Chapter 104: The Great Escape! Don’t Stop! The Demon’s Wrath!

Page (1/3)

Run! Run quickly!

Shen Lian had only one thought: he dared not pilot the spirit vessel, so he directly merged his Five Elements Spirit Puppet into the surging waters.

He used the boundless ocean to dilute his aura.

Although this method was somewhat slower, even if he fully unleashed the spirit vessel’s power, how could he hope to match the speed of a Golden Core cultivator?

The entity controlled by the Old Demon of Black Cliff had just escaped from Aoshi Immortal City through a teleportation array, likely for the spiritual artifact contained within this shell.

Fortunately, the spiritual energy was greatly suppressed after entering the body.

Shen Lian’s luck was good. Not far after escaping, he encountered a hidden ocean current and immediately merged his Water-element Spirit Puppet into it, using the current’s speed to hasten his escape.

...

Crimson Light Island.

This mortal island not far from Aoshi Immortal City was home to some minor Qi Refining cultivators.

The repeated explosions on par with the power of an Initial Golden Core level had indeed frightened these Qi Refining practitioners.

The island’s mortals knelt to the ground in terror, repeatedly kowtowing and crying out in fear.

It was simply too terrifying.

When the booming sounds erupted, they glimpsed the scene beyond the mountains: crimson flames intertwined with purple lightning, blanketing the sky.

Fierce flashes of thunderfire transformed into a vast ocean of fire and lightning.

After the destructive aura subsided, the minor Qi Refiners cautiously approached.

Still, they did not dare come too close. When they reached the outer perimeter of the devastation, half a day had passed.

Even at the edges, the entire area was scorched black by the thunderfire; the ground was riddled with pits and cracks spreading in all directions, suffused with the searing aura of destructive fire and lightning.

“This…”

“Was that a duel between Golden Core cultivators?”

“So terrifying!”

These minor Qi Refiners, no stronger than the fifth or sixth layer of Qi Refining, watched the lingering thunderfire with awe and fear, hesitant to approach but curious nonetheless.

Some even hoped to find some opportunity amid the chaos.

Not all were indifferent. The Immortal Masters stationed in the mortal town on Crimson Light Island had already sent a transmission talisman to report the incident to Aoshi Immortal City.

A Golden Core cultivator wielding thunderfire near Aoshi Immortal City warranted a report.

Immortal Master Qinghai arrived swiftly.

Hovering above the thunderfire-ridden area, he repeatedly cast blue spiritual energy.

The collision between water spiritual energy and thunderfire crackled sharply.

Thunder and fire techniques were among the most explosive and powerful spells, and the fusion of the two was even more formidable.

By sensing the aura of the thunderfire, Qinghai Immortal Master estimated the energy level here was roughly at the Golden Core realm.

In truth, it was still somewhat inferior to his own false Golden Core cultivation.

However, the added thunderfire power caused a greater range of destruction than even his attacks could produce.

After investigation, Qinghai Immortal Master was about seventy percent certain.

“A third-tier thunderfire attribute talisman treasure.”

The thunderfire spiritual energy here lacked the fluidity of a true Golden Core cultivator’s mastery; it resembled an activated talisman instead.

Within the vast Wanxing Sea, most Golden Core cultivators controlled water-element spells; mastery of thunderfire attribute at Golden Core was nearly nonexistent, let alone a third-tier thunderfire talisman treasure.

The pawn controlled by the Old Demon of Black Cliff had just fled Aoshi Immortal City, and immediately a third-tier duel broke out here.

Qinghai Immortal Master’s expression flickered.

Something was wrong!

Why was there only the thunderfire aura? Where was the other combatant’s energy?

He moved around repeatedly, searching high and low, grasping at the swirling thunderfire energies around, but gained no clue.

The thunderfire aura was too intense; the other combatant’s aura was either completely obscured or someone was simply playing with a third-tier talisman treasure here.

Who would be so wasteful? Even the Grand Sect of Xuanhai would not carelessly toss talismans around.

“Guards, protect this site from damage.”

After much consideration, Qinghai Immortal Master gave his orders.

He was only a false Golden Core cultivator, his insight and strength limited; others of true Golden Core rank from the sect would need to investigate further for new findings.

...

Beneath the vast ocean, the currents were swift and chaotic. Shen Lian had no idea how far he had traveled; he simply kept close to the water and headed northeast.

Along the way, he encountered numerous fleets but dared not linger.

The spiritual energy continuously released from the shell obtained from the Old Demon’s pawn flowed into his body, integrating into his five internal organs.

Besides the Water-element Spirit Puppet in use, the other four Elemental Puppets, ravenous as if starved for years, greedily absorbed the spiritual energy.

This kind of spiritual energy was new to Shen Lian—so fluid and slippery.

The boundless energy surging through his body was somewhat overwhelming.

After several days, Shen Lian felt he could no longer continue without release.

One night, he quietly emerged from the water onto a small island.

He excavated a small cave dwellings underground, arranged formations, then sat down again, returning the Water-element Spirit Puppet to its place, forming a complete Five Elements cycle, finally allowing some respite.

Page (2/3)

The art of the Ten Thousand Spirits Puppets recorded that a puppet needs to be nourished by spiritual materials to advance; the essence of heaven and earth was ideal, greatly enhancing the puppet’s spirituality and rank.

This made Shen Lian suspect that the shell contained some kind of essence of heaven and earth.

The spiritual energy of this essence seemed to resist being refined directly by flesh and blood.

Shen Lian tried refining it himself but found only the residual spiritual energy that leaked out after being consumed by the puppet could be refined.

The Five Elements Spirit Puppets, positioned at the five internal organs, formed a cyclical pattern, continuously drawing the shell’s refined spiritual energy.

Shen Lian, as the controller, became more of a spectator.

But not entirely; occasionally, he would receive some blessings.

During the Five Elements cycle, the puppets emitted a considerable amount of partially refined spiritual energy, which he could absorb and convert into his own spiritual power, integrating it into his Dantian.

Having obtained such a treasure, Shen Lian dared not stop his cultivation.

Once his internal energy was stabilized, he set off again.

Running—he could not stop.

There was no other choice.

Essences of heaven and earth were likely scarce even within the Xuanhai Sect.

If truly caught, a Foundation Establishment cultivator would have little chance against a genuine Golden Core master.

He still avoided using the spirit vessel, instead fusing with the vast ocean.

Water escape, Five Elements Water Spirit Puppet, fish and shrimp escape, and the Ten-Thousand-Mile Divine Travel Talisman were rotated in use.

Thanks to the Five Elements Water Puppet as a backup, he easily passed through dangerous sea regions, such as those frequented by bandits.

Yet the spiritual energy released from the shell forced him to stop periodically and find places to rest and reorganize.

The Five Elements Spirit Puppets treated their master well, even providing occasional nourishing “soups” when fully fed.

The secondary spiritual energy released from the puppets was a boon, allowing Shen Lian to travel continuously without delay; this spiritual energy greatly supplemented his reserves.

And still, there was no hindrance to his cultivation.

The continuous secondary spiritual energy was assimilated into Five Elements spiritual power, flowing into his Dantian.

...

Two months later.

Wanxing Sea, Tianyun Abyss.

The deep, dark sea surface reflected layers of overlapping clouds.

This vast, deep sea spanned tens of thousands of miles without a single island.

It was one of the rarely visited abysses in Wanxing Sea, filled with undercurrents.

A figure descended through the air, plunging directly into the abyss. Soil-yellow sprouts spun within his golden-brown pupils as he dove into the surging water.

Underwater, darkness enveloped him as he fell deeper.

At some unknown depth, a soil-yellow glow lit his chest, sprouting yellow-black tree buds.

The buds emitted a strange shimmering aura like ripples, spreading downward in layers.

Soon, similar ripples arose in the dark waters below.

When the two ripples met, the tree buds ascended then fell downward, while the figure remained still submerged.

The underwater darkness grew heavier; the buds shimmered as they descended to the seabed and attached to a reef.

“Hum!”

Suddenly, a flash of spiritual light erupted from the reef, swirling light swallowed the buds.

Within the light circle was a separate realm.

Small in size, only about ten zhang across.

The boundary shimmered with black light, balancing fluidly with the surging waters, isolating aura and blocking external water currents.

Inside, a gnarled old tree root, twisted like a long black snake and wrinkled, sprawled across the space.

The trunk branched out into countless roots, all radiating a strong aura of decay.

Beneath the roots was a sticky pool of rotten water soaking fallen, withered bark.

On the trunk and branches were tiny new buds, ranging from bean-sized to fist-sized, most withered and lifeless.

Irregular circular scars, likely from fallen buds, marked parts of the roots.

The bud entering the realm floated above the roots; the yellow-black sprout’s light flared as its leaves slowly opened, revealing a shell.

The shell opened gently, releasing a pearl-like droplet of moist spiritual light.

This was the essence of the Earth Spirit from the underground spiritual veins of the Sea Heritage Immortal City.

The warm spiritual light exuded a nurturing aura, gradually enveloping the entire root.

Like rain blessing a drought-stricken land, the withered, decaying roots absorbed the light with soft swallowing sounds.

Countless motes of light seemed to be drawn into the roots.

Soon, the dead roots stirred first, slowly moving like tentacles.

Compared to the massive trunk, these roots were insignificant.

The Earth Spirit Pearl’s spiritual energy was continuously drawn into the roots; the withered buds on the trunk began to tremble faintly.

Yet, as they absorbed the spiritual power, the buds burst one by one.

The Earth Spirit Pearl grew smaller and smaller until entirely consumed by the trunk.

Only two buds remained on the roots, showing faint green hints amid the black-yellow decay, gaining some vitality.

Otherwise, the roots showed little change.

Page (3/3)

The decay was too intense; the Earth Spirit Pearl’s spiritual energy was insufficient to fully nourish it.

The two small sprouts, faintly green, were the only colors within the small realm.

The realm calmed once again.

Half a month passed.

“Hum!”

The dead roots suddenly trembled; strands of black aura rose, coalescing into a dark mist above the roots.

Within the rolling mist appeared a thin figure resembling a frail mortal scholar.

This image was how everyone in Wanxing Sea recognized “it,” the first human demon cultivator host that the Old Demon of Black Cliff had parasitized after falling there.

Outside, human cultivators called it the Old Demon of Black Cliff.

“...Another... Earth Spirit...”

“Another Earth Spirit...”

A hoarse voice sounded, initially unfamiliar.

“Hm?”

The Old Demon’s expression stiffened before a surge of anger ignited.

The realm’s decay and demonic aura roiled violently.

Black streams of aura emerged from the roots, forming grotesque demonic silhouettes circling the figure, radiating indescribably negative and evil energies.

The space’s aura clashed, descending into chaotic turmoil before gradually settling.

“Damn it!”

The Old Demon snarled fiercely. Having schemed for years and sacrificed nearly all his pawns to obtain two Earth Spirits, one was now stolen midway—especially the better-quality one.

Essences of heaven and earth were rare and difficult to nurture, requiring long periods to raise in rank.

“Huff, huff...”

The negative aura around him converged in his hands, formed into a bean-sized pellet, which he slowly chewed and swallowed.

Having only refined one Earth Spirit essence, it paled compared to the decay and demonic aura within his body.

If he had refined both, he could have temporarily suppressed some decay and gained greater strength.

But now...

The Old Demon looked toward the two flickering sprouts on the roots, conjuring a giant hand to tear off one, chewing it in his mouth.

The remaining sprout’s green vitality grew stronger as the Old Demon’s head collided with it.

The small sprout expelled a three-inch branch, slowly peeling from the dead root and flying beyond the barrier.

Boom!

The waters of Tianyun Abyss exploded violently.

A figure shot out, black-yellow sprout shadows swirling in his pupils.

On his shoulder, a sprout about three inches long swayed gently.

...

On an unknown small island in the vast ocean.

The beach glittered golden under the sunlight.

An illusory fish leapt up, transforming into human form midair.

“Phew...”

Shen Lian exhaled deeply.

After more than two months of continuous escape through the ocean, he no longer knew his exact location.

He only recalled passing many islands and likely escaping the central sea area of Wanxing Sea, where spiritual energy was much sparser and encounters with cultivator fleets fewer.

Traveling through water, he had detoured around many dangerous areas to avoid threats.

He estimated he was now about thirty to forty thousand miles from Aoshi Immortal City.

After arriving at this island, Shen Lian quickly concealed himself underground.

It was a small island with no signs of inhabitants after several careful observations from the water.

This time ashore was mainly because his spiritual power in the Dantian was full.

He needed a place to advance to the third layer of Foundation Establishment; otherwise, the spiritual energy released by the shell would overflow, with nowhere to hold it.

Even so, Shen Lian dared not remove the shell from his body; with him as a shield, the shell’s spiritual energy was somewhat contained.

Once removed, the spiritual energy release might be detected.

The Old Demon had schemed intensely, sacrificing many Golden Core pawns to obtain this treasure.

If it were discovered on him, he would face the wrath of both the Old Demon and the Xuanhai Sect.

Now, even if his spiritual power burst, he would never take it out.

After arranging guards and defenses on the island, Shen Lian sat cross-legged in his cave, beginning to practice the Five Qi Returning to Origin Technique.

“Huff, huff...”

Previously, nurturing the Heavenly Evolution Jade Talisman slowed his cultivation and affected results.

Now, with the Five Elements Spirit Puppets releasing some nourishing essence, Shen Lian’s Five Elements spiritual power was extraordinarily rich, flowing like nectar, shimmering with multicolored light.

Circulating his cultivation method repeatedly, consolidating the energy in his Dantian, he began to break through to the next minor realm.

(End of chapter)