230: Chapter 230 The Impermanent Alliance and the Incarnation of the Earth God

Black Wind City, underground black market.

Located in a massive cavern a thousand zhang below sea level, this place never sees the light of day, yet it is illuminated as bright as day by countless glowing "Fluorescent Stones." The air is thick with the stench of rotting sea life and the mixed scents of various Medicinal Pills and Magic Treasures.

Inside an inconspicuous secret chamber.

"Welcome to the 'Impermanent Alliance.'"

The black-robed figure wearing a fox mask (code name "Fox Three") casually tossed Zhou Wannian a green-faced, fanged mask and a black robe that blocked Divine Sense.

"This is your identity token. Wear it, and no one will know who you are. Not even the Divine Sense of a Grand Unity Golden Immortal can penetrate it."

Zhou Wannian took the mask and examined it in his hand.

The material was very special, seemingly mixed with some kind of spatial crystal. It truly could block detection.

"The rules are simple: we recognize the mask, not the person. Complete the task, get paid on the spot."

Fox Three pointed to a nautical chart on the table.

"This time's target is the tribute ship the Lord of Black Wind Island is offering to the 'North Cold Immortal Palace.'"

"Time: three days from now."

"Location: Raging Waves Gorge."

"Configuration: two Early True Immortal Stage guards, one Middle True Immortal leader."

"What we want: the 'Ancestral God Statue' in the ship's secret chamber and that Jade Slip containing the 'Earth Deity Incarnation.'"

Zhou Wannian put on the mask, revealing only a pair of deep eyes.

"'Earth Deity Incarnation'?"

He asked deliberately.

"That's a heretical path, isn't it? Collecting the Power Of Faith from Mortals can quickly condense a dharma body, but it entangles one in Karma, making advancement extremely difficult."

"Heh heh, brother is a perceptive one."

Fox Three gave a strange laugh.

"Orthodox Immortals naturally look down on such methods. But for those Loose Immortals, or..."

Fox Three gave Zhou Wannian a meaningful look (he sensed Zhou Wannian's Immortal spiritual power was extremely thin).

"...or for an Ascender like you, urgently needing to restore your cultivation and convert Immortal spiritual power, this is a lifesaver."

"The Earth Deity Incarnation can help you bypass the suppression of the Immortal Realm's Laws. Even without Immortal spiritual power, you can unleash True Immortal-level combat power by consuming Power Of Faith."

"Moreover..."

Fox Three lowered his voice.

"That statue is already filled with a century's worth of Power Of Faith collected by the Lord of Black Wind Island. Get it, and you can instantly become a god (a false god)."

Zhou Wannian's heart stirred.

Truly a good item!

What he lacked most right now was time. With this Incarnation, his survival ability in the North Cold Immortal Domain would greatly increase.

"Deal."

Zhou Wannian's voice was hoarse.

"I'll handle... clearing the area."

...Three days later, Raging Waves Gorge.

This was the most treacherous waterway in the Black Wind Sea Region. On both sides were black cliffs ten thousand zhang high. The water in the middle was as turbulent as a Dragon and contained natural flight-prohibiting Restrictions.

"Rumble—"

A massive multi-story ship flying the flag of the "North Cold Immortal Palace" cut through the waves.

On the deck at the bow stood a young man in silver armor, his aura sharp and fierce—clearly a Middle True Immortal.

"All hands, be on guard! This stretch of water is the most prone to incidents!"

The silver-armored young man's gaze was like lightning as he scanned the cliffs on both sides.

However.

Just as the ship sailed into the narrowest part of the gorge.

"Activate the formation!"

A furious shout came from underwater.

"Hum—!!!"

The originally turbulent seawater suddenly surged skyward, transforming into twelve massive water Dragons that instantly entangled the ship.

Immediately after, dense arrays of formation patterns lit up on the cliffs on both sides.

[Twelve Capital Heaven Water-Locking Formation].

"Enemy attack?!"

The silver-armored young man was furious.

"Who dares to ambush an Immortal Palace tribute ship?! You're seeking death!"

"Kill!"

Fox Three, leading four True Immortals wearing various masks (all members of the Impermanent Alliance), charged out from the Void Realm.

The radiance of various Immortal Artifacts flashed, heading straight for the ship's protective shield.

"Hmph! A bunch of rabble!"

The silver-armored young man sneered, summoning a small silver mirror in his hand.

"Haotian Mirror · Shatter Delusions!"

Swish!

A beam of silver light shot out, directly illuminating Fox Three, who was charging at the front.

"Pfft!"

Fox Three's body froze, feeling the Immortal spiritual power within him immobilized by the mirror's light.

"Not good! That's a Medium Grade Immortal Artifact?! The intel was wrong!"

Fox Three's expression changed drastically.

"The target is tough! Let's scatter!"

These Impermanent Alliance members were a temporary assembly to begin with. Seeing the opponent had a powerful Immortal Artifact, they immediately prepared to flee like scattered birds and beasts.

"Trying to run?"

A hint of cruelty appeared on the silver-armored young man's face.

"Since you're here, you're all staying!"

"Mirror Light · Annihilation!"

The silver mirror's light blazed, transforming into countless sharp blades that sealed off all escape routes.

Just as Fox Three and the others were about to be sliced to pieces.

"Sigh..."

A soft sigh abruptly sounded amidst the chaotic battlefield.

Immediately after.

That "Green Face" (Zhou Wannian) who had been hiding at the back, completely inconspicuous, moved.

He did not summon a Magic Treasure.

Nor did he cast an Immortal technique.

He simply... jumped down from the cliff.

Like a meteor.

"Boom!!!"

Zhou Wannian landed directly on the ship's protective shield.

That defensive light barrier, capable of withstanding attacks from a Late Stage True Immortal, was like a brittle cracker under his feet.

"Crack!"

The light barrier shattered.

Zhou Wannian landed on the deck, standing right in front of the silver-armored young man.

"You..."

The silver-armored young man was stunned.

"Close combat?"

Zhou Wannian wasted no words.

He raised his right hand and threw a punch.

[Fan Sheng True Demon Art · Hundredfold Critical Strike].

No flashy moves.

Only the pure Law of power.

"Thud!"

The Haotian Mirror in the silver-armored young man's hand had just been raised when it was directly shattered by this punch.

The force of the punch penetrated through his body.

A massive hole appeared in the silver-armored young man's chest.

His Nascent Soul didn't even have time to escape before it was swallowed whole by a golden beetle (the Gold Devouring Insect King).

Instant kill.

Middle True Immortal, deceased... The entire scene fell deathly silent.

Whether the guards on the ship or Fox Three and the others in the sky, all seemed to have been hit with a paralysis spell.

"What... what kind of monster is this?!"

Fox Three gulped.

One punch to shatter a Medium Grade Immortal Artifact?! Is this a Body Cultivator? This is clearly an ancient True Dragon wearing human skin!

Zhou Wannian retracted his fist and brushed off the dust on his clothes.

He swept his Divine Sense and instantly locked onto a secret chamber deep within the ship's hold.

"Found it."

His figure flashed, disappearing from the deck.

A moment later.

"Boom!"

The secret chamber's door exploded open.

Zhou Wannian walked out, holding in one hand a jade statue emitting a faint white light, and in the other a cyan Jade Slip.

[Ancestral God Statue] (contains a century's worth of Power Of Faith).

[Earth Deity Incarnation Atlas].

"Mission complete."

Zhou Wannian looked up at Fox Three in the sky.

"According to the rules."

"Whoever kills gets the spoils."

"I'm taking these two items."

"The rest..."

Zhou Wannian pointed at the priceless ship and the other tribute goods on board.

"...are yours."

Fox Three and the others looked at each other.

Although the statue was the most valuable, this ship was also a huge fortune!

And... who would dare compete with this freak?

"No problem! No problem!"

Fox Three hurriedly nodded, his fox mask trembling.

"Brother Green Face is generous!"

"Remember to call me for jobs like this in the future!"

Zhou Wannian nodded, his figure transforming into a cyan rainbow, instantly disappearing into the depths of the gorge... Wumeng Island, seclusion chamber.

Zhou Wannian sat cross-legged, pressing the Jade Slip to his forehead.

After a long while.

He opened his eyes, a flash of sharp light in them.

"So that's how it is."

"The Earth Deity Incarnation uses Power Of Faith to condense a second Primordial Spirit, then uses that spirit to reshape a dharma body."

"This dharma body doesn't cultivate Immortal spiritual power, only Laws."

"If combined with my 'Fan Sheng True Demon Art'..."

Zhou Wannian looked at the Ancestral God Statue.

"Inhale!"

He opened his mouth and inhaled.

From the statue, a vast, milky-white mist (Power Of Faith) was drawn into his abdomen.

In his Dantian, the Nascent Soul that had been somewhat withered due to insufficient Immortal spiritual power suddenly opened its eyes after absorbing this power.

Immediately after.

A small figure identical to Zhou Wannian but glowing with a sacred white light slowly rose from the top of his head.

As soon as this small figure appeared, the surrounding Void Realm began to tremble.

It ignored the suppression Laws of the Immortal Realm!

"This is... the Earth Deity Incarnation?"

Zhou Wannian focused his mind.

The small figure instantly grew larger, transforming into a dharma form with three heads and six arms.

This dharma form was no longer sinister with Devilish Qi but filled with sacred majesty.

Its left hand held a bottle (the heaven seizing bottle), its right hand held a sword (Profound Heaven Sword).

"Good."

Zhou Wannian nodded in satisfaction.

"With this Incarnation, I can unleash combat power equivalent to a Late Stage True Immortal in a short time."

"Moreover..."

Zhou Wannian stroked his chin.

"This Power Of Faith seems like it can also be used to... accelerate the growth of Immortal herbs?"

He discovered that after the heaven seizing bottle absorbed a trace of Power Of Faith, the speed at which it condensed green liquid actually doubled!

"A pleasant surprise."

"It seems I'll have to be the island lord of the Black Wind Sea Region for a few more years."

"Not only be the island lord, but also be... a 'god.'"

Zhou Wannian stood up and pushed open the seclusion chamber's door.

"Earth Ghost."

"Here, Master!"

Earth Ghost, disguised as a fierce wind, hurried over.

"Pass down the order."

"From today onward, all Mortals and Cultivators on Wumeng Island and the surrounding sea area must worship a new divine statue."

"The statue's name is..."

Zhou Wannian thought for a moment.

"Azure Cloud Celestial Venerable."