Immortality begins with Becoming an Alchemy Grandmaster

Chapter 1472: Chapter 548: Demon Emperor’s Metamorphosis, The Struggle for Mysterious Rock

Tianxuan Island sea area.

Half a day after Luo Chen left, the originally calm and sunny weather gave way to turbulent waves in the ocean.

With the violent undulation of the water, figures emerged one after another from the sea.

Compound eyes with white patterns, pincers intertwined with spider silk.

A glance revealed a dense mass of Demon Spider Crabs, numbering in the thousands, and hardly any weaklings among them.

Especially conspicuous were the five leading ones, with their massive bodies.

At this moment, emerging atop the sea, thousands of Demon Spider Crabs dispersed, effectively encircling the modestly sized Tianxuan Island.

The presence of Demon Spider Crabs, nearly exuding Third-Order Perfection, marching across the area, caused other crabs to scatter and rocks to shatter wherever they passed.

Eventually, their steps came to a halt upon an unremarkable patch of ground.

An aged and husky voice issued from one of them.

”Is it here?”

Someone nearby replied in a low voice, ”Yes, it’s here. Although well concealed, the place below has been ascertained as a Cave Mansion in the style of the Human Cultivators, and it seems to have been used for no less than five years.”

Five years?

The Clan Chief of the Demon Spider Crab Clan muttered to himself and nodded slowl.y

”It’s consistent with the changes in the Mysterious Rock Sea Area these past few years.”

The former rulers of this sea area were the Ring-Headed Turtle Clan.

But that was under the circumstances of possessing a Transformation Period Demon Emperor.

Back then, the so-called Seven Great Royal Demon Crab Clans were nothing more than prey to the Ring-Headed Turtles.

It was not until a thousand years ago, when the lifespan of that Demon Emperor neared its end and it began to stay in retreat, that the Demon Crab side began to rise gradually.

Still, in order to seize the dominion over the Mysterious Rock Sea Area, the Demon Crab side paid a heavy price.

The Seven Great Royal Demon Crab Clans were directly reduced to five.

Since then, many Demon Crabs became the rulers of this place, with few instances of being hunted.

Even when Human Cultivators occasionally came to hunt demons, they would only make a quick profit and leave promptly, with almost no instances of being extensively hunted down.

However, five years ago, everything changed.

Initially, no one took notice of the disappearance of a single Demon Crab here and there, as it was quite normal.

But gradually, the number kept increasing, especially within the Demon Spider Crab Clan, which could be described as suffering tragic losses.

After numerous ambushes and enticements, it was finally determined that the cause was a joint act by a Flood Dragon and a gull.

Now it appears!

”Turns out it’s those despicable Human Cultivators again!”

The thick grey-white fur, dry and withered, emitted an aged and hoarse voice.

The Clan Leader of the Demon Spider Crabs sighed, ”If it’s an Immortal Cultivator, then the fall of Xiao Qi, Zhu Sha, and Zhu Mo would make sense.”

That’s what he said, but the sorrow in his eyes remained dense and profound.

Zhu Qi was a junior he held in high regard.

Although his Cultivation Level was not very strong, his intelligence was not inferior to the talents of the Human Clan.

In particular, he had Mastery over Arrays.

He had even prepared for the eventuality that after a few hundred years, once Zhu Qi had cultivated to the Third-Order Late Phase, he would pass on the position of Clan Chief to him.

But he had never expected such a mishap to occur.

Listening to the Clan Chief’s sigh, a Demon Spider Crab of the Third-Order Late Phase standing nearby said in a low voice, ”I’ve sent out hundreds of our sons to track the scent. However, that person’s Concealment Technique is superb, and even with our clan’s superior sensing abilities, it will likely take considerable effort to find even a trace of him.”

A Glint flew from afar, crashing onto the island with a thunderous rumble.

It was another Third-Order Late Phase Demon Spider Crab.

”Clan Chief, I have negotiated terms with the Hidden Dust Clan in the Mysterious Rock Sea Area. They have agreed to help us hunt down the enemy who killed Xiao Qi and the others.”

Hidden Dust are among the most common Demon Beasts in the Endless North Sea.

To call them Demon Beasts isn’t quite accurate.

Strictly speaking, Hidden Dusts lie somewhere between Demon Beasts and Stone Spirits.

Ancient creatures like clams, giant mollusks, oysters, and scallops would incorporate sand and gravel into their flesh, gradually evolving brilliant pearls after a long time.

Such pearls are treasures coveted both in the mundane world and the Immortal Cultivation World.

But with the ways of the heavens and the permeation of Spirit Qi, the pearls could also become sentient.

Some special grains of sand, while producing pearls, would, in turn, absorb the vitality of hosts such as giant mollusks, gradually developing consciousness, and over time, transforming into a being somewhere between a Demon Beast and a Stone Spirit.

Some call them Pearl Demons, others Sea Demon Children.

But the most famous name is ”Hidden Dust.”

Because these creatures cannot multiply, but after gaining Spirit Intelligence and achieving a High-Order Realm, the strong among the Hidden Dust Clan develop a sense of kinship.

They would combine a part of their own bodies with some special grains of sand, detach it, and parasitize it in creatures like clams and mollusks, which then absorb vitality and evolve naturally.

This innate behavior, over a long period, has formed the Hidden Dust Clan.

This clan, widespread throughout the North Sea and concealed in dust, is as numerous as grains of sand on the Ganges, hence the name Hidden Dust.

With their vast numbers and concealed living and cultivation methods, they can be said to be among the clans most adept at gathering information in the sea.

Should anyone seek information and be willing to pay the price, most will turn to the Hidden Dust Clan, and they often find what they need.

At the moment, hearing from his kin that they had negotiated terms with the Hidden Dust Clan, the Clan Leader of the Demon Spider Crabs expressed surprise, ”You met that old fellow Yuan Yin?”

The clansman responded with a resonant voice, ”Not exactly, although that fellow’s strength isn’t great, his Concealment Technique is very strong; I couldn’t see his True Body. I conveyed the message through the Hidden Dust Clan of the Low Order on Bone Slide Island, and they agreed to help us search for the enemy.”

The Hidden Dust Clan’s Base Camp in the Mysterious Rock Sea Area is precisely on Bone Slide Island, which is home to a large number of shellfish, providing sustenance for the Hidden Dust Clan to parasitize and dwell.