53: Chapter 53 A Triumphant Return, Simulation Resumes

"Is your power only at this level?"

Tang Xun spoke indifferently as he looked at the monkey face of the Tongtian Great Sage, which was filled with shock and confusion.

He applied a slight bit of force with his fingertip.

*Crack—*

A crisp sound of shattering rang out.

The indestructible Natal Demon Weapon in the Tongtian Great Sage's hand, forged from Ten Thousand Year Profound Iron, actually began to shatter inch by inch from the spot Tang Xun's fingertip had touched!

Spiderweb-like cracks rapidly spread across the entire body of the staff.

"No!"

The Tongtian Great Sage let out a shrill scream and tried to pull back the iron staff, but it was already too late.

*Boom!*

A massive explosion occurred.

The iron staff, which resembled a pillar supporting the heavens, violently exploded, turning into a sky full of metal fragments that flew in all directions.

Meanwhile, Tang Xun remained standing steadily in place, without even a corner of his clothes fluttering.

*Pfft—*

With his Natal Demon Weapon destroyed, the Tongtian Great Sage felt as if he had been struck by lightning. He opened his mouth and spat out a large mouthful of golden blood, and his entire aura instantly withered.

He stumbled back more than a dozen steps and slumped onto the ground, staring fixedly at Tang Xun with a look as if he were seeing a ghost.

"You... who exactly are you?"

He couldn't understand no matter how hard he thought why his strength was suddenly suppressed so severely. And why could this human before him, who clearly only had a Foundation Establishment Stage cultivation, burst forth with such terrifying power?

This was illogical! This completely defied common sense!

"As I said, I am just an ordinary businessman."

Tang Xun walked step by step toward the slumped Tongtian Great Sage.

"Now, can we have a proper talk about the business regarding that half-section of 'ten thousand year soul nurturing wood'?"

His voice wasn't loud, but in the ears of the Tongtian Great Sage, it sounded like the whisper of a demon.

"..."

The Tongtian Great Sage fell silent.

He looked at Tang Xun, his eyes filled with wariness and resentment.

The situation was stronger than the individual.

He knew that today, he had kicked a steel plate.

This human before him was definitely not someone he could afford to provoke.

"You... you want the soul nurturing wood, fine." Finally, he squeezed out a few words from between his teeth, "But, you must give me something of equal value in exchange!"

This was his final bottom line and dignity.

"Oh?" Tang Xun raised an eyebrow. "What do you want?"

"I... have been cultivating a Divine Ability recently and need a 'Demon Ape Pill' to assist in my Breakthrough. If you can bring me a Demon Ape Pill, I will exchange that half-section of soul nurturing wood with you!" the Tongtian Great Sage said.

He was also making an exorbitant demand.

The Demon Ape Pill was a top-tier third-grade elixir; even for a Nascent Soul Stage demon Cultivator, it held immense benefits.

He originally thought this requirement would be enough to make Tang Xun back down.

However, after Tang Xun finished listening, he laughed.

"Demon Ape Pill? That's it?"

He curled his lip, then casually pulled a jade bottle from his Storage Pouch and tossed it over.

"Here."

The Tongtian Great Sage subconsciously caught the jade bottle and skeptically opened the stopper.

An extremely rich pill fragrance, filled with profound Daoist rhythms, instantly wafted out from the mouth of the bottle.

Just by taking one sniff, he felt that his Bottleneck, which had been stagnant for over a hundred years, showed a sign of loosening.

He poured it out to look and saw a round Medicinal Pill the size of a longan fruit lying quietly in the bottle. It was dark gold all over and bore nine natural pill veins.

"It really is... a Demon Ape Pill! And it's of perfect quality!"

The Tongtian Great Sage's eyes instantly went wide.

He was so excited that his whole body trembled. He held the pill and looked it over repeatedly, as if he were looking at his own father.

This Demon Ape Pill was something Tang Xun had scavenged from the Crimson Trial Forbidden Ground, picked up from an ancient Cultivator's Immortal Cave. At the time, he thought it wasn't very useful.

He didn't expect it would actually come in handy today.

"How about it? Now, can you give me the soul nurturing wood?" Tang Xun said impatiently.

"Yes! Yes! Of course!"

The Tongtian Great Sage hurriedly put away the Demon Ape Pill like a treasure. Then, from his own storage treasure, he took out a piece of wood only as long as an arm, pitch-black all over and emitting a warm aura, and handed it to Tang Xun.

ten thousand year soul nurturing wood!

Tang Xun took the soul nurturing wood, scanned it with his Divine Sense to confirm it was correct, and nodded with satisfaction.

The main material for refining the "Azure Wood Sword" had been obtained!

"Pleasure doing business with you."

Tang Xun cupped his hands toward the Tongtian Great Sage and then turned around, preparing to leave.

"Hey! Friend, please wait!"

The Tongtian Great Sage suddenly called out to him.

"Friend?" Tang Xun was stunned by this form of address.

"Yes!" The Tongtian Great Sage scratched his monkey face and said somewhat sheepishly, "Not only are you powerful, but you are also so generous; you are practically my second parent! From now on, you are the most honored guest of my Flower Fruit Mountain! If there's anything you need, just give the order!"

Tang Xun looked at his fawning appearance, and the corner of his mouth twitched.

This monkey changed faces too quickly, didn't he?

However, another friend meant another path. This Tongtian Great Sage was at least a Tier Three Late Stage Great Demon; there might be a place for him in the future.

"Fine." Tang Xun nodded. "We'll meet again if fate permits."

After saying that, he didn't stay any longer. His figure flickered and disappeared into the dense forest.

...

One month later.

Azure Cloud Sect, Black Stone Peak Immortal Cave.

Tang Xun's figure appeared out of thin air.

He let out a long breath, and his face showed fatigue and excitement that couldn't be concealed.

"Finally... I'm back."

In just three short months, he had first gone to the Crimson Trial, then to the East Sea, and finally made a trip to the Southern Border.

Although the process was very thrilling and the harvest was huge, this high-intensity "global travel" still made him feel a bit tired.

He walked to the center of the Immortal Cave and poured out all the gains from this "trip" onto the ground.

A handful of "nine heavens breathing soil" emitting a heavy aura.

A bottle of incredibly heavy "Profound Nether Heavy Water."

A piece of "ten thousand year soul nurturing wood" emitting a warm aura.

Of the five main materials needed to refine five natal Flying Swords, three were now lying quietly before him!

Only the "geng metal from beyond the heavens" would appear at an auction twenty years later, so there was no rush for now.

Only the last item remained: the "essence of earth core li fire" located deep within Falling Demon Valley.

"Hahahaha!"

Tang Xun looked at the mountain of treasures before him and could no longer suppress the wild joy in his heart, laughing out loud.

In the third simulation, he had spent a full fifty years or so to gather these four items.

But now, in the real world, he had only used three short months!

This was the Heaven-Defying advantage brought to him by the golden trait [Free and Easy Wandering]!

"No rush, no rush. Falling Demon Valley is too dangerous. Before having absolute certainty, it's better not to go looking for death."

Tang Xun forcibly suppressed the urge to immediately go and get the last divine material.

He carefully sealed these three treasures in specially made jade boxes and then stored them in the deepest part of his Storage Pouch.

He didn't rush to start refining the swords.

Refining natal Flying Swords was an extremely time-consuming and energy-draining process. He still had more important things to do right now.

He sat cross-legged and glanced at the System panel.

[Simulator cooling down, remaining time: 1 hour 23 minutes...]

"Is it finally... coming?"

Tang Xun's eyes flickered with a light of immense anticipation.

He was already impatient to start his fourth simulated life.

This time, his starting point was the Late Foundation Establishment Stage!

With such a god-tier start, what height could he reach in the simulation? And what amazing gains could it bring him?

Tang Xun's heart beat wildly because of this thought.

He closed his eyes and began to adjust his state, raising his essence, Qi, and spirit to their Peak.

Time passed minute by minute.

Finally, under Tang Xun's gaze, the cold countdown slowly reached zero.

[Ding! Life Simulator cooldown complete!]

[Current available simulation attempts: 1]

It's here!

Tang Xun snapped his eyes open, a sharp light bursting from them!

He almost roared the command in his heart.

"Start the fourth simulated life!"