Cultivation: Immunity to Negative Effects

"What’s wrong? Is there a problem with the other fifteen peaks of Azure Dragon Ridge?"

The cultivators asked, alarmed and suspicious.

"That’s not it. Although those peaks also encountered unprecedentedly powerful Demon Beasts and Demons—some even facing Fake Core Level threats—their situation wasn’t as severe as ours."

"Moreover, the Azure Dragon Master arrived with reinforcements just in time last night and has already driven back those Demons and Demon Beasts."

"Otherwise, we would have received calls for help from the other peaks long ago!" Li Ruohai said, shaking his head.

"Then what is it?"

The cultivators grew even more puzzled.

"It’s the Azure Dragon Master. He was ambushed by a horde of Tier Three Demons while in pursuit and has been severely injured. This means that a large number of Tier Three Demonized Beasts and Demons are massing in the depths of the Demon Abyss near Azure Dragon Ridge!"

"Furthermore, the situation is just as severe at all the other defensive lines in Yuan South, not just here at Azure Dragon Ridge."

Li Ruohai continued.

"The Azure Dragon Master is severely injured?"

"Does that mean what we saw last night was just the vanguard of the Demons and Demon beasts? Now we’re in real trouble!"

It was only then that the cultivators understood, and their hearts grew heavy.

Although the Azure Dragon Master was only in the Golden Core Early Stage, he was a veteran of that realm. Having guarded the Demon Abyss year-round, his combat power and survival skills were formidable—surpassing even Li Ruohai and Shangguan Hui.

But now, even he was grievously wounded. This proved the situation was far more severe than anyone had anticipated.

"Yes. The Sect has already used a Secret Technique to send word, ordering me to remain at Azure Dragon Ridge and take command of the overall situation," Li Ruohai said, nodding.

Normally, it would take at least a month or two for a message from the Sect Headquarters to reach the Demon Abyss. A transmission via Secret Technique was different; it was incredibly fast, but the cost was immense. It was reserved only for matters of great importance.

"I’ve received a message from the Sect as well!" Shangguan Hui chimed in.

"So have we!"

Chen Ling’Er and the others soon felt their Identity Tokens vibrate.

They sent their Divine Thought into the tokens, and a message immediately appeared in their minds.

The same happened to Zhang Chi.

The Sect’s directive was for them to continue defending the Demon Abyss.

Fortunately, the directive also mentioned that experts dispatched by the Sect were en route and would arrive shortly. They only needed to hold their ground for a while longer before they could be relieved of this heavy burden.

Moreover, the Sect promised a handsome reward for their efforts.

With no other choice, the cultivators returned to their posts to continue their watch and prepare for the battles to come. Even the joy from their recent victory had faded.

Li Ruohai and Shangguan Hui made a special trip to Azure Dragon City to visit the Azure Dragon Master and discuss the situation.

Zhang Chi, on the other hand, wasn’t overly concerned. He had long anticipated a day like this would come.

As Qin Susu had been placated by Zhang Chi earlier, she was now calm and left with Shangguan Hui’s group. Once again, Zhang Chi was the only one left on Divine Needle Peak.

Zhang Chi was happy to be alone. He quickly finished processing the corpses of the two Tier Three monstrous birds.

Then, he let Corpse Puppet No. 1 into the peak through the underground passage. The puppet brought a large quantity of Demon Beast Materials with it.

Among the materials were the corpse of the Tier Three Early Stage Black Ape and the heart of the Rock Giant Demon.

Apparently, when the Corpse Puppet had swallowed the heart earlier, it had merely been a method of storage.

Without Zhang Chi’s permission, it would never dare to actually consume something like a Demon Pill.

One of the main differences between Demons and Demon Beasts was that Demons didn’t always have a Demon Pill. Take the Rock Giant, for instance. The most valuable part of its body was its heart, an object known as the Heart of Rock, with a value comparable to a Tier Three Demon Pill.

’Not bad. The haul this time is enormous. If I could get more loot like this, I could even set aside the Hundred Skills of Immortal Cultivation for a while. But these battles are too dangerous. I can’t rely on them, or I’ll get into trouble sooner or later.’

Zhang Chi collected his spoils, feeling a surge of joy, but he didn’t let it go to his head.

WHOOSH...

Afterward, he fed the flesh and blood of the Demon Beasts to his Spirit Snake, bringing it one step closer to Tier Three. Then, he quietly departed from Divine Needle Peak, heading alone for Shifang Immortal City.

This time, he directly piloted a Magical Treasure Flying Boat and brought Corpse Puppet No.1 with him, so he traveled at great speed. He arrived at the Ten Thousand Treasures Tower before noon.

He immediately sold off the entire collection of Magical Artifacts and Spirit Talismans he had accumulated.

He didn’t hold on to the Spirit Stones he earned, immediately spending all of them on necessary crafting components and Cultivation Materials.

"This price doesn’t seem right."

But when he tried to sell the Tier Three Demon Pills, the offered price was much lower than he had expected.

"Fellow Daoist, you may not be aware, but while Shifang Immortal City is large, most of its Cultivators are at the Foundation Establishment realm. Golden Core experts are relatively few. Consequently, the everyday demand for Tier Three materials isn’t very high. If you want to get a good price, you’ll have to wait for an auction," Zheng Yuanbao, the Shopkeeper of the Ten Thousand Treasures Tower, quickly explained.

"I see. In that case, do you have any Heavenly Materials and Earthly Treasures or special Elixirs that can help with Body Refining or assist a Spirit Beast in breaking through to Tier Three?"

"We do, we do..."

"Is that all?"

Zhang Chi understood. He asked a few more questions but was met with similarly unsatisfactory results.

Clearly, this was not an ideal place for buying or selling Tier Three or higher Cultivation Materials.

For instance, while they had materials to help with Body Refining and assist a Spirit Beast’s breakthrough to Tier Three, the selection was too limited, and their effects were mediocre at best.

The branch would only request the relevant materials from its headquarters if Zhang Chi were willing to wait patiently.

In the end, Zhang Chi gave up on the idea.

’Looks like I’ll have to make a trip to a place like Luoxia Immortal City or attend some private Golden Core Level trading events,’ Zhang Chi thought.

’I could sell the materials and Demon Pills to the Sect, but I can only account for the parts from the two monstrous birds.’

’Besides, even if I sold them, I wouldn’t be able to trade for the Spiritual Objects I need to advance my Body Refining and help the Spirit Snake break through.’

’For one, it would take time.’

’For another, it would reveal too much about me.’

’Until I truly form my Golden Core, I have to maintain a low profile.’

Zhang Chi immediately returned to Divine Needle Peak, arriving while it was still just afternoon. Nothing unexpected had happened in his absence.

For one thing, the Mountain Protection Array was active, and his Puppet and Spirit Snake were standing guard in secret.

For another, the Demon Beasts and Demons from the Demon Abyss had, for some reason, not launched another attack.

But as soon as night fell, the Demons and Demon Beasts reappeared. Their assault was even more ferocious than the previous night’s.

Fake Core Demon Beasts and Demons appeared near Lin Yuan Peak and Demon Suppression Peak—five of them in total this time.

Yet, both peaks made it through the night unscathed. The humanoid monster had appeared just in time again, slaying two Tier Three Demons and one Tier Three Demon Beast in quick succession.

The remaining two fled in terror.

Li Ruohai and Shangguan Hui breathed another sigh of relief. Though still puzzled, they grew more convinced that the humanoid monster was an ally.

After the humanoid monster departed, Li Ruohai immediately left to reinforce the other peaks, while Shangguan Hui remained to stand guard.

By daybreak, the Demon Tide receded once more. But when night fell, it returned, bringing three more Tier Three Demonized Beasts with it.

And once again, the humanoid monster appeared, effortlessly dispatching all three of them.

Shangguan Hui and Li Ruohai couldn’t have been happier. They both left the two peaks to go reinforce the others.