Chapter 966: Chapter 418: Xuanmo True Monarch’s Invitation; Hongyi Returns Again_3

No wonder the other party has lived for so long.

Xu Ping’s mind was filled with countless thoughts, yet his face revealed nothing. Instead, he showed a warm smile and invited the two into the Blood Bone Hall: "Fellow Daoist Hongyi, Nine Nether Elder, please."

They all took their seats as host and guests.

Hongyi exchanged a few pleasantries with Xu Ping before directly taking out a storage bag and handing it to Xu Ping: "Fellow Daoist Xu, those materials you asked me to watch out for years ago have finally yielded some results. It’s all in here."

Xu Ping took the storage bag and scanned it with his Divine Sense. His eyes immediately lit up with a hint of joy.

Inside, it was dazzling, filled with rare high-grade artifact refining materials.

Especially a few main materials that could greatly enhance the toughness and spiritual charm of flying swords. Surprisingly, as much as twenty percent of them had been collected.

"The resources of the Star Palace are indeed as reputed. I appreciate it, Fellow Daoist Hongyi!" Xu Ping expressed his heartfelt gratitude.

At this rate, it wasn’t far from collecting all the materials to fully upgrade the seventy-two magic swords to the level of Spirit Treasures.

He cheerfully paid the corresponding amount of Spirit Stones and once again asked Hongyi to continue to help collect more.

This was not a difficult task for Hongyi, and he naturally agreed.

After discussing the main business, Hongyi brought up an old topic with a smile: "Fellow Daoist Xu, about the agreement to join forces and hunt the late-stage Demon Beast..."

Upon hearing this, Xu Ping was about to agree, but the figure of Xuanmo True Monarch suddenly flashed through his mind, along with the temptation of the "Five Element Divine Clay."

A bold idea emerged.

Xu Ping raised his hand to stop Hongyi’s sentence and showed a mysterious smile: "Fellow Daoist Hongyi, there’s no rush. Since Xu Mou has already agreed, naturally I will not go back on my word."

"However... before departure, there might be a larger ’deal’ I wish to discuss with you both."

"Oh? A bigger deal?" Hongyi showed an interested expression.

Even the Nine Nether Elder, who had been resting with his eyes closed, slightly opened them, a glimmer of light passing through.

Xu Ping hesitated no more and immediately narrated the entire matter of Xuanmo True Monarch inviting him to explore the Water Demon Cave in search of the "Five Element Divine Clay," including his suspicions and conjectures.

After hearing Xu Ping’s account, a deeply intriguing smile appeared on the shriveled lips of the Nine Nether Elder.

Meanwhile, Hongyi’s eyes flickered with interest, clearly deeply attracted by the words "Five Element Divine Clay."

After contemplating for a moment, he looked at Xu Ping: "Since Fellow Daoist Xu shares this secret, I assume... there is a plan?"

A glint of cold light flashed in Xu Ping’s eyes as he lowered his voice and slowly uttered three words: "Betray the betrayer."

Xuanmo True Monarch, being the top figure in the demonic path, was unpredictable in his actions, with countless killings to his name and surely possessing many treasures.

Rather than risking cooperation and constant vigilance, why not join forces and eliminate him.

At that time, the Five Element Divine Clay would naturally fall into their hands, and they could split the spoils accumulated from him.

Even if his words were false and there was no divine clay in the Water Demon Cave, slaying this fiend would be a righteous act, and the battle spoils would be worth the effort.

Hearing this, Hongyi’s eyes shone brightly, clearly very tempted.

The Five Element Divine Clay was equally enticing to him.

Moreover, with all three of them joining forces, unprepared by Xuanmo True Monarch, their success rate was very high.

"Alright, count me in on this matter!"

After some brief consideration, Hongyi nodded heavily.

Although the Nine Nether Elder didn’t speak, his slight nod had already indicated his stance.

Upon seeing this, Xu Ping’s heart settled, and a smile appeared on his face: "In that case, let’s... act according to plan." 𝒇𝓻𝓮𝓮𝙬𝙚𝒃𝒏𝓸𝙫𝒆𝙡.𝓬𝓸𝒎

He immediately took out a Jade Talisman of communication, imprinting a message that conveyed his willingness to explore the Water Demon Cave with Xuanmo True Monarch after careful consideration, and inquired about the departure time.

Soon, a reply from Xuanmo True Monarch arrived, quickly arranging a specific time and place to meet in a secluded sea region.

Two months later, at an uninhabited desolate bay in the open sea.

A flash of blue light quietly landed, and the brilliance faded to reveal Xu Ping’s figure.

He wore an ink-colored robe with a serene expression.

"Fellow Daoist Xu, you’re right on time."

A gentle, smiling voice sounded. Not far away, the space subtly rippled, and the figure of Xuanmo True Monarch appeared like a ghost, wearing an inscrutable smile.

"With the summons of Elder Xuanmo, how dare Xu Mou be tardy."

Xu Ping turned around, and a warm smile appeared on his face, as if he were truly a partner in a treasure hunt.

The two of them exchanged a few warm pleasantries.

Xuanmo True Monarch seemed to be in a particularly good mood and remarked, "This place is remote, perfect for secrecy. There’s no time to lose, as the journey to the Water Demon Cave is not short. Shall we set off now?"

"I’ll follow the elder’s arrangements," Xu Ping nodded.

The two instantly turned into two beams of Escape Light, one blue and one black, quietly diving into the vast sea, speeding towards the deep sea.

About the time of one incense stick after they disappeared, a seemingly ordinary dark cloud lingered high up, trailing far behind Xu Ping and the others.

...

Two more months passed.

At the bottom of the deep sea, the pressure was terrifying, light could barely penetrate, and there was eternal darkness and silence.

Ordinary Golden Core Cultivators would have been crushed into a pulp without some extraordinary treasure protecting them.

Xu Ping and Xuanmo True Monarch were enveloped in spiritual light, resisting the all-pervasive pressure of the deep sea, constantly diving further down.

Finally, the scene ahead suddenly changed.

A continuous, seemingly ancient black giant reef mountain range lay ferociously on the seabed.

Its magnificent scale, even the exposed part, was as large as giant mountain ranges on land, with an unknown amount hidden in deeper, darker trenches.

This black reef emitted a faint Demonic Qi, cold, silent, corroding the mind.

The surface of the reef was covered with countless large and small, bottomless holes like a honeycomb, densely packed and hair-raising to behold.

"So this is the Water Demon Cave?"

Xu Ping’s pupils shrank slightly, secretly amazed in his heart, "As expected, it lives up to its reputation!"

At this depth, the enormous water pressure itself significantly suppressed a cultivator’s abilities, and the dense Demonic Qi here was constantly eroding the spiritual light and disturbing Divine Sense.