Chapter 166: Conspiracy, a Demon from Ancient Times!
Seeing this, Fang Xu and Yun Wan were stunned!
A large number of fish-faced, human-bodied monsters frantically charged toward the crocodile-shaped monster!
The means that could directly attack the soul were directed at the crocodile monster, but were all repelled by the blue light shield emanating from its body surface!
For a time, a large number of fish-faced monsters howled madly, fearlessly rushing to attack the crocodile monster wildly.
"Kid, aren't you leaving yet?"
"Old Croc, I can't hold on much longer!"
Standing nearby watching the spectacle, Fang Xu suddenly heard a rough voice!
Hmm?
Fang Xu was stunned for a moment, then looked suspiciously at the crocodile creature surrounded by countless fish-faced monsters.
"What are you still dazed for?" the crocodile creature urged: "Hurry up and leave, otherwise Old Croc won't care about you anymore."
Hearing this, Fang Xu finally realized it wasn't himself having a hallucination.
"Yun Wan, let's go!"
Under his urging, Fang Xu also didn't dwell on whether he was truly a subordinate of the Derivation God, and followed him to a coastline.
The large crocodile lay contentedly on a huge rock, its pair of oily green eyes sizing up Fang Xu.
Seeing Fang Xu admit it, the large crocodile quickly spoke up.
Meanwhile, those fish-faced monsters seemed at this moment to have no interest in dealing with the two of them, all frantically attacking the crocodile creature!
Secondly, he could not approach the Purification Pool himself, perhaps needing someone with this Derivation God inheritance identity to get close to the Purification Pool and take out the Creation Immortal Liquid.
"But you need to agree to one condition of mine."
"Kid, you came here to find the Purification Pool, right?"
After some thought, Fang Xu had a guess in his heart.
"Old Croc, I am the strongest subordinate of the Derivation God, hurry up, those guys will still come to kill us later."
The two cautiously detoured around the battlefield between the two sides, marching swiftly, and the thick fog ahead soon completely dissipated.
Roar!
An angry howl came from not far behind!
The crocodile creature's voice was directly transmitted into his sea of consciousness, Yun Wan did not hear it.
Fang Xu hesitated a moment but did not conceal it, directly admitting that he indeed came here to find the Purification Pool.
The large crocodile spoke: "After finding the Purification Pool, we will split the Creation Immortal Liquid inside fifty-fifty."
And he himself knows the location of the Purification Pool, so there's no reason to drag me along, giving himself fifty percent.
The era in which the Derivation God lived has long passed by an unknown number of years; if this large crocodile is truly a subordinate of the Derivation God, then hasn't it lived for endless ages?
Although living long doesn't necessarily mean strength is strong, being able to live that many years means its strength certainly won't be weak.
Fang Xu surveyed the surroundings; the fourth layer of the ruins seemed to be an island wrapped in an endless ocean.
"Alright, we're safe here now." The large crocodile spoke.
Whether this guess is one or the other, both can prove that the large crocodile needs Fang Xu's help.
He doesn't know what condition the large crocodile will propose, nor has he previously agreed to anything.
Upon seeing Fang Xu, the large crocodile slightly opened its mouth.
The large crocodile's eyes carried a look of "I understand you."
Subordinate of the Derivation God?
Hearing this, Fang Xu was somewhat startled.
The next moment, azure energy instantly erupted, blowing the thick fog behind into a rolling tumble!
Not long after, within the thick fog, a colossal creature slowly crawled out, exactly that crocodile creature.
The large crocodile brought me along and offered fifty percent of the Creation Immortal Liquid, likely for only two reasons.
"Senior, please speak."
This time, Yun Wan also heard the voice.
At this moment, the large crocodile's body luster was dim, its body seemed to have suffered considerable injury, its eyes full of fatigue.
At this moment, seeing Fang Xu pull himself to leave, she still felt somewhat worried.
"Old Croc, I can take you to find the Purification Pool."
He suddenly felt that this large crocodile before him seemed to be hiding something from him.
If his words are true, as a subordinate of the Derivation God who has lived for ages, his strength absolutely won't be weak.
"You have already obtained the Xuan Water Soul of Senior Qi, no wonder..."
"Let's go, follow Old Croc."
The two exchanged a glance, Fang Xu somewhat curiously clasped his hands toward the large crocodile: "Senior, who are you?"
But this large crocodile seemed to lack strong oppressive pressure...
Because when he and Yun Wan initially found the fifth layer entrance, the land was on the east side of the sea, while now the large crocodile brought them to this sea surface, with land on the west side of the sea.
Hearing this condition, Fang Xu slightly furrowed his brow.
"Junior, why did you bring us here?" Fang Xu spoke.
First, there are great dangers near the Purification Pool, he himself lacks confidence, so he sought me as a helper.
Seeing Fang Xu look at him suspiciously, the large crocodile continued urging Fang Xu to hurry, while also seeming somewhat worried as he glanced back at the thick fog, as if afraid of something.
"Fifty-fifty is somewhat unreasonable."
After figuring this out, Fang Xu directly spoke up.
Upon hearing this, the large crocodile slowly straightened its body, its pair of oily green eyes fixed on Fang Xu, flashing a hint of teasing: "Kid, how do you want to split it?"
Fang Xu glanced at Yun Wan beside him, then shouted at the giant crocodile: "Whoever sees it gets a share, divided by headcount."
Counting Yun Wan, they were equivalent to three people; by headcount, Fang Xu and Yun Wan could obtain nearly seventy percent of the Creation Immortal Liquid, while the giant crocodile could only get about thirty-three percent.
"You brat, don't push your luck!"
After calculating carefully, the giant crocodile obviously became somewhat angry.
"Without my help, Old Croc, you wouldn't be able to find the Purification Pool at all!"
Seeing his flustered and embarrassed state, Fang Xu smiled faintly and said: "Senior, you can give it a try."
"If we find the Purification Pool ourselves, then you, Senior, won't be able to scoop out even a single drop."
The giant crocodile snorted coldly and said: "Do you think the Purification Pool is that easy to find?"
"Without my help, Old Croc, even if you found the Purification Pool, you wouldn't be able to walk out alive!"
"On this island, everywhere are the Siren Merfolk; if targeted by their strong ones, not to mention you, even I, Old Croc, dare not guarantee I could survive."
"Kid, flat rate, four-six split—you two take sixty percent, I, Old Croc, want forty percent!"
Seeing this, Fang Xu shook his head: "It must be divided by headcount."
Although he didn't know exactly how much Purification Liquid was in this pool, nearly seventy percent of the Creation Immortal Liquid was no small amount, after all, each drop of this stuff was a rare heavenly treasure.
"You..."
The giant crocodile still wanted to say something, but Fang Xu directly grabbed Yun Wan and walked off in another direction.
The direction he chose was exactly the direction sensed for the location of the Purification Pool.
The giant crocodile had no idea that, even without his guidance, Fang Xu could still find the location of the Purification Pool.
It would just be a bit slower, that's all.
"Kid, you've won!"
The giant crocodile unwillingly uttered these words, which also meant he agreed to Fang Xu's distribution ratio.
Fang Xu stopped his steps, smiling and clasping his hands: "Please, Senior, show the way."
The giant crocodile reluctantly led the two along the coastline all the way forward.
Without the presence of mist, those Siren Merfolk seemed unable to launch attacks; along the way, they encountered no further attacks.
After traveling for an unknown duration, under the giant crocodile's guidance, they arrived at a low-lying basin.
Though called a basin, it was actually more like a valley, with surrounding peaks towering, and on the cliff walls some traces of artificial carving remained; Fang Xu even discovered some broken walls and ruins among the lush woods.
"The Purification Pool is inside; I, Old Croc, will stand guard outside for you—go in and take it."
At the entrance, the giant crocodile listened and then spoke.
Fang Xu caught a fleeting flicker of fear in his eyes, and instantly understood that there must be something in this valley that he dreads.
The Purification Pool is indeed inside this valley; this can be told from the aura of Creation Immortal Liquid drifting out from around.
"Senior, won't you go in together?"
Looking at the giant crocodile who dared not cross the Lei Chi even half a step, Fang Xu smiled ambiguously and said:
"Someone must stay here to guard; if those Siren Merfolk come killing, I, Old Croc, can also block a bit for you."
"By the way, take this with you—it can conceal your own aura."
The giant crocodile handed Fang Xu a blue bead and said:
Seeing his eyes somewhat evasive, Fang Xu took the blue bead, smiled, said nothing, and directly led Yun Wan toward the valley.
"That giant crocodile has a problem." Yun Wan whispered.
Fang Xu nodded slightly; he had already noticed this.
But what puzzles him now is whether the giant crocodile doesn't enter because there's some restriction inside the valley, or because there's something inside that even he fears.
If it's merely a restriction, given their status as inheritors of the Yan Shen lineage, their safety should be guaranteed.
But if there exists something in this valley that even makes the giant crocodile fearful, then they must be careful.
The two proceeded onward, the surrounding trees very dense.
Perhaps due to long-term nourishment from the Creation Immortal Liquid, Fang Xu keenly sensed that the trees here had a tendency to transform into demons!
Because along this path, his powerful soul force allowed him to constantly sense faint spiritual undulations on the trees around.
"Be careful, there might be danger."
After reminding Yun Wan softly, Fang Xu drew the black iron staff from his aperture space.
Yun Wan held the Autumn Chi longsword and followed behind Fang Xu, vigilantly scanning the surroundings.
Suddenly!
Whoosh!
A vine shot out from the dense jungle!
The vine was like a spear, thrusting straight at Yun Wan's face!
Swish!
A flash of cold light passed, and the Autumn Chi longsword directly severed the incoming vine!
But the next moment, a large number of vines flew out from the surrounding dense jungle, like countless sharp spears attacking the two!
Moreover, the surrounding trees also moved!
Thick, dense branches whipped about like whips!
Under their feet, individual green vines hid in the grass, quickly wrapping toward their ankles!
Seeing this, Fang Xu's eyes narrowed slightly, then he directly embraced Yun Wan's waist, stomped hard on the ground, and shot upward!
A large number of vines instantly reversed direction, sweeping toward the two in midair!
But obviously, the vines weren't long enough, allowing Fang Xu and Yun Wan to temporarily escape disaster.
In midair, Fang Xu looked around; through the gaps between branches, he vaguely saw a giant vine coiled in the jungle.
The vines attacking them were branches of this giant vine.
Falling downward, Fang Xu directly used Kui Niu Power!
A huge Kui Niu phantom formed in the sky, and then the huge one-legged figure stomped down on that giant vine!
A terrifying pressure came, and the giant vine seemed to sense a threat, immediately gathering all its branches back, preparing to block Fang Xu's strike!
Kui Niu Power descended from the heavens with unmatched force!
Before the foot even arrived, the terrifying pressure had already crushed the giant vine's upright branches to the ground!
Moreover, surrounding giant trees that had grown for who knows how many years were also crushed into pieces, with large amounts of wood chips flying everywhere!
Boom!
Like a meteor, Fang Xu and Yun Wan precisely struck the exact center of the giant vine!
The terrifying shockwave directly snapped the giant vine's thick branches, and large amounts of green liquid flowed out from the main vine!
Shen Yi!
After landing, the direction gave the giant vine no chance to react, directly producing the purple-black Shen Yi flame!
Hmm?
At the moment the flame appeared, even Fang Xu himself was a bit dazed.
Because he discovered that the originally purple-black Shen Yi flame actually carried a hint of faint dark gold!
And this dark gold flame seemed to break the characteristic of Shen Yi flame only burning souls, beginning to scorch the main vine of the giant vine!
Dark gold flame scorches the body, purple-black Shen Yi flame scorches the soul!
Under the dual attack, the giant vine immediately felt an unprecedented death crisis!
As a plant, it naturally fears fire attacks.
Fang Xu's two flames are not ordinary mortal fire, and the damage they inflict on him is substantial!
The remaining few sections of thick main vine, under the attack of the two flames, wildly writhed, seemingly trying to extinguish the flames!
But these two flames were like a bone-deep carbuncle—no matter how he slapped, it was useless.
Gradually, the thick green vines, under the burning of the two flames, became withered, pale, like a heap of rotten, dry stalks.
The giant vine's resistance grew weaker and weaker, and finally gradually died.
Fang Xu used the black iron rod in his hand to push aside the vines burned into dry kindling, and actually discovered a round bead emitting a green, oily glow inside!
This is a demon core!?
Looking at that green, oily round bead, Fang Xu was somewhat surprised.
"Is this a demon core?" Having seen a demon core in the Qilie God's Temple, Yun Wan also seemed to recognize this green round bead.
Bending down to pick up the green round bead, Fang Xu examined it, feeling its pure and surging energy, and was certain it was a demon core without doubt.
He carefully stored the demon core into his Qiankun bag, then surveyed the scorched giant vine on the ground, frowning.
This giant vine was actually a demon!
But this demon's strength is really too weak, isn't it?
"Let's go."
Not understanding why this vine demon's strength was so weak, Fang Xu took Yun Wan and continued forward.
Perhaps because he had slain this vine demon with thunderous methods, the surrounding plants that had similarly developed simple spiritual intelligence were now honest, daring not to attack them again.
As the two traveled onward, the scent of the Creation Immortal Liquid grew stronger and stronger.
Finally, after passing through a patch of sunless, dense forest, they arrived at the edge of a pool resembling a fairyland.
The pool's size was slightly larger than the purification pool he had seen on the Xuanke Stone Boat, and the Creation Immortal Liquid in the pool was actually deep yellow, faintly emitting an orange glow!
The rich Creation Immortal Liquid seeped out from the purification pool, constantly nourishing the surrounding flowers, grasses, and trees.
Looking around, the purification pool's surroundings actually grew a large quantity of medicinal herbs!
After the lesson from last time searching for herbs at the bottom of the sea, Fang Xu had spent time reviewing basic herb knowledge and had also come to know many herbs.
But the medicinal herbs growing around the purification pool before him were somewhat strange compared to his knowledge.
For example, one of them was Dragon Scale Grass.
According to Chu Mu's notes given to him, Dragon Scale Grass is a fifth-grade herb, a hundred-year-old Dragon Scale Grass is seven cun long, grows three leaves, each leaf has dragon scales, seven scales per leaf, and is a primary ingredient in refining the Breaking Calamity Pill.
But the Dragon Scale Grass Fang Xu saw was over two zhang tall, roughly looking, at least over ten leaves, each leaf arm-length, covered densely with dragon scales!
Even at the top of this Dragon Scale Grass, Fang Xu discovered a purple fruit covered in scales.
Is this also Dragon Scale Grass?
Fang Xu curiously examined it.
Then he looked at the other herbs.
"Fang Xu, someone!"
At this moment, Yun Wan suddenly noticed a simple treehouse not far from the purification pool, standing in the dense forest.
A graceful figure stood before the treehouse!
That figure wore a azure-colored dress, her snow-white long hair was tied into a hair bun, her delicate face seemed to have some decoration applied, sunlight filtering through the leaves shone on her face, emitting a faint blue glow.
Fang Xu noticed the other party, and the other party also noticed them.
The graceful figure slowly walked from the treehouse, facing Fang Xu and Yun Wan across the purification pool, neither side spoke.
After a long while——
"Was it that Radiant Light Giant Crocodile that brought you here?"
The graceful figure spoke first.
Her expression was calm, showing no joy or sorrow.
Radiant Light Giant Crocodile?
Is it that giant crocodile you're talking about?
Fang Xu had a thought, then looked at the graceful figure and said, "You're a Siren Shark?"
Although the woman before him looked no different from an ordinary woman, and didn't have the ugly fish face of a Siren Shark, Fang Xu could still sense the aura emanating from her, which was extremely similar to that of the Siren Sharks he had seen before.
A demon that has fully transformed into human form!
This Siren Shark is a great demon!
Fang Xu's expression turned solemn. No wonder the giant crocodile refused to come in, dead or alive!
At first he thought the crocodile was afraid of that giant vine, but after slaying the giant vine, Fang Xu felt the crocodile's strength might not be as strong as he claimed.
But it shouldn't be afraid of just a vine demon.
Now it seems, what truly frightens the giant crocodile should be this great demon Siren Shark before him.
"Human, you are quite clever." The Siren Shark smiled faintly, then stared at Yun Wan beside Fang Xu for a few moments.
"I really like her skin."
"Leave her behind, and out of respect for the Radiant Light Giant Crocodile, I can let you go."
Ignoring the Siren Shark's words, Fang Xu noticed the emphasis in her earlier words.
Out of respect for the Radiant Light Giant Crocodile...
This means the two demons know each other, and are quite close.
Could it be that I've been deceived by these two beasts?
No way!
"Still hesitating?" Seeing Fang Xu silent, the Siren Shark gave a light laugh, then her form flashed and she appeared not far in front of the two.
"I want to kill you; I can do it with a flick of my finger."
"Kill you, and she will still be mine."
As the Siren Shark spoke, her slender finger lightly pointed.
In the next moment, a light blue bubble enveloped Fang Xu and Yun Wan!
Clang!
Yun Wan raised her Autumn Chī Sword and fiercely slashed at the blue bubble!
But though the blue bubble looked fragile, it was actually very tough!
Yun Wan's sword strike caused no damage to the blue bubble at all!
Seeing this, Fang Xu also tried throwing a punch at the blue bubble!
Terrifying power struck the blue bubble, and was instantly absorbed.
"Stop struggling; your strength before me is no different from that of ants."
Inside the bubble, Yun Wan's face looked somewhat grim.
She turned her head to look at Fang Xu, who was still preparing to attack, shook her head, and said:
"She's too strong."
"Fang Xu, you leave."
"We can't both die here."
Hearing Yun Wan's words, Fang Xu gave no response, but instead looked at the Siren Shark and said, "I want to know what relationship that giant crocodile has with you."
The Siren Shark looked at him, the corners of her mouth slightly lifting, and said, "Why should I tell you?"
After saying that, a hint of teasing flashed in her eyes, then she spoke again: "Actually, telling you is no problem."
"He is my husband, and we two were ordered to guard this purification pool."
The giant crocodile is the husband of this Siren Shark before him!?
Fang Xu frowned tightly and said, "So you two set this trap together?"
Hearing this, the Siren Shark couldn't help but laugh.
"Human, do you think you two are qualified to make me and him set a trap together?"
"Your strength before us is utterly not worth mentioning."
"Over these years, he has always had designs on the purification pool, for the sake of the Immortal Nectar of Creation, and has truly exhausted all means."
The Siren Shark said this to herself, then her face flashed with a strange smile as she looked at Fang Xu and said: "I've changed my mind; you should stay here."
"After I take over her body, you will keep me company living well here."
"I will keep her flesh and live with you forever."
"How about it?"
Inside the bubble, Fang Xu shook his head and said: "Not really?"
Saying that, he raised his fist again, preparing to try to blast apart the blue bubble before him.
Boom!
Boom!
One punch after another struck the blue bubble, causing the Siren Shark outside to look grim!
"You don't know what's good for you!"
"Since you're seeking death, don't blame me!"
The words fell, and she slowly raised her hand, directly separating Fang Xu and Yun Wan, each trapped in a smaller blue bubble!
Then, her slender hand slowly clenched toward Fang Xu!
At this moment, Fang Xu felt his soul seemed to be squeezed by a terrifying force!
If his soul had not already been transformed into that of the Mystic Water, under this terrifying force's squeeze, he would have already had his soul scattered and his spirit dispersed.
"Still quite persistent..."
Seeing that he had already used three parts of his strength, Fang Xu actually managed to endure, the Magic-Sound Shark Man let out a cold laugh and increased his force again.
At this moment, Fang Xu's divine soul in his sea of consciousness felt this pressure and could no longer bear it, directly turning into a pool of black water in an attempt to shake off this terrifying pressure!
When the Profound Water Soul revealed its circular form, the Magic-Sound Shark Man suddenly froze.
Following that came a drastic change in complexion!
"Damned old thing, you actually schemed against me!!!"
The Magic-Sound Shark Man let out a hysterical roar!
In the next moment, dense black patterns began to appear on her body!
These black patterns quickly crawled all over her fair skin, face, and eyes!
The Magic-Sound Shark Man struggled in pain.
"You... you are... the inheritor of the Derived God!?"
Enduring the intense pain within her body, the Magic-Sound Shark Man looked at Fang Xu and roared.
Fang Xu said nothing, watching the Magic-Sound Shark Man in such agony, he suddenly realized a problem.
The Magic-Sound Shark Man had just said that she and the giant crocodile were husband and wife, both ordered to guard the Purification Pool.
But now the giant crocodile seemed to have harbored ill intentions toward the Purification Pool, letting himself in to steal the Creation Immortal Liquid.
Whose orders was the Magic-Sound Shark Man following?
The Derived God?
The Magic-Sound Shark Man's current state seems very much like a backlash from some kind of restriction.
This might be something left behind by the Derived God.
Combining the giant crocodile's various behaviors, Fang Xu suddenly realized a terrifying conspiracy!
The giant crocodile and the Magic-Sound Shark Man might truly be subordinates of the Derived God, and the Derived God, to protect his inheritor, should have set up some kind of restriction forbidding his subordinates from attacking the inheritor.
And when the giant crocodile entered the valley, he gave Fang Xu a bead capable of shielding the inheritor's aura, so that the Magic-Sound Shark Man couldn't immediately detect his true identity.
In that case, he was being used as a pawn by the giant crocodile!
Just as this thought arose, a rustling sound came from the dense, gloomy forest behind him.
Fang Xu turned his head and indeed saw the giant crocodile crawling in.
Arriving behind Fang Xu, the giant crocodile looked at the Magic-Sound Shark Man with a teasing expression: "Ayin, I don't want to do this either."
"Why are you so stubborn?"
"The Derived God Senior has been gone for how many years, and you still cling to the old promise?"
"You guard these Creation Immortal Liquids, but rather than let them dissipate, you refuse to let me use some—it breaks my heart."
Hearing the giant crocodile's words, the Magic-Sound Shark Man's face flashed with a hint of indignation: "Ni Guang, the Creation Immortal Liquid belongs to the Derived God Senior; if you dare to touch it, I will surely kill you!"
Saying this, she disregarded the backlash from her own restriction, her form flashed, and she directly charged at the giant crocodile!
Boom!
The giant crocodile flicked its tail, directly flinging the charging Magic-Sound Shark Man away!
"Ayin, I was indeed not your match before."
"But now you openly attack the Derived God Senior's inheritor, suffering the divine restriction's backlash—I want to kill you, and it won't take much effort."
"However, considering our marital bond, I cannot bear to strike you."
"Just let you slowly die while guarding this Purification Pool."
"As for you two..." the giant crocodile looked at Fang Xu and Yun Wan, his large green eyes flashing with a hint of teasing: "Old Crocodile here originally had no intention of killing you."
"But who let you be so greedy?"
"Still wanting to divide by headcount—Old Crocodile may not dare to strike you, but he can completely trap you here to slowly wait for death."
After speaking, a seven-colored radiance emanated from his body, tightly coiling around the blue bubble encasing Fang Xu's body.
The seven-colored radiance gradually merged into the blue bubble, turning the entire bubble seven-colored.
Subsequently, the seven-colored bubble gradually contracted, squeezing toward Fang Xu's body!
Until finally, the entire seven-colored bubble completely conformed to Fang Xu's body, turning him into a seven-colored statue, encased within.
The giant turtle followed suit, turning Yun Wan into a seven-colored statue as well.
Having dealt with the two, he slowly crawled to the edge of the Purification Pool, gazing at the pool full of Creation Immortal Liquid, a hint of greed flashing in his eyes.
"It's already turning toward orange—truly a fine thing!"
Saying this, he immediately moved to stretch his large mouth into the Purification Pool!
"Ni Guang, stay away from the Purification Pool!"
On the other side, the Magic-Sound Shark Man, who had been flung away by its tail, endured the pain on her body, flashed forward, and struck at the giant crocodile's figure with a blue blade!
This blue blade strangely passed through the giant crocodile's body and vanished into the ground!
The giant crocodile let out a mournful scream, his pair of green eyes instantly filled with fury!
"Stupid woman! You're courting death!"
The next moment!
The giant crocodile endured the pain of his soul being torn apart, his thick crocodile tail whipped at an invisible speed, directly piercing the Magic-Sound Shark Man's body!
Pfft!
After the Magic-Sound Shark Man's body was pierced, it was instantly frozen in midair!
Azure-blue blood slowly flowed out along the giant crocodile's tail.
"Ni Guang, betraying the Derived God, you won't come to a good end..."
The Magic-Sound Shark Man struggled to utter these words.
"Shut up!"
The giant crocodile roared in anger, its massive tail lashing out and directly shaking the body of the demon-voiced mermaid into a blood mist!
"Opening and closing your mouth, Yan Shen..."
"Is Yan Shen all you have in your eyes?"
"We are husband and wife!"
Seeing the huge demon core left by the demon-voiced mermaid, the giant crocodile opened its mouth and swallowed the demon core.
"Now we don't have to be separated."
A flash of madness crossed its eyes as the giant crocodile returned once more to the side of the purification pool, preparing to drink all the creation immortal liquid inside.
"Traitors never meet a good end."
At that moment, Fang Xu's voice came from behind him.
The giant crocodile turned sharply in shock, looking at Fang Xu with disbelief: "How could you break through the joint seal I and A Yin set up?"
Fang Xu said nothing, directly waving his hand toward Yun Wan, who was sealed within the city sculpture.
A streak of purple-black fire mixed with dark gold instantly attached itself to the seven-colored light barrier.
Under the burning of the two flames, the seven-colored light barrier, like ice and snow under a scorching sun, rapidly melted away.
Yun Wan also regained her freedom, immediately flashing to Fang Xu's side, preparing to help him deal with the giant crocodile.
Seeing the two successfully escape their predicament, a flicker of annoyance crossed the giant crocodile's eyes.
As the inheritor of the Yan Shen legacy, Fang Xu possesses a divine prohibition within his body, so he dare not strike at it.
Unable to act, he either passively endures the beating or flees—there seems to be no other way left.
Fleeing is impossible.
To obtain the creation immortal liquid in the purification pool, he has schemed for countless years, pondering who knows how many methods.
Now, having finally relied on the Yan Shen inheritor to resolve the stubborn demon-voiced mermaid, how could he easily give up these creation immortal liquids?
Thinking this, the giant crocodile immediately decided to ignore Fang Xu and first snatch some creation immortal liquid before saying anything else!
Its huge mouth opened wide, and it violently sucked in a mouthful toward the purification pool before it!
A large amount of creation immortal liquid was sucked into its belly!
Seeing this, Fang Xu flew into a rage!
This damned thing!
The black iron staff in his hand was swung up directly, delivering a blow to the giant crocodile's head!
If this strike landed on any other demon beast, it would surely have been smashed to pulp long ago.
But the giant crocodile is clearly no ordinary demon beast—he has always been a great demon.
A faint blue light barrier appeared on his body surface, preparing to hard-block Fang Xu's attack while swallowing even more creation immortal liquid from the purification pool!
Seeing this, Fang Xu also became anxious.
The purification pool before them was never large to begin with, and the giant crocodile had just taken one gulp, directly drinking three-tenths of the creation immortal liquid inside!
Let him take another sip, and it would likely be drained completely!
The long staff in his hand immediately swept back, and behind him appeared a huge phantom of a demon ape!
In the next moment!
The huge demon ape phantom directly seized the giant crocodile's tail and hurled it violently outward!
"Yun Wan, first gather the creation immortal liquid!"
Fang Xu shouted, then flashed forward to prepare to hold back the giant crocodile, so Yun Wan could first finish collecting the creation immortal liquid!
Yun Wan nodded, then took out one wine jar after another from her Qiankun bag, pouring all the creation immortal liquid from the purification pool into them.
Watching the creation immortal liquid in the purification pool dwindle further, the giant crocodile grew anxious.
"Punk, it's you who forced me!"
The giant crocodile let out an angry roar, directly unleashing the demon core it had swallowed from the demon-voiced mermaid.
Subsequently, under Fang Xu's gaze, the demon core was wrapped in a strand of pale blue energy!
Large amounts of black patterns began to generate within the demon core's interior.
The giant crocodile thus bore the demon core and launched an attack toward Fang Xu!
Strangely, as a former subordinate of Yan Shen, the giant crocodile attacked Fang Xu, the inheritor of Yan Shen, yet did not suffer the divine prohibition backlash like the demon-voiced mermaid did.
Looking at the demon core atop its head, Fang Xu roughly guessed that this backlash should have been transferred by the giant crocodile via some secret method onto the demon-voiced mermaid's demon core.
That is, after all, the demon core of a great demon!
I must find a way to deal with the giant crocodile, otherwise this demon core will be wasted!
With resolve in his heart, he immediately launched a fierce attack toward the giant crocodile!
Meanwhile, the giant crocodile opposite him likewise harbored the idea of a quick victory!
Because the divine prohibition backlash had indeed been transferred by him via secret method onto the demon core atop his head, but this demon core fundamentally cannot sustain for long.
Once the divine prohibition backlash fully corrupts the demon core, it will then be his turn next.
Both sides, sharing the same thought, began a fierce melee!
The strength of a great demon equals that of a human Yuan Wu realm expert, but the giant crocodile's strength seems, for some unknown reason, not as terrifying as imagined.
At the moment Fang Xu exhausted his trump cards, the two sides were actually evenly matched for a time!
Boom!
The huge demon ape phantom hard-took a tail swipe from the giant crocodile, yet faintly showed signs of beginning to dissipate.
Fang Xu's expression changed slightly—he had still underestimated this beast.
Able to live this long, this giant crocodile is no pushover.
Seeing that Yunwan had nearly finished taking the Creation Immortal Liquid from the purification pool, Fang Xu could only helplessly decide to give up the demon core of the Soundwave Sharkman.
But the giant crocodile clearly had no intention of letting them go.
The Soundwave Sharkman's demon core had already been corroded by more than half due to the divine prohibition backlash, making it largely useless.
And the Creation Immortal Liquid he had long coveted had now been completely scavenged by Fang Xu and his group, with him having only taken a sip—how could he possibly accept this?
"Yunwan, you go first!"
Seeing Yunwan gather all the Creation Immortal Liquid into her Qiankun bag, Fang Xu immediately shouted.
Yunwan also realized she couldn't help Fang Xu in this situation and would only become the giant crocodile's primary target, distracting him; she immediately darted away in several flashes toward the distance.
Seeing the Creation Immortal Liquid escape, the giant crocodile directly flung Fang Xu aside and charged forward in pursuit.
But Fang Xu clung to him like a dogskin plaster, using his movement technique to tightly entangle the giant crocodile!
Watching Yunwan's figure vanish from sight, the giant crocodile flew into a rage, preparing to first deal with this annoying fly, Fang Xu.
Its massive body no longer thought of fleeing; it directly turned and charged straight at Fang Xu!
Bang!
The giant crocodile, fully committed to its attack, lashed its tail directly onto Fang Xu's body!
Had it not been for the sudden appearance of the Dragon Scale Shield at the critical moment, blocking most of the force, this blow would have nearly been able to instantly kill Fang Xu, now deprived of the protection of the Demon Ape phantom!
"Kill you, and I, Old Croc, will go chase that little hussy!"
The giant crocodile surged forward in fury!
Seeing this, Fang Xu immediately flashed and ran toward the other side of the forest.
His goal had shifted from an initial quick victory to now merely buying time.
Because the demon core atop its head had by now been corroded by two-thirds, this giant crocodile could not hold out much longer.
After a struggle, seeing its head demon core about to be completely corroded and itself unable to deal with Fang Xu, the giant crocodile immediately turned and fled toward the distant coastline.
Once the demon core was fully corroded, it would not dare to strike again.
By then, left to Fang Xu's attacks and unable to retaliate, continuing to stay would only lead to its eventual death by beating.
Attacking was never its strength; better to flee for life first.
Seeing it prepare to escape, Fang Xu was about to give up the chase when he suddenly felt a disturbance within his body.
The next moment, a small sapling with fine, tender branches appeared directly in his hand!
This sapling was none other than the strange wooden staff Lu Zhiyuan had given him, now transformed.
After absorbing the transformed Feather Mountain Tianyi, the strange wooden staff had become this small sapling, taking root in the aperture space within.
It was this very sapling that had just emitted the disturbance.
Fang Xu, puzzled, took out the sapling and saw its roots and stems growing wildly, then rapidly taking root into the earth beneath his feet!
In an instant, the surrounding trees and plants that had already developed simple spiritual awareness all moved!
As if a gentle breeze had passed, all the plants bent toward the sapling in bowing reverence!
Under Fang Xu's astonished gaze, after bowing, those trees all sprang into action!
Vast numbers of branches, like whips, lashed toward the fleeing giant crocodile!
Some vines' tendrils grew at breakneck speed, wrapping toward the giant crocodile's body!
For a time, the entire forest, every plant, launched an attack on the giant crocodile!
The giant crocodile panicked!
Though these plants were individually weak, their strength lay in their numbers!
Countless plants fearlessly surged toward him in attack!
Many ants can kill an elephant!
The hard scales on the giant crocodile's body had already been whipped into showing signs of cracking!
Countless broken vines actually clung to his body, sprouting fine rootlets that slipped through the scale gaps and pierced into his flesh!
The needle-prick-like pain from his skin made the giant crocodile realize something was wrong; his body went mad with rolling, trying to shake off those vines!
But in this state, no matter how he rolled, those vines could still firmly grip his scales, madly taking root, sucking his blood and flesh, then growing wildly, wrapping him up!
In the end, the giant crocodile was wrapped into a giant zongzi!
A sharp, thin spike burst from the ground, ignoring the other vines, and directly pierced the "giant zongzi" before it!
"Ugh!"
"Roar!"
The giant crocodile, wrapped in countless vines, let out a mournful, tragic cry!
His cries were filled with intense terror!
"Kid, I surrender, I admit defeat!"
"I am willing to become your slave!"
The giant crocodile kept begging for mercy, but Fang Xu couldn't be bothered to respond.
He knew that a creature like the giant crocodile would never truly yield; once it found a chance to escape, it would surely seek revenge on him in the future!
"Leave the demon core."
Regardless of whether the sapling could understand, Fang Xu shouted.
The cries from within the vine cocoon grew weaker and weaker, until finally there was no movement at all.
The sapling retracted its roots, and the vines slowly loosened the cocoon, revealing a demon core the size of a bowl!
Moreover, the vines carefully and gently lifted the demon core and presented it before Fang Xu.
After storing the demon core in his Qiankun bag, Fang Xu waved his hand.
The sapling immediately retracted all its roots and was directly taken back into the Dao storage space.
In the distance, Yun Wan heard the commotion here fade away, feeling uneasy about Fang Xu, so she quietly came back.
"Settled?"
Looking at the crocodile on the ground with only skin and bones left, she exclaimed in surprise.
Fang Xu nodded, placing the crocodile's skin and bones, as well as the demon core eroded eighty percent by the divine prohibition, into his Qiankun bag, then took out some shovels, preparing to dig up all the precious herbs around the purification pool.
Fortunately, during the earlier battle, he had deliberately led the crocodile away from the purification pool.
Otherwise, these herbs would likely all have suffered damage.
After gathering everything, seeing nothing else of value around, Fang Xu's gaze turned again to the merfolk's simple treehouse.
Bringing Yun Wan into the treehouse, he found that besides a few round, black pearls, there was almost nothing worth looting.
The two then directly left the valley.
At the entrance to the fourth layer of the ruins, Fang Xu and Yun Wan walked out from inside.
The many martial artists guarding the entrance saw Fang Xu emerge again from the fourth layer and all wanted to come forward to ask about the secrets inside.
But Fang Xu's expression of keeping strangers at bay made them hesitate.
The major powers and families themselves had poor relations with Fang Xu.
Later, after the Third Prince Li Xingyan mediated in between, both sides temporarily set aside their grudges, but that did not mean they were on friendly terms with Fang Xu.
At this moment, these people couldn't help but envy the Xing family of Huangzhou.
Since the last time the Xing family's martial artists obtained the map to the fourth layer of the ruins here, the Xing family has been frantically recruiting martial artists, preparing to storm the fourth layer to thoroughly loot it.
Although Fang Xu didn't know these things, he had long anticipated them.
The Xing family had once cooperated with him, but they held a grudge against Yun Wan; he had once advised against it, to repay their past affection.
The Xing family refused, insisting on entering the fourth layer; giving them the map was naturally for Yun Wan's sake.
As for how things would end, Fang Xu had long anticipated it as well.
In the fourth layer of the ruins, with the killing of the merfolk great demon, the merfolk spirits hidden in the mist all went berserk at this moment.
He and Yun Wan emerged from the fourth layer, and on the way they encountered numerous attacks from merfolk spirits.
If not for having some means to restrain them, the two might not have made it out alive.
After leaving the Tai Lan Mountain ruins, the two directly returned to Fenglin Town.
In the small courtyard, Old Yuan was guiding Xiang Tong and Tong Tong in their cultivation; seeing the two return, Old Yuan frowned slightly.
"Fang Xiazi, come over."
Fang Xu, puzzled, approached Old Yuan and clasped his hands: "Yuan Bo."
Old Yuan nodded slightly, then asked doubtfully: "Did you encounter danger on this trip?"
Fang Xu nodded, then smiled and shook his head: "Not really a big danger, all settled."
"Settled?" Old Yuan gave a light chuckle, extended his large hand, and made a grasping motion in the void toward Fang Xu's body!
In the next moment, three strands of gray energy were seized in his hand.
"Demonic beings, the essence of heaven and earth."
"Dead yet filled with resentment, they cling to the body with complaints."
"These three strands of resentment on your body have followed you here; two of them..."
Old Yuan stared at the two thicker gray energy strands, his eyes narrowing slightly: "Did you encounter a great demon on this trip?"
Fang Xu was somewhat surprised: "Yuan Bo, can you even tell that?"
Old Yuan said nothing, slowly clasping his hands together; a thick black light appeared, as if he intended to completely obliterate the three strands of resentment.
However, whether it was the merfolk demon or the azure-light giant crocodile, their strength was not inferior to Old Yuan's; if not for Fang Xu's special status and the restrictions inside the ruins suppressing their power, Fang Xu would absolutely have been unable to defeat a great demon.
The black light in Old Yuan's hand grew increasingly intense; the resentment belonging to the giant vine was quickly obliterated, but the resentment of the merfolk demon and the azure-light giant crocodile was extremely tenacious; no matter how Old Yuan exerted himself, the two gray energy strands refused to dissipate.
After a long while——
The black light in Old Yuan's hand faded, and the two gray energy strands directly broke free from his control, then burrowed into Fang Xu's body.
"Old man powerless, these two great demons' resentment is too strong."
Old Yuan looked at Fang Xu somewhat helplessly.
Fang Xu carefully sensed his body, feeling as if nothing had changed, and said indifferently: "Yuan Bo, no need to worry; I've killed the living great demons—what can some resentment do to me?"
Upon hearing this, Old Yuan glared at him: "You brat, don't underestimate these resentments; on the future path of martial arts, they may very well have a great impact on you."
"In the future, pay more attention, seek methods that can obliterate resentment."
Fang Xu nodded.
"How were the gains from this trip?" Old Yuan asked again.
Fang Xu said nothing, directly took a jug of Creation Immortal Liquid from Yun Wan and handed it to Old Yuan.
Upon receiving the jug, Old Yuan opened it and took a look, his eyes instantly widening!
"This quality, turned from yellow to orange!?"
Fang Xu laughed: "Should be of some use to you, old one?"
"I still have some more; when you finish this, come find me for more."
His relationship with Old Yuan is like this— the stronger Old Yuan becomes, the safer he is.
Therefore, a few jugs of Creation Immortal Liquid, he doesn't even take to heart.
The gains from this trip slightly exceeded those from the Immortal Carved Stone Boat, totaling sixteen jugs.
After giving one jug to Old Yuan, Fang Xu plans to first use the rest for his own breakthrough, then leave some for Yun Wan later.
Night fell; after a few people simply ate something, Fang Xu returned alone to his room, preparing for the breakthrough.
The energy of the Creation Immortal Liquid obtained this time is far stronger than what he gained before in the Immortal Carved Stone Boat.
One jug down, Fang Xu faintly felt his body almost about to burst from this violent energy; he immediately hesitated no longer, directly channeling all this energy into the Star Chart Construction.
A large amount of energy rushed quickly through the divine bridges between the apertures into those apertures that had not yet been opened!
One aperture after another was lit up, until finally, the entire star chart was completely lit up!
At this moment, the Mysterious Water Soul deep in the sea of consciousness suddenly surged into the Giant Tortoise Star Chart!
"Roar!"
A huge tortoise phantom appeared within the body, and a desolate howl, as if coming from the ancient wilderness, echoed deep in the soul!
Fang Xu felt his entire body tremble slightly!
In an instant, a large amount of information merged into his sea of consciousness!
Xuanwu!?
He had thought this Giant Tortoise Star Chart was merely an ordinary star chart, but with the influx of the Mysterious Water Soul, this star chart seemed to have undergone some kind of transformation!
It actually directly transformed into the Xuanwu Star Chart!
Whether this world has the Four Sacred Beasts, Fang Xu does not know, but this Xuanwu Star Chart is real indeed!
A large amount of information merged into the sea of consciousness, and Fang Xu gradually came to understand the marvelous use of the Xuanwu Star Chart.
Defense!
Ultimate defense!
Possessing the Xuanwu Star Chart, he could clearly feel that he only needed to mobilize a small amount of Blood Qi Power to generate a layer of extremely strong Xuanwu Divine Light Shield on his body surface.
Exactly how strong the Xuanwu Divine Light Shield is still needs to be determined by his own experimentation.
Having successfully broken through to the Ninth Level of Martial Master, Fang Xu was preparing to withdraw from cultivation when he suddenly discovered some scattered apertures still within his body.
The human body has one hundred and eight apertures; Martial Master Ninth Level, nine apertures per level.
That is to say, each martial artist can utilize eighty-one apertures, and the remaining twenty-seven apertures seem to be useless.
Staring at these apertures, Fang Xu slightly furrowed his brow.
Are these apertures truly useless?
At least I have already opened eleven apertures; if I were to open the remaining sixteen apertures as well, and then choose a suitable star chart to construct...
As soon as this idea appeared, Fang Xu felt a tremor stir in his heart!
Too crazy!
I am too crazy!
At least in my understanding, I have never heard of anyone being able to construct twelve star charts within the body, opening all one hundred and eight apertures!
If I truly did this, what kind of mishap might occur?
Shaking his head, he wanted to throw off this crazy idea.
After all, in ancient martial arts, the great masters merely forged nine layers of Dao Foundation to nurture the spirit; if I were to construct twelve star charts, would I then have to forge twelve layers of Dao Foundation?
No!
No!
Repeatedly denying this crazy notion in his heart, yet this notion took root and sprouted in his heart like a heart demon!
Beads of sweat densely covered his forehead; Fang Xu discovered he seemed unable to stop the growth of this notion anymore!
Eyes opened wide, gazing at the several vats of Creation Immortal Liquid before him, a flash of madness crossed Fang Xu's eyes, and then he resolutely lifted a vat of Creation Immortal Liquid and poured it into his mouth!
(End of Chapter)
End of Chapter
