Chapter 574: A Visit from the Refining Void Stage

Xuanjin took the Jade Slip, and after his spiritual sense sank into it, his expression became somewhat hesitant! For a Heavenly Sky Grade spirit insect like him, even a True Immortal's cultivation technique could not change anything!

"Master, I want to try!"

After an hour, Xuanjin had read through the contents of the Jade Slip, and only then did he say calmly.

"Oh? You have a way to modify the cultivation technique in the Jade Slip?"

"No!"

Seeing Zhang Nuo speaking with a look of surprise, Xuanjin shook his head lightly.

"However, Master, do not forget that I have already merged with your physical body. That is to say, only half of my body is still in the form of a spirit beast, so I think I should be able to adapt to this cultivation technique left behind by the True Immortal!"

Zhang Nuo still held a trace of unease regarding Xuanjin's decision. Regardless of anything else, he was ultimately a spirit beast. Even if he had merged with himself, his true form was still a spirit beast. This point could never be changed, no matter the time. Just like those transformed demon beasts, even if they looked exactly like humans, they could not shed their demon beast roots deep down!

Seeing that Zhang Nuo still refused to nod, Xuanjin knew he was worried for him. With a shift in his thoughts, he said again:

"How about this: Qiongqi and I will each cultivate half of this technique. At least now, both of us have half a body that is similar to the Master's. Only by cultivating this technique separately might there be progress!"

This proposal made Zhang Nuo's eyes light up. In a certain sense, both Xuanjin and Qiongqi were parts of his own body, and the complementarity of the two regarding the cultivation technique might make it possible to cultivate this set of True Immortal techniques!

After pondering for a moment, Zhang Nuo finally nodded in agreement. The cultivation technique left behind by the True Immortal was named 'Myriad Phenomena Map', and its profoundness lay in its myriad changes—one gives birth to two, two to three, and three to all things! It could be said to possess god-like and ghost-like supernatural powers! It was just a pity that Zhang Nuo was temporarily unable to cultivate it!

Xuanjin returned to Zhang Nuo's body to discuss this matter with Qiongqi, which need not be mentioned further! Five months later, Zhang Nuo walked out of the Cave Abode. After practicing the technique within his body a little, he also had a plan in mind for his future breakthrough to the Integration Stage Middle Stage!

As soon as Zhang Nuo came out, Tianyi and the others told him about some things that had happened recently. Seeing that there was nothing special, Zhang Nuo did not take it to heart!

On the morning of this day, just as the sky was brightening, a disciple ran into the main hall in a panic. Seeing that Tianyi and the others were all there, the disciple hurriedly said:

"It's bad! A demon cultivator has arrived in front of the mountain. Their cultivation is so powerful that this disciple cannot even tell what level of demon cultivator they are!"

Upon hearing this, Zhang Nuo and the other four all changed their expressions. Looking at the reporting disciple, whose cultivation was also around the Spirit Transformation Initial Stage, if even they could not see through the cultivation, could it be a presence at the Refining Void Stage?

Tianyi Laodao was the first who could not sit still. His figure flashed and he went straight out of the main hall, with Xiangxin and the others following closely behind. When they reached the top of the mountain, they saw a cultivator wearing a grey-black robe, with no hair on the top of his head, but only a few small horns the thickness of a finger growing sparsely, floating quietly in mid-air!

"Zhan Luo!"

Zhang Nuo saw this demon cultivator at a glance and immediately called out his name. This demon was the very existence that had chased him into the 'Nine Lives Desert' back then! When Zhang Nuo saw the other party's cultivation, his expression changed drastically! He did not expect that after more than a hundred years, he had actually advanced to the Refining Void Initial Stage!

It was no wonder that the Spirit Transformation Stage disciples on the mountain could not see through his true cultivation; it was entirely because the disparity was too vast!

At this moment, Zhan Luo in mid-air also saw Zhang Nuo among the crowd. A complex expression appeared on his face, and he reached out to touch the few small horns on his head and said:

"Zhang Nuo, I didn't expect that after more than a hundred years, you have already advanced to the Integration Stage!"

Everyone on the mountaintop heard the demon cultivator's words and felt that he was very familiar with Zhang Nuo. Their hearts could not help but stir—what kind of background did Zhang Nuo have that even such a great demon knew him!

"Senior Zhan Luo, didn't you also advance to the Refining Void Stage within a hundred years? We are even!"

Facing Zhan Luo in the sky, Zhang Nuo was not afraid at all, and after a faint smile, he replied.

"I spent three thousand years to successfully advance in the Immortal World, yet you, in a mere hundred years, advanced from the Spirit Transformation Stage to the Integration Stage. It seems I shouldn't have left you as a scourge back then!"

A flash of killing intent crossed his eyes. Zhan Luo truly had not expected that a human cultivator from back then would advance to such a terrifying degree, to the point that even that woman Zhuyue could do nothing to him!

The Sound Transmission Talisman that Zhuyue had sent earlier was precisely to ask Ai Yuchen for help. When Ai Yuchen heard Zhuyue's words, her pretty face also became very ugly. She also had not expected Zhang Nuo to be so terrifying, so she immediately let Zhan Luo come over to take a look, and incidentally take down this 'Bushishan' that had been under siege for so long!

"Senior Zhan Luo! You didn't come here just to ask Zhang these questions, did you?"

"Of course not! Back then, you were at the Spirit Transformation Stage and I was at the Integration Stage, and you were chased by me. But now, you are at the Integration Stage, while I, Zhan, am at the Refining Void Stage. You are destined to be chased by me again. If you are sensible and come back with me obediently, perhaps the Palace Master might spare your life for the sake of you having the 'Purple Lightning Wild Thunder'!"

Scanning Zhang Nuo with contempt, even though he had advanced to the Integration Stage, in Zhan Luo's eyes, Zhang Nuo was still a little brat!

Upon hearing the four words 'Purple Lightning Wild Thunder', the gazes of Tianyi Laodao and the monk Xiangxin instantly turned to Zhang Nuo! Because Zhang Nuo had never revealed the Purple Lightning Wild Thunder before, they did not know that Zhang Nuo possessed such a rare item! A few more points of awe were added to everyone's gazes!

"Zhan Luo, so what if you have advanced to the Refining Void Stage? Zhang is right here; if you have the ability, come and catch me!"

During those years in Huan Shou Gong, Zhang Nuo could be said to have suffered all kinds of hardships, being bossed around by a group of demon beasts without any dignity as a human, which had become the most hidden pain in his heart! And Zhan Luo mentioning Huan Shou Gong again made him suddenly furious! He reached out and pointed at Zhan Luo from afar and said.

"Good brat! Do you think a mere few Restrictions can stop me?"

Being clamored at by Zhang Nuo like this, Zhan Luo was also furious. He immediately swooped down and arrived in front of the Mountain Protection Restriction, stretched out one hand, and slammed it down with a palm!

With a loud boom, the strength of this Refining Void Stage demon beast was truly terrifying! The surface of the Restriction flashed, and the place that was hit was clearly much dimmer! However, in an instant, it returned to normal!

"Hehe! Zhan Luo, I think your ability to brag is even more powerful than your attacks!"

Seeing that the Restriction light screen was unharmed, Zhang Nuo let out a long whistle and mocked him in his mouth.

"You..."

Zhan Luo was so angry that he gritted his teeth. The Spiritual Pressure on his body instantly soared to the limit. At the same time, he flipped his hand, and a five-colored stone appeared in his hand!

This stone was a full ten feet in size, with five-colored light flowing on its surface. One look and it was clear it was no ordinary object. Tianyi and the others were fine, but as soon as Zhang Nuo saw the five-colored giant stone, his heart immediately tightened!

The reason was none other than that this stone was one of the divine objects needed to merge the Nine Divine Seas: the Heaven-Mending Stone! This unique stone was transformed from the spirit of all things and contained various kinds of Heaven and Earth Spiritual Qi. He never expected that it would be used by Zhan Luo as a Magic Treasure!

Boom!

With another loud noise, countless cracks appeared on the surface of the Restriction light screen. It seemed that Zhan Luo's full-force strike, combined with the power of the 'Heaven-Mending Stone', had truly reached a terrifying degree!

"Quickly launch an attack! We cannot let this demon attack the Restriction any longer!"

Tianyi Laodao was quick-witted and shouted to the surrounding cultivators one after another.

In an instant, the light of various attack Dharma Arrays lit up on the mountaintop! After a roar, several beams of light shot towards Zhan Luo!

Although this demon's cultivation was not weak, he still had lingering fears about dealing with so many array attacks at once. Immediately, he turned his figure and fled towards the distant sky, and before leaving, he glared at Zhang Nuo hatefully!

After Zhan Luo left, everyone let out a long sigh of relief, but a sinister shadow hung over their hearts. It was originally a not-so-important battlefield, but a Refining Void Stage demon cultivator had suddenly appeared, which increased the pressure on Bushishan significantly!

"Fellow Daoist Xiangxin, I think we should tell the Sixteen Chambers about the situation here! Otherwise, if this place falls, we will all have an inescapable responsibility!"

Tianyi Laodao said with an ugly expression!

If not for the appearance of the Refining Void Stage demon cultivator, the cultivators of the Wuliang Dao Sect and Jile Temple might still have been able to hold on for a while!

"Alright! But this poor monk is afraid that before the news reaches the Sixteen Chambers, we will not be able to hold on!"

The monk sighed heavily and looked towards Kangdong and Xiangchong. Their faces were ashen; they had also seen the power of Zhan Luo's attack on the Restriction with their own eyes. In this way, if they wanted to be like before—not seeking merit, but only seeking no fault—just guarding the gate would be completely impossible!

Previously, the joy that had just appeared in everyone's hearts because of the victory a few months ago vanished in an instant! Everything had turned into a bubble with the appearance of Zhan Luo!

Zhang Nuo did not take these things to heart at all! The success or failure of Bushishan was of no importance to him; only the 'Heaven-Mending Stone' in Zhan Luo's hand was the most important!

If he could obtain this stone, there would be one less of the nine divine objects!

Bowing his head and pondering this matter, he did not notice the expressions of the people around him at all. It was not until Tianyi Laodao called him that he came back to his senses. After saying a few simple words, he returned to the main hall!

In this crude great hall, a few rays of sunlight shone through the cracks in the roof; five people sat in the middle of the hall, and no one made a sound, except for Zhang Nuo, as the other four were all thinking about how they could hold Bushishan!

A few days later, the army of demonic beasts appeared once again at the foot of Bushishan; this time, the number of demonic beasts was even greater than last time, and their overall strength had also risen to a new level!

A bloody battle to defend the mountain was about to begin!