Chapter 237

Chapter 237: The Ten Thousand Years Gu King

Three days later, in the same guest hall of the Purple Tower, Li Li brought a burly man with a purple face named Immortal Wan Shan to meet Fang Lie again.

This Immortal Wan Shan was the Wind Tribulation Immortal needing the Nascent Soul pill. Upon receiving the information, he had rushed over eagerly.

Though being a senior Wind Tribulation Immortal, he showed no disrespect and clasped his hands in greeting. "Greetings, Island Lord Fang!"

Fang Lie blinked at the title before recalling his new status as Qingyu Island’s lord.

"Greetings, Senior!" Fang Lie returned the courtesy. "Your presence honors us. Please sit."

Fang Lei offered seats to Wind Tribulation Immortals, unlike Li Li who remained standing. Though both were Purple Palace Immortals, Li Li’s position as Four Seas Alliance steward made him inferior.

After exchanging pleasantries, Immortal Wan Shan took the guest seat while Mao San and Gou Si served tea water.

The visitor barely sipped before asking urgently, "Island Lord, what news of my request?"

Fang Lie smiled. "Completed without disgrace." He produced a Jade Bottle.

Immortal Wan Shan’s hands trembled as he poured out a longan-sized pill glowing like violet metal. "Pure fragrance! Flawless clarity! A top-grade Nascent Soul pill!" His eyes shone. "My hidden injury shall finally heal!"

This pill represented two days’ labor in Fang Lie’s spiritual mansion after resurrection through Cycle of Fire – effort worth two billion low-grade spirit stones. Though the compensation might not cover his loss, Fang Lie cared little. Success proved low-tier Demon Pills could create high-tier pills, promising endless wealth.

His only regret remained insufficient cultivation to craft pills for Wind Tribulation Immortals’ needs.

Immortal Wan Shan presented his own Jade Bottle. "Ten Thousand Years Dragon Python’s Spirit Marrow. Years back, eight Wind Tribulation Immortals ambushed a molting Fourth-Rank beast during its post-advance weakness. Three died securing this Fifth-Rank prize."

"Only three bottles extracted from its spine. Second only to Demon Pills, this enhances cultivation and spiritual bone strength, rivaling spiritual energy from heaven and earth."

Fang Lie inspected the radiant liquid whose mere scent invigorated his spirit. Dragon Pythons with dragon blood required entire teams to subdue – Wan Shan’s group had been fortunate.

"Satisfactory," Fang Lie declared, storing the treasure. "The pill is yours."

Immortal Wan Shan carefully secured his prize. "Island Lord, many Dao friends need special pills but lack materials. Might I send them here?"

"Those bearing cultivation-enhancing treasures are always welcome."

"Marvelous!" The immortal stood excitedly. "They’ll be grateful!"

Fang Lie waved dismissively. "Mutual benefit needs no thanks."

"Haha, very well, Island Lord, you’re truly decisive. In that case, I won’t disturb you further. Farewell!" Immortal Wan Shan clasped his fists and drifted away.

Fang Lie rose to see him out before returning to his seat. He told Li Li, "This was handled properly."

"Thank you for your praise!" Li Li hurriedly bowed. "Island Lord, regarding the poison Gu insect you requested earlier, our Four Seas Alliance has been working tirelessly. We’ve actually found an excellent opportunity for you."

"Oh?" Fang Lie’s eyes instantly brightened. "What sort of opportunity?"

"Here’s the situation," Li Li said gravely. "About two hundred thousand miles west of here lives the Zhou Family, known for raising Gu. They possess an ancestral Gu King said to be tens of thousands of years old – capable of Ambushing even Wind Tribulation Immortals. Recently, they’ve encountered difficulties and wish to sell it. No suitable buyer has emerged yet. Might you be interested?"

Fang Lie’s eyes sparkled. "Extremely interested. But first explain – if this Gu King’s so formidable, why sell it? With such combat power, hunting demon beasts should bring substantial income."

No wonder Fang Lie questioned this. The matter seemed absurd. An heirloom passed down for millennia should be a family’s treasured item. Selling it would brand them as wastrels.

What family clan would risk such disgrace?

Moreover, with combat strength matching a Wind Tribulation Immortal, deploying it against demon beasts should yield rich rewards. It was practically a golden-egg-laying hen. Only fools would part with such treasure.

Li Li smiled faintly. "Though mighty, it has two fatal flaws. First, its vicious nature demands vast amounts of the master’s Original Essence Blood each activation. Without sufficient blood essence, it refuses action. Feeding it also requires copious blood essence. This caused their Family Head’s cultivation to stagnate. Some predecessors even died from excessive blood essence depletion."

"Now I understand!" Fang Lie nodded. "Their Family Heads must have short Lifespans. Truly a cursed object."

"Precisely," Li Li agreed. "The second flaw: whenever it kills, it drains all blood essence from victims. Thus, using it against demon beasts yields only low-grade materials stripped of Spiritual Energy – the choicest parts get devoured. Completely unprofitable."

"How’s that unprofitable?" Fang Lie pressed. "Absorbing blood essence aids its advancement. Consider it cultivation investment – simplifies matters!"

"Here’s the crux," Li Li sighed. "The Gu King’s already dangerously fierce. Currently controllable only with effort. Should it advance further, gaining power rivaling Fire Tribulation Immortals – who could restrain it? It would inevitably rebel. Thus, the family starves it rather than risk advancement. Their decision to sell stems from its impending breakthrough – they fear losing control."

"Ah, so that’s it!" Fang Lie chuckled dryly.

Outwardly composed, Fang Lie inwardly cursed Four Seas Alliance scoundrels for peddling this lethal burden. Yet he coveted the Gu King’s combat power. Quietly, he queried old bird in his consciousness sea: "Bird Bro, you heard. Can I take this Gu King?"

"Why not?" old bird retorted.

"Won’t it overpower me? You heard – near advancement, then rebellion!"

"Rubbish!" old bird sneered. "Just bind its spirit soul with a slave contract through your Nirvana True Seed. Even if it revolts, retrieving that soul fragment requires breaching your True Seed. Others might falter, but your body’s mere casing – discardable anytime. Its spirit soul resides not in your flesh, but within the True Seed. Devouring your shell changes nothing."

"Right!" Fang Lie realized. "Without retrieving its spirit soul, rebellion’s impossible. Since it’s in the True Seed, eternal obedience follows!"

"Exactly!" old bird crowed. "Should it reach the Cycle of Fire, my presence ensures not even Thunder Tribulation Immortals could challenge us, let alone some Gu King!"

Enlightened, Fang Lie declared to Li Li: "Name their price. I’ll take it!"

"Truly? Excellent!" Li Li beamed. "We shouldn’t broker terms. Allow two days for them to bring the Gu King personally."

"Agreed. I’ll await them."

"Island Lord, remember – none dare claim this Gu King. Even Fire Tribulation Immortals refuse due to blood essence costs. The Zhou Family’s desperate to offload this dangerous burden. Bargain fiercely – ignore their bluster."

Recognizing Li Li’s favor, Fang Lie smiled: "Gratitude. I’ll avoid foolishness."

"Splendid!" Li Li bowed. "I’ll notify the Zhou Family. Farewell!"

With that, Li Li departed.