Chapter 1573: Four-Stage Thunder Eagle Demon Pill, Thunder Yuan Fruit

This regulation was issued over four thousand years ago. For five hundred years after the war between immortals and demons ended, humans managed to restrain themselves. Five centuries later, both the human and demon races unilaterally abrogated the agreement, each claiming the other had initiated hostilities, and neither would yield. The disputes have only escalated since then.

This is not surprising. Once cultivators reach the Nascent Soul stage, their cultivation speed slows significantly. Nascent Soul cultivators seeking breakthroughs either dedicate themselves to arduous solitary cultivation, which is time-consuming and often leads to bottlenecks, or they search for ancient cultivators' caves, forbidden lands, secret realms, or pocket worlds. However, with the increasing number of Nascent Soul cultivators in Dongli Realm, not every cultivator can fortuitously encounter an open secret realm, forbidden land, or pocket world. How then can they be expected to simply return to their caves and diligently cultivate for hundreds of years?

The South Sea is rich in demonic beast resources. Most demonic beasts, even upon reaching the fourth rank, cannot assume human form. They sometimes mistakenly trespass into cultivators' territories and kill low-level cultivators. This provides a convenient excuse for human Nascent Soul cultivators to eliminate demonic beasts under the guise of "slaying demons and eradicating evil," allowing them to acquire cultivation resources, accelerate their cultivation speed, and gain a good reputation.

From the perspective of the demon race, to advance further, they either need spiritual elixirs or must devour high-level cultivators. The Sea Clan and Barbarian Clan are similar. Their living environment dictates that non-human races cannot maintain perpetual peace with humans.

Dongli Realm has a finite amount of cultivation resources. If humans take more, non-human races will have less; if non-human races take more, humans will have little left.

"Improving relations with the non-human races is not my personal intention, but rather the will of Senior Sun from Ten Thousand Beast Island and our Old Ancestor of the Ouyang Family. If any of you have objections, you can voice them to them. I can relay your message. Does anyone have an objection?"

Ouyang Liang's tone was indifferent. Truth be told, he also had no desire to make peace with the non-human races. However, he had to obey the orders of a Soul Transformation cultivator.

The cultivators exchanged glances, remaining silent. Only a fool would openly defy a Soul Transformation cultivator.

"Fellow Daoist Ouyang, while we may not seek to harm others, others may seek to harm us. If the non-human races attack us, surely we cannot simply stand by and do nothing?" Shen Wenbin asked with a frown, his expression somewhat unnatural.

"Certainly not," Ouyang Liang said severely. "Regardless of who initiates hostilities, they will be subject to inspection by the enforcement team. The Zhuge Family will use one of their four clan-protecting treasures, the Seven-Star Mystic Heart Mirror, for investigation. Whether one speaks the truth or lies, nothing can escape the Mirror's scrutiny."

The Zhuge Family is one of the ten great cultivation families of the South Sea, highly skilled in artifact refining. The Zhuge Family possesses a clan-protecting treasure, the Seven-Star Mystic Heart Mirror, which can detect lies. However, the Zhuge Family rarely uses this treasure on outsiders. The expressions of some cultivators turned grim. Since the Seven-Star Mystic Heart Mirror is a clan-protecting treasure of the Zhuge Family, it must possess extraordinary capabilities.

"The non-human races will also restrain their clansmen. This is an order from above, and I am merely acting on instructions. As for how you fellow Daoists choose to act, that is up to you. However, I still hope that after returning, you fellow Daoists will restrain your clansmen, disciples, and affiliated forces, and try to avoid resorting to force when disputes arise, resolving issues peacefully," Ouyang Liang said slowly. He knew that his words would displease some people, but he had to follow the task assigned by the Old Ancestor.

"Since this is the will of Senior Sun and Senior Ouyang, our Wang Family will comply," Wang Qingling was the first to express agreement. Eighty percent of the Wang Family's income came from selling puppet beasts, magical artifacts, and treasures. However, the Wang Family had extensive operations; even without the South Sea market, they could transport their goods to the Eastern Wilderness, Central Plains, and Northern Frontier cultivation realms for sale, thereby minimizing losses.

"I, Shen, agree with Fairy Wang's opinion," Shen Wenbin said. Even if he was a hundred times unwilling, he could only agree with a forced smile. Others expressed their stances one after another, with no one objecting; all showed agreement. With a Soul Transformation cultivator having spoken, who would dare to voice an objection?

Ouyang Liang let out a sigh of relief. He was merely responsible for notifying the major forces; once they agreed, things would be much simpler.

"It's rare to have so many fellow Daoists present today. Let's hold an exchange meeting to trade what we have for what we lack," Ouyang Liang suggested enthusiastically. The cultivators present were of extraordinary backgrounds and should be able to exchange for some good items.

This suggestion was met with the approval of the cultivators.

Ouyang Liang took out dozens of materials, including artifact refining materials, talismans, high-grade spirit wine, and formation arrays. "I am offering these items in exchange for Fireflame Grass aged over three thousand years, fourth-rank fire-attribute demonic cores, or equivalent materials. Alchemy materials are preferred."

Wang Qingling's gaze swept over the items, and a hint of disappointment flickered in her eyes. These items were indeed good. However, what she most desired was a fourth-rank ice-attribute flood dragon's demonic core. Ao Qing was a wind-attribute flood dragon. If the Ice-Wind Flood Dragon consumed Ao Qing's core, the effect would be somewhat diminished. If it were a fourth-rank ice-attribute flood dragon's demonic core, the effect would be better.

Guang Dongren immediately took a liking to the jar of fourth-rank spirit wine. According to Ouyang Liang's introduction, it was brewed primarily from thousand-year Snow Cloud Fruit and had the effect of enhancing magical power. Guang Dongren stepped forward and communicated with Ouyang Liang via spiritual transmission. Many cultivators also communicated with Ouyang Liang through spiritual transmission. After much consideration, Ouyang Liang exchanged the fourth-rank spirit wine with Guang Dongren.

After Ouyang Liang completed his exchange, other cultivators successively took out their treasures to display, stating what they wished to exchange for.

After the time it takes to brew a cup of tea, it was True Monarch Azure Gourd's turn. He took out over a dozen materials, including a mid-grade fourth-rank Thunder Eagle's core and a two-thousand-year-old Thunder Origin Fruit. Thunder Phoenix had been at the peak of the third rank for many years. With the mid-grade fourth-rank Thunder Eagle's core, the two-thousand-year Thunder Origin Fruit, and a Sky Beast Pill, Thunder Phoenix's chances of advancing to the fourth rank were exceptionally high. True Monarch Azure Gourd wanted to exchange for artifact refining materials, with wood-attribute materials preferred.

"Fellow Daoist Liu, how about I exchange a section of nine-thousand-year-old Six Roots of Purity Bamboo for the Thunder Eagle core, the Thunder Origin Fruit, and that Wutu Divine Crystal?" Wang Qingling asked via spiritual transmission. The Wutu Divine Crystal was a top-grade earth-attribute artifact refining material, and Wang Ruyan had been collecting Five-Element materials to refine Five-Element Talisman Soldiers. During their trip to the Flying Immortal Ruins, they obtained an entire Six Roots of Purity Bamboo plant. Wang Changsheng used a portion for artifact refining, and Wang Qingling had brought two sections of the Six Roots of Purity Bamboo to this Dao Discussion Conference.

"Nine-thousand-year-old Six Roots of Purity Bamboo! Excellent, it's a deal," True Monarch Azure Gourd readily agreed, replying via spiritual transmission.

After True Monarch Azure Gourd completed his exchange, Guang Dongren took out over a dozen materials, mainly artifact refining materials, but also some fourth-rank demonic cores. He wished to exchange for Nascent Soul-forming spiritual objects, or fourth-rank beast meat, or fourth-rank spirit wine. Nascent Soul-forming spiritual objects were rare for smaller forces. However, there were several fourth-rank alchemists among the cultivators present, and Guang Dongren successfully exchanged for a Nascent Soul-forming spiritual object.

After Guang Dongren completed his exchange, Wang Qingling took out dozens of items, including complete sets of puppet beasts, as well as formation arrays and magical treasures. "I am offering these materials in exchange for a fourth-rank ice-attribute flood dragon's demonic core or spiritual elixirs that aid flood dragon advancement. The price is negotiable," Wang Qingling said in a deep voice, her face full of anticipation. If her Ice-Wind Flood Dragon advanced to the fourth rank, she would have a certain chance of reaching the mid-stage Nascent Soul realm.