## Chapter 90: Immortal Pouch King
On February 9, 2013, by Gu Zhenren
“Aowoo!”
Piercing wolf howls, filled with ferocity and ruthlessness, connected into a torrent of demonic energy. They thundered towards Chu Yun and the others. This was a pack of wild Beacon Smoke Wolves!
“Beacon Smoke Wolves! They are already rare Demonic Beasts in Xingzhou. I never expected to find so many in the fifth level of the Dragon Gate World,” Jin Bihan remarked leisurely, unfazed by the approaching pack.
Each level of the Dragon Gate World was vastly different, a unique wonder in itself. The first level was a grand canyon, with intertwined mountains and lush greenery. The second level was a desert, with vast expanses of yellow sand dotted with oases. The third level was a world of ice and snow. The fourth level featured magnetic mountains. Now, in this fifth level, it was an underground world. Natural tunnels, massive caves, underground lakes, and volcanoes formed a distinct geological environment. Within this realm, countless rare Demonic Beasts and Demonic Plants thrived. The encroaching Beacon Smoke Wolves were just one example.
“This is already the third pack of Beacon Smoke Wolves we’ve encountered. It seems there’s a lava river nearby,” Chu Yun deduced. Beacon Smoke Wolves were fire-element Demonic Beasts, but not entirely orthodox. Strictly speaking, they belonged to the smoke element and often inhabited regions like volcanic craters. Chu Yun was no stranger to these creatures. Years ago, during his coming-of-age ceremony, he had journeyed a thousand miles to save his father and slain a pirate pack whose main Demonic Beasts included a Beacon Smoke Wolf.
As the wolf pack charged, Chu Yun patted his Immortal Pouch. A radiant light flashed, descending to the ground and transforming into a young woman in white. “Sky Fox, use water-element Dao methods,” Chu Yun instructed with a slight smile.
“Yes, Master,” the Sky Fox replied, her voice like a jade bell. With eyebrows like green jade and eyes like the moon, she stood before the group. Her ten fingers wove intricate patterns, blooming like a white lotus.
“Boom!”
Instantly, moisture surged, and a torrential downpour erupted. Pale blue light ascended, and a vast river of water cascaded forth. The wolves’ charge halted abruptly, met with a devastating blow. This was just the beginning.
Next, white snowflakes began to drift, bringing an icy chill that pierced to the bone. The wind howled, sharp as knives. Snow and wind combined, forming a blizzard that engulfed the wolf pack in moments. The brilliant light of the Dao methods reflected on the Sky Fox’s face, making her appear like an ice and snow fairy. She cried out and exhaled a breath of cold air from her small cherry-like mouth. The air temperature plummeted. The sound of cracking ice echoed incessantly, and within a few breaths, the area within dozens of meters transformed into a world of ice crystals. The Beacon Smoke Wolves were frozen into statues, unable to move. Their once bloodthirsty and ferocious eyes were now filled with terror.
Water-element Dao methods were naturally effective against Demonic Beasts like the Beacon Smoke Wolves. However, achieving such a victory was also largely due to the Sky Fox’s prowess. Chu Yun and the others were well aware of this. In recent days, Chu Yun had relied heavily on the Sky Fox to lead the way. Possessing nine attributes, she was a master of Dao methods, comprehensive and stable, capable of handling most situations.
“Chu Yun, this Sky Fox of yours is extremely rare. You must cultivate it well. If nothing unexpected happens, it might be the only one in all of Xingzhou. Much like the Nine-tailed Demon Lord’s Nine Souls Cat, its future is boundless if its cultivation can advance further,” the Wine King advised kindly. Chu Yun nodded, acknowledging the advice. However, when Demonic Beasts reached the Tribulation Demon stage, their cultivation was measured in tens of thousands of years, making rapid advancements difficult.
In recent days, the Sky Fox had consumed numerous Pills, and her injuries had completely healed. Throughout their journey, she had continuously exerted herself, but her cultivation had only increased by about eight thousand years. This was not the crucial point. The critical issue was Chu Yun’s insufficient spiritual light. As the Sky Fox’s cultivation progressed, her demand for spiritual light grew. Chu Yun did not wish to reveal the existence of the Marrow Cleansing Cauldron. Furthermore, although the Nine-tailed Demon Lord was captured, Chu Yun could not easily demand anything from the Wine King.
The Nine-tailed Demon Lord held a special status as the son of the Falling Cherry King. The Wine King would gain far more by using him for negotiations with the Falling Cherry King than by killing him. Of course, punishment was inevitable. His Demonic items had already been divided among the group. Jin Bihan obtained the Nine Souls Cat, Erlang Tian Jun received the Reincarnation Seal, and Chu Yun acquired the Cycle Mirror… Monster Tamers relied on their Demonic items. With this, the Nine-tailed Demon Lord was reduced to his original state, his centuries of accumulation turned to dust. Without a period of re-accumulation, a comeback was impossible.
“Near the lava river, Demonic Plants are abundant. Perhaps there’s a Crimson Flame Golden Ginseng Tree. This Demonic Plant is the foremost treasure in the fifth level of this World. The Golden Ginseng Whispers that grow from it, like the Dragon Eye Fruit, are not resisted by Monster Tamers. They can expand meridians and enhance physical fitness,” the Wine King pointed out. This was their primary objective.
“Then what are we waiting for? Let’s go,” Chu Yun said as he collected the pack of Beacon Smoke Wolves and stored them in the Star Sea Dragon Palace Immortal Pouch. The Star Sea Dragon Palace Immortal Pouch already contained hundreds of Beacon Smoke Wolves that had previously run into Chu Yun’s path. In addition to them, there were also packs of Wandering Centipedes, Ghost Fire Ladybugs, and Swamp Oil Toads.
“Another batch is here.” “Sisters, let’s get to work.”
Upon seeing the new batch of Beacon Smoke Wolves arrive, over a dozen Blissful Immortal Consorts guarding the Star Sea Dragon Palace emerged one after another, activating the Treasure Light Covering Dust technique to seal the cultivation of the entire pack. A moment later, these Beacon Smoke Wolves were also suppressed…
Fifteen minutes later, Chu Yun and his companions finally found the lava river. It was ten zhang wide, its crimson lava mixed with a golden hue, flowing slowly and emitting a majestic heat. Red willow trees grew along the riverbank. These were fire and wood attribute Demonic creatures, highly sought-after by many Alchemists as excellent refining ingredients.
“This is still a small lava river. The truly large rivers are deeper underground, nearly a hundred zhang wide. The riverbanks are vibrant with life, and dense Demonic Plant forests grow there. Both the banks and the river harbor large numbers of beast packs. Tribulation Demons are certainly not few,” the Wine King said, his gaze fixed.
“Haha, although we didn’t find the Crimson Flame Golden Ginseng Tree, we found three Tyrant Fire King Lotuses. We’re quite lucky,” he boomed with laughter. The Wine King, being a King, possessed extensive experience. Guided by his directions, Chu Yun and the others discovered three lotuses floating on the lava river. These lotus Demonic Plants were peculiar. Their entire bodies were deep red, closely resembling the color of lava. Most of the flower was submerged in the lava, with only the very tips of the petals exposed on the river’s surface, explaining why Chu Yun and the others hadn’t noticed them.
These Tyrant Fire King Lotuses were top-tier weapon-forging Demonic Plants. They had long been extinct in Xingzhou and could only be found in places like the Dragon Gate World.
“If we suppress one, we can give it to Master Yu Ya when we return. He’ll be overjoyed,” Chu Yun immediately thought. After the battle, the Wine King collected one, Chu Yun took another, and Erlang Tian Jun also acquired one. Besides the Tyrant Fire King Lotuses, Chu Yun did not overlook the red willows on the riverbank and collected all of them as well. However, this time, they were not placed in the Star Sea Dragon Palace Immortal Pouch but planted in the Peach Blossom Spring Immortal Pouch.
Even though they had witnessed this scene multiple times, the others still looked on with envy. Even Erlang Tian Jun was no exception. Only Chu Yun could achieve such comprehensive gains. It was entirely due to his Upper grade Immortal Pouch, with its vast space, that he had this advantage. Even the Wine King, lacking an Upper grade Immortal Pouch, could only kill Demonic creatures and collect Demonic Crystals.
“Chu Yun, your fortune is truly deep. Even I don’t have an Upper grade Immortal Pouch, yet you have two. But you must be careful. Among the Seven Kings of Xingzhou, there is an Immortal Pouch King. He particularly loves collecting Upper grade Immortal Pouches. If he learns you have two, he will undoubtedly try to ask for them. He is a rigid person, and an old scoundrel at that. While he won’t forcefully take them, he is very stubborn and persistent. Dealing with him might be incredibly troublesome for you,” the Wine King had been imparting his worldly experience to the younger generation throughout their journey, much to everyone’s benefit.
Just as he finished speaking, a voice was heard. “Wine King, you scoundrel, talking about me behind my back. I consider you my closest friend, and now I’ve caught you red-handed. What good wine will you offer to apologize?”
Everyone turned, and in the distance behind them, the air rippled. Then, a thin and short old man appeared, his cheekbones and forehead prominent, squeezing his small eyes, which nonetheless sparkled with intelligence. He sported a goatee and looked at the Wine King with a half-smile.
“Immortal Pouch King, how are you here?” the Wine King exclaimed in surprise, then burst into laughter. “What bad talk is this? I’m just speaking the truth. Let me be upfront, don’t set your sights on the Immortal Pouches this kid has.”
“Don’t forget my title, Immortal Pouch King. This world is the Dragon Gate Immortal Pouch of You Huang. Finding you, an old friend, isn’t difficult,” the Immortal Pouch King said with a proud smile. He took a step, covering a distance of two zhang, and stood before Chu Yun.
“Heh heh heh, young fellow, don’t be nervous. It’s not like we’re meeting for the first time. Are you willing to sell these two Immortal Pouches of yours? The price can be discussed. I can even fight for you for a period,” he said, his gaze fixed intensely on the Immortal Pouches at Chu Yun’s waist, like a pervert entering a brothel or a diner seating themselves at a banquet. His burning gaze put Chu Yun under immense pressure.
“It’s not our first meeting? Senior, you jest. This junior does not know…” Chu Yun began, then stopped abruptly. He noticed the ‘Shrink Ground into Inches Boots’ the Immortal Pouch King was wearing. These Demonic items were among the top ten footwear in Xingzhou. They originally belonged to the Iron Mountain Prime Minister, but after his death in Night Emperor City, the footwear went missing.
“Heh heh, you’re a smart kid indeed. That’s right, I went to Night Emperor City as well. It’s a shame I couldn’t find the Night Emperor’s Upper grade Immortal Pouch. I wanted to find you back then, but circumstances took a turn. However, my main purpose for coming here isn’t your Immortal Pouches,” he said, turning to the Wine King. “I’ve discovered the seventh Dragon Gate. Wine King, I’ve come to join forces with you to break through the Dragon Gate and enter the seventh level, a place no one has ever set foot in before.”
(Author’s note: Time is running out. Alas, there are too many social engagements during the New Year. I have three more banquets to attend. Can we make a deal? I’ll move this third chapter to next month. It seems I owe many chapters. But with many debts, there’s no heavy burden; I’m gradually getting used to it. It’s not that I’m not working hard, but time is truly insufficient. At a speed of 1000 characters per hour, writing two chapters takes half a day. Everyone, have a good New Year, please don’t rush me for updates. I’ll slowly repay them next month. I’m quite miserable, waving the white flag in tears…)
