunned, but not injureda€¡±just unable to accept that he had been thrown off the platform so easily. Then, in a sudden fury, he pointed at Qin Feng, ¡°You¡­ you ambusheda€|¡± Yes, it was indeed an ambush. He hadn¡¯t even merged completely with his spiritual beasts or given any orders to the two Spiritual Beasts behind him to prepare for battle, yet he was kicked off the platform by the Swallowing Sky Toad after it directly used its Space Shifting Divine Power to appear in front of him. He hadn¡¯t incurred any damage, as the Swallowing Sky Toad¡¯s full-force kick hadn¡¯t penetrated his defenses; it had merely pushed him back about twenty to twenty-five feet. Under normal combat conditions, this wouldn¡¯t count for much, but this was in the Outer Sect¡¯s grand competition on the platform. Before he even had a chance to prepare for battle, he had been kicked off the platform by the Little Toad, a mode of defeat so tough to accept. Thus, Lan Qinhu, trembling with rage, said, ¡°I wasn¡¯t even ready to make a move yet, and you¡­ you actually let your Spiritual Beast ambush me? I won¡¯t accept this!¡± Qin Feng¡¯s lips slightly curved upward, his mood inexplicably improved by a great margin. He didn¡¯t care whether Lan Qinhu accepted it or not; since the Elder had already announced the start, he could certainly make his move freely. Of course, he did take advantage somewhat. If it weren¡¯t on the platform, but a life-and-death struggle instead, he definitely wouldn¡¯t have won so easily, even if he let the Swallowing Sky Toad use all its might, he might not have been able to severely injure Lan Qinhu. But he didn¡¯t need to seriously injure his opponent; as long as he could knock him a few feet back and push him off the platform, he would have won. ¡°Whether you accept it or not, you¡¯ve already been thrown off the platform by me.¡± Qin Feng, smiling, said, ¡°Senior Brother Lan, you might as well call down your two Spiritual Beasts now. The next fight is about to start, and it¡¯s not quite appropriate for them to stay on the platform.¡± ¡°Youa€|¡± Lan Qinhu, feeling utterly frustrated and on the verge of spitting blood, wanted to speak, but then saw the Six-Toothed Sage from White Elephant Peak looking towards him with an indifferent expression, ¡°Do not delay the other disciples¡¯ matches, summon your Spiritual Beasts down quickly.¡± ¡°a€| Yes.¡± As the Elder had spoken, Lan Qinhu, no matter how reluctant he felt inside, could only let his Spiritual Beasts jump off the platform. His heart full of sorrowa€¡±these were two Spiritual Beasts of the Foundation Establishment Realm, yet without launching a single spell, he had to admit defeat! On the high platform in front of the grand hall, the middle-aged cultivator lightly exclaimed in surprise, looking at the Spiritual Toad that had just jumped back into Qin Feng¡¯s hands. He hesitated, then turned to Zhao Qiankun beside him and asked, ¡°Capable of performing Space Shifting, could this be the Swallowing Sky Toad? It must be, as Space Divine Power is extremely rare among low-level Demon Beasts. Only the Swallowing Sky Toad among the class of Spiritual Toads possesses such divine abilities. Your junior brother really has quite the bravado to dare to raise a Swallowing Sky Toad, isn¡¯t he afraid of being eaten out of house and home? However, why does that Swallowing Sky Toad look somewhat different from the descriptions in the Ten Thousand Demons Catalog?¡± ¡°It is a bit different.¡± Zhao Qiankun nodded. ¡°Look at those star patterns on its back; it seems to have mixed bloodlines with the Swallowing Star Toad. It¡¯s unclear whether it was originally a mixed-blood Spiritual Toad or if it was cultivated into this state by him. Haha, interesting. A Swallowing Sky Toad cultivating the Star Dao, it¡¯s hard to say how far it can go. If it ever cultivates to a higher and deeper realm, the war power of this Spiritual Toad should not be underestimated.¡± On the fighting stage, Qin Feng no longer paid attention to Lan Qinhu but instead looked towards the audience below and clasped his fists, saying, ¡°Junior Brother Qin Feng here, may I know which senior brother wishes to enlighten me on the platform?¡± ¡°I will!¡± ¡°Let me¡­¡± ¡°Mystic Bird Peak¡¯s Liu Heming would like to be enlightened.¡± ¡°Sky Wolf Peak¡¯s Yue Dongsheng.¡± ¡°Golden Camel Peak¡¯s disciple Mu Gaofeng would like to be enlightened!¡± Qin Feng¡¯s words, like a thousand-pound boulder thrown into the calm heart of a lake, immediately stirred up huge waves. A large group of disciples rapidly approached, all eager to challenge Qin Feng. Even though he had just defeated Lan Qinhu, in the eyes of the other disciples, his victory was merely due to opportunism and luck and did not truly reflect Qin Feng¡¯s strength. Besides, although Lan Qinhu had some reputation, many disciples present believed they were stronger than Lan Qinhu, thus they rushed over, and from even farther away, many other disciples headed this way, clearly all intent on challenging Qin Feng. Qin Feng was a bit dumbstruck. So many? Am I really that much of a hot cake to attract such attention? Up on the high platform, the Inner Sect elders watching the scene chuckled. Among them, the youngest had cultivated for two to three hundred years already, and some with profound dao cultivation were even over a thousand years old. They had seen everything, and scenes like Qin Feng¡¯s occurred every few years. And the reason behind such phenomena, where all disciples challenge one person, was often instigated by the Inner Sect elders who¡¯d discreetly command someone to spread some messages to create such situations. Because they needed to exert some pressure on the disciples they favored, allowing those disciples to experience suppression and toughening, which would help them grow higher in the future. An elder laughed and said, ¡°I remember the last time a situation like this occurred was probably over a decade ago when Li Miaozhen was in the Outer Sect, right?¡± ¡°True.¡± Beside them, a burly man laughed and said, ¡°However, Miao Zhen is generous in spirit and completely different from Qin Feng. Whenever someone challenges her, she never refuses, even if she is injured. She doesn¡¯t back down like this lad, who has been laying low for months without accepting a single challenge.¡± He was an Elder of the White Tiger Lineage, and according to their seniority, he was actually Li Miao Zhen¡¯s senior uncle. Naturally, he had a fondness for this True Disciple of his lineage. On the other hand, he somewhat looked down on Qin Feng for his reluctance to fight. ¡°Li Miao Zhen, that girl is quite something,¡± Beside him, a female Elder laughed and said, ¡°It¡¯s just that her temper is too fierce. It¡¯s fine when people challenge her normally; at most, they get beaten up by her. However, those who try to take advantage of her injuries end up severely injured by her, miserably needing several months to recover.¡± ¡°One of my disciples ended up with over a dozen broken bones because of her, and now he runs away as far as he can whenever he sees that girl, just like a rabbit fleeing from a tiger. Quite disgraceful, really.¡± ¡°Haha, well, your disciple has a Jade Rabbit as his Lifebound, after all. Seeing Li Miao Zhen would scare him like that.¡± ¡°But, when Li Miao Zhen was in the Outer Sect competing in the grand tournament, she was incredibly brave. She didn¡¯t need others to challenge her; she called them out one by one, challenging the most famous talents from the different peaks of the Outer Sect, and left them all dispirited. Qin Feng is certainly not like Li Miao Zhen.¡± ¡°Normal, did you really expect the disciples of the Spiritual Snake Lineage to be like those from the White Tiger Lineage? The sect can¡¯t possibly train all disciples to become mere brutes with no brains.¡± ¡°Cough, don¡¯t speak nonsense, be careful lest Luo Zhancheng hears you, and he decides to come over for a ¡®friendly¡¯ match. You¡¯d then get a good taste of being trampled by a brute.¡± A group of Inner Sect Elders chatted and laughed as they watched the many disciples sparring on the stage below. To cultivators of their Realm, these Outer Sect disciples, no matter how exceptional they might seem, were merely like children playing house, so they didn¡¯t pay much attention to some of the flashy duels. At Qin Feng¡¯s stage, hundreds of disciples had already gathered, and even more seemed to be on the way from afar, which was somewhat overwhelming for Qin Feng. So many peoplea€¡±he wouldn¡¯t be able to fight them all even if he tried! Just as he was furrowing his brows in distress, suddenly, a figure shot up from below and landed on the stage with a thud. ¡°Hahaha, a bunch of fools, are you still thinking about drawing lots to decide who goes first?¡± The tall disciple turned and mocked the crowd below, which caused the other disciples to denounce him for breaking the rules. The disciple didn¡¯t care, turned to look at Qin Feng and then glanced at the Swallowing Sky Toad in his hand, and said, ¡°I am Mu Gaofeng from Golden Camel Peak. I have long heard of Junior Brother Qin and have come today to seek some guidance.¡± Qin Feng nodded, ¡°All right, Senior Brother, be careful, I am about to make my move.¡± As he spoke, his Swallowing Sky Toad suddenly vanished, then reappeared right in front of Mu Gaofeng. ¡°Hehe¡­¡± Mu Gaofeng chuckled lightly, ¡°I am not like Lan Qinhu; the tricks you used on that idiot won¡¯t work on me.¡± As he spoke, golden light flickered around him, and his back bulged up high while a massively heavy aura emanated from him. He appeared as solid and immovable as a mountain, such that not even a creature known for its strength like the Iron Armor Rhinoceros would be likely to shake him. ¡°Is that so?¡± Qin Feng¡¯s voice came through, ¡°But I wasn¡¯t planning on using the same methods to deal with you!¡± Before the sound of his voice had faded away, the Swallowing Sky Toad suddenly opened its mouth and swallowed Mu Gaofeng whole. Chapter 187 - Chapter 187 Chapter 184 Great Strength Divine Ape Yuan Powang ?Chapter 187: Chapter 184 Great Strength Divine Ape Yuan Powang Chapter 187: Chapter 184 Great Strength Divine Ape Yuan Powang When Mu Gaofeng was spat out onto the ground from the spatial belly of the Swallowing Sky Toad, he still seemed bewildered. ¡°Did I just lose like that?¡± After merging with his Lifebound Spiritual Beast, the Golden-Eyed Camel, his own strength had greatly increased. Relying on the Golden-Eyed Camel¡¯s innate divine ability to stabilize his stance, even if the Spiritual Toad had kicked him hundreds of times, it might not have been able to kick him off the stage. But unexpectedly, the Spiritual Toad had swallowed him whole with one bite. If it had been a common Spiritual Beast that swallowed him into its belly, it would¡¯ve been one thing; even if a Demon Core Realm Demon Beast had gulped him down whole, he could have resisted inside its belly and might have even been able to cut open its stomach and escape. But the Swallowing Sky Toad was different, with a space of its own inside its stomach. Even though Mu Gaofeng considered his power remarkable, he only possessed Foundation Establishment Cultivation and had never touched any spells related to space. Naturally, he could not break through the spatial barriers within the toad¡¯s stomach. Were it not for the Swallowing Sky Toad acting on Qin Feng¡¯s orders, not wishing to harm him, it could have activated its swallowing force and digested him as food in no time at all. ¡°Swallowing Sky Toad?¡± ¡°That¡¯s right, it¡¯s the Swallowing Sky Toad!¡± The disciples of the Beast Taming Sect had seen much and knew a lot, and quickly someone recognized the origin of the toad through its method. The group of disciples were all astounded at this. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í??.§ã¦Ï They hadn¡¯t expected that Qin Feng, a mere Outer Disciple, would dare to keep such a gold-swallowing beast by his side. However, this was the Beast Taming Sect after all; they had seen all kinds of precious birds and Exotic Beasts. A Foundation Establishment Realm Swallowing Sky Toad, although rare, still couldn¡¯t scare them. After all, the Swallowing Sky Toad had already shown its abilities. Powerful, indeed, but it had not reached the point of transcending realms. As long as they were careful, it was not insurmountable. So, very soon, someone stepped up. ¡°Yue Dongsheng from Sky Wolf Peak, please enlighten me.¡± As the newcomer took the stage, he directly merged with his Spiritual Beast, and only after that did he clasp his hands in a salute, warily watching Qin Feng to prevent being caught off guard by a surprise attack. Qin Feng nodded, ¡°Then I ask Senior Brother to enlighten me.¡± Saying so, he raised his hand, preparing to release his own Spiritual Beast. Seeing Qin Feng raise his hand, Yue Dongsheng thought he was going to use the same old trick and make the Swallowing Sky Toad use its Space Shifting Technique to get close to him. He couldn¡¯t withstand the toad¡¯s swallowing force, so he suddenly shifted his shape sharply, and with a swish, his form split into four, as he employed the Clone Illusion Technique, occupying the four corners of the stage. ¡°Uh?¡± Qin Feng looked at Yue Dongsheng a bit peculiarly. What¡¯s wrong with him, spreading out such an important skill when I haven¡¯t even made a move? Yue Dongsheng, noticing that the Spiritual Toad in Qin Feng¡¯s hand hadn¡¯t attacked, realized he had made a mistake and his face turned red. But he recovered quickly and shouted loudly, ¡°Be careful, Junior Brother Qin. My Clone Illusion Technique can split into four. Be careful not to let me get close, or your Swallowing Sky Toad won¡¯t be able to protect you.¡± As he spoke, the four figures moved rapidly, approaching Qin Feng from different directions, each figure brandishing a pair of sharp wolf claws, aiming for different parts of his body. Qin Feng chuckled lightly, and with a wave of the hand he had raised, a ghastly Ghost-Faced Spider appeared in front of him. In the instant that the Ghost-Faced Spider appeared, it immediately shot out several strands of spider silk. An Illusion Clone after all is just an illusion, not a real clone, and it has no ability to fight, serving only to confuse others. Moreover, as the Illusion Clone required Yue Dongsheng to control it, it was not as responsive as his true body, and not being able to dodge in time, it was touched by the spider silk. With three soft ¡®pops,¡¯ the three Illusion Clones shattered instantly, leaving only Yue Dongsheng¡¯s true body, who evaded the spider silk and approached, clawing at Qin Feng¡¯s throat. ¡°Croak¡­¡± The Swallowing Sky Toad suddenly opened its mouth. Yue Dongsheng thought the toad was going to employ its swallowing force and quickly retreated, but he was caught off guard as the toad suddenly shot out its tongue with lightning speed, striking his body with a ¡®thump.¡¯ Fortunately, the Defensive Magic Robe on Yue Dongsheng¡¯s body raised a layer of defense in time. Although the Swallowing Sky Toad¡¯s lightning-fast tongue still penetrated in an instant, the force had depleted, and it didn¡¯t cause him severe injury. As he stumbled backward, more Illusion Clones surged from his body, spreading and retreating, whirling around Qin Feng on the stage, to prevent being seen through by him. Qin Feng laughed softly. He was no stranger to this sort of divine power. The first time he had been on a mission, Ma Jiu had used this divine power several times before him, and he had thought privately about how he would respond if he encountered this technique. Speaking of which, the Clone Illusion was quite magical. Each clone¡¯s presence was the same as the true body, and even Spiritual Beasts with keen senses could not tell which were real and which were fake. If one furthered their dao with this technique, they could even create clones containing attack power. Unfortunately, Yue Dongsheng¡¯s current strength was weak, and the Clone Illusion was not without solutions. Then, the Swallowing Sky Toad opened its mouth again, spouting an torrent of water, spraying out in all directions. Upon contact with the water, the three clones vanished again in the blink of an eye. Seeing this, Yue Dongsheng¡¯s brow furrowed. He hadn¡¯t expected Qin Feng to have trained the Swallowing Sky Toad to this extent, even mastering the Spell of Water Manipulation, foiling his plan to approach Qin Feng with the Illusion Clone. But he wasn¡¯t ready to concede defeat just yet. Since his strongest technique was ineffective, he¡¯d try another method of combat. He slapped his waist where the Spiritual Beast Bag hung and released a Fire Feathered Heron, which opened its beak and spat a stream of flames towards the Ghost-Faced Spider and the Swallowing Sky Toad. He intended to use Flame Divine Power to restrain the two Spiritual Beasts, actually feeling that as long as the Swallowing Sky Toad was not by Qin Feng¡¯s side, he could rely on the Illusion Clone to confuse Qin Feng¡¯s eyes, thereby closing in for close-quarters combat. Disciples from Sky Wolf Peak were very skilled at hand-to-hand combat. But before he could take his next action, the Ghost-Faced Spider lying prone on the ground suddenly lifted its abdomen and shot out a large amount of spider silk. Surprisingly, it made no attempt to defend against the approaching flames, allowing itself to be scorched without dodging or evading, seemingly determined to entrap the Fire Feathered Heron even at the cost of sustaining severe injuries. Yue Dongsheng¡¯s expression changed upon seeing this. Not all disciples participating in the tournament had several Foundation Establishment Spirit Beasts. Those in the mountains were not so easily tamed, and as for raising one¡¯s own Spiritual Beast to the Foundation Establishment Realm, the required cultivation resources were certainly not few. Most Outer Disciples already were very tight on their own cultivation resources, let alone having excess to spend on Spiritual Beasts other than their Lifebound ones. Hence, many of the disciples participating in the tournament only had one Foundation Establishment Spirit Beast. After all, these disciples were still new and couldn¡¯t compare in accumulation to those wily veterans who had been in the Outer Sect for decades or even centuries. Yue Dongsheng, aside from his Lifebound Spiritual Beast, only had the Fire Feathered Heron with Foundation Establishment Cultivation. If the heron were trapped by spider silk, even if those Flame Magic spells severely injured the other side¡¯s Ghost-Faced Spider, he would lose a strong helping hand. Therefore, Yue Dongsheng found it odd. Didn¡¯t Qin Feng worry that damaging his Spiritual Beast could affect his subsequent matches? Even if he could win this round, losing a Foundation Establishment Spirit Beast would still result in a significant reduction in his combat capabilities. Before he could finish processing his thoughts, he saw a flash of dark red aura on the Ghost-Faced Spider, and as the flames from the Fire Feathered Heron fell onto the spider, not a single spider hair was burnt. Instead, the Fire Feathered Spirit Sparrow, entangled in its web, showed signs of its beautiful red feathers being singed. The spider silk actually contained a potent fire toxin that was scorching the feathers of the Fire Feathered Spirit Sparrow. Without waiting for Yue Dongsheng to act next, he saw the Swallowing Sky Toad open its mouth and spit out another surge of water. Yue Dongsheng¡¯s hands, covered in wolf claws, flickered with Spirit Light as he tore towards the wave. He wanted to rip through the wave and then find a way around the Swallowing Sky Toad to launch a surprise attack on Qin Feng. What he hadn¡¯t expected was that as he dispersed the water, a Cold Ice Arrow shot from the middle of the water and pierced his abdomen with a ¡°thud,¡± causing intense pain, even through his Magic Robe. It felt as though his internal organs were being turned upside down, and before he could recover, he saw the tail of a Giant Crocodile swing and whip him away. Although this Giant Crocodile could no longer keep up with Qin Feng¡¯s Cultivation progress, it was, after all, physically strong and had no small brute force. When used cleverly, it still had its uses. Qin Feng looked indifferently at Yue Dongsheng, who had landed outside the arena, and cupped his hands, ¡°I am honored by your concession.¡± With that, he ordered the Ghost-Faced Spider to release the Fire Feathered Spirit Sparrow it had entangled with its web. ¡°Thank you, Junior Brother Qin, for showing mercy.¡± Yue Dongsheng wasn¡¯t a sore loser and promptly retracted his Spiritual Beasts, stepping aside. Having lost his first match, he no longer had any chance to contend for the Inner Sect positions and could only stand by as a spectator. Qin Feng gave a slight smile and looked at the other contestants, ¡°I wonder which fellow Sect Member would like to take the stage for guidance?¡± ¡°I will!¡± A thunderous voice boomed, followed by a massive figure landing on the stage with a thud. Qin Feng looked up and saw the person before him was nine feet tall, extremely brawny, with arms as thick as logs, bared for all to see. ¡°Spiritual Ape Peak, Yuan Powang.¡± This man was direct in both speech and action. Without waiting for Qin Feng to respond, he quickly Merged with his Lifebound Spiritual Beast. In an instant, his body became much stronger, making him look like a ten-foot-tall humanoid ape. He then moved, each stride spanning several meters, and in just a few steps, he had already reached Qin Feng. Along the way, he ignored the spider silk the Ghost-Faced Spider spat at him. The fire toxin on the silk could not harm his skin, and the spider silk that wrapped around his legs was torn apart by his stride. Looking at Qin Feng up close, he grinned, revealing an ugly, fierce smile with a glint of coldness on his teeth, ¡°You¡¯ve got quite a few tricks up your sleeve and plenty of flair, but none of that works on me. Aside from my Lifebound Spiritual Beast, I don¡¯t have any other Spiritual Beasts. I believe that as long as I can train my Lifebound Spiritual Beast to a sufficiently fearsome level, I¡¯m invulnerable to all your tricks.¡± While he spoke, he flipped his giant hand downward, pressing down like the Five-Finger Mountain. Before his palm reached him, the violent wind it brought made Qin Feng¡¯s face ache. Qin Feng narrowed his eyes, wanting to dodge, but he discovered that Yuan Powang¡¯s palm contained a power of Imprisonment. Although it wasn¡¯t enough to lock his body in place, it would definitely affect his movements. If he stumbled while dodging, he would fall into his opponent¡¯s rhythm of attack. Thus, he chose not to evade, and his body shone with Golden Light as he merged with the Ruyi Golden Snake instantly. Then, he raised both arms and pulled up the pair of Golden Wings on his back above his head to brace against the other¡¯s attack. There was a loud boom, and Qin Feng¡¯s body suddenly shortened. The arena, forged from huge stones and reinforced with Forbidden Techniques, was not easily damaged, but the moment Qin Feng¡¯s body contacted Yuan Powang¡¯s palm, he thought he heard a faint cracking sound from beneath. And the moment he touched Yuan Powang¡¯s hands, his wings were almost flattened by the man¡¯s wildly powerful force. ?¦Ï¦Í??.§ã¦Ï Qin Feng, with all his strength, vibrated his wings to push Yuan Powang back three steps. Only then did he look up at the big fellow before him and show a wry smile, ¡°Great Strength Divine Ape?¡± Chapter 188 - Chapter 188 Chapter 185 The Next One ?Chapter 188: Chapter 185: The Next One Chapter 188: Chapter 185: The Next One Qin Feng bitterly smiled within his heart, never expecting he would choose to face Yuan Powang head-on, who had the Great Strength Divine Ape as his Lifebound Spiritual Beast. Indeed, it was a foolish move. The Great Strength Divine Ape possessed incomparable brute strength. Once it reached the Great Achievement Realm, moving mountains was a trivial feat for it, not something Qin Feng could withstand. It was only because he had relied heavily on numerous resources during this period to forcibly elevate his cultivation to the Early Stage Peak of the Foundation Establishment Stage, thus surpassing Yuan Powang¡¯s Cultivation Realm by a margin, that he was barely able to withstand the strike through his thick True Yuan. Had his strength been slightly weaker, he surely would have suffered internal injuries from that palm strike just now. No wonder this person had said that cultivating only his Lifebound Spiritual Beast would suffice. Once his Lifebound Spiritual Beast was cultivated, it truly was formidably fierce. Simultaneously, he remembered Yuan Powang¡¯s identity. This guy was a newly risen talent of the Spiritual Ape Peak, and the most vigorous one in recent years, albeit stubborn to the point of headache. Once he was set on something, no amount of persuasion from others could make him turn back. Just like devoting all his efforts to nurturing his Lifebound Spiritual Beast, he believed it was his foundation and saw no need for other Spiritual Beasts to encumber him. ?¦Ï¦Í??.?¦Ï As long as his Lifebound Spiritual Beast was strong enough, he could simply blast through all his opponents along the way. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ??¦Í??.§ã¦Ï Why would he need so many Spiritual Beasts? Therefore, his path of cultivation was the purest, emphasizing that sheer strength could breakdown millions of methods. Initially, his peers from the same peak often ridiculed him, but ultimately, he subdued all of them, proving himself to be a rare genius. However, Qin Feng was no lesser in capability. His Ruyi Golden Snake was originally an Exotic Species Spiritual Snake. Moreover, with the power of the Demon Refining Pot, he had merged the Divine Skills of two other Spiritual Snakes into it. While those skillsa€¡±one for escaping using Earth Escape and another for changing size at willa€¡±did not significantly enhance his combat strength, they provided him with two additional paths for cultivation, thereby subtly enhancing the foundation of the Ruyi Golden Snake. ¡°Not bad.¡± Yuan Powang was forced back a few steps, but he quickly steadied himself and, looking at Qin Feng, nodded slightly, ¡°Now that¡¯s more like it. The way you fought just now was too tricky, making it hard for others to be convinced. That¡¯s why more and more disciples want to challenge you. If you want fewer troubles in the future, then have an open and fair fight with me. If you win against me, it will certainly change many people¡¯s perception of your strength and dissuade many from wanting to fight you. Otherwise, if you continue to fight cunningly like just now, even if you keep winning, others will only think you¡¯re resorting to tricks and won¡¯t truly respect you.¡± Qin Feng thought about it seriously and then nodded in agreement. ¡°You¡¯re right. I did use some tricks just now. Although I don¡¯t think there¡¯s anything wrong with using tricks, it indeed doesn¡¯t convince the crowd. Just like Lan Qinhu, he surely isn¡¯t convinced and might come to trouble me again in the future. Since that¡¯s the case, why should I hesitate to have a face-to-face battle with you?¡± ¡°Good, delightful!¡± Yuan Powang laughed heartily. ¡°Since the beginning of the year, no fellow disciples on Spiritual Ape Peak have been willing to have a head-on battle with me. Since Junior Brother Qin has such courage, I shall satisfy you.¡± With that, he stepped forward, crossing a distance of about three meters as if he was using Shrinking Ground to Inch technique, and just like before, flipped his palm downward, pressing down like Mount Tai, but with a force three times stronger than the previous palm strike. Qin Feng chuckled lightly. ¡°The same move might not be of much use against me.¡± Then, his stature suddenly surged, growing even taller than Yuan Powang. He then grabbed Yuan Powang¡¯s swiping arm and used the momentum to perform a reverse shoulder throw. Under the astonished gaze of the crowd below, he fiercely slammed Yuan Powang onto the ground. Just before Yuan Powang hit the ground, he lightly twisted his body. Landing on his feet first, he then supported himself with his other arm on the ground and swiftly rolled to the side, moving like a large macaque, tumbling several meters away. Then he rose to his feet and slowly looked at Qin Feng, a cruel smirk appearing on his lips: ¡°Good, good, good. It¡¯s been a long time since anyone has thrown me like that. Junior Brother Qin indeed has great skills.¡± ¡°I have more tricks up my sleeve, Senior Brother Yuan. Feel free to try them out.¡± ¡°Just what I was about to do.¡± Saying so, Yuan Powang roared loudly, leapt high into the air, his hands clasped together like a heavy hammer smashing viciously toward Qin Feng. ¡°Hey¡­¡± Qin Feng bellowed, opting not to dodge but not foolishly standing still to take the brutal hit either. Instead, he sprang up to meet it. The Great Strength Divine Ape was too powerful, unmatched by the Ruyi Golden Snake at the same level. Although Qin Feng planned to have a fair fight with Yuan Powang, he wouldn¡¯t use his own weakness to respond to the opponent. Instead, he would maximize the nimble speed of the Ruyi Golden Snake, demonstrating his strength where his Lifebound Spiritual Beast excelled, truly qualifying as a competent disciple of the Beast Taming Sect. Qin Feng spread his wings behind him, reaching Yuan Powang¡¯s front with even greater speed before the latter¡¯s momentum peaked. Moreover, he flew just high enough to be above his opponent, convenient for a downward attack. Golden scales appeared on Qin Feng¡¯s hands as he met the attack, and his wings, like two golden blades, sliced fiercely towards Yuan Powang¡¯s head with a sharp edge. This rendered Yuan Powang¡¯s built-up strike useless, and he had to change his move immediately, otherwise, his head would definitely have been severely injured by those Golden Wings. Although the Great Strength Divine Ape boasted supreme Divine Power and an extremely tough physical body, it wasn¡¯t to the extent of being Vajra Unbreakable. Thus, he had no choice but to abandon his initial attack, placing one arm across his chest to block Qin Feng¡¯s swinging arms, while his other arm suddenly grew bigger by a third, a violent burst of Spiritual Power emerging to meet the descending wings. With several loud bangs, Yuan Powang blocked Qin Feng¡¯s attack. Despite the sharpness of the Golden Wings, they still couldn¡¯t break through his defense, so he remained uninjured. But Qin Feng hadn¡¯t been cautious against the sudden powerful kick to Yuan Powang¡¯s lower abdomen that sent him flying backwards through the air. Finding no leverage in mid-air, Yuan Powang¡¯s body rocketed backward at high speed. ¡°Roar¡­¡± Just as his body was about to fly out of the arena and hit the ground, Yuan Powang suddenly stretched out an arm and violently grabbed downwards, tearing through the protective prohibition and cracking the hard bluestone of the arena, embedding his hand deeply into the stone. Then, with a powerful tug, he shot toward Qin Feng faster than an arrow. Bang, bang, bang! The two were in midair exchanging a flurry of punches and kicks, touching hands several times within moments before Yuan Powang finally landed on the ground. He smiled crookedly, panting slightlya€¡±not from fatigue but with some excitement, ¡°Hahaha, good, it¡¯s been a long time since I¡¯ve had an opponent like Junior Brother Qin. Let¡¯s go again.¡± ¡°Not afraid of you!¡± A flash of golden light exploded around Qin Feng and he broke through the air, instantly appearing before Yuan Powang. This time, he didn¡¯t rely on his speed advantage to circle around Yuan Powang but chose to face him head-on. It wasn¡¯t that he wanted to give up his advantage in speed, but he suddenly realized that the bottleneck that was hard to break through seemed to show signs of loosening after their recent exchange. This brought a flash of enlightenment in his heart; his rapid progress in recent times had made his realm somewhat unstable, which was why he had been unable to advance. The fight with Yuan Powang stretched him to his limits, causing his blood and breath to surge. His already robust vitality had unexpectedly become even more condensed, filling Qin Feng with immense joy. It seemed his opportunity for a breakthrough was right here. Thus, he didn¡¯t rely on his speed again to combat Yuan Powang but chose the most straightforward approach for a head-on confrontation. Even though this made him somewhat disadvantaged, often forced to retreat repeatedly with sore arms and several painful punches, he felt extremely exhilarated. This thrilling battle not only uplifted his spirits but also made his flesh, already honed to its peak, even stronger under the pressure. The fight lasted for half an hour, making it the longest battle on the platform to date. The disciples watching the fight below weren¡¯t the least bit impatient; instead, they found the battle exhilarating, particularly the sounds of fists meeting flesh, which deeply stirred everyone, almost making them want to jump into the fray. On a high platform not far away, a group of Inner Sect Elders watched the fight with smiles. A few of them felt nostalgic, ¡°It¡¯s been a long time since I¡¯ve seen such a pure battle.¡± ¡°Yes, as our cultivation deepens, we seldom engage in brute force combat. But that young man¡¯s use of this method to temper his vitality and purify his True Yuan is quite clever. With this approach, he might soon reach the middle stage of Foundation Establishment.¡± ¡°Even if he advances, it will only be after the big competition. The cultivation of the Foundation Establishment Realm requires time to temper slowly and isn¡¯t about gaining immediate powerful strength. This isn¡¯t a major realm transition, just the next step of refining the Taoist Body. He can¡¯t refine his bones quickly, so his combat power won¡¯t increase by much. With his current energy spent fighting Yuan Powang, it¡¯s doubtful he can hold on for many more matches.¡± ¡°That depends on his accumulated experience and inherent abilities. If he has other methods to quickly recover his True Yuan and heal from injuries, perhaps he could dramatically win like Li Miao Zhen did.¡± ¡°It¡¯s impossible. He is far less capable than Li Miao Zhen was. There are also several middle-stage Foundation Establishment disciples in this year¡¯s competition; I don¡¯t believe he can achieve that.¡± ¡°Hehe, I¡¯m not so sure, this kid is quite cunning and uses his head in crucial moments. He won¡¯t continue fighting head-on like Li Miao Zhen. With the defensive and speed capabilities of the Ruyi Golden Snake, after defeating Yuan Powang, he definitely won¡¯t keep fighting like this but will utilize his strengths.¡± On the platform, as Qin Feng felt that his body was fully tempered and his vitality was completely unified, he was unwilling to continue clashing directly with Yuan Powang; every part of his body ached from using the man to hone his cultivation, and he had taken quite a few hits. As Yuan Powang rushed at him once again, Qin Feng¡¯s figure also charged toward his opponent. But in the instant just before they collided, Qin Feng¡¯s body suddenly shrank to half its original size, decreasing from over ten feet to about four feet. The unexpected change momentarily stunned Yuan Powang. Although he quickly noticed Qin Feng appearing below him and swung his fist down in response, it was already too late. Being just a moment slower in the heat of battle meant he was put on the defensive. Qin Feng grabbed Yuan Powang¡¯s ankles and lifted him up, slamming him straight down onto the ground. Then, enlarging his body again, Qin Feng swung Yuan Powang¡¯s body fiercely back onto the platform, which boomed intensely and cracked from the impact. Even though Yuan Powang managed to protect his head in time, his internal organs still shook violently from the blow. Before he could struggle, Qin Feng threw him far into the crowd, landing him dozens of feet away, scattering the spectators and creating a huge crater in the square. ¡°Next!¡± On the platform, Qin Feng stood with a commanding look, gazing at the crowd. Chapter 189 - Chapter 189 Chapter 186 The Frenzied Lion Lei Zhan ?Chapter 189: Chapter 186: The Frenzied Lion Lei Zhan Chapter 189: Chapter 186: The Frenzied Lion Lei Zhan At this moment, no one paid any more attention to Yuan Powang, who Qin Feng had thrown to the ground; even the Golden Core Elders nearby the arena were not concerned about him. After all, the guy had tough skin and flesh, and since Qin Feng hadn¡¯t struck with lethal intent, he wouldn¡¯t be seriously injured. At this time, everyone¡¯s gaze was directed toward Qin Feng in the arena. Qin Feng stood upright, his eyes brimming with confidence and defiance. Defeating the prodigy disciple from Spiritual Ape Peak face-to-face had given him a full understanding of his own strength. Although he still felt pain, the defense of the Ruyi Golden Snake was not to be taken lightly. Other than brute strength, Foundation Establishment Stage¡¯s Great Strength Divine Ape didn¡¯t possess any other particularly powerful divine skills, so Yuan Powang¡¯s attacks only caused him pain and nothing more. The battle just now had greatly boosted his confidence. He wanted to continue his streak and establish an unbeatable momentum in his heart through subsequent fights, also leaving in the minds of other disciples the thought not to provoke him easily; otherwise, if he kept getting challenged often in the future, it would be incredibly annoying. ¡°Next!¡± With a cold shout from Qin Feng, the crowd below fell silent. The disciples who had been planning to challenge Qin Feng hesitated. They knew of Yuan Powang¡¯s abilities; the guy was a combat maniac who, after fighting his way through Spiritual Ape Peak, had repeatedly issued challenges to disciples from other peaks. Though he had not been at the Foundation Establishment stage for long, he fought with a frenzy, often defeating stronger opponents and vanquishing many veteran Foundation Establishment Disciples. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í??.?? Since Qin Feng could defeat Yuan Powang, it was clear that Qin Feng¡¯s strength was even stronger by a margin, so the vast majority of disciples who wanted to challenge him extinguished the idea of stepping up to fight. Of course, some people had different ideas, planning to let Qin Feng fight a few more battles and wait for him to be exhausted before taking advantage of the situation. Others were apprehensive, feeling that Qin Feng¡¯s current momentum was like a rainbow, his will to fight at its peak, and his essence, energy, and spirit were at their zenith. Even if they could win against him at this time, they¡¯d likely suffer a great deal of exhaustion, and if that led to missing the chance to enter the Inner Sect, the loss wouldn¡¯t be worth the gain. However, these disciples were ultimately young and each had their own remarkable abilities. Even if some didn¡¯t want to step forward and preferred to pick up scraps from the back, there were still others among the crowd who were brave enough to fight. ¡°I will!¡± With a high-pitched voice, a skinny young man jumped onto the stage. The young man was both skinny and short, unremarkable in appearance, but one could tell from his approach that he was incredibly agile. ¡°Spiritual Ape Peak disciple Li Chengfeng, please give me guidance.¡± ¡°Alright.¡± Qin Feng didn¡¯t waste words. He stepped forward and reached out to grab him. Li Chengfeng let out a strange laugh, dodged with a flash, and in the blink of an eye, appeared behind Qin Feng, reaching for his back. Although he and Yuan Powang were both from the same Spiritual Ape Peak lineage, the paths of their cultivation were completely different. Yuan Powang focused on cultivating the Great Strength Divine Power, a path of Proving Dao with power, with overwhelming force and boundless courage. Li Chengfeng, on the other hand, practiced with Wind Control, elusive as the wind, his claw attacks as fast as lightning, versatile and unpredictable, leaving opponents unable to defend effectively. Qin Feng¡¯s speed and agility were already quite impressive, but Li Chengfeng seemed to be even a notch above, nearly getting scratched by the fellow¡¯s claws several times. However, this guy had one major weakness: his defense was not very robust. He always relied on his agile movement technique to dodge left and right, not daring to confront Qin Feng head-on. Especially when Qin Feng¡¯s wings slashed behind him, Li Chengfeng dodged far away. Qin Feng didn¡¯t want to fight with him for such an extended period, so he deliberately revealed a flaw. When the man lunged to grab Qin Feng¡¯s shoulder, Qin Feng, regardless of the hits he received on his body, grabbed the man¡¯s slender neck and hoisted him into the air. ¡°I admit defeat.¡± When Li Chengfeng clawed continuously at Qin Feng¡¯s arm and realized he couldn¡¯t break through the Golden Scales, he very straightforwardly uttered those three words. Although Li Chengfeng knew they were on the Outer Sect Competition arena and Qin Feng likely wouldn¡¯t kill, at that moment, as he saw the battle frenzy in Qin Feng¡¯s eyes, he truly feared that Qin Feng might get carried away and twist his neck with too much force. With a forceful swing of his arm, Qin Feng flung Li Chengfeng¡¯s body, which weighed at most 80 catties, more than ten meters away. Li Chengfeng shouted strangely from his mouth as his body flipped several times in the air before lightly landing off the platform. Compared to how Yuan Powang was previously slammed to the ground, Li Chengfeng¡¯s demeanor was much more composed. ?¦Ï¦Í??.§ã? ¡°Next!¡± Qin Feng¡¯s cool voice rang out again. ¡°Don¡¯t be arrogant; let me have a try at you.¡± With a shout from below the stage, a man with disheveled hair and beard, even shorter than Li Chengfeng but with a waist girth at least four or five times thicker, swiftly leaped up. ¡°Lei Zhan of Mad Lion Peak, here to learn from you.¡± Qin Feng glanced downward and saw the man who was less than five feet tall with a waist nearly matching his height. He couldn¡¯t help but twitch the corner of his mouth. Forget it. The Outer Disciples of the Beast Taming Sect were numerous, and it was only natural to have a few unusual talents emerge. He had heard of this Lei Zhan before; while not striking in appearance, he was battle-crazy, known as the Short Lion, and held a similar status to Yuan Powang on Mad Lion Peak, both considered to be thorny individuals. ¡°Please enlighten me.¡± Qin Feng gave a slight bow and, without further ado or summoning other Spiritual Beasts, stepped forward himself and threw a punch directly at Lei Zhan¡¯s head. He actually wanted to show some respect by aiming for the chest, but the man¡¯s short stature meant that even aiming for his head required Qin Feng to slightly bend down. Although he had the Divine Skills of Big and Small Changes and could have shrunk to Lei Zhan¡¯s height, he had some self-respect and did not want to be the butt of a joke in front of so many people. After all, the sight of two short men fighting on stage would be laughable. However, despite his short stature, Lei Zhan¡¯s strength was astonishing. His robust body was like a large stump, standing steadfast on the ground like a mountain, meeting Qin Feng¡¯s punch head-on without dodging. Afterwards, Lei Zhan¡¯s figure barely swayed before regaining his stance, whereas Qin Feng was blasted several steps backward by that single punch. ¡°Hehe, come at me again.¡± Lei Zhan took a step forward. Though short and stubby, he covered the ground to stand right before Qin Feng and punched out. At that moment, Qin Feng felt somewhat relieved, thankful that his own height was just above average. Otherwise, if he had been taller, Lei Zhan¡¯s punch wouldn¡¯t have been aimed at his abdomen. But watching the man unrelentingly chase after him, Qin Feng couldn¡¯t help but sneer internally. Did he really think he had Qin Feng completely figured out? In the previous battles, Qin Feng hadn¡¯t used all his methods, especially in the fight with Yuan Powang. While it appeared intense to onlookers, Qin Feng was aware that the only reason for his prolonged, head-on confrontation with Yuan Powang was to use his opponent to temper his own Cultivation. Now that his bottleneck had loosened, there was no need to continue fighting with these guys, and Lei Zhan actually took himself for a close-combat kind of cultivator. What a brainless fellow, he¡¯s asking for a beating, and he can¡¯t blame me for it! With these thoughts in his mind, his movements didn¡¯t slow down in the slightest. In an instant, he gathered the Ruyi Golden Light on his fist, forming the shape of an iron lotus. Bang! Their fists collided fiercely. ¡°Ah¡­¡± A painful cry rang out as Lei Zhan retreated while clutching his fist. Looking at his right hand again, it was already bloody and his finger bones were broken. ¡°You¡­¡± Lei Zhan glared at Qin Feng, his roar thunderous, ¡°Despicable!¡± Qin Feng steadied his stance and chuckled, ¡°Brother, I can¡¯t agree with what you said. In the arena, we show our abilities, and I frankly used the divine skills of my Lifebound Spiritual Beast. How can that be called despicable?¡± Lei Zhan knew Qin Feng spoke the truth; it was his own carelessness. Qin Feng¡¯s performance in previous battles had made him misjudge Qin Feng¡¯s capabilities, thinking that he, like himself, preferred close combat. It wasn¡¯t until he had suffered a disadvantage that he remembered the disciples of Spiritual Snake Peak were different from them of Mad Lion Peaka€¡±a few liked to engage in close combat, most preferred to attack with various spells. Qin Feng said with a smile, ¡°Brother, your hand bones are injured. You¡¯d better go down and get treated quickly, lest delaying for too long makes it difficult for the bones to heal.¡± ¡°Humph, even if you took a bit of an advantage, it doesn¡¯t necessarily mean you can win against me.¡± Lei Zhan wiped his injured right hand with his left, immediately stopping the bleeding with a spell. Then with his messy hair moving without wind, a ferocious momentum surged from him, and suddenly he took a deep breath, with his chest and abdomen swelling. ¡°Not good!¡± Seeing this, Qin Feng¡¯s heart skipped a beat. As a disciple of the Beast Taming Sect, how could he not know that spiritual beasts like lions and tigers were adept at sonic attacks? Dragon Roar, Lion Roara€¡±these were very famous Divine Skills within the Beast Taming Sect. Even now, he still remembered the power of the sonic Divine Skills performed by Li Miaozhen in the Heavenly Pool Secret Realm. Although Li Miaozhen hadn¡¯t, like Lei Zhan, taken a breath to swell her chest so significantly, even just a casual roar from her had sent several Taiyi Mountain Sword Cultivators¡¯ Flying Swords into disarray, rendering their attacks ineffective, and even causing some to suffer severe injuries because of her roar. Qin Feng knew he couldn¡¯t prevent Lei Zhan from unleashing the Lion Roar, since this kind of Divine Skill could be roared out with an open mouth, and someone like Lei Zhan who inhaled in advance to build up would obviously be more powerful. Without a second word, he immediately retreated to increase the distance from Lei Zhan as much as possible, while launching several spells in succession, attempting to interrupt Lei Zhan¡¯s buildup. ¡°Roar¡­¡± A huge roar echoed in all directions. The disciples watching from nearby peaks were all startled, not to mention Qin Feng who was closest. He keenly sensed Lei Zhan¡¯s Lion Roar turning into waves of sound coming at him, and he quickly circulated his True Yuan to protect himself. Meanwhile, the wings on his back cut through the waves of sound one after the other, yet he was still shaken to the point of ear pain, and darkness clouded his vision, his steps staggering backward. Qin Feng knew the situation was bad; if he were attacked up close by Lei Zhan in this state, he would be at a great disadvantage. Moreover, not far behind him was the edge of the platform, and if he retreated any further, he would have to step off the platform. With that thought, he quickly extended his wings and flew high into the sky. If he couldn¡¯t retreat, then he would fly upwards. After all, the rule was not to leave the platform and fall outside, so flying upwards wasn¡¯t against the rules. Lei Zhan¡¯s roaring came to an abrupt halt. It wasn¡¯t that he ran out of breath, but rather that Qin Feng was too crafty, having shot three hundred meters into the sky, far beyond the range of his Lion Roar, and to continue roaring would have no effect. He turned his thick, short neck to look up, with eyes full of coldness: ¡°Do you think that by ascending to the sky, I can¡¯t do anything to you?¡± With a cold snort, he stomped viciously on the platform with his thick legs like wooden stakes, leaping high into the air like a cannonball. Of course, with his current strength, it wasn¡¯t enough to let him jump three hundred meters high, but as a cultivator who excelled in close combat, he wasn¡¯t without long-range attacking methods. Just as his strength was about to be exhausted, he flipped his hand and took out two Bronze Hammers the size of watermelons and hurled them towards Qin Feng. These were his Spiritual Artifacts, the Earth Shattering Hammers. As a cultivator who loved close combat, he had them specially made to suit himself, significantly increasing his combat strength compared with fighting barehanded. If he hadn¡¯t been careless earlier and had taken out the Earth Shattering Hammers at the beginning, his fist wouldn¡¯t have been injured by Qin Feng. After releasing the hammers, Lei Zhan summoned an Iron Feathered Eagle to carry him towards Qin Feng. Qin Feng, seeing those two huge hammers growing closer and increasing in size from watermelons to millstones, aimed at him from both sides, didn¡¯t dare to take the hit head-on, and his form plummeted, dodging the combined strike of the two hammers. ¡°Boom¡­¡± The two hammers collided fiercely, sparks flying everywhere, and the sound of metal clashing could be heard far away. Qin Feng, upside down, fell rapidly. While Lei Zhan¡¯s hammers had not yet returned, it was only fair to defeat him quickly. His hands shone brilliantly as he concentrated the Ruyi Golden Light into a Long Sword, slashing down at Lei Zhan. With a thud, Lei Zhan crossed his arms and blocked upward, forcibly stopping the sword strike, but the Iron Feathered Eagle beneath him couldn¡¯t withstand the force of their clash and let out a mournful cry; its bones fractured in a few places where Lei Zhan¡¯s feet had trampled. Lei Zhan, unwilling to let his Spiritual Beast suffer, waved it away, his form also rapidly descending due to Qin Feng¡¯s pressure. He quickly summoned his hammers to return and was about to attack Qin Feng when he found that Qin Feng had already preemptively landed, leisurely preparing to deliver him a heavy blow. Chapter 190 - Chapter 190 Chapter 187 Seven-Colored Illusion Butterfly Cheng Dieyi ?Chapter 190: Chapter 187 Seven-Colored Illusion Butterfly Cheng Dieyi Chapter 190: Chapter 187 Seven-Colored Illusion Butterfly Cheng Dieyi In midair, Lei Zhan stretched out his hand and summoned the Earth Shattering Hammers into his grip. The previously shattered finger bones had been fixed with his powerful True Yuan, an injury that was not severe to him; after a few days of applying the Bone Healing Ointment upon returning, he would recover completely. Seeing Qin Feng below brewing a spell, preparing for a powerful attack the moment he landed, even the Ghost-Faced Spider had spread a large net in the arena, just waiting for him to willingly fall into the trap, Lei Zhan couldn¡¯t help but snort coldly. He had fought hundreds of battles over the years, possessing rich combat experience; trivial scenes like these wouldn¡¯t scare him. With a fierce shout, he gathered all his mana into the hammers, instantaneously enlarging them to the size of millstones, swirling with ferocious energy, and smashed directly towards Qin Feng below. Before his hammers could even hit, Qin Feng felt a strong gust sweeping towards him, making it hard for him to breathe. His expression changed drastically, and he quickly gave up on his initial plan, no longer using any spells to attack as he rapidly retreated backward, keeping a large distance from where Lei Zhan¡¯s hammers would strike. Moreover, at this time, Lei Zhan was hidden behind the massive Earth Shattering Hammer. Even Qin Feng found it difficult to strike him; under such circumstances, he certainly wouldn¡¯t rashly block these powerful and heavy hammers. With a loud boom, the entire arena trembled the instant Lei Zhan¡¯s hammers hit the ground. A series of faint cracking sounds followed, and the vast arena showed numerous cracks from the impact, the prohibitions within it not entirely able to withstand the power of his strike, leaving two pits several feet deep at the center. Qin Feng waved away several small stones that had splattered towards him and, with a surprised look, glanced back and forth between Lei Zhan and the badly damaged platform, unable to help but give a thumbs-up: ¡°Senior Brother Lei is indeed valiant, I admire you.¡± ¡°Cut the crap!¡± Lei Zhan roared angrily, charging towards Qin Feng like a fierce wind: ¡°Wait until my hammers break a few of your bones, then you can talk about admiration.¡± Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í??.§ã¦Ï eh, you agreed?¡± Lei Zhan looked at Qin Feng with surprise, then excitedly shouted: ¡°Alright, if you¡¯ve got the guts, just stand there and don¡¯t move.¡± As he spoke, he swung his two large hammers straight at Qin Feng¡¯s head with a move called ¡®Twin Winds Piercing the Ears.¡¯ With a booming sound, the two hammers brutally collided together. ¡°Ptui, you don¡¯t keep your word.¡± Lei Zhan cursed as he just started to seek Qin Feng¡¯s figure, only to hear Qin Feng¡¯s voice from below: ¡°Senior Brother, don¡¯t wrong a good person. I indeed stood still and didn¡¯t move; it¡¯s just you who didn¡¯t hit me.¡± ¡°Huh?¡± Lei Zhan looked down sharply, instantly spotting Qin Feng. And then he realized that Qin Feng indeed hadn¡¯t moved, but his body had shrunk to a little over a foot high, barely reaching his knees. No wonder his hammers had missed! Upon discovering Qin Feng¡¯s current appearance, this thought couldn¡¯t help but cross Lei Zhan¡¯s mind. Truth be told, over these years, he had mostly encountered opponents much taller than him; suddenly seeing Qin Feng¡¯s tiny stature was indeed somewhat novel. However, the novelty aside, he wouldn¡¯t show any mercy when it came to attacking. But just as he moved his arm slightly, not even waiting for his hammers to strike, he saw Qin Feng¡¯s body puff up like an inflated balloon, explosively expanding to about thirty feet tall. ¡°Senior Brother, take this attack from me too.¡± Before his words even finished, not waiting for Lei Zhan to react, a kick came from below. Due to the close distance and his enlarged size, Lei Zhan¡¯s body was basically next to his huge feet; thus, there was no escape, and he was kicked away by Qin Feng. Lei Zhan, wailing in midair, was about to swing his hammers and continue the fight when suddenly, he saw a brilliant golden light in Qin Feng¡¯s hand; a forceful slap struck, sending Lei Zhan, already without leverage in midair, flying out of the arena. Qin Feng hadn¡¯t been able to practice continuously all these months a€¡° during his idle time, he also honed his magical divine powers, especially the Divine Skill of Big and Small Changes, improving it from an initial double size increase to seven or eight times its original, thus managing to dominate Lei Zhan by suddenly enlarging his body. Of course, his victory was mainly because Lei Zhan hadn¡¯t adapted to his sudden size changes; moreover, Qin Feng utilized the arena¡¯s rules that victory comes by knocking the opponent out of the arena. In a true life-and-death fight, Lei Zhan could have adapted given a bit more time using his years of combat experience; without a prolonged battle, he couldn¡¯t possibly achieve victory. Seeing Lei Zhan fall out of the arena, Qin Feng returned his body to its original size, letting out a long sigh of relief. Having fought so many consecutive battles, he was slightly tired, especially since his True Yuan had greatly depleted. If it were another disciple, they might seize the moment to rest since there was a rule in the arena that each disciple had fifteen minutes to recuperate their physical strength and True Yuan after a victory. Qin Feng thought it over and opted not to sit and recover True Yuan but decided to continue fighting while his momentum was high, hoping not only to make a name for himself but also to cultivate an invincible presence among his peers, which would be beneficial for his future cultivation of the heart realm. However, he wasn¡¯t just sitting in meditation to recover; he was utilizing another method, namely the Demon Refining Pot. At that moment, streams of pure Spiritual Power continuously flowed from the Demon Refining Pot within him, which he absorbed and refined to restore his True Yuan. ?¦Ï¦Í?¦Ï.?? Nevertheless, to prevent the Elders of the Inner Sect, who were more experienced in the Dao, from noticing anything unusual, he took a Spirit Pill for recovering True Yuan from his Storage Bag. That way, even if someone felt he had been continuously fighting for a long time, they wouldn¡¯t suspect anything. After all, this sort of occurrence was not without precedent, like Li Miaozhen more than a decade ago, who had fought from the beginning to the end of an Outer Sect competition. Of course, Li Miaozhen had her methods of recovering True Yuan. ¡°Who else wants to challenge?¡± Qin Feng, while absorbing Spiritual Power to recover his True Yuan, directed his gaze once again to the audience below and loudly called out. The area below was silent; seeing that Qin Feng had even knocked Senior Brother Lei out of the arena made the desire to challenge him scarce. Whether it was Senior Brother Lei or Yuan Powang, they were considered the best among the younger generation on their respective peaks. Now that both had lost, confidence was rare among the other peaks that anyone still had a chance. The silence didn¡¯t last long, soon broken by a delicate laugh from the crowd. Following that, a pretty young girl wearing colorful clothing and with a pair of Seven-Colored Butterfly Wings on her back, slowly flew up to the stage. ¡°Junior Brother Qin is truly bold, to challenge continuously and still dare to invite further challenges; sister admires you immensely,¡± she spoke with a soft voice and twinkling, innocent-looking eyes, as if she was a little girl unaware of worldly affairs. However, Qin Feng didn¡¯t let down his guard at all. Since this girl dared to take the stage after he had defeated several opponents consecutively, she was clearly not an ordinary competitor. ¡°What should I call Senior Sister?¡± Qin Feng asked. The girl gently fluttered her Butterfly Wings, floating a few feet above the ground, and responded with a light laugh, ¡°I am a disciple of Spiritual Butterfly Peak, Cheng Dieyi.¡± ¡°So it¡¯s Senior Sister Cheng.¡± Qin Feng pondered for a moment and quickly recalled this name. Liu Wuxiang, knowing Qin Feng was participating in this year¡¯s Outer Sect competition, had specially gathered information about outstanding disciples from various peaks for him, which included Cheng Dieyi. The girl was famously beautiful and had high cultivation levels, thus receiving much admiration from fellow disciples in the Outer Sect. However, her most renowned attributes were neither her beauty nor her cultivation, but her Lifebound Spiritual Beast, the Seven-Colored Illusion Butterfly. Reportedly, she once single-handedly invaded a Bandit Cultivator fortress, using the Seven-Colored Illusion Butterfly to bewilder the senses of many bandits and achieved the feat of wiping out a hundred of them by herself. She also traveled with her fellow Spiritual Butterfly Peak sisters, and during one trip, they encountered several Foundation Establishment Cultivators from the Giant Spirit Sect. Given their strength, a direct confrontation would have resulted in certain death. Cheng Dieyi, by engaging in conversation, bought some time during which she quietly deployed an Illusion Technique that deluded the opponents, ultimately allowing her to eliminate those Foundation Establishment Cultivators from the Giant Spirit Sect. According to Liu Wuxiang, when battling this woman, one must not give her any time to cast spells; otherwise, letting the fight drag on would likely lead to falling into her illusions. However, Qin Feng didn¡¯t hurry to attack; instead, he pretended not to know of Cheng Dieyi¡¯s past notoriety, continuing to chat idly with her. He did so because he was unafraid of Cheng Dieyi¡¯s Illusion Techniques and planned to use the conversation to recover more True Yuan. Cheng Dieyi¡¯s Seven-Colored Illusion Butterfly might be formidable in the art of illusion, but its effectiveness depends on whom it was trying to confuse. If it were just Qin Feng alone, with his current cultivation level, he would definitely be impacted and might even fall into the illusion without any counteraction. However, on the stage with him were the Swallowing Sky Toad and the Ghost-Faced Spider. The Swallowing Sky Toad, with its high pedigree, had undergone a huge surge in power after advancing to Foundation Establishment; it had its own space-like system within its body and had also fused the bloodline of the Swallowing Star Toad. Moreover, it currently was not the primary target of Cheng Dieyi¡¯s deception, so it was not much affected. The Ghost-Faced Spider, meanwhile, contained a strand of Divine Power from a Demon God within its body, faint yet of a very high level. Under the flow of that power, the Ghost-Faced Spider was also not fooled by the Seven-Colored Illusion Butterfly. After discovering the girl was Cheng Dieyi, Qin Feng immediately placed a part of his Spirit in these two Spiritual Beasts, using their eyes to observe Cheng Dieyi. At the same time, he released the perception of the Ruyi Golden Snake, employing all three strategies at once, quickly discerning Cheng Dieyi¡¯s techniques in illusion. As she talked, she gently fluttered her butterfly wings behind her, sprinkling an invisible, multicolored powder. That multicolored powder settled down and, controlled by her will, floated around the stage, particularly thick around Qin Feng. This powder was the medium through which she performed her illusions. Cheng Dieyi¡¯s figure lightly moved across the stage, slowly approaching Qin Feng. Yet Qin Feng still looked towards the direction where Cheng Dieyi had initially been. There, her illusion lingered, still smiling beautifully as it continued to converse with Qin Feng. Chapter 192 - Chapter 192 Chapter 189 Barbaric White Elephant ?Chapter 192: Chapter 189: Barbaric White Elephant Chapter 192: Chapter 189: Barbaric White Elephant Hearing Xue Baoshu¡¯s words, Qin Feng instantly understood. Originally, he found it odd that talents like Yuan Powang, Cheng Dieyi, and others from various peaks would all come to challenge him, but now he realized they had kept something in reserve. Heh, he had underestimated them. Especially Yuan Powang and Lei Zhan, both burly men, he thought they were simple and honest, but it seems they were quite shrewd. That¡¯s right, a real fool wouldn¡¯t be able to cultivate to their current realm. It seemed that these guys challenged him to show off to the Inner Sect Eldersa€¡±they wanted those Elders to see their prowess, as defeating a disciple of Ning Wuxu was a chance for them to gain both fame and profit. With that thought, he also understood why Xue Baoshu came to challenge him. ¡°I originally planned to challenge you after the spots were settled, but seeing the mediocrities below, I figured you wouldn¡¯t want to be beaten by them in a war of attrition, so I simply stepped up,¡± said Xue Baoshu straightforwardly. ¡°It¡¯s better to lose to me than to have them take advantage of you, don¡¯t you think, Junior Brother Qin?¡± Qin Feng gave a wry smile, ¡°From the moment I decided to participate in this Outer Sect competition, I had already prepared myself. Since Senior Sister is willing to instruct me, I can only give it my all and accompany you to the end.¡± ¡°Good, that¡¯s the spirit,¡± Xue Baoshu gave a hearty wave of her fat hand, ¡°I won¡¯t take advantage of you. You can meditate and recover; we¡¯ll fight after you¡¯ve regained your strength.¡± Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í??.§ã? He smiled and said, ¡°No need, Senior Sister, just make your move.¡± ¡°In that case, be careful,¡± Not only did Xue Baoshu possess a physique far surpassing that of an average man, but her character was also extremely forthright. Seeing Qin Feng respond this way, she didn¡¯t play coy and just swung her Wolf Fang Club, thicker than Qin Feng¡¯s thigh, straight down on his head. Whoosh¡­ Before the club even struck, the ferocious wind from it was already blowing towards him. Qin Feng stepped aside quickly and heard a loud bang; the arena, already cracked by Lei Zhan¡¯s strikes, became even more ruined. Looking at the heavily cracked arena, Qin Feng couldn¡¯t help but click his tongue. These guys possessed strength that was simply astonishing. It was said that every year, one or two arenas would be destroyed during the Outer Sect competitions. To many disciples, this seemed almost inconceivable, as these arenas were protected by prohibitions set up by the Golden Core Elders. Yet, the reality was these folks were so ferocious that even the prohibitions laid by the Golden Core Elders couldn¡¯t withstand their attacks. Qin Feng felt that the arena he was on would collapse outright if Xue Baoshu hit it a few more times. Of course, this was also related to the special nature of individuals like Xue Baoshu and Lei Zhan. Not only were they the most outstanding talents of their respective peaks, but they also practiced a Technique to cultivate physical strength, which bestowed upon them such brutal power. If it were other disciples, breaking these prohibitions would be nearly impossiblea€¡±even for the talents like Kong Xuan, Ma Xingkong, and Wei Yan. That¡¯s because the focus of their Cultivation was different. They had little pursuit of Physical Body Power, and their Spells didn¡¯t specialize in destruction primarily. After Qin Feng dodged a strike, he raised his hand, and the Ruyi Golden Snake that had been coiled around his wrist appeared from his sleeve. Its body quickly grew to a length of several meters as it viciously attempted to coil around Xue Baoshu. Xue Baoshu laughed heartily without dodging. A Spirit Light emerged around her, making her skin fair as jade and radiant with treasure light, completely unconcerned about the Ruyi Golden Snake coiling around her. Qin Feng awkwardly realized that although the Ruyi Golden Snake was now about ten meters long, it couldn¡¯t even wrap twice around Xue Baoshu¡¯s gigantic frame and thus couldn¡¯t use its Entanglement Skill. So, he had to command the Ruyi Golden Snake to spread its wings and crawl along Xue Baoshu¡¯s body. But her skin was so tough that even the Golden Snake¡¯s wings couldn¡¯t scratch her surface. Just as he was considering letting the Ruyi Golden Snake try to bite her, Xue Baoshu had already grabbed the tail of the snake, gave it a light shake, and pulled it off her body. She tossed it casually up into the air, flinging it a hundred meters high before sweeping her Wolf Fang Club towards Qin Feng in a sweeping motion like she was cleaving through an army. Qin Feng¡¯s eyelids twitched. This genius disciple from Baoxiang Peak was indeed incredibly powerful. The Wolf Fang Club in Xue Baoshu¡¯s hands was at least hundreds of pounds. He dared not block it head-on and hurriedly dodged again, summoning the Ruyi Golden Snake back at the same time. The two merged in an instant, which finally gave him a sense of security. Seeing the Golden Light flicker on him as he Merged with his Lifebound Spiritual Beast, Xue Baoshu laughed heartily, ¡°Be careful now, Junior Brother Qin.¡± As her words fell, she shook her hand, and the 108 spikes on the Wolf Fang Club immediately separated, transforming into a barrage of arrows shooting towards Qin Feng. ?¦Ï??¦Ï.§ã0 Qin Feng was shocked, realizing that Xue Baoshu had been holding back until he and the Ruyi Golden Snake merged before she used such a tactic. As the spikes were about to hit him, and Qin Feng found no escape, a yellow light flashed on his body, and he instantly disappeared into the ground. ¡°Eh?¡± Xue Baoshu was slightly startled, not expecting Qin Feng to use Earth Escape Divine Power on the arena. But she quickly realized that, with most of the arena¡¯s prohibitions now destroyed by their attacks, there was nothing to hinder Qin Feng from burrowing underground. Her face, as wide as a platter, soon showed a smile as she stomped down heavily. Boom! The whole arena trembled three times. She wasn¡¯t using this to attack Qin Feng but rather channeled her force into the ground to detect Qin Feng¡¯s position. After all, Qin Feng could only move within the confines of the arena, whether he was above or below; he couldn¡¯t escape beyond the bounds of the arena, or he would lose. Given it was a fixed space he could move within, it wasn¡¯t difficult for her to find Qin Feng¡¯s location with her strength. Soon, she chuckled and swung her Wolf Fang Club hard in one direction. Qin Feng, who had just decided to emerge, was shaken up by a massive force, his blood churning within him. Realizing the danger, he quickly shifted direction. Even so, he was still repeatedly struck on the head from above by Xue Baoshu. Outside, a group of disciples stared blankly as the fiercely violent Xue Baoshu swung her huge Wolf Fang Club around the arena, smashing it until it was pockmarked with craters. They were all frightened, and at the same time, they silently mourned for Qin Feng, who had escaped underground, thinking he was unlucky to have encountered such an opponent. Besides, why did he have to hide underground of all places? Now he¡¯s got himself stuck and can¡¯t come up! A crowd of people watched with schadenfreude from below the stage as Xue Baoshu swung her Wolf Fang Club around wildly. On the high platform, an Inner Sect Elder shook his head and lamented, ¡°After so many years, is the arena for the Outer Sect competition still so easily damaged? In my opinion, it would be better to properly refine it, so as not to have the disciples from the Internal Affairs Hall repair it every year.¡± ¡°No need.¡± Next to him, Li Hong, the Vice Hall Master of the Preaching Hall, laughed and said, ¡°It¡¯s fine this way. After all, the vast majority of disciples can¡¯t damage those arenas. It¡¯s only a small handful of disciples with the strongest abilities who can manage that. It¡¯s exactly what allows the other disciples to witness the gap between themselves and these talents. Besides, don¡¯t you think that this kind of competition is more likely to stir up the fighting enthusiasm in these disciples¡¯ hearts? Look at the emotions of the disciples over there; aren¡¯t they more excited than in other places?¡± The earlier-speaking Elder looked down at the disciples below and indeed saw that every one of them was fired up, obviously having been stimulated with a combat zeal. Below the arena, after being chased and pounded by Xue Baoshu a dozen times, Qin Feng instantly felt speechless. Was this Senior Sister playing whack-a-mole, chasing after him relentlessly? He communicated with his mind, instructing the Swallowing Sky Toad and Ghost-Faced Spider on the arena to hold back Xue Baoshu, giving him time to emerge. Otherwise, remaining underground while being pursued and hit really wasn¡¯t a good look. He had also realized that using Earth Escape Divine Power during a competition on the arena wasn¡¯t very suitable. With such a large area, there was a good chance of accidentally escaping outside the limits of the arena. After receiving Qin Feng¡¯s command, the Swallowing Sky Toad and Ghost-Faced Spider began casting spells to hinder Xue Baoshu. First, a series of Star Lights fell like rain, converging towards her. Xue Baoshu, glowing with white light, effectively blocked the Star Light from outside, no matter how hard the Swallowing Sky Toad tried, for a time, it couldn¡¯t break through her defense. Ultimately, it was the web of the Ghost-Faced Spider that took effect. It wasn¡¯t that its spider silk had greater attack power than the Swallowing Sky Toad¡¯s Star Light; the key was that its silk was highly resilient and could be continuously sprayed out, causing quite an obstruction for Xue Baoshu. By the time Qin Feng emerged from one corner of the arena, he just caught sight of Xue Baoshu looking impatient as she pulled her Wolf Fang Club out of a bundle of spider silk. Qin Feng had seen it clearly: this Senior Sister was strong and her defensive capabilities far exceeded those of her peers; if there was one weakness, it would be her slightly slower movement speed. ¡°Heh heh, well done.¡± Qin Feng patted the round belly of the Ghost-Faced Spider as a sign of encouragement, then spread his wings and dashed towards Xue Baoshu like a streak of golden lightning. He didn¡¯t attack directly but instead used his speed advantage to circle around her several times, making Xue Baoshu somewhat dizzy. Xue Baoshu was obviously aware of her own weakness and no longer followed Qin Feng in disarray. Instead, she swung her Wolf Fang Club to force Qin Feng back while tapping on her Spiritual Beast Bag at her waist, releasing two Foundation Establishment Spirit Beasts. One was the petite Illusion Cat and the other was the six-zhang-wing-spanned and formidable Golden Eagle. ¡°I know that speed is a weak point for me, so I specifically raised two Spirit Beasts that are very fast.¡± Xue Baoshu looked at Qin Feng and said, ¡°I originally wanted to have a one-on-one fight with you, but since you¡¯ve used Spiritual Beasts, I don¡¯t mind releasing mine for a battle with you.¡± Qin Feng nodded, understanding that this was the most common state for a Beast Taming Sect disciple. It was rare for someone like Yuan Powang who only raised a Lifebound Spiritual Beast. When Beast Taming Sect disciples refined their Lifebound Spiritual Beasts, they would combine their own advantages, thus amplifying their strengths even further, but when raising other Spiritual Beasts, they would compensate for their own weaknesses, so as not to have any obvious flaws. Otherwise, once an opponent found a weakness, it would certainly cause a lot of trouble. Although Xue Baoshu was tall and strong, her mind was definitely sharp. The Lifebound Spiritual Beast she had refined was a Barbaric White Elephant, possessing the power to suppress all directions, but it was far slower than other beasts. Therefore, she specifically raised two Spirit Beasts adept at speed a€¡° one for sneak attacks and the other as a mount. ¡°Meow¡­¡± After a soft meow, the Illusion Cat¡¯s figure flashed, bringing a series of illusions to the front of Qin Feng, and raised its delicate paws to scratch at his face. The Golden Eagle, on the other hand, screeched and spread its wings to pounce on the Ghost-Faced Spider. As Xue Baoshu especially detested the Ghost-Faced Spider¡¯s silken tangle, she had the Golden Eagle take on the giant spider first. ¡°Qua¡­¡± The Swallowing Sky Toad, receiving Qin Feng¡¯s order, opened its mouth and called out as Star Light emerged behind it, heading towards the Golden Eagle. The Ghost-Faced Spider continued to spray out webs, using them to delay Xue Baoshu¡¯s movement. Although she was strong, her combat power was greatly limited in this situation. Qin Feng raised his hand to parry the Illusion Cat, and after probing a couple of times, found that the Illusion Cat¡¯s attack power wasn¡¯t particularly strong; it was just relying on its exceedingly fast speed to entangle him. Since the attack power wasn¡¯t strong, Qin Feng deliberately lowered his guard, allowing the Illusion Cat to pounce into his embrace and scratch a few times. Then, just before it escaped, the Ruyi Golden Snake wrapped around it, capturing it alive. Qin Feng did not harm the Illusion Cat, but casually threw it out of the arena. Xue Baoshu naturally stopped the Illusion Cat from continuing to return to the battle. Without the entanglement of the Illusion Cat, Qin Feng suddenly found he no longer had cause for concern and circled around Xue Baoshu continuously, striking her occasionally. Xue Baoshu did want to counterattack, but the Ghost-Faced Spider would occasionally shoot out some webs that entangled her Wolf Fang Club, impeding her movements. Annoyed, Xue Baoshu shook her head vigorously, and suddenly a long elephant trunk grew out of her head, lashing out at the Ghost-Faced Spider. With a smack, the long trunk fiercely struck the ground, its force by no means weaker than her Wolf Fang Club. If it weren¡¯t for the Ghost-Faced Spider¡¯s eight long legs moving extremely quickly to evade, it would definitely be whipped to death by that trunk. Chapter 193 - Chapter 193 Chapter 190 Fire Ape Makes an Appearance ?Chapter 193: Chapter 190: Fire Ape Makes an Appearance Chapter 193: Chapter 190: Fire Ape Makes an Appearance Qin Feng was feeling a bit troubled. Because Xue Baoshu¡¯s strength was extremely formidable, not only was her attack power strong, but her defense was also absurdly strong, leaving him feeling somewhat at a loss on how to proceed. The Ghost-Faced Spider could only slightly interfere from the side; in such a battle, it could not play a decisive role. As for Qin Feng himself, even if he could break through Xue Baoshu¡¯s defenses, at best he could only inflict some minor, negligible injuries on her. After merging with the Barbaric White Elephant, Xue Baoshu stood immovable like a mountain, no matter how hard Qin Feng tried, it was difficult to knock her out of the ring. Qin Feng furrowed his brows and pondered for a moment, feeling that there were only two ways to defeat Xue Baoshu at the moment. One was to drag out the fight, relying on the Demon Refining Pot¡¯s continuous supply of Pure Spirit Qi to restore his True Yuan, which was much more effective than those Elixir Pills. The other was to release the Fire Ape from the Demon Refining Pot. The Fire Ape had once reached the Demon Core Realm, and even though its Demon Core was destroyed shortly after its advancement, the understanding of that realm still remained. After several months of cultivation, the Fire Ape¡¯s injuries had recovered quite a lot, and it could completely be used as a Spiritual Beast at the peak of Foundation Establishment, though it could not fight for long periods. Looking up at the still brave Xue Baoshu, Qin Feng finally decided to release the Fire Ape. ?¦Ï¦Í?0.§ã¦Ï Otherwise, based on Xue Baoshu¡¯s current mental state, if he chose to drag out the fight, he didn¡¯t know when would be able to finish this battle. Even if he could exhaust this fierce woman, he wouldn¡¯t be able to appear rejuvenated, and others would still come up to challenge him. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í?0.?? But if he released the Fire Ape, not only could it save him a great deal of energy, more importantly, he could use the Fire Ape to deter the other disciples, thus preventing many who harbored the idea of taking advantage, from daring to step onto the stage. With that in mind, he no longer hesitated and summoned the Fire Ape. ¡°Roar¡­¡± Since being subdued by him, the Fire Ape appeared excited outside the Demon Refining Pot for the first time, pounding its chest a few times before, under the command of its master, it pounced toward the fierce-looking woman. ¡°Hmm?¡± The moment she saw the Fire Ape, a shock flashed through Xue Baoshu¡¯s heart. She hadn¡¯t expected Qin Feng to have such a powerful Spiritual Beast hidden. Her discerning eyes could tell from the aura emanating from the Fire Ape that it was definitely a Spiritual Beast at the peak of Foundation Establishment, which somewhat surprised her. According to what she knew, Qin Feng had only reached Foundation Establishment a few months ago, and she didn¡¯t know how, with his power, he had managed to subdue such a high-level Spiritual Beast. However, this did not make her fearful, instead, it made her a bit joyful. She was already tired of Qin Feng¡¯s constant circling tactics and equally disliked the Ghost-faced Spider¡¯s persistent annoying action of expelling webs to entangle her. Compared to these two bothersome fellows, she preferred a straightforward, hard-hitting fight. Now, with a powerful Demon Beast arriving, Xue Baoshu, who loved to fight, was thrilled. She was not afraid of defeat. For her, the outcome of a battle didn¡¯t matter much; what was important was whether she could gain any insight from the fight. Thus, she never feared challenging those who were even stronger than herself, and in fact, even some cultivators stronger than her might not necessarily win against her in battle. The Fire Ape leaped tens of meters high, its massive body soaring towards Xue Baoshu. Even before its figure approached, its wild aura had already pressed down, its ferocious face instilling fear. ¡°Hmph!¡± Xue Baoshu snorted disdainfully, as if to intimidate her with mere presence, truly ridiculous. With fearless determination, she swung the Wolf Fang Club in her hand upwards fiercely. Bang¡­ A loud clash sounded as the Fire Ape¡¯s claws collided heavily with the Wolf Fang Club, causing massive Spiritual Power fluctuations that caused numerous small stones on the stage to fly about disorderly. Xue Baoshu staggered backward several steps, while the Fire Ape was also knocked back by her strike. Upon landing, the Fire Ape immediately spat out a stream of red flames, shooting it towards Xue Baoshu from a distance. ¡°Argh¡­¡± Xue Baoshu let out an elephant cry, as loud as thunder, deafening. Then, she swung her head again, the white, jade-like elephant trunk lashing out and scattering the flames with a loud slap. Qin Feng, watching, was amazed; this woman was indeed fiercely formidable. However, at this point, he was not worried about not being able to win. Xue Baoshu¡¯s cultivation realm was still far behind that of the Fire Ape. Even if she could rely on the Barbaric White Elephant¡¯s powerful Divine Skills and defense, she could only defend temporarily. Moreover, to resist the Fire Ape¡¯s attacks, her consumption was definitely huge, far from the effortless appearance she showed. As expected, as the Fire Ape continuously attacked, Xue Baoshu gradually began to falter. The disciples below were all astounded, never expecting Qin Feng to possess a Spiritual Beast at the peak of Foundation Establishment. Actually, Spiritual Beasts of this realm were not uncommon in the Outer Sect, with many veteran disciples possessing one or two. However, now, all the disciples competing for the Inner Sect slots were those who had been in the sect for less than ten years. It was already quite remarkable for them to have successfully established their foundations at this age, let alone subduing a Spiritual Beast at the peak of Foundation Establishment. As Qin Feng expected, the appearance of the Fire Ape instantly discouraged some disciples who still harbored thoughts. Spiritual Beasts at the Peak of Foundation Establishment were not something they could handle. Instead of coming up to get beaten, it was better to look for opportunities on other stages, where, with some luck, one might still snatch a spot. Luck, at many times, was also a form of strength. In previous Outer Sect competitions, there were many disciples who obtained spots to join the Inner Sect by relying on their luck. On the stage, the Fire Ape¡¯s two robust arms swung continuously, emitting massive flames that forced Xue Baoshu to keep retreating. But the fierceness of this woman also far exceeded others¡¯ expectations. Knowing she was no match, she still disregarded the consumption of her own energy, swung her trunk, and fiercely landed a hit on the Fire Ape. It was this strike that allowed many disciples to see through the Fire Ape¡¯s condition. ¡°This Fire Ape definitely has injuries on its body.¡± Below the stage, a disciple with sharp eyes immediately saw through the Fire Ape¡¯s weakness, ¡°A normal Fire Ape should be even more fierce and formidable than it is now. Although Qin Feng¡¯s Fire Ape looks normal, its attack speed is slightly slower, and its Spell power does not demonstrate the strength of a Spiritual Beast at the Peak of Foundation Establishment. After being hit by Xue Baoshu, its stance became unsteady, which is definitely not normal.¡± ¡°Indeed.¡± A disciple beside him agreed, ¡°If Xue Baoshu can maintain her current offensive, it probably won¡¯t take long for the old injury inside the Fire Ape to recur, forcing it to retreat.¡± ¡°Unfortunately, Xue Baoshu can¡¯t hold on any longer.¡± ¡°It¡¯s already very impressive that she can fight to this extent. Even if Xue Baoshu loses this match, once she recovers and competes for spots on other stages, there certainly won¡¯t be many who dare to challenge her.¡± Below the stage, a group of disciples discussed animatedly, with many being intimidated by Xue Baoshu¡¯s formidable war power, thinking she was not someone to provoke lightly. With the war power she displayed, there really wasn¡¯t anyone among the disciples present who dared to claim they could defeat her. However, at this moment, Xue Baoshu on the stage was indeed unable to hold on any longer. Although she had not yet suffered major injuries, to counter the Fire Ape¡¯s attacks, she had to elevate her defensive power to the extreme, and the amount of True Yuan she consumed was so great that even she could not bear it. Although she had also noticed the Fire Ape¡¯s fa?¡ìade of strength masking fragility, if she could hold on a little longer, even if she couldn¡¯t defeat the Fire Ape, the Fire Ape itself wouldn¡¯t be able to continue fighting. Sadly, the time she could maintain was even shorter than that of the Fire Ape. Her True Yuan was nearly exhausted, and she no longer had the strength to continue fighting. Thus, seeing the Fire Ape spewing fierce flames once again, Xue Baoshu, recognizing her inability to resist, swiftly leaped off the stage and indicated her surrender to Qin Feng. Qin Feng nodded his head and courteously thanked her with a fist salute, ¡°Thank you, Senior Sister, for yielding.¡± Honestly speaking, the strength of Xue Baoshu had far exceeded his expectations. Originally, he thought she was at most on par with Yuan Powang and Lei Zhan, but it was only when he actually fought against her that he realized her strength far surpassed those two. If it were not for the Fire Ape that Qin Feng had on him to fight in the critical moments, it would not have been easy for him to win her. He recalled his Fire Ape and also directed the Swallowing Sky Toad to withdraw its Star Light, allowing the Golden Eagle to leave. Xue Baoshu nodded at him, summoned her Spiritual Beast, and turned to walk towards the distance. She needed some time to recover her True Yuan and prepare for the upcoming battles. Otherwise, if her True Yuan was insufficient later, someone might notice her weakness and if engaged in continuous battles her strength might be entirely drained, likely following in Fang Zheng¡¯s past misfortune. On the beaten stage, Qin Feng cast his eyes to the disciples below, asking, ¡°Is there any fellow disciple willing to come to the stage and enlighten me?¡± The disciples below murmured among themselves. Some considered giving up challenging Qin Feng, turning to assess the situation on other stages instead, while others thought that, despite Qin Feng¡¯s continuous battles, his True Yuan must be almost depleted by now. As for the Fire Ape, hadn¡¯t Qin Feng already recalled it? Clearly, the Fire Ape was severely injured and could not fight for long. Otherwise, he would just need to keep the Fire Ape outside to deter everyone from challenging him. Another point was that his spirit must be very exhausted right now, so some felt that if they challenged him at this time, they might actually stand a chance to win a match. However, when it came to actually stepping onto the stage, those disciples hesitated. Qin Feng asked three times and seeing that no one came up, he was about to sit down cross-legged to recuperate. The continuous battles he had just experienced had kept his spirit tightly wound, and now that he was relaxing, he did indeed feel somewhat fatigued. Just then, someone sneered from below the stage, ¡°Spiritual Leopard Peak¡¯s Guo Lingshan has come to seek guidance from Junior Brother Qin.¡± With that, a young man, looking very robust, jumped onto the stage. ¡°Third Guo from the Guo Family? I didn¡¯t expect this guy to choose this moment to come up?¡± ¡°It¡¯s typical. The methods of these three brothers have always been rather unscrupulous. Sending the weakest, Third Guo, up now is just to test how much strength Qin Feng still has left. If he is already at the end of his tether, even if Third Guo loses, the other two brothers will come up and defeat him.¡± Qin Feng heard the murmurs from below the stage, and he looked at the two other young men not far from the stage. Those two, similar in appearance to Guo Lingshan on the stage, were indeed triplets from the same mother. He understood that these brothers were still not giving up hope, wanting to come up to test him and, ideally, to knock him off the stage. Qin Feng¡¯s most disliked thing was these latecomers trying to take advantage early. He knew that if these kind of people were not dealt with harshly from the start, others would keep coming up continuously. At the very least, once Guo Lingshan¡¯s two brothers felt there was still a chance, they definitely would not give up. Thinking this, his expression turned icy, and he nodded slightly, ¡°Senior Brother Guo, please make your move.¡± ¡°Alright, Junior Brother Qin, be careful.¡± Though Guo Lingshan spoke politely, his attack was extremely ruthless. With a flash, he appeared directly in front of Qin Feng and reached out to grab at his chest. Chapter 194 - Chapter 194 Chapter 191 Seized ?Chapter 194: Chapter 191: Seized Chapter 194: Chapter 191: Seized This person moved agilely; his claws were like lightning, and in an instant, he had already arrived in front of Qin Feng. Qin Feng let out a light hum and threw a punch towards Guo Lingshan¡¯s reaching claws. Bang! A soft sound, and Guo Lingshan¡¯s complexion changed. He could feel that Qin Feng¡¯s True Yuan was still abundant, as if the previous battles had barely depleted Qin Feng¡¯s True Yuan at all. ¡°This is impossible!¡± He was shocked. Not to mention other aspects, just from the tough battle Qin Feng fought against Yuan Powang for a full half-hour, it was clear that Qin Feng had gone all out, using a significant amount of energy. Moreover, the stronger Xue Baoshu had just left, so in his mind, Qin Feng should not have had such abundant True Yuan. Was it a facade of minimal depletion, or did he have deep reserves and astounding recovery power? If it was the latter, that would be terrifying! However, this possibility should not be high, right? Guo Lingshan clenched his teeth and decided to fight again to test it out. If it was a facade of strength but actually weak inside, he would not mind defeating Qin Feng and letting his brothers take turns guarding this platform. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í?0.?¦Ï However, he had just made up his mind when his spirit jumped. Because as he swung his claw to attack again, the opponent did not dodge; instead, his hands shone with golden light and struck at him. Guo Lingshan cursed inwardly, thinking that Qin Feng might have exhausted too much earlier and dared not engage in a prolonged fight with himself. That was why he opted for a strategy of mutual injury. He was a disciple of Spiritual Leopard Peak, skilled in speed, but his physical strength was average. He could not afford to exchange blows with Qin Feng because the loss would certainly be his own. Thinking of this, Guo Lingshan¡¯s figure flickered, turning suddenly into a shadow and instantly bypassing Qin Feng¡¯s attack. He swiftly moved behind Qin Feng and pounced toward his back. ¡°So, this guy¡¯s Lifebound Spiritual Beast is a Shadow Leopard!¡± This thought flashed through Qin Feng¡¯s mind. He was somewhat familiar with the Shadow Leopard, considering that the Old Clan Chief¡¯s Lifebound Spiritual Beast was one. Back when the Old Clan Chief, along with him and Qin Xi, went to Tieling County, the Old Clan Chief would occasionally speak of the capabilities and weaknesses of the Shadow Leopard during their leisure time. This type of Spiritual Beast was fast and had sharp attacks. Its innate divine ability allowed it to turn into a shadow, making it perfect for sudden raids, and one could fall prey to it if not careful. However, this Spiritual Beast was not very large in size, had weaker strength, and its defensive power was not very strong. If it fought against a cultivator of the same level and one could predict its attack trajectory precisely, one could remain invincible. Simply put, this Spiritual Beast wasn¡¯t suitable for fighting on a platform; instead, it was better suited to assassinating opponents in other settings, especially at night, where it could merge its shadow into the darkness, making it unpredictable. Although Qin Feng¡¯s time in Foundation Establishment wasn¡¯t as long as his opponent, he had forcefully elevated his Cultivation Realm to the Early Stage Peak of Foundation Establishment through substantial resource consumption, giving him an edge over his opponent in terms of cultivation level. Once he discovered that the opponent¡¯s Lifebound Spiritual Beast was a Shadow Leopard, he quickly adjusted his strategy. It wasn¡¯t just that he was stronger than his opponent. Even in terms of speed, he was not slow, and perhaps even more agile in flexibility. Under such circumstances, Guo Lingshan was unlikely to win against him. But what he needed was not just to win this battle; he had to severely injure his opponent to deter other disciples who harbored the same intentions from coming onto the platform. Just as Li Miaozhen did during her time in the Outer Sect, anyone who tried to take advantage of her injuries was severely injured by her without exception. Only in this way could others be deterred. Now, Qin Feng intended to do the same; otherwise, he might fall into the same predicament Fang Zheng faced when people used a strategy of wearing him out with successive fights. Even though he had the Demon Refining Pot to constantly replenish his Spiritual Energy, there was still a process of refining involved. While True Yuan was easier to replenish, Divine Sense was not so quickly restored. The consumption of spirit and energy in any battle was immense, requiring constant vigilance. Otherwise, a moment¡¯s carelessness could result in injury. If he continued to fight like this, he might very well exhaust his spirit, leading to significant trouble. He wasn¡¯t Li Miaozhen, lacking her formidable will to fight and toughness, at least not in the short term. A robust will to fight and toughness could only be honed through numerous battles. Having not gone through what Li Miaozhen had endured, he certainly fell short in this regard and thus couldn¡¯t sweep through all his opponents like Li Miaozhen once did. Seeing Guo Lingshan turn into a shadow for another stealth attack, Qin Feng sneered, stimulated his True Yuan, and immediately, a layer of golden scales arose on his body. This was his strongest defensive state; his body covered with golden scales could withstand attacks comparable to Ruyi Golden Snake¡¯s body, making it difficult for Spiritual Artifacts to harm him. Unfortunately, maintaining such defense was too draining for him to sustain, but it was sufficient to block Guo Lingshan¡¯s attacks. With a screeching sound, Guo Lingshan¡¯s claw, sharp as a hook, grabbed fiercely onto Qin Feng, who felt like his body was as sturdy as Refined Gold, sparking off fiery sparks, without injuring Qin Feng in the slightest. Shocked, Guo Lingshan realized Qin Feng couldn¡¯t maintain this defense forever, so he planned to flee again and keep harassing Qin Feng, waiting for his defenses to weaken before striking. But before he could retreat, he saw Qin Feng stride forward abruptly, colliding with his shadowy form; his hands shone brilliantly with golden light, swirling continuously, and in an instant, using Ruyi Golden Light, he nearly halved the shadow formed by his opponent. Guo Lingshan was terrified and frantically employed a secret technique, retreating desperately. ?¦Ï¦Í?¦Ï.§ã0 After retreating a distance of seven or eight zhang, he reverted to his physical form from the shadow, his complexion deathly pale, his eyes filled with fear. After morphing into a shadow, all his strength merged with the shadow. Dispelling the shadow meant dispersing his power, which was enormously draining for him. In just that brief moment, Qin Feng had dispelled nearly half of his shadow, meaning a direct depletion of almost half his True Yuan. Now, he was sure Qin Feng still retained significant fighting power; otherwise, he wouldn¡¯t dare to continue fighting in this manner. Just as he was thinking about retreating, he saw Qin Feng, boosted by the Ruyi Golden Light, attacking at the fastest speed. Guo Lingshan was horrified, knowing he couldn¡¯t withstand several more attacks with his current strength. He wanted to exit the ring, wanting to admit defeat. But it was too late. Because Qin Feng¡¯s speed was too fast, and just as he was about to speak, Qin Feng had already struck close. Bang! A punch sent Guo Lingshan flying backwards. Even though he had tried his best to block, he was still blasted into the air by Qin Feng¡¯s fierce punch. ¡°Not good!¡± Guo Lingshan yelled in his heart, knowing that once he was airborne, he had no control and could only dodge after landing. But clearly, Qin Feng had no intention of giving him time to dodge. As Qin Feng¡¯s Ruyi Golden Light transformed into a long sword and slashed down upon him, Guo Lingshan, in shock, quickly released a Rock Lizard Beast from the Spiritual Beast Bag to block the attack for him. The Rock Lizard Beast, though initially confused when suddenly released, quickly received its master¡¯s command and sensed Qin Feng¡¯s imminent attack. ¡°Hiss¡­¡± The Rock Lizard Beast¡¯s body was instantly covered in layers of rock, intending to withstand Qin Feng¡¯s attack. Unfortunately, although its defense was decent, it fell short compared to the sharp Ruyi Golden Light. Thus, with a single swing of the sword, Qin Feng nearly split its body in two, blood spraying as the beast was cleaved to the ground. Then, Qin Feng flicked his wrist, instantaneously ending the merge state, grabbed the tail of the Ruyi Golden Snake, and used it as a long whip to fiercely lash Guo Lingshan. With a smack, the body of the Ruyi Golden Snake harshly struck Guo Lingshan, the hard snake body causing his skin to split and flesh to burst. Before he could even cry out in pain, the Ruyi Golden Snake coiled around him, binding him tightly. From behind, Qin Feng grabbed the tail of the Ruyi Golden Snake and pulled vigorously, dragging Guo Lingshan¡¯s body back, then delivered a fierce kick to his chest and abdomen. The crackling sounds of his chest and ribs breaking echoed as he was sent flying several meters, eventually falling with a splash beside the ring. ¡°Third brothera€|¡± The other two Guo siblings, seeing this, were immediately alarmed and hurried over to check on Guo Lingshan¡¯s injuries. Seeing their brother so severely injured, they couldn¡¯t help but glare furiously at Qin Feng. ¡°Hmph.¡± Qin Feng¡¯s eyes were cold, ¡°If you¡¯re not convinced, you too can come up and fight.¡± One of the Guo brothers, unable to suppress his anger, was about to stand and enter the ring, but was grabbed by Guo Lingshan: ¡°Second brother, don¡¯t go.¡± Knowing that Qin Feng had preserved much of his strength, going up again would only result in more injuries, which wasn¡¯t worth it. He knew Qin Feng¡¯s intention, using this as a warning. If they still dared to challenge and were beaten out of the ring again, it wouldn¡¯t be as simple as just breaking a few bones. For a cultivator like him, as long as his vital organs and meridians were not damaged and no hidden injuries were left, breaking a few bones was nothing significant. With some adjustments, applying Bone Healing Ointment, and consuming a few Elixir Pills for healing, he would recover in no time. The two Guo brothers looked at their younger sibling lying on the ground. United in their intentions, they understood his message. Though furious, they said nothing more and, after calling down the severely injured Rock Lizard Beast, they carried him away for treatment. The audience below, seeing Qin Feng show no mercy and strike with severity, also grasped his mindset. Although some thought that he acted this way because of excessive consumption, no one was willing to challenge him again, knowing from Qin Feng¡¯s current state that he could likely support several more fights. Otherwise, the third Guo sibling wouldn¡¯t have stopped his brothers. ¡°Is there any fellow disciple willing to come up and enlighten me?¡± Qin Feng¡¯s voice was clear and cold, as he spoke. At this moment, intimidation was far more important than gentleness, so his face remained impassive, his aura emitting a chilling killing intent. Below the platform, there was silence, with no one willing to challenge him. Several disciples even began moving to other platforms. Others looked at the battered state of this platform, then at others that remained intact, and shook their heads. They figured it better to fight against disciples at platforms that were still in good condition, seeing that it indicated their opponents weren¡¯t as formidable, giving them perhaps a chance to secure a spot. Soon, the majority of the disciples below dispersed, with only a few left waiting to see if any more would challenge. Qin Feng did not sit to rest this time but stood indifferently in the center of the platform, watching the disciples below. After a quarter of an hour, Six-Toothed Sage stepped onto the platform and announced, ¡°Since there are no challengers, this platform¡¯s spot belongs to Spiritual Snake Peak disciple Qin Feng.¡± Hearing the Elder¡¯s announcement, Qin Feng finally took a long breath of relief. The Inner Sect spot now belonged to him. The Qin Family¡¯s hope of centuries was once again realized. Besides the ancestor who left the legacy, he was the second disciple of the Qin Family in many years to be admitted into the Inner Sect of the Beast Taming Sect. This was undoubtedly a moment of great honor for the entire Qin Family. Chapter 195 - Chapter 195 Chapter 192 Small Divine Power ?Chapter 195: Chapter 192 Small Divine Power Chapter 195: Chapter 192 Small Divine Power ¡°Thank you, Six-Toothed Sage.¡± Qin Feng quickly regained his composure and bowed to express his gratitude to the Six-Toothed Sage. ¡°It is your own ability that allowed you to stand out among the disciples; there is no need to thank me.¡± The Six-Toothed Sage waved his hand to indicate that Qin Feng need not be too formal and then looked him over carefully, a smile appearing on his face, ¡°I didn¡¯t expect you to actually win against Xue Baoshu. This is indeed beyond my expectations. Well done, Elder Ning¡¯s judgment is truly impressive.¡± ¡°Elder flatters me. Sister Baoshu is actually stronger than me. I was just lucky to win with the help of that Fire Ape.¡± Qin Feng quickly responded with humility, ¡°If I had not fortuitously subdued that severely injured Fire Ape some days ago, I would surely not have been a match for Sister Baoshu.¡± ¡°Ha, a win is a win; there¡¯s no need to be modest.¡± The Six-Toothed Sage laughed upon hearing this, ¡°In our Beast Taming Sect, a Spiritual Beast is considered part of a cultivator¡¯s strength. Being able to subdue and control that Foundation Establishment Peak Fire Ape is a testament to your abilities. Now, go and rest up. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í?¦Ï.§ã0 When the rest of the arenas have decided a victor, there will be another contest. As with past years, the Sect has prepared three treasures to reward disciples who perform exceptionally well in the competition. They include a cultivation technique for a Small Divine Power, a Foundation Establishment Realm Spiritual Beast, and a Breaking Barrier Pill that can help a disciple at the Foundation Establishment Realm break through a minor Realm. Each one is extremely precious, and you could try for them. ?¦Ï¦Í??.§ã? Who knows, you might even win one of the rewards.¡± The Six-Toothed Sage did not tell Qin Feng to take first place, but rather to try his best to contend for a prize. In his opinion, there were many prodigies among the disciples from the various peaks, and with just an injured Fire Ape, Qin Feng was not guaranteed to make it to the end. After all, the Fire Ape was not able to sustain a prolonged battle. If a few powerful disciples consecutively challenged Qin Feng, they could drain the energy that suppressed the Fire Ape¡¯s injuries. Qin Feng would certainly not want to stand by and watch the Fire Ape¡¯s old wounds flare up again just for a chance at a reward that might not be secured. ¡°Thank you for your guidance, Elder. I will try my best.¡± Qin Feng felt somewhat tempted upon hearing about the rewards from the Six-Toothed Sage. He wasn¡¯t too concerned about the Foundation Establishment Realm Spiritual Beast; although he wanted more Spiritual Beasts to enhance his strength, he already had several Foundation Establishment Spirit Beasts and wasn¡¯t in urgent need of subduing others. Compared to the Spiritual Beasts, he valued more the Spirit Pill that could help a cultivator at the Foundation Establishment Realm break through a minor realm. Qin Feng estimated that when he cultivated to the peak of the mid-Foundation Establishment stage, he might encounter another bottleneck. With a Breaking Barrier Pill, he could easily break through to the late Foundation Establishment stage. Otherwise, he might, like Old Family Master Qin Guanbao, be stuck at that Realm, potentially for many years without any progress. And that cultivation technique for the Small Divine Power was also a rarity. The so-called Small Divine Power is actually a simplified cultivation method derived from Divine Skills by great powers, similar to the Divine Power Seeds that Beast Taming Sect¡¯s Foundation Establishment Disciples condense early in their bodies. If one mastered a Small Divine Power, upon reaching the Golden Core stage, it would be easy to cultivate it into a true Divine Skill. For the disciples of the Beast Taming Sect, these were all rare opportunities. For example, Fang Zheng of Tiger Roar Peak currently relied on his Lifebound Spiritual Beast to only condense a single Divine Power Seed of the Evil Exorcism Eye in his body. If he were to obtain the cultivation technique for a Small Divine Power, it would be as if he had obtained an additional Divine Power Seed, which could directly increase his combat abilities significantly. After all, Divine Skills are not only much more powerful than Spells, but they are also more crucial as they can be activated directly, unlike many Spells that require hand seals and incantations or even more complicated procedures such as stepping through the Big Dipper. They are relatively more cumbersome compared to the convenience of using Divine Skills. After the Six-Toothed Sage left by levitating into the sky, Qin Feng turned his head to look around. He found that his was the first arena to have completed the battle, with the contests on the other arenas still raging on. In truth, this was mainly because Qin Feng¡¯s reputation had spread widely among the Outer Sect¡¯s peaks, which led to the talented disciples coming forward to challenge him. If it hadn¡¯t been for Lan Qinhu¡¯s direct challenge to Qin Feng from the start and subsequently attracting other talents like Yuan Powang and Xue Baoshu to fight against Qin Feng, the arena would have been far from concluding under normal circumstances. But now, Qin Feng could relax and watch the fights of the others. Perhaps because the battle on Qin Feng¡¯s side had ended, clearing a spot, the other disciples seemed to grow impatient, fearing that the later it got, the fewer opportunities there would be. Hence, the contests on the remaining arenas were also gradually escalating. Even the long-reputed geniuses faced many challengers who did not accept their dominance and stepped forward to issue challenges. After all, this was a critical moment for these individuals to be admitted to the Inner Sect. They did not care whether their opponents were geniuses or experts; their approach was to defeat them first and talk later. ¡°Senior Brother, Senior Brother¡­¡± While Qin Feng was watching the battles on the other arenas, he suddenly heard a call from below. He turned his head to look and saw it was Liu Wuxiang. ¡°Come up here.¡± Qin Feng waved him over. Since the battle on this arena had ended, it didn¡¯t matter if others came up as well. Liu Wuxiang¡¯s face was full of joy as he leaped onto the stage, ¡°Congratulations, Senior Brother Qin, on winning the spot. From now on, longevity is hopeful, and the Dao is promising.¡± ¡°Hehe¡­¡± Qin Feng tapped him on the shoulder, ¡°Stop with the flattery. Every year, hundreds of Outer Sect disciples join the Inner Sect, and yet very few of them truly succeed in Cultivation to become Immortal. Entering the Inner Sect merely makes our journey in Cultivation much smoother, that¡¯s all. How far one can cultivate still depends on personal opportunity.¡± ¡°You¡¯re right, Senior Brother.¡± Liu Wuxiang nodded, smiling cheerfully. He was also happy for Qin Feng in his heart. Having joined the Sect for two years, Qin Feng was his only true friend. Although he knew plenty of other fellow disciples, there weren¡¯t many with whom he could share his heart. After offering his congratulations, Liu Wuxiang couldn¡¯t help but click his tongue as he turned his gaze towards the badly damaged competition stage, his heart also filled with shock. To have damaged a ring protected by prohibitions to such an extent, these guys were really ferociously formidable. Of course, in his heart, Qin Feng was even more formidable. After all, Qin Feng managed to defeat Xue Baoshu and the others. Liu Wuxiang pondered to himself, it seemed he had to double his efforts. Otherwise, even if he successfully achieved Foundation Establishment next year, he might not be able to win a spot to join the Inner Sect in the competition if he faced such formidable opponents. ¡°Senior Brother Qin!¡± Just as Qin Feng and Liu Wuxiang were quietly chattering and laughing while watching the disciples compete on the other platforms, a call from below suddenly reached them. Turning their heads, they saw Qin Xi and Wen Qing¡¯er, two young girls, standing hand in hand beneath the platform, waving at them. Qin Feng laughed and waved back at them. Then the two girls jumped onto the platform together. Wen Qing¡¯er bounced over to Qin Feng, her soft eyes filled with stars as she looked up to him with a face full of admiration, ¡°Senior Brother Qin is so amazing, almost catching up to Senior Sister Li.¡± The corner of Qin Feng¡¯s mouth twitched. Are you praising me or praising Li Miao Zhen again? He knew that ever since this little girl had met Li Miao Zhen, she had completely become a little fan of Li Miao Zhen. He had not expected that even when praising him, she would still mention Li Miao Zhen. Perhaps, in Wen Qing¡¯er¡¯s heart, Li Miao Zhen was the most impressive of the younger generation. However, Qin Feng also had some self-awareness and knew that based on his current strength, he was indeed somewhat inferior to Li Miao Zhen back then. Qin Feng grinned and playfully ruffled Wen Qing¡¯er¡¯s little head, messing up her neatly coifed hairdo, ¡°Once Senior Brother enters the Inner Sect, I will certainly catch up to Senior Sister Li¡¯s Cultivation Realm as soon as possible.¡± Wen Qing¡¯er, annoyed, swiped his hand away from her head and straightened her hairdo before speaking, ¡°I will cultivate diligently too and strive to join the Inner Sect soon. I definitely want to be as powerful as Senior Sister Li one day.¡± ¡°Good, keep up the effort.¡± Qin Feng nodded in approval. After all, this girl had refined the Confusing God Flower Spirit, which, in some ways, could be even more significant than Li Miao Zhen¡¯s role. ¡°Ah Feng, congratulations to you.¡± Beside him, Qin Xi was also beaming with joy, her heart so pleased she almost wanted to cheer aloud. The Qin Family was just a small clan in the outlying area. Due to their meager strength and inability to withstand internal strife, they were more unified, and the family¡¯s elders showed extra care for the clan¡¯s disciples. Otherwise, how could she, Qin Xi, a side branch family member, have had the chance to join the Beast Taming Sect? Ever since she had unlocked her Spiritual Acupoint, she was brought to the ancestral home by the family and nurtured by the elders, so she naturally held an inseparable affection for the clan. Now that Qin Feng had become an Inner Sect Disciple, it was a tremendously joyful event for the entire Qin Family and a sign that the Qin Family was on the verge of prospering. In those years, the Qin family¡¯s old ancestors didn¡¯t look after the clan for many years, yet they had managed to pass on their legacy until now. Now that Qin Feng had joined the Inner Sect, and under the tutelage of the Spiritual Snake lineage¡¯s Great Elder, it was almost foreseeable that as long as Qin Feng did not encounter any accidents, the Qin Family would undoubtedly prosper greatly in the future. Perhaps, they could even surpass the Zhao Family of Tieling County and become an even more prominent clan. Qin Feng smiled at Qin Xi, ¡°Sister Xiaoxi, you must work hard too. It would be even better if you joined the Inner Sect.¡± ¡°I will.¡± Qin Xi nodded earnestly, her face full of serious intent. In truth, she had a great chance of joining the Inner Sect. It wasn¡¯t that she possessed better qualifications than the previous Qin Family children sent to the Beast Taming Sect, but she had the good fortune to join Creation Peak. Because of the scarcity of disciples on Creation Peak, they took extra care in nurturing each disciple, granting them more opportunities, just like the last time entering the Heavenly Pool Secret Realm. Of all the disciples that the Qin Family had sent to the Sect over the years, none had the chance to enter a Secret Realm, let alone gain a sizable share of resources from the Secret Realm by chance like Qin Xi. Not to mention anything else, those resources alone were enough to raise her Cultivation to a very high Realm, which was why Qin Feng encouraged her to cultivate diligently. Chapter 196 - Chapter 196 Chapter 193 Shi Qiansui ?Chapter 196: Chapter 193 Shi Qiansui Chapter 196: Chapter 193 Shi Qiansui ¡°Roara€|¡± A tiger¡¯s roar spread in all directions. Immediately after, a fierce tiger exuding a formidable aura charged towards a sika deer. However, the sika deer, typically lower in the food chain, showed no fear. From its antlers, it emanated colorful rays of light, forcing the ferocious tiger to retreat repeatedly. Then, with a nimble leap, it covered a distance of several meters in an instant, ramming its antlers into the soft abdomen of the tiger, sending the fierce beast flying more than ten meters away, where it heavily fell off the arena. On another side, an exceptionally elegant crimson-crowned crane chirped softly, its sharp claws firmly grasping the back of a two-meter long bull, and with a flap of its wings, it soared a hundred meters into the air, causing the bull to bellow in panic. As an Earth Element Spiritual Beast, it had never flown before, let alone being forcibly airborne by a Spiritual Crane in such a state. Detached from the ground, it only felt waves of panic, its limbs frantically flailing trying to escape the grip of the crimson-crowned crane, completely unaware that doing so would cause it to plummet to the ground. A thick water snake demon twisted its body, conjuring a towering Water Dragon Tornado that enveloped a plump Tusk Giant Pig, spinning it around with the splashing waves. No matter how the Tusk Giant Pig struggled, it couldn¡¯t break free from the watery binds. And these were just a few scenes from the many arenas. As the battles drew closer to the end, the fights on each arena became more intense, with many disciples striving with red eyes for the last spots, unwilling to retreat despite their injuries. After all, with the Golden Core Elders from the Outer Peaks overseeing, it was not easy for anyone to die. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í?0.?¦Ï Of course, that didn¡¯t mean that deaths were impossible. Accidents are always possible for those walking by the river; such tournaments were held annually by the Beast Taming Sect Outer, and it was inevitable that accidents occurred. In particularly fierce battles, life and death could hinge on a moment, and even with the strength of Golden Core Elders, timely rescues might not always be possible, leading to occasional deaths. But no one else could be blamed; those who chose to fight desperately without certainty only had their own misfortune to blame. This also taught other disciples a lesson never to stake their lives solely on the chance of being rescued in time. Even though the elders from each peak had no bias and treated all participating disciples fairly, mistakes could happen. Qin Feng, Liu Wuxiang, Wen Qing¡¯er, and Qin Xi were sitting in a relatively intact area of an arena, casually observing the other disciples who were still engaged in their battles. Since Qin Feng had already secured a spot, they were under no pressure, each of them appearing relaxed and content. Not just them, but other disciples who had finished their battles on some arenas appeared similar. Of course, among these people, there were also some who were injured. Fortunately, everyone here was a cultivator and had prepared various Elixir Pills to restore True Yuan and treat injuries before participating in the Outer Sect competition. While they couldn¡¯t fully recover instantly after consuming the Elixir Pills, they wouldn¡¯t be left with lingering issues. The only problem was that they were likely to struggle in the ranking battles to follow, and the top three prizes were virtually out of reach for them. In fact, many disciples who obtained spots did not hold much hope for the top three prizes. Not that they didn¡¯t desire thema€¡±whether it was Small Divine Power, promotion Elixir Pills, or a Foundation Establishment Spirit Beast awarded by the sect, all were precious treasures. But most disciples were well aware of their own limits. Though they managed to secure spots through the Outer Sect competition, when compared to the top few demonic geniuses, they still fell short. And the sect prepared awards only for the top three, so the ranking of other disciples didn¡¯t matter much, meaning those who knew they couldn¡¯t compete for the treasures would concede and retreat after testing their strength against their opponents. After all, securing an Inner Sect spot was most important, and they wouldn¡¯t want to risk severe injuries for rewards that were out of reach. In fact, each year¡¯s tournament rewards were only vigorously contested by a few of the strongest genius disciples. For these geniuses, the treasures represented not only the sect¡¯s award but also their honor. Time trickled by. The sun had already set, and the darkness enveloped the world. However, several Treasure Beads were raised by sect elders, illuminating the arenas as if it were daylight, which didn¡¯t affect the fighting between the Outer Disciples. Of course, for those disciples who possessed Shadow-type Spiritual Beasts, this was a disadvantage as such beasts could conceal themselves in darkness and harness the power of the night. However, this type of Spiritual Beast was rare, and few of the competing disciples owned one, most of whom had been eliminated during the daytime. The battles continued. Fortunately, everyone was a cultivator, brimming with energy, and not yet tired from watching. Even the disciples who had fought multiple rounds on the platforms had time to recover after each victory, and with Spirit Pills and Miracle Medicines to replenish their energy, they still appeared vigorous. This year¡¯s competition lasted through day and night until the early hours of the next morning when the last spot on the platforms was finally determined. ¡°Alright, you have half an hour to rest. In half an hour, we¡¯ll start the contest for the Inner Sect Disciple rankings,¡± announced Elder Li Hong from the Preaching Hall with a sharp shout. At this, the disciples who had just finished competing immediately relaxed, practically collapsing onto the ground. To be honest, their strength was definitely not low, and among the peak talents, they were considered quite exceptional. It was just unfortunate that as the competition neared its end, the remaining spots were few, so the disciples reluctant to give up targeted them. Having fought so many battles, if they weren¡¯t given a chance to rest now, they would definitely lack the energy to participate in the upcoming contests. Although an hour was far from enough for them to replenish their depleted True Yuan and energy, with their strength, they definitely couldn¡¯t end up in the last ranks, or those high-spirited and arrogant talented disciples couldn¡¯t accept defeat. Qin Feng looked at the few disciples who persisted till the end and couldn¡¯t help but admire their tenacity. At the same time, he resolved secretly that if he encountered a similar situation in the future, he must not act like them but quickly resolve the chaos and attain victory as swiftly as he had done the day before. Otherwise, he wouldn¡¯t have had such a lengthy rest period to keep his Essence Qi at its peak. An hour quickly passed. Soon, an Elder stood up and addressed everyone, ¡°In this competition, a loss is a loss, with no chances to start over, until the final three strongest disciples are determined.¡± After the Elder briefly introduced the rules, one by one, the disciples from the Internal Affairs Hall cast spells that joined the platforms in the square two by two. Seeing this, Qin Feng chuckled lightly, finding this method quite efficient as it saved him the trouble of changing spots. However, when he saw his opponent, his smile grew even more pronounced. Because his opponent was none other than Yuan Powang. Yuan Powang widened his eyes and glared at Qin Feng¡¯s annoyingly smug face for a long while, appearing eager to try again. Although Qin Feng had previously knocked him off the platform, he hadn¡¯t injured him, so there was a part of him that was still not convinced. However, eventually, he gave a disheartened sigh, ¡°Forget it, I give up.¡± ¡°Oh?¡± Qin Feng curiously asked, ¡°Brother, don¡¯t you want to try again? Maybe this time you could win.¡± ¡°Do you actually give me a chance to win?¡± Yuan Powang snorted at his words, ¡°Even if I could gain a slight upper hand, once you release that Fire Ape, I definitely wouldn¡¯t stand a chance. Unless you can promise not to summon that Fire Ape.¡± At that point, Yuan Powang¡¯s eyes lit up, staring intently at Qin Feng. Qin Feng immediately laughed, ¡°Do I look like a fool to you, brother?¡± ¡°Hmph, since you¡¯ve made up your mind, then why bother keeping me here to compete?¡± Yuan Powang couldn¡¯t be bothered anymore, and he simply jumped off the platform. ?¦Ï??¦Ï.§ã0 He was very frustrated inside. Although his strength was not weak and he could have ranked in the upper-middle among these hundred disciples, meeting Qin Feng was simply bad luck. Otherwise, engaging in a fight would only mean seeking abuse. Even if he could win, as soon as Qin Feng released that Fire Ape at the Foundation Establishment Peak, he would still face inevitable defeat. Thus, there was no need for a match. So, Yuan Powang decisively stepped down from the platform, since he was about to enter the Inner Sect; there was no need to get himself severely injured at this moment. Qin Feng, without using any effort, easily secured the victory, which made him feel quite cheerful. However, when his next opponent appeared, the smile on his face faded. The opponent in front of him was a thin young man with a big head. This young man naturally had a smiling face, bushy brows, narrow eyes, thin arms and legs, and a slightly hunched back. However, despite his unappealing appearance, his reputation was considerable, which made Qin Feng take him very seriously. ¡°Greetings, Elder Brother Shi Qiansui.¡± Qin Feng gave a respectful bow, his expression serious, not minding the opponent¡¯s appearance at all. ¡°Junior Brother Qin is too polite.¡± Shi Qiansui answered with a smile, ¡°I¡¯ve heard that Junior Brother Qin has a powerful Lifebound Foundation Establishment Peak Spirit Beast Fire Ape; I hope you¡¯ll show some mercy later.¡± ¡°You jest, brother. Even with the aid of the Fire Ape, I may not necessarily break through your defenses, let alone the fact you¡¯re not without countermeasures. Instead, it¡¯s I who must be more cautious.¡± Qin Feng spoke the truth, as his opponent in front of him was the modern-day genius of Profound Turtle Peak. His Lifebound Stone Turtle not only had formidable defensive power but also immense strength, and it was said that Shi Qiansui often carried weights of up to a hundred thousand pounds for cultivation at Profound Turtle Peak. Moreover, the Stone Turtle could not only petrify itself but also use the Petrification Spell against its foes. Qin Feng certainly didn¡¯t want parts of his body to become petrified. He had seen records in his Sect, indicating that Petrification Spells, if applied for too long, could leave profound pain even after the spell¡¯s effects had dissipated, which is why he maintained a strong vigilance against this genius disciple of Profound Turtle Peak. Chapter 197 - Chapter 197 Chapter 194 Three Tails ?Chapter 197: Chapter 194: Three Tails Chapter 197: Chapter 194: Three Tails ¡°Senior Brother, please teach me.¡± Qin Feng bowed slightly as he spoke to the peculiar youth in front of him. ¡°No need to be polite, Junior Brother.¡± With a strange laugh, Shi Qiansui merged with his Lifebound Spirit Beast, the Stone Turtle, and a thick, azure-colored turtle shell instantly appeared behind him. His giant head coupled with the massive shell made him look exactly like a Turtle Demon. However, Qin Feng¡¯s face showed no mockery; instead, his expression grew even more solemn. The heavy aura emanating from Shi Qiansui gave him significant pressure, as his slim body seemed to contain overwhelming strength, making him wary of underestimating this man. ¡°Be careful.¡± As Shi Qiansui let out a light yell, he pointed his finger directly. A lime-colored light emerged instantly, shooting straight towards Qin Feng. This was the Stone Turtle¡¯s Innate Divine Ability, the Petrification Technique. Although Qin Feng felt that as long as he defended with all his might, using the defensive power of the Ruyi Golden Snake, he would certainly not be petrified in a short period of time. After all, the Golden Scales of the Ruyi Golden Snake were much tougher than most metals. The Petrification Technique might easily petrify ordinary flesh, but petrifying these extremely tough Golden Scales was not an easy feat. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í?0.§ã¦Ï Still, Qin Feng did not wish to experience the sensation of being touched by the Petrification Technique. Earlier, while he and Liu Wuxiang were waiting for others¡¯ matches to conclude on the stage, he had seen Shi Qiansui nearly petrify half the body of one disciple. Had that disciple not conceded in time and been released from the petrified state by Shi Qiansui, a prolonged period of petrification, even for a cultivator, could be unbearable and might lead directly to physical death. Thus, he relied on his speed advantage to directly dodge and simultaneously tested out sending out Ruyi Golden Light to gauge the depth of Shi Qiansui¡¯s defenses. Shi Qiansui lightly stomped on the ground, and immediately a wall of stone rose in front of him. With several light thumps, the stone wall could not stop the Ruyi Golden Light, which pierced through, leaving behind several translucent holes, but that was all it could doa€¡±Shi Qiansui was merely using this stone wall to assess Qin Feng¡¯s attack power. His real defensive spell was a barrier formed from a turtle shell phantom, which, when struck by the Ruyi Golden Light, only stirred a few ripples and nothing more. Qin Feng sighed lightly in his heart; indeed, this guy¡¯s defense was terrifyingly strong, and with his current strength, breaking through this defense was far too difficult. Of course, if the two were to encounter each other in the wilderness and engage in a life-and-death struggle, it would probably end in a stalemate where neither could do anything to the other. Because Qin Feng was exceedingly fast; if things went south, he could retreat at any time, while Shi Qiansui¡¯s impressive defense was slow, making him only passively take hits and he couldn¡¯t retain a speedy opponent like Qin Feng. However, this was a competition stage, and space was inevitably limited. Moreover, as a disciple of the Beast Taming Sect, how could Shi Qiansui lack other spiritual beasts? After he released a Lightning Falcon and a Spotted Leopard, he then had two exceptionally speedy helpers. Qin Feng swiftly dodged a lightning strike from the Lightning Falcon, his brow slightly furrowed. He hadn¡¯t yet reached the Foundation Establishment Realm with a Spiritual Bird, which put him at a disadvantage; however, he soon noticed the lightning attacks from the Lightning Falcon were somewhat weak. With the capabilities of the Swallowing Sky Toad, it could easily restrain it. He then released the Ghost-Faced Spider and the Fire Ape. The spider silk and other spells from the Ghost-Faced Spider couldn¡¯t shake Shi Qiansui¡¯s defenses, so he directed it to deal with the Spotted Leopard, while the Fire Ape, driven by Qin Feng, opened its mouth to howl and charged directly at Shi Qiansui. Its realm was much higher than Shi Qiansui¡¯s, and although Shi Qiansui continuously cast the Petrification Divine Power to attack the Fire Ape, as long as the outer layer of Flame Armor wasn¡¯t breached, it couldn¡¯t harm the Fire Ape at all. Seeing this, Shi Qiansui continuously cast spells, persistently blocking the Fire Ape¡¯s movements and harassing it from constantly attacking him. Then, one could see on the stage walls of stone continuously rising in front of the Fire Ape, sharp stone thorns emerging from the ground, and stone spears materializing out of thin air, relentlessly controlled by Shi Qiansui to attack the Fire Ape. Facing all this assault, the Fire Ape showed no concern. Its robust body was also immensely strong. The walls of stone couldn¡¯t stop its advancing steps, it barged straight through, its thick arms swinging, directly pushing down all the walls, and its mighty feet stomping hard on the ground, breaking the sharp stone thorns with each step. The protective spells outside its body sparked countless sparks upon colliding with the stone spears, turning into flames, which only highlighted its formidable and strong presence. Shi Qiansui frowned slightly. His spell power definitely wasn¡¯t as ordinary as it seemed. Unexpectedly, it was so ineffective in front of this Fire Ape, which puzzled him. A regular Foundation Establishment Peak Spirit Beast shouldn¡¯t be this powerful, let alone the fact that this Fire Ape was still recuperating from injuries. Could it be that this Fire Ape¡¯s realm had surpassed the Foundation Establishment Peak? Quickly, he shook his head with a laugh. How could that be? If the Fire Ape had transcended the Foundation Establishment Realm, that would mean it had reached the level of forming a Demon Core; relying on Qin Feng, a disciple who had just reached the Foundation Establishment a few months ago, how could he tame such a Demon Beast? Even if he could take advantage of the Fire Ape¡¯s severe injuries to implant the Binding Great Spell deep within it, with Qin Feng¡¯s strength, he shouldn¡¯t be able to command it so freely; after all, when a Spirit Beast¡¯s strength greatly surpasses one¡¯s own, backlash is likely. Perhaps, this Fire Ape was a mutated variety, which enabled it to exhibit such powerful strength. Soon, Shi Qiansui steadied his spirit, and since his spells posed little threat to the Fire Ape, he decided to save some energy and focus on defense. ?¦Ï¦Í?0.§ã? After all, that was his true forte. Even if the Fire Ape was formidable, it wasn¡¯t possible for it to breach his defense in a short time. As long as he could hold out for a while, Qin Feng, to avoid the Fire Ape¡¯s old injuries from flaring up again, would have no choice but to recall it, and that would be Shi Qiansui¡¯s chance to counterattack. His calculation was precise, and under his full defense, indeed, the Fire Ape struggled to break his defense in the short term. Even when the Fire Ape unleashed its strongest power, its thick arms continuously striking the huge turtle shell phantom surrounding Shi Qiansui only managed to reduce the size of the phantom slightly. Qin Feng, seeing this, felt somewhat vexeda€¡±his opponent¡¯s defensive power was simply exasperating. In fact, Shi Qiansui¡¯s matches in the arena often ended much later because many times, he simply wore his opponents down with his defense. Now he was replaying his old tricks, intending to use his usual tactics against Qin Feng, and unless anything unexpected happened, he felt he could still emerge victorious. But the unexpected did happen. It wasn¡¯t really unexpected, rather, Qin Feng had merely switched his mode of attack. He first soared into the sky, wounding the Lightning Falcon, then joined forces with the Swallowing Sky Toad to assist the Ghost-Faced Spider in knocking the Spotted Leopard out of the ring. With the interference from other Spiritual Beasts gone, Qin Feng could focus all his energy on Shi Qiansui. He instructed the Fire Ape to distract Shi Qiansui from the front, then ordered the Ghost-Faced Spider to continuously spray webs, wrapping the turtle shell phantom around him. Once layers of webs had thoroughly covered the turtle shell phantom, Shi Qiansui became somewhat restless. Though his defense was far from being broken, Qin Feng had stopped attacking him and instead planned to entrap him within layers of webs. Maintaining such intense defense was certainly draining, and even though this was a talent of the Stone Turtle, allowing it to last longer, the consumption of True Yuan was continuous. If this went on, he could last for several hours, but ultimately, he would deplete his True Yuan and still lose. Seeing Qin Feng¡¯s expression, it was clear he planned to wear him down; he even saw Qin Feng take out several Elixir Pills, casually swallowing and refining them, recovering his True Yuan. Shi Qiansui, seeing this, felt helpless. In previous battles, it was always he who wore down his opponents. Now, ironically, he was the one being drained, which felt even more frustrating than his own tactics. With no other choice, he employed the Petrification Technique on the webs above him, then abandoned his defense and burst out to fight Qin Feng. But solely with his own strength, he was clearly no match for Qin Feng, who had the support of three Foundation Establishment Spirit Beasts. And when he tried to reuse his defensive spells, Qin Feng simply retreated, allowing the Ghost-Faced Spider to advance. For the first time, Shi Qiansui experienced the frustration that his opponents must have felt. After several attempts, out of sheer helplessness, he leaped off the arena. Otherwise, if he kept defending, he would deplete his True Yuan, and if he chose to fight face-to-face, he couldn¡¯t even defeat the Fire Ape, let alone Qin Feng and the other two Spiritual Beasts. Once he stepped down, Qin Feng also secretly sighed in relief. Once this guy put up his defense, any cultivator of the same level would find it difficult. The only strategy Qin Feng could think of was this tedious attrition warfare, and that was how he secured victory. Fortunately, his next opponent wasn¡¯t an invincible defender like Shi Qiansui. This next one was not only not proficient in defense but was also particularly sharp in breaking defenses, very adept at penetrating them. Because standing in front of Qin Feng was the disciple from Sky Scorpion Peak, Xie Ding. Behind Xie Ding, three slender Scorpion Tails stretched out, each moving unpredictably, ready to strike at any moment. And once those half-foot-long hooks struck his body, the sensation would certainly not be pleasant. ¡°I¡¯ve been wanting to fight you for a while.¡± Xie Ding looked at Qin Feng, chin slightly raised, and said leisurely, ¡°You backed down at the Ten Thousand Treasures Building last time; I hope this time, you won¡¯t disappoint me.¡± Qin Feng chuckled lightly, ¡°I certainly won¡¯t disappoint Senior Brother Xie.¡± ¡°That¡¯s the best, I¡¯m making my move now, be careful.¡± With those words, the three long tails behind Xie Ding suddenly shot forward dozens of feet, arriving right in front of Qin Feng and stabbing towards him. Seeing those sharply menacing hooks, Qin Feng didn¡¯t dare to test whether his defense could hold up, especially since those things looked pretty intimidating. Moreover, those poison thorns were not only razor-sharp but also emitted a bluish sheen, clearly indicating they were incredibly toxic. In the previous arena battles, Xie Ding¡¯s fights often ended the quickest. Even though his Cultivation Realm was actually slightly lower than Shi Qiansui¡¯s, none of his opponents dared to take him lightly. After all, while Shi Qiansui focused on defense, Xie Ding specialized in breaking through defenses and laws. Chapter 198 - Chapter 198 Chapter 195 The Final Battle ?Chapter 198: Chapter 195 The Final Battle Chapter 198: Chapter 195 The Final Battle However, Qin Feng was not the least bit afraid of Xie Ding. Even though this man¡¯s attacks were fierce, they were unlikely to catch up with his speed, and the three scorpion tails behind Xie Ding couldn¡¯t reach far, their attack range was limited. As long as he kept his distance from Xie Ding, this guy¡¯s strongest trick would be of little use to him. But Qin Feng did not choose to do so. He planned to defeat Xie Ding head-on, to make his own victories shine even brighter. So, when Xie Ding swung his three scorpion tails at him, Qin Feng merely tangled with him for a few moments, roughly assessing the man¡¯s strength before he stopped dodging around. Seizing the moment when Xie Ding¡¯s tails all struck out in a character ¡®?¡°?¡¯ shape towards him, Qin Feng suddenly shrunk his stature, transforming into a tiny person a foot tall, swiftly passing between the scorpion tails and turning into a streak of golden light darting straight at Xie Ding. ¡°Hmph!¡± Xie Ding let out a cold snort. Although arrogant, he indeed had some reason for his pride. Watching as Qin Feng¡¯s transformed streak of light approached, he waved his hands, and they turned into a pair of huge scorpion claws which clacked menacingly as he aimed them at Qin Feng. Qin Feng chuckled softly and instantly restored his body to its original size, raising his hand to block the oncoming pair of scorpion claws. The real cause for Qin Feng¡¯s wariness was just those three scorpion tails behind Xie Ding. As for the seemingly formidable scorpion claws, Qin Feng didn¡¯t take them too seriously. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í??.?¦Ï With his current defensive ability, even if he allowed Xie Ding¡¯s claws to clamp onto his body, they would hardly harm him at all. ?¦Ï¦Í??.§ã? With several light ¡®bangs¡¯, Qin Feng quickly exchanged a few moves with Xie Ding, then with a rotation fast as a wraith, he reached Xie Ding¡¯s side just as the latter was retracting his tails, and the Ruyi Golden Light in his hand transformed into a long sword which he fiercely slashed down. ¡°Ah¡­¡± Xie Ding was taken aback. Although his scorpion tails were protected by a hard shell and wouldn¡¯t easily be damaged, if Qin Feng happened to sever his tails, it would be a huge problem for him. Even if the Cultivation World had some Spiritual Elixirs that could help reattach them, the cost would be enormous. Panicked, Xie Ding¡¯s body flashed with Spirit Light as True Yuan surged into his scorpion tails as if it was free, desperately concentrating on ensuring no harm would come to his tails. But in his panic, his actions became disordered; he was focused on protecting his tails but forgot that his own body was the most important. As Qin Feng¡¯s Ruyi Golden Light long sword descended halfway and he saw Xie Ding¡¯s overly strong defense of his tails making it difficult to inflict damage, the sword light in his hand shifted, the long sword transformed into a flexible sword, wrapping around Xie Ding¡¯s neck like a Spiritual Snake. ¡°Senior Brother Xie, you¡¯ve lost.¡± A trace of a smile appeared on Qin Feng¡¯s face as he looked gently at this proud noble heir. ¡°You¡­¡± Feeling the sharp Sword Light against his neck, Xie Ding hesitated for a moment but ultimately did not resist. However, his heart was filled with reluctance, ¡°If only I had released the rest of my Spiritual Beasts earlier, you wouldn¡¯t have had the chance to attack me so easily.¡± ¡°Indeed.¡± Qin Feng nodded in acknowledgment, ¡°I¡¯ve seen Senior Brother Xie¡¯s battles with other disciples, and your several Spiritual Beasts are indeed extraordinary. If you had released them, our battle would still be up in the air, and it¡¯s uncertain who would have won or lost.¡± Now that he had already won, Qin Feng didn¡¯t mind giving a few compliments to soothe Young Master Xie, proud and high-spirited, so that he wouldn¡¯t harbor resentment against him. ¡°Hmph, good that you acknowledge it.¡± Xie Ding¡¯s face held a sullen expression, ¡°You¡¯ve won this time, but if we cross hands again in the future, I won¡¯t give you another chance to get close.¡± ¡°Then for this time, thank you for yielding, Senior Brother.¡± As he spoke, Qin Feng had already put away the Ruyi Golden Light. Xie Ding touched his neck, his heart a bit unwilling to accept defeat, but his upbringing in a great noble family also gave him a certain magnanimity, and he didn¡¯t persist. Glancing at Qin Feng, he turned and walked away from the arena. Unlike the previous battle, this time, Qin Feng was the first to finish his fight. Too fast. From the beginning of his exchange with Xie Ding, it took only a mere dozen breaths to end the battle, which was even shorter than the time they spent talking. A quarter of an hour later, the battles on the other stages also ended one after another. There were a total of thirteen people left on the stage, as there had been a bye in the last round. However, one of the disciples sustained severe injuries in the recent battle and chose to give up. Otherwise, according to tradition, there would certainly be another bye in this round, allowing another to directly challenge one of the three strongest in the end. Now that one person had given up, the battles for the others became simpler. After two more rounds, only the three strongest would remain to fight each other for the treasures they desired. Qin Feng¡¯s next opponent was named Zhang Tianlai, an unconventional fellow. What made him unconventional was that nobody knew where he had obtained a Deep Sea Octopus, which he had managed to refine into his Lifebound Spiritual Beast. The Beast Taming Sect was not near the sea. Although the Sect had many disciples with Water Element Spiritual Beasts as their Lifebound, there was currently no one but him in the vast Beast Taming Sect who had a Deep Sea Octopus as a Lifebound Spiritual Beast. But this guy¡¯s strength was truly formidable, with eight huge tentacles extending directly behind him, each one capable of stretching out dozens of meters, just like the legendary eight-armed Demon God, where a single strike could cause rubble to fly all over the arena, with an invincible close-quarters combat prowess. Qin Feng, having watched the matches of other disciples in the arena earlier, had already been captivated by this individual, and later Liu Wuxiang went out of his way to gather some information for him. After returning, he told Qin Feng that Zhang Tianlai had come across the Big Octopus during a mission to the South Sea, a fortunate encounter. This person¡¯s lifebound spiritual beast was very powerful, considerably outstripping Zhang Tianlai¡¯s cultivation realm; the reason he managed to refine it into his lifebound beast was due to the fact that the octopus had lived for years in the abyss of the ocean floor. Although large in size, its spiritual intelligence had not awakened, which allowed Zhang Tianlai to refine it to his advantage, managing to do so with the strength comparable to Foundation Establishment while he was still at the Qi Refinement seventh level. In the years that followed, this Big Octopus¡¯s cultivation had even reached the late stages of Foundation Establishment realm; in terms of close combat, not even the peak Foundation Establishment spirit beasts could necessarily be its match. Not only was this creature huge and formidable, but more crucially, it had eight tentacles that could attack from multiple directions at once. Qin Feng tried to sever one of the octopus¡¯s tentacles, only to find that not only were they incredibly tough, but their recovery power was equally astounding; even when he managed to wound one, the injury would not bleed, but rather would heal rapidly back to normal. Moreover, each of the octopus¡¯s tentacles was lined with two rows of huge suckers that had an incredibly strong adhesion force; Qin Feng had nearly been caught by the suckers several times. Fortunately for him, he could transform his shape and had the sharp Golden Wings to protect himself, cutting the suckers off the tentacles in time when things went awry, thus avoiding entrapment. Facing such a formidable opponent, Qin Feng was once again in a difficult situation. Luckily, his flying speed was astonishing, not something Zhang Tianlai could match, thus he did not suffer. However, this was not a long-term solution since the opponent dominated the arena, and he couldn¡¯t always just fly around avoiding engagement. In the end, he released his frequently used Fire Ape, which bombarded the field with a barrage of Fire Rain Meteor, hitting the slowly flying Zhang Tianlai who could not catch Qin Feng nor leave the arena. Zhang Tianlai had no choice but to concede defeat to avoid severe injury, allowing Qin Feng to claim victory once more. However, Qin Feng got lucky in the next round; his opponent had sustained serious injuries in his last battle. Upon seeing Qin Feng summon the Fire Ape again, his opponent promptly conceded defeat and left the arena, granting Qin Feng an easy victory. After the battles on the other two arenas concluded, only three contestants remained in the field. Looking over, Qin Feng saw that he knew both of the other two contestants; one of them, a tall and plump woman, was none other than Xue Baoshu, the Baoxiang Peak disciple he had fought earlier. This woman was indeed fierce, wielding a Wolf Fang Club that dominated the arena, rising to the top through numerous battles. Typically, the three of them should have each fought two more battles to determine the victor. However, upon seeing Qin Feng, Xue Baoshu straightforwardly announced her defeat. Given her current strength, she had no hope of winning against the Fire Ape, so there was no point in fighting Qin Feng. As for the other disciple, he was Long Qian, the genius from Heavenly Dragon Peak. When they were preparing to go to the Heavenly Pool Secret Realm, they had met briefly, but due to Long Qian¡¯s pride, that meeting hadn¡¯t left Qin Feng with a good impression. In fact, Long Qian didn¡¯t think much of Qin Feng at all. He was from the direct lineage of the Long Family, the leading household among the nine noble heirs affiliated with the Beast Taming Sect; not only was he extraordinarily talented, he had been nurtured from childhood with numerous precious treasures to aid his cultivation, and his lifebound beast was a Jiao Dragon with the bloodline of the Dragon Clan. Underneath the brilliance of these many achievements, he naturally cultivated a measure of pride. Further complicating matters, the Heavenly Dragon Peak and the Spiritual Snake Peak, although from the same origin, were competitors within the Outer Sect; thus, upon seeing Qin Feng, Long Qian was not intimidated by his Fire Ape, but rather eager to contest Qin Feng. Not just for the rewards of the Sect but also to vindicate Heavenly Dragon Peak. After all, last year during the Outer Sect competition, Zhao Qinglin, the most promising disciple from Spiritual Snake Peak, had been defeated by a Heavenly Dragon Peak disciple. This year, he wanted to continue the momentum, making it known to all one hundred and eight peaks of the Outer Sect that Heavenly Dragon Peak was stronger than Spiritual Snake Peak. The bloodline power of the Jiao Dragon was more than sufficient to suppress most of the same level Spiritual Snakes, and he wanted to convince his fellow disciples from various peaks that Spiritual Snake Peak was inferior to Heavenly Dragon Peak. Plus, the title of the first place in the Outer Sect competition had a nice ring to it. Long Qian wasn¡¯t averse to adding another dazzling entry to his life¡¯s accomplishments. ¡°Release your spiritual beasts.¡± Long Qian said proudly, ¡°I¡¯ll fight you fairly, so you won¡¯t feel disgruntled when you are defeated.¡± Qin Feng looked at the tall, handsome Long Qian in front of him and didn¡¯t say much, just nodded slightly and raised his hand to summon his several Foundation Establishment spirit beasts. In recent years, their two peaks had always shown signs of competition; now that they faced each other, of course, he would go all out to win glory for Spiritual Snake Peak. Long Qian glanced at Qin Feng¡¯s several spirit beasts, paying particular attention to the Fire Ape, and once he saw its fluctuating aura, he felt even more confident about winning. This instability had arisen because the several preceding battles had drained a significant amount of the Fire Ape¡¯s strength. Even though Qin Feng had returned it to the Demon Refining Pot and transmitted a lot of pure spirit qi, it was still not as formidable as when it had first appeared. ¡°Make your move.¡± Long Qian merged with his Jiao Dragon, instantly making his figure more imposing. At the same time, he released three Foundation Establishment spirit beasts: an Armadillo capable of burrowing, a Wind Sparrow with a fluctuating body, and a robust White Bull. His spirit beasts covered a wide range, with aerial, underground, and strong ground attacks all included. Combined with his own Water Manipulation adept Jiao Dragon, he was well-prepared for any kind of battle, ensuring that he would never be caught unprepared. Long Qian¡¯s face showed a hint of arrogance, ¡°If you don¡¯t take action soon, you¡¯ll have no chance when I do.¡± Chapter 199 - Chapter 199 Chapter 196 Getting the Reward ?Chapter 199: Chapter 196: Getting the Reward Chapter 199: Chapter 196: Getting the Reward Qin Feng burst into laughter upon hearing this. This guy really is full of pride! ¡°Since that¡¯s the case, I won¡¯t hold back.¡± Qin Feng slightly bowed, his face wearing an innocuous grin. However, as soon as he finished speaking, his palms turned outward, his fingers sparkling with golden light, ejecting streaks of golden brilliance that transformed into ten three-inch long Flying Swords, which instantly shot in front of Long Qian. ¡°Mere insect tricks!¡± A hint of disdain flashed in Long Qian¡¯s eyes. His hand morphed into a dragon claw intending to swipe and disperse these Ruyi Golden Light-transformed Flying Swords. But he miscalculated the agility of these Flying Swords, as before his dragon claw could land, more than ten small Flying Swords had already scattered, each aiming for vital spots on his body. Long Qian raised his eyebrows, slightly surprised. It seemed he had underestimated this disciple from the lowly Spiritual Snake Peak. Although he felt somewhat astonished, he didn¡¯t take the incoming Flying Swords too seriously. Suddenly, his aura surged, his whole presence becoming as fierce as a primordial beast, and even his stature seemed to grow three inches taller. His exposed skin even began to show green scale armor. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í??.?¦Ï These green scales obviously had strong defensive capabilities. Even though Qin Feng¡¯s Flying Swords, transformed from Ruyi Golden Light, were incredibly sharp, they were not real Flying Swords after all. Moreover, the level of the Ruyi Golden Snake was only at the early stage of Foundation Establishment, so the sharpness of the Flying Swords transformed from the golden light was somewhat lacking. Although a few Flying Swords had pierced the green scales, they could hardly penetrate further, only leaving several negligible light wounds on Long Qian. But this infuriated Long Qian. His perception of Qin Feng remained from their first meeting, when he thought he could easily defeat Qin Feng. Yet, to his surprise, as soon as they started fighting, Qin Feng managed to inflict several wounds on him. Although the wounds were small, for someone as proud and arrogant as this genius disciple, it was exceedingly humiliating. In a rage, Long Qian¡¯s aura became tempestuous. He stomped on the ground, shattering the bluestone beneath his feet, and lunged at Qin Feng like a humanoid Jiao Dragon. He was furiously angry, unable to believe that he had suffered a setback at Qin Feng¡¯s hands in this final battle. Therefore, he decided to teach this youth an unforgettable lesson and make him never dare to provoke Long Qian again. Qin Feng, looking into Long Qian¡¯s fierce eyes, sneered, finding Long Qian quite contemptible. Although this young man had talent and a high realm, he was too arrogant and couldn¡¯t even handle this slight loss. Such a lack of tactfulness meant that if he entered the Inner Sect without an elder to guide him properly, he would inevitably face significant losses in the future. Well, for the sake of being fellow disciples, Qin Feng decided to let him suffer some setbacks todaya€¡±it was much better than suffering in the hands of enemies in the future. With these thoughts in mind, Qin Feng, instead of dodging, met Long Qian head-on and collided with him. Bang! Both were extremely fast, fiercely colliding and producing a sound that echoed afar. Then the two of them used their limbs and speed to fight intensely, their array of attacks and Magic Divine Powers being exchanged in rapid, dense collisions that made the surrounding disciples¡¯ scalps tingle. The longer the battle went on, the more shocked Long Qian became. He didn¡¯t expect that not only was Qin Feng¡¯s tenacity astonishing, but his strength far exceeded what Long Qian had imagined. What was more critical was that the golden scales that appeared on Qin Feng¡¯s body seemed to have even stronger defense than the green scales on his own body. This was evident from the few green scales that Qin Feng had torn off him. Eventually, after both delivered a fierce punch to each other, they each retreated. Qin Feng¡¯s face showed a hint of a smile as he opened his palm, revealing seven or eight green scales. Long Qian snorted coldly and also opened his palm, showing a strand of hair he had grabbed. Looking at Long Qian¡¯s proud expression, Qin Feng scratched his head and soon said, ¡°I originally thought Senior Brother Long was a heroic figure, but it turns out you like to pull hair. Did Senior Brother grow up secluded in women¡¯s quarters, otherwise how could you resort to such methods in combat?¡± ¡°You?¡± Long Qian, upon hearing this, became enraged. Always considering himself a genius and accustomed to compliments, he had never been belittled like this before, and so his fury surged. He furiously threw the strand of hair in his hand onto the ground and stepped forward again, intending to beat this indiscreet person to the ground and break his bones to teach him a lesson for insulting him. ¡°Hehe, just a joke, Brother, why be so angry?¡± Qin Feng¡¯s nonchalant words, however, continually stoked the flames of Long Qian¡¯s anger. ¡°These scales are from Brother¡¯s body, it¡¯s not right for me to keep them,¡± Qin Feng said. As he spoke, he tossed his hand, flinging the scales back at Long Qian¡¯s face as swiftly as lightning. ¡°Ah¡­¡± Long Qian let out an infuriated yell, his voice carrying a dragon-like howl. He swatted away the scales, but was caught off-guard by several points of golden brilliance hidden underneath by Qin Feng. At that moment, the golden brilliance turned into sharp Golden Needles aiming for his eyes. Long Qian, greatly startled, quickly halted and turned his head just in time to narrowly avoid the Golden Needles targeting his eyes. However, they still managed to pierce his facial skin, leaving a bloody trace. Qin Feng saw it clear: this descendent of the Long Family, a genius disciple from Heavenly Dragon Peak, clearly hadn¡¯t faced many crises, and probably hadn¡¯t had much combat experience eithera€¡±otherwise his combat experience wouldn¡¯t be so shallow, having been outplayed several times already by Qin Feng. Although it didn¡¯t inflict much injury on the opponent, this minor wound was enough to infuriate him, indicating that this person had definitely never been disadvantaged before. Qin Feng didn¡¯t wait for Long Qian to lose his temper and come after him again, he directly leapt towards Long Qian. And with him also lunged his several Spiritual Beasts. Although they originally each had their own opponents, there was no rule stating that they had to fight one-on-one. So, by the time Long Qian turned around, he found that he had to face not only that despicable cunning young man but also his several Spiritual Beasts. Faced with the sudden onslaught, Long Qian instantly appeared somewhat bewildered. Since he had joined the Sect, in the limited instances he had fought others, he had always overwhelmed them with his formidable strength quickly ending the battles, never having encountered being ambushed like this. He also wondered where his own Spiritual Beasts were, why weren¡¯t they stopping Qin Feng¡¯s? Unfortunately, Qin Feng¡¯s arrival was too fast, and the danger posed by those beasts was equally intense, allowing him no extra room to think about anything else. For a moment, Qin Feng¡¯s wings slashed continuously, the Fire Ape spewed flames thick as arms, the Swallowing Sky Toad¡¯s tongue shot out like an arrow, and from the back of the Ghost-Faced Spider emerged a pitch-black flame, all attacking him. Long Qian couldn¡¯t help but feel terrified, and then he used all his strength to roar, the sound shaking the entire platform, which also slightly slowed Qin Feng and their assault. Taking advantage of this, a vast amount of water suddenly surged around Long Qian. The water transformed into the shape of a Jiao Dragon, coiling around him trying to block all incoming attacks. Boom! The flames sprayed by the Fire Ape collided with the water surrounding Long Qian, instantly stirring up a mist, which also caused Long Qian¡¯s surrounding water to pause momentarily, giving Qin Feng an opportunity to press forward. Shua shua shua! The golden wings flashed brilliant streaks of light, slashing Long Qian thirteen times in an instant. It was only because his defenses were fully activated and his scale armor was strong that he wasn¡¯t cut into pieces by Qin Feng. However, even so, Long Qian was in considerable pain as True Yuan slightly faltered, allowing Qin Feng to break through his defenses and cut through the green scales on his body, leaving several wounds. This wasn¡¯t significant though, since Qin Feng ultimately showed restraint and didn¡¯t truly attack any critical parts on his body. ?¦Ï¦Í??.?¦Ï But following them, the Swallowing Sky Toad and Fire Ape were different. The Swallowing Sky Toad¡¯s tongue, sharp as a spear, actually pierced through a wound inflicted by Qin Feng on his abdomen and passed straight through from his back. What was more, the Fire Ape had already leapt in front of him, its bulky arms already striking down at him. With a loud bang, splashes scattered across the sky. It was the scene where the water surrounding Long Qian was burst open by the Fire Ape¡¯s punch. Then, another punch landed squarely on Long Qian¡¯s stomach, causing his organs to churn and his face to turn pain-wracked pale. Before he could recover, he suddenly felt a tightening sensation on his body. Looking down, he realized he was bound by a Ruyi Golden Snake. At that moment, the Ruyi Golden Snake was tightening its coils, constricting him in its grasp, making it hard for him to escape. Seeing the Golden Snake on his body, a trace of disdain instinctively flickered through Long Qian¡¯s heart. He burst forth the aura of a Jiao Dragon from his body, intending to intimidate the Spiritual Snake. Simultaneously, he activated his Binding Spell to call his own Spiritual Beasts for help, at least to tie down these other beasts. Sadly, the Ruyi Golden Snake was an Exotic Species Spiritual Snake without any Dragon Clan bloodline, thus unaffected by his Jiao Dragon aura. It continued to tightly coil around him, and its mouth filled with tiny sharp teeth was already aiming for his neck. ¡°Not good!¡± Long Qian suddenly realized the gravity of the situation. If this Spiritual Snake wasn¡¯t influenced by the Jiao Dragon¡¯s aura, then it represented a different mode of combat. As the Golden Snake was about to bite his neck, he had no choice but to disengage the Merge State with the Jiao Dragon. Instantly, a several meters long Jiao Dragon appeared beside him, opening its jaws wide to bite at the Ruyi Golden Snake. But without the Jiao Dragon¡¯s Merge State, his defenses plummeted instantly. Then, with a loud thud, he was struck on the head by the Fire Ape¡¯s fist, and everything went dark as he passed out. Although the entire process sounded slow, it actually occurred within just a few moments, even before Long Qian¡¯s Spiritual Beasts could arrive. He had already been knocked unconscious. As Long Qian fell, the crowd erupted in uproar. It wasn¡¯t so much shock but because with Long Qian knocked out, this round of the Outer Sect competition had also come to an end. Quickly, an Elder from the Heavenly Dragon Peak flew up to the platform, furrowing his brow as he fed Long Qian several Elixir Pills and then crushed a Spirit Pill scattering it on the wound pierced by the Swallowing Sky Toad¡¯s tongue on Long Qian¡¯s stomach. Fortunately, these injuries only looked severe but had avoided critical organs. With the aid of the Spiritual Medicine, he only needed a few days of rest to fully recover. The Vice Hall Master from the Preaching Hall, Li Hong, stood up and announced, ¡°This year¡¯s Outer Sect competition ends here. For those disciples who did not pass, do not be anxious. Go back and cultivate well, striving to win a spot in the Inner Sect next year. ¡°The victorious disciples of this competition, remember to gather at the Mountain Gate hall tomorrow morning, at that time we will hold the ceremony to appoint your masters.¡± Then, he distributed the rewards for the competition. As the first place winner of the competition, Qin Feng received a Jade Scroll that contained a Small Divine Power Cultivation Technique. This Small Divine Power was inscribed by an Elder using Divine Thought, and had to be guided by Elder¡¯s Divine Thought to be cultivated; otherwise, if others obtained the method, it would be useless. Xue Baoshu requested from the Elder the Breaking Barrier Pill which could aid in advancing levels. She wasn¡¯t eager to nurture another Spiritual Beast at the moment, as that would be a burden for her current state, so she decided to give the Spiritual Beast awarded by the Sect to Long Qian. As for Long Qian, still unconscious, obviously could not object to Xue Baoshu¡¯s decision. Chapter 200 - Chapter 200 Chapter 197 The Technique of Advancing Divine Skills ?Chapter 200: Chapter 197: The Technique of Advancing Divine Skills Chapter 200: Chapter 197: The Technique of Advancing Divine Skills As a group of Inner Sect Elders successively left, the plaza and the surrounding area where many disciples were watching the battles instantly became lively. Disciples from various peaks flocked to the geniuses of their own peaks who had obtained placements, with some familiar friends being particularly overjoyed, as if they had basked in reflected glory. However, even more disciples got up and left, after all, the vast majority of Outer Disciples had no interaction with these geniuses, and without any emotional ties, there was no need to rush to offer congratulations. In a moment, the sky and the earth were once again filled with innumerable Spiritual Birds and Exotic Beasts; the sight of so many disciples departing was enough to block out the sun and create a magnificent scene. ¡°Congratulations to Junior Brother Qin for winning first place in the competition.¡± ¡°Junior Brother Qin really lives up to the expectations of Great Elder Ning, hmph, those guys from the other peaks even dared to gossip and doubt Junior Brother Qin earlier, truly senseless.¡± ¡°Yes, yes, we were inducted into the Sect at the same time as Senior Brother Qin, yet now we¡¯ve only just entered the Qi Refining Middle Stage, while Senior Brother Qin has already succeeded in Foundation Establishment and won first place among so many Outer elite disciples. The gap is so huge, I don¡¯t know where those people find the courage to doubt Senior Brother Qin.¡± ¡°Hmph, those guys from the other peaks are just jealous of Senior Brother Qin¡¯s talent and envious that he has already been taken as a disciple by an Inner Sect Elder, thus feeling sour inside.¡± A crowd of Spiritual Snake Peak disciples, who were still quite familiar with Qin Feng, gathered around him, offering endless flattery. Among them, several disciples who were particularly skilled at ingratiating themselves took flattery to new heights, making it quite refreshing to the listeners. Qin Feng, surrounded by Liu Wuxiang, Wen Qing¡¯er, Qin Xi, and others, kept returning bows to the familiar fellow Sect members. As the saying goes, a person in good spirits shines brightly. Although Qin Feng also felt that those words of sycophantic flattery were not sincere, at this time, he did not mind listening more, expressing his inner joy. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í??.§ã¦Ï ¡°Hahaha, Junior Brother Qin is truly a young prodigy.¡± A loud laugh came from not far away, and a pockmarked burly man squeezed into the crowd and said to Qin Feng with a smile, ¡°I knew Junior Brother Qin was different from the mediocre lot at first sight, otherwise I would not have invited you to take on missions with me. Now it seems, my vision Ma Jiu was indeed accurate, Junior Brother Qin¡¯s growth rate has far exceeded my imagination. It¡¯s surprising that you could win first place in the Outer competition, my congratulations, truly a joyous occasion!¡± Qin Feng smiled and gave Ma Jiu a bow, ¡°Senior Brother Ma flatters me, I¡¯ve learned a lot during the missions with Senior Brother, thank you for your guidance in the past.¡± ¡°It¡¯s nothing, insignificant, hahaha¡­¡± Ma Jiu¡¯s face, filled with pockmarks, beamed red with excitement, ¡°Junior Brother Qin has entered the Inner Sect, don¡¯t forget about us old friends who are still struggling in the Outer Sect!¡± ¡°Hehe, sure.¡± The smile on Qin Feng¡¯s face remained unchanged. He hadn¡¯t even entered the Inner Sect yet, how could he know what benefits there were? Of course, if there was a need for Outer Disciples, he would not mind turning to these familiar fellow Sect members. The resources in the Inner Sect were much richer than those in the Outer Sect, and it wouldn¡¯t be bad to take care of them appropriately. After a lively bout of compliments, the group prepared to escort Qin Feng off. According to the custom of the Outer Sect, whenever a disciple from any peak succeeded in the competition and was admitted to the Inner Sect, they would be greeted and encouraged by the Elders of their peak. On this day, each peak would also relax a bit, set up banquets, and bid farewell to their Sect brothers and sisters entering the Inner Sect for cultivation, as a way of motivating other disciples who still had the chance to participate in the competition and let them see the glory of earning a placement in the competition. For an event like Qin Feng¡¯s victory in the Outer competition, taking the first place was a proud moment for the entire Spiritual Snake Peak and made all the disciples feel honored, their speech now carrying an extra edge. Last year, Spiritual Snake Peak had felt shame because not a single disciple won an Inner Sect placement in the competition, and the strongest disciple at the time, Zhao Qinglin, was defeated by a disciple from Heavenly Dragon Peak, making many Spiritual Snake Peak disciples feel unable to raise their heads. After all, they believed that Heavenly Dragon Peak, which was split from Spiritual Snake Peak, should only count as a ¡°younger brother¡± to them, yet last year they had suffered such a huge defeat, naturally causing many disciples to feel indignant. This year was different. Not only had their Spiritual Snake Peak disciple taken first place, but he had also openly defeated the strongest genius disciple of Heavenly Dragon Peak, Long Qian. Even, by the end of the competition, Long Qian was still unconscious. Of course, quite a few disciples were speculating in secret that perhaps Long Qian had already woken up but continued to feign unconsciousness. After all, he prided himself on being from a noble family, acting proud and lofty on ordinary days, and during his fight with Qin Feng, he had been arrogant in speech. After such a crushing defeat, with his pride, he surely felt too ashamed to face others and might as well continue pretending to be unconscious to cover up the embarrassment. ¡°Sister Xiaoxi, you guys go back first.¡± Qin Feng said to Qin Xi and Wen Qing¡¯er, ¡°After I settle down in the Inner Sect, I¡¯ll come to talk to you.¡± ¡°Alright, go ahead, don¡¯t keep everyone waiting.¡± Qin Xi nodded, urging him to hurry back to Spiritual Snake Peak, as the Golden Core Elders were undoubtedly waiting for him to return and inspire the other disciples. After Qin Feng and his group left, Qin Xi¡¯s joy still lingered in her heart. She suddenly remembered the Clan Uncle Qin Ying who had returned to the Qin Family. If that Clan Uncle had not yet left the Mountain Gate, he might still not know how happy he would be now. ¡°No, I must send a letter to the family immediately, to let them know that Afeng has won first place in the Outer Sect competition and has become a disciple of Great Elder Ning. I want our people to share in the joy.¡± Qin Xi said this and hastily waved to Ma Jiu, who was also watching Qin Feng depart, before dragging the hand of Wen Qing¡¯er and flying towards Creation Peak. She needed to go back to write the letter; then, using the merchant caravans of the Ten Thousand Demons Pavilion, she would have it sent to the Tieling area, where naturally, someone would help her deliver the letter to the Qin Family in Kun City. It¡¯s a good thing for a family when one of their own becomes an Inner Sect Disciple. Surely the deacons over in Tieling will want to curry favor and will certainly not delay her letter. At Spiritual Snake Peak, Qin Feng was listening to Elder Yin Qi and another Golden Core Elder explaining some Inner Sect rules and sharing with him their expectations and words of encouragement. Originally, this task should have been performed by Liu Xuanling, but she was still in closed-door cultivation, and it was unknown when she would emerge, so the duty fell to the two elders instead. Regrettably, when Elder Yin Qi spoke, he exuded a deep Yin Qi, which made Qin Feng shudder, even if the words were meant as praise. After the two Elders had finished speaking, they started to arrange a grand banquet and asked Qin Feng to give a speech. This was to encourage the other disciples who would have the opportunity to participate in next year¡¯s competition. When the banquet was over and Qin Feng returned to his residence, night had already fallen. Sitting tiredly in his cultivation room, Qin Feng felt that today¡¯s feast had been more exhausting than his fights on the stage with people like Xue Baoshu. Disciple after disciple approached him to acquaint themselves, with toasts and conversations. Faced with these fellow peak disciples, he had to respond with smiles, but those smiles became so plentiful they actually made his face hurt. After resting for quite a while, he managed to regain some energy. He reached out and took the Jade Scroll engraved with a Small Divine Power Cultivation Technique, letting his Divine Sense probe inside, eager to see what kind of Divine Skill it was and whether it was easy to cultivate. ?¦Ï¦Í??.§ã¦Ï After all, his Cultivation Realm was insufficient, and even with the guidance of an Elder¡¯s Divine Thought, it wasn¡¯t easy to fully cultivate a Small Divine Power. In fact, many Divine Power cultivation methods were quite special. Apart from the abilities Cultivators could naturally comprehend once their cultivation had reached a certain realm, any other Divine Powers they might wish to gain ahead of time would require certain external methods to achieve. This was the same for disciples of the Beast Taming Sect. The Beast Taming Sect disciples relied on their Lifebound Spiritual Beasts, whereas disciples of other Sects needed a variety of heavenly and earthly treasures, or other peculiar items to succeed in their cultivation. Qin Feng closed his eyes and his Divine Sense entered the Jade Scroll, quickly becoming engrossed. Or rather, he was passively engrossed because the strength of his Divine Sense wasn¡¯t high, making it easy for the Divine Thought left by the Inner Sect Elder in the Jade Scroll to lead him. When he came to his senses, the Jade Scroll had become blank, with the cultivation technique inscribed by the Divine Thought having been transferred into his Divine Sense through a special method. This was the only way to better lead disciples in their practice. After all, if Foundation Establishment Disciples attempted to practice these Divine Powers, which were not meant for them, it would be easy to encounter problems. This was the reason why Small Divine Powers were so rarea€¡±every time one is engraved, it means that a highly experienced Elder must strip away a portion of their own Divine Thought to complete it. No Elder is willing to use this method lightly, as it represents a loss of their origin. Frequent use could affect their foundation and hinder their future path. Qin Feng opened his eyes, a trace of joy flashing within them. He felt that competing for first place in the competition was well worth it. The Sect had rewarded him with a Small Divine Power, the Earth Element Divine Power, Shrinking Ground to Inch. It didn¡¯t sound particularly rare at first, certainly not as powerful as those aggressive Divine Powers, but this Divine Skill was far from being as simple as ordinary Cultivators might imagine. In fact, it was a reward from the Sect, considering various factors, hoping that before their disciples reached Great Success in their cultivation, they should have more life-saving techniques rather than always having to risk their lives. From the cultivation technique, Qin Feng discovered that this Earth Element Divine Power actually involved some manipulation of space, and to some extent, it was somewhat similar to the Space Movement of the Swallowing Sky Toad. However, Shrinking Ground to Inch would be more convenient to use on the ground, unlike the Space Movement of the Swallowing Sky Toad, which could move the body through the void at will. But that wasn¡¯t the point; the key was that this Divine Power had a progression route. Just from this aspect alone, it surpassed most other Divine Powers. Once Shrinking Ground to Inch was cultivated to Great Success, it could be progressed to the Heavenly Distance Touching Great Divine Power, allowing one step to cover vast distances, making it an excellent tool for either escaping or pursuing foes. Once the Heavenly Distance Touching Great Divine Power was perfected, it could possibly be progressed to the Supreme Divine Power Inch and Miles. Although the name seemed to just be a reverse reading of the former, the meaning was vastly different. Heavenly Distance was for oneself, taking one step to travel the world. Inch and Miles, however, affected others. Once launched, even if an opponent was mere inches away, the spatial gap was as if separated by the expanse of the world. Under such circumstances, whether for trapping enemies or defending, this technique was simply invincible. As long as the opponent couldn¡¯t break the Supreme Divine Power Inch and Miles, all their attacks would fail to reach. Chapter 201 - Chapter 201 Chapter 198 Divine Beast Diting ?Chapter 201: Chapter 198 Divine Beast Diting Chapter 201: Chapter 198 Divine Beast Diting Qin Feng silently comprehended the cultivation technique for the Small Divine Power that was now etched in his Divine Sense, his heart truly brimming with joy. In the Cultivation World, the majority of cultivators prefer those mighty offensive Divine Skills, but Qin Feng had a particular fondness for life-saving Divine Powers of this sort. As a disciple of the Beast Taming Sect, especially one with such low cultivation like himself, there wasn¡¯t a need to focus too soon on pursuing personal war power; for him, obtaining great war power meant simply subduing a few more powerful spiritual beasts. Many spiritual beasts possess innately powerful Divine Abilities that allow Beast Taming Sect disciples to exert strong combat capabilities in various environments; therefore, it is somewhat uneconomical for them to waste energy on battle-focused Divine Power Magic. This is because the cultivation of each Divine Power and spell is not something that can easily be accomplished, requiring a substantial investment of time, effort, and resources. If one is only chasing after combat capability, there is no need for personal cultivation, as that would mean forgoing the advantage of being in the Beast Taming Sect. In terms of personal combat ability, Beast Taming Sect disciples are inferior to the sword cultivators of Taiyi Mountain, the body cultivators of the Giant Spirit Sect, and are even considered weaker among all cultivators of the great forces, at least before reaching the Dharma Image Realm. However, once Beast Taming Sect disciples have several spiritual beasts, the majority of cultivators of the same level are no match for them. ?¦Ï¦Í?¦Ï.§ã¦Ï Even though Qin Feng possessed the Demon Refining Pot and didn¡¯t need to overexert his own Divine Sense to subdue multiple spiritual beasts, he was still influenced by the cultivation philosophy of the Beast Taming Sect. At his current low level of cultivation, he preferred life-saving techniques like Shrinking Ground to Inch. Just like how he bought that viper capable of Earth Escape Divine Power without a second thought to merge with the Ruyi Golden Snake, his current realm was low, and he prioritized being cautious and safe; wanting to pursue war power was something to consider only after reaching the Golden Core Realm. Now with the Divine Power of Shrinking Ground to Inch, combined with the Ruyi Golden Snake¡¯s Earth Escape, he had two escape methods at his disposal, which left him quite pleased. However, Shrinking Ground to Inch was not an easy technique to cultivate. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í??.§ã¦Ï Even with the guidance of seniors¡¯ Divine Thought from the sect, he would still need to invest a great deal of spirit and time and use many Earth Element Spiritual Objects during cultivation; most importantly, he had to find a place rich in Earth Element Evil Qi, using the power of the malevolent qi to successfully cultivate this Divine Power. There are many kinds of Earth Element Evil Qi, such as Gen Earth Evil Qi, Mountain Evil Qi, Floating Dust Evil Qi, Quicksand Evil Qi, and Rest Soil God Slaughter, among others. Each type of this malevolent qi could be used for cultivation; however, the effects differed based on the type useda€¡±for example, cultivation with Mountain Evil Qi would make one¡¯s movements exceptionally steady, whereas Floating Dust Evil Qi cultivated would give one a sense of weightlessness. Regardless of the type of Evil Qi used, the potency of the successfully cultivated technique would never be too weak. The saying ¡°Shrinking Ground to Inch, a thousand li in a single step, travel mountains and leap over peaks as if on flat land¡± describes the performance of this Divine Power after successful cultivation. Once reaching Great Success, a thousand li would be as trivial as one¡¯s own courtyard, and roaming the entire Southern Domain in a single day might not be impossible. For a long time, Qin Feng returned to his senses, suppressing the excitement in his heart. His emotions were fluctuating wildly, totally unsuitable for cultivation; thus, he simply stopped circulating the cultivation technique to move Spiritual Energy, in case a mishap damaged his meridians. Instead, he moved to the side, crossed his legs, and began to daydream about his life after entering the Inner Sect. Unconsciously, the moon set and the stars hid, and the night passed in this manner. When he opened his eyes, daylight had already begun to brighten. Qin Feng rose, gathered all his belongings into his Storage Bag, then went to the Deacon Room to return the Jade Talisman that opened the courtyard to the Deacon Disciple. Amid the complimentary words from several Deacon Disciples, he directly proceeded to Elder Yin Qi¡¯s Cave Mansion at the peak. In the absence of Liu Xuanling, it was Elder Yin Qi who would accompany him to the Inner Sect. After all, since he had not yet joined the Inner Sect, it wasn¡¯t proper to go alone. Upon reaching the top of the peak, Qin Feng made his way directly to the outside of Elder Yin Qi¡¯s Cave Mansion. He didn¡¯t send a message inside; with Elder Yin Qi¡¯s cultivation level, he could easily sense his arrival. Moreover, this was already agreed upon yesterday; Elder Yin Qi certainly would not delay his entrance into the Inner Sect. As expected, Elder Yin Qi didn¡¯t keep him waiting long, emerging from the Cave Mansion after only a moment. ¡°Let¡¯s go.¡± The elder clearly had no intention of inviting Qin Feng into his Cave Mansion for a visit; upon seeing Qin Feng, he simply uttered these two words in his chilling voice and immediately released a Spiritual Snake, preparing to take Qin Feng away, ¡°Thank you, Elder.¡± Qin Feng bowed in gratitude, aware of his preference for few words and chose not to say much; instead, he couldn¡¯t help but glance back at Elder Yin Qi¡¯s Cave Mansion. The moment Elder Yin Qi opened the large door of the Cave Mansion to come out, Qin Feng had felt a dense, chilling breath escape from within, wondering what the elder had set up inside to exude such a frighteningly cold aura. ¡°What, you want to go in and have a look?¡± Elder Yin Qi¡¯s frosty words reached Qin Feng¡¯s ears, sending a shiver down his spine. ¡°No, not at all.¡± Qin Feng hastily replied, ¡°The disciple was merely curious for a moment, soa€|¡± Elder Yin Qi nodded, seemingly indifferent: ¡°If you don¡¯t want to go in, then let¡¯s get going. Don¡¯t delay the time for worshipping the Grandmaster.¡± ¡°Yes.¡± Qin Feng obediently followed behind Elder Yin Qi, leaped onto the Spiritual Snake, and flew towards the Inner Sect. The Mountain Gate Hall of the Inner Sect was situated atop a massive peak; standing in front of the hall and overlooking the mountains granted one a sense of expansive openness. This hall was grander and more majestic than any building in the Outer Sect by more than tenfold; the glazed jade tiles on the roof shone brilliantly under the illumination of the rising sun, sparkling with multi-colored light. One hundred and eight coiling dragon pillars supported the entire hall, each one thirty-six zhang high, standing tall as if they could hold up half the sky. The walls of the hall were engraved with countless patterns of Demon Beasts. Upon close examination, Qin Feng noticed many strange Demon Beasts he had never seen before; each one appeared extraordinary, and some even emitted a faint ferocious might. This made Qin Feng¡¯s heart tremble with fear, not knowing what material was used to construct this great hall. Surely not thousands of ferocious Demon Beasts were sealed into the walls, right? Since those never-before-seen Demon Beast figures on the hall walls were also emitting an aura, it indicated that these Demon Beasts truly did exist in the world. Qin Feng sighed inwardly, realizing that it was indeed difficult to learn the true teachings of the Beast Taming Sect in the Outer Sect. Otherwise, the Ten Thousand Demons Catalog in the Scripture Pavilion of each Outer Peak wouldn¡¯t be missing so many Demon Beasts. But then again, it made sense. With the sheer number of Outer Disciples, it was impossible for the Sect to inspect all several hundred thousand of them. To avoid the core teachings of the Sect falling into the hands of spies, it was inevitable to withhold some things from being imparted to the Outer Sect. Soon, the silhouettes of Spiritual Beasts flew over from various Outer Peaks. The Golden Core Elders of the Outer Peaks brought all the disciples prepared to formally enter the Mountain Gate. Qin Feng glanced around and nodded slightly to Xue Baoshu and the others in greeting. He did not speak; this was the true front hall of the Beast Taming Sect¡¯s Mountain Gate, distinct from the Outer Sect¡¯s mere formality. Whenever a significant event occurred in the Beast Taming Sect, necessitating a council of Elders from each lineage, it would be held here. Hence, he felt it was necessary to maintain a certain degree of reverence in this place. However, he also spotted two distinctive disciples among the crowd. Neither of these two had participated in the Outer Sect¡¯s great competition, nor were they the Elders in charge of the various Outer Peaks. They were Outer Disciples who had recently advanced to the Golden Core Realm. The Sect had long established a rule that Outer Disciples who formed their Golden Core could still be taken in for cultivation in the Inner Sect. Among these two was an individual with graying hair, clearly no longer young. Even with a Golden Core, it was doubtful how much potential lay in his future or how far he could go. The crowd did not have to wait long before one after another, Inner Sect Elders with unfathomable and overwhelming auras arrived, gliding through the sky. After a short while, someone whispered softly, ¡°The Sect Leader has arrived.¡± Qin Feng and the others couldn¡¯t help but look up. They saw an elderly white-haired man with a beard arriving on a crane in the distance. Wearing a wide robe with fluttering sleeves, the old man also held a horsetail whisk in his hand. From afar, he looked less like the Sect Leader of the Beast Taming Sect and more like a hermit cultivator living in seclusion on a Spiritual Mountain Blessed Land. ¡°Greetings, Sect Leader.¡± The Inner Sect Elders saluted reverently in unison. ¡°Disciples pay homage to the Sect Leader.¡± Qin Feng and the other disciples bowed deeply. They did not dare to be as casual as those Inner Sect Elders. With solemn expressions and gazes steadfastly forward, they conveyed extraordinary respect. ¡°Hm.¡± Sect Leader Gu Wuxi flicked his horsetail whisk, ¡°No need for such formality, rise, all of you.¡± With those words, a gentle force lifted all the bowing disciples to their feet. ¡°Why is the Sect Leader out of seclusion so soon? Weren¡¯t you in closed cultivation?¡± Vice Hall Master Li Hong of the Preaching Hall inquired. ¡°I am greatly comforted by the new disciples¡¯ initiation today and felt I should personally come to see them,¡± Gu Wuxi answered. Glancing at the young disciples, he nodded with satisfaction at their vibrant youth and said to the new disciples, ¡°Being able to stand out from the tens of thousands of disciples in the Outer Sect makes you the cream of the crop among the young generation. Your futures are boundless. Although your current cultivation is low and strength weak, requiring the Sect¡¯s protection, as long as you apply yourselves, you will eventually become the pillars of the Beast Taming Sect, expanding our territory and spreading the Sect¡¯s fame across the world¡­¡± Clearly, the Sect Leader was also quite eloquent. His speech, lasting half an hour, stirred the blood of the young crowd so much that they could already envision themselves as high-ranking Sect officials in the future. After a while, Gu Wuxi flicked his horsetail whisk and said, ¡°Law Enforcement Elder, take these disciples to the Ancestor Hall to pay respects to our forebears, then register them and include them in the Beast Taming Sect¡¯s formal records.¡± ¡°Following the Sect Leader¡¯s decree.¡± A Law Enforcement Hall Elder stepped forward and addressed the crowd, ¡°Follow me to the Ancestor Hall to pay respects to the forebears.¡± With that, he led everyone towards the Ancestor Hall at the back of the Mountain Gate. The crowd followed suit. Outside the Ancestor Hall lay a Spiritual Beast the size of a Barbaric Elephant, with a tiger¡¯s head, a dog¡¯s body, and a Qilin tail, a horn on its forehead, and its body covered in white fur, lazily sprawled on the ground and half-closing its eyes as the people walked by. This Spiritual Beast¡¯s aura was unremarkable, at least these ordinary disciples couldn¡¯t discern its strength. ¡°Eh? What kind of Spiritual Beast is this?¡± The disciples wondered to themselves upon seeing the beast. ¡°Could it be a new variant?¡± ¡°Don¡¯t speak nonsense.¡± The Law Enforcement Elder rebuked the group and paid his respects to the beast before telling them, ¡°This is Diting, the second-generation grandmaster¡¯s Riding Tool. Do not disturb, swiftly follow me into the Ancestor Hall, to pay respects to our grandmasters.¡± Chapter 202 - Chapter 202 Chapter 199 Death Replacement Talisman ?Chapter 202: Chapter 199: Death Replacement Talisman Chapter 202: Chapter 199: Death Replacement Talisman ¡°Diting?¡± Upon hearing this name, Qin Feng¡¯s heart stirred. He indeed had heard of such Divine Beasts, which were rumored to be capable of discerning all things in the world through sound, particularly adept at hearing people¡¯s true intentions and distinguishing the real from the false. Compared to the Dragon Son Bi¡¯an, whose Evil Exorcism Eye could monitor righteousness and evil, Diting¡¯s Divine Skills to discern the true from the false through sound was equally matched, each with its distinct advantages. The only difference was that one manifested in the eyes while the other operated through the ears. However, why had the second generation Grandmaster placed this Diting Divine Beast outside the Ancestor Hall, was it really meant to guard the Ancestor Hall? Could it be¡­ Qin Feng glanced at Diting, quickly collected his Spirit, and dared not think any further. He didn¡¯t know the extent to which Diting¡¯s Divine Skills were powerful, whether it could listen to the hearts of others through spoken sounds or if it was similar to Telepathy and the like. If this Diting was also proficient in Telepathy, then it would be best for him now to be straightforward, guarding his Spirit tightly to prevent Diting from discerning any of his secrets. Fortunately, Diting was lying there quietly, without making any other movements, which greatly reassured Qin Feng. The other Disciples, upon hearing that this strangely shaped Spiritual Beast was actually the mount of the second-generation Grandmaster, instantly felt a sense of reverence and dared not say anything more, respectfully passing by it one by one. The layout of the Ancestor Hall was not lavish but rather had an ancient charm, simplicity and elegance, filled with traces of being weathered by the years. ?0¦Í?¦Ï.§ã¦Ï Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í?¦Ï.§ã0 ¡°The Ancestor Hall is the only building in our Beast Taming Sect that has survived from ancient times and is also one of the core places of our Sect,¡± said the Law Enforcement Elder with a solemn voice. ¡°Since the foundation of our Sect, we have undergone countless trials and tribulations. Just during the Ancient Great Tribulation, we were attacked by the Demon Clan as many as nineteen times, and that¡¯s not counting the conflicts with other forces after the Great Tribulation ended. Over tens of thousands of years, there were three times when enemies directly breached our Mountain Gate¡¯s Great Array, causing countless buildings to be destroyed and many Disciples to be killed. Additionally, there were seven instances where powerful entities either brazenly invaded or sneaked in, ultimately causing heavy losses to our Sect. For so many years, even the Mountain Gate¡¯s main hall has been rebuilt several times, yet only the Ancestor Hall has always stood steadfast, never allowing any foreign enemies to disturb the peace of our ancestors.¡± Upon hearing his words, whether it was a psychological effect or due to the multitude of Prohibitions within the Ancestor Hall, the moment the Disciples approached, their moods instantly became heavy, as if someone was watching them from the depths of the Void. But upon closer sensing, they found nothing at all. Entering the Ancestor Hall, what they first saw were the portraits of the ancestors hanging on the walls. On both sides of the main hall hung twenty-eight additional portraits, representing the elders who had died in battle throughout the tens of thousands of years since the foundation of the Sect. Those who were respected enough to be enshrined in the Ancestor Hall were all those who had Achieved Immortality and died in battle. That is to say, aside from the founding Grandmaster, the Beast Taming Sect had lost twenty-eight True Immortals or higher Realm existences since its founding. This discovery was startling to everyone. These were beings who had Achieved Longevity after all, and it was shocking that so many had perished in battle. Fortunately, the Law Enforcement Elder quickly assured them that most of these ancestors had sacrificed their lives during the Ancient Great Tribulation. This information greatly relieved the Disciples, for if so many Immortals had died during a period of peace, it would definitely have scared them. Once the Law Enforcement Elder had briefly introduced the deeds of those revered elders, everyone began to show the utmost respect. ¡°If it weren¡¯t for the Grandmaster founding the lineage of our Beast Taming Sect, if it weren¡¯t for the ancestors who carved a path for us through the thorns of the Ancient Great Tribulation, if it weren¡¯t for the battles fought to the death by generations of elders, where would we, the later generations, get our fate to cultivate in peace?¡± The Law Enforcement Elder looked at them and said, ¡°Therefore, you must always remember the accomplishments of our past Grandmasters and the sacrifices made by our ancestors. Today, you too are about to join our Sect. From now on, you must uphold the teachings of the Beast Taming Sect, never betray the Sect and always be loyal to the Mountain Gate. Can you do so?¡± ¡°For the Sect, we Disciples are willing to go through fire and water, and not shy away from a thousand deaths.¡± The Disciples were impassioned and resolute in their tones. ¡°Good.¡± The Law Enforcement Elder nodded, ¡°Since that is the case, follow me in paying homage to the Grandmaster.¡± With these words, everyone immediately knelt down, led by the Law Enforcement Elder in performing three prostrations and nine bows while chanting oaths. Finally, the Law Enforcement Elder prayed softly, ¡°Grandmaster above, each and every Grandmaster above, we Disciples come today to worship you. Now, one hundred and two Disciples are joining the Inner Sect, adding new blood to our Sect, receiving our teachings, committed to enhancing the glory of our Sect. Please bless us, revered Grandmasters, protect us, and let us, the later generations, never forget the contributions of our ancestors. We will certainly carry forward the legacy of the Beast Taming Sect, thereby protecting more of the Human Clan from enslavement by Alien Races¡­¡± After all the procedures were completed, the Law Enforcement Elder led everyone from the Ancestor Hall to the Internal Affairs Hall located midway up the mountain to officially register and add them to the roster of Inner Sect Disciples, receive their Magic Robes and Identity Jade Tokens, and finally returned to the Mountain Gate¡¯s main hall. When they left the Ancestor Hall for the Internal Affairs Hall, there were many Elders from the Inner Sect present in the Mountain Gate¡¯s main hall. They had come for the Disciples of their respective lineages. Qin Feng and Long Qian, although they had fought fiercely during the Outer Sect¡¯s competition, upon entering the Inner Sect, they now belonged to the same lineage. However, under this lineage, the various Elders each had their separate authority and duties, so they were each busy with their affairs during normal times. Today they had come, some to take on students, others simply to take the Disciples of their lineage back with them before finding a Master for them. Those who were lucky might be placed under some Elders, and the less fortunate could only be apprenticed to some of the older Golden Core Disciples of the Inner Sect. Since each peak of the Outer Sect corresponded to a lineage of the Inner Sect, there was no fighting over Disciples, and even when a rare talent appeared one or two times, it was an internal matter within their lineage, so there was no chance of being ridiculed by other lineage Elders in the Mountain Gate¡¯s main hall. Ning Wuxu had now also arrived. In previous years, he seldom came, as each year there was a new batch of Outer Disciples entering, and he, as the Great Elder of the Spiritual Snake Lineage, really didn¡¯t have so much spare time to come here; usually, he would casually send an Elder to bring the people back. However, this time was different because there was a disciple from his own lineage among them. ¡°Sect Master, how is it? There¡¯s no problem with the disciples this time, right?¡± Below, an Elder, his face full of wrinkles, asked. He was an Elder of the Inner Sect¡¯s Spiritual Tree Lineage, and his lifebound was an Undying Ancient Tree. Nobody knew how many years that tree had been alive, but it was still brimming with vitality, which also resulted in this Elder having a lifespan far beyond that of ordinary cultivators at his level. Otherwise, by the normal lifespan of a cultivator, this Elder would probably have long since perished. ¡°There shouldn¡¯t be any problems.¡± Gu Wuxi said, ¡°Just now, the Diting Divine Beast transmitted a message, and I didn¡¯t sense anything amiss from it. Having the Grandmaster send the Diting Divine Beast has saved us countless worries.¡± ¡°Quite normal.¡± Another Elder spoke, ¡°Now that a great tribulation is approaching, and a great war is about to start, our Beast Taming Sect will also soon be launching a campaign against the Demon Gods of the Foreign Realm, and we¡¯ll undoubtedly need the help of many disciples. In my opinion, the Grandmaster wants us to divert more of our energies to assembling the conquering army.¡± ¡°Then, should we recruit more disciples into the Inner Sect to facilitate their cultivation?¡± ¡°That wouldn¡¯t be good. If we rashly admit more disciples, we¡¯ll need to open the Treasure Vault and consume its resources. Doing this over the long term is extremely detrimental to the development of our Sect,¡± ¡°Heh, what¡¯s there to fear? As long as we invade that Demon God¡¯s world, all the resources we¡¯ve expended will be replenished. It¡¯s only right that we use more resources now to cultivate disciples. Besides, if we don¡¯t use those resources now, when will we ever use them? Using more now will make our Beast Taming Sect disciples stronger by one more degree, and on the Otherworld Battlefield in the future, our disciples will be able to suffer fewer casualties.¡± For a moment, the Elders in the hall split into two factions, with one side believing that some of the Sect¡¯s foundation should be consumed to enhance the disciples¡¯ strength in preparation for the impending war. The other side thought that the contents of the Treasure Vault should not be easily touched, as those were accumulated by the Sect over the years to guard against major emergencies. Once they were used, it was uncertain when they could be replenished. Regarding the notion of resource plundering while attacking the Otherworld, it wasn¡¯t impossible, but who could guarantee that the world belonging to that Demon God would indeed be resource-rich? If that world turned out to be resource-poor, they might not even be able to recover their initial investment. ¡°Alright, the disciples are about to arrive, let¡¯s discuss this matter later.¡± With a statement from Gu Wuxi, the Elders who had been arguing red-faced and heatedly suddenly changed their demeanor. In front of the junior members, most Elders still paid great attention to their own image. ¡°Greetings to the Sect Master and all the Elders.¡± Qin Feng and the others entered the hall and bowed respectfully to everyone. ¡°Not bad, there are indeed some promising seeds among the disciples this time.¡± Gu Wuxi¡¯s gaze was sharp as he looked over everyone with satisfaction, then turned to Ning Wuxu who was sitting to his left and asked, ¡°Junior Brother Ning, I heard that you took on a Registered Disciple some time ago, has he made it through the competition to join us?¡± ¡°Sect Leader Senior Brother speaks the truth, I indeed accepted a disciple.¡± Ning Wuxu gave a slight smile, revealing a hint of scholarly grace, and gestured to Qin Feng, who was standing at the front of the disciples, ¡°Apprentice, step forward for your initiation. What are you waiting for?¡± Qin Feng immediately stepped forward, dropped to his knees before Ning Wuxu, and said respectfully, ¡°Disciple Qin Feng, greets his mentor.¡± After saying this, he kowtowed again. This was different from his previous initiation; it was more similar to when he had kowtowed before the ancestral hall. After three kowtows and nine bows, Ning Wuxu then gently lifted his hand, signaling that the ceremony was complete, and let him stand up. Ning Wuxu looked Qin Feng up and down several times and nodded with satisfaction. To be honest, Qin Feng¡¯s direct entry to the Inner Sect through the competition this year was somewhat beyond his expectations, and when he learned that Qin Feng had even attained the title of first place in the competition, he was even more surprised. He had not expected Qin Feng to fight his way through the competition and gain such an impressive ranking. Although this was also related to the absence of a truly dominating genius in the Outer Sect cohort, it didn¡¯t mean that there were no geniuses among them, just no disciple as overwhelmingly powerful as Li Miaozhen, who could suppress peers from all peaks. ¡°Congratulations, Elder Ning, on accepting such an excellent disciple.¡± The other Elders offered their congratulations. A disciple who was the first in the Outer Disciple competition could be considered a genius at any time, so it was indeed worth congratulating. ¡°Heh, my colleagues are too kind.¡± Ning Wuxu smiled lightly and waved his hand, sending a streak of light into Qin Feng¡¯s body where it disappeared, ¡°This is a life-saving treasure from your teacher. Treasure it and refine it well; it should ensure your life is without worry for at least one instance.¡± ¡°Thank you, Master, for your generous gift.¡± Qin Feng quickly expressed his gratitude, then inwardly inspected with his Divine Sense and soon saw a Divine Talisman floating in his Dantian. He felt the material of the talisman seemed familiar, and after careful identification, his heart stirred, ¡°Is this¡­ a Death Replacement Talisman made from a Sky-Reaching Lotus Leaf?¡± Chapter 203 - Chapter 203 Chapter 200 Ancient Secrets ?Chapter 203: Chapter 200 Ancient Secrets Chapter 203: Chapter 200 Ancient Secrets Qin Feng realized that the Heavenly Connecting Lotus from the Ancient Battlefield must have been picked by his master. Otherwise, given the rarity of the Heavenly Connecting Lotus, it was impossible for Ning Wuxu to have found another one in such a short time. He immersed his spirit into the Death Replacement Talisman and clearly felt the vigorous life force within. Now, all that was missing was to merge it with his own breath. Such Death Replacement Talismans were actually better to be refined as early as possible. If he were to complete the refinement of this Death Replacement Talisman now, it would be able to constantly absorb his power as he grew, achieving unity with his breath and growing with him. Even if he were to become an Immortal, the talisman would instinctively draw upon the Immortal Energy in him and eventually evolve into a Death Replacement Immortal Talisman. But for a formidable existence like Ning Wuxu, who was only a half-step away from becoming an Immortal, things were different. His realm was so high that even if he spent a vast amount of True Yuan to refine the Death Replacement Talisman, he could only barely achieve a match with his current breath. Once he became an Immortal, the life force within the talisman would be far inferior to his, and naturally, it could no longer serve the purpose of death replacement. Only someone like Qin Feng, who nurtured the talisman in their Dantian from a low cultivation realm, could let the talisman grow with their own cultivation realm. As long as the Death Replacement Talisman did not shatter, he would always have a second life. Qin Feng quickly retracted his spirit and stood behind Ning Wuxu to avoid being an eyesore in the hall, as there were still some Inner Sect Elders who needed to take disciples. In fact, the number of people who were taken as disciples by Inner Sect Elders on the spot was not too many, just a dozen or so. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï???.§ã¦Ï For example, Long Qian was taken as a disciple by an Inner Sect Elder sitting at Ning Wuxu¡¯s side. There was also Xue Baoshu, who was accepted by a middle-aged man large and mountainous in stature, along with others such as Kong Xuan, Ma Xingkong, Yuan Powang, and Lei Zhan. Qin Feng noticed that those who were selected on the spot by Inner Sect Elders were all the most outstanding young people of their generation. As for those disciples who escaped the Outer and made it only after years of accumulation, only two or three of them were noticed by an elder, and the rest were taken to the different branches and arranged by the elders of those branches. He understood that the real geniuses were probably already reserved by some Inner Sect Elders even before they entered the Sect. Those who worked their way up into the Inner Sect were not unchosen, but it was previously uncertain whether they could make it into the Inner Sect, so no one paid special attention to them. Like Zhao Qinglin of the Spiritual Snake Peak, who just fell short of entering the Inner Sect last year, and was even unluckier this year, meeting stronger geniuses earlier on and being thoroughly defeated, unable to pass even the first round of competition. Since he couldn¡¯t stand out among the numerous Outer Disciples, of course, the Inner Sect Elders wouldn¡¯t pay much attention to him. So those disciples whose names weren¡¯t particularly well-known were simply allocated to various branches after being taken back, not left without anyone to teach them. The only somewhat controversial figure was Lin Jingxin. Several elders not belonging to the Spiritual Tree Lineage were also very interested in her and intended to take her as a disciple. Especially a female Elder from the Creation Lineage, who outright offered terms, wanting to take this disciple with an Innate Dao Heart as her own and convert her to the Creation Technique. However, she was promptly rejected by two elders from the Spiritual Tree Lineage. Especially the elder who had refined the Undying Ancient Tree as his Lifebound treasure, held an astonishingly high seniority, and using his old age as leverage, fiercely rebuked those interested in Lin Jingxin and then bid farewell to the Sect Master in a hurry after sweeping up Lin Jingxin and leaving. Unless they were insane, they would never willingly give up a disciple with an Innate Dao Heart to someone else. Wasn¡¯t it better to cultivate such a disciple within their own lineage? A genius like Lin Jingxin, who possessed an Innate Dao Heart, was actually a notch above Kong Xuan, Wei Yan, Long Qian, and the rest. If they were considered first-rate talents, then Lin Jingxin belonged to the top-level category of exceptional talent, a kind of disciple once in a century, not something to be easily handed to others. As for what happened to Lin Jingxin after being taken back, and under whose guidance she would be, they would have to discuss that further; after all, everyone wanted such a disciple with boundless potential to inherit their own Daoist techniques. This scene filled many disciples with envy. Unfortunately, although their talents were decent, they were just thata€¡±decent. They had not stood out from their peers when they were in the Outer, only managing to barely surpass their fellows through time, and now making it into the Inner was already good enough. To make the elders of each lineage compete for them was just a dream. Of course, given the strength of their Divine Senses, they seldom even sleep, let alone dream. ¡°Alright, since these disciples have all been assigned, you should take them back and arrange for their guidance properly, hoping they will succeed soon,¡± declared Sect Master Gu Wuxi. ¡°Great changes are forthcoming, and every bit of strength will bring a measure of stability to our Beast Taming Sect. I hope everyone puts in their utmost effort.¡± The elders hurriedly assured, ¡°Sect Master, rest assured, we will do our best.¡± ¡°That¡¯s good.¡± Without further ado, Gu Wuxi instructed everyone to disperse. Qin Feng followed behind Ning Wuxu, gliding through the sky. At this moment, there were no Spiritual Beasts beneath their feet; they were simply being pulled forward by Ning Wuxu¡¯s power of the rules. Their speed was not particularly fast, which allowed Qin Feng to fully appreciate the scenery of the Inner Sect. ¡°The rules of the Inner Sect aren¡¯t that different from the Outer Sect; after all, the sect rules are the same. It¡¯s just that there are a few more forbidden areas in the Inner Sect. As long as you don¡¯t violate the sect rules or recklessly enter those forbidden areas, you¡¯ll be fine.¡± Ning Wuxu turned to glance at him and smiled, ¡°The number of disciples under me is not large, with you included, there are only four. Therefore, Heavenly Snake Ridge is somewhat quiet, not as bustling as the places of other fellow sect members. You¡¯re still young, so if you feel lonely, you can go to other places, make some friends among your peers, which won¡¯t do you any harm.¡± ¡°Yes, Master.¡± Qin Feng nodded in agreement. Now that he had entered the Inner Sect, there was no need to be as urgent as when he was in the Outer Sect. Although he shouldn¡¯t slack off in his cultivation, it was indeed true that he should get to know more fellow sect members and make some friends. Cultivation was never something you could achieve great success in by working in isolation; discussing the Dao with other sect members appropriately was very beneficial to his cultivation. ¡°Up ahead are the nineteen peaks, all belonging to our Spiritual Snake Lineage as a cultivation grounds.¡± Ning Wuxu extended his hand to point forward and spoke, ¡°The disciples of our Spiritual Snake Lineage are not few in the Inner Sect. We have thirty-two Elders who have reached the Purple Mansion realm and above, including five with a Dharma Image, and in terms of the Primordial Spirit Realm, including myself, there are only two. The other one, according to seniority, is my Ancestor Martial Uncle. He¡¯s aged a lot, his life span is nearing depletion, so he closed himself for a life-or-death retreat in Ten Thousand Demons Cave Heaven three hundred years ago, hoping for a breakthrough to become a True Immortal. Otherwise, within a century, he¡¯ll probably exhaust his life span, and then¡­¡± He sighed softly and did not continue. But Qin Feng understood that once one¡¯s life span was exhausted and the Daoist had not achieved immortality and longevity, one was bound to face death. Then Ning Wuxu continued, ¡°Additionally, our lineage has two Supreme Elders who live in seclusion in Ten Thousand Demons Cave Heaven. They are cultivators of profound achievements who will not easily leave unless necessary, so you won¡¯t be able to meet them for now.¡± Hearing this, Qin Feng felt excited. He had not anticipated that just his own lineage would have two Supreme Elders stationed in the Sect, and along with the dozens of other Inner Sect Elders, it was safe to say that the Spiritual Snake Lineage alone was stronger than many medium and small sects. At the very least, Sects like the Fog Hidden Sect would not be comparable to the Spiritual Snake Lineage because the Fog Hidden Sect only had one ancestor who had achieved immortality. No wonder the Beast Taming Sect had dominated the Southern Domain for so many years and occupied such vast territory; only two forces dared to openly oppose them. If other lineages were as strong as the Spiritual Snake Lineage, then the foundation of the Beast Taming Sect was indeed terrifyingly deep. Ning Wuxu turned to look at him again, seeming to perceive his thoughts, chuckled softly, and shook his head, ¡°During the Ancient Great Tribulation, prodigies were numerous. To counter the invasion of other realms, numerous sects fell and a great many disciples dieda€¡±some sects were even wiped out completely without leaving behind their inheritances. ?¦Ï??0.?¦Ï When you went to pay homage at the Ancestor Hall, you should have seen that many predecessors enshrined there had died during the Ancient Great Tribulation. In fact, we did not win that tribulation. The number of powerful invaders from other realms was countless and too difficult to overcome. In the end, out of desperation, the exceptional powerful Daoist Ancestor Taixuan used the Star Shifting Technique, moving our Biluo Great World from its original place in the starry sky, thus cutting off reinforcements for the invaders from other realms. After that, to prevent the already-invading powerhouses from other realms from sending messages and opening void passages, other mighty individuals sacrificed themselves, harmonized with Heaven, merging their will with the will of the Heavenly Dao, sealing the world and trapping all the enemies within, and then after three thousand years of bitter fighting, we finally killed one by one the powerful invaders from other realms. Of course, a few inevitably slipped througha€¡±like those from the Demon Secta€¡±who were the progeny of traitors who betrayed our Human Clan. There might still be some remnants of the Alien Races among them, though those elusive ones are too well-hidden to be rooted out.¡± Qin Feng listened, his heart racing at the revelation that the outcome of the Ancient Great Tribulation was such that their world had not emerged victorious but had been forced to flee and hide in a different starry sky. Ning Wuxu continued, ¡°The Ancient Great Tribulation lasted too long and coupled with the uncontrolled destruction and plundering by the powerful invaders from other realms, our world suffered immense foundational loss. So even though the current Cultivation World seems prosperous with a multitude of approaches flourishing, it¡¯s actually not as strong as in Ancient Times. Too many powerful individuals died back then, and despite tens of thousands of years of recuperation, the former strength has not been restored. Our Beast Taming Sect has also seen few individuals achieving immortality in these tens of thousands of years. With such large consumption of the world¡¯s foundation and without compensation, it¡¯s very difficult to give birth to more powerful beings.¡± Chapter 204 - Chapter 204 Chapter 201 Yin Yang Mixed Hole The Origin of the World ?Chapter 204: Chapter 201 Yin Yang Mixed Hole The Origin of the World Chapter 204: Chapter 201 Yin Yang Mixed Hole The Origin of the World Ning Wuxu said, ¡°Now that you¡¯ve entered the Inner Sect, you are bound to learn about these matters eventually. I¡¯m telling you this to broaden your horizons. Do not assume that the skies of the Southern Domain encompass all there is. You must understand that the Void Ten Thousand Worlds are boundlessly vast. Only by cultivating a more expansive heart can one possibly attain higher realms of cultivation. If you lack ambition and are content to lead a mediocre life, that¡¯s one thing. But if you desire to pursue the path of Longevity Dao, you will inevitably come into contact with these things.¡± After a moment of silence, Qin Feng suddenly asked, ¡°Master, how can the depleted foundation of the world be restored?¡± ¡°Oh?¡± Ning Wuxu gave him a surprised glance and chuckled, ¡°These issues are too distant for you; even I am not capable of addressing them. However, since you asked, I shall give you a brief explanation. Do you remember the incident involving the Demon God Stone Statue from the Foreign Realm that you brought back last time?¡± Qin Feng nodded, ¡°Disciple remembers.¡± ¡°Have you heard anyone mention that our Sect plans to attack the world where the Demon God who dared to spread its faith in our realm belongs?¡± Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï???.§ã? cough, Senior Sister Liu, mention this matter before.¡± ¡°Hmph, that girl really dares to say anything.¡± Ning Wuxu snorted, then went on, ¡°Well, you¡¯re going to find out about these things sooner or later anyway. The reason why the Sect wants to launch an inter-realm war is that we need more resources to cultivate our disciples, more battles to enhance experience, and more adversaries to hone ourselves. While Taiyi Mountain and the Giant Spirit Sect are antagonistic towards us, the War God Palace above has forbidden us to initiate wars that would annihilate a sect or even allow large-scale sectarian warfare to break out, so if we want to find opponents to temper our disciples, we must look outward. Fortunately, after tens of thousands of years of recuperation, our Biluo Great World has recovered a fair amount of its primordial qi. Now that the pattern of the Land of Five Domains has stabilized, the only way forward is external expansion, employing the same tactics those realms used against us during the Ancient Great Tribulation. We need to conquer other worlds to acquire their resources, plunder from otherworlds to replenish what our own world has lost, and enhance our world¡¯s foundation. Only by doing so can the Human Clan birth more unparalleled great beings.¡± ¡°Master, what exactly does ¡®world foundation¡¯ mean?¡± Qin Feng looked puzzled, ¡°Does it mean that merely bringing some resources back from the outside can strengthen the world¡¯s foundation?¡± Ning Wuxu glanced at him in surprise, not expecting his newly taken disciple to see through to the nature of the matter and ask such a question. ¡°Do you know how a world is born?¡± Qin Feng honestly shook his head, ¡°Disciple does not know.¡± ¡°It¡¯s said that in the deepest parts of the Endless Universe, at the place of origin, the Yin Yang Mixed Hole exists, co-dependent upon each other; the yang hole devours all that is in the Void, and the yin hole nurtures the Void Giant Beasts. One intakes, the other outputs, maintaining the balance of the universe. These Void Giant Beasts, born from the Yin Yang Mixed Hole, wander through the Cosmic Void, swallowing all tangible matter and even each other, all for the chance to one day transform from the Void to reality and evolve into complete worlds. This is how worlds come into being. Of course, the actual number of worlds that evolve into habitats capable of fostering life is exceedingly small. The vast majority of Void Giant Beasts wander for countless years, and when their lifespan ends, they can only evolve into lifeless stars. Only an exceedingly small number might evolve into complete worlds, giving birth to various rules and unique forms of life. For the Void Giant Beasts, transforming from the Void into reality and evolving into worlds is their mission and their only chance for the essence of their consciousness to persist. Once they evolve their bodies into complete worlds, their consciousness then dwells within the rules, becoming the Heavenly Dao of a world.¡± Qin Feng was completely stunned. After a while, he swallowed hard and stuttered, ¡°You mean to say, Master, that every star in the sky, every world in the cosmic void, evolved from Void Giant Beasts? Are we living on the body of an enormous Void Giant Beast?¡± ¡°In some respects, you could say that,¡± Ning Wuxu replied with a faint smile. ¡°Actually, we members of the Human Clan aren¡¯t naturally evolved lifeforms of the Biluo Great World. Legend says that before this land took form, there were Great Powers from the Human Clan Ancestor Realm who traveled the Cosmic Void and happened upon two massive Void Giant Beasts locked in a struggle to devour one another in preparation for their final transformation into reality. One of those Great Powers struck a bargain with the losing giant beast: if it agreed to let the Human Clan dominate this world once its transformation was complete, he would help it triumph. The Void Giant Beast then devoured its rival with the Great Power¡¯s assistance and completed its final evolution, which gave birth to our present-day Biluo Great World. That Great Power also moved a portion of the Human Clan from the Ancestor Realm to the Biluo Great World, allowing them to live and prosper here, using the resources of a newly born great world to support our clan¡¯s cultivation. Rumor has it that when the world was first formed, treasures were abundant and there remained a great deal of Innate Spiritual Energy, which, in less than a hundred thousand years, allowed the Human Clan to produce so many ancient powerhouses. Without this, the Biluo Great World would not have been able to withstand the invasion of many worlds during the Ancient Great Tribulation. The reality is, the reason those realms invaded in the first place was that they coveted the countless resources of our newly born Biluo Great World. To restore the origin of the Biluo Great World, we must use the same method to plunder the origins of other worlds. As for what the origin is, you can think of it as the core of a world, or you can see it as the physical manifestation of its rules.¡± Ning Wuxu¡¯s revelation of one secret after another left Qin Feng¡¯s mind reeling like a turbulent sea. He truly had not expected that the Void and its myriad stars were born in such a manner. Seeing how Qin Feng¡¯s spirit was unsettled, Ning Wuxu couldn¡¯t help but smile slightly, ¡°What, are you frightened?¡± ¡°A little.¡± ¡°Hehe, that¡¯s normal. ?¦Ï¦Í?¦Ï.§ã¦Ï Most people would find these matters somewhat unbelievable. When I first joined the Inner Sect, there was a Senior Brother who even worried about whether the world under our feet might one day come back to life and swallow us whole, hahaha¡­¡± Qin Feng looked at his master with a somewhat strange expression. Was it really a Senior Brother from the sect? Or could it be none other than Master himself? Otherwise, since everyone goes their separate ways with their own masters after becoming disciples, how could it be such a coincidence that someone else¡¯s master was telling these stories just in time for you to overhear them? Ning Wuxu immediately noticed the odd look in his eyes and glared at him irritably, ¡°Don¡¯t let your thoughts wander. It really was that Senior Sect Brother who later told me.¡± ¡°Oh.¡± Qin Feng nodded his head, appearing very obedient. If Master said not to ponder over it unnecessarily, then he shouldn¡¯t. Otherwise, wouldn¡¯t he be asking for a scolding and making things unpleasant for himself? As the master and disciple were talking, they had also returned to Heavenly Snake Ridge. ¡°Master.¡± Zhao Qiankun and Hao Shicheng knew that today was their junior brother¡¯s initiation day, so they stayed on Heavenly Snake Ridge and did not go out. ¡°Mm.¡± Ning Wuxu nodded slightly and said to them, ¡°This is your junior brother. Take good care of him in the future and make sure no one bullies him.¡± Qin Feng stepped forward and bowed, ¡°Junior brother Qin Feng, greeting the two Senior Brothers.¡± Hao Shicheng said in a carefree manner, ¡°Junior brother, there¡¯s no need for such formalities. Rest assured, with us here, we definitely won¡¯t let anyone bully you.¡± ¡°You? Better forget it.¡± Zhao Qiankun quipped, ¡°I¡¯ve heard that Junior Brother has a grudge against Jiang Dongliu from Taiyi Mountain Punishment Sword Hall. If Jiang Dongliu comes looking for trouble, what could you, a Golden Core Realm cultivator, possibly do to help?¡± Hearing this, Hao Shicheng immediately looked dejected, ¡°I also want to advance to the Purple Mansion, but I¡¯m blocked by a bottleneck and can¡¯t break through. What can I do?¡± ¡°If you put the energy you spend fiddling with those flowers and plants into your cultivation, maybe you would have advanced already.¡± Zhao Qiankun said what he often said before, and without waiting for Hao Shicheng to retort, he turned to Qin Feng and said, ¡°Junior brother, I¡¯m your eldest Senior Brother Zhao Qiankun. If you have any issues, feel free to come to me, I¡¯ve got your back.¡± Hearing this, Qin Feng quickly made a salute, ¡°Thank you, Senior Brother.¡± ¡°Haha, no need for that. We are disciples under the same master, closest within our sect and should support each other naturally.¡± Zhao Qiankun laughed heartily, ¡°As for Jiang Dongliu, you don¡¯t need to worry about him. Even if he knew where you were, he wouldn¡¯t dare step onto the Beast Taming Sect¡¯s territory. If he did, he would surely not return alive. I heard that his sister, Jiang Yinghong, once troubled you outside the Heavenly Pool Secret Realm. Hmmph, speaking of which, that woman once escaped from me. It¡¯s one thing for her cultivation to have made no progress over the years, but to be so bold and reckless, she must be relying on her brother¡¯s power. Perhaps, I should find an opportunity to have a confrontation with Jiang Dongliu, and settle this grudge once and for all.¡± Qin Feng listened and felt greatly thankful, ¡°Thank you, Senior Brother, for looking out for me, but you need not take risks for my sake.¡± ¡°Hehe, little junior brother, you don¡¯t understand.¡± Zhao Qiankun waved it off, saying, ¡°When I was younger, I had some grievances with those Jiang siblings and fought with them more than once. I¡¯m not seeking him out just for your sake.¡± ¡°I see.¡± Qin Feng nodded, then asked with some concern, ¡°I¡¯m not afraid of Jiang Dongliu coming for revenge now that I¡¯m within the sect. If necessary, I could simply avoid leaving the mountain gate. However, my Qin Family is far away in Chu Kingdom; they wouldn¡¯t go after my family members, would they?¡± ¡°You can rest assured about that. The Cultivation World has its own rules; they wouldn¡¯t dare to act recklessly, or else they¡¯d bring misfortune upon themselves. The Jiang Family isn¡¯t just Jiang Dongliu and Jiang Yinghong; they have many clan members and wouldn¡¯t act rashly just over one daughter. If they truly dared to break the rules, we would be justified in annihilating all their bloodline descendants and could even use this to launch a major attack on many cultivator families from Taiyi Mountain. After all, it would be the cultivators of Taiyi Mountain who broke the rules first, and they wouldn¡¯t have a leg to stand on even if things escalated. Still, judging by Jiang Dongliu¡¯s character, he isn¡¯t bold enough to take such action.¡± With this explanation, Qin Feng felt relieved. He understood these principles, but he brought them up deliberately in front of his master so that the master would be aware of his concerns. That way, even if Jiang Dongliu did harbor intentions of targeting his family in the future, the master wouldn¡¯t ignore it. PS: Today, I saw some readers discussing the possibility of Jiang Dongliu annihilating the Qin Family, so I adjusted this chapter. I want to explain again that cultivators actually can¡¯t commit murder arbitrarily; otherwise, it would be chaos. Especially the higher-ups of major forcesa€¡±they can¡¯t act recklessly. It¡¯s just like how M country recently sent people to kill a general from I country, but they got retaliated against, right? So the rules must be followed. Chapter 205 - Chapter 205 Chapter 202 Earth Evil Sacred Ground ?Chapter 205: Chapter 202 Earth Evil Sacred Ground Chapter 205: Chapter 202 Earth Evil Sacred Ground ¡°The Dao is silent and mysterious, its principle ultimately inactive, superior virtue is hollow and void, righteousness encompasses myriad wonders, thus concentrating the essence into a unity of truth, not attributing life to false things, shaping nine voids without waiting for substance to become the body, containing chaotic divinity and nurturing the pure essence of a desolate origin, hazy like an emperor preceding all, bordering on the extremely subtle, therefore able to truly merge with the Golden Palace, crown the yin and yang, complete the creation process, stand alone before heaven and earth, follow the dust of calamity without ignorancea€|¡± Atop Heavenly Snake Ridge, on the edge of a cliff, Ning Wuxu sat cross-legged on a massive bluestone, his clear and sonorous voice continuously spreading out as he expounded the Dao. A few steps away, Qin Feng and Hao Shicheng both sat upright on the ground, listening attentively. Although the two men¡¯s Dao cultivation differed dramatically, Ning Wuxu was not discussing Cultivation Methods at the moment but was expounding on the ultimate principles of the Dao to them. Hence, this Dao lecture was not about the Cultivation Realm but depended on personal understanding. Although both of them found it somewhat confusing and could not grasp much of the profound mysteries of the Dao, they still listened with relish. Because when Ning Wuxu lectured, the rhythm of the Dao resonated, cleansing their spirit and making them feel their Daoist Heart becoming more stable, and their Divine Sense expanding. In truth, Ning Wuxu¡¯s teachings were mainly for Hao Shicheng. After all, Hao Shicheng had been stuck at the Golden Core Peak for many years with only a minuscule grasp of the Dao. Occasionally, Ning Wuxu used the resonance of the Dao to stimulate his understanding, trying to spur some insight. As for Qin Feng, he was just eavesdropping. His cultivation progress was quite good, and he had already broken through his bottleneck during the Outer Sect competition. He just needed more time to cultivate. Qin Feng had been in the Inner Sect for several months now, and after such a long period of Cultivation, he had already advanced to the mid-stage of Foundation Establishment and begun refining his bones and meridians. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï???.§ã¦Ï Moreover, Ning Wuxu was a very responsible mentor. As a Great Elder of the Spiritual Snake Lineage and one of the Sect¡¯s most promising existences to achieve the Longevity Dao, high in status and power, anything that slipped through his fingers was considered a treasure beyond price. The Cultivation Resources needed for the Foundation Establishment Realm were trivial to him, so he never let Qin Feng lack for cultivation materials. To ensure Qin Feng had a strong foundation, he did not allow him to consume Spiritual Medicine non-stop like in the Outer Sect. However, the daily supply was all of the finest quality for body refining, and so Qin Feng¡¯s cultivation progress had not slowed, having already travelled some distance into the mid-stage of Foundation Establishment. This phase mainly involved refining bones and meridians. One could do it in stages or refine the whole body at once, each with its own pros and cons, and the specific method of refining depended on personal choice. If one wanted to enhance their battle strength earlier, they could refine a portion of their bones first. In battle, this would result in enhanced war power due to some bones being exceptionally sturdy. However, this method was mostly chosen by Martial Cultivators and Body Cultivators, while other Cultivators seldom did so. Cultivators following orthodox Cultivation Techniques generally chose to refine the whole body together because it was more balanced, avoiding the scenario where some bones were strong and others weak. Most of the time, they didn¡¯t need to engage in close combat, so they preferred to refine the whole skeleton and meridians, even if it seemed to slow progress. Qin Feng was one such person; as a disciple of the Beast Taming Sect, he possessed strong close-combat abilities after merging with his Lifebound Spiritual Beast. However, he was still fundamentally a traditional Beast Taming Sect disciple. Unless necessary, he preferred to send out his Spiritual Beasts to combat enemies while he commanded from a distance, which was safer. ¡°Alright, let¡¯s stop here for today.¡± With a wave of his hand, Ning Wuxu ceased speaking. If it were just a regular lecture on righteousness, it wouldn¡¯t matter, but like today, where he was using the power of Laws to shake the realm and help the two disciples cultivate, it was very draining for him. After all, he had only formed his Primordial Spirit and hadn¡¯t yet transcended the Heavenly Tribulation to achieve Immortality. Thus, expounding the ultimate principles of the Dao through the power of Laws left him feeling tired. He raised his hand to pick up a teapot, no larger than a fist, and poured himself a cup of tea, his actions smooth and graceful, filled with a pleasing rhythm. After drinking a cup of Spiritual Tea, Ning Wuxu¡¯s heart became even more peaceful. ?¦Ï???.§ã¦Ï After answering a few questions from his two disciples, he turned his gaze to Qin Feng and asked, ¡°I remember you won first place in the Outer Sect competition. The Sect should have rewarded you with a Small Divine Power Cultivation Method, right?¡± ¡°Yes, Master.¡± Qin Feng bowed and said, ¡°The Sect awarded me the Cultivation Method ¡®Shrinking Ground to Inch,¡¯ but I have been dull and have not yet completed its cultivation.¡± ¡°Heh, that Divine Power requires cultivation with Earth Evil Qi. If you try to achieve it on your own in the mountains, of course, you¡¯ll find it difficult to succeed.¡± Ning Wuxu laughed, ¡°In my early years, I traveled all over and happen to know a few places containing Earth Evil Qi. If you¡¯re willing, you could go on a journey to seek an opportunity to succeed in cultivating this Divine Power.¡± Upon hearing this, Qin Feng was overjoyed and quickly clasped his hands, saying, ¡°Please teach me, Master. May I know where those treasured places containing Earth Evil Qi are?¡± Seeing his excitement, Ning Wuxu couldn¡¯t help but shake his head and chuckle: ¡°Forget it, your cultivation is respectable among your peers. It¡¯s indeed about time for you to travel outside and broaden your horizons. The places containing Earth Evil Qi are deep within the main peak of Qingyang Mountain in Daliang Country, below an abandoned dry well twenty miles outside Huangzhou City in Nanyue Country, in the ruins of Feisha City in the Northwest Desert, and on a mountain range at the outskirts of the Hundred Thousand Mountains¡­¡± Ning Wuxu listed several places, filling Qin Feng with joy. The saying ¡°To have an elder in the family is to have a treasure¡± certainly held true. Although his master didn¡¯t look old at all, he was in fact already over a thousand years old. He had not just traveled throughout the Southern Domain but had also visited the Central Region and the East Domain. He was truly experienced and knowledgeable. Ning Wuxu saw the excitement on his face and couldn¡¯t help but chuckle, saying, ¡°Don¡¯t celebrate too soon, these are just things I saw in my early years, whether they still exist now is another matter.¡± ¡°No worries, even if they have been collected by others, it doesn¡¯t matter.¡± Qin Feng smiled nonchalantly, ¡°If I really can¡¯t find any, I¡¯ll just treat it as a journey, and incidentally, I can gain some experience. After all, Master just said not to be confined within our own walls. I¡¯m planning to travel outside, which will also benefit the growth of my heart realm.¡± ¡°You certainly see things lightly.¡± Ning Wuxu was quite pleased with his attitude, so he seldomly praised him. ¡°Master,¡± Just as Qin Feng was about to get up, he suddenly remembered something and sat back down, asking Ning Wuxu, ¡°I remember you once said that in the endless universe, there are many Void Giant Beasts wandering about. Since our Beast Taming Sect mainly uses taming all kinds of Demon Beasts, and those Void Giant Beasts are so huge and naturally able to roam in space, their strength must be tremendous. Has our sect never thought of capturing and refining a few Void Giant Beasts?¡± ¡°Ha ha ha¡­¡± Ning Wuxu couldn¡¯t help but laugh heartily, ¡°Although the name Void Giant Beast contains the word ¡®beast,¡¯ they are actually completely different from all Demon Beasts, and they don¡¯t even have the slightest resemblance. They are beings born from the originating place of the universe, and their mission is to continually devour the matter of the cosmic void to evolve themselves. But their devouring mainly targets the various cosmic dust, meteors, and broken star remnants floating in space, presenting little threat to cultivators with vast divine powers. Because before they transform into worlds, their bodies are relatively insubstantial, and even those Void Giant Beasts about to become worlds need continuous compression of matter inside them to become real worlds; in their relatively insubstantial bodies, great power cultivators can easily come and go, and they have difficulty hurting us cultivators. Unless trapped inside them for too long without escape, which might result in being absorbed and melted into part of their essence, otherwise cultivators can always travel freely through their bodies. Hence, those Void Giant Beasts essentially have no value for refining, not to mention their spiritual intelligence is not high, but their bodies are too huge, making them not so easy to refine.¡± ¡°I see.¡± Qin Feng understood, so these Void Giant Beasts essentially had little attack power; no wonder the sect had no intentions of capturing them. After some thought, he added, ¡°Even so, we could subdue a few Void Giant Beasts and bring them back. When they evolve into worlds, we can use the origin of these new worlds to easily supplement our own, right?¡± ¡°It¡¯s not that easy.¡± Ning Wuxu shook his head, ¡°It would take countless years for a Void Giant Beast to devour enough to grow so large. They would not directly evolve into worlds unless they are at the end of their lifespan or when they are extremely sizable, to avoid failure and becoming a dead star devoid of any life after their death. Also, to devour enough material, those creatures must constantly roam, and they won¡¯t stay in one place, so they¡¯re not easily subdued. Even if we capture them, we won¡¯t be able to wait until they evolve into worlds.¡± ¡°Do Void Giant Beasts have strong self-consciousness after they evolve into worlds?¡± Finally, Qin Feng asked the question he most wanted to know. ¡°Not strong.¡± Ning Wuxu laughed, ¡°You must understand the world and people are two different entities. The world¡¯s will doesn¡¯t have as many ideas as we do. It only has the simplest concept of fortification, which is the same concept as when they were still Void Giant Beasts growing through constant devouring. When someone does something very beneficial to the world, it will reward them accordingly; when someone does something severely harmful to the world, it will also bring down punishment, to make them follow the rules. However, this will is too naive, most of the time it remains asleep and inactive. It is precisely because of this that there were peerless experts during the Ancient Great Tribulation who conformed with the Heavenly Dao, aiming to influence the will of the Heavenly Dao with their own, achieving the seal of the realms.¡± Qin Feng then asked, ¡°Is the Heavenly Dao we¡¯re comprehending now the world¡¯s own Heavenly Dao, or that of the ancient peerless expert?¡± ¡°You¡¯re confused.¡± Ning Wuxu said, ¡°Both the world¡¯s will and the will of the ancient experts are based on the Heavenly Dao Laws. What we¡¯re comprehending are the Heavenly Dao Laws, not their will. Their will is just capable of mobilizing the power of the Heavenly Dao Laws more conveniently.¡± Now Qin Feng understood. Although his realm was far from touching the Heavenly Dao, he had a vague understanding of it and simply grasped what Harmonization meant. Chapter 206 - Chapter 206 Chapter 203 Ownership of Grotto Heaven ?Chapter 206: Chapter 203: Ownership of Grotto Heaven Chapter 206: Chapter 203: Ownership of Grotto Heaven The next day, Qin Feng packed his belongings and bid farewell to his master. He was ready to leave the mountain gate and search for the places his master had mentioned, hoping to complete the cultivation of his Small Divine Power as soon as possible. The Shrinking Ground to Inch technique was the only Divine Power he could currently cultivate. He wanted to master it quickly so he could then compare and reference it to obtain Divine Powers from his Lifebound Spiritual Snake. This was no easy task, or rather, it was incredibly difficult. Even with the assistance of Lifebound Spiritual Beasts, over ninety-nine percent of the Beast Taming Sect disciples would not congeal Divine Powers until after reaching the Golden Core Realm. It was rare to see anyone in the Foundation Establishment Realm form a Divine Power Seed; among the tens of thousands of disciples in the Outer Sect, only three or five might achieve it, and while the Inner Sect had slightly more, it wasn¡¯t by much. Thus, Qin Feng decided to focus on cultivating the Small Divine Power technique awarded by the Sect. Having that experience and a bit of insight into cultivating Divine Powers would surely help him later when he used his Lifebound Spiritual Beast to congeal Divine Powers. ¡°You are still of low cultivation, and when you leave the mountain gate to act outside, it¡¯s best to keep a low profile and not to rashly court disaster,¡± Ning Wuxu looked at his junior disciple before him and added after some thought, ¡°However, if trouble does come your way, you don¡¯t need to endure it. All the places you¡¯re going to are within our Beast Taming Sect¡¯s control. If someone dares to provoke you on our turf, feel free to fight back. I, your master, will take care of anything that comes from it.¡± ¡°Yes, disciple understands,¡± Qin Feng nodded and promised. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï??¦Ï.§ã¦Ï ¡°Good,¡± Ning Wuxu said and handed him a Jade Talisman, ¡°Keep this on you. Should you encounter an opponent you cannot defeat, stimulating this talisman will allow you to make a flying escape, which will be enough to save your life.¡± ¡°Thank you for your generous gift, master,¡± Qin Feng¡¯s face immediately showed joy. He had only seen similar life-saving objects on others before. People like Zhuo Feifan and Li Miaozhen had them, and cultivators of such kind, who have not exhausted their treasures, were very hard to kill. Qin Feng knew this all too well. Now, he had finally reached the point where he, too, was someone with a powerful elder¡¯s protection. Seeing the joyful expression on his disciple¡¯s face, Ning Wuxu couldn¡¯t help but shake his head with a smile. Actually, he had even better treasures, but since Qin Feng¡¯s cultivation was too low and wouldn¡¯t be able to use them, he did not bestow them. Moreover, he had no intention of giving more. Sending Qin Feng out to congeal Divine Powers was just one of the reasons. His real intent was for Qin Feng to travel and gain exposure. His disciple had cultivated for a very short time and had already reached the mid-stage of Foundation Establishment, but the number of times he had gone out was very few. Since it was a journey, it was always supposed to involve some risks. Ning Wuxu didn¡¯t want to raise a disciple who would rely on elders for everything. Therefore, he only gave Qin Feng one life-preserving treasure, to instill a sense of crisis in him. Once the protective treasure is used, it¡¯s gone, so Qin Feng wouldn¡¯t rely on having a protective treasure and recklessly cause troubles everywhere without measuring the heaviness of Heaven and Earth. ¡°Master, your disciple will take his leave now,¡± Qin Feng deeply bowed to Ning Wuxu, bidding goodbye with respect. ¡°Go on, go,¡± Ning Wuxu waved his hand, ¡°There¡¯s no need to rush in searching for the Earth Evil to cultivate. Take this as a journey, mingle more with other cultivators in the cultivation world, and see how other cultivators practice. This will benefit your future understanding of the Daoist Heart and the grasp of Dao.¡± ¡°Disciple obeys,¡± Qin Feng left his master¡¯s side, planning to directly summon the Spiritual Vulture. However, upon looking up, he saw Hao Shicheng, not far away, taking care of the Spiritual Medicine in the Spiritual Medicine Garden. Thus, he walked towards Hao Shicheng¡¯s Spiritual Medicine Garden, intending to bid farewell to this senior brother. ¡°Second Senior Brother, I am about to leave the mountain gate to travel afar,¡± Qin Feng said with a smile. ¡°Oh, that¡¯s good news,¡± Hao Shicheng gave a slight smile, ¡°Our brothers and sisters have all traveled outside more than once during the Foundation Establishment Stage. Big Senior Brother and Junior Sister Liu are particularly active, constantly causing trouble and attracting countless enemies. Especially Junior Sister Liu, who used to roam everywhere from south to north, offending disciples from various factions. If not for master¡¯s protection, she probably would have suffered untold hardships by now.¡± Speaking of these things, Hao Shicheng couldn¡¯t help but feel a bit sentimental, ¡°Me, your Second Senior Brother, I¡¯m the only one among master¡¯s disciples who is truly honest and modest, rarely causing trouble for master outside. But as a result, my cultivation progress is also the slowest among us. Sometimes I wonder if stirring up more trouble outside could speed up the progress of my cultivation. It¡¯s just that my temperament really doesn¡¯t like causing trouble for others without a good reason, which is why I usually stay and cultivate at the mountain gate. When you are traveling alone, be careful¡­ Actually, never mind. I won¡¯t nag you. Junior Brother Qin is quite clever. You¡¯ll know how to weigh the situation when something happens.¡± With a wry smile, Hao Shicheng shook his head and then took a few Jade Bottles out of his Storage Bag. With a wave of his hand, he sent the Jade Bottles to Qin Feng, ¡°These are the Spirit Pills I have concocted myself, useful for treating injuries. You take them with you. There might be a chance they¡¯ll come in handy in the future.¡± ¡°Thank you, Second Senior Brother,¡± Qin Feng didn¡¯t make a fuss and directly reached out to accept them. During these few months at Heavenly Snake Ridge, he had come to understand his master and two senior brothers even further, knowing that his second senior brother had a relatively honest and steady disposition, fond of fiddling with spiritual medicines and skilled in alchemy, indeed the elixir pills he refined were quite good. That was where Hao Shicheng¡¯s interests lay, for if he weren¡¯t fond of it, he wouldn¡¯t be dedicating so much energy to fiddling with spiritual medicines every day. Seeing Qin Feng looking towards another building not too far away, Hao Shicheng laughed and said, ¡°Our eldest senior brother isn¡¯t at the mountain gate; who knows what he¡¯s busy with now, you can just leave, there¡¯s no need to find him to say goodbye.¡± ¡°Alright then.¡± Qin Feng nodded and said, ¡°If that¡¯s the case, I shall take my leave.¡± He released his Spiritual Vulture, jumped onto its back directly, and flew towards the outside of the mountain gate. After leaving the mountain gate, he traveled westward, planning to visit Nanyue Country first, the only place he was somewhat familiar with. ??¦Í?0.§ã¦Ï The few places his master had given him were located in the far reaches of the Beast Taming Sect¡¯s sphere of influence, which made Qin Feng quite suspicious of whether his master had done this intentionally. He couldn¡¯t believe that with his master¡¯s status, not even the closest Earth Evil Land to the mountain gate could be located; the sect was sure to have many records about it. In this light, it seemed his master was set on letting him travel more outside to accumulate some cultivation insights. With this realization in mind, Qin Feng was no longer in a hurry to travel. Even if he were in a hurry, it would be pointless, because, he found that the flying speed of the Spiritual Vulture could no longer meet his needs. Unless there was a large amount of resources for a spiritual beast¡¯s cultivation, the innate pace of cultivation for any spiritual beast or Demon Beast was slower than that of the Human Clan, not only because the Human Clan were the protagonists of this world, but also because their bodies were naturally more suited to cultivation than those of beasts. This was also the reason why many Demon Beasts aimed to transform into human forms upon reaching a certain realm of cultivation. Of course, there were also many Barbaric Beasts and Wild Beasts that chose to focus solely on cultivating their own bodies, unwilling to undergo transformation. This represented the two directions of beast cultivation: those who transformed could cultivate more easily, while those who didn¡¯t transform had stronger combat abilities. Which was superior was a matter of debate. Since Qin Feng had not provided the Spiritual Vulture with an abundance of cultivation resources, its progress in cultivation was slow, naturally unable to keep up with his pace. He was now in the mid-stage of the Foundation Establishment Stage, and riding a Spiritual Vulture at the late stage of Qi Refinement, he naturally felt that its speed was inadequate. What he was now unsure of was whether he should replace it with a flying mount at the Foundation Establishment Realm or nurture this current Spiritual Vulture. No matter what, since the Spiritual Vulture had served as his riding tool for so long, some sentiment was there, and to simply discard it would leave him feeling somewhat reluctant. ¡°Never mind, let¡¯s just keep it this way for now. If I encounter a suitable flying Demon Beast on the road, I¡¯ll just capture one to bring back.¡± Qin Feng quickly made up his mind and decided to forego training the Spiritual Vulture specifically; he did not want to waste the Spirit Stone resources on himself to buy a large amount of advancement elixir pills for it, as it would not be worth it. Even if he went to great lengths to promote the Spiritual Vulture to the Foundation Establishment, what then? He was currently in the mid-stage of the Foundation Establishment. According to the cultivation resources provided by his master, within three years, he would be able to advance to the late stage, and certainly, within ten years, he would be able to cultivate to the peak of the Foundation Establishment Realm, by which time he could start preparing for Core Formation. Once he had achieved the Golden Core, the Spiritual Vulture would still be unable to keep up with his cultivation, and sooner or later, it would still be phased out. As he was flying towards Nanyue Country, an unknown void deep in space suddenly emitted strange fluctuations. ¡°Hahahaa€|¡± A sharp laugh, tinged with a touch of sleaziness, echoed through the entire underground space. Elder Kongkong stood up, laughed heartily, and said to the heavens, ¡°Success, from now on, Heavenly Pool Cave Heaven belongs to our Beast Taming Sect.¡± ¡°So soon?¡± Hearing this, Luo Zhancheng nearby was immediately overjoyed, his figure shimmered, and in a flash, he arrived close to Elder Kongkong. His massive body engulfed Elder Kongkong completely into his shadow, ¡°Didn¡¯t the elder say it would take several years?¡± ¡°That was the estimate under the assumption that Heavenly Pool Secret Realm was intact. However, once I truly began refining it, I quickly discovered that the Cave Heaven World had vulnerabilities, caused by that great battle in ancient times which left this grotto heaven crippled. It allowed me to easily find the core carrier of the grotto heaven, and after refining it, the grotto heaven now belongs to us.¡± As he spoke, Elder Kongkong waved his hand, and the mountain wall connected to the underground space opened anew. The rule power from outside gathered at his will and gradually formed his face, overlooking the entire Heavenly Pool Secret Realm. For a moment, the massive pressure startled all the Demon Beasts in the grotto heaven into a panic. But within this Cave Heaven World, Elder Kongkong was the ruler, his oppression was omnipresent, and those Demon Beasts had nowhere to hide. They quivered in their lairs before long. After a good while, Elder Kongkong, content with his success, dispersed the rule power of the Cave Heaven World. Just as he was about to walk out, he looked up to see Luo Zhancheng standing right in front of him with his massive form. He couldn¡¯t help but irritably push him away. This fellow, to be so massive was one thing, but why keep crowding in front of me? You know I¡¯m shorter than average, yet you still come looming over me. What, are you asking for a beating? Luo Zhancheng was unfazed, cheerfully following behind Elder Kongkong as they walked out. Elder Kongkong¡¯s mastery over space was akin to divine transformation; despite Luo Zhancheng¡¯s long strides, he couldn¡¯t keep up with him and could only trail behind. Chapter 207 - Chapter 207 Chapter 204 Gui Ling Ancestor ?Chapter 207: Chapter 204 Gui Ling Ancestor Chapter 207: Chapter 204 Gui Ling Ancestor Elder Kongkong and Luo Zhancheng returned to the Beast Taming Sect with the Heavenly Pool Cave Heaven, causing an immediate stir among the high-ranking members of the sect. One after another, the Elders and Hall Masters with powerful auras made their appearances, including the always-steady Sect Leader Gu Wuxi who eagerly revolved around Elder Kongkong, pestering him to enter the Heavenly Pool Cave Heaven to take a look. Elder Kongkong, with his hands clasped behind his back, held his small head high in a proud manner and did not immediately take out the Heavenly Pool Cave Heaven, leaving the Inner Sect powerhouses itching with impatience. ¡°Ancestor Martial Uncle, why don¡¯t you take out the Cave Heaven so we can have a look? That way we can discuss what to do next,¡± one of them said. Seeing the two small whiskers by Elder Kongkong¡¯s mouth slightly curling up, Gu Wuxi knew full well that the Ancestor Martial Uncle was retaining his childlike innocence, purposely whetting everyone¡¯s appetite. ¡°What¡¯s there to see? ?0¦Í??.§ã¦Ï There are indeed many damaged areas within the Heavenly Pool Cave Heaven, but you people lack sufficient Dao cultivation; do you really expect that you can repair the Cave Heaven to perfection?¡± Elder Kongkong, slightly stooped and holding his hands behind his back, walked into the Mountain Gate Hall with small, short steps like an upright walking mouse, murmuring as he went, ¡°Never mind you lot, even I am not too skilled in how to repair the Cave Heaven and integrate the Spirit Veins. We¡¯ll just wait for Old Turtle and the others to come out, and let them do the grunt work inside the Heavenly Pool Cave Heaven.¡± Gu Wuxi and several Hall Masters exchanged glances and shook their heads helplessly. From Elder Kongkong¡¯s attitude, it was evident that he wanted to show off in front of the Supreme Elders and hence was deliberately keeping them on tenterhooks. Well, let¡¯s wait a little longer then. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï???.§ã? After all, someone has already gone to report to the Ten Thousand Demons Cave Heaven; it won¡¯t be long before the Supreme Elders who receive the message come rushing over. When they do, will they not be allowed to follow them inside for a look? In fact, there¡¯s nothing much to see in the Heavenly Pool Cave Heaven. Among the Elders present, many had entered in their younger days in search of opportunities. However, back then, they were entering another sect¡¯s Secret Realm in search of Treasures, but now this Cave Heaven World belonged to the Beast Taming Sect, and that was a different matter. Soon, seven or eight streaks of light swooped down from a distance with unparalleled speed and fell into the Mountain Gate Hall, revealing Cultivators of varying appearances, men and women, old and young, each emanating a vast aura, far surpassing the Inner Sect Elders by who knows how much. ¡°We pay our respects to Gui Ling Ancestor and the Elders,¡± they said, bowing in unison. These were all Supreme Elders of the Beast Taming Sect, who usually reclused themselves in the Ten Thousand Demons Cave Heaven, interfering with sect affairs only when absolutely necessary, leaving the management to their juniors. ¡°Enough, no need for such formalities,¡± the leader, a gaunt-looking old man, waved everyone to rise and then calmly turned to Elder Kongkong, smiling, ¡°You old fella, always bullying the younger generation, keeping them in suspense. Why not take out the Cave Heaven at once so we can see the extent of its damage?¡± ¡°Boring,¡± grumbled Elder Kongkong, ¡°I¡¯ve achieved such a great feat for the sect. Could you, Old Turtle, not show me even a little respect? By the way, isn¡¯t Ninth Martial Uncle coming?¡± The old man, indeed Gui Ling Ancestor, burst into laughter replying, ¡°Stop your nonsense, I am your elder martial brother, where is the rule that elder martial brothers must show reverence to their juniors? As for Ninth Martial Uncle, he knows you¡¯ve brought back the Heavenly Pool Cave Heaven. However, he is currently in secluded cultivation. Once we¡¯ve completed the repairs on the Cave Heaven World, we can then invite the Martial Uncle to come for a visit. Come on, take out the Heavenly Pool Cave Heaven so we can determine the extent of the damage and see how long it will take to fully repair it, as well as make some arrangements for the sect¡¯s future operations.¡± Elder Kongkong sighed, ¡°You, Gu Guiling, only entered the sect a few days before me, and yet you¡¯ve used that to have a hold over me for tens of thousands of years.¡± Gui Ling Ancestor chuckled lightly, ¡°Even if it was just a day earlier, I am still your elder brother. You can only blame your own bad luck. Now, hurry up and open the Cave Heaven; don¡¯t delay any further.¡± ¡°A bunch of uninteresting fellows,¡± sighed Elder Kongkong helplessly, shaking his head as he reached out his hand and produced a crystal-clear Treasure Bead. Everyone looked up to see that the bead resembled a miniaturized world, complete with clouds, mountains, rivers, and plains, and they could vaguely make out birds soaring and Demon Beasts running. Elder Kongkong simply pointed with his hand, and a portal emerged in front of everyone. Shaking his shoulders, he said, ¡°There you go, it¡¯s opened. Go on in and take a look.¡± Upon seeing this, all the Supreme Elders and Inner Sect Elders stopped bothering with idle talk, following Gui Ling Ancestor into the portal in an orderly procession. Strictly speaking, Gui Ling Ancestor and Elder Kongkong were considered the third-generation inheritors of the Beast Taming Sect, both having undergone the cruel battles of the last period of the Ancient Great Tribulation. The rest of the Supreme Elders, however, joined the sect after the Great Tribulation, so they were especially respectful towards them. Especially Gui Ling Ancestor, whose Lifebound Spiritual Beast in his early years was a Profound Turtle naturally branded with the Eight Trigrams Divine Pattern, which made him particularly skilled at Prediction Calculation. He had helped the sect through many catastrophes, holding a lofty position within the sect, even not inferior to Jue Tian Ancestor, who had the highest Dao cultivation and always sat in Ten Thousand Demons Cave. Thus, he was revered as Gui Ling Ancestor by the younger generations, elevating his status to an extremely high level. A group of people entered the Cave Heaven, quickly dispersed, and observed their surroundings. The Gui Ling Ancestor and other Supreme Elders spread their Divine Sense throughout the Cave Heaven to inspect the specific situation. Eventually, they gathered together for prompt discussion. Half a day later, they came to a decision. ¡°So it seems we can repair the Cave Heaven completely in about a year. With that, we could move up our schedule. This is good. I was somewhat worried that if we delayed too long, there might be unforeseen changes in the world of the Demon God. Now that we have this Cave Heaven, all preparations can be completed ahead of schedule.¡± Gui Ling Ancestor turned to the two Supreme Elders beside him and instructed, ¡°The two of you, make separate trips to the Five Poisons Sect and the Ghost Controlling Sect. Inform the Five Poisons Sect Leader and the Ghost Teeth Ancestor of our current situation, and have them speed things up. The reinforcements should arrive as soon as possible. We must set out within a maximum of two years to prevent the Demon God from noticing anything amiss and inviting otherworldly powerhouses to their aid, which would be highly disadvantageous for us.¡± ¡°Yes, we will leave immediately.¡± The two Supreme Elders did not waste words. They turned and transformed into streaks of light, vanishing in the blink of an eye. The one heading to the Five Poisons Sect had an easier task, as the sect is in the Southern Domain, not too far from the territory of the Beast Taming Sect. For a being who has achieved immortality, it would not take much time to get there. But it was different for the one going to the Ghost Controlling Sect. With the Ghost Controlling Sect far off in the East Domain, even a True Immortal would need several days to travel there from the Southern Domain using Escape Technique, and it would take even longer for the Ghost Controlling Sect to dispatch a large number of disciples from the East Domain. ¡°All right, let¡¯s all start repairing immediately. Draw up a list of everything we need quickly. Sect Leader, send someone to the treasury to bring the required Spiritual Objects as soon as possible without delay.¡± Gui Ling Ancestor continued, ¡°We also need to schedule the recruitment of sect disciples, especially those in the War Hall, who must practice the War Formation diligently to minimize casualties when we enter the otherworld. Moreover, open up several chambers of the sect¡¯s Treasure Vault and focus on cultivating the meritorious disciples. Before war breaks out, try to enhance their strength as much as possible. The stronger each disciple becomes, the better their chances of survival in the otherworld. Put more effort into the daily teachings of the disciples. Perhaps, some of them might achieve a higher Cultivation Realm. Even if they can¡¯t, aim to maximize their current realm¡¯s strength. Maybe after several years of tempering on the battlefield, opportunities for advancement will arise. With this Cave Heaven to protect them, they¡¯ll be able to safely advance without the oppression of the foreign realm¡¯s Heavenly Dao.¡± ¡°Yes.¡± Gu Wuxi and other Inner Sect Elders responded successively. Although Gu Wuxi was the Sect Leader, he was only in charge of daily affairs. When the Sect faced significant issues, it was these Supreme Elders who made the decisions, so he promptly followed Gui Ling Ancestor¡¯s commands. After pondering for a moment, Gui Ling Ancestor added, ¡°Send someone to invite the heads of all the vassal sects to discuss the matter of a joint expedition.¡± ¡°Is that not a bit premature?¡± An elder hesitated and spoke up, ¡°Not all the vassal sects may be fully aligned with us. If any of them tips off Taiyi Mountain or the Giant Spirit Sect, could it not cause complications? In particular, Taiyi Mountain has coveted the Heavenly Pool Secret Realm for a long time. If they learn that this Cave Heaven has fallen into our hands, they might seize the opportunity to cause trouble. What if that interferes with our expedition to the otherworld?¡± ¡°It¡¯s inconsequential.¡± Gu Guiling waved his hand, his tone indifferent but offering a compelling force that forbade doubt. ¡°This matter will eventually come to light anyway. Rather than having the other two sects covet our absence when we suddenly leave, it¡¯s better to lay the cards on the table and inform them of our intentions upfront. As for this Cave Heaven, hmph, now that it¡¯s in the hands of our Beast Taming Sect, do you think we would just meekly hand it over? Taiyi Mountain does not wield such influence. Were it not for the War God Palace keeping the Southern Domain in check and preventing us from fighting too fiercely, I would have dealt with them long ago. If they accept this matter quietly this time, all is well. But if they dare to disrupt my grand plan, I¡¯ll make sure to deal with those old coots of the Heavenly Sword, and we¡¯ll see if Taiyi Mountain remains so arrogant.¡± With these words, the other elders were instantly reassured. Gui Ling was best at predicting the Heavenly Mechanism. Since the Ancient Great Tribulation tens of thousands of years ago, he had served as the behind-the-scenes strategist for the Beast Taming Sect, stealthily devising countless schemes that resolved many crises for the Sect and setting up fallbacks that eliminated many who were unfavorable to it. It could be said that Gui Ling Ancestor was the soul of the Beast Taming Sect¡¯s very core, while their second-generation ancestor, with the highest seniority and the strongest power, deterred others with sheer might but couldn¡¯t match Gui Ling¡¯s strategic acumen. Sect Leader Gu Wuxi quickly complied, ¡°I will immediately instruct someone to invite the leaders of the various sects for a meeting.¡± ¡°Good, go then.¡± Gui Ling Ancestor waved dismissively, ¡°Get the word out soon. It¡¯s also a good opportunity to see which sects are not aligned with us. If we discover any that are secretly in league with Taiyi Mountain, there¡¯s nothing to discuss; eradicate them. I don¡¯t want troubles within our sect at home while we are in the otherworld.¡± Chapter 208 - Chapter 208 Chapter 205 Feisha City ?Chapter 208: Chapter 205 Feisha City Chapter 208: Chapter 205 Feisha City For a time, the Beast Taming Sect had dispatched several elders to all the smaller sects under their influence, summoning the people in charge to discuss the matter of conquering the Otherworld. The news spread to the various sects, immediately causing a stir among the upper echelons. They had not expected the Beast Taming Sect to make such a decision. Although abnormal occurrences had been frequent in recent years across the domains, and many sects had noticed hints of trouble brewing, the majority of cultivators were not privy to the highest levels of decision-making within the Cultivation World. Now, through the plans of the Beast Taming Sect, quite a few sects had arrived at a rough guess about the future direction of the Cultivation World. ¡°It seems the great calamity is indeed about to start.¡± On a beautiful mountain peak, an old man with white hair and beard gazed at the sky and said softly, ¡°Except this time, unlike during the Ancient Great Tribulation, it is not the calamities from other worlds that come to us, but we who bring calamity upon them. Hehe, not bad, at least we won¡¯t suffer the heavy losses our Human Clan did last time.¡± ¡°Master, what do we do now?¡± Next to him, a middle-aged man dressed in luxurious clothing with a refined and scholarly demeanor looked at the elder and asked respectfully, ¡°Should we follow the Beast Taming Sect¡¯s course?¡± ¡°Of course, at this time you must not hesitate, or who knows what the Beast Taming Sect might think; if we cause their dissatisfaction, trouble might come knocking on our door.¡± The old man glanced at him and said, ¡°Conquering the Otherworld isn¡¯t just about fighting for the Beast Taming Sect, it is also an opportunity for us to gain many benefits for ourselves. For so many years, our Fog Hidden Sect hasn¡¯t been able to expand its influence one bit, still struggling due to insufficient territory and resources. Now that the Beast Taming Sect is willing to offer us a chance to obtain resources, of course, we must take part.¡± Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í?0.§ã? They need to keep enough manpower to guard against Taiyi Mountain and the Giant Spirit Sect; they can¡¯t possibly send most of their strength to battle. Maybe the Beast Taming Sect wants us smaller sects to be their pawns. ¡°We do not understand that world and don¡¯t know the strength of its forces. What if we suffer heavy losses? It could be a loss that outweighs the gain.¡± ¡°Humph, do you still expect to reap the rewards without working for it, and for the Beast Taming Sect to just give us benefits for nothing?¡± The elder glared at the middle-aged man, ¡°It is precisely because the Beast Taming Sect needs to keep enough manpower to guard against Taiyi Mountain that we smaller sects can share in the spoils. Otherwise, should the Beast Taming Sect have sufficient manpower, why would they need our small sects to take part? ¡°We small sects do not have the strength to attack the Otherworld alone, but now the Beast Taming Sect is willing to take us with them, which presents our chance to grow. ¡°If we want benefits, it¡¯s inevitable that some disciples and sect members will be lost. You have been Sect Leader for so long; you cannot be indecisive and timid. When it¡¯s time to make a decision, you must not hesitate.¡± ¡°Yes.¡± The middle-aged man agreed, but then hesitated again and asked, ¡°What about Taiyi Mountain?¡± The elder¡¯s face showed anger, ¡°I¡¯ve told you before, not to have any dealings with Taiyi Mountain, and yet you don¡¯t listen. It¡¯s only been a hundred years since I¡¯ve been in seclusion, and you¡¯ve been bold enough to engage with Taiyi Mountain¡¯s Heart Sword Lineage. ¡°Do you not understand that those who waver on both sides do not end well? If you carelessly leak information, aren¡¯t you afraid the Beast Taming Sect will see our Fog Hidden Sect as traitors and deal with us?¡± ¡°Disciple saw that the Taiyi Mountain Sword Cultivators are too powerful and considered the future of our sect, so I covertly interacted with the Heart Sword Lineage of Taiyi Mountain, but this matter is very secret a€¡° others do not know a€¡° it should not leak out.¡± ¡°Foolish!¡± The elder angrily pointed at the middle-aged man and shouted, ¡°There¡¯s no such thing as an airtight wall in this world, especially in the Cultivation World. Even if there truly is a strong airtight wall, someone will drill a hole through it, and then the wind will blow right through it.¡± He glared at the middle-aged man, seething, and finally sighed, ¡°To avoid bringing disaster upon the sect, you¡¯re no longer fit to be Sect Leader. ??¦Í?0.§ã¦Ï Pass the position on to your junior brother.¡± ¡°Ah, Master? I know I was wrong, youa€|¡± The middle-aged man, who had been elegantly composed, suddenly panicked upon hearing this. ¡°Humph, no more words; to be cautious, from today onwards you¡¯re to retreat in seclusion in the back mountains for a hundred years. Otherwise, at this crucial junction, if the Beast Taming Sect finds out anything, the entire sect will suffer the consequences because of you. ¡°You only saw the sharpness of Taiyi Mountain¡¯s Flying Swords, but forgot that the Beast Taming Sect¡¯s fangs are right in front of you.¡± The elder was furious and had not expected his disciple, on whom he had placed such high hopes, to be secretly colluding with Taiyi Mountain¡¯s Sword Cultivators. If the Beast Taming Sect found out, they certainly wouldn¡¯t let them off; as for Taiyi Mountain, they¡¯d probably be happy to watch them fight among themselves and would not move a finger to help them face the Beast Taming Sect¡¯s punishment. Similar conversations were occurring in many sects, although the majority of the sects affiliated with the Beast Taming Sect weren¡¯t as bold as that middle-aged man, daring to openly associate with the Sword Cultivators of Taiyi Mountain. Of course, there were also those who secretly informed both Taiyi Mountain and the Giant Spirit Sect. After all, some small sects were located near the territories of those two sects and sometimes, inevitably, had to deal with their forces. For a moment, undercurrents surged through the territory of the Beast Taming Sect. However, since the Beast Taming Sect had not yet come to an agreement with the other sects, many matters were limited to the knowledge of the upper echelons; the average cultivators had not been mobilized. Thus, Qin Feng was completely unaware of this. He had now arrived within the borders of Nanyue Country. Returning to this realm, he discovered that it had regained its former bustle, although the followers of the Evil God were gone. Still, the region was wedged between the territories of the Beast Taming Sect and the Giant Spirit Sect, and disputes often arose, which then became pretexts for various battles of magic. Along his journey, Qin Feng had already witnessed many cultivators fighting. Not wanting to get involved, he would always give such conflicts a wide berth, lest others mistake him for wanting to profit from the spoils of the deceased. He was still intent on playing it safe, not wishing to attract trouble before he had mastered the Small Divine Power of ¡°Shrinking Ground to Inch.¡± However, when he arrived outside Huangzhou City and searched twenty miles to the west along the city gates, he found not a dry well, but an expansive estate. It was only after inquiring that he realized this place belonged to a small family under the Giant Spirit Sect, and indeed, they had only moved here in the last ten years. Upon hearing this, Qin Feng sighed. No one would build a clan in such a remote place without reason, unless there were resources capable of supporting a family¡¯s survival and growth. Therefore, Qin Feng suspected that the cultivators of this family must have sensed the presence of Earth Element Evil Qi here before deciding to build their residence, given that such qi could be collected and sold to other cultivators in need. Evil Qi had many uses: aside from cultivating divine skills, it could be used to refine special Magical Treasure Divine Weapons and even certain techniques required Evil Qi for cultivation, so there was no concern about its marketability. While undoubtedly, the family hadn¡¯t extracted all the Evil Qi, intending to harvest it over time for a sustainable income, after many years of gathering, it wouldn¡¯t be as pure and concentrated as at the beginning. After much contemplation, Qin Feng still decided to sneak into the small family estate under the cover of a dark and windy night to see what was going on. After all, his master might have had other intentions for sending him here, so it was best to investigate the situation first. Unfortunately, with prohibitions cast throughout the estate, Qin Feng wasn¡¯t very familiar with such techniques. Although he carefully avoided many areas, he still accidentally triggered a prohibition at the edge of an old well in their backyard, which contained Evil Qi. Before the family¡¯s cultivators arrived, Qin Feng forcibly broke through the prohibition to take a quick look into the well. Finding the Evil Qi within to be only average, he lost interest in gathering his divine power there and left the place. As for the two Foundation Establishment cultivators who came to stop him, they were unable to keep up with his pace. This was because he did not want to expose his identity as a disciple of the Beast Taming Sect; otherwise, he could have easily revealed his Spiritual Beasts and effortlessly slaughtered all the cultivators, big and small, within the family. However, his heart wasn¡¯t cruel enough to murder even infants, and there was no need to kill these cultivators, so he left directly, leaving the two bewildered Foundation Establishment cultivators in the night wind, wondering about the stranger¡¯s purpose. Since no death occurred and the thief did not damage their ancient well used for harvesting Evil Qi, they did not pursue, to avoid falling into the trap of potentially leading the tiger away from the mountain. After leaving the estate, Qin Feng gave it some thought and, feeling uninterested in traveling about the area, left Nanyue Country directly, heading in the northwest direction. He planned to visit the ruins of Feisha City in the Northwest Desert. As for traveling, he would postpone it until after his divine powers had been refined. Otherwise, he felt unwilling to waste time on such endeavors. Riding the Spiritual Vulture for several days, he finally reached the edge of the desert. Gazing at the blazing sun above, stepping on the fine sand beneath, and sensing the desolate surroundings of the desert, Qin Feng couldn¡¯t help but recall the rumors about this place. There was originally no desert in the Southern Domain until an Otherworldly being cast a Supreme Dao Technique during an Ancient battle, stripping away all the vitality of this region for ten thousand miles in both heaven and earth. Although later an earth-shattering battle resulted in the slaying of that Otherworldly being here, the area could not recover even the slightest vitality due to being tainted with the being¡¯s aura of death and ultimately transformed into this desert. Qin Feng didn¡¯t know if this tale was true or false, as he had never searched for such information in the Scripture Pavilion. If it were true, it would be terrifying, the death of a powerful being could render ten thousand miles into a complete dead land, it¡¯s frightening to contemplate how strong that being must have been. Yet over the years, occasional patches of green have appeared on the edges of the desert, and even some small oases have been found deep within, indicating that, over time, the Heaven and Earth Laws are gradually improving the environment. Perhaps after a few tens of thousands of years, once the aura of the Otherworldly being in the desert dissipates completely, the area might be restored to its original state. Qin Feng did not bother with those oases; he was no camel and didn¡¯t need to go there to replenish water. Currently, following the map, he was searching for the ruins of Feisha City. After tens of thousands of years of erosion by the sands, it was uncertain whether any relics remained above ground. If not, it would be difficult to locate them. Chapter 209 - Chapter 209 Chapter 206 Spiritual Vulture Promoted ?Chapter 209: Chapter 206: Spiritual Vulture Promoted Chapter 209: Chapter 206: Spiritual Vulture Promoted Qin Feng had searched the area marked on the map for several days without locating Feisha City, which left him feeling extremely impatient. However, since he had already come this far, he couldn¡¯t just leave without even catching a glimpse of Feisha City. Therefore, rather than leaving, he continued to search the vicinity. He thought that either Feisha City had already been buried under countless amounts of sand by the desert, or it was concealed by some strange method. That¡¯s why he hadn¡¯t been able to find the exact location. That afternoon, the fiercely blazing sun suddenly turned dull and yellowish. Soon afterward, the wind and sand rose up, and the sky darkened as if night had fallen. The sun and the moon were obscured, leaving only a vision of yellow sand swirling in the violent wind. Far away, twisters reached from the ground to the sky, hurling countless grains of sand into the clouds. Even Qin Feng found it hard to move in such a violent sandstorm. He tried to find shelter but to no avail, as the sand dunes around him had been blown away, leaving him nowhere to hide. Left with no choice, he lay flat on the sand, waiting for the sandstorm to pass. Wasting Spiritual Power to resist such a ferocious storm would have been irrational ¨C if it continued for several hours, his True Yuan would be completely depleted. In just a short moment, the ferocious sandstorm had buried Qin Feng, who was lying on the ground, more than two feet deep. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í?0.§ã¦Ï Thanks to his Earth Escape Divine Power, he was unafraid. Otherwise, within a few years, there would be another skeleton buried in this place. Qin Feng concealed himself beneath the desert, creating a small space with his Spiritual Power to take refuge in. He quietly waited for half a day before he noticed that the sandstorm above had subsided and the desert had returned to tranquility. With a loud ¡°bang,¡± he burst from beneath the sand. The sand on the surface flew dozens of feet away, scattering in all directions. Standing atop a sand dune, Qin Feng looked around. The desert was now silent and still, with rolling dunes stretching out into the distance. Under the glow of the setting sun, the dunes took on a fiery red hue, emitting a different kind of beauty. ¡°Eh?¡± Suddenly, he spotted something in the distance that looked different from the dunes. A glint of Spirit Light flashed in his eyes, and upon closer inspection, his face lit up with joy. For there lay the ruins of buildings. ¡°No wonder this place is called Feisha City. It seems that it only appears after the cleansing of a sandstorm.¡± With a light step, Qin Feng swiftly flew toward it using the Divine Movement Technique. This area of the city ruins was not very large, only about a thousand yards in diameter. Most of it was damaged and broken, but a few stone palaces built from boulders remained relatively intact. Wandering through the quiet, ancient ruins, Qin Feng looked around curiously. He extended his Divine Sense to search for the presence of evil qi. Although the city ruins would soon be engulfed by the sand again, and Cultivation of Divine Skills would take some time, requiring daily Refining of evil qi, it didn¡¯t matter. As long as he located the source of the evil qi, he could still use the Earth Escape Divine Power to dive underground and continue absorbing the Earth Evil Qi here. Soon enough, Qin Feng made a discovery. His Divine Sense felt a disturbance coming from one of the better-preserved halls. Qin Feng turned and walked straight toward it. ¡°Roara€|¡± As soon as he was about to step into the hall, a dull roar erupted, followed by a ferocious blast of wind and sand that came hurtling toward him with a destructive force. ¡°Hmm?¡± Qin Feng was taken aback. He hadn¡¯t expected that in this desolate place, there would be a Demon Beast lurking, and this Demon Beast had hidden itself so cleverly that even he had not noticed its presence before. Seeing the oncoming sandstorm, he didn¡¯t dare to hesitate and quickly pointed out a finger, casting a Spell to create a Defensive Shield in front of him to block the sand. ¡°Snap, snap, snap!¡± A flurry of light colliding sounds rang out. Then, he saw the Defensive Shield he had cast thinning visibly to the eye until it was shattered by the wind and sand. Each grain of sand carried by the wind seemed to weigh a thousand pounds, and when it struck the shield, it was like being hit by a Heavy Hammer. While Qin Feng was astonished, he cast another Defensive Shield and looked toward the source of the attack. He saw a colossal figure emerging from within the stone hall. The figure was bizarre, its body seemingly made of yellow sand, not quite human and not quite beast, looking very strange. However, this creature was powerful. The gusts of wind it blew forced Qin Feng to retreat continuously, and his Protective Shield had already been broken three times. ¡°Is this a Sand Beast, or a Life formed within the sandstorm? Or is it the resentful spirit of a powerful being who died in the desert and formed from absorbing the Earth Evil Qi here?¡± Qin Feng couldn¡¯t figure out exactly what this entity was after observing it for a moment. It wasn¡¯t a living creature in the usual sense. But that was not the main concern. The crucial point was that Qin Feng had already felt the tremendous evil qi within this creature. He didn¡¯t need to guess to know that this creature had absorbed a lot of evil qi here. Sigh. Qin Feng inwardly sighed. It seemed that the local evil qi had been ruined by this unknown monster. Such an existence didn¡¯t know restraint and would absorb everything good it found. He wondered how much of the evil qi was left. Seeing that the Yellow Sand Monster continued its relentless attack on him, even as he¡¯d retreated from the stone hall¡¯s vicinity, Qin Feng shook his head and then released his Spiritual Beasts. If it had been just him alone, he would have chosen to flee immediately. But the disciples of the Beast Taming Sect, which he belonged to, were never afraid of such battles. ¡°Though you may be stronger than I am, I have subordinates.¡± So, when the Fire Ape, with a Cultivation Realm matched to the Wind Sand Monster, furiously punched with its fists, and the Swallowing Sky Toad, which also possessed Foundation Establishment strength, sprayed vast amounts of water to sweep over the Wind Sand Monster¡¯s body, and the Ghost-Faced Spider spun webs to slice through the yellow sand, even the late-stage Qi Refinement Green Fox and Spiritual Vulture joined in to assist the attack, the Wind Sand Monster suddenly seemed unable to withstand it. The creature felt immense pressure, especially as the water waves sprayed by the Swallowing Sky Toad continuously eroded its body. In addition, the raging Fire Ape was brawling with it, and every punch caused a clump of yellow sand to explode from a part of its body. Although it could continuously restore itself by absorbing the desert sands, this place was after all within the ancient city¡¯s boundaries. Once blown away by the wind and sand, there wasn¡¯t much sand left in the city, unless it waited for the next sandstorm to arrive, bringing vast amounts of sand to cover the area once again. It wanted to escape the ancient city. As long as it stood upon the desert sands, it feared no foes. In the desert, it was nearly immortal, and even if overpowered, it could always use the Sand Escape Technique to flee. Once it buried itself in the desert sands, its aura would merge with the vast desert, and its body would blend into the sands indistinguishably, making it impossible for anyone to trace it. Regrettably, this was the ancient city, not its home turf. In fact, it wouldn¡¯t have lingered here if not for its desire to absorb the Floating Dust Evil Qi. It just hadn¡¯t expected that despite so many uneventful times before, today it ran into a cultivator from the Human Clan. ¡°Thinking of escaping?¡± Before it had moved far, Qin Feng saw through its intentions and couldn¡¯t help but let out a cold laugh. With a thought, the Ghost-Faced Spider leaped high into the air from its position, several meters up, and landed directly behind the Yellow Sand Monster. It spat out webs connecting to the stone hall and several other structures, quickly weaving several layers of webs to block the Yellow Sand Monster¡¯s path. Then it redoubled its efforts, setting up more webs in several directions around it, blocking the Yellow Sand Monster from all sides, leaving it no chance to escape. Even if it was strong enough to break through the webs, it would need some time, but the Fire Ape was wrestling with it up close, not giving it a chance to break free, spewing fire and melting much of the sand on its body. The wind sand it spat out could hardly breach the Fire Ape¡¯s outer layer of Flame Armor, and even if it did, it would at most cause superficial damage, unable to inflict serious harm. As for close combat, its body was made of sand and thus was somewhat flimsy, not as solidly powerful as the Fire Ape, and it lacked the Fire Ape¡¯s sharp claws, thus it could only suffer as the Fire Ape relentlessly struck, scattering the sand from its body. From behind, the Swallowing Sky Toad¡¯s angles of attack were tricky; it didn¡¯t use the more powerful Star Light, which was generally less effective against a creature made entirely of individual grains of sand. Under Qin Feng¡¯s command, it used water waves to sweep over the Yellow Sand Monster¡¯s body. Once a significant amount of water penetrated it, the toad would then spew out cold air to freeze parts of its limbs, hindering its movements. The Green Fox hid behind the Fire Ape, casting Illusion Techniques periodically to confuse the Yellow Sand Monster, while the Spiritual Vulture in the sky constantly fanned Wind Blades to support the assault from above. Under the siege of these Spiritual Beasts, the Yellow Sand Monster quickly fell into a disadvantage. Qin Feng didn¡¯t even need to make a move. He simply stood with his hands behind his back, watching the battle with an indifferent expression. Before long, the Yellow Sand Monster, devoid of the protection of the desert, was beaten into a sorry state by the several Spiritual Beasts, shrinking from over five meters tall to just over one meter. This was because the sand within its body had been scattered and couldn¡¯t be replenished. Finally, when the Yellow Sand Monster was once again afflicted by the water waves and then had parts of its body frozen by the cold air spewed from the Swallowing Sky Toad, the Fire Ape roared furiously, leaped high into the air, and struck down hard with a fist, turning the Yellow Sand Monster into scattered sand in the sky. ?¦Ï¦Í?¦Ï.?¦Ï Qin Feng did not choose to subdue this Yellow Sand Monster. Not that he didn¡¯t want to. In fact, he noticed that the Yellow Sand Monster¡¯s abilities were quite impressive, with the capacity to heal itself through sand, making it an insurmountable opponent if it stood upon the desert, where it could always return to its peak state. He might also venture into the desert in the future, and having such a subordinate in the sands would undoubtedly be very useful to him. But this Yellow Sand Monster was not suitable. Because its essence was linked to the vast desert, leaving this desert would kill it. Qin Feng felt that this Yellow Sand Monster might be related to that powerful being that had turned this place into a vast desert years ago. He didn¡¯t want to raise a creature possibly connected to an ancient force. What if he accidentally revived that Ancient power? Although the likelihood was minute, it was better to be cautious. ¡°Screecha€|¡± Suddenly, a sharp cry from the Spiritual Vulture came, conveying to Qin Feng not only its cry but also its uncontrollable excitement. Qin Feng, connecting his spirit with the Spiritual Vulture, quickly understood why it was so excited. For the Yellow Sand Monster had left behind an Energy Crystal upon its death, and that Energy Crystal contained pure Wind Element Power, greatly attracting the Spiritual Vulture. It could sense that if it devoured that Energy Crystal, it would be able to undergo evolution and advance to Foundation Establishment. ¡°This is an unexpected fortune,¡± Qin Feng commented. Approaching the Energy Crystal, Qin Feng lifted it up in the air and examined it, feeling the pure Wind Element Power within it as well. After a moment of thought, he handed it directly to the Spiritual Vulture for it to devour. Originally, he had planned to give up on nurturing the Spiritual Vulture. After all, compared to the resources he had invested, catching a new Spiritual Bird would be much more cost-effective. But since he had encountered such an opportunity here, he didn¡¯t mind letting the Spiritual Vulture consume it to enhance its strength. No matter what, it had been with him for a long time, and he did have some affection for it in his heart. Delighted, the Spiritual Vulture cried out joyfully and swallowed the Energy Crystal whole. Soon after, a torrential aura surged from its body, and currents of wind spread around it, lifting up the remaining sand left by the Yellow Sand Monster. ¡°Screecha€|¡± After a while, the Spiritual Vulture soared into the sky, flapping its wings wildly in the air, sending out blasts of wind as it expelled the excess power that its body couldn¡¯t digest. Nearly half an hour later, the Spiritual Vulture finally settled down. By then, it emanated the aura of the Foundation Establishment Early Stage. This made Qin Feng somewhat envious. Although the cultivation speed of these Demon Beasts was somewhat slow, as long as they had enough resources, they could evolve by brute-force devouring, far surpassing Human Clan Cultivators in this regard. ps: I¡¯m too tired from the past two days and not in a writing mood. I¡¯ll try to finish this part today and then return to the Sect to start the next storyline. Chapter 210 - Chapter 210 Chapter 207 Achieving Divine Skills with Earthly Sha Qi ?Chapter 210: Chapter 207 Achieving Divine Skills with Earthly Sha Qi Chapter 210: Chapter 207 Achieving Divine Skills with Earthly Sha Qi In the dilapidated Stone Hall, Qin Feng saw Floating Dust Evil Qi stirring from a crack beneath a high platform. It seemed that long ago, this high platform was used to suppress the evil qi. However, countless years had passed, the platform was damaged, and the evil qi underground had largely dissipated. Further consumed unrestrainedly by the Yellow Sand Monster, the evil qi here was now quite thin. Qin Feng shook his head and decided against ita€¡±using such thin evil qi for cultivation wouldn¡¯t only be time-consuming, but even if he succeeded, the foundation of his divine powers would be somewhat weak. It was better to move on to another location. Having left the ancient city ruins, Qin Feng jumped on the back of the Spiritual Vulture and quickly flew toward the distance. He couldn¡¯t stay here longa€¡±seeing the sky begin to yellow, it was clear another sandstorm was approaching. It was wise to leave quickly, as Qin Feng did not want to experience being buried underground for half a day again, even though he possessed Earth Escape Divine Power, which could only be used after merging with the Ruyi Golden Snake. Merging with his Lifebound Spiritual Beast just to avoid the sandstorm was not worthwhile; if too much energy was used, it would waste a whole day of cultivation to recover his True Yuan. After advancement, the Spiritual Vulture¡¯s Wind Control ability had greatly improved, and its flying speed was much faster than before. Thus, they quickly covered hundreds of miles and left the desert. Without any stops, it took Qin Feng two days to reach Qingyang Mountain in Daliang Country. This place fell under the northernmost influence of the Beast Taming Sect, but there were no feuds with the northern sects. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í?0.?? Moreover, both sides tacitly allowed some neutral small sects to survive on the boundary between their territories, so friction was rare. Thus, Daliang Country was much more peaceful than Nanyue Country. Even if someone occasionally stirred up trouble here, they would be quickly suppressed, preventing any major chaos in the region. Qingyang Mountain was not a famed mountain or river. The spirit veins within the mountain were too scattered, causing the spiritual energy to be not very dense, which is why no sects established themselves on Qingyang Mountain, except for a couple of small families who occupied a few minor spirit veins on the outskirts. Qin Feng cautiously avoided these small family cultivators and entered Qingyang Mountain from one side. Following the directions given by his master, he found a cave behind the main peak, blocked by several huge stones. Moving the stones aside, he immediately sensed the presence of Earth Evil Qi. Earth Element was the sustenance of heaven and earth, holding the center and embodying the terrestrial essence since the formation of the world. It bore all things heavily, gathered at the center, and spread outward; in the heavens, it turned to dust, and on earth, it formed mountainsa€¡±also called Yang Earth. However, a very small portion of Earth Element, due to natural variations or external forces, would transform from yang to yin, condensing Earth Evil. This became another type of treasure useful for cultivators and was one of their favorite kinds of evil qi for consolidating Earth Element Divine Power. Qin Feng meticulously investigated the area and discovered that the Earth Evil Qi of Qingyang Mountain was quite rich, and there were no other cultivators or Demon Beasts present. Clearly, this truly was an Earth Evil treasure site discovered by his master in his early years, and no one else had discovered ita€¡±otherwise, it wouldn¡¯t be his turn to cultivate here. This made Qin Feng greatly relieved, it seemed that his master was still dependable. Although he had pointed out a few places that required fighting, ultimately, he had arranged a treasure spot where Qin Feng could cultivate normally. From then on, Qin Feng searched for a place rich in Spiritual Energy not far from the floating dust evil Qi and used the Ruyi Golden Snake to carve out a cave on the cliffside to serve as a temporary cultivation mansion. Every midnight, he would go and absorb the Earth Element evil Qi, spending the rest of his time meditating and cultivating in the temporary cave mansion. Absorbing the evil Qi required extreme caution for a Foundation Establishment Cultivator, as they were still considered low-level cultivators with unrefined Taoist bodies. Both their Dantian and meridians were still somewhat fragile, so careless mistakes were unacceptable; otherwise, once the evil Qi escaped its binding, it would cause significant harm to his body. In the beginning, Qin Feng only dared to absorb the Earth Element evil Qi bit by bit, fearing that absorbing too much might overwhelm his body. Even so, while absorbing the evil Qi, his meridians still suffered damage from the dense evil Qi. Because of this, he had to search outside the mountain for a market and spent hundreds of Spirit Stones to buy several bottles of Protecting Veins Pills. ?¦Ï??¦Ï.§ã? Each time before he cultivated, he would swallow a Protecting Veins Pill to ensure he could practice normally. However, after forty-nine days of cultivation, he discovered that his meridians had fully adapted to the in-and-out flow of the Earth Element evil Qi. He then stopped using the Protecting Veins Pills and appropriately accelerated his cultivation pace, repeatedly cycling and merging the evil Qi he had refined for his own use in the manner of the Shrinking Ground to Inch Small Divine Power cultivation technique. After dozens more days, Qin Feng finally felt that the Earth Element evil Qi within him had reached saturation. With a burst of energy, he utilized this evil Qi to completely solidify the previously cultivated Small Divine Power into a Divine Power Seed. From then on, he finally succeeded in cultivating his first kind of Divine Power. Actually, this smooth cultivation was largely due to the blessings from the Ruyi Golden Snake and the Swallowing Sky Toad. Because Shrinking Ground to Inch not only involved Earth Element Divine Power but also touched upon some principles of space utilization. As for Qin Feng, let alone any comprehension of the Space Dao, he hadn¡¯t even cultivated any Earth Element Techniques, which he originally needed to cultivate this Small Divine Power. However, the Ruyi Golden Snake had initially merged with the Viper bloodline, possessing a natural talent to absorb Earth Element Spiritual Energy for cultivation. Its True Yuan naturally contained Earth Element Spiritual Power. Qin Feng¡¯s aura was compatible with it, and their True Yuan blended naturally when he cultivated every day, inadvertently containing some Earth Element Spiritual Power, thereby saving him the time of cultivating Earth Element Techniques. Also, since Shrinking Ground to Inch was somewhat similar to the Space Shifting Divine Power of the Swallowing Sky Toad, Qin Feng would often entrust his spirit to the Swallowing Sky Toad when he was idle, observing its use of space-shifting. Although his realm was not yet sufficient to discern the mysteries of the Space Dao, he had some insights, making the Shrinking Ground to Inch he refined even stronger than what ordinary cultivators could achieve. After successfully cultivating the Small Divine Power, Qin Feng was overjoyed. He was thrilled not only for having cultivated this Divine Power but also because, during his cultivation of Shrinking Ground to Inch, he had gained some insights on how to merge his Lifebound Spiritual Beast¡¯s Divine Power in the future. Other Beast Taming Sect disciples who wanted to cultivate Divine Power with the aid of their Lifebound Spiritual Beasts could only continue to enhance their integration with the Lifebound Spiritual Beast. This required merging not just the body¡¯s True Yuan but also the compatibility of their spirits, only then might it be possible to cultivate Divine Power ahead of time. However, Qin Feng¡¯s compatibility with his Lifebound Spiritual Beast was already very high, and with this new insight, he felt that the day he would harness the Divine Skills through his Lifebound Spiritual Beast was not far off. Once he successfully started to cultivate one, the Divine Skills he could practice would not be limited to just one or two. The Ruyi Golden Snake now possessed Divine Skills such as the Ruyi Golden Light, Earth Escape, Big and Small Changes, and another skill that involved devouring various metals to enhance the Ruyi Golden Light and the gold element power within its body. However, this last Divine Skill was purely auxiliary, so he usually paid it little attention, even though Qin Feng had thrown many Broken Magical Instruments and materials into the Demon Refining Pot for the Ruyi Golden Snake to consume at its leisure, he rarely focused on this particular ability. But such Divine Skills actually had significant uses; perhaps after merging them, he might develop iron teeth and a stomach capable of digesting metal, which would definitely be beneficial for tempering his internal organs in the future. He could also continue to merge other Divine Skills into the Ruyi Golden Snake and then practice them himself. When Qin Feng thought of this, he couldn¡¯t help but feel waves of excitement, as this would greatly strengthen his foundation, far beyond ordinary people¡¯s imagination. After his euphoria had lingered for quite some time, Qin Feng pressed down his thoughts, resealed the cave where the Earth Evil Qi resided, and pondered the possibility of guiding other friendly sect members to practice here in the future, not allowing the Evil Qi to leak out. Otherwise, it would be wasteful and could potentially attract other cultivators. This place was ultimately neutral territory, and the Beast Taming Sect could not claim it over mere Evil Qi, which was why it was unguarded. He probably wouldn¡¯t need to use the Evil Qi here again, as the cultivation of Divine Skills through his Lifebound Spiritual Beast didn¡¯t require such auxiliary elements. Having done all this, Qin Feng stood up and prepared to leave Qingyang Mountain. This time, he didn¡¯t choose to ride the Spiritual Vulture, since his master had sent him out to gain experience; thus, flying around on the Spiritual Vulture wouldn¡¯t really serve the purpose of his training. Therefore, he chose to walk on the ground, which also allowed him to refine the proficiency of the Divine Skill, Shrinking Ground to Inch. When he activated this Small Divine Power, he felt as though the mountains and lands before him transformed, perceiving that with just a step, he could go far. Of course, that was an illusion; in his current nascent state, a step could carry him only about dozen yards at most. Yet, this was still a hundred times more miraculous than the Divine Movement Technique he often used before. The differences between the two were fundamental; Divine Movement Technique was merely a spell for speeding up travel, after its activation, the body would become light as a feather, flying swiftly, but still within the range of normal running. However, Shrinking Ground to Inch was essentially an application of laws, although merely an application. Even if Qin Feng was capable of using it, he knew its effects but not the reason behind it. Should he ever fully comprehend the mechanics of Shrinking Ground to Inch one day, he would then possess the ability to develop it into the Great Divine Power, Heavenly Distance Touching. As Qin Feng stepped forward practicing Shrinking Ground to Inch, he continually refined this Small Divine Power, sometimes stepping across rivers, moving out of ravines, stepping onto treetops, or leaping halfway up a mountainside. If someone were watching him from afar at that time, it would be hard to imagine how quickly he was moving. Shrinking Ground to Inch differed from the Space Shifting used by the Swallowing Sky Toad. Space Shifting involved directly entering and moving the body through space which appeared abrupt, causing sudden disappearances and reappearances, which seemed strange. However, Shrinking Ground to Inch appeared completely normal on the surface, just like walking, possessing the effect of deceiving an opponent¡¯s eyes. One might think he was still far away, but with a step forward, he could suddenly be right in front of them, certainly catching the opponent off-guard. Qin Feng felt that if he could cultivate to the extent of the Thousand-Mile House, as long as it was not an existence that had become an immortal, most cultivators probably wouldn¡¯t be able to catch him. Unfortunately, he was still very far from reaching that level. Once he left Qingyang Mountain, Qin Feng no longer used Shrinking Ground to Inch. Firstly, continuous use would consume considerable energy, and secondly, there was no need to unnecessarily reveal his abilities. Even though many disciples of the Outer Sect of the Beast Taming Sect knew that he had been rewarded with the cultivation technique of a Small Divine Power during the great competition, only a few Inner Sect Elders knew exactly what Divine Power he had received. Thus, he preferred to keep this Divine Power for critical moments. Upon leaving the mountain, he happened to encounter several small families from nearby Qingyang Mountain preparing for autumn hunting. This took Qin Feng by surprise initially before he realized it had already entered autumn. Having spent about half a year practicing beside his master in the Inner Sect, his cultivation level had advanced to the mid-stage of Foundation Establishment. Then, to cultivate Divine Skills, he had traveled for about half a month before arriving at Qingyang Mountain, where he spent a hundred days refining Earth Evil Qi to cultivate the Divine Skill. Adding it all up, it had been over half a year since he joined the Inner Sect, and in a few months, it would be the end of the year again. This realization made Qin Feng reflective, understanding why it¡¯s often said that in the world of cultivation, time passes without one noticing. Chapter 211 - Chapter 211 Chapter 208 Changes in the Sect ?Chapter 211: Chapter 208 Changes in the Sect Chapter 211: Chapter 208 Changes in the Sect ¡°Halt.¡± A few young men blocked Qin Feng¡¯s way out of the mountains, the leader, a youth with a suspicious look on his face, demanded, ¡°Who are you, and why are you lurking around the Bai Family¡¯s territory of Qingyang Mountain?¡± Qin Feng was slightly startled, ¡°This is your family¡¯s territory?¡± ¡°Indeed.¡± The youth clearly could not discern Qin Feng¡¯s cultivation, and seeing that Qin Feng was about his age, he naturally assumed that Qin Feng¡¯s cultivation was not much different from his own. Thus, he lifted his chin slightly, and with a hint of arrogance in his tone, said, ¡°Qingyang Mountain is dominated by the Bai, Xie, and Hu families. It¡¯s our time for autumn hunting, and all the loose cultivators around know this and would not enter the mountain during this period. Where are you from, and what are you doing on my Bai Family¡¯s territory at this time?¡± Someone secretly transmitted a message from the side, ¡°I heard that the Hu Family recently recruited a few loose cultivators. Could this person have been sent by the Hu Family, knowing that the thousand-year-old spiritual medicine we¡¯ve discovered is about to mature, and they sent him to gather intelligence?¡± Hearing this, the faces of the others all changed, and the way they looked at Qin Feng grew increasingly hostile. Qin Feng looked at the few people in front of him with surprise, not understanding why they would have such expressions. His own Qin Family of Kun City also entered the mountain for autumn hunts every year, but if they encountered loose cultivators from other places, they would not meddle; why were these people so bold and reckless, weren¡¯t they afraid of bringing trouble to their families? He saw that these people had ordinary strength, with only two slightly older cultivators that possessed the cultivation of the late Qi Refinement stage. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í??.?0 With such strength, he wondered where they got the courage to be so arroganta€¡±were they relying on those two Foundation Establishment cultivators a few miles away? However, Qin Feng did not trouble them and said, ¡°I am not a nearby loose cultivator, and I was previously unaware of the rules set by your families. I meant no offense and will leave now.¡± After saying this, he lifted his foot to walk away. ¡°Hey, you think you can leave?¡± ¡°Halt, clarify things before you go.¡± A few young men stepped forward in unison, blocking Qin Feng¡¯s path. ¡°How dare you!¡± Seeing this, Qin Feng¡¯s expression turned cold and he rebuked angrily. Merely a few Qi Refining realm cultivators dared to block him, truly audacious. Even if he did not mention his status as an Inner Sect Disciple of the Beast Taming Sect, with just the strength of mid-stage Foundation Establishment, he was not someone these common small cultivators could provoke recklessly. Seeing that these people repeatedly hindered him, he immediately felt a surge of anger rise in his heart, releasing his aura outward, intimidating their spirits. He shouted coldly, ¡°Truly ignorant of the immensity of heaven and earth. Is this how your family elders teach you to act, to cause trouble so carelessly? Aren¡¯t you afraid of bringing disaster upon your families?¡± The sudden release of a strong aura startled the few young men. ¡°Foundation Establishment¡­ Foundation Establishment cultivator?¡± The leader, upon seeing this, cried out incredulously, his eyes filled with fear. He had never imagined that he would actually be blocking a high-level cultivator of the Foundation Establishment realm. Of course, that was also because Qin Feng looked too young, even younger than him, which led them to believe he was just a Qi Refining realm youth. Qin Feng¡¯s release of his aura not only threw these young men into chaos, but it also alarmed the two Foundation Establishment cultivators discussing matters a few miles away. ?¦Ï¦Í??.§ã0 Upon feeling Qin Feng¡¯s released aura, they were shocked and hurriedly flew over with their spiritual artifacts, shouting from a distance, ¡°Daoist Fellow, please show mercy¡­¡± They thought Qin Feng was about to take action against the younger members of their family and thus both urgently came to intercede on behalf of their family¡¯s younger generation. But they were overthinking it; Qin Feng was not so bloodthirsty. Although these few young men were somewhat unruly and said things that displeased him, it was not enough for him to go on a killing spree. His Daoist heart was not that weak. The reason he released the aura of a Foundation Establishment cultivator was simply because he did not want to be tangled up with these young men anymore. He intended to attract the two Foundation Establishment cultivators over to clear things up and leave. So when the two Foundation Establishment cultivators flew close, they only saw Qin Feng already retracting his aura. Seeing their younger relatives safe, both men breathed a sigh of relief. The leading elder quickly cupped his hands towards Qin Feng and said, ¡°Many thanks, Daoist Fellow, for your magnanimity. Our younger generation is ignorant of the rules, if there has been any offense, please do not take it to heart.¡± ¡°Never mind.¡± Qin Feng replied indifferently. ¡°I am a cultivator of the Bai Family from Qingyang Mountain, I am Bai Wangshan, and this is my son, Bai Linhai.¡± The elder asked Qin Feng, ¡°May I know how to address you, Daoist Fellow?¡± ¡°My surname is Qin.¡± Qin Feng simply said, ¡°I am traveling the world on my master¡¯s orders. Previously, I was unaware that your family had sealed off Qingyang Mountain. When I wished to leave, your family¡¯s brothers blocked my way. May I ask the two Daoist Fellows to let me pass so I can be on my way?¡± ¡°Daoist Fellow Qin is too courteous. Our Bai Family is just a small clan after all; it¡¯s not our place to restrict access to the mountain.¡± The experienced and astute Family Head Bai Wangshan, seeing that Qin Feng did not wish to reveal his identity, did not dare to ask further. To be able to cultivate to the mid-stage of Foundation Establishment at such a young age, he must be a genius disciple cultivated by a major sect, not someone his small Bai Family could afford to offend. So he very directly stepped two paces aside, ¡°Daoist Fellow Qin, please go ahead, Qingyang Mountain is not owned by my Bai Family; naturally, we would not dare to block your path.¡± Saying this, he also turned to the few young men and ordered, ¡°You lot, quickly apologize to Daoist Fellow Qin and clear the way.¡± Having lost their earlier arrogance, the young men each apologized to Qin Feng, ¡°This Daoist Fellow¡­ err, Senior, please forgive us, we won¡¯t dare to do it again.¡± ¡°Let it be.¡± Qin Feng waved his hand, casually saying, ¡°I won¡¯t hold it against you, but in the future, keep your eyes open. If you offend some ill-tempered cultivators by mistake, wouldn¡¯t you have unnecessarily made an enemy?¡± ¡°Yes, yes, Senior is right.¡± The young men no longer cared how young Qin Feng looked. Since their family head was so courteous and treated him as an equal, calling him ¡®Senior¡¯ wasn¡¯t a problem for them. Seeing Qin Feng had already started walking, they quickly cleared the path, stepping aside. ¡°Daoist Fellow Qin, take care.¡± Bai Wangshan and his son respectfully cupped their hands as Qin Feng passed by them politely. ¡°Both of you are very kind.¡± Qin Feng nodded in return and then proceeded to walk toward the distance. When Qin Feng¡¯s figure slowly disappeared from view, those few young people finally let out a sigh of relief. The leading young man said to Bai Wangshan, ¡°Grandfather, with his cultivation being so strong, could he have come for that piece of Spiritual Medicine discovered by our family?¡± As soon as these words came out, the faces of the other young people all changed color. The Bai Family had paid a heavy price for that piece of Spiritual Medicine, having slain the Demon Beast that guarded it, and now that the Spiritual Medicine was about to mature, it would be quite normal for news to have leaked and for others to come to snatch it. And that piece of Spiritual Medicine was of considerable value to their Bai Family, even affecting whether the younger generations would have enough Cultivation Resources for their cultivation, so they couldn¡¯t help but feel nervous. ¡°What nonsense are you talking about?¡± The old man smacked the young man¡¯s head angrily, ¡°A genius disciple of the Beast Taming Sect wouldn¡¯t trouble us over a piece of Spiritual Medicine.¡± The young man was stunned and asked in confusion, ¡°Grandfather, how do you know he is a disciple of the Beast Taming Sect? We looked at his magic robe earlier, and it didn¡¯t have any marks of a Sect; otherwise, we wouldn¡¯t have mistaken him for a Loose Cultivator.¡± ¡°You are repeatedly told to use your brains, but you never listen. That Daoist Fellow Qin may not have the Beast Taming Sect¡¯s insignia on his magic robe, but he wears two Spiritual Beast Bags at his waist. Didn¡¯t you notice such conspicuous items?¡± Bai Wangshan scolded them with a face full of frustration, ¡°In the entire Southern Domain, aside from the Beast Taming Sect¡¯s disciples, which Sect¡¯s disciples carry so many Spiritual Beast Bags on them? Ordinary cultivators, even if they have tamed a Spiritual Beast, would at most need one Spiritual Beast Bag, but who would casually wear so many Spiritual Beast Bags? Can¡¯t you see such an obvious thing, or is your brain filled with water?¡± With his words, those few young people finally realized their mistake. Thinking back on how they had arrogantly stopped the way of a Beast Taming Sect disciple, they once again broke out in a cold sweat. ¡°Hmph, now you know what fear is.¡± The old man said annoyed, ¡°From now on, think before you speak or act. You were lucky this time, having met someone with a good temper, but if you keep being so ignorant in the future, it would be a good outcome to be killed on the spot. If the other party is ruthless, our Bai Family might even be dragged down with you.¡± ¡­ Qin Feng had not paid much attention to the earlier episode, as to him, it was just a minor matter. As long as the Bai Family cultivators didn¡¯t make a move against him, he couldn¡¯t be bothered to engage in fighting with those people. Leaving Qingyang Mountain, he was not in a hurry to return. Instead, he wandered east and west, visiting human lands and various markets, encountering many cultivators from different places. For several months, he had not ridden the Spiritual Vulture in flight, instead measuring the land with his feet, wandering in all directions. During this time, he had traveled to many places, experienced many local customs, interacted with numerous cultivators, and even went through seven or eight battles. Some occurred when he inadvertently showed wealth while purchasing various Spiritual Objects in the markets, attracting the greed of some cultivators with ulterior motives. Others laid traps, wanting to take advantage of him, a cultivator who clearly looked like a foreigner, which he directly exposed, thus resulting in enmity. Qin Feng treated these battles very casually; with his current strength, ordinary Foundation Establishment Cultivators were no match for him. Even if one or two Foundation Establishment Late Stage individuals came along, Qin Feng was not afraid at all. Besides, he had the Fire Ape, an increasingly strong Spiritual Beast whose injuries had been healing, by his side. If someone truly wanted to rob him, they would end up being the ones robbed by him. So not only did he not suffer much loss along the way, but his Storage Bag also filled with even more Spiritual Objects. On this day, passing through a market, he planned to visit the local branch of the Ten Thousand Demons Pavilion to deal with his recent gains, exchanging some unnecessary Spiritual Artifacts and Spiritual Medicine for things useful to his cultivation. Since it was his own Sect¡¯s business, the Ten Thousand Demons Pavilion¡¯s people wouldn¡¯t care about the origin of his items. Even if they knew there were some issues, they wouldn¡¯t pay much attention. Upon entering the market branch of the Ten Thousand Demons Pavilion, a young manager quickly came up to greet him. ¡°Is this Senior Brother Qin Feng?¡± Upon seeing Qin Feng, the young manager carefully sized him up and with some hesitation, he asked. ¡°Hmm?¡± Qin Feng looked at the young manager with some surprise and asked curiously, ¡°Brother, have we met before?¡± ¡°No.¡± The young manager hurriedly shook his head and then added, ¡°However, we have heard of Senior Brother Qin¡¯s reputation and know that you were the top-ranked in the Outer Disciples¡¯ Competition last year.¡± This person was obviously adept at handling relationships. Although he was an Outer Disciple with Foundation Establishment Cultivation himself, he instinctively lowered his stance in front of an Inner Sect Disciple. Hence, even though he was older than Qin Feng, he still addressed him as Senior Brother. This, however, made Qin Feng feel a bit uncomfortable. ¡°Elder Ning from the Inner Sect sent a message through the Ten Thousand Demons Pavilion, instructing us to inform you to return to the Mountain Gate as soon as we encountered you.¡± ¡°Oh, do you know what it¡¯s about?¡± Qin Feng was somewhat surprised. Hadn¡¯t his master told him to travel and gain experience? It hadn¡¯t been long since he left, so why was he being asked to return? ¡°That, we do not know.¡± The young manager shook his head: ¡°We only received the message from headquarters. As for the specifics, we have no idea.¡± He noticed that Qin Feng looked puzzled. After thinking for a bit, he quietly said to Qin Feng, ¡°Senior Brother Qin, you better return to the Mountain Gate soon. The Cultivation World has been acting strange lately. Several nearby sects have been placing large orders for Spiritual Artifacts and Elixir Pills in the Market, and there are also many Spirit Talismans being bought up. Furthermore, our Beast Taming Sect has also been gathering a large number of resources from various places. I¡¯m not sure about other locations, but the items I¡¯ve handled alone amount to a significant figure. Although it¡¯s unclear what¡¯s happening, it¡¯s definitely something big. Senior Brother Qin, it¡¯s better for you to return early to make arrangements.¡± Hearing this, Qin Feng was startled. However, he quickly thought of something and then relaxed. As long as there wasn¡¯t an outbreak of a major war with Taiyi Mountain, then the need for such large amounts of resources probably pertained to the conflict with the Otherworld. It seemed that the Sect was pre-emptively gathering supplies in preparation for the imminent war. Master calling him back at this time must be related to this matter. Perhaps it wasn¡¯t to involve him in the war, but because his master was going to take part, and he wanted Qin Feng to return to the Mountain Gate early to arrange his future cultivation affairs. ¡°All right, thank you for the reminder, Brother.¡± Qin Feng nodded in acknowledgment. Even though he felt an urgent desire to return, since the man had kindly warned him, it would not be courteous to just turn around and leave. Therefore, he proceeded to take out the Spiritual Artifacts and various Spiritual Objects he had prepared to exchange for Spirit Stones, letting the young manager facilitate the exchange for him, thus indirectly offering him a favor. After all, he was contributing a significant number of items, and in a not-so-large Market, acquiring so many Spiritual Objects and Spiritual Artifacts at once was a big deal for the young manager and would certainly contribute to his chances of promotion. Half an hour later, Qin Feng had dealt with the Spiritual Objects, and with the young manager seeing him off from the Ten Thousand Demons Pavilion, he left the Market. Releasing his Spiritual Vulture, he flew straight for the Mountain Gate. He did not know when the Sect would begin its campaign against the Otherworld, and if they were already prepared, he might be late and miss seeing his master. So, he flew at great speed on his journey back. Chapter 212 - Chapter 212 Chapter 209 Becoming a True Disciple ?Chapter 212: Chapter 209: Becoming a True Disciple Chapter 212: Chapter 209: Becoming a True Disciple Beast Taming Sect, Heavenly Snake Ridge. ¡°Master, your disciple has returned.¡± Qin Feng approached Ning Wuxu and bowed deeply. ¡°Mm, it¡¯s good you¡¯re back.¡± Ning Wuxu¡¯s face bore a smile, ¡°Originally, I planned for you to gain more experience outside for a longer period, but a few months ago, Elder Kongkong brought back the Heavenly Pool Cave Heaven. With the collective efforts of the other Supreme Elders, it¡¯s not only about to be completely repaired but also transformed very smoothly into a Void Fortress. The war against the Otherworld has now been pushed forward because this is the sector¡¯s first war against the Otherworld. The sect is taking extra precautions and has decided to deploy most of our forces to take down that world, thereby securing a new resource location for our Beast Taming Sect. Should we succeed, the disciples of our Beast Taming Sect will enter a period of rapid development. Five out of the nine Great Elders will be deployed, and as your master, I will also join them. This is why I had to call you back early to arrange some matters.¡± Qin Feng nodded in understanding. It seemed that things were indeed as he expected, truly due to the Otherworld matters. He hadn¡¯t expected that the Supreme Elders could bring back the Heavenly Pool Cave Heaven so quickly and thus hasten the onset of the war. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?0¦Í??.§ã¦Ï ¡°The reasons for your return are mainly two matters, one is your future cultivation, and the other is your previous distinguished services in two major incidents. You brought back the Demon God Stone Statue from the Otherworld, and in the matter of Heavenly Pool Cave Heaven, you and Li Miaozhen both played significant roles. Since there was some uncertainty due to the Cave Heaven before, no rewards had been provisioned early on. But now that Elder Kongkong has brought the Cave Heaven World back to the sect, your contributions will naturally not be forgotten.¡± At this point, Ning Wuxu smiled even more brightly, ¡°As my disciple who has achieved such merits, it wouldn¡¯t be right to reward you with mere material objects. ?¦Ï¦Í?¦Ï.?¦Ï So, I proposed that you be designated as a True Disciple of the current generation in our Spiritual Snake Lineage. Only with the status and inheritance of a True Disciple, combined with the sect¡¯s comprehensive training, can we suitably honor such monumental achievements of yours.¡± ¡°Ah?¡± Qin Feng reacted with both shock and joy, ¡°Master, are you serious? Am I really a True Disciple now?¡± ¡°Hehea€|¡± Ning Wuxu laughed lightly, ¡°Would your master deceive you?¡± He understood Qin Feng¡¯s surprise, thus he didn¡¯t mind the skeptical tone from his disciple. ¡°I naturally trust my master completely.¡± Qin Feng was beaming with joy ¨C a True Disciple! In such a vast sect as the Beast Taming Sect, there were only nine True Disciple spots available in each generation, and sometimes there weren¡¯t even enough worthy candidates to fill all the spots. Becoming a True Disciple wasn¡¯t just about reaching a certain level of cultivation; one also had to showcase absolute loyalty to the sect and possess a strong potential for further cultivation. Those selfish, disloyal individuals were not qualified to be True Disciples. Likewise, disciples with insufficient potential could not become True Disciples. Being a True Disciple brought countless benefits, so the competition over this title within the Inner Sect lineages was especially fierce. The sect scrutinized its disciples rigorously. At times, if there were no suitable disciples, they would rather leave the position vacant than groom an unqualified disciple as a True Disciple. The Sect had to ensure that each True Disciple possessed enough strength to dominate their generation and had the combat capability to fight above their level. Only then could they represent the sect appropriately and earn other sects¡¯ respect. Otherwise, if a True Disciple was average in strength and lost easily in battles against other sects¡¯ True Disciples, not only would it lose face for the sect, but others might also question the sect¡¯s power. If other forces perceived that the sect lacked promising successors, they might harbor designs against it, thus inviting unnecessary trouble and probes. After his initial excitement, Qin Feng felt some concerns. He hesitantly looked at Ning Wuxu and asked, ¡°Master, would the other masters and elders agree? Would their disciples cause me trouble?¡± ¡°What can they do if they don¡¯t agree?¡± Ning Wuxu snorted, ¡°If they could also produce a disciple who secured such great achievements for the sect, I wouldn¡¯t hesitate to appoint their disciple as a True Disciple as well. Since their disciples are underperforming, should they suppress my disciple instead? Rest assured, they don¡¯t have the audacity to do so. As for their discontented disciples, it¡¯s natural for young people to feel envious. If they weren¡¯t ambitious and proud, could they even be called young?¡± Moreover, they had been fighting for a position as a True Disciple for many years, just because their strengths were similar and thus no one like Li Miaozhen from the White Tiger Lineage, who suppressed her contemporaries, had emerged. Hence, a victory had never been decided. Now, a new Inner Sect disciple like you has taken the position of True Disciple, there are definitely some who are dissatisfied. They might even challenge you to prove their strength by defeating you and tarnishing the prestige of True Disciples.¡± ¡°Thisa€|¡± Qin Feng was a bit depressed, ¡°I have only entered the mid stage of Foundation Establishment a few months ago, with insufficient accumulation, I am not yet able to contend with those senior brothers who have cultivated for many years.¡± He didn¡¯t say he was inferior to others, just that he lacked the lengthy cultivation and the solid accumulation of others. Actually, Qin Feng was still somewhat proud and confident in his heart. Even though his innate talent was not particularly high, with the power of the Demon Refining Pot, he believed that given a few years, he could definitely surpass all his peers. Even if his cultivation was not superior, both his combat power and potential would far exceed them. As long as he could integrate a few more Divine Skills with the Ruyi Golden Snake, he could also condense more Divine Power Seeds within himself. The Divine Power Seeds formed at lower realms would grow as his cultivation advanced, becoming the foundation of his Dao when he cultivated to the level of Purple Mansion Realm and above. It would then become easier to cultivate these Divine Skills into Great Divine Powers, which would naturally be far superior to ordinary cultivators. Of course, if he had the opportunity to subdue a few Spiritual Beasts not weaker than the Fire Ape, then even if disciples of the Foundation Establishment Perfection Realm came to challenge him, he would not be afraid at all. Qin Feng considered whether to find an opportunity to bring a few more Spiritual Beasts back. Although it might seem strange for someone at the mid stage of Foundation Establishment to subdue multiple Peak Foundation Establishment Spiritual Beasts, he could claim that his Divine Sense was naturally powerfula€¡±a rare but not unprecedented occurrence in the Beast Taming Sect. Ning Wuxu saw his disciple¡¯s depressed expression and couldn¡¯t help but laugh, ¡°Don¡¯t worry too much. After all, you are my disciple, and those younger generations wouldn¡¯t dare to do anything too outrageous.¡± ¡°In the meantime, you should cultivate well on Heavenly Snake Ridge. The cultivation resources available to True Disciples are far beyond your expectations. I will also prepare some items for you to help you break through to the late stage of Foundation Establishment quickly.¡± ¡°I see your inner malevolent energy is restrained, you must have successfully cultivated the Shrinking Ground to Inch Divine Skill. Since you¡¯ve gained insights into Divine Skill cultivation, focus deeply for a while and strive to successfully cultivate your Lifebound Spiritual Beast¡¯s Divine Skills. By then, your combat power will increase significantly.¡± ¡°You also have a Fire Ape, remember? You once said that it had advanced to the Demon Core Realm, but someone destroyed its Demon Core and caused it to drop in realm.¡± ¡°I will help you heal its injuries later. Although it cannot return to the Demon Core Realm soon, with the insights from the Demon Core Realm, it should be enough to deal with most disciples at the Foundation Establishment Perfection Realm.¡± Qin Feng nodded, ¡°Thank you, Master. If the Fire Ape¡¯s injuries fully recover, aside from those senior brothers who have cultivated their Lifebound Spiritual Beasts to the Core Formation Realm, the rest should not be my match.¡± ¡°It¡¯s good that you understand.¡± Ning Wuxu continued, ¡°Our Beast Taming Sect¡¯s cultivation methods are different from the majority of techniques in the cultivation world. When one¡¯s own cultivation hits a bottleneck, one can first cultivate one¡¯s Lifebound Spiritual Beast. Although it consumes more cultivation resources, it also results in a group of disciples whose strength surpasses those at the same level.¡± ¡°Those disciples who have cultivated their Lifebound Spiritual Beasts to the Core Formation Realm could have advanced to the Golden Core Realm long ago. Yet, to fight for the position of True Disciple, they suppressed their realms and were unwilling to advance.¡± ¡°Now that the position of True Disciple belongs to you, as long as they are not too foolish, it¡¯s better for them to let go of their aspirations soon; otherwisea€|¡± Ning Wuxu was, after all, a Great Elder of the Spiritual Snake Lineage. He certainly wouldn¡¯t let other disciples overshadow his own. ¡°Challenges will definitely come, and people will challenge you. Xuanling joined the sect later, and by the time she became my disciple, the previous generation¡¯s True Disciple position had already been taken by Long Qibian. She missed the opportunity, which annoyed her for a long time.¡± ¡°Later, when her cultivation improved, she repeatedly challenged Long Qibian three times. Though she never won, she didn¡¯t lose either, which made it difficult for that Long Qibian kid to look up.¡± ¡°So, now that you are a True Disciple, there will certainly be people coming to challenge you, especially the descendants of the Long Family, who will not miss the opportunity to strike at you and avenge past grievances.¡± Qin Feng was somewhat surprised, ¡°Long Qibian is already a Purple Mansion Elder now, isn¡¯t he? He has True Inheritance, yet he can¡¯t defeat Senior Sister Liu?¡± ¡°Hehe, the inheritance of my Spiritual Snake Lineage is naturally strong but that doesn¡¯t mean other sects¡¯ legacies are necessarily weaker.¡± ¡°What do you mean, Master?¡± Ning Wuxu smiled slightly, ¡°Xuanling had a stroke of luck and entered the Guanghan Secret Realm, where she obtained many treasures and an inheritance from the Guanghan Palace, which she integrated into the ¡®Heavenly Snake Swallowing the Moon Technique¡¯ she cultivates. Her strength is absolutely not inferior to the current True Inheritors, which is why she was able to come to a draw with Long Qibian.¡± ¡°I see.¡± Hearing this, Qin Feng¡¯s heart skipped a beat. He suddenly remembered that he too had an Ancient Inheritance on him. Although the inheritance from Void Shattering Ancestor certainly couldn¡¯t compare to the techniques of his own sect, he might still be able to find something useful in it, especially the inheritance of the Daoist Skills that shattered the void, which were definitely powerful. However, Qin Feng was just contemplating; he soon stopped thinking about it further, knowing his current realm was insufficient, and he was far from obtaining the complete inheritance from the Void Shattering Hammer Cave Mansion. Even if he acquired it, given his current strength, he wouldn¡¯t be able to integrate it into his own cultivation techniques. The reason Liu Xuanling was able to do so was because she had extraordinary treasures in the Guanghan Palace to aid her cultivation, and her own cultivation method was somewhat similar to that of the Guanghan Palace, enabling her to unify and form her own technique. Whereas Qin Feng hadn¡¯t even settled on a future Cultivation Method yet, so it wouldn¡¯t be wise to haphazardly draw from the inheritance of Void Shattering Ancestor. If he made a mistake in his cultivation, it would be troublesome. He decided to wait until his cultivation of the Daoist Body was perfected before considering this matter again. Chapter 213 - Chapter 213 Chapter 210 The Elixir Pills for Treating the Divine Soul ?Chapter 213: Chapter 210: The Elixir Pills for Treating the Divine Soul Chapter 213: Chapter 210: The Elixir Pills for Treating the Divine Soul Ning Wuxu said, ¡°For this expedition, the sect has drawn 200,000 Outer Sect Qi Refinement Late Stage disciples and 20,000 Foundation Establishment Realm disciples from both the Inner and Outer Sects, along with nearly half of our Golden Core, Purple Mansion, Dharma Image, and other higher ranking cultivators. Together with the sects allied with our Beast Taming Sect, a total of two million cultivators will be mobilized, just waiting for the allies to assemble before we set out.¡± ¡°So many?¡± Qin Feng grinned. He could hardly imagine what the concept of a two million cultivator army marching together was like. Just thinking about that overwhelming number of cultivators sent shivers down his spine. ¡°Not many.¡± Ning Wuxu shook his head lightly, ¡°After all, we are facing a whole world, and if we cannot be certain of a complete victory in terms of top-level war power, then this number of troops is actually far from enough. However, as long as we win with our top-level war power, we can use these troops to advance gradually, and ultimately completely crush the opponent and occupy that world. Of course, if we can acquire a large amount of resources along the way and send them back, we can cultivate more lower-level disciples within a few decades, and then continuously send them to the Otherworld, expanding our force. Although the outcomes of wars are decided by the Supreme Elders and top entities of that world, truly ruling that world in the end still depends on the ordinary disciples.¡± Qin Feng nodded, showing he understood. Ning Wuxu sighed, ¡°You must have read the records of the Ancient Great Tribulation. When the worlds invaded our Biluo Great World back then, billions of troops directly invaded, countless in number, which is why we suffered such heavy losses and have still not recovered to the prosperity of Ancient Times. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ??¦Í?0.§ã¦Ï Now, the development of the entire world has reached a bottleneck. To advance further, we can only expand outward. It happens that the powerhouses in this star domain have been coveting our suddenly emerging world for a long time. In fact, when we first came to this star domain, many powerhouses led their armies to attack us. Three hundred years ago, great forces from the Five Domains formed an alliance and decided on a strategy for future expansion, then they lifted the barriers to the Outer Realms. As expected, many fools attempted to sneak in; the Demon God you encountered in Nanyue Country was just one of them.¡± As he said this, a cold expression appeared on his face, ¡°Those beings who dare covet our world should not blame us for counterattacking. In fact, our Beast Taming Sect wasn¡¯t the first to take action. Long before us, seventeen forces from various domains had already declared war on Outer Worlds. Currently, five of them have completely conquered Otherworlds, and the remaining twelve forces have also gained an absolute advantage. Our action this time is to probe the attitudes of those powerful worlds in this star domain, and also to serve as the vanguard, paving the way for more sect forces to conquer other worlds later. Once we conquer these worlds, we can establish Teleportation Arrays, continuously transporting cultivators from all factions there, and then use those worlds as springboards to radiate outward, continuously conquering more worlds and acquiring more resources, plundering the World Origin of those worlds to make up for the past damages of our Biluo Great World.¡± His face was cold as he spoke, but his eyes revealed a hint of madness, which startled Qin Feng. ?¦Ï??0.§ã0 Fortunately, Ning Wuxu soon controlled his emotions, glanced at his disciple, and sighed lightly, ¡°You still have low cultivation and don¡¯t understand many things. When you reach my Cultivation Realm, you will know why your master lost composure like this. Let¡¯s not discuss this anymore; it¡¯s too far from you right now. Tomorrow the Sect Master will gather the Elders in the Mountain Gate¡¯s hall to vindicate you. Just be prepared. Moreover, in about a year, when the allied factions have all assembled, your master will also leave the Mountain Gate, and it is unlikely I will return for at least several decades. Do you want to come with me to the Otherworld to broaden your horizons, or stay at the Mountain Gate to cultivate?¡± Qin Feng was stunned, not expecting his master to give him the choice. He frowned slightly, falling into thought. Should he join the expeditionary army to the Otherworld? Seeing him frown, Ning Wuxu said, ¡°You don¡¯t need to feel troubled; follow your heart. The war between worlds is extremely dangerous; delving into an unfamiliar world, facing unknown enemies, and fighting with a vast armya€¡±unless one¡¯s personal strength is extremely formidable, there will definitely be numerous dangers, and if unlucky, one might even get killed by the residual shockwaves of battles between powerful entities. But, you don¡¯t need to worry too much; as a True Disciple, the higher echelons of the sect will take care of you appropriately, and they definitely won¡¯t assign you overly dangerous missions, so your chances of surviving in the Otherworld are greater than other disciples. Moreover, going to the Otherworld also brings many opportunities, as well as a unique cultivation system. If you could learn from it and integrate it with what you have learned, it might enable your cultivation to soar, reaching a high realm in a short period of time. If you can¡¯t make up your mind now, that¡¯s okay too. You still have a year to think about it; just let your master know before we set off.¡± Various thoughts quickly flashed through Qin Feng¡¯s minda€¡±should he go? Should he stay? Following the expeditionary army to conquer the Otherworld could indeed be dangerous, but as long as he survived, he would surely gain many benefits. But would staying at the Sect ensure safety? Not necessarily! The Sect drawing away so much force; the Taiyi Mountain side would definitely be tempted. If they were to cause trouble for the Sect during this period, he would still face danger. Then, the Sect¡¯s forces defending various places would certainly be insufficient, and definitely, opposing sects would surge into our areas, and as a dignified True Disciple, it¡¯s unlikely he would just stay in the Mountain Gate for decades without going out; he would surely be assigned tasks to intimidate some opponents. But once he left the Mountain Gate, Jiang Dongliu and Jiang Yinghong might take advantage of the Sect¡¯s lack of personnel to plot against his life. Since that¡¯s the case, it would be better to follow Master to combat the Otherworld. Even on the battlefield, there were fellow Sect members to look after each other, and the Sect elders provided extra care. As long as he could master several Divine Skills before the battle began, his chances of survival were certainly not small, much safer than being schemed against outside the Sect. At this thought, he clenched his teeth hard, ¡°Master, your disciple wishes to follow by your side.¡± ¡°Oh?¡± Ning Wuxu was slightly surprised, ¡°You¡¯ve made your decision so quickly, won¡¯t you consider it further?¡± ¡°No need.¡± Qin Feng smiled, ¡°We Cultivators endure endless tribulations in our Cultivation, contending with fate itself. Being timorous will only destabilize my Daoist Heart. As a disciple aspiring for longevity and given this rare opportunity, it would be a great pity to miss it.¡± ¡°Hehe¡­¡± Ning Wuxu stroked his beard and smiled, ¡°Good, good, good, truly worthy of being the excellent disciple I saw in you. Don¡¯t worry, with me looking after you, I will definitely not let you die amidst the chaos of war. If you can survive the mass warfare, then smaller scale battles should pose even fewer problems. In the coming year, I will properly impart some skills to you. Moreover, don¡¯t you still have one opportunity to enter the Ten Thousand Demons Cave Heaven for Cultivation? Use it. Even though it¡¯s a pity to use it now, every increase in strength now will enhance your chances of survival on the battlefield. Besides, as a True Disciple who is intensively nurtured by the Sect, once you reach the Golden Core Peak, you can directly retreat in the Ten Thousand Demons Cave Heaven and advance to the Purple Mansion. That¡¯s a privilege every True Disciple has.¡± ¡°Yes, master.¡± Qin Feng didn¡¯t hesitate at all, directly nodding in agreement, ¡°Then please arrange that for me later.¡± He wasn¡¯t foolish. It was better to use those benefits now, lest he die in battle and never get the chance to use them. Soon, he thought of something else, lowering his voice, ¡°Master, at tomorrow¡¯s ceremony when the Sect officially makes me a True Disciple, there will surely be numerous rewards. Could you please plead with the Sect Master to exchange those rewards for Elixir Pills that can heal the Divine Soul? My father suffered damage to his Divine Soul in his early years and has endured much suffering, with little progress in his Cultivation. As his son, I was powerless before, but now, as a True Disciple of the Beast Taming Sect, if I still can¡¯t heal my father¡¯s injuries, I¡¯ll truly feel uneasy. This campaign to the Otherworld might see me unable to return for decades. If my concern for my father¡¯s condition is too great, it could shake my Daoist Heart. Please grant me this favor, master.¡± With that, he bowed deeply. Previously, he had thought about asking his master to bestow some Elixir Pills to heal his father¡¯s injuries. Given his master¡¯s status, acquiring such pills should not be difficult. However, he had never spoken up, not from unwillingness, but from inability. He knew that if he asked, his master would certainly help him get the pills, but honestly, it felt somewhat inappropriate. Ning Wuxu was his master, true, and he had always provided ample Cultivation resources, taking great care of him. His master looked after him because of their master-disciple bond, but he had only taken him as a disciple, not his entire family. He had no obligation to care for his entire family. If he dared to ask, even if Ning Wuxu didn¡¯t mind, he himself would feel uncomfortable, and it could lead to gossip and disdain from other disciples. But asking his master to report to the Sect, to exchange his own rewards for Elixir Pills to heal a Divine Soul, that was much simpler. Sure enough, upon hearing Qin Feng¡¯s request, Ning Wuxu directly nodded, ¡°Alright, the Spirit Pills for healing the Divine Soul are rare, but with your contributions, you are indeed worthy of obtaining them. Moreover, the Sect provides extra care for each True Disciple¡¯s family, so don¡¯t worry about that.¡± ¡°Thank you for granting me this favor, master.¡± Qin Feng¡¯s face was full of gratitude, feeling as if a weight was finally lifted from his shoulders. The next day, in the grand Mountain Gate Hall, Sect Master Gu Wuxi convened the Elders of the Inner Sect grace divisions and solemnly declared Qin Feng as the current True Disciple of the Spiritual Snake Lineage, positioning him among the top five True Disciples of this generation in the Sect. As for the remaining four slots, they were yet to be determined, pending the outcomes of matches between other lineage disciples. The ceremony was held with great pomp and dignity. The Sect Master, Law Enforcement Hall Master, Preaching Hall Master, and the Great Elder of the Spiritual Snake Lineage read out his future duties with solemnity, while the other Elders offered much encouragement, urging him to continue striving and achieve more for the Sect. Certainly, after various ceremonies, the benefits he received thrilled Qin Feng. Apart from the Spirit ¨¨¡À?a?€a?€a?€a?€a?¡§ he had specifically requested for treating the Divine Soul, many essential resources and equipment for True Disciples were bestowed. More importantly, any classical text from the Spiritual Snake Lineage would be accessible to him from now on. In particular, those Cultivation Technique Divine Powers exclusively passed to True Disciples were immensely powerful. With the vast resource supply of the Sect, it would be hard for Qin Feng not to become powerful. Of course, the Sect was providing these supplies for his personal Cultivation only; they wouldn¡¯t allow wasteful use of resources, and they monitored this very stringently. Chapter 214 - Chapter 214 Chapter 211 Six Major Realms ?Chapter 214: Chapter 211 Six Major Realms Chapter 214: Chapter 211 Six Major Realms Qin Feng¡¯s becoming a True Disciple had stirred quite a buzz around the sect for a while. The Outer Sect was somewhat better, as those disciples hadn¡¯t yet entered the Inner Sect. Even if they knew about it, they simply marveled a bit and, apart from a few individuals, most Outer Sect disciples didn¡¯t pay too much attention to it. But the Inner Sect was different. Especially the disciples from the Spiritual Snake Lineage, who were utterly shaken. Many disciples from the Spiritual Snake Lineage never imagined that the position of True Disciple, which they had competed over for so long, would suddenly fall into the hands of a disciple who hadn¡¯t been in the Inner Sect for even a year. This made many disciples feel somewhat unable to accept it. Especially those with the strongest capabilities, who had been at a stalemate with others, only to have a new disciple, whose Cultivation was far inferior to theirs, snatch it away. How could they possibly accept that? ¡°Master, I cannot accept this.¡± A tall youth, his face filled with unwillingness, said, ¡°I¡¯ve worked so hard for so long, I was just about to surpass the other few, how could that newcomer Qin Feng become our lineage¡¯s True Disciple? Even if the Sect doesn¡¯t favor a few of us and wants to select from newly Foundation Established disciples, it should be Junior Sister Han Yan. Junior Sister Han Yan is talented and has grown up in the sect from childhood, her loyalty to the sect is undeniable, no matter from which aspect, it shouldn¡¯t be Qin Feng¡¯s turn. Could it be just because he¡¯s the Great Elder¡¯s disciple that the Great Elder is so biased towards him?¡± Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í?0.?? Moreover, the Great Elder is your Ancestor Martial Uncle by seniority, and yet you still dare to speak recklessly in front of me, do you have a death wish?¡± Startled by the scolding, the youth suddenly realized he had spoken out of turn. ¡°Hmph, useless thing, how many years have you been stuck at the Foundation Establishment Peak? All this time, you haven¡¯t managed to suppress the others and claim the position of True Disciple, and now you still have the face to complain in front of me?¡± Chu Youming, irritable, scolded a few more words, ¡°I¡¯ve told you before, if you can¡¯t suppress the other disciples, then don¡¯t harbor thoughts of contending for the position of True Disciple, yet you didn¡¯t listen, choosing instead to suppress your Cultivation without advancing, wastefully spending several good years of Cultivation. If you had listened to me, you would have achieved Golden Core by now and even made some progress within the Golden Core Realm, then you wouldn¡¯t be in this situation.¡± The youth¡¯s face turned sheepish, ¡°Disciple thought there was still some hope.¡± ¡°What hope could you possibly have?¡± Chu Youming snorted, ¡°You all really think the higher-ups in the sect are blind, allowing you to manipulate the position of True Disciple? Let me tell you, if there isn¡¯t a disciple in this generation capable of overpowering their peers, the sect would rather leave the position of True Disciple vacant than give it to you fools. All this time, none of you distinguished yourselves, yet lacked the self-awareness to advance earlier, this only makes the higher-ups of the sect disapprove of you even more.¡± With these words, the youth¡¯s face turned even uglier. He hadn¡¯t realized they were seen in such a poor light by the higher layers of the sect! Then, still somewhat unconvinced, he said, ¡°Although I haven¡¯t managed to surpass Zhao Liancheng and others, I still feel that I am no worse than that Qin Feng. He¡¯s just entered mid-Foundation Establishment, how can he command respect? Could his strength possibly be greater than mine?¡± Chu Youming indifferently responded, ¡°Not only is his strength not greater than yours, his talent may not necessarily surpass yours either.¡± ¡°Then whya€|¡± ¡°Because he has established significant merit!¡± ¡°Merit?¡± The youth was puzzled. Chu Youming sighed lightly, ¡°You¡¯re of low Cultivation, and it¡¯s understandable that you don¡¯t know some things about the higher-ups of the sect, but you must have noticed some anomalies in the sect recently, right?¡± The disciple indeed felt it was strange, ¡°The sect recently has been gathering resources from all over, and also frequently gathering disciples from various lineages to practice war formations.¡± The youth was curious, ¡°Could this have something to do with Qin Feng?¡± ¡°Indeed.¡± Chu Youming glanced at him, paused, and then continued, ¡°You are my disciple and also on the list for this recruitment, so it doesn¡¯t hurt to let you know in advance, our sect is about to engage in an inter-realm war.¡± ¡°Inter-realm war?¡± The youth was astounded. Chu Youming did not elaborate further but directly said, ¡°While Qin Feng was in the Outer Sect, he, by chance, acquired a stone statue imbued with the Divine Sense powers of a Demon God from another realm, which after being brought back, allowed Elder Gui Ling and Elder Kongkong to locate the world where that Demon God was. Later, when he opened the Heavenly Pool Secret Realm with Li Miaozhen, they thwarted Taiyi Mountain¡¯s schemes, helping the sect secure the Heavenly Pool Cave Heaven.¡± ¡°The Heavenly Pool Cave Heaven has been seized by our Beast Taming Sect?¡± The youth was shocked. That was a Cave Heaven! He naturally knew the rarity of a Cave Heaven Treasure; his own Beast Taming Sect only possessed one Cave Heaven. Hearing the tone of his master, it seemed the sect had now acquired another Cave Heaven, which would bring immense benefits to the sect. Chu Youming stated plainly, ¡°Right now, several Supreme Elders are busy in that Cave Heaven, preparing to refine it into a Void War Fortress for the inter-realm expedition, serving as a logistical base for the distant army. Tell me, with such great contributions made by Qin Feng, what is inappropriate about the sect awarding him the position of True Disciple?¡± ¡°Ia€|¡± The youth found himself at a loss for words. ¡°Yes, if such great merits do not qualify one for the position of True Disciple, then what kind of merits would?¡± ¡°You can¡¯t possibly have to seize the Golden Light Cave Heaven from Taiyi Mountain and present it to the Sect to be qualified.¡± Chu Youming waved his hand, ¡°Enough. Don¡¯t be resentful. The great army is not far from embarking, hurry back and close up for cultivation, and make a breakthrough to the Golden Core Realm. Otherwise, you¡¯ll regret it once you¡¯re on the battlefield.¡± ¡°¡­ Yes, Disciple will go and close up for cultivation now.¡± The young man didn¡¯t dare to say more this time, but in his heart, he slightly regretted not listening to his master from the beginning. Now, not only had he missed the position of True Disciple, but he had also wasted several years of cultivation time. Similar scenes were being played out everywhere. Some disciples who originally thought they had a chance at obtaining the position of True Disciple all went to find their masters, and most of them were scolded and sent away, ending with no resolution. At Heavenly Snake Ridge, Qin Feng was oblivious to all this. Of course, even if he knew, he wouldn¡¯t care. In his view, since those fellows had been unable to determine a winner after such a long time, they deserved to have him snatch the position of True Disciple. If among those fellows there had really appeared a disciple as powerful as Li Miaozhen, the position of True Disciple for the Spiritual Snake Lineage would have been assigned earlier, and he wouldn¡¯t have had the chance to compete for it. In reality, his becoming a True Disciple was partly due to his merits, but more so because of his master, Ning Wuxu. After all, his master was the Great Elder of the Spiritual Snake Lineage and one of the most likely in the Sect to achieve Immortal Dao. He held great sway in the Sect, which easily allowed others to accept his recommendation. ¡°Congratulations, Junior Brother.¡± Hao Shicheng said with a beaming smile to Qin Feng, ¡°Junior Brother indeed has great fortune. To achieve True Discipleship within just one year of entering the Inner Sect is truly enviable.¡± ¡°You flatter me, Second Senior Brother.¡± Qin Feng quickly responded modestly, ¡°It¡¯s all thanks to the great blessing of Master that I had this opportunity.¡± ¡°Hehea€|¡± Hao Shicheng¡¯s face was radiant with a smile, ¡°In our lineage of the Spiritual Snake, the True Discipleship of the generation before last was taken by the eldest brother. Your second brother is useless, couldn¡¯t compete with Long Qibian. Although Junior Sister Liu has high talent, unfortunately, she joined too late. By the time she entered the Inner Sect, Long Qibian had already formed his Golden Core, so naturally, she had no chance to compete for the position of True Disciple. Now it¡¯s good, this generation¡¯s True Disciple has fallen upon you. Among Master¡¯s four disciples, two are now True Disciples of the Sect. If this gets out, even I, your senior brother, will feel proud!¡± However, in his heart, he was thinking, now that you, lad, have obtained the True Disciple position and learned the True Inheritance Technique, Junior Sister Liu will definitely cling to you to learn it, and thus she will stop bothering me. Qin Feng chatted casually with his second senior brother until their master summoned, and only then did he say goodbye to his second senior brother, who was still tending to the Spiritual Medicine Garden, and flew towards the mountain peak following his master¡¯s voice. ¡°Master.¡± Qin Feng bowed respectfully. ¡°Um.¡± Ning Wuxu pointed to the cushion in front of him, ¡°Have a seat.¡± ¡°Thank you, Master.¡± Qin Feng stepped forward two paces and sat down on the cushion. ¡°Today, I will transmit to you some Techniques that only true disciples can learn.¡± Ning Wuxu said seriously, ¡°These Cultivation Methods are things that only each generation¡¯s true disciples can learn. Remember, they must not be imparted to others; otherwise, you won¡¯t be able to pass the scrutiny of the Sect¡¯s Law Enforcement Hall.¡± ¡°Disciple will remember and certainly dare not reveal a fraction of the Sect¡¯s techniques to others.¡± ¡°That¡¯s good.¡± Ning Wuxu nodded and continued, ¡°You have been in the Sect for a short time, and your knowledge about cultivation isn¡¯t much. Today, I will first explain in detail to you and then pass on the Cultivation Technique so that you will have a clear understanding of the technique you practice.¡± ¡°Yes.¡± Qin Feng sat up straight, ready to listen attentively. ¡°In our cultivation, we seek to understand the Dao and pursue longevity. However, the Dao of Longevity is difficult to attain, and if relying solely on understanding, out of a hundred million people, scarcely one might directly comprehend the Dao and achieve longevity. Therefore, our predecessors created Cultivation Methods. Remember, our ultimate goal in cultivation is always to comprehend the Dao clearly. The reason we practice various Techniques is not so we can use many Spells or refine various Magical Treasures; those are all but minor details and should not be indulged in. We cultivate to extend our lifespan, thereby using this extensive lifespan to gain more opportunities to understand the Dao. Otherwise, the lifespan of an ordinary member of the Human Clan is but a few decades, and even the wisest among them cannot in such a short time penetrate the essence of things and comprehend the root of the Dao. Hence, we need more time for enlightenment, which is why these Cultivation Methods have spread so widely.¡± Ning Wuxu spoke eloquently, ¡°When a Cultivator¡¯s proficiency in a Technique reaches advanced levels, they can attain a lifespan of thousands of years. With such a long life, naturally, the opportunities to comprehend the Dao are countless times more than those of ordinary mortals. Moreover, Cultivators can also utilize various Techniques to cultivate powerful Divine Sense, Spiritual Eye, and Heavenly Heart, among others, to better facilitate their comprehension of the Heavenly Dao.¡± ¡°In today¡¯s Cultivation World, the phases of cultivation before achieving ascendance to the Dao are divided into Qi Refinement, Foundation Establishment, Golden Core, Purple Mansion, Dharma Image, and Primordial Spirit, each with three stages: early, middle, and late. ?¦Ï¦Í??.§ã¦Ï Ordinary mortals begin their cultivation by activating Spiritual Acupoints and absorbing and refining Spiritual Energy, which is the Qi Refining Realm. Once there is sufficient accumulation of Spiritual Energy in the body, when the circulation of True Yuan is smooth and the development of the body¡¯s meridians and acupoints is sufficient, one may have the opportunity to step into the Foundation Establishment Realm.¡± Ning Wuxu lifted the teacup in front of him, took a gentle sip to moisten his throat, and then continued, ¡°As for Foundation Establishment, it is more than a hundred times more difficult than the Qi Refinement Realm. You are currently at the level of Foundation Establishment and should have a deep understanding of this.¡± Qin Feng nodded; he indeed had many thoughts about the difficulty of Foundation Establishment cultivation. That was even with him having access to abundant resources. Without those resources aiding his cultivation and enhancing his progress, the slow pace of advancement would certainly drive him mad. ¡°The Foundation Establishment refines the Taoist Body and forges the fundamental basis of the Dao, thus the requirements are extremely meticulous. Only when the Taoist Body is refined to a pure and flawless state can a solid foundation be laid, allowing for the possibility of greater achievements in the future. Although this process requires repetitive refinement, and depending on the Cultivation Methods of various Sects, the refined Taoist Bodies may differ, overall, it still belongs to the lower levels of the Realms. Therefore, many supportive resources for cultivation can still be utilized, and as long as the resources are sufficient, they can greatly enhance the speed of cultivation. Once the Taoist Body has been refined to perfection and the Heart Realm has also reached the corresponding requirements, one may then attempt to form a Golden Core.¡± At this point, Ning Wuxu looked at Qin Feng and said, ¡°I originally wanted you to cultivate the ¡®Ten Thousand Beasts Origin Scripture¡¯ to complete the Foundation Establishment Realm, but now that you have attained the position of a true disciple, you can also practice certain True Inheritance Techniques. Therefore, your original cultivation plan needs to be adjusted.¡± Chapter 215 - Chapter 215 Chapter 212 The Origin of Heavenly Tribulation ?Chapter 215: Chapter 212: The Origin of Heavenly Tribulation Chapter 215: Chapter 212: The Origin of Heavenly Tribulation ¡°Disciple obeys Master¡¯s arrangement.¡± Qin Feng spoke obediently. Hearing the implications in his Master¡¯s words, he knew that practicing the True Inheritance Technique would bring him great benefits. Just by seeing Li Miaozhen overwhelming other Foundation Establishment Cultivators at the same realm, one could tell that the True Inheritance Technique was extraordinary. Thus, Qin Feng didn¡¯t mind cultivating additional Techniques, and the reason why True Disciples of the Sect had to be selected from Foundation Establishment Disciples was primarily because the True Inheritance Skill could help the disciples forge a more robust foundation and achieve a more powerful Taoist Body. Ning Wuxu nodded and then said, ¡°The so-called swallowing a Golden Core leads one to realize that one¡¯s fate does not belong to the heavens. This refers to the state after forming the Golden Core, where one can break through the gate of life and death, defy fate, and obtain more lifespan.¡± ¡°However, when forming the Golden Core, one must not rely solely on True Yuan for condensation. Doing so would yield a Golden Core that is merely a dead object, a simple aggregation of power, only more purified than during the Foundation Establishment Realm. It doesn¡¯t fundamentally differ from the Foundation Establishment Realm. The true Golden Core Realm requires that at the beginning of condensation, part of one¡¯s Divine Thought is planted as a seed within it, nurtured by the pure power of the Golden Core, strengthened, and when your seed of Divine Thought reaches its pinnacle, it will integrate all the power of the Golden Core into the Divine Thought, transforming the Divine Thought; the Core breaks and the Nascent Soul is born, seated in the Purple Mansion, using powerful Divine Thoughts to better comprehend the Heavenly Dao. And the moment the Core breaks to give birth to the Nascent Soul, the cultivator¡¯s Divine Soul also reaches an extreme strength, briefly connecting with the Heavenly Dao, allowing one to glimpse the arcane mysteries of the Dao Principles and thereby comprehending several Divine Skills. This is the normal way for a Cultivator to acquire Divine Skills. As for our disciples of the Beast Taming Sect who use Lifebound Spiritual Beasts to prematurely cultivate Divine Skills, that is taking a shortcut. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í?¦Ï.§ã? It requires long-term refinement and growth alongside one¡¯s own self to fully integrate it for personal use. Furthermore, there are those Body Refinement Cultivators. They do not cultivate the Divine Soul but only the Physical Body, seeking the limits of the physical form. Thus, when their physical bodies become strong enough, they also derive some Small Divine Powers and then primarily cultivate these powers, gradually enhancing their effectiveness. This is why Body Refining Cultivators, despite having fewer techniques, can still go toe-to-toe with Magic Cultivators who possess many methods.¡± Qin Feng asked puzzledly, ¡°Master, since after the Golden Core shatters, one cultivates into the Nascent Soul, then why isn¡¯t it called the Nascent Soul Realm?¡± ¡°Hehe¡­¡± Upon hearing this, Ning Wuxu chuckled lightly, ¡°Indeed, there is a Nascent Soul Realm, but it is just one of the three realms of the Purple Mansion, along with Divinity Transformation and God Refining.¡± ¡°Purple Mansion¡¯s three realms?¡± Qin Feng wondered, ¡°The realms of Divinity Transformation and God Refining must be much stronger than the Nascent Soul Realm, right? Why aren¡¯t they independent?¡± ¡°They are significantly stronger,¡± Ning Wuxu replied. ¡°However, the predecessors in the Cultivation World believe that these three realms don¡¯t differ much in cultivation terms. The so-called Divinity Transformation and God Refining are just manifestations of the Nascent Soul at different periods, akin to the early stage of the Foundation Establishment Realm refining the flesh and acupoints, the middle stage refining bones and meridians, and the latter stage refining the internal organs, all of which refine the physical body, hence all fall under the Foundation Establishment Realm. Divinity Transformation and God Refining only strengthen the function of the Nascent Soul; essentially, there is no significant difference. Therefore, they are all categorized under the three realms of the Purple Mansion.¡± ¡°I see.¡± Qin Feng pondered for a moment, ¡°So, only by cultivating into the Dharma Image does one truly transcend the scope of the Nascent Soul and reach another realm?¡± ¡°Exactly.¡± Ning Wuxu nodded, ¡°The Dharma Image is transformed from the Nascent Soul at the peak of the Purple Mansion Realm cultivation. It integrates all comprehensions of the Dao and cultivation techniques, connecting to the Heavenly Dao above and one¡¯s foundation below, possessing infinitely marvelous uses and enormous power. Not only is its form distinctly different from the Nascent Soul, but even the smallest Dharma Image measures over a dozen meters, far beyond what a mere Nascent Soul could compare to. It can also move independently, combat enemies, and has infinitely marvelous uses.¡± ¡°And what about the Primordial Spirit?¡± ¡°The Primordial Spirit is different; it represents the Divine Soul having reached an ultimate strength, merging the Dharma Image completely into the soul, becoming one with the Divine Soul. You must understand, whether it¡¯s the Nascent Soul or the Dharma Image, both are merely manifestations of your own power and are deeply connected to your Divine Soul but are definitely not the Divine Soul. The Divine Soul is the foundation of everything. We can be without a Physical Body, without a Dharma Image, but as long as the soul exists, there is still a possibility of starting anew. However, once the soul is gone, no matter how powerful the Dharma Image or how formidable the Physical Body, they are merely lifeless bodies.¡± Ning Wuxu spoke solemnly and earnestly, ¡°The early stages of cultivation, all realms, are merely extending one¡¯s lifespan and strengthening the soul. Only a strong Divine Soul can better comprehend the arcane mysteries of the Dao. But mere comprehension of the Dao is clearly not enough; we also need powerful means to protect the Dao. Thus, when the soul reaches its absolute limit, it will merge the Dharma Image into the Divine Soul, achieving the Primordial Spirit, which can comprehend the Dao and protect the self, truly achieving the best of both worlds.¡± ¡°Oh,¡± Qin Feng said, finally grasping a rough understanding of the divisions among the various realms. Of course, it was only a rough concept, and the journey to cultivate to these realms was still far off. ¡°All cultivation realms are just nodes on the pursuit of the Longevity Dao. In ancient times, there was a group of cultivators who only sought Dao Cultivation without pursuing realms. They disdained the step-by-step cultivation and focused all their energy on comprehending the Heavenly Dao Laws. If they couldn¡¯t comprehend, they would just waste their years, but once they had an epiphany, they could ascend to the heavens in one step, crossing several cultivation realms and reaching an extremely high level.¡± Ning Wuxu shook his head and sighed, ¡°Those cultivators, when discussing the Dao, often had unexpectedly incisive insights. Unfortunately, they only cultivated the Dao and not their own strength, making them lack the power to defend the Dao. When the great calamity came, that group was the first to be annihilated. However, some of the top beings among them were genuinely powerful in their Dao Cultivation. Solely relying on the power of the Dao, they once severely injured a top Demon King from the Heavenly Demon Realm and perished together with a few Divine Kings from the Heavenly God Realm, significantly weakening the invasion momentum of all realms. After that group perished, there were no more cultivators who did not practice protective methods, so today¡¯s cultivation world has all cultivators following the Cultivation Technique step by step upward, although they have actually forgotten the true essence of Dao Enlightenment and only know to follow the path ahead. If someone could achieve sudden Enlightenment and become an Immortal overnight, it would save all this painstaking effort.¡± He glanced at Qin Feng and said, ¡°I do not expect you to become an Immortal in one step, but remember, cultivation is never just about systematically absorbing Spiritual Energy, nor is it just about following the steps outlined in the Cultivation Technique, that would only lead you down a dead end. Only by standing on the foundation of the predecessors and carving out your own path, comprehending the Daoist Law that suits oneself best, can one go further and cultivate to a higher and deeper realm.¡± ¡°Thank you, Master, for your teachings. I will certainly bear them in mind,¡± Middle Qin Feng said, nodding to indicate he had taken the lessons to heart. ¡°To carve out your own path, you need to listen and observe more, think deeply, and engage with many different methods of cultivation to ignite the fire of wisdom and comprehend profound techniques. This is also why, after our Sect discovered the world where that Demon God resides, they decided to launch a campaign against it. ?¦Ï¦Í??.§ã¦Ï The elders of our Sect also need to reference different cultivation systems to perfect their own Daoist Law and attain higher realms.¡± As Ning Wuxu spoke, he couldn¡¯t help but sigh softly, ¡°I actually didn¡¯t understand this principle back then, and that¡¯s why I suffered a great loss. I opened my Spiritual Acupoint at six, achieved Foundation Establishment at fifteen, then took over the Sect¡¯s True Inheritance. Relying on the Sect¡¯s resources, I completed the Foundation Establishment Realm cultivation in just a few years, refined a perfect Daoist Body, and then advanced rapidly, crossing the Golden Core, Purple Mansion, and Dharma Image realms in just three hundred years, finally cultivating to the Primordial Spirit. But after I reached the Primordial Spirit Peak Realm, I suddenly realized that I had taken the wrong path. Since then, I¡¯ve been stalled for thousands of years, always feeling like I¡¯m just a little short of proving the Dao and becoming an Immortal. Afterward, I studied countless scriptures and Daoist treasures, attempting to break the barrier, but it¡¯s tough to change paths once one reaches such a stage. Thus, I¡¯ve been stuck at this realm with little progress, and there are countless cultivators like me, even some who have been stuck in this realm for thousands of years, just watching their life span deplete day by day. I don¡¯t want that. So, when I heard that our Sect was preparing to battle the world where that Demon God resides, I was the first to report and get involved. I¡¯m not interested in the resources of other worlds; I only want to stimulate my Spirit Light through different cultivation systems and thereby get past that most crucial stage.¡± ¡°You will definitely succeed, Master,¡± Qin Feng said, slapping on a flattery. ¡°With Master¡¯s cultivation, you still have a long time to explore many different worlds¡¯ cultivation systems, and you will definitely find your own path and achieve the Longevity Dao.¡± ¡°Hehe¡­¡± Ning Wuxu¡¯s mood, initially somewhat somber, was lightened by his young disciple¡¯s not-so-skillful flattery, ¡°Well, I needn¡¯t talk about these things with you. But remember, if one day you reach this realm and find an opportunity to prove the Dao in another world, do not breakthrough there; it would be best to return to our Sect and then breakthrough to achieve the Immortal Dao. Because the Heavenly Dao of other worlds differs from ours, if you prove the Dao in another world, you¡¯ll be specifically targeted due to your breath and Dao being different from that world. Although proving the Dao in our world would still invite Heavenly Tribulation, it is more of a test rather than aimed at killing cultivators, especially after the Saint Ancestor in the Central Region¡¯s Holy Mountain harmonized with the Heavenly Dao. The rewards for cultivators from our world proving the Dao have increased.¡± ¡°Is that so?¡± Qin Feng, upon hearing this, was also somewhat surprised, ¡°Master, are you saying that predecessor still maintained their self-consciousness after harmonizing with the Dao, not being assimilated by the Heavenly Dao?¡± ¡°Of course not assimilated.¡± Ning Wuxu laughed, ¡°The Heavenly Dao of this world was severely injured during the invasion of all realms, and that predecessor¡¯s cultivation was so powerful that his own persistence was equally indefatigable. How could he be completely assimilated by the Heavenly Dao? As long as he does not act against the normal operation of the world, as long as it is something beneficial for the world, the Heavenly Dao will not counter it. Actually, speaking of it, Heavenly Tribulations originally didn¡¯t exist in the Biluo Great World, nor in other worlds. The reason Heavenly Tribulations happen when we prove the Dao and become Immortals is because the first ancestor who came to this world reached an agreement with the Heavenly Dao according to the customs of the Human Clan Ancestor Realm. Cultivators who pass the test can receive many benefits.¡± Chapter 217 - Chapter 217 Chapter 214 Infinite Potential ?Chapter 217: Chapter 214 Infinite Potential Chapter 217: Chapter 214 Infinite Potential Ning Wuxu chuckled lightly, ¡°Originally, it was not possible, but during the integration, there is no need to worry about damaging this Treasure Mirror. Nor is it necessary to integrate all its power into the Ruyi Golden Snake. Just refining the origin Sword Qi Golden Light within the mirror into its Ruyi Golden Light will suffice. Otherwise, even if this Treasure Mirror is just a replica of the Golden Light Mirror, the power it contains is extremely formidable, far beyond what a Foundation Establishment Realm Ruyi Golden Snake can withstand. If all its power were to be transferred into the Ruyi Golden Snake, your Lifebound Spiritual Beast would burst. All right, release your Ruyi Golden Snake now, and I¡¯ll help it integrate with the Sword Qi Golden Light.¡± As he spoke, he reached out and brought the Treasure Mirror between his hands, forcefully breaking through the multilayered prohibitions on the mirror to directly extract its core essence. Seeing this, Qin Feng did not dare delay and hurriedly released the Ruyi Golden Snake to his master¡¯s front. ¡°Du??!¡± With a light shout from Ning Wuxu, his ten fingers bloomed like a lotus, constantly changing various hand seals and spell forms. Powerful yet exquisite forces followed his spells, continuously suppressing the various prohibitions within the mirror to immobility. Then, he reached out and suddenly grabbed a strand of brilliant golden light from the Golden Light Mirror. Although this strand of golden light was brilliant, it revealed a sharpness that made one feel as if they were looking at an incomparably sharp treasure sword in just an instant. Ning Wuxu, having taken the golden light out of the mirror, no longer cared for the now dimmer Treasure Mirror that lost some origin Sword Qi. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?0¦Í??.§ã¦Ï He placed the mirror on a table in front of him and pointed, directing the strand of golden light he had captured earlier into the body of the Ruyi Golden Snake. ¡°Si¡­¡± It was not the Ruyi Golden Snake hissing, but Qin Feng gasping in a breath of cold air. It hurt too much! Since the Ruyi Golden Snake and he shared one soul and two bodies, he could clearly feel all the agonies the Ruyi Golden Snake was enduring within its body. The moment the golden light was struck into the Ruyi Golden Snake by Ning Wuxu, even with its strong physique, the Ruyi Golden Snake still felt a pain as if it was being slashed by thousands of knives. Its small snake body involuntarily twisted, radiating brilliant golden light all overa€¡±that was the Ruyi Golden Light within its body being involuntarily activated to help alleviate the pain. Meanwhile, the strand of golden light swirled around inside the Ruyi Golden Snake, eventually gathering in the abdomen where the Ruyi Golden Light was nurtured, slowly merging with it. However, this integration was incredibly slow, and Qin Feng did not even know if he could endure until the end, as the entire process was extremely painful. Seeing this, Ning Wuxu raised an eyebrow. It seemed that he had underestimated the difficulty of integration. The method of forcefully integrating external forces into a spiritual beast¡¯s body was certainly not easy, especially since the strand of Sword Qi Golden Light was of terrifyingly high quality. Even with his own Dao cultivation, it was exceedingly difficult to integrate this bit of golden light into the body of a Foundation Establishment Realm spiritual beast. He pondered briefly, then stretched out his hand again to lift the Golden Light Mirror. As he cast several spells, the Golden Light Mirror shone with golden light again, enveloping the Ruyi Golden Snake in the golden radiance. With the interior integrating golden light and the exterior suppressed by the Golden Light Mirror of the same origin, the speed of integration of the strand of golden light significantly increased. Even so, it took more than half an hour to completely integrate the strand of golden light into the Ruyi Golden Snake, melding it with its innate divine ability, Ruyi Golden Light. Although it still required some time to completely blend seamlessly, the initial success was already achieved. The rest was just a matter of finer adjustments. Ning Wuxu¡¯s eyes twinkled as he scrutinized the Ruyi Golden Snake closely, and then asked Qin Feng to release the Ruyi Golden Light to see, feeling the additional edge in the Ruyi Golden Light. ¡°That strand of golden light Sword Qi is the origin power of the Taiyi Mountain supreme treasure, the Golden Light Treasure Mirror, sharp beyond compare. Although it¡¯s just a strand, it has planted a seed in your Ruyi Golden Light. With persistent cultivation, your Ruyi Golden Light could eventually reach a power comparable to the Golden Light Treasure Mirror.¡± He appeared very pleased with his own handiwork, stroking his beard and smiling, ¡°You must properly assimilate this divine ability; once the Sword Qi Golden Light completely integrates into the Ruyi Golden Light, only then incorporate this divine ability into yourself. Otherwise, you would waste what I have done for you today. And once the Ruyi Golden Light and that strand of golden light are completely indistinguishable, you can then condense the divine ability seed of the Ruyi Golden Light. In the future, the power you wield with the Ruyi Golden Light will not be inferior to that of Sword Qi from cultivators of the same level.¡± Qin Feng quickly agreed, ¡°Master, rest assured, I will definitely live up to your great expectations.¡± He was now so happy he could barely keep his mouth shut. The origin golden light of the Taiyi Mountain¡¯s supreme treasure, the Golden Light Treasure Mirror, how powerful and sharp it was. There were rumors that Taiyi Mountain faced a great catastrophe during the Ancient Great Tribulation. A powerful Demon King led his Demon Soldiers to invade, and most of the Sect¡¯s high-ranking members were battling elsewhere. The Elders, left to guard the Sect, were no match, and in desperation had to resort to using the Golden Light Treasure Mirror. Remarkably, relying solely on the power of that treasure mirror, they annihilated the invading Demon Clan, and even the Demon King could not escape the destruction wrought by the Golden Light Mirror. This sliver of the Treasure Mirror¡¯s origin power, albeit weak, was of absolutely terrifying quality. Once completely transformed by the Ruyi Golden Snake and fully integrated into its innate divine ability, from then on, not only would the Ruyi Golden Light¡¯s power greatly increase, its potential for the future would also be boundless. Seeing his giddy expression, Ning Wuxu couldn¡¯t help but shake his head and chuckle. This boy, was still so youthful at heart. A moment later, he tossed the replicated Golden Light Mirror to Qin Feng and said, ¡°This mirror has lost its origin thread and isn¡¯t of much use anymore, take it.¡± Qin Feng hurriedly reached out to catch it and used his Divine Sense to probe it, discovering that to some extent, this Golden Light Mirror was still an extremely powerful treasure, with numerous prohibitions within. From the Golden Light that his master had previously released, which was able to suppress the Ruyi Golden Snake, its power was certainly not trivial. Moreover, since this treasure mirror was replicated from the Golden Light Mirror, it also contained an independent space, just like the original Golden Light Treasure Mirror. However, the Golden Light Treasure Mirror was a Cave Heaven Treasure, and its internal space was a world of its own, spanning thousands of miles, which was incomparable to the replicated mirror. ?0¦Í??.§ã¦Ï Still, this filled him with joy. He wasn¡¯t particularly concerned about the power of the mirror because it was created by the cultivators of Taiyi Mountain not for battling but purely for locating. From his current perspective as a small cultivator in the Foundation Establishment Realm, the power of this mirror was certainly not weak, but if he were to advance to the Golden Core Realm, he would no longer value the remaining power of the mirror. Therefore, what he truly valued was the body of the mirror, or perhaps the space within it. He hesitated, contemplating whether to place this mirror on the third layer of the Demon Refining Pot or integrate it into the second layer within the Void Shattering Hammer Cave Mansion. By placing it in the third layer, he could indeed gain an additional space, allowing him to nurture another Spiritual Beast. But the space within this mirror was too small, only a few meters in diameter, making it unsuitable for nurturing Spiritual Beasts. However, if he integrated it into the second-layer space, it would definitely benefit the Ruyi Golden Snake tremendously. Firstly, since the mirror was purely a Gold Element Magical Treasure, the space within, under the prohibition¡¯s effects, could continually absorb Spiritual Power and transform it into falling Golden Qi, an excellent cultivation site for the Ruyi Golden Snake. Moreover, the second-layer space was originally the fundamental place for the Ruyi Golden Snake¡¯s cultivation, which would be highly beneficial for it. Thinking this, Qin Feng swiftly made up his mind. He would slowly find suitable space treasures for the third layer in the future. Since the Ruyi Golden Snake was his Lifebound Spiritual Beast and most important to him, all treasures should be prioritized for the Ruyi Golden Snake. After Qin Feng secured the Ruyi Golden Snake into his sleeve, Ning Wuxu finally asked, ¡°When do you plan to go to Ten Thousand Demons Cave Heaven for cultivation?¡± Suppressing his excitement, Qin Feng thought for a moment and said, ¡°Master, the disciple wants to visit his family first to bring back the Spiritual Medicine for treating soul injuries. After all, I do not know when I will return if I follow master to the Otherworld battlefield. I want to see my father before I leave.¡± ¡°Hmm, your filial piety is commendable.¡± Ning Wuxu naturally would not disapprove and nodded directly, ¡°Just go ahead, but don¡¯t stay with your family too long, lest it delays your cultivation. Right now, your cultivation should be your priority to ensure you are not at a disadvantage in the Otherworld battlefield.¡± ¡°Master, rest assured, the disciple understands and will not stay at home too long.¡± Qin Feng certainly knew what was important; the reason he wanted to return to his family was mainly to deliver the elixir pills for treating soul injuries to his father and to inform his father that he had become a true disciple of the Spiritual Snake Lineage, allowing his father to share in his happiness. He believed that once he passed this news back, his father would definitely be proud of him. Additionally, being a true disciple, the sect would also provide some regards to his family. Of course, it would be just a modest consideration. As long as he was alive, if the family wanted to develop, it had to rely on his support and their own efforts; the sect could not simply allocate a piece of Spiritual Vein Land to the Qin Family, as all places with Spiritual Veins were already occupied, even the ones in secluded mountains and forests were dominated by Demon Beasts, unless there was turmoil, where else would unoccupied Spiritual Veins be awarded to families? ¡°When are you leaving?¡± Ning Wuxu asked. Qin Feng pondered briefly and responded, ¡°In these next few days, disciple will go to the Ten Thousand Demons Pavilion tomorrow and ask when there is a merchant caravan heading to Chu Kingdom. Now that undercurrents are surging in the Cultivation World, riding the Tower Ship of Ten Thousand Demons Pavilion is much safer than traveling alone.¡± ¡°That is very good.¡± Ning Wuxu nodded his head and didn¡¯t inquire further about these matters. He started to explain the problems encountered in Cultivation Technique practice and imparted the profound truths of Dao that he himself had realized. He was extremely knowledgeable, having read a wide array of scriptures and viewed all the Daoist collections of the sect, with a profound understanding of the Heavenly Dao. It was only because he did not focus on comprehending his own Dao in his early cultivation years that he had always been unable to break through the barrier and achieve the Immortal Dao. But over the years, he had consolidated his spirit, examined Daoist books, and sought to understand Dao in a different way. He was very profound in his understanding of cultivation, thus now when he cited classics to guide Qin Feng, he often could articulate some truths that resonated deeply with Qin Feng, making him itch to start cultivating immediately to enhance his realm. Now, he really felt fortunate to have such a good master. Ning Wuxu was unquestionably a genius. Even though he had taken a wrong path in his early years, his innate brilliance could not be denied. Now by pointing out his own past mistakes, he could prevent Qin Feng from making the same errors and from following the wrong path. Chapter 218 - Chapter 218 Chapter 215 Taiyi Mountains Qian Yuan Sage ?Chapter 218: Chapter 215: Taiyi Mountain¡¯s Qian Yuan Sage Chapter 218: Chapter 215: Taiyi Mountain¡¯s Qian Yuan Sage Taiyi Mountain, Golden Light Cave Heaven. Amidst the peaks piercing the clouds, an imposing palace stood tall. At this moment, above the main hall, an old man with snow-white hair and beard sat cross-legged. This elder¡¯s age was unknown, but his long white eyebrows hung down more than three feet. On either side of the hall sat more than a dozen figures, each with a distinctive appearance and an aura so sharp it was terrifying. Yet the hall was silent, and the faces of most were terribly grim. After a long while, a Daoist in a robe, his complexion glossy and ruddy like a baby¡¯s, snorted with anger, ¡°I¡¯ve said it before, when sending disciples into the Heavenly Pool Secret Realm, there was no need to talk about rules with other sects. We should have sent a few true disciples directly, even replacing all disciples with those at the Foundation Establishment Late Stage. Then, how could the Beast Taming Sect have taken advantage? Now look what¡¯s happened, the Heavenly Pool Grotto Heaven has been seized by the Beast Taming Sect, and they even plan to use it as a foundation to turn that grotto heaven into a Void War Fortress for conquering the Otherworld. Why are you all silent now? Where has all that earlier enthusiasm gone?¡± Upon hearing this, several people¡¯s faces grew even uglier. But one person couldn¡¯t help but retort, ¡°The reason we didn¡¯t agree to do as you said was for fear that the other sects would discover our intentions.¡± Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í?0.§ã? ¡°It would have been discovered sooner or later, anyway. What would be the difference if it happened a little earlier? ¡°The difference? Sage Tianji, brother, don¡¯t underestimate the other sects. If we had really done as you suggested, boldly sending people in, do you believe that the sects within the Heavenly Pool Secret Realm would unite against Taiyi Mountain? Just a slight misstep, and all our elite disciples could perish there, not to mention our plans would still fall through.¡± A young Sword Immortal from a distance snorted coldly, ¡°Although the strength of our Taiyi Mountain disciples is formidable, it¡¯s not enough to take on an alliance of all sects. If the other sects truly combined forces against us, it¡¯s hard to count the losses, let alone succeed in the end. Even if we did, the whole Southern Domain would boil with rumors. Do you think we¡¯d still have a chance to enter the Void to search for the Heavenly Pool Secret Realm? At that time, many reclusive elders from the sects would emerge to monitor us. Without mentioning others, the Beast Taming Sect¡¯s Kongkong would definitely interfere. With his insight into the Dao of Space, who among us could claim to elude him? Moreover, if we really sent a large number of elite disciples to the Heavenly Pool Secret Realm as you suggest, our disciples, for the sake of expediency, would inevitably slaughter disciples from other sects. Once that news got out, our Taiyi Mountain would become the enemy of the Southern Domain. Even if we managed to obtain the Heavenly Pool Grotto Heaven then, what would it matter? If we incurred widespread wrath, do you think Taiyi Mountain could withstand an attack from so many sects united?¡± ¡°What do we have to fear from them? Whoever dares to cause trouble for Taiyi Mountain, I will cut them down with one sword. Sage Wuji, if you are afraid, feel free to stay behind and guard the mountain gate,¡± Sage Tianji retorted, his temper clearly fiery, his words carrying a whirlwind of Sword Intent and a boiling killing intent. ¡°Heh¡­¡± The young Sword Immortal named Sage Wuji scoffed, ¡°Junior brother, your temper hasn¡¯t changed over the years, not in the slightest. I admit your Sword Dao Cultivation is formidable, but you shouldn¡¯t underestimate the cultivators of the other sects. Let¡¯s not speak of the immortals from the Beast Taming Sect and Five Poisons Sect, just consider the reclusive individuals from the hundreds of other sects. How many can you deal with? How many can our Taiyi Mountain confront?¡± ¡°We still have vassal sects, we still have allies we can rely on!¡± Sage Tianji argued stubbornly. ¡°Don¡¯t count on those vassal sects to fight to the death for us when the time comes; that won¡¯t happen. Don¡¯t even expect the Giant Spirit Sect to help us. If it came down to it, it¡¯d be a miracle if the Giant Spirit Sect didn¡¯t stab us in the back. Do you actually believe our alliance with the Giant Spirit Sect is that reliable? Although those muscle-headed brutes act recklessly, they¡¯re not fools. They definitely won¡¯t oppose so many Southern Domain sects for our sake. If a siege by all sects was provoked, even if Taiyi Mountain could survive, we could only activate the Mountain Protection Array and strictly guard the Mountain Gate. Our disciples would not dare to venture out for cultivation, our outer properties would be seized by others, and it would be even harder to recruit disciples. Over time, Taiyi Mountain would grow weaker and weaker. Considering this, do you think we could agree to your suggestion?¡± ¡°Hasn¡¯t your plan failed as well?¡± Sage Tianji insisted stubbornly. ¡°Sigh!¡± With a soft sigh, the young Sword Immortal spoke, ¡°It was an accident, we did not expect such a thing to happen. It seems that the Beast Taming Sect must have noticed something during our previous dispatches of disciples to explore, and that¡¯s why they sent True Disciples into the Secret Realm to clandestinely observe what our people were doing there. Originally, according to our strategy and preparations, even with this unexpected development, the Heavenly Pool Cave Heaven should not have been seized by them. We would simply wait for the Secret Realm to open again in sixty years, and at that time, compete on the basis of our abilities. But we did not anticipate that among the disciples the Beast Taming Sect sent in there would be someone skilled in the Array Dao, who actually set up a transportation array for positioning, which allowed that old fellow Kongkong to take the opportunity to seize the Heavenly Pool Cave Heaven.¡± ¡°Alright, alright, things have already turned out this way, what¡¯s the use in talking about it now?¡± Eventually, the White Eyebrow Sword Immortal, seated at the highest position, sighed softly and opened his mouth to stop these people¡¯s arguing. ¡°Grandmaster, what should we do now?¡± A red-robed female Sword Immortal below asked, ¡°If we had secured the Heavenly Pool Cave Heaven, we could have developed peacefully for a few thousand years and gradually surpassed the Beast Taming Sect, but now that the Heavenly Pool Cave Heaven has been obtained by them, our plan has been disrupted and we have lost the opportunity to comprehensively overtake them. Now the Beast Taming Sect is even planning to use that Cave Heaven as a War Fortress to amass a million cultivators to attack another world. ?¦Ï???.§ã¦Ï If they succeed, they will reap the resources of an entire realm. I fear that within a thousand years, they could cultivate a large number of outstanding disciples, and their foundation will become stronger than ours. This poses a great threat to us.¡± As these words were spoken, the other Sword Immortals all cast their gazes toward the old man with the white eyebrows. This elder, named Qian Yuan Sage, was an ancient being who became a Sword Immortal before the Ancient Great Tribulation, having survived the many years of brutal warfare without perishing, and instead, grew to a very high level during the extended strife lasting thousands of years. After the Great Tribulation, Qian Yuan Sage single-handedly protected the Sect, building it up to its current strength. The rest of the Sword Immortals, however, had all grown up under the protection of Qian Yuan Sage after the Ancient Great Tribulation. Therefore, not only did all the disciples regard this Qian Yuan Sage as the Stabilizing Force of Taiyi Mountain, but these Sword Immortals present also held immense respect for the old Grandmaster, not daring to show the slightest disrespect. ¡°Our current strategy must start from two aspects.¡± Qian Yuan Sage spoke like an ordinary old man, his voice slow, but his reasoning clear and logical. Countless years have worn away any impetuousness in his heart, allowing him to see the essence behind affairs at a glance. ¡°One is to find a way to eliminate the Beast Taming Sect while they are crusading in the Otherworld. The other is to, like the Beast Taming Sect, consider how we can obtain resources from Outside and cultivate more disciples and Sect members.¡± He slowly raised his head, glanced at the disciples seated on both sides of the great hall, and with a light sigh, said, ¡°Actually, the first option is not advisable. Even if the Beast Taming Sect¡¯s defenses are slightly weakened during their Otherworld campaign, as long as the Jue Tian Ancestor does not join them and leave, we won¡¯t be able to annihilate the Beast Taming Sect. Moreover, during the Five Domains Alliance, when the future was discussed, Grandmaster Ancestor Taixuan and several others said that all forces should lay aside their disputes for the time being, especially not to overstep when other Sects are campaigning against Outer realms. With these Grandmasters setting the rules, it would be inappropriate for me to directly engage Jue Tian. However, you may wait until their crusading army leaves and take the opportunity to dispatch some people or ask the vassal forces below to probe and see what the current strength of the Beast Taming Sect is like. If we can significantly deplete their current strength, even if they win the war in the Otherworld, it would somewhat be a Pyrrhic victory for them. In response to the probing by various forces, I suspect they will have two reactions. At first, they will surely retaliate harshly to deter those who stretch out their hands in secret, showing their fiercest fangs to prevent others from harboring other thoughts. If someone powerfully pulls out a few of their fangs at this time, they will at most reins in their influence and temporarily give up some benefits until the crusading army returns from the Otherworld, at which point they will thoroughly settle scores with any who dared to offend them. Thus, do not allocate too many of our force¡¯s resources to this matter. It would be best to entice other forces to take advantage of the Beast Taming Sect¡¯s territory, to present them with more adversaries.¡± ¡°Yes.¡± The young Sword Immortal, Sage Wuji, responded, ¡°Grandmaster, rest assured, I will handle this matter well.¡± ¡°Mm, you always handle affairs with organization. The incident with the Heavenly Pool Cave Heaven is just an accident; don¡¯t take it too hard.¡± Qian Yuan Sage glanced at Sage Wuji, obviously very satisfied with the young Sword Immortal, ¡°We may regret not obtaining that Cave Heaven, but with Taiyi Mountain¡¯s foundation, even if the Beast Taming Sect wins the Otherworld war, they cannot comprehensively surpass Taiyi Mountain within a thousand years. Furthermore, it is not certain that they will win.¡± ¡°That¡¯s right. After all, that¡¯s an entire world, with plenty of powerful beings. If the Jue Tian Ancestor is stationed at the Mountain Gate, they will not easily conquer that realm. Even a slight mishap could lead to heavy losses for them.¡± ¡°Ha ha, if they lose a few Immortals in the Otherworld, even if they end up occupying that realm, they would likely suffer more than they gain. Immortals cannot be cultivated merely through resources.¡± Chapter 219 - Chapter 219 Chapter 216 Return Home in Glory ?Chapter 219: Chapter 216: Return Home in Glory Chapter 219: Chapter 216: Return Home in Glory Qian Yuan Sage quietly waited while everyone discussed for a moment. Seeing that the atmosphere among them had heated up and was no longer as somber as before, he nodded in satisfaction and said, ¡°Now that the Beast Taming Sect¡¯s campaign into the Outer Domain is a foregone conclusion, we cannot possibly watch them grow stronger without taking any action. ¡°It seems that the Giant Spirit Sect also wouldn¡¯t wish for that, so our alliance with them will not waver as long as it does not involve fundamental interests. I will discuss with both the Giant Spirit Sect and the Western Wisdom Sword Sect about joining forces to campaign in the Outer Domain. Otherwise, if the Beast Taming Sect triumphs, they will surely gain more resources for their sect¡¯s power. If we only tread water, sooner or later, we will be left far behind by them, which is very dangerous for us.¡± ¡°Wisdom Sword Sect?¡± Below, several Sword Immortals frowned upon hearing the name of this sect. A cold middle-aged man, whose presence was as sharp as a sword, said in a deep voice, ¡°Grandmaster, the Wisdom Sword Sect has grown increasingly close to the Western Buddhism over the years. They even have signs of practicing Buddhist teachings within their sect. Forming an alliance with them doesn¡¯t sit well.¡± ¡°Indeed.¡± Sage Tianji said, ¡°The Sword Cultivators of the Wisdom Sword Sect have strayed from the right path. Their Sword Hearts are not pure, and their Sword Intent is not pure, mixed with Buddhist ideologies and techniques. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í??.?? If we form an alliance with them to fight in the Outer Domain, it¡¯s inevitable that our disciples will come into contact with them. ?¦Ï??0.§ã0 If we interact too closely, some disciples might be influenced while exchanging Sword Dao insights with them. Buddhist skills are most adept at beguiling the mind. Ordinary disciples with weak Daoist Hearts may not withstand such temptation. If they were to bring the Wisdom Sword Sect¡¯s Sword Dao ideologies back to Taiyi Mountain, it is likely to be detrimental to our future inheritance.¡± ¡°It doesn¡¯t matter.¡± Sage Qian Yuan said, ¡°I understand the Wisdom Sword Ancestor¡¯s thoughts. He founded the Wisdom Sword Sect, and as long as he is there, the sect will not encounter trouble. It¡¯s just that he hasn¡¯t made any progress over the years, and now he wishes to use Buddhist concepts to perfect his own Sword Dao. That¡¯s why he lets his disciples reference Buddhist skills, trying to find the most suitable path among ordinary disciples. Although I don¡¯t quite agree with his method, there¡¯s no need to deny his idea. As for whether our disciples will be influenced, that¡¯s not a concern. Our Taiyi Mountain¡¯s Sword Dao inheritance is far more ancient than that of the Wisdom Sword Sect. As long as our Sword Dao of Taiyi Mountain is exquisite enough, our disciples will not abandon our sect¡¯s techniques for those uncertain practices. It¡¯s also a good opportunity to test our disciples. As long as they remain steadfast and are not tempted by heterodox paths, their Daoist Hearts will be even firmer, which will benefit their cultivation of the Sword Dao.¡± ¡°What if someone gets beguiled?¡± Sage Tianji asked again. Sage Qian Yuan glanced at him indifferently and said coldly, ¡°Send them to the War Sword Hall, enlist them in the Vanguard Camp. They must be the first to go into battle every time there is a war. If they can survive after conquering another realm, I will acknowledge their qualification to establish a new lineage of Sword Dao.¡± This Sage had survived since ancient times through countless calamities and was accustomed to life and death. His indifference to life far surpassed ordinary people¡¯s imagination. Besides, the other Sword Immortals present did not think there was anything wrong with his words. So, hearing him say this, the issue was settled, and the rest of the Sword Immortals immediately stopped mentioning it. ¡°Alright, let¡¯s leave it at that. The Wisdom Sword Ancestor is merely using Buddhist concepts to test his own Sword Dao, and he has no intention of seeking refuge with Buddhism. This includes his disciples and grand-disciples, whose hearts are still focused on the Sword Dao, striving for the ultimate goal of a single sword stroke defeating all other techniques. They have no intention of becoming protectors for Buddhism. Whether disciples of the Wisdom Sword Sect can understand the true mysteries of the Wisdom Sword or not, they will not be utterly immersed in Buddhist skills. Buddhist Law, unlike Demon Path Cultivation Methods, is not so powerful that merely referencing it can beguile the mind, not to mention beguiling the disciples of our Taiyi Mountain. The disciples of the Wisdom Sword Sect will also not intentionally beguile our disciples. If we do end up joining forces to attack the Outer Domain, you do not need to oversee the daily exchanges between the two schools¡¯ disciples. Being exposed to various Sword Dao techniques will serve as an inspiration to our juniors; there¡¯s no significant harm.¡± ¡°Yes.¡± ¡°Grandmaster, rest assured, we know what to do.¡± The Sword Immortals nodded in agreement. ¡°You may leave now.¡± Sage Qian Yuan waved his hand and said, ¡°There¡¯s nothing to fuss over. Taiyi Mountain was not destroyed during the Ancient Great Tribulation, and the Beast Taming Sect won¡¯t be able to do much to us. Compared to the opponents from those powerful worlds in the Outer Domain, they are far behind. I shall leave the mountain later to visit those two old friends. You protect the Mountain Gate and do not provoke the Beast Taming Sect at this time. The Beast Taming Sect is currently gathering the strength of all its allies, and they are at their most powerful. Do not give them an excuse to make a trip to our Taiyi Mountain territory; otherwise, those people might deliver a severe blow before leaving, to reduce some pressure for those left watching the house.¡± The Sword Immortals nodded again and then got up to leave. They just needed to instruct the Inner Sect Elders to restrain the disciples. It was nothing more than showing patience and not provoking the Beast Taming Sect; it wasn¡¯t a big deal. If they really wanted to trouble the Beast Taming Sect, they could make their move after the sect¡¯s expeditionary forces had left. a€| At the Beast Taming Sect¡¯s Creation Peak. When Qin Feng arrived riding a Spiritual Vulture, he happened to see Wen Qing¡¯er practicing spells in the woods. The young girl appeared very happy, fluttering her small wings and soaring through the woods with the grace of a butterfly, occasionally letting out bursts of joyful laughter resembling the chime of a silver bell. With a slight wave of her tiny hands, the vegetation in the woods grew rapidly. Vines snaked through the air, entwining into various shapes as she played gleefully. ¡°Junior Sister Wen.¡± Qin Feng greeted Wen Qing¡¯er when he arrived at the edge of the forest. ¡°Oh, Senior Brother Qin?¡± Upon seeing Qin Feng, Wen Qing¡¯er immediately beamed with joy, her small, round face spreading into a wide smile as her eyes curved into crescents. ¡°Congratulations, Senior Brother, on becoming a True Disciple. The speed at which you became a True Disciple almost catches up with Senior Sister Li.¡± Qin Feng chuckled lightly, suppressing the urge to pinch her chubby, rosy cheeks. This girl still hadn¡¯t forgotten to compare him to Li Miaozhen. ¡°Senior Brother Qin isn¡¯t cultivating in the Inner Sect; what brings you here?¡± Wen Qing¡¯er¡¯s glossy black eyes spun quickly, a sly expression on her face: ¡°If Senior Brother wants to see Junior Sister Qin Xi, you just need to send a bird to call for her, and I¡¯ll bring Junior Sister Qin Xi to the Inner Sect to find you. It would save you the trip and prevent you from delaying your cultivation.¡± Hearing this, Qin Feng couldn¡¯t help but laugh softly, ¡°You just want to see what the Inner Sect looks like, don¡¯t you? If you want to visit, just say so. I can take you there next time; no need for these little tricks.¡± ¡°Hehe¡­¡± Wen Qing¡¯er wasn¡¯t the least bothered by Qin Feng seeing right through her little scheme and, flapping her butterfly wings behind her, moved closer to Qin Feng. She asked curiously about the Inner Sect before leading him to Qin Xi. ¡°Afeng, what are you doing here?¡± Qin Xi had made rapid progress. The storage bags she obtained from the Heavenly Pool Secret Realm contained a large number of Spiritual Objects, and her gains were not much less than Qin Feng¡¯s. With no shortage of resources, she advanced swiftly, having already reached the ninth level of Qi Refinement. But what progressed even faster was her Lifebound Water Spirit. Water Spirits, born of Heavenly Creation, were favored by the Heavenly Dao, inherently containing a trace of Heaven and Earth Laws. That was why disciples from the Creation Lineage found it easier to produce geniuses. Once they comprehended that trace of the Power of Laws within the Creation Beings, they could enter the Dao. And Entering Dao was something that most Cultivators couldn¡¯t achieve until they reached the Purple Mansion. Therefore, any disciple from the Creation Lineage who Entered Dao was almost on the verge of advancing to the Purple Mansion. Of course, after Entering Dao, they would have to rely on themselves for further cultivation, but these initial advantages already brought them many benefits. In addition to easily Entering Dao, these Creation Beings also had a far superior ability to absorb and refine Heaven and Earth Spiritual Objects of the same type compared to Human Clan Cultivators. Qin Xi, being a particularly intelligent woman, didn¡¯t mind focusing first on nurturing her Lifebound Water Elf since she had so many Spirit Stones and Spiritual Objects. She spent tens of thousands of Spirit Stones and bought many water-attribute valuable Spiritual Objects from the Market. In less than a year, she cultivated her Water Spirit to the Foundation Establishment Realm. Now, every day during cultivation, just the Essence Water Spiritual Qi fed back to her from the Water Spirit allowed her to advance at a miraculous rate. ¡°I¡¯m planning to make a trip back to our clan. I wanted to ask if you¡¯d like to join me.¡± Qin Feng looked at Qin Xi as he spoke. ¡°Back to the clan?¡± Qin Xi paused, then said, ¡°Of course, I¡¯ll go back with you. But why did you decide to return to our clan at this time?¡± Seeing her ask this, Qin Feng hesitated a bit in his mind. Although it was known that the Sect would soon embark on a campaign against the Outer regions, and that many outside powers already knew about it, that was limited to the upper echelons. The Sect had not officially announced it yet, so he preferred not to say too much directly to prevent rumors from spreading among the lower-ranking disciples. So, he said, ¡°In a while, I¡¯ll be accompanying my master on an expedition, and it may take many years before I can return to the Sect. I want to visit our clan before I leave.¡± ¡°I see.¡± Qin Xi was not suspicious and asked, ¡°When do you plan to leave? I need to prepare and also go to the Market to buy some stuff to take back.¡± ¡°In two days.¡± Qin Feng said, ¡°There is a tower ship from the Ten Thousand Demons Pavilion about to head to Chu Kingdom, and I have made arrangements with the Pavilion¡¯s manager. We will take the tower ship back together; it is much safer than riding Spiritual Birds.¡± ¡°Alright then, I¡¯ll get ready in the next two days, and we¡¯ll leave together.¡± Qin Xi agreed straightforwardly. She missed her parents a bit and wondered how her younger siblings were doing now; they must have grown quite a bit. The family¡¯s power was weak, and their output was limited. Yet every year, they still had to give away about thirty percent of their income to support her and Qin Feng¡¯s cultivation in the Sect. Now that she had Spirit Stonesa€¡±more than what the Qin Family had saved over hundreds of yearsa€¡±she also wanted to give back to the family. Her mindset was like that of a daughter who, after making her fortune, planned to take care of her old home. She hadn¡¯t married off yet, though. But now that Afeng had become a True Disciple of the Inner Sect, he couldn¡¯t return to the family as impoverished as he was when he left. He had to make a splendid return to his hometown, dressed in fine clothes, to show the Tieling County families the rise of the Qin Family. This would not only minimize many unnecessary troubles but also bring considerable benefits to the family. Chapter 220 - Chapter 220 Chapter 217 The Old Family Masters Habits Remain Unchanged ?Chapter 220: Chapter 217: The Old Family Master¡¯s Habits Remain Unchanged Chapter 220: Chapter 217: The Old Family Master¡¯s Habits Remain Unchanged Clouds drifted leisurely, carried by the wind. ¡°Moa€|¡± A deep bellowing echoed through the air as a massive, ten-zhang Barbarian Bull broke through the clouds, advancing as if treading on air. Upon its imposing back, two thick chains extended backward. At the other end of these chains was a hundred-zhang long tower ship, pulled forward through the sky by the bull. Qin Feng stood hands behind his back at the bow of the ship, leisurely surveying his surroundings amidst the cold high-altitude winds. Hearing the bellow, he glanced at the Barbarian Bull. This was a Demon Core Realm Barbarian Bull, its head adorned with broad, sharp horns and a muscular body that radiated strength. In fact, such bulls were not only incredibly strong but also possessed several powerful innate divine abilities, making them a challenging foe even for Golden Core Cultivators. Indeed, the tower ship of the Beast Taming Sect could fly swiftly even without the pull of Spiritual Beasts, as it was a specially crafted large Flying Escape Treasure capable of flight on its own. The reason to still use Spiritual Beasts to pull the ship was mainly for showa€¡±to flaunt its power to ordinary cultivators and, importantly, for safety. The primary role of the Spiritual Beasts pulling the ship was not transportation but protection. They protected the disciples aboard and the cargoa€¡±that was the true purpose of these Demon Core Realm Spiritual Beasts. Throughout the journey, this commerce ship of Ten Thousand Demons Pavilion had made numerous stops across various locations, delivering and collecting goodsa€¡±an exchange of spiritual resources for the sect, resources needed for expeditions into Otherworlds. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í??.§ã0 Being a cargo ship, it was neither as convenient nor as fast as the one Qin Feng had boarded when he initially arrived at the Beast Taming Sect. However, the delay was minimal, and soon they entered the territory of the Chu Kingdom. Upon entering the Chu Kingdom, the tower ship¡¯s stops became notably more frequent, docking at each commandery to unload various goods and load up the acquisitions from the pavilion branchesa€¡±resources needed by the sect for its campaigns. Finally, the tower ship was nearing its arrival at Tieling County. Once there, Qin Feng and Qin Xi were to depart from the ship. After all, this was a commerce ship of Ten Thousand Demons Pavilion, still tasked with transporting goods and collecting resources; it wasn¡¯t meant to ferry them to Kun City. Kun City, being small and lacking in significant cultivator presence, did not even have a proper market, thus it did not warrant a pavilion. ¡°Junior Brother Qin, be careful on your way.¡± The manager of the ship from Ten Thousand Demons Pavilion, a Golden Core Cultivator older than Qin Feng¡¯s elder brother Zhao Qiankun but of the same generation as Qin Feng, said affectionately, ¡°Chu Kingdom is a border controlled by our Beast Taming Sect, with mixed forces and chaotic situations. It shares boundaries with the territories of major sects like Taiyi Mountain and Danxia Sect. No matter the states or smaller cities, everything is more or less in disarray, including Kun City, where merely a small city is home to three power-wielding families. Junior Brother Qin, you have an unresolved enmity with Jiang Dongliu from the Taiyi Mountain Punishment Sword Hall. Although you haven¡¯t disclosed your identity elsewhere, you¡¯ve interacted with many along the way. It probably won¡¯t be long before your identity gets exposed, so try not to stay too long with your family and return to the sect sooner for safety.¡± ¡°Thank you for your kind advice, Senior Brother.¡± Qin Feng nodded. ¡°I understand, I am returning to my family for specific matters, and I will head back after handling them.¡± ¡°Since that¡¯s the case, I won¡¯t say much more. Just be extra careful, Junior Brother Qin.¡± The old manager tactfully refrained from further persuasion. Since even Great Elder Ning had allowed Qin Feng to return to his family, it would be inappropriate to advise otherwise. As they neared Tieling County, Qin Feng and Qin Xi bid farewell to the ship¡¯s manager and did not wait for the ship to descend into Tieling City; instead, they took flight on Spiritual Birds. ¡°Ah!¡± The old manager watched Qin Feng and Qin Xi¡¯s departure with a shake of his head and a soft sigh, hoping that the people from Taiyi Mountain wouldn¡¯t discover Qin Feng too soon. If Jiang Dongliu learned of it, the trouble would escalate. Even if constrained by rules from personally attacking, he would surely send disciples to besiege and pursue Qin Feng. He was unaware that the Qian Yuan Sage of Taiyi Mountain had already ordered that, until the Beast Taming Sect¡¯s large army set out, no disciples were to provoke the sect. Thus, he was somewhat anxious. He was even less aware that after Qin Feng and Qin Xi¡¯s departure, another figure quietly soared from the ship, cloaked in the void like a phantom, hardly detectable. This was a Dao Protector arranged by Ning Wuxu for his disciple. In fact, it was not only Qin Feng who was accorded this treatmenta€¡±any true disciple of the sect venturing out was shadowed by a protector in secret to prevent ambushes from rival sects. Unbeknownst to Qin Feng, both he and Qin Xi were somewhat overwhelmed by emotions. ¡°I remember the first time Grandfather Master brought us to Tieling County. Back then, knowing nothing, everything seemed so fresh and amazing. I thought Tieling City and its busy market were the epitome of prosperity, bustling with numerous cultivators.¡± Qin Xi, with a smile touching her lips, said, ¡°It was only after witnessing the strength of the sect that upon returning, the county that once seemed vibrant and bustling pales in comparison to the sect¡¯s major markets. Even the capitals of the nations we passed through on our journey seem unremarkable.¡± ¡°Indeed.¡± Qin Feng nodded and said, ¡°In our youth, we lived in Kun City, thinking that was a vast expanse of sky until I left the Qin family and Tieling County to join the Sect. Only then did I begin to grasp the worlda€¡±albeit barely.¡± His words were far from modest. Joining the Sect, he was initially astounded by the vastness of the Southern Domain, and even more so when he learned that other domains were as wide as the Southern Domain. The magnitude of the world shocked him. More recently, he learned the true origin of the world from his master, including the existence of countless worlds within the cosmic void, and he fully realized how limited his vision had been. But it was not his fault, after all; he could only live in the small place that was Kun City. His status and position limited what he could know until he became a True Disciplea€¡±only then was he qualified to learn many secrets of the Sect. ¡°When I first saw Tieling City, I looked like someone who had never seen the world. Thinking about it now is quite amusing,¡± Qin Feng said self-deprecatingly. Qin Xi shook her head and chuckled lightly, ¡°Actually, I was incredibly curious at that time too, but I was really too timid, afraid to look around much. I just followed closely beside our Family Head grandfather, fearing that I would get lost.¡± ¡°Hahahaa€|¡± Their laughter echoed, easing their nervousness as they approached home. Seeing Kun City up ahead, Qin Feng shouted loudly and slapped the back of the Spiritual Vulture, speeding up toward the front. ¡°Hey, wait for mea€|¡± Behind him, Qin Xi became anxious and quickly urged her mount to follow. Her Spiritual Vulture had died back in the Heavenly Pool Secret Realm; her current mount, a vibrant Long-Tailed Phoenix Sparrow, was bought from the Ten Thousand Demons Pavilion. It was a creature at the peak of Qi Refinement. This was a mount highly recommended by Wen Qing¡¯er. Back when these two girls were choosing mounts in the Spiritual Beast Area of the Ten Thousand Demons Pavilion, they had only two criteria: the mount had to be beautiful and fast. ?¦Ï¦Í?¦Ï.§ã? As for anything else, it didn¡¯t matter, even if the mount lacked significant attack power. In the end, they chose this glamorous, fast Phoenix Sparrow. Naturally, such beautiful Spiritual Birds weren¡¯t cheap, especially since the Phoenix Sparrow was genuinely swift in speed and adept in Wind Control Technique. It was only because Qin Xi and the others had stumbled upon a fortune in the Heavenly Pool Secret Realm that she could afford such an expensive Phoenix Sparrow. Otherwise, with Qin Xi¡¯s thrifty nature, she would likely have caught a random Spiritual Bird from the wild forests to serve as her mount. However, in reality, the expense had its advantagesa€¡±the Phoenix Sparrow was indeed fast. Even though Qin Feng¡¯s Spiritual Vulture had reached the Foundation Establishment Realm, it didn¡¯t leave Qin Xi far behind. ¡°Haha, I¡¯m backa€|¡± Before nearing the family estate, Qin Feng let out a bizarre shout that echoed far and wide. Within the estate, comfortably seated in a carefree chair and habitually stroking his beloved black panther, Qin Guanbao squinted his eyes, lost in thought over something. It was his usual habit; as he aged, he no longer hoped to achieve the Golden Core, opting instead to live comfortably. Suddenly, hearing the strange shout coming from the mid-air and sensing several energies approaching swiftly, he jolted alert. He hastily removed his hand from the sleek fur of the black panther¡¯s back and looked up sharply. He then saw two Spiritual Birds flying from a distance in the skya€¡±the leading one a Spiritual Vulture with wings spanning several feet, and following it, a smaller, vividly feathered Phoenix Sparrow. Because Qin Feng and Qin Xi were both seated on the Spiritual Birds, Qin Guanbao, the old Family Master, could only see the lower halves of the two Spiritual Beasts and did not see Qin Feng and Qin Xi on their backs. Seeing these two Spiritual Birds about to charge into his ancestral home, Qin Guanbao was instantly alarmed and quickly mounted the black panther, leaping into the air. In another part of the courtyard, Qin Long, who had been busy with his own tasks, saw this and summoned his Green-Eyed Spiritual Snake to follow the old Clan Chief into the air. Below, many members of the Qin Clan paused their tasks and looked up. Unsure whether the newcomers were friends or foes, they prepared for caution, ready to defend if necessary. Fortunately, the imagined battle did not ensue. Qin Ying, who had only returned to the family a year ago, immediately recognized the Spiritual Vulture in the sky, which he had given to Qin Feng decades ago. He was puzzled, unaware of why Qin Feng would return to the clan at this time. Positioned near the edge of the Beast Taming Sect¡¯s domain in Chu Kingdom, the area was somewhat dangerous and furthest from the Sect, making trips back and forth quite challenging. Mid-air, Qin Guanbao called out from below, his aged voice booming, ¡°Which Daoist Fellow graces our Kun City Qin Clan with their presence? If your purpose isa€| eh?¡± He was mid-sentence when he reached the same height as Qin Feng. Upon seeing Qin Feng¡¯s face, he exclaimed in surprise, cutting off his words. Upon noticing the girl hurriedly following behind, if it wasn¡¯t Qin Xi, who else could it be? ¡°Youa€| Why have you come back?¡± The old Family Master was somewhat astonished before his brow furrowed, turning to look in the direction of the city¡¯s north. Chapter 221 - Chapter 221 Chapter 218 The Whole Clan Celebrates, Offering Up the Spirit Pill ?Chapter 221: Chapter 218: The Whole Clan Celebrates, Offering Up the Spirit Pill Chapter 221: Chapter 218: The Whole Clan Celebrates, Offering Up the Spirit Pill ¡°Grandpa Ji, Dad, I¡¯m back.¡± Qin Feng thought the two elders, the Old Family Master and his own father, had come out to welcome him specially, and his heart swelled with joy. ¡°Feng¡¯er, youa€| youa€|¡± Qin Long was visibly moved, especially after sensing the aura of the Foundation Establishment Realm emanating from his son, which left him so overwhelmed that he found it hard to speak. He had not expected that in just three years of being away, his son had grown so powerful, even surpassing him. Although his own progression in cultivation had been slow over the years, having been in Foundation Establishment for many years granted him a degree of insight. With just a glance, he could tell that his son had reached the mid-stage of Foundation Establishment Realm. This filled him with both relief and a pinch of sourness. It wasn¡¯t jealousy towards his own son, but rather a sadness for his many years of stagnated cultivation. Soon, however, he snapped back to reality, forcefully suppressing his overwhelming joy at seeing his son return so accomplished, and sternly warned, ¡°Foolishness, what are you doing back at this time? If word of your return to the clan gets out, you might be hunted by disciples from the Taiyi Mountain.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t worry, Dad. I already informed my master before coming, and given his temperament, he will definitely have made arrangements.¡± ¡°That¡¯s good.¡± Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ??¦Í?¦Ï.§ã¦Ï After last year¡¯s Outer Sect competition, Qin Xi had sent a letter home to inform the family that Qin Feng had been accepted into the Inner Sect, and had been taken in by the Great Elder of the Spiritual Snake Lineage. When this letter was received, the entire Qin Family celebrated joyously. After hundreds of years, the Qin Family had produced another Inner Sect Disciple, a fact that was not only a matter of glory but also a pivotal opportunity for the family¡¯s growth and strength. The ancestor of the Qin Family had not stayed long in the Inner Sect, but even with such a brief tenure, he managed to leave behind a family business for the clan which had endured for so long. Now Qin Feng had not only been accepted into the Inner Sect but had also become a disciple of the Great Elder of the Spiritual Snake Lineage. This signified that the Qin Family¡¯s future prospects could be even brighter than in the times of the ancestors! Because they saw Qin Feng as the hope for the rise of the clan, they were even less willing to see him return home at such a time. They considered this extremely dangerous, as Qin Xi had mentioned in her letter that Qin Feng had killed the daughter of Jiang Dongliu, an Elder of the Taiyi Mountain Punishment Sword Hall. She had advised the family to be cautious to avoid being caught by surprise in case of revenge. Since the Great Elder was aware of Qin Feng¡¯s return to the family, he would surely not let disciples from Taiyi Mountain push him around. Soon, their worries eased, but they still reminded him to return to the Sect quickly, lest spending too much time outside give others the opportunity to find him. After nodding in agreement, Qin Feng cheerfully coaxed the Spiritual Vulture to his father¡¯s side and caressed the smooth body of the Green-Eyed Spirit Snake that his father was sitting on. Though he had only been away from the family for roughly three years, this was his first time away from his father. Coupled with the numerous experiences he had gone through since joining the Sect, it felt as if many years had passed. Seeing his father again stirred feelings of closeness, and even the sight of his father¡¯s Green-Eyed Spirit Snake felt somewhat comforting. Next to him, Qin Long also reached out and gently stroked his son¡¯s head, looking at his son¡¯s face that had matured a bit more since his departure, he felt as if he were dreaming, while also beaming with pride. His son had achieved such heights in just a few short years, truly a prodigious talent, and indeed his own son. From behind, Qin Xi quickly caught up, ¡°I pay my respects to Grandpa, the Family Head, and greetings to Seventh Uncle.¡± ¡°Mm, good, Xi has also returned.¡± Qin Guanbao nodded satisfactorily upon seeing Qin Xi. Unexpectedly, this child had also reached the Ninth Level of Qi Refinement, which greatly surpassed his expectations. Could it be that the Qin Family had produced only geniuses this generation? He himself had once been admitted to the Beast Taming Sect; even after three years, he was still circling around the Qi Refining Middle Stage, nowhere near Qin Xi¡¯s current cultivation realm. Given Qin Xi¡¯s current pace, he was already on a speedy path of cultivation for the Outer Sect Disciples of the Beast Taming Sect. Aside from those few geniuses and the disciples with strong family backing, ordinary disciples who managed to reach Foundation Establishment within ten years were considered quite exceptional, and they even had a chance to be admitted to the Inner Sect. The Old Family Master felt that if Qin Xi continued to cultivate at his current pace, he would undoubtedly achieve Foundation Establishment within a year or two. With the remaining years, if he focused on his cultivation, there was an eighty to ninety percent chance that he too could enter the Inner Sect. If that were to happen, the family would have two Inner Sect Disciples within the Sect! At that thought, even with the Old Family Master¡¯s composure, he felt his mouth going dry, his heart pounding. Could it be that under his leadership, the Qin Family was poised to rise completely? If so, even in death, he would have no shame in facing his ancestors. ¡°Come, come, come, let¡¯s go back quickly.¡± Caught up in excitement, the Old Family Master grabbed Qin Feng¡¯s hand, saying, ¡°You two follow me back. I want to gather everyone to worship our ancestors. Our Qin Family has now produced two talented disciples; we need to let the ancestors know.¡± Qin Feng, his hand firmly grasped, knew the old man was profoundly moved, so he did not struggle but allowed himself to be led back to the residence. Very soon, all members of the Qin Clan were aware that Qin Feng, who had been accepted into the Inner Sect, had returned home with Qin Xi. There was no need for the Old Clan Chief to summon them specifically as everyone spontaneously converged. They all wanted to see last year¡¯s youth of the family, the Qin Feng who had now been accepted into the Inner Sect of the Beast Taming Sect, and what he had become. Even the third uncle, who had never been very fond of Qin Long and Qin Feng, was no exception. Although the third uncle had harbored resentment toward Qin Feng for a long time for robbing his own grandson of the chance to join the Beast Taming Sect, his grievances dissipated after hearing that Qin Feng had been accepted into the Inner Sect last year. He was acutely aware of his grandson¡¯s abilities; had he sent his own grandson to the Beast Taming Sect, he would most likely be languishing in the Outer Sect at this point, and it would have been uncertain if he would have even entered the Qi Refining Middle Stage, let alone become a disciple under an Inner Sect Grand Elder. Compared to his own petty wishes, the development and strengthening of the family were far more important. Besides, with the family progressing, being an Elder, he would benefit greatly. There would be more resources to cultivate the next generation, eliminating worries about the clan¡¯s offspring missing opportunities to enter the Sect. Thus, at this moment, the third uncle¡¯s wrinkled face beamed with joy, as bright as a daisy about to bloom in September. After a grand ancestral worship ceremony, the Old Family Master led Qin Feng, Qin Xi, and the rest of the clan out of the ancestral hall, all smiles. The clan members looked at Qin Feng and Qin Xi eagerly, especially Qin Feng, who bore the brunt of most of those eager gazes, making him feel as if those who had lived together for many years were about to strip him of his clothes. If it weren¡¯t for the presence of the clan leader, Qin Feng had no doubt that in the next moment he would be surrounded by a crowd of clan members. Perhaps some would even reach out to touch him a few times. Even now, numerous clan members kept asking questions, eager to learn about the affairs of the Inner Sect of the Beast Taming Sect because these clan members rarely left Kun City, let alone understand the magic of the Inner Sect. The situation for Qin Xi was a bit better, as she was surrounded by more female clan members. Moreover, her parents were by her side, with several brothers and sisters in tow, so the clan members consciously let her family speak first. Despite the occasional question from an aunt or cousin, most of the time they just watched the family converse. Qin Xi looked at her parents, who had gained a bit of weight, with a happy smile on her face. Compared to their impoverished life when she was younger, her parents were evidently doing quite well now. From her mother¡¯s words, she learned that the Qin Family¡¯s Clan Leader had taken very good care of their family. Her siblings had cultivation techniques as well, but with their lesser talents, even if they managed to open their minds, they probably could only practice some common cultivation methods within the clan. Despite this, Qin Xi was quite content. With her broader horizons and insights, she naturally didn¡¯t expect all of her family to embark on the path of cultivation. All she wanted was for her parents not to have to toil and to enjoy their old age, and for her brothers and sisters, who didn¡¯t have great talent, not to end up working as laborers in the Outer Sect but rather to stay happily with the clan. Meanwhile, Qin Feng, who was surrounded by all the male clan members, casually shared some permissible tales, causing the clan members to listen in amazement and excitement. ¡°If I had known how accomplished Afeng would become, I would not have come back so early,¡± Qin Ying said with a face full of regret. ¡°I came back not long before the Outer Disciple competition. I should¡¯ve waited a few more months, then I could have watched Afeng show his prowess on the stage and take the first place in the competition.¡± Upon hearing this, Qin Xi couldn¡¯t help but smile. ¡°Uncle Ying probably doesn¡¯t know yet, but Afeng is not just an Inner Sect Disciple, he has also become a true disciple of the Sect! If you stayed another year, you could have seen Afeng¡¯s glory as a true disciple.¡± ¡°Ah?¡± When these words came out, not only was Qin Ying¡¯s face filled with astonishment, but even Old Clan Chief Qin Guanbao and Qin Long both felt a shock in their hearts. ¡°What did you say? Feng has become an Inner Sect true disciple?¡± The Old Clan Chief stood up abruptly, his face filled with disbelief, ¡°You¡­ you¡¯re not lying to me?¡± ¡°Who would dare deceive Grandfather Clan Leader with words?¡± Qin Xi glanced at Qin Feng and smiled, ¡°If you don¡¯t believe it, you should ask him yourself.¡± Then, the crowd turned their gazes towards Qin Feng. Especially the Old Clan Chief and Qin Long, whose eager eyes shone like the sun. Qin Feng inwardly smiled wryly; he knew that once the news was out, this would be the scene. However, he had never intended to hide such a matter from the clan. And even if he wanted to, he couldn¡¯t keep it secret. Even if he said nothing, the manager of the Ten Thousand Demons Pavilion¡¯s Tieling County branch would get the news and inform the Old Family Master. After all, in the future, the Ten Thousand Demons Pavilion would surely take care of the clan, whether it was the clan¡¯s property business or safety and protection issues. ¡°This, this, thisa€|¡± The Old Family Master trembled slightly, overwhelmed with emotion, tears glistening in his eyes, ¡°Our ancestors have shown their grace!¡± The ordinary clan members had an incomplete understanding of what it meant to be a true disciple, but as a former Outer Disciple of the Beast Taming Sect, how could he not know the significance of an Inner Sect true disciple? Every true disciple, if they grew up, would become a high-ranking member of the Sect. Whether it was the position of Sect Master or some other exceptionally important roles, such as Hall Master of the Preaching Hall or Hall Master of the Law Enforcement Hall, were all selected among the true disciples. Now that Qin Feng had become an Inner Sect true disciple, he couldn¡¯t think of any other words to express his feelings at this moment other than the ancestors showing their grace. Although the highest cultivation among the ancestors was only Golden Core Realm, and the rest only made it to the Late Stage of Foundation Establishment, even a true manifestation wouldn¡¯t likely influence the Beast Taming Sect¡¯s selection of true disciples. But still, he was extremely excited, jumping three feet high, then he turned and went to offer sacrifices to the ancestors in the ancestral hall. Once Qin Ying briefly described the benefits of being a true disciple to the clan members, they were immediately engulfed in fervor. Subsequently, the Qin Family slaughtered pigs and sheep, and even took out a few Demon Beasts hunted during the recent autumn hunt, preparing a sumptuous banquet of several dozen tables to welcome back the accomplished Qin Feng and Qin Xi. The lively scene lasted until late into the night, and only then did the clan members, reluctant to end the festivities, slowly disperse. It was only at this time that Qin Feng finally had the opportunity to speak privately with his father and Old Family Master. Qin Xi had already gone back. She had been busy dealing with the clan members all day and hadn¡¯t had much time to talk with her parents and siblings. ?¦Ï¦Í??.§ã? She was now heading to her family¡¯s home, planning to spend some quality time with her mother and the family. ¡°You¡¯ve done well; you¡¯re much more accomplished than us.¡± The Old Family Master, after all, had lived a long time and had gradually calmed down after a day¡¯s excitement. He looked at Qin Feng¡¯s still somewhat immature face and couldn¡¯t help but pat his shoulder with pride and encouraged him to sit down. ¡°Ninth Grandfather is too kind, ¡± Qin Feng humbly replied. ¡°I just happened to make some contributions, and that¡¯s why the elders of the Sect valued me.¡± He did not share the details of these contributions as they were secrets of the Sect, not suitable to be revealed to the clan. ¡°This trip back to the clan was mainly to get a spiritual medicine for treating divine soul injuries for my father, and since I will be traveling with my master soon and may not return for many years, I hurried to bring it back.¡± As he spoke, Qin Feng took out a delicate jade bottle from his Storage Bag and handed it to Qin Long, saying, ¡°Father, this is a Spirit Pill specially for treating the divine soul. I asked my master to help me request it from the Sect. Try it; the effects should be good.¡± ¡°I¡­¡± Upon hearing this, Qin Long¡¯s hands trembled as he took the Spirit Pill. He didn¡¯t expect his son to obtain such a precious medicine so quickly. With this pill, the pain that had troubled him for years was about to be dispelled, and what was more crucial was that he could resume normal cultivation again. Chapter 222 - Chapter 222 Chapter 219 Im Not Young, But My Back is Very Strong ?Chapter 222: Chapter 219: I¡¯m Not Young, But My Back is Very Strong Chapter 222: Chapter 219: I¡¯m Not Young, But My Back is Very Strong Qin Long forcefully suppressed the excitement in his heart, reached out to take the delicate jade bottle, opened the stopper to take a look, and a stream of cool elixir fragrance wafted out from inside. The fragrance rushed through his nasal passages and straight to the heavenly gate; his entire sea of consciousness felt a cool breeze sweep through it, bringing a refreshing sensation, and the initially faintly aching divine soul seemed to be calming down. Qin Feng said with a smile, ¡°Master said that this is a genuine Soul Nourishing Pill traded from the Ghost Controlling Sect in the East Domain. It was refined by the Alchemy Master of the Ghost Controlling Sect using Soul Nourishing Grass, Soul Devouring Tree Core, Gathering Yin Jade Marrow, and more than a dozen other rare spiritual medicines cultivated for a thousand years in the Land of Undead. It is an excellent spirit pill that not only can treat the damage to Father¡¯s divine soul, but also stabilize the soul, strengthen divine sense. You should try the effect when you get back. If it can completely heal you, then that is best. If not, let me know, and before I leave the mountain gate with Master, I will bring back some other spiritual elixirs for Father. You do not have to worry about spirit stones, as I, now being a true disciple of the Beast Taming Sect, can still obtain some elixir pills without a problem.¡± ¡°Good,¡± Qin Long nodded repeatedly, his face full of gratified expression, ¡°My son is truly promising now. However, I think these elixir pills are enough for my recovery. Although I suffered damage to my divine soul in my early years due to an encounter with an Evil Cultivator, that Evil Cultivator¡¯s dao cultivation wasn¡¯t too high, otherwise I wouldn¡¯t have been able to live until now. These pills are of a high grade, and I estimate that I won¡¯t need so many. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í??.?0 There will even be leftovers after my injuries are healed.¡± ¡°It¡¯s better to take them all, so as to avoid leaving any hidden troubles,¡± Qin Feng suggested, ¡°Actually, the effect of these Soul Nourishing Pills on treating injuries is just incidental; their real purpose is to nurture the divine soul. Such spirit pills are very expensive even within the Ghost Controlling Sect; ordinary disciples can hardly find a single pill. It¡¯s only because they have recently been getting closer with our Beast Taming Sect, and there have been other exchanges, that our sect has obtained some. Father, you have delayed your cultivation for many years. Taking these Soul Nourishing Pills will be very beneficial to your divine soul and make the practice of ¡®Ten Thousand Beasts Origin Scripture¡¯ much easier. After all, our Beast Taming Sect¡¯s techniques require a strong divine sense. With these Soul Nourishing Pills, coupled with the years of pain you endured, which tempered your mental state, you should definitely be able to accumulate a foundation for a rapid breakthrough, at the very least, your cultivation progress in the next few years will be very fast.¡± Qin Long nodded; that was also his opinion. His natural talent and aptitude were good to start witha€¡±the gap between him and Qin Ying was enough to show that. Add to it his courage and perseverance, if it weren¡¯t for the damage to his divine soul in his early years, preventing him from continuing the practice of ¡®Ten Thousand Beasts Origin Scripture¡¯, he wouldn¡¯t have remained at the initial stage of the Foundation Establishment Realm for so many years. Now that he had the Soul Nourishing Pill, even without any other resources to aid him, his cultivation speed wouldn¡¯t be too slow. After all, the spiritual energy he had absorbed while sitting in meditation over the years was all used to temper his physical body. As long as his divine soul recovered, it wouldn¡¯t take much time for him to reach the middle stage of Foundation Establishment. Qin Guanbao was overjoyed on the side, ¡°I am already old, and I can¡¯t hold on for many more years before I have to pass on the position of family head. My sons and grandsons are all useless, and to this day, not a single one is a Foundation Establishment Cultivator, so naturally I cannot pass the position of the family head to them. Originally, I was worried about whether your father¡¯s injuries could recover and whether he could support the family in the future. Now I can finally rest easy.¡± Upon hearing this, Qin Feng hurriedly smiled, ¡°Uncle Guanbao is still full of vigor and vitality; it¡¯s still too early to talk about this.¡± To tell the truth, he had quite a bit of respect for the old family master. The old family master had governed the family over the years and stabilized it from its initial turmoil to the tranquility of today, preventing any chaos from happening, and he had also accumulated a lot of spiritual resources for the family. Although he had some peculiar hobbies in life and occasionally would go out of his way to comfort the poor missies at Baihua Pavilion, everyone has their way of living, and others aren¡¯t in a position to judge. Moreover, he never used a single bit of public funds, only his own share of spirit stones for charity. Such dedication to the family while being able to restrain personal interests from affecting family assets already made him a very competent family head. ¡°Alas, I can¡¯t do it, I¡¯m old.¡± The old family master pounded his lower back and sighed, ¡°Back in my day, I¡­¡± As he was speaking, he suddenly saw a smile on Qin Feng¡¯s face that was not quite a smile, and immediately remembered the event of taking this young man to Baihua Pavilion to eat papayas after getting drunk while sending Qin Feng and Qin Xi to Tieling County three years ago. His old face reddened, and he cleared his throat, ¡°Let¡¯s not talk about that, not about that.¡± ¡°Hehe!¡± Qin Feng chuckled, but he didn¡¯t dare to bring up the old family head¡¯s embarrassing past. He then proactively changed the subject and took out a wooden box the size of his palm and handed it to the old family head. ¡°What is this?¡± The old family head, surprised, reached out and took it, not expecting Qin Feng to have brought a gift for him. He casually opened it to look inside and saw an elixir pill the size of a pigeon¡¯s egg, unremarkable in its dark and slick appearance. ¡°Breaking Barrier Pill,¡± Qin Feng replied. ¡°What?¡± The old family head¡¯s hand trembled, the little box in his hand shook, and almost dropped the pill inside. Startled, he quickly covered the box again and looked excitedly at Qin Feng, ¡°Is that the Breaking Barrier Pill that can help a Foundation Establishment Cultivator break through their bottleneck?¡± ¡°Yes,¡± Qin Feng said with a smile, ¡°This I specially bought to honor you with. Are you satisfied, Uncle Guanbao?¡± ¡°Satisfied, satisfied, hahaha¡­¡± The old Family Head laughed heartily. However, a moment later, he hesitated and finally let out a light sigh, placing the small box in front of Qin Long, saying, ¡°I am old now, even if I managed to break through to the Foundation Establishment Late Stage, the possibility of advancing to the Golden Core is not great. This kind of elixir pill is expensive, and all the Spirit Stones accumulated by our Qin Family over the years wouldn¡¯t be enough to buy even one Breaking Barrier Pill. Using such a precious thing on an old man like me, whose body is halfway into the grave, would be too wasteful. It¡¯s better to leave it for your father. With the foundation your father has built up over the years, it won¡¯t take many years for him to cultivate to my current realm. At that time, it would be perfect for his use, much better than on an old man like me.¡± ¡°Uncle Nine?¡± Qin Long frowned, about to speak, but saw the old Family Head wave his hand and say, ¡°Don¡¯t try to persuade me. You¡¯re still young. This treasure would have a better effect on you, and maybe you will even have the chance to form a Golden Core in the future, which would benefit the family even more.¡± With the old Family Head saying this, even if Qin Long wanted to persuade him again, he couldn¡¯t find the words to say. Seeing the atmosphere turning somewhat heavy, Qin Feng quickly said, ¡°Grand-uncle, there¡¯s no need to worry about a mere pill. Have you forgotten my status? Although a Breaking Barrier Pill is precious to our Qin Family, with my status as a True Disciple, it¡¯s not difficult to get such an elixir pill. If you want it, after I return, I can ask the merchant troop of the Ten Thousand Demons Pavilion to bring another one.¡± ¡°This¡­¡± Hearing this, the old Family Head immediately became hesitant. To say he wasn¡¯t moved by the Breaking Barrier Pill would be a lie. Having been stuck in the Foundation Establishment Mid Stage for many years without progress, he was not content. Now confronted with an elixir pill that could help him break through his realm, how could he not be tempted? ¡°Take it, Uncle Nine.¡± Qin Long pushed the Breaking Barrier Pill back in front of the old Family Head: ¡°Let¡¯s not assume I will necessarily need this elixir in the future; even if I do, Feng¡¯er can bring another one for me. You are the highest in cultivation among our Qin Family. If you were to consume the elixir pill, you could directly advance to the Foundation Establishment Late Stage, which would greatly benefit the family at this time.¡± ¡°Well, all right.¡± The old Family Head pondered for a moment, then finally let out a sigh and reached out to take the Breaking Barrier Pill. A hint of a smile appeared on Qin Feng¡¯s face: ¡°Grand-uncle, you don¡¯t need to be so troubled over a single pill. In fact, I¡¯ve brought back some additional resources to improve your cultivations and also to nurture some talents for the family.¡± He then took out three Storage Bags, handed one to each of them, and placed the third Storage Bag in front of the old Family Head, saying, ¡°These two Storage Bags contain some elixir pills that assist with the cultivation at the Foundation Establishment Realm. They are high-quality Spirit Pills that I specifically purchased from the Ten Thousand Pills Pavilion of the Danxia Sect, and they¡¯re very useful for Foundation Establishment Cultivation. The remaining Storage Bag contains some elixir pills, Magic Artifacts, and other Spiritual Objects suitable for Qi Refining Realm cultivators. You two can discuss how to train the clan members; I won¡¯t meddle in these matters.¡± ¡°Ah, there¡¯s more?¡± Both of them were surprised and probed their respective Storage Bags with their Divine Senses. Upon seeing that each contained twenty to thirty bottles of Spirit Pills along with another dozen varieties of Spiritual Objects that assisted in cultivation, they were even more astonished: ¡°So many?¡± ¡°Hehe¡­¡± Qin Feng chuckled: ¡°Did you really think my title as a True Disciple was just for show? Not to mention the benefits I could get from my current status, I already obtained numerous treasures in Heavenly Pool Cave Heaven. It was only because I didn¡¯t trust Uncle Ying that I didn¡¯t let him bring more back then; otherwise, I could have contributed to the family earlier.¡± ¡°So it is.¡± Qin Guanbao was greatly relieved and stopped being coy. While reaching into the Storage Bag to take out a few bottles to examine the effects, he said with emotion, ¡°For our old Qin Family to have a genius disciple like Feng¡¯er is truly a blessing from the heavens.¡± However, when his Divine Sense swept over a few elixir bottles stored separately in a corner of the Storage Bag, he became puzzled, unsure of why Qin Feng would set these few bottles aside. After he took out the bottles to inspect them, his expression froze, especially when he saw the names on the rest of the jade bottles, his face turned as dark as the bottom of a pot. Kidney Strengthening Pills, Revitalizing Pill, Solid Foundation Building Essence Pill¡­ He glared at Qin Feng annoyed. If you¡¯re going to give something, give it properly, what¡¯s the meaning of sending these few bottles of pills? Though he was no longer young, his back was still strong; where would he need these fierce and aggressive medicinal herbs? Qin Feng didn¡¯t seem to notice his glance. The moment he glared, Qin Feng had already turned to talk to his father. In front of Qin Long, the old Family Head didn¡¯t want to create a scene. He had already regretted drunkenly acknowledging Qin Feng at the Baihua Pavilion on a whim; it was one of his biggest regrets. If Qin Feng¡¯s father found out about this, his good reputation would be done for. ?¦Ï¦Í?0.?¦Ï So the old Family Head swiftly put those few bottles of elixir pills into his personal Storage Bag to prevent anyone from seeing the names on the bottles. Hmm, he wondered how effective these premium Spirit Pills from the Ten Thousand Pills Pavilion were. Perhaps he could find time to test them. Chapter 223 - Chapter 223 Chapter 220 Chatting and Laughing, Flags and Oars Turn to Ashes and Smoke ?Chapter 223: Chapter 220 Chatting and Laughing, Flags and Oars Turn to Ashes and Smoke Chapter 223: Chapter 220 Chatting and Laughing, Flags and Oars Turn to Ashes and Smoke Qin Feng waited until his father and the Old Family Master had put away everything, then he took out a jade scroll and said, ¡°By a stroke of luck, I once obtained a heritage from an Ancient Immortal who became an immortal through the Void Shattering Ancestor during the Ancient Times. Because it¡¯s not a Sect¡¯s cultivation technique, it can be taught to the family¡¯s younger generation for cultivation.¡± ¡°Sss¡­¡± Upon hearing this, Qin Guanbao and Qin Long, who had just calmed down, were startled once again. ¡°A cultivation technique from an Ancient Immortal?¡± The words of the Old Family Master became somewhat stuttered. After all, he was just the leader of a small family in a remote little city. Even though he had seen many things during his time in the Outer Sect of the Beast Taming Sect, he had never imagined that his family would one day possess the complete inheritance of an Ancient Immortal! Especially since the highest cultivation in the Qin Family was currently at his level, a mid-stage peak of the Foundation Establishment Realm, which was extremely far from the realm of an Ancient Immortal. ¡°Indeed.¡± Qin Feng nodded and then added, ¡°However, our Qin Family is currently weak. If I were to leave the complete inheritance behind, any slight carelessness could bring about the annihilation of our family. Therefore, I will only leave behind the Qi Refinement and Foundation Establishment cultivation techniques, which should be sufficient for our family members to cultivate.¡± ¡°If someone in the future manages to cultivate to the peak of Foundation Establishment and form a Golden Core, I will naturally pass on the subsequent techniques. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í?0.?0 What do you two think?¡± The Old Family Master and Qin Long looked at each other and nodded repeatedly. To be honest, if Qin Feng really left a complete inheritance that could cultivate to the realm of a Heavenly Immortal, they would rather have been somewhat uneasy, fearing that the slightest leak of information could bring disaster upon the family. This way was much better. Qin Feng only left behind the Qi Refinement and Foundation Establishment techniques. Even if others knew they practiced a new cultivation technique, they wouldn¡¯t be able to guess that they had an inheritance that could lead directly to the Immortal Dao. They also knew that, ultimately, a cultivation technique is just a technique, and possessing a powerful technique doesn¡¯t guarantee cultivating to become an immortal. Just like the two of them, who, after joining the Beast Taming Sect in their early years, practiced techniques from the ¡°Ten Thousand Beasts Origin Scripture¡±, created by the founding ancestor of the sect, which was even more formidable than the Void Shattering Ancestor¡¯s heritage that Qin Feng held, yet their cultivation wasn¡¯t extraordinarily strong. Not only had Qin Guanbao, after more than a hundred years of cultivation, still been caught up in the mid-stage of Foundation Establishment, but even among the tens of thousands of disciples in the Outer Sect of the Beast Taming Sect, only a few were considered adept, let alone relying solely on cultivation techniques to achieve the Immortal Dao, which was like a fantasy. Achieving enlightenment and longevity encompasses too many factors. While initially one could rely on accumulation to build a somewhat decent Daoist Foundation, as one progresses, higher levels of comprehension of the Dao are required, and each stage blocks many cultivators from advancing, with only a very few eventually capable of overcoming these obstacles to reach such a state. Even Qin Feng himself did not believe any of his family members had the chance to cultivate to the level of becoming an immortal, let alone achieve the Golden Core Realm, given that the ordinary family members had rather mediocre potential. Although the demands on potential are not too high in later stages of cultivation, with the Daoist Body Dharma Body being repeatedly tempered to eliminate difficulties brought by ordinary potential, what becomes more important are disposition and understanding, but the majority of cultivators don¡¯t even reach the initial stages, let alone later stages of cultivation. Qin Feng passed the jade scroll he had, which was a transcription of the techniques left by the Void Shattering Ancestor on the Township Stone Tablet. Of course, he wouldn¡¯t tell his father and the Old Family Master that the main reason he didn¡¯t leave the complete inheritance was that he had not yet obtained the cultivation techniques above the Golden Core Realm. There was a prohibition set by the Void Shattering Ancestor on the Township Stone Tablet, which could only be broken layer by layer as one¡¯s realm advanced to access the inheritance. The two took the jade scroll and dove their divine senses into it one after the other, finding indeed a very complete inheritance named ¡°Void Shattering Technique.¡± It contained cultivation techniques, methods to refine the Void Shattering Hammer, and records of various spells, complementing each other to form a very complete set of cultivation techniques. However, they were just looking and had no intention of switching to this technique. Qin Long had already lost his Lifebound Spiritual Beast, which was somewhat better, but for Qin Guanbao, who had practiced the Beast Taming Technique for so many years, truly changing would be akin to wasting his cultivation and eliminating the function of his Lifebound Spiritual Beast. ¡°Later on, select some of the younger generation to practice it. If by chance they are able to cultivate to a certain height, there won¡¯t be fear of the family lacking subsequent techniques for cultivation.¡± Quickly, Qin Guanbao made a decision. Qin Long agreed, nodding. A technique with a complete cultivation system like this was much stronger than the ordinary techniques collected by the family. ¡°There¡¯s even a method to refine Magic Artifacts and Spiritual Artifacts, though it¡¯s just the method to refine the Void Shattering Hammer, it could also allow the family to delve into the direction of artifact refining.¡± The Old Family Master pondered for a moment. Having led the family for many years and knowing everything about it intimately, he quickly made a decision, ¡°We don¡¯t aim to make artifact refining our livelihood, but we should at least ensure that the cultivators practicing the ¡®Void Shattering Technique¡¯ can be self-sufficient. It¡¯s essential that some family members master the method of refining the Void Shattering Hammer.¡± ¡°Ninth Grandfather is right.¡± Qin Feng also said, ¡°Even though the family¡¯s current strength is still quite weak, we must start cultivating talent in other areas, only then can we gradually expand the family¡¯s power. Of course, caution must be exercised in the early stages, and anything hasty should be avoided as it could easily attract the covetous attention of others. I will be traveling with my master after a while, and when I¡¯m not at the Sect, the family should not take too big steps.¡± ¡°How long will you be gone?¡± Qin Long asked. ¡°Perhaps just a few years, or even several decades, it¡¯s hard to say; it all depends on how smooth this trip out turns out to be.¡± ¡°So long? What exactly do you need to do? Your cultivation level is just at the Foundation Establishment stage, not yet sufficient to roam around the world, right?¡± Qin Guanbao and Qin Long both frowned. ¡°This is a Sect secret, I shouldn¡¯t discuss it publicly.¡± Qin Feng said, ¡°However, it involves my cultivation. If things go well, I might be able to form a Golden Core in not many years.¡± He deliberately took the responsibility upon himself, without revealing any plans of the Sect. Seeing him say it was a Sect secret, the old family head hesitated to ask further, fearing they might violate the Sect¡¯s rules and jeopardize Qin Feng¡¯s prospects. The three talked all night long; as cultivators of their caliber, they weren¡¯t lacking in energy for such a discussion. They discussed the future development of the family, focusing on which young family members to train using the resources Qin Feng had provided, and they also touched upon the current predicaments of the family. Kun City was still a small town, dominated by three Foundation Establishment families, where space for growth was limited. Even though Qin Feng had provided them with ample resources, they could only concentrate on cultivating those with relatively decent talents from among the younger members; most ordinary family members weren¡¯t seen as worth the effort. In the end, the old family master still advised, ¡°Stay in the family for a few days then hurry back; it¡¯s somewhat dangerous here. If the Huang Family of the north city secretly informs Taiyi Mountain, perhaps the Taiyi Mountain elder, whose daughter you killed, might send disciples to capture you to avenge his daughter.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t worry, Grandpa Ji, I¡¯ll be careful.¡± Qin Feng nodded, then added, ¡°As for the Huang Family, if they dare send any messages, we might as well eliminate them and take over the north city¡¯s Spirit Vein and the Refined Iron Vein, which could allow our family to try training some Artifact Refiners.¡± Nowadays, Qin Feng was no longer the low-level cultivator he used to be; with his current power, he could easily destroy the whole Huang Family, which is why he spoke about them so calmly. ¡°However, as I¡¯m now a true disciple of the Beast Taming Sect, wantonly exterminating rival forces could create a very poor impression, so I¡¯d rather not take action myself.¡± Qin Feng smiled and said, ¡°Grandpa Ji, after you refine the Breaking Barrier Pill, you¡¯ll be able to advance to the late stage of Foundation Establishment, and once father¡¯s Divine Soul has recovered, he too will reach a breakthrough point. By then, you can find a pretext to eliminate them since we¡¯ve had a generational feud with the Huang Family who once nearly destroyed our Qin Family. Now that we are more powerful, of course, we must retaliate.¡± ¡°This¡­¡± Qin Long hesitated and asked, ¡°Could destroying the entire Huang Family cause discontent from Taiyi Mountain?¡± ¡°You don¡¯t need to worry, Father.¡± Qin Feng said nonchalantly, ¡°Taiyi Mountain is such a vast force, a minor player like the Huang Family won¡¯t draw their attention, at most it would be that Huang Yulang who got in, stirring a bit. Just as Grandpa Ji once brought colleagues to help stabilize the situation for our Qin Family years ago, he would only be able to bring a few Taiyi Mountain¡¯s outer disciples at most. But since Huang Yulang isn¡¯t very strong himself, he won¡¯t be able to involve too powerful disciples, so there¡¯s no need to worry about them. If by chance Taiyi Mountain¡¯s disciples join the fight, we¡¯ll eliminate those we can and force the rest to retreat early so they don¡¯t interfere much in our family¡¯s disputes. Of course, if those guys really seek their demise, we will oblige, but there must be a justified cause.¡± ¡°Heh, Feng, don¡¯t worry about this.¡± The old family master smiled faintly, ¡°We don¡¯t need to directly annihilate the Huang Family nor wait for that youngster Huang Yulang to bring reinforcements from the Sect. We could create some trouble for the Huang Family or even impersonate bandit cultivators to plunder them, severely injure Huang Tingyuan, and provoke his son to return home from Taiyi Mountain to check on him, then eliminate them altogether. As long as he hasn¡¯t joined Taiyi Mountain¡¯s inner sect and is just an ordinary disciple at the outer sect, killing him won¡¯t leave any issues.¡± ¡°Grandpa Ji is wise.¡± Qin Feng gave a thumbs up, silently admiring the cunning that came with age, as the old family master came up with a feasible plan in no time. The old family master stroked his beard and smiled. Although Qin Feng¡¯s praise wasn¡¯t meant as flattery, given his status now as a true disciple of the Beast Taming Sect, receiving such high praise from him still pleased the old family master quite a bit. Qin Feng was also quite satisfied, recalling how during the autumn hunt years ago when he had just entered the Realm of Qi Refinement, the Huang Family appeared a formidable enemy. But now, his cultivation had reached such a level that the Huang Family could not compare, so deciding their fate came almost in passing conversation. As daylight broke and the clan members were already emerging from their dwellingsa€¡±apart from a few who had to attend to their own matters, the others still gathered to discuss matters concerning Qin Feng and Qin Xi. Especially regarding Qin Feng, becoming a true disciple within the inner sect of the Beast Taming Sect had stirred a frenzy among them, almost wanting to announce to the world that their family had produced a true disciple. Under such circumstances, the news inevitably reached the Huang Family. ?¦Ï???.§ã¦Ï Qin Feng even suspected that the old family master might have intentionally spread this information to bait the Huang Family into making a mistake, thus providing more pretext for the Qin Family to attack them. Indeed, this tactic was quite effective; the Spiritual Vultures he had sent out to scout the entire Huang Family from high above had already seen more than one group of cultivators rushing toward the Commandery from different directions. No need to ask, from their hurried appearances, it was almost certain they were disciples sent by the Huang Family to deliver messages. Well, considering that the Huang Family¡¯s present strength wasn¡¯t as formidable as before, with only Family Head Huang Tingyuan and a Foundation Establishment Cultivation elder who had advanced as an Artifact Refiner as their significant members, the Huang Family no longer concerned him. He would let the old family master and his father handle it while he enjoyed a few days of peace at home before returning to the Sect to prepare for entering the Ten Thousand Demons Cave Heaven for cultivation. Chapter 224 - Chapter 224 Chapter 221 The Future of the Family ?Chapter 224: Chapter 221: The Future of the Family Chapter 224: Chapter 221: The Future of the Family Old Family Master Qin Guanbao had been in a particularly good mood these past few days, his face glowing with health, lively and spirited, even showing a hint of triumph in his step. Not only had he broken through the bottleneck that had plagued him for many years after refining the Breaking Barrier Pill offered by Qin Feng, becoming the only cultivator at the Foundation Establishment Late Stage among the three major families of Kun City. But also because, on the second day after Qin Xi returned to the family, she had presented a multitude of cultivation resources, among which was another Breaking Barrier Pill meant for breaking through realms. Clearly, the girl was full of filial piety, aware that her grandfather, the Family Head, had been stuck at this bottleneck for many years, so she specially spent a significant amount of Spirit Stones to purchase this pill. Yet, she had not anticipated that Qin Feng had the same intention. ?¦Ï¦Í?0.§ã0 The Old Family Master was greatly comforted by this. He believed that both children possessed sincere hearts and the filial piety to respect their elders. He highly praised their actions in giving back to the family and accepted the cultivation resources with a cheerful nod. He had placed that Breaking Barrier Pill and the majority of the cultivation resources into the family vault. The pill was saved for Qin Long, to use when he faced a bottleneck, ensuring that Qin Long could cultivate to the Foundation Establishment Late Stage at a faster pace and grow up sooner. He planned to hand over the position of Family Head to Qin Long once his cultivation realm reached the Foundation Establishment Late Stage, entrusting the safety and wellbeing of the family to him. Although the Old Family Master felt that he was still in fine fettle, especially after taking the various spirit-nurturing, kidney-strengthening elixirs offered by Qin Feng, which after personal trial, made him feel as if he had shed decades off his age. But his age, after all, was not insignificant. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í?0.§ã? At one hundred and seventy years old, he was considered elderly even within the realm of those in the Foundation Establishment Realm, his vitality mainly sustained by his cultivation. That is the strength of cultivators a€¡° as long as their lifespan has not been exhausted, they can still exert formidable power even at the brink of their end. Yet the Old Family Master felt that, having worried over the family for more than a hundred years and now advanced in age, and with a rising Qin Long ready to take over his duties, he naturally did not wish to continue living such a laborious life. Since someone could take over the reins of the family and manage all its affairs, he thought it entirely unnecessary to waste his last years on these trifles. Life is so beautiful; he wanted to spend these last two or three decades seeking pleasure and enjoyment, to ensure he left this world without regrets. Although Tieling County was quite prosperous compared to nearby cities and the flowers in Baihua Pavilion were indeed a marvelous sight, this was ultimately just a small place. Not to mention the vastness of the Southern Domain, but even within Chu Kingdom, there were many places he had yet to see. Take, for example, the capital of Chu Kingdom, reputed to be filled with beautiful women. People from Chu Kingdom knew well that the King of Chu had a penchant for slender waists. In the Royal City, also known as Spring City, countless graceful and stunning beauties could be found. It would be a pity to never see such sights in one¡¯s lifetime. Hmm, once I¡¯ve passed on the title of Family Head, I¡¯ll travel around, maybe even boast to those old fellows, and then invite them to visit the Royal City with me. After all, joy shared is joy doubled. It¡¯s nice to enjoy life alone, but having someone applauding by your side makes it all the more delightful. Now that the family¡¯s younger generation has become a True Disciple of the sect, our family¡¯s status will also rise. With Feng¡¯s cultivation still low, he¡¯s already able to contribute so much to the family a€¡° imagine what he might provide once his cultivation deepens. Perhaps he could secure an even larger and better place for the family¡¯s cultivation. Although Kun City is the ancestral business left by our forebears, it¡¯s ultimately too small and its potential too limited. If we want to develop the family further, we can¡¯t stay confined here. The family can¡¯t always rely on Feng to provide cultivation resources; that¡¯s not the Righteous Path. In the long run, it would only burden him. The only way is to secure a better Spirit Vein and the accompanying Spiritual Fields and mines, and our own descendants must rise to the challenge, knowing how to generate wealth to put the family on the right track. Although these things might not be visible in the short term, I¡¯ve already shared these principles with Qin Long and Qin Feng, father and son. We can slowly plan for the future. There¡¯s no need to rush these matters. The Old Family Master was by nature open-minded and now that he had surmounted the bottleneck that had troubled him for many years, and the family was on the brink of a flourishing era, he was naturally in high spirits. If it weren¡¯t for the fact that both Qin Feng and Qin Xi were still with the family and hadn¡¯t left, and also that Qin Long was still in the recovery phase, he would have felt the urge to go on a spree right away. In the end, however, he did not leave. He didn¡¯t even step outside the front gate of the residence, lest the Huang Family in the north of the city or the Wang Family in the west notice that he had broken through to the cultivation realm of the Foundation Establishment Late Stage. In case the two families joined forces to cause trouble, it would be detrimental to his family. He wanted to hide his cultivation level, to give his old rivals a surprise at a crucial moment. Moreover, with the progress of his cultivation, the strength of his Lifebound Spiritual Beast, the Shadow Leopard, was also increasing. Among the resources brought back by Qin Feng and Qin Xi, many were intended for cultivating his Lifebound Spiritual Beast. In fact, Qin Feng planned to cultivate the Old Family Master¡¯s Lifebound Spiritual Beast to the Core Formation Realm, potentially boosting the Old Family Master¡¯s cultivation as well. However, that required a great deal of resources, and with his current abilities, he was not yet capable of achieving such a feat, so he set this matter aside for the time being. He planned to wait until he returned from the otherworld after his cultivation realm had risen to a higher level before helping the Old Family Master with this task. By then, at the very least, he should have attained the Golden Core Realm, and if he reached the Golden Core Realm, the cultivation of his spiritual beasts wouldn¡¯t be far behind. With increased strength, the speed of acquiring resources would also be much faster. Then, assisting the Old Family Master in cultivating lifebound spiritual beasts would become much simpler. The Old Family Master was old and wise, having a wealth of experience and an insight into things, and the energy he had dedicated to the family was far beyond Qin Feng¡¯s imagination. The future development of the family could not rely solely on his father; having the Old Family Master at the helm would undoubtedly simplify many things. Three days had passed, and Qin Long had been refining a Soul Nourishing Pill every day. His spiritual state had improved considerably, and his already robust physique now brimmed with even greater power. The dark injuries that would often flare up had completely disappeared, his Divine Soul had grown stronger with the efficacy of the Soul Nourishing Pills, and one could see this from the brightness and sharpness in his eyes, which shone with vitality. This was due to the surge in his Divine Sense in a short period, and once he managed to stabilize it properly, he would be able to retract the brilliance from his eyes. One day, while chatting with the Old Family Master, Qin Feng had suggested to his father that he resign from his position as Inspector and even persuaded his cousin, Qin Yang, to step away from the affairs of the Inspection Department and return to the family to concentrate on cultivation. Those positions could be completely handed over to clan members whose potential was already depleted. Compared to the modest power of overseeing Kun City, their advancement in cultivation was of much greater importance. As long as their strength increased, neither of the other two families would dare to encroach on the Qin Family¡¯s authority. Moreover, the Huang Family had already become a thorn in the Qin Family¡¯s side. Once they relayed the news of Qin Feng¡¯s return to the clan, the fate of the Huang Family was sealed. With the Huang Family gone, how could the small Wang Family from the west of the city dare to oppose the Qin Family? Even if they had the audacity, the Fog Hidden Sect backing them wouldn¡¯t dare either. The Fog Hidden Sect was, at that moment, planning to send a large number of forces to follow the Beast Taming Sect into the otherworld to expand territories and gather resources. They couldn¡¯t afford to let a small vassal family offend a family clan of a true disciple of the Beast Taming Sect. Otherwise, if they were duped by the Beast Taming Sect in a campaign, their losses would be substantial. One idle day, Qin Feng decided to visit Qifeng Mountain behind the family estate. He had been filled with curiosity about this large mountain since he was a child, and he really wanted to know if a phoenix truly dwelled within. However, his cultivation had been too weak to venture too deep into it before, but now that he had reached the Foundation Establishment Realm, he was naturally much bolder than before. Yet now, with broader knowledge and experience, he also knew it was highly unlikely that the mountain housed a phoenix. Even if a phoenix had once stopped here, it would have only used the place as a temporary resting spot. After all, the mountain spanned only a few hundred miles, not very large, and the Spirit Vein was not strong enough to support the cultivation of such a being as a phoenix. Furthermore, it was debatable whether the phoenix species still existed in this world. During the Ancient Great Tribulation, the Phoenix Clan shifted from neutrality to eventual involvement, as they were lured by the Demon King and their powerful strength was tempted by the invading forces from other realms. They were eventually held accountable by the Human Clan, and if any members of the Phoenix Clan survived today, they would have to conceal themselves in treacherous locations, struggling to survive. Only the Dragon Clan remained aligned with the Human Clan through ties of destiny since Ancient Times, never abandoning them even during the most difficult times. Thus, after the Human Clan emerged victorious, the Dragon Clan was able to dominate the East Sea and continue to be one of the world¡¯s superpowers, with even the Beast Taming Sect not daring to subdue a True Dragon for use as its spiritual beast. Qin Feng, riding a Spiritual Vulture, ventured deep into Qifeng Mountain, but when he sensed three particularly strong demon energies within the mountain, he dared not proceed further. Those were the auras of three Demon Core Realm members of the Demon Clan. It appeared that the depths of Qifeng Mountain did harbor stronger Spirit Veins, but they were occupied by powerful Demon Beasts. This area was under the joint stewardship of the three major sects, which made the situation rather chaotic, and that¡¯s why no one bothered with the existence of these Demon Clans. But every member of the Demon Clan who achieved the Demon Core Realm possessed a certain level of intelligence. They knew the world outside the mountain belonged to the Human Clan, so unlike when they were weak, they rarely ventured out to hunt humans anymore, instead, hiding and cultivating within the mountains, seldom emerging. Should they actually bring misfortune to the human realm, despite the chaotic situation, they would be slain one by one by the powerful cultivators of the various sects. From a distance, Qin Feng steered clear of those formidable demon auras and continued to wander in other parts of the mountain. He discovered several minor Spirit Veins and more than a dozen Foundation Establishment Demon Beasts leading groups of various sizes, living within the mountain. He thought that perhaps once his cultivation was higher, he could subdue the Demon Beasts in the mountain, so that without relocating the family, he could acquire an excellent cultivation ground. Chapter 225 - Chapter 225 Chapter 222 Bloodline Curse ?Chapter 225: Chapter 222 Bloodline Curse Chapter 225: Chapter 222 Bloodline Curse Qin Feng rode on the back of the Spiritual Vulture, making several turns around Qifeng Mountain to avoid the powerful Demon Beasts, getting a rough understanding of the specific distribution of the Demon Beast forces on the mountain. He didn¡¯t attack the Foundation Establishment Demon Beasts, fearing that the noise would attract those in the Demon Core Realm. His main purpose for entering the mountain was to understand the Demon Beasts and inspect the Spirit Veins within it, and he also wanted to see if there were any other veins in the mountain. This place wasn¡¯t too far from Tieling County, and since Tieling had many veins, it was possible that there would be additional discoveries here, especially since the Huang Family had developed through the Refined Iron Vein on the periphery of Qifeng Mountain. If there were veins on the periphery, it might not be the case on the inside. However, as Qin Feng began his actual investigation, he realized his limitations. He lacked the Pupil Skill that could see through everything, and his Lifebound Spiritual Beast didn¡¯t possess such Divine Powers either. He could only focus his True Yuan in his eyes to see a bit farther, but seeing through the surface to inspect underground was impossible. Even the previous determination of many Spirit Veins in Qifeng Mountain was based on analyzing where the Demon Beasts congregated. After all, Demon Beasts instinctively sought places with richer Spiritual Energy for residence, and those able to form groups wouldn¡¯t be able to breed so many descendants without the support of a Spiritual Land. Qin Feng once thought about using Earth Escape Divine Power to go underground for an investigation, but looking at the hundreds of miles around Qifeng Mountain, he had to give up helplessly. With Divine Sense severely obstructed underground, it wasn¡¯t as simple as looking at things on the surface; he could only observe closely bit by bit. It would take no less than a month to finish inspecting Qifeng Mountain, even ignoring the consumption of energy. Taking into account the time for meditation and recovery, it would take even longer, and he couldn¡¯t possibly stay with the family that long. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï???.§ã¦Ï Shaking his head, he decided to leave it, even if there really was a discovery, the current strength of his family wouldn¡¯t be able to protect it. It might even attract others¡¯ covetousness, just like what happened in Tieling County, where a small sect initially discovered it contained a vast Spiritual Ore and eventually couldn¡¯t protect it, leading to the current situation with multiple forces occupying the area. Qin Feng felt it was better to let the family develop slowly along the previously discussed route, and anything else could wait until he returned from the Otherworld Battlefield. According to the Sect¡¯s cultivation plan for True Disciples, as long as the effects of the Dragon Transformation Pond in Ten Thousand Demons Cave Heaven were as his master had said, allowing him to cultivate the ¡°Azure Dragon Divine Technique¡± to a minor state of completion and forge the Azure Dragon Daoist Body in a short period of time, he was confident in advancing to the Golden Core stage within a few years. By then, even if he couldn¡¯t find another Spiritual Land elsewhere for his family, he could subdue the group of Demon Beasts in Qifeng Mountain and claim it for his own, using it as the foundation for his family¡¯s growth and prosperity. After making up his mind, he didn¡¯t stay longer in the mountains. His previous wandering had already attracted some attention from the Demon Beasts, and he wasn¡¯t ready to start a conflict with them, so he flew directly out of the mountain. ¡°Feng¡¯er, you should return to the Sect soon.¡± In the courtyard, Old Qin Long, seeing his son return, although he was reluctant, still advised, ¡°The Huang family members have returned, and they have definitely delivered your message to Taiyi Mountain. Perhaps the Elder from the Punishment Sword Hall has already sent someone to intercept you. It¡¯s really inappropriate for you to stay in the family now; with the family¡¯s current strength, we can¡¯t guarantee your safety. The Mountain Gate is much safer.¡± ¡°Alright.¡± Qin Feng nodded, ¡°Then I will go and bid farewell to Sister Xiaoxi and the Family Head.¡± He knew that his staying would potentially bring trouble to the family. If disciples from Taiyi Mountain directly barged into his family to confront him, it could lead to significant casualties among his clan members. Qin Long waved his hand, ¡°Go, and focus on your cultivation when you return to the mountain. Don¡¯t waste this great opportunity.¡± In his opinion, his son being a True Disciple of the Sect was the good fortune of eight lifetimes, and such an opportunity should be earnestly used for cultivation. If he could achieve the Longevity Dao in the future, then their old Qin Family would truly be considered prosperous, potentially becoming the tenth major dependent family of the Beast Taming Sect like the other nine major families. Just like the Kong Family, Ma Family, and Long Family among the nine great families, they were able to surpass other dependent families of the Sect because the old ancestors of their families were once high-ranking Sect members who had achieved Immortal Dao. Although most either perished during the Ancient Great Tribulation or died in the subsequent calamities, their bloodlines survived with the support of the Sect and still possessed very strong power. Moreover, several of the family¡¯s old ancestors were still alive, like the current old ancestor of the Long Family, one of the nine great families, who was ranked second and has been in seclusion in Ten Thousand Demons Cave Heaven for a long time. Actually, it¡¯s just that the other Supreme Elders had no plans to find Daoist Companions, otherwise the Sect would not just have nine major dependent families at the moment. In fact, in the Cultivation World, most of those who achieved Immortality were only a small part who were genuinely willing to find Daoist Companions. Procreation is for the continuation of bloodlines. But for those Immortals who have attained Dao and longevity, seeing their descendants repeatedly die generation after generation only brought them sadness; why bother leaving behind descendants to seek troubles for themselves? More so, the Cultivation World has many bizarre spells. If someone targeted them with a curse through the Bloodline Power, it would cause a lot of trouble. During the Ancient Great Tribulation, someone even developed an extremely bizarre Bloodline Curse Technique, completely cursing and killing an invading clan in Biluo Great World from top to bottom, regardless of age, sex, or Cultivation Realm. All of the clan members with that bloodline met tragic deaths. It was only because the opposite world was too distant that they couldn¡¯t extend the Curse Power across the Endless Void; otherwise, just that one Bloodline Curse Technique might have turned a powerful world into a dead land. Alas, such gifted individuals scarcely revealed themselves before they were hunted down by various clans. Yet, the terrifying tales of the Bloodline Curse continued to spread, giving those naturally detached Immortals even more reason to avoid seeking a Daoist companion. Most Immortals primarily considered their Sect as their family, and merely taking a few disciples to pass on their Daoist techniques sufficed. Compared to bloodline inheritance, they valued the transmission of their own Daoist techniques more. After all, these were the insights they had comprehended over countless years, imbued with their cultivation philosophies. It would indeed be a pity if such knowledge were lost. Qin Long felt a hint of hope for achieving the Immortal Dao only because his son had become a True Disciple of their Sect, but this was merely his personal fantasy and he held no real expectations. After all, becoming an Immortal was exceedingly difficult. Just in the Southern Domain alone, innumerable cultivators sought the Way of Longevity, but countless of them fell along this arduous path each year. To reach the end, to overcome the greatest barrier, and to break free from the shackles of life was incredibly challenging. ??¦Í?0.§ã¦Ï Qin Feng, on the other hand, did not ponder as far as his father. Currently uninterested in those trivial matters, he got up to find Qin Xi and inform her they were preparing to leave. After several years of cultivation at the Mountain Gate, Qin Xi¡¯s temperament had become rather straightforward. Although she had only returned to her family a few days ago and was reluctant to leave so soon, upon seeing that her parents and siblings were doing very well, she resolved her feelings and bid her parents farewell. Under her mother¡¯s reluctant gaze, she turned to leave with Qin Feng, heading out to bid the Old Clan Chief farewell. ¡°Go, go.¡± In the ancestral residence of the Qin Family, within the courtyard of the Clan Leader, Qin Guanbao smiled and said, ¡°You both caring for the family is already commendable. Hurry back to the mountains to cultivate. Being at home, there will always be people seeking you out, which truly hinders your cultivation.¡± They both nodded, bowed deeply, and said, ¡°Then we¡¯re leaving now, Granduncle, please take care.¡± ¡°What¡¯s there to take care of? This old man is still in good health.¡± Qin Guanbao waved his hand cheerily: ¡°After you go back, cultivate diligently. Our Qin Clan has finally seen the emergence of two geniuses. Whether our clan can grow and strengthen in the future may well rest on you two. Miss Xi, I see that your Lifebound Water Spirit has likely reached the Foundation Establishment by now, which is excellent. Among the Outer Sect¡¯s hundred and eight peaks, Creation Peak is the most diligent in training disciples. Many wish to enter but never get the chance. Your opportunity to join Creation Peak is truly a grand stroke of luck. Your cultivation is of the Water Element, remember not to be impetuous in your practice. There¡¯s no need to grow anxious just because Little Feng has entered the Inner Sect. You are still young. There¡¯s still a chance for you to enter the Inner Sect in the next few years if you can reach Foundation Establishment. Do not rush and cause mistakes.¡± He had a sharp eye and easily discerned Qin Xi¡¯s current state, so he offered a few words of guidance. Qin Xi nodded: ¡°Thank you, Grandfather, for your guidance. Rest assured, I am aware.¡± ¡°That¡¯s good.¡± The Old Family Master smiled: ¡°Go ahead, don¡¯t bother with a tearful farewell scene with this old man. I¡¯m used to such spectacles and no longer feel anything.¡± They both chuckled lightly, bowed again, and then summoned their riding tools and soared into the sky. In the northern part of Kun City, the Huang Family. The Family Head, Huang Tingyuan, watched the two Spiritual Birds carrying Qin Feng and Qin Xi quickly vanishing into the sky, frowning deeply, silent for a long while. Not until the figures of the two birds disappeared in the distant sky did Huang Tingyuan turn to the seated Great Elder: ¡°Those two young members of the Qin Family have left.¡± ¡°Mm.¡± The Great Elder nodded, ¡°I saw.¡± ¡°Uncle, what do you think Elder Jiang from the Punishment Sword Hall really intends?¡± Huang Tingyuan¡¯s face was full of confusion: ¡°Even though we had already informed him about that Qin Feng boy, he still hasn¡¯t sent anyone. Does he really not seek vengeance for killing his daughter?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t know.¡± The Great Elder shook his head: ¡°Perhaps Elder Jiang has other plans, we shouldn¡¯t meddle. The mind of someone at that realm is not something we can comprehend; you should stop thinking about it.¡± Huang Tingyuan sighed helplessly: ¡°It just bothers me that the Qin Family has produced such a genius. If we don¡¯t take action to eliminate him now while he¡¯s still not fully grown, eventually our Huang Family will have no standing in Kun City.¡± ¡°Even if he has not fully grown, he¡¯s not someone our Huang Family can deal with.¡± The Great Elder shook his head: ¡°We¡¯re just a minor family, if Beast Taming Sect learns we plotted against their True Disciple, they could easily annihilate our Huang Family. Taiyi Mountain wouldn¡¯t start a war with Beast Taming Sect for our sake.¡± ¡°But we can¡¯t just watch, can we? If we don¡¯t utilize Elder Jiang from the Punishment Sword Hall to eliminate that boy, we¡¯ll never have the slightest chance of retaliation later.¡± Huang Tingyuan¡¯s face was filled with gloom: ¡°Perhaps within twenty or thirty years, the power of the Qin Family will have greatly increased. By then, we might have to abandon our ancestral lands and relocate our people elsewhere.¡± Chapter 226 - Chapter 226 Chapter 223 Qin Xi Enlightenment, Xuanling Advances ?Chapter 226: Chapter 223 Qin Xi Enlightenment, Xuanling Advances Chapter 226: Chapter 223 Qin Xi Enlightenment, Xuanling Advances Huang Tingyuan had no idea that the Sword Immortals of Taiyi Mountain Golden Light Cave had already issued an order, forbidding their Mountain Gate disciples from seeking trouble with the Beast Taming Sect at this time. Jiang Dongliu and Jiang Yinghong, the brother and sister pair, did not dare to defy the commands of the Supreme Elders. Otherwise, killing the True Disciples of the Beast Taming Sect at this critical juncture would definitely spark a war between the two Sects. At this moment, the Beast Taming Sect had many allies, and many forces had even sent their people to the Sect in advance. They contributed manpower, effort, and resources, assisting the Gui Ling Ancestor and others in refining the Heavenly Pool Cave Heaven, in preparation for the impending punitive war. Although the Sword Immortals of Taiyi Mountain were formidable in combat, they did not dare to face so many opponents at once. Otherwise, if they truly ended up besieged by the Beast Taming Sect and its myriad allies at Taiyi Mountain¡¯s gates, it would not only be a huge blow to their pride but also result in countless losses in terms of other resources. Thus, Huang Tingyuan¡¯s plan to rely on Jiang Dongliu to assassinate Qin Feng fell through. Therefore, Qin Feng and Qin Xi¡¯s journey back to their Sect was peaceful and without any risks, and there were no Taiyi Mountain disciples who came to attack them. The two had already arranged a time with the Tower Ship they had taken on their journey. During the few days they spent with their family, the Ten Thousand Demons Pavilion¡¯s Tower Ship toured throughout all the territories within Chu Kingdom. On its return journey, it conveniently took them along back to the Sect. Several days later, the group returned to the Mountain Gate and disembarked from the Tower Ship outside of Azure Dragon Square. The Tower Ship of Ten Thousand Demons Pavilion still had to go back to its headquarters to balance accounts, after which it would transport these supplies to the designated location. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í?¦Ï.§ã? Once the Void War Fortress was fully refined, these materials would be delivered to the Heavenly Pool Cave Heaven¡¯s warehouse to serve as reserves, ready for use in case a war broke out in the Otherworld. ¡°Sister Xiaoxi, I¡¯m heading back to the Inner Sect first.¡± Qin Feng bade farewell to Qin Xi, preparing to leave. ¡°Okay.¡± Qin Xi nodded. ¡°You go ahead, I need to return to Creation Peak as well.¡± ¡°Then I¡¯m off.¡± Qin Feng gave a pat on the back of the Spiritual Vulture, which flapped its wings vigorously, stirring a wild wind and swiftly flying toward the Inner Sect. ¡°Sigh!¡± Watching Qin Feng¡¯s figure gradually disappear into the distance, Qin Xi let out a soft sigh. Her disposition was gentle on the outside but firm on the inside, with a bit of stubbornness. She and Qin Feng had joined the Sect together. Now, as she saw Qin Feng¡¯s cultivation grow stronger and the gap between them widen, she did not feel jealous, but she did feel somewhat disappointed. Once Qin Feng¡¯s figure was no longer in sight, she stood silently for a while before shaking her head with a self-mocking laugh. She remembered the advice her grandfather, the Clan Leader, had given her when she left home. She felt it made sense; she practiced the Water Element Cultivation Technique, so she should not be too impatient, as it would not benefit her practice. No matter how high Qin Feng¡¯s cultivation was, he was still her cousin from the same clan. There was no need to compare herself with him, as there were many people in the world with greater talent. If she compared herself to everyone else, she might only invite more disappointment. Everyone had their own cultivation path. If she could not compare to those geniuses, why bother comparing at all? Water benefits all things without contention; it is precisely because of its non-contentious nature that it can be the maritime destination of all streams, bringing all tributaries together to form an endless ocean. If the Longevity Dao were seen as a vast river, then she was merely a small droplet of water, a droplet that had just fallen from the clouds in the sky into the river. As long as she could merge into the river, she could follow the current and move forward without rushing to stir up towering waves. A mere droplet could not raise such tidal waves. Only by merging with the water, taking in more droplets, and turning the water into a stream under her control, could she gradually grow stronger. Eventually, her footsteps would traverse every corner of the river. Once all the river water had come under her control, she could transform into the river itself, flowing toward the endless ocean, achieving her Longevity Dao. ?0¦Í?0.§ã¦Ï Qin Xi¡¯s eyes became misty, and her snowy-white hand subconsciously moved through the air a couple of times, generating a faint presence of water energy around her. Invisibly, her control over the Water Element Spirit Energy was strengthening. After a while, Qin Xi came back to her senses from her reverie. Looking at the clump of water energy that had gathered and thickened near her, gradually forming crystal-clear droplets, a soft smile appeared on her lips. With a beckoning gesture, all the droplets fell into her palm, converging into a fist-sized stream. As the stream swirled in her palm, drawing in the nearby Water Spirit Energy, it grew larger and larger, and in just a few moments, it expanded to about three feet in diameter. As she pushed her palm upward, the swirling stream of water shot up more than a dozen feet above her head and exploded with a loud bang, turning into a vast mist that enveloped an area of a hundred feet around her. Under her control, the mist then took on various forms, now raining droplets, now hiding slivers of ice, and even drifting snowflakes scattering around. This was her manipulation of water in several of its forms, an attempt to upgrade her Water Spirit. She had purchased many Water Element Spiritual Items for her Water Spirit, including treasures with yin, cold attributes. After refining those, her Water Spirit had also gained the ability to control Cold Ice. Of course, it was still at an initial level of control and nothing too impressive. It also demonstrated that these natural Creation Living Beings had high potential. Provided they had the appropriate Spiritual Items, they could gain more powers and abilities. Naturally, these needed to be Spiritual Items of the same attribute. ¡°Let¡¯s go.¡± After testing her Technique, Qin Xi did not linger. She gently stroked the head of the Long-Tailed Phoenix Sparrow, which, sensing its master¡¯s intention, flapped its wings and flew toward Creation Peak. Her epiphany had deepened her understanding of Water Element Techniques. Not only was this insight greatly beneficial for cultivation, it also enhanced her affinity with the water. She could now clearly feel the Water Spirit Energy circulating around her, and at her will, she could summon this energy to morph into various shapes and spells. With this insight, Qin Xi felt that she had gained a deeper understanding of the direction of her future cultivation. Plus, every time she cultivated, the Foundation Establishment Water Spirit would feed her a substantial amount of pure Water Spirit Energy, which made her confident that she would be able to advance to the Foundation Establishment level within a few months. ¡­¡­ Heavenly Snake Ridge. Ning Wuxu was sitting in his serene courtyard, with a cup of clear tea in front of him and a Dao Scripture in his hands. He exhibited an air of casual grace and peacefulness. The greenery around the courtyard and the vibrant verdure of the bamboo forest behind the house conveyed a burgeoning sense of life. Hao Shicheng stood not far away, pacing back and forth restlessly, occasionally glancing towards the nearby woods. ¡°Master, your disciple has returned.¡± Qin Feng, after landing his Spiritual Vulture outside the courtyard and stowing it away, stepped in and bowed to Ning Wuxu. ¡°Hmm, not bad, you didn¡¯t take too long.¡± Ning Wuxu nodded with a smile. Qin Feng then greeted Hao Shicheng with a fist-and-palm salute, ¡°I¡¯ve seen Second Senior Brother.¡± ¡°Junior Brother needn¡¯t be so formal.¡± Upon seeing Qin Feng, Hao Shicheng¡¯s expression lightened a bit, his lips twitching into a slight smile. However, his face soon showed a tinge of worry as he looked into the distance. Following his gaze, Qin Feng looked in that direction but saw nothing unusual. He wondered, could it be that Second Senior Brother had made some mistake, and they were waiting for Eldest Senior Brother to come back and plead on his behalf? But with Second Senior Brother¡¯s temperament, it didn¡¯t seem likely that he would dare to anger the master. Besides, given the magnanimity of the master, as long as no serious sect rules were violated, he usually didn¡¯t take such issues to heart. ¡°Master, what¡¯s wrong with Second Senior Brother?¡± Unable to contain his curiosity, Qin Feng quietly asked Ning Wuxu. ¡°Oh, it¡¯s nothing,¡± Ning Wuxu spoke indifferently, ¡°It¡¯s just that your Senior Sister Liu is about to breakthrough her Cultivation and shatter the shackles of the Golden Core to form the Purple Mansion Nascent Soul. There have been fluctuations since several hours ago, but they have yet to cease, which has Hao Shicheng a bit concerned for her safety.¡± ¡°Senior Sister Liu is about to advance to Purple Mansion?¡± Qin Feng looked again in the direction of Hao Shicheng¡¯s gaze, even extending his Divine Sense there and finally barely perceiving some anomalies. He admired how his master spoke so nonchalantly about such significant matters, ¡°To speak of such a momentous occasion with such detachment, I am truly in awe of you, Master.¡± A Purple Mansion, if successfully achieved, would grant Liu Xuanling the qualification to become an Inner Sect Elder. And of Master¡¯s four disciples, half would be Purple Mansion Cultivatorsa€¡±this was indeed something to be proud of. What¡¯s more, Liu Xuanling¡¯s cultivation pathway was entirely different from that of Ning Wuxu. Her Cultivation Technique integrated the methods of Guanghan Palace, an Ancient Great Sect, creating a unique style that offered Ning Wuxu substantial reference for his own path, benefiting his future progress. Ning Wuxu, his spirit mostly attuned to the unique fluctuations emitted by Liu Xuanling¡¯s advancement, heard his junior disciple flattering him and smiled faintly, taking a gentle sip of his tea and said with indifference, ¡°It¡¯s merely an advancement to Purple Mansion, nothing to fuss over.¡± Qin Feng¡¯s lips twitched, and eventually, he couldn¡¯t hold back, ¡°Master, you¡¯re holding the Dao Scripture upside down.¡± ¡°Pffta€|¡± In an instant, Ning Wuxu¡¯s focus snapped back from afar, and he awkwardly wiped at the tea he had spilled on the Dao Scripture, quickly flipping it right side up. ¡°Well¡­ your teacher has indeed been a bit worried about your Senior Sister Liu. Typically, a cultivator¡¯s breakthrough doesn¡¯t take this long.¡± He felt somewhat embarrassed. Having concentrated on Liu Xuanling¡¯s progress, he hadn¡¯t expected such an oversight. The composed fa?¡ìade he had maintained evaporated in an instant. ¡°Master is indeed benevolent and deeply caring for his disciples. Fearing a mishap during Senior Sister Liu¡¯s breakthrough, you are here guarding in person. Your disciple admires you greatly,¡± Said Qin Feng, maintaining a straight face as he bowed, careful not to show any sign of amusement, lest his master notice something and settle the score with him later. Chapter 227 - Chapter 227 Chapter 224 Heavenly Snake Swallowing the Moon Taiyin Refining God ?Chapter 227: Chapter 224 Heavenly Snake Swallowing the Moon Taiyin Refining God Chapter 227: Chapter 224 Heavenly Snake Swallowing the Moon Taiyin Refining God ¡°Ah, haha¡­ this is what a master should do.¡± Ning Wuxu, seeing his disciple so understanding, quickly took the opportunity to back down the slope, clearing his throat lightly, and his face regained its usual indifference as if nothing had happened before. He said, ¡°Your senior sister is proud by nature, and after such a long time, she still hasn¡¯t completed her advancement. I, as a master, am also worried that she might encounter trouble, so I have been focusing all my spirit on her.¡± ¡°Having a master like you is a fortune for us disciples.¡± Qin Feng flattered profusely, trying to make his master forget the recent incident. Otherwise, with the master¡¯s methods, there were probably a thousand ways to make oneself do something humiliating in the future. Under his barrage of flattery, Ning Wuxu intentionally or unintentionally forgot the previous awkward moment, his face showing a faint smile, seemingly very pleased with his little disciple¡¯s flattering words. In a piece of exquisite architecture concealed by an array, Liu Xuanling sat cross-legged on a cushion, eyes tightly closed, her beautiful face solemn. Around her, massive amounts of nature¡¯s spiritual energy congregated, turning the area where she was into a vortex composed of spiritual energy. She absorbed spiritual energy at a rapid pace; every pore on her body breathed in spiritual energy, her meridians circulated, acupoints fully opened, constantly purifying and refining the spiritual energy into her own True Yuan. In her Dantian, a fist-sized Golden Core rotated continuously, absorbing those transformed True Yuan. As it absorbed, the Golden Core became increasingly radiant, subtly expanding in size, with mysterious and profound patterns emerging on it, much like ancient scriptures passed down from ancient times, filled with endless mystique. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ??¦Í??.§ã¦Ï Above the Golden Core, an Ice Soul Divine Pearl floated, resonating with her Golden Core from a distance. This Ice Soul Divine Pearl was a miraculous treasure she had obtained in her early years upon entering the secret realm of the Ancient Great Sect¡¯s Guanghan Palace. It was a Taiyin treasure of innate spiritual nature, which she had refined as her Lifebound Magical Treasure. Hence, it could resonate with the aura of her Golden Core. Cultivators of the Beast Taming Sect were not prohibited from owning Lifebound Magical Treasures, but for most disciples, just maintaining a Lifebound Spiritual Beast already consumed the vast majority of their energy and resources. Adding a Lifebound Magical Treasure would be too burdensome. Therefore, many disciples, even upon reaching the Golden Core Realm, would not refine a Lifebound Magical Treasure. Besides, with the assistance of their Lifebound Spiritual Beast and various other spiritual beasts in battle, whether or not they had a Lifebound Magical Treasure did not make a significant difference to most disciples. Thus, the treasure was not essential; if someone felt they had the energy to refine one, they would proceed with the refinement, which could also enhance their war power to some extent. Moreover, the refinement of a Lifebound Magical Treasure need not necessarily wait until the Golden Core Realm; doing so from the Golden Core Realm allowed it to grow alongside one¡¯s own Realm as one progressed, thus enhancing the Magical Treasure¡¯s power a bit more. Hence, many Beast Taming Sect disciples felt that if they had the opportunity to advance to the Dharma Image Realm, it was not too late to refine then. After reaching the Dharma Image Realm, with their Lifebound Spiritual Beast merging with their Dharma Image, they wouldn¡¯t need to expend such additional effort. However, there were some exceptions, like Liu Xuanling, who by chance acquired the precious Ice Soul Divine Pearl, aligning with her Cultivation path, and therefore refined it as her Lifebound Magical Treasure. There were also the True Disciples of the White Tiger Lineage; their primary focus was on killing, and the inherited ¡°White Tiger Divine Technique¡± contained a method for refining the White Tiger Saber. Once refined, their war power would increase by thirty percent, so each generation of True Disciples of the White Tiger Lineage would refine a White Tiger Saber as their Lifebound Magical Treasure upon advancing to the Golden Core. At this moment, mysterious Principle Fluctuations rippled around Liu Xuanling. She had closed herself off for nearly a year, honing her Cultivation Realm to perfection before consuming the Heavenly Connecting Lotus. Then, she spent forty-nine days refining it, integrating the Dao Rhythm of the Lotus into her Golden Core, preparing to break through her current limits and ascend to the Purple Mansion Realm. Yet her ambitions were somewhat grand; unlike others during advancement, she intended to take this opportunity to fuse her Cultivation Techniques, achieving a unique Cultivation path of her own. As Principle Fluctuations began to emanate from her, Ning Wuxu sensed her transformation and thus sat there as her protector. But no matter how long he waited, Liu Xuanling¡¯s breakthrough never concluded, which made him somewhat restless. Liu Xuanling was his only female disciple, taken under his wing from a very young age. Having cared for her since childhood as if she were his own daughter, he naturally became worried when she showed no signs of completing her breakthrough. ?¦Ï¦Í?¦Ï.§ã? However, his Dao Cultivation was profound. After careful sensing, he realized that Liu Xuanling¡¯s inability to break through directly was not because she couldn¡¯t but because she was using the opportunity of a breakthrough, a time when the spirit comprehends the Heavenly Dao, to meld her Cultivation Techniques. Her fundamental Cultivation Technique was the ¡°Heavenly Snake Swallowing the Moon Technique,¡± a direct inheritance of the Spiritual Snake Lineage. Later, by chance, she acquired the ¡°Taiyin Refining God Technique¡± from Guanghan Palace. Although these two Techniques were similar in power, with many commonalities, they were still different inheritances. Practicing both would inevitably lead to some mutual resistance. Thus, she intended to completely integrate these two Techniques into one unique Cultivation Method of her own. Should she succeed, it would be as if she forged her own path based on the ¡°Heavenly Snake Swallowing the Moon Technique.¡± As long as no unexpected complications arose, even if she only reached the level Ning Wuxu had, her chances of Proving the Dao would be much stronger than his. This was the advantage of breaking free from the constraints of predecessors at an early stage. Of course, if Liu Xuanling hadn¡¯t acquired the Taiyin Inheritance, she wouldn¡¯t have been able to embark on this path so soon. Other cultivators, even if they wanted to break free from the shackles set by their predecessors, would only gradually comprehend their own understanding after reaching the Purple Mansion Dharma Image. Currently, Liu Xuanling¡¯s spirit wandered in the Void, perceiving the Heavenly Dao. In her Divine Sense, a thousand-foot serpent coiled around a bright Cold Moon, swirling and dancing, agile as a dragon, slithering along. Time and again, the serpent attempted to swallow the Cold Moon, but a barrier between them prevented the serpent from succeeding. The Cold Moon emitted a cold moonlight, illuminating the serpent. Each of its scales absorbed the moonlight, and their aura drew ever closer. Once their essence fully merged, the serpent and moon could become one. Liu Xuanling couldn¡¯t possibly maintain this state indefinitely. She was, after all, in the midst of a breakthrough, and immersing her spirit in the Heavenly Dao required the consumption of vast amounts of Divine Sense energy. Ordinary cultivators wouldn¡¯t perceive the Dao for long at this stage, quickly awakening as their realm advanced. For her to forcefully maintain this state was very dangerous. Should it be prolonged excessively, once she could no longer hold on, it was highly likely that backlash would occur, damaging her Dao Cultivation. This was also why many cultivators below the Purple Mansion Realm rarely contemplated their own patha€¡±it was too risky. However, what set Liu Xuanling apart was that she had refined a Heavenly Connecting Lotus. It was precisely the Dao Rhythm contained within this special lotus that allowed her to persist until now. She sensed her spirit was greatly depleted. Even with the aid of the Heavenly Dao perception to forcibly integrate the two Cultivation Technique Inheritances that led directly to the Immortal Dao, it was extremely difficult. There remained a slight gap between the Heavenly Snake and the Cold Moon, yet Liu Xuanling was neither hasty nor restless. She remained exceptionally calm, continuously searching for the most harmonious point between the two. Finally, as the Cold Moon grew increasingly bright, illuminating the void with its clear light, the Heavenly Snake too at last reached the moon¡¯s proximity, opened its gaping maw, and swallowed the Cold Moon. With a thunderous roar, the Golden Core shattered, and a three-inch tall figure flew out, features like a painting, the spitting image of Liu Xuanling. However, atop this tiny Nascent Soul coiled a slender Spiritual Snake. The Spiritual Snake opened its mouth, and a small moon floated above its head. The little figure opened its eyes, its form swift as lightning, surging straight to the heavens, taking seat in the Purple Mansion. At this moment, her Sea of Consciousness within the Purple Mansion was rapidly expanding, over ten times larger than before. The Nascent Soul was imbued with immense Dao Rhythm; even outside her body, the Dao Rhythm spread out, drawing in more Spiritual Energy to aid her Cultivation, making the aura around her so dense it almost turned to Spiritual Fog. ¡°Good!¡± Ning Wuxu sensed his disciple¡¯s successful advancement and couldn¡¯t help but praise. ¡°Did she succeed?!¡± Hao Shicheng also breathed a sigh of relief. He knew that Liu Xuanling¡¯s breakthrough was fraught with dangers and that the slightest mishap could lead to death and the dissolution of her Dao. Had it not been for the Heavenly Connecting Lotus brought back by their master, he would have suggested interrupting his junior sister¡¯s advancement long ago. ¡°Xuanling, this lass, has gained many benefits from her promotion this time.¡± Ning Wuxu stroked his beard and smiled, quite satisfied with his disciple¡¯s advancement. Seeing Qin Feng¡¯s confused expression, knowing his Cultivation was too low to sense anything, he said with a chuckle, ¡°Your Senior Sister, having refined the Heavenly Connecting Lotus in advance, already possessed quite a bit of the Dao Principle Power before her advancement. During the advancement, she forcibly prolonged the time of her enlightenment in the Heavenly Dao, seizing the opportunity to merge her own Cultivation Techniques, forging her unique path. Moreover, because she perceived the Heavenly Dao for such an extended period, the Dao Principles she comprehended are far stronger than those of ordinary Purple Mansion Cultivators, and her foundation is much more solid.¡± At this point, he couldn¡¯t help shaking his head, sighing, ¡°This lass is much stronger than I was back then, having forged her own path so early. Her potential exceeds mine.¡± ¡°Master must not say so.¡± Qin Feng hastily said, ¡°Senior Sister Liu¡¯s accomplishments are also due to your guidance. Without Master¡¯s rightful teaching, how could Senior Sister have such Creation? So, in this disciple¡¯s view, most of the credit still goes to Master.¡± Ning Wuxu glanced at him. Although the flattery was a bit overt, it still sounded pleasant to him. Indeed, if not for my careful teaching as a master, how could my disciples achieve so much? In guiding disciples, he was quite confident, for he had taken many detours in his early years. Therefore, when teaching his disciples, he started with instructing them on how to perceive their exclusive elements from their Cultivation Techniques. While this approach might slow their cultivation speed initially compared to others, the benefits they would reap later were far greater than those of other cultivators. Of course, such a method of Cultivation was not suitable for everyone; after all, very few could reach his level of achievement. For the vast majority of disciples, it was satisfactory to practice step by step, to have a lifespan of several thousand years, and possess strong War Power. Moreover, the Sect couldn¡¯t possibly allow all disciples to cultivate as he taught. Otherwise, it would be inappropriate for the Sect to slow down the cultivation progress of those disciples whose talents were mediocre and had no hope of proving the Dao. In the long run, it would lower the overall War Power of the Sect. Just like his second disciple, Hao Shicheng, that was the case. Because he used his own unique concepts in cultivation and yet couldn¡¯t break through the barriers, he had been stuck at the peak of the Golden Core and hadn¡¯t advanced a step further in years. Unless he had a Sudden Enlightenment one day, he might remain in the Golden Core Peak Realm for life. Of course, if he could truly understand his unique Dao without relying on external objects and advance, his Dao Cultivation would also grow rapidly. Unfortunately, he had already placed much of his focus on external objects, but this was also his nature, so Ning Wuxu didn¡¯t interfere too much. Chapter 228 - Chapter 228 Chapter 225 I Shall Take You as My Chief Disciple ?Chapter 228: Chapter 225: I Shall Take You as My Chief Disciple Chapter 228: Chapter 225: I Shall Take You as My Chief Disciple Liu Xuanling¡¯s advancement to the Purple Mansion caught the attention of many higher-ups within the Sect. It wasn¡¯t that the commotion she caused upon breaking through was too significant; in reality, the noise from someone Advancing to the Purple Mansion was not enough to draw everyone¡¯s gaze. The Beast Taming Sect¡¯s Mountain Gate covered a vast expanse of nearly ten thousand miles, so even Crossing Tribulation to Become an Immortal would not affect such an immense region. The reason why she drew so much attention was mainly because it took an unusual amount of time during her breakthrough, with the Power of Laws continuously emanating outwards. It was impossible not to catch the attention of the Sect¡¯s higher echelons. Especially since many Supreme Elders were outside refining the Heavenly Pool Cave Heaven, they naturally sensed Liu Xuanling¡¯s advancement with their abilities. Several Supreme Elders sensed for a moment and nodded in satisfaction. One of the elders, with white hair and beard, asked, ¡°That young girl is breaking through at the Heavenly Snake Ridge, looks like she¡¯s a disciple of Ning Wuxu?¡± ¡°Indeed.¡± A woman with a light veil covering her face, revealing only her abyss-like eyes, nodded and said, ¡°Several years ago, when Ning Wuxu brought that child to the Ten Thousand Demons Cave for Cultivation, I met her once. Unexpectedly, she has managed to reach this step and is quite a bit stronger than that lad Ning Wuxu.¡± Gui Ling Ancestor also turned to look, and in an instant, his eyes became even deeper than the woman¡¯s, piercing through all obstacles and directly observing the changes in Liu Xuanling¡¯s aura. He said, ¡°I see there are extremely Yin and extremely cold fluctuations in her, which are somewhat different from the ¡®Heavenly Snake Swallowing the Moon Technique¡¯ during a breakthrough in Realm. Did she also cultivate a Taiyin Technique?¡± Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï???.?¦Ï She also refined an Ice Soul Divine Pearl. Her advancement this time must involve integrating the ¡®Heavenly Snake Swallowing the Moon Technique¡¯ with the Technique inherited from Guanghan Palace, otherwise her Power of Laws would not be so strong just after entering the Purple Mansion.¡± ¡°I see.¡± Gui Ling Ancestor chuckled lightly, ¡°Guanghan Palace was an Ancient Great Sect, whose prestige far surpassed our Beast Taming Sect back in the day. Had it not been for a joint attack from several Divine Kings and Demon Kings of the Heavenly God and Heavenly Demon Realms that breached their Mountain Gate, they would definitely still be a top force dominating the Southern Domain. This young girl¡¯s acquisition of Guanghan Palace¡¯s inheritance is indeed fortunate. Hmm, looking at the fluctuations of her aura after Advancing to the Purple Mansion, it seems she has a bit more potential than the True Disciples of the Spiritual Snake Lineage from the previous generations.¡± ¡°The Ancestor Martial Uncle speaks the truth.¡± That woman was also a Supreme Elder of the Spiritual Snake Lineage, named Illusion Heart; she was the creator of one of the nine true inheritances of the Spiritual Snake Lineage, the ¡®Spiritual Snake Illusion Heart Technique¡¯. However, as an entity that survived from the end of the Ancient Great Tribulation, Gui Ling Ancestor¡¯s generation was much higher, hence why these Supreme Elders usually address him as Ancestor Martial Uncle. Being the creator of her own Cultivation Method and having Proven her Immortal Dao, Illusion Heart certainly had the qualifications to evaluate the descendants of the Spiritual Snake Lineage. She said, ¡°Although the True Disciples of the past generations had decent Cultivation progress, they were too strict in following the paths of their predecessors when Cultivating. They buried their heads in arduous practice but were unable to comprehend anything unique for their own Cultivation. Even Ning Wuxu was no different from the other True Disciples. It¡¯s a pity that both Elder Long and I were in seclusion Cultivating and did not pay attention to the disciples within the Sect; otherwise, we wouldn¡¯t have let him turn out that way.¡± Gui Ling Ancestor nodded and sighed, ¡°It¡¯s really a pity for Ning Wuxu. His master was just an ordinary Elder of the Inner Sect and didn¡¯t instruct him well. Otherwise, with his talent, if he could have comprehended the true essence of cultivation early on and embarked on the path of Enlightenment, perhaps our Beast Taming Sect might have had another True Immortal. Still, he¡¯s quite astute and has come to his senses. This time, he took the initiative to follow the expeditionary army to campaign against the Otherworld, apparently hoping to learn from the cultivation methods of other clans and gain some insight.¡± Illusion Heart smiled softly, ¡°After all, he is still young and has time to slowly correct himself, to see more of the world, and he may yet prove Dao in the future.¡± ¡°That¡¯s also why we are bringing so many Elders with good understanding to battle this time.¡± Gui Ling Ancestor continued, ¡°Now, our Biluo Great World has reached a point where change is inevitable, not just for revenge, but even if we merely wish to restore the glory of Ancient Times, changes must be made. The endless conflicts among the Ten Thousand Worlds of the universe are a perennial case of the survival of the fittest. The ancestors¡¯ idea of defending one realm was not wrong, considering our Great World has evolved not long ago and is full of countless natural treasures that can create many enlightened beings. But secluding ourselves and not venturing out can easily make us appear weak and vulnerable to others, which is why so many strong beings from Otherworlds have invaded, all hoping to share in the spoils of our emerging world. After surviving the Ancient Great Tribulation, the remaining ancestors clearly recognized the problems and opened the barriers to our sealed world after regaining some of their Primordial Qi. Yet before we could even make contact with the powerhouses of this Star Domain, beings from other worlds had already infiltrated, and many Divine Demons even dared to openly gather followers and harvest their faith, treating our Human Clan as a source of their strength. For this reason, the old ancestors quickly unified the front and agreed to conquer Otherworlds to replenish our foundation. In the future, we will try to bring as many disciples with potential to the battles as possible, letting those with depleted potential stay behind to guard the Mountain Gate, as this is the only way to enable people like Ning Wuxu to possibly achieve a breakthrough in the shortest amount of time.¡± ¡°Ancestor Martial Uncle speaks the truth.¡± The other Supreme Elders nodded in agreement. These beings were long-lived Immortals, accustomed to the cycle of life and death, witnessing generations of Disciples come and go. But as long as they hadn¡¯t proved Dao, they would eventually meet their demise. In face of such harsh realities, they had long cultivated hearts as steadfast as iron and were indifferent to how many Disciples might die or be injured in the campaign against the Otherworld. As long as they could sift through to find true geniuses and cultivate more disciples capable of proving Dao, it was worth it. Otherwise, if they didn¡¯t campaign against other worlds, they would sooner or later be attacked by them, resulting in even more deaths. Naturally, the discussion among the few Supreme Elders was unknown to outsiders. The high-level Dao Cultivators from the Inner Sect¡¯s various peaks also merely remarked on Liu Xuanling¡¯s tremendous potential and then no longer paid attention to the matter. As the battle against the Otherworld was imminent, most of the Elders had their own affairs to attend to ¨C some were rushing to impart knowledge to their Disciples to enhance their strength as much as possible, some were practicing Joint Attack Skills with their Disciples, or various War Formations. Although the Spiritual Beasts tamed by the Beast Taming Sect¡¯s Disciples varied, Disciples of the same lineage still shared some similarities. For instance, the Disciples of the Spiritual Snake Lineage were practicing the Ten Thousand Snakes Formation, the Disciples of the White Tiger Lineage gathered many whose Lifebound Spiritual Beasts were Spiritual Tigers to practice the White Tiger Formation, and those with Lifebound Spiritual Beasts like various Barbaric Elephants, White Elephants, Spiritual Elephants, Long-Haired Elephants, Six-Toothed Giant Elephants, and Mammoths were practicing the Myriad Formation. Of course, there couldn¡¯t possibly be that many Inner Sect disciples, nor could they muster such a number. This represented the sum of Outer Disciples as well, led by Golden Core disciples, with Foundation Establishment disciples as the backbone and Qi Refining disciples as soldiers, all training together as a result. Other lineages and the peaks of the Outer Sect were bustling with activity, gathering all disciples prepared for battle to train in various war formations. The scenes were grand and the momentum frightening. Within the Mountain Gate of the Beast Taming Sect, one could often witness sights of galloping horses, birds paying homage to the phoenix, the howling of the Sky Wolf baying at the moon, and the roars of myriad beasts. Only a Great Elder like Ning Wuxu could afford such leisure, merely needing to give orders for other elders to ensure that all was done well. In the courtyard, Ning Wuxu glanced at the spiritual tide that had calmed in the distance and the slowly retracting power of laws. He knew that his disciple must have made a breakthrough in her realm and would soon be emerging from seclusion. Feeling that he, as an elder, should show the dignity of an elder, he thought it unseemly to wait outside for her. It would be better to return to his room and wait for his disciple to come and pay respects upon leaving her seclusion. Otherwise, with Junior Sister Liu¡¯s temperament, she might become conceited upon seeing him waiting for her, so he decided to find an excuse to leave. He stood up indifferently, ¡°Well, there¡¯s nothing to see here. You all stay behind and wait for that girl to come out of her seclusion. I have been planning to concoct a batch of Spirit Pills recently and need to go organize some Spiritual Medicine.¡± Saying so, he turned and walked toward his room. ¡°Eh, Alchemy?¡± Hao Shicheng¡¯s interest was immediately piqued, and he hurriedly chimed in, ¡°Master, what Spirit Pills are you planning to concoct? I can assist you¡­¡± ¡°No need.¡± Ning Wuxu directly refused. ¡°Oh, come on, Master. Although I¡¯m not as good as big brother and Junior Sister Liu in cultivation, I do have some talent for alchemy. When it comes to alchemy on Heavenly Snake Ridge, if I claim to be the second best, no one¡­ well, you are the only one above me.¡± Ning Wuxu wore a dark expression, not wishing to engage with him. This irreverent fellow, spouting off whatever comes to mind, if I hadn¡¯t devoted my energy elsewhere rather than to alchemy, where would you get the chance to show off! Seeing the displeasure on his Master¡¯s face, Hao Shicheng sheepishly backed away, not daring to follow any further. Qin Feng was puzzled and leaned over to whisper to Hao Shicheng, ¡°Second senior brother, didn¡¯t Master say he would take me to the Ten Thousand Demons Cave as soon as I returned? What¡¯s this about concocting pills?¡± ¡°It¡¯s just¡­¡± Just as Hao Shicheng was about to reveal the answer, he suddenly remembered that his Master could definitely hear, so he quickly chuckled, ¡°Don¡¯t worry, it won¡¯t delay your cultivation.¡± ¡°Really?¡± Qin Feng felt strange, ¡°I¡¯ve heard that those Alchemy Masters need quite a lot of time to start refining pills. Could it be that Master is that quick at alchemy?¡± Before he had time to think it through, he suddenly heard a proud laugh in the distance, ¡°Haha, I¡¯ve finally advanced to the Purple Mansion stage. Mu Qingli, now see how you can be so arrogant.¡± As the voice spoke, a stunning figure swiftly approached from a distance and in the blink of an eye, landed in the courtyard. ¡°Second senior brother, where¡¯s Master? I want toa€¡± eh, what are you doing here?¡± Junior Sister Liu looked puzzled at Qin Feng, and quickly realized something, ¡°Don¡¯t worry, I said I¡¯d take you as a disciple, and I certainly won¡¯t break my promise. ?¦Ï¦Í??.?¦Ï You¡¯re really capable, you even managed to find your way to the Heavenly Snake Ridge. Are you that eager? Well then, today I¡¯ll accept you as my first disciple, just in time to celebrate my achievement of reaching the Purple Mansion stage. How about that, are you pleased?¡± ¡°You want to take him as a disciple?¡± Hao Shicheng wore a strange expression on his face. ¡°What, is there a problem?¡± ¡°It¡¯s not that there¡¯s an issue, it¡¯s just that he has already taken a master, otherwise he wouldn¡¯t be here in the Inner Sect!¡± ¡°It doesn¡¯t matter, he can just switch to my sect,¡± stated Junior Sister Liu casually, waving her hand, ¡°I made a promise back when I was in the Outer Sect to take him as a disciple, and now that I¡¯ve reached the Purple Mansion stage, I don¡¯t believe there¡¯s an elder from the Spiritual Snake Lineage who wouldn¡¯t give me that much face.¡± Hao Shicheng chuckled, ¡°His Master definitely won¡¯t give you face.¡± Junior Sister Liu¡¯s beautiful round eyes suddenly widened in disbelief, ¡°Who would dare to be so bold? Could it be that guy with the surname Long?¡± ¡°Not a Long.¡± Hao Shicheng smiled smugly, ¡°It¡¯s a Ning!¡± ¡°I don¡¯t care what his surname is; if he dares to compete with me for a disciple, no way,¡± declared Junior Sister Liu with her domineering nature, ignoring all else and grabbing Qin Feng¡¯s hand, ¡°Come, take me to your master to settle this. He dares to snatch away my disciple, I¡¯d like to see how accomplished in the Dao he really is?¡± Chapter 229 - Chapter 229 Chapter 226 Insufficient Cultivation, Making Up with Contributions ?Chapter 229: Chapter 226 Insufficient Cultivation, Making Up with Contributions Chapter 229: Chapter 226 Insufficient Cultivation, Making Up with Contributions Qin Feng felt a tinge of embarrassment as his beautiful senior sister grasped his arm. He cleared his throat, ¡°Senior Sister, it¡¯s just that¡­ your Dao cultivation surely can¡¯t surpass Master¡¯s.¡± ¡°Ha¡­¡± Liu Xuanling let out a cold laugh, ¡°As long as it¡¯s not those old fogies, the Purple Mansion Realm elders from the Spiritual Snake Lineage might not necessarily be a match for me.¡± She said this with full confidence. Though she had just recently been promoted, her method of cultivation was different from others¡¯. Not only had she practiced the ¡°Taiyin Refining God Technique,¡± but, during the integration of perceiving the Heavenly Dao and merging cultivation techniques, she had also successively comprehended several powerful Divine Skills. Moreover, she had the Ice Soul Divine Pearl, a Spiritual Treasure, in her possession. The Ice Soul Divine Pearl was a treasure born in the lands of extreme cold, imbued with Divine Light and naturally spiritual. After being refined through the secret methods of Guanghan Palace, once its Ice Soul Divine Light was displayed, its power was boundless. Therefore, although she had just advanced to the Purple Mansion Realm, with her array of Divine Skills and the Power of Laws, she was already stronger than ordinary Purple Mansion Cultivators. She was not afraid of those elders who had advanced earlier than her, even someone like Dragon Seven Transformations, the previous generation¡¯s True Disciple of the Spiritual Snake Lineage, did not catch her eye. ¡°Hehe¡­¡± Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í?0.§ã¦Ï ¡°What did you just say her Master¡¯s last name is?¡± ¡°Ning!¡± Liu Xuanling¡¯s face suddenly changed. In the Spiritual Snake Lineage, there was only one Elder Ning in the Inner Sect who could be her Master. She had been in seclusion for just a year; certainly, the Sect could not have suddenly gained another Inner Sect Elder. ¡°So, your Master is also my Master?¡± She looked at Qin Feng and asked softly. ¡°Mm-hmm.¡± Qin Feng dared not say more and simply nodded obediently. ¡°That means that, after taking disciplehood under my Master, you have become my junior brother?¡± Liu Xuanling continued. ¡°Yes, Senior Sister.¡± Qin Feng remained very obedient. Liu Xuanling twitched her mouth, released his arm, and turned to walk outside, ¡°I¡¯ve just been promoted and my cultivation is unstable. I¡¯ll go back into seclusion for a few more years.¡± ¡°Cough¡­¡± Just then, a soft cough came from inside the house. Liu Xuanling immediately stopped in her tracks and hesitated before walking toward the house. She poked her head in through the door and upon seeing that her Master was as normal, she let out a sigh of relief. Her face quickly lit up with a smile as she put on a cheery act and called out, ¡°Master, I have successfully advanced.¡± ¡°Humph!¡± Ning Wuxu let out a light snort, ¡°I have seen it already.¡± Not waiting for Liu Xuanling to say anything else, he gave a glance at his own disciple, ¡°I saw not only your advancement but also heard you just now saying you wanted to measure your strength against your Master¡­¡± ¡°Hehe, how would your disciple dare.¡± At this moment, Liu Xuanling sat quietly like a good girl to the side. If it weren¡¯t for knowing that her Master wouldn¡¯t fall for such an act, she very nearly wished she could transform into an obedient maid at his side, ready to pour tea, carry water, and massage his back. Outside, both Hao Shicheng and Qin Feng came in as well, taking seats nearby with smiles on their faces. Ning Wuxu wasn¡¯t really going to take issue with his own disciple and soon said, ¡°Your junior brother Qin Feng, in last year¡¯s Outer Sect competition, seized first place. Didn¡¯t you ask me to take care of him a bit? I found him quite agreeable, so I took him as my disciple.¡± Liu Xuanling expressed her frustration, ¡°I just wanted you to look after him a bit, but I never thought of having you take him as your disciple.¡± ¡°You didn¡¯t make it clear.¡± If Ning Wuxu weren¡¯t naturally composed, he might have rolled his eyes, ¡°If you had told me at the time that you intended to take a disciple, I definitely wouldn¡¯t have done it. But you only asked for supervision, and I found the lad likeable, naturally, I thought of accepting him as a disciple. Besides, he had already entered the Inner Sect after passing the Outer Sect competition last year. It wouldn¡¯t be right to ignore him. Rather than having him find just any Master, it¡¯s better for him to be under my tutelage. Moreover, it has been many years since someone from our Spiritual Snake Lineage has won first place in the Outer Sect competition. Now that we finally have one, of course, I must cultivate him properly.¡± Liu Xuanling said weakly, ¡°So, the guy I was planning to take as a disciple has now become my junior brother?¡± ¡°That¡¯s correct.¡± Ning Wuxu stated, ¡°Not only is he your junior brother, but he is also the True Disciple of our Spiritual Snake Lineage for this generation.¡± ¡°Hmm?¡± Liu Xuanling was slightly taken aback, ¡°True Disciple?¡± She turned to glance over Qin Feng a few times, surprised, ¡°With his current cultivation level, he¡¯s not yet fit enough to take the position of the True Disciple, right?¡± ¡°His cultivation level is indeed a bit lacking, and the Realm is a bit weak.¡± Ning Wuxu nodded. ¡°Why is that?¡± ¡°For insufficient cultivation, merits have to compensate.¡± Ning Wuxu chuckled, ¡°Your Junior Brother has repeatedly made significant contributions to the Sect; it¡¯s undeniable that he must be rewarded. Otherwise, which disciple would give their all for the Sect in the future?¡± ¡°What merits warrant a reward of the position as a True Disciple?¡± Liu Xuanling was surprised but quickly thought of something, ¡°Master, are you referring to the Heavenly Pool Cave Heaven?¡± ¡°Exactly.¡± Ning Wuxu nodded, ¡°In fact, it¡¯s not just the Heavenly Pool Cave Heaven, but also the previous Demon God Stone Statue. The Sect has now locked onto that Demon God¡¯s world, and Elder Kongkong has already brought back the Heavenly Pool Cave Heaven to the Mountain Gate. Several Inner Sect Elders are busy refining that Grotto Heaven, planning to turn it into a Void War Fortress. Furthermore, we¡¯ve united the friendly sects and forces to prepare a joint assault on the world that belongs to that Demon God.¡± Upon hearing these words, even with Liu Xuanling¡¯s fortitude, she was inwardly shocked, ¡°The Sect has already brought back the Heavenly Pool Cave Heaven so quickly, and has even united with various sects to prepare for an assault on another world?¡± This information made her feel as if she had been in closed-door cultivation for many years. Otherwise, how could such significant developments have taken place while she was making her breakthrough? ¡°Master has already transferred the responsibilities of your position as the Spiritual Snake Peak Master to someone else.¡± Before she could collect her thoughts, Ning Wuxu continued, ¡°After advancing to the Purple Mansion Realm, you can no longer hold the position of Outer Peak Master, so I arranged in advance for Junior Brother Qi¡¯s disciple to take over as the Peak Master.¡± Liu Xuanling was unconcerned about this. From the moment she prepared for her closed-door breakthrough, she had already severed ties with the position of Outer Peak Master. ¡°Previously, because I was not sure when you would be able to successfully advance, I did not include your name in the expeditionary army¡¯s roster. Now, what do you think? Would you prefer to cultivate diligently in the Sect, or would you like to accompany your Master to the other world and learn about those Otherworld Creatures?¡± Liu Xuanling¡¯s eyes glittered, without a hint of hesitation, ¡°Disciple wishes to follow Master in the campaign against the Otherworld Evil Gods.¡± She is not one to strictly adhere to conventions, which is evident from her journey of cultivation. If Liu Xuanling were truly conventional, she would not have offended so many and would not have been pursued into the Guanghan Secret Realm, where she found many opportunities. A campaign against an Otherworld is not merely about combat. For ordinary disciples, it might just be fighting and meanwhile stockpiling some Spiritual Resources. For the Supreme Elders of the Sect, aside from plundering resources to supplement the Sect, they also need to capture a part of the Otherworld Origin to mend the damaged Heavenly Dao and foundation of their own world. But for people like Liu Xuanling or even Ning Wuxu, the greatest harvest in waging war against an Otherworld is not the Cultivation Resources. Instead, it¡¯s the opportunity to learn and adapt the Cultivation methods of the Otherworld, attempting to extract insights that could be beneficial for themselves and to gain chances for advancement. Therefore, when Ning Wuxu posed the question, she readily agreed, eagerly promising to join her Master in the otherworldly campaign. As for the dangers faced in combat, such things hardly mattered to someone of her disposition. Some live cautiously, whether in Cultivation or undertaking various missions, always choosing the safest course of action. This approach is, to some extent, indeed a lot safer. But being overly cautious can cause them to lose their ambition. Just like Qin Ying in the past, due to the fear of dangers encountered during missions, he did not dare to venture out for battles anymore, preferring instead to spend his days safely within the Sect. As a result, Qin Long advanced to Foundation Establishment while he remained stuck circulating in the Qi Refinement Realm more than twenty years later. Even though Qin Long¡¯s Divine Soul was injured during an outside mission, he was still a Foundation Establishment Cultivator, thereby greatly outliving a Qi Refinement Cultivator in terms of lifespan, so it¡¯s somewhat unclear who truly gained or lost. However, staying in the Sect to avoid danger, unless one is incredibly fortunate, it¡¯s virtually impossible to Prove the Daoist Foundation. Geniuses like Liu Xuanling all emerged from battles; only through rigorous trials could they see a glimmer of hope for Longevity. Ning Wuxu undoubtedly understood his disciple very well, so he was not the least bit surprised by Liu Xuanling¡¯s response. He knew that this disciple would not be content just staying in the Sect. Given her nature, even if he disagreed, she would insist on getting his agreement to take her along to the Otherworld for battle. ¡°Since that is the case, I will add your name to the list later on,¡± Ning Wuxu paused thoughtfully and said, ¡°Let Hao Shicheng and your eldest Senior Brother stay and oversee Heavenly Snake Ridge then. Our lineage should not leave everyone behind. But you and Shicheng need not worry, after we conquer that world, you can also visit it. Moreover, this expedition to the Otherworld is only the Beast Taming Sect¡¯s first attempt. As we come to better understand this Star Domain, we will conquer more worlds in the future, and there will be plenty of opportunities for battle. Gui Ling Elder once mentioned that this Star Domain is highly chaotic, and it would be difficult for you to avoid conflict in the future.¡± Hao Shicheng forced a smile, ¡°Disciple actually prefers to stay at the Mountain Gate.¡± Ning Wuxu shook his head gently and advised, ¡°Of course, I know your nature. If you do not wish to participate in battles, I can protect you, and sitting at the rear is not an issue. But if you seek progress, you cannot remain stagnant. ?¦Ï???.§ã? A bit of experience now and then is not harmful. Furthermore, there are bound to be unique Spiritual Medicines in the Otherworld, as well as peculiar usages of such medicines. If you truly aspire to follow the Alchemy Dao, witnessing how the Otherworld utilizes Spiritual Medicine should be enlightening for you.¡± Once these words were spoken, Hao Shicheng¡¯s eyes suddenly lit up, swayed by the idea. He simply disliked conflict, and due to his straightforward nature, he hadn¡¯t initially considered these factors. Now, upon his Master¡¯s reminder, he realized the truth. Indeed, it¡¯s not a sustainable strategy to confine oneself within the Mountain Gate forever; one must embrace new experiences to discover more inspiration. Chapter 231 - Chapter 231 Chapter 228 Above the Immortal Dao ?Chapter 231: Chapter 228 Above the Immortal Dao Chapter 231: Chapter 228 Above the Immortal Dao Heavenly Snake Ridge, Ning Wuxu casually summoned a cloud, which carried him and Qin Feng towards the back mountain of the sect. Qin Feng curiously stepped on the white cloud beneath his feet, feeling as if he were stepping on a soft woolen blanket. After a moment, he shifted his attention from the cloud and asked, ¡°Master, why is our Beast Taming Sect¡¯s Cave Heaven World called the Ten Thousand Demons Cave Heaven? This name makes it seem like a cave heaven belonging to the Demon Clan. Since our Beast Taming Sect mainly specializes in taming demon beasts, why not change the name? Could it be because our sect has raised many spiritual beasts within the cave heaven?¡± ¡°Ha-ha, that¡¯s because this cave heaven was originally called the Ten Thousand Demons Cave Heaven.¡± Ning Wuxu laughed heartily, ¡°It was initially the cave heaven of the Ten Thousand Demons King of the Heavenly Demon Realm. However, in the late stages of the Ancient Great Tribulation, the Ten Thousand Demons King was forcefully cut down by the ancestor of our Beast Taming Sect, who then conveniently took over this cave heaven. To ensure that later generations would not forget the hardships suffered when ravaged by the Demon Clan, the ancestor did not change the name, continuing to refer to this cave heaven as the Ten Thousand Demons Cave Heaven. As for the spiritual beasts inside, those were rehomed there later. The original demon clan members were all annihilated as soon as the ancestor seized the cave heaven.¡± Upon hearing this, Qin Feng¡¯s emotions also surged, ¡°Disciple only knew that the Ten Thousand Demons Cave Heaven was a treasure left by our ancestor, but had no idea it was seized by the ancestor after slaying a Demon King. The cultivation of our ancestor truly penetrated heaven and earth.¡± Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï???.§ã? Over tens of thousands of years, the Supreme Elders have modified it numerous times, and now, aside from the areas they use for cultivation, all other regions within the Ten Thousand Demons Cave Heaven have been turned into habitats suitable for various kinds of spiritual beasts to live in. For this reason, our Beast Taming Sect has never been short of top-level spiritual beasts. Otherwise, if we were to rely on disciples from generation to generation to capture spiritual beasts from the outside world, those rare top-level spiritual beasts might really go extinct.¡± Qin Feng knew that his master spoke the truth. After the Ancient Great Tribulation, the cultivators of our realm had nearly wiped out the Demon Clan after thousands of years of battles and encirclement campaigns. There were not many of those remaining top-level demon beasts to begin with, and if they were hunted without restraint, they might indeed be completely extinguished. For instance, his Ruyi Golden Snake could probably only survive in perilous places like the Ancient Battlefield; otherwise, the cultivation world would not have gone tens of thousands of years without seeing another one. Similarly, whenever a spiritual beast of the level of Liu Wuxiang¡¯s Black Water Mysterious Snake appeared, the sect would send people to investigate whether the disciple who obtained such a spiritual beast was worthy of being nurtured. As long as these disciples were not too lacking in talent, they would receive appropriate care, thereby giving these disciples more opportunities to rise. Aside from encountering these top-level spiritual beasts during their travels, the other way for Beast Taming Sect disciples to obtain them would be through the sect. If they accomplished great feats, the sect might reward them with a top-level bloodline spiritual beast. Another way was to work hard to earn spirit stones, or to have the backing of a powerful family, allowing them to buy one with money at the Ten Thousand Demons Pavilion. If they had also made considerable merits for the sect, they would receive an appropriate discount. In each generation of disciples, there would be some with higher aspirations. If they could not obtain a top-level spiritual beast from the outside, they would rather temporarily refrain from refining a lifebound spiritual beast and focus on improving their cultivation in preparation for acquiring a top-level spiritual beast in the future. With some luck, they might also happen upon a large sum of spirit stones or, occasionally during the suppression of bandit cultivators, stumble upon some exotic treasures, thereby gaining the resources to purchase a top-level spiritual beast. However, more disciples still chose to refine their Lifebound Spiritual Beasts early on. They preferred to nurture their own spiritual beasts later on, allowing their Lifebound Spiritual Beasts to gradually enhance their bloodline and acquire Divine Skills. Just like Elder Yan Zhongli from the Outer Spiritual Ape Peak, he used a considerable amount of essence blood from top-level spiritual beasts to cultivate his own Lifebound Spiritual Beast, thus obtaining greater strength and Divine Skills. In fact, within the Ten Thousand Demons Cave Heaven, there are certain special top-level spiritual beasts that have to give up a few drops of their essence blood every once in a while for the Beast Taming Sect disciples to use in cultivating their spiritual beasts. Since the quantity of essence blood is not much, the Sect would not consider selling it. It¡¯s only permitted for their own disciples to exchange it for merit. Outer disciples lack sufficient cultivation, and usually cannot accumulate enough merit, so the essence blood from those top-level spiritual beasts is mostly circulated among Inner Sect Disciples. ¡°In reality, even if some Demon Beasts have become extinct in this world, we cannot blame it all on the disciples of our Beast Taming Sect,¡± Ning Wuxu said, ¡°Although the disciples of the Sect enjoy capturing various powerful Demon Beasts, we are just one Sect after all. Compared to the entire Cultivation World, we are nothing significant. The real blame should fall on the numerous schools and sects of the Cultivation World, including countless Loose Cultivators. These cultivators wouldn¡¯t pass up a top-level spiritual beast suitable for cultivation, either. Even if those cultivators aren¡¯t skilled at nurturing them, selling them would still yield a significant sum of Spirit Stones. That¡¯s why the existing top-level spiritual beasts are so rare. Luckily, towards the end of the Ancient Great Tribulation, based on the advice of Gui Ling Ancestor, our Sect began to capture top-level spiritual beasts from various places in the Cultivation World, and even spared no expense to buy them from other Sect forces. This ensured that many spiritual beasts whose lineages had been severed in the outside world can now be found within the Mountain Gate of our Beast Taming Sect.¡± ¡°Gui Ling Ancestor was indeed farsighted,¡± Qin Feng couldn¡¯t help but speak in praise after hearing this. ¡°Of course,¡± Ning Wuxu said with a smile, ¡°In fact, over these years, the real manager of the Sect¡¯s affairs, guiding the Sect¡¯s growth and development, has been Gui Ling Ancestor. As for Jue Tian Ancestor, the second-generation Grandmaster, he serves more as a deterrent to the forces around us.¡± Upon hearing his Master¡¯s explanation, Qin Feng understood that Gui Ling Ancestor, who is skilled in the Heavenly Mechanism Calculation, thus remains behind the scenes to guide the Sect¡¯s development, while the second-generation Grandmaster uses his formidable cultivation to intimidate all sides and deter others from coveting the Beast Taming Sect. ¡°Master, what is the cultivation level of the second-generation Grandmaster and Gui Ling Master? You haven¡¯t told me about the realm divisions after becoming an Immortal,¡± Qin Feng asked curiously, ¡°After becoming an Immortal, does one live forever without worrying about lifespan?¡± ¡°Hehe¡­¡± Upon hearing this, Ning Wuxu couldn¡¯t help but let out a light laugh, ¡°Eternal life? That also depends on the realm. You should know that longevity is not eternal life, and eternal life does not mean immortality. In the Cosmic Great Thousand, even the stars that are said to exist eternally have an end, and the grand sun illuminating the void will have a day when it extinguishes, let alone us living beings.¡± Qin Feng wondered, ¡°Is it like our realm divisions, where one gains a certain amount of Life Span with each advancement in realm after proving the Dao?¡± ¡°It¡¯s not the same, the realms after becoming an Immortal cannot be compared with those before proving the Dao.¡± Ning Wuxu explained, ¡°In the Ten Thousand Worlds of the universe, the division of realms varies. Each world, each race, has its own unique method of division. The Demon World has various divisions of Demon Kings and Demon Saints, and the Demon Realm has distinctions like Demon Kings and Demon Gods. Of course, those worlds that have been ruled by strong races from other worlds are exceptions.¡± ¡°Then how are we cultivators divided?¡± ¡°` ¡°Our Human Clan Cultivators continue the Cultivation Realm lineage from the Ancestor Realm, carrying on the ways of cultivation from the Ancient Human Clan. Despite some differences that arose after proliferating in this realm, on the whole, there has been consistency.¡± ¡°` Ning Wuxu said, ¡°You already know the realms of cultivation that lead up to Proving Dao. Today, as your teacher, I will only explain the realms that follow Becoming an Immortal.¡± ¡°Disciple listens attentively.¡± ¡°Hmm.¡± Seeing his disciple¡¯s respectful attitude, Ning Wuxu was very satisfied. In day-to-day life, he did not mind how his few disciples messed around, but when it came to imparting the Dao and teachings, the necessary respect had to be there. This respect was not only for him, as their master, but also for the ancient heritage. ¡°The realms of cultivation after Proving Dao, like those before achieving Dao, are also divided into six major realms, namely True Immortal, Heavenly Immortal, Profound Immortal, Golden Immortal, Saint Immortal, and Daluo. Among these, Golden Immortal, Saint Immortal, and Daluo are also known as Immortal, Eternal, and Creation, respectively.¡± Ning Wuxu said, ¡°Once a cultivator comprehends the Heavenly Dao to a certain degree, they can provoke a Heavenly Tribulation. After surviving the calamity, one becomes a True Immortal, with a life span of one hundred thousand years.¡± ¡°Only one hundred thousand years?¡± Qin Feng asked in surprise, ¡°Is that not a bit short?¡± ¡°Hehe, not at all.¡± Ning Wuxu laughed, ¡°Ordinary mortals live from birth to death in just a few decades, and one hundred thousand years is enough for mortals to propagate thousands of generations. Even from your birth to now, you¡¯ve only lived for a mere decade or so. Compared to that, you won¡¯t find it short.¡± Qin Feng thought about it and realized that it was true; even a few thousand years were enough to foster a powerful and ancient civilization, let alone one hundred thousand years. ¡°However, for immortals who pursue the Dao, one hundred thousand years of life may not seem like much. Sometimes, they may spend hundreds or thousands of years in secluded meditation, understanding the Dao. In the boundless cosmos, there are ancient beings that have survived from distant eras, and their age cannot be measured in years. It is said that our Human Clan ancestors prefer to measure such ancient and powerful existences in terms of Yuan Hui or great calamities. You needn¡¯t worry about this; such things are too remote for us and not yet within our reach.¡± After a pause, Ning Wuxu continued, ¡°To comprehend the Longevity Dao and become a True Immortal means to be able to wield the Power of Laws in battle and easily suppress those cultivators who have not reached this realm using Dao Principles. This is the biggest difference between an immortal and cultivators like us who have not Proved Dao. To advance from the True Immortal Realm to Heavenly Immortal, one must understand one¡¯s own Daoist Immortal Technique from the cultivated Dao. This type of Immortal Technique allows a more rational utilization of the Power of Laws, displaying much greater force than the mere manipulation of laws by True Immortals, moving beyond the general use of laws at the True Immortal Realm. Furthermore, upon achieving Heavenly Immortal, one¡¯s life span increases multiple times. The exact increase varies from person to person, depending on their accumulated depth of cultivation but at the very least, it should be several hundred thousand years; in many cases, it can be as long as a million years. Advancing further to become a Profound Immortal grants one a life span of several million years and allows one to condense the cultivated Dao into a unified force, which can be wielded at will. Every gesture hold immense power. In terms of war power, the difference between a Heavenly Immortal and a Profound Immortal can be imagined as the gap between Divine Skills and Great Divine Power.¡± Hearing his master explain this, Qin Feng immediately formed a rough idea in his mind. It seemed that the gap between Heavenly Immortal and Profound Immortal was indeed tremendous. Of course, it¡¯s not to say that Divine Skills cannot contend with Great Divine Power; a very small number of powerful anomalies can fight beyond their level, but those are very rare exceptions. Normally speaking, a cultivator with Great Divine Power is at least several times stronger than another with similar Divine Skills. ¡°As for Golden Immortal, that is another realm entirely.¡± Ning Wuxu said with emotion, ¡°For a Profound Immortal who wishes to achieve Golden Immortal, there are two paths. One is to follow one¡¯s own path of cultivation and monopolize a single Power of Laws within the Heavenly Dao, thereby achieving Golden Immortal. The true body becomes Immortal, existing eternally with the world; as long as the world bearing the Dao does not perish, one need no longer worry about lifespan.¡± Qin Feng listened intently; he had not expected that the realm of Golden Immortal required monopolizing a Dao. No wonder it could confer eternal life. ¡°And the other path?¡± He asked eagerly. ¡°Hehea€|¡± Ning Wuxu chuckled as he looked at his own disciple. The lad was only at the Foundation Establishment Realm now. Why the rush for matters pertaining to the Golden Immortal Realm? ¡°The other is to blaze a new path all on one¡¯s own.¡± Ning Wuxu explained, ¡°In the Cultivation World, there are many existences at the peak of the Profound Immortal Realm, including our Beast Taming Sect¡¯s Gui Ling Ancestor and Ancestor Kongkong, who belong to this realm. It is extremely difficult for these Profound Immortals to advance because the Dao created by a world¡¯s evolution is finite, and many cultivators¡¯ paths of cultivation overlap. For example, there are countless cultivators practicing Fire Element Techniques, and a fair number of them have become immortals. ?0¦Í?¦Ï.§ã¦Ï Because the Fire Dao was long ago occupied by the Skyfire Ancestor of the Divine Fire Palace, others can only cultivate up to the peak of the Profound Immortal Realm. To Prove Dao and become a Golden Immortal, one must forge a new path with a different Flame Principle and create a new Fire Element Technique. This is why there are various Fire Element Techniques like Sun True Fire, Qian Yuan True Fire, Glazed Glass Flames, and Nanming Leaving Fire circulating in the world. Take our Sect¡¯s Gui Ling Ancestor, for example. The Profound Turtle he subdued had the Innate Eight Diagrams naturally engraved on its shell. As such, Gui Ling Ancestor took up the path of the Innate Eight Diagrams, becoming best at Prediction Calculation and deducing the future. However, this path was already claimed by the Heavenly Mechanism Elder of the East Domain¡¯s Heavenly Mechanism Palace. Therefore, Gui Ling Ancestor has not been able to step beyond that and reach the Golden Immortal Realm until now.¡± Upon hearing this, Qin Feng¡¯s brow furrowed, and he couldn¡¯t help but ask worriedly, ¡°Then does Grandmaster Gui Ling have a chance in the future?¡± After all, this was one of the strongest beings in his Sect; it would be a great pity if the ancestor reached a standstill. ¡°Of course there¡¯s a chance, but it¡¯s extremely difficult.¡± Ning Wuxu said, ¡°The Dayan God Monarch of the Great Capital¡¯s Dayan Divine Palace also proved his Dao with the Eight Diagrams and became immortal, eventually stopping at the peak of Profound Immortal. Later, with his immense wisdom, he saw through the mysteries of the Heavenly Dao, blazed a new trail, and Proved Dao as a Golden Immortal with the Dayan Divine Calculation. For Grandmaster Gui Ling to progress further, he too must blaze his own trail. This is why he willingly went to the Otherworld, aiming to leverage the prediction techniques of other worlds to confirm his own path to Golden Immortal.¡± Chapter 232 - Chapter 232 Chapter 229 The Difference Between Worlds ?Chapter 232: Chapter 229: The Difference Between Worlds Chapter 232: Chapter 229: The Difference Between Worlds ¡°The Golden Immortal Dao is eternal in this world; as long as the Dao is indestructible, the Golden Immortals are immortal.¡± Ning Wuxu¡¯s face bore a hint of longing, ¡°Moreover, because a Golden Immortal holds dominion over a single Dao, any Immortal cultivating the same path is naturally at a disadvantage, forever unable to best a Golden Immortal. Even if it comes to a confrontation, a Golden Immortal merely needs to suppress with the power of the Dao, and they can nearly overwhelm a Profound Immortal of the same Dao path, leaving them with hardly any strength to fight back. Only Immortals of different Daos can try to contend slightly.¡± Qin Feng¡¯s heart was filled with yearning for such a realm. Golden Immortal, ah! Once one becomes a Golden Immortal, one would share longevity with the heavens and earth, such an endless life span, what a mighty existence that would be. To control one Dao, to have great power gathered within oneself; every action possessing the might to overturn seas and rivers, just the thought of it was breathtaking. ¡°I have heard from the Gui Ling Master before that many powerhouses in the Void Ten Thousand Realms refer to those who command a single Dao principle as ¡®Lords of Principle.¡¯ This is also the most common terminology among the strong across various worlds.¡± Ning Wuxu glanced at Qin Feng and said, ¡°Among the Void Ten Thousand Realms, the worlds are also ranked. Stars barren of life are not counted, for without life, they can only be considered as dead stars, not complete worlds. According to rules passed down for countless years, those worlds that barely support life or have been artificially developed are termed ¡®Half-Planes.''¡± ¡°Half-Planes?¡± Qin Feng was somewhat puzzled. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í??.?¦Ï Ning Wuxu explained, ¡°In our Immortal Dao system, these Half-Planes are somewhat similar to Cave Heaven Worlds, only they lack the abundant Spiritual Energy of the Cave Heaven Worlds. You may think of those so-called Half-Planes as already dilapidated Cave Heaven Worlds, which should make it easier to understand. In fact, many Half-Planes are minor worlds attached to other worlds.¡± ¡°Disciple understands!¡± Qin Feng nodded, indicating that he had understood. ¡°In Half-Planes where Spiritual Energy is scarce, it is hard to give birth to real powerhouses. The truly powerful worlds don¡¯t care much for such Half-Planes, and only some Small Worlds would enslave the beings of Half-Planes to provide them with ordinary mineral resources or food supplies like blood food.¡± Ning Wuxu thought for a moment and continued, ¡°However, there are exceptions. Some Divine Demons who draw their strength from the Power of Faith do not mind additional believers. They greedily enslave all sentient beings, compelling other life forms to worship them, offering them an increasing amount of faith.¡± ¡°Like that Demon God from Nanyue Country back then?¡± Qin Feng asked. ¡°Exactly.¡± Ning Wuxu nodded slightly, ¡°That Demon God was one who used faith as the source of power.¡± ¡°Master, if we cut off the sources of these Demon Gods¡¯ faith, would we then be able to deal with them easily?¡± ¡°You¡¯ve hit the nail on the head.¡± Ning Wuxu glanced at him and smiled, ¡°That¡¯s very good, you are able to see through the essence of things, which is excellent. If we could cut off the Power of Faith of these Divine Demons, they would only be left to consume their own reserves. Without believers to offer them a continuous stream of the Power of Faith, their power would diminish as they use it, growing weaker the more they fight, unlike us cultivators who can recover True Yuan by refining Spiritual Energy. However, cutting off their source of faith is difficult. We can¡¯t just slaughter all their believers; we aren¡¯t the kind of killers from the Demon Path¡¯s Sect of the Seven Murders. If we truly slaughtered billions of living beings, we probably wouldn¡¯t even be able to overcome our own Daoist Heart. So, when it comes to fighting them, more often than not, we rely on overpowering strength to slay them rather than erasing their followers. Could you do it, if asked?¡± Qin Feng shook his head, ¡°At most, I could only bring myself to slay those fanatical believers of the Demon Gods. As for the common folk, I just can¡¯t do it.¡± ¡°It¡¯s normal to feel that way; not just you, even I don¡¯t have the heart for such cruelty. However, some old fossils in the Cultivation World have witnessed the deaths of countless beings; they probably wouldn¡¯t care about such matters. Especially some ancient existences hidden in various worlds of the Void, they have likely destroyed countless worlds, and the billions of life forms within have perished along with their worlds, also unregarded by them. Just like the attack on our Biluo Great World from all corners, which left the entire world ravaged beyond recognition, after the Ancient Great Tribulation our Human Clan survived by barely one in a hundred, the teeming billions nearly annihilated in a single battle.¡± Ning Wuxu let out a light sigh, not wanting to continue on this heavy topic. Instead, he added, ¡°Only those worlds possessing at least one complete principle can give rise to various life forms and can bring forth existences comparable to the True Immortal Realm or the Divine Demons. Such worlds, despite being the most common and numerous Small Worlds within the Void Ten Thousand Realms, are considered the most ordinary.¡± Qin Feng said, ¡°So, a world only qualifies to be considered among the Void Ten Thousand Realms when it has existences of Immortal Level strength presiding over it?¡± ¡°Exactly, that¡¯s correct.¡± Ning Wuxu nodded, ¡°If an entire Small World contains but a single Proving Dao existence, he could easily take hold of the World Dao and become the World Master. Many masters of Small Worlds are also the first within their worlds to prove the Dao. Unless they do something to damage the World Origin and incur the wrath of the Heavenly Dao, it would be difficult for later generations to overthrow their rule; they can only wait for these existences to exhaust their Life Span, or to be slain by invaders from other worlds, before a new World Master is chosen. Generally, Small Worlds have limited heritage, and the strongest World Master born within them does not surpass the level of a Heavenly Immortal, with the number of other strong beings not exceeding ten.¡± ¡°As for Medium Worlds, they are much stronger. At the least, they require more than ten Divine Demon powerhouses to be considered a Medium World. And the gap within Medium Worlds is vast; some worlds, due to their extensive territories and relatively strong Power of the Heavenly Dao, can give birth to dozens or even more than a hundred Divine Demons, with the most formidable among them being comparable to Profound Immortals.¡± Qin Feng was somewhat surprised, ¡°So many, does our Sect have confidence in this invasion of the Otherworld?¡± ¡°There is confidence, otherwise what do you think the ability of the Gui Ling Master to calculate the Heavenly Mechanism is used for?¡± Ning Wuxu laughed, ¡°Rest assured, for this mission, our Sect has invited many allies. Aside from our Beast Taming Sect, the Five Poisons Sect and the Ghost Controlling Sect will also deploy several Supreme Elders, and there are some secluded Immortals from medium and small Sects preparing to leave seclusion. They are joining forces to fight the Otherworld, as this is their only chance to grow and strengthen their Sects. So many Immortals, as long as nothing unexpected happens, should be sufficient to take down that world.¡± Hearing what his Master had said, Qin Feng was immediately relieved. At the same time, he internally smiled wryly at himself; as a mere Foundation Establishment Cultivator, why was he worrying so much? With the likes of the Gui Ling Ancestor, adept at strategy and scheming, it was unlikely the Sect would suffer under normal circumstances. Even if he had truly suffered a loss, what could he, a Foundation Establishment Cultivator, possibly do? Ning Wuxu continued, ¡°Above the Medium Worlds are the High-Rank Worlds. Each High-Rank World is incredibly vast, and at the very least, there will be a Rule Master on par with a Golden Immortal presiding over it. Otherwise, such an immense world without the suppression of a powerful Rule Master would certainly attract the covetous gaze of other worlds, leading to the plundering of its resources. Some powerful High-Rank Worlds might even give birth to several Rule Masters, and the strongest among them can give rise to Eternal Realm powerhouses comparable to Saint Immortals.¡± ¡°Eternal?¡± ¡°The so-called Eternal refers to those strong beings that can still survive even if their world is destroyed.¡± Ning Wuxu sighed, ¡°In that realm, they have already escaped the Binding of the world¡¯s Heavenly Dao. Even if the world no longer exists, they can still place their own Dao within the Void or find another suitable world to attach to. Such existences are a level higher than Golden Immortals.¡± Qin Feng thought of something and asked, ¡°Master, the second-generation Jue Tian Ancestor should be an Elder of the Golden Immortal Dao Cultivation Realm, right?¡± ¡°Yes!¡± Ning Wuxu replied: ¡°If Jue Tian Ancestor did not possess the cultivation of the Golden Immortal Dao, he wouldn¡¯t have been able to awe-inspire within tens of thousands of miles, making nearby sects only able to affiliate themselves with our Beast Taming Sect. If Jue Tian Ancestor¡¯s strength were not formidable, we also wouldn¡¯t have acquired so many resources to support the cultivation of so many disciples. In fact, in the eyes of many sects, our Beast Taming Sect is also a chunk of juicy meat. Let alone other things, just the top-level Spiritual Beasts nurtured in the Ten Thousand Demons Cave Heaven are enough to make any power green with envy. However, the battle prowess of Jue Tian Ancestor is extremely strong, and also aided by powerful Spiritual Beasts; ordinary Golden Immortals are simply no match for him. With the long lifespan of a Golden Immortal, everlasting as the heavens and the earth, as long as there is no unconquerable foe, he can eternally protect the inheritance of our Beast Taming Sect from destruction. This is also the reason why, although the Gui Ling Ancestor has been in control of the sect¡¯s authority for tens of thousands of years, directing the development of the sect and earning the respect of countless disciples, he has always revered Jue Tian Ancestor as superior. After all, all the calculations in the world are like duckweed on water without the support of strengtha€¡±not sturdy enough. In each domain, only the sects with Great Powers at or above the Golden Immortal rank are called great forces.¡± ¡°I see.¡± Hearing this, Qin Feng¡¯s confidence in his own sect swelled once more. Just the high-end combat power of his own sect was almost comparable to a High-Rank Worlda€¡±what a formidable existence! ¡°Above the High-Rank Worlds are the Great Worlds,¡± Ning Wuxu said: ¡°The world we live in is one of the Great Worlds. The reason why they are called Great Worlds is that they have perfected laws of Dao Principle and can give birth to powerhouses of the Daluo Realm. The Daluo Realm is also known as the Creation Realm, or the creator, because beings at this level can create all things and living creaturesa€¡±truly omnipotent.¡± ¡°Create living creatures?¡± For some reason, the name Lady Nvwa involuntarily surfaced in Qin Feng¡¯s mind. ¡°Can a powerhouse of the Creation Realm create a whole race?¡± He asked. ¡°Of course,¡± Ning Wuxu replied: ¡°In fact, some peerless powerhouses in the Great Worlds have used the Power of Creation to create living creatures that please them if they are dissatisfied with other beings. Or after a world has suffered a catastrophic war that led to the annihilation of all living creatures, there might also be Creation Realm powerhouses who exert majestic power to create new beings to reign over the world. There are also cases like our Human Clan¡¯s ancestor discovering the Biluo Great World; if they discover another new Great World being born, they might also create a completely new race. However, not all Daluo Realm powerhouses are skilled in the way of Creation, and both creating objects and living creatures consume enormous amounts of power. There are even legends of Daluo Realm powerhouses dying and their Dao vanishing because they spent too much power creating living creatures. Therefore, not every Daluo Realm powerhouse is willing to do so. The numerous living creatures of the Void Ten Thousand Realms mainly evolved on their own within the worlds. It is only in the later stages that many worlds, after conquering other worlds, would relocate numerous living beings into the subdued worlds.¡± Ning Wuxu paused slightly in his speech, pondering for a moment before continuing, ¡°The universe may be infinitely vast, but the number of Great Worlds is fixed in the grand scheme of things and would not exceed three thousand. The birth of each Great World implies that another Great World is walking towards destruction. If our Biluo Great World had not survived the Ancient Great Tribulation, had been broken apart, and plundered of all its resources, the Cosmic Void would certainly have given rise to a new Great World. The new Great World might emerge from the transformation of those massive Void Giant Beasts, or it might be the evolution of another powerful High-Rank World.¡± ¡°Worlds can evolve?¡± Qin Feng asked in surprise, ¡°Isn¡¯t it said that Void Giant Beasts materialize from nothingness to spawn worlds? Once they have become physical entities, how can a world continue to grow?¡± ¡°It¡¯s possible.¡± Ning Wuxu sighed: ¡°Just like in the Ancient Great Tribulation, when other realms plundered our world, the resources they seized would be assimilated into their own worlds, serving as the backbone of their worlds. While it¡¯s difficult for a world to grow in size, it is not impossible. Furthermore, what¡¯s most important in a world isn¡¯t its size, but the strength of the Heavenly Dao. The strength of the Heavenly Dao Power is measured by the world¡¯s foundation. ?0¦Í??.§ã¦Ï The world¡¯s foundation can be enhanced by plundering the origin of other worlds. By elevating the world¡¯s foundation to an extremely high level, Small Worlds can advance to Medium Worlds, and Medium Worlds can advance to High-Rank Worlds. If some powerful High-Rank Worlds manage to plunder the origin of a Great World, and if they can destroy the other Great World, their High-Rank World might potentially upgrade to a Great World, and eventually slowly increasing the size of the world as well. This is the main reason why the Void Ten Thousand Worlds are in such chaos, constantly waging war and pillaging without cease.¡± Chapter 233 - Chapter 233 Chapter 230 Proof of the Primordial Chaos in the 12th Heaven ?Chapter 233: Chapter 230: Proof of the Primordial Chaos in the 12th Heaven Chapter 233: Chapter 230: Proof of the Primordial Chaos in the 12th Heaven ¡°The Ancient Catastrophe severely damaged our world; the Heavenly Dao itself was impaired, compelling a Daluo Realm Elder to reluctantly relinquish his own existence to merge with the Dao. Only then was he able to seal the world, blocking the incessant invasion of armies from other worlds. Later, he actively coordinated with various factions to wage wars for thousands of years, barely managing to quell the conflict.¡± Ning Wuxu said, ¡°Due to the severe depletion of our foundation, since that catastrophe, our world hasn¡¯t seen the birth of any powerful being above the level of a Golden Immortal for a very long time. Even after tens of thousands of years of recuperation and reproduction, only the lower and middle tiers of cultivators have largely recovered. There are now more True Immortals, Heavenly Immortals, and Profound Immortals, but very few have ascended to become Golden Immortals, let alone reached the Eternal or Daluo Realms. The main issue is the damage to the Heavenly Dao, which needs to be repaired and replenished. Therefore, after deliberation among several Daluo Realm Elders, this expedition was initiated. We need to replenish what has been consumed with the Origin from other worlds to restore prosperity and regain the ancient glory. Even if we wish for revenge, we need to keep growing stronger.¡± ¡°Daluo Realm is equivalent to the creator.¡± After digesting what he had heard, Qin Feng asked, ¡°Master, does this mean that Daluo Realm is the highest realm that all cultivators can reach?¡± ¡°No.¡± Ning Wuxu shook his head, ¡°That¡¯s not the case!¡± Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ??¦Í??.§ã¦Ï The creator, an entity capable of creating all life, was already extremely mighty. Could there really be a realm stronger than this? ¡°As your teacher, I also do not have a clear understanding.¡± Ning Wuxu furrowed his brows slightly, and after a moment of contemplation, he then said, ¡°There are rumors that above the Daluo Realm, there is another realm called Primordial Chaos. It is said that only after reaching the Primordial Chaos Realm can one truly achieve indestructibility through all calamities, exist alongside the Dao, remain unfallen when the heavens shatter, and undying when the universe perishes.¡± ¡°Primordial Chaos?¡± Qin Feng cracked a smile, could it be the legendary Primordial Chaos Saint? ¡°Correct, it is Primordial Chaos. It is rumored that the Twelfth Heaven can realize Primordial Chaos, but your teacher doesn¡¯t even know what Heaven means, so don¡¯t ask me about the Primordial Chaos Realm. That¡¯s all I know.¡± Ning Wuxu sighed lightly, ¡°The way of cultivation, the higher the cultivation, the more insignificant I feel. As your teacher, with my cultivation at the peak of Primordial Spirit, I already find myself lacking when I comprehend the Heavenly Dao. Yet, the Heavenly Dao that we perceive is just one world¡¯s Heavenly Dao in the Void Ten Thousand Realms. Compared to those ancient beings who survived cosmic destruction, we are as insignificant as ants.¡± ¡°Master is being too pessimistic.¡± Qin Feng laughed, ¡°Our cultivation is for ourselves, and each realm has its own duties. It¡¯s only natural for Master to feel insignificant when comparing your current realm with those unimaginably powerful beings. But if you compare yourself to your disciple, then you are like a towering mountain, and I am but a small sapling leaning against you, dependent on your protection for growth. Even among cultivators at the same level as you, you are certainly not weak, so there¡¯s no need to think so far ahead; it can easily lead to discouragement.¡± ¡°Hehe¡­¡± Upon hearing this, Ning Wuxu could not help but laugh out loud, ¡°It¡¯s just a fleeting thought your teacher had; I haven¡¯t truly harbored the idea of comparing myself with those powerful beings. But you are right, one should focus on the matters of their current realm. Since your teacher hasn¡¯t yet achieved immortality, there¡¯s no need for such long-term considerations. We¡¯ll discuss further after attaining the Longevity Dao.¡± As they spoke, the master and disciple had already arrived at a picturesque valley behind the Beast Taming Sect¡¯s mountain. Upon arrival, Ning Wuxu didn¡¯t linger. With a casual flick of a spell, a transparent barrier flashed at the entrance of the valley. As his spell passed through, a gateway appeared in the barrier. Qin Feng followed his master through the gateway, stepping into the valley. Once inside, he found that the valley in front of him seemed no different from what he had just seen. This left him puzzled. Was that barrier just there to protect this valley? ¡°Master, is the Ten Thousand Demons Cave Heaven inside this valley?¡± Qin Feng asked. Ning Wuxu revealed a small smile, ¡°It would be more accurate to say that this valley is within the Ten Thousand Demons Cave Heaven.¡± ¡°Huh?¡± Qin Feng looked back in surprise at the invisible barrier he had entered, ¡°Are you saying we have already entered the Ten Thousand Demons Cave Heaven?¡± Ning Wuxu nodded, ¡°Correct, we are now at the entrance of the Ten Thousand Demons Cave Heaven.¡± ¡°This¡­¡± Qin Feng was somewhat speechless, ¡°Isn¡¯t that a bit too casual? When I went to the Heavenly Pool Secret Realm before, I saw that it wasn¡¯t easy at all to open it. Does our Sect¡¯s Cave Heaven World only have such little defense? Aren¡¯t we afraid of someone breaking in?¡± ¡°Who would dare trespass?¡± Ning Wuxu laughed, ¡°The Heavenly Pool Cave Heaven is different; it¡¯s a Grotto Heaven that has already hidden itself into the void and can only be forcibly opened by external forces, so of course it¡¯s not easy to open. This is the core region of our Beast Taming Sect. The Elders from our Sect cultivate in the nearby areas. Not to mention no disciple would dare to barge in, even if some outside powerhouse did break in, it wouldn¡¯t matter. That¡¯s because Ten Thousand Demons Cave Heaven is where the strongest power of our Beast Taming Sect gathers. Those Supreme Elders usually cultivate within the Cave Heaven. If someone actually intruded, they would be immediately detected, and that would simply be walking into one¡¯s own doom.¡± Qin Feng suddenly understood. Right, the Ten Thousand Demons Cave Heaven is indeed the Sect¡¯s most formidable place. It doesn¡¯t fear enemies coming in. Besides, the entrance to the Cave Heaven World doesn¡¯t look any different from other regions from the outside. Those who are unaware of the situation wouldn¡¯t even know the Ten Thousand Demons Cave Heaven is here. After he figured out the key points, he asked again, ¡°With so many Supreme Elders cultivating in the Cave Heaven and the need to nourish so many Spiritual Beasts, can the Spirit Veins of Ten Thousand Demons Cave Heaven support such massive consumption?¡± ¡°If we rely solely on the Spirit Veins within the Cave Heaven, of course it wouldn¡¯t suffice.¡± Ning Wuxu said, ¡°The areas outside the Cave Heaven are where the convergence point of nine major Spirit Veins of our Beast Taming Sect are, forming a pattern like nine dragons playing with a pearl, encompassing the Cave Heaven World within it. The Supreme Elders have used their Supreme Divine Power to connect these nine major Spirit Veins with the Cave Heaven, allowing spiritual energy to flow continuously into the Cave Heaven World. Plus, over the years, the Cave Heaven World itself has nurtured three additional major Spirit Veins. A total of twelve major Spirit Veins are enough to sustain the Supreme Elders and all the Sect cultivators as well as countless Spiritual Beasts for cultivation.¡± ¡°Are there many fellow disciples inside as well?¡± ¡°There are some, but not too many, mainly to care for those Spiritual Beasts.¡± Ning Wuxu said, ¡°Some Spiritual Beasts are rare and need to be tended to carefully to ensure their continued breeding. Others, due to their large numbers, require the occasional selection of some to be sent outside, which is also the source of those top-level Spiritual Beasts at the Ten Thousand Demons Pavilion. Moreover, the Sect regularly needs to collect essence blood or other materials from certain Spiritual Beasts, so tasks are assigned, organizing some disciples to handle these matters inside.¡± After sensing the thick nature¡¯s spiritual energy surrounding him, Qin Feng couldn¡¯t help but say, ¡°The spiritual energy here is indeed incredibly rich. I imagine the task of entering the Cave Heaven to take care of the Spiritual Beasts must be very sought after by fellow disciples.¡± ¡°Indeed, there are quite a few disciples eager to come in.¡± Ning Wuxu nodded, ¡°But they can only cultivate using this spiritual energy after they have completed their own tasks. They cannot enter those cultivated lands specially prepared by the Sect. For example, the Dragon Transformation Pond, cultivated by our Spiritual Snake Lineage, requires one to have made significant contributions to the Sect before one can cultivate there. Ordinary disciples simply don¡¯t have such opportunities. Come on, this is just the entrance. Let¡¯s not dally here too long.¡± With that, he once again took Qin Feng to sky, flying towards the depths of the Cave Heaven. As they flew higher, Qin Feng quickly noticed the difference between this place and the outside world. In the distant sky, from time to time, there would be silhouettes of top-level Spiritual Beasts that were rare in the outside world. Especially some of the massive Spiritual Birds and Exotic Beasts dazzled him. And on the ground, there were terrains both ordinary and bizarre, where all kinds of Exotic Beasts resided. Each and every Spiritual Beast he saw in this place was valuable and rare in the outside world, many emanating strong auras, which caused him to feel waves of trepidation. Let alone those Supreme Elders stationed in the Cave Heaven, just these strongly auraed Spiritual Beasts were likely a tremendously powerful force. Qin Feng even dared to confirm that, besides the Supreme Elders, there must be Spiritual Beasts in this Cave Heaven that have achieved the Longevity Dao. The Sect¡¯s hidden power was absolutely not as it seemed to the outside world. Following his master deeper into the Cave Heaven, Qin Feng saw many different scenes. This Cave Heaven World seemed to contain every type of terrain found in the outside world, with deserts, plains, swamps, rivers rushing by, snow-covered mountains, and even volcanoes flowing with molten lava. ¡°The Ten Thousand Demons Cave Heaven has been transformed many times by the various Supreme Elders, split into many areas, containing the climates of all four seasons, and divided into environments suitable for living such as high mountains, plains, and lakes. ?0¦Í??.?¦Ï Even the Gui Ling Ancestor has wielded Great Power to create a sea area hundreds of miles wide in the Cave Heaven to cultivate sea Spiritual Beasts. Furthermore, with the Sect¡¯s meticulous care, many top-level Spiritual Beasts that were on the brink of extinction in the outside world have been able to rebreed and continue their lineage. The Sect has also tried to nurture some hybrid top-level Spiritual Beasts here. Some of them with ordinary talents are not much to mention, but there have also been some especially powerful exceptions, born with multiple Divine Skills and formidable War Power.¡± While flying, Ning Wuxu didn¡¯t forget to introduce these matters to his disciple. ¡°Hybrid Spiritual Beasts?¡± Qin Feng was quite intrigued, ¡°Are there any Lion-Tiger Beasts?¡± Ning Wuxu glanced at him, ¡°There are indeed a few. Why, are you interested? Among your rewards, you can also capture a Spiritual Beast here. If you are willing, I can take you to subdue a Lion-Tiger Beast.¡± ¡°Forget about it.¡± Qin Feng shook his head repeatedly, ¡°I was just curious and asked casually.¡± Compared to hybrid Spiritual Beasts, he was more inclined to integrate a formidable pureblooded top-level Spiritual Beast into his own Lifebound Spiritual Beast. Currently, his Demon Refining Pot only had two levels of space available. Even if he obtained a powerful Spiritual Beast now, he wouldn¡¯t be able to nurture it, so he had to give priority to considering his Lifebound Spiritual Beast and the Swallowing Sky Toad. Chapter 234 - Chapter 234 Chapter 231 Dragon Transformation Pond ?Chapter 234: Chapter 231 Dragon Transformation Pond Chapter 234: Chapter 231 Dragon Transformation Pond Flying high into the depths, Qin Feng passed through many environments that incited his curiosity and encountered numerous Spiritual Beasts that stirred his heart. Regrettably, the strength of these Spiritual Beasts was profound; they were not targets he could currently covet. It made sense, after all, top-level Spiritual Beasts were born with powerful bloodlines and long lifespans. Each mature top-level Spiritual Beast was exceptionally strong. And because of the balance of Heavenly Dao, the more powerful a life form, the more difficult it was for them to reproduce. Some powerful Spiritual Beasts might struggle for hundreds of years without being able to produce even one or two offspring. Because they lived so long, their strength would naturally continue to grow. Even if the sect no longer provided resources to these adult Spiritual Beasts, they could still improve considerably just by absorbing Spiritual Energy. Therefore, in the Ten Thousand Demons Cave Heaven, it wasn¡¯t rare to see top-level Spiritual Beasts that had formed Demon Cores and cultivated their Purple Mansion. It was instead the juvenile beasts that were fewer in number. However, with meticulous care from the sect, many habitats for Spiritual Beasts could also see a few juveniles playfully frolicking around. Living in such a safe environment, they lacked any sense of crisis and didn¡¯t even need to worry about food. With the Beast Taming Sect¡¯s vast influence, there would naturally be countless food provided for these juveniles to grow. ¡°Master, if these Spiritual Beasts are raised here for a long time, won¡¯t they lose their wild nature and become Spiritual Beasts that have strength but no knowledge of how to use it?¡± Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í?0.§ã0 While life in the Ten Thousand Demons Cave Heaven can be much more comfortable, it certainly doesn¡¯t make them completely lose their vigilance,¡± Ning Wuxu said with a smile, ¡°Since top-level Spiritual Beasts have such difficulty reproducing, their few offspring are extremely precious; thus, we take extra care of them in their juvenile years. Once they grow a little, disciples will release the barriers between the regions, allowing conflicts to arise among them, or they might deliberately reduce some food to have them compete for it. Have you not noticed that the areas of these Spiritual Beasts are filled with those that don¡¯t get along with each other?¡± ¡°Is that so?¡± Qin Feng looked carefully and soon discovered the subtleties within. In a mountain forest where fierce tigers roamed, there was a plain inhabited by a group of lions. Beside these two Spiritual Beast areas were herds of Barbarian Bulls and Spiritual Deer; further away, in territories frequented by White Elephants, rhinos charged wildly. Beasts inherently understood territory, and placing two powerful and ferocious Spiritual Beasts together would definitely lead to conflict. Even the herbivorous Spiritual Beasts weren¡¯t easy targets; should the lions and tigers dare to prey on them, they would undoubtedly resist and fight fiercely. ¡°Those powerful adult Spiritual Beasts don¡¯t demand much in the way of food; they rarely fight over morsels of Blood Food, and the sect wouldn¡¯t allow them to battle to the death. However, the juveniles in the midst of growth need to compete for enough food sources.¡± Pointing out some locations for him, Ning Wuxu continued, ¡°Usually, those who can win in the struggles distinguish themselves among their peers and have higher growth potential. After being tamed, their War Power will also be stronger. Such Spiritual Beasts are very popular with the Inner Sect Disciples. Those that fail in the competition and grow slowly will be eliminated. The sect will have people take care of them for a while, nurturing them until they¡¯re presentable enough to be sold at the Ten Thousand Demons Pavilion.¡± Qin Feng¡¯s mouth twitched slightly a€¡± so this was how the sect selected its Spiritual Beasts. No wonder he felt that the strengths of the top-lineage Spiritual Beasts at the Ten Thousand Demons Pavilion were somewhat inflated. However, the Spiritual Beasts from the Ten Thousand Demons Pavilion were mainly sold to outsiders. In general, Outer Disciples wouldn¡¯t have enough Spirit Stones to purchase top-level Spiritual Beasts from the Ten Thousand Demons Pavilion. Someone like him, who had fortuitously obtained a large sum of Spirit Stones and could afford top-level Spiritual Beasts during his time as an Outer Disciple, was the exception rather than the rule. And once they entered the Inner Sect, if Disciples wished to purchase them, they could simply apply to the sect, and naturally, the sect would provide them with a top-level Spiritual Beast with better potential from the Ten Thousand Demons Cave Heaven. As the two of them continued on their way, they seldom encountered anyone else along the way. The few people they did see were Disciples busy caring for Spiritual Beasts, although they often saw various Spiritual Beasts flying past them. These Spiritual Beasts were not afraid of them in the slightest; of course, they also had no intention of attacking. After the sect¡¯s millennia of continuous ideological indoctrination, these Spiritual Beasts had long recognized themselves as members of the Beast Taming Sect, ready to lay down their lives for the sect at any moment. However, if the sect¡¯s Disciples wanted to tame them, they still had to win their recognition through battle. Once they gained the Spiritual Beasts¡¯ acknowledgement, these beings would be incredibly loyal to their masters, far surpassing any Demon Beast or Spiritual Beast tamed in the outside world. Wild Demon Beasts tamed outside could not easily be rid of their ferocity. If their master was severely injured and their control over the beasts weakened due to a damaged Divine Soul, there was a chance of rebellion and the beast turning on its master. However, these Spiritual Beasts that had been nurtured by the sect for hundreds of generations would not do so. These creatures saw loyalty to the sect as their mission. Once subdued by a sect Disciple, they would be utterly devoted and it was unlikely for any rebellion to occur. Leading Qin Feng thousands of miles deep into the Ten Thousand Demons Cave Heaven, Ning Wuxu eventually landed on a mountain range that stretched for hundreds of miles near the core area. Here, there were a few scattered buildings, some majestic palaces, some ordinary wooden huts, and even several caves directly carved out of the rock walls. ¡°This is Dragon and Snake Cliff, where the Cave Mansions of two of the Spiritual Snake Lineage¡¯s Supreme Elders are located,¡± Ning Wuxu explained upon seeing his disciple¡¯s puzzled gaze at the wooden huts and shining lights, smiling, ¡°The Supreme Elders of the sect decorate their Cave Mansions according to their own preferences. However, most of them still live in palaces. As for those wooden huts and the caves, they are Cultivation sites temporarily set up by Inner Sect Elders who¡¯ve come for seclusion to seek breakthroughs.¡± Qin Feng nodded. He thought even the Supreme Elders preferred a simple way of life, but it turned out they were Cultivation sites temporarily created by the Inner Sect Elders! Ning Wuxu led him toward a palace. ¡°Great Elder.¡± In the hall, two young men who were busy preparing to leave hurriedly bowed and saluted upon seeing Ning Wuxu. ¡°Mhm.¡± Ning Wuxu nodded faintly and asked, ¡°How are those Juvenile Flood Dragons you¡¯re responsible for taking care of doing?¡± The two young men quickly replied, ¡°Replying to the Great Elder, those Juvenile Flood Dragons have been growing fairly well since they hatched. Except for one that is noticeably weaker, the rest are very robust.¡± ¡°Alas, let it be.¡± After hearing their response, Ning Wuxu sighed lightly, ¡°This sort of thing happens all the time. Take good care of them. Look after them for another year and see. If that Juvenile Flood Dragon really can¡¯t be nurtured, send it to the Ten Thousand Demons Pavilion early. I believe such newly hatched young Flood Dragons are more to the liking of certain cultivators.¡± ¡°Yes.¡± The two young disciples nodded and took their leave. Ning Wuxu waved his hand, indicating that they could leave. He was the Great Elder of the Spiritual Snake lineage, and even within the Ten Thousand Demons Cave Heaven, apart from the two Supreme Elders, the Spiritual Snake lineage was under his authority. ¡°The Dragon Transformation Pond here was originally built by a Supreme Elder as a replica of the East Sea Dragon Clan¡¯s Dragon Transformation Pond, with the intention of nurturing a few True Dragons. In the end, it failed. Because the replicated Dragon Transformation Pond was somewhat different from the Dragon Clan¡¯s and transforming ordinary Jiao Dragons into True Dragons required an excessive amount of resources. Since the Sect couldn¡¯t act against the East Sea Dragon Clan to obtain a large amount of Dragon Qi, and even if we sent Jiao Dragons inside, at best we could purify a fraction of the Dragon Bloodline¡¯s power within the bodies of the Jiao Dragons.¡± Walking along, Ning Wuxu continued, ¡°However, by a stroke of luck, a True Disciple nurturing his Lifebound Spiritual Beast here had a sudden burst of inspiration and jumped in. He then discovered that Human Clan Cultivators could also utilize the power of the Dragon Transformation Pond for cultivation a€¡° and their progress was extraordinarily fast. Of course, it¡¯s only useful for cultivating the ¡®Azure Dragon Divine Technique¡¯ for body refinement. If you try to cultivate other techniques, the results are much worse, and there may even be conflicts.¡± ¡°Even the ¡®Nine Realities and Nine Illusions Dragon and Snake Transformation¡¯ Techniques won¡¯t work?¡± Qin Feng was a bit surprised. ¡°No.¡± Ning Wuxu shook his head. ¡°Neither the ¡®Nine Realities and Nine Illusions Dragon and Snake Transformation¡¯ nor the ¡®Spiritual Snake Nine Transformations Dragon Technique¡¯ are suitable; those are techniques of the Human Clan and simply require a Lifebound Spiritual Beast to assist. If you enter the Dragon Transformation Pond and absorb the energy filled with True Dragon Qi for cultivation, it could cause a serious conflict with our own True Yuan. Slight carelessness could even risk deviating from the path and becoming possessed by madness. Only the ¡®Azure Dragon Divine Technique¡¯ is different. It¡¯s a top-level body refinement technique that transforms the body. When cultivated to its peak, one could even take on the form of an Azure Dragon for combat. So, drawing upon the True Dragon Qi within the Dragon Transformation Pond for body refinement only has benefits, not drawbacks. But, if you integrate True Dragon Qi into our True Yuan, it will cause a conflict of forces. Unless you can deduce a cultivation method that can accommodate Dragon Qi, it will definitely affect cultivation.¡± ¡°Hasn¡¯t anyone ever thought of creating such a technique before?¡± ¡°There were, and not just one person.¡± Ning Wuxu gave a wry smile. ?¦Ï¦Í??.?¦Ï ¡°In my early years, I also thought about it. But to create such a technique is much more difficult than initiating any one of the nine True Inheritances. Our Human Clan Cultivators¡¯ cultivation system is ultimately very different from the Dragon Clan¡¯s, and to create such a technique is fraught with challenges.¡± Qin Feng¡¯s eyes shifted as he suggested, ¡°Maybe after cultivating the ¡®Azure Dragon Divine Technique¡¯ to Great Success, it could be possible to reference this body refining technique and deduce a cultivation method that could accommodate Dragon Qi?¡± ¡°Heh, you¡¯re quite clever.¡± Ning Wuxu laughed. ¡°This idea has occurred to more than just you, but in the end, everyone gave up on it. Even the two Supreme Elders of our Spiritual Snake lineage did not wish to focus their efforts on this.¡± ¡°Why is that?¡± ¡°Because the Dragon Transformation Pond consumes too much.¡± As they talked, the two had reached the depths of the palace. Ning Wuxu formed a hand seal, casting spells and activating an array within a great hall, leading Qin Feng inside. The great hall was empty except for a pool in the very center, measuring nine zhang and nine chi in diameter. The pool was filled with a mysterious yellow liquid, its surface covered by a layer of mist. The vapors vaguely took on the forms of dragons and snakes, appearing and disappearing intermittently, an awe-inspiring sight. The moment Qin Feng entered, he sensed an aura unique to the Dragon Clan emanating from the pool. Merely this aura alone suppressed him so that he had to circulate his cultivation technique to resist. ¡°This is the Dragon Transformation Pond.¡± Ning Wuxu pointed to the pool in front of them and said, ¡°As the saying goes, ¡®when dragons battle in the wild, their blood is dark and yellow.¡¯ The color of this water in the Dragon Transformation Pond closely resembles dragon blood. In fact, when that Supreme Elder was constructing this Dragon Transformation Pond, he incorporated the Essence Blood and Dragon Ball of a fallen True Dragon, blending in some of the Dragon Clan¡¯s secret techniques and also drawing upon some of the Giant Spirit Sect¡¯s secret methods used against the Giant Spirit Divine Clan¡¯s incursions in the past, to give the pond its current form. Despite that, to maintain the Dragon Transformation Pond¡¯s power, the Sect must consume a massive amount of resources. Therefore, it can¡¯t be used as a regular cultivation site. It is only meant as a reward for those who have achieved great deeds and for disciples with dragon blood in their Lifebound Beasts to nurture them, or to allow disciples of our lineage to cultivate the ¡®Azure Dragon Divine Technique¡¯ here. The reason I am confident that you can cultivate the ¡®Azure Dragon Divine Technique¡¯ to the Small Success Realm in a short period is precisely because of the Dragon Transformation Pond.¡± Chapter 235 - Chapter 235 Chapter 232 A Bit Painful ?Chapter 235: Chapter 232 A Bit Painful Chapter 235: Chapter 232 A Bit Painful Qin Feng approached the Dragon Transformation Pond, under the immense pressure emitted from within, and felt astounded in his heart, ¡°The Dragon Clan is truly powerful; just their aura alone is enough to make disciples feel such pressure. If ordinary cultivators or Demon Beasts were in front of the Dragon Clan, they probably wouldn¡¯t have much courage to oppose them, right?¡± ¡°The Dragon Clan is among the top level Divine Beasts in the Void Ten Thousand Realms, among billions of races. Hence, such prestige is warranted.¡± Ning Wuxu explained to him, ¡°Don¡¯t think the East Sea Dragon Clan doesn¡¯t hold too much power in this realm. They are merely a minor branch of the Dragon Clan that followed my Human Clan to this world to thrive. The main strength of the Dragon Clan itself is immensely powerful. Countless years ago, the Ancestor Dragon had led numerous Dragon Sons and Dragon Descendants to battle against myriad races in the Outer Void, and had forcibly seized a spot among the Three Thousand Great Worlds. The reputation of the Heavenly Dragon Great World is indeed illustrious in the Star Domain where my Human Clan Ancestor Realm is located.¡± Qin Feng wondered, ¡°If the Dragon Clan¡¯s strength is so formidable, why did they still divide a branch to follow my Human Clan here? Wouldn¡¯t it be better to stay in their own Great World?¡± ¡°You are not aware.¡± Ning Wuxu said, ¡°My Human Clan and the Dragon Clan actually both originate from the same world, along with Phoenix Clan, Demon Clan, Witch Clan, Qilin, Xuanwu, White Tiger, and other formidable races, all born from the same world. It was an incredibly powerful world, which is why it bred so many formidable races. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í?¦Ï.§ã¦Ï However, having so many powerful beings in one world also caused chaos easily. Therefore, in the ancient times, different races fought fiercely, vying for supremacy of heaven and earth, which cracked the sky and earth repeatedly, almost completely collapsing the Ancestor Realm. It wasn¡¯t until a supremely powerful being forcefully suppressed all clans, and later my Human Clan rose to prominence, taking over the primary fortune of this world, that things temporarily stabilized. At that time, the Dragon Clan had good relations with my Human Clan, sharing linked fortunes, with the protection of Dragon Qi on each Human Emperor over the generations. That¡¯s why when our old ancestors migrated to this realm, a branch of the Dragon Clan followed. In the ancient period, seeing that they couldn¡¯t compete with my Human Clan, the rest of the races from the Ancestor Realm sought greater development outside, beginning to conquer the starry sky, thus there came the Heavenly Dragon Great World, Heavenly Phoenix Great World, Heavenly Demon Great World, Ancestor Witch Great World. Other races like White Tiger, Xuanwu, etc., being somewhat weaker, only managed to occupy high rank worlds, which are still somewhat inferior compared to Great Worlds but are also supremely formidable entities that many Great Worlds would not dare to provoke lightly.¡± ¡°That powerful?¡± Qin Feng, upon hearing this, felt his heart pounding, ¡°Beings from a single world can occupy several Great Worlds in the Void?¡± ¡°Indeed.¡± Ning Wuxu also harbored some longing, ¡°At that time, my Human Clan¡¯s fortune was flourishing, and our strength, too, was unmatched. After our ancestors helped the Biluo Great World to evolve, we occupied this Great World, turning it into our Human Clan¡¯s second Great World. Moreover, my Human Clan is the only race in the Endless Void that occupies two Great Worlds all by itself.¡± Listening to his master say such things, Qin Feng felt proud himself. After a while, he asked, ¡°Master, there must be numerous powerful races among the Three Thousand Great Worlds, and some of them must have overcome other Great Worlds; can¡¯t they directly occupy the defeated Great Worlds?¡± ¡°No.¡± Ning Wuxu said, ¡°Every Great World possesses formidable power with no Great World daring to claim easy victory over another. Even if a Great World manages to defeat another, the intense battles will turn the world into ruins, similar to the Ancient Battlefields in our realm, making it no longer suitable for creatures to reside, coupled with the backlash from the Heavenly Dao, only turning the conquered world into a wasteland. So, the attacking side can only plunder the Origin of the defeated world to strengthen themselves while they can, rather than attempting to control two Great Worlds concurrentlya€¡±it¡¯s just not possible. The reason our Human Clan can manage two Great Worlds is mainly due to a coincidence. Initially, when the Biluo Great World was not yet fully formed, our ancient ancestor only intended to secure a high rank world. However, in the deep universe, a Great World happened to decline, freeing up a spot just as the Biluo Great World was assimilating a Void Giant Beast of comparable size to perfect itself, coincidentally elevating it to a Great World.¡± Hearing this, Qin Feng also chuckled lightly, ¡°That¡¯s quite fortuitous. Could it not be due to my Human Clan¡¯s thriving Qi Fortune or perhaps the Human Clan Great Power¡¯s behind-the-scenes support that led to such an opportunity?¡± ¡°That¡¯s not known.¡± Ning Wuxu shook his head, ¡°Well, these matters are not for us to concern ourselves with. I told you all this to broaden your horizons and make you aware of the vastness of the Void Ten Thousand Realms. But right now there¡¯s no need to ponder these too much; you should focus on your Cultivation, make haste in cultivating the ¡®Azure Dragon Divine Technique¡¯ to a level of Small Success. Otherwise, when you go to Otherworld warfare, you may find it hard to find a place that allows you to cultivate safely. The ¡®Azure Dragon Divine Technique¡¯ is not only a Body Refining Technique leading to the Immortal Dao but is also a Cultivation Technique to forge an unsurpassable Daoist Foundation. During the Foundation Establishment Stage, cultivating this Divine Technique will craft an even tougher Taoist Body for you, having a more robust foundation, which will enable you to go further in the future. Even disregarding the future, just from the current perspective, once you¡¯ve cultivated this technique to the Small Success Realm, your self-healing ability will increase dozens of times more than before, which will be greatly beneficial in the upcoming war.¡± Qin Feng hurriedly said, ¡°Master, rest assured, as a disciple, I know what¡¯s important and won¡¯t reach for what¡¯s beyond my grasp.¡± ¡°It¡¯s good that you understand.¡± Ning Wuxu nodded slightly, ¡°Since that¡¯s the case, you should go in now. Though it will be a bit painful at the beginning, endure it, and you¡¯ll soon feel comfortable. ¡°Uha€| yes.¡± Qin Feng twitched the corner of his mouth but in the end didn¡¯t say more; he stepped toward the Dragon Transformation Pond. The pool water was deep and mellow, its depth unfathomable, and with the Dragon Qi pressure inside, even Divine Sense was hard to penetrate. After thinking for a moment, he simply jumped directly into it. Once submerged in the Dragon Transformation Pond, he instantly felt an overwhelming pressure surge toward him, causing his spirit to tremble slightly. The pond was very deep. The density of the Dragon Transformation Liquid was much thicker than water, so as soon as he entered, he felt his Physical Body tightly wrapped from all sides by the Dragon Transformation Liquid, and he continued to sink, going down about thirty-three feet before finally reaching the bottom of the pond. This place was originally intended for those Spiritual Beasts possessing Dragon Bloodline, as if it were too small, it wouldn¡¯t accommodate the bodies of those Spiritual Beasts. Qin Feng did not mind this at all and directly circulated his True Yuan to perform inner breathing. With his current level of Cultivation Realm, he was not likely to suffocate here. However, not only did the Dragon Transformation Liquid contain a faint aura of intimidation, but it also carried a powerful presence of force. He could not possibly stay here indefinitely without going out, otherwise the consumption of his True Yuan would be too great, and he wouldn¡¯t last very long. ¡°The ¡®Azure Dragon Divine Technique¡¯ was imparted to you by me a long time ago. After this period of pondering and my explanations, you should have gained quite an understanding of this Technique. With the aid of the Dragon Transformation Liquid, you will quickly grasp the basics.¡± Ning Wuxu¡¯s voice came from outside, and even though Qin Feng was at the bottom of the Dragon Transformation Pond, it still transmitted clearly to his ears through the dense liquid. ¡°Now hold your breath and calm your mind. Do not meditate or regulate your breath, as the ¡®Azure Dragon Divine Technique¡¯ is a Body Refining Technique, not a Cultivation Technique that requires meditation. Open up all the pores in your body, absorb the energy from the Dragon Transformation Liquid, and temper your physique. It¡¯s similar to how you previously tempered your Taoist Body, but you need to cultivate according to the circulation routes of the ¡®Azure Dragon Divine Technique¡¯.¡± Following his master¡¯s guidance, Qin Feng relaxed his body, floated in the form of a spread eagle in the Dragon Transformation Pond, and began absorbing energy to cultivate. Pain! Great pain! The moment the energy of the Dragon Transformation Liquid surged into his body through his pores, Qin Feng almost jumped out of the pond. His body began to tremble, and he inwardly complained, is this the slight pain that you mentioned, Master? It was a hundred times more painful than death by a thousand cutsa€¡±each pore in his body felt like it was being fiercely stabbed with a steel needle as the power of the liquid surged in. He grit his teeth and endured. For a moment, he felt as if his Divine Soul was about to leave his body. That frightened him. Cultivators generally only have the qualifications to have their Divine Soul leave their body after forming a Nascent Soul in the Purple Mansion. With his current level of cultivation, if his soul had really left his body, even if his master had saved him, he would likely have suffered damage to his Divine Soul. Fortunately, that sensation was fleeting, and he quickly endured through sheer grit. Feeling pain everywhere, he deeply suspected that when his master practiced here in the past, he might have had an embarrassing episode and now wanted to find amusement from him sooner. However, once he carefully pondered the source of the pain, he understood why it was so intense. The main reason was that the Dragon Qi within the Dragon Transformation Liquid¡¯s energy differed from pure Spiritual Energy. Being a cultivator of the Human Clan, he was used to absorbing pure Spiritual Power and converting it into True Yuan; suddenly absorbing so much Dragon Transformation Liquid, the clash of different power systems naturally caused immense pain. Qin Feng endured the pain and started cultivating his physique according to the circulation routes of the ¡®Azure Dragon Divine Technique.¡¯ The initial tempering still involved flesh, skin, and fur, which was essentially no different from ordinary Foundation Establishment Cultivators tempering their Taoist Body. The only difference was the power absorbed contained the aura of the Dragon Clan. However, once he ran through the Body Refining Technique of the ¡®Azure Dragon Divine Technique,¡¯ the pain in his body significantly reduced. ?¦Ï¦Í?0.§ã¦Ï As he circulated the technique over and over, and once his flesh gradually adapted to the power of the Dragon Transformation Liquid, he no longer felt much pain. Instead, his physical body was being enhanced at a staggering speed. What he thought was already perfectly tempered flesh suddenly felt reinvigorated with strength, muscles thrumming with more potent power, life emanating from his flesh. This vivid sensation of rapid growth filled Qin Feng with great joy. He kept practicing the technique repeatedly until his flesh started throbbing painfully, overwhelmed by the strain. Only then did he cease cultivating and leaped out of the Dragon Transformation Pond. Cultivation was never an instant success. Even though he felt substantial progress, the physical body had its limits. He was just a small Foundation Establishment Cultivator and couldn¡¯t sustain continuous cultivation for an extended period. Therefore, he needed to moderate his progress, refine and perfectly integrate the already absorbed power into his flesh, and then re-enter the Dragon Transformation Pond to continue his training. Even with the help of the Dragon Transformation Pond, it would still take some time before he could achieve the minor success of the ¡®Azure Dragon Divine Technique.¡¯ ¡°Master.¡± After coming out, Qin Feng looked at Ning Wuxu and couldn¡¯t help but grimace, ¡°Such a painful method of training, and you only said it was a bit painful?¡± ¡°Hmph.¡± Ning Wuxu let out a light snort and spoke indifferently, ¡°It¡¯s just a bit of bodily pain, not worth mentioning. When I was a True Disciple training here, I didn¡¯t even consider this level of pain. As long as you stay true to your heart, such pain is merely a way to temper yourself.¡± ¡°¡­¡± Qin Feng was silent for a moment. He felt his master put on a bit of an act while saying those words, but unfortunately, he had no proof. Reluctantly, he clasped his hands together, ¡°As you say, Master. I have learned.¡± ¡°Alright, since there were no complications during your training here, stay and continue cultivating diligently. I have already told you all the key points about the ¡®Azure Dragon Divine Technique.¡¯ As long as you are not reckless, there won¡¯t be any danger. I have other matters to attend to and cannot stay here with you, so I will go back first.¡± Saying this, Ning Wuxu flicked his sleeves lightly and turned to walk away. ¡°Disciple respectfully sees off Master.¡± From behind, Qin Feng slightly bowed, waiting until Ning Wuxu¡¯s figure disappeared before straightening up, a speechless expression on his face. ¡°In the future, I must also train my disciples to be True Disciples, then have them enter the Dragon Transformation Pond to experience this ¡®minor¡¯ pain, thus feeling the love of a master.¡± After venting his thoughts, Qin Feng silently vowed to treat his future disciples just like his master treated him. Otherwise, wouldn¡¯t that reduce much of the fun? Chapter 236 - Chapter 236 Chapter 233 Liu Wuxiang Becomes a Disciple ?Chapter 236: Chapter 233: Liu Wuxiang Becomes a Disciple Chapter 236: Chapter 233: Liu Wuxiang Becomes a Disciple When Qin Feng was cultivating in seclusion at the Dragon Transformation Pond, many events were unravelling outside. The annual Outer Sect Tournament was held as usual, and the Outer Disciples attended with great enthusiasm to watch the competitors vie for a place in the tournament. Particularly, the disciples who had joined the Sect less than ten years ago held immense expectations for the tournament. Even though their cultivation was still insufficient, they hoped to have a chance to participate in the future, so they came in advance to gauge the level of those competing. Liu Wuxiang stood on the platform, his thin figure held upright, coiled around him was a nine-yard long Black Water Mysterious Snake, its aura formidable, deterring many contestants from battling him lightly. It wasn¡¯t that his cultivation was extremely high, as Liu Wuxiang had advanced to Foundation Establishment not long ago, barely reaching the early stage of Foundation Establishment. Among all the contestants, he was only average and didn¡¯t stand out However, the deterrence of the Black Water Mysterious Snake was enough to discourage many disciples from fighting him. Over the last two years, he had devotedly nurtured the Black Water Mysterious Snake, allowing it to grow to this extent in just over two years, clearly feeding it some exceptional items regularly. Moreover, top-level Spiritual Beasts inherently possess some bloodline suppression over ordinary creatures, and this Black Water Mysterious Snake was not only a top-tier Spiritual Beast but also skilled in the Poison and Water Element magic divine powers. More crucially, Liu Wuxiang, with his sharp wit, had linked the poison and water attacks, the Water Element Techniques he cast contained deadly poison, making others wary of him. Especially when his Black Water Mysterious Snake unleashed its venomous black water, which corroded the iron armor of an Iron Armor Rhinocerosa€¡±a Lifebound Spiritual Beast from Spirit Rhinoceros Peak participating in the tournamenta€¡±pitting and corroding its flesh to the point where bones were exposed, it instantly made everyone cautious of him. Even the strongest Outer Disciples did not want to confront such a troublesome opponent; one splash of his corrosive poison could potentially disfigure their face. From the rear, on a high platform, the Inner Sect Elders watched the match. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï??0.?¦Ï One of them expressed his surprise, ¡°How is this young man¡¯s Black Water Mysterious Snake so potent with its poison? It¡¯s even corrupting the body of an Iron Armor Rhinoceros to this extent; it shouldn¡¯t be possible for a newly Foundation-Established Black Water Mysterious Snake.¡± ¡°You don¡¯t understand,¡± Dressed in red, the beautifully striking Liu Xuanling said, ¡°This young man clearly knows his own strength is insufficient, and attaining a chance to join the Inner Sect from the Outer Sect tournament is very challenging. That¡¯s why he intentionally cultivated his Black Water Mysterious Snake towards extreme toxicity to deter other competitors. If I guess correctly, he must have also obtained some highly toxic Spiritual Objects. Heh, it¡¯s commendable that he¡¯s managed to cultivate the Black Water Mysterious Snake to this stage; he truly is a promising seed.¡± She had just advanced to Purple Mansion and became an Inner Sect Elder. On a whim, she had requested from her master the duty to preside over the Outer Sect tournament, really just to show off a bit. During the Outer Sect Tournament, the Peak Masters and Elders from the one hundred and eight peaks would usually attend to observe how the disciples from their peaks performed. If she wanted to flaunt her status, naturally, it felt more fulfilling to do so in front of her former peers, making those people salute her, the former master of the Spiritual Snake Peak, especially seeing Elder Lingxiao from Heavenly Dragon Peak bow to hera€¡±it felt particularly thrilling. The Inner Sect Elder next to her scoffed, ¡°Merely a toxic creature showing fleeting prowess. To achieve longevity, one must cultivate the righteous path.¡± ¡°Hmpha€|¡± Liu Xuanling glanced at him lightly, ¡°What, do you look down on cultivators who practice Poison Skill? Want me to ask a senior brother who cultivates Poison Skill to spar with you?¡± ¡°No comparison!¡± The Inner Sect Elder quickly shook his head vehemently, ¡°I¡¯d never spar with them. They never confront openly but prefer to use sneaky tactics, it¡¯s pointless.¡± ¡°Know your limits before speaking carelessly. The divine powers of our Spiritual Snake lineage are beyond your understanding.¡± Liu Xuanling hummed softly, ¡°Otherwise be careful, or I¡¯ll have Zhong Wandu poison your tail off and see you return to your three-tailed Dao Cultivation.¡± ¡°Hehea€|¡± The elder next to her didn¡¯t seem to mind and just laughed, ¡°Speaking of which, ever since Zhong Wandu started practicing the Bone-Eroding Soul-Destroying Heavenly Evil Technique, his personality has become even more peculiar. I remember he used to be quite fun back in the Outer Sect.¡± Liu Xuanling giggled softly, ¡°He¡¯s still quite fun now; why don¡¯t you go find him and see?¡± ¡°Stop that. I don¡¯t even dare come within fifteen feet of him now, afraid he might poison me.¡± On the platform, although Liu Wuxiang¡¯s formidable Poison Skills were effective, the disciples of the Beast Taming Sect had myriad techniques and various Spiritual Beasts, endlessly diverse methods, not all feared his poison. Thus, a disciple capable of countering him promptly took to the platform. This time it was a disciple from Spiritual Tree Peak, but surprisingly, his Lifebound was not a Tree Demon, but a Vine Demon. This disciple¡¯s Vine Demon was bursting with vitality. Even though many of its vines had been corroded by the poison, new ones continually sprouted, nearly covering the entire platform, forcing Liu Wuxiang to ascend and rain down a deluge of poison, withering all the vines with a rotten stench pervading them, forcing the disciple to admit defeat. The other disciples, witnessing the intensifying toxic fumes from the arena even from dozens of feet away, visibly paled and no longer dared to challenge Liu Wuxiang. He easily secured his place early in the tournament. ¡°Young man, would you be interested in becoming a disciple under me?¡± From the Inner Sect, several Elders from the Spiritual Snake lineage eyed Liu Wuxiang with interest. Liu Wuxiang was a rising disciple of the Spiritual Snake Peak this year, but originally, no one had thought he would enter the Inner Sect so soon, which was why there had been no prior discussion on whose discipleship he should enter. And his performance on the arena, once reported back to the Inner Sect, immediately sparked interest among several Elders. After all, it was quite rare for a disciple to possess a top-level Lifebound Spiritual Beast like the Black Water Mysterious Snake during the Qi Refining stage, and to enter the Inner Sect within three years of joining, which was enough to prove his excellent talent. Such a disciple, once trained, would have a far-reaching future, so after he entered the Inner Sect and was taken under the wing of Liu Xuanling from the Spiritual Snake lineage, this scene unfolded. ¡°What are you arguing about?¡± A black-robed Elder snapped, ¡°This boy¡¯s Lifebound Spiritual Beast is the Black Water Mysterious Snake, most suited to be my disciple, after all, my Lifebound Spiritual Beast is also a Black Water Mysterious Snake.¡± ¡°Senior Brother Gu, that¡¯s not right.¡± A middle-aged man in a green robe chuckled, ¡°Though your Lifebound Spiritual Beast is the Black Water Mysterious Snake, your main cultivation path is the Water Element Dao, which is different from this boy. Haven¡¯t you noticed that his Black Water Mysterious Snake has stronger toxicity? ?¦Ï¦Í?¦Ï.?0 It¡¯s only right for this disciple to cultivate the ¡®Bone-Eroding Soul-Destroying Heavenly Evil Technique¡¯ under my guidance.¡± ¡°Senior Brother Zhong, don¡¯t you think it would be better for him to cultivate the ¡®Netherworld Yin Snake Seven Incantations¡¯?¡± After some contention, several Inner Sect Elders turned their gaze to Liu Wuxiang: ¡°Boy, which path do you want to cultivate?¡± ¡°Disciple¡­¡± Liu Wuxiang was a bit nervous inside; he hadn¡¯t expected to be so popular, to actually be vied over by several Inner Sect Elders. However, he had considered his future cultivation path, and quickly responded, ¡°Disciple wishes to cultivate the ¡®Bone-Eroding Soul-Destroying Heavenly Evil Technique.''¡± ¡°Ha ha ha¡­¡± The green-robed man immediately burst out laughing, ¡°You old fools, I told you not to compete with me! See, given it up yet? Though you might be slightly stronger than me in direct combat, when it comes to real fighting, my Poison Dao Technique is superior. Good lad, good choice, kneel and accept me as your master, I¡¯ll teach you the Supreme Method!¡± With that, as if afraid he might change his mind, he slammed him to the ground with a smack. ¡°Uh¡­¡± Liu Wuxiang, pushed to kneel down in confusion, suddenly felt a foreboding sensation. Looking around, just as he was about to speak, the middle-aged man in front of him asked in a low voice, ¡°What, are you having second thoughts?¡± ¡°¡­Disciple dares not.¡± ¡°Since you dare not, why aren¡¯t you kowtowing to accept me as your master?¡± Seeing the other Elders simply watching the show with no intention of speaking up, Liu Wuxiang could only reluctantly kowtow and accept Zhong Wandu as his master. At Creation Peak, Qin Xi opened her eyes from cultivation. Her eyes sparkled with a layer of water, showing enhanced spirituality. ¡°Finally reached Foundation Establishment!¡± She murmured to herself. Although she missed the Outer Disciple Competition this year, it was okay. She believed that, after a year of settling, her strength would greatly increase, giving her more opportunities to enter the Inner Sect. Although the Clan Leader grandfather had told her there was no need to rush, for safety¡¯s sake, one could settle in the Foundation Establishment Realm for two more years to ensure victory in one battle. But that applied to ordinary disciples, not to someone with a modest wealth like her, who could pursue a different cultivation path. Like Qin Feng initially did, spending tens of thousands of Spirit Stones to purchase resources, first stacking her cultivation to the peak of the early stage of Foundation Establishment. Although this might cause her foundation to be somewhat shaky, it didn¡¯t mattera€¡±once she entered the Inner Sect, she could refine it properly. Moreover, the Sect¡¯s recent actions were quite strange. Although she didn¡¯t know the specific reasons and her Peak, Creation Peak, didn¡¯t practice any War Formations due to few disciples, it also felt the impact, giving her a sense of urgency to cultivate to a higher realm and gain more resources after entering the Inner Sect. Wen Qing¡¯er, also advanced to Foundation Establishment almost simultaneously with Qin Xi. The girl had no less Spirit Stones than Qin Xi, and because her Lifebound was the Confusing God Flower Spirit, the Sect paid more attention to her. Although usually playful, her cultivation progress was by no means slow, advancing alongside Qin Xi. However, these two weren¡¯t on the Sect¡¯s list for waging war in the Otherworld. Due to the scarcity of disciples in Creation Peak, it was impossible to form various War Formations like other branches, so the peak¡¯s high-level Elders never considered sending these low-Dao Cultivation disciples to the battlefield as fodder. Additionally, Wen Qing¡¯er¡¯s Confusing God Flower Spirit was special, and the Sect did not want her, unripe in growth, to participate in such large-scale wars where countless dangers lay, which could possibly lead to this young girl dying young;;ajaran. Chapter 237 - Chapter 237 Chapter 234 Factions Gather, Formation of the Expedition Army ?Chapter 237: Chapter 234: Factions Gather, Formation of the Expedition Army Chapter 237: Chapter 234: Factions Gather, Formation of the Expedition Army The disciples of the Beast Taming Sect thought that their sect was preparing to move against either Taiyin Mountain or the Giant Spirit Sect, for these two were their sworn enemies. Long-standing hatred had caused both sides to harbor intense loathing and hostility towards each other¡¯s sects, to the point where disciples would still fall at each other¡¯s hands every year. If the sect decided to take action against those two sects, these disciples would be more than eager to settle this feud that had stretched over tens of thousands of years. The sword cultivators of Taiyin Mountain were known for their fierce and cold arrogance, the body cultivators of the Giant Spirit Sect for their overbearing might, and the Five Poisons Sect for their peculiar and unpredictable poisons. However, in the eyes of the Beast Taming Sect disciples, it was their own sect that possessed the strongest power. Though the number of inner sect disciples and the strength of the Supreme Elders seated in the various sects were roughly equal, should war truly break out, the Beast Taming Sect disciples had full confidence that they would emerge victorious in this war. Because the hidden strength of the Beast Taming Sect was undoubtedly the strongest. It wasn¡¯t in hidden manpowera€¡±there was no need for secrecy on that fronta€¡±but rather in the sect¡¯s Spiritual Beasts. Whether it was the untold number of top-level Spiritual Beasts from the Ten Thousand Demons Cave Heaven or the Spiritual Beasts each Elder had personally subdued and raised, these represented a formidable force. The strength of Taiyin Mountain¡¯s sword cultivators lay in their own Sword Dao, and the Giant Spirit Sect¡¯s body cultivators were unmatched in their brute force, but both relied solely on their own power when fighting against others, perhaps aided by a few Immortal Swords or Divine Weapons at most. The Beast Taming Sect was different, however; they were aided by Spiritual Beasts. The Supreme Elders of the Beast Taming Sect hadn¡¯t taken action for a long time, and even when they had, no one knew if they had truly given their all. After all, once the cultivators of the Beast Taming Sect advanced to the Dharma Image Realm, even considering individual combat prowess alone, they were in no way inferior to cultivators of other systems. And with Spiritual Beasts to assist them, their war power was even more superior. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í?¦Ï.§ã? Ordinary inner sect Elders were one thing, but should the Supreme Elders each raise several Spiritual Beasts of the Demon Immortal Realm, that would be a vast power indeed, not something a few Immortal Swords or Divine Weapons could compare with. This, any truly clever person would realize. Ordinary disciples of the Beast Taping Sect all had Spiritual Beasts of comparable strength to assist them in battle; who then could be sure that the Supreme Elders did not possess Spiritual Beasts of the same realm? This was the foundation of confidence for the disciples of the Beast Taming Sect! It was also the reason they were unafraid to confront Taiyin Mountain and the Giant Spirit Sect. However, just as these disciples were rubbing their hands together in eager anticipation of dealing with their sect¡¯s enemies, the arrival of disciples from the Ghost Controlling Sect of the distant East Domain shattered their illusions. One hundred thousanda€¡±the entire one hundred thousand disciples of the Ghost Controlling Sect came riding on various eerie and terrifying Ghost Boats, soaring through the sky. The entire Southern Domain¡¯s forces spread the word of this spectacle, not just the disciples of the Beast Taming Sect. Even if most of them were in the Qi Refining Realm, the sight was terrifying nonetheless. Not to mention, among those leading the mass were several Longevity Immortals from the Ghost Controlling Sect. As these figures darkened the vast void as though night had fallen, flying over the Southern Domain, everyone was shocked at their formidable strength. At one point, some cultivators in the Southern Domain even thought that the cultivators of the East Domain were preparing to wage war against them. But a moment¡¯s thought made it clear that this was impossible. Under the suppression of a few ancestors with the highest Dao cultivation in the cultivation world, even major sects hostile to each other were not permitted to unleash wars that could lead to their annihilation, let alone allow sects from other domains to engage in battle. Thus, the disciples of the Beast Taming Sect immediately realized their error; even if their sect did wish to declare war on Taiyin Mountain, they would not allow a sect from the East Domain to get involved, for that could easily lead to greater troubles. Subsequently, within the short span of a few months, more and more cultivators from various sects, including the Five Poisons Sect, began to gather outside the mountain gate of the Beast Taming Sect, baffling many disciples even further. Every Beast Taming Sect disciple who saw the millions of cultivators outside their mountain gate was shocked and confused. The sect had summoned so many forces, and regardless of the reason, it definitely was not to confront those two sects; otherwise, a catastrophic war would erupta€¡±a war that could potentially involve more and more sects as it escalated, possibly weakening the overall strength of the entire Southern Domain. Fortunately, this time the sect did not conceal the news and openly announced to the disciples the true target of this expeditiona€¡±it was not to confront those two ancient enemies but an outer Demon God World. This revelation allowed many disciples to breathe a sigh of relief while reigniting their excitement. For when the sect announced this news, they also exposed the atrocities committed by the Demon Gods, followed by informing the disciples of the many benefits of attacking this otherworld. The vile actions of the Demon Gods indeed filled many disciples with righteous indignation, but what truly excited them was the prospect of attacking another world. They believed that this was not only an opportunity to expand the territory for their sect but also a chance to seize benefits and fortunes. ?¦Ï???.?¦Ï With a bit of luck in the otherworld, acquiring ample resources, treasures, or even unique cultivation techniques could provide them the opportunity to rapidly grow stronger. And if luck was on their side, obtaining the Divine Status of a Demon God would indeed be striking it rich. Although the Divine Status of a Demon God did not align with the cultivation system of the Human Clan, it was not as if the Human Clan lacked research on divine cultivation methods; legend even had it that there was a vast Divine System supporting the Human Emperor in managing the world within the Human Clan Ancestor Realm. ¡°` Although the cultivators of this realm did not practice the Divine Dao, the divine status still held infinite benefits for them. Divine status was not only the source of power for the divine beings but also a treasure formed from the convergence of the Power of Laws. If one obtained it, whether they refined the laws within for their own use, turned it into a magical treasure, or even turned it over to their sect, they could reap endless benefits. And these were just the overt benefits. In wartime, there were many other kinds of opportunities, whether for one¡¯s own cultivation or the tempering of one¡¯s character, all played a significant role. War greatly tempers people; although it brings many disasters and casualties, it often also forges a large number of powerhouses, much like the talents that continuously emerged during the Ancient Great Tribulation. For instance, the founding ancestor of the Beast Taming Sect or the current second-generation ancestor, Jue Tian Ancestor, were all talented figures of that era. Even one of the highest cultivation realm elders in the Biluo Great World, the greatest overlord of the Northern Domain, Ghost Ancestor Cang Yang of the Ten Directions Ghost City, was one of the strongest existences to rise during the Ancient Great Tribulation. Therefore, the war had significant benefits for these invaders; the specific amount of loot depended on the individual. As for how many cultivators would die in the course of the battle, this was beyond the concern of ordinary cultivators. The majority of the lower-level cultivators didn¡¯t care too much about these risks; to gain benefits, there would naturally be dangers. Not to mention going to otherworldly battles, even when carrying out sect missions, they could face various risks, encounter disciples from rival sects, or run into bandit cultivators who valued money over life, as well as demon cultivators, Demon Beasts, and even dangerous territories that might claim their lives. Since they had embarked on the Longevity Dao, they must have the courage to lay down their lives for the Dao; otherwise, they would eventually die anyway. If there truly were timid and cowardly individuals afraid to venture into otherworlds, the sect would not compel them, lest they break the army¡¯s morale. Usually, such disciples would be assigned elsewhere to serve the sect. However, such disciples would effectively be burying their own prospects, doomed to labor for the sect for life, never to be valued by any high-ranking sect officials and even scorned by their peers. For a time, the Beast Taming Sect became the focus of the Southern Domain. The millions-strong allied cultivator army outside the sect drew countless gazes. The outside world had already begun to buzz with news that the Beast Taming Sect would soon embark on an expedition to outer domains, causing many cultivators to grow envious. Those from sects were somewhat better off; with the situation developing, they might have such opportunities in the future, whereas loose cultivators could only look on with envy. Unless they were willing to join some forces or had a high cultivation realm that others valued and were invited, they would find it difficult to have the opportunity to set foot in otherworlds. From all over the Southern Domain, countless cultivators flocked to witness this vast cultivator expeditionary army outside the Beast Taming Sect¡¯s mountain gate. Especially many young people who had traveled long distances, upon hearing of the grand undertaking the Beast Taming Sect was about to embark on, were excited and yearning to join. Naturally, the Beast Taming Sect would not miss this opportunity. Under the auspices of the Master of Ten Thousand Demons Pavilion, they took the chance to conduct big business, and trade in the market became exceptionally brisk, profiting enormously during this period. They were not only earning the Spirit Stones of those outside cultivators, but also those from various sects who came to participate in the campaign; since they were personally involved, their demand for various life-saving items was even greater. Therefore, it didn¡¯t take long for the markets at the twelve settlements outside the Beast Taming Sect¡¯s mountain gate to see an insatiable demand despite soaring prices for various Spiritual Objects. At this time, Qin Feng in the Ten Thousand Demons Cave Heaven knew nothing of these events. He had been cultivating in the Dragon Transformation Pond for some time, oblivious to the outside world and devoted to practicing the Azure Dragon Technique. It must be said that the Dragon Transformation Pond was perfectly suited for the ¡°Azure Dragon Divine Technique.¡± Cultivating a body refining technique that directly connected to the Immortal Dao was incredibly difficult. Each realm required a massive amount of resources and years of continuous practitioners¡¯ efforts to refine their physical bodies. Moreover, the body refining techniques of the Beast Taming Sect were very different from those of the Giant Spirit Sect. Without the accumulation of experience from countless cultivators like the Giant Spirit Sect, cultivation was much more challenging. To achieve minor accomplishments and initially cultivate the Azure Dragon Daoist Body, one would typically need at least a decade or more. Even Li Miao Zhen, with her exceptional talent, took so many years to cultivate the ¡°White Tiger Divine Technique,¡± which was on the same level as the ¡°Azure Dragon Divine Technique,¡± let alone Qin Feng. However, due to the existence of the Dragon Transformation Pond, the True Disciples of the Spiritual Snake Lineage could practice their body refining techniques much faster than those from other lineages. Even though such rapid cultivation might not be as solid as others¡¯ steady progress, once the cultivation was complete, they could refine it slowly afterward. Anyway, this saved over a decade¡¯s worth of cultivation time. Three months had passed, and Qin Feng, with the aid of the Dragon Transformation Pond, not only mastered the basics of the ¡°Azure Dragon Divine Technique¡± but also tempered his body from the outside in, initially cultivating the Azure Dragon Daoist Body. His cultivation also progressed to the Late Stage of Foundation Establishment. Of course, it was only the body refining aspect of the ¡°Azure Dragon Divine Technique¡± that reached the Late Stage of Foundation Establishment; his fundamental technique, the ¡°Ten Thousand Beasts Origin Scripture,¡± still needed to continue tempering his body. This two-pronged approach would truly forge a stronger foundation for him. But after cultivating the Azure Dragon Daoist Body, further tempering of his bones, meridians, and even his internal organs would become much easier, no longer as arduous as before. ¡°` Chapter 238 - Chapter 238 Chapter 235 Special Spiritual Beast ?Chapter 238: Chapter 235 Special Spiritual Beast Chapter 238: Chapter 235 Special Spiritual Beast Ning Wuxu had arrived. He had timed his arrival to the day. Three months had elapsed, and it was time to take Qin Feng out. The Dragon Transformation Pond had accumulated a significant amount of energy infused with Dragon Qi, which was not easy, and it couldn¡¯t be allowed to be incessantly drained by Qin Feng. Qin Feng had also been honest this time; unlike during his earlier cultivation in the Earth Milk Essence Pool in Heavenly Pool Cave Heaven, he didn¡¯t secretly channel any into the Demon Refining Pot. The Dragon Transformation Liquid in the pond had been hard-earned by the sect, unlike the Earth Milk Essence; it was a treasure of the sect, and he dared not help himself. Otherwise, once it was noticed that too much had been consumed, he would definitely be suspected of tampering, and even though they might not do anything to him, his standing in the eyes of the Sect¡¯s upper echelons would surely plummet. He had struggled to achieve several major contributions and earned the position of a True Disciple; he didn¡¯t want to diminish his image in the eyes of the Sect Elders for a mere bit of Dragon Transformation Liquid. Therefore, whether it was from his own volition or out of respect for the Sect¡¯s rules, he would not privately consume the Dragon Transformation Liquid. Qin Feng had originally been cultivating in the Dragon Transformation Pond. ?0¦Í?¦Ï.?¦Ï Now, with significant advancement in his cultivation, he could sense his master¡¯s arrival through the murky essence of the Dragon Transformation Liquid. Not wanting to keep his master waiting, he hastily finished his cultivation technique, and with a splash, he shot out from the pond. ¡°Master.¡± Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í??.§ã? His muscle contours were nearly perfect, and every movement carried the weight of thousands of poundsa€¡±this was the initial result of his cultivation of the Azure Dragon Daoist Body. Moreover, as his cultivation progressed, the strength of his physical body would continue to improve; after all, it was still just the beginning, and it required more time and careful refinement. If he could also master the War Skills associated with the ¡°Azure Dragon Divine Technique¡± in the future, integrating the full power of his body, he could then stand on equal footing with cultivators at the Foundation Establishment Peak solely with the strength of his physical body. At that time, he could openly declare that he dual cultivates both the Law Body and Physical Body. Upon hearing his master¡¯s compliments, Qin Feng hastily said, ¡°It is all thanks to Master¡¯s guidance and the help of the Dragon Transformation Pond that this disciple has achieved such feats.¡± ¡°Hehe¡­¡± Ning Wuxu chuckled lightly, ¡°There¡¯s no need to flatter your master, I don¡¯t fall for that.¡± ¡°Master is right.¡± Qin Feng immediately agreed, ¡°Master has shown great care for his disciple, and my words are genuinely from the heart, not meant to curry favor.¡± ¡°Mm.¡± Ning Wuxu nodded slightly, quite pleased. Clearly, he found his disciple¡¯s flattering words quite gratifying, and his previous comment was just a casual remark. He turned and began to walk outside, ¡°Alright, let¡¯s go, it is time to leave.¡± ¡°Yes, Master.¡± Qin Feng followed behind his master, heading out. As they walked, Ning Wuxu spoke, ¡°By now, the disciples from various sects have almost fully assembled, just waiting for the last bit of preparatory work to be completed and all the material support from each sect to arrive. Then, the expedition army for the raid on the Otherworld will set off.¡± ¡°That quickly?¡± Qin Feng was somewhat surprised. When he had first gone into seclusion, not a single Sect had arrived, and before his seclusion had ended, not only had the cultivators from various Sects almost gathered, but most of the preparations were nearly complete. Indeed, the efficiency of cultivators was commendable, with various Space Magical Treasures available for transporting materials and many Flying Escape Treasures to assemble the personnel. ¡°Not fast at all.¡± Ning Wuxu continued, ¡°This is also the first time the Sects have teamed up to raid the Otherworld, so there are many aspects that still need to be coordinated, which has delayed matters somewhat. Heavenly Pool Cave Heaven had its ceremony completed two months ago; now we just wait for the Sects to deliver resources and personnel. Now, only a few small, remote sects have yet to fulfill their expected contributions. Once their resources and personnel are delivered, Ancestor Gui Ling will unite the upper echelons of the sects to offer sacrifices to heaven, and then we will set off. So, regardless of whether there was any significant achievement from your cultivation of the ¡®Azure Dragon Divine Technique¡¯ during this period, it¡¯s time for you to come out from seclusion. Fortunately, seeing that you have made some progress in the Azure Dragon Daoist Body, it seems you haven¡¯t let your master¡¯s hard work go in vain.¡± ¡°Master has been troubled.¡± Qin Feng complimented, then asked, ¡°With so many forces gathering together, won¡¯t it seem too chaotic? When we reach the Otherworld, will we follow the commands of our Beast Taming Sect, or will each faction fight on their own, choosing their primary targets?¡± ¡°This had been discussed early on when we first invited numerous Sects to join forces for the raid on the Otherworld,¡± Ning Wuxu explained. ¡°At first, the factions will definitely fight together under the command of our Beast Taming Sect. Once we defeat the Demon Gods of the opposing world and rout their armies on the battlefield, separation is inevitable.¡± Ning Wuxu continued, ¡°With so many cultivators, it¡¯s not possible for everyone to stay together always, nor can such an arrangement help in occupying many areas. In the end, we need to split into several groups, attacking different forces in the opposing world simultaneously, and also giving our allies in the Beast Taming Sect an opportunity to seize resources. After all, their main motivation for participating is those benefits. Our Beast Taming Sect can¡¯t possibly hoard all the gains for ourselves; if that were the case, no other Sect would dare to cooperate with us in the future.¡± ¡°What a pity.¡± Qin Feng said with some regret, ¡°In this way, many of the resources will be shared with those sects.¡± ¡°If our Sect had insufficient strength, these events are unavoidable unless the strength of our Beast Taming Sect were many times stronger than it is now. Otherwise, we simply don¡¯t have the capability to single-handedly occupy a Medium World.¡± Ning Wuxu sighed lightly, then added, ¡°However, it¡¯s not completely disadvantageous. Since we couldn¡¯t conquer that world alone, relying on other Sects to achieve victory is somewhat beneficial for us. Furthermore, this arrangement also prevents heavy losses among our disciples. Moreover, after this joint raid on the Otherworld, each Sect will gain substantial benefits. If they wish to continue reaping benefits from that world, they must align themselves with our Beast Taming Sect. From then on, they can only be allies of our Beast Taming Sect.¡± ¡°In this way, one might say that I indirectly strengthened our power, and gathering alliances in the future should be much easier,¡± Qin Feng nodded. He realized his thinking had been rather narrow. Since he had chosen to form alliances, it was only right to share the benefits with others. He felt he should learn the magnanimity of his master; in circumstances that had become certain, he should find aspects that benefitted their side, just like this method of linking the interests of various Sects to their own Sect, was something he needed to learn. After pondering for a moment, he asked, ¡°Master, if the Sect could acquire abundant resources from another world, it should allow our Sect to develop rapidly, right?¡± ¡°It¡¯s not that simple.¡± Ning Wuxu said, ¡°Even if everything goes smoothly, the Sect doesn¡¯t lose many people during the expedition to otherworlds, and manages to obtain a large amount of resources, it would still take hundreds to thousands of years to train enough disciples to enhance the potential of the Sect. And if you wish to turn potential into real power, you would need a large number of geniuses and a good number of people who can overcome tribulations to Prove Dao and become Immortals. Only Immortals can change the structure of the Sect to some extent. But to completely surpass the current state, there would need to be one or two more individuals with a Golden Immortal or higher level of Dao Cultivation.¡± ¡°Does it have to be a realm higher than Golden Immortal?¡± Qin Feng frowned, considering the difficulty. ¡°Exactly.¡± Ning Wuxu said leisurely, ¡°Only beings above Golden Immortal truly embody the profound foundation that supports the Sect¡¯s prosperity. If both Gui Ling Ancestor and Elder Kongkong achieve Golden Immortal in the future, and more disciples succeed in Proving Dao to become Immortals, only then will the Sect genuinely thrive. The smaller and medium Sects envy us, the Major Sects, so they do not want to miss this opportunity to grow and strengthen, earnestly responding to our call, hoping to receive ample benefits from otherworlds, and perhaps one day match the strength of our Beast Taming Sect. Little do they know that we also yearn to become stronger and wish to be one of the overlords in the Southern Domain!¡± ¡°Overlord?¡± Qin Feng asked curiously, ¡°Master, if both Gui Ling Grandmaster and Grandmaster Kongkong advance to Golden Immortal, could we then become the overlord of the Southern Domain?¡± Ning Wuxu shook his head, ¡°We can only say there¡¯s a hope, but in reality, it¡¯s still a bit short.¡± ¡°Even three Golden Immortals aren¡¯t enough?¡± Qin Feng was astonished. ¡°What do you think?¡± Ning Wuxu gave a bitter smile, ¡°The founder of War God Palace, Ancestor Zhan Tian, who holds sway over the Southern Domain, has a Dao Cultivation in the Daluo Realm, with not a few under him being Saint Immortals in the Eternal Realm and Golden Immortals in the Immortal Realm. The other two powerful groups also have strong beings in the Eternal Realm; we are still far behind them.¡± Qin Feng was taken aback upon hearing this, ¡°So many powerful individuals exist in our realm; we surely aren¡¯t considered weak among the Great Worlds, right?¡± ¡°Definitely not weak, otherwise, we wouldn¡¯t have lasted that long when attacked by many worlds during the Ancient Great Tribulation.¡± Ning Wuxu shook his head, ¡°Anyway, it¡¯s pointless to talk about this; you should focus on your Cultivation, solidify your foundation, and seek to advance to Golden Core as soon as possible. Your current Cultivation level still seems a bit weak on the battlefield.¡± Qin Feng acknowledged. As they spoke, the two had already walked outside. ¡°Have you decided which Spiritual Beast you want to obtain?¡± Ning Wuxu asked, ¡°There are many Spiritual Beasts in the Ten Thousand Demons Cave Heaven, each with strong Bloodlines and different abilities. You also have a reward to claim a Spiritual Beast, have you thought about which one you want?¡± Qin Feng hesitated. The truth was, after seeing the myriad Spiritual Beasts in the Ten Thousand Demons Cave Heaven, claiming he wasn¡¯t tempted would be a lie. He desired many types of Spiritual Beasts. He wanted a Spiritual Bird with even faster flying speed, so that he could quickly escape danger. He wanted a Spiritual Beast with strong defense power to step forth and protect him in critical moments. He wanted a Spiritual Beast with sharp and dominant attack capabilities to help him compete in otherworlds, one proficient in escaping for critical moments, and even one skilled in raids to deliver lethal blows to his opponents. Moreover, he even wanted a Spiritual Beast that could lead him away from misfortune and was adept in the path of fate and karma, to avoid potential dangers that might come his way. However, the last wish was purely his fanciful thinking. Because no Spiritual Beast would be proficient in the path of fate and karma before Enlightenment, and even those naturally equipped with some fortune-avoiding abilities were extremely rare. After learning that the Gui Ling Ancestor had the ability for Prediction Calculation, he entertained this idea; he too wanted such capabilities. Unfortunately, the need for immense talent for Prediction Calculation was essential; otherwise, the complicated Karma Threads would confuse 99% of Cultivators. He thought he might tame a Spirit Turtle with prediction capabilitiesa€¡± even if its power was initially lacking, it wouldn¡¯t matter. He could integrate the Bloodline Divine Power of other Spirit Turtles into it, potentially nurturing a Spirit Turtle that possessed both strong battle capabilities and prediction skills. Plus, with the defensive power of the Spirit Turtle, it would also solve his lack of defensive Spiritual Beasts, killing several birds with one stone, indeed a well-calculated plan. Unfortunately, the Demon Refining Pot currently only had two layers of space available, leaving no room for growth. If he focused on integrating Bloodlines for his own Spiritual Beasts, there would be significant restrictions as well. Currently, his Spirit Stones were running low, definitely not enough to further cultivate the Swallowing Sky Toad. The only unrestricted option was the Ruyi Golden Snake since the second layer still supported with a Spirit Vein. But now, this was his only chance to obtain a Spiritual Beast from the Ten Thousand Demons Cave Heaven; who knew when the next opportunity would come. Compared to adding one or two Divine Skills to the Ruyi Golden Snake, he was more eager to acquire a rare and specially skilled Spiritual Beast. Chapter 240 - Chapter 240 Chapter 237 Spiritual Tree Demon Immortal ?Chapter 240: Chapter 237: Spiritual Tree Demon Immortal Chapter 240: Chapter 237: Spiritual Tree Demon Immortal Qin Feng¡¯s gaze lingered upon the group of Fire Jiao Dragons, and he couldn¡¯t help but frown. For he discovered that even the smallest of these dozen or so Fire Jiao Dragons was seventy to ninety feet long, possessing the strength of the Demon Core Realm. As for the few Jiao Dragons exceeding three hundred feet, they must be from the Purple Mansion Realm. Such powerful Spiritual Beasts were certainly not something he could tame. A flash of golden light emanated from his body, and in an instant, he merged with the Ruyi Golden Snake, sprouting golden wings on his back and flying above the volcano¡¯s crater to see if there were any other Fire Jiao Dragons hidden inside. A curious Jiao Dragon twirling in mid-air flew close to Qin Feng, circled around him a few times, and even stretched out its massive claws to curiously touch the wings on Qin Feng¡¯s back. However, it only touched the wings for a moment before leaving Qin Feng upon the call of the other Jiao Dragons, off to play with its companions. Qin Feng did not mind this, knowing that these Jiao Dragons would not harm him. Having lived for years in the Ten Thousand Demons Cave Heaven, they had grown accustomed to the presence of disciples from the Beast Taming Sect and had not attacked humans for many years. He turned his attention inside the crater and immediately saw a massive Jiao Dragon, three hundred feet in length. This Jiao Dragon was incredibly powerful, capable of spouting flames tens of feet long with just a snort, and its immense aura made it difficult for Qin Feng to discern its exact strength. Currently, it was lazily lying in the scorching magma, much like soaking in a hot spring. The surging magma, far from harming it, was even blocked halfway by its vast body, cutting off its rapid flow. Not far from this Jiao Dragon, about thirty to forty feet away from the lava river, two young Jiao Dragons about three feet long clumsily maneuvered through large rock crevices, frolicking and playing. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï??¦Ï.§ã¦Ï Beyond that, no other Jiao Dragons were hiding there. After scanning several times, Qin Feng reluctantly asked his master Ning Wuxu, ¡°Master, are all these Fire Jiao Dragons so strong? Are there any other juvenile Jiao Dragons?¡± ¡°Originally, there were two Fire Jiao Dragons in the Foundation Establishment Realm.¡± Ning Wuxu laughed and said, ¡°But you came too late. Because the war to conquer the Otherworld is about to start, every disciple is trying to enhance their strength as quickly as possible. So, in the months while you were in seclusion, those two Fire Jiao Dragons have already been tamed by other disciples. I thought you would not choose a Fire Element Jiao Dragon, so I did not reserve one for you in advance.¡± Hearing what his master said, Qin Feng¡¯s face twitched involuntarily. Had he known this, he would have tamed a Fire Jiao Dragon earlier. He had been so engrossed in cultivation these past few months that he forgot about this. Seeing Qin Feng¡¯s gloomy face, Ning Wuxu couldn¡¯t help but shake his head and chuckle, ¡°Because of this great war, it¡¯s not just the Jiao Dragons; even other Spiritual Beasts in the Ten Thousand Demons Cave Heaven have recently decreased a lot. Not only the Inner Sect disciples who have made achievements will come here, but even the Elders who are preparing to join the expedition have tamed some of the powerful Spiritual Beasts to prepare for the upcoming war. Since you didn¡¯t say anything in advance, as a master, I couldn¡¯t stop other disciples from taming them. There aren¡¯t many Fire Jiao Dragons to begin with, only about a dozen or twenty, and it takes decades for an adult Fire Jiao to lay one or two Jiao Dragon Eggs. Now, as you can see, only those two young Jiao Dragons here are still juvenile. It¡¯s a pity that your strength is not enough; otherwise, you could directly tame a Demon Core Realm Jiao Dragon. Here, adult Jiao Dragons are common, but juveniles are always scarce. Why don¡¯t you choose a Water Element Jiao Dragon or a Spiritual Snake? Or you could pick a powerful Spiritual Beast from among the others to protect you.¡± ¡°Thisa€|¡± Qin Feng hesitated for a moment. He thought about whether to save this opportunity for later when his strength was stronger. After all, there would be more varieties to choose from then. However, he soon erased this idea from his mind. With an impending battle and facing many dangers, it was better to focus on the present. As for the future, once he had made his achievements, the Sect would naturally grant him more rewards, and he wouldn¡¯t have to worry about not having opportunities to tame other Spiritual Beasts. Besides, once his strength was substantial, he could forcibly subdue those ferocious Demon Beasts roaming the wilderness even in the wild. But now, what Spiritual Beast should he choose? Seeing his hesitation, Ning Wuxu said, ¡°It¡¯s better to make a choice quickly. The Sect has granted greater access to ensure victory in this war and to protect the disciples¡¯ lives as much as possible. Any disciple who has made a certain contribution to the Sect has the opportunity to come here and tame a Spiritual Beast. Currently, the available Spiritual Beasts are indeed few, and even now, there are many disciples in the cave taming the Spiritual Beasts they need. In a few days, I even doubt if there will be any Foundation Establishment Spiritual Beasts left in the Ten Thousand Demons Cave Heaven. In the future, the Sect¡¯s sale of top-level Spiritual Beasts will definitely decrease. Without two to three hundred years to reproduce offspring, the Spiritual Beasts in the Ten Thousand Demons Cave Heaven will not recover to their previous numbers. So, if you want to tame a Spiritual Beast, you should do it quickly; otherwise, there will only be fewer options later.¡± Is it that severe? Qin Feng was somewhat astonished. After thinking for a moment, he quickly said, ¡°Master, please help me select a powerful Spiritual Beast. Let¡¯s skip the Water Element Spiritual Snakes and Jiao Dragons. In places without water, their strength is relatively weaker.¡± ¡°That¡¯s fine.¡± Ning Wuxu did not urge him further. He had some understanding of the world about to be conquered. When Gui Ling Ancestor and Elder Kongkong had locked onto that Demon God¡¯s Divine Sense to pinpoint the other world, they had glimpsed through endless time and space. Although it was just a glimpse and hard to see the full picture, he felt that the world had a richer Fire Spirit Energy. Therefore, it was natural that his disciple did not wish to choose a Water Element Spiritual Beast. He asked, ¡°There are many powerful Spiritual Beasts. Which type are you interested in? Lions, tigers, bears, elephants, leopards, or perhaps Spiritual Apes, Barbarian Bulls, Giant Crocodiles, Poison Lizards, and the like? Forget it, I will take you around the Ten Thousand Demons Cave Heaven to see what kinds of Spiritual Beasts are still suitable for you. Recently, many disciples who are about to set out for the expedition have taken too many Spiritual Beasts from the cave, and many powerful Foundation Establishment Demon Beasts have already been taken away. What¡¯s left are either those who have already formed a Demon Core or some juvenile Spiritual Beasts whose combat abilities have not yet grown. Let¡¯s start looking.¡± Qin Feng nodded, ¡°Thank you, Master.¡± Ning Wuxu smiled faintly and began to lead Qin Feng on a tour through the cave heaven. As Qin Feng journeyed forward, he noticed that there were indeed many more disciples within the Grotto Heaven. Merely flying a few hundred miles, they had already encountered numerous groups of disciples engaging in battles with Spiritual Beasts, aiming to tame them. Even around some powerful Spiritual Beasts, there were not just one or two Inner Sect Disciples, for the more powerful a Spiritual Beast was, the more popular it became. Thus, many disciples were eyeing these beasts. Moreover, Qin Feng discovered that it was not only Foundation Establishment Realm Disciples, but also many Golden Core Realm Disciples and even one or two Elders from realms above the Purple Mansion Realm were present. However, these Elders did not need to battle with Spiritual Beasts. Their authority in the Sect was immense; by simply showing their Elder Token, they could make those Spiritual Beasts of their same class obediently submit, without needing the acknowledgment of the beasts as the disciples did to tame them. After observing the situation with some Spiritual Beasts, Qin Feng¡¯s heart immediately tightened. He discovered that among the species of Spiritual Beasts he favored most, such as the Great Strength Divine Ape, Thunder Giant Beast, Fierce Giant Bear, Fiery Flame Lion, etc., those that excelled in head-on battles, there wasn¡¯t a single Foundation-Establishment Realm left among them, clearly having been preempted by other disciples. ?0¦Í??.§ã¦Ï The remaining beasts were either young cubs that had not yet matured, or they were adult Spiritual Beasts that had already formed Demon Cores or even reached realms above Purple Mansion, far beyond his ability to tame. He then looked at a dozen more types of Spiritual Beasts, feeling somewhat hesitant about whether to randomly pick one or to continue choosing. Seeing so many disciples coming in to select Spiritual Beasts, he was worried that by the time he returned from taking another round, none of these beasts would be left. While flying, the corner of his eye suddenly caught sight of a lush, dense forest. In that forest, there were virtually no fierce Spiritual Beasts living, but there were some Spiritual Butterflies and small Spiritual Birds building their nests, flitting back and forth. What really caught his eye was not the Spiritual Butterflies or Birdsa€¡±he had no intention of taming Spiritual Butterflies at the moment, as these beasts were not suitable for direct combat. What drew his sideways glance were the several dozen exceptionally tall Spiritual Trees standing within that forest, each towering nearly a hundred feet tall, with the tallest tree reaching into the skies, its crown piercing through the cloud layer above. Ning Wuxu, seeing his gaze turning towards there, explained, ¡°That area is where Spirit Plants, transformed into Plant Demons by the Creation Lineage, are specifically used to cultivate the Plant Clan. The biggest Tree Demon already possesses cultivation at the Heavenly Immortal Realm.¡± ¡°Heavenly Immortal?¡± Qin Feng was greatly surprised. Seeing a Tree Demon here was not strange, but that this ancient tree possessed the Dao cultivation of a Heavenly Immortal was utterly beyond his expectations. ¡°Don¡¯t be surprised; that is a Spiritual Tree Demon Immortal cultivated by Elder Liuling of the Creation Lineage through tens of thousands of years of painstaking effort.¡± Ning Wuxu laughed, ¡°Elder Liuling is the Supreme Elder with the highest Dao cultivation in the Sect after Jue Tian Ancestor, Gui Ling Ancestor, and Elder Kongkong. Even when it comes to combat power, a number of Elders ranked below her combined might not be able to match up to her.¡± Qin Feng was astounded, ¡°That powerful?¡± ¡°Of course, or why do you think the Creation Lineage, despite its few members, holds such a high position within the Sect?¡± Ning Wuxu said, ¡°Elder Liuling is the first Immortal born in the Sect after the Ancient Great Tribulation. Her title ¡®Liuling¡¯ is not just a name, but also represents her six types of fierce Spiritual Beasts, each one is extremely powerful. United, they once withstood a Profound Immortal Realm expert without falling under.¡± ¡°Elder Liuling¡¯s Cultivation level is what?¡± Qin Feng asked. ¡°Heavenly Immortal Peak, and it¡¯s said that he¡¯s not far from breaking through to the Profound Immortal Realm. He could break through at any time, and once he does, our Beast Taming Sect will gain another Dao Cultivated Profound Immortal,¡± was the reply. Qin Feng nodded. With Elder Liuling¡¯s current combat power bridging Heavenly Immortal and Profound Immortal, once he advanced to the Profound Immortal Realm, he would most likely belong to the top echelon even there! Of course, this was only true with the help of his Spiritual Beasts. Without those powerful beasts, Elder Liuling certainly wouldn¡¯t possess such strength. He turned his head and surveyed the forest intently for a moment, then suddenly pointed to a vine growing on a cliff and said, ¡°Master, what do you think about the strength of that Vine Demon?¡± Ning Wuxu followed his pointing finger and glanced in that direction, nodding slightly, ¡°Foundation Establishment Peak, not bad. Why, are you interested in that Soul Devouring Vine?¡± ¡°A bit tempted.¡± Qin Feng explained, ¡°The Spiritual Beasts I possess each have their uses, but none are suitable for entanglement in combat. This Vine Demon has so many vines and can cover the entire cliff; it¡¯s not small sized. If I¡¯m surrounded in battle, releasing it might help me tie up many opponents and give me a chance to breathe. While I was in the Outer Sect, I heard an Elder in the Preaching Pavilion say that Soul Devouring Vine is actually quite similar to Bloodthirsty Vine, though I¡¯m not sure if that¡¯s true?¡± ¡°That¡¯s correct.¡± Ning Wuxu nodded and said, ¡°Strictly speaking, Soul Devouring Vine is a variant of Bloodthirsty Vine. Due to environmental constraints and the lack of sufficient live Blood Food, it can only absorb Spiritual Energy to sustain itself. Over the years, that¡¯s how Soul Devouring Vines came into existence. Once such Spiritual Vines become demons, their autonomous consciousness is stronger, and they possess greater attack power than in their previous muddled state. Moreover, Soul Devouring Vines prefer to transform absorbed Spiritual Power into vital energy stored within their bodies. In battle, even if their vines are cut, they can quickly regrow. If you plan to use it to entangle opponents, it¡¯s quite suitable.¡± ¡°In that case, it¡¯s decided.¡± Qin Feng quickly made up his mind. Since the Spiritual Beast he most wanted had already been tamed by someone else, he had to focus on his current needs. Instead of looking for another beast to aid in combat, it would be better to tame this Soul Devouring Vine Demon to help him entangle opponents on the battlefield while he took the opportunity to strike. As for beasts suited for strong attacks, he still had the Fire Ape. The master had gifted him many Spiritual Objects recently, which had helped heal the Fire Ape¡¯s injuries. Although the Fire Ape¡¯s injuries were severe, as a mere Foundation Establishment Realm Beast, it was nothing much for Ning Wuxu, who was at the Primordial Spirit Realm. With frontal combat and long-range attacks handled by the Fire Ape, entanglement by the Soul Devouring Vine Demon, surprise attacks by the Swallowing Sky Toad, and aerial combat by the Spiritual Vulture, he could also burrow underground for stealth attacks. From the skies to the ground, close combat to distant attack, sneak attacksa€¡±all these tactics should be sufficient for now. Ning Wuxu nodded, ¡°Since you¡¯re willing, it¡¯s up to you. I¡¯ll speak to the Spiritual Tree Demon Immortal since this is its territory, and it oversees all Spirit Plants here.¡± He did not interfere much with his disciple¡¯s choice, as each disciple in the Beast Taming Sect might have different Spiritual Beasts, and how they chose and combined them in battle was up to them. Chapter 241 - Chapter 241 Chapter 238 The Temptation of the Senior Sister ?Chapter 241: Chapter 238: The Temptation of the Senior Sister Chapter 241: Chapter 238: The Temptation of the Senior Sister ¡°Tree Elder.¡± With Ning Wuxu¡¯s call, the tall and sturdy ancient Spiritual Tree that soared into the skies suddenly trembled. Flap flap flap, dozens of Spiritual Birds perched on the branches were startled into flight, circling for a moment before, possibly sensing no danger, they finally settled back down. A weathered face gradually appeared on the vast trunk of the tree, covered with dense wrinkles and a long, drooping beard. This aged face seemed to have undergone countless years of vicissitudes. However, beneath the signs of age, there was also a kind of vigorous vitality. It should have been quite contradictory, yet it felt incredibly natural, without the slightest sense of discordance. Tree Elder slowly opened his eyes to look at Ning Wuxu, carefully recognizing for a moment before saying, ¡°Ah, it¡¯s you, Ning Wuxu of the Spiritual Snake Lineage, um, your cultivation has progressed quite rapidly. Last time I saw you, you had just formed your Golden Core, and now you have already cultivated to the Primordial Spirit Realm. Human Clan Cultivators really are blessed in ways that an old piece of deadwood like me cannot match.¡± Ning Wuxu bowed in respect, ¡°Tree Elder is too kind. It has been a thousand years since we last met; some progress on my part is to be expected.¡± ¡°Ah, has it already been a thousand years?¡± Tree Elder seemed a bit confused, and after a long moment, he sighed helplessly, ¡°I¡¯m old; I¡¯ve dozed off a few times and have already lost track of time.¡± Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï???.§ã¦Ï This Tree Elder had merely slept a few times, and a thousand years had passed? That was some serious sleeping! ?¦Ï¦Í??.?? One must know that over ninety percent of cultivators in the world don¡¯t even have a lifespan of a thousand years. This one, however, seemed to effortlessly spend such lengthy periods of time sleeping. But then, he might not actually have been sleeping. Qin Feng had not cultivated to the Tree Elder¡¯s cultivation realm; how could he know whether such an existence was truly sleeping or traversing the void and embracing the Dao? Ahead, after the Tree Elder expressed his sentiment, he asked Ning Wuxu, ¡°What brings you here?¡± ¡°It is like this.¡± Ning Wuxu gestured with his hand towards Qin Feng behind him and said, ¡°This is my disciple, Qin Feng. He has taken a liking to the Soul Devouring Vine Demon on that cliff and wishes to tame it. I ask for Tree Elder¡¯s permission.¡± ¡°Oh, I thought it was something serious.¡± Tree Elder¡¯s massive face shifted slightly on the tree trunk, glanced at the Vine Demon on the cliff, and after transmitting a wisp of divine thought, he said, ¡°Go ahead, I have already spoken to it. As long as your disciple can gain its recognition, he can directly take the Vine Demon away. Besides, that little Vine Demon itself isn¡¯t one to settle down. When it has nothing to do, it loves to provoke other Tree Demons. It¡¯s best to take it away quickly to give everyone some peace.¡± ¡°Thank you, Tree Elder.¡± Qin Feng bowed to the Tree Elder, then rose and flew towards the Vine Demon on the cliff. The process of taming the Vine Demon was simple and crude, without much difficulty. Although the Vine Demon had some not insignificant ability, dozens of vines, large and small, whipped and entangled wildly. Its main body was as tough as iron, with sharp thorns growing amongst the branches and leaves. Even when the vines were sliced through by Qin Feng, they would quickly grow back. But its growth speed clearly could not keep up with Qin Feng¡¯s slashing pace. Since Ning Wuxu helped him infuse a trace of the Origin Sword Qi¡¯s golden light from the Golden Light Mirror into the innate divine ability of the Ruyi Golden Snake, the power of Ruyi Divine Light had greatly increased, its sharpness now comparable to a top-grade Spiritual Artifact, the Flying Sword. This was just the current effect; as his cultivation progressed, the Ruyi Golden Light would certainly become even sharper, surpassing the level of magical treasures and even Spiritual Treasure-level Flying Swords was not impossible. The body of the Soul Devouring Vine Demon was tough, but still not strong enough to withstand the first slashing strike of the Ruyi Golden Light. When Qin Feng bolstered his back wings with Ruyi Golden Light, he was like cutting through vegetables with ease, severing the vine demon¡¯s vines that were intended to entangle him. While doing so would consume a significant amount of Ruyi Golden Light, he had no intention of engaging in a protracted battle with the Soul Devouring Vine Demon. Faster than lightning with the boost from the Ruyi Golden Light, he charged directly to the root of the vine demon. Wrapping his arms around the base, he summoned all his strength and actually managed to uproot the vine demon from the ground. This was the result of his preliminary cultivation of the Azure Dragon Daoist Body. The ¡°Azure Dragon Divine Technique¡± was a Body Refining Technique that led directly to the Immortal Dao and, in some respects, was not inferior to the Body Refining Techniques of the Giant Spirit Sect. However, thus far, no cultivator had used this Divine Art to reach the Golden Immortal Realm, which was why it seemed less formidable than the Giant Spirit Sect¡¯s Body Refining Techniques. But at the same cultivation realm, it was definitely a technique that could stand toe to toe with the Body Refining Cultivators of the Giant Spirit Sect, so concentrating his body¡¯s strength to uproot a spiritual vine was not too difficult a task for Qin Feng. Had it been a Spiritual Tree, he would not have been able to do this since the roots of the Spiritual Wells and Trees were too developed. However, while the roots of the Soul Devouring Vine Demon also penetrated deep underground, apart from the main root, the other roots were relatively delicate. More importantly, several feet below the surface was the main part where the vine demon stored its energy. Now exposed on the ground, especially when the distinctly thicker root was wrapped by the sharp Ruyi Golden Light, the Soul Devouring Vine Demon suddenly became docile. Lying there motionless, it coiled up all its vines, obediently showing a submissive posture, allowing Qin Feng to implant the Binding Great Spell into its divine soul. Once the Binding Spell was successfully seeded, Qin Feng quickly communicated with the vine demon before storing it in the Spiritual Beast Bag within his sleeve. In the presence of his master and the Tree Elder of the Heavenly Immortal Realm, he did not wish to reveal the existence of his Demon Refining Pot. It wasn¡¯t that he feared these two would snatch his treasure, but rather he was concerned that if word got out, others might covet it. In the future, someone might lay traps for him in secret to kill him and obtain his Demon Refining Pot. After capturing the Soul Devouring Vine Demon, Ning Wuxu bade the Tree Elder farewell and took Qin Feng toward a large hall in the center of the Grotto Heaven. This place was where the sect¡¯s personnel managed all the spiritual beasts of the Ten Thousand Demons Cave Heaven. Everything from the living environment of the spiritual beasts to their food supply required the sect¡¯s disciples to categorize and handle accordingly. Of course, whether a new spiritual beast was born or one was taken away by a sect cultivator, all such events also needed to be registered here for ease of management by the sect. After registering his subjugation of the Soul Devouring Vine Demon, Ning Wuxu left promptly with Qin Feng and flew out of the Grotto Heaven. With the cultivators from various sects of the alliance gathered at the Beast Taming Sect, most disciples naturally had to be stationed outside the Mountain Gate, but the main representatives of each sect were still inside the Beast Taming Sect, discussing with the elders how to join forces in battle. As a Great Elder of the Spiritual Snake lineage and one of the strongest elders of the Beast Taming Sect, Ning Wuxu could not be absent for long. After all, he was one of the main higher-ups commanding the cultivator army, and many discussions simply could not proceed without him. Thus, after bringing Qin Feng back to the Heavenly Snake Ridge, he merely inquired briefly about his current cultivation, then quickly left the ridge to attend the alliance meeting at the sect¡¯s main hall. As for any doubts Qin Feng had about his cultivation, he could consult his senior brothers and sisters. For now, having just cultivated his Azure Dragon Daoist Body, Qin Feng¡¯s most important task was to stabilize his cultivation and then continue to temper his Daoist Body with the techniques from the ¡°Ten Thousand Beasts Origin Scripture¡± to forge an even more robust Daoist Foundation. In addition, he needed to seize the time to strengthen the bond with his Lifebound Spiritual Beast, quickly master the Ruyi Golden Light divine ability, and then he would be able to cultivate the Golden Hole Finger. Fortunately, Qin Feng had already gained significant insight into divine skills while practicing the Shrinking Ground to Inch technique, and now the connection with his Ruyi Golden Snake was steadily growing stronger. The day when he could rely on his Lifebound Spiritual Beast to achieve his own divine skills was not far away. In addition to cultivation, he had quite a few things to ask his senior brothers and sisters, especially regarding many doubts he had about cultivation. Originally, he hadn¡¯t had so many questions, but after achieving some success with the Azure Dragon Divine Technique, and re-refining his Daoist Body, he had gained different insights into cultivation. However, Hao Shicheng did not have such experience; after all, he was not a true disciple and had not cultivated the Azure Dragon Divine Technique, and many things were unclear to him. The eldest senior brother could have been helpful, as a true disciple from two generations ago, with hundreds of years of cultivation and deep Dao cultivation, he would be capable of advising Qin Feng on all the problems he was encountering. However, unfortunately, this eldest senior brother was usually very busy, often training disciples for the sect, teaching them the coordination of war formations, and instructing them on how to fight against others on the battlefield, hence his presence was rarely seen. As a result, the one truly available who Qin Feng could frequently consult was Liu Xuanling. Although Liu Xuanling had not cultivated the Azure Dragon Divine Technique, she had also studied the Taiyin Refining God Technique, a legacy technique from the Ancient Great Sect of Guanghan Palace. Even though the Taiyin Refining God Technique was not a Body Refinement Technique but was specifically for the cultivation of the Divine Soul, there were no issues for her in advising a small Foundation Establishment Cultivator like him, since Liu Xuanling¡¯s understanding of Dao principles was profound. Moreover, Liu Xuanling was very interested in the Azure Dragon Divine Technique, a technique that only true disciples could cultivate. Although she did not dare to force Qin Feng to teach her the Azure Dragon Divine Technique, she was secretly probing the mysteries of this divine art while advising him. Truth be told, she and Qin Feng were following two different paths. Qin Feng, practicing both body cultivation and other techniques, would eventually be able to rely on his physical body to become a saint and embark on the Longevity Immortal Path. Liu Xuanling¡¯s path was different; the Beast Taming Sect¡¯s techniques were already heavily focused on cultivating the Divine Soul. On top of the Heavenly Snake Swallowing the Moon Technique, she also cultivated the Taiyin Refining God Technique. Her Primordial Spirit would undoubtedly become incredibly powerful in the future, which would greatly benefit her understanding of the Dao. If she wished, she could also tame more Spiritual Beasts than other people. Even if she became powerful enough, taming higher-level Spiritual Beasts wasn¡¯t necessarily out of the question, of course, provided she could overpower the more powerful Spiritual Beasts first. In the Guanghan Palace legacy, there was a matching Body Refining Technique called the Taiyin Refining Shape Technique, a Supreme Technique for cultivating the Taiyin Daoist Body. Unfortunately, Liu Xuanling did not receive it at the beginning, so she did not cultivate her physical body. But this was perhaps for the best; after all, the energy of a person is finite. Disciples of the Beast Taming Sect already needed to care for their Spiritual Beasts while cultivating, and she had also undertaken a Soul Refining Technique. If she added another Body Refinement Technique, her speed of cultivation would have significantly decreased, and it might not have been advantageous. Liu Xuanling had recently advanced to the Purple Mansion realm, but with her solid foundation, she did not need to spend time stabilizing her cultivation, so she seemed relatively free. Since her little junior brother proactively sought her advice on cultivation, she naturally did not hesitate to teach him, and it was also an excellent opportunity to glimpse the mysteries of the Azure Dragon Divine Technique. ¡°Little junior brother, run through your cultivation technique a few more times,¡± Liu Xuanling instructed, leaning closer to Qin Feng with a seductive tone, ¡°so your senior sister can comprehend it slowly and better advise you on your future cultivation.¡± Qin Feng looked at the stunning face before him and felt his mouth go dry, but he quickly regained his composure and said, ¡°Senior sister, I have taken an oath never to reveal the Azure Dragon Divine Technique to outsiders.¡± ¡°Hey, I¡¯m hardly an outsider,¡± Liu Xuanling muttered dissatisfied, then continued, ¡°I¡¯m not asking you to teach me the cultivation method of the Azure Dragon Divine Technique, just offering you advice on your cultivation.¡± Helplessly, Qin Feng said, ¡°Senior sister, I¡¯m truly grateful for your willingness to guide my cultivation, but could you possibly refrain from poking and prodding me while you do? How am I supposed to cultivate like this?¡± ¡°I am just concerned about you encountering any mishaps during your practice,¡± she said, ¡°I¡¯m helping you by acting as your protector.¡± Liu Xuanling opened her big eyes and started to spout nonsense. ¡°Originally, there shouldn¡¯t have been any mishaps, but after your poking and prodding around, I ran into several issues with my cultivation technique, and I almost injured my meridians.¡± Qin Feng let out a soft sigh, ¡°The thing I regret most right now is coming to you for guidance in my cultivation. Maybe I should just go back and cultivate on my own.¡± Liu Xuanling¡¯s eyes widened, ¡°Are you looking down on my abilities, thinking that I¡¯m not fit to guide you?¡± ¡°That¡¯s not it.¡± Qin Feng shook his head, ¡°But Sister, you¡¯re trying to guide me on too many things, and many of them I already know. You¡¯re just trying to understand the specific cultivation pathways of the ¡®Azure Dragon Divine Technique¡¯ under the guise of guiding me, right? I advise you to give up on that. Even if you manage to figure it out, it¡¯s useless, you won¡¯t be able to fully comprehend the divine technique.¡± ¡°I know that, it¡¯s just that I can¡¯t quite accept it. If it weren¡¯t for Long Qibian entering the Sect so many years before me, how could he have taken the position of the previous generation¡¯s True Inheritance? In terms of cultivation and potential, how am I not stronger than him? Yet just because he joined the Sect many years before me, he manages to push me out of the True Discipleship, otherwise why would I take the risk to enter the Taiyin Secret Realm for inheritance!¡± Liu Xuanling said resentfully. Then, with a crafty glint in her eye, she put on a flattering expression, ¡°Little Junior Brother, just obediently run the ¡®Azure Dragon Divine Technique¡¯ for me to watch a few more times. I just want to get a feel for the essence of the technique and draw some inspiration, I won¡¯t actually cause you to break the Sect rules.¡± ¡°No way.¡± Qin Feng flatly refused, ¡°I¡¯m afraid you might really mess up my cultivation and drive me to insanity, then I¡¯ll be at a huge loss.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t be so stingy, I¡¯m your senior sister, I wouldn¡¯t harm you.¡± ¡°No means no.¡± Qin Feng spoke righteously, ¡°This is a secret technique of the Sect, not to be disclosed to outsiders, even if you are my senior sister, it¡¯s not allowed.¡± ¡°What if I add this to the offer?¡± Liu Xuanling flipped her jade-like hand and took out a jade bottle, waggling it in front of Qin Feng¡¯s face and said languidly, ¡°This is a bottle of life-saving ¡®Revive Pills¡¯. You should know their effects, as long as you¡¯re still breathing, no matter how severe your injuries are, they can keep you alive, possessing the power to turn the tide. Originally, I felt you were heading to the Otherworld Battlefield and it was too dangerous, so I wanted to give you this bottle of elixir. But now I think¡­¡± ¡°Where are you coming from, Senior Sister? We¡¯re the closest of sisters and brothers. Isn¡¯t it just to have a look at your Junior Brother¡¯s cultivation pathway? Speaking of which, I need to consult you on some difficulties in my cultivation, so please do guide me more.¡± Qin Feng snatched the jade bottle from Liu Xuanling¡¯s hand, immediately changing his tune. Half a day later. ¡°Senior Sister, I really can¡¯t do it anymore.¡± Qin Feng¡¯s face turned bright red, ¡°You¡¯ve muddled up several of my meridians, and if this continues, the qi and blood in my body are going to erupt in turmoil, I can¡¯t hold on much longer.¡± ¡°Is that so?¡± Liu Xuanling somehow produced a bright red spirit fruit, ¡°This is the ¡®Chi Yan Spirit Fruit¡¯ formed deep within the Fire Spirit Vein. It¡¯s a coveted spiritual object for all Fire Element Spiritual Beasts, especially those about to advance. After consuming it, they¡¯re very likely to directly form a Demon Core, you know!¡± ¡°¡­Senior Sister, I think I¡¯m still okay. Shall we continue?¡± Chapter 242 - Chapter 242 Chapter 239 Cultivate War Skills and Condense Divine Skills ?Chapter 242: Chapter 239 Cultivate War Skills and Condense Divine Skills Chapter 242: Chapter 239 Cultivate War Skills and Condense Divine Skills Qin Feng had been quite troubled these past few days. Although this trouble was mixed with a few moments of happiness from acquiring treasures, as time passed, this sense of trouble gradually intensified. Of course, the source of Qin Feng¡¯s trouble stemmed from Liu Xuanling. He felt that this beautiful senior sister was simply a tormenting little demon! At first, when he went to Liu Xuanling for advice on cultivation issues, the senior sister acted quite normal. But when his questions touched upon the ¡°Azure Dragon Divine Technique,¡± his troubles followed right after. Under the guise of giving guidance, Liu Xuanling brazenly spied on the sect¡¯s True Inheritance Skill, and even went so far as to touch him randomly¡­ well, placing her hands on him and emitting an extremely fine True Yuan to sense the operation of his cultivation technique. If it were just this, it might have been tolerable, but sometimes, to clarify some secrets, she would deliberately use True Yuan to stimulate his meridian acupoints, causing some errors in his cultivation technique that was in operation. Then, as he hurriedly gathered his True Yuan to restore the original pathway, she took the opportunity to probe the hidden aspects. As a result, he suffered greatly. His body¡¯s meridian acupoints were often damaged. Yet, Qin Feng never once blamed his senior sister, not because she was very beautiful, but because she gave too much. Whether it was various life-saving spiritual elixirs or numerous spiritual resources for cultivation, all made Qin Feng¡¯s heart flutter. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ??¦Í??.§ã¦Ï With Liu Xuanling¡¯s wealth, just casually giving a few spiritual objects could make Qin Feng, who currently had barely any Spirit Stones, willingly become her experimental subject. So, he was in a stage of both pain and joy. However, clearly, the physical pain couldn¡¯t overshadow the happiness of obtaining various treasures, hence even though Liu Xuanling made him look utterly dejected every day, he still found joy in it. Everything was for the sake of those spiritual resources. Qin Feng felt that all the sacrifices he was making now were worth it, especially after he obtained the Red Flame Spirit Fruit, which filled his heart with joy. The Red Flame Spirit Fruit was a top-tier Spirit Fruit born in the Underground Fire Spirit Vein. It was pure in spiritual power and fire energy, and it could even enhance the potential of spiritual fire to a certain extent. Thus, it was not only one of the best spiritual medicines for aiding in cultivation but also a treasure for enhancing combat power. Now that the Fire Ape had completely recovered its injuries, as long as he accumulated some more time, it could advance to a Demon Core with the help of this Red Flame Spirit Fruit and become the strongest Spiritual Beast under his command. As long as the Fire Ape advanced to a Demon Core, his safety would also be better secured. More importantly, although he was now a True Disciple of the Beast Taming Sect and had also initially cultivated the Azure Dragon Daoist Body, theoretically at the same realm as Li Miaozhen when she first went to Heavenly Pool Cave Heaven, the difference in combat power between them was substantial. If he wanted to reach the cultivation realm that Li Miaozhen achieved back then, effortlessly sweeping through peers at the Foundation Establishment level, he would need to diligently cultivate for a while longer and accumulate lots of combat experience. Otherwise, having combat power without combat experience can easily lead to exposing flaws to a formidable opponent. Qin Feng secretly decided that he must not lose himself to the seduction of his senior sister; at most, he should visit her for about three to six more days before hurriedly returning to seclude himself for cultivation, to ensure he doesn¡¯t delay his own cultivation for some spiritual objects. Right now, he had many aspects to cultivate, apart from stabilizing his realm and consolidating the Azure Dragon Daoist Body, the most important was to use his Lifebound Spiritual Beast to cultivate Divine Powers, and develop battle skills suited to the Azure Dragon Daoist Body. Although the only battle skill he could currently cultivate was the simplest ¡°Azure Dragon Emerges from the Sea,¡± part of the nine forms of the Azure Dragon, its power was certainly not comparable to ordinary spells, and its combat power would continue to increase with advancing cultivation levels. This set of battle skills was a pure Body Refinement technique that could only be executed by Body Refining Cultivators, maximizing the power of the Azure Dragon Daoist Body. When more than ten days had passed by in the blink of an eye, that day, Qin Feng returned from Liu Xuanling, looked up at the sky to see the waning moon, and realized he had far exceeded the time he initially set, which greatly annoyed him. Thus, in this annoyance, after three more days, Qin Feng finally determined not to go to his senior sister to ask for guidance on his cultivation technique any longer. It wasn¡¯t that Liu Xuanling had no more treasures to give, her palace¡¯s Treasure Room still had plenty. It was just that Qin Feng felt somewhat embarrassed. Of course, it wasn¡¯t because he took too much and felt guilty about taking advantage of his senior sister, but because Liu Xuanling¡¯s exploration of his body became more and more casual, approaching a certain sensitive part. After Liu Xuanling had explored all the meridian acupoints throughout his limbs and body, her palm finally reached his Dantian area. Qin Feng was very worried that if things kept going this way, his senior sister might explore his ¡°Little Green Dragon¡± while exploring how the ¡°Azure Dragon Divine Technique¡± operated, which would be truly awkward. After all, since Body Refining Techniques involve every part of the body¡¯s meridians and acupoints, even though Qin Feng only demonstrated the most basic entry-level routes in front of Liu Xuanling, even if she discovered everything, it wouldn¡¯t reveal the hidden secrets of the Sect¡¯s True Inheritance Skill. However, being touched here and there by such a supremely beautiful woman every day was sometimes quite embarrassing for him. Therefore, when he noticed that Liu Xuanling¡¯s exploration had reached his Dantian, he decisively withdrew, even if Liu Xuanling personally came offering higher quality Spiritual Objects to tempt him, he remained unmoved, much to Liu Xuanling¡¯s frustration, nearly causing her to tear down his simple bamboo hut. During this period, she had gained some insights into the Body Refining Techniques, thinking that combining them with other techniques could further enhance her Daoist body, but just when she was about to unlock the last bit of the technique, this irritating junior brother stopped cooperating. Usually, just a bit of Spiritual Objects from her would make this lad¡¯s eyes shine, showing his naive excitement, but today he seemed to have suddenly changed, clearly tempted by her superior Spiritual Objects, yet sternly rejected her. Could it be, the further exploration involved the core secrets of the ¡°Azure Dragon Divine Technique¡±? Liu Xuanling quickly let go of her anger. Her temper was always thus; quick to flare and quick to extinguish. Since Qin Feng could resist the temptation, she naturally wouldn¡¯t insist. However, if he thought he could escape from her grasp, that was a dream! In the bamboo grove, Liu Xuanling glanced back at Qin Feng¡¯s bamboo hut, snorted proudly, and vanished in a flash. With her skills, there were countless ways to make Qin Feng comply; her restraint was only to avoid blatantly breaking the Sect¡¯s rules. However, with the expeditionary force nearly assembled and soon to depart for the Otherworld, she would have plenty of opportunities to make Qin Feng comply. In the bamboo hut, Qin Feng spent three days repairing all his damaged meridians and acupoints before he began concentrating on cultivating other techniques. He was now experiencing the benefits of cultivating the Azure Dragon Daoist Body. Not to mention the tempering and unlocking of the physical body, just the aspect of recuperating physical injuries alone was much stronger than other techniques. In recent days, under continual interference from Liu Xuanling, he had sustained multiple injuries to his meridians and acupoints, but even without running his energies or ingesting various elixirs to repair them, his injuries were healing by themselves, and when he did run his energies, the speed of recovery was even faster than when ingesting Protecting Veins Pills. Only now did he fully understand how cultivating the Azure Dragon Daoist Body could make him so powerful. Such a robust Daoist Body would grant him incredible endurance in battle. He could hardly imagine what it would be like to regain severed limbs and recover from mere droplets of blood after becoming an Immortal with this Divine Art. According to the description in the Divine Art, once cultivated to the Purple Mansion Realm, ordinary injuries would no longer be a concern. Superficial flesh wounds would be negligible, and even if he were slashed several times, as long as he expelled the Sword Qi from his body, he would not even bleed, directly sealing the wounds and restoring them as before. This, of course, assumes that an adversary could break through his physical defenses and actually injure him. After over a month of secluded intensive cultivation, when the alliances of various Sects outside the Mountain Gate had all gathered and all supplies were transported, and when the Sect had determined the date of departure, Qin Feng finally ended his seclusion. By now, he had not only initially mastered the ¡°Azure Dragon Emerges from the Sea¡± War Skill, but also through the intimate connection with his Lifebound Spiritual Beast, he had completely consolidated the Divine Power Seed of the ¡°Ruyi Golden Light.¡± The Azure Dragon Battle Skills complemented the ¡°Azure Dragon Divine Technique¡± perfectly, focusing on maximizing the force of the Azure Dragon Daoist Body, which could be executed directly through the physical body or channeled through Divine Weapons. Unlike the ¡°White Tiger Divine Technique¡± of the White Tiger Lineage, where True Disciples only refined the White Tiger Saber, cultivators practicing the ¡°Azure Dragon Divine Technique¡± over generations had developed various suitable Divine Weapons. These included the Azure Dragon Battle Halberd, Azure Dragon Divine Saber, Azure Dragon Sword, Azure Dragon Whip, Azure Dragon Mace, etc., revealing that the ¡°Azure Dragon Divine Technique¡± was indeed a versatile Body Refining Technique, justifiably known as the most moderate among the Four Symbols Divine Decrees. If Qin Feng wished, he could also refine his own Lifebound Divine Weapon. However, currently, he felt it unnecessary to refine his Lifebound Divine Weapon this early, as it not only required lots of top-level Spiritual Materials ideally suited to him but also demanded much of his time and energy to create a Divine Weapon that resonated with his spirit. Now that war was approaching, he neither had the time for the slow refinement of Divine Weapons nor sufficient resources. Liu Xuanling did possess them, but he currently didn¡¯t dare to approach her; hence, he had to figure out ways to slowly gather them later. He decided to first go to the Market to directly purchase one or two suitable weapons. ?¦Ï¦Í?0.§ã0 As long as they were usable on the battlefield, it would suffice; later, when he had more resources, he could slowly refine his own Lifebound Divine Weapon. Also, the battlefield could serve as an excellent test to see which type of Divine Weapon best suited him. Even if the purchased Divine Weapons were somewhat weaker, accompanied by the Ruyi Golden Light, his combat power would still be stronger than cultivators solely practicing the ¡°Azure Dragon Divine Technique¡±. Chapter 243 - Chapter 243 Chapter 240 Using Poison to Enter the Dao, Liu Wuxiangs Troubles ?Chapter 243: Chapter 240: Using Poison to Enter the Dao, Liu Wuxiang¡¯s Troubles Chapter 243: Chapter 240: Using Poison to Enter the Dao, Liu Wuxiang¡¯s Troubles ¡°Senior Brother Qin.¡± On that day, just as Qin Feng was pondering what divine weapon to purchase, a call suddenly came from outside. Qin Feng turned his head and saw his second senior brother, Hao Shicheng, gesturing to him from outside the bamboo hut with Liu Wuxiang in tow. ¡°Second Senior Brother, Junior Brother Liu.¡± Qin Feng hurried to greet them. ¡°Hehe, Junior Brother has been diligent in his cultivation lately, haven¡¯t you asked Junior Sister Liu for advice on cultivating?¡± Hao Shicheng teased with a smile and then pointed to the gaunt young man beside him, ¡°This Junior Brother Liu is a disciple of Martial Uncle Zhong from the Hundred Poisons Cave. He said he was acquainted with you in the Outer Sect and has not long entered the Inner Sect, so he specifically came looking for you. I brought him to find you.¡± ¡°Thank you, Second Senior Brother. Junior Brother Liu and I became disciples together. We were the best of friends during our time in the Outer Sect.¡± Qin Feng said with a chuckle, explaining his relationship with Liu Wuxiang, which somewhat excited Liu Wuxiang. After all, Qin Feng was now a True Disciple of the Sect, not only one of the highest-standing disciples, but also destined to become one of the Sect¡¯s upper echelons after advancing in his cultivation realm. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?0¦Í?0.?¦Ï That he still treated Liu as he did back in the Outer Sect, without any change due to his new status, made Liu Wuxiang very happy. ¡°Since that¡¯s the case, you two chat. I still have matters to attend to, so I¡¯ll be leaving first.¡± With a chuckle and a wave, Hao Shicheng motioned that they need not see him off and turned to leave through the bamboo forest. Once Hao Shicheng had left, Qin Feng invited Liu Wuxiang into the bamboo hut and gestured for him to sit anywhere. His place was extremely humble, the bamboo hut bare and with no furnishings, so they could only sit on the floor. Liu Wuxiang, looking at the empty bamboo hut, was also surprised, ¡°Isn¡¯t Senior Brother a True Disciple of the Sect? How come you don¡¯t even have a proper Cave Mansion?¡± This seemed inconceivable to him. Even when they were in the Outer Sect, they each had their own yard. How could it be that upon entering the Inner Sect and becoming a True Disciple, one lived so simply? Knowing that since his master had taken him in and brought him back to the Hundred Poisons Cave, he himself had a luxurious Cave Mansion, it made no sense that Qin Feng, a disciple of the Spiritual Snake Lineage¡¯s Great Elder and a True Disciple of the Sect, only had a self-built bamboo hut in the bamboo forest. Qin Feng chuckled, ¡°There¡¯s no need for that. It¡¯s just a place for sitting in meditation and refining Qi. Heavenly Snake Ridge has abundant spiritual energy, enough for a Foundation Establishment Realm disciple like me to cultivate anywhere.¡± Of course, he knew that if he asked the Sect as a True Disciple, the disciples from the Internal Affairs Hall would immediately build him a lavish construction or carve out the most suitable Cave Mansion for him in the Spiritual Vein Land. But Qin Feng didn¡¯t have this in mind when he first started his apprenticeship, nor did he fully adapt to his new status as an Inner Sect Disciple before he went back home to bring an elixir pill for healing Divine Soul injuries to his father. After returning to the Sect, and before he had stayed for long, he entered Ten Thousand Demons Cave Heaven, and spent several months cultivating in the Dragon Transformation Pond. Upon emerging, his master tossed him to his senior brothers and sisters, and during this period, he first suffered irresistible temptations from his senior sister, injuring his meridians and acupoints every day. Then he went into seclusion to cultivate, without any time to consider his living quarters. Moreover, he was about to follow his master on an expedition and had no desire to deal with a Cave Mansion. After returning from the Otherworld, there would be no rush to propose the construction of a Cave Mansion to the Sect. ¡°By the way, I haven¡¯t congratulated Junior Brother Liu on entering the Inner Sect.¡± Qin Feng smiled, ¡°I was cultivating in a secret place of our Sect recently and just came out of seclusion, so I forgot about the Outer Sect¡¯s grand competition. From what Second Senior Brother just said, Junior Brother Liu, you¡¯ve become a disciple under Martial Uncle Zhong of the Hundred Poisons Cave?¡± ¡°That¡¯s correct.¡± Liu Wuxiang nodded, ¡°Thanks to my master for taking notice of me and accepting me as a disciple, I have now begun to cultivate one of our Spiritual Snake Lineage¡¯s nine major Direct Inheritance Techniques, the ¡®Bone-Eroding Soul-Destroying Heavenly Evil Technique.''¡± Qin Feng said, ¡°That¡¯s good. The ¡®Bone-Eroding Soul-Destroying Heavenly Evil Technique¡¯ is one of the most special Cultivation Techniques within our Beast Taming Sect. If you cultivate it well, after reaching the Great Achievement Realm, perhaps you can showcase the might like that of our Grandmaster who created this technique, slaying a million-strong army of the Demon Clan.¡± ¡°Senior Brother, you¡¯re joking.¡± Liu Wuxiang smiled wryly, ¡°Although I do have some pride, I don¡¯t have the confidence to reach the Grandmaster¡¯s level. If I could just attain one-tenth or one-twentieth of the Grandmaster¡¯s Dao Cultivation, I would be more than content.¡± ¡°Look at your ambition.¡± Qin Feng curled his lip, ¡°Back in the Outer Sect, weren¡¯t you ambitious, dreaming of achieving the Immortal Dao? How come you¡¯re suddenly so timid upon entering the Inner Sect?¡± ¡°Senior Brother doesn¡¯t know.¡± Liu Wuxiang shook his head helplessly, ¡°It was only after becoming my master¡¯s disciple and starting to cultivate this Technique that I realized the difficulty of cultivating it. Besides the special nurturing of the Lifebound Spiritual Beast, when cultivating one¡¯s own body, one has to test poisons on oneself. You have no idea how desperate I felt the first time my master forced a lethal and incurable poison down my throat. I truly thought my master intended to kill me. The reason I have only just come to see Senior Brother now is not that I didn¡¯t want to come earlier, but because I was tortured by the extreme poison in my body to the brink of death. If I hadn¡¯t completely transformed the lethal poison in my body and merged it into my True Yuan in the past few days, I wouldn¡¯t even have the strength to find you now.¡± ¡°Hahaha¡­¡± Qin Feng laughed heartily upon hearing this. He was a true disciple of the Spiritual Snake lineage and had the privilege to browse through all the cultivation technique inheritances of the Spiritual Snake lineage. Therefore, he was well aware of what the cultivation process of the ¡°Bone-Eroding Soul-Destroying Heavenly Evil Technique¡± entailed. This technique embraced poison as the gateway to cultivation, poisoning not only others but even more so oneself. In the beginning stages of cultivation, one must first test poison on oneself by swallowing an extremely toxic substance, concocted through special means. Then, using the cultivation technique of the ¡°Bone-Eroding Soul-Destroying Heavenly Evil Technique,¡± one would rotate their True Yuan to gradually dissolve and integrate the poison, fusing the toxin into their True Yuan and body. Of course, this process was far from wonderful; rather, it was incredibly painfula€¡±ten to a hundred times more agonizing than the feverish illness of a common person. Some disciples with weaker wills who cultivated this technique even felt the impulse to end their own lives to escape the pain. Only after enduring the initial wave of intense toxicity could they begin to cultivate the virulent True Yuan required by this technique. Afterward, one needed to constantly refine various poisons to enhance the toxicity of their True Yuan. Of course, there was no need to continue ingesting deadly poisons thereafter; external refining sufficed. After all, very few of these toxic substances were palatable. However, once this path was chosen, one would no longer fear being poisoned by others, for they themselves would become someone immune to all poisons. ?¦Ï¦Í??.§ã¦Ï Such cultivation continued until advancing to the Purple Mansion, when the frequency of refining various poisons would gradually decrease, shifting focus to the contemplation of the Poison Dao Principle. ¡°To endure the bitterness among the bitterest is how one ascends above others.¡± Qin Feng said with a smile, ¡°Junior Brother Liu, if you wish to achieve Dao, you must of course endure more hardships.¡± Junior Brother Liu, Liu Wuxiang, had a bitter smile on his face, ¡°But the poison is just too bitter.¡± ¡°Hehe, don¡¯t worry. After a while, once you get used to it, you won¡¯t find it bitter anymore. In fact, you might even grow to like that sensation. If you don¡¯t have potent poisons to refine, you might even feel uncomfortable. After all, the reason why the ¡®Bone-Eroding Soul-Destroying Heavenly Evil Technique¡¯ can be the fastest advancing technique among the nine true inheritances of the Spiritual Snake lineage relies on refining various potent poisons to boost the speed of cultivation. For you, the more toxic the substance, the better. The more toxic the substance, the faster your cultivation progress will be.¡± Qin Feng sighed softly, ¡°If I weren¡¯t somewhat fearful of deadly poisons, just based on such a swift cultivation speed, I would want to cultivate this poison skill myself.¡± ¡°Really?¡± Liu Wuxiang¡¯s face showed some curiosity, ¡°Master didn¡¯t tell me so much, only instructing me to continuously transform the deadly poison into my True Yuan every day. The refining process is still unbearably painful each time.¡± ¡°Endure it. It¡¯s always like this at the beginning. Once you¡¯re used to it, you¡¯ll realize the subtleties of this technique.¡± Qin Feng consoled him briefly, then steered the conversation away from the technique and onto other topics. After a while, Liu Wuxiang said, ¡°Senior Brother, as you probably know by now, the sect is about to embark on an expedition to another world. I had just joined the Inner Sect and was not initially on the roster for conscription. However, my master has been singled out by the sect, and since I am his only disciple, he wants to keep me by his side. This way, he can continue to instruct me on my cultivation, so I must follow my master to battle in the otherworld.¡± As he spoke, his face revealed some bitterness, ¡°I thought joining the Inner Sect would mean I could cultivate in peace. I never expected to have to leave the Mountain Gate for an expedition so soon after my admission.¡± ¡°How so? Are you afraid?¡± ¡°That¡¯s not it. Although I am somewhat concerned, I¡¯m not exactly afraid.¡± Liu Wuxiang shook his head, ¡°I¡¯m just feeling a bit regretful that, having just entered the Inner Sect, I haven¡¯t had the chance to be acquainted with a few Inner Sect disciples before having to go off to battle in another world. I¡¯m worried that without good fellows from the same sect to help each other, I might end up at a disadvantage.¡± ¡°And here I was wondering what it was.¡± Qin Feng chuckled dismissively, ¡°You need not worry about that. When the time comes, we can look out for each other.¡± ¡°Are you also going, Senior Brother?¡± Liu Wuxiang was taken aback, ¡°Aren¡¯t you a newly minted True Disciple? Would the sect really let you go off to battle in another world? What if something were to happen?¡± ¡°So what if I am a True Disciple? I am still a disciple of the sect, after all.¡± Qin Feng said with a smile, ¡°Precisely because I am a True Disciple, the responsibility I carry on my shoulders is even heavier. How can I be absent from the battles the sect faces?¡± ¡°Is that so!¡± Liu Wuxiang looked somewhat surprised, ¡°I came here intending to bid you farewell, Senior Brother. I never expected that you too would be involved in this great battle. With this, when I return, I will ask my master to arrange for me to be with you. Having recently joined the Inner Sect, my cultivation is only at the early stage of Foundation Establishment, so I would need your care during that time.¡± ¡°We are brothers; it¡¯s strange to talk like an outsider.¡± With that, Qin Feng readily agreed. Although Liu Wuxiang had been an Inner Sect disciple for more than two months, he had been tormented by intense internal poisons every day, which left him no energy to befriend other Inner Sect disciples. Learning that Qin Feng would also be joining the expedition to the otherworld, his spirits naturally soared. He knew Qin Feng was much more advanced in cultivation than himself. When Qin Feng had participated in the Outer Sect Grand Competition, he was already at the peak of the early stage of Foundation Establishment. Having been in the Inner Sect for over a year and now being a True Disciple of the sect with ample cultivation resources, his cultivation was bound to progress even faster. Besides, every True Disciple of the sect was a master whose war power far exceeded their realm of cultivation. He believed that by staying by Senior Brother Qin¡¯s side, he would be much safer. Chapter 244 - Chapter 244 Chapter 241 Divine Weapon Pavilion ?Chapter 244: Chapter 241 Divine Weapon Pavilion Chapter 244: Chapter 241 Divine Weapon Pavilion Qin Feng and Liu Wuxiang agreed to support each other during the expedition against the Otherworld, and then they started discussing this expedition, talking about the cultivators from various sects that had formed alliances outside the Mountain Gate. ¡°Since I plan to go to the Market to buy a suitable Divine Weapon, why doesn¡¯t Junior Brother Liu come along with me? We could see what the disciples from various sects look like as well.¡± Qin Feng said with a smile, ¡°We¡¯ve only been cultivating for a few years, and to speak the truth, we haven¡¯t seen many cultivators from other sects.¡± ¡°That sounds good.¡± Liu Wuxiang nodded, ¡°I had heard that millions of cultivators had gathered outside the Mountain Gate, but recently I was so tormented by the poison that I wished for death and had no energy to witness such a grand sight. Now that I¡¯ve just managed to make some progress in the Bone-Eroding Soul-Destroying Heavenly Evil Technique, I finally have some spare time. Why not accompany Senior Brother to see the grandeur of millions of cultivators gathered together?¡± Right away, the two of them got up one after the other and walked out of the bamboo hut. Releasing their Riding Tools, they soared into the air and flew away from Heavenly Snake Ridge toward the Mountain Gate. Along the way, they frequently saw many disciples appearing in various places, commanding countless large and small Spiritual Beasts that ran back and forth, coordinating with each other, gradually forming small teams. Once they reached the Outer Sect, the sounds of fighting and killing reverberated through the heavens. A large number of Outer Disciples, whether in the Qi Refining Realm or those with Foundation Establishment Cultivation, were all practicing large War Formations under the guidance of Elder Peak leaders. Although many disciples in the sect would still stay behind to guard the Mountain Gate and tend to various daily affairs, some of these disciples would also regularly participate in the training of War Formations. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ??¦Í?0.§ã¦Ï Even if they did not join the sect¡¯s expedition, guarding the Mountain Gate was equally important. Should they be attacked by rival sects, their tasks would become extremely arduous. Therefore, while training the disciples in coordinated combat, the sect would also involve these disciples in the drills. Even if this caused delays in many of the sect¡¯s affairs, and various Spiritual Resources would definitely suffer losses, at such a critical moment, there was no room for consideration of that. Now, everything was premised on ensuring the success of the expedition and primarily on defending the Mountain Gate. As long as the Mountain Gate remained and the expedition was victorious, the resources acquired would far exceed the current losses. For the sake of a long-term strategy, the sect did not pay too close attention to the current minor losses. Qin Feng and Liu Wuxiang flew from the Inner Sect all the way through the Outer Sect, and everything they saw along the way made their hearts surge with emotion. Such a powerful sect, with so many disciples and such a majestic momentum, truly stirred the hearts of the youth. And when they flew out of the Mountain Gate on their Spiritual Birds and came outside, they were even more shocked. Outside the Mountain Gate, around the cities of twelve markets, lay densely packed encampments of multiple sects¡¯ cultivators. Among the various sects, some wealthy ones directly summoned palaces outside the markets; some rode on Tower Ships, others raised tall towers, and Qin Feng and they even saw several castles. However, the most grandiose displays belonged to the Five Poisons Sect and the Ghost Controlling Sect. Both were Major Sects that could stand shoulder-to-shoulder with the Beast Taming Sect, not only because each sect had a Golden Immortal Ancestor sitting in power, but also because their forces were extremely vast. What was even more striking was the nature of these two sects¡¯ encampments. One was teeming with Poison Insects everywhere, the other rampant with ghosts. ?¦Ï¦Í¨À0.§ã¦Ï Even the Flying Escape Treasures that carried their disciples were of all kinds of bizarre shapes, either with various strange Poison Insects patterns or directly refined from a variety of human and animal bones, dark and terrifying, with an atmosphere that shocked the soul. Black mists overshadowed the skies, faintly carrying the sounds of ghosts howling and wolves crying, spreading in all directions. On the grand land outside the Mountain Gate, countless Magical Treasures were scattered about, some for living in, others for traveling. Among them, various types of large Flying Escape Treasures were dominant. After all, the main purpose of this journey was for the battle in the Otherworld, so the presence of large Flying Escape Treasures was inevitable. Any sect that came to join without preparing large Flying Escape Treasures would simply not be qualified to follow behind the Beast Taming Sect and pick up the leftovers. Above the various structures, countless cultivators were coming and going; some were practicing War Formations, while others flew around in chaos, making connections with Daoist Fellows from other sects. Once they reached the Otherworld, knowing a few additional people might play a key role at critical moments. Perhaps even a casual piece of information could bring them more benefits or avoid greater losses. Therefore, many Elders and disciples with broad connections were leveraging their best skills, making as many friends as possible. On the peripheries of each sect¡¯s territory, one could often see some cultivators standing there, pointing and discussing. These were cultivators who had come from other places. They didn¡¯t belong to the affiliated forces of the Beast Taming Sect, nor were they allies of the Beast Taming Sect; they had simply heard of the Beast Taming Sect¡¯s affairs and came to have a look. Still, many of them had envious expressions on their faces. Many cultivators were not afraid of battle and slaughter; otherwise, the Cultivation World wouldn¡¯t be so chaotic, nor would there be an endless stream of Bandit Cultivators. The real reason was the lack of resources, which forced many cultivators to take other paths, using all possible means to seek more Cultivation Resources for themselves, hoping to achieve higher Realms and longer Lifespans. Therefore, many cultivators of humble origins envied those who could join the Beast Taming Sect¡¯s expedition against the Otherworld. They believed that once these cultivators went to the Otherworld, they could openly plunder the cultivation resources there. Many ambitious cultivators also wanted to partake in the venture, hoping to follow the Beast Taming Sect and divide up the resources of the Otherworld. Unfortunately, when they asked the cultivators of the Beast Taming Sect, all of them were rejected without exception. The mighty Beast Taming Sect of the Southern Domain, as one of the grand sects, had not yet fallen to the extent that they needed a bunch of bandit cultivators to help in battle. The countless flying escape treasures and silhouettes of cultivators covering the sky outside the market were enough to awe and shake the soul. However, upon entering the market, the bustle was simply astonishing. At that time, the market was teeming with people. Countless cultivators dressed in various strange garments weaved through the streets, occasionally entering shops on both sides of the road. During this period, the smiles on the faces of all the shop owners never faded. They were open for business twelve hours a day, every day, without ever closing their doors. After all, so many cultivators had gathered all at once, especially those preparing to fight in the Otherworld. Their demand for spiritual objects was terrifying. As a result, every shop was making a fortune. Especially those shops selling spiritual elixirs, divine weapons, and magical treasures. Treasures of every level were being sold out as if they were being snatched up. Even prized possessions that had been tucked away for many years were being sold one after another during this period. Although the market would inevitably experience a downturn once the expedition army departed, it didn¡¯t matter. As long as the Beast Taming Sect could win this battle, the market outside the Beast Taming Sect¡¯s mountain gate would definitely become one of the busiest in the Southern Domain. By then, even more cultivators would come to this place, whether it was to purchase rare spiritual objects from the Otherworld or to use the Beast Taming Sect as a gateway for an excursion into the Otherworld. They would leave behind a great deal of spirit stones. And at the right time, the Beast Taming Sect would surely be willing to open up the Otherworld for all cultivators to travel to, but those who wished to use the sect¡¯s teleportation array would need to leave enough spirit stones behind. Otherwise, the sect would not allow them to pass for nothing. Qin Feng and Liu Wuxiang walked amidst the endless stream of cultivators, feeling exhausted in addition to marveling at the sheer number of cultivators. The journey that would normally be an easy stroll now took them five times as long as usual to traverse, which made them feel sincerely weary. What frightened them even more was that many items in the market had already doubled or tripled in price and were still facing a supply shortage. Qin Feng and Liu Wuxiang both had sour expressions on their faces as they walked out of a shop selling spiritual artifacts. ¡°These greedy bastards.¡± Liu Wuxiang cursed in a low voice, ¡°Have they gone mad, asking for twenty thousand spirit stones for a mere top-level spiritual artifact? With that many spirit stones, one could buy a magical treasure!¡± ¡°These guys are just taking this opportunity to make more spirit stones. If there wasn¡¯t such a high demand from the cultivators here, they wouldn¡¯t dare to charge such exorbitant prices,¡± Qin Feng sighed lightly, ¡°You¡¯ve seen it too, there are simply too many cultivators about to go on the expedition. Many prefer to spend their spirit stones now to equip themselves rather than keeping them. Otherwise, it would be extremely frustrating to be killed in the Otherworld due to poor preparation.¡± Although Qin Feng disapproved of the traders¡¯ sky-high prices, he understood it was the nature of many businesspeople. These people, seeing a chance, did not care about the timing. As long as it could bring them more profit, there was nothing they wouldn¡¯t sell. This was still with the understanding that the Beast Taming Sect had decreed a halt to price increases; otherwise, these traders would certainly have raised their prices to death. As they passed some stalls, they had heard about someone daring to sell an ordinary spirit talisman for thousands of spirit stones in recent days. Although those unfortunate traders were quickly dealt with by the Beast Taming Sect¡¯s enforcement team for their outrageous pricing, many traders still pushed their prices to the maximum limit set by the sect, causing many cultivators preparing for the big battle to grit their teeth in hatred towards them. ¡°Let¡¯s go, let¡¯s check out the Divine Weapon Pavilion.¡± Qin Feng pointed to the Divine Weapon Pavilion not far away and said, ¡°The divine weapons in the previous few shops were both expensive and unsatisfactory. It seems we can only go to the Divine Weapon Pavilion and see if there¡¯s a suitable divine weapon for me.¡± Liu Wuxiang nodded, ¡°I¡¯ve long heard of the Divine Weapon Family¡¯s reputation, but I¡¯ve never really come to the Divine Weapon Pavilion before due to a lack of funds.¡± ¡°The Divine Weapon Pavilion is owned by the Divine Weapon Family. Although the Divine Weapon Family does refine various magical treasures and spiritual treasures, and even immortal artifacts are not uncommon, their strongest skill still lies in refining divine weapons.¡± Qin Feng smiled, ¡°Given that this clan is named after divine weapons, it clearly shows their high level of achievement in forging divine weapons.¡± ¡°Let¡¯s go and take a look. I just hope their prices are not as outrageous as the others and that they¡¯ve not tarnished the Divine Weapon Pavilion¡¯s reputation.¡± ¡°We¡¯re all in business, they won¡¯t maintain their original prices at this time.¡± Qin Feng clearly harbored no hope, ¡°Those with qualifications in the Divine Weapon Family focus on forging divine weapons, while those with less talent handle the family¡¯s livelihood. These people will not care too much about reputation; they will definitely take advantage of this opportunity to bring in a large amount of divine weapons and magical treasures from the Divine Weapon Family and sell them at high prices to earn a substantial amount of spirit stones.¡± Chapter 246 - Chapter 246 Chapter 243 Meeting Daoist Zuo, Xiu Xin Yang Xing ?Chapter 246: Chapter 243: Meeting Daoist Zuo, Xiu Xin Yang Xing Chapter 246: Chapter 243: Meeting Daoist Zuo, Xiu Xin Yang Xing This Sky Battle Halberd¡¯s components alone were costly, and it went without saying that the quality of the materials was exceptional. Clearly, this Divine Weapon was not only powerful, but its potential far surpassed that of ordinary divine weapons. Qin Feng gently shook the big spear in his hand, which was as thick as a goose egg and just slightly taller than he was, giving it a somewhat stubby appearance. However, the blade was both wide and long, incomparably sharp, and the crescent blades on either side were also much wider than those on ordinary war halberds, resembling two enormous curved moons that shimmered with a sharp light, indicating at a glance that this Divine Weapon was a true instrument of slaughter. ¡°Since Pavilion Master Wang has treated this junior in such a way, I shall not stand on ceremony,¡± Qin Feng nodded to Wang Qingshi in gratitude. At the same time, he was also secretly relieved. He was relieved that he had previously obtained a good number of treasures from Liu Xuanling. When he had first entered the market, he had sold some Spiritual Objects in a few shops that he temporarily did not need; otherwise, he would not have had enough Spirit Stones to purchase this Sky Battle Halberd. Originally, after he had helped the Swallowing Sky Toad merge with Bloodline Divine Power, he had a few ten thousand Spirit Stones left. However, during his return to his family, he had exchanged most of them for various materials, planning to help his father and the Old Clan Chief quickly advance their cultivation and also left many common materials for his family to nurture the younger generation. Otherwise, as a True Disciple of the Beast Taming Sect, returning home empty-handed when he was capable of giving back would have been truly disgraceful. ¡°I would like this.¡± Liu Wuxiang picked up the dark poison thorn and said, ¡°Senior Wang, may I ask how much this Spiritual Artifact costs?¡± Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í??.?¦Ï However, firstly, he did not have enough Spirit Stones to buy them, and secondly, he could clearly see that Wang Qingshi was deliberately befriending Qin Feng, so he did not want to take too much advantage at this time, as these favors would all be counted towards Senior Brother Qin. ¡°Oh, not expensive, not expensive; I¡¯ll also sell it to you at cost, just six thousand Spirit Stones. This Spiritual Artifact, aside from using a poisonous stinger from a Demon Late Stage poison bee, also includes one hundred twenty-eight Tail-end poison stingers from Foundation Establishment Realm poison bees, and nine hundred six poison needles from a Qi Refinement Late Stage poison bee. Collecting these materials was mainly labor-intensive, everything else was manageable,¡± With that said, he looked at the White Bone Hammer in Xue Baoshu¡¯s hand, which had a fierce and terrifying origin. ¡°This bone hammer has a notable origin; the beast skull is from an Exotic Beast brought from the Ancient Battlefield by someone. It¡¯s the skull of a Zheng Beast. However, because the Zheng Beast died too long ago and retained insufficient strength, it was not made into a Magical Treasure. But if in the future, you earnestly nourish and refine it, there is absolutely a possibility for advancement. This Zheng Beast skull initially cost us five thousand Spirit Stones, and adding on other Artifact Refining Material costs, eight thousand will suffice.¡± He intended not to make even a single Spirit Stone in profit, even foregoing the basic labor cost of refining these Spiritual Artifacts and Divine Weapons. ¡°Thank you very much.¡± Xue Baoshu promptly took out the Spirit Stones from her Storage Bag and handed them to an assistant nearby. Seeing Liu Wuxiang¡¯s hesitant expression, Qin Feng knew he must not have many Spirit Stones on him, so he took out twenty-six thousand Spirit Stones from himself and said, ¡°These are for myself and Junior Brother Liu. We thank Senior this time, and if there is a chance in the future, we shall reciprocate.¡± Of course, he mentioned this casually, and Wang Qingshi wouldn¡¯t take it too seriously. Just a few Spiritual Artifacts and Divine Weapons, not enough to make a True Disciple of the Beast Taming Sect owe someone a huge favor. Liu Wuxiang felt grateful but didn¡¯t say much more at this point. ¡°Now that our Sect is about to embark on an expedition, we have other matters to attend to and shall not linger here any longer.¡± Moments later, Qin Feng stowed the Sky Battle Halberd into his Qiankun Bag and bid farewell to Wang Qingshi. Wang Qingshi nodded in understanding, ¡°Then I wish you young friends a triumphant victory and success in your journey. The battlefield is perilous, so please take great care.¡± ¡°Thank you for your auspicious words, senior.¡± The group bowed and then turned to leave one after another. Once they were outside, although there was still a significant number of people, no one was specifically waiting to meet them, allowing Qin Feng to silently breathe a sigh of relief. Exiting the Divine Weapon Pavilion, they stepped onto the bustling street outside. Xue Baoshu wrapped the chain connecting to the hammer around her several times before hanging the ferocious and terrifying White Bone Beast Head Hammer at her waist, looking exceptionally fierce. ¡°Today, I owe a lot to Junior Brother Qin. Otherwise, I wouldn¡¯t have obtained this hammer, not to mention I would have also spent a lot more unjustly.¡± Xue Baoshu laughed, ¡°Earlier, they wanted 16,000 Spirit Stones for the Chain Hammer I was looking at. Now, with this better hammer, I only had to pay for the materials. I owe Junior Brother for this favor. Should we meet on the battlefield, we can look out for each other.¡± ¡°That is how it should be.¡± Qin Feng nodded, ¡°Being disciples from the same sect, we should naturally support each other if we meet on the battlefield.¡± ¡°Good.¡± Xue Baoshu nodded and then said, ¡°I have some other urgent matters to attend to, so I won¡¯t be going with you.¡± ¡°Sister, please take care.¡± The two waved goodbye. Xue Baoshu waved freely and artfully maneuvered through the crowd with her White Bone Hammer swaying at her waist. ¡°Brother.¡± Liu Wuxiang handed Qin Feng a Storage Bag, saying, ¡°I appreciate it, brother. To quickly reach Foundation Establishment, I had spent quite a bit recently. Now, I only have just under five thousand Spirit Stones. I¡¯ll give you this much for now, and I¡¯ll repay the rest when I obtain more resources.¡± Qin Feng laughed heartily, ¡°We are brothers, why such formality? I am not in a rush to use the Spirit Stones. Keep them for now to buy some emergency Elixir Pills, as you might need them on the battlefield.¡± ¡°Please accept it, brother. I can¡¯t just take your items for nothing. As for the Elixir Pills, my master has prepared many for me, so I won¡¯t be short.¡± Liu Wuxiang then pushed the Storage Bag back. Qin Feng nodded, ¡°If that is the case, I won¡¯t be polite with you.¡± Liu Wuxiang flashed a smile, ¡°You don¡¯t have to be. In fact, I should thank you for helping me obtain this Spiritual Artifact.¡± As he spoke, Liu Wuxiang took the dark Iron Thorn in his hand and shook it slightly, extending it to over three feet long. He leaned it on the ground, and with a light sound, without seeming to use much force, the sharp spike pierced into the bluestone beneath their feet. ¡°Not only can this treasure be used as a raid-type Spiritual Artifact capable of splitting into thousands of Poison Thorns suitable for group battles, but it can also serve as a close combat weapon, truly a multifunctional treasure. Thanks to elder brother, I snagged a bargain today. Otherwise, given the current prices, such a formidable Spiritual Artifact would definitely cost as much as a Magical Treasure typically would.¡± Qin Feng, seeing his satisfied expression, also felt quite pleased in his heart. With such a powerful weapon, their chances of survival on the Otherworld Battlefield would be significantly higher. Feeling joyful, the two did not head directly back to the mountain gate but instead began strolling through the market. In the current market, it was not just the original shops and Loose Cultivators conducting business. Wealthy cultivators from various sects, sensing an opportunity, had also set up stalls along the roadside, selling Spiritual Objects from various regions. These cultivators from various sects truly had some unique Spiritual Objects that dazzled the eye. Unfortunately, any Spiritual Objects useful in warfare were now immensely expensive. They didn¡¯t want to be suckers, so they simply looked around to broaden their horizons and satisfy their curiosity. The most unusual Spiritual Objects were those found at the stall of disciples from the Ghost Controlling Sect, who had come from the Eastern Domain. These individuals, outwardly dressed in Daoist robes, looked virtuous but displayed items for sale that contained many odd and curious things to attract people¡¯s attention. Of course, there were many legitimate items too, such as Ghost Exorcism Talismans, Corpse Suppressing Talismans, Evil Exorcism Talismans, and other such Spirit Talismans, as well as Daoist essentials like horsetail whisks, Peach Wood Swords, Eight Trigrams Robes, and Money Swords. However, there were some other items that seemed quite bizarre. For example, well-refined Corpse Puppets, well-trained Little Ghosts, and meticulously crafted Ghost Nourishing Objects, many of which were very rare in the Southern Domain or in the Beast Taming Sect¡¯s area. A few ill-mannered cultivators from the Ghost Controlling Sect, for reasons unknown, had deliberately raised several exceptionally beautiful female ghosts to attract cultivators to do business, while they casually chatted nearby. Thus, their stall often attracted throngs of cultivators from various regions who stopped to watch, with some curious ones purchasing some unusual objects to take back. For instance, a sly-looking individual purchased a Five Ghosts Transporting Spirit Altar, though it was unclear what he intended to do with it. Others thought that the Little Ghosts refined by the Ghost Controlling Sect¡¯s cultivators, skilled in Invisibility Spells, might be useful for reconnaissance in the Otherworld Battlefield, suggesting possibly effective results, so many also bought their items. ¡°Oh, Daoist Fellow Qin?¡± Just as they were about to stop and watch how a disciple from the Beast Taming Sect demonstrated the Five Ghosts Transporting Technique at a Ghost Controlling Sect disciple¡¯s stall, suddenly someone called out. Qin Feng turned toward the voice and saw a young Taoist standing a few steps behind the stall-keeping disciple, with another young Taoist beside him. ?¦Ï¦Í??.§ã¦Ï ¡°Hmm? Daoist Fellow Xiu Xin.¡± Upon seeing the young Taoist, Qin Feng immediately recognized him. This was the Ghost Controlling Sect young Taoist, Xiu Xin, whom he had first met while doing a task near an Ancient Battlefield in a small mountain village. He remembered that back then, this young Taoist had collected a Ghost Lady in a wedding dress. Xiu Xin greeted his sectmate briefly, then walked over to Qin Feng. ¡°Two years have not seen, not only has Daoist Fellow Qin advanced rapidly, but he has also become a True Disciple of the Beast Taming Sect, truly enviable to others.¡± Their Ghost Controlling Sect had been in the Southern Domain for two months already, and during that time, they naturally learned about the current situation of the Beast Taming Sect, at least recognizing the names of a few True Disciples from the Beast Taming Sect. Initially, he wasn¡¯t sure if Qin Feng was one of them, since when he first met Qin Feng, Qin Feng had only recently entered the late stage of Qi Refinement, and with tens of thousands of Outer Disciples in the Beast Taming Sect, having the same name was quite normal. However, just now, at the first glance, he was sure that this Qin Feng was the newly advanced Inner Sect Disciple Qin Feng of the Beast Taming Sect. It was his uniquely remarkable aura among Foundation Establishment Cultivators that gave him away. ¡°Daoist Fellow Xiu Xin is too polite.¡± Qin Feng, observing the reserved and nimble aura of the young Taoist, sincerely complimented, ¡°Daoist Fellow¡¯s progress is also not slow!¡± He knew his own circumstances; if not for the fortuitous acquisition of the Demon Refining Pot, it would have been impossible for him to achieve his current feats given his qualifications in such a short time. And here was Xiu Xin, similar in age, whose cultivation might not be inferior to his own, which was why he was even more amazed. It seemed this young Taoist had also encountered not a few serendipitous opportunities over the years, and probably held a certain status within the Ghost Controlling Sect considering his cultivated demeanor. After chatting briefly, Xiu Xin gestured to another very young Taoist beside him and smiled, ¡°This is my Junior Brother Yang Xing. If we meet on the Otherworld Battlefield later, I hope you can take care of him a bit.¡± ¡°Where do you get such words?¡± Qin Feng¡¯s smile was as warm as a spring breeze, though he was inwardly surprised. He noticed that this Daoist named Yang Xing¡¯s cultivation and demeanor seemed not inferior to Xiu Xin¡¯s. That was very impressive. It seemed the Ghost Controlling Sect really knew how to train its disciples. He then introduced his own Junior Brother to them. ¡°This is my Junior Brother Liu Wuxiang.¡± Liu Wuxiang bowed respectfully to them. ¡°Met Daoist Fellow Liu.¡± Xiu Xin and Yang Xing returned the bow in unison, showing no hint of neglect despite Liu Wuxiang¡¯s slightly inferior cultivation. The disciples of the Beast Taming Sect were indeed all quite capable. That¡¯s what the two young Taoists thought. Their keen senses had already detected a subtle pressure emanating from Liu Wuxiang. Although Liu Wuxiang¡¯s Dao cultivation was not as high as theirs, that subtle aura was not something to be underestimated. ¡°This is hardly a place for an extensive conversation. It is regrettable to meet old friends without wine to accompany our talk.¡± Qin Feng smiled, ¡°Why don¡¯t we find a quieter place for our chat?¡± ¡°Indeed!¡± The two young Taoists readily agreed. They waved to the stall-keeping disciple of the Ghost Controlling Sect, then followed Qin Feng and Liu Wuxiang to a nearby restaurant. That was a business owned by the Beast Taming Sect. Qin Feng figured that with his status as a True Disciple, he probably wouldn¡¯t be greatly overcharged. Chapter 247 - Chapter 247 Chapter 244 Bite the Golden Iron, Quick Promotion ?Chapter 247: Chapter 244: Bite the Golden Iron, Quick Promotion Chapter 247: Chapter 244: Bite the Golden Iron, Quick Promotion In the tavern, Qin Feng, Liu Wuxiang, and Daoist Fellow Xiu Xin took their seats as host and guests. Through conversation, it turned out that these two were also carefully nurtured True Disciples of the Ghost Controlling Sect. Qin Feng felt relieved. Just now, he thought that the cultivation technique of the Ghost Controlling Sect was exceptionally special, hence many talented disciples, like Xiu Xin, were advancing swiftly. Now, casting them as True Disciples made sense to him. Otherwise, even though Xiu Xin¡¯s Dao Cultivation was slightly higher than his two years ago, it was only at the peak of the Qi Refining Realm, which shouldn¡¯t account for such rapid progress. He too once deeply experienced the difficulties of the Foundation Establishment Realm; refining the Taoist Body was incredibly slow. If it wasn¡¯t for post-apprenticeship, where Master Ning Wuxu never lacked cultivation resources for him, and later practicing in the Dragon Transformation Pond, he definitely wouldn¡¯t have achieved such speed in cultivation. Only True Disciples of various sects, entrusted with the sect¡¯s reputation, are thus meticulously fostered. ¡°Come, Daoist Fellow Qin, I toast to you.¡± Daoist Fellow Xiu Xin lifted his Spiritual Wine with a smile, ¡°Our sects have had longstanding relations, merely separated by domains, hence the infrequent contacts. However, our upper echelons do keep in touch, whether it be disciples from my Ghost Controlling Sect traveling to the Southern Domain or your Beast Taming Sect visiting the Eastern Domain, we frequently make trips to each other¡¯s sects. Moreover, our founding ancestors have deep friendships, which is why this alliance to jointly explore the Otherworld has been formed. I see you, Daoist Fellow Qin, as an old acquaintance. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í??.§ã0 We may have opportunities to cooperate in the battlefield; here¡¯s to the friendship of our two sects.¡± Qin Feng nodded, raised his cup, signalling to him, and drank. ¡°Daoist Fellow Xiu Xin, I¡¯ve been in seclusion until recently and am not clear about the specifics outside. How many eminent figures did your sect send for this alliance?¡± ¡°That?¡± Daoist Fellow Xiu Xin thought briefly and then said, ¡°This time, our sect has sent five Supreme Elders. Additionally, according to the regulations discussed by the Supreme Elders of both sects beforehand, over a hundred elders above the Purple Mansion Realm from the Inner Sect, a thousand Golden Core Cultivators, and over ten thousand Foundation Establishers, with nearly one hundred thousand at the Late Stage of the Qi Refining Realm were sent. Not that my Ghost Controlling Sect didn¡¯t want to send more, but we still have to guard our mountain gate in the Eastern Domain, and we have several rivals to beware of; thus, we could only dispatch this many.¡± ¡°Oh? Do you have many rivals in the Eastern Domain?¡± Qin Feng curiously asked. Daoist Fellow Xiu Xin gave a wry smile, ¡°The others are manageable. The Ten Thousand Ghosts Cave, though quite formidable, is mostly seen as a place for nurturing ghosts and is not considered a threat. The key issue is that there are too many powerful sects in the Eastern Domain, and the competition is even fiercer than in your Southern Domain.¡± Qin Feng nodded, he knew some about this as the East Domain was originally the cradle of Daoism in this realm. Besides the Grandmaster Ancestor Taixuan¡¯s Taixuan Sect, several other super-powerful sect forces exist, along with many other large sects that have survived from ancient times. Due to Grandmaster Ancestor Taixuan¡¯s powerful protection during the Ancient Great Tribulation, the door schools of the Eastern Domain managed to preserve the most, supported by many old figures who had survived since ancient times. It seems the days for the Ghost Controlling Sect were not too easy. The group enjoyed their Spiritual Wine, chatted about various happenings in their territories, broadening their knowledge, and agreed that if there were a chance in the Otherworld, they could collaborate. In reality, they knew that the opportunity to fight together might not be significant since both the Beast Taming Sect and the Ghost Controlling Sect were amongst the strongest in this expedition. Once in the Otherworld, they would likely attack different areas, making encounters rather difficult. Nonetheless, they established some rapport, which could prove useful later; not to mention, these True Disciples would surely ascend to high positions within their respective sects. Later interactions between the sects would undoubtedly bring them together. After a few hours, they left the tavern, bid each other farewell, and departed in different directions. Qin Feng and Liu Wuxiang didn¡¯t stay long in the market and left the city directly, flying toward their sect¡¯s mountain gate. With the coalition¡¯s expedition just a few days away, they had to hurry back to make further preparations to avoid a chaotic situation in the Otherworld. Especially Qin Feng, who still had many Divine Skills to complete and his Taoist Body to refine. Moreover, he planned to gather as many Spiritual Objects for the Ruyi Golden Snake as possible, seeing if it could quickly ascend to the cultivation level of the Core Formation Realm. Speaking of which, his own cultivation level was now very close to the peak of Foundation Establishment, but his Taoist Body had not yet completed its refinement. He still needed the body-refinement methods from ¡°Ten Thousand Beasts Origin Scripture¡± to consolidate his foundation, hence his cultivation level wasn¡¯t close to perfection yet. As for the Ruyi Golden Snake, this little creature was cultivating very quickly. Disciples of the Beast Taming Sect always cultivated in tandem with their Lifebound Spiritual Beasts. During the times Qin Feng made rapid progress at the Dragon Transformation Pond, because his Lifebound Spiritual Beast matched his own energy, no matter how fast he progressed, the Ruyi Golden Snake would not lag much behind. Even if it fell behind a bit, it would quickly catch up due to the connection between his True Yuan and the spirit beast¡¯s True Yuan. Thus, the cultivation level of the Ruyi Golden Snake was also close to the peak of the late Foundation Establishment stage. The cultivation methods of Spiritual Beasts, compared to those of the Human Clan, tend to be more direct. For instance, many Spiritual Medicines that Humans cannot consume directly require neutralization with other medicines to extract the essence to craft Elixir Pills suitable for human cultivators. But Spiritual Beasts are different. They can directly ingest these without fearing the wild nature of the medicines, even if doing so might entail some loss of medicinal properties, but it allows for a quicker cultivation pace. Moreover, quite a few Spiritual Beasts have unique methods of cultivation. For example, the Ruyi Golden Snake can consume various precious metals to enhance the power of the Golden Light within its body and accelerate the cultivation speed of the Gold Element True Yuan. Other Spiritual Beasts are adept at devouring other Spiritual Objects, making their progression in the early stages of cultivation more direct than that of human cultivators. Of course, this is only in the early stages of cultivation. The Purple Mansion Realm represents a threshold for many ordinary Spiritual Beasts. Moreover, the further they go, the slower this crude and simple way of advancing. Due to its simplicity and brutality, they tend not to develop the habit of noticing details, lagging behind human cultivators in comprehending the Heavenly Dao Laws. This is also why human cultivators can overtake them later on in cultivation. Of course, cultivators from the Human Clan were better at utilizing various resources, managing to refine countless spiritual medicines and other resources into Spirit Pills and Magical Treasures to leverage these resources more effectively. On this point, the Spiritual Beasts were far inferior, hence overall, the cultivation speed of Human Clan cultivators was faster than that of Spiritual Beasts. Qin Feng had not yet considered matters pertaining to the Purple Mansion Realm. He simply wanted to use the brutal and rapid promotion methods of Spiritual Beasts in their early stages to swiftly elevate the Ruyi Golden Snake to the Core Formation Realm, enabling him to speed up forming his own Golden Core through feedback from the Ruyi Golden Snake. This was also why the Golden Core Cultivators of the Beast Taming Sect were a cut above those from Major Sects who had comparable abilities. Regarding the cultivation of his Lifebound Spiritual Beast, he already had a comprehensive plan. The Sect took great care in nurturing True Disciples, so as long as he could provide a reasonable justification, the Sect would meet his needs as much as possible. Thus, he applied to the Sect for many precious materials to cultivate the Ruyi Golden Snake. With Spiritual Beast Pills and a variety of precious metals, the cultivation of the Ruyi Golden Snake improved rapidly, and the power of its innate Divine Ability, Ruyi Golden Light, grew stronger. He believed that within a few years at most, the Ruyi Golden Snake would successfully advance. Cultivating the Ruyi Golden Snake was straightforward. It involved simply feeding it as long as the amount was within what its stomach could handle and as long as it could refine the Spiritual Objects. Qin Feng tried his best to satisfy all its needs. ?¦Ï¦Í??.§ã¦Ï Besides this, Qin Feng focused all his energy on refining his Taoist Body and cultivating Divine Skills. Refining his Taoist Body was an indispensable part of his cultivation and the most critical step in building his foundation, which required him to spend significant time each day. As for cultivating Divine Skills, it was now much easier for him. After all, he had already taken the first step with the Ruyi Golden Snake¡¯s help and acquired the Ruyi Golden Light. Next, he needed only to communicate with the Ruyi Golden Snake continuously, sense the major and minor changes within it along with the Earth Escape Divine Power, and he could condense a new Divine Power Seed within himself. This was the advantage of having a Lifebound Spiritual Beast with multiple Divine Skills. Like Fang Zheng, whose Bengal Tiger currently possessed only the Evil Suppressing Dharma Eye, he could only condense that one Divine Skill. However, Qin Feng¡¯s Lifebound Spiritual Beast had multiple Divine Skills, allowing him to condense various Divine Skills. Naturally, this would still take some time. As for the Golden Hole Finger Divine Skill imparted to him by his master Ning Wuxu, it was also not too difficult to cultivate. Now that he had already cultivated Ruyi Golden Light, further training in Golden Hole Finger was like having a solid foundation. It was enough to concentrate on condensing based on what he had. Moreover, during a feeding session with the Ruyi Golden Snake, Qin Feng had a sudden insight. The main reason the Ruyi Golden Snake could devour various metals was due to its possession of the innate Divine Ability, Ruyi Golden Light. Ruyi Golden Light appeared to refine and dissolve all kinds of metals, allowing it to consistently digest these solid iron clumps over time. Thus, Qin Feng wondered if he could enhance his own Ruyi Golden Light by refining metals himself. If he could enhance the Ruyi Golden Light, and if channeling the refined Golden Qi into the Divine Power Seed of Golden Hole Finger, could it also enhance the power of this Divine Skill? After this idea emerged, Qin Feng¡¯s mood was too agitated to calm down. He decided to give it a try. So, he directly took a fist-sized piece of Red Copper and bit down hard. ¡°Cruncha€|¡± The Red Copper didn¡¯t budge, and his teeth started to loosen. Qin Feng covered his mouth and silently cursed in pain. He had bitten too fiercely and nearly broke his teeth. ¡°Ptui, ptui, ptui!¡± After spitting out the blood from his mouth and quickly healing the slight injury inside his mouth with Azure Dragon Divine Technique. Then, Qin Feng reconsidered and gathered Ruyi Golden Light onto his teeth, then cautiously bit down again. With a crack, this time he managed to break off a piece of the Red Copper the size of a broad bean. ¡°It¡¯s working!¡± Qin Feng was delighted. He coated his dazzling golden teeth with Ruyi Golden Light and chewed the small piece of Red Copper into powder before swallowing it and bolstering his stomach with Ruyi Golden Light. His stomach then churned madly under his deliberate control, refining that bit of Red Copper into pure Golden Qi. Qin Feng was elated and nearly laughed out loud, his smile almost reaching his ears. He persevered and chewed the piece of Red Copper into nothing, refining it completely. Although the acquired Golden Qi was not much, it was an additional gain for him. Over time, it would definitely make his Ruyi Golden Light more formidable, surpassing others in the power of his Golden Hole Finger Divine Skill and even speeding up the cultivation of his True Yuan. Hmm, perhaps he could also apply this to the cultivation of his Azure Dragon Daoist Body, enhancing the power of his own Taoist Body. However, Qin Feng soon stopped his attempts to gnaw on more metal. He realized his stomach was different from that of the Ruyi Golden Snake, which was naturally able to consume metal. Even with the aid of Ruyi Golden Light, refining metals left his stomach aching slightly. But Qin Feng wasn¡¯t too concerned about this. He believed that, with the cultivation of Azure Dragon Divine Technique, his Taoist Body would become stronger. If he focused on cultivating his stomach, it too could become capable of melting gold and iron, with nothing that it couldn¡¯t digest. The so-called Gold and Iron Chewing was nothing extraordinary. Qin Feng thought about giving his ability a catchy name, maybe calling it Chewing Iron Great Method. Chapter 248 - Chapter 248 Chapter 245 Expedition to Conquer the Otherworld ?Chapter 248: Chapter 245: Expedition to Conquer the Otherworld Chapter 248: Chapter 245: Expedition to Conquer the Otherworld Time passed quickly, and in the blink of an eye, several days had gone by. That day, Ning Wuxu called together his disciples early in the morning. ¡°Today is the day we leave the mountain gate and embark on our expedition to another world.¡± He looked seriously at his disciples, especially the youngest and least cultivated Qin Feng, and said, ¡°If you feel that your cultivation is insufficient, it¡¯s not too late to tell me now. I can leave you at the mountain gate. Otherwise, once you set out on the journey, there will be no turning back.¡± Without the slightest hesitation, Qin Feng bowed and said, ¡°Master, the path of cultivation is not without its bumps and hardships. Since I have the heart to pursue the Immortal Dao and long life, I should naturally not fear life and death, nor dread adversity. If I were to retreat now, it would create obstacles in my heart, and I may never achieve anything in this life. Life and death are predestined, and wealth and honor are in heaven¡¯s hands. I cultivate to break free from the bounds of life and death and escape the prison of fate. Otherwise, sooner or later, I will not be able to escape death. So, Master, there¡¯s no need to test my Daoist Heart, and you don¡¯t need to worry too much about my safety. In this expedition, I will surely not tarnish your reputation and will definitely carve out my own Dao in the other world!¡± Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í??.§ã¦Ï We cultivate exactly for the desire to attain longevity and break free from our restraints, to live freely and attain a measure of carefree ease. If we are timid and apprehensive, we will surely be halted in our tracks. This time, your second senior brother and I need to stay behind to guard the mountain gate and cannot join you in the campaign. Junior brother, since you have the least cultivation among us, take great care. If you encounter dangers beyond your strength, you should judge your capabilities and withdraw early.¡± ¡°Rest assured, big senior brother.¡± Qin Feng replied with a smile: ¡°I still aim to achieve the Immortal Dao and enjoy a long and carefree life, so naturally, I will be cautious and won¡¯t recklessly clash with powerful opponents in the other world.¡± ¡°Mhm, good, being clever is what keeps one alive longer.¡± Zhao Qiankun nodded, reached out, and presented Qin Feng with three dazzling Spirit Talismans, saying, ¡°I went to the Heavenly Talisman Pavilion to get these Defense Spiritual Talismans for you specifically for emergenciesa€¡±they could save your life. Don¡¯t hesitate to use them. They are mere external objects, after all, and nothing when compared to your life.¡± ¡°Thank you, big senior brother.¡± Qin Feng didn¡¯t stand on ceremony and thanked him before promptly taking the talismans and putting them into his Qiankun Bag. Hao Shicheng also took out a Storage Bag from his sleeve and handed it to Qin Feng: ¡°Here are some Elixir Pills. I know the sect has definitely prepared better ones for you True Disciples, but take these too. We don¡¯t know how long we¡¯ll be in the other world this time, so it doesn¡¯t hurt to have more.¡± ¡°In that case, I won¡¯t be shy.¡± Qin Feng thanked Hao Shicheng and also put away the Storage Bag he offered. He then turned his eyes to Liu Xuanling standing beside him. Liu Xuanling rolled her pretty eyes, stretched out her fair hand, and pushed away the face Qin Feng was bringing closer, huffing, ¡°I¡¯m going to join Master in the campaign just like you. You¡¯re the one who received gifts, and I haven¡¯t received anything. And you still expect me to prepare a gift for you now?¡± ¡°Heh heh, how could I?¡± Qin Feng chuckled awkwardly: ¡°I was wondering if senior sister wanted to have a share of what I got. Naturally, I wouldn¡¯t be stingy if you needed anything.¡± ¡°Hmph, I am a Purple Mansion Cultivator, what use would I have for those Elixir Pills and Spiritual Talismans prepared for a small Foundation Establishment cultivator like you?¡± Liu Xuanling couldn¡¯t be bothered with this cheeky junior brother who was playing cute after gaining an advantage and instead glared at the two senior brothers. Hao Shicheng gave a wry smile: ¡°Junior sister, your cultivation has already surpassed mine. The Spirit Pills I have are of no use to you; what on my person could be of any use to you?¡± Zhao Qiankun pursed his lips: ¡°How about this? You stay, and I will join Master. If you agree, you can pick anything you want from my Cave Mansion.¡± ¡°Tsck¡­¡± Liu Xuanling turned her head away, ignoring him. Still want to compete with me for the opportunity? No chance! With an amused smile, Ning Wuxu waved his hand, and several streaks of Spirit Light landed in front of Liu Xuanling and Qin Feng. He said, ¡°These are the treasures I have prepared for you. Feng, your cultivation is modest, so I have primarily prepared items for preserving life and escaping. Just use them as you see fit. As for Xuanling, you girl have a bit of a fondness for taking risks at the sharp edge of the sword, which is not a good thing. Once you arrive in the otherworld, you must remember not to be reckless without having a clear understanding of the power distribution of the otherworld. After all, there are quite a few Demon Gods there. Even I cannot guarantee a safe return, let alone you.¡± ¡°Master, rest assured, your disciple understands.¡± Liu Xuanling, with a joyful smile, took the treasures bestowed by her master, played with them for a moment in her hands, and then stowed them away with a flip of her hand. After thanking his master, Qin Feng also examined the items that his master had given him. In addition to a magic robe with restrained spirit light, there were also two bottles of life-preserving Spirit Pills and three Jade Talismans. Two of the Jade Talismans were the same as the one Ning Wuxu had given him before, designed for escaping, and the third was an offensive Jade Talisman capable of exerting the power of a single strike at the Purple Mansion Realm level, which was the most powerful Jade Talisman he could barely activate with his current level of cultivation. It wasn¡¯t that Ning Wuxu was unwilling to prepare more for him but rather that the Sect provides a wealth of resources to True Disciples; however, they would not coddle them like spoiled infants. Generally speaking, a few life-preserving Spiritual Objects were enough. The rest depended on them to judge the situation and to go through various tribulations. They were not allowed to abuse these treasures at will, as this would not benefit their growth. After instructing Zhao Qiankun and Hao Shicheng for a moment, Ning Wuxu then stood up with them and left Heavenly Snake Ridge. Once they flew out of the Mountain Gate, Ning Wuxu turned to Zhao Qiankun and Hao Shicheng and said, ¡°That¡¯s enough, we are leaving, you don¡¯t need to follow.¡± ¡°Master, take care.¡± The two bowed respectfully, then bade Liu Xuanling and Qin Feng a fond farewell. They stayed where they were, watching as Ning Wuxu and the others boarded a massive Tower Ship. The Tower Ship was a thousand zhang long and a hundred zhang wide, its huge form reminiscent of an ancient beast. At the prow, a giant beast¡¯s head was specially refineda€¡±a mixture of dragon and snake, with a sharp battering horn growing from its forehead that jutted out thirty zhang long, like a sword that could pierce the Cangqiong heavens. Equal in size to this Tower Ship were a dozen more, each with a different shaped beast¡¯s head at the front, including the White Tiger, the Profound Turtle, the Vermilion Bird, Bull Head, Xiezhi, and Wild Beasts, looking from a distance like a group of ancient fierce beasts, exuding formidable ferocity that could capture the soul. These were the rides of the nine lines of the Beast Taming Sect, as well as those of the Law Enforcement Hall and the Demon Hunting Hall elders for this expedition, and were also their most powerful War Fortresses for attacking the otherworld. Each of these Tower Ships possessed immense siege and defensive capabilities and could also serve as troop carriers for transporting a large number of disciples to conquer various places. At the same time, from within the Mountain Gate of the Beast Taming Sect, Tower Ships and Flying Boats of various sizes continuously flew out, lining up by size and order behind their Tower Ships. Following this was the sight of countless Spiritual Beasts flying out from the Mountain Gate. The sky was covered, dense and innumerable, and at first glance, it was difficult to discern just how many there were. Many Spiritual Beasts carried a Beast Taming Sect disciple on their backs. They had solemn expressions and stern faces as they landed on the Tower Ships. These disciples did not store their Spiritual Beasts away but allowed them to crowd on the already spacious decks of the Tower Ships. As a result, many Spiritual Beasts did not even have a place to land, so even more stood on the masts, hung on the sails, perched on the railings, or simply flew in the air, surrounding the Tower Ships as guards. Though it appeared crowded, there was no doubt that such a massive force was sufficient to calm the hearts of all those about to go on the expedition. They believed that they would be invincible in the face of such enormous strength. Indeed, those several hundred thousand Beast Taming Sect disciples, along with the dense army of Spiritual Beasts, not only filled their own disciples with confidence but also left the cultivators from other places who were watching in utter shock. They had always known that the Beast Taming Sect was powerful, but it was not until this moment that they realized the Sect was even more powerful than they had imagined. Just the departing disciples numbered in the hundreds of thousands, and with Spiritual Beasts several times their number, it was hard to imagine how powerful a force it was. And this was only half of the manpower mobilized by the Beast Taming Sect. The power they had left behind at the very least equaled this number, not to mention the strength hidden within their Cave Heaven World was not something outsiders could ascertain. ¡°So, this is why the Beast Taming Sect recruits so many disciples every year!¡± Those cultivators from afar, witnessing the scene, were all filled with admiration. A middle-aged man clothed in an exquisite Daoist robe and exuding a graceful demeanor couldn¡¯t help but let out a light sigh, ¡°It¡¯s a pity that even though our Sect has the desire to expand, we don¡¯t dare recruit disciples as lavishly as the Beast Taming Sect does each year.¡± ¡°Alasa€|¡± Beside him, a plump woman resembling a young wife sighed softly, ¡°In the past, when I saw the Beast Taming Sect recruiting so many disciples, I even laughed at them in secret, thinking that by recruiting so many, it would surely exhaust the Sect¡¯s foundation. Now that I behold this spectacle, I realize that the depth of the Beast Taming Sect¡¯s foundation is beyond what cultivators from small families like mine could ever imagine.¡± Just as various cultivators from the periphery were expressing their admiration, two factions slowly flew in from the back, each coming to a halt about a thousand zhang to the left and right of the area occupied by the Beast Taming Sect. ?¦Ï¦Í??.?? At the forefront of one faction was a massive mountain peak, rising a thousand zhang high, its surface crowded with men and women donned in colorful garments. Behind them was a slightly disorderly, yet terrifyingly imposing array of various large-size Flying Escape Treasures, including Tower Ships, palaces, banners, gourds, and Spirit Banners. On each Magical Treasure stood numerous disciples of the Five Poisons Sect, and around them, an array of strange Poison Insects continuously fluttered back and forth. Comparatively, when the Five Poisons Sect wasn¡¯t utilizing Poison Insects, they appeared quite agreeable, with many colorfully dressed female disciples one by one beautiful of face, revealing fair waists and calves, drawing the eyes of onlooking young cultivators to brighten. However, the other faction was rather gloomy and frightful. At the very front was a White Bone Hall, crafted from innumerable bones. The wall of the great hall was embedded with countless skulls, their hollow eye sockets seeming to nurture flickering Ghost Fires. Although the myriad bone arms didn¡¯t move even slightly, those aware of the Ghost Controlling Sect¡¯s details knew that if an outsider dared approach the hall, those arms would instantly turn animate, dragging the intruder into their grasp. If one were dragged into the wall, then congratulations, even if one hadn¡¯t achieved Immortal Dao, they would henceforth gain immortality. For anyone pulled into the wall would, like those skulls, turn into white bone, their souls sealed within the bones, becoming one of the countless bones on the great hall¡¯s walls. When some of the cultivators watching the ceremony mentioned this fact, many faces among the crowd paled instantly. If everyone hadn¡¯t known that the Ghost Controlling Sect was one of the leading forces against the Netherworld during the Ancient Great Tribulation, they might even think this was a branch of the Demon Path. Following that White Bone Hall, there were Tower Ships made of white bones or various other Flying Escape Treasures crafted out of unknown, pitch-black, odd materials. A mass of Yin Qi surged around countless Magical Treasures, merging into a blanket that shrouded the ground below in darkness. Within that Yin Qi, ghostly whispers intermittently transmitted, hidden within were numerous Ghost Items. Sometimes they formed ghostly faces and sometimes they took on various shapes of Soul Bodies, emerging from the Yin Evil Qi to peek outside, chilling the hearts of countless onlookers with a clear demonstration of their existence. Nevertheless, the disciples of the Ghost Controlling Sect standing atop those sinister Flying Escape Treasures were all clad in Daoist robes, either carrying Peach Wood Swords or holding horsetail whisks, their expressions solemn, seemingly no different from orthodox Taoists, except for the slightly chill True Yuan aura within them. Behind these three Major Sects were numerous small and medium-sized Sects. Each maneuvered their own large Flying Escape Treasures, carrying their Sect¡¯s disciples as they followed in orderly arrays behind the three Major Sects. While the Magical Treasures of these Sects varied, they didn¡¯t appear disorderly in the least. There were so many cultivators, and so many massive Flying Escape Treasures occupied a hundred-mile radius of the sky, that from below, it looked as if they were covering the sky, creating an awe-inspiring sight. Despite the multitude of cultivators, there was scarcely any sound. Even among the numerous Spiritual Beasts crowded together on the Beast Taming Sect¡¯s side, not one let out a single noise. Even if a Sharp-Horned Rock Sheep stood right in front of a Bengal Tiger or a small Jade Rabbit laid right before the mouth of a wolf over a zhang in length, there was no sound whatsoever. Of course, it would have been even better if that damned Giant Wolf hadn¡¯t let drool flow from its mouth, if the stench-ridden saliva hadn¡¯t dripped onto the pure white, smooth fur of the Jade Rabbit. Even with drool constantly dripping from its mouth, the black wolf didn¡¯t dare to open its jaws, fearing that it would be unable to resist swallowing the plump rabbit before it, whose entire body exuded a faint fragrance. It was clear that this Jade Rabbit was the pet Spiritual Beast of some female disciple, maintained with floral water baths to make its fur so fine and soft. Once all the Sects were quietly arrayed in order, all the cultivators directed their attention towards the mountain gate of the Beast Taming Sect. Moments later, under the watchful eyes of all the cultivators, a massive War Fortress slowly emerged from within the mountain gate of the Beast Taming Sect. The fortress was tremendously large, so much so that ordinary cultivators couldn¡¯t see its edges. Only those cultivators with profound Dao Cultivation who activated their Spiritual Eyes could see that it spanned hundreds of miles. Of course, everyone understood that it was merely the size the Beast Taming Sect chose to reveal, for inside it was even more expansive; after all, this was a complete Cave Heaven World. Many had already learned that the Beast Taming Sect had acquired the Heavenly Pool Cave Heaven and had refined it into a War Fortress for campaigning in Otherworlds. Initially, Taiyi Mountain had deliberately leaked this news to provoke discontent towards the Beast Taming Sect amongst the other Sects of the Southern Domain. After all, this Cave Heaven was previously ownerless, and all the Sects within a hundred thousand li were allowed to send disciples to treasure hunt within it every sixty years. Now that the Beast Taming Sect had obtained it, it easily aroused the dissatisfaction of other Sects. Beast Taming Sect didn¡¯t much care about the dissatisfaction, what could the displeasure amount to? Surely the smaller sects wouldn¡¯t dare to attack Beast Taming Sect. Moreover, they immediately released specific information, spreading news that Taiyi Mountain¡¯s plot to take over Heavenly Pool Cave Heaven had failed and was instead taken by Beast Taming Sect. As a result, although there were still some small sects that harbored complaints, none continued to denounce Beast Taming Sect alongside Taiyi Mountain. In their eyes, Taiyi Mountain wasn¡¯t anything good either. Had Beast Taming Sect not intervened and taken Heavenly Pool Cave Heaven, it would have been quite the joke the next time they prepared to open the Heavenly Pool Secret Realm. Taiyi Mountain could¡¯ve kept the information tightly sealed, and it may have taken those sects a millennium to figure out what had happened to Heavenly Pool Cave Heaven. Thus, many small sects in the Southern Domain were also quite dissatisfied with Taiyi Mountain¡¯s silent and sneaky scheming. Now that Beast Taming Sect had openly admitted to intercepting and seizing Taiyi Mountain¡¯s long-planned Heavenly Pool Cave Heaven, many were gloating in secret. Taiyi Mountain had been plotting in the dark for hundreds of years, and just as they were about to succeed, Beast Taming Sect had snatched the fruits of their labor. Surely that didn¡¯t taste good. The War Fortress slowly flew out of Beast Taming Sect¡¯s mountain gate, its immense size forcing the many spectators nearby to retreat repeatedly until they were out of the fortress¡¯s shadow, where they finally stopped. Then, several figures flew out from the fortress. The one in the lead was tall and thin, with a gaunt face and a gentle aura that was inscrutable. This was the Gui Ling Ancestor of Beast Taming Sect. Since the Gui Ling Ancestor spent years secluded in Ten Thousand Demons Cave Heaven without leaving, among the spectating cultivators, even though there were quite a few high-ranking members from other sects, there were very few who actually recognized this ancestor. After all, they were not on the same level of existence and rarely had any interactions. Only a few old timers who had cultivated for thousands of years had had the fortune to meet the Gui Ling Ancestor once in the past. The Gui Ling Ancestor glanced at the countless cultivators in front and, without saying much, ascended an altar with a few people flanking him. Afterward, he chanted prayers, pleading to the Heavenly Dao for a blessing on their expedition, hoping for a safe return. Qin Feng was quite a distance away and, of course, could not hear the ancestor¡¯s prayer. But as the ancestor¡¯s prayer progressed, the sky above changed, clouds swirled, and a colossal face seemed to look in their direction. Then Qin Feng saw a pillar of light envelop the massive War Fortress in the sky. A subtle vibration hummed, and something appeared to change inside the fortress. Those outside had no idea what was happening, and even if they were allowed to witness it firsthand, they wouldn¡¯t have known what was occurring. Only the Supreme Elders of various sects knew that this was the Heavenly Dao acknowledging the Gui Ling Ancestor¡¯s prayers, granting a portion of the Heavenly Dao Power to merge with the laws of Heavenly Pool Cave Heaven. Thus, when the War Fortress entered the Otherworld, it wouldn¡¯t be assimilated by the Otherworld¡¯s laws of the Heavenly Dao. Even within the Otherworld, the Cave Heaven Fortress would remain an independent entity. This meant that if any cultivator from the sects had a breakthrough in cultivation, they could do so within the Cave Heaven without fear of interference or suppression by the Otherworld¡¯s Heavenly Dao. ¡°An Otherworld Demon God covets our Biluo Great World, to enslave our Human Clan and have us worship him. He is the public enemy of our clan and must not go unpunished. Now I have received the mandate from the heavens, permitted by the Heavenly Dao, to go on an expedition to the Otherworld and slay the Demon God. I hope for the brave disciples of all sects to slay the enemy and protect our Human Clan¡¯s existence.¡± The Gui Ling Ancestor¡¯s voice spread across a thousand miles, making all beings within that radius hear him loud and clear. ¡°Should any sect¡¯s disciples gain recognition from the Heavenly Dao through their merits, they will be bestowed with great Qi Fortune. In the future, their path of cultivation will be much easier, and their chances of cultivating the Immortal Dao and achieving a carefree longevity will be a hundredfold greater than that of ordinary cultivators.¡± After delivering a speech to buoy morale, seeing the high fighting spirit amongst the disciples of all sects, the Gui Ling Ancestor nodded with satisfaction, ¡°Enter the fortress, march to the Otherworld, set out!¡± As soon as the Gui Ling Ancestor¡¯s words concluded, the cultivators from all sects sprang into action. The first to move were the cultivators from Beast Taming Sect right in front. Once the leading Tower Ship was dispatched, the rest followed suit; and behind them, numerous large and small Tower Ships and Flying Boats, carrying countless disciples and Spiritual Beasts, followed the fleet into the gaping maw of the War Fortress¡¯s portal. Chapter 249 - Chapter 249 Chapter 246 Elder Heavenly Spider, the Five Ghosts Heavenly King ?Chapter 249: Chapter 246 Elder Heavenly Spider, the Five Ghosts Heavenly King Chapter 249: Chapter 246 Elder Heavenly Spider, the Five Ghosts Heavenly King After the numerous tower ships of the Beast Taming Sect and the dense flocks of Spiritual Beasts flew into the fortress of Cave Heaven, the Ghost Controlling Sect and the Five Poisons Sect, two other great forces, also followed suit and entered. Following them were the large-scale Flying Escape Treasures of the various medium and small Sects, carrying their own disciples into the Cave Heaven in succession. However, the procession was truly too large; even though the Cultivators had extraordinary methods and their flying speeds were not slow, it still took more than an hour before all the Sect forces had entirely entered. In truth, this was deliberately done by the Beast Taming Sect as a means to deter the surroundings, to prevent others from harboring ill intentions towards the Beast Taming Sect or the Sects allied with them after their departure. Otherwise, there were not just one exit to this fortress Cave Heaven but as many as eight that had been opened by them; if all were opened, it wouldn¡¯t take long for everyone to enter. Now, with their actions, those Sects that had been somewhat restless would most likely calm down a lot after witnessing today¡¯s grand event and dare not act rashly again. Unless this expedition army of Cultivators fell in its entirety outside, if someone indeed caused trouble in their absence, they would certainly not let it go upon their return. In fact, even though the forces left behind by each Sect were far from their peak strength, through the alliance, the Sects had reached an agreement to support each other in times of trouble. This was one of the most significant achievements of the alliance; with this alliance in place, even if the Beast Taming Sect lacked manpower at present, Taiyi Mountain and the Giant Spirit Sect might not dare to truly come provocate. The surrounding Cultivators who came to watch the excitement, witnessing the grand Flying Escape Treasures laden with disciples from various Sects entering the Cave Heaven Fortress, were also swayed with emotion. Such powerful forces, such imposing momentum, indeed made countless Cultivators both shocked and regretful. Regretful that they did not have the opportunity to join. Otherwise, following the expeditionary army of the Beast Taming Sect to campaign in Otherworlds, they could certainly make a name for themselves and achieve great deeds. Even a few Sects were secretly regretting; had they known this would happen, they should have fostered closer relations with the Beast Taming Sect from the start, perhaps they too could now be part of the Beast Taming Sect Alliance, going on expeditions to Otherworlds to obtain resources. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í??.?¦Ï Unfortunately for them, being somewhat distant from the Beast Taming Sect and situated between it and a few other great forces, they felt there was no need to get too close to the Beast Taming Sect, lest drawing the hostility of other Sects made life difficult. However, this apparently neutral stance actually pleased neither side, so they were very directly excluded by the Beast Taming Sect. Within the Cave Heaven Fortress, the large Flying Escape Treasures of various Sects, under the guidance of the Beast Taming Sect Cultivators, landed in various places within the Cave Heaven World. Here, as long as they did not extensively damage the terrain or destroy Spirit Veins, they were free to station themselves as they wished. However, each Sect had its own stationing range; after all, this was the Cave Heaven Blessed Land of the Beast Taming Sect itself, and it was not possible for the Sects to act freely within the Cave Heaven, or it would not reflect the status of the main Sect of the Beast Taming Sect Alliance. Of course, if they wanted to wander around the Cave Heaven on normal days, looking for some opportunities, they were also allowed to do so. After all, aside from a few Spiritual Medicine Gardens that the Beast Taming Sect had protected with Forbidden Techniques, there were no good treasures left in the Cave Heaven now. After all, when they transformed the Cave Heaven into a War Fortress, they had already taken away the truly valuable treasures inside; what was left were mostly common Spiritual Objects or ordinary Spiritual Medicine, not worth a few Spirit Stones. Not to mention the Supreme Elders disdaining them, even Cultivators with slightly higher Dao Cultivation did not value them. However, if some ordinary disciples found them, it would still count as a little extra surprise for them. The Cultivators of the Beast Taming Sect occupied the largest Spiritual Mountain in the center, also the place with the most abundant Spiritual Energy after the Supreme Elders had integrated the Spirit Veins of the Cave Heaven World. On the highest Moyun Ridge, there was a grand hall, which was the place for quiet cultivation of several Supreme Elders. Of course, the fundamental purpose of this Cave Heaven was for warfare, so they hardly had any time for Cultivation here; it was more often used as a place for discussions with the leaders of other Sects. Not far from the Beast Taming Sect, on several mountains, the Cultivators of the Ghost Controlling Sect and the Five Poisons Sect were stationed respectively. The outer perimeter was occupied by the remaining Sects. If a cultivator were to fly high into the sky, they would notice that although the various sects¡¯ settlements are scattered, they are not without pattern, but rather spread out gradually in the shape of the Eight Diagrams. This was deliberately arranged by the Beast Taming Sect. When several Supreme Elders re-examined the Spirit Vein and transformed the Grotto Heaven, they had specifically discussed how to arrange for the sects¡¯ cultivators when they entered. At the suggestion of Elder Gui Ling, when they combed through the Spirit Vein, they also slightly moved the mountain ranges and rearranged them according to the Eight Diagrams orientation. That is to say, the mountains within the Cave Heaven World aren¡¯t too vast, so when they deployed their Supreme Divine Power to move the mountains, it didn¡¯t take much effort. If the mountains were as massive as those where the Beast Taming Sect was located in the Manghuang Mountain, they would not have been able to move them. Qin Feng and Liu Xuanling followed behind their master, and after Ning Wuxu had settled the disciples of the Spiritual Snake Lineage, he then took his two disciples to a palace that belonged to him. This palace was actually a Magical Treasure. When those Supreme Elders transformed the Grotto Heaven, they would not ask the disciples to do such heavy labor. If they wanted a palace, they¡¯d have to build it themselves. Ning Wuxu did not want to go to the trouble, so he simply procured a palace treasure and placed it here. Even his disciple Liu Xuanling had the chance to obtain his own palace. Given his status, identity, and Dao Cultivation, he would naturally not be lacking in such items. In fact, cultivators from various sects all have more or less such treasures, whether they be palaces, towers, or mansions, they are numerous and varied. After all, the elders of the sects are people of status; they cannot be expected to crowd into tents with their disciples. ¡°This time, the alliance of the various sects is embarking on an expedition to the Void Otherworld, aside from our Beast Taming Sect and the Five Poisons Sect, the Ghost Controlling Sect, there are sixty-four small and medium sects.¡± Ning Wuxu sat in the main seat and looked at the two disciples in front of him and said, ¡°Among them, our Beast Taming Sect sent eight Supreme Elders, and the Five Poisons Sect and Ghost Controlling Sect each dispatched five Supreme Elders. From the remaining small and medium sects, fifteen have Supreme Elders who will also join the expedition, adding up to thirty-three individuals who have reached the Immortal Dao.¡± ¡°Master, you mentioned before to your disciple that the number of Divine Demons in a Medium World varies, with as few as a dozen or as many as potentially hundreds. Are the Supreme Elders on our side a bit too few?¡± Qin Feng expressed his hesitance, ¡°In the event we encounter a strong Medium World, wouldn¡¯t that bea€|¡± ¡°Hehe, don¡¯t worry.¡± Ning Wuxu laughed, ¡°Do you think the Art of Prediction of Ancestor Gui Ling is for nothing? The ancestor has long since made several predictions, roughly estimating the strength of the opposition¡¯s world. Although there is bound to be some deviation, the difference should not be too great. Even if there are many Divine Demons in the otherworld, we will not fear them. Moreover, this time, we have dispatched five Profound Immortals.¡± ¡°Five?¡± Qin Feng gasped in surprise, ¡°That many?¡± ¡°Indeed.¡± Ning Wuxu said, ¡°Besides Ancestor Gui Ling and Elder Kongkong of our Beast Taming Sect, there¡¯s also Elder Heavenly Spider of the Five Poisons Sect, Xia Chunyang, the Five Ghost Heavenly King of the Ghost Controlling Sect, and the Fiery Fire Ancestor of the Fiery Fire Sect from Fire Cloud Mountaina€¡±altogether, five Profound Immortals. Besides the Fiery Fire Ancestor, who has rather singular methods, the other Supreme Elders certainly have their own unique abilities.¡± Seeing his disciple¡¯s eyes widen in anticipation of what he would say next, he couldn¡¯t help but chuckle, ¡°Can¡¯t you guess that? Our Beast Taming Sect specializes in Beast Taming. The two Supreme Elders have survived since the end of the Ancient Great Tribulation; during such an extended period, they must have nurtured potentially powerful Spiritual Beasts. The Five Poisons Sect is renowned throughout the world for its techniques of poisoning and placing Poison Insects. Elder Heavenly Spider¡¯s Lifebound Poison Insect is a Heavenly Spider Poisonous Insect that has been nurtured for tens of thousands of years. Its venom is incomparably deadly, and it possesses other miraculous abilities. In addition, he must have many powerful Poison Insects on him. Even a Profound Immortal of the same realm must be careful and cautious when encountering such a being, or they will find themselves at a disadvantage in an unguarded moment. As for the Five Ghost Heavenly King of the Ghost Controlling Sect, his methods are even more remarkable. It is rumored that he has refined five Heavenly Ghosts, equivalent to the realm of a Heavenly Immortala€¡±just imagine how formidable that is. The Supreme Elders of our three major sects should not be regarded as ordinary immortals; they are much stronger than those from small and medium sects. With so many powerful beings, there¡¯s no need for you to worry about anything, is there?¡± Hearing this, Qin Feng immediately relaxed quite a bit. After thinking for a moment, he asked again, ¡°Master, I heard earlier from the Gui Ling Grandmaster that if one establishes sufficient merit in the otherworld, one might be blessed with Qi Fortune by the Heavenly Dao. Is this true or false?¡± Upon hearing this, even Liu Xuanling, who was nearby, became interested. Clearly, if there really was a chance to be blessed by the Heavenly Dao¡¯s Qi Fortune, she would not want to miss it. ¡°Of course it¡¯s true.¡± Ning Wuxu glanced at his two disciples and shook his head, ¡°However, don¡¯t get your hopes up too high. Gaining favor from the Heavenly Dao is not so easy. It¡¯s not about killing a certain number of powerful enemies in the Otherworld, as that¡¯s not directly related to our world¡¯s Heavenly Dao. To be favored by the Heavenly Dao, you must do something beneficial for our own world.¡± ¡°What kind of actions would be beneficial for our world?¡± ¡°The best way is to obtain a significant amount of Treasures from the Otherworld to supplement our world¡¯s Heavenly Dao Origin. Doing so will surely gain you the favor of the Heavenly Dao.¡± Ning Wuxu smiled faintly, ¡°Secondly, for example, if you could slay powerful enemies during an invasion from the Otherworld, you would also receive the Heavenly Dao¡¯s Qi Fortune.¡± This left Qin Feng and Liu Xuanling looking at each other in astonishment. Enemies capable of crossing the Endless Void to invade the interior of the world were not within their ability to confront. And as for ordinary invaders that they could handle, it was unlikely they would elicit much response from the Heavenly Dao. ¡°I thought Gui Ling Master had pointed us to a shortcut in cultivation, seems like it¡¯s unfeasible.¡± Qin Feng sighed, ¡°Well then, disciples will just concentrate on their cultivation honestly.¡± ¡°Hehe¡­¡± Ning Wuxu laughed, ¡°Let alone you, even your master currently has no chance of such an opportunity, so you better not indulge in such daydreams.¡± While they were talking, the various Sects outside had also nearly finished their preparations. Just then, the sky suddenly brightened. Qin Feng curiously looked outside and after a while, he realized that the sky of the Cave Heaven World had turned transparent, allowing the light from the outside world to enter. Above the Cave Heaven World was originally the shape of a fortress, which was moved to the outer layer of the Cave Heaven space by several Supreme Elders, and this was the scene they had seen before they entered. If needed, the cultivators inside the Cave Heaven could rapidly move to the fortress to battle with external foes. At this moment, the fortress still hung high in the sky, but the other directions were unobstructed. Looking far out, one could clearly see the scenery outside the Cave Heaven. Of course, one must have a profound cultivation and strong vision to do so. Ordinary cultivators could at most see the sun outside and the distant mountains. In the grand hall above Moyun Ridge, the Gui Ling Ancestor and the Supreme Elders of various Sects had gathered here. They had extremely sharp eyesight and could easily see far-off scenes, even the many cultivators not far from the Cave Heaven outside were clearly visible. ¡°Gentlemen.¡± Gui Ling Ancestor spoke softly, ¡°Now that everything has been arranged, let¡¯s set out.¡± ¡°Good!¡± The other Immortals from various Sects nodded in agreement. By this time, it was not allowed for them to withdraw, as it would definitely have a significant impact on the morale of the expeditionary forces. Gui Ling Ancestor glanced at Elder Kongkong. Elder Kongkong understood and slightly nodded. With a flash of Spirit Light from his hand, the Heavenly Pool Secret Realm trembled and then began to rise slowly. At this moment, a multitude of cultivators outside, who were curiously surrounding the War Fortress, suddenly felt the massive fortress before them shake. Then, the fortress took flight. The disciples of the various Sects inside the Cave Heaven did not feel much, but the cultivators outside felt an immense and powerful presence. Although the fortress did not make any other movements, merely taking off. But the mere movement of the hundreds-of-miles-large War Fortress stirred up an incredibly strong Gang Wind. As the movements of the War Fortress became faster and it rose to the clouds above with just a few motions, it reached beyond the clouds. The howling Gang Wind tore through the surrounding clouds, and the cultivators below could only watch as the fortress flew higher and higher. Even at tens of thousands of feet in the air, the silhouette of the fortress remained distinctly visible. High above, at ninety thousand feet, a crack suddenly opened where the Biluo Great World connected to the outer Void. From below, it appeared to be nothing more than a small fissure. But it was through this seemingly insignificant crack that the hundreds-of-miles-large War Fortress easily passed. It wasn¡¯t until after the War Fortress had left that the crack gradually healed. After a while, it would probably disappear without a trace. ¡°They¡¯ve left!¡± A few cultivators observing in secret watched the War Fortress that had already entered the Void above and the world¡¯s membrane that was healing. ¡°Should we strike now and give the Beast Taming Sect an early headache?¡± ¡°Do you have a death wish?¡± Another voice coldly scoffed, ¡°The Beast Taming Sect just dispatched those people and is currently on high alert. Making trouble at this moment is seeking death, do you really think there¡¯s no one left in the Beast Taming Sect?¡± ¡°We could target a few smaller Sects to weaken their alliance.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t be foolish, leave that to others. We must not personally intervene in these matters.¡± ¡°Why?¡± ¡°Now that the Beast Taming Sect Alliance is fully formed, if you strike against their allies now, it will surely be traced back to us. If they trace it all the way back here, the Beast Taming Sect is likely to mobilize a large force again in collaboration with other Sects to deal with us. Although the strength of the other Sects is not as it was before, they will be more united at this time, so it¡¯s best for us not to stir up trouble personally.¡± ¡°What¡¯s there to fear? Now that the Old Turtle has left the Beast Taming Sect, and even Elder Kongkong, that big rat, has also gone with him. As long as Jue Tian doesn¡¯t personally take action, we don¡¯t have to worry about any serious danger.¡± ¡°Hmph, how do you know Jue Tian won¡¯t take personal action? ?¦Ï¦Í¨À?.§ã¦Ï Once that old ghost loses his temper, he becomes ferociously unpredictable and wouldn¡¯t care about the consequences. If we really get caught by him, do you think either of us could escape with our lives?¡± ¡°Alright then, let¡¯s find someone else to do it.¡± The voices faded away, silent and traceless, and no one knew that someone had been there. Chapter 250 - Chapter 250 Chapter 247 Picking Stars with One Hand ?Chapter 250: Chapter 247: Picking Stars with One Hand Chapter 250: Chapter 247: Picking Stars with One Hand The cosmos is vast, and the void is limitless. Within the resplendent starry sky, a fortress hundreds of miles in size was speeding through the void, racing in one direction. Compared to the countless stars, the fortress was undoubtedly tiny; even many of the meteors floating in the void were much larger than the fortress. Yet within this seemingly insignificant fortress, there resided over two million Human Clan Cultivators, along with millions of Spiritual Beasts, ghosts, and an untold number of Poison Insects. ?¦Ï¦Í?0.§ã0 By now, the Power of Laws within the Cave Heaven World had come under the control of Elder Kongkong of the Beast Taming Sect. He had long since altered the Cave Heaven Principle; otherwise, not to mention the Spiritual Beasts being unable to enter, even the cultivators from different Sects would probably have suffered attacks from the Cave Heaven Principle. The reason why Elder Kongkong, rather than the Gui Ling Ancestor, controlled this Cave Heaven, was because, relatively speaking, Elder Kongkong¡¯s understanding of the Space Dao far surpassed others. There were also many dangerous zones within the endless void, as well as countless chaotic streams of the void, where any slight misstep could potentially trap the Cave Heaven Fortress within them. Thus relatively speaking, it was safer for Elder Kongkong to manage the Cave Heaven; should anything go awry, he could promptly steer the Cave Heaven Fortress to avoid dangerous regions. Qin Feng looked up, staring blankly at the starry sky above. This was his first time experiencing the starry sky from such a close distance. When he saw the enormous stars right before him, he was incredibly shocked. When the Cave Heaven Fortress entered an asteroid belt made entirely of meteors, watching each meteor travel in its predetermined orbit was even more thrilling. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í?¦Ï.?0 He even felt the impulse to pluck a meteor right out of the void. Unfortunately, he did not have the ability to do so and could only watch as the Space Fortress nimbly avoided each large meteor, swiftly flying towards the distance. Not until he saw a giant hand reach out from within the Cave Heaven. The hand was so large it defied his imagination, as if it could cover the sky; once it reached out of the Cave Heaven, it directly grabbed an irregular meteor and then brought the meteor, which was dozens of miles in size, back into the interior of the Cave Heaven. Seeing this, countless Cultivators were shocked. They were also amazed by the boundless Daoist arts of those predecessors who had attained the status of Becoming an Immortal. Qin Feng looked on with great envy. Such a Supreme Divine Power was what he yearned for; he too wished for the day when he could pluck stars from the sky with his own hand. To roam the Cosmic Void at will, and if he stumbled upon rare treasures, to be able to collect some. Just like the individual who had just made a move, Qin Feng didn¡¯t know which Sect¡¯s Supreme Elder that was, who directly fished out an enormous meteor from the void. To say that the meteor contained no treasures, not only would Qin Feng not believe it, but all the Cultivators who witnessed that scene would likely not believe it either. In fact, the Endless Void actually had many treasures. After those Void Giant Beasts evolved stars, even if they couldn¡¯t evolve into complete worlds and eventually turned into dead stars devoid of any life, they might still give rise to some treasures. However, they weren¡¯t as numerous as the treasures in ordinary worlds, nor did they possess Spirit Veins like those worlds. Actually, speaking of which, Spirit Veins are one of the most fundamental treasures within a world, because under the nourishment of Spirit Veins, new treasures can be continuously produced; as long as one refrains from over-exploitation and allows the Spirit Veins time to recuperate, the inside of a world will form a perfect cycle. And some Great Powers roaming the Outer Star Space, visiting boundless worlds, would also occasionally collect some rare items from the void; the meteor that had just been snatched likely contained some kind of useful resource. It didn¡¯t take long before curious Elders from various Sects went to inquire, and they received news that it was the Gui Ling Ancestor who personally made the move, extracting a meteor that contained Meteor Star Iron. Gui Ling Ancestor did not keep the massive meteor for himself but took it out directly, allowing people to refine the suitable Meteor Star Iron for treasure forging and turn it into various Magical Treasures and Magic Artifacts, planning to use it as a resource within the Cave Heaven, to reward Cultivators who distinguished themselves in warfare. There were many Artifact Refiners capable of forging Magical Treasure Divine Weapons among the Sects, and even a Cultivator Sect that primarily relied on Spiritual Beasts like the Beast Taming Sect had Artifact Refiners, not to mention so many united Sects. Among the Sects that had joined the alliance for this campaign, there was one Sect that primarily lived by Artifact Refining. The Gui Ling Ancestor, with great generosity, primarily involved this Sect, calling together all Artifact Refiners from all Sects to forge Divine Weapons and Magical Treasures. In addition, there were also many Cultivators skilled in Alchemy, Talisman Making, Array setup, and so on, all of whom were exchanging knowledge with one another. Currently, there wasn¡¯t an abundance of materials for them to use for Alchemy or Talisman Painting, but once they conquer the Otherworld, the Sects should be able to acquire a considerable amount of resources to bring back. Then, it will be up to these Cultivators to show their capabilities and utilize the resources from the Otherworld. For a true Alchemist, as long as they have the materials for Alchemy, they can ascertain the materials¡¯ uses and medicinal properties within a certain period, thereby researching new Elixir Pills through various alchemical methods. Alchemists are never only about adhering to the Elixir Recipes passed down from ancestors, and those who cannot innovate are considered mediocre. Truly skilled Alchemists can deduce new Spirit Pills based on resources with different medicinal properties, even if those resources are not Spiritual Medicine but rather materials from Exotic Beasts; it¡¯s not too much of a challenge for them. Qin Feng sat cross-legged on a large blue stone at the mountain peak, habitually summoning the Swallowing Sky Toad, gently caressing its cool, sleek skin with his handa€¡±soft and comfortable. ¡°Gurgle, gurglea€|¡± The Swallowing Sky Toad called out a few times. It was communicating with its master through the link between their spirits, speaking to its master. Qin Feng quickly understood its meaning and couldn¡¯t help but be slightly startled, then he let out a wry smile. He had been foolish; the Swallowing Sky Toad had originally merged with the Swallowing Star Toad¡¯s Bloodline Divine Power, naturally possessing the ability to draw in Star Power. In the past, he would often let it out to draw in Star Power for cultivation on its own. Later, when he went to cultivate the ¡°Azure Dragon Divine Technique¡± in the Dragon Transformation Pond of the Ten Thousand Demons Cave Heaven, he had forgotten about this. Several months went by without him letting it out. At this moment, as the Cave Heaven Fortress moved through the Endless Void, the Star Power within the void was dense, far surpassing that within the world, so the Swallowing Sky Toad could easily sense the boundless Star Power. It wanted to draw in Star Power for cultivation. For this, Qin Feng certainly had no objections, and he directly placed it on a piece of green stone nearby. One could see the Spiritual Toad, which had grown to the size of a small watermelon, croaking a few times from its belly. Then, its body enlarged by a third, its snow-white underside bulging high, and the numerous Star Patterns on its back gleaming. Thick Star Power from the void quickly fell through the transparent barrier outside the Cave Heaven World, enveloping the Swallowing Sky Toad within. Cultivating in such a dense concentration of Star Power allowed the Swallowing Sky Toad¡¯s cultivation speed to far exceed ten times its previous rate. This was the benefit that came with having a suitable cultivation environment. Qin Feng watched with eager interest for a good while, and even took out a piece of hard Purple Gold to gnaw on, making a crisp sound as he bit into it. In the distance, a few Inner Sect Elders sensed fluctuations of Star Power over here and extended their Divine Senses to check. Although they knew that the chances of being invaded by beings from the Outer Star Space were slim, they still had to be cautious. Upon seeing it was a Spiritual Beast drawing in Star Power, they didn¡¯t pay much attention. The Elders saw him eating with relish and thought he was enjoying some Spirit Fruit. However, upon seeing clearly what was in his hand, they couldn¡¯t help but feel a twinge of pain in their teeth. If they hadn¡¯t already confirmed that the youth munching on pieces of metal was their Beast Taming Sect¡¯s newly appointed True Disciple, they would have suspected the lad to be some sort of Spiritual Beast transformed into human form. ¡°This kid, doesn¡¯t he find it uncomfortable for his teeth?¡± Someone couldn¡¯t help but mutter under their breath. ¡°Hehe, it must have something to do with his Lifebound Spiritual Beast.¡± Other Elders of different lineages laughed: ¡°I heard this kid¡¯s Lifebound Spiritual Beast is the Ruyi Golden Snake, a kind of Spiritual Snake from an Ancient Mutant Species; similar to the Iron-Eating Beast, it can devour all kinds of metals to enhance its own strength and cultivation. It seems that this kid has already cultivated a Divine Power Seed, otherwise even if he could swallow these metals, he wouldn¡¯t be able to digest them.¡± These comments were agreed upon by the other Elders. ¡°Senior Brother Ning has indeed accepted a good disciple. He might prove to be more promising than the previous generations of True Disciples in the Spiritual Snake Lineage. Like Long Qibian from the last generation, although he was not bad, he didn¡¯t step out of the traditional range of the Spiritual Snake Lineage Cultivation Technique Inheritance; he could only be considered to have followed the norm. This kid¡¯s Lifebound Spiritual Beast has never appeared before in the Spiritual Snake Lineage. His cultivation path from now on will be somewhat different from all previous Spiritual Snake Lineage Cultivators. Perhaps, he might even have the chance to create a new Divine Technique. After all, the Ruyi Golden Snake belongs to the Gold Element, and there¡¯s no Gold Element Divine Technique in the cultivation methods of the Spiritual Snake Lineage yet.¡± ¡°It¡¯s hard to say, the path of cultivation is filled with countless accidents. Creating a new cultivation technique is not that simple. Let¡¯s see if he can reach that step in the future. I just hope he doesn¡¯t fall in the upcoming great battle; that would be such a pity.¡± Qin Feng, with his lower level of Divine Sense, of course didn¡¯t know that several Inner Sect Elders were discussing him at the moment. Nor did he realize that in the Moyun Ridge Great Hall, the moment the Star Power from the void started to fall, it had already attracted the attention of those Supreme Elders. But those Supreme Elders only glanced over it without paying much attention. It was just the Spiritual Beast of a Foundation Establishment junior, nothing worth their concern. As Elders of their respective sects, they should be more concerned with the imminent great battle; they should focus on how to break through the World Barrier of the opposing world and safely descend within it. Fortunately, the Void was boundless, and even if they had already locked on the location of the other world, it would take several months of flight to reach the vicinity of the opposing world. So, they still had time to slowly deliberate, deduce, and decide how to break through the World Barrier and withstand the attacks of those Demon Gods. Qin Feng, who was happily munching away, suddenly noticed a shadow overhead, even affecting the Swallowing Sky Toad¡¯s Star Power drawing cultivation. He quickly looked upward. Upon realizing what was blocking the space of the Cave Heaven, he was so startled that his spirit trembled, and he didn¡¯t even notice the half-eaten piece of Purple Gold falling from his hand and hitting his foot. For, outside the Cave Heaven Fortress at this moment, an enormous eye was peering inside through the fortress¡¯s barrier. Chapter 251 - Chapter 251 Chapter 248 Void Giant Beast Ten Thousand Snakes Formation ?Chapter 251: Chapter 248 Void Giant Beast Ten Thousand Snakes Formation Chapter 251: Chapter 248 Void Giant Beast Ten Thousand Snakes Formation The eye was too large, so large that at first, Qin Feng didn¡¯t realize it was an eye until it showed a curious look and blinked, then Qin Feng finally recognized it as a gigantic eye. Then he strained his eyes to see further, but with his vision, he could barely make out a small area around the eye itself, unable to discern what kind of existence it was. His heart was filled with shock, what kind of Demon Beast could be so huge? Could it be that he and his companions were unlucky enough to have encountered one of the most ancient and powerful beings that roamed the Void? However, the expected attack never came, and even the Supreme Elders seemed to be utterly unconcerned about it, not even bothering to activate any defenses or accelerate the Cave Heaven Fortress to leave the area. It wasn¡¯t until a good while later, after the Cave Heaven Fortress had put tens of thousands of miles between itself and the eye, that Qin Feng could finally see the creature¡¯s true form. He discovered that it wasn¡¯t a Demon Beast at all, for it had no limbs or sharp teeth and claws, but was instead a cotton candy-like mass, only incomparably vast in size. ¡°That must be the Void Giant Beast Master talked about?!¡± Qin Feng muttered to himself, quickly confirming the creature¡¯s origin. Only those Void Giant Beasts that wandered the endless starry sky could possess a body larger than the world itself. Having understood the nature of the creature, his worries dissipated. Despite their enormous size, these Void Giant Beasts generally posed little threat to cultivators; any cultivator who could traverse the Void independently could even be swallowed by a Void Giant Beast and still emerge from its body. After all, the body of a Void Giant Beast was relatively insubstantial, and although they had the ability to devour all things, they lacked powerful digestive capacities. Inanimate objects could be slowly digested over a long period, but cultivators were not inanimate. Even if a cultivator were swallowed, as long as they could break through the beast¡¯s body before their strength was exhausted, they could leave safely. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í?¦Ï.?0 Thus, some who fled their pursuers in the endless Void would even deliberately seek refuge inside a Void Giant Beast, hiding there until they were certain of safety before drilling out of its belly. And this wasn¡¯t the only Void Giant Beast they had encountered on their journey. During the long flight, they came across several more Void Giant Beasts, some engaging in chase and combat. The larger beasts tried to devour the smaller ones to enhance their own essence, while the smaller ones, taking advantage of their more convenient size, circled round and round a huge star and ultimately managed to throw off the pursuit of the much larger Void Giant Beasts, escaping into the depths of the distant starry sky. Once, they came upon a somewhat foolish Void Giant Beast, likely one that hadn¡¯t seen a Flying Escape Treasure such as the Cave Heaven Fortress and thus followed out of curiosity for over ten days. Once its curiosity was satisfied, it swallowed the Cave Heaven Fortress in an attempt to digest it. But the Supreme Elders didn¡¯t waste their energy dealing with it. Elder Kongkong simply activated the Cave Heaven Fortress to create vibrations and raised a Defensive Shield around it. Then, forcefully, they made a path hundreds of miles wide through the body of the Void Giant Beast, continuing to fly forward at a steady pace. Seeing the Cave Heaven Fortress emerge through a huge hole hundreds of miles wide in its belly, the Void Giant Beast didn¡¯t seem to care much. Since it couldn¡¯t digest this thing, it didn¡¯t insist. As for the large hole that had been broken through, it would heal slowly, as its body was illusory and not yet solidified, so it could be flattened or rounded at will without issue. Even if its body were to be blown apart or devoured by other Void Giant Beasts, as long as it was not completely consumed, its Origin consciousness could still cling to the remnant body and grow anew. ¡­ ¡°While you are cultivating, you should also participate in the War Formation drills. You¡¯re not required to become a member, but you need to familiarize yourself with how to cooperate with fellow disciples in battle.¡± On that day, as Ning Wuxu took his disciple to watch the Spiritual Snake Lineage disciples practice their War Formation, he said to Qin Feng, ¡°I¡¯ve noticed your progress in cultivation these past days is not slow, and now that your Ruyi Golden Snake¡¯s Innate Divine Ability has been achieved, you should not just keep toiling away in isolation. Get to know the other disciples, and take the opportunity to learn about the path of War Formations. Whether it¡¯s on the battlefield or in some special situations, there will be times when you need to team up with other disciples to accomplish tasks. You¡¯ve been in the sect for too short a time and know too few fellow disciples, which is not a good thing for you at the moment. Go and get to know more brothers and sisters in the sect. As a True Disciple, aside from those who are jealous of you for obtaining the position, others will be willing to associate with you.¡± Qin Feng nodded, ¡°The disciple will follow the teacher¡¯s arrangements.¡± He indeed didn¡¯t need to occupy his time with cultivation every day anymore, for through days of cultivation, he had managed to condense the Divine Power Seed of the Golden Hole Finger. Even the Earth Escape and Big and Small Changes divine powers had been initially achieved, although they were far from being as powerful as when he used the Ruyi Golden Snake, and he still needed to practice more. Moreover, after insisting on consuming one or two pieces of metal materials used for Artifact Refining each day, his Ruyi Golden Light and Golden Hole Finger divine powers seeds had become somewhat stronger than those relying purely on cultivation, which pleased him greatly. Now when he was refining his Taoist Body, he would particularly temper his stomach, believing that as his stomach grew stronger, he would be able to consume more and more metals which would only benefit his Ruyi Golden Light and Golden Hole Finger. Furthermore, he was pondering how to apply the Golden Qi refined from chewing gold and iron into the Azure Dragon Divine Technique, his Body Refining Technique. ?¦Ï¦Í?¦Ï.?¦Ï He wanted to combine the Golden Qi with his Body Refinement Techniques, and even if it couldn¡¯t enhance the defense of his outer skin, he sought to apply the Golden Qi to his bones or to his teeth and nails to increase their toughness. Unfortunately, the Azure Dragon Divine Technique was a direct Body Refining Technique to the Immortal Dao, and with his meager Dao Cultivation, integrating other divine powers into this Divine Technique was no small feat. This required a profound understanding of the Divine Technique, the ability to deeply analyze the principles of the cultivation method. Moreover, the Azure Dragon Divine Technique belonged to the Wood Attribute of the Five Elements, which was good at nourishing the physical body and spawning endless vitality to achieve an Undying Dao Body. To incorporate the Metal Attribute divine powers, which were antagonistic to the Wood Attribute, into it was very challenging. Unless he had cultivated the White Tiger Divine Technique, it would be relatively easier to achieve this integration. But he was a True Disciple of the Spiritual Snake Lineage, not to mention whether the White Tiger Lineage would agree to teach him the White Tiger Divine Technique even if it was taught to him, he couldn¡¯t cultivate it. Because his Lifebound Spiritual Beast was the Ruyi Golden Snake, not a tiger-type Spiritual Beast, there were significant restrictions on the Four Images Divine Decision of the Beast Taming Sect, which required corresponding Spiritual Beasts to cultivate. However, Qin Feng felt that perhaps in the future, he could draw inspiration from the ¡°White Tiger Divine Technique¡± method of absorbing Geng Metal Energy, and it might not be impossible to find a bit of inspiration. But if he wanted the White Tiger Lineage to agree to let him read the ¡°White Tiger Divine Technique,¡± he would either have to make another great contribution to the Sect to command the Supreme Elders¡¯ order, or he would have to bring out a treasure that could truly intrigue the White Tiger Lineage. Well, perhaps once he had evolved the Ruyi Golden Light innate divine ability into a systematic cultivation technique or a divine power that could be passed down, the White Tiger Lineage would definitely be intrigued. Of course, it would be even better if he could separate the method of refining Golden Qi by Swallowing Gold and Chewing Iron. This was not impossible, as many divine skills in the cultivation world had been derived by cultivators from other clans¡¯ lifebound divine abilities. After all, the Human Clan was inherently weak, with nothing notable except for their spiritual intelligence, unlike other clans that had countless innate divine abilities. However, with his current level of Dao cultivation, to deduce the Ruyi Golden Snake¡¯s innate divine ability into one that could be passed down, he would have to wait until after Entering the Dao for even a slim possibility. He wasn¡¯t at that realm yet and didn¡¯t know if the Purple Mansion Realm would be sufficient. If it proved too difficult, he might have to wait until after becoming an immortal to achieve it. Although these tasks were still far from success, Qin Feng felt it was best to start preparing and contemplating from now on, as inspiration might strike at any moment, granting him an opportunity for rapid advancement. Even if it didn¡¯t work out, it was still beneficial to cultivate the habit of pondering over cultivation techniques now rather than realizing there were problems only after reaching the Primordial Spirit Realm, like his master did, when it would be very difficult to change. In the following days, Qin Feng, in addition to his cultivation, would set aside two hours every day to practice various war formations with disciples of the Spiritual Snake Lineage. There were close-combat war formations suitable for a few people to execute, as well as the Ten Thousand Snakes Formation deployed by many people together. He found these war formations to be quite interesting. The close-combat ones deployed by a few people were passable, mainly reflecting the coordination and tacit understanding among the disciples, which required years of practice and even actual combat experience to truly master, so Qin Feng merely dabbled in these. As a True Disciple nurtured by the Sect, the Sect would not allow him to devote too much energy to these practices. Even if he wanted to, the other disciples practicing the formations with him could not keep up with his cultivation speed. In a few years, when he advanced to the Golden Core or the Purple Mansion Realm, those ordinary disciples might still be in the Foundation Establishment Realm. Therefore, he only briefly touched upon these formations, which at most could be useful in the early stages of the war. This was because in just a few years, once he had refined his Daoist Body to perfection, he would be able to advance to the Golden Core Realm. What truly interested him was the Ten Thousand Snakes Formation. This war formation connected the aura of all the disciples from the Spiritual Snake Lineage, capable of conjuring illusions of ten thousand snakes, each an energy body that could attack the enemy. Moreover, these Spiritual Snake Illusions were constantly being destroyed and reborn; as long as the war formation stood unbroken, they could perpetually congregate new illusions. Even if the disciples were proficient enough in executing the formation and the Elder controlling it was adept, the Ten Thousand Snakes Illusion could converge into one giant thousand Zhang serpent, making its war power even more formidable. Therefore, the Ten Thousand Snakes Formation was entirely different from the others. It could gather strength as a single entity to face powerful enemies or disperse into the thousands, suitable for large-scale battles. The formations of the other lineages were relatively straightforward, like the White Tiger Lineage¡¯s formation, which conjured the Divine Beast White Tiger Illusion, capable of swallowing the sky and earth with fierceness and dominance. The Spiritual Ape Lineage¡¯s formation could congregate a Worldly Demon Ape, battling the heavens and earth with unrivaled ferocity. The Vermilion Bird Lineage¡¯s formation could conjure the Divine Beast Vermilion Bird, with Nanming Leaving Fire that purifies the Void, incinerating all things. In short, the war formations of each lineage were different, each with its own mysteries; none could be said to be better or worse than the others, with their effectiveness depending on the number of people deploying them and the outcome of their collective power. During the practice of war formations with his sectmates, Qin Feng also got to know many of his fellow disciples. As Ning Wuxu had said, the vast majority were willing to make his acquaintance, since as a True Disciple, it was predetermined he would one day hold high positions in the Sect. Befriending him now was sure to be advantageous in the future. Of course, there were a few who were discontent with him, those who had believed themselves to be the most likely candidates for the position of True Disciple before he obtained it. To those few who were openly challenging him, Qin Feng was anything but polite and seized the opportunity to give them a good thrashing. He had now cultivated the Azure Dragon Daoist Body, which, combined with the ¡°Ten Thousand Beasts Origin Scripture,¡± made his Daoist Body far stronger than what ordinary disciples could refine. Not to mention, he had now cultivated several divine skills. Ruyi Golden Light was versatile and particularly sharp, his offensive techniques dazzling to the eye. The Earth Escape Divine Power allowed him to evade at will, and though the Big and Small Changes did not have much use currently, it could still avoid many attacks at critical moments. The Golden Hole Finger, a divine skill adept at breaking defenses, could pierce through an opponent¡¯s defensive magic or magic robe armor with the slightest misstep. Not to mention, he wielded the divine weapon, the Sky Battle Halberd. When using the ¡°Azure Dragon Divine Technique¡± and its corresponding war skills, his attack, Azure Dragon Emerges from the Sea, would actually transform the Sky Battle Halberd into an Azure Dragon, as if it had just burst from the depths of the ocean, filled with the majesty of a top-level divine beast, fierce and unyieldinga€¡±few disciples could withstand his strike. Of course, these disciples were not without their countermeasures. Several of them possessed Spiritual Beasts in the Demon Core Realm. Whether lifebound or otherwise. But in all honesty, although Spiritual Beasts in the initial stages of Demon Core were strong, they did not exceed Qin Feng¡¯s limit. He would enhance the Sky Battle Halberd with Ruyi Golden Light, and after bringing his Azure Dragon Daoist Body to its peak, its power was so immense that even early-stage Demon Core Spiritual Beasts dared not withstand it head-on. Qin Feng did not need to kill or defeat those early-stage Demon Core Spiritual Beasts; he just needed to repel them and buy himself some time to overpower those disciples who had not yet advanced to the Golden Core. Once a True Disciple reached a high level of cultivation, they would absolutely crush their peers in terms of war power. Although these disciples had once considered themselves extraordinary, they had to admit that Qin Feng¡¯s strength outstripped theirs under his absolute dominance. Chapter 252 - Chapter 252 Chapter 249 Dark Flame Demon God ?Chapter 252: Chapter 249 Dark Flame Demon God Chapter 252: Chapter 249 Dark Flame Demon God Qin Feng demonstrated the capabilities expected of a True Disciple, overpowering several gifted disciples from the Spiritual Snake Lineage with his formidable war power, thoroughly establishing himself as one of the strongest among the younger generation. The reason he was one of the strongest, and not the only one, was that he had joined the sect not long ago and it was impossible for him to defeat disciples like Li Miaozhen, who had been True Disciples for over a decade. Even so, this was enough to make him the most sought-after young prodigy in the Spiritual Snake Lineage. Whenever he appeared among the disciples, he would receive a lot of support and many female disciples, believing themselves to be somewhat attractive, were already casting flirtatious glances at him. The male disciples simply felt that both his potential and war power were incredibly strong and, having the support of the Great Elder of the Spiritual Snake Lineage, they just wanted to befriend him. But many female disciples thought this Junior Brother Qin, despite his young age, already possessed such formidable strength. Although his looks were not as stunning as Kong Xuan of the Vermilion Bird Lineage, he was quite handsome and definitely an ideal candidate for a Daoist companion. Even many female disciples felt that compared to Kong Xuan, Qin Feng was more suitable for a Daoist companion. Otherwise, facing someone like Kong Xuan, who was prettier than most women, would make them feel inferior. Qin Feng was different; he wasn¡¯t as pretty as Kong Xuan, yet he made them feel proud of their femininity. Moreover, since Qin Feng had begun practicing the ¡°Azure Dragon Profound Research¡± Body Refinement Technique, he had developed a more masculine energy that attracted female admirers more than Kong Xuan¡¯s delicate beauty. What was more crucial was that becoming Qin Feng¡¯s Daoist companion equated to having a powerful backing, and who knows, they might even have a chance to become the Sect Master¡¯s wife in the future. Even if they couldn¡¯t be the Sect Master¡¯s wife, being known as an Elder¡¯s wife was not bad either. What more could they ask for? Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ??¦Í?0.§ã¦Ï Thus, every time Qin Feng appeared in public to practice war formations, a flock of women would surround him. Some women would even frequently visit him when he left the crowd to return to his cultivation. Because of this, Qin Feng often received teasing from his senior sister, Liu Xuanling, which left him feeling embarrassed and somewhat overwhelmed. It wasn¡¯t that these female disciples weren¡¯t pretty, but that he simply wasn¡¯t interested in such matters. To be able to spare so much time from his cultivation routine to interact with his fellow disciples and practice war formations was already quite rare for him. If it weren¡¯t for his master¡¯s orders, he would rather spend this time delving into Daoist techniques or perusing Daoist books. He felt that ever since he became a True Disciple, there was never enough time. There was so much to cultivate that as a result, he hadn¡¯t touched the Daoist books for many months. To focus on his cultivation, Qin Feng outright rejected all invitations from the female disciples. He had no time to go on outings with these girls or to explore the depths of Grotto Heaven with these beautiful young ladies. ?¦Ï¦Í¨À¦Ï.§ã¦Ï He believed he should dedicate more effort to cultivation and regard the pursuit of the Longevity Dao as his most important goal. Otherwise, if he were to get distracted and delay his progress, he would likely live to regret it. Qin Feng wasn¡¯t heartless; the Cultivation Techniques passed down by the Beast Taming Sect didn¡¯t follow the Heartless Dao. He was a living being and sometimes felt attracted to pretty female cultivators. But that was all it wasa€¡±a fleeting attraction. Without achieving the Longevity Dao, he felt he was unlikely to take any action. Because of this, many female cultivators looked at him with a touch of melancholy in their eyes, but Qin Feng pretended not to notice. He was just one person; even if he did want to find a Daoist companion, he couldn¡¯t possibly handle so many female cultivators at once. Since these female cultivators were bound to be heartbroken sooner or later, it was better to let them give up on him now rather than give them a sliver of hope and have them cling to him later. Qin Feng believed that female disciples like Xue Baoshu were somewhat better. It wasn¡¯t that her voluptuous body, even bigger than his own, was particularly attractive; it was that she devoted herself to the Dao and pursued strength, never discussing matters of love when she met with Qin Feng. Therefore, whenever he encountered Xue Baoshu at the sect¡¯s residence, they would talk and laugh together, and he felt quite close to her. This had led many female disciples to suspect that something was wrong with Qin Feng¡¯s taste. Ignoring the beautiful female cultivators around him and instead being so intimate with Xue Baoshu, whom one could only describe as robusta€¡±could it be that this generation¡¯s true disciples had some peculiar preferences? Did he not like the fragile, delicate female cultivators, and instead preferred those with broad shoulders and robust bodies to dominate him? However, such rumors had quickly dissipated, as anyone with clear eyes could see that Qin Feng had no intentions of finding a Daoist companion, and there was absolutely no romantic involvement with Xue Baoshua€¡±just pure camaraderie. When Liu Wuxiang brought these rumors to Qin Feng¡¯s ears, although he felt somewhat downhearted, he soon disregarded them. They were just gossips from several female disciples; there was no need to take them to heart. Aside from his cultivation, he occasionally went to seek advice from Li Miaozhen, asking her about some cultivation techniques from the White Tiger Lineage. Although he couldn¡¯t be taught the true inheritance techniques, the general spells or even just some concepts and skills of the cultivation techniques could still be shared with Qin Feng. After several conversations, Qin Feng had gained quite a bit. He felt that if things continued this way, perhaps by finding just a little more opportunity, he might actually be able to integrate the golden Qi refined from devouring gold into his Azure Dragon Daoist body. But what exactly that opportunity was, he did not know. ¡­ Under the dim sky, within a massive, majestic, and magnificent palace, several figures sat solemnly. A powerful entity sat at the highest position. This being had a strange appearance with seven horns on his head, bone spurs on his back, his body covered in fine scales, and his large mouth revealing sharp fangs, his eyes emanating a fierceness ready to devour people. Below him, on both sides of the great hall, sat several figures, some similar to him in appearance, some with wings on their backs, others as large as mountains, and some not even humanoid. At this moment, the entity above furrowed his brows, his gaze unconsciously scanning around. He wasn¡¯t really paying attention to anything he saw; his actions were merely a way to hide the unease in his heart. Since over a year ago, when one of his divine souls had been imprisoned and someone had traced the location of his physical self through that soul, he had occasionally felt this inexplicable anxiety. Especially in recent months, his uneasiness had intensified. This puzzled him. Could it be that his divine soul had fallen into the hands of an existence skilled in curses? Otherwise, why would he feel so uneasy? He hadn¡¯t felt the slightest hint of being cursed. If it had indeed been a curse, he wouldn¡¯t be unable to react, but this inexplicable unease had nearly driven him insane. So, he called over a few of the Demon Gods he was on good terms with to discuss the matter. He suspected that the Demon Gods from another continent might be scheming against them, which might be causing his bad premonitions. ¡°Dark Flame, Dark Flame¡­¡± The calling sounds close to his ears snapped him out of his reverie. ¡°Dark Flame, you don¡¯t seem quite right today!¡± The fellow with a body fat like a mountain of flesh put down the beast leg he was gnawing on, looked at him curiously, and said, ¡°What¡¯s wrong with you today? You called us here, but you seem distracted?¡± ¡°Oh, nothing.¡± Dark Flame Demon God steadied his mind and said, ¡°I don¡¯t know why, but lately, I¡¯ve been feeling a sense of impending danger that leaves my spirit restless.¡± ¡°Huh?¡± The other Demon Gods were taken aback, ¡°You feel that too?¡± Hearing this, the Dark Flame Demon God hesitated for a moment, ¡°What, you all feel the same?¡± He found it strange; could the cause truly not be his own Divine Soul? Otherwise, even if he was cursed, only he should be sensing ita€¡±why would these fellows also have this feeling? Could it indeed be those Demon Gods from the other continent plotting against them? The Dark Flame Demon God muttered to himself. For the moment, he had not realized that the entity holding his split soul had already amassed an army, preparing to attack their world. Because he felt it was impossible. Even when his split soul was intact, he had only been able to vaguely sense the general direction of that other world but couldn¡¯t specifically discern its exact location. The reason he was able to send a part of his Divine Soul to that world was not because his strength allowed him to pierce through the Endless Void. Even if he could, his Divine Soul Power wasn¡¯t sufficient to help him breach another Great World¡¯s barrier and the obstructions of the Heavenly Dao. The reason his Divine Soul had appeared in the Biluo Great World was completely due to a contract. A Devil Contract. Although he wasn¡¯t of a pure Devil bloodline, nor did he dwell in Hell like those devils, but being a demon of the Dark System, he had his own unique skills in manipulating souls and dealing with contracts. Some demons particularly liked to split a part of their Divine Soul, anchor it onto a Devil Contract, and then send this contract through a spatial rift to other worlds. Although the endeavors didn¡¯t always succeed and were more likely to fail, losing their Devil Contracts in the Endless Void, where over long periods, they would eventually dissipate completely, resulting in considerable loss of their Divine Soul Power. But very few could navigate the endless spatial rifts and find worlds brimming with life. The Dark Flame Demon God considered himself extremely fortunate to have found such a world. Initially, he found the living beings of that world so weak that with just a slight exertion of his Divine Power, he was able to gather a multitude of followers and harvested an enormous amount of Soul Power. His Divine Power grew somewhat as a result. He didn¡¯t really need the Power of Faith. In fact, most demons of the Dark System didn¡¯t favor cultivating with the Power of Faith. Instead of the believers¡¯ power of faith, they preferred devouring the believers¡¯ Divine Soul Power. For they believed the Power of Faith relied too heavily on believers, unlike the reliability of devouring Soul Power, which, once absorbed, would become permanently a part of their own power, unlike Power of Faith, which required continuous replenishment through believers¡¯ prayers. Initially, the Dark Flame Demon God thought the humans of that world were weak, so he began to develop extensively. Until one day, a group of humans knowledgeable in spells began slaughtering his followers, overthrowing his temples, and smashing his statues, he then realized how fragile his believers actually were. At that point, he found out that the world also had methods of cultivation. After his followers were slaughtered massively, he felt he should change his approach to harvesting souls. He didn¡¯t care about the lives of his followers. He just didn¡¯t want to give up on that world, for the souls there tasted exceptionally delicious, and he wanted to devour more Soul Power to become stronger. He believed that if his followers could conquer that world, dominate it, then supplying him with generations of Soul Power, it might not take thousands of years before he could advance to a higher level as a Demon God. Then, even contending for the position of World Master seemed possible. So even if his followers were slaughtered and his temple was destroyed, he wasn¡¯t ready to just give up. Then he tricked a human youth, letting this lad carry his statue entrenched with his split soul and escape from the battleground to seek followers elsewhere. Unfortunately, he was deceived by that lad. Even now, the Dark Flame Demon God could not understand ita€¡±he had given the lad significant benefits, and the lad had borne his Divine Power; how could he dare betray him? Did such a weak being not fear being killed by him? The consequence of the youth¡¯s betrayal was his split soul falling into the hands of a powerful entity. The Dark Flame Demon God didn¡¯t know the exact strength of the foe but knew that the opponent had once probed him via the connection with that split soul. Moreover, the adversary seemed to want to lock onto him, intending to attack him. Luckily, he had timely severed the connection with that split soul. Chapter 253 - Chapter 253 Chapter 250 Descending into the Otherworld ?Chapter 253: Chapter 250: Descending into the Otherworld Chapter 253: Chapter 250: Descending into the Otherworld ¡°We are Demon Gods.¡± A female Demon God with a devilish figure and a devilish face spoke, ¡°For something to make us Demon Gods feel uneasy, there must be a great danger looming.¡± Her voice was sharp and grating, her mouth full of fine, sharp teeth, and she had several curved horns growing from her head. Her face, mantis-like in shape, would appear exceedingly ugly by Human Clan standards. But her figure had surprisingly striking curves that could catch one off guard. Her waist was so slender it could hardly be grasped, yet she possessed large mounds of flesh on her chest, barely covered by a tiny piece of leather armor that concealed less than a third, and her buttocks were plump beyond measure. Her legs were straight and long; her entire body was filled with a peculiar beauty. ¡°Do not worry, beautiful Papala Demon God.¡± The Demon God who resembled a mountain of flesh burst into laughter, ¡°I know that the Dark Prison Demon God and his ilk have been plotting recently, but let¡¯s be honest, we have been at war with them for tens of thousands of years. After so many battles without a victor, do they really think this time they can drive us out of this continent? Hahaha, perhaps this time they have even invited a few other Demon Gods to help, which is why we are feeling a bit of unease. But no matter, can¡¯t we also invite friends to aid us?¡± As the fellow laughed heartily, his entire body of fat shook like waves, his belly bulging after each laugh, resembling a grotesque hybrid of a bloated frog and a hippopotamus. However, the Female Demon God named Papala seemed utterly unconcerned, even revealing a hint of a smile on her grotesque face, ¡°Nega, that being said, have you already thought about what price we¡¯re going to pay to invite other Demon Gods to help us fight?¡± Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í??.§ã¦Ï If they can help us defeat those damned foes and take over the continent, any price is worth it.¡± After a while, the Demon Gods discussed among themselves and seemingly reached a satisfying conclusion. Although it pained these selfish creatures to part with certain things, the pain was not unbearable. Just as they felt they had settled matters and could relax, suddenly a thunderous boom resounded. There was no sign of any disturbance reaching them, but the Demon Gods felt the entire hall shake violently. ¡°What¡¯s happening?¡± ¡°Could it be that the Dark Prison Demon God and his lot have already attacked?¡± The Demon Gods stood up one after another, their faces showing alarm as they looked outside. However, there was no sign of enemies outside the palace. Instead, every creature within the castle looked up at the sky with puzzled expressions, and then many of the weaker ones began to show terror on their faces. The Dark Flame Demon Gods rose to their feet and gazed upwards outside. What they saw made their hearts pound furiously. ¡°What is that?¡± Papala Demon God could not help but shriek. Among these Demon Gods, her strength was the weakest. If not for the ambiguous relations she maintained with a few Demon Gods, she could never have attained such a high status and such an expansive territory. But when danger approached, her instinct was to rely on the more powerful beings beside her. High above the dark-red sky, a huge object roared downward, having already broken a crevice in the World Barrier, seemingly trying to squeeze through it. ¡°It looks like a fortress.¡± ¡°Indeed, a fortressa€¡±a War Fortress. Has someone invaded?¡± ¡°One world¡¯s mighty have initiated interdimensional warfare against us!¡± The Demon Gods quickly realized what was happening. Although they had never personally experienced full-scale interdimensional warfare, they had heard about such things from Demon Gods of other planes and quickly deduced the cause of this event. ¡°Quick, gather all the armies, summon all subordinates, prepare for battle.¡± ¡°How dare someone attack us? Do they have a death wish?¡± ¡°Damn it, why do I feel like that fortress is precisely above our heads? Are they forcing us to be the first to engage them in battle?¡± As Papala Demon God cursed in anger, the other Demon Gods also noticed this, and their expressions grew even uglier. The Dark System Demon Gods were the most chaotic; infighting and skirmishes were commonplace, even considered the norm. Even though they resided in the same world as the Demon Gods from the other continents, they were clearly divided into different camps. Now, they could only hope that the other continents¡¯ Demon Gods would come to their aid quickly, out of respect for the fact this was a world war. Otherwise, if they were defeated, they feared they would have to abandon their territories and even the continent they had inhabited for countless years. Looking up at the massive War Fortress above them, the Dark Flame Demon God felt a touch of fear in his heart. Ever since Papala had warned him, he then realized that the fortress was indeed directly above them, or more precisely, above his own castle. In an instant, he had figured out the reason. The fortress was coming for him. Initially, his Divine Soul had exposed him, allowing the enemy to follow the connection between the Divine Soul and him to find the coordinates of this world, and consequently his own location. That was why it had appeared so coincidentally above his castle. However, he dared not speak of it. If the other Demon Gods found out that it was he who had triggered this interdimensional war, even if they didn¡¯t kill him, they would make him the least welcomed among them. In a large-scale interdimensional war, this was very dangerous. No independent being could survive for long, easily getting surrounded and blocked by powerful adversaries. Without the aid of comrades, one could easily be doomed. His mind raced with thoughts, and his savage, cunning nature led him to choose to conceal the truth. He then shouted loudly, summoning all his subordinates to prepare for battle. He knew that the first battle of this interdimensional war would take place in his own territory. Even if they won the war in the end, his territory would become ruins, and his subordinates might be entirely wiped out. Given this circumstance, he could no longer worry about the loss and decided to use his forces to the fullest potential to weaken the enemy¡¯s strength and to ensure the other Demon Gods remembered his contributions. ?¦Ï??0.§ã¦Ï Although these deeds would not be valued by the other Demon Gods, and they might even take pleasure in his misfortune, it didn¡¯t matter. As long as the other Demon Gods knew about his sacrifices, they wouldn¡¯t suspect him. Afterward, the Dark Flame Demon God called out to several other Demon Gods and flew into the sky. They went to assess the specifics of the fortress. If possible, they wanted to destroy the fortress, shatter it into pieces, torture to death all those who dared invade their world, and then devour those intruders¡¯ souls. If success was not feasible, they would also try to delay as much as possible, allowing other Demon Gods from different regions to notice the disturbance and rush over to assist. An interdimensional war wouldn¡¯t just threaten their continent by the enemy¡¯s landing; once the enemy stabilized their foothold, they would quickly spread to other regions, eventually expanding the war to every corner of the world. As these few Demon Gods ascended high into the sky, in the castle below and even farther places, countless lives were bustling about, responding to the call of the Demon Gods. Fierce beings picked up their War Hammers, took up their weapons, and began to converge towards the direction of the castle. Some of the beings had horns on their heads and scales on their bodies; these were Flame Demons of the same Race as the Dark Flame Demon God. Others had wings on their backs and ferocious appearances; these were from the Winged Demon Clan. And there were many other strange and bizarre Races, all of which were unsightly in appearance but physically powerful beings. These were subordinates from the territories of other Demon Gods who, upon receiving the orders, also began to summon all their armies and strong fighters. The commotion in the sky was great, with the War Fortress carrying the air of Otherworld Heavenly Dao trying to break through this world¡¯s Heavenly Dao Barrier. It was tantamount to a collision between two worlds, impossible not to draw attention. At the moment when the castle struck the Upper Realm¡¯s Boundary Barrier, a thunderous boom spread eerily to every corner of the world, allowing all lives in this world to hear it clearly, particularly those powerful beings who became restless. In the distance, Demon Gods one after another stood up and hurried over to this side. And countless powerful and terrifying Lords were also summoning their subordinates, preparing to face the unknown danger. In just a short amount of time, the whole world was thrown into chaos; volcanoes that often erupted spewed out torrents of magma, the earth trembled, rivers ran in reverse, and countless lives were running around, not knowing what had happened, as if the apocalypse was upon them. Even though those Demon Gods had sensed the rage of the Heavenly Dao and the trembling of the World Will, except for a very few, most of them could not comprehend what the World Will was attempting to communicate. Thus, they could only set out in person, heading in the direction from whence the disturbance came, to see what had happened. But this required Time. Even though they were Demon Gods, crossing several continents and the vast Desert Ocean would still require continuous flight to reach the specific location. Meanwhile, several particularly strong Demon Gods had already vaguely received messages from the World Will, suggesting that there was an invasion by outsiders. This gave them pause. They were Demon Gods; they were the invaders of other worlds. When had it ever been the case that another world invaded theirs? Could it be that a great Demon God from another world had come to subjugate all the lives in their world? This was the disadvantage of a world without a World Master; those powerful Demon Gods could receive the World Will¡¯s messages, but they were too vague. Unless one of them stood out and crushed the resistance of all the other Demon Gods to become the World Master, they would only vaguely sense the messages conveyed by the World Will before achieving its recognition. If not for their sufficient strength, which made the World Will consider them candidates for the role of World Master, they might not even be able to perceive these faint messages from the World Will. High in the sky, as the Dark Flame Demon God and the others approached, they felt ever more intensely the World Will¡¯s anger and the discordant breath of the outsiders. The sight of the immense War Fortress, more than ten times larger than their castle, filled them with secret dread. Chapter 254 - Chapter 254 Chapter 251 Breaking the World Boundary Barrier ?Chapter 254: Chapter 251: Breaking the World Boundary Barrier Chapter 254: Chapter 251: Breaking the World Boundary Barrier Inside the Heavenly Pool Cave Heaven, countless large, medium, and small Flying Escape Treasures were already in place. Disciples from various sects had lined up in formation, each holding a Magical Treasure Divine Weapon, their bodies radiating a fierce killing intent. On the side of the Beast Taming Sect, numerous Spiritual Beasts densely surrounded the front. When the battle started, they were to charge ahead, disrupt the enemy¡¯s formation, and facilitate a safe landing for the sect¡¯s disciples, ensuring they wouldn¡¯t suffer too many attacks upon deployment. These Spiritual Beasts included not only those owned by the disciples but also a large number of beasts raised by the sect for combat purposes. Just like the Ten Thousand Snakes Cave at the Outer Spiritual Snake Peak, other peaks and branches within the sect also had places where Spiritual Beasts were raised, specially used as the vanguard when a major battle occurred. These Spiritual Beasts, led by the Beast King, did not require the extra Divine Sense control from the cultivators of the Beast Taming Sect. As soon as the War Fortress penetrated the World Barrier, these beasts would be the first to rush out and fight, clearing the way for the sect¡¯s disciples. On the left side of the Beast Taming Sect, an area spanning dozens of miles was shrouded by Yin Evil Qi, making other alliance cultivators dare not approach. This was the camp of the Ghost Controlling Sect. At this moment, they released countless ghosts and monsters, far more than had appeared before in previous campaigns, with chilling howls and cries that frightened everyone. Amidst the dense Yin Qi, numerous Fierce Ghosts roamed, and an unknown number of coffins were released by these disciples. There were thick Ancient Bronze Coffins, bright red coffins vivid as blood, and black coffins as dark as ink that emitted dense Yin Qi. At that moment, as coffin after coffin was opened, countless Yin Evil Qis soared into the sky. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ??¦Í?¦Ï.§ã¦Ï Subsequently, numerous Zombies jumped out of the coffins. Some of these Zombies were pitch-black with bodies stiff as iron. Some were yellowish in color, leaping a hundred meters with a single jump. Some could even control the sky, having reached the realm capable of flying and burrowing. There were even two Zombies whose aura was restrained, their complexions rosy, almost indistinguishable from living people, and their eyes even showed a hint of spiritual nature. They were almost at the level of Proving Dao. If they could advance further, survive the Heavenly Tribulation, and foster vitality within, they would balance Yin and Yang and contain both life and death in their aura, transforming into a unique life form neither dead nor alive. Seeing these Zombies, many cultivators who were unaware of the capabilities of the Ghost Controlling Sect were secretly alarmed. They had initially thought that the cultivators of the Ghost Controlling Sect only specialized in capturing and controlling ghosts. Now, they realized that these individuals were also highly skilled in Corpse Refining. Observing those impressive Zombies, it was clear that their combat power would be no less formidable than the Fierce Ghosts. On another front, the disciples of the Five Poisons Sect were also preparing. Countless Poison Insects formed a layer of dark clouds above their heads, with more appearing under their feet, waiting for the fortress gates to open so they could rush out first. Out of the eight gates of the fortress, aside from one each occupied by the Beast Taming Sect, the Five Poisons Sect, and the Ghost Controlling Sect, the remaining gates were led by several relatively powerful medium-sized sects, with other sects closely following, ready for the campaign. Among these medium-sized sects, the disciples of the Fiery Fire Sect were the most formidable. This was because one of the five Profound Immortals leading the charge was the Fiery Fire Ancestor of their sect. This fact alone was enough to make these disciples feel proud. Although the disciples of the Fiery Fire Sect were aware there was still a significant gap between them and the three major sects of the Beast Taming Sect, the feeling of superiority over other smaller sects was quite gratifying, not to mention with the Fiery Fire Ancestor present, they were certain to seize a good position in the resource-rich areas. The Sects that hadn¡¯t even had an Immortal follow the alliance into battle had only the Elders above the Purple Mansion realm, trying to gain advantage in the Otherworld was impossible. Once the war began, lacking sufficient strength meant even their right to speak was forfeited; they could only follow other sects into the fray. In the grand hall atop Moyun Ridge, the Supreme Elders of various sects gathered together, anxiously watching the outcome of the fortress colliding with the World Barrier. Before Elder Kongkong, a transparent orb appeared, showing a miniaturized version of the Cave Heaven Fortress. This was the Cave Heaven Core he had refined, and by manipulating this orb, he could control the entire Cave Heaven Fortress. At that moment, under his manipulation, not only did a thick Protective Shield appear outside the Cave Heaven Fortress, but infinite strength also pressed downward, attempting to completely break open the already-cracked World Barrier. Once they broke through this Dao Realm Barrier, they would be able to invade the world inside and confront the other side. Of course, if those Demon Gods inside, confident in their formidable strength, decided to strike before their invasion and confront them in the Void, that would be even better. This way, they could fight the opponent without any suppression. Fighting in the Void was advantageous for both sides. The powerful individuals from the Beast Taming Sect Alliance didn¡¯t have to worry about being suppressed by the Heavenly Dao of the opposing world, and the Demon Gods of that world didn¡¯t have to worry about their territory getting destroyed by the battle. After all, the disturbances caused by combatants of such level were enormous; their attacks falling on the mountains and earth would be catastrophic for ordinary creatures. At this moment, the War Fortress had already penetrated partially; just a bit more, and the thickest part of its body would squeeze in, enabling the fortress to completely rush in very quickly. Boom¡­ A loud noise erupted as dark red flames struck the Protective Shield outside the fortress, igniting a huge cluster of sparks. However, the power of this flame, although strong, was insufficient to repel the War Fortress with a single blow. The Protective Shield on the outer layer of the War Fortress merely trembled slightly and then quickly returned to normal, continuing to press against the World Barrier. This barrier was something every complete world possessed, evolved to protect itself from external threats. Some worlds even possessed more than one layer. It was rumored that the Human Clan Ancestor Realm had thirty-three layers, but apart from the outer most layer being evolved by the Heavenly Dao, the rest were all created by Great Powers with Supreme Power. Even those thirty-three layers of barrier had been transformed into thirty-three small worlds by the Great Powers, serving both as protection for the Ancestor Realm and expanding the living space for the Human Clan. Although the Heavenly Dao Will of this world was enraged, it was impossible to concentrate all its force in one location. Doing so would leave other areas without the protection of the Heavenly Dao, resulting in numerous disasters. Thus, even the Heavenly Dao could only limitedly mobilize some Origin Power from other areas to reinforce this spot. The Dark Flame Demon God and a few other Demon Gods had already flown close, their faces grim as they stared at the immense War Fortress before them. Just now, the Dark Flame Demon God had already tried attacking, but even the Protective Shield of the fortress couldn¡¯t be broken. The result truly shocked them. The Demon Gods exchanged glances, each seeing seriousness in the others¡¯ eyes. ¡°Let¡¯s attack together and see if we can push this fortress out.¡± Dark Flame Demon God said, ¡°Although pushing it out will still allow the enemy to breach the World Barrier from other directions, as long as it¡¯s not through us, that¡¯s good. Otherwise, our forces under us would suffer the most severe losses.¡± ¡°Indeed.¡± Papala¡¯s eyes brightened. Having attained the status of Demon God tens of thousands of years ago, she had gathered many treasures; her territory was indeed a very rich one, and naturally, she did not want it to be destroyed by the fires of war. Thus, she quickly said, ¡°Since the enemy has found our world¡¯s coordinates, they certainly won¡¯t give up on this war easily. Since an inter-realm war is inevitable, moving the main battlefield to another Demon God¡¯s territory could reduce our losses.¡± ¡°Then let¡¯s hurry and take action before the other Demon Gods arrive, it¡¯s best if we can achieve this.¡± The meat-mountain-like Nega Demon God, shaking his flabby body, took several thudding steps forward in the void, as if stepping on solid ground, creating ripples in the void. Then he swung his arms, his huge frame brutally slamming into the defensive shield of the Cave Heaven Fortress. With a bang, the spot where he struck indented slightly but then immediately returned to normal. Yet this meat-mountain-like figure, like a rubber ball, was bounced back several miles by the shield. But his fatty body served as the best defense, and thus he was unharmed and quickly flew back. This time, he did not use his body to impact but rather swung two massive chain maces at the fortress¡¯s outer shield. Standing about fifty feet tall, the weapons in his hands were also unimaginably huge, and as he swung them with his brute strength, the spectacle was extremely frightening. Bang! Bang! Bang! The shield continuously trembled. At this moment, the other Demon Gods also launched their most powerful attacks. ??¦Í?¦Ï.§ã¦Ï Some unleashed massive balls of fire, wildly bombing the area; some summoned blood-red lightning that furiously struck down; others transformed into a hundred-foot-tall Molten Rock Giant, swinging their fists in a fierce assault. It would be best if they could break the defensive shield, but if not, they aimed to obstruct the War Fortress and ideally force it out, making the enemies choose another target for their attack elsewhere. The other Demon Gods¡¯ attacks were very powerful, but Papala¡¯s spells seemed somewhat insignificant. Many times, her attack magic hit the protective shield but couldn¡¯t even stir a ripple. It wasn¡¯t that this Female Demon God didn¡¯t want to exert effort, nor was it that her strength was truly weak; anyone who had achieved the status of a Demon God was not to be underestimated. The reason for this was that her Power of Laws was not suited for frontal assault. Papala mainly cultivated the Charming Power; although her appearance was extremely ugly to Human Clan Cultivators, in the eyes of the demons of this realm, she was nearly a perfect-witch, especially her figure, which had seduced countless demonic beings willing to become her subordinates. Thus, among these Demon Gods, although her Divine Power was the weakest, she actually had the most powerful warriors under her command. Her harem also housed thousands of male consorts serving her, which she could not afford to lose in the fires of war. With this mindset, although her attack magic didn¡¯t have much effect, she still diligently cast spells to assist the other Demon Gods, hoping to contribute as much as possible to prevent her territory from turning into ruins. Inside the great hall on Moyun Ridge, the immortals watching the few Demon Gods¡¯ relentless bombardment frowned deeply. The hot-tempered Fiery Fire Ancestor stood up and said, ¡°Can we open the portal now? I¡¯ll go and block these Demon Gods to prevent them from breaking the defense and ruining our plans.¡± ¡°Hehe, fellow Daoist, do not worry.¡± Elder Kongkong, who was controlling the Cave Heaven Fortress, chuckled upon hearing this: ¡°A few Demon Gods are not enough to break the fortress¡¯s defense. This Defensive Array was carefully set up by Brother Gui Ling using the Spirit Vein within the entire Cave Heaven as its foundation. As long as the Spirit Vein is not depleted and the enemy does not break the defense instantly, this layer of defense will continue to hold up, and nothing will go wrong.¡± Pausing for a moment, he then released a tremendous surge of immortal power within him, manipulating the Cave Heaven Fortress to exert even greater force to compress the gaps in the World Barrier, before continuing, ¡°Although we can now enter the enemy¡¯s world, we should not rashly advance. After all, the Cave Heaven Fortress has not entered yet; should any accident occur, being squeezed out by the World Barrier or if the enemy brings reinforcements to block our entry, Daoist Fellow Fiery Fire would be trapped inside, making it difficult to escape. ¡°So let¡¯s wait until the Cave Heaven Fortress has entered, then we can deal with those Demon Gods.¡± ¡°Is that so?¡± Hearing this, Fiery Fire Ancestor could not persist, ¡°If so, I shall not act.¡± ¡°No no no, we should still act, just not against those Demon Gods but against the World Barrier, to help me quickly break through the gap so that we can advance quickly.¡± Elder Kongkong shook his little head, the two tufts of whiskers at the corners of his mouth moving with each word, adding a touch of humor: ¡°If we rely solely on the fortress¡¯s own power, it would still take several hours to enter. However, if fellow Daoists assist, we naturally won¡¯t need to spend as much time.¡± ¡°Very well,¡± Fiery Fire Ancestor nodded, ¡°I have been feeling rather anxious, so if we can speed up the process, let¡¯s act immediately. The enemy¡¯s powerful beings haven¡¯t fully gathered yet; if we can quickly break through the barrier and enter, we won¡¯t have to feel so constrained.¡± As this elder had cultivated the Fire Element Dao to an extremely advanced level and his nature was like fiery firea€¡±though somewhat impetuousa€¡±such temperament indeed suited the Fire Element Technique well. ¡°Fellow Daoists, shall we join forces to break this World Barrier and clear the way for the Cave Heaven Fortress?¡± Chapter 255 - Chapter 255 Chapter 252 Heavenly Punishment ?Chapter 255: Chapter 252 Heavenly Punishment? Chapter 255: Chapter 252 Heavenly Punishment? ¡°Good!¡± The Supreme Elders from various sects present unanimously agreed and stood up. Don¡¯t be fooled by the appearance of these Supreme Elders, looking like immortals who comprehend the way of Dao; when it comes to taking action, each is more resolute than the next. At this moment, they didn¡¯t have to make a move against those Demon Gods, so they didn¡¯t need to reveal too many techniques. All they needed to do was to exhibit their powerful Daoist Divine Powers to help the Cave Heaven Fortress tear through the World Barrier. Thus, swiftly, these Supreme Elders flew to the edge of the Cave Heaven, striking the Boundary Barriers on either side through the Defensive Magic Shield. Under Elder Kongkong¡¯s control, the Defensive Shield of the Cave Heaven Fortress didn¡¯t hinder these Supreme Elders at all, allowing their spells to easily pass through. In an instant, fire blazed brightly, and thunder roared. Occasionally, various Immortal Magical Treasures were also deployed, their power immense. This action not only accelerated the breaking of the Boundary Barriers on both sides but also left the Demon Gods such as Dark Flame, who were attacking the Cave Heaven Fortress, utterly alarmed. They had not expected that so many powerful beings would suddenly emerge from within the Cave Heaven Fortress. ?¦Ï??0.§ã0 Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï???.§ã¦Ï Moreover, these strangely clothed divine beings, each with incredibly powerful spells, had tremendous destructive power on the Boundary Barrier. At the same time, they were also relieved that these beings hadn¡¯t charged in to attack them all at once. With just a few of them being Demon Gods, they truly couldn¡¯t withstand a siege from so many powerful entities. Once Fiery Fire Ancestor and others began to act, Dark Flame and several other Demon Gods stopped approaching and withdrew from the proximity of the Cave Heaven Fortress. Their nature, although greedy and cunning, was also extremely selfish, and they wouldn¡¯t easily risk their lives. Since the other party had so many strong beings, it was better for them not to give the opponents a chance to surround them. Meanwhile, these Demon Gods were also feeling a bit anxious, hoping for other Demon Gods to hurry up and come to their aid. From the moment they started to retreat, they knew that they were powerless to prevent the immense War Fortress from invading. Yet, at the same time, they realized that even though the War Fortress was powerful, the number of strong opponents emerging wasn¡¯t too many. Though a few were exceptionally strong, the number of strong opponents was fewer, which meant that their side had a great chance to win a direct battle. If they could kill all the invaders here, although the battle would unavoidably cause substantial damage to their territory, it wasn¡¯t unacceptable. Especially enticing was the thought that, if they were victorious, capturing this immense War Fortress would be a tremendous boon. Not to mention anything else, just the powerful defensive capabilities of this fortress were enough to make all Demon Gods yearn. These Demon Gods were not weak, but despite their prolonged attacks, that protective shield showed no signs of breaking, indicating just how powerful this War Fortress was. Dark Flame Demon God and the others were already discussing that once other Demon Gods arrived and after they had slain these invaders, they must be the first to seize the War Fortress. With it, even if their territories were completely devastated, it wouldn¡¯t matter. They could rely on this fortress to conquer more territories and even use it to attack other worlds, plundering more resources, wealth, and souls. As they fantasized about how to capture the War Fortress, several Demon Gods who were closer had already rushed to the scene. These Demon Gods couldn¡¯t help but come quickly. The constant crisis signals from the World Will unsettled their spirits, forcing them to arrive here as swiftly as possible. In fact, no matter whether they were Immortals, Heavenly Demons, or beings from other Cultivation systems, as long as they relied on the Heavenly Dao¡¯s Laws and entrusted the Laws within their Daoist Fruits and Divine Status to the Heavenly Dao, they would all sense some vague intentions of the Heavenly Dao when the world faced crisis. Unless they were among the few beings who infused all their power into themselves without relying on the Heavenly Dao for Cultivation, they would remain unaffected by it. However, in doing so, they would also not receive any assistance from the Heavenly Dao, nor would they gain Qi Fortune or good fortune; moreover, if they acted against the interest of the world, they would still likely be targeted by it. ¡°Dark Flame, Nega, what is going on here?¡± The Demon Gods who had just arrived were also in shock upon witnessing the scene. However, the new Demon Gods didn¡¯t get too close to Dark Flame and the others, but instead stopped at a distance, remaining cautious. It was clear that the relationship between the two groups was not very good. ¡°Humph, haven¡¯t you seen it? This is an Otherworld powerhouse invading our realm!¡± Dark Flame Demon God snorted coldly. Even though he felt somewhat insecure, if the other Demon Gods found out that he had led the invaders here, he would undoubtedly be isolated; however, he couldn¡¯t help but maintain a disdainful demeanor. Seeing the faces of the newly arrived Demon Gods remain unchanged, Papala furrowed her towering eyebrows. She did not wish to start a conflict with these Demon Gods just yet; although they had fought fiercely in the past, they should now prioritize dealing with the intruders from the Outer. With this thought, she smiled and said, ¡°Dark Prison Demon God, your arrival is timely. We aren¡¯t sure where those invaders came from, but there don¡¯t seem to be many strong ones among them. Once they enter, if we join forces to slaughter these intruders, it would also give me a chance to see the true strength of your Dark Prison Demon God.¡± ¡°Humph!¡± Among the newly arrived Demon Gods, the one with the most formidable aura and a particularly tall and fierce figure, Dark Prison Demon God, responded with a cold hum, ¡°You want to use our strength to help you fight the enemy? Fine, but that War Fortress will belong to us.¡± This Demon God was greedy indeed, unaffected by Papala Demon God, and immediately demanded the War Fortress as spoils of war. ¡°What did you say?¡± Hearing this, Dark Flame Demon God became furious, ¡°Dark Prison, do not be greedy; this external invasion occurred in our territory, the War Fortress should belong to us.¡± ¡°Then you go fight these invaders yourselves.¡± Dark Prison Demon God carelessly replied, ¡°When you are all dead, it won¡¯t be too late for us to take action and seize it.¡± ¡°Youa€| Humph!¡± Dark Flame Demon God was left speechless by his words. With just a few of them, how were they a match for the invaders? Papala quickly stepped in to mediate, ¡°Alright, alright, with external enemies before us, we should be united against them. However, Dark Prison Demon God, you need to understand us a bit; this battlefield was directly opened in our territory, after this battle, our losses will definitely be severe. I think using that War Fortress as compensation is appropriate, don¡¯t you think?¡± ¡°Ha ha haa€|¡± Dark Prison Demon God laughed, ¡°Beautiful Papala Demon God, if your territory is destroyed, you can come to mine. My palace still lacks a lady of the house.¡± As soon as he said this, Dark Flame Demon God and Nega Demon God, among others, rebuked him angrily. For them, Papala was their forbidden delicacy; they could not tolerate Dark Prison Demon God making advances on her. Papala herself, however, did not mind Dark Prison Demon God¡¯s flirtation at all. With her personality, if she really ended up with nothing, she would not mind seeking refuge with a Demon God. Of course, seeking refuge with someone was not as comfortable as owning a territory of her own. As the two parties continued their dispute, another Demon God hurried over from afar. Meanwhile, in the sky above, as various Supreme Elders from all sects made their moves together, more and more regions of the War Fortress were being accessed, the gap was forced wider and wider, and it seemed that in no time, the entire Cave Heaven Fortress would be squeezed through. A hint of joy appeared on the faces of all the Supreme Elders. Even though more and more Demon Gods were gathering below, and some were still hidden far away, careful not to scare them off, they were not afraid at all; rather, they were looking forward to the battle after crossing through. Though these beings were also called Demon Gods, the various sects¡¯ Supreme Elders were individuals who had achieved Immortal Dao, each of them sharp-eyeda€¡±some had even survived from ancient times. Notable figures like Gui Ling Ancestor from ancient times, Elder Heavenly Spider of Five Poisons Sect, Fiery Fire Ancestor of Fiery Fire Sect, and Elder Kongkong, who was currently in charge of the Cave Heaven Fortress, had all experienced the Ancient Great Tribulation and seen the schemes of the demon lords in the Heavenly Demon Great World. Comparing these, they quickly concluded that although the Demon Gods of this world possessed strong auras and powerful spell techniques, relative to others, these Demon Gods lacked broad vision and had few combat moves, nowhere near as cunning and versatile as the Demon Kings from the Heavenly Demon Great World. However, this was normal; if every world were as unpredictable as the Demon Clan from the Heavenly Demon Great World, as endlessly versatile as the Demon Clan from the Heavenly Demon World, or as resourceful as their Immortal Dao, that would be strange indeed. This was merely a Medium World, and it was normal for it to be outmatched in cultivation and fighting techniques by those from powerfully inherited races. If any random Divine Demon from a Medium World outnumbered these Cultivators in techniques, then there would be no need for the Human Clan Cultivators to come out and wage war across the void; they might as well humbly retreat and keep to living their lives in the Biluo Great World. It was precisely because they clearly recognized the true strength and weaknesses of these Demon Gods that the gathering of Supreme Elders was utterly unconcerned whether the number of these Demon Gods was slightly more. Not only because their techniques were stronger, but also because the Supreme Elders from Beast Taming Sect, Ghost Controlling Sect, and Five Poisons Sect each had their additional methods. The mere presence of Xia Chunyang, the Five Ghosts Heavenly King, meant he had five Heavenly Ghosts to assist him. These were equivalent to five Heavenly Immortalsa€¡±although in the same realm, Heavenly Ghosts would surely not match Heavenly Immortals, but the realm was the realm; they would definitely be stronger than normal True Immortals. Moreover, they were now fighting against Otherworldly Demon Gods, not Cultivation World Immortals; they did not believe these Demon Gods would have many methods to counter Heavenly Ghosts, let alone the Spiritual Beasts of Beast Taming Sect and the Poison Insects of Five Poisons Sect. Bang, bang, bang¡­ The sounds were continuous, the World Barrier kept trembling. Because they were so close to the area where the World Barrier was being breached, the Demon Gods could clearly feel the angry emotions conveyed by the World Will. It was demanding that the gathering of Demon Gods launch an attack on the War Fortress to drive away those foreign powerful beings. However, though these Demon Gods felt the message from the World Will, they showed no sign of taking any action. In the end, they remained independent entities, merely limitedly influenced by the World Will, but merely this influence was not enough to command these greedy and brutal beings to work. Now, these Demon Gods had set their sights on the War Fortress, desiring to use this massive War Fortress as their palace. Should they control such a huge fortress, they would be able to roam through the void, attacking the rich worlds they had long desired to enter, plundering the wealth of those worlds, and harvesting the souls, thus enhancing their own strength. Thus, they merely watched as the War Fortress gradually squeezed through the breached barrier. Below in the castle, hundreds of thousands of the Demon Army had gathered. They were under the command of the Dark Flame Demon God. Since the War Fortress was directly above the Dark Flame Demon God¡¯s castle, their assembly of the Demon Army was the quickest, which also meant they would be the first to encounter the invaders. In the distant other territories, the armies under Demon Gods like Nega and Papala were also converging, all making their way toward the Dark Flame Demon God¡¯s castle, preparing to join forces against the impending war. Finally, the World Barrier was expanded enough, and the War Fortress completely squeezed in. Rumble, rumblea€| A burst of thunder and lightning. In the dark red sky, blood-colored lightning flashed, the thunderclaps terrifying to hear. All the Demon Gods, indeed all creatures, felt ita€¡±the heavens were angry! Those blood-colored thunders were Heavenly Punishments! The Demon Gods rejoiced in their hearts. The Heavenly Punishment was not aimed at them but at the invaders from another realm. So as long as they did not actively resist the Heavenly Punishment, they would not be targeted by the World Will, allowing them to strike while the invaders were dealing with the Heavenly Punishment. No one could handle the Heavenly Punishment and also cope with these powerful Demon Gods at the same time. They believed it was time to harvest the lives of these otherworld invaders. But soon, they were stunned. For after the blood-red lightning chaotically danced in the sky for a while, although a few bolts struck the War Fortress, the Fortress¡¯s Protective Shield barely trembled before the blood-colored lightning began to slowly dissipate. The Demon Gods looked at each other, puzzled by what was happening. Clearly, the War Fortress was right there, so why did the Heavenly Punishment not continue? These Demon Gods did not understand; they were not familiar with the methods of Immortal Dao. The Heavenly Punishment had descended because inside the Heavenly Pool Grotto Heaven was the Heavenly Dao Power of the Biluo Great World. When the Cave Heaven Fortress impacted the barrier of this world, the World Will had already sensed it, so after the Cave Heaven Fortress completely entered, the World Will mobilized its power to prepare the Heavenly Punishment. However, soon after, Elder Kongkong sealed the Grotto Heaven, preventing the essence of the Grotto Heaven from leaking out, thereby naturally obscuring its presence from the World Will of this realm, meaning the originally gathering Heavenly Punishment could only slowly dissipate. Chapter 256 - Chapter 256 Chapter 253 The Great Battle Begins ?Chapter 256: Chapter 253: The Great Battle Begins Chapter 256: Chapter 253: The Great Battle Begins ¡°Daoist Fellows, we have now entered this realm; outside, dozens of Demon Gods are ready to face us. Victory or defeat hinges on this single move. We must win this battle; otherwise, we will only be able to flee this realm in disgrace. Thinking about the heroic aspirations we had on our way here, I believe none of you would want to return as failures. I hope everyone will courageously fight and slay these Demon Gods to carve out a path and a future for our sect!¡± The aged voice of Gui Ling Ancestor resounded throughout the Heavenly Pool Cave Heaven, clear to everyone. Naturally, his words were primarily directed at the Supreme Elders of various sects. The reason he broadcast his speech to every disciple was mainly to boost their morale. ¡°Hahaha, rest assured Daoist Fellow Gui Ling. Since we have formed an alliance and marched to battle, we naturally come with the determination to win.¡± Fiery Fire Ancestor, despite his somewhat impulsive temperament, had been a sect leader wielding great power for many years and was well aware of Gui Ling Ancestor¡¯s intent. He laughed heartily: ¡°Fellow Daoists, just watch my methods. In this battle, I shall be sure to take several Demon Gods¡¯ heads for you all to see.¡± The other immortals laughed heartily as well, ¡°Together, together. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í?0.§ã? Since we¡¯ve come to this realm, we naturally intend to take it as nourishment for the growth and expansion of our sects.¡± During the conversation, dozens of Supreme Elders flew up, directly exiting the Cave Heaven World and arriving outside. Within the Cave Heaven, all the disciples¡¯ emotions were influenced, their fighting spirits soaring and hearts stirring, almost unable to wait to follow the Supreme Elders into battle immediately. However, since they had just entered this realm and the Cave Heaven Fortress was still high up in the sky where fierce winds howled, it was likely difficult for ordinary disciples to maintain footing. Thus, Elder Kongkong had not opened all gates, and the Inner Sect Elders had not issued commands to engage in battle either. More importantly, this sky was not the battlefield for the disciples. This battlefield belonged to the Supreme Elders of various sects and the dozens of Demon Gods. Under the control of Elder Kongkong, the Cave Heaven Fortress rapidly descended. He needed to quickly move away from the area of Immortal-Demon battle so that the disciples could come out and face the gathering Demon Army below. High above, as soon as the likes of Gui Ling Ancestor appeared, they felt the Heavenly Dao¡¯s suppression. Their aura was incompatible with this realm, naturally feeling an out-of-place sensation. Ordinary disciples, having not understood the Principle Power, would not be significantly affected, merely feeling a bit unaccustomed to the new environment at most. Though Inner Sect Elders who had grasped some of the Laws were also affected, it wasn¡¯t substantial as their use of the Laws was still at a very rudimentary stage. Only the Supreme Elders faced more considerable constraints because they had comprehended their own Dao. Using Principle Power in another world was naturally subject to many restrictions. Like Fiery Fire Ancestor, who cultivated the Fire Element Dao, fared a bit better. Despite the restrictions, he could still harness the Fire Element Principle of this realm to some extent in battle, as the Flame Power here was exceptionally robust, thus not constraining him much. However, some Supreme Elders cultivated quite peculiar Daos. If there were no corresponding Laws in this realm, they could only rely purely on their own power to combat. After all, this was merely a Medium World, unlikely to possess the comprehensive Heavenly Dao Laws found in Greater Worlds. Even among Greater Worlds, many are different, each favoring various Daos, thus giving rise to many diverse paths of cultivation. Fiery Fire Ancestor¡¯s Fire Element Dao was highly compatible with this realm, thus he could still exert about ninety percent of his war power, which was why Gui Ling Ancestor was keen on inviting him to join the expedition. The majority of other Supreme Elders could only unleash about eighty percent of their war power, and a rare few even less. This was normal. If a Divine Demon powerhouse from a Medium World entered a High Rank or Greater World, the restrictions they faced would be even more significant. Otherwise, if entering other worlds meant no restrictions, the Ancient Human Clan would not have had a chance to breathe during the great calamity, let alone secure a victory. Soon, the Supreme Elders adapted to the limit of the power they could exert. After all, they were cultivators of the Immortal Dao, possessed countless Divine Secret Skills, and had prepared many methods in advance. Thus, they quickly activated the secret techniques and Magical Treasures on them to disguise their aura. In doing so, the world¡¯s consciousness¡¯s suppression on them would be significantly reduced. On the other side, the number of Demon Gods kept increasing. Those Demon Gods that were initially concealed and had not shown themselves now flew in, with even two greedy ones directly chasing after the descending Cave Heaven Fortress. Gui Ling Ancestor and the others didn¡¯t even spare a glance at those two fools. Two clueless beings, attempting to meddle with the Heavenly Pool Cave Heaven, were simply seeking death. Even if Kongkong didn¡¯t personally deal with them, the Great Arrays arranged within the Cave Heaven Fortress were enough to annihilate those two Demon Gods. Soon, the number of Demon Gods gathered by the Demon side almost surpassed the Human Clan by double. These Demon Gods hailed from various clans, with the majority being from the Flame Demon Clan since the fiery Primordial Qi was abundant in this realm, naturally making it easier for the Flame Demon Clan to cultivate here. Next in number were the Winged Demon Clan and Shadow Demon Clan, along with other special beings, such as Nega the Demon God, who resembled a mound of flesh; giants like the Molten Rock Giant, hundred zhang tall; and massive Demon Beasts, among others, too numerous to count. Despite being fewer in number, these Demon Gods¡¯ strengths were not to be underestimated, each possessing some unique capabilities. The Demon side did not rush to act; instead, they waited until all the Demon Gods had arrived before slowly advancing. One of the fierce and aggressive Demon Gods took the lead and shouted at everyone, ¡°@??£¤#&*#&@#@#¡­¡± The Supreme Elders exchanged puzzled looks. Fiery Fire Ancestor curiously asked, ¡°What is this demon blabbering about?¡± ¡°Hehe¡­¡± The Supreme Elders couldn¡¯t help but snicker, ¡°It must be their clan¡¯s language. We¡¯ve never encountered it before, so naturally, we don¡¯t understand.¡± The Demon God, after speaking for a while, noticed the crowd¡¯s initially puzzled expressions, followed by mocking looks, and couldn¡¯t help but be stunned. He turned his head and said to the other Demon Gods, ¡°Could these fellows have come from another Star Domain? How can they not even understand the common language?¡± The other Demon Gods were also somewhat stunned. This Star Domain had existed for countless ages, and due to the special nature of the space laws within this Star Domain, it was often possible to connect to other worlds. Therefore, all powerful worlds had had some contacts with other worlds over the long term, so a common language had naturally evolved, followed by the languages of various realms and major clans. Now, considering the outfit and even the aura of power of the group opposite them which were significantly different from any divine demons they had ever seen, they couldn¡¯t help but suspect whether these were powerful beings from another Star Domain. This was not unheard of in the past, though extremely rare. However, facing this situation did not mean communication was impossible, so the Demon God directly unleashed his spiritual power, conveying the thoughts he wanted to express. ?¦Ï¦Í??.§ã? He wanted to know where these people came from; if possible, he wouldn¡¯t mind annihilating these human powerhouses and then counterattacking their world. The intentions of the Demon God now clear, the Supreme Elders understood, but were not much inclined to entertain them. In the eyes of the Supreme Elders, from the moment they entered this realm, it had been inevitable that there would be no peace between the two parties. The Demon Gods certainly weren¡¯t willing to let them leave alive, and likewise, they weren¡¯t eager to have Demon Gods sneak around and sabotage while they controlled this world. Since it was already determined that only one side could survive, there was nothing more to say, and they directly engaged in combat. Thus, the hot-tempered Fiery Fire Ancestor scoffed and responded directly with a burst of scorching flames. The Demon God¡¯s face showed anger, and he too unleashed a ball of flames that collided with Fiery Fire Ancestor¡¯s flames. His flames were as red as blood, and their force seemed even more ferocious. Boom! The flames exploded, spectacular like fireworks, illuminating the dark sky. This loud explosion seemed to ignite the signal for battle between the Immortals and Demons, with both sides making moves simultaneously aiming to strike down their opponents. The battle was intense, and in the first clash, several Demon Gods were severely injured by the Supreme Elders of the Immortal Dao side. Though the Demon Gods¡¯ attacks were powerful, they were rather straightforward. In the face of such direct tactics, the Supreme Elders were unafraid; they deployed various defensive Immortal Magical Treasures, blocking all manner of attacks. In the meantime, they also deployed Divine Power Techniques to attack the enemy, with even more Immortal Artifacts leading the assault, attacking the Demon Gods before they could even react, hitting them like a violent storm. Many Supreme Elders released Flying Swords with sharp Sword Qi, immediately breaking through several Demon Gods¡¯ defenses, cutting them till they bled profusely. Although none of these Supreme Elders were true Sword Immortals who practiced the Sword Dao, that didn¡¯t hinder their fondness for using Flying Swords to attack the enemy. In addition to Immortal Swords, there were various other Magical Treasures deployed, be it Silver Bells, Long Banners, Treasure Mirrors, or Spiritual Pearls, each was unique and intricately used. Particularly noteworthy was a Female Immortal whose Lifebound Magical Treasure was a cluster of silver needles. Now fully unleashed, they transformed into countless forms, entirely overwhelming, dazzling to any observer. All the Magical Treasures of the different Supreme Elders were deployed together, catching the Demon Gods off-guard and within moments, several Demon Gods were jointly slain by the Supreme Elders. This was a tactic they had discussed in advance, meant to catch these Demon Gods off-guard to reduce pressure for subsequent battles and eliminate some adversaries. Indeed, witnessing the sudden loss of several comrades, the Demon Gods were struck with terror and scattered. Moments later, they regrouped in the distance, briefly discussed, and having gained some understanding of the Immortals¡¯ methods, thought of countermeasures to spread out the Immortals using their numerical advantage for victory. The Immortals paid little attention to this, all being Supreme Elders of their respective Sects, well-coordinated among themselves but not necessarily when mixed with other Immortals, as it could impact their performance. Moreover, at their Realm, ordinary coordination could not enhance their War Power significantly. Normal battle formations were of little use unless it involved fighting fewer against many; thus, regular battles still depended on individual War Power. Thus, it didn¡¯t take long for the Supreme Elders to split away from the Demon Gods to engage in combat individually. Of course, many Immortals were fighting two or even three against one, with some exceptionally formidable ones doing so. For instance, Fiery Fire Ancestor was in such a situation. Initially, he had only two opponents, but with his formidable power, he suppressed the two Demon Gods on the other side from the start, forcing another Demon God who was engaged nearby to come to their aid. In contrast, ?¡ä?_Gui Ling Ancestor seemed more composed. He faced both the Dark Flame Demon God and the Nega Demon God. Most times, Gui Ling Ancestor was on the defensive; his defensive power was incredibly strong. He didn¡¯t use Magical Treasures or release Spiritual Beasts; just through his Divine Skills alone, he fended off the assaults from the two major Demon Gods. Of course, this was due to his expertise in defense and strategy, compensating for his slightly weaker attack power. While defending, he observed the overall situation, noting that although some Immortals were under siege by Demon Gods and at a disadvantage, there was no immediate threat to their lives, so he could rest assured. He didn¡¯t rush to unleash all his Spiritual Beasts to assist in the attack. Because he was waiting. Waiting for a flaw in the Dark Flame Demon God to appear so he could strike a severe blow or even kill this foe. And his awaited opportunity was not on the battlefield, but outside of it. Or it could be said, within the Fortress of Cave Heaven. At that moment, in the great hall of Moyun Ridge, besides Elder Kongkong who was manipulating the descent of Heavenly Pool Cave Heaven and simultaneously fending off the attack of two Demon Gods outside, there was also a figure in a black robe with a sinister presence. Chapter 258 - Chapter 258 Chapter 255 Lion Scorpion Beast ?Chapter 258: Chapter 255 Lion Scorpion Beast Chapter 258: Chapter 255 Lion Scorpion Beast Qin Feng¡¯s heart jumped, and his entire body stiffened in place, unable to move as those eyes locked onto him. Was he being targeted by that Demon God? For a moment, he was so captivated by those angry eyes that he forgot where he was. ¡°Senior brother, senior brother?¡± Suddenly, he felt someone pushing his body, snapping him out of his daze. Only then did he realize that the anticipated attack had not happened; the Demon God had not killed him. Since he was still alive, Qin Feng quickly became alert again. He quickly guessed the truth. It wasn¡¯t that the Demon God didn¡¯t want to kill him. With his insignificant Dao cultivation, he could be effortlessly killed by such a being. But it appeared that the Demon God was currently battling with a Supreme Elder and was heavily entangled, unable to spare the effort to kill a small cultivator like himself, allowing him to escape the disaster. Yet what puzzled him was that he had left the Cave Heaven World quite a while ago. Why hadn¡¯t the Demon God noticed him earlier and only found him when he was entering the city to prepare for battle? If the Demon God had discovered him earlier, when he was still by his master¡¯s side, Ning Wuxu would have been able to provide temporary protection and send him back to the Heavenly Pool Cave Heaven. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?0¦Í??.?¦Ï But there had been no sign of it earlier, and only when he summoned his Spiritual Beast did the Demon God cast his gaze down. Hmm? Spiritual Beast?! He abruptly turned his head and saw the Ghost-Faced Spider trembling beside him. At that moment, the Ghost-Faced Spider lay on the ground, its soft abdomen tightly pressed against the floor, its eight long legs pulled in close to its body, not daring to move. Instantly, Qin Feng knew where the problem lay. Initially, the Demon God had not noticed him. It was only after he released the Ghost-Faced Spider that the Demon God sensed the power within the spider belonging to him. That was when he looked down and happened to see Qin Feng, hence the angry look in his eyes. ¡°Damn it, I completely forgot about that.¡± Qin Feng cursed under his breath and quickly stowed the Ghost-Faced Spider back into the Demon Refining Pot. The Demon Refining Pot contained an independent space. Since the Demon God had not sensed the spider before, it suggested that the Demon God lacked the ability to sense it through the space. If he put the spider away, he could avoid detection. Unless the Demon God broke through the Supreme Elders¡¯ blockade and descended from the skies, for now, he didn¡¯t need to worry about that Demon God. For the future, he would need simply to be more cautious and not stray far from the main troop. He believed that the Sect¡¯s Supreme Elders would never allow any Demon God to randomly strike at their low-powered disciples. Hmm, after this battle, he would have to discuss the Ghost-Faced Spider matter again with his master, and ask for his assistance in investigating. If that Demon God had not perished in the great war, he would offer the Ghost-Faced Spider to one of the Supreme Elders to keep by their side, which might even lure the Demon God out and offer a chance to kill him. ¡°Senior brother, what¡¯s wrong with you?¡± Beside him, Liu Wuxiang was guarding him carefully and had already blocked two fireballs and a thick Crossbow Arrow for him. He was somewhat anxious, fearing that Qin Feng had been ambushed and was already considering calling the elders over to have a look. ¡°Oh, I¡¯m fine.¡± Qin Feng quickly regained his composure. Just as he was about to explain, he suddenly saw a Demon Clan Warrior swinging a War Hammer in the distance, emitting a flame Qi Force that charged toward the two of them. Therefore, he had no time to explain. He pulled Liu Wuxiang to dodge the attack and then ordered the Fire Ape to advance and resist the Demon Clan Warrior¡¯s offensive. Once he found an opportunity, he executed Azure Dragon Emerges from the Sea, producing an Azure Dragon Energy that pierced directly through the body of the Demon Clan Warrior. However, the life force of the Demon Clan was formidable; even with a bowl-sized bloody hole pierced through its belly, it didn¡¯t die immediately. Instead, it was provoked into a frenzied state and unleashed an even more ferocious war power. Its body became engulfed in flames, and sparks flew from its War Hammer, intending to crush the large ape in front of it and smash Qin Feng, who had pierced through its body, into mush. Unfortunately, the Fire Ape was even more ferocious in temperament and stronger in strength, unafraid of the Demon Clan Warrior¡¯s dying counterattack. The Fire Ape howled as one of its massive claws grabbed the Demon Clan Warrior¡¯s War Hammer while the other claw tore into the wound on the warrior¡¯s abdomen, gruesomely shredding the internal organs into a pulp. The Fire Ape wasn¡¯t without injury; its claws became bloodied and flesh-torn when they grabbed the War Hammer. But this minor injury only enraged the Fire Ape further, causing it to howl as it pounced toward another Demon Clan Warrior not far ahead. Qin Feng and Liu Wuxiang followed behind the Fire Ape, using it as a shield, whether for sneak attacks or frontal cuts. After successively slaying seventeen or eighteen Demon Clan Warriors, they finally took a brief pause. The strength of these Demon Clan Warriors was not weak; those clad in War Armor could generally match a late-stage Qi Refinement Cultivator, the slightly stronger ones had the martial power of Foundation Establishment Cultivators, and the commanders even possessed the war power of Golden Core Cultivators. Of course, that was only in terms of competing in war power. In terms of tactics, the Demon Clan Warriors were quite inferior. Both Qin Feng and Liu Wuxiang could eliminate them without exerting too much effort. Qin Feng¡¯s combat strength was among the best of his peers, and his Ruyi Golden Light constantly shifted unpredictably. With the extremely sharp Sky Battle Halberd in his hands, slaughtering these bloodthirsty and ferocious, but brute force-favoring Demon Clan posed no problem. Although Liu Wuxiang¡¯s entry into Poison Skill was fairly recent, the Bone-Eroding Soul-Destroying Heavenly Evil Technique was exceedingly sinister. Once his poison arts landed on an enemy, they would immediately be greatly affected. Despite the Demon Clan Warriors¡¯ tenacious life force and strong combat abilities, even when severely injured, they would immediately become weakened under Liu Wuxiang¡¯s extreme poison. Moreover, the Poison Thorn in his hand, which was refined from the stinger of a Demon Late Stage poison bee combined with multiple Poison Thorns, was incredibly sharp. In close combat, it easily pierced through the Armor of the Demon Clan Warriors. Even when facing multiple Demon Clan Warriors, he would directly use the Poison Thorn, dividing it into hundreds, and those who failed to promptly deploy a Demon Shield to block would suffer dozens to hundreds of wounds from his Poison Thorn. The real trouble for them were those Demon Clan Mages wielding Magic Wands. Protected by some Demon Clan Warriors, those mages repeatedly cast spells of considerable power. Any disciple or Spiritual Beast that failed to dodge and was struck would either be injured or perish. Beast Taming Sect disciples were a little better off. They were wrapped in Magic Robes or Armor, and some wealthier ones had even purchased additional Protective Treasures. There were not many casualties yet, but the Spiritual Beasts didn¡¯t have such treasures for protection, and quite a few had been killed by the mages¡¯ spells. Seeing this, some sect disciples either confronted the mages directly or commanded their Spiritual Beasts to attack, intending to kill these Demon Clan Mages with powerful Attack Power. The warriors guarding the Demon Clan Mages were exceptionally fierce, fighting fearlessly and bringing substantial losses to the Spiritual Beasts. However, that was about it. When the Beast Taming Sect¡¯s disciples commanded the Spiritual Beasts in battle, they would never stand idly by in the back. They took the opportunity to cast various Spells, working with the close-combat Spiritual Beasts to slay the Demon Clan Warriors. Surprisingly, the Demon Clan Mages also possessed notable close-combat abilities. Although their melee capabilities were much inferior to those of the Demon Clan Warriors, when they swung their large Magic Wands at the Spiritual Beasts, they could even crush the skulls of one or two beasts before being overwhelmed and bitten to death on the spot by more Spiritual Beasts. At this point on the battlefield, the Beast Taming Sect had already gained a significant advantage. From the moment they descended from the sky, their victory had been destined. It wasn¡¯t that the Demon Clan didn¡¯t have flying races; it¡¯s just that there weren¡¯t many under the command of the Dark Flame Demon God, save for a small number of the Winged Demon Clan and some Flying Magical Beasts that had been subdued. Qin Feng was extremely interested in those Demon Beasts tamed by the Demon Clan. He wanted to closely observe them to see what differences there were between them and Spiritual Beasts. So, he looked around and quickly fixed his attention on a Demon Beast that was frantically trying to escape. It was a weird beast with the body of a lion, a scorpion tail, and a pair of wings on its backa€¡±as if several types of creatures had been mashed into one freak of nature. Honestly, he had never seen such a strange kind of beast. ?¦Ï¦Í?¦Ï.§ã¦Ï Driven by his curiosity, Qin Feng called out to Liu Wuxiang who wasn¡¯t far away, then charged towards the Demon Beast. ¡°Roar¡­¡± The Lion Scorpion Beast, with one of its wings drooping, had just jumped onto a building in the fortress, trying to flee from the castle that was about to be destroyed, when suddenly, it found a young man from the Human Clan in front of it. Without thinking, the Lion Scorpion spewed out a jet of flame and then planned to flee the area. It was already scared for its life. Originally it was a mount for a Demon Clan Mage and should not have thought of escaping. However, its master had died, smashed into a pancake by those from the Human Clan. Literally a pancake. It didn¡¯t even know how to describe what it felt at that moment, only that it saw one of the humans throw an object the size of a fist. Resultantly, that object, seemingly a small stone, suddenly grew huge, as big as a house, then from above it crushed its master and several followers into minced meat, their flesh and bones indistinguishably melded together. If it hadn¡¯t previously been farther away from its master while trying to drive away a fierce tiger that was attempting to sneak attack, it¡¯s certain it would have become part of that mess of blood and flesh. Enraged by its master¡¯s gruesome death, it was prepared to avenge him, but as it charged toward the human, it was terrified to see the small statured human merge with the fierce tiger. Then the body of the human grew larger and more muscular, looking very much like a Tigerman from the Beastman Clan. Before it could react, the transformed Beastman slapped down with his paw, stunning it and nearly killing it on the spot. It was this blow that snapped it back to its senses. Fear filled its heart as it watched the ongoing slaughter of the Demon Clan all around. Even those from the high and mighty Flame Demon race were now being massacred, which filled it with dread, prompting its urge to escape. But it had barely taken flight when it was brought down to the ground by a bolt of thunder, even breaking one of its wings. It realized then, flying away was simply not going to work. So, having its courage shattered, the Lion Scorpion Beast gave up on flying and opted to use its agile limbs to leap away to freedom. However, before it could get far, it was blocked by a figure standing in its path. The Lion Scorpion didn¡¯t dare to pause, fearing being trapped by those powerful beings behind it, and immediately spewed the strongest flame it was capable of summoning in an attempt to repel, or even kill, this young man from the Human Clan. Unfortunately, it miscalculated. This young man did not dodge or flinch, merely slashed down with his halberd, scattering its flame, then with another swing of the weapon. With a thud, the Lion Scorpion Beast felt as if it had been viciously struck by the trunk of a gigantic Mammoth, sending its form flying far away and crashing into a wall across the street, only to then fall to the ground. Looking at the young man who had gracefully jumped down from the roof, his eyes seemed to betray a dangerous desire to dissect it, nearly making the Beast faint. Full of fear, the Lion Scorpion Beast scrabbled to its feet, intending to flee from this dangerous young man from the Human Clan. But, its path of escape was now blocked. To the left stood a massive Fire Ape, eyeing it hungrily. To the right crouched a small but dangerous-seeming Little Toad. Looking up at the young man who was stepping closer to it, the beast felt a sense of desperation. Was it going to die here? Just then, a Magic Rune lit up in front of it. Following this, a voice that seemed like a heavenly melody to its current state echoed deep within its soul. The owner of the voice wished to make a contract with it, summoning it to another plane of existence to aid in battle. If this had been any other time, it would have surely refused. Not to mention it had previously had a master, but even without one, it wouldn¡¯t have wanted to enter into a contract and find itself a new master. Isn¡¯t freedom wonderful? Besides, why should it waste its Magic Power to aid others in battle? A slight mishap, and it could end up injured or even killed on another plane of existencea€¡±which was not an impossibility. Such dangerous tasks were only agreed to by brainless Demon Beasts. The more intelligent a Demon Beast was, the less willing they were to enter such contracts. But now was different. If it agreed to the contract, at least it had a hope of survival; if it refused, it felt it would be killed on the spot by this Human youth. So, without a second thought, it absorbed the Magic Rune into its Divine Soul and then, to the amazement of all Mages attempting summonings from Otherworlds, rapidly responded to the summon, disappearing right in front of Qin Feng. ¡°This¡­¡± Qin Feng was stunned. What was this situation? Why had it disappeared just like that? But quickly, the Swallowing Sky Toad communicated to him via a mental connection, telling him that it had sensed a strong spatial fluctuation; the Demon Beast had left this space and gone to another location. Qin Feng was incredibly shocked and didn¡¯t know how to describe his feelings at the moment. Chapter 259 - Chapter 259 Chapter 256 1 Yuan Heavy Water Exotic Beast Dragon Turtle ?Chapter 259: Chapter 256: 1 Yuan Heavy Water Exotic Beast Dragon Turtle Chapter 259: Chapter 256: 1 Yuan Heavy Water Exotic Beast Dragon Turtle High above, the Dark Flame Demon God was seething with unparalleled wrath. At that moment, he sensed a wisp of his own magic power. Such power was generally bestowed by him upon the otherworldly believers to grant them strength, which facilitated their offerings to him; he had not expected to suddenly feel such power on the battlefield below. ?¦Ï¦Í?0.§ã0 Out of curiosity, he directed his gaze towards the ground, looking in the direction from where he sensed the magic power. And then, he saw an ugly spider. This puzzled him. In his recollection, he had never had the habit of bestowing magic power on an unsightly demon beast like a spider, and he didn¡¯t seem to have any spider believers either. He knew that there were some spider-type demon beasts in the world, but they were, after all, a minority. Compared to the vast population of intelligent lifeforms, their numbers were too insignificant for him to bother collecting. Could it be that the spider had stolen a thread of his magic power? That couldn¡¯t be right; it was far too weak to accomplish such a feat. While pondering, with a mere shift of his gaze, he noticed the young man next to the spider. Then, he immediately recognized the youth. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï??0.§ã¦Ï After all, this was the only person bold enough to deceive him, a believer who had been granted his favor only to betray him at the next turn. It was precisely because of this youth¡¯s treachery that invaders from the outside world had come, leading numerous monsters and members of the Human Clan to storm his fortress, ravaging his domain. Now, his castle was engulfed in the flames of war; even his most elite and strongest Guard Army had been slaughtered in droves by a group of mighty beings, suffering heavy casualties. As for his palace, it was left battered and in ruins. All of this was because of that young man. All the enemies were brought here by him. It seemed that his audacity to betray him was largely because the thread of magic power he had granted did not enter the body of the young man but was instead absorbed by the spider. Having realized this, the Dark Flame Demon God grew even more furiously enraged. Being deceived, having his magic power stolen by that hideous substitute spider a€¡° what a death-deserving act! He wanted to kill that young Human Clan youth. Yet, the old Human Clan man he was battling was incredibly formidable; although it seemed he was mostly on the defensive, an odd force was entangling him. Whenever he showed a hint of relaxation, his opponent would employ an extremely powerful Technique, forcing him to respond with all his might. Even in alliance with the Nega Demon God, it was unexpected that the two of them could only manage a stalemate. This shocked and baffled him. Since when did the Human Clan possess such formidable strength? In his experience, even if the Human Clan could occupy a world and nominally become its Sovereign, they were just lambs harvested by All Gods for faith, never capable of possessing strength greater than his. And yet, now a few dozen powerful Human Clan Divine Beings had emerged out of nowhere. No, not Divine Beings! The Dark Flame Demon God quickly realized that these members of the Human Clan did not carry the slightest trace of the Power of Faith, indicating that they had not gained their strength from it. With the Gui Ling Ancestor occupied in restraining him, he simply could not spare the energy to deal with the treacherous wretch below. After fending off another onslaught from the Gui Ling Ancestor, the Dark Flame Demon God was just about to use his sense of the magic power to control the spider and kill the youth when he found that his connection to the spider had been severed. But he was certain that the spider had not perished; rather, it must have been taken into a special space. Could it be that the young man was a master of Space Magic? Or perhaps he possessed a space-related Treasure; otherwise, there would be no way to hide the spider so swiftly. While the Dark Flame Demon God mused over his suspicions, he suddenly felt a weird and dangerous aura burrowing into his body. This aura was incredibly strange; as soon as it appeared, it entwined his Divine Soul and permeated his body, cold chills surging straight to his heart, and a sense of weakness gradually overtaking him. He was horrified. What kind of attack was this, so strange and eerie? He mobilized the vast Magic Power within him, flames erupting around his body as he transformed into a burning Demon God. The Nega Demon God, who was fighting by his side, thought he was exerting his full force in a desperate bid and was overjoyed, roaring out loud and charging forth with his two Chain Maces. He wanted to cooperate with the Dark Flame Demon God to take down the troublesome Human Clan elder. However, the expected coordination did not manifest. The Dark Flame Demon God released a roar to the heavens, his voice filled with endless agony. Before his roar could finish, his voice shifted from rage to a wail of despair, and his aura began to decline sharply. The entire person became listless and weak, and the demon flame that had been burning vigorously on his body became thin, as if it would extinguish at any moment. Nega Demon God was somewhat astonished. He didn¡¯t understand how the once incomparably powerful Dark Flame Demon God had suddenly wilted. ¡°Dark Flame, what¡¯s wrong with you?¡± Nega Demon God shouted loudly. Now was not the time to hide his strength; what mattered was to quickly take down this opponent. Dark Flame Demon God felt depressed. He had no clue what this was all about. He had just mobilized all his magic power, only to find that the strange attack wasn¡¯t coming from outside his body, but from within. Or rather, a peculiar force that seemed to have grown from the depths of his soul was attacking him. No, this wasn¡¯t an attack in the conventional sense, this wasa€| a curse?! Dark Flame Demon God was filled with terror. He had been cursed! A sense of great fatigue emanated from his body and soul, cold, helpless, weary, pained, numb, utterly lacking in interest in life, and a host of other negative emotions flooded his mind, giving him an impulsive desire to die. Fortunately, he too was a seasoned demon god and wasn¡¯t about to do something foolish for real. So he rallied his spirits and was about to respond to Nega Demon God when he saw the old man from the Human Clan, who had been on the defensive most of the time, suddenly increase in aura, becoming extremely fierce in an instant, a huge turtle shell materialized behind him, covered with mysterious golden runes. Afterward, the whole person looked as if they had transformed into an enormous, ferocious giant turtle, opening its fanged mouth to bite at him. Of course, this was an illusion, an attack that Gui Ling Ancestor launched against his soul. With Gui Ling Ancestor¡¯s status, it wasn¡¯t possible for him to actually transform into a giant turtle and bite someone. At the same time, Gui Ling Ancestor took Nega Demon God¡¯s attack head-on without dodging, withstanding the heavy blow with that massive turtle shell around him, his figure firm and unmoving as a mountain. When the turtle shell was hit by the chain maces, it immediately emitted countless golden sparks, with golden divine runes appearing. Ignoring Nega Demon God, Gui Ling Ancestor pounced directly towards Dark Flame Demon God. This was his Primordial Divine Power, originally used for Prediction Calculation. However, the divine runes it now manifested also had the effect of killing enemies. The main reason Gui Ling Ancestor chose to engage in battle with Dark Flame Demon God was that they had long planned it. When he previously probed Dark Flame Demon God through a fragment of his divine soul, he had roughly assessed the strengths and weaknesses of Dark Flame Demon God. Now, with his enemy cursed by Yin San with the ¡°Netherworld Yin Snake Seven Incantations,¡± he was confident that he could slay him on the spot. Although Gui Ling Ancestor wasn¡¯t really suited for direct combat, he was better off being reclusive, acting as a strategist. The one who had always been used by the Beast Taming Sect to deter all sides was the Jue Tian Ancestor, famed for his immense combat power. But reaching this realm and having survived from the ancient times as a cultivator, how could he not possess several trump cards? Moreover, to compensate for his weaknesses, he had specially cultivated an Exotic Beast Dragon Turtle suitable for combat. The Dragon Turtle, which could also be called a Turtle Dragon. Because it had a relatively pure Dragon Clan bloodline, it counted as a branch of the Dragon Clan. Aside from having a dragon-shaped head, the rest of its body bore no resemblance to dragons. The Dragon Turtle was ferocious by nature; its body was as large as a small hill, with just its turtle shell spanning five hundred zhang. Its sturdy limbs were like giant columns reaching into the sky, and on its back grew two massive tails. At the end of each tail was something that resembled a nail-headed hammer, swinging as if it could shatter the void. In some ways, the Dragon Turtle was similar to the Nine-Tailed Heavenly Fox. However, unlike the Fox Clan, which grew a new tail with every advancement, the Dragon Turtle only grew a second tail after achieving enlightenment. If it could comprehend the Dao and refine an Immortal Golden Body, it could even grow a third tail and transform into a three-tailed Turtle Dragon. When Gui Ling Ancestor unleashed his divine power, turning the divine runes on his back into golden light to imprison Dark Flame Demon God, he also released the Dragon Turtle. A loud clang resonated. In the rear, the chain mace that Nega Demon God originally struck towards Gui Ling Ancestor directly hit the colossal turtle shell of the Dragon Turtle. The Dragon Turtle didn¡¯t even glance at him and, under Gui Ling Ancestor¡¯s command, charged towards Dark Flame Demon God. It first slammed its entire body violently against Dark Flame Demon God, knocking him thousands of zhang away. Then, before Dark Flame Demon God could recover, it spouted a stream of water from its mouth, sending him flying far, before the water turned into a vortex, wrapping around his body and spinning violently. Dark Flame Demon God felt as if his body was on the verge of exploding from being hit repeatedly, and was then horrified when enveloped by the vortex. He found the water stream to be as heavy as a mountain, seemingly about to crush him alive. He didn¡¯t know that this was Heavy Water, with each drop weighing ten thousand catties, and the stream spewed by the Dragon Turtle was like a long river ¨C weighing way more than billions of catties. Had Dark Flame Demon God not used the Rule Power to resist, his body would have already been crushed into a mist of blood by the weight of the Heavy Water. An intense survival instinct allowed him to bear the curse within him, using the life-risking method unique to the Flame Demon Clan. Desperately expending a vast amount of magic power, he broke free from the water stream and barely escaped. Even so, he was gravely injured. Just in that brief contact, blood seeped from between all of his scales. PS: The chapter from yesterday evening at eight was initially sent wrongly, picking up a two-thousand-word draft that went up instead. It was after realizing the mistake that it was reissued. Those who read it earlier can go back and read it again. Chapter 260 - Chapter 260 Chapter 257 Shadow Demon Snake ?Chapter 260: Chapter 257 Shadow Demon Snake Chapter 260: Chapter 257 Shadow Demon Snake Escape! Hurry and escape! Dark Flame Demon God¡¯s heart was filled with terror. He felt the weakness and powerlessness within his body, and after being severely injured by the opponent¡¯s enormous turtle monster, he saw the majestic stream of water, controlled by the monster, rushing towards him again. Without a second thought, he stimulated all the magic power he could muster within his body, and like a meteor engulfed in raging demonic flames, he swiftly and cleanly fled towards the distance. If he didn¡¯t escape now, given his current condition, he would be torn to pieces by that fierce giant turtle in no time. Dark Flame Demon God made a very crisp escape, and Gui Ling Ancestor, caught off guard, found it hard to stop him. After all, this was a powerful Demon God with great speed. If he truly decided to escape, it really was difficult to stop. Besides, another Nega Demon God was swinging two heavy chain maces at him. This Demon God possessed immense strength and formidable attack power, and was not to be underestimated. Even so, Gui Ling Ancestor¡¯s face showed a bit of embarrassment. He had been famous for a long time and valued his reputation. Perhaps, aside from some special beings, the vast majority of cultivators who had become immortals also cherished their reputations greatly. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í?¦Ï.§ã? Now, after the opponent¡¯s strength was greatly reduced by a curse and that guy had managed to escape, especially being the first Demon God to flee the scene, it made him quite displeased. Just then, as Nega Demon God¡¯s attack came, it ignited a spark of anger in his heart. Annoyed, Gui Ling Ancestor decided to vent his anger on this fatty. Although Nega Demon God¡¯s body was fat as a meat mountain, in front of the massive body of the dragon turtle, his so-called meat mountain was just like a round meatball, hardly worth mentioning. Thus, the dragon turtle first swung its huge tail, the massive hammerheads on the tip of the tail directly smashing into Nega Demon God, causing his whole body of fat to tremble violently. Then, without waiting for him to react, the dragon turtle¡¯s massive body violently charged at him, pressing Nega Demon God¡¯s body harshly against a nearby giant-sized molten rock giant. Boom! A loud noise erupted, the meatball¡­ no, the meat mountain that was Nega Demon God and the molten rock giant were both sent flying. Following that, the dragon turtle opened its mouth, and a stream of heavy water, like a long river, swept over, enveloping Nega Demon God and the molten rock giant within, a vortex of water rising and firmly trapping the two of them inside. The Supreme Elder from the Beast Taming Sect who was originally fighting the molten rock giant saw this and merely smiled faintly, letting Gui Ling Ancestor deal with the molten rock giant while he chose other opponents. The strength of the molten rock giant was still quite formidable; not only was it incredibly strong, and its flame magic powerful, but more crucially, its body was practically undying. Even if it was severely wounded multiple times, as long as molten rock flowed inside it, it could completely heal its injuries. As such a troublesome opponent, any cultivator of the same realm would find it a headache. Since Gui Ling Ancestor had already intervened, it was best to leave it to Gui Ling Ancestor to handle. Water and fire are fundamentally incompatible; to overcome fire with water is an established principle. Although his Daoist divine powers were profound, they lacked the means to control the Molten Rock Giant. The Dragon Turtle¡¯s Primordial Heavy Water was incredibly powerful, perfectly suited to deal with the Molten Rock Giant. In the flow of the water, the Nega Demon God and the Molten Rock Giant were tightly pressed together, the billions of pounds in weight making them feel as if they were about to be crushed to dust. If it were merely the weight, that would have been bearable, for they were, after all, demon gods, able to withstand it; but the key was that the Primordial Heavy Water was infinitely powerful, perfectly countering the Molten Rock Giant. If it had not been for its application of the Fire Principle to resist, the flames on its body would probably have been extinguished already. Even so, it was in a pitiable state, grievously hurt by the heavily crushing and cold air of Primordial Heavy Water, struggling with all its might to push out its flame power to prevent its entire body from being extinguished by the True Watera€¡±otherwise, it would have been utterly destroyed. The Nega Demon God had an even more tragic fate. Gui Ling Ancestor was inherently skilled in divination and adept at scheming. He had battled Nega Demon God for a long time and had already thoroughly understood the demon god¡¯s abilities, knowing that its approach was close combat with immense physical strength and high defensive capabilities. His own body, through a special kind of pulsation, could almost completely ignore physical attacks and could also resist most magical attacks unless trapped and slowly refined with True Fire; otherwise, it was difficult to deal severe damage. Even though Gui Ling Ancestor did not cultivate the Fire Dao and had no True Fire to use, as a cunning and calculating being, he had ways of leveraging external forces. Thus, he used the Primordial Heavy Water to bind the Nega Demon God and the Molten Rock Giant together, taking advantage of the Molten Rock Giant¡¯s resistance to the Primordial Heavy Water, which ignited flames to burn the Nega Demon God. To counter the might of the Primordial Heavy Water, the Molten Rock Giant had to exert its utmost Fire Principle to resist, and as a result, the Nega Demon God, trapped alongside it, could only suffer the burns of the giant¡¯s flames. Under normal circumstances, the Nega Demon God would not care about being struck by the flames of a fire giant, but since it could not move or divert the force, it was immediately burned badly, screaming in pain, and the parts of its body that touched the Molten Rock Giant directly emitted wafts of burnt flesh. Both demon gods, unwilling to remain trapped, struggled desperately to escape the restraint of the Primordial Heavy Water, but behind Gui Ling Ancestor emerged the phantom of a turtle shell, from which golden divine runes continuously surfaced, turning into chains of divine runes that bound them together while they were suppressed by the Primordial Heavy Water. Under the joint forces of Gui Ling Ancestor and the massive Dragon Turtle, they simply could not escape. a€| Qin Feng quickly shifted his focus elsewhere. Although he was curious about where the lion-bodied scorpion-tailed demon beast had gone, he was on an extremely chaotic battlefield where danger could arise at any moment; he had to concentrate fully on any potential crisis. Otherwise, a moment of negligence could lead to a successful sneak attack by the Demon Clan, which would be a loss beyond compare. The Demon Clan was not without individuals skilled in sneak attacksa€¡±quite the contrary. Whether it was some techniques from the Demon Clan mages, some particularly unusual members of the Demon Clan, or even demon beasts, any of them could launch a surprise attack. In fact, Qin Feng had seen more than once how spiritual beasts and sect disciples had fallen prey to these assailants. Although those who sneak-attacked them were quickly slain by the Golden Core Cultivators patrolling the battlefield, it still resulted in significant losses for the sect. Just like a Demon Clan mage, guarded by a dozen Demon Clan Warriors within a building not far away, who had released a sinister Demon Snake. ?¦Ï¦Í?0.§ã¦Ï It had already secretly attacked six spiritual beasts and two Beast Taming Sect disciples. The Demon Snake, pitch-black, possessed the ability to transform into a shadow. Once it hid within shadows, it could conceal its forma€¡±whether it was the shadow of a building, a tree, or a body of a spiritual beast or cultivator, it could meld into them, making it hard for anyone to detect its presence. Then, as the spiritual beast or cultivator defended against attacks, it would suddenly surge forth to launch a sneak attack, injecting its body¡¯s poison into its victim, and even dragging the attacked individual into the shadows to conceal and hide them, its methods of concealment and escape truly exquisite. Also, due to its outstanding concealment methods, the Golden Core Cultivator who was circling around in low altitude searching for strong opponents did not detect its trace since the battlefield was too chaotic, filled with slaughter and combat and various spell powers continuously spreading out, which made it easy to overlook some minor fluctuations in the shadows. Qin Feng discovered the Shadow Demon Snake not because his Divine Sense was particularly strong or sharp, but because the Demon Snake had targeted him. Or rather, it was the Demon Clan Mage controlling the Shadow Demon Snake who had targeted him because Qin Feng¡¯s earlier performance was too conspicuous. Alone with a spear, he slaughtered many members of the Demon Clan, whether they were powerful warriors or mages controlling magic power, as well as civilian demons in the city, nearly everyone who encountered him failed to escape. Moreover, he had a powerful Fire Ape by his side, recklessly charging and destroying buildings, bursting demons left and righta€¡±such a conspicuous presence was difficult not to attract the attention of nearby demons. As for the Swallowing Sky Toad, it went unnoticed due to its tiny size and the fact that Qin Feng intentionally concealed its powers, only allowing it to sneak attack at critical moments, so ordinary demons didn¡¯t notice the little toad hopping behind Qin Feng. However, Qin Feng¡¯s achievements were enough to attract the nearby demons¡¯ attention, so the Demon Clan Mage marked Qin Feng as a target for a secret ambush. The Demon Clan Mage first sent a series of fireballs to catch Qin Feng¡¯s attention. While Qin Feng was defending against the magic, the Shadow Demon Snake hidden in his shadow suddenly sprang out and viciously bit towards his neck. Fortunately, after his accomplishments in Body Refinement, Qin Feng had sharp senses. Sensing something wrong behind him, he swiftly sidestepped to avoid a fatal blow to his neck, and was only bitten on the shoulder. Otherwise, even with his Azure Dragon Daoist Body already cultivated to the Small Success Realm, he might not have been able to withstand the sharp fangs of the Demon Snake. But being bitten on the shoulder was not a cause for concern. It should be noted that he was wearing a Magic Robe specially prepared for True Disciples by the Sect, with extremely strong defense, and underneath the robe, he wore a set of soft armor given by his master, Ning Wuxu, for self-defense. Not to mention a mid-level Demon Beast like the Shadow Demon Snake that specialized in sneak attacks, even a beast a level higher couldn¡¯t break through his dual-layer defense. Despite that, Qin Feng was still shocked by the sudden ambush. Indeed, the path of cultivation was fraught with dangers. Had he not dodged in time, there was indeed a possibility he could have been successfully ambushed. But now, since the Shadow Demon Snake had slithered out of his shadow and revealed itself, it was no longer on its home ground. After the recent slaughter, Qin Feng¡¯s killing intent was at its peak. With a fierce laugh, he reached out and grabbed the head of the Shadow Demon Snake that was biting his robe and spewing poison, gently shook it after grabbing its vital spot, and immediately dislodged the body that was wrapped around him. He was, after all, a True Disciple of the Spiritual Snake Lineage and was extremely knowledgeable about various types of Spiritual Snakes. Even though he had never encountered this type of Shadow Demon Snake before, the structure of snake bodies was mostly similar, so once he grasped the snake¡¯s vital spot and shook it with enough force in a specific way, he could make this two-zhang-long Shadow Demon Snake go limp all over, rendering it powerless. Of course, if his strength were insufficient, he would definitely face a counterattack from the Demon Snake. As Qin Feng¡¯s killing intent surged, he was just about to rip the snake¡¯s head off when he suddenly saw a section of its body that had been in his shadow disappear, causing him to pause. He then felt a great joy, immediately abandoning the plan to kill the snake outright. He even gently stroked the neck of the Shadow Demon Snake, verifying that he hadn¡¯t torn it apart, which relieved him. He then directly sent the snake into the Demon Refining Pot. During the Outer Sect¡¯s great tournament, he had seen fellow Sect Disciples skilled in the art of concealment. Unfortunately, he had never found a Spiritual Snake suitable for this. Now that he had arrived in the Otherworld and encountered a Demon Snake capable of Shadow Transformation Divine Power, he certainly couldn¡¯t let it slip away and naturally wanted to integrate this capability into his Ruyi Golden Snake. Even though the cultivation methods of the demon snakes in this otherworld differed from those of the Demon Clan in the Biluo Great World, and their abilities were not called Divine Skills, it didn¡¯t matter; they were all a form of innate talent that could be integrated nonetheless. After Qin Feng had taken the Shadow Demon Snake into the Demon Refining Pot, a Demon Clan Mage not far away was momentarily stunned. He had not sensed the death of his demon pet nor noticed its invisibility, but it had disappeared into thin air. This puzzled him, but he soon knew it must have been the mischief of that young Human Clan man, so he roared loudly, ordering the few warriors guarding him to charge out of the building. He felt that if he could just kill this Human Clan youth, his demon pet would return. Now, the situation on the battlefield was extremely unfavorable for them; the Dark Flame Demon God had not returned, and he was worried that if things continued this way, the city would completely fall. He thought about fleeing, but with enemies and monsters everywhere in the city, it was impossible for him to break out. So, the Mage hoped that when there was no other choice, the Shadow Demon Snake could take him and hide in a secret place. As long as the Shadow Demon Snake wrapped around him and used the Shadow Transformation Power, it could help him fool others¡¯ eyes and enable him to escape this disaster and find an opportunity to flee in the future. Therefore, the Demon Clan Mage must rescue his demon pet at any cost; otherwise, he would certainly die. Qin Feng sneered coldly and didn¡¯t wait for those Demon Clan Warriors to get close; he waved his hand and released the Soul Devouring Vine Demon. Previously, because the Soul Devouring Vine Demon moved slowly, he had not released it, but now it was useful against opponents hiding in buildings. This was the Soul Devouring Vine Demon¡¯s first battle, and it wanted to perform well. So, as soon as it appeared, it immediately stretched out its vines and bound the several Demon Clan Warriors. These warriors were not weak, but they were caught off guard by the sudden appearance of this vine demon, so they were overwhelmed and were quickly trapped by the vines. Then, the Soul Devouring Vine Demon instinctively stabbed its spikes and mouthpieces into the Demon Clan¡¯s bodies, meaning to kill them. But immediately after, it felt the vigorous Qi Blood Power within the bodies of these warriors. Then, its whole body quivered excitedly. These Soul Devouring Vine Demons were originally transformed from Bloodthirsty Vines, inherently craving energy and blood, and had never had the opportunity to feed on blood before; after all, the creatures that roamed the Ten Thousand Demons Cave Heaven were either spiritual beasts fostered by the Sects or disciples of the Beast Taming Secta€¡±they dared not act recklessly. But now, these few individuals it had ensnared were enemies, and its master¡¯s order was to kill them, so the Soul Devouring Vine Demon had no reservations and began to feed on the blood within these Demon Clan warriors¡¯ bodies. Initially, the Demon Clan Warriors struggled, but they were firmly bound by the vines and could not escape; being drained of blood by the Soul Devouring Vine Demon, they were turned into dried-up corpses in just a short time. After feeding on the blood, the Soul Devouring Vine Demon¡¯s whole body trembled, its vines and leaves faintly tinged with dark red. This was a sign that the blood in its body had not yet been digested. Tasting the sweetness of blood, the Soul Devouring Vine Demon did not wait for its master¡¯s command and proactively extended its vines towards that building, intending to drain all the enemies inside as well. Chapter 261 - Chapter 261 Chapter 258 Dont let the benefits flow to outsiders ?Chapter 261: Chapter 258: Don¡¯t let the benefits flow to outsiders Chapter 261: Chapter 258: Don¡¯t let the benefits flow to outsiders The Soul Devouring Vine Demon had a good plan, but unfortunately, its spiritual intelligence was insufficient, and it quickly suffered a major setback. Previously, the reason it could easily entangle those Demon Clan warriors was because Qin Feng had suddenly summoned it, catching the warriors off-guard and taking advantage of its long and numerous vines. But now, not only were there seven or eight Demon Clan warriors in the house, but there was also a mage skilled in magic. Two of the warriors wielding sharp blades guarded the door, ready to cut off any vines trying to extend inside. The Demon Clan mage was equally busy, casting a high-level magic spell, Fire Rain Meteor, which burnt many of the vine demon¡¯s tendrils. If it weren¡¯t for the vine demon¡¯s strong life force, allowing it to regrow regardless of how many times it was cut as long as it had energy, that barrage of fire rain would have completely destroyed it. Irritated, Qin Feng kicked the vine demon, ¡°Idiot, can you only enter through the door? With so many vines, can¡¯t you think to split some through the windows or even from cracks in the roof? Just a few stone slabs, and you can¡¯t get past them?¡± He felt somewhat helpless; demon plants without transformation had very low intelligence and were much poorer compared to spiritual birds and beasts of the same realm. Right, untransformed plant demons fundamentally lacked a brain structure; of course, they weren¡¯t intelligent, primarily acting on instinct. It was already quite remarkable for them to have any intelligence. However, this vine demon was at the peak of Foundation Establishment, almost ready to condense its own Demon Core. Having been specifically trained by the Beast Taming Sect, it had a bit of cunning. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï???.§ã0 Upon hearing its master¡¯s words, it immediately understood. Then, it split its vines to enter the room from every direction. Although many were still cut off by the Demon Clan warriors and the mage, several tendrils finally managed to invade and randomly flail around, successfully disrupting the Demon Clan¡¯s formation. Qin Feng chuckled and gestured towards the house where the warriors were with his chin, speaking to the Fire Ape, ¡°Go, push that wall down for me. That damned thing dares let a Demon Beast ambush me. If I don¡¯t return the favor, wouldn¡¯t I disappoint their kindness?¡± After numerous battles, although the Fire Ape had expended a lot of its demon power, the combat had made it even more ferocious, regaining some of its natural bloodthirstiness and combativeness of a demon beast. Upon hearing Qin Feng¡¯s command, it immediately howled loudly a few times and leaped towards the giant stone wall. The walls, though massive and thick, lacked magical prohibitions or similar protections, so they stood no chance against the Fire Ape¡¯s violent barrage, resulting in a large breach after several punches. The ape then pushed down what remained of the slightly unstable half-wall. If the Demon Clan warriors inside weren¡¯t in disarray, they would likely have taken this chance to ambush the Fire Ape, potentially injuring it. Unfortunately for them, they were busy dealing with the vines and couldn¡¯t spare any effort to fight the Fire Ape. Even the mage was securely shielding himself inside a magical protective shield, fearful of being entangled by the Soul Devouring Demon Vine. He had clearly seen the terrible fate of the warriors who went out earlier; drained of all their blood, he had no desire to experience the same. His magic shield was very strong. Despite being wrapped by layers of vines, it showed no signs of damage. Outside, Qin Feng, holding the Sky Battle Halberd in one hand and the Swallowing Sky Toad in the other, coldly watched the Demon Clan mage. Seeing him wave his magic wand, preparing to cast another spell, Qin Feng suddenly threw the Swallowing Sky Toad forward. ¡°Gu-guaa€|¡± Originally reciting a spell to unleash a powerful magic, attempting to eradicate the Demon Vine, the Demon Clan Mage¡¯s body suddenly shuddered, and the magic he was almost able to form instantly dissipated. If he were not so proficient with this magic, he might have been backfired upon by his own magic power. He widened his eyes, staring in disbelief at the toad that had suddenly appeared in front of him. How did this thing get in here? He glanced at the magic shield in front of him, which showed no signs of damage. The Swallowing Sky Toad, of course, didn¡¯t explain that his magic shield¡¯s level was not high enough to defend against someone with space divine power. It didn¡¯t give the Demon Clan Mage any time to react either, happily croaked once, and then shot his tongue out, piercing the mage¡¯s chest in one swoop. Although the Swallowing Sky Toad now possessed several magic divine powers, as a Spiritual Toad type Demon Beast, its tongue had always been its most fundamental attack method. Thus, instinctively, it shot out its tongue and pierced this man¡¯s body. ¡°Aha€|¡± The Demon Clan Mage cried out in pain. However, he was not yet dead. The bodies of the Demon Clan were robust, and even though he was a mage, his life force was much stronger than that of ordinary humans. Additionally, since the members of the Flame Demon Clan had a slightly different body structure, the left chest pierced by the Swallowing Sky Toad was not a fatal spot, so he was only injured, still far from death. But this mage did not dare let the Swallowing Sky Toad continue to attack him; otherwise, he would be poked into a sieve. In haste, he waved his magic wand and cast a fireball towards the Swallowing Sky Toad. Being a Flame Demon naturally close to flames, he could use ordinary fire element magic without reciting spells, simply by mobilizing his magic power, and thus he could cast such fireballs very quickly, almost instantly. After the Swallowing Sky Toad landed on the ground, it bulged its eyes and saw that not only did the mage not die, but he also dared to hurl a fireball at it. Instantly, it puffed up its snow-white belly, and opened its mouth to spray out a stream of water, dousing the fireball and thoroughly soaking the mage, turning him into a drenched chicken. Then, it opened its mouth again and expelled a burst of cold air, freezing the mage within the stream of water. Unexpectedly, being a Flame Demon with abundant fire element magic power inside, he wasn¡¯t frozen stiff. Instead, a massive amount of fire element magic power surged from his body, breaking him free from the ice. He then used a flying spell and escaped through the already damaged roof, entangled by vines and the Fire Ape. He wanted to flee from this place. It was too terrifying; a small toad, the size of a watermelon, possessed such immense magic power. If he didn¡¯t escape now, he would die at the hands of this toad. ¡°Trying to run?¡± Qin Feng snorted coldly, took a step forward, and with both hands, he tossed his war halberd. ¡°Roara€|¡± A clear dragon roar arose, and the Sky Battle Halberd had been transformed into the shape of an Azure Dragon. It leapt up from below like a true dragon emerging from the sea, piercing the sky as if it could penetrate the sun and moon. Of course, there were no sun and moon here; it was a Demon Clan Mage that had just taken flight, which the Sky Battle Halberd pierced straight through the chest. ?0¦Í?0.§ã¦Ï ¡°Uha€|¡± The Demon Clan Mage felt a chill at his chest and looked down, only then did he see a hole larger than a bowl gaped open in his chest, and even a thin blood streak ran from his neck to abdomen in a straight line. That was a wound inflicted by the crescent blades on both sides of the Sky Battle Halberd. With a squelching sound, the body of the Demon Clan Mage fell to the ground. From a distance, a Golden Core Cultivator saw the event of a member of the Demon Clan being flung into the air and was about to come over and execute him; however, when he saw Qin Feng, recognizing him as a True Disciple of the Spiritual Snake Lineage, he nodded slightly and then flew off elsewhere. Qin Feng stretched out his hand, and the Azure Dragon, which had been dancing in mid-air, immediately circled in the air and flew back into his hands. This Sky Battle Halberd obviously had no transformation power; what was called a ¡°dragon shape¡± was merely the shape the Qi Force had taken while executing war skills. He stepped forward, picked up the Magic Wand that had fallen beside the Demon Clan Mage, and examined it for a moment. This Magic Wand was significantly longer than his Sky Battle Halberd, made entirely from a type of tree imbued with demonic Qi, and at the top, a large red gemstone was embedded. Qin Feng could clearly feel the pure and rich Fire Element Power emanating from the gemstone. ¡°This is indeed a treasure; if I were to sell it, it should be worth quite a lot of money.¡± Qin Feng muttered, intending to pry out the gemstone, but then he remembered that now was not the time for such actions. He thus temporarily stored it in his Storage Bag to be dealt with after the war. In this expedition to the Otherworld, both the Sect and the other factions of the alliance had reached a consensus that all personal loot from the war would belong to the individuals themselves, and the Sect would not claim any treasures from them. Initially, this was merely a proposal from the Beast Taming Sect, Five Poisons Sect, and Ghost Controlling Sect, as they believed the primary purpose of this war was to conquer this world. As long as they conquered this world, they could freely obtain treasures from this realm in the future. There was no need to compete with their disciples for some treasures; it was easier to just announce that all loot from this expedition would belong to them themselves. This greatly motivated the disciples¡¯ fervor for the battle and allowed them to quickly enhance their abilities. Moreover, having the treasures in the hands of their own disciples meant that the gains were kept within their community. Of course, during such large-scale battles, it was fine for the loot on the battlefield to belong to them, but after the battle, all treasures obtained from various places would need to be surrendered to the Sect. For example, the treasures in the storeroom of the Dark Flame Demon God¡¯s Royal Palace, if it was not breached during the war, would all belong to the Sect afterwards. After all, the Sect needed these treasures, whether it was for refining treasures, cultivation, or rewarding disciples who had distinguished themselves; these were indispensable. As for the treasures that the disciples obtained and which they did not need, if they were willing to surrender them to the Sect, the Sect would correspondingly give other Spiritual Objects in return, or possibly consider it as a form of contribution, rewarding them when evaluating contributions after the war. If they were unwilling to turn over their possessions, they could also exchange them with disciples from various sects, each taking what they needed. To better facilitate a place for disciples from various sects to exchange treasures, the cunning Master of the Ten Thousand Demons Pavilion from the Beast Taming Sect had dispatched a Deputy Pavilion Master along with a large number of people and supplies even before they set out. They planned to construct a marketplace within the Heavenly Pool Cave Heaven to provide a venue for disciples from various sects to exchange appropriate Spiritual Objects. This move not only surprised other sects but also broadened the horizons of the Ghost Controlling Sect and the Five Poisons Sect, deciding that if they ever had the opportunity to lead an expedition to conquer other worlds, they would adopt the Beast Taming Sect¡¯s tactics. Without saying anything else, just from this expedition alone, the Ten Thousand Demons Pavilion of the Beast Taming Sect was definitely able to exchange for a large amount of treasures from the hands of other sect disciples. After all, many treasures from otherworlds might not be suitable for their cultivation. Of course, after discussion, other sects also planned to get involved in the marketplace within the Heavenly Pool Cave Heaven. The Beast Taming Sect had no objections, as they alone couldn¡¯t monopolize all those treasures; they still needed the help from various sects¡¯ Alchemists, Artifact Refiners, Array Masters, and Talisman Makers among others, who were skilled in various crafts, to meet the needs of their disciples to some extent. Qin Feng put away his magic wand and searched the body of a Demon Clan Mage, obtaining two rings infused with magic power, a few smaller gemstones, and two scrolls. He didn¡¯t know what use these items had, but his keen Divine Sense sensed a surge of magic power from them, giving him the impression that the scrolls seemed to contain some kind of spell. Qin Feng realized that these items, similar to the Spirit Talismans crafted by cultivators, were likely of the same type, though they seemed far more complex to produce, considering they did not require a large piece of beast skin like Spirit Talismans did. Hmm, perhaps they could be sold to a Talisman Maker who would likely be willing to pay a good price for these novel techniques. After gathering the items, Qin Feng stood up and returned to the building that had been demolished. At that time, apart from two warriors who were still unleashing powerful Qi Forces to resist the attacks of the Fire Ape, the other Demon Clan Warriors had lost their ability to resist and were firmly ensnared by the Soul Devouring Demon Vine. Under the absorption of its vine tendrils, it was clear they were on the brink of death. The Soul Devouring Demon Vine felt very delighted, the sensation of drinking blood providing immense satisfaction, far more comfortable than merely absorbing Spiritual Energy. Qin Feng ignored it and simply lifted the long spear in his hand, shaking off a war hammer held by one of the Demon Clan Warriors, then, with a horizontal swing, the sharp Crescent Blade slit the throat of that Demon Clan Warrior. The only remaining Demon Clan Warrior roared madly, knowing his death was inevitable, he gave up all defense and attacked the Fire Ape in a frenzy, even hoping to repel it and fight desperately against Qin Feng. After all, that Demon Clan Warrior could tell that Qin Feng was the master of these monsters. But even in a frenzied state, his strength was no match for the Fire Ape. Fighting alone, he was quickly struck down by a slap from the Fire Ape, breaking his bones and killing him instantly. Qin Feng¡¯s Divine Sense swept over the battlefield, collecting everything rich in Spiritual Energy from inside the building and from the bodies of those Demon Clan Warriors, including their weapons. Although he did not value these weapons, handing them over to an Artifact Refiner for re-melting could turn them into material suitable for the refinement of other Magic Artifacts and Spiritual Artifacts. Just as Qin Feng was about to leave the area with several Spiritual Beasts, he suddenly sensed a fluctuation of space not far away. Following the disturbance, he was startled. Because there he saw that beast with the body of a lion and a scorpion¡¯s tail. Chapter 262 - Chapter 262 Chapter 259 Heavenly Snake Soul Capturing ?Chapter 262: Chapter 259 Heavenly Snake Soul Capturing Chapter 262: Chapter 259 Heavenly Snake Soul Capturing Seeing it, Qin Feng laughed. This was truly a stroke of fatea€¡±just as he was about to leave, this monster presented itself at his doorstep. With a sinister chuckle, Qin Feng, accompanied by several Spiritual Beasts, encircled the beast to prevent the Lion Scorpion Beast from escaping again. Of course, this possibility was very slim unless it escaped again using Space Magic. Otherwise, given its current state covered with wounds, if it could still escape from his grasp, that would be truly unbelievable. The Lion Scorpion Beast looked up and saw the man who had terrified it before, causing its tail to shrink in fear. It was indeed unluckya€¡±first it had been injured in a battle here, then it was summoned elsewhere, assuming it was a safe place. However, it turned out to be another battle. After it had exhausted all its magic power and barely secured a victory, it found itself sent back to an even more brutal battlefield. Before it could regain its footing, it spotted that frightening face! It felt like crying but was too miserable to shed tears. ?¦Ï¦Í?0.?¦Ï Had it known this would happen, it never would have signed that damned contract, forcing itself to endure such suffering before its death. The Lion Scorpion Beast let out a mournful howl and then collapsed powerlessly onto the ground. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í?0.?¦Ï Its magic power exhausted, it had no strength left to resist. It resigned itself to whatever this human decided. The Lion Scorpion Beast closed its eyes. Just end it quickly! Seeing that the Demon Beast showed no resistance, its Scorpion Tail limp on the ground, Qin Feng couldn¡¯t help but laugh. It seemed this Demon Beast had no energy left to resist, so he was not going to be polite. Qin Feng grabbed the soft fur on the neck of the Lion Scorpion Beast and lifted it into the Demon Refining Pot. He was quite curious about how this Demon Beast had vanished suddenly and planned to inquire about it after the battle. If it was an innate ability of the Lion Scorpion Beast, he had struck gold, as its magic could be stronger than the Swallowing Sky Toad¡¯s Space Movement. If it wasn¡¯t its ability, that would be another matter. Perhaps there would be other gains. After capturing the Lion Scorpion Beast, Qin Feng turned and left the area to head elsewhere. He had seen Liu Wuxiang and several sect disciples ganging up to kill a Demon of exceptional strength. The Demon, towering over ten feet tall and wielding a Heavy Hammer, thrashed with brutal force, forcing them all to continuously retreat. In terms of combat power alone, this Demon was no less formidable than a Golden Core Realm Body Refining Cultivator. However, the Beast Taming Sect¡¯s disciples were not only numerous but also supported by many Spiritual Beasts. With the combined attacks of so many Divine Skills, the Demon could only parry from side to side; although it could bear the onslaught, escaping was impossible. By that time, the battle had been raging for an hour or two, and the slaughter was particularly fierce. Though the Demon Clan was retreating under the vast arrangement of the Beast Taming Sect, suffering heavy casualties, they fought with extreme ferocity. In their desperate counterattacks, the Beast Taming Sect suffered considerable losses despite care from higher Realm Cultivators. Of course, most of the casualties on the Beast Taming Sect¡¯s side were their Spiritual Beasts, with relatively few sect disciples being harmed. Initially, they had deployed a large number of Spiritual Beasts to disrupt the Demon Clan¡¯s formation, making it easier for the disciples to enter the fray without confronting an organized enemy army. Only a few unlucky disciples who encountered powerful Demons were slain, while most could deploy Lifebound Spiritual Talismans and Artifacts, or rely on their Spiritual Beasts to block the enemies briefly as they fled, leaving more powerful disciples to handle the formidable Demons. The loss of a large number of Spiritual Beasts in this battle was inconsequential, as during the conflict, they noticed many Demon Beasts in the city. This world was evidently populated with many such creatures. Although Demon Beasts were somewhat different from Spiritual Beasts, fundamentally they were similar, and the Beast Taming Sect¡¯s disciples could capture and tame various Demon Beasts to continue fighting for them. In such a place, the Beast Taming Sect could truly wage war to support war, using the beasts of this world to assist in combat while minimizing their losses. This was an aspect that most sects of the Biluo Great World could not match. Whether it was Taiyi Mountain¡¯s Sword Cultivation Sect, the Giant Spirit Body Refining Sects, or those super forces, in some ways, none had the advantage of the Beast Taming Sect. However, Northern Domain¡¯s Ten Directions Ghost City should be an exception. Should Ghost Ancestor Cang Yang wage war in another world, they might refine nearly half the lifeforms there into Ghost Items, far more ferocious than the Beast Taming Sect by an order of magnitude. The Buddhism of the West excels in beguiling people; if they were to conquer a world, it is likely they would forcefully subjugate a group of people to act as protectors and aid in their battles. As for the other few dominant sects, such tactics were far less common. While Qin Feng went to aid Liu Wuxiang and others against the formidable Demon, the war within the city neared its end. The remaining Demons were either stubbornly resisting or attempting to break out and flee. Those who resisted stubbornly were being besieged to death by an increasing number of Beast Taming Sect disciples, and those who tried to break through were intercepted by countless Spiritual Beasts controlling the sky. At this time, the only place where intense battle fluctuations were still heard was from the Demon God Palace. The Guard Army of the Dark Flame Demon God was extremely powerful, with some demon commanders of tremendous war power able to contend against Beast Taming Sect cultivators at the Dharma Image Realm or even the Primordial Spirit Realm, and there were also some demon generals who could compete with the Purple Mansion cultivators. There were even several among them who possessed their own Demon Pets as mounts and all of which possessed great combat strength. However, compared to the mounts, they were certainly no match for the elders of the Beast Taming Sect. Furthermore, there were only three commanders of commander-level among the demons, and only about twenty other generals with strong combat power, while the Beast Taming Sect had nearly two hundred Inner Sect elders on this expedition. Even though less than half of the Inner Sect elders were currently deployed, it was still enough to surround and kill those demon commanders. Especially Luo Zhancheng, an elder of the White Tiger Lineage, whose cultivation had not yet reached the Primordial Spirit Realm, but was extremely fierce. At this moment, with his cultivation at the Dharma Image Realm, he was forcing a demon commander to retreat continuously, inflicting numerous wounds on the opponent. This guy was simply too ferocious in combat. He was practicing the ¡°White Tiger Divine Technique¡± and was close to great success. His physical body was even stronger than that of the demons, often facing the demon¡¯s attacks without dodging, directly trading wounds with the opponent. But his White Tiger Saber was incomparably sharp, leaving deep, bone-deep wounds on the opponent¡¯s body, while the demon¡¯s war sword could only spark against his body, hardly leaving any injuries. Even if the flesh was cut open, there would be no blood flowing out, and the demonic Qi at the wound would soon be expelled by him, closing up the wound and restoring it to its original state. The ¡°White Tiger Divine Technique¡± specializes in the Western Geng Metal Energy, forging the White Tiger Dao Body with Geng Metal Energy, tempering the body to be impervious to blades and spears, resistant to water and fire, and immune to Daoist injuries, making him a humanoid war machine on the battlefield. ¡°Die!¡± Luo Zhancheng, who had fought from the Demon God Palace to mid-air, glared furiously and roared loudly as he raised the White Tiger Saber high. The Sword Energy surged for thirty thousand feet, and with a slash, he severed the demon commander¡¯s war sword and split the ferociously powerful demon general into two halves. With a thunderous boom, the Sword Energy continued, splitting the very peak where the Demon God Palace was located into two halves. ¡°Be careful!¡± Below, several elders engaged in battle angrily exclaimed, ¡°Next time you unleash Sword Energy, check if there are people below. Aren¡¯t you afraid of slicing us to death too?¡± Hearing this, Luo Zhancheng, who was laughing heartily because of his victory over a formidable enemy, suddenly felt awkward, having forgotten about this matter in the heat of the moment. He gave a sheepish smile, but his skin was thick enough that he soon forgot the embarrassment in his heart and rushed towards another demon commander. On the other side, battling this Great Commander of the demons, was the Great Elder of the Divine Bull Lineage. At this moment, the elder transformed into a bull-headed human, with two huge horns curved like crescents that pierced the heavens, flashes of yellow light flickering on them. The Great Elder possessed immense combat strength, having trained his Great Strength Divine Power to its peak, holding the power to move mountains and seas. Casual punches and kicks were collapsing temples and splitting mountain tops. The reason they hadn¡¯t yet subdued the Demon Clan was that their opponent still had the aid of a Demon Beast with war power almost equivalent to that of the Demon Clan Commander. He was facing two opponents alone and still managed to gain the upper hand, which was quite impressive. Now that Luo Zhancheng had come to assist, the two of them working together immediately caused the opposing demon and beast to retreat in defeat. The Demon Clan Commander tried several times to break through and flee the area, but they forcefully stopped him each time. They were now overwhelmingly in control, and there was no way they were going to let this guy escape. Were they supposed to wait for him to come back for revenge later? Meanwhile, Liu Xuanling merged with her Lifebound Spiritual Snake, transforming into a figure with a human body and a snake¡¯s tail, with the Ice Soul Divine Pearl hanging above her head like an Ancient Goddess descending from heaven, emitting a cold and refreshing aura from head to toe. The Treasure Bead above her head continuously shot out beams of Ice Soul Divine Light, causing the Flame Demon General, who was fighting her, to be in a sorry state. That opponent, originally wielding fierce flame magic power, now had his body¡¯s flames extinguished by Liu Xuanling¡¯s Ice Soul Divine Light. Ice frosted over his body, and the bone-penetrating chill made him shiver. This was the first time in his life the Flame Demon had ever felt the sensation of cold. Seeing that her opponent was still resisting her at this point, Liu Xuanling grew somewhat impatient. Thus, a flash of Spirit Light appeared in her eyes, and she directly cast Divine Light from her eyes towards the Demon Clan General. Thinking she was about to unleash another powerful spell, the Demon General immediately became cautious. However, the moment he met her gaze, his entire body involuntarily stiffened, and the power he was gathering in his hands gradually dissipated. This was the Heavenly Snake Soul Capturing Technique, an innate divine ability of her Lifebound Spiritual Snake. Once someone was struck by the Divine Light in her eyes, their Divine Soul would be imprisoned, and whether they could break free depended on their own abilities. Seizing the opportunity, Liu Xuanling caused the Ice Soul Divine Pearl atop her head to shine brightly, and within a few breaths of time, she froze the Flame Demon General¡¯s entire body into an ice statue before flicking her tail to shatter him into ice shards all over the sky. It must be said that, with Beast Taming Sect¡¯s strength, handling a Demon God Territory was indeed not challenging. Perhaps, the three major sects that embarked on this campaign all had such capabilitiesa€¡±it was only the other smaller sects that needed to band together to fight. At that moment, high up in the sky, eight hundred feet above the ground, the Cave Heaven Fortress remained quietly in place, inside it disciples from various sects were watching the disciples from Beast Taming Sect fight, all of them revved up with surging combat spirits. Especially when they saw many ordinary disciples collecting a large amount of treasures and resources, they greatly wished they could take their places. Soon, after the Elders of the Beast Taming Sect had slain all the commanders of the Demon God Palace and above, the battle gradually came to a halt. They did not aim to slaughter all the demons but instead collected some who were willing to surrender. After all, this was a corner of the Demon Realm and not suitable for ordinary Human Clan members to live in. If they wanted to exploit resources from this world, they inevitably required the use of demons. However, they definitely would not use demons with excessive combat power. The reason they collected these captives now was merely to swiftly understand this world, learn their language, inquire about various forces, and even gather some information about different deities. Chapter 263 - Chapter 263 Chapter 260 Great Harvest ?Chapter 263: Chapter 260: Great Harvest Chapter 263: Chapter 260: Great Harvest In the high skies, close to the boundary barrier of the world, nearly a hundred Immortal Demons were still fighting relentlessly. These Supreme Elders and Demon Gods, each possessing formidable strength and mastery over various laws, could battle for days and nights on end without issue. As long as there wasn¡¯t a significant gap in their Cultivation Realms, the battles wouldn¡¯t conclude in a short time. Even though the alliance¡¯s Supreme Elders were far superior in methods compared to these Demon Gods, the latter had greater numbers, making it impossible to end the battle quickly. Even with Gui Ling Ancestor and his subordinate Dragon Turtle trapping the Molten Rock Giant and Nega Demon God, draining their strength completely would still take considerable time. More crucially, the Demon Gods¡¯ Power of Laws aligned with this realm¡¯s Heavenly Dao Laws, and due to the invasion from another world, the World Will was more inclined to support them, inadvertently enhancing their Qi Fortune, resulting in even greater support when they manipulated Principle Power, amplifying the potency of their magic. Of course, the consequence was that the World Will would suffer significant depletion, and should it still face defeat in the end, its losses would be even more substantial. But now, bolstered by the power of the World Will, the Demon Gods¡¯ war power had slightly increased, maintaining a tense battle state with the alliance¡¯s Supreme Elders, making it impossible to determine a winner in the short term. In fact, some weaker Supreme Elders were barely holding on under the siege of several Demon Gods, waiting for other Sects¡¯ Daoist Fellows to achieve victory and come to their aid. While these Supreme Elders were still engaged in strenuous battles, the battle below had already paused, and the Inner Sect Elders of the Beast Taming Sect had begun leading their disciples in looting the war spoils. Unlike the mighty Demon Gods, ordinary demons from the Demon Clan didn¡¯t have such powerful forces to support their endless fighting. When a sky-covering swarm of Spiritual Beasts and two hundred thousand Beast Taming Sect cultivators descended, the defeat of the demons below had already been sealed. At this moment, the disciples weren¡¯t paying any attention to the battle above. It wasn¡¯t something they could intervene in; for them, doing whatever was within their power was sufficient. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í??.§ã? For instance, releasing their Divine Sense to scan all areas, not missing any place with fluctuations of Spiritual Energy. Some disciples even had special Spiritual Beasts either burrow underground to search for hidden treasure chambers or allow smaller ones to rummage through the ruins for all resources containing energy. It must be said, the methods of the Beast Taming Sect in looting treasures truly earned the admiration of cultivators from other Sects. Saying they scraped the ground three feet deep was an understatement. Because these individuals possessing Spiritual Beasts could uncover even a dark chamber thirty feet underground, among them were various treasure-seeking and energy-sensing Spiritual Beasts like Treasure Seeking Rats, Spirit Sniffing Rats, and Moon Gazing Rhinoceroses which could sense all the treasures imbued with Spiritual Power from afar. Even if most of this realm¡¯s treasures contained some amount of Demonic Qi, their energy fluctuations couldn¡¯t be mistaken, so wherever the disciples of the Beast Taming Sect went, hardly anything would remain. This left the disciples from other Sects staring in envy. The Elders of various Sects were even more tempted. In the domain of looting treasures, they knew their own disciples certainly couldn¡¯t compare with those from the Beast Taming Sect. The Deputy Pavilion Master of the Ten Thousand Demons Pavilion, Jin Mantang, seized this opportunity to release numerous treasure-seeking Spiritual Beasts, which were prepared in advance, predicting this scenario even before the expedition. Indeed, the moment these treasure-seeking Spiritual Beasts appeared, they immediately caught the eye of cultivators from all Sects. The Elders were somewhat better off as they possessed a broader perspective and would consider matters from the interest of their Sects. Even if tempted, they would not act immediately. Because these Spiritual Beasts were priced incredibly high. A low-level Qi Refining Early Stage Treasure Seeking Rat, for instance, would only sell for a few hundred Spirit Stones at most in the Twelve Markets outside the Beast Taming Sect. Although special in capability, its strength was weak, and the range of its scouting ability was limited, so naturally, the price wouldn¡¯t be too high. Yet here, that greedy Vice Pavilion Master Jin audaciously demanded ten thousand Spirit Stones. A newly Foundation-Established Treasure Seeking Rat was priced absurdly at one hundred thousand Spirit Stones, nearly matching the value of a Top Level bloodline Spiritual Beast. As for those in the Demon Core Realm, heh, without a million Spirit Stones, Vice Pavilion Master Jin wouldn¡¯t even consider discussing it. When the Elders from various Sects heard these prices, they were infuriated. In their view, this damn Fatty Jin was a meld of every swindler in the world. ¡°How is this selling Spiritual Beasts; it¡¯s more like robbing Spirit Stones!¡± The Great Elder of Yuhua Sect, upon hearing Jin Mantang¡¯s quoted price, immediately berated with a fiery stare, ¡°Just a low-level Spirit Sniffing Rat, you used to sell it for three hundred Spirit Stones at most in the Ten Thousand Demons Pavilion, and now you¡¯re asking for thirteen thousand here? Are you mad?¡± ¡°Hehe, Daoist Fellow Liu, please calm down. As you said, that was the past. But where are we now?¡± The plump Jin Mantang, his face beaming with a healthy glow, seemed utterly unconcerned by the displeased looks from the Elders of various Sects. He chuckled, ¡°Fellows, as you know, this isn¡¯t our Biluo Great World, nor is it the Market outside our Beast Taming Sect¡¯s Mountain Gate; this is an Exotic Realm World. If it were in the Market, the price wouldn¡¯t be so high, as aside from our Beast Taming Sect, there are other places that possess these kinds of Spiritual Beasts. But in this foreign realm, apart from us, you won¡¯t find such type of Spiritual Beast anywhere else, hence the saying, scarcity adds value. If you choose not to buy, I certainly won¡¯t insist, but if you wish to buy later, the price will not be the same.¡± ¡°What, you dare to raise the price after these few days?¡± The facial expressions of the Sect Elders darkened even more upon hearing this. ¡°Why shouldn¡¯t I?¡± Jin Manlou smiled, ¡°Just so you know, we brought quite a limited number of Spiritual Beasts, only about three thousand. The role of treasure-seeking Spiritual Beasts here will only become more significant, and the fewer beasts we have, naturally, the higher the price will rise. ?¦Ï¦Í¨À?.§ã¦Ï This is the most common occurrence in the world of business; do you not understand this?¡± An Elder furiously said, ¡°Daoist Fellow Jin, you¡¯re quoting absurd prices; have you even consulted the Supreme Elders of your Beast Taming Sect if they agree with this? Aren¡¯t you afraid of affecting our alliance?¡± ¡°Hehea€|¡± Jin Mantang chuckled, ¡°In Ten Thousand Demons Pavilion, I oversee all business affairs of the Sect, earning vast resources annually for the Sect¡¯s many disciples to cultivate. As long as we do not make serious mistakes, the Supreme Elders will not interfere.¡± The Supreme Elders devoted themselves wholeheartedly to cultivation and would not let these trifling matters affect their heart realm. As for the alliance between our Beast Taming Sect and the various factions, there was no clause that required us to sell Spiritual Beasts to you all at a low price.¡± At this point, he noticed the grim expressions on the faces of the elders from the various factions and laughed, ¡°If you ask me, my Daoist fellows, you are being too stingy. I didn¡¯t say I must have your Spirit Stones; I can even give you the Spiritual Beasts first. Once you have your gains, you can fully pay with the resources you¡¯ve acquired.¡± ¡°Hm?¡± The elders looked at him, ¡°What are you scheming?¡± Jin Mantang chuckled, ¡°You see, we¡¯ve just taken down a city and already collected so much treasure. Are you still afraid of not having resources in the future? Just by taking out a small part of the treasures you seize later, you can exchange for my precious Spiritual Beasts. Compared to the resources you¡¯ll gain, this is but a trifle, merely a drop in the ocean.¡± ¡°This¡­¡± The elders exchanged looks, visibly tempted. As long as they were not required to exchange their Sect¡¯s Spirit Stones, it would not be too painful for them. They had already seen the pile of treasures like a mountain possessed by the disciples of the Beast Taming Sect. If they too could harvest as much, paying a small part of it to acquire Spiritual Beasts really wouldn¡¯t be too much. After some discussion, the elders from various factions eventually signed agreements with Jin Mantang, agreeing to take the Spiritual Beasts first and settle the accounts with their future gains. With this consensus, it didn¡¯t take long for the elders to start a debate over the allocation of Spiritual Beasts. After all, the quantity of Spiritual Beasts was limited, and they collectively had two million disciples; the distribution was indeed meager, making each house desire a few more. Even later, some cultivators who failed to obtain Treasure Seeking Spiritual Beasts, secretly approached the Deacon Disciples of the Ten Thousand Demons Pavilion, paying a higher price and signing stricter contracts to acquire more Spiritual Beasts. Of course, not all cultivators from each sect played the fool and approached the Beast Taming Sect to purchase Treasure Seeking Spiritual Beasts; only a few from the Five Poisons Sect and the Ghost Controlling Sect bought a few for reserves. As both their sects had their own methods. The poison insects of the Five Poisons Sect had various capabilities, including flying and burrowing, among which one type, the Soul Devouring Poison, had a very keen sense of smell. It naturally liked to nibble on anything imbued with Spiritual Energy and could replace the Spirit Sniffing Rat in treasure hunting. Among the creatures raised by the Ghost Controlling Sect, there existed a kind called the Spirit Ghost, born with a pair of Spirit Ghost Eyes capable of seeing the Spirit Light of treasures through various objects. After seeing the gains of the Beast Taming Sect, the disciples from various sects could no longer sit still. Although the battle between the Supreme Elders and the Demon Gods was not yet over, driven by the eagerness of the disciples, the elders discussed and decided to dispatch troops separately to attack the nearby territories of three Demon Gods. For the time being, they dared not stray too far; they had to wait until the battle between the Supreme Elders and the Demon Gods concluded to decide how to proceed with the war. The territories of these three Demon Gods belonged to the Nega Demon God, the Papala Demon God, and another, the Flame Demon, mainly because they were the closest to this location and their armies of the Demon Clan had already started moving in this direction, planning to meet up with the forces of the Dark Flame Demon God. However, they arrived a bit late. Before their forces fully arrived, the commander-level powerhouses discovered that the Royal Palace of the Dark Flame Demon God had already been breached and the territory lost, so they had to start retreating. But they had left too far behind and it would still take them some time to return to their territory. If the various sects moved quickly enough, they might still be able to intercept them. Thus, after a brief discussion, the sects split into three groups and started their journey. The Five Poisons Sect headed for the territory of the Nega Demon God; the Ghost Controlling Sect went to pursue the forces under the Papala Demon God, while the remaining allied sects mainly set out to attack the territory of another Demon God. None of the sects doubted their ability to take over the territories of those Demon Gods. The primary reason the Beast Taming Sect had dared to ally with the other sects to attack this world with just over two million cultivators was due to the myriad of methods available to cultivators, including Spiritual Artifacts, Magic Artifacts, Talismans, Arrays, Elixir Pills, and so on. Take an ordinary cultivator for instance, each person would possess several Magic and Spiritual Artifacts, using them to launch assaults from a distance, perform sneak attacks, or overpower foes. In addition, they could use various Spells, Divine Skills, set up War Formations, and cast Illusion Techniques to confuse their opponents, making them truly a formidable force not easily countered by ordinary members of the Demon Clan. The disciples of the Beast Taming Sect had even more methods than a typical cultivator. For instance, Liu Wuxiang, who had been in the Inner Sect for less than a year with only an Early Stage Foundation Establishment cultivation level, had practiced the Bone-Eroding Soul-Destroying Heavenly Evil Technique, which imbued his True Yuan with a deadly poison. The accompanying Spells and Divine Skills of the Bone-Eroding Soul-Destroying Heavenly Evil Technique were all sinister and venomous. Once hit by his power, a demon of the same level would immediately show signs of poisoning. Those slightly weaker might collapse powerless on the ground, unable to fight back and might even die from the toxin. Moreover, with the Poison Thorn Magic Artifact in his hand, not only suitable for sneak attacks, it could disperse into hundreds of poisonous thorns making him capable of handling either duels or group battles easily. With just his own power, he had killed numerous Demon Clan warriors and mages in this battle, whose strength was not inferior to his. Cultivators who practiced the Immortal Dao had more techniques than most races across the Void Ten Thousand Realms, a fact that immortals had proven in countless years before the ancient times, only comparable to other major world-dominant races. This was because cultivators were constantly and tirelessly exploring the Dao, seeking the unknown. Thus, their cultivation methods were bizarre and varied, almost covering all the paths in the universe. Whether it¡¯s the system of cultivation that covers the internal Yin Yang and Five Elements of the world, the mysterious relationships between life and death, or even the Star Dao outside the worlda€¡±including methods like Poison Refining, Poison Nourishing, Beast Taming, Ghost Controlling, and Corpse Refininga€¡±they encompassed them all. Even so, they still frequently learned from, referenced, and understood new cultivation ideas from other world races, which is why the Cultivation World was able to flourish so vibrantly. It was precisely because of the multitude of methods that the Beast Taming Sect and allies like the Five Poisons Sect and Ghost Controlling Sect believed after deducing and calculating that they were bound to win this battle. This confidence was also why they dared to lead their disciples to attack a Medium World inhabited by hundreds of millions of beings. Though the number of over two million cultivators wasn¡¯t small, when compared to all the beings of an entire world, it wasn¡¯t much. If they were to face all the demons of this world directly in battle, they definitely wouldn¡¯t stand a chance, no matter how strong they were individually. But the Elders of these sects would certainly not foolishly lead their people to confront the Demon Clan openly on the battlefield. Instead, they either carried out raids and assassinations like the Beast Taming Sect did today, or they would lure the demon armies to specific locations and trap and kill them using powerful Arrays. Arrays, after all, were the cultivators¡¯ greatest reliance and method to triumph as the few over the many, the weak over the strong. For example, the Fiery Fire Sect¡¯s Fiery Fire Heaven Burning Great Array was most apt for deployment in this realm. This realm was rich in Fire Element Essence, with volcanoes erupting frequently. The cultivators of the Fiery Fire Sect just needed to choose an appropriate location to set up the Fiery Fire Heaven Burning Great Array. As long as the energy for the Array was uninterrupted, even hundreds of millions of demons would be refined into ash. Similarly, the Ghost Controlling Sect¡¯s Ten Thousand Ghosts Formation turned an entire area into a Ghost Realm, drawing in the surrounding Yin Evil Ghost Qi with immense power. Not to mention that this domain within the Demon Realm, apart from the very active Fire Element power, also held dense dark energies. Coupled with the malicious spirit accumulated from the countless years of strife and slaughter among the demons, this was the perfect condition for their Arrays. And the Five Poisons Formation of the Five Poisons Sect, once activated, released boundless swarms of Poison Insects. Which demon army could survive an assault by such an overwhelming army of Poison Insects? Not only could they not, but they might also even become materials for the Five Poisons Sect¡¯s Poison Nourishing. Chapter 264 - Chapter 264 Chapter 261 The Contract of the Ancient Beast God ?Chapter 264: Chapter 261 The Contract of the Ancient Beast God Chapter 264: Chapter 261 The Contract of the Ancient Beast God Tower Ships continually sailed to and from the city below and the Cave Heaven Fortress. Beast Taming Sect disciples kept loading various treasures onto the ships to transport them back. It had to be said that the territory occupied by the Dark Flame Demon God was indeed prosperous; the resources they had plundered alone brought smiles to all the disciples¡¯ faces, as everyone had reaped a handsome reward. In the several hundred miles surrounding the city, the Sect Elders discovered seven or eight veins containing Fire Element Demon Crystals. Demon Crystals are what the inhabitants of the Red Flame Demon Realm, or rather this part of the Star Domain, call these energy barytes. This information came from the captured members of the Demon Clan. Though there was a language barrier, it was no issue; the Cultivation World had plenty of methods for communicating with other life forms. And the Beast Taming Sect, accustomed to dealing with various Spiritual Beasts over the years, had long been adept at interacting with beings that didn¡¯t understand speech. One of these secret techniques involved connecting one¡¯s Divine Sense with the other¡¯s Divine Soul, sensing the other¡¯s intentions through the vibrations of their Divine Soul, thereby quickly learning their language. As for the Soul Searching Technique, that was nothing more than the crudest of methods. Even for Cultivators of the Ghost Controlling Sect, who possessed the deepest understanding of souls, Soul Searching caused great harm to the subject, and a slightly severe case would turn them into an idiot. The Sect regarded those Demon Crystal veins with significant importance because they weren¡¯t much different from the Spirit Stone veins of the Cultivation World. Moreover, because this world¡¯s Fire Element power was particularly abundant, the quality of the Demon Crystals in those veins was also quite good. In one particularly large vein, quite a few top-quality Fire Spirit Stone-level Demon Crystal Stones had formed. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í?0.§ã0 Upon discovering those veins, the Sect Elders immediately regretted the mass slaughter of the Demon Clan they had conducted previously; they should have spared more to mine for them. Of course, this thought was swiftly scolded by Elder Kongkong. Although this Elder didn¡¯t manage affairs much, he was after all an antique who had survived since the Ancient times and had experienced far too much, so his advice was incredibly rich in experience. He warned the other Elders not to be blinded by immediate benefits and develop excessive greed, as their continued penetration and occupation of more territory would inevitably thin out their strength. If too many members of the Demon Clan were left behind and they rebelled, it could cause significant losses to the disciples left to maintain order. Now was not the time for their true harvest. It might look like they had obtained many treasures from the territory of the Dark Flame Demon God, but these were merely floating wealth. The real value lay in this world itself. Once they occupied this world, all the Demon Crystal veins would belong to the Cultivator alliance, and all Spiritual Resources produced in this world would be theirs. They could mine at leisure later, without creating such significant risks now. They had learned, through questioning, that the Demon Clan in this world was divided into many races, strong and weak. For instance, the Flame Demon Clan was the strongest group in this world, naturally close to fire, excelling in both cultivating Martial Skills and Fire Element Magic. The Winged Demon Clan had natural flying troops; born with wings, their flight was unparalleled, and their war power ranked in the top three among the races. Some weaker races didn¡¯t produce formidable beings and were therefore overlooked, enslaved directly by the stronger Demon Clans. These slaves were used for all the laborious tasks such as building castles, mining, and tilling the land to grow crops. The slaves within the Demon Clan had no possessions of their own. Even the food they painstakingly grew was entirely taken by the Upper Demon Clan, surviving only on the meager rations granted by their oppressors. Elder Kongkong believed these pitiable Demon Clan members were the kind of slaves the Sect neededa€¡±those with stubborn vitality who were already accustomed to the rule and oppression of the Upper Demon Clan could continue as such. At least under the Beast Taming Sect¡¯s rule, they would have one more mouthful to eat. Also, these weaker Demon Clan members wouldn¡¯t pose a threat if they did rebel, as they could be easily suppressed. Certainly, this didn¡¯t mean they had no need for other Demon Clan members. Some of the Fire Demon Clan members, skilled in crafting tools, were needed to manufacture implements, be it for mining or for farmwork, as their craftsmanship was indispensable. After all, the disciples of the Beast Taming Sect wouldn¡¯t forge or refine tools for Demon Clan slaves, nor would they provide much food. To get the Demon Clan slaves to work, they needed to be self-sufficient. Of course, this was limited to crafting tools only. As for weapons and armor, there¡¯s no need for them at the moment. At least, on the territory of the Beast Taming Sect, they are not much needed. Although outside the castles in the Demon Realm, vicious Demon Beasts can often be seen, preying on the weaker members of the Demon Clan if given the chance. Generally, a Demon Clan army is needed to guard the territory and expel Demon Beasts. But for the Beast Taming Sect, such obligations are hardly a difficulty. They only need to subdue some powerful Demon Beasts to guard their territory. Should any other Demon Beast dare to hunt within their lands, they would deploy the subdued Demon Beasts to deal with it. Following the other disciples, Qin Feng had moved all sorts of supplies onto the Tower Ship, and only then did they return to the Cave Heaven Fortress, leaving behind nothing but a riddled city and the Demon God Palace. After returning, he did not first go to his master to discuss the Ghost-Faced Spider. Instead, he released the Lion Scorpion Beast. He planned to inquire about the Lion Scorpion Beast¡¯s previous circumstance, how it had managed to break through space and leave the battlefield. If it were a Space Magical Beast, then there would be nothing worth discussing. But if not, then there would certainly be matters to address. Once released, the Lion Scorpion Beast appeared somewhat listless. After all, it had been severely injured before; even with some rest, it had only recovered a modicum of its Magic Power. It was still far from a full recovery of its injuries. At this moment, it regarded Qin Feng with endless awe. When it had been captured in the Demon Refining Pot and subdued by that immense force, its reverence for Qin Feng had reached its peak. As for its previous master, the Demon Clan Mage, he was no longer of any significance. ?¦Ï¦Í?¦Ï.?? And even the other contract in its mind was insignificant compared to the Demon Refining Pot. Now, it only sought to please this great new master in front of it. However, its attempts to ingratiate itself were somewhat chilling; every time it wagged its Scorpion Tail in an effort to appear endearing, Qin Feng couldn¡¯t help but wonder if it was trying to sting him. Qin Feng quickly refocused and began to transfer his thoughts, seeking answers to the doubts in his heart. After a while, with furrowed brows, Qin Feng took the Lion Scorpion Beast back into the pot. The answer he received was somewhat vague; the Spiritual Intelligence of the Lion Scorpion Beast was not very high and it couldn¡¯t express its intentions perfectly. Even so, Qin Feng managed to extract quite a bit of information from the Beast¡¯s thoughts. At the very least, he understood the reason behind the Lion Scorpion Beast¡¯s previous disappearance and ascertained that there was still another summoning contract present in its mind. Because of this summoning contract, it had broken through space, visited another world to aid a Mage in battle, and then returned with a body full of injuries. In other words, aside from himself, the Lion Scorpion Beast now had another master. This fact was somewhat irksome for Qin Feng. However, that was not the main concern. The true issue was that someone could summon a Demon Beast like the Lion Scorpion Beast, whose strength wasn¡¯t particularly impressive, from this world to another. What did this imply? Was the other party so powerful, or were the two worlds in close proximity? Or was there some other reason? After pondering for a while, Qin Feng shook his head, initially dismissing the notion that the other party¡¯s strength was enough to breach the Void. If someone had such formidable power, they wouldn¡¯t have summoned a Demon Beast with merely average strength like the Lion Scorpion Beast; they would have summoned a far more formidable Demon Beast instead. And from the thoughts transmitted by the Lion Scorpion Beast, Qin Feng also understood that the reason it could be summoned for battle was primarily due to the contract left by an Ancient Beast God. That is to say, the Beast God was the truly formidable one. This unknown presence of a Beast God, by utilizing the power of some rule, enabled the Lion Scorpion Beast to safely traverse through space and make a trip to an Otherworld. Since it was able to return so quickly, this also indicated that the two worlds were not too far apart; otherwise, space would not have been so easily breached. He became excited. Does this mean he had discovered a new world? If so, then he would have once again accomplished a great deed. Thinking of this, Qin Feng hurriedly condensed a Binding Spell with his Divine Sense and implanted it into the Sea of Consciousness of the Lion Scorpion Beast. Because the Lion Scorpion Beast did not dare to resist, this step was completed very easily. He did this to avoid leaving any traces when his master investigated, as it would be hard to explain how he had subdued it if there was no Binding Spell of his own in the Lion Scorpion Beast¡¯s Sea of Consciousness. Following that, he stood up with the intention of going to talk to his master about this matter. When he found Ning Wuxu, Ning was sitting behind a desk, flipping through the books brought back from the Demon God Palace. These books were all made from soft Beast Skin, each one looking very thick. He had already deciphered the meaning of demon script in this world from captured members of the Demon Clan and had become able to understand those texts. Elder Sister Liu Xuanling was beside him, fiddling with a few treasures seized from the Demon God Palace. Although these treasures contained some Demonic Qi, as long as the Demonic Qi was refined away, they could be tempered into useful treasures for Cultivators. ¡°Master, master¡­¡± Seeing his disciple rushing over in a hurry, Ning Wuxu shook his head helplessly, ¡°Your temperament still needs polishing. Remember, one must remain calm during major events. When you can face a mountain collapsing before you without changing your expression, you will have reached your master¡¯s Realm.¡± ¡°Uh¡­ yes.¡± Qin Feng agreed, then immediately said with high spirits, ¡°Master, I have an important discovery to share with you.¡± ¡°What important discovery?¡± Liu Xuanling, upon hearing this, put away the treasures in her hand with a flip and looked at Qin Feng with interest. Ning Wuxu sighed softly, ¡°All disciples gained a lot from this battle. You don¡¯t need to show off to your master, do you?¡± He was somewhat speechless, feeling that his little disciple had been a bit too active lately. Even if he might have obtained some rare treasures in the battle, there seemed no need to flaunt them in front of him. To Qin Feng, those might be treasures, but in his eyes, they were mere common items. Ordinary treasures no longer impressed him. ¡°It¡¯s not like that, master. Look.¡± As he spoke, Qin Feng released the Lion Scorpion Beast. Ning Wuxu glanced at it without much interest, ¡°It¡¯s just a Demon Beast. Hmm, I just came across a book that mentions the existence of a beast with a lion¡¯s body and scorpion¡¯s tail. Let me look for it.¡± He reached out with a casual gesture, drawing a thick Beast Skin Book from not far away. With a few flips of his fingers, he found a page and said, ¡°This is a Lion Scorpion Beast. According to the classifications of this world, it should be considered a level seven early-stage Demon Beast.¡± ¡°Level seven early stage?¡± Qin Feng was taken aback, the classification felt familiar. ¡°That¡¯s right.¡± Ning Wuxu said, ¡°They classify Demon Beasts into different levels. One to three are Basic Level, four to six are Intermediate, seven to nine are High Level, and beyond that, there are Super Demon Beasts. Judging by the aura of this Lion Scorpion Demon Beast, the so-called level seven early stage should be somewhere between Foundation Establishment Perfection and Demon Core Realm. Their strength can vary, with some of the stronger level seven beasts comparable to Spiritual Beasts in the Demon Core Realm. As for other levels, I will have to see them to confirm their strength.¡± ¡°Oh.¡± Qin Feng nodded, indicating he understood, then added, ¡°Master, I didn¡¯t come to discuss the level of this Demon Beast, but rather something else.¡± ¡°Speak, your master is listening.¡± Ning Wuxu replied helplessly, ¡°I have to see what significant matter has made you rush over here so urgently.¡± Clearly, in his heart, he still saw his disciple as an unfocused youth who needed his continued guidance to become truly steady. Qin Feng wore a slightly mysterious smile, ¡°Heh heh, master, you¡¯d never guess that just as I was about to kill this Lion Scorpion Demon Beast, it suddenly broke through space and fled.¡± ¡°Hm?¡± Ning Wuxu looked at the battered Lion Scorpion Beast with some surprise, then glanced down at the Beast Skin Book in front of him. It clearly stated that the Lion Scorpion Beast was adept at fire and venom magic, with no mention of space magic. ¡°Could it be a Mutant Magical Beast?¡± He looked at it with added curiosity, then shook his head, ¡°No, there¡¯s not the slightest hint of Space Magic power on it.¡± ¡°Master is correct, it does not have a talent for Space Magic, but it really did traverse space earlier, and it wasn¡¯t just leaving the battlefield, but it left this world entirely.¡± ¡°What do you mean?¡± Ning Wuxu was astonished. Leave this world? How could that be? A mere Demon Beast, at most equivalent to the initial stages of the Demon Core Realm, had managed to break through the void and leave the world, then return? What a joke, it wouldn¡¯t have such ability! ¡°Indeed,¡± Qin Feng said earnestly, ¡°Master, if you inspect its Sea of Consciousness, you¡¯ll know. There¡¯s another contract in its Sea of Consciousness. It¡¯s a summoning contract that can call it from this world to another world to help in battle. I watched before my very eyes as it vanished from in front of me. When it reappeared later, I felt strange. After capturing and questioning it, I discovered the truth.¡± ¡°Are you serious?¡± Ning Wuxu suddenly stood up, startled. With one step, he already reached the Lion Scorpion Beast, extending his hand above its head. After confirming the strange Magic Rune in its Sea of Consciousness, his expression changed dramatically. Not daring to probe further, he waved his sleeve, scooping up Qin Feng and the Lion Scorpion Beast, and fled with a turn. Chapter 265 - Chapter 265 Chapter 262 Comprehending the White Tiger Divine Technique ?Chapter 265: Chapter 262 Comprehending the White Tiger Divine Technique Chapter 265: Chapter 262 Comprehending the White Tiger Divine Technique ¡°Uha€|¡± Qin Feng was somewhat dazed by Ning Wuxu¡¯s action. All he could hear was the wind bustling by his ears, and after a moment of dizziness, before he could recover, he found himself already in the great hall atop Moyun Ridge. At that time, only Elder Kongkong was there. The other elders, including Elder Yin San who had previously cursed the Dark Flame Demon God, were not present. After all, this place was where the Supreme Elders held their deliberations, and it was rare for Inner Sect elders to come here, let alone now when most of them were busy tallying the spoils of war from their latest victory, having no time to idle away here. Elder Kongkong saw Ning Wuxu flying in hurriedly, carrying his disciple and an injured demon beast, and frowned, saying, ¡°What is so urgent that you are in such a flurry? You are also a Great Elder now, not the green youth of years past. How can you still be so agitated in the face of things, losing all decorum? Don¡¯t you know you need to remain calm in these situations? With the way you¡¯re acting, you lack any tact. ?¦Ï¦Í?0.?? How will you ever achieve the Immortal Dao? Remember, when faced with situations, you must have the composure of a mountain collapsing before you without changing your expression; only then can you have a more stable Daoist Heart.¡± The corners of Ning Wuxu¡¯s mouth twitched, and after a long moment, he bowed reluctantly and responded, ¡°Ancestor Martial Uncle is right in his teachings; the disciple was reckless.¡± Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í?¦Ï.§ã¦Ï Ning Wuxu immediately felt embarrassed and cast an annoyed glance at his disciple. Seeing this, Qin Feng quickly suppressed the smile on his face and tried hard to adopt a serious demeanor. After all, maintaining the dignity of his master was important. Elder Kongkong gave him a look, unsure what the young man had laughed at, but sensing some private secret between master and disciple. ¡°Tell me, what is so urgent that you¡¯ve come seeking me?¡± Elder Kongkong seemed totally at ease; he didn¡¯t think there was anything currently capable of giving him a headache. They had just conquered a Demon God¡¯s territory, and the other Sects had each taken responsibility for eradicating a demon nest in different regions. Concerning the Demon Gods of this domain, they were battling in the skies above with various Sect¡¯s Supreme Elders; before their victory was determined, no Demon God would tend to bother him. Even if they did, it would be useless; they were in a War Fortress crafted from the Heavenly Pool Cave Heaven, not only equipped with various powerful Array Formations but also reinforced by the innate Power of Laws of the Biluo Great World since the start of their expedition. Thus, even if multiple Demon Gods breached the outer defenses and entered the Cave Heaven, they would be suppressed by the Power of Laws of the Biluo Great World, giving him the home field advantage. Moreover, Elder Kongkong had always been a formidable cultivator. With his peak Profound Immortal cultivation, even among his peers in this world, only the strongest Demon Gods could compete with him. His mastery of the Space Dao, appearing and disappearing unpredictably, made him exceedingly difficult to trace and a headache to confront in a surprise attack, even for other Supreme Elders at the Profound Immortal level. Thus, he was among the most formidable cultivators in the Southern Domain. If not for the Space Dao of the Biluo Great World already being occupied, he would have broken through to become an Immortal Golden Immortal long ago. Because of his capabilities, he was highly confident in himself and certainly did not anticipate that Ning Wuxu, this junior coming to him, would present any challenging issue. ¡°It¡¯s like this, Ancestor Martial Uncle.¡± Ning Wuxu cleared his throat and then proceeded to explain the matters his disciple had reported to him. ¡°Oh, is that so?¡± Elder Kongkong, upon hearing this, was somewhat surprised and even more intrigued. Having cultivated his Space Dao to its limits, to advance to Golden Immortal, he had to explore new paths and forge his own understanding of the Space Dao essence. The reason for this expedition, where Jue Tian Ancestor hadn¡¯t come personally but sent him alongside Gui Ling Ancestor, was precisely to give them a chance to learn from otherworldly Cultivation Methods and attempt a breakthrough. If this demon beast, as Ning Wuxu mentioned, could somehow break through space to another world, it wasn¡¯t just about discovering a new realm for him; more crucially, he could learn from its application of the Space Dao and perhaps even deduce more profound principles. Thinking this, he couldn¡¯t contain his excitement anymore, forgetting his earlier admonishment to Ning Wuxu about maintaining composure, and immediately reached out to grasp the Lion Scorpion Beast lying at Ning Wuxu¡¯s feet, his eyes emitting a brilliant Divine Light, piercing deep into the creature¡¯s mind. In an instant, he saw a rune that appeared quite odd. It was a type of rune completely different from Immortal Runes, likely unique to this Star Domain¡¯s Cultivation System, and suggestive of Magic Runes. With his profound cultivation, just a single glance at this magic rune allowed him to discern something special. Among them were not only methods to forge master-servant contracts with demon beasts but also Space Laws related to teleportation to another world. Such an artifact was not something a common entity could create. It must have been the product of a powerful Divine being, or at least someone very close to and well-acquainted with such Divine contracts, capable of crafting such powerful rules. However, as he carefully avoided any aspect that might provoke the presence of a Divine being behind the rules and comprehended the Space Laws therein, he couldn¡¯t help but feel a bit disappointed. For the Space Laws involved were not much different from those used in precision teleportation. Although they were applied to demon beasts in synergy with a master-servant contract, essentially, their principle of utilizing space did not surpass his understanding. They did not even match the benefits he had derived from the methods used by the Heavenly Pool Ancestor to conceal the Heavenly Pool Cave Heaven when he first sought it. However, disappointment was merely a fleeting moment, for he quickly composed himself. Tens of thousands of years of arduous cultivation hadn¡¯t led to disarray of his mind, and he had never anticipated that the matter of achieving immortality through his cultivation would be resolved so easily. Cultivating the Space Dao was extremely rare; encountering something related to space so swiftly was quite a rare occurrence. Moreover, aside from matters related to space, he might be able to locate another world based on this demon beast. Since the opponent could summon the Lion Scorpion Beast so effortlessly, it suggested that the two worlds were not too distant from each other, perhaps even having somewhat weak or overlapping spatial laws, which enabled such easy access to that other world. Should he find that world, it would imply the possibility of further development for the Sect. Such instances were very rare. Ordinary great powers, unless roaming the void for many years, would hardly encounter a world susceptible to invasion. Other Sects in the Biluo Great World refrained from invading other worlds not due to a lack of desire, but because they had not found a world they could invade; many great powers were still exploring the specific conditions of this part of the Star Domain, not yet ready for a massive invasion. If during this phase, the Beast Taming Sect could advance one step ahead of others, it might very well lead to a situation where each step forward begets another. Once they truly progressed, cultivating countless disciples, the Sect¡¯s higher echelons would also successively breakthrough to higher realms. By then, for the two rival Sects, the Taiyi Mountain Giant Spirit Sect, they would hardly pose any challenge. Thinking this, Elder Kongkong withdrew his Divine Thoughts that had infiltrated the Sea of Consciousness of the Lion Scorpion Beast. Before the Lion Scorpion Beast could recover from its near-suffocating terror, Elder Kongkong stretched out his hand and manipulated a talisman, sketching a profoundly mysterious rune in front of him. Then, with a gentle touch on the forehead of the Lion Scorpion Beast, the rune vanished into its forehead and disappeared. ¡°Alright, this Lion Scorpion Beast will stay with me for now. The next time it is summoned, I will cast a spell to locate that world, and try to retain the coordinates,¡± he said. Elder Kongkong glanced at Ning Wuxu and his disciple, especially lingering on Qin Feng, and couldn¡¯t help but smile, ¡°You, young man, are quite fortunate, always stumbling upon such opportunities, making even your Ancestor Martial Uncle here start to wonder if you are blessed with great fortune, perhaps even the Master of Qi Luck of our Biluo Great World.¡± ¡°Ah?¡± Ning Wuxu, astonished, glanced at his disciple, then hesitantly said to Elder Kongkong, ¡°Ancestor Martial Uncle, that¡­ surely not? Master of Qi Luck, doesn¡¯t seem like it?¡± ¡°Of course not.¡± Elder Kongkong said gruffly, ¡°A true Master of Qi Luck is a being like Ghost Ancestor Cang Yang in the Northern Domain¡¯s Ten Directions Ghost City, who, under the Heavenly Tribulation, relied on his immense fortune and cultivation to achieve the Daluo Realm during the tribulation. Others, like the founding ancestor of our Beast Taming Sect, forcibly resisted the oppression of the Heavenly Demon Realm, establishing the Beast Taming Sect, commanding the demons to resist the Demon Clan, securing a living space for our Human Clan. Unfortunately, our ancestor¡¯s fortunes were ultimately not as formidable as Ghost Ancestor Cang Yang, stopping just short of the Daluo Realm, and finally, he perished and his Dao dissipated. As for your disciple, he¡¯s still far off. Although his fortune is good, it¡¯s just thata€¡±good. Compared to those favored by destiny during the Ancient Great Tribulation, he¡¯s insignificant.¡± With that explanation, Ning Wuxu was reassured. Otherwise, discovering that he had taken a Master of Qi Luck as a disciple would have been too thrilling. Qin Feng touched his nose, feeling somewhat embarrassed. Was he really that inadequate? But, upon reflection, it made sense. Although his rate of Cultivation was decent, compared to the prodigies of the Ancient Great Tribulation, he truly couldn¡¯t compare. Not to mention Ghost Ancestor Cang Yang, even the founding ancestor of his own Beast Taming Sect, who under the pressure of many Demon Kings and Demon Saints of the Heavenly Demon Great World still managed to create the ¡°Ten Thousand Beasts Origin Scripture¡± and establish a lineage for the Beast Taming Sect, was naturally beyond comparison to someone like himself. Though the merits he had achieved were not insignificant, his own power was too weak; the Sect could only reward him more, not lacking in providing him with Cultivation Resources, imparting various True Inheritance Techniques, and giving him a higher status. Beyond that, there was not much else. For a cultivator, the most essential thing was always their own Dao Cultivation. And this, precisely, was what others could not provide. The Sect also desired for him to cultivate to higher realms, but this required time, accumulation, and his own effort to cultivate diligently. Elder Kongkong looked at Qin Feng and smiled, ¡°Don¡¯t be discouraged. Such a figure as our founding ancestor appears only during extreme worldly calamities. However, among the young generation, your luck is already quite remarkable. Now that you are a True Disciple of the Sect, all the benefits due to you have not been withheld. Beyond that, I can¡¯t think of what else to give you. Tell me, what would you like? If it¡¯s feasible, your Ancestor Martial Uncle will get it for you.¡± Upon hearing this, Qin Feng immediately brightened, ¡°Thank you, Ancestor Martial Uncle.¡± ¡°Hehe, no need for thanks, these are the rewards you rightfully deserve after your accomplishments,¡± Elder Kongkong fondled the small mustache at the corner of his lips, evidently very fond of this young junior. After all, being able to repeatedly perform great services for the Sect, bringing so many benefits to the Secta€¡±how could he not be fond! Qin Fengpondered for a moment, then said, ¡°To reply to Ancestor Martial Uncle, I would like to borrow the ¡®White Tiger Divine Technique¡¯ of the White Tiger Lineage to study.¡± ¡°Oh?¡± Both Elder Kongkong and Ning Wuxu looked at him in surprise, not understanding why he would think to study the ¡°White Tiger Divine Technique.¡± Could he possibly want to cultivate yet another Body Refining Technique? Yet he couldn¡¯t practice it! Without a tiger-type Spiritual Beast as his Lifebound Spiritual Beast, he absolutely could not successfully cultivate it. Chapter 267 - Chapter 267 Chapter 264 The Master of Qi Luck Who Was Played Out ?Chapter 267: Chapter 264: The Master of Qi Luck Who Was Played Out Chapter 267: Chapter 264: The Master of Qi Luck Who Was Played Out Elder Kongkong laughed and then shook his head, saying, ¡°Your idea is good, but as you said before, the Dark Flame Demon God is too powerful to control, so there¡¯s no need to mention this strategy anymore. Besides, as long as we can kill some Demon Gods and win the battle, we¡¯ll be able to take the upper hand in the future. Moreover, after those Demon Gods are defeated, even if they come together to discuss how to deal with us, they won¡¯t stay together all the time. Once they split up, we can take the opportunity to launch surprise attacks and kill a batch of them. When their numbers no longer give them an advantage, the remaining ones can only struggle to survive, and it just depends on when we can completely exterminate those Demon Gods. By then, we will have the upper hand, and it doesn¡¯t matter whether we have insiders to help us with our plans or not. Although using the Demon Clan to help us in battle can indeed reduce some losses, it won¡¯t be a great help. We still need to be careful in case they turn against us, so it¡¯s not something we need to take too seriously.¡± Elder Kongkong paused for a moment and looked at him before continuing, ¡°Besides, this is a cross-world war. It¡¯s impossible for there to be no casualties. The various Sects had already made preparations before the expedition. Some losses are inevitable in this battle, but we will definitely see a large number of outstanding disciples emerge from the flames of war and grow rapidly, which is also what every Sect hopes to see.¡± Ning Wuxu nodded and sighed, ¡°You, being young, although smart, are still somewhat naive and kind like a young man. That¡¯s a good thing. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í?0.§ã? The Sect doesn¡¯t hope to only cultivate disciples who are cruel and ruthless. Wanting to reduce the sacrifices of the Sect¡¯s disciples is right. However, you will find that some sacrifices are unavoidable. Nothing can be perfect, and to gain something, there must be a price to pay. You¡¯ll also need to make some changes in your mentality. Small Sects and schools may not matter much, but the more powerful the force, the less likely they are to allow someone with a pure heart to take control of the Sect¡¯s power, as such a disposition can easily lead to unnecessary disputes or even attract grave disasters.¡± Qin Feng was stunned, then showed a wry smile, ¡°Master is joking. I¡¯m aware of my nature; I¡¯m not a pure-hearted person, and I won¡¯t be soft-hearted when it¡¯s time to take harsh actions. However, I am devoted to Cultivation and have no intention of taking control of the Sect¡¯s great powers, so please don¡¯t push me into competing for the position of the next Sect Master. My interest is in the Immortal Dao, longing for freedom, with no desire for power struggles.¡± ¡°What a lack of ambition.¡± Ning Wuxu laughed and scolded, ¡°Do you know how great the authority of our Beast Taming Sect¡¯s Sect Master is, and how many resources they can obtain? You think of pushing away the position of Sect Master without knowing anything? You¡¯ll regret it one day.¡± ¡°Hehe¡­¡± Qin Feng showed a seemingly honest smile on his face but did not join in the conversation. ¡°It¡¯s no big deal not to vie for the position of Sect Master.¡± Elder Kongkong said with a smile, ¡°That position is not easy to handle, although it has many benefits. It involves too many worries and can also affect the progress of one¡¯s Cultivation. Since you have the heart to pursue a different path in Cultivation, then focus your thoughts on Cultivation. As long as your Cultivation Realm is reached, are you afraid of not having benefits?¡± Listening to the two elders joking and laughing, Qin Feng waited for their words to finish before interjecting to ask, ¡°Ancestor Martial Uncle, since our Biluo Great World was able to give birth to Masters of Qi Luck during the Ancient Great Tribulation, as we attack this Demon Realm, shouldn¡¯t there also be members of the Demon Clan quickly rising up?¡± ¡°Indeed.¡± Elder Kongkong nodded, ¡°Logic suggests that every world will experience this kind of phenomenon when facing a crisis. This world will likely not be an exception.¡± ¡°Then, should we not preemptively kill those individuals?¡± Qin Feng¡¯s face revealed a fierce look, ¡°Such beings, beloved by the Heavenly Dao, blessed with thick Qi Fortune, are very likely to cause us significant losses. I think it¡¯s better to eliminate them as soon as possible.¡± ¡°Hehe.¡± Elder Kongkong laughed, ¡°It¡¯s good that you¡¯ve thought of this, but you don¡¯t need to worry about it. Gui Ling Master and I both survived the Ancient Great Tribulation and have seen how some astonishing individuals grow, so we have anticipated this situation. From the beginning of our alliance with the various Sects, we have considered this matter.¡± He chuckled lightly, ¡°It¡¯s not advisable to kill them ahead of time because those favored by Qi Fortune are indistinguishable before their rise to power. Only by waiting for them to gradually emerge, even becoming a dominant leader, can we start to see some clues. Moreover, even if we could kill them prematurely, the World Will would quickly shift its focus, transferring the Qi Fortune to another Demon Clan member, still able to rapidly create a powerful opponent for us.¡± ¡°What should we do then?¡± Qin Feng frowned, ¡°Are we just supposed to passively wait for them to grow stronger? That would surely lead to great losses on our side.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t worry.¡± Elder Kongkong waved his hand, ¡°We have discussed countermeasures for this, which is to allow a few Qi Fortune-rich Demon Gods to be born. We may even selectively groom a few suitable candidates, then assist them in enhancing their Qi Fortune, fattening them up before killing them.¡± ¡°Is it even possible to choose?¡± Qin Feng was shocked at the response, ¡°Did you not say it¡¯s very difficult to distinguish the children of Qi Fortune in their early stages? How can we just pick and choose, and even help the other side grow their Qi Fortune?¡± ¡°Of course it¡¯s possible.¡± Elder Kongkong shook his small head with pride, ¡°For example, if we find an ordinary Demon Clan member displaying war power and organizational abilities beyond their realm, we can help eliminate their rivals, slaying the strong and even Demon Gods oppressing them. Or, we could choose a rash and brutal young member from the Demon Clan in the territories we¡¯ve taken, covertly supporting him to become the leader of some remaining Demon Clan members. Then, when those handpicked by us lead their subordinates in battle against us, we intentionally lose every fight, making them undefeated generals of the Demon Clan. This would encourage more of the Demon Clan to flock to them, seeing them as the hope for the clan¡¯s prosperity. In the face of other members of the Demon Clan, however, we must crush them as much as possible. Even if there are so-called children of Qi Fortune, we would forcibly annihilate them, forcing the Heavenly Dao Will to transfer the Qi Fortune onto the few we have chosen. And once we have set our sights on these few children of Qi Fortune, we can tamper with them. As their strength grows, it becomes increasingly difficult for them to rid themselves of our influence. Hehe, although such methods are rare in the Cultivation World, they aren¡¯t unheard of, and now they are perfectly applicable to these Demon Clan members. In the end, when they have grown and are ready to lead a large army against us, we can just kill them off, completely shattering the hopes of those Demons who followed them.¡± After hearing this, Qin Feng couldn¡¯t help but grin, feeling deep admiration for these senior powerhouses. Indeed, as Immortals who survived since the Ancient Great Tribulation, their scheming is truly incomparable to that of a junior like himself. What surprised him even more was that the path of Qi Fortune could be manipulated in such a way. He saw this as a learning opportunity. As they spoke, the Ghost Controlling Sect, the Five Poisons Sect, and other sects had already begun their battles. The armies of the Demon Clan led by Nega Demon God and Papala Demon God, previously ordered to reinforce the Dark Flame Demon God¡¯s territory, swiftly assembled a vast number of Demon Army troops and set off. The common Demon Clan marched rather slowly, as they needed to travel on the ground. But some of the stronger ones and the flying troops were incredibly fast. Upon finally sighting the main city under the Dark Flame Demon God¡¯s command, they saw the city fallen and even the Demon God Palace collapsed. Simultaneously, they witnessed countless monsters and Human Clan powerhouses. In the sky, gigantic Tower Ships floated in the void, and even higher, there was a War Fortress massive as a mountain. Faced with this sight, the supporting Demon Clan warriors and flying troops turned and fled without a word. They regrouped with the rest of the Demon Army and rushed back at full speed. Alas, before they were able to retreat to their respective territories for defense, they were overtaken by the large army of Cultivators from the Five Poisons Sect and the Ghost Controlling Sect, who were using their Flying Escape Treasures. If they had already made it back to their territories, they could have relied on their castles for defense. But now, in the wilderness, upon being overtaken, they were forced into open-field combat. The first to engage were the aerial combat forces. Some of the powerful members of the Demon Clan led their flying units to attack, hoping to have an initial skirmish and dampen the enemy¡¯s morale. However, when it came to aerial combat, Cultivators undoubtedly excelled even more. Among the Demon Clan, besides the powerful beings capable of flight, only those of flying races and those with flying Demon Pets could engage in mid-air battles. Most ordinary members of the Demon Clan, after all, could not fly. Cultivators, once reaching a certain Cultivation Realm, also preferred aerial combat. This allowed them to avoid many unnecessary sneak attacks, as even if a Cultivator was not skilled in the Earth Escape Technique, they had ways to maneuver their Magical Treasures through the ground from below, catching their enemies by surprise. The commanders of the Five Poisons Sect and the Ghost Controlling Sect were both cunning and shrewd. They directly gave up on attacking the armies below and focused all their efforts on the Demons flying above. As for the Demons on the ground, even if allowed to flee, where could they go? Eventually, they would still be overtaken by the large Flying Escape Treasures. After being hit hard by focused attacks, the flying units quickly suffered heavy losses and were forced to land, joining the Demon Clan army on the ground. But this was only the beginning of their nightmare. As the Demon Clan armies formed their ranks, they found that the opponents they were facing this time were unlike any they had encountered before. In their past battles under various Demon Gods, they merely had to form ranks and engage directly in combat. But now, what they had to contend with first were countless tiny Poison Insects and innumerable Undead and Zombies. The Nega Demon God¡¯s forces were at the greatest disadvantage, as the Five Poisons Sect unleashed a vast number of Poison Insects, each with different abilities. Some Poison Insects excelled in burrowing through the earth, others in flying through the sky, some could become invisible, and some could break defenses. But without exception, all the Poison Insects were bloodthirsty and belligerent. Once the disciples of the Five Poisons Sect established their Five Poisons Formation, billions of Poison Insects entrapped the formidable Demon Clan army. As soon as the battle started, countless Poison Insects consumed the outer lines of the Demon Clan, leaving nothing but white, bleached bones scattered on the ground. This struck utter terror into the remaining Demons. Such a ferocious approach to battle caused the Demon Clan army to become greatly disarrayed with fear, and many of the Demons couldn¡¯t help but run around in panic. As a result, not a single one was able to escape the encirclement of the Poison Insects, and all were consumed, stripped clean of their flesh. However, there were also many powerful beings among these Demons. They soon realized that the Poison Insects were not indestructible. This was particularly true for the warriors of the Flame Demon Clan, who, once ignited in flames, could quickly burn any approaching Poison Insects to ashes. Even though endlessly more Poison Insects would continue surging towards them, and among them were some resistant to water and fire that managed to break their defenses, most of the Poison Insects were ultimately low-level and not too difficult to deal with seriously. With this realization, the Demon Clan army quickly stabilized their ranks under the leadership of a few Commanders, deploying various methods to steadily dwindle the numbers of the Poison Insects. Especially for Demon Clan Mages, after a Fireball Technique exploded, it would scorch the wings of Poison Insects within a radius of more than ten zhang, causing them to fall to the ground one after another. And those proficient in Cold Ice Magic would directly freeze an area, massively killing off the Poison Insects. There were also those casting Wind Element Magic, creating tornadoes that spiraled through the swarms of Poison Insects, taking away large numbers of them and disrupting their formation. Unfortunately, even though the number of Poison Insects had thinned out a lot, they did not know that these were just the lowest level of Poison Insects. At the very least, the Lifebound Poison Insects of the disciples and elders of the Five Poisons Sect had not been utilized. The people of the Five Poisons Sect were not too concerned about the death of the Poison Insects, for they could cultivate more of these low-level insects without spending much time. Moreover, they could select the better ones from those Poison Insects that survived the great battle to cultivate further. After the swarming Poison Insects suffered more than half casualties, as the Holy Daughter of the Five Poisons Sect blew the Bone Flute, the originally ferociously attacking Poison Insects split to both sides, clearing the battlefield and giving way for the disciples of the Five Poisons Sect to join the fray personally. The elders of the Five Poisons Sect also did not wish to see their disciples enter the battleground without experiencing a real fight, as this was rather detrimental to the growth of the disciples. On the other hand, the resistance encountered by the Ghost Controlling Sect was much fiercer than that on the side of the Five Poisons Sect. This was because they were under the command of the Papala Demon God. Although this female Demon God¡¯s actual strength was considered weaker among the Demon Gods, by leveraging her own Charming Law, she had attracted a large number of Demon Clan powerhouses to her service. Thus, the number of powerhouses in her command was actually the highest among the nearby Demon Gods. Furthermore, the Ghost Item and Zombies raised by the Ghost Controlling Sect were not viewed as invincible by those Demon Clan members, as some of them had even dealt with the Netherworld before and didn¡¯t find these Undead and Zombies difficult to handle. However, they soon suffered a substantial setback, because the Ghost Item and Zombies nurtured by the Ghost Controlling Sect were different from those Netherworld Undead the Demon Clan powerhouses had seen before; these Ghost Item possessed more bizarre Spells, making them hard to defend against. ??¦Í?0.§ã¦Ï But in the end, they were still easier to deal with than those tiny Poison Insects, as normal Demon Clan members could at least fend off a few attacks. However, although there were not a few powerhouses in this Demon Clan army, they were at a considerable disadvantage compared to the Inner Sect Elders of the Ghost Controlling Sect who had gone on this campaign. So, it didn¡¯t take long for them to be suppressed by the powerhouses of the Ghost Controlling Sect. The power of the Ten Thousand Ghosts Formation and the Heavenly Corpse Formation also exhibited a fiercer War Power than the Demon Clan army had imagined. Those Fierce Ghosts could become invisible, could transform, could launch powerful attacks, could stealthily strike, and employed a multitude of tactics, making it difficult for the Demon Clan warriors to withstand. More crucially, these Ghost Item not only drained their Yang energy but also possessed them. When some Demon Clan warriors, possessed by Fierce Ghosts, wildly attacked their comrades, the Demon Clan was nearly broken. They had to constantly be vigilant of their comrades lest they suddenly turn into enemies and attack them. And the Zombies, empowered by the Heavenly Corpse Formation, leaped about as if flying, tough as iron, and fearless in battle, lunging at them for a fight to the death. Any Demon Clan member that was hugged by the Zombies and unable to break free from their Binding would be drained of blood and perish. Among them were some Zombies capable of Earth Escape, who moved directly beneath the Demon Clan army, occasionally extending a cold, undead hand to grab Demon Clan warriors and drag them underground. Any Demon Clan member dragged below had no chance of returning, finding themselves buried in the earth after death. And the Zombies capable of flight were even more formidable, flying straight into the Demon Clan army, charging and smashing their way through unstoppable. These Zombies were not only immensely strong but also had impenetrable bodies, resistant to blades, spears, and difficult to harm with magic. Unless the powerhouses in the Demon Clan army took action personally, ordinary Demon Clan warriors and mages simply could not stop their advance. Chapter 268 - Chapter 268 Chapter 265 Shadow Transformation Divine Power ?Chapter 268: Chapter 265 Shadow Transformation Divine Power Chapter 268: Chapter 265 Shadow Transformation Divine Power The Five Poisons Sect and the Ghost Controlling Sect won. Once they annihilated the most elite legion under the command of those two Demon Gods on the barren wilderness, they headed straight for the heart of the enemy territory. Without the defense of the powerful legion, the territory was all but void, and though the main city still housed many of the Demon Clan, and quite a few Demon Clan armies guarded it, some strong ones even left behind to guard the Demon God Palace. But under the overwhelming pressure of the Five Poisons Sect and the Ghost Controlling Sect, it didn¡¯t take long to occupy the entire Demon God Palace and slay all the guards. Their victory was relatively easy, and for the other factions, over a million cultivators from various small and medium-sized sects attacking a Demon God territory certainly wouldn¡¯t be difficult. Although these million-plus disciples belonged to different sects with varying levels of power and strength, with large sects like the Fiery Fire Sect sending tens of thousands of disciples and smaller ones like the Fog Hidden Sect sending only a few thousand, the strength of their forces was uneven. But no matter, even if each sect was an independent force with its own combat methods and could not unite to fight together, relying on this huge Cultivator Alliance to breach a Demon God territory was still a piece of cake. If not for everyone needing the treasures and resources in the Demon God¡¯s main city, just by the Fiery Fire Sect deploying the Fiery Fire Heaven Burning Great Array, they could have burned the vast city spanning dozens of miles to emptiness. There were simply too many cultivators; though they lacked the countless Spiritual Beasts as vanguards from the Beast Taming Sect, the billions of poison insects from the Five Poisons Sect covering the sky, and the Ghost Controlling Sect¡¯s methods of nurturing a million Fierce Ghosts and Zombies. But so many cultivators, casting their Magic Artifacts and Spiritual Artifacts together, pinching spells, chanting incantations, and exhibiting Magic Divine Power, still struck terror in the hearts of the Demon Clan. When had they ever seen an army of over a million mages, ever witnessed such a scene of numerous gigantic Flying Escape Treasures descending from the sky, never imagining that all sorts of strange and bizarre weapons could also fly in the sky to launch attacks on them. When countless spells rained down from the sky and countless Magic Artifacts attacked from all strange angles, when some powerful Magical Treasures and Spiritual Treasures morphed in shape, turning into enormous objects hundreds of zhangs tall and smashing down, naturally this Demon God Territory would find it hard to escape the fate of being overrun. Unless all of the Demon Clan gathered together, forming an extremely large legion to confront the expeditionary army of cultivators in direct battle, there might be a chance to fight against the cultivators. Otherwise, such an independent territory, with but several hundred thousand Demon Clan soldiers, simply couldn¡¯t stand against the cultivators. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í?¦Ï.§ã? Not to mention anything else, just in terms of marching speed alone, the Demon Clan couldn¡¯t compare. The Winged Demon Clan was considered a large clan, but they mainly lived in the Winged Demon God¡¯s territory, and other places didn¡¯t have many of them. Apart from the Winged Demon Clan, only those strong ones, mages and warriors with Flying Demon Pets, were able to fly. However, the numbers of these Demon Clan were even fewer. It was different for cultivators; all those who had reached Foundation Establishment had the ability to control Spiritual Artifacts to fly, and they also possessed numerous large Flying Escape Treasures that could carry ordinary Qi Refining Cultivators, ensuring their marching speed and leveraging the advantage of flying high in the sky, to wantonly trample those Demon Clan who couldn¡¯t fly beneath them. Even if they just stood on the Flying Escape Treasures and cast spells, a few rounds of attacks could beat the Demon Clan warriors into a sorry state. This was a typical scenario of air forces oppressing ground troops. Even though there were not a few mages among the Demon Clan who could retaliate with magic, and some powerful members of the Demon Clan who were dual magic and martial practitioners could freely use the magic power within their bodies to cast spells, they were ultimately mostly warriors. There was no way to withstand so many cultivators. Because aside from Body Cultivators and Martial Cultivators, the rest of the cultivators¡¯ system were Magic Cultivators, or as the Demon Clan termed it, all these enemies were mages. But these mages were not only capable of striking from afar but also engaging in close combat, which was despairing. Some highly intelligent Demon Clan knew the battle was lost. They yearned to escape, to unite the strength of the entire Demon Clan to combat these formidable invaders from another domain; only then might they have a slight chance of victory. Otherwise, they would just be picked apart by these powerful enemies flying in the sky. Sadly, knowing this was one thing, but accomplishing it was quite another. At the very least, until those Demon Gods took several big losses in quick succession, it would be difficult for them to completely give up their territories, their comfortable Demon God Palaces, and all the treasures and resources to join forces with the other Demon Gods. After the Fiery Fire Sect and other small and medium-sized sects seized that Demon God¡¯s main city and distributed all the treasures and resources, these sect cultivators were both ecstatic and somewhat unsatisfied. Because there were simply too many of them. Although they gained quite a lot here, compared to the income of the Beast Taming Sect, it was still much less. After all, with so many sects sharing, divided into five or six dozen parts, each sect only obtained a limited amount. So, after a brief discussion, they decided to split up and head to other smaller towns and fortresses within the Demon God territory, to conquer all castles and thereby access more resources. Not just them, the Beast Taming Sect, the Five Poisons Sect, and the Ghost Controlling Sect had also begun to divide their forces for battle, sending Elders to lead some of their members to various places to forcefully attack those smaller towns and cities. Of course, they were limited to the territories of these few Demon Gods; they wouldn¡¯t go further away. After all, they still had to guard against any unexpected situations. If those Supreme Elders conducting high-altitude combat happened to be defeated, they would have to quickly reconvene all disciples to prepare for defense and re-plan their combat strategy. Moreover, they were still unfamiliar with this world and did not know where certain dangerous areas might be; inadvertently stepping in could lead to heavy losses. The number of cultivators in the expeditionary force, after all, was not that great, so minimizing losses was necessary. For the larger sects, even with some losses, it was still within the tolerable range, but it was not the same for the smaller sects. For example, the Fog Hidden Sect, even including the Outer Disciple members, had deployed only eight thousand people, and other slightly stronger small sects had only twenty to thirty thousand at most, truly not able to afford too great a loss. ?¦Ï??0.§ã¦Ï A slight misstep could lead to the annihilation of the entire sect, so they could not afford to not be cautious. Even though many disciples were burning with desire to conquer more territories, the higher echelon of Elders still retained their rationality and were not swayed by the benefits at hand, and thus would not act rashly. Days later, when all the sects returned full to the brim, the leaders of each sect were all smiles, and the ordinary disciples were so happy they couldn¡¯t close their mouths. The spoils from this expedition were truly tremendous. Each disciple¡¯s storage bag was stuffed with a variety of spiritual objects. These disciples were earnest, especially the Qi Refining Realm disciples from the lower echelons; those not from great clans wished they could split a spirit stone into eight pieces to spend. Now, suddenly arriving in a place where they could freely plunder spiritual objects, they certainly wouldn¡¯t let go of anything useful. From the weapons, armor, and leather armor of the demon clan warriors, to the magic wands, gemstones, and magic jewelry of the demon clan mages, to the countless demon beast skins, bones, horns, teeth, and so on scavenged from the cities, along with all kinds of ores and materialsa€¡±anything that had a hint of energy fluctuations was packed into their storage bags and loaded onto the sect¡¯s flying escape treasures. Even the weapons and armor on those warriors were enchanted, possessing some magic attacks or defenses, which could only be made from special materials. There were many demon beasts in this realm; many members of the demon clan often went into the wilds to hunt demon beasts. The materials from these beasts, once brought back by the cultivators, could be used to refine magic artifacts and spiritual artifacts. Beast skins could be used to make armor or to draw spirit talismans; all were treasures. And because this realm frequently experienced volcanic eruptions, it had an abundance of mineral resources, various rare materials, element-containing gemstones, and even demon crystal veins were not uncommon. However, many disciples began to regret it after scavenging for just a short while. It wasn¡¯t that they regretted taking too much; it was that they realized their storage bags were too small. Many disciples regretted not bringing several more storage bags before coming; after filling their storage bags, they could only stuff some light and easily carried items into their sleeves and bosoms. Some even outright carried wooden boxes or slung beast skin pouches, all packed full with various spiritual resources. There was simply too much to find, leaving them no place to put everything, so they had to carry it themselves, image be damned. But no matter, once they returned to the Cave Heaven Fortress with their respective sect¡¯s flying escape treasures, they could set all these items down and go back light. And when they returned, they could also exchange all of their spoils for sect achievements, or take them to the market established by the united sects to exchange for various spiritual objects. Although the prices of useful spirit elixirs, magic artifacts, and spirit talismans were several times more expensive than before, the disciples didn¡¯t mind. This wasn¡¯t their original world, after all, so it was normal for prices to be higher. Moreover, they just needed to continue to work hard, to plunder more treasures and exchange them for more spiritual objects suitable for their cultivation, so they could quickly advance to a higher cultivation realm. Now they had only occupied the territories of four demon gods; there were still many more demon god territories awaiting them to claim treasures. Even if they plundered all the demon god territories, countless rare veins and demon crystal mines awaited them to be mined; there were innumerable demon beasts and various resources in the wilds to be hunted ¨C there was no lack of items to exchange for cultivation resources. And with the existence of artifact refiners, alchemists, talisman makers, and the like in each sect, they were all busy researching how to best utilize the resources of this realm. Talisman makers had it easier, as they only needed demon beast skins to refine talismans and demon beast essence blood to prepare cinnabar. Artifact refiners had it much harder; after all, they needed to deal with too many artifact refining materials. However, as long as the characteristics of those ores and the bones, claws, and teeth of demon beasts were understood and the demonic Qi within them was eliminated, they could be refined into Magic Artifacts and Spiritual Artifacts that cultivators could use, or even Magical Treasures and Spiritual Treasures. The most difficult task belonged to the alchemists. Alchemy was the most energy-consuming task. The alchemists not only had to distinguish the properties of each kind of material suitable for alchemy but also had to carefully validate them to see what they could refine in combination with other ingredients. They certainly did not want to accidentally produce Poison Pills, as that would harm the disciples of various sects. Fortunately, among these people were many Alchemy Masters, who were very accurate in identifying various materials. After a few tests, they could begin to preliminarily start refining Elixir Pills using the materials of this realm. However, the Red Flame Demon Realm was, after all, a world abundant in Fire Element, and many places were not suitable for the growth of plants and herbs. Therefore, the materials genuinely suitable for alchemy in this realm were not too abundant and were mostly Fire Attribute in nature. This result left the elders from various sects somewhat helpless, but it was an unavoidable situation. In the Void Ten Thousand Realms, worlds biased towards a certain element were very numerous; some worlds were purely of the Water Element, others were vibrant with plant life, and such phenomena were quite common. Of course, worlds with all-around development were more common. It was just that, in the process of evolution, each had its own preference. For this realm¡¯s situation, the Fiery Fire Sect and another minor sect that primarily cultivated Fire Element Techniques were overjoyed. With so many Fire Element Spiritual Items, it was sure that their disciples could achieve the greatest improvement. After this battle, it was very likely that a large number of outstanding disciples would emerge, thus enhancing the overall strength of their Sects. In addition, there were cultivators who specialized in exploring various veins, who went everywhere in search of the best mining resources, preparing to make use of them. Also, the Array Masters from various Sects were scouting around these various Demon God territories, preparing to set up various Arrays in certain places. Since this would be an unusually prolonged battle, after the Supreme Elders above and the Demon Gods had determined the victor, they too would need a stable rear area to digest their gains and improve the strength of their disciples. This required setting up more Arrays to guard against stealth attacks by the Demon Clan. Therefore, they needed to find various suitable veins and Spirit Veins for Array setting. There were many volcanoes here, which were most suitable for guiding underground Fire Veins and setting up various Fire Element Formations. Even though the Flame Demon Clan and many other Demon Clans were very close to flames, they had no knowledge of the cultivators¡¯ Arrays. If they really stepped into it, they would definitely suffer a great loss. While disciples from all sects were celebrating their gains, Qin Feng was in closed-door Cultivation. Of course, the closed-door cultivation was just a pretext; his real intention was to use this free time to quickly integrate the Shadow Transformation Technique of the Shadow Demon Snake into the body of the Ruyi Golden Snake, so that he could master one more Divine Power. This Shadow Transformation Technique was very useful; whether used for lurking or for hidden escapes, it was considered an excellent method. Given the strength of his Divine Sense, he had initially failed to detect the Shadow Demon Snake lurking in his own shadow. Although this was related to him being busy dealing with the attacks of other Demon Clans at the time, it also highlighted the extraordinary abilities of this Divine Power. Chapter 269 - Chapter 269 Chapter 266 Turned Black and Became Stronger ?Chapter 269: Chapter 266: Turned Black and Became Stronger Chapter 269: Chapter 266: Turned Black and Became Stronger The fusion this time was very smooth, and there were no difficulties due to the Shadow Demon Snake and the Ruyi Golden Snake not being from the same world or the same Cultivation System. Strictly speaking, the Ruyi Golden Snake was not originally native to the Biluo Great World but appeared there after the Heavenly Demon Great World invaded the Biluo Great World. Tracing further back, it even originated from the Human Clan Ancestor Realm. After all, both the Human Clan and the Demon Clan come from the same world. Although the Shadow Demon Snake does not condense a Demon Core, the demon beasts of this world naturally use the Demon Core as a source of energy, but the Shadow Transformation Technique is not due to the Demon Core. Instead, it is an innate skill deeply branded in the bloodline of the Shadow Demon Snake. The Demon Refining Pot¡¯s ability to fuse Spiritual Beasts has never been about helping Demon Beasts fuse the bloodlines of other similar Demon Beasts but for the innate skills hidden deep within those bloodlines. Thus, the Ruyi Golden Snake was not affected by the different cultivation methods of the Shadow Demon Snake. After the fusion with the Shadow Transformation Technique, the Ruyi Golden Snake naturally did not need to condense a Demon Core either. The Demon Core is merely a crystalline body formed from a gathering of energy. As long as it has the corresponding energy, it can execute the Shadow Transformation Divine Power. However, after the successful fusion, Qin Feng¡¯s expression appeared somewhat strange. Because this fusion was different from any previous ones. In the past, after fusing with other Spiritual Snakes, the Ruyi Golden Snake¡¯s appearance did not show any changes; it remained the same as it had always been before the fusion, and at most, it could become either bigger or smaller when executing the divine skill Big and Small Ruyi Changes. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?0¦Í?¦Ï.§ã¦Ï But after fusing the Shadow Demon Snake¡¯s bloodline talent, the appearance of the Ruyi Golden Snake changed; its originally brilliant golden appearance, which seemed remarkable at first glance, now turned into a dark gold color. The entire snake body turned from its originally dazzling appearance to a dark, slippery, and unremarkable look, making it very easy to overlook. If placed carelessly in the shadows, it could even hide its form completely, becoming invisible to anyone. Qin Feng sighed lightly; it seems that when combining with the Ruyi Golden Snake in battle in the future, it will never again display the impressive appearance of sparkling gold, and even if its body is covered with Golden Scales, it will only turn dark gold. However, he wasn¡¯t simply a youth obsessed with appearances; furthermore, now that the Ruyi Golden Snake had lost its dazzling golden color but adopted a dark gold shade, one would find a mysterious aura about it with prolonged observation, and it even gained the function of Shadow Invisibility. Qin Feng quickly put this minor issue aside; so what if his Lifebound Spiritual Snake turned dark? It wasn¡¯t a big deal as long as it became stronger and more capable. What currently troubled him most was that he no longer had enough Spirit Stones to squander, and this fusion again consumed the power of the Spirit Veins in the Void Shattering Hammer Cave Mansion, and the more powerful the Spiritual Beast became, the larger the amount of Spiritual Power needed for fusion would drastically increase. Qin Feng felt this method could not continue. He had already sensed the Spiritual Energy in the Spirit Veins becoming significantly weaker. Now that the Ruyi Golden Snake was only at the Foundation Establishment Peak Realm, it had already consumed so much. If it reached the Demon Core Realm, perhaps it would deplete the Spiritual Power in these Spirit Veins in just one or two uses. By then, he would probably have to import outside resources into the cave mansion to support the normal Cultivation of the Spiritual Beasts. This approach was very uneconomical; not only did it consume a great deal, but it also wasted a lot of his time and energy. He squinted and pondered for a long time before finally deciding to target the Demon Clan. Perhaps because of the frequent volcanic eruptions in this realm, there are many veins of various metals, gemstones, and Demon Crystals. Previously, he had tried inputting Demon Crystals into the Demon Refining Pot, and it still refined very pure Spiritual Energy without any mix of Demonic Qi. However, the Demon Crystals he put in were of the Fire Element, and the refined Spiritual Energy was also pure Fire Element Spirit Energy. This left him somewhat helpless, as the cultivation technique he practiced did not include any Fire Element spells, and although he could absorb this spiritual energy, he had to expend a great deal of spiritual power to dissipate the fire energy within it and convert the Fire Spirit Energy into pure Spiritual Energy before integrating it into his True Yuan. Of course, there were other types of demon crystals, but they were relatively fewer in number, at least Qin Feng couldn¡¯t get many at the moment. However, providing those Fire Element demon crystals to the Demon Refining Pot as the energy to drive its operation was not a bad idea, since the Demon Refining Pot was not picky about which type of energy it used. Besides demon crystals, there were also Demon Cores, which were energy crystals inside the bodies of demon beasts. In some respects, Demon Cores were similar to the inner cores inside Demon Beasts; both were energy bodies developed from different cultivation systems resulting in different types of energy bodies. A Demon Beast¡¯s inner core was located in the Dantian in the abdomen, whereas a demon beast¡¯s Demon Core was in its head. Before reaching Core Formation, Demon Beasts had no energy bodies, yet demon beasts always possessed a Demon Core, no matter their strengtha€¡± even weak, low-level demon beasts were no exception. However, the energy in the Demon Cores, although much purer than that in the mined demon crystals, was also much more violent. They even contained some spiritual energy with higher-level Demon Cores mixing more potent demon beast spiritual energy, which meant ordinary cultivators could not directly absorb and refine the energy within. If one truly wished to absorb it, they would need to put in the effort to remove the demon beast¡¯s spiritual energy. Otherwise, if touched by this demon beast¡¯s spiritual energy during cultivation, it was very easy to affect the cultivation. If it merely caused chaos in the True Yuan, it wasn¡¯t much of an issue, but if it damaged the meridians and acupuncture points or even assaulted the Divine Soul leading to possession by fire, it would be a big problem. However, few cultivators were willing to absorb the energy from high-level demon beast Demon Cores for cultivation. Because after careful investigation, cultivators soon discovered that high-level demon beast Demon Cores actually contained one or two Talent Magic abilities of the demon beasts from their prior lives. If placed within Demon Beasts, these could be regarded as their Innate Divine Abilities. This discovery was quickly reported up the chain, and immediately received significant attention from the Sect higher-ups. Various Sect Elders believed that if these Demon Cores could be used to create Spiritual Artifacts and Magical Treasures, the effects would undoubtedly be excellent. Moreover, if the grade of the Demon Core was high enough, it might even be possible to use the magic and spiritual body of the demon beast within the Demon Core to create a Spiritual Treasure with its own spiritual nature. After interrogating the captured Demon Clan Mages, the cultivators quickly learned how the Demon Clan utilized these Demon Cores. They crafted these high-level Demon Cores into magic wands or other types of Magic Equipment, utilizing the magic power and magic within the Demon Core for attack and defense. This was known to the Demon Clan as Alchemy. A skilled Alchemist could not only craft various Enchanted Equipment but could also use these demon beast Demon Cores to produce very powerful weapons and Magic Jewelry. ?¦Ï¦Í?0.§ã? Then the cultivators quickly sorted out these Enchanted Equipment and Magic Jewelry from various spoils of war, and even the Demon Clan Mages¡¯ magic wands were studied by them. And the Artifact Refiners from various factions were even more proactive, scouring everywhere for any surviving Demon Clan Alchemists among the captives, including those Mages who knew a little about alchemy. They picked these Alchemists and Mages from among the captives, saving these Demon Clan individuals, who had a skill to offer, from the tragic fate of becoming mining slaves. This is the difference between mages and warriors. Although the martial skills of the Demon Clan warriors are decent, to the cultivators, these guys are nothing more than laborers for mining and gathering various mineral resources. After all, there aren¡¯t many cultivators who practice body refinement, and even if there are, they only need to learn martial skills and cultivation systems from a few high-level members of the Demon Clan, without paying much attention to these common Demon Clan warriors, who don¡¯t even have a single powerful member among them. How could the martial skills of these Demon Clan warriors ever surpass the body refining techniques of the cultivators? At least for a true disciple like Qin Feng who practices the Four Symbols Divine Decree, those common Demon Clan warrior¡¯s martial skills are nothing to behold. In the previous battles, he had killed many Demon Clan warriors and hadn¡¯t seen any remarkable martial skills among them. As for the cultivation methods, he was even less inclined to take a closer look. If he wanted to draw inspiration, he could wait for the sect to unearth stronger techniques from higher-ranked Demon Clan powerhouses later on. As a true disciple of the sect, he didn¡¯t need to do everything personally. Sometimes, it was enough to reap the benefits of others¡¯ efforts. However, the treatment of mages and alchemists was far superior to that of warriors. The knowledge they possessed couldn¡¯t be learned in a day or two. It involved a long-term accumulation of study and practice, and required enough talent to integrate and comprehend. Artificers, including many cultivators who were very interested in alchemical knowledge from this realm, flocked around these alchemists and mages, urging them to impart all their knowledge, planning to integrate alchemy into their artifact refining techniques. As for whether these alchemists would teach seriously, the cultivators weren¡¯t too worried. They first chose a troublemaker from among the Demon Clan mages and then had a cultivator from the Five Poisons Sect demonstrate in front of the alchemists what the Ten Thousand Poisons Devouring Body entailed. Then, they had a high-level inner sect elder from the Ghost Controlling Sect personally take action, anchoring the soul of the Demon Clan mage who had been devoured by countless tiny insects, leaving no trace of his bones, to demonstrate what the Soul Searching Method was. Finally, the sinister-looking elder from the Ghost Controlling Sect, unable to bear the sight of the tortured soul of the destroyed Demon Clan mage, used the Soul Burning Fire to completely incinerate the mage¡¯s soul, sparing him further suffering. It seemed his Soul Burning Fire wasn¡¯t very strong; the burning took a bit too long, causing the soul of the Demon Clan mage to wail miserably for a long time before completely dissipating into smoke. With such methods successively applied, the mages and alchemists were immediately intimidated. They were eager to impart all their knowledge to avoid being suspected by these Human Clan cultivators of withholding information, which might subject them to other forms of punishment that the cultivators had yet to mete out. Subsequently, from the mouths of these mages, the cultivators learned about the existence of the Demon Pharmacists. This was also a branch within the mage system, similar to the alchemists. Only that alchemists smelted metals and were good at making various enchanted equipment, while Demon Pharmacists mastered various pharmaceutical knowledge and were adept at producing various magic potions. Whether it was for healing injuries, aiding in magic power cultivation, enhancing spiritual power, or the many other peculiar uses, all magic potions came from the hands of Demon Pharmacists. Upon hearing this news, it was the alchemists¡¯ turn to become restless. They began another round of searching for Demon Pharmacists, hoping to directly understand the properties of various medicines from this realm through the pharmacists and learn the skills of the Demon Clan in producing various magic potions, integrating them into their alchemy. Perhaps seeing the treatment of the alchemists and Demon Pharmacists, soon some mages skilled in making magic scrolls stood up, hoping to gain the cultivators¡¯ favor through their skills. Although the magic power of ordinary mages was strong, the cultivators didn¡¯t pay much attention to it. Thus, the treatment of those mages who solely pursued magic power was far inferior compared to the specialists like alchemists and pharmacists. Thus, some mages skilled in making magic scrolls actively indicated they also possessed special skills. Thus, they quickly got what they wished for and were treated with high regard by the Talisman Makers. Cultivators of the Immortal Dao are always this eager for knowledge. They continuously absorbed knowledge from other clans to strengthen themselves, integrating it into their own cultivation system and passing it down through generations. Even if some capabilities of other races couldn¡¯t be expressed verbally, such as the innate divine abilities related to one¡¯s bloodline that are carried from the womb, rather than through knowledge transmission, the cultivators could still perceive these bloodline divine abilities through various means and transform them into cultivation techniques that could be passed down. Even if there was some disparity in power compared to the original, the effects were similar, and it was even possible for the cultivators to deduce stronger aspects from it, gaining deeper insights. For now, Qin Feng had no significant interest in the knowledge held by the alchemists and demon pharmacists; he did not plan to divert his energy to artifact refining and alchemy. Wouldn¡¯t it be better to spend that time understanding more about cultivation methods and divine skills? Besides, as a true disciple, he didn¡¯t need to learn these skills; the sect would naturally provide him with ample resources for his cultivation. Should he decide to learn in the future, he could simply review the knowledge collected by the sect in this area; with his status, no one would stop him from accessing it. He wasn¡¯t even particularly interested in high-level demon cores; relatively speaking, he preferred demon crystal stones mined from veins. This was because high-level demon cores were too scarce, whereas demon crystal stones were easily obtained. With enough demon crystal stones, he could power the Demon Refining Pot, allowing him to integrate many demon beasts¡¯ talent skills into his spiritual beast¡¯s body, which was much stronger than merely making simple use of a demon core, right? Thinking of this, Qin Feng became excited. He felt that he should find a way to obtain as many demon crystal stones as possible. Of course, he wasn¡¯t inclined to mine them himself; that was the dullest method, as sorting demon crystal stones from veins would waste a lot of time. As for the demon clan captives, although they would be sent by the sect to various veins for mining, the mined demon crystals and various other ores belonged to the sect, and even with his not insignificant status within the sect, he couldn¡¯t fill his own pockets. However, there were still other methods to obtain a large amount of demon crystals. This was the Demon Realm, after all; he didn¡¯t need to worry about the means to acquire a large batch of demon crystals in a short time. Moreover, he could also trade other treasures and resources he had collected for demon crystals. Unlike him, other cultivators valued demon cores more. After all, high-level demon cores contained one or two magic skills of demon beasts, and once fashioned into various magic and spiritual artifacts, they could directly be used to cast spells. Thus, in the marketplaces of the Cave Heaven World, the price of demon cores was high, and all the sects were buying up high-grade demon cores at high prices. Especially the artifact refiners, whose demand for high-level demon cores was ever-increasing. Chapter 270 - Chapter 270 Chapter 267 Slaying 16 Demon Gods ?Chapter 270: Chapter 267: Slaying 16 Demon Gods Chapter 270: Chapter 267: Slaying 16 Demon Gods Above the high sky, the battlefield of the great war between Immortals and Demons. Here, chaotic energy fluctuations filled the air, the elements of earth, water, fire, and wind in disarray. In the most intense areas, even the void had been torn open with cracks, and the world barriers above had been breached several times. Below, the allied army of various Sects had already conquered the territories of four Demon Gods, harvesting countless resources. Many Cultivators from different Sects had already started to force captured members of the Demon Clan to mine various veins, as resources for their future consumption. Yet, the struggle between Immortals and Demons, despite having continued for several days, still showed no signs of stopping. However, these days hadn¡¯t been without achievements. The Immortal Dao¡¯s side had slain five Demon Gods, and if you added the two that Elder Kongkong had killed, a total of seven Demon Gods had been slain. Moreover, many Demon Gods were now in a state of severe injury. If not for the influence of the World Will, and the fact that the overall situation was still at a standoff, those severely injured Demon Gods would have long since fled the battlefield. Of course, the Demon Gods had suffered losses, and the Immortal Dao¡¯s side was not without damage either. Several weaker Supreme Elders had been severely injured by the concerted efforts of the Demon Gods and had to seek refuge under the protection of their peers with deeper Dao Cultivation. But they were carrying Immortal Elixirs with them, which, after consumption, allowed them to recover from their injuries much faster than the Demon Gods, so for the time being, there were no fatalities. This was also because the Immortal Dao¡¯s side was somewhat better at looking after their comrades. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï???.§ã¦Ï Since they had formed an Alliance, they were all Daoist Fellows on the same warship. Now, attacking the Otherworld together in the face of an overwhelmingly more numerous enemy, if they didn¡¯t unite and instead wished for the others¡¯ deaths in order to monopolize the spoils, this expedition would undoubtedly end in certain defeat. Therefore, long before they set out, when discussing the Alliance, they had already negotiated how to preserve lives during battle. If anyone was severely injured, they had to promptly seek rescue from others. That¡¯s why there had been no deaths so far, even though a Supreme Elder from a minor Sect, whose Dao Cultivation was deficient, was almost completely destroyed by a Demon God. But in the end, he still lived and, dragging his half-crippled Daoist Body, he made his way to Fiery Fire Ancestor. As long as they were able to heal with a variety of celestial materials afterwards, they could restore their bodies to their original state, or if really necessary, they could also refine another body. In fact, after becoming an Immortal, Cultivators were no longer overly reliant on their bodies. Even without a body, they could survive and continue to comprehend Heavenly Dao Laws and pursue cultivation, though their future cultivation would inevitably be impacted. Of course, Body Cultivators and Martial Cultivators were not included, as these two systems of Cultivation were more dependent on their Physical Bodies, which were also far stronger. Among all the Immortals, Fiery Fire Ancestor¡¯s combat was the most violent. After protecting an injured True Immortal, he was able to take on three adversaries at once and still gain the upper hand, which was truly a sight to behold. On another front, Xia Chunyang, one of the Five Ghosts of the Ghost Controlling Sect, was equally dominant. Like Fiery Fire Ancestor, he also faced three opponents. But he was more at ease than Fiery Fire Ancestor. This was because he had five Heavenly Ghosts assisting him. Together, they formed a Five Ghosts Demon Suppression War Formation, with Yin Evil Ghost Qi permeating the void and intimidating the Demon Gods. Their combined strength was so overpowering that the three powerful Demon Gods he faced were put in quite the disarray. Elder Heavenly Spider of the Five Poisons Sect, on the other hand, had a terrifying appearance. Eight long, sharp appendages sprouted from his back, effortlessly piercing the void and aiming toward the two Demon Gods he was fighting. At his feet lay a huge spider web. This web covered a hundred miles and would occasionally sweep toward those two Demon Gods under his command, threatening to ensnare them. Every time, those two Demon Gods would break through the Void to dodge his spider web. Because they had already learned how powerful this spider web was, if they had not broken free in time, they probably would have become prey trapped by the web, ultimately at the mercy of the hunter. Further away, a Vermilion Bird with wings that spanned a thousand feet flew out from the Fiery Fire, its clear cry echoing through the Nine Heavens, its wings sweeping across the sky as the Nanming Leaving Fire blazed, seemingly melting the spatial barriers, an intense power that was astonishing to hear. This was the Beast Taming Sect¡¯s Vermilion Bird Lineage¡¯s Supreme Elder, with incredibly powerful Nanming Leaving Fire. During battle, he fought fearlessly, and among the Demon Gods previously killed, one was his doing. However, if one were to say who was the most imposing at the scene, it would be the Elder Liuling from even further away. Not because this Elder¡¯s Dao Cultivation was the highest, but because her Spiritual Beasts were both strong and numerous, far too eye-catching. A Tree Demon thousands of feet tall, a Fierce Ape large as a mountain, a thousand-foot-long snake coiled around the Tree Demon, a White Fox with eight tails extending from its back, a Golden Winged Great Peng with remarkable grace, and a majestic and ferocious Fiery Flame Lion. The Tree Demon¡¯s branches and roots lashed out, cracking the Void; the Fierce Ape, immeasurably strong, pummeled the Demon God it was battling into grievous complaints; the snake coiled on the trunk posed a constant threat to its opponents, ready to stealthily strike and inflict severe injuries should the battling Demon Gods be even slightly careless. The White Fox¡¯s eight tails stretched for thousands of feet and could whip its opponents, but more often than not, it was casting Illusion Techniques to bewilder them. With every flap of the Golden Winged Great Peng¡¯s wings, ten thousand threads of Golden Wind shot out, and the Fiery Flame Lion¡¯s fur erupted with scorching golden flames. These Spiritual Beasts were impressively powerful, and together they pushed the battling Demon Gods into a retreat, defeat being evident, victory becoming merely a matter of time. However, though these Spiritual Beasts were formidable, their master attracted even more attention. Elder Liuling had lived for tens of thousands of years; aside from the Jue Tian Ancestor, Gui Ling Ancestor, and Elder Kongkong, she was the oldest Supreme Elder of the Beast Taming Sect. Yet, her appearance did not seem old, even overly youthful, indistinguishable from that of a teenage girl. In her early years, she was known as the Liuling Heavenly Girl in the Cultivation World. However, as she aged and her Dao Cultivation deepened, and since all her contemporaries from other Sects, except for those who had achieved immortality, had long passed away, the title of Liuling Heavenly Girl gradually ceased to be used. Nonetheless, this Elder¡¯s strength was truly unparalleled, also making her the one who had dealt with the most Demon Gods during the current expedition of all the Supreme Elders from various Sects. There was no helping it, as all her Spiritual Beasts were so powerful. At such times, it¡¯s only normal for the capable to take on more work, to contain several Demon Gods at once, allowing their companions to quickly gain an advantage and secure victory. Banga€| A loud noise shook the Void. With one sweep of their Divine Sense, everyone saw that it was the Molten Rock Giant, trapped by the Gui Ling Ancestor, who could no longer hold on. The longest-lived among those present, the Supreme Elder, had gradually worn away all the Magic Power within the Giant¡¯s body, and finally struck, bursting its form, killing the Molten Rock Giant. Following closely behind was the Nega Demon God, similarly trapped in the One Heavy Water. At this moment, this Demon God had long lost its previously corpulent, mountain-like figure, becoming much more slender. This was the result of his energy continuously being incinerated by the Molten Rock Giant and suppressed by the cold and heavy One Yuan Water, ultimately helping him to ¡°slim down¡± under the dual attack of ice and fire. By now, the Nega Demon God had lost his previous ferocity, and his defensive power was also weaker than before. Eventually, he was covered by golden divine runes flying out from the shadow of the Gui Ling Ancestor¡¯s turtle shell behind him, completely severing all vitality in his body. However, the physical body of this kind of demon god was too incredibly strong, and his nature was exceedingly cunning. Who knew if he had left himself some sort of backup plan? The Gui Ling Ancestor narrowed his eyes in divination for a long time. Although the Heavenly Dao Will of this world interfered with his calculations, the Gui Ling Ancestor still felt something was amiss. Therefore, to prevent any accidents, he ultimately decided to refine the demon god completely, to prevent him from finding a chance to recover at the last moment. It proved that the Gui Ling Ancestor was right to do so. By the time he turned the golden divine runes into Divine Fire and incinerated the Nega Demon God¡¯s body until only a head remained, the demon god, who had been playing dead, could no longer bear it. In the engulfment of the Divine Fire, he thrashed about, trying to find a way out. The Nega Demon God had truly not anticipated that this Human Clan elder would be so ruthless a€¡° not content with killing him, he even wanted to burn his body to ashes, aiming to completely cut off any possibility of his revival. If the Gui Ling Ancestor had simply killed him or dismembered his body and burned most of it, that would have been no problem. As long as a part of his body escaped, he could rely on his natural talent to devour the flesh and blood of other creatures and eventually restore himself. It¡¯s just too bad that his opponent happened to be the Gui Ling Ancestor. If it had been someone else, they might not have done as much to his body, but the Gui Ling Ancestor, whose ability in the Heavenly Mechanism Calculation was top-notch, sensed something wrong instinctively, even under the interference and deception of the World Will. Previously unable to escape, and now only left with a head, the Nega Demon God certainly had no chance of survival. Ultimately, the Gui Ling Ancestor refined his demon body thoroughly. The decisive loss of two more demon gods and the addition of the powerful Gui Ling Ancestor, a Profound Immortal on the Human Clan¡¯s side, made the balance of victory tip suddenly in their favor. No matter how angry the World Will was, or how unwilling the demon gods were, they could not stop the trend of victory on the Human Clan¡¯s side. Gui Ling Ancestor didn¡¯t go to assist those Daoist fellows who were at a disadvantage but were still holding on, even though one of them was a severely injured Supreme Elder of the Beast Taming Sect. He went straight to the side of Wu Gui Heavenly King Xia Chunyang, who had achieved an overwhelming advantage. They had two main objectives in this battle: one was to win, and the other was to kill as many demon gods as possible, to establish an advantage for their side in future battles. Thus, he directly went to where the advantage was greatest, to join forces with Wu Gui Heavenly King, and together, they aimed to kill these few demon gods. ?¦Ï¦Í?¦Ï.§ã? Once they killed them, this Supreme Elder of the Ghost Controlling Sect would be freed. With the methods of the two Profound Immortals, dealing with the other demon gods would be too easy. However, clearly, the other demon gods were not fools. When they realized it was futile, they immediately disregarded the influence of the World Will, reverting to their originally cunning and selfish natures, and prepared to flee. Such was the inborn nature of the Demon Clan, impossible to reverse. At this moment, the Supreme Elders from the Immortal Dao side became less anxious. They weren¡¯t in a hurry to defeat their opponents; they were only thinking about how to delay them, to prevent them from escaping. As long as the Gui Ling Ancestor and his group could cleanly kill those demon gods, they would achieve a greater victory. In fact, they didn¡¯t have to wait long; under the joint efforts of Gui Ling Ancestor and Wu Gui Heavenly King Xia Chunyang, they quickly killed two of the demon gods, leaving only one particularly strong demon god who managed to flee while wounded after enduring their two strikes. Seeing this, the remaining demon gods fled even more frantically. They retreated at any cost, disregarding the attacks of their foes, and even injuries were acceptable. A few even pushed other demon gods behind them to take the blow for themselves. While those demon gods were entangled with the Supreme Elders, they took the chance to escape. Even though an array of Supreme Elders had made a determined effort to stop them, they still couldn¡¯t stop several demon gods from escaping. After all, these were demon gods of the same realm as themselves, and moreover, they enjoyed the favor of the World Will. If they were truly set on fleeing, it would not be easy for just one or two people to stop them. It took a joint effort by many to cut off the demon gods¡¯ avenues of escape. In the end, with the joint hands of more than thirty Supreme Elders from various sects, they were able to stop the four slowest demon gods. In truth, these four were not actually the slowest. Two had suffered severe injuries and simply couldn¡¯t escape. But the most unfortunate were the two demon gods who had been pushed to the back by other demon gods as human shields. It¡¯s unknown why these two were so unlucky. Although they had already escaped the encirclement, they were pulled back by other demon gods, ultimately being slain on the spot by the array of Supreme Elders. ¡°Hahahaa€|¡± The Fiery Fire Ancestor laughed heartily, his expression filled with joy: ¡°Delightful, this battle was truly delightful!¡± In the final moments, knowing he could not keep all his opponents behind, he loosened the pressure on the other two demon gods, pursuing one of them wildly and smashing that one to pieces. A smile also appeared on the face of the Gui Ling Ancestor: ¡°Fellow Daoists, after several days of fierce fighting, we have killed sixteen demon gods. This great victory is very beneficial to our future plans.¡± ¡°Good.¡± ¡°That¡¯s great!¡± The Supreme Elders from all sects showed joy on their faces. Such a great victory definitely deserved their happiness. You should know that at their level, they were beings with long lifespans and powerful strength. Even though the methods of the demon gods fell somewhat short in comparison to theirs, it was not so easy to slay them. If they really decided to flee, it was genuinely difficult to stop them. Moreover, now was not the time for a decisive battle, and they were reluctant to enter a life-and-death struggle with their adversaries just as the war began. If it were not for the fact that they had just entered this world, they would definitely not choose to fight the demon gods in high skies. If they were to choose the battlefield, they would definitely set up various Demon Suppression Formations in advance, so as to kill the demon gods more effortlessly instead of winning by a small margin and putting themselves in jeopardy, as they were now. Chapter 271 - Chapter 271 Chapter 268 Infiltrating Demon Clan Territory ?Chapter 271: Chapter 268 Infiltrating Demon Clan Territory Chapter 271: Chapter 268 Infiltrating Demon Clan Territory With the return of Gui Ling Ancestor and others to the Cave Heaven Fortress, the disciples from various factions erupted in cheers. Because it meant that they had won this battle. Once the Supreme Elders announced that they had slain sixteen Demon Gods in a single battle, all disciples were thrown into a frenzy. Demon Gods, if judged merely by realm, were comparable to Immortals. To have such formidable beings killed in one battle, and without losing any Supreme Elders on their own sidea€¡±was there anything more exhilarating than this? Of course, what they didn¡¯t know was that to create the opportunity for their comrades to slay Demon Gods, a Supreme Elder from the Beast Taming Sect had sacrificed a Lifebound Spiritual Beast that had proved its Dao, a Supreme Elder from the Five Poisons Sect had severely damaged his Lifebound Immortal Poison, and more than one or two Ghost Immortals bred by the Supreme Elders of the Ghost Controlling Sect had been lost. Despite this, several Supreme Elders were injured, and a few less powerful Supreme Elders were seriously wounded, almost having their Taoist Bodies destroyed by the Demon Gods. However, these Supreme Elders had made comprehensive preparations before the expedition, with Immortal Elixirs available to treat their injuries, so they were not significantly affected. As for the losses of Spiritual Beasts, Poison Insects, and Ghost Immortals incurred by the three major sects, they were not irreplaceable. The Supreme Elders of the Beast Taming Sect planned to capture and tame Demon Beasts within this realm; some were already calculating how to subdue those among the Demon Gods whose original forms were Demon Beasts. If they managed to tame those beings who had ascended from Demon Beasts to the Demon God Realm, their strength would not be considered compromised. The Supreme Elders of the Five Poisons Sect had an even simpler task: they would cultivate Poison Insects using the flesh and blood of the slain Demon Gods. Not only would they obtain Poison Insects with higher strength and potential, but they might also be able to restore and even improve the cultivation of their damaged Lifebound Immortal Poison. After all, Poison Insects were ferocious by nature, feeding on various kinds of flesh and blood; nourished by Demon God flesh, their advancement was predictable. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í?0.?? The reason why the Ghost Controlling Sect¡¯s Supreme Elders lost two or three Ghost Immortals was mainly because the Ghost Immortals were comparatively weak among those of the same realm. Once the Demon Gods figured out the workings of the Ghost Dao Techniques and were unaffected by spells that confused the mind, the attack power of the Ghost Immortals could only be considered average, resulting in the highest losses. Nevertheless, the Elders of the Ghost Controlling Sect did not consider themselves to have suffered a loss, as they had retrieved several Divine Corpses of Demon Gods. These Supreme Elders skilled in Ghost Nourishing and Corpse Refining decided to repair and refine those Divine Corpses, treating them as zombies to be cultivated. As the recent alliance had waged wars in various places and caused countless deaths, many sites had accumulated thick Death Qi. With their transformation, they could turn those cities into lands of death, perfect for cultivating Demon God zombies. Once successful, they would gain several zombies with even stronger combat capabilities. More importantly, as these zombies were cultivated from Demon Gods of this realm, they wouldn¡¯t face rejection by the Heavenly Dao of this realm, like they did; they could be freely commanded. Moyun Ridge, the grand hall at the summit. The Supreme Elders of the various sects were seated cross-legged. ¡°This battle was well fought, and the number of Demon Gods slain has reached the number we anticipated,¡± Gui Ling Ancestor said with a chuckle, ¡°Moreover, since Junior Brother Kongkong did not show himself, although those Demon Gods might have guessed that there was certainly another person in the Cave Heaven Fortress, they have no knowledge of Junior Brother Kongkong¡¯s cultivation or which Daoist arts he is proficient in. With this, we can use Junior Brother Kongkong as a hidden trump card. If the situation of the future wars becomes unfavorable for us, we can leverage Junior Brother Kongkong¡¯s Space Divine Power to lock on to the locations of a few Demon Gods, teleport ourselves, and attack to decisively consolidate our advantage.¡± ¡°Indeed,¡± the one who responded was Five Poisons Sect¡¯s Elder Heavenly Spider: ¡°In a few days, when we divide our forces along several routes to launch a surprise attack, we will need Junior Brother Kongkong to create a few positioning Jade Talismans for us. Should anything go awry and we fall into an ambush, we hope Daoist Fellow will break open a Space Channel and bring us back swiftly.¡± ¡°How would those Demon Gods have any inkling of our plans?¡± Fiery Fire Ancestor declared somewhat contemptuously: ¡°From the previous clashes, everyone could see that those Demon Gods are selfish, greedy, and violent, and even among themselves, they¡¯re likely incapable of close cooperation. Furthermore, we only need to divide our forces into three groups to attack three different locations. Before they can even react, we will already have claimed victory and returned.¡± Gui Ling Ancestor glanced at him and smiled, ¡°Being cautious is indeed necessary. At worst, we would waste some effort, but should the situation turn dire, we will have an escape route and need not worry about being encircled.¡± Although Fiery Fire Ancestor was somewhat impulsive, he had enough self-awareness to know that compared to Gui Ling Ancestor, he was not nearly as adept at strategy. Upon hearing Gui Ling Ancestor¡¯s words, he immediately nodded in agreement and held his tongue. Once the Supreme Elders from the various sects had discussed the future battle plans, they dispersed. After all, many were still carrying some injuries, although none as severe as those few whose Taoist Bodies almost perished. They needed to return and heal to prevent any delay in the stealth attack in the following days. They understood that following this battle, the Demon Gods would surely gather to contemplate countermeasures against them, but before reaching total despair, those Demon Gods would not congregate. They were expected to return to their territories, providing them the opportunity to conquer them one by one. If they could slay a few more Demon Gods, the side of Immortal Dao would be able to even out the numbers with them. Although ¡°evening out¡± meant including the tamed Demon Immortals and Ghost Immortals of both the Beast Taming Sect and the Ghost Controlling Sect, as long as the Demon Gods didn¡¯t have the numerical advantage, they would undoubtedly be at a disadvantage. Once the Supreme Elders of the factions had left, Gui Ling Ancestor turned to look at the few Supreme Elders from his own sect. Of course, these were all his juniors. He looked at the Supreme Elder of the Vermilion Bird Lineage and noticed that his breathing was slightly erratic. He understood that this was due to the injuries sustained when forcefully killing a Demon God earlier. So he extended his hand and took out a huge heart-shaped boulder. The stone emanated an intense heat and was marked with the fluctuating power of various rules. ¡°This is the energy core I harvested from that Molten Rock Giant after I killed it. It¡¯s a shame that too much origin power burst forth before the giant¡¯s death, causing significant damage to this core and the rules are incomplete. Take it and heal yourself; it should be of some help to you.¡± ¡°Let¡¯s not.¡± The Vermilion Bird Elder laughed, ¡°My injuries might be serious, but they won¡¯t affect my ability to fight. This object is rare, and in my opinion, it¡¯s better to reward it to the disciples in our sect who practice the Fire Dao. Perhaps it might help them to achieve enlightenment and succeed in becoming Immortals.¡± The Gui Ling Ancestor glanced at him and sighed lightly, ¡°Well then, for now, let¡¯s place this object in the treasury. There are also a few juniors in the sect who cultivate the Fire Dao; it wouldn¡¯t be appropriate to bestow it upon just one of them. Let them earn this object with their merits.¡± ¡°What Ancestor Martial Uncle said makes sense.¡± Several Supreme Elders nodded in agreement, and then took out the relics of the Demon Gods they had slain earlier. There were the weapons of the Demon Gods as well as their corpsesa€¡±some were flesh and blood, others, like the Molten Rock Giants, were non-flesh and blood entities. They didn¡¯t regard the bodies of these Demon Gods too highly. Apart from extracting items like the molten core or horns and claws from a few Demon God corpses, they planned to trade the rest to the Five Poisons Sect or the Ghost Controlling Sect. After all, those two sects had mastered the use of various corpsesa€¡±one nurtured Poison Insects, the other cultivated Zombiesa€¡±and they certainly did not let even the dead rest in peace. ¡­ Qin Feng¡¯s figure emerged from a shadow, squinting his eyes towards a city a few miles away. Currently, he was clothed in a black robe, wielding a magic wand, entirely dressed as a Demon Clan Mage. Although he was somewhat shorter compared to many members of the Demon Clan. But not all in the Demon Clan were tall; some races were similar in stature to the Human Clan. This was his seventh day away from the Cave Heaven Fortress, as well as his first day of real contact outside the occupied territories of the Demon Clan. To infiltrate the Demon Clan City, he had made many preparations. To conceal his aura, he had specifically asked his master for a treasure that could hide it. Since he lacked the aura of the Demon Clan, he also intentionally went to the market to find an Artifact Refiner from the Ghost Controlling Sect to help him create a magic artifact that could emit a faint Demonic Qi and wear it on his body. He went to the Ghost Controlling Sect¡¯s Artifact Refiner because those fellows used body parts of the Demon Clan, such as horns or bones, to refine artifacts. They even captured the aura of the Demon Clan within the artifacts, making each artifact¡¯s aura unique and highly sought after by disciples preparing for infiltration into the Demon Domain. After all these preparations, Qin Feng did not rush to leave. He also specifically sought out some Demon Clan Mages to understand their lifestyles and their ways of speaking. Only after he felt fully prepared did Qin Feng finally leave the safe War Fortress, the large territory controlled by the Beast Taming Sect, and arrive in this Demon God Territory, thousands of miles away. Ning Wuxu did not prevent his disciple from infiltrating the Demon Clan Territory. In his opinion, it was good that his disciple made his own plans. For a young man, it was fine to let him struggle on his own; even if he suffered some losses, it would greatly contribute to his growth. As long as he didn¡¯t deliberately provoke those powerful beings, ordinary members of the Demon Clan would not notice his disguise, as the Demon Clan¡¯s methods were generally simple and brutal. Even those Mages who controlled various magics dared not easily probe other members of the Demon Clan, lest their hot-tempered peers would consider it a deliberate provocation, leading to conflict. Furthermore, even if he was discovered, it wouldn¡¯t matter; Qin Feng carried several life-saving items with him, making it difficult for even high-ranking commanders of the Demon Clan to catch him. As for Demon Gods, such existences would not bother to focus on someone as weak as Qin Feng. In fact, there were many disciples from various sects like Qin Feng who had infiltrated the Demon Clan Territory, and many of them were highly skilled in disguise. As far as Qin Feng knew, within his own Beast Taming Sect, there were a few fellow disciples who were adept at altering their appearance and changing their aura. He desired such an ability, but unfortunately, he couldn¡¯t do it. ?¦Ï¦Í??.§ã? Those disciples possessed such skills because their Lifebound Spiritual Beasts were extremely special, equipped with Innate Divine Abilities that could change appearance. Qin Feng¡¯s Lifebound Spiritual Snake, other than changing in size, had turned a bit darker than before and lacked the ability to change appearance. However, although Qin Feng did not possess the Transformation Technique, he could merge with his Lifebound Spiritual Snake, a capability not available to other sects. By merging with the Ruyi Golden Snake at the right moment, allowing the dark golden scales to show on his face and even turning his pupils into the vertical slits of the Ruyi Golden Snake, no Demon Clan member would ever take him for a Human Clan member. After all, the Human Clan¡¯s faces do not have scales, whereas many races within the Demon Clan do exhibit such traits. As long as he exuded Demonic Qi and revealed scales on his face, there was no risk of being exposed. Chapter 272 - Chapter 272 Chapter 269 Fiery Flame City ?Chapter 272: Chapter 269 Fiery Flame City Chapter 272: Chapter 269 Fiery Flame City Before setting off, Qin Feng had deliberately reviewed all the data on the Demon Clan gathered by his Sect. He discovered the existence of the Snake Demon Clan among the various demon tribes. Although the Snake Demon Clan wasn¡¯t considered overly powerful in this realm, they weren¡¯t weak either, having given birth to a Demon God. However, the Snake Demon Clan mainly resided on a distant continent, with their presence being less common in other areas. But Qin Feng believed he could completely disguise himself as a Snake Magician traveling from the Snake Demon Clan. In the Demon Clan, a Mage holds a relatively prestigious status, which could lessen many troubles for him. Qin Feng had arrived in this territory two days ago; he first circled the nearby three thousand miles, and after much wandering, he arrived at this city, which, relatively speaking, was not on the border. ?0¦Í??.?¦Ï Currently disguised as a member of the Demon Clan, he certainly did not wish to encounter cultivators hunting demons at the border. If by chance he was ambushed by cultivators from any sect, he would have nowhere to cry. The Supreme Elders of the alliance¡¯s various sects had already fought several battles with the Demon Gods. Although the Demon Gods had sustained considerable damage, the Immortal Dao side also suffered serious injuries among their Supreme Elders during the enemies¡¯ desperate counterattacks. Thus, both sides tacitly entered a temporary ceasefire period, for continuing the battle would not only cause losses to the Demon Gods, but the sects¡¯ Supreme Elders would definitely suffer casualties. Currently, the Supreme Elders from various sects needed time to heal their Daoist Bodies and recover from their injuries, while the Demon Gods similarly needed a chance to breathe, so as to consolidate their strength, strategize future confrontations with the Human Clan, and also understand the humans invading their world. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í??.§ã0 They wanted to know the origins of these humans, to clarify the true strength of the Human Clan, and ideally gather information on the future war plans of this vast human army, enabling them to plan counterattacks, even sneak attacks and ambushes. After all, even the Immortal Dao knew the efficacy of raid tactics, and naturally, with the disposition of the Demon Gods, they certainly thought of taking advantage. However, they were currently unaware of the details about these humans; thus, they silently formed what became a relatively calm situation with the Supreme Elders. Of course, the powers below were continuously operating, making preparations for war. While the upper echelon did not engage in combat, conflicts among the lower powers did not cease and even occurred more frequently. From each side stealthily sending people to scout in the opposing territories, to the daily small-scale skirmishes at the borders of the Immortal and Demon realms, casualties could occur at any moment. There were Immortal Cultivators on the human side who specialized in disguise infiltrating the Demon Clan, and naturally, the Demon Clan had similar methods. However, it was comparatively more challenging for the demons to infiltrate the sects. This was because they had very little understanding of these humans; originally, the Demon Clan spies they dispatched assumed these humans were no different from other humans in this Star Domain, disguising themselves as blond-haired, blue-eyed nobles attempting to mingle among sect cultivators. The result, as you can imagine, was foreseeable. Although some of the smarter ones clandestinely killed a few Human Clan Cultivators and transformed into their victims, they were still easily identified by the cultivators. For the demons, the fluctuation of Magic Power was as conspicuous as a bright light in the darkness, making it difficult not to notice. The Mana aura of Immortal Cultivators was overly distinctive and not easy to mimic. Even if they could alter their aura through special means, they neither understood the language and manner of speaking of Human Clan Cultivators nor knew how to perform spells and wield Magic Artifacts. Even if these issues were resolved, the disciples from various sects each had different allegiances, details the Demon Clan was unaware of. Additionally, many disciples carried Identity Jade Tokens; upon their death, the aura within the Token would dissipate, and the demons, unaware of the function of Identity Jade Tokens or even informed, could hardly utilize them. Before Qin Feng left the Space Fortress, the various sects had captured many Demon Clan spies; he learnt from their mistakes, paying great attention to the living habits and speech mannerisms of the Demon Clan. In fact, he even prepared numerous pieces of equipment for this journey. Since he was portraying a Snake Magician traveling various lands in pursuit of Magical truths, he inevitably had to use Demon Clan Magic at times. For this purpose, he not only learned many Demon Clan Magic Spells but also purchased over ten pieces of Magic Jewelry at the Market. Such as a ring capable of emitting a large fireball, a bracelet that could cast ice beams, a necklace that could release Defensive Magic, and so on. After all, knowing the incantation of a spell is one thing, actually casting the magic is another. He hadn¡¯t deciphered the principles within the magic spells, of course, and couldn¡¯t perform the magic himself, so these pieces of Magic Jewelry storing magic were his only means of putting on appearances. Qin Feng looked ahead at the city before him, territory belonging to the Dark Nether Demon God. This Demon God was also born into the Flame Demon Clan; unavoidably, in this realm, the Flame Demon Clan was the most powerful, thus most Demon Gods also came from the Flame Demon Clan. He chose this place because the city wasn¡¯t too large, and the number of demons wasn¡¯t overwhelming. In such cities, there generally weren¡¯t excessively powerful beings, perfectly suiting him for blending in. Even if his true identity was discovered by the demons, he could escape with ease without worrying about being intercepted and slain by powerful demons. Qin Feng took out a fierce and fearsome Demon Mask from his bosom and wore it on his face. He couldn¡¯t always be in a merged state with the Ruyi Golden Snake; typically, to hide his appearance, he had to use a mask to prevent other demons from spotting any discrepancies. He glanced down again at his attire, ensuring there were no issues, then Qin Feng, leaning on a Magic Wand taller than himself, walked towards the city gate. At the city gate, a group of Demon Clan Warriors was inspecting passing Demon People. The Dark Nether Demon God had already commanded that all cities under his command strictly defend against Human Clan infiltrators. Just within the past dozen days, numerous cities had discovered infiltrators from the Human Clan, causing chaos and sustaining considerable losses. In fact, the majority of Human Clan Cultivators weren¡¯t recognized through their disguises by the Demon Clan; it was only that they understood the defensive layouts of those Demon Clan cities or, upon seeing treasures and resources tempting enough, couldn¡¯t help but take action and expose their whereabouts. There were even Human Clan infiltrators who entered two small border cities, covertly assassinating the city lords and their commanding generals. After stirring chaos, other Human Clan Cultivators took the opportunity to seize those cities. Although the Demon Clan warriors from nearby cities quickly assembled their Demon Armies to aid, it was already too late; those two cities had been completely plundered by two minor sects. Due to various such instances, cities deep in their own territory were also on high alert, tense and anxious, which rather inconvenienced Qin Feng, a cultivator who had infiltrated behind enemy lines. ¡°Mage sir, please remove your mask and submit to an inspection.¡± When Qin Feng approached the city gate, a Demon Clan warrior blocked his way. If he was any other Demon Clan member, those warriors would likely have already forcibly tried to remove Qin Feng¡¯s mask. However, seeing Qin Feng dressed in a Magic Robe and holding a splendid Magic Wand, appearing as a mysterious and powerful Demon Clan Mage, these warriors didn¡¯t dare to offend him lightly; otherwise, if they really irked a mage, it could lead to their misfortune. After all, many mages not only had eccentric temperaments but also often had connections with many influential figures, making them untouchable by ordinary Demon Clan warriors. Even these warriors, if they ever wanted an enchanted piece of equipment, would have to rely on these mages. For all these reasons, these ordinary warriors held a certain reverence toward mages. ¡°Hm?¡± Qin Feng lifted his head, cold vertical pupils peeking from behind his mask, a chilling loneliness in his gaze toward the tall Flame Demon Warrior before him, ¡°You want me to remove my mask and inspect me?¡± He secretly activated a Magic Artifact on his person that released Demonic Qi, and suddenly a remarkable surge of Demonic Qi enveloped him, ¡°Since when does a mere ordinary Demon Clan warrior have the audacity to so rudely address a noble mage?¡± A wave of pressure terrified the Demon Clan warrior in front of him. Clearly, he was worried that the powerful mage might impulsively kill him, and their commander might not avenge him if that happened. ¡°Mage sir, please forgive me.¡± The warrior leader who had been spectating from a distance hurried over and said, ¡°Mage sir must have recently arrived from elsewhere and wasn¡¯t aware; the Dark Nether Demon God has decreed that all Demons entering or exiting the city must be inspected to prevent infiltration by the Human Clan.¡± ¡°Human Clan?¡± Qin Feng feigned a pause before nodding his head, ¡°I¡¯ve also heard that the Human Clan has breached our Demon Realm, and is causing quite a havoc. Who would have thought that those frail humans would one day invade our realm? Ridiculous! Well then, since it¡¯s an order from the Demon God, I naturally must comply.¡± With that, he first removed his gloves, revealing a palm covered in dark golden scales. After attracting the attention of the Demons present to his palm, he then removed the Demon Mask from his face, revealing an even more chilling visage, thoroughly lined with fine dark golden scales that appeared to reflect a metallic luster. However, everyone present could confirm that those scales were not fake but grew directly on his face, as the expressions were too intricate to fake. By now, Qin Feng¡¯s eyes had also turned to golden vertical pupils, casting an unsettling gleam. Moreover, he exhibited a somewhat malignant interest by opening a mouth full of fine sharp teeth and extending a forked tongue, sniffing the air around the respective Demon Clan members as if determining their scents. While his appearance might have been horrifying to the Human Clan, within the Demon Clan, it hardly mattered. Many had stranger and more frightening appearances than his. ¡°So, it¡¯s a mage from the Snake Demon Clan.¡± Upon seeing Qin Feng¡¯s form, the warrior leader visibly relaxed and inquired, ¡°May I know how to address you, Mage sir, and what brings you to Fiery Flame City?¡± ¡°Traveling.¡± Qin Feng deliberately furrowed his brows, then, affecting a patient air, responded, ¡°I am Bar, a mage from the Snake Demon Clan, who started traveling ten years ago aiming to gather knowledge and prepare for advancing to Magic Guide Master.¡± ¡°I see.¡± Realizing that this mage was on the cusp of becoming a Magic Guide Master, the warriors showed even greater respect, fearful of displeasing him. ¡°Recently, due to the Human Clan invasion, a great turmoil has ensued, and the Lord City Lord is currently recruiting brave warriors and powerful mages to confront the Human Clan. If Mage Bar is interested, you may visit the City Lord Mansion to look around.¡± The warrior leader spoke respectfully, ¡°Given your distinguished status, you will undoubtedly be warmly welcomed by the Lord City Lord.¡± ¡°We¡¯ll see.¡± Qin Feng put his gloves back on, adjusted his mask over his face, and stated lightly, ¡°I travel to prepare for my advancement to Magic Guide Master, not to serve someone. What benefit would joining the City Lord Mansion offer? Is the Lord City Lord willing to help me advance to Magic Guide Master?¡± Chapter 273 - Chapter 273 Chapter 270 Witchs Temptation ?Chapter 273: Chapter 270 Witch¡¯s Temptation Chapter 273: Chapter 270 Witch¡¯s Temptation The Demon Clan warrior leader saw him speak in this manner and found himself at a loss for words. Although the mage from the Snake Demon Clan standing before him was quite powerful, and if he could be promoted to Magic Guide Master, he would hold a mid-to-upper echelon war power in Fiery Flame City, given Lord City Lord¡¯s greedy nature, it wasn¡¯t likely that he would be willing to show enough sincerity to sway a soon-to-be-promoted Magic Guide Master. ¡°May I enter the city now?¡± Qin Feng asked coldly. He felt that to minimize the risk of exposure, he should speak as little as possible and avoid any overly intimate contact with other members of the Demon Clan. Therefore, he put on a demeanor of cold indifference, unfamiliar to strangers, reflecting the haughtiness of a mage to its utmost. This way, ordinary members of the Demon Clan would also not get too close to him. ¡°Yes, yes, please come in.¡± Several Demon Clan warriors quickly cleared the way, and even drove away a few common demons blocking the path, allowing Qin Feng to enter the city first. Upon entering the city, Qin Feng walked slowly along the streets, taking in the sights and scenes around him. Fiery Flame City was not too large, a city of seven or eight li in circumference with several crisscrossing streets. The demons on the street were rushing about, few showing a leisurely demeanor, and the shops on either side of the streets were not many, mostly selling weapons, purchasing Demon Beast skins and furs, and the like. Qin Feng wasn¡¯t particularly interested in these shops, which were evidently not wealthy, so he didn¡¯t bother going in for a look. What he was truly interested in were places with abundant resources. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï???.§ã¦Ï Unfortunately, although there were people in the Demon Clan who did business, very few could do it on a large scale, because the majority of the Demon Clan¡¯s income would eventually flow into the City Lord Mansion of each city. Qin Feng thought that perhaps he could find a suitable opportunity to make contact with the City Lord Mansion to see where they stored their treasures? If the defenses were not too tight, he wouldn¡¯t mind taking a trip to provide his Demon Refining Pot with a batch of treasures, which could be useful for later use or for nurturing Spiritual Beasts. The Fire Ape¡¯s injuries had healed several months ago, and it was now diligently accumulating cultivation, just waiting to reach a certain level before breaking through to the Demon Core Realm. If he could acquire a batch of Fire Element Demon Crystal Stones, he could refine a large amount of pure Fire Spirit Energy for the Fire Ape to use for the promotion. Walking along the street for a while, he noticed a tavern ahead with the smell of meat and a boisterous atmosphere coming from within. Qin Feng thought for a moment and decided to sit down inside, to see if he could hear any information. Apart from the City Lord Mansion, taverns were probably the most extensive source of information in this small city. Many members of the Demon Clan were either hunting Demon Beasts during adventures in the wilderness or wandering about, fighting to enhance their strength for a higher status. Of course, this was the treatment of the Upper Demon Clan, while the Lower Demon Clan was basically engaged in various arduous labors, mining for veins or planting food for the demons in the city, and they were unlikely to have many opportunities to be exposed to powerful Martial Skills. If a demon felt that adventuring and fighting in the wilderness was too dangerous, or if they already possessed certain strength and didn¡¯t want to take risks anymore, they could stay in the city to live, or choose to take shelter under local powers. As long as there was no invasion by Demon Beasts, no attack from other Demon Clan¡¯s territories, they could stay comfortably in the city. The taverns were mostly frequented by the city¡¯s Demon Clan warriors and wandering Demon Clan Warriors. These warriors who came from afar often brought fresh news to the tavern. And those warriors from within the city could also know quite a bit about the news passed down from the larger cities above through the City Lord Mansion, so these taverns were visited by many people every day, not only to drink and eat meat but also to brag and shoot the breeze, joining the fun and listening to all kinds of news. When Qin Feng walked into the tavern with his magic wand, he didn¡¯t attract much attention from the members of the Demon Clan. Although mages were relatively few in number, they were only scarce in comparison to the vast numbers of Demon Clan warriors; in fact, mages were a common sight in every city. After all, the Demon Clan was born with special physiques, like members of the Flame Demon Clan who could wield fire energy even without following the path of a mage due to their affinity with the fire element, so the likelihood of mages being born among them wasn¡¯t low. There were several others in the tavern who also draped themselves in mage robes. Even though the demonic qi emanating from Qin Feng wasn¡¯t weak, there were quite a few present who could match him, so naturally, he didn¡¯t attract much interest. Qin Feng cast a glance around and found a vacant corner to sit down in. Before long, a witch with a voluptuous figure and revealing clothing approached him. She did not belong to the Flame Demon Clan, as she had a pair of curved goat horns on her head, whereas the Flame Demon Clan might have horns, but not of that shape. However, her appearance was quite pleasing to the eye and not as horrifying as the members of the Demon Clan Qin Feng had seen before, managing to somewhat fit the aesthetic standards of the Human Clan. This woman was clearly favored by the dining demons of the tavern, for within just the short distance of a dozen steps, three Demon Clan men groped her, and the flirtatious comments of six or seven others followed. However, Qin Feng just caught a glimpse of the woman¡¯s bountiful chest that jiggled with her every step, nearly making him dizzy, and understood why the male demons, upon seeing the witch, acted like rutting orangutans. Such a round and firm bosom was truly a rarity. If he were one of those Demon Clan warriors, he too would be tempted to cop a feel of the curvy witch¡¯s ample chest when she pushed it out in front. Unfortunately, he was currently playing the part of an arrogant and aloof Demon Clan Mage, so naturally, he couldn¡¯t make any ill-timed and presumptuous actions. ¡°Honorable Mage, what would you like to order?¡± the witch asked, evidently accustomed to the colorful variety of demons she dealt with in the tavern and thus unfazed by Qin Feng¡¯s indifference. ¡°A glass of Blood Fruit Wine and a serving of roasted meat,¡± Qin Feng replied casually, tossing a demon crystal stone into the witch¡¯s bosom. He had thought she would catch the demon crystal stone, but to his surprise, she let it slip right into her tight clothing, gliding down her full bust. Qin Feng¡¯s mouth twitched. What was that? It seemed as if he was the one flirting with her. The witch felt the warm power emanating from the fire element demon crystal stone against her skin and her eyes instantly narrowed, showing a sycophantic smile, ¡°Of course, generous Mage, your order will be right up.¡± With that, she naturally bent forward, offering a deeper view into her dress and leaned in close to Qin Feng¡¯s ear, speaking in a seductive tone, ¡°Mage, aside from Blood Fruit Wine and roasted meat, do you require any other services?¡± Qin Feng understood; it seemed that the Demon Crystal Stone he had given just now far exceeded the price of a drink and grilled meat, and because of his earlier actions, the witch thought he had other intentions. He merely glanced at the lump of flesh that was pressed against his shoulder and turned his eyes away, speaking indifferently, ¡°No need, just hurry up and bring me the wine and grilled meat.¡± Hearing this, the witch seemed somewhat disappointed. She had thought that this Mage, too, would be interested in her body. Given his earlier generosity, if she served him well, perhaps he would give her a few more high-grade Demon Crystal Stones afterward. These Mages were much wealthier than those rough and uncouth Warriors. Unfortunately, this was clearly a Mage whose heart was set on pursuing the truths of magic, completely ignoring her beautiful body. The witch, carrying her regret, turned around to bring him his food. In no time, she brought over a cup of blood-red wine and a large chunk of grilled meat, not forgetting to hint at him, ¡°If you have any other requests, just come and find me?¡± Qin Feng shrugged his shoulders, nonchalantly waved his hand, and made the witch feel quite helpless. For a moment, she even doubted whether her charm was not as great as before. However, as she passed by other members of the Demon Clan, seeing that they still looked at her with desire and teased her, her confidence was immediately restored. If she wasn¡¯t the problem, then surely it was that Mage. Watching the witch¡¯s sensual waist as she walked away, Qin Feng took off his mask and picked up the Blood Fruit Wine in front of him, trying a sip. Hmm, if the sweet fishiness could be eliminated, it wasn¡¯t bad to drink, and it even contained a trace of Fire Element energy, barely qualifying as Spiritual Wine. ?0¦Í??.?¦Ï However, the color red as blood was somewhat off-putting to him. Glancing once more at the large piece of undercooked meat still oozing blood, Qin Feng instantly lost all appetite. This thing, one look and you knew it probably didn¡¯t taste very good. Qin Feng didn¡¯t want to treat his stomach poorly, so after hesitating for a while, he still didn¡¯t grab that chunk of grilled meat to feast upon. ¡°Did you hear? Those people from the Human Clan who crossed over are said to have been brought here by the Dark Flame Demon God.¡± The words coming from not far away caused Qin Feng¡¯s ears to perk up and he listened intently. ¡°What? Impossible, why would the Dark Flame Demon God do such a thing?¡± ¡°Exactly, I heard that the territory of the Dark Flame Demon God was the first to be breached by those from the Human Clan, and even the Dark Flame Demon God himself was injured by those human powerhouses. How could he have willingly brought those humans here?¡± ¡°Hehe, what do you know!¡± A tall Demon Clan Warrior said proudly, ¡°When I was in the Great Capital, I saw some warriors and Mages who had managed to escape from the territory of the Dark Flame Demon God. They all said the same thing and it¡¯s even been confirmed. They say the Dark Flame Demon God originally planned to use the strength of those human powerhouses to defeat his old rival, the Dark Prison Demon God. But unexpectedly, those greedy and cunning humans came in such numbers, bringing so many powerful fighters and legions capable of contending with the Demon Gods, and that dealt a big blow to the Demon Gods.¡± ¡°Your news is outdated.¡± Another Demon Clan Warrior spoke disdainfully not far away, ¡°It¡¯s said that from the beginning, all of this was within the Dark Flame Demon God¡¯s expectations. He was using those from the Human Clan to eliminate all his rivals in order to take the position of the World Master.¡± ¡°` ¡°Ah, really? I heard that the Dark Flame Demon God himself suffered serious injuries.¡± ¡°Must be a clever ruse they agreed upon in advance, otherwise why would the Dark Flame Demon God flee at the very beginning of the battle?¡± ¡°What, he fled as soon as the fight started?¡± ¡°To become the World Master, he would even do something like this, not caring if all the Demon Clan suffers slaughter, does he also want to exterminate all the Demon Gods?¡± ¡°Hmph, as long as he¡¯s the only Demon God left in this world, he¡¯ll definitely become the World Master.¡± Various pieces of news reached Qin Feng¡¯s ears. However, most of them weren¡¯t about the battle between the invading Human Clan and the Demon Clan but about the Dark Flame Demon God betraying the Demon Realm. Qin Feng was certain that those pieces of news about the Dark Flame Demon God were spread by cultivators from different sects who had infiltrated the Demon Clan, otherwise, the details wouldn¡¯t be so vivid. But the Dark Flame Demon God¡¯s level was too higha€¡±it wasn¡¯t something he could concern himself with. So, he focused his attention on the battles at the borderlands between the Human Clan and the Demon Clan, where some of the Demon Clan also mentioned the stance of the Fiery Flame City Lord. From some Demon Clan Warriors¡¯ conversations, it seemed that the Fiery Flame City Lord received a message from the Dark Nether Demon God and was considering ordering his Demon Army to reinforce the border. That¡¯s why the Fiery Flame City Lord had been incessantly recruiting troops recently. However, the specific orders hadn¡¯t been issued yet, so the Fiery Flame City Lord was merely recruiting warriors from various clans. For now, they were just drilling their formations and had no plans to leave Flame City in the short term. After listening for a while, Qin Feng heard plenty of true and false news, but the exact locations of the city¡¯s treasure resources were never mentioned by any Demon Clan. He shook his head. Could it be that he really had to make a visit to the City Lord Mansion? However, the City Lord Mansion would undoubtedly have many powerful Demon Clan experts. If he went there and his identity was exposed, that could complicate things. Plus, the Fiery Flame City Lord was not an ordinary character either. To be able to secure the position of City Lord, he had to be at least as powerful as a Purple Mansion Realm Cultivator. Qin Feng felt it best to keep himself away from the gaze of those strong figures as much as possible to avoid increasing the risk of exposure. As for the treasures and resources of Fiery Flame City, if there were no surprises, they should all be stored in the treasure vault of the City Lord Mansion. Just as Qin Feng was considering whether to sneak into the City Lord Mansion using the Shadow Transformation Divine Power at night or to quietly approach from underground using the Earth Escape Technique, suddenly a monstrous roar came from outside the tavern, followed by a loud thump, as if something heavy had fallen to the ground. Then, the tavern door burst open, and a squad of warriors clad in war armor walked in, allowing a view of the huge Demon Beast lying behind them on the ground. ¡°A Fierce Bear?¡± The Demon Clan members in the tavern all showed shocked expressions upon recognizing the beast. A team capable of hunting down such a formidable demon beast was undoubtedly a very powerful force of the Demon Clan. Although they were few in number, to have hunted and brought back such a powerful beast, it was clear that this group of Demon Clan Warriors was not one to be trifiled with. Qin Feng¡¯s gaze scanned the room, and when his eyes landed on one figure in particular, his expression suddenly froze. ¡°` Chapter 274 - Chapter 274 Chapter 271 Senior Sister Li with a Mind as Vast as Valleys and Gorges ?Chapter 274: Chapter 271: Senior Sister Li with a Mind as Vast as Valleys and Gorges Chapter 274: Chapter 271: Senior Sister Li with a Mind as Vast as Valleys and Gorges She was a demoness warrior with a slender and tall figure. Clothed in tight-fitting leather armor, her exquisite figure was perfectly delineated. Of course, the reason Qin Feng was paying attention to her wasn¡¯t due to the female warrior¡¯s figure nor her facial beauty, but because she was exuding an aura that he found familiar. It was a heroic spirit, a kind of valor not inferior to men¡¯s, unforgettable at first sight. Perhaps it was Qin Feng¡¯s unblinking gaze that caught her attention, and soon, the witch turned to look in the direction he was staring. When she saw Qin Feng, she appeared somewhat surprised. ¡°What¡¯s wrong, Amelia?¡± A tall and sturdy Flame Demon Warrior glanced over following her gaze and asked. ¡°I¡¯ve run into an old friend,¡± the witch replied. ¡°You all go ahead and take a seat, I¡¯m going to say hello.¡± With that, she stood up and walked towards Qin Feng. ¡°Senior Sister Li?¡± Qin Feng hadn¡¯t waited for her to get closer before he secretly sent a voice transmission with a tone of uncertainty. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï???.?¦Ï ¡°Mhm.¡± The witch nodded and looked carefully at his now ugly appearance, couldn¡¯t help but laugh softly, ¡°Not bad, Junior Brother Qin, I didn¡¯t expect you could transform into this appearance and blend in!¡± Now Qin Feng was completely certain that this red-haired, explosively figured witch was indeed Li Miao Zhen. Qin Feng looked at Li Miao Zhen¡¯s curvaceous figure, especially the deep cleavage revealed underneath the tight leather armor, and couldn¡¯t help teasing, ¡°I also didn¡¯t expect Senior Sister to appear before me in such a guise, but speaking of which, Senior Sister truly has deep and hidden charms¡­¡± Li Miao Zhen gave him a glare: ¡°Keep looking and I might just beat you up!¡± While talking, she had already taken a seat in front of him, stepping without any trace of politeness heavily on Qin Feng¡¯s instep and even grinding down a few times, clearly punishing him for his bold flirtatious remarks. Qin Feng shivered with pain. Even though his Azure Dragon Daoist Body had some achievements, at this moment he was still almost crying out in pain from Li Miao Zhen¡¯s stomping, quickly begging for mercy, ¡°Senior Sister, spare my life, I will not dare to do it again.¡± ¡°Hmph.¡± Li Miao Zhen withdrew her foot and tried to adjust the leather armor on her chest as a cover, a futile effort since the demoness armor was designed that way and did not fully cover her impressive bust. However, with Li Miao Zhen¡¯s forthright nature, she quickly stopped worrying about such a trivial matter and transmitted her voice, ¡°I am now Amelia, a warrior of the Flame Demon Clan, and who might you be?¡± ¡°A Wandering Mage from the Demon Snake Clan named Bar.¡± ¡°Hmm, suits you rather well. It must be the appearance you took after merging with your Ruyi Golden Snake, no?¡± Li Miao Zhen looked at the demon mask he had placed on the table, then asked with some curiosity, ¡°I remember your transformed appearance having golden scales, how did you end up looking like this, almost invisible if you¡¯re not looked at closely in the night?¡± Qin Feng rolled his eyes. So what if he was a bit darker, what did she mean by looking ghostly? Still, he explained, ¡°I used a Shadow Demon Snake from this realm to cultivate my Lifebound Spiritual Snake, which resulted in my current appearance.¡± ¡°Oh?¡± Li Miao Zhen seemed to have done her homework and knew of the reputation of the Shadow Demon Snake. Hearing this, she suddenly became quite interested, ¡°How¡¯s the cultivation going? Surely it¡¯s not just the scales that turned black. Did you gain the Shadow Transformation Technique of the Shadow Demon Snake?¡± Qin Feng nodded, ¡°Yes, I have used the Shadow Transformation Technique to infiltrate some demon squads and steal information.¡± ¡°That¡¯s great,¡± Li Miao Zhen smiled and said, ¡°I¡¯ve been infiltrating Fiery Fire City for a while now and have found out where the City Lord Mansion¡¯s treasure vault is. However, there are many powerful members of the demon clan in the mansion and magical restrictions around the vault, so I haven¡¯t made my move. ¡°Your arrival is timely. Help me deal with some demons, create chaos, and when the mansion¡¯s experts are gone, I will take you to dive into those treasures, what do you think?¡± Upon hearing this, Qin Feng¡¯s smile broadened. He had just arrived and was contemplating whether to infiltrate the City Lord Mansion to gather some intelligence when Li Miao Zhen appeared before him a€¡° and she had already figured out the strength and location of the treasures in the mansion. If it were any other disciple, he might have hesitated, worrying whether she had other motives. But Li Miao Zhen, like him, was a True Disciple of the Beast Taming Sect; the two of them had already interacted many times in the past. Qin Feng, of course, had no reason to doubt that she would deceive him in any way, so he promptly nodded in agreement. ¡°I¡¯ve just entered the city and am completely ignorant about this place. Since Senior Sister has already grasped the details here, all shall be as Senior Sister commands.¡± ¡°Alright.¡± Senior Sister Li Miaozhen readily said, ¡°In that case, I won¡¯t stand on ceremony. Although this trip is somewhat risky, as long as it goes smoothly, the rewards will certainly be plentiful. Junior Brother, rest assured, I won¡¯t shortchange you.¡± ¡°Do I need to join the City Lord Mansion¡¯s forces with Senior Sister as well?¡± Qin Feng asked. ¡°No need.¡± Li Miaozhen said with a smile, ¡°There are many masters in the City Lord Mansion; it¡¯s a bit inconvenient to take action there. You should keep operating from the outside for now. Plus, the mages of the City Lord Mansion are currently busy forging those enchanted weapons and such. If you went now, I fear you wouldn¡¯t even be able to help with crafting, and it would be far too easy to have your identity revealed. Soon, other members of the Demon Clan will surely invite you to join the City Lord Mansion. Just refuse them directly, to avoid actually exposing yourself.¡± Qin Feng nodded, indicating he understood. Li Miaozhen took out a demon bat the size of a fist and handed it to him, saying, ¡°I¡¯ll be leaving first. Tonight, this demon bat will bring you to where I¡¯m currently staying, and then we can discuss our action plan in detail.¡± ¡°Alright.¡± Qin Feng discreetly accepted the demon bat and watched as Li Miaozhen departed. He felt somewhat emotional inside. It seemed that after his Senior Sister¡¯s breakthrough to the Golden Core Realm, she had made significant progress. Otherwise, she wouldn¡¯t have the courage to blend into the entourage close to the City Lord. This showed that she was confident that even if her identity were uncovered, she could leave safely. But then again, it seemed natural. Li Miaozhen had built up substantial power during the Foundation Establishment Stage. ?¦Ï¦Í??.?¦Ï Had it not been for the cultivation of the ¡°White Tiger Divine Technique,¡± she would have broken through much earlier. Now, with her deep foundation and recent breakthrough, it was quite normal for her to have a significant leap in a short time. Over there, Li Miaozhen returned to the few members of the Demon Clan she had come with and exchanged a few words in a low voice with them. Moments later, a Flame Demon General, as towering and robust as a red demon, approached Qin Feng and said, ¡°I am Elro, the Guard Army Commander of the Fiery Flame City Lord. I¡¯m pleased to meet you, the mage friend from the Snake Demon Clan.¡± ¡°My name is Bar.¡± Qin Feng nodded slightly with an indifferent expression on his face, calmly looking at the Guard Army Commander before him. Judging by the magic power within, this member of the Demon Clan should be comparable to a cultivator at the Golden Core Late Stage. Elro didn¡¯t mind Qin Feng¡¯s coldness since many mages had such character traits, which he was used to seeing. ¡°Amelia said that you are old friends and have traveled together in the wilderness for some time?¡± Elro smiled and said, ¡°Now that strong individuals from the Otherworld Human Clan have crossed over, and wars are incessant, it¡¯s not a good time for wandering. If you¡¯re not careful and bump into those humans, Mage Bar, you might be in danger. The City Lord Mansion is currently recruiting warriors and mages to form an army. Why not join the City Lord Mansion¡¯s army with me? As long as you can achieve military merit on the battlefield and kill some humans, you will receive rewards from Lord City Lord, which is much better than wandering in the wilderness alone.¡± ¡°No need.¡± Qin Feng said indifferently, ¡°Currently, I¡¯m at the edge of advancing to be a Magic Guide Master. I don¡¯t have any plans to join Lord City Lord¡¯s forces right now. Even if I were to join, it would have to wait until after I¡¯ve advanced to a Magic Guide Master and have obtained a higher status. Otherwise, going now I¡¯d just end up being ordered around, and I¡¯m not accustomed to being directed by other demons to do those menial tasks.¡± ¡°¡­Well, alright then.¡± Elro sighed and didn¡¯t say anything more. Because that¡¯s how the City Lord Mansion was at the moment. Indeed, ordinary mages were busy helping the City Lord Mansion craft various enchanted equipment, concoct magic potions, and create scrolls. With the strength Qin Feng had shown, he indeed would be destined for labor. He did not want to deceive the Snake Magician before him because once the latter advanced to being a Magic Guide Master, he would be a peer. Moreover, mages had many tricks up their sleeves. When facing warriors, they tended to stand united. If Elro did something disadvantageous to him secretly or spread word of being cheated, it would cause many troubles for him. ¡°If you change your mind, you can always come find me. I would introduce you to Lord City Lord.¡± Elro stood up and politely said a word before taking his leave. Qin Feng watched Li Miaozhen at a distance, drinking and eating meat with those demons, then glanced at his own untouched Blood Fruit Wine and the roast meat that hadn¡¯t been touched at all, and shook his head. It seemed he still hadn¡¯t fully integrated himself among the Demon Clan. In this regard, he was far behind Li Miaozhen. But now that he had encountered Li Miaozhen, there was no need to force himself to eat that distinctly undercooked roast meat. All he had to do was follow Li Miaozhen¡¯s instructions, secretly eliminate some demons, create chaos, and draw away the City Lord Mansion¡¯s masters. Then he could get what he wanted and leave this place to seek opportunities elsewhere. Sitting there, he blankly watched Li Miaozhen drink heartily and wrangle with those demons. Her bold and cheerful demeanor attracted the attention of many demons. Then, she harshly taught a lesson to a few demons who dared to speak rudely to her, earning a round of applause. Clearly, such a forthright Flame Demoness was more to the liking of those demons with minds full of bloodshed and violence. From their conversations, Qin Feng learned that Li Miaozhen and those demons had just returned from outside the city. Earlier, a Fierce Bear had entered a Demon Crystal Mine outside the city, killed the City Guard Army stationed there, and they had been ordered to go and slay that Demon Bear. They had just returned to the city. Chapter 275 - Chapter 275 Chapter 272 Just One Night ?Chapter 275: Chapter 272: Just One Night Chapter 275: Chapter 272: Just One Night As dusk fell, a blood-red moon hung slantingly in the sky, casting a hazy light that lightly brushed the streets. In fact, the moon wasn¡¯t originally blood-red in color. Qin Feng once heard from his master, Ning Wuxu, that it appeared this way because the color of the world¡¯s barriers was such. When viewed from within the world, both the sun and the moon seemed blood-tinted, even their light carried the hue of blood red. Dim lights began to flicker in the shops lining the streets. Because the demon clan had a severe class divide, once night fell, only upper demons would walk about at will. The lower demons dared not venture out easily, so there were not many figures moving about on the streets. A demon bat, the size of a fist, took flight with outstretched wings, soaring toward the direction of the City Lord¡¯s Mansion. On the street, a figure silently slipped into the shadow beneath a house, then merged into the darkness, leaving no trace to be seen. In a two-story house with a garden, not far from the City Lord¡¯s Mansion, lights shone in a room. The light within outlined the graceful shape of the lady of the house upon the window, stirring the imagination. However, this area was home to important figures under the command of the Lord City Lord, so no trifling demon would dare cause a commotion here or they¡¯d risk death, and it would be a death in vain. After all, which of the demons residing here would be easy to bully? Tap tapa€| Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï??0.§ã¦Ï Outside the window, the demon bat opened its wings and gently tapped against the glass. With a creaking sound, the window opened from the inside, and a slender, pale hand reached out, grabbing the demon bat and pulling it into the room by its small wings. ¡°Since you¡¯re here, why not show yourself? Do you want me to drag you out too?¡± Li Miao Zhen smirked as she spoke to the shadow behind the bookshelf. Then, with a light wave of her hand, a prohibition enveloped the entire room, ensuring that the conversation and any scents would not leak out. ¡°Hehe, senior sister is truly formidable, able to find my true body so quickly.¡± Qin Feng emerged from the shadow, separating himself from the Ruyi Golden Snake. He had only recently integrated the Shadow Transformation Technique into his Lifebound Spiritual Beast and had not yet perfected this Divine Power. He could only use it with the aid of the Ruyi Golden Snake. ¡°Nonsense. I have plenty of methods to track you, unlike those demons.¡± Li Miao Zhen laughed proudly, then continued, ¡°Your Shadow Transformation Divine Power isn¡¯t bad, merging into the shadow and emitting a faint aura. If you cultivate a more advanced Concealing Breath Technique, the effect of remaining hidden will be even better. But for now, it¡¯s sufficient for dealing with the ordinary demons. Even those warrior demons that can match a Golden Core Body Cultivator in combat power don¡¯t understand how to project their spiritual power outward. Only the mages set up magic traps that could potentially detect you.¡± ¡°Senior sister, don¡¯t worry. I do have some experience in dealing with Demon Clan mages.¡± Qin Feng smiled, ¡°In the battles before, I¡¯ve slain quite a few Demon Clan mages. Before setting out this time, I also gathered information about their strategies from the captured mages.¡± ¡°Good, as long as you¡¯re confident.¡± Li Miao Zhen saw his full confidence and decided not to dwell on the matter. In her view, with Qin Feng¡¯s capabilities, handling ordinary mages should be rather easy for him; otherwise, he would not live up to his status as a True Disciple. ¡°Originally, I was somewhat worried about being inconvenient on my own, although I have Spiritual Beasts at my command, but when Spiritual Beasts act alone, there¡¯s a lot of uncertainty. Moreover, once a Spiritual Beast is too far away, it is inconvenient to command, and accidents can easily occur. ?¦Ï¦Í?0.?? Now that you¡¯re here, it¡¯s perfect timing, as you¡¯ve solved a big problem for me.¡± ¡°What does Senior Sister plan to do?¡± Qin Feng asked. ¡°The lord of Fiery Flame City is a highly greedy fellow. He insanely exploits the Lower Demon Clan to amass wealth for himself and is quite stingy with his subordinates. In fact, many of the Demon Clan have become dissatisfied with him; it¡¯s just that the Fiery Flame City Lord is so powerful, no one dares to rebel against him.¡± Li Miao Zhen smiled and said, ¡°However, it is precisely because of the Fiery Flame City Lord¡¯s greed that he has amassed a considerable amount of resources. During the time I infiltrated his ranks, I made acquaintances with quite a few of the Demon Clan and have learned about the layout of the City Lord Mansion. Apart from the treasure vault of the City Lord Mansion, I also found out that there should be a secret treasure room, where the treasures are relatively more valuable. To gain the favor of those Demon Clan for information, I¡¯ve really had a hard time these days. The Demon Clan¡¯s requirements for food are just too low. When at the City Lord Mansion it wasn¡¯t too bad, but once we left the mansion, eating that half-cooked roast meat every day, I almost threw up.¡± Hearing this, Qin Feng suddenly remembered the enchanting witch at the tavern earlier, who had served him that roast meat with a big chunk of raw hide. Thinking of this, he couldn¡¯t help but snicker. Listening to his schadenfreude laughter, Li Miao Zhen rolled her pretty eyes then continued her complaints, ¡°Eating inferior food is one thing, but there were also quite a few jerks who kept circling me every day, forcing me to teach them a lesson. However, in order to gather information, I couldn¡¯t really fall out with them, which was truly exhausting. In two days, the Fiery Flame City Lord will have to visit the Demon God Palace. I was planning to make my move then, but when the time comes, I might have to sacrifice one or two Spiritual Beasts to lure away the powerhouses left in Fiery Flame, which is such a pity.¡± Li Miao Zhen looked at Qin Feng with a teasing smile, ¡°So you see, you are quite lucky to be able to reap the benefits as soon as you arrive.¡± For some reason, upon hearing her mention of reaping benefits, Qin Feng¡¯s eyes involuntarily slid down from her gorgeous face a bit, resting on her full chest that resembled juicy peaches. If onlya€| Thump! Before he could finish his thought, Li Miao Zhen had already smashed her Demon Bat onto his head. The Demon Bat¡¯s body was soft and should not have had any killing power, but Li Miao Zhen wrapped a layer of Geng Metal Energy around it. Suddenly, the fist-sized Demon Bat became as hard as an iron lump, hitting him so hard that stars appeared before his eyes and a large lump swelled on his forehead. Qin Feng cried out in pain, ¡°Senior Sister, do you have to hit so hard?¡± ¡°Hmph.¡± Li Miao Zhen beckoned with her hand, summoning a bright red cloak from a nearby wooden rack. Before Qin Feng could open his eyes to see her, she covered the revealing spring light at her chest with the cloak. With a hint of embarrassment and annoyance, she scolded, ¡°If you dare have such disruptive thoughts again, I¡¯ll beat you to a pulp.¡± Even though her character was forthright, she was a woman after all, and could not stand being ogled so by her fellow Sect Brother. ¡°How can you blame me?¡± Qin Feng cried out innocently, ¡°Senior Sister, you know you¡¯re a great beauty, yet you appear before me dressed like this. Any man would take a second look. Besides, it¡¯s not like I did it on purpose, you just happened to be right in front of me, and a mere glance would suffice¡­¡± ¡°Are you still talking?¡± Li Miao Zhen was so angry that she almost drew her sword to harshly discipline this sly junior brother who tried to act coy after taking advantage. If it were at the mountain gate, she definitely wouldn¡¯t dress like this. Although the Beast Taming Sect is located in the Southern Domain and is different from the Five Poisons Sect, the education they¡¯ve received from a young age made them more conservative in their dressing and behavior. It¡¯s only because she has infiltrated the Demon Clan that she had no choice but to wear the armor of a female warrior of the Demon Clan. Actually, her armor is already considered quite conservative among the female warriors. Some more uninhibited witches wear breastplates that can barely cover the two key pointsa€¡±now that would be called revealing. She thought that if this stinky kid saw those female members of the Demon Clan, his eyes would probably pop out of his head. Of course, the current armor was the most revealing she could tolerate. If she had to dress like the other witches, she would rather disguise herself as a male member of the Demon Clan. Qin Feng quieted down. Li Miao Zhen, bundled up tightly and glaring fiercely at him, was key. Moreover, her hand was already resting on the hilt of the sword at her waist. It wasn¡¯t possible for him to remain flippant. Otherwise, if he dared to look at her with inappropriate eyes or say any indecent words, he would definitely be viciously beaten by Li Miao Zhen and end up with a lump on his head. ¡°Cough¡­¡± Qin Feng cleared his throat and quickly changed the subject, ¡°Senior Sister, we better talk about serious matters. How do you want this junior brother to coordinate with you?¡± Li Miao Zhen saw that he had become obedient and reluctantly moved her hand away from her sword, ¡°It¡¯s actually simple. Thirty miles outside Fiery Flame City, there¡¯s a Demon Crystal Mine of pretty good quality, which also happens to be the main source of income for Fiery Flame City. Today we left the city because a Fierce Bear broke in, killing quite a few of the guards protecting the mine. The site often attracts Demon Beasts due to the rich elemental energies, plotting to take over the mine. There are currently three powerhouses stationed at the Demon Crystal Mine: two equivalent to Golden Core Realm Body Refining Cultivators from the Demon Clan and one Basic Level Magic Guide Master. In two days, when the Fiery Flame City Lord goes to visit the Demon God, you will secretly attack and kill those three powerhouses. Then let one or two guards return to the city for help.¡± ¡°Is it that simple?¡± Qin Feng asked skeptically, ¡°If it¡¯s just this, Senior Sister could easily do it herself, so why do you need this junior brother¡¯s help?¡± ¡°Of course, it¡¯s not that simple.¡± Li Miao Zhen said, ¡°After killing those Demon Clan powerhouses, remember to set some traps in the mine. I will follow the city¡¯s rescuers, and the two of us will join forces to slay those who come to the rescue. Then, I¡¯ll pretend to be injured and break through to return to the city for reinforcements. After leading more of the city¡¯s forces away, the remaining powerhouses in the City Lord Mansion will be few. With a surprise attack from both of us, we should be able to take them out. This will ensure no one can stop us from opening the treasure vault and taking the treasures.¡± Qin Feng nodded, ¡°Senior Sister, your strategy is simple but very effective. Alright, just tell me the exact location of the Demon Crystal Mine outside the city, and I promise to handle it properly.¡± Li Miao Zhen gave him a sideways look, ¡°Calling such a flawless plan simple; how much do you look down on my intelligence? Or are you really considering my White Tiger Lineage to be idiots?¡± ¡°Of course not.¡± Qin Feng quickly denied, absolutely unwilling to hesitate at this moment, or else he¡¯d definitely be remembered unfavorably by his senior sister, ¡°How could that be? In my heart, Senior Sister has always been supremely intelligent, gracious, and full of schemesa€¡±so full of¡­ Ow!¡± ¡°Shut up!¡± Li Miao Zhen, annoyed, threw the Demon Bat for the second time, creating another lump on his forehead, which made it quite symmetrical. Qin Feng winced, not expecting his flattery to backfire so badly. Still, seeing those eyes of Li Miao Zhen¡¯s that seemed ready to shoot fire, he decided it was better to just keep quiet. He stopped speaking and quietly took out a bottle of Snow Toad Spirit Marrow Ointment from his Storage Bag to apply to the two large lumps on his forehead. Then, the lumps visibly shrank at a visible rate and disappeared. Li Miao Zhen couldn¡¯t help but laugh out loud at this sight. ¡°Hehe¡­¡± Qin Feng laughed nervously, ¡°Senior Sister, it¡¯s getting late, and I don¡¯t have a place to stay in the city. Would it be too much to ask for you to shelter me for one night?¡± ¡°Get lost!¡± ¡°Just one night.¡± ¡°No.¡± ¡°But you can¡¯t just watch your junior brother sleep on the streets, can you?¡± Li Miao Zhen said, ¡°You could go and take over someone else¡¯s residence in the clan. As long as you show your strength, no one will trouble you.¡± While it was rare for anyone in the city to do such a thing, if it actually happened, no one would stand up for the weaker members of the Demon Clan. ¡°I¡¯m trying to keep a low profile to avoid drawing the Demon Clan¡¯s attention these next two days. It would be better to avoid spoiling our big plans.¡± Qin Feng moved his chair forward with a grin, ¡°Just one night. I¡¯ll leave tomorrow morning.¡± ¡°Just one night?¡± ¡°If Senior Sister feels it¡¯s too much, two nights would also work since we can¡¯t take action until the day after tomorrow at the earliest.¡± Li Miao Zhen realized she couldn¡¯t give this guy any leeway; otherwise, he would take an inch and want a mile. ¡°Go downstairs yourself; you¡¯re not allowed to come up, or else I¡¯ll cut you.¡± At that, Qin Feng shuddered, ¡°Don¡¯t worry, don¡¯t worry, I definitely won¡¯t come up and disturb Senior Sister tonight.¡± Chapter 276 - Chapter 276 Chapter 273 Shadow Assassinates ?Chapter 276: Chapter 273: Shadow Assassinates Chapter 276: Chapter 273: Shadow Assassinates Li Miaozhen was feeling rather annoyed at the moment. Every time she thought of Qin Feng¡¯s jesting, smug face, she couldn¡¯t help wanting to punch him hard, giving him two black eyes, or maybe even knocking two large bumps on his forehead to vent her anger. Somehow, she began to worry that the rascal really might sneak up to see her in the middle of the night, so she set up a layer of prohibitions at the staircase entrance to guard the second floor before she could rest easy and return to her room. As for Qin Feng, he was chased by her to meditate in the downstairs living room. The room upstairs was hers, and although she wouldn¡¯t be living here for more than a few days, she still didn¡¯t want Qin Feng to enter at will. Luckily, Qin Feng was relatively well-behaved; without her permission, he really did stay obediently below. ¡­¡­ Two days later, on the city wall, Qin Feng and Li Miaozhen stood side by side atop the battlements, looking at the team that was gradually departing in the distance, both of them silently heaving a sigh of relief. ¡°The Fiery Flame City Lord has left, even if he doesn¡¯t delay at all, it would take him at least two days to go there and back.¡± Li Miaozhen said, ¡°There¡¯s no rush to make a move, we¡¯ll wait until dusk approaches, making sure he can¡¯t return shortly before we act, which is perfect for setting up traps at night and ambushing them.¡± Qin Feng nodded and replied, ¡°In that case, Senior Sister, you should go back first, to avoid raising suspicion by being away too long. I¡¯ll head to the Demon Crystal Veins first to take a look and make some early preparations.¡± ¡°Okay.¡± Li Miaozhen gave a word of caution: ¡°Then be careful yourself, if it is not feasible, retreat in a timely manner, and don¡¯t try to show off. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í??.?? If you sacrifice your life here for the sake of some resources, it would not be worth it.¡± Qin Feng smiled faintly: ¡°Thank you for your concern, Senior Sister. I certainly won¡¯t act rashly.¡± Li Miaozhen, with a straightforward personality, having said all that needed to be said, said no more. She turned around, descended from the city wall, and returned to the City Lord Mansion to wait for news. The Demon Crystal Veins were thirty miles away from Fiery Fire City, neither far nor close. The reason the Demon Clan didn¡¯t build their cities next to the Demon Crystal Veins was firstly, because it was deep in the mountains, which was inconvenient for city construction. Secondly, after digging out mines, the Demon Crystal Veins naturally emitted strong elemental fluctuations, which could easily attract some Demon Beasts. Ordinary Demon Beasts were manageable, but if a powerful Super Demon Beast was drawn in, that would be big trouble. If a city were built next to the veins and a Super Demon Beast came, it would certainly bring immense destruction to the entire city. Therefore, basically no Demon Clan cities were built right beside the Demon Crystal Mines. Qin Feng arrived at the veins ahead of time and, avoiding the guards and several strong demons, entered the mines from underground to survey. After getting a rough idea of the direction of the mine tunnels, he was ready to take action. He did not plan to wait until nightfall to act because after dark, many Demon Beasts would come out to roam and hunt. He was somewhat worried that if the Demon Clan Warriors he let go to send a message by chance encountered a Demon Beast attack and died on the way, it would ruin their plans. The first one Qin Feng approached was the mage guarding here. Although in terms of cultivation realm, the two Demon Clan leaders were slightly stronger, their methods were single-dimensional, far less troublesome than the mage. He certainly didn¡¯t want to be attacked by the mage from behind while clashing with the Demon Clan leaders. Fortunately, most mages were somewhat arrogant by nature, and usually, they just needed to set up warning magic. The mage lord didn¡¯t participate in any defensive patrols at other times and was entirely absorbed in his magic experiments. So, when Qin Feng found the mage, he was still in the laboratory, messing around with some strange and unusual things. Qin Feng had originally planned to use the Earth Escape Divine Power to sneak directly into the other party¡¯s room and ambush him. However, it seemed this mage was a cautious fellow. Although he didn¡¯t pay much attention to external matters, he protected his laboratory very meticulously, setting up many prohibitions that stopped Qin Feng from directly entering. Nonetheless, he didn¡¯t care much about this. Since he couldn¡¯t sneak in secretly, he¡¯d just kill his way in. Thus, his figure rose directly from underground, standing in the corridor, and walked openly to the entrance of the mage¡¯s laboratory, knocking on the door with a rapping sound. ¡°Who is it?¡± Inside, the mage who was concocting a magic potion was startled by a knocking sound that nearly broke the door of his laboratory. His palm trembled for a moment, and then he messed up the proportions of the ingredients. A wisp of black smoke immediately rose from the potion in the clear glass bottle below. Annoyed by the disturbance that caused his hard-earned potion to fail, he snapped, ¡°Who is it outside, daring to disturb my experiment?¡± From outside, an unfamiliar voice responded, ¡°Lord Mage, there are demon beasts attacking outside the mine. If you do not come out soon, the beasts will break into your laboratory.¡± The furious mage, hearing that a demon beast had breached the area, reluctantly suppressed his anger, ¡°How could a demon beast enter without making a sound? Didn¡¯t any alerts come from the warning spells I set up? Have all the surrounding magic traps failed to work as well?¡± ¡°I¡¯m not sure myself, perhaps it¡¯s a flying magical beast, which hasn¡¯t triggered the magic traps you¡¯ve set.¡± ¡°Hmph, a bunch of useless fools. Why does everyone always come to me for help? I am a mage, not a warrior. Isn¡¯t fighting supposed to be what those warriors do?¡± The middle-aged mage inside, dressed in a gray mage robe, opened the door and came out. Seeing Qin Feng, who was also wearing a mage robe, he was slightly taken aback, ¡°Are you the mage who was recently assigned here? Great, at last, I don¡¯t have to stay in this accursed place. ¡°Where¡¯s the demon beast? Why haven¡¯t I heard anything?¡± ¡°It¡¯s right here!¡± Qin Feng chuckled slightly, and suddenly a pitch-black serpentine shadow over a meter long sprung out from his own shadow and coiled around the mage. ¡°Ah, a Shadow Demon Snake¡­¡± The mage cried out in surprise and immediately activated the emergency magic on his body, intending to protect himself. Unfortunately, the spells on his body were enough to defend against a Shadow Demon Snake, but what was entwined around him now was not a Shadow Demon Snake; it was a Ruyi Golden Snake that had merged with the abilities of the Shadow Demon Snake. The scales on Ruyi Golden Snake¡¯s body stood erect like thousands of tiny saw teeth. After circling the mage twice, it cut through the magic shield outside his body. With a strong squeeze, the Ruyi Golden Snake broke every bone in the Demon Clan mage¡¯s body, and with a scream, he met a gruesome death. After the Ruyi Golden Snake slithered off him, the mage¡¯s body collapsed to the ground like a twisted dough, limp and twisted. The mage¡¯s dying screams drew the attention of other members of the Demon Clan, and soon footsteps could be heard. When the guards of the Demon Clan realized that the dead was none other than the esteemed mage, they were struck with terror and hurriedly rushed to report to the other two Demon Clan leaders. At the same time, screams of terror were echoing through the mines, with guards exclaiming that a demon beast had infiltrated and urgently asking for the leaders to come and support. Thus the two leaders split up; one was summoned to the mine, while after receiving the news, the other decided to check on the condition of the mage first. After all, in these remote and wild mountains, they could hardly do without the help of a mage. Without the warning spells set by the mage, it would be easy for stealthy demon beasts to get close and attack their guards. When he arrived at the mage¡¯s laboratory and saw the mage lying on the ground with a shattered skeleton and no sign of life, he could not help but fly into a rage. ¡°Who killed Lord Mage?¡± That Demon Clan leader, seething with ferocity, grabbed the neck of the guard who had informed him and brought him close, his eyes flashing with an insane killing intent as he glared at the guard and bellowed. ¡°Lord¡­ my lord, behind you¡­¡± The guard struggled desperately, pulling at the leader¡¯s hand clasped around his neck, trying to speak. However, with a surge of hostility in his heart, the Demon Clan leader was completely deaf to what the guard was saying, nor did he see reflected in the guard¡¯s pupil, a pitch-black figure appearing right behind him. ¡°Crack¡­ Splat¡­¡± Two almost simultaneous light sounds were heard. The first was the sound of the guard¡¯s neck being twisted and broken by the leader, and the second was the sound of Qin Feng¡¯s finger piercing through the Demon Clan leader¡¯s back. The leader had not realized at all that within the shadow of the mage lying on the ground, there was another figure hidden. Then, he was stealthily attacked. Qin Feng¡¯s Golden Hole Finger Divine Power had already condensed into a Divine Power Seed, and after continuously absorbing the Golden Qi to merge with it, it had become exceptionally powerful. With a casual poke, it was as if piercing into tofu, directly puncturing the Demon Clan leader¡¯s armor and leaving a bloody hole in his back. ¡°Ah¡­¡± The Demon Clan leader screamed in pain, his figure darted forward, freeing himself from Qin Feng¡¯s finger as blood sprayed from the wound on his back. Qin Feng inwardly sighed with regret; if only his strength had been sufficient to fully grow the Divine Power Seed into a complete Divine Skill, he might have been able to refine all five fingers into the Golden Hole Finger, allowing him to severely injure or even kill the opponent with a single strike. However, now was not the time for such thoughts. He waved his hand to release the Swallowing Sky Toad, Fire Ape, and Soul Devouring Vine Demon, ordering these Spiritual Beasts to join him in battle. He had to kill this Demon promptly to avoid having to face two Demon Clan leaders at once. ¡°Who are you?¡± The Demon Clan leader turned around to face Qin Feng, who was shrouded in a wide Mage Robe and also wearing a Demon Mask, and asked angrily. However, before he could finish his sentence, his expression changed drastically. Because he suddenly saw several Demon Beasts suddenly appear in front of him. If it were under normal circumstances, he wouldn¡¯t care much about these few beasts, whose presence was clearly far weaker than his own, but now, with his heart damaged and lacking strength, he would have fallen to the ground if not for the powerful Magic Power within his body suppressing it. Furthermore, each of the three summoned beasts was so unique, especially the Soul Devouring Vine Demon, which upon its arrival had densely covered the entire room with its vines, intending to block his escape route. The Demon Clan leader hurriedly swung his War Hammer, sending out fiery blasts of power, damaging many vines, as he tried to blast his way out, planning to reunite with his fellow comrade before dealing with this elusive foe. Qin Feng sneered coldly, still thinking of escape now? Wishful thinking! A flash of yellow light under his feet, he activated Shrinking Ground to Inch and took a step forward, already standing before the Demon, swinging his Magic Wand, unleashing the Azure Dragon Emerges from the Sea. Although this Magic Wand was not the Sky Battle Halberd and not suited for deploying the Azure Dragon Battle Skill, it didn¡¯t matter, he didn¡¯t consider himself the main attacker; this move was simply to draw the opponent¡¯s attention, creating an opportunity for the Swallowing Sky Toad and Fire Ape behind the Demon Clan leader. Star Patterns appeared on the Swallowing Sky Toad¡¯s back, shooting numerous Star Lights onto the Demon Clan leader. Star Power shattered the Demon, effectively breaking through his Demonic Qi defense. What followed was the Fire Ape¡¯s attack. Although its Cultivation Realm was not as high as the Demon Clan leader¡¯s, in terms of Physical Body Power, it was no less. The Fire Ape roared, and its giant claws blazed with roaring fire, clenched into a fist, and smashed toward the Demon Clan leader¡¯s head. The Demon Clan leader was horrified and hurriedly turned to defend. But before he could raise his arm, he suddenly felt a tightness around his body. It was the Ruyi Golden Snake that had taken him by surprise, crawling out from his shadow and coiling around his body. With a little time, he could have escaped the Ruyi Golden Snake¡¯s binding. Unfortunately for him, the Fire Ape¡¯s fist was already upon him, slamming into his head with a thunderous blow. ?¦Ï¦Í?0.§ã¦Ï The Demon Clan commander staggered, nearly toppling to the ground. He was not dead yet. Even though one of his horns had been broken off by the ferocious strength of the Fire Ape, and his head had been so scorched by the flames that not a single hair remained, his formidable life force still kept him from dying. But for the time being, he had lost all ability to resist. His head buzzed, seeing stars, and before he could regain his senses, the Ruyi Golden Snake opened its mouth and sprayed Ruyi Golden Light, severing his head. Another Demon Clan commander had gone to the mining tunnel with the guards, intending to slay the demonic beasts that had suddenly burst in. But when he got there, he didn¡¯t even encounter a single hair of the demonic beasts. ¡°What¡¯s going on? Where are the beasts?¡± The commander asked in a cold voice. ¡°Just now, two demonic beasts suddenly appeared; one was a giant ape that could breathe fire, and the other was a bloodthirsty vine. They killed some of our brothers and then vanished just as we were about to gather and counterattack.¡± The guards were also dumbfounded, unsure of how to explain the situation. Fortunately, the commander saw the corpses of the guards, drained clean of blood by the Vine Demon, as well as traces of fire on the walls of the mining tunnel, and knew that a battle must have happened. This kept him from venting his anger on the guards. ¡°Are you saying that those two beasts appeared and disappeared all of a sudden?¡± The Demon Clan commander¡¯s face was full of puzzlement: ¡°Could it be magical beasts that can use Space Movement magic? But such creatures are rare, and even if it really was Space Movement, it¡¯s unlikely to manifest in two different species of magical beasts at the same time. Just as he was wondering about it, he suddenly heard a piercing roar from outside. His expression changed instantly: ¡°Damn it, it¡¯s a trap!¡± It seemed their opponent had used a diversionary tactic, separating the strong defenders of the veins, then picking them off one by one. He ran fast towards the exit of the mining tunnel, hoping to save his companion before he got killed. Otherwise, relying solely on his own strength, he might not be able to hold off the attacking enemy. Even though he was fast, he was still a step too late. When he arrived at the mage¡¯s room, he found his companion¡¯s corpse bisected. Beside it lay the body of that mage who always seemed odd. ¡°Quick, hurry back to the city for reinforcements!¡± The Demon Clan commander bellowed, ordering the nearby guards to call for help. The three of them had barely managed to defend this place; now he was the only one left to face an unknown enemy lurking in the shadows a€¡± they were certainly overestimating him. Before he could finish his words, he saw several vines already lashing towards him. Following closely was the Fire Ape, descending from the shattered roof of the building. This time, the Fire Ape seemed even more violent; roaring before its body completely touched the ground, its long arms already reached for the Demon Clan commander¡¯s neck. ¡°How dare you!¡± The Demon Clan commander roared furiously, swinging his War Sword, intending to slay the Fire Ape before him. Chapter 277 - Chapter 277 Chapter 274 Nine Palace Illusion - Slaying All Demons ?Chapter 277: Chapter 274: Nine Palace Illusion ¨C Slaying All Demons Chapter 277: Chapter 274: Nine Palace Illusion ¨C Slaying All Demons ¡°Boom¡­¡± Before the Demon Clan General could swing his war sword, a toad the size of a small watermelon unexpectedly leaped out from nowhere, opened its mouth, and spat out a burst of star light, which struck directly at his face. A chill ran down the spine of the Demon Clan General. He felt threatened by the star light and, not daring to take it head-on, hurriedly dashed aside to evade. Then, he found his legs entwined by several vines, which grew sharp thorns and tendrils trying to burrow into his flesh. This reminded the Demon Clan General of the guards whose blood had been drained in the mine earlier; he immediately recognized the danger and did not dare let the Soul Devouring Vine Demon¡¯s tendrils penetrate his body. Instead, he circulated his magic power, protected himself, and a wild Demon Flame rose up from his body, burning and destroying the vines that restricted him. This was a unique ability of the Flame Demon Clan; any of them with sufficient strength could ignite their inner magic power, summoning Demon Flame for defense or attack. However, their attack range was limited a€¡° unlike Mages who could strike from a great distance. After igniting the Demon Flame, the Flame Demon General tried to turn and flee. After all, he was not a Mage; fully igniting his inner magic power to summon Demon Flame would consume a great deal of energy, and he would not be able to sustain it for long. All he wanted now was to escape and summon his subordinates to deal with these Demon Beasts that had appeared out of nowhere. Boom¡­ The Fire Ape blocked his path. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í??.§ã? It too was engulfed in flames as it clashed with him; although the Demon Clan member sent it flying backwards, smashing through a wall and tumbling before it steadied itself, it successfully stopped the Flame Demon General¡¯s escape. With a whoosh, a frost attack shot from the end of the corridor and hit the Flame Demon General¡¯s back, crushing his Demon Flame and freezing a large area of his back. This was Qin Feng activating a piece of Magic Jewelry on his wrist, utilizing the stored magic to attack this demon. Seeing the Flame Demon General¡¯s back covered in ice, Qin Feng exclaimed in surprise, not expecting the magic to be quite effective. Immediately after, he unleashed another surge of water. Of course, this too was magic stored within the Magic Jewelry. He wanted to test the power of these spells to better utilize them in battle later. With a splash, a fierce torrent of water rushed forward. Although the wave was powerful, it only forced the Flame Demon General back one step before he steadied himself again. But before he could retaliate, he saw the Little Toad spray out a cold breath, freezing the layer of water around the Flame Demon General, encasing him in a wave-shaped block of ice. Crack, crack, several light sounds followed, and the large block of ice shattered. The Flame Demon reignited Demon Flame across its body, breaking free from the ice. ¡°Which clan¡¯s Mage are you to dare attack me? Do you not know this is the territory of Fiery Flame City? Aren¡¯t you afraid the Lord City Lord will condemn you?¡± The Flame Demon General glared furiously, staring daggers at Qin Feng. ¡°Enough noise!¡± Qin Feng snorted coldly, not bothering to respond. He lifted his Magic Wand and activated the magic stored within the Demon Core at its tip. Boom, a series of blood-colored lightning bolts burst forth, striking the Flame Demon General with the swiftness of thunder, once again disrupting his Demon Flame. This was one of the most powerful pieces of Magic Equipment he owned; the Demon Core at the tip of the Magic Wand contained the Thunder Chain spell of the eighth-level Lightning Demon Leopard. Once activated, it could transform into a string of lightning, its power equivalent to the full-force strike of a Golden Core Late Stage Cultivator. Of course, Magic Equipment had a limited duration of use; after being used, it had to wait for the magic power within the Demon Core to recover before it could be utilized again. Qin Feng thought that if he could get an Artifact Refiner to craft a miniature Spirit Gathering Array on the Demon Core, it might recover the magic power more quickly. To use it once and then wait a day or two for it to recover would be far too limited. The Flame Demon General, struck by the Thunder Chain, trembled violently with smoke rising from his head, fury coursing through him, ready to fight Qin Feng to the death. But before he could recover from the trembling, several vines wrapped around his body. Along with the vines, the Ruyi Golden Snake appeared as if it were a shadow. Just as the Flame Demon General intended to do as before, igniting Demon Flame to burn away the vines, he felt a sharp pain and looked down to see his legs had been severed by the Ruyi Golden Snake. The jet-black snake kept slithering frantically over the general¡¯s body, climbing toward his upper body. Thump, the Flame Demon General with his legs cut off fell to the ground. In terror, he stretched out his hands attempting to grasp the Ruyi Golden Snake. Indeed, he did catch the snake, but its fine, raised scales tore through his palms, unable to restrain the snake¡¯s body. By the time it slithered to the general¡¯s neck, it wound gently around, decapitating the Flame Demon General¡¯s head. Thus fell all three of the Demon Clan¡¯s high-ranking masters overseeing the Demon Crystal Veins. Yet Qin Feng did not pause. The Spiritual Vulture in mid-air had already informed him that two Demon Clan guards had mounted their Demon Flame Horses and were galloping towards Fiery Flame City to give away their location. So, without any hesitation, he slayed all the Demon Clan guards outside the mine. As for the Demons who fled into the mine, he paid them no heed a€¡° as long as they did not come out and cause trouble for him. Afterward, he took out an Array Plate and nine Array Flags and placed them according to the terrain. Although he didn¡¯t know much about Arrays, he could still use a pre-crafted Array Plate like this one. This was a Nine Palace Illusion Array, a method he had prepared specifically before leaving. Once set up, it could envelop an area of a thousand zhang within the Illusion Realm of the Nine Palace Illusion Array. Without knowledge of how to navigate the Nine Palace Array, unless one could forcefully break through the Array¡¯s enchantment, they would be trapped to death within it. Qin Feng placed several top-quality Spirit Stones into the Array Plate without activating it, to avoid alerting the enemy prematurely. He planned to start the Array once the Demon Clan reinforcements arrived. After setting up, Qin Feng re-entered the building next to the mine, intending to loot the resources inside. ?¦Ï¦Í?0.?? There was at least one Magic Guide Master and two Demon Clan Generals stationed here, they should have some valuable possessions on them. Furthermore, the Demon Crystals mined from the caves were only transported to Fiery Flame City once a month, and although he did not know when the last shipment occurred, there should be some accumulation. Qin Feng returned to the mage¡¯s laboratory, after all, the three Demon Clan experts had been slain by him here. First, he collected the weapons and equipment of the two generals, then he also gathered the mage¡¯s Magic Wand and other Magic Equipment. He felt that the items obtained from this mage were quite good, beyond a Magic Wand there were actually two Magic Rings and a Magic Necklace, all of which were triggerable Magic Equipment. After he had stripped the house of everything, he found thousands of unpolished Demon Crystals of varying sizes in the storeroom. These were raw crystals directly harvested from the mine, uneven in size and shape; Demon Clan members usually did not use such raw Demon Crystals for transactions. However, Qin Feng didn¡¯t care. He simply needed to feed these raw crystals into the Demon Refining Pot as energy for its operation. Once he finished looting everything, he sat next to the Array Plate to meditate and rest for a moment. Then, he finally heard the sound of hurried travel from afar. It was the sound of Demon Beasts rapidly running on the ground, among them were several Demon Flame Horses, but many more were various Demon Beasts of notable war power, and even mages riding Flying Magical Beasts who had flown overhead before the others. However, Qin Feng had already merged with the Ruyi Golden Snake and hid himself in the shadow. The mage could not see him, only the ruined buildings and the corpses of hundreds of Demon Clan guards. Out of caution, the Demon Clan Mage on the Flying Magical Beast did not land immediately but circled overhead a few times, waiting for all the Demon Clan members to arrive before slowly descending and joining the group of Demon Clan experts in the area. Qin Feng saw that everyone had entered the range of the Array, then injected his True Yuan into the Array Plate to activate the Nine Palace Illusion Array. As the Array Plate connected with the nine Array Flags, an ethereal illusion of a Nine Palace rose up and enveloped all the Demon Clan within it. ¡°What¡¯s going on?¡± The two Magic Guide Masters, beings of keen spiritual power, were the first to sense that something was off. They looked around but discovered nothing abnormal. The rest of the Demon Clan experts looked at each other, puzzled about what had happened. However, seeing that there were no hidden assailants launching a surprise attack, they relaxed and proceeded. Just that, as they walked on, the Demons found something amiss. It seemed that the more they walked, the fewer their companions became. Until at last, most Demon Clan members found themselves utterly alone. The reason I say most is that next to the Magic Guide Master who had the Flying Mount, there was a Witch Warrior of graceful stature and vibrant spirit. ¡°Amelia, thank goodness you¡¯re still protecting me,¡± said the mage with some relief. ¡°We must have been bewitched by something, leading us to separate from the others. You must protect me well, and when we return, I¡¯ll give you a piece of Magic Equipment.¡± ¡°Oh, that¡¯s great!¡± The lively Amelia, the Witch Warrior, drew the oddly shaped crescent-like Demon Sword from her waist and approached the mage with a face full of joy, ¡°Don¡¯t worry, sir, with me here, you definitely won¡¯t survive.¡± ¡°That¡¯s great, uh¡­¡± Before he could finish, he saw a blade protruding from his chest. ¡°Why, why¡­ did you betray Lord City Lord?¡± The mage wore a look of disbelief, wanting to turn his head to see the female warrior beside him, but the intense pain in his chest sapped his strength. Because the crescent-like Demon Sword was twisted around by the other party, completely shattering his heart. ¡°You¡¯re dead and still talking nonsense.¡± Li Miaozhen, not wanting to take any chances, withdrew the sword and with a swing of her hand severed the mage¡¯s head; she even exhaled a Golden Wind to scatter the mage¡¯s spiritual power, preventing any chance of him lingering on. ¡°Hiss¡­¡± The Flying Magical Beast subdued by the mage opened its mouth and let out a shriek, about to launch poison fog to attack the witch who killed its master. But it was met with a kick from Li Miaozhen, which not only forced back the poison fog into its mouth but the immense strength also toppled the beast to the ground. Before it could rise and attempt to flee, Li Miaozhen stamped on its head, crushing its skull against the ground. Meanwhile, the beautiful crescent-like Demon Sword hovered less than half an inch from its eyes, petrifying the somewhat intelligent Demon Beast so much so that it dared not move. This was a Two-Legged Flying Dragon, with some Demon Dragon Bloodline within it, notable flying speed, and Poison Element Magic, making it quite powerful among seventh-level Demon Beasts. Of course, the main reason was its ability to carry people in flight, making it quite beloved by Demon Clan mages. Li Miaozhen thought it over and decided not to kill this Demon Beast. Instead, she flipped the hilt and knocked the beast unconscious with a blow to the back of its head, then stored it in a Spiritual Beast Bag. She suddenly felt that it might be better to disguise herself as a Female Mage because with a Magic Robe to cover her, she didn¡¯t have to expose herself as much as before and wouldn¡¯t have to worry about that certain individual¡¯s roving eyes upon seeing her. This Two-Legged Flying Dragon could temporarily serve as her Riding Tool. After all, once the job at Fiery Flame City was done, she intended to leave and explore deeper into the Demon Domain. As for the equipment? She turned to glance at the mage she had just killed and shook her head with some disdain. Forget it; she remembered that there were some female mages at the City Lord Mansion. Later, she could ¡®borrow¡¯ a few Magic Robes from them, and that would suffice. Chapter 278 - Chapter 278 Chapter 275 Why Ride My White Tiger ?Chapter 278: Chapter 275: Why Ride My White Tiger Chapter 278: Chapter 275: Why Ride My White Tiger Li Miaozhen had searched two magic ornaments from the body of a Demon Clan Mage and picked up his magic wand from the ground before she finally turned around and left the place. This plan was devised by her and Qin Feng, so she naturally did not worry about getting lost in the Array. Not to mention that Qin Feng would guide her direction, even without his guidance, with her skills, she could find a way out of the Array by spending a bit more time. ?¦Ï¦Í??.?0 But the Demon Clan warriors were in a dire situation, having never been exposed to the Arrays of Immortal Cultivators. Unless they were powerful enough to break the Array by force, they could only remain lost in it forever. Even if a few Demon Clan commanders rampaged inside, running swiftly and even swinging their weapons, blasting out furious magic power that left the surroundings in a mess, it was all in vain. They thought they were walking in straight lines, but those were just straight lines shown by the Nine Palace Illusion Array. In reality, their directions of advancement were constantly following the positions of the Nine Palaces; even if they changed directions, they could not escape the Nine Palace Illusion. Floating in front of Li Miaozhen was a Spirit Light, and following it, she soon spotted Qin Feng sitting on a brown rock. ¡°Senior Sister.¡± Qin Feng stood up with a cheeky grin and greeted her before regretfully glancing at the bright red cloak on her and insincerely complimented, ¡°Senior Sister¡¯s cloak looks really nice.¡± Li Miaozhen rolled her eyes prettily, feeling a sudden urge to knock this guy out with a punch. ¡°Less nonsense, focus on the important tasks.¡± Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ??¦Í?0.§ã¦Ï Li Miaozhen poured her True Yuan into it and after manipulating the Array Plate for a while, she instantly mapped out the entire operational route of the Nine Palace Illusion Array in her mind, also clearly seeing those Demon Clan members wandering aimlessly inside like headless flies. After sorting this out, she flicked her cloak dramatically and turned around, ¡°Let¡¯s go, kill that Magic Guide Master first to prevent him from using magic that might interfere with the Array¡¯s operation, then we¡¯ll join forces to kill the other Demon Clan members.¡± ¡°Okay.¡± Qin Feng didn¡¯t waste any words and followed Li Miaozhen closely, moving along the operational route of the Array toward the Demon Clan Mage. Both were skilled in Divine Movement Spells, and Qin Feng had already condensed the Divine Power Seed of Shrinking Ground to Incha€¡±Li Miaozhen certainly wasn¡¯t lacking in such methods either; thus, though appearing to walk slowly, their speed was extremely fast, and within a few steps, they were already in front of that Demon Clan Mage. Reaching there, Li Miaozhen¡¯s expression changed several times; she circulated her True Yuan, making her complexion deathly pale, and with an excessively panicked appearance, she staggeredly charged forward, nearly crashing into the Demon Clan Mage. The mage, who was originally standing still sensing the surroundings with his spiritual power, was startled. His magic wand lit up with the glow of magic, ready to cast and kill the sudden figure, but when he recognized it was Amelia, one of his allies who had come to support, he relaxed. ¡°Amelia, what did you find, why are you so panicked?¡± The Mage asked. ¡°Walker Mage, there are Human Clan powerhouses ambushing us.¡± Li Miaozhen said, ¡°I was attacked by a Human Clan powerhouse earlier; if not for my quick reaction, I would probably have been killed by them.¡± ¡°It really is a Human Clan powerhouse who has laid down this Magic Array here.¡± Walker Mage nodded upon hearing this, ¡°I suspected earlier that a Human Clan powerhouse might have lurked here and set up such a strange Magic Array that could trap us all in here; it is indeed quite a novel method. After we kill them, I must study it thoroughly.¡± Before his words could finish, a Golden Light suddenly appeared not far away, slashing towards Li Miaozhen. Li Miaozhen quickly turned around to block with her saber, and then the entire force of the Golden Light pushed her back repeatedly. ¡°Walker Mage, make your Magic Shield larger, and cover me as well.¡± Li Miaozhen blocked another golden light and spoke, ¡°The attack methods of those from the Human Clan are extremely peculiar, and most of the time you can¡¯t even see the person. It¡¯s truly difficult to guard against.¡± Walker Mage did not harbor any doubts and immediately expanded the magic shield to several times its size, including Li Miaozhen within its protection. At that moment, he also needed a warrior to guard himself and naturally wouldn¡¯t refuse Li Miaozhen¡¯s request. Walker Mage said, ¡°I now need to release my spiritual power to investigate the specifics of this magic array, find the key points, and then we can break through this array in one fell swoop. Guard me well and make sure no one breaks the magic shield and injures us.¡± ¡°Rest assured, honorable Walker Mage,¡± she replied. A slight smile appeared on Li Miaozhen¡¯s face. ¡°With me here, no other member of the Human Clan will get close to you.¡± As she spoke, before Walker Mage could react, the strangely shaped curved saber in her hand swung down like a flash, decapitating him. Once a powerful warrior got close, a mage¡¯s fighting abilities were hardly worth mentioning. Had Walker Mage not included Li Miaozhen within his defensive magic, it would have been better, but now inside his own magic shield and with no guard against Li Miaozhen¡¯s intentions, he was naturally slain by her single strike. Two zhang away, Qin Feng stepped forth as if emerging from the void, arriving beside Li Miaozhen, and asked, ¡°Senior Sister, who shall we deal with next?¡± ¡°Let¡¯s pick off the easy ones first.¡± Li Miaozhen, without hesitating, said, ¡°After we kill them, we¡¯ll join forces to slay that Ello fellow last and save ourselves the trouble of other members of the Demon Clan causing chaos.¡± Qin Feng nodded his head. He had no objections. Li Miaozhen¡¯s experience in combat far surpassed his, and since his cultivation was also much inferior to Li Miaozhen¡¯s, he naturally acted according to this White Tiger Lineage Senior Sister¡¯s wishes when they were together. Together, the pair took the initiative, with Li Miaozhen striking first. If she could directly assassinate those Demon Clan members, she would just kill them. If the sneak attack failed, then both would go on a full assault, using their divine skills to forcibly kill the enemy. With Li Miaozhen infiltrating as a spy, the two did not need to exert much effort to kill seven or eight high-level Demon Clan experts. Although two reacted swiftly and dodged Li Miaozhen¡¯s sneak attack, they were promptly slain in the subsequent battle by the duo¡¯s combined efforts, unable to rise any significant challenge. Soon, within the Nine Palace Illusion Array, only Ello, the Guard Army Commander of Fiery Flame City and a high-ranking member of the Demon Clan, was left. Ello was incredibly strong, also being one of Fiery Flame City Lord¡¯s most trusted followers, which is why he was promoted to the position of the Guard Army Commander. Moreover, Ello did not disappoint the Fiery Flame City Lord¡¯s trust. He led the Guard Army with fairness, rallying many powerful allies for the City Lord and securing the loyalty of other Demon Clans within the army. Naturally, he too trusted the Demon Clan warriors under his command. So, when he saw Li Miaozhen, bloodied and disheveled, appearing before him, he quickly reached out to support her and asked, ¡°Amelia, how are your injuries? Did you see who the opponent is?¡± ¡°Commander Ello, it was the Human Clan who laid an ambush here,¡± Li Miaozhen said with a sorrowful expression. ¡°I was with Walker Mage earlier, and he had just found the energy nodes of this magic array and was about to break it when¡­¡± ¡°What happened then?¡± Ello asked anxiously. Walker Mage was one of the few Magic Guide Masters in the City Lord Mansion, not only powerful but also possessing a profound skill in setting up prohibition magic. If he too had perished here, he didn¡¯t know how he would explain to the Fiery Flame City Lord upon his return. ¡°Lord Walker Mage¡­ he¡­ was killed by me.¡± Li Miaozhen¡¯s voice carried a sad tone as she thrust the curved saber in her hands into Ello¡¯s abdomen, ¡°If Commander wishes to meet him, I¡¯ll send you to keep him company.¡± ¡°Uh¡­¡± A low growl escaped from Ello¡¯s throat. Although his magic power had reacted the moment Li Miaozhen¡¯s curved saber pierced his skin, and he instinctively wanted to defend himself, it was already too late. Li Miaozhen had penetrated his abdomen with a single strike. He let out an angry roar, and his hands surged with magic power, attempting to seize Li Miaozhen¡¯s arms and restrain her. But with a slight twist of her body, Li Miaozhen moved like a Spiritual Cat, skillfully dodging his hands. With a light tap of her feet on the ground, she retreated several meters away. ¡°Why?¡± Ello supported the curved saber in his abdomen. The angle at which the blade was stabbed was very tricky. Li Miaozhen had pierced his lungs, so he dared not pull it out casually for fear of worsening his injuries. His face was filled with disbelief, ¡°Amelia, why did you ambush me? Could it be that you have surrendered to the Human Clan?¡± ¡°Hmph.¡± Li Miaozhen sneered and didn¡¯t bother to respond to his words. With a flip of her slender hand, she summoned the White Tiger Saber, which had been nurtured within her Dantian all this time. This was her preferred weapon, her Lifebound Divine Weapon. As for the curved saber used to ambush him, it was merely a convenient weapon she had picked from the Sect¡¯s battle spoils when preparing to infiltrate the Demon Clan. It was far inferior compared to her White Tiger Saber. Seeing her strange way of drawing her weapon, as well as the ferocious aura on the White Tiger Saber, which was unlike the usual Demon Clan weapons, Ello¡¯s pupils shrank immediately. He seemed to understand something, ¡°You¡­ are from the Human Clan?¡± ¡°Correct.¡± Li Miaozhen replied indifferently, letting Ello understand the reason behind his death before passing away. ¡°I¡¯ll kill you!¡± Violent anger surged in Ello¡¯s heart. Initially, this beautiful Demon Clan female warrior was personally recruited by him, and even he had developed a slight affection for her. After all, beautiful and powerful female warriors were always sought after by members of the Demon Clan. Yet now, the subordinate he had personally recruited had led them to a dead end. Since Amelia was from the Human Clan, it was clear without saying that his companions and mages who came with him would not fare any better. They, like him, likely had no guard against this woman. In his painful self-reproach, Ello¡¯s body surged with a powerful aura. He mobilized all the magic power inside him, preparing to unleash his greatest strength to slay this woman and avenge those who trusted him. Thus, he raised his Double-Bladed Battle Axe, and with a furious swing, he chopped towards Li Miaozhen. The magical blade of the axe sliced through the void and reached Li Miaozhen in the blink of an eye. Prepared to fight to the death, Ello was indeed powerful. Even with Li Miaozhen¡¯s strength, she felt her wrist numb and her internal energy fluctuating after taking the hit head on. Therefore, she stepped back and instantly vanished into an Array, disappearing from Ello¡¯s sight. ¡°Damn it, come out!¡± Elro roared furiously, his double-bladed battle axe slashing relentlessly towards the direction Li Miaozhen had disappeared. Zing! A sound of a sabre rang out, and the White Tiger Saber, brimming with fierce aura, slashed towards Elro from behind. Caught off guard by the stealth attack, demonic qi surged wildly around Elro, and demon flames shot up ten meters high. Although the White Tiger Saber managed to split them and strike his back, it did not cause him any serious injury. Elro whirled around and charged at Li Miaozhen, but she quickly retreated and vanished again. ¡°Roar¡­¡± From behind, a thunderous roar of a barbarian bear echoed, deafening. Immediately after, a ten-meter-tall barbarian bear appeared out of the void, its massive bear paws, each a meter in diameter, striking towards the commandant of the Demon Clan¡¯s Guard Army. Elro dodged swiftly; with a loud bang, the bear¡¯s paws brutally smashed onto the ground, making a thunderous noise and creating a several meter-deep crater. All the rocks in the vicinity of ten meters sprang into the air, creating a terrifying scene. Before Elro could counterattack, he suddenly felt a breeze behind him, followed by a tingling sensation of a sharp aura assaulting him. It was a Golden Eagle with Golden Winged Great Peng bloodline. The Golden Eagle flapped its wings, sending out sharp golden radiance, attacking the opponent. Elro swung his double-bladed battle axe like a spinning wheel, blocking all the golden radiance, but before he could catch his breath, a scorching flame burst from the side, carrying a heat intense enough to melt gold and iron, forcing him to dodge temporarily. This time, it was a Fiery Fire Lion, covered in golden flames. All these were Li Miaozhen¡¯s Spiritual Beasts. Originally, because her realm was limited, she didn¡¯t possess so many Demon Core Realm Spiritual Beasts. However, once she advanced to the Golden Core, in just a year or two, she managed to elevate several of her Spiritual Beasts, which had been at the Foundation Establishment Peak for years, into the Demon Core Realm. Although each of these Spiritual Beasts wasn¡¯t a match for Elro individually, when they teamed up, he couldn¡¯t easily win. More crucially, there was the ever-elusive Li Miaozhen who would suddenly emerge to launch stealth attacks, making it difficult for him to defend, and allowing Li Miaozhen to continually inflict new wounds on him. Moreover, a saber was still stuck in his stomach; any slight movement caused heart-piercing pain and constant bleeding, weakening his condition progressively. Qin Feng, at this moment, did not participate, knowing well his limitations. Although he could handle Cultivators a realm higher than hisa€¡±meaning those at the Golden Core Early Stagea€¡±someone like Elro, who possessed the battle strength of someone at the Golden Core Late Stage or even Peak, was not someone he could easily handle. Therefore, he wisely stayed behind, manipulating the Array Plate, helping Li Miaozhen and the Spiritual Beasts occasionally conceal their forms and cover their auras, keeping Elro constantly under stealth attack. Under such circumstances, even the powerful Elro gradually couldn¡¯t withstand anymore and finally was knocked to the ground by a slap from the barbarian bear and then continuously slashed by the wings of the Golden Eagle, eventually killing this formidable member of the Demon Clan. ¡°Elro is dead. Although there are still a few capable fellows in Fiery Flame City, they definitely won¡¯t be my match,¡± Li Miaozhen said to Qin Feng, ¡°Quickly, retract the Array, let¡¯s hurry back to Fiery Flame City, loot the treasures of the Fiery Flame City Lord, and leave this place. Otherwise, if he tracks down our aura, he might catch up.¡± ¡°Alright.¡± Without another word, Qin Feng waved his hand and collected all the Array Flags, as well as the Array Plate, and prepared to leave. ¡°What are you doing?¡± On the White Tiger, Li Miaozhen looked at Qin Feng, puzzled, ¡°Don¡¯t you have your own Riding Tool, why are you getting on my White Tiger?¡± ¡°Hehe¡­¡± Qin Feng rubbed his hands and said, ¡°My Riding Tool is only at the Foundation Establishment Realm, slow in flying, really not presentable. It¡¯s better if I ride the White Tiger with junior sister, so we don¡¯t delay our important matters.¡± Chapter 279 - Chapter 279 Chapter 276 Scouring for Treasure ?Chapter 279: Chapter 276 Scouring for Treasure Chapter 279: Chapter 276 Scouring for Treasure ¡°He said that,¡± Li Miaozhen felt that something was slightly off, although she couldn¡¯t pinpoint what exactly. However, since time was pressing, she didn¡¯t want to delay any further. After all, they needed to leave enough time for escape after snatching the treasures from the Fiery Flame City Lord, especially since the City Lord¡¯s Demon Pet was highly skilled in tracking and following scents. If they were caught by the Fiery Flame City Lord, even though both of them had life-saving tricks up their sleeves, it was uncertain if they could truly escape the City Lord¡¯s pursuit. Thus, Li Miaozhen didn¡¯t continue to argue with Qin Feng. She simply let him sit behind her and patted the black-and-white back of the White Tiger. The White Tiger opened its mouth and roared, setting its four paws in motion and walked on by controlling the wind. However, they hadn¡¯t gone far when Li Miaozhen shifted uncomfortably forward, annoyed, she smacked away Qin Feng¡¯s hand that was on her waist and turned her head to glare at him, ¡°Take your hand off, and also, keep your distance. Why are you so close?¡± Qin Feng gave an embarrassed smile, moving his hand that had been secretly placed on her waist backward along her cape, and explained, ¡°Sister, your White Tiger Escape Technique is too fast, and since you didn¡¯t cast any Defensive Magic, I was afraid I¡¯d be blown away, so I¡­¡± ¡°Really?¡± ¡°Of course, how could I possibly deceive you, Senior Sister?¡± Qin Feng¡¯s face was full of sincerity. ¡°Hmph, I thought you wouldn¡¯t dare.¡± Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í??.§ã¦Ï It¡¯s better for you to just stay and cultivate in Heavenly Pool Cave Heaven. Doesn¡¯t your Azure Dragon lineage have the Dragon Transformation Pond to aid in cultivation? I¡¯ve heard that Martial Uncle Ning took you to the Ten Thousand Demons Cave Heaven for cultivation before the expedition. Seeing the aura on you, it¡¯s apparent that you have initially formed the Azure Dragon Dao Body. Don¡¯t focus too much energy on other things; it¡¯s better to advance to the Golden Core Realm as soon as possible. Only then can you truly understand the wonders of the Golden Core Dao and grasp the methods of Divine Skills.¡± ¡°Sister, you are right.¡± Qin Feng agreed first, then added, ¡°Sister might not know, but the reason I ventured out was not only to temper my Dao Cultivation but also to gather enough resources to quickly advance.¡± ¡°Being a True Disciple of the sect, doesn¡¯t the sect provide enough Cultivation Resources for you?¡± Li Miaozhen asked curiously. ¡°That¡¯s not the problem,¡± Qin Feng laughed, ¡°The resources that the sect provides are indeed enough for my cultivation, even the resources for cultivating those Spiritual Beasts of mine are not in short supply. However, junior brother has other plans and many places where Spirit Stones need to be spent, so I have no choice but to take the risk to venture out.¡± ¡°Mm.¡± Li Miaozhen nodded and did not inquire further. After all, every cultivator has their own secrets, and with her personality, she was not one to pry zealously. She only reminded, ¡°Your Cultivation is still weak; the Foundation Establishment Realm is not very secure, many techniques simply cannot be utilized. Since you¡¯re in dire need of resources, I¡¯ll let you take more from this haul. Advance to the Golden Core as soon as possible, so you won¡¯t be killed by powerful members of the Demon Clan.¡± Hearing this, Qin Feng immediately felt warmth in his heart. As the ruler of Fiery Flame City for over three hundred years, the wealth accumulated by the Fiery Flame City Lord was certainly not meager. What Li Miaozhen called taking a bit more might not only be just a bita€¡±within a vast treasure vault, it could possibly be resources worth tens or even hundreds of thousands of Spirit Stones. It was also because Li Miaozhen was somewhat carefree and always acted following her heart, without being petty with others, that she could make such an offer. If it were anyone else, where would they willingly give up such significant benefits easily? This deeply moved Qin Feng. Li Miao Zhen¡¯s decision to do so clearly showed that she truly considered him one of her own. After considering for a moment, Qin Feng did not refuse, realizing that sometimes accepting the kindness of a fellow sect member could actually strengthen their bond. He smiled and said, ¡°Since Elder Sister said so, then I, your junior brother, will not stand on ceremony. However, rest assured, Elder Sister, I will not take advantage of you. You should know that some time ago, I borrowed the ¡®White Tiger Divine Technique¡¯ from your White Tiger Lineage. The reason I borrowed the ¡®White Tiger Divine Technique¡¯ was to study its way of refining Geng Metal Energy and deepen my understanding of divine arts. My Ruyi Golden Snake naturally has the ability to devour metal, refining the Golden Qi in metals to strengthen itself. With my Ruyi Golden Light divine art as the foundation, I plan to thoroughly comprehend the technique of refining Golden Qi from devouring metal, and once successful, not only can it be integrated into my ¡®Azure Dragon Divine Technique,¡¯ but it can also be taught. I believe there is no one in our Beast Taming Sect more suitable for this divine art than your White Tiger lineage, Elder Sister. After I deepened my understanding, how about I pass on this cultivation technique to you as a way of repaying you?¡± ¡°Really?¡± Upon hearing this, Li Miao Zhen immediately became excited: ¡°I had only known about the power of your lifebound Ruyi Golden Light, but because there is no compatibility between the snake and tiger species, I never considered it. If you can truly comprehend the divine art of Ruyi Golden Light, that would be impressive and a great help to me.¡± Speaking up to here, she sighed lightly: ¡°Although the ¡®White Tiger Divine Technique¡¯ is strong, one can¡¯t simply follow the script and cultivate it. I also want to find a new path as soon as possible, but unfortunately, my realm is limited, and my understanding of the Dao is limited, making it extremely difficult to make any progress. I still have no clue up to now. If you can comprehend the technique of refining Golden Qi, not only can I find a new path, but also many future successors of my White Tiger lineage might use this technique to achieve their own Dao.¡± Qin Feng was taken aback: ¡°Really? Just one divine art, and it can achieve all that?¡± ¡°Of course.¡± Li Miao Zhen smiled and said: ¡°Each type of metal has its unique properties, such as Red Copper, which contains Fire Gold Qi, and Purple Gold, whose hardness is supreme, and Star Iron, which contains Demon-Breaking Star Power. If one can gather enough of the same type of artifact refining metal and absorb only that type of Golden Qi, one can gain abilities different from others. Over time, one¡¯s path of cultivation will naturally diverge slightly, and their understanding of the Dao will vary. The higher the realm, the greater the divergence, which is why I said this divine art could be extremely beneficial to our White Tiger lineage. Otherwise, my master wouldn¡¯t have agreed so easily to pass the ¡®White Tiger Divine Technique¡¯ to you.¡± ¡°I see.¡± Hearing this, Qin Feng immediately understood: ¡°No wonder Elder Luo was so amiable when he passed on the ¡®White Tiger Divine Technique¡¯ to me. I even suspected he was naturally a kind person.¡± ¡°Kind my foot.¡± Li Miao Zhen unreservedly mocked her own master: ¡°My master is nothing but overbearing, and beneath that tyrannical exterior, there¡¯s also a cunning heart. It¡¯s just not easy for others to notice. You¡¯re only safe because you¡¯re one of our own in the Beast Taming Sect and because he can¡¯t win over your master. Otherwise, he would probably have already tried to snatch you away, whether through coercion or seduction or forcing you to accept him as your teacher to get your divine art by all means necessary.¡± ¡°That fierce?¡± Qin Feng was somewhat taken aback. ¡°Of course.¡± Li Miao Zhen said spiritedly: ¡°When I first stood out in the Outer Sect, Elder Fang of the White Tiger lineage took notice of me. After entering the Inner Sect, I was meant to be his disciple, but one time my master sneakily went out for drinks while being punished by the Supreme Elder and had to be in seclusion. When he came back and saw me, he snatched me away and forced me to accept him as my teacher, nearly reducing Elder Fang to tears.¡± ¡°Era€|Inner Sect Elders cry too?¡± ¡°Rubbish, the elders of the Inner Sect are human too, why wouldn¡¯t they cry?¡± Li Miaozhen said gruffly, ¡°Besides, Elder Fang is a woman, not just any woman but one who has often been bullied by my master since she was little. It¡¯s normal for her to cry, although a lot of times, it¡¯s just an act. However, when my master took me away to become his disciple, Elder Fang must have been truly heartbroken. After all, a promising candidate like me being taken away, it would be strange if she didn¡¯t feel pain. So, it¡¯s a well-known fact both inside and outside the Sect that my master is a tyrant, I¡¯m not trying to tarnish his name on purpose.¡± Upon hearing this, Qin Feng was at a loss for words, ¡°It seems, I¡¯d better keep my distance from your master in the future.¡± ¡°That won¡¯t be necessary.¡± Li Miaozhen said, ¡°Since he didn¡¯t take you away to make you my junior brother, it means he won¡¯t use force on you. If you get in touch with him more and occasionally reveal your progress in understanding that divine technique, and share your difficulties, you might actually get quite a few benefits from my master.¡± ¡°Hehe¡­¡± Qin Feng burst into laughter. His senior sister was quite ruthless when it came to selling out her master. Of course, this was because everyone involved was from the same Sect, and some issues were not taken too seriously, hence the casual banter. If it had been someone else, she would certainly have taken a different tone. ¡°So you¡¯d better hurry up with your cultivation. If you have any questions about the White Tiger Divine Technique, feel free to ask me anytime. The sooner you grasp that divine technique, the sooner I can cultivate an exceptional White Tiger Dao Body and achieve a unique version of myself.¡± Li Miaozhen said with a hint of longing, ¡°The Dao is lengthy, almost endless, and if we want to explore its mysteries, the first thing we must achieve is longevity, untroubled by the limitations of life span. Otherwise, without achieving the Immortal Dao, with such short lifespans, where would we find the time to concentrate on enlightenment?¡± Qin Feng nodded, ¡°Don¡¯t worry senior sister, I will definitely understand this divine technique as quickly as possible and organize it into a spell that can be taught.¡± As they conversed, they had almost reached Fiery Flame City. Li Miaozhen did not fly directly into the city, but instead, she landed in the woods outside the city gates, dismissed the White Tiger, and made herself look somewhat disheveled before preparing to enter the city. But before entering the city, she fiercely stomped on her own shadow: ¡°Don¡¯t hide in my shadow, why stay so close to me? It¡¯s full of shadows all around in the middle of the night, just sneak into the city on your own. Wait until I¡¯ve lured some experts from the City Lord¡¯s mansion away, then come and join me. Whomever I go to meet, hide in their shadows. If I can¡¯t successfully ambush them, then you come in for the kill.¡± On the ground, Qin Feng, who nearly had his head stepped on by Li Miaozhen, slightly tilted his head and reluctantly agreed, then he followed the shadows on the ground and slipped towards Fiery Flame City. Once inside the city, everything went smoothly, just as Li Miaozhen had anticipated. When she feigned severe injuries and called for reinforcements, most of the top experts under the command of the City Lord¡¯s mansion quickly went out of the city and rushed to rescue at the Crystal Ore Veins. Although the Demon Clan is cunning, they are more often cruel and violent. Relatively speaking, the ones who actually use their brains are rare, and they also feared that the Fiery Flame City Lord would punish them for the loss of top masters upon his return. Moreover, Li Miaozhen had gotten along quite well with them recently, thus they did not suspect anything in her words and rushed to the rescue. After these people had left, the gravely injured Li Miaozhen suddenly grabbed a mage by her side who was preparing to use magic to treat her injuries. The mage was slightly startled, ¡°Beautiful Miss Amelia, don¡¯t worry, Kalu and everyone else have gone to assist, trust me, they will definitely be able to repel the demon beasts and secure the Crystal Ore Veins.¡± ¡°Yes, I trust you. Once they arrive, they will surely reclaim the ore vein and prevent it from falling into the hands of the demon beasts.¡± Li Miaozhen nodded in agreement, considering that there were no demon beasts there at all. If there were any, it was only the ordinary ones drawn to the nearby ore veins by the strong scent of blood from her and Qin Feng¡¯s excessive slaughter. ¡°So, what are you still worried about?¡± The mage looked at Li Miaozhen strangely, ¡°Hurry and let go of my arm. How can I treat you if you keep gripping it like this?¡± ¡°No need, I¡¯m in a rush.¡± Li Miaozhen shook her head and sat up from the bed. ¡°In a rush to go where?¡± The mage asked in surprise. ¡°To the treasure vault of the City Lord¡¯s Mansion.¡± ¡°What?¡± The mage thought he had heard incorrectly. However, he no longer had the chance to clarify his confusion. Because Li Miaozhen had already snapped his neck. Subsequently, Li Miaozhen stood up and walked toward the remaining few powerful beings. Although there were slight complications, with Qin Feng transforming into a shadow to assist, they quickly ambushed and slaughtered those few powerful beings and then swiftly headed towards the treasure vault. Despite causing quite a commotion by killing those powerful beings, attracting many of the City Guard Army to search the area, Qin Feng and Li Miaozhen ignored them and had already reached the front of the treasure vault in the City Lord¡¯s Mansion before they could arrive. This vault was where Fiery Flame City stored all its resources; located on one side of the City Lord¡¯s Mansion and guarded by many powerful beings, it was generally unthinkable that anyone would target it, so usually only a small troop of demon soldiers was stationed to guard it. These demon soldiers, having mediocre war power, were easily slaughtered by Qin Feng who, transformed into a shadow, used Ruyi Golden Light to ambush them. ?0¦Í?¦Ï.?¦Ï Then, Li Miaozhen, using the keys they had just stolen, opened the great doors to the vault, and the two of them entered without triggering any magical restrictions, walking in as if it were completely normal. Once inside, they saw plentiful items, though most were ordinary materials including various ores, weapons, armors, and boxes of crafted demon crystals. As true disciples and initially inclined to plunder the demon clan on this expedition, they had prepared not just one or two large spatial storage equipments. Upon seeing these items, they did not differentiate between good and bad, any item possessing spiritual nature was packed away. Even those weapons and armors, once brought back and refined by the group of artifact refiners, would yield considerable artifact refining materials. With swift movements, they packed all items into their storage magical artifacts and then turned to leave, heading straight for the back residence of the City Lord¡¯s Mansion. Although the large storehouse contained many items, the truly exquisite treasures were scant. The real treasures were actually hidden in the Fiery Flame City Lord¡¯s personal vault, which the two certainly would not overlook. Li Miaozhen, familiar with the City Lord¡¯s Mansion, directly led Qin Feng towards the back residence, slicing through any demon soldiers and servants that stood in their way. Although their rampant slaughter soon drew more of the Guard Army to attack them, the City Lord¡¯s Mansion, lacking experts, simply could not stop these two intruders. Moreover, they had the aid of numerous spiritual beasts, especially the few Core Formation Realm spiritual beasts Li Miaozhen possessed, each endowed with unique divine skills making it effortless to deal with the ordinary demon clan. In this manner, they rampaged through, bursting straight into the inner residence, frightening the City Lord of Fiery Flame City¡¯s many concubines who feared they were about to be abducted. Yet, it turned out that these two intruders were completely indifferent to their beauty. Chapter 280 - Chapter 280 277 Pillage Flee ?Chapter 280: 277 Pillage Flee Chapter 280: 277 Pillage Flee The Fiery Flame City Lord¡¯s treasure vault was located directly beneath his bedroom. After the two of them burst in, they released their Divine Sense to sweep the area and quickly discovered the location of the secret chamber. Qin Feng stepped forward and unceremoniously dumped the two undressed witches off the bed, even tossing their clothes onto them on his way by. Though these witches from two different races had devilishly voluptuous figures that far surpassed ordinary human aesthetics, their faces were not at all enticing to Qin Feng. One witch with sheep horns on her head and a tail with an arrow-shaped tip was one thing, but the other witch, with a mouthful of fine, sharp teeth and an authentically demonic countenance, would probably give anyone nightmares with just one glance. Originally, he was curiously wondering why these two devilish women were hiding in bed without clothes on, especially considering that the Fiery Flame City Lord was absent. However, time was of the essence. Their prior killing spree had thrown the City Lord Mansion into chaos. Not only had numerous demon soldiers followed them into the City Lord¡¯s private residence, but someone had also sounded the horn, summoning more demon soldiers to surround and suppress the enemy. The horn was a Magic Guide Device containing a Magic Array; once activated by magic power, it could transmit sound over great distances, so far that even the experts currently investigating the death causes of Ello and others in the mining area thirty miles away could hear it. This horn was only to be blown when Fiery Flame City faced the invasion of a formidable enemy; usually, it was not used at all. Thus, when the horn was sounded, those experts who had been lured out of the city would quickly return to provide reinforcement. Because of this, Qin Feng and his partner had no time to waste on other matters. The only reason he covered the two witches with their clothes was simply because their appearance was an eyesore. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í?0.?¦Ï Surely witches could look as appealing as Sister Li Miao Zhen currently does? Their ugliness was so off-putting that he feared it would leave a shadow on his psyche just from an extra glance. Evidently, the message conveyed by Qin Feng¡¯s eyes deeply offended the two witches, causing them to doubt their devilish charms. Could it be that the standards of beauty for mages had shifted, no longer favoring the exquisite allure of witches like them? Qin Feng was still dressed as a mage, and Li Miao Zhen had not reverted to her human form either. They intended to raid the City Lord Mansion under the guise of the Demon Clan, leading to misjudgment and stirring up suspicion amongst the Fiery Flame City¡¯s own. Pushing aside the luxurious bed large enough to fit seven or eight people, they revealed a Magic Restriction underneath. Such a Magic Restriction required a specific Magic Key to unlock. Of course, the two of them did not possess the so-called Magic Key, and even though Qin Feng¡¯s Ruyi Golden Light could morph into any shape, inserting it into the slot of the Magic Restriction was useless because Ruyi Golden Light emanated no Demonic Qi, nor did it carry any trace of the Fiery Flame City Lord. Li Miao Zhen glanced at the Magic Restriction below and swung her saber. Boom! Boom! Boom! Three consecutive strikes and although the Prohibition trembled slightly, there wasn¡¯t the slightest sign of damage. This deeply furrowed their brows. Qin Feng extended his Divine Sense to probe, but he too shook his head. If the Magic Restriction wasn¡¯t connected to the entire Treasure Room below, he could use the Earth Escape Divine Power to sneak in from underneath. Unfortunately, the Fiery Flame City Lord had evidently not left such a loophole, leaving them with only one option: to break the Restriction and force entry. Soon, Li Miao Zhen released several of her Spiritual Beasts at the Demon Core Realm, preparing to have these beasts help her wear down the Magic Restriction. They had to break this Dao Prohibition quickly, otherwise, if they were delayed even slightly longer, those high-ranking members of the Demon Clan would be able to return. For the Demon Clan elites, a distance of thirty li really didn¡¯t require much time, especially since several of them possessed high-level Magical Beasts as Demon Pet Riding Tools. On the ground, the two witches who were just about to get up and get dressed only felt darkness before their eyes, as they were suddenly stepped on by an appearing Barbarian Bear, crushing them under its paw with an agonized shout, flattening them breathless. This Barbarian Bear was originally cultivated by Li Miao Zhen as a meat shield Spiritual Beast, and its weight was astonishingly heavy, naturally far beyond what the two witches could endure. Qin Feng also released several of his Spiritual Beasts to help attack the Magic Restriction, wearing down its strength. So many large Spiritual Beasts crowded in the room, immediately making the originally spacious City Lord bedroom cramped. Therefore, after just a few swipes from the Demon Beasts, they pushed most of the roof and walls aside, so as not to hinder their effort. As for those City Lord Guards originally assembled outside to attack them, after being slashed by the Golden Eagle with several Golden Light Slashes, killing hundreds of Demon Soldiers, the remaining ones dared not come to court death anymore. After all, the high-rankers would not take long to arrive, and such formidable beings should wait for the Commanders to return to deal with them. Boom, boom, boom, after a series of roars, the Magic Restriction exhibited intense fluctuations. After all, it was an inanimate object, it could only passively endure, how could it withstand so many powerful attacks. ?¦Ï??¦Ï.§ã0 Especially Li Miao Zhen, after merging with her Lifebound White Tiger, solely in terms of strength, she was definitely not inferior to a Golden Core Late Stage Cultivator. Moreover, she was also a Cultivator. Cultivators had many methods, and even though she herself was more proficient in combat and rarely involved in other areas, it did not mean she couldn¡¯t use them. When she swung the White Tiger Saber in succession, causing the Magic Restriction below to tremble, she suddenly cast a Prohibition-Breaking Talisman. These Spirit Talismans were specially made to break various Prohibition Arrays, and although the Demon Clan¡¯s Forbidden Techniques were somewhat different from the Immortal Dao, their essence still relied on Arrays-based Prohibitions. Thus, after being bombarded by the Prohibition-Breaking Talisman¡¯s power, it immediately broke an important node of the Magic Array below, causing the entire prohibition to stall, allowing Li Miao Zhen to completely slash through the Magic Restriction with full force. Although she herself was also shaken by the rebounding force of the prohibition, she disregarded it, instead striking even more fiercely, opening the passage below with one slash. Subsequently, Qin Feng let the Soul Devouring Vine Demon first send out several vines to test whether there were any Magic Traps below. Only after getting a definite response from the Soul Devouring Vine Demon that there were no other Magic Restrictions impeding their way, did the two let the Spiritual Beasts walk ahead and enter the passage below. At the moment the Magic Restriction was broken, thousands of li away, in the palace of the Dark Nether Demon God who was conversing with several other City Lords, the face of the Lord of Fiery Flame City suddenly changed. He reached into his bosom and pulled out a Magic Seal, which was the token to activate the Magic Restriction of the Treasure Room, and also something that was connected as one. At this moment, the seal was flashing with light and surging with Demonic Qi, clearly indicating someone had tampered with his Magic Restriction. ¡°` ¡°Damn it!¡± The Fiery Flame City Lord¡¯s expression changed drastically, and after quickly greeting the other City Lords, he left the Demon God Palace and flew towards Fiery Flame City with his Demon Pet. Qin Feng and his companion, of course, did not know that the Fiery Flame City Lord had already sensed the disruption caused by the broken Magic Array. Even if they had known, they wouldn¡¯t have cared, as they were not there at the moment. After descending a dozen or so steps, they arrived at a massive Treasure Room. As soon as they entered, both of their eyes were dazzled by countless sparkling lights. There were simply too many treasures, various High Rank Demon Cores, equipment, and objects containing fluctuations of Magic Power, and even two Demon Cores that at a glance, were far superior to those of ordinary High Level Magical Beasts, which made their hearts beat faster with desire. There were also boxes of Demon Crystal Stones, countless Top Level weapons and Armor, and various gems that twinkled with Spirit Light, all neatly arranged on shelves. ¡°Take them!¡± Without being picky, Li Miao Zhen said and began collecting from the row of shelves in front of her, sometimes, in her haste, taking the entire shelf with her. Qin Feng¡¯s eyes shone even brighter as he started stuffing things from another direction. He was even more decisive than Li Miao Zhen. The Demon Refining Pot had ample space, so he took everything from wooden cabinets to wooden boxes. He didn¡¯t bother to discern what each treasure was. First, he would fill the pot, and then, once they were out of this place, he could sort through his haul. Under their whirlwind-like raid, it didn¡¯t take long before the vast Treasure Room was left with only a few lonely shelves, the ones Li Miao Zhen had left initially. ¡°Let¡¯s go, quickly.¡± Li Miao Zhen, pulling Qin Feng by the arm, hurried out, ¡°With those guys¡¯ speed, they¡¯ll be back in no time. We need to get out of here fast.¡± Qin Feng, without a word, followed Li Miao Zhen out of the underground Treasure Room. Upon emerging, Li Miao Zhen didn¡¯t directly escape on her White Tiger. Instead, she released a Two-Legged Flying Dragon. She had previously knocked out the Flying Magical Beast and, during her spare time, took control of the Rank 7 beast with a Binding Spell. The beast was still in a state of unconsciousness, and without the strength to resist her, it was easily subdued by Li Miao Zhen. The reason for releasing this magical beast now was she didn¡¯t want to expose her Human Clan identity and mislead the Fiery Flame City Lord¡¯s judgment. The Two-Legged Flying Dragon opened its eyes, glanced at Li Miao Zhen, and after feeling the terror she brought to its very soul, it dared not disobey her orders. It allowed the two to jump on its back, flapped its large wings a few times, and soared into the sky, flying rapidly away. Less than an hour after their departure, two figures riding Flying Magical Beasts arrived back at Fiery Flame City. Upon seeing the chaos at the City Lord Mansion, with bodies strewn everywhere, they were deeply shocked. ¡°What¡¯s going on here? Where are the other Demon Generals? Why aren¡¯t they here?¡± One silhouette leapt down from a good distance above ground from the Flying Magical Beast. It was a tall Demon Clan Warrior, one of the Guard Army¡¯s Deputy Commanders. Looking at the devastation, he called out to the Demon Soldiers nearby. ¡°Amelia has betrayed us. She colluded with a Snake Magician to kill the adults who stayed behind, then they plundered the vault and broke into the City Lord¡¯s private residence.¡± ¡°What?¡± Hearing this, the Deputy Commander, along with the Mage who had just dismounted the other beast, almost fainted. ¡°Amelia betrayed us? They even went to the private residence of Lord City Lord?¡± The two high-ranking members of the Demon Clan exchanged glances, seeing the despair in each other¡¯s eyes. Hoping against hope, they followed the trail of the dead soldiers toward the private residence. Upon seeing that the City Lord¡¯s bedroom had been torn apart, leaving only half a wall standing, and a large entrance to an underground chamber had been exposed, their hearts turned to ice. ¡°It¡¯s over!¡± The Deputy Commander murmured in an almost despairing voice, ¡°Lord City Lord¡¯s treasures that had been accumulated over many years have been stolen. He will go mad, he will kill us.¡± ¡°Let¡¯s go down and check.¡± The other Mage still harbored a sliver of hope, ¡°Lord City Lord has accumulated so many treasures that an ordinary Space Ring wouldn¡¯t hold all of them. Maybe Amelia and company only took a small portion, and a large amount is still left.¡± However, upon reaching the room below, they soon understood the harsh truth of great expectations often leading to great disappointments. When they saw the huge Treasure Room with only a few lonely shelves near the entrance left, they felt like dying. ¡°They¡¯ve only just left a short while ago and couldn¡¯t have gone far. If we¡¯re fast enough, we might still catch them.¡± The Mage and the Deputy Commander looked at one another and decided to pursue them. Although the hope was slim, it was still hope. Moreover, if they didn¡¯t catch up, they could use it as an opportunity to distance themselves from Fiery Flame City, avoiding the City Lord¡¯s furious blame upon his return. Though they had grown accustomed to life in Fiery Flame City over the years, adapting to wandering anew would surely be uncomfortable. However, it was undoubtedly better than being killed by the Fiery Flame City Lord. So, they quickly set out and inquired about the direction Qin Feng and his companion had fled, then set off in pursuit. Of course, they would not catch them. After flying several miles away from the city on the Two-Legged Flying Dragon, Li Miao Zhen retracted the beast and released her White Tiger instead. In terms of Flying Escape speed, her White Tiger was several times faster than the Two-Legged Flying Dragon. ¡°` Chapter 281 - Chapter 281 Chapter 278 Fire Ape Promoted ?Chapter 281: Chapter 278: Fire Ape Promoted Chapter 281: Chapter 278: Fire Ape Promoted Li Miaozhen had been out on missions far more often than Qin Feng, so she had more experience in escaping from danger. While flying swiftly on the White Tiger, she also cast spells to conceal their auras and changed directions several times. Additionally, she had repeatedly used various methods to transfer their auras onto some small demonic beasts that she captured casually, before releasing them to scatter in all directions. In this way, even if someone actually followed their trail, the demonic beasts would confuse the direction, making it hard to discern where they had escaped to. After two days of continuous sprinting and escaping ten thousand miles, they finally stopped when they sensed no more dangers. They found a hidden valley, set up an array plate to cover a section of the deep valley, and then took out the treasures they had stored earlier, ready to divide the loot. ¡°I mentioned earlier, you can take a bit more,¡± Li Miaozhen waved her hand generously after they took out all the plundered treasures, ¡°Pick whatever you like, primarily focus on what you presently need.¡± ¡°Thank you, Senior Sister,¡± Qin Feng smiled but he didn¡¯t just randomly grab things, ¡°Senior Sister, I currently need a large quantity of demon crystals. So, how about giving me all the demon crystal stones we obtained this time? I¡¯ll just pick a few demon cores suitable for refining my spiritual beasts, and the rest of the stuff will be yours. Is that agreeable?¡± He briefly estimated, though the quantity of demon crystal stones was substantial, their value wasn¡¯t as high as all the other items combined, especially the demon cores from the two super demon beasts, which were precious and incomparable to mere demon crystal stones. Moreover, the Fiery Flame City Lord had collected several top-level magic equipment pieces, which were also valuable items. If brought back and reformed by an artifact refiner, their power would definitely not be inferior to top-level magical treasures. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ??¦Í??.§ã¦Ï There were also many precious materials worth collecting that, in reality, were worth many times more than the demon crystal stones. Li Miaozhen furrowed her brows, ¡°Didn¡¯t we agree to prioritize your needs this time?¡± Qin Feng laughed, ¡°Although Senior Sister is magnanimous, I am not a greedy person. Without Senior Sister, it would have been very difficult for me to snatch these treasures from the hands of those demon clan members. Even if I could obtain them through long-term planning, it would take too much time, filled with uncertainties, and there might even be the possibility of suffering a great loss. Senior Sister agreeing to do this job with me has already been a huge favor; I can¡¯t let you endure the loss and take the lesser share, I wouldn¡¯t feel right about that.¡± ¡°Good, at least you have a conscience,¡± Li Miaozhen revealed a bright smile and patted his head twice, ¡°Actually, it wouldn¡¯t hurt if you took a bit more. This haul is substantial, so whether you take a little more or less doesn¡¯t make much difference to me. When I go back, I will exchange these items for other cultivation resources suitable for me at the sect, so just take what you need without worry.¡± Qin Feng frowned, trying to catch her hand that was rubbing his head, thinking to himself, Just talk, I¡¯m not a kid, nor am I your spiritual pet, it¡¯s too much to pat my head like this. But before he could catch Li Miaozhen¡¯s hand, she flipped her hand and gave his own a smack. Qin Feng yelped in pain, then helplessly said, ¡°Senior Sister, can you please not treat me like a child, I am a man, don¡¯t randomly pat my head.¡± ¡°Tsk.¡± Li Miaozhen curled her lips disdainfully, ¡°You¡¯re just a little brat. Have you ever looked at yourself in the mirror? You call yourself a man? Come back and say that when you¡¯ve grown a beard.¡± As she spoke, she fetched a demon mirror from a nearby rack and passed it in front of him. It was a high-quality demon mirror crafted from top-grade Demon Crystal Stone, engraved with numerous complex magic runes, and the back was inlaid with a huge demon core, surrounded by a circle of ornate gemstones. It was a very extravagant collection item, even in the treasure vault of the Fiery Flame City Lord. Qin Feng brought his face closer to it as she held it, and couldn¡¯t help feeling a bit deflated. No wonder Li Miaozhen didn¡¯t consider him a man. Although he had been practicing for several years and had established his Foundation early, which slowed down his physical growth, plus his face naturally looked tender, he looked only slightly older than when he had first started. He still had the appearance of a youth about fifteen or sixteen years old. Despite being handsome, his face still bore the distinct naivety of youth, hardly the demeanor of a mature man. In Li Miaozhen¡¯s eyes, the so-called masculine demeanor should be like that of her master, Luo Zhancheng. But unless Qin Feng learned to transform, his relatively handsome face would certainly never exude Luo Zhancheng¡¯s overwhelmingly dominant aura. Qin Feng thought to himself that once he achieved the Golden Core, he might ask his master for a secret technique to make his appearance more mature, so as not to be treated like a little brat, who hadn¡¯t fully grown his hair; it was too embarrassing. In the cultivation world, although these types of secret techniques were not abundant, they were fairly widely spread. Especially among the higher-ups of various sects. After all, many sect leaders and elders needed a dignified appearance to maintain their authority. Even a slightly more mature look would do, otherwise, having a tender-faced youth take on that role just didn¡¯t seem solemn enough. There were also some who went the extra mile to appear wise and seasoned by deliberately turning their hair white, though their skin was softer than a baby¡¯sa€¡±these were the folks known as having the ¡°white hair, youthful face¡± appearance. Once their hair was turned black, they still looked young. ¡°Alright, let¡¯s divide these items and leave this place quickly. I need to delve deeper into the Demon Domain to gather intelligence on the demon clans. We can¡¯t linger here too long.¡± Following Li Miaozhen¡¯s words, Qin Feng didn¡¯t dwell on it any further. He gathered all the demon crystals; there were almost three million in total. According to Li Miaozhen, this was because the Fiery Flame City Lord had taken most of his accumulated demon crystals to the Demon God Palace and offered it to the Dark Nether Demon God, or else they could have collected twice as many. In fact, the cities under the Dark Nether Demon God typically wouldn¡¯t need to tribute so much, but due to current war needs, the Fiery Flame City Lord had no choice but to contribute large amounts of resources. Qin Feng selected a dozen high-level demon cores and then indicated that he didn¡¯t need anything else. He felt that, with these demon crystals and demon cores, not only were they enough to allow the Fire Ape to advance to the Demon Core Realm, but they would also support the operation of the Demon Refining Pot for a long time. Even upgrading the Ruyi Golden Snake to a higher realm and merging higher rank bloodline divine powers wouldn¡¯t be an issue. There was no worry about depleting the Spirit Vein within the Demon Refining Pot anytime soon. In the end, it was Li Miaozhen who thought he had taken too little and was at a disadvantage, so she stuffed a few top-level magic equipment items at him for defense, and then packed up the rest of the items. Qin Feng did not further refuse. Since Li Miaozhen had given them to him, he just accepted them. After all, she was his fellow sect disciple, not an outsider, and there was no need to be overly modest. And, as Li Miaozhen had said, even if these top-level magic equipment items weren¡¯t cultivated into magical treasures, he could still manage to use them somewhat. Especially noteworthy was a set of full-body war armor which, if truly worn, would provide extremely formidable defense. After distributing all the items, the two didn¡¯t linger there, discussed their future plans briefly, and then departed, flying in different directions. Li Miaozhen¡¯s cultivation was far superior to Qin Feng¡¯s and, coupled with other tasks she bore, it wasn¡¯t prudent for her to accompany Qin Feng; it could easily endanger him. Qin Feng was self-aware and did not request that the senior sister continue to explore other Demon Domains with him for profit. This was an instance of a temporary alliance for gain; truthfully, they were not suited to venture together, for at many times, Qin Feng¡¯s current cultivation level could only hinder Li Miaozhen. After watching Li Miaozhen depart, Qin Feng pondered briefly, then flew toward the territory of the Dark Flame Demon God. That area was the first to be occupied by the alliance of sects, serving now as their base. Centering around the Dark Flame Demon God¡¯s territory, they planned to conquer this entire continent within two years before considering engaging the demon clans on other continents. Although Qin Feng¡¯s training journey was somewhat premature, he had gained far more benefits than he had anticipated. If the Demon Crystal Stones were converted to Spirit Stones, they would total nearly three million Spirit Stones. Such a large sum of Spirit Stones was a significant resource even for a Purple Mansion Cultivator. Many small sect¡¯s Purple Mansion Cultivators would not be able to amass this amount even if they sold all their magical treasures and spiritual treasures. Now, Qin Feng had not only acquired these Demon Crystal Stones, but he also possessed several pieces of top-level magic equipment to bolster his presence. Without the cross-realm warfare, it would have been impossible for Qin Feng to obtain all these items. If a force like Fiery Flame City was compared to Tieling County in the Biluo Great World, Fiery Flame City could be considered a mining city of the same scalea€¡±only one produced various artifact refining materials and the other produced Demon Crystal Stones. In essence, he and Li Miaozhen had looted Tieling County¡¯s accumulation of years, enabling them to acquire so many treasures. Of course, if they were back in the Biluo Great World, in the Southern Domain, they couldn¡¯t possibly do this even if the opportunity arose. They would likely attract the encirclement and pursuit of the major forces in the Southern Domain, facing an inevitable death. But here, they could act without any scruples, using any means necessary to plunder various resources and strengthen themselvesa€¡±this was the true nature of wars among cultivators. As Qin Feng rode the Spiritual Vulture, he controlled the Demon Refining Pot to refine the Demon Crystal Stones into pure Fire Element Spiritual Energy which continuously enhanced the Fire Ape¡¯s cultivation, making its foundation more robust. Having gained so many benefits, he intended to return to the sect settling to assimilate the gains. If he could acquire some rare heaven and earth treasure Spiritual Elixirs from the market to aid his advancement to the Golden Core stage, that would be even better. Moreover, the Fire Ape had also reached the threshold of upgrading, and he was worried about potential dangers during its advancement outside. Previously, during the Fire Ape¡¯s advancement to the Demon Core in the Heavenly Pool Secret Realm, it faced oppression by the Cave Heaven Principle. Now, as invaders, a casual advancement in the Demon Realm would surely trigger a reaction from this world and specifically target them, potentially causing a blood-red thunder to strike down and kill the Fire Ape. Even if the Fire Ape survived the strike, it could still attract other powerful beings or formidable Demon Beasts, presenting dangers to them. Of course, Qin Feng had considered letting the Fire Ape advance directly within the Demon Refining Pot; however, he was somewhat apprehensive. Although aware that the Demon Refining Pot formed its own space, he was not confident it could completely evade the World Will¡¯s detection. After all, the Demon Refining Pot was not in perfect condition. If the Fire Ape¡¯s advancement triggered a Tribulation Thunder, it could also bring him misfortune, an outcome he was desperate to avoid. After much consideration, for safety, he decided returning to the Cave Heaven World was the better option. After all, there, the will of the Biluo Great World existed to shield their safe advancement, sparing worries about the punishments of the Heavenly Dao of this realm. The Demon Realm was vast, characterized by many desolate places, with perennially active volcanoes that were unsuitable for life or vast barren deserts of swirling sands and rocks where vegetation and vitality were absent. Even the robust life force of the Demon Clan couldn¡¯t endure in these harsh environments; instead, various demon worms and demon beasts lurked within the barren landscapes, gradually forming a brutal biological chain. Qin Feng traveled northward, avoiding areas filled with powerful demonic qi. Such places either harboured formidable demon beasts or concealed unknown dangers. Being at the Foundation Establishment Realm, his war power was notable and he held life-saving tricks in his hands, yet he was not seeking death. Despite this, he had been ambushed and even pursued several times along the way by demon beasts; fortunately, even if he couldn¡¯t outpace those high-level demon beasts with the speed of his Spiritual Vulture, he could use Earth Escape Divine Power to burrow underground, or apply Shadow Transformation Divine Power to hide in the shadows, ensuring he wasn¡¯t actually killed. This was why he, possessing merely Foundation Establishment Cultivation, dared to venture deep into the demon domain. After several days of rapid travel, he finally returned to the regions controlled by various sects. Only here did he start to feel at ease, no longer worried about encountering powerful members of the Demon Clan. The lands controlled by the allied cultivators had grown significantly. They had conquered territories of several Demon Gods and were rapidly assimilating their gains; within a couple of years, those cultivators previously limited by insufficient resources would likely experience a qualitative improvement, greatly advancing the cultivation of low and mid-level disciples from various sects. By the time the Demon Gods devised a strategy to counter them, they would find their adversaries had grown much stronger. Of course, the Demon Gods wouldn¡¯t care too much; no matter how fast the Qi Refinement and Foundation Establishment disciples progressed, they were ultimately just lower-tier disciples. In terms of numbers, the Demon Clan had always held the upper hand. As for the heavy casualties among the lower-level members of the Demon Clan during battles, they wouldn¡¯t care about that either. Even without the Human Clan cultivators to fight against, the casualties from their own internal conflicts wouldn¡¯t be few. After returning to the Cave Heaven Fortress, Qin Feng didn¡¯t find his master. ?¦Ï¦Í?0.?¦Ï Ning Wuxu was currently leading a group of sect disciples in attacking a city at the border. Even if they captured it, they would need to station there for a while before returning. Qin Feng didn¡¯t feel like going to find his master on the battlefield right now; instead, he diligently advanced his Fire Ape to the Demon Core Realm, thereby acquiring a Demon Core Realm Spiritual Beast. With this, he would feel more confident when clashing with other demon races in the future. To ensure the Fire Ape¡¯s successful advancement, he even took out the Red Flame Spirit Fruit that Liu Xuanling had given him and fed it to the Fire Ape. This Spirit Fruit was most suitable for a Spiritual Beast like the Fire Ape, about to advance. Not only would it help purify the Fire Element Spirit Energy within its body, but it would also strengthen its Divine Soul and assist it in understanding deeper Bloodline Divine Powers. With all these preparations, the advancement of the Fire Ape went smoothly and without hindrance, breaking through the realm and recondensing its Demon Core. Once the Demon Core was reformed, the Fire Ape was evidently excited. Originally, its destiny was to be trapped in the Heavenly Pool Secret Realm without the chance to advance. Even when it forcibly attempted a breakthrough, it had done so with the mindset of facing death. But now, its advancement was genuinely successful; not only had its Life Span significantly increased, but the Bloodline within it had awakened even more powerful Divine Powers. Of course, Qin Feng was the happiest. With this Fire Ape, he would have greater security when venturing out for experiences, and he could scheme for more treasures and resources. Just as he was preparing to visit the market to find some heavenly materials and treasures to accelerate his cultivation, Elder Kongkong sent someone with a message, asking him to come to the Moyun Ridge Hall, saying that there was something they needed to discuss with him. Chapter 283 - Chapter 283 Chapter 280 Ultimate Defensive Divine Power ?Chapter 283: Chapter 280 Ultimate Defensive Divine Power Chapter 283: Chapter 280 Ultimate Defensive Divine Power Qin Feng was overjoyed. Although he had pulled off a big job in Fiery Flame City with Li Miaozhen and obtained many Demon Crystal Stones, those stones contained Demonic Qi and weren¡¯t suitable for the Swallowing Sky Toad to directly devour. The same was true for other Spiritual Objects and Demon Beasts in this realm; the Swallowing Sky Toad dared not to consume them in large amounts, fearing that the invasion of Demonic Qi into its body would lead it to the Demon Path if its inner power merged with the Qi. Therefore, ever since he arrived in the Red Flame Demon Realm, Qin Feng hadn¡¯t let it eat anything recklessly, which had, in turn, caused its progress to slow down even more. He had been worried that once he ascended to the Golden Core stage, the Swallowing Sky Toad wouldn¡¯t be able to keep up with his Cultivation Realm. Unexpectedly, Elder Kongkong now presented him with a Space Crystal Stone. Given Elder Kongkong¡¯s status, whatever he gave was definitely a rare treasure. Since he said it could enhance the Swallowing Sky Toad¡¯s strength significantly, it certainly would progress a lot. Moreover, the moment Elder Kongkong took out the Space Crystal Stone, the Swallowing Sky Toad¡¯s normally round eyes suddenly widened even more. Had it not been for the lack of orders from Qin Feng and the regard for Elder Kongkong¡¯s profound and inscrutable presence, it would have hardly been able to restrain itself. Now seeing the Space Crystal Stone in the hands of its master, it shifted its body, looking longingly at the stone in its master¡¯s hand, filled with desire. Seeing this, Qin Feng¡¯s lips curved into a smile; he stretched out his hand and brought the Space Crystal Stone to the Swallowing Sky Toad¡¯s mouth. Unable to wait, the Swallowing Sky Toad opened its mouth, and in a flash of its elongated tongue, it swallowed the Space Crystal Stone into its belly. Qin Feng connected his consciousness with the Swallowing Sky Toad and silently observed the situation inside its body. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í??.?? He saw that within the space in its belly, filled with Star Light, the Space Crystal Stone was hovering in the center. As the Swallowing Sky Toad¡¯s devouring and absorbing power operated, the crystal was gradually refined, and streams of Space Power diffused, merging into the space within its belly, causing it to expand and grow at a barely visible rate. Seeing this, Qin Feng was very satisfied. Although the refining process was somewhat slow, once the Swallowing Sky Toad fully absorbed this crystal stone, its internal space would undoubtedly experience tremendous growth, and it might even advance to the Demon Core stage directly as a result. After all, the reason the Swallowing Sky Toad¡¯s advancement was slow was mainly due to the constraints of the space in its belly; enhancing that space with other resources was naturally very slow. Seeing the Swallowing Sky Toad closing its eyes to concentrate on refining the crystal, he no longer disturbed the Spiritual Beast and waved his hand to take it in. Elder Kongkong waved his hand, and two Jade Talismans, each only about an inch long and half an inch wide, crystal clear and inscribed with Mysterious Runes, appeared before Qin Feng. ¡°These are Space Escape Talismans, refined from the extremely rare Space Jade. Such items are scarce; since my attainment of Dao, I¡¯ve created no more than a handful of such talismans. Treasure them well and do not use them lightly,¡± Elder Kongkong said, ¡°Not only can they enable you to escape through the Void, ensuring your safety, but they can also be used within worlds. Once activated, they will envelope you in a layer of independent space, invisible to ordinary powerful beings, enough to ensure your safety.¡± With that, he added somewhat reluctantly, ¡°If I weren¡¯t worried about the dangers you might encounter when traveling through the Transmission Arrays, one talisman would have been enough. Don¡¯t use them carelessly unless it¡¯s necessary; it would be too wasteful.¡± Qin Feng¡¯s eyes gleamed; he grabbed the two Space Escape Talismans and inspected them joyfully for a while. Hearing Elder Kongkong¡¯s words, he just chuckled twice to show he understood. He knew the value of these items; of course, he wouldn¡¯t misuse them. Seeing him looking like he had found a treasure, Elder Kongkong couldn¡¯t help but feel even more heartache. Nevertheless, he eventually said, ¡°Refine these two Space Escape Talismans with your True Yuan and keep them nurtured within your body. They¡¯ll be very convenient to use in critical moments.¡± Qin Feng nodded, opened his mouth and spouted a stream of True Yuan, which wrapped around the two talismans and brought them into his Dantian for refining and nurturing. Elder Kongkong then waved his hand again, and several objects flew out, ¡°This Transmission Array Plate, take good care of it. I¡¯ll quickly set up the Guiding Array. If you encounter any danger, just activate the plate, and I¡¯ll be able to bring you back. The others are Positioning Array Plates. I will teach you how to set them up later. You just need to know the basics. Remember to hide them well after setting them up. After all, we can¡¯t appear in that world in a short time. If we don¡¯t conceal them, they are likely to be noticed and destroyed by other beings.¡± ¡°Ancestor Martial Uncle, don¡¯t worry, your disciple understands.¡± ¡°Good.¡± Elder Kongkong, seeing his respectful attitude, suppressed the heartache he felt from the huge expense and sighed, ¡°For this expedition, this elder has invested many valuable treasures. If there isn¡¯t sufficient gain, it will be a great loss.¡± Having said this, he shook his head, regretting that among the Demon Gods of this realm, none were skilled in the way of Space. In such a case, even if the Sect could conquer this world and benefit greatly, there would be little advantage for him personally; it was somewhat of a loss. But as the Supreme Elder of the Sect, he could not always act solely for his own benefit. On the other side, Gui Ling Ancestor said, ¡°Step forward, I will bestow upon you a supreme Defensive Divine Power. With my Divine Power protecting you, even if a Demon God Level being attacks you, you will be able to withstand a round of their strikes and prevent an instant demise.¡± Hearing this, Qin Feng¡¯s heart began to thud uncontrollably, and he swallowed nervously, his voice tinged with greed, ¡°Ancestor Martial Uncle, why not bestow several more Defensive Divine Powers on your disciple? I would feel even more reassured. Furthermore, could you also bestow a few Offensive Divine Skills? That way, even if I encounter Divine Beings in the Otherworld, I will have the power to fight back.¡± Gui Ling Ancestor heard this and slapped him on the head in exasperation, ¡°You foolish boy, what are you thinking? Do you think it¡¯s easy for me to bestow Divine Skills? Your body is too weak; granting one Divine Skill is already the limit. If I bestow several, your body would surely collapse. And you still want offensive skills to challenge Divine Beings? Dream on! Even if you had such powerful abilities, without a Primordial Spirit, your Divine Soul is too weak. What use is power if you can¡¯t handle it?¡± Qin Feng heard this and immediately put out the whimsical ideas in his mind, rubbing his head and chuckling foolishly, managing to bluff his way through this. Gui Ling Ancestor said irritably, ¡°Take off your clothes and turn around.¡± Qin Feng was stunned but did not say anything and directly followed Gui Ling Ancestor¡¯s instructions. After all, he knew that in the Cultivation World, there were several secret techniques that involved engraving runes onto a person¡¯s body to seal spells. ¡°Stop!¡± Gui Ling Ancestor¡¯s annoyed voice rang in his ear, ¡°Just take off your shirt, what are you doing taking off your pants?¡± ¡°Hahaha¡­¡± Beside them, Elder Kongkong could not care less about his image as he laughed and held his belly, resembling a fat mouse. Qin Feng¡¯s face turned red. He quickly stopped what he was doing and covered up the half-exposed buttocks. ¡°Don¡¯t move, I¡¯m about to cast a spell.¡± As soon as Gui Ling Ancestor finished speaking, a faint golden blood seeped out from his right index finger. With the appearance of this blood, Qin Feng could clearly smell a light fragrance tinged with a faint scent of blood. This was a phenomenon unique to Gui Ling Ancestor¡¯s profound Dao Cultivation. His Taoist Body had been cultivated to an extremely profound degree. If Gui Ling Ancestor could advance one step further and become an Immortal Golden Immortal, the blood in his body would probably turn completely golden, and he would exude only the fragrance without any trace of blood. As Gui Ling Ancestor¡¯s fingertip traced his back, mysterious blood-colored runes that resembled turtle shells covered it. ¡°Lift your arms.¡± Gui Ling Ancestor commanded, and he continued drawing forward along the underside of his arms, his fingertips lightly tracing across his chest and abdomen, leaving patterns behind. Once all the blood-colored runes were connected, Spirit Light appeared instantly. Gui Ling Ancestor formed hand seals and chanted, his immortal power continuously pouring out, solidifying on the blood-colored runes. This was a divine power created with his essence blood that could house his immortal power. However, this method was actually quite uneconomical. After all, the lost essence blood and immortal power would not return. If it were not to reassure Qin Feng, he would be reluctant to consume so much essence blood and immortal power. Seeing this scene, Qin Feng understood why Gui Ling Ancestor had been so irritated earlier. Such sealing divine powers should really not be used frequently, as not only would it consume a large amount of Gui Ling Ancestor¡¯s essence blood, but it would also wear down his immortal power. Just this once might take a considerable amount of time to recover. Not to mention they were currently battling a Demon God. Even without that, no one would willingly perform such an exhaustively consuming secret technique multiple times. ?¦Ï¦Í??.§ã? After a moment, Gui Ling Ancestor completely sealed his defensive divine power onto Qin Feng, finally taking a light breath. Qin Feng felt it for a moment; it was as if he was encased within an invisible turtle shell, which was slightly uncomfortable. But compared to his own safety, this minor discomfort was negligible. If possible, he even yearned for a few more such bindings, then he could swagger around confidently. ¡°Alright, put your clothes on. It¡¯s just a turtle shell drawn on your body, there¡¯s nothing to flaunt about it. It¡¯s so ugly, hurry up and put your clothes on to cover it.¡± Seeing him still in a daze, Elder Kongkong urged him. Gui Ling Ancestor gave him a glance when he heard that. This fellow always has to make a fuss about turtles. What¡¯s wrong with a turtle shell? Do you think becoming a big mouse makes you look any better? He refrained from arguing in front of the younger generation, but otherwise, he would certainly retort sharply at Elder Kongkong. ¡°Let¡¯s go.¡± Elder Kongkong, seeing Qin Feng properly dressed, got up and said, ¡°The Lion Scorpion Beast¡¯s Demon Core is consuming energy every moment. Once too much has been used up, it will endanger your transmission. We shouldn¡¯t delay any further; it¡¯s best to send you off as soon as possible.¡± Qin Feng nodded and followed behind the two Elders, walking out of the palace. Once outside the palace gate, Elder Kongkong waved his large sleeve, and a force swept up Qin Feng, instantly transporting him out of the Cave Heaven World to the outside. After several more transports, they arrived in a secluded valley. There, Elder Kongkong set Qin Feng down and took out various materials to begin setting up the Array. ¡°Ancestor Martial Uncle, why set up the Array here?¡± Qin Feng asked curiously, ¡°Isn¡¯t it safer to set up an Array inside the Cave Heaven Fortress?¡± ¡°You don¡¯t understand.¡± Elder Kongkong said, ¡°It¡¯s no problem to transmit you out from there, but when you return, it would be difficult to get back into the Cave Heaven Fortress. Because the Heavenly Pool Cave Heaven is a separate Small World, and with the existence of the Red Flame Demon Realm, it¡¯s equivalent to being separated by two barriers from the world where the Lion Scorpion Beast fell. You don¡¯t understand the Space Dao, and it would be difficult to cross the barriers of two worlds to hook to the Guiding Array. Without sensing the Guiding Array, you naturally wouldn¡¯t be able to return.¡± Chapter 284 - Chapter 284 Chapter 281 Space Gate ?Chapter 284: Chapter 281 Space Gate Chapter 284: Chapter 281 Space Gate Elder Kongkong said, ¡°A few days ago, I specifically spent some time searching the area for tens of thousands of miles, and only then did I find this place where the space power is relatively weak. Here, whether setting up a Teleportation Array or a Guiding Array, will be much more convenient when you traverse the Endless Void.¡± ¡°So it is.¡± Qin Feng nodded, looking around at the scenery and not spotting the silhouette of the Cave Heaven Fortress, so he asked again, ¡°This place is so far from the Cave Heaven Fortress, when the disciple wants to return, can Martial Uncle sense it in time? What if the disciple encounters great danger and wants to return swiftly, but Martial Uncle isn¡¯t here?¡± He was genuinely worried, for Elder Kongkong, who needed to manage the Cave Heaven Fortress, couldn¡¯t possibly stay here every day; and if something went wrong when he wanted to return, then he would be out of luck. ¡°Hehe¡­¡± Upon hearing this, Elder Kongkong couldn¡¯t help but laugh, ¡°With the little Dao cultivation you have, you dare to question my capabilities, Martial Uncle. Not to mention that this place is only eight thousand miles from the Cave Heaven Fortress, even if it were ten times farther, it would only take me a moment to rush over. Rest assured, I will leave a clone here to oversee this area, and I will also set up arrays around here to hide this place, so no Demon Clan or Demon Beasts can enter. As soon as you activate the Positioning Array Plate, I will sense it and quickly bring you back.¡± Upon hearing this, Qin Feng immediately felt reassured and then flattered greatly, ¡°Martial Uncle¡¯s divine skills are unparalleled, and I admire you immensely.¡± ¡°Stop blowing smoke.¡± Although Elder Kongkong felt pleased, he still feigned modesty and said, ¡°In the Void Ten Thousand Worlds, there are countless strong cultivators, and in our Biluo Great World alone, there are many with higher Dao cultivation than me. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ??¦Í??.§ã¦Ï I only have some capabilities in the space aspect, nothing else really.¡± ¡°Martial Uncle is too modest, there are probably not many in the world who have achieved what you have in the realm of space.¡± Qin Feng offered flattery again, then suddenly remembered something, ¡°Since Martial Uncle can pinpoint the world where the Lion Scorpion Beast resides, and can send the disciple there, then surely before this expedition, you must have made arrangements at the Mountain Gate. Why not build a cross-realm Teleportation Array, sending a large reinforcements from various sects from the Mountain Gate, or simply invite Jue Tian Ancestor to help? Given Jue Tian Ancestor¡¯s Golden Immortal Dao cultivation, he could surely suppress many strong figures in the Red Flame Demon Realm and allow us to claim victory quickly?¡± ¡°It¡¯s not so easy.¡± Beside them, Gui Ling Ancestor smiled and said, ¡°Currently, just to transmit you, a minor Foundation Establishment Cultivator, it requires so much effort. To transmit a continuous stream of cultivator armies, or someone like Martial Uncle Jue Tian who is a Golden Immortal, it would at least require a major Teleportation Array fixed at a World Node.¡± ¡°A major Teleportation Array built at a World Node?¡± Qin Feng glanced at Gui Ling Ancestor with confusion. Gui Ling Ancestor nodded, ¡°It could also be called a major Space Gate, which is opening a Space Gate at a world node connected to our sect. Only in this way can the Teleportation Array bear the transport of multiple people. As for transporting an Immortal Golden Immortal level powerhouse, it requires an extremely powerful and stable Space Gate. However, such powerful world nodes are not abundant; ordinary medium to small worlds typically have at most one or two such nodes. If we want to set up such a major Teleportation Array, we must conquer this world. After careful calculations, it might be possible to find a world node. That¡¯s not enough, we also need to suppress the resistance of the World Will. Otherwise, if the World Will¡¯s resistance is too fierce during transmission, it could cause space instability, and it¡¯s quite possible for the space channel to break or be cut off in the middle of transmission, which would be a huge problem. Therefore, until we have conquered this world, slain all Demon Gods, and completely suppressed the World Will, it is impossible to establish such long-distance major Space Gates.¡± ¡°If we have already conquered this world, then what¡¯s the use of establishing this kind of Teleportation Array?¡± Before Gui Ling Ancestor could respond, Qin Feng thought of something, suddenly his expression changed, and said, ¡°When the disciple returns, won¡¯t there be interference by the World Will? If the space were to suddenly break while the disciple is being transmitted through the Guiding Array, the disciple might very well be dead.¡± ¡°Hehe, don¡¯t worry, don¡¯t worry, there won¡¯t be any problem.¡± Gui Ling Ancestor smiled and said, ¡°Ordinary space Teleportation Arrays, or like the Positioning Array Plate that is connected to your guiding array, are just small-scale Teleportation Arrays that temporarily break through space for transportation, which can be completed in a very short time, not causing much space fluctuation. Usually, by the time the World Will reacts, the transmission would have already been completed. Besides, the world you are heading to is very close to the Red Flame Demon Realm, and the space fluctuation between the two worlds also has some compatible aspects, making the transmission easier. Unlike our Biluo Great World, which is so far from here, the transmission takes longer and requires a stable space channel.¡± Pausing briefly, he continued, ¡°As for setting up a large-scale Transporting Gate after conquering this world, of course, there are many benefits. For example, the resources we obtain from this world can be sent back through the Space Gate, which is much faster and more convenient than maneuvering a War Fortress through the Void for months, and it¡¯s also much safer.¡± In the Endless Void, it is full of many dangers, whether it¡¯s Void Storms or some mighty beings roaming within the void, encountering them could likely cause serious trouble. Moreover, Grandmaster Kongkong couldn¡¯t possibly focus all his energy on the transit between two worlds just to transport resources for the Sect, and if it were other ordinary True Immortal or Heavenly Immortal Supreme Elders carrying so much resources, it wouldn¡¯t be safe. In addition, the Sect could also use the Space Gate to earn Cultivation Resources from other cultivators in the Cultivation World. The Cultivation World is never short of cultivators who are stuck at a certain realm and unable to breakthrough. If they are willing to pay certain amounts of Cultivation Resources, we can open the transmission channels for them, allowing them to explore this world, travel, and find opportunities for breakthroughs.¡± Upon hearing this, Qin Feng sincerely praised, ¡°Ancestor Martial Uncle has a truly great idea. ?0¦Í??.§ã¦Ï By then, our Beast Taming Sect will indeed have a continuous source of wealth. Hmm, perhaps we can also make some secret arrangements, selecting a few cultivators with significant backgrounds from those who come here to train, secretly helping them to breakthrough their realms. Once they return, they will become our best spokespersons. As long as these people promote us in the Cultivation World, there will definitely be a large number of cultivators flocking here. By then, the Sect will just need to sit back and wait for the Cultivation Resources to arrive.¡± Gui Ling Ancestor looked at Qin Feng and suddenly realized that this young man¡¯s cunning ideas were indeed good. Ordinary Loose Cultivators don¡¯t have much fame; even if they breakthrough here, it wouldn¡¯t have much promotional effect. But if cultivators from various major Sects, who have backgrounds yet have been stuck at bottlenecks for many years, come here and we secretly give them opportunities to break their realms, a little promotion after they return would draw attention from all sides, thereby attracting a large number of cultivators stuck at bottlenecks willing to enter the Red Flame Demon Realm to seek opportunities. If they breakthrough, those cultivators would surely appreciate the favor from the Beast Taming Sect. If they did not breakthrough, that would also be normal; it would simply mean this place was not fated for them, and that wouldn¡¯t be the Beast Taming Sect¡¯s fault. Qin Feng thought for a moment and added, ¡°If the Sect decides to do this business, we should set some ground rules with those cultivators in advance to avoid disputes later on. We allow cultivators from all quarters to explore the secrets of the Red Flame Demon Realm and seek opportunities for breakthroughs. However, they cannot interfere with the interests of our allied factions. All the mines here belong to the Sects that occupy those areas, the currently mined veins are definitely off-limits, and if those cultivators discover new veins, it¡¯s not a problem if they mine a bit privately, since one person can¡¯t take much anyway, but they cannot occupy it long-term, nor organize manpower to mine it. If discovered, they must be heavily penalized.¡± Gui Ling Ancestor looked at him carefully and suddenly laughed, ¡°You sure have a lot of tricks up your sleeve for taking advantage. I heard you aren¡¯t planning to compete for the Sect Master position? What a pity, if only you¡¯d reconsider, I would have the current Sect Master designate you as the next successor. What do you think?¡± ¡°Huh?¡± Qin Feng was somewhat baffled, weren¡¯t we talking about the Teleportation Array? How did it shift to the position of Sect Master? He quickly came to his senses and shook his head, ¡°Disciple is devoted to the Dao and has no interest in power struggles. Moreover, the Sect Master is still in the prime of his life, far from stepping down. Ancestor Martial Uncle, why bother putting me in that position? Honestly, there are many within our Sect stronger than me. For example, Senior Sister Li Miaozhen is pretty good.¡± Gui Ling Ancestor laughed at his response, ¡°If you¡¯re unwilling, I won¡¯t force you, but there¡¯s no need to drag that girl into this as well. You know about the situation of the White Tiger Lineage; do you really think she can manage the Sect well?¡± ¡°Why not? I think Senior Sister Li is quite good.¡± Qin Feng smiled, ¡°Although Li Miaozhen Senior Sister is somewhat carefree, she isn¡¯t foolish, just a bit lazy in thinking things through. Her straightforward and efficient approach in handling things is just what the Sect needs if we successfully take over the Red Flame Demon Realm. The Sect is bound to enter a period of rapid development, and a decisive character like Senior Sister Li is needed to lead the Sect, overcoming various oppositions. I believe, at a time when we need to advance aggressively, with Senior Sister Li¡¯s demeanor, she would definitely uplift all the disciples¡¯ morale and fill them with fighting spirit. As for managing the Sect, does the Sect Master really need to handle everything personally? Just let the Elders of various lines and halls take good care of their respective responsibilities. The Sect doesn¡¯t necessarily have to manage every detail personally. Moreover, our Sect isn¡¯t short of individuals adept in strategy. The Elders who are good at planning are plenty. When it comes to making decisions, let those strategic Elders take the lead. We only need to act under the name of the Sect Master when doing specific tasks.¡± Gui Ling Ancestor lost his smile, ¡°That does make some sense.¡± ¡°So, Grandmaster agrees?¡± Qin Feng was a bit surprised. I was just saying so to prevent you from setting your sights on me, you really shouldn¡¯t take it seriously. ¡°I do not agree.¡± Gui Ling Ancestor smile, ¡°If the Sect¡¯s power were a bit weaker, it might be okay, but with the scale of our Beast Taming Sect now, it¡¯s not suitable to have someone single-minded as the Sect Master. It¡¯s too easy for someone with ulterior motives below to fool them.¡± Chapter 285 - Chapter 285 Chapter 282 Unexpected Situation ?Chapter 285: Chapter 282: Unexpected Situation Chapter 285: Chapter 282: Unexpected Situation ¡°Done, the task is complete.¡± While Qin Feng was talking with Gui Ling Ancestor, Elder Kongkong next to him had been moving quickly, from surveying the terrain and searching for spatial fluctuations to arranging various materials to perfect the Array. In just a little over two quarters of an hour, he had set up a Teleportation Array. Now, since they needed to teleport him over, they could only set up a directed teleportation array. Once Qin Feng had been sent through, Elder Kongkong would then rearrange the Guiding Array. Although both had the capability of teleportation, there was a significant difference between them, as setting up a Guiding Array was far more complicated than a Teleportation Array. Elder Kongkong had embedded the last top-grade Spirit Stone and then clapped his hands, turning his head to say, ¡°Qin Feng, lad, hurry up here. The Lion Scorpion Beast has been dead for over an hour, do not delay any further. During your positioning teleportation, it will surely drain the energy inside the Lion Scorpion Beast¡¯s Demon Core. The less energy, the more likely anomalies might occur during the teleportation. If you wait until the energy in the Lion Scorpion Beast¡¯s Demon Core is insufficient, your teleportation would greatly deviate, and heaven knows where it might send you. Moreover, once you get there, you must last at least a quarter of an hour for me to change the Teleportation Array into a Guiding Array, which also takes some time.¡± Hearing this, Qin Feng didn¡¯t dare to continue his aimless chatter with the Gui Ling Ancestor. With a light tap of his toes on the ground, he floated gently into the middle of the relatively small Teleportation Array. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ??¦Í?0.§ã¦Ï Standing on the Array and thinking about his imminent departure, Qin Feng exclaimed, ¡°Ancestor Martial Uncles, this disciple is embarking on a long journey and does not know when he will return. Also, I¡¯ve not had the chance to inform my master and senior sister¡­¡± ¡°Heh heh, lad, just go with peace of mind.¡± Elder Kongkong interrupted him before he could finish speaking, his face habitually breaking into a cunning smile, ¡°As for your master, I will naturally notify him, so you don¡¯t need to worry about that. But you must be extremely careful not to truly die in that realm. Moreover, during this trip, you mainly have two tasks; one is to locate the areas of weaker space and set up the Positioning Array, enabling your Ancestor Martial Uncle here to locate that world afterwards. The other is to find a way to learn more about that world¡¯s specifics, from the scales of various forces to the number of top-level powerhouses. Understand as best as you can the strengths and weaknesses of that world. If it turns out to be a high-rank world with formidable power, then return as soon as possible. Our Beast Taming Sect currently does not possess the strength to provoke such a powerful world, although the chances of encountering such a high-rank world are low.¡± Pausing, he continued, ¡°Your Swallowing Sky Toad is weak and can only sense a limited range, so you will likely need to travel to many places. Moreover, gaining insights into the strength and subtleties of a realm involves interacting with various forces, which can be very time-consuming. Don¡¯t be too hasty, to avoid exposing yourself. This decision to send you there is based on what I learned from the Lion Scorpion Beasta€¡±it was summoned to that world by a member of the Human Clan. Though different from us, and according to its description, there should be other strange and peculiar races in that world; but ultimately, they have life forms similar to the Human Clan, so you need not worry about only encountering hostile beings difficult to blend in with.¡± Qin Feng nodded, ¡°Ancestor Martial Uncle, rest assured, I will be careful.¡± Seeing Elder Kongkong about to activate the Array, Qin Feng suddenly remembered something, and hastily asked, ¡°Ancestor Martial Uncle, my Swallowing Sky Toad is currently refining the Space Crystal Stone you gave, and might soon advance to the next level. Will there be any danger if it advances in that world?¡± ¡°No need to worry.¡± Elder Kongkong laughed, ¡°The reason we face opposition from the World Will when advancing in this realm is because we are seen as invaders, subjected to the hostility of the world. But you are merely going alone, and even though you are bringing a few Spiritual Beasts, your collective strength is too insignificant compared to an entire world, so even if you do advance, it won¡¯t matter. The World Will won¡¯t even notice such weak beings. Of course, if you have the ability and courage to do something that incurs the wrath of heaven and the ire of men, then that¡¯s a different story.¡± Listening to him say that, Qin Feng immediately felt relieved, as long as he wasn¡¯t randomly struck by lightning. However, he also felt somewhat depressed, having thought he would be able to look down on his peers with his cultivation, only to find it insignificant enough to not even draw the attention of the World Will. ¡°Alright, do you have anything else to say? If not, I¡¯m going to start the array,¡± Elder Kongkong said, looking at Qin Feng. ??¦Í?¦Ï.§ã¦Ï Qin Feng opened his mouth, but ultimately just shook his head and did not say anything else. Well, just treat it as a normal mission, he thought. The only differences were that it was a bit far away and would take a bit longer. Otherwise, it was no different from the Sect¡¯s other missions. While adjusting the world coordinates, Elder Kongkong said, ¡°This time sending you is indeed a bit hurried, but there¡¯s no helping it since that Lion Scorpion Beast¡¯s power is too weak. Its demon core can¡¯t last very long, so you can only rely on yourself. Otherwise, if the Lion Scorpion Beast¡¯s demon core energy was ten times stronger, I could have sent another disciple with you for company.¡± During this conversation, he had locked onto the positioning array on the Lion Scorpion Beast¡¯s demon core. A great amount of immortal power surged out from his body, stabilizing the teleportation array. With a milky white spirit light rising, the void above instantly cracked open, creating a space channel. Elder Kongkong looked at him again and reminded him, ¡°If you encounter an unbeatable danger, just activate the transmission array plate, and I will bring you back.¡± Qin Feng simply nodded and said nothing more. As a Supreme Elder at the peak of Profound Immortal, doing this much for the juniors of the Sect was already commendable. In fact, many high-ranking members of Sects in the Cultivation World wouldn¡¯t possibly take such exceptional care of their disciples. Qin Feng received such treatment not only because he had performed many great deeds, but also because he was a True Disciple of the Sect, but even typical True Disciples might not catch the eyes of these Supreme Elders who were half a step away from becoming Immortal Golden Immortals. After all, not every True Disciple could cultivate to a very profound level, and many who advanced to the Purple Mansion Realm ceased progressing. *Buzz¡­* The white light flashed, and the entire teleportation array gently quivered, causing Qin Feng¡¯s figure to suddenly vanish. *Sigh!* Elder Kongkong looked upward and sighed lightly, ¡°Sending him alone to another world is too risky.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t worry, he should be fine,¡± the Gui Ling Ancestor comforted him. ¡°I¡¯ve looked at his facial features and even calculated his fate just now. This young man doesn¡¯t have the face of an early death, nor is he fated for a short life. Even if he encounters some calamities, he should be able to return safely.¡± ¡°Let¡¯s hope so.¡± Elder Kongkong didn¡¯t fully believe in the Gui Ling Ancestor¡¯s words. It wasn¡¯t that he didn¡¯t trust the Art of Prediction of the Gui Ling Ancestor; rather, it was because Qin Feng¡¯s fate would inherently be influenced by that other world, and would differ from his fate in the Biluo Great World, just as it would vary in the Red Flame Demon Realm. In that world, if Qin Feng encountered a life and death calamity, he wouldn¡¯t be able to turn danger into safety just because he had a pleasing appearance, nor would he turn misfortune into good fortune due to the Qi Fortune of the Biluo Great World. Elder Kongkong didn¡¯t speak again. His hands moved like phantoms, rapidly dismantling most of the Teleportation Array he had just set up, converting the base into a Guiding Array. He then continually expanded and perfected this Array, to prevent Qin Feng from encountering danger immediately upon arriving and to ensure timely extraction upon his return. ¡­ Qin Feng felt that his current state was somewhat strange. He was enveloped by a hazy white light, continuously breaking through spatial rips, shuttling forward. This was his first experience with space transmission, and it felt quite novel to him, as if he were traveling through a narrow passage. Curious, he looked left and right. The transmission speed was too fast, and he couldn¡¯t make out any scenery. However, he suddenly remembered the Space Divine Power that Elder Kongkong had taught him, and wanted to reach out to the external space to see if he could gain some insight. But soon, he realized that he couldn¡¯t extend his Divine Sense out, and could only advance passively within the wrap of the white light. Indeed, he was too weak. Qin Feng sighed inwardly, a rare opportunity to perceive space and yet he couldn¡¯t even get a glimpse. He soon let go of that thought. It was better not to extend his Divine Sense. After all, he was currently undergoing space transmission. Without any experience or understanding of space transmission, it was safer to remain cautious. Otherwise, initiating any spatial fluctuations might provoke crises beyond his capacity to handle. As he moved forward, he felt an ever-increasing pull ahead. It was the Binding Spell he had left inside the Lion Scorpion Beast. And the direction of his transmission was also subtly adjusting according to the resonance in his spirit, aligning with the direction of the sensation. Qin Feng then understood why Elder Kongkong had chosen to send him, rather than any other fellow disciples. Because others didn¡¯t have the Binding Spell in that realm, they couldn¡¯t make such adjustments. If something went wrong, who knew where they might be sent. The speed of space transmission was naturally extremely fast. It seemed just a few breaths had passed, and Qin Feng could already sense the presence of that world. Even, at the end of his sight, a light sphere appeared. That, of course, wasn¡¯t a light sphere, but a whole world. Due to the great distance in the void, he could only see the outer barrier of that world, which made it appear like a light sphere. Almost in an instant, the light sphere, which was initially the size of a fist, expanded to several tens of meters in diameter, and was still growing. Simultaneously, he felt that the power within the Demon Core, where his Binding Spell resided, was being rapidly depleted. However, Qin Feng believed that, given his current speed of transmission, he would reach his destination before the power in the Demon Core was fully depleted. Just as this thought arose, and as his body was about to break through the barrier of that world with the power of space, directly transmitting inside, he suddenly felt his Binding Spell dissipate. Along with his Binding Spell, the Positioning Array that Elder Kongkong had inscribed on the Demon Core also vanished. In an instant, Qin Feng¡¯s transmission lost its direction. Though the Space Channel was still dutifully helping him break through the World Barrier, intending to send him inside, the directionless Space Channel was also dissipating quickly. ¡°Holy shit.¡± Qin Feng screamed in fright, what was happening now? His body was right on the edge of the World Barrier, the pathway ahead had already been breached, but the protective white light was gone. In an instant, the chaotic currents of the external Void rushed at him. And the space channel on the World Barrier that had been opened was rapidly shrinking, about to close up. This terrified him greatly. Just a small Foundation Establishment Cultivator, how could he withstand the chaos of space? Probably any space rift could take his life! Looking at the surrounding chaotic space currents, Qin Feng suddenly recalled the scene where Elder Kongkong once casually broke the Void with a flick of his finger. He didn¡¯t remember Elder Kongkong¡¯s terrifying Divine Power, but rather the destructive power of the torn space. If he got sliced by these chaotic flows, he would get a taste of one of the ten greatest tortures. Even, different parts of his body might end up sliced into different areas of the Cosmic Void. ¡°Ancestor Martial Uncle, save me!¡± Qin Feng shrieked at the top of his lungs, unsure if his voice could travel back through the Space Channel behind him. He wanted to activate the Transmission Array Plate on him to return, but recalling Elder Kongkong¡¯s words that it wasn¡¯t time yet, he knew activating it would be pointless. In the valley, Elder Kongkong, who was originally arranging the Guiding Array, paused slightly and looked up, turning to Gui Ling Ancestor beside him, ¡°Did you hear something?¡± ¡°Sound? No.¡± Gui Ling Ancestor, surprised, gave him a look: ¡°You aren¡¯t having auditory hallucinations, are you? That young man has already been sent millions of miles away; how could he still talk to you?¡± ¡°That¡¯s true.¡± Elder Kongkong shrugged and continued arranging the Array. Chapter 286 - Chapter 286 Chapter 283 Entering the Inner World ?Chapter 286: Chapter 283: Entering the Inner World Chapter 286: Chapter 283: Entering the Inner World Beneath a towering mountain range, beside a dense forest, about a dozen warriors were gathered around a campfire roasting meat. Not far from the fire, a freshly skinned Demon Beast Skin was drying on the shaft of a wagon. And next to the skin, there was a hooked Scorpion Tail, and two large bat wings placed on either side. These were undoubtedly the fur, wings, and tail of the Lion Scorpion Beast. Needless to say, the chunks of meat that were currently being grilled over the fire were from the unfortunate Lion Scorpion Beast. A beautiful girl with flaxen hair, dressed in a pleated skirt that only noble ladies would wear, was sitting on a nearby rock with a sullen expression. Beside her, a handsome young nobleman was earnestly and quietly trying to console her. Not far from them, a very young-looking Mage was flipping through a book in his hands. Suddenly, he seemed to sense something. He abruptly looked up, his gaze fixed on the Demon Core at the corner of the wagon. That was the Demon Core of the seventh-level Demon Beast, the Lion Scorpion Beast. The thing was quite valuable. Whether it was sold for a large amount of Gold Coins or kept to craft a Magic Wand, it was a good idea. But just at that moment, he felt a magical fluctuation emanating from the Demon Core. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í??.§ã0 This was truly like seeing the Undead; the Lion Scorpion Beast was dead beyond dead. Not only skinned and deboned, but even its flesh had been taken to the fire to make roast meat. So why would its Demon Core still emit magical fluctuations? Could it be that the Lion Scorpion Beast¡¯s spirit remained after death, still attempting to invoke magic? He had never heard of such a thing before. Even if it were true that a Demon Beast could leave behind a powerful Spiritual Power capable of activating magic posthumously, it shouldn¡¯t be possible for a seventh-level Demon Beast like the Lion Scorpion Beast. The young Mage had never encountered such an event, so he was momentarily stunned. However, he quickly realized that the Demon Core was not showing any signs of unleashing magic; instead, the Magic Power within was rapidly depleting. He saw a strange magic Rune rising above the Demon Core, crazily siphoning the Magic Power from within it. ¡°Look quickly, what¡¯s going on here?¡± The young Mage called out, drawing everyone¡¯s attention to the event. Soon, a few of the stronger individuals among them also sensed that something was amiss. He pointed at the Lion Scorpion Beast¡¯s Demon Core and said, ¡°I feel like this Demon Core has become a coordinate, as if something is using this Demon Core to locate this place and plans to transport over.¡± These words instantly changed the expressions of the others. A young warrior wildly guessed, ¡°The Lion Scorpion Beast was summoned by Miss Tena from the Demon Realm. If something could use its Demon Core as a coordinate, could it be that this Lion Scorpion Beast was originally a pet of another powerful Great Demon, and the Demon, realizing its pet had died in battle, now intends to cross dimensions to come and avenge the Lion Scorpion Beast?¡± Hearing this, the crowd¡¯s faces turned even more unsightly. Although the likelihood was extremely low, they could not discount the possibility. If it really was true, then they were in for a dire situation should the powerful Great Demon behind the Lion Scorpion Beast break through the spatial travel to come here. Although the Lion Scorpion Beast was not killed by them, the fact that it became like this after its death was nevertheless related to them. After all, no one had considered the possibility of a Great Demon crossing dimensions to pursue them. And as a seventh-level Demon Beast, every part of the Lion Scorpion Beasta€¡±its fur, bones, flesh, and Demon Corea€¡±was of great value. Since it had died here, it naturally should not be wasted. Therefore, they had skinned, disemboweled, and deboned the Lion Scorpion Beast, extracting its Demon Core and exploiting every bit of value they could from it. ¡°Not good, I already sense a trace of spatial fluctuation.¡± The young Mage¡¯s face changed dramatically. ¡°Bameng, quickly smash this Demon Core. We can¡¯t let the Demon travel here from the Demon Realm; otherwise, we¡¯ll all die.¡± ¡°Everyone, move away.¡± A brawny man not too far away heard him, his face changed, and he let out a booming shout, commanding everyone to step aside as he drew his Broadsword. His sword gleamed with a rich Golden Fighting Energy as he fiercely struck down, shattering the nearly depleted Demon Core with a loud crash. Of course, the wagon was also smashed to pieces in the process. ¡°Thank goodness, thank goodness.¡± After carefully sensing with his Spiritual Power, the young Mage said, ¡°The spatial fluctuations have dissipated. It seems that the Demon will definitely not be transported over.¡± Then, he felt a twinge of regret. He had originally planned to claim the Demon Core for himself to craft Magic Equipment. Now, not only had the Magic Power within been nearly exhausted, but it had also been split into pieces, leaving it unusable. a€| Qin Feng had no idea how the Demon Core had suddenly vanished, but he knew something unexpected must have occurred, otherwise, he wouldn¡¯t have suddenly lost the transmission coordinates. Moreover, at the moment the Binding Spell dissipated, a sharp pain transmitted through his Sea of Consciousness. Fortunately, his Divine Soul was strong, and most of the Spiritual Beasts were subjugated by the Demon Refining Pot without needing to be controlled by a Binding Spell, so he managed to endure the pain without addressing it. At the same time, he had no time to care whether his Divine Soul was damaged. He was facing two major crises at the moment, one was the spatial turbulence surrounding him, and the other was the space channel ahead that was rapidly closing. He had to endure the onslaught of the spatial turbulence and squeeze through the channel before it closed; otherwise, with his current level of cultivation, there was absolutely no chance of breaking through the world barrier. Only by quickly entering the space channel could he enter this world, or else he would have to wait outside the world barrier, waiting for Elder Kongkong to summon him back. Qin Feng¡¯s thoughts raced, with no time to ponder, as he directly stimulated the Supreme Defensive Divine Power left on him by Gui Ling Ancestor. Boom! A massive turtle-shell-shaped Defensive Divine Power appeared outside his body. The Turtle Shell was inscribed with the Eight Trigrams Chart and mysterious runes flowed around it, blocking all the spatial turbulence from getting remotely close to him. This brought Qin Feng a sigh of relief. He didn¡¯t even have time to lament the consumption of the life-saving Divine Power bestowed by Gui Ling Ancestor; he immediately dashed towards the channel ahead. The channel was originally small, being just a minor transport channel that could only fit one person going through, but now, after being delayed outside, the channel had shrunk significantly and was only about half a foot wide. Seeing that the space channel was about to close completely, if he didn¡¯t enter now, not only would this transport fail, but he might also suffer even greater agony. After all, the life-saving Supreme Divine Power given to him by Gui Ling Ancestor couldn¡¯t stay on him forever, and the spatial turbulence was not so easy to resist. Its consumption of Divine Power was enormous. As Qin Feng lunged forward, his body also merged with the Ruyi Golden Snake, and then he used the Big and Small Ruyi Divine Power to quickly reduce his size, squeezing into the rapidly shrinking space channel. The Ruyi Golden Snake was a fusion that had inherited the Bloodline Power of the original Spiritual Snake, so the Divine Powers it manifested could be used directly, and as its cultivation increased, it became more adept, unlike Qin Feng who was still relying on Divine Power Seeds. Divine Power Seeds are just the seeds of Divine Powers, not yet fully transformed into Divine Powers, and when he used them himself, he could only shrink his stature to just over a foot tall, but after merging with the Ruyi Golden Snake, his size could be reduced to three inches. With a whoosh, Qin Feng sped through the space channel with astonishing speed. The instant he entered, the space channel behind him closed. Qin Feng restored his size and stood within the world barrier, gasping for breath heavily to calm his strained nerves. Had he been even a bit slower just now, he might have been cut in half by the closing space channel. ¡°Fortunately, I was fast enough!¡± After calming down, Qin Feng couldn¡¯t help feeling rather pleased with himself. Ordinary cultivators neither had his speed nor possibly possessed as many Divine Skills. This allowed him to squeeze in even when the space channel was no longer passable. Having relaxed, Qin Feng finally noticed a chill under his feet. He paused slightly, and looking down, he then realized that the soles of his shoes were gone. It was in the last moment that the space channel had closed, leaving the soles of his shoes on the other side. It was only because his feet hadn¡¯t been harmed that he hadn¡¯t noticed right away. Qin Feng wiped the cold sweat from his forehead and quietly breathed a sigh of relief in his heart. ?¦Ï¦Í?0.?¦Ï Then, he became curious and wanted to reach out to touch the world barrier above, but it felt somewhat dangerous, so he hesitated for a moment, ultimately deciding to be prudent and withdrew his hand. The world barrier was neither solid nor merely a thin layer. It was composed of special laws, energy, currents, gang winds, clouds, and other existences within the world, with a thickness of at least several hundred meters. Ordinary powerful beings simply didn¡¯t possess the ability to tear through the world barrier. The air was thin high above, but that was no issue for him, as he could switch to inner breathing. However, the extremely fierce gang winds made his figure unstable, and he felt chilled to the bone. Had he not been wearing his magic robe, he felt as if his very body would be blown away. Qin Feng did not want to stay there any longer. Tentatively, he activated even stronger defenses on his magic robe and, finding that he indeed wasn¡¯t repelled by the principle power of the world laws, he relaxed considerably and flew downwards. Now, he could only fly by merging with the Ruyi Golden Snake. At such a high altitude, he dared not release the Spiritual Vulture. A single gust of gang wind could blow it away, and he certainly wouldn¡¯t be able to sit stably on its back. As he flew downward, he was also blown far off course by the gang winds in the high atmosphere, only feeling much better when the winds were no longer so fierce. Below was a vast ocean, where a tempest raged over the sea, and towering waves crashed. Qin Feng, feeling the briny wind, could not help but smile wryly. The tempest here wasn¡¯t as fierce as the ones high in the sky, but it was still incredibly powerful. The waves that stood twenty to thirty meters tall were proof enough of the tempest¡¯s ferocity. He didn¡¯t dare fly against the wind. To fly head-on into such a violent tempest was to ask for trouble. Thus, he fled with the direction of the tempest, seeking an island where he could temporarily rest, planning to find the land of this world once the tempest passed. After flying with the tempest for the better part of the day, he finally spotted a massive island at the edge of his vision. It was a somewhat strange island, shrouded by mountains all around, but in the center, there was a depression, with surrounding peaks that seemed like barriers, enclosing the area within the island. Qin Feng could not be certain there weren¡¯t dangers on the island. His True Yuan was weak, and he needed time to restore it. So, he did not fly toward the island¡¯s center but instead, following the tempest, flew to the back of the island, where he found a crevice in the cliff and crudely fashioned a place to stay. Once inside, Qin Feng sat down on the hard rock with a long sigh of relief. His downward flight from the high skies earlier had been extremely draining, followed by flying with the sea-level tempest for half a day. Now only about ten to twenty percent of his True Yuan remained. Had he not found a place to land, he would have exhausted his strength completely. As for diving into the ocean, he dared not, unsure whether powerful creatures lived below the surface, much like in the sea areas of Biluo Great World, which sheltered many strong Demon Beasts of the Sea Clan. A careless dive could end with him being devoured by some Demon Beast. Qin Feng didn¡¯t immediately sit in meditation but instead took out a set of Array Flags and carefully concealed the cave, also masking his own presence. With the protection of this set of Array Flags, ordinary life forms simply couldn¡¯t break in. Only then did he sit cross-legged with peace of mind and took out Spiritual Medicine to start restoring the True Yuan inside his body. Chapter 287 - Chapter 287 Chapter 284 Dragons Grave ?Chapter 287: Chapter 284: Dragon¡¯s Grave Chapter 287: Chapter 284: Dragon¡¯s Grave Qin Feng¡¯s True Yuan restoration speed was quite fast. Although he had expended over eighty to ninety percent of his True Yuan, he not only had an ample supply of Spirit Pills to assist him, but he also had the Demon Refining Pot to provide him with pure Spiritual Energy, making recovery naturally easy. The only effort required was to convert the Spiritual Energy into True Yuan. After fully restoring his True Yuan, he didn¡¯t leave immediately, mainly because the tempest outside was still howling nonstop, and heavy rain had even started. Moreover, during the time he spent meditating and recovering, the weather had darkened, obviously signaling it was nighttime. He wouldn¡¯t have minded simply the darkness of night, since the Ruyi Golden Snake had the Shadow Transformation Divine Power, which made the use of this Divine Power more convenient at night. But he was reluctant to walk in the tempestuous rain. If he flew too high while surveying the island¡¯s terrain and was struck by thunder from the clouds, that would be unfortunate. So Qin Feng quietly sat cross-legged within the temporarily excavated cave and cultivated. Although his True Yuan had been restored, there were still many Cultivation Techniques that needed attention. In addition to the Azure Dragon Divine Technique, a Body Refining Technique, there was the method of tempering the Taoist Body from the Ten Thousand Beasts Origin Scripture. His Taoist Body had already been tempered close to perfection, mainly because resources were plentiful. Moreover, his mentor Ning Wuxu would often bestow upon him some special natural treasures to aid his cultivation. At the Foundation Establishment Realm, there was no need to comprehend the Dao. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï??¦Ï.§ã¦Ï As long as one thoroughly comprehended the Cultivation Technique and continued to temper the Taoist Body, having such abundant resources to assist, it would be strange if his cultivation speed did not increase. He spent half the night tempering his Taoist Body, and the remaining time was all devoted to comprehending the Shadow Transformation Divine Power. This Divine Power was very different from the other Divine Skills Qin Feng had cultivated in the past and was somewhat difficult. Other Divine Skills like Ruyi Golden Light, Golden Hole Finger, Shrinking Ground to Inch, primarily revolved around the application and techniques of strengtha€¡±he was able to understand some of their principles. But the Shadow Transformation Divine Power was different. Once the Shadow Transformation Divine Power was executed, it turned the body into a shadow. The principles involved were beyond Qin Feng¡¯s understanding. He had no choice but to slowly condense this Divine Power into a Divine Power Seed by imitating the Ruyi Golden Snake, without any genuine insight into it. At least until his realm in Cultivation reached a certain level of achievement, it would be difficult to grasp the essence of this Divine Power. Fortunately, as long as he could master it, he could use it. It was not absolutely necessary to understand the underlying principles. Qin Feng now wanted to master this Divine Power as soon as possible. Because he was nearing his advancement to the Golden Core Realm. If he could condense the Divine Power Seed before reaching the Golden Core Realm, the seed would naturally grow along with his advancement, completely transforming into a Divine Power he wielded, and its power would surely see a substantial increase. This was much stronger than merging it after reaching the Golden Core Realm. Quickly, the night passed. It was not until the next day at noon that the storm outside completely ceased. The sea surface became calm, with not a ripple in sight. Qin Feng waved his hand to collect the Array Plate, walked out of the cave, and with a few leaps, he reached the top of the cliff where he was. ?¦Ï¦Í??.§ã¦Ï He looked far into the distance, the sea and sky blending in one color, a beautiful azure that was indeed refreshing. Soon, he withdrew his gaze and looked around doubtfully. He noticed a strange phenomenon: there were no seabirds dwelling on this island. Now that the winds were calm and the waves were still, not only did he not see any seabirds soaring over the sea to catch fish, but he also didn¡¯t hear a single bird¡¯s call. What was going on? Qin Feng was puzzled. This sea area was not devoid of fish and shrimp; one glance into the water, and Qin Feng could see plenty of plump fish, shrimp, turtles, and crabs. Turning his head to look left and right, he discovered that not a blade of grass grew on the cliff; the hard rock walls were devoid of any greenery. Afterward, he turned around to look deeper into the island. Then, his face changed. It wasn¡¯t because he saw any powerful creaturesa€¡±in fact, he didn¡¯t see any living beings at all. Everywhere he looked, there was only a murky fog. Had it been just simple fog, it would have been fine, but this fog was mixed with a dense aura of death. Moreover, this heavy, death-laden fog didn¡¯t drift outwards at all; had Qin Feng not turned his head to look, he wouldn¡¯t have even realized that there was a presence of undead spirit energy. ¡°What kind of godforsaken place is this? Could it be the legendary Undead Island?¡± No wonder such a thought arose in his mind; the island was too strange. On his approach, he had traveled at least seven or eight thousand li over the sea without spotting a hint of any land or island, and yet, curiously, there was this strange, solitary island located here, exuding such rich undead spirit energy. Qin Feng did not dare to enter recklessly. Summoning the Spiritual Vulture, he mounted its back and flew along the perimeter of the island for half an hour, yet he hadn¡¯t completed even half a circle. He also noticed that the outer edges of the island, whether mountains or cliffs, sealed the death qi within the island. As he steered the Spiritual Vulture over the outer mountains and flew a distance toward the deep interior of the island, his vision was met with endless gray mist. He felt an increasing pressure the deeper he flew, weighing heavily on his heart. And the Spiritual Vulture fared even worse. Had it not been for its master on its back, it would likely have fled long ago. While Qin Feng was alarmed by this, he also secretly speculated that perhaps the grave of an incredibly powerful being lay here; otherwise, why would such intense pressure emanate from this place? The reason he guessed it was the burial ground of a strong entity, rather than the presence of a living one, was that he didn¡¯t sense the breath of any living creature here; this place was clearly a land of death. Qin Feng¡¯s heart thumped wildly with the thought that if this truly was the grave of a formidable figure, just how powerful must that person have been in life to still emit such powerful pressure after death? At the same time, he was also somewhat tempted. Could it be that this mighty figure had left behind any treasures after death? Once this thought surfaced, he couldn¡¯t help himself; he immediately returned the Spiritual Vulture to the Demon Refining Pot and himself quietly descended. The death qi here was so rich that Qin Feng suspected it might have given birth to death spirits. The Spiritual Vulture made no small disturbance while flying, and he did not wish to alarm any death spirits here, so that¡¯s why he put away the Spiritual Vulture and went down alone. He possessed a Spiritual Artifact that could conceal his aura and could even use the Shadow Transformation Divine Power, allowing him to move through this land of death without causing much disturbance. After descending into the fog, Qin Feng realized that the terrain here was quite unique, made up of small hills of varying sizes. Moreover, this place wasn¡¯t entirely barren; there were indeed many plants, but all of them had yellow, malnourished branches and leaves. The sparse trees all grew in bizarre, twisted shapes, winding like strange snakes, and the occasional vine on the ground was equally weird looking. Qin Feng didn¡¯t pay too much attention to this. The vegetation that grew in a place abound with Death Qi would, of course, be very different from ordinary trees. Moreover, this place was always shrouded in grey mist and had never been touched by sunlight, so it was normal for the trees here to grow oddly. However, what surprised him was that not only was the mist filled with a rich Undead Spirit Energy, but the oppressive force it contained was also much stronger than what he had sensed from above. He had to continuously cast Defensive Magic and guard his spirit closely to withstand the Undead Spirit Energy and the pressure as he moved forward. After walking cautiously for some time and not encountering any danger, he boldly picked up his pace, using the Shrinking Ground to Inch Technique to cover several meters in one step as he made his way deeper into the island. A moment later, Qin Feng stopped. He faintly sensed a strange energy fluctuation. He couldn¡¯t distinguish what kind of energy it was, but he could confirm that it definitely wasn¡¯t an energy that should exist in the Land of Death. Without any hesitation, he followed the direction from which the energy wave was coming, intending to see what it was. However, the deeper he went, the graver his expression became. The aura¡¯s oppressive force here was simply outrageous, making him feel as if he were a little rabbit being watched by a group of Jiao Dragons, possibly to be devoured at any moment by the majestic presence of that aura. Hey? A sudden thought struck him, why did he think of Jiao Dragons instead of other fierce beasts? Logically, he should have thought of fierce tigers or giant Spiritual Snakes, so why did he think of a group of Jiao Dragons? While he was pondering, he suddenly noticed a huge shadow loom out of the distant black fog, flying towards him at great speed. Qin Feng was startled and immediately merged with the Ruyi Golden Snake, quickly fleeing using his Shadow Transformation Divine Power. Eventually, he hid himself far away behind a strange tree and exerted his Spiritual Artifact, which concealed his aura, to its utmost limit. Whoosh¡­ Within the rolling grey mist, a massive figure with a body length of over a dozen meters flew out from the depths of the fog. It had four legs, two wings, a sizable body, with a long tail trailing behind, and its ferocious head was adorned with two sharp horns. Its huge mouth bristling with fangs was terrifying to behold. However, those eyes flickering with green Ghost Fire revealed that it was not a living creature, but a Soul Body. This was the soul of a Monster. Moreover, it possessed a degree of Spiritual Intelligence and formidable strength. After reaching this area, it looked around in confusion. It had definitely sensed a life force here just moments ago, so why was it now gone? Could it have been mistaken? After surveying the area and finding nothing, it finally flapped its mighty wings and flew elsewhere. Once the Monster Soul Body had flown a considerable distance away, Qin Feng emerged from behind the tree. He looked at the departing Undead Giant Dragon with furrowed brows; he had seen Demon Beasts similar to this Giant Dragon Soul Body when he was in the Red Flame Demon Realm, which were Demon Dragons that lived in volcanic regions. Moreover, he had learned from books in the Red Flame Demon Realm that many worlds within this Star Domain were home to the Giant Dragon Clan, and the Demon Dragons of the Red Flame Demon Realm were a branch of the Giant Dragon Clan. These Giant Dragons were distinctly different from the True Dragons of the Dragon Palace in the East Sea of the Biluo Great World. Like what he had seen earlier, they had four legs and two wings, appearing somewhat akin to giant winged lizards, yet starkly different in many ways. The Giant Dragon Clan was also a kind of Demon Beast and even sat at the top of the food chain. They were innately powerful, and once they reached adulthood, they had the strength of level nine Demon Beasts. Additionally, they shared similar inclinations to the Dragon Clan of the Biluo Great World, being debauched and propagating many types of Sub-Dragon Beasts. Qin Feng, looking in the direction the Undead Dragon had flown, pondered whether this place could be the burial ground of the Giant Dragon Clan. If that were the case, it would explain the dense Death Qi and the enormous pressure here. Dragon Power was an innate ability of the Giant Dragon Clan, as well as their Talent Skills. After death, the Dragon Power would surely disperse, deterring other living creatures. Qin Feng roughly guessed his current location, thereby analyzing that although the dragons of this realm were strong, they definitely weren¡¯t powerful enough to dominate an entire realm. The Dragon¡¯s Grave, though sizable, wasn¡¯t excessively large a€¡° this island alone seemed sufficient to serve as the burial grounds for this realm¡¯s Giant Dragon Clan. With this in mind, the small hills surrounding him were likely not just hills, but the graves of the Dragon Clan. Having realized this, Qin Feng did not turn back but continued in the same direction as before. He wanted to see what it was that could emit such a distinctive energy fluctuation in this Dead Domain. He was also curious as to why the previously encountered Undead Dragon had allowed that energy to exist instead of destroying it. Qin Feng advanced carefully, restraining his own aura amidst the omnipresent oppressive force, careful not to attract the Undead Dragon¡¯s attention once more. After a little while, he finally neared the source of the energy fluctuation. He didn¡¯t go to examine it directly because he didn¡¯t know if there were other Undead Giant Dragons nearby. Even though the strength of the Giant Dragons would decline severely after death, it was all relative. A dead camel was still larger than a horse, and an Undead Giant Dragon that had died once was still not something he could contend with. Furthermore, Undead Giant Dragons could continue to absorb Undead Spirit Energy over time to grow, possibly achieving a higher level of existence, especially considering how vast this Dragon¡¯s Grave was, surely not just one Undead Giant Dragon resided here. Qin Feng observed carefully for quite a while, and once he was certain there were no other Undead Giant Dragons in the vicinity, he set his mind at ease and headed straight for a small mound in front of him. Without a doubt, this mound was also the burial ground of a Giant Dragon. Moreover, he noticed that this mound was taller and larger by a whole margin than some of the surrounding mounds. It seemed that the Giant Dragon buried beneath must have been much larger, perhaps Elder Level of the Giant Dragon Clan. After using Shrinking Ground to Inch, Qin Feng arrived atop the mound in just a few steps and saw the source of the unique energy fluctuation. It was a small tree, about three feet tall, upon which hung a white fruit. Chapter 288 - Chapter 288 Chapter 285 Seizing the Dragon Spirit Fruit ?Chapter 288: Chapter 285: Seizing the Dragon Spirit Fruit Chapter 288: Chapter 285: Seizing the Dragon Spirit Fruit The small tree, no taller than three feet, had an elegant spiritual charm with leaves rustling in the wind, its branches knotted, full of vitality. Were it not for seeing it with his own eyes, Qin Feng would have found it hard to believe that within this fog brimming with the scent of death, such a spiritual tree could actually thrive. The white fruit hanging at the tip-top of the knotted branch did not give off the slightest fruity aroma, yet it radiated a faint energy fluctuation that enveloped the entire hill, not allowing any hint of deathly aura to invade this place. When this faint energy fluctuation reached Qin Feng, it also imbued him with threads of warmth. ¡°What kind of spirit fruit is this?¡± Qin Feng looked at it curiously for a few moments. Unfortunately, he knew nothing about this realm. He had already demonstrated considerable erudition by guessing that this place was the Dragon¡¯s Grave; how could he possibly recognize something merely by sight? However, not recognizing it was no matter, he just needed to know it was a valuable item. After all, anything that could emerge from this Dead Domain, carrying life within it, was absolutely a rare heaven-sent marvel. Such a treasure, if he did not collect it, would surely be a wasteful destruction of heaven¡¯s gifts. Thus, Qin Feng extended his hand to take out a jade box from the storage bag. He did not use his hands to pluck it, to avoid damaging the spiritual nature of the white fruit, nor did he use True Yuan to extract it. His True Yuan was filled with Golden Qi, and in the Cultivation World, quite a few spiritual medicines avoided being touched by metallic objects. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í??.?¦Ï He then took out a small jade shovel, a tool specially designed for harvesting spiritual medicine. Jade, being gentle and full of spiritual nature, would not hurt the spiritual nature within the spirit fruit. Snap! The spirit fruit fell into the jade box. Qin Feng examined it for a moment and, seeing that the fruit¡¯s spiritual nature was intact, nodded contentedly, closed the lid, and affixed a Sealing Spirit Talisman with a flick of his hand. Although he did not know the specific effects of this kind of spirit fruit, he could ask an Alchemy Master to help identify it later. A spirit fruit born in the Dead Domain that contained life was definitely not ordinary. If possible, he wanted to have an Alchemy Master help him refine it into a spirit pill. Consuming it would surely have a good effect and should enhance the vitality of his Azure Dragon Daoist Body, allowing his Azure Dragon Divine Technique to advance further. As for the small tree, although he was tempted, he did not collect it. Such a spiritual tree was extremely special; since it grew in the land of death, perhaps it needed to absorb and purify the death qi before it could bear spirit fruit. There was no need to move it, as he had nowhere to cultivate it once taken away. Although strictly speaking, the Void Shattering Hammer Cave Mansion inside the Demon Refining Pot could also grow spiritual trees, it did not have the right environment for this kind of tree. Better to leave it here; maybe it could bear another fruit containing life in the future. Just as he was happily collecting the spirit fruit, suddenly he heard a strange dragon roar from afar, followed by several waves of energy rushing towards him. Qin Feng¡¯s heart skipped a beat, immediately sensing trouble. Clearly, the unique energy of that spiritual tree fruit caught the attention of the undead dragons in the fog upon him taking it. Seeing energy fluctuations approaching from all sides, Qin Feng was shocked. Just as he thought of running back the way he came, he discovered that an undead dragon was also flying in his direction on the same path, and it was the closest one to him a€¡± it seemed to be the same undead dragon he had encountered earlier. Seeing this, Qin Feng immediately dismissed the idea of returning the same way and rapidly glanced in all four directions, then bolted towards the left. Since the undead dragon on this side was the farthest from him. His feet were incredibly swift, taking his Earth Escape Divine Power to the extreme, taking strides that covered dozens of feet in an attempt to pass between the reaching claws of the two nearby undead dragons. However, these undead dragons, although separated by layers of fog, could clearly see through his soul with their unique undead vision, knowing that he was a living being who had intruded into their graveyard. So, the nearby undead dragons roared in anger, and as they chased after him, they also made noise, calling for other undead dragons to come and corner this brazen intruder who dared disturb their slumber. In just a short time, Qin Feng discovered that his speed in employing the Shrinking Ground to Inch technique was far slower than those winged undead dragons, and soon the fastest among them caught up. The Undead Dragon flapped its wings, creating streams of Yin Wind that accelerated its speed greatly, far surpassing Qin Feng, and chased him into a sorry state. Thus, he merged with the Ruyi Golden Snake, hoping to employ the Shadow Transformation Divine Power to hide his form. But while that Divine Power could deceive the eyes of ordinary creatures, it could not fool these Undead. For they did not rely on their eyes to see; they could clearly sense the vigorous life force emanating from Qin Feng. Realizing that Shadow Transformation was useless, Qin Feng changed tactics and utilized the Earth Escape Divine Power, burrowing into the ground directly, but was likewise forced out by several Undead Dragons. Their bodies were ethereal Soul Bodies that could also penetrate the ground. Qin Feng saw that these Divine Powers were no use for escape, so he shot up towards the heavens, trying to flee the area filled with Netherworld Fog and leave through the sky. However, the high-level Undead Dragons were not afraid of mere sunlight. They pursued him relentlessly, leaving him with no escape route to heaven or earth. Qin Feng had also tried to counterattack, but though his Magic Divine Powers were decent, they were far from sufficient to deal with these Undead Dragons. Even when his attacks landed on them, the soul bodies of the Undead Dragons only shook momentarily before quickly returning to normal. But their attacks were extremely powerful, whether spewing Netherworld Flames, stirring Yin Wind, discharging Soul Impact, or shaking him with Dragon Power. ?0¦Í??.§ã¦Ï A series of attacks forced Qin Feng to dodge desperately, and if not for his mastery of the Divine Powers of Shrinking Ground to Inch and Big and Small Ruyi, and his ability to fly and escape through the earth, he might have perished there already. In his heart, Qin Feng regretted deeply. Knowing he would encounter these Undead Creatures, he should have exchanged for some treasure specifically against ghosts from the cultivators of the Ghost Controlling Sect, so as not to be without means to restrain the Undead Dragons now. ¡°Human Clan?¡± Behind him, an especially huge Undead Dragon with Ghost Fire rising in its eyes looked at Qin Feng¡¯s fleeing figure in surprise, ¡°How did a Human come to our Dragon Clan¡¯s grave?¡± ¡°Audric, this human thief has stolen a Light Element Dragon Spirit Fruit.¡± ¡°I see.¡± Upon hearing this, the Undead Giant Dragon named Audric immediately understood, ¡°It¡¯s another thief coveting the power of our Dragon Clan.¡± Then, in the common language, he spoke to Qin Feng, ¡°Human, I don¡¯t care how you got here, but now leave the Dragon Spirit Fruit behind and I will give you a chance to be transformed into an Undead, to guard our Dragon Clan¡¯s graves for ten thousand years to redeem your crimes. Otherwise, I will burn your soul thoroughly with Netherworld Fire.¡± Screw that! Qin Feng cursed silently. He had learned the common language during his time in the Red Flame Demon Realm, so he could understand the words of the Undead Dragon, but to hand over the so-called Dragon Spirit Fruit, and turn into an Undead to guard the Dragon Clan¡¯s graves for ten thousand years? Did they take him for a fool? After dodging another attack of Netherworld Fire from an Undead Dragon, Qin Feng yelled, ¡°I ended up here unintentionally, and at the beginning, I didn¡¯t even know this was your Dragon Clan¡¯s grave nor recognize any Dragon Spirit Fruit. It¡¯s all an accident. I will leave this place now and not disturb your rest, how¡¯s that?¡± ¡°Just by yourself, you managed to reach the burial site of our Giant Dragon Clan? You must have accomplices hiding somewhere, don¡¯t you?¡± The huge Audric¡¯s voice boomed, ¡°I don¡¯t care how you came here, but since you¡¯ve arrived and touched our Dragon Spirit Fruit, don¡¯t even think about leaving. Hmph, a mere member of the Human Clan dares to come to our Dragon Clan¡¯s resting place to steal treasures. Have I been in slumber too long, or has the Human Clan grown so powerful that you can disrespect our Giant Dragons, or did you come here on your own to steal treasures from our Clan? Aren¡¯t you afraid of bringing disaster upon your Human Clan by doing this? And even if you obtained the power of the Dragon Spirit Fruit, what then? Once the news reaches the ears of the Giant Dragons, do you think you can bask in glory for long? The power of the Dragon Spirit Fruit is not something you can covet!¡± As he spoke, the powerful Undead Dragon closed in, extending a giant dragon claw towards Qin Feng: ¡°Once I capture you, you will spill the truth.¡± Qin Feng¡¯s body suddenly shrank, reducing his height to just over a foot, and he instantly shot through the gaps in Audric¡¯s enormous claws, turning into a streak of golden light, and in a moment, he created some distance from the pursuing Undead Giant Dragon. ¡°Don¡¯t chase me anymore.¡± Qin Feng shouted, ¡°Don¡¯t you want to rest undisturbed in your slumber? Then let me go, and I promise I will not bother you again. If you continue to chase me, I may have to burrow into the ground and truly disturb your skeletal remains.¡± ¡°How dare you!¡± Audric and the other Undead Dragons, upon hearing this, surged with rage and sped even faster towards him. If Qin Feng dared to burrow into the ground, they planned to surround him from all directions, trapping him in a specific area so he couldn¡¯t escape, considering that traveling underground was certainly slower than flying in the sky. Seeing this, Qin Feng no longer dared to blindly dig downward. This gave him quite the headache; the Earth Escape Divine Power that used to work so effortlessly for him now proved to be quite ineffective in front of this group of ethereal-bodied Undead Dragons. Moreover, he had already sensed that the ordinary Undead Dragons, lacking physical bodies and only possessing souls, were greatly affected in strength, their attack power wasn¡¯t too overwhelming, and he could still hold on for the time being. But that Undead Dragon called Audric was significantly stronger than the others; if it hadn¡¯t been for the fact that many of its past abilities couldn¡¯t be used and that it was trying to capture him alive, Qin Feng would probably have been killed by it long ago. Even so, the space in which Qin Feng could maneuver was gradually shrinking, and it would not be long before he was completely captured. Just then, he suddenly sensed an energy fluctuation ahead. Different from the power of the Dragon Spirit Fruit he had picked earlier, this time it was the Water Element¡¯s power, and Qin Feng had even seen it. Not far away, on a Dragon Clan gravesite, hung a blue fruit atop a small tree. The other Undead Dragons had evidently also noticed the existence of the Dragon Spirit Fruit. Seeing Qin Feng heading in that direction, the Undead Dragons who originally planned to encircle him flew ahead, preferring to temporarily abandon their pursuit rather than letting him harm another Dragon Spirit Fruit. The conditions for the birth of a Dragon Spirit Fruit were extremely harsh, and the Giant Dragon Clan could only produce a few in the Dragon¡¯s Grave. Moreover, this item was of great use to the Dragon Clan; they weren¡¯t willing to let this shameless Human Clan thief snatch another one. Even if they could retrieve the Dragon Spirit Fruit from him, it wasn¡¯t as good as the long-term preservation it offered on the Dragon Spirit Tree. Even if they managed to imprison the thief¡¯s soul and torment him severely, they couldn¡¯t undo their loss. Seeing them anxious over the Dragon Spirit Fruit and revealing gaps in their siege, Qin Feng quickly slipped through the encirclement and fled into the distance. But these Undead Dragons were fast and numerous; he simply could not escape. Even more so, farther away, even more Undead Dragons, sensing the disturbance here, were flying towards him, some with presences even stronger than Audric¡¯s, which alarmed Qin Feng greatly. It seemed that the previous round of pursuit had inadvertently brought him closer to the central area of the Dragon¡¯s Grave; otherwise, it wouldn¡¯t have alerted so many Undead Dragons. Plus, Qin Feng discovered that the closer he fled towards the core area, the more Dragon Spirit Fruits there were. Along the way, he had sensed several Dragon Spirit Fruits: green ones brimming with vitality that he felt would greatly aid his Cultivation of the Azure Dragon Divine Technique if refined. There were also golden Dragon Spirit Fruits that particularly tantalized him. Because the golden Dragon Spirit Fruit contained a pure essence of Golden Qi, Qin Feng believed refining the golden fruit might greatly inspire him on how to integrate the Golden Qi into his Azure Dragon Daoist Body. Similarly, he had seen Dragon Spirit Fruits of other elements, each one stirring his desire. Unfortunately, he was currently being chased by over a dozen Undead Dragons, which gave him no chance to get close to any Dragon Spirit Fruit, leaving him powerless to act. However, it did not mean he had no chance of acquiring another one. Qin Feng saw the few exceptionally strong Undead Dragons approaching from afar and knew he had to leave this place. Otherwise, once they arrive, escaping would prove much more difficult. So, while dodging an attack from one of the Undead Dragons, Qin Feng suddenly produced something and hurled it at the dragon. Because it was so fast, the Undead Dragon couldn¡¯t react to what it was, and instinctively ducked to avoid it. Then, it regretted it. Because what Qin Feng had thrown was neither a Spell nor a weapon, but a living creature. A small toad, not particularly large in the dragon¡¯s eyes but vividly green all over. Yet, it was this seemingly unremarkable small toad that zipped past the dragon and flew towards the Dragon Spirit Fruit it was guarding behind it. ¡°Roar¡­ Stop it!¡± The Undead Dragon let out a Dragon Roar, signaling the other Undead Dragons to help defend the Dragon Spirit Fruit Tree. Sure enough, there was an Undead Dragon closer to the Dragon Spirit Fruit Tree, certainly capable of protecting the Dragon Spirit Fruit before the little toad could reach it. However, to their surprise, when the small toad was still twenty or thirty yards from the Dragon Spirit Fruit Tree, it suddenly opened its mouth, shot out its tongue, and with a flicker of a shadow, the fiery red Dragon Spirit Fruit had vanished. Having swallowed the Dragon Spirit Fruit, the Swallowing Sky Toad turned and with a light jump, used the Space Shifting Technique and in the blink of an eye, returned to Qin Feng¡¯s side. ¡°Instant Movement?¡± The Undead Dragons watching were shocked, the Soul Fire in their eyes flickering incessantly, not expecting such an inconspicuous small toad to be capable of performing Space Magic of instant movement. However, they only marveled for a moment before quickly regaining their composure. ¡°Kill him, no need to hold back anymore.¡± Audric roared, ¡°Even if he has companions hiding and waiting to assist him, it¡¯s futile. Afterwards, we can simply search the Dragon¡¯s Grave inside and out. I refuse to believe any life form can elude our search.¡± ¡°Roar¡­¡± Upon hearing the command, the group of Undead Giant Dragons immediately stopped holding back and, one after another, spewed Netherworld Flames at Qin Feng. Clearly, they were growing impatient with continuing the cat-and-mouse game with Qin Feng. Just moments ago, amidst their coordinated chase and blockade, this human¡¯s Demon Pet had managed to steal a Dragon Spirit Fruita€¡±a considerable loss for them. If things continued, who knew how many more Dragon Spirit Fruits this Human Clan member might take? Facing the assault of so many Undead Dragons, Qin Feng certainly did not have the strength to resist. It seemed the Undead Dragons too had resigned themselves to their bad luck, giving up on the two Dragon Spirit Fruits and focusing solely on killing this human Thief. But just as Qin Feng was about to be engulfed by the Netherworld Flames, suddenly, a blue light flashed on his body, then rapidly grew in intensity, breaking through all attacks and allowing him to speed away from the Death Mist, fleeing into the distance. ¡°Roar¡­ How is this possible?¡± The Undead Dragons were staggered. From the previous pursuit, they could tell Qin Feng¡¯s strength and could not believe he possessed such formidable power to break through their attacks and escape so rapidly. ¡°He must have a powerful Magic Scroll on him, which protected him and allowed him to escape.¡± Audric said fiercely, ¡°Send a message to the Dragon Clan, keep an eye on the Human Clan, and find that damn thief for me!¡± Another Undead Dragon nodded, ¡°Don¡¯t worry, one who has consumed the Dragon Spirit Fruit certainly can¡¯t stay hidden for long. Sooner or later, he will show himself.¡± ¡°Yes, once we find him, I want his soul imprisoned, so he forever regrets what he did today.¡± Chapter 289 - Chapter 289 Chapter 286 Demon Beast Transformation ?Chapter 289: Chapter 286: Demon Beast Transformation Chapter 289: Chapter 286: Demon Beast Transformation A streak of light flashed rapidly across the sky, and Qin Feng¡¯s figure appeared over a vast sea area. He turned his head to look back, but the islands where the Dragon Tomb was located were not within sight. Previously, he had activated a Jade Talisman given to him by his master, Ning Wuxu, for self-defense. Wrapped in the Great Divine Power within the talisman, his body directly broke through the void and rapidly escaped, quickly putting thousands of miles between him and the Dragon Tomb, allowing him to safely escape. However, since this place wasn¡¯t far from the Dragon Tomb, he still worried that powerful Undead Dragons might pursue him. Therefore, once the energy of the talisman dissipated, he immediately summoned the Spiritual Vulture and, seated cross-legged on its back, flew into the distance. He flew until the sky turned dark, and still, there was no sign of land, which deeply furrowed his brows. But having flown in this direction for so long, it wouldn¡¯t be wise to turn back. After all, the Spiritual Vulture was a Spiritual Beast of the Foundation Establishment Realm, and flying didn¡¯t consume much Spiritual Power. With its stamina, it could continue for quite a while, so Qin Feng didn¡¯t stop it but continued flying through the night. The sea was incredibly vast. Even with the Spiritual Vulture¡¯s post-Foundation Establishment speed, it took three days of continuous flight before he finally saw land, which made Qin Feng breathe a sigh of relief. In fact, from the second day onward, he had encountered some small islands scattered across the sea but he had left them right after a brief rest. After all, those islands were not places to stay for long. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?0¦Í??.§ã¦Ï Some even harbored extremely powerful Demon Beasts, which chased him for a long time, making him extremely cautious when considering resting on small islands. He would carefully observe for a long while and make sure there were no powerful Demon Beasts before landing. Moreover, during these days flying over the sea, he had encountered many strong Sea Beasts; there were hundred-yard-long fish leaping out of the water, peculiar-looking Devil Fish flying out of the water, and strangest of all, he witnessed a giant tentacle emerging from the sea, extending dozens of yards to snatch a large bird flying above the surface. This made him wary of getting too close to the sea, fearing a sudden attack of this kind. Now that he saw land, Qin Feng was extremely joyful and quickly urged the Spiritual Vulture toward it. However, in this coastal area, there were no signs of human settlement, just inhospitable mountains and dense forests where Demon Beasts roamed. Thus, Qin Feng spent half a day flying out of the forest before he finally saw a road in the distance. This eased his mind. Where there were roads, there would surely be settlements of intelligent races nearby. Whether it was the Human Clan or other races, as long as he could interact with them, he could find a way to gather information and thus find a way to quickly integrate into this world. Just as Qin Feng was looking for a place to land and rest, his ears twitched, faintly catching the sound of skirmishing in the wind from afar. ¡°Hm? Someone is fighting.¡± This peeked Qin Feng¡¯s interest. There being a battle signified the presence of living intelligent races. He immediately set aside resting and quickly instructed the Spiritual Vulture to turn and fly toward the direction of the sounds. On the road beside the forest, two groups of people were in combat, sparring fiercely with blood and flesh flying, a ghastly scene indeed. One side appeared to be a merchant caravan, while the other was accused of being thieves, yet they didn¡¯t quite fit the bill. Their organized actions and even coordinated combat strategies made them seem more like a military force. Bang bang bang! A series of heavy weapon collisions resonated, as two warriors wielding broadswords fought in a deadlock. Qin Feng watched the two warriors with surprise, noting that they resembled Demon Clan Warriors who could slash with Light Blades of various colors. However, there was a significant difference in the Power Attribute of their strength. And their energy aura was incredibly violent, which puzzled Qin Feng. The Human Clan had far inferior physical qualities compared to the Demon Clan. How were these two managing to wield such violent energy? However, he quickly lost interest in these questions and turned his attention to an old man sitting in a carriage. This person wore a Magic Robe with a large tree embroidered on the chest, beneath which was the figure of a Demon Bear. Though different in style from the Magic Robes Qin Feng had seen in the Demon Realm, it was still apparent that this old man was a Mage. This old man caught Qin Feng¡¯s eye not because of his strength, but because there was something unusual about his aura. Beside the old man sat a youth. The young man had handsome features, likely of noble birth, with an aura thick with scholarly air. Yet at the moment, the youth appeared somewhat panicked. Despite trying to stay calm, his trembling palms and rapid breathing betrayed him. ¡°It seems my brother is still unwilling to let me go,¡± the young man said with a trace of sorrow in his eyes. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, Locke, I will protect you and won¡¯t let you come to harm,¡± the old man reassured, patting the youth¡¯s arm. ¡°Once we reach Cold Star City, you¡¯ll be safe. You can join the Church; no one will try to assassinate you then. Even your brother wouldn¡¯t dare to risk offending the Church to kill you.¡± ¡°Can we really arrive in Cold Star City safely?¡± The young man named Locke obviously lacked confidence. ¡°The pursuers are getting stronger, and our Guards are dwindling. Many have died because of us, I¡­¡± ¡°Sigh.¡± The old man sighed softly and said frankly, he didn¡¯t have much confidence either. But still, he comforted, ¡°Don¡¯t worry, there won¡¯t be any problems. I¡¯ve sent messages to my friends to come and support us. They should already be on their way and it won¡¯t be long before they arrive.¡± ¡°Let¡¯s hope so.¡± Locke murmured in agreement, but he didn¡¯t harbor much hope in his heart. Outside, the battle raged on, and soon their side was at a disadvantage. Not only because they were outnumbered, but also because the guards outside had been fighting for several days in row and were already exhausted; they were simply no match for those powerful warriors they faced. ¡°Young Master Locke.¡± The Guard Commander slashed a wide arc of golden fighting energy, forcing the opponent back for a moment before turning to shout, ¡°You guys break through and escape first; I¡¯ll hold these fellows off.¡± Clearly, he also realized his side was severely outmatched. Although he could still hold them off temporarily with his own formidable strength, the other guards would not last much longer facing an enemy several times their number. ¡°You think you can escape?¡± A warrior on the opposite side, clad in full war armor with his face concealed behind a fine steel face mask, laughed coldly, ¡°I¡¯ve brought so many people to hunt you down, if you manage to escape, wouldn¡¯t that make me seem incompetent? If that were to happen, I wouldn¡¯t have any prospects once I return, so you¡¯d better leave your lives behind.¡± ¡°Hmph, Cook, you despicable and shameless scoundrel, if I weren¡¯t injured, would you even dare to face me?¡± The Guard Commander shouted, ¡°Leave now and I won¡¯t kill you, otherwise, even if it costs me my life, I am confident I can take you down.¡± ¡°Oh? Hahaha¡­¡± The warrior who was wrapped in his armor laughed coldly upon hearing this, ¡°I admit your strength is greater than mine, but since I¡¯ve come here to hunt you down, do you think I haven¡¯t considered how to deal with you?¡± With that, he turned and shouted into the forest behind him, ¡°Eddie, do you really want to watch me fight this guy till we¡¯re both down for the count, or are you going to come out and help me finish them off, before it takes too long and we run into complications?¡± Following his call, another group of knights emerged from the forest. Leading them was a young nobleman dressed in noble attire, followed by a mage and a powerful knight, and then a cavalry troop of hundreds. ¡°Cook, I¡¯ve already told you that even if that guy is injured, he¡¯s not someone you can handle. You wouldn¡¯t believe me, and now what? You still need my help, don¡¯t you?¡± The nobleman named Eddie wore a smile on his face, ¡°Since I¡¯ve taken action, I¡¯m entitled to half the credit. No objections, right?¡± ¡°Alright, we¡¯ll split the credit equally.¡± Cook didn¡¯t say much and agreed immediately. Eddie nodded, ¡°In that case, everyone, take action.¡± With that, he gave a wave and the Knight Commander behind him stood tall, brandishing his knight spear and with a thunderous cry, led the charge. The cavalry¡¯s charge was extremely fierce, as if they intended to shatter the earth and break through anything that stood in their way. ¡°This is bad.¡± The Guard Commander at the front of the carriage saw this and his face paled instantly. They were fighting on the ground now, without horses, without tight formations, without thick shields; how could they possibly withstand the charge of so many knights! Seeing this, the old man on the carriage also sighed softly. He stood up, jumped down from the carriage, and stood in front of it, looking at the charging knights with a look of helplessness and resolution in his eyes. Then something happened that astonished Qin Feng immensely. Suddenly, the elder¡¯s form changed, transforming into a giant bear. The giant bear stood three stories tall with a robust body and a formidable presence. ?¦Ï¦Í??.§ã¦Ï ¡°Roar¡­¡± With a mighty roar from the giant bear, the knights¡¯ charger horses up ahead, which were sprinting at top speed, began to panic. Except for a few powerful knights who could still control their chargers to continue the charge, the majority were thrown into disarray. Clearly, their warhorses were exposing their instinctive fear in the face of a demon beast. After the giant bear let out its ferocious roar, it stood on its hind legs. Then, its huge bear paws shimmered with a yellow glow and slammed violently into the ground with a thunderous impact. Booma€¡±a tremor shook the earth, even causing ripples to spread, completely throwing the charging knights into chaos. Many riders were thrown off their horses and onto the ground. Some were even crushed beneath their chargers, breaking their legs and left to howl in agony on the ground. It was only the lead knight who remained unimpeded with his impressive momentum. His charger leaped into the air, soaring several meters, over the undulating ground, and before reaching the giant bear, lunged with a thrust. The sharp fighting energy morphed into a lance shadow, aiming for the giant bear¡¯s chest. Although the giant bear was immense, its actions were not clumsy at all. With a swipe of its vast paw, it dispersed the lance shadow, then stomped fiercely on the ground, causing several earth spikes to rise from under the ground aiming for the underbelly of the Knight Commander¡¯s charger. Qin Feng stared in amazement, even doubting if he had seen something incorrect for a moment. What was happening? Even the Beast Taming Sect disciples could only merge with a spiritual beast, how did this old man manage to transform into a demon beast in an instant? Chapter 290 - Chapter 290 Chapter 287 When the Beast Taming Sect Disciples Met a Druid ?Chapter 290: Chapter 287: When the Beast Taming Sect Disciples Met a Druid Chapter 290: Chapter 287: When the Beast Taming Sect Disciples Met a Druid Shocked, Qin Feng initially thought the old man had transformed from a Demon Beast. However, after careful consideration, he quickly dismissed the idea. A Demon Beast was not the same as a magical beast. Even if its strength reached the level of an ordinary magical beast, it could not transform at this stage. According to the description in books he saw in the Demon Realm, only rare and powerful races among high-level Demon Beasts, like the Giant Dragon and Phoenix, could transform. Most others, even if they reached the level of a Super Demon Beast, could not necessarily take on a human form. This was not because they lacked strength, but rather because these Demon Beasts fundamentally differed from the Demon Clan. There were two paths for the Demon Clan¡¯s cultivation: one was to maintain their original form and follow the path of Wild Beasts; the other was to transform into human form for cultivation. It was said that this was because the Demon Clan originated from the Primordial Ancestor Realm, and in their bones was imprinted the image of the great deity who opened the heavens and split the earth. This pursuit of the human Taoist Body was more conducive to cultivation. But the Demon Beasts of this star domain did not see the human form as ideal; rather, they considered it too frail and preferred to maintain their physical beast form. Deep down, they never entertained the concept of transforming into humans, let alone pursuing it. Over generations, the great majority of Demon Beasts formed the habit of maintaining their original forms. After the old man turned into a Giant Bear, his aura was that of a level seven Demon Beast, which indeed falls under the category of high-level Demon Beasts. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í??.?¦Ï But a Demon Beast of that realm simply could not transform into a human form. Thus, the only explanation was that the old man had taken the form of a Demon Beast. But how could a person transform into a Demon Beast? Moreover, the Giant Bear he had transformed into truly possessed the aura and magic of a Demon Beast, which made Qin Feng feel curious. Driven by curiosity, Qin Feng urged the Spiritual Vulture to land in the forest a bit further away. After recalling the Spiritual Vulture to the Demon Refining Pot, Qin Feng merged with the Ruyi Golden Snake and quietly approached the old man using Shadow Transformation Divine Power, planning to take a good look at the old man¡¯s situation. As a disciple of the Beast Taming Sect, seeing someone transform into a Demon Beast naturally piqued an immense interest and desire to explore. Ahead, the old man who had transformed into a Giant Bear could not only use several Earth Element Magic spells but also had a physical strength that far exceeded that of the Knight he was fighting. However, defeating or even killing the Knight was clearly no easy task. The Knight appeared to be in his thirties or forties, with a face full of determination, skilled in Martial Skills, and possessing powerful Fighting Energy. In terms of combat power, he was definitely no less than a level seven Demon Beast. Moreover, with his extensive experience in battle, a typical level seven Demon Beast was no match for him. Of course, the old man was also not comparable to the Demon Beasts with less agile minds. He had lived for nearly a century and was no stranger to battle experience, having fought with Knights on numerous occasions. Coupled with his exquisitely cast spells like Earth Sinking Technique, Earth Wall Technique, and Earth Spike, he could always disrupt the Knight¡¯s charge even with these lesser spells that did not seem very powerful by themselves. The Knight¡¯s mount, having been specially bred and battle-hardened, possessed speed and jumping force far beyond that of ordinary warhorses and was not afraid of the fierce aura of Demon Beasts. Thus, under the Knight¡¯s control, it repeatedly dodged the Giant Bear¡¯s magic attacks. Once the Knight charged, his attacking power was formidable. The Cavalry Lance in his hand, combined with the man and horse, focused its strength into a single point. Even the old man, transformed into a Giant Bear, did not want to be pierced by it, for it would certainly result in being impaled. At this moment, the Knights who had been thrown into chaos behind them stood up one after another. Aside from a few who stayed to take care of their wounded companions, the rest of the Knights calmed their horses and launched another charge. Seeing this, the old man transformed into a Giant Bear let out a helpless sigh in his heart. He was old now, and it was already a strain to hold off the Golden Knight before him. To face so many other Knights simultaneously would certainly be too much for him. But at this point, he had no choice but to fight. Otherwise, not only would he die, but the young man he was protecting behind him would also have no chance of survival. Looking back at the young man, determination flashed in the Giant Bear¡¯s eyes as he let out a fierce roar toward the approaching Knights once more. ¡°` However, this time the effect was far less than before; aside from some ordinary knights¡¯ battle horses being somewhat panicked, the majority of the knights were prepared and were no longer intimidated by his presence. The Giant Bear suddenly opened its mouth and spat out a yellow Magic Bullet, repelling the middle-aged Knight Leader, before standing up again and repeatedly slapping down with its enormous bear paws. Boom! Boom! Boom! A series of violent impacts resonated, and while the ground undulated continuouslya€¡±although the knights were mentally prepared, maneuvering their warhorses to leap up, planning to avoid the undulations on the ground, or to jump away and charge againa€¡± Before they could react differently, numerous Earth Spikes rose from the ground. The Earth Spikes ranged in height from two to three feet for the shorter ones, to five to six feet for the taller ones, as thick as a thigh, with sharp tipsa€¡±any that struck a warhorse would pierce directly through the stomach from below and through the spine, incidentally piercing the body of the knight on their back. With just this one attack, three to four dozen warhorses were impaled, and even if some knights had the good fortune to escape disaster, they were pierced in the thigh or other body parts, each one howling in pain, a lamentable sight. At the rear, Young Master Eddie, a noble youth who had been sitting on horseback waiting for his knights to earn merits for him, saw this scene and his complexion turned instantly somber, losing the confident expression he had before. All these knights were his family¡¯s private soldiers; ordinarily, the death of even one was a significant loss, and now a good thirty percent had been decimated in one fell swoop. In his heart, he loathed the old man to death. Unlike common soldiers, training a qualified knight required a great deal of effort, wealth, and resources. The cost of their daily nourishment, training, and the necessary gear, armor, and warhorses were significant expenses. And every well-trained knight possessed considerable combat prowess. Similarly, knights were also the foundation for nobles to gain military achievements and wealth. Now, with such losses, it would be difficult to explain when he returned to his family. ¡°Mage Carol, I ask that you take action and kill that old thing.¡± Young Master Eddie, with an ashen face, turned to the mage beside him: ¡°We can¡¯t let him continue like this. Otherwise, if too many knights from the Lombard Family are lost, it will be detrimental to our family in the future.¡± Beside him, the old mage Carol, also mounted on a warhorse, did not act immediately but turned to look at Eddie and said, ¡°You should know his identity; he is a Druid priesthood. Killing Locke wouldn¡¯t be much, but killing a Druid could cause me a great deal of trouble, and moreover, I and Old Yida have been old friends for many years. Asking me to slay him puts me in a difficult position. Therefore, Young Master Eddie, the price you offered previously is not enough to compel me to act against an old friend, you¡¯ll need to increase it.¡± Upon hearing this, the noble youth Eddie¡¯s face involuntarily twitched, cursing the greedy old man in his heart. But glancing over at the Old Druid, who was still casting spells and slaughtering their family knights, he could only suppress his agony: ¡°No problem, as long as you kill him and I gain the merits for this, I¡¯ll add fifty percent to the price we agreed upon earlier.¡± ¡°Double.¡± Mage Carol spoke. Eddie looked at him, nodded, and said, ¡°Fine, double it is then. I ask that you take action quickly, Mage Carol.¡± For him, spending more gold coins was painful, but not unacceptable. However, if too many of the family¡¯s knights were lost, it could directly weaken the family¡¯s strength and might invite the covetous gazes of other powers. ¡°No problem.¡± Mage Carol¡¯s wrinkled old face broke into a satisfied smile. The chance to earn a large sum of gold coins for purchasing magical materials for experiments was, of course, the best outcome. As for his relationship with Old Yida, it was nothing more than having met in the past and discussed magic a few times, hardly constituting a friendship. And what did it matter if it offended Druidism because of it? ¡°` They were never part of the same faction to begin with; Druids are a sect that worships Divine beings, while these Mages are seekers of the true essence of Magic. There is a fundamental difference between the two sides, as Mages do not worship Divine beings. They place more trust in their own eyes, in their own strength, and from the bottom of their hearts, they look down upon those who dedicate their whole being to the worship of the Divine. So, after negotiating the price, Carol started chanting Spells and casting Magic. He first sent out a series of Fireballs, each the size of a human head, disrupting the Giant Bear¡¯s rhythm in casting Magic to attack the Knights, and then released various more powerful single-target attack Spells, forcing Old Eda to focus most of his energy on him, causing him to falter when facing the assault of the Knight Leader and several Silver Knights. Although Old Eda, transformed into the Giant Bear, possessed the strength of a level seven Demon Beast, his Magic Power was ultimately limited. He could not keep casting Magic so wildly, and after the recent slaughter, his Magic Power was no longer at its peak. Mage Carol¡¯s strength in and of itself was no less than Old Eda¡¯s, and after a barrage of Spells, he immediately inflicted numerous wounds on the Giant Bear. Although a layer of earthy-yellow Magic Shield rose up around the Giant Bear, under the combined assault of Mage Carol and the Knight Leader, it could hardly hold up. Add to that his old age and declining vigor, he soon suffered no light injuries. On the other side, the warrior named Cook, along with his men, launched a fierce attack, also pushing back the young noble Locke¡¯s guards, causing heavy casualties. They only refrained from completely pressing the advantage out of concern for the Guard Commander¡¯s combat power, for in his desperation, he could very likely have inflicted heavy losses upon them. But seeing Old Eda, transformed into the Giant Bear, covered with wounds and apparently unable to hold out much longer, the guards also began to despair. The pursuers chasing them were too strong. It seemed that today, they would not be able to escape. In secret, Qin Feng¡¯s brows furrowed slightly. He was indifferent to the life and death of the young noble Locke, as well as who would win or lose. However, he was very interested in the elderly man who had transformed into the Giant Bear. ¡°Druids?¡± Having heard the conversation between Eddie and Mage Carol, Qin Feng¡¯s eyes lit up when he learned of the old man¡¯s identity. He hadn¡¯t expected Druids to exist in this world. Good. Although he didn¡¯t know if the Druids of this world had anything in common with the Druids in his memory, just the fact that they could transform into Giant Bears made them worth exploring. As for the mission given to him by Grandmaster Kongkong, there was no rush to complete it. Since the Grandmaster had not set a deadline, there was no need for Qin Feng to hurriedly work on it. He felt the most important thing for him now was to investigate how Druids cultivate and how they accomplish their transformation. This time, the Sect had gone to great lengths to rally so many schools to form an alliance and expedition to the Red Flame Demon Realm, not only to acquire resources for the development of the Sect but also to allow the higher echelons of the Sect to borrow and reference cultivation methods from other worlds in an attempt to break through existing realms. Qin Feng felt that although the Red Flame Demon Realm certainly possessed many veins of ore that could provide the Sect with a large amount of Cultivation Resources, it definitely didn¡¯t have much in the way of Cultivating Techniques worthy of reference. After all, he had also come into contact with those warriors and Mages from the Demon Clan and felt that apart from being able to learn a thing or two about techniques in Alchemy, crafting Magic potions, creating Magic scrolls, and setting up various Magic Arrays, there was little else worth referencing. And while techniques like Alchemy were quite good, they could not possibly be stronger than the myriad of Cultivation arts in the Cultivation World. Any random Elixir Talisman Array taken out could easily outperform those Alchemists. However, the Druids¡¯ Transformation Techniques were different. Qin Feng felt that the cultivation methods of the Druids definitely had something worth being borrowed by the Beast Taming Sect. ?¦Ï¦Í??.§ã¦Ï The only thing he was unsure of now was whether the Transformation Technique used by the Druids to become Demon Beasts was acquired through Cultivation or was a gift bestowed by the Divine beings they worshiped. If it was through Cultivation, then he must get his hands on this method of Cultivation no matter what. If it was bestowed by Divine powers, then there was nothing he could do. ¡°` However, he could wait until he returned to report to the Sect and persuade Elder Kongkong and Gui Ling Ancestor to make a move, testing the Divine strength behind the Druids. If they could prevail, they would be able to capture and forcefully extract the Druid Cultivation Techniques. Qin Feng¡¯s eyes darted around as he watched the Giant Bear covered in wounds. He internally debated whether to capture the Old Druid and coerce him to reveal the Druid Technique. This idea was indeed very tempting to him. However, after careful consideration, he gave up the thought. Because someone like Old Eda who had devoted his life to worshipping Divine powers was certainly stubborn to an extreme, and he might even be unafraid of death. Perhaps his steadfast faith led him to believe that his soul would go to the Divine Country of his revered Divinity upon death, thereby achieving liberation and a different kind of existence. Moreover, he might report Qin Feng¡¯s attempt to extract the Druid Cultivation Method to his deity, leading the Druid Sect to become extra vigilant, which would be counterproductive. Given this, it might be better to attempt to infiltrate the Druid Sect first. If he could openly learn their Cultivation Techniques from the Druid Sect, that would be ideal. If not, he could try slipping in secretly to steal their Cultivation Techniques. If neither approach worked, then he would consider using force to extract the information. After all, there was no need to rush, as he had plenty of time. It was better to figure out the Druid Sect¡¯s situation before deciding his next move. After calculating these matters internally, he then remembered that he did not even know where the Druid Sect was located. In the end, he decided to rescue the Old Druid and have him lead the way. Although he could find out about the Druid Sect¡¯s existence through a bit more effort, it was much more comfortable to have someone guide him. With this in mind and glancing once more at the precarious Giant Bear, he no longer hesitated. Employing the Shadow Transformation Divine Power, he moved forward and approached the Knight Leader. In reality, using Earth Escape at this time would be best, for ambushing the knights¡¯ horses from beneath would be extremely convenient. Unfortunately, after Old Eda turned into a Giant Bear, he often used Earth Element Magic and had a profound connection to the ground. If Qin Feng were to use Earth Escape, his traces would definitely be detected, thus he resorted to using the Shadow Transformation Divine Power. The concealment of this Divine Skill was also extremely strong, allowing him to approach undetected as long as there were shadows. Qin Feng slipped through the shadows of the trees to the shadow beneath the Knight Leader¡¯s horse and discreetly condensed a slender Ruyi Golden Light in his hand, striking swiftly at the horse¡¯s legs. Although this warhorse had been specially tamed and its strength was almost on par with that of a level three or four Demon Beast, it was still just a horse and could not withstand Qin Feng¡¯s Ruyi Golden Light. It immediately had its leg bones shattered by his strike, crumpling to the ground with unsteady limbs and a feeble neigh as it fell. The Knight Leader reacted with lightning speed, flipping out of the saddle, but once he lost his mount, his combat strength significantly decreased. Even though he still had the capabilities of a Golden Knight, a knight accustomed to mounted combat was definitely at a disadvantage. On the ground, not only could he not wield his Knight Spear properly, but the heavy armor on his body became a burden. Left with no choice, the Knight Leader discarded his lance and drew his Knight Sword, ready to fight on foot. Old Eda, seeing this, was overjoyed, and hope surged anew within him. If he could kill the Knight Leader, perhaps he could withstand the assaults from Mage Carol and maybe even pave a way out for Locke amidst the encirclement. What made him even more delighted was when the Knight Leader, seemingly unaccustomed to fighting on foot, stumbled while dodging an attack, almost falling to the ground. Old Eda certainly wouldn¡¯t miss this opportunity. His massive paw glowed with a yellow light, furiously striking the Knight Leader over a dozen times, scattering the Golden Fighting Spirit protecting the Knight Leader and leaving him with broken bones and a bloodied, pulpy mess. Even the sturdy Knight Armor nearly melded together from front to back, close to becoming a lump of iron. Old Eda, having killed the Knight Leader, triumphantly rose and howled. He swung his bear paws, sending several Silver Knights flying and then spewed a Magic Bullet toward Young Master Eddie in the distance. He smartly avoided targeting Mage Carol, as he knew his Magic Bullet couldn¡¯t harm that old man. With this in mind, he decided to try and kill Eddie. If Eddie died, with no one to pay, it was uncertain if Carol would still oppose him. ¡°` Chapter 291 - Chapter 291 Chapter 288 Natural Magic ?Chapter 291: Chapter 288 Natural Magic Chapter 291: Chapter 288 Natural Magic On the other side, Eddie was distressed by the loss of a Golden Knight for his family. Golden Knights, when placed in the military, are of Centurion-level leadership. The one who was killed was one of only three Golden Knights in their family, and unexpectedly, he was suddenly slain by Old Eda. The loss was enormous! He had originally thought that it would be easy to come out and pick off an escaping prince with a Golden Knight, four Silver Knights, and over a hundred family knights. After all, he had made ample preparations for this operation. Not only did he spend a lot of money to invite Magic Guide Carol to assist, but he also had Cook, who was stronger than him, leading the charge. It should not have failed under any circumstances. But now, not only had more than half of his knights been killed or injured, but even the Golden Knight Commander had been turned into a pulp by Old Eda. How could he explain this to his family upon his return? As he was furious with rage, he suddenly saw a Giant Bear spitting a magic bullet at him. A strong sense of crisis snapped him out of his anger because his horse beneath him did not start running; there was no time to spur the horse to dodge, so he had to abandon his beloved mount and leap, narrowly avoiding the magic bullet from the Giant Bear. Old Eda¡¯s calculations were quite good; once Eddie was killed, Magic Guide Carol certainly wouldn¡¯t engage in a fight to the death with him. However, as the eldest son of the Lombard family, Eddie had undergone various forms of training from a young age and possessed considerable strength. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í?¦Ï.§ã¦Ï Although not as talented as Cook, who could battle the Guard Commander Locke, he still had the fighting power of an Early Silver Knight. Thus, his dodge was very neat and tidy. Unless Old Eda dared to give up the coach and charge over to forcefully kill him, it would be difficult to kill him from a distance with magic alone. After all, the Giant Bear that Old Eda had transformed into was more proficient in close combat, and most of his magic was not of the long-range type. Moreover, Magic Guide Carol was beside him. If Old Eda really dared to charge over, Carol would block him. More importantly, without the protection of this Druid, the rest of the knights under his command could directly attack the coach and kill that damned Locke. Old Eda did not charge over. Seeing that his magic bullet had only killed Eddie¡¯s warhorse and had not hurt Eddie, he merely sighed lightly and did not continue to attack him. Now that he was severely injured, he knew he could not hold on for much longer. He needed to defeat the pursuers as much as possible before getting too tired and at least escape with Locke. Thus, he attacked a few Silver Knights nearby. For a druid of his level, only these few Silver Knights still posed some threat among the remaining knights; the others, though they had cultivated Fighting Energy, were merely at the Bronze Level, far inferior to his realm, making it difficult to severely injure him. Even if his magic power was depleted, with just his powerful physical strength and a few swipes of his bear paws, he could kill ordinary knights. In the following battle, Old Eda fought as if divinely assisted. The Silver Knights facing him, whether it was their horses suddenly getting startled or the knights¡¯ movements slowing down unexpectedly unable to keep up with his attack rhythm, were successively killed by him. ¡°It must be the great Forest Goddess who saw her faithful servant suffering and thus protected me in the shadows, allowing me to easily kill these Silver Knights.¡± Old Eda thought privately. Otherwise, not to mention in his current severely injured state, even when completely unharmed, he wouldn¡¯t have been able to kill four high-level Silver Knights so easily. Of course, what he didn¡¯t know was that it wasn¡¯t the god he worshiped that helped him; it was Qin Feng. If not for Qin Feng having other plans and secretly helping him, this old fellow would not talk of winning; he might have even been worn to death here by those Silver Knights. On the other side, Cook, who was leading the family warriors in attacking the coach guarded by none other than a few guards, also had a strange expression. He slowed down his attack, fearing that the Druid who had suddenly become extremely powerful would turn around and come after him. His strength was decent, but not necessarily stronger than the Knight Leader who had just been smashed into mush. ¡°Damn it, damn it!¡± Seeing his knights fall one by one in battle, Eddie was nearly driven mad with rage. ¡°Magic Guide Carol, I paid a hefty sum for your assistance. Is this how you do things?¡± Eddie¡¯s eyes, red with fury, stared at Carol¡¯s aged face a few steps away. If not for his inability to defeat him, Eddie would have strangled the old man. At that moment, he seriously doubted whether the old man truly had a deep connection with the druid and was secretly aiding the druid against his own men. Otherwise, how could his own forces suffer such heavy losses? Ordinary knights were one thing, but the Golden and Silver Knights were not so easily defeated. The expression on Magic Guide Carol¡¯s face also turned very ugly. With his help, allowing the employer to suffer such heavy losses would greatly impact his reputation. Who among the nobility would dare hire him in the future? ¡°Young Master Eddie, don¡¯t be angry. I didn¡¯t expect Old Eda could go this far. From now on, I will do my utmost to kill him.¡± ¡°Ha? Almost all of my men are dead, and you still advise me not to be angry?¡± Eddie was nearly driven insane. ¡°Hmph!¡± Carol, noticing Eddie¡¯s resentful demeanor, suddenly snorted coldly, becoming more defiant: ¡°It¡¯s your men who are useless. Golden Knights, and those Silver Knights, who can¡¯t even withstand that little bit of time, can¡¯t defeat a nearly dying druid but instead got killed by a severely injured druida€¡±it¡¯s their own incompetence. Now, Young Master Eddie, are you going to blame their deaths on me?¡± Upon hearing Magic Guide Carol¡¯s icy words and seeing the meaningful look in his eyes, Eddie instantly came to his senses. The other party was a Magic Guide, and although he was a noble, it was best not to offend him lightly, as future troubles could be immense. With that in mind, he quickly calmed himself and said, ¡°Please, don¡¯t be offended, Magic Guide Carol. I was just overly emotional due to the heavy casualties of our family knights. I didn¡¯t mean to blame you. However, our family has already suffered such heavy losses; we must achieve something. This time, you must help me kill Locke, so I can have an explanation when I return.¡± Carol, noticing his moderated tone, no longer maintained such a tough attitude. After all, the other party¡¯s family was strong, and it was better not to offend them if possible. He nodded, ¡°Rest assured, since I¡¯ve taken your gold coins, I naturally will help you accomplish this matter.¡± Saying this, he solemnly took out a magic scroll from his space ring. It was a level ten magic scroll, one of the precious treasures left to him by his teacher. He originally had no intention to use this precious scroll, but given the heavy losses of Eddie¡¯s forces, if he couldn¡¯t cleanly kill Old Eda, it would be rather unjustifiable. Thus, he reluctantly took out this powerful magic scroll, planning to annihilate Old Eda in one strike. Unfortunately, this meant that even if Eddie doubled his payment, there wasn¡¯t much profit left after using the scroll. As he slowly opened the magic scroll, a strong burst of magical fluctuation spread, startling Old Eda who was killing the knights, and even Golden Warrior Cook felt the immense threat. Scared, he immediately dared not circle around the carriage anymore, leading his warriors in retreat and planning to stay out of the attack range of the magic scroll to avoid collateral damage. Old Eda looked at Carol, who was unfolding a Magic Scroll, and suddenly sighed softly, his figure changing back to human form. His body was covered with wounds, and blood kept flowing out, yet he didn¡¯t care and showed no intention of casting a spell to heal himself. Because he had sensed how powerful the magic scroll Carol was preparing to use was. Even at his prime, such powerful magic would have severely injured him, let alone now when he was already in a state of severe injury. If Carol were casting the spell himself, since chanting a spell takes some time, he would still have a chance to escape with Locke. However, Carol was using a magic scroll, which could be activated immediately upon opening, leaving him no chance to even dodge, so he could only give up resisting and wait for death. He turned to glance at the boy sitting in the carriage, silently sighing in his heart. What a pity, he ultimately couldn¡¯t safeguard his safety. But he had done his best; now that he was about to die here, he considered it fulfilling the kindness shown by the boy¡¯s mother years ago. On the other hand, Carol looked at Old Eda with a cold sneer on his face. Heh, you didn¡¯t expect me to use such a powerful magic scroll, did you? Under this magic scroll, not only Old Eda, but also Locke behind him would be obliterated. Just as everyone was looking at Carol, waiting for him to display his divine power and annihilate the druids and the guards gathered by the carriage, an accident occurred. The moment Carol completely unfolded the magic scroll in his hand, his steed, for some reason, got frightened. It neighed towards the sky, reared up on its forelegs, and the strong force directly threw Carol, who was about to launch the scroll magic. Caught off guard, the magic scroll flew out of Carol¡¯s hand; before it even hit the ground, it exploded into a massive burst of flames, obliterating everything within a thirty-foot radius including blasting a huge crater in the ground. The fierce blast swept through a large area around. ¡°¡­¡± Old Eda, Locke, and others, who had been preparing to close their eyes and await death, all widened their eyes. Cook and others who had already moved far away also opened their mouths in disbelief. What happened? Wasn¡¯t Magic Guide Carol supposed to kill his opponents with a powerful magic scroll? Why did it end up killing him instead? Not only did it kill him, but it also killed Eddie, who was not far from him. The tremendous power of the magic instantly blasted him to pieces, and then the flames burned him to ashes, leaving not even a trace of bone. Under his helmet, Cook¡¯s cheeks twitched several times. Eddie really was dogged by misfortune today; not only had his family¡¯s knights died one after another, but now he had been killed by the magic guide he had brought. ?¦Ï¦Í?¦Ï.§ã¦Ï This misfortune was truly unparalleled. In the woods, Qin Feng emerged from the ground, spit out the mud filling his mouth twice, and then began to calm the turbulent blood in his body. Previously, he had used Earth Escape to burrow under Carol¡¯s steed. At the last moment before Carol was about to cast the spell, he had condensed the Ruyi Golden Light into two Golden Needles, then fiercely stabbed them into the horse¡¯s hoof from below, causing the horse to panic in pain. This led to the accidental explosion of the magic scroll. He had not expected the magic scroll to be this powerful. Even though he had rapidly burrowed deeper, he was still somewhat affected by the blast that hit the ground, squeezing him harshly underground and causing his blood to boil while also filling his mouth with mud. While spitting out the mud in his mouth angrily, Qin Feng glared fiercely at Old Eda outside; if it hadn¡¯t been for saving this old man, he wouldn¡¯t have suffered this misfortune. Meanwhile, Old Eda stared at the still-burning flames ahead for a while, then snapped out of his daze when a leaf blown up by the explosion stuck to his face, bursting into hearty laughter: ¡°Good, good, good, Eddie is dead, Carol is also dead, hehehe, Cook, you die here today as well.¡± He didn¡¯t even finish speaking, and the old man, disregarding his injuries, transformed into a giant bear once again and charged toward the direction where Cook was. The guard leader beside the carriage was also ecstatic and bellowed, ¡°You few stay behind and guard His Highness, I¡¯ll go and kill Cook with Old Eda.¡± Saying this, strong golden fighting energy surged from his body, and he followed closely behind the giant bear, rushing toward Cook and the others. ¡°Run.¡± Seeing this, Cook¡¯s face changed dramatically, and without another word, he turned and ran. It was joking matter. He might not be a match for just one guard leader, let alone with a fierce druid added to the mix. Wouldn¡¯t staying mean seeking death? Ultimately, Old Eda and the guard leader failed to catch up with Cook. Because they dared not stray too far from the carriage for fear of the knights still nearby killing Locke on the carriage. Furthermore, Old Eda was old and weakened, and after such a long battle and having sustained severe injuries, he could not hold on for much longer. After confirming that Cook and his men had run far away and they were completely safe, Old Eda quickly reverted from his transformation and, gasping for breath, sat down to rest. ¡°Old Eda, how are your injuries?¡± The guard leader asked somewhat worriedly. ¡°It¡¯s nothing.¡± Old Eda waved his hand. ¡°It¡¯s mainly just exhaustion. Ah, I¡¯m old, and my stamina is nowhere close to what it was when I was young.¡± After resting for a short while, he even stood up with a tremble, waved to stop the guards from assisting him, and softly recited a magic spell. Soon, a burst of fresh green light appeared in his hands and he sprinkled it on himself. Then, the wounds on his body began to heal, the bleeding stopped, and new flesh began to grow. It didn¡¯t take long for all his wounds to heal as if they were never there. ¡°Eh?¡± Hiding in the woods, Qin Feng saw this and couldn¡¯t help revealing a look of surprise again. It wasn¡¯t strange that Old Eda¡¯s wounds healed so quickly, as they were just superficial injuries without any deep or internal ones, and it was normal for them to be healed by a spell. What made him curious was that he felt a vigorous vitality from Old Eda¡¯s magic. This vitality seemed like Wood Qi, yet there was something different about it. Qin Feng, resting his chin on his hand, watched Old Eda healing his own injuries with magic, thinking that there really was something valuable about this druid. Hmm, he wondered whether this kind of magic could be integrated into his own ¡°Azure Dragon Divine Technique¡± to potentially accelerate the recovery speed of his Azure Dragon Daoist Body. Now, he had grown even more interested in Druidism. Outside in the woods, Old Eda, having healed his own injuries, felt a greater consumption of his magic power, but the improvement in his physical injuries made him feel much more energized. ¡°You few come here.¡± Old Eda instructed the injured guards, ¡°I¡¯ll use natural magic to treat your injuries.¡± Chapter 292 - Chapter 292 Chapter 289 Pitiful Youth Begging for Mercy ?Chapter 292: Chapter 289: Pitiful Youth Begging for Mercy Chapter 292: Chapter 289: Pitiful Youth Begging for Mercy ¡°Thank you, Lord Yida.¡± A few guards, supporting each other, came before Old Eda and bowed to express their thanks. Old Eda waved his hand, chanting a spell that once again conjured a large ball of green light. As the green light spun, countless emerald specks fell upon the guards, transforming into vitality that healed some of their non-severe wounds. However, the more serious injuries were difficult to recover from. In particular, two warriors a€¡° one had lost an arm, the other had a leg severed a€¡° and Old Eda¡¯s natural magic could only stem their bleeding, as the missing limbs were beyond regrowth. ?¦Ï¦Í?0.§ã0 Old Eda said softly, ¡°I can only summon a level eight ¡®Healing Light¡¯ to help you recover from simple injuries, but your wounds are too severe for me to heal completely.¡± ¡°Lord Yida, you have already done your best.¡± One of the guards said, ¡°This is our own incompetence; we cannot blame you.¡± Old Eda sighed softly, shook his head, and said no more. He was just a priest within Druidism, his strength comparable to that of a Magic Guide Master; he could at most only cast level nine magic, and not even of the healing kind. As for the healing magic capable of regrowing limbs, apart from Prophets, only the High Priests of Druidism had such abilities. Unfortunately, that level was too far from his reach and beyond his ability to request. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í??.§ã? Even if he could make such a request, the High Priests would not be willing to expend so much magic power just to regenerate limbs for two mere guards. Locke, who had been protected by everyone on the carriage, also jumped down and began to check on everyone¡¯s injuries, his face full of concern. ¡°Your Highness.¡± Old Eda spoke up, ¡°We need to leave this place quickly. We¡¯ve suffered heavy casualties, and with so few people left, plus my significant magic power depletion, we may not be lucky enough to survive another attack by Cook or others.¡± ¡°You¡¯re right, Uncle Yida.¡± Locke nodded, guilt apparent on his face, ¡°It¡¯s all because of me that everyone got involved. If it hadn¡¯t been for me, so many wouldn¡¯t have died or been injured.¡± ¡°Your Highness mustn¡¯t say such things.¡± The Guard Leader spoke up, ¡°Protecting Your Highness is our duty, the mission His Majesty entrusted to us years ago. Dying in your service is our honor.¡± ¡°Ah.¡± Locke sighed lightly, then helplessly shook his head, ¡°I don¡¯t even know if I¡¯ll be able to survive. If I¡¯m killed, I can¡¯t help but feel some guilt towards the soldiers who died for me.¡± ¡°Your Highness will be fine.¡± Old Eda said, ¡°Once we reach Cold Star City and you join Druidism, your brother certainly wouldn¡¯t dare to send someone to kill you again. Otherwise, that would be a blatant offense against us Druids. Of course, once you truly join Druidism, it also means that you¡¯ve completely renounced your royal status and won¡¯t have any chance to reclaim the throne. From then on, you would live only as a common man.¡± ¡°Druidism can¡¯t help me take back the throne?¡± Locke felt reluctant, ¡°I am not obsessed with power and prestige, but it feels unfair to those who died because of me. I want to avenge them.¡± Old Eda shook his head, ¡°Your Highness, you must know that we Druids never interfere in the power struggles of the royal families. For countless years, we¡¯ve maintained an understanding with all nations, and getting involved would definitely stir dissatisfaction amongst the royal families and lead to endless disputes and killings. Allowing Your Highness to join Druidism is the only option I could find for you to survive. Besides, once you join the Church, you must devote yourself wholeheartedly to the worship of the Forest Goddess.¡± Locke sighed in resignation, gesturing listlessly with his hand, and said nothing more; the group quickly mounted their horses, driving the carriages as they sped away from the battlefield. As for the dead guards and warriors, they could no longer afford to attend to them, leaving it to Cook and those chasing after them to bury the bodies. Though even buried in this wild, Demon Beast-ridden land, the bodies might still be dug up by some scent-detecting Demon Beasts. Qin Feng had wanted to strip a suit of leather armor and clothing from the dead warriors for himself, but upon closer inspection, he found that most were damaged, with fatal gaps in critical places, and all stained with blood, which promptly discouraged him. Never mind, he thought, I¡¯ll get some clothes from this world when I come across a city. With that plan in mind, he walked step by step, following the rapidly moving group ahead. Though on foot, he possessed the Divine Skill ¡®Shrinking Ground to Inch,¡¯ which allowed him to cover seventy or eighty yards in a single step; so even though his movements seemed leisurely, he was never left behind by the speeding carriages, always maintaining a distance of three hundred yards from the front. There was a Druid Mage in the group ahead, and if Qin Feng followed too closely, he might be detected, which he wanted to avoid. So he had to keep a safe distance. Rushing on without a moment¡¯s rest, if not for Old Eda¡¯s natural magic restoring the horses¡¯ strength, they might very well have died of exhaustion en route. But in the end, before their horses could collapse from fatigue, they reached what they called Cold Star City. It was the largest city in the vast neighboring territory. In fact, it was situated in the heartland of Druidism, also known as one of the most dangerous places on the continent, the outer areas of the Demon Beast Forest. The Druids had built several cities of their own here, though their true heartland lay within the Demon Beast Forest, but the vast majority of Cult Members and believers were not strong enough to survive in the perilous Demon Beast Forest, so they could only construct a territory outside the forest as a sanctuary for believers and Cult Members to live. This territory had no Royal Family, no nobles, just Druids and believers. Here, they lived and worked in peace and contentment, for with the protection of the Druids, even though they were located at the periphery of the Demon Beast Forest, not many Demon Beasts would charge out and disturb the believers¡¯ lives, making it a paradise in the eyes of the common folk. As a result, more and more commoners who couldn¡¯t survive under the oppression of nobles in other kingdoms risked danger to migrate here, trying to make a living under the protection of the Druids. However, because the Druids were close to nature, aside from a few cities they established in select locations, the rest of their territory was composed of villages and towns where the main mode of production for the people and believers was farming, hence the many fields that could be seen around. And all the commoners living here were followers of the Forest Goddess. Of course, there were a few who were spies and infiltrators sent by other forces. This was an unavoidable situation. Whether it¡¯s the royal houses of various countries or other Churches, they would send spies here to gather information about the Druids, after all, Druids were one of the few Great Forces on the continent with many followers everywhere. Especially other Churches, who fought covertly with the Druids for believers and faith, would necessarily send people to monitor the Druids¡¯ movements. This was the general situation that Qin Feng had come to understand after entering Cold Star City. In the days that followed, he didn¡¯t rush into action. He found it very simple to pretend to be an ordinary person seeking the Druids¡¯ protection; just by telling them he was willing to worship the Forest Goddess, the Druids would provide a place to settle for those coming from outside. But joining the Druids was not so easy. There was a large church in this city, but its role was more for appearances. Spies from various forces usually chose cities with large populations to gather intelligence, so while the Druids in the church also recruited some believers to join the Church within the city, they definitely would not grant them high positions, and it was more about maintaining the dignity of the church. The main places where the Druids truly embraced Cult Members were in the countryside villages, recruiting people with Cultivation Talent who were known through and through. Someone who appeared out of the blue like Qin Feng, it was hard to join. Unless he could ensure that he was not a spy from other Churches or national forces, and also possessed potential exciting enough to catch their attention, joining the Druids would mean going to the countryside to farm for decades, waiting for one or two generations to fully integrate into the land, and then choosing from your descendants those with Talent to cultivate. This was also the reason why the Druids had always been able to maintain a relatively pure team. After Qin Feng thoroughly understood how the Druids operated, he also couldn¡¯t help but feel a headache, realizing that infiltrating their ranks would be quite difficult. However, he still wanted to try. If that failed, then he would consider sneaking in to steal their secrets. Infiltrating the Druids¡¯ strongholds carried great risks, and even if he could go undetected for a while, Qin Feng dared not do such things indefinitely, for there were many powerful Druids in their strongholds. Don¡¯t be fooled by their living in little wooden houses in the forest, looking like primitive tribes deep in the mountains, but in each gathering place, there would be at least one Great Druid in residence. The so-called Great Druid was a being capable of transforming into a ninth-level Demon Beast, possessing in the Cultivation World the strength to contend with a Purple Mansion Cultivator. Qin Feng did not want to attempt infiltration under the watch of such a strong presence, plus the Druids¡¯ Cultivation methods made up a complete system of tradition, not something that could be learned in three to five days. If he wanted to learn, the best way was still to blend in. What should he do? Qin Feng was so troubled by this that he frowned for several days, until he finally came up with an idea and decided to give it a try. ¡­ On the road, there was a team of about a hundred people staggering along. These were commoners who could no longer survive on noble lands, a group that had slowly gathered while migrating to Druid territory. They were from different places, but they shared a common goal and gradually came together, warming each other by huddling together. Although they were so poor that they were left with nothing but the clothes on their backs, so much so that even thieves were unwilling to rob them, they faced more than just thieves along the waya€¡±there were Demon Beasts roaming around. Fortunately, this area was within the Human Clan¡¯s domain of power, and with Druids often passing through, they did not encounter overly powerful Demon Beasts, giving them the courage to keep going and hope to reach Druid territory alive. In this group, there was a youth of modest height with a face that still bore traces of youthfulness, half-hidden by a messy head of hair, looking to be only about twelve or thirteen years old at first glance. The youth called himself Randy, a very common name. He claimed to be the child of a small merchant, whose family shop had been ruined by greedy nobles and no longer viable, leaving him as the sole survivor to escape the clutches of the nobles. Hearing that Druid territory had no nobles to oppress the common people, he decided to go there to seek a livelihood. Such a tragic ordeal undoubtedly drew people¡¯s concern. Coupled with the boy¡¯s short stature and frail physique, there was every reason to elicit sympathy. And when the youth met with everyone and walked together on the road, he also showed great resilience. Even if he went a day or two without food, he would stubbornly not fall behind and did not ask for help from others. Even when others needed help, he would proactively lend a hand. For instance, when another woman¡¯s child went hungry for several days, he would still share the handful of wild vegetables and fruits that he had gathered with the woman and her child, choosing instead to go hungry. A child so kind and yet so resilient was undoubtedly very endearing. Chapter 293 - Chapter 293 Chapter 290 Entering the Druid Gathering Place ?Chapter 293: Chapter 290: Entering the Druid Gathering Place Chapter 293: Chapter 290: Entering the Druid Gathering Place Qin Feng disguised himself as a youth with a tragic past. Even if someone followed the information he provided and conducted a search, they would indeed find records of a child named Randy. Because he had taken several days specifically to search for and finally found a boy in a small rural town who bore a resemblance to himself. However, the real Randy had already been tortured to death by the Baron¡¯s men; he was merely borrowing Randy¡¯s identity. In his quest to find someone who bore a slight resemblance to himself, he endured considerable difficulty, since his appearance still differed from that of the Human Clan in this domain. Luckily, although the majority of the people here were blond-haired and blue-eyed Caucasians, there were also individuals who resembled the Central Asian race, albeit with a rougher appearance. His features were relatively more delicate and his facial lines softer. But that was not a problem, as he now used the Big and Small Ruyi Changes Divine Power to shrink his stature and concealed most of his face with a head of disheveled, medium-length hair. Once he settled down, he would gradually increase his height. It was normal for a teenager in the throes of growth to grow quickly, so in a year or two, even if someone investigated, they would not uncover any inconsistencies. The only issue was that maintaining the Big and Small Ruyi Changes Divine Power for an extended period kept his True Yuan in a constant state of depletion. Fortunately, the Demon Refining Pot continuously supplied Spiritual Energy, so there was no worry that his True Yuan would be exhausted. Moreover, when everyone was fast asleep at night, he could cancel the Divine Power and restore his size. With his strength, of course, he would not be discovered by others as being amiss. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?0¦Í??.§ã¦Ï Throughout the journey, Qin Feng maintained his disguise excellently. At least the Druid Priest they ¡®coincidentally¡¯ met on the way back to the Demon Beast Forest appeared to like the kind and resilient boy he was impersonating. This Druid Priest was named Tuck, a Druid who was both good-natured and amicable. Although most Druids tended to be relatively mild-mannered, this one was even more so. People of kindness often have an abundance of sympathy and are also more easily deceived. This was why, after observing several Druids from the shadows, Qin Feng specifically chose him. The reason he chose Priest Tuck, apart from his exceedingly good nature, was also because Tuck was a Priest. Druidism is a profession, referring to those Druid Mages in Druidism who can transform. ?¦Ï¦Í?0.?? Ordinary cult members who cannot transform are not called Druids. A Druid Priest, on the other hand, is a clergy responsible for preaching, conducting sacrifices, and communicating with the Forest Goddess. They hold a higher status and a more esteemed position than ordinary Druids. With Tuck¡¯s status as a Priest, once he took a liking to Qin Feng, arranging his initiation into the Church would be much simpler. After confirming Priest Tuck¡¯s character through certain means, Qin Feng deliberately subdued several low to mid-level Demon Beasts in the forest. When the Druid passed by them, Qin Feng commanded the Demon Beasts to attack their group, injuring a few people. Kind-hearted Priest Tuck naturally could not stand by and watch; hence, he engaged in battle with the Demon Beasts. Then, his horse was killed by the ferocious Demon Beasts, and he was forced to proceed on foot. Subsequently, these pitiable villagers, seeing that the Druid not only drove away the Demon Beasts but also healed their wounds, immediately started pleading with this kind and powerful Druid lord to escort them to the Druid Domain, to prevent further attacks by the Demon Beasts that kept emerging from the forest. Although Tuck was puzzled about why there were so many Demon Beasts on this path, he did not suspect any secret sabotage. He assumed that the emergence of a Super Demon Beast in the forest had driven the weaker low and mid-level Demon Beasts to the periphery, leading to their frequent attacks on passers-by. It seems that after returning, I should notify the Church Warriors to clean up these woods, or else who knows how many people these Demon Beasts would harm. As for these villagers, I can¡¯t just ignore them. Since I¡¯m not far from the Druid¡¯s domain, and I¡¯m not in a hurry to continue my journey, I might as well take care of these poor villagers along the way. Thus, Priest Tuck slowed down his pace and started travelling with these people. Then, inevitably, his gaze was drawn to the equally kind-hearted youth, Little Landi. From what others had described, Priest Tuck had already learned of the youth¡¯s family background. This youth was commendable; although he had just experienced a tragic family disaster, he still retained his kind nature, willing to assist his fellow travelers. But what really caught his special attention was that he ¡®accidentally¡¯ discovered the youth had a special talent. It was during an attack by a pack of Demon Wolves when one of the beasts was about to kill a mother and her child, and he, engaged in battle with other Demon Beasts, simply couldn¡¯t get there in time to help. Just when he thought the poor mother and child were certainly doomed, the kind Little Landi bravely stood out in front of the ferocious Demon Wolf with his frail arms extended. His body was so thin, his heart must have been filled with fear, yet his actions were so brave. Perhaps the sudden appearance of Landi startled the Demon Wolf, or perhaps it was his purity and the utter lack of impurity in his eyes that moved the beast, but, in the end, the Demon Wolf did not continue its assault. It lingered in front of the kind child for a moment before turning away. This surprised Tuck. Afterwards, he asked the youth about what happened, but the kind-hearted boy, also revealing shyness, could only mumble with his head down and was unable to articulate much. He just said that he had been very scared at the time as well, but when he saw the Demon Wolf trying to hurt the poor mother and child, he felt a strong courage surge from within, so he stepped in front of the Demon Wolf, hoping it would not harm them. After all, the child was still young and needed protection. If the child were to lose his mother, he likely wouldn¡¯t survive. So, although he was very afraid, he still stood up. Tuck felt comforted by his bravery and kindness. Two days later, he witnessed another miraculous moment from this youth. This time it was when the youth had entered the woods to gather wild fruits and vegetables and got entangled by a Demon Snake hidden amongst the branches of a large tree. By the time he heard the scream and rushed to the rescue, the youth¡¯s body was tightly wrapped by the Demon Snake, with only his head and one arm left on the outside. Even more astonishing, before Priest Tuck could lend a hand, the Demon Snake that had been ready to devour the youth gradually loosened its grip under the gaze of the youth¡¯s pure eyes and the soothing touch of his arm. Seeing this scene made Tuck lose control of himself. His heart pounded furiously. Could it be that this was a youth born with the innate ability to pacify the hearts of Demon Beasts? If that were the case, then it would be incredibly fitting for him to join their Druid order. Druids worship the Forest Goddess and esteem nature; they hold no prejudice against Demon Beasts, even living peacefully alongside them in forests overrun with such creatures. All of this is related to their ability to soothe the souls of Demon Beasts. In fact, their ability to transform into Demon Beasts is linked to this very capability as well. But their powers are acquired through cultivation, manifested through the use of special magic. To find someone naturally born with the talent to calm the souls of Demon Beasts, that is truly rare. In the history of Druidism, there have been quite a few with this ability, but the vast majority were blessed by the Forest Goddess, bearing her auraa€¡±no wonder Demon Beasts wouldn¡¯t harm them. Yet, those born naturally with this power are few and far between. Upon this discovery, Priest Tuck immediately felt as though he had stumbled upon a treasure. For in the annals of history, those Druids who possessed such a talent all became illustrious figures, commanding the utmost reverence from people everywhere. Priest Tuck believed he absolutely could not let this youth slip by; he must bring him back to the Druid order and nurture him into a devoted follower of the Forest Goddess. He believed that the youth would surely grow to be a pillar of the Druid order, and perhaps, might even become a legend of his time. Once this thought took root in Priest Tuck¡¯s mind, he treated the boy even better, keeping him by his side every day, imparting some basic knowledge, and opportunistically infusing him with the greatness of the Forest Goddess, as well as the Druid pursuit of harmony with nature and peace. Qin Feng was, of course, pleased to see this and chose the right moment to express his own adoration for the great Forest Goddess, his longing for the Druid way of life, which was why he had traveled over mountains and rivers to reach Druid territory in the first place. His display of intelligence and learning capabilities made Priest Tuck increasingly satisfied. ¡°You¡¯re a promising individual; it would be a true waste if your potential were buried.¡± Priest Tuck addressed the young man before him, ¡°Would you like to believe in the Forest Goddess and join our Druid order, becoming an official Druid?¡± ¡°Ah?¡± Qin Feng appeared flustered, ¡°Can I¡­ really do that?¡± Seeing the insecurity on the young man¡¯s face, Priest Tuck couldn¡¯t help but smile, ¡°Of course, you can. As long as you pledge your loyalty to the Forest Goddess and accept our Druidic teachings, you can join the order, becoming one of us, and then I will arrange for someone to teach you how to become a formal Druid.¡± ¡°I¡­ I would like that.¡± Qin Feng hurriedly nodded, ¡°I wish to believe in the great Forest Goddess and become a member of the Druids.¡± ¡°Hahaha, excellent!¡± Priest Tuck¡¯s face revealed an even more joyous smile, ¡°In that case, once we return, I will take you to the Druid¡¯s gathering place.¡± The local people nearby, having heard the news, were all happy for Qin Feng, as they had been witnesses to his actions and behavior along the way. Of course, while happy for Qin Feng, some couldn¡¯t help but have other little thoughts. For instance, a few men in the group with children would always find a way to bring their kids close to Priest Tuck, trying to get him to notice their children¡¯s virtues, so he might take their offspring in as members of Druidism. If their children could become druids too, that would secure their future lives. Unfortunately, those kids were just ordinary country boys, wooden in character and without a trace of spiritual energy in their eyes, nowhere near the level of Qin Feng, a Foundation Establishment Cultivator with an Azure Dragon Daoist Body. With this comparison, Priest Tuck even more strongly felt that Qin Feng was extraordinarily outstanding. So, when he brought this group of over a hundred people to the druids¡¯ territory and found the local druids to settle these villagers, he immediately took Qin Feng to head straight for the gathering place within the Demon Beast Forest. The Demon Beast Forest spread over tens of thousands of miles, teeming with countless demon beasts, and high-level demon beasts were often seen; it was rumored that deep inside hid some super demon beasts. Due to the sheer number and strength of the demon beasts, even the druids only operated on the periphery of the forest; after all, they had to consider the strength of the ordinary druids. Although they were close to nature and knew spells to pacify demon beasts, this didn¡¯t mean they wouldn¡¯t come into conflict with other demon beasts. The presence of druids was, in itself, an encroachment on the demon beasts¡¯ living space, and as their exploration into deeper areas of the Demon Beast Forest expanded, it inevitably led to battles with those highly territorial demon beasts. Around the periphery of the Demon Beast Forest, there were hundreds of large and small gathering places, each with a temple dedicated to the Forest Goddess for the druids to worship and offer sacrifices. Priest Tuck brought Qin Feng to a gathering place located in a valley with stunning scenery. The druids had built wooden houses under towering trees, with some simply carving out a treehouse from dead trunks, creating a look both rustic and natural, quite tastefully distinct. Here, the druids lived a leisurely life, either practicing magic, immersing themselves in the natural aura of the forest, or venturing into unknown domains, seeking battles with demon beasts to hone their skills. Each druid was talented in many ways, proficient in combat and magic, adept at gathering herbs to create magic potions, and collecting materials to forge magic equipmenta€¡±they all seemed to be skilled in every craft. Of course, in reality, each druid had their preferences and couldn¡¯t possibly know everything. Priest Tuck was quite popular here, as he was one of the few priests in this gathering place. And the young man he brought was warmly welcomed by the druidsa€¡±after all, being good-looking was an advantage, and more so for a child as handsome and delicate as him. When the druids heard from Priest Tuck about Qin Feng¡¯s tragic past, they were even more moved with pity, especially the female druids, whose hearts overflowed with love, cradling Qin Feng in their arms, attempting to comfort his young soul with their warmth. However, Qin Feng always felt that these robust female druids had some ulterior motives, as if they wanted to take advantage of him. Especially when he saw several young and burly female druids also wanting to hug him, his face immediately flushed, and he quickly hid behind Priest Tuck, refusing to come out no matter what. Of course, this was him deliberately acting coy. After all, the persona he was now crafting was that of a quiet and easily shy boy, and by doing so, he would speak as little as possible, avoiding any slip-ups that would give him away. If it weren¡¯t for the fact that learning druid magic still required the chanting of spells, he would have considered pretending to be mute. His action of hiding behind Priest Tuck, though, caused a burst of laughter among the druids, who saw him as a bashful and shy boy, which in turn made even more people want to tease him. Chapter 294 - Chapter 294 Chapter 291 Faith of All Gods ?Chapter 294: Chapter 291 Faith of All Gods Chapter 294: Chapter 291 Faith of All Gods ¡°Hey, Randy.¡± A crisp female voice came from outside, ¡°Do you want to go out and have fun?¡± Qin Feng looked up to see the beautiful girl outside the window and then shook his head, ¡°No, I have to go study natural magic with Lord Priest later, I don¡¯t have time.¡± ¡°Oh, well then.¡± The beautiful girl outside nodded upon hearing this, not insisting any further, and turned to walk away, swaying her slender waist. After all, it wasn¡¯t just her Qin Feng had rejected; all the young ladies in the settlement were used to his rejections. In the room, another boy, much taller and more solidly built than Qin Feng, watched the beautiful girl leave before speaking enviously, ¡°Randy, why don¡¯t you go out and play with Nikki? She¡¯s the prettiest girl around here. You can¡¯t learn magic in just a day or two; missing a few lessons occasionally won¡¯t matter, right?¡± The boy speaking was named Doru, Qin Feng¡¯s current roommate, who had been chosen three years earlier than him to come here and learn as a cult member. Qin Feng still lacked the ability to build his own cabin, so he had to live with this boy. He looked at Doru expressionlessly and said, ¡°She seems to have other ideas about me, always trying to tempt me to play games in the river.¡± ¡°Wow?¡± Doru, who had just turned fifteen and was in his adolescent dreamy phase, heard this and his eyes lit up, recalling the wonderful dream he had had the night before, his mood becoming even more rippling. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?0¦Í?¦Ï.§ã¦Ï He said, ¡°Then why are you still studying? Let¡¯s go find Nikki and play in the river.¡± His heart was on fire, and he felt a bit envious of Qin Feng¡¯s luck with the ladies; chances he himself could not even beg for were being pushed away by this kid with an air of annoyance, which was truly infuriating. Qin Feng looked at Doru with a strange expression, ¡°Are you sure?¡± ¡°Of course.¡± Doru¡¯s face brightened with a longing smile, ¡°I¡¯ve heard that Nikki is the most well-developed girl among all the girls, but I¡¯ve never had the chance to see for myself. Hehe, Randy, we can¡¯t miss such a great opportunity. If you¡¯re really not interested, at least create a chance for me!¡± ¡°Doru, it seems like pumping iron has made your brain go bad, hasn¡¯t it?¡± Qin Feng looked speechlessly at the robust boy in front of him, who resembled an iron tower, ¡°Nikki is Great Elder Doron¡¯s granddaughter; surely you wouldn¡¯t dare to aim for her, would you?¡± Doru said carelessly, ¡°What of the great elder¡¯s granddaughter? She will have to marry someone eventually.¡± ¡°She will marry someone, but definitely not you. I suggest you don¡¯t harbor such thoughts; otherwise, you might find yourself crying at her wedding.¡± ¡°Why?¡± Doru stubbornly said, ¡°Although my current status is not good enough for her, once I become strong in the future, won¡¯t I be qualified to marry her?¡± ¡°Unlikely.¡± Qin Feng bluntly discouraged him, ¡°You¡¯ve been studying magic for three years and haven¡¯t even completed your first transformation. Nikki is even younger than you by a year, and she can already transform.¡± ¡°What? Already?¡± Doru stood there dumbfounded, ¡°Last time I tested magic with her, she didn¡¯t have the ability to transform. How could she have achieved it so soon?¡± ¡°Not sure.¡± Qin Feng shook his head and said, ¡°A few days ago, while I was practicing magic by the river, she, transformed into a demon snake, pulled me into the water and wrapped around me not letting me come up.¡± ¡°She wrapped around you?¡± Doru¡¯s eyes widened again. Qin Feng, helpless with this guy¡¯s focus always differing from others, continued to discourage him unabashedly, ¡°Yes, she not only wrapped around me, but she also took me to where the women upstream were bathing and had me play hide-and-seek in the water with them.¡± ¡°It¡¯s your fault for being so good-looking.¡± Doru said sourly, ¡°I¡¯ve been upstream once myself, only to be turned into a pig-head by those fierce women. Seriously, I didn¡¯t see anything, and Aunt Alice turned into a giant bear and nearly stomped me into the ground.¡± ¡°Haha¡­¡± Qin Feng laughed heartily, picked up the magic book from the desk, left the room, and headed towards where the priest taught magic. He wasn¡¯t as superficial as Doru; he was here to learn the druid¡¯s cultivation technique, not to fool around with the women here. If he wanted to fool around, there were plenty of beautiful fellow female cultivators in his sect, and in the Southern Domain, there were countless female cultivators, any number of whom were like fairies, much better than the women here. ¡°Hey, hey, hey, are you sure you don¡¯t want to go have fun?¡± Doru, still not giving up, chased after him. ¡°Not interested.¡± Qin Feng glanced at him, ¡°You should see that I¡¯m not as old as you are; I don¡¯t have as many frivolous thoughts.¡± ¡°I¡­ I don¡¯t have those thoughts.¡± ¡°Heh.¡± Qin Feng curled his lips in disdain, ¡°Last night, someone was talking in their sleep during a rather vivid dream, shall I describe it for you?¡± ¡°¡­¡± Doru¡¯s face turned red in an instant, ¡°Don¡¯t you sleep at night?¡± ¡°I was asleep, but someone, like a wild boar in heat, kept grunting and woke me up.¡± Doru wished he could find a crack in the ground to crawl into, filled with mortification and regret, he immediately regretted coming out with Qin Feng. Qin Feng ignored him and walked straight towards where the priests were teaching. It was very close to the Forest Goddess¡¯s Divine Temple, built right next to the temple, so that these young men and women could constantly be in contact with the Forest Goddess and develop the good habit of worshipping her. As Qin Feng passed by the temple, he was without a single stray thought, even hypnotizing himself to feel a strong sense of gratitude and worship towards the Forest Goddess from the bottom of his heart, and respectfully bowed. Of course, with countless followers of the Forest Goddess, she wouldn¡¯t cast her gaze from the Divine Realm just because of his respect, and that was why he dared to openly impersonate a follower of the goddessa€¡±because the Forest Goddess wouldn¡¯t expose him. Obviously, his respectful demeanor pleased several nearby priests and Druids. These senior Druids were sharp-eyed, and if a person wasn¡¯t sincerely devoted to the Forest Goddess, they could usually tell to some extent. For example, Doru, who was following behind Qin Feng, was still distracted by Qin Feng¡¯s previous teasing, so his gesture of respect was much more perfunctory. While it didn¡¯t immediately brand him as disloyal to the Forest Goddess, it was clear that this attitude displeased the senior Druids somewhat, though Doru himself was completely oblivious to this. Qin Feng entered the room where seven or eight young men and women had arrived even earlier, who greeted him as they saw him. Qin Feng nodded slightly in acknowledgment. ?0¦Í??.§ã¦Ï He had been here for half a year already, and during this time, he had shown exceptional talent beyond the ordinary, but he had been quite normal in other aspects and had not become smug due to his rapid learning, so he had not aroused any resentment among the young men and women. And the reason he had to show off his talent was mainly to save time; he had no desire to spend decades learning here, as that would be too much of a waste of time for him. Apart from learning at an astonishing pace during the priests¡¯ lectures, he would often immerse himself in the library, continuously absorbing various kinds of knowledge, whether it was introductions to the continent¡¯s history or various mythological epics, he did not miss any of them. Elder Kongkong had tasked him with gathering intelligence about this world, where history and myth held a great degree of credibility, so he read through these extensively. However, what he read the most were books related to magic. In just half a year, he had read all the magical books he could access. And during this time, he also learned quite a few Druidic magic spells. In fact, after truly mastering these things, Qin Feng realized that so-called magic was just another way of casting spells, not fundamentally different from the techniques he learned in the Beast Taming Sect, which were all about controlling one¡¯s own power and manipulating Heaven and Earth Essence Qi. However, Cultivators refine True Yuan and use Divine Sense to aid in casting spells, while Mages mainly cultivate spiritual power, absorb Elemental Power from the world, refine it into their own magic power, and when casting spells, use their spiritual power to connect with Elemental Power and their own magic power to outline a Magic Matrix as a primer for casting magic. Once Qin Feng understood the principles, casting magic became effortless for him, but since he still had to appear as if he had just learned magic and his spiritual power and magic power were still very shallow, he could usually only perform first or second-level minor spells for fun. Otherwise, if he had truly made an all-out effort, he would have even been capable of casting spells up to the seventh or eighth level. The priests clearly valued this talented young man highly, and seeing his rapid learning progress, they were very satisfied. Thus, more or less, they all showed him some degree of favoritism. Whenever he encountered something he didn¡¯t understand during daily teachings, they would try their best to explain it to him. Today¡¯s lesson from the priest was extremely important to Qin Feng. Because what the priest was going to talk about today was the method to advance to a formal Druid. This was exactly what Qin Feng had long yearned for, so naturally, he wouldn¡¯t miss this class. Compared to these cultivation techniques, playing with little girls and the like simply couldn¡¯t occupy a place in his heart. ¡°Our Druids are not only adept at casting natural magic but also possess the ability to transform into demon beasts for battle.¡± The elderly priest¡¯s voice was resonant: ¡°Ten thousand years ago, when the hundred races of the continent waged war and demon beasts ran rampant, we humans were one of the weakest among them. At that time, the Giant Dragon Clan wreaked havoc upon the world, Giants dominated the continent, the Elf Clan mastered the secrets of the elements, and the Demon Clan created chaos everywhere. It was only with the descent of All Gods one day, demonstrating miracles and teaching us various methods of cultivation, that we of the Human Clan gradually grew stronger. At the same time, a variety of professions emerged: Druids, Mages, Warriors, Knights, Beast Tamers, Thieves, Assassins, and so forth, each with its own advantages.¡± The old priest became more and more animated as he spoke, his voice growing increasingly fervent. However, Qin Feng always felt that this old fellow was beguiling them, the youths. After all, how many students had this old man taught in his lifetime, and how many times had he repeated these words? How could he be so passionate every time? At his age, wasn¡¯t he afraid that getting too excited might cause him to faint? Regardless of what Qin Feng thought internally, the words of the old priest were still filled with stirring emotions: ¡°Our ancestors, the Druids, were a group of people from the Human Clan who lived in the forests and competed with demon beasts for food. Back then, they lacked formidable strength and powerful magic, only barely managing to survive at the forest¡¯s edge. Until the Forest Goddess descended, the merciful, kind, and great Forest Goddess sheltered our ancestors. She taught our pitiable Human Clan how to cultivate natural magic, giving us hope to heal ailments and survive. She taught us the techniques to transform into demon beasts for battle, allowing us to gradually grow stronger and no longer fall prey to those ferocious demon beasts. Then, through the development and growth of generations, we now possess this formidable strength, making all the powers of the continent dare not belittle us. It is the Forest Goddess who gifted us everything, so we should devoutly worship her. Only when our Power of Faith is pure enough, when we die, do we stand a chance of being led to the Forest Goddess¡¯s Divine Country, where we might be reborn.¡± On the surface, Qin Feng, like the other youths, showed an excited expression, but inwardly he was cursing profusely. Wouldn¡¯t it be enough to just teach the techniques for transforming into demon beasts? Why all these useless words? Moreover, the Forest Goddess¡¯s imparting of magic was not without a price. She required your worship, and the stronger the strength of her followers, the more Power of Faith she would receive. Qin Feng did not know the situation of the Human Clan at that time; he did not know whether they were truly in peril or had the potential to rise on their own. But he was certain that, although the Human Clan was weak, there must have been some powerful beings among them; otherwise, it would have been impossible for them to have survived so long on the continent, threatened by so many races and demon beasts. Thus, he was quite skeptical whether the descent of the gods was simply to train the Human Clan to become lambs offering them Faith. Divines that drew power from faith were always unscrupulous in their means, regardless of whether they appeared benevolent or malevolent, as fundamentally, there was not much difference between them. Chapter 295 - Chapter 295 Chapter 292 The Method of Druid Transformation ?Chapter 295: Chapter 292: The Method of Druid Transformation Chapter 295: Chapter 292: The Method of Druid Transformation After the Old Priest had sung the praises of the Forest Goddess at length, he began to explain how Druids transform. Qin Feng listened attentively, imprinting everything the Old Priest said into his mind. With the strength of his Divine Sense, simple memorization posed no problem, and he wouldn¡¯t forget a thing. As the Old Priest continued his explanation, Qin Feng gradually came to understand the secrets of Druid transformation. In plain terms, it was somewhat similar to the way the Beast Taming Sect merged with living Spiritual Beasts. However, while the Beast Taming Sect merged with living creatures, Druids absorbed the souls and Demon Cores of dead Demon Beasts into their bodies through a special method, utilizing a secret technique to transform using the Demon Core as a power source, aiding themselves in battle. To achieve this, one must first seal the soul of the Demon Beast within its Demon Core at the moment of its death. Then, using various methods, one must soothe the restless soul of the Demon Beast or rather, eliminate its self-awareness, retaining only its powerful soul power and magical skills to absorb into one¡¯s body, treating it as one¡¯s own Demon Core. When needed in battle, one can then activate the power within the Core to transform through magic. Qin Feng felt that this was somewhat similar to having a second Dantian and forming a second Golden Core. Of course, such cases were rare among the Human Clan. On the contrary, in the Demon Clan, there had been instances of Demon Beasts with multiple Demon Cores, though such beasts were extremely rare. Druids practiced Natural Magic primarily to enhance their spiritual power and their own magic power, aiming to be capable of killing Demon Beasts and suppressing the soul within the Demon Core. Having heard the Old Priest¡¯s explanations, though Qin Feng hadn¡¯t completed a transformation or absorbed a Demon Core yet, he easily understood the secrets of Druid transformation by comparing it with his own Beast Taming Sect¡¯s Cultivation Technique. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í?0.?0 Of course, understanding was one thing, but implementing it required caution to avoid mistakes. He believed that this transformation could also serve as a backup during combat. If his True Yuan was overly depleted and his opponent thought he was nearly exhausted, a sudden transformation could significantly turn the tide. Moreover, Qin Feng was a Cultivator, a genuine person of the Cultivation path. He had never thought of following the Druids¡¯ path of Cultivation after learning their transformation Technique. To him, the Druid transformation Technique had significant limitations. The level of Demon Beast they could absorb was constrained by their own strength. For instance, if a Druid¡¯s magical and spiritual power reached the level of a Basic Mage, then the Demon Beasts they could absorb would be at their lowest levels. They could only use this kind of transformation during battles, and once they absorbed a Demon Beast¡¯s Demon Core, the Core itself could no longer grow in power. That is to say, once a Druid¡¯s rank was set, the strength of their transformations would not increase, as their Demon Beasts were dead. Druids could restore the magic power in the Demon Core but couldn¡¯t help the Core advance further in strengtha€¡±a point vastly inferior to the Beast Taming Sect. Disciples of the Beast Taming Sect not only cultivated themselves, but their Lifebound Spiritual Beasts also grew alongside them, often even faster than their own Cultivation speed. Meanwhile, Druids could only rely on the inherent power within the Demon Core to fight. If a Druid wanted greater power or more formidable transformations, they had to continuously enhance their own strength, accumulating higher levels of spiritual power and magic power to subdue higher-level Demon Beasts and merge with higher-ranked Demon Cores. But the more powerful the Demon Beast, the more difficult it becomes to subdue it using magic alone, especially those naturally formidable ones. Moreover, Druids absorbing Demon Cores is not without its limits; after all, these are external forces. Integrating them brings immense pressure to oneself. A human body cannot handle too many Demon Cores, so most Druids will only choose one transformation direction. For instance, a Druid who transforms into a Giant Bear would, even if they advanced to a higher realm, typically choose the same type of Demon Beast when selecting anew, and then discard the original Demon Core. Of course, there are a few exceptionally strong Druids who choose multiple transformations, possessing more methods and greater combat power. However, such Druids often receive the favor of the Forest Goddess, who bestows Divine Power to enhance their spirit and physical body, allowing them to withstand the pressure from multiple Demon Cores. Ordinary Druids are not incapable of doing this, but once they do, it brings immense strain on their body and soul, making it difficult for them to advance to higher realms. Some Druids, feeling unable to advance further, directly give up on reaching higher levels and choose to accommodate more Demon Cores, enhancing their transformation abilities and combat power. This greatly disappointed Qin Feng, who initially thought that after learning the Druids¡¯ transformation methods, he could have endless changes like the ¡°72 Transformations.¡± But now, it seemed he was mistaken. Indeed, how could these superficial techniques passed down by divine beings compare to the Supreme Mysterious Skill of Daoism? Although they also possessed some miraculous aspects, essentially, they were still considered unorthodox side-branches and hardly capable of attaining the Great Dao. Perhaps, it was deliberately done by those divine beings. If these believers cultivated to the point of becoming gods themselves, the position of these divine beings would likely be challenged. Because the Transformation Technique of Druids had so many limitations, once Qin Feng understood the principle behind it, he was not willing to follow the Druids¡¯ advancement path. Instead of focusing on transformation, he would rather integrate this method into his own Cultivation Method, making it part of a Great Divine Power inheritance within his technique system. For example, refining the Demon Core after transformation, absorbing its power, and magic skills to merge into his own could be one approach. Alternatively, using it as an External Body might also be feasible. Of course, thoughts were just thoughts, and with his current level of Dao Cultivation, it was not possible to realize them. Fortunately, he had a powerful sect that could take these ideas back, consult the Grandmasters, eliminate the dross, absorb the essence, and integrate it into their Cultivation Method. This was a common practice in the Cultivation World. Even if it could not be integrated into the Beast Taming Sect¡¯s Technique, it could still serve as an excellent covert strategy. ¡°Alright, all you youngsters have also already possessed magic power, reaching the Basic Level or Intermediate Mage level; it¡¯s time to choose the Demon Beast for your first transformation.¡± The Old Priest said, ¡°In a few days, you will go into the Demon Beast Forest for training and choose your Demon Beast transformation.¡± Upon hearing this, everyone suddenly became excited. They were merely a group of young boys and girls, at the liveliest period of their lives, already filled with endless curiosity about Druid transformations. After hearing the Old Priest¡¯s words, they were naturally thrilled. If not for the adults holding them back, they would have longed to go out and gain experience. This was the outer perimeter of the Demon Beast Forest and a gathering place for Druids, where high-level Demon Beasts were scarce, allowing them to choose a suitable Demon Beast for themselves. Of course, they had to defeat the Demon Beast first. This was a part of their training, and the adults wouldn¡¯t provide any help at this time. After all, the priests didn¡¯t expect the Demon Beasts these youths initially transformed into to be very powerful. Low-level Demon Beasts¡¯ capabilities were inherently modest. Even after their transformations, they could only cast some low-level magic; at most, the physical power of the Demon Beasts themselves was decent, comparable to some low-level warriors and knights. Or perhaps they might merge with a flying type of Demon Beast and obtain the chance to fly. These youths would need to truly grow up before they could absorb a more powerful Demon Core to possess stronger transformation abilities. The Old Priest looked at the young group, high-spirited and laughing, then he simply smiled faintly and turned away. ¡°Hey, Randy, what kind of Demon Beast do you plan to transform into?¡± Doru nudged Qin Feng with his arm. However, he clearly didn¡¯t expect an answer from Qin Feng; he was merely expressing his own excitement, ¡°I also want to get a Demon Snake like Nikki for my transformation, so when we fight after transforming, we can tangle together.¡± Qin Feng gave him a look as if he was looking at an idiot. This guy¡¯s thought process was indeed unusual. Two snakes tangled together, what¡¯s so special about that? It might as well be two white squirming worms¡­ Ahem, Qin Feng retracted his thoughts, no longer indulging in wild imagination. Considering the intimate half-year they had lived together, he still advised, ¡°Your physique is strong and your temperament doesn¡¯t suit slithering on the ground like a snake. In my opinion, you¡¯re more suited to transform into a giant gorilla.¡± ¡°A giant gorilla?¡± Doru¡¯s face suddenly darkened, ¡°Isn¡¯t that a bit ugly?¡± ¡°Tch.¡± Qin Feng scoffed at his words, ¡°We¡¯re talking about transforming into Demon Beasts, why care about beauty or ugliness? The main thing is to choose what fits you best and also has the strongest combat ability.¡± ¡°So, can¡¯t I choose something majestic like a Wind Demon Tiger or a Fiery Flame Lion?¡± ¡°My personal suggestion is that you¡¯d better choose a melee type Demon Ape. That way, later when you can grow to the level of a Great Druid Elder, you could even choose to transform into a Bimong Giant Beast.¡± Qin Feng said, ¡°In terms of majesty, which can surpass a Bimong Giant Beast? The title of King of Land Battle isn¡¯t just for show.¡± Doru¡¯s eyes lit up instantly, nodding repeatedly, ¡°Right, the Bimong Giant Beast is the strongest. That¡¯s my choice.¡± ¡°Snap out of it.¡± Qin Feng burst his bubble, ¡°Right now, you can only choose from among the second and third-level Demon Beasts. ?¦Ï¦Í?0.§ã¦Ï Let¡¯s discuss it further when you reach that level.¡± ¡°What about you?¡± Doru asked, ¡°What kind of Demon Beast do you want to transform into?¡± ¡°Me?¡± Qin Feng flipped through the Demon Beast Album in his hand, momentarily at a loss for words. Because he hadn¡¯t yet decided on which Demon Beast to choose. Doru, observant, caught a glimpse of the high-level Demon Beast Album in his hands and was puzzled, ¡°Why are you looking at a high-level Demon Beast Album? Shouldn¡¯t you be checking out the low-level ones?¡± ¡°I¡¯m preparing for the future.¡± Qin Feng explained, ¡°Sticking to a lineage for transformations is better. I need to consider if the combat strength of the Demon Beast I choose will be powerful enough when I get stronger later.¡± ¡°You¡¯re really thinking ahead.¡± ¡°That¡¯s right. Otherwise, why would I suggest that you choose the Demon Ape? It¡¯s only because of the great combat power of the Bimong Giant Beast, even though you might not reach that level of cultivation.¡± Qin Feng casually replied, his mind calculating which Demon Beast he should choose. The main problem was that his displayed magic power was too low, and being a basic-level Mage, he could only select a first or second-level Demon Beast. But he couldn¡¯t genuinely choose such weakly powered Demon Beasts, could he? Choosing such Demon Beasts for a transformation would be utterly useless for him, instead becoming a burden and a hassle. Even after erasing the Demon Beast¡¯s self-awareness, the strong soul power and the magic power in the Demon Core, after being absorbed into the body, would still have some effect on his physical body. Chapter 296 - Chapter 296 Chapter 293 Nasty-Tasting Magic Potion ?Chapter 296: Chapter 293: Nasty-Tasting Magic Potion Chapter 296: Chapter 293: Nasty-Tasting Magic Potion Qin Feng did not want to accommodate a low-level demon core within his body, for it offered him no benefits, and it would only taint his Taoist Body with the impure power of the low-level demon beast after transformation. There was a moment when Qin Feng even thought about simply escaping, rather than truly allowing himself to merge with a low-level demon beast. After all, he had already mastered the Druid transformation technique. When it was time to enter the forest trial, he could directly use the Earth Escape Divine Power to burrow underground and leave without anyone noticing his tracks. However, he was somewhat reluctant to give up his Druid identity. He felt that this identity would definitely be useful in the future. Even if he had to leave, he would need to find a suitable excuse. That way, when he needed it again, he could use the power of the Druids to accomplish certain tasks. Furthermore, if the Sect were to truly attack this realm, by using his Druid identity, he might be able to infiltrate the upper echelons of the Druids, and then actively form alliances with various factions to gather all sorts of intelligence. Qin Feng pondered for a long while and ultimately decided to choose a demon beast to complete the transformation first. If necessary, he could later expel the demon core from his body and find a more suitable demon beast transformation. Regardless, once this trial was over, he needed to leave the Demon Beast Forest and attend to his own affairs. Despite not having mastered the higher level magics and various alchemy and potion-making skills in the Druid inheritance, those were not very useful to him, as he had no intentions of becoming an Artifact Refiner or Alchemist. What he truly valued was only the Druid transformation technique. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ??¦Í??.§ã¦Ï As long as he brought the Druid transformation technique back, it would be a significant achievement. Not to mention, his master Ning Wuxu would definitely be interested in this transformation technique. Ning Wuxu had been stuck at the Primordial Spirit Peak for centuries and needed other cultivation systems¡¯ techniques as references. If he could integrate this technique into his own body and develop a more suitable cultivation technique, perhaps there was a chance to break through the constraints of the Immortal Dao and reach the True Immortal Path, achieving longevity and freedom. Once Ning Wuxu reached Immortality, it would be the same as having a Supreme Elder as his master, which would definitely benefit his future Daoist path. Having sorted out his thoughts, Qin Feng closed the Demon Beast Album in front of him, left the place, and returned to his cottage to prepare some things. Although choosing any demon beast would suffice, he was still unwilling to select one with too low a level. If he could choose a mid-level or higher demon beast, it would be somewhat beneficial to him. Moreover, with the combat power of a mid-level demon beast transformation, he could leave the Demon Beast Forest and travel elsewhere. He had already thought of his excuse: to return to his hometown, seek revenge on the Baron who had ruined his family, and then disappear without a trace. When he needed the help of the Druid power again, he would simply find another excuse to reappear. He could even adopt another identity and continue to act under the name of a Druid whenever necessary. After all, he was still a youth, and not many people knew him. Once he left this place and reverted to his original stature and slightly altered his appearance, no one would be able to connect him with Randy. However, to absorb a mid-level demon core, he must demonstrate higher capabilities. Perhaps, he could concoct some special magic potions to enhance his strength. Among all the transcendent professions on the continent, Druids delved the deepest into the study and utilization of herbs, and their magic potions were even more diverse and formidable than those of most mages or specialized Demon Pharmacists. Over the long years, some potions had been developed to enhance spiritual power and magic power, but these types of magic potions were extremely difficult to concoct. Based on Qin Feng¡¯s understanding of magic potions, he was certain he could not create them. After all, he only studied potion-making to deceive the Priest who taught him, aiming to gain a reputation as a prodigy. Memorizing the knowledge of magic potions in haste didn¡¯t mean he could genuinely utilize it. However, Qin Feng was not afraid of failing the Artifact Refining process. As long as he kept it to himself, no one would know that he had failed. Refining Magic Potions was just an excuse he found for himself. When the time came, he would announce that he had successfully refined the potion and that consuming it had directly enhanced his strength, thus justifying his Refining of the Intermediate Demon Core. After all, with his aura of talent, refining a few Magic Potions to enhance his strength would not seem too out of place on him. After all, geniuses are always able to create miracles. With this idea in mind, Qin Feng immediately went to gather herbs. Since many Druids often roamed the forest and collected various resources, the valley was rich in herbs. When he went to the Druid in charge of the herbs under the pretense of Refining Magic Potions, the Druid did not make it difficult for him; instead, he gave him a few extra materials. For Druids living in the Demon Beast Forest, these herbs were not valuable, as the forest was full of them, and more could simply be picked if needed. For a talented youth like Qin Feng, who was willing to try refining Magic Potions, providing him with extra materials was not a big deal. If he failed, it would be a lesson and an experience; there was no need to dampen his enthusiasm at this time. If he succeeded and his strength increased, the Druids would also benefit. Qin Feng, with various materials, also borrowed the equipment for refining Magic Potions from another Druid who was proficient in the field and returned to the cabin in high spirits, starting to refine the Magic Potions in front of his roommate Doru. ¡°Do you really intend to refine Magic Potions?¡± Doru watched as Qin Feng busily moved about, proficiently arranging utensils, herbs, and some special materials into categories, and asked somewhat incredulously, ¡°Refining Magic Potions is not so easy, you have never done it before and have no experience. Isn¡¯t it too ambitious to start with such a potent potion? Why don¡¯t you start with low-level Magic Potions and gradually accumulate experience?¡± ¡°You don¡¯t understand the world of a genius.¡± Qin Feng, without looking up, said, ¡°The trial is about to begin, and I must refine a Magic Potion to enhance my strength quickly so that I can obtain a more powerful Demon Beast transformation.¡± ¡°What if you fail?¡± Qin Feng gave him a glance, ¡°Failing isn¡¯t a big deal; I¡¯ll just consider it practice. But if I succeed, my strength will jump significantly, and then you won¡¯t be a match for me.¡± ¡°That¡¯s impossible.¡± Doru confidently smiled, ¡°I¡¯ve been part of the Church for several years longer than you, and I have already cultivated to the level of an intermediate Mage. Not to mention that your Magic Potion might not even be refined successfully, but even if it is, it might not enhance much of your strength; it certainly won¡¯t be enough to beat me.¡± ¡°I¡¯m not interested in fighting you. Besides, as long as my spiritual power increases by a significant margin, that¡¯s enough. I plan to take on an Intermediate Demon Core, and once I complete the transformation, you definitely won¡¯t be a match for me.¡± ¡°Are you out of your mind?¡± Doru was shocked, ¡°Even if your spiritual power increases a bit, an Intermediate Demon Beast is still too much for you. You should not aim too high and pick a low-level Demon Beast of second or third rank for safety.¡± ¡°Let¡¯s talk about that later.¡± Qin Feng continued to fiddle with the materials in his hands, saying, ¡°Actually, the gap between a low-level and an intermediate-level demon beast isn¡¯t that big. Their intelligence is low, and they are merely ferocious by nature. They can¡¯t possibly have as great a spiritual power disparity as mages have when advancing to magic guides. As long as my spiritual power is strong enough and my willpower sufficiently resilient, after eroding the ferocity in the demon beast¡¯s soul, I will be able to accommodate the magic core of an intermediate demon beast. ?0¦Í??.?¦Ï Besides, I am a genius, this kind of thing should not stump me.¡± ¡°You are too arrogant, Randy.¡± Doru advised, ¡°I think it¡¯s better to be cautious; otherwise, if the spirit of the intermediate demon beast backlashes, you are done for.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll be careful, but I have to try it to be content.¡± Qin Feng clearly didn¡¯t take Doru¡¯s words to heart. After arranging all the materials, he began to prepare the magic potion. When Druids or other mages concoct magic potions, their methods are quite rough, not as meticulous as alchemists during alchemy, producing Miracle Medicine with various elixir fragrances. Mages typically boil the essence out of the materials when concocting magic potions, then after hundreds and thousands of trials with the proportions, they gradually perfect the formula for the magic potion. Qin Feng was now concocting a magic potion to enhance his spiritual power according to the formula recorded. The process was monotonous, and a strong, bizarre odor would emit during the boiling of the potion. Initially, Doru was quite interested in watching him cook the potion, but before long, the smell drove him out. The odd odor was too unpleasant, compounded by Qin Feng¡¯s somewhat incorrect cooking method, making the smell even worse. However, this was intentional by Qin Feng. If he let Doru watch, he surely couldn¡¯t pretend to drink a failed potion and act as if it were successful, right? It would be too easy to get poisoned, and if his face turned black and his lips purple, who would believe he had succeeded? After Doru left, he quickly spread the word about Qin Feng concocting the magic potion, sparking curiosity among some youngsters and warm smiles from some Druids. Clearly, not many of these people believed Qin Feng could successfully concoct the magic potion so quickly, considering the art and complexity of the magic potion, which only a qualified potion master could achieve after thousands of failures. Thus, Qin Feng spent the next few days hiding in his room concocting the magic potion. Initially, some youngsters came to watch, but soon they lost interest and went off to play elsewhere. Even Doru hadn¡¯t returned to their cabin for several days because Qin Feng tirelessly worked late every day, filling the room with the odd herbal smell. Thus, Doru simply stayed with others for a few days, waiting for Qin Feng to finish making the magic potion. Finally, on the day before the trial, Qin Feng announced his great accomplishment to the public, having successfully concocted the magic potion. As soon as this news was released, everyone was stunned, amazed that he had managed to succeed within just a few days. The gazes of the young men and women were filled with admiration, and the only regret was that they hadn¡¯t witnessed Qin Feng¡¯s magic potion themselves. Because Qin Feng declared he had already consumed the magic potion, and his spiritual power had significantly increased. The Druids and Priests in the valley were very satisfied with his genius performance, especially an old priest who, after personally testing his spiritual power, was astonished to declare that this genius youth¡¯s spiritual power had already reached the level of a basic magic guide. As soon as this word came out, everyone was dumbfounded. Just one bottle of magic potion could boost him so much, and if Qin Feng wasn¡¯t standing right there in front of them, they absolutely wouldn¡¯t have believed it. The Old Priest trembled with excitement, ¡°It seems that Randy is absorbing the magic potion exceptionally well, and with his huge inherent potential, he has broken through the shackles and strengthened his spiritual power to this level. Hahaha, now as long as his magic power can keep up and he learns magic higher than level four, he will be at the rank of a Magic Guide. Allen, where did you run off to? Hurry up and bring out the potion you¡¯ve been keeping that enhances magic power and have Randy drink it, he will soon become a Magic Guide. With Randy¡¯s talent, I believe it won¡¯t take long for him to rise to a higher rank and perhaps become a Great Druid like the High Priest before he turns fifty.¡± The High Priest is the chief communicator with the Forest Goddess, having gained her favor, and is the most powerful in the Druid Tribe in plain sight. Comparing Qin Feng to the High Priest in his youth, this assessment is indeed quite high. Yet everyone believed it was indeed possible because Qin Feng had always performed so outstandingly, so none of the Druids opposed the Old Priest¡¯s words, instead looking towards Qin Feng with hopeful eyes. If he could indeed grow to the stature of the High Priest in the future, then their gathering place would become famous, definitely attracting more youths to come here to study and eventually become one of them, refreshing their ranks with new blood. Perhaps in a few years, this place could become one of the most powerful among all the Druid Tribes. Soon, the Druid named Allen arrived and took out a blackish magic potion from his space ring and handed it to Qin Feng. ¡°This¡­¡± Qin Feng looked at the dark magic potion, feeling a bit resistant. Can this really be drunk? Allen, thinking the shy young man was merely being polite, smiled and said, ¡°Randy, go ahead and drink it, don¡¯t be shy with me. Although this magic potion is expensive elsewhere, it¡¯s really not much here, and I can always make more.¡± ¡°Drink up, drink up.¡± Several priests were also urging loudly, unable to wait to witness the birth of the youngest Magic Guide in the continent¡¯s history in front of them. With no other choice, Qin Feng reluctantly opened the bottle cap, looking at the faint fog forming various shapes in the pitch-black liquid inside the bottle and smelling the bizarre scent of the magic potion, his heart secretly turned bitter, realizing he inevitably had to drink this magic potion. Seeing the expectant eyes of the people around him, he steeled his heart, threw back his head, and glugged down several swallows of the magic potion. As everyone watched him finish the potion, they finally took a breath of relief, waiting for his magic power to increase. Qin Feng set down the bottle and belched, suddenly a strange taste surged from his stomach. He felt this was the most awful thing he had ever drunk. However, the effect of the magic potion was fairly good. After drinking it, a fairly pure elemental force emerged, which Qin Feng covertly cycled through the ¡°Azure Dragon Divine Technique¡± to absorb and refine swiftly. Then, according to the power provided by the magic potion, he enhanced his own magic power by a segment. ¡°Good, not bad.¡± The Old Priest nodded, ¡°Although your magic power has not yet reached the level of a Magic Guide, it¡¯s close. Your spiritual power is already sufficient; just another month or two of cultivation and you¡¯ll be able to raise your magic power as well. It looks like, for the trial tomorrow, you¡¯re going to achieve an excellent result.¡± Chapter 297 - Chapter 297 Chapter 294 Swallowing Sky Toad Advances to Demon Core ?Chapter 297: Chapter 294 Swallowing Sky Toad Advances to Demon Core Chapter 297: Chapter 294 Swallowing Sky Toad Advances to Demon Core The following day, as the first rays of dawn light filtered through the branches and leaves onto the ground, a group of boys and girls had already gathered at the mouth of the valley. ¡°Alright, kids, quiet down.¡± A rugged-looking middle-aged man stood in front of everyone, waving his fist: ¡°This trial is very important for you all, and if you pass, you will officially become Druids, the most loyal guards of the Forest Goddess. Many of you have probably already decided which Demon Beast you want to transform into, but when in battle, you must also judge your own strength. If you are no match for a Demon Beast, it would be better to use your brains more. Besides directly fighting the Demon Beast, there are other means you can employ. Of course, if you really can¡¯t kill the Demon Beast you desire and collect its Demon Core, I advise you to give up and choose a weaker Demon Beast instead, lest you end up sacrificing your own life.¡± After he finished speaking, the middle-aged man gestured dismissively with a clean sweep of his hand: ¡°Alright, set off, this trial lasts for three days. During this time, you are free to demonstrate your abilities. If after three days you haven¡¯t obtained a suitable Demon Beast, then consider it a failure, and you can continue to attend classes with those snotty little kids.¡± The boys, unable to contain their excitement, hardly cared what he was saying. Seeing him wave his hand for everyone to depart, they dashed toward the valley¡¯s exit like wild horses breaking free from their reins. Behind them, the middle-aged man laughed and cursed to himself, then turned to the dozen or so Druids behind him and said, ¡°Let¡¯s go too. Keep a close eye out, but it¡¯s best not to meddle in their trials recklessly. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï??¦Ï.§ã0 Only intervene if high-level Demon Beasts appear; otherwise, let them manage on their own.¡± The dozen Druids nodded in response and then, under the lead of the middle-aged man, transformed into giant eagles, Two-Legged Flying Dragons, Griffins, and other flying magical beasts, taking to the skies to monitor the forest from afar. They were only responsible for ensuring that no high-level Demon Beasts or large herds appeared in the area of the youths¡¯ trials. Other than that, they left the youths to fend for themselves, and if their strength was insufficient and they died at the claws of a Demon Beast, that was just the way it was. The world was inherently full of dangers, with constant warfare between nations on the continent. Death was something they had grown accustomed to. ?¦Ï¦Í??.§ã? And as Druids living in the Demon Beast Forest, they faced dangers daily that were even greater than those in other places. If these young people couldn¡¯t handle even the most basic dangers, then they had no one to blame for their own deaths. ¡°Duron, do you want to partner with me?¡± Doru looked at Qin Feng and said, ¡°If we work together, we can definitely handle the Demon Beasts with more ease.¡± Before Qin Feng could reply, a youth beside them laughed and said, ¡°I think you just want to take advantage of Randy. He¡¯s already a Mage now, so of course, he¡¯ll handle low-level Demon Beasts easily.¡± ¡°What do you know?¡± Doron said, ¡°Although his spiritual power has reached the level of a Mage, he lacks Magic Power and hasn¡¯t even started to practice intermediate-level magic yet. In terms of war power, he might not be as strong as I am.¡± The others nearby listened and felt there was some truth to that. Qin Feng smiled slightly: ¡°Let¡¯s not. It¡¯s better for everyone to complete this kind of trial on their own; otherwise, it wouldn¡¯t really reflect the meaning of the trial. Of course, those who are weaker can look out for each other to prevent being eaten by a powerful Demon Beast.¡± Doron was slightly disappointed when Qin Feng did not agree to go with him. In his heart, he really hoped to undertake the trial with Qin Feng, since Qin Feng¡¯s aura of genius was truly formidable. The knowledge he¡¯d gained in half a year exceeded what others learned in three to five years, especially regarding his understanding of various forest medicines, which allowed him to prepare many Medicine Powders and Insect Repellents effective against common Demon Beasts and Poison Insects, playing a significant role in the trials. The advice from the middle-aged man earlier, to ¡®use their brains,¡¯ meant they could consider using some forest herbs to concoct poisons against Demon Beasts, thus weakening them. It was only now that Doru and some of the other more frivolous youths realized they had many shortcomings. After parting ways with the others, Qin Feng walked alone into the forest. The Demon Beast Forest was not a flat plain; it had high mountains, dense forests, sheer cliffs, and undulating peaks. ¡°` These places were inhabited by countless demon beasts, and even around the Druid Tribe, many demon beasts survived, although mostly of lower levels, especially the high-level ones, which had essentially been expelled and slaughtered by the Druids. It was very difficult to navigate the forest because there were no paths at all, and everywhere were trees so large that several people could not encircle them with their arms. Scattered branches and stout roots obstructed the way, and various strange and exotic poison insects lurked in the bushes. At any moment, a demon beast might emerge from a formed tree hollow to ambush you. If an ordinary person were to traverse this place, even if they didn¡¯t encounter an ambush from a demon beast, they wouldn¡¯t be able to cover twenty miles in a day. However, it was a different story for Druid Apprentices who had practiced natural magic. They could use perception magic to sense dangers through the surrounding vegetation, avoiding them in advance, and they had speed-enhancing magic that could increase their pace, allowing the young ones to cover about thirty to fifty miles in a day. But these youths had come out to find suitable demon beasts, not to travel with haste, so once they had distanced themselves sufficiently from the Druid Tribe, they would slow down to begin their search for demon beasts. Qin Feng raised his head to look up at the sky and saw several flying magical beasts circling above. He knew that these must be the transformed appearances of the Druids. Those Druids wouldn¡¯t possibly leave these youths to their own devices, given this group lacked the ability to transform and possessed at best the strength of basic-level or intermediate mages. They weren¡¯t qualified to wander alone in the Demon Beast Forest and the slightest carelessness could lead to complete annihilation. However, unless faced with absolute danger, those Druids would not come down. Qin Feng ignored these facts and cast a speed-enhancing magic on himself, sprinting wildly for a while, before looking up at the sky again with a slight frown. He noticed that a Thunder Hawk kept circling near where he was, and even though it might patrol elsewhere, it wouldn¡¯t be long before it circled above his head again. It seemed that the Druids paid extra attention to a talented individual after all, evidently afraid that he might encounter an accident, which was why they had arranged for one of them to follow behind him. This left Qin Feng somewhat helpless. The Swallowing Sky Toad had already digested most of the space crystal stone in its belly and was on the verge of advancing to the next level. But because he had always been in the valley of the Druids, with no opportunity to provide a substantial food supply for the Swallowing Sky Toad, and fearing that rash advancement would cause some commotion that the Great Druid might notice, he had been suppressing the toad¡¯s advancement. This trial was an opportunity he had hoped to use to slip away from others and find a place for the Swallowing Sky Toad to advance. Yet now, with someone constantly watching, how could he escape? Forget it; let them follow if they must. He refused to believe that fellow could keep on watching him incessantly. As he continued on his way, he encountered quite a few demon beasts. However, most of them were basic-level, and though there were some intermediate demon beasts, he didn¡¯t take much interest in any of them. Take, for instance, the Fiery Fire Mad Bull currently drinking water by the pond ahead. This demon beast was quite powerful among the intermediate ones, with a fiery temper, tremendous strength, and capable of casting several fire element magics. But Qin Feng absolutely did not wish to transform into a flaming red bull, as battling with the two horns on its head was definitely not his preferred style. And as for the Tusk Giant Pig scratching itself under a big tree opposite the pond, he had even less interest. This kind of demon pig that liked to roll in the mud, apart from having enormous brute strength and a rather strong defense, only had a few simple magics like ramming at its disposal. As for the Bronze Demon Crocodile lurking in the pond, Qin Feng didn¡¯t even spare it a glance. Such a creature, once on land, was only of very ordinary strength. ¡°` ¡°` So, on the first day, he simply wandered around, occasionally picking a few herbs to make a simple Insect Repellent Medicine to wear on his body. Although he did not need these things, he needed to show them to the Druid above. As evening approached, he arrived at a cliff face and found a cave there suitable for shelter. The Druid above, seeing him enter the cave, knew he was planning to rest there for the night and didn¡¯t pay much attention, turning instead to rest in a spot on a nearby peak from which he could observe Qin Feng¡¯s cave. After nightfall, Qin Feng saw that the Druid had no intention of interfering with his trial, so he confidently set up an Array Plate in the cave. After creating an illusion of himself, he left through the earth directly. He resurfaced dozens of miles away and summoned the Spiritual Vulture to fly into the distance. He needed to find a quiet place for the Swallowing Sky Toad to level up. Of course, before leveling up, it would be best to first fill the Swallowing Sky Toad¡¯s belly. Ever since Qin Feng joined the Druids, the Swallowing Sky Toad had not eaten for over half a year. For such a big-bellied glutton, the absence of food for so long only made its stomach feel emptier and emptier, which left it feeling very hollow. Therefore, before leveling up, it needed a good meal to ensure it had sufficient internal energy during the process. Qin Feng flew wildly for hundreds of miles, stopping only when he was sure he was far from the Druid Tribe. Of course, the main reason was that he spotted a group of Demon Wolves in the valley ahead. This group of Demon Wolves numbered over a hundred, each as big as a calf, with a few among them even larger, having leveled up to Intermediate Demon Beasts. Qin Feng was quite pleased when he saw them. So many Demon Wolves should be enough for the Swallowing Sky Toad to have a feast. Furthermore, the Elemental Power in this valley was rather dense, which was suitable for the Swallowing Sky Toad¡¯s leveling up. He then summoned the Swallowing Sky Toad, conveying his intentions, and the Swallowing Sky Toad leaped for joy. With a leap, it bounced out of Qin Feng¡¯s hand and in a few bounds had covered hundreds of yards to land in front of the wolf pack. The Demon Wolves were somewhat stunned to see the Swallowing Sky Toad leap over. With their limited intelligence, they couldn¡¯t comprehend why a little toad would land in front of thema€¡±was it not afraid of being eaten by them? Although this little toad was not enough to fill any of the Demon Wolves¡¯ stomachs, its plump body looked like it might offer a few bites. Just as the few Demon Wolves in front were preparing to pounce and tear the little toad apart to eat it, they suddenly heard the Swallowing Sky Toad croak loudly. Its body suddenly inflated like a balloon, growing to the size of a millstone and even larger than the strongest leader of the Demon Wolf pack. The aura it emitted made the Demon Wolves, which were about to pounce on and eat it, retreat one after another. Unfortunately, it was already too late. As the Swallowing Sky Toad opened its mouth wide, its tongue flickered like a shadow, and in a moment, it had swept several of the Demon Wolves into its mouth and swallowed them. ¡°Ao¡­ Ao¡­¡± This act immediately enraged the wolf pack. ¡°` As the Wolf King let out a mournful, long howl, all the Demon Wolves stood up and pounced toward the Swallowing Sky Toad. However, the Swallowing Sky Toad seemed unconcerned; the Star Light behind it flickered and transformed into thousands of rays that shot forward. With just one strike, dozens of Demon Wolves burst into mists of blood, a sight caused by their bodies being pierced by the Star Light. The remaining Demon Wolves were instantly startled, not expecting this gigantic toad to be so formidable, and quickly retreated. Then, under the command of the Wolf King, they began to attack from a distance with magic. This somewhat troubled the Swallowing Sky Toad. Although its strength was much greater than that of the Demon Wolves, facing so many magical assaults at once meant it could only temporarily avoid the brunt. However, the Swallowing Sky Toad wasn¡¯t just stronger than the Demon Wolves; its Divine Skills were incomparable to theirs. It was seen leaping forward, instantly breaking through the Void and appearing in front of the Demon Wolf King. It opened its mouth wide, disregarding the Demon Wolf King¡¯s frantic Wind Blade attacks, and its long tongue instantly pierced the body of the Demon Wolf King, devouring the still furiously struggling creature. Once inside its stomach, even if the Demon Wolf King didn¡¯t immediately perish, it would soon be digested completely. ¡°Aoow¡­¡± Seeing their Wolf King swallowed in the blink of an eye by this unknown Demon Beast, the other Demon Wolves were terrified. Without the constraint of the Wolf King, they turned to flee. But how could they possibly outrun the Swallowing Sky Toad with its Space Shifting Divine Power? Even if the Swallowing Sky Toad didn¡¯t use Space Movement, its form could leap like flying, much faster than ordinary Demon Wolves. So it chased after the Demon Wolves with delightful leaps, its long tongue sweeping up, devouring every Demon Wolf in sight, and feeling a long-missed sense of fullness in its belly before belching contentedly. Afterward, it lay quietly in the valley, digesting the food in its stomach for a while before beginning to advance its Demon Core. Qin Feng felt that the Swallowing Sky Toad¡¯s advancement this time should be smooth. After all, it was already on the verge of advancing, and now with partially digested Space Crystal Stones inside, not to mention having eaten hundreds of Demon Wolves, each with a Demon Core in its head providing ample energy, it was unlikely to be short on power. However, he soon realized he had been too optimistic earlier. Owing to its unique independent space within, the energy required by the Swallowing Sky Toad was astonishing; it absorbed Spiritual Energy for more than two hours before it began to officially advance. Elemental energies from all around the valley continuously surged in, and the momentum on the Swallowing Sky Toad¡¯s body grew stronger, reaching a saturated state and on the verge of successful Core Formation. The commotion caused by the Swallowing Sky Toad¡¯s advancement wasn¡¯t small; the lengthy absorption of Elemental Power naturally caught the attention of surrounding Demon Beasts. Soon, numerous Demon Beasts gathered outside the valley. Ordinary Demon Beasts were one thing; Qin Feng hadn¡¯t paid much attention to them. Those Demon Beasts were just in time; once the Swallowing Sky Toad completed its advancement, its internal space would certainly be broader, perfect for filling its belly with these creatures. But when a huge Demon Beast with fiery red scales like a lizard approached from afar, Qin Feng¡¯s brow furrowed. He had seen it in the Demon Beast Album collected from the Druids; it was an eighth-level Iron Armor Beast, with razor-sharp claws and excelling at spraying intense flames to attack its enemies, extremely difficult to deal with. Moreover, what was more important was that an eighth-level Demon Beast, in terms of strength alone, could already match a Cultivator at the Golden Core Late Stage. This level of Demon Beast was not something he could handle now. Chapter 299 - Chapter 299 Chapter 296 Spiritual Toad Promotion, Space Distortion ?Chapter 299: Chapter 296: Spiritual Toad Promotion, Space Distortion Chapter 299: Chapter 296: Spiritual Toad Promotion, Space Distortion A giant dragon that had lived for nearly ten thousand years and was at the top level of rank nine, one could only imagine how strong it must have been. The Dragon Spirit Fruit that formed from the power of the origin of such a high-level giant dragon was naturally much stronger than the True Yuan within the Ruyi Golden Snake, so with the aid of the Dragon Spirit Fruit, the already on the verge of upgrading Ruyi Golden Snake effortlessly broke through the bottleneck and formed a Golden Core. This was a true Golden Core, with not a hint of Demon Energy, and adding to that the Ruyi Golden Snake was originally an exotic species Spiritual Snake that cultivated the Gold Element Path and possessed the Innate Divine Ability, Ruyi Golden Light, so the Golden Core it condensed was dazzling with golden brilliance, catching everyone¡¯s eye. Moreover, after forming the Golden Core, the not yet fully digested Dragon Spirit Fruit continued providing energy incessantly, significantly enhancing the Ruyi Golden Snake¡¯s Golden Core, at the very least adding ten years of Dao Cultivation and helping it to completely stabilize its realm. ¡°So this is what Core Formation looks like?!¡± Qin Feng¡¯s spirit was mostly focused on the Ruyi Golden Snake, perceiving various changes during its upgrade, which made him even more confident about his own advancement. After a while, Qin Feng snapped back to reality, sensing the tremendous power emanating from the Ruyi Golden Snake and couldn¡¯t help but grin. Then, with a thought, the newly upgraded Ruyi Golden Snake didn¡¯t wait for the last bit of energy from the Dragon Spirit Fruit to be refined completely within its body; it flew directly out of the protective shield of the Small Five Elements Demon Suppression Array and pounced toward the Thunder Hawk that was continuously emitting lightning. ¡°Screech¡­¡± Outside the array, the Thunder Hawk was startled by the sudden appearance of this little snake in front of it. Its speed was too fast. So fast that before it could react, the snake was already in front of it. The Ruyi Golden Snake then suddenly grew larger in size, becoming five to six zhang long, and spat out a scorching Dragon Breath. Yes, Dragon Breath. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï???.?¦Ï The Ruyi Golden Snake had refined the Dragon Spirit Fruit and, after being altered by the Power of Giant Dragon Origin within the fruit, possessed the most common skill of the Giant Dragon Clan. This was also an ability inherent in every giant dragon, calling it a Talent Divine Ability when described in terms of Spiritual Beasts would be apt. Of course, besides the talent skill of Dragon Breath, the Giant Dragon Clan also possessed a powerful bloodline legacy, and the formidable might of the Dragon Language Magic was definitely a major reason why giant dragons dominated territories. Because Qin Feng didn¡¯t allow the Ruyi Golden Snake to fully undergo the transformation with the Dragon Spirit Fruit¡¯s Giant Dragon Clan origin power, the Ruyi Golden Snake only inherited the talent skill of Dragon Breath. But having that one ability was enough; what it had ingested was the Dragon Spirit Fruit from a Fire Element Giant Dragona€¡±Dragon Breath naturally had stronger inherent firepower compared to the breath of giant dragons of other elementals, so the power of the Ruyi Golden Snake¡¯s Dragon Breath would definitely not be weak. Therefore, just one breath of Dragon Breath caught the unsuspecting Thunder Hawk square on, and then a flick of its long tail hit the Thunder Hawk hard, leaving it dazed and confused. However, this was after all a middle-rank level-eight Demon Beast with formidable strength, and it quickly recovered. Smelling the burnt scent emanating from its body, the Thunder Hawk became furious and immediately shot out a series of lightning strikes at the Ruyi Golden Snake. But, the Ruyi Golden Snake suddenly shrunk in size, turning into a small snake that was about a foot long, quickly dodging the Thunder Hawk¡¯s attack and dove toward the Demon Beasts below. It moved like lightning, its size changing as it wished, capable of flying and burrowing; its Ruyi Golden Light was also incredibly sharp. At that moment, when it dived into the group of Demon Beasts attacking the protective shield of the array, it immediately caused a bloody storm. In just a moment, twenty to thirty intermediate Demon Beasts that had broken in were cut in half by the Ruyi Golden Light Slash, while several others were burned to mere skeletons by its Dragon Breath. But Qin Feng soon found out that using Dragon Breath consumed much more energy than the Ruyi Golden Light. Because Dragon Breath was essentially just spitting out a cluster of Fire Energy nurtured within the belly, there was no finesse to it, unlike the Ruyi Golden Light which was subtle in power and versatile in its changes. When facing a large number of low- and mid-level magical beasts, Dragon Breath was certainly effective, it could be used as a type of wide-range killing Flame Divine Power, but when facing opponents of equal strength, its power seemed too scattered. Moreover, Ruyi Golden Snake had only recently acquired this Talent Skill and had not yet accumulated much Fire Element Power within its body. The power from the Dragon Spirit Fruit had been used by it to advance and transform its body, so naturally, there wouldn¡¯t be any surplus Fire Energy for it to consume. Therefore, it wasn¡¯t long before Ruyi Golden Snake stopped breathing out Dragon Breath in large amounts. Instead, it mainly relied on Ruyi Golden Light, with Dragon Breath as secondary, occasionally utilizing Big and Small Ruyi Changes to its body to either soar into the sky or burrow into the ground to evade attacks. For a time, it alone disturbed all the magical beasts to no end, preventing them from attacking the arrays¡¯ defenses in peace. Otherwise, with just a moment¡¯s inattention, they would be ambushed up close by Ruyi Golden Snake, either shrinking in size to launch a stealth attack or enlarging its body to entangle, tear, and whip at them. Sometimes it would even burrow underground and, taking advantage of a moment when a magical beast was distracted, suddenly burst from beneath them and slice open their bellies with its Golden Wings. Only those flying magical beasts in the half-sky did not have to endure such sneaky attacks. Seeing the situation greatly improve, Qin Feng quickly instructed the Soul Devouring Vine Demon at the mouth of the valley not to fight so desperately, doing its best was enough. Otherwise, if things continued like this, the vine demon would surely be killed. Even with its Regeneration Power, the place where it stored energy at its root had already slimmed down. Continuing like this would definitely deplete its strength. However, if the Swallowing Sky Toad did not advance soon, even with the myriad methods of Ruyi Golden Snake, it wouldn¡¯t last long, as more powerful magical beasts were arriving from afar. Especially when several Level Seven and Eight flying magical beasts attempted to besiege Ruyi Golden Snake, Qin Feng was also startled. This was his Lifebound Spiritual Beast, which had just succeeded in Core Formation. He couldn¡¯t let anything happen to it. So he directly controlled Ruyi Golden Snake to change shape and fly down, circling around the perimeter of the array, attacking the beasts as it flew. If the situation turned even slightly unfavorable, he would open a small passage in the Defensive Shield and summon it back into the array. Luckily those high-level magical beasts were accustomed to fighting individually, unable to cooperate and unite their efforts. Besides their natural Magic Power, their only semblance of a commendable tactic was to use their powerful physiques for close combat. Beyond that, they had no other methods. If Ruyi Golden Snake were trapped by seven or eight cultivators of the same level, escaping would have been difficult. The disturbance from the battle here was immense, with various magic fluctuations, the explosions of thunder and fireballs spreading far and wide. Moreover, with nearly a hundred mid-level magical beasts already dead or wounded on the ground, along with over a dozen Level Seven beasts, the intense scent of blood wafted through the air, attracting more and more magical beasts to this location. Realizing this, Qin Feng couldn¡¯t help but inwardly groan. The fluctuations from Swallowing Sky Toad¡¯s advancement had indeed attracted many magical beasts, but they were all just within twenty to thirty miles. However, because of the large commotion of the battle, magical beasts from even farther away kept coming. Fortunately, Swallowing Sky Toad¡¯s advancement had reached the final moment, condensing its Demon Core. In Qin Feng¡¯s sense, it would be able to complete its advancement in no more than a quarter of an hour. This made Qin Feng breathe a sigh of relief. Thankfully, such a short span of time was still within his endurance. Otherwise, if it really required another hour or two, it was difficult to say what might happen. If the commotion of the battle grew too great and attracted several Level Nine magical beasts, he would have had no choice but to have Swallowing Sky Toad abandon Core Formation and flee directly. Even now, as he looked at the several Level Eight magical beasts and the twenty to thirty Level Seven beasts that had appeared outside the array, he couldn¡¯t help but feel overwhelmed. It was fortunate that these magical beasts lacked high Spiritual Intelligence. Although they inherited Magical Talent Skills, their barbaric living environments had conditioned them to brute force, which allowed him to rely on the array to barely keep up. Otherwise, they could have been treated as a large group of Demon Core Realm magical beasts. Just as Qin Feng thought about how to escape later, the advancement of Swallowing Sky Toad was approaching its end. The Demon Core within its belly gradually took shape, and the space inside its body was expanding, reaching nearly a hundred feet in size. Finally, the energy from the Space Crystal Stone was exhausted, and the Demon Core was fully formed at that moment. ¡°Croak!¡± A frog¡¯s croak, like thunder. At that moment, starlight twinkled in the eyes of Swallowing Sky Toad, its form shook violently, and it suddenly grew roughly double in size, becoming as large as a house. Qin Feng could sense the surge of emotions coming from the Swallowing Sky Toad. From the spiritual waves emanating from the Swallowing Sky Toad, he perceived joy and gratitude. It seemed that the simple-minded toad had developed quite a bit of spiritual intelligence; it couldn¡¯t express its feelings so clearly in the past. Indeed, happiness filled the heart of the Swallowing Sky Toad, as did boundless gratitude towards its master. It knew that if it weren¡¯t for its master, not only would a Demon Core advancement be out of the question, but it might still be aimlessly wandering in the Qi Refining Realm. Perhaps one day, it would have been easily killed by a powerful Demon Beast or Cultivator with just a strike or two. Even if it had safely avoided any formidable opponents, it was highly likely that it would eventually die of old age due to a lack of energy for advancement. But now, after only a few short years of following its master, its strength had leapfrogged several levels. It had advanced from the Qi Refining Realm to Foundation Establishment and had formed a Demon Core. Moreover, its body had acquired several other Divine Skills, allowing it to enhance its internal energy in two alternative cultivation methods. Such fortune naturally filled the simple-hearted Swallowing Sky Toad with gratitude. The Star Light in the eyes of the Swallowing Sky Toad faded as it looked at the hundreds of Demon Beasts of varied sizes outside the Defensive Array, a sense of battle fervor rising within it. It was because of its own advancement that such trouble had been brought upon its master. Now that it had formed its Demon Core, it was only natural for it to fight for its master. Moreover, it had exhausted the energy it had accumulated during its advancement, and its stomach was now empty with hunger. It was an ideal time to feed on the Demon Beasts outside. After sensing the emotions it conveyed, Qin Feng simply smiled and waved his hand to let it out. Now that the Swallowing Sky Toad had successfully advanced, he had no further worries. Since the Swallowing Sky Toad wanted to fight, he would let it do so, and it would be a good opportunity for him to see its true strength. The Swallowing Sky Toad¡¯s limbs sprang into action, leaving through the channel Qin Feng had created in the Defensive Shield. Once outside, it let out a resounding croak like thunder, shaking the mid-level Demon Beasts around it and even attracting the attention of the higher-level ones. Next, they saw the Swallowing Sky Toad open its mouth wide, its tongue lashing out like lightning, piercing through the Griffin that was circling above its head. Its tongue coiled around the Griffin, pulling it into its mouth and swallowing it whole. This ferocious method of consuming food stunned many Demon Beasts, instilling fear and hesitation. After all, Demon Beasts were not solely aggressive. They, too, knew fear and would flee from an opponent they could not defeat. Moreover, now that the Swallowing Sky Toad had completed its advancement and was no longer attracting elemental power, plus the Ruyi Golden Snake had already consumed the Dragon Spirit Fruit, the remaining Demon Beasts were only continuing their assault out of sheer luck, hoping to kill the Ruyi Golden Snake, which had just consumed the fruit, perhaps gaining evolutionary power by devouring it. But now, witnessing the domineering appearance of the Swallowing Sky Toad, the mid-level Demon Beasts realized that this was not an adversary they could handle, and perhaps it was time to flee. However, the high-level Demon Beasts, those of the seventh and eighth rank, were not yet ready to give up. Among them, a Two-Legged Flying Dragon flew close and spat a poisonous mist at the Swallowing Sky Toad, attempting to poison it to death. But the Swallowing Sky Toad didn¡¯t even try to dodge; its tongue pierced through the poison mist, wrapping around the Two-Legged Flying Dragon like a chain. It then yanked it down, ignoring its struggles and wails, and continued to swallow. Due to the dragon¡¯s larger size and the fact that it was still alive and struggling, casting magic and spewing poison fog, the process was somewhat arduous for the toad. But it was only slightly strenuous. There was no flesh on the wings of the Two-Legged Flying Dragon, thin as bat wings. The Swallowing Sky Toad used its claws to stuff the dragon into its mouth, swallowing it whole. Then, burping contentedly, it spat out the poison fog that the Two-Legged Flying Dragon had desperately released inside its stomach, spraying it directly onto the head of a sixth-level Cloud Leopard that was rushing towards it. The leopard immediately rolled its eyes back, losing balance for a moment, and nearly fell to the ground with its head first. Before the dazed beast could recover, the Swallowing Sky Toad¡¯s mouth opened wide again and down went the Cloud Leopard as well. Boom! A thunderous explosion roared, and several bolts of lightning struck down towards the Swallowing Sky Toad in mid-air. The Swallowing Sky Toad kicked back with its hind legs and instantly leaped away, then crouched on the ground. Gazing upward at the Thunder Hawk, which had been scorched black all over by a Dragon Breath from the Ruyi Golden Snake, its white belly bulged, and with two grunting sounds, it kicked its legs again and quickly shot towards the Thunder Hawk in mid-air. It wanted to devour this large bird. This was an eighth-level Demon Beast, significantly more powerful than it, but after the earlier depletion and being injured by the Ruyi Golden Snake¡¯s Dragon Breath, it might still have a chance to succeed. Ordinary demon beasts are far from being as energy-rich as these top-level Demon Beasts. Devouring this Thunder Hawk should be equivalent to five or six seventh-level Demon Beasts. The Thunder Hawk was one of the most combative among eighth-level Demon Beasts. Moreover, knowing that the Swallowing Sky Toad had just advanced in level, its strength would definitely not match its own. Under these circumstances, how could it possibly be afraid of this giant toad? Therefore, it let out a piercing screech and shot out bolts of lightning towards the Swallowing Sky Toad. At the same time, it flapped its wings vigorously and extended its sharp talons hidden under its belly to grab at the Swallowing Sky Toad¡¯s back. It wanted to proclaim its strength with the death of this large toad. Unfortunately, it didn¡¯t realize that the amount of strength didn¡¯t equate to the strength of war power. Being an Exotic Species Spiritual Beast with Talent Space Divine Power, the Swallowing Sky Toad wouldn¡¯t have provoked it without some confidence. Then, they saw the Swallowing Sky Toad¡¯s figure suddenly flash, employing its Space Shifting Divine Power to dodge the Thunder Hawk¡¯s attack, and reappeared on the back of a seventh-level Demon Beast, the Red Flame Eagle. It kicked off the back of the Red Flame Eagle, and with an immense force, caused the Red Flame Eagle to falter and crash towards the ground. Before the Red Flame Eagle could reach the ground, a flash of golden light appeared, and the Ruyi Golden Snake arrived in an instant. As the Red Flame Eagle looked on in terror, the Ruyi Golden Snake crossed its Golden Wings behind its back and slashed off the head of the Red Flame Eagle. Above, the Swallowing Sky Toad continued the force of its previous kick, slamming its head straight into the belly of the Thunder Hawk, causing the Hawk to let out a mournful cry, its charred feathers flying wildly, as its body was flung upward into the sky. But, being one of the outstanding among the eighth-level Demon Beasts, it quickly recovered, flipping its body around and flapping its wings rapidly, not sparing any energy spewing out over a dozen bolts of lightning, trying to halt the Swallowing Sky Toad¡¯s pursuit. However, this time the Swallowing Sky Toad didn¡¯t dodge or evade, a distortion appeared in the space around it, causing the Thunder Hawk¡¯s lightning to streak by its side and strike the ground instead. ¡°What is this?¡± Below, Qin Feng suddenly widened his eyes. What kind of Divine Power was this, capable of twisting space to dodge attacks? It seemed that after its Core Formation, the Swallowing Sky Toad had Awakened a new Innate Divine Ability. In mid-air, the Swallowing Sky Toad rapidly closed in on the Thunder Hawk, countless stars sparkling behind it, morphing into myriad points of starlight that struck the Thunder Hawk¡¯s body. Even as the Thunder Hawk desperately defended itself, it was still penetrated by those countless stars, exploding in a mist of blood. Without waiting for the Thunder Hawk to escape, the Swallowing Sky Toad¡¯s long tongue pierced through its belly, coiled it down, and forcibly swallowed the fierce Thunder Hawk. Qin Feng was overjoyed. Indeed, top-level Spiritual Beasts possessed the capability to fight above their level. ?¦Ï¦Í?0.§ã0 Although the Swallowing Sky Toad was a super glutton that demanded a lot of time and resources from him, and if it weren¡¯t for Elder Kongkong granting him a Space Crystal Stone, it would¡¯ve been unknown how long it would take to cultivate it to the Core Formation Realm. But now, as the Swallowing Sky Toad advanced in level, Qin Feng felt that all his past efforts were worthwhile. The combat power of this Spiritual Toad was truly formidable. And this was just after entering the Demon Core Realm. If it later progressed to the Purple Mansion, he didn¡¯t even know how powerful this Spiritual Toad would become. However, just as a smile appeared on Qin Feng¡¯s face, suddenly, from afar came a heaven-shaking, earth-shattering Dragon Roar. Chapter 300 - Chapter 300 Chapter 297 Light Giant Dragon Toad Knight ?Chapter 300: Chapter 297 Light Giant Dragon Toad Knight Chapter 300: Chapter 297 Light Giant Dragon Toad Knight ¡°Roar¡­¡± A majestic dragon roar thundered through heaven and earth. Wherever the roar reached, all the demon beasts within a hundred miles were terrified, with many low-level demon beasts trembling uncontrollably, lying prostrate on the ground, daring not to move. In the valley, Qin Feng¡¯s face stiffened, his smile instantly congealing on his face. The surrounding demon beasts, whether intermediate or high-level, all fell silent, not a single one launching any attacks at this time. Then, in the next moment, all of the demon beasts scattered and fled in a roar. The flying magical beasts that hovered in mid-air even more so turned their heads to fly far away. Qin Feng looked up into the distance, and at the end of his gaze, a giant dragon with silver-white scales was spreading its wings and flying towards him. Its wings stretched wide, more than a dozen yards across, with fierce dragon heads, eyes like lightning, a mouth full of sharp teeth, and behind its robust body trailed a long tail. Though still a considerable distance away, the unashamedly flamboyant dragon power had already spread over, filling every demon beast that sensed this exclusive aura of the Giant Dragon Clan with dread. ¡°This is a giant dragon!¡± Qin Feng murmured to himself. Though he had seen many undead of the Dragon Clan in the Dragon¡¯s Grave, there was a great difference between dead dragons and living ones. The dragon power of a living giant dragon could not be compared with that of an undead dragon. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ??¦Í??.§ã¦Ï Although dragon power should be categorized as a form of spiritual pressure, the pressure exerted by the dragon power of the giant dragon in front was several times stronger than that of the undead dragon. Not because this white dragon had more potent spiritual power than the undead dragon, but because it had a body to showcase, bloodline to intimidate, and all aspects combined, that constituted the true dragon power. Dragon power, like dragon breath, is an innate talent skill of giant dragons, and talent skills are meant for living giant dragons. After death, although they can still be used, both the power and characteristics undergo significant changes, nowhere near as powerful as during their lifetime. Otherwise, Qin Feng wouldn¡¯t have had the chance to slip away from the Dragon¡¯s Grave in the first place. The white dragon was flying at an extremely fast speed, quickly nearing this place. Qin Feng inwardly cursed his luck. He hadn¡¯t expected to actually stir such a powerful level-nine demon beast. He also found it strange. Given the aura of this white dragon, it should belong to the Light Giant Dragon line, an existence among the Upper Dragon Clan just like the Divine Mountain Giant Dragon, Golden Giant Dragon, Dark Demon Dragon, and Seven-Colored Giant Dragon. It was of the same rank, a noble within the Giant Dragon Clan. Why wasn¡¯t it dwelling on Dragon Island but instead came to the Demon Beast Forest for no reason? According to what he had read in the books of the Druids, generally only those dragons which were not powerful enough and wanted to advance their strength would leave Dragon Island to find suitable places on the mainland for cultivation. Given the body size of this white dragon before him, it should already be mature. Why would it leave Dragon Island to live alone in the outside world? Wasn¡¯t it afraid of encountering some nutjob who dreams of dragon slaying every day? However, he quickly snapped back to reality. Now was not the time to think about these things. It would be wiser to leave this place as soon as possible. Otherwise, once the white dragon got closer, it might not be certain that he could escape safely. With this thought in mind, Qin Feng did not dare to delay. He stretched out his hand and struck several spells to retrieve the Array Flags and Array Plate from the ground. He put the Swallowing Sky Toad, Fire Ape, and Soul Devouring Vine Demon into the Demon Refining Pot, then pulled the Spiritual Vulture out of the Demon Refining Pot. He didn¡¯t even bother collecting the corpses of the demon beasts on the ground, jumping directly onto the back of the Spiritual Vulture, and like the other flying demon beasts, flew away into the distance. The Ruyi Golden Snake turned into a trail of black light, coiling around his wrist, only that the original golden bracelet had transformed into the black gold bracelet now. The Spiritual Vulture¡¯s flight was swift; in just a moment, it had flown ahead of the few intermediate Flying Magical Beasts that had fled earlier. This filled him with secret pridea€¡±having a fast-flying Spiritual Beast was a boon indeed. He didn¡¯t need to be the fastest, just faster than those Demon Beasts. However, before he could revel in his pride for long, a sudden Dragon Roar once again resounded from behind. The sound was even closer this time. When Qin Feng turned his head at the sound, he saw that the White Dragon had already flown above the valley. The White Dragon circled the valley twice, seemingly indifferent to the corpses of the Demon Beasts on the ground, and instead, a look of perplexity appeared in its eyes. With an earth-shaking roar, it suddenly turned its head toward Qin Feng¡¯s direction of escape and thundered in the Common Tongue, ¡°I smell the scent of the Dragon Spirit Fruita€¡±it¡¯s you, you are the one who trespassed into the Dragon Clan¡¯s tomb, disturbed those slumbering Giant Dragons, and stole the Dragon Spirit Fruit!¡± As it spoke, its wings flapped frantically, and it chased after Qin Feng with incredible speed. Ahead, Qin Feng had initially thought that the White Dragon was only responding to the commotion caused by the previous fight, coming to investigate, but now the White Dragon¡¯s accusation almost made him fall from the sky. Could a Giant Dragon¡¯s sense of smell be this acute? So much time had passed, yet it could still smell the scent of the Dragon Spirit Fruit. Glancing at the Ruyi Golden Snake wrapped around his wrist, Qin Feng wondered if he should temporarily part with it to see if the White Dragon would chase after thema€¡±who would it follow? The Dragon Spirit Fruit had been eaten by the Ruyi Golden Snake. If the White Dragon went after the Golden Snake, he himself could take the opportunity to slip away. However, after thinking it over, he hesitated. The White Dragon had already discovered that a member of the Human Clan had stolen the Dragon Spirit Fruit, and it might not give up pursuing him. As he was still undecided on whether to let the Ruyi Golden Snake distract the White Dragon¡¯s attention to escape separately, a chill suddenly struck his heart, and he sensed an intense danger. Startled, he whipped his head around and saw the silvery White Dragon had already flown to a mere two or three hundred yards away, its mouth opening to spew out a white Dragon Breath toward him. Qin Feng was startled. He now realized just how formidable a level 9 Upper Magical Beast that can compare with a Purple Mansion Cultivator wasa€¡±though both level 7 and 8 Magical Beasts were considered High Rank, the difference in strength was vast. He had been thinking only of the Spiritual Vulture¡¯s flight speed being faster than average intermediate Magical Beasts but had forgotten that a Spiritual Vulture only had the Cultivation of the Foundation Establishment Realm, barely comparable to intermediate Magical Beasts, let alone the huge gap with a level 9 Magical Beast. Thus, under the full pursuit of the White Dragon, it had caught up in just over a dozen breaths. Seeing the Dragon Breath incoming and realizing he couldn¡¯t dodge in time, Qin Feng hastily reached out and triggered a Jade Talisman, which immediately turned into a ray of clear light to envelop him. This was a Defense Spiritual Talisman given to him by his eldest senior brother, Zhao Qiankun. While it was not as miraculous as the life-saving talisman given by his master, it was still a rare treasure. He had barely activated the Spirit Talisman when the searing white flames had already reached him. With a booming collision, the clear light trembled against the Dragon Breath. The clear light flickered a few times, and while it consumed a considerable amount of power, it managed to withstand the Dragon Breath, leaving him unscathed. However, the Spiritual Vulture beneath him was not so fortunate. Lacking a Defense Spiritual Talisman like the one protecting him, it was incinerated by the white flames without even a chance to cry out, leaving only a skeletal bird, and even those slender bones gradually disintegrated under the white flames. Indeed, he felt a purifying force within those flames. Qin Feng felt suddenly empty beneath his feet, and his form immediately began to plummet downward. ¡°You killed my Riding Tool?¡± Qin Feng felt a pang of heartache. After all, the Spiritual Vulture had followed him for quite some time, and although its strength could hardly keep up with his now, he hadn¡¯t had the heart to abandon it. He never expected it would die at the jaws of the giant dragon. He turned and glared fiercely at the White Dragon, ¡°Just you wait, I¡¯ll come back for you.¡± The White Dragon was somewhat surprised that its Dragon Breath hadn¡¯t killed him. Seeing him now daring to threaten it, the dragon became instantly furious. As a proud member of the Upper Dragon Clan, when had it ever been threatened by an insignificant worm? In its rage, the White Dragon roared, ¡°Think you can run away? In your dreams! You won¡¯t have a future. I¡¯ll kill you now, you accursed member of the Human Clan. I will purify your soul completely, leaving you no chance to even regret.¡± As it spoke, the muttering of Dragon Language began and instantly congealed into a somewhat transparent white long spear before it. This was the Level 10 single-target magic, Holy Light Spear, incredibly powerful. If it were a Mage, they might need to chant the spell for a while to cast it, but the White Dragon managed to almost cast it instantly. Merely quietly uttering two syllables was enough to unleash the spell. Then the Holy Light Spear, with a piercing sound, thrust towards Qin Feng. It wanted to pin this abominable member of the Human Clan to the ground then slowly purify him, letting him comprehend just how tragic the consequences of offending the mighty Dragon Clan could be. Of course, there was another reason. According to the news from the Dragon¡¯s Grave, two Dragon Spirit Fruits had been stolen. Besides the Fire Element Dragon Spirit Fruit it had previously scented, there should be another, a Light Element Dragon Spirit Fruit, on this human. If it could find the other Light Element Dragon Spirit Fruit on this human, it would receive many benefits. After all, it was a Light Element Giant Dragon. Dragon Spirit Fruits were extremely rare; even the Dragon¡¯s Grave didn¡¯t have many, and the Elders of the Dragon Clan usually didn¡¯t allow them to pick them. Only in times of great disaster would they be permitted to pick Dragon Spirit Fruits as a treasure for healing. But in truth, aside from saving lives, Dragon Spirit Fruits could also enhance the strength of a Giant Dragon. If one could consume a Dragon Spirit Fruit of the same element during the critical moment of advancement, there was a great chance it could help them succeed, breaking through life¡¯s shackles and becoming an Elder of the Dragon Clan. With such enormous benefits, how could it not be tempted? It had not expected to encounter the thief who went to the Dragon Tomb to steal the Dragon Spirit Fruits so soon after receiving the message from the clan. It truly seemed like fortune that could not be blocked. Although a Fire Element Dragon Spirit Fruit had probably been wasted by this human, it didn¡¯t matter. As long as the Light Element one was still intact, all would be well. However, the White Dragon soon found it had celebrated too soon. For that human had unexpectedly shrunk in size and then burrowed into the ground, disappearing from sight. ¡°¡­¡± The White Dragon blinked its eyes, even stretching out its thick claws to rub them, and pushed its Eye of Truth of the Dragon Clan to the limit, yet still could not find any trace of the human. ¡°Not an Illusion Technique?¡± The White Dragon was astonished. ¡°` Initially, it thought it was just a small trick played by a member of the Human Clan trying to deceive itself into thinking the intruder had come; how could a human possibly shrink and even less likely burrow into the ground? It felt that the human must have used some sort of Invisibility Technique magic. At first, it somewhat scoffed at the other party for not understanding the might of the Dragon Clan¡¯s Eye of Truth, but when it truly couldn¡¯t find any trace of the other, it was instantly stunned. ¡°How could this be? Didn¡¯t you hear that the Human Clan has no magic to burrow into the ground?¡± The White Dragon, shocked and angry at this moment, was just about to capture that daring individual who sneaked into the Dragon Clan¡¯s tomb, and incidentally wanted to obtain from him the Light Element Dragon Spirit Fruits to enhance its own strength, but the other party just disappeared before its very eyes? ¡°Could it be that the other party has a Divine Artifact that can achieve invisibility, otherwise how could they have evaded me?¡± Holding that thought, the White Dragon suddenly let out a Dragon Breath, burning a vast area below it to ash, then unleashed various magics, even casting level twelve Forbidden Curse Magic, blasting a huge pit within a thousand feet radius with underground water gushing from deep within the pit. From afar, many High Rank Demon Beasts were stunned. They didn¡¯t understand why this powerful Giant Dragon was going crazy, using magic on an empty piece of land a€¡± could it be that it had reached its mating season but couldn¡¯t find a suitable female dragon? As soon as some female Demon Beasts thought of this possibility, they became excited. Many young dragons have the hobby of spreading their seeds far and wide; otherwise, there wouldn¡¯t be so many Sub-Dragon Beasts in the world. These female Demon Beasts didn¡¯t care if this Giant Dragon was of the same species; to them, leaving behind a sufficiently strong bloodline was what mattered most. ?¦Ï¦Í??.§ã? The White Dragon used almost every magic it knew to no avail, not finding even the slightest trace, which drove this proud Giant Dragon to frustration. When it turned and saw that some Demon Beasts dared to watch its turmoil, its anger surged even more, so it vented its fury on those High Rank Demon Beasts, howling as it slaughtered toward them. Seeing its berserk demeanor, it scared off all the High Rank Demon Beasts nearby, who promptly scattered in all directions. Even those previously interested female beasts didn¡¯t dare to approach the White Dragon at that time. ¡­ Qin Feng had used the Earth Escape Divine Power, burrowing dozens of miles before finally emerging from the ground. This evening, not only had he been setting up defensive Arrays, but he had also helped the Swallowing Sky Toad and Ruyi Golden Snake advance in rank; he had also expended a not inconsiderable amount of energy, so he hadn¡¯t continued to use Earth Escape underground. After emerging from the ground, he could still sense that the foolish dragon in the distance was still attacking the ground, unable to help but snicker. However, as he was about to return to the cave where he had been previously, he suddenly remembered that the Spiritual Vulture had been killed by the White Dragon. ¡°It seems I need to find myself another Riding Tool.¡± Qin Feng sighed softly, checking his Spiritual Beasts in the Demon Refining Pot with his spirit, and ultimately, albeit reluctantly, summoned the Swallowing Sky Toad. Among his Demon Beasts, the Fire Ape had advanced to Demon Core and was also capable of Sky Controlling flight, but its entire body was aflame, and Qin Feng dared not sit on its shoulder; what if he got his buttocks scorched? The Ruyi Golden Snake had just advanced and fought a tough battle, and now needed to rest, so Qin Feng didn¡¯t think of disturbing it. The Soul Devouring Vine Demon had lost a significant amount of energy earlier, and besides, it was just a Vine Demon, unable to fly, and even its movement was extremely slow. After considering, he summoned the Swallowing Sky Toad. Although riding a toad seemed rather unrefined, he couldn¡¯t be bothered with appearances now. The cave was still several hundred miles away, and he needed to hurry back there urgently. ¡°` Chapter 301 - Chapter 301 Chapter 298 Evolution of Divine Skills, Ruyi Golden Radiance ?Chapter 301: Chapter 298: Evolution of Divine Skills, Ruyi Golden Radiance Chapter 301: Chapter 298: Evolution of Divine Skills, Ruyi Golden Radiance In the Demon Beast Forest, the dense branches and leaves veiled the starlight and moonlight above with remarkable thoroughness, rendering the surroundings pitch-black, to the extent that one couldn¡¯t see their own outstretched hand. Suddenly, a gigantic toad leapt out from the dense foliage, vaulting hundreds of yards in a single bound. Then, with a gentle push from its broad webbed feet against a branch, it darted off again. In just moments, it had covered a distance of dozens of miles. Actually, the Swallowing Sky Toad of course knew how to fly, even at the Foundation Establishment Stage, it knew how to utilize the power of space to soar. Even the magic guides of this realm knew various spells such as Flying Technique, Floating Technique, and Wind Walking Technique, to achieve flight. How could the Swallowing Sky Toad, with its bloodline inheritance as an Exotic Species Demon Toad, not know how to fly? It¡¯s just that this creature was accustomed to leaping around, and coupled with the joy of just having advanced in cultivation, it didn¡¯t suppress the elation in its heart. So even though it had successfully reached Core Formation, which made sky-controlling flight much simpler, it didn¡¯t do so, instead using its own way to express its joy. ?¦Ï???.§ã¦Ï Qin Feng was sitting cross-legged on the Swallowing Sky Toad¡¯s back, not concerned with how the toad was making its way. Now that the Swallowing Sky Toad had advanced in cultivation and had grown stronger physically, a single leap could carry it hundreds of yards, and its descent was so light that Qin Feng didn¡¯t feel the slightest jolt, unlike before when it could only hop a few tens of yards. In that case, he couldn¡¯t be bothered with how the Swallowing Sky Toad returned, as long as it didn¡¯t delay the journey. In general, this trip was fortunate, with both the Ruyi Golden Snake and the Swallowing Sky Toad achieving Core Formation, which was a cause for celebration. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í??.?? Though it was a shame to lose the Spiritual Vulture, given its low level of cultivation, it was inevitable that it would suffer such fate under the attack of a level nine upper-tier Giant Dragon. Now that it had happened, he couldn¡¯t possibly go back to fight to the death with the White Dragon for the sake of a Riding Toola€¡±that would be suicide. Qin Feng connected his spirit with the Swallowing Sky Toad¡¯s, asking about the earlier event where it had twisted space to fend off the Thunder Hawk¡¯s attacks. From the Swallowing Sky Toad¡¯s thoughts, he learned that this was a Divine Power called ¡°Twist Space¡± that dawned on the toad after it advanced and gained greater control over the power of space. This Divine Power might sound mystical, but it was actually just a straightforward application of space power. Those who hadn¡¯t sensed the existence of space power would find it difficult to comprehend, but to those who truly understood space magic, twisting space required only some effort and was not too difficult a task for them. It was as if space power had become like putty that they could flatten, roll, and stretch to their liking. If it were Elder Kongkong, not to mention twisting space, even re-creating space would not be difficult for him. Of course, space possessed powerful self-healing capabilities, and forcibly changing it with external force also came with immense pressure; it needed constant, significant power to maintain. Otherwise, it would simply be a temporary twist in space to let an opponent¡¯s magic attack bypass one¡¯s body, just like the Swallowing Sky Toad did. If the Thunder Hawk continued to assail without end, the Swallowing Sky Toad would also not be able to withstand it and would have to dodge quickly. But even such manipulation of space could make those proficient in space magic become formidable opponents, difficult for others to understand or handle. At the very least, without the strength to break through space, it would be tough to hurt the Swallowing Sky Toad in a short span of time. After knowing about the Swallowing Sky Toad¡¯s ability to twist space, Qin Feng delved into the Ruyi Golden Snake. Since the Swallowing Sky Toad gained new Divine Skills after advancing, the Ruyi Golden Snake, as an Exotic Species Spiritual Snake, should also naturally awaken new Divine Skills upon leveling up. However, since the Ruyi Golden Snake had been refined by him, lacking its own consciousness, it was uncertain if it could still awaken any Divine Skills or perhaps it had already done so, but he would need to investigate carefully to discover them. After intently sensing for a while, suddenly, the Ruyi Golden Snake on his wrist shuddered and flew off his arm. Following that, its mouth opened wide, and from within it sprayed out a burst of golden brightness akin to fine needles as thin as cow hair. After its advancement, it had not awakened a new Divine Power, but it had perfected the use of Ruyi Golden Light. Incredibly, it could split the Ruyi Golden Light into thousands of thin needles to assault its foes. After the needle-like golden brightness passed through an ancient tree, they merged again to form a Long Sword, hovering in midair to slice a chunk of rock on a nearby mountain peak in two. Then it transformed into forty-nine Flying Swords, executing a sky-high slaughter. It morphed into a Heavy Hammer, shattering a huge boulder on the mountain summit with one blow. Transforming into knives, spears, swords, halberds, axes, glaives, hooks, and forks, various Divine Weaponsa€¡±in trials by Qin Fenga€¡±proved satisfactory as he experimented with each transformation, after which he contently retracted the Ruyi Golden Light. He felt joy in his heart; only now did the Ruyi Golden Light truly become deserving of its name. Although it had always been infinitely variable, it felt somewhat insubstantial after transforming in the past, and it was far from being as freely controllable as it was now, nor could it easily split into multiple strands of golden light. Now, after advancing, the Ruyi Golden Light not only transformed at will but also gathered and scattered as desired. He could split it into thousands of strands without affecting his control over the Ruyi Golden Light. On this evening, both Spiritual Beasts had advanced in succession, yielding such rewards that undoubtedly filled him with elation. Moreover, through the refining process of the Ruyi Golden Snake and the Dragon Spirit Fruit, he had also come to understand the effects of the Dragon Spirit Fruit. Given that the Dragon Spirit Fruit of the Fire Element had effortlessly elevated the Ruyi Golden Snake to the Core Formation Stage, then the effect of the other Dragon Spirit Fruit must also not be far behind. As long as he ingested the Dragon Spirit Fruit, it would definitely allow him to directly advance to the Golden Core stage without the need for any other Spirit Pills to assist. Even better, he could use the Origin Power of the Giant Dragon Clan contained within the Dragon Spirit Fruit to slightly remodel his body, and perhaps, he might also gain some of the Giant Dragon Clan¡¯s innate Talent Skills. In fact, apart from some special inheritances of Cultivators, the majority of cultivators in the Cultivation World don¡¯t mind modifying their bodies, as long as they don¡¯t transform in a non-human direction like those of the Demon Sect. Especially the Body Refining Cultivators, who practice Body Refining Techniquesa€¡±their practice is to enhance and gradually hone the body beyond ordinary human capabilities. For example, the cultivators of the Giant Spirit Sect, after achieving Great Success in their Body Refining Techniques, could awaken various Divine Powers and possess the Mountain-Climbing Power and the ability to fill seas, their physical bodies could battle the heavens and earth without any fear. Such physical forms, of course, have great differences compared to the bodies of ordinary people. Qin Feng, being a True Disciple of the Spiritual Snake Lineage of the Beast Taming Sect and having cultivated the ¡°Azure Dragon Divine Technique,¡± had also stepped onto the path of Body Refinement. Naturally, his future physical body would also be different from ordinary members of the Human Clan. However, as long as their Bloodline Power did not change, it was not a matter of concern, and they were free to do as they pleased. Thus, Spirit Fruits like the Dragon Spirit Fruit, which could help improve the body and enhance potential, were always coveted by Body Refining Cultivators as heavenly materials and earthly treasures. If it weren¡¯t for the need to find a suitable reason to leave the Druid Tribe, he would now be impatient to take out the Dragon Spirit Fruit and consume it to advance to the Golden Core. But on second thought, he decided against it. Who knows if the White Dragon would follow the scent once he took out the Dragon Spirit Fruit? Facing such a powerful Giant Dragon, Qin Feng now only had his Earth Escape Divine Power and the life-saving Jade Talisman given by his master to escape with his life. Moreover, since he had already used the Earth Escape Divine Power in front of the White Dragon once, the next time he encountered it, the White Dragon would surely be on guard against him. If the White Dragon attacked with magic as soon as he had just entered the ground and before he had the chance to go deeper, he might be bombed to death by a powerful spell. As for the treasures given by his master, now he only had two escape Jade Talismans left, and he was not willing to use them recklessly. The Defense Spiritual Talisman given to him by the eldest senior brother Zhao Qiankun could only withstand ordinary attacks from the Giant Dragon. Actually, Zhao Qiankun initially thought he was only at the Foundation Establishment Realm and gave him the Defense Spiritual Talisman just to defend against opponents one level higher, never expecting that he could provoke a ninth-level Demon Beast with the strength akin to a Purple Mansion Cultivator. While he was contemplating, the Swallowing Sky Toad had already arrived not far from the cave where he had previously rested. This fellow hopped and leaped along the way, bounding and soaring as if flying, rushing for hundreds of miles, and finally venting his joy. Qin Feng did not let the Swallowing Sky Toad continue forward. During its leapfrogging journey, it had passed through many Demon Beast territories, inevitably disturbing many Demon Beasts, and there were still quite a few high-level Demon Beasts roaring behind them. If not for seeing that this toad could run fast and had no intention of staying in their territories, it might have provoked fights. If he continued to run forward like this, he would easily alarm the Druids ahead. He recalled the Swallowing Sky Toad back into the Demon Refining Pot and once again employed the Earth Escape Divine Power, returning to the Array he had set up inside the cave from beneath the ground. He meticulously checked the various traps he had left, and finding no signs of disturbance, he relaxed, collected the Illusion Array, lay down and rested. Although with his current Cultivation level he could have gone without sleep, after a night full of events, his spirit was somewhat weary. Besides, he still had to act for the Druids outside, so he simply lay down to rest properly. After all, when he entered the cave, he had already set up a Magic Trap at the entrance to the cave, so even if a Demon Beast did break in and try to ambush him, it would first trigger the magical alarm. The next day, early in the morning. Qin Feng took out food and water that he had prepared in advance from his knapsack, ate a bit, and all his actions were no different from those of an ordinary Druid youth. After eating, he climbed down the mountain wall and set out to find a suitable Demon Beast. He suddenly regretted that he hadn¡¯t thought of capturing one of the many Demon Beasts last night to put somewhere for him to collect later, saving him the trouble of further travel. However, he soon dismissed the thought, as his spirit was stretched tight with the advancement of his two Spiritual Beasts yesterday, leaving him no mind to consider these matters. Qin Feng quickly gathered his thoughts and, like an ordinary Druid youth, slowly moved forward following some water sources. Druids do not search for Demon Beasts aimlessly, leaving it to chance. No one knows if they will encounter the Demon Beast they desire. When they truly search for Demon Beasts, they mostly start by looking for places with water sources, as such places often have Demon Beasts coming and going. Then they carefully identify the type of Demon Beast by examining traces like footprints, scents, fallen hair, scales, and even feces left by the Demon Beasts around the water source, thus determining whether the Demon Beast they are looking for is present. Qin Feng did the same. As a disciple of the Beast Taming Sect, these basic tasks were no trouble for him. Compared to the knowledge and experience bestowed by the Druids, the inheritance from the Beast Taming Sect was far more comprehensive. Chapter 302 - Chapter 302: Chapter 299: Alexandre Dumas Chapter 302: Chapter 299: Alexandre Dumas The process of hunting for Demon Beasts was quite intriguing, allowing one to trace the variety of marks left by them to find different kinds of Demon Beasts. However, Qin Feng was quite picky and did not settle for ordinary Demon Beasts. Moreover, he couldn¡¯t challenge the high-level ones. Thus, after half a day, he found no desirable Demon Beast. Qin Feng climbed to a mountain peak, looked towards the direction behind the mountain, and saw that the forest there was relatively spacious, unlike the dense woods in other areas. He walked forward aimlessly and, when he reached halfway up the mountain, sat on a big bluestone to rest for a while. He thought it made no sense to linger here and decided to hurry and capture a Demon Beast to take back. A few days after returning, he planned to find an excuse to leave the Druid Tribe and explore other places. Just then, some noise faintly came from a distance, sounding like many Demon Beasts running. Qin Feng didn¡¯t particularly care, as such Demon Beasts in groups usually weren¡¯t very powerful. As expected, in just a moment, he saw seven or eight Unicorns running out of the woods, with dozens of Demon Wolves relentlessly chasing them from behind. Clearly, the Demon Wolves were hunting the Unicorns. Unicorns were a type of equine Demon Beast, containing traces of the ninth-level Unicorn bloodline, making them fifth-level Demon Beasts. Their horns could emit lightning, which was quite powerful. Actually, such types of Demon Beasts were relatively uncommon; otherwise, the armies of the Human Clan wouldn¡¯t mainly rely on breeding ordinary warhorses. Any mountable Demon Beasts could fetch exceptionally high prices in human countries. However, these valuable Unicorns were now trapped by a group of Demon Wolves in a small valley, about to become flesh in the wolves¡¯ mouths. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?0¦Í??.§ã¦Ï Although their Lightning Magic was quite powerful, it was no match for the much better coordinated Wolf Packs. Qin Feng rested his chin single-handedly and quietly watched the battle below without any thought of intervening. The fights among Demon Beasts were constantly unfolding, presenting the cruellest side of nature with a stark rawness¡ªsurvival of the fittest in its simplest form. He knew he had no power to change this law. ¡°Hee-hawrr¡­¡± A loud horse neigh from the vicinity quickly approached the ongoing battle at the foothills. The neigh slightly startled him. Unlike before, this time he didn¡¯t hear any sound of hooves touching the ground¡ªcould the arriving horse possess the Qinggong skill ¡°Grass Flying¡±? Qin Feng turned his head toward the direction of the sound, and when he finally saw the horse appearing, he was taken aback. No wonder he didn¡¯t hear hoof sounds¡ªit turned out this horse was far more adept than ¡°Grass Flying;¡± it was actually flying. The horse was entirely white, over ten feet long, and looked extraordinarily noble. More importantly, it grew a pair of large silver wings on its back; it was really flying here. ¡°Is that¡­ a Silver Winged Pegasus?!¡± Qin Feng quickly recognized the origin of this winged Pegasus. Initially, he thought it was another species similar to Young Master Ma Xing¡¯s Lifebound Spiritual Beast, the Heavenly Horse. However, he soon realized it was not the case. Heavenly Horses were Spiritual Beasts with airy and light magic power, adept at Wind Control. The horse that swiftly flew above the treetops, however, exuded a special aura. That aura was very pure and even somewhat sacred, making it feel very familiar to him, similar to the White Dragon he encountered yesterday. Of course, the difference between the Silver Winged Pegasus and the White Dragon in terms of strength was truly incomparable. Like the Unicorn, the Silver Winged Pegasus also possessed traces of the ninth-level Unicorn bloodline and shared a close bloodline relationship with the Unicorns, being one of the only two mixed-breed descendants. However, the Silver Winged Pegasus inherited the holy Light Power of the Unicorn and was a sixth-level Demon Beast¡ªa class higher than the Unicorns and just one level below high-level Demon Beasts. The Silver Winged Pegasus quickly flapped its wings, swiftly descended, and before it even landed completely, it stretched out its large hooves and crushed two Demon Wolves¡¯ bones. Then with a flurry of kicks, it sent several Demon Wolves flying. After a few quick wing flaps, it shot out more than ten Light Arrows that forced several Wolves blocking its way to flee in disarray. Then, the Silver Winged Pegasus landed in front of the seven or eight Unicorns and let out a long ¡°Hee-hawrr,¡± intimidating the group of wolves. However, after the Wolf Pack paused their attack due to its sudden appearance, something happened that made Qin Feng¡¯s eyes pop. The Silver Winged Pegasus actually approached some of the female horses, rubbed its slender neck affectionately against them, appearing very tender. Yet soon, it was abruptly pushed away by the most robust male Unicorn among them. Obviously, the male Unicorn was quite angry. What¡¯s going on? Trying to flirt with the mares of his own group right in front of himself, it¡¯s as if he didn¡¯t put him, the leader, in his eyes at all. The Silver Winged Pegasus snorted disdainfully, neighed loudly, and turned its head, signaling the Unicorn leader to deal with the Demon Wolves. The robust Unicorn of course wouldn¡¯t go out to face the Demon Wolves alone¡ªthese herbivorous Demon Beasts usually formed groups, either confronting or swiftly fleeing from predators. It certainly didn¡¯t have the ability to single-handedly take on so many Demon Wolves. With an air of arrogance, the Silver Winged Pegasus held a look of disdain and scorn on its slender horse face. At that moment, urged by the Wolf King, the wolf pack behind them launched a new round of attack. The Silver Winged Pegasus did not join the Unicorn in resisting the pack of wolves. Instead, it spread its wings and flew up, soaring high above and unleashing Magic on the Wolf King. The Wolf King howled, trying to have the pack attack the meddling Pegasus, but most of the Demon Wolves in the pack were too weak; their Magic would dissipate before it even reached the Silver Winged Pegasus. However, the Silver Winged Pegasus was relentless, persistently attacking only the Wolf King. Being of the Light Element, it could cast group attack Magic like Light Arrow Rain, single-target Magic like Holy Light Spear, supporting Magic like Holy Light Thorns, and defensive Magic like Light Barrier, and it possessed Light Healing Technique as well. Moreover, it could fly, making it a very versatile Demon Beast among the level six magical creatures. The Wolf King below, although also a level six magical creature, was born from the Iron Claw Demon Wolf lineage. Known for topping all Demon Wolves in brute strength, its claws could tear through metal. But when it came to Magic, it paled in comparison to the Silver Winged Pegasus. Usually, when hunting, it relied largely on the vast number of wolves in the pack. It was no match for the Silver Winged Pegasus in a one-on-one fight and certainly couldn¡¯t reach it mid-air. Thus, the Wolf King was swiftly defeated and, along with its pack, fled the area. Qin Feng then watched the flirtatious Silver Winged Pegasus snuggle up to the Unicorn herd again, cozying up to the young mares. This time, not only did the young mares not reject him, but the robust stallion also did not step forward, clearly having accepted this damned Silver Winged Pegasus¡¯s flirting with their mares. Next, Qin Feng witnessed just how flirtatious this Silver Winged Pegasus was; in just half an hour, the Silver Winged Pegasus had visited three female Unicorns in turn, leaving Qin Feng speechless. Moreover, it looked as though if not for that strong, fierce Unicorn protecting the two mares behind him, the Silver Winged Pegasus might have wanted to visit every single mare in the entire Unicorn herd. However, Qin Feng did not leave. It wasn¡¯t that he wanted to watch how Demon Beasts mated, but rather, he had taken a liking to this somewhat rascally Silver Winged Pegasus. He thought the Silver Winged Pegasus was quite decent; at least the energy within it was something he had never encountered before, unlike other Demon Beasts, which mostly possessed common abilities such as Wind, Fire, Water, Earth, Thunder, and Lightning. Moreover, he also had a Light Element Dragon Spirit Fruit on him, and after leaving the Druid Tribe, he planned to consume the Dragon Spirit Fruit to advance to the Golden Core. By then, he was sure to possess a fraction of the Light Power, and he might even awaken one or two talent skills of the Light Giant Dragon. Now, choosing to transform into the Silver Winged Pegasus would also allow him a preliminary understanding of Light Magic. Who knows, maybe later he could comprehend the Divine Skills of the Light Type. This kind of pure Light Power had never appeared in the Cultivation World before. Qin Feng thought if he could thoroughly comprehend the Light Element power system and integrate it into the Cultivator¡¯s cultivation system as a side branch or a secondary Technique, it would be considered a great merit for the entire Cultivation World. Thinking of this, Qin Feng grew increasingly excited. However, as he looked down and saw the Silver Winged Pegasus once again lying on the back of a small mare, his face was immediately covered with frustration. It was hard enough to find a suitable Demon Beast, and it turned out to be a damn perennial stud? If he had more time, he would have given up on this Silver Winged Pegasus and spent several more days looking for another. Qin Feng couldn¡¯t wait any longer. He looked up at the sky and noticed that the Druid was still circling overhead but was quite far from him. Thus, he relaxed, stretched his arm into the shadow of the nearby blue stone. The Ruyi Golden Snake coiled around his wrist immediately vanished into the shadows, and under his control, it moved along the mountain shadows toward the Silver Winged Pegasus below. Then, taking advantage of the moment when the Silver Winged Pegasus was entirely focused on the small mare below, it stealthily enlarged its body, emerged from the shadow of the Silver Winged Pegasus, and bit down on its nape. Following that, its body coiled tightly around the Silver Winged Pegasus, dragging it straight to the ground and employing the Snake Clan¡¯s most proficient Entanglement Skill, breaking its wings and causing its bones to crack audibly. The sudden attack terrified the Silver Winged Pegasus, making it shudder all over, almost collapsing to the ground. With a mournful cry, its body burst with Light Magic Power, attempting to deploy a Light Barrier to protect itself from the assassination of this sudden Shadow Demon Snake. It knew Magic Healing Technique of the Light Type, and if it could escape this Shadow Demon Snake, it could quickly heal its injuries and then fly up high, no longer having to worry about further sneak attacks from the Shadow Demon Snake. Unfortunately, it did not realize that the Spiritual Snake using Shadow Transformation Divine Power was not a mere Shadow Demon Snake but the Ruyi Golden Snake, whose strength after reaching Core Formation was beyond what the Silver Winged Pegasus could resist. Thus, despite its efforts, it failed to break free from the coil of the Ruyi Golden Snake; instead, the sharp teeth of the Ruyi Golden Snake even broke its neck bone. The Silver Winged Pegasus cried out, pleading for the Unicorn to come to its aid. The Unicorns did not abandon it and leave; instead, they stayed far away and cast Lightning Magic at the Ruyi Golden Snake. The Ruyi Golden Snake pretended to be severely injured by the lightning, released the Silver Winged Pegasus, and quickly disappeared into the shadows. Midway up the hill, Qin Feng stood up, a look of thrilled surprise on his face as if he had snagged a great bargain, and dashed swiftly down the mountain. Chapter 304 - Chapter 304: Chapter 301: Light Church Saint Heir Candidate Chapter 304: Chapter 301: Light Church Saint Heir Candidate Qin Feng watched everything before him with curiosity, feeling quite intrigued. Indeed, this place was worthy of being Druidism¡¯s Holy Land; both in scale and grandeur, it far surpassed the scattered Druid Tribes throughout the lands. But soon, he noticed other parties arriving in the distance, landing on the other side, and among those parties was also a youth who didn¡¯t seem too old. Qin Feng was slightly taken aback. Before he could speak, Priest Tuck pulled him by the hand and walked towards a cabin not far away. ¡°Stay here for now and don¡¯t go outside.¡± Priest Tuck instructed. ¡°Why?¡± Qin Feng asked, somewhat puzzled, ¡°I wanted to go to the Divine Temple to pray to the great Forest Goddess.¡± ¡°There will be plenty of opportunities in the future, but it¡¯s better for you to stay here for now,¡± Priest Tuck said, ¡°Remember, do not let people see your face. This is for your safety and just in case. Moreover, only I am aware of your situation. The few Druids who came with us only know that you were sent here for study at the Divine Temple, not about the mission you were dispatched to carry out. You must not reveal this to anyone.¡± Qin Feng¡¯s face gave nothing away as he nodded and said, ¡°I will heed Priest Tuck¡¯s orders. I won¡¯t divulge a thing and without your permission, I won¡¯t go out.¡± Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í??.§ã¦Ï ¡°Mm, that¡¯s good.¡± Priest Tuck reassured him and said, ¡°You wait here for a bit. I¡¯ll go and meet the High Priest to see what¡¯s going on.¡± With these words, he turned and left. After watching Priest Tuck leave, Qin Feng slowly paced back and forth a few times inside the cabin before sitting down on the floor and falling into deep thought. He had some suspicions in his heart, unsure what Priest Tuck and the High Priest were planning. They were so secretive that even the Druids of the Holy Land were not allowed contact with him. As for the youth in the team he saw earlier, he too had been taken directly to a cabin and likely faced similar restrictions, not being allowed to go out. Perhaps, there might be more than just him undertaking this so-called secret mission. There might be others, yet they were not allowed to see each other or even to show their faces in front of outsiders. It seemed there was no need for them to coordinate and collaborate, but rather each was to act on their own. Qin Feng pondered for a long while, but with too few clues, he could not figure out the reason. He eventually stopped wasting his spirit and turned his thoughts elsewhere. Not until nighttime did Priest Tuck return from outside, handing Qin Feng a hooded robe, instructing him to put it on, and to cover his face with the hood and a face cloth. Now Qin Feng was even more intrigued. What could they possibly be doing in the secretive Holy Land of the Druids? He took the robe, donned the hood, and covered his face before following Priest Tuck out of the cabin and into the open. It was now nightfall, yet the heavens were bright with starlight and the moon¡¯s glow clear. Moreover, many large trees within the Holy Land had something shimmering on them, casting a hazy light over a vast area, which appeared extremely beautiful. They proceeded and arrived in front of the grand tree that had been converted into a Divine Temple. Priest Tuck didn¡¯t pause for a moment and led Qin Feng inside. Qin Feng discovered that quite a few people had already arrived¡ªthere were seven or eight Priests, and beside each Priest was a person dressed the same as him, their faces unclear and ages indiscernible. However, Qin Feng could sense an exuberant vitality from them, and if he guessed correctly, they were probably all teenagers. Soon after they entered, a few more Priests hurried in, each accompanied by a hooded and concealed youth. In total, including Qin Feng, there were fourteen robed individuals. After everyone arrived, no one else came. ¡°We greet the High Priest.¡± Ahead, an elderly white-haired old man with an age-worn visage walked out slowly from behind the altar. Though he appeared very old, a vigorous vitality emanated from within him, creating a peculiar impression. Upon hearing that this person was the High Priest, Qin Feng and the others quickly bowed alongside their accompanying Priests. ¡°Hm.¡± The High Priest nodded slightly, ¡°Is everyone present?¡± ¡°Yes, High Priest, all fourteen have arrived.¡± A Priest reported softly on the side. ¡°Good.¡± The old High Priest swept his gaze over the assembly of robed youths, his eyes seemingly exuding a strange power that was authoritative yet carried a hint of comforting gentleness. ¡°You all have been selected by the Priests. I¡¯ve been told by the Priests that your loyalty to the Forest Goddess is unwavering, and that your faith has penetrated deep into your marrow. This is excellent.¡± He spoke with a weathered voice, slowly saying, ¡°Now, there is a matter I need you to undertake. It is of great importance, affecting the future of our Druidism, but it is also very dangerous. Should your identities be exposed, you may face death. I am aware that the Priests must have asked you something similar before you came to the Divine Temple, but now, I must ask again¡ªhave you truly considered it? If you are afraid, you may still withdraw.¡± ¡°High Priest, we are not afraid.¡± One of the youths¡¯ voices rang out with excitement, ¡°For the Forest Goddess, I am willing to sacrifice everything, even if it costs my life. Please believe in my loyalty and faith, High Priest. I have no fear of death.¡± The other youths also spoke up, indicating they were not afraid of danger, willing to fight for the great Forest Goddess, and ready to venture for the future of Druidism. ¡°Good, very good.¡± The High Priest revealed a gratified smile, ¡°You are all good children, all the future of our Druidism. Rest assured, as your High Priest, I will not send you to your deaths. In fact, for this mission, the Church has been preparing for many years, and as long as there are no accidents, it should not be dangerous. However, you are the most crucial part of this operation.¡± ¡°High Priest, what exactly is our mission?¡± Some of the youths were already boiling with enthusiasm, eager to set off. ¡°Don¡¯t rush, don¡¯t rush. It is important to stay calm in all situations, and I am very concerned that you will not be able to complete the mission if you are rash.¡± The High Priest calmed them with these words before continuing, ¡°Do you know that it has been hundreds of years since our Druidism last had a Holy Daughter?¡± ¡°Ah?¡± The group of youths seemed startled. Holy Daughter? Oh, right. When the Priests were teaching them Druidic doctrines and other knowledge, they had mentioned that the Holy Daughter held a revered status, a very sacred existence within Druidism. However, they were still young and scattered across the Demon Beast Forest, and it never crossed their minds that they could actually meet a Holy Daughter. Nor had they considered that Druidism had not produced a Holy Daughter in hundreds of years. ¡°Holy Daughters of past generations occupied a noble position, not only because of their great strength, but also because they could pray and communicate with the Forest Goddess, receiving the Goddess¡¯s Divine Power, and even perform the Divine Descent Technique to have the Goddess manifest in their bodies and descend to this realm. It could be said that the Holy Daughters were the most powerful trump card of our Druidism; no being could withstand the Divine Might of the Forest Goddess. In history, Druidism faced several crises that almost led to extinction. At critical moments, it was always the Holy Daughter who performed the Divine Descent Technique, summoning the great Forest Goddess, which brought us back from the brink.¡± At this point, the High Priest sighed softly and continued, ¡°Unfortunately, hundreds of years ago, while a Holy Daughter was traveling to spread the Druidic doctrine of nature worship among the nations¡¯ citizens, she suffered an unexpected assault and was killed.¡± ¡°Ah?¡± Upon hearing this, the youths were both shocked and angered, ¡°Who did it?¡± ¡°Kill them, avenge the Holy Daughter!¡± The High Priest waved his hand to indicate silence, ¡°In that battle, not only was the Holy Daughter stealthily attacked and killed, but the Divine Artifact Jade Heart she carried was also taken from her and lost without a trace. The Jade Heart is a Divine Artifact gifted to us by the Forest Goddess. Not only is it powerful, but more importantly, it serves to connect us with the Forest Goddess and to open a Space Channel. Without the Jade Heart, we can no longer select a new Holy Daughter nor perform the Divine Descent Technique to summon the Forest Goddess to the Lower Realm.¡± With these words, all the youths understood the gravity of the situation. It was almost as if Druidism¡¯s biggest trump card had been removed. If any significant conflicts arose in the future, or if another power waged a holy war to exterminate Druidism, it would indeed be a precarious situation. ¡°It is because we no longer have the Jade Heart or a Holy Daughter that the strength of our Druidism has not expanded over the years; in fact, it has been greatly weakened. Nowadays, our influence among nations is more than half less than what it was hundreds of years ago.¡± The High Priest¡¯s expression was filled with melancholy, ¡°Back then, wherever our Druids went, the citizens of every nation would cheer and eagerly await us, as the majesty of the Forest Goddess shone upon the nations, and our faithful outside rarely suffered oppression. However, since the incident with the Holy Daughter, and the disappearance of the Jade Heart, the Royal Families of the nations have been okay; they dare not openly oppress our loyal Druid followers, at most they just collect a bit more in taxes. But it has been different with other sects. To compete with us for believers, to seize our followers, they have been oppressively blatant, causing the number of the Goddess¡¯s followers to sharply decline. This time I¡¯ve called you here precisely to retrieve the stolen Jade Heart, to select a new Holy Daughter, and thereafter to punish those who dared to offend the majesty of the Forest Goddess back then.¡± ¡°High Priest, who took the Jade Heart?¡± One of the youth couldn¡¯t wait to ask. ¡°The Light God Church.¡± The High Priest said, ¡°We have investigated and clarified the matter. Although the people who acted that year left no trace and even deliberately misled us by pointing to other sects, we ultimately traced the origins back to the Light God Church.¡± ¡°The Light God Church has a lot of nerve; aren¡¯t they afraid of provoking a divine war?¡± The High Priest shook his head, ignoring the youth¡¯s words, and continued, ¡°What I am asking you to do this time is to take back the Jade Heart. Of course, you are not strong enough, and since the Jade Heart has been sealed on the heavily guarded Holy Mountain by the Light God Church, we cannot have you rely on bravery or brute force to retrieve it. Otherwise, you will be killed by the Church Knights of the Light Church before you even get close to the Holy Mountain. During this mission, you don¡¯t have to do anything extra. Just follow the instructions, and at the critical moment, there will be people to meet you and help retrieve the Jade Heart.¡± ¡°High Priest, what should we do?¡± ¡°Like us in the past, the Light Church also selects a Saint Heir from their members every twenty years to receive an Angel¡¯s blessing.¡± The High Priest said, ¡°Our people embedded within the Light Church have made critical breakthroughs and found the opportunity to take back the Jade Heart. Therefore, this time I will arrange for you to go to the Holy Mountain as members of the Light Church to participate in the selection of the Saint Heir.¡± ¡°Ah?¡± ¡°We are Druids; how can we participate in the selection of the Holy Son of Light? We are likely to have our identities exposed before we even get close to the Holy Mountain.¡± ¡°Heh-heh, without the power of the Light Element on you, of course, it won¡¯t work.¡± The High Priest said cheerfully, ¡°However, the reason I¡¯ve chosen you all for this mission is that the demon beasts you shift into are all of the Light Element. Next, I will cast a special Magic that will seal your Natural Magic Power so that you can channel the power of the Demon Core within you, hence allowing you to wield the spells of the Light Element. As long as you don¡¯t show any flaws, no one will notice anything wrong. As long as you can pass the Holy Mountain¡¯s selection and become candidates for the Saint Heir, it will be advantageous for our next move.¡± Chapter 305 - Chapter 305: Chapter 302 Became a Priest Refining Dragon Spirit Fruit Chapter 305: Chapter 302 Became a Priest Refining Dragon Spirit Fruit The High Priest merely provided a basic explanation of what these young Druids needed to do; he did not divulge the specifics. Because not every one of these youths could possibly infiltrate the Holy Mountain, and even if they did manage to get in, there was no guarantee that they would receive certain treatments or gradually complete his plan. Therefore, they would have to wait until the actual time came to discuss specific details, and if this operation did not go smoothly, he would even need to prepare for the next action twenty years later. Naturally, he couldn¡¯t disclose the exact plans to these youths lest they accidentally leak information and expose the agents they had planted on the Light Holy Mountain. Subsequently, in the Divine Temple, a group of priests began setting up a Magic Array, presided over by the High Priest himself. They used the Druids¡¯ secret Sealing Technique to seal the Natural Magic Power within the youths, then used a divine power bestowed by the Forest Goddess as a bridge to establish a link between the Demon Cores and spiritual power within them. This allowed the youths to use Demon Beast skills even without transforming. Qin Feng did not resist, allowing the High Priest to proceed with the sealing magic. In any case, the Druid¡¯s Natural Magic Power was optional for him; his real source of strength lay within his Dantian. He did not value Natural Magic Power much, and if he wasn¡¯t worried about exposing his power, he would have already refined this pitiful amount of Natural Magic into his Azure Dragon Daoist Body. His Azure Dragon Daoist Body was of the Wood Element, and the Magic Power cultivated from the Druids¡¯ heritage was also of the Wood Element, which made refining it quite simple. As for his Dantian, he had taken the treasure his master had given him for concealing his aura and secured it in his Dantian. He then applied a cultivation-world Secret Technique to seal himself, unaware of the Immortal Dao cultivation, the High Priest also never even considered the possibility that Qin Feng might possess other powers. After all, in this world, aside from Magic and Fighting Energy, there was no concept of Dantian, and unless the High Priest possessed extreme spiritual power and investigated Qin Feng thoroughly, there was no way he could discover Qin Feng¡¯s secret. After the High Priest had successfully established the channel between his Divine Sense and the Silver Winged Pegasus¡¯ Demon Core, Qin Feng moved aside, giving his place in the Magic Array to other Druid youths while he silently examined the situation within his body. He discovered that, in fact, the channel between spiritual power and the Demon Core wasn¡¯t stable; a strong external impact could potentially sever this link. As for the seal on his Natural Magic Power, it wasn¡¯t exactly strong either. If his Natural Magic Power were several times stronger than it currently was, it would naturally break the seal from within. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í??.§ã¦Ï Of course, external forces could also break the sealing. However, out of all the youths present, aside from him, there was no other with the ability to break the sealing and sever the channel between spiritual power and the Demon Core; their strength had been sealed, and they could only return to the Demon Beast Forest to seek the High Priest or other Druid Elders to help lift the sealing. Nonetheless, Qin Feng felt that this Secret Technique was quite remarkable. Since the High Priest could create a channel between his Light Element Demon Core, he could naturally do the same for other Druids with Wind, Fire, Water, Earth, and other Elemental Demon Cores, enabling those Druids to infiltrate other sects or powers as mages of various elements, thereby stealing all sorts of intelligence. But although this technique was good, it also had one significant drawback. That was, they could only utilize the Magic Power within the Demon Core, and since the Druids could not condense these Demon Cores themselves, they couldn¡¯t upgrade the quality of their Cores. This meant that unless the sealing was lifted, these Druids would forever remain at their current level of strength. Truly, if that were so, these youths would be in a sorry state. Because among the Druid youths present, aside from one who, like him, had integrated an Intermediate-level Demon Beast¡¯s Demon Core, the rest had all fused with Low-Level Demon Beast Cores. If they never progressed, they would probably be disheartened to death. After examining his own body¡¯s condition, Qin Feng looked up and noticed that the High Priest was not in good shape. The vibrant breath of life within his body had greatly diminished, sweat drenched his forehead, and the wrinkles on his already aged face seemed to have deepened. Clearly, employing the Divine Power of the Forest Goddess to open the magical passage between their spiritual power and Demon Core had placed a tremendous burden on him. The strength of a Divine being is not so easily wielded; each use inflicts significant harm upon these mortal bodies that have yet to become gods. This High Priest was of a very old age, his physique nowhere near as robust as when he was younger. If it were not for the powerful force within him supporting his frame, he would have likely collapsed from exhaustion long ago. After all, those who worship the divine beings have a significant flaw in their Cultivation System¡ªin terms of strength, they might be on par with or even surpass many Cultivators, but their Life Span may not necessarily increase. In fact, housing Divine Power could potentially exhaust their natural Life Span excessively. On the other hand, Mages who do not worship divine beings may have equally frail bodies, yet they tend to live much longer than many of the Chosen Ones. However, upon death, Mages are certainly not taken into the Divine Country by the All Gods. At best, they fall into the Netherworld to become muddled Undead, and unless they are exceptionally strong, they have little chance of retaining any Spiritual Intelligence. From this perspective, each has its own set of advantages and disadvantages, with no clear answer as to which is better or worse. However, when a Mage reaches the pinnacle of their practice, it is possible to transcend¡ªeither transforming themselves into a Witch Demon, transcending life and death, or condensing rules to become a new Divine entity. Regrettably, no Mage has truly ascended to Divinity throughout the years. When the last Druid youth had their Magic Power sealed along with their Demon Core, the High Priest¡¯s body was trembling. It makes sense when you think about it¡ªif there were no burden, then it is likely that many Druids would have infiltrated the various churches and even the major powers of the kingdoms across the continent, taking high positions, undermining all sides, and even inciting chaos to benefit as outsiders. ¡°All right, you can all go now.¡± The High Priest¡¯s voice trembled, ¡°Someone will arrange your identities for you and integrate you into the team heading to the Holy Mountain. I hope you can complete this mission and retrieve the Jade Heart.¡± ¡°Rest assured, High Priest, we will give it our all.¡± The group of youths, looking at the faltering High Priest, were filled with emotion. For the High Priest of such a stature to be exhausted to such an extent, it was clear that he had paid a great sacrifice to enable them to travel to the Light Holy Mountain. ¡°Go, go.¡± The High Priest waved his hand gently, a heavy sense of fatigue engulfing him, but as the High Priest, he had to maintain his dignity in front of others and so did not immediately sit down to rest. Tuck and the other Priests led the youths out of the Divine Temple and back to the wooden huts they had come from, where they then informed them in detail about their prepared identities and the tasks that lay ahead. ¡­ Orton Kingdom, on the outskirts of the southern mountains. On the winding yellow dirt road at the foot of the mountain, Qin Feng, dressed in a Priest Robe of the Light God Church, walked step by step. He was now known as a priest from a church in a small border town of the Aus Kingdom in the south, also a disciple carefully tutored by Bishop Ebel of the church. Qin Feng held a personal letter from the church¡¯s Bishop Ebel, and he was on his way to the church in Lanton City, joining priests and Cult Members from churches scattered across the land who were departing from the Orton Kingdom to make a pilgrimage to the Light Holy Mountain. His name was still Randy, but of course, it didn¡¯t matter what his actual name was; after all, Bishop Ebel would vouch for his identity. Thus, he was now a genius disciple groomed by a remote small-town church¡¯s Bishop, a youth who had become a fourth-level Priest at the age of fourteen. As for the esteemed Bishop Ebel, he was a Druid who had infiltrated the Light God Church for many years. Though Ebel¡¯s position in the Light Church was not high, his reputation was significant. It was said that in his youth, to rescue the offspring of high-ranking officials from the Church Court, he suffered severe injuries while battling fierce Dark Creatures; these injuries stagnated his progress in recent years, confining him to serve only as a Bishop in a remote town. In fact, with the help of that high-ranking family from the Church Court, he had the chance to serve as a Priest in big cities, even in the Light Holy City, but he refused all offers. He said he wanted to spread the Light God¡¯s grace to this secluded place so that even the lowliest citizens living here could bask in the benevolence of the Light God, and so for twenty years, just like a day, he never left. His deeds touched many priests, and like him, many chose to root themselves in remote places, using Healing Techniques to treat the sick and to spread the doctrines of the Light Church. So even if Bishop Ebel¡¯s status wasn¡¯t high, his influence was significant, and he was deeply respected by many priests. The Light Church, too, needed such priests to devote themselves in distant lands, and for this reason, it once specially publicized Ebel¡¯s deeds. Bishop Ebel was dutiful and dedicated, not only propagating the Church¡¯s doctrines in the remote place but also mentoring several disciples, who with the help of connections from his early years, now served at the Light Holy Mountain. And Qin Feng was the fifth disciple of Bishop Ebel. Qin Feng had left the small town a day ago; at his current pace, there was still a two-day journey to the grand church in Lanton City. On this day, he paid close attention for a long while and discovered that no one was shadowing him. It seemed the Druids also did not want to stir up trouble at this time, fearing that if their traces were noticed, it would attract the Light Church¡¯s attention. Since no one was following, he immediately relaxed. As dusk approached, he could see a village appearing in the distance, smoke rising from cooking fires, but instead of seeking shelter in the village, he turned and entered the nearby woods. His form then directly plunged into the ground, burrowing toward the heart of the great mountain. After going a hundred miles deep, Qin Feng drilled back up to the surface. Before he could get a clear look at his surroundings, a Demon Bear locked its gaze onto him. The bear stared blankly at the Human Clan member who had suddenly popped up from the ground, utterly perplexed. But its limited intelligence couldn¡¯t fathom how Qin Feng had appeared, nor did it care to ponder anymore. It lunged forward with its stout limbs, opened its bloody maw, and aimed to bite Qin Feng¡¯s head. Its fangs, an inch or two in length, were sharply terrifying. If it bit into a regular person¡¯s head, the brain would likely burst. However, before the Demon Bear could near him, there came a croak. A shadow flickered, and the Demon Bear¡¯s figure vanished, leaving behind only a huge toad in its place. Qin Feng looked in the direction from which the Demon Bear had pounced, noting the bear¡¯s cave. After a moment¡¯s thought, he walked into the Demon Bear¡¯s cave, waved his sleeve to produce a gust of wind, which swept up all the bones and remnants scattered around, and flung them far away. Once satisfied there were no foul odors left in the cave, Qin Feng nodded contently, stepped out of the cave, arranged the Nine Palace Illusion Array Flags and Array Plate, and activated the Array to conceal the cave. Then, with a wave of his hand, he summoned the Fire Ape, instructing it to guard the entrance of the cave alongside the Swallowing Sky Toad on each side, preventing any disturbance during his breakthrough as he settled down inside the cave, preparing to retreat and condense his Golden Core. He did not choose a place with abundant elemental forces, as such places were definitely occupied by Demon Beasts. Expelling those high-level Demon Beasts would surely cause a commotion that might draw others¡¯ attention. So he settled on a place close to the outer periphery of the mountains. Although the elemental forces here were not as rich, he wasn¡¯t overly reliant on Spiritual Energy during his advancement but mainly on the Dragon Spirit Fruit, containing Power of Giant Dragon Origin. If that wouldn¡¯t suffice, he had other Spiritual Medicines on hand, so there was no need to worry about a lack of Spiritual Energy. After sitting cross-legged for about half an hour, Qin Feng adjusted himself to the optimal state and then took out the Dragon Spirit Fruit. Upon opening the Sealing Spirit Jade Box, he dared not linger, fearing exposing the Dragon Spirit Fruit for too long might draw the attention of other Demon Beasts and swallowed it immediately. Although the Dragon Spirit Fruit was not large, it was unlikely for a normal person to swallow it whole without choking. Yet Qin Feng¡¯s Azure Dragon Daoist Body had achieved Small Success, and his body¡¯s flexibility was great. His throat contracted slightly, and the Dragon Spirit Fruit went down into his belly. Once the Dragon Spirit Fruit was in his stomach, Qin Feng began to churn his gut, digesting the fruit¡¯s power while coordinating his True Yuan to aid in the Refining. Boom! The moment the Dragon Spirit Fruit broke open and its energy flowed out, Qin Feng felt as if a Giant Dragon had been introduced into his body, rampaging wildly. Chapter 306 - Chapter 306: Chapter 303: Advancing to Golden Core, Awakening Divine Skills Chapter 306: Chapter 303: Advancing to Golden Core, Awakening Divine Skills One wonders how powerful the Giant Dragon that birthed this Dragon Spirit Fruit was in its life, for Qin Feng only felt that after swallowing the Dragon Spirit Fruit, his entire body seemed about to burst from the violent power. Although the power of the Light Element is relatively gentle, there are still differences in strength. The Giant Dragon Clan itself is a top-level Demon Beast with formidable combat power, and even the strength of Light Giant Dragons is overwhelmingly fierce. The Dragon Spirit Fruit is nurtured by the origin power of Giant Dragons. Even though it has been filtered by the Dragon Spirit Fruit Tree to make it more conducive to absorption, this is still a relative term for the Giant Dragon Clan. Qin Feng, a member of the Human Clan, even though he practiced the ¡°Azure Dragon Divine Technique,¡± a body cultivation technique, his current condition is still far from being comparable to that of the Giant Dragon Clan. He could not even compare to the Ruyi Golden Snake. So when he swallowed the Dragon Spirit Fruit, he immediately felt the agony within. This made him sigh inwardly¡ªit was unfortunate that there was no alchemist here; otherwise, he could have asked an alchemist to use other spiritual medicines to neutralize the power in the Dragon Spirit Fruit, thus easily refining it. Now, he could only rely on himself to withstand it. Fortunately, his cultivation had achieved the Azure Dragon Daoist Body, allowing him to divide the medicinal strength of the Dragon Spirit Fruit into two streams: one stream to his Dantian to aid him in breaking through to the Golden Core, and another to his Daoist Body to enhance his physical body. As a large amount of milky-white energy surged into his Dantian and filled it completely, his True Yuan inevitably contained a trace of the power resembling that of the Light Element. Suddenly, Qin Feng discovered a fire seed unexpectedly forming in his Dantian and then, with a boom, it ignited all the origin power of the Giant Dragon inside, turning it into milky-white flames. ¡°This is¡­Holy Flame? The flame known as the Light Holy Flame by the Light Church!¡± Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í?¦Ï.?? Qin Feng was slightly startled, but showed no sign of panic. For it was due to his Dantian holding too much Power of Giant Dragon Origin and quite unintentionally causing a slight anomaly, thereby allowing him to condense the origin fire of a Light Element Giant Dragon. This, just like Ruyi Golden Light, was his innate Divine Power, under his control, so of course, it would not harm him in the slightest. The Light Holy Flame, also known as Light Fire, held an extremely high status within the Church Court and was seen as the flame that purifies all the dark and dirty things in the world. The flame used to burn heretics was the Light Holy Flame as well. However, the Light Holy Flame used by the priests of the Light Church is a spell temporarily condensed. Whereas, the Holy Flame within Qin Feng was a Divine Power, an unextinguishable flame. As long as he lived, the Holy Flame in his Dantian would not extinguish but would grow stronger as his Cultivation improved. Should he one day comprehend the Principle of Fire and integrate the Power of Laws into it, it might continue to burn even after his death. In the Church Court, the Holy Flame is utilized as the sacred fire that incinerates all the darkness in the world, but in fact, to the Light Giant Dragons, it is merely their innate talent¡ªthe Dragon¡¯s Breath. Qin Feng could not help but wryly smile. He had originally wanted other skills from the Giant Dragon, for the Ruyi Golden Snake already possessed the Fire Dragon¡¯s Breath, and having another Holy Flame Breath seemed rather redundant. Instead, if he could awaken other innate abilities of the Giant Dragon, such as Dragon Power, it would imbue his Divine Sense with endless dignity during disputes. In particular, when facing a combined attack, it could deter every adversary weaker than himself and suppress the spirits of his enemies. Another example is the Dragon¡¯s True Eye, which would allow him to see through many illusions, discerning reality from falsehoods and piercing many tactics. Even if he were trapped in an Array, the True Eye could help him see through many Array paths, proving to be immensely useful. To date, he hadn¡¯t acquired any Divine Power that affected eyes. However, the sigh in his heart was merely a fleeting moment, and he soon abandoned the original idea. For he discovered that the Holy Flame in his Dantian could purify his True Yuan. Even though his True Yuan was already very pure, under the burn of this Holy Flame, it became even more crystal clear, shrinking by thirty percent in a brief period. Fortunately, a constant flow of Giant Dragon Origin Power was streaming into his Dantian, otherwise, this advancement would certainly have ended in failure. Qin Feng continually refined the power of the Dragon Spirit Fruit, which under the burn of the Holy Flame, became even more refined. The circulation speed of his True Yuan grew faster, gradually forming a vortex. Finally, a change occurred in the deepest part of the vortex. With a thunderous sound, his entire Dantian shook. All his True Yuan power instantly converged together, including the Holy Flame, which also joined in, transforming into one of his foundational Divine Powers. The entire Dantian was like the sky-opening and earth-splitting, suddenly clear above and turbid below, with a single Golden Core slowly revolving in the middle. Moreover, mysterious patterns also emerged on the Golden Core, which were his Cultivation Divine Power Seeds directly condensed onto the Golden Core. The moment he achieved the Golden Core and advanced in realm, they too elevated, becoming true Divine Powers without him needing to cultivate them anew to possess significant power. The transformation from achieving Golden Core was not confined to the Dantian but also triggered an earth-shattering change in his body. With the increasingly pure True Yuan containing special energy flowing through his body repeatedly, it nurtured his internal vitality by flushing his meridians and acupoints. After circulating his True Yuan through thirty-six Circulations, his fleshy body became more transparent, his bones as bright as jade, his heart beating like thunder, and his blood flow even emitted a faint rushing sound like flowing water. Even his Divine Soul experienced an incredibly powerful transformation at this moment. Hisstral power skyrocketed, extending his Divine Sense coverage to a radius of thirty miles. If using the special Technique of the Beast Taming Sect to condense his Divine Sense into a thin line, it could extend dozens of miles. The benefits of a powerful Divine Soul were not limited to these. More extensive coverage was just a side effect, the real advantage was that it granted him an enhanced comprehension ability. Many Daoist principles that he had not understood before were now easily resolved. Qin Feng felt the changes inside and outside his body, distinctly sensing his body brimming with more vitality, his Life Span greatly enhanced. As long as he was not injured at his origin, with his current state, he could live at least five hundred years. At this moment, he joyfully wanted to laugh out loud. However, the power of the Dragon Spirit Fruit had not yet been fully consumed; it was still continuously flowing into his Dantian and spreading throughout his limbs and bones, his meridians. It was not appropriate to be distracted. Qin Feng was certain that this Dragon Spirit Fruit must have been nurtured by a Giant Dragon that surpassed the ninth rank of Demon Beasts because the power from this Dragon Spirit Fruit was much greater than the one the Ruyi Golden Snake had consumed, which was of the Fire Element Dragon Spirit Fruit. If it weren¡¯t for his cultivation of the Azure Dragon Daoist Body, he might have been severely injured by this power. Since there was still surplus energy, Qin Feng certainly would not waste it. He continued to absorb and refine it, enriching the strength of his Golden Core until he felt a sense of fullness from it. Then, he directed all the power towards enhancing his Azure Dragon Daoist Body. Meanwhile, he also released the Ruyi Golden Snake and exchanged energy with it, transferring the excess power into the body of his Lifebound Spiritual Beast to enhance its cultivation. By the time Qin Feng had completely refined the Dragon Spirit Fruit, it was already the middle of the night. At this point, he felt his body brimming with True Yuan, and his physical strength was so great that he felt like he could punch and shatter a mountain. Of course, that was an illusion. It was merely because the sudden increase in power that his spirit experienced slight expansion. ¡°No wonder many body cultivators become so arrogant after their strength increases; it turns out physical strength really does breed immense confidence!¡± Qin Feng thought. Gently shaking his head, Qin Feng suppressed the arrogant thoughts in his heart, circulated his magic formulas, calmed his spirit, and began to carefully assess his current strength. He found that his Azure Dragon Daoist Body had become much stronger, having reached a profound level of mastery. As his cultivation ascended to the Golden Core stage, the ¡°Azure Dragon Divine Technique¡± also broke through to a realm capable of contending with the Golden Core stage. Furthermore, after the advancement of his Azure Dragon Daoist Body, he awakened three Divine Skills; one was from the Five Elements Escape Technique, specifically the Yimu Escape Technique, another was the ability to summon winds and rain, and the last was a support type of Healing Divine Power. The Yimu Escape Technique arose because the Azure Dragon Divine Technique was associated with the wood element. However, Qin Feng felt that the ability to summon winds and rains was somewhat superfluous; although it was a talent skill of the Dragon Clan, he did not need to be worshipped by ordinary people or collect their faith, so what use did he have for summoning weather? Shortly afterward, he stopped fussing over these issues. Although he practiced body refinement techniques, he wasn¡¯t primarily focused on close-hand combat; even if he didn¡¯t acquire powerful Divine Skills, it didn¡¯t matter. Having an additional Divine Skill wasn¡¯t a bad thing after all; it might come in handy later. Perhaps when his power became even stronger, he could summon the Nine Heavens Gang Wind and call forth a rain that would inundate thousands of miles of mountains and rivers. The last healing Divine Power, perhaps because he had refined too much Origin Power from the Light Element Giant Dragon, was born. This Divine Power greatly enhanced his recovery ability. Now, if he were injured, ordinary superficial wounds probably wouldn¡¯t even bleed, because his control over his physical body was very strong; he could prevent blood from flowing out, and with powerful healing Divine Power, he could instantly heal the wounds to their original state. These were all Physical Body Divine Powers, but his Golden Core still possessed several powerful Divine Skills. Beneath the Golden Core, a pure white Holy Flame burned vigorously. Because the Origin level of the Giant Dragon was very high, the grade of the Holy Flame he obtained was also very high, enough to be considered a Spiritual Fire. Although he felt that this Holy Flame might not be as strong in attack power compared to many Heaven and Earth Spirit Fires, it possessed a powerful purifying strength, which could be used to purify True Yuan and cleanse impurities from the body; it would be particularly effective against Demon Cultivators or Dark System forces. Qin Feng forcibly suppressed his joy; even though the night was quickly passing, he did not leave the cave. Instead, he sat cross-legged and continued to stabilize his Cultivation Realm. In fact, his realm was very stable; after all, the power of the Dragon Spirit Fruit was so strong that it had not only stabilized his realm but also significantly advanced his Dao Cultivation. With his current cultivation, he was comparable to a cultivator who had ascended to the Golden Core stage several years ago. Qin Feng stayed there for two days, absorbing all the benefits and mastering all the Divine Skills he now possessed. Then he rose to his feet, withdrew the Array, took the Fire Ape and the Swallowing Sky Toad into the Demon Refining Pot, and activated the Shrinking Ground to Inch Divine Power, stepping dozens of yards towards the outside of the mountain with each step. Originally, when he used the Shrinking Ground to Inch, he could only cover a dozen yards at most with each step. Now, he could easily step several dozen yards, and if he exerted his full strength, he could move a hundred yards in one step. In truth, he could now fly through the air with his physical body, but he chose not to flaunt his power so openly; it would not be good if someone saw him. While the Shrinking Ground to Inch might appear simple, like a leisurely stroll with a calm breeze, anyone not paying close attention would lose sight of him. It was now the second night since he had entered the mountain. Under the starlight, he walked forward, his white robe fluttering, truly leisurely and carefree. However, traveling with the Shrinking Ground to Inch Divine Power was much faster than his previous slow pace, so in a short time, before dawn broke, he had already arrived at Lanton City. Qin Feng did not directly enter the city but found a quiet place outside the city to wait quietly until daylight. Then, following the crowd entering the city in the early morning, he walked into the city. Initially, those citizens who saw this Priest queueing behind them were somewhat frightened, but after seeing his gentle disposition and young age, they relaxed, and some even chatted with him for a while. With a light sigh, Qin Feng thought to himself that although the Light God Church claimed to stand for light, their methods of propagating their faith were not very bright. After converting all the citizens into their followers, they would become their targets for exploitation, inventing various ways to collect different fees each year, causing many locals to both worship the Light God and live under their oppression. However, he was not concerned about these matters; he only wanted to hurry to the church to meet up with other priests and head to the Light Holy Mountain. Yet, after he arrived at the church, he was very unexpectedly greeted by a familiar figure outside the church. Chapter 307 - Chapter 307: Chapter 304: Why Has Daoist Fellow Become a Summoning Beast? Chapter 307: Chapter 304: Why Has Daoist Fellow Become a Summoning Beast? ¡°How could he be here?¡± Qin Feng, upon seeing him, couldn¡¯t help but be greatly surprised. Because that person was not a creature of this realm, but a Ghost Controlling Sect disciple named Xiu Xin whom he¡¯d met outside the Ancient Battlefield in the Southern Domain. Xiu Xin was undoubtedly a genius, being able to become a True Disciple of a Major Sect like the Ghost Controlling Sect that had thousands of years of heritage, which alone proved his talents far surpassed ordinary people. However, the once genius disciple of the Ghost Controlling Sect now found himself in a very pitiful state. He was not only disheveled and seriously injured, but he was also bound to a stake in front of a church, awaiting execution. Xiu Xin was tightly chained to the stake with Refined Iron, and even his palms were pierced with iron nails, firmly attaching him to the cross of the stake, with blood dripping steadily onto the ground, pooling into two puddles. His head hung down motionless, even as the onlookers threw stones at him, he gave no sign of life. If it had not been for Qin Feng still feeling the faint breath of life in him, he might have actually thought Xiu Xin was already dead. This is really puzzling, how could this guy be here? Moreover, he had been captured by the Light Church Court. Qin Feng was astonished and wanted to go forward to rescue him, but suddenly remembered his current identity should not be exposed directly, so he stopped. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í??.?¦Ï Of course, the rescue was necessary, not to mention that it was fortunate to meet a fellow cultivator friend in this distant Exotic Realm World. Even for the many years of friendship between their Sects, it was not acceptable to let this guy be burned to death by the Light Church Court! However, he needed to make a trip to the Light Holy Mountain first, so it was not suitable to reveal his identity at the moment. It would be better to think of another way. Going to the Holy Mountain was not because he was so loyal to the Druids that he must help them retrieve their lost Divine Artifact, the Jade Heart. It was because he learned from Priest Tuck about the place where the Light God Church had sealed the Jade Heart, along with another item that tempted him. It was because of that item that Qin Feng decided to take the risk. If successful, the benefits to him would be immense. As for Xiu Xin, he could suffer here for a while longer. After all, though he was not in a good state, as a cultivator with strong life force, as long as there was a trace of True Yuan left, it would not be easy for him to die. Thinking this, Qin Feng did not act immediately but stepped toward the church. At the church door, he asked one of the Church Knights maintaining order, ¡°What¡¯s the matter with that man?¡± ¡°You don¡¯t know?¡± The knight looked at Qin Feng somewhat strangely. Qin Feng said, ¡°I have just entered the city, preparing to join priests from all over who are heading to the Holy Mountain for a pilgrimage, of course, I don¡¯t know what¡¯s going on.¡± ¡°So you¡¯re a priest from out of town.¡± The knight nodded, ¡°That guy tied to the stake is an Undead Mage, captured by Lord Doro¡¯s forces outside of Lanton City on their way through from Iron Wall City. They plan to burn him publicly to warn everyone not to follow heretics.¡± ¡°Oh?¡± Qin Feng nodded upon hearing this and turned to enter the church. With a letter of introduction from Bishop Ebel, as a well-known bishop¡¯s disciple, Qin Feng was soon warmly received by the Red Robed Bishop of Lanton City¡¯s great church, who arranged a room and attendants for him, taking care of all his needs within the church. When they learned that Qin Feng was also a fourteen-year-old Magic Guide¨Clevel Priest, their enthusiasm increased even more. Although the Red Robed Bishop didn¡¯t believe Qin Feng was eligible to become a Saint Heir of the Church Court¡ªas the position was already reserved by families within the Church¡¯s high echelon¡ªhis strength at such a young age promised a limitless future. So using some small, costless gestures to make connections now was hardly anything for him. Qin Feng also put on a polite demeanor to acknowledge the bishop¡¯s care. After confirming with the Red Robed Bishop that he would depart with the group in two days, Qin Feng took his leave, saying he planned to tour the city. The Red Robed Bishop didn¡¯t mind this; in his view, a little priest who grew up in a remote town would not have seen the prosperity of a big city, and it was normal for Qin Feng to want to experience Lanton City. So, he didn¡¯t deter him and even meant to assign two knights to ensure Qin Feng¡¯s safety, but Qin Feng declined. He still needed to rescue Xiu Xin and having these two Church Guardian Knights by his side would be inconvenient. Qin Feng turned and walked out of the church, parting the crowd that had gathered in front of the church plaza, and approached the tied-up Xiu Xin. The two Guardian Knights next to the stake saw that he was a priest and did not stop him from approaching. Qin Feng carefully examined Xiu Xin¡¯s current condition and couldn¡¯t help but shake his head and sigh. The guy indeed looked miserable, not only covered in wounds but also with a significantly weakened presence, which made Qin Feng question whether Xiu Xin¡¯s Lifebound Spiritual Ghost had also suffered a serious injury. ¡°He is an Undead Mage?¡± Qin Feng asked the two Guardian Knights in surprise, ¡°Why do I not feel much of the undead aura from him?¡± ¡°We¡¯re not sure, maybe he hasn¡¯t been an Undead Mage for long and isn¡¯t completely tainted by the undead aura,¡± replied the knights with a shrug, ¡°Anyway, when Lord Doro brought him here, he said this guy could command the undead, summon zombies. Such a being must be an Undead Mage, of course.¡± ¡°I see.¡± Qin Feng nodded. It seemed Xiu Xin couldn¡¯t read the situation, to be using Corpse Refining and Ghost Items in a fight against the Light Church Court¡¯s people¡ªwasn¡¯t that asking for death? If Daoist Fellow Xiu Xin had any understanding of the major forces in this world, he should have recalled those Ghost Items and zombies he had raised. Had he fought using other Spells, there might have been no trouble, he could even have a chance to be taken into some special departments of the Light Church Court after being captured. After all, the special departments of the Light Church Court need Mages from other systems to work for them, and since they are not adept at training Mages from other systems themselves, they have to recruit from the outside. On the stake, Daoist Fellow Xiu Xin¡¯s ears twitched slightly. He seemed to hear a somewhat familiar voice. So, with great effort, he raised his head and opened his eyes to look forward. Then, he froze. Qin Feng? How could this guy be here? Even though Qin Feng had become much shorter, his face seemed more youthful than before, and even his aura had changed, none of this stopped him from recognizing Qin Feng at a glance. After all, he was a Cultivator from the Ghost Controlling Sect, and it was easy for him to discern some unique auras emitting from Qin Feng¡¯s person. In fact, even though Qin Feng had concealed all fluctuations in his Dantian and had made his aura of Light become richer after consuming the Dragon Spirit Fruit, in Daoist Fellow Xiu Xin¡¯s eyes, no matter how he changed, the distinct aura belonging to a Cultivator could not be concealed. Especially since Qin Feng had cultivated the Azure Dragon Divine Technique, a Body Refining Cultivation Technique that made his physique and temperament different from the Mages and warriors of this world. This was something that only Cultivators could scarcely perceive. Once he confirmed it was Qin Feng, a glimmer of hope sparked in Daoist Fellow Xiu Xin¡¯s eyes. It looked like he would not have to die. He was now severely injured, with barely one percent of his True Yuan remaining. He had no strength to break free from the chains that bound him, and even his Lifebound Spiritual Ghost had nearly dissipated under the special rays of light cast by those accursed Priests in the prior battle, leaving him incapable of using the Ghost Dao Escape Technique. Otherwise, once he used the Ghost Dao Escape Technique, his body would turn from solid to ethereal and immediately escape¡ªhow could these insignificant chains possibly hold him? Qin Feng glanced at Xiu Xin and used the Sound Transmission Skill to ask, ¡°Daoist Fellow Xiu Xin, how did you come to be in such a sorry state?¡± Daoist Fellow Xiu Xin¡¯s mouth moved slightly, gathering the last bit of his True Yuan to feebly reply through sound transmission, ¡°Don¡¯t get me started. I was previously escaping from a Flame Demon¡¯s pursuit when an accident happened, and I ended up in this world. As soon as I appeared, I was caught up in a battle, and then I was tied up here.¡± He paused for a moment, then curiously asked, ¡°And how did Daoist Fellow Qin come to this world? Don¡¯t tell me you were also inadvertently summoned by someone, just like I was?¡± ¡°Summoned?¡± Qin Feng was momentarily stunned, then immediately remembered the incident when the Lion Scorpion Beast was suddenly summoned away. He said in amazement, ¡°A Cultivator can be summoned? You actually agreed to sign a summoning contract in your own mind, becoming someone else¡¯s Summoning Beast?¡± As he said this, he couldn¡¯t suppress a shiver, nearly laughing out loud. If the Supreme Elders of the Ghost Controlling Sect learned that their True Disciple had become a Summoning Beast for creatures of another world, it would be interesting to see how unsightly their expressions would become. Although his face was devoid of a smile, the amusement in his eyes did not escape Daoist Fellow Xiu Xin. Daoist Fellow Xiu Xin immediately grew irritated, ¡°Don¡¯t speculate wildly. Do you think I¡¯m an idiot? Of course, it wasn¡¯t a contract I signed myself. It was a zombie that I had refined. It just so happened that I was brought along with it.¡± ¡°That¡¯s possible?¡± Qin Feng was surprised internally. But despite his curiosity, he didn¡¯t press on. After all, now was not the time for conversation. He said, ¡°You just wait here for a moment. There are a few experts in the church whose strength far exceeds mine. I will create some chaos elsewhere to draw those individuals away, and then I¡¯ll come and save you.¡± ¡°Alright, thank you, Daoist Fellow,¡± replied Daoist Fellow Xiu Xin. Daoist Fellow Xiu Xin said no more. When he had traveled through space to arrive here, his True Yuan had nearly depleted, leaving him with very little to use. So he closed his mouth and remained silent, planning to recover some energy so that he could escape with Qin Feng later. Qin Feng turned and left. His movement did not arouse any suspicion from others. To them, this small Priest had simply come to take a look at the Undead Mage before leaving with a face full of disgust, showing nothing but disdain for the Undead Mage from beginning to end. Qin Feng dispersed his Divine Sense, probing every corner of the city. However, he avoided places with strong auras, as those powerful individuals would definitely detect his probing. Even so, several Mages and Priests noticed his probing. Although his Divine Sense was much stronger than that of an average Mage, this did not mean others couldn¡¯t detect him. In fact, Mages who turned to cultivate spiritual power were very sensitive to Divine Sense probing. They just believed that the one probing was much stronger than them and didn¡¯t warrant the risk of offense, especially since Qin Feng¡¯s Divine Sense only swept by briefly and didn¡¯t pry into their privacy, hence no one cared too much about it. It didn¡¯t take long for Qin Feng to find a spot suitable for a little bit of sabotage. That place was a small church in the western part of the city. The church Qin Feng was currently at was located in the eastern rich district, while the western side was dominated by small merchants and vendors. Although the church was not particularly strong, it hosted a dozen Priests and Knights, and not far from it was a military camp, which appeared to be the city¡¯s garrison force of Lanton City. Qin Feng found a deserted area and quickly used the Shadow Transformation Divine Power to move toward the west. He had already formed the Divine Power Seed of the Shadow Transformation Technique while in the Demon Beast Forest. During his advancement to Golden Core, this Divine Power had been imprinted onto his Golden Core, becoming one of his Primordial Divine Powers. Now, as he deployed it, it was as if second nature to him. Chapter 309 - Chapter 309: Chapter 306: Be Gentle Chapter 309: Chapter 306: Be Gentle Qin Feng took a slight detour to avoid the Red Robed Archbishop and Doro Holy Knight chasing from afar, quickly heading towards the church. By the time he arrived at the square in front of the church, the commotion from the west side of the city had not yet reached there. After all, there were more than ten miles in between, and even though the Fire Ape had shown extreme ferocity earlier, it had actually been controlling its own Demonic Qi, to the extent that even its roars hadn¡¯t reached this area. Therefore, even the higher-ups inside the church were unaware of what exactly had happened; they had only sent out a team of Guardian Knights along with a few priests to the west side of the city, to investigate or rescue those injured in battle and cult members. Qin Feng changed into the Mage Robe he had worn previously in the Red Flame Demon Realm and put on a mask. After a moment¡¯s thought, he also took out the Sky Battle Halberd. It had been a long time since he had used this Divine Weapon, and today he would pretend to be a warrior. Though he couldn¡¯t use Fighting Energy, he had already advanced to Golden Core, and his command over Daoist methods had heightened by a level; mimicking the luminosity and fluctuations of Fighting Energy was still possible. After getting dressed up, Qin Feng¡¯s figure flashed, and he jumped out from a hidden spot, landing heavily on the square with a loud bang. Suddenly, the entire square shook vehemently a few times, and footprints about two feet deep appeared under Qin Feng¡¯s feet, with cracks spreading through the stone slabs within several yards around him. Such a domineering entrance immediately frightened the commoners who had gathered around to watch the Church Court execute the evil Undead Mage, causing their faces to change color as they quickly retreated to the distance. This suddenly appearing figure was clad in a long robe that faintly emitted Demonic Qi, holding a large and fearsome weapon in his hand, clearly not someone benevolent. And here he was, appearing at the church at the moment they were about to execute the evil Undead Mage, most likely associated with that mage. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í??.?0 Indeed, Qin Feng¡¯s next actions confirmed this. He swung his Long Spear, and a broad Fighting Energy Blade slashed toward the iron chains on the Undead Mage. This ¡®Fighting Energy¡¯ Blade was extremely sharp, cutting through the originally sturdy chains with a single hit. The two Guardian Knights guarding by the side shouted in anger, drawing their Cross Swords and charging toward Qin Feng. Qin Feng let out a strange laugh, swept his Big Spear horizontally and easily knocked the two Guardian Knights away like hitting rag dolls. He then stepped forward, reached out, and pulled out the iron nails embedded in Xiu Xin¡¯s palms. ¡°Are you alright?¡± Qin Feng asked. ¡°Not really.¡± Xiu Xin gave a bitter smile, ¡°I am severely injured. Earlier, in an attempt to dispel the overbearing Qi left in my body by the one who severely wounded me, I exhausted all my True Yuan and now lack the strength to use an Escape Skill.¡± ¡°No worries, I¡¯ll take you away now to heal you.¡± Qin Feng spoke and reached out to support his arm, preparing to leave the area. ¡°How audacious!¡± ¡°Is there really a heretic bold enough to come to our place for a rescue? Truly seeking death.¡± Just then, a group of Church Knights and several Red Robed Bishops suddenly charged out of the church. Leading them was none other than Aleksey, the leader of the church¡¯s Guardian Knights. As for the several Red Robed Bishops, they were bishops overseeing churches in other cities who were gathering here to go to Holy Mountain. Different from the Archbishop of Lanton City, these bishops were a level lower than the Archbishop; naturally, their strength wasn¡¯t as formidable, but they were comparable to Magic Guide Masters. ¡°Heretic, you shall be executed.¡± Aleksey, holding a Cross Sword, stepped forward and sent a crescent-shaped Fighting Energy Slash directly at Qin Feng. Aleksey was a late-stage Golden Knight, commanding hundreds of Church Knights in Lanton City, holding a position of high authority and power. He had led attacks on heretics several times before, finding it effortless, so he was somewhat haughty. Seeing Qin Feng, he immediately charged forward. In his view, this guy was no different from previous heretics. However, he soon paid the price for his recklessness. Qin Feng flicked his Big Spear. The heavy and wide body of the spear shattered the Fighting Energy Slash while also knocking away Aleksey¡¯s Cross Sword, subsequently stabbing forward in a fluid motion. The strike was incredibly fast. Even as Aleksey tried to dodge, he only managed to avoid the spear¡¯s blade but could not evade the Crescent Blade on the Sky Battle Halberd. With a swift movement, the wide and sharp Crescent Blade slashed across the waist armor of this Knight Leader. ¡°Ah¡­¡± Aleksey screamed, hurriedly retreating backwards, dropping his Cross Sword, his hands tightly clutching his waist, blood already gushing out like a fountain through his fingers. Actually, with his strength, he wouldn¡¯t normally fail to block even one of Qin Feng¡¯s moves. However, his pride and underestimation of Qin Feng, coupled with his unfamiliarity with Qin Feng¡¯s Martial Skills and weaponry, led to his quick defeat. A trace of terror appeared on Aleksey¡¯s face as he stared fixedly at Qin Feng, acutely aware that his intestines had been sliced by the opponent¡¯s weapon; had the weapon moved slightly further, it might have bisected him at the waist. This shocked him immensely. What kind of weapon was this, to be so sharp? Could it be a Subdivine Weapon, perhaps? The several Red Robed Bishops behind also changed expressions. To heavily injure a late-stage Golden Knight in one blow, it was likely that he was on the level of a Doro Holy Knight. With this thought, they immediately halted in their steps, not daring to move forward. For matters of life and death like this, it was better to let the Guardian Knights handle them; they were priests, better suited to hiding behind and casting Magic or performing rescues. Like the Knight Leader Aleksey, who was now severely injured and needed their healing. Thus, several Red Robed Bishops began chanting Spells, simultaneously casting Healing Techniques to treat Aleksey¡¯s wounds and sending out Magic signals for help to summon back the Archbishop and Holy Knight who had gone to the west side of the city. As long as those two returned, they would have nothing to fear. In the woods to the west of the city, the two archbishops were investigating. They were curious as to where the Fire Element Demon Beast had run off to, as it hadn¡¯t left even a trace of its presence. Just as they were puzzled, their expressions suddenly changed, and they turned to look toward the city, seeing that a Magic signal for help was coming from the direction of the church in the east. ¡°Not good, we¡¯ve been tricked!¡± ¡°Who dares to provoke the Light God Church again and again, even daring to attack my church?¡± The two didn¡¯t dare delay, seeing so many magic signals erupt at once; it must be very dangerous. They feared that being late could result in severe casualties, so they were flying back at full speed. Under the collaborative healing of several Red Robed Bishops, it wouldn¡¯t be long before Aleksey¡¯s originally fatal injuries would heal as if nothing had happened. The bishops had a simple plan: heal the injuries of this Knight Leader and then have him stand at the forefront, to prevent the opponent from charging at them directly. Meanwhile, the guardian knights fearlessly rushed toward Qin Feng. Even though they had seen their leader severely wounded by the man in the black robe, there was still no fear in their eyes; they all charged crazily. The Church Knights lived their lives in the church, filled with thoughts of loyalty to the Church Court, completely unafraid of death. Then, they actually died. After all, not fearing death doesn¡¯t mean one can¡¯t die. Qin Feng had no time to tangle with these knights; he had already sensed two powerful presences rapidly approaching from the west. He had to leave before those two powerhouses returned, at the very least move away from the vicinity of the church, and then hide. So he spared no effort, and although he did not use the Azure Dragon Battle Skill, he still struck with all his might. The advancement of the Azure Dragon Daoist Body gave him tremendous strength; the Sky Battle Halberd, a Divine Weapon, was equally formidable, easily slicing through the knights¡¯ Cross Swords and their Knight Armor. In just a few breaths, the square was littered with corpses, dozens of guardian knights slain by him. Next, Qin Feng swung the War Halberd in his hand multiple times, slashing several broad ¡®Fighting Energy Blades,¡¯ then, taking advantage of the guardian knights not yet surrounding him, he quickly picked up Xiu Xin, his figure flashing as he ran swiftly to the distance. Behind him, the Red Robed Bishops and white-robed Priests cast Light Element Magic, whether it be Light Arrow Rain, Magic Missiles, or the Light Spear, various long-range attack magic aimed at Qin Feng. But before these spells could reach him, they were all shattered one by one by the swings of Qin Feng¡¯s War Halberd, and shortly after, before the priests could continue chanting their magic spells, his figure rapidly disappeared from the street. The guardian knights chased after him for a while but soon realized they couldn¡¯t locate Qin Feng at all, and could only return in frustration. Moments later, the Archbishop and Doro Holy Knight quickly returned, and upon seeing the scene of corpses strewn across the square, their faces turned pale. Only upon discovering that the dead were merely ordinary guardian knights and that there were no high-ranking officials among the casualties did their faces slightly relax, though they still looked terribly upset. ¡°What happened?¡± The Archbishop landed and asked the crowd. ¡°Reporting to the Archbishop, a heretic came to rescue that Undead Mage, and then¡­¡± ¡°How many people came?¡± ¡°Just one.¡± ¡°Hmph, a bunch of useless trash.¡± The Archbishop cursed angrily, ¡°Such heavy losses, and you couldn¡¯t even detain a single heretic?¡± ¡°Archbishop, it¡¯s not that we didn¡¯t want to capture that heretic, he was simply too powerful.¡± A Red Robed Bishop said, ¡°That person only made one move and severely injured Aleksey. If we hadn¡¯t rescued him in time, Aleksey might already be dead.¡± ¡°What? One move severely injured Aleksey?¡± The faces of the Archbishop and the Doro Holy Knight changed. ¡°Could it be that a Sword Saint Level individual has come?¡± ¡°This¡­¡± Several Red Robed Bishops exchanged glances, then hesitantly said, ¡°We¡¯re not quite sure. His War Power is very strong, but if he really were a Sword Saint, he should have been able to defeat us easily. Yet, he quickly fled, and the way he resisted our spells when he left didn¡¯t seem like that of a Sword Saint.¡± ¡°A Quasi-Sword Saint, perhaps?¡± Holy Knight Doro nodded. ¡°That would still be an extremely strong War Power. Which direction did he run?¡± ¡°South.¡± One of the Guardian Knights said, ¡°He ran faster than a Unicorn. We followed him south for a street but then lost track of him.¡± Holy Knight Doro and the Archbishop exchanged looks. ¡°It seems that the demon beast must be his Demon Pet. He only feigned an attack to lure us out, aiming to rescue the Undead Mage that I had captured.¡± The Red Robed Archbishop nodded slightly, then with a frown said, ¡°For a mere Undead Mage, a Quasi-Sword Saint Level expert came to risk a rescue. It seems the identity of that Undead Mage is no simple matter.¡± ¡°Speaking of which, that Undead Mage is indeed somewhat different from other Undead Mages. His Magic and Undead seem somewhat strange.¡± Holy Knight Doro shook his head. He was not well-versed in Magic and didn¡¯t know how to describe the differences. After thinking for a moment, he stood up and flew south. ¡°I¡¯ll go search to see if I can still trace him.¡± ¡­ Qin Feng hadn¡¯t run very far. In fact, he hadn¡¯t even left Lanton City. After leaving the street where the church was, he used the Earth Escape Divine Power in an unseen spot to hide his presence and dived underground, then headed westward through the city. He found an empty room near the church damaged by the Fire Ape and settled Xiu Xin there. No masters from the Church Court would come to this place for the time being, at most some ordinary priests and knights to clean up the damaged church. He placed Xiu Xin on the bed, his actions somewhat rough, causing Xiu Xin to wince in pain. ¡°Endure it. Can¡¯t a big man like you handle this little pain?¡± Qin Feng replied irritably, ¡°Back when I was cultivating the Azure Dragon Daoist Body in the Dragon Transformation Pond, I stayed there for so long without making a sound. Your resilience is really too weak.¡± Xiu Xin helplessly said, ¡°Look at my current condition. I can¡¯t even muster a bit of True Yuan, enduring this much is already pretty good.¡± ¡°Let me see.¡± Qin Feng pulled open his clothes but failed to notice that the blood on his wounds had already scabbed and stuck to his clothes, causing Xiu Xin to roll his eyes in pain. ¡°I¡¯m telling you to be gentle. I might not die by those guys¡¯ hands, but you might end up killing me.¡± ¡°With me here, how can I let you die so easily?¡± Qin Feng waved his hand, and instantly a milky-white light appeared and landed on Xiu Xin. This was the Healing Divine Power derived from the Azure Dragon Divine Technique when he had absorbed too much of the Power of Giant Dragon Origin and combined it with the Azure Dragon Daoist Body. Chapter 310 - Chapter 310: Chapter 307: Go with the Flow, Undead Mage Chapter 310: Chapter 307: Go with the Flow, Undead Mage With a surge of white light entering his body, Xiu Xin couldn¡¯t help but let out a comfortable moan. It was truly blissful. The deep, bone-deep wounds on his body immediately sprouted new flesh and healed rapidly, even the several broken ribs healed quickly under Qin Feng¡¯s Healing Divine Power. Although disciples of the Ghost Controlling Sect practiced Ghost Controlling and Corpse Refining, they were different from Undead Mages. Undead Mages had an abundance of Death Qi in their bodies. If touched by Qin Feng¡¯s Healing Holy Light, not only would it do no healing, but it could likely kill them. Xiu Xin¡¯s True Yuan still belonged to Daoism, and though his body inevitably had some Ghost Energy and Yin Qi, these were unrelated to his body, enabling Qin Feng to easily heal his injuries. Of course, these were only external injuries. Xiu Xin¡¯s serious injuries were internal ones. Previously, his Lifebound Spiritual Ghost was severely injured by a strike from Holy Knight Doro, nearly dissipating, thereby affecting Xiu Xin¡¯s Divine Sense and Origin. Later, to counteract the Light Fighting Energy left in his body by the Holy Knight, his internal True Yuan was completely depleted. Qin Feng¡¯s Healing Divine Power could currently only heal external wounds, not touching the Origin nor capable of healing Xiu Xin¡¯s Lifebound Spiritual Ghost. This Healing Divine Power itself was a Physical Body Divine Power born from the combination of the Yimu Vitality contained in the Azure Dragon Daoist Body and Power of Giant Dragon Origin, infused with powerful Light Power. Xiu Xin¡¯s Lifebound Spiritual Ghost was extremely Yin and pure and was heavily injured. He wouldn¡¯t dare allow Qin Feng¡¯s healing light to touch it, for even a slight contact could grind away the last of his Soul True Spirit and lead to his ultimate demise. Even so, Xiu Xin was utterly shocked by Qin Feng¡¯s Healing Divine Power. Such potent healing capabilities, if faced with a rival of equal strength, could simply exchange injury for injury, surely exhausting the opponent to death. After his external wounds were healed, Xiu Xin felt a surge of energy. He sat up and, smiling at Qin Feng, said, ¡°I didn¡¯t expect your Beast Taming Sect to possess such powerful Healing Divine Power, truly impressive, oh? Your aura¡­ have you advanced to the Golden Core Realm?¡± Although his True Yuan had not recovered, his Divine Sense was still present. Qin Feng, while applying Healing Divine Power, made no attempt to conceal his aura, which is how Xiu Xin sensed Qin Feng¡¯s current Cultivation. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í?0.?? This gave him another shock. He hadn¡¯t expected Qin Feng to have cultivated to the Golden Core Realm so quickly. When they first met, Qin Feng¡¯s Cultivation wasn¡¯t even as high as his, yet now he had advanced ahead of him. Qin Feng nodded modestly, ¡°I am ashamed to admit, having used countless resources of the Sect as a True Disciple, I only advanced to Golden Core a few days ago, I truly owe a lot to the affection of the Sect elders. As for this Healing Divine Power, I awakened it when I reached the Golden Core a few days ago, and currently, it only heals superficial wounds. If the injuries affect the Origin, I am powerless.¡± He spoke a bit boastfully. Of course, he did so on purpose, just to show off in front of Xiu Xin. Thus, he wouldn¡¯t admit to Xiu Xin that he had intentionally not concealed his aura to let Xiu Xin sense it. Previously, being alone here, he had no friends to talk to, so now that he had met Daoist Fellow Xiu Xin from the Ghost Controlling Sect, he naturally wanted to boast a bit and satisfy his own pride, relaxing his tense spirit as well. After all, exploring the truths of a world alone put great pressure on him. Especially having previously infiltrated Druidism, constantly being in a tribe overseen by a Great Druid, he was always on edge, careful not to reveal himself, keeping his spirit continuously tense. Hearing this, Xiu Xin involuntarily grimaced. Why did it always seem like this guy was showing off, behaving as though he was flaunting something in front of him? Moreover, what was his intention in saying this in front of him? ¡°I am also a True Disciple in the Ghost Controlling Sect!¡± ¡°I haven¡¯t advanced to the Golden Core Realm yet. By saying that, where do you put my face?¡± Qin Feng did not continue to flaunt with him. With such a big incident happening at the church, he could not stay outside for too long and had to return soon, so he directly asked, ¡°You mentioned earlier that you were summoned here, what¡¯s that about?¡± ¡°Don¡¯t mention it, I¡¯ve been unlucky recently, always running into unfortunate situations.¡± Daoist Fellow Xiu Xin said with distress, ¡°I had sneaked into a city of the Demon Clan, planning to make a big move to garner enough cultivation resources. Although I was about to succeed, an unexpected error occurred, and I could only flee in haste. Even so, I was still embarrassingly chased by many generals of the Demon Clan. Later, as they chased me into a dead end, I happened to encounter a strange summoning contract. Originally, the contract was meant to summon another demon beast, but it just so happened that the demon beast was killed by my Silver-Armored Corpse, and then the summoning contract fell onto my Silver-Armored Corpse. Because the killing of the demon beast was rather loud, those Demon Clan generals chased after me again. With no escape and no other choice, I let the Silver-Armored Corpse agree to the contract, and then I used the Ghost Dao Secret Method to merge with my Lifebound Spiritual Ghost, transforming into an illusory soul body attached to the Silver-Armored Corpse, and traveled through space to this world. Through the Silver-Armored Corpse, I got some understanding of the contract. I knew that after being summoned there, after a certain amount of time, it would be repelled by the world¡¯s principles and then sent back to its original location by the force of the contract. At that time, I thought since there was no way to escape, I might as well hide in another world first, and then return with the Silver-Armored Corpse after those demons had left.¡± ¡°Is that even possible?¡± Qin Feng listened with great interest, ¡°What about your Silver-Armored Corpse then? So much time has passed, it must have fulfilled the contract and been sent back, right?¡± The expression on Daoist Fellow Xiu Xin¡¯s face turned sour, ¡°It really was sent back.¡± ¡°Why didn¡¯t you go back with it?¡± ¡°I didn¡¯t have time.¡± Daoist Fellow Xiu Xin bittered with a smile, ¡°It can only be said that man plans, heaven decides. My plan was good, but I didn¡¯t expect that just as I arrived in this world, before I could even stabilize, I was attacked. It was a battlefield, where two groups were fighting fiercely. Being forced into a corner, I had to fight those who attacked me. But to my surprise, those people were incredibly powerful, and it only took moments before they separated me and my Silver-Armored Corpse. Those guys were very strong, apart from one who could rival a Purple Mansion Cultivator, he also had many powerful people under his command. They surrounded my Silver-Armored Corpse and me in different camps, and then when the summoning time for the Silver-Armored Corpse was up, it was directly transported away, and I couldn¡¯t even make it in time to reunite with it, leaving me stranded in this Exotic Realm World.¡± ¡°Hehe¡­¡± At this, Qin Feng suddenly laughed a bit maliciously, ¡°How was it? Were you particularly desperate then?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± Daoist Fellow Xiu Xin nodded, ¡°At that time, I felt as good as dead. With my cultivation, I simply didn¡¯t have the ability to traverse space and find my way back to the original world. I thought I¡¯d be trapped in this world for life. Moreover, at that time I was still under siege, and was severely injured by a Holy Knight in one strike, and my Lifebound Spiritual Ghost almost perished directly. After being captured alive, I had no strength to escape and could only wait to be burnt alive, luckily I met Daoist Fellow Qin.¡± At this point, he looked at Qin Feng with curiosity, ¡°How did you come to this world? Surely you weren¡¯t summoned like I was?¡± ¡°That¡¯s not it, I was transported here.¡± Qin Feng smiled, ¡°I had subdued a Lion Scorpion Beast in the Red Flame Demon Realm. That Lion Scorpion Beast had been summoned to this world, so I reported this matter to the Sect.¡± Grandmaster Kongkong had tampered with that Lion Scorpion Beast, originally planning to slowly ascertain the position of this world. Unfortunately, the Lion Scorpion Beast was unlucky and was killed by someone right after it was summoned for the second time. Since the Lion Scorpion Beast was subdued by me and still bore the Binding Spell I left on it, Grandmaster Kongkong consulted with me to send me to this realm before the remnants of his backup plan on the beast faded. He wanted me to locate the spatial weak points of this realm, set up a Positioning Array, and prepare for future plans.¡± ¡°So that¡¯s how it is.¡± Upon hearing this, Xiu Xin finally understood why Qin Feng had appeared in this distant exotic realm world. ¡°Since it was the revered Elder Kongkong from your sect who sent you here, does that mean you also definitely have a way to leave this realm?¡± Xiu Xin stared unblinkingly at Qin Feng, looking at him with hopeful eyes. ¡°Indeed, there is.¡± ¡°That¡¯s wonderful! When you go back, could you possibly take me with you?¡± Xiu Xin joyfully said, ¡°If I hadn¡¯t encountered Daoist Fellow Qin, even if I luckily escaped death this time, I might have been trapped in this world for a lifetime.¡± Qin Feng thought for a moment and said, ¡°Taking Daoist Fellow with me is no issue, but the Transmission Array Plate Grandmaster Kongkong provided me can only guide one person. We might need to inconvenience Daoist Fellow to temporarily reside inside a Space Magical Treasure, so that I can bring Daoist Fellow Xiu Xin back with me.¡± ¡°No worries, no worries.¡± Xiu Xin waved his hand. ¡°Being able to go back is enough, otherwise, staying in this world, I may not have a chance to attain Tao.¡± ¡°If Daoist Fellow has no objections, then of course there¡¯s no problem.¡± Qin Feng nodded his head, then added, ¡°However, I still have tasks to complete. Daoist Fellow might need to wait a few more years, as my main objective in coming to this realm is to locate the spatial weak points and set up the Positioning Array. These places are not easy to find.¡± ¡°That¡¯s okay, I¡¯ll help you look.¡± Xiu Xin said, ¡°The spatial weak points are generally located at the world¡¯s nodes. Those places are often more or less dangerous. If we work together, we¡¯ll be better situated to accomplish this.¡± ¡°In that case, I appreciate Daoist Fellow¡¯s effort.¡± Qin Feng was very pleased to have another helper. Xiu Xin, after all, was a genius of the Ghost Controlling Sect. Once his injuries were healed, he would likely be able to attain the Golden Core in no time. Furthermore, with the various techniques of the Ghost Controlling Sect, Xiu Xin would definitely be a great help to him in the future. ¡°Daoist Fellow Xiu Xin, do you have any Elixir Pills to heal your injuries? If not, I have some decent Spirit Pills here, although I don¡¯t have many that work on the divine soul.¡± Qin Feng said, reaching into his Storage Bag to pull out a few bottles of elixirs. ¡°No need, no need.¡± Xiu Xin quickly waved his hand. ¡°Having been saved by Daoist Fellow, I already owe you a great favor; how can I accept your Spirit Pills? Rest assured, I have plenty of Spirit Pills myself, including some for healing the divine soul.¡± Seeing his response, Qin Feng did not insist further. He also knew that the Ghost Controlling Sect had an extensive understanding of souls and having more elixirs for healing the divine soul was common for them. ¡°Speaking of which, Daoist Fellow Qin.¡± Xiu Xin remembered something and asked, ¡°Earlier, it seemed like you were with those who captured me?¡± ¡°Correct.¡± Qin Feng smiled and said, ¡°I am currently posing as a priest from the Light God Church, preparing to go to the Holy Mountain of the Light God Church to participate in the selection of the Saint Heir.¡± ¡°Selection of the Saint Heir?¡± ¡°That¡¯s right. After I arrived in this realm, I first joined Druidism, and then¡­¡± Qin Feng didn¡¯t hide anything from Xiu Xin. These matters weren¡¯t something worth concealing, as Xiu Xin would find out about the existence of Druidism if he stayed in this realm long enough. Eventually, he would guess Qin Feng¡¯s interest in the heritage of Druidism. Rather than letting him guess, it was better to be upfront from the beginning. ¡°Who would have thought Daoist Fellow would have such an opportunity.¡± After hearing about Druidism, Xiu Xin was instantly envious. Indeed, the cultivation methods of Druidism could greatly assist the disciples of the Beast Taming Sect. Qin Feng might gain significant attention from the upper echelons of the Beast Taming Sect once he brought back the inheritance of transforming into Demon Beasts from Druidism. Seeing the envy in his eyes, Qin Feng thought for a moment and smiled, ¡°Daoist Fellow Xiu Xin need not be envious. Although this realm has become a battleground for gods competing for faith, resulting in the beings here not developing much novelty in power, there are still some cultivation techniques that could be useful to your sect.¡± ¡°Oh?¡± Xiu Xin was overjoyed upon hearing this. ¡°Daoist Fellow arrived in this world before me and must have learned many things. Please teach me.¡± ¡°Heh¡­¡± Qin Feng chuckled lightly. ¡°Daoist Fellow may not know, but the undead mages of this realm have formed their unique branch. They are not only skilled in manipulating Dead Souls and Undead Beings but can also communicate with the Netherworld and summon undead warriors from the Netherworld for battle. Moreover, their undead magic also has many aspects that could be useful for Daoist Fellow to learn from.¡± ¡°Undead mages?¡± Xiu Xin pondered for a moment and said, ¡°Earlier, I indeed heard those knights calling me an Undead Mage, though I didn¡¯t pay attention to it at the time. Now it seems they regarded me as one because I dealt with Ghost Items and Zombies. Well, in that case, I should really discuss and exchange ideas with some undead mages. Thank you for the guidance, Daoist Fellow Qin. If I achieve something later on, I will definitely not forget the kindness you showed me.¡± ¡°Daoist Fellow Xiu Xin is too courteous.¡± Qin Feng smiled and didn¡¯t make much of it. Even if he hadn¡¯t mentioned these things, Xiu Xin could have found out on his own. In that case, it was better to offer a favor freely. Chapter 311 - Chapter 311: Chapter 308 Nine-Headed Snake Chapter 311: Chapter 308 Nine-Headed Snake Qin Feng felt that he had already spent quite some time outside and needed to hurry back to the church, otherwise returning too late would certainly prompt questions. So, he said, ¡°Daoist Fellow, you are injured now, so you should rest well first, and once your injuries recover, we can make another appointment to discuss in detail. However, since you have shown your face before the high ranks of the Light God Church, you will need to be careful and cautious in the future. Do not expose your whereabouts; otherwise, given the extreme style of the Light God Church towards heretics, I fear they will constantly hunt you down.¡± ¡°Hunt me down?¡± Xiu Xin snorted coldly, ¡°They made me so embarrassed last time, it¡¯s already good enough that I haven¡¯t gone looking for trouble with them, and they dare to pursue me? Rest assured, Daoist Fellow, with my methods, as long as I don¡¯t encounter that Holy Knight-level expert from before, no one else will be able to catch me.¡± Qin Feng nodded his head, strongly agreeing. In the Cultivation World, there are countless mysterious techniques, and the tactics of the disciples of the Ghost Controlling Sect are particularly unpredictable, something that Qin Feng had witnessed before and indeed could not be compared by the knights and mages of this world. However, this does not mean that the cultivation methods of this world have no merit. Just like the Druid¡¯s Transformation Technique, or the Light Element Magic of the Light God Church, each has its unique aspects. Therefore, he still advised, ¡°Daoist Fellow Xiu Xin, do not be careless, the cultivation system of the Light God Church isn¡¯t like the Pure Yang, but it is an extremely extreme path of light, which tolerates not the slightest impurity, and is therefore most restraining against evil power. If you face someone from the Light God Church in the future, do not easily use Ghost Items and Zombies; otherwise, you may well suffer losses.¡± Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ??¦Í??.§ã¦Ï ¡°Thank you for the reminder, Daoist Fellow.¡± Xiu Xin spoke gravely, ¡°In the previous battle, I have already seen that those people from the Light God Church indeed restrain the Ghost Items I cultivate, which caught me off guard and resulted in a severe injury to my Lifebound Spiritual Ghost, or I wouldn¡¯t have been without a chance to escape.¡± Had his Lifebound Spiritual Ghost not been severely wounded by the Holy Knight Lord Doro, even if Xiu Xin had been captured, he could still have used the Ghost Dao Escape Technique to dissolve into nothingness, breaking free from the chains and finding an opportunity to escape. Precisely because of personal experience, he had a clear understanding of the power of the Light Element. Nevertheless, he wasn¡¯t too worried, for power counteraction also depends on circumstances, just as water counters fire, yet confronted with a stronger Spiritual Fire, water can still be boiled and evaporated. Therefore, in the Cultivation World, there are many Cultivators who practice Fire Element Techniques who are powerful enough to slay Cultivators practicing Water Element Techniques. All in all, it¡¯s about the comparative strength between both parties and their respective combat abilities. The disciples of the Ghost Controlling Sect, although they are best at commanding Ghost Items in combat, aren¡¯t limited to just Taming Objects ¨C after all, they are still Cultivators who can use various spells and Divine Skills and understand the ritual of refining Magical Treasure Divine Weapons. They are not as easily controlled by the Light God Church as the Undead Mages of this world. Moreover, there are also many strong Undead Mages who can likewise rely on a vast number of Undead to kill the priests and knights of the Light God Church. As long as one¡¯s strength is strong enough and one¡¯s methods are numerous, there is no such thing as absolute restraint. ¡°Since you are aware, Daoist Fellow, I won¡¯t say much more.¡± Qin Feng nodded his head and stood up to say, ¡°Then I will leave first. I can¡¯t stay at the Holy Mountain for long. Let¡¯s do this: this place is not safe to dwell in. You should find a safe place to rest properly. A month from now, let¡¯s meet at Algu Mountain, outside of Iron Wall City. That is a buffer zone between the Light God Church and its various nations, and the nations that worship the Nature God System. Generally, members of the Light God Church wouldn¡¯t dare to enter that area casually. Although the Nature God System likewise does not favor the Undead Type Mages, they will not go out of their way to target them. Even if you use Zombies or Fierce Ghosts as your enemies, it shouldn¡¯t be too much of a problem. As far as I know, there should be some traces of Undead Mages there. You can also travel to the other countries that worship the Nature God System.¡± Having said that, Qin Feng gave a brief overview of the distribution of the forces of the various churches to Xiu Xin, then informed him of the route to Algu Mountain. ¡°Thank you for the guidance, Daoist Brother.¡± Xiu Xin bowed in gratitude, ¡°As Daoist Brother is heading to Light Holy Mountain, it¡¯s indeed not convenient for me to go there now, even if I did go, I wouldn¡¯t be able to help you with anything and would only cause more trouble. Thus, I¡¯ll go to Algu Mountain first to wait for your arrival.¡± At this point, his address for Qin Feng had become a little closer, changing from Daoist Fellow to Daoist Brother. He took out a Communication Spirit Talisman from his Storage Bag and handed it to Qin Feng, ¡°Daoist Brother, keep this talisman on you, and just activate it when you arrive. As long as I am within a thousand miles, I will receive your message.¡± Although he was captured by the knights of the Light God Church and had some things on him taken away, those knights didn¡¯t know the goods; they only took a few decorative items from him, mostly Magic Jewelry that Xiu Xin had prepared during his time in the Red Flame Demon Realm. However, they did not touch his Storage Bag. It was only that they felt the small bag was empty and thought there was nothing in it, so they didn¡¯t care. After all, knights had only heard of Space Rings, but not Storage Bags, which is why most of Xiu Xin¡¯s belongings were preserved. Qin Feng took the talisman, ¡°Alright, then I will be going. Daoist Fellow, take care.¡± ¡°Take care.¡± They bid each other farewell with a bow. Qin Feng¡¯s figure twisted, vanishing into the shadows as he headed toward the east of the city. Watching Qin Feng once again display the Shadow Transformation Divine Power, Xiu Xin couldn¡¯t help but feel deeply moved. Today, from meeting Qin Feng to now, he discovered Qin Feng had displayed several Divine Skills. From the Earth Escape Divine Power that helped him escape, to the Healing Divine Power that treated his injuries, and now the Shadow Transformation Divine Power, that was already three skills. However, Xiu Xin knew that Qin Feng must have more than just these three Divine Skills. Because he had heard of Qin Feng¡¯s fame outside the Mountain Gate of the Beast Taming Sect, and knew his Lifebound Spiritual Beast was the Exotic Species Spiritual Snake Ruyi Golden Snake, he guessed that Qin Feng must have at least one offensive Divine Skill. After all, as a True Disciple of the Beast Taming Sect, it would be impossible not to have at least one offensive Divine Skill. Even thinking deeper, the fact that Qin Feng had made his body so small was likely also due to a Divine Skill. So it seemed that he must have cultivated at least five Divine Skills. You don¡¯t realize the full extent until you start counting and then it¡¯s truly surprising. Only now did Xiu Xin recognize how formidable Qin Feng was. Hearing what Qin Feng had said earlier, the fact that he could possess so many Divine Skills just a few days after advancing to the Golden Core stage showed how profound his foundations must be. It seemed that he himself needed to make more effort, otherwise, once he advanced to the Golden Core stage, he was likely to fall behind Qin Feng immediately. Xiu Xin, although usually detached, now felt a surge of competitiveness. As a True Disciple of a Major Sect, he would absolutely not allow himself to be greatly inferior to others. Therefore, he sat down cross-legged, took out a Spirit Pill, and swallowed it, preparing to quickly recover from his injuries. While Xiu Xin was figuring out how to catch up with Qin Feng¡¯s cultivation process, Qin Feng had already returned to the church in the east of the city. Looking at the square that, although corpses had been removed, still had many bloodstains remaining, a look of shock crossed his face, ¡°What happened here?¡± He grabbed a young Priest and asked, ¡°I just stepped out for a moment, how did it become like this here? Wasn¡¯t there only one Undead Mage burned to death today? How come it looks as if many people died?¡± His face was full of bewilderment and shock, acting as if the earlier events had nothing to do with him at all. ¡°Indeed, many people died.¡± The young Priest said, ¡°Not long ago, the accomplice of that Undead Mage used a strategy to divert Archbishop Doro and Lord Doro and then forcefully rescued the Undead Mage, killing many Guardian Knights in the process. Even the Knight Leader and Golden Knight in his late stage, Aleksey, was severely injured by the attacker who came to rescue people. If it weren¡¯t for several Red Robed Bishops joining forces to cast a level ten Light Magic Great Healing Technique, Aleksey might have died as well.¡± For some reason, Qin Feng always felt a hint of schadenfreude in the young Priest¡¯s tone, along with a bit of relief. However, he had no desire to delve deeper; the mental activities of a minor Priest had nothing to do with him. He just expressed his astonishment, ¡°Even a Golden Knight can be severely injured with one strike. Even a Holy Knight would not possess such formidable strength. Could it be that a Demigod strong enough to rescue the Undead Knight came?¡± ¡°How could that be? Would a Demigod come to save a mere Undead Mage?¡± The young Priest scoffed mockingly before saying, ¡°According to Doro Holy Knight, it likely was just a Quasi-Sword Saint level strong one.¡± ¡°No way?¡± Qin Feng exclaimed, ¡°A Quasi-Sword Saint can defeat a Golden Knight in the late stage with one move?¡± ¡°Heh, it¡¯s just Aleksey being careless.¡± The young Priest laughed and said, ¡°That guy was overconfident in his combat power and so was somewhat contemptuous. That¡¯s why he was easily defeated. Now, he¡¯s lost face.¡± ¡°Hm, indeed a loss of face. A Quasi-Sword Saint is still within the range of a Golden Warrior, yet Aleksey, as a Knight in the late Golden stage, couldn¡¯t even withstand a single blow. It will probably become the humiliation of his life.¡± Qin Feng was blunt in belittling the Knight Leader. The more powerful he made out the person who rescued the evil Undead Mage to be, the less likely it was for anyone to suspect him. ¡°That¡¯s why Priests are better,¡± the young Priest continued, ¡°Us Priests don¡¯t need to charge to the front in battle, we just need to cast magic from the rear, so it¡¯s rare for us to encounter danger. Unlike those Guardian Knights, who will be the first to charge into battle, and every year, a lot of them die as a result.¡± Listening to him, Qin Feng immediately understood the young man¡¯s mindset; it was nothing but mutual disdain between different power systems. Mages looked down on the rude Warrior System, while Warriors despised the weak physique of Mages. However, in battle, it was indeed usually the Knights protecting the Priests, ensuring a very low death rate among Priests. After chatting with the young Priest outside for a while, Qin Feng returned to the church and, led by the Attendant, went to the room that had been arranged for him beforehand. The next two days passed without incident for Qin Feng. Although the Archbishop unleashed his fury due to the loss of many subordinates, sending people to conduct a thorough search of the entire city, it was unlikely to affect Qin Feng. As for Xiu Xin, as long as he could restore some True Yuan, he was able to use various special means to easily avoid the Knights¡¯ search. Two days later, Qin Feng joined the massive group gathered from different parts of the Orton Kingdom¡ªthousands of people¡ªheaded to the heartland of the Light God Church, the Light Holy Mountain. The Light Holy Mountain was located in the west of the continent, at the edge of the Endless Sea. The climate there was mild all year round, the land fertile and suitable for living. Therefore, not only was the Light Holy Mountain there, but also a large population of faithful Cult Members. However, the journey from the Orton Kingdom to the Light Holy Mountain would pass through several states and take a long journey. This group, not only numerous and powerful with many Guardian Knights and Priests, but also with the presence of powerful beings like Doro Holy Knight, was expected to reach the Holy Mountain smoothly without incident. Unexpectedly, an accident still occurred midway. As their fleet was passing through a wide river, a snake head suddenly emerged from the underwater. The snake head was huge, evidently belonging to a massive python-like Demon Beast. Normally, this wouldn¡¯t be an issue, as high-level Demon Beasts possess certain intelligence, and many level nine Demon Beasts were no less intelligent than humans. The Giant Dragon Clan, for instance, had a unique heritage. The python head that rose from under the water merely glanced over from a distance without approaching to attack the Church¡¯s transport fleet. However, there were people idle and bored enough to tease the Giant Snake for fun, hoping to kill this high-level Demon Beast, obtain a high-level Demon Core, and strip its skin to make leather armor. This is why high-level Demon Beasts were rarely seen within the Human Clan¡¯s nations. But, when the magic unleashed by a few overconfident Priests hit the Demon Snake, a terrifying scene ensued. First, the Demon Snake let out an angry hiss, and then, suddenly, eight more snake heads rose from beneath the surface. Chapter 312 - Chapter 312: Chapter 309 Water Battle Between Two Types of Demon Snakes Chapter 312: Chapter 309 Water Battle Between Two Types of Demon Snakes ¡°So many high-level Demon Snakes?¡± From a distance, some still confused people on other ships curiously looked towards the water surface and sighed, ¡°That many high-level Demon Snakes, if all killed, would be a huge fortune.¡± ¡°Let me count, one, two, three¡­ eight, nine, wow, actually nine high-level Demon Snakes have appeared together, this is really too rare. Could it be that this river is still a nest of Demon Snakes?¡± ¡°I wonder if there are any high-level Demon Snake eggs, if there are, they¡¯d be worth a lot of money.¡± ¡°What nonsense are you talking about?¡± One of the Guardian Knights, a Golden Knight, turned pale, ¡°A bunch of idiots, haven¡¯t you noticed something wrong with the aura of that snake?¡± ¡°Wrong? What¡¯s wrong with it?¡± ¡°Fools, that¡¯s a Nine-Stage Middle-rank Demon Beast, the Nine-Headed Snake.¡± ¡°Ni¡­ Nine-Headed Snake?¡± As soon as these words were spoken, all the personnel on the ship fell silent as if struck by a chill. Nine-Stage Demon Beasts were a synonym for powerful and fierce. Although Human Clan¡¯s Holy Knights and Great Magic Guide Masters are considered comparable to Nine-Stage Demon Beasts, ordinary Saint-level Experts can only match against Nine-Stage Basic-level Demon Beasts at best. After all, the human physique determines that the power and magic they can accommodate are far less than that of the massive Demon Beasts, meaning they fundamentally fall short in strength compared to Demon Beasts. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï???.§ã0 Of course, this also depends on the level of Cultivation the Human Clan experts have reached. Although it is very rare for experts from various forces to kill Nine-Stage Upper-rank Demon Beasts with their own strength, it¡¯s not unheard of. Because, Human Clan experts know how to use Magic Equipment, and in this regard, they are unmatched by Demon Beasts. A fully-equipped expert might possess top-level Magic Equipment, or even Divine Artifacts or Subdivine Artifacts, which greatly amplify their War Power, allowing them to directly confront Demon Beasts that are stronger than themselves. On the water surface, as the Nine-Headed Snake continued to rise, the majority of its body gradually emerged. You could see a thick snake body from which branched off nine relatively slender necks, each ending in a head. Of course, this ¡°slender¡± is relative, as each neck below the serpent¡¯s heads was thicker than the trunk of a tree that two people could barely wrap their arms around. Including the part of its body that was not exposed under the water, it was at least twenty to thirty zhang in length. The eighteen emerald eyes of the Nine-Headed Snake exuded a chilling and gloomy coldness, revealing rows of fine, sharp fangs within its open mouths that resembled numerous deadly short daggers. Its body was covered with dark cyan scales, each one the size of a palm, thick and solid, making it obvious that it possessed incredibly strong defensive capabilities. ¡°Damn it!¡± Holy Knight Doro, who had been resting in the ship¡¯s cabin, along with the two Red Robed Archbishops in charge of the church affairs of other kingdoms who had joined mid-journey, instantly sensed that something was wrong. They quickly left the cabin only to drastically change their expression, ¡°How could there be a Nine-Headed Snake here? Which idiot provoked the Nine-Headed Snake?¡± They couldn¡¯t help but be alarmed. Their trip to the Holy Mountain this time was not just a simple report; in the party, they were also escorting numerous young Priests carefully cultivated by various churches to participate in the selection of the Saint Heir. Although these people were largely meant for support, they also had substantial use, otherwise, so many priests wouldn¡¯t be prepared for every selection event. Moreover, in this assembly of thousands, they were essentially the elite from churches in various cities. If they were to fight with this fierce Nine-Headed Snake, its massive strength would undoubtedly be enough to easily destroy their ships, killing many in the process. If it cast a Forbidden Curse, in bad luck maybe only a few among these thousands would survive. Thinking of this, Holy Knight Doro hastily shouted, ¡°We are the Cult Members of the Light God Church, we mean no offense, please do not be angry, Nine-Headed Snake sir, we¡¯ll just¡­¡± Before he finished speaking, the nine mouths of the Nine-Headed Snake roared in unison and countless streams of water rose from the surface, turning into Water Guns that densely barraged the dozens of large ships. ¡°Damn, defend, defend!¡± ¡°All Priests, cast Defensive Magic to protect the ships together.¡± Following the call of the two Red Robed Archbishops, Priests on all the ships began to chant Spells, and instantly, large Light Element Defensive Magic, Light Barriers, rose up around the ships. Crack, crack, crack¡­ A series of dense impact sounds rang out, causing all the Magic Shields to continuously shudder. Even over a dozen ships with fewer Priests could not withstand the magic assault of the Nine-Stage Demon Beast and their Light Barriers were penetrated on the spot by numerous Water Guns, killing and injuring many at the same time and leaving their hulls riddled with holes. If one or two more rounds of this intense Magic Water Gun were to come, they would likely sink the entire ship. Actually, the magic the Nine-Headed Snake used should strictly be regarded as the Intermediate Water Element Water Arrow Technique, a spell common mages of the Water Element could perform. However, the Nine-Headed Snake¡¯s magical power was so strong that once it cast the spell, it immediately turned the simple water arrows into water guns, with each water gun¡¯s attack power being no weaker than a fifth or sixth level of magic intensity, and they were dense and numerous beyond count. Such intense magic only amounted to a minor spell that the Nine-Headed Snake could cast casually, also a group combat magic that it was very accustomed to using. However, when it discovered that most of the ships had actually withstood its magic, rage filled its eyes even more intensely. It had merely been passing by and noticed that there was a strong presence ahead, which is why it protruded a snake head to look around. It had not anticipated being attacked by someone. It was a formidable ninth-level Demon Beast, among the strongest tier of all demon beasts. Since when had these minor characters dared to attack it so openly and flagrantly? Therefore, the furious Nine-Headed Snake, upon seeing the multitude of Magic Shields raised on the opposite ships blocking its Water Gun Technique, couldn¡¯t suppress the fury in its heart and was about to cast a Forbidden Curse to summon boundless waves to completely overturn those ships. As for these people being members of the Light God Church, what did that have to do with it? While the power of the Light Church was strong, it was only prevalent on the mainland, dominating among the nations of the Human Clan; it had no control over demon beasts. Especially not over the Nine-Headed Snakes. The history of the Nine-Headed Snakes on this world dated back much further than that of the Human Clan. Although they had not dominated the skies like the Giant Dragons or ruled the land like the Giant Clan, they were also a powerful group that few would want to provoke lightly. Over the long course of time, due to different living habits, the Nine-Headed Snakes gradually split into two groups. One group lived deep in the swamps. These Nine-Headed Snakes had nine heads, each possessing a different ability: wind, fire, water, earth, light, dark, thunder, illusion, and poison, with each type of magic having incredibly strong attack power. The other group lived in the deep ocean. Their power was singular, solely cultivating the Water Element Magic Power but achieving a higher mastery in Water Element Magic. They could manipulate currents, raise waves, and create whirlpools, becoming formidable entities in the ocean. Especially their Forbidden Curse Magic, the Endless Abyss Vortex and Overwhelming Waves had terrifying strengths. In the ocean, even ordinary Giant Dragons were unwilling to clash with them. Moreover, the Nine-Headed Snakes had a potent regeneration ability. Even if their heads were cut off, as long as the main head remained, they could gradually recover. It was precisely because of such formidable regeneration capabilities and Forbidden Curse Magic that they firmly occupied an impressive place among ninth-level Demon Beasts. The only reason such powerful Nine-Headed Snakes were not ranked among the upper-middle-level ninth-level Demon Beasts was that their power would drop significantly after coming ashore. Only in swamps and places with water could they fully demonstrate their strength. Once on land, they couldn¡¯t even beat the ninth-level lower Bimong Giant Beasts who were unskilled in magic and only knew brute force. In comparison, the Giant Dragon Clan was much more powerful than they were. Whether in the sea, on land, or in the sky, the Giant Dragon Clan had a presence, which is why they became one of the most top-level existences among all demon beasts. ¡°Bad news, stop it!¡± The two Archbishops immediately sensed that the Nine-Headed Snake was about to cast a Forbidden Curse to raise towering waves and flip all their ships. If the ships were overturned, the vast majority of people would fall into the water, and most would certainly meet their ends. After all, once in the water, the Nine-Headed Snake, being a top-level Water Element Demon Beast, could easily kill them all. Holy Knight Doro bellowed furiously, drawing the Cross Sword from his waist and slashing a Fighting Energy Slash more than ten zhang long towards the Nine-Headed Snake in a fierce attack. He was the only one among the three strongest fighters who was a Holy Knight proficient in close combat. It was left to him to confront the Nine-Headed Snake directly, allowing the other two Red Robed Archbishops to use magic to attack the beast from the rear. ¡°Hurry, hurry, hurry, all ships, speed up sailing, and leave this area as soon as possible to land ashore,¡± With repeated shouts, all the sailors frantically maneuvered the ships, rowing vigorously. It was a pity that the priests only mastered Light Element Magic and could not cast Wind Element Magic; otherwise, they could have raised their sails and escaped at a much faster pace. On the other side, Holy Knight Doro leaped close to the Nine-Headed Snake, sparing no effort in continuously slashing out Fighting Energy Light Blades. Under his wild offensive, he actually managed to distract several heads of the Nine-Headed Snake. However, injuring the beast was not easy. As the Nine-Headed Snake casted its magic power, water light barriers rose on the water¡¯s surface, protecting its body. In the water, it was the Nine-Headed Snake¡¯s home court; defeating it there would not be easy. Even if it weren¡¯t for the continuous support of the mighty Light Element Magic from the two Red Robed Archbishops in the rear, the Holy Knight might very well have been beaten to death by the Nine-Headed Snake¡¯s magic. After all, it had too many heads, each capable of casting magic independently, equating to nine Demon Snakes attacking one person, naturally giving it a significant advantage. Chapter 313 - Chapter 313: Chapter 310: The Conception of the Nine-Headed Dharma Form Chapter 313: Chapter 310: The Conception of the Nine-Headed Dharma Form The Holy Knight Doro roared angrily, endlessly hacking away with fierce Fighting Energy Light Blades. With his relentless attacks, which paid no heed to consumption, he managed to break through the Nine-Headed Snake¡¯s defensive magic, Water Curtain Sky Flower, and ferociously slashed a deep, bone-visible wound on one of its heads. This strike was exceedingly vicious; not only did it cut through the scales of the Nine-Headed Snake, leaving a deep wound that revealed bone, but it also blinded one of the snake¡¯s eyes. Of course, Doro did not carry out this attack without paying a price. He was not only harshly struck by a ninth-level magic Water Dragon Tornado cast by the Nine-Headed Snake, which caused him to spill blood from his mouth and forced him to retreat dozens of yards, but his internal Fighting Energy was also greatly depleted. Moreover, continuing to fight in this manner, he could not last even half an hour before his Fighting Energy would be completely exhausted. This was nearly inconceivable for someone who had advanced to the level of a Holy Knight. However, Doro didn¡¯t care about this. Because he had never intended to fight the Nine-Headed Snake to the death; he only needed to hold it off for a while. Once the ship had left the area, he could leave as well. Engaging a Nine-Headed Snake to the death in the water was definitely not a wise move. Although he didn¡¯t know why this Nine-Headed Snake had appeared here, this area was within the inland, a thousand miles away from the nearest sea. But he wasn¡¯t overly worried. Because he was certain that the Nine-Headed Snake was merely passing through and that it would not stay here permanently. Even if it did stay, awaiting it would be the surrounding forces of the Human Clan who would launch a siege, so there was no need for them to fight to the death with this formidable ninth-grade Demon Beast. Trapping a Nine-Headed Snake in the spacious river was not something the three of them could achieve. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í??.§ã? Because their Power Attributes did not restrain the Nine-Headed Snake. As long as it submerged its body into the water, they would have no way of mounting a strong attack. It¡¯s not as if they could follow it into the water and battle a ninth-grade Demon Beast there. The other two Red Robed Archbishops clearly had the same idea; their lips moved non-stop, reciting spells as various powerful Light Element Magic were deployed. Although the attack power of Light Element Magic was slightly lacking compared to other types of magic, once a certain realm was reached, the power was still remarkably formidable. So, with a three-on-one advantage, they even managed to suppress the Nine-Headed Snake¡¯s offensive momentarily, gaining the upper hand¡ªthough this was only temporary. Given that the Nine-Headed Snake, situated in its advantageous terrain and with far thicker Magic Power, least feared a war of attrition. As for its injuries, the Nine-Headed Snake cared even less. With the Nine-Headed Snake¡¯s formidable Regeneration Power, unless all of its heads were chopped off, it would not take long to fully recover. The continual onslaught from the Doro Holy Knight and the others was like a surging tide, unceasing, daring not to give the Nine-Headed Snake any respite, lest it cast Forbidden Curse Magic. A ninth-grade Demon Beast could cast Forbidden Curses incredibly quickly, requiring not much time at all¡ªone area where the Human Clan¡¯s Great Magic Guide Masters could not compete. If a Great Magic Guide Master wanted to cast a Forbidden Curse, he had to prepare a Magic Array, recite a lengthy Magic Spell, and sometimes even needed the assistance of several other Mages to successfully cast it. Qin Feng stood on the deck, his eyes glowing as he stared fixedly at the Nine-Headed Snake. The Nine-Headed Snakes of this world were vastly different from those in the Cultivation World, just as the Giant Dragons of this world were distinct from the True Dragons in the Cultivation World. Even though this world¡¯s Nine-Headed Snake also had nine heads, both its appearance and path of Cultivation were different from the Nine-Headed Snakes of the Cultivation World. Nevertheless, this still made Qin Feng¡¯s heart flutter uncontrollably. Presently, there was no such formidable Demon Beast as a Nine-Headed Snake in the Biluo Great World. Because, at the end of the Ancient Great Tribulation, the last formidable Nine-Headed Snake Demon King had been jointly slain by the strong across various Sects, and that Demon King had not left any descendants. Even if there are some varieties such as two-headed snakes or three-headed snakes in the Cultivation World, their diluted bloodlines made the probability of evolving into a Nine-Headed Snake extremely low. Otherwise, with the Nine-Headed Snake¡¯s formidable strength, the Spiritual Snake Lineage of the Beast Taming Sect would not be limited to only nine True Inheritances. Qin Feng squinted slightly, concealing the emotional turbulence in his eyes to prevent others from noticing anything. He felt that, although this Nine-Headed Snake¡¯s strength and potential might not compare to those of the Heavenly Demon Great World¡¯s Nine-Headed Snake Clan, it still had its merits. If he could integrate this Nine-Headed Snake¡¯s Bloodline Power into his own Lifebound Spiritual Beast, the Ruyi Golden Snake, it would undoubtedly bring him unimaginable benefits. Not to mention anything else, just forming a Dharma Image afterward, the power of the Nine-Headed Dharma Form would appear much more imposing than a single Spiritual Snake, and would indeed be far more powerful. After all, nine heads could cast different Magic Divine Powers simultaneously, the thought of the omnipresent magic excited him. Besides, this Nine-Headed Snake possessed two types of Forbidden Curse Magic, as well as formidable Regeneration Power. The reason Forbidden Curses were known as such is not merely because of their immense power; it¡¯s also because Forbidden Curses contain a hint of the Power of Laws. This is not power that ordinary life can covet; it belongs to the realm of the transcendent, can only be wielded by the Divine, in the forbidden domain of the gods. ¡°Only by comprehending the Power of Laws can one explore the domain of the Divine. Titles such as ¡®Sword Saint¡¯ and ¡®Holy Knight¡¯ are sacred because they contain a trace of Laws unattainable by ordinary folk. Even the weakest Sword Saint cannot be defeated by the mightiest Golden Knight, not even if the Golden Knight¡¯s Fighting Energy is many times more profound. This is the suppression of power hierarchy; it cannot be surpassed. Therefore, those stronger than Sword Saints are renowned and respected by the world. Qin Feng¡¯s heart pounded eagerly. If his Lifebound Spiritual Beast could possess a Forbidden Curse, regardless of whether the Ruyi Golden Snake could wield its full strength, he would be able to gain insight into the Power of Laws through this Forbidden Curse, which would rapidly advance his Cultivation. After all, the Nine-Headed Snake¡¯s Forbidden Curse emanated from its innate bloodline inheritance and Divine Skills. He could condense it into a Divine Power Seed and cultivate it within himself, making it his possession, unlike the Sect¡¯s Cultivation Technique inheritance. Although the Sect¡¯s Techniques were more potent, they required step-by-step progression, making it hard to leap across levels to comprehend. Moreover, the Nine-Headed Snake possessed formidable Regeneration Power. By integrating its Regeneration Power within himself, Qin Feng could advance to regenerating lost limbs even before cultivating the Azure Dragon Daoist Body to the required stage of the True Immortal Realm where Physical Body Proving Dao and Becoming an Immortal are achievable. Achieving this ahead of time would be enormously beneficial to his future cultivation of the Azure Dragon Daoist Body. For all these reasons, Qin Feng was increasingly fond of the Nine-Headed Snake. He even wished to capture the Nine-Headed Snake into the Demon Refining Pot and merge it with the Ruyi Golden Snake right away. Unfortunately, his strength was insufficient. Merely reaching the early stage of the Golden Core Realm wasn¡¯t enough to contend with a powerful Level 9 Demon Beast. Even if he could capture the Nine-Headed Snake in the Demon Refining Pot, he had to consider whether the Ruyi Golden Snake could withstand the Nine-Headed Snake¡¯s Bloodline Power. This level of Demon Beast had already diverged significantly from ordinary ones, possessing a hint of Principle Power in its bloodline¡ªif something went awry during the fusion, it could prove catastrophically counterproductive. With these thoughts, Qin Feng temporarily restrained his eagerness. After all, not only had the Nine-Headed Snake lived many years in this realm, but this one was not the only one. It would be better to wait until he was more confident to subjugate another, rather than risking it now. Of course, if the Doro Holy Knight and his companions could inflict a Severe Injury on this Nine-Headed Snake, he wouldn¡¯t mind taking advantage of the situation, even if it meant abandoning his pilgrimage to the Holy Mountain. Unfortunately, even when the three teamed up¡ªcomprising a Holy Knight and two Red Robed Archbishops¡ªthey could only temporarily suppress the Nine-Headed Snake; inflicting a Severe Injury to the extent that Qin Feng could subdue it was extremely difficult. The boat slowly drifted away and soon reached the opposite pier. The crowd hastily disembarked, finally able to relax a bit and not feel as pressed as they did on the boat. After all, the Nine-Headed Snake rarely came ashore, and if it truly did, Doro and the others would no longer fear it. With no geographical advantage ashore, the Nine-Headed Snake could only rely on its Magic Power to cast Spells; although still formidable, it was vastly different from when it was in the water. Not far from the pier lay a great city. The city gates were wide open, with a massive army swiftly bringing heavy Siege Crossbows and Catapults to the pier. They were not there to confront the members of the Church, but to set up a defensive line at the pier in case the Nine-Headed Snake suddenly decided to come ashore. ¡°What are you good for?¡± A commander from the Light God Church¡¯s Guardian Knight Order berated the City Guard Commander, ¡°A Nine-Headed Snake appeared in the river outside the city, and you had no clue? A bunch of incompetents, do you realize how close you were to getting us killed? Many here are headed to the Holy Mountain to participate in the selection of the Saint Heir. If something were to happen, could you bear the responsibility?¡± The leader of the City Guard Army, a man in his forties, coldly responded, ¡°Sir, don¡¯t vent your anger at me unnecessarily. I am not your subordinate, nor am I from your Light Church. I only serve the King and do not need your instruction on what to do. Moreover, please don¡¯t shift the blame. If people died from a Demon Beast attack on the way, it¡¯s because those from your Guardian Knight Order failed to protect the priests. Any incident would be the responsibility of your Guardian Knight Order, not ours.¡± Although every kingdom, due to the Church¡¯s formidable power and influence among the populace, had to treat the Church Court with due reverence, the conflict between royal and divine power was always present. Kings desired the loyalty of all citizens, while Churches wished all people to become devout followers, fully committed to the Divine¡ªleading to some inherent conflicts between the two. Both the Royal Family and the Church, wary of each other¡¯s power and the threat of hostile kingdoms, were cautious. The Church also feared that if all kingdoms banded together against it and expelled all clergy, it would deal a severe blow to them, affecting the flow of faith necessary for the Divine, implying their subordinates were falling short of expectations. Due to various internal and external pressures, royal and divine powers were making compromises. At least until one party dominated the continent, the Light God Church dared not strike at any royal families. This was why the City Guard Commander bluntly rebutted the Guardian Knight commander. They were not allies, and there was no need to appease the other by swallowing any indignity. ¡°You¡­¡± The Guardian Knight commander, infuriated, was about to continue scolding but was stopped by several Red Robed Bishops. These men were savvy, dealing with nobility all year round; they certainly knew how to handle these noble-born commanders. Chapter 314 - Chapter 314: Chapter 311: Post-War Reflections on the Light Barrier Chapter 314: Chapter 311: Post-War Reflections on the Light Barrier Under the calming influence of the Red Robed Bishop, the leaders of the Guardian Knight Order and the City Guard Commander each snorted coldly, no longer paying attention to the other, and prepared to attend to their own affairs. However, the Holy Knights and the Red Robed Archbishop fighting the Nine-Headed Snake above the river surface saw that all these people had gathered on the shore¡¯s dock, and immediately shouted angrily, ¡°What are you still doing there? Hurry up and leave the dock, head into the city.¡± Hearing this, the people of the Light God Church were somewhat puzzled, not understanding why the Archbishop and the others would say such a thing. After all, in their minds, the Nine-Headed Snake shouldn¡¯t dare to come ashore, and even if it did, with Doro and the others¡¯ strength, combined with the help of so many people, they could definitely kill this formidable ninth-level Demon Beast. While they hesitated, the Doro Holy Knight also scolded, ¡°Haven¡¯t you left yet? Do you really think a ninth-level Demon Beast is that easy to deal with, you bunch of fools? Since you¡¯re on shore, why don¡¯t you hurry to leave instead of staying here waiting for the Nine-Headed Snake to raise a giant wave and sweep you all into the water? The City Guard must also leave with them; your defensive measures might work against ordinary high-level Demon Beasts, but it¡¯s absolutely impossible against a ninth-level Demon Beast. It¡¯s a joke. When have you ever heard of ninth-level Demon Beasts being killed by siege crossbows and catapults? Hurry up and leave, take everyone on the dock with you, don¡¯t leave a single person behind, all retreat back to the city to secure it, summon all Mages and Priests to raise a Defensive Shield, lest the flood break the city walls.¡± Hearing the Doro Holy Knight speak so seriously, the crowd finally came to their senses and hurriedly ran towards the city. Even the normally delicate Priests could not care about their dignity at this moment. Without carriages, without horses, they simply ran with the soldiers beside them toward the city not far away. Because they ran too hastily, they inevitably dropped many belongings. Especially the Siege Crossbows and Catapults that the City Guard had managed to transport out of the city with great difficulty, one more cumbersome than the other. In the end, with no choice left, they could only leave the even more unwieldy Catapults behind and take the more valuable Siege Crossbows. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í??.§ã? The dock was in chaos, but at least within half an hour, they managed to have thousands from the Light God Church ¨C Priests, Knights, and the City Guard, along with some people near the dock ¨C all take shelter within the city. Then, without even taking time to catch their breath, all the Priests and Knights went up on the city walls, and meanwhile, the City Guard Commander instructed the guard to ride fast and invite all Mages in the city to come and help. However, Holy Knight Doro and the two Red Robed Archbishops couldn¡¯t wait that long. Seeing that everyone on the dock had entered the city, although there were certainly many commoners in the fields on both sides of the city not knowing what was happening still toiling in the fields, they simply did not care about them. After such a long and fierce battle, all three of them had consumed most of their strength. Especially Holy Knight Doro. As the main force in close combat restraining the Nine-Headed Snake, he had consumed even more of his Light Fighting Energy and already felt somewhat exhausted after persisting for so long. So seeing everyone had entered the city, he finally felt relieved, forcefully attacked and drove back several snakeheads in front of him, quickly withdrew, and together with the two Red Robed Archbishops, flew toward the rear. Previously, while the three of them had pressured and fought, the Nine-Headed Snake¡¯s several heads and body had suffered some injuries, more or less, with the most severe even blinding one of its eyes. The Nine-Headed Snake, having suffered such a grievous loss, was unwilling to let them go just like that. As a ninth-level Demon Beast, it was always them preying on other beings; when had they been bullied by the Human Clan? The enraged Nine-Headed Snake shook its nine huge heads, sending various powerful spells toward Doro and the others. The Doro Holy Knights swung their Cross Swords to intercept the streams of magic attacks, while the two Red Robed Archbishops were enveloped in powerful Defensive Magic, making resistance seemingly effortless for them. These were, after all, just casual spells cast by the Nine-Headed Snake, only enough to momentarily bind them. To actually harm them, it would require an even more potent spell. Therefore, they quickly landed on the city walls. ¡°Hiss-roar¡­¡± Enraged, the Nine-Headed Snake thrashed its long tail, rapidly swimming toward the shore. Yet even in its fury, it had no intention of coming ashore, evidently aware of its own weakness. The snake¡¯s nine enormous heads roared in unison, their external forces of Water Element gathering, the river behind them suddenly ceased to flow downstream and instead concentrated in the area, growing increasingly immense and imposing an alarming presence. ¡°Not good.¡± One of the Red Robed Archbishops¡¯ complexion dramatically changed. ¡°This Nine-Headed Snake is really planning to cast a Forbidden Curse Magic. It intends to breach the city and drown everyone.¡± ¡°Quick, quick! All Priests, take your positions along the walls, heed the command, prepare to assist us in deploying the large-scale Defensive Magic ¡®Light Barrier¡¯. We must stop the Nine-Headed Snake¡¯s Forbidden Curse Magic. We cannot let it break through the walls.¡± During this exchange, the two Red Robed Archbishops began to chant their spells. This was the eleventh level protective magic ¡®Light Barrier¡¯, a type of large-scale Defensive Magic. Originally, this level of protective magic wouldn¡¯t stand up to a Forbidden Curse of less than twelfth level, but they had two Archbishops, along with thousands of Priests, including dozens akin to Magic Guide Masters in Red Robes. Unless the Nine-Headed Snake unleashed several Forbidden Curses in succession, they were confident they could hold the walls. Of course, the primary reason they didn¡¯t deploy a Forbidden Curse Magic for defense or counter the Nine-Headed Snake was because their speed of casting a Forbidden Curse was much slower, nowhere near as swift as that of the Nine-Headed Snake, or to say, most Demon Beasts cast spells faster than any of the Human Clan¡¯s Great Magic Guide Masters. After all, Demon Beasts gained their magic inheritance through their bloodline, their magic essentially being Talent Skills, making the casting process relatively easier. However, it was much simpler for the two Red Robed Archbishops to deploy the eleventh-level large-scale Defensive Magic in unison, especially with the help of over a thousand Priests. Thus, before the massive waves beside the Nine-Headed Snake had fully coalesced, the city walls were already radiating brightly, the ¡®Light Barrier¡¯ standing firmly in front, staunchly protecting the walls. Qin Feng stood in a corner of the city wall, also reaching out a hand to draw forth the Light Magic Power from within his body and channel it into the Light Magic before him, maintaining the strength of the ¡®Light Barrier¡¯. Of course, he was somewhat just going through the motions. He never intended to exert himself, and was merely drawing a bit of power from the Demon Core that was originally part of the Silver Winged Pegasus within himself, just to put on an appearance. He was indifferent to these people clashing to the death with the Nine-Headed Snake. Of course, it would be even better if they could deplete the Nine-Headed Snake¡¯s Magic Power. Qin Feng looked towards the Nine-Headed Snake not far from the dock. At this moment, the vast floodwaters surrounding it were tens of meters high, an incredibly alarming sight that even gave him a start. ¡°Boom¡­¡± Deafening roars of the waves resounded as the Nine-Headed Snake unleashed the twelfth-level Forbidden Curse Magic, Overwhelming Waves, which surged down instantaneously¡ªone wave violently crashing after another onto the city walls. The impact was relentless, the sound of the waves striking the Defensive Magic didn¡¯t cease, and with each collision, the Light Barrier shook uncontrollably, leaving all the priests pale-faced. It was not until this moment that they truly witnessed the might of a ninth-level demon beast and understood the terror it represented. Yet this was a Water Element Forbidden Curse Magic, its Attack Power not considered strong, as it merely relied on the force of the waves. Against many formidable beings, dodging such an attack wasn¡¯t difficult; they needed only to fly up to escape unless the Nine-Headed Snake cast another powerful Forbidden Curse Magic, capable of threatening those with the ability to fly. However, they couldn¡¯t leave¡ªif they flew away, it would mean abandoning hundreds of thousands of people within the city. If word spread, it would profoundly tarnish the Light God Church. Thus, the Red Robed Archbishop could only lead the priests to staunchly hold their ground. But the waves were unceasing, the flood outside the city walls rising higher and higher. Despite swiftly flowing in all directions, the waves came too fast, one after another without pause. Soon, the water level outside the walls, particularly nearby the docks, had reached the height of the city walls themselves. Had the two Red Robed Archbishops not continually raised the limit of the Light Barrier, they might have withstood the direct magic assault but still would have been washed away by the ensuing floods. ¡°This won¡¯t do. Doro, Deputy Army Commander, go out and distract the Nine-Headed Snake, break its rhythm of casting forbidden curses, and allow the floodwater to recede.¡± ¡°Alright, I¡¯m on it.¡± Doro nodded upon hearing the command. A brief rest had restored a significant amount of his Fighting Energy, enabling him to momentarily grapple with the Nine-Headed Snake. He obviously understood the intent of the two Red Robed Archbishops: they wanted him to interrupt the Nine-Headed Snake¡¯s curses to drain the floodwater. Even if the snake cast another Forbidden Curse afterwards, they weren¡¯t afraid, as the Nine-Headed Snake¡¯s Magic Power wasn¡¯t infinite. Each casting of a Forbidden Curse drained substantial Magic Power, and once it was depleted, it would have to retreat or else face a relentless pursuit by the human powerhouses. ¡°Sssao¡­¡± With the strike of Doro, the Holy Knight, the Nine-Headed Snake was forced to halt its onslaught of Forbidden Curse attacks. Without kin by its side, it had to contend with the Holy Knight through its own strength alone. As such, its initially accumulated Magic Power visibly weakened, and the previously raging floodwaters calmed down. This gave the priests on the city walls a much-needed respite. Without powerful successive waves, the previously surging floodwaters scattered in all directions, robbing the Nine-Headed Snake of the chance to approach and unleash another more deadly Forbidden Curse Magic. Doro was crafty; once he saw the waters had sufficiently retreated, he quickly turned and retreated. When the Nine-Headed Snake attempted to raise devastating waves against the city walls again, he would strike back and disrupt its magic. After a few rounds, the Nine-Headed Snake, both annoyed and angry, realized it was futile to persist and submerged into the water, disappearing from sight. ¡°The Nine-Headed Snake ran away?¡± ¡°We won!¡± In an instant, all the priests and knights erupted into cheers. To have overcome such a formidable ninth-level demon beast sent a wave of elation crashing through their very cores. Only those who had witnessed the strength of a ninth-level demon beast firsthand could understand how difficult such a foe was to contend with. Although they couldn¡¯t truly say they had won, merely forcing the Nine-Headed Snake to retreat was, in itself, a victorious feat for the average priest and knight. As the people within the city, who had been on tenterhooks, heard that the powerful warriors of the Light God Church had repelled the formidable Nine-Headed Snake, cheers erupted throughout. Just like the other young priests beside him, Qin Feng¡¯s face beamed with jubilation, though inside, he couldn¡¯t help but sigh silently. He regretted that Doro, the Holy Knight, and the others were overly cautious, letting the Nine-Headed Snake leave after depleting much of its Magic Power without intercepting it, merely watching it escape. Nevermind. Qin Feng shook his head slightly; if there was no opportunity to gain an advantage this time, then he would wait for another chance. For now, he needed to obediently join the rest and proceed to Holy Mountain to attend the celebration of the election of the Saint Heir. Hmm, he wondered what Holy Mountain looked like. But considering the Magic Power in his Silver Winged Pegasus¡¯ Demon Core, he should be among the stronger group of young priests. He had heard that the Pope of the Light God Church was skilled in the Great Prophecy Technique and possessed eyes that could see through everything¡ªcould he see through the Demon Core inside him? At this thought, Qin Feng¡¯s brow furrowed. Previous Druid infiltrators into the Light God Church either held low statuses or did not attract the Pope¡¯s attention, so there was no particular scrutiny. However, at the grand celebration for selecting the Holy Son of Light, the Pope would certainly make a personal appearance. If Qin Feng sought to stay on Holy Mountain and obtain a certain status, he would need to stand out. Doing so might attract the Pope¡¯s notice, and if the Holy Father saw through the Demon Core within him, it could place Qin Feng in jeopardy. At this point, Qin Feng began to waver. Should he remove the Demon Core from his body? Yes, it was safer to do so, in case of an unexpected incident. After all, he already possessed the Light Power within him, and even his Dantian contained the Light Holy Flame, so there was no fear of being unable to cast Light Magic. Not only did the Silver Winged Pegasus¡¯ Demon Core need to be removed, but he also had to refine away the Wood Element Magic that he had originally cultivated. After all, the power of the Druids was too conspicuous! Chapter 315 - Chapter 315: Generation 3, Chapter 12: Light God System VS Nature God System Chapter 315: Generation 3, Chapter 12: Light God System VS Nature God System After the encounter with the Nine-Headed Snake, the team set off once again. This time, the journey was safe and uneventful as they travelled. After all, the further forward they went, the stronger the control of the Light Church became, and level-nine demon beasts were not common. They generally lived in the deep mountains, vast marshes or ocean depths, or even dominated a region creating forbidden zones, where people dared not build cities where these beasts roamed. As they advanced, the team grew larger. It wasn¡¯t that the teams from different countries had converged, but rather, many followers heading for the Holy Mountain to pay homage consciously trailed behind the team from the Light Church. These people left Qin Feng often at a loss for words; he had seen many devoted followers bid farewell to their families and embark on pilgrimages of thousands of miles to witness the miracles at the Holy Mountain, an act he found indescribable. The followers behind them were only a part of the picture. It was said that there were many more devotees travelling alone to the Holy Mountain, and how these people managed to reach the mountain was a mystery. After all, along the way, not only were there bandits to contend with, but there were also places overrun by demon beasts. Even without these dangers, one might die from disease, exhaustion, or hunger. Ultimately, these were just ordinary people. They did not practice cultivation, possessed no transcendent powers, and leaving their hometowns so far behind, they were bound to face numerous difficulties. Moreover, the vast majority of them had not even prepared proper supplies. Of course, the Light God Church provided significant help during this time. Whether it was the churches or the priests, upon encountering these people, they offered food and various forms of assistance. If they met followers who had fallen ill, they would even perform healing techniques free of charge. Such things were rarely seen normally, as priests¡¯ healing services were expensive, and many commoners could not afford it. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í?¦Ï.§ã? The presence of these followers slowed the team¡¯s progress, but since they were nearing the heart of the Light Church¡¯s territory, they still arrived at the Holy Mountain in a timely manner after a dozen days or so. The so-called Holy Mountain wasn¡¯t particularly tall, and somewhere else it might even seem unremarkable. However, being the only mountain within hundreds of miles made it rather special. Additionally, nearly ten thousand years of development by the Light Church had left the whole mountain pristine white and exceedingly holy. Qin Feng and the other priests who were preparing to participate in the selection of the Saint Heir were received by a Red Robed Bishop in charge of such affairs and specially housed in a structure on the Holy Mountain. These young priests were the future of the Church Court. Although it was unlikely for a Saint Heir to emerge among them, they were all talents carefully cultivated by various churches. In the future, once they had grown, most of them would become important figures in their respective churches, so their accommodation could not be arranged carelessly. Qin Feng surveyed their living quarters. They were in a building made entirely of white stone, which, in keeping with the image of the Holy Mountain in people¡¯s minds, looked very holy from a distance. However, living in a stone house wasn¡¯t that comfortable. It was only because the Church was wealthy that they had furnished the interiors with fine furniture and decorations, much to the satisfaction of the young priests, who felt valued by the Church. Moreover, all these priests were the most devout followers of the Light God. In their eyes, the Holy Mountain was holy, perfect, and sacred. Even if they were asked to sleep on the muddy ground outside the building, they would probably feel honored rather than harbor the multitude of thoughts Qin Feng did. During this period, Qin Feng had already extracted the Demon Core of the Silver Winged Pegasus from his body, refined the natural magic power he had cultivated into his Azure Dragon Daoist Body, and then siphoned off some of the aura of light from his dantian, ensuring his body constantly maintained an aura of holy light. He believed no one who saw him would harbor suspicions. What was more important, he was no longer afraid of being probed by others. His body no longer possessed any trace of Druidism; he could not transform, nor did he possess natural magic power. As for the Golden Core, hidden within the dantian, unless he exposed it himself, it was hardly easy for others to detect. The dantian was also a special acupoint within the human body, visible through introspection, but impossible for a mage, who had never touched upon the knowledge of acupoints, to locate. Even if he spoke of it, others would probably not believe that an acupoint as small as the tip of a needle could contain a Golden Core larger than a baby¡¯s fist by two sizes. To better disguise himself, one night on the road, Qin Feng covertly ventured hundreds of miles to steal several books documenting various light magic from a small church in another city. With some study over this period, as long as he converted True Yuan into light magic power, casting these light magic spells was a breeze. Magic, frankly, was not inherently different from spells; it just required chanting special incantations when casting, wasting more time, unlike the more direct and convenient spells of a cultivator. However, the most powerful light magic spell he could cast was the Light Holy Flame. Other priests cast the Holy Flame as magic, whereas he cast it as a Divine Skill ¨C there was a big difference between the two, not just in power, but also in the speed of casting. Others needed to chant incantations, but for him, it came with a wave of his hand, ready to release instantly. With several days to go before the grand ceremony for the selection of the Saint Heir, Qin Feng was in no hurry; he even took the time to visit the Holy City at the foot of the Holy Mountain. The Holy City was built around the Holy Mountain, existing solely to serve the Mountain, after all, the countless clergy members and numerous Guardian Knights and warriors on the mountain also need various supplies for daily life. Therefore, the Holy City was quite prosperous. Of course, the city was also incredibly large; otherwise, it wouldn¡¯t have been possible to supply the tens of thousands living on the mountain with what they needed. Qin Feng just took a simple stroll around before returning, although it¡¯s true that the Light Church had many patriarchal and long-established noble families, and indeed there were instances where scions had corrupted the social morals and some had become prodigals with bad habits, but what did that have to do with him? Besides, no one had provoked him directly, and even if they had, he wasn¡¯t necessarily going to start a conflict with those noble heirs at this time, otherwise, it would all be in vain after such a long period of staying undercover. He didn¡¯t come here to provoke noble heirs for the sake of starting trouble, but to blend into the Holy Mountain to seek advantages. If he offended those major families now, even if he performed extraordinarily during the selection of the Saint Heir, he might still not be allowed to stay on the Holy Mountain, which would go against his interests. So, to avoid unnecessary trouble, Qin Feng just walked around a few times more, deliberately avoiding certain nuisances before returning directly to the Holy Mountain and his dwelling, and did not go out again. Several days later, it finally came time for the selection of the Saint Heir. This day also marked a major festival for the Light God Church, the Nativity Day. It is said that ten thousand years ago on this day, the great Light God descended from the Light God Realm and led a powerful Angel Army to defeat the Demon Clan¡¯s invasion. They eradicated enemies from all sides and established the dominant position of the Human Clan, which is why the Light Church called this day the Nativity Day. However, Qin Feng sneered at this story. Based solely on the information he understood, the Light God was at least an incredibly powerful Divine being, and it wouldn¡¯t have been easy for Him to come down to such a medium world. The stronger the Divine being, the harder it would be to enter the medium and small worlds. He felt that it must have been just an ordinary Divine being from the Light God System who came here. As for the claims of the Light God defeating the Demon Clan and sweeping away enemies in all directions, he paid even less attention to those. This was nothing but a ruse the Light God Church used to fool the common people. If the Light God System had truly been able to sweep away all adversaries back then, they would have directly occupied this world. Why then would they have allowed other Divine Sects to exist? Compared to the claims of the Light God Church, he was more inclined to trust the information circulating within Druidism because druids were rather fair in this regard. Although they did amplify the role of the Forest Goddess, they did not diminish the role other Divine beings played in that great war. At that time, the Nature God System and the Light God System joined forces, deploying many Divine beings and armies, and thus repelled the Abyss Demon Clan which tried to occupy this world and subsequently propped up the Human Clan to be the masters of the road, or in other words, their believers. After all, the Human Clan was weak and more susceptible to worshipping Divine beings. Otherwise, how could they expect the inherently strong Giant Clan or the Giant Dragon Clan to worship them? The Giant Dragon Clan had its own Dragon God, and the Giant Clan, too, had the backing of Titan Giants which is a powerful existence. Even the All Gods did not dare to casually oppress and deceive these formidable races. To spread belief among them would provoke the enmity of the Dragon God and Titans and could even potentially lead to a war between gods. In contrast, the Human Clan was weak and could only rely on the protection of the All Gods. Then, these gods would use the Human Clan to occupy more territory, reduce the living space of other races, and thereby indirectly control this world to gain more belief. This was the game rules among Divine beings, who rarely personally intervened unless it was necessary. Of course, the wars with the Dark Divine System were another matter. After all, there were irreconcilable conflicts between the two, with the Demon Gods and the Demon Clan of the Dark Divine System being too aggressive, inevitably becoming mortal enemies with other Divine Systems. To be honest, when Qin Feng first received this information, it was like reading a mythical tome. So many Divine Systems represented such immense strength! A Divine System signified many Divine beings forming a system, much like how cultivators formed the Immortal Dao cultivation system. Without truly touching or integrating into it, one would hardly grasp the specific strengths and weaknesses. Qin Feng was contemplating whether to persuade the Gui Ling Ancestor to temporarily give up the attempts at occupying this world when he returned because offending so many Divine Systems at once could potentially spark great chaos. However, there was also room for manipulation, as every Divine System was an independent entity and could not possibly have too good a relationship with other Divine Systems. Although the Light God System had once cooperated with the Nature God System, it was clear from the purely refined Light Power of the Light God System that they must be a particularly exclusionary system, not willing to admit other powers into their structure. Given how the Light God Church had suppressed other major churches over the years, striving for more territory and more believers by fair means or foul ¨C even resorting to assassination of other churches¡¯ Holy Daughters ¨C it was clear there were significant rifts between them. Perhaps, there could be a way to leverage these divisions. Chapter 316 - Chapter 316: Chapter 313 I Actually Became the Saint Heir of the Light Church? Chapter 316: Chapter 313 I Actually Became the Saint Heir of the Light Church? Atop the Holy Mountain, countless Clergy bustled back and forth, with knights clad in shining armor guarding along the pathways, standing by each entrance. Today, the Holy Mountain was extraordinarily lively, as the Light Church sought to display its majesty and elevate its credibility, diminishing the hearts of resistance among the various royal families and nobility. At this time, they would invite royal families and nobility from various countries to witness the ceremony. At the same time, at the base of the mountain, hundreds of thousands of devout followers gathered from all places to make their pilgrimage, thronging everywhere with a sea of people. However, in the midst of the bustling activity, everything was still orderly, not the least bit chaotic; even the noise was scarce. Each believer¡¯s face was filled with piety and fervor, turning to face the Holy Mountain with the utmost reverence. Today was a significant day¡ªnot only a festival, but also the once-in-twenty-years occasion to select the Saint Heir. The Light God Church had made thorough preparations, absolutely not allowing any part of the process to disrupt this sacred day. It wasn¡¯t dawn yet, but Qin Feng had already risen. His expression solemn, he followed a Red Robed Bishop, along with the other Young Priests, towards the square in front of the summit¡¯s Light Temple. None of the Young Priests exceeded sixteen years of age because as they grow older, it¡¯s easier for distracting thoughts to arise in their minds. Only these young ones, with their pure hearts and young age, were more likely to gain divine recognition. The square was extremely vast, with the ground neatly laid with white stone slabs, each inscribed with exquisite patterns. The Light Temple in front was even more resplendent, the entire temple grand and majestic. The walls were adorned with statues of angels slaughtering demons and other evil creatures, everywhere manifesting the majesty and sanctity of the Light. There were many matters today: conversations between the Pope and representatives of various royal households, exchanges among the major nobility, internal church affairs, and numerous ceremonies, all of which consumed quite a bit of time. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í?0.§ã? However, these had little to do with Qin Feng. He stayed with the other Young Priests, quietly waiting for the moment of selection to arrive. Finally, after all the ceremonies were complete, the Pope stepped forward, ready to commence the announcement. This was an old man with white beard and white hair, but his face bore few wrinkles, he seemed kindly and spirited. However, as this old man stepped forward, not one person dared to make a sound, for fear of disrupting this sacred moment and provoking the elder who wielded the divine authority left by the Light God on earth. Otherwise, the consequences would be very grave. There had been an instance where a Prince of a kingdom¡ªeither foolish or accustomed to arrogance¡ªdared to flirt with a female Priest during the selection. The Pope ordered him to be taken directly to the Heresy Court. Even though they didn¡¯t execute him immediately out of respect for his royal status, after his kingdom paid a high price to redeem the Prince, the once haughty and arrogant Prince became as tame as a lamb. Having once delighted in teasing women, upon his return, he would hide at the sight of them, not even daring to speak a word to a woman, leaving one to wonder what those perverts at the Heresy Court did to ¡°educate¡± him. ¡°A thousand years ago, the great Light God descended upon this world, bringing light to a world submerged in darkness.¡± The Pope¡¯s tone was gentle, yet it carried across the whole Holy Mountain, ¡°The God led a mighty Angel Army to defeat the demons, saved mankind, and now, after a thousand years, God has not abandoned us, still sheltering us. Today, will be the day we witness another miracle, the day we once again bathe in God¡¯s grace. Now, let us use holy songs of praise to extol the great Light God, may God¡¯s radiance forever shine upon this world, and may we always bask in the Light¡­¡± As he listened to the Pope¡¯s unceasing words by his ear, Qin Feng¡¯s heart was filled with shock. Because he discovered that the Pope¡¯s strength was unfathomable; he simply could not discern the Pope¡¯s true power. A delicate tone of voice, yet it spread across the entire Holy Mountain; a tone not too impassioned, yet it held a hint of bewitching power. It made all those who did not possess the Power of Rule involuntarily become excited with his words, as though the Light God truly was as omnipotent as he said, suppressing all darkness in the world with his own power, causing everyone¡¯s emotions to surge with his cadence. Qin Feng was sure; the Pope¡¯s strength was at least on par with someone who could contend with a Dharma Image. Those Red Robed Archbishops who presided over various countries all possessed the power of a Purple Mansion Cultivator. Being the foremost person of the Light God Church, the Pope who had presided over the Church Court for decades, his power was unimaginably strong. And the Pope was only slightly more than a hundred years old. In just a mere hundred years, to have attained strength beyond the Realm of Dharma Image was something truly shocking to hear. For a moment, Qin Feng even considered simply switching to the Cultivation Method of the Light Church instead. Unfortunately, once he calmed down, he immediately discarded the idea. This was because the speed of a Priest¡¯s cultivation depended on their devotion to the Light God. The more reverent and single-minded in their worship of the Divine, the quicker their strength would improve. In this aspect, the Light Divine Sect was more extreme than other major churches. Although the methods of other churches were similar, requiring devout worship of the Divine, they did not seek purity to the same degree as the Light Divine Sect, which still placed greater importance on the Magic Power cultivated on their own. However, despite the swift cultivation pace of the Light Divine Sect¡¯s Priests, the demands placed on them were also greater. Moreover, because the overly pure Light Power was not well-suited to the human body and due to their rapid cultivation, they contained an excessive amount of Light Power without the aid of Cultivation Methods employing True Yuan to nourish the physical body like those found in the Cultivation World. Therefore, the higher the Cultivation of the Priest, the quicker they would die, leading to a rarity of old Priests over a few hundred years old. Thus, the turnover rate of power transition between generations was the highest within the Light Church Court. Not only did the Pope possess formidable Light Magic Power, but he also bore a strand of the Light God Power bestowed by the Light God Himself. Although it was merely a strand, it was still not something his physical body could bear, causing the Popes throughout history to die even earlier. Elsewhere, those who cultivated Fighting Energy or Magic and reached his level would have long become legendary experts, living for several hundred or even a thousand years without issue. If they took a further step and became Demigod Realm powerhouses, they could live for several thousand years. Yet no Pope in history lived beyond two hundred years. If nothing major occurred and the Pope didn¡¯t need to expend too much energy or strength, they could live to around one hundred and seventy or eighty. However, if they worked too hard or overexerted themselves, it was not uncommon for them to die at around one hundred and thirty or forty years of age. Despite this, the Red Robed Archbishops and the Popes of every generation still pursued the Light Power with unwavering dedication. Although they did not wish to die, they also did not fear death. Because the stronger their strength and spiritual power while alive, the higher their chance of successfully resurrecting as Angels after death. Even though they only lived for one to two hundred years, they could become eternal Angels after death, and they were naturally willing to embrace this. Finally, the Pope finished what he had to say, and a Cardinal Archbishop stepped forward a few paces behind him, announcing the official start of the Saint Heir selection ceremony. The Cardinal Archbishop assisted the Pope with affairs on the Holy Mountain; their strength was comparable to that of the Red Robed Archbishops sent abroad to govern the religious authority in various countries. It wasn¡¯t clear who was superior or inferior, but compared to the Red Robed Archbishops, they were simply closer to the Pope. At this moment, the sun in the east had just risen from the Dark, a glowing red expanse. However, as the throngs of Young Priests in the square began chanting praises to the Light God, filling the air with Light Magic Power and brilliance, that great sun also officially began to emit a gentle radiance, illuminating everyone in the square, bringing with it strands of warmth. It had to be said, the timing of the Church was impeccable¡ªit was as if all the light and warmth were brought about by the Holy Songs alone. The Holy Songs were not Magic, but they required Magic Power for their chanting. Ordinarily, the Holy Songs had no particular effect, their sole purpose being to praise the Light God. And now, as the thousands of Young Priests in the square began their chanting, a radiance began to emanate from them. The stronger the glow and the louder the Holy Song, the more potent the Light Magic Power within them. As their Holy Songs grew ever louder and the glow rising from them ever brighter, spreading to the sky above, the Light God in the Divine Realm seemed to have heard the call of the faithful, and a faint portal began to appear in the heavens. A portal as holy and immaculate as White Jade itself. The portal stood around sixteen zhang tall and ten zhang wide, adorned with intricate and beautiful patterns. The entire portal stood abruptly in the sky above, showing no signs of falling, and with the chantings of the Young Priests, it became increasingly distinct. This scene not only left the Royal Families and nobility watching from the summit of the Holy Mountain in awe, but it also gave the countless Cult Members and devotees both on the mountain and below the impression of a divine miracle, watching fervently, with numerous followers already bowing in respectful homage. Even Qin Feng was taken aback. What was this situation? He had not felt the presence of such a portal here before. Where did this great door come from? Huh? No, that¡¯s not right! He felt a strong spatial fluctuation. Although Qin Feng had not yet mastered Space Divine Power, his strength had surged so drastically, and since he often observed the space within the Swallowing Sky Toad under the pretense of cultivating Space Divine Power, he was particularly sensitive to Space Power. Furthermore, when this space gate appeared, the Space Power was so dense that, with his powerful Divine Sense, even though he did not dare to directly extend his Divine Sense to explore, since he was right beneath the gate, it was impossible for him not to feel the spatial fluctuation. ¡°Could it be¡­ that this is a Space Gate?¡± In an instant, Qin Feng came upon this possibility. It seemed that this was the only possibility that could explain the origin of the door standing in midair. The Space Gate was a portal connecting two worlds. It was a gateway that could only be established after opening a passage at the most important nodes of the two worlds, and as long as this gateway existed, the powerhouses of both worlds could freely traverse it. Of course, for those overwhelmingly powerful beings who controlled a Dao on their own, even if there was a Space Gate, when entering medium or small worlds, they would still face considerable suppression. After all, they themselves were equivalent to a Dao; entering other worlds, they would naturally be incompatible with the Heavenly Dao of those worlds, so encountering suppression was to be expected. On Qin Feng¡¯s face, he maintained a look of devout fervor, but his mind was quickly spinning with various thoughts. With this Space Gate here, should a great war erupt or anything that endangered the Light God Church occurs, the Divine Beings from the Light Divine System behind the Space Gate would surely come to the rescue swiftly. If the Sect really wanted to attack this world, the first thing to do would be to shatter this Space Gate, closing off the Space Channel first; otherwise, in the midst of battle, if countless Combat Angels suddenly appeared from the Holy Mountain, it would undoubtedly result in heavy losses for his own side. Hmm, the Light God Church has a Space Gate, I wonder if the Nature God System has such a portal? The chances are high. Otherwise, with the countless Combat Angels supporting the Light God Church, they would easily crush all the other Churches on the path and unify this world. The reason they haven¡¯t done so must be due to other considerations. While Qin Feng was pondering these things, following the chanting of the young priests, the Space Gate fully materialized from the space, no longer shrouded as if by a mist, but clearly appeared before everyone¡¯s eyes. Instantly, not only did the countless Cult Members and believers on and around the Holy Mountain become more fervent, but the young priests chanting the Holy Song on the square were also sparing no expense of their Magic Power, pouring all their might into infusing Magic Power into the Holy Song. The power of the Holy Song transformed into a radiance that gathered together and surged towards the Space Gate in midair. Gradually, as the power grew stronger, the gateway started to tremble slightly, and then, pushed by the swarming Magic Power, a crack was opened. In an instant, countless Light Magic Powers flooded out through the crack, spreading over the entire square and making the Light Magic Power on the square intensely dense. And as the Space Gate opened wider and wider, the world beyond gradually revealed itself to everyone. It was a world filled with gentle light everywhere, with a holy aura that touched people¡¯s hearts, making all those who saw this scene involuntarily develop a desire to be part of it. Moments later, the figures of about a dozen Angels flew over from a distance. These Angels were handsome in appearance, with a pair of pure white wings on their backs, hovering in midair, and with a gentle flap of those wings, they rapidly approached the Space Gate. They looked curiously through the gate, peering at the scenery on the other side. They seemed particularly curious about the young priests below, especially paying more attention to a few youths whose Light Magic Power was exceptionally strong, pointing and discussing among themselves. Among the youths they pointed out was Qin Feng. Qin Feng stood slightly behind in the crowd, intently observing the few youngsters at the forefront. Without a doubt, these were talents meticulously nurtured by a few great families from the Light Church Court, each one around the ages of fifteen or sixteen, yet they already possessed the strength of top-level Magic Guides. Because Qin Feng wanted to catch the attention of the Church Court, he deliberately adjusted the brightness of the aura on his body to be only a smidgen weaker than those youngsters. This move indeed made him quite conspicuous among the throng of youths and caught the high-level attention of the Church Court. Someone had already decided to recruit him later on, since cultivating a youth of his age properly, he could absolutely become an adept lieutenant. In midair, behind the Space Gate, about a dozen two-winged Angels were pointing and discussing for quite a while, and even started arguing among themselves, until finally, they elected the tallest Angel among them. That Angel set his gaze on one of the youths at the forefront, the one with the most potent aura. Just as he prepared to traverse the Space Gate and come to this world, suddenly, from afar, another powerful aura arrived. This aura, dominant and unconcealed, hadn¡¯t yet approached closely but already intimidated the dozen two-winged Angels, pushing them to both sides. Afterward, a four-winged Angel, with two pairs of wings on his back, appeared behind the Space Gate. His gaze swiftly swept over the crowd below, lingering momentarily on the youngsters at the front of the queue before sliding past them and looking towards Qin Feng, who stood at a more rearward position in the crowd. Qin Feng¡¯s heart skipped a beat. What did this guy mean by looking at him¡ªcould it be that he sensed a problem with his Light Power? However, his expression remained inscrutable, his spirit quietly making a connection with the life-saving Jade Talisman in his Storage Bag, ready to activate the talisman and flee the place should anything go amiss. To his great surprise, the expression on the face of the four-winged Angel did not show the slightest hint of displeasure; instead, it bore a trace of joy. Subsequently, with a gentle beat of his wings, that Angel swiftly crossed the Space Gate and appeared over the top of the Holy Mountain, above the plaza. The moment the four-winged Angel appeared, a powerful breath of Light Power dispersed in all directions, making all the Cult Members and believers on and below the mountain aware of his presence. Countless believers knelt devoutly on the ground, mistaking the four-winged Angel for the Light God and worshipping him accordingly. The four-winged Angel cooperatively waved his hand, releasing a broad array of Healing Light magic. The light, like a small sun, rose into the air, then showered down countless healing beams upon everyone. The Cult Members atop the Holy Mountain fared slightly better, while those believers below the mountain immediately became excited. As soon as the Healing Light touched them, many of the believers, who had become weak from their long journey, suddenly felt strength growing within them, their vitality returning, and any illnesses disappearing without a trace in the blink of an eye. Cries of gratitude and worship were incessant. The four-winged Angel enjoyed the worship of those believers. However, he soon came back to his senses and once again turned his gaze towards Qin Feng. Then, he fluttered toward Qin Feng, gently drawing several strokes in the void with his finger, forming the semblance of a Magic Array before settling it onto Qin Feng¡¯s forehead. Qin Feng was somewhat taken aback. What was going on? Not sensing the slightest malice from the Angel, he did not dodge. But once the other party branded the Magic Mark upon his forehead, he immediately understood. This four-winged Angel had actually chosen him to be the current Saint Heir! PS: Thanks to the Jealousy Church for the 30,000 starting coin reward; I¡¯ll add an extra chapter for you when I have time! Chapter 317 03-25 - Chapter 317: Chapter 314: Strength Wont Allow Me to Keep a Low Profile Chapter 317: Chapter 314: Strength Won¡¯t Allow Me to Keep a Low Profile Qin Feng was stunned. Not just Qin Feng, but also the other young men present and even those outside the field, including the Pope, Cardinal Archbishop, Red Robed Archbishop, and other high-ranking members of the Church Court, were all stunned. This was something they hadn¡¯t anticipated. According to their arrangement, the Saint Heir should have been one of the young men at the front,, but they never expected an unexpected Four-Winged Angel to disrupt their plans midway. They had also not foreseen that this Four-Winged Angel would disregard the talents they had carefully nurtured, choosing instead a weaker-looking youth. At that moment, even the royals and nobles from various countries who had come to watch were somewhat astonished. The Church Court had been established for many years and had developed a fixed process for selecting the Saint Heir. They knew that the Saint Heir would generally be chosen from among the candidates they had nurtured in advance. After all, those they nurtured not only possessed more outstanding strength but also had well-known backgrounds and were more trustworthy. They also wouldn¡¯t misuse the status of a Saint Heir due to their seniority. This had become an unspoken rule within the upper echelons of the Light God Church after several incidents where former heirs had roamed around and caused big troubles for the Church Court. Yet, unexpectedly, after thousands of years of peace, trouble arose during this selection of the Saint Heir. Qin Feng looked at the Four-Winged Angel in front of him with astonishment. He had only intended to stand out a little, not to outshine the talented heirs from the major noble families. After all, before he set out, he had learned about the selection rules of the Saint Heir from Priest Tuck. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í??.§ã? What he hadn¡¯t expected was, despite his modesty, to be recognized and chosen from the crowd by this perceptive Four-Winged Angel. Qin Feng quickly realized the reason. The aura he displayed was not particularly strong; in fact, he had deliberately suppressed it even more than the other young men. However, his Light Power originated from the essence of a Light Giant Dragon and, coupled with the Holy Flame, positioned his Golden Core just above the Holy Flame, effectively refining it constantly and enhancing the purity of his power. Naturally, he exuded a hint of holy aura, which far surpassed the other young men. This was what had attracted the Four-Winged Angel. Upon understanding this, Qin Feng sighed helplessly in his mind. Well, since I can no longer keep a low profile due to my strength, I might as well embrace the halo that a true talent deserves. With that thought, Qin Feng felt a touch of pride. Playing the role of a genius? He had experience with that; back in his sect, he had managed to project his above-average talent as that of a supreme genius. In front, the Four-Winged Angel floated about three feet off the ground before him, emitting a powerful aura. Qin Feng felt that this being¡¯s presence seemed even stronger than that of his senior brother, Zhao Qiankun. This realization gave him a more concrete understanding of the strength of the Angel Divine Clan. From what he had read in the books of Druidism and the Light God Church, the Light God Realm contained countless angels. And now, just a single Four-Winged Angel seemed more powerful than Zhao Qiankun, who had advanced to the Purple Mansion Realm. How formidable must the collective power of billions of angels in the entire Light God Realm be? Could it be that the world of the Light God is actually a Great World? If that were true, it would be terrifying. Forget about the Beast Taming Sect and the allied sects, even if all the cultivators of the Southern Domain took on a Great World, they would likely stand no chance. Only if the Five Domains united would they possess the strength to take over a Great World. And even then, victory over other Great Worlds was not guaranteed as each Great World possessed immense strength and heritage. Like the Biluo Great World, during the Ancient Great Tribulation, it was besieged by several Great Worlds and many smaller worlds, some even penetrating its internal realms during the last few thousand years. Yet, it was never completely conquered; instead, the Human Clan forcefully relocated the world, spending tens of thousands of years recuperating and restoring much of its Primordial Qi. A thrill crossed Qin Feng¡¯s face as he excitedly looked at the Four-Winged Angel in front of him, contemplating the rankings of strength among angels. After all, angels were beings capable of cultivation and advancement, so there must be varying strengths among other Four-Winged Angels; it was impossible for all of them to possess the same level of power. This angel, gently fluttering his wings behind him, was unconcerned with the astonishment of the surrounding people. Rather, he seemed quite pleased with the zeal on Qin Feng¡¯s face. ¡°Young man, I sense in you the most devout faith in my Lord and the purest spirit. You shall be the proxy Saint Heir. I hope you can lead the believers better, spreading the Lord¡¯s light to every corner of this world, illuminating all darkness, eradicating any place where evil might breed.¡± Bullshit! Qin Feng didn¡¯t believe a word the Four-Winged Angel said. Sensed my devout faith and pure spirit? You¡¯re just a Four-Winged Angel, only slightly stronger than me, and you dare claim to sense my spirit? As for the Power of Faith, that¡¯s even more ridiculous! He had never had a shred of faith in the Light God, so how could he be devout? Moreover, this being wasn¡¯t a divine entity and couldn¡¯t absorb the Power of Faith. It was also impossible to sense faith from just one person among so many, when he could only sense the faith power that filled Mount Church at best, not distinguishing one faint faith from all the others. Sure enough, this guy was as big a charlatan as the Pope. While appreciating his strength, he twisted the narrative to claim a spiritual calling. If this angel knew that Qin Feng was currently planning how to wage war against the Light God System, and plotting to capture him alive to bring him back to the Beast Taming Sect as their first Angel Beast, it was doubtful he would remain so pleased. Of course, he could not say that aloud. At this moment, Qin Feng was exhibiting the unique excitement, thrill, and devotion of a Young Priest to the utmost, to the point where he could only keep nodding eagerly, too stirred to speak. The Four-Winged Angel seemed to want to stay here a little longer, and if possible, even fly around to take in the scenery of this world. After all, in the Upper Realm, he was just an ordinary Four-Winged Angel, overshadowed by many stronger than himself. This was nothing like being here where he was so popular and unrestricted. However, the surrounding young priests couldn¡¯t hold on any longer. If the Four-Winged Angel stayed any longer, he might not be able to return until the next Space Gate opened, and this was not allowed. Not only did their Angel Divine Clan have rules he dared not breach, but the agreement between the Light God System and the Nature God System also stipulated that members from either side should not stay in this world unreasonably or interfere with affairs arbitrarily. The Space Gate was not so simple to open; each activation required a significant amount of strength. In truth, the youths were only there to assist. The reason they were made to chant the Holy Song to open the Space Gate was merely to proclaim the greatness of the Light God¡ªit didn¡¯t mean that their minor strength could actually facilitate it, allowing the powerful to come and go as they pleased. This was just to fool those royals and believers who were unaware of the intricacies. The real force behind the opening of the Space Gate was not with these youths, but with the Church and the Great Powers from the Divine Realm working secretly at an agreed time to jointly open the Space Gate. This was just a single Four-Winged Angel coming through from the other side; if a whole combat-ready Angel Army had emerged, the expenditure would truly have been enormous. The Four-Winged Angel flew a circle in the Void, radiating his powerful aura far and wide to awe the crowd, before he finally re-entered the Space Gate, which immediately began to close rapidly to prevent further consumption of strength. Seeing this, many youths on the square immediately relaxed, unable to hold on any longer; they gasped for air. A number of them had depleted their magic power entirely and passed out, being carried away by the knights from the Guardian Knight Order for medical treatment. The surrounding youths looked at Qin Feng with odd expressions on their faces. Especially a few prodigious youths from prominent families at the forefront; their faces turned particularly gloomy. An event that was supposed to be certain had unexpectedly gone awry. This filled them with resentment. Yet, they did not dare come over to provoke trouble. Because Qin Feng was now the Saint Heir, and was personally chosen by the powerful Four-Winged Angel. Previously, having a Two-Winged Angel appear during the selection of a Saint Heir was already considered fortunate. Under the Church¡¯s orchestration, when a Saint Heir visited the believers, encountering some ¡®unexpected¡¯ circumstances to summon an Angel to perform a miracle in front of the populace could gain considerable support from believers, causing more people to wholeheartedly worship the Light God and provide faith to the Divine. But this time was different; a Four-Winged Angel had descended. In the centuries-long history of the Church, such occurrences were exceedingly rare. Moreover, every appearance of a Four-Winged Angel in previous selections signified that those Saint Heirs had even greater strength, far surpassing their peers, or possessed enormous potential for future growth, thus earning the favor of a Four-Winged Angel. Soon, the upper echelons of the Church came to accept this. Although an unexpected choice had occurred, not picking the few youths they had carefully nurtured, that was alright. An occasional surprise was tolerable, all the more since a Four-Winged Angel had descended to the Lower Realm this time. They believed that as long as the Church publicized this event, it would gain even more believers and solidify the faith of the existing ones. Moreover, since this edition¡¯s Saint Heir had won the endorsement of a Four-Winged Angel, it suggested that his future achievements would also surpass most of his predecessors. Perhaps nurturing him might even allow the Church to gain a super expert to assume command. The Pope¡¯s eyes briefly shimmered with a mellow white light as he looked towards Qin Feng. He wanted to see what was so special about this youth. However, just as his gaze landed on Qin Feng, it seemed to trigger some special prohibition. Suddenly, a golden mark appeared on Qin Feng¡¯s forehead. The Magic Mark, inexplicably sensing an external probing force, burst forth with intense light, blocking the Pope¡¯s investigation from outside. Qin Feng was initially alarmed, but soon became joyous. It appeared that this mark was not a mere impulse from the Four-Winged Angel but probably contained something more¡ªperhaps a protective technique from the Upper Realm¡¯s powerful beings specifically for guarding the Saint Heir, conveniently blocking the Pope¡¯s probing. It made sense, after all, being the Saint Heir should come with some special aspect, or it would be easy for others to underestimate him. If the Holy Daughter of Druidism could receive the Divine Power of the Forest Goddess and become her chosen vessel in the Lower Realm, Qin Feng, as the Holy Son of Light, should also possess something special. It would not be appropriate for the successive Saint Heirs to rely solely on their strength in battles. Qin Feng did not believe that any of the previous Saint Heirs had as formidable a strength as his own. The Pope felt a burst of brightness before his eyes and a sudden sting, prompting him to hastily close them, not daring to look any further. Yet, he felt a sense of relief in his heart. Now that the approval from the Upper Realm had been secured, they would properly cultivate the youth, hoping to have him contribute to the Church while in his position as Saint Heir. After all, he was a Saint Heir who could summon a Four-Winged Angel, far stronger than those from earlier times. Although the Four-Winged Angel¡¯s strength was not yet on par with the Pope¡¯s, he was still far more powerful than the Holy Knight Doro and any ordinary Archbishop. Moreover, Combat Angels were generally experts of both Magic and Martial Arts; whether attacking from a distance or defending up close, casting spells, or engaging in close combat, they were exceptionally brilliant, wielding formidable fighting prowess that could definitely perform acts to glorify the greatness of the Light God. The Pope¡¯s status, after all, was significant. Although he had not yet reincarnated into an Angel in the Light God Realm, given his background and power, his status and standing would probably soon surpass the aforementioned Angel once he successfully reincarnated. Therefore, he felt no psychological burden about how to utilize the Four-Winged Angel. Chapter 318 03-25 - Chapter 318: Chapter 315 Followers of the Light God Use Without Heartache Chapter 318: Chapter 315 Followers of the Light God Use Without Heartache The Pope quickly arrived with a group of high-ranking officials from the Church Court. Along the way, young priests respectfully cleared the way. A gentle smile appeared on the Pope¡¯s face as he walked straight up to Qin Feng through the path cleared by the crowd. ¡°Your Majesty.¡± Qin Feng¡¯s face bore the expression of a naive youth encountering an important figure, somewhat nervous, excited, and reverent; he hurriedly paid his respects. ¡°Hehe, no need for such formalities.¡± Clearly, the Pope was very satisfied with Qin Feng¡¯s reverence. In his view, this was just a youth who had not experienced much of the world and was too naive to challenge his authority, even if this youth had attained the position of Holy Son. Moreover, although the Holy Son was esteemed, it was merely a symbolic title. Under the Holy Son¡¯s command, there was an exclusive Guardian Army drawn from elite forces of the various Church¡¯s armies, but they could not possibly contend with the Pope. Each Holy Son¡¯s term was not very long, at most twenty years. After a Holy Son stepped down, the Guardian Army would be disbanded and return to serve in their original armies until the next Holy Son arose. Then, the various armies would select a new batch of elite personnel to guard the Holy Son. This was a tradition formed over many years by the Church¡¯s upper echelons to prevent any power centers from forming outside of the Pope. Thus, they did not allow the Guardian Army under each Holy Son to be passed down through generations, as that would make the Army loyal only to the Holy Sons. If a Holy Son developed an absolutely loyal force, it would inevitably impact the Pope¡¯s authority. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í??.§ã? Normally, it was fine as several major families jointly held the position of Holy Son, preventing any disobedience. However, this year, a previously unknown young priest like Qin Feng became the Holy Son. If a power struggle ensued, it could cause significant trouble for the current holders of power. After all, the Holy Son represented the Light God and acted as his envoy on earth. He was the closest to the Light God and the Church¡¯s most convenient link to the Upper Realm. In times of need, the Holy Son could summon the angel with whom he had a pact to act as a communication bridge between them and the Divine Realm, relaying messages directly to the divine beings. Additionally, the angel would convey the requirements and directives from the Divine Realm to the Church, such as collecting various resources, directing the Church¡¯s development, competing for believers with other divine entities¡¯ churches, or even providing covert support. Therefore, the position of Holy Son was crucial; he was the pivot connecting the two realms. However, the real power was still held by the Pope. Whether for power or for profit, the Church¡¯s upper echelons, centered around the Pope, would not allow the Holy Son to intervene too strongly in Church affairs. Therefore, when the Pope, the Archbishops, and the commanders of the Church¡¯s armies realized that this term¡¯s Holy Son was just a na?ve and inexperienced youth, they were immediately reassured. The Pope softly encouraged him a few times and inquired about his background. When he heard Qin Feng mention that he came from a remote small town and was a disciple of Bishop Ebel from the town¡¯s church, he frowned slightly. Obviously, his stature did not necessitate focusing on a remote small town. Behind him, a Cardinal Archbishop immediately stepped forward and informed the Pope about Ebel¡¯s matters in his ear. The Pope nodded immediately, ¡°So the Holy Son is the disciple of Bishop Ebel. Bishop Ebel is a priest who has devoted his entire life wholeheartedly to the Light God, a servant of God worthy of everyone¡¯s respect. It is fitting that the Holy Son, having been guided by Ebel for many years, has such a temperament.¡± Beside him, another Cardinal Archbishop respectfully stepped forward to the Pope and Qin Feng, ¡°Your Majesty, do you see, should we first invite the Holy Son to change his robe, and then commence the ceremony?¡± ¡°Yes, that sounds good.¡± The Pope said to Qin Feng, ¡°Please accompany them to change into the Holy Son robe, and later, we will conduct the ceremony for Your Majesty.¡± ¡°Yes, Your Majesty.¡± Qin Feng, looking puzzled, nodded respectfully and after bowing to the Pope, followed the Cardinal Archbishop toward the back of the Light Temple, heading to the Holy Son Palace, which faced the Pope Palace on opposite sides. Here, a large number of attendants and maids had already prepared everything, waiting for the arrival of the Holy Son to become the servants of the new Holy Son. Under the direction of the Cardinal Archbishop, with the help of the attendants, Qin Feng bathed, changed, and donned the sumptuous and intricate robe of the Holy Son. Then, once again escorted by a group, he arrived back at the Light Temple. By now, the temple was filled with many people. There were numerous high-ranking officials from the Church, as well as royalty and nobility from various countries. At this time, many counts from various kingdoms were not even qualified to enter this grand ceremony; those who could enter were primarily marquises and dukes. The reason these nobles were allowed to participate was merely to observe the ceremony and see the current Holy Son in person. This way, when the Holy Son toured their countries, spreading the gospel of the Light God, they would not neglect him out of unfamiliarity. ¡°Meet Your Majesty¡­¡± As soon as Qin Feng entered the grand hall, everyone bowed to him. He clumsily tried to return the gesture but was stopped by the Cardinal Archbishop, ¡°Your Majesty is a great envoy of the Light God on earth; it is right for them to pay their respects to you. You need not return their gestures, as that would diminish the majesty of the God in their hearts.¡± ¡°Oh, I see.¡± Qin Feng nodded naively, then, guided by the Cardinal Archbishop, walked expressionlessly through the crowd, heading straight to the upper part of the grand hall. There are two seats here, one belongs to the Holy Son, and the other to the Pope. However, usually only the Pope is here, while the Holy Son spends most of his time either staying in his palace or touring various countries, spreading the brilliance of the Light God, promoting the teachings of the Light God Church, and occasionally performing miracles to gain the sincere faith of more people. As for managing the power of the Church Court, it is still more fitting for the Pope to handle it in the interest of other high-ranking officials. ¡°Your Majesty.¡± One must pay respects to the Pope, though it¡¯s just the simplest gesture of touching one¡¯s chest and slightly bowing. ¡°Your Holiness.¡± The Pope also bowed slightly toward him. After all, the Holy Son represents the face of the Light God, so no matter how young the Holy Son is, the necessary respect should still be there. Then, he invited Qin Feng to sit on the Holy Son¡¯s throne and lifted the Holy Crown from another Cardinal Archbishop behind him, crowning Qin Feng. Then, he brought forth a magnificent scepter and handed it to Qin Feng. These are the two Demigod Artifacts belonging to successive Holy Sons. The Holy Crown could enhance spiritual power, allowing the Holy Son to summon angels for longer durations, and once summoned to fight, the angels could sustain their presence for extended periods. As for the scepter, not only is it a powerful Demigod Artifact that enhances the power of Light Element Magic, but it also symbolizes the succession of the Holy Son over the Holy Son Guardian Army. However, powerful as these Demigod Artifacts are, Qin Feng valued more the Thorny Crown atop the Pope¡¯s head. That was a true Divine Artifact, said to be a reward given by the Light God to the Popes of successive generations. Not to mention, just the large Light Element gemstone on the Thorny Crown alone made Qin Feng envious. The power aura of that gemstone was too strong. If he could pry it off and refine it, his strength would surely surge. Even if not refined, having an Artifact Refiner create a Spiritual Treasure from it would be immensely powerful. Regrettably, the Pope¡¯s power was too great; he dared not seize it by force. ¡°Greetings, Holy Son.¡± When Qin Feng, wearing the Holy Crown and holding the scepter, sat on the throne, the high-ranking members of the Church Court and various royal nobilities from different nations paid their respects, formally greeting the new Holy Son. Qin Feng looked at the crowd in the hall and couldn¡¯t help but have a moment of realization. So, this was power! But, it didn¡¯t seem to taste that special, did it? He wasn¡¯t particularly interested in power. Otherwise, he wouldn¡¯t have refused to be a candidate for the next Sect Master of the Beast Taming Sect. The power of the Sect Master of the Beast Taming Sect was much greater than that of a Holy Son of the Light God Church. Moreover, after this ceremony and the grand banquet the following day, once the Pope and other high-ranking officials explained the powers he controlled and his obligations, Qin Feng disdainfully regarded the so-called prestigious status of Holy Son. What Holy Son was this? It was clearly just a puppet and laborer. Despite his noble status, he had to run around the world when needed by the Church, laboring both mentally and physically. For what purpose? Qin Feng did not believe for a second that the Pope, this old cunning man, would let him, a Holy Son not originating from a well-known big family, stay on the Holy Mountain year-round. Evidently, the Pope was unwilling to have his power checked and was now eagerly discussing with Qin Feng a plan for him to tour several major countries in a few months on the lingering momentum of this Four-Winged Angel descent event and to display some miracles to the believers. Thus, when Qin Feng understood the Pope¡¯s intention, his interest in the identity of the Holy Son diminished even more. He wanted to quickly fulfill his initial purpose of coming to the Holy Mountain, then leave the place. Becoming the Holy Son was accidental for him, and he certainly wouldn¡¯t waste his time spreading the glory of the Light God, as he clearly remembered what his task was. Moreover, he had previously agreed to meet Xiu Xin outside Iron Wall City on Algu Mountain; hence, he couldn¡¯t stay here too long. Later, after completing his mission promptly, he planned to leave this realm and return to Cave Heaven Fortress, where it would be safer to be under the protection of the Sect elders. However, having finally risen to a high position in the Church, he couldn¡¯t just leave directly. He had to extract some benefits from the Church and discreetly learn some secrets about this world. If he could access the Church¡¯s confidential archives, that would be even better. Just not sure if they would open up those secret places to him, who seemed like a puppet-like Holy Son. Unfortunately, the Sect was not yet ready to attack this realm, and he could not stay in the Church long; otherwise, he might have to utilize his position as the Holy Son to provoke conflicts between the Church and other religions and tribes, which might trigger a large-scale war to deplete the forces of all parties, creating a more favorable situation for the Sect¡¯s invasion. Even if given time to stay a few more months in the Church, he could lead the Holy Son Guardian Army to hunt down ninth-level Demon Beasts, and if he could find information on that Nine-Headed Snake again, with the power of the Holy Son Guardian Army, they could certainly completely exhaust the Nine-Headed Snake¡¯s strength. Although this would severely weaken the Guardian Army, these individuals weren¡¯t his people but loyal followers of the Light God, making their use less painful. Chapter 319 03-25 - Chapter 319: Chapter 316: Each Has Their Own Plans Chapter 319: Chapter 316: Each Has Their Own Plans Qin Feng felt that, although due to time constraints, it was not feasible to take the Guardian Army out to fight demon beasts, his Guardian Angel still seemed usable. After all, the Space Gate could not be opened casually, not only because a great deal of power was required to open it, but also because when the Space Gate was constructed, the Divine of the Light God System must have reached an agreement with the Divine of the Nature God System, to not open the Space Gate lightly unless both sides were facing a major crisis. Otherwise, if it were to be opened indiscriminately, it would disrupt the established rules. If the high-level masters of both sides were to frequently appear in this world at will, it would inevitably lead to friction and then to war. This was something neither side wished to see. On the contrary, allowing the churches of both sides to battle each other, enabling the Human Clan to fight among themselves to help them compete for belief, was within their tolerance. Since the Space Gate could not be opened at will, it also meant that even if he left the Church Court, the Upper Realm would not immediately be aware of it. Therefore, he could use the Four-Winged Angel for certain things. Thinking of this, Qin Feng¡¯s eyes suddenly lit up. That Four-Winged Angel was still very powerful. At the very least, it was no weaker than the average level-nine demon beast; as for how strong it really was, that remained to be seen until after a fight. After pondering for a while, Qin Feng temporarily set these thoughts aside. Right now, the most important thing for him was how to learn some of the Church¡¯s secrets through his identity, while also entering the secret lands of the Holy Mountain to take the treasures he desired. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í?0.§ã¦Ï However, both of these things were somewhat difficult because the Pope and other senior officials had apparently made up their minds not to let Qin Feng get involved in anything beyond preaching. In that case, if he wanted to succeed, he would have to rely on the power of Druidism infiltrated within the Holy Mountain. Yet, after waiting for several days in a row, he still had not been contacted by a druid spy, which left him somewhat puzzled. Could it be that those people saw him now in a high position and, fearing his defection, dare not come? That couldn¡¯t be the case. Or was it because his position as the Holy Son was too high, and the druid spies of low status were not qualified to visit his palace? Considering this possibility, Qin Feng no longer spent all day cooped up in the Holy Son of Light Palace. He wandered around the Holy Mountain every day, hoping that the druid spies would make contact with him soon. However, his actions did not draw out the druids but rather baffled the Pope and others, who had no idea what the Holy Son was up to. Initially, Qin Feng didn¡¯t have this much idle time. Ever since he became the Holy Son, the Pope had arranged for a large number of personnel to move into the Holy Son of Light Palace, becoming his teachers, teaching him all sorts of cumbersome etiquette, the common knowledge that top-level personnel should be aware of, even Light Magic, combat skills, and how to deal with various situations when spreading the gospel of the Light God, and so on. His daily schedule was packed tight, seemingly wanting to wring all of Qin Feng¡¯s time dry so that he didn¡¯t have the energy to do anything else. But Qin Feng quickly saw through the Pope¡¯s cunning intentions and was unwilling to play along with the old man any longer. After all, he had already become the Holy Son of Light, and before his term was up, would the Pope dare to strip him of his status as Holy Son? The Pope did not have that authority! So the next day, Qin Feng made the old man teaching him etiquette copy all the etiquette lessons a hundred times, had the Archbishop who was imparting his magic skills perform each type of Light Magic he was to pass on a hundred times, and demanded the old Priest instructing him on how to disseminate the faith write down the response to every possible question one might encounter a hundred times. He also required them to submit their copied lessons to him for review, and if they were not up to standard, they would have to do it all over again. This order almost made those of dignified status feel so depressed they could spit blood. Although those individuals were dissatisfied, they dared not defy him and could only obediently comply, but afterwards, they immediately sought the Pope to complain. When the Pope came to inquire with his entourage, Qin Feng told him directly that he, a being of noble status as the Holy Son, did not need to learn so many trivial things. He just needed to devote himself to praying to the Light God and focus on enhancing his strength. As for spreading faith or resolving various issues, that was for others to do. If those below could not even handle such minor matters and still required his personal resolution, then what use were they? Okay, although this rhetoric was somewhat equivocal, it also made some sense. Additionally, there were indeed some arrangements made by the Pope out of self-interest, which Qin Feng now refused. The Pope was in no position to force Qin Feng to act according to his wishes since both of their statuses were equivalent, and in some respects, Qin Feng¡¯s divine status as the Holy Son of Light was even higher than his. After all, the Holy Son of Light was the Divine Movement¡¯s envoy on earth, not to be slighted in the least. Thus, the Pope¡¯s idea to restrict Qin Feng¡¯s freedom came to nothing. From that point on, the educators arranged by the Pope dared not teach Qin Feng anything rashly. Otherwise, Qin Feng would have them repeat the task a hundred times, making them do it until they themselves felt nauseous. Since then, Qin Feng had finally found peace and quiet, leaving him free to roam around the Holy Mountain. However, his daily wandering around the Holy Mountain greatly puzzled and surprised the Pope and the higher-ups. ¡°We originally thought the Holy Son was a pure-hearted youth, but who would have expected him to have his own ideas.¡± ¡°It¡¯s normal. The Crown is still young after all, and as a child from a rural town, he definitely wouldn¡¯t want to study all those dull and boring things every day.¡± The Pope sighed lightly, ¡°He¡¯s just been wandering these past few days, not doing anything else, right?¡± ¡°No.¡± A Cardinal Archbishop said, ¡°Besides being a bit restless and fond of running around, the Crown also likes to read books. Apart from that, there¡¯s nothing else amiss.¡± ¡°Your Majesty.¡± On the other side, the armored Commander of the Guardian Knight Order Rein said, ¡°It¡¯s not right to just let the Holy Son wander around at will. I think it¡¯s better to find something for him to do. Otherwise, his occasional trips to various departments can disrupt our normal operations.¡± ¡°Hmm.¡± The Pope pondered for a long while with a sense of helplessness, ¡°I originally wanted him to stay on the Holy Mountain quietly for a few months, to mold him into the image of the Holy Sons of the past before letting him leave the Holy Mountain. Since he can¡¯t sit still, let¡¯s have him leave the Holy Mountain earlier to spread the glory of the Light God to the nations.¡± ¡°Where does Your Majesty plan to send the Holy Son first?¡± ¡°Let¡¯s send him to the Orton Kingdom.¡± The Pope said indifferently, ¡°In the past, the first destination for the Holy Sons selected from various nations to spread the teachings was their own countries, right? So let him go to the Orton Kingdom to disseminate the doctrine. It will strengthen the believers¡¯ loyalty there, seeing the little Priest from their kingdom has become the Holy Son of Light. Let him stay in the Orton Kingdom for a few months, then move on to other nations. He won¡¯t be able to return to the Holy Mountain for two or three years.¡± ¡°So, when do we set out?¡± ¡°In one or two months.¡± The Pope said, ¡°First, let the news out so that the people of the Orton Kingdom know that the Holy Son is about to return home. Also, publicize the Holy Son¡¯s travel route, so that believers along the way can go and worship him. Try to handle this matter as best as possible.¡± ¡°Your Holiness, rest assured, I will get right on it.¡± A Cardinal Archbishop, full of confidence, stood up in response, ¡°I will certainly spread the news of the Holy Son¡¯s impending tour of the nations far and wide, so that all believers know this news. Undoubtedly, they will be looking forward to it eagerly.¡± ¡°Hmm, I trust you in this matter,¡± The Pope nodded in satisfaction at the Cardinal Archbishop. This was his right-hand man, who had handled countless matters for him, a trusted Archbishop. ¡°Go ahead and arrange everything as soon as possible. Make it known throughout the world. Our Church Court rarely sees a Holy Son accompanied by a Four-Winged Guardian Angel. Emphasize this in the propaganda.¡± ¡°Yes, Your Holiness.¡± The Cardinal Archbishop bowed and took his leave to organize the propaganda. ¡°Rein,¡± The Pope then turned his gaze to the Army Commander of the Guardian Knight Order and the leaders of several other armies and said, ¡°You must quickly organize the Holy Son¡¯s Guardian Army. Normally, according to tradition, you would have a few more months to prepare slowly, but now, since we want the Holy Son to tour the nations as soon as possible, he cannot lack guards. I do not wish to see something like the assassination of Druidism¡¯s Holy Daughter years ago happen to our Light God Church.¡± ¡°Your Holiness, rest assured. We swear to guard the Holy Son¡¯s safety and will certainly not let any harm befall him,¡± The commanders of the armies immediately stood up and saluted, ensuring the Pope they would do so. ¡°Hmm, just be diligent,¡± The Pope said with a slight smile, ¡°Actually, ordinary dangers won¡¯t threaten him. The strength of a Four-Winged Battle Angel is even greater than yours.¡± While Qin Feng was wandering aimlessly around the Holy Mountain, hoping to quickly draw the Druids to him, thousands of miles away in the distant Demon Beast Forest, High Priest Tuck was talking with some Elders. ¡°High Priest, are we not taking action yet?¡± One of the Great Elders spoke up, ¡°I¡¯ve heard that the Light Church is planning to have their Holy Son leave the Holy Mountain and tour the nations. Once Randy leaves the Holy Mountain, our plan will definitely have to be postponed. Moreover, Randy¡¯s identity is, in the end, a fake one. If too much time passes, it¡¯s very likely he¡¯ll be exposed, and then, not only will our plan be difficult to implement, but it could also directly lead to a war between us and the Light Church. After all, the Light Church will never tolerate their Holy Son of Light being a Druid. For them, that would be an invasion and desecration of their Light God¡¯s authority.¡± ¡°That¡¯s not all,¡± Another Great Druid Elder said, ¡°More importantly, once Randy¡¯s identity is exposed, the Church would likely realize our intentions. To be cautious, they might also relocate the Jade Heart and hide it somewhere else, maybe even conduct a thorough check of everyone on the Holy Mountain to root out all our undercover agents, completely severing our hope of reclaiming the Jade Heart.¡± ¡°Sigh!¡± The High Priest seated above smiled bitterly, ¡°I really didn¡¯t expect that the boy Randy would gain the recognition of a Four-Winged Angel and be chosen as a Druid. It¡¯s¡­ just like a fairy tale.¡± ¡°Isn¡¯t it?¡± Great Druid Elder Doron shook his head too, ¡°Randy is a child who left from my tribe. When I first received the news, I couldn¡¯t believe it either. Who would have thought he could become the Holy Son of Light? Perhaps it¡¯s because the Silver Winged Pegasus Demon Core he obtained was too pure, which made the Four-Winged Angel see great potential for growth in the boy.¡± The High Priest looked at Priest Tuck, who was next to Doron, and asked, ¡°Tuck, the identity of the Holy Son of Light is extremely distinguished. Randy won¡¯t waver in his faith in the Forest Goddess because of this, will he?¡± ¡°Not at all,¡± Priest Tuck shook his head, ¡°The boy is very devout to the Forest Goddess. You don¡¯t know, before he joined Druidism, the hardships he suffered were too many. If I hadn¡¯t brought him back to Druidism, he probably would have starved to death on the streets. Moreover, I had sent someone to investigate his background in his hometown after he joined Druidism. In fact, the misfortune of his family was also related to the local church. Before he set off for the Church Court, I had already told him about this, so he won¡¯t have any good feelings toward the Light Church. What¡¯s more, even if his faith does waver, he wouldn¡¯t dare betray Druidism. Otherwise, as soon as we reveal his true identity, the Light Church would definitely not let him continue holding the position of the Holy Son.¡± ¡°That¡¯s good to hear,¡± The High Priest nodded his head, ¡°Honestly, if it weren¡¯t for the fact that the Jade Heart is of utmost importance to us, I really wouldn¡¯t want to use him for this task. The Holy Son of Light, in this position, he could do many things for Druidism, and even for all factions within the Nature God System. If we had a few more years to strategize, perhaps we could push the Light God Church¡¯s influence across the Flowing Gold River, using our combined efforts. To use him now seems such a waste.¡± ¡°So, do we launch the plan now?¡± ¡°Let¡¯s go ahead. To avoid troubles from delaying, we should act as soon as possible to retrieve the Jade Heart at the earliest; otherwise, we are too passive,¡± The High Priest sighed lightly and then instructed, ¡°Remember, Randy¡¯s safety is of the utmost importance. We must bring him back alive. This child being able to become the Holy Son of Light shows he has tremendous potential. After bringing him back, we should also focus on cultivating him. Perhaps in the future, he may even become another legendary master.¡± ¡°Your Holiness, don¡¯t worry. This time, with the Heavenly Eagle Great Elder personally taking action, as long as the plan goes smoothly, he will surely be brought back. Having made such a significant contribution to Druidism, we can¡¯t abandon him no matter what.¡± ¡°That¡¯s reassuring.¡± The High Priest nodded, ¡°Send the message then. Act immediately upon finding the opportunity. Now that his identity as the Holy Son of Light is prestigious enough, even if he goes to those places, it won¡¯t arouse others¡¯ suspicion and will facilitate our actions.¡± ¡°Yes.¡± The Great Elders of Druidism ?esponded to the order and one by one stood up to leave, each to prepare for their respective tasks. Chapter 320 03-25 - Chapter 320: Chapter 317: Entering the Underground Palace Chapter 320: Chapter 317: Entering the Underground Palace This day, just like usual, Qin Feng idly strolled around the Holy Mountain. A dozen or so people followed behind him. Originally, there had been a group of over a hundred following him, but he had found them annoying and had them whittled down to this number. Besides the few teachers arranged by His Holiness the Pope, the rest were experts drawn from various legions of the Church Court, also assigned under him in the Holy Son Guardian Army as his guards. These individuals were quite formidable, mostly being of the Golden Knight level and above, which even included a Holy Knight and a Light Sword Saint serving as the chief and deputy commanders of the Holy Son Guardian Army. Qin Feng let them follow behind, and those elderly bishops responsible for teaching him etiquette and various church rules no longer insisted on lecturing him. For many days, Qin Feng mostly treated their words like the wind past his ears, paying them no heed, rendering their speech ineffective. Even when their talks became annoying, he would order these stubborn old men to transcribe their own rules to teach him a lesson that in his command, he was the rule. Because of this, the parchment these elders had to transcribe was already taller than a person. There was no helping it, the parchment was simply too thick, and they had too much to preach about. After hundreds of recopies, the wasted parchment was certainly not a small amount. Qin Feng leisurely wandered from the residence of the Guardian Knight Order to the not-so-distant Light Knight Order, receiving respectful salutes from all knights and commanders. After a full tour that ensured his presence was noted by all, he then casually left the place, heading towards another nearby cathedral of the Cardinal Archbishop. Now, everyone on the Holy Mountain knew that the newly appointed Holy Son enjoyed strolling around. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í¨À0.§ã¦Ï Although some felt that His Holy Son seemed not very dignified, many others found him approachable and willing to engage more with ordinary cult members, which made most feel quite honored. After all, the identity of the Holy Son was very intimidating, and on normal days, people with insufficient status couldn¡¯t even interact with the esteemed Holy Son. Now that they encountered one who was willing to lower his status, they naturally felt delighted. Thus, most people on the Holy Mountain harbored no ill feelings towards Qin Feng, and any slight delay caused by his presence was not a big issue. On normal days, whenever important figures came to their places, they had to respectfully stand up and bow, so adding one more Holy Son to this ritual was not much. As he was walking, Qin Feng suddenly saw an old man approaching. He was an old priest. Ordinarily, Qin Feng wouldn¡¯t care about such a priest, as there were many on the Holy Mountain. However, this priest caught his attention. That was because Qin Feng noticed the priest was holding a book. There was nothing unusual about books, but it was rare for someone to be reading a book while walking on the roads of the Holy Mountain. More importantly, the secret code that Priest Tuck had told him was related to books. ¡°Greetings, Your Holiness.¡± Upon seeing Qin Feng and his entourage approaching, the old priest quickly hugged the book to his chest and bowed respectfully. ¡°Rise, no need for such formalities.¡± Qin Feng waved his hand and focused his gaze on the book in the old priest¡¯s hands, after scrutinizing the title, he suddenly smiled and said, ¡°Quite diligent, huh? Reading a book even while walking?¡± ¡°You flatter me, Your Holiness.¡± The old priest bowed and spoke, ¡°My duty is to manage the church¡¯s library, and dealing with books all day has made reading a habit.¡± ¡°Oh, is that so?¡± Qin Feng said with a smile, ¡°I too enjoy reading books quite a bit. Recently, I¡¯ve found the books brought by my teachers a bit dull. Why not go to the Holy Mountain¡¯s library and pick out a few books I¡¯d like to read; would you lead the way?¡± ¡°It would be my honor to serve you, Your Holiness.¡± The old priest naturally wouldn¡¯t refuse and hurriedly led Qin Feng to the hall with the most extensive collection of books on the Holy Mountain. Those following Qin Feng didn¡¯t mind. They were used to Qin Feng¡¯s whims. The Holy Son normally didn¡¯t put on airs or show any temperament, sometimes even chatting with a flower gardener for half a day about how to better care for plants and flowers. So, they thought it perfectly normal for him, along with the book-responsible old priest, to seek out interesting books. Following the old priest, Qin Feng arrived at the great hall of books, and after casually flipping through a few, he quickly grew impatient, stuffing the books back in place and told the old priest, ¡°Go find some interesting books for me to bring back and read at my leisure.¡± ¡°As you command, Your Holiness.¡± The old priest promptly agreed. He was familiar with managing all the books here, so he quickly selected a few from the shelves and respectfully handed them to Qin Feng. Qin Feng glanced through them casually, nodded in satisfaction, and ordered a Golden Knight behind him to gather the books, planning to read them later. Afterward, Qin Feng casually visited several more places, and seeing that it was getting late, he finally returned to the Holy Son Palace located at the peak of the mountain. Following a lavish dinner and dismissing the attendants, he returned to his bedroom, taking the few books with him, and upon using his Divine Sense, he immediately discovered a hidden compartment in the cover of a book recording the war history between the Light God Church and the Druids. Extending his right index finger, a flicker of golden light traced gently over the cover, neatly opening a thin slit, out of which he pulled a thin piece of paper. After reading all the information on it, his hand emitted a burst of Holy Flame, incinerating the thin paper to ashes. The next morning, while Qin Feng was eating breakfast, he bit into something hard in his cream bread. It was a Space Ring. Qin Feng discreetly tucked it into his pocket without letting anyone notice. At noon, he wandered about Holy Mountain as usual. However, this time, as he passed by a heavily guarded palace not far from the Light Temple, curiosity led him there. ¡°Holy Son, this is the Holy Mountain Underground Palace; there¡¯s nothing much to see here. Perhaps¡ª¡± The Red Robed Old Bishop who followed behind Qin Feng tried to persuade him to go elsewhere. Upon hearing this, Qin Feng turned around and looked at him indifferently: ¡°What, is my status not sufficient to be here?¡± ¡°Uh¡­ that¡¯s not what I meant.¡± The old man suddenly regretted his words. After interacting with the Saint Heir for a few days, he had roughly figured out his temper¡ªit was that of a boy who hadn¡¯t matured yet and was in a rebellious phase. Sometimes, the more you didn¡¯t want him to do something, the more he would do just the opposite, just as when they had tried to constrain him with intricate rituals, only for him to abandon all ceremonies outright, making them copy those damn ritual rules a hundred times. Now, entering the Holy Mountain Underground Palace was no different. If he had spoken differently earlier, considering the Saint Heir¡¯s usual temper, maybe he would have just walked away. Instead, his words had now triggered the Saint Heir¡¯s defiant nature, making him adamant about entering the Underground Palace. Thinking about this, Qin Feng and others arrived at the entrance of the Underground Palace. ¡°Greetings, Holy Son.¡± A group of Knights guarding the entrance of the Underground Palace knelt and saluted, and the leading Knight Commander asked: ¡°May I ask what business the Holy Son has here? This is a vital area of Holy Mountain, and if the Holy Son has no urgent matters here¡­¡± Qin Feng, whose face had been gentle, became icy as he turned to glance at the Red Robed Old Bishop who closely followed him: ¡°It seems that the identity of the Holy Son really amounts to nothing when even a Chiliarch of the Guardian Army dares to dismiss me outright.¡± ¡°Holy Son, please calm your anger.¡± The old Bishop apologized immediately, then glared fiercely at the Knight Commander: ¡°You fool, how dare you block the Holy Son¡¯s path without realizing your position? Do you want to be sent to the Judicial Court in the back mountain?¡± The Commander paled, immediately kneeling on the ground: ¡°Please forgive me, Holy Son; I meant no disrespect. I am merely following His Holiness the Pope¡¯s orders to guard this place and am compelled by my duties. Without His Holiness¡¯ orders, I dare not let anyone in, and that has inadvertently offended the Holy Son.¡± ¡°Your duty does not include obstructing the Holy Son¡¯s path!¡± The old Bishop rebuked: ¡°With the Holy Son¡¯s status, where on Holy Mountain can he not go? The Holy Son just wanted to look around here casually; what harm could possibly come from that?¡± ¡°Yes, yes, I have recognized my fault, and I beg the Holy Son¡¯s forgiveness.¡± Sweating profusely, the Knight Commander, noticing the fierce looks from the two Holy Knights and the Sword Saint behind Qin Feng, became frightened and hastily begged for Qin Feng¡¯s mercy. ¡°Enough, it¡¯s not a big deal. Stand up.¡± Qin Feng waved his hand dismissively and said, ¡°Open the temple doors; I want to take a look inside.¡± ¡°Yes.¡± This time, the Commander hesitated no more, dutifully opening the temple doors, respectfully ushering Qin Feng and his accompanying party into the grand hall. ¡°Greetings, Holy Son.¡± Inside, a few people were busy arranging some items. Upon seeing Qin Feng and his group enter, they quickly stopped their busywork to salute him. Qin Feng nodded slightly and asked, ¡°Who will tell me what the situation with this Underground Palace is?¡± Among the Priests already in the hall, a middle-aged man stepped forward, bowing and said, ¡°Reporting to the Holy Son, this Underground Palace is a stronghold of our Church Court, consisting of three levels, each storing many precious items. ¡°The first and second levels house treasures and valuable documents collected by the Church over the years. As for the third level, it is the core of the Underground Palace, but it can only be opened with His Holiness the Pope¡¯s Magic Key.¡± ¡°I see.¡± Qin Feng nodded casually: ¡°Since His Holiness the Pope has sealed the third level, I won¡¯t bother visiting it, but I¡¯m curious about this place. You lead the way and show me around the collections here.¡± ¡°This¡­¡± The middle-aged Priest hesitated. ¡°Get moving.¡± The Red Robed Bishop glared at him: ¡°The Holy Son is still young and quite curious about rare items. It¡¯s an honor for you to guide the Holy Son around; why hesitate?¡± ¡°Yes, yes, it¡¯s an immense honor for me. How could I refuse?¡± The middle-aged Priest quickly stepped forward and led Qin Feng toward the entrance: ¡°However, most of the items here are sealed with magic. Your Highness can only look at them, not touch.¡± ¡°That¡¯s fine; I¡¯m just here to look, and I don¡¯t intend to take anything.¡± Saying this, he turned back to look at the Red Robed Old Bishop: ¡°You come with me too; let¡¯s not have anyone else follow. Since this place stores treasures, it¡¯s better not to have too many people coming inside.¡± ¡°As you command, Holy Son.¡± The Red Robed Old Bishop, hearing this, actually felt a slight surge of joy. It seemed his long efforts had finally yielded some results. Although the Saint Heir had never really appreciated his teachings, at this moment, he still chose to bring him along, excluding others. Chapter 321 03-25 - Chapter 321: Chapter 318 Eternal Holy Grail Twelve Divine Artifacts Chapter 321: Chapter 318 Eternal Holy Grail Twelve Divine Artifacts ¡°Your Highness.¡± By his side, a tall and thin priest spoke, ¡°I should go down with you as well. According to the rules, when several of us need to go down, we must go in pairs to avoid any accidents. Although with Your Highness and other respected figures here, nothing should go wrong, but we shouldn¡¯t break our own rules.¡± ¡°Whatever.¡± Qin Feng nodded indifferently, ¡°If you want to follow, then follow.¡± ¡°Thank you, Your Highness.¡± After the tall and thin priest gave a bow, he led the way with the middle-aged priest to the entrance of the Underground Palace. Soon, after descending a dozen or so flights of stairs from the end of the grand hall, they arrived at the gate of the first level of the Underground Palace. There was a massive bronze door, sealed with Magic Restrictions, that could only be opened with a special Magic Key. The two priests guarding the Underground Palace exchanged glances, each taking out a Magic Key from their person, combining them together, and placing them in a recess in the middle of the bronze door. The magic light flickered a few times, and quickly, the bronze door silently opened, revealing the vast space below. This place was filled with various weapons, armor, gemstone boxes, Demon Crystals, and many other relatively precious materials, too numerous to count. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í??.§ã¦Ï However, after strolling around this level for a while with the two priests, Qin Feng shook his head, displaying a lack of interest. ¡°Your Highness, this level mainly contains various weapons and equipment. Although most are fine pieces among Enchanted Equipment, they are certainly beneath Your Highness¡¯s notice,¡± explained the middle-aged priest with a smile, ¡°Actually, the real treasures are on the lower level. The second level has many treasures that are sure to dazzle Your Highness.¡± With that, he and the other priest went ahead to open the space leading to the second level and invited Qin Feng in for a look. Indeed, the items on this level were impressive, each one a High Level Magic Equipment or above. The High Level Magic Jewelry Qin Feng had acquired in the Red Flame Demon Realm seemed worthless here, as there were at least a few thousand pieces of High Level Magic Jewelry scattered around, and tens of thousands of high-level Enchanted Weapons and Armor as well. Even Legendary Magic Equipment and Jewelry numbered in the hundreds. However, all the items were enveloped in a layer of Magic Barrier, clearly protected by various small Magic Arrays. Although these Magic Arrays were not powerful, forcibly breaking them would immediately trigger an alarm and draw attention from the outside. ¡°This is the Fiery Flame Spear, a Top Level Magic Weapon, previously owned by the Flame Kingdom¡¯s Fiery Flame Knight, who once swept through the tribes of the Desert with this spear and united the Desert to form the Flame Kingdom. Sadly, he adhered to the Fire God Sect, not only refusing our recruitment but also insisting on opposing us with the Fire God Sect, eventually leading to his death at the hands of our knights from the Light God Church, making this spear one of our Church¡¯s collections,¡± the tall, thin priest said with some excitement in his eyes as he viewed these items. ¡°Your Highness, take a look at this sword.¡± He pointed to another sword emanating a cold aura and explained, ¡°This is the Cold Ice Sword Saint¡¯s weapon from the Northern Snow Kingdom six hundred years ago. That fellow killed countless of our Church members throughout his life and even cut off our northern expansion route at one point. If not for being eventually slain by several of our Holy Knights, the Church¡¯s expansion would have faced great restrictions.¡± ¡°And this, it was the Magic Wand of the Legendary Mage, Master Yale, three hundred years ago. Unfortunately, the legendary mage has long since passed away, and his Magic Equipment ended up in our Church.¡± ¡°And this Summoning Card, it contains a sealed ninth-grade, Lower Hell Flame Giant, which can be summoned to fight when used.¡± Qin Feng listened to his continuous exposition of these items with interest, but still interrupted, ¡°The second level¡¯s items are indeed impressive, with so many legendary pieces truly opening up my eyes. But what about the third level?¡± ¡°The third level contains the truly top-notch treasures collected over tens of thousands of years by our Church. However, we don¡¯t have permission to open it. If Your Highness could persuade the Pope, perhaps His Holiness could bring you to see them.¡± ¡°That mysterious? Could they all be Divine Artifacts?¡± Hearing this, the two priests exchanged a glance and chuckled, ¡°Your Highness is correct¡ªthey are indeed Divine Artifacts.¡± ¡°Uh¡­¡± Qin Feng made a shocked expression, ¡°I was just saying it offhand, but they really are?¡± He then showed a more interested expression, ¡°Apart from His Holiness¡¯s Thorny Crown, I haven¡¯t seen a real Divine Artifact yet. Even my Scepter and Holy Crown are merely Subdivine Artifacts.¡± The Red Robed Old Bishop following behind Qin Feng smiled faintly, ¡°With Your Highness¡¯s status, as long as you ask the Pope, His Holiness is sure not to refuse.¡± ¡°Is that so?¡± Qin Feng glanced at the middle-aged priest standing behind the tall priest and suddenly smiled, turning to look at the Red Robed Bishop, asking, ¡°I really want to go in now. What if the Pope isn¡¯t around? Could I take a look then?¡± ¡°That¡¯s not possible.¡± The Red Robed Old Bishop shook his head repeatedly, ¡°Without His Holiness¡¯s permission, no one can enter the third level of the Underground Palace, not to mention without a Magic Key, it¡¯s impossible to open the seal of the Magic Array.¡± ¡°I see!¡± Qin Feng, with a friendly smile, warmly wrapped his arm around the Red Robed Old Bishop¡¯s shoulder and patted it, ¡°But I still want to try. You would definitely stop me, wouldn¡¯t you?¡± ¡°Crown,¡± there¡¯s no need to rush.¡± ¡°Um, I knew you would have this attitude.¡± Qin Feng nodded, ¡°It¡¯s alright, your duty is to monitor me on behalf of the Pope. I know and have never blamed you, but¡­¡± As he spoke, his hand had already slid to the old bishop¡¯s neck, and his other hand also moved up, grabbing the old bishop¡¯s head and twisting it with a click, turning the old bishop¡¯s head backward. ¡°It¡¯s just, I still have to kill you!¡± ¡°Ha¡­ Ha¡­¡± Although the red robed old bishop¡¯s cervical vertebrae were broken, his body was filled with a robust light magic power, and his spiritual power was also strong enough, so he did not die immediately. His twisted-back gaze flitted with pain and confusion, and his heart was full of puzzles, not understanding why the esteemed Holy Son would want to kill him. If the Crown wanted to enter the third level, there was no need to hurry in this moment, why not just ask His Holiness the Pope to come and unlock the magic restrictions, why¡­ kill me? He wanted to voice his questions, but unfortunately, with his neck twisted like this, he had already lost the ability to speak, and the life force inside his body was rapidly disappearing. However, before the complete darkness enveloped him, he saw the tall thin priest in front of him and the middle-aged priest behind the tall thin priest, raising his short sword and stabbing towards him. He wanted to give a warning, but endless darkness had already arrived. ¡°Crow¡­ uh¡­¡± On the other side, the tall thin priest who was initially excited to keep introducing the origins of other formidable equipment to the Holy Son, suddenly turned pale with shock upon witnessing this, and just as he was about to inquire why the Crown wanted to kill the red robed bishop, he was stabbed in the back of the head by the middle-aged priest standing behind him, dying instantly. The middle-aged priest carefully helped the tall thin priest collapse onto the ground without making a sound and then sighed in relief. He looked towards Qin Feng, saying, ¡°We are pressed for time, quickly give me the space ring.¡± Qin Feng didn¡¯t waste words and directly handed over the space ring to him. The middle-aged priest took a magic scroll from within, tore it open, and activated it, turning it into a transparent magic barrier. In Qin Feng¡¯s senses, this magic barrier could hide all their movement and sounds in the coming moments. ¡°The Light Pope has secretly gone to the Holy City, and according to his habits, he won¡¯t return to the Holy Mountain for at least half a day. Otherwise, if he were here, he would easily notice the commotion here, and we only have this moment to act.¡± The middle-aged priest spoke, yet his actions were continuous. He quickly reached the entrance to the third level. It was a tremendously thick magic metal gate, constructed entirely of magic metal, exceptionally sturdy, and it was also equipped with a defensive magic array comparable to a forbidden curse, making it very difficult to forcibly break through. However, Druidism had been preparing for this for hundreds of years, of course, they would have some methods; otherwise, this operation wouldn¡¯t have been planned. The middle-aged priest took out another magic scroll, opened it, and immediately a power different from the aura of light emerged. Qin Feng¡¯s expression shifted. He discovered that it was not the natural magic that the druids were most proficient in, nor the divine power of the Forest Goddess carried by the high priest, but an extremely dense dark aura. That dark aura clashed and corroded with the light magic array on the magic metal gate fiercely. He did not know what kind of dark magic that aura belonged to, but its power was extremely formidable, and it actually managed to corrode a small area of the restriction on the magic metal gate. However, the scroll¡¯s power was limited, only managing to corrode such a small area, and within moments, it would be replenished by the power of the light magic restriction. But having corroded even this small space was enough. The middle-aged man then took out a magic key and directly inserted it into the groove on the magic metal gate. In an instant, the light magic restriction on the gate disappeared, and the gate slowly opened, revealing the underground palace beneath. The two quickly entered as the metal gate opened. This was a space only about twelve lengths wide, incomparable to the two vast layers above the ground. But this was indeed the most important part of the entire underground palace. The third layer of the underground palace was not large, with few items clearly visible. Around the underground palace stood twelve not-so-tall altars, each altar holding a divine artifact. On one of the altars sat a crystal-like, translucent, gigantic cup, one of the artifacts of the Light Church, the Eternal Holy Grail. Next to the Eternal Holy Grail on another altar, a magic wand enshrouded with black mist was sealed. Qin Feng scanned over the other altars, which contained a menacing crown of unknown material, a pearly white ring, an ancient and massive aura-emitting armor, and a dragon spear three lengths long¡­