Innate Immortal Seed

Chapter 400: Chapter 398: News of the 5-Crystal Divine Iron

Bai Zichen remained silent. The Great Dao was ruthless, and the will of heaven was inscrutable.

For hundreds of years, Fang Tiancheng had stood at the apex of Core Formation True Men in the Liang Country’s Cultivation Realm, leading the Ten Thousand Beasts Sect to its zenith.

The Ten Thousand Beasts Sect had once been second only to the Holy Lotus Sect. He had single-handedly guided the course of the great war between the Righteous and Demonic Daos, and his sect controlled a Secret Realm that provided a stable supply of Clear Spirit Jade Marrow. It could be said that the path to restoring their sect to its former glory was paved with light.

Everything changed with the expedition to the Burial Immortal Valley.

It began with the damage to his physical body, which required a special Spirit Medicine. From there, he walked step-by-step down a path of no return, with no chance to turn back.

’I can only take this as a warning to avoid making the same mistake myself.’

”I originally intended to invite True Monarch Ge, but since he is in seclusion, telling you, Fellow Daoist Bai, is just as well... When we spoke all those years ago, I learned that your Qingfeng Sect has a Top-Tier Cultivation Technique that requires Five Crystal Divine Iron and Glazed Fire Jade for its cultivation. As it happens, I now know the whereabouts of one of these Tier Five Spiritual Materials.”

Fang Tiancheng stroked the skin of the Gold-Devouring Earth Dragon Beast, which had become soft and lost its elasticity. He sighed internally; if he could have obtained the Five Crystal Divine Iron, his Lifebound Spiritual Beast’s chances of advancing to the next tier might have been twenty percent higher.

But in the current situation, there was no point in hoping Du Heng would honor their agreement and hand over the Five Crystal Divine Iron.

”Elder Fang, are you referring to the Five Crystal Divine Iron or the Glazed Fire Jade?”

The corner of Bai Zichen’s eye twitched. He hadn’t expected the man to bring this up.

Back when Ge Cang’s Five Crystal Glaze Body hadn’t been crippled, he was only two Tier Five Spiritual Materials away from refining the final layer, so it was possible he had inquired about the two materials with others.

”The Five Crystal Divine Iron. I know its specific location; it’s within the Northern Domain... I am willing to tell you, Little Friend Bai, in exchange for a single promise from you.”

Fang Tiancheng abruptly lifted his head. His hair and beard were white, his skin wrinkled, yet as his eyes opened and closed, a blade-like flash of lightning seemed to flicker within them, reminding one that this man had once been an overwhelmingly powerful expert who stood at the very pinnacle of Liang Country’s Core Formation True Men.

”Please tell me what this promise entails, Elder. My strength is limited; I may not be able to accept it.”

Bai Zichen’s brow furrowed slightly. ’The Five Crystal Divine Iron is a great treasure. If I get it, I can finally complete the last layer of the Five Crystal Glaze Body.’

Judging from past experience, each layer of this Body Refining Technique brought a qualitative leap in power.

Cultivating it to Perfection would be a major boost to one’s combat strength, even for a Nascent Soul True Monarch.

If the location of the Five Crystal Divine Iron could be exchanged for any amount of Spirit Stones or other treasures, he would have agreed without a moment’s hesitation.

But a promise could be great or small; it was not something to be given lightly.

”I alone will bear the full wrath of the Blood God Son. The Sect has already sent dozens of disciples to scatter in all directions... If the Ten Thousand Beasts Sect can survive this crisis, that would be for the best, and nothing more needs to be said. But if we should meet with misfortune, I only ask that you, Little Friend Bai, look after the hidden disciples of the Ten thousand Beasts Sect in the future, just enough to allow them to carry on the Sect’s legacy.”

Fang Tiancheng’s demeanor was humble, like that of the most ordinary old man.

”Once this matter is concluded, the Blood God Son is unlikely to remain in Liang Country for long. My fear is that others will take advantage of our downfall, hunting down the surviving disciples for the treasures the Ten Thousand Beasts Sect has accumulated over the years. A group of young disciples holding great wealth, walking through a Cultivation Realm surrounded by hungry wolves—how could they not become targets?”

”Is that all?”

Bai Zichen asked again. The man’s request was very modest.

He wouldn’t even have to conflict with the Blood God Son. All he had to do was protect the disguised disciples of the Ten Thousand Beasts Sect in the future, ensuring their lineage would be passed down.

For him, it was a task with virtually no risk or difficulty.

It was not at all commensurate with the value of the Five Crystal Divine Iron, especially since Fang Tiancheng knew how important this Spiritual Material was to the cultivators of the Qingfeng Sect.

”That is all!”

Fang Tiancheng gave a pained smile and spoke with difficulty.

”As a dying man, what more can I hope for? I only pray that the Sect entrusted to me by the generations of ancestors is not severed... As the great sinner of the Ten Thousand Beasts Sect, I have already condemned so many of my junior brothers to die with me. When I reach the Underworld, I will not have the face to meet our ancestors.”

”Little Friend Bai, you have a boundless future ahead of you. One day, a single word from you will be enough to grant the Ten Thousand Beasts Sect a place in the Liang Country Cultivation Realm. I only ask for this one glimmer of hope.”

”Alright, I accept... In the future, I will certainly look after the scattered disciples of the Ten Thousand Beasts Sect, and if the opportunity arises, I will support them in rebuilding the Sect.”

After a moment of consideration, Bai Zichen nodded and agreed.

There was no downside for him in this arrangement. He was giving a future promise in exchange for an immediate benefit.

”This Jade Scroll contains everything about the Five Crystal Divine Iron. Take it, Little Friend Bai... The method for obtaining it is all written inside.”

Fang Tiancheng tossed out a Jade Scroll, obviously having prepared it long ago.

Bai Zichen accepted the Jade Scroll and swept his spiritual sense over it. He gave a slight nod, then cupped his fist in salute. ”If there is nothing else, this junior will take his leave. I must still travel to Zengguang Immortal City.”

”Go, then. I only hope that you remember your words today, Little Friend Bai, and help the disciples of the Ten Thousand Beasts Sect find a path to survival.”

Fang Tiancheng watched the streak of Sword Light disappear into the distance, remaining motionless for a long time. At some point, a slender female cultivator had appeared and was now standing behind him.

”As expected, Senior Brother Huoya had already made his preparations. He took several Sacrificial Treasures from the main hall, along with thirty newly stocked portions of Clear Spirit Jade Marrow, and intended to use his inspection tour of the Ten Thousand Beasts Pavilion as an opportunity to flee the Sect.”

The woman’s complexion was fair and elegant, her aura like a lotus rising from the water. A small snake was coiled around her shoulder, its body winding down to her wrist.

”I joined forces with several senior brothers to kill him. We used a Secret Technique to sever the Spirit Beast Contract and managed to preserve his Lifebound Spiritual Beast, the Ding Fire Divine Crow.”

A pair of fair hands presented a severed head. Its skin was sallow and its eyes were small. Dripping with fresh blood, the eyes were frozen wide with unmistakable terror.

”Throw it into the Beast Valley. I don’t want to see it...”

Fang Tiancheng waved his hand dismissively. His once-sturdy frame seemed to shrink, his back bending even further under an invisible weight.

The Foundation Establishment Cultivators could scatter and flee, and the Blood God Son might not even notice.

But a Core Formation True Man was too big a target. The absence of even one would be conspicuous. How could he dare treat the Blood God Son like a fool?

The vicious reputation of the Blood Sea Sect was well-known even outside the Southern Domain.

They were known to slaughter entire clans at the slightest provocation, refining their enemies into Blood Beasts to be driven as slaves and servants.

They hadn’t yet moved against the Ten Thousand Beasts Sect only because their attention was focused on Zengguang Immortal City, leaving them unable to spare the manpower.

However, in recent days, elusive and strange Blood Shadows had already been spotted around Ten Thousand Beasts Mountain.

He understood in his heart that they were already being watched by the Blood God Son.

If Master Huoya had escaped at a time like this and angered the Blood God Son, he would have extinguished the Ten Thousand Beasts Sect’s last glimmer of hope for survival.

”Honglian, it is a pity about you... With your talent, you should have had a chance to reach for the Nascent Soul realm.”

A look of profound regret filled Fang Tiancheng’s eyes, as if the image of a certain stubborn junior brother had once again appeared before him.

”I have failed both you and your master. It is I, Fang Tiancheng, who is useless. I cannot protect the Ten Thousand Beasts Sect...”

”Master found me, an orphan, in a beast herd. I grew up here on Ten Thousand Beasts Mountain, and I poured my heart and soul into every blade of grass and every tree on Red Sun Peak. Even in death, Master identified as a disciple of the Ten Thousand Beasts Sect, and I am no different. The disciples of Ten Thousand Beasts are fearless in the face of death. Any great mountain or river can be our final resting place...”

Honglian’s gaze was clear as she spoke from the heart.