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

Chapter 688 Defeating the Demon Puppet, Advancing to the Next Stage

Bluish-gray spores continued to spread, on the withered ancient pine wood, among the withered datura flowers, and on the decaying branches of the blood locust tree.
As the mycelium grows, more and more gray spores emerge, like smog, obscuring the entire altar.

The gray spores transformed into a tidal wave, spreading and expanding continuously on the altar. Within moments, the altar was enveloped by the spores.

"Zi"

"Zi"

The six-armed demonic puppet surrounded by malevolent energy was constantly being corroded from its connection with the six soldier puppets.

The seven-in-one puppet formation had dim runes and blurry flags above their heads, and it was faintly losing the harmonious and unified aura that it once possessed through mutual support.

"What a brilliant idea!" Old Chen exclaimed with admiration as he held the bronze ring, which then slipped from his hand.

"Thump!" Amidst the clouds and mist, the ring fell with two crisp knocking sounds. Xu Qingshe cried out in pain, his horns becoming more prominent.

"Old Chen, why did you hit me!"

"Heh!" Old Chen glanced at the triumphant Fang Yi, sneered at Xu Qingshe, and the bronze ring dimmed again.

Xu Qingshe sighed helplessly in his heart.

Fang Yi was a good-for-nothing; he was looked down upon by 'Old Chen' for being blind and easily handed over the opportunity to someone else.

However, Fang Yi was too accomplished, and as a fellow cultivator, he also felt considerable pressure.

On the altar, the puppet array was rapidly corroded. The six-armed demonic puppet, with its robust body, was connected to the six ice puppets by their energy, and the golden spears and magic swords kept slashing down.

"Oh!"

Gray spores were constantly being reduced to ashes, but as soon as a spore vacuum appeared, more and more spores would rush in to fill the void.

The altar was already covered with withered ancient trees, decaying spiritual plants, and fallen flowers and leaves that Fang Yi had deliberately left behind.

From the moment they begin to grow, these spiritual plants use their bodies as fields, continuously releasing spores, growing mycelium, and drawing in spiritual energy.

Like a carbuncle on the tarsal bone, it follows you like a shadow, relentlessly entangled.

"Oh!"

"Oh!"

"Oh!"

Under the corrosive influence of mycelium and spores, another air vein, riddled with holes, collapsed.

The demonic puppet swung its six arms, unleashing a devastating blow.

"The tide has turned!"

Fang Yihei danced with his black hair, his robes billowing, and surrounded by a deep, cold spiritual light, he resembled a demon god, transforming into a rising azure sun.

"disease!"

Under the bright sunshine, the moist, watery energy gathered, the earth's energy was drawn in, and the gray spores grew more than twice as fast.

"Oh!"

With nowhere to hide on the altar, the puppet array was completely eroded by the gray haze.

Fang Yi's figure disappeared, and when he reappeared, there were already six puppet soldiers. He swept his hand over, and thirty-six pine needles that gleamed with cold light appeared.

"Die!" The demonic puppet was surrounded by murderous aura, its six arms clenched into fists, and a mountain phantom crashed down.

"The needle pierces bone through the pine-like texture with lightning speed!"

Fang Yi smiled and clapped his fingers.

"Whoosh!" "Whoosh!" "Whoosh!"

The cyan needles shot out, gleaming with a cold light, striking the joints, heads, and vital points of the two puppets holding triple tower shields and wearing heavy armor.

As a master of puppetry, he knew the vital points of puppets better than anyone.

"boom!"

"Oh!"

The demonic puppet's attack missed its mark, striking Fang Yi's afterimage instead. At the same time, the Pine-Patterned Bone-Piercing Needle completely pierced through the two puppet bodies, causing the restrictions to continuously crumble.

"You cannot find me within the realm of law."

With a soft laugh, Fang Yi's robes billowed as he held two alluring datura flowers in his hands.

A brilliant purple light transformed into long, well-defined fingers that crushed down.

"Mandala Finger!"

"Bang!" "Bang!"

Two more puppets, as if being butchered, easily destroyed the key to the circulation of spiritual energy, causing their bodies to shatter.

"Wow!"

The six-armed demonic puppet's eyes gleamed brightly, and it suddenly locked onto a corner of the magic domain, where Fang Yi's aura was revealed.

"Boom!" With a wave of his six arms, the golden spear slashed down in an instant, its killing intent chilling.

A wisp of cyan clothing flashed by, and Fang Yi had already disappeared. He reappeared not far from the last two puppet soldiers.

"Snapped!"

The puppet soldiers were already in full battle array, with two golden dragon-binding locks poised to strike, instantly unleashing themselves like venomous dragons.

Fang Yi lowered his index finger, and the golden elixir in his dantian slowly rotated, while three ancient and simple talismans formed a Dharma wheel to bless it.

"Little Withered Vine Finger!"

Two dim, yellowish finger shadows struck the Dragon Binding Lock, and four pieces of broken rope fell to the ground.

The pink lotus swayed in Fang Yi's palm. He changed his hand gestures and unleashed a pink glow.

"Lotus Blade Blade!"

"Oh!"

The last two puppets were cleaved in two by the pink lotus blades, breaking through the magical barrier.

As the six-armed demonic puppet's golden halberd fell, Fang Yi's feet appeared on a blue lotus, and in a daze, his figure merged into the domain of law.

Xu Qingshe looked admiring, muttering as he counted the number. "One, two, four."
Six!

Senior Brother Fang is quite the schemer!

Without the support of the puppet array, a near-third-tier puppet is far too fragile in the hands of a Core Formation cultivator.

"If I were to fight those three puppets, I could use the Golden Sun Treasure Flame Domain to break through their interconnected auras, and I would likely win."

"The decisive moment has arrived." Elder Chen's divine sense surged. "Ancient fungal spore-type techniques are not rare, but to use them in this situation is quite unusual."

Fang, that kid, does have some tricks up his sleeve.
However, without the support of the six puppet soldiers, the six-armed demonic puppet, under the control of the array spirit, was strengthened by the spiritual veins within the cave.

It is also no weaker than a mid-stage Core Formation cultivator.

The yellow-robed spirit's expression turned slightly solemn, and a dark blue magic seal fell from his sleeve.

"boom!"

Bronze runes flowed around the demonic puppet, and a blue light shot into the sky as its six arms reached out to grab it.

From the shattered core of each soldier puppet, a beam of spiritual light shot out, occasionally landing in the palm of the demon puppet.

"combine!"

The four arms fell off, and the runes flowed and merged with the six spiritual lights.

"Qiang!"

A three-foot-long, chillingly sharp blade, a ten-foot-long dark blue axe gleaming with precious light, was held in the hand of the demonic puppet.

A series of axe blows came crashing down.

"laugh!"

The swirling, misty domain was cleaved by streaks of azure light that lingered for a long time.

With a slight thought, Fang Yi unleashed a torrent of gray spores, which cascaded down like a tide.

Three breaths later, the blue axe light was completely washed away.

"Puppet Treasure?"

Sensing the thinning gray haze on the platform, Fang Yi's fingertips changed their hand seals.

Xu Qingshe frowned slightly, the golden flames of the Heaven and Earth Furnace in his hand swirling, like the rising sun, poised to unleash its power.

"Senior Brother Fang doesn't have much time left."

The spore magic domain, honed over a long period by the evolution of numerous spiritual plants, finally erupted in a single burst, corroding the energy veins of the puppet array.

However, the spiritual spores were not inexhaustible. After defeating six quasi-third-tier puppets, the power of the Dharma Domain had already declined.

'In a quarter of an hour, at most a quarter of an hour, this spore domain will recover to the level of a Core Formation domain after being consumed by the Demon Puppet Axe Blade.'

'Old Chen's' consciousness descended.

The demonic puppet, clad in heavy armor, stood immovable as a mountain. Its dark blue axe, like an antelope adorned with armor, unleashed a barrage of blades, protecting itself completely.

Only when the Dharma Domain spores are consumed will the power decrease.
"Will young Fang give up, or fight to the bitter end?" Old Chen's eyes gleamed as he guessed Fang Yi's choice.

"Unfortunately, Senior Brother Fang doesn't have any offensive or defensive treasures." Xu Qingshe shook his head slightly.

Now that things have come to this, Fang Yi has used all his means to destroy the puppet array and shatter six quasi-third-tier puppets, which is already extremely impressive.

However, if he wanted to overcome a small rank and defeat a mid-grade third-rank puppet controlled by the array spirit, he shook his head slightly.

Let alone treasures for killing.
Fang Yi possessed not a single offensive magic weapon of the magic weapon rank.

Although Master Mu Dao possesses enduring magical power and excellent energy regeneration, in terms of combat, he is inferior to the sharpness of metal, the explosiveness of fire, and the freezing power of ice.

Without any more offensive treasures to aid them, the three magical artifacts—the Five Poison Cauldron, the Creation Banner, and the Azure Water Diagram—were insufficient to fundamentally harm the demonic puppet.

'What a thoughtful idea!'

Fang Yi secretly admired it. This demonic puppet used offense as defense, and with the almost limitless supply of spiritual power from the array spirit, it continuously eroded the spirit spore domain.

"Use their own methods against them?" The Five Poisons Cauldron's insect runes were at their peak, and a powerful suction force emanated from the cauldron's mouth, drawing away all the moisture.

A tiny spark appeared.

"Why would I leave such a flaw?"

The gray spores gathered and converged on the demon puppet. Fang Yi's jade-like fingertips lightly touched the surface, and his lips parted slightly.

"burst!"

"boom!!"

The earth shook violently, crimson flames shot into the sky, heat waves rolled endlessly, and explosions continued incessantly.

"good!"

The yellow-robed spirit struck down with its palm, the withered handprint easily calming the turbulent spiritual energy surge, and the shattered altar quickly returned to its original state.

With a swift, withered hand, the cracked demonic puppet was swept up by a bolt of lightning and fell into the depths of the cave beneath the spirit wood.

The "Golden Oath and Precious Words" scroll is fluttering, with a line of brand-new ink outlined on it.

Fang Yi

[Battle of Wits: A-Level]

The character '中' (zhong) shines brightly, leaps upward, and transforms into a blue sun, while the inscription on '上' (shang) gleams.

The ink-written approval document emerged.

[Quick-witted and decisive, though his fighting skills have some shortcomings, they do not detract from his overall excellence.]

He possesses the potential to reach the Nascent Soul stage.

[worthy of a great responsibility]

Four magical runes danced like dragons and snakes, the yellow-robed spirit waved its sleeves, and two spiritual objects appeared.

Dewdrops glisten on lotus petals, and vibrant life supports the green leaves of water lilies; the heartwood of the woody plant, covered with root nodules, exhales purple miasma.

"Those who pass the highest examination of Qingmu Palace will also receive the highest reward."

Fang Yi, you may choose another spiritual item as a reward for the palace.

Fang Yi did not hesitate. With a flick of his sleeve, he rolled up a bolt of silk and tucked the green lotus leaves into his sleeve.

"Buzz!"

Within the dantian and dantian, the Void Realm Withered and Flourishing Banner trembled, engulfing the Withered Heart Vine and the Green Leaf Water Lily together.

In an instant, a large phantom of a Chinese toon tree rose from the ground into a small cave of withered and flourishing life, its branches twisted and knotted, curling up withered vines and green lotus leaves.

"It will happen naturally?"

Sensing the ever-evolving protective barriers within the Void Realm's Withering and Flourishing Banner, Fang Yi felt the banner's yearning, and his divine senses flowed...
'cut!'

The Xuan Yin Soul-Slaying Blade transformed into a dark light within the dantian and slashed into the Withered and Flourishing Small Cave Heaven.

"Zheng!"

The sound of metal and jade clashing echoed, and a faint light crisscrossed as cracks appeared on the two spiritual objects.

The cracks expanded like a spider web, and in an instant, they were enveloped by the Azure Gold Flame, turning into countless specks that dissipated and merged into the ancient Chinese toon tree.

The Xuan Tian Ling Teng swayed, and a wisp of mysterious energy entered the large ailanthus tree.

"boom!"

The greatest sound is silent; even the most desolate and flourishing places tremble.

Fang Yi's illusory soul manifested in the cave, and his slender five fingers cast out various spells.

Runes flowed, twelve magical restrictions appeared, and transformed into azure and yellow precious light.

"Buzz!"

The three treasures manifested their true forms, connecting with the azure and yellow precious light, transforming into the illusory image of the Void Realm's Withering and Flourishing Banner, towering behind Fang Yi.

The ancient banner undulated and rolled, and a three-headed, six-armed demon god, holding an ancient tree, sprinkled drops of sweet rain.

The life force of the Yi wood element, like a waterfall, cascades down.

"Oh!"

The precious banner transformed into a brown spiritual seed.

"disease!"

In the dantian, the golden elixir transformed into a bright blue sun, and a strand of natal elixir essence descended.

"Crack!"

The spiritual seed's outer shell cracked, sprouting branches and leaves, and the branches continued to grow, digesting the essence of the two spiritual entities.

"Crash!"

A blue-gray Tai Chi diagram appears faintly, with the gray yin fish eyes and the blue yang fish eyes chasing each other.

Beneath the Tai Chi diagram, the large Chinese toon tree sways, constantly forging its essence with the help of Fang Yi's three treasures of essence, energy, and spirit.

The changing seasons and the cycle of life and death permeate the small world of decay and prosperity.

Fang Yi's face paled slightly, but he was overjoyed.

"A mid-grade magic weapon, successfully created!"

The Void Realm's Withering and Flourishing Banner has accumulated a great deal of power. After replenishing its origin, it not only evolved into the fourth Withering and Flourishing Treasure Restriction, but also advanced to a mid-grade magic treasure.

The fifth treasure restriction has also evolved more than halfway.

It will only take a few years to refine the fifth treasure restriction.

Thus, the Void Realm Withering and Flourishing Banner is also a top-tier item among mid-grade magic treasures.

Moreover, the refinement of a mid-grade magic weapon is smooth sailing afterward, saving at least sixty years of effort compared to other cultivators of the same level.

'Then we'll look at that near-fourth-tier spirit wood, to be used to advance to a high-grade magic weapon.'

The yellow-robed spirit, having finished selecting the spiritual items, spoke.

"Fang Yi, it's time to begin the third assessment."

"What is the third assessment?" Fang Yi asked tentatively.

"Anyone who can fight me for just a quarter of an hour will receive a top-tier rating," the yellow-robed spirit of the formation said, making a startling statement.

Fang Yi's mouth twitched slightly.

With the support of the cave's spiritual veins and the array formation, even a late-stage Core Formation Grandmaster might not be able to defeat this array spirit.

How could he possibly be a match for someone who staged an accident?

"Are you really going to give up?" The yellow-robed array spirit's expression darkened slightly, revealing his dissatisfaction.

Fang Yi spoke up. "This disciple's cultivation is shallow, and I am no match for the Array Master."

The yellow-robed spirit waved its sleeves, the altar sank into the ground, and the [Golden Oath Precious Words Book] fluttered, its ink outlines.

Fang Yi

Elixir Grade: Second-Grade Golden Elixir of the Wood Path

Spiritual Root: Wood

Lifespan: 100/600
True Inheritance Rank: Class A

Cultivational Lineage: Jia Shang

Combat: Armored

The azure light transformed into a rainbow bridge, and the yellow-robed array spirit, with its cold, mechanical eyes, waved its hand, returning the [Azure Edict] to Fang Yi's hand.

"Fang Yi is of excellent talent and profound knowledge. He is over four hundred years old and is resourceful and decisive."

"The decree of the True Lord Zhaozhen:"

Fang Yi, are you willing to inherit the lineage and avenge the decline of the Qingmu Palace's cultivation?

Fang Yi bowed respectfully and said, "This disciple is willing!"

"Very well, then come with me."

The spirit of the formation nodded slightly, transformed into a beam of light, and carried Fang Yi into the depths of the cave. Before leaving, it gave Xu Qingshe a rather disdainful look.

Xu Qingshe's lips twitched slightly, her eyes filled with envy as she watched Fang Yi leave.

"A fourth-tier spirit wood!"

"Knowing how precious fourth-grade spirit wood is, you still gave it away so easily!" Old Chen was increasingly disappointed in his son.

After a long pause, he suddenly spoke.

"Xu boy!"

"Hmm?" Xu Qingshe hesitated before speaking. "Elder Chen, the matter of the cave's inheritance ends here."

Senior Brother Fang has already gained the approval of the array spirit.

"Am I such a petty person?" Old Chen asked, his face showing displeasure.

Xu Qingshe gave an awkward smile and remained silent. Without a doubt, he understood what 'Old Chen' meant.

"Enough!" Old Chen's eyes gleamed as he spoke softly.

"Your senior brother Fang Yi is of excellent character, has a long lifespan, and is also quite strong in combat."

"Young Xu, you might really have made the right choice this time."

A quarter of an hour later.

As the rainbow bridge descended, the misty legal restrictions dispersed to both sides.

The yellow-robed spirit pointed to the gnarled branches of the ancient tree and said, "Fang Yi, this is the greatest opportunity left behind by the Green Wood Palace."

(End of this chapter)