Ning Fa's expression shifted as he listened, surprised by the convoluted nature of Baili Ming's experiences. He now understood why Sikong Yuanlie and the others had been able to discover this hidden place.
Though he still had many questions, Ning Fa first asked the one that concerned him most: "But what does what you've said have to do with my Five Elements Thunder Body?"
Baili Ming snapped back from his memories, a sharp glint flashing in his eyes as he said meaningfully, "It's related, very much so.
After I took that Heavenly Marvelous Pill to remove the barrier on my body, I began searching for a way out of the valley.
Later, I unintentionally entered a special area filled with terrifying thunderstorms. Deep within, I saw a very unusual lake of lightning.
That lightning lake was filled with Divine Thunder of the Five Elements, and all of it was terrifying Innate Divine Thunder.
Even with my strength at the time, I couldn't resist it. Just as I was about to perish, a spirit from a nearby damaged Magic Treasure appeared.
It saved my life and told me that the lightning lake was formed from the Divine Thunder of the Five Elements within its master's body after he died, and his master possessed the Five Elements Thunder Body.
The Artifact Spirit requested that if I ever met another cultivator with the Five Elements Thunder Body, I should bring them here to inherit the Divine Thunder origin of that cultivator and rescue the Artifact Spirit.
As Baili Ming finished speaking, Ning Fa's mind was struck with a thunderous impact.
He immediately guessed that the cultivator with the Five Elements Thunder Body who had perished was likely Ancestor Juelei.
He hadn't expected that even with Ancestor Juelei's mid-stage Spirit Transformation realm and the Five Elements Thunder Body, he would still perish in Mi Tian Valley.
Then, his heart suddenly pounded with excitement, because the lightning lake formed from the origin of Innate Divine Thunder left by Ancestor Juelei's demise was an invaluable treasure to him.
At this point, Baili Ming smiled and continued, "Although I promised the Artifact Spirit back then, I never expected to encounter a cultivator with the Five Elements Thunder Body.
I never imagined I'd actually meet you today.
In this way, informing you of this matter also settles a burden on my mind."
Ning Fa suppressed the excitement in his heart. After all, Mi Tian Valley was not an easy place to enter.
Especially since Ancestor Juelei had perished there, it made him feel a sense of dread.
So, even though the temptation was great, whether he would actually go there in the future was still uncertain.
Ning Fa then looked at Baili Ming again and suddenly said, "I feel you're very happy to have met me. It doesn't seem to be just because you can fulfill the Artifact Spirit's request, but it's related to the Nine Immortals Association, isn't it?"
After speaking, Ning Fa's thoughts raced, and he began to form a guess.
Baili Ming chuckled, "You're absolutely right. It's because you are now my natural ally, and you will inevitably be in opposition to the Nine Immortals Association in the future.
The reason is none other than your Heavenly Puppet.
After all, the Nine Immortals Association will not give up on Mi Tian Valley. If they learn that you also possess a Fourth-grade Heavenly Puppet, they will naturally turn their attention to you.
Although you possess the Five Elements Thunder Body and have extraordinary potential, and your current Nascent Soul early stage cultivation allows you to contend with Great Cultivators, you are still far from being able to oppose the Nine Immortals Association.
Heh heh, at that time, you'll understand without me needing to say more. My past experiences will be your future."
Hearing this, Ning Fa's expression immediately darkened.
It was just as he suspected, and this was indeed a significant problem.
However, he wasn't overly panicked, as very few people knew that Hei Yu was a Heavenly Puppet.
Moreover, he was not on the Tianwu Continent at the moment. In the future, he could simply try to limit Hei Yu's actions.
As if sensing Ning Fa's thoughts, Baili Ming's face curved into a smile, "Are you thinking of keeping your Heavenly Puppet hidden away now?
But it will be difficult for you to keep it a secret forever.
And can you bear to give up on such a high-potential Heavenly Puppet?
Don't forget what I just said. I will impart to your Heavenly Puppet the special cultivation method I have painstakingly comprehended over thousands of years, and even allow your Heavenly Puppet to absorb my Heavenly Puppet Spirit Soul.
With this, your Heavenly Puppet will not only definitely advance to the Nascent Soul late stage but also has a considerable chance of breaking through to become a Spirit Transformation stage Heavenly Puppet.
After all, if it weren't for the interference of that remnant soul of a Spirit Transformation stage Puppet Spirit Clansman, I would have already succeeded in breaking through to Spirit Transformation.
So, with my full help, your Heavenly Puppet breaking through to Spirit Transformation is not a joke.
Also, when I absorbed the remnants of that Spirit Transformation stage Heavenly Puppet earlier, I also obtained some high-level inheritances from the Puppet Spirit Clansmen, which I will also impart to you.
At that time, your Heavenly Puppet's strength will likely not be much weaker than yours."
Upon hearing this, Ning Fa's expression suddenly stirred. This temptation was truly significant.
Then, Baili Ming chuckled and added another powerful incentive: "Moreover, I can also teach you that special Secret Technique I previously comprehended, which can fuse your spirit essence with your Heavenly Puppet's spirit consciousness.
Although you won't be entirely your original self afterward, you can become a Puppet Spirit Body, thereby greatly increasing your lifespan and possessing the long lifespan of the Puppet Spirit Clan."
Ning Fa's eyes flickered intensely. He then took a deep breath and gave Baili Ming a profound look, "Your goal is to make me confront the Nine Immortals Association."
Baili Ming was undoubtedly employing an open scheme. If he couldn't refuse the temptations Baili Ming offered to enhance Hei Yu, then he would inevitably become an enemy of the Nine Immortals Association in the future.
Baili Ming said frankly, "Yes, that's exactly it.
To be honest, if it were any other cultivator, I wouldn't bother with all this effort. But it just so happens to be you, who not only possesses the Five Elements Thunder Body but also a Heavenly Puppet. You can almost say it's destiny.
And with your potential, you might indeed be able to challenge the Nine Immortals Association in the future.
My hatred for the Nine Immortals Association is so deep that even the entire Nine Dragons Sea cannot wash it away. Even if you can't destroy the Nine Immortals Association, as long as you can cause them significant losses, I will be satisfied."
As he spoke, a deep-seated hatred flickered in Baili Ming's eyes.
Ning Fa frowned as he looked at him and then asked, "Since the Puppet Spirit Clansmen have long lifespans, why didn't you continue to attempt to break through to the Spirit Transformation realm and seek revenge on the Nine Immortals Association yourself?"
Baili Ming's eyes flashed with a desolate look. "Do you think I don't want to? It's just that I can't anymore.
Because of the hidden trap left by that Spirit Transformation Puppet Spirit Clansman, I was severely injured during the Spirit Transformation tribulation. Later, a portion of my Divine Soul split off, causing my Divine Soul to weaken day by day.
Even though I've been trying my best to compensate over the years, I couldn't stop the deterioration of my Divine Soul's injuries. At most, I only have a few decades of lifespan left."
After speaking, he looked at Ning Fa and smiled. "Alright, I've explained things quite thoroughly, and you should understand now.
I'm not asking you to make a Heart Demon Oath or anything about finding trouble with the Nine Immortals Association later. I know you wouldn't agree to that.
But I'll still give you all the gifts I just mentioned. Heh heh, it's up to you whether you accept them or not.
Oh, right, I need to add one more thing.
Once your Heavenly Puppet absorbs my spirit, it will be equivalent to inheriting the fragmented limbs of that Spirit Transformation Heavenly Puppet. Then, you can pass through some of the special barriers of Mi Tian Valley, just like I did before.
And if you want to reach that Thunderstorm Region where the origin of the Divine Thunder is located, you will have to go through some of these special barriers."
After speaking, Baili Ming looked at Ning Fa with a mischievous smile.
Ning Fa couldn't help but furrow his brows.
It seemed Baili Ming's gifts were extremely tempting, offering immense help to both Hei Yu and himself. However, they were undoubtedly a hot potato, and he might very well be targeted by the Nine Immortals Association because of them.
"Kid, what have you decided?
If you agree, then I'll stay by your side from now on. I'll use my remaining lifespan to guide your Heavenly Puppet, and before I perish, I'll give it my spirit.
If you don't trust me, you can place a Spirit Control Barrier on me, or do whatever you wish.
If you don't agree, I won't force you. I'll also tell you the location where that Five Elements Thunder Body cultivator perished.
Heh heh, as for whether you can get there later, I can't guarantee that."
At this moment, Baili Ming's expression turned serious as he asked.
Ning Fa's eyes flickered intensely. After weighing the options in his mind, he quickly made up his decision.
"Alright, then you can stay by my side for now. But as you said, I will need to place a Spirit Control Barrier on you."
No matter what, the origin of the Divine Thunder left by Ancestor Juelei held great appeal for him. He might have to obtain it in the future.
Moreover, he was planning to find a way back to Cangyuan next.
The Cangyuan Cultivation World was very isolated and had little contact with other cultivation worlds. If he was careful, it should be difficult for the Nine Immortals Association to notice him.
Upon hearing Ning Fa's agreement, Baili Ming immediately smiled. "Since you've agreed, then the treasures in my vault can also be given to you."
After speaking, Baili Ming took the lead and flew downwards, quickly entering the central hole.
Immediately, the massive array formation that was being activated slowly dissipated.
Ning Fa's expression shifted. After carefully observing with his Spiritual Sense, he also followed and flew down into it.
They entered a room that was several hundred square meters in size.
Besides the array core in the center, which looked like a master control barrier, all other areas were piled high with various Spiritual Materials.
In addition to raw materials like spirit ore, there were also many component parts for puppets.
On one side of the room, there were several multi-story shelves.
One shelf was filled with treasures that shimmered with light and had various forms. Judging by the Spiritual Pressure they emitted, they were clearly of very high grade, at least Third-grade Magic Treasures, and some were even Fourth-grade Magic Treasures.
Other shelves were filled with Spirit Flowers, Spiritual Grass, or Spirit Pills, Spirit Talismans, and similar items, which were also basically Fourth-grade Spirit Materials.
It could be said that the value of the Spiritual Materials on these shelves alone was enough to drive a Nascent Soul cultivator mad.
Baili Ming smiled. "Actually, my wealth was more than six times this before, but over the years, I've tried every possible way to heal my injuries, which also led to the consumption of many treasures.
However, what remains should still be of considerable help to you now."
Ning Fa's eyes lit up upon seeing this, and he slowly surveyed the items.
Then, his gaze fixed on a special corner. He saw an ordinary-looking clay pot there, and the soil within it was shimmering with a special five-colored spiritual light.
And in this five-colored soil, a lotus seed about a few inches in size was half-buried. It was dull gray, looking as if it had no life, and was completely unremarkable.
Ning Fa's expression startled upon seeing this, and he blurted out, "This is... Five-Colored Divine Soil!"