It was night time and the four disciples of Mount Shu sat around the bonfire.
With a serious expression, Xu Ziyang said, "There's something strange about what happened today. Usually, we only see ordinary Iron Ba on the outskirts of the Immortals' Marsh. You would only encounter Copper Ba, Silver Ba, and Gold Ba as you venture deeper into the Immortals' Marsh. You don't normally see other types of Ba in this region."
"But today..." Shang Ziliang was puzzled.
"Right. We encountered both a Copper Ba and an Iron Ba at the same time today. This rarely happens." Xu Ziyang frowned and said, "In the past, such occurrences usually only happened during the emergence of the Cataclysmic Ba. When a Cataclysmic Ba was born, a large number of fierce Ba would migrate to the outskirts and move beyond the Immortals' Marsh. This would be the first calamity that signaled the birth of a Cataclysmic Ba."
A Cataclysmic Ba was no ordinary creature.
The Cataclysmic Ba possessed the strength of a seventh-realm cultivator.
The sects in the Divine Nine and Terrestrial Ten seldom had many experts at the seventh realm. Powerful individuals across the world—regardless of their sect affiliation or whether they were demons, devils, or evil entities—would still be subjected to certain rules upon reaching this level of cultivation.
Regardless of whether they were evil or righteous, they had to follow some kind of rule.
However, it was different for the Cataclysmic Ba.
The Cataclysmic Ba came into being for the sake of killing, with its sole purpose being to drain the life force from living beings. This seventh-realm creature was a reckless entity, and just one was enough to cause massive destruction.
Its mere presence would inevitably lead to the slaughter and annihilation of cities and nations—it was only a matter of time!
"But a Cataclysmic Ba already appeared two hundred years ago. Logically speaking, not enough time had passed to nurture a new Cataclysmic Ba," Xu Ziyang said.
Xu Ziyang, as the leader and guardian of the team, bore the responsibility for the safety of the other team members. He had to consider a multitude of factors.
"Maybe it's just a coincidence?" Shang Ziliang asked with a smile, "We haven't encountered another Ba since then, right?"
"Well, let's observe for a while. If there are any signs of Ba escaping to the outskirts, we'll head back immediately," Xu Ziyang stated decisively.
If a Gold Ba had migrated to the outskirts, Xu Ziyang knew he wouldn't be able to handle it.
"But if we want to find the Celestial Herb of Ascension, shouldn't we be exploring the entire Immortals' Marsh?" Chu Liang asked puzzledly.
He had been curious about this since the morning.
"That wouldn't be necessary," replied Chen Su, who was at the side.
She then took the initiative to explain in Xu Ziyang's place. "The Celestial Herb of Ascension is unlike any other treasures of nature. Typically, spirit plants have an innate instinct to avoid harm and thrive in environments away from human activity, developing protective mystical abilities. However, the Celestial Herb of Ascension is entirely different. It is drawn by human aura and tend to move towards humans. There is no need for us to venture deep into the Immortals' Marsh. We just need to circle around the outskirts, and it will come to us."
"The Celestial Herb of Ascension moves? And it actively migrates toward humans?" Shang Ziliang was somewhat surprised. "This is like-"
"Like it exists to be consumed by humans," Chu Liang continued.
"Exactly," Chen Su said, nodding gently. "The Celestial Herb of Ascension nourishes the surrounding plants and is an ingredient for refining the Golden Pill in cultivation. It is the kindest treasure of nature."
"True." Chu Liang agreed.
In that case, it seemed fitting to commend the Celestial Herb of Ascension.
After this brief conversation, Xu Ziyang pointed to the Golden-Winged Falcon beside him and said, "Tonight, I will be guarding the periphery. The three of you can take turns resting, with one person accompanying me during each watch."
"Hehe, I don't need to rest!" Shang Ziliang seized the chance to make an impression. He immediately patted his chest and loudly declared, "Senior Brother Xu, I'll stay up all night and guard with you."
"No." Xu Ziyang shook his head and declined in an indifferent manner.
He then issued a stern warning. "You are all still at the Spiritual Awareness Realm. If you don't take breaks for an extended period, your vitality, qi, and spirit will be depleted. While it might be acceptable on Mount Shu, it is not acceptable in this dangerous place. You must ensure that you are always in peak condition!"
"Yes, yes, yes." Shang Ziliang's attempts at flattery had backfired, causing him to timidly agree.
Despite his unsuccessful attempt at flattery, Shang Ziliang's excellent attitude earned him the privilege of being the first to take on the night watch with Xu Ziyang.
Shang Ziliang couldn't help but feel a bit happy. He was already planning to seize this opportunity to engage in a meaningful conversation with his potential brother-in-law, aiming to subtly showcase his positive qualities and make a favorable impression.
Meanwhile...
The Golden-Winged Falcon crouched low, with its talons slightly extended and its wings slightly spread. Its massive body provided ample space, enough to shelter dozens of people lying down to rest.
With the Golden-Winged Falcon keeping watch, there wasn't much need to be overly cautious. Xu Ziyang had them take turns standing guard, likely for training purposes. Chen Su and Chu Liang positioned themselves under either side of the wings, while Shang Ziliang and Xu Ziyang sat on opposite ends, remaining vigilant.
While nestled beneath the protective wings of the Golden-Winged Falcon, Chu Liang felt a profound sense of security. At the same time, he pondered the possibility of an entirely new role for spirit beasts. In the days to come, could he too find comfort sleeping beside a Golden-Furred Hou when venturing into the wilderness at night?
As he thought about it, he realized that it would be impossible.
"The Big Head snores really loudly and has such an unpleasant breath. It would be too difficult to fall asleep next to it. Plus, I might get squashed if it rolled over while it was sleeping. This would not be worth it..." Chu Liang muttered to himself.
...
The surroundings were very quiet.
Chu Liang didn't fall asleep right away. He controlled his divine consciousness and entered into the White Pagoda.
While the others weren't paying attention, he decided to open his reward.
In the White Pagoda, smoke and mist poured out from the large-headed doll, nearly filling the space. Across from it, a spectral image of a Copper Ba sat quietly in its cage. Both the doll and the Copper Ba in the cage showcased two very different scenarios, where their joys and sorrows would greatly differ.
Without any hesitation, Chu Liang approached and pressed the "Refine" command.
Boom!
As a light flashed, a thin white radiance drifted out.
[Copper Ba Talisman: Bestows upon the caster the blessing of the Copper Ba, resulting in an equal enhancement of robust physique, formidable strength, and nimble speed. This effect lasts for two hours.]
A Ba Talisman?
Lately, Chu Liang had been earnestly delving into the study of The True Dao of Talisman-Making. His current focus was mastering the writing of the fundamental talismanic characters before moving on to study the more intricate symbols. To his knowledge, there has never been a talisman in the entire cultivation world named after a Ba.
Occasionally, he found himself pondering the origin of these items that the White Pagoda had bestowed him. Could it be that the Pagoda, like himself, doesn't belong to this world?
The purpose of this talisman appeared straightforward: it offered a broad improvement to an individual's strength, speed, and defense, akin to being fully endowed with the capabilities of a Copper Ba. Compared to the Spirit Cat Leaping Talisman that Chu Liang had acquired previously, it could be viewed as a comprehensive upgrade.
A Copper Ba Talisman...
This inevitably led to endless speculation. If he were to slay a Gold Ba in the future, would he get a Gold Ba Talisman? What if he defeated a Cataclysmic Ba ...
Just as he was lost in thought, a rustling sound came from a distance. Suddenly, Chu Liang stood up. "Eh?"
Before he could stand up, Xu Ziyang had already soared into the air, shouting, "A Ba!"
The Golden-Winged Falcon stood up and spread its wings. These wings served not only as its means of flight but also as its sharpest weapons. The feathers were nearly indestructible.
Shang Ziliang and Chen Su stood up and assumed a vigilant stance.
Then, they saw several dark shadows swiftly pass by.
They were groups of Copper Ba, Iron Ba, and all sorts of them. The whooshing sound of the rushing wind continued, but instead of attacking the humans, the Ba flew past on both sides.
"Eh?" The three cultivators at the Spiritual Awareness Realm were confused at first. After all, Ba had an innate desire for blood and would usually attack if they were at such close proximity.
When Xu Ziyang saw this, his facial expression immediately changed.
"Only a higher-level Ba can make these Ba ignore their bloodlust!" He immediately shouted, "Something's wrong. Aboard the Golden-Winged Falcon now! We are leaving the Immortals' Marsh!"
Every feather on the Golden-Winged Falcon stood upright, creating the illusion of a dense array of spear-like swords. Its sharp eyes seemed to penetrate the darkness in the distant sky.
It was a clear sign of enemies approaching.
Whoosh!
In the next instant, a golden light streaked towards them!
"It's the Gold Ba! Quickly, get them out of here!" Xu Ziyang barely had time to give any instructions. He shouted loudly and swiftly summoned his flying sword to counter the threat!
A Gold Ba had the strength of a sixth-realm creature.
And it suddenly appeared here!
"Caw!"
The Golden-Winged Falcon quickly followed the command, letting out a long cry. It firmly gripped Chu Liang and Chen Su with its talons as it prepared to take off.
Shang Ziliang was a bit farther away and was desperately trying to catch up.
If the Golden-Winged Falcon took off, it would be impossible for him to catch up. Therefore, the Golden-Winged Falcon remained in place, waiting for Shang Ziliang to climb aboard.
However, in that brief moment of pause, a violent commotion occurred, sending Xu Ziyang's body flying backward.
Boom!
As the golden light approached from afar, Xu Ziyang activated his sword. He raised his hand and executed the Heavenly Sword Seal!
When facing a powerful enemy capable of swiftly killing them, Xu Ziyang had no time to test the waters. His first move had to be the most powerful one!
The Heavenly Sword Seal he used was even stronger than what Jiang Yuebai executed before. After all, he was a fifth-realm cultivator. A huge sword light, longer than ten zhang, charged towards the incoming golden light and collided with it!
A violent explosion erupted, shattering the Heavenly Sword Seal, and Xu Ziyang was sent flying dozens of zhang away!
Meanwhile, Shang Ziliang, who was closer to Xu Ziyang, was caught in the explosion! He rolled several times before coming to a stop.
Whoosh!
However, after just a brief pause, the golden light surged out again, flying towards the Golden-Winged Falcon! Surprisingly, the explosion earlier did not cause any harm.
It seemed to understand that the Golden-Winged Falcon was the only one capable of escaping its pursuit. If it could handle the falcon first, none of these people would escape!
"Golden-Winged Falcon! Fly away!" Xu Ziyang ordered without hesitation.
If he was the only one left, he would still have a chance to escape. However, if the other disciples at the Spiritual Awareness Realm stayed with him, they would just become his burden, and all of them could end up dying together!
The speed and strength of this Gold Ba were beyond imagination. All they could see were its afterimages, and no one could see its figure clearly.
Following Xu Ziyang's command, the Golden-Winged Falcon took off, soaring like an arrow released from the bow and turning into a streak of golden light!
On the ground, Shang Ziliang climbed up and chased wildly, shouting, "Hey! I haven't climbed aboard yet!"
It was night time and the four disciples of Mount Shu sat around the bonfire.
With a serious expression, Xu Ziyang said, "There's something strange about what happened today. Usually, we only see ordinary Iron Ba on the outskirts of the Immortals' Marsh. You would only encounter Copper Ba, Silver Ba, and Gold Ba as you venture deeper into the Immortals' Marsh. You don't normally see other types of Ba in this region."
"But today..." Shang Ziliang was puzzled.
"Right. We encountered both a Copper Ba and an Iron Ba at the same time today. This rarely happens." Xu Ziyang frowned and said, "In the past, such occurrences usually only happened during the emergence of the Cataclysmic Ba. When a Cataclysmic Ba was born, a large number of fierce Ba would migrate to the outskirts and move beyond the Immortals' Marsh. This would be the first calamity that signaled the birth of a Cataclysmic Ba."
A Cataclysmic Ba was no ordinary creature.
The Cataclysmic Ba possessed the strength of a seventh-realm cultivator.
The sects in the Divine Nine and Terrestrial Ten seldom had many experts at the seventh realm. Powerful individuals across the world—regardless of their sect affiliation or whether they were demons, devils, or evil entities—would still be subjected to certain rules upon reaching this level of cultivation.
Regardless of whether they were evil or righteous, they had to follow some kind of rule.
However, it was different for the Cataclysmic Ba.
The Cataclysmic Ba came into being for the sake of killing, with its sole purpose being to drain the life force from living beings. This seventh-realm creature was a reckless entity, and just one was enough to cause massive destruction.
Its mere presence would inevitably lead to the slaughter and annihilation of cities and nations—it was only a matter of time!
"But a Cataclysmic Ba already appeared two hundred years ago. Logically speaking, not enough time had passed to nurture a new Cataclysmic Ba," Xu Ziyang said.
Xu Ziyang, as the leader and guardian of the team, bore the responsibility for the safety of the other team members. He had to consider a multitude of factors.
"Maybe it's just a coincidence?" Shang Ziliang asked with a smile, "We haven't encountered another Ba since then, right?"
"Well, let's observe for a while. If there are any signs of Ba escaping to the outskirts, we'll head back immediately," Xu Ziyang stated decisively.
If a Gold Ba had migrated to the outskirts, Xu Ziyang knew he wouldn't be able to handle it.
"But if we want to find the Celestial Herb of Ascension, shouldn't we be exploring the entire Immortals' Marsh?" Chu Liang asked puzzledly.
He had been curious about this since the morning.
"That wouldn't be necessary," replied Chen Su, who was at the side.
She then took the initiative to explain in Xu Ziyang's place. "The Celestial Herb of Ascension is unlike any other treasures of nature. Typically, spirit plants have an innate instinct to avoid harm and thrive in environments away from human activity, developing protective mystical abilities. However, the Celestial Herb of Ascension is entirely different. It is drawn by human aura and tend to move towards humans. There is no need for us to venture deep into the Immortals' Marsh. We just need to circle around the outskirts, and it will come to us."
"The Celestial Herb of Ascension moves? And it actively migrates toward humans?" Shang Ziliang was somewhat surprised. "This is like-"
"Like it exists to be consumed by humans," Chu Liang continued.
"Exactly," Chen Su said, nodding gently. "The Celestial Herb of Ascension nourishes the surrounding plants and is an ingredient for refining the Golden Pill in cultivation. It is the kindest treasure of nature."
"True." Chu Liang agreed.
In that case, it seemed fitting to commend the Celestial Herb of Ascension.
After this brief conversation, Xu Ziyang pointed to the Golden-Winged Falcon beside him and said, "Tonight, I will be guarding the periphery. The three of you can take turns resting, with one person accompanying me during each watch."
"Hehe, I don't need to rest!" Shang Ziliang seized the chance to make an impression. He immediately patted his chest and loudly declared, "Senior Brother Xu, I'll stay up all night and guard with you."
"No." Xu Ziyang shook his head and declined in an indifferent manner.
He then issued a stern warning. "You are all still at the Spiritual Awareness Realm. If you don't take breaks for an extended period, your vitality, qi, and spirit will be depleted. While it might be acceptable on Mount Shu, it is not acceptable in this dangerous place. You must ensure that you are always in peak condition!"
"Yes, yes, yes." Shang Ziliang's attempts at flattery had backfired, causing him to timidly agree.
Despite his unsuccessful attempt at flattery, Shang Ziliang's excellent attitude earned him the privilege of being the first to take on the night watch with Xu Ziyang.
Shang Ziliang couldn't help but feel a bit happy. He was already planning to seize this opportunity to engage in a meaningful conversation with his potential brother-in-law, aiming to subtly showcase his positive qualities and make a favorable impression.
Meanwhile...
The Golden-Winged Falcon crouched low, with its talons slightly extended and its wings slightly spread. Its massive body provided ample space, enough to shelter dozens of people lying down to rest.
With the Golden-Winged Falcon keeping watch, there wasn't much need to be overly cautious. Xu Ziyang had them take turns standing guard, likely for training purposes. Chen Su and Chu Liang positioned themselves under either side of the wings, while Shang Ziliang and Xu Ziyang sat on opposite ends, remaining vigilant.
While nestled beneath the protective wings of the Golden-Winged Falcon, Chu Liang felt a profound sense of security. At the same time, he pondered the possibility of an entirely new role for spirit beasts. In the days to come, could he too find comfort sleeping beside a Golden-Furred Hou when venturing into the wilderness at night?
As he thought about it, he realized that it would be impossible.
"The Big Head snores really loudly and has such an unpleasant breath. It would be too difficult to fall asleep next to it. Plus, I might get squashed if it rolled over while it was sleeping. This would not be worth it..." Chu Liang muttered to himself.
...
The surroundings were very quiet.
Chu Liang didn't fall asleep right away. He controlled his divine consciousness and entered into the White Pagoda.
While the others weren't paying attention, he decided to open his reward.
In the White Pagoda, smoke and mist poured out from the large-headed doll, nearly filling the space. Across from it, a spectral image of a Copper Ba sat quietly in its cage. Both the doll and the Copper Ba in the cage showcased two very different scenarios, where their joys and sorrows would greatly differ.
Without any hesitation, Chu Liang approached and pressed the "Refine" command.
Boom!
As a light flashed, a thin white radiance drifted out.
[Copper Ba Talisman: Bestows upon the caster the blessing of the Copper Ba, resulting in an equal enhancement of robust physique, formidable strength, and nimble speed. This effect lasts for two hours.]
A Ba Talisman?
Lately, Chu Liang had been earnestly delving into the study of The True Dao of Talisman-Making. His current focus was mastering the writing of the fundamental talismanic characters before moving on to study the more intricate symbols. To his knowledge, there has never been a talisman in the entire cultivation world named after a Ba.
Occasionally, he found himself pondering the origin of these items that the White Pagoda had bestowed him. Could it be that the Pagoda, like himself, doesn't belong to this world?
The purpose of this talisman appeared straightforward: it offered a broad improvement to an individual's strength, speed, and defense, akin to being fully endowed with the capabilities of a Copper Ba. Compared to the Spirit Cat Leaping Talisman that Chu Liang had acquired previously, it could be viewed as a comprehensive upgrade.
A Copper Ba Talisman...
This inevitably led to endless speculation. If he were to slay a Gold Ba in the future, would he get a Gold Ba Talisman? What if he defeated a Cataclysmic Ba ...
Just as he was lost in thought, a rustling sound came from a distance. Suddenly, Chu Liang stood up. "Eh?"
Before he could stand up, Xu Ziyang had already soared into the air, shouting, "A Ba!"
The Golden-Winged Falcon stood up and spread its wings. These wings served not only as its means of flight but also as its sharpest weapons. The feathers were nearly indestructible.
Shang Ziliang and Chen Su stood up and assumed a vigilant stance.
Then, they saw several dark shadows swiftly pass by.
They were groups of Copper Ba, Iron Ba, and all sorts of them. The whooshing sound of the rushing wind continued, but instead of attacking the humans, the Ba flew past on both sides.
"Eh?" The three cultivators at the Spiritual Awareness Realm were confused at first. After all, Ba had an innate desire for blood and would usually attack if they were at such close proximity.
When Xu Ziyang saw this, his facial expression immediately changed.
"Only a higher-level Ba can make these Ba ignore their bloodlust!" He immediately shouted, "Something's wrong. Aboard the Golden-Winged Falcon now! We are leaving the Immortals' Marsh!"
Every feather on the Golden-Winged Falcon stood upright, creating the illusion of a dense array of spear-like swords. Its sharp eyes seemed to penetrate the darkness in the distant sky.
It was a clear sign of enemies approaching.
Whoosh!
In the next instant, a golden light streaked towards them!
"It's the Gold Ba! Quickly, get them out of here!" Xu Ziyang barely had time to give any instructions. He shouted loudly and swiftly summoned his flying sword to counter the threat!
A Gold Ba had the strength of a sixth-realm creature.
And it suddenly appeared here!
"Caw!"
The Golden-Winged Falcon quickly followed the command, letting out a long cry. It firmly gripped Chu Liang and Chen Su with its talons as it prepared to take off.
Shang Ziliang was a bit farther away and was desperately trying to catch up.
If the Golden-Winged Falcon took off, it would be impossible for him to catch up. Therefore, the Golden-Winged Falcon remained in place, waiting for Shang Ziliang to climb aboard.
However, in that brief moment of pause, a violent commotion occurred, sending Xu Ziyang's body flying backward.
Boom!
As the golden light approached from afar, Xu Ziyang activated his sword. He raised his hand and executed the Heavenly Sword Seal!
When facing a powerful enemy capable of swiftly killing them, Xu Ziyang had no time to test the waters. His first move had to be the most powerful one!
The Heavenly Sword Seal he used was even stronger than what Jiang Yuebai executed before. After all, he was a fifth-realm cultivator. A huge sword light, longer than ten zhang, charged towards the incoming golden light and collided with it!
A violent explosion erupted, shattering the Heavenly Sword Seal, and Xu Ziyang was sent flying dozens of zhang away!
Meanwhile, Shang Ziliang, who was closer to Xu Ziyang, was caught in the explosion! He rolled several times before coming to a stop.
Whoosh!
However, after just a brief pause, the golden light surged out again, flying towards the Golden-Winged Falcon! Surprisingly, the explosion earlier did not cause any harm.
It seemed to understand that the Golden-Winged Falcon was the only one capable of escaping its pursuit. If it could handle the falcon first, none of these people would escape!
"Golden-Winged Falcon! Fly away!" Xu Ziyang ordered without hesitation.
If he was the only one left, he would still have a chance to escape. However, if the other disciples at the Spiritual Awareness Realm stayed with him, they would just become his burden, and all of them could end up dying together!
The speed and strength of this Gold Ba were beyond imagination. All they could see were its afterimages, and no one could see its figure clearly.
Following Xu Ziyang's command, the Golden-Winged Falcon took off, soaring like an arrow released from the bow and turning into a streak of golden light!
On the ground, Shang Ziliang climbed up and chased wildly, shouting, "Hey! I haven't climbed aboard yet!"
