Chapter 371: Shenyuan Pills (Bonus Chapter—Request Subscription)

"Eighteen fourth-rank Nascent Soul-level puppets?"

Fang Xing's true body smiled faintly, his palm seeming to hold a sun, which crashed down with a roar.

First Form of the Great Sun Tathagata Palm—Great Sun Illumination!

BOOM!

Vast sunlight engulfed the entire square; a hemispherical crimson Great Sun Dharma Realm expanded outward, devouring layer upon layer of seals.

Terrifying ripples spread, even causing cultivators like Fire Dragon Zhenren in distant zones to feel intense fear.

"Nascent Soul?!"

Bai Bai Jianxian was battling a spirit beast guarding the "Sacred Awakening Fruit" in the Spirit Herb Garden.

At this moment, he shuddered violently, barely avoiding a claw to the heart from the four-armed spirit monkey: "How is there a Nascent Soul cultivator here?"

"A Nascent Soul has intervened? No… it's more like a talisman or a single-use treasure!" Gong Feiyun's hand trembled as he crafted the teleportation array, instantly ruining a piece of "Kongming Stone."

He paid no mind, took out another Kongming Stone, and began carving array patterns.

Ahead, a teleportation array was already more than half complete…

…

"Nascent Soul-level combat power? An Nascent Soul cultivator who can unleash Nascent Soul-level power will surely attain Nascent Soul Heaven Lord status, even reach the Void Refinement realm!"

Inside the stone hall, the handsome middle-aged man stared at Fang Xing's true body, murmuring to himself: "This is just too cheating—am I testing him, or is he testing me? Fortunately, this man has good relations with the Golden Sword lineage's heir… sigh, why is he a crude body cultivator and not a sword cultivator?"

…

CRACK!

The long-sealed doors of the hall opened, revealing individual chambers before Fang Xing's eyes.

Among these chambers, some held alchemical cauldrons, others stored vast quantities of herbs.

Others contained row upon row of jade vials.

"All are below third-rank pills."

Fang Xing shook his head, too lazy to glance, and pressed deeper.

Whenever he encountered puppets, traps, or seals… his true body simply charged forward, crushing them all with a physique rivaling a fifth-rank body cultivator.

The original trials seemed like jokes.

"Hmm?"

After entering the depths of Dingling Hall, Fang Xing saw a series of black cauldrons sealed and protected!

"These are… 'Yaowang Cauldrons'? Special artifacts designed to store precious pills, capable of preserving medicinal properties for over ten thousand years."

He casually opened one Yaowang Cauldron, spotted an "Kongqing Vial" inside, pulled the stopper, and a rich pill fragrance surged out.

"Fourth-rank 'Qianyuan Pills'—they aid Nascent Soul beginners in refining their spiritual power…"

Fang Xing stored the pills, then opened another Yaowang Cauldron: "Huh? Good fortune—this is a 'Ningying Pill'?"

In past years, he had gone through countless troubles just to obtain one Ningying Pill.

But in the Spirit Soul Sword Sect, as long as one had sufficient merit, one could directly exchange for Ningying Pills.

He continued downward, encountering many precious fourth-rank pills.

Covering healing, dispelling heart demons, enhancing spiritual power— he even found two "Zhuangying Pills!"

Finally, Fang Xing reached the deepest part of Dingling Hall.

"Here, there should be some fifth-rank pills, right?"

He gazed at the few remaining high-grade Yaowang Cauldrons, his eyes filled with anticipation.

"Don't even think about it—the fifth-rank pills here were long ago consumed… even if any remained, they'd be defective or half-ruined pills. For Nascent Soul True Lords, these fifth-rank pills contain too much pill toxicity and excessive potency—they're hard to digest."

A light-shadow appeared, forming the handsome middle-aged array spirit, who sighed at Fang Xing: "The core inheritance of Dingling Hall is the 'Yuan Shen Dan Jing'… a fifth-rank alchemy transmission."

"Pity—I thought there might be a sixth-rank alchemy transmission."

Fang Xing sighed in disappointment, making the array spirit roll his eyes: "Our sect is fundamentally a sword cultivator sect—other immortal arts are relatively weak…"

He casually tossed a pale golden jade slip to Fang Xing's cultivation avatar: "Take it. Let's go."

"Go? What's going on?"

Fang Xing's spiritual sense swept through the alchemy scripture—he found that though it was only fifth-rank, it contained numerous fifth-rank pill formulas and strange alchemical techniques; this trip was already worthwhile.

"Originally, after your exploration, I planned to send you all away, keeping only Gong Feiyun—he dared to take risks, so he deserves more danger."

The handsome middle-aged man smiled: "But you brought this one—he's a fifth-rank body cultivator with Nascent Soul-level combat power. He qualifies to join the upcoming major events."

"Join what?"

Fang Xing's true body smiled faintly: "I'm quite interested—but before that."

He casually punched, shattering the last few Yaowang Cauldrons and snatching out several vials of pills.

"These are fifth-rank 'Shenyuan Pills'—used by Nascent Soul cultivators to enhance spiritual power; even for Nascent Soul beginners, their potency is too strong, best suited for Nascent Soul mid-stage cultivators…"

The array spirit sighed: "Too bad—they're all defective pills."

'Not necessarily—I still have the Wanhua Cauldron to try salvaging them…'

Fang Xing smiled silently: 'And the 'Yuan Shen Dan Jing' I just saw seems to contain a special alchemical technique—using high-rank pills as 'dan tou,' adding more herbs to produce large quantities of low-rank pills, effectively downgrading potency for quantity…'

'If these 'Shenyuan Pills' can be purified, combined with the pills I already obtained… they should be enough to bring my cultivation avatar to Nascent Soul peak.'

'Within the Spirit Soul Sword Sect, there must be Nascent Soul opportunities—if I get one, I dare challenge Nascent Soul directly!'

After all, he likely has no Nascent Soul heart demon tribulation, and his combat power already reaches Nascent Soul level.

Fundamentally, it's a smooth path.

'If I attain Immortal Dao Nascent Soul, then train the Void Refinement transmission, I should be able to easily grasp the basics of space law…'

'This is space law!'

'And after Void Refinement, even greater rewards await!'

'Wait—if I ascend to Martial God first, I myself become a Nascent Soul opportunity!'

…

"Alright, let's go."

The handsome middle-aged array spirit began shifting space, secretly observing Fang Xing's reaction.

Unfortunately, he was disappointed.

Fang Xing didn't care at all.

This was the result of reaching sufficient power—utterly unafraid of how the Qianyuan Great World might change.

A flash of silver light, and Fang Xing saw Gong Feiyun.

Gong Feiyun had already set up a small teleportation array and was about to insert supreme-grade spirit stones.

"Array Spirit Elder?"

Gong Feiyun's expression held a flicker of panic: "Why bring him here?"

In his heart, he felt both the shame of being caught stealing and deep confusion.

After all, setting up the teleportation array to summon the "Yu Tian Zun" shouldn't have been mutual understanding?

And… who exactly is this extra Fang Xing true body?

"Cough… I don't have much time—I'll be brief."

The handsome middle-aged array spirit coughed: "If you wish to obtain the Immortal Mansion treasures, you must prove your worth—and this young man…"

He pointed at Fang Xing's true body: "Was invited by the Golden Sword lineage—he can be regarded as a Nascent Soul cultivator, and thus qualifies to join."

"Nascent Soul cultivator?" Gong Feiyun jolted, gripping a silver talisman in his sleeve.

"Join what?"

Fang Xing asked curiously.

"Look at this…"

The handsome middle-aged man swept his sleeve, revealing a scene from a small realm: Huxindao, a bronze colossal cauldron, a purple-black scaled humanoid trapped in crystal…

"This bronze cauldron is the 'Immortal Mansion Treasure' once collected by the Spirit Soul Sword Sect!"

The array spirit sighed bitterly: "Unfortunately, it's incomplete—only about three or four tenths of its original form. Even so, using it as a core to arrange arrays allows it to automatically refine pills; inside, it's gently nurturing a 'Nascent Soul Spirit Paste'… its refining method far surpasses even our sect's fifth-rank alchemy grandmaster."

"Incomplete?"

Gong Feiyun gasped: "What's missing?"

Fang Xing was even more startled—this colossal cauldron bore a striking resemblance to the 'Wanhua Cauldron.'

"Missing the cauldron flame… and the cauldron spirit!" The handsome middle-aged array spirit sighed: "Perhaps the more divine an object, the more heaven envies it… When our sect discovered this Immortal Mansion Treasure, it was already like this—the cauldron flame stolen, the cauldron spirit fled. Even so, this incomplete treasure remains our sect's number one treasure."

'Cauldron flame? Could it be… Wanhua Spirit Flame?'

A sudden guess flashed through Fang Xing's mind.

At this moment, the array spirit continued: "Unfortunately… this Immortal Mansion Treasure drew the greed of the upper realm. The ancient demon stormed our sect—Jue Jian Zun exhausted his spirit soul, the entire sect perished, and with my great assistance, we finally severely wounded the ancient demon—but could not kill him, only seal him within the Sword Realm… Now, under the influence of the Seven Demons' Chaos, the ancient demon is slowly awakening, preparing to break free…"

'Jue Jian Zun? Not Jue Jian Tian Zun? So the previous generation of Spirit Soul Sword Sect was in decline, lacking a late-stage Nascent Soul cultivator? Otherwise, they wouldn't have suffered so badly…'

Fang Xing pondered.

"Originally… I planned to reward you youngsters, then join forces with the Nascent Soul Sages outside to exterminate the ancient demon… but what happens after killing it? I can't handle that."

The handsome middle-aged array spirit said, waving his hand casually.

Tai Bai Jianxian, who had already obtained the "Sacred Awakening Fruit" and was still scavenging in the spirit herb garden, and Huolong Zhenren, who had just cautiously emerged from a cave, froze—both vanished instantly.

"But now… you've earned the right to participate. So I ask you: do you want to join the final struggle?"

The array spirit looked at Fang Xing: "The final struggle may kill you—or leave you with nothing. Even the Nascent Soul Spirit Paste and the Immortal Mansion Treasure mean nothing compared to your life."

"Of course I'll join."

Fang Xing's cultivation avatar glanced at Gong Feiyun and flashed a brilliant smile.

"Excellent!"

The handsome middle-aged spirit of the array nodded, sweeping his hand to release a series of scroll-like images.

……

Outside the Shanmen of the Yuan Shen Sword Sect.

Countless white light curtains stretched endlessly, each containing sword qi capable of slaughtering gods and annihilating demons.

The Three Friends of the Vast Sea were frantically casting numerous spells and techniques, barely keeping up.

"What an almost sixth-rank array…"

The True Lord wearing a golden crown held a wooden fish Buddhist artifact, radiating countless unbreakable golden Buddhist light, like a tiny boat adrift in an ocean of sword qi: "I heard that when complete, it was a sixth-rank array—perhaps we'll die here…"

"Enough talk—this passage is already among the safer routes…"

The female True Lord had already unslung her long blade, her flashing sword-light wildly consuming the sword qi.

"Two fellow Daoists, save me!"

The True Lord known as Divine Talisman, the most sleazy in appearance and demeanor, shrieked incessantly, occasionally hurling top-grade fourth-rank talismans.

Suddenly, his expression changed, then he showed a flicker of shock: "Spirit of the array—you?"

BOOM!

The great array activated, suddenly unleashing a terrifying sword-light that shot toward him.

The Divine Talisman True Lord flickered away, appearing high in the sky, his terrifying spiritual power surging outward.

He gestured, drawing in celestial and terrestrial spiritual energy, which actively repelled the surrounding sword qi, forming a colossal hand that slammed down and crushed the sword-light.

"Old Fu… you… become a Nascent Soul?"

Even the cold-faced female True Lord showed a trace of astonishment.

"Hahahaha! From now on, address me as Divine Talisman Venerable!"

Divine Talisman Venerable laughed loudly, then turned his gaze toward the Yuan Shen Sword Sect, feeling annoyed: "Why did this array spirit expose me like that?"

……

Elsewhere.

An old Daoist in a robe carried a peach-wood ancient sword on his back and held a golden compass in his hand, muttering incantations nonstop.

Suddenly, his eyes lit up, his feet stirred wind, he dashed forward several steps, and slammed into the array's light curtain!

At the moment the Daoist struck, the array's operation revealed a flaw—one in a billion—opening a small hole.

CRACK!

His front half plunged into the array, but the array instantly shifted, trapping him like a thief stuck halfway through a dog hole—comically immobilized.

"Damn… the array's forty-nine, the Dao's one thread… the array spirit is actively controlling it—what was a flaw is no longer a flaw…"

The Daoist was filled with regret.

……

"Hm?"

On a seabed mountain path, the white light ahead had thinned to a mere layer—beyond it, the majestic main gate of the Yuan Shen Sword Sect was visible.

The Sin-Palace Yuan Ying of Wuji Palace each stepped forward, relentlessly striking the light curtain to draw retaliatory sword qi.

Old Demon Meng's body shimmered with a thousand bronze lamps, occasionally exhaling a wisp of pitch-black flame that burned the sword qi.

"In a few more hours, we'll break through the outer defenses of the 'Slay-God, Annihilate-Demon Sword Array' and enter the Yuan Shen Sword Sect's Shanmen… At that point, these Sin-Palace Yuan Ying will still be useful—we can't waste them all here."

Old Demon Meng thought for a moment, then casually tossed out a corpse-storage pouch.

A cloud of demonic energy emerged, containing dozens of fourth-rank corpse-enslaved beings roaring and bellowing… at its center stood a female corpse with skin as pale as snow, her body like luminous jade, radiating divine light—clearly a near-fifth-rank corpse-enslaved being!

The multitude of corpse-enslaved beings surged against the array, instantly relieving pressure on the Yuan Ying ahead.

At that moment, Old Demon Meng roared: "Array spirit… how dare you?!"

……

Inside the Yuan Shen Sword Sect.

On the teleportation array, a flash of light revealed a youth clad in feathered robes.

He appeared only fifteen or sixteen, his eyes pure as jade, bowing to the array spirit with a smile: "Comrade Zeng… long time no see."

"I am not the master—only the array spirit the master forged."

The handsome middle-aged figure spoke: "Master Yu, you have great courage… don't you fear I might instantly teleport you into utter doom?"

"Hehe, I trust Feiyun."

Master Yu chuckled: "Without the teleportation array's guidance, I'd simply break through the array step by step!"

The power of an almost sixth-rank array was insufficient to forcibly teleport a Nascent Soul Venerable—unless the target willingly cooperated.

Of course, once one cooperated, death or survival became uncertain.

Master Yu had secretly placed Gong Feiyun to enter via his own teleportation array, yet he still took a certain risk.

But to obtain the Immortal Mansion's rare treasures, the risk was worth it!

To get a step ahead is far better than later fighting for it against numerous Nascent Soul Venerables—or even Old Demon Meng!

(End of Chapter)