Several months later.
Southwestern Sea Region.
A mass of dark clouds dispersed, transforming into a Low-Grade Second-Tier grand array. Within it, lightning flickered faintly—it was clearly a Second-Tier Gui Water Yin Thunder Array!
Inside the formation, a Mid-Grade Second-Tier Giant Bone Fish was trapped, unable to move.
Its enormous body was like a small boat, covered in savage white bone armor. Most lethal of all were the bone spikes contained within its mouth—rumor had it that even a Mid-Stage Foundation Establishnt cultivator would be gravely injured if they took one head-on.
Yet once specifically targeted, the Giant Bone Fish had no ans of resistance. Its bones were blasted apart by water thunder until they were shattered and scattered.
At last, Fang Qing descended from the sky, the Sea-Transforming Pearl in his hand streaking like a blue teor, striking directly at the fatal point on the bone fish’s forehead.
Bang!
The Giant Bone Fish’s brain burst apart as it died, floating to the sea surface and revealing its snow-white belly.
“Now!”
He retrieved an object from his Storage Pouch—it was a small banner.
After injecting a spell seal, the banner rapidly expanded until it could be grasped in Fang Qing’s hand.
The banner pole was ghastly white, the surface pitch-black, covered in all manner of demonic secret patterns. It was the Soul Banner spirit artifact Fang Qing had refined!
Of course, at present this spirit artifact had only been casually refined with over a hundred First-Tier sea beast souls, along with the refined soul of a previously slain Second-Tier Sea-Splitting Petrel. It barely counted as a Low-Grade spirit artifact—its power was still inferior to the Sea-Transforming Pearl.
Fang Qing ford hand seals and muttered incantations.
From the Soul Banner, strands of black qi extended like ropes into the Giant Bone Fish’s body, dragging out a pale white light orb.
Within the light orb seed to be a miniature bone fish, darting frantically left and right. Yet it could not escape the pull of Fang Qing’s Soul-Guiding Art and was absorbed into the Soul Banner.
Black qi churned across the banner’s surface. Faintly, one could see the Sea-Splitting Petrel’s refined soul leading over a hundred sea beasts in suppressing the bone fish’s refined soul.
Monts later, the bone fish stiffened and fell still, settling into a corner of the banner and transforming into an imprint.
The Soul Banner spirit artifact fluctuated, its aura faintly stronger than before.
“Congratulations, Young Master. The spirit artifact’s power has advanced further.”
Qin Ruxue withdrew the formation and stepped forward to offer her congratulations.
For the past half month, she and Fang Qing had been roaming the Southwestern Sea Region, hunting demonic beasts and refining the Soul Banner.
She did not know what Young Master was waiting for—he had yet to return to the sect.
“Mm. Let’s find a small island to rest. Rember to set up a concealnt formation—”
Fang Qing laid out his plan.
As Heaven moved with strength, a gentleman strove unceasingly for self-improvent.
Even if he did not encounter the “good person” indicated in his hexagram, he could rely on himself to continually hunt Second-Tier demonic beasts and raise the Soul Banner’s rank.
“A Hundred-Soul Banner is unrealistic, but reaching a Ten-Soul Banner at the Mid-Grade spirit artifact level shouldn’t be a problem. After that, each additional Second-Tier main soul will further enhance the Mid-Grade spirit artifact’s might—”
“Yes, Young Master!”
Qin Ruxue swiftly carved up the demonic beast materials. Together, she and Fang Qing found a reef island to settle upon.
The mont she landed, the first thing she did was deploy a concealnt formation to hide their traces.
After all, the Tai Bai Sea Region was rife with beast tides. And not only beast tides—there were also elite Zhong Family cultivator squads conducting raid assaults!
Fang Qing found a recessed rock and spread out a White Tiger demonic beast hide blanket over it. It resembled a sofa, and he slumped onto it, feeling threads of fire spiritual energy drying his clothes and dispelling dampness. Warmth enveloped him comfortably.
anwhile, Qin Ruxue began roasting the Giant Bone Fish’s flesh.
This fish was renowned for its exquisite taste. When the grilled fish was served, Fang Qing took out a jug of spirit wine and drank together with Qin Ruxue—a rather pleasant mood settled between them—
Unknowingly, several hours passed.
“Mm?”
Fang Qing and Qin Ruxue, both seated cross-legged in ditation, opened their eyes almost simultaneously and retrieved a jade talisman from their Storage Pouches.
“This is—the sect’s ergency distress talisman?”
Qin Ruxue’s gaze shifted. “A fellow disciple has been attacked nearby? They’re requesting aid? Young Master—”
She looked at Fang Qing, her eyes questioning.
This type of distress talisman could only broadcast one’s location to nearby fellow sect cultivators. It could not locate others in return.
After all, one in a disadvantaged position could only hope that nearby senior brothers and sisters would help out of sect camaraderie.
Moreover, if others could be located and one were captured, breaking the jade talisman’s restrictions would an netting them all in one sweep.
Thus, Qin Ruxue and Fang Qing could completely pretend they had not seen or known anything—and simply leave. There would be no accountability afterward.
“We’re going!”
Fang Qing’s heart stirred. He circulated Plum Blossom Divination to divine the outco—it showed an auspicious sign. He smiled faintly and made his decision.
He knew that the “good person” had likely already taken position.
At this mont, not far from the reef island—
A spirit warship bearing the banner of the Azure Sea Sect was under attack.
The air was frigid, droplets freezing upon contact.
Droplets of moisture condensed into massive ice spikes, ice axes, and ice swords—slamming against the warship’s defensive light barrier, causing it to tremble on the verge of collapse.
The originally formidable defenses of the spirit warship now seed to malfunction, soon to be broken.
“Damn it!”
On the deck, several Foundation Establishnt cultivators of the Azure Sea Sect looked anxious. “The Zhong Family is truly insidious. They planted an internal traitor in our sect, sabotaging the ship’s formation at a critical mont—our route must have been leaked the sa way!”
“We’ve already sent out a distress talisman. Hopefully nearby sect cultivators can co to our aid.”
The one speaking was Hu Fan. Gazing at a figure in the sky, his face was extrely grim. “Zhong Lingxiu—it’s actually him—leading the charge!”
“That Zhong Family’s variant spiritual root genius has already reached Mid-Stage Foundation Establishnt—”
“Not only that. He must be cultivating the Zhong Family’s clan-defining technique—the Profound Ice Arcane Art! His True Power is vast, far surpassing others of the sa tier. Even ordinary Mid-Stage Foundation Establishnt cultivators may not be his match. Only a Late-Stage Foundation Establishnt cultivator could contend with him!”
“Late-Stage Foundation Establishnt? Even in our sect, those are island lords or hall masters—major figures!”
Hu Fan glanced at the fellow disciples beside him, who kept exclaiming yet did not step out to fight, instead cowering defensively. He sneered inwardly. “Each one only knows how to turtle up and wait for death. Preparing to flee once the ship breaks—competing to see who runs fastest?”
He secretly clenched a High-Grade Second-Tier Escape Talisman in his hand—purchased at great expense as his life-saving trump card. “Once the formation breaks, I’ll be the first to run! I will survive. I still have to reach Core Formation and beco a Core Formation Ancestor admired throughout the Small Huan Sea Cultivation World!”
Clang!
Suddenly—
A sword cry rang across heaven and earth. Amid the clear resonance, a cold sword light shot skyward, slashing into the ranks of the Zhong Family cultivators.
Pfft!
The sword light was extrely fast, curving enchantingly through the air. In an instant, it pierced through an ice shield and was about to behead a Zhong Family cultivator!
From a hundred miles away, taking a head in the blink of an eye—such were the thods of a sword cultivator!
The Zhong Family cultivator, also at Early-Stage Foundation Establishnt, could not react at all.
Watching as the sword light broke through both his ice shield and his True Power barrier, he could only close his eyes and await death.
Whoosh!
The flying sword was incomparably sharp. It left a bloody mark across his neck—but did not sever his head.
Overjoyed, the Zhong Family cultivator hurriedly retreated, only then seeing a gigantic icy palm floating before him, blocking the sword light.
This frigid palm was entirely condensed from Ice-Soul Cold Light, dazzling and agile. It executed a palm technique, battling the flying sword.
“Life-Reaping Sword—Cui Zhe?”
Zhong Lingxiu, clad in ice armor, spoke in a tone like ten-thousand-year profound ice. “You were once my equal in fa. Yet now you’ve fallen behind—only Early-Stage Foundation Establishnt? Then you can only die by my hand.”
He ford hand seals. Ice-Soul Cold Light surged, condensing into an ice phoenix. Its wings spread like countless sharp ice swords.
Cry!
The ice phoenix let out a long cry that pierced clouds. Wherever its wings passed, the world turned deathly cold, freezing the sword lights and slowing them.
The sword lights wailed and reverted into a flying sword, returning to Cui Zhe’s hand.
This Early-Stage Foundation Establishnt sword cultivator still had a sharp chin and peach-blossom eyes filled with determination. “Die!”
Man-and-Sword Unity!
He transford into a streak of sword light tinged faintly with blood, consecutively cleaving three icy palms before engaging the ice phoenix in fierce battle.
Thousands of sword lights and ice shards flew. Monts later, the ice phoenix cried mournfully and shattered into countless fragnts.
Cui Zhe was drenched in blood, evidently having used so secret art to unleash his potential.
With flying sword in hand, he thrust straight for the leader.
Yet the sword light halted against the ice armor, unable to advance even an inch.
“Impressive sword intent. Against another Mid-Stage Foundation Establishnt cultivator, you might have succeeded in slaying above your rank. But unfortunately—you encountered .”
Zhong Lingxiu waved his palm. A giant icy hand slamd down.
Cui Zhe’s flying sword wailed and recoiled. His body plumted, blood scattering through the air.
On the spirit warship, Hu Fan and the others witnessed this scene but did not leave the formation to rescue him. Instead, they prepared to scatter and flee.
“Hmph—so afraid of death, every one of you. After this, report to the Punishnt of Evil Hall for punishnt!”
At that mont, on the deck, an unremarkable Qi Refining disciple snorted coldly. His form shifted—and a powerful Late-Stage Foundation Establishnt aura burst forth.
“Senior Brother Tianxing?!”
Hu Fan cried out his na, joy filling his face. “You were actually here?”
“Hmph. I long knew there was a Zhong Family spy within the sect. I’ve been lying in wait for so ti—at last, I’ve hooked a big fish.”
With that cold snort, Elder Tianxing soared into the sky, lightning flashing wildly.
As Hall Master of the Punishnt of Evil Hall, his cultivation was profound. He cultivated a thunder-aspected technique fad for slaughter—one of the notorious fierce figures of the Small Huan Sea Cultivation World!
“Zhong Lingxiu, indeed gifted. You cannot be allowed to live!”
Elder Tianxing ford seals. Bolts of lightning manifested, transforming into thunder serpents that lashed toward the Zhong Family cultivators.
Pfft! Pfft!
Suddenly, the Zhong Family Foundation Establishnt cultivators’ protective spirit artifacts and shields shattered. A crimson dot appeared between their brows—they fell instantly!
Zhong Lingxiu flickered several tis. Ice condensed over his hands as he grasped a purple needle crackling with lightning. “I’ve heard that Azure Sea Sect’s Tianxing, though styled Lord of Punishnt, acts insidiously and viciously, having refined a set of flying needle spirit artifacts. Your reputation is well-deserved.”
“Oh? You can see through this old man’s ‘Purple Thunder Needles’?”
Elder Tianxing showed mild surprise. With a lift of his hand, nurous purple thunder needles appeared around him. “Then what about this ti?”
“Ah. Indeed—if I wish to grow, I must beware you old undying relics of the cultivation world.”
Zhong Lingxiu sighed. Suddenly, a talisman appeared in his hand.
The talisman was pure white, bearing only a single pearl-shaped imprint, emanating an unfathomable spiritual power fluctuation.
“This is—the Ice-Soul Pearl Talisman Treasure? The Zhong Family Ancestor actually bestowed this upon you?”
Elder Tianxing shrieked and imdiately transford into a streak of lightning to flee!
On the spirit warship, Hu Fan and the others—who had just survived calamity—felt their scalps go numb. Wordlessly, they turned into streams of light and scattered to escape!
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