Chapter 433: Challenge

"The lifespan of the Mortal Realm differs greatly between humans and demons..."

"Theoretically, demon clans live much longer... but core members are strictly capped at under five hundred years."

"Once one surpasses five hundred years, they are deemed too old and automatically exit..."

With these thoughts in mind, Fang Xing flew out of Black Dragon Peak.

After all, this was merely the Grand Void Illusion, unsuitable for cultivation—best used for practicing techniques or experimenting with self-harming secret arts.

For instance, the 'Coiled Serpent Secret Art'—if it fails to detonate, it may cause internal injuries or even collapse one's magical foundation.

It's best to practice and familiarize oneself within the Grand Void Illusion before testing in the outside world.

Even so, this alone was enough to attract a large number of peripheral members to the Boundless Mountain.

Whizz! Whizz!

As Fang Xing flew out of Black Dragon Peak, several streaks of light flashed and caught up with him.

"Black Dragon, please stop."

A flash of fire revealed a man with fiery red hair blocking Fang Xing's path, smiling slightly: "I am core member 'Fire Spirit Son,' here specifically to get acquainted with Black Dragon..."

"So you're Fire Spirit Son..."

Fang Xing nodded: "What can I do for you?"

"Nothing much... just curious about your methods. Would you be willing to spar? We'll use martial arts only—no soul treasures, just Class-A templates."

The so-called 'Class-A template' was the standard template used by ordinary members: Mortal Realm ninth layer, ordinary magical energy, no special advantages.

Core members, however, could bring their true bodies' templates into the Grand Void Illusion.

This allowed for far more accurate cultivation experiences within the illusion.

"A duel? Fine..."

Fang Xing agreed immediately.

He was curious about the methods of Boundless Mountain's core members.

Hearing this, the woman in green robes and others nearby showed faint anticipation.

"Good! You're straightforward. Then let's begin—right here, right now!"

As a core member, Fire Spirit Son had this much authority—his words had barely faded when a dueling platform materialized midair.

It stretched over ten li in length and width, surrounded by a pale green energy shield.

"After you!"

Fire Spirit Son's face lit up with delight as he flew onto the platform.

From the peaks of core members, countless gazes pierced down, all watching with scrutiny.

"Huh? So the new member is finally going to act? With a Heavenly Demon's recommendation, he must have something special..."

"After all, he's one of our demon kind..."

"Hmph... probably just a connection kid."

The last speaker clearly belonged to the human cultivator faction.

"After you!"

Fang Xing flew onto the platform.

He didn't care about winning or losing—he simply wanted to observe the core members' techniques.

Otherwise, if he brought in his true body's template, Fire Spirit Son right now couldn't even scratch him?

Even with this template, his will remained unchanged—a single will attack could end the opponent.

But he had no intention of using either of these two trump cards; instead, he aimed to refine his understanding of the Dao.

Hiss! Hiss!

Fang Xing raised his hand, and crimson flames emerged, forming a long spear.

Lines of flame Dao-rules flickered along the spear tip, coalescing into the phantom of a monstrous beast—the Fire God's Wrath!

Seeing this, Fire Spirit Son's face flushed with shame and anger: "Are you... mocking me?"

In his hand, a dust whisk appeared, and he flicked it lightly.

Flames surged, instantly taking the shape of a blue bird.

The blue bird pecked gently, its beak carrying a sliver of pale flame, striking the flame beast.

The flame beast let out a mournful cry and vanished.

"To fight me, you dare use only third-tier Dao insight? Are you insulting me?"

Fire Spirit Son growled softly, his dust whisk drifting.

Threads of crimson flame Dao-force gathered, forming a tiny, lifelike bird.

No bigger than a palm, yet every feather, claw, and detail was unmistakably clear—composed entirely of pure flame Dao-force.

Constructing a living body from Dao-force—that was the realm of 'Dao Body'!

The essence of this flame bird was identical to the colossal face of the demon prince Fu Shan.

The advantage of fourth-tier Dao insight could override several minor realms or even differences in magical energy quality.

"Go!"

Fire Spirit Son pointed lightly at Fang Xing—the crimson bird shot forward, piercing through layer upon layer of spear shadows.

Fang Xing spun his spear tip, and 'Stars Like Fire' erupted forth.

Above his spear, the void shattered violently, revealing within the chaotic emptiness a planet.

The planet rotated, then ignited—transforming into a star.

The star's flames expanded rapidly, instantly engulfing the crimson bird.

"Fine spear technique... but your Dao insight is far too weak!"

Outside, the woman in green robes frowned in confusion: "With this level of power... how could a Heavenly Demon recommend him?"

"Perhaps... he just couldn't refuse a favor. He's got connections..."

A nearby human cultivator sighed: "Like Kunyuan Zi..." At the mention of his name, all core members fell silent.

Though they called themselves precursors to Heavenly Immortals and Heavenly Demons, few ever truly achieved it.

In contrast... the direct offspring of Heavenly Immortals possessed countless treasures; even with slightly weaker Dao insight, their magical energy quality, boosted by vast quantities of medicinal pills and divine artifacts bestowed by great masters, granted combat power nearly equal to theirs.

Black Dragon's actual combat ability is this poor—but his true body may be different.

Chirp! Chirp!

With a clear, ringing cry, the crimson bird seemed reborn in the star's flames, transforming into a thousand-zhang phoenix that appeared before Fang Xing, its beak brimming with icy white flame, and it struck.

Whoosh!

The void flickered—Fang Xing passed straight through the flame phoenix, appearing before Fire Spirit Son, his spear darting rapidly like silver flowers blooming on fire trees.

"Void-teleport? Second tier of Void Dao?"

Fire Spirit Son remained unfazed, flicking his dust whisk—threads like tree shadows stretched endlessly, blocking every spear strike.

"Hmm?"

Fang Xing sharply sensed the difference in these whisk threads—they flowed continuously, like water seeping into the spear shadows.

"Water Dao?"

"And even a hint of water-fire fusion... fused Dao?"

"No wonder these are Boundless Mountain core members—even though their Water Dao insight is far weaker than Fire Dao, it's still astonishing."

As Fang Xing silently marveled, he saw Fire Spirit Son flick his dust whisk—water and fire fused, then exploded.

BOOM!

A terrifying torrent of light instantly engulfed Fang Xing's illusory black form, reducing it to ash.

Outside the dueling platform.

A flash of light—another identical Fang Xing relogged into the Boundless Mountain.

Being destroyed in the Grand Void Illusion was like dying in a game—no effect on the true body whatsoever.

But Fire Spirit Son's immediate, ruthless attack made Fang Xing realize this man held hostility toward him.

"Haha... Black Dragon, I didn't hold back in time—please forgive me..."

Fire Spirit Son waved his dust whisk and floated over gracefully.

"No problem—it's just a sparring match."

Fang Xing chuckled.

The surrounding core members promptly withdrew their gazes.

Some demon core members felt disappointed: "Another connection kid..."

But since he was a connection kid, he was even less to be offended.

Thus, they outwardly appeared far more enthusiastic.

How much they secretly despised or looked down on him, no one knew.

Fang Xing didn't care about any of this—he couldn't lose a single hair from it.

Soon, news of this battle spread throughout the Boundless Mountain.

Outside the Palace of the Chaos Great Saint, the giant ape scratched at his fur, watching the battle replay:

"Third-tier Fire Dao, second-tier Void Dao... even the weakest disciple of Lady Qinghua wouldn't be this weak..."

"If a Heavenly Demon took notice of him, he must have something extraordinary... perhaps it lies in his true body?"

Forget it; better to spend this time studying staff techniques and eating a few more immortal peaches…

The giant ape yawned.

…

The core members of Wu Jie Mountain are all at least the fourth level of Dao Principle comprehension… In terms of elite strength, they surpass even the true disciples of the Seven Kill Demon Palace and rival the demonic princes of the beast tribes…

Inside the cave dwelling, Fang Xing pondered silently.

This is actually quite normal, since the Seven Kill Demon Palace has only one Tianxian-level Seven Kill Daoist.

Both the Green Emperor Palace and Wu Jie Mountain are true great powers of the Qing Yuan Grand Realm, with Hun Dun realm elders to back them!

Naturally, their core disciples are held to higher standards.

Fang Xing felt no shame over losing face and began searching through the time-related inheritances he needed.

"The first three volumes of 'Cun Guang Yin'… eight thousand merit points."

"The complete 'Tian Di Ce'… thirteen thousand merit points."

"The upper volume of 'Chun Qiu Lu'… nine thousand merit points."

After spending considerable time sifting through the vast ocean of inheritances, Fang Xing found the time Dao inheritance he needed.

"The 'Tian Di Ce' is excellent—containing the most secret techniques—but its price exceeds my budget… However, core disciples receive a discount on their first purchase of a scripture."

"All three of these inheritances are based on the Time Dao, but each emphasizes different aspects… 'Cun Guang Yin' focuses more on spear techniques, using the spear to embody the Time Dao."

"'Chun Qiu Lu' leans toward sword techniques… When the Spring-Autumn Sword is drawn, combined with the Spring-Autumn secret arts, it can sever an enemy's lifespan… But Nascent Soul cultivators live ten thousand years, and Tianxian cultivators live a hundred million… Unless you happen upon an old cultivator near death, it won't be easy to sever a large amount of lifespan…"

"Compared to the others, 'Cun Guang Yin' is better… Besides, I've been using the spear more lately."

Fang Xing chose to purchase it.

After deducting the merit points, streams of light converged before him, forming a black iron book.

Around the black iron book, time itself seemed to ripple faintly.

"No wonder it's the Tai Xu Illusion Realm."

Fang Xing sighed in awe and opened the first page of the black iron book.

"I, Black Dragon, swear by the Dao of Cause and Effect: I will never leak this inheritance."

In the Tai Xu Illusion Realm, every purchased inheritance, secret technique, or martial art scripture… has a Cause-and-Effect Oath on its first page.

Fang Xing had no intention of leaking it—he immediately swore the oath, allowing him to turn to the second page…

Only two updates today.

(End of Chapter)