Chapter 521 - 36: Nine-headed Gu Snake

Starfall Abyss.

Viewed from high above, it was an enormous abyss stretching thirty thousand miles from east to west. From this central chasm, countless massive rift valleys radiated outward, spanning a hundred-thousand-mile radius and creating a vast, gouged landscape, as if the heavens themselves had collapsed and stars had rained down from the sky.

This was the Ancestral Land of the Cold Moon Lineage, one of the ten great Ancient Evil Races of the Mingxiao Domain.

This place was also a forbidden land for both Human Race Cultivators and the Demon Race.

The Ancient Evil Race had thrived here for tens of thousands of years. With the exception of a few high-ranking members, they rarely ventured out into the world, remaining shrouded in mystery.

Occasionally, Human Race Cultivators below the Dharma Realm would come here to explore, hoping to find a fortunate opportunity. But they often disappeared into the abyss, their Soul Lamps extinguishing as a sign of their demise.

Great powers above the Dharma Realm also rarely came here unless they had urgent business.

In the void a thousand miles from Starfall Abyss, the Qianhuan Immortal Mansion hung silently amidst a churning sea of clouds. It was wreathed in Void Divine Sand, rendering it invisible.

Fang Cheng sat cross-legged on the Jade Couch. Before him floated a white, bone-like sphere about a foot in diameter.

It was the White Bone Relic!

At this moment, the Demonic Treasure was spinning erratically, its entire surface glowing with a jade-like luster.

Countless tiny Demonic Runes materialized on the sphere’s surface, devouring one another, dancing and spiraling as they constantly evolved into new runes, emitting a profound and mysterious demonic aura.

After the White Bone Relic devoured the skeleton of the Tier Five Kui Ox, Fang Cheng had performed a simple refinement, and it had begun to process the power on its own. A brilliant light shone from within as it underwent endless transformations.

It was as if Fang Cheng had merely given it a nudge to get it started.

This was the greatest difference between Demonic Treasures and Mystic Sect Magical Artifacts. Demonic Treasures focused on rapid growth, plunder, and consumption. Their demonic nature was potent, and the slightest carelessness could result in a backlash from the demonic aura, leading to complete annihilation.

Refining a Mystic Sect Magical Artifact, on the other hand, was a gradual, time-consuming process that could not be accomplished overnight.

Fortunately, Fang Cheng was highly experienced. He simultaneously observed the changes in the White Bone Relic while refining the demonic aura within, easily maintaining control over the Magical Artifact.

As for the Wuxie Child, after feasting on the flesh and blood of the Tier Five Kui Ox, he had left the Immortal Mansion to scout for information on the Nine-headed Gu Snake in the depths of Starfall Abyss.

Less than two weeks later, the White Bone Relic suddenly shuddered. It instantly shrank to the size of a grain of rice and shot toward the spot between Fang Cheng’s eyebrows.

Fang Cheng remained motionless. A flicker of golden light appeared on his forehead as he allowed the White Bone Relic to strike the spot between his brows and disappear.

The next moment, a demonic aura surged from his body. A dark, twisted phantom appeared behind him, its appearance bearing a slight resemblance to Fang Cheng himself.

He formed hand seals and silently circulated the Ten Directions Netherworld Refining Hell Profound Skill. His body became like a Purgatory, a furnace of heaven and earth, where infinite demonic monsters were suppressed and subdued!

The Netherworld Giant Kun shouldered this Purgatory, roaming the Nine Netherworld.

The dark, twisted phantom was finally pulled back into Fang Cheng’s body and vanished.

A slit suddenly opened between Fang Cheng’s eyebrows. Inside, a white, bone-like sphere spun endlessly, resembling an eyeball.

A pure, immense surge of Magic Power gushed from between his brows, instantly coursing through his limbs and entire body before finally converging in his Qi Sea, where it was devoured by the Netherworld Giant Kun.

Fang Cheng’s Magical Power skyrocketed, surging unstoppably!

If he wished, he could refine the White Bone Relic into his Lifebound Magical Artifact right now, using its power to break through to the Late Dharma Stage in one go. He could even attempt to assail the Tribulation Realm.

But this path had a drawback: his entire foundation would be tied to the White Bone Relic. The relic’s upper limit would become his own!

Furthermore, when it came time to resist the heavenly tribulations in the future, while the White Bone Relic was endlessly versatile, its shortcomings were also quite obvious.

He decisively abandoned the idea.

Unless some future unforeseen circumstance forced his hand, he might choose this path then.

’At that point, who’s to say I wouldn’t end up madly hunting Tier Five Fierce Beasts—or even Tribulation Realm Great Powers—with the Wuxie Child? I could use their skeletons to upgrade the White Bone Relic, which would then empower me in return. I wonder if I’d end up with the title ’Ascendant White Bone’?’

...

A flash of light appeared on the horizon.

The Escape Light receded, revealing the figure of the Wuxie Child.

He arrived at the perimeter of the Immortal Mansion and said respectfully, "Master, I have returned."

Auspicious light flashed from the Immortal Mansion, and the restrictive barrier dissipated.

The child flew into the Immortal Mansion, walked into the main hall, and paid his respects to Fang Cheng.

Fang Cheng had personally refined him into existence, so a natural, familial-like bond existed between them.

But even without this connection, the various abilities Fang Cheng had displayed filled the child with such awe and fear that he wouldn’t dare show the slightest negligence or disrespect.

Now, upon seeing the bone-eye between Fang Cheng’s brows, a primal horror washed over him. He sensed a heart-stopping demonic aura.

Fang Cheng smiled. "So, did you find any sign of the Nine-headed Gu Snake?"

The child nodded. "The Xia Family’s intelligence was more or less accurate. The Cold Moon Lineage does indeed possess a Nine-headed Gu Snake. From the looks of it, however, they haven’t fully subdued the beast. They just periodically offer it blood sacrifices in exchange for its assistance."

"The beast is currently hibernating. If we use the same method as before, our success should be virtually guaranteed."

As he spoke, a trace of excitement appeared in the child’s eyes.

He had feasted heartily on the Kui Ox. If he could also devour this Nine-headed Gu Snake, his power would rise to another level.

Fang Cheng said, "Don’t get careless. We still need to be wary of the Hanyue Royal Family. Although they have no Tier Five Great Powers, their foundation is incredibly deep. For now, it’s best we avoid them."

"I understand," the child said obediently.

Afterward, the two of them put away the Immortal Mansion and used the Void God Gu to conceal their figures, flying toward the depths of Starfall Abyss.

The child had already scouted the entire hundred-thousand-mile area. Now, he led Fang Cheng with practiced ease, heading straight for the Nine-headed Gu Snake’s location.

Before long, the two arrived at the edge of an abyss.

For hundreds of miles around, there was no sign of life; not a bird or beast could be found. Below, clinging to a sheer cliff face within the abyss, was an enormous nest made of ebony wood.

Inside that nest was, indeed, a slumbering Nine-headed Gu Snake.

The beast had the body of a bird and nine vicious, reptilian heads. Its feathers looked as if they were condensed from pure lightning. Even in sleep, it exuded an aura of vicious brutality.

Fang Cheng and the child exchanged a knowing glance. They moved tacitly to surround the ebony nest, using the Void Divine Sand from the Void God Gu to mask their presences as they stealthily deployed one hundred and eight Demon-Subduing Pillars.

Next, Fang Cheng summoned six Tier Five Flying Swords. With a flick of his Sword Technique, the Great Inference Celestial Net Sword Array instantly took form.

The moment the Sword Array appeared, a murderous aura erupted that filled the sky, one so intense that even the Void God Gu could not completely conceal it.

The Nine-headed Gu Snake abruptly snapped open its eighteen narrow, baleful eyes, staring at the brilliant Sword Array surrounding it.

The next instant.

Before the fierce beast could react, it was sealed within a massive, pale-golden bubble.

Simultaneously, innumerable black chains erupted from the Demon Suppression Array, binding the Nine-headed Gu Snake and pinning it in place.

Only then did a sky full of sword light descend.

This Nine-headed Gu Snake’s strength was not even equal to that of the Tier Five Kui Ox that Fang Cheng had previously slain. Its nine heads struggled and roared, spitting out blinding bolts of Thunder Light, but it only managed to thrash for a moment before its life force dissipated.

With Fang Cheng and the child attacking at full strength, concealed by the Void God Gu in a sudden ambush, the pampered Nine-headed Gu Snake never anticipated such a perilous situation and was slain by the Sword Array in the blink of an eye.

In the distance.

Several powerful presences rose into the air and began rapidly approaching.

The fluctuations from the battle had, after all, attracted the experts of the Hanyue Royal Family.

Fang Cheng sat cross-legged in the void, swallowing a pill to restore his Magical Power.

A Dream Spirit Incarnation calmly walked out from behind him. It was a paper figure with wide robes and long sleeves, possessing a tranquil demeanor. Holding the White Bone Relic and the Nine Yi Treasure Cauldron, it went forth to meet the newcomers.

Meanwhile, the child quickly retrieved the Demon-Subduing Pillars. With a point of his small hand, the golden bubble enveloped the Nine-headed Gu Snake’s corpse, shrinking it down before he collected it. Then, he and Fang Cheng vanished into thin air, drifting away from the scene under the cover of the Void God Gu.

...