Chapter 235

Chapter 235: Golden Light Avenue

Fang Lie frowned and said, "Where would I get Fifth Rank wood-element Demon Pills from a Great Demon? Are you joking?"

Though demon beasts were abundant, wood-element ones remained scarce. Vegetation spirits rarely achieved sentience, lacking sufficient combat power to survive perilous environments.

Fifth Rank wood-element Great Demons were exceedingly rare. Even if encountered, subduing them proved nearly impossible.

Fifth Rank Great Demons typically possessed thousands or even tens of thousands of years of cultivation. Their combat strength rivaled or surpassed Wind Tribulation Cultivators. Even when surrounded, they could escape.

Moreover, Great Demons were notoriously fierce and stubborn. When cornered, they’d detonate their Demon Pills in Self-Detonation, choosing glorious death over letting enemies benefit.

Obtaining Demon Pills usually required deploying forces two levels higher than the target. At minimum, a Fire Tribulation Immortal would be needed for Fifth Rank Demon Pills, with less than thirty percent success chance. Even Thunder Tribulation Immortals couldn’t guarantee results.

Thus, Fifth Rank wood-element Demon Pills became near-legendary treasures. Across Wanxing Sea, such items might surface once every few decades.

Such treasures could trade for Seventh-rank Treasures. Not only Fang Lie, but even the Four Seas Alliance rarely obtained them.

Li Li hurriedly explained, "We know you can refine high-rank materials from low-grade ones. While Fifth Rank wood-element Demon Pills are rare, those below third rank aren’t. The Four Seas Alliance can gather those. The question is whether you’ll show your skills."

Fang Lie’s material purification ability had become common knowledge. His mass purchases of cheap materials and production of high-grade spirit pills revealed this clearly.

Within the Mo Sect’s million disciples, information spread uncontrollably. After Fang Lie’s rise to fame, others thoroughly investigated him, likely knowing more about his ancestors than he did himself.

Fang Lie no longer guarded these "secrets". Without a Nirvana Immortal, none could replicate his methods. Leaks didn’t matter—they only brought more business.

Hearing Li Li’s words, Fang Lie first froze, then his eyes sparkled with excitement.

Previously, he’d limited this ability to spirit herbs, ignoring demon beast materials. In Mo Sect, alchemy required few beast materials, and their high costs deterred him.

But Wanxing Sea differed entirely. Its boundless oceans teemed with powerful demons. Cultivators here survived by hunting demon beasts, making materials abundant and cheap.

If Fang Lie could refine high-rank materials from low-level beasts, this would become a golden mountain—surpassing even his alchemy profits.

Unlike spirit herbs gathered freely, demon beasts required killing. Great Demons proved rare and formidable, often destroying precious materials through Self-Detonation when dying.

Hence high-rank Great Demon materials became priceless. Even a Fifth Rank wood-element Demon Pill could trade for Seventh-rank Treasures. But low-level beast materials remained worthless and plentiful.

Transforming trash into treasure would grant Fang Lie unimaginable wealth. His mind raced—this alchemy request might be the breakthrough point. Success here could establish a permanent method.

However, countless demon variants existed, even within elements. Fang Lie couldn’t guarantee success.

After consideration, Fang Lie declared, "I’ll agree under two conditions!"

"Name them!" Li Li urged.

"First, this is my first attempt. No guarantees. He provides materials—no blame if it fails." Fang Lie spoke lightly.

"Agreed," Li Li responded instantly. "He’s desperate anyway—can’t obtain Fifth Rank wood-element Demon Pills himself. This is his last resort."

"Good." Fang Lie continued, "Second condition: If successful, payment must be cultivation-enhancing spiritual energy from heaven and earth—like Thousand-Year Water Lotus seeds. No spirit stones or other items."

"This…" Li Li pondered briefly before answering, "isn’t an issue. Though rare, spiritual energy from heaven and earth isn’t anything extraordinary. It’s far less valuable than fifth-rank wood-element Demon Pills. Even if unavailable, our Four Seas Alliance can procure several portions."

"Oh!" Fang Lie brightened instantly. "Perfect! Collect large quantities for me, and I’ll exchange them for high-grade spirit pills. You’ll get fair compensation."

"Truly?" Li Li’s eyes sparkled. "Do you have pills suitable for Nascent Soul True Immortals?"

"Well…" Fang Lie forced a smile. "I can manage to refine pills for Nascent Soul True Immortals, but higher grades are beyond my current ability. I’ll need higher cultivation first."

"Understood," Li Li nodded. "Even Nascent Soul-level pills are rare and valuable. Our Four Seas Alliance can handle such transactions."

"Excellent," Fang Lie grinned. Suddenly recalling something, he added, "Could you relay a message to Mr. Suan Mei?"

"Of course," Li Li agreed readily. This trivial request meant nothing when currying favor with a Great Pill Master.

"Tell that scoundrel: ‘I know he’s behind this. If he doesn’t explain himself, I’ll give him a solution he’ll never forget!’" Fang Lie declared with murderous intensity.

"Ah!" Li Li broke into cold sweat, stunned that Fang Lie dared threaten a Wind Tribulation Immortal. Though aware of Fang Lie’s reputation, he’d found the man surprisingly amiable – until witnessing this audacious threat against someone even the Four Seas Alliance feared.

The disparity seemed absurd – a mere Qi Sea cultivator challenging a Wind Tribulation Immortal. Yet Li Li instinctively knew Fang Lie possessed both the qualification and strength to back his words. The real shock was realizing he’d become messenger between two terrifying powers, risking Mr. Suan Mei’s lethal wrath. Regretful yet bound by promise, Li Li departed with forced smile and heavy heart.

Though outwardly composed about losing to the Master of a Hundred Poisons, Fang Lie seethed inwardly. His deduction pointed squarely at Mr. Suan Mei’s schemes – else why would the poison master coincidentally appear during his Thousand-Year Water Lotus harvest?

The lost Crystal Palace treasure ship mattered little compared to the humiliation of defeat. Unable to counter the poison Gu insects yet, Fang Lie redirected his fury at the schemer. Evidence mattered not – either Mr. Suan Mei yielded, or faced future retribution when Fang Lie’s power grew.

After settling affairs, Fang Lie visited the White Jade Divine Fish’s cave. The sight stunned him – over a thousand fish now swam in the boiling lake, several reaching seven to eight chi long. The once-scarce creatures thrived in the enriched environment, particularly benefiting from the water-element small spirit pearl Fang Lie had previously fed to the largest fish.

The pearl’s recipient now measured over one zhang long, its aura nearing third-rank demon beast levels. Observing this growth, Fang Lie shuddered at a terrifying possibility – if enhanced White Jade Divine Fish could grant mortals high-grade water-element spiritual roots, he might mass-produce top-tier cultivators for Mo Sect.

The vision of a million-strong army with high-grade spiritual roots chilled him despite its potential.