Chapter 417: Chapter 309: Upper-class Demon Artifact, Ten Thousand Poison Heart-Piercing Nail!

The Cyan-Horned Strongman spoke while pointing to the cold-glinting cyan crossbow arrows on Zhenyun Island.

"Artifact Spirit Technique?"

"Such an Abnormal Technique? Where did you learn it?"

Gu Yuan asked with a hint of surprise.

Indeed, it was the first time he had heard of the Artifact Spirit Technique.

"Although the Little Demon has a mixed bloodline, it does contain a trace of Three-legged Rhinoceros blood, whose innate divine power is to transform into an Artifact Spirit, merging with Demon Artifacts and possessing great strength."

"The Little Demon once ingested an Exotic Fruit in the Cloud Dream Marsh and naturally learned this technique after breaking through to a Great Demon."

"The Little Demon knows that this technique cannot harm a Sword Immortal, but if the Sword Immortal seeks to vie for an opportunity, the Little Demon is willing to offer my humble services. I can lead the little demons on Zhenyun Island to bolster the Sword Immortal’s strength and intimidate enemies."

After saying this, the Cyan-Horned Strongman directly bowed his head, offering his Heart Essence Blood and Demon Soul Spiritual Light.

"You do have a certain cleverness..."

Gu Yuan smiled faintly.

Seeing the Cyan-Horned Strongman so eager, Gu Yuan savored the moment.

In the Cloud Dream Marsh, survival is difficult. Without exceptional innate divine powers, even ordinary Early-Stage Tier Three Great Demons find it hard to control a territory.

With the Poison Cloud Python dead, the Cyan-Horned Strongman surely couldn’t guard Zhenyun Island, hence the intent to find new backing.

For this, sacrificing freedom.

"Swish!"

Gu Yuan rolled up the Heart Essence Blood of the Cyan-Horned Strongman with mana into his sleeve, then said blandly, "In that case, you may accompany me to see what this opportunity is. If you accomplish something during this venture, I will grant you freedom!"

Being new to the area, with the fluid situation in Cloud Dream Marsh, it was beneficial to have a Great Demon seeking alliance.

Though it wasn’t necessary to truly subdue this demon.

"Yes, Lord!"

The Cyan-Horned Strongman replied with a mix of excitement and a trace of disappointment, but promptly altered his tone to respectfully address him.

"Congratulations to Senior Brother Gu on subduing the Great Demon!"

Upon seeing this, Wu Taiqing quickly offered his congratulations to Gu Yuan with a hand salute.

"What’s there to celebrate for a mere Little Demon?"

Gu Yuan shook his head, laughing silently.

For someone like him, such Great Demons were no longer noteworthy.

Upon hearing this, Wu Taiqing deeply felt the disparity between them. The Great Demon, highly sought-after by Spirit Sound Pavilion, was trivial to Gu Yuan.

"Will Senior Brother still journey to Thousand Sounds Valley?"

After his musings were over, Wu Taiqing asked Gu Yuan, tinged with concern.

Without Gu Yuan’s presence, his heart was uneasy.

"One has to visit Thousand Sounds Valley, but presently, I am unaware of when the opportunity will arise, so I’m afraid I can’t make time for it temporarily."

"However, with this snake’s head as guard, I believe the two following Demon Islands won’t pose too much trouble."

"If there are those who are shortsighted, temporarily endure it and return to Zhenyun Island. I’ll reconsider once I have free time!"

Gu Yuan contemplated softly, then waved his robe, and a sharp Sword Qi descended upon Zhenyun Island, slicing open the Poison Cloud Python’s head, then sweeping it with mana and tying it to the Treasure Boat’s ram.

Despite the Python being a Mid-Stage Tier Three Great Demon, its Demon Qi was overwhelming. Even in death, its gaze was wide and vicious, full of evil aura.

On the deck, some disciples with weak cultivation felt dizzy after a mere glance, hardly able to stand.

"Thank you, Senior Brother!"

"With this snake’s head, this journey will undoubtedly be safe!"

Seeing this, Wu Taiqing was overjoyed and paid respects to Gu Yuan.

What is deterrence? This is deterrence!

The demons guarding the next two checkpoints, upon seeing the head of a python with comparable power displayed, would surely be intimidated.

"Well then, let’s temporarily separate and proceed cautiously!"

Having completed everything, Gu Yuan tossed a Sound Transmission Talisman to Wu Taiqing and, led by the Cyan-Horned Strongman, descended from the Escape Light onto Zhenyun Island.

His journey to Cloud Dream Marsh was twofold: to seek out the Sword Dao Travelogue and to find more opportunities, all to enhance his power, not to act as Spirit Sound Pavilion’s bodyguard.

Thus, parting was necessary when the time called for it.

"I shall linger in Thousand Sounds Valley for a month, hoping Senior Brother visits soon!"

Wu Taiqing, with a ship of Qi Refining and Foundation Establishment cultivators, naturally refrained from proposing joint treasure hunts with Gu Yuan. He gave a respectful bow to Gu Yuan, then returned to the Treasure Boat, ringing the Golden Bell, leading the disciples onward toward Thousand Sounds Valley.

"Take me to see what Demon Artifact the python had crafted!"

Upon landing on Zhenyun Island, Gu Yuan instructed the Cyan-Horned Strongman.

Killing Great Demons naturally necessitates sorting through the spoils.

His vast Divine Thought scanned over the Poison Cloud Python’s Qiankun Bag, though it contained many Spirit Fruit Ores, they were mostly items useful to the Demon Race, and not much treasure besides.

Feeling disappointed, Gu Yuan placed hope in the Snake Demon’s trump card Demon Artifact.

"Yes, Lord!"

The Cyan-Horned Strongman responded respectfully, then led Gu Yuan into a hidden underground chamber beneath a Black Pond.

This water connected to the depths, incredibly dark, with an offensive stench. Any Early Stage Golden Core cultivator would feel dizzy from the smell.

It was the Poison Cloud Python’s cultivation site, the Poisonous Black Water Pond.

Suspended in the pond was a three-inch black nail-like artifact, floating, continuously inhaling the deep toxic gas from the water.

Amidst the pond, numerous Spirit Fruits and ores dissolved and were absorbed by the water, which then emitted more toxic gas for the Black Nail to consume.

"Lord, this is the Demon Artifact crafted by the python, the Ten Thousand Poison Heart-Piercing Nail!"

"This nail, bathed in the Poisonous Black Water Pond, absorbed countless toxic gases, foul beyond compare. Upon activation, it can corrode various Dharma Seals and Artifacts, penetrating the body of foes."

"Once it scratches even a little skin, myriad poisons invade the heart instantly, beyond salvation. Even Mid-Stage Golden Core cultivators and Great Demons can scarcely resist its toxin."

"However, this nail demands copious amounts of toxic gas, so its Black Water Pond offers insufficient toxins, resulting in the python planning to rob passing merchant ships to gather Spiritual Objects, to produce more poison gas before the treasure emerges."

The Cyan-Horned Strongman meticulously explained.

"The Ten Thousand Poison Heart-Piercing Nail is nearly an Upper-Class Demon Artifact..."

"Quite intriguing indeed."

Gu Yuan nodded slightly.

He possessed the Treasure Refining Celestial Cutting Gourd; any artifact lacking formidable power would be thrown into this gourd.

When he slew the Qingyang Temple’s barefoot youth those years ago, he depleted a wisp of Heaven-Slaying Essence Qi from the gourd and placed two Middle-grade Treasures acquired from the youth inside, gaining a sharper Heaven-Slaying Essence Qi, cultivated to this day.

Months ago, after acquiring Zhang Guangcheng’s treasures, Gu Yuan also tossed them into the gourd, yielding further Heaven-Slaying Essence Qi.

Yet this Essence Qi was difficult to cultivate and couldn’t be wielded carelessly, being reserved as a trump card.

Aside from the Heaven-Slaying Essence Qi, Gu Yuan only possessed two attacking treasures: the Sword Pill and the Vortex Wind Thunder Pearl.

The means were decidedly few.

The Ten Thousand Poison Heart-Piercing Nail, having been refined by the python to such an extent, would be wasteful to forgo.

"Splash!"

With a thought, Gu Yuan threw all the Spiritual Objects from the python’s Qiankun Bag and leftover items from Zhang Guangcheng into the Black Water Pond.

"Gurgle gurgle!"

Instantly, the toxic gas surged, and the Heart-Piercing Nail shone brightly, quivering continuously.

The Black Water Pond was extremely strange; no matter the nature of the Spiritual Objects thrown in, all transformed into toxic gas for the python’s cultivation and artifact refining.

The python occupied this island due to its toxic pond.

And this was Cloud Dream Marsh’s unique character.

All Spirit Islands contained mystical realms, allowing the nurturing of numerous Spirit Monsters.

As Gu Yuan continued feeding Spiritual Objects, the Ten Thousand Poison Heart-Piercing Nail in the air quivered endlessly, engulfed tightly by rolling poisonous fumes.

But the nail’s inherent high class meant ascending to Upper-Class could not happen so easily.

"Alas!"

Sighing, Gu Yuan hesitated not, casting the Poison Cloud Python’s corpse into the Black Water Pond.

Such a Great Demon’s body surely ranks as top-tier Spiritual Object!

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