Chapter 383: Demon Cloud Emperor

Fang Chen sank into contemplation.

"It seems the Spirit Blood Sect is making a hugely ambitious move this time."

If things unfolded as he envisioned them, there would be no one to stop the Spirit Blood Sect from refining the Blood Spirit Pill in the Hidden Cloud Region.

"Hey, Brother, what about the remaining five thousand low-grade spirit stones?" asked Mirror of the Universe

"We'll talk about it after leaving this place," replied Fang Chen, sinking into the shadows.

The moment Fang Chen sank into the shadows, the people the Heavenly Treasure Pavillion had sent out to survey him immediately lost track of him.

"Where did he go!?"

"We've lost him!"

"Quick, report back to the manager!"

At the Heavenly Treasure Pavilion.

Shopkeeper Lin had a thin smile on his face. "It’s fine, whatever happens next has nothing to do with us."

After leaving the city, Fang Chen gave Mirror of the Universe five thousand low-grade spirit stones whilst they were in the shadows.

The Mirror of the Universe devoured them all in one go and then said contentedly, "You're in luck, Brother. This peak-grade, yellow-rank treasure is an immortal boat. It's common knowledge that immortal boats require a lot of material to build, so their value is a lot higher than other treasures of the same grade."

Fang Chen nodded lightly. "An immortal boat? Not bad."

It seemed that the ten thousand spirit stones hadn't been spent in vain. The spiritual materials that were used to build immortal boats were far from ordinary treasures. That one time Little Sword devoured the Sea Dragon Sect's warship and was fully satiated afterward was a testament to that.

Mirror of the Universe provided Fang Chen with a map that detailed the whereabouts of the immortal boat.

Fang Chen immediately started making his way over there. He was planning on having Little Sword devour the immortal boat.

However, suddenly, the forty sealed Soul Imprints on the Demonic Suppression Wheel began to glow with a radiant light.

A terrifying pressure suddenly descended down on Fang Chen. It was as if a mountain was pressing down on him.

In an instant, Fang Chen's figure fell out of the shadows.

To his dismay, Fang Chen found that he couldn't move at all. He was being restrained by some kind of force.

At the same time, Fang Chen felt a gaze fall on him from the Demonic Suppression Wheel.

An old voice sounded from the Demonic Suppression Wheel. "Junior, I thought you were at the Golden Core Realm, but turns out you're just at the Qi Refining Realm. How did you come by so many spirit stones?"

"May I ask who you are?" asked Fang Chen softly.

A reply came from the Demonic Suppression Wheel. "I am the Demon Cloud Emperor."

Demon Cloud Emperor?

So the Demonic Suppression Wheel had always been the Demon Cloud Emperor's treasure. The forty "sealed" Soul Imprints had been deliberately left unrefined? A bait to lure in cultivators to buy the Demonic Suppression Wheel?

Fang Chen couldn't help admiring the Demon Cloud Emperor.

"How many cultivators have you deceived with this trick?" asked Fang Chen.

"This is cultivation, Junior. It's not deception. There are only so many resources in the world. If they're scattered all around, how can my generation have a chance to reach the Nascent Soul Realm?" said the old voice. "Wait there. Someone will come to take you away."

"Little Sword, devour it," said Fang Chen expressionlessly.

The next moment, Little Sword began to devour the Demonic Suppression Wheel. The yellow rank peak treasure was like tofu in front of Little Sword, and with a bite, Little Sword chomped a hole away.

Fang Chen felt the restraining force on him dwindle as Little Sword ate away at the Demonic Suppression Wheel/

The Demon Cloud Emperor was shocked. Although he wasn't there physically, he could clearly sense that his Demonic Suppression Wheel was being "refined"!

Furthermore, he could sense that it wasn't the Soul Imprints that were being refined, but the treasure itself!

"Junior, what have you done to the Demonic Suppression Wheel?"

Fang Chen remained silent.

𝕗𝚛𝚎𝚎𝐰𝗲𝗯𝗻𝚘𝚟𝚎𝗹.𝕔𝐨𝕞

"Junior, stop immediately and I can spare your life!"

Still, Fang Chen remained silent.

"Junior, if you don't stop now, when my men catch you, you'll understand what it means to desire death but to not be able to have it!"

As Little Sword ate more, the Demon Cloud Emperor's voice began to be only heard every now and then.

Fang Chen's eyes gleamed with cold ridicule, however, he still didn't respond.

Before long, Little Sword completely devoured about half of the Demonic Suppression Wheel.

The force that was restraining Fang Chen visibly weakened, and the voice of the Demon Cloud Emperor became even more sporadic.

"Juni...or... I will... personally... catch... you!"

"You're still threatening us?!" barked Little Sword.

Fired up, Little Sword accelerated the rate at which it consumed the Demonic Suppression Wheel. Its aura grew stronger, and its form began to alter, becoming an almost three-foot-long green peak!

This was a drastic change in appearance compared to the fish-like, little one-inch-sword that it had been just after hatching from its embryo.

"The rate at which it’s devouring the treasure is getting faster," murmured the Mirror of the Universe dreadfully.

An hour passed.

A figure flew in from the sky, and Fang Chen could already make out the person's appearance. He had white hair, wore a black robe, and was perched on a massive pale skull.

Even if this person wasn't the Demon Cloud Emperor, he had to be his subordinate at the very least. He emitted an aura that was at the grand competition stage of the Foundation Building Realm.

Fang Chen felt that he was quite similar to the Heavenly Southern Sect's ancestor.

When the person caught sight of Fang Chen, he immediately accelerated toward him.

Fang Chen stayed calm. Even though he was still being restrained by that force, it was clear that the Demonic Suppression Wheel was growing weaker and weaker under Little Sword's devouring.

"Junior…!"

The figure on the skull was getting closer.

The next moment, Fang Chen felt his body loosen, and the restraining force completely disappeared.

Now he had two choices.

He could either choose to take out the Foundation Building Realm cultivator rushing his way, or he could use the Shadow Buddha technique to escape and let Little Sword finish devouring the Demonic Suppression Wheel.

Fang Chen chose the second option without much hesitation.

The figure suddenly saw Fang Chen sink into the shadow before his very eyes.

While he could have used the Eight Desolation Supreme Sword Scripture to potentially defeat his pursuer, it would have consumed his lifespan, which wasn't worth it.

"He's gone!?"

The approaching figure was startled. His eyes quickly turned serious. He took out a voice transmission talisman and ignited it. "

Your Majesty, the target has escaped and is nowhere to be found.

"

"

This kid's methods are quite strange. He's destroying my Demonic Suppression Wheel. You must capture him before the Demonic Suppression Wheel is completely destroyed.

"

"Understood."

The figure flipped his hand and revealed a black metal object. He lightly sensed it and finally locked onto a direction before pursuing.

He furrowed his brows slightly. "He's pretty fast..."

The speed at which the Demonic Suppression Wheel moved was quite unusual. The Demon Cloud Emperor had informed him that this kid was just in the Qi Refining Realm, but how could a Qi Refining Realm cultivator move so quickly?

What he didn't know was that Fang Chen's speed when he was melded into the shadows was comparable to the Sword Transformation Technique. No, it was slightly faster, even.

"He's chasing me. That object in his hand seems to be made out of the same material as the Demonic Suppression Wheel. They seem to have a connection, allowing him to track my position," muttered Fang Chen.

"But... he can't see me."

Fang Chen's expression grew serious as he asked Little Sword. "Little Sword, how long until you completely devour the Demonic Suppression Wheel?"

Little Sword replied, "Little Chen, I'm a bit full now. I need to digest, so I'll need some time."

Fang Chen was taken aback. He suddenly noticed that Little Sword's devouring speed had indeed slowed down and wasn’t as fast as before.

"Brother, this is a peak-grade, yellow-rank treasure after all. This kid hasn't fully matured yet. It'll probably take him a few days to completely devour such a treasure, " commented Mirror of the Universe.