Chapter 385

Formless Sword Domain.

Another half year passed.

Yunhe, hidden deep in the mountains and forests, finally opened his eyes again, waking from cultivation.

A flicker of regret flashed in his eyes.

"This hunt was still a bit rash, or rather, when I saw the green bullfrog die, I became a bit, a bit lax; if I had reacted earlier, perhaps I could have intercepted that insect."

He mentally summed up the shortcomings of this hunt.

If he had reacted quickly enough then, perhaps he could have intercepted that insect.

As for hunting a fourth-level demon beast on Thousand Poison Mountain, he did not think there was anything wrong with it.

And the final result proved that he successfully hunted the green bullfrog, though he failed to handle the aftermath perfectly.

"Besides, it's good; it let me recognize my current life-preserving ability."

Besides, his Beast Soul Banner now also contains the beast soul of a fourth-level demon beast; he only needs to raise its quality, and it can become like the Beast Soul Banner of a Demon Beast Body, at least advancing to a fourth-level middle-grade magic treasure.

"Too bad I fled too hastily earlier, with no chance to hide."

After a brief recollection, Yunhe also had to admit that this incident was indeed perilous; if he had not constantly made ensuring his escape ability his top priority, the outcome would be uncertain.

"Forget it. As long as I avoid late Yuan Ying stage cultivators, the danger shouldn't be great."

"If I employ all means and the opponent is unprepared, even a late Yuan Ying stage cultivator I should be able to escape, but if the opponent is well prepared"

Yunhe drew the Five Elements Thunder Sword, personally took action, and dismembered it.

Although the ancient formula he obtained for refining Ling Sui Elixir can at most use the inner core of a mid-third-level demon beast, he is not without the possibility of improving and enhancing this formula.

He has not yet processed the demon beast core of the Lu Shan Turtle.

The hide of the green bullfrog is also excellent talisman paper material, even superior to that made from Lu Shan Turtle shell.

Actually, according to Yunhe's original idea, he wanted to refine the Lu Shan Turtle's inner core into a cultivation-boosting elixir by means of making Ling Sui Elixir.

"The result is always good."

Having already cultivated to the Yuan Ying stage, and during the time of the foreign tribe turmoil, some things intended to be hidden cannot be completely concealed.

In fact, if he had not already stored the green bullfrog's beast soul in the Beast Soul Banner, he might not have relaxed his vigilance so early.

Moreover, the 'ten-thousand-year third-grade green lotus' sent by Baihua Valley came just in time, allowing him to comprehend and improve the formula for Ling Sui Elixir.

After feeling that his condition had fully recovered to its peak, Yunhe waved his hand and released the green bullfrog's corpse.

Although it had been dead for over a year, the green bullfrog's demonic body remained in excellent condition, and its beast soul had long been stored by Yunhe in the Beast Soul Banner.

Given his current alchemy level, it might still be a bit strained, but he has obtained the formula for the Yin Yang Vitality Elixir, which he can use to practice and improve his alchemy skills.

Then it's hard to say; once fully prepared, even a mid-Yuan Ying stage cultivator could pose a great threat to him.

Moreover, its demon core and poison sac are undoubtedly the most important parts of the green bullfrog's entire body.

"Once the External Incarnation is formed, I can act under a different identity."

As for the green bullfrog's corpse.

As for the green bullfrog's poison sac, this indeed leaves Yunhe temporarily unsure how to dispose of it.

The greatest possibility is to extract its toxicity to strengthen the corpse poison used in refining corpses.

Specifically how to implement this requires careful consideration.

Besides that, there is its flesh and blood.

The green bullfrog's essence blood is his target this time, naturally to be used to condense a wood-attribute spirit body, while its meat, like that of the Lu Shan Turtle, is used to strengthen the physical body's cultivation, as well as to nurture spirit beasts, spirit insects, and gu insects.

Thus, there is no waste at all.

After dismembering the green bullfrog's body, Yunhe stored all the materials back into his storage bag.

Although he had been in seclusion here for over a year without disturbance, after all this is not his cave dwelling, and it lies within the territory of the Infinite Sword Sect, which is not safe enough.

Having put away the surrounding formations and the 'Corpse Soul Gu' hidden nearby, he employed the Earth Escape Technique and returned to the surface.

The Cold Chant Flood Dragon guarding this mountain immediately came forward.

"Master." The Cold Chant Flood Dragon's eyes showed concern, "Master, are you alright?"

To be frank, although Yunhe was pursued for ten thousand li, the Cold Chant Flood Dragon, though in the spirit beast bag, also knew what had happened outside; feeling unable to provide much help to Yunhe, it felt deep self-reproach.

If it could be a bit stronger, if it had a fourth-level tier, perhaps it could help Yunhe share much of the pressure.

"I'm fine."

Yunhe patted its head, took out a piece of the green bullfrog's demon beast meat and gave it to it, comforting: "Don't blame yourself; there will be times for you to shine."

Immediately, after storing the Cold Chant Flood Dragon and briefly recalling the location of the teleportation array in the eastern realm, he rode a streak of light away.

Eastern Realm, Baihao City.

This place is the headquarters of the Baihao Tower, a fairly large city where cultivators and many ordinary people reside, making it the greatest information hub of the entire eastern realm.

And at the very center of Baihao City stands an extraordinarily tall massive building, which is the true 'Baihao Tower'.

At this moment, the top floor of that tower.

An old man with white hair, wearing a spotless white Daoist robe, squinted his eyes as he drove a huge compass before him.

This compass differs greatly from most others; not only is it large, its surface is densely inscribed with numerous strange characters and patterns, accompanied by a series of 'click-click' sounds, as the rings of textures on the compass rotate, each brief pause forming patterns and characters that each carry different meanings.

Behind him stood two men and one woman, silently staying put, seemingly not wishing to disturb the old man's work.

If Yunhe were here, he could recognize two of them: mid-Yuan Ying stage cultivator Guang Chengzi and early-Yuan Ying stage cultivator Ji Liuyun; the identities of the old man and the other woman would then become apparent.

The master of Baihao Tower, 'Baihaosheng', and early-Yuan Ying stage cultivator Fang Qiuyu.

"Ah." Baihaosheng let out a soft sigh, stopped his motion, though the compass before him did not cease turning, merely seeming to have lost a bit of its mysterious significance.

"Senior Brother, how is it?" Ji Liuyun could not help but ask upon seeing this.

Baihaosheng shook his head.

"After all, this is merely an imitation of the Heavenly Derivation Compass; ultimately it cannot calculate the whereabouts of Elder Yun. However, it can at least confirm that Elder Yun is safe and sound."

Upon hearing this, Ji Li Yun immediately let out a sigh of relief.

"If only the master back then hadn't taken the true 'Heavenly Derivation Compass' away," Guang Chengzi couldn't help but sigh.

Although Ji Li Yun and Fang Qiuyu are also Yuan Ying Cultivators, they have never seen "Sheng Banzi," while Guang Chengzi is the youngest disciple of "Sheng Banzi"; when "Sheng Banzi" left, Guang Chengzi was still only a Foundation Establishment cultivator.

Bai Xiaosheng didn't say much about this, merely looking at Ji Li Yun and saying:

"Li Yun, you did quite well this time."

Ji Li Yun gave an embarrassed laugh, then sighed: "Although I know Elder Yun's ability is not ordinary, I never imagined it would be so extraordinary."

After holding back for a while, Ji Li Yun indicated that they were a bit at a loss for words.

However, the proposal to recruit Yunhe as a guest elder was indeed first put forward by him, and later gained Guang Chengzi's approval.

Upon hearing this, the several people present all felt somewhat moved.

No one expected that, not long after they recruited Yunhe as Elder Yun, he would already have made such a name for himself.

Even Guang Chengzi, if facing a late‑stage Yuan Ying Cultivator, would not dare say he could absolutely escape.

"Qiuyu heard that our Elder Yun only recently attained Nascent Soul, and when he did so, he was probably under three hundred years old?" The one in yellow robes, Fang Qiuyu, who was stuffing an unknown elixir into her mouth bit by bit, asked softly.

"Cough. Qiuyu, don't eat here."

Bai Xiaosheng saw the crumbs scattering from Fang Qiuyu's mouth and couldn't help but remind her.

"Oh." Fang Qiuyu stuck out her tongue, looking like a little girl, her jade hand lightly waving to gather the elixir, and the crumbs around her were also collected.

Her sect leader senior brother, aside from that, is fine—just has a severe cleanliness obsession.

Afterwards, Ji Li Yun hesitated a moment, then nodded and said: "Based on the information we've obtained, that is indeed the case."

"Tsk."

Fang Qiuyu couldn't help but draw a breath, amazed at Elder Yun's age: "If so, our Elder Yun not only has the potential to break through to mid‑Yuan Ying, but even to late‑Yuan Ying."

The crowd responded with neither agreement nor denial.

Reaching Nascent Soul at over two hundred years of age is considered a late‑Yuan Ying seed, a fact acknowledged across the Eastern Border cultivation world.

However, a seed is a seed; whether it will ultimately grow remains uncertain.

But given that Yunhe, with his current early‑Yuan Ying Cultivation Base, managed to escape from the grasp of a late‑Fourth‑Level Thousand‑Wing Blood Mosquito, it seems that, with sufficient resources and opportunity, breaking through to late‑Yuan Ying is merely a matter of time.

"Therefore, I think we could try to truly turn this Elder Yun into a person of my Bai Xiao Tower; what do you all think?" Bai Xiaosheng asked.

And his gaze was still mainly directed toward Fang Qiuyu.

Because Guang Chengzi is the designated next Bai Xiaosheng, and his lifespan is already short; if he exhausts his lifespan and passes away, Bai Xiao Tower will then be under Guang Chengzi's control.

Moreover, Guang Chengzi's lifespan is also limited, and Ji Li Yun, having injured his foundation in the Battle of Listening Xiang Lou, can no longer advance his cultivation base; thus Fang Qiuyu can be said to be the one who will actually oversee Bai Xiao Tower thereafter.

However, Fang Qiuyu's identity is actually somewhat special as well.

"Great!"

Fang Qiuyu's reaction could only be said to be within his expectations, yet beyond reason.

"Then I practically have a junior disciple!"

Her eyes glimmered, seeming quite eager and excited.

Everyone couldn't help but laugh helplessly.

But when one thinks of her having given up the identity of the heir to the strongest cultivation family in the Eastern Border, it's not so surprising.

"However, Elder Yun probably won't agree so easily," Ji Li Yun said hesitantly.

Just think back—recruiting Yunhe as a guest elder already cost him considerable effort and eloquence.

"Things depend on human effort," Guang Chengzi said lightly, after glancing at the few people, he continued: "If he shows interest, we can also let him know a bit about what his master left behind."

Upon hearing this, both Ji Li Yun and Fang Qiuyu were startled, and Ji Li Yun looked toward Bai Xiaosheng for confirmation.

And Bai Xiaosheng also nodded in agreement, and said:

"Recently, the structure of our human alliance has been stabilizing; the Weapon Alliance led by the Wuxiang Sword Sect, the Dao Alliance led by the Tai Xuan Zhengyi Gate, the Demon Alliance led by the Hei River Valley, and the Five Metropolises Alliance led by Fengdu City and Jing State have basically taken shape; when the time comes for the human alliance to convene, you, Li Yun, and you, Qiuyu, will bring Elder Yun along."

The difficulty of integrating human cultivators far exceeds everyone's expectations.

The Yuan and Sea clans have been waging war for decades, and only now have human cultivators barely managed to achieve integration.

But once thorough integration is achieved, it will be the time for human cultivators to launch a full‑scale counterattack.

(End of chapter)