The Fisherman's Profit

Chapter 47: The Fisherman's Profit

With a single strike of the Void-Trapping Seal, dozens of blood pythons perished in an instant. The might was heaven-shaking; one must remember that those blood pythons were all at the Celestial Immortal cultivation level!

"So strong! To think that a low-grade acquired spiritual treasure could unleash such terrifying power when fully utilized?" Xuanji was struck with horror. Killing dozens of Celestial Immortals in a single blow—including several at the mid-stage—the power of Void-Trapping Old Ancestor was simply formidable to the extreme. Although a Profound Immortal was one rank higher than a Celestial Immortal, it was generally very difficult to kill even one Celestial Immortal instantly, let alone dozens.

Only now did Xuanji understand the benefits of acquired spiritual treasures. Innate spiritual treasures were naturally profound, but they required countless eons of painstaking effort to nurture and contained innate restrictions. To unleash the true power of an innate spiritual treasure, one had to break through the internal restrictions. Thus, without immense cultivation, even if one possessed an innate spiritual treasure, one could only sigh at the treasure in hand. Just like Donghuang Taiyi, who was blessed with deep fortune, a foundation comparable to the Three Pure Ones, the body of a three-legged Golden Crow, and the experience of listening to the Dao in Purple Heaven Palace—his cultivation was heaven-defying, arguably the strongest beneath the Heavenly Dao Saints. Yet, despite exhausting his life's efforts, he could not fully break the innate restrictions within the Chaos Bell to completely refine the treasure before his death.

Although acquired spiritual treasures could not repair themselves like innate ones, nor did they contain innate principles to assist in enlightenment or improve one's Dao path, their raw power was not a whit weaker. They were specialized in offense, defense, or utility. Innate spiritual treasures had miraculous effects, but many were not adept at direct attack or defense; the pros and cons were difficult to summarize in a single word.

Seeing the formidable power of the Void-Trapping Seal, Xuanji could not help but feel envious and tempted. For him, refining a low-grade acquired spiritual treasure was extremely difficult—not to mention the materials, the refining methods were also unknown to him. Now that a ready-made low-grade acquired spiritual treasure appeared before his eyes, a desire to claim it as his own surged within Xuanji.

The Blood Python Holy King's already gloomy face grew even darker; the power of the Void-Trapping Seal made it tremble with fear.

"Attack! All of you, attack! Kill Void-Trapping!" the Blood Python Holy King roared and hissed. Although the Void-Trapping Seal was formidable, there were as many Celestial Immortal blood pythons as there were hairs on an ox. Even if one strike could kill dozens, he did not believe Void-Trapping Old Ancestor could withstand a swarm of ten thousand or a million. If Void-Trapping did not want to perish, fleeing would be his only choice. As for the future, he would cross that bridge when he came to it!

"Kill!"

"Hiss!"

Hissing and war cries erupted from all directions, covering the sky. Celestial Immortals could naturally refine their throat bones to speak the Dao language (Chinese), but the blood pythons had only just transformed and ascended to the Celestial Immortal level; they were not yet familiar with the Dao language and mostly continued to hiss.

Seeing the blood pythons swarming from all directions, an endless sea of them, Void-Trapping felt his scalp tingle. His cultivation was deep, but even an ant swarm could kill an elephant, and the gap between him and these Celestial Immortals had not yet reached the level of an elephant versus an ant.

If this continues, it will be disastrous. The main task is what matters! he thought to himself. With a shift of his mind, the Void-Trapping Seal hovered above his head, shedding thick streams of pale yellow light to protect his body. He was inherently invincible. This treasure had been refined by a great power, and after it was completed, Void-Trapping had nurtured it day and night with his own essence, pouring all his understanding of the Great Dao into it to enhance its power. It could be said that his life and the treasure were one, cultivated in tandem!

Bang! Bang! Bang!

The tails of the blood pythons lashed fiercely against the pale yellow light barrier. The light flickered and trembled, shaking more violently with every strike. It was clear it could not hold for long.

Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!

Void-Trapping Old Ancestor ignored the barrier entirely, his hands moving at high speed. His ten fingers danced in a blur, and the light of his hand seals flashed brilliantly. At the same time, the Blood Transformation Pearl in front of the Blood Python Holy King seemed to be affected, beginning to vibrate. Mysterious talismans emerged and hovered in the air. Judging by the Blood Python Holy King's horrified expression, it was clear he had lost control of the Blood Transformation Pearl. This scene confirmed that Void-Trapping's words from before were not false.

"Damn it! The Blood Transformation Pearl is mine! It is the supreme treasure of my Blood Python clan!" Rage and urgency filled his face. The Blood Python Holy King glared, desperately trying to use his magic power to restrain the pearl. In his heart, this blood pearl was the foundation for his clan's rise, as important as his own life.

As he continued his hand seals, he felt the pressure increase. Seeing the Blood Python Holy King trying to restrain the pearl, Void-Trapping frowned, and a cold sneer appeared on his face: "Since you are seeking death, then let me show you the power of the Blood Transformation Pearl!"

"Blood—Transformation—Divine—Light—Flame!" he enunciated slowly. His hands felt as heavy as a thousand jun, and the speed of his hand seals was exceptionally slow. However, the Blood Transformation Pearl underwent a massive change. Blood-colored light erupted, shining for ten thousand miles. Everything in sight was stained red, as if the world were soaked in blood. Clusters of crimson flames, red to the point of being foul, surged from the pearl. Simultaneously, rays of blood-red divine light scattered, piercing through the numerous blood pythons in all directions. As the divine light pierced them, the blood flames tore through the void to envelop their bodies, instantly burning them into pools of thick blood, which were then absorbed by the divine light to further increase its power.

The Blood Python Holy King was, after all, a profound cultivator—a Profound Immortal of the early stage was no mere trifle—and having nurtured the Blood Transformation Pearl for years, he possessed a thirty-percent resistance to the Blood Transformation Divine Light Flame. He managed to defend himself with all his might for a time. However, the other blood pythons lacked this ability. The moment they touched the divine light, they were pierced through, and the blood flames instantly incinerated their bodies. Their Celestial Immortal cultivation offered no resistance; they perished in droves like grass being mowed down.

The Blood Transformation Pearl was truly worthy of its name!

What a vicious Blood Transformation Pearl! This is only one-third of its basic power, yet it is already so formidable. If it were fully perfected and the internal innate restrictions were broken and refined, I fear it would possess unimaginable power! It could turn everything within tens of thousands of miles into thick blood in an instant. Furthermore, my eldest brother intends to use this to forge the Blood Transformation Divine Blade, which would more than double its power. This... this is too terrifying! Void-Trapping Old Ancestor watched the power of the Blood Transformation Pearl before him, seeing the many blood pythons melt into thick blood, and was deeply shocked, marveling at the pearl's might.

As time passed, thousands of blood pythons were reduced to thick blood by the pearl's power, and the remaining ones fled in terror. Seeing this, Void-Trapping Old Ancestor was not in a hurry. All these blood pythons had gained their forms through the Blood Transformation Pearl and had left marks within it. Once he dealt with the Blood Python Holy King, he could simply track them down one by one and refine them into the pearl.

As the blood pythons fled, all the Blood Transformation Divine Light Flames converged upon the Blood Python Holy King. Although his cultivation was deep and his resistance to the pearl was strong, he was no match for it. The divine light and blood flames closed in on him step by step; the moment they made contact would be the moment of his death.

Having exhausted all his magic power to no avail, the Blood Python Holy King felt a wave of despair. Seeing that there was no hope of reclaiming the Blood Transformation Pearl, a surge of rage and malice welled up in his heart. A fire of madness burned in his eyes as he looked up and roared in grief: "Old thief Void-Trapping, even if I die, I will drag you down with me!"

"Not good!" A sudden sense of foreboding struck Void-Trapping. He was about to flee and distance himself from the Blood Python Holy King, but it was already too late.

Rumble!

The Blood Python Holy King channeled all his magic power, bypassing the Blood Transformation Divine Light Flame and surging toward Void-Trapping Old Ancestor like a mountain-toppling sea. At the same time, the Blood Python Holy King, having lost the protection of his magic power, was instantly reduced to thick blood and merged into the divine light.

The full power of an early-stage Profound Immortal was unimaginable. It could pierce the firmament above, rend the earth below, stir the Yin and Yang, and shatter mountains or churn the seas with ease. Now, concentrated by the Blood Python Holy King, its power was even greater.

"Ah!" With a panicked cry, Void-Trapping used his seal and the pearl to defend with all his might, while his own magic power surged out to protect his body.

Just as Void-Trapping Old Ancestor finished his preparations, the Blood Python Holy King's power struck. Amidst the force of a raging sea and a collapsing world, the Blood Transformation Pearl shattered directly, its essence separating from its outer shell—it was sent back to square one. The Blood Python Holy King's painstaking efforts and Void-Trapping's hard work were all washed away. Although the Void-Trapping Seal did not shatter, the remaining force of the magic power, having broken the pearl, was still fierce. It directly obliterated the mental mark Void-Trapping Old Ancestor had left on the seal. After resisting two more waves, the force finally struck Void-Trapping Old Ancestor directly. Though its power was limited by then, it still dealt him a heavy blow.

"Pfft! Pfft, pfft!..." He vomited mouthfuls of blood. Void-Trapping was severely injured. The damage from the magic power strike, the loss of his mental connection to the Void-Trapping Seal, and the destruction of the Blood Transformation Pearl—all his efforts wasted—left him wounded both inside and out.

The shockwave formed by the Blood Python Holy King's magic power radiated outward from Void-Trapping Old Ancestor. In an instant, the entire vast Holy King City was reduced to ruins, and the surrounding tens of thousands of miles were leveled. The blood pythons and giant beasts that had been too slow to flee were all heavily injured. Turbulent whirlpools and dark, stormy currents rose everywhere. As for the Crab clan, they had already been taken into the Ancient Wild World by Xuanji. When the aftermath of the magic power hit, Xuanji immediately used the power of the Ancient Wild World to wrap around himself, remaining unscathed. However, the Ancient Wild World itself was shaken significantly. Fortunately, the twenty-five Primordial Spirits and the Primordial Avatar worked with the Ancient Wild Heavenly Dao to suppress it; otherwise, it might have collapsed.

A great opportunity! Seeing the situation, Xuanji's eyes lit up with joy. He struck like lightning, not hesitating to use the power of the Ancient Wild World, the Primordial Avatar, the twenty-five Primordial Spirits, and the Sun Moon Pearl to bolster himself. He instantly raised his cultivation to the early stage of Celestial Immortal and employed the Profound Art of Transformation, turning himself into a blood python. Two claws suddenly sprouted from his abdomen, and he snatched the Void-Trapping Seal and the essence of the Blood Transformation Pearl. As for the outer shell of the pearl, it would take too much time to reassemble, so it was impossible to obtain.

Everything happened in the blink of an eye. Void-Trapping Old Ancestor had never suspected Xuanji, and he was momentarily stunned. By the time he reacted, the blood python Xuanji had transformed into was already far away; only a tiny red speck flickered and vanished at the edge of the horizon.

"You thief, how dare you!" Void-Trapping was furious and about to give chase, but as he moved, a sharp pain struck him, and his mind began to blur. He struggled for a moment to regain his senses, but by then, Xuanji was long gone. Looking at the blood qi of the pearl's outer shell lingering before him, Void-Trapping felt incredibly depressed; this time, he had truly suffered a massive loss.

"A blood python? Ah! I swear, if I do not slaughter every blood python in the Primordial World, may I, Void-Trapping, perish and have my soul scattered!" Void-Trapping roared at the sky, stirring up a massive wave of water. Then, with extreme reluctance, he gathered the blood qi of the pearl's outer shell. After all, it was the blood power of the Blood Transformation Pearl and still contained much of the innate spiritual treasure's essence; he could not let it go to waste.