Chapter 393: A Benevolent Connection

Chapter 393: A Benevolent Connection

"We still don't know when this demon possessed Zhuang Zhong." Lu Yuezhang shook his head, a hint of worry flashing in his eyes.

"We were completely unaware of the demon during the competition. If Zhuang Zhong hadn't revealed strength far beyond his usual capabilities, we might never have suspected a thing and would have fallen for its trickery."

"As for how this demon entered here..." Lu Yuezhang paused, a note of uncertainty creeping into his voice, "These Extrinsic Demons lose some of their strength when they lie dormant. We suspect that the Ten Thousand Laws Fruit or the spiritual energy in this place might aid in their recovery."

As he spoke, Lu Yuezhang's gaze swept the area, his brow furrowing slightly. "I'm not sure what methods this demon used, but I sense that the energy here seems significantly weaker than when we first arrived."

The mid-Nascent Soul cultivator from Taihe Court nodded in agreement, "Fellow Lu, your intuition is likely correct. I was about to bring up this matter as well."

Upon hearing this, Lu Yuezhang's expression turned solemn as he turned to Chu Ning and Jiang Cheng, asking, "After we left, did anything else unusual happen here?"

The two exchanged glances before Chu Ning spoke up, "Not that I'm aware of. However, I previously sensed that the energy beneath the Ten Thousand Laws Tree was particularly dense and abundant, so I went there to cultivate. Also, there were two Ten Thousand Laws Spirit Fruits that we couldn't refine any further, and they seem to have disappeared. I don't know if that has any impact."

"You went to cultivate under the Ten Thousand Laws Tree?" Lu Yuezhang was initially surprised but then shook his head, "Our ability to refine the energy in this place is limited. Even if we absorb and refine it faster, it's impossible to take in this much. Moreover, you also need time to refine the Ten Thousand Laws Spirit Fruits, so it's unlikely to be related. The disappearance of the Ten Thousand Laws Spirit Fruits should, in theory, only make the energy here denser."

"Then I'm relieved," Chu Ning breathed a sigh of relief. "I was afraid it was due to my reckless actions."

Chu Ning was indeed relieved at that moment. He hadn't expected that his cultivation session would actually cause the energy in the area to become thinner. Fortunately, Lu Yuezhang didn't seem to believe that was the case, or else it would've been challenging to explain.

"It's probably still somewhat related to that demonic creature," Lu Yuezhang sighed. "The energy here is growing thinner, and I'm not sure if the Ten Thousand Laws Spirit Fruit will be able to form a hundred years from now."

At these words, the three Nascent Soul cultivators couldn't help but look at each other with a hint of sorrow. However, the numerous Golden Core cultivators didn't share this sentiment.

For most of them, the successful consumption of the Ten Thousand Laws Fruit was already a huge boon. What happened a hundred years later was not something they needed to worry about immediately. Before reaching the Nascent Soul stage, they wouldn't typically be involved in matters concerning such forbidden places.

Lu Yuezhang and the other two Nascent Soul cultivators released their spiritual senses to scan the entire valley. Finding nothing amiss, Lu Yuezhang waved his hand and said, "Let's go."

Although Chu Ning was somewhat reluctant to leave this place of rapid cultivation, he knew he couldn't stay here indefinitely. So, he led Cen Ziqin and flew out of the valley.

At the same time, he transmitted his voice to Cen Ziqin, "How's the fruit's refinement going?"

"My cultivation has indeed improved significantly," Cen Ziqin replied with a hint of joy in her voice. "The loss of my original essence from the destruction of my magic treasure seems to have been replenished, and my spiritual sense has also progressed slightly. As for physical strength, I haven't noticed any changes yet. According to Fellow Jiang, it seems like it will be a gradual process."

Chu Ning nodded. Like the other cultivators, Cen Ziqin couldn't actively refine the primal energies of the world. So, the enhancement of her physical body would take time.

However, the fact that she had been able to recover from the loss of her magic treasure's essence and still achieve these improvements was commendable. Otherwise, Cen Ziqin would have been at a significant disadvantage.

When Cen Ziqin's flying sword magic treasure was reforged, they could try incorporating some Black Profound Metal into it. That way, her attacks would be even more powerful in the future.

But Chu Ning knew he couldn't mention this now. When Lu Yuezhang had asked his question earlier, he had seemed like he wanted to say something about the Black Profound Metal but stopped short, likely because there were too many people around.

As they flew out of the valley, Chu Ning saw the Zhou and Shen cultivators who had been guarding the entrance. However, the Shen cultivator's aura seemed somewhat diminished compared to when they had first entered.

"It seems that the battle with the Extrinsic Demon wasn't as simple as Lu Yuezhang made it sound. This Shen cultivator, despite being at the early Nascent Soul stage, still sustained injuries. I really owe my safe escape from the demon's attack to the power of my Undying Golden Body." Chu Ning couldn't help but marvel inwardly.

His gaze then fell on the Zhou cultivator, who should have also been involved in the confrontation. However, despite having lost both his legs, the man's aura was stable, which surprised Chu Ning greatly.

Jiang Cheng, who had just flown out of the valley, immediately went to the Zhou cultivator, and after a brief exchange between master and disciple, the group boarded Lu Yuezhang's flying boat and departed together.

A day later, they returned to the Guiyuan Sect.

Cultivators from their respective sects were already waiting in the practice fields, eager to hear about the events in the Cloud Soaring Forbidden Grounds.

While a few Nascent Soul cultivators were aware of the Extrinsic Demons, not everyone was in the know.

Lu Yuezhang didn't hide anything and explained the whole story, from the beginning to the revelation of the Extrinsic Demon possessing Zhuang Zhong and the death of a late Golden Core cultivator at its hands.

Upon hearing this, the faces of two groups of cultivators turned extremely ugly.

One of the mid-stage Golden Core cultivators from the Xuanhuo Sect cautiously spoke up to Lu Yuezhang, "Senior Lu, since Brother Zhuang was possessed by the Extrinsic Demon, it must have been against his will. Do you happen to know if he left behind any last words or items before his demise?"

Lu Yuezhang's eyebrows furrowed slightly upon hearing this. "Zhuang Zhong passed away immediately after the demon left his body, and he didn't leave behind any words. As for his belongings..."

Lu Yuezhang took out a storage bag and retrieved several jade slips, which he handed to the cultivator.

"These should be the sect's cultivation techniques and spells. We're returning them to you. As for the rest, the Alliance will use them for research to see if we can find any clues about the Extrinsic Demon. We won't be able to return those to you."

Lu Yuezhang paused before continuing, "Also, you two should remain in the Guiyuan Sect temporarily. I and a few fellow cultivators will be heading to the Xuanhuo Sect to investigate. Since this demon could possess Zhuang Zhong, it may have other tricks up its sleeve, and we must be vigilant."

The two Golden Core cultivators from the Xuanhuo Sect exchanged glances upon hearing this, then bitterly smiled and accepted the jade slips with a bow. "Yes, Senior."

Lu Yuezhang no longer paid attention to the two and instead turned to Chu Ning and Tang Xuan, "Fellow cultivators Chu and Tang, may I have a word with you in private?"

Tang Xuan looked slightly puzzled but still nodded in agreement. "Please, Fellow Lu."

Lu Yuezhang didn't move right away but instead directed his gaze at Chu Ning.

Chu Ning had a vague idea of what was coming and promptly asked, "Where would Senior Lu like to talk?"

"How about we go to the courtyard where Fellow Chu and the others reside?" Lu Yuezhang suggested.

Chu Ning naturally had no objections, but he couldn't help but sigh inwardly.

Lu Yuezhang had been rather blunt with the Xuanhuo Sect cultivator earlier, but now he was treating Chu Ning as an equal.

This change in attitude was undoubtedly due to the strength Chu Ning had displayed, and he suspected it also had something to do with the Black Profound Metal he had mentioned.

However, the other cultivators didn't understand this as clearly.

Seeing Lu Yuezhang treating Chu Ning with such courtesy, they exchanged surprised glances.

After all, Lu Yuezhang hadn't shown such behavior before their trip to the Cloud Soaring Forbidden Grounds.

Many of them began to ask about what had transpired in the valley, curious for more details.

Although Lu Yuezhang had briefly mentioned that Chu Ning had joined forces to injure the Extrinsic Demon, he hadn't elaborated on the specifics.

When they heard that Chu Ning had withstood attacks from two Nascent Soul cultivators and then severely wounded the Extrinsic Demon on his own, they couldn't help but be astonished.

In the ears of the Cloud Soaring Alliance cultivators, the name Chu Ning now carried the same weight as a Nascent Soul cultivator.

While Lu Yuezhang might not have heard the whispers of the crowd behind him, his thousands of years of experience allowed him to guess what they were thinking.

"Chu Ning's abilities are indeed impressive," he thought to himself. "But I'm lowering my status a bit to treat him as an equal. After all, he's only a late-stage Golden Core cultivator, and I'm a mid-stage Nascent Soul cultivator.

However, only those who have faced an Extrinsic Demon know how terrifying they can be. I felt utterly helpless against just one mid-stage Nascent Soul Extrinsic Demon. If there were more, or if they were late-stage Nascent Soul cultivators..."

Just thinking about it sent a chill down Lu Yuezhang's spine.

"Lowering my status a bit is nothing compared to having a chance to defend against Extrinsic Demons. Moreover, Chu Ning's cultivation may be at the late Golden Core stage, but his abilities far surpass those of ordinary cultivators. The speed at which he absorbs and refines energy from the surroundings, as well as the thickness of his spiritual power, exceeded my expectations. With his rapid progress, it's only a matter of time before he reaches the Nascent Soul stage. If he does, his abilities will likely surpass those of ordinary Nascent Soul cultivators and may even rival those at the mid-stage. It's worth cultivating a good relationship with him now."

With these thoughts in mind, Lu Yuezhang entered the courtyard where Chu Ning resided and spoke without even stepping into the house, "Fellow Chu, you probably have an idea of why I'm here. I won't beat around the bush."

As he spoke, Lu Yuezhang took out a storage bag and continued, "Fellow Chu, Fellow Cen, although the destruction of Fellow Cen's magic treasure was ultimately caused by the Extrinsic Demon, it happened because we attacked the two of you simultaneously. This storage bag belonged to Zhuang Zhong of the Xuanhuo Sect. As you heard earlier, there were indeed some demonic items inside, but Qin Xi has already taken them away. The rest are for Fellow Cen as compensation for the loss of your magic treasure. At the same time, Qin Xi asked me to inquire about something. Do you still have the Black Profound Metal?"

As expected, it was about the Black Profound Metal.

Chu Ning's heart stirred, but he didn't immediately reach for the storage bag. Instead, he pondered how to respond.

To be honest, Chu Ning had a rather favorable impression of the Guiyuan Sect overall.

The cultivators he had interacted with, like Shi Xuerong and Jiang Cheng, were people he could befriend.

Although Lu Yuezhang clearly desired the Black Profound Metal, he didn't forcefully demand it, given his status as a mid-stage Nascent Soul cultivator. Instead, he approached Chu Ning as an equal, and this gesture earned Chu Ning's goodwill.

While Chu Ning had revealed some of his capabilities, the Guiyuan Sect was still the largest sect in the Cloud Soaring Alliance, and it boasted the existence of late-stage Nascent Soul cultivators. If they were to pressure the Jiuhua Sect, Chu Ning knew it would be a significant headache.

It had been a challenging endeavor for Chu Ning to obtain that piece of Black Profound Metal. However, after refining the Earth Vein Spirit Fire, he was able to extract not only two pieces for refining the Golden Spirit Sword and the Water Spirit Sword but also a few extra pieces for future use.

Of course, Chu Ning had no intention of revealing all that he had at the moment.

Lu Yuezhang's eyes lit up when he saw that Chu Ning still had Black Profound Metal in his possession.

Without wasting a moment, he said, "Fellow Daoist Chu, you have quite a substantial amount here. If it's only for Fellow Daoist Cen's flying sword, you might not need to use it all. Would you be willing to part with a portion of it?"

Fearing that Chu Ning might refuse, Lu Yuezhang quickly added, "I know this was meant for your dao partner's flying sword, and it's not easy for me to ask for it. But when it comes to Extrinsic Demons, encountering one means there could be more. If we can incorporate Black Profound Metal into our artifacts, it will give us an extra layer of protection. Rest assured, Fellow Daoist Chu, I'm not asking for this for free. In addition to the compensation for Fellow Daoist Cen's loss that I mentioned earlier, I'm also willing to offer other treasures in exchange."

Lu Yuezhang's offer was already very generous.

Chu Ning had more than just this piece of Black Profound Metal, so he didn't bother to feign reluctance anymore. "Senior Lu, your intention to defend against Extrinsic Demons is noble, and I cannot refuse," he said.

Upon hearing this, Lu Yuezhang's face lit up with joy, and Chu Ning's next words made the smile on his face even brighter.

"Senior Lu, to be honest, I do have another piece of Black Profound Metal, but it's significantly smaller than this one. However, it should still be enough for refining Ziqin's flying sword, so there's no need to split this piece. You can have it."

"That's wonderful!" Lu Yuezhang exclaimed with delight. "In that case, Senior Brother Qin and I will each have enough for our artifacts."

He set aside the storage bag and then took out two objects from his own storage bag. "Fellow Daoist Chu, I don't have any of the top-tier materials like the ancient top ten refining ingredients on hand. But these two items, although not as good as Black Profound Metal, are still rare treasures."

He picked up a white bamboo-like object in his left hand. "This is called Celestial Water Bamboo. It's an excellent material for refining water-attribute artifacts, and it might be useful if Fellow Daoist Cen wants to reforge her natal artifact."

"Heavenly Water Bamboo?" Before Chu Ning could say anything, Cen Ziqin's eyes lit up with interest.

Obviously, she recognized the item, and it piqued her curiosity.

Chu Ning's thoughts raced, and he immediately understood why Cen Ziqin reacted the way she did.

The Mystic Water Divine Art that she cultivated included a section on artifact refining, and one of the primary materials mentioned was indeed Heavenly Water Bamboo.

Seeing the interest from both Cen Ziqin and Chu Ning, Lu Yuezhang knew that they were intrigued by the item.

He then picked up a reddish-silver ore-like object in his right hand and said, "This is called a Thunder Phosphorus Stone. It contains powerful thunder-fire energy. If used for refining artifacts, it can unleash tremendous power. I offer these two refining treasures in exchange for your Black Profound Metal. Are you satisfied, Fellow Daoist? Or do you have any other requests? I'll do my best to accommodate them."

"Senior Lu, there's no need to trouble yourself further. I'm very satisfied with these two items," Chu Ning replied sincerely.

His words were not just polite pleasantries.

While Black Profound Metal was precious, he did have a small reserve of it.

On the other hand, the two items that Lu Yuezhang offered were things that Chu Ning had never come across before, and they were both useful.

The Heavenly Water Bamboo could be used to reforge Cen Ziqin's natal artifact, and although he couldn't use the Thunder Phosphorus Stone immediately, it would likely prove valuable in the future given his inheritance of the traditions of the Thunderfire Sect.

As Chu Ning spoke, he handed the Black Profound Metal to Lu Yuezhang and received the Heavenly Water Bamboo and Thunder Phosphorus Stone in return.

Then, to Lu Yuezhang's slight bewilderment, he returned the storage bag that Lu Yuezhang had given him earlier.

"Senior Lu," Chu Ning said slowly, "Although the Extrinsic Demon possessed Zhuang Zhong of the Xuanhuo Sect, we don't know the reason behind it. Whether that Zhuang fellow is innocent or at fault is hard to say. As for this storage bag, Ziqin and I cannot take it. I hope you understand."

Even without considering the various treasures that Chu Ning possessed, the contents of a mid-stage Golden Core cultivator's storage bag might not have interested him that much.

And if there were any truly valuable items, they belonged to Zhuang Zhong, who was essentially the leader of a sect.

Chu Ning didn't want to invite trouble by taking such possessions.

Hearing Chu Ning's words, Lu Yuezhang nodded slightly. "You're right. I was remiss in my consideration. I'll keep this storage bag for now. If we find out that Zhuang Zhong was innocent, I'll return it to the Xuanhuo Sect."

After a few more casual exchanges, Lu Yuezhang took his leave.

As he walked out of the Jiuhua Sect's residence, the mid-Nascent Soul cultivator from the Guiyuan Sect couldn't help but marvel once again.

"Strong and wise, this Fellow Daoist Chu is truly an extraordinary figure! With him and Yu Changlei, the Jiuhua Sect's resurgence is just a matter of time!"

(End of Chapter)

Chapter end