Ten days later, Ning Fa, Heavenly Treasure Immortal Merchant, and Luo Feixuan had already left the Qianmo Sea.
Ning Fa smiled at Luo Feixuan, "Fellow Daoist Luo, thank you for your understanding."
On the way back, Ning Fa had Luo Feixuan sign a high-level Spirit Contract with him, binding her from leaking any information about that Spirit Island.
After all, this was a place Ning Fa planned to use as a fallback. Even though he and Luo Feixuan were temporary allies, he had to be cautious.
Luo Feixuan had readily signed the Spirit Contract, which was why Ning Fa said that.
Luo Feixuan smiled, "It's nothing. I'm just curious why you didn't stay and cultivate on that excellent Spirit Island? Ordinary cultivators would never find a place like that."
Ning Fa sighed, "I didn't want to leave either, but you know, I'm in big trouble. If I stayed, I might attract them."
Ning Fa had briefly mentioned his troubles before, but Luo Feixuan showed no intention of leaving. Clearly, in her eyes, Shen Cizhou's threat was greater.
"Where do we go next then?" Luo Feixuan asked again.
A cold glint flashed in Ning Fa's eyes, "Then we'll openly return to the Five Spirits Sea. It's time to settle accounts with Qinghong."
Now that he had confirmed Cheng Susu and the others were safe, there was no need to hide their tracks. It was time to resolve the aftermath of the Abyssal Heavenly Pool.
However, the trouble arrived even faster than Ning Fa had anticipated.
Just a few days after they left a large island in the Haoqiong Sea Domain, they were caught up to.
On a sea surface with high winds and rough waves, a world-shattering battle was unfolding.
Endless golden and black spiritual lights intertwined like tides, spreading over dozens of miles.
Within this spiritual tide, a giant over ten feet tall, with two heads and four arms, clad in savage beast armor, was controlling several powerful magical treasures and fiercely attacking the person opposite him.
At the same time, one of its heads and two of its arms were constantly forming various hand seals, casting astonishing divine abilities. Its offensive was extremely fierce.
This was clearly a Nascent Soul cultivator, and moreover, one whose cultivation had reached the peak of the early stage. He was even a cultivator who practiced both body and dharma, possessing astonishing strength.
In addition, a peculiar monstrous beast, tens of feet long, with a bull's head and a dragon's body, was also assisting him in attacking the person opposite.
Its speed was like lightning, capable of instantly transforming into dozens or even hundreds of clones. With each claw strike, even a Nascent Soul cultivator would find it difficult to resist.
Judging from the terrifying spiritual power it exuded, this was a fearsome monstrous beast that had reached the Quasi-Nascent Soul realm.
The one person and one beast were attacking a handsome young man in white robes, who was none other than Heavenly Treasure Immortal Merchant.
Facing the astonishing offensive, Heavenly Treasure's expression remained unchanged. He merely piloted his Heaven Measuring Ruler, effortlessly blocking the opponent's attacks, appearing calm and composed.
At this moment, spiritual light flashed behind him. The monstrous beast had somehow lurked behind him and launched a fatal blow.
But a strange golden spiritual light suddenly erupted from Heavenly Treasure's back, repelling it.
However, this action seemed to enrage Heavenly Treasure. His sword-like eyebrows shot up, and the spiritual patterns on his forehead blazed with golden light. His previously calm face instantly became more sharp and fierce, and in an instant, his figure disappeared.
"Not good!"
The two-headed, four-armed giant let out a thunderous cry. The magical treasures in front of him were also driven even more ferociously.
But at this moment, a sharp golden light flashed across the sky, and all the hundred phantom clones of the monstrous beast were shattered.
The next moment, with a piercing scream.
The peculiar monstrous beast, which was about to escape to the giant's side, suddenly stopped. Its neck had been grabbed by Heavenly Treasure, who had appeared at some unknown time.
Heavenly Treasure's eyes were filled with indifference.
"No!"
The giant roared. Its four arms were raised, and with a violent surge of spiritual light, a sky-reaching giant hammer appeared, whistling towards Heavenly Treasure as if to rescue its spirit beast.
At this moment, Heavenly Treasure's hand tightened slightly, and brilliant golden spiritual light erupted.
The monstrous beast, whose physical body could even withstand a spirit treasure, dissolved into nothingness in this terrifying golden light, not even its demon infant escaping.
At this moment, Heavenly Treasure looked at the incoming sky-reaching giant hammer, his expression unchanged.
In his other hand, a ball of light, as if compressed to the extreme by countless golden wind blades, floated up. He tossed it forward lightly.
Endless golden wind blades erupted, and the sky-reaching giant hammer, capable of destroying mountains and seas, vanished into nothingness amidst these endless golden wind blades.
Heavenly Treasure's figure flickered again, disappearing once more.
Immediately after, the surrounding golden and black spiritual energy tides became even more violent, making it impossible to see what was happening within. Only the giant's angry and painful roars could be heard.
In the distance, two figures hovered in the air. These were Ning Fa and Luo Feixuan, watching the battle intently.
Seeing Heavenly Treasure holding his own against two opponents and having a significant advantage, both of them relaxed.
But Ning Fa's expression remained grim. Being caught up so quickly by this unfamiliar Nascent Soul cultivator made him feel uneasy.
Could it be that his clansmen had already been refined into a Bloodline Pearl?
Thinking of this, Ning Fa clenched his fists in secret.
At this moment, a cry echoed in his sea of consciousness, "That's Old Monster Tiansheng! Why is this old monster here!?"
This voice belonged to Baili Ming. Because his lifespan was nearing its end, his soul power had been continuously weakening, causing him to fall into slumber from time to time. He had only just woken up.
Upon hearing this, Ning Fa's expression became even more grim, "Are you sure? Is that Tiansheng from the Nine Immortals Association?"
Baili Ming gritted his teeth, "I have a deep-seated hatred for this person. He tormented me for so many years, how could I mistake him?"
The two-headed, four-armed powerful Dharma form was also his renowned demonic art, the Chiyou Demon Transformation Art."
Ning Fa's heart sank upon hearing this. Although the newcomer wasn't Yue Long from the Nine Immortals Association, being another Nascent Soul cultivator from the same association undoubtedly meant that the matter of the Abyssal Heavenly Pool had indeed been exposed.
He just didn't know if the other party had found him so quickly because he had recently revealed his whereabouts in the Nine Dragons Sea, or if his clansmen had already been refined into Bloodline Pearls.
However, Ning Fa felt it was likely the former. After all, if his location had been traced by a Bloodline Pearl, he should have sensed something.
"Tsk tsk, this Heavenly Treasure Immortal Merchant is truly as powerful as the rumors say.
Old Monster Tiansheng had already pushed the demonic body Dharma form of the Chiyou Demon Transformation Art to its limits, yet he was still easily suppressed by the Heavenly Treasure Immortal Merchant. It seems the rumors are true."
Baili Ming clicked his tongue and marveled again.
Ning Fa's heart stirred, "What rumors?"
"I heard it by chance, about three thousand years ago, in another powerful cultivation world called the Mingquan Cultivation World, there was a cultivator in the middle Nascent Soul stage.
He came to the Nine Dragons Sea, but set his sights on the Heavenly Treasure Immortal Merchant. They fought fiercely, and in the end, the middle Nascent Soul cultivator was brutally killed.
You should also know how difficult it is to cultivate to the Nascent Soul stage in our realm, let alone the middle stage.
The middle Nascent Soul cultivators in our world are definitely few and far between, practically immortal beings here. Yet, he was killed, which shows how powerful Heavenly Treasure is.
Of course, it's said that Heavenly Treasure didn't emerge unscathed. He didn't reappear for a very long time afterward.
To think that such a formidable figure was ultimately hired by you, kid, is truly incredible.
Can you tell me what price you paid to hire him? I've rarely been this curious in my life..."
Baili Ming first exclaimed, then asked with great curiosity.
Ning Fa replied vaguely. It was naturally impossible to discuss such matters in detail with him.
But after hearing Baili Ming's words, he felt even more confident in the Heavenly Treasure Immortal Merchant.
At this moment, Ning Fa noticed Luo Feixuan's brows furrowed, and she began to look around as if she had sensed something.
"Fellow Daoist Luo, what's wrong?"
Luo Feixuan's eyes were glowing with a faint white light, as if she were performing some secret technique.
After a long while, the anomaly in her eyes disappeared. She then turned to Ning Fa with a solemn expression and said, "Shen Cizhou is likely nearby. I've sensed his aura."
"What? This guy came this fast?" Ning Fa couldn't help but frown.
But he wasn't too worried. No matter how powerful Shen Cizhou was in his past life, he wasn't a Nascent Soul cultivator now. Even without Heavenly Treasure, he and Luo Feixuan should be enough to deal with him.
Just then, with a world-shattering roar, the surging golden and black spiritual energy tide in the middle suddenly exploded.
The demonic body Dharma form that Old Monster Tiansheng had transformed into was sent flying backward, unable to control his movements.
His entire body was now covered in gaping wounds, and of his four arms, only three remained.
He tumbled continuously in the air before finally stabilizing himself. He then managed to stand up, his four eyes bloodshot as he glared forward.
Heavenly Treasure appeared there, looking completely unharmed and still calm, though his eyes held a sharper edge than usual.
"Heavenly Treasure, are you truly going to oppose our Nine Immortals Association?" Old Monster Tiansheng boomed.
Seeing that Heavenly Treasure did not reply, he glanced at Ning Fa in the distance, his eyes filled with ferocity. His right head opened its mouth and spat out a small bronze crossbow bolt.
Although the bolt was rusty, it exuded a terrifying aura. This was clearly a Heaven-Piercing Spirit Treasure.
It was evident that Tiansheng was prepared to fight with all his might. Under normal circumstances, with Heavenly Treasure blocking him, he might have given up.
However, this matter concerned the Abyssal Heavenly Pool, so he had to risk it. After all, he was pressed for time and needed to capture Ning Fa as soon as possible.
Heavenly Treasure's expression also became slightly serious. Without turning his head, he transmitted a message to Ning Fa, "After this battle, you will owe me an additional ten top-grade Water Spirit Stones."
"Alright," Ning Fa replied.
In reality, this price was already discounted.
Before this, Ning Fa had already signed another fifth-tier Taiyi Divine Contract with Heavenly Treasure, concerning Le'er helping him repair that treasure later.
However, Ning Fa had also modified the terms of the agreement.
It stated that Le'er's opinion would be considered, and if she disagreed, the matter would be dropped.
Of course, Ning Fa would also have to pay back the price difference according to the originally agreed-upon hiring fee.
Heavenly Treasure had agreed to this and had even reduced the reward for his additional help.
Otherwise, the extra price to pay for dealing with the desperate Old Monster Tiansheng would not be this much.
Heavenly Treasure then re-summoned his Heaven Measuring Ruler and swept his right hand across it.
Mysterious golden runes immediately appeared on the surface of the Heaven Measuring Ruler, and astonishing spiritual energy emanated from it as if its seal had been broken.
An incredible spiritual aura erupted, causing the surrounding sea to be violently impacted, raising monstrous waves.
At the same time, mysterious golden patterns appeared on Heavenly Treasure's exposed skin, and he too emitted a terrifying spiritual energy fluctuation.
Old Monster Tiansheng, whose face had been contorted with rage, suddenly changed his expression.
"Wasn't he heavily injured after killing Pang Yan of the Mingquan Cultivation World? Has he already recovered his strength?"
Thinking this, Old Monster Tiansheng's heart trembled.
After all, this was a terrifying existence capable of slaying a cultivator in the middle stage of Soul Transformation with sheer force. If he were to fully recover his strength, it wouldn't be difficult for him to kill me.
With that thought, the bronze crossbow bolt he had activated halfway came to a halt.
Just then, a strange wind chime sound reached his ears. He immediately shouted, "Fellow Daoist, stop! You don't want to let someone else reap the benefits, do you? Other fellow Daoists are heading this way!"
Tian Bao also stopped urging the Heaven Measuring Ruler, turned, and transmitted his voice to Ning Fa, "I do indeed sense other Soul Transformation cultivators approaching from a thousand miles away."
Ning Fa couldn't help but be startled and immediately replied, "Then let's stop for now."
Immediately after, Tian Bao retracted his astonishing aura, and the mysterious golden spiritual patterns on his body disappeared, restoring him to his harmless appearance.
On the opposite side, Old Monster Tiansheng also returned to his normal size. His left forearm was clearly bent at an unnatural angle, and his aura was extremely weak.
He immediately stuffed several pills into his mouth, looking at Tian Bao with great apprehension.
Ning Fa also sized up this notorious Old Monster Tiansheng.
The man appeared to be over sixty years old, but he showed no signs of aging. His bare upper body was covered in bulging muscles. Above his large nose were two narrow, slitted eyes that gleamed with ferocity.
Then, Ning Fa looked towards the distant horizon, curious about who these approaching Soul Transformation cultivators might be.
Soon, his divine sense also detected the presence of the newcomers, and his expression changed.
This was because it wasn't just one Soul Transformation cultivator rushing this way.
Soon, two streaks of light arrived in an instant, revealing two figures.
One was a middle-aged cultivator in a green robe, holding a feather fan. He had a handsome appearance and an ethereal aura, though his eyes were slightly narrow, and they glinted with a cold, emotionless light.
The other was a veiled, beautiful middle-aged woman dressed in a blue palace dress. Her figure was alluring, and her beautiful eyes seemed to hold a deep, tender affection.
She was cradling a yellow, cat-like beast in her arms. The creature had large, bright eyes that stared intently at everyone.
Strangely, the beast's pupils seemed to contain multiple reflections, making anyone who looked at them feel as if they were being drawn in.
"I didn't expect Daoist Tiansheng to visit our Nine Dragons Sea again after several hundred years, and even have such a spar with Daoist Tian Bao."
The middle-aged man in the green robe said with a faint smile as he looked at everyone. He then cast an extra glance at Ning Fa.
Ning Fa's expression was grave. At this moment, Luo Feixuan's voice transmission reached his ear.
"Daoist Ning, these two are Wen Yuchen, a Soul Transformation cultivator from Taichu Gate, and Fairy Linghua from West Flower Island."