321: Awarding treasures

“The next time I encounter a Martial Demon Realm at the second stage, perhaps I’ll have enough power to contend with it.”

Xiao Shi looked down at the rapidly sinking giant sea lizard.

In an instant,

his injuries had completely healed.

As it currently stood,

he was indeed still struggling a bit when facing a Martial Demon Realm at the second stage.

Of course,

this was without using those powerful items.

If he were to form an emperor soul through the Martial Emperor Belt, combined with the Soul Tremor Blade, Xiao Shi was confident he could directly kill even a Martial Demon Realm at the second stage.

Alternatively, he could summon a sage soul body using the Sage Soul Summoning Seal, which would also be capable of dealing with a Martial Demon Realm at the second stage.

However, using these items would come with certain costs.

Forming an emperor soul with the Martial Emperor Belt might expose his identity, and Xiao Shi didn't want to take that risk unless absolutely necessary.

As for the Sage Soul Summoning Seal, it could only be used once, and using it here would not be worth it.

For Xiao Shi,

to contend with a Martial Demon Realm at the second stage without these costs, he would have to use the Crimson Tiger Lineage method to condense numerous powers into a Crimson Tiger, thereby forming an ultimate power of the Martial Demon Realm.

In recent days, through killing many Martial Demon Realm sea beasts,

he had successfully sealed and extracted quite a few powers.

And condensed all these powers.

Now, these powers were enough for him to condense and form an ultimate power.

However, Xiao Shi was in a dilemma regarding the direction of this ultimate power's condensation.

He felt that if he condensed it haphazardly, while he might be able to form an ultimate power, it wouldn't achieve the effect he most desired.

The battle with this sea beast, and the attack methods it displayed, provided him with excellent inspiration.

Xiao Shi felt that as long as he constructed it according to the inspiration in his mind, the ultimate power he created would undoubtedly be an incredibly powerful force.

By then... he would have enough confidence to face a Martial Demon Realm at the second stage with the cultivation of a Martial Demon Realm at the first stage!

...On the sea.

A blood-red ship floated quietly on the surface.

Whoosh!

A black light flashed.

Xiao Shi's Demonic Body Clone appeared directly behind him.

“This time you killed a total of sixteen million sea beasts. Not bad, barely passing.”

Xiao Shi said indifferently.

The Demonic Body Clone would directly place the dropped items after killing into the Azure Calamity Ancient Tree's storage space. Therefore, even before they met, Xiao Shi had already counted the number of kills by the Demonic Body Clone.

In response, the Demonic Body Clone remained silent.

But his fists were tightly clenched.

Xiao Shi could see his kill count, and he could also infer Xiao Shi's kill count from the many items Xiao Shi placed in the storage space.

What he didn't expect was... Xiao Shi's kill count was more than double his!

He had killed nearly forty million sea beasts!

He found it hard to imagine how the other party managed to do it.

One must know,

during his killing of these sea beasts, he encountered the second-stage Martial Demon Realm overlords of the sea more than once!

He was chased multiple times.

If not for the powerful body of an Evil Energy User,

he would have been long gone.

And Xiao Shi, having killed so many sea beasts, must have encountered the sea overlords more often than him.

Although he was reluctant to admit it in his heart,

through this killing spree, he clearly realized that he was inferior to Xiao Shi in all aspects.

“These things are yours.”

Xiao Shi distributed items suitable for the Demonic Body Clone, such as the Heavenly Demon Body Cleansing Record, to the Demonic Body Clone.

He also needed to cultivate the Demonic Body Clone appropriately.

This way, when he merged with the Demonic Body Clone, he would possess the strongest power.

In addition,

he also took out a pair of masks.

Information about these masks quickly appeared in his vision.

【Name: Twin Masks】

【Type: Mask】

【Grade: Martial Soul Grade】

【Introduction: Two people holding these masks can swap their physique, appearance, aura, and other aspects.】

【Note 1: Only two people of the same race and gender can swap with each other.】

【Note 2: As long as the mask is worn, the swapped physique and appearance can be maintained. Removing the mask will restore the original appearance.】

...This item was one of the Martial Soul Grade items Xiao Shi dropped after killing Martial Demon Realm sea beasts these days.

It just so happened to solve the problem he was currently facing.

After all, he needed to appear as Wang Xiao next.

And he couldn't let the Demonic Body Clone appear to replace him.

With these Twin Masks, he could swap his physique and appearance with the Demonic Body Clone.

Then he wouldn't have to worry about his appearance.

Immediately,

Xiao Shi handed one of the masks to the Demonic Body Clone.

And put on the masks simultaneously with the Demonic Body Clone.

Buzz!

The moment they both put on the masks,

Xiao Shi's face instantly rippled like water, and his facial features visibly changed at a rapid speed.

Transforming into the appearance of the Demonic Body Clone.

“Hmm?”

However, Xiao Shi found that

the Demonic Body Clone's appearance did not change to his own.

It still maintained its original appearance.

Upon careful thought, Xiao Shi understood the reason.

This was due to the Mirror of Transformation.

After the Demonic Body Clone had transformed into Wang Xiao's appearance using the Mirror of Transformation, he could no longer use any treasures or elixirs that changed physique or appearance.

In other words... his appearance had been fixed.

No matter what means or methods were used, it could no longer be changed.

Even the Twin Masks could only change Xiao Shi's appearance, not allow the Demonic Body Clone to become Xiao Shi's likeness.

“This should still work...”

Xiao Shi knew that the key this time was for him to have Wang Xiao's appearance.

Even if the Demonic Body Clone's appearance couldn't be changed, it wouldn't have a big impact.

After all, Xiao Shi didn't plan for the Demonic Body Clone to appear in front of others next.

He had other arrangements for the Demonic Body Clone.

“With the number of treasures I currently possess...”

“Let alone just winning over the cultivators of East Island, it wouldn't be a problem even to win over the cultivators of the entire Nan Dou Region.”

Xiao Shi was full of confidence.

These tens of millions of treasures.

Even the Four Symbols Divine Martial Sect couldn't produce so many treasures.

It could be said that Xiao Shi, by himself, possessed abundant treasure resources comparable to a massive power!

Now, less than a day remained until the deadline he had set.

Xiao Shi stopped hunting.

And hurried back to East Island... The sun shone brightly.

In East Dipper City on East Island.

A group of people, led by City Lord Zou Xiang, looked at Xiang Zizhen, who was seated above, with both nervousness and anticipation.

They were extremely concerned about whether Xiang Zizhen would fulfill his promise from five days ago and present this generous meeting gift.

At this moment, Xiang Zizhen sat above.

He still maintained that calm and collected demeanor.

However, beneath this calm exterior,

a fervent and restless heart was hidden.

Thinking back to a few hours ago, when Xiao Shi confidently told him that it was no problem and gave him many treasures,

Xiang Zizhen still hadn't fully recovered his senses.

His head was buzzing.

He felt as if he was dreaming.

Although he had never doubted Xiao Shi's ability and knew that if Xiao Shi dared to say such words at the time, he would surely be able to do it.

But when Xiao Shi really produced so many treasures, his heart still couldn't help but feel an incredibly strong shock and disbelief.

However, thinking of Xiao Shi's previous instructions,

despite the immense shock in his heart, he still maintained his persona, appearing as steady as an old dog on the surface.

Under the nervous and expectant gaze of the crowd below,

Xiang Zizhen, who stood beside Xiang Zizhen, acting as his subordinate, spoke.

“Five days ago, Instructor Xiang said he would give every cultivator on East Island a treasure equivalent to their own realm as a meeting gift. City Lord Zou, have you announced this matter throughout East Island?”

Zou Xiang responded with a smile.

“Instructor Xiang is so generous, I immediately announced it to East Island, so that every cultivator on East Island would know Instructor Xiang's grace and magnanimity.”

Xiao Shi nodded in satisfaction.

“Very good.”

“Then please continue to announce that, effective immediately, every cultivator on East Island can come to Instructor Xiang to claim this meeting gift.”

As his words came out,

everyone present was stunned.

From Xiao Shi's words, they easily understood that Xiang Zizhen was truly going to fulfill his promise.

This caused their hearts to fill with shock and ecstasy.

However, what surprised them was... Xiang Zizhen actually asked these cultivators from East Island to come and claim it themselves, instead of distributing these treasures to them and then having them deliver the treasures to every cultivator on East Island.

After all, having these cultivators personally come to claim them would be a very cumbersome process.

It would also take a relatively long time.

If the treasures were given to them to distribute to the cultivators of East Island, it would undoubtedly save a lot of time and be much more convenient.

However, upon careful thought,

they quickly understood Xiang Zizhen's intention in doing so.

Firstly, Xiang Zizhen himself didn't trust them.

If he gave them these treasures and they privately embezzled some... it would be difficult for Xiang Zizhen to investigate so clearly.

Secondly, what Xiang Zizhen needed most right now was popular support.

If he let them distribute these treasures to the cultivators of East Island, the popular support he could gain would certainly be far less than if Instructor Xiang personally presented these treasures to every cultivator on East Island.

Thirdly, Xiang Zizhen wanted to use this action to put pressure on his competitor, Rong Sufei!

The longer this action continued, the greater the attention it would receive.

By then, not only would the cultivators of East Island pay attention,

but the cultivators from West Island would also know about this matter.

When they learned that the cultivators of East Island had such benefits, if Rong Sufei did not take some action, some cultivators from West Island would inevitably lean towards Xiang Zizhen.

They would feel that following Xiang Zizhen would bring greater benefits and prospects!

This was to disrupt the morale of West Island.

“Of course.”

Xiao Shi looked around at the people below.

“Instructor Xiang will prioritize giving the meeting gift to you.”

As soon as his words fell,

Xiang Zizhen, in perfect cooperation, took out a Martial Demon Grade treasure in front of everyone.

This was a seal.

Although in terms of function and effect,

it was far inferior to the ten Martial Demon Grade items Xiao Shi initially dropped, this item could only be considered a Martial Demon Grade item of average quality among all Martial Demon Grade items.

But even a Martial Demon Grade item of average quality was considered a treasure of astonishing value in everyone's eyes.

After all, for them,

Martial Demon Grade items themselves were extremely rare.

Any Martial Demon Grade item held extremely considerable value in their eyes.

After Xiang Zizhen took out this Martial Demon Grade seal, his expression was calm, as if what he held was just an ordinary item. He casually tossed the seal to Zou Xiang, who was at the forefront.

Zou Xiang received it with trembling hands.

His entire mind was stirred by a surging tide.

Before this,

he actually didn't believe that Xiang Zizhen could produce so many treasures.

He thought the other party must have had other countermeasures.

But now, when this immense treasure, which was extremely precious in his eyes, was given so casually by the other party,

his entire heart couldn't help but pound wildly.

The others also looked on with envy and shock.

Subsequently,

Xiang Zizhen continued to take out treasures corresponding to the realms of everyone present.

Ensuring everyone received one.

At this moment, both Xiang Zizhen and Xiao Shi could clearly feel the change in attitude of these people towards them.

Xiao Shi seized this opportunity and said to the crowd,

“These are merely Instructor Xiang's meeting gifts, not counting the benefits for supporting Instructor Xiang...”

“If you can support Instructor Xiang, there will be even greater benefits.”

As Xiao Shi's words came out,

everyone's breathing instantly hitched.

Currently, their allegiance was still with Rong Sufei.

Rong Sufei's past management on East Island had already won over the majority of the popular support of the entire East Island.

This included them.

Now, upon hearing Xiao Shi's words,

their previously firm stance immediately wavered.

“I... May I ask, if I support Instructor Xiang now, what benefits will there be?”

One of Zou Xiang's Martial Soul Realm subordinates couldn't help but ask.

Xiao Shi glanced at him.

“Firstly, Instructor Xiang will give you an additional Martial Soul Realm treasure!”

“Once Instructor Xiang takes charge of East Island, you will receive another Martial Soul Realm treasure.”

“When Instructor Xiang refines the entire Nan Dou Region, you will again receive another Martial Soul Realm treasure.”

“In other words...”

“As long as you support Instructor Xiang, you will receive at least three more Martial Soul Realm treasures.”

“If, during this period, your cultivation breaks through, for example, from the Martial Soul Realm to the Martial Demon Grade, then what Instructor Xiang gives you will be a Martial Demon Realm treasure!”

“Besides that,”

“Instructor Xiang will also, after taking charge of East Island and the Nan Dou Region, issue some policies and measures. The specific details are not convenient to disclose for now, but I can tell you with certainty that those who support Instructor Xiang earlier will receive more benefits.”

As Xiao Shi's words came out,

everyone present's breathing instantly became rapid.