NOVPUB
Chapter 195: Chapter 192: Monarch Fourth Rank
"Sparrow Sword Immortal, Huo Yuqing!?"
Gu Jinlai quickly thought of something.
In Lingxiao City’s intense rivalry with Dragon Sparrow Manor, he naturally exerted himself in gathering intelligence on Dragon Sparrow Manor during this period.
There were four openly known Primordial Spirit Monarchs in Dragon Sparrow Manor.
Wang Yinfeng, Ye Wuxia, Ye Qianqiu, and Long Xiangtian.
Among these four Monarchs, Long Xiangtian had the highest cultivation. It was said his Primordial Spirit had grown to the limit and was just waiting to comprehend Heaven and Earth’s momentum to glimpse the opportunity of Devas.
The rest, Wang Yinfeng, Ye Wuxia, and Ye Qianqiu, were on the same level, comparable to Purgatory Sect’s Liu Jingtiao and Zhang Liefeng.
But Sparrow Sword Immortal, Huo Yuqing...
"You should have heard about the divisions of strength among the Primordial Spirit Monarchs, right?"
Xin Tianqi asked.
Gu Jinlai nodded.
Primordial Spirit Monarchs are generally divided into ordinary, top-grade, supreme, and peak stages.
Most Primordial Spirits belong to the first category.
The process of condensing a Primordial Spirit consumes too much of one’s essence and potential.
Those remaining, like Xin Tianqi and Long Xiangtian, have Primordial Spirits that have grown to perfection, possessing the capability to comprehend Heaven and Earth’s momentum and strive towards the Devas Realm as top-grade Monarchs.
They can easily defeat an ordinary Primordial Spirit Monarch and, even faced with two or three, or even three or four attackers, they can retreat at ease.
Next are those who mastered powerful swordsmanship or possess Quasi-Dao Artifacts, the supreme Monarchs.
Such Primordial Spirits have the qualifications to kill ordinary ones unless their opponents have mastered supreme movement techniques, and once targeted by a supreme Monarch, death is almost certain.
Netherworld Sect’s First Venerable Daoist You Quan Ancestor, Cold Moon Sect’s First Venerable Daoist Leng Ningshuang, Yellow Sky Sect’s First Venerable Daoist Zhang Taiping, all belong to this category.
The final group comprises those qualified to contend for the title of one of the top ten experts on the Demon Path, the peak Monarchs.
Like Lu Zhanxian.
His weapon, the Immortal Slaying Sword, is a Quasi-Dao Artifact forged from Dao Artifact materials but considered a failure, resulting in decreased power.
His Illusion Spirit Armor is similar.
Add to this his mastery of Purgatory Sect’s supreme swordsmanship—the Six Prisons Demon God—and the secret technique Six Dao Reincarnation. At full power, he’s equivalent to six Primordial Spirit Monarchs attacking simultaneously with sword control, unrivaled in the Primordial Spirit Realm, hence establishing his reputation as one of the top ten experts of the Demon Path.
And Dragon Sparrow Manor’s Sparrow Sword Immortal, Huo Yuqing...
A hundred years ago, she too was revered as a peak Monarch.
This Sparrow Fairy of Dragon Sparrow Manor perfected the swordsmanship—Spiritual Sparrow Startling Phoenix. Her sword strikes were so swift and powerful that they were unstoppable, like a celestial steed soaring through the heavens.
Moreover, she perfected a powerful secret technique—Sighing Dragon Transformation Technique—to the limit, which could transform True Qi into a dragon, greatly augmenting its power.
Assisted by her Quasi-Dao Artifact, the Spirit Sparrow Sword, combined with the Dragon Sparrow Joint Attack, ordinary Primordial Spirit Monarchs couldn’t even block a full-strength strike from her. 𝔫𝖔𝖛𝖕𝖚𝔟.𝖈𝖔𝔪
Such beings could even play a role on the Devas Battlefield, which was unreachable for ordinary Primordial Spirit Monarchs.
Two or three in coordination could even directly combat the Devas.
"This Sparrow Fairy of Dragon Sparrow Manor was a renowned figure a hundred years ago; calculating her age..."
"One hundred ninety-six years old."
Xin Tianqi promptly answered, "Nearly reaching the end of her lifespan."
"Then, how much of her strength can she still demonstrate?"
"With Qi Refining, the theoretical lifespan is two hundred years, but in reality, most cultivators, due to constant conflicts and hidden injuries from those battles, often reach their end of life between one hundred to one hundred fifty years. Those who cultivate Divine Sense to a microscopic level can live from one hundred fifty to two hundred years. Those who cultivate their character and avoid warfare can easily reach a lifespan of over one hundred ninety years..."
"But even those skilled in maintaining health and avoiding combat after one hundred eighty years of age would still see their combat abilities rapidly decline, wouldn’t they? Like Purgatory Sect’s Zhou Yunyi, who at over one hundred twenty years old, struggled greatly against a peak cultivator skilled in Hugging Pill."
Gu Jinlai said.
"That’s not necessarily true."
Xin Tianqi looked at Gu Jinlai and emphatically said, "Don’t forget, some remote mountains and forests hide Heavenly Materials and Earthly Treasures that can extend life by years, tens of years, or even dozens of years. Dragon Sparrow Manor, further east, is adjacent to the Eastern Sea Territory, and it was extremely wealthy a hundred years ago due to overseas trade. Although trade has been disrupted by devils in recent years, its foundation is still robust, and moreover, Huo Yuqing... she’s also a personage from a hundred years ago."
Gu Jinlai had ordered troops to the border, initially to make a statement and wasn’t genuinely aiming to taunt Dragon Sparrow Manor.
Hearing Xin Tianqi’s words, he seized the opportunity to agree, nodding thoughtfully, "I understand. I will be careful and cautious, and will not make any rash moves until it’s clear how much strength Huo Yuqing still retains."
Xin Tianqi saw that Gu Jinlai had heeded his advice and also let out a sigh of relief.
Subsequently, Gu Jinlai learned more about the specific techniques of Primordial Spirit Monarchs from Xin Tianqi, until they parted ways when night fell.
The next morning, Lu Zhanfeng also returned to the State Governor’s mansion, bringing news from the Cold Moon Sect.
But accompanying him was another person.
The daughter of Cold Moon Sect Sect Master Fang Linghai, who has been cultivating for just over thirty years and already achieved Divinity Transformation, Fang Yumian.
Seeing Gu Jinlai, this youthful-looking girl from Cold Moon Sect performed a gesture of respect and said spiritedly, "Governor Gu, on behalf of the two elders from our Cold Moon Sect who offended you back in Sunset City, I offer my apologies. This is a small token from our Sect."
Behind her, two young girls resembling disciples quickly presented an item.
It appeared to be a component?
"As a Heavenly Master, Governor Gu should have some interest in the artifacts of the Holy Sanctuary Era. This record contains the spiritual circuits of a floating island from a thousand years ago. I hope it proves helpful to Governor Gu,"
"Spiritual circuits."
Gu Jinlai examined the object Fang Yumian handed him...
It resembled a stone slab, with particular runes indeed present on it.
These runes reminded Gu Jinlai of electronic chips.
The patterns on the stone slab were no different from those on electronic chips.
Upon perceiving it with his Spiritual Sense, Gu Jinlai further discerned a vastly intricate structure within it.
This structure was like understanding how many neurons the brain contained; even the most powerful computers couldn’t ascertain all the changes.
The Floating Island was cast using materials like Yunxiao Wood and Void Stone, and no Heavenly Master could afford to use such spiritual materials to construct an entire island.
Spiritual materials merely served a pivotal role at certain key points.
Similar to how a few dozen engines might be used in a Sky-Space Mother Ship.
The other parts truly relied on this type of spiritual circuit.
This spiritual circuit acted like an auxiliary part in the refinement of floating islands, guiding the spiritual energy within the spiritual materials to support a certain area, allowing them to levitate and ascend into the sky.
Therefore...
"Not bad."
Gu Jinlai happily accepted the spiritual circuit: "With this circuit design, if I can obtain some related spiritual materials, I could even refine a small flying boat."
Lu Zhanfeng, who stood nearby, quickly said with a smile, "Venerable Daoist, I have actually brought a generous gift from the Supreme Elders of Purgatory Sect on this trip, but the gift was directly sent to Lingxiao City, so it has not yet been presented before you. This batch of materials includes a segment of Void Wood and a standard amount of Void Stone, plus a portion appropriate for refining Dao Artifact armor, the Jade Dragon Scale."
"Yunxiao Wood and Void Stone? And a portion of Jade Dragon Scale?"
Gu Jinlai looked at Lu Zhanfeng.
These items were costly.
Especially the Void Stone, valued no less than a Supreme Grade Spirit Artifact. Could Purgatory Sect really afford to part with it!?
"Yes, our Purgatory Sect has no Heavenly Monarch, and these spiritual materials would only sit idle with us. It might be better to offer them to the Venerable Daoist who might be able to utilize them to their fullest potential," said Lu Zhanfeng with a smile.
Upon seeing this, Fang Yumian, not to be outdone, said, "Our Cold Moon Sect also has some spiritual materials stored. If Governor Gu needs them, we will search thoroughly once we return."
Then naturally, they would discuss how to trade them.
Since the Holy Sanctuary fell due to civil war, the Heavenly Master Path gradually declined, and the sources for Dao Artifacts had almost dried up.
Of course, the Heavenly Monarchs could still barely manage to refine Dao Artifacts, but not only would it consume top-grade spiritual materials, the success rate...
Saying it was left to fate wasn’t an exaggeration.
Quasi-Dao Artifacts within the Daqian Territory were essentially created this way.
Because proper refiners could not be found and leaving it to the Heavenly Monarchs felt like relying on gambling for wealth...
In recent decades, the number of Heavenly Monarchs capable of melting spiritual materials to refine Dao Artifacts had dwindled, so these top forces generally stored some spiritual materials.
Of course, there were also Sects that chose to refine these spiritual materials into Supreme Grade Spirit Artifacts possessing four, or even five, traits.
The fact that Purgatory Sect had only three portions of spiritual materials was due to such extravagant expenditure.
"Then, I must thank Young Sect Master Fang."
Gu Jinlai spoke, observing this youthful-looking Cold Moon Sect Young Sect Master: "Surely your sole purpose in coming here wasn’t just to offer an apology and this spiritual circuit."
"Turning a confrontation into a bond of jade and silk, and laying a foundation of friendship between us was my main task," Fang Yumian said with a slight smile. "Besides, our Cold Moon Sect hopes to form an alliance with Governor Gu’s Lingxiao City."
"An alliance?"
Gu Jinlai faintly guessed what was coming.
"Yes, the three cities that our Cold Moon Sect holds are our show of sincerity for the alliance. Governor Gu, you can send someone to take over at any time," Fang Yumian said very forthrightly.
Her gracefully curved eyebrows, giving her a softer beauty when she smiled.
"What kind of alliance are you proposing?"
"We hope to sign a non-aggression pact with Star State, especially since you are aware of the situation in Mu State. Our Cold Moon Sect will need to gather sufficient strength to face the pressure there. Otherwise, if we cannot hold them back, and the devils march right through, Star State will be their next target," Fang Yumian explained.
"Agreed."
Gu Jinlai nodded his head.
In facing the great righteousness of combating devils, his priorities were clear.
"Furthermore, we would like to sign a hiring agreement with Governor Gu," continued Fang Yumian. "Governor Gu has many Demon God Warriors under his command. These warriors, if they are to grow, need a large amount of Devil Blood Essence and with the devils in Star State now reduced to one-tenth by Governor Gu’s relentless hunting, the source of Devil Blood Essence could run dry, requiring them to venture out of Star State..."
She immediately added, "Of course, we would provide commission and even, if Governor Gu agrees, using spiritual materials as payment is perfectly acceptable too. This is a mutually beneficial cooperation."
