Seeking Immortality in a Bizarre World-Chapter 571 - 566: Late Stage of Void Refinement, Executing the Nightmare Tiger_1
The Lingbao Sect is calling me back?
Jia Ren glanced at the Second Spirit Treasure Sect. All other Spirit Treasure Fire-Seeds are present—is it only I who is being summoned?
Why did the Lingbao Sect want me to return?
Has True Dragon Jin Sheng’s secret been leaked?
The only one who had escaped from him, the survivor who knew about the True Dragon, was True Dragon Evil.
However, True Dragon Evil was unaware of its own identity.
Being intent on taking over Jin Sheng’s body, True Dragon Evil would not broadly publicize it, so it is highly unlikely that the news of the True Dragon will leak out.
Does the Lingbao Sect know I entered the Sealed Land? Do they know I disrupted the plans of the Hidden Cultivation Association?
The other matter was the attack on Qingxuan Zhenjun with the Longevity Gui Talisman, which reduced his lifespan, leaving him with only half a life.
There are good and bad aspects to these two matters; the former is still manageable.
With the emergence of variables in the Sealed Land, the Lingbao Sect was under attack by an alliance of the Beyond the Heavens and the Xuantiandao Sect, facing the imminent danger of sect annihilation at any moment.
The Bizarre Demons breaking the seal gave the Lingbao Sect a second lease on life, finally allowing them a chance to breathe.
With the refining of Evil-Averting Spiritual Treasure, there might still be a turn for the better.
The exposure of the Longevity Gui Talisman is a bit more troublesome; I will be targeted by the Sinful Blood forces of the Hidden Cultivation Association, along with the combined forces of the Great Sects.
The Hidden Cultivation Association intends to keep the Longevity Bizarre and the method of crafting Longevity Gui Talismans firmly in their grasp, which will become their ultimate weapon.
None of the Great Sects of the Mysterious Realm want to face a powerful and Bizarre Talisman like the Longevity Gui Talisman and will surely nip the danger in the bud.
Of course, there are those who want to control the Longevity Gui Talisman, to turn it into their own tool.
By then, I will be an enemy to the whole world.
The former is still manageable; returning to the sect should not pose too great a problem.
If it is the latter, I cannot guarantee that the Lingbao Sect has not set up an inescapable net, waiting for me.
"Are you in a hurry?"
"I am on the verge of a breakthrough in my realm. After some time, I will naturally return to the sect."
Jia Ren was probing. If the Lingbao Sect is so eager for me to return, then the likelihood of the latter is greater.
The best solution would be to flee as far away as possible.
If they are not in a hurry, and there is no large gathering of powerful cultivators from the Lingbao Sect in the Source Treasure Cave Heaven, it means that things haven’t taken the worst turn.
Cloud Tiger’s eyes swept across Jia Ren’s face, and he said indifferently, "The sect only asked me to relay the message to you. When you return to the Main Sect is entirely up to your personal wishes."
Without looking at Jia Ren, he flew back to the Source Treasure Cave Heaven.
I hope things haven’t reached the worst possible point.
The Cave outside the Second Spirit Treasure Sect hadn’t changed much from before; the Formation had always been maintained as it was.
Over twenty Sound Transmission Talismans twinkled with lights of varying brightness.
Some of them, unclaimed for too long, had lost their Spiritual Nature and were left with only the ashes from having burned out.
He casually picked up two Sound Transmission Talismans. The voices of Lingbao Sect Cultivators emerged from within, mostly making visits or pleading for him to craft Spiritual Treasures.
There was no urgent matter conveyed through the Sound Transmission Talismans, so Jia Ren paid them no mind.
Jia Ren surveyed the Cave. Unattended for so long, it was covered with a thin layer of dust.
The reason he had built the Cave outside the Second Spirit Treasure Sect was to divert attention and take the opportunity to return to the Mysterious Realm.
By now, the Cave has lost much of its significance and value.
Still, it is best to break through to the Late Stage of Void Refinement before considering a return to the sect.
Once my power increases, I will have the strength to face any crisis.
Jia Ren left his Second Nascent Soul in the Cave as a guard, while his Insect External Incarnation quietly infiltrated deep into the Source Treasure Cave Heaven, carrying the Heaven and Earth Mountain and Sea Pearl.
The moment of breakthrough is when I will be most vulnerable.
I still can’t shake my suspicion towards the Lingbao Sect; I must prepare for the worst.
Cultivating and breaking through in the Cave is not safe; my Second Nascent Soul would struggle to detect a Body Integration Realm cultivator’s approach.
I definitely don’t want to find myself surrounded by a large group of Body Integration Realm cultivators from the Lingbao Sect while still in the midst of a breakthrough, with my life hanging on their whims.
By then, it would truly be a case of calling to the heavens and receiving no answer, calling to the earth and finding no aid.
There is nothing more uncomfortable than being backstabbed by someone I trusted.
I would rather be overly suspicious like a petty person than risk my life.
"Let’s begin!"
The Insect External Incarnation, following the recorded map, found a place with few Magical Beasts, where it would not be easily disturbed.
The Nightmare Tiger had not sensed the Insect External Incarnation’s aura, so he had not been targeted by any vengeful Tiger Demon.
The Insect External Incarnation used an earth-burrowing technique to go deep underground. After burying the Heaven and Earth Mountain and Sea Pearl, it slipped inside.
This made the Heaven and Earth Mountain and Sea Pearl even harder for others to discover.
A minor realm breakthrough is not like a major one; the space inside the Heaven and Earth Mountain and Sea Pearl is more than sufficient.
Jia Ren sat cross-legged in the Cultivation Room within the Heaven and Earth Mountain and Sea Pearl, his consciousness communicating with the Demon-Sealing Spirit Tower.
The Heavenly Earth Bridge between the two was established and gradually solidified. A boundless stream of Heavenly Treasure Spirit Power surged into his body, enhancing his Cultivation Level.
His Cultivation Level was already close to the Late Stage of Void Refinement. It was only because he was in the world where the Daqian Kingdom existed and lacked a suitable opportunity that he had delayed his breakthrough until now.
There were no safety concerns here, so he could focus on breaking through.
The Heavenly Treasure Spirit Power was converted without any effort, entirely transforming into his Cultivation Level.
Time swiftly passed.
「Three years later.」
Jia Ren opened his eyes in the cultivation chamber, a peculiar light shimmering within them.
He had reached the Late Stage of Void Refinement as naturally as water flowing into a channel, without any hindrance.
The three years were mostly spent consolidating his realm.
He had now reached the state he was in when he first became a disciple of Ancestor Ji Kong, not far from the Body Integration Realm.
Never before had the prospect of achieving immortality and long life felt so close.
With such a realm, he could be called an Ancestor within the Lingbao Sect. Advancing further to the Body Integration Realm would rank him among the highest echelons of Elders in the Lingbao Sect.
My Cultivation Level is still a bit lacking. I am still far from my initial goal of the Body Integration Realm.
Upon reaching the Body Integration Realm, when soul and flesh integrate, one has the chance to cultivate an Immortal Physique, perhaps even the legendary ability to regenerate from a single drop of blood.
With a formidable physique, one could traverse the Void with one’s body alone, teleporting instantaneously.
Upon reaching the Body Integration Realm, one’s life-preserving capabilities would be greatly enhanced.
Besides, there is another crucial point: the Demon-Sealing Spirit Tower can be upgraded to the peak of the Mahayana Realm, and other treasures can also reach this level.
By then, I will possess combat power comparable to an ordinary Mahayana Realm cultivator.
Should I return to the Lingbao Sect?
Or wait until I reach the Body Integration Realm before going back?
Compared to these options, Jia Ren was more inclined towards the latter.
The life-preserving capabilities of a Late Stage of Void Refinement cultivator are ultimately insufficient.
Let’s return to the Second Spirit Treasure Sect first! Regardless, Sect Master Yun Hu did buy me three years.
Having reached the Late Stage of Void Refinement, Jia Ren was in high spirits.
With a thought, he exited the Heaven and Earth Mountain and Sea Pearl, carrying it as he returned to the surface.
His aura gradually suppressed, slowly reverting to the level of the Early-stage of Void Refinement.
Jia Ren controlled his sword light, about to head towards the Second Spirit Treasure Sect.
The next moment, he seemed to sense something. A powerful demonic aura was rapidly approaching his location.
Nightmare Tiger?
Is this Seventh-order Demon Beast still holding such a grudge? It’s here again?
Was the lesson from the Birthless Killing Sword last time not deep enough for it?
This time was different. Dozens of Thrall Ghosts attacked first, intending to force him to use the Birthless Killing Sword, his trump card.
The Seventh-Order Nightmare Tiger hid in the shadows, secretly employing its Nightmare-Inducing technique to assist from the side.
The dozens of Thrall Ghosts were formidable. Half of them were Demon Cultivators and Magical Beasts possessing Void Refining Level combat power. An ordinary Late Stage of Void Refinement cultivator would struggle to handle them.
Facing so many powerful enemies, one could only resort to using the Birthless Killing Sword.
As long as it avoids the initial sharpness of the Birthless Killing Sword and depletes the human’s Spiritual Power, how could the human possibly resist then?
This is its best chance to kill the human.
The plan was good, but unfortunately... it walked right into the line of fire.
"Well timed!"
At Jia Ren’s thought, the Birthless Killing Sword materialized—a young man with blood-red hair and a face identical to Jia Ren’s.
He stared at the cultivators charging from afar, his eyes ice-cold, as if looking at a group of dead men and beasts.
"You’ll serve perfectly as a sacrifice for my sword!"
The Birthless Killing Sword moved so fast its body was unseen, only crisscrossing blood-red sword lights weaving an intricate web of blades.
Before the Thrall Ghosts, controlled by the Nightmare Tiger, could even react, they were all minced into equally sized chunks of flesh.
The chunks of flesh were pale, completely devoid of life.
This sword... its power has increased?!
When the Nightmare Tiger saw the Birthless Killing Sword appear, it had initially thought its plan had succeeded and was about to rush out to display its might.
However, the power unleashed by the Birthless Killing Sword was more than twice as strong as it had witnessed before.
How could its power have increased so much in such a short time?!
It did not know that the Birthless Killing Sword was a Spiritual Treasure at Combined Body Perfection. Limited by Jia Ren’s realm, its full power could not be displayed.
Even now, it still had not unleashed its full might.
Only upon reaching the Body Integration Realm could one truly command this great killing weapon.
However, by the time I reach the Body Integration Realm, the Birthless Killing Sword will need to be upgraded to the peak of the Mahayana Realm...
The Nightmare Tiger, a Seventh-order Demon Beast, felt an intense threat of death for the first time in its life, even stronger than when facing Sect Master Yun Hu.
It wasn’t that Sect Master Yun Hu was weaker, but that he lacked killing intent.
Without the slightest hesitation, it instantly tried to flee.
The Birthless Killing Sword was faster. It stabbed the Nightmare Tiger’s disappearing rump, and a large shower of blood exploded.
"Ji Kong Palm!"
Jia Ren’s palm, exuding a dark aura, struck just a fraction of a second slower than the Birthless Killing Sword.
A large spray of blood burst from its rear, and tiger blood rained down like crimson peach blossoms scattered across the sky.
A miserable shriek rang out, so loud it sent the myriad beasts scattering in terror, confused as to why the king of beasts was screaming so pitifully.
The Second Nascent Soul appeared out of thin air, holding a white, long-necked Jade Vase, collecting the tiger blood.
The body of a Seventh-order Demon Beast was entirely a treasure. Its essence, comparable to that of a Body Integration Realm magical beast, was concentrated within its blood and flesh. Such tiger blood, when used to refine Elixirs or craft Talismans, possessed considerable power.
Jia Ren, with the Birthless Killing Sword, gave chase. From afar, he saw the Nightmare Tiger, now with only half its body remaining, fallen into a thorny, wild mountain area.
Facing the combination of the Birthless Killing Sword and the Ji Kong Palm, it was gravely injured.
A Seventh-order Demon Beast’s physique was powerful; ordinarily, it could have recovered.
Unfortunately, the sword intent of the Birthless Killing Sword lingered in its wounds, severing its life force and making recovery impossible.
"Heart Nightmare!"
Violet light glinted in the tiger’s eyes. Just as it was about to act, a purple Bell materialized, guarding Jia Ren’s mind and soul.
Its final countermeasure rendered useless, fury blazed in the Nightmare Tiger’s eyes.
Is it trying to self-detonate its Demon Core?!
Would it rather die and drag me down with it?
Unfortunately, if it had used this move the moment it saw Jia Ren, he truly would have been unable to stop it.
The Nightmare Tiger’s initial use of Heart Nightmare failed, causing a backlash; by the time it thought to self-detonate, it was already too late.
A blood-red sword light flashed past. The blade pierced through the tiger’s skull, marked with the ’King’ character, leaving only the hilt exposed.
The light in the tiger’s eyes gradually dimmed. The Seventh-order Tiger Demon, slain by a single sword strike, perished on the spot.
