"What? Three years?" Xiao Wenbing exclaimed in surprise.
"That's right, it's been three whole years."
Nodding blankly, Xiao Wenbing finally understood the name of the artifact. It was indeed extraordinary; it had taken him so long to infuse it with energy and scan it.
However, after touching the Heavenly Void Ring and learning how to use the Golden Spirit and the Void Cauldron, this deal was still quite worthwhile.
Urged by Long Shi and the others, Xiao Wenbing handed over command of the giant serpent to Die Xian, allowing her to lead the serpent's avatar on its journey once more. As for himself, he had long since retreated into a mustard seed space, using the immense energy within the Void Cauldron to begin constructing the Void Cauldron of his own design.
Although Long Shi and the others were very curious about what Xiao Wenbing had done in the old tortoise's mustard seed space, none of them dared to ask. They could only pretend to be deaf and dumb and act as if they didn't know.
Perhaps the old tortoise's yawning had such a great effect that they encountered no further trouble along the way. More than ten days later, when Xiao Wenbing came out of the pass, they also arrived at their destination smoothly.
Volume 5, Chapter 21: Returning in Disappointment
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Food King Senior, are you sure this is your destination?
"Exactly."
"Senior Food King, are you sure this is our destination?"
"Exactly."
"Senior Food King, are you sure you've lived for tens of thousands of years?"
"Exactly."
"Senior Food King, you've developed senile dementia, haven't you?"
"Exactly!...No, that's not it."
"Senior Food King..."
"Enough! What exactly do you want to say?" The Food King glared angrily at the incessantly nagging Xiao Wenbing, wondering what he was up to.
"Well, this..." Xiao Wenbing smiled sheepishly, waved his hand to dispel the illusion of the Starry Sky Illusion, and said, "Senior, please take a look."
The King of Food stared intently, then was speechless, his eyes wide with disbelief.
Before them stretched a vast ocean, nothing but flowing water. Although the underwater scenery was indeed breathtaking, none of them had the heart to appreciate it.
"Senior Food King, didn't you say there was a large platform here? Where is it?"
The King of Food looked around and said with a wry smile, "How should I know?" He closed his eyes, sensed for a moment, and said, "My aura remains here, it must be this place, but... the Water Spirit is gone."
Feng Baiyi left the giant snake and took several dozen steps forward. Suddenly, she sighed and said, "Wenbing, we are too late."
How did you know?
"The seaweed here is noticeably different from that in other areas, indicating that it has just grown. The water spirit must have ascended to the celestial realm."
The Food King stepped forward to Feng Baiyi's side and echoed, "That's right. I, too, am of the spirit race, so I can say with certainty that these seaweeds are less than five years old." He stamped his foot and said, "Five years ago, this was the location of the platform. Besides the water spirit, there was also a large cave on the platform. My Nether Water was collected from that cave."
"Sigh... I never imagined that when the Water Spirit moved, it would even move its lair to the Immortal Realm. It's truly unbelievable." Long Shi shook his head and smiled bitterly.
“Brother Food King, how big is that platform?” Shabir suddenly asked.
The King of Food gestured and said, "It is probably over a hundred feet wide."
Shabir shook his head slightly and said, "A massive object over a hundred feet wide. Without undergoing the baptism of heavenly tribulation, it is impossible to carry it with you when ascending."
The group exchanged glances, having no doubt that Shabir had already ascended once. But where had that platform gone?
The Food King suddenly clapped his hands and said, "I understand now. Perhaps the Water Spirit did not ascend directly."
"What?" Xiao Wenbing asked, utterly bewildered.
Pointing to the bottom of the water, the Food King slowly said, "Perhaps the Water Spirit went directly to the second level of the Underworld."
"So what?"
"The first level of the underworld connects to the exits of all the lower realms. The second level is the celestial realm."
Xiao Wenbing was taken aback, and exclaimed in horror, "You mean the Water Spirit carried his cave to the second level of the Underworld and went directly to the Immortal Realm?"
"Exactly."
Everyone looked at each other in surprise. So that's how it works...
"Then, can we go directly to the Immortal Realm?" Long Shi's eyes suddenly lit up. If there was such a shortcut, why stay in the cultivation world?
“Of course you can,” the Food King said expressionlessly. “However, I’ve heard that there are some creatures guarding the area between the first and second levels, so it won’t be easy to get through.”
Long Shi puffed out his chest and said, "What's there to be afraid of? With me, the old dragon, here, no monster is a problem."
"Is that so?" The Food King glanced at him mockingly and said, "I heard that the monsters there are quite powerful, probably about the same as the Golden Roc."
Long Shi's chest deflated rapidly, and under everyone's gaze, he gave an awkward smile and said, "Actually, the path of cultivation is best approached with a down-to-earth attitude, um. Down-to-earth."
"Senior Food King, who told you this?" Zhang Yaqi suppressed a laugh and asked.
"Of course it's the spirit of water."
"So how can the Water Spirit pass the level?"
“The spirit of water is different from us.” The Food King said solemnly, “The spiritual things of heaven and earth are naturally unrestricted.”
"Is that so? Then what about the Wood Spirit?" Zhang Yaqi gently shook her fair wrist, and several colorful lights flickered on the Qiankun Ring.
The Food King hesitated for a moment, then said, "Perhaps the Universe Ring could work, but it definitely won't work for our large group."
“Well, at least we’ve broadened our horizons by coming to the Underworld. As for the Water Spirit… we’ll deal with it when we encounter it again.” Xiao Wenbing stepped forward and said, “Sigh… it is a bit of a pity.”
"Alas... what a pity." Shabir sighed deeply and said, "If we hadn't stayed for those three years, perhaps we could have caught up."
Xiao Wenbing was taken aback and asked, "Yes, Senior Food King, why did you wait for three long years back then?" He couldn't leave because he was in order to infuse energy into the old tortoise's artifact, but why did Food King and the others wait in the same place?
"It's not that we don't want to come, it's that we can't."
Why?
"That deity set up a barrier, and we are all trapped inside it, unable to get out," Long Shi explained.
"Ah..." Xiao Wenbing's expression changed. Could it really be because of this?
“Fellow Daoist Xiao, there’s no need to blame yourself. Since the aquatic plants here have been growing for five years, the Water Spirit must have been gone for at least five years. Even without those three years of delay, we still wouldn’t have made it in time.” The Food King shook his head and sighed, “In short, it’s just bad luck.”
Feng Baiyi glanced around and saw that, apart from Die Xian, even Zhang Yaqi showed a hint of regret. She raised her eyebrows and said coldly, "Everything has its own destiny. Since the Water Spirit is gone, let's go back."
Everyone was shocked, and Shabir was especially wary. He was already an immortal from the lower realm, yet he still had such a strong sense of gain and loss. This would be greatly detrimental to his future cultivation.
Xiao Wenbing's expression hardened. Then he smiled nonchalantly and said, "Alright, let's go back."
Although they didn't find the Water Spirit this time, they did encounter a Turtle God, obtained the Gold Spirit, and even learned how to use the Void Cauldron and scan a super artifact spanning a hundred kilometers. The gains far exceeded those of a single Water Spirit. If they were still not satisfied, it would be like a snake trying to swallow an elephant—they would likely suffer the consequences.
They embarked on their journey home. Xiao Wenbing once again entrusted the command of the giant serpent's avatar to Diexian, while he himself hid in the mustard seed space.
As soon as they entered the space, the Mirror God appeared and said, "Wenbing, don't be discouraged. We've already gained a great advantage this time."
Xiao Wenbing nodded and said, "That's natural. As long as the power of creation is poured into the gold artifact, a new gold spirit can be created. It will be the same three spirits combined, so there's no difference. However..."
"Just what?"
"I can't understand why the Turtle God would be so kind to me. Judging from his tone, he seems to know the Creator God."
The Mirror God scoffed disdainfully and said, "Wen Bing, you've gained an enormous advantage, but for that old tortoise, it's also an enormous advantage."
Xiao Wenbing was greatly surprised and asked, "Why?"
"In the realm of gods, if you want the Creator God to infuse a divine artifact with primordial energy, you must fulfill the Creator God's conditions. The higher the requirements, the greater the price you have to pay."
Will the Creator God impose any conditions?
"Of course, do you think we're free laborers?"
Xiao Wenbing paused, then chuckled. He asked, "So, what are the conditions for a tortoise shell to become a god?"
"have no idea."
"You didn't know?"
"Of course, but judging from the old tortoise's tone, it's definitely not simple. He's spent his whole life on it and still hasn't finished."
Xiao Wenbing suddenly realized and laughed, "You mean the Turtle God will actually benefit greatly?"
"That's not quite right. If the Creator God himself were to take action, he could make that tortoise shell artifact leap into becoming a true god in an instant. But you..." The Mirror God glanced at him and said, "You only provided him with an opportunity to evolve into a god. If that tortoise shell artifact really wants to become a true god, it will need at least hundreds of millions of years of diligent cultivation."
Xiao Wenbing nodded repeatedly. Of course, he knew that his cultivation level was no match for that of the Creator God. So, he hadn't really lost out in this deal.
Taking out the Void Cauldron from the Heavenly Void Ring, Xiao Wenbing sighed, "I didn't expect this Xuanwu Shield to be so difficult to manufacture. It seems it will take at least a month."
Despite his persistent efforts over the past ten days, he ultimately failed. The Xuanwu Shield required an enormous amount of energy, and its manufacturing process was extremely complex. He underestimated the difficulty; ten days was simply not enough to create it, and he had no choice but to give up in despair.
This method of creating something out of thin air is excellent, but it cannot be interrupted midway, and there cannot be the slightest mistake. Although he has now solved the problem of energy supply, the expenditure of his energy is also a great test for him.
"Use divine power," the Mirror God kindly suggested.
Xiao Wenbing pondered for a moment, unsure whether he could maintain such a high level of concentration for a month. This was only because his cultivation had greatly increased; in the past, it would have been impossible.
"Fine, let's use the divine title then."
After much deliberation, he finally decided to use the divine spark. He greeted everyone outside and forbade anyone from disturbing him. He estimated that the creation process would take at least twenty days to a month, which would coincide with the time needed for the return journey.
So, a month later, when Xiao Wenbing emerged from the pass, they returned to their starting point.
Looking up, towering portals of light stood in mid-air, seemingly endless and boundless...
Volume 6 Scams and Deceptions, Chapter 1: The Gift of a Weapon (Part 1)
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