Chapter 621

Chapter 621: The Seven Great Perils

Fang Lie smiled faintly and said, "I was already fully confident about defeating that Old Skull. Did I really need you to remind me?"

"Clever brat! So you’ve been setting traps for me here?" Mo Qianxun chuckled instead of showing anger. "Truly worthy of being called Mo Sect’s greatest talent in history. Now I finally grasp the meaning behind Benevolence Token’s words! You really are more crucial than all previous Sect Leaders!"

"Too early to speak of such things," Fang Lie shook his head gloomily. "I’m currently facing a hurdle. If I can’t overcome it, I might perish completely—never getting another chance to defeat Zhu Xian’s leader."

"Hmm?" Mo Qianxun looked puzzled. "How’s that possible? You possess undying nature. True death shouldn’t concern you."

"Undying doesn’t mean invincible," Fang Lie sighed. "There exist multiple methods to kill me—whether through Four Heaven-Defying Treasures or the Buddhist Kṣitigarbha Vow Sword. Moreover… there’s another complication."

"What complication?" Mo Qianxun pressed urgently.

"It relates to my cultivation speed. I must reach Golden Pool realm within a hundred years—before my lifespan expires. Otherwise, certain death awaits."

"Hah!" Mo Qianxun laughed. "Such a trivial matter? Lifespan-extending treasures might be rare, but I could secure them for you!"

"Useless," Fang Lie countered. "My Dao magic’s restrictions prevent lifespan extension through pills or external methods—only breakthrough advancements work. But here’s the rub: I must achieve perfection in each realm to progress further."

"Perfection?" Mo Qianxun raised an eyebrow. "With your current strength, advancing should be simple. Why obsess over extremes?"

"Because my Qi Sea’s expansion slows dramatically despite increased cultivation," Fang Lie shrugged. "Initially, eighth-rank spirit pills boosted my progress for days. Now, ten pills barely sustain half-day cultivation with diminishing returns."

"Typical resource-saturation syndrome," Mo Qianxun nodded. "Though few ever reach such limits. The resources you’ve consumed could’ve nurtured dozen talents with ten-thousand-mile Qi Seas. From sect’s perspective, terribly inefficient."

"Nonsense!" Fang Lie retorted. "I earned those resources through my own efforts! Sect has no claim over them."

"True enough," Mo Qianxun conceded. "But for further growth, conventional methods won’t suffice. Two paths remain: Find the missing Five Elements Primordial Embryos to complete your set, or…"

"Or?"

"Turn to Demonic Path arts," Mo Qianxun’s expression turned grave. "Soul-devouring techniques enable rapid advancement, but I presume you’ll refuse?"

"Absolutely," Fang Lie spat. "Better death than demonic corruption."

"Alternative exists," Mo Qianxun suggested. "Hunt extramundane demons for their blood essence—but only with Pure Yang Sacred Flame’s purifying power. This heavenly flame originated from cursed remains of Golden Immortal within Left Dao Ruins."

"Three Great Deathlands’ Left Dao Ruins?" Fang Lie frowned. "That Black Death Zone where even Semi-Immortals perish?"

"The periphery’s accessible now," Mo Qianxun clarified. "Sacred Flame roams there freely. Hundreds have witnessed it—myself included. But capturing it requires specific conditions. With undying nature, you might attempt it… in another decade."

"Too slow," Fang Lie grumbled. "Other options?"

"Seek immortal-grade treasures from Seven Great Perils," Mo Qianxun counted on fingers. "Dragon Palace Ruins in Northern Sea’s depths hold Dragon Soul Grass. Wuxiang Immortal Palace—fallen celestial palace—contains genuine immortal herb. Either could expand Qi Sea by eighty-thousand li."

"Why call them ‘perils’ then?"

"Deadly restrictions plague those ruins," Mo Qianxun explained. "Semi-Immortals often fall there—but unlike Three Deathlands, survivors occasionally emerge. Worth considering for desperate men."