Immortality Cultivation

Chapter 278: Annihilation [2]

The Baleful Spirit seemed to sense the lethal threat of this punch, emitting a terrified and furious roar. It abandoned its entanglement with Crimson Phoenix’s phoenix feather flying sword formation, and all the Evil Qi and weapon fragments frantically retracted, condensing in front of its head into a thick, hideous shield made of countless broken weapons and dense Evil Qi. At the same time, that dark red crystal flared with blood-red light, and an even more terrifying, soul-piercing wave of resentment, like a sharp awl, struck fiercely at Fang Hao’s Sea of Consciousness!

However, having experienced the painful torment of "Golden Qi Marrow Cleansing," Fang Hao’s Divine Soul and will had long been tempered like refined gold, indestructible! The Chaos vortex in his Sea of Consciousness was as stable as a mountain; with a slight spin, it dissipated most of that resentment wave, and what remained could no longer shake his mind in the slightest!

As for that hastily condensed, hideous shield?

"Shatter!"

Fang Hao’s fist, without any fancy tricks, smashed heavily onto the shield!

There was no earth-shattering roar, only a dull, extreme explosion that sounded as if metal and stone were shattering!

The hideous shield, condensed from countless weapon remains and dense Evil Qi, deformed violently the moment it made contact with Fang Hao’s fist. Then, like porcelain struck by a giant hammer, its surface was instantly covered in spiderweb-like cracks! Immediately after, under the erosion of Chaos Spiritual Power and the impact of that unparalleled force, it exploded with a boom! Countless weapon fragments flew backward like a rainstorm, embedding deeply into the surrounding rock walls! The dense black Evil Qi was even forcefully blasted apart and driven away by the force of his punch!

The momentum of the punch was not yet exhausted, surging forward!

In the "incredulous" (if it had consciousness) "gaze" of the Baleful Spirit, and under Crimson Phoenix’s slightly shocked watch, Fang Hao’s fist, shimmering with platinum and chaotic gray light, easily shattered the final defense as if piercing through a thin sheet of paper, slamming solidly onto the dark red crystal core that emitted monstrous resentment!

Crack!

A crystal-clear, crisp sound, like shattering glass, sounded exceptionally harsh amidst the violent energy ripples and the Baleful Spirit’s abruptly ceased roar.

Under Fang Hao’s fist, the dark red crystal core was instantly covered in cracks, and then, in the next instant, it exploded with a boom! It turned into specks of dark red light, which were immediately swept up and annihilated by the Chaos Spiritual Power!

"Awoo—!!!"

The Baleful Spirit let out a desperate, extremely shrill scream. Its massive body suddenly stiffened, and then, like a sandcastle losing its support, it collapsed with a boom! The countless weapon fragments that made up its body scattered all over the ground with a clatter, and the dense black Evil Qi, having lost its core cohesion, began to wildly and unconsciously surge and dissipate in all directions...

The stone chamber instantly fell silent. All that remained were the dust stirred up by the energy ripples and the dull, lusterless weapon fragments scattered on the ground.

Crimson Phoenix retracted her phoenix feather flying sword, and the nine sword shadows merged into one, flying back to circle around her. On her stunningly beautiful face, there was a trace of lingering astonishment and deep solemnity as she looked at the figure who was slowly retracting his fist, standing amidst the scattering Evil Qi and dust.

Fang Hao slowly exhaled a breath of turbid air, and the platinum light and Chaos Spiritual Power flowing on his skin slowly faded. He looked down at his fist; not even a white mark was left on his skin, only a slight tingling sensation from using too much force, which quickly dissipated under the circulation of his powerful blood and Qi.

This punch was incredibly satisfying! It not only shattered the troublesome Baleful Spirit core but also completely released the restless energy from his recent Breakthrough—a surge of power that had nowhere to vent! He now had a clearer understanding of his current strength.

His Physical Body strength, combined with Chaos Spiritual Power, was enough to directly confront and even suppress an ordinary Early Nascent Soul Stage Cultivator! If he were to reveal all his trump cards... A flash of light crossed Fang Hao’s eyes.

"You..." Crimson Phoenix looked at Fang Hao, her vermilion lips slightly parted, as if she wanted to say something but didn’t know where to start. The guy in front of her, whom she had previously treated as a "pathfinding pebble," was hiding so much! Not only was his cultivation at the Perfected Golden Core, but his Physical Body strength was terrifying enough to shatter with one punch the Baleful Spirit core that would have given an ordinary Perfected Golden Core Cultivator a massive headache! The Cultivation Technique and Body Refining techniques he practiced were both bizarre and powerful, definitely not something a Loose Cultivator could possess!

"Who exactly is this person?" Thoughts raced through Crimson Phoenix’s mind, and her wariness of Fang Hao had risen to an extremely high level. The condescending attitude she had previously held could no longer be maintained.

Fang Hao turned around and looked at Crimson Phoenix. His expression remained calm, but in his eyes, there was a new sense of confidence and composure, born from his own powerful strength, that hadn’t been there before.

"Miss Chi Huang, this matter is concluded. The Geng Metal Qi under this spring has also been exhausted, and that Baleful Spirit must have been the guardian of this place." Fang Hao spoke, his voice calm, showing no joy or anger. "I wonder what plans you have next?"

He deliberately pointed out that "this matter is concluded" to remind Crimson Phoenix that their previous "pathfinding" agreement had ended with the destruction of the Baleful Spirit and the absorption of the Geng Metal Qi. Now, they were equals, partners in a temporary cooperative relationship.

Crimson Phoenix was incredibly clever and immediately understood the implication in Fang Hao’s words. She looked deeply at Fang Hao, suppressing the shock and a trace of faint annoyance in her heart (being outdone by a "disguised" guy), and said indifferently: "Naturally, it is to continue deeper into the Valley of Buried Soldiers to take what I need. What, Fellow Daoist Ning, now that your strength has greatly increased, do you want to part ways here, or... do you have other plans?"

She emphasized the words "Fellow Daoist Ning," acknowledging Fang Hao’s status as an equal, while also testing him.

Fang Hao smiled slightly, noncommittally: "Parting ways is not necessarily the case. This Valley of Buried Soldiers is exceptionally dangerous; having one more person means one more layer of support. However, if we encounter Opportunity or danger again, I hope Miss Chi Huang can be open and honest so we can face it together. As for the item you need, if it doesn’t get in the way, I am willing to lend a hand, but after it’s done..."

He didn’t finish, but the meaning was clear—cooperation is fine, but don’t treat me as cannon fodder anymore. I can help, but we need to discuss the reward.

Crimson Phoenix’s phoenix eyes narrowed slightly as she stared at Fang Hao for a moment, then suddenly smiled. That smile was still stunningly beautiful, but it lacked the previous condescension, replaced by a sense of equal scrutiny and a hint of playfulness.

"Fellow Daoist Ning is quite direct. Fine, this lady agrees. If we make any discoveries next, you and I will share information and deal with it together. As for the item I need to retrieve, I do need some assistance. After it is done, there will naturally be a generous reward; I will definitely not let you suffer a loss." She said, then changed the subject, "However, this place is not suitable for a long stay. The commotion just now was not small; I fear it has already alerted other things in the valley. We must leave immediately."

Fang Hao nodded; he had the same intention. The aura of the Baleful Spirit and the combat fluctuations just now were likely like a beacon in the dark night within this silent Valley of Buried Soldiers.

The two said no more and quickly scanned the chaotic stone chamber. Apart from the scattered weapon fragments and the dissipating Evil Qi, there was nothing else. The Geng Metal Origin under the spring crack had been exhausted, and that ancient Restriction had completely collapsed along with the death of the Baleful Spirit and the dissipation of the Geng Metal Qi.

Fang Hao felt a slight pity; "Golden Qi Marrow Cleansing" had ultimately fallen short of total Perfection by a hair’s breadth, but the gains were already huge. He didn’t linger. Exchanging a glance with Crimson Phoenix, the two moved, like two wisps of light smoke, quickly leaving the exposed stone chamber and plunging back into the dense, grayish-black Evil Qi of the Valley of Buried Soldiers.

Yet, this time, their relationship had quietly changed. From master and subordinate to temporary allies who were wary of each other yet needed each other...

And ahead, in the depths of the Valley of Buried Soldiers, filled with Evil Qi and danger, what exactly was it that Crimson Phoenix sought? In Fang Hao’s heart, there was a faint sense of anticipation. Perhaps this forced "trip to the Valley of Buried Soldiers" was not entirely a bad thing.