Chapter 1793 (Raw 1805): Dispute Between Righteous and Demonic
Riding on the unruly Demon Blood Vulture, which possessed a strong demonic nature, Xiao Chen explored the vicinity of the Black Cutlass.
Firstly, this helped Xiao Chen adjust to the environment of the Ash Gray Sea. Secondly, he hunted ferocious beasts to train himself and, at the same time, obtain nourishment for the Immemorial Demon Soul Formation. Thirdly, he could search for a place to take the tribulation.
The vast Ash Gray Sea was boundless, stretching as far as the eyes could see.
The waves surged, soaring high. Occasionally, pirate ships and exploratory ships from sects swept by.
Although the Ash Gray Sea was dangerous, many cultivators and pirates came here to seek fortuitous encounters and temper themselves.
This was especially so for pirates. Out of ten ships that passed by, seven were pirate ships.
Xiao Chen once heard Xiao Suo say that many pirates wanted to explore the forbidden seas, making it their life’s goal.
Without entering a forbidden sea, one could never be considered a true pirate. This was like a kind of qualification.
However, the Black Cutlass was merely at the edge of the Ash Gray Sea’s periphery. It was still a long distance from the true deep sea.
This place was mostly peaceful. Nothing much would happen here.
Everyone knew that there would not be any tempting resources or fortuitous encounters at the Ash Gray Sea’s periphery. There was nothing worth risking serious damage here.
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“Big Brother, there’s a Demon Blood Vulture!”
When the cultivators on a pirate ship discovered the Demon Blood Vulture flying in the sky, their eyes immediately lit up.
The Demon Blood Vulture was a rare ferocious beast. Every part of its body was considered a treasure.
This was especially so for cultivators who cultivated demonic Cultivation Techniques. The Demon Blood Vulture was great nourishment for them, even more attractive than dragon blood or dragon flesh.
“Don’t even think about it. Do you not see the person riding it? That is someone who could subdue a Demon Blood Vulture. It is best not to offend such a person. Otherwise, you would not even know how you died!”
The captain of that pirate ship was very knowledgeable. After seeing Xiao Chen on the Demon Blood Vulture, he immediately gave up on that thought.
Many people were tempted. However, when they saw that someone had subdued the Demon Blood Vulture, they also gave up.
Their eyes filled with regret. The Demon Blood Vulture was a very rare find. Even if one happened to stumble into it, it was very strong. It possessed an overwhelming demonic nature and should not be offended.
Xiao Chen was extremely lucky to run into a Demon Blood Vulture that was not fully mature and only as strong as a middle-stage Star Venerate.
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“That way!”
Sitting casually on the Demon Blood Vulture, Xiao Chen swept his eyes across and discovered a strange black fish with colorful hair.
The body of this fish was like a small island. If not for it bobbing up and down, Xiao Chen really would have taken it for an island in the sea.
Xiao Chen knew quite a lot about ferocious beasts, but he did not know what this strange black fish before him was.
However, based on its aura, it was a Star-Venerate-level ferocious beast.
“You are it. Attack!”
Xiao Chen patted the Demon Blood Vulture he sat on. Then, it charged down, looking like a red phantom. Before the strange black fish had time to sink into the water, the Demon Blood Vulture’s claws tore apart the fish scales. Then, it ferociously flapped its wings.
“Boom!”
This kicked up huge waves and pressed down the water on both sides.
The Demon Blood Vulture grabbed the strange black fish and hoisted it into the air. The black fish’s blood spilled out like a stream flowing out of the mountain.
The strength of this fellow’s claws is really horrifying. Fortunately, I did not give it a chance to grab me back then.
Xiao Chen felt quite lucky. The Demon Blood Vulture’s strength was truly incredibly horrifying.
There was nearly no need for Xiao Chen to make a move. The instant the Demon Blood Vulture lifted the strange black fish into the air, its sharp, hooklike, silver beak ferociously pecked down and tore through the fish’s head.
Then, the Demon Blood Vulture started eating the fish’s brains. No matter how that strange fish struggled, it was useless.
In merely two or three pecks, this early-stage-Star-Venerate-level strange fish was nearly dead from the Demon Blood Vulture’s attack.
Xiao Chen quickly stopped the Demon Blood Vulture and directed it to return to the Black Cutlass. When they approached, he got it to toss the half-dead fish into the sea.
“Whoosh!” Xiao Suo activated the Immemorial Demon Soul Formation in the ship, and a cloud of blood mist spread out.
The Immemorial Demon Soul Formation consumed the strange fish, which was about the same size as the pirate ship, without pause. Terrifying roars rang out. That was the Yazi Beast Demon Soul eating.
From Xiao Chen’s viewpoint, the Black Cutlass with blood mist shrouding it looked exceptionally bizarre.
When the Demon Blood Vulture saw that blood mist, its drool flowed out like a long river.
It became restless, wanting to charge over to absorb that blood mist.
However, Xiao Chen firmly pressed down on the Demon Blood Vulture, not giving it a chance at all.
This was not the time to feed this thankless wretch. Once it grew stronger, it would immediately turn around and dispose of Xiao Chen.
Xiao Chen could only feed the Demon Blood Vulture without worries after Elder Tang made progress on his cultivation and thoroughly tamed this ferocious beast.
“Let’s go.”
After a few glances, Xiao Chen rode off on the Demon Blood Vulture once more into the distance.
For half a month, they patrolled the place, killing various ferocious beasts.
With the experienced Demon Blood Vulture, Xiao Chen managed to avoid the terrifying ferocious beasts that should not be offended.
However, even so, he had several close brushes with death.
Once, there was an unremarkable-looking little bird that felt rather strange, so Xiao Chen took a few more glances.
That little bird suddenly turned very colorful. When it opened its beak, toxic green fluid consumed half the sky everywhere it passed. No ferocious beast could survive coming in contact with the toxic fluid.
Later, Xiao Chen came to know that this little bird was one of the ten great poisons of the Ash Gray Sea, known as the Flower Bird.
This bird looked as pretty as a flower. When it revealed its true form, it put hundreds of flowers to shame. However, not even a Holy Venerate would dare to come in contact with its toxin.
Fortunately, Xiao Chen had the Taiji Yinyang Flame Diagram to repulse the toxin. Otherwise, he definitely would have died.
After another half a month, Xiao Chen returned to the Black Cutlass, riding on the Demon Blood Vulture.
“Boom!”
The Demon Blood Vulture landed on the Spirit Beast Platform and spread its wings. Then, it glared at the other ferocious beasts, including the Cold Steel Eagles, immediately scaring them into trembling and moving aside.
“Big Brother, the Immemorial Demon Soul Formation now has five pearls lit up!”
Xiao Suo quickly ran over and shared this news with Xiao Chen.
After Xiao Chen’s one month of hard work killing hundreds of ferocious beasts, the other half of the fifth pearl finally lit up.
With five pearls lit up, the Yazi Beast Demon Soul was now as strong as a late-stage Star Venerate. Together with its identity as a Great Desolate Eon ferocious beast, it would actually be much harder to deal with than a true late-stage Star Venerate.
Xiao Chen nodded and said, “I’ll go and take a look.”
When Xiao Chen entered the bottom level, he found blood mist permeating the entire place. There was practically nowhere to stand.
The blood mist, which originally covered just the formation, had leaked out and now filled every corner of the floor.
Xiao Chen observed carefully and discovered that the blood mist could infiltrate every part of the pirate ship.
Actually, the Black Cutlass had been slowly absorbing the blood mist at every moment.
However, it was clear that the rate of absorption could not keep up with the leaking blood mist.
Otherwise, the situation would not have turned out the way it was now, without even a place to set foot on.
“Big Brother, actually, I discovered this long ago. Although the ship’s defenses increased significantly because of it, I feel that the Black Cutlass will eventually turn into a demonic ship,” Xiao Suo said, somewhat worried as he stood beside Xiao Chen.
“A demonic ship?”
Xiao Chen smiled and asked, “Xiao Suo, what do you think of the Demonic Dao?”
Xiao Suo was stunned for a moment before he answered, “Actually, I have come in contact with many Demonic Dao cultivators. Many of them are ruthless characters without any morals. When they do things, they do not show any fear or restraint. They do not care about what means they use to accomplish their goals.”
Xiao Chen walked over and continued, “What do you think of that Yan Zhe?”
Xiao Suo could not understand. “What does this have to do with Yan Zhe?”
Xiao Chen smiled and said, “Naturally, it does. That Yan Zhe appears to be very open and generous like a disciple of a righteous faction. However, his schemes are very insidious. Do you think he is of the Demonic Dao or the Righteous Dao?”
“This…”
“So, even if we use a demonic ship, we would not necessarily be of the Demonic Dao. Those who cultivate the Cultivation Techniques of the righteous faction might not be of the Righteous Dao. There is no need to worry too much.”
These words immediately opened up Xiao Suo’s thoughts, loosening the knot in his heart.
“Most of the crew on this ship are young. Their mental states and willpower are not as resolute as yours and mine. After living with this blood mist for a long time, they will have difficulty escaping its influence. As the captain, your every action is very important. If you can guard your own heart, it will naturally have an effect and prevent them from falling into the Demonic Dao.”
“I understand now.”
Xiao Suo nodded. This time, his preoccupation was completely resolved. In the future, he would no longer feel so conflicted when facing the Immemorial Demon Soul Formation.
After all, the owner of this ship was actually Xiao Suo. Xiao Chen explained this so that Xiao Suo could have a better Black Cutlass in the future.
However, letting this blood mist leak out was truly a waste. It was also a potential danger.
I have to go and see Elder Tang and check how his cultivation of the Beast Taming Art is coming along and whether he can completely subdue that Demon Blood Vulture.
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“Captain, that Xiao Chen has yet to request assistance. It looks like he has already adjusted to the Ash Gray Sea.”
The Iron Horn Pirate Group’s core members surrounded Yan Zhe and discussed in whispers.
No one was willing to just watch this duck that he obtained just fly away like that.
Yan Zhe smiled faintly. “It is just the periphery of the Ash Gray Sea. He will run into trouble sooner or later. There is no rush. I have benefited greatly in this trip to the Grave Sea, gaining a deeper comprehension of mental states. I feel that it will not be long before I break through the Starry Sky Stage.”
“Congratulations, Captain!”
On hearing these words, everyone immediately felt excited. Breaking through the Starry Sky Stage meant that their captain would advance to the second stage of the Cloud Sea Realm, the Holy Light Stage.