Immortal Venerable of the Beast Race
Chapter 344 - 256 Core Formation Late Stage_1

Chapter 344: 256 Core Formation Late Stage_1

The Celestial Witch Mountain Range was located in the southeast of the Southern Border Cultivation World, comprising more than a hundred thousand peaks, large and small. This place was the ancestral land of the Witch Clan.

Like the Barbarian Tribe, the Witch Clan was divided into many tribes, each led by a High Priest who ruled over a certain territory, population, and resources.

Deep within the Celestial Witch Mountain Range, there was a tranquil estate.

Wu Xian and a graceful woman in a golden dress were sitting beside a green stone table, Wu Xian’s complexion was pale, showing signs of severe injury and loss of vitality.

"You actually encountered a late-stage fourth-order Blood Transforming Butterfly!"

The woman in the gold dress exclaimed in surprise.

Wu Yue, a Nascent Soul cultivator at the middle stage.

"Exactly! What a pity for Madam Wu."

Wu Xian sighed.

They had entered the Burial Immortal Tomb searching for treasures, led by a Nascent Soul Cultivator from the Barbarian Tribe, only to encounter a late-stage fourth-order Blood Transforming Butterfly. Wu Yan and several Nascent Soul Cultivators were killed, while Wu Xian barely escaped with grave injuries.

He took out a messaging plate shimmering with golden light, inserted a spell into it, and a panicked male voice rang out: "Elder Wu, Wu Mo’s Life-Bound Lamp has been extinguished."

Wu Mo was a part of Wu Xian’s forces, powerful in his own right.

"Do you know where he went?"

Wu Xian asked, furrowing his brows.

"Lu Xin and Xu Tong reported that they might have discovered a Nascent Soul Cultivator’s cave dwelling. Wu Mo volunteered himself to lead a team to Myriad Poison Valley in search of treasure, and the Life-Bound Lamps of three accompanying tribesmen have also been extinguished," the voice reported truthfully.

"Understood."

Wu Xian replied and put away the messaging plate.

"The poisonous insects and beasts in Myriad Poison Valley are numerous, they might have met a fourth-order Monster Beast."

Wu Yue speculated.

"That could be the case! It’s just their bad luck."

Wu Xian said.

"Didn’t Lu Xin and Xu Tong find a Nascent Soul Cultivator’s cave dwelling? How about I personally make a trip there?"

Wu Yue suggested.

"They mentioned it was suspected. Had it really been a Nascent Soul Cultivator’s dwelling, they would have broken the restrictions and taken the treasures by now. It’s likely false information, possibly even a trap. Those not of our Clan will surely have different hearts; Human Cultivators are not to be trusted," Wu Xian said dismissively.

The Witch Clan, through various means, had bought the loyalty of or turned some Human Cultivators, who worked for the Witch Clan, providing numerous pieces of information—some true, some false. Some Human Cultivators had even rebelled, cooperating with high-level Human Cultivators to kill Witch Clan Cultivators.

"That’s also true. You should focus on recovering from your injuries for now! Once you’ve healed, we’ll send people to the Burial Immortal Tomb again. I hope that item is still there. If we can cultivate a fifth-order Spirit Insect, we might be able to unite the Witch Clan and not remain as scattered as we are now."

Wu Yue sighed.

Currently, the Witch Clan had no Soul Transformation Cultivators, and each tribe did as they pleased. Some tribes were friendly towards the Human Clan, while others despised them.

"Where could the great High Priest have died? I just hope we can find her remains."

Wu Xian said with a troubled expression.

Several hundred years ago, the Witch Clan’s High Priest left to seek fortune and opportunities. Decades later, the High Priest’s Life-Bound Lamp was extinguished. With no leader, the Witch Clan’s tribes were in constant conflict, with none recognizing the authority of others.

After some casual conversation, Wu Yue took her leave, while Wu Xian went into seclusion to heal his injuries.

······

Time passed, and ten years went by.

In the Donghua Cultivation Realm, within Qin Country, at the Spirt Control Sect.

In a quiet estate, Ye Yuqing, Ye Yutang, and Qian Dafu sat in a green stone pavilion, sipping tea and chatting idly.

Ye Yuqing and Qian Dafu had both advanced to the Core Formation Stage, while Ye Yutang’s attempt at Core Formation had failed; she had been unable to solidify her liquid Mana. For the next thirty years, she couldn’t attempt Core Formation again.

"Junior Brother Qian, is there no word from Senior Brother Shen?"

Ye Yuqing inquired.

"None. According to Junior Sister Lin, Senior Brother Shen has been traveling through the Southern Border Cultivation World for over thirty years now. He’s probably going to return soon," Qian Dafu said.

With Shen Long overdue, Qian Dafu lacked high-quality elixirs to sell.

"Let’s hope Junior Brother Shen returns safely! He was of great help to us in advancing to the Core Formation Stage."

Ye Yuqing’s face showed gratitude.

Before leaving the Donghua Cultivation Realm, Shen Long had given them a sum of cultivation resources.

"Senior Brother Shen is immensely skillful; he’s surely in no trouble," Qian Dafu affirmed.

······

In the Southern Border Cultivation World, Myriad Poison Valley.

A small valley shrouded in yellow mist, the rolling vapors swirling around. Shen Long emerged from a cave, his face alight with a smile.

He successfully resolved his bottleneck and advanced to the late stage of Core Formation, and his injuries had also healed; the high-quality elixir’s healing effects were indeed remarkable.

Shen Long planned to leave Myriad Poison Valley and return to the Donghua Cultivation Realm.

He released the Hundred Eyes Cicada and transformed into a beam of escape light heading towards the bamboo forest. The Hundred Eyes Cicada followed closely behind, passing through the bamboo forest as Shen Long appeared in the wilderness above.

Suddenly, a deafening thunderclap echoed from on high, and a thick silver lightning bolt tore through the sky, targeting Shen Long.

Shen Long summoned the Absorbing Thunder Pearl, and the silver lightning was absorbed into the pearl.

Streak after streak of silver lightning struck, all of which were absorbed into the Absorbing Thunder Pearl.

Crossing the wilderness, a range of lush, undulating green mountains came into view.

He released the Iron Tail Scorpion, whose body emanated a bright yellow light as it burrowed underground, traveling beneath the surface. The Hundred Eyes Cicada was responsible for scouting the surroundings while Shen Long closely followed.

Along the way, Shen Long encountered numerous poison insects and monster beasts, the strongest being only at the middle stage of the third order; none were a match for the Iron Tail Scorpion.

After the time it takes to drink a cup of tea, Shen Long appeared in a red peach blossom forest with many petals scattered on the ground, and the air was filled with a faint fragrance.

Shen Long walked slowly when a thunderous boom resounded; he stopped in his tracks.

The Hundred Eyes Cicada looked towards the source of the sound, and Shen Long’s expression darkened, "Reverend Zizhu!"

Decades ago, Reverend Zizhu had joined forces with the Barbarian Cultivator to oppose the Qin Family. In order to buy time for Qin Yunyan, Shen Long had narrowly escaped being killed by Reverend Zizhu.

Seeing an old enemy, Shen Long felt a surge of animosity; naturally, he would not let Reverend Zizhu go, as he had long coveted the Zizhu Blade.

Some tens of miles away, Reverend Zizhu and a muscular man in a red shirt stood in front of a small valley, which was devoid of any vegetation.

In Reverend Zizhu’s hands was a golden beast hide, and his expression was solemn.

"The gravity restriction here is too strong; I can’t get through,"

said the man in the red shirt, frowning.

"Then let’s take a detour! Hopefully, we can get the Spirit Infant Fruit,"

said Reverend Zizhu.

After killing Wu Sang, he left the Donghua Cultivation Realm and returned to the Southern Border Cultivation World, traveling far and wide. Invited by a friend, he entered Myriad Poison Valley in search of the Spirit Infant Fruit.

To the left of the valley was a dense green forest that greatly limited Divine Sense; even for Reverend Zizhu, Divine Sense could only extend a few hundred zhang.

They headed toward the dense green forest, not moving very quickly.

Half a quarter of an hour later, a deafening thunderclap rang out, and a silver lightning column about a zhang in diameter split the sky, hurtling directly towards Reverend Zizhu and the man in the red shirt.

Before they could dodge, a sharp, piercing screech sounded. Reverend Zizhu was unaffected, but the man in the red shirt felt dizzy and disoriented.

At the same time, a yellow light-flashing Sand Flood Dragon rushed towards them and instantly reached their front.

Reverend Zizhu raised his right hand, sending the Zizhu Blade flying out, cleaving the Yellow Sand Flood Dragon in two. At the same time, he summoned a small purple umbrella overhead, unfolding a thick purple light curtain that enveloped both of them.

The silver thunder pillar struck the purple light curtain, instantly exploding into a burst, with the silver lightning engulfing their figures.

A ball of firelight lit up, and a Tricolor Firebird appeared. Simultaneously, a gust of wind blew over, and Shen Long appeared with a pair of golden wings on his back, wielding the Zyphyxial Blade.

The Tricolor Firebird plunged into the silver lightning, followed by a massive explosion, and a large ball of tricolor firelight could be seen.

Shen Long swung the Zyphyxial Blade toward the silver lightning, resulting in two dull thuds, and a two-foot-long purple small sword flew out from within the lightning, slashing at Shen Long’s body. His red dragon scales blocked it.

At that moment, the silver lightning dissipated, revealing the red-robed man cut in half. A thick purple light curtain surrounded Reverend Zizhu, overwhelmed by tricolor flames.

"It’s you!"

Reverend Zizhu exclaimed.

His body emitted a brilliant purple light, conjuring a giant purple spider, which merged with him. At the same time, the Zizhu Blade circled around, heading straight for Shen Long.

The nearby trees rapidly shifted, forming a line, all of which were annihilated by the Zizhu Blade. A swath of golden light descended from the sky, covering the Zizhu Blade, drawing it into the Golden Sun Cauldron.

The Golden Sun Cauldron vibrated slightly, making a sound of metal clashing against metal, and fine cracks could be seen forming on its surface.

A loud roar of a beast sounded, and a thick beam of red light shot forth, striking the purple light curtain precisely, causing it to shatter like a bubble, as the tricolor flames engulfed the purple spider.

A massive silver thunder pillar tore through the sky, striking the body of the purple spider, with the lightning drowning the spider’s body. A thick beam of white light shot forth, plunging into the midst of the lightning.

A loud explosion followed; the Golden Sun Cauldron burst apart, freeing the Zizhu Blade, which flew straight at Shen Long.

A fierce light flashed in Shen Long’s eyes as he swung the Zyphyxial Blade at the lightning. At the same time, he opened his mouth and issued a dragon’s roar that was deafening, emitting a red sound wave that met the Zizhu Blade.

The Zizhu Blade effortlessly destroyed the red sound wave, and though the Zyphyxial Blade entered the silver lightning, Shen Long’s golden wings lightly fluttered, and he vanished from the spot.

The lightning scattered, and two large blocks of ice fell from within, revealing the corpse of the purple spider.

A flash of purple light appeared, and Reverend Zizhu emerged. He spat out a large mouthful of essence blood, his complexion turning pale.

With his Life-Bound Spirit Insect killed, he too was affected.

A huge red treasure brick descended from the sky, smashing towards Reverend Zizhu.

At the same time, numerous gold and yellow arrows flew in from all directions, and thick green vines burst from the ground, lashing at Reverend Zizhu like green whips.

The gold arrows were transformed from Gold-Winged Fire Ants, while the yellow arrows were Dharma Treasures.

Surrounded on all sides, Reverend Zizhu summoned a purple shield that revolved ceaselessly around him while unleashing the Zizhu Blade, casting a vast swath of purple blade light directed at the gold and yellow arrows, with the Zizhu Blade itself meeting the red treasure brick.

A pungent cloud of purple poison fog emanated from his body. The green vines that touched the purple fog instantly emitted green smoke and disintegrated, while the yellow arrows clashed with the purple blade light, dissipating in an instant. The gold arrows shattered into tens of thousands of Gold-Winged Fire Ants, scattering in every direction, with some struck by the purple blade light, splitting in two and falling from the sky.

The Zizhu Blade collided with the red treasure brick, producing a muffled clash of metal, creating a fine crack on the brick’s surface, stalling its descent.

Seizing the opportunity, the tricolor flames morphed into a Tricolor Firebird, flapping its wings and flying over, hitting the purple shield. The tricolor flames overwhelmed the purple shield, releasing billows of green smoke.