Gou Dao Changsheng: Starting from the Reincarnation of a Demon Cultivator

Chapter 631 Third-Order Spirit Puppet, Second Beast Tide

Three days later, in the ancient city of Dadu.

The south gate, riddled with cracks, was being slowly repaired by more than ten Foundation Establishment cultivators from the Biyue Pavilion, led by a fake Dan Zhenren.

Duobao Pavilion.

A series of magical restrictions transformed into halos of light, enveloping the pills, talismans, and magical artifacts for sale.

"Found it, a second-tier puppet armor, priced at four hundred and ninety-nine spirit stones."

Shen Santong fluttered his sleeves until 499 spirit stones fell into the light circle, and the magical restriction dissipated.

A simple, dark-colored puppet armor fell into his hands.

He stroked the puppet armor in his hand, feeling its thick texture and the flowing wood-based spiritual liquid within its bluish-green patterns, and felt a slight joy in his heart.

Qian Junming walked out from behind the counter with a strange expression and a hint of curiosity. He was the twelfth Foundation Establishment cultivator to come and buy the puppet armor this month.

"Fellow Daoist Shen, although this puppet armor was crafted by Fang Yi, its defense is only comparable to that of a high-grade magic weapon."

With your wealth, you have no shortage of high-grade magical artifacts to protect you, so why did you buy this puppet armor?

Shen Santong chuckled. “Fellow Daoist Qian, I have no shortage of high-grade magic weapons.”

But magical artifacts are different from puppet armor; in the midst of a beast tide, every bit of preparation increases one's chances of survival.

"Tide of beasts?"

Qian Junming was disdainful. Everyone knew that Sudu Mountain had lost a third-tier demon king, which had damaged its foundation.

During the battle against the beast tide, both Yuzhu and Hulei displayed their mid-stage Core Formation cultivation.

Even if the demon race devotes all its efforts to cultivating them, it will take at least thirty to fifty years for them to stir up any great waves.

With these five hundred spirit stones, why not buy elixirs and magical artifacts to improve your cultivation?

Although he was disdainful, Qian Junming looked enlightened, as if his doubts had been answered.

He said gratefully, "Thank you for your guidance, Brother Shen. In the face of the beast tide, the more prepared we are, the more chances we have to survive."

Shen Santong, a well-known broker in the ancient city and a shrewd man, naturally saw through Qian Junming's insincerity.

He felt a slight stirring in his heart and recorded the matter in his mind.

'It seems that this Treasure Pavilion isn't closely connected to Sect Leader Fang.'

In Xuanzhen Garden, gentle ripples spread across the lotus pond, shimmering in the sunlight, as golden koi carp sway their plump bodies leisurely.

"Boom~"

The heavy doors of the quiet room opened, and three scrolls of brocade, each containing a storage bag, flew out.

Fang Yi's deep, resonant voice rang out.

"Yu'er, Zhao'er, Heng'er, the three of you take these three scrolls of brocade and go to the city to pay your respects to the fake alchemist."

"By exchanging the missing spiritual items, and now that the beast tide has just passed, the cultivators in the city will give their master some face."

"Disciple obey!"

"Master, don't worry!"

"This disciple will go immediately."

Qin Yu, Huo Zhao, and Li Heng took the brocade map and glanced at it, briefly scanning the various spiritual objects recorded on it.

After discussing the matter briefly, they each went their separate ways.

As Fang Yi said, in terms of reputation, Fang Yi is now at the height of his fame in Dadu Ancient City.

And it continues to spread to the territories of various factions such as Fenglingxian City, Biyue Pavilion, and Tiandaowu.

With Fang Yi's resources, even if he didn't exchange for a third-tier spiritual item, all the sects in the ancient city, whether they were major demonic sects like the White Bone Sect and the Joyful Union Sect, or the independent cultivators of the Wind Spirit Immortal City, would be willing to give him face.

Even Tiandaowu, which has colluded with Biyuege, has many fake Dan cultivators who have been secretly trying to curry favor with them.

After all, the path of cultivation is fraught with danger, and which cultivator doesn't fight their way through countless battles and suffer constant injuries?

If one can establish a relationship with a reputable third-tier spiritual healer, the benefits would be so great that no cultivator would refuse.

In a quiet room.

A pale blue flame blazed brightly, enveloping the red-tailed scorpion and continuously tempering its muscles, bones, and flesh.

"The spirit stones given by Senior Brother Hu Lei were used up after exchanging them for the spiritual items needed to refine the spirit puppet."

Fang Yi held a crimson communication talisman, looked at the empty storage bag at his waist, and shook his head slightly.

"Once we've reaped the benefits of this round and finished refining the spirit puppets, we'll then seek out the second wave of beast tides."

Dadu Ancient City still has considerable potential.

Chi Yin reached the mid-stage of Core Formation thanks to the Beast Tide Blood Essence.

With a flick of his sleeve, a withered wood jade talisman flew out, flashing past layers of magical restrictions.

The rotten peach forest is filled with peach trees and pink miasma, where monkeys frolic and play.

Chen Yuhua's expression darkened slightly as she looked at a corner of the array diagram in her hand. The array patterns on the diagram moved about, but stopped abruptly just as they were about to outline the array's core.

"What did this withered soul say?"

Chen Xuan was also extremely angry. "Three days ago, at the ancient grotto, the withered old monster did not appear; only this corner of the array diagram remained."

He made an outrageous demand, removing the third-tier blood bead that he had previously promised him.

"Two more blood beads!"

"How dare you!" Chen Erxiang had a handsome face and an extraordinary demeanor, with his body surrounded by flickering emerald scales and ghostly flames.

He clenched his fist, making a cracking sound as his bones collided.

"My Chen family schemed and plotted, even expending three levels of spiritual incense, and only managed to obtain five third-level blood beads."

"This withered soul only provided the array diagram, hiding its true nature, yet it dares to dream of taking 60% of the benefits?"

Chen Xuan was also dissatisfied, but looking at the array diagram transmitted by the jade talisman, his lips moved as if he wanted to say something but stopped himself.

The Wuyang Formation Diagram played a crucial role in enabling the previous beast tide to reach such a massive scale and produce five third-tier blood beads.

Chen Yuhua stroked his long beard and spoke.

"Chen Xuan, you've arranged to meet with Ku Hun to discuss taking 60% of the profits. Hiding and giving no clues won't do."

Three months later.

In Xuanzhen Garden, bamboo shadows swayed and the fragrance of herbs wafted through the air. Qi Jie, holding a bamboo basket of spiritual fruits, lay on a large blue stone, munching on them with relish.

After the demon core condenses, the second-tier spiritual fruit has no spiritual effect whatsoever, leaving only the desire for food.

"Gulu!"

After swallowing the Azure Water Banana in one gulp, Qi Jie sighed softly, somewhat worried.

I wonder how Old Man Gu is doing.

Even a man as shrewd and unpredictable as the master is extremely wary of Lu Xiaozi and hopes nothing bad will happen to him.

Thinking of Gu Jiushang's pure Golden Armor Lion bloodline, her gaze softened, and she felt slightly relieved.

'The master is ruthless and cunning. He used a mid-grade third-tier beast bone to conceal the truth, so Old Man Gu should be unharmed.'
"Old Gu, you must be careful. If you die, there will be no one to cook my spirit food."

"call out!"

A crimson transmission talisman pierced through layers of magical restrictions. Qi Jie leaped up, bit the jade talisman, and probed into it with his divine sense.

"Here they come again! Which cultivator is this time?"

In recent days, as the memorial stone of the Battle of Dadu Ancient City has spread, countless cultivators have sent their visiting cards, all in an effort to establish a relationship with Fang Yi.

Later, seeing that Fang Yi was in seclusion and cultivating, and that there were many fake Core Formation cultivators and Core Formation True Persons, he changed to using jade talismans to transmit his voice.

Seven Precepts has already collected a small bag of these specially made superior sound transmission talismans.

"Hmm?" The silver-white beast snorted, its face contorted.

'Is this the voice transmission of the Beast Demon Immortal?'

How could it be so fast? The master is in seclusion practicing his cultivation techniques and doesn't even pay attention to him, yet he keeps urging him on.

"Hurry! Hurry! Hurry! Like they're urging you to your death!"
This Wuyang Formation has been rearranged by the Nine-Bend Old Monster, its core relocated. Is it so easy to detect?

'With this telepathic message, Master is going to urge me on to a life of toil again.'

Her expression was slightly bitter. The Wuyang Grand Array had been rearranged, and the major powers in Dadu Ancient City had spared no expense. With her foundation as a near-third-tier array master, she didn't know how much effort it would take to find the flaws and direction of the array.

"If we can get our hands on the array diagram, this matter will be much simpler."

Qi Jie shook his head slightly. The Wuyang Grand Array involves the very foundation of the Great Du Ancient City, and only three people know the array diagram.

Xuan Yang Mountain's Thunderclap, Bi Shui Pavilion's Jade Pearl, and the Nine-Bend True Man who personally arranged the formation.

The Core Formation cultivators of the three sects—Tian Dao Wu, He Huan Zong, and Bai Gu Men—are all lacking in foundation and are not quite ready for the task, let alone this demon beast.

Clang! Clang! Clang!

The bell in front of Xuanzhen Garden rang.

As Qi Jie's divine sense descended, his languid aura changed drastically, and a surge of demonic power descended.

"Young man, what brings you here?"

Outside the vermilion gate, Qian Junming, dressed in a golden silk robe and wearing a small golden crown, looked spirited and high-spirited.

Riding the wave of beasts, alchemists from various sects opened their furnaces and used second-tier water and wood attribute inner cores to refine Foundation Establishment Elixirs.

It is used to cultivate Foundation Establishment cultivators to make up for the Foundation Establishment cultivators lost in the beast tide.

He also obtained a spot to exchange for a Foundation Establishment Pill by relying on Qian Huaijin.

Now his cultivation has advanced further, and he has become a Foundation Establishment Master who is destined to live for four Jiazi (60 years).

"Disciple Qian Junming, on orders to request an audience with the Sect Leader, hereby presents the proceeds from the sale of the puppet armor at the Treasure Pavilion."

Qian Junming straightened his clothes, held a storage bag, and spoke respectfully.

The name of Qingyangzi, a third-tier medical cultivator with miraculous hands and a benevolent heart, has become known to various forces in the Great Yun Dynasty over time.

Let alone Qian Junming, who had only just established his Dao foundation, even if the head manager of Duobaoge came here, he would not dare to be on guard in the slightest.

A third-tier spiritual healer possessing a third-tier demonic pet—this combination is enough to put Fang Yi on equal footing with the several Core Formation cultivators in the ancient city.

"Greetings?"
"Master is in seclusion for cultivation. I'll accept the spirit stones; you may leave now."

A burst of demonic power descended, emptying the bulging storage bag, and then silence fell over the Xuanzhen Garden.

"Yes, this disciple will now take his leave."

Qian Junming bowed deeply, then left without daring to say another word.

He was filled with extreme jealousy and wished he could take her place.

Having a third-tier demon king as a demon pet is something that even a Foundation Establishment cultivator or a Core Formation cultivator would envy immensely.

If it weren't for Fang Yi, the head of Xuan Yang Mountain, and the Seven Precepts Demon King's unwavering loyalty to Fang Yi, countless cultivators would have been tempted to pursue him.

Inside the Treasure Pavilion, in the cultivation room.

Qian Junming pushed open the door and entered. "Uncle, the matter you entrusted to me has been completed."

However, Sect Leader Fang did not appear; it was the demon king known as Seven Precepts who took over the spiritual objects and stones.

Qian Huaijin had a round figure and wore a golden robe inlaid with five-colored spiritual pearls, making him extremely noble.

With his round belly protruding, he was intently manipulating the golden counting rods, calculating the revenue of the Treasure Pavilion for this quarter, without offering a reply.

Amidst the clattering of the abacus, the golden counting rods were flicked away by thick fingers, leaving only afterimages.

Elixirs were brought in and out, spiritual herbs were purchased, magical artifacts were mobilized, and array flags were transported.

He paused slightly while consigning the spirit item, then the sound of counting rods continued.

Qian Junming could see clearly that the value of the puppet armor being consigned far surpassed that of all the pills, talismans, and magical artifacts being consigned.
Time passed slowly, and as moonlight streamed into the room through the wooden window, Qian Huaijin waved his sleeve and put away the abacus, a magical artifact made of gold and jade and with fragrant wood as its frame.

He looked up at Qian Junming, who had already established his foundation, and nodded slightly.

"Fang Yi can simply put away the spirit stones. Duobao Pavilion is open for business and cannot delay paying any cultivator's spirit stones."
"Has Fang Yi brought any new puppet armor with him?"

"Master Qijie said that Fang Yi was in seclusion and had not brought any new puppet armor here."

As his uncle had foreseen, Fang Yi did not consign the puppet armor for sale again.

Qian Junming nodded repeatedly, showering him with compliments.

But she knew in her heart that Qian Huaijin had not always been like this.

The reason they're following the rules now is because of Seven Precepts, that third-tier demon king.

"That's quite shrewd. The beast tide has passed, and the ancient city of Dadu will not see much movement from either the human or demon lineage for at least sixty years."

Only three puppet armors remain to be sold, and that's only thanks to the beast tide.

Qian Huaijin felt a slight sense of relief, as the puppet armor overlapped in function with defensive magical artifacts and talismans.

With limited financial resources, the number of puppet armors sold has increased, but the revenue from the Treasure Pavilion's magical artifacts, talismans, and healing pills has decreased by a full 30% this quarter.

He consigned the puppet armor without taking any commission, and the business was so good that Duobaoge (a treasure pavilion) didn't benefit from it at all.

If this continues, the profits from the consignment of spiritual items by the cultivators will decrease, and he will be unable to explain this to the sect.

"If it weren't for having a third-tier demonic pet, how could Fang Yi be called the top Foundation Establishment cultivator, overwhelming all the Core Formation seed cultivators?"

Envy flickered in Qian Huaijin's eyes. If he had a third-tier demon pet, would he still have to walk on thin ice and fawn over a Core Formation cultivator?

Xuanzhen Garden.

In the quiet room filled with magical restrictions, Fang Yi's expression was solemn. His slender fingers moved in a series of hand seals, casting out one ancient and simple restriction after another.

The Crimson-tailed Scorpion, now only the size of a millstone, was enveloped in pale blue flames. Its dark carapace gleamed with a jade-like light, and a demon core was embedded in its crimson tail.

"disease!"

The banners fluttered in the desolate realm, a chilling wind howled, ghostly shadows loomed, and the grayish-white yin energy condensed into ice.

"Crash!"

The black and white chains covered in inscriptions dragged a crimson soul bead as they slowly melted into the inner core of the Crimson-tailed Scorpion.

"Hiss hiss hiss~" The Crimson-tailed Scorpion's eyes were lifeless, its demonic soul completely blank, its mind utterly washed away.

"combine!"

A dark blue blade flashed across his wrist, and scalding blood flowed out, continuously soaking the millstone-sized Crimson-Tailed Scorpion Puppet.

Fang Yi's expression was solemn as he gazed at the crimson spiritual runes appearing on the Crimson-Tailed Scorpion's body, and the silver marrow flowing through its bones.

"call!"

He exhaled a breath of turbid air, and the phantom of a large, gnarled Chinese toon tree appeared behind him, urging the Withered and Flourishing Robe to continuously refine the spirit puppet.

The secret art of spirit puppetry, once it reaches the level of refining a third-tier puppet, cannot be accomplished by simply accumulating spiritual materials; a demon core, a demon soul, and a demon body are all indispensable.

If it weren't for the beast tide, this Crimson-Tailed Scorpion King wouldn't have been so easily obtained.

Three days later.

In a quiet room.

"Oh!"

A burst of cinnabar-colored flames erupted, revealing a red-tailed scorpion the size of a millstone, covered in insect-like runes.

The demon core embedded in the eerie green scorpion tail was terrifying even when it was not activated.

Fang Yi opened his mouth and spat out a bolt of lightning, which curled up the Crimson-tailed Scorpion and sent it into his dantian.

Within the dantian, the azure golden core spun, and the power of withering and flourishing continuously dripped down, nourishing the petite and exquisite red-tailed scorpion puppet.

As the power of the withering and flourishing magic continued to decline, the aura of the Crimson-tailed Scorpion Puppet subtly increased.

"Once the spirit puppet is refined, it will be nurtured and continuously improved over time."

Third-tier mid-grade, third-tier high-grade, and even quasi-fourth-tier.

With a wave of his sleeve and a few words from his lips, he quietly left Xuanzhen Garden.

"After all this time, the time should be right. Crimson Yin's advancement to the middle-grade third rank will depend on this Beast Demon Fellow Daoist."

Rotten peach orchard.

A streak of crimson light rose up, and within it, Chen Xuan held a jade talisman, his face beaming with joy.

"That withered old monster has finally sent a message!"

(End of this chapter)