Chapter 1883: Contract Spirit Beast

The Heaven-Azure Realm, Buried Demon Icefield.

Near Fallen Immortal Lake, Situ Qing and Sun Hao stood, their brows deeply furrowed. A magnificent azure palace stood not far away, its gates tightly shut.

"I wonder if Senior Martial Brother Shangguan can refine the Underworld Moon Pearl," Situ Qing said, a hint of worry in her eyes. After their expedition to the Thousand Gourd Realm, a number of Nascent Soul cultivators from the Heaven-Azure Sect had died, which naturally led to improved treatment for her and Sun Hao.

The Heaven-Azure Sect appeared to be a unified entity, but it contained multiple factions internally. Treasures in the sect's vault were considered common property, and those with greater power could claim a larger share.

Other Nascent Soul cultivators either disbelieved the Tower of Immortal Suppression's spirit, had alternative motives, or were simply too weak to wield any influence. This allowed Shangguan Tianhong to secure a large quantity of fifth-tier materials in exchange for ascension quotas.

Shangguan Tianhong had always been fixated on the Underworld Moon Water, constantly wishing to refine a powerful treasure from it, but he had never succeeded.

The palace gates opened, and Shangguan Tianhong emerged, his brow furrowed. Seeing this, Situ Qing and Sun Hao already knew the outcome.

"Senior Martial Brother Shangguan, could the refining method True Master Taihao possesses have been provided by the Tower of Immortal Suppression's spirit?" Sun Hao asked with a frown. Shangguan Tianhong was skilled in artifact refining, and repeated failures indicated an error in the refining technique.

"Probably," Shangguan Tianhong sighed. "Never mind, no more trouble. I'll go to the East-Fence Realm and exchange with True Master Taihao." He squinted his eyes, looking up at the sky. An azure streak of light flew from a distance, and after a short while, it came to a stop.

The light receded, revealing an azure lotus dharma platform. Wang Changsheng and Wang Ruyan stood upon it, their expressions serene.

"Fellow Daoist Wang, are you here to collect Underworld Moon Water?" Shangguan Tianhong narrowed his eyes, his expression complex.

Wang Changsheng nodded and asked with a smile, "Oh? Is Fellow Daoist Shangguan also collecting Underworld Moon Water?"

"Fellow Daoist Wang, how about I exchange one thousand catties of Underworld Moon Water with you?" Since Shangguan Tianhong couldn't refine the Underworld Moon Water himself, he had no choice but to exchange it with Wang Changsheng.

"A thousand catties? No problem. I heard Fellow Daoist Sun is skilled in formations. I'd like to ask Fellow Daoist Sun to help me repair a few formation flags. Would that be an issue?" Wang Changsheng proposed a condition. There were not many fifth-tier formation masters, and the Heaven-Azure Sect's deputy sect leader happened to be one.

With a flick of his sleeve, several dim, spiritual formation flags flew out and landed before Sun Hao.

Sun Hao examined them carefully, his brow furrowed.

"The sect's treasure vault has materials to repair these flags, but I'm not entirely confident," Sun Hao said, looking troubled. Fifth-tier formations were already rare, and due to material limitations, they were particularly difficult to repair once damaged.

"Fellow Daoist Sun, just do your best. I trust you. As for the Underworld Moon Water, I will deliver it when the formation flags are repaired," Wang Changsheng stated gravely.

Shangguan Tianhong nodded. "No problem. Junior Martial Brother Sun will repair the formation flags for Fellow Daoist Wang as quickly as possible. Fellow Daoist Wang, why don't you and your companion come to our main headquarters? We can have a good talk, how about that?"

"We still have some matters to attend to. Once they are resolved, we will definitely visit your esteemed sect's headquarters," Wang Changsheng replied. With a flick of his hand, the azure lotus dharma platform transformed into a streak of azure light, flying over Fallen Immortal Lake and disappearing into the depths of the Buried Demon Icefield.

"Are they not eyeing that eight-winged snow pixiu beast? That creature possesses a trace of pixiu bloodline and is skilled in ice evasion. Even Senior Martial Brother Chen and several others working together couldn't slay that demon," Situ Qing exclaimed in surprise.

"Hmph, as long as there are enough Underworld Moon Pearls, nothing is impossible. My only concern is that they might die beneath the restrictions," Shangguan Tianhong scoffed. The Buried Demon Icefield was heavily restricted, and the Heaven-Azure Sect had spent immense human and material resources without fully exploring it. As for the eight-winged snow pixiu beast, Shangguan Tianhong believed the Azure Lotus Immortals could slay it.

"Who knows how many treasures the eight-winged snow pixiu beast has accumulated? If they kill it, they'll gain another batch of rare treasures," Sun Hao said, his face filled with envy. The eight-winged snow pixiu beast had a habit of collecting valuables, and over the years, it had undoubtedly amassed countless treasures. Had it not been for their apprehension about the restrictions in the Buried Demon Icefield, they would have slain it long ago.

"That's their business, it has nothing to do with us. Let's go! Return to the sect to repair the formation flags. I hope we can successfully ascend to the Spirit Realm," Shangguan Tianhong stated gravely. He put away the azure palace, and the three of them transformed into three streaks of light, departing the area.

In the depths of the Buried Demon Icefield stood a steep, snow-covered mountain.

Wang Changsheng and Wang Ruyan stood atop the mountain, gazing into the distance with solemn expressions.

White snowflakes continually drifted down from high above, carried by gusts of cold wind.

Even Shangguan Tianhong was unsure of the true extent of the Buried Demon Icefield. Wang Changsheng did not believe that merely possessing the Ocean-Calming Profound Water Token would render all restrictions powerless against them. Wang Qingshan was a clear example, making it prudent to maintain a sense of awe.

The eight-winged snow pixiu beast was adept at ice-element spells, making it difficult to locate. Wang Changsheng had no intention of trying to find it; instead, he thought it better to devise a way to lure it out.

Wang Changsheng flicked his sleeve, and the Nine Dragon Drum flew out, landing on the ground.

His right fist pulsed with dazzling blue light, and amidst a piercing whooshing sound, he struck the drumhead of the Nine Dragon Drum with a punch.

A deafening dragon's roar erupted, reverberating endlessly through the area. Immediately after, a second, then a third... In less than ten breaths, five deafening dragon roars successively rang out, shattering a large quantity of snowflakes.

Wang Ruyan took out her Golden Lotus Guqin and began to play again.

Wang Changsheng sat down beside Wang Ruyan, took out a thick ancient text, and began to read it.

A month quickly passed, and the eight-winged snow pixiu beast still hadn't appeared. Wang Ruyan played peacefully, while Wang Changsheng sat beside her, absorbed in reading an ancient book. Snowflakes disintegrated within ten zhang of them.

The guqin music abruptly ceased, and Wang Changsheng suddenly spoke, "Since you're here, why hide?"

Several miles away, the ground suddenly shook violently, and the eight-winged snow pixiu beast emerged from underground.

"Hmph, you failed last time. Do you want to try again?" the eight-winged snow pixiu beast said with a cold tone.

Wang Changsheng wasted no words. He took out an azure jade box and an azure jade case. The jade box contained a shapeshifting pill, and the jade case held a Nine-Orifice Glazed Fruit.

"We are not here to fight you this time, but to befriend you. A shapeshifting pill combined with a Nine-Orifice Glazed Fruit — these two items can help you transform into human form. How does that sound?" Wang Changsheng's voice was full of temptation. In a direct confrontation, he was confident he could slay the eight-winged snow pixiu beast, but since it was hiding in the Buried Demon Icefield and refusing to emerge, Wang Changsheng had no recourse.

"Unwarranted courtesy usually means ill intentions. Tell me your terms," the eight-winged snow pixiu beast said with a heavy voice. Had it not been for its apprehension about the Underworld Moon Pearl in Wang Changsheng's possession, it would have long since tried to snatch the shapeshifting pill and the Nine-Orifice Glazed Fruit.

"I'd like to sign a contract with you. If you guard our family for a thousand years, I will immediately give you the shapeshifting pill and the Nine-Orifice Glazed Fruit. You know well that cultivating in beast form has many inconveniences," Wang Changsheng said slowly. Wang Qingshan and Wang Mengbin's whereabouts were unknown, and if they weren't present, the family would lack a powerful guardian.

As the saying goes, an innocent man is guilty only when he possesses a treasure. The Wang family had risen too quickly and its foundation was too shallow. Once the Azure Lotus Immortals were absent, it was hard to guarantee that no one would target the Wang family. Wang Changsheng couldn't refine a fifth-tier puppet beast, so he had no choice but to sign a contract with the eight-winged snow pixiu beast, asking it to guard the Wang family for a thousand years.

"A thousand years? Hmph, in that time, I could cultivate into human form myself. Three hundred years is more reasonable," the eight-winged snow pixiu beast countered. A demon beast transforming into human form could significantly increase cultivation efficiency.

"Three hundred years? Do you take us for fools? If you have no sincerity, then forget it. You're not the only fifth-tier demon beast in the Heaven-Azure Realm; the one in the Ten Thousand Thunder Sea Realm is also quite powerful," Wang Changsheng said. He put away the shapeshifting pill and the Nine-Orifice Glazed Fruit, preparing to leave.

He valued the eight-winged snow pixiu beast, but if it didn't work out, other powerful fifth-tier demon beasts with potent divine abilities would also suffice. "People move to live, trees stay to die." With the shapeshifting pill and the Nine-Orifice Glazed Fruit, he didn't believe there wouldn't be any fifth-tier demon beasts willing to trade with him.

The Seven-Colored Lizard was too weak; otherwise, Wang Changsheng would have signed a contract with it.