CHAPTER 418: CHAPTER 413: THE LONGEVITY TRICKSTER FRUIT! THE DEVOURING SUN DIVINE DOG!_1

Jia Ren did not go into secluded cultivation but instead went to the Bizarre Garden deep within the Mountain and Sea Pearl.

The Bizarre Garden housed numerous Bizarre Objects, the largest of which was a black fruit tree with the wrinkled face of an old man on its bark.

Five black fruits hung from its branches, emitting eerie laughter.

This was the Longevity Trickster Fruit Tree, which Jia Ren had mutated from a Longevity Fruit Tree.

The Longevity Trickster Fruit Tree grew slowly; Longevity Trickster Fruits took at least several hundred years to mature.

It took too long, and he had never obtained the much-longed-for Longevity Trickster Fruits, let alone refined them into Lifespan Specter Pills.

This changed when the Xuan Beast Avatar appeared. It possessed the Cultivation Technique, innate talents, and Divine Skills to accelerate the growth of Spiritual Medicines.

Catalytic secret techniques and Divine Skills were useless on Bizarre Objects. Only the plundering ability of the Kuruo Huasheng Jue was effective.

It plundered the essence of other Bizarre Objects, nourishing the Longevity Trickster Fruit Tree.

With the assistance of other Bizarre Objects, the Longevity Trickster Fruit Tree grew at an astonishing speed, and today, it bore five Longevity Trickster Fruits.

Jia Ren had long anticipated the Longevity Trickster Fruits and had wanted to refine them into lifespan-reducing treasures.

After donning Warding Off Evil Magical Treasures, he approached the Longevity Trickster Fruit Tree, plucked the five black Longevity Trickster Fruits, and placed them in a specially-made Evil-Absorbing Jade Box.

The Longevity Trickster Fruit Tree lost its power, withered rapidly, and then disintegrated into ash.

Jia Ren was not surprised by this. Lifespan-extending spiritual plants were mostly like this, possessing the characteristics of Heavenly Earth Elixirs—once the fruits were picked, the tree would wither.

If it were not so, the exchange price for Longevity Fruit Trees at the Town Demon Alliance would not be so low.

Five Longevity Trickster Fruits were within an acceptable range.

Now that the Longevity Trickster Fruits have matured, should I refine them into lifespan-reducing Mysterious Instruments?

Repeatedly used Mysterious Instruments could maximize value, but unfortunately, refining Mysterious Instruments took a rather long time, and it was unclear when they would be completed.

Jia Ren had not forgotten that he was in the Heiyuan Secret Realm and still had to face the Demon Cultivators of the Shimo Sect. Safety was not guaranteed.

He needed to refine the Longevity Bizarre-type treasures as soon as possible to increase his chances of survival.

"Let’s start by crafting Bizarre Talismans first!"

The system of Bizarre Talismans was the most developed, and their crafting difficulty was far lower than that of Mysterious Instruments.

The only downside was the significant consumption of talismans. It was unknown how many Longevity Gui Talismans could be refined from a single Longevity Trickster Fruit.

He hoped the quantity would not disappoint him.

How should the Longevity Gui Talismans be crafted?

As a Cultivator who had created many Bizarre Talismans himself, Jia Ren already had his own ideas.

The fastest way was to find a talisman with similar effects, extract its essence, and construct a talisman framework from it.

According to the characteristics of the Longevity Trickster Fruit, he would improve upon them to form the structure unique to Longevity Gui Talismans.

The rest was to perfect them and create a true Longevity Gui Talisman.

Lifespan-reducing treasures were not too rare, but most of them reduced the user’s own lifespan.

By identifying the cause of lifespan reduction and using negative-effect talismans as a reference, creating a Longevity Gui Talisman would not be difficult.

Jia Ren entered the Talisman Crafting Room and immersed himself in the research of Bizarre Talismans.

The Insect External Incarnation and the Xuan Beast Avatar were not idle. Both were constantly monitoring the war between the two sects.

Jia Ren did not want decades to pass after the sect war ended without his knowledge, delaying his return to the sect by as many years.

Beyond that, there was an even greater problem...

The Heiyuan Secret Realm belonged to the Shimo Sect, not the territory of the Lingbao Sect.

If the sect war ended and the Secret Realm was completely sealed off, he feared he would be trapped in the Heiyuan Secret Realm.

Being alone in the enemy’s Secret Realm headquarters... was this not asking for death, as if he wasn’t dying quickly enough?

Just because he did not participate in battle did not mean he would not gather intelligence.

With the Bewildering Spirit Bead in hand, the Insect External Incarnation silently left its current location and headed towards the Heiyuan Secret Realm.

The Heiyuan Secret Realm was an endless plain with few Magical Beasts. Occasionally, one could see black plants growing in this area.

The plants were dark in color, with remnants of skeletons hidden inside.

Could these plants digest the skeletons of living beings?

After hesitating for a moment, the Insect External Incarnation took some of the black plants and stowed them in the River Mountain Bag.

All previously unseen plants and Spiritual Objects would be cultivated in the Mountain and Sea Pearl, possibly integrating and mutating with the Bizarre Demons into Bizarre Objects.

The further the Insect External Incarnation went, the heavier the deathly aura became, and scattered skeletons could be seen everywhere.

They had been there for some years, their bones bleached white, mostly weathered and pitted.

In the sky, a dark light flickered as three Late Nascent Soul Stage Cultivators in black robes, radiating astonishing demonic power, flew past and hurried towards the west.

The Bewildering Spirit Bead interfered with the Cultivators’ perception. The three Demon Cultivators, lacking Spiritual Treasures capable of countering it, failed to detect the hidden Insect External Incarnation.

The Insect External Incarnation had not traveled far when powerful Spiritual Power fluctuations erupted from the north, as if a battle had broken out and was raging intensely.

Without the slightest desire to join the commotion, it instead sped away from that place.

BOOM!

Furious Spiritual Power burst forth like a tsunami, causing a tremendous uproar.

Cultivators from all directions were attracted by the noise of the battle, converging towards this place.

The arrivals included both Lingbao Sect Cultivators and Shimo Sect Cultivators. The number of people swelled rapidly, and in a short time, the skirmish evolved into a battle involving hundreds.

The Shimo Sect and Lingbao Sect Cultivators, upon encountering each other, fought with True Fire, their eyes burning with animosity.

A small-scale clash turned into a large-scale melee.

The world seemed to fall silent at this moment, with violent nature’s spiritual energy everywhere.

It was too dangerous outside!

The Insect External Incarnation, fearing being caught in the battle, returned the way it came and hid in the Mountain and Sea Pearl again.

The melee began, and the Lingbao Sect initially suffered a great loss.

The situation reversed only when a sufficient number of Lingbao Sect members gathered and deployed their Spiritual Treasure Formation, leading to the Shimo Sect’s rout.

The Shimo Sect was a top-tier Demon Path Sect, and those who came here were True Disciples of the Demonic Path. When it came to the quantity of Spiritual Treasures, they couldn’t hold a candle to the Lingbao Sect.

Out of ten Nascent Soul Demon Cultivators, if one possessed a Demonic Path Spiritual Treasure, it was already quite impressive.

As the battle raged on, Lingbao Sect disciples fell one after another at their hands, their Spiritual Treasures becoming spoils of war for the Demon Cultivators.

The weaker Nascent Soul True Disciples from the Shimo Sect were nearly all killed. Those who survived were tough characters, but they were no match for Lingbao Sect disciples in one-on-one combat.

However, in a united battle, the Shimo Sect was at a disadvantage.

Demon Path Sects are not like orthodox Dao Sects; the Shimo Sect adheres to the law of the jungle where the strong prey on the weak.

Conflicts and fights frequently broke out among cultivators within the sect. Although killing a fellow sect member was forbidden, the atmosphere was far worse compared to the Lingbao Sect.

Unity and mutual aid? Joint formation tactics?

Among cultivators of the same Realm, if anyone dared to disobey, many wouldn’t hesitate to knock their fellow sect member unconscious.

Through harsh competition, each Shimo Sect Cultivator possessed combat strength far exceeding others of the same Realm.

Joint formations were a natural weakness for Demon Path Sects.

The Lingbao Sect was different. Relationships among its cultivators were harmonious, and both the inner sect and Heterodox Peak possessed joint attack formations like the Spiritual Treasure Formation.

In one-on-one fights, they relied on the overwhelming power of their Spiritual Treasures. In large-scale wars, they counted on the Lingbao Sect’s joint attack formations.

This was a unique offensive tactic of the Lingbao Sect.

"All of you, stay put! Not one of you will escape!"

Gigantic black hounds a thousand feet tall, their fur appearing like burning black flames, leaped into the air.

These were not flesh-and-blood hounds but the Devouring Sun Divine Dogs formed by the Spiritual Treasure Formation.

The formation was called the Divine Dog Devouring Sun Formation.

The Heart of the Sun-Eating Celestial Dog was a special Spiritual Treasure, crafted particularly for this formation. Other Spiritual Treasures served as auxiliaries, collectively enhancing the might of the Devouring Sun Divine Dog.

Dozens of Spiritual Treasures, bolstered by the Spiritual Power of the cultivators, could elevate the combat strength of the Devouring Sun Divine Dog to a level comparable to the Half-Step Refinement Void Realm.

In the Heiyuan Secret Realm, Realm suppression was at play; Nascent Soul Peak was the limit.

If quality was insufficient, then quantity would make up for it.

Over a hundred Devouring Sun Divine Dogs formed into a canine formation, collectively striking at the Shimo Sect Cultivators.

The Devouring Sun Divine Dogs possessed the ability to devour Spiritual Power and Magical Arts. Although the dogs conjured by the formation weren’t as formidable as true Divine Beasts, they were still terrifying.

Facing the tide of Devouring Sun Divine Dogs, the Demon Cultivators, fighting individually, were powerless to resist.

It was unclear who fled first, but the Shimo Sect Demon Cultivators soon broke into a full rout.

The Lingbao Sect pursued relentlessly, taking advantage of their opponents’ misfortune.

The Insect External Incarnation, using Spirit Insects left ahead of time, had witnessed the entire battle.

I didn’t expect Lingbao Sect to be this strong...

Jia Ren had thought the Lingbao Sect would be suppressed by the Shimo Sect, unable to hold their ground.

Otherwise, why would they have compelled him to enter the Heiyuan Secret Realm?

The situation was different from his conjecture; the Lingbao Sect held the upper hand.

As long as he moved with his fellow sect cultivators, safety wouldn’t be an issue.

Why not just go with the flow with his fellow sect disciples? He could contribute his Spiritual Treasures to the Divine Dog Devouring Sun Formation and earn a good amount of sect contribution with little effort. What was there not to like?

Jia Ren understood the rules of the Lingbao Sect: the greater the merits established, the more free time one would receive.

Once the war in the Heiyuan Secret Realm ended, whether he continued his cultivation or became a Spirit Treasure Refiner to avoid future conflicts, both were good choices.

Following the sect disciples and slacking off could lead to victory over the enemy with minimal risk.

The Insect External Incarnation put away the Mountain and Sea Pearl, reverted to Jia Ren’s appearance, and headed towards the Lingbao Sect Cultivators.

The highest Cultivation Level here was only Late Nascent Soul Stage, so it was impossible for anyone to see through the Insect External Incarnation’s disguise, augmented by the Bewildering Spirit Bead and the Illusionary Divine Moon Facial Transformation.

The Insect External Incarnation left the area, hurrying towards the distant Lingbao Sect Cultivators.

Seeing Jia Ren approach, the two Lingbao Sect Cultivators went on high alert.

Demon Sect Cultivators often excelled at transformation and disguise. Not long ago, some had infiltrated the Lingbao Sect and clandestinely sowed discord.

Since the Shimo Sect Cultivators couldn’t match them in a combined battle and Lingbao Sect Cultivators moved in groups, they had to resort to underhanded tactics.

"Disciple Jia Ren of Ancestor Jikong from Heterodox Peak, greets the two Senior Brothers."

All who entered the Heiyuan Secret Realm were True Disciples. As Jia Ren was the newest True Disciple, all other Lingbao Sect Cultivators there were his Senior Brothers.

"A disciple of Ancestor Jikong?"

"Where is Zhuo Chengdao?"

A talisman flew out, and before long, Zhuo Chengdao arrived, gliding through the air.

Seeing Jia Ren arrive, he expressed both surprise and delight, "Junior Brother has come."

"Indeed, he is my Junior Brother."

Appearance alone wasn’t enough. There were many Divine Skills to change one’s looks.

Moreover, they sensed that Jia Ren carried treasures that could block spiritual perception, so they dared not bring him directly into the camp.

"The treasure I have that masks one’s presence is the Bewildering Spirit Bead, obtained from the Treasury of Spiritual Treasures."

"The Cultivation Technique I practice is the Heavenly Treasure Primordial Spirit Technique. Surely, you two Senior Brothers are not unfamiliar with it. This is my first day here; you can verify this with the sect."

With verifiable Cultivation Techniques, Spiritual Treasures, and information, distinguishing truth from falsehood was quite easy.

"I can vouch for Junior Brother," Zhuo Chengdao hurriedly spoke up.

The Lingbao Sect was currently prevailing. As long as they proceeded steadily, defeating the Shimo Sect wouldn’t be difficult.

They didn’t want any unforeseen incidents or variables that might allow an enemy to infiltrate the camp and disrupt their unity.

"I still need to go request instructions. Junior Brother Jia, please wait patiently."

Not long after, he returned with the camp’s response: "As long as you lend the Bewildering Spirit Bead, the Green Wood Imperial Seal, and the Mixed Spirit Poison Pot to the camp for our use, you can join the camp."