49: Chapter 49 Mo Jiao?

"Bang!"

Countless blue spots of light appeared in the sky, flickering incessantly.

In the next instant.

They transformed into countless water columns as thick as a bowl's mouth, striking toward the center of the light cluster in unison.

"Eh, it's the Flowing Water Rock Crushing Formation."

He almost forgot that Xie Wantang was also a First Level Medium Grade Formation Master; it was only natural for her to use a Formation to deal with the guardian Yao Beast.

Looking closer.

Xie Wantang's water-blue cloud sleeves fluttered as she fought a massive, fiery-red lizard on the edge of the cliff.

"Another First Level Perfection Yao Beast."

Despite the enhancement of the Formation and her profound cultivation at the ninth level of Qi Refining, Xie Wantang was still fighting with some difficulty.

Fortunately, it was a fire-attribute Yao Beast.

Relying on the mutual restraint of the Five Elements, she still firmly held control over the battle.

The Flame Lizard's injuries grew more numerous, and at the moment of life and death, it decided to risk everything in a final struggle!

Its body curled into a ball, trembling all over like a heartbeat.

The demonic power on its body gradually intensified, and any flowing water that came near instantly turned into steam.

Xie Wantang reacted immediately: "Lava Eruption? You vile beast, you still dare to struggle!"

Her hands continuously formed seals, controlling all the water from the Flowing Water Rock Crushing Formation to gather in front of her.

"Rumble!"

Just as she hurriedly finished her preparations, the bombardment arrived.

Before her eyes, water and fire intertwined, steam rose, and the smoke and flames were extinguished.

Xie Wantang's brow furrowed; she was in no mortal danger, but the Flowing Water Rock Crushing Formation had been silenced, with only a few remnants of the Formation's power remaining.

The fiery-red lizard felt the annoying restriction on its body vanish and looked back at several translucent white fruits on the edge of the cliff.

A humanoid look of madness appeared in its eyes as it rushed toward the tianyuan fruit.

"Not good, this vile beast wants to seize the fruit and flee!"

Xie Wantang realized this, but the remaining fire offensive made it difficult for her to stop it.

Helpless, she could only watch as the Yao Beast approached the tianyuan fruit.

At this moment.

An unexpected obstacle arose.

Unbeknownst to anyone, the hard stone wall beneath the lizard's feet had turned into a swamp.

The more its limbs tried to crawl toward the tianyuan fruit, the deeper it sank.

Xie Wantang exclaimed: "Flowing Binding Formation! Which Fellow Daoist is assisting? This humble one offers her thanks."

In the next moment, countless First Level High Grade Talismans exploded on the lizard's rough skin.

Explosions rang out everywhere.

After the dust settled, a tall figure stood atop the lizard's raised head, smiling at Xie Wantang: "Second Miss won't blame me for acting on my own, will she?"

Xu Changsheng had to act; he had no way of judging whether the lizard just now wanted to pluck the tianyuan fruit or destroy it.

Xie Wantang gave a soft smile: "So it's Fellow Daoist Xu. I should have guessed it sooner; you've arrived just in time."

The two of them harvested all the tianyuan fruit.

"This is for you."

Xie Wantang fulfilled her promise and handed over a tianyuan fruit.

"If I were to decline this tianyuan fruit, I wonder if it could be exchanged for a life continuation pill."

Eating a tianyuan fruit raw only increases one's Lifespan by ten percent compared to a life continuation pill.

Aside from the advantage of not developing drug resistance, eating it raw isn't worth it at all.

Even if a tianyuan fruit could be used as the primary ingredient to refine multiple life continuation pills, if one couldn't find a reliable Alchemist, it would all be for naught.

"Of course, once the refining is successful later, I will personally deliver it to Fellow Daoist Xu."

"Very well."

"By the way, Fellow Daoist Xu, please take the corpse of this Fire Spirit Lizard. If not for your intervention, all our previous efforts might have been in vain."

Xie Wantang generously gave up the corpse of this First Level Late Stage Yao Beast to express her goodwill.

Xu Changsheng did not stand on ceremony and directly placed it into his Storage Pouch.

A First Level Perfection Yao Beast is a good thing; its skin and bones can serve as Materials for High Grade or even Top Grade Magical Artifacts, and its Physical Body can be used as food for Ink Shadow.

One could easily be worth seven or eight hundred Spirit Stones.

Xie Wantang smiled slightly: "What are Guest Official Xu's plans next?"

Xu Changsheng thought for a moment and replied: "I have no other plans; I intend to find an opportunity to return to the ningguang boat."

His main goal for coming here had been achieved, and the Secret Realm was full of dangers; there was no need for him to take any more risks.

Xie Wantang's expression brightened: "Since you have no plans, I know a place with a second-tier marrow protecting pill. I wonder if Fellow Daoist Xu is willing to go and retrieve the treasure together?"

"A marrow protecting pill? To think Second Miss would know of such a thing!"

Xu Changsheng's face showed a look of shock.

As the name suggests, a marrow protecting pill must protect the Meridians.

Breaking through a major Realm, such as from Qi Refining to Foundation Establishment or Foundation Establishment to Golden Core, is not only difficult but also carries a heavy backlash upon failure.

At best, one's cultivation regresses; at worst, one's body perishes and the Dao is lost.

However, if one consumes a marrow protecting pill before the Breakthrough.

It can not only protect the Meridians throughout the body, greatly reducing the backlash of a failed Breakthrough, but also gather the Spiritual Qi dissipated from the failure back into the Meridians, laying a foundation for the next Breakthrough.

Such an extraordinary effect makes the value of a second-tier marrow protecting pill equal to or even no less than that of a foundation establishment pill.

Thinking this over, the corners of his mouth turned down, and his eyes narrowed slightly.

"Hmm, Fellow Daoist Xu doesn't believe me?"

"The marrow protecting pill is a second-tier Medicinal Pill and is of great value, requiring a high-level Alchemist to refine. How could it appear in this barren Withered Wood Secret Realm?"

"I don't know either; Jiang Wenzhou said so."

"Hmm?"

"I accidentally overheard a transmission between Jiang Wenzhou and his Revered Master and learned of this. As long as we deal with the guardian Spirit Beast, there's a high probability of finding a marrow protecting pill."

Hearing this.

Xu Changsheng pondered in silence, looking directly into Xie Wantang's beautiful eyes.

The latter was not afraid at all, looking back with poise. Her face, like cream-colored jade, instead gained the upper hand, causing him to avert his gaze.

His expression shifted uncertainly: "In that case, I will accompany Second Miss on this trip. I hope we can achieve our goal."

Hearing his agreement.

Xie Wantang gave an elegant smile: "Good, please follow me."

Catching the scent of begonia fragrance wafting from her, Xu Changsheng felt somewhat uneasy. According to his personality, he would avoid treasure hunts with unknown risks whenever possible.

But there was no choice this time; that was a marrow protecting pill, comparable to a foundation establishment pill.

He could be a coward for a lifetime, but this time he had to stand tall.

On the other hand.

From his years of friendship with Xie Wantang, he knew that she was not one for empty talk, and her character was worthy of his trust.

...

An hour later.

In front of a rock wall.

"Bang!"

The thick rock wall was sliced open by Xie Wantang's water-attribute Spell, revealing a simple and ancient bronze gate.

"How is it? Fellow Daoist Xu believes me now, right?"

He cupped his hands in apology: "I was over-suspicious."

She smiled softly: "However, there is one more thing Fellow Daoist needs to know."

"What is it?"

"The rank of the guardian Spirit Beast."

"Go ahead and speak."

"Second Level Early Stage!"

"Ah?"

Xu Changsheng instinctively took half a step back, not expecting the Spirit Beast they had to deal with to be a second-level Spirit Beast comparable to the Foundation Establishment Stage.

"Please excuse me, I shall take my leave first."

Xie Wantang covered her mouth and chuckled: "Fellow Daoist Xu really cherishes his life. Why not listen to me finish?"

This finally swayed Xu Changsheng from his urgent desire to leave.

"Although it is a second-level Yao Beast, this Ink Flood Dragon is currently in heat. Its cultivation will drop significantly, making it only slightly stronger than a First Level Great Perfection Yao Beast."

"Is that so?"

But he immediately thought of something.

"The Yao Beast, Ink Flood Dragon?!"

"Is there a problem? Aside from being thick-skinned and durable, this kind of Yao Beast doesn't have any other outstanding Bloodline."

Xu Changsheng thought it over; as someone from China, he had of course read 'A Mortal's Journey to Immortality'.

"It should just be a coincidence in name. It couldn't be the one from Han Tianzun, could it?"