Chapter 2611: Sixth-Order Mysterious Water Ape Demon Pill

A magnificent golden palace stood atop a mountain, its grand plaque bearing three large silver characters: "Cloud Dream Palace."

The main hall's gates stood wide open, revealing a spacious and bright interior.

Seated on the main dais was Chu Tianhong, a burly, stern-eyed elder clad in golden robes, a cultivator in the mid-stage of Void Refinement.

Over three hundred years ago, Chu Tianhong survived his third Grand Heavenly Tribulation. He had managed to pass it by employing the Qianhuo Grand Formation and supplementing it with the Qianhuo Shield.

The Qianhuo Grand Formation, the Chu family's sixth-tier protective defensive array, was severely damaged during the tribulation and is proving difficult to repair.

The Qianhuo Shield, a mid-grade Heaven-Penetrating Spirit Treasure, had been meticulously crafted for Chu Tianhong by several sixth-tier artificers from the Divine Weapon Sect at great expense, and it too suffered extensive damage.

He organized this grand birthday celebration hoping to seize the opportunity to gather materials for repairing the Qianhuo Grand Formation and Qianhuo Shield. His ideal was to acquire items like the Five-Element Thundercloud Talisman; otherwise, even if he managed the repairs, he doubted he could survive his fourth Grand Heavenly Tribulation.

Chu Tianhong wouldn't have recovered so swiftly if his great-granddaughter hadn't become a disciple of the Divine Weapon Sect's Vice Sect Master and acquired healing elixirs.

Chu Hongfeng, the Chu family patriarch, was solemnly briefing Chu Tianhong on the current situation.

"Father, the Wei family from Purple Sparrow Valley, the Bai family from Hundred Spirit Mountain, the Wang family from Green Lotus Island, and others have arrived. Also, Lan Fukong from the Lan family of Yunhang Mountain came. We hadn't invited him, but he appears to have a good relationship with the Wang family from Green Lotus Island, and since he arrived in person, Yun Jie admitted him."

Chu Hongfeng reported faithfully.

The Wei family of Purple Sparrow Valley is affiliated with the Myriad Spirit Sect, renowned for their mastery of insect control and beast taming. The Bai family of Hundred Spirit Mountain is an affiliated family of the Profound Green Sect, while the Wang family of Green Lotus Island is affiliated with Zhenhai Palace.

The Chu family's allies were invariably influential and wealthy. Among all the immortal cultivation families attending the birthday celebration, the Lan family was considered the weakest.

"The Lan family? Is that 'Mad Boaster' True Monarch?"

Chu Tianhong had heard of the "Mad Boaster" True Monarch but had never met him. The Profound Spirit Continent was vast, and many Void Refinement cultivators were unacquainted with one another.

"It's him. The moment he arrived, he began profusely praising Yun Jie, exactly as the legends describe."

Chu Hongfeng chuckled faintly.

"Don't underestimate others. The Lan family doesn't have significant backing, so achieving this much is not easy; everyone has their own way of surviving. Speaking of which, has Blood Butterfly Rogue Cultivator still not been found?"

Chu Tianhong asked, frowning. A group of Wang family disciples had been attacked by the Blood Butterfly Rogue Cultivator within the Chu family's territory, resulting in severe casualties. Fortunately, a passing Chu family Spirit Transformation cultivator intervened and saved some of the disciples.

After the incident, the Wang family dispatched representatives to express their gratitude, and the Chu family, seizing the opportunity, invited them to Chu Tianhong's grand birthday celebration.

"No, the Blood Butterfly Rogue Cultivator, being proficient in poison techniques and insect manipulation, managed to escape. I heard the Wang family's Enforcement Hall has already dispatched elites to hunt him down, vowing to claim his head to honor their fallen clan members."

Chu Hongfeng replied honestly.

The Profound Spirit Continent had numerous high-tier rogue cultivators. Such cultivators, being rootless, often acted with few reservations. The Blood Butterfly Rogue Cultivator, a Spirit Transformation level practitioner, was particularly troublesome due to his mastery of poison arts and insect manipulation.

"Dispatch more people to keep an eye out. It would be best if we could apprehend and eliminate him; it would be a good gesture."

Chu Tianhong instructed.

Chu Hongfeng acknowledged and agreed.

Seven days passed swiftly.

A sprawling estate featured garden corridors, waterside pavilions, and ornamental rockeries.

Within a cyan hexagonal stone pavilion, over thirty Void Refinement cultivators conversed and sipped tea, including Wang Qingcheng, Sun Yuejiao, Lan Fukong, and Chu Tianhong.

"Daoist Lan, I heard Daoist Wei possesses remarkable talent. However, upon meeting him today, I find that's not quite the case."

Lan Fukong sighed dramatically.

"Daoist Lan, what do you mean by that?"

A portly middle-aged man with a fair complexion and narrow eyes frowned and spoke.

This was Wei Mingde, an early-stage Void Refinement cultivator.

"In my humble opinion, Daoist Wei possesses the potential for Grand Ascension. To merely call you a man of remarkable talent would be an understatement."

Lan Fukong flattered.

Wei Mingde's frown turned into a smile as he chuckled, "They say Daoist Lan is truly skilled at flattery. Today, I've witnessed it firsthand."

"Let's put these pleasantries aside for now! Daoist Chu, with so many fellow Daoists gathered today, why don't we begin exchanging items? After all, didn't everyone travel so far for this very purpose?"

A charming woman in a purple dress, still full of grace, said with a smile.

This was Bai Zilan, an early-stage Void Refinement cultivator whose Bai family was affiliated with the Profound Green Sect.

Chu Tianhong nodded and declared, "As the host, I shall begin."

He presented dozens of materials, including two Dharma Idol materials. Ores were abundant and diverse, and there were also several Heaven-Penetrating Spirit Treasures.

"I am seeking to exchange for sixth-tier or seventh-tier fire-attributed materials, or alternatively, materials that can weaken lightning tribulations."

Chu Tianhong's gaze swept across the assembled cultivators, a flicker of anticipation in his eyes.

Several Void Refinement cultivators sent him private voice transmissions, but none of the offers fully satisfied Chu Tianhong.

After a slight hesitation, Chu Tianhong produced a blue jade box and a golden porcelain bottle. Opening the jade box, he revealed a pale blue demonic core.

"This is the demonic core of a mid-grade sixth-tier Dark Water Ape, an ape possessing the bloodline of the Mountain Giant Ape. The porcelain bottle contains the Dark Water Ape's essence blood."

Chu Tianhong explained.

"A Dark Water Ape's demonic core?"

Wang Qingcheng's heart stirred. Their Zhenhai Ape had remained at the peak of the fifth tier for many years, despite the Wang family having fed it numerous valuable items, including no fewer than three demonic cores from sixth-tier spirit apes.

He mused that a mid-grade sixth-tier Dark Water Ape's demonic core and essence blood might finally aid the Zhenhai Ape in its breakthrough.

"Daoist Chu, how about I offer a bottle of Azure Marrow Pills in exchange for your Dark Water Ape's demonic core and essence blood, along with two caskets of Dry Earth Sand and two pieces of Fire Lapis Crystal? The Azure Marrow Pills are healing elixirs."

Wang Qingcheng sent a private transmission to Chu Tianhong. Dry Earth Sand, an earth-attributed material, could enhance the power of his natal magical treasure when refined into it. As for Fire Lapis Crystal, it was a sixth-tier artifact refining material that Wang Qingfeng had been seeking.

"Azure Marrow Pills!"

After communicating with several individuals via private transmissions and weighing his options, Chu Tianhong ultimately chose to trade with Wang Qingcheng.

The cultivators took turns stepping forward to make exchanges. When it was Lan Fukong's turn, he presented dozens of materials. While he lacked Dharma Idol materials, he did possess a crystal core left by a sixth-tier wood demon and two five-thousand-year-old Qianyang Grasses.

"Daoist Lan, how about I offer a sixth-tier talisman, the Nine-Origin Concealing Talisman, in exchange for that wood demon crystal core, the two Qianyang Grasses, two pieces of Heavenly Moon Cold Crystal, and that sixth-tier beast hide? If the Nine-Origin Concealing Talisman isn't to your liking, a defensive low-grade Heaven-Penetrating Spirit Treasure is also an option, though you would need to provide a few more materials."

Sun Yuejiao sent a private transmission to Lan Fukong, mentioning that her family was currently collecting high-tier wood demon crystal cores.

Wei Mingde also took interest in the wood demon crystal core and sent Lan Fukong a private transmission.

After careful consideration, Lan Fukong ultimately made the exchange with Sun Yuejiao, trading various materials for a defensive low-grade Heaven-Penetrating Spirit Treasure.

When it was Wang Qingcheng's turn, he presented dozens of materials, hoping to acquire spiritual water with yin-cold attributes, high-tier wood demon crystal cores, or Dharma Idol materials.

He successfully traded a Golden Jade Restoration Pill with Bai Zilan for a sixth-tier wood demon's crystal core. However, he couldn't find any Dharma Idol materials that suited his needs, so those exchanges were unsuccessful.

More than three hours later, Wang Qingcheng and the other guests gradually took their leave and returned to their accommodations.

"Daoist Chu, thank you for your assistance. Should our Wang family's help ever be required in the future, please do not hesitate to ask."

Wang Qingcheng spoke sincerely, making a clear gesture of goodwill.

Friendships develop over time; familiarity grows with interaction. With shared interests and repeated engagement, their relationship would naturally flourish.

Chu Tianhong nodded and replied, "Indeed. I've already given instructions to exert our full effort in helping you apprehend the Blood Butterfly Immortal. We hope he can be brought to justice."

"We have already dispatched a considerable number of personnel and are confident we will bring this individual to justice."

Wang Qingcheng's face was filled with confidence.

After a brief chat, Wang Qingcheng and Sun Yuejiao returned to their accommodations.

Several days later, Chu Tianhong's grand birthday celebration proceeded as scheduled. The Wang family presented a generous gift and also extended an invitation to the Chu family to attend a Dharma assembly hosted by the Wang family, which Chu Tianhong accepted.

After staying at the Chu family's estate for over half a month, Wang Qingcheng and Sun Yuejiao departed with their clan members, heading back to Green Lotus Island.