usatvline Chapter 263 - 207: Body Refining Technique
Chapter 263 - 207: Body Refining Technique
「Two days later.」
The camp in the Wilderness Forest was still on high alert. Many Cultivators had died in the great battle a few days prior, and the aftermath was only now being dealt with.
Taking advantage of this time, Fang Qingyuan took out the spoils from that night and divided them among the others.
The Deer Demon was at the Mid-stage Foundation Establishment, and its flesh, blood, and hide were altogether worth twenty to thirty Top-grade Spirit Stones.
The Hedgehog Demon was the most valuable of all. The silver-white spikes covering its body were excellent materials for Artifact Refining. This was especially true for its three Lifebound Spikes, which were perfectly preserved since the demon hadn’t launched them. The moment they were revealed, the other Foundation Establishment Cultivators started a bidding war over them.
Fang Qingyuan had taken these slain demon beasts and put them up for an internal auction, starting the bids much lower than the market price.
The Spirit Stones from the auction would then be distributed among the group. This way, the Cultivators who valued the materials could spend some Spirit Stones to acquire them, while those who didn’t could simply receive a larger share of the earnings.
In addition to these Foundation Establishment Demon Beasts, the flesh and blood from over a thousand Qi Refining Demon Beasts also represented a considerable fortune. Fang Qingyuan had his disciples prepare everything and had already dispatched a team to transport these materials to the Yuanling Mountain Marketplace.
The spoils from the Foundation Establishment Demon Beasts could be handled internally, but the remains of over a thousand Qi Refining Demon Beasts had to be sold to the general population of Cultivators.
After dealing with these miscellaneous tasks, Fang Qingyuan remained garrisoned at the camp, patiently waiting for Lechuan and Huo Bai to arrive.
That day, Shangguan You had already killed the demon-possessed Elder Zhang. If they didn’t want to investigate further, Fang Qingyuan’s mission was already a complete success.
The mastermind who drove the demon beasts to attack the camp was a Golden Core Demon Beast hundreds of miles away, deep within the Wilderness Forest, and Fang Qingyuan had no intention of seeking revenge on his own.
Without a Nascent Soul Ancestor watching over them, leading people into the Wilderness Forest to seek revenge on a Golden Core Demon Beast would be a very foolish thing to do.
However, Fang Qingyuan was unwilling to simply retreat. The thought of the message Luo Kun had sent via the Scorpion-tailed Bees, of the Purple Spirit Crystal Fish that could advance a Cultivator’s cultivation, made his heart burn with excitement.
’Cultivating step-by-step is fine, but eating a few fish could save me over a decade of arduous training. Who wouldn’t want that?’
As a top-grade, second-rank Spiritual Object, Purple Spirit Crystal Fish were already very difficult to find in the outside world. Even the Beast Taming Sect didn’t raise many of them, and the ones they did have were at Zongshan, completely out of Fang Qingyuan’s reach.
These fish had very high environmental requirements and were not easy to farm artificially. Moreover, a Spiritual Object capable of enhancing a Cultivator’s cultivation would be snatched up instantly the moment it appeared. It was only in a remote and uninhabited place like the Wilderness Forest that so many could be found.
For the sake of these Spirit Fish alone, Fang Qingyuan couldn’t just leave.
"First Seat, Sect Leader Le is about thirty miles out. A message came through telling us to prepare to receive him."
Zhan Zhi’er walked over and reported to the pensive Fang Qingyuan. Her words overjoyed him, and he strode quickly out of his tent to begin preparations for the reception.
.....
"We greet you, Sect Leader."
Following the synchronized shout, Lechuan disembarked from a grand cloud-chariot. Appearing alongside him was Huo Bai, dressed all in white.
When Fang Qingyuan saw Huo Bai, his heart settled. ’It seems the Purple Spirit Crystal Fish are a great lure for Huo Bai as well.’
Huo Bai had already reached the Golden Core realm. The Purple Spirit Crystal Fish were highly effective for Foundation Establishment Stage Cultivators, but for Huo Bai, they were more or less dispensable.
However, while he might not need them himself, his Companion Beast, the White Tiger, was still polishing its realm at the Late-stage Foundation Establishment.
"Is your information about the Purple Spirit Crystal Fish reliable?"
Inside a Quiet Chamber, only Fang Qingyuan, Lechuan, and Huo Bai were present. Currently, only Fang Qingyuan knew about the discovery of the Purple Spirit Crystal Fish. He hadn’t leaked the information, instead reporting it directly to Lechuan.
For a treasure like this, the fewer people who knew, the better. If word got out, the Golden Core Cultivators from the White Mountain Territory would likely come to seize it as well.
Just because an ownerless treasure in the depths of the Wilderness Forest was closest to the Southern Border Beast Taming Sect’s sphere of influence didn’t mean they could force other powers to give them face.
When it came to Heaven and Earth Spiritual Materials like this, no sect’s reputation was worth anything. Only fists did the talking.
It was a pity that Huo Cheng and Heiye were still stuck in the Black Marsh and couldn’t get out. Otherwise, Fang Qingyuan would have felt much more confident this time.
"The information I received came from Luo Kun. On the day of the great battle, he traveled upstream, mingling with the retreating demon beasts until he reached an unfamiliar land. It was there that he discovered these Purple Spirit Crystal Fish."
Fang Qingyuan relayed all the information he knew. Relying on his Spiritual Silkworm’s aura-concealing Divine Technique, Luo Kun had mixed in with the retreating Qi Refining Demon Beasts and actually managed to sneak his way right into the Golden Core Demon Beast’s lair.
Furthermore, Fang Qingyuan had an inside man, the demon beast Fen Shui Yi. During the battle, Fang Qingyuan had deliberately avoided Fen Shui Yi’s position and even driven a heavily wounded Foundation Establishment Demon Beast its way. He was confident Fen Shui Yi would understand his intentions.
It was quite normal for demon beasts of the same rank to devour each other to increase their cultivation. Fang Qingyuan’s action was also part of their previously agreed-upon terms.
Now, after hearing what Fang Qingyuan had to say, Huo Bai made a decision after only a moment of thought:
"I’ll go myself. My White Tiger has only just entered the Late-stage Foundation Establishment. To reach Foundation Establishment Late-Stage Perfection would take another thirty to forty years. That’s too long. I don’t want to wait anymore."
Huo Bai’s Companion Beast, the White Tiger, had originally been at a higher cultivation realm than Huo Bai himself. However, a demon beast’s cultivation speed simply couldn’t compare to a human’s. Now that Huo Bai had already reached the Golden Core realm, his companion had only just entered the Late-stage Foundation Establishment.
Many of Huo Bai’s Divine Techniques and methods required coordination with his Spirit Beast. Now, his Companion Beast’s low cultivation was affecting his combat power. It was no longer an asset, but a liability.
Seeing that Huo Bai had made up his mind, Lechuan looked hesitant. The Wilderness Forest was not a place to be trifled with. Even Golden Core Cultivators couldn’t guarantee their own safety inside.
Huo Bai saw the look on Lechuan’s face and knew he was worried, so he tried to reassure him:
"Senior Brother Le, I know what I’m doing on this trip. My only goal is the Purple Spirit Crystal Fish. I’ll leave as soon as I get them. I’ll do my best to avoid conflict with the Golden Core Demon Beast. I’ll be back in three to five days at most."
Seeing Huo Bai’s firm attitude, Lechuan had no choice but to agree. After all, if Huo Bai was truly set on going, he couldn’t stop him.
There was no time to lose. Huo Bai clarified the details of Luo Kun’s information, took the token used to contact him, and left the camp without alerting anyone else. Following the markers Luo Kun had left behind, man and tiger headed deep into the Wilderness Forest.
After Huo Bai left, Lechuan looked at Fang Qingyuan and praised him:
"You handled this matter well. Daring to lead people out of the Array to hunt those Foundation Establishment Demon Beasts... Very good."
After praising Fang Qingyuan for a bit, Lechuan took out a jade slip with a smile. Holding it in his palm, he said:
"Do you remember what I said that day? I specially requested this Body Refining Technique for you from the Zongshan Scripture Pavilion. Take a look and see if it suits you."
A Body Refining Technique?
Fang Qingyuan accepted it with a joyful expression. After thanking Lechuan, he eagerly extended his Divine Sense into the jade slip. Immediately, four large words, brimming with mystical power, materialized in his mind:
Five Elements Undying Body!