Chapter 416 - 47: Thunder
Fang Cheng listened to the woman in black and suppressed his astonishment.
’So, it requires a mighty figure at least at the Fifth Heaven of the Tribulation Realm to break the Bright Mandala Embryo Barrier?’
Fang Cheng glanced at the Crystal Coffin suppressed in the center by the four Buddha Statues, his expression slightly complicated.
Befriending such a powerful figure could only help him.
After all, the Celestial Dao of this Red Profound Realm had been "polluted" by the Demon Lord. Tribulation Realm Cultivators in this world found it difficult to pass the Ninth Celestial Tribulation, meaning their paths of cultivation were effectively severed.
If this woman were to be released into the world, she might provide a rare impetus to shatter this worldly prison.
The woman in black sized up the Feather Divine Soldiers and smiled. "Since you’ve agreed to the deal, I won’t have you make this trip for nothing. Take this Celestial Demon Relic as a down payment."
With a wave of her delicate hand, a crystal-clear, diamond-like relic materialized and floated toward Fang Cheng.
Fang Cheng’s gaze sharpened as he sensed the vast, ocean-like Demonic Qi within the relic.
"Thank you, Senior. Is this a Tier Five Celestial Demon Relic?" he asked in a deep voice.
The woman in black chuckled. "This relic should be enough to power that iron shell of yours for a long time."
The Feather Divine Soldiers took the Celestial Demon Relic and slapped it right into its chest.
Inside the massive Feather Divine Soldiers, a Divine Furnace of astonishing power erupted with Thunder Liquid so dense it was almost tangible, swallowing the Celestial Demon Relic.
Normally, Fang Cheng used Tier Four Celestial Demon Relics to power the Feather Divine Soldiers.
Now, with this Tier Five Celestial Demon Relic, the Divine Furnace within the Feather Divine Soldiers felt as if it was about to overflow and burst. Abundant, boundless Thunder Power filled its body, and arcs of electricity flickered across its surface, making it appear even more majestic and domineering.
Fang Cheng didn’t stand on ceremony and said directly, "I will find a way to rescue you as soon as possible, Senior."
The woman in black sighed softly, a look of disinterest on her face. She waved her hand. "Go."
A divine light descended, enveloped the Feather Divine Soldiers, and then vanished.
Amidst the boundless Buddha Light, the woman in black’s figure also quietly dissipated, as if she had never been there at all.
Only a near-eternal peace and serenity remained.
...
「Back in the grand hall.」
Wrapped in a ball of spiritual light, the Feather Divine Soldiers suddenly dropped from the canopy of the Bronze Giant Tree.
The hall was filled with the deafening roar of spiritual explosions. Brilliant lights flashed, energies roiled, and fierce winds swept through the area.
Two groups of Cultivators were locked in battle.
One group was, surprisingly, the Eastern Desolate Cultivators led by Zhao Wuji.
Qianmu Demon King, Bing Wuyi, and Lady Wei stood behind Zhao Wuji, their expressions grim.
Zhao Wuji held a Jade Ruyi, and a large, ancient, circular shield hovered above his head, protecting them all.
Judging by the ancient shield’s power, it was also a Fourth-rank Magical Artifact.
Opposite them, seven Cultivators with extraordinary auras had surrounded the four, attacking them together with ferocious momentum.
Among the seven, two had slightly weaker Cultivation Realms. Although they were at the Peak of Life Talisman, they unleashed combat power comparable to the Life Soul Realm, not much different from Bing Wuyi.
Two others wore Kasayas and were enveloped in Buddha Light. Their attacks were both fierce and majestic; they were actually Buddhist Cultivators.
In the distance, a giant, pure-white fox lay collapsed on the ground, covered in blood and on the verge of death.
Fang Cheng sensed the Cyan Rattan Demon King’s aura coming from it. ’This must be that beautiful and enchanting Demon King’s true form,’ he mused.
Setting aside Zhao Wuji and the Qianmu Demon King, the fact that Bing Wuyi and the Cyan Rattan Demon King could break through the Evil Spirits’ void bubbles, and that Lady Wei could dismantle the Buddhist Array outside, made Fang Cheng see them in a new light.
’They must have had another fortuitous encounter!’
At that moment, Zhao Wuji was almost single-handedly blocking the attacks of the seven opposing Cultivators and even had the strength to retaliate, making his opponents wary.
Behind him, the Qianmu Demon King held the Celestial Crane Palace, remotely commanding four Celestial Cranes to fight the enemy, tying up the two Buddhist Cultivators.
Their opponents were of extraordinary origin; three of them wielded Fourth-rank Magical Artifacts of immense power.
One of them, a golden Magic Ship, radiated endless brilliant light that made the void tremble, its Thunder Light fiercely smashing against the ancient circular shield.
Fang Cheng recognized this treasure...
The Qiankun Saint Sect!
Known as the number one power in the Western Wilderness, they had a Saint Heir at the Life Talisman Realm who wielded a Fourth-rank Magical Artifact, roamed the Wilderness, and was hailed as a prodigy.
’To think I’d run into them again here.’
His appearance drew surprise and curiosity from the Cultivators on both sides.
The leading Elder from the Qiankun Saint Sect glanced at the Feather Divine Soldiers, his expression growing slightly grave. He said, "Elder Qi, go and stop that person. After we kill these four, we’ll join forces to deal with him."
Elder Qi, holding a Duster and dressed in fine robes, was surrounded by scattered golden sparks and brilliant rosy light. Upon hearing the order, he withdrew from the battle, fixed a cold gaze on Fang Cheng, and demanded harshly, "Who are you? Why did you emerge from the Treasure Tree?"
Fang Cheng said flatly, "No comment."
Hearing this, Zhao Wuji and the others showed looks of pleasant surprise.
’It’s Fellow Daoist Fang’s voice!’
They had been wondering where Fang Cheng had gone. Logically, with his strength, he shouldn’t have been held up by the Evil Spirits.
’To think he actually went deeper into the great tomb...’
At this thought, besides their surprise and joy, a hint of envy and jealousy grew in the hearts of Zhao Wuji and the Qianmu Demon King.
Elder Qi sneered, "Since you beat us to the treasure in the tomb today, we can’t let you live."
With that, he struck.
’Killing someone for their treasure is the simplest way. Why waste words with nonsense like, "Hand over the treasure and I’ll spare your life"?’
The Duster in Elder Qi’s hand transformed into thousands of silver threads, which wrapped around and stabbed toward the Feather Divine Soldiers.
Fang Cheng let out a cold scoff. Electricity crackled explosively around the Feather Divine Soldiers. It took a single step and instantly appeared before Elder Qi.
BOOM! The Feather Divine Soldiers swiped a claw, which in an instant transformed into a hundred-foot-wide thunderous hand, swooping down like a mountain crashing from above.
Elder Qi’s Duster was also a Fourth-rank Magical Artifact, but upon contact with the Feather Divine Soldiers, it was overwhelmed and scattered by the Thunder Power, rendering it completely useless.
Seeing the massive hand of the Feather Divine Soldiers descending with the force to move mountains and seas, Elder Qi’s face turned grim. The countless silver threads of his duster wove together into a giant dragon that slammed viciously into the descending hand.
"BOOM!"
The hall shook violently with a world-shattering sound. Thunder Light danced, the silver threads disintegrated, and Elder Qi, having misjudged the Feather Divine Soldiers’ power, was swatted into oblivion, exploding into countless fragments of flesh and blood.
For a moment, the entire hall fell silent.
Everyone looked at the Feather Divine Soldiers standing beneath the Bronze Giant Tree. Its indigo Profound Iron Body was clad in simple yet grand golden armor covered in dense Profound Patterns that flowed with divine light. Its twin wings, like thousands of sharp swords, slowly unfurled.
Behind the Divine Soldiers, the nineteen snowflake-shaped Spirit Flame exhaust ports flared brilliantly. The Thunder Light on its wings surged, blanketing the entire hall.
"Not good, retreat!" the leading Elder of the Qiankun Saint Sect shouted urgently, his face pale.
But it was too late.
The Feather Divine Soldiers’ sword-like wings unfurled, and what followed was an endless, layered torrent of sharp Thunderous Sword Auras!
The Sword Aura was impossibly fast and incomparably sharp. Like a tide, it engulfed the remaining four members of the Qiankun Saint Sect and the two Buddhist Cultivators.
Within the Thunderous Sword Aura, the faint glimmer of treasures flashed a few times before disappearing.
A moment later, the Thunder Light dissipated.
All that remained in the air were a golden Magic Ship, a Profound Light Treasure Mirror, and six storage bags.
The first two were Fourth-rank Magical Artifacts, but they had unfortunately failed to protect their owners’ lives.
In a domineering and tyrannical display, Fang Cheng had obliterated all the Western Desolate Cultivators in a single blow.
For the first time, a look of terror appeared on Zhao Wuji’s face. He had a new understanding of Fang Cheng and the Yinluo Sect.
The jealousy and greed that had just sprouted in his heart vanished in an instant.
’Could this be something he obtained from the depths of the great tomb?’ Zhao Wuji wondered to himself as he looked at the Feather Divine Soldiers.
As for Bing Wuyi and Lady Wei, they were utterly dumbfounded, their minds reeling.
They felt a sense of fear, powerlessness, and awe toward the giant Profound Iron creation before them.
A slit opened on the brow of the Feather Divine Soldiers, and Fang Cheng calmly stepped out. With a wave of his sleeve, the massive Feather Divine Soldiers transformed, shrank, and was put away.
Fang Cheng then collected the spoils from the battle. Casually acquiring three Fourth-rank Magical Artifacts put him in a rather good mood.
"Fellow Daoist Fang, thank you for your timely assistance!"
Zhao Wuji put away his Magical Artifact, flew before Fang Cheng, and bowed in thanks.
Fang Cheng smiled. "Mr. Zhao, you’re too kind. We came to explore the tomb together, so it’s only natural that we’d face enemies together."
The Qianmu Demon King’s expression was full of goodwill. "To think you were a step ahead of us, Fellow Daoist. Congratulations on your fortuitous encounter!"
Fang Cheng exchanged a few pleasantries before asking about their experiences. He learned that when they encountered the Evil Spirit Black Tide, Zhao Wuji had used a Secret Technique to find Bing Wuyi, Qianmu Demon King, and the Cyan Rattan Demon King, but unfortunately, he was never able to find Fang Cheng.
Afterward, the group worked together to break through the void bubbles and return to the tomb passage. Lady Wei then took action, setting up an Array to break the existing one. After considerable effort, they entered the main hall.
By then, the Cultivators from the Qiankun Saint Sect and the Great Brightness Temple had already entered from another tomb passage and were trying to obtain treasures from the Bronze Giant Tree.
The Qiankun Saint Sect wanted to monopolize the Bronze Giant Tree, and Zhao Wuji, unwilling to leave empty-handed, engaged them in a fierce battle.
The Cyan Rattan Demon King was the first to fall, left on the brink of death. If not for a Saint Heir from the Qiankun Saint Sect intentionally sparing her, the enchanting Demon King would have long since perished.
After that, Fang Cheng appeared and swept away the Western Desolate Cultivators in a crushing display of power.
The leading Elder from the Qiankun Saint Sect held a high position in the Saint Sect, and his Cultivation was at the Late-Life Soul Stage, same as Zhao Wuji. Who would have thought he’d be swept aside in a single move by Fang Cheng?
Zhao Wuji tactfully asked about Fang Cheng’s subsequent experiences, but Fang Cheng was secretive and unwilling to say more.
So, Zhao Wuji didn’t press the matter.
"This Treasure Tree contains many good things. Everyone should give it a good try. Use your full strength," Fang Cheng said with a smile, pointing at the Bronze Giant Tree.
At the same time, he summoned Jingyuan and Jingxuan from the Lingxiao Three Sceneries Talisman, letting the two brothers personally experience the fun of exploring and treasure hunting.