I Accumulate Spirit Roots for My Next Life

Chapter 140: Chapter 48: Demon Flame Returns

The sea domain is vast, but suitable places to settle and live are few.

The most suitable living spots within the Five Elders Association’s sea domain are only the main island and its seven associates.

Apart from these, there are just some reefs occasionally surfacing and small rocky barren islands.

Although due to the eruption of spiritual energy from the undersea springs, these reefs and islands have spiritual energy nearly comparable to Tier Two spirit veins, they are ultimately not suitable for permanent residence.

Moreover, one might encounter spiritual energy storms and be disturbed by fierce sea winds at any time.

Only those expelled from the Five Elders Association’s grounds or those who find it difficult to survive inland would resort to furtive living in these places, relying on robbery to survive.

However, usually, these pirates only dare to plunder solitary fishing boats or private small trading ships.

Ships like the Seven Great Islands’ large spirit ships would generally not be targets for their aggression.

“How dare you! Didn’t you see Linglong Island’s flag?” The spirit ship steward suddenly soared into the sky, exuding a surge of Foundation Establishment magical power, roaring at a few small spirit vessels emerging from beneath the water.

With the steward’s display of force, twenty other Foundation Establishment guards immediately joined, each flying up to stand behind the steward, glaring fiercely at the pirates ahead.

Seeing this, Li Jizhou and others on the spirit ship felt greatly reassured.

A gathering of twenty-one Foundation Establishment cultivators constitutes a formidable force, even in a cultivation country with Tier Three spirit veins inland.

Moreover, utilizing the hidden aura underwater, the few small spirit ships that suddenly emerged only had about thirty people, with their highest cultivation level merely the Middle Stage of Foundation Establishment, and most being in the Late Stage of Qi Cultivation.

You could say the power disparity was vast.

However, at this moment, Li Jizhou’s eyebrows furrowed slightly because these Linglong Island Foundation Establishment cultivators’ full eruption of magical power made him sense something amiss.

Even before boarding the spirit ship, he had scanned these Linglong Island Foundation Establishment cultivators with Divine Sense and felt a peculiar sensation from their external magics distinct from inland Foundation Establishment cultivators.

But at that time, their magical power was restrained, so he didn’t probe deeper and wasn’t entirely certain.

Now, however, with the magical power of twenty-one Linglong Island Foundation Establishment cultivators fully unleashed, their inner aura was particularly noticeable.

There was quite a difference compared to inland Foundation Establishment cultivators.

Li Jizhou even faintly sensed that the aura of these twenty-one Foundation Establishment cultivators was somewhat similar to the Tier Two who had just advanced.

However, the lifespan sensed was normal, and using late-stage Foundation Establishment Divine Sense confirmed they were of the Human Race.

“Could there be a novel Foundation Establishment method?” Li Jizhou wasn’t entirely sure, but it sparked his interest.

“Who on earth dares be bold?” Suddenly, a sinister laugh echoed, followed by a medium-sized spirit ship slowly rising from the sea.

A man clad in a dark robe, black hair loose, and fierce eyes stood proudly aboard the spirit ship.

“Three Nether Old Demon! You’re actually not dead!” Seeing this person, Linglong Island’s spirit ship steward’s face changed instantly.

This person was originally a subordinate of the main island of the Five Elders Association, dissatisfied with the treatment of his mother by the clan, he betrayed the main island and vowed that one day he would make the Five Elders Association pay.

Then he disappeared for thirty years,

and nine years ago suddenly appeared in this sea domain, though only at the middle stage of Foundation Establishment, he cultivated a peculiar skill, mastering the Postnatal True Flame.

With three clusters of dark purple postnatal true flame, its power was such that even the late Foundation Establishment stage couldn’t withstand it.

He swiftly incorporated numerous nearby islands and dedicated himself to plundering the Five Elders Association’s commercial spirit ships.

He also generously taught his unique skill, “Nine Nether Urgent Flame,” claiming that he would make all pirates dragon among men and ultimately replace the rule of the Five Elders Association.

His notorious name spread widely, earning him the title of Three Nether Old Demon due to his signature Three Nether Demon Flame.

Yet, two years ago, the main island dispatched one True Core master and three Fake Pill Masters leading dozens of Foundation Establishment cultivators to locate his hideout on a reef island,

after fierce battles nearly wiping out his pirate group, Three Nether Old Demon was pursued tens of thousands of miles by four masters from the main island and finally knocked into the Nether Sea region.

A mid-stage Foundation Establishment cultivator severely injured and submerged in the Nether Sea region dominated by Tier Four sea demons was almost certain death.

No one imagined he would survive.

“Ha~ I am no longer Three Nether… but…” Three Nether Old Demon Han Zhuo smirked contemptuously, then slowly raised his right hand.

“Sizzle~” Three wisps of purple true flame rose gradually.

Beside the three wisps of true flame, a new, slightly weak fourth wisp slowly emerged.

“Four Nether Demon Flame!” The spirit ship steward instantly shuddered.

Three Nether Demon Flame could explosively kill the island’s lord, contend with a fake pill master,

Since it advanced to Four Nether, though the fourth flame clearly hadn’t stabilized, even a fake pill master might find it difficult to handle!

The moment the Four Nether Demon Flame appeared, everyone on the spirit ship was shocked.

Those frequently active in the Five Elders Association’s sea domain naturally knew the infamous Three Nether Old Demon Han Zhuo.

While some cultivators from Qi Yuan, despite not knowing Han Zhuo’s name, were aware of the tumultuous “Nine Nether Urgent Flame” Demon Skill and the incident involving Divine Intent Sect elder Master Qingmu consuming others’ true flames.

At that time, Master Qingmu was also only in the Three Nether realm, yet the person before them had already birthed a fourth wisp of true flame.

Among the crowd, only Li Jizhou was not gripped by fear; instead, he felt a hint of delight.

Ever since Bai Yi consumed Master Qingmu’s Three Nether True Flame, its essence slightly improved, and its Fire Spirit body became more condensed, enhancing the flame’s power.

This greatly contributed to its advancement.

Moreover, it gained the ability to clone, which is profoundly beneficial for Alchemy.

Under normal circumstances, Heaven and Earth Holy Spirits are naturally nurtured by absorbing sun and moon essence, taking an extensive time to ascend.

A hundred years to mature, a thousand years to shape is usual.

There’s often little room for human intervention.

Yet, consuming true flames opened up possibilities for Li Jizhou to see its potential for advancing quickly.

“Four Nether True Flame, I wonder how much I can improve if Bai Yi consumes it? At least, it might create another clone, right?”

Meanwhile, the moment Four Nether Demon Flame appeared, Bai Yi residing within Li Jizhou’s Dantian was instantly agitated.

It had a strong desire to consume those true flames.

“Hahaha, surrender without resistance, or must I take action myself?” Han Zhuo laughed wildly.

At the same time, Han Zhuo’s pirates slowly raised their palms.

From each person’s palm, a faint purple light began to emerge, ultimately transforming into a wisp of purple true flame.

“So many?” Bai Yi was even more thrilled, unintentionally wanting to emerge from Li Jizhou’s Dantian.

In contrast, all others went pale, with no courage to resist Four Nether Old Demon.

“Senior Han, we of Linglong Island… concede, but… please, senior Han, spare us, take the goods, but… leave our lives.” Linglong Island’s spirit ship steward sighed deeply, hanging his head.

“Hmph, wise indeed, for Linglong Island’s past non-participation in matters concerning my mother, I’ll grant you that!” Han Zhuo sneered and nodded.

“Everyone to the deck, comply with my demands, try any tricks, and don’t blame my divine flame for scorching the skies!”

Upon hearing this, everyone on the spirit ship felt a deep heaviness.

Qi Yuan furrowed her brows, silently worrying.

Her appearance and figure were too striking, and she had encountered many troubles since fleeing Qi Kingdom.

Before boarding the spirit ship, she had deliberately disguised herself to appear more ordinary, yet if the opponent’s divine sense surpassed hers, he might discover her true appearance!

She couldn’t help but look towards Li Jizhou.

Zhang Ruoyu used to be the pinnacle of the young generation in Golden Sun Sect, with unparalleled combat power and should have long achieved Perfect Foundation Establishment.

However, Qi Yuan quickly shook her head.

Who among us isn’t aware of Zhang Ruoyu’s character?