Chapter 982
Even those at the Great Sage realm have become bandits?
The deeper you go into the ruins, the more treasures you discover, each one a rare find.
This place is absolutely wonderful!
Fang Qing and Yang Qi explored the area and reaped many rewards, with various rare materials, broken immortal artifacts, ancient jade slips, and rare spiritual herbs constantly filling their storage space.
However, as they explored the ruins more deeply, they gradually discovered that this seemingly unclaimed treasure land was actually rife with undercurrents.
Soon after, they encountered their first group of "native inhabitants" near a relatively intact ancient temple.
These native inhabitants are not creatures naturally derived from the Myriad Realms King Map, but rather cultivators who entered the Myriad Realms King Map in previous generations and, for various reasons, were unable to leave and have lived here for a long time.
These cultivators were few in number, only seven or eight, their auras mixed, their clothing ancient, and their gazes toward Fang Qing and the others were filled with vigilance, inquiry, and a hint of barely concealed greed.
The leader was an old man with a weakened aura and deep wrinkles, but still sharp eyes. His cultivation had reached the first level of the Heavenly Realm, but his blood and qi were depleted, and he clearly did not have much time left to live.
After a brief and wary exchange, Fang Qing and the others learned more about the interior of the Myriad Realms King Map.
It turns out that the Myriad Realms King Map does not completely close every time it is opened.
Its interior is vast and boundless, containing some relatively stable, safe zones where long-term survival is possible.
Many who entered either lost their way due to excessive exploration, were too badly injured to return before the place closed, or stayed willingly because they were attracted by the rich spiritual energy and opportunities of the place. Over time, this led to the formation of various "gathering places" or "towns".
Every ten thousand years, when the royal map manifests, new entrants from the outside world are like fresh blood, bringing new resources and information, as well as new conflicts.
Those who stay long-term are like local bullies, more familiar with certain areas, but often become more dangerous and greedy due to the depletion of their lifespan and scarcity of resources.
These cultivators are just scattered soldiers who live near this ruin. They are not strong and make a living by scavenging scraps from the edge of the ruin and occasionally robbing lone newcomers.
They told Fang Qing that there were even more powerful gangs entrenched deeper in the ruins, such as "Great Emperor's Gate", "Listening to Rain Pavilion", "Supreme Valley", "Transformation God Mansion", "Heavenly Position Academy" and so on. Most of these forces were founded by powerful dynasties, sects or peerless geniuses in history. After a long period of development, their forces have become deeply entrenched, with many experts, and there may even be old monsters at the Zhou Tian Realm in charge!
The truly valuable items, especially those near the "boundary points," have long been divided and controlled by various powerful forces.
Ordinary people dare not approach, otherwise they will become the targets of hunting and plundering for their lifespan and resources.
Fang Qing and his group had no intention of getting entangled with these local bullies. After using a few methods to intimidate them, they continued on their way.
Based on the information they obtained, they needed to find a large town near the "boundary," which was the place to trade, acquire intelligence, and truly access the core opportunities within the royal map.
Several days later, after traversing several dangerous fragmented spaces and energy turbulence zones, they finally arrived at a massive town built not far from a huge "boundary point".
This town was pieced together from various dilapidated palaces, remnants of magical artifacts, and even small floating mountains that had been refined. Its style was chaotic, yet it was full of a rugged vitality.
Above the town, a huge purple vortex with a diameter of over a hundred miles floats—that is the "boundary point".
The vortex rotated slowly, constantly spewing out energy streams of varying strength and occasional specks of treasure light, drawing the attention of countless eyes throughout the town.
Upon entering the town, countless divine thoughts of varying strengths, some overt and some covert, swept in from all directions like an interwoven spiderweb, attempting to probe their background. A cacophony of sounds also rushed towards them, forming a massive wave of noise.
"Look! A new fat sheep! It's got a strong aura, there's bound to be some good stuff in it!"
"Don't get any ideas. Look at that young man in the blue robe, he's unfathomable..."
"Look here! Here is a Heavenly-level Qi Cultivation Manual—'The Great Compassion True Dragon Thousand-Leaf True Qi'! It is the supreme secret of ancient true dragon cultivation. Once obtained, it can condense into dragon-shaped true qi, with boundless power! Only twenty Heaven-Seizing Pills are required."
"Selling information! Exclusive information! Traces of Primordial Divine Insect larvae have been suspected to have appeared deep within Boundary Point Seven! Price negotiable!"
"We're buying 'Void Crystals' and 'Sands of Time' at preferential prices! In exchange for Breakthrough Elixir!"
"Form a team to explore 'Fallen God Canyon'. Requirements: Heavenly Realm or Great Sage Peak combat power. Rewards will be distributed according to contribution!"
Along the streets of the town, monks sat on the ground or set up simple stalls everywhere.
Before them were various items: incomplete immortal artifacts, substandard immortal artifacts, quasi-immortal artifacts, pseudo-immortal artifacts, and even occasionally one or two complete but low-grade immortal artifacts.
In addition, there are ancient jade slips recording Heavenly and Earthly level Qigong techniques, various types of immortal stones, rare alchemy and weapon-refining materials, and some strange items with unknown uses, all of which are dazzling and eye-catching.
Fang Qing and Yang Qi looked over and saw the soul aura fluctuations of several Great Saint cultivators who were setting up stalls. They could be faintly seen to have reached the Heavenly Realm level.
Clearly, they had cultivated here for a long time and had broken through to the next level of their soul realm. However, due to reasons such as physical damage, insufficient resources, or defects in their cultivation techniques, they were unable to truly advance to the Heavenly Rank for a long time. Their combat power might be stronger than that of an ordinary Great Sage, but it was far inferior to that of a true Heavenly Rank expert.
Fang Qing was not surprised by the bustling and chaotic scene. He led Yang Qi discreetly through the town, observing and gathering information.
He soon discovered a problem: the most reliable currency here was not spirit stones or contribution points from the outside world, but pills that could replenish lifespan and life essence, such as the Heaven-Seizing Pill.
Because here, lifespan is the most precious thing.
Coincidentally, Fang Qing had collected a large number of Breakthrough Immortal Pills and many rare materials that could be used to refine Longevity Pills in the Primordial Purple Cave outside. This place was practically a mobile gold mine.
He selected several stalls that seemed reliable and whose items were indeed valuable. He exchanged a few low-quality Breakthrough Elixir pills and a small amount of life-extending materials for several jade slips containing ancient secrets and insights into special laws, a "Thunder Tribulation Wood Core" containing a rich source of thunder, and a tattered map marking several major boundaries and dangerous areas in the vicinity.
However, the principle of not flaunting wealth applies everywhere.
After Fang Qing took out the Breakthrough Immortal Pill, the rich medicinal fragrance and law fluctuations still attracted some secretly watching eyes.
Just as they completed the transaction and were preparing to leave the area to settle in a relatively safe abandoned temple marked on the map.
Five figures emerged like ghosts from the surrounding chaotic shadows of the buildings, forming an encirclement and blocking their path.
The leader was a burly man with one eye and a centipede-shaped scar on his face. His aura was clearly that of a peak ninth-level Great Saint. The four people behind him were also experts at the seventh or eighth level of Great Saint, each with fierce eyes and murderous intent.
"These new friends are quite generous."
The one-eyed burly man grinned, revealing his teeth. "Hand over all your pills and valuables, and tell us which entrance you came in from. Maybe if I'm in a good mood, I'll spare your corpses."
The surrounding cultivators scattered like startled birds, watching from a distance with indifference, schadenfreude, and a hint of regret in their eyes.
Another new fat sheep is about to be slaughtered by the "poisonous centipede" gang.
Faced with this blatant robbery and murderous intent, Fang Qing didn't even lift an eyelid. He merely glanced at the one-eyed burly man and then said to Yang Qi, "Cousin, let them have some peace and quiet."
Yang Qi, who could no longer contain himself, grinned and said, "Alright!"
Before he finished speaking, his body shot out like a cannonball.
The "Hand of God" conjured countless palm shadows, each containing the terrifying power to suppress hell!
The four bandits, all at the seventh or eighth level of the Great Sage realm, didn't even have time to react. They felt the surrounding space freeze, and then they were struck by a violent force. Their protective aura shattered like paper, and they screamed as they were sent flying backward, crashing into the broken walls and ruins in the distance. Their bones were broken, and they were barely breathing, completely losing their fighting ability.
The one-eyed burly man's expression changed drastically. He hadn't expected that the young man, a second-level Great Saint, would be so ferocious. He roared, and a pale green poisonous mist rose from his body. A poisoned scimitar transformed into a sky full of blade light, slashing towards Yang Qi.
This blade of light was not only sharp, but also contained a deadly poison that corroded the soul!
However, Yang Qi neither dodged nor evaded. His Sovereign Body erupted with a dazzling divine light, and the poisonous mist blades that approached within three feet of him were forcefully dispersed by an invisible suppressive force. Then, he took a step forward and unleashed a simple, direct punch!
boom!
Fist and blade clashed! The poisoned scimitar let out a mournful cry of unbearable pressure, actually bending under Yang Qi's punch, yet the force of the punch did not diminish, and it slammed heavily into the chest of the poisonous centipede.
"puff--!"
The venomous centipede coughed up blood, its chest caved in, its eyes filled with unbelievable terror. Its body flew backward like a broken sack, crashing into half a stone wall. It twitched a few times and then lay still.
From the moment Yang Qi made his move to the moment it ended, it only took three to five breaths.
Five notorious robbers, two dead and three seriously injured!
A collective gasp filled the air, and the gazes of all the onlookers toward Fang Qing and his group were immediately filled with awe and apprehension.
Fang Qing slowly raised his eyes, glanced at the battlefield, and calmly said, "It was supposed to be a genuine exchange, but someone had to be so reckless. Why did it have to be?"
His voice wasn't loud, but it clearly reached the ears of every onlooker, carrying a chilling indifference.
Then, he took Yang Qi and calmly left under the watchful eyes of countless complex gazes, as if he had merely swatted a few flies.
After this incident, no one dared to easily plot against them again.
Fang Qing was happy to have some peace and quiet. After settling down temporarily in the abandoned temple, he began to study the map and prepare for his next move.
His goal was clear—the depths of those points where treasures erupted!
Guided by the larvae of the space worm, Fang Qing quickly located a relatively remote boundary point marked on the map.
Because of its remote location and harsh environment, this boundary point is not fully controlled by any major power. Only a few scattered adventurers or small groups occasionally try their luck here.
After discussing it with Yang Qi, Fang Qing decided to start from this point.
The two traveled light, and with Fang Qing's exquisite spatial control and the divine insect's senses, they quietly avoided some wandering spacetime rifts and energy traps, successfully infiltrating the outer area of the third boundary point.
The environment here is far more turbulent than near the town. The purple energy storm is much more violent, mixed with sharp spatial fragments and chaotic temporal turbulence. If it weren't for the spatial worm larvae constantly absorbing and calming the surrounding spatial fluctuations and providing early warnings of danger, even Fang Qing would have found it troublesome.
They observed from the edge of the raging energy flow. The enormous purple vortex at the center of the boundary, like a greedy maw, sometimes contracted and sometimes expanded. Each expansion and eruption would hurle streams of energy and matter in all directions.
Most jets are just pure energy or low-value minerals, but occasionally, one or two particularly bright and uniquely aura-filled gems will appear.
Fang Qing was completely focused, maximizing the perception of the "Master's Eye" and the spatial worm.
After an incense stick has burned, boom!
The boundary vortex suddenly expanded, and a purple energy pillar, thicker and more solid than ever before, gushed out. Within the energy pillar were dozens of items radiating dazzling light.
There were bottles of elixirs, ores, broken but spiritually potent magical artifacts, and even several jade slips wrapped in special energy!
"coming!"
Fang Qing moved like lightning, instantly rushing into the edge of the still raging jet. The radiance of the Pure Land of the Gods created a relatively safe area. With the full support of the Divine Insect Larva, the Hand of Space transformed into several almost transparent tentacles, probing into the energy pillar with speed far exceeding that of the jet, grabbing at the items with the brightest light.
Swish swish!
Several streaks of light were forcibly "pried out" from the energy pillar!
A short sword, its entire body ablaze with pale golden flames and adorned with coiled dragon patterns, is a low-grade immortal artifact, the "Golden Dragon Flame Sword."
Three "Life-Creating Pills" were contained in a cold jade box, radiating astonishing life fluctuations and rhythmic laws.
A "God and Demon Source Bloodstone" the size of a human head, containing a drop of dark red blood that seems to be constantly evolving and causing the world to be born and die.
And a talisman enveloped in purple energy, faintly exuding an ancient and primal aura!
Fang Qing's gaze was instantly drawn to the talisman!
The moment his spatial hand touched it, he felt a stubborn resistance and a force that would devour it! It was as if it were not a piece of paper, but a sleeping ferocious beast.
Without hesitation, he increased his strength, and his chaotic true energy surged, forcibly suppressing and extracting the talisman along with the energy it contained.
Once the talisman was in hand, the resistance vanished and became docile. Fang Qing stared intently at it.
This is a strange talisman paper, about three feet long and five fingers wide. It is neither silk nor leather, but extremely tough and emits a faint dark golden luster.
On the talisman paper, a lifelike snake is depicted using an ancient and indescribable cinnabar!
The snake was not any kind of snake that one would usually see. Its appearance was full of the aura of a king who ruled over all snakes. Its head was raised high, its scales were as fine as Taoist patterns, and its eyes were disdainful, as if it was looking down on all the snake people in the world.
The entire talisman exuded a terrifying aura of primordial chaos, antiquity, and the ability to devour all things!
"This is……"
Fang Qing's heart skipped a beat, and he recognized what this thing was.
The Ancient Serpent Talisman of the Supreme Emperor.
The supreme talisman forged by the ancient demon immortal serpent king, Devouring Heaven King, consists of three thousand talismans, each a genuine immortal artifact containing the true meaning of the Great Dao of Devouring. If one can collect them all, one can inherit the lineage of Devouring Heaven King, rule over the serpent race of all heavens, and devour all realms.
Although there is only one path in front of us, and the goal of collecting all three thousand paths is still far away, this is undoubtedly an amazing start!
Moreover, the power of this single talisman is probably no less than that of a mid-grade immortal artifact!
He suppressed his excitement and carefully stored the "Ancient Serpent Talisman of the Supreme Emperor" along with other treasures into the deepest part of the Chaos Inner World. At this moment, the eruption of the boundary point was also nearing its end, and the energy began to weaken.
"Let's go! This place is not safe to stay any longer!"
Fang Qing said decisively.
The two quickly retreated, relying on the divine insect's concealment and exquisite manipulation of space, and soon disappeared into the raging energy turbulence.
Back in a safe location, Fang Qing carefully tallied up his spoils.
Besides the most precious "Emperor's Ancient Serpent Talisman", the Golden Dragon Flame Sword, the Life-Creating Pill, and the Divine Demon Source Bloodstone are also rare treasures with immense value.
In the days that followed, they began to systematically visit several other relatively remote and less controlled boundary points marked on the map.
Thanks to the Space God Worm's extraordinary sensitivity to spatial fluctuations and the aura of treasures, as well as Fang Qing's increasingly refined spatial manipulation and combat prowess, they were always able to strike at the optimal moment of the eruption, accurately seizing the most essential part, and then quickly escaping before other forces or adventurers could react.
Immortal artifacts, bottles of precious elixirs, rare divine materials, and ancient jade slips flowed into Fang Qing's chaotic inner world like a stream. Their gains rapidly accumulated to an astonishing degree.
Of course, the process was not without its challenges.
On several occasions, their actions were noticed by other powerful beings who were also eyeing the boundary, leading to conflicts. However, with Fang Qing's terrifying strength—enough to instantly kill several Heavenly Realm experts—and Yang Qi's increasingly skillful teamwork, all the challengers were slain.
Their fearsome reputation began to quietly spread among adventurers and smaller factions in the area, and they were known as the "Space Duo."
"We've actually become the Space Duo, which is perfectly reasonable."
Fang Qing clicked his tongue in admiration. (End of Chapter)