Chapter 3816: Rewards (No More Today)

Cao Yuanxing, a core disciple of the Cao family, and Cao Jingxia, his dual cultivation partner, shared the same surname but were not related by blood.

"Are you alright, Xuelan?" Cao Jingxia asked with concern.

"I'm fine. Now that you've arrived, everything is safe," Cao Xuelan said excitedly, her voice a little weak.

A five-colored human-shaped Chaos Beast, in the early stage of Golden Immortal, swiftly approached Cao Yuanxing, swinging its right fist towards him. A series of cracking sounds emanated from Cao Yuanxing's body as his physique rapidly expanded, and a surge of crimson flames erupted from his skin, making him resemble a fire god. He moved both fists to meet the attack. With two muffled thuds, the five-colored Chaos Beast was sent flying backward, and Cao Yuanxing took a step back. Cao Xuelan wasn't surprised; Cao Yuanxing was a human-shaped True Spirit with late-stage Golden Immortal cultivation, six open apertures, and dual cultivation of both spiritual techniques and physical prowess.

Before the human-shaped Chaos Beast could regain its footing, thick green vines shot out from the ground, coiling around its feet. It quickly tore free from the green vines, but three massive beams of light shot forth, striking it precisely. The human-shaped Chaos Beast was sent flying backward, its body now riddled with three terrifying bloody holes, and blood stained the ground.

In less than ten breaths, two Golden Immortal-stage five-colored Chaos Beasts were severely wounded and incapacitated. The six-colored Chaos Beast, in the early stage of Golden Immortal, realized the danger and let out a sharp, piercing roar. The two five-colored Chaos Beasts immediately stopped and fled back the way they came.

"Only trying to leave now? It's too late," Cao Yuanxing sneered, forming a hand seal. An area of five hundred thousand li instantly transformed into a sea of crimson flames, fire blazing sky-high, as a rolling inferno swept forth, blocking the retreat of the three Chaos Beasts. The six-colored Chaos Beast ignored it and charged straight through. As the sea of fire churned, Cao Yuanxing appeared, a red copper hammer in each hand, which he swung towards the six-colored Chaos Beast. The six-colored Chaos Beast tried to dodge, but dozens of green, shimmering vines burst from the ground, coiling around its limbs. No matter how hard it struggled, it couldn't break free. The two red copper hammers struck the six-colored Chaos Beast's head. Its massive body was sent flying backward, shaking the ground, and leaving a huge crater where it landed. Three incredibly thick beams of light shot forth, repeatedly striking the six-colored Chaos Beast. Instantly, a bowl-sized blood hole appeared on its body.

Cao Yuanxing strode towards the six-colored Chaos Beast. The beast's tail swept out, hitting Cao Yuanxing and sending him flying. His body was covered in blood, but soon, a dazzling red light glowed from his wounds, and they healed. This was the Divine Self-Healing Light, a natural ability Cao Yuanxing mastered upon cultivating into a True Spirit. It was somewhat similar to the Divine Nirvana Light, but while high-level practitioners of Divine Nirvana Light could recover even if reduced to pulp, the Divine Self-Healing Light only offered strong recovery; being reduced to pulp would still result in death. As a human-shaped True Spirit, Cao Yuanxing's physical body was inherently powerful, making it difficult to smash him into pulp.

Cao Yuanxing gently flapped the red wings on his back, vanishing from his spot. The six-colored Chaos Beast realized the danger and tried to evade, but a wave of green light descended from the sky, enveloping it. Simultaneously, thick green vines burst from the ground, coiling around its body. Runes flickered on the green vines, and spiritual light shimmered continuously; these were formed from a mid-grade immortal artifact. A dazzling six-colored spiritual light flared on its body, shattering the green light. Small cracks appeared on the surface of the green vines, and before long, the vines shattered into pieces. Three massive beams of light shot forth again, striking the six-colored Chaos Beast's head, causing it to bleed profusely, but it was still alive. Cao Yuanxing reappeared and again swung his red giant hammer, smashing it onto the six-colored Chaos Beast's head. A series of agonizing screams rang out as the Chaos Beast's head was driven into the ground. Cao Yuanxing continuously swung his red giant hammer, striking its head. The early-stage Golden Immortal six-colored Chaos Beast, already wounded by several rounds of attacks from three mid-grade Immortal Annihilation Cannons, and now repeatedly struck on its weakest point, its head, could not withstand the assault. Not long after, the six-colored Chaos Beast's head split into pieces, and it lay motionless on the ground.

At this moment, Cao Jingxia also dealt with the other two early-stage Golden Immortal five-colored Chaos Beasts. All five Golden Immortal-stage Chaos Beasts had been killed. Cao Yuanxing collected the Chaos Beast's body and flew back to Cao Xuelan.

"How is it? You have that item, don't you?" Cao Yuanxing asked.

"Yes, I do," Cao Xuelan nodded.

"That's good. Let's go! We should head back now!" Cao Yuanxing flicked his sleeve, and a red-glowing four-sided beast carriage flew out. He stepped onto it, with Cao Jingxia and Cao Xuelan following closely. He formed a hand seal, and the four-sided beast carriage flared with dazzling red light, ascending into the sky and soon vanishing into the horizon.

Half a year quickly passed.

Nine Immortal City, Nine Immortal Hall. Jin Yulan sat on the main seat, with five Golden Immortal cultivators like Du Tianhe seated on either side. Wang Changsheng and over twenty True Immortal cultivators stood in neat rows, their expressions respectful. The Chaos Beast horde had completely retreated, though the specific reason was unknown. Jin Yulan had summoned the outstanding True Immortal cultivators to bestow generous rewards, motivating other cultivators to dedicate themselves.

"Qi Hongfeng, Bai Xuewei, Zhang Guanghong, and Wang Changsheng have performed exceptionally," Sun Yu said slowly. "According to the rules of the Nine Immortal Sect, you will be greatly rewarded: three thousand immortal essence stones each, two bottles of first-grade immortal pills to enhance immortal essence, and three 'Yellow' cities will be entrusted to the Qi family for guardianship. The Bingyuan Clan, Zhang family, and Wang family will each receive one 'Yellow' city. You will be responsible for submitting cultivation resources regularly and managing all defenses. Additionally, you are granted quotas to enter the Cloud Swirl Grotto-Heaven: five quotas for the Qi family, and two quotas each for the Bingyuan Clan, Zhang family, and Wang family." The Qi family had three Golden Immortal cultivators, and since the Nine Immortal Sect had suffered losses of several Golden Immortal cultivators, it was crucial to win over the Qi family. Bai Yishan, whose body was destroyed, also needed a generous reward; otherwise, who would fight desperately for the Nine Immortal Sect? Zhang Guanghong, a Perfected True Immortal, had performed excellently and also received a generous reward. Wang Changsheng and the others showed joy and repeatedly expressed their gratitude.

The Cloud Swirl Grotto-Heaven was a grotto-heaven jointly occupied by various factions, containing many rare cultivation resources. Each faction had a certain number of quotas; the more "Profound" cities they occupied, the more quotas they received. The Nine Immortal Sect, Bright Moon Alliance, Snow Crystal Clan, Beast Spirit Sect, Murong family, and other factions all had quotas, as did some forces from other sea regions. Yunlang City governed seventy-two "Profound" cities and possessed four resource-rich grotto-heavens, with the Cloud Swirl Grotto-Heaven being one of them. Nominally, all four grotto-heavens belonged to the Cao family. The Nine Immortal Sect distributed eleven quotas to its affiliated forces, greatly boosting morale and demonstrating to other affiliated forces that the Nine Immortal Sect would never treat those who performed well unfairly. For Wang Changsheng, receiving a "Yellow" city was an unexpected pleasant surprise. He hadn't held much hope, as the decision rested with the Nine Immortal Sect.