Chapter 654 - 42: Conquest and Deliverance

"Senior, how goes the forging of the Demon-Suppressing Celestial Stele?"

Fang Cheng and the Dragon Elephant Wanderer walked into the great hall, entering a Grotto Heaven Secret Realm suffused with endless fiery light.

The two of them stood poised in the sky. Below them was a vast, boundless sea of fire. The flames were so thick they seemed solid, surging like a mighty, endless tide.

In the center of the fiery sea stood a stele over three thousand zhang tall, as firm and unmoving as a mountain.

The stele was still covered in many unfinished Array Patterns and runic prohibitions, their complexity and profundity surpassing even the Great Sun Golden Crow Talisman that Fang Cheng had refined.

The Dragon Elephant Wanderer said in a low voice, "Ever since you slew the Night Queen and Yu Wenxu, the world has been much more peaceful. The Red Profound Association of the five great ancient domains has been able to concentrate its power and focus everything on refining this stele. However, we are still eight Divine Prohibitions short of its full completion."

Fang Cheng looked toward the Demon-Suppressing Celestial Stele. He saw figures with powerful auras circling it, continuously refining all manner of heavenly materials and earthly treasures into the stele, fusing them with the Array Patterns and prohibitions.

The last time he was here, there were forty-seven Tribulation Realm Cultivators. Now, there were fifty-nine.

Presiding over the refinement of this Sixth-rank Magical Artifact was a tall, robust, middle-aged Daoist. He wore a Piqiu Crown and a Purple Cloud Sun Robe, exuding an air of dignified composure. He commanded the other cultivators, methodically advancing the refinement of the Demon-Suppressing Celestial Stele.

It was none other than the Dragon Elephant Wanderer’s good friend, Ascendant Dun’an.

"I’ve summoned over ninety percent of the Red Profound Realm’s Tribulation Realm Cultivators here," the Dragon Elephant Wanderer said calmly. "Those who haven’t come are all tied down by heavenly tribulations or demonic corruption."

Fang Cheng asked, "The Demon Buddha can hold out for fifty more years at most. Senior, how certain are you that we can finish this treasure before the Demon Lord breaks free?"

The Dragon Elephant Wanderer gave a bitter laugh. "Less than thirty percent."

He glanced at Fang Cheng and sighed. "Do you think a Sixth-rank Magical Artifact is so easily forged? If Ascendant Dun’an weren’t personally overseeing this, I’m afraid our progress would be much slower."

He paused for a moment before continuing, "This is all within our expectations. When the Demon Lord escapes, he will certainly come here to stop us. At that time, we’ll need to divert some of our strength to guard the seal and defend this location. However..."

"Fellow Daoist Fang, the speed of your Cultivation’s advancement is simply staggering. It gives me a bit more confidence for when we eventually face the Demon Lord."

Fang Cheng pondered for a moment. "I have a subordinate who is also skilled in the Artifact Refining Dao. She has numerous clones as well. I’ll send her here to assist Ascendant Dun’an with the Artifact Refining."

The Dragon Elephant Wanderer nodded. "That’s excellent news. Why didn’t you have this fellow Daoist come sooner?"

Fang Cheng replied, "She only recently broke through to the Tribulation Realm. Before that, her strength was too low for such a great responsibility."

The Dragon Elephant Wanderer fell silent for a moment before speaking again. "Fellow Daoist Fang, you must be careful when the Demon Lord breaks free. There has been no sign of the Bitter Elder. I set a trap at the sealing site of the Demon Lord’s remains, but he never took the bait. I fear he is also plotting a deadly strike."

"Don’t worry, Senior. I know what I’m doing." Fang Cheng smiled. "The Demon Buddha bought us a hundred years. How can we let that time go to waste? When the Demon Lord escapes, I will be sure to give him a surprise."

The two spoke for a while longer before Fang Cheng took his leave.

Then, he summoned the Ten Thousand Worlds Compass and vanished, tearing through the void itself.

...

「Sand Soul Realm.」

In the heart of a vast desert, several tall mountains rose majestically from the sea of sand. Above them, a fiery, treasure-like radiance filled half the sky.

Within the radiant glow stood a magnificent, colossal Immortal Palace. Gleaming golden palaces and pavilions were scattered throughout its grand and sprawling grounds, shrouded by billowing, colorful mists. Inside, it was a scene of opulent beauty, with terraces, towers, flower ponds, and waterside gazebos.

Beside the Immortal Mansion floated an island, like a verdant mountain peak suspended upside-down in a sea of clouds. Ancient, dense forests grew upon it, and a vast lake shimmered like a celestial pool.

These were none other than the Fang Family’s Qianhuan Immortal Mansion and Primordial Qi Celestial Island.

Now, decades later, the mountains below the Immortal Mansion were covered in the cities and Divine Halls of the Barbarian Race, which had grown ever more prosperous.

A flare of golden light materialized in the void, and Fang Cheng stepped out calmly. He took in the sight before him, nodding to himself in approval.

...