Chapter 544: Chapter 544

Faced with a two-on-one situation, and considering their opponent was merely a Sixth-Layer Golden Core Cultivator, Zhouyang and Jiang Fengxian certainly had no reason to fail.

Moreover, since the other party was the first to strike, Zhouyang’s original intention to spare his life need not be implemented. He used the "Soul Capturing Treasure Pearl" to confuse his Divine Soul, and then Jiang Fengxian decapitated him with a single sword stroke.

With this, all five slots were determined.

Subsequently, no unexpected events occurred. Zhouyang and his companion, ranked fourth and fifth, did not antagonize anyone else and waited patiently until the three ahead of them reached the peak before ascending together.

As the five of them successfully reached the peak and stood before the door of the black palace, the black-robed figure, who had been at the foot of the mountain, suddenly emerged from the open door.

"The [Holy Infant Fruit] is ready. You five may enter and pick it!"

The cold words came from the black robe’s mouth, and yet they did not affect the excited and ardent glances shared among the five of Zhouyang.

Having toiled hard to get here, they could finally obtain what they desired, and the joy of this accomplishment was palpable.

Immediately, the five followed the black-robed figure into the black palace and soon arrived in front of the legendary "Holy Infant Fruit" tree.

This fruit tree was nearly ten feet tall, with lush branches and leaves, yet it bore only six fruits!

The fruits were about the size of an infant’s head, shaped like pears, pure white in color, with golden patterns. On closer inspection, these patterns seemed remarkably like infants, likely the origin of the "Holy Infant Fruit" name.

As for why, despite there being six fruits, the black-robed figure consistently claimed only five and allotted five slots, no one dared to ask.

As long as their individual "Holy Infant Fruit" was not affected, none of them, including Zhouyang, would care or dare to care.

"The [Holy Infant Fruit] can only be knocked down with a Golden Artifact and stored in an Attributeless Jade Artifact. Before use, it must not be contaminated by any Alien Spirit Qi, or its effect will be greatly diminished. You figure it out!"

The still-cold voice came lightly from the black robe’s mouth, prompting Zhouyang and the others to promptly take action.

Everything went smoothly.

Following the black robe’s instructions, Zhouyang used a Gold Attribute Flying Sword to consecutively cut down two "Holy Infant Fruits" and collected them into a jade box made of Attributeless Spirit Jade, storing one for himself and Jiang Fengxian in their Storage Rings.

Once the five had collected their respective "Holy Infant Fruit," the black-robed figure suddenly waved his hand, and all but Zhouyang and Jiang Fengxian were teleported away.

This change startled the duo, causing them to tense and gaze nervously at the black-robed figure, hesitant to speak.

"Do you know why I kept the two of you?"

The black-robed figure glanced at them, coolly voiced the question they hadn’t asked.

"Please, Predecessor, enlighten us."

Zhouyang respectfully cupped his fists and bowed, then listened intently, awaiting the black-robed figure’s explanation.

The black-robed figure did not beat around the bush, pointing directly as he spoke: "I kept you because I’m curious about the Immortal Artifact inside you and interested in your Cultivation Technique. If I’m not mistaken, neither should originate from your [Spirit Realm]!"

Before Zhouyang could respond, he pointed to Jiang Fengxian: "As for this little girl, it’s not particularly rare in the Upper Realm for a human body to possess [Phoenix True Blood], but such bloodlines are mostly acquired by plundering other phoenix descendants. For one like her to naturally possess the Phoenix Bloodline and have awakened the [Phoenix True Blood], to my knowledge, only occurs among the half-demons!"

"Yet I’ve observed this little girl for a long time, and she is definitely not the result of some Phoenix True Saint crossbreeding with human cultivators, and half-demons wouldn’t have such limited cultivation at her age. It’s impossible for a true phoenix to exist in the [Spirit Realm]!"

Zhouyang and Jiang Fengxian’s expressions changed.

In a few brief remarks, the black-robed figure uncovered secrets they had hidden for years, undiscovered by anyone else, causing them great alarm.

The two exchanged a glance, seeing a hint of fear in each other’s eyes.

This situation reminded them of the time they encountered the Wood Demon in the "Celestial Rift Canyon."

This mysterious black-robed figure, keeping them and revealing their deeply buried secrets, seemed anything but benign!

"You need not fear. As long as you can satisfy my curiosity, not only will I not harm you, but I will also grant you additional benefits!"

Perhaps knowing what was on Zhouyang and Jiang Fengxian’s minds, the black-robed figure quickly reassured them.

But the words meant to reassure, spoken in his cold tone, sounded strange and unsettling, leaving others uneasy.

However, with his reassurance, Zhouyang and his companion indeed felt much more at ease.

Both were smart enough to know that given the identity and strength of the black-robed man, he had no reason to lie to comfort them, so it was highly likely he was telling the truth.

After a brief hesitation, Zhouyang was the first to speak: "Senior, please discern. The magical artifact within me was indeed an object of the Celestial Immortals, obtained during an encounter while I was still in the Qi Cultivation Stage. The cultivation technique I practice is also inherited from that Immortal!"

This secret was something he had never revealed to outsiders before.

Upon hearing this, regardless of the black-robed man’s reaction, Jiang Fengxian beside him looked at him in complete surprise, never expecting him to have such an encounter!

The story of a Qi Cultivation Stage cultivator obtaining the legacy of a Tribulation Crossing True Immortal was something almost every cultivator had heard of. Still, Jiang Fengxian never imagined Zhouyang, someone she had a close relationship with, was the protagonist of such a tale!

After listening to Zhouyang, the black-robed man quickly inquired: "Can you bring out the magical artifact for me to see? Do you know the title of that Upper Realm True Immortal?"

Before the Core Formation, Zhouyang indeed couldn’t summon the "Qianyang Treasure Pearl" from his dantian.

But ever since the magical artifact absorbed a large amount of Heaven and Earth Spiritual Qi during his Core Formation Celestial Phenomenon, his connection with it grew much closer. He not only learned the usage method of the "Qianyang Celestial Fire Shield" but also could summon it externally.

Hearing the black-robed man’s words at this time, he didn’t hold back. He swiftly moved his hand across his abdomen over the dantian, then raised his hand, and a golden treasure pearl appeared in his palm.

Is this an immortal artifact?

Jiang Fengxian’s eyes widened, filled with curiosity, as she looked at the golden treasure pearl in Zhouyang’s hand.

In the Spirit Realm, although there had been Tribulation Crossing True Immortals, the Tier Seven Immortal Artifacts they left behind were few.

Over tens of thousands of years, the Tier Seven Immortal Artifacts left behind by predecessors were either lost to the ravages of time or held by Nascent Soul Stage cultivators of some top-tier powers, making it hardly possible for Nascent Soul Stage cultivators from other factions to see them, let alone those below the Nascent Soul Stage.

Thus, Jiang Fengxian’s expression wasn’t surprising to Zhouyang.

If it weren’t for the black-robed man nearby, he certainly wouldn’t mind showing off the power of this object to win a smile from the beauty.

Now, he reluctantly handed over the treasure pearl, explaining: "This item is called the ’Qianyang Treasure Pearl.’ It is the lifebound spiritual artifact of a Tribulation Crossing True Immortal named ’Master Qianyang.’ However, as senior can see, this item is currently damaged and its power is less than half of its peak, bearing the name of a Tier Seven Immortal Artifact but lacking the substance!"

The black-robed man did not hesitate to receive the golden treasure pearl, examining it closely.

After quite some time, he tossed the golden treasure pearl back to Zhouyang, praising it as a very exquisite and powerful artifact. "From this artifact, one can tell its master was certainly not an ordinary person and must have been a top-tier Artifact Refining Grandmaster!"

He couldn’t help but shake his head, saying: "It’s a pity that I have never heard of ’Master Qianyang’s’ name. Perhaps he is a descendant of my true self, or maybe he was not an Upper Realm True Immortal!"

"Regarding your cultivation technique, there’s no need for me to see it. If I am not mistaken, your technique should be suitable only for cultivators with the ’Qianyang Treasure Body’ like yourself."

"To create such a specialized cultivation technique compatible with one’s physique, ’Master Qianyang’ was indeed a genius. Were it not for his untimely fall, he might have had a sliver of a chance to ascend to the Returning Void Stage and become an Earth Immortal True Monarch renowned across all realms!"

Zhouyang keenly caught the important message inadvertently revealed by the black-robed man and looked at him in shock.

He had had various speculations about the true identity of the black-robed man before, and now it seemed he had indeed guessed correctly. For more chapters visıt NoveIＦire.net

This black-robed man was actually an incarnation left by a "Celestial Immortal" who had founded the Kunxu Realm!

A Nascent Soul Stage cultivator can practice the divine techniques of "external incarnation" by using special spiritual objects to refine a clone. Tribulation Crossing True Immortals usually have their main body in seclusion within a Grotto Heaven Blessed Land while having incarnations explore the outside world.

If the black-robed man was the incarnation of a Tribulation Crossing True Immortal, then it made complete sense that Lu Xuanji said even if all Nascent Soul Stage cultivators within the Kunxu Realm united to attack "Holy Infant Valley," they would still stand no chance.

Jiang Fengxian also noticed this crucial point, her pretty face filled with astonishment as she looked at the black-robed man.

Even though it was just an incarnation, the black-robed man before them was worthy of bearing the title of "World-Residing True Immortal," and they were conversing with such a figure!

The black-robed man understood what they were thinking by observing their expressions but did not bother to explain. Instead, he shifted his gaze to Jiang Fengxian and said, "Alright, your situation has been clarified. Now it’s this young lady’s turn to speak about her circumstances. I’m very curious about this young lady’s situation!"