King of Assassins

Chapter 1246: Chapter 754: Returning to the Essence (Part 4)

Yuan Xiang sent a message to his master, the Ten Suffering Bodhisattva, explaining his plan and requesting approval.

The Ten Suffering Bodhisattva quickly replied, approving Yuan Xiang’s plan.

Yuan Xiang then, along with Jin Xiang and an unruly Seven-Colored Deer Demon, embarked on his grand scheme.

The Spiritual Qi level at Wuji Palace was insufficient, so Yuan Xiang abandoned Wuji Palace and returned to Luding Mountain with Jin Xiang.

Even though Luding Mountain had been destroyed, its Spiritual Qi remained. This place was close to the Five Elements Mountain, allowing them to monitor its activities at any time.

Using Luding Mountain as a base, Yuan Xiang gradually expanded outward. In just three hundred years, he had annexed the territories of six nearby Demon Emperors.

With such a vast territory, both Yuan Xiang and Jin Xiang found it difficult to truly control.

The cultivation methods of the Buddhist Sect were far superior to those of Demons, but within a short time, it was impossible to refine all the vast Spiritual Qi.

Jin Xiang differed from Yuan Xiang. Her Vajra Power King Scripture encompassed all Divine Techniques within her body, and her cultivation sought to excavate inner potential. Although she needed Spiritual Qi, her requirement was not substantial.

Yuan Xiang, however, needed Spiritual Qi, but his cultivation had reached a bottleneck, making upward progress nearly impossible. No matter how much Spiritual Qi was available, it was of little use.

Refining Earth Artifacts with Spiritual Qi was certainly beneficial. However, crafting an Earth Artifact wasn’t easy. Even with an artifact embryo, it requires thousands of cultivation and refining. It’s not achievable overnight.

Only upon reaching this stage did Yuan Xiang understand why no strong cultivators came to the Southern Barbarian Wilderness to occupy territory.

For strong cultivators, Spiritual Qi was never a problem. Earth Immortals lacking Spiritual Qi lacked the ability to seize territory.

Seizing a territory requires constant effort to manage it, which itself is a substantial hassle.

Unless there’s a clear path upward, lacking Spiritual Qi would motivate someone to go through the trouble to seize it.

On the other hand, attempting to preach in Demon territories is a significant challenge.

Demons are coarse and foolish, with most being fond of fighting and bloodshed. Trying to convert them to the Buddhist Sect and adopt a vegetarian lifestyle is truly troublesome.

Yuan Xiang spent hundreds of years without succeeding in enlightening the Seven-Colored Deer Demon. Even now, it roams around creating chaos...

A few smart Demons with spiritual understanding have indeed grasped some of the Secret Techniques of the Ten Sufferings Sect.

But just a handful of Demons, in the vast Southern Barbarian Wilderness, were merely a drop in the ocean. Insignificant.

Seeking to spread the Sect here might be beyond hope within his lifetime.

Though Yuan Xiang was steadfast, after several hundred years of minimal results, his patience wore thin.

He implicitly understood that the Ten Suffering Bodhisattva agreed to his plan more to let him face trials and grasp the truth independently.

Fortunately, the effort wasn’t entirely wasted. After extensive inquiries, he finally gathered some insights.

Several thousand years ago, a Daoist named Gao Xuan appeared in the Southern Barbarian Wilderness and somehow occupied Qianqiu Palace. Afterwards, reportedly, he took over nearby areas including the Ten Thousand Eyes Mountain Range and Celestial Fox Plain.

Yuan Xiang synthesized all information, judging that the Five Elements Ancestor’s incident likely involved Gao Xuan.

Including Xiong Wuji and his junior, Five Phases, they were all seemingly slain by Gao Xuan.

The more Yuan Xiang investigated, the more shocked he became. Gao Xuan’s methods may not be profound, but his prowess was undeniable.

He swept through many Demon Emperors, seizing immense Spiritual Qi.

Yuan Xiang didn’t know what Gao Xuan did with all that Spiritual Qi, but was certain Gao Xuan used it effectively. Through relentless territorial expansion and slaying of Demon Emperors.

Yuan Xiang now occupied a vast territory, yet couldn’t effectively utilize the Spiritual Qi.

Looking back, it highlighted Gao Xuan’s capabilities even more.

Fortunately, Jin Xiang was also progressing. Continuous battles and abundant Spiritual Qi enabled her Vajra Power King Scripture to approach breakthrough to the Twenty-Seventh Realm.

Yuan Xiang wasn’t in haste to act, waiting for Jin Xiang’s breakthrough. No matter how quickly Gao Xuan cultivated, he couldn’t compare to Jin Xiang, reborn as the Vajra Power King.

Yuan Xiang certainly could call for assistance from his senior brother, or even request the teacher’s intervention.

However, for a mere Gao Xuan, it wasn’t worthy of such mobilization. The teacher assigned this task to him, and with Jin Xiang’s accompaniment, he aimed to accomplish this matter well.

Hundreds of years to an Earth Immortal were like days. The Ten Suffering Bodhisattva wasn’t anxious, and Yuan Xiang was patient too.

In the six hundred and thirteenth year of Yuan Xiang’s entry into the Southern Barbarian Wilderness, Jin Xiang emerged from seclusion.

Originally eight feet tall, Jin Xiang now was half a foot shorter, with pale gold skin turning ivory white. Her brows and eyes appeared gentler, her whole demeanor becoming more natural.

She reminded one of a typical human race maiden.

Indeed, after her breakthrough, Jin Xiang manifested the essence akin to jade and clarity like water. Her entire appearance seemed youthful and fresh, just like a girl of sixteen or seventeen.

Seeing Jin Xiang’s transformation, Yuan Xiang was somewhat surprised. Such drastic change indicated significant advancement in her cultivation, even achieving substantial enhancement in realm.

Yet her graceful appearance was hard for Yuan Xiang to accept. The Vajra Power King’s strength was supposed to increase in fierceness and grandeur, why turn into a maiden’s form?

Jin Xiang’s appearance drastically changed, but her disposition remained stable and reserved. She merely clasped her hands in salute to Yuan Xiang without speaking.

Suppressing his astonishment, Yuan Xiang smiled and said, "Junior brother’s appearance makes senior brother hardly recognize you."

"I broke through to the Twenty-Eighth Realm, extreme strength births gentleness, returning to the essence."

Jin Xiang calmly stated, "This is the most natural transformation."

"Junior brother’s cultivation has advanced greatly, congratulations."

Yuan Xiang offered a few words of praise before turning to say, "In this time, I’ve already determined that the one who killed Five Phases should be Daoist Gao Xuan."

He continued, "Now that junior brother has emerged from seclusion, let’s seek justice from him!"

Jin Xiang subtly furrowed her brows, revealing contemplation: "Daoist Gao Xuan?"

Yuan Xiang was surprised, "Junior brother knows this person?"

Jin Xiang had been in the Primordial Celestial Realm for just over three thousand years, constantly training with her master, and her reticent nature meant she scarcely knew Gao Xuan. Yuan Xiang found it perplexing.

"I knew a Daoist named Gao Xuan in the Cyan Celestial Realm, not sure if he’s the one."

Jin Xiang replied.

Yuan Xiang considered it before bursting into laughter, "Turns out he’s from the Lower Realm, ascended here. No wonder it’s difficult tracing his origin. It all makes sense now."

Yuan Xiang rejoiced, having been concerned whether Gao Xuan had any substantial background, not daring to be reckless.

With Jin Xiang’s revelation, all clues aligned perfectly.

Merely a cultivator ascended from the Lower Realm, regardless of his methods, what can he accomplish?

Yuan Xiang said, "It’s even better, junior brother knowing this person. We can confront him and ascertain the truth."

Jin Xiang paused in silence before saying, "If it’s the Gao Xuan I know, we must exercise caution. That person is tremendously formidable."

Yuan Xiang was stunned. He had never seen Jin Xiang praise anyone, nor witnessed such careful caution from her.

Toward this Gao Xuan, Jin Xiang’s posture was bordering on apprehension.

He probed, "What Divine Techniques does this person possess?"

Jin Xiang shook her head, "That, I don’t know."

Yuan Xiang felt somewhat chagrined—speaking so vigorously without real knowledge. He further asked, "How does this person compare to our teacher?"

This query was intended to provoke Jin Xiang, discouraging needless concerns. Despite Gao Xuan’s prowess, he couldn’t compare to their teacher.

Unexpectedly, Jin Xiang pondered before unexpectedly stating seriously, "Teacher resembles a lofty mountain, the more one looks up, the higher it seems. Yet one knows its height. Gao Xuan, however, is like an abyss—one sees its depth, yet cannot fathom its depths."

This appraisal nearly depicted Gao Xuan as more profound and inscrutable than the Ten Suffering Bodhisattva, making Yuan Xiang somewhat displeased: "Junior brother, let’s not exaggerate."

He then softened his stance, saying gently, "If junior brother has significant concerns, we can contemplate other solutions."

Jin Xiang shook her head, "I’m not afraid; I’m just informing senior brother of this person’s formidable nature so we don’t underestimate him, preventing any mishaps."

Yuan Xiang nodded, reassuring her, "Junior brother needn’t worry. Senior brother is prepared. If circumstances turn unfavorable, we can request the teacher’s avatar to descend at any time. With junior brother and teacher’s avatars present, Gao Xuan, however formidable, will be compelled to submit and perish!"