Chapter 434

Actually, when Yunhe slew the Wind-Swallowing Beast, he had a brief moment of hesitation.

It wasn't fear of the Wind-Swallowing Beast's words about the Monster Alliance or Southern Territory; it was the thought that if he could tame the Wind-Swallowing Beast, his strength would undoubtedly increase greatly.

After all, the Wind-Swallowing Beast is far stronger than the Gold-Eating Armored Beast, and its speed is indeed good; pulling a cart is obviously excellent.

However, Yunhe only hesitated for that brief moment before choosing to give up.

The difference between the Wind-Swallowing Beast and the Gold-Eating Armored Beast is still considerable.

The Gold-Eating Armored Beast has grown up in the cultivator world since childhood and has always existed as a spirit beast; its ability to accept being tamed is obviously stronger.

Moreover, the Wind-Swallowing Beast has lived for at least several thousand years, and after breaking through to the Fourth Level it likely already has a thousand years; the different growth environment leads to different acceptance abilities.

Even if the Wind-Swallowing Beast submits to Yunhe's lascivious might, its heart will certainly not resign itself to this; if it were to bite back at a critical moment, that would truly be dangerous.

Furthermore, the Wind-Swallowing Beast is a Fourth Level Mid-stage monster beast, while Yunhe is only at Early Nascent Soul, so his control over it cannot be as effortless as with the Gold-Eating Armored Beast.

Rather than burying a time bomb beside himself, it's better to simply kill it and be done with it.

Soon.

After putting away the Wind-Swallowing Beast's corpse, Yunhe smacked his lips and muttered somewhat regretfully.

Inside the cultivation chamber, upon seeing Yunhe return, the external incarnation holding the Beast Soul Banner laughed and said.

At the same time, it was also relieved that it had submitted quickly; if it had been even a little slower, its master, who looks very kind, would not be as easygoing as it seems.

After this battle, if anyone ever dared to lay a hand on its master again, they would surely need to think twice.

The beast souls of two Fourth Level Mid-stage monster beasts!

If the Beast Soul Banner completely refines these two beast souls, there is no doubt that the banner will surely ascend to the level of a Fourth Level Upper-grade Magic Treasure, its power greatly increasing!

Moreover, refining it also saves Yunhe the time and trouble of performing the Soul Search Technique.

After all, cultivators skilled in joint attack techniques are ultimately two people, whereas his true self and external incarnation are one person, so their cooperation is bound to be seamless.

When the Wind-Swallowing Beast and Flame-Stepping Red Jackal arrived, the external incarnation had already made preparations under Yunhe's arrangement.

"Again, two Fourth Level monster pills, and moreover they are from Fourth Level Mid-stage monster beasts; if only we could obtain that complete pill recipe..." After putting away the beast souls, the external incarnation sighed.

Yunhe then returned to the Fan Family Land.

"Master!"

Yunhe also didn't say much, merely giving this order.

After looking around and confirming nothing was missed, Yunhe flew off toward the Fan Family Land.

That Wind-Swallowing Beast was undoubtedly slain by the sword.

"I didn't expect his progress to be so great that I don't need to lift a finger."

The Wind-Devouring Beast's pair of wings, if combined with the 'Ice Phoenix Wings' and refined, should greatly boost the speed of his Ice Phoenix double wings.

"It's a pity that what came were the Wind-Devouring Beast and the Blazing Flame Red Jackal; if only the Azure Wood Flood Dragon Qingqing had come."

"Pack up, we're getting ready to leave."

The Gold-Devouring Armored Beast and the Cold Chant Flood Dragon exchanged a glance.

"Fortunately, back then Yunhe sought it out to 'test the sword', rather than intending to slay it; otherwise its fate would not have differed much from that of the Wind-Devouring Beast and the Blazing Flame Red Jackal."

"The Blazing Flame Red Jackal is an unexpected delight."

"Upon hearing that, Yunhe waved his hand, and two faintly glowing orbs were thrown out."

"At that moment, its heart was full of relief."

"With their beast souls present, we should be able to learn quite a bit."

"Who says it's not?"

"Although Yunhe didn't mention the Wind-Devouring Beast's situation, his calm and carefree demeanor shows he has figured it out."

"At the same time, not only can fire borrow wind's momentum, but ice can do so as well; from Yunhe's perspective as an artifact refiner, such a combination is entirely feasible."

"I just didn't expect it."

"This made the Gold-Devouring Armored Beast involuntarily swallow a mouthful of saliva."

"He still somewhat misses the pill formula remnant that the Azure Wood Flood Dragon Qingqing had recorded."

"Its master's epithet 'Old Devil' is not just for show."

"Back then, at the end of the exchange meeting, he clearly had 'caught' both the Wind-Devouring Beast and the Azure Wood Flood Dragon, deliberately going to the Fan family's grounds, yet in the end he only 'caught' the Wind-Devouring Beast."

"It turned out so smoothly that, by relying on the formation to separate the Wind-Devouring Beast and the Blazing Flame Red Jackal, Yunhe defeated them one by one."

"Yunhe also secretly sighed."

"Rattle—"

"Although the combined strength of the Wind-Devouring Beast and the Blazing Flame Red Jackal would surely be considerably greater, if Yunhe's true self and his external incarnation were to work together, they would undoubtedly be more in sync than some cultivators skilled in combined attack techniques."

"Upon seeing Yunhe return, the Gold-Devouring Armored Beast and the other demon beasts instantly relaxed and hurried forward to greet him."

"Seeing this, the external incarnation hastily waved the beast soul banner; after the banner fluttered, the two orbs were drawn in by the beast soul banner."

"These are the beast souls of the Blazing Flame Red Jackal and the Wind-Devouring Beast."

"But that's fine. Otherwise we wouldn't have known they actually mastered part of the Dragon Scale Pattern, nor that the Demon Alliance had extended to the southern border."

"Yes!"

"In his hand he not only has two Fourth Level early-stage demon cores, one from the Land Mountain Turtle and the other from the Azure Frog Toad, but now also has two Fourth Level mid-stage demon cores; if he could obtain the complete pill formula using demon cores as the main ingredient and refine it into pills, it would greatly help his Cultivation Base."

"Pack up, get ready to leave."

"Yunhe put away his regretful feelings."

"We can only see if there will be a chance to obtain it again in the future."

"Now, what's most important for him is to return to secluded cultivation and attempt to break through to the mid Nascent Soul stage."

"If we continue to stay in the Fan family's grounds, fishing will surely yield catches, but there's a chance we might hook a shark."

"\"And what about Monk Wuchen? \" the external incarnation asked, narrowing his eyes."

Yunhe said directly, "I don't have the mind to worry about all that for now; stay here longer, the forces behind the Wind‑Swallow Beast and the Flame‑Stepping Red Jackal might not be able to hold back."

He remembered that in Thousand Poison Mountain, after hunting an early Fourth Level Green Bullfrog, he was chased by Thousand‑Wing Blood Mosquito for tens of thousands of li.

Now that two mid‑Fourth Level demonic beasts have been slain, it's hard to say what trouble that will invite.

Returning to the Eastern Realm, the proper course is to quickly find a place to seclude and break through to mid‑Nascent Soul.

Once he breaks through to mid‑Nascent Soul, even if he meets a late Fourth Level great demon again, he won't be chased around like before and earn the nickname "Runaway Old Demon."

Then he'll look within the Human Cultivator Alliance for Elixir formulas and Elixirs usable by mid‑Nascent Soul cultivators; if none are found, he'll probably have to go to the Southern Frontier to trouble the Green Wood Jiao.

The external avatar nodded.

He spoke only because he feared Yunhe might drift away after slaying the two mid‑Fourth Level demonic beasts, so he opened his mouth.

It now appears that the true self's "true heart" remains very steadfast.

That's good.

"Master, quite a few little ones have arrived outside."

After packing his things, Yunhe stepped out of the cultivation chamber, where the Gold‑Armor Devouring Beast, the Cold‑Song Jiao, and several other demonic beasts were already waiting outside.

Little ones?

Yunhe expanded his divine sense to scan, and his expression gradually turned somewhat odd.

The various families and factions near the Sand Realm, whether they know him or not, are fine; but knowing that if they don't come to visit or present gifts, they truly fear that Old Demon Yun might, in a moment of irrational thought, take them down.

Some even bolder cultivators hope to establish some connection with Yunhe.

For example, a few young female cultivators who rely on their good looks.

It is said that Old Demon Yun controls the Ice Immortal Pavilion, Baihua Valley, and the Listening Fragrance Tower; whether Ice Immortal Pavilion, Baihua Valley, or Listening Fragrance Tower, they are all sects of female disciples.

Among them, Immortaless Dong of Ice Immortal Pavilion and Immortaless Feng of Listening Fragrance Tower both consider themselves "concubines of Old Demon Yun."

This leads many to speculate that perhaps this immensely powerful Old Demon Yun has a particular fondness for women?

And so.

The visitors from outside, to varying degrees, all bring along some maidens, beauties, and so on.

"Now he's truly an 'Old Demon', only missing the 'lust' character."

Yunhe lightly rubbed his chin, feeling both amused and exasperated.

"Ignore them."

He waved his hand, released a purple‑patterned wind‑wheel, and got in.

"Awo—"

The Cold‑Song Jiao let out a long howl, and together with two poisonous Jiao, pulled the carriage and rose into the sky.

The Gold‑Armor Devouring Beast transformed into a short old man, donned a servant's outfit, and took the role of driver.

"Those beauties and maidens you don't want, you can give them to me."

Upon entering the carriage, he heard the external avatar's voice, tinged with a hint of teasing.

To that, Yunhe merely smiled.

The external avatar is practicing Ancestor Ji Huan's "Seven Emotions of Bliss Technique", and specifically the "desire" among the seven emotions, thus indeed has some need for the furnace.

Of course, such a need is not mandatory.

Yunhe's designation for the external avatar is that it primarily cultivates demonic techniques.

Because demonic techniques cultivate quickly, are powerful, and their secret arts are bizarre and versatile, they can greatly compensate for Yunhe's own lack of cunning tricks.

However, the drawback is that cultivating demonic techniques heavily affects one's temperament and easily spawns inner demons; some cultivators, after progressing, become powerful yet unknowingly turn into the technique's "puppet."

In Yunhe's view, Ancestor Ji Huan has been swayed by the "Seven Emotions of Bliss Technique."

Yet the external avatar's cultivation need not worry about these issues, because the true self can constantly stabilize the avatar's true heart, "format" its memories, and remedy the shortcomings after cultivating demonic techniques.

That may be the external avatar's advantage.

"When you truly need it, we'll talk later," Yunhe waved his hand and sat inside the carriage.

"Alright, let's start forging those two beast spirits now."

The external avatar nodded and also put away the mocking expression.

He took out the beast‑spirit banner.

In an instant, a dense ominous yin energy spread, filling the entire carriage.

On that gray‑white banner, the Green Bullfrog's beast‑spirit was exerting all its force to suppress the beast‑spirits of the Wind‑Swallow Beast and the Flame‑Stepping Red Jackal.

"Since they're already dead, stop stubbornly resisting."

"Seal!"

Yunhe let out a low shout, unleashed a technique, and struck the banner.

The two struggling beast‑spirits instantly fell silent.

"One per person."

"Good!"

The external avatar responded, and a surge of potent magical power instantly erupted around it, accompanied by a peculiar, lethal demonic aura.

"When it comes to forging beast‑spirits or divine‑spirits, demonic techniques are far more effortless than orthodox techniques."

Consequently, Yunhe's true self and avatar began assisting the beast‑spirit banner in refining the beast‑spirits of the two mid‑Fourth Level demonic beasts.

Three days later.

When Yunhe opened his eyes again, his expression turned somewhat serious.

The external avatar sitting opposite him was likewise serious.

"Exchange some information."

Saying so, Yunhe performed the "Unification Technique", synchronizing memories with the external avatar while integrating any possible information from the beast‑spirits.

Soon.

Yunhe, who had integrated partial memories of the two demonic beasts, saw his expression grow increasingly solemn.

After sitting silently in the carriage for a while, he finally let out a breath, showing a hint of helplessness, and muttered to himself: 'I kinda want to return to the Cloud Upper Realm.'

His external incarnation silently nodded.

To be honest, the information gathered this time from the memories of those two demonic beasts is genuinely somewhat scary.

Of course, Yunhe was just saying that.

At least for now, he still cannot leave the East Realm.

"I didn't expect there to actually be a 'South Realm'." he murmured.

Although he couldn't completely obtain the full memories of the Flame-Stepping Crimson Jackal and the Wind-Swallowing Beast, even just glimpsing some of them already dealt him a considerable shock.

Why is the East Realm Cultivation World called the 'East Realm'?

Perhaps the vast majority of cultivators in the East Realm Cultivation World don't understand; they only know it's a name passed down from ancient times.

But some cultivators, to varying degrees, have learned about the origins and reasons of the 'East Realm' from ancient texts and classics, and most of them are likely Nascent Soul old monsters.

And Yunhe is one of them.

The reason it's called the 'East Realm' is because, within this world, there actually exist the 'South Realm', 'West Realm', 'North Realm', and even the 'Central Realm'—four vast regions.

However.

Because of certain special reasons, there is no direct connection between the realms, nor can one reach them by flight or evasion.

As for why, the ancient texts Yunhe once read simply mention that, during the ancient cultivation era, a heaven-shaking, earth-shattering war caused the space between the realms to become abnormally chaotic, thereby severing their connections.

And as time passed, many people came to know only of the existence of the East Realm Cultivation World, unaware that the other realms still existed.

In fact, even just the East Realm alone is already an extremely vast territory.

However, just as Yunhe was browsing the memories of the Wind-Swallowing Beast and the Flame-Stepping Crimson Jackal, he learned that the 'South Realm' had actually found a way to connect to the 'East Realm', and the connecting passage lay within the demonic beast forest of the Southern Frontier!

Even.

The Demonic Alliance, in which the Wind-Swallowing Beast and Flame-Stepping Crimson Jackal reside, actually has some connection to the 'South Realm'!

Since the 'South Realm' can connect to the East Realm, Yunhe finds it hard not to wonder whether the other realms, too, might be openly or secretly linked to the East Realm.

Or perhaps there is a force within the East Realm that has always been able to connect to the other realms.

But there is no doubt about one point.

If the connections between the realms were to be reestablished, it certainly would not be like now, maintaining stability and non-interference among the realms.

The cultivation world and cultivators exist to actively or passively plunder resources for profit and benefit; from the information he gained from the two demonic beasts' memories, the South Realm does not seem very friendly toward the East Realm.

In fact.

If the East Realm Cultivation World were strong enough and aware of the South Realm's existence, it certainly wouldn't just sit idle.

"First came the foreign tribe chaos, now a 'South Realm' appears; who knows, the other realms might show up one after another not long from now."

That is why he wants to return to the Cloud Upper Realm.

At least.

Once the internal strife of the Cloud Upper Palace in the Cloud Upper Realm settles, things will be relatively peaceful.

However, turmoil and upheaval actually also represent opportunities and chances.

But the prerequisite is having sufficient strength.

"What a tumultuous autumn."

Yunhe sighed.

Immediately afterward, he quickly gathered his focus.

"Cultivation base! Strength! As long as it's strong enough, we need not fear these!"

He is no longer the novice Foundation Establishment cultivator he once was; now he is quite renowned as a Nascent Soul old monster, and as long as his strength and cultivation base can improve further, even if the South Realm or North Realm appear, it may not be a bad thing for him.

The other realms may covet the East Realm, but why couldn't the East Realm also seize opportunities from them?

Perhaps, if one could truly travel to the various realms, it would also aid in future attempts to break into the God Transformation Realm.

(End of chapter)