Chapter 857: Encounter with Fang Mu

A short while later, the blue flying boat landed near a crimson mountain peak. A pungent smell of sulfur permeated the air, and multicolored streaks of light flew in from a distance.

Wang Tianqi stepped off the blue flying boat, accompanied by two clansmen, and quickly headed towards a nearby cave.

After a while, Wang Tianqi returned to Wang Ruyan's side, looking somewhat excited.

"Great-grandmother, it's indeed a mystic realm," she said. "However, we don't know what it's like inside. I saw a Core Formation cultivator enter."

Wang Ruyan pondered for a moment and then instructed, "This is our opportunity. Since we've encountered it, we certainly can't miss it. Core Formation cultivators have already gone in, so you shouldn't get involved. I won't be able to look after you. You should return first!"

An unknown mystic realm held too many uncertainties. Wang Ruyan was a sixth-layer Core Formation cultivator, possessed a third-tier spirit insect, and had several powerful magic treasures. As long as she didn't encounter Nascent Soul cultivators or get besieged by multiple Core Formation cultivators, she would have no trouble retreating safely. Therefore, she couldn't look after Wang Tianqi and the others.

Wang Tianqi hesitated slightly and agreed, "Yes, Great-grandmother."

She was more skilled at gathering intelligence than at combat. Moreover, Core Formation cultivators had already entered the mystic realm, and if she encountered other Core Formation cultivators, she certainly wouldn't be able to contend with them.

"A mystic realm! It seems my luck is good," a somewhat indifferent male voice suddenly rang out.

A massive black cloud descended from the sky, landing in front of Wang Ruyan.

A young man in black robes, carrying a coffin on his back, stood there. It was Fang Mu from the Yin Corpse Sect. He had already cultivated to the seventh layer of Core Formation and exuded a thick aura of malevolence.

"Fellow Daoist Fang, long time no see," Wang Ruyan said, somewhat surprised to see him.

Wang Changsheng had a fresh memory of Fang Mu; during the Foundation Establishment period, he had almost died at Fang Mu's hands, and later encountered him again while seeking treasure in the Celestial Wolf Mystic Realm. Wang Ruyan naturally knew of Fang Mu's existence as well.

It couldn't be helped; Fang Mu was the only Core Formation cultivator known to carry a coffin. The Yin Corpse Sect was one of the seven great immortal sects of the Eastern Barrens, but only Fang Mu carried a coffin; other disciples did not.

"You are..."

Fang Mu was somewhat surprised; he didn't recognize Wang Ruyan.

"We've met before," Wang Ruyan said with a smile. "Fellow Daoist Fang, noble people are often forgetful, so it's perfectly normal not to remember me. I met you when I was in the Foundation Establishment stage."

Wang Ruyan said with a smile. When exploring an unknown mystic realm, it was always better to have an extra helper. Of course, Fang Mu might not necessarily join forces with her, but with this past connection, if circumstances permitted, she could potentially team up with him to acquire treasures.

"Oh."

Fang Mu paid no attention to Wang Ruyan and quickly rushed towards the cave.

Wang Ruyan instructed Wang Tianqi and the others, "Alright, you all go to the market first and wait there! I'll meet up with you later."

Having said that, Wang Ruyan rushed into the cave, transformed into a streak of blue light, and disappeared into the red luminous gate.

Wang Tianqi took the other clansmen and flew towards the market.

Wang Ruyan felt a wave of dizziness and her vision blurred. When she regained her senses, she suddenly found herself atop a crimson mountain peak.

The sky was dark red, the scattered rocks on the ground were crimson, and even the soil was crimson.

It was very hot here, with astounding heat waves. Red clouds drifted on the horizon, like clusters of crimson flames hanging high in the sky.

Rolling heat waves assailed her from all directions, as if to roast a person alive.

Wang Ruyan made a hand seal, and a crimson light barrier suddenly appeared around her body, isolating the heat waves.

She released her divine sense to investigate the area but detected no other cultivators' aura. Using her Black Phoenix Divine Eye, she also found no restrictions or formations.

A series of strange "caw-caw" sounds suddenly came from high in the sky, and a large patch of crimson fire clouds appeared on the horizon, rapidly flying towards her location.

Wang Ruyan slightly frowned, took out her Golden Lotus Guqin, and her face was full of vigilance.

Not long after, she clearly saw the true nature of the fire cloud: it was an astonishing sight of hundreds of fire crows. Fortunately, there were no third-tier fire crows among them.

The fire crows discovered Wang Ruyan, let out a series of strange cries, and swooped towards her.

Before they even reached her, hundreds of crimson fireballs were already thrown at her, accompanied by astounding heat waves.

A cold light flashed in Wang Ruyan's eyes. Her slender fingers plucked a string on the guqin and then released it.

A deep guqin sound resonated, and an invisible blue sound wave shot out.

The blue sound wave seemed to be the bane of the crimson fireballs; all hundreds of them were extinguished, and the blue sound wave swiftly swept past the bodies of the hundreds of fire crows.

The hundreds of crimson fire crows successively fell from the sky, their bodies completely unharmed, but their internal organs had been shattered by the sound wave.

Wang Ruyan collected the bodies of the hundreds of crimson fire crows into her storage pearl and began walking down the mountain.

After a while, she disappeared into a dense red forest.

On a desolate crimson plain, Fang Mu stood with an indifferent expression, carrying a coffin on his back.

High in the sky, a beautiful middle-aged woman with a pair of bat wings on her back was entangled in a fight with two enormous crimson giant eagles.

The middle-aged woman had a fierce look in her eyes and two sharp fangs, clearly indicating she was a zombie.

Her speed was immense, her wings furiously flapping and sending out gusts of strong wind.

She let out a strange roar, and an invisible blood-red sound wave shot out. The two crimson giant eagles, hearing the strange roar, slowed down considerably.

Seizing this opportunity, a dazzling blood-red light erupted from the middle-aged woman's body, and countless blood-red threads shot out from her fingertips, rapidly piercing through the bodies of the two crimson giant eagles.

The bodies of the two crimson giant eagles rapidly withered into dried corpses before their eyes, their vital essence and blood completely drained.

The middle-aged woman flew back to the ground and handed the bodies of the two crimson giant eagles to Fang Mu.

Fang Mu put away the bodies of the two crimson giant eagles and looked at the middle-aged woman with the gaze one might reserve for a treasure.

"I have already gathered four types of Celestial Corpses: Wood, Water, Wind, and Earth," Fang Mu muttered to himself, his expression extremely excited. "The fire spiritual energy here is so abundant, I'm sure I can find a fire-attribute demonic beast with great divine abilities and refine it into a fire-attribute Celestial Corpse. Once I collect all nine types of Celestial Corpses, I will be the foremost person in the Yin Corpse Sect throughout history."

He cultivated the Earth-grade technique, "Nine Yin Celestial Corpse Grand Method." If he could refine nine Celestial Corpses of different attributes, cultivate them to the same cultivation level as himself, and set up the Grand Celestial Corpse Formation, he could contend with cultivators beyond his cultivation realm. Many Yin Corpse Sect cultivators practiced this technique, but very few had successfully refined all nine Celestial Corpses.

"Woooo!"

A strange wailing sound came from the coffin on his back, and the coffin stirred.

"Heh heh, Brother, are you happy for me too?" Fang Mu said to the coffin. "Don't worry, I'll walk the path you couldn't finish. With us brothers united, our power can cut through anything."

He made a hand seal, and the bat wings on the middle-aged woman's back flapped fiercely. She soared into the air, and Fang Mu leaped onto her back. The man and the corpse vanished into the horizon, as if they had never been there.