Chapter 491: Chapter 445: Transaction Completed

Passing through the upper layer of demonic black fog, Jiang Yuebai landed on a protruding rock at the edge of the rift valley. Loose stones fell downwards, but even after several breaths, there was no echo, as silent and eerie as the deep abyss.

The Protective Gang Qi around Jiang Yuebai was gradually corroded by the dense demonic qi, requiring her to continuously circulate her Spiritual Energy to maintain it. Even her Divine Sense could not extend far, as it would also be dominantly corroded by the demonic qi.

"Follow up."

Xingchou’s voice transmission came, and Jiang Yuebai could only vaguely sense her presence below, unable to determine her exact location.

With a slight frown, Jiang Yuebai continued deeper into the rift.

The deeper she went, the denser the demonic qi became. The air was filled with a pungent stench of blood and rot. The surrounding black fog echoed with rustling sounds as centipedes and pythons, as black as the rock face, silently crawled by, and giant poisonous creatures larger than a person spewed toxic gas within the demonic qi.

"Conceal your aura, and be sure not to disturb them."

Xingchou deftly dodged the creatures, leading Jiang Yuebai cautiously to avoid the nests of fierce beasts and poisonous insects.

After descending more than three thousand feet, Xingchou grabbed a protruding rock on the mountainside with one hand and signaled Jiang Yuebai to follow.

Jiang Yuebai landed beside her, and Xingchou assessed her, raising an eyebrow when she saw Jiang Yuebai’s aura was steady.

"Look below."

Receiving the transmission, Jiang Yuebai squinted downwards, seeing only a churn of ink-black fog and nothing else. But it was indeed strange, as the upper stretch was infested with poisonous creatures, yet there was nothing around here.

Jiang Yuebai extended her Divine Sense again and immediately felt an overwhelming sense of danger, a vicious aura that made her hair stand on end.

An underground wind swept Jiang Yuebai’s hair aside, causing the black fog below to drift, revealing a massive creature’s body.

It was a white Bone Dragon, its enormous body coiled tightly in the rift, which seemed narrow for it. The entire body was covered with sharp and terrifying Bone Spikes, each larger than both of their combined bodies.

In the dragon’s empty eye sockets, two clusters of black flames flickered steadily with its breath.

"Late-Stage Nascent Soul Bone Dragon," Xingchou transmitted, dropping a piece of rock, "Watch carefully."

Saying this, Xingchou extended her arm and released the rock.

The rock plummeted and passed through the gaps in the Bone Dragon’s bones, only to be pulverized by a sudden force.

In that instant, Jiang Yuebai saw a fluctuation of airflow, faintly revealing the trace of a Restriction pattern; the Bone Dragon was pressing on it.

"This Bone Dragon surely senses something below. I’ve come here several times, and it has never left. Others have explored here before, and other dragons have come, but they were all eaten by the Bone Dragon. Thus, this place remains undiscovered. If you have the capability, go ahead and explore."

Dragons love to hoard treasures by nature, so Jiang Yuebai believed Xingchou’s words, just as Ao Juan had once monopolized the Dragon Palace. There must be treasures below.

"I have fulfilled the promises I made to you. Can we complete the contract now and give me the item?"

Jiang Yuebai looked up at Xingchou and smiled, "This place is unsuitable. Take me out first, and I’ll give it to you outside the rift."

Xingchou was somewhat surprised, "You don’t plan to explore below?"

"I have my own plans."

Xingchou stared at Jiang Yuebai for a moment, pondering something, and finally nodded, "Follow."

Under Xingchou’s lead, they quickly returned to the top of the rift and found a spot without any fierce beasts. Each of them took out a Contract Jade Talisman.

Once activated, the jade talismans hovered before both, emitting a faint light.

These jade talismans were produced in the Doumu Realm of the Northern Star Alliance. The Realm Lord of this world, Immortal Monarch Fatian, practiced cultivation methods with exceedingly strict laws.

The Contract Jade Talismans crafted in this realm contained an unshakable authority. Once voluntarily established, unless Immortal Monarch Fatian perished, the contract would inevitably take effect.

Xingchou took out a Big Belly Porcelain Bottle, and Jiang Yuebai watched as she opened the stopper, releasing a stream of water, muddy and yellow-brown, with a certain pull on the soul.

After confirming its authenticity, Jiang Yuebai took out a Merfolk Pearl, hovering it in her hand.

Xingchou was initially puzzled; upon scanning it with her Divine Sense for some time, her pupils constricted, "Is this a Merfolk Pearl?! Where did you obtain this? Such a precious item, and you don’t even keep it in a Sealing Spirit Jade Box, this is simply!!"

Xingchou was somewhat agitated, almost cursing.

Jiang Yuebai remained expressionless, adjusting the mask on her face. She still had over a dozen more of these.

"Since you know its value, mind if I ask you one more question."

Xingchou swallowed, glancing at the Contract Jade Talisman, restraining her impulse to snatch it, "Ask."

"Where did you get the ’Chaos Devouring Heaven Technique’ from? I realized later that this cultivation technique utilizes Taiyin Demon Qi. If there’s Taiyin, there should also be Solar, to form Chaos. It seems like you only gave me half of the technique."

Xingchou’s gaze became guarded. Meanwhile, Jiang Yuebai wasn’t in a hurry, tossing the Merfolk Pearl around.

Ultimately, Xingchou yielded, glancing towards the rift, "I only possess this half, which I risked my life to snatch from the Bone Dragon four years ago. If you want the other half, you have to find it yourself!"

Jiang Yuebai silently affirmed her suspicion; she had only bluffed casually, not expecting there to be another half.

"Could I take a look at the original piece you have?" Jiang Yuebai asked.

Xingchou hesitated, then gritted her teeth and retrieved a half-piece of black iron plaque from her belt, inscribed with some Demon Text.

Jiang Yuebai swept her Divine Sense over it, feeling a jolt at heart; the material and the Demon Text on the iron plaque were very similar to the Black Cauldron she had acquired in the Iron Palm Realm.

Xingchou quickly put away the half iron plaque, somewhat angrily, "Can you give me the item now?"

"One more question."

"Are you done yet?"

"The last question, really. Whose is this Demon Cultivator’s Great Power abode? Is he already dead?"

"Huntian, one of the Ten Great Demon Heads of Primordial Chaos Heaven, was jointly slain just beyond the void in the Integration Great Tribulation about thirty years ago. As long as you aren’t discovered by others, you don’t have to worry about being targeted. The Huntian Demon Head is indeed dead."

Jiang Yuebai slowly nodded. In the Green Dragon Realm, the Upper Realm was called Primordial Chaos Heaven. Moreover, she noticed that wherever she went, people were fond of ranking things like the Ten Great Ghost Generals and Ten Great Demon Heads.

"Thank you. Here you go."

Jiang Yuebai tossed the Merfolk Pearl. Xingchou also swept the Three Paths River Water in front of Jiang Yuebai with a Palm Wind. The two items landed in each other’s hands, and the Jade Talismans in mid-air merged into a unique Rune before dissipating into the wind, lying upon their brows, nullifying the contract’s backlash force.

Extremely cautious, Xingchou wielded the Merfolk Pearl and retreated several steps, summoning a shield in front of her.

Behind Jiang Yuebai, Little Green was also poised for action. The atmosphere between them was tense.

Xingchou thought of her father waiting for the Merfolk Pearl to save his life and, fully alert, retreated first, quickly disappearing in the direction of Dragon Bone Gorge.

Once Xingchou was far enough, Jiang Yuebai’s body transformed into White Vine, entwining around the Three Paths River Water, leaving with Little Green.

At the foot of a distant mountain, Jiang Yuebai’s true body and Lu Nanzhi hid within an array, letting out a long breath.

"That Xingchou kept my mind tense the entire way, especially with the influence of the demonic qi earlier, the main body and clone can only span a hundred feet apart. Following behind her was truly nerve-wracking, fearful of being discovered. Now, I can finally relax."

Lu Nanzhi raised an eyebrow, "It’s rare for someone to make you feel they’re difficult to deal with."

Jiang Yuebai nodded, "Indeed. She must have grown up in a high-pressure environment, extremely vigilant. Although she didn’t make a move, just from observing her movement technique, I felt she was tough to handle. However, she didn’t notice my true body following behind, indicating her cultivation hasn’t yet reached the Nascent Soul Stage."

"What next? Should we explore below?" Lu Nanzhi asked.

Jiang Yuebai pondered for a moment and replied, "Wait three days. If she doesn’t return by then, we’ll explore below. I still have some of Ao Juan’s blood, which can distract that Bone Dragon for a while. Using a Space Great Forbidden Technique of the Dragon Clan, I can take you inside together, but I’ll be spiritually weakened after using the Space Restriction, and then I’ll rely on you for protection, Anan."

On their way to the Green Dragon Realm, Jiang Yuebai had already told Lu Nanzhi and Xie Jingshan about her previous encounter with Ao Juan.

Lu Nanzhi chuckled, "Don’t worry, as long as I’m here, nothing will happen to you."

"Mm, I’ll inform Xie Jingshan via a Message Flying Sword. I estimate we’ll be delayed here for some time."