Chapter 538: Chapter 536: Desolation (Please Subscribe)_1
Western Desert Cultivation World.
Amid the thunderous roars, an ancient teleportation array flared up, spitting out two figures.
Fang Xi was fine, but Ling Shu’s pretty face was slightly flushed, still suffering from the aftereffects of ultra-long-distance teleportation.
However, as a Perfect Core Formation cultivator, she circulated her cultivation method slightly, and vapor scattered around her, instantly restoring much of her spirit, "Is this... the Western Desert Cultivation World?"
"Indeed!"
Fang Xi nodded, and a stream of Taiyi Green Wood Divine Light shot out, enveloping the entire ancient teleportation array.
Whoosh!
In an instant, the ancient teleportation array was shredded into dust by countless sharp, verdant flying blades...
With his current wealth, it was a simple matter for him to set up a new ancient teleportation array, and with the help of ’Tai Yi,’ his skills in the Array Taoist discipline nearly rivaled those of a fifth-tier Array Grandmaster.
Having destroyed the teleportation array, even if their location was exposed, it wasn’t much of a concern.
Since ancient teleportation arrays varied in design, they simply could not be used interchangeably... Even if the other side had an Array Master, they would be left sighing in vain.
And Ling Shu’s prowess in arrays was truly mediocre; she couldn’t possibly remember the construction method or array patterns and prohibitions of this Great Array...
In the flash of an Escape Light.
Fang Xi and Ling Shu arrived above the ruins.
Gazing at the rolling yellow sand below, Ling Shu couldn’t help but be fascinated...
After all, this was her first time witnessing such a scene.
"This is the map of the Quicksand Region nearby... If you wish to return, you can rent a Dongfu in Thick Soil City and wait. I will come to see you before I go back," Fang Xi said.
With Fang Xi’s Divine Consciousness, naturally, he could easily find Ling Shu.
After tossing the jade slip to Ling Shu, the woman took the hint to leave, turning into a streak of azure Escape Light and disappearing into the distance.
"She’s got guts... perhaps reaching Nascent Soul really is within reach?!"
Fang Xi muttered to himself, then turned into a streak of Escape Light, speeding toward the direction of Yellow Sand Sect.
He still needed to inquire about the current situation in the Western Desert from an old acquaintance, Lord Black Sand.
Moreover, since the resources of the Western Desert Cultivation World were somewhat more abundant than the South Wilderness, he wanted to see if he could obtain a batch of ’Infant Transformation Pills’ to take back...
...
Yellow Sand Sect.
"Eight Desolate Sect has gone too far in their bullying!"
Lord Black Sand slammed his fist onto a chair made of millennium-warm jade, causing cracks to appear on the armrest.
Beneath him, a group of Core Formation cultivators were as silent as cicadas in winter, all wearing bitter expressions on their faces.
The Eight Desolate Sect and Yellow Sand Sect were neighbors with a long-standing grudge. When Yellow Sand Sect lost a Nascent Soul cultivator years ago, rumors flew of an imminent fight, which was ultimately suppressed by the Monster Clan’s descent to the realm...
But now things were different!
With the end of the Monster Clan’s descent, Lord Black Sand, who was always targeted by the Purple Thunder Kirin, returned not only empty-handed but also with serious injuries, with his cultivation even regressing substantially.
In contrast, the Eight Desolate Sect was different. ’Lord Sihuang,’ who was also in the mid-stage of Nascent Soul, and an early Nascent Soul elder worked together, scoring many victories in Tianwei City and exchanging them for an ’Infant Transformation Pill.’
Initially, both factions coexisted peacefully.
But as decades passed and the Eight Desolate Sect cultivated a third Nascent Soul cultivator, they naturally began to invade the Quicksand Region’s territories aggressively.
This invasion was not only about old enmities but also because the Eight Desolate Sect’s own resource output was limited, unable to sustain the cultivation needs of three Nascent Soul cultivators.
With three Nascent Soul cultivators taking action, one of whom was in the mid-stage, Lord Black Sand naturally kept losing ground.
If it weren’t for his wondrous Spirit Body, he might have been slain in the first major battle.
Now, with the Eight Desolate Sect invading the Quicksand Region and occupying many Spiritual Veins, mines, and medicinal fields, the Yellow Sand Sect was in retreat and appeared vulnerable and unstable.
"Lord... don’t you have a relationship with Master Golden Light?" inquired the Sect Master of the Yellow Sand Sect cautiously.
"Master Golden Light?"
Lord Black Sand was momentarily tempted by the idea, but he quickly sighed, "Although I was in his good graces before, and had a good relationship with Master Golden Light... ever since my magic body was destroyed, he has been in closed-door cultivation, and it’s difficult to invite him out..."
Such a Nascent Soul old monster would hardly extend his hand without sufficient benefits.
And what could Yellow Sand Sect offer now that would move a great cultivator?
As everyone was frowning with worry, the Great Array suddenly trembled!
"Hm!"
Lord Black Sand immediately stood up, his face adorned with profound black patterns that transformed into a bizarre mask.
This was the phenomenon of the ’Black Sand God Body’ being activated!
Countless ’Black Marsh Mysterious Sands’ gathered to form a two-headed powerful lion with sharp claws and teeth, carrying Lord Black Sand and several Core Formation cultivators to the gate.
Outside the gate of Yellow Sand Sect, a vast expanse of yellow sand raged, turning into nine fierce, earth-yellow dragons.
These dragons, formidable in size and crafted from ’Wu Earth Divine Sand,’ had various earth spirits and alien beasts materializing beneath them on the ground...
It was clearly the Sect Protection Array, ’Nine Dragons Yellow Sand Array’ being disturbed, fully unleashed!
"Is it you?!"
Lord Black Sand stared at the three Nascent Soul cultivators from the Eight Desolate Sect outside, especially at the leading ’Lord Sihuang,’ his eyes almost bursting with fury.
In his heart, he also found it very strange.
Seated within this fourth-grade Great Array, not even a major cultivator could emerge, and they basically could do nothing against him.
Why were the three great Nascent Souls of the Eight Desolate Sect so confident this time that they had all gathered here?
A bad premonition suddenly arose in Lord Black Sand’s heart.
Nascent Soul cultivators would never take such a risk without being certain of victory!
Lord Sihuang had the appearance of a stern middle-aged man, wearing a golden robe embroidered with four different wild beasts.
"Black Sand... You must be aware that alone, you can’t defend the Quicksand Region... If the Eight Desolate Sect does not attack the Quicksand Region, we have no choice but to confront stronger forces like ’Water Moon Door’ and ’Purple Cloud Sect’... Thus, if today you are willing to sign a contract with your Essence Blood on this ’Blood Soul Book Pact,’ Yellow Sand Sect can still continue to govern the part of the Black Sand Sea in the Quicksand Region..."
Lord Sihuang’s voice was hoarse.
The reason for leaving behind one third of the Quicksand Region was naturally for fear that Lord Black Sand would be driven to desperate action.
After all, he is a Nascent Soul, isn’t he?
"Haha..."
Hearing this, Lord Black Sand was so angry that he laughed: "Let my Yellow Sand Sect relocate its sect headquarters? Dream on!"
The Black Sand Sea was the most barren land in the Quicksand Region. If they really moved there, it was frightening to think that the Yellow Sand Sect might not produce another Nascent Soul in the future, and would inevitably decline once his own lifespan reached its end.
That’s also a play among the higher forces; they often cook the frog in warm water and are not too bloody.
After all, a Nascent Soul’s ability to escape death is quite strong...
"Is that so? Would you take a look at this then?"
Lord Sihuang sneered, revealing a fist-sized Spirit Pearl in his hand.
On the Spirit Pearl, there were numerous intricate runes with a faintly operating Array within.
"A fourth-grade Breaking Array Bead?!"
Lord Black Sand’s demeanor immediately weakened, and he almost cried out, "How could you possibly possess such a treasure?"
"Naturally, it was seized from the Monster Clan... The merits I had earned back then were spent on exchanging for that ’Infant Transformation Pill,’ with the majority invested in this treasure,"
Lord Sihuang held the ’Breaking Array Bead’ and boasted a confident demeanor: "You know... although this bead cannot break through a fourth-grade Great Array, it can suppress the power of the Array for a moment... I advise you to cooperate obediently; otherwise, if we three break through your sect gates, I don’t know how many lower-rank disciples will be lost."
This Breaking Array Bead was incredibly precious, and Lord Sihuang also knew the principle that treasures held the most power when in one’s hands.
"How dare you?!"
Lord Black Sand’s eyes widened: "If you dare to do so, my Black Sand Sea will inevitably engage in relentless strife with your Eight Desolate Sect, attacking your disciples day and night..."
"So, you’re still unwilling to sign the Blood Soul Book Pact?"
Lord Sihuang sighed, and the wild beasts on his robe turned from illusion to reality, appearing in the Void and roaring softly.
"It seems... I have no choice but to completely annihilate your Nascent Soul and thereby extinguish the Yellow Sand Sect... It’s a pity that a sect with thousands of years of inheritance will be terminated by your hands."
Lord Sihuang’s voice weighed down like dark clouds, making every cultivator of the Yellow Sand Sect feel an impending great disaster.
’This old Sihuang... his cultivation of the ’Eight Desolate Table’ is indeed refined. When will he sacrifice and refine four wild beasts before he can advance to the late Nascent Soul stage?’
’With two Nascent Soul cultivators aiding him, I’m afraid I have to flee with my Nascent Soul leaving the body...’
Lord Black Sand weighed the pros and cons in his heart swiftly.
Even if his Nascent Soul escaped, finding a suitable vessel for Soul Possession and cultivating back to his original level would not be easy.
By then, seeking revenge would just be an intimidating remark, nothing more...
With these thoughts, Lord Black Sand’s heart was filled with complexities. He was about to yield, but suddenly looked in a certain direction, his expression drastically changing: ’This fluctuation of Magic Power, is it a major cultivator? The Eight Desolate Sect is ruthless... are they intending to completely obliterate the Yellow Sand Sect?’
However, he immediately realized that Lord Sihuang was also looking at him with a changed expression, carrying a trace of fear, and he knew he had been overthinking. That major cultivator was not from the Eight Desolate Sect.
There was a flash of Blue Light in the distant sky, and a figure instantly appeared in mid-air, revealing the figure of Master Mu: "Black Sand, your sect is quite bustling today."
Fang Xi laughed heartily, greeting him first.
"You are... Master Mu?! You’ve advanced to the late Nascent Soul stage?!"
Lord Black Sand’s eyes widened like copper bells.
He was deeply shocked.
Every encounter with this ’Master Mu’ seemed to bring surprises. No, shocks!
The first time they met, the other party was just at the early Nascent Soul stage, barely able to withstand three moves from him.
The second time they met, the other party was still at the early Nascent Soul stage, but within three moves, he had caused serious damage to his Primordial Energy!
The third time they met, the person was unfathomable. Although he appeared to be at the early Nascent Soul stage, he suspected the other party had already reached the middle Nascent Soul stage, even revealing the grand conspiracy of the Black Dragon Sect, leading to the destruction of this great power in the Western Desert.
And now, on their fourth meeting, the other party was directly a major cultivator?
Was the pretense over?
Lord Black Sand suspected that the other party had been a major cultivator all along, deliberately concealing his aura, toying with him.
Think about it!
What ordinary Nascent Soul cultivator would have the courage to investigate the private affairs of Lord Black Sky and accuse the Black Dragon Sect of betraying the human race?
But soon, Lord Black Sand recovered and plastered a smile on his face: "Old friend, long time no see. I’ve missed you, Black Sand. But with unwelcome visitors, it was impossible to extend proper hospitality..."