We stepped out of the shimmering portal that led from my Demonic Realm, the chaotic energies instantly replaced by a serene, almost ethereal atmosphere.
"Dragon Xuan, wait," I said, halting in the swirling void between realms. "I'll first transform my Qi."
Xuan simply nodded, his golden eyes observing me with a mixture of curiosity and anticipation.
I focused my mind, issuing a silent command: System, transform my Demonic Qi into Spiritual Qi.
A subtle shift occurred within me, a churning sensation as the dark, potent energy that defined my being began to transmute. The dragon ancestor watched, his massive head tilting in astonishment as the oppressive aura that usually clung to me dissipated, replaced by a purer, more harmonious energy.
"I've never seen anything like this before," Xuan rumbled, his voice filled with genuine surprise. "It's... Amazing."
"It's done," I stated, flexing my hand, feeling the unfamiliar yet equally potent spiritual energy coursing through my meridians.
"How can you do something like this," Xuan marveled, "and you also possess unimaginable power?"
I chuckled, a low sound in the emptiness. "Hahaha, dragon Xuan, do I have to change my appearance too?"
"You can do that," Xuan replied, a knowing glint in his eyes. "Because most of the people know the Ruthless Demon, hahaha."
Again, I commanded the system: System, change my appearance.
My form shimmered, the sharp edges softening, my skin taking on a more humanlike hue, my eyes losing their crimson intensity, becoming a deep, fathomless black.
"Dragon Xuan," I said, my voice now subtly different, less harsh, more resonant. "From now on, call me Supreme Luo."
"Fine, Brother Luo," Xuan agreed with a hearty chuckle.
"Then lead the way," I said, eager to see this Divine Realm he spoke of.
Xuan turned and soared through another shimmering portal, and I followed. We traversed countless voids and swirling gateways, finally emerging into a realm that felt… different. The air hummed with an almost palpable energy, a vibrant, life-affirming force that was the polar opposite of the oppressive atmosphere of my demonic domain. Lush landscapes stretched as far as the eye could see, bathed in a golden light that seemed to emanate from the very fabric of existence.
"Brother Luo, we are here at the Divine Realm," Xuan announced, his voice filled with pride.
"Oh," I breathed, taking in the breathtaking scenery. "I only heard that the Divine Realm is great, but seeing this feels like… heavens."
Xuan let out a booming laugh. "Brother Luo, if this place feels like heavens, then your Demonic Realm is hell!"
"Hahahaha," I conceded. "You are right. So, where are your friends?"
"Brother, come this way," Xuan said, turning towards the northeast.
As I followed him, we approached a majestic mountain that pierced the clouds. Even from a distance, I could sense powerful auras emanating from it – one at the Celestial King 6th level, another at the 7th, and a formidable one at the Celestial King 8th level. Xuan led me to a serene clearing nestled amongst ancient trees, where three figures were sitting and conversing.
"Old basterds, I'm here!" Xuan boomed, his arrival anything but subtle.
One of the figures, a man with a rugged appearance, bristled. "Hey! Who are you calling a basterd?"
Another, a woman with fiery red hair that seemed to dance in the gentle breeze, simply rolled her eyes. "You old dragon."
The third, a man with an aura of sharp, contained power, regarded Xuan with a wry smile. "So you came. I thought you died falling into some void."
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A mental window flickered before my eyes, displaying the stats of the rugged man.
Name: Fang Suan
Level: Celestial King 6 level
Title: Wild Formation Master
Race: Human
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Another window appeared, revealing the fiery-haired woman's information.
Name: Ruo Ling'er
Level: Celestial King 7 level
Title: Celestial Refiner
Race: True Phoenix
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Finally, the stats of the composed man materialized.
Name: Shen
Level: Celestial King 8 level
Title: Sword Sovereign
Race: Human
Special Body: Immortal Sword Body
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"Brother, I brought the person I told you about before," Xuan announced as we landed gracefully on the mountain clearing.
The fiery-haired woman, Ruo, eyed me with blatant skepticism. "Hey, old dragon, he's just a mortal. I can't even sense a spiritual energy from him."
The rugged man, Fang, nodded in agreement. "Yeah, he looks like an ordinary person."
Shen, however, fixed his gaze on me, his eyes gleaming with an unnerving intensity. I felt a probing sensation, as if he were trying to peer into the depths of my being, to unravel my very essence.
But all he encountered was a swirling vortex of crimson, two eyes burning with ancient power, staring back into his soul.
Shen recoiled abruptly, stumbling backward, his face paling.
"Hey, brother, are you ok?" I asked, a hint of concern in my voice.
Ruo, Fang, and Xuan all turned to Shen, their expressions mirroring my worry. "Are you ok? What happened?"
"Yeah, I'm fine," Shen said quickly, waving a dismissive hand, though his eyes still held a flicker of unease as he glanced back at me. "Don't worry."
"Shen, did you try seeing Brother Luo's spiritual sea?" Xuan asked, his tone knowing.
Shen's expression shifted, a hint of respect entering his eyes. "Yeah," he admitted, bowing slightly towards me. "I'm sorry for that."
"It's ok, brother," I said with a reassuring smile. "Don't worry about it."
The initial awkwardness soon faded as we all settled down, sharing stories and laughter as the day turned into night. I found myself enjoying their company, a strange sense of camaraderie forming between us.
"Wow, Brother Shen," I said, my gaze drawn to the exquisite sword resting on his lap, its blade shimmering with an otherworldly light. "Where did you get that sword?"
Shen stroked the blade lovingly. "This sword? I refined it from sister ruo, with materials provided by Me."
"Really?" I turned to Ruo, my interest piqued. "Then, Sister Ruo, can you create one for me? I can provide any material you want."
Ruo's fiery eyes gleamed with a hint of mischief. "Hmm, I can, but what can I get, Brother Luo, hehehe?"
"What do you want?" I asked, intrigued by her playful demand. "Tell me."
"I want an immortal golden fruit," Ruo declared, her gaze fixed on me expectantly. "Can you get it for me?"
"How does an immortal golden fruit look like?" I asked, genuinely curious.
Their eyes widened in unison, a mixture of shock and disbelief on their faces.
"What? You don't even know?" Fang exclaimed.
"Do I need to know?" I countered, a hint of amusement in my voice.
Xuan roared with laughter. "Hahaha! He's a basterd who only cultivates!"
"Hey!" I protested, though a smile tugged at my lips. "Just tell me how it looks."
"It looks like a golden apple," Ruo explained, her eyes sparkling with anticipation, "and also has some unique designs on it."
With a thought, I reached into my spatial ring and pulled out a radiant golden fruit, its surface intricately patterned with swirling lines of light. "Is this an immortal golden fruit?"
Their jaws dropped in unison.
"What?" Fang stammered. "You really have one?"
A mental image flashed – a chaotic battle, the gleam of gold amidst the carnage as I'd claimed my spoils.
"So, this is an immortal golden fruit," I said, tossing it towards Ruo. "Take it, Sister Ruo, and refine me a sword."
Ruo caught the fruit, her eyes wide with disbelief. "Really? Think twice! I won't give it back!"
The significance of the fruit hung in the air – an Immortal Golden Fruit, a treasure that could shake the very foundations of the heavens and earth, capable of granting an instant breakthrough even to those whose cultivation was stagnant.
"It's ok," I said, waving a dismissive hand. "I don't particularly want this golden fruit. But you have to refine my sword."
Ruo's surprise slowly morphed into a delighted grin. "Ok then! Give me the materials!"
With another thought, I produced a collection of rare and precious resources: a chunk of obsidian-like Immortal Black Rock, pulsating with dark energy; a cluster of Boundless Spiritual Stones, radiating pure, concentrated energy; five shimmering Five-Coloured Stones, each imbued with elemental power; and several other equally extraordinary materials.
They all stared at the array of treasures, their initial surprise giving way to utter astonishment. Their eyes widened, and then, in unison, they exclaimed:
"What?! You have all these high-tier materials?! How did you get them?!"
"Really?" I asked, feigning ignorance. "They are rare?"
They all nodded vehemently. "Yes! These materials are incredibly rare!"
I simply nodded in acknowledgment, a small, knowing smile playing on my lips.