Becoming an immortal and ancestor begins with the golden toad spitting out money.

Chapter 166 Tracing the Roots, Turning Defense into Offense

If Su Ji wants to understand the profound meaning of the transition between autumn and winter, he needs to restore the Golden Wind Valley to normal, which requires finding the mysterious source of the invasion from the snow mountain.

Su Ji knew he couldn't do it alone, so he joined the team searching for Long Teng, a Daoist disciple of the Longshan Sect, and became the leader of the third group.

Unexpectedly, before the group of cultivators had even left Golden Wind Canyon, they were attacked by a gigantic monster that resembled a god.

If it weren't for the invincible defense of the Azure Dragon Formation formed by the cultivators, probably half of the cultivators would have been killed or injured, and the other cultivators would have had difficulty escaping due to the subsequent attacks of the chilling aura.

However, even though Su Ji took the initiative to lead the charge, using his innate mystical arts and corresponding spiritual artifacts to pave the way, he still encountered a life-or-death crisis at the monster's throat.

Fortunately, Su Ji had made ample preparations before arriving. His superior-grade profound technique, [Tongyou Xuanmen], allowed him to pass directly through the deadly trap created by the monster and lead the group of cultivators into the monster's belly.

Before Su Ji had even left the area of ​​the [Tongyou Xuanmen], Yan Tianchou had already discovered some information.

"As expected, there should be some kind of organ in the monster's throat that provides cold energy. Now, upon investigation, we've discovered that it actually contains condensed [Xin Metal] attribute immortal materials!"

Currently, Su Ji has only been in contact with the City God Temple and the Mo family in Thousand Changes Town. The City God Temple has the City God's Divine Mirror, and Thousand Changes Town should also have some kind of divine treasure, but he has not yet seen any real divine materials.

Even the divine pearl of the Taibai Dragon Clan is merely a key to a low-level secret realm, which can be called a treasure of immortals and gods, rather than a divine material.

However, it's not that the immortal materials are so rare, but rather that even high-level cultivators can't enter the spiritual realm, let alone find immortal materials. They can only be encountered in such a spiritual realm.

"Although we cannot bring foreign high-grade spiritual materials into the Spirit Realm, we can refine high-grade spiritual materials that already belong to the Spirit Realm into spiritual artifacts and bring them in..."

"If we can collect the immortal materials from the broken immortal realm of the Golden Cave Sect and refine them into immortal treasures, even if the grade is not high, it will still be stronger than the so-called superior flawless spiritual artifacts, which will definitely be of great help to our future exploration of the broken immortal realm!"

The reason why the gods of Jinfeng County have to seek other paths is that they are blocked by the Iron Monkey and other [metal-type] divine beasts. Spiritual weapons are difficult to cause fatal damage to these divine beasts, and only immortal treasures can threaten the lives of those metal-type divine beasts.

Unfortunately, before the cultivators could even regain their footing, a blast of cold air descended from above, blasting the cultivators in the Azure Dragon Formation into the monster's belly.

The monster's belly contained no stomach acid, nor any stones to crush food. Instead, it contained a strangely shaped platform, around which icy evil spirits swam and worshipped the black and gold ram-headed monster on the platform as if on a pilgrimage.

The silver-haired old woman from the Qiu family in Jiuxiang County couldn't help but change her expression slightly: "After the destruction of the Golden Cave Sect, this fairyland was buried under the White Rock Mountains... Could it be that the monsters worshipped by the evil spirits are statues of ancient demons?"

Ancient demons were suppressed here, and may have been worn away over the long years, but it is possible that some lucky ancient demons found this ruined fairyland and spread their demonic cult here.

The white-robed high-ranking cultivator of the Taibai Dragon Clan shook his head: "In the records of my Taibai Dragon Clan, ancient demons were all insect-like. The ram-headed monster on the platform before us seems to be a creature born from a monster..."

Even in the outside world, it would be difficult to find such a huge monster, not to mention that the monster seems to be only in form, with various organs but no real flesh and blood.

Most importantly, this place mainly contains the Dao of [Xin Metal]. Even if there is such a powerful monster that is like a god, it is still of the same attribute as the Golden Fiend Cloud Essence.

So much so that Su Ji also suspected that this monster was not a real monster, but rather, like the Earth Yang Spiritual Vein of the Earth Yang Serpent Lord and the Earth Yin Spiritual Vein of the White Jade Toad Lord, it was formed from a spiritual vein of a broken immortal realm.

Spirit veins are generally inanimate objects; they can only bend and stretch when controlled by spirits.

Su Ji had witnessed the Earth Yang Serpent Lord using the spiritual veins to devour the Earth Yang spiritual liquid from the Earth Yang Reservoir, and he had also seen the White Jade Toad Lord use the Earth Yin spiritual veins to open a passage to the underground...

"In this way, after eliminating this ram-headed monster, we can not only resolve the crisis but also obtain the spiritual vein resources that transformed into the monster?"

From the moment they were ambushed, the only thought on the minds of all the cultivators was to escape. Even those who were resentful of the reassignment still obeyed the majority in order to survive.

Now, they have not only reached the heart of the monster, but also discovered its true form. Their desperate struggle for survival has turned into a thirst for spiritual resources, and the ram-headed monster on the high platform has become everyone's prey.

However, the Shackled Spirit General of Jiuxiang County poured cold water on these people: "Don't forget, besides the ram-headed monster that is suspected to be a spirit vein spirit, there is also a group of Ice and Snow Evil Spirit believers. If they are blinded by profit, they may die here!"

Although the Azure Dragon Formation can reduce its numbers by a few, it cannot be reduced by half at once; the next action must have only one objective.

Judging from the current situation, although the Ice and Snow Evil Spirit has discovered a group of cultivators, the ram-headed monster on the high platform has not awakened. If you go around it from the side, you can leave from the monster's tail.

As a result, everyone was faced with two choices: either to go to war directly for resources, or to preserve their strength and leave temporarily.

Because the Ice and Snow Evil Spirits still needed to protect the high platform, the two sides had not yet clashed, giving the cultivators ample time to discuss the matter.

The elders of the Longshan Sect came here to rescue the Dao Seed Long Teng, and they certainly did not want to waste their time, energy and trump cards here, so they advocated leaving this place immediately.

The cultivators who came to help felt this was a great opportunity to obtain treasures. If they missed this opportunity, the spirit vein monster might disappear without a trace once it was out of sight. The broken immortal realm was so vast that they didn't know when they would be able to find this spirit vein.

The deities of Jiuxiang County and Jinfeng County have also split into two camps. Some are trying to stabilize the situation, while others are more radical and want to accelerate the exploration of the broken fairyland and take this opportunity to completely resolve the Jinfeng Canyon issue.

Just then, Su Ji's expression suddenly changed, and he shouted in a low voice, "The cold air is coming from above, get out of the way!"

Just now, when he was inside the monster's throat, Su Ji had discovered those organs that had condensed into immortal materials. Perhaps they were parts of the spiritual vein that had undergone metamorphosis, or immortal materials that the spiritual vein had devoured and refined...

Just in case, and also to investigate the true condition of these organs, Su Ji threw out the mechanical spirit beast.

The massive Azure Dragon formation could not withstand the swallowing force, but the mechanical spirit beast controlled by the Yantianchou clone was able to stay in place by using the depression in the monster's throat. Just as it was about to climb to the monster's organs, which were at the level of immortal materials, it discovered a large amount of cold air coming from above.

With the reminder from Yan Tianchou's clone, Su Ji quickly led his companions from the Azure Dragon Formation to the side, thus avoiding being directly hit by such a large burst of cold air.

However, the cultivators saw the monster's sinister intentions from this chilling aura.

The local deity, Zhang Gong, said solemnly, “Since the giant monster ambushed us, it must be controlled by the ram-headed spirit. Just now, it seemed to be closed-eyed and unconscious, but in reality, it was controlling the giant monster to attack with cold air!”

Zhao Gong revealed a murderous intent: "We've entered the monster's body, so even if we wanted to leave, it wouldn't be so easy. We might as well go straight for the heart of the monster and have a good fight with them!"

Although no battle has taken place inside the giant monster's belly, the ram-headed spirit and the ice and snow evil spirit on the high platform are still threats, and the giant monster's tail holds even more unknown dangers.

If the monster suddenly attacks from behind its tail, you could be caught in a pincer movement, posing a significant danger.

In an instant, most cultivators were filled with fighting spirit because of the monster's act of swallowing the cold air, including some elders of the Dragon Mountain Sect.

Su Ji was also prepared for battle, but he had a different opinion: "Fighting in the belly of the monster, the ram-headed monster can mobilize the cold air in its throat, and may also use some means to attack us from its tail."

"However, even if we want a quick victory, the ice and snow demons near the high platform are a major obstacle. "Moreover, besides the high platform being a weapon of the goat-headed elves, the ground beneath our feet may also be covered with the tentacle weapons of the goat-headed elves, and rushing out rashly could easily lead us into a trap!"

"Our goal has always been the ram-headed spirit who controls the giant monster, but the first step is to turn back immediately after the giant monster has just swallowed a breath of cold air!"

Since there is a trap ahead, the best course of action is to return to the monster's throat. Even if those magical organs cannot be converted into combat power, we must destroy them all, so that at least the rear will be free of threats.

Upon hearing this, some cultivators showed a look of sudden realization.

The reason they escaped from the monster's mouth was because of the cold air. If the source of the cold air could be removed, not only would the danger behind them be eliminated, but they could even escape back into the monster's mouth when they encountered a great crisis inside its belly...

Su Ji's plan was reasonable, not to mention that he had just successfully led the cultivators out of the monster's mouth, instantly gaining the approval of the vast majority of the cultivators.

So the Azure Dragon formation turned and headed toward the monster's throat.

"Om-"

Clearly, the ram-headed elf also sensed something was wrong and immediately mobilized the cold energy in its throat to attack.

However, under Su Ji's mystical influence, a relatively safe passage appeared in the cold air, and the Azure Dragon Formation advanced unstoppably, quickly reaching the monster's organ, which resembled a spiritual material.

Immediately, the most knowledgeable white-robed cultivator from the Taibai Dragon Clan exclaimed in surprise.

"So many cold gold immortal materials with the Yin attribute!"

Clearly, the ram-headed elf has been doing nothing all these years. He has gained a lot by manipulating the giant monster in the ruined fairyland, and these cold gold fairy materials that serve as organs are one of his gains.

Now that so many cultivators have suddenly returned, the ram-headed monster is unwilling to let the Cold Gold Immortal Material be taken away, so it hastily mobilized its long-prepared trump card.

Suddenly, enormous roots burst forth from the ground below the throat, rushing towards the cultivators in the throat like monsters.

"The Sun Guardian was right; there was indeed a trap beneath the ground inside the giant monster's belly!"

The cultivators were all shocked, and many of those who had been very aggressive just moments before looked terrified.

At this moment, the Ninth Elder, the formation master of the Dragon Mountain Sect, immediately shouted, "Azure Dragon Swings its Tail!"

This move was not intended to fight the enemy, but to switch the positions of the cultivators in the third group with those in the first group. The Shackled Spirit General, the Third Elder of the Dragon Mountain Sect, Zhang Gong, Zhao Gong, and other cultivators skilled in defense stood in front of the giant root.

"Turn soil into walls!"

"The forest serves as the door!"

"Shackles and cages!"

"..."

Because the monster's throat was relatively narrow, the number of huge roots attacking it was not too great, and the first group of cultivators could hold out for the time being.

Led by Su Ji, the third group of cultivators resisted the cold air coming from above, while the second group of cultivators attacked the monster's throat. Soon, the first Cold Gold Immortal Material lost its ability to attack and fell into the hands of the white-robed high cultivator.

In this way, the cultivators quickly seized three Cold Gold Immortal Materials, and were even able to use the Cold Gold to resist the cold energy, allowing the third group to absorb the giant monster's accumulated cold energy.

However, the monsters had a countermeasure: they expanded the area of ​​their throats to allow more root monsters to pour in, which greatly increased the pressure on the first group of cultivators.

At this point, many cultivators had revealed all their trump cards. Several cultivators wielding the Blazing Crystal Treasure clearly understood that the harvest of the Frosty Gold Immortal Material alone was enough to generate a vast amount of divine power, so they didn't hesitate to use it...

This time, it wasn't just the deities of Jiuxiang County and Jinfeng County who brought the Blazing Crystal Treasure; the Longshan Sect brought a total of twelve, and upon seeing the critical situation, they immediately used six of them.

"Sunlight!"

"Sunlight!"

"Sunlight..."

In an instant, beams of sunlight exploded in the giant monster's throat. Although they did not directly blast away many of the monster's roots, they pierced through countless of them.

Some monsters die instantly from their roots, while others, even if they can still move, experience a significant drop in attack power.

Most importantly, the roots of most of the dead monsters blocked the throat of the giant monster, greatly reducing the difficulty of the first group of cultivators' defense.

Soon, no more cold air could penetrate the defense of the Frost Gold Immortal Material. Su Ji joined the team digging for the Frost Gold Immortal Material and eventually dug all the way to the monster's throat.

"A total of twenty-seven large-sized Cold Gold Immortal Materials, worth approximately eight hundred thousand strands of divine power. There should be quite a few more Cold Gold Immortal Materials above the throat..."

Before long, the group of cultivators rushed to the area above the throat and pried off all the treasures from all directions. After a quick calculation, their total harvest exceeded 1.2 million strands of divine power.

Of course, there must be a lot of spiritual materials nearby, but time was of the essence, so we didn't bother with them. We estimate they are worth two or three hundred thousand strands of divine power.

Su Ji's purpose was not these treasures. When the Azure Dragon formation retreated into the monster's mouth, the only danger left was the monster's roots gushing out of its throat.

In response, the cultivators took out the Frost Gold Immortal Material, and by simply mobilizing the power of heaven and earth to infuse it, the Frost Gold Immortal Material displayed power comparable to top-tier spells, greatly enhancing the combat strength of the cultivators.

Among them, the Taibai Dragon Clan brought the power of the Cold Gold Immortal Material to its extreme, making it no less powerful than his superior-grade Xuan Art, Taibai Sword Shadow. It wasn't that the Cold Gold Immortal Material was particularly unique, but rather that this piece of Cold Gold Immortal Material was simply too large, more than the height of a person!
When all the cultivators attacked together, the quantitative change led to a qualitative change. The roots that had been gushing out of the giant monster's throat were frozen in place. When the cultivators touched them, they shattered into pieces like thin paper.

Clearly, the ram-headed monster inside the giant monster's belly, seeing that the situation was hopeless, chose to give up the pursuit and, amidst a thunderous roar, opened the enormous mouth that had once swallowed a group of cultivators whole.

However, all the monks laughed.

As the saying goes, it's easy to invite a god but hard to send him away. They haven't forgotten the life-or-death crisis they faced not long ago, and they don't want to let it go so easily!

(End of this chapter)