Chapter 525

Chapter 525: Immense Harvest

This jade gourd turned out to be a unique treasure with three spatial layers—outer, middle, and inner. The space device alone held value equivalent to a Seventh-rank Treasure.

The outermost layer spanned a hundred miles, resembling a miniature Secret Realm, crammed with towering piles of items. Countless spirit stones dominated the space—low and middle grades formed over a hundred mountains reaching thousands of zhang in height. The sheer quantity defied imagination.

Ten-odd mountains of High-grade spirit stones stood alongside a modest hill of spirit pearls. Though only a hundred zhang tall, the pearl mound contained over ten million small spirit pearls. Even a Thunder Tribulation Immortal would struggle to possess such wealth. Fang Lie suspected the scoundrel had embezzled city funds to amass this hoard.

Materials ranging from Fourth-rank to Sixth-rank formed mountainous heaps. While not exceptionally rare, their staggering numbers made them more valuable than all the spirit stones and pearls combined. The entire hundred-mile space overflowed with riches—how this man acquired such fortune remained a mystery.

The middle layer spanned five square miles, housing neatly shelved spirit pills and herbs. Tens of thousands of pill bottles and countless spirit herbs filled the space. Fang Lie discovered, to his shock, that all items here were at least Fifth-rank grade.

Producing hundreds of thousands of pills would take even a prodigious Alchemist like Fang Lie decades. How this non-alchemist obtained such quantities baffled him.

The innermost layer covered mere hundreds of zhang but stored only elite treasures. Over a hundred Sixth-rank and higher treasures stood orderly on shelves alongside Jade Slips, Animal Skin Maps, and rare artifacts. Many items were unfamiliar to Fang Lie, but their placement confirmed their worth.

The central area shone brightest—Seventh-rank Treasures, Eighth and Ninth-rank materials, and a living Eighth-grade spirit herb: Purple Mist Maple. Planted in a Jade Basin, this semi-immortal spiritual root pulsed with vitality. Exceptionally rare, even Fang Lie’s purification techniques couldn’t mass-produce it.

This herb served as primary material for Thunder Command Pills, which reduced Thunder Tribulation’s power by 30% and boosted survival chances equivalently. The reason only one in ten Fire Tribulation Immortals reached Thunder Tribulation stage? The Tribulation’s sheer terror annihilated unprepared Cultivators.

Thunder Command Pills could elevate those teetering on breakthrough edge. Their immense value matched Eighth-rank Treasures, with desperate Fire Tribulation Immortals trading entire fortunes for single pills. As key ingredient, Purple Mist Maple’s worth soared accordingly.

Fang Lie’s specimen stood three feet tall with over a hundred leaves. A dozen deep purple leaves indicated maturity—each requiring ten millennia to develop. Three leaves sufficed per pill batch, meaning five to six potential batches here. Even 50% success would yield ten Thunder Command Pills.

Fang Lie’s mind raced. Other required materials, though rare, needed only extreme age (thirty to forty millennia). Younger specimens existed abundantly—meaning his purification skills could bridge the gap. Possessing complete materials meant unprecedented pill production. Whether sold or donated to his sect, this promised monumental profits.

As excitement surged, Old Bird’s voice interrupted: "Find his identity token quickly! Handle it before death complicates matters!"

Startled into remembering his primary mission, Fang Lie scrambled through the inner layer’s contents. After extensive searching, he discovered a jade cicada beneath a shelf labeled "token."

Holding the artifact, Fang Lie frowned. "This? Seems peculiar."

"Exactly it!" Old Bird chuckled. "The Ten-Thousand Gu Sect crafts tokens resembling members’ life-gu forms post-Wind Tribulation Immortal stage. Immortal Han Chan’s life-gu being the Mournful Cry Cicada, his token naturally takes this shape. Hand it over with a blood essence drop—I’ll handle the rest."

"Alright!" Fang Lie agreed at once, then squeezed out a drop of his blood essence and sent it along with the Mournful Cry Cicada token back to the Cycle of Fire.

After finishing these tasks, Fang Lie praised the Wonderful Bodhi Tree, making the little tree shake its branches happily.

Then he carried Immortal Han Chan out of the small secret realm with a grin.

The moment Fang Lie emerged, he saw Miao Xingfang nervously waiting in the same spot. When she recognized Fang Lie and noticed Immortal Han Chan lying motionless like a dead dog, she slumped into a chair with visible relief, clearly shaken.

She knew she’d gambled her life alongside Fang Lie. Had he failed, even her abilities wouldn’t have saved her from a Thunder Tribulation Immortal controlling the city’s protective array. Not even a split soul could escape such power.

Without Fang Lie controlling part of her soul, she’d never have taken this risk.

The plan seemed suicidal – a mere Qi Sea realm cultivator ambushing a veteran Fire Tribulation Immortal? Miao Xingfang had seen no chance of success yet couldn’t refuse.

Now she realized she’d underestimated Fang Lie’s methods. Against all odds, he’d actually succeeded.

Fang Lie understood her fears and didn’t scold her nervousness. "Did you truly doubt me so much?"

"I deserve punishment!" Miao Xingfang jumped up, hastily explaining, "But Immortal Han Chan’s combat power rivaled ordinary Thunder Tribulation Immortals! Yet you defeated him! Master’s prowess astounds me!"

"Not prowess – just good timing," Fang Lie shrugged. "Without the Formation trapping him, even the Great Unity Spell wouldn’t have worked. He could’ve escaped."

The victory relied on surprise and Miao Xingfang’s intelligence. Without her help, this raid would’ve failed.

Fang Lie gestured at the limp body. "I’ve broken his mind and sealed his consciousness sea. Try possessing him. If it works, dig through his memories. Then we’ll loot the Secret Vault – 30% yours if we succeed."

"Understood!" Miao Xingfang inspected the body, then smiled. "His consciousness sea is wrecked and soul fragmented. Controlling this fool will be easy. Expect good news!"

White light shot from her forehead into Han Chan’s brow. Soon, the puppet body stood and bowed. "Success, Master. Full control achieved and memories accessed."

"Where are his hidden treasures? The Secret Vault’s location?" Fang Lie pressed.

"No hidden items – everything’s in his jade gourd," Miao Xingfang answered.

"Already took that," Fang Lie frowned. "Then we’ll empty the Secret Vault."

"Little remains there," Miao Xingfang sighed. "He’s been embezzling for years – nearly drained the city’s wealth."

Fang Lie nodded, unsurprised. The jade gourd’s contents exceeded any Fire Tribulation Immortal’s normal resources. "How did he steal so brazenly without sect punishment?"

"His Master’s the Ten-Thousand Gu Sect’s great elder – a late-stage Thunder Tribulation cultivator. Complete protection."

"Ah, explains everything," Fang Lie chuckled. "Take half whatever’s left in the vault."

"Gratitude, Master!" Miao Xingfang brightened. "Follow me disguised as my disciple. We’ll enter the city lord’s mansion easily."

"Done." Fang Lie nodded.

They departed in single file toward the official compound.