Chapter 436

"It seems you also wish to enter the Peach Valley Secret Realm?"

Fang Xing smiled faintly: "Especially eager to go with me?"

"Naturally..." Wu Qi made no attempt to conceal it: "You escaped the Water-Fire Prison, yet mastered the Instant Transmission technique... As long as I'm with you, even if we encounter a strong Nascent Soul cultivator, we can flee. Entering a mere Peach Valley Secret Realm would be far safer... If I don't act soon, someone else might invite you away."

These core members were all capable of battling Nascent Soul cultivators despite being Foundation Establishment, though their opponents were mostly below Nascent Soul Third Reckoning.

If they encountered Nascent Soul Fourth Reckoning or higher, victory or defeat was uncertain; if they met Nascent Soul Seventh Reckoning or above, nine out of ten of them would die.

After all, Nascent Soul experts possessed far greater spiritual power in both quality and quantity than Foundation Establishment cultivators, and their understanding of cosmic laws often surpassed the Fourth Reckoning.

If these core members ascended to Nascent Soul, they could easily match Nascent Soul Fifth or Sixth Reckoning cultivators.

But against Nascent Soul Seventh Reckoning or higher, it still remained uncertain.

After all, ordinary hermit Nascent Soul cultivators, those from major factions, even true disciples who broke through to Nascent Soul, and the ultimate Nascent Soul overlords—all were entirely different concepts.

"If that's the case, then I'll accompany Brother Wu and venture there."

Fang Xing nodded.

A "Peach Valley Secret Realm" restricted to Foundation Establishment cultivators was much like the Blue Flower Minor Realm.

With his current strength, he feared almost no one.

Even the direct bloodlines or favored sons of great experts could at most grant him a life-saving talisman, never powerful treasures.

Just like the final life-saving spiritual talisman the Blue Flower Lady gave him.

If too extraordinary a treasure were given, it would only ruin the recipient.

True Qiangzhe must ultimately grow through real combat.

Just as Fang Xing prepared to leave, he was stunned to find himself a coveted asset.

Not only from the demon race, but even among human cultivators, many had come to invite him to join their missions in the Boundless Mountain.

After all, his performance in the combat trial had confirmed his status as a core member.

These prodigies carried pride, preferring only to associate with peers of equal caliber.

His revealed "Instant Transmission" technique was nearly the finest life-saving skill among Foundation Establishment cultivators.

As a teammate, his support and escape capabilities were astonishing.

With him in the team, even a prince's squad from the Green Emperor's Palace would not be feared.

"Brother Heilong... this little sister Hu Jiuniang greets you."

As Fang Xing pondered, a demon race core member approached.

She had a pure face but a wildly disproportionate voluptuous figure, and most crucially, six thick, fluffy fox tails swayed behind her in the wind.

"Sister Hu..."

Fang Xing lowered his dragon head in greeting.

After all, they were all of his kind—why strike a smiling face?

"Have you heard of the 'Wanhua Secret Realm'? Its 'Ice Spirit Liquid' has extraordinary effects... greatly beneficial for spiritual sense cultivation."

Hu Jiuniang spoke with seductive eyes.

"Hmm, I've heard of it, but I've already agreed to go with Brother Wu Qi..."

Fang Xing declined regretfully: "Next time if I'm free, we can go together..."

He had some knowledge of special secret realm products.

Many were exceedingly rare.

The "Ice Spirit Liquid" was one of them.

Yet only core members could know of such benefits.

Ordinary or formal members likely couldn't even gain entry to these secret realms.

After politely declining several more groups, Fang Xing arranged a time with Wu Qi to meet in person before heading to the Peach Valley Secret Realm together.

Qingyuan Major Realm.

Somewhere.

Roar! Roar! Roar!

The earth cracked open, and a black dragon a thousand meters long soared forth, its scales black-red, its body shimmering with starlight; its mighty bloodline and physique caused the surrounding void to faintly fracture.

"After sleeping so long, I really should move."

Fang Xing stretched his dragon claws and wings freely, feeling profoundly refreshed.

During these years immersed in the Grand Void Illusion, his physical body had simply dug a hole in a remote wilderness and slept ever since.

"The place I agreed to meet Wu Qi is still a bit distant... but Instant Transmission makes it easy."

Fang Xing nodded, and his mind shifted.

Whoosh!

His body instantly shrank to about twenty meters, and the terrifying aura of his physique subsided.

Then...

Silver light flickered in the void, and his form slipped into the Grand Void, then into the Illusory Void layer.

After moving a short distance, Fang Xing returned to Qingyuan Major Realm—and found the world utterly changed.

He stood in a valley surrounded by blooming flowers, utterly deserted.

"Rise!"

Fang Xing muttered, and a pile of rocks split apart, revealing an ancient, unadorned token.

The token floated up and landed before him, glowing faintly—then Song Zhong's voice emerged: "Master..." "Hmm, anything new lately?"

Fang Xing asked casually.

"I've broken through to Nascent Soul and become a senior elder of the Seven Kill Demon Palace..."

Song Zhong hurriedly said: "But the demon prince Fu Shan relentlessly pursues me, using every means to suppress me—I'm now struggling even within the Seven Kill Demon Palace."

Had it not been for the Seven Kill Demon Palace and the She Xi Tribe being hostile factions, even after his breakthrough, he would surely be dead.

And against the entire Green Emperor's Palace, the Seven Kill Demon Palace was clearly the weaker side.

Of course, this was only because Song Zhong had already reached Nascent Soul.

Otherwise, he might already be dead without cause.

After all, Fang Xing knew the Green Emperor's Palace surely had spies within the Seven Kill Demon Palace.

And the Original Demon Sect undoubtedly had moles within the Green Emperor's Palace as well.

As for the Seven Kill Demon Palace? Hard to say—it was too small.

"Fu Shan? If he wants to die, then let him die."

Fang Xing spoke: "I know you dare not leave the Seven Kill Demon Palace now, but this time, go directly to the Peach Valley Secret Realm—and quietly spread the news."

The Boundless Mountain already had disputes with the Peach Valley Secret Realm and the Green Emperor's Palace.

Last time, Kun Yuanzi, a core member of the Boundless Mountain equivalent to a demon prince, died in the Peach Valley Secret Realm—and the Boundless Mountain took no revenge.

This time, if a demon prince dies, the Boundless Mountain will only cheer!

"Yes!"

As a soul servant, Song Zhong would never refuse any of Fang Xing's orders—he would execute them without hesitation, at all costs!

Fang Xing crushed the communication token, and with a thought, used Instant Transmission again.

Outside a massive mountain.

Countless demon apes leapt and played among the forest.

A white ape, carrying a pitch-black iron rod, suddenly looked up.

Silver light flashed in the void—a twenty-meter-long black dragon appeared: "Brother Wu..."

"Hah! Brother Heilong, your Instant Transmission technique is truly peerless... If I traveled normally, I'd still be on the road!"

Wu Qi laughed loudly.

"Qingyuan Major Realm is perilous—many places have special restrictions or barriers..."

Fang Xing shook his head, gazing at the massive mountain with a hint of reverence.

This was Baihou Mountain, home of the Great Holy of Chaos; the mountain stood nine light-years tall and was famed throughout Qingyuan Major Realm—he'd be a fool to teleport directly inside, for that would be an insult to a heavenly demon elder—and besides, Instant Transmission couldn't penetrate it anyway.

He had merely teleported to the mountain's outer edge—like arriving at the gate to meet someone.

"Hah... still need Brother Heilong to give me a ride—we'll head to the Peach Valley Secret Realm together."

Wu Qi seemed nostalgic: "I haven't tasted the Green Peach or Red Peach in ages... though the ones in the Grand Void Illusion are good, they're nothing compared to the real thing."

"Indeed... one Green Peach can purify spiritual power, upgrading inferior to intermediate; multiple doses can even raise intermediate to superior..."

Fang Xing, thinking of the Peach Valley Secret Realm's specialty, felt a pang of awe: "But the truly powerful are the Red Peaches—they can purify superior spiritual power into Immortal-grade spiritual power..."

"True... but the proper path is still cultivation—relying on external items to purify spiritual power means that when you ascend a major realm, whatever you gained will fall back just as easily..."

Wu Qi shook his head.

Fang Xing understood.

In this world, only bloodline and cultivation methods could truly elevate spiritual power quality.

For instance, he himself still possessed superior spiritual power; the technique to cultivate Immortal-grade spiritual power did exist—the "Cun Guangyin" scripture mentioned it—but he still needed to cultivate and comprehend it...

Yet now, if he swallowed just one Red Peach, he could nearly elevate his spiritual power to Immortal-grade.

Alas, such spiritual power, though powerful, was not cultivated by himself.

When he breaks through to Nascent Soul and his spiritual power's quality and quantity surge, his spiritual power grade might well drop back to superior.

Of course, it is the Superior grade of Nascent Soul, surpassing the Immortal grade of the Mortal Realm.

To transform into the Immortal grade of the Nascent Soul Realm, one must either continue consuming Red Peaches, or elevate one's bloodline to Imperial Blood, or successfully cultivate an Immortal-grade technique!

And if one already possesses Imperial Blood or has cultivated an Immortal-grade technique, then no matter how one's realm advances, one's spiritual power remains Immortal-grade.

Even so, these Green and Red Peaches are like a long-awaited rain to many Mortal Realm and Nascent Soul cultivators with poor talent or insight.

Of course, for someone like Fang Xing, a core member, their greatest value lies in being "delicious" and redeemable for numerous merit points.

Even for these core members, merit points are never enough.

Not to mention, after breaking into the Nascent Soul Realm, one needs vast quantities of Nascent Soul Fluid to advance rapidly.

The consumption required to ascend from Nascent Soul First Layer to Nascent Soul Ninth Layer is astronomical—even Celestial Demons and Celestial Immortals would feel the strain.

Most core members, even after breaking into the Nascent Soul Realm, rely solely on their own quiet cultivation.

After all, Nascent Soul Realm elders have ten thousand years of lifespan; it's more than sufficient.

Only under special circumstances do they use Nascent Soul Fluid.

"Brother Wu, let's go."

Fang Xing opened his dragon claws, allowing the white ape to leap lightly onto his palm; then he bowed to Baihou Mountain, flicked his tail, and vanished.

On the monkey mountain, a giant ape standing upright watched silently, seeing the black dragon depart…

(End of Chapter)