Chapter 497: Chapter 495 Wandering Nine States (Congratulations to XHL League Master)_1
After Fang Xi bid his farewell and left,
Lu Shiming actually became somewhat forlorn.
He sighed, and a light screen appeared before his eyes, displaying the backend data of Qi Biao’s investigation into Zhang Huohua’s secrets!
This was enough to prove that his authority within the virtual network and the research institute was even higher than Qi Biao had imagined!
Lu Shiming sighed again as a talisman appeared in his hand.
Once ignited, the talisman turned into a wisp of blue smoke and disappeared.
The next instant!
A silvery light emerged, enveloping his entire being.
In the blink of an eye, this Nascent Soul research giant was gone without a trace.
...
Lu Shiming stood atop a white cloud.
Opposite him sat a youthful and handsome youth in white, sitting upon a cloud platform with a blue Celebrating Cloud forming behind his head. The blue cloud seemed to be on the verge of transforming into the shape of a turtle and snake intertwined, yet remained just a little short of completion.
The spiritual energy around was dense, even slightly surpassing the limit of what a fourth-order Spiritual Vein could produce.
Looking down from the cloud, one could see acres of Spiritual Fields and greenhouses... not far away was a city where high-tech and ancient cultivators coexisted harmoniously, potentially housing over ten million inhabitants!
In the firmament not too far away, a blazing Great Sun hung, continuously showering the land with its radiant sunlight.
Contained within it was even the orthodox Great Sun Purple Qi, though compared to the Purple Qi of many great worlds, it seemed slightly thin.
If Fang Xi were here, he would undoubtedly recognize that this was an artifact similar to the ’Mountain Sea Pearl’ - a Heaven Treasure.
However, compared to the Mountain Sea Pearl’s mere acre, the vastness of this Heaven Treasure was indescribably boundless!
Inside, it even had flora and fauna, mountains and rivers, capable of accommodating millions of people, with sunrises and sunsets, storms and lightning, and the cycle of the four seasons...
This was the Cultivation Palace of Fang Immortal Taoist Master that suppressed the Taoist system, a fifth-grade Transformative Treasure—Fang Immortal Taoist Palace!
This Taoist Palace was a high-grade fifth-order artifact, which rose to prominence during the ascension of Fang Immortal Taoist Master. It was discovered through the Door of Ten Thousand Worlds from a certain small world and laid the foundation for the prosperity of the Taoist system!
At the same time, it also provided the human race of The Nine States with a final retreat!
In the event that the human race could not defeat the Demon Clan and ultimately faced defeat, Fang Immortal Taoist Master could at any time gather everyone and directly hide in the Void, or even use the Fang Immortal Taoist Palace to roam the Sea of the Void and seek a new small world to continue to thrive!
This was also the top secret of the upper echelon of the human race in The Nine States - the Wandering Taoist Palace Plan!
"I pay my respects to the Taoist Master!"
With utmost respect, Lu Shiming saluted the youth under the Celebrating Cloud, "Congratulations on the Taoist Master’s refining of the Celebrating Cloud, Transcendent Godhood is within sight!"
This youth was none other than the leader of the human race in The Nine States, the master of the Fang Immortal Taoist Palace!
At that moment, his Cultivation had astonishingly reached the pinnacle of the Nascent Soul Stage!
Not only that, but he was even capable of manipulating the Heavenly and Earthly Spiritual Power, forming the blue Celebrating Cloud behind him, indicating he was indeed only a step away from becoming a Transcendent God.
When the turtles and snakes intertwine within the Celebrating Cloud, forming the Real Martial, and he fully absorbs it into his body, that will be the final step in ascending to the Deity Transformation Stage!
"A step apart creates a world of difference,"
The youthful Fang Immortal Taoist Master shook his head slightly, "Although I can temporarily isolate myself from the influence of the True demon qi by relying on this ’Fang Immortal Taoist Palace,’ creating my own realm, the final step is still lacking some refinement... If I have not ascended and another Perfect Transcendent God Demon Lord appears from the Door of Sky Demon, then The Nine States will ultimately remain unprotected."
The Fang Immortal Taoist Master was actually, as rumors held, in seclusion attempting to break through to the Deity Transformation Stage!
Lu Shiming understood the situation as well but could only sigh internally.
Over the years, the Fang Immortal Taoist Palace had almost completely researched the theories of Core Formation and Nascent Soul, even delving deeply into half of the knowledge of the Deity Transformation Stage.
The key to successfully advancing as a Transcendent God for a Cultivator is closely related to the world they are in!
The most important aspect of ascending to godhood is to control Heavenly and Earthly Spiritual Power, which the Fang Immortal Taoist Master could barely manage to do. However, the Primordial Energy of this small realm is not as rich as in large realms like The Nine States, which creates many obstacles at the time of ascension.
It could be said that at the moment of breaking through to godhood, what is needed is not a small Spiritual Vein, but a great Heavenly Vein!
The more vast and powerful the big world, the simpler it is to ascend to godhood.
If it were in the legendary Earth Immortal Realm, not only the Fang Immortal Taoist Master, but possibly Lord Demon Exterminator, Master Ghost Axe, Master Bai Mei, and a few others might have already ascended to godhood long ago.
But if one were to break through in the outer world, the interference of the True demon qi would only make it more difficult than in this small realm!
"With the Taoist Master’s current external manifestation, if you cultivate in seclusion for a while longer, breaking through to godhood is almost certain... It’s with great trepidation that I disturb you at this time,"
Lu Shiming quickly saluted again.
"You burned the message talisman to contact me, has something happened with that predetermined person?"
The calm-faced Fang Immortal Taoist Master suddenly inquired.
"Yes!"
Lu Shiming smiled bitterly, "That Zhang Huohua is indeed the person foretold by the Taoist Master to solve the predicament of The Nine States. Ever since he joined the Primordial Energy Research Institute, not only has he perfected the Three-Phases Theory, but he has also submitted the Demon Qi Particle Atlas... However, it seems that Qi Biao has also begun to notice something wrong..."
Unbelievably, the Fang Immortal Taoist Master also practiced the Skills of Divination!
This mysterious art, part of the Hundred Arts of Immortal Cultivation, reportedly requires extremely rare and unique talent!
Furthermore, each time the art of divination is used, it greatly reduces one’s lifespan!
Even the intelligence calculated might not be accurate...
It could be said to be practically useless.
Fang Immortal Taoist Master happened to possess the divination talent of Immortal Cultivators.
He simply smiled upon hearing this, "With the aid of ’Fang Immortal Taoist Palace’, this Spirit Communication Transformation Treasure, and at the cost of my lifespan, I have divined that a future student of yours, Master Lu, may potentially resolve the predicament of the Nine States... However, this conclusion may not be certain, for the will of heaven is unpredictable and it delights in toying with people..."
Since ancient times, many Cultivators who used the Skills of Divination to seek good fortune and avoid disaster have ended up being devoured by the Heavenly Secrets.
When Fang Immortal Taoist Master was studying the Skills of Divination, he found many examples in ancient books where a great Cultivator divined a disaster befalling themselves and took various active measures to avoid it, only to be led to doom because of their own actions.
For instance, a Nascent Soul Cultivator divined that his life was threatened by a certain Sect, and preemptively annihilated that Sect, not sparing even a dog.
The result was that a Transcendent God passerby who was wandering through the mortal world saw this act on the Demon Path and casually exterminated the perpetrator, upholding the way by eliminating the demon...
"I always believed in the masterful and unpredictable Skills of Divination of the Taoist Master."
Lu Shiming said, "Originally, I had no intention of accepting a disciple, but Zhang Huohua’s thesis was truly brilliant. Remembering your words, Master, I entertained the idea of accepting a disciple... Upon investigating, however, Zhang Huohua’s background is not exactly clean..."
If Fang Xi knew the situation, he would surely be left speechless.
Even if he could avoid the scrutiny of big data, he would still find it difficult to match such Skills of Divination.
Moreover, the Skills of Divination were not aimed at him but at Lu Shiming. By a twist of fate, these skills also managed to eliminate the interference of the ’Treasures of All Heavens’...
"Qi Biao? With your protection, that student will certainly be safe..." Fang Immortal Taoist Master said with a slight smile.
Lu Shiming had long known that there were issues with Zhang Huohua but believed that he carried the hopes of the Nine States.
Under such circumstances, even if Qi Biao aggressively demanded an investigation, he would merely be a jumping clown.
"I think the key to Zhang Huohua solving the problem of the Nine States lies in the Primordial Energy Particle Atlas. This person is a genius in this field... Perhaps he could perfect the atlas, becoming the key to breaking through for the Taoist Master, and even Lords like Bai Mei and Demon Exterminator could advance because of it, making driving out the Moon Demon as easy as flipping a hand..."
Lu Shiming bowed, "Today, Zhang Huohua applied to use the ’Quantum Interference Microscope’, clearly reaching a critical step in the research. I boldly ask the master to transfer Qi Biao away to avoid distractions..."
"So that’s how it is..."
Fang Immortal Taoist Master spoke indifferently, "Let him be... Just let nature take its course."
"This..."
Lu Shiming obviously did not expect Fang Immortal Taoist Master to react this way, and dared not ask further, only managing to bow, "Your subordinate shall take his leave!"
A streak of silver light shimmered, and his figure disappeared.
Only Fang Immortal Taoist Master was left, still seated on the Cloud Platform, who suddenly sighed and flicked his sleeve.
A patch of blue Celebrating Clouds above him immediately dispersed into nothingness...
"Zhang Huohua..."
In his eyes, as if containing the Big Thousand World and endless stars, a faint smile surfaced, "Who exactly are you?"
In front of Fang Immortal Taoist Master, a light screen was still present, displaying the scenes from the first and second instances when Green Horn Silver Arm made their move...
Knowing the outcome and then backtracking, the technology of the Nine States could very well turn Zhang Huohua inside out...
Even directly associating him with the Dark Moon Sect and that Green Horn Silver Arm Demon Cultivator!
Fang Immortal Taoist Master hadn’t told Lu Shiming that after accepting Zhang Huohua as a graduate student, he cast another divination for Zhang Huohua.
The result was chaos!
...
The next day.
Fang Xi passed through the multiple security checkpoints of the Primordial Energy Research Institute, arriving at the deepest part, the Quantum Interference Laboratory.
"Hello, Researcher Zhang!"
A female researcher with glasses and fiery red hair approached him, "This microscope is the best one available from the Taoist Palace... If there are any operations you can’t manage, I can serve as your assistant. I don’t even need authorship on the paper, I just want to learn..."
"There’s no need, junior sister..."
Fang Xi, with a beaming smile, sent all the researchers out of the room.
He closed the laboratory door and after securing the Array, a flash of light appeared in his hand, revealing a Biyi Tube containing a thread of Sky Demon Qi!
...
Meanwhile, at the entrance of the research institute.
Qi Biao, looking furious, was followed by two security Cultivators, his face cold and murderous as he stormed into the institute.
A beam of Escape Light shot out, and Lu Shiming emerged.
Watching the wildly charging Qi Biao, he frowned, and with his Nascent Soul Stage magical power no longer concealed, an immense Spiritual Pressure was released, making it almost impossible for the present Core Formation Cultivators to breathe.
"Qi Biao, what are you doing?" Lu Shiming bellowed.
"I have no choice, Master Lu... Your researcher there has some issues, suspected to be a spy for the Dark Moon Sect. I suspect he’s attempting to steal our institute’s confidential information. He must be captured for interrogation," Qi Biao answered with righteous indignation.
At the same time, he was inwardly overjoyed: ’I didn’t expect that digging into Zhang Huohua would reveal issues everywhere... Capturing him this time will at least delay Master Lu’s research significantly!’