Chapter 422: Asking the Way

Congratulations, Master, on completing your magic treasure!

Seeing Yunhe walk out with a beaming face, the Cold-chant Flood Dragon, the Gold-devouring Armored Beast, and the other two demon beasts immediately offered their congratulations respectfully.

As for this, Yunhe didn't care much, smiling and waving his hand.

How's the recovery?

He looked at the Gold-devouring Armored Beast.

Obviously this question is somewhat superfluous; the Gold-devouring Armored Beast now looks completely recovered.

This forced Yunhe to admit that demon beasts have strong bodies; with such a severe injury back then, it healed so quickly, whereas if it were a human cultivator, they'd likely need to seclude themselves for decades at least, possibly even damaging their cultivation base and hurting their foundation.

Although his time in seclusion plus the time spent refining the Beast Soul Banner wasn't short, it also didn't exceed three years.

Master, I'm ready.

The Gold-devouring Armored Beast honestly took out a jade bottle already containing some of its essence blood.

This is still because it had prepared in advance; otherwise, directly drawing a bottle of essence blood might leave its cultivation base with no chance of further progress.

Don't worry, I will still compensate you later.

Here there are at least twenty, which can fully make up for its loss in the shortest time.

He set up a formation here, adding the Fan Clan's Mountain Guarding Grand Formation, and with a Fourth-Level Early Stage demon beast like the Gold-devouring Armored Beast present, there's no need to worry about anyone interfering with his cultivation; naturally the Cold-chant Flood Dragon doesn't need to stand guard for him.

The Cold-chant Flood Dragon suddenly spoke.

Saying that, he prepared to walk back to the cultivation chamber.

Now that it has become Yunhe's spirit beast, the Gold-devouring Armored Beast's position is proper.

Yunhe then tossed out some decent ore and metal stones; the Gold-devouring Armored Beast gladly accepted them, but before it could say thank you, Yunhe's next words made its face fall.

It felt as if it had just suffered another set of Yunhe's sword techniques.

Afterward, the Gold-devouring Armored Beast's aura dropped again and again, and its whole state looked extremely weak.

These ores, after you consume them, will be used specifically to strengthen a piece of metal armor, which I will then take from you.

He lightly rubbed the jade bottle in his hand, "In that case, I still need to retreat into seclusion for a while."

As a spirit beast of a Late Jie Dan Stage cultivator, it harbored some resistance, but as an Early Nascent Soul cultivator—especially one who had defeated it and bore such a title—the Gold-devouring Armored Beast could still accept its current status calmly, its reluctance not being that strong.

The Cold-chant Flood Dragon instantly rejoiced, answering without hesitation.

For his own demon beast, Yunhe naturally wouldn't be stingy; after all, the Gold-devouring Armored Beast is a Fourth-Level Early Stage demon beast with decent defense, and can sometimes serve as a capable aide.

This is.

Upon seeing the elixir inside, the Gold-devouring Armored Beast's face lit up with joy.

Hearing that, Yunhe gave a faint smile, understanding the little Cold-chant Flood Dragon's temperament, and nodded.

Had it known that giving essence blood would bring such a reward, it wouldn't have had to fight Yunhe so hard.

Master.

Moreover.

These ores are all yours as well.

Once the Five Elements Spirit Body is fully condensed, his strength can be increased again.

Since we have obtained the essence blood of an earth-attribute demon beast, it's naturally better to condense the Earth Element Spirit Body as quickly as possible; that way, he only has left to condense the Metal Element Spirit Body.

Seeing it reveal a resolute expression, bright red pure essence blood slowly seeped from its brow, filling the jade bottle completely.

Master, if you have any need, the metal armor is duty-bound to comply.

He then flicked his sleeve, sending several bottles of elixir flying into the Gold-devouring Armored Beast's embrace.

Afterward, Yunhe entered the cultivation chamber once more.

Although it was only a Third-Level Supreme Elixir, for the Gold-devouring Armored Beast, which had never taken such a pill before, its effect was still quite good.

Yunhe nodded.

All right!

Go on, don't leave this desert region.

Yunhe turned his head to look at it.

The Gold-devouring Armored Beast secretly let out a sigh of relief.

If it were to lose a large amount of essence blood all at once, the damage would be absolutely huge; but if only a little is taken, supplemented with plenty of elixir, the harm can be minimized.

This made the Gold-devouring Armored Beast feel a bit better, and it obediently nodded.

Once the Five Elements Spirit Body is truly condensed, whether it's the Spirit Body Talisman or the power of the Five Elements Sword Formation, both will see a considerable boost, and his strength will increase as well.

It is a Breeding Elixir.

Huh?

Yunhe silently took the jade bottle, feeling the rich demonic aura and the earth-attribute qi within, causing him to nod slightly.

Because of the foreign tribe uprising, it and Profound Fang and Profound Gem have been cooped up in the spirit beast bag for a long time; finally getting out for a trip, they really can't hold it in any longer.

The Cold-chant Flood Dragon gave an embarrassed smile, "Master, can we go out for a stroll? I'm feeling a bit cooped up here."

Returning to the cultivation chamber.

Yunhe first got a good night's sleep.

Reforging the Beast Soul Banner consumed a lot of his energy, and he had also gone too long without sleep; although his current cultivation allows him to forego sleep entirely, an occasional rest still benefits body and mind.

This sleep, Yunhe slept for a full two days and two nights.

Upon waking again, he felt completely refreshed and had returned to peak condition.

He took the opportunity to cultivate, cycling a few grand circuits, then drew the Gold-devouring Armored Beast's essence blood.

Although they are all Fourth-Level Early Stage demon beasts, the Gold-devouring Armored Beast's bloodline is obviously far stronger than that of the Land Mountain Turtle; compared to the Separated Fire Peacock it's somewhat weaker, but it's on par with the Azure Bull Frog, and its essence blood is sufficient for condensing the Earth Element Spirit Body.

Let's begin.

Yunhe took out the essence blood of the Gold-devouring Armored Beast, and with a slight circulation of his mana, he shattered the entire jade bottle into powder, while that mass of essence blood, under the drive of his mana, hovered in midair.

Ao—

As he cast his spell, a murky earth-attribute essence qi appeared above the essence blood, and a faint earth-element creature flickered into view.

Huh?

Seeing this earth-element creature, Yunhe was stunned.

Because.

Previously, when he condensed the 'Little Five Elements Spirit Body', the earth element was represented by a yellow dragon, but now, using the 'Great Longevity Grand Five Elements True Technique' spell, what emerged was actually an earth qilin!

If Yunhe had not repeatedly confirmed that he had not miscast the spell, he would not dare to be certain whether this essence blood could condense an earth-element spirit body.

"It should be fine."

After pondering for a long time, Yunhe immediately circulated his mana and drew this essence blood into his dantian.

"Fire gives birth to earth!"

Having experienced condensing the Five Elements Spirit Body three times before, condensing the earth-element spirit body naturally would not involve too much pressure.

For a moment.

The five-element mana on Yunhe's body continuously pulsed, expanded, and contracted.

Time trickled away bit by bit.

"Condense!"

Suddenly, a low shout echoed within the cultivation chamber.

Boom!!

The surging earth-attribute mana suddenly burst forth, and the murky earth-colored qi instantly filled the entire cultivation chamber.

After this state lasted only three breaths, it rushed wildly into Yunhe's body like swallows returning to their nests.

In no time.

The earth-attribute mana inside the cultivation chamber was completely swept away, and even the spiritual energy emerging from the meridians was utterly absorbed in an instant.

And Yunhe's aura rose to a certain extent as these mana and spiritual energy converged.

At this moment, in his qi sea dantian, two small infants, one multicolored and one black, sat cross-legged with closed eyes; around their bodies, the black tortoise, wood jiao, fire phoenix, and earth qilin emitted black, green, red, and yellow flowing light.

The four small beasts were exceptionally spirited and excited, except the white-colored metal-element spirit beast, the little tiger, which appeared somewhat weak.

Whenever the five-colored mana flowed over their bodies to the white little tiger, the mana would stagnate, and the white little tiger would each time show a look of distress, as if bearing immense pressure.

Once or twice is fine, but if this continues, the white little tiger representing the metal element will surely be unable to withstand the pressure; under the infusion of earth-element spirit beast mana and the absorption of water-element spirit beast mana, it will eventually be ground into fragments.

"Huh—"

Yunhe's deathly pale complexion gradually returned to normal as he exhaled a mouthful of turbid air and slowly opened his eyes.

"Four of the Five Elements Spirit Bodies have been condensed; the condensation of the metal-element spirit body is imminent, and the longer the delay, the greater the pressure on body and spirit."

Condensing the earth-element spirit body also gave his mana a considerable boost.

According to Yunhe's estimate, after he successfully condenses the metal-element spirit body, the spiritual energy brought by the monster beast's essence blood will raise his cultivation base to the peak of early Nascent Soul; then, perhaps after another period of closed-door cultivation, he can attempt to break through to mid Nascent Soul!

And once he breaks through to mid Nascent Soul, his mana will surge, and his spells, techniques, secret arts, divine abilities, etc., will receive a tremendous boost.

By then, perhaps when facing late Nascent Soul cultivators, he will have no need to fear excessively, truly giving him the confidence to come and go freely in the Eastern Border Cultivation Realm.

"If he can break through to mid Nascent Soul before the age of four hundred, there is hope to break through to late Nascent Soul before five hundred."

Anyone knows that a cultivator who can break through to late Nascent Soul before five hundred years of age certainly has the qualifications to contend for Spirit Transformation.

Even an ordinary Nascent Soul cultivator, if able to break through to late Nascent Soul before five hundred years of age, would still have at least five hundred years to continue refining and cultivating his cultivation base, and also have a chance to break through to Spirit Transformation.

Of course, for the vast majority of cultivators, no matter how extraordinary their talent, breaking through to Spirit Transformation depends not solely on talent but also on opportunity, or rather, fate.

Otherwise, figures like Xuan Xu Dao Ren, Luo Cha Lao Mo, and Wu Xiang Jian Jun—who among them is not an outstanding talent?

Yet they remain stuck in late Nascent Soul, let alone achieving perfection in Nascent Soul, which is still far off.

However, he possesses a lifespan so long it is measured in 'ten thousand years', undoubtedly giving him far greater opportunity than those individuals.

"At this point, thinking about Spirit Transformation is perhaps too distant."

Yunhe smiled helplessly, shook his head, and muttered softly.

He is still only at early Nascent Soul now; Spirit Transformation is too far away for him, so with this time, it would be better to consider the matter of breaking through to mid Nascent Soul.

"What lies before us is still to first fully condense the 'Five Elements Spirit Body'; only then will I not be at a disadvantage in aptitude."

"Furthermore, the 'Black Crystal Divine Plant' can also be absorbed, enhancing one's innate spiritual root quality, which is naturally an added bonus."

"Although condensing the Five Elements Spirit Body is important, we must not rush; we should first consolidate our cultivation base and digest the benefits brought by condensing the earth-element spirit body."

Having waited so many years already, a little more delay makes no difference.

At least, he does not need to seek out metal-element monster beasts as he did for earth-element monster beasts.

That white-haired gold-winged tiger, he has long coveted it.

But according to the Shen family siblings, that white-haired gold-winged tiger's strength is not insignificant; it is considerably stronger than the green bullfrog and the gold-devouring armored beast.

Yunhe closed his eyes again and began to regulate his breath and cultivate.

Yao Shou Shijie

On the vast grassland whose borders cannot be seen.

Bang!!

A black tortoise as huge as a mountain stood towering like a peak, rolling waves of terrifying black monster qi shooting straight into the heavens, making the whole sky seem somewhat dim and dark.

Before this black tortoise, a gigantic centipede with countless legs, clad in heavy, extraordinarily bright seven-colored armor, faced the tortoise's aura without yielding, and even in monster power, it was somewhat stronger.

Monster beast, the Colorful Poison Centipede!

That enormous black tortoise, without a doubt, is none other than Yunhe, who left Huanhu Dao and, following the map drawn by Xiong Wu Ji and Zhuan Chou Jun, headed toward Cloud Sorrow Mountain.

At this moment, his solemn expression was mixed with a hint of helplessness.

He only came to ask for directions, really just to ask for directions.

No one knows what madness this colorful poisonous centipede has taken, but upon seeing him it attacks without hesitation.

If it were any other fourth-level monster beast, with Yunhe's current cultivation base and divine abilities, plus various magic treasures and secret techniques, he would naturally not fear it.

But this colorful poisonous centipede is a mid-stage fourth-level monster beast!

It is an existence comparable to a mid-stage Nascent Soul cultivator.

More importantly.

Its poisonous body is extremely overbearing and unreasonable; even with Yunhe's current physique and the strength of his scale armor and tortoise shell, getting touched by it is extremely troublesome.

Moreover, this centipede's poison is not only extremely toxic but also possesses considerable corrosive power; even his spells and magic treasures can be corroded, causing Yunhe endless trouble.

"Hiss!!!"

Facing Yunhe, the colorful poisonous centipede shows extreme aggression, letting out a long cry, its body lowers to the ground and rushes at him with great speed.

In the friction and collision of its armor and joints, a dense grating "kakaka" sound is produced.

"Crazy."

Yunhe cursed silently.

If he really wanted to fight, he wouldn't actually fear this guy, but such a mindless collision is clearly unnecessary.

He immediately flickered, his huge mountain-like body instantly transforming into the appearance of a person wearing a dark robe, avoiding the colorful poisonous centipede while fleeing to the distance.

"Huh?"

However.

As he swept through the air, he suddenly noticed that outside an obvious nest of the colorful poisonous centipede on this grassland, a few strange spiritual plants with black-and-white hues were growing, making his eyes brighten slightly.

Profound Qi Grass!

The main ingredient for refining Yin Yang Profound Qi Pills!

"Profound Qi" is also "Monster Qi"; profound qi grass can only be found near the nests of monster beasts with strong monster power, but this is not the key.

The key is Yin Yang Profound Qi; this grass only grows strong when nourished by the Yin Yang Profound Qi unintentionally released by sufficiently powerful monster beasts during their Yin-Yang union.

Quite obvious.

The fact that profound qi grass can grow here surely means there is not just one colorful poisonous centipede!

(End of Chapter)