Chapter 618 403: Evil Qi of the Tenth Realm
Chen Ku gazed at the world map unfolded before him, where the marked location named 'Nether State' in Yuan Country prominently featured the words 'Shura Arsenal'.
Beneath those words, there was a red ghost face pattern, unlike humans, with two horns growing.
"Shura Arsenal."
Master Tian Hai's eyes were also heavy as he said:
"This treasure vault's location was actually given back to you by the Heavenly Demon King as a gift, there might be something suspicious about this."
Chen Ku listened to Master Tian Hai's words and was equally alert, saying, "Master Uncle is right, I am now very suspicious of the Heavenly Demon King's intentions."
According to the understanding he gleaned from the Six-Eared Macaque regarding the Heavenly Demon Ceremony.
The entire Heavenly Demon Ceremony adheres to the principle of equivalent exchange, meaning that the value of the offerings given to the Heavenly Demon King determines the equivalent rewards given in return.
Now, not to mention the value of the Devil Heart Mirror, it is already capable of providing a lot of assistance to an Eighth Realm cultivator like Master Tian Hai, and there is also the Heavenly Demon Great Method that directly points to the Demon Cultivation Tenth Realm 'Demon Body'.
Just these two items alone are sufficient to match the sacrifice of a Jin Xun.
Now...
An extra reward was given, one of the eighteen treasures of the world—'Shura Arsenal'.
Chen Ku could tell from having obtained a third of the 'Hero King Treasure', just how invaluable the eighteen famous treasures were throughout history, any treasure could enable a person to rise from nothing.
Chen Ku pondered and questioned, "Master Uncle, could the map route to the Shura Arsenal be fake?"
"Unlikely."
Master Tian Hai slightly shook his head, saying:
"According to the old monk, this Shura Arsenal is actually the national treasure of a country much older, a nation called 'Shura Country', where an anthropoid race known as 'Shura' grew, known for their bravery in battle, excelling in both physical prowess and Martial Arts Divine Ability due to their powerful racial talents, unrivaled across the world."
"Shura people?" Chen Ku showed curiosity, asking, "What happened to the Shura race afterward?"
Master Tian Hai slowly spoke:
"This seems related to the Buddha Country of the time, it is said that once the Buddha Country fought wars to spread scriptures, a great war occurred with the Shura race and later, the Shura Country was destroyed."
Chen Ku was tongue-tied upon hearing this.
Is this the compassionate Buddhism as he knew it, destroying countries at the slightest trigger?
Seemingly understanding Chen Ku's thoughts.
Master Tian Hai slowly elaborated: "Buddhist sect, Buddha Dao, Buddha Country are three different concepts. A Buddhist sect refers to various Buddhist Dao sects, like our Putuo Mountain, is a lineage of a Buddhist sect; Buddha Dao is a great path created by the Buddha, similar to the Martial Path existing in this world with its own Buddha Dao Qi Fortune river, as for Buddha Country... you may regard it as a form of Ji Country where the state and religion are integrated, without an emperor, only reached the pinnacle status of 'Buddha Emperor'."
Chen Ku pondered deeply.
Master Tian Hai continued, "The former site of Shura Country was within today's Yuan Country borders, so if the Shura Arsenal is at that position, it is possible."
"Why would the Shura Arsenal end up with a Heavenly Demon King, what was his purpose in granting us this?" Chen Ku fell into deep thought.
"Your concerns are justified, the Heavenly Demon King cultivates desires of all beings to achieve fruition, known for being cunning and shrewd, historically, many troubled times were secretly initiated by these Heavenly Demon Kings."
Master Tian Hai somberly remarked:
"Therefore, with the Shura Arsenal, I advise the Sect Master not to easily probe."
"Rest assured, Master Uncle, I understand the severity."
Chen Ku nodded.
Besides, with the location presently in Yuan Country, which is a place filled with hostility, along with his apprehensions towards the Heavenly Demon King, he was not prepared to rashly investigate.
Thinking slightly:
"But the value of this item is undeniably existent, even if I can't go myself, I might try to convert it into something that suits my needs."
He harbored a thought.
Having led two people from Dou Shen Sect into a trap successfully, Dou Shen Palace will certainly not rest from this matter, and only Divine Martial Mountain could become his backing currently.
Perhaps, through this Shura Arsenal, he could further elevate his status and position within Divine Martial Mountain, thereby being unafraid of Dou Shen Palace's provocations.
"Alright, having taken down a Tenth Realm cultivator from Dou Shen Palace through the Heavenly Demon Ceremony, beyond Divine Martial Mountain, there's no place that's safe now, Sect Master you need to return to Divine Martial Mountain immediately, preferably not leave before completing your studies."
Master Tian Hai could see the crux of the current issue, saying:
"As long as you graduate successfully from Divine Martial Mountain, you can achieve good results, enter the military camps and be appointed as a General, if military achievements are established and bestowed as Marquis, even Dou Shen Palace would not dare to touch you."
"That's my thought as well."
Chen Ku nodded.
Thus, the two mensen did not linger longer at the same spot, quickly returning to Yan Capital City.
On the journey back.
Chen Ku's heart remained excited.
Because compared to the so-called 'reward' from the Heavenly Demon King, the most precious gain was actually from the Tenth Realm Evil Qi left by Jin Xun after he was taken down.
Now, on the journey back, Chen Ku will attempt to see if he can utilize Jin Xun's Tenth Realm Evil Qi to shape-shift into any of Jin Xun's abilities.
While hurrying along, the Gang Wind was gustily blowing around his body.
Chen Ku's mind was focused on the Transformation Diagram within his body.
He placed Jin Xun onto the Transformation Diagram.
[Golden Beard Slave Transformation·Shapeshifting]
Chen Ku looked down with immense anticipation.
Evil Qi of the Tenth Realm Great Ability.
No matter what emerges from the Shapeshifting, it seems unlikely to be inferior.
Soon, he saw the line of Shapeshifting ability.
[Shapeshifted Component: True Blood (Ninth Realm Peak Blood Qi Cultivation)]
Bang!
Bang!
Chen Ku's heart suddenly started to beat faster.
How long has it been since he last managed to shapeshift into a cultivation item on the first try.
Although he couldn't shapeshift the Tenth Realm peak cultivation of Jin Xun, the Ninth Realm peak Nine Layers 'True Blood' is, for Chen Ku's cultivation, equally valuable as obtaining Tenth Realm True Yuan.
After all, he is still many layers away from the Tenth Realm True Yuan, even if he attained Tenth Realm cultivation, it would merely serve as external aid, but gaining Ninth Realm True Blood can seamlessly transition him into the subsequent cultivation of Blood Exchange from Eighth Realm's fifth Marrow Cleansing to Ninth Realm.
"Hmm?"
Master Tian Hai seemed to sense something, and glanced towards Chen Ku.
He vaguely felt an aura from Chen Ku's body, far surpassing Chen Ku's own Blood Qi.
Fortunately, Chen Ku quickly concealed the transformation, preventing Master Tian Hai from further inquiry.
Half a day later.
Chen Ku and Master Tian Hai were already outside Yan Capital.
"Master Uncle, be cautious while cultivating alone in Yan Capital. If Fighting God Palace truly comes looking for trouble, you may go to Divine Martial Mountain," Chen Ku advised.
Faced with such a colossal entity as Fighting God Palace, Master Tian Hai is not very safe now that he is alone.
"I have no connection with Divine Martial Mountain," Master Tian Hai shook his head and said.
Chen Ku pondered and said, "It's not about Divine Martial Mountain, but the disciple can find ways to improve Master Uncle's safety."
He thought about placing Master Tian Hai within Hero King Realm.
"No need to worry too much about the old monk's safety, Sect Master; if something happens, the old monk has a place left by Putuo Mountain from the past to retreat to," Master Tian Hai said. "That location is Putuo Mountain's last inheritance. Now the old monk awaits, Sect Master, until you become a Tenth Realm Martial Practitioner, and it can be completely handed over to you."
Chen Ku's expression became solemn: "Disciple will certainly live up to Master Uncle's expectations."
"The old monk takes his leave."
Master Tian Hai gracefully returned to Yan Capital.
Chen Ku, too, did not linger outside, using a stealth technique to quietly return to Divine Martial Mountain, arriving at his courtyard to retrieve his incarnation left there.
He then received updates of the goings-on at Divine Martial Mountain during the past few days.
There was nothing significant at Divine Martial Mountain. The students were attending classes and cultivating as usual.
However, unfavorable news emerged from the frontline battlefields.
Xiang Kunlun, who recently captured the first city since the Yuan resistance, lost in a duel on the battlefield against a significant general of Yuan Country, a Qi Cultivator.
It is said that the Yuan Country Qi Cultivator is named "Yuan Wutian," reputedly from one of the Yuan Country Qi Cultivator Holy Lands, 'Three Star Cave.'
He and Xiang Kunlun, known as 'Five-clawed Golden Dragon,' fought north of Liang Province at Daliang City for three days and nights. Surprisingly, even with the rumored five hundred Dragon Power of Xiang Kunlun, he suffered defeat at Yuan Wutian's hands.
This defeat severely dampened the mood after recapturing a lost territory, affecting the morale of frontline soldiers.
So much so that students at Divine Martial Academy grew incensed and practiced with greater effort.
"Even Xiang Kunlun, the Five-clawed Golden Dragon, encounters powerful opposition from enemy nations. With seven or eight months until we're on the battlefield, we must seize the time to cultivate..."
Chen Ku started meditating on the ground, unleashing the power of 'Ninth Realm Peak True Blood' from the transformation of Jin Xun, feeling the cultivation process of Marrow Cleansing and Blood Exchange.
"Just as I predicted, True Marrow generates True Blood, True Blood complements True Marrow, Blood Marrow both are mutually reinforcing, and now with Jin Xun's Ninth Realm Peak Blood Qi, I can again reduce the duration to cultivate into the Eighth Realm Peak True Marrow."
Thus, Chen Ku opted to first elevate his own cultivation level, and the next day, still did not report to various halls, choosing to take leave and focus on secluded cultivation.
…
Meanwhile.
Ninety-eight thousand miles west of Yan Capital, surrounded by a range of mountains, here stands Immortal Mountains piercing through the clouds, filled with Blessed Land Cave Mansion Immortal Caves.
These ranges extend tens of thousands of miles, containing countless divine and mystical Spiritual Beasts, Ancient Mutants, alongside many cultivators dwelling in huts among the mountains, adorned in Taoist Robes.
Atop these peaks stand numerous palaces.
The owners of these palaces and mountain ranges belong to one of the seven Martial Arts Holy Lands of Daji, 'Fighting God Palace.'