Translator: CinderTL
"Does your sect possess Golden Spirit Seeds or Dark Orchid Wood?" Song Wen inquired.
Yun Xu waved his hand, and a seven-foot-long section of spirit wood materialized abruptly, flying toward Song Wen. The wood, about the thickness of a wrist, was a uniform light brown color.
"This piece of Dark Orchid Wood is a gift for the Demon Lord," Yun Xu said. "It's sufficient for you to refine a clone. However, Golden Spirit Seeds are exceedingly rare; even our Liangyi Sect lacks them. Otherwise, I wouldn't be the sole practitioner of this cultivation method in the entire sect."
Song Wen accepted the Dark Orchid Wood and cupped his hands in thanks. "Thank you for your generous gift, Fellow Daoist Yun Xu. I accept without reservation. May I ask how you originally obtained your Golden Spirit Seed?"
Yun Xu replied, "I stumbled upon a Golden Spirit Seed tree on a rocky islet in the outer sea. Fortunately, it bore a single ripe seed. After I harvested it, the entire tree withered and died. If you wish to seek one out yourself, you might try your luck in the outer sea. But don't get your hopes up too high—they are exceedingly scarce."
"Thank you," Song Wen said.
An hour later, the Shadow Gu had devoured the entire multi-zhang-long body of the Mystic Flood Dragon. Yet it remained unsatisfied, continuing to transmit its hunger to Song Wen.
Exasperated, Song Wen couldn't fathom how the creature, barely the size of a washbasin, could possibly have swallowed an entire Mystic Flood Dragon.
Did it just digest everything instantly?
Left with no other choice, Song Wen retrieved Feng Ying's corpse and tossed it before the Shadow Gu. The creature pounced on the remains, devouring them with relish. After consuming most of the Feng Ying's body, it finally ceased eating and began absorbing the surrounding Spiritual Qi.
The Spiritual Qi drawn in by the Spirit Gathering Formation quickly proved insufficient for the Shadow Gu's insatiable hunger. Song Wen reluctantly crushed dozens of Mid-Grade Spirit Stones to provide it with sustenance.
Time flowed by slowly.
Disciples who had ventured out to search for resources gradually returned.
"Reporting, Demon Lord," Fang Xian said, bowing deeply, "we have thoroughly searched the region within a thousand li. Aside from a small Spirit Field, we found no treasure vaults of the Demon Race."
"What about the other two major factions?" Song Wen asked. "Did they find anything?"
"Neither the Liangyi Sect nor the Cui Clan made any discoveries," Fang Xian replied.
Song Wen nodded slightly. "Inform the disciples to return to Wu Ji Island."
"As you command!" Fang Xian acknowledged and withdrew.
"Demon Lord Ji Yin, is your esteemed sect already preparing to depart?" Xuan Chengzi inquired with a jovial smile.
"All the Fourth-Tier powerhouses of the Demon Race have perished," Song Wen stated. "The remaining demons pose no further threat. My sect sees no reason to remain here any longer. We bid you farewell."
At that moment, Cui Xuanjing suddenly spoke up. "Since the Wu Ji Sect is withdrawing its forces, the Cui Clan will also depart. Demon Lord Ji Yin, shall we travel together?"
"It would be an honor to accompany the Cui Clan," Song Wen replied.
About fifteen minutes later, the fleets of the Wu Ji Sect and the Cui Clan began to accelerate slowly, heading west.
Once they had distanced themselves from Fang City, Song Wen suddenly received a spiritual sense transmission from Cui Xuanjing. "Demon Lord, I know where to find the Golden Spirit Seed."
Song Wen raised an eyebrow slightly. "Oh? Would Fellow Daoist Cui be willing to share this information?"
Song Wen had expected Cui Xuanjing to demand a steep price, but to his surprise, the man immediately revealed the location of the Golden Spirit Seed.
"Our Cui Clan possesses a secret realm called Yin Shuo Valley, where the Golden Spirit Seed grows. However, Yin Shuo Valley only permits entry to cultivators at the Golden Core stage or below, and the area where the Golden Spirit Seed grows is guarded by a Fourth-Tier ghost creature. In the past, we were unaware of the Golden Spirit Seed's uses and never dared to venture there. If your sect is interested, you can send disciples to try their luck when Yin Shuo Valley reopens in eleven years."
"Then I thank you in advance, Fellow Daoist," Song Wen replied. "However, if you have any conditions, please state them plainly."
Cui Xuanjing said, "As long as your sect's disciples don't compete with my Cui Clan members for treasures in other secret realms, I have no other conditions. However, four years ago, Fellow Daoist, you traded with my Cui Clan. At the time, I was unaware of your true identity and may have offended you. I hope you won't hold it against me."
Song Wen smiled faintly.
So, Cui Xuanjing is trying to curry favor because he imprisoned Meng Lengyu and me years ago, fearing retribution later.
"Rest assured, Fellow Daoist Cui," Song Wen replied. "I'm not one to hold grudges. Let bygones be bygones."
"Excellent," Cui Xuanjing said with a smile. "The ghosts in Yin Shuo Valley are formidable. You'll need to prepare some ghost-slaying methods. Otherwise, obtaining the Golden Spirit Seed won't be easy."
"Thank you for the reminder, Fellow Daoist Cui," Song Wen replied.
After the Giant Flying Ship left Fangzhudao, the Cui Clan and the Wu Ji Sect parted ways.
The Cui Clan headed south toward the southern part of the Eastern Region, where they had been granted thirty percent of the territory. Cui Xuanjing planned to use this opportunity to purge the remaining Demon Race forces in the area.
The Wu Ji Sect sailed straight toward Wu Ji Island.
Song Wen instructed Fang Xian to pilot the Flagship while he retreated to the Spirit Gathering Formation. There, he monitored the Shadow Gu's advancement while meditating to refine his Spiritual Power and solidify his cultivation realm.
A month later, the fleet arrived at Wu Ji Island.
The arrival of the fleet above Shadow City caused quite a stir.
In this Human-Demon War, the Wu Ji Sect had deployed nearly all its elite forces, leaving only three Golden Core cultivators and twenty-odd Foundation Establishment cultivators to guard the rear.
However, the vast expanse of the Western Region was simply too large for such a small garrison to manage effectively.
Moreover, with the outcome of the Human-Demon War still uncertain, panic gripped the populace.
Taking advantage of the chaos, rogue cultivators rose up, looting and pillaging across the land. While they dared not cause trouble on Wu Ji Island itself, they wreaked considerable havoc in more remote areas.
The safe return of the Wu Ji Sect's entire fleet struck fear into the hearts of those with sinister intentions.
"Subordinate Ye Yan pays respects to the Demon Lord and Demon Sovereign. May I humbly ask, has the Human Race achieved a decisive victory?"
A female cultivator in the Late Golden Core stage flew out from Corpse King Valley and bowed deeply before the flagship.
Fang Xian, standing at the helm of the Giant Flying Ship, noticed her approach. Perhaps due to his close relationship with the woman and fearing she might inadvertently offend Song Wen, he quickly explained.
"Fellow Daoist Ye," Fang Xian said, "the Eastern Region War saw the complete annihilation of all Fourth-Tier demons, securing a millennium of peace for our Human Race. However, with the deaths of Yin Shuo and Ye Hua, the Wu Ji Sect is now under the command of Demon Lord Ji Yin."
"Demon Lord Ji Yin?" Ye Yan exclaimed, her face filled with astonishment.
Fang Xian explained, "His power is unfathomable. He personally slew Xing Wenyao and Feng Ying, making him the foremost cultivator in the Chaotic Sea." As he spoke, Fang Xian subtly gestured to Ye Yan, urging her to refrain from further questions to avoid saying too much.
Ye Yan, no fool, bowed respectfully toward Song Wen, who was meditating on the deck. "This subordinate pays homage to Demon Lord Ji Yin."
Song Wen nodded slightly. "Fang Xian, I will be entering seclusion for some time. I entrust all affairs of the Wu Ji Sect, both great and small, to your care. If you encounter any matters you cannot resolve, have Shu Niang report them to Three Corpses Peak. Additionally, half of the Northern Region has been ceded to the sect. Send men to take control of it."
With that, Song Wen took the Shadow Gu and departed alone for Three Corpses Peak.
Three Corpses Peak, the most spiritually dense area in Corpse King Valley, had once served as Yin Shuo and Ye Hua's cultivation grounds. Now, it naturally became Song Wen's exclusive cultivation retreat.
(End of the Chapter)
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