Chapter 111: Return, the Effects of the Marrow-Cleansing Fruit
Looking at the departing figure across from you, you did not give chase.
With your current cultivation, if a Return-to-Void realm mighty figure was bent on leaving, you would never catch up. Besides, who knew if there was a trap in it?
You brought the Flood Dragon along and continued toward the Void City. The journey that originally took seven days was directly shortened to three after your cultivation broke through to Spirit Transformation!
Three days later, you arrived at the Void City.
Arriving at the city gates, you did not immediately enter, because you saw the wanted notice the Profound Heaven Holy Land had issued for you!
“Whoever discovers this person’s whereabouts will be rewarded by our Profound Heaven Holy Land with one hundred thousand mid-grade spirit stones!”
“If he can be captured alive, or killed, the reward is direct admission into our Profound Heaven Holy Land, to become an Inner Sect disciple of our Profound Heaven Holy Land!”
“Hisss, become an Inner Sect disciple of the Profound Heaven Holy Land? That’s soaring to the heavens in one step!”
“Who is this person, to make the Profound Heaven Holy Land issue such a bounty?”
“I have a distant relative in the Profound Heaven Holy Land. According to rumor, this person has early-stage Spirit Transformation cultivation, but battle strength comparable to Spirit Transformation Great Perfection!”
“Holy shit, how did another monstrous talent pop up? Every one of them can kill across ranks. I really don’t know how they cultivate.”
Listening to the discussions in the crowd, you silently altered your appearance somewhat.
Your disguise art directly altered the bones of your own face. Even if someone used a treasure to probe one’s origin, they could not see through it at all.
This was also one of the skills you had learned from practicing the Martial Way: the cultivation world’s version of the Bone-Shrinking Art!
Having successfully mixed into the Void City, you went straight to the Blacksmith Shop, restoring your own appearance while striding inside.
“Big Brother, you’re back!” In the back courtyard, Little Nannan was practicing the Martial Way. Upon seeing you return, she hurried forward to greet you.
“Mm, where is Senior?” Having entered the Blacksmith Shop, you did not sense the Old Monster’s aura.
“Grandpa had something to do and went out. He probably won’t be back until tonight,” Little Nannan replied. She raised her head and looked behind you, only then noticing the Flood Dragon’s existence.
The Flood Dragon that had once flaunted its power and acted as king in the small Secret Realm had now gone completely obedient, honestly serving as your mount, not daring to harbor any second thoughts.
“Big Brother, this is…” Little Nannan asked, puzzled.
“This one? It’s a mount your brother newly took in. Just call it Xiao Long.”
“Oh…”
That night, the Old Monster returned, reeking of alcohol. Looking at you drunkenly, he said, “Caused such a huge disaster outside, and you still dare come back?”
“Ahem.” You gave an awkward laugh and did not immediately answer. Instead, you said to Little Nannan, “Little Nannan, go to the courtyard first and guide Xiao Long in its cultivation. Your brother has some words to say to Senior.”
Little Nannan looked at you for a couple of moments, then finally said, “Oh, alright.”
Only after Little Nannan left did you solemnly look at the Old Monster.
“What happened? So mysterious, and you even sent Little Nannan away.” Seeing your extremely serious appearance, the smell of alcohol on the Old Monster vanished in an instant, and he sobered up completely.
You slowly took out Yang Ji’s saber and handed it into the Old Monster’s hands. Licking your lips, you said, “Senior, you should recognize the owner of this saber, right?”
The Old Monster took the cleaver, fell silent for a long time, and finally let out a long sigh. “Ah, the little girl has grown up. Her strength is probably almost no weaker than mine!”
As an Old Monster who had lived for over ten thousand years, merely through a single saber he could sense the level the owner’s strength had reached.
You explained the whole story of this saber, along with your own conjectures, one by one. As for what to do afterward, you did not say.
“Her lifebound treasure lost. It seems the little girl’s fate is grim.” The Old Monster spoke with some sorrow, then fixed his gaze on you.
You raised your head, met the Old Monster’s eyes, and said, “Senior, if you have something to say, please speak. Senior Yang Ji taught me much in the village, and even treated me to so much chicken.”
“This junior is one who repays kindness. I am willing to do my modest part.”
“What if I asked you to infiltrate the back mountain of the Deer-Chasing Academy alone?”
“This junior is willing to go!” You cupped your fists and said.
“Good! I knew I wasn’t wrong about you!” The Old Monster laughed heartily, then raised a bowl of wine and downed it in one gulp.
“You don’t need to worry about the Profound Heaven Holy Land. I have already greeted their higher-ups. Cultivators at early Return-to-Void and above, they will not send out.” The Old Monster returned the cleaver to you and brought up another matter.
“As for cultivators below early Return-to-Void, that can only be up to you!”
“Senior, rest assured. If Return-to-Void powerhouses do not appear, this junior is invincible among Spirit Transformation!” You said with immense confidence. All of this was confidence brought by your own strength.
The Old Monster laughed loudly, patted your shoulder, and said with deep meaning, “It is a good thing for a young man to have confidence, but remember, there is always a higher heaven above, and an immortal beyond an immortal!”
You smiled without a word, not saying much on this matter.
“By the way, Senior, have you seen that Flood Dragon?”
“Mm, though its bloodline power is thin, it still has a trace, at least.”
“With a little nurturing, it should barely be enough for you to strengthen your blood and qi later.”
You nodded in acknowledgment, knowing that bringing the Flood Dragon this time had not been wasted effort.
“The Martial Way does not need many resources, but if one can obtain dragon blood to refine oneself and strengthen blood and qi, that would be best of all!”
You thought for a moment, then asked, “Senior, do you know how to nurture a demon beast to quickly break through its cultivation?”
You thought of the Flood Dragon’s half-step Nascent Soul cultivation and could not help but feel a headache. Your own cultivation resources were not even settled yet, and now you had to shoulder a demon beast’s cultivation resources as well.
The Old Monster pondered for a moment, then said, “How about you find time to hunt some high-rank demon beasts, and let that little Flood Dragon devour the demon cores, blood, and flesh? It should be able to grow its strength and strengthen its bloodline.”
“That’s the only way, then.”
That night, you returned to your room, took out a Marrow-Cleansing Fruit, examined it for a moment, then swallowed it in one bite.
A stream of pure energy spread through your body, moving through your major meridians. Each time it flowed through, you could feel your own aptitude strengthen by the tiniest sliver.
Though only a sliver, it was still enough to astonish!
At the same time, your physical body, tempered countless times by the power of Heavenly Lightning, already comparable to Spirit Transformation Great Perfection, was unexpectedly also being continuously elevated!
A small amount of filth was expelled from your body, and you felt your physical body’s power strengthen once again!
Asking for a day off, update tomorrow.