As soon as Elder Wu said this, the expressions of the other two also changed several times.
Ding Hao was in great distress at this moment. Before the Wuji Demon Skill was fully mastered, this secret must not be exposed to the public. Otherwise, with the outstanding nature of the Wuji Demon Skill, once it was known, others would surely try to seize it with all their might. With Ding Hao's current cultivation level, he definitely couldn't protect it and would surely meet a premature end!
Although he had a headache, he still had to answer, "Elders, you are overly worried. The cultivation method I practice is not some extraordinary devilish art. I had been stuck at the late - Kaiming stage for many years and had long reached the time for a breakthrough. However, due to certain reasons, I had been stagnant at this stage. This time, because I was severely injured, I had no choice but to use a secret method to heal my wounds with this person. Unexpectedly, I achieved a breakthrough by accident. I didn't really cultivate to the Fusion stage within these few days. Even I myself find it incredible now. It seems that I have caused the elders to misunderstand me. With your great experience, elders, have you ever heard of any devilish skill that can enable such rapid cultivation?"
The several people had only been suspicious at first. Now, hearing his explanation and thinking about it carefully, they found that what Ding Hao said did make some sense. So they didn't pursue the matter further, but they still had doubts about Ding Hao. After all, there were too many mysterious aspects about him.
Feng Xingran's gaze at Ding Hao was extremely strange. Ding Hao knew that because of what had happened before, she would never believe his lies again. Among them, he was most wary of this woman. Fortunately, she didn't expose him, and Ding Hao was also happy to play dumb.
Seeing that Ding Hao was ready, the others didn't say more. Feng Xingran ordered Elder Wu to take Ding Hao. Ding Hao originally wanted to fly on his own with the Heaven - Defying Demon Sword, but then he thought that they didn't know this function of the sword yet. It was better not to expose it if possible.
Although it seemed that they had no ill intentions towards him for now, devilish cultivators were always unscrupulous in their actions. They might turn against him at any time. Keeping this secret was only beneficial to him. So he was happy to be idle and let Elder Wu fly with him.
The Juqu Mountain itself was not remarkable. The spiritual energy of this mountain was far inferior to that of the Duanhun Mountain, and it only covered an area of about ten thousand li. However, the reputation of this mountain in the cultivation world was no less than that of the Duanhun Mountain, just because the Treasure - Gathering Sect cultivated here.
Rather than saying that the Treasure - Gathering Sect was a sect, it was more like a large commercial firm.
The Tianxuan Continent was vast and boundless, with hundreds of millions of cultivators. There were thousands of sects, large and small. Where there were people, there would be equivalent transactions. The Treasure - Gathering Sect was a specialized place for cultivators to conduct transactions.
All cultivators, no matter how wealthy they were, had the need for transactions. Due to the special status of the Treasure - Gathering Sect, both Taoists and devilish cultivators had to show some respect to it. Although the cultivation levels of the sect leaders of the Treasure - Gathering Sect in each generation varied greatly, they had one thing in common, that is, each sect leader was extremely tactful and maintained good relationships with the leaders of almost every major sect in the Tianxuan Continent. In addition, the people of the Treasure - Gathering Sect didn't like to compete with others. Therefore, the Treasure - Gathering Sect became an anomaly in the cultivation world, and its members were also called businessmen in the cultivation world.
It was precisely because of their special practice that the trading conference held by their sect once every hundred years was a grand event in the cultivation world. Both devilish cultivators and Taoists could participate in the trading. Moreover, during the trading period, everyone would consciously put aside their grudges for the time being. If someone dared to fight during the trading, this person would arouse the public wrath of all sects in the cultivation world. Therefore, some people would travel a long distance to come here just to avoid being chased by their enemies. Once they arrived at the Juqu Mountain, they would be safe.
After hearing Feng Xingran tell him about this, the first thing that came to Ding Hao's mind was that the magic treasures and materials collected by this sect must be among the top in the cultivation world. Sooner or later, he would extort something from them. Otherwise, how could he live up to his ambition? He didn't care about being the public enemy of the cultivation world. At that time, whoever dared to oppose him would be wiped out!
The reason why the Treasure - Gathering Sect could stand firm in the cultivation world for so many years must be that each sect was of comparable strength and restrained each other, and no one dared to be the first to act. Ding Hao didn't believe that these sects were so friendly to the Treasure - Gathering Sect.
When Ding Hao arrived at this mountain, he saw that several people were relieved. He knew that it was because of the attack on the way.
At the mountain gate, Feng Xingran reported the name of the Hell Demon Sect and was then invited by a special person to a quiet detached courtyard to rest. Ding Hao secretly thought that having a great reputation really had its advantages. He saw that many people didn't even have a place to live. He just threw his cattail mat and sat down to rest with his eyes closed.
Thanks to Feng Xingran, Ding Hao was also allocated a separate room. Although it was a bit crude compared to his residence in the Wuji Demon Sect, it was much better than what the others he had seen on the way had.
After entering the room and closing the door, Ding Hao asked the eight - winged purple python to spit out the person who hadn't been completely devoured last time. If Ding Hao hadn't repeatedly instructed, the eight - winged purple python would have already devoured this person long ago. Seeing the reluctant look of the eight - winged purple python, Ding Hao couldn't help but curse inwardly. I haven't had enough myself, and you can't wait. I've raised you for so long, but I haven't seen any use of you. You even consume the precious medicine on me all day long.
The eight - winged purple python seemed to know what Ding Hao was thinking and hissed continuously as if it was defending itself. But Ding Hao couldn't understand it. Ding Hao knew that only when it evolved to an adult with two wings could he communicate with it mentally. Now it could understand Ding Hao's words, but Ding Hao didn't know what it meant.
During these days, several people had been busy on the journey, and Ding Hao hadn't found a chance to devour this person. Now the opportunity finally came. After setting up several small arrays in the room, Ding Hao began to devour this person.
This time, the speed and efficiency of devouring were obviously much faster than before. It was all thanks to his black inner core! It seemed like a long time or perhaps just a moment. Finally, Ding Hao felt that his body's absorption had reached its limit again and stopped devouring. Looking at this person again, he had become skin and bones.
Looking at the greedy look of the eight - winged purple python, after thinking about it, Ding Hao knew that even if he completely devoured this person, he didn't dare to make a breakthrough. What he said last time had already made them full of doubts. If he made another breakthrough in front of them, no matter what Ding Hao said, it would be useless. Although most of this person's essence had been devoured by Ding Hao, because the true essence of a Divided Spirit - stage cultivator was extremely vast, even so, it was still very tempting to the eight - winged purple python.
Ding Hao threw the emaciated person to the eight - winged purple python. The eight - winged purple python hissed shrilly. Although Ding Hao couldn't understand what it meant, just looking at its expression, he knew that it was extremely excited.
After taking a break, Ding Hao began to plan to digest this true essence. He couldn't use all of it to cultivate the black inner core, otherwise, he would inevitably make a breakthrough. After thinking about it, he used a small part of this true essence to cultivate the black inner core. Before he felt that the black inner core was about to change again, he quickly used the rest to cultivate his five internal organs and body.
Ding Hao couldn't help but find it a bit funny. Others were working hard to make a breakthrough, while he himself could make a breakthrough but had to try his best to restrain himself. No one would believe it if he told them!
However, because of this, Ding Hao believed that in terms of physical strength alone, he was definitely unrivaled in the cultivation world. At the same cultivation stage, whoever fought with him head - on would surely die with no chance of survival.
After removing the illusion array, he suddenly found a person sitting on a stool in front of the door, drinking tea leisurely as if he hadn't noticed Ding Hao at all. Looking down at the cup, he said, "I have a treasure called the Beast - Controlling Mirror. As long as there is a strange beast within a hundred li, this mirror will react. I see that you, little friend, have also come to the Treasure - Gathering Sect to exchange items. As long as you are willing to part with your eight - winged purple python and exchange it with me, whatever you want, as long as you can name it, I guarantee to find it for you. What do you think, little friend?"
After saying this, the man looked up at Ding Hao. This man looked to be in his thirties, but on closer inspection, he seemed to be in his forties, and on further inspection, he seemed to be in his fifties. He had a magnificent physique and a handsome appearance, and the whole person exuded an evil charm.
Although this man didn't deliberately exert pressure, Ding Hao already knew that among the dangerous people he had encountered since he started his journey, this man was definitely the most dangerous. Seeing that he didn't seem to have any ill intentions, and since they were in the Treasure - Gathering Sect, Ding Hao was not afraid of him seizing by force, so he let down a lot of his concerns.
"Oh, seeing that your power, senior, is extraordinary, what use can my not - yet - adult eight - winged purple python be to you? Can you tell me, junior? However, I have to say something unpleasant first. No matter what you take out, senior, I will not exchange this thing with you." Ding Hao said leisurely.
The man sighed and said, "There are already a hundred beasts in my Beast - Controlling Mirror, but I lack a beast king to manage them. Although your eight - winged purple python is still young, if I raise it, it can evolve into an adult within a hundred years. I have been searching for many years to find an object that can be the beast king in the Beast - Controlling Mirror. Little friend, can you part with it? I will surely reward you handsomely."
"Although I know you are in a difficult situation, senior, this thing is also extremely important to me. I hope you can understand, senior. I have already said that I will not exchange this thing. I don't want to repeat it." Ding Hao knew the preciousness of the eight - winged purple python very well. Besides, he didn't lack anything. How could he exchange it with him? His answer was even more resolute.
"Uncle Monster, you'd better give up this idea. This little thief will definitely not exchange it with you if he says so. Xingran knows this kind of person best!" With these words, Feng Xingran slowly walked into the room.