“I think we should understand the Misty Forest better before we go in,” Liu Rufeng said.
“Though the sect’s mission is important, we also have to consider our own safety. If we can’t guarantee that, how can we even talk about fusing the Blood Lizard?”
“Rufeng is right. Brother Lin, you probably know more about the Blood Lizard, right?” Fang Xiang asked, looking at Xu Zimo.
“Let’s study the fusion method,” Xu Zimo said.
Everyone gathered in a circle and took out the fusion manual.
Opening the light blue pages, they saw that the content wasn’t long but very detailed.
The lizard clan had lived for generations in the swamp regions of the Misty Forest, mainly divided into four major groups: Green Lizards, Red Lizards, Yellow Lizards, and Blue Lizards.
The strength of a lizard was measured by age and lineage, typically divided into hundred-year, thousand-year, and ten-thousand-year classes.
The fusion process to obtain a Blood Lizard had four stages: First, fuse a hundred-year-old Green Lizard and a hundred-year-old Red Lizard to get a Fire Lizard.
Then, fuse the Fire Lizard with a thousand-year-old Yellow Lizard to get a Jade Lizard.
Next, fuse the Jade Lizard with a ten-thousand-year-old Blue Lizard to obtain a Light Red Lizard. Finally, refine it with Divine Dragon Fire to create the extremely rare Blood Lizard.
The fusion method was detailed in the book.
It was worth noting that the fusion could fail, and each fusion required a Fusion Stone.
“This is tough, so complicated,” Mu Zhoubai said, patting his head in frustration.
“If it were easy, the Blood Lizard wouldn’t be so rare,” Yin Rong said after some thought.
“After all, rarity brings value. But there’s a city next to the Misty Forest, we can gather some intel there.”Everyone nodded, put away the book, and headed southeast.
Fury City, this was the closest city to the Misty Forest.
While most feared the forest and treated it as forbidden land, the people here thrived off it.
The main reason was the Fusion Stones.
In Fury City, trade wasn’t done with spirit crystals, divine crystals, or demonic crystals, but with Fusion Stones.
Fusion Stones weren’t just for creating Blood Lizards; they were used to lure and trap the forest’s spirit beasts to obtain Essence Stones, which helped cultivate the physical body.
Essence Stones weren’t impossible to find, but they were rare.
Most had to enter the Misty Forest to kill spirit beasts to obtain them.
But people feared getting lost forever in the forest, so few dared venture inside.
That’s where Fusion Stones came in, to lure the spirit beasts out so they could be killed outside.
As for the history of Fury City, it was said that long ago, a cultivator named the Lord of Fury from the Fusion Heaven Realm came here.
At first, he wanted to use the spirit beasts to refine his meridian techniques. After killing them, he didn’t bother collecting the Essence Stones.
So others followed behind him, picking up what he left behind.
Over time, the legend spread, of a strange man called “Fury” who entered the Misty Forest at sunrise every day to kill spirit beasts, then left at sunset to rest at a fixed location.
Those who followed him eventually gathered at his resting place, and that group formed the early Fury City.
As the city grew stronger, and more people came, the Lord of Fury appointed people to manage it.
He trained in the Misty Forest for seventy-nine years, that was Fury City’s golden era.
On the eightieth year, the forest was shrouded in mist. He entered as usual and never came back.
That final silhouette became the last memory people had of him.
After half a month of travel, Xu Zimo and the group finally arrived below the walls of Fury City.
The tall city stood silent between heaven and earth. Its ancient walls were covered in countless scars, marks left by time.
It seemed to speak of its legendary past.
Even before entering, the lively energy could be felt.
At the city gates, people bustled about, vendors carrying baskets, armored soldiers, and laborers with sheep knives strapped to their backs.
Once inside, the group stood out immediately. The women were stunning, and the men graceful, drawing plenty of attention.
As the top disciples of the World Sovereign Empyrean Sect, they carried an unmistakable presence.
“These people must know the Misty Forest better than we do. We should gather information before going in,” Mu Zhoubai said.
“Make it quick, the sect is waiting,” Liu Rufeng said coldly as always. “We don’t have time to waste.”
“Got it,” Mu Zhoubai replied reluctantly.
Xu Zimo could tell, Mu Zhoubai didn’t feel much loyalty to the World Sovereign Empyrean Sect. He didn’t seem to care whether it lived or died.
“Let’s head to an inn. Inns get the best flow of information,” Huangfu Xianyue suggested.
They soon found an old inn near the gate.
The place was worn-down, with no guests in sight.
The sleepy innkeeper was dozing behind the counter.
Fang Xiang cleared his throat.
“What are you yelling for? Can’t you see I’m sleeping?” the innkeeper snapped impatiently, standing up and grumbling.
“What’s that attitude? We came here to eat, and this is how you treat customers?” Yin Rong said angrily.
The innkeeper looked up and glared at her, then froze, eyes widening when he saw the three women.
He was stunned, mouth hanging open, even drooling a little.
“Looking to die?” Mu Zhoubai said coldly.
A flying dagger unsheathed from his back with a sharp “clang,” embedding itself into a nearby table.
The table split apart instantly. The innkeeper snapped out of his daze.
“I’m sorry, I’m sorry, I must’ve been half-asleep. Please don’t mind me, honored guests,” he quickly apologized with a flattering smile.
“Bring us your best food and drinks,” Mu Zhoubai said, tossing him a spirit stone and sitting down calmly.
The rest had considered leaving for another inn, but after that scene, they reluctantly sat down too.
“Of course, of course. I’ll bring you all our specialties,” the innkeeper said, fawning.
“You, come here. I have a few questions,” Mu Zhoubai said, motioning him over.