Eternal Sacred King Chapter 488 to 489
Chapter 488: You Sure Are Bold!
Blood Crow Palace’s Lord fled more than a thousand meters away.
The remaining cultivators were dumbfounded.
This was supposed to be a calamity for Ethereal Peak and yet, the tides turned immediately after the appearance of a cultivator!
The advantage of Blood Crow Palace and the other four major sects had disappeared entirely.
Su Zimo’s gaze burned bright like a torch and he swept past the crowd. He could not find Perfected Being Cang Lang and sneered internally, “You sure are quick to run.”
Many cultivators yelled and fled everywhere.
The Blood Crow King gazed above the clouds at that terrifying figure standing in midair. He had a venomous look that lingered for a brief moment before he turned to escape.
All of a sudden!
“Hmm?”
Yan Beichen turned around and his gaze was extremely sharp, landing on the Blood Crow King instantly!
“You still dare to harbor killing intents towards me?”
Instantly, the Blood Crow King felt chills run down his spine and his limbs went cold – the blood within his body seemed to have stopped flowing!
“You sure are bold!”
A massive shout echoed through the clouds, reverberating through the ears of many cultivators in a deafening manner!
Immediately after, a gigantic saber beam descended from the skies and swept through the void, as though it wanted to slice the world apart!
Boom!
The ground shook and the mountains trembled!
The saber beam burst into the crowd that was escaping and blood mist spewed everywhere.
The Blood Crow King had just transformed to his true self and was about to fly into the skies when he was cut down by Yan Beichen’s slash without a corpse left!
Long blood-colored ravines were left at the foot of Ethereal Peak as a torrential killing intent surged into the skies. They were filled by countless corpses and looked terrifying, like blood scars on the ground that everyone was forbidden to enter!
More than 10 Nascent Souls died at the very least because of that slash.
There were even more Golden Cores and Foundation Establishment Cultivators that were beside the blood ravines and died, unable to withstand the killing qi that was sent forth from the saber!
Finally, Ethereal Peak’s calamity came to and end after Yan Beichen’s slash.
The cultivators of Ethereal Peak that survived felt a sense of relief after a major calamity.
However, immediately after, when they saw the corpses that were strewn at the foot of the mountain, they felt a tragic sadness.
All of those were their sect mates!
They had grown up together in Ethereal Peak, cultivating and slaying evil while protecting the masses for many, dozens, and even hundreds of years...
But now, many of them were dead because of a massive battle and they could never hear from them ever again.
This was the cultivation world which was incomparably cruel.
For the first time, Su Zimo felt that the cultivation world was much more savage and had more bloodshed than Cang Lang Mountain Range!
After consuming the Vitality Reprisal Elixir, most of the old immortal crane’s injuries had already recovered and it had gotten a new life.
However, a look of weariness could still be seen from the eyes of the old immortal crane.
This battle had expended most of her life’s essence and vitality.
If she could not advance a step further, she would have to pass away here!
Maintaining its ferocious bird form, the old immortal crane stood at the peak of Ethereal Peak on one leg and closed its eyes to cultivate. A power was rumbling within its body, raring to spew out!
Old skin started shedding from its body and its green feathers were incinerated. However, right in front of everyone, new skin regrew alongside green feathers that shone with a shiny luster!
The flames that were originally extinguished from her body had appeared once more.
Although the flames were small, they emitted a scorching temperature and were growing steadily; the void around the flames were already starting to contort due to the heat!
The old immortal crane’s condition was gradually turning better.
The little crane cried softly and jumped in joy.
Sect Master Ling Yun swallowed a mouthful of elixirs and started managing the situation, dragging his injured body while focusing his spirit. First, he ordered the cultivators on the battlefield to return to the sect and treat their injuries.
Next, he requested for the Qi Refinement Warriors who did not take part in the battle to come forth and clean up the battlefield.
Although he was severely injured after experiencing such a calamity, Ling Yun did not panic and displayed strong leadership in controlling the situation.
The sect started moving in an orderly manner after his instructions were pumped out.
“Fellow Daoist, please wait,”
At that moment, when Ling Yun saw the gauze-top woman turn to leave, he called after her immediately and bowed deeply, saying in a sincere manner, “Thank you for your assistance, fellow Daoist. Please stay a couple of days in Ethereal Peak so that we can host you properly.”
“There’s no need.”
The gauze-top woman waved it off with an indifferent expression.
Sensing the firmness in the gauze-top woman’s attitude, Ling Yun did not force things and cupped his fists. “May I know what’s your name and what sect you are from? I’m unable to leave now because our sect has just been through a huge calamity. However, I’ll definitely pay a visit personally to your sect in the future to express my thanks.”
“There’s no need for thanks either,”
The gauze-top woman shook her head and turned to Su Zimo. “The reason I stood forth this time round was because I was bequeathed to repay a favor.”
Upon hearing that, Su Zimo no longer had any doubts.
She gauze-top woman was definitely Gu Xi!
The person who bequeathed her should be Demoness Ji.
Instinctively, he turned to look around but did not catch sight of Demoness Ji.
Ling Yun followed the gauze-top woman’s gaze and froze momentarily.
“Zimo?”
The elders of Ethereal Peak revealed odd expressions when they heard that as well.
A Nascent Soul as powerful as such came forth just to repay a favor for a Foundation Establishment Cultivator?
The gauze-top woman continued, “If you want to express your thanks, do it to him.”
With that, the gauze-top woman did not linger and flew away.
Ling Yun and the others looked at Su Zimo with endless admiration in their eyes, as though they had just discovered the most precious treasure in this world!
Even without the gauze-top woman’s remark, Su Zimo had done great merits in this battle.
Furthermore, he was at Extreme Foundation Establishment1
This was the second person after the Human Emperor in history to have achieved that.
If he was already able to kill Golden Cores and possessed such terrifying potential and combat strength at Foundation Establishment realm, his future accomplishments would definitely not be inferior to that person above the clouds!
Of course, the Asura of the fiend sects was still the key to them turning the tides and securing victory.
Prior to this, everyone in Ethereal Peak harbored immense hatred towards those of the fiend sects. As people of the immortal sects and the path of righteousness, they viewed the extermination of fiends and demons as a personal duty and would definitely not want to be associated with anyone of the fiend sects.
But now, after this incident, everyone had complicated feelings towards those of the fiend sects, or at least, towards Yan Beichen.
It did not matter whether he betrayed the sect or he was an evil fiend. What was undeniable was that Ethereal Peak owed him a lifesaving debt.
Ling Yun wanted to head forth and express his thanks.
However, when Yan Beichen remained thousands of feet up above the clouds, Ling Yun couldn’t reach that height given his cultivation realm.
Yan Beichen’s hands were behind his back and he had a cold expression, giving off an aura that forbade people from approaching him.
A Grand Elder shook his head and said, “Forget it. Even if you head up, given that person’s cold and aloof nature, he wouldn’t pay any attention to you.”
“That’s right. After all, we are all considered to be of the younger generations compared to him. Senior crane is probably the only person in the sect who is qualified to speak to him,” Another Grand Elder added.
Ling Yun nodded.
Right then, Yan Beichen who was initially up above the clouds suddenly descended.
Instantly, he arrived before everyone else and looked at Su Zimo, saying indifferently, “Su Zimo, follow me.”
With that said, he turned and headed in the direction of Ethereal Peak’s Thunderclap Valley.
Everyone from Ethereal Peak was shocked.
The Grand Elders who spoke earlier on almost bit their tongue as their eyes widened!
Did the two of them... know one another?
Chapter 489: Saber Test
Everyone from Ethereal Peak exchanged glances speechlessly.
When they recalled how firm Yan Beichen was in rejecting the Blood Crow Palace’s Lord’s request in taking Su Zimo away, their minds starting reeling.
The attitude of the fiend sects’ Asura towards Su Zimo was rather strange.
It did not seem as though he merely cherished the fact that Su Zimo was at Extreme Foundation Establishment.
“Is he thinking of taking Su Zimo with him to Asura Sect?”
A Grand Elder frowned in deep worry.
After all, Su Zimo’s potential was way too great and there was a chance that Ethereal Peak would rise in glory if he remained in the sect!
“Let’s not think too much about it. Even if that’s what he wants, there’s nothing we can do and there’s no one who can stop him either.”
“That’s right.”
...
In the void not far away.
Everyone from the royal family of Great Zhou watched on with shocked expressions, taking a long time to recover.
Ethereal Peak suffered great losses for that battle.
However, the remaining cultivators, be it at Foundation Establishment, Golden Core or Nascent Soul realm, had gone through the baptism of blood and life and death and would definitely grow to be the strongest supports of Ethereal Peak in the future!
This calamity would only cause Ethereal Peak to turn even stronger!
Without any accidents, the old immortal crane would also advance a step further to become a Dharma Characteristic ferocious bird.
One could almost predict that Ethereal Peak’s reputation would grow after this battle and many cultivators in the territory of Great Zhou would head over due to their great name.
Ethereal Peak would rise swiftly!
As for the other four major sects, they would have to leave with defeated spirits.
Not withstanding the fact that their Void Reversions were dead, they had countless Nascent Souls, Golden Cores and Foundation Establishment Cultivators who were severely injured or dead as well – it was a great loss for their sects.
Be it their cultivators of the younger generations or their top experts, the four major sects won’t be able to challenge Ethereal Peak any longer.
“The fact that they were not annihilated despite the circumstances is proof of how much providence is shining on them. At the very least, for the next thousand years, Ethereal Peak’s position would most likely be unshakable!”
The Emperor of Great Zhou lamented.
Upon returning to the capital, he was prepared to send cultivators over to Ethereal Peak with a huge gift of plenty of elixirs.
“Let’s return,”
Waving his arm, the emperor led the crowd back.
...
Su Zimo followed Yan Beichen into Thunderclap Valley.
Waving his arm, Yan Beichen set up a barrier that isolated the sounds of rumbling thunder outside. Thereafter, he turned to look at Su Zimo quietly with a scrutinizing gaze.
“You were the one that obtained the secret skill inside the Mystic Gold Silk Armor?” Suddenly, Yan Beichen asked.
Su Zimo nodded. “Thank you, senior.”
Yan Beichen pouted his lips. “The Void Thunder Manual is a secret skill that’s said to be the Thunder Emperor’s compilation of his life’s work before his ascension back then. Unfortunately, I only managed to obtain a page of it in the ancient battlefield.”
The Thunder Emperor!
It was no wonder why the demonic qi in Su Zimo’s bloodline could be purged just through the mantra of a single page.
It was because the Void Thunder Manual had such a powerful origin!
A moment later, Yan Beichen asked, “You were the one who obtained the Saber Emperor’s inheritance in the ancient battlefield?”
“I was,”
Su Zimo admitted to it.
The Sea Calming Manual had been lost for many years and it was normal that the cultivators of the Great Zhou Dynasty could not recognize it.
However, Asura Sect was one of the super sects of Tianhuang Mainland and Yan Beichen who was before him was an expert at the Void Reversion realm. It was only natural that Su Zimo’s saber technique was recognized by the latter.
All of a sudden!
Su Zimo’s heart skipped a beat and he recalled the thought that he did not complete earlier on.
A thousand years ago, the Saber Mountain Spirit Sea, Asura Sect, paragon who used a saber...
All the clues that were laid out before him pointed out to an incident in the past clearly.
“Senior, you... were the Asura Sect paragon who obtained the Saber Emperor’s inheritance from the ancient battlefield a thousand years ago, the Tidal Manual?” Su Zimo blurted out.
Yan Beichen nodded.
Suddenly, Su Zimo was enlightened.
It was no wonder why Yan Beichen stared at him earlier on with such an odd expression as though he was looking at a successor of the younger generation.
It was not only because he was a disciple of Ethereal Peak and had obtained the Void Thunder Manual.
It was because one after another, they obtained the inheritance of the Saber Emperor as well!
“Go on, attack. Let me see how much of the Saber Emperor’s inheritance you managed to comprehend!”
Yan Beichen raised his palm lightly and endless spirit qi gathered towards his palm.
In the blink of an eye, it condensed into a sinister saber.
No longer speaking, Yan Beichen attacked immediately after.
Su Zimo’s reaction was extremely fast and he whipped out his Blood Quencher. Attacking upwards, he released the Sea Calming Manual’s Countercurrent right away.
Clang!
The two sabers collided and let out a crisp sound, causing sparks to fly everywhere.
The power of the attack was not heavy.
Su Zimo could clearly feel that Yan Beichen had repressed his power countless times in order to test his saber!
Yan Beichen’s attack had already reached the level of force.
After that attack, Yan Beichen was expressionless and flicked his wrist; the next attack had already arrived stealthily.
His saber technique was blurry and unpredictable, yet, its killing aura was instantaneous and shuddering!
“Not good!”
Su Zimo’s heart almost exploded.
Against that killing intent, Su Zimo truly thought that Yan Beichen was about to kill him!
Instinctively, he unleashed his spirit wings and was about to retreat backwards.
However, the moment his spirit wings were summoned, they dissipated and turned into specks of light that scattered in the void.
Needless to think, that must have been done by Yan Beichen!
Su Zimo buckled his knees and channeled his bloodline, wanting to dodge backwards.
Immediately after, to his horror, he realized that there seemed to be three walls erected on his left, right and back – he could not move and could only stand motionlessly on the spot.
“Use your saber!”
Yan Beichen’s voice sounded coldly, “Or die!”
Nobody could question the killing intent of the fiend sects’ Asura.
He had said previously that there was nobody he couldn’t and wouldn’t dare to kill in the world!
An Asura did not require reason to kill.
Yan Beichen’s attack was one of the stances from Asura Saber.
Asura Sect’s fiend heir, Bai Yu, had used it before in the ancient battlefield as well and it was the exact same move.
However, although they were exact, the might that was produced from Yan Beichen was worlds apart!
That attack was ethereal and was imperceivable.
Although Su Zimo felt so terrible he wanted to throw up, he had nowhere to retreat!
Taking a deep breath, Su Zimo composed himself and closed his eyes instead, choosing to follow his heart. Suddenly, he slashed out at the void before him!
It was the Ripple stance of Sea Calming Manual.
The entire void seemed to drawn in by that slash and spirit qi swirled, as though it was creating a massive vortex.
Under Yan Beichen’s pressure, the Vortex stance had also reached the level of force!
Although the saber was only slashing at an empty spot, it possessed a centrifugal power of attraction that instantly broke through Yan Beichen’s Asura Saber’s intent state.
The initially imperceivable saber was now appearing.
Clang!
The two sabers collided once more and retraced upon a single contact.
A subtle hint of admiration could be seen flickering through Yan Beichen’s eyes.
“Carry on!”
His voice was still cold as ever without any emotions.
The Sea Calming Manual was a saber technique comprehended by the Saber Emperor at the seaside. Be it in terms of toughness or flexibility, it was majestic and overbearing, unlike Asura Saber.
Asura Saber was a technique that was purely created for killing and every single move was sinister and lethal!
The two different techniques, one righteous and one evil, were supreme secret skills in the Dao of the saber.
Yan Beichen continued attacking in succession and the angles of his attacks were tricky; they withdrew, lifted or were hidden...
Every single attack was filled with boundless imagination that left one speechless!
Against such a saber technique, Su Zimo could only deal with them using the Ripple stance of the Sea Calming Manual, fighting gentleness with gentleness.
Su Zimo’s Ripple stance turned increasingly mature against that immense pressure and a saber force that was akin to ripples on the surface of water started to appear gradually...Chapter 490: Tidal Manual
A moment later, Yan Beichen retracted his saber and stood upright.
Su Zimo heaved a sigh of relief and he could barely contain the joy in his eyes.
Apart from the final stance of the Sea Calming Manual which he was still unable to produce, he managed to comprehend the force levels of the other four stances completely!
It was all because of the pressure that Yan Beichen gave him that he was able to comprehend them so quickly.
Otherwise, even if he practiced against air for dozens of years, he might not be able to reach this step unless he had another opportunity.
If cultivators wanted to grow, they would have to grind against the brink of life and death continuously!
Of course, what truly brought joy to Su Zimo was not only because he managed to comprehend the realm of force.
More than that, under the pretext that they were both on the same power level, he was not weaker than this number one paragon of Tianhuang Mainland North Region in the past in terms of his saber technique!
Although Yan Beichen had been immersed in the Dao of the saber for countless years, Su Zimo was not disadvantaged.
“Amazing!”
Su Zimo was drenched in sweat and was invigorated.
Yan Beichen’s expression was cold and his gaze was calm, as though he could read Su Zimo’s mind.
“Do you think that you’re incredible because you’re able to defend against my attacks?” Yan Beichen asked indifferently.
Su Zimo remained silent.
During their previous exchange of blows, although Yan Beichen was repressing him the entire time, Su Zimo did not reveal any openings and in fact, he managed to defend all of the former’s various attacks!
However, Su Zimo was embarrassed to admit to something like that after Yan Beichen read his mind.
Yet, Yan Beichen’s next remark caused Su Zimo’s heart to sink as chills filled his body!
“Take a look at your body,”
Yan Beichen’s eyes was shimmering with a hint of disdain.
Furrowing his brows slightly, Su Zimo lowered his head and he froze up, his pupils constricting violently.
Before he knew it, a series of cuts had already been made on the green robes in front of his chest. They intertwined near to his heart and formed a gigantic character for the word ‘death’!
“This...”
Su Zimo felt his limbs go cold.
This meant that if this was an actual life and death battle, he would have died more than six times in that short exchange earlier on!
The most frightening thing was that he did not notice it at all up till now!
The more Su Zimo thought about it, the more alarmed he was.
The pride and exhilaration he displayed earlier had vanished entirely.
If there were no restrictions and he could rely on his movement techniques from the Mystic Classic of the Twelve Demon Kings of the Great Wilderness, his speed and his terrifying physique, Su Zimo might not lose.
However, at the very least, he was completely defeated in terms of saber technique.
Yan Beichen swiped his storage bag and two more ancient manuals appeared in his hands. He handed them to Su Zimo.
Focusing his gaze, Su Zimo could not help but exclaim.
“The Tidal Manual!”
The Saber Emperor left two inheritances in the ancient battlefield, one of which was the Sea Calming Manual which Su Zimo had obtained.
The other one was the Tidal Manual which was taken away by Yan Beichen a thousand years ago.
Yan Beichen said, “The Tidal Manual is not a saber technique, but a secret skill with nine levels to it. It was created by the Saber Emperor in the past while he was at the seaside, observing the ebb and flow of the tides. He combined that as a skill together with the Dao of the saber and it possesses the obscurities of the universe.”
“The Tidal Manual and Sea Calming Manual complement and complete one another. After cultivating the Tidal Manual, you’ll be able to utilize the might of the tide. At Level 1, each time you make an attack, there will be an additional layer of power to it and that’s the Tidal Might.”
Su Zimo seemed to have an understanding.
Yan Beichen continued, “At Level 1 of the Tidal Manual, you’ll experience a 10% increase in strength. At Level 2, 20%. Don’t look down on the percentages because in actual combat, the difference will be significant!”
Su Zimo was secretly shocked.
If he managed to cultivate to Level 9 of the Tidal Might, it would be equivalent to an additional 90% and that would be akin to twice of his strength – it was enough for him to overwhelm anyone else of the same cultivation realm!
“Of course, the most important use of the Tidal Might is to make up for the flaws of the Sea Calming Manual.”
Yan Beichen explained, “You are already extremely proficient in your first four stances. However, there is still some sluggishness in your transition between gentleness and toughness while changing stances.”
“While ordinary cultivators are almost blind to these openings, you will be in danger of dying if you meet with people who are truly impressive!”
Suddenly, Su Zimo was enlightened.
Indeed, he had experienced slight sluggishness while he was practicing his saber techniques earlier on.
However, when he battled in the ancient battlefield against the paragons of the immortal, Buddhist and fiend sects, nobody noticed those openings. As such, Su Zimo did not pay much attention to it.”
He had not expected that his openings would be so fatal when they were exposed to true experts!
Su Zimo was immensely grateful.
He had not thought that Yan Beichen would impart to him the Tidal Manual so easily without hesitation.
“Senior, I’ll demonstrate the Sea Calming Manual once and describe to you the details of it,”
Su Zimo’s thought process was simple – he wanted to impart the Sea Calming Manual to Yan Beichen as well as a form of exchange.
“There’s no need.”
Yan Beichen waved it off indifferently. “I’ve already begun to comprehend my own Dao. In my eyes, the Sea Calming Manual is no big deal!”
There was a hint of arrogance in Yan Beichen’s tone.
He was firmly convinced that he would definitely be an emperor in the future with accomplishments above the Saber Emperor!
Su Zimo did not press on further and took the Tidal Manual. When he saw the second ancient manual, he could not help but frown. “Asura Saber?”
The other secret skill was Asura Sect’s secret skill, Asura Saber!
“This...”
Su Zimo was confused.
By doing this, did it mean that Yan Beichen wanted him to join Asura Sect?
Su Zimo hesitated for a moment before returning Asura Saber. “I haven’t thought about leaving Ethereal Peak before. Senior, please take the Asura Saber back.”
Yan Beichen glared at him but did not take it back.
“Even if you don’t join Asura Sect, you can take this saber manual to cultivate.”
“Is this... appropriate?”
Su Zimo frowned.
Usually, one would be severely punished and might even be killed if they imparted the secret skills of a sect!
“You’re telling me that even though I dare to impart it to you, you don’t dare to learn it?” Yan Beichen sneered.
Su Zimo was silent.
In the ancient battlefield, he had truly created quite a bit of trouble and there was nothing he wouldn’t dare to learn.
Furthermore, it wasn’t as though Su Zimo hadn’t cultivated techniques of the fiend sects before.
Back in the river undercurrent, when he was stuck with Demoness Ji in that cramped stone coffin, he cultivated the Blood Refinement Fiend Sutra that was left inside.
At that thought, Su Zimo accepted both the ancient manuals.
After pondering silently for a moment, he recalled something and asked, “Asura Sect is located in the Middle Continent. Senior, were you able to arrive in time because Senior Gu Xi sent you a message?”
Yan Beichen and looked at Su Zimo with a strange stare. “To think that this generation’s Pure Maiden of the fiend sects would have chosen you as her tripod.”
This was the second time that Su Zimo had heard of the term.
The first time was under the Human Emperor’s Palace when Demoness Ji confessed to it after being questioned by the Sealer of the Illusion Fiend Cult.
“What’s the meaning of being a tripod of the Pure Maiden Sect?” Su Zimo could not help but ask.
Yan Beichen did not reply.
When Su Zimo saw that, he suppressed the curiosity in his heart for now. He thought for a moment and asked again, “Why are all the sects, cultivators and even the royal family of Great Zhou so wary of the witch race?”
“That cautiousness stems from a catastrophe that happened 10,000 years ago,” Yan Beichen replied indifferently.
Chapter 491: Secret of The Catastrophe
“10,000 years ago, there was an overlord in the North Region of Tianhuang Mainland and that was the Great Qian Empire. Its territories were vast and it was extremely powerful. Unfortunately, the center of the Great Qian Empire, its glorious capital, was turned into ruins overnight!”
Yan Beichen continued, “Not only that, the two Buddhist monasteries that resided in the territory of the Great Qian Empire and supported it were annihilated! 10,000 years ago, there were eight Buddhist monasteries, not the current six.”
“Ah!”
Su Zimo was shocked and exclaimed softly.
There were eight Buddhist monasteries 10,000 years ago!
A single catastrophe had not only turned an empire into ruins, it even destroyed two super sects of Tianhuang Mainland!
He could not help but ask, “What sort of a catastrophe was it? Did it have something to do with the witch race?”
“No,”
Yan Beichen shook his head. “It was another one of the Primordial Nine Races, the dragon race!”
Su Zimo’s mouth opened gradually in a slight daze.
The dragon race!
He had quite a bit of a feud with the dragon race as well.
Yan Beichen continued, “There were many rumors to why the catastrophe happened. However, the conclusion was that... a certain dragon in the Dragon Bone Valley was enraged.”
“Dragon Bone Valley?”
Su Zimo frowned slightly and he thought about the endless white bones he saw back in the primordial ruins. There was also a long sea of bones and a towering dragon carcass.
“The Dragon Bone Valley is one of the nine forbidden grounds of Tianhuang Mainland,” Yan Beichen explained.
“Indeed!”
Su Zimo felt a sense of trepidation as he recalled his encounter in the Dragon Bone Valley back then.
If not for the mysterious Lin Xuanji, he would have died there even if he had ten lives.
Suddenly, he recalled something that Yan Beichen said earlier and could not help but question in shock and disbelief, “It was all because of a dragon?”
A single dragon was enough to bring the Great Qian Empire and two super sects to ruins, changing the state of Tianhuang Mainland’s North Region entirely?
“That’s right.”
Yan Beichen nodded. “An ancestral level divine dragon.”
As though he could tell that Su Zimo did not understand the concept of an ancestral level divine dragon, Yan Beichen added, “His combat strength can match the Human Emperor!”
Su Zimo was stunned.
A moment later, Su Zimo composed himself and continued asking, “How many Ancestral Dragons are there in the dragon race?”
“No one knows,”
Yan Beichen replied, “However, the Ancestral Dragons are not the strongest of the dragon race. The dragon race also has a Dragon Emperor whose power is far beyond the Ancestral Dragons!”
Suddenly, Su Zimo felt like he was being suffocated and was in immense pressure.
If an Ancestral Dragon could fight against the Human Emperor, who in the world could stop a Dragon Emperor if it was born?
Yan Beichen continued, “The Primordial Nine Races are innately strong from birth and can wipe out almost everyone else at the same cultivation realm! Throughout history, there has been countless emperors but among them, there are less than ten emperors of the human race who can go against the emperors of the Primordial Nine Races!”
Su Zimo remained silent.
That was the difference between them.
Humans were born weak and that was a fact that couldn’t be changed.
The experts of the Primordial Nine Races are already able to fight against emperors of the human race when they were at the ancestral level; they did not even have to be emperors themselves!
After a brief pause, Yan Beichen said, “The reason why humans were able to win the ancient war was because of the birth of the Human Emperor. He was a supreme hero who shocked history and could look down on all other emperors!”
At the mention of the Human Emperor, even someone as prideful as Yan Beichen revealed a tinge of admiration in his tone.
At that point, Su Zimo gradually understood.
What the royal family of Great Zhou was fearful about was not the Blood Crow Palace’s Lord, but the true experts of the witch race!
“Blood Crow Palace’s Lord is merely a remnant of the witch race with an impure bloodline. Otherwise, his combat strength wouldn’t have been so pathetic. Now that his physical body was destroyed by me, he won’t be able to recover in a short period of time and Ethereal Peak is in no danger for now. However...”
Yan Beichen paused for a moment before changing the topic. “You’ve been extravagant in your ways in the ancient battlefield, killing the fiend heir of Malevolent Earth Sect and destroying Poison Sect while defeating Glass Palace. You’ll have to watch out from now on,”
“Glass Palace and Malevolent Earth Sect are located at the North Region of Tianhuang Mainland!”
Su Zimo’s heart skipped a beat.
Although no one else in Xuantian City apart from Ji Chengtian and the others knew of his background, given the strength of Glass Palace and Malevolent Earth Sect, if they truly wanted to hunt him down, it would just be a matter of time.
The only way for him was to hide in seclusion without coming forth.
However, what worried Su Zimo even more was that Glass Palace’s Pei Chunyu was severely injured and escaped into the Fog Valley with his fate unknown – there was a chance that he would have survived and made it back to Tianhuang Mainland!
That man was a latent danger.
For the first time, Su Zimo felt that there were way too many latent dangers around him.
Glass Palace, Malevolent Earth Sect, Poison Sect, Blood Crow Palace’s Lord...
The moment all of those latent dangers erupted, the outcome would be unimaginable!
He had to get stronger as quickly as possible!
With those latent dangers ticking down, the only shot he had at survival was to get stronger as soon as possible.
Yan Beichen turned around to leave but paused for a moment before remarking indifferently, “You’re at Extreme Foundation Establishment and is the second person in history to do so apart from the Human Emperor. However, you have to understand that before you form a core, everything is merely a dreamscape.”
“In the super sects of Tianhuang Mainland, Foundation Establishment Cultivators are only outer sect disciples and they will only become inner sect disciples after forming a core.”
That was the difference between super sects and Ethereal Peak.
In Ethereal Peak, Golden Cores could become elders.
However, in those super sects, they were only inner sect disciples.
Yan Beichen added, “I heard that Divine Phoenix Island produced a monster incarnate. Although you’re at Extreme Foundation Establishment, you’re probably only on par with him.”
Su Zimo did not reply.
He could not possibly divulge the identity of Divine Phoenix Island’s monster incarnate.
Everyone in the cultivation world knew right now that the Divine Phoenix Island’s monster incarnate’s right hand was a precious piece of divine phoenix bone. If the mighty figures and patriarchs of various factions were to come fight for it, no one could protect him at all!
“Additionally, although phenomenons are the strongest techniques available for Golden Cores, there’s a difference in strength between the phenomenons,”
Yan Beichen said, “The Golden Core phenomenons you experienced earlier were the low-end ones with limited power. If you meet with Golden Cores with ancient phenomenons, even an early-stage Golden Core would be able to kill you!”
“Are all ancient phenomenons definitely strong?” Su Zimo asked with a frown.
“The phenomenons that are cultivated by ancient emperors, mighty figures and patriarchs have gone through the sands of time and are still not destroyed. Their legacy crosses time and it’s only natural that their powers are incredible!”
Su Zimo asked again, “Are all Golden Core phenomenons cultivated by the later generations weaker than the ancient phenomenons?”
Yan Beichen shook his head. “It’s very difficult. All the cultivation techniques you’re using right now has been passed down from history. As such, it’s only natural that the phenomenons you cultivate can’t break out of the shadows of the past ancient phenomenons that easily.”
“If you can really create a mighty phenomenon that’s able to compare against the ancient phenomenons, you’ll definitely be recorded into the books of history and be nominated into the Unusual Phenomenon Ranking!”
“Unusual Phenomenon Ranking?” Su Zimo was slightly stunned.
Yan Beichen replied, “You should know that the ancient battlefield was formed from dimensional shards and is differentiated into different levels based on its stability.”
“Yes.”
Su Zimo nodded – Demoness Ji had told him about that many years ago.
Yan Beichen continued, “Foundation Establishment Cultivators can be sent into the elementary ancient battlefield and it can be opened once every 10 years. The intermediate is more stable and can allow Golden Cores to cultivate within, opening up once per 100 years.”
“In the intermediate ancient battlefield, there’s an extremely famous divine ranking that has been passed down from history known as the Unusual Phenomenon Ranking! The ranking list has a total of 108 positions and millions of Golden Cores fight for a spot!”
“Only those that have their names listed on the Unusual Phenomenon Ranking are befitting of the word, paragon!”
Chapter 492: Divine Powers!
Yan Beichen said, “I’m sure I don’t need to elaborate more about the benefits of the ancient battlefield. Both you and I are beneficiaries of them.”
Su Zimo nodded.
If he hadn’t entered the ancient battlefield, there was no way he would have cultivated to his current cultivation realm within a short period of time.
Be it the path of immortals or demons, Su Zimo was already half a step through to creating a core!
Furthermore, he wouldn’t have been able to unlock nine spirit meridians and reach the legendary Extreme Foundation Establishment realm!
He wouldn’t have had a chance to obtain the secret skill, Ancient Dragonification Manual, and the connate spirit weapon, the Coiling Dragon Seal either.
Su Zimo had truly benefited way too much from the elementary ancient battlefield.
“The intermediate ancient battlefield only opens up once every 100 years and the Unusual Phenomenon Ranking refreshes once per 100 years as well.”
Yan Beichen continued, “Apart from fame throughout the cultivation world, the higher one’s name was on the ranking list, the more benefits they would obtain. There’s a very high chance for one to obtain a massive opportunity and skyrocket from that point!”
Su Zimo’s heart skipped a beat and he suddenly asked, “Senior, what was your ranking on the Unusual Phenomenon Ranking in the past?”
“Number one,”
Yan Beichen replied calmly, as though he was recounting something that couldn’t be any more normal.
All of a sudden!
Both Su Zimo and Yan Beichen sensed something and turned around, gazing into the distance.
On a mountain peak, the old immortal crane stood with bedazzling green feathers that burned with fiery flames; its body seemed to have gotten much larger than before.
The red crown on its head seemed like it was a massive fireball!
It had broken through!
The old immortal crane was already a Void Reversion pure-blooded ferocious bird to begin with. Now that it advanced a step further, it was akin to a Dharma Characteristic Dao Lord of the human race and had broken through the restraints of heaven and earth, breaking free from its imminent crisis of an expiring lifespan!
Demons had an extremely different cultivation method from humans and they did not have early, mid and late-stages to their major cultivation realms.
Therefore, demons would usually be stuck in a major realm for a long time and could not break through for hundreds or thousands of years.
The good thing was that demons were innately strong from birth and they had a much longer than humans on the same cultivation realm.
For example, the old immortal crane had been stuck in the Void Reversion realm for more than a thousand years!
However, once a demon achieves a breakthrough and breaks free of the shackles of heaven and earth, it would mean that they have advanced a major cultivation realm and their increase in strength would be utterly frightening!
Prior to this, the old immortal crane had no chance of winning against Blood Crow Palace’s Lord.
But now that the old immortal crane had advanced and was equivalent to a human Dharma Characteristic, she could kill the Palace Lord with ease!
Suddenly.
The old immortal crane opened its eyes and reared its head into the skies, crying.
It was a piercing screech that reverberated through the world!
An extremely terrifying aura burst forth from the peak of Ethereal Peak and started spreading out!
All five peaks were shaken!
The ancient forest shook and all the living beings within the radius of 500 kilometers sprawled on the ground, silent with fear!
Instantly, the entire world went silent.
Even the air around Ethereal Peak went still and the clouds stopped floating.
Yan Beichen’s pupils constricted slightly.
Even he was feeling some slight palpitations through that power!
“Innate divine powers!”
Yan Beichen took a deep breath of air and murmured, “Is that what divine powers are like? It’s truly strong!”
“What are divine powers?”
Su Zimo could not help but ask.
Up till this point of his cultivation, he had only heart of spirit arts and Dharmic arts that were above the former. However, he had never heard of divine powers.
“Divine powers are even more terrifying than spirit and Dharmic arts!”
“Simply put, divine powers goes beyond one’s imagination and are the type of methods you only hear of in legends!”
Su Zimo was shocked to hear this.
It was even more terrifying than spirit and Dharmic arts!
Yan Beichen said slowly, “Lifting mountains and chasing the moon, that’s a divine power. Plucking the stars from the heavens, that’s a divine power. Incinerating the heavens and burning the seas, that’s a divine power. Summoning wind and rain, scattering beans to form troops... those are all divine powers!”
Su Zimo’s mouth opened slightly and he could not contain the shock in his eyes.
One could pluck the stars in the skies, one could boil the oceans and even burn the heavens...
Everything was truly beyond Su Zimo’s imagination.
A brand new cultivation that was vast and incredible started forming in his mind; it was something that invigorated him and made him look forward to!
Suddenly, Su Zimo realized...
Although he had already started cultivating a long time ago, he had only just begun on the long path of cultivation.
“How do you cultivate divine powers?”
Su Zimo asked excitedly.
Shaking his head gently, Yan Beichen replied, “You are too far from divine powers and even I’m unable to cultivate them. Void Reversions are known as Dao Beings. Thereafter comes the Dharma Characteristic realm where they are known as Dao Lords. Even after that is the Conjoint Body realm where one will be known as a Mighty Figure. Lastly, they will reach the Mahayana realm and be known as Patriarchs!”
“One is only qualified to cultivate the art of divine powers when they are at the Mahayana realm.”
Su Zimo was a little disappointed.
He was only at Foundation Establishment realm right now and even the Void Reversion realm was far from his reaches, let alone the Mahayana realm.
However, on second thought, he exclaimed softly and asked with a frown, “However, senior crane has just broken through and is only equivalent to a Dharma Characteristic. How is she able to comprehend divine powers?”
“That’s because she’s a demon,”
Yan Beichen replied, “After Void Reversion realm, demons would comprehend a divine power with every step they advance thereafter. The purer their bloodline, the more frightening the divine powers they comprehend would be!”
Suddenly, Su Zimo’s eyes shimmered when he heard this as he was enlightened about something.
The Mystic Classic of the Twelve Demon Kings of the Great Wilderness had a total of nine sections. The seventh section, Core Formation, was equivalent to the human Golden Core realm. The eighth section, Yin Spirit, was equivalent to the Nascent Soul realm and the ninth section, Yang Spirit, was equivalent to the Void Reversion realm.
There was nothing to the Mystic Classic of the Twelve Demon Kings of the Great Wilderness beyond that.
Initially, Su Zimo could not understand why there were only nine sections to the Mystic Classic of the Twelve Demon Kings of the Great Wilderness.
But now, he understood that there was no need for any manuals and techniques after the Yang Spirit section.
As long as he made an advancement after that, he would be able to comprehend his own innate divine powers!
Su Zimo asked again, “Demons are already able to comprehend innate divine powers at Dharma Characteristic realm. Since divine powers are so strong, how do human cultivators deal with them?”
Yan Beichen replied, “Once a human enters Dharma Characteristic realm, they would naturally undergo transformations and be able to sense heaven and earth while summoning supreme Dharmic powers. At that point, the heaven and earth dharma characteristics that they conjure would be able to fight against the innate divine powers of the demon race!”
Su Zimo seemed to have an understanding.
It was the same as when demons formed their Inner Cores. At that point, the strength and speed would increase exponentially and their physiques would reach a terrifying level of toughness that weak humans couldn’t fight against.
However, after the elites of the human race formed their Golden Cores, they would be able to produce Golden Core phenomenons.
The immensely powerful phenomenons could enable them to fight against demons!
From the point where they were enslaved in the primordial era to their rise in the ancient era, the cultivation methods of the immortal, Buddhist and fiend Daos of the human race had matured for a long time.
The rise of the human race was definitely not due to luck!
“I’ve already severed my karma, it’s time for me to leave,”
Yan Beichen left a single remark and did not linger further, soaring into the skies before speeding into the distance.
“Little Chen!”
The old immortal crane called out hurriedly when she noticed that.
In the eyes of the younger generation, Yan Beichen was a cold and indifferent old monster.
However, more than a thousand years ago when he joined Ethereal Peak, he was still a child.
The old immortal crane had seen him grow up and advance step by step.
Yan Beichen’s figure staggered for a brief moment but did not turn back. He continued heading forward and disappeared into the horizons before long.
When he saw that, Su Zimo came to a sudden realization.
The reason why Ethereal Peak lingered so long in Ethereal Peak after the battle was not merely because of him.
Yan Beichen was worried about the old immortal crane’s safety and was actually defending her in silence here!
Given Yan Beichen’s character, he would definitely not admit to something like this.
The old immortal crane had a conflicted expression and sighed gently.
Su Zimo could vaguely sense that there was something more as to why Yan Beichen betrayed Ethereal Peak and joined the fiend sect, Asura Sect, more than a thousand years ago.
Chapter 493: Subduing the Monkey Mind and Calming the Prancing Horse
The old immortal crane turned and transformed into a middle-aged redheaded beauty. She had blushed fair skin and looked to be in her early thirties.
Waving her arm casually, her robes extended thousands of feet away and brought Su Zimo before her instantly.
“Congratulations, senior,”
Su Zimo was truly elated when he saw that the old immortal crane was able to break free from the shackles of heaven and earth and extend her lifespan.
With the addition of a new Dharma Characteristic expert, itinerant cultivators in the territory of Great Zhou would definitely want to join Ethereal Peak in the future and the rise of the sect was certain.
“I should be the one thanking you,”
The old immortal crane smiled and looked towards a spot in the forest outside of Ethereal Peak. “Someone from the fiend sects must have sent a message for Little Chen to arrive in time. I suppose that has something to do with you?”
Su Zimo remained silent.
“I don’t have any biasness towards the fiend sects. Head over there and take a look, someone has been waiting for you for a long time,” THe old immortal crane pointed to a deep portion of the forest and said with a smile.
“Alright.”
Su Zimo smiled and spread his spirit wings, speeding towards the forest.
In the depths of the forest, a pink figure stood upright with black hair that fell like a waterfall. Her long dress accentuated her curvy figure to its best.
The veil on the girl’s face had already been removed and she was smiling towards his direction with a peerlessly flawless face.
“Thank you,”
Su Zimo was silent for a long time after arriving before finally speaking.
“Pfft!”
Demoness Ji could not help but stifle a laugh.
Blinking her eyes, she skipped around gently and closed in to Su Zimo playfully.
A fragrance wafted over.
Their cheeks were extremely close together and Demoness Ji asked with a sweet breath, “How are you going to thank me?”
With that said, she bit her cherry lips in a seemingly dissatisfied manner and looked at Su Zimo expectantly.
He lowered his gaze with the calmness of an old monk. Not daring to meet with her gaze, he took a step back instead.
After not seeing her for half a year, Demoness Ji’s charm techniques had gotten even more terrifying.
Su Zimo lamented to himself, “Seems like she has gotten quite a few opportunities in the Human Emperor’s Palace back then as well.”
“Alright, I won’t tease you anymore,”
Demoness Ji returned to normal and chuckled before remarking with a relaxed tone, “You don’t have to thank me since you’ve saved me before as well.”
Su Zimo heaved out a sigh of relief.
After a brief silence, Demoness Ji whispered, “You offended so many people in the ancient battlefield, why didn’t you join the fiend sects together with Senior Asura? Although he is cold, indifferent and doesn’t care about relationships, I can tell that he seems to treat you rather specially.”
Su Zimo shook his head.
Demoness Ji continued, “There’s another 20 years to go before the intermediate ancient battlefield opens up. Ethereal Peak doesn’t have the strength and isn’t able to break through the barriers to enter the intermediate ancient battlefield as well. At that time, remember to come look for me. I’ll bring you in.”
“We’ll discuss it again. In any case, there’s 20 more years to go. There’s no hurry.”
“I’ll... make a move first?”
“Yes.”
Seeing that Su Zimo had no intention of asking her to stay, Demoness Ji was secretly frustrated and harrumphed gently in a begrudging manner.
She had just turned around when his voice sounded, somewhat hesitantly.
“What’s the meaning of the Pure Maiden Sect’s tripod?”
Demoness Ji’s back was facing Su Zimo and a hint of shyness flickered through her eyes. Hiding it swiftly, she turned around with a fake smile. “What do you think it means?”
There was a saying in the cultivation world that tripods were members of the opposite sex captured and used by evil cultivators to increase their cultivation realms. They would use the tripods to do a double cultivation method by using the tripod’s Yin to replenish their Yang or vice versa.
Tripods were akin to slaves and most of them ended up in miserable states, dying from a complete exhaustion of their Yin or Yang essences.
Naturally, Su Zimo had heard of that saying before. However, he did not believe that the Pure Maiden Sect’s tripod was the same thing.
“I don’t know,” He shook his head.
Demoness Ji smiled. “Tripods are naturally used for cultivation!”
When he saw that Demoness Ji clearly did not wish to elaborate, Su Zimo did not question further.
“I’m going!”
She waved to Su Zimo with her back facing him. “I’ll tease you again next time.”
Gazing at Demoness Ji’s departing back view, Su Zimo took a deep breath of air and turned to leave as well, heading towards Ethereal Peak.
This time round, he intended to enter seclusion to try and form his core upon returning!
Su Zimo wanted to form his cores for both his immortality and demonic cultivations!
...
Nighttime.
Ethereal Peak, a cave abode.
Su Zimo assumed a lotus position and his eyes were shut.
He had already sat there for an entire day without budging like a statue.
Although it seemed like he did not make any progress, Su Zimo was making preparations to ensure that nothing went wrong.
There were only 12 words to the first sentence of the Core Formation section.
Calm the monkey mind, control the prancing horse, subdue dragons and tigers!
That was the first and most important step to core formation.
An active mind was like a monkey, unable to keep still.
The fluctuations of emotions was like a prancing horse, running wildly.
One had to conquer the monkey mind and prancing horse with unparalleled determination and even subdue dragons or tigers if necessary!
All things were connected.
In the immortal sects, one would achieve a pure mind by adhering to the extremities of silence. In the Buddhist monasteries, one would chant Buddhist proclamations and refrain from speaking. In reality, all of those were guiding one towards calming the monkey mind and the prancing horse of one’s intents!
For young people, they were in experienced and emotional. As such, it was the most difficult for them to calm the monkey mind and prancing horse while cultivating.
Older cultivators have been through endless events and are jaded towards the world. As such, it becomes comparatively easy for them instead.
Although Su Zimo was not old and he had cultivated for less than 30 years by now, he had been through endless ups and downs in life and wandered around the boundaries of death as well.
His mind was resolute and could not be moved.
Often, he treated things with humbleness and took care of the overall picture, paying keen attention to things.
He took things in his stride and did not overly meddle. Subconsciously, he was already suppressing his monkey mind and the prancing horse while subduing dragons and tigers with supreme determination!
After entering meditation, the first six sections of the Mystic Classic of the Twelve Demon Kings of the Great Wilderness revolved through his mind in an unhurried motion thoroughly.
It went from the beginning, Body Tempering, to Tendons Transformation, Bones Strengthening, Marrow Cleansing, Organs Refinement, then to the Orifice Cleansing section...
There was a remark in the Core Formation section: “Cultivate the qi of the five organs and consume the seven lights!”
The seven lights referred to the seven orifices.
As time flowed, countless nights passed by in the blink of an eye.
Within the cave abode, the demonic qi that was surrounding Su Zimo intensified and his seven orifices shone with a divine radiance.
His skin, flesh, tendons, bones, marrow, organs and seven orifices formed a perfect Major Heavenly Cycle, circulating endlessly.
Gradually, the demonic qi outside his body started converging towards the center of his chest.
After Qi Condensation and Foundation Establishment, cultivators would enter core formation and their Golden Cores would be created an inch beneath their naval, located at where the spirit qi sea and dantian was at.
But now, the location of Su Zimo’s demonic cultivation for his Inner Core was clearly different!
It was at the center of his chest, extremely close to his heart.
The scarlet demon qi was limitless and boundless, converging towards his chest repeatedly while swirling, as if a massive vortex was about to materialize!
Be it for demons or humans, core formation was always the most critical step of their cultivation path!
This was a sort of finale towards their earlier path of cultivation.
After forming a core, it would be the first time they truly broke free of the shackles of heaven and earth, increasing their lifespans.
If they failed, everything would come to an end!
Su Zimo was motionless and his black hair swayed without any wind. A series of ancient demons were conjured around him, baring their claws and fangs with a menacing ferocity as their eyes shimmered with a red gleam.
All of those ancient demons paused for a brief moment before being sucked into Su Zimo’s chest by that scarlet vortex!
Su Zimo’s aura was turning increasingly terrifying!
Under the shroud of the scarlet vortex, his body underwent another baptism and transformed once more.
His flesh started expanding and his bones and veins shook and buzzed, as though metal was clashing.
Twitching violently, his major tendons gave off snapping sounds like thunder and it was shuddering!
Chapter 494: Inner Core Formation
“Hmm?”
At the back mountain from Ethereal’s main peak, the old immortal crane felt something and jolted awake from her meditation cultivation.
More than ten days ago, Ethereal Peak experienced a calamity and suffered immense losses. Up till now, many cultivators were still healing and had not recovered completely.
Even though the old immortal crane was in cultivation, she was paying attention to any activity within the sect keenly.
Right now, she was in the Dharma Characteristic realm and her strength had grown immensely. Her Essence Spirit’s cultivation had also deepened as well.
When released, her spirit consciousness could travel thousands of kilometers away and every single slight activity would be noticed by her!
She sensed the strange situation on Su Zimo’s side a long time ago.
“What a strong aura. He’s about to break through!”
Although the old immortal crane was at the back mountain, her spirit consciousness engulfed Su Zimo’s cave abode and saw everything clearly.
As time passed by, the shock in the old immortal crane’s eyes deepened.
“Even a pure-blooded ferocious beast doesn’t have such a strong demonic technique within its lineage memories!”
She murmured to herself sternly, “This lad truly has too many secrets on him.”
Even with her experience, she could not see through all the secrets.
They were things that she could not comprehend even at her cultivation realm!
How could a human cultivate a technique meant for demons?
In the primordial era where the thousands of races reigned, an apocalyptic battle broke out and countless races were destroyed, going extinct.
The races that remained formed a massive group that became known as the demons to the later generations.
Therefore, there were many different types of demons and birds, beasts, flora, fishes and even insects were considered as part of it.
A massive bear that was as big as a mountain could be considered as a demon. However, the same could be said for an ant as tiny as a speck of dust or even a blade of grass in the forest!
There were many legends in the cultivation world of grasses and wood obtaining spirits and gaining the Dao.
The myriad of varieties meant that every single demon had a different body structure and it was even more different when compared to humans.
For example, flora demons did not have skin, flesh, tendons, bones or organs.
Bull demons had four hooves and two horns while snake demons had no legs nor horns...
The old immortal crane truly could not imagine how there would be a demon technique that a human could cultivate in this world, let alone one that was so terrifying!
Unless, there was a single possibility.
It was a technique that retained all the essence of various demon cultivation techniques. By sieving out the portions that were suitable for a human to cultivate, one could combine all of those together!
However, that was a massive project and would require unimaginable effort and focus!
Even the ancient emperors wouldn’t be able to do it.
Who was it who could have created such a cultivation technique?
What was the point of this cultivation technique’s existence?
Could this terrifying being have spent endless effort and hard work just to create this demon cultivation technique to impart to Su Zimo?
The old immortal crane fell into deep thoughts.
...
It was pitch-black within the cave abode.
Suddenly.
Su Zimo opened his eyes and it was extremely sinister, like two flashes of lightning streaking through the dark night!
Swoosh!
He stood up and his flesh expanded. His bones shifted with a series of cracking sounds and his entire body grew, as though he was about to break through the clouds!
It was akin to the rise of a massive ancient demon in the darkness!
Bang! Boom! Boom!
Su Zimo’s body continued growing endlessly and his head was almost bursting through the ceiling of the cave abode. The entire place shook as though it was about to collapse at any moment.
Broken rocks fell on Su Zimo’s head continuously but he was perfectly fine!
For a disciple such as Su Zimo, the layout of his cave abode was already similar to that of a Golden Core.
It was spacious and had a high ceiling.
Without the use of external objects, Golden Cores could soar through the air and reach a hundred feet in height.
Naturally, the height of the cave abode had to be more than a hundred feet!
What was a hundred feet akin to?
It was similar to a building with ten levels!
Now that Su Zimo was breaking through the roof of the cave abode, it meant that his body had already grew to the height of a hundred feet!
Energy surged into his body endlessly and gathered around his chest.
His body expanded rapidly and caused his flesh to tear open, creating blood mists. His bones were cracking non-stop and even his major tendons were being extended to their limits!
Su Zimo was covered in blood.
His immensely strong regeneration abilities were healing his injuries repeatedly.
Healing after being destroyed, healing after being destroyed...
The cycle continued.
The aura that was given off by his body was turning increasingly terrifying!
The process of his flesh tearing and regenerating was extremely unendurable – Su Zimo was undergoing unimaginable torment!
A long time later, finally unable to hold it in, he slouched his spine and opened his mouth, revealing veins that burst forth from his neck as he let out a thunderous roar from the depths of his throat!
“Roar!”
It sounded like a dragon and a tiger, spreading through the entire place and shocking the world!
Night was the time for birds and beasts to roam and hunt for food and their roars and cries could be heard everywhere.
However, after Su Zimo’s roar, all the mountains nearby fell into complete silence!
The old immortal crane jolted awake from her thoughts and her heart skipped a beat.
The glabella of the old immortal crane shone and she released her spirit consciousness swiftly, forming a pitch-black light barrier that isolated Su Zimo’s cave abode from the outside world; no one could check on him using their eyes or spirit consciousness.
Su Zimo’s demonic cultivation must not be revealed yet.
Cultivators bore a deep-rooted grudge towards demons and that was a fact that was difficult to change.
If they knew that Su Zimo was undergoing demonic cultivation, the other cultivators of the sect would not be able to accept it.
The commotion it would cause would be too great.
Many Nascent Souls and Golden Cores were alarmed. Thinking that a strong foe had arrived, they came forth from their cave abodes one after another despite the fact that their wounds were not fully healed.
Gazing over, everyone caught sight of a light barrier and could not see what was going on inside.
“Leave first and continue healing up. There’s nothing important happening here.”
The old immortal crane’s voice rang in everyone’s mind.
All the Ethereal Peak cultivators heaved a sigh of relief and returned, albeit with slightly confused gazes.
Everyone had heard that roar loud and clear.
Even the Nascent Souls of the sect felt their hearts skip a beat!
“What demon was that? It sounds terrifying.”
“I don’t know, but its background shouldn’t be simple.”
“It should have been taken down by senior crane.”
Many cultivators of the sect discussed in hushed whispers as they went their separate ways.
They could not see that the cave abode that was within the pitch-black light barrier had already collapsed.
In the rumbling dust, a towering figure more than a hundred feet tall stood.
Unknowingly, Su Zimo’s clothes had already been torn apart, revealing defined bronze muscles that shone with a metallic luster.
Blood vessels surfaced on his body one after another as the green veins lined the entire place in a terrifying sight, as though snakes were crawling everywhere!
This was a body that could be described as perfect!
A series of terrifying phantoms surrounded that body, exuding ancient auras.
There was a desolate bull that plowed the heavens.
A mighty and towering rock bear.
A swiveling anaconda.
A wild sanguine ape.
A rampant divine steed.
A cruel Hell’s tiger.
A wind leopard that traversed the winds.
The seven ancient demons that he had cultivated up to this point of the Mystic Classic of the Twelve Demon Kings of the Great Wilderness were appearing, baring their fangs and claws in a frightening life-like manner!
A round ball of blood was swiveling in Su Zimo’s chest, beside his heart, and emitting a rich demonic qi – that was the Inner Core of the demon race!
Inner Core formation, success!
Chapter 495: Terrifying Physique
Sensing the seven ancient demons that were revolving around him, Su Zimo gained a semblance of realization.
There were already seven demon kings up till this point of his cultivation.
In other words, five more had yet to appear.
The limits of his cultivation of the Mystic Classic of the Twelve Demon Kings of the Great Wilderness should be when all twelve demon kings appeared!
Su Zimo did not know who were the other five demon kings.
In the mystic classic that Die Yue left him, the Yin Spirit section was a mystery.
Given his current cultivation realm, he could not understand it at all.
A blood-red Inner Core swiveled slowly within his chest.
Su Zimo could barely contain the joy in his eyes and merely gripped his fists gently. With every single action he took, he could sense the massive power coming from each part of his body that seemed to be able to crush mountains!
It was a leap in quality!
Su Zimo withdrew a supreme-grade flying sword from his storage bag and injected spirit energy to it.
The sword shone brightly with a cold intent.
Su Zimo flicked the blade with his finger gently.
Buzz!
The blade quivered.
The clash of his flesh and a supreme-grade flying sword had actually caused the sound of metal clashing to be emitted!
Circulating his spirit energy fully, the spirit sea in Su Zimo’s dantian surged and nine spirit meridians appeared.
He took a deep breath of air and with a blazing gaze, struck the supreme-grade flying sword heavily against his arm!
Clang!
The flying sword was repelled.
His arm was completely fine.
Although Su Zimo had not managed to cultivate a Golden Core in his immortality cultivation yet, he was at the legendary Extreme Foundation Establishment realm. At full power, his strength was comparable to an early-stage Golden Core.
Right now, the sword did not even leave a single mark on his arm!
Even the old immortal crane was shocked when she saw that.
The most resilient parts of a demon’s body were mostly their fangs and claws.
If a supreme-grade flying sword couldn’t even penetrate Su Zimo’s flesh, a perfect spirit weapon might not be able to hurt his bones as well!
If that was the case, it was even less likely that his organs could be injured.
The old immortal crane was certain that Su Zimo’s body was even stronger than pure-blooded ferocious beasts at Golden Core realm!
That was because she was a pure-blooded ferocious bird herself.
Su Zimo had just formed his Inner Core and yet, he was already in possession of such a terrifying physique. If he were to continue cultivating and arrive at the limits of core formation...
The old immortal crane did not dare to imagine.
Piak!
Right then, a crisp sound rang out from Su Zimo’s cave abode!
The old immortal crane’s pupils constricted and her heart skipped a beat.
Su Zimo was holding onto the dim shards of a broken sword with both palms.
The supreme-grade flying sword from earlier on was snapped by his bare hands!
“This...”
The old immortal crane was a little stunned and her eyes widened while her mouth opened.
She suddenly recalled the little mysterious pitch-black beast of unknown origins that Su Zimo had brought back four years ago.
As she thought about the terrifying fangs and claws of that little mysterious beast, she could not help but lament, “This lad’s physique is probably comparable to Night Spirit by now.”
Until now, she did not know of Night Spirit’s origins.
“Both of them are monsters!”
The old immortal crane could not help but add another remark mentally.
Compared to Su Zimo and Night Spirit, her bloodline as a pure-blooded ferocious bird was akin to the bloodline of a domestic fowl...
In the cave abode.
Looking at the broken sword in his palms, Su Zimo thought about that fateful night when Die Yue imparted to him the Mystic Classic of the Twelve Demon Kings of the Great Wilderness and could not help but go into a daze.
She once mentioned that he had to reach the seventh section, Core Formation, if he wanted to seek revenge from Perfected Being Cang Lang.
Right now, he was there.
Eight years have passed since that night.
His entire journey up till his point had been surreal.
As he recounted the times he spent in the cultivation field back in Ping Yang Town with Die Yue, Su Zimo went silent and gradually entered a trance-like manner.
“Zimo.”
Suddenly, the voice of the old immortal crane sounded within the cave abode.
“Don’t get distracted. You have just formed a core and you have to continue cultivating to stabilize your cultivation realm!”
Su Zimo jolted awake.
It was only at that moment that he realized how much of a mess his breakthrough had created. His cave abode had already collapsed and dust was rumbling everywhere as debris laid on the ground.
The reason why the other cultivators were not alarmed was due to the pitch-black light barrier in his surroundings.
Su Zimo bowed hurriedly. “Thank you, senior crane.”
He shocked himself with his comment.
His voice had changed completely!
It was loud as a bell and robust, enough to shake one’s mind!
The old immortal crane said gently, “You have to control the power of your Inner Core to a point where it’s natural. Otherwise, how are you going to be able to face other people? Even your voice will be enough to scare them.”
Su Zimo nodded and did not delay it any further. Shrugging his massive body, he assumed a lotus position and continued cultivating.
After forming a core, stabilizing his cultivation realm and controlling the power of his Inner Core was relatively simpler and did not carry any risk.
All he had to do was spend time to feel the Inner Core and familiarize himself with it while getting accustomed to the many changes to his body. At that time, his cultivation realm would stabilize gradually as well.
As time passed by, the phantoms of the seven demon kings surrounding Su Zimo gradually faded.
His body was shrinking as well.
The demonic qi surrounding him gushed into his chest continuously.
...
In the blink of an eye, three days had passed.
Morning, daybreak.
A ray of sunlight broke through the mist and landed on a clear and elegant face.
His black hair fell casually like a waterfall and swayed gently by itself.
The man’s eyes were closed and the sunlight moved slowly around his body until he was shining from head to toe.
Against the shroud of the sunlight, his body shone with sparkles and was as shiny and flawless as jade.
The man resembled a deity that had just entered the mortal realm and was in a pure silence.
That was a true transformation!
All of a sudden!
The man opened his eyes and two divine lights shone in a dazzling manner that was even more intense than the sunlight!
However, the divine lights faded swiftly as well.
Calmness returned to his eyes.
Lowering his head, the man looked at his body that had returned to normal and nodded in satisfaction. Retrieving a set of green robes from his storage bag, he wore them was more.
The man was Su Zimo who had just formed his core.
Right now, he was already able to master the power of his Inner Core completely!
As long as he did not make use of the power of his Inner Core, even if he channeled his bloodline, Su Zimo’s body would not change in an obvious manner.
Before he knew it, the isolating pitch-black light barrier set by the old immortal crane had already disappeared.
Su Zimo rose and took a deep breath of air, relishing the freshness of the mountains. His entire body was relaxed and every single one of his pores seemed to have opened up.
His cave abode had already turned into ruins and he couldn’t stay in it any longer.
Rising slowly, Su Zimo flew past the ruins and headed outside without a sound.
“Hmm?”
Suddenly, Su Zimo’s gaze shifted and he exclaimed softly, pausing in his tracks subconsciously.
Outside the ruins, a young girl sat on the ground hugging her knees. Her features were exquisite and she had golden hair, but it was messy and had many curls.
She had not rested for a long time and the girl looked extremely fatigued. Leaning on a cold slab of rock beside the entrance of the ruins, the girl was snoozing.
Su Zimo pondered and understood what happened.
He had created such a huge commotion with his core formation that it must have alarmed many people. Because Nian Qi was worried, she guarded at the entrance and was unwilling to leave.
She was dirty all over and her petite face was filled with specks of dust. However, they could not conceal her moving and peerless features.
Chapter 496: Nian Qi’s Background
Perhaps the sunlight was blinding, or perhaps she sensed something after Su Zimo glared at her for a long time, Nian Qi’s eyelids twitched and she opened her eyes, stirring awake.
“Ah!”
She exclaimed and blushed slightly when she saw Su Zimo looking at her from nearby with a smile on his face.
Nian Qi stood up hurriedly and patted away the dust on her body. Not daring to look at Su Zimo directly, she remarked in a shy manner, “Uh, I fell asleep by accident.”
“How long have you been here?”
Su Zimo realized that his voice had already returned to normal and was gentle and warm.
“Three days,” Nian Qi replied.
That warmed Su Zimo’s heart.
Three days ago was the moment when he had just formed his Inner Core and his cave abode had collapsed.
Because he had both demonic and immortality cultivation, three days without rest was nothing much to him and he was still energized. However, it was unendurable for a young lady like Nian Qi.
Su Zimo said tenderly, “Go back and rest, I’m fine.”
“Oh.”
Nian Qi nodded and continued, “Master said that your cave abode is destroyed and asked you to relocate to another one.”
“Master?”
Su Zimo froze for a moment.
Nian Qi replied merrily, “Senior crane has accepted to take me in as her disciple!”
“That’s great,”
Su Zimo was delighted and nodded, quipping at her, “Your seniority in the sect is even higher than mine from now on.”
The old immortal crane was the most senior and the strongest within the sect – Nian Qi’s future accomplishments would be limitless learning from the old immortal crane directly!
“Don’t worry, young master, my cave abode is right beside yours.”
Nian Qi explained hurriedly, “You can call for me if you require anything from now on. I’ll help you do it right away, just like back in Mo Spirit Weapon Workshop.”
Su Zimo smiled. “From now on, we’re sect mates. There’s no need for us to get along like before.”
“That won’t do. If you hadn’t taken me in back then, I wouldn’t be here today,”
Nian Qi shook her head and replied solemnly, “Young Master, no matter what cultivation realm or status I reach in the future, I’ll always be the same maidservant by your side.”
“You’re speaking nonsense again,”
Su Zimo chuckled and did not take it to heart.
What he did not know was that the nonsense to him was a resolute oath in Nian Qi’s heart.
Su Zimo remarked, “Let’s go, take me to the cave abode.”
“Yes.”
Nian Qi nodded.
The two of them traveled on their flying swords one after another.
Along the way, Su Zimo pondered for a moment and asked in a seemingly casual manner, “Did anything big happen during this period of time?”
“Nothing much,”
Nian Qi thought for awhile. “There’s just many itinerant cultivators that want to join the sect. The royal family of Great Zhou and the other four major sects sent cultivators with gifts one after another as well to express goodwill.”
Now that Ethereal Peak had a Dharma Characteristic expert in their midst and had undergone rebirth through nirvana after the flames of war, their rise was only a matter of time.
Those changes were naturally within Su Zimo’s guess as well.
Going silent for a moment, he narrowed his gaze and asked, “Iridescent Clouds Palace and True Fire Sect sent people as well?”
“That’s right.”
Nian Qi nodded.
After a brief pause, she continued, “Don’t worry, young master. The other four major sects lost their Void Reversions and many of their Nascent Souls, Golden Cores and Foundation Establishment Cultivators were injured and dead after this battle at Ethereal Peak. Given the immense losses, they wouldn’t be able to recover within the next thousand years and won’t be a threat to us.”
Su Zimo remained silent.
Although the other four major sects had already showed signs of submission, the life and death feud between him and Perfected Being Cang Lang was irreconcilable.
Perfected Being Cang Lang must have realized that his chances would get slimmer the longer time passed!
Su Zimo was at Extreme Foundation Establishment realm.
However, what was Perfected Being Cang Lang’s potential?
How could he possibly compete with the growth of someone at Extreme Foundation Establishment?
Before long, the two of them arrived before two cave abodes.
Nian Qi chuckled. “We’re here. Mine is the right one and yours is on the left, young master.”
“Alright, go and have a rest.”
“Alright, call for me if you need anything, young master.”
Nian Qi did not reject him because she was truly too tired and left that remark before heading into her cave abode.
“Right,”
Suddenly, Su Zimo called Nian Qi back and hesitated for a moment before asking, “How much do you remember about your childhood?”
“Ah?
A hint of panic flickered through the depths of Nian Qi’s eyes. Lowering her head, she stuttered, “I c-can’t remember. I-I’ve been wandering around t-the capital of Great Zhou the entire time u-until I met you, young master.”
Su Zimo looked at Nian Qi deeply without pursuing it further. “It’s nothing much, I was merely asking. Go on then.”
Nodding, Nian Qi did not dare to look at Su Zimo and ran along a path towards the cave abode behind her.
Su Zimo gazed at Nian Qi’s back view with deep thoughts.
Actually, Nian Qi’s background has always been mysterious.
Back in Mo Spirit Weapon Workshop, Su Zimo already knew that.
It wasn’t just because of Nian Qi’s innate divine strength and shocking cultivation speed, there was something else.
Back then, when they first met and Su Zimo handed Nian Qi some food, Night Spirit who was in his embrace had actually closed in and sniffed Nian Qi from head to toe!
There were not many things that could interest Night Spirit.
The dragon egg in the Dragon Bone Valley was one of them...
Of course, that alone was not enough to suspect that there was anything wrong with Nian Qi’s background.
The most important thing was that from the moment Su Zimo met Nian Qi, the latter was already around 15 years old.
But now that four years had passed, she still looked like a young girl!
Time seemed to have stopped on Nian Qi’s body.
This was impossible.
Unless... Nian Qi’s innate lifespan was extremely long such that four years was almost negligible compared to her total lifespan!
What sort of person, or rather, race, would possess such a long lifespan upon birth?
Su Zimo had a vague guess in his mind.
It might not be an accurate guess.
After all, there were many treasures and strange fruits on Tianhuang Mainland. It was possible that Nian Qi might have consumed some miraculous fruit or elixir in the past, resulting in her innate divine strength and extremely long lifespan.
The old immortal crane must have spotted something as well and that was why she chose to take in Nian Qi as her disciple.
Of course, it wasn’t because Su Zimo suspected Nian Qi’s intents.
Although Nian Qi hid her background intentionally, she was a simple and kind girl and harbored no evil intentions towards him or Ethereal Peak.
Who didn’t have their own secrets?
Su Zimo had his own as well.
He would definitely not tell anybody about his demonic cultivation casually!
Taking a deep breath of air, Su Zimo set the matter aside temporarily. He took a walk around and relaxed himself before returning to his new cave abode.
He was prepared to continue to form his Golden Core!
Although he had already cultivated an Inner Core and his strength had increased exponentially, he did not dare to activate the power of the Inner Core and kill his enemies in his demon form recklessly.
He could only be considered as a true Golden Core if he entered the Golden Core realm through his immortality cultivation!
Furthermore, Su Zimo was excited to see the type of Golden Core phenomenon he would create!
Chapter 497: Trap to Kill
Iridescent Clouds Palace, Ash Parasol Mountain.
An old man in scarlet robes flew through the air without relying on any external objects, descending slowly in front of a cave abode on the middle of a mountain.
The sect badge on his waist indicated that he was from True Fire Sect.
This was Sima Zhi, a Golden Core of True Fire Sect.
A towering ancient tree stood in front of the cave abode with a stone table beneath it. A man in azure blue robes sat solemnly on a stone stool, his long, narrow eyes shimmering coldly.
“Brother Cang Lang, why have you called for me so urgently?”
Sima Zhi asked the moment he landed.
The azure-robed man was Perfected Being Cang Lang of Iridescent Clouds Palace!
Perfected Being Cang Lang had a calm expression and took a sip of tea unhurriedly, only speaking after he put down the teacup, “Brother Sima, you don’t even know that you’re at death’s door?!”
“Ah?
Sima Zhi was startled. However, he composed himself in the blink of an eye and shook his head, laughing. “Cang Lang, what kind of joke is this?”
“That Su Zimo is at Extreme Foundation Establishment. Given his vengeful nature, do you think he’s going to let us off once he enters Golden Core realm?” Perfected Being Cang Lang snorted coldly.
Sima Zhi’s expression darkened and he kept quiet for a brief moment. “To be honest, I did think about this after the fight at Ethereal Peak. However, our sect has already sent people to reconcile with Ethereal Peak, so there’s nothing I can do about it either.”
“I can’t possibly head over to Ethereal Peak singlehandedly, right? What’s the difference between committing suicide if I did that?”
After pausing for a moment, Sima Zhi continued, “Furthermore, Sima Zhi is at Extreme Foundation Establishment. Whoever lays a hand on him will have to suffer the wrath of Ethereal Peak!”
“Others might have their considerations but you and I? We’re different,”
Perfected Being Cang Lang said with a deep voice, “The situation is extremely clear right now. It’s either Su Zimo or the both of us who dies! We only have a shot at this and we have to be quick about it! Otherwise, there will be a lot more things to account for once that lad makes a breakthrough to Golden Core realm.”
Sima Zhi’s gaze shimmered and he took in a deep breath of air after a moment. “Brother Cang Lang, what do you think we should do then?”
“There’s no hurry. I’ve already invited three helpers and they should be arriving soon.”
Perfected Being Cang Lang gestured for Sima Zhi to take a seat and calm down.
Not long after, three Golden Cores arrived through the air. In the middle was a skinny middle-aged man with thin lips and a cold expression.
On the left was a Golden Core holding a long cloth. His face was plump and he was all smiles.
The one on the right was dressed in a martial arts outfit and looked sturdy with muscles bulging like rocks. There was a ferocious aura coming from him.
Perfected Being Cang Lang welcomed them.
Pointing to the Golden Core with a long cloth on the left, Perfected Being Cang Lang introduced, “This is the most famous Formation Master of the Tianhuang Mainland North Region, Perfected Being Tan Hao.”
“This is Fellow Daoist Gao Hu, he’s at late-stage Golden Core and specializes in body tempering,”
The martial arts man nodded towards Sima Zhi.
Finally, Perfected Being Cang Lang looked towards the skinny man in the middle and smiled. “This is the renowned Fellow Daoist Liang Heng of the North Region. At perfected Golden Core, he entered the intermediate ancient battlefield 80 years ago and contested for the Unusual Phenomenon Ranking!”
Sima Zhi’s heartt skipped a beat.
Within the territory of Great Zhou, there were no sects or factions that had the capabilities to break through the barrier of the intermediate ancient battlefield and send cultivators in.
Sima Zhi and the others did not have a chance to witness the Unusual Phenomenon Ranking, let alone compete for a spot on it with other cultivators.
Liang Heng waved it off and pretended to be humble. “It’s nothing much. After all, I did not manage to obtain a spot on it.”
“The Unusual Phenomenon Ranking isn’t something that can be compared with us. The fact that you’re even qualified to compete for a spot on it proves your strength, fellow Daoist,” Sima Zhi praised hurriedly.
Perfected Being Cang Lang said with a smile as well, “Fellow Daoist Liang Heng missed leaving his name on the Unusual Phenomenon Ranking by just a little 80 years ago. For the next Unusual Phenomenon Ranking, you’ll definitely be able to rank within the top ten!”
“Yes.”
Liang Heng nodded, pleased with their flattery.
He did not have much ties with Perfected Being Cang Lang. The reason he came this time round was mainly because he heard that Su Zimo had a connate spirit weapon!
If he could obtain that connate spirit weapon, he would definitely be able to obtain a spot on the Unusual Phenomenon Ranking the next time he entered the ancient battlefield!
Of course, it was a fool’s dream to want to obtain a top ten spot.
The top ten of the Unusual Phenomenon Ranking were one more terrifying than the other!
Sima Zhi asked, “Right now, Su Zimo should be in seclusion within Ethereal Peak and would most likely not appear before he formed a core. Do we have any way of luring him out?”
“I’ve got a female disciple called Shen Mengqi. She was childhood sweethearts with that kid,”
Perfected Being Cang Lang declared confidently with narrowed eyes, “If he hears that her life is in danger, he’ll definitely come forth!”
Sima Zhi’s eyes lit up and he nodded in agreement.
The Formation Master at the side, Tan Hao, pondered for a moment before saying with a smile, “I’ve got three questions. First, you said that they were childhood sweethearts. Would he come forth just for someone that’s about to die?”
“Definitely!”
Perfected Being Cang Lang’s tone was confident.
“Alright, second question,”
Tan Hao continued, “We can’t set the location at Iridescent Clouds Palace. Otherwise, that lad might not take the bait.”
“Of course, I’ve already taken that into account and planned things,” Perfected Being Cang Lang asserted.
Tan Hao nodded before adding, “The third question is that even if he takes the bait, how do we kill him down? The fight at Ethereal Peak, ha, had quite an impact in the cultivation world. I heard that this Su Zimo lad is at Extreme Foundation Establishment realm and has the capabilities to kill Golden Cores beyond his level.”
“With the five of us Golden Cores attacking together, do we have to fear a single Foundation Establishment Cultivator?” Gao Hu asked darkly.
Tan Hao remarked, “It’s not about fear, I’m worried about accidents. If he manages to escape, we won’t get a second chance.”
“His death is certain with me around!” Liang Heng declared coldly.
“Everyone, please listen to me,”
Perfected Being Cang Lang said with a dark tone, “This kid is at Extreme Foundation Establishment realm and has many trump cards up his sleeves. He possesses a pair of spirit wings and even has an extremely terrifying secret skill that can go against my Golden Core phenomenon!”
Liang Heng, Gao Hu and Tan Hao’s expressions changed slightly upon hearing that.
The rumors were real.
A secret skill released by a Foundation Establishment Cultivator could truly go against a Golden Core phenomenon!
Even though Perfected Being Cang Lang’s Golden Core phenomenon was not considered to be strong, it was still a shocking fact.
“Even a lion uses its full might to chase down a rabbit. Since I chose to make a move, I won’t underestimate my opponent, even if the kid is only a Foundation Establishment Cultivator!”
Perfected Being Cang Lang said darkly, “Fellow Daoist Tan Hao, you have to set up your array formations before hand to ensure that this lad doesn’t escape!”
“No problem,”
Tan Hao replied with a smile, “With me setting up the formations personally, even Golden Cores won’t be able to escape!”
Perfected Being Cang Lang narrowed his eyes and said coldly, “Everyone, take a look at what I’ve truly prepared for this kid!”
With that said, he withdrew a jade bottle from his storage bag. There was a scarlet flower that resembled an orchid in the middle of it, giving off a faint fragrance.
The other few Golden Cores swept their gazes across and their expressions changed as they retreated one after another.
“Spirit Lock Flower!”
Liang Heng frowned and asked, “This fiend flower has already gone extinct in the ancient era. How did you get your hands on it?”
The Spirit Lock Flower would not cause any direct harm to a cultivator.
However, its fragrance had a fiendish power that could lock a cultivator’s spirit energy; even Golden Cores could not defend against it!
The Spirit Lock Flower was one of the most famous fiend flowers of the ancient era!
Chapter 498: Paper Crane
Perfected Being Cang Lang gave a smirk and replied darkly, “I got my hands on this Spirit Lock Flower from the Great Qian ruins! I’ve only managed to resurrect it after nourishing it for dozens of years!”
At the mention of Great Qian ruins, the expressions of the other four Golden Cores changed and they took deep breaths in silence with wary looks in their eyes.
A long time later.
Gao Hu said, “Fellow Daoist Cang Lang, why don’t you ask us along the next time you go look for treasures in the Great Qian ruins. That way, we can look after one another as well.”
“Heh! That’s a place that we’ll most likely die in and I’ll never return again,”
Perfected Being Cang Lang remarked with a sense of trepidation, “The previous time round, I merely took a spin around the outer perimeter of it and I nearly died there!”
Tan Hao replied with a bright smile, “It seems like you take this Su Zimo guy rather seriously don’t you, Fellow Daoist Cang Lang? To think that you would be willing to make use of an extinct ancient fiend flower, the Spirit Lock Flower.”
“Isn’t it excessive to use the Spirit Lock Flower against a Foundation Establishment Cultivator?” Gao Hu asked moodily.
The Spirit Lock Flower restricted one’s spirit energy absolutely.
Putting away the Spirit Lock Flower, Perfected Being Cang Lang said coldly, “I’ve already said that even a lion uses its full might to chase down a rabbit! I won’t allow any mishaps to happen for this attack!”
Tan Hao nodded. “With the Spirit Lock Flower, the kid’s greatest trump card, his secret skill which allows him to conjure a divine dragon, is now useless.”
“Furthermore, even if he enters Golden Core realm, it’s useless! With his spirit energy locked, he won’t be able to use any techniques as a Golden Core and with the formation set up outside, he won’t be able to escape even if he has wings!”
True Fire Sect’s Sima Zhi’s eyes lit up and he got increasingly excited as he spoke.
“Wings?”
Perfected Being Cang Lang sneered, “Don’t forget, he won’t even be able to use Ethereal Peak’s secret skill, Ethereal Wings, with his spirit energy locked! He can only stand on the ground and look up to us!”
Gao Hu grinned. “In that case, all we have to do is stand in midair and that kid won’t be able to hurt us no matter how many tricks he has up his sleeves or how strong his body is. On the other hand, all of us can just attack him as we want to!”
“That’s right.”
“That’s great!”
The five of them exchanged glances and laughed with relaxed expressions.
“Let’s discuss how we want to distribute his treasures after killing him first, lest we get into needless arguments later on,” Liang Heng remarked indifferently.
“Don’t worry, we’ll go with our initial agreement,”
Perfected Being Cang Lang said with a deep voice, “We’ll give that kid’s dragon conjuring secret skill and connate spirit weapon to Fellow Daoist Liang Heng. His body tempering technique will be for Fellow Daoist Gao Hu. His sword formation techniques will be for Fellow Daoist Tan Hao. As for his weapon refinement techniques, they will be for Brother Sima.”
“Lastly, we’ll divide the remaining spirit stones, elixirs and spirit weapons he has equally among the five of us!”
“That’s good,”
Liang Heng and the other four nodded delightfully.
Gao Hu was a body tempered warrior to begin with and the thing that attracted him the most was Su Zimo’s body tempering technique.
Everyone got what they wanted.
Just as everyone was about to leave, Sima Zhi frowned and asked, “I heard that this female disciple of yours disobeyed your orders previously and did not partake in the battle against Ethereal Peak. Are you sure she’s going to help us this time round to go against her ex-lover?”
“Since they’re childhood sweethearts, he will definitely be familiar with her handwriting. If you forge something out, there will definitely be flaws,” Tan Hao was calm.
“Humph!”
Perfected Being Cang Lang harrumphed coldly with a glum expression, “She won’t get to decide this time round!”
Sima Zhi and the others felt their hearts skip a beat.
From the murderous look on Perfected Being Cang Lang’s face, it seems like he was going to sacrifice his disciple in order to kill Su Zimo!
“That traitor will cause trouble for me sooner or later if I continue to keep her by my side,”
Perfected Being Cang Lang narrowed his thin eyes and declared frostily, “Coincidentally, she’s about to form her core, fufu. It isn’t that easy for anyone to enter Golden Core realm and of course, it couldn’t be anymore natural if an accident happened during the process of it.”
...
A month later.
Ethereal Peak.
Su Zimo was in a lotus position in his cave abode. His palms rested on both his knees and faced up while his eyes were in a seemingly closed state as he breathed steadily. From head to toe, he exuded an extremely serene intent, akin to an immortal.
A long time later, Su Zimo opened his eyes and took a long breath, waking up from his meditation.
“I still can’t do it,”
Su Zimo shook his head.
For the past month, he had been cultivating with Qi Condensation while comprehending the Tidal Manual and Asura Saber at the same time as a conclusion to the many secret skills he had obtained after stepping onto the immortality cultivation path.
Although he had to form cores for both his demonic and immortality cultivation, they were starkly different.
The demonic Dao required him to subdue his monkey mind and prancing horse intent while condensing demonic qi repeatedly. At that point, things would come together naturally and he could form his Inner Core.
However, the immortal Dao required more of comprehension and understanding.
If he tried forming a core forcefully, it would not only lead to problems easily, the Golden Core phenomenon that he created might not be up to his expectations as well.
Therefore, Su Zimo did not dare to be careless.
Half a month ago, he had already reached the limits for his spirit energy and his spirit sea could not expand further.
In other words, he was already at the peak of Extreme Foundation Establishment realm!
Given those circumstances, he attempted to form his Golden Core.
His cultivation path up till this point had been overly complex and apart from immortal techniques, he had cultivated many fiend techniques as well.
However, the differences between the Dao of immortals and fiends were way too vast.
Immortality placed emphasis on nature and being one with the heavens.
However, fiends were obsessed about the extremities of things.
By nature, the spirit energy that Su Zimo cultivated was of a fire attribute. However, many of the cultivation techniques he cultivated such as the Sea Calming Manual, Tidal Manual and Blood Refinement Fiend Sutra were related to water.
Immortals and fiends were irreconcilable as was fire and water.
After half a year, Su Zimo still did not manage to cross that gap.
If he tried forming a core forcibly, there would definitely be a large problem!
“The timing isn’t right,”
He went deep in thought.
On the path of cultivation, if one wanted to break through a major realm, they would often have to require the synergy of multiple factors, such as the environment, comprehension of the heaven and earth, fate and their mental states.
Some people gain enlightenment at the lakeside.
Some people gain epiphany after traveling through mountains and valleys.
Some people form their cores in the spur of the moment while they are listening to the wind and looking at rain fall.
Some people sever their karmas overnight and attain enlightenment mentally, forming their Golden Cores...
But of course, there were even more people who die old with regrets without even getting to form a core!
Rising, Su Zimo got off his bed gently and murmured to himself with a clear and deep gaze, “Seems like it’s time for me to head out and take a walk.”
Right then, a soft knock came from his door.
Su Zimo waved his sleeves and the door opened correspondingly.
Nian Qi stood at the entrance, gazing in left and right.
“What’s wrong?”
Arriving beside her, Su Zimo looked at the paper crane in her hands and asked softly.
The paper crane was one of the most commonly seen messaging tool in the cultivation world and it was a type of talisman, created by the Thousand Crane Sect.
Nian Qi handed him the paper crane. “This is for you, young master. It states that it’s from an old friend from Ping Yang Town.”
Su Zimo furrowed his brows slightly.
There was probably only a single person who was an old friend from Ping Yang Town and knew how to make use of paper cranes to send messages.
Receiving the paper crane, Su Zimo opened it slowly.
A few lines of sentences were written with a dainty handwriting.
“Zimo, I’ve failed in my core formation and my spirit meridians have been severed. The injuries are extremely severe and I’m now back in Ping Yang Town to recuperate in silence.”
“Our relationship has ended a long time ago and I shouldn’t have bothered you to begin with. But recently, I feel that my limits have been reached and I don’t have much time left. I hope that you can return for us to meet one last time.”
Regards, Shen Mengqi.
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