Cultivating Immortality in Two Realms

Chapter 180 Devouring the Sea and the Turtle Spirit

Buxu Hall.

Traces of the battle still remain in front of the main hall.

With a flash of golden light, Fang Qing had already stepped into the palace gate.

After obtaining the most crucial Five Elements Spiritual Fruit of this trip, his second target was this palace!

"Back then, it seems that Master Bihai attempted to unlock the treasures in this hall, but was instead struck by the backlash of the restrictions and passed away here..."

"The last time Linghu Qiuye and the others came, they also did not attack the palace's protective barriers..."

Fang Qing entered the main hall, and the "Plum Blossom Divination" was activated in his mind, yielding a hexagram of great fortune!

He looked inside the barrier and saw what appeared to be jade platforms, but they were also shadowy and difficult to see clearly.

Fang Qing immediately patted his storage bag, and a series of strange little puppets appeared.

Among them are birds, geckos, and little people...

Each of them carried talismans, spirit beads, and other items to test the array's restrictions, attempting to enter the depths of the main hall from different angles.

Fang Qing wasn't particularly skilled in this puppetry technique, but using it as cannon fodder to test the power of the restrictions was quite effective in this situation.

boom!

Suddenly, a burst of black light fell, and the little bird carrying the talisman instantly turned to ashes.

The talisman flashed with three-colored light, then instantly turned into complete darkness.

Boom!

In a corner of the main hall, a burst of sparks exploded, shattering the gecko puppet into pieces.

One of the spirit orbs emitted a howling sound before collapsing with a deafening roar...

Fang Qing silently observed these scenes, communicating with the "Dao Sheng Pearl": "Qin Ruxue... this is the reaction of the array pearl and the spirit-testing paper. Let's see how the grand array is doing?"

Outside the secret realm, inside the bronze underground palace.

Qin Ruxue, who was sitting cross-legged, opened her eyes and glanced at Ruan Zhixuan somewhat guiltily, only to find that the woman did not react at all.

Only then did he answer in his heart: "Young Master... the blackness of the spirit-testing paper indicates that the array's restrictions are somewhat damaged... the whistling sound emitted by the array bead represents the array's attributes and power..."

"In my opinion, this formation was originally extremely powerful, but over the years it has lost most of its effectiveness. Furthermore, it was attacked by a Core Formation cultivator, which dissipated most of its power, leaving it in ruins... Now, as long as you advance from the Geng position and use your Core Formation power to destroy a few of the objects that hold the formation in place, you will surely be able to break the formation's restrictions..."

Qin Ruxue has remained at the mid-Foundation Establishment stage for many years, but she ignores worldly affairs within the sect and focuses on studying formations. She has long been a second-tier high-grade formation master and may even be approaching the third tier.

At this moment, Fang Qing also stepped in to verify, and the formation was broken very quickly.

Rumble!

Suddenly, the entire hall radiated light, which then transformed into the energy of water, fire, wind, and thunder, shaking Fang Qing's sleeves.

A moment later, many of the restrictions disappeared, leaving only the high platforms.

"Um?"

Fang Qing scanned the area with his divine sense and couldn't help but feel somewhat disappointed.

Most of these platforms were empty, with only a few places still containing items.

He stepped forward and picked up an ancient dagger.

This spear is cast entirely in bronze, with an ancient and simple design. It is not a magic treasure, but rather a "rare treasure" without any rank!

"However, this extraordinary treasure is clearly exceptional, far superior to the Mirage Pearl in my possession... In the hands of a Foundation Establishment cultivator, it would probably only be used as a spiritual artifact, but in the hands of a Core Formation cultivator, it might even be used as a magic weapon... And in the hands of a Nascent Soul cultivator?"

Fang Qing shook his head, put the ancient halberd away, and went to another place.

On this high platform was only a piece of pitch-black ore, its color so deep that it seemed to Fang Qing's divine sense like a "black hole," as if it wanted to suck his divine sense into it.

"It doesn't resemble a third-tier mineral; could it be a fourth-tier spirit ore?"

"If it truly is fourth-tier, incorporating some of it when refining my natal magic weapon will undoubtedly greatly enhance its power..."

Fang Qing also took out a jade box, put the materials away, and went to the last jade platform where the items were stored.

There was only one object on the jade platform: a token, which was a deep blue color and emitted a soft glow.

"Swallow the sea?"

On the surface of the token, two ancient characters are engraved in cloud patterns.

After examining it closely, Fang Qing frowned immediately: "Swallowing the Sea? The Swallowing Sea Sect? The Swallowing Sea Immortal?"

He picked up the token and discovered that it was also a magical artifact that could be refined.

After a slight refinement, the back of the token shone with golden light, and countless characters smaller than ants appeared, forming a magic formula called "Swallowing the Sea Technique"!

"The Sea-Swallowing Technique?"

Fang Qing scanned it with his divine sense and understood somewhat: "Impressive. It's also a water-attribute technique, yet it's incredibly domineering, even more profound than the 'Azure Sea Technique,' and there's a faint sense of a lineage connecting them... Hmm? It even has a section on Nascent Soul cultivation, and a description of the final breakthrough to the Divine Transformation stage?"

"So that's how it is... Could it be that Master Bihai came here back then to retrieve this inheritance?"

The highest level of the "Azure Sea Technique" is only the early stage of the Nascent Soul realm; there is no further advancement beyond that.

Master Bihai was a great cultivator who had reached the peak of Core Formation and was on the verge of Nascent Soul. Perhaps he heard about the superior cultivation method of Bihai Gong, namely the Devouring Sea Gong, from somewhere, which is why he searched for the secret realm in various ways.

They eventually found the "Hall of Stepping into Emptiness," but were struck by the backlash of the array's restrictions and died on the spot...

"However, although True Immortal Bihai is not as powerful as me, he shouldn't be foolish enough to forcibly attack the restriction and cause a backlash, right?"

Fang Qing carefully put away the "Sea-Swallowing Token," a thought suddenly striking him: "Could it be... that I've been tricked?"

"So big..."

Zhan Hongxiu stared in disbelief at the tortoise shell in front of her.

The tortoise shell was as large as a mountain, and a palace was built inside, giving it the feel of being a small world of its own.

She had sensed the aura of the "Turtle and Crane Longevity Technique" and found a cave dwelling, but accidentally triggered a restriction and was teleported here. "If the Longevity Turtle sheds its shell, how big would its true form be?"

Zhan Hongxiu had seen the second-tier longevity tortoise of the Jiang family back then. Compared to this tortoise shell now, it was not like the difference between an infant and a giant, but the difference between an ant and a giant.

"Could it be... a third-tier Longevity Turtle? Or even a fourth-tier one?"

She murmured softly.

"Haha... This little girl is quite knowledgeable."

Suddenly, an old voice rang out.

"Who is it?"

Zhan Hongxiu was startled. She had already scanned her surroundings with her divine sense, but found nothing unusual.

Startled, he quickly affixed several protective and exorcising talismans to his body and picked up the magical artifact.

"Hmph...you little brat, you're so rude! This is your 'Old Turtle'!"

That aged voice rang out again, this time seemingly resounding directly within Zhan Hongxiu's sea of ​​consciousness.

"Are you... a human or a ghost?"

Zhan Hongxiu, being a Foundation Establishment cultivator, had already calmed her mind and asked the question.

"Haha...Isn't my true form right in front of you?"

Old Turtle laughed heartily.

"Old Fish... Horns..."

Zhan Hongxiu raised her head, gazing at the tortoise shell that was taller than the palace ceiling: "You are the... tortoise spirit of this Longevity Tortoise?"

Although the Longevity Turtle is famous, even the third-tier ones are extremely rare, let alone the fourth-tier ones, which probably only exist in myths and legends.

Monsters are known for their long lifespan, and the fourth-tier longevity turtle in mythology can live for almost ten thousand years!

"Indeed, my mortal body has crumbled, but I am not a ghost cultivator... Your address of 'Turtle Spirit' is quite fitting. No wonder you possess some destiny and talent..."

Old Turtle wasn't angry; instead, he was pleased.

"May I ask what important matter you wish to discuss with me, senior?"

Zhan Hongxiu felt uneasy; a fourth-tier demonic beast was comparable to a Nascent Soul cultivator!

The most famous thing about Nascent Soul cultivators is that their Nascent Souls can leave their bodies and freely possess other cultivators!

The original body of this longevity tortoise has perished, leaving only a remnant soul. Could it be that...?

"I only brought you here because I was pleased to see you practicing the 'Turtle and Crane Longevity Technique'..."

Old Turtle sighed.

"The 'Turtle and Crane Longevity Technique'? I obtained this technique from a rogue cultivator's cave..." Zhan Hongxiu asked in surprise, "Senior actually recognizes it?" "Of course I recognize it. This is the inheritance of the 'Southern Hall' of my Zhou Tian Star Palace... Even back then, only a handful of true disciples could learn it..." Old Turtle said, "For you to obtain it, even if it's just a fragment, is a great stroke of luck. You must have received the legacy of the great cultivator who built this secret realm back then... Zhou Tian Star Palace? Southern Hall? I wonder what kind of forces these are?"

Zhan Hongxiu was even more confused.

"Among the celestial spheres, I am the master of the stars; the Big Dipper governs death, the Southern Dipper governs life..."

"Old Turtle said proudly."

Zhan Hongxiu looked completely bewildered.

"Alas, never mind... Let me tell you more about the Zhou Tian Xing Gong matter... I suppose..."

Once Old Turtle started talking, he couldn't stop.

Just then, as if sensing something, he couldn't help but curse, "Damn it... the Void Stepping Hall has been opened, the legacy of the 'Sea Devouring Demon Sect' is about to be born! Alas, when that Core Formation Perfection cultivator arrived back then, I should have foreseen this scene today..."

"The Devouring Sea Demon Sect? Yet another powerful sect I've never heard of..."

Zhan Hongxiu has become numb.

But then the old tortoise said, "This secret realm has been neglected for many years and has been violently opened. Sooner or later it will be scattered into the void... I originally thought of returning to the void, but I am somewhat reluctant to leave the mortal world. I am afraid I will have to return to the present world with you."

"what?"

Zhan Hongxiu's eyes widened in surprise.

"What do you mean 'ah'? Following you will bring me endless benefits... This secret realm looks magnificent and full of spiritual energy... but it's just a branch hall established by the Zhou Tian Star Palace back then... The cultivation methods and secret techniques I know far exceed your imagination... When you achieve the Great Perfection of Core Formation in the future, I can even guide you to the true mountain gate of the Zhou Tian Star Palace. As long as you obtain even a fraction of its legacy, condensing your Nascent Soul will be a piece of cake..."

"Old Turtle said proudly."

"Zhong Lingxiu... have you ever heard of the name 'Swallowing the Sea'?"

Fang Qing walked out of the Buxu Hall and asked Zhong Lingxiu in his mind.

"The words 'Swallowing the Sea' are quite common. There was a Core Formation cultivator who called himself 'True Man of Swallowing the Sea,' but he soon perished... It is said that he violated the taboo of 'one palace, one temple'... Because this matter is interesting, I asked him a question back then, and I learned that 'Swallowing the Sea' is somewhat taboo, and it is suspected to be related to a major demonic sect from ten thousand years ago. It is fine for ordinary Qi Refining and Foundation Establishment disciples to use it, but for those above Core Formation, once they are involved with these two words, it will always be detrimental to their fate..." Zhong Lingxiu's answer came.

"No wonder Master Bihai only dared to establish his sect in remote and impoverished areas; it turns out his background wasn't very clean..."

"I've seen that this 'Azure Sea Technique' has undergone many revisions and no longer bears any resemblance to demonic arts. However, it also lacks any particularly ingenious methods. No wonder I always felt somewhat unsatisfied before..."

Fang Qing finally had a question answered.