Chapter 513

Chapter 513: Great Thunder Sound Temple

Fang Lie had just finished his work and hadn’t even rested when Mo Qianxun summoned him immediately. He was ordered to head to the Great Thunder Sound Temple with Immortal Zi Ji, where the Righteous Sects Alliance’s Elder Council would mediate their dispute.

Fang Lie strongly suspected the stubborn old man did this intentionally. How could it be such a coincidence that he was dragged away the moment he emerged, without even catching his breath? This had to be petty revenge for Fang Lie once calling him "unworthy descendants." What a narrow-minded man!

Though aware of the scheme, Fang Lie had no choice but to accompany Immortal Zi Ji.

Immortal Zi Ji was one of the few Taoist cultivators in the Mo Sect, yet his secular status stood out—he was the Family Head of the Purple Family. The Mo Sect’s Five Great Family Clans were Mo, Bai, Blue, Purple, and Jin.

The Bai and Jin families were locked in mortal conflict with Fang Lie, while the Blue and Purple families hadn’t clashed severely with him. Minor friction existed, of course. When Fang Lie first exited the Cycle of Fire, he’d slaughtered thousands of family disciples, including some from these two clans—though only unpopular illegitimate offspring, so the grudges remained shallow.

After Fang Lie grew powerful, controlling The Great Unity Spell, White Jade Divine Fish, mountains of spirit pills, and the coveted Spirit Liquid sought by Thunder Tribulation Immortals, these resources overshadowed past conflicts. Both clans courted his favor, gaining forgiveness and reaping benefits.

Immortal Zi Ji profited most. Using Spirit Liquid obtained from Fang Lie, he commissioned Xuan Sect experts to refine rare spirit pills. After a year of closed-door training, he shattered a centuries-old bottleneck, advancing to late-stage Thunder Tribulation and extending his lifespan by a thousand years.

This breakthrough was monumental. His original lifespan had nearly expired, and the required spirit pills were vanishingly rare—needing twenty thousand years of precise fire timing to refine, with only half a chance of success. But Fang Lie’s sudden rise offered salvation. Swallowing his pride, Zi Ji begged for aid and succeeded.

Grateful beyond measure, Zi Ji sought to repay Fang Lie immediately after emerging from seclusion. Learning Fang Lie needed arbitration from the Elder Council—a junior forbidden from sect assistance due to Mo Qianxun’s Mo Token pledge—Zi Ji volunteered as his private escort. A Thunder Tribulation Immortal’s presence was crucial for safety at the Great Thunder Sound Temple.

Zi Ji spared no effort in hospitality. Since Fang Lie lacked a top-grade Flying Boat, Zi Ji deployed his personal eighth-rank Purple Crystal Heavenly Boat. He gave Fang Lie a sprawling private courtyard attended by hundreds of female cultivators, all offered as gifts if desired. Lavish feasts costing thousands of small spirit pearls were held every three to five days, with the entire ten-thousand-strong crew focused on serving Fang Lie.

Though overwhelmed, Fang Lie accepted calmly, knowing such generosity came with expectations.

True enough, nearing the temple after half a month, Zi Ji finally made his request during a banquet: Seventh-rank demon weapon leaders.

These leaders were treasures, capable of reaching Ninth-Rank with proper cultivation—a 20-30% chance making them invaluable. But such odds were unreliable with single specimens. Securing five or more drastically improved success, though this proved exceedingly rare.

Fang Lie had captured nearly ten million demon weapons, but leaders appeared once every hundred thousand miles, yielding around a hundred total. He claimed thirty, while the remaining seventy were distributed among Mo Sect members with sufficient contribution points and status. Even the Sect Leader only secured five through fair exchange. Other Thunder Tribulation Immortals managed two or three at most.

Zi Ji missed out entirely. He’d been in closed-door training during the demon weapon surge, emerging to find all leaders already claimed.

How could Fang Lie not feel heartbroken to let such treasures slip through his fingers? Even after his death, these could become his family’s prized heirlooms!

All other great family clans possessed such treasures except the Purple Family. How could this imbalance stand? Wouldn’t the Purple Family inevitably fall behind the others?

Immortal Zi Ji couldn’t allow this situation to persist, so he turned his attention to Fang Lie. Only Fang Lie would consider selling demon weapon leaders – others would never part with theirs.

Truth be told, Fang Lie possessed thirty demon weapon leaders he could control but couldn’t properly train. The process demanded Seventh-rank metal materials initially, progressing to Ninth-Rank divine materials later. Though Fang Lie earned money rapidly, supporting thirty demon weapon leaders proved impossible with only two years’ savings.

His expenses piled up – maintaining Fire Spirit Peak, feeding billions of demon rats, and sustaining Green Fox Dao soldiers left no funds for the weapon leaders. Immortal Zi Ji recognized this weakness and made his move, offering precious Ninth-Rank metal divine materials unavailable in regular markets.

Indeed, old ginger is spicier. Reluctantly, Fang Lie traded ten demon weapon leaders (selected from twenty-five mid-tier options) for a warehouse of Ninth-Rank materials. Both parties benefited – their relationship deepened, though Fang Lie grew uncomfortable when Zi Ji started promoting his granddaughter.

Their arrival at Great Thunder Sound Temple brought relief. Located deep in southwestern mountains, this holy site originated when a wandering high monk found profound Buddhist truths in jagged rock formations. Over millennia, disciples carved countless Buddha statues into every mountainside, forcing modern practitioners to seek blank cliffs miles away.

Viewing this stone ocean from their Purple Crystal Heavenly Boat, even non-Buddhist Fang Lie felt awe. "These aren’t mere statues," Zi Ji explained. "Imbued with Buddhist power and incense smoke for millennia, they serve as mountain gate protectors. Any mountain can become flying Buddha Mountain against invaders."

Fang Lie gaped. "Our Mo Sect’s billion Law Enforcement Heavenly Soldiers might be outnumbered!"

Zi Ji chuckled. "Our soldiers are just the visible guard. Mo Sect’s true defenses? None can surpass."