《Cultivating Immortality in a World of Chaos》
Chapter 1: When People Are Pushed to Their Limits
The biting north wind whipped up mounds of snow like des.
Winter¡¯s harsh grip was akin to a prison, where even a single drop of water instantly froze.
Amidst the pristine whitendscape, a lush emerald bamboo forest thrived, its vibrant green leaves shimmering like jade with a delicate translucence. Droplets clinging to them resembled radiant pearls, each gleaming brilliantly.
Dreamlike wisps of snowy mist swirled around, transforming the scene into something akin to an ethereal paradise.
On the forest floor, a creature resembling a four-legged snake swiftly slithered through the undergrowth, leaving trails of eerie colors in the air from its scaled back.
Hiss!
A sudden burst of icy chill struck the four-legged snake.
The temperature plummeted, freezing the creature instantly into a lifelike ice sculpture, solidly bound to the ground.
¡°Finally caught that damned pilfering pest.¡± With a rustle, a youth emerged from the bamboo grove.
His steps were agile, his figure tall and straight as a pine tree, and his features well-proportioned. His eyes were deep pools, clear and prating. d in a thick padded jacket, a sense of relief washed over his face.
Fang Xi approached the ice sculpture, picked up the frozen four-legged snake, weighed it in his hand, and gradually, his expression fell, muttering incessantly, ¡°What a loss, what a loss!¡±
¡°A non-ranked demonic insect - Stone Lizard, worth only one spirit crystal. Not only did it waste three days of my time, but I also used up a ¡®Frozen Talisman¡¯. Even though it¡¯s just a low-tier, first-stage talisman, it still costs nearly half a spirit stone!¡±
Fang Xi¡¯s face was filled with sheer frustration.
The so-called ¡°spirit crystals¡± are fragments of spirit stones. Typically, ten spirit crystals can be exchanged for one low-grade spirit stone.
This deal was undoubtedly a loss.
Yet, he had no choice but to handle it!
As the spirit farmer of this bamboo grove, next year¡¯s harvest depended entirely on the growth of these bamboos. Naturally, he couldn¡¯t let the demonic insects wreak havoc unchecked.
Whish! Whish!
A chilling wind blew, causing Fang Xi to shiver uncontrobly.
He looked up at the sky, where snowkes began swirling once more, and instinctively tightened his grip around his thin padded jacket. With a sigh, he thought, ¡°Unbelievable, it¡¯s been a whole year since my transmigration already? If not for being transported here, I wouldn¡¯t have fathomed that even cultivators feel cold¡¡±
Yes, Fang Xi is indeed a transmigrator!
Fang Xi¡¯s transmigration was rather unremarkable, devoid of any extraordinary circumstances. In his previous life, he had diligently worked hard to get epted into university but then sumbed toziness, neglecting his studies and ultimately failing to secure a decent job after graduation. His parents, constantly urging him, pushed him into joining thepetitive civil service exams. However, the mathematics section left him feeling utterly miserable.
It proved that even under immense pressure, one¡¯s mathematical abilities do not magically improve!
Unfortunately, before the exam results could be announced, Fang Xi found himself transported during the test itself!
Upon opening his eyes, he arrived in a world where cultivators existed, inhabiting the body of another young man also named Fang Xi.
This youth, with a cultivation base at Qi Refinement Third Layer, lived alone as a spirit farmer affiliated with Qingzhu Mountain Market in the southern wilderness of the Yue Kingdom.
Initially, Fang Xi struggled to believe in his transmigration, but after several hours of experimentation, when he tentatively cast his first minor spell using the body¡¯s memories, he finally realized the truth - he genuinely possessed supernatural powers, bing akin to an exalted immortal!
Of course, being a cultivator doesn¡¯t immediately make one an immortal; there is still a mortal aspect, subjecting them to sensations of cold and heat, aging, sickness, and eventually death.
From his memories, Fang Xi learned that as a cultivator¡¯s power and realm advance, they indeed gain extended longevity, resistance to illnesses, and ultimately can achieve true immortality.
The best example was the Situ n, which controlled Qingzhu Mountain Market; it was rumored to have multiple ¡®Foundation Establishment Great Cultivators¡¯ within its ranks!
As Foundation Establishment cultivators, they embodied the mortal imagination of longevity - at least doubling their lifespan, easily living beyond two hundred years!
Two hundred years! In his previous life, such a span would witness the rise and fall of most dynasties.
Thus, Fang Xi chose to embrace his predecessor¡¯s life, continuing as a spirit farmer in the market while embarking on his own cultivation journey.
Currently,
Despite his initial disdainful remarks, after some grumbling, Fang Xi carefully stored away the stone dragonfly. After all, it represented one spirit crystal!
Inheriting his predecessor¡¯s savings, his total wealth amounted to merely dozens of spirit crystals!
Managing this six-hundred-square-meter plot of ¡®Crystal Jade Bamboo Forest¡¯, each year after paying half the harvest as taxes, he was left with only around 100 catties of matured bamboo rice - roughly equivalent to ten bushels, valued at thirty spirit crystals¡
After painstakingly farming for an entire year, his ie amounted to just three low-grade spirit stones¡
¡°Sigh, cultivation is hard, but survival is even tougher!¡± Fang Ximented, brushing off the snowkes from his clothes before starting to clear weeds within the bamboo grove.
These weeds, nourished by spiritual energy, grew exceptionally robust. If left unchecked, they wouldpete with the crystal jade bamboo for nutrients, adversely affecting the harvest.
As a spirit farmer, mastering minor spells like the Spring Breeze and Timely Rain Technique or Gengjin Grass-Sweeping Sword was essential.
Despite inheriting the original host¡¯s memories, Fang Xi still struggled immensely with farm work and found daily life unbearably difficult.
Being at Qi Refinement thirdyer ced him only at the initial stages of the Qi Refinement realm. In Qingzhu Mountain Market, it wasmon to encounter cultivators at the fourthyer or higher, representing the intermediate stages, and asionally even great experts above the seventhyer surfaced. The cultivation world thrived on thew of the jungle, where cunning schemes and brute force were rampant.
In extreme cases, high-level demonic cultivators might perform blood sacrifices over vast areas to enhance powerful spells or forge magical artifacts, though such incidents were rare yet clearly documented in books.
At times, Fang Xi contemted abandoning the cultivation path altogether, returning to the mortal realm as a wealthy man, surrounded by wives and concubines, tofortably live out the remainder of his days.
However, he quickly dismissed this thought.
After all, when ites to enjoyingforts, not even ancient emperors could rival the lifestyle of an ordinary person in modern times.
The allure of extraordinary powers and immortality was the only thing surpassing modern conveniences!
Despite the hardships, Fang Xi persevered through gritted teeth.
Under a sky dark as ink,
Fang Xi looked up at the gloomy weather and hurried towards his residence.
The sky was dark as ink.
Fang Xi looked up at the gloomy weather and hastened towards his residence.
Qingzhu Mountain Market had a protective array, but to conserve spirit stones, it typically covered only the main street and surrounding shops. The idea of extending it to epass the entire mountain, including the spirit fields, was impractical.
As a result, this area wasn¡¯t particrly safe at night.
Although the Situ n¡¯s enforcement team patrolled, robberies by rogue cultivators still urred asionally. Naturally, Fang Xi wouldn¡¯t risk his life for such dangers.
The residential district for spirit farmers was near the summit market, which saw frequent patrols, making it rtively secure.
Fang Xi cynically suspected that another reason might be their own poverty; even rogue cultivators deemed them unworthy targets.
After walking uphill for a while, a low-lying shanty neighborhood came into view. Each home was demarcated by fences, with sounds of chickens and dogs echoing around.
Seeing this familiar sight, a hint of a smile appeared on Fang Xi¡¯s face.
Just a few steps further, an elderly cultivator resembling a farmer passed by, grinning as he greeted, ¡°Hey, young Fang, fancy finding a good spot for some fun?¡±
His wrinkled face revealed tworge yellow teeth when he smiled, and surprisingly, his cultivation level seemed lower than Fang Xi¡¯s, hovering around Qi Refinement secondyer.
This was Fang Xi¡¯s neighbor, Old Man Mai.
Fang Xi wasn¡¯t sure about his background, but due to their daily interactions, they had developed a friendly rapport.
Seeing Old Man Mai¡¯s expression, Fang Xi immediately knew where he was headed.
Within the makeshift shantytown built from wooden nks, there were also female cultivators known as ¡°Kun¡± practitioners. They rarely engaged in farming, enjoying rtivelyfortable lives with alternative means of ie.
Old Man Mai, despite having been a farmer longer than Fang Xi, struggled financially and even borrowed spirit crystals at times. It was clear where most of his savings had gone.
Shaking his head, Fang Xi declined, ¡°Old Man Mai, I need to cultivate tonight¡¡±
In truth, soon after familiarizing himself with this new body, he had visited the ¡®Drunk Immortal Building¡¯ in the market, spending nearly half of his meager savings for a memorable night that left him barely able to walk out¡
It must be said, those enchantress-like creatures were truly captivating.
Since then, Fang Xi focused all his energy on farming. There was no choice; his resources were scarce¡
Without saving money, how can I afford tea sessions with lovelydies? I won¡¯t settle for stale brews¡
Fang Xi returned to his dwelling and opened the door.
His residence was spacious, divided into separate areas for living room, bedroom, and cultivation room¡ Some cultivators even utilized their fenced spaces to grow spirit vegetables or raise spiritual poultry, maximizing every inch ofnd efficiently.
Fang Xi entered the kitchen, retrieved some mixed spirit rice with coarse grains, and began brewing a pot of porridge.
The spirit rice, naturally, was ¡®Bamboo Jade Rice¡¯, each grain resembling emerald jade and emitting a delightful fragrance. Even whenbined with ordinary coarse grains, it remained exceptionally tasty and sweet.
After consuming the porridge, not only did he feel warmth in his stomach, but there was also a subtle rise of spiritual energy within him.
Seizing this opportune moment, Fang Xi promptly moved to the cultivation room andmenced rigorous practice.
An hourter, Fang Xi opened his eyes with a wry smile, ¡°This Evesting Spring Art is truly arduous. After one year of intense training, I¡¯ve barely managed to match the original host¡¯s cultivation level. I haven¡¯t even glimpsed the peak of Qi Refinement thirdyer, let alone attempting to break through the bottleneck to mid-Qi Refinement stage¡ It¡¯s so challenging¡¡±
Sighing deeply, he perked up his ears to listen for any surrounding sounds, then pulled out a talisman and affixed it to the wooden wall of the cultivation room.
It was a low-tier first-rank ¡®Protection Talisman¡¯, offering a certain level of defense. Most importantly, it could iste sound and spiritual energy fluctuations!
As for Foundation Establishment level divine senses, although he couldn¡¯t fully protect against them, any such scan would immediately trigger an explosion, alerting the cultivator.
Havingpleted these preparations, Fang Xi¡¯s expression returned to calmness, and he snapped his fingers.
Snap!
In an instant, he found himself transported to another location.
Inside the room, warm hues illuminated the cozy atmosphere, reminiscent of a spring day. A fine blend of calming incense burned within a purple-golden censer.
Fang Xi loungedfortably on a plush chair made from sandalwood, adopting a rxed slouch akin to Ge You¡¯s iconic pose.
With a wave of his hand, a custom-made cultivation air conditioner activated, maintaining the ideal temperature and humidity within the room.
After sufficiently resting, Fang Xi casually discarded his worn-out cotton jacket and changed into luxurious silk garments, further enhancing his elegant and carefree demeanor.
He opened the door, and dazzling sunlight streamed in, revealing an opulent mansion courtyard.
In the blink of an eye, it felt like entering apletely different world.
And indeed, that was precisely the case!
A hint of satisfaction curved Fang Xi¡¯s lips.
When pushed to desperation, humans can aplish anything, including crossing dimensions!
Chapter 2: Yuanhe Mountain
Fang Xi had crossed over, but not entirely.
Or rather, it was his second transmigration!
Recalling the circumstances of his first such experience, Fang Xi still felt lingering fear.
It happened half a year ago on a dark night. Having already been transported to this world for several months, Fang Xi resembled a cautious little animal, cautiously extending his senses to explore Qingzhu Mountain¡¯s market district.
Unfortunately¡ with his low cultivation base and iplete mastery of the original host¡¯s abilities, he might not even have stood a chance against Old Man Mai, a mere Second Layer Qi Refiner!
On that fateful night, raiders struck the shantytown area!
The shantytowncked protection from the mountain¡¯s great defensive array, and most spirit farmers there had weak cultivation bases.
Despite being impoverished, some damned raiders would rob even the poorest souls!
After all, cultivators¡¯ bodies, including their flesh, bones, and souls, were highly valuable. As Fang Xi heard the cries of battle outside and witnessed hooded ck-robed cultivators systematically ughtering house by house, he trembled in terror, feeling like helpless meat on a chopping block. This harrowing sensation deeply shocked him, triggering the awakening of his golden finger ability!
This golden finger manifested without any visible signs or prompts, but he discovered that he could traverse to another world!
Without hesitation, Fang Xi immediately chose to cross over.
And thus, he found himself transported to this realm known as ¡®Great Liang¡¯.
Facing the sun, Fang Xizily stretched his arms, silently vowing never again to experience such proximity to death.
But for now, it was time to fully enjoy this new world.
A faint smile appeared at the corner of Fang Xi¡¯s lips.
Based on his investigations during previous crossings, this ¡®Great Liang¡¯ had no existence of cultivators!
Moreover, the flow of time between both worlds seemed roughly synchronized, with only slight differences in day and night cycles.
In other words, when it was night in his original world, it would be daytime in Great Liang.
Here, everything was ruled by a mortal emperor¡¯s kingdom.
Yet amidst the wilds, creatures known as ¡®demonic beasts¡¯ thrived!
From Fang Xi¡¯s perspective, these were likely impure-blooded demons or perhaps some hidden monstrous entities.
Being cautious by nature, he refrained from hunting demonic beasts directly. Instead, he chose to conceal himself within a human city - ckstone City.
To him, the gold and silver valued by mortals were meremon materials in the southern cultivation world, easily exchangeable for spirit crystals. However, in Great Liang, they proved surprisingly useful.
Before long, the affluent district of ckstone City weed a wealthy neer, ¡®Young Master Fang¡¯, who quickly gained prominence.
¡°Master has awakened! Congrattions onpleting your seclusion!¡±
Suddenly, a melodious voice akin to a skrk¡¯s song echoed.
Several vibrantly dressed maids, led by a young girl in a yellow skirt, approached Fang Xi and curtsied gracefully.
A fragrant breeze enveloped him, causing Fang Xi to unconsciously rub his fingers together with anticipation.
In ckstone City, he had purchased arge mansion along with numerous servants and maids.
Among them were twelve senior maids named Water Lily, Orchid, Plum Blossom, Honeysuckle, Rose, Lotus, Magnolia, Yue Gui (Sweet Olive), Chrysanthemum, Bamboo, Peony, and Lily.
The one d in a yellow dress was Yue Gui, the head maid, known for her delicate, porcin-like skin - truly a petite beauty.
¡°Hmm, announce preparations for the banquet,¡± Fang Xi casually instructed, under the admiring and respectful gazes of the women around him.
He held no moral qualms about asserting hierarchy; unlike some who might preach equality and discourage kneeling among servants and maids.
On the contrary, influenced by the original host¡¯s memories in this ancient setting, he adhered strictly to the principle of survival of the fittest.
As a servant or maid, failing to kneel would be seen as disrespecting authority and insubordination, warranting severe punishment, even death!
Fortunately, these servants were well-trained by ve traders, ensuring no such anomalies existed.
Or perhaps it could be said that for Yue Gui and the others, such treatment from their master was considered normal, almost as if ordained by nature itself.
Half an hourter, at Fang Manor¡¯s side hall.
Fang Xi reclined on a soft chair, surrounded by an array of exquisite dishes before him.
Bear paws, shark fins, bird¡¯s nest soup, roasted duck, stewed chicken¡
These natural ingredients, skillfully seasoned by master chefs, emitted enticing aromas that whetted one¡¯s appetite.
Fang Xi indulged in the decadent lifestyle of a feudal lord, not needing to lift his chopsticks himself. With just a subtle nce, a servant girl would promptly bring him a serving of delicacies.
He gestured for Peony to approach and leaned against her ample bosom, while Honeysuckle ced another helping of venison onto his te.
Ah, such excessivefort can indeed be a burden; after all, men must replenish themselves regrly¡
Fang Xi took another sip from the cup offered by a beauty beside him, exhaling contentedly.
After all, these charming maids were constantly vying with various tactics to share his bed, making it quite challenging for him to resist.
The mealsted nearly two hours.
For Fang Xi, although it couldn¡¯t match the nutritional value of the cultivation world¡¯s spirit rice, it certainly satisfied his culinary desires immensely.
Such indulgence, he enjoyed roughly once every ten days to half a month, serving as a small respite from the arduous life of cultivation.
After the servants cleared away the dishes, Fang Xi moved to the living room. Sipping on high-quality tea brewed by Yue Gui, he listened attentively to A-Fu¡¯s report.
¡°Sir, this old servant has investigated thoroughly. Materials rted to demons and monsters are strictly controlled by Great Liang¡¯s government, with private trade heavily prohibited. However, there are always some channels avable, such as dojos!¡±
A-Fu appeared as a white-bearded elder, giving off an air reminiscent of a reclusive sage.
Yet Fang Xi knew well that A-Fu was just an ordinary old man. In the past, he had nearly starved to death on the roadside with his grandson, eventually choosing to sell himself into servitude voluntarily.
¡°Oh, dojos, you say?¡±
Fang Xi stroked his chin thoughtfully upon hearing this information.
Great Liang was also a world possessing extraordinary powers. Beyond the demonic entities, even among humans, these exceptional abilities manifested through martial arts!
Skilled warriors could shatter boulders with their fists or crack stone bs with a single kick, as effortlessly as eating or drinking.
Even within ckstone City, there were numerous such warriors.
Fang Xi had considerable interest in this world¡¯s extraordinary paths of cultivation.
Although the spiritual energy here was exceedingly thin, making cultivation difficult, it still allowed him to maintain his cultivation base somewhat.
The warrior¡¯s path in Great Liang might offer some valuable insights¡ Granted, if one could ess advanced cultivation techniques and spells from the southern wilderness¡¯ cultivation realm, who would bother delving into martial arts?
But what choice did he have?
His current practice, the Evesting Spring Art, was merely amon technique. In contrast, slightly better methods avable at the market required several to dozens of spirit stones¡
A profound gleam flickered in Fang Xi¡¯s eyes:
¡°Based on the information I¡¯ve gathered over these days, warriors in this world cultivate Qi and Blood martial arts¡ Their destructive power should not be underestimated, especially for early-stage cultivators. It seems reminiscent of body refinement techniques¡¡±
Body cultivation is considered niche among cultivators, requiring extensive time and consuming vast resources.
However, Fang Xi didn¡¯t care; with resources from two worlds at his disposal, he deemed this expense negligible.
Moreover¡ what choice did he have?!
¡°Even low-tier body refinement techniques for Qi Refinement stage cost over five spirit stones at Qingzhu Mountain¡¯s market, which I can¡¯t afford¡ But here, there must be ways to cultivate Qi and Blood martial arts. Conveniently, I also want to obtain some demonic materials for research purposes¡¡±
The convergence of these goals piqued Fang Xi¡¯s interest significantly.
¡°A dojo? Tell me more about it¡¡±
A-Fu continued steadily, ¡°In the dojo, naturally, you¡¯ll find teachings on Qi and Blood martial arts. ording to local rumors, once Qi and Blood Martial Masters reach advanced levels, ordinary food fails to meet their bodily needs. Consequently, they require nourishment from various natural treasures or demon flesh! As a result, every major martial force in the city has its own channels for acquiring demonic meat¡¡±
¡°In ckstone City, apart from the influential noble ns, the only ces epting disciples for martial training are Yuanhe Mountain and the Dojo Alliance!¡±
¡°Yuanhe Mountain?¡± Fang Xi¡¯s expression shifted with intrigue.
¡°Yes, Yuanhe Mountain is one of the top martial sects within a hundred miles around ckstone City. Even the local government shows them considerable respect¡¡± When A-Fu mentioned Yuanhe Mountain, his tone unconsciously grew more solemn.
It was evident that Yuanhe Mountain held significant prestige among the people of ckstone City.
¡°A martial arts sect like this undoubtedly teaches advanced techniques,¡± Fang Xi pondered. ¡°I wonder how strict their disciple selection process is? Could money help facilitate connections?¡±
Since arriving in ckstone City, Fang Xi, as a wealthyndowner, relied heavily on using gold and silver to pave his way, never hesitating to spend liberally.
Inevitably, he attracted attention as a potential target for exploitation, but being a cultivator at Qi Refinement thirdyer, despite not affording even the lowest quality magical artifacts, his heightened sensesbined with expensive talismans provided sufficient self-defense.
A-Fu considered briefly before replying, ¡°Yuanhe Mountain often epts disciples from prominent city families, so it shouldn¡¯t be a problem.¡±
¡°Then there¡¯s no time to waste; let¡¯s finalize this arrangement quickly.¡± Fang Xi made his decision.
Although the flow of time was consistent between both worlds, in the southern wilderness cultivation realm, he could only justify closing off for a few days under the pretext of training before needing to reappear. Otherwise, people might assume he had died, leading to division of hisnds and property - essentially another form of profiting from someone¡¯s demise.
Yuanhe Mountain.
The main headquarters of this sect was located in Ding Province, while its presence in ckstone City served as just a branch.
Despite being a branch, it remained opulent and grandiose, upying a vastplex of buildings that exuded an extraordinary aura.
Deep within this architectural ensembley arge emerald-greenke, adorned with flourishing lotus flowers across its surface.
A small boat nestled among the lotuses, gently drifting with the waves.
Upon the boat, someone appeared to be reclining leisurely.
Suddenly, the boat reached the shore, and a poised woman in a white dress approached gracefully. ¡°Greetings, Shishu¡¡±
¡°What is it?¡± The person on the boat opened their eyes, yawned, and spoke with a hint of impatience.
¡°A prominent family from the city has offered two hundred taels of silver to secure admission for one individual as a disciple,¡± the white-dressed woman bowed respectfully, reporting.
¡°Who might this be?¡± The individual¡¯s youthful appearance suggested they were around twenty years old. They picked up a notification slip and immediately scoffed, ¡°Fang Xi? An unknown upstart? Do they think Yuanhe Mountain is some martial arts dojo where we ept anyone with money?¡±
As the dominant force within a hundred-mile radius, Yuanhe Mountain wielded extraordinary influence. When epting disciples, they primarily valued aptitude over wealth. The asional recruitment of noble heirs was mainly to foster connections.
However, Fang Xi¡ he had nothing but money to spare.
¡°So what does Shishu suggest?¡± asked the woman in white, her initial indifference evident. She only agreed to ry this message due to someone¡¯s personal request and influence.
¡°What is his aptitude like?¡±
¡°I observed him once; quite ordinary,¡± she replied.
¡°Then decline his offer.¡± The small boat gently moved away.
The woman bowed respectfully, without further persuasion.
Chapter 3: Qi and Blood Martial Arts
Fang Manor.
¡°Rejected?¡±
Fang Xi¡¯s expression darkened as he red at A-Fu.
A-Fu lowered his head, visibly anxious. ¡°Your old servant spent heavily, engaged intermediaries, and even offered to pay more, but s¡¡±
Fang Xi took a deep breath.
As a cultivator, when had he ever endured such humiliation? Well¡ okay, frequently at Qingzhu Mountain Market, almost getting used to it by now.
Getting used to it is good, just keep adapting.
¡°Never mind, I suppose my aptitude is average, not impressive enough for them.¡±
He shrugged resignedly. Even as a low-tier cultivator, one retains keen senses and the ability for photographic memory.
When entrusting others with his request earlier, he distinctly felt someone scrutinizing him.
However, blood and qi warriors evidently have their own methods of assessing aptitude, leaving no opportunity for him to showcase his exceptional memory andprehension skills.
¡®In other words, perhaps this world¡¯s martial artists prioritize physical aptitude over intellectual or spiritual abilities? No wonder they¡¯re considered inferior body cultivators¡¡¯
Fang Xi consoled himself with this Q-like rationalization, finding it remarkably effective.
With a chuckle, he said, ¡°Well then¡ if Yuanhe Mountain won¡¯t ept me, I¡¯ll go to a dojo instead¡ Surely dojos don¡¯t care about aptitude when epting disciples.¡±
At this, A-Fu also smiled, ¡°The young master is right, dojos¡ im to teach allers, meaning they¡¯ll take anyone with money.¡±
Fang Xi¡¯s lips curved into a satisfied grin. ¡°Conveniently, I happen to have plenty!¡±
Later that afternoon.
Under the zing sun, in the temporary training ground cleared within the Fang Manor¡¯s rear courtyard,
Fang Xi lounged on a recliner chair, with a cup of homemade fruit slush beside him. The principle behind it was simr to his installed air conditioning - both utilizing a cultivator¡¯s techniques for a morefortable lifestyle.
On this scorching summer day, sipping chilled fruity drinks truly felt invigorating.
In the center of the training ground stood several martial artists, mostly middle-aged, with a few older individuals among them, all casting ttering nces towards Fang Xi.
Turning slightly, Fang Xi took a sip from the fruit slush Yue Gui had brought, then pped his hands.
A-Fu stepped forward, clearing his throat. ¡°Our lord wishes to learn martial arts, and as experts from various dojos here today, we invite you to showcase your unique skills. If any impress our lord, there will be substantial rewards¡ Even if not selected, each participant will still receive a token of gratitude.¡±
Being wealthy, Fang Xi naturally wouldn¡¯t bother attending public sses at a dojo; instead, he preferred private instruction!
Hearing this, the eyes of those muscr warriors lit up one by one.
Since they ran dojos, their primary goal was profit, and money always spoke volumes.
And this esteemed Landlord Fang was famously known as¡a fat wallet ripe for picking!
The group exchanged nces, and an eager old man dressed in ck quickly stepped forward, sping his fists. ¡°I am She Lei from Red Snake Dojo, specializing in ¡®Red Snake Leg¡¯!¡±
He approached a wooden post, suddenly lifting his right leg high. The muscles bulged explosively, straining against his ck pants as if they might tear.
Whish!
In the next instant, he unleashed a swift kick. His robust right leg seemed to bend effortlessly, like it had no bones, striking with tremendous force that sent a gust of wind crashing into the wooden post.
Bam!
The thick post instantly splintered into pieces.
As wood shards flew, She Lei proudly exined, ¡°Our dojo¡¯s Red Snake Leg technique primarily focuses on strengthening both legs. Upon mastery, not only does it deliver powerful strikes, but also enhances speed and agility. With superior body control, one can at least maintain an undefeated stance inbat¡¡±
¡°Excellent, excellent.¡± Fang Xi¡¯s eyes lit up with interest.
Although the destructive potential of the Red Snake Leg fell shortpared to his own Golden Seventh Metal Grass-Cutting Sword, a minor magical spell, he was still in the early stages of Qi Refinement. His limited magical energy could sustain only a few spells before depletion.
Judging by the practitioner¡¯s apparent stamina, he could likely execute twenty to thirty kicks, making this technique quite valuable.
¡®Just as I suspected, these so-called Qi and Blood martial arts can be seen as body cultivation techniques for the Qi Refinement stage, holding significant value¡ And who knows, with further refinement, they might even rival methods used by Foundation Establishment body cultivators!¡¯
Fang Xi¡¯s heart raced with excitement!
Foundation Establishment!
This was the shared dream of all low-rank cultivators.
However¡ achieving it proved immensely challenging.
Just meeting the minimum requirement of reaching the great circle of Qi Refinement before age sixty was daunting enough to deter most scattered cultivators.
Moreover, attempting Foundation Establishment without sess could be fatal. The necessary spirit items, particrly the Foundation Establishment Pills, were tightly controlled by major powers. Even for the Situ n, obtaining just one pill would require significant effort and resources.
For ordinary, low-tier scattered cultivators, merely catching a whiff of such pills seemed like an unattainable luxury.
But now, Fang Xi glimpsed a shortcut to surpass these obstacles!
¡®If I can elevate my body cultivation base to match that of a Late Stage Qi Refinement cultivator, coupled with gathering appropriate breakthrough aids for Middle and Late Stages, the path would be much simpler.¡¯
¡®And if I first be a Foundation Establishment body cultivator, acquiring a Foundation Establishment Pillter would not only increase my chances but also ensure greater safety.¡¯
¡®A promising path emerges, a promising path indeed!¡¯
Despite having ess to resources from two worlds, Fang Xi never forgot his position at the bottom of the southern wilderness¡¯s cultivation hierarchy. Currently, he dared not bring any unique goods from Great Liang to sell within this realm.
Unless¡ he gained significantly more power.
Now, he saw a glimmer of hope.
¡°Master She, your skills are impressive - here¡¯s a reward!¡±
Feeling delighted, Fang Xi spoke up eagerly.
Initially, She Lei seemed somewhat disgruntled, as despite genuinely being here to sell his services, he still aimed for a higher stature than mere street performers.
However, when A-Fu cheerfully presented him with a tray full of silver coins, all his dissatisfaction vanished instantly, wrinkles on his aged face spreading wide in a joyful grin.
This fatmb was truly worth it!
Witnessing this scene, representatives from other dojos turned envious. Among them, a tall and slender woman stepped forward:
¡°Hello, I am Mu Piaomiao from the White Cloud Dojo. Our specialty is ¡®White Cloud Palm,¡¯ which allows one to ovee stronger opponents with ease, and its basics are remarkably simple to learn¡¡±
Clearly, this female martial artist had diligently researched her potential client. Knowing that Fang Xi did not possess exceptional martial aptitude¡ªotherwise Yuanhe Mountain wouldn¡¯t have rejected him¡ªshe tailored her pitch ordingly, hitting the mark precisely.
As she demonstrated the palm technique, her graceful figure was fully showcased, with her firm curves exuding a hint of captivating allure.
The other martial artists, watching, secretly cursed her as a seductive vixen yet couldn¡¯t help but remain captivated by her disy.
After Mu Piaomiao finished, another martial artist approached.
¡°Greetings, I am Yuan Tiangang, specializing in ¡®Evesting Staff¡¯¡¡±
¡°My name is Yi Qiuju, proficient in ¡®Iron Thread Fist¡¯¡¡±
¡°And my style, ¡®Azure Garment Sword¡¯¡¡±
After thest martial artist finished their demonstration, Fang Xi pondered for a moment before asking, ¡°All your martial skills are quite impressive. Might I inquire if it¡¯s possible to learn each one?¡±
With his ample wealth, there was no harm in attempting to master them all.
¡°Well¡¡± The martial artists exchanged nces, and once again, Mu Piaomiao stepped forward with her long legs to exin, ¡°Young Master Fang, practicing Qi and Blood martial arts is highly demanding on the body. Even mastering a single technique can deplete one¡¯s resources, requiring rigorous supplementation with restorative tonics. It¡¯s said that ¡®greedy overreach leads to failure,¡¯ and moreover, some martial arts have conflicting blood and qi cirction patterns¡¡±
¡°Oh.¡±
Upon hearing Mu Piaomiao¡¯s exnation, Fang Xi began to understand the inherent limitations of Qi and Blood martial arts. Moreover, from her ount, it seemed there were still unspoken nuances, likely knowledge only essible upon proper initiation into these disciplines.
He considered this briefly and then decided, ¡°In that case, I¡¯ll start by learning one leg-based technique and one palm-based technique¡ She Lei, Mu Piaomiao, please stay behind.¡±
The other martial artists felt somewhat disgruntled at this choice.
She Lei¡¯s selection made sense; as the first to step forward, he naturally belonged among the strongest, disying great confidence.
But Mu Piaomiao? Wasn¡¯t it just about her long legs and ample bosom?
Damn, are the interests of the wealthy truly so straightforward and simple-minded?
After the disgruntled martial artists left with their mutteredints, Fang Xi carefully examined She Lei and Mu Piaomiao. ¡°Master She, Master Mu¡ let¡¯s start counting tuition from today onwards. How about conducting lessons at my residence every three days?¡±
Now, he took a closer look at both of them.
When not exerting his martial energy, She Lei appeared as an unremarkable little old man.
In contrast, Mu Piaomiao had a robust figure exuding a spirited and vigorous charm, with quite pleasing facial features, albeit slightly rough skin.
¡°Agreed¡¡± Mu Piaomiao pondered for a moment before continuing, ¡°The blood and qi cirction for Red Snake Leg primarily focuses on the legs, which does not conflict with our sect¡¯s White Cloud Palm technique. However, you must be cautious; learning too many such techniques could lead to mixed blood and qi flow, hindering future breakthroughs¡¡±
Feeling somewhat disheartened, Fang Xi asked, ¡°If most exercises concentrate on either the legs or palms¡ is there no martial art that truly enhances blood and qi throughout the entire body?¡±
This limitation seemed rather significant, especially considering it hindered defense against magical spells!
Mu Piaomiao exchanged nces with She Lei before the old man cleared his throat. ¡°Ahem¡ In truth, any Qi and Blood martial art primarily focuses on specific body parts but still indirectly hones the overall blood and qi cirction. However, to truly achieve uniform refinement throughout the entire body, it¡¯s not enough to rely on our dojo¡¯s third-rate techniques. You¡¯d need top-tier secret transmissions instead. Perhaps only Yuanhe Mountain¡¯s most closely guarded martial arts can reach such mastery.¡±
¡°Alright¡¡±
Fang Xi sighed, silently making up his mind.
Isn¡¯t it just about obtaining true secret teachings? There might be ways for him to acquire them eventually.
After all¡ cultivators¡¯ capabilities could often overwhelm this world¡¯s warriors.
Of course, he would need to experiment cautiously, without rushing into anything.
He had time on his side; his current body was merely seventeen years old. Cultivators enjoy long lifespans, even those in the Qi Refinement stage can typically live to eighty or ny without much trouble.
Chapter 4: White Clouds
¡°Please, esteemed masters!¡±
That evening, Fang Xi hosted a banquet to honor his martial arts instructors, Mu Piaomiao and She Lei.
Dressed in elegant brocade robes and adorned with a jade crown, despite his slightly frail appearance, he exuded an ethereal aura that impressed Mu Piaomiao greatly, prompting her to eagerly raise her cup.
¡°To your health!¡±
As the refreshing wine flowed down her throat, Mu Piaomiao couldn¡¯t help but exim, ¡°Excellent wine¡¡±
Even more astonished, She Lei eximed joyously, ¡°Could this be ¡®Qiu Lu Bai¡¯ from Hundred Miles Winery? It¡¯s said their proprietor brews only eighteen jars per year, each aged for three years before bottling, valued at a hundred taels¡¡±
¡°Ah, indeed! I have a penchant for fine wines, exquisite cuisines, beautiful servants, antique collectibles, luxurious residences, and intriguing gadgets¡¡± Fang Xi poured himself another cup, sighing wistfully. ¡°I once heard a saying: A man should climb the highest mountains, drink the strongest wines, wield the swiftest swords, ride the finest horses, enjoy the most beautiful women, and face the fiercest opponents¡¡±
In the cultivation world, such words were unthinkable, but here, they could serve as modest life goals, adding some spice to existence.
¡°Hahaha¡ youth truly is invigorating.¡± Taking a deep sip of Qiu Lu Bai, She Lei suddenly felt a fleeting illusion of his youth returning.
Once upon a time, he too was a dream-filled young man in the jianghu, until fate struck him with a knife to the knee¡
¡°y with the most beautiful women¡¡±
Mu Piaomiao blushed and instinctively adjusted her cor, silently cursing him as a little lecher, yet feeling somewhat intrigued.
After all, she had heard tales of female martial artists ending up destitute, forced to sell their charms just to survive.
This Young Master Fang, on the other hand, truly embodied youthful charm, being both wealthy and gentle - indeed, not a bad match¡
¡°Ignore the rest for now, but even amidst this scorching summer, there¡¯s no trace of heat within this hall¡ Truly remarkable, remarkably impressive.¡±
She Lei¡¯s gaze shifted towards the wooden box in the room and smiled, ¡°This must be one of your ingenious, albeit slightly unorthodox, inventions, Young Master Fang?¡±
¡°Certainly, it¡¯s a rudimentary air conditioning system, simply keeping the house warm in winter and cool in summer. It¡¯s quite crude, really¡¡± Fang Xi waved dismissively, thoughbining cultivation techniques with knowledge from his past life to create this air conditioner was a point of pride for him.
However, he had no interest in promoting or profiting from it; everything was solely for his ownfort and enjoyment.
Why bother being a merchant in a world with supernatural powers? It seemed like asking for trouble.
The next day.
At the training grounds.
Mu Piaomiao was absent, leaving only She Lei present.
Although martial arts were taught for payment at the dojo, it was still important to avoid any appearance of impropriety.
She Lei¡¯s expression turned much more serious. ¡°Our Redsnake Dojo specializes in leg techniques, starting with footwork practice on wooden stakes. You¡¯ll need to train by bncing on them¡ Later stages will also involve adding weights¡ Let me first demonstrate for you, Gongzi.¡±
In the training area, several rows of unevenly spaced mleuca poles had already been set up.
With a gentle leap, She Leinded atop one of the wooden stakes and moved swiftly, almost flying. ¡°Body steady as a pine, legs fluid like a snake, step with movement yet maintain inner stillness¡¡±
After demonstrating briefly, he descended from the pole, smiling. ¡°Martial training is highly demanding; it¡¯s bestplemented with medicinal diets¡ Initially, you should consult a physician for prescriptions that nourish blood and qi. Once you grasp the secrets of blood qi, you¡¯ll require our dojo¡¯s specialized secret medicines.¡±
¡°Secret medicines?¡± Fang Xi¡¯s heart stirred, recalling his second objective. ¡°What exactly are these secrets of blood qi?¡±
By following this routine, he would inevitably gain ess to the dojo¡¯s secret medicinal channel, so there was no need for haste.
¡°Blood qi, as we understand it, forms the basis for ranking warriors,¡± She Lei began his exnation. ¡°For instance, at our Redsnake Dojo, new disciples start by practicing the ¡®Eight Techniques of the Snake.¡¯ Once they grasp control over their blood qi, after its transformation, they can be Inner Sect disciples¡ After one blood qi transformation, leg strength greatly increases, and bones be significantly more robust. Breaking a wooden post with a single kick bes effortless. Achieving two transformations makes one a formidable practitioner even within the dojo. As for three transformations¡ that signifies a sessor-level disciple.¡±
¡°I see,¡± Fang Xi nodded, stepping back onto the wooden tform to practice the Eight Techniques of the Snake.
Although his physical aptitude wascking, his cultivator¡¯s keen senses remained intact. He could memorize texts effortlessly after just a few readings.
To She Lei¡¯s astonishment, despite the young noble¡¯s average physical attributes, he grasped everything quickly upon instruction and executed it proficiently on the first try.
Although his movements were slow, hepleted the entire sequence wlessly on his first attempt. By the third repetition, there were no errors at all.
¡°Yuanhe Mountain might have truly misjudged this one,¡± She Lei murmured to himself, his expression bing significantly more serious.
¡°Gongzi, how long do you think it will take for me to master my blood qi and reach the first stage of Qi and Blood transformation?¡±
After several repetitions, Fang Xi¡¯s forehead glistened with sweat, prompting a nearby maid to promptly hand him a towel.
As he wiped away the perspiration, he sighed thoughtfully.
These Qi and Blood martial arts were indeed different from other so-called martial techniques. In the southern wilderness cultivation realm, he had encountered a few mundane martial arts books, but they paled inparison to these Qi and Blood practices.
¡°Generally speaking, ordinary disciples can sense their blood qi within three months¡¡± Considering this was just the beginning, She Lei smiled reassuringly. ¡°Gongzi, your talent is quite exceptional; it may even take less time for you.¡±
¡°Three months?¡± Fang Xi nodded, stepping back onto the wooden post to continue practicing his footwork.
In the afternoon, the instructor changed to Mu Piaomiao, d in white robes.
¡°Our dojo¡¯s secret technique, the Baiyun Palm, has three levels: White Cloud, Dark Cloud, and ck Cloud!¡±
Mu Piaomiao lightly pressed her palm against a wooden post.
Snap!
A deep palm imprint immediately appeared on the post, with distinct ck traces visible along its edges.
Fang Xi¡¯s nose twitched, detecting a faintly foul odor, and his expression changed. ¡°Poison?¡±
¡°Correct, your reflexes are sharp,¡± Mu Piaomiao smiled. ¡°The Baiyun Palm inherently involves poison! Inter stages, you must infuse toxins within each strike, capable of killing both humans and animals with a single blow! Of course, at the beginning, there¡¯s no need for poison; just focus on practicing strikes against these posts. I¡¯ll demonstrate once.¡±
The introductory training for Baiyun Palm involved daily practice by striking one¡¯s palms against specially prepared sandbags infused with medicinalpounds, a secret recipe from the Baiyun Dojo.
Fang Xi never hesitated when it came to investing in his training. He promptly purchased ten high-quality sandbags and began relentless practice.
As he continued striking the sandbags, he could feel his skin bing increasingly resilient, and the strength in his palms gradually increased¡
Unbeknownst to him, time slowly slipped by.
At Qingzhu Mountain.
Fang Xi opened the door, gazing at the sky filled with drifting snow and his sparsely furnished abode resembling a dog¡¯s den. He couldn¡¯t help but exhale arge cloud of white breath, murmuring, ¡°Feels like another lifetime¡¡±
In the Great Liang realm, he was Fang Xi, the wealthy young master, enjoying opulent mansions and beautiful servants in ckstone City. Although asionally facing setbacks, money could resolve nearly every issue for him.
But in the southern wilderness cultivation world, he was merely a small fry.
Stuck at the very bottom, struggling just to meet basic needs.
How utterly miserable!
¡®I must continue caring for the Jade Emerald Bamboo Forest. Being a spirit farmer on Qingzhu Mountain may be grim, but it¡¯s still better than being a scattered cultivator. Plus, I can leverage connections through the market¡¡¯
Fang Xi reached into his robes and found that the stonedrake insect pest was still there.
¡®First priority is to handle this creature, then purchase some paper talismans. Ideally, acquire a low-grade magical artifact for self-defense!¡¯
He never forgot upon what his true reliance rested!
Even Great Liang wasn¡¯t a paradise by any means.
Without sufficient power, one could not truly enjoy its benefits!
However, armed with a cultivator¡¯s heightened senses and a few life-saving talismans saved for emergencies, he felt confident enough to counter-attack even against She Lei or Mu Piaomiao if confronted.
Moreover, asionally disappearing for periods would keep his potential adversaries guessing, thus maintaining the facade of Fang Manor¡¯s influence.
However, Fang Xi knew these good days wouldn¡¯tst forever. The lurking hyenas and vultures would eventually find their restraint wearing thin.
Therefore, he needed to enhance his strength further!
For a cultivator, the most straightforward way to increase power was by breaking through to higher realms. Beyond that, utilizing external aids to boost one¡¯s capabilities offered numerous possibilitiespared to what Great Liang typically provided.
Such aids included potent paper talismans, puppets, spirit beasts¡and even magical artifacts!
¡°With my current magic power, I can at most control a low-grade magical artifact, but that should be sufficient¡ After all, most of Great Liang¡¯s martial artists struggle to dodge crossbow bolts, let alone defy the government.¡±
Magical Artifacts!
These were standard equipment for Qi Refinement stage cultivators, categorized into four tiers: low-grade, mid-grade, high-grade, and finally top-tier.
Even the lowest-quality low-grade magical artifacts often cost around ten spirit stones.
As for true top-tier magical artifacts, they weremonly used by those who had achieved perfection in Qi Refinement or some early Foundation Establishment cultivators.
Rumors suggested there existed even higher-level Spirit Devices above magical artifacts, and beyond them, the legendary Divine Treasures¡but such items were far beyond Fang Xi¡¯s reach at present.
Fang Xi donned his padded jacket and draped a straw cloak over it before venturing into the heavy snow.
It wasn¡¯t that he couldn¡¯t use magic for warmth, but as a minor Qi Refinement cultivator with limited magic power, he needed to conserve¡
As he walked, someone approached from the opposite direction - it was Old Man Mai.
¡°Fangd¡¡±
His face flushed red, he greeted Fang Xi warmly.
¡°Ah, Old Man Mai, your cheeks are radiant; must be some joyful news,¡± Fang Xi smiled, well aware of where Mai had been these past few days.
¡°Sigh, just passing time during winter, enjoying tea by the fire¡ finding some amusement¡¡± Old Man Mai replied pretentiously.
However, noticing Mai¡¯s slightly trembling legs and the appearance of a fleeting resurgence, Fang Xi inwardly rolled his eyes. While cultivators generally have enduring vitality, excessive indulgence can still lead to consequences¡
Yet, it wasn¡¯t his ce to lecture him.
Apparently, those hidden arts at the brothel were quite impressive indeed.
¡°On the other hand, Fangd, you seem even more spirited after these few days apart¡¡± Old Man Mai observed, noting a newfound robustness in Fang Xi, unlike his usual cautious demeanor. He couldn¡¯t help but inquire with a smile.
¡°Just gained some insights during my brief seclusion, nothing significant.¡±
Fang Xi bowed slightly in response and continued towards the market district.
Chapter 5: The Market
The Qingzhu Mountain Market, named after its signature bamboo, primarily consisted of stilts-supported buildings made from spirit-grade green bamboo.
Despite being called a market, it actuallyprised only around dozens of structures, forming a single street. Alongside these, temporary stalls filled any avable space between the streets and squares, collectively creating the most bustling cultivator marketce within hundreds of miles.
As Fang Xi approached the market entrance, he noticed a faint white mist - this was the protective formation guarding the market, rumored to withstand attacks from Foundation Establishment cultivators for extended periods.
Showing respect, he produced a bamboo token containing his identity as a spirit farmer.
With a sh of spiritual light, the mist parted, revealing the previously obscured buildings inside.
¡°Drunk Immortal Building,¡± ¡°Hundred Refinements Shop,¡± ¡°Pill Cauldron Pavilion,¡± ¡°Craftsman¡¯s Tower,¡± ¡°Thousand Machines Hall¡±¡ several prominent structures immediately caught his eye.
These were the key trading ces in the market, handling hundreds to thousands of spirit stones daily.
Fang Xi nced briefly at the Drunk Immortal Building, subtly adjusting his stance, yet without changing expression, turned away as if the enticing sounds nearby meant nothing to him.
Trivial charm techniques won¡¯t disrupt this young master¡¯s dao heart! If only his funds weren¡¯t so meager¡
It must be said, the aura of female cultivatorspared to ordinary maidservants was distinctly different - akin to the contrast between a standard smartphone and its premium PROMAX version.
On the main thoroughfare, various scattered cultivators passed by.
Schrs, monks, Daoists¡
Elderly, women, children¡
Some bearing swords, others carryingrge crimson sks, with spirit birds perched nearby, or riding on demonic beasts¡
A vibrant array of individuals, each unique in their own way.
The former Fang Xi would have been captivated for hours, earning ridicule as a naive neer.
Now, however, he viewed these scenes from a more discerning perspective.
¡®Middle Stage Qi Refinement, Middle Stage Qi Refinement, Late Stage Qi Refinement¡¡¯
¡®As expected¡ Even if there are a few Early Stage Qi Refinement cultivators, they¡¯re mostly servants or junior disciples being introduced to the world.¡¯
¡®Cultivation truly values power above all; it¡¯s not easy navigating this realm.¡¯
Fang Xi pursed his lips thoughtfully.
Given the choice, he¡¯d prefer to stay hidden within Great Liang¡¯s world.
Unfortunately, Great Liang simplycked longevity potential.
With such low concentrations of spiritual energy, making significant progress in cultivation techniques was virtually impossible, let alone breaking through major cultivation barriers.
Moreover, even the local Qi and Blood martial arts didn¡¯t seem particrly longevity-focused¡
Fang Xi wouldn¡¯t consider hunkering down in such a small world unless driven to desperation.
He scanned various stalls and began selling his stonedrakes along with other materials he had umted over recent days.
These items were too insignificant forrge shops, where they would likely be scoffed at; thus, this market was the only viable ce to offload them.
¡°Brother Liu, let me tell you, these pristine stonedrakes are truly not expensive¡ And this spirit grass, I nearly wore out my legs searching for it¡¡±
After much persuasion, almost drying up his saliva, Fang Xi managed to secure three spirit crystals.
He oriented himself, heading towards a nearby square and confidently approaching a specific stall.
It was run by a married couple, their modestly sized cloth disy barely half a meter wide, yet filled with an array of diverse spirit talismans.
There were Low-Grade First-Order Protection, Frost, me Talismans, and more¡
With a quick nce, Fang Xi noticed right in the center, like a moon surrounded by stars, a Little Thunder Talisman!
¡°Symbol Master Zong, congrattions on sessfully creating a Mid-Grade First-Order paper talisman¡¡± He smiled and offered his well-wishes to the stall owner.
Symbol Master Zong appeared to be around thirty years old, tall and stout with fair skin, sporting two small whiskers. His friendly smile gave him the demeanor of a worldly businessman.
Fang Xi had also met his cultivation partner, a female cultivator surnamed Lu, who delivered paper talismans and materials. He vividly remembered her impressive physique.
This husband-and-wife team operated efficiently; she prepared the talisman paper while he drew the symbols. With their high-quality yet affordable offerings, they enjoyed afortable lifestyle. However, recently, it seemed as though financial pressures from spirit stones had increased significantly for them.
¡°Oh, it¡¯s young Fang¡¡± Symbol Master Zong greeted warmly, ¡°How did the Frost Talisman fare against those insect pestsst time?¡±
¡°Absolutely remarkable! During these bitterly cold days, the Frost Talisman¡¯s potency seems enhanced, leaving the stonedrakes no chance to escape¡¡± Fang Xi nodded appreciatively. ¡°Give me a few more Protection Talismans¡¡±
¡®These talismans are only meant for protection during seclusion, costing one spirit crystal each. I wonder why thisd needs so many¡¡¯ Symbol Master Zong shook his head inwardly, grumbling to himself. However, respecting privacy is paramount among cultivators, so he refrained from asking.
After exchanging several Protection Talismans, Symbol Master Zong queried, ¡°Would you like any more Frost Talismans? I can offer them at a discounted rate, three spirit crystals per talisman¡¡±
¡°Symbol Master Zong, did you lower the price again?¡± Fang Xi¡¯s eyes lit up, reminiscent of a bargain-seeking aunt from his past life.
¡°Sigh, well¡ my wife is pregnant again, you see!¡± Symbol Master Zong sighed.
Cultivators harness the world¡¯s spiritual energy through their spiritual roots to perform incredible feats, yet conceiving heirs remains challenging for them. Even if children are born, there¡¯s a chance they might possess no spiritual root at all, remaining mere mortals.
However, Symbol Master Zong was an exception; he already had three offspring, with two possessing spiritual roots. Now expecting his fourth child, it was rumored that the Situ n showed great interest in him, hoping to borrow his lineage, but he politely declined¡
Fang Xi nodded sympathetically. With potentially two, or even three, future cultivators as descendants, the pressure must feel like carrying three monumental burdens.
The tragic plight of middle-aged men from his previous life seemed vividly reflected in Symbol Master Zong, and Fang Xi could almost sense his once-lustrous hair rapidly thinning ahead of its time.
Nevertheless, this wasn¡¯t his concern.
¡°My Frost Talisman and me Talisman are excellent for self-defense or eliminating pests, whether metaphorically or literally¡¡±
As Symbol Master Zong fretted over his spirit beasts consuming precious spirit stones at home, he suddenly heard Fang Xi inquire, ¡°I wonder what the price is for this ¡®Little Thunder Talisman¡¯?¡±
If a low-grade first-stage paper talisman equaled an attack from the Initial Stage of Qi Refinement, then without a doubt, a mid-grade talisman reached the level of Middle Stage Qi Refinement!
Rarely taken aback, Symbol Master Zong quickly disyed a pained expression, as if it physically hurt him to part with it. ¡°This mid-grade talisman took me great effort to create, wasting countless sheets of talisman paper. If you truly want it¡ I¡¯ll let it go for one and a half spirit stones¡¡±
¡°One and a half?¡± A look of distress crossed Fang Xi¡¯s face. ¡°Could you perhaps make it slightly cheaper?¡±
¡°Cheaper still?¡± The Symbol Master¡¯s eyes widened momentarily, but then, as if weighed down by the burdens of life, his expression softened. ¡°Unless you buy a few more low-grade talismans.¡±
¡°In that case, add one more low-grade ¡®Golden Light Barrier Talisman¡¯,¡± Fang Xi responded, also showing signs of reluctance.
In the end, Fang Xi sessfully acquired a Little Thunder Talisman, capable of unleashing power equivalent to a Middle Stage Qi Refinement expert¡¯s strike, along with several low-grade paper talismans.
This purchase not only depleted all his earnings from selling materials at the market but also significantly dented his savings.
Fortunately, feeling the Golden Light Barrier Talisman tucked securely in his robes, Fang Xi sensed a greater sense of safety.
Although in the southern wilderness¡¯s cultivation world, this talisman could only withstand one or two initial attacks from an Early Stage Qi Refinement cultivator, its effectiveness was far more significant in Great Liang.
¡°Let¡¯s go, let¡¯s go¡ continuing to browse will only add to my sorrow¡¡±
Standing before a stall selling medicinal pills, Fang Xi found his feet rooted to the spot.
He was currently at a stage where diligent progress seemed within reach. With the aid of a medicinal pill, he might just break through to the Fourth Layer of Qi Refinement, entering the Middle Stage!
However, medicinal pills were generally even pricier than paper talismans!
¡®What a pity¡ Other transmigrators thrive by trading between worlds, living such carefree lives. How did I end up in this predicament?¡¯
Fang Xi had always been cautious about engaging in inter-world trade. Only after ensuring some self-defense capabilities in Great Liang did he feel safe enough to subtly introduce items from the cultivation realm.
Yet, within that cultivation realm itself, he dared not reveal anything extraordinary.
After all, his cultivation base was too weak, and cultivators possess numerous diverse abilities; there might be unique methods to detect such things!
¡®At least¡I should wait until Late Stage Qi Refinement, no, at least Middle Stage Qi Refinement¡¡¯
Fang Xi had always been cautious and meticulous, even more so after obtaining such extraordinary opportunities that defied fate.
Who wouldn¡¯t prefer peaceful progress, avoiding unnecessary conflicts, steadily cultivating towards Foundation Establishment and Core Formation? Who the hell would willingly engage in life-or-death battles on the brink of death?
Just as Fang Xi prepared to leave Qingzhu Mountain Market, a suddenmotion erupted on the street. Like a contagion, it rapidly spread outward.
Amidst the noise, snippets like ¡°ruins,¡± ¡°treasures,¡± ¡°cultivation techniques¡± could be heard faintly.
Fang Xi paused momentarily, quickly picking up the news from nearby cultivators.
¡°What? A small arcane realm discovered at Violet Serenity Mountain, possibly remnants of ancient cultivators? Already, some cultivators have retrieved ancient cultivation techniques and Foundation Establishment spirit items?¡±
This information ignited the desires of every cultivator like a spark to gunpowder!
Ancient cultivation techniques! Foundation Establishment spirit items!
These were treasures they might never obtain despite striving their entire lives.
The cultivation world operates this way: even bottom-tier wandering cultivators,boring tirelessly throughout their existence, may never reach the threshold of Foundation Establishment.
But with a stroke of divine fortune, obtaining ancient treasures and miraculous medicinal pills could propel one like a mighty garuda soaring nine thousand miles against the wind, destined to ascend as a celestial being!
Take Fang Xi for example!
His spiritual root was unremarkable, merely low-grade with a slight wood affinity, and he practiced themonce Evesting Spring Art. Even after sixty years, he might not reach the pinnacle of Qi Refinement, unable to surmount the formidable barrier to Foundation Establishment!
It was widely known in the cultivation world that beyond the age of sixty, a cultivator¡¯s chances of achieving Foundation Establishment significantly diminish.
However, armed with top-tier techniques and aided by medicinal pills, breaking through to Foundation Establishment within five to ten years bes highly usible!
This is precisely the opportunity countless cultivators fervently seek!
¡°What kind of Foundation Establishment spirit item did they find?¡± A female cultivator, eyes reddened with envy, grabbed hold of a nearby male cultivator who seemed informed, demanding loudly.
¡°It¡¯s a bottle of ¡®earthme fiendish qi¡¯! Highly valuable for oveing blood qi barriers,¡± the male cultivator murmured, his face filled with longing and aspiration.
¡°Pity it wasn¡¯t a Foundation Establishment Pill,¡±mented an elderly cultivator nearby, shaking his head regretfully.
¡°Where would you find a Foundation Establishment Pill from ancient times?¡± chuckled a schrly-looking individual beside them. ¡°Present-day achievements may well surpass those of antiquity. The Foundation Establishment Pill, perfected over nearly a millennium, is the premier creation of Master Shu Tong, the foremost alchemist. It harmonizes all three Foundation Establishment stages, enabling breakthroughs swiftly¡and increases your chances of sess by a remarkable thirty percent!¡±
Chapter 6: The Pursuit of Foundation Establishment
¡°A Foundation Establishment Pill!¡±
Fang Xi¡¯s face also reflected longing, but as he watched the crowd growing increasingly frenzied, rushing to purchase paper talismans and magical artifacts before leaving the market, his heart turned icy.
Entering an arcane realm for opportunities was not just about facing its inherent dangers; one must also contend with fellow cultivators and potential raiders.
The allure of Foundation Establishment could test even bonds of family, friendship, or master-disciple rtionships, often proving them fragile under such pressure!
Thus, Fang Xi avoided the bustling crowd and slowly made his way back to his spirit field, simultaneously pondering the matter of the Foundation Establishment Pill!
Achieving Foundation Establishment is arduous. Mastering foundational cultivation techniques to perfection by age sixty is merely the basic requirement.
Beyond that lie three major hurdles:
First, the Blood and Qi Barrier! During Foundation Establishment, a cultivator¡¯s physique must be robust, their blood and qi vigorous, without anytent injuries. It is widely believed in the cultivation world that after reaching sixty years old, even if a cultivator achieves mastery at the peak of Qi Refinement, they struggle with Foundation Establishment due to declining blood and qi vitality.
Secondly, there¡¯s the Magical Energy Barrier, requiring ample reserves of magical energy. Insufficient power makes it challenging to meet the demand of condensing magical energy into liquid form. Lastly, the birth of Divine Sense is essential!
Qi Refinement cultivators possess only spiritual awareness, which can be used for introspection and reading jade slips, butcks external application capabilities.
In contrast, Foundation Establishment cultivators develop divine sense, enabling them to perceive surroundings over several dozen meters, greatly enhancing bothbat tactics and cultivation practices.
Any medicinal pills or items aiding these three stages could be considered Foundation Establishment spirit items!
¡°In ancient times, cultivators seeking Foundation Establishment would individually search for suitable spirit items to ovee each barrier. For instance, using elemental fiendish energies to temper their physical bodies, along with blood and qi-enhancing pills, could help breach the first checkpoint¡ Simrly, for the magical energy stage, specific techniques were employed. As for divine sense, it¡¯s rumored that rare treasures like Pure Heart Lotus and Warm Jade Hearts were highly effective¡¡±
¡°However, such heavenly spirit items are exceedingly scarce, and many of them are even valuable for Core Formation cultivators, making it wasteful to use them solely for Foundation Establishment¡¡±
¡°Fortunately, a millennium ago, the renowned Pill Dao grandmaster True Monarch Shuntong developed the ¡®Foundation Establishment Pill¡¯ form. This pill stabilizes blood, qi, and qi passageways while dramatically increasing magical energy and fostering divine sense. With just one pill, the chances of sessful Foundation Establishment increase by thirty percent, and even if the attempt fails, it prevents fatal damage to the cultivator¡¯s meridians¡¡±
¡°It¡¯s crucial to note that even for ancient cultivators, achieving Foundation Establishment was akin to facing nine deaths for one chance at survival. Without those extraordinary spirit items, ordinary ones typically only offered a modest twenty to thirty percent boost in sess probability¡¡±
¡°True Monarch Shuntong has truly bestowed immense benefits upon the cultivation world for millennia, serving as a prime example of surpassing the ancients¡ Although calling someone from a thousand years ago ¡®modern¡¯ does sound somewhat odd¡¡±
Fang Xi¡¯s lips twitched slightly, but then he recalled that Yuan Soul True Monarchs were said to live over a thousand years, making it reasonable.
Considering they might still be alive, how could they not be considered modern?
Amidst the bamboo grove,
emerald-like leaves fluttered down, carefully collected by Fang Xi.
The leaves of Jade Bamboo had no significant use; they were merely attractive, resembling jade closely. Typically, spirit farmers would discard them outright.
However, Fang Xi could bring these to the Great Liang World, where they¡¯d be more valuable than gold leaf.
After all, even exchanging for mundane silver or gold at the market required spirit crystals!
He continued inspecting his spirit fields and approached a vibrant green jade bamboo stalk, striking it with a single palm.
Snap!
A branch fell promptly, and as he peeled back the bamboo skin with both hands, crisp grains of spirit rice emerged inside!
This Jade Bamboo Rice grew within the bamboo tubes, harvested after winter dormancy and gathered in spring, currently still quite tender.
Fang Xi picked up a few grains of spirit rice, ced them in his mouth, and began chewing like an experienced old farmer, asionally nodding. ¡°Sweet upon tasting, abundant spiritual energy, free from insect damage. Come next spring, it should easily merit a ¡®good¡¯ rating.¡±
This was the foundation of his livelihood, not something to be taken lightly.
Afterpleting his inspection of the spirit fields, Fang Xi suddenly felt inspired. Taking a deep breath, he unleashed a series of rapid palm strikes.
Bang! Bang!
In the next instant, crisp sounds echoed through the air.
Amidst the snowyndscape, only palm shadows danced rapidly.
Suddenly, Fang Xi shifted from palms to kicks, his movements ghostly swift. Like a serpent slithering over pristine snow, he gracefully maneuvered towards a pine tree.
Crack!
His right foot arced high, then descended with boneless fluidity, akin to a striking snake.
The bark of the pine tree cracked, sending splinters flying as a deep whip-like mark appeared on its surface.
¡°So this is¡the power of blood and qi?¡±
After a prolonged moment, Fang Xi stopped, exhaling arge puff of white breath.
Driven by impulse amidst the falling snow, he had practiced martial arts and unexpectedly gained insight into controlling his body¡¯s blood and qi flow.
This marked his entry into Great Liang¡¯s Qi and Blood martial arts!
With persistence, he could fully master it and reach the first transformation stage of blood and qi control!
¡°I¡¯m not inherently gifted in martial arts, yet I effortlessly harnessed my blood and qi just now¡¡± Fang Xi murmured, his eyes slightly gleaming. ¡°It seems¡in a world with abundant spiritual energy, progress in martial training elerates!¡±
He gazed at his clenched fist, momentarily lost in thought, recalling the sensation of controlling his blood and qi moments ago.
¡°ording to Master Mu¡ beyond the Three Transformations of Blood and Qi, there exist even stronger realms,parable to those achieved by dojo masters¡ At the level of a dojo master, one can fully condense their blood and qi, remaining immovable as a mountain. In daily life, they appear ordinary, but with a single movement, they unleash power akin to demons or gods. With such control, despite reaching old age, their blood and qi do not diminish in the slightest, only dispersing upon death¡¡±
¡®Doesn¡¯t this mean¡¡¯
Fang Xi¡¯s eyes gradually lit up. ¡°If I attain the dojo master¡¯s realm, my blood and qi will be locked, unaffected until my demise¡ Thus, I wouldn¡¯t need to fear the hurdle of achieving full Qi Refinement before sixty?¡±
¡°In other words, even if I attempt Foundation Establishment at seventy, eighty, or even ny years old, insufficient blood and qi won¡¯t hinder me. At least, that aspect would no longer pose a problem.¡±
¡°This mastery of Qi and Blood martial arts is practically equivalent to having a third of a Foundation Establishment Pill!¡±
¡°As expected, harnessing resources from two worlds, exchanging what¡¯scking, andplementing strengths and weaknesses, just by ying it safe and quietly developing, I can surely grow stronger!¡±
A subtle smile tugged at Fang Xi¡¯s lips.
Since his transmigration, he had never felt such unwavering confidence about his future!
In the Shack Area, Fang Xi was taken aback by the chaotic scene unfolding around him.
Even Old Man Mai solemnly produced a slightly damaged low-grade magical artifact - a flying sword - and stepped out of his home.
¡°Old Man Mai, where are you heading?¡± Fang Xi couldn¡¯t resist asking.
¡°To Violet Serenity Mountain, of course!¡± Old Man Mai grinned, revealing gaps between his yellowed teeth, with a hint of ferocity in his smile. ¡°At my age, one must take chances in cultivation¡ You know, when I was young, I had an opportunity but hesitated. Now, every night, regret gnaws at me like a hundred ws tearing at my heart¡¡±
Hearing this, Fang Xi realized there was no point in trying to dissuade him; the old man had already made up his mind firmly.
Despite his reservations, Fang Xi added, ¡°Well then, may you seed in reaching Foundation Establishment¡¡±
Considering Old Man Mai¡¯s visibly weak constitution, Fang Xi genuinely doubted his chances.
¡°Haha¡ I¡¯ve long since given up on reaching Foundation Establishment myself, but in the mortal realm, I have a clever little grandson, unlike me¡¡±
With a wave of his hand, Old Man Mai departed casually.
As he left, it seemed he wanted to create a favorable connection for his grandson¡¯s future.
¡°Old Man Mai¡¡± Fang Xi exhaled a white breath, watching as snowkes covered the departing footprints.
He didn¡¯t know what opportunity Old Man Mai had missed in his youth, but clearly, regret had haunted him all these years.
Now, if he didn¡¯t seize this chance, life would truly be unbearable for him.
¡®If I hadn¡¯t obtained my golden finger, would I still go?¡¯ Fang Xi stood at the doorway, like a statue, silently questioning himself.
Living an ordinary life at the bottom of the cultivation world versus striving for a slim chance at Foundation Establishment and subsequently rising above in that same world - the choice didn¡¯t seem difficult.
¡®No matter what, I¡¯ll spend the next few days practicing behind closed doors.¡¯
Sighing, he returned home and shut the door behind him.
Three dayster.
In the Great Liang World.
Fang Manor.
¡°Ha!¡±
Fang Xi, dressed in close-fitting training attire with his muscr arms bare, flexed as veins bulged like wriggling worms beneath his skin.
¡°Baiyun Palm!¡±
With a sudden shout, he unleashed a rapid sequence of palm strikes on the wooden post before him.
Thud! Thud!
After a series of dull impacts, faint marks appeared on the post.
Mu Piaomiao stood nearby, watching with astonishment in her beautiful eyes. ¡°Your progress¡ is remarkably fast!¡±
¡°Master Mu, how does my palm technique look?¡± Afterpleting his set, Yue Gui promptly approached to wipe Fang Xi¡¯s sweat; he tossed the handkerchief aside casually while asking.
Mu Piaomiao took a deep breath. ¡°Fang-gongzi, your innate talent far exceeds my expectations. You must already be intermittently sensing your blood and qi, right? Within about a month, mastering your blood and qi should pose no issue at all, allowing you to enter the first transformation stage.¡±
¡°That¡¯s excellent news.¡± Fang Xi smiled.
He had confirmed that cultivating Qi and Blood martial arts in the southern wilderness¡¯s cultivation world showed significantly greater progress, with a speed at least three to four times faster than here!
¡°It might be due to the difference in spiritual energy concentration between the two realms,¡± Fang Xi spected internally.
In Fang Xi¡¯s mind, a vague n was already taking shape.
¡°Once you achieve the first transformation of blood and qi, Fang-gongzi, you¡¯ll be a formal disciple of the Baiyun Dojo. This will grant you ess to cultivation techniques for second and third transformations, along with support through secret medicinal remedies,¡± Mu Piaomiao stated solemnly.
¡°Many thanks, Master Mu.¡± Fang Xi nodded and instructed Yue Gui to present a gift.
¡°This is¡ far too valuable, isn¡¯t it?¡± Mu Piaomiao looked at the jade piece shaped like a bamboo leaf, his eyes twitching slightly.
Such exquisite jade could easily be worth several tens of silver taels, more than what most middle-ss families in ckstone City would spend in a year!
Even Mu Piaomiao couldn¡¯t help but think this disciple was thoughtful, realizing that he genuinely seemed willing to pay generously when needed.
¡°I hope Master finds it eptable.¡±
Fang Xi smiled brightly. After all, it was just a casually picked leaf, perfect for boosting goodwill.
Later in the afternoon, when She Lei arrived, Fang Xi repeated the gesture simrly. However, as She Lei took hold of the vibrant green bamboo leaf, Fang Xi detected a hint of greed and malice in his eyes.
As a cultivator, Fang Xi¡¯s senses were sharper than those of ordinary people. The martial artist, believing he had hidden his true nature well, found himself exposed effortlessly before Fang Xi.
Chapter 7: Greed
¡°Many thanks for your generous gift, Gongzi!¡±
Holding the emerald-green bamboo leaf, She Lei beamed with delight. ¡°Congrattions on your remarkable martial progress, Gongzi! With such advancement, achieving true force and reaching the dojo master level should pose no significant challenge in the future!¡±
¡°Oh? After three transformations of blood and qies true force, is that the realm of a dojo master?¡±
Fang Xi raised his eyebrows.
Honestly, even a martial artist at the third transformation of blood and qi would seem quite ordinary to a cultivator. The southern wilderness¡¯ cultivation world also had its own martial arts sphere, where practitioners could attain simr achievements and destructive capabilities, albeit through different paths.
However, the realm of a dojo master was distinctively different.
Of course, She Lei¡¯s praise was merely ttery, but Fang Xi understood this distinction well.
¡°That¡¯s absolutely correct!¡± She Lei nodded repeatedly, though inwardly he scoffed - this noble scion clearlycked understanding of the field.
Each transformation of blood and qi became progressively more challenging! While reaching the first transformation required sufficient resources and dedication, essentially anyone could achieve it given enough time. Achieving the second transformation demanded notable aptitude.
And attaining the third transformation posed an even greater, almost absurd, difficulty.
In all of ckstone City, among the various dojos, only a handful of young disciples managed to reach this stage.
As for reaching the dojo master realm, it was even more elusive. Without extraordinary opportunities, one could scarcely hope to attain such mastery.
Even She Lei himself, due to injuries sustained in his middle age, had permanently lost any chance at bing a dojo master. Now, he merely served as an instructor at the Red Snake Dojo.
¡°Of course, but to truly cultivate true force, you must formally join a dojo as a core disciple. Only then can you ess their Divine Intent Diagrams,prehending how to harmonize your blood and qi into true force¡¡± She Lei stroked his beard thoughtfully.
This was his bait; if Fang Xi wished to enter a dojo as a core disciple, wouldn¡¯t he have no choice but to continue relying on She Lei¡¯s guidance?
¡°Divine Intent Diagrams?¡± Fang Xi sensed that he was touching upon some central aspects of this world¡¯s vital energy martial arts, his eyes brightening. ¡°Are they for sale?¡±
She Lei felt slightly off-bnce, struggling to follow Fang Xi¡¯s train of thought. ¡°The Divine Intent Diagrams of each lineage are their most closely guarded secrets¡ They are not for sale.¡±
¡°One thousand taels of silver!¡± Fang Xi made an offer.
She Lei¡¯s breathing instantly quickened.
Master, it¡¯s not that I¡¯m disloyal, but this person is offering far too much¡
¡°If one thousand isn¡¯t enough, make it two thousand!¡±
Noticing She Lei¡¯s wavering resolve, Fang Xi added with a grin, ¡°This¡ let me think about it¡¡±
As he watched She Lei stumble away, a yful smile appeared on Fang Xi¡¯s face.
The so-called Divine Intent Diagrams were undoubtedly the core secrets of each dojo.
In reality, Fang Xi wasn¡¯t in a rush; by following his nned progression to the third transformation of blood and qi, opportunities to ess these diagrams would naturally arise.
Mentioning them now was deliberately intended to stir up She Lei¡¯s existing greed!
Our Fang Manor stands in ckstone City, often targeted due to our wealth despite appearing naive. We must asionally showcase our capabilities to truly establish ourselves firmly.
Fang Xi gently patted his chest pocket.
The presence of numerous talismans like ¡®Little Thunder¡¯, ¡®Golden Light Barrier¡¯, and ¡®Frost¡¯ provided him considerable confidence.
¡®Blood and qi warriors need to get close to threaten cultivators, and those within the first three transformations aren¡¯t particrly formidable¡ only the dojo masters might instill some caution.¡¯
¡®I wonder how the strength of these dojo masterspares to true body refinement cultivators?¡¯
Of course, while such thoughts crossed his mind, Fang Xi had no intention of personally testing their abilities. It simply seemed too risky.
Nightfall.
Fang Xi lounged on a bamboo chair in the courtyard, with ice cream within reach.
Yuegui watched curiously, wondering why her young master preferred to enjoy the natural breeze outside instead of the cool air conditioning indoors. The summer heat could be quite oppressive.
Perhaps¡ I should make some lotus seed soup tomorrow? It¡¯s cooling and helps dispel internal fire.
As Yuegui pondered this, Fang Xi sighed, ¡°So it begins¡¡±
In the rear garden of Fang Manor.
A figure d in ck scaled over the wall, his small eyes gleaming sharply. Hidden in his arms were substantial amounts of knockout powders and intoxicating incense.
¡®Damn, this Fang Manor has no real backing yet is so wealthy, casually throwing around thousands of silver taels. They owe me even more respect, you bastards!¡¯
She Lei, familiar with the manoryout, swiftly made his way to the storage room.
Just as he was about to light the intoxicating incense under the cover of night,
Crackling!
Torches suddenly illuminated the surroundings.
¡°What?¡± She Lei looked around in surprise, spotting over a dozen burly guards armed with clubs.
Among them stood Mu Piaomiao, ring at him furiously, ¡°She Lei¡how dare you!¡±
Stealing from one¡¯s employer would tarnish the reputation of all dojos in ckstone City!
¡°Heh heh¡ This old man is known as Hun Tianyao and knows no She Lei!¡± rasped She Lei¡¯s voice as he turned to flee.
This situation was akin to being caught in adultery; as long as his veil remained intact, he absolutely could not admit guilt! Even if apprehended, just like pulling up one¡¯s pants, denial must persist!
With astonishing leg prowess, he swiftly elerated. In an instant, he approached two guards wielding clubs. With a casual push, they felt an immense force surge against them, sending them stumbling off-bnce.
¡°Stop right there!¡± a sharp feminine cry sounded behind him.
It was Mu Piaomiao!
Her palm thrust forward, emitting a gray aura apanied by a foul odor¡ªthe unmistakable full-force strike of Baiyun Palm.
¡°Hmph¡ Mu Piaomiao isn¡¯t my match, but I can¡¯t reveal the Red Snake Leg.¡±
She Lei¡¯s body flickered, instantly creating distance between them.
Behind him, Mu Piaomiao relentlessly pursued, while Fang Manor¡¯s guards, though average, managed to stall for time.
Ultimately, Mu Piaomiao caught up with She Lei.
¡°Don¡¯t force me!¡± She Lei roared angrily, his leg muscles bulging as heshed out like a snake whip!
Bang!
In mid-air, shadows of legs and palms shed. Mu Piaomiao stumbled back a few steps, letting out a cold snort, clearly at a slight disadvantage.
Legs inherently possess greater strength than arms, and She Lei¡¯sbat experience and overall prowess surpassed Mu Piaomiao significantly.
However, as She Lei watched the torn cloth fluttering in mid-air and felt the three gray finger marks on his leg, his expression turned grim. ¡°So it was indeed a poison palm technique¡ Unfortunately, you won¡¯t be able to detain me.¡±
Despite revealing his Red Snake Leg, he knew that if he managed to escape, he could simply deny any involvement the next day! After all, there were numerous apprentices at ckstone City¡¯s Red Snake Dojo who could potentially take the me!
With her injury from his kick, Mu Piaomiao could no longer hinder him effectively.
Just as She Lei prepared to flee, Fang Xi leisurely stepped forward, shaking his head and admonishing, ¡°Old She, how utterly disrespectful! Tomorrow, I will surely report this to the authorities and have you arrested!¡±
¡°I may not be She Lei, but I must teach you a lesson nheless!¡±
Although poisoned by the finger strike, She Lei remained agile and swift. In the blink of an eye, he broke throughyers of guards and approached Fang Xi.
Fang Xi responded with a calm smile, ¡°Master She, please stay your hand.¡±
A tall figure emerged from behind Fang Xi.
¡°This person¡ seems so familiar!¡± shed through She Lei¡¯s mind.
In the next moment, he saw the neer casually raise their hand, flicking it like swatting a fly.
Crack!
With his leg bone snapping, She Lei screamed as he was sent flying backward, crashing into a wall before crumpling to the ground.
¡°It¡¯s you¡ Baiyun Dojo Master, Mu Canglong!¡± She Lei roared angrily.
¡°Indeed, it is this old man. You injured my daughter and even dared to harm our young master - truly unforgivable!¡± Mu Canglong, around fifty years old, stood imposingly with a robust build and a ruddyplexion, exuding an aura of authority without raising his voice.
¡°How did you end up here?¡± She Lei eximed, taken aback.
¡°Fang Xi spent five hundred taels of silver to invite me,¡± Mu Canglong replied.
Fang Xi chimed in, ¡°Naturally, I hired him for the asion.¡±
He wanted to witness the dojo master¡¯s prowess firsthand, but that didn¡¯t mean he had to engage personally. Instead, he could simply pay someone to demonstrate their skills.
As proven, money indeed makes the world go round; just a few hundred taels secured Baiyun Dojo Master¡¯s intervention.
Reflecting on Mu Canglong¡¯s recent disy, Fang Xi silently calcted:
¡®A martial artist at Blood and Qi Three Transformations is like a childpared to a dojo master - there¡¯s a fundamental difference¡¡¯
¡®Speed, strength, and physical resilience were all far superior to She Lei¡¯s¡¡¯
¡®In terms of power, they must beparable to cultivators in the first stage of Body Refinement, right?¡¯
This was indeed impressive.
Body refinement not only required cultivation techniques but also substantial resources, typically measured in spirit stones. Achieving proficiency demanded an investment of at least dozens of spirit stones.
However, Fang Xi could purchase these resources with silver in Great Liang!
This affordability was what he valued most.
¡°Fang-gongzi, how should we proceed with this individual?¡± Mu Canglong looked towards Fang Xi, ¡°She Lei has been struck by my poison palm; his blood and qi cirction will be severely hindered, preventing him from escaping¡¡±
¡°Ah¡¡± Fang Xi sighed, ¡°I don¡¯t wish to antagonize the Red Snake Dojo. Let¡¯s suppress this matter for now, avoid involving the authorities, and invite the Red Snake Dojo Master here for a discussion.¡±
At present, the Great Liang court still held considerable influence.
For actions like She Lei¡¯s, the minimum consequence would likely involve severe punishment, possibly leading to exile or military conscription.
Upon hearing Fang Xi¡¯s words, Mu Canglong couldn¡¯t help but nod in agreement.
Then, he heard Fang Xi whisper again, ¡°Dojo Master Mu, tomorrow, I¡¯ll need your testimony.¡±
¡°Of course,¡± Mu Canglong nodded solemnly. ¡°Even if it¡¯s just for our dojo¡¯s reputation, I won¡¯t let him off easily.¡±
The Red Snake Dojo Master, named Lu She, preferred wearing red robes despite his short stature and unremarkable appearance. However, just observing him made others feel intensely uneasy, as if being watched by a venomous snake.
The next day, Fang Xi gazed at the Red Snake Dojo Master and cleared his throat. ¡°Dojo Master Lu, ah¡ I truly didn¡¯t wish for this incident to happen¡¡±
¡°If you didn¡¯t want it, why not release She Lei and pretend nothing urred?¡± Lu She¡¯s voice rasped harshly. ¡°Instead of these empty words, why don¡¯t you state your conditions!¡±
¡°Well¡¡± Fang Xi looked towards Mu Canglong.
Mu Canglong coughed. ¡°Lu She, your dojo was wrong from the start, and we¡¯re doing this for your reputation too¡¡±
In reality, he had already taken money from Fang Xi, and they had prepared their arguments beforehand. ¡°Your Red Snake Dojo must refund all tuition fees collected - that¡¯s the rule. Additionally,pensation is due to Fang-gongzi!¡±
¡°Fine, fine, fine!¡± Lu She red at Mu Canglong before suddenly smiling. ¡°So it seems Baiyun Dojo wants to assert its influence.¡±
Secretly, he suspected Baiyun Dojo¡¯s involvement behind the scenes, setting a trap to snatch Fang Xi, a wealthy client!
¡°You can think what you like, but actions have consequences,¡± Mu Canglong frowned. ¡°Fang-gongzi cannot continue training at the Red Snake Dojo, but since he has learned the Red Snake Leg technique, let our Divine Intent Diagrams be avable for his inspection for one day aspensation¡¡±
Chapter 8: Qinghe Sword
¡°Divine Illustration Diagram?!¡± Lu She eximed angrily. ¡°How audacious! You dare to covet the secret teachings of my Red Snake Dojo?¡±
His leg muscles bulged, and his skin took on an abnormal deep red hue, as if ready to strike at any moment.
¡°It¡¯s just a Divine Illustration Diagram. Numerous inner disciples in your dojo have already seen it,¡± Mu Canglong countered slowly. ¡°So what if a few achieved three transformations in their blood qi? How many actually seeded in mastering the technique?¡±
Mu Canglong shook his head.
For dojos, martial arts could be sold as long as one paid enough. In his view, Lu She was merely trying to artificially inte its value.
¡°Master Lu.¡±
At that moment, Fang Xi spoke up, ¡°I only need half a day with the Divine Illustration Diagram. To show sincerity, I am willing to offer a thousand taels of fine silver!¡±
Lu She hesitated momentarily.
In that instant, the Red Snake Master seemed to finally understand why even She Lei had turned desperate, attempting to exploit his own dojo apprentices. This Fang-gongzi truly lived up to the rumors - he was indeed a massive, juicy target for exploitation! Finally, Lu She spoke, his voice strained, ¡°Deal!¡±
It wasn¡¯t that he wanted to prolong negotiations; rather, the offered sum was simply too enticing.
¡°Red Snake Leg Divine Illustration Diagram!¡±
In a quiet room, Fang Xi examined a piece of animal hide with a furrowed brow.
Upon the hide, there were chaotic patterns resembling sshed inkndscapes. With just a few strokes, they depicted a strangely vivid scene of mountains and forests. Within thisndscape, on the grassy terrain, twisted lines evoked snake-like movements, sending chills down one¡¯s spine.
¡°As rumored, only by mastering the Eight Techniques of the Snake to the third transformation of blood qi can one trulyprehend this Divine Illustration Diagram. It indeed holds some profound secrets.¡±
Fang Xi nodded slightly, deep in thought.
The Divine Illustration Diagram was highly peculiar; ordinary copying would never capture its essence.
Only genuine core disciples of the Red Snake Dojo, practicing day and night, could hope to grasp its true power!
¡°However, that applies merely to conventional artists.¡±
In the next moment, Fang Xi flipped his hand, revealing a nk jade slip.
He ced the jade slip against his forehead, extended his spiritual sense, and meticulously imprinted the Red Snake Divine Illustration onto it, stroke by stroke.
This was a method used by cultivators to record secret manuals! Whether ancient texts or diagrams¡this technique ensured a near-perfect replication, preserving even the subtlest nuances with remarkable fidelity!
¡®Since this Red Snake Divine Illustration was originally created by someone, it implies that it can be replicated. Mundane individuals cannot imitate it due to insufficient power and cultivation realm¡ Using my spiritual sense as a cultivator is indeed a clever workaround¡¡¯
Momentster, Fang Xi gazed at the Divine Illustration within his jade slip, feeling deeply impressed.
In this Great Liang world, likely only martial artists with exceptionally high mastery of the Red Snake Leg technique could attempt to recreate such a Divine Illustration.
Yet he aplished it effortlessly.
¡®Lu She probably agreed thinking I wouldn¡¯t be able to memorize or replicate it quickly?¡¯
¡®Now, he¡¯s in for quite a surprise.¡¯
With these thoughts, Fang Xi couldn¡¯t help but feel highly satisfied. He went out to return the Divine Illustration, allowing Lu She to inspect it thoroughly and even offered a token of gratitude.
Lu She examined the Divine Illustration from all angles, confirming it was indeed his original, then sped his fists and said, ¡°May our paths cross again amidst distant mountains and long roads!¡±
¡°Until we meet again!¡±
Fang Xi knew well that this encounter would surely leave a mark on their rtionship, but he remained undeterred. With the true teachings of the Red Snake Leg now in his possession, there would be no future need to rely on Lu She.
It must be noted that since arriving in Great Liang, Fang Xi had indeed be far less cautious.
In the blink of an eye, half a month had passed.
Within the southern wilderness¡¯s cultivation world:
Fang Xi observed the melting snow outside his window, reaching out from beneath the eaves to catch a drop of meltwater. ¡°As winter fades and spring arrives, brewing tea with fresh snow water is truly one of life¡¯s great pleasures.¡±
It had been two weeks since the incident at Zi You Mountain. Fang Xi officially abandoned the Red Snake Dojo and joined Baiyun Dojo, undergoing daily training under Mu Piaomiao. Consequently, he began making progress with the Baiyun Palm technique.
Meanwhile, in the southern wilderness, the fervor surrounding Violet Serenity Mountain showed no signs of abating, causing prices for various paper talismans and magical artifacts to skyrocket.
Interestingly, the paper talisman Fang Xi purchased earlier turned out to be quite profitable due to the subsequent price surge.
¡°No, until it¡¯s sold, it doesn¡¯t count as actual gain, but I won¡¯t sell it either¡¡±
With a sigh, Fang Xi headed towards the market.
To his surprise, the crowd was significantlyrger than half a month ago, swarming with cultivators who filled every stall.
However, contrary to expectations, the prices for immediatebat-enhancing items like talismans and magical artifacts were plummeting rapidly.
Instead, numerous stalls now featured materials supposedly sourced from the Zi You Mountain secret realm, which made Fang Xi¡¯s lips twitch upon seeing them.
Those so-called fragments of mystical treasures from the secret realm¡ weren¡¯t they just simr to what Old Man Huang had previously sold in the market,beled as items specifically meant to rip off novices?
Moreover, there was an abundance of counterfeit goods mixed among them, as if overnight every vendor imed to be a winner from the arcane realm.
It was clear that nearly all these items were fakes! Even if some were genuine, Fang Xi couldn¡¯t afford them.
Undeterred, he maintained a positive mindset, simply observing and asionally mingling with the crowd to gather information.
¡°Infuriating!¡±
¡°The Zi You Mountain secret realm is a divine opportunity bestowed by heaven. How dare the Situ n and Red Leaf Valley prevent us independent cultivators from entering?¡±
Many outraged cultivators echoed this sentiment, and Fang Xi understood their frustration.
Apparently, the Situ n had taken action, not only themselves but also in alliance with a nearby Foundation Establishment-level faction, Red Leaf Valley. They jointly sealed off Violet Serenity Mountain, leaving the independent cultivators with no chance to partake.
Rumors even suggested that they deployed great Foundation Establishment cultivators, leaving Qi Refinement practitioners powerless against such might.
¡°Wondering when Old Man Mai will return¡ The spring harvest is almost here¡¡±
Fang Xi sighed while browsing through the stalls.
This presented an opportunity for him to fulfill his long-held wish¡ªacquiring a low-grade magical artifact at a bargain price!
He inspected each stall one by one. Many artifacts showed signs of damage, some stained with blood, indicating either dubious origins or having endured fierce battles.
However¡ the prices were still too high for him.
Unfazed, Fang Xi continued casually scanning the offerings.
Suddenly, Fang Xi stopped before a particr stall, captivated by a flying sword-like magical artifact disyed there.
This artifact was merely low-tier, first-rank quality, resembling a de of green barley and measuring thirteen inches long. Its surface bore several deep gashes, indicating severe damage.
Most crucially, Fang Xi recognized this flying sword¡ªit belonged to Old Man Mai!
Seeing it here left no doubt about Old Man Mai¡¯s fate.
With a heavy heart, Fang Xi nced at the stall owner, a burly man d in ck attire with his face veiled, exuding a menacing aura.
¡®Perhaps Old Man Mai met his end at this fellow¡¯s hands.¡¯
As Fang Xi pondered, the ck-clothed man seemed to sense something and turned towards him, ¡°Youngd¡are you interested in any of my wares?¡±
His voice was deep, carrying an undertone of danger.
¡°Yes, I¡¯m curious about the pricing for this low-grade flying sword,¡± Fang Xi cautiously inquired, testing the waters.
¡°Typically, low-grade artifacts range from five to ten spirit stones. For this flying sword, I¡¯ll give you a discount¡ªfour spirit stones,¡± replied the burly man.
¡°Don¡¯t tease me, fellow cultivator.¡± A hint of urgency surfaced on Fang Xi¡¯s face as he countered, ¡°This artifact is nearly damaged beyond repair, and considering the current decline in artifact prices, four spirit stones is indeed too high¡¡±
¡°Then how much are you willing to offer?¡± The burly man¡¯s tone shifted abruptly, realizing his initial price was merely a random attempt to fleece an unsuspecting buyer. Upon hearing Fang Xi¡¯s response, he quickly adjusted his stance.
At four spirit stones, this magical artifact would likely never sell, even if it remained unsold until its eventual demise.
¡°One spirit stone!¡± After a moment of thought, Fang Xi held up a single finger.
¡°You¡¯re mocking me?¡± The ck-clothed man bristled with displeasure. ¡°The minimum is three spirit stones!¡±
¡°Look at this artifact; the formation patterns are already cracked. Its magic flow might be unreliable, and there¡¯s a notch on the de too - it could easily snap duringbat¡¡± Emboldened by being in the market, Fang Xi dared to haggle aggressively.
After some negotiation, they finally agreed on two spirit stones plus three spirit crystals.
Fang Xi¡¯s face showed clear difort as he painstakingly gathered various small spirit crystals from all over his person, just managing to meet the price for the Qinghe Sword.
In truth, purchasing this flying sword depleted all his savings. For the next few days, he couldn¡¯t afford even spirit rice and had to settle for ordinary rice instead.
However, Fang Xi felt it was entirely worth it. If not for the chaotic market conditions causing magical artifact prices to plummet, acquiring a low-grade magical artifact would have been far more challenging.
Back at his dwelling in the shanty town, Fang Xi closed the door and retrieved the Qinghe Sword.
Staring at the flying sword, his expression shifted between contemtion and excitement. The cold gleam from its de illuminated Fang Xi¡¯s face, evoking a unique sense of anticipation.
After a long moment, Fang Xi set down the sword, murmuring, ¡°I never imagined¡my first magical artifact woulde from Old Man Mai.¡±
Recalling how Old Man Mai had drawn his flying sword for a desperatest stand, Fang Xi couldn¡¯t help but feel both admiration and caution. He vowed to himself, Absolutely must not follow Old Man Mai¡¯s path!
With his golden finger advantage, he resolved always to leave room for safety in future endeavors. Under no circumstances should he risk his life for mere trivial gains!
¡°Fortunately, the alliance between the Situ n and Red Leaf Valley managed to quell the unrest.¡±
Fang Xi stored away the Qinghe Sword, nning to head to the Great Liang World the next day to learn proper techniques for controlling magical artifacts.
At the same time, he felt somewhat relieved.
The chaotic environment and agitated atmosphere earlier were truly unsettling for Fang Xi.
If the disturbances had continued, he was prepared to temporarily leave the market to avoid any potential dangers.
¡°Even now, it¡¯s still not entirely safe.¡±
Scanning his surroundings, Fang Xi made a decision!
He would dig a pit, create an underground shelter, ideally with an escape route included!
This would be a major undertaking, but he could work on it gradually.
Furthermore, in the future, he could choose the shelter as a location for inter-world travel!
It would also serve as an additionalyer of concealment.
Chapter 9: Breaking Through Blood Qi
In Great Liang.
Outside ckstone City.
Within a secluded, uninhabited woond, a streak of azure light danced ording to Fang Xi¡¯s will, performing intricate maneuvers with ease.
Swish! Swish!
Over a wide area spanning dozens of meters,pelling sword qi filled the air. A de¡¯s shadow, resembling a jade leaf, could be faintly seen weaving through the trees. As it swept past, branches parted like soft tofu, revealing smooth cross-sections.
Thud!
The sword effortlessly pierced into a nearby rock, embedding itself three inches deep, showcasing its unparalleled sharpness.
Momentster, the Qinghe Sword hovered before Fang Xi, akin to a swimming azure fish gliding through the air.
With a gesture, he grasped the Qinghe Sword¡¯s hilt and murmured, ¡°As expected, there were some obscure points during magic power cirction. It wasn¡¯t an issue with the Control Art but rather deficiencies in the magical artifact¡¯s formation markings!¡± Every cultivator typically mastered the ¡®Control Art¡¯, which served as a technique for wielding magical artifacts.
For high-end flying swords, there might even be specialized sword arts tailored to them.
However, such options were clearly beyond Fang Xi¡¯s reach.
Even mastering just the Control Art required him significant effort and dedication.
Indeed, without any magical artifacts prior, practicing this art would have been futile.
Now, holding the Qinghe Sword, Fang Xi felt genuinely invincible within ckstone City.
¡°The sensation of controlling this sword is reminiscent of piloting model nes from my previous life; even spending all those spirit stones was worth it.¡±
After convincing himself it was worth the expense, Fang Xi set aside the Qinghe Sword and began practicing his boxing techniques.
¡°White Cloud Palm!¡±
During his recent training in the southern wilderness, he felt increasingly adept at controlling his internal blood and qi. Tonight, he stood on the brink of breakthrough!
Thud! Thud!
Fang Xi¡¯s palms moved swiftly, striking forcefully against an ancient cypress tree before him.
Crack!
Bark splintered, revealing a clear imprint of his palm.
Standing with hands lowered, Fang Xi sensed the gradual movement of his blood and qi, now firmly under his control.
¡°Huff, huff!¡±
He panted heavily as beads of sweat evaporated from his skin surface.
¡°Finally, I¡¯ve achieved the first transformation of blood and qi!¡± Fang Xi¡¯s eyes gleamed.
He could feel his blood cirction slightly elerating, while within his limbs and bones, an indescribable surge of strength flowed.
This wasn¡¯t just blood; it was more profound - the power of vital energy!
Under this enhancement of vital energy, his skin, bones, and muscles all experienced a significant boost!
¡°The entire body is strengthened, but most crucially, my hands!¡±
Fang Xi gazed at his palms, confirming that ordinary weapons would require considerable force to cut through his skin.
¡°As expected, the enhancements from Qi and Blood martial arts truly differ from those in the cultivation world.¡±
He was immensely satisfied; if the first transformation yielded such results, the second and third transformations would undoubtedly be even more impressive.
With these advancements, a dojo master¡¯s realm could truly soar, rivaling a Qi Refinement stage body refinement cultivator. Additionally, it would save vast resources typically needed for physical tempering!
The next day.
Fang Xi followed Mu Piaomiao as they entered Baiyun Dojo.
Located in the western part of ckstone City, within a residential area, Baiyun Dojo stood quietly amidst its surroundings.
Although called a dojo, it was essentially arge courtyardplex. The front yard amodated apprentices paying to learn martial arts, while the rear served as living quarters for Mu Canglong¡¯s family.
¡°Eldest Senior Sister!¡±
¡°Eldest Senior Sister!¡±
It was clear that Mu Piaomiao enjoyed considerable poprity here, with numerous disciples greeting her along the way.
Smiling, Fang Xi apanied Mu Piaomiao into the rear courtyard.
¡°This time, my father has decided to ept you as his formal disciple due to your exceptional talent!¡± Mu Piaomiao turned, her eyes seemingly filled with admiration. ¡°I must admit, I underestimated you earlier. Breaking through to the first transformation of blood and qi in less than a month¡ You undoubtedly possess remarkable aptitude for the martial path.¡±
As she spoke, a hint of confusion surfaced, and she murmured to herself, ¡°Has Yuanhe Mountain¡¯s admission standard be this high already?¡±
In her view, Fang Xi¡¯s aptitude clearly marked him as a minor prodigy.
Fang Xi had no intention of exining further. He followed Mu Piaomiao into the rear courtyard, where he found Mu Canglong seated on a grand armchair. Several robust disciples attended to him nearby.
Mu Canglong calmly held a purple y teapot, sipping from its spout with aposed demeanor.
¡°Greetings, Master!¡±
Fang Xi stepped forward, bowed respectfully, and presented the apprenticeship gift prepared by A-Fu, the old housekeeper.
¡°Hmm.¡±
Mu Canglong leisurely took another sip of tea before speaking. ¡°Breaking through to the first transformation of blood and qi within a month suggests that your body is highly suited for the White Cloud Palm technique. Practice diligently; do not waste this natural talent.¡±
¡°Many thanks, Master.¡±
Fang Xi bowed once more before rising to his feet.
¡°The White Cloud Palm at the Baiyun level primarily focuses on strengthening palm strikes through sandbag training. However, after achieving the first transformation of blood and qi, additional exercises can be incorporated.¡±
Mu Canglong¡¯s lips curved slightly as a burly disciple, with a straightforward appearance, voluntarily stepped onto the training ground and plunged both hands into a cauldron filled with burning iron sand.
¡°Burning Method! This is part of the cultivation path for reaching two transformations of blood and qi. It must be apanied by specialized secret medicines and mantras unique to our dojo.¡± Mu Canglong began exining further.
As he spoke, the disciples behind him listened attentively.
Watching this scene, Fang Xi felt his lips twitching slightly. Clearly, even some formal disciples hadn¡¯t received such detailed instruction, likely relying instead on their senior siblings to teach them these techniques.
Only someone as ridiculously wealthy as Fang Xi could casually attend Master Mu¡¯s lessons for free!
Mu Canglong had many responsibilities; after instructing Fang Xi to continue his training on his own, he promptly returned to his quarters.
Meanwhile, Mu Piaomiao introduced Fang Xi to the other disciples.
Mu Canglong had numerous formal disciples, with Mu Piaomiao being the Eldest Senior Sister. Among them were Second Senior Brother Wu Ji, Third Senior Brother Tang Xuan, Fourth Senior Sister Liu Taotao, and so on¡
Third Senior Brother Tang Xuan was the one who had demonstrated the forging technique earlier.
As for Second Senior Brother Wu Ji, he was exceptionally handsome with a warm and friendly smile.
The Fourth Senior Sister, while not strikingly beautiful, possessed captivating long legs.
Fang Xi briefly observed the rest of his fellow disciples, discreetlymitting their names to memory.
¡°Shidi, to enhance your palm strength, it¡¯s best to mix medicinal solutions with the iron sand,¡± Mu Piaomiao said, her gaze fixed intently on Fang Xi as if looking at a mountain of gold.
True to form, Fang Xi grandly waved his hand, ¡°Let¡¯s start with a hundred portions, just to be prepared!¡±
Hisss!
Predictably, gasps echoed around the dojo.
¡°Fang-shidi truly exudes wealth.¡± Liu Taotao¡¯s eyes sparkled, seemingly ready to pounce if not for Mu Piaomiao¡¯s presence nearby.
¡°Shidi, with your ample resources and these potions, you might achieve the two transformations of blood and qi within three months,¡± Mu Piaomiao remarked neutrally as she continued to guide Fang Xi around the dojo.
After touring the facility, Fang Xi seemed somewhat unenthusiastic. ¡°I wonder if there¡¯s a faster way to practice the White Cloud Palm? I¡¯ve heard¡that the dojo asionally obtains demon meat from some source?¡±
¡°Fang-shidi is well-informed indeed.¡± Mu Piaomiao nced at Fang Xi, slightly surprised, then shook her head seriously. ¡°In martial training, one must not rush ahead recklessly. Demon meat is still too dangerous for you at this stage¡¡± She paused before revealing more information, ¡°The dojo only acquires demon meat sporadically through channels in the ck market. Usually, it¡¯s reserved for Father¡¯s own cultivation, or asionally used when nearing the third transformation threshold¡¡±
Upon hearing this, Fang Xi immediately turned his gaze towards Mu Piaomiao.
As an aplished practitioner with three transformations of blood and qi, she undoubtedly had ess to demon meat.
He couldn¡¯t help but wonder how the demons¡¯ meat in Great Liangpared to the beasts¡¯ meat in the cultivation world?
Despite being financially strapped in the cultivation world, Fang Xi had not entertained the idea of selling demon meat there yet.
After all, with his flying sword at hand, he could even dare to challenge Mu Canglong in Great Liang. However, within the southern wilderness¡¯s cultivation world, he was still considered a novice. It was crucial for him to maintain a low profile.
This led to vastly different approaches in his actions across both worlds.
¡®But Eldest Senior Sister underestimates me too much,¡¯ Fang Xi thought to himself.
Based on his calctions, if he trained diligently in this cultivation world, his progress through the two transformations of blood and qi would be astonishingly swift.
Eventually, as his strength grew, essing resources like demon meat woulde naturally without needing borate schemes.
This approach promised greater stabilitypared to plotting meticulously.
However, it required some time to bear fruit.
Being young and a cultivator, Fang Xi possessed the patience to wait.
In the southern wilderness¡¯s cultivation realm,
winter gave way to spring.
The snow around Qingzhu Mountain hadpletely melted, revealing vibrant emerald greenery brimming with life.
Amidst the bamboo grove, Fang Xi wore only a coarse short-sleeved shirt, seemingly unaffected by the early spring chill.
His muscles bulged prominently, exuding strength and masculinity. With his flourishing blood qi, he now appeared vastly different from the once frail youth.
¡°After a year of hard work, it¡¯s time to harvest the jade bamboo rice.¡±
Gazing at the six-fraction plot of bamboo grove, Fang Xi felt a farmer¡¯s joy akin to a bountiful harvest.
This spirit rice was sown in summer, fertilized in autumn, endured the harsh winter, and finally harvested in spring - markedly different from ordinary crops.
Through diligentbor throughout the year, he estimated a yield of two to three bushels of spirit rice, which was quite satisfactory.
Moreover!
With relentless day-and-night cultivation, possibly aided by the abundant spiritual energy in the southern wilderness, his progress in Qi and Blood martial arts surged rapidly.
By now, he had already surpassed the two transformations of blood and qi and stood just a step away from achieving the third transformation!
¡®Once I reach the three transformations of blood and qi, I can start essing resources for demon meat.¡¯
Fang Xi gazed at the bamboo grove, momentarily lost in thought: ¡°Perhaps within the cultivation world, joining certain circles might help explore channels for selling demon meat in the future¡¡±
Chapter 10: Harvesting Spirit Rice
Early Spring.
The spirit farmers of the shanty town wore expressions of joy, some even donning rare new clothes as if heading to a celebration.
Fang Xi walked amidst the bamboo grove, casually waving his right hand.
Qinghe Sword flew forth, slicing off a section of bamboo.
He tapped on the bamboo tube, listening to its solid resonance, and nodded with satisfaction. ¡°The spirit rice is ripe.¡±
In the next moment, Fang Xi ignited a me beneath the bamboo tube to roast it.
As time passed, a fragrant aroma, blending the scent of rice with that of bamboo, gradually filled the air.
This was another way to enjoy spirit bamboo rice, by making bamboo rice dishes.
For days now, he had remained in the bamboo grove, diligently guarding the hard-earned, ripening spirit rice against potential thieves and pests alike. Somitted was he that he hadn¡¯t even ventured to Great Liang during this period. And today, finally, it was harvest time!
Pop!
After a while, the bamboo tube burst open, revealing the abundant spirit rice within.
Freshly harvested, each grain of spirit rice was plump and evenly distributed, practically melting on the tongue. The enticing fragrance alone was invigorating and refreshing.
Paired with Fang Xi¡¯s own cured meat, it made for a satisfying meal.
After eating, Fang Xi felt his body brimming with spiritual energy. Without dy, he promptly began circting the Evesting Spring Art to harness it.
Once finished, he set up a stance and proceeded to practice his palm strikes.
¡°Zzzt¡ Little Fang, are you cultivating your physique?¡±
Lost in concentration over martial arts, an unknown amount of time had passed when Fang Xi heard a teasing voice. He quickly looked up to see an iron-leaf boat magical artifact descending gently from the sky, carrying a single person aboard.
The neer was a male cultivator around thirty years old, dressed in azure blue official robes, with a jovial expression that exuded affluence.
Fang Xi hastily ceased his training, stood up, and greeted him with a smile, ¡°Greetings, Manager Situ.¡±
Noticing the man observing him, Fang Xi added hastily, still smiling, ¡°Just passing the time practicing mundane martial arts, truly embarrassing, most embarrassing¡¡±
This rotund man in blue attire was named Situ Ying, a member of the Situ n who oversaw part of the spirit fields.
To many spirit farmers on the mountain, Situ Ying was akin to a local emperor, wielding immense power over their lives.
¡°Hmm, this patch of spirit bamboo looks quite healthy; you¡¯ve clearly been diligent,¡± Situ Ying observed as he walked through the grove, assessing the growth of spirit rice with a slight nod.
¡°Oh no, it¡¯s mainly due to Qingzhu Mountain¡¯s exceptional spiritual environment and abundant qi that allows the spirit rice to thrive so well,¡± Fang Xi replied, ttering while discreetly producing a small brocade pouch to hand over.
Inside the pouch were his remaining few spirit crystals.
Situ Ying epted it without even needing to check, knowing the exact amount instantly. His expression softened further, ¡°Goodd, you understand¡ Very well, let¡¯s begin the harvest.¡±
This scene reminded Fang Xi of historical ounts from books he read in his previous life - perhaps ancientndlords interacting with tenant farmers during harvest times resembled something simr?
As both were cultivators, the harvesting process went swiftly.
Swish! Swish!
Patches of bamboo groves fell, transforming into bamboo rice.
Finally, Situ Ying retrieved a specialized weighing magical artifact from his bag of holding at his waist, starting to measure the yield.
¡°A storage artifact?¡±
Fang Xi gazed enviously at the unassuming, dusty-looking pouch hanging from Situ Ying¡¯s waist. He didn¡¯t possess such a storage magical artifact¡
¡°This year¡¯s harvest is good, yielding two hundred and forty pounds of spirit rice¡ Thendlord¡¯s share amounts to half, which is one hundred twenty pounds!¡± Situ Ying manipted his abacus beads. ¡°The price for spirit bamboo rice has risen recently. If you sell your personal portion, I can give you four spirit stones¡¡±
Fang Xi quickly calcted and, with some reluctance, said, ¡°I¡¯ll keep half this time¡¡±
As per their lease agreement, he was entitled to half the yield, which amounted to one hundred twenty pounds of spirit rice.
To sell this spirit rice, Fang Xi could only do so through the Situ n. They operated a rice shop in the market, allowing them to significantly undercut the price and offer fewer spirit crystals than its worth.
Moreover, as spirit farmers often practiced cultivation themselves, they typically needed to retain most of their harvest.
However, Situ Ying¡¯s immediate request for Fang Xi to sell even his portion seemed rather greedy.
¡°Half, fine then¡ Here, take sixty pounds.¡±
Situ Ying gathered the spirit rice into his bag of holding, tossed a small pouch containing spirit crystals, and departed on his iron-leaf boat.
Fang Xi opened the bag and found only eighteen spirit crystals inside, cursing under his breath, ¡°Bloodsucking leeches, always taking their cut. Don¡¯t fall into my hands someday¡¡±
Despite this, most farmers still needed to retain a portion for cultivation purposes.
After harvesting spirit bamboo rice, it was necessary to wait until summer for the next nting cycle.
The sowing process here was peculiar too; no paddy seeds were needed. Instead, stimting the growth of spirit bamboo roots would produce new shoots directly.
With spring harvestpleted and the next nting season not until summer, there emerged a period of agricultural downtime.
Fang Xi leisurely strolled back to his shack, contemting whether he should renovate it.
As he opened his door, he noticed with surprise that Old Man Mai¡¯s hut already had a neer residing within.
¡°Greetings, Fellow Daoist Fang? I am Chen Ping, the newly arrived spirit farmer.¡±
Chen Ping appeared to be in histe twenties or early thirties, with an initial Qi Refinement cultivation base, and his features seemed quite ordinary. He shed a friendly smile and handed over a low-grade ¡®Dust Repelling Talisman¡¯, saying, ¡°A small token of goodwill, please ept my regards.¡±
¡°Many thanks. Let¡¯s keep in touch.¡±
Fang Xi smiled and exchanged pleasantries before returning to his room. Rubbing his chin, he mused, ¡°In the past, spirit farmers would at most gift some sweets or spirit rice¡ This new fellow seems quite well-off¡ Could he be a symbol master?¡±
However, this thought was quickly followed by a poignant realization.
Old Man Mai had been a spirit farmer for several decades, but upon his death, few remembered him. Even his house and fields were swiftly reassigned.
Such is the harsh reality of the cultivation world!
At its lowest levels, cultivators are treated like ants or crops of leeks¡ªeasily cut down, knowing they¡¯ll just grow back again.
¡°Yesterday it was Old Man Mai, tomorrow it might be me!¡± Fang Xi chuckled bitterly.
Given his reserved nature, even fewer people would likely remember him when the time came.
¡°Well then¡ I should use this downtime between farming tasks to focus on my cultivation.¡±
Fang Xi practiced the Qi Refinement thirdyer technique from the Evesting Spring Art daily, but progress remained slow. Conversely, his martial art, the White Cloud Palm, showed signs of rapid advancement.
In Great Liang, at the Baiyun Dojo.
¡°Elder Brother Fang!¡±
¡°Greetings, Elder Brother.¡±
Fang Xi, dressed in white martial attire, entered the dojo with outer courtyard disciples smiling admiringly, some even fawning over him.
Initially, they were impressed solely by Landlord Fang¡¯s wealth, but now their admiration also stemmed from his prowess as a formidable practitioner.
The reason was clear - Fang Xi¡¯s progress had been astonishingly swift!
Not only did he rapidlyplete the first transformation of blood and qi while training at home, but recently, he also announced breaking through to the second transformation!
This advancement left countless individuals secretly envious.
¡®However¡ what good does envy serve?¡¯
Fang Xi smiled faintly and proceeded towards the inner courtyard of the Baiyun Dojo.
¡°Eldest Sister!¡±
After greeting Mu Piaomiao, he headed straight to a makeshift earthen stove.
Constructed from blue bricks, this stove held an iron cauldron on top. Upon Fang Xi¡¯s arrival, servants promptly lit the stove and began pouring bags of medicinal ingredients into the cauldron.
Upon closer inspection, amidst these herbs, one could spot wriggling venomous creatures like centipedes and spiders, enough to make anyone¡¯s scalp tingle.
¡°Now that my White Cloud Palm has reached two transformations through the forging method, it¡¯s time to infuse poison within its power!¡± Fang Xi gazed at his palms.
After undergoing two transformations of blood and qi, his palm skin had be as resilient as bullhide, strong and robust.
This was the foundational requirement for cultivating poison-based techniques.
Infusing poison into one¡¯s palm inevitably harms the body. Even with Baiyun Dojo¡¯s specialized antidotes, umted exposure over time can lead to terrifying injuries.
Roar!
mes licked vigorously at the pot¡¯s base, causing the liquid inside to thicken, turning dark green-ck and emitting a foul odor¡
Unfazed, Fang Xi waited until the water boiled before plunging both hands into the cauldron.
Sizzle!
The boiling toxin-infused liquid swirled around his palms as he silently circted his blood and qi, absorbing the power of the toxins.
¡®Indeed, only with the enhanced physique and blood qi after achieving two transformations can I slightly absorb these toxins¡ Attempting this prematurely could have permanently damaged my hands!¡¯
After an hour of cultivation, Fang Xi withdrew his deeply reddened hands and examined his palms.
As he circted his blood and qi, small gray clusters appeared within his palms.
¡°So this is the Poisonous Palm technique? The White Cloud realm¡¯s transition to ck Clouds? No¡this should just be the beginning¡¡±
The White Cloud Palm has three stages: White Cloud, Dark Cloud, and ck Cloud!
In the initial White Cloud stage, epassing one or two transformations of blood and qi, the palms be as pure white as jade.
At the Dark Cloud stage, corresponding to the third transformation, activating the technique turns the palms pitch-ck, indicating moderate mastery of poison.
Currently, Fang Xi was transitioning between the second and third transformations.
Finally, the ultimate ck Cloud level signifies true proficiency, achieving full mastery of the Poisonous Palm!
It was rumored that when Mu Canglong fully unleashed his power, his palms turned jet ck like ink, even exuding toxic aura with each strike!
¡°With ample resources, I can acquire various exotic poisons for refining into my palms, elerating my progress significantly¡¡±
Fang Xi withdrew his hands, silently contemting his martial arts advancement.
Additionally, using his spiritual sense for introspection allowed him to repair bodily damage and expel toxins, providing another significant advantage!
With these numerous advantages, Fang Xi¡¯s progress with the White Cloud Palm was rapid, surpassing even Wu Ji. Although Wu Ji maintained his friendly demeanor publicly, there was now a discernible hint of envy in his gaze when Fang Xi wasn¡¯t looking.
¡®In the entire dojo, considering martial skills alone, only Mu Piaomiao and Mu Canglong seem to be above me,¡¯ Fang Xi thought privately.
¡®Wu Jicks maturity, and Liu Taotao has certain character ws. As for steadiness and sincerity, Tang Xuan might just outshine them all in the future¡ It could be worthwhile to cultivate a friendship with him.¡¯
As he pondered, the handsome Wu Ji entered the backyard, wearing a warm smile on his face. ¡°Junior Brother Fang¡¡±
¡°Elder Brother Wu, can I help you with something?¡± Fang Xi raised an eyebrow.
¡°Well¡ due to intense martial trainingtely, my funds have been running low. I wonder if Junior Brother¡¡± Wu Ji began, implying a request for a loan.
¡®This little boat of friendship is about to capsize,¡¯ Fang Xi inwardly rolled his eyes.
Chapter 11: Three Transformations
In his previous life, Fang Xi had experienced lending money to rtives and friends, with oues often turning sour.
Hearing this request now, a hint of disgust stirred within him.
¡°Oh, that¡¡± He feigned contemtion, intending to stall for time.
As Wu Ji waited patiently, his expression gradually soured.
He considered himself highly esteemed at the dojo, having already achieved the two transformations of blood and qi - a status among the upper ranks.
When Fang Xi joined the dojo, Wu Ji deliberately tried to befriend him, aiming to introduce him into his own inner circle. However¡ it was as if Fang Xi remained clueless, failing to grasp his subtle hints.
Now, even borrowing money seemed to be met with hesitation.
Feeling Wu Ji¡¯s gaze, Fang Xi inwardly sighed softly.
Some people were inherently petty by nature. Even if Fang Xi agreed to lend money just to ward off nuisance, like dealing with a beggar, Wu Ji might still harbor resentment simply because of the dy!
¡®Furthermore¡ should I really fear someone insignificant like Wu Ji?¡¯
With this thought, Fang Xi made his decision promptly. ¡°My sincere apologies, but I¡¯ve been short on fundstely and cannot assist you¡¡±
¡°You¡¡± Wu Ji¡¯s face flushed red then turned pale, resembling a disy of assorted dyes, quite striking in appearance. ¡°Shidi, well done, truly well done¡¡±
Feeling the mocking gazes from surrounding disciples, he couldn¡¯t bear it any longer and swiftly left with a flick of his sleeves.
Once Wu Ji departed, Tang Xuan approached Fang Xi. ¡°Junior Brother Fang, be cautious. Elder Brother Wu has a very thin skin.¡±
Fang Xi nced at Tang Xuan, slightly taken aback.
This third senior brother, with his unassuming appearance, seemed more astute than he let on. Or perhaps, since showcasing his talent, several members of Baiyun Dojo had been eager to align themselves with him - which was quite normal!
After all, Fang Xi possessed both exceptional talent and wealth! It would be unusual if others didn¡¯t try to curry favor with him.
¡°What does Wu Ji¡¯s family do?¡± Fang Xi casually asked.
¡°Elder Brother Wu¡¯s family is involved in trade,¡± Tang Xuan replied. ¡°They have a small merchant caravan and employ numerous martial artist guards.¡±
¡°Ah, traders¡¡± Fang Xi smiled.
While he knew little about business warfare, he certainly had ample funds! If truly pushed, he wouldn¡¯t hesitate to inflict heavy losses even at great personal cost; money could be used as a potent weapon.
¡®But isn¡¯t going overboard by bankrupting someone just for a rude look a bit too Mary Sue-ish?¡¯
¡®The old school Mary Sues were thrilling, but given today¡¯s climate, they rarely end well¡¡¯ Fang Xi internally grumbled.
Despite this, he appreciated Tang Xuan¡¯s initiative to approach him. They continued their conversation, eventually discussing their progress in martial arts.
Tang Xuan, like Wu Ji, had reached the two transformations of blood and qi, which was considered quite strong within the dojo.
Unfortunately, reaching the third transformation seemed distant and uncertain.
At this thought, even Tang Xuan couldn¡¯t hide a hint of frustration on his face. ¡°In truth¡ I¡¯m still fortunate. Fourth Junior Sister has been unable to break through to the second transformation for a long time, and her family keeps pressuring her to return and marry.¡±
Fang Xi was taken aback; he never imagined that the shijie who always treated him generously could be facing such a difficult situation.
However, recalling the outer courtyard disciples who, despite paying tuition, struggled to master their blood qi and eventually left disheartened, Fang Xi felt somewhat reassured about his own circumstances.
In reality, mastering martial arts heavily relies on both talent and resources.
Initially, Yuanhe Mountain¡¯s assessment hadn¡¯t been wrong; his physical aptitude was indeed average.
But with the nourishment from the cultivation world¡¯s spiritual energy and spirit rice, he managed to progress significantly, akin to a minor genius at an ordinary dojo.
This was the tragic reality formoners!
With talent, one could swiftly rise and be part of the elite.
Without talent and scarce resources, they were destined to remain mired in obscurity for life!
¡°But not me, I refuse to ept it!¡±
¡°I must strive relentlessly for resources in this Great Liang World!¡±
With these thoughts, Fang Xi exited Baiyun Dojo and returned to the Fang Manor.
¡°Gongzi is back!¡±
A-Fu along with Yuegui and other maids eagerly greeted Fang Xi, their eyes filled with smiles.
The young master had mysteriously disappeared for several days before finally reappearing today.
¡°Head to the practice field, I need to train.¡±
Ignoring Yuegui¡¯s slightly resentful gaze, Fang Xi made his way to the practice field.
Swish!
In a sh, he leaped onto a wooden post and began practicing the Eight Techniques of the Snake.
He never neglected training the Red Snake Leg technique either, now reaching the same level of two transformations of blood and qi!
¡°Snake Form Leg!¡±
Instantly, Fang Xi executed three swift kicks mid-air.
His leg movements were fluid and boneless, resembling serpents poised to strike from unpredictable directions.
Bam! Bam! Bam!
Three wooden posts snapped simultaneously with loud cracks!
¡°Not only is the Red Snake Leg formidable, it greatly enhances my overall leg techniques¡¡± Fang Xi murmured as he lowered his legs.
Upon obtaining the Divine Illustration Diagram of the Red Snake Leg, he effectively gained ess to its core teachings. This allowed him to at least cultivate it to the dojo master¡¯s level, making it natural for him not to abandon such training.
If one were to lift his pant cuffs, they would notice that his legs had visibly thickened, muscles sharply defined.
Moreover, along the major tendons, there appeared a twisted pattern resembling a serpent - a unique phenomenon after achieving two transformations of blood and qi with the Red Snake Leg.
¡°The immediate priority is to swiftly break through to the third transformation of blood and qi, thereby gaining ess to demonic flesh resources¡¡±
After practicing the Red Snake Leg, Fang Xi mentally outlined his n.
However, upon seeing those charming maidservants, he decided to postpone his intentions momentarily.
Having endured the arduous task of tilling fields in the cultivation realm, it was now time for him to continue enjoying life here.
The next day.
At Baiyun Dojo.
Fang Xi¡¯s determination remained unwavering. Despite enjoying tea and music the previous night, he continued his training today.
He could sense his blood qi stirring with anticipation.
Perhaps¡today is the day to break through the third transformation of blood and qi!
¡°Burn! Keep adding more fire!¡±
Standing by the y stove, Fang Xi felt the intense stimtion from the highly toxic brew diminishing on his palms. Without showing any sign of hesitation, he repeatedly urged for increased heat.
¡°Yes, sir!¡±
Several servants, stripped down to their waist, worked tirelessly amidst sweat-drenched brows, barely finding time to wipe away perspiration as they piled more wood beneath the stove and continuously added toxins to the pot.
Unbeknownst to him, a crowd had gathered around, watching intently.
Wu Ji, among the spectators, couldn¡¯t help but raise his voice, ¡°Junior Brother Fang risks overreaching here¡ hastily increasing the toxin dosage might irreversibly damage his hands¡¡±
Tang Xuan¡¯s lips twitched, wanting to speak up, but Liu Taotao beat him to it, asserting, ¡°I believe our Shidi has reached a breakthrough point, aiming for rapid advancement!¡±
Her crisp voice not only halted Wu Ji¡¯s expression, but Tang Xuan also cast her a look of surprise.
What was this shimei on today? To directly challenge Second Senior Brother?
Soon, Mu Canglong and Mu Piaomiao were alerted and arrived together, each disying varied expressions at the scene unfolding before them.
After about an hour:
¡°Phew¡¡±
Fang Xi withdrew his palms, noticing they had turned bright red. As the redness faded, ayer of gray gradually spread from the palm centers to the edges and then across the backs¡
Finally, both hands were entirely gray.
¡°That¡¯s¡the Dark Cloud stage?¡± Mu Piaomiao blurted out in surprise.
Blood Qi Three Transformations, reaching the Dark Cloud stage!
This indicated that Fang Xi¡¯s mastery of the White Cloud Palm had now equaled hers, surpassed only by Mu Canglong himself!
¡°He actually broke through?¡± Wu Ji stared wide-eyed, resembling a startled frog.
However, at this moment, no one paid attention to such a clown.
¡°Congrattions, Junior Brother Fang! Your martial prowess has greatly advanced!¡± Tang Xuan eximed with admiration.
¡°Hail to Junior Brother (Elder Brother) Fang¡for your remarkable progress!¡± The disciples bowed collectively.
¡°Thank you all!¡±
Fang Xi remainedposed, but as he passed Liu Taotao, he smiled gently and whispered, ¡°If Shijie ever faces difficulties obtaining resources for cultivation, feel free to approach me¡¡±
His words caused noticeable changes on the faces around him.
Many disciples looked enviously at Liu Taotao, knowing well that due to herck of martial sess, her family was pressuring her to marry soon!
With Elder Brother Fang offering assistance, her situation would undoubtedly improve significantly.
¡°Thank you¡Junior Brother!¡± Liu Taotao¡¯s voice wavered, filled with emotion.
¡°No need to thank me,¡± Fang Xi waved dismissively.
To him, it was merely a casual investment.
In the main hall of the dojo.
¡°Excellent, very well done!¡±
Mu Canglong gazed at Fang Xi with evident satisfaction. He never anticipated that a simple apprentice, initially hired for silver coins, would disy such exceptional talent in the White Cloud Palm!
¡°Fang Xi, having achieved Blood Qi Three Transformations, your next step is to harmonize your blood and qi, advancing towards the true force level.¡±
With a serious expression, Mu Canglong produced a scroll. ¡°This is the secret Divine Illustration Diagram of our White Cloud Palm technique. Study it carefully, remember - focus on understanding its essence rather than just the form, pay attention to the divine aura depicted within!¡±
¡°Many thanks, Master.¡±
Fang Xi nned to have A-Fu deliver a substantial giftter as gratitude. Without hesitation, he epted the scroll and began unfolding it.
The vast painting depicted only scattered clouds.
The clouds swirled gracefully, evoking a sense of ethereal mystery.
He studied it intently, striving to grasp its deeper meaning.
¡°It¡¯s perfectly normal not to fullyprehend the Divine Illustration immediately. In the future, you can spend an hour each day with Elder Sister Piao Miao, studying together,¡± Mu Canglong advised calmly.
¡°I understand.¡± Fang Xi returned the scroll to Mu Canglong.
After all, there would be ample opportunities to create his own copyter.
However, Fang Xi¡¯s primary concern at that moment was another matter: ¡°Master¡ I wanted to ask about demons.¡±
¡°I¡¯ve heard from Piao Miao that you¡¯re quite interested in demon flesh?¡±
Mu Canglong nodded initially, then shook his head, a rare hint of fear flickering across his face: ¡°Demons can be divided into two categories - ¡®Yao¡¯ and ¡®Mo¡¯. Yao roam freely, posing almost certain death for ordinary people upon encounter, yet they are still rtively easier to deal with¡ The truly terrifying ones are the ¡®Mo¡¯!¡±
¡°Mo?¡±
Fang Xi disyed curiosity, but Mu Canglong merely waved his hand dismissively: ¡°In summary, even as a martial artist like myself, facing Mo is inevitably fatal. Across the Nine Provinces of Great Liang, should any city suffer a Mo disaster, it could be a perilous wastnd!¡±
¡°That horrifying?¡±
Fang Xi drew in a sharp breath, though admittedly, most of his reaction was feigned.
¡°As for resources of demon meat¡ only martial artists who have achieved three transformations in blood qi can cautiously consume some¡¡± Mu Canglong pondered briefly before tossing Fang Xi a wooden token. ¡°In ckstone City, there¡¯s a ck market where you can find demon meat resources. If you desire them, feel free to purchase some.¡±
Chapter 12: The Black Market and Sword Trials
¡°Monsters and demons, huh?¡±
The moon hung high in the night sky.
Fang Xi held the ck market wooden token, still somewhat puzzled.
ording to Mu Canglong¡¯s exnation, monsters likely referred to powerful beast-like creatures, but demons? It seemed intriguing, not akin to demonic beasts or cultivators from the cultivation world¡
¡°Nevertheless, I¡¯m finally about to ess this world¡¯s advanced resources, right?¡±
He gazed at the bridge ahead, his expression slightly excited.
As Mu Canglong had described, ckstone City¡¯s ck market was located at ¡®Moonlit Bridge¡¯, essible on the first and fifteenth days of each month¡ with the wooden token as proof, one could board a wooden boat near the bridge and enter the true ck market!
At that moment, Fang Xi had already changed into dark attire,plemented by a bamboo hat, making it impossible for anyone to discern his figure or face.
Upon reaching Moonlit Bridge, he spotted a ck-roofed boat anchored nearby, awaiting passengers. ¡°Who approaches?¡± asked an elderly man on the boat, holding a bamboo pole.
¡°A visitor to the ck market,¡± replied Fang Xi.
¡°Do you have the required token?¡±
¡°Here!¡± Fang Xi tossed the wooden token over. After examining it briefly, the old man respectfully returned it and allowed Fang Xi onto the boat.
Onboard, there were several other individuals dressed in ck, maintaining a distance from each other, all silent.
After waiting for the time it takes three incense sticks to burn, the old man pushed off with his bamboo pole, guiding the ck-roofed boat under the moonlit sky.
A thin mist rose, shrouding the surrounding buildings in hazy shadows.
Eventually, after an indeterminate period, the small boat docked at a riverbank.
¡°We¡¯re here,¡± echoed the old man¡¯s voice.
Fang Xi stepped ashore, feeling the damp mud beneath his feet.
Looking around, he found himself on what seemed like akeside ind, bustling with people setting up stalls and peddling their goods.
The only structures visible were simple wooden huts, appearing incredibly rudimentary.
¡®This ck market¡ ispletely different from what I imagined.¡¯
¡®It¡¯s far too primitive.¡¯
Fang Xi¡¯s lips twitched slightly as he blended into the crowd.
¡°Brother, interested in martial arts? Iron Sword Sect¡¯s secret eighteen-form ¡®Iron-ying Sword Technique¡¯ along with Divine Intent Diagrams, all avable!¡± At one stall, a veiled vendor loudly hawked their wares.
Fang Xi nced at the stack of manuals, shook his head, and moved away. He knew without even examining them that replicating the Divine Intent Diagram couldn¡¯t be this straightforward; most likely, these were fakes.
¡°Hurry over here, top-quality ves¡ Look at the skin, the teeth¡ clearly from a wealthy family, bound to grow into stunning beauties with just a few years of care!¡±
At another stall, they were selling people!
Fang Xi nced over and noticed several frightened young boys and girls, immediately recalling recent rumors of children going missing from prominent families in the city. A chill ran through him.
It seemed the control and authority of Great Liang¡¯s government was severely limited!
¡®The ck market truly lives up to its name.¡¯
¡®Unfortunately, at this moment, Ick the power to intervene as I wish.¡¯
After silently venting his frustration, Fang Xi followed Mu Canglong¡¯s directions and arrived at a wooden shack.
The shack appeared rudimentary, and Fang Xi wrinkled his nose, detecting a strong scent of blood. Amidst the surrounding grass, faint traces of white bones were visible.
¡°So this is where Mu Canglong sources demon meat for Baiyun Dojo?¡± Fang Xi murmured to himself before stepping inside.
The interior of the shack was dimly lit by a single oilmp, with its wick burning an eerie green me. As themp oil burned, a peculiar fragrance filled the air.
Fang Xi swallowed hard, suddenly feeling somewhat hungry.
¡®Thismp oil¡ something isn¡¯t right.¡¯
Just as he pondered, a deep voice suddenly echoed, ¡°Here to buy meat?¡±
As Fang Xi nced around, he couldn¡¯t help but gasp, genuinely startled.
In one corner of the house, there loomed a ¡®mountain¡¯ of flesh!
It was truly a massive mound, roughly two to three meters high,posed ofyers uponyers of pale, fatty tissue with sagging skin covered in grease.
This must have been an unimaginably obese creature!
At least a thousand pounds! thought Fang Xi.
His voice low, Fang Xi said, ¡°I heard¡ you sell demon meat here? Don¡¯t worry, I understand the rules!¡± As he spoke, he tossed out his wooden token.
The flesh mountain caught the token, gave it a casual nce, and smiled. ¡°Ah, referred by a regr customer¡ Rest assured, the meat I offer is of the highest quality!¡±
With hands as broad as palm leaves, he reached behind himself while speaking.
Snap!
A chunk of stark white meatnded before Fang Xi.
This piece weighed at least five or six pounds, devoid of any red blood, muscle fibers, or signs of sinew.
¡®It feels somewhat simr to thatmp oil,¡¯ Fang Xi observed mentally with a quick assessment.
¡°The meat here costs one hundred taels of silver per pound,¡± the flesh mountain continued, stating the price.
¡°Deal!¡± agreed Fang Xi.
Fang Xi nodded and produced a gold leaf, specifically exchanged for trading purposes. Carrying too much silver was inconvenient.
¡°I have one hundred gold leaves, totaling to one hundred taels of gold. Officially, it¡¯s ten taels of silver for one tael of gold, equivalent to a thousand taels of fine silver. Let me start with ten pounds of meat.¡±
As Fang Xi spoke and presented the gold leaf, the mountain of flesh opposite him seemed momentarily stunned. After a brief pause, he burst outughing, ¡°Excellent¡ I ¡®Fatso Han¡¯ truly appreciate your straightforwardness!¡±
While speaking, Fatso Han grabbed another chunk of demon meat and tossed it down, weighing approximately five or six pounds.
¡°Combined with the previous piece, this definitely exceeds ten pounds. The extra is my gift to you¡¡± the meaty figure chuckled. ¡°Life is short; nothing surpasses the joy of eating meat¡ However, remember not to overindulge and stuff yourself to death, ha ha ha¡¡±
Fatso Han¡¯sughter shook even the wooden hut.
Fang Xi bowed respectfully, wrapped the ten pounds of meat in cloth, ced it on his back, and bid farewell before leaving.
Having purchased what he desired, he chose not to linger in the ck market but departed immediately.
As Fang Xi returned, he naturally took the boat first and disembarked at Moonlit Bridge.
While navigating through twists and turns in an alleyway, Fang Xi suddenly sighed and spoke aloud, ¡°Sir, you¡¯ve been following me for quite some time now. Just what is your purpose?¡±
At the end of the alley, a ck-d figure had appeared unnoticed.
With a coldugh, he replied, ¡°Impressive youngster, decent skills¡ To acquire so much meat from Fatso Han suggests you¡¯re quite wealthy. Hand it over to this old man!¡±
As the man spoke, he initially stood at the alley¡¯s entrance, but by the final word, he was already face-to-face with Fang Xi, unleashing a fierce punch like a rolling boulder.
¡°Rolling Stone Fist?!¡± Fang Xi smiled slightly, recognizing the technique used by the Boulder Dojo, which he had observed during his martial training.
Without any hint of panic, Fang Xi swiftly flipped his palm, turning its surface pitch-ck, and countered smoothly.
Bang!
Fist met palm as two surging forces of vital energy collided, emitting a deep resonant sound.
The ck-robed man grunted, stumbling back several steps, and eximed involuntarily, ¡°Three transformations of blood and qi? How is that possible?¡±
Fang Xi had already heard about the young prodigies within the city! When he sensed that his opponent¡¯s voice wasn¡¯t aged, he chose tounch a surprise attack.
However, he didn¡¯t expect to encounter such a formidable adversary!
¡°You¡¯re a grandmaster with three transformations of blood and qi, and from the Boulder Dojo!¡±
Fang Xi nodded, then shook his head, ¡°Why seek your own demise like this?¡±
¡°Hmph! Despite its venomous nature, the White Cloud Palm may not defeat me.¡± The ck-robed man bellowed, his fists striking with the force of thunder, exuding immense power.
The Rolling Stone Fist technique, though not particrly appealing in name, lived up to its description. Once initiated, continuous strikes built momentum akin to a snowball rolling downhill, culminating in a devastating blow capable of shattering stone.
The longer it was sustained, the greater its impact!
As Fang Xi prepared to focus his response, his lips suddenly twitched. To his surprise, after the ck-robed man¡¯s loud promation, he turned and fled¡ just ran away¡
¡®For fuck¡¯s sake, why would I risk my life against another martial artist at the same level?¡¯
The ck-robed man bolted, feeling utterly frustrated. Upon closer inspection, one could see a dark stain on his fist, clearly indicating that the toxic palm strike had affected him as well.
¡°Baiyun Dojo¡¯s masters, this grudge will not be forgotten¡¡±
As he prepared to utter more threats, his vision suddenly blurred, revealing Fang Xi right before him!
With the Red Snake Leg enhancing his movements, Fang Xi¡¯s speed was remarkably swift!
The ck-robed man felt a wave of despair wash over him. ¡°Y-you¡you really intend to finish me off?¡±
¡°Not at all¡¡± Fang Xi smiled slightly. ¡°Aren¡¯t you a master with three transformations of blood and qi? I merely wish to conduct an experiment using your skills¡¡±
With that, Fang Xiposed himself, muttering under his breath.
As he swiftly recited an incantation, magical energy flowed within his body, converging on his right hand¡¯s fingertips.
Then, with a gentle lift of his arm, multiple bursts of sword qi surged forth.
Utilizing the Green Bamboo Mountain Spirit Farmer Weeding Technique - Golden Seventh Metal Grass-Sweeping Sword!
Before the ck-robed man could fullyprehend what was happening, terrifying wounds appeared across his body, spurting blood uncontrobly.
¡°What¡what kind of martial art is this?¡±
The ck-robed man dropped to one knee, disbelief written across his face beneath the veil.
¡°Innate Invisible Sword Qi!¡±
Fang Xi stood with hands sped behind his back, exuding an air of mastery.
Meanwhile, he mentally noted the results of this experiment:
¡®Even small Qi Refinement spells can still inflict significant damage on martial artists with three transformations of blood and qi¡¡¯
¡°I¡¡± The ck-robed man tried to curse but choked for breath.
Is this fucking martial arts?!
Not even the dojo masters, no! Not even the great experts from Yuanhe Mountain could achieve such absurd feats as wounding someone without physical contact, right?
Unfortunately, before he could utter his curse, a sh of green sword light streaked past.
The headless body of the ck-robed man copsed, blood rapidly pooling around it.
¡°With low-grade magical artifacts, it¡¯s like cutting through butter¡¡± Fang Xi sighed, raising his hand to recall the ¡®Qinghe Sword¡¯, somewhat unsatisfied. ¡°Next time¡ I¡¯ll find a dojo master to test my swords on.¡±
Chapter 13: Pill Cauldron
In the southern wilderness¡¯s cultivation world.
On Qingzhu Mountain.
Within a hidden underground chamber near the Shack Area.
The secret room had multiple passages, including tunnels seemingly dug to connect with the outside world.
Fang Xi quietly emerged, gazing at a pack containing demon meat, his expression slightly animated: ¡°As expected¡ if magical artifacts can be brought over, resources from there can also be brought back, as long as I can carry them¡¡±
The idea of trading between two realms seemed quite feasible.
¡°In the early stages, small quantities won¡¯t be an issue; I can manage by hand. Later on, it¡¯ll just require a bag of holding¡ Wait, Fang Xi, don¡¯t get ahead of yourself! Even the smallest capacity bag of holding costs twenty low-grade spirit stones!¡±
Regarding the corpse of the ambushing martial artist, Fang Xi searched through it but found him surprisingly destitute¡
He carried only about eighty taels of silver, akin to a beggar, without even a single martial arts manual. How dare he have the audacity to go out and rob people?! ¡°Wait, if he truly had money, why bother robbing?¡±
After some sarcastic remarks, Fang Xi proceeded to assess his own assets.
His cultivation base remained at the thirdyer of Qi Refining, steadily consolidating its foundation.
With a lower-tier wood attribute spiritual root, progressing in cultivation was indeed challenging.
The most valuable item among his possessions was a low-grade magical artifact¡ªthe Qinghe Sword.
Beneath ity a secret manual called ¡®Evesting Spring Art¡¯, which could be cultivated up to the tenthyer of Qi Refinement, achieving Great Perfection. This was amon find in the market, and after reaching Foundation Establishment, one would need to seek a different cultivation technique.
¡°Additionally, there are 22 spirit crystals, 60 pounds of spirit bamboo rice, 1 mid-grade Little Thunder Talisman, 1 low-grade Golden Light Barrier Talisman, 2 Frost Talismans, 5 Protection Talismans, along with various utility talismans such as Dust Repelling, Fire Warding, and Water Warding¡¡±
¡°I can¡¯t help but feel that any cultivator robbed here would shed tears¡¡± Fang Xi sighed deeply, gazing at the demon flesh and murmuring, ¡°Perhaps I should sell it¡ No, not until reaching Mid Qi Refining; it¡¯s too risky!¡±
He had already inquired at the Baiyun Dojo about Fatso Han¡¯s demon meat, known as ¡®Tai Sui Meat¡¯. It indeed matched this pale appearance and wasn¡¯t particrly gamey when eaten.
Moreover, it had blood-stimting and qi-enhancing effects, so much so that even Mu Piaomiao refrained from consuming it during certain sensitive days¡
Despite being fully aware of its benefits, Fang Xi still decided against immediately eating the demon meat.
¡°Cultivators often cook demon beast meat for its spiritual energy benefits. For body cultivators, it serves as an unparalleled elixir, and naturally, they have methods to discern its safety¡¡±
Fang Xi gazed at the tai sui meat, pondered briefly, and then cast a spell technique.
Buzz!
A halo of light appeared above the meat, shifting through various colors before settling on a deep shade of green.
¡°Generally harmless, but there¡¯s still a slight risk of bodily harm¡¡±
Fang Xi nodded slightly.
¡°Cultivators possess numerous ways to identify toxins and administer treatments¡ As a precaution, I should acquire a Detoxification Pill along with a Spring Recovery Talisman.¡±
Considering his need for talismans, Fang Xi immediately decided to approach his new neighbor, Chen Ping, for assistance.
This new spirit farmer seemed skilled in drawing talismans, making him worth cultivating a closer rtionship. Additionally, this could expand the original host¡¯swork.
The previous Fang Xi had focused solely on arduous cultivation, having few friends beyond neighbors and no connections within social circles.
However, the current Fang Xi resolved to broaden his rtionships slightly, which would not only facilitate future sales of demon meat but also open channels for purchasing rare resources.
Without wasting any time, early the next morning, Fang Xi positioned himself by the door, waiting to intercept Chen Ping as he stepped out. ¡°Fellow Daoist Chen¡ going out?¡±
¡°That¡¯s correct.¡±
Chen Ping appeared much like any other spirit farmer - honest and timid. Upon hearing this, he asked hesitantly, ¡°Fellow Daoist Fang¡is there something you need?¡±
¡°Yes¡ Fellow Daoist Chen, by any chance, are you a talisman master? I¡¯m interested in purchasing a Spring Recovery Talisman, if possible¡¡±
Fang Xi cautiously probed with his question.
Chen Ping¡¯s expression shifted slightly, then he smiled wryly and waved his hands repeatedly. ¡°The path of talismans is vast and profound; I wouldn¡¯t dare call myself a talisman master. I¡¯ve only studied for a few days under Grandmaster Zong, still at the beginner level, struggling even with low-tier first-rank talismans¡¡±
Each of the four arts of cultivation - alchemy, formations, talismans, and artifacts - requires immense dedication to master.
Although the art of talismans might be rtively simplerpared to others, achieving proficiency remains challenging.
If drawing a talisman proves difficult, it implies that the benefits may not outweigh the costs, leading to potential losses.
¡°Already impressive. By any chance, do you have a Spring Recovery Talisman?¡± Fang Xi added, ¡°I¡¯ll purchase it at market price.¡±
¡°Well¡ I do have one here.¡±
Mentioning the average market price caught Chen Ping¡¯s attention immediately, prompting him to produce a green talisman.
Taking advantage of this moment, they exchanged a few more words before Chen Ping eventually bid farewell.
¡®I didn¡¯t expect him to be somewhat familiar, having learned from Symbol Master Zong for a few days?¡¯
As he watched Chen Ping depart, Fang Xi suddenly recalled the couple running the talisman stall and marveled at how small the world seemed.
Of course, it might also be because Qingzhu Mountain Market itself was quite small, with only a few known talisman masters around.
Regardless, this visit had proven fruitful.
¡°Already have the Spring Recovery Talisman, now just need a Detoxification Pill¡¡± Fang Xi murmured to himself as he entered Qingzhu Mountain Market.
Pill Cauldron Pavilion!
A meticulously crafted six-story wooden building exuded a faintly fragrant herbal aroma from its eaves.
Fang Xi always exercised caution when dealing with medicinal pills, which are meant for consumption. Although the pills sold by independent cultivators might be cheaper, their safety cannot be guaranteed entirely.
On the other hand, establishments backed by major factions tend to offer greater assurance.
The Pill Cauldron Pavilion has built a reputation over hundreds of years, with influences even stronger than the Situ n. For such entities, maintaining their brand and reputation is paramount, ensuring that the quality of their medicinal pills is generally trustworthy.
Naturally, ¡°trustworthy¡± does not mean infallible; careful inspection upon purchase remains essential.
As Fang Xi admired the Pill Cauldron Pavilion, a young woman dressed in light green approached him, greeting warmly, ¡°Greetings, fellow daoist. What kind of medicinal pills are you seeking? My name is Zhuo Luting, and I possess some knowledge aboutmon pills.¡±
With her peach-like cheeks and almond-shaped eyes, she had an exceptionally pleasing appearance. Zhuo Luting didn¡¯t even conceal her cultivation aura, allowing Fang Xi to immediately discern that she was a cultivator at Mid Qi Refining stage.
¡®Wow, the Pill Cauldron Pavilion is impressive indeed, having a sales attendant already at Mid Qi Refining¡¡¯
¡®Alright, they certainly have high standards.¡¯
Feeling slightly envious, Fang Xi managed a wry smile. ¡°I need a Detoxification Pill.¡±
¡°For detoxification, our pavilion offers the low-tier first-rank Clearspirit Pill, effective against various toxins. If you find it insufficient, we also have mid-tier first-rank Detoxing Pills, or even the high-tier first-rank Myriad Spirits Pill. However, their prices may be¡¡± Zhuo Luting replied with a charming smile.
¡°I have a friend who identally consumed meat from an unknown beast¡¡± Fang Xi began concocting a tale of a nonexistentpanion.
Zhuo Luting considered for a moment. ¡°Generally speaking, beasts don¡¯t naturally produce toxins within their blood or flesh. Unless the poison sac was ingested, the toxicity should not be severe. The Clearspirit Pill has remarkable efficacy in alleviating animal poisons. You can purchase one to try; if it¡¯s ineffective, please bring your friend here for examination by our apothecary¡¡±
¡°That sounds good. How much does a Clearspirit Pill cost?¡±
Fang Xi nodded.
¡°One low-grade spirit stone,¡± Zhuo Luting replied with a smile.
So expensive!
At outside stalls, it would cost no more than seven or eight spirit crystals!
Despite these thoughts swirling in his mind, Fang Xi remained expressionless as he handed over the spirit crystal and received a small jade bottle in return.
¡°Is there anything else Daoist friend requires?¡± Zhuo Luting asked, feeling quite pleased afterpleting the transaction.
¡°Let me see¡¡± Fang Xi ced his hands behind his back and leisurely strolled around the first floor of the Pill Cauldron Pavilion.
Soon, he stopped in front of a particr counter.
On its wooden shelves, numerous bottles of spirit wine were prominently disyed - some in jars, others sealed in ss bottles.
¡°These are spirit wines, primarily made from spirit rice mixed with various types of spirit medicines, then aged underground¡¡± Zhuo Luting exined to Fang Xi. ¡°Among our cultivators, many enjoy indulging in such beverages. Not only that, but several spirit wines have multiple benefits. For instance, this ¡®Fasting Wine¡¯ can serve as a substitute for spiritual sustenance; just one sip allows you to go without food or water for three days¡ And here¡¯s ¡®Hundred Flowers Brew¡¯, which not only has exquisite vor but also aids female cultivators in their Qi Refinement practices¡ If your friend was indeed bitten by a snake, this ¡®Hundred Snakes Wine¡¯ is highly effective at neutralizing snake venom!¡±
¡°I see¡¡± Fang Xi remained expressionless, exuding a demeanor of a seasoned cultivator.
In the cultivation world, apart from the four primary arts, there were various secondary professions.
These included physicians who treated injuries, spirit chefs crafting diverse spiritual dishes, brewers, Meridian Masters, Mineral Seekers, and many more¡
Brewing techniques could be considered as minor side skills or even a branch of alchemy.
Fang Xi nced at the prices and promptly took his leave. Even if he spent all his current assets, it would likely not suffice to purchase a single jar of spirit wine.
¡°As for the brewing recipes, forget about it - definitely unaffordable¡¡±
Fang Xi felt a pang of regret; being a spirit farmer, brewing seemed quite fitting for him.
¡°Perhaps¡if Pill Cauldron Pavilion is out of reach, I can try my luck browsing the street stalls?¡±
With this thought, he began wandering among the various makeshift booths.
Since his transmigration, Fang Xi hadn¡¯t been immune to novel tropes, often visiting these market stalls in hopes of stumbling upon some fortuitous encounter.
The results, however, spoke for themselves.
Novels truly lied!
However, not only did he never find any extraordinary opportunities, but even minor bargains eluded him!
It wasn¡¯t just his own experience; after observing for a year, he hadn¡¯t seen a single cultivator sessfully snagging deals from these stalls.
Instead, there were plenty of cases where cultivators felt cheated or lost everything due to deceptive practices, and he witnessed many such incidents.
Some individuals attempted to cause chaos in the market, only to be swiftly ejected by the Situ n¡¯sw enforcement team¡ truly a grim spectacle.
Chapter 14: Indulging in Meat
Within the market,
Fang Xi strolled around, eyeing several items with interest, but his meager funds left him unable to afford them.
In particr, a fragmentary brewing recipe caught his attention, making him quite eager.
¡°Never mind¡ I can try brewing myself¡ Using spirit bamboo rice as the base ingredient, even if it¡¯s just small batches at first¡¡±
¡°Brewed from spirit rice, aside from quenching hunger, it should also enhance spiritual energy somewhat¡¡±
As Fang Xi pondered, his steps unconsciously led him to a paper talisman stall.
This was Symbol Master Zong¡¯s usual spot; purely out of habit, he hoped to find some overlooked bargains.
However, today Symbol Master Zong wasn¡¯t present, and instead, his cultivation partner ¡®Lu Zhi¡¯ manned the stall.
Nearby, another individual stood by the stall. ¡°Eh? Isn¡¯t that Fellow Daoist Chen?¡± Fang Xi recognized Chen Ping and approached with a smile to greet him.
¡°Fellow Daoist Fang¡¡± Chen Ping responded with an awkward grin, quickly excusing himself after exchanging a few perfunctory words.
¡°Wondering what talismans Fellow Daoist Chen came to purchase? Or perhaps for paper talismans or spiritual sand?¡±
Watching Chen Ping¡¯s retreating figure, Fang Xi turned to Lu Zhi with a contemtive look.
¡°Tsk, just another lecherous fellow,¡± spat Lu Zhi, her fiery personality contrasting her curvaceous figure. With a cultivation base at Qi Refinement sixthyer, she scolded, ¡°That sneaky Chen kid always had wandering eyes, even when shamelessly learning talisman art from my husband¡¡±
¡°Oh¡¡± Fang Xi regarded Lu Zhi thoughtfully, admitting inwardly that she was indeed a striking beauty. Despite being somewhat older, she exuded a mature allure.
¡®I didn¡¯t expect Chen Ping to have a preference for this type.¡¯
¡°And you? If you want to buy paper talismans, make it quick! Don¡¯t waste my time!¡± Lu Zhi ced her hands on her hips, barely restraining herself from further insults due to Fang Xi¡¯s status as a regr customer.
¡°I¡¯m leaving now, right away.¡± Fang Xi smiled apologetically and headed back to the spirit farmer shantytowns.
Next door, Chen Ping anxiously paced in his courtyard. Upon seeing Fang Xi return, he hurried over, nervously asking, ¡°Fellow Daoist Fang¡ Did Fellow Daoist Lu say anything?¡±
¡°Nothing, nothing at all¡¡±
Fang Xi shook his head.
Seeing Chen Ping visibly relieved, he suddenly asked thoughtfully, ¡°Fellow Daoist Chen, have you ever sought out any leisurely pleasures?¡±
¡°Uh¡ naturally not.¡± Chen Ping¡¯s face instantly flushed bright red, resembling a bashful young man, which made it hard for Fang Xi to suppress a chuckle.
As an experienced elder, he couldn¡¯t help but offer a hint, ¡°From what I know, Fellow Daoist Hong from Room B3 and Fairy Red Bee from Room C17 are both quite weing¡¡±
¡°That¡I¡¯m not really interested in such things.¡± Chen Ping hastily waved his hands, yet his eyes began darting around nervously.
¡°Haha¡hold on, hold on, let me finish first,¡± Fang Xi said, aware that these young men often struggle against the allure of mature women. ¡°These two fellow Daoists, although slightly older, are incredibly understanding and empathetic¡¡±
¡°Really?¡± Upon hearing ¡®slightly older,¡¯ Chen Ping¡¯s eyes lit up, as if seeing Fang Xi as a kindred spirit now.
This reaction brought joy to Fang Xi¡¯s heart.
The four unbreakable bonds of life apply universally, even within rtionships in the cultivation world.
After deepening their friendship with Chen Ping, Fang Xi returned to his room and headed down to the basement, staring nkly at the nearly twenty-pound chunk of Beefwood meat.
Fatso Han had generously given him extra portions, resulting in tworge pieces totaling over ten pounds, which looked quite impressiveid out before him.
¡°ording to Mu Piaomiao, Beefwood meat should be cooked before consumption. It can be grilled or boiled¡¡±
Fang Xi sliced off a strip, started a small fire, and began slowly roasting it.
As the mes licked the pale white Beefwood, it gradually turned slightly golden-brown, emitting a unique aroma that tantalized the senses.
¡°How fragrant! I didn¡¯t expect Great Liang to have such exquisite ingredients,¡± Fang Xi¡¯s eyes sparkled.
ncing at the Spring Recovery Talisman and Pure Spirit Pill nearby, he felt reassured. With renewed confidence, he took a hearty bite from the roasted meat strip.
¡°Mm¡¡±
The moment the cooked Beefwood touched his tongue, its sweet juices burst forth. The savory vors continuously stimted his taste buds, spreading an indescribable richness throughout his mouth, almost making him teary-eyed with delight.
Breathing heavily, Fang Xi found himself devouring the Beefwood in just a few bites without realizing it.
Suddenly, his expression changed as he clutched his stomach.
As soon as the incredibly delicious Beefwood meat entered his stomach, it felt like igniting countless embers within him! A scorching heat exploded, repeatedly washing over his gastric lining.
The intense warmth uncontrobly spread, reaching his internal organs, limbs, and every part of his body¡
It was unbearably hot!
Despite being early spring,rge beads of sweat began to form on Fang Xi¡¯s forehead. His clothes were drenched, soaked with perspiration.
Strikingly, amidst the sweat, there seemed to be traces of crimson mixed in!
¡°Even those so-called ¡®great body-refinement elixirs¡¯ revered by mortal cultivators might not surpass this effect,¡± Fang Xi thought, feeling his inner turmoil akin to a raging furnace.
¡°The enticing aroma of roasted Beefwood meat can make it hard to resist eating more¡ And consuming too much could lead to death!¡±
¡°No wonder Fatso Han feared I¡¯d eat myself to death¡ For an ordinary three-transformations cultivator, they might truly struggle to control their appetite, sumbing to temptation and overeating until fatal¡¡±
Fang Xi, however, was not just any cultivator but also a cultivator seeking immortality.
He stood up, using his spiritual sense to forcefullymand his muscles, then assumed a stance to practice the White Cloud Palm.
p! p!
His palms turned pitch-ck, each strike generating powerful gusts within the secret room.
After nearly an hour, Fang Xi finally ceased his practice.
Examining himself internally, he was pleasantly surprised, ¡°My blood qi has increased so significantly! Beast meat truly is an unparalleled elixir for body refinement!¡±
Following his initial delight, he furrowed his brow slightly, ¡°The potency of this effect is quite intense. No wonder only dojo masters dare to consume it regrly, while three transformations cultivators use it sparingly just before breakthroughs¡¡±
Using his spiritual sense from the cultivation realm, Fang Xi detected that the surging blood qi had caused subtle damage throughout his body.
If left unchecked, these effects might not be immediately noticeable or even affect his martial training temporarily. However, over time, they would inevitably lead to severe consequences, akin to what¡¯s known as ¡®a point of no return.¡¯
¡°Fortunately, I can examine my internal state¡ Time to address these issues directly and begin healing.¡±
This was one of the advantages of being a cultivator.
Not only did Fang Xi identify the current blood qi damage, but he also discovered umted minor injuries and toxins from his previous toxin palm training. He systematically treated each issue, purging the toxins along the way.
As a result, his physical prowess far exceeded that of other cultivators at his level, and his overall condition was remarkably superior.
After examining himself internally and confirming only minor injuries, Fang Xi promptly put away the Pure Spirit Pill and Spring Recovery Talisman.
These items were costly to acquire with spirit crystals after all.
For such ordinary wounds, he could quietly activate the Evesting Spring Art for healing. With a few days¡¯ effort, they would bepletely mended.
The ¡®Evesting Spring Art¡¯, being a foundational wood attribute technique, may not have exceptional progress or potency, but it did possess unique therapeutic and rejuvenating effects inherent to wood attribute methods.
With this thought, Fang Xi wasted no time, immediately sitting cross-legged and silently initiating his cultivation.
The Evesting Spring Art is inherently moderate and peaceful, particrly effective for healing.
Afterpleting one full cirction, he opened his mouth and expelled a small amount of dark blood.
¡°Cough cough¡¡±
Fang Xi briefly rinsed his mouth with clear water, wiped his lips, and then inspected himself inwardly, nodding slightly. ¡°Two more sessions should suffice forplete recovery¡¡±
¡°At this rate, I can safely consume Beefwood meat once every three days.¡±
¡°With its assistance, my umtion of blood qi will elerate rapidly. Who knows, by next month, I might be ready to challenge the dojo master realm!¡±
Mu Piaomiao, on the other hand, would never dare to eat Beefwood meat so frequently; doing so could lead to severe internal damage before even breaking through, ultimately resulting in a fatal hemorrhage.
¡°Completing one round of body refinement within months - not bad at all.¡±
Fang Xi was highly satisfied with this progress.
Considering he had only been practicing martial arts for half a winter, reaching the dojo master realm within another month seemed remarkably swift.
Having witnessed Mu Canglong¡¯s strength, Fang Xi knew that a Great Liang dojo master was roughly equivalent to a cultivator at the initial stage of Qi Refinement, just after their first body refinement.
¡°This speed is truly astonishing¡ Inparison, breaking through even oneyer in Qi Refinement within several months would mark someone as a rare genius, especially in the early stages.¡±
¡°Moreover, a cultivator who haspleted one body refinement can pose a significant threat to a Qi Refinement thirdyer cultivator in closebat.¡±
¡°And let¡¯s not forget, beyond the dojo master realm, there are higher levels still.¡±
At this moment, Fang Xi fully appreciated the benefits of vital energy martial arts: they were incredibly fast!
As martial arts primarily used by mortals seeking dominance, their progression naturally outpaced cultivation techniques significantly!
¡°If I could break through to realms above dojo master, perhaps I¡¯d match Middle Stage Qi Refinement body cultivators - now that would be immensely advantageous!¡±
¡°The key advantage here is the rapid advancement!¡±
¡°With a physiqueparable to Middle Stage Qi Refinement, maybe I could operate more freely at Qingzhu Mountain Market, selling some beast meats?¡±
Fang Xi¡¯s eyes gleamed slightly.
The price of beast meat far exceeded that of spirit rice!
More importantly, purchasing beast meat in Great Liang didn¡¯t require spirit stones; mere gold and silver sufficed, making it a virtually risk-free venture with immense profit potential!
If he maintained this pace, he might effortlessly umte resources needed for Foundation Establishment in the future!
Chapter 15: Night Feast
In the Great Liang World.
Fang Manor.
On exquisite blue and white porcin tesy meticulously prepared Beefwood meat by the skilled chef.
The peculiar aroma intensified, causing Lily, who was serving nearby, to involuntarily swallow with anticipation.
Lily was somewhat of an anomaly among the Twelve Flower Maidens. Shecked Yuegui¡¯s gentle attentiveness and did not possess the allure found in the other girls. Compared to them, she stood taller, with more angr facial features that did not align with the typical aesthetic preferences of Great Liang¡¯s nobility.
When purchasing the maidservants, she had been included merely as an extra gift.
However, Fang Xi found her quite appealing, possessing a spirited and vibrant beauty. If dressed in slightly masculine attire, she would resemble an elegantly handsome man.
Currently, Fang Xi had deliberately asked Lily to change into a set of white, form-fitting clothing, making her appear at first nce like a spirit incarnate from a white fox.
Fang Xi often enjoyed teasing Lily, as her naturally strong-willed character made the process of winning her over quite intriguing. But today, he had absolutely no interest in such games.
With a fierce bite into the Beefwood meat, the sulent juices exploded within his mouth.
Instantly!
His skin flushed red, resembling someone deeply intoxicated.
At the same time, muscles on his thigh began to ripple, and the serpent-like ck pattern rapidly expanded and grew¡
In the next instant, Fang Xi moved like the wind, swiftly weaving through numerous melee training posts.
Boom! Boom!
Lily felt as if she were witnessing a giant python darting back and forth, causing her to tremble with fear.
With each explosive sound, Fang Xi¡¯s kicks shattered the wooden posts, sending splinters flying everywhere.
After a prolonged period, Fang Xi finally stopped, gazing down at his legs.
The pants below his thighs were torn and tattered, revealing smooth skin adorned with a serpent pattern.
¡°Aplete double snake design signifies that my Red Snake Leg has also reached the three transformations of blood and qi realm.¡±
Fang Xi was not surprised by this advancement. After all, he had already broken through with the White Cloud Palm, and mastering the Red Snake Leg was merely an extension of his proficiency.
¡°Gongzi.¡± Lily handed him a towel, her movements stiff yet precise.
Fang Xi appreciated her spirited demeanor and smiled, ¡°This is the Red Snake Leg technique, impressive, isn¡¯t it? Want to learn? I could teach you¡¡±
Considering her long legs,bined with the Boneless Serpent Style¡ hiss¡
He couldn¡¯t help but shudder slightly at the thought.
Having teased his maid as usual, Fang Xi headed to the Baiyun Dojo.
Since achieving the third transformation of blood and qi, the dojo disciples treated him with increased reverence.
As for Wu Ji?
His appearances at the dojo became increasingly rare.
Moreover, there were no signs of any retaliatory actions from him; instead, he seemed to have adopted a lower profile.
This impressed Fang Xi somewhat, realizing that both fools and geniuses are rare; it¡¯s the ordinary popce who make up the vast majority.
In the main hall,
¡°Master!¡± Fang Xi bowed slightly, hands sped together.
Mu Canglong sat on his armchair, sipping from his cherished purple y teapot with contented eyes half-closed. ¡°Fang Xi, you¡¯re here¡ Oh right, your breakthrough to three transformations of blood and qi is a significant event for the dojo. Following tradition, we should celebrate. What do you suggest?¡±
¡°I think there¡¯s no need for celebration,¡± Fang Xi waved dismissively.
It was just the third transformation of blood and qi, not mastering true force or reaching the dojo master realm. What¡¯s there to celebrate? Besides, celebrations either seek fame or profit! He cared little for superficial renown, and as for profit? That would be even moreughable - any gifts from such a celebration wouldn¡¯tpare to the leaves he casually gathers!
¡°This¡ alright then.¡±
Initially, Mu Canglong seemed slightly displeased. After all, traditionally, once someone bes a disciple, they must heed their master like a father. However, Fang Xi wasn¡¯t like other apprentices-he already possessed considerable wealth!
Thanks to him, Baiyun Dojo had recently be much better off financially, making it difficult for Mu Canglong to rebuke him¡
¡°If there¡¯s nothing else, I¡¯ll take my leave now.¡±
Fang Xi bowed once more before leaving the main hall.
His primary purpose for visiting today was to find an opportunity to imprint the Divine Intent Diagram for the White Cloud Palm.
Once he obtained the diagram, Baiyun Dojo would hold little value for him anymore.
¡®This is the trouble with third-rate martial arts; just a slight breakthrough brings you close to their limit. What should I do next?¡¯
Fang Xi¡¯s eyes flickered as he contemted his future path. ¡°Yuanhe Mountain¡¡±
¡°Shidi, actually, Father has been under immense pressure for too long,¡± Mu Piaomiao said, defending Mu Canglong while discussing the Divine Intent Diagram. ¡°Managing Baiyun Dojo is quite arduous, and most disciples haven¡¯t lived up to expectations. It¡¯s rare to have someone like you emerge¡¡±
As she spoke, there was a hint of regret in her voice.
Fang Xi¡¯s talent with the White Cloud Palm truly made him unparalleled since the founding of Baiyun Dojo. However¡
He was simply too wealthy.
Sometimes, being excessively rich could be disadvantageous.
For instance, if Fang Xi had been born as a beggar or even just an ordinary civilian, Mu Canglong might have taken him as his adopted son, nurturing him meticulously to be the future face of the dojo!
What does it mean to be the face of the dojo? Naturally, it involves representing them in martial tournaments and duels against other dojos!
Once the master grows old, it also bes the responsibility of the sessor-disciple to defend the dojo from challengers.
If Fang Xi were willing to fulfill this role, Mu Canglong might even consider marrying Mu Piaomiao to him.
Unfortunately¡ Fang Xi was far too wealthy!
Why would he risk life and limb solely for a small dojo?
¡°I understand Master¡¯s thoughtful intentions¡¡± After a moment of contemtion, Fang Xi reluctantly responded, ¡°How about this? I canmit to representing the dojo once in the future!¡±
¡°Really?¡± Mu Piaomiao¡¯s eyes brightened slightly.
¡°But I have a condition¡¡± Seeing her reaction, Fang Xi promptly stated his requirement.
¡°What condition?¡± As Mu Piaomiao met his direct gaze, she couldn¡¯t help but blush faintly, thinking, ¡®If it¡¯s for Shidi, perhaps it wouldn¡¯t be entirely uneptable¡¡¯
The words ¡°I agree¡± were almost on the tip of her tongue.
However, Fang Xi continued, ¡°I would like exclusive ess to the White Cloud Divine Intent Diagram¡for one night!¡±
¡°Ah?¡± Mu Piaomiao¡¯s eyes widened, appearing somewhat taken aback.
Fang Xi, seemingly embarrassed, exined, ¡°Today, while trying toprehend the Divine Intent Diagram, I felt unable to grasp its essence. It might be because having someone nearby, especially my shidi, distracts me. Hence, I make this unusual request.¡±
¡°Just borrow the Divine Intent Diagram¡ for one night?¡±
Mu Piaomiao couldn¡¯t quite pinpoint her feelings, but suddenly she felt inexplicably annoyed! Such a golden opportunity, nearly slipping through her fingers¡
¡°Of course, if Shijie is not reassured, you can guard outside the door and inspect my progress afterward.¡± Fang Xi spoke with the demeanor of a righteous gentleman.
In the next moment, Mu Piaomiao thrust the White Cloud scroll into Fang Xi¡¯s arms. ¡°Fine, I agree.¡±
She swiftly turned and ran away, as if fleeing from some monstrous pursuit.
¡°Heh¡¡± Fang Xi rubbed his nose.
He understood perfectly well the thoughts of young women like Mu Piaomiao. By creating an awkward atmosphere, he had made it ufortable for her to face him again easily.
Seizing this opportune moment, a nk jade slip materialized in his hand, and he began copying¡
Shortly thereafter, the White Cloud Divine Intent Diagram was securely in his possession!
To Fang Xi, this was the only valuable asset worth considering within the entire Baiyun Dojo.
Nightfall.
At the Yuanhe Mountain¡¯s ckstone City branch,
several cultivators were feasting and asionally discussing local anecdotes and curiosities.
Theposed woman in white, Chunyu, gazed at the young shishu ¡®Linghu Yang¡¯ seated at the head of the table, hesitating as if wanting to speak but unable to find the words.
This shishu possessed extraordinary talent; recognized by one of Yuanhe Mountain¡¯s elders from a young age, he was taken under his wing as a direct disciple. His martial prowess skyrocketed uncontrobly, allowing him to break through to realms beyond even dojo masters at an exceptionally early age!
Due to his unwavering focus on martial arts, he had limited interactions with others, developing a solitary and entric nature.
That elder assigned him to the world below, making him the guardian of ckstone City partly with the intent to temper his character through worldly experiences.
Unfortunately¡ after several years, he remained unchanged, stillcking any understanding of social etiquette or diplomacy.
¡°Chunyu, why do you seem hesitant?¡± Linghu Yang, with keen senses, grew slightly impatient after just one cup of wine and casually asked her.
With pursed red lips, Chunyu finally spoke, ¡°Shishu¡ do you remember Fang Xi?¡±
Linghu Yang appeared taken aback. ¡°Who is this person?¡±
Feeling utterly helpless, Chunyu realized there was little she could do; even now, Linghu Yang struggled to remember names of some disciples within their branch.
She exined patiently, ¡°A few months ago, he sought to join Yuanhe Mountain but was rejected. He then went to Baiyun Dojo. Recently, rumors circted that he has mastered the White Cloud Palm and achieved the three transformations of blood and qi¡¡±
¡°Is that so? Seems like his luck outweighs his average talent,¡± Linghu Yang mused, twirling his wine cup. ¡°Perhaps his physique is particrly suited for the White Cloud Palm lineage¡ Still, it¡¯s just a third-rate martial art. How can itpare to our Yuanhe Mountain secret teachings? This individual will likely remain at best as a dojo master throughout his life¡¡± He paused briefly before asking, ¡°Why bring him up again?¡±
With a wry smile, Chunyu responded, ¡°This niece merely feels a bit regretful. If he managed to break through to the three transformations of blood and qi, he must possess some innate talent after all. Perhaps I misjudged him initially.¡±
¡°Misjudging him is no matter¡ There¡¯s no shortage of talents in this world,¡± Linghu Yang continued dismissively, his eyes gleaming with wisdom. ¡°The path of martial arts is vast and profound; innate talent merely serves as the threshold. More crucial are the resources one has ess to after entering that realm, guidance from experienced mentors, and personal diligence!¡±
Among these factors, choosing the right cultivation technique was paramount!
Regardless of how things turned out that day, Linghu Yang harbored no regrets. Once someone began practicing a third-rate martial art, their potential ceiling became irrevocably set.
¡°Shishu speaks profound truths indeed.¡± A portly cultivator, hearing this, enthusiastically banged the table in agreement. ¡°To such wisdom, let us raise a toast!¡±
Chunyu nced at him, recognizing him as Qiao Wuchang, a sect deacon known for his sycophancy. Despite his obsequious nature, his martial skills were genuinely impressive, albeit ruthlessly underhanded when deployed covertly.
At that moment, she chose not toment further.
Chunyu had always been reserved by nature, and tonight¡¯s sentiments were merely fleeting¡
Chapter 16: The Traitor
It was once again the fifteenth day of the month.
The moonlight shimmered like mercury spilling across the ground.
Fang Xi stepped onto a ck-roofed boat and arrived at the Ind in the River¡¯s ck market.
Inside the log cabin,
Fatso Han remained as obese as a mountain. Upon hearing Fang Xi¡¯s request, he jumped with surprise, ¡°What?! More?¡±
He scrutinized Fang Xi from head to toe, ¡°Ten pounds of meat is enough for an average cultivator tost half a year! Have you already finished it all, or did someone else im it?¡±
¡°How about this? When selling items in your ck market, do you really need to know their destination?¡± Fang Xi smiled faintly, producing gold leaves.
While jade leaves could have been used, doing so would immediately reveal his identity.
¡°Of course not¡¡± Fatso Han¡¯s massive body shifted slightly, seemingly exerting great effort just to lean aside. From beneath him, he retrieved arge chunk of Tai Sui meat. ¡°How much do you want this time?¡± ¡°Another ten pounds!¡± Fang Xi¡¯s expression remained unchanged.
¡°Well then¡ Given your strength and courage, would you be interested in taking on some private work?¡± Fatso Han tossed over the ten pounds of meat before posing the question.
¡°Oh? What kind of job?¡± Fang Xi casually inquired.
¡°Head outside the city to hunt monsters!¡± Fatso Han bared his teeth with a menacing grin. ¡°Only martial disciples with at least three transformations of blood and qi can participate, though true force cultivators would be even better. The rewards will be distributed based on individual contribution!¡±
¡°Hunting demonic beasts?¡±
Fang Xi indeed had great interest in this world¡¯s demon race, but after some thought, he decided against it.
His current strength was merely at the early stage of Qi Refinement. Encountering any danger could prove too risky.
¡°How¡ is there not enough monster meat for your shop?¡± Fang Xi countered with a question.
¡°No, no, it¡¯s just that a roaming demonic beast has been frequently disrupting trade routes¡ In a few days, your dojo might also receive an assistance request,¡± Fatso Han shook his head repeatedly. ¡°As for monster meat, our shop will never run short¡ Want to know why?¡± A peculiar smile spread across his face, whichbined with his mountainous girth, looked quite unsettling. Anyone with a vivid imagination might start feeling nauseous¡
¡°I¡¯m well aware, actually. Unlike other demonic beast meats, Beefwood grows rapidly when buried underground and provided with nutrients¡¡±
Fang Xi nodded slightly.
This exined why this shop consistently offered demon meat for sale. Other establishments, once their supply ran out, would need to organize dangerous hunts for demons, leading to unstable stock avability.
¡°Cut it out¡ Who told you that?¡±
Fatso Han¡¯s yful grin vanished, his face mirroring the copsed pile of meat mountains.
Isn¡¯t itmon knowledge that fungi grow rapidly?
You seriously underestimate my cultivator capabilities¡ To me, there¡¯s not much difference between you and a mushroom farmer.
Fang Xi silently grumbled but didn¡¯t respond, maintaining his enigmatic demeanor as he stepped out of the log cabin.
After browsing around the ck market, he entered another shack-like structure.
Compared to the previous ces, this log cabin appeared much simpler. An elderly man with white hair sat behind the counter, seemingly engrossed in a book.
Dressed in a faded blue robe, he exuded a schrly aura; however, given his age, he gave off the impression of a failed schr or impoverished literati.
Upon seeing Fang Xi enter, a smile instantly spread across his face. ¡°Looking to purchase information, sir?¡±
In the ck market, everything was for sale, and this particr log cabin was renowned for selling intelligence.
¡°Indeed.¡±
Fang Xi wore a conical bamboo hat and had changed her attire once more. ¡°May I inquire how information is sold here?¡±
The old man leisurely set down his book. ¡°In our establishment, every piece of information has its price, categorized into four tiers: Heaven, Earth, Profound, and Yellow. Each tier¡¯s cost varies ordingly. If you¡¯re interested in ¡®Heaven¡¯ tier intelligence, it covers all details extensively, but regarding the silver required, heh¡¡±
His words trailed off as Fang Xi produced a stack of gold leaves.
¡°I want information on martial forces within a hundred-mile radius, notable cultivators, and advanced martial arts¡ All should be ¡®Heaven¡¯ tier!¡±
¡°Certainly.¡±
The old man promptly stood up, his wrinkled face beaming like a blooming chrysanthemum. ¡°Honored guest, please have a seat. Would you care for some tea? Our shop recently acquired several pounds of premium bird tongue tea, quite renowned even in Ding Province¡¡±
Fang Xi found the old man¡¯s change in demeanor entirely understandable; after all, business is business!
Nothing shameful about making a profit!
However, when the old man dragged out a heavy chest from the backroom filled with numerous books, Fang Xi¡¯s expression beneath her veil began to dramatically shift.
¡®Damn, I underestimated this¡¡¯
¡®I didn¡¯t expect the intelligence to be so detailed¡¡¯
At Fang Manor.
Fang Xi summoned several maids to massage his shoulders and legs while he activated the earth-powered air conditioner. Settling down, he began flipping through the intelligence reports.
¡°Yuanhe Mountain¡ founded over three hundred years ago by ¡®Superior Master Yuanhe.¡¯ It consists of one sect leader, six elders, and eight guest experts¡ Their signature technique is the ¡®Yuanhe Five Thunder Hands¡¯¡¡±
¡°The ckstone City branch of Yuanhe Mountain is led by Linghu Yang. He defeated Dojo Master Stonebreaker within mere moves and effortlessly handled multiple dojo masters¡¯ assaults¡¡±
¡°Cunyu¡ has vanquished Red Snake Master Lu She¡¡±
¡°Qiao Wuchang, with few notable achievements, is known for his treacherous nature and preference for ambushes¡¡±
¡°Solo cultivator Zheng Tianbao, proficient in ¡®Cloud Soaring Art¡¯, notable achievements¡¡±
¡°Gold Badge Constable Shangguan Yun, known for capturing numerous notorious thieves, estimated strength surpasses that of average Dojo Masters¡¡±
Line by line, Fang Xi swiftly analyzed the intelligence, forming a general impression of the local martial forces.
¡°From what I see here, the strength of these dojos is truly¡ quite weak.¡±
After a long moment, Fang Xi put down the book, somewhat resigned.
This was not surprising; genuine experts rarely opened their own dojos. However, their weakness reaching this extent was genuinely unexpected.
Inparison, even just one branch of Yuanhe Mountain¡¯s ckstone City division could likely annihte all thebined dojos!
To sect cultivators or even solo practitioners, those seemingly powerful Dojo Masters serve merely as backdrops or stepping stones for bolstering their own achievements¡
¡®Linghu Yang¡ may have already surpassed the typical Dojo Master realm, entering a new level. He won¡¯t be easy to eliminate; for now, let¡¯s set aside ns against Yuanhe Mountain¡¡¯
¡®Maybe exploring other dojos and learning from their strengths could be another path for body refinement?¡¯
¡®Before that, should I resolve matters with the Red Snake Dojo? Both She Lei and Lu She undoubtedly harbor resentment towards me¡¡¯
Having pondered his options, Fang Xi ced the intelligence booklet aside and prepared to instruct Baihe in some leg techniques.
A fragrant breeze apanied Yuegui as she gracefully approached and bowed, ¡°Gongzi¡ Butler Fu requests an audience!¡±
¡°A-Fu? Send him in!¡±
Fang Xi nodded thoughtfully.
Momentster, A-Fu, the old housekeeper with long white hair and a sage-like appearance, entered and respectfully bowed. ¡°My lord!¡±
¡°Please rise,¡± Fang Xi waved his hand dismissively.
In the cultivation world, one¡¯s appearance was not indicative of strength; numerous cultivators projected a deceptive aura of sageliness while harboring ulterior motives.
This was especially true in Great Liang.
¡°Reporting to my lord, during my time in the city, I came across some information that might be useful¡¡± A-Fu said, still bent at the waist.
¡°Useful for me? Speak on! If it truly is valuable, there will be generous rewards.¡± Fang Xi maintained a rtively lenient attitude towards his servants.
At least, unlike certain noble families in the city, he didn¡¯t frequently send them off to the potter¡¯s field as punishment.
Moreover, any servant who performed meritorious deeds would invariably receive substantial rewards, fostering high motivation among the staff of Fang Manor.
¡°It goes like this¡ There will be a gathering in the city, inviting only the wealthiest individuals. Rumor has it, rare items for entertainment will be auctioned during the event¡ Apart from antiques, precious herbs, fine steeds, there will also be martial arts manuals and even demonic materials!¡± A-Fu exined.
¡°Oh?¡± Fang Xi¡¯s eyes lit up. ¡°When and where?¡±
¡°In five days, at the Ten Thousand Treasures Pavilion!¡± A-Fu responded promptly. ¡°If my lord wishes, this humble servant can secure an invitation.¡±
¡°Excellent, excellent! You shall indeed be handsomely rewarded!¡± Fang Xiughed heartily.
Nightfall.
The Fang Manor was enveloped in tranquility.
Fang Xi sat upright at his desk, observing several discreet arrangements he had made within the room, his expression somewhat uncertain.
Despite enjoying luxury, he maintained the cautious habits of a lone cultivator. His most critical private quarters were essible only to himself; even when engaging with servants, it always urred elsewhere.
With a sigh, he noted, ¡°Several hair strands show signs of disturbance. Has someone secretly entered my bedroom?¡±
In truth, Fang Xi was aware that his servants, all purchased rather than generations-long household staff,cked thorough loyalty and indoctrination.
asional petty theft, he could tolerate to some extent.
But this incident crossed the line!
¡°Who could it be? Bribing someone in my manor? Are they trying to uncover where I disappear for days and locate my hidden gold and silver reserves?¡± Fang Xi¡¯s demeanor turned utterly cold.
To resolve this, one simply needed to investigate meticulously, focusing on servants who frequently left the manor and interacted with outsiders - clues would surely emerge!
Moreover, with the means avable to cultivators, any traitor would find it impossible to remain undetected!
¡°I hope it¡¯s not those few¡¡± Fang Xi murmured, suddenly letting out another sigh.
In this world, there are often numerous troubles, which is why some cultivators renounce emotions entirely, forsaking personal attachments throughout their lives in pursuit of the grand Dao.
While Fang Xi wasn¡¯t as extreme, he too considered himself¡indifferent and detached from deep affections!
Chapter 17: Monster Menace
Several dayster, at night.
Near the rear entrance of Fang Manor.
A sudden patch of dark clouds appeared, obscuring the moonlight.
In the dimness, the back gate slowly opened, and a figure swiftly emerged.
The silhouette nced around cautiously, ensuring no one was watching, then hunched over and moved along the alleyway¡¯s edge towards a street corner. Suddenly, with a sh, it disappeared into a nearby residence.
¡°Heh heh¡ He Laofu, you¡¯ve finally arrived!¡±
Inside the house, lit by an oilmp, a tall, masked man red coldly at Steward Fu.
¡°I¡¯ve done everything as instructed. Where is my grandson?¡± Steward Fu asked stiffly.
If not for his beloved grandson being held hostage, he would never have betrayed his master¡¯s family. ¡°Hmph, did you find out where that person went during his disappearance? And what about the location of his hidden wealth?¡± the masked man queried.
¡°How would I know? That man has always been cautious,¡± sighed Steward Fu. ¡°I searched his room multiple times but found nothing¡ Return my grandson quickly; this old man needs to flee far away!¡±
While unaware of Fang Xi¡¯s background, the masked man observed his refined tastes and meticulous habits, surmising that he must be of significant stature¡ªpossibly a young master from a wealthy aristocratic family!
Having betrayed such a powerful master, Old F¨² knew only survival mattered to him.
¡°Our previous agreement required you to gather useful information first,¡± the masked man scolded. ¡°You¡¯re truly useless; no wonder you nearly starved to death before!¡±
¡°Yes¡ I never imagined that after saving A-Fu and your grandson from starvation on the roadside, you would betray me.¡±
Suddenly, another voice echoed from outside the window.
¡°What?¡±
Both Old F¨² and the masked man stared incredulously towards the window.
Bang!
The door burst open as Fang Xi swaggered into the room.
¡°Die!¡± In the next instant, the masked man leaped high, delivering a downward strike with his leg like a colossal axe splitting a mountain! His reaction was swift; upon realizing someone else¡¯s presence, he immediately chose to attack.
¡°So it is indeed the Red Snake Leg!¡± Fang Xiughed heartily, unleashing a palm strike in response.
His palm struck swiftly, like an imprable wall, intercepting the masked man¡¯s descending kick.
Bang!
As their shadows collided, the masked man shattered through a nearby window and flew outwards.
¡°Excellent White Cloud Palm!¡±
A raspy voice echoed as Fang Xi reached the window, watching the figure rapidly vanish around a street corner in the blink of an eye.
Fang Xi didn¡¯t pursue, turning instead to face Old F¨², whoseplexion alternated between red and pale.
¡°My lord, it is this old servant who has failed you!¡± Suddenly, Old F¨² knelt down, tears streaming from his eyes. ¡°It¡¯s all that cursed masked man¡¯s fault; he kidnapped my grandson and forced me to work for him¡¡±
¡°He Laofu, I naturally understood,¡± Fang Xi replied calmly. ¡°As a trusted steward, you wouldn¡¯t betray me unless coerced. However, betrayal is betrayal. One act of disloyalty means there can be no further trust. Farewell!¡±
¡°What?¡± He Laofu jerked his head up, his expression filled with shock.
Never could he have imagined that beneath the ever-smiling and amiable facade, his master harbored such cold ruthlessness!
However, it was toote for him to say more as a jet-ck hand quietly pressed down on his head.
A dark aura enveloped He Laofu¡¯s face; he convulsed a few times on the ground before turning lifeless¡
¡°I can understand your betrayal for your grandson, but that doesn¡¯t mean I forgive you¡ My role is merely to send you to the underworld; forgiveness is up to King Yama.¡±
Fang Xi withdrew his palm and turned to leave.
In truth, there was another reason behind Fang Xi¡¯s decision to kill A-Fu. After betraying him, with just a few words from the masked man, A-Fu had lowered his respectful address from ¡®Master¡¯ to ¡®that person¡¯. This indicated that even under duress, some resentment might have lingered within him!
¡®Considering his administrative abilities, perhaps he hailed from a schrly lineage. Serving as my steward must have felt demeaning to him¡¡¯
¡®Schrs tend to be proud and ambitious; how could they willingly ept servitude? Their overthinking often leads them to weigh pros and cons easily, making unfaithfulness moremon among educated individuals - indeed, there¡¯s truth in this saying!¡¯
As Fang Xi returned to his mansion, he quickly forgot about Old F¨².
As for the old man¡¯s grandson, Fang Xi left him to fend for himself, with not even the slightest ripple of concern for such insignificant vermin.
The next day.
Yuegui and other maids stood in a row, eyes lowered respectfully, not daring to make any slight movement. A few of the more timid ones even trembled visibly.
Fang Xi had summoned a ve trader today, intending to sell all servants who were close to Steward Fu.
¡°Please spare me, Master! Have mercy on me!¡± One maid wailed desperately, but Fang Xi¡¯s expression remained unchanged as he stirred his tea leisurely.
Servants had no personal freedom; once sold again, their new master might not be as lenient, or worse, they could be directly sold into the lowest brothels!
It was a grim scene, causing even Lily nearby to feel uneasy, yet she dared not utter a single word. She knew too well that if she spoke up, Fang Xi would sell her off alongside the others without hesitation.
¡°Many thanks, Master Fang. Here is the payment for the sales.¡± The ve trader grinned widely, barely showing any eyes amidst his broad smile, clearly pleased with this lucrative business. Respectfully, he handed over a pouch of silver coins.
¡°No need, keep it for your tea expenses.¡± Fang Xi rose from his seat and looked at Yuegui. ¡°From now on, our mansion¡¯s steward will no longer be A-Fu, but you. Remember that?¡±
¡°Yes, sir!¡±
All the maids and servants hastily bowed in acknowledgment.
After settling matters within the mansion, Fang Xi changed into casual attire and leisurely stepped out.
Although the masked intruderst night was a formidable cultivator with three transformations of blood and qi, Fang Xi could have easily apprehended him by using his trump cards. However, he chose not to, preferring to cast a wider for bigger prey.
Moreover, how can ordinary people defend against the methods avable to cultivators? This is precisely the advantage of a higher-dimensional strike.
¡°The current tracking techniques typically involve leaving scented powders or employing animals and humans to surveil along the way¡¡±
¡°After escaping, that masked man would likely destroy all his clothing and might even shed ayer of skin to avoid detection¡¡±
As Fang Xi strolled through the streets, he suddenly turned into a corner and retrieved a jade bottle from his robes.
Upon removing the stopper, a snow-white Jade Spirit Bee emerged.
This was a ¡®Spirit-Seeking Bee¡¯, naturally highly sensitive to spiritual energy. Spirit farmers often used them to locate nodes of spiritual power in their fields or for pollinating spirit flowers.
During the confrontationst night, Fang Xi had subtly infused a trace of his magical energy into the masked man.
Magical energy is refined spiritual energy.
¡°Go!¡±
Fang Xi formed hand seals with both hands and pointed at the Spirit-Seeking Bee!
Buzzzz!
The snow-white bee took flight, circled around him three times, then steadily flew onto the main street.
Fang Xi promptly followed suit, overtaking numerous pedestrians along the way. After traversing several streets, the Spirit-Seeking Bee paused near a courtyard wall.
Fang Xi rounded to the front gate and looked up.
The words ¡°Red Snake Dojo¡± boldly caught his eye.
¡°Could it truly be someone from the Red Snake Dojo?¡± Fang Xi murmured, stroking his chin. ¡°It¡¯s not entirely impossible¡¡±
However, after waiting for a moment, the Spirit-Seeking Bee made a loop and suddenly flew in another direction.
Fang Xi sensed progress and continued to trail behind.
After several twists and turns, they arrived at the edge of argeke shimmering like jade.
Within theke, remnants of lotus nts could be seen, but past their season, no flowers remained, leaving only dry and withered seed pods.
There was no need to inquire further; Fang Xi recognized this ce well.
¡°Yuanhe Mountain?¡±
After confirming his suspicions once more, Fang Xi recalled the Spirit-Seeking Bee and muttered with a wry smile, ¡°I didn¡¯t even n to provoke you, yet here youe after me?¡±
¡°And not only that¡you¡¯re attempting to frame the Red Snake Dojo¡¡±
If Fang Xi had followed the trailst night, there was an eighty percent chance he would have directly implicated the Red Snake Dojo.
Given his past grievances with Lu She and She Lei, any normal person would naturally assume they were striking out again!
They wouldn¡¯t suspect any connection to Yuanhe Mountain at all!
¡°This scheme is truly malicious; I fear it must involve Qiao Wuchang.¡±
Recalling the intelligence report¡¯s assessment, Fang Xi immediately identified his target.
No matter how cunning their ns, absolute power renders them futile!
Fang Xi approached the main entrance of Yuanhe Mountain, found a tea stall, and sat down, pondering his next course of action.
¡®Let¡¯s wait first. With the newly acquired Beefwood meat, I can undoubtedly break through to the true force realm, giving me greater confidence when the timees¡¡¯
Just as Fang Xi was about to leave,
Boom!
The gates of Yuanhe Mountain¡¯s branch opened dramatically, and arge group emerged, mounted on fine horses, heading towards the outskirts of the city.
Among the procession, a spirited young warrior led the way, followed closely by a strikingly beautiful woman, both leavingsting impressions.
¡°Isn¡¯t that Garrison Commander Linghu and Manager Chun?¡± Clearly recognizing them, patrons eximed with surprise at the tea stall. ¡°They¡¯ve ventured out together? Could it be due to the beast terrorizing the trade routes?¡±
Upon hearing this, Fang Xi¡¯s expression turned serious.
¡°Yes¡ things have be increasingly uneasytely,¡± sighed a peddler dressed in coarse clothing, smiling bitterly. ¡°First, Three Mountains Ridge; then, Changshui River; now, the trade routes¡ Aren¡¯t these beasts appearing far too frequently?¡±
¡°We¡¯re fortunate to have cultivators around!¡± The tea stall owner clearly held Yuanhe Mountain in high regard. ¡°With Garrison Commander Linghu on the case, capturing such minor beasts should be effortless, wouldn¡¯t you agree?¡±
¡°Absolutely, absolutely¡¡± The group nodded in agreement before continuing their tea-drinking.
¡°Waiter, settle the bill!¡±
Fang Xi ced a small piece of silver on the table, showing no interest in joining themotion.
Instead, he recalled Fatso Han mentioning beast-hunting opportunities through the ck market.
¡®Maybe these incidents are connected!¡¯
¡®But the frequency of these monster appearances is unusually high¡ something seems off.¡¯
For a moment, concern shed across Fang Xi¡¯s face, only to quickly vanish as if nothing troubled him.
After all, when the sky falls, it¡¯s the tall ones who bear the brunt!
And should danger arise, he could always flee to the southern wilderness¡¯s cultivation world; it wouldn¡¯t be too problematic.
Chapter 18: Summer Bamboo Shoots and Brewing
Outside ckstone City, near the trade route.
Suddenly, a sound akin to thunder roared through the air!
Bang!
A massive ck wolf with two heads, standing as tall as two men, copsed onto the ground.
Linghu Yang gentlynded, his once erged hands instantly returning to their jade-like paleplexion.
¡°Linghu-shishu¡¯s Five Thunder Hands have be truly formidable,¡± Chunyuplimented softly. ¡°To y this demon wolf with just one strike!¡±
¡°With time, Linghu-shishu is destined to be an elder of Yuanhe Mountain,¡± Qiao Wuchang added, beaming. ¡°Even aspiring for the position of Sect Leader seems well within reach¡¡±
¡°It was merely a low-tier outcast beast¡nothing remarkable.¡± Linghu Yang waved dismissively, his expression indifferent, as if it were not an achievement worth boasting about. ¡°Clean up here; I¡¯ll head back now¡ The recent surge in demonic creatures around the city might indicate something deeper. I need to write and inquire with the sect.¡±
Chunyu and Qiao Wuchang exchanged nces, feeling a slight chill down their spines. The sudden appearance of these outcast beasts from their deep forest habitats might indicate¡the emergence of even stronger creatures within their territory, or possibly¡demons!
However, ncing at the assisting dojo masters nearby, Chunyu and Qiao Wuchang exchanged looks without voicing their concerns.
After Linghu Yang departed, Qiao Wuchang waved his hand beneath his nose, repulsed by the foul smell emanating from the demon wolf¡¯s carcass. ¡°You lot¡ properly handle this demon wolf and deliver it to Yuanhe Mountain, understood?¡±
¡°Understood!¡±
¡°Yes, sir!¡±
The dojo masters shared uneasy nces. Though feeling somewhat humiliated, they reluctantly agreed.
This operation to clear outcast beasts was led by the government with orders issued ordingly, with Linghu Yang of Yuanhe Mountain as the primary force. Normally influential figures within the city, these dojo masters now found themselves outmatched in martial prowess. Consequently, they were relegated to supporting roles, subject to being directed around.
Fortunately, dealing with a single beast, albeit dirty andbor-intensive work, posed no significant danger. As a perk, they could im some leftovers for personal gain.
¡°Feng-xiong, let¡¯s get started right away!¡±
As they watched Yuanhe Mountain¡¯s forces gradually recede into the distance, one dojo master d in ck robes spoke up.
¡°Hmm, this beast is quite hefty. I¡¯d estimate we can easily yield several thousand pounds of prime meat.¡±
Feng-xiong smiled, mentally calcting how much outcast beast meat he could skim off for personal gain and how many silver taels it would fetch.
The skin, flesh, and blood of these creatures were incredibly resilient; even cultivators with three transformations of blood and qi might struggle to prate them. Only the dojo masters had the capability to make use of such materials effectively.
One by one, they stepped forward, peeling the hide and dismantling the bones, engrossed in their task.
¡°Sigh¡ Truly, Yuanhe Mountain is unparalleled. Look at that Five Thunder Palm, its force akin to divine retribution¡¡± Feng-xiong remarked while slicing off a piece of wolf meat along a wound.
Suddenly, he let out a startled cry, ¡°Not good!¡±
¡°Hm?¡±
The other dojo masters jumped in rm, hastily stepping back and assuming martial stances.
¡°T-There¡¯s something¡moving inside!¡± Feng-xiong stuttered, his back facing the group.
An eerie scene unfolded atop the dead wolf¡¯s body.
One by one, ck tendrils resembling vines emerged from within the demon wolf¡¯s corpse. They seemed to rece its veins and bones, reassembling the flesh anew.
Snap, crackle¡
A series of teeth-grating sounds echoed incessantly as the tendrils gnawed on the demon wolf¡¯s bones, gradually usurping them¡
¡°Awooo!¡±
In an instant, the previously dead demon wolf shakily rose to its feet. Blood still dripped from its wounds, yet it let out a powerful howl, its lifeless, pale eyes staring at the gathered crowd.
¡°Grrr¡¡±
One dojo master, his face pallid, asked, ¡°Feng-xiong, what¡what should we do?¡±
¡°I¡how¡would I know?¡± Feng-xiong turned away, revealing tiny root-like structures emerging from his mouth, nostrils, and ears¡ªreminiscent of nt roots!
Undoubtedly, he too had fallen victim to this sinister force.
¡°Oh no, even Feng-xiong is¡¡±
¡°Abomination! Behold my Thunderbolt Palm!¡± A session of furious shouts followed, quickly turning into agonized screams.
Eventually, all other sounds faded away, leaving only the persistent crunching of something being gnawed upon.
One by one, mutted human bodies staggered upright, aligning themselves with the wolf carcasses. They gazed towards ckstone City, their ashen faces contorting into stiff smiles¡
Fang Xi remained unaware of the events unfolding outside ckstone City.
He had already returned to the southern wilderness¡¯s cultivation realm.
Both his martial arts training and progress with the Evesting Spring Art were better facilitated in this environment.
Upon entering his courtyard, Fang Xi spotted Chen Ping who had just arrived from outside.
Hmm, noticing Chen Ping¡¯s unsteady gait, Fang Xi couldn¡¯t help but be reminded of Old Man Mai for some reason.
¡°Fellow Daoist Chen,¡± he greeted first.
¡°Fellow Daoist Fang,¡± Chen Ping responded, a look of satisfaction on his face. With gratitude, he added, ¡°That Goddess Hong Feng is indeed remarkably understanding¡ I must truly thank you for your advicest time.¡±
¡°Oh, it was no trouble at all.¡±
After exchanging pleasantries, they discussed their recent experiences, quickly feeling closer as friends.
¡°I¡¯ve long wanted to cultivate more friendships, but unfortunately, my reserved nature often holds me back¡¡± Fang Xi finally shared his own concern.
Hearing this, Chen Ping burst outughing, ¡°In the market, I have several acquaintances among fellow cultivators. When the timees, I¡¯ll introduce them to you, and we can all¡¡±
Watching Chen Ping¡¯s retreating figure as he headed indoors, Fang Xi nodded then shook his head.
In truth, if Chen Ping could shift his infatuation from Lu Zhi to Goddess Hong Feng, it might not be such a bad thing¡ probably? After all, it¡¯s consensual, isn¡¯t it? The only downside would be the cost in spirit stones.
Spring gave way to summer.
As thunder boomed across the sky, Fang Xi donned his straw rain cape and ventured into the lush emerald bamboo forest.
¡°Spring breeze brings timely rain; all life flourishes - Now!¡±
Within the bamboo grove, Fang Xi solemnly formed a hand seal, channeling a magical incantation.
With each dispersal of his internal magical energy, a distinct seal materialized in his palms, gradually taking shape before soaring into the air.
Mists appeared out of nowhere, enveloping the area, followed by gentle rainfall descending upon thend.
The droplets cascaded like threads in a dreamy haze.
This was the Spring Breeze and Timely Rain Technique!
Not only did it summon rain, but it also infused the water with subtle spiritual energy, effectively promoting the growth of spirit bamboo!
Swish!
The spiritually enriched raindropsnded on the earth, swiftly prating the soil and reaching the roots of the spirit bamboo.
Beneath the ground, resilient vitality burst through the dirt, revealing tiny bamboo shoots just emerging at the surface.
¡°As spring turns to summer, nature blooms with indescribable wonder¡¡±
Fang Xi spread his arms wide and tilted his head back, allowing the spiritual rain to ssh against his straw cape and gently touch his face, a look of satisfaction spreading across him.
It was now the time for nting summer harvest spirit bamboo rice.
As a spirit farmer, one must regrly perform the ¡®Spring Breeze and Timely Rain Technique¡¯ to provide essential nutrients for the bamboo shoots. This directly impacted next year¡¯s yield, and no spirit farmer dared to neglect this responsibility, including Chen Ping!
Despite his reluctance, he had recently reduced the frequency of visiting Goddess Hong Feng.
There was no choice; his talisman-making skills were not yet sufficient to support his cultivation expenses. For now, tending to the spirit fields remained crucial for providing sustenance and ie for his family.
¡°A cultivation base at the thirdyer of Qi Refinement is still too low.¡±
After casting the spell, Fang Xi felt the depletion of over half his magical energy, leaving him with a grim expression.
The high consumption of the Spring Breeze and Timely Rain Technique was one issue.
Additionally, his own cultivation level and the inferior tier of his cultivation techniquepounded the problem.
This limitation severely hindered his ability to cast spells multiple times.
¡°It¡¯s unfortunate¡ obtaining a new cultivation technique seems utterly unrealistic. I don¡¯t even have a single spirit stone left¡¡±
Returning to his shack, Fang Xi couldn¡¯t help but wryly smile.
He went down to the cer where several sake jars were already piled up in one corner.
These represented the bulk of his recent spirit stone expenditures.
Ever since his visit to the Pill Cauldron Pavilion, Fang Xi had been contemting brewing his own spirit wine.
With ample supply of spirit bamboo rice avable, he managed to acquire a small bottle of spirit fermentation starter from a vendor at the market on a lucky asion.
Althoughcking a precise recipe, he decided to experiment with winemaking.
Of course, Fang Xi wasn¡¯t recklessly brave; instead, he meticulously controlled variables in each jar, creating several reference groups.
Moreover, he used only minimal amounts of spirit rice per jar, ensuring that even if any batch failed, the overall loss would be insignificant.
With this setup, by next year, he might sessfully develop a suitable spirit wine recipe.
¡®A single piece of yeast cost me one whole spirit stone.¡¯
Fang Xi solemnly reburied the sake jars, eyeing them carefully.
These were crucial harvests for the uing year; identally spilling even one jar would be heart-wrenching.
He picked up thest jar, scrutinized it briefly, and gracefully inscribed a line on its seal: ¡°Spirit Bamboo Rice Wine - using two pounds of spirit rice, one ounce of yeast, early spring snow water¡ aged amidst summer thunderstorms, awaiting the dawn of next spring¡¡±
After burying the final jar underground, Fang Xi let out a long breath.
Havingpleted these tasks, he resumed consuming Beefwood meat while practicing the White Cloud Palm and Red Snake Leg techniques.
Over recent days, with the aid of Beefwood meat, spirit bamboo rice, and the cultivation world¡¯s abundant spiritual energy, his blood qi umtion had skyrocketed, far surpassing Mu Piaomiao¡¯s progress.
Now, upon hearing Xia Lei¡¯s thunder, he sensed the signs of an imminent breakthrough!
¡®The cultivation world is filled with numerous experts. If a great Foundation Establishment cultivator passes by and detects my breakthrough through their divine sense, exining it won¡¯t be easy¡¡¯
¡®I¡¯m unsure how significant the disturbance will be when breaking through to the dojo master realm, but safetyes first.¡¯
With a swift thought, Fang Xi transformed his surroundings instantly.
In the blink of an eye, he found himself in the Great Liang World, at Fang Manor!
Chapter 19: Breaking Through to True Force
¡°In Great Liang¡¯s Martial Path of Blood and Qi, until reaching the three transformations, one primarily focuses on enhancing their own vital energy. This stage is known as a martial apprentice¡¡±
¡°Once at the pinnacle of the third transformation, byprehending Divine Intent Diagrams, you can unify your true force and enter the realm of True Force cultivators!¡±
¡°This is also the limit for most dojo masters!¡±
In the rear courtyard of Fang Manor.
Fang Xi seized the elusive moment of inspiration for breakthrough, channeling his peak vital energy power through every limb and bone, subtly preparing to form a new, unified strength within him.
With calm focus, he delved intoprehending both Divine Intent Diagrams, merging his spiritual awareness with myriad transformations, seeking that pivotal opportunity.
¡®Cultivators possess spiritual sense, which seems to give them an advantage in understanding Divine Intent Diagramspared to ordinary martial artists¡¡¯
The thought spontaneously arose in Fang Xi¡¯s mind.
In the next instant, distorted images of snakes abruptly materialized before his eyes. It was the Red Snake Leg Divine Intent Diagram!
¡°I didn¡¯t expect¡the Red Snake Leg would be the first to break through?¡±
¡°It truly shows thatprehending Divine Intent Diagrams relies heavily on chance, unpredictable indeed¡¡±
Suddenly, Fang Xi perceived the mountains, rivers, and serpentine shapes within the diagram as patterns governing the flow of vital energy¡
Unconsciously, his surging vital energy began to circte along mysterious pathways.
The countless threads of vital energy twisted and intertwined, akin to fine strands coalescing into robust steel cables.
Snap!
As if breaking through a barrier!
Fang Xi introspected himself and discovered a newfound strength within!
True Force!
This power was entirely distinct from the ¡®inner breath¡¯monly referred to by mortals in the cultivation realm. It anchored itself across his limbs and skeletal structure, coursing between muscles and strengthening his internal organs.
Due to its authentic nature, it was aptly named ¡®True Force¡¯!
With True Force achieved, Fang Xi¡¯s abundant vital energy rapidly transformed into this potent essence.
He let out a triumphant howl, feeling the skin, hands, and main body parts harden swiftly! The enhancement was most pronounced in his legs, far exceeding that of other areas.
After all, he had broken through using Red Snake Leg technique!
This exemplified a limitation of third-rate martial arts: they primarily focus on enhancing one specific area. Although some strengthening urs elsewhere, it falls significantly shortpared to secret, advanced techniques.
Instinctively, Fang Xi stomped his foot.
Boom!
The limestone beneath his foot crumpled as if struck by a heavy hammer, leaving a deep pit with countless cracks radiating outward like a spider web.
Before this breakthrough, Fang Xi could never have achieved such destructive force so effortlessly!
¡°Indeed¡ there¡¯s a vast chasm between true force and ordinary blood qi for martial apprentices.¡±
¡°No wonder Mu Canglong dispatched She Lei with such ease; I can now do the same.¡±
Fang Xi estimated that his martial prowess had at least tripled, enabling him to easily take on multiple versions of his pre-breakthrough self. Even dealing with She Lei would be just a matter of one kick now.
After a moment, as if remembering something, he suddenly produced a flying sword thin as a leaf!
It was the Qinghe Sword!
Holding the hilt, Fang Xi positioned the de towards his finger. Then, reconsidering, he lifted his pant leg and pressed the tip of the sword against his skin.
He felt a slight resistance. With increased pressure, the flying sword momentarily met some obstruction before smoothly piercing through the skin, drawing a drop of blood¡
¡°This defense is indeedparable to the first stage of Body Refinement¡¡± Fang Xi nodded.
The first stage of Body Refinement equaled the initial phase of Qi Refinement for other cultivators!
However, it did not mean his body had be harder than low-grade magical artifacts!
Comparing flesh and blood against metal was inherently foolish.
¡°To truly achieve immunity against low-grade magical artifacts, or in other words, having a physique as resilient as such artifacts, would likely require reaching the fourth level of Body Tempering. That¡¯s equivalent to Foundation Establishment for a body cultivator, where one could withstand both low-grade and mid-grade magical artifacts without sustaining any harm¡¡±
¡°At the first stage of Body Refinement, when faced with a low-grade magical artifact, there would be a momentary resistance¡ Additionally, muscles and bones be significantly stronger, possibly even trapping low-grade artifacts, thus enhancing survival capabilities and overall strength¡ Those are the primary benefits.¡±
With these advantages, in closebat, body cultivators can gain significant superiority over ordinary cultivators.
¡°Consequently, my flying sword, being a magical artifact, poses a considerable threat to the dojo master Wu and even Garrison Commander Linghu!¡±
¡°Moreover, achieving the first stage of Body Refinement is akin to gaining dozens of spirit stones for free - truly delightful news¡,¡± Fang Xi mused.
He flicked Qinghe Sword, causing its de to hum resonantly, reminiscent of a dragon¡¯s roar.
¡°Today¡¯s breakthrough calls for celebration; I should kill a few people to unwind¡¡± He gazed towards the Red Snake Dojo.
Lu She and She Lei had long been on his hit list, but he had exercised restraint until now. After all, while She Lei was manageable, Lu She posed a significant threat.
But with this breakthrough, they no longer seemed formidable.
¡®Furthermore¡ by eliminating Lu She and his associates, I can make those behind Yuanhe Mountain believe I¡¯ve only uncovered what they intended me to find. Heh¡ they wanted me to fall into their trap? I¡¯ll show them that the same trap affects different individuals in entirely unexpected ways.¡¯
That night.
At the Red Snake Dojo!
¡°I¡¯m not sure what¡¯s going ontely, but the dojo master has been holdingte-night meetings with several elders frequently.¡±
A disciple responsible for nocturnal patrols yawned, gazing at the brightly lit buildings, muttering to himself.
With their superiors so engrossed in discussions, there was no chance for him to ck off or sneak off to sleep.
As his eyes began to droop, he suddenly noticed something sh past.
¡°What was that?¡±
He hastily raised hisntern, rubbed his eyes, and found only silence around him, punctuated by asional insect calls.
¡°Could it have been a bat?¡± The disciple mumbled before continuing his patrol.
Inside the study room,
Lu She studied a map, his expression grim. ¡°During this recent monster hunt¡ initially, everything seemed smooth, but then abruptly, Old Feng and his group disappeared. Rumor has it, neither bodies nor survivors were found - quite troubling¡¡±
Facing Lu She were several prominent elders and instructors from the Red Snake Dojo, all having achieved three transformations of blood and qi. Among them was also She Lei.
¡°Master¡ Could it be that even Yuanhe Mountain found nothing?¡± She Lei asked.
¡°Hmph, Linghu Yang from Yuanhe Mountain is aplete fool!¡± Lu She spat angrily.
However, after cursing, he fell deep into thought.
Although the guardian from Yuanhe Mountain stationed in ckstone City was cold-hearted, he wasn¡¯t foolish.
His behavior at the time was indeed peculiar.
Could it be¡that he discovered some clues?
¡°If it truly is that¡ we might not be safe staying in ckstone City anymore.¡±
Lu She held up a candlestickmp, studying the map intently with a contemtive expression.
Pffft! Pffft!
Suddenly, faint sounds echoed through the air.
¡°E-enemy¡¡± Before one of the Red Snake Dojo elders could finish his sentence, an invisible sword qi sliced open his throat. He copsed into a pool of blood, clutching his neck, unable to utter a sound.
¡°What kind of martial art is this?¡± Lu She eximed, both shocked and furious!
Such an invisible sword qi technique bordered on myth and legend, perhaps achievable only by rumored Zongshi-level masters.
But if it were truly a Zongshi, why resort to sneak attacks?
With just onemand, the entire Red Snake Dojo could be razed to the ground.
Bang!
Amidst his shock and fury, a figure burst into the room, unleashing a flurry of swift kicks.
¡°Ugh!¡±
Several muffled groans echoed as the remaining elders were sent flying, their bodies seemingly drained of all strength.
Most notably, She Lei¡¯s chest caved in, clearly indicating his demise.
¡°That is¡¡±
¡°The Red Snake Leg!¡± Lu She¡¯s eye twitched, recognizing the attacker¡¯s technique.
The fluid and unpredictable leg movements, appearing boneless mid-air, left no doubt in his mind.
¡°A True Force cultivator, who exactly are you?¡± Lu She demanded.
¡°Enough noise!¡± Fang Xi, masked in ck, shifted his right leg, channeling true force into it. The muscles bulged, hardening like iron, ready to sweep away armies.
Bang!
Lu She, also a dojo master, bnced on one foot beforeunching a powerful kick.
Their legs intertwined like two pythons before swiftly separating, leaving only muted echoes in the air.
¡°What a pity¡¡± Fang Xi stood with hands sped behind his back, letting out a mncholic sigh.
¡°Why do you say it¡¯s unfortunate?¡± Lu She subtly nced at his own calf, feeling a tingling sensation spreading from where their legs had connected.
Reluctantly, he had to admit that youth indeed held an advantage inbat!
Moreover, the opponent¡¯s explosively powerful blood qi far exceeded his expectations, cing this dojo master decidedly on the defensive.
¡°It¡¯s unfortunate because Red Snake Leg has no further advancement path,¡± Fang Xi replied honestly.
The Red Snake Master¡¯s strength was limited; without any secret techniques, he proved remarkably weak.
This confirmed that beyond the dojo master level, there were indeed no additional training methods for the Red Snake Leg.
Fang Xi felt quite helpless about this revtion.
He yearned to rapidly advance his martial arts realm!
After all, reaching the dojo master level equated to achieving a once-tempered body. If he could break through another major boundary, would it correspond to a twice-tempered body for a body cultivator?
It was well-known that tempering one¡¯s body once typically cost around dozens of spirit stones, while tempering it twice required at least a hundred!
Upon sess, such mastery would be equivalent to a Mid Qi Refining cultivator!
With that level of power, Fang Xi would feel more confident to assert himself within the cultivation world.
¡°Since you were once an apprentice here, have you returned for further mastery of the Red Snake Leg?¡±
Lu She¡¯s pupils contracted sharply before he eximed loudly, ¡°Unfortunately¡ the Red Snake Leg has reached its true force limit. It cannot enhance your entire body nor transform true force into True Force, preventing advancement to the higher realm of martial artists!¡±
¡°Oh? After the dojo master level, it involves strengthening the whole body and transforming true force into True Force?¡± Fang Xi¡¯s eyes lit up.
¡°Heh heh¡ Your talent is exceptional, but sadly, you¡¯ve strayed onto a misguided path. With great proficiency in the Red Snake Leg, your blood qi will inevitably conflict with other martial arts, hindering your ability to learn advanced techniques. Your future achievements will be limited, ha ha!¡± Lu Sheughed heartily.
However, after hisughter subsided, something felt amiss. His chuckles gradually diminished, and confusion crept across his face.
¡°Do you wonder why, despite your loud cries, no one outside responds as if they¡¯re all dead, failing toe to your aid?¡± Fang Xi¡¯s gaze held a teasing tone. ¡°Too bad¡ I won¡¯t reveal the reason to you!¡±
Outside the door, a talismany quietly affixed in a corner.
No matter how thunderous themotion inside, silence reigned beyond¡
Chapter 20: Sudden Demon Disaster
Dawn approached.
The splendid morning light slowly cascaded from the east, casting a golden hue over the entirety of ckstone City.
Fang Xi returned to his mansion and changed clothes.
¡°Lu She was no match at all, but the information he revealed before dying is worth considering¡¡±
Last night, utilizing the power of paper talismans, Fang Xi effortlessly eliminated the top members of the Red Snake Dojo, while their peripheral disciples remainedpletely unaware.
Additionally, he had sessfully conducted an experiment using Lu She.
¡®Even with true force, cultivators face significant disadvantages against low-grade magical artifacts¡ Their bones may be slightly tougher than ordinary people¡¯s, but by avoiding the hardest areas and targeting vital points, it¡¯s remarkably easy to ovee them despite having inferior strength!¡¯
Recalling the sheer astonishment on Lu She¡¯s face when confronted with the flying sword technique, Fang Xi still found it highly amusing.
After finishing breakfast, Fang Xi headed to Baiyun Dojo. ¡°Shidi, you¡¯re finally here.¡±
Mu Piaomiao, standing at the dojo entrance, brightened upon seeing Fang Xi and immediately took his hand, guiding him towards the inner courtyard.
¡°Shijie, what¡¯s happening?¡±
Feeling the curious gazes of nearby disciples, Fang Xi subtly withdrew his hand from Mu Piaomiao¡¯s grasp.
¡°Daddy¡¯s friend has arrived; Uncle Hao is also a dojo master¡¡±
Mu Piaomiao briefly exined with concise words.
¡®Oh, so Mu Canglong wants me there for appearances when entertaining guests?¡¯
Fang Xi quickly understood and did not refuse, following Mu Piaomiao into the living room.
¡°Haha, this must be my esteemed niece! You¡¯ve blossomed even more beautifully.¡±
In the main hall, Mu Canglong was seated with a ruddy-faced, burly man as host and guest respectively.
Upon spotting Mu Piaomiao, the red-faced man¡¯s eyes lit up, and he promptly instructed a young man in crimson robes beside him, ¡°Haven¡¯t you greeted her yet?¡±
¡°Greetings, I am Hao Lan.¡± The youth, likely a nephew or rtive of Dojo Master Hao, stepped forward with a warm smile.
¡°My nephew here is exceptionally gifted; at just neen years old, he has already achieved the three transformations of blood and qi realm¡¡± Dojo Master Hao chuckled heartily.
¡°Haha¡ My own unworthy daughter only reached the three transformations milestone at twenty.¡± Mu Canglong nonchntly sipped his tea before pointing to Fang Xi. ¡°However, this disciple shows great promise. At seventeen, he too has attained the three transformations of blood and qi.¡±
¡°What?¡± Hao Lan¡¯s expression instantly shifted, as if struck by a sharp blow.
¡°Haha¡ I have important matters to discuss with Brother Mu¡¡± Despite being momentarily stunned, Dojo Master Hao quickly regained hisposure.
¡°Indeed, Piaomiao, Fang Xi, why don¡¯t you take Hao Lan for a tour around? Young people should spend more time together,¡± Mu Canglong added solemnly.
Fang Xi and Mu Piaomiao bowed respectfully and stepped out of the living room.
As they approached the door, Fang Xi¡¯s ears twitched, catching the concerned tone of Dojo Master Hao¡¯s voice: ¡°¡Brother Mu, there seems to be something amiss with that recent beast hunt!¡±
¡°What exactly went wrong during the beast hunt?¡± Fang Xi pondered this while noticing that Mu Piaomiao kept ncing at his shidi, stirring a hint of youthfulpetitiveness within him.
¡°Breaking through to the three transformations of blood and qi at just seventeen is truly impressive,¡± Hao Lan remarked, aiming to provoke. ¡°Why don¡¯t we have a friendlypetition, what do you say?¡±
¡°Um¡that¡¯s not necessary, right?¡± Fang Xi declined politely.
As a dojo master, he could easily dispatch ordinary practitioners with three transformations of blood and qi with a single kick.
¡°How so? In front of Miss Mu, Junior Brother Fang, surely you¡¯re not¡ afraid of losing?¡± Hao Lan grinned, thinking young impetuosity would make Fang Xi take the bait.
Unexpectedly, Fang Xi internally rolled his eyes, unwilling to engage with childish provocation. He responded, ¡°Well¡then I¡¯ll concede by default. Brother Hao¡¯s prowess is outstanding; I must admit my inferiority!¡±
¡°Huh?¡± Hao Lan¡¯s eyes widened, as if reassessing Fang Xi entirely. After a moment, he managed to utter, ¡°I¡¯ve never encountered anyone quite like you, Brother Fang¡¡±
¡°Old brother Mu, please take today¡¯s events to heart.¡±
At the entrance of Baiyun Dojo, Dojo Master Hao bid farewell to Mu Canglong with his nephew by his side.
Mu Piaomiao and Fang Xi stood amidst the crowd, seeing them off.
¡°You¡why did you concede so quickly?¡± Mu Piaomiao leaned close to Fang Xi, whispering discreetly.
¡°Why fight a meaningless battle?¡± Fang Xi countered, lowering his gaze slightly.
Rather than squabbling with children, it was more prudent to consider the recent eerie atmosphere in ckstone City.
It seemed as though¡something significant had urred since theirst monster hunt.
As his thoughts wandered, suddenly, a panicked cry echoed nearby:
¡°Murderers! Help!¡±
The shrill voice nearly pierced the sky.
¡°Hm?¡±
Frowning, Fang Xi followed the dojo group towards the source of the sound.
Upon turning a street corner, they encountered a frenzied crowd fleeing from several¡strange figures?
¡°What the hell¡are these things?¡±
With keen eyesight, Fang Xi discerned the true appearance of these strange beings - emaciated cheeks, with wood-like tendrils emerging from their facial orifices.
One of the creatures casually grabbed a passerby, and instantly, numerous tendrils burrowed into the person¡¯s body.
¡°Ah!¡±
An innocent bystander screamed as their body rapidly shrank, eyes losing focus¡
¡®Seems¡like some kind of puppet?¡¯
As a cultivator, Fang Xi had extensive knowledge and experience.
Witnessing this scene, his pupils contracted sharply, feeling somewhat speechless:
¡®I was mistaken¡ How naive and foolish I was, thinking this was merely a low-level martial world¡¡¯
¡°Save¡save me!¡±
¡°Wahh¡ Mama¡¡±
The strange creatures and terror spread contagiously among the crowd.
People fled frantically, and amidst the chaos, a child stumbled by the roadside, sobbing uncontrobly.
¡°Get up quickly.¡±
Hao Lan grabbed the child, swiftly retreating towards the group from Baiyun Dojo.
¡°Brother Mu!¡± Dojo Master Hao roared, his fists like boulders crashing into one of the strange creatures.
Crack!
With true force unleashed, the creature¡¯s spine snapped instantly, its body splitting in half.
¡°Hao, watch out!¡± Mu Canglong¡¯s eye twitched, letting out a startled cry.
¡°Agh!¡±
Dojo Master Hao cried in pain, noticing several bloody holes inexplicably appearing on his palm.
¡°At least a great demon, possibly even¡¡± Mu Canglong¡¯s expression turned gravely serious as he bellowed, ¡°Baiyun Dojo disciples, heed mymand! Immediately retreat to the dojo and defend from within!¡±
¡°Yes, sir!¡± Mu Piaomiao nced at her father briefly before leading her junior siblings back to the safety of the dojo.
Fang Xi looked up just in time to see Mu Canglong wielding a fine steel staff, fiercely battling one of the strange creatures.
As his gaze fell upon toppled shelves along the street, he noticed a rattle-drum rolling a few times before stopping at his feet.
The seemingly prosperous world felt like a soap bubble, bursting with a single touch¡
It happened so swiftly, evoking a surreal sense of illusion.
¡°Quick, let¡¯s go!¡±
For reasons unknown, Hao Lan felt pity for the child and instinctively saved him. However, by the time he realized it, several strange creatures had already surrounded them.
These new creatures differed from the previous ones; no tree-like tendrils emerged from their facial orifices. Instead, eerie ck markings resembling wriggling tadpoles covered most of their faces, creating a menacing mask effect.
¡°Witness my ancestral¡ Rolling Stone Fist!¡±
Hao Lan took a deep breath, channeling the immense power of three transformations of blood and qi, striking out like a furious tempest.
Boom, boom, boom!
Crack!
Hao Lan let out a painful scream, feeling his right arm bones snap.
As one of the marked creatures lunged towards him, he couldn¡¯t help but grimace bitterly and closed his eyes.
Boom!
A deafening sound echoed next moment.
¡°What are you waiting for? Hurry up and leave!¡±
Fang Xi kicked a creature away, revealing a jade-green short sword that had appeared in his hand. With swift precision, he shed at another charging foe.
Dark red droplets of blood sttered, leaving traces on the de¡¯s edge.
¡®Got some blood samples now, can go back to study them or consult someone in the cultivation world¡¡¯
Fang Xi¡¯s primary objective was to obtain samples, as for Hao Lan?
He merely felt a slight affinity due to Hao Lan saving the child earlier, prompting him to assist casually.
As a cultivator, one should act freely, doing whatever they desire.
¡°Th-that¡¯s incredible!¡± Hao Lan nearly stood dumbfounded.
Having just engaged these creatures, he knew well how difficult they were. His own arm broke within mere exchanges, yet Fang Xi dealt with them effortlessly.
Recalling how Fang Xi calmly conceded before, Hao Lan¡¯s cheeks flushed like a monkey¡¯s rear, filled with embarrassment: ¡°I¡¯ve been so foolish, truly¡¡±
Let¡¯s rewind slightly.
In ckstone City, at the headquarters of Great Liang¡¯s officialdom:
The rear courtyard was filled with one monstrous beast after another, including the infamous two-headed demon wolf and several missing dojo masters, all present among them.
Blood pooled on the ground, with not a single living soul around.
As the parasitized beasts and powerful warriors gathered together, they suddenly let out chilling roars before their bodies violently exploded.
Amidst the spray of blood and flesh, tendrils resembling vines emerged, intertwining and growing long root-like extensions that burrowed deep into the earth.
Swiftly, a bizarre pitch-ck tree sprouted from the mass of gore.
Countless roots extended from white bones and skulls, supporting the trunk of the colossal dark tree. Vein-like patterns appeared on its bark, while within the massive ck canopy, faint faces seemed to flicker intermittently.
Numerous ck aerial roots descended from above, prating the bodies of nearby strange creatures.
Life and death, evil and beauty¡
A myriad of harmonious and discordant elements, symmetry and asymmetry, could all be found within this eerie living entity!
After the emergence of this grotesque ck-blooded tree, its vast canopy rapidly expanded outward, generating a thin mist that steadily thickened¡
¡°Dammit, it¡¯s a ¡®Demon¡¯!¡± Nearby, experts from Yuanhe Mountain¡¯s branch stood alert, led by Linghu Yang himself.
Linghu Yang gritted his teeth as he observed the scene, seething with anger. ¡°The frequent migration of demonic beasts near ckstone City was due to the birth of a ¡®Demon¡¯! Now, this fiend has chosen the city center to take root, and ckstone City¡is doomed!¡±
Chapter 21: Demonic Transformation
Demonic!
The mere word seemed to carry a peculiar power, causing Chunyu and Qiao Wuchang¡¯s faces to pale, their breaths bingbored.
¡°It¡¯s toote! We must leave immediately and escape from here.¡±
Linghu Yang swiftly made his decision, preparing to unleash his agility techniques towards the city gate.
¡°Wait¡ Sir Guardian, could you spare me the time of one incense stick? I still have my wife and children¡¡± A Yuanhe Mountain deacon, his expression fluctuating wildly, suddenly shouted.
¡°Get lost!¡±
Linghu Yang didn¡¯t hesitate for a moment, internally regretting the situation.
If he had been more vignt or if the sect¡¯s message had arrived earlier, they might have escaped already.
But now, the demonic seeds were unleashed! Wasting even a fraction of a second could be akin to ying with death!
Forget about a mere deacon¡¯s family; not even the deacon himself could make Linghu Yang dy for an instant!
His movements were astonishingly swift, leaving only afterimages visible to Chunyu and Qiao Wuchang, who, with expressions shifting dramatically, scrambled hastily to follow.
Along their path, they asionally witnessed strange creatures ughtering indiscriminately, but Linghu Yang and hispanions paid them no heed.
Finally, with Linghu Yang leading the charge, they burst through the city gates.
However, as soon as he saw the scene outside, his expression gradually crumbled. ¡°Dammit! This is truly damned!¡±
Beyond the city gates, the once-familiar farnds and official roads had vanished without a trace. All that remained wasyer uponyer of dense ck fog!
The massive cloud resembled a thick wallpletely encircling ckstone City.
¡°This is¡¡±
Behind him, the sound of fluttering garments echoed.
Even Chunyu¡¯s icy demeanor shifted to one of utter shock.
¡°The Demonic Domain has taken hold; this ce is now perilous beyond redemption. We¡can¡¯t escape!¡± Linghu Yang¡¯s voice turned unbearably dry and hoarse, like that of a dying man struggling for breath.
If observed closely, a hint of despair seemed to flicker within the eyes of Yuanhe Mountain¡¯s guardian.
At Baiyun Dojo:
¡°The situation¡ seems off.¡±
Fang Xi looked up, noticing the weather had abruptly turned gloomy.
The surroundings darkened as if it were approaching dusk, with the sun setting on the horizon.
His spiritual senses were wildly alerting him, indicating some imminent danger lurking nearby. This made Fang Xi increasingly anxious.
¡°Hurry!¡±
¡°Guard the main entrance!¡±
¡°Grab your weapons!¡±
¡°Fire! These monsters fear fire!¡±
The dojo disciples panicked until they discovered that the strange creatures recoiled from mes, bing somewhat relieved when the creatures hesitated to approach.
¡°What is¡ happening here?¡± Fang Xi wiped away the ck ash from his face and nced at Mu Piaomiao.
She appeared even more disheveled; her once pristine dress was now stained with blood.
¡°I¡I don¡¯t know¡¡± Mu Piaomiao murmured, eyes unfocused. ¡°Could it be that some peculiar outcast beast has infiltrated the city?¡±
¡°If that¡¯s the case, there are at least two types,¡± Fang Xi pondered aloud. ¡°One seems parasitic, like it attaches to trees, even challenging for the dojo master to handle, with highly contagious properties¡ The other has ck tattoo markings, possessing strength far beyond an ordinary martial apprentice with three transformations of blood and qi!¡±
Fang Xi had already collected a few drops of blood from the second creature, safely sealed within a jade bottle for future analysis.
However, regarding the first type¡ªthe eerie nt-like entity¡ªsuspecting it might be sentient, Fang Xi dared not touch it recklessly.
Suddenly, a figure burst through the wall of mes andnded inside the dojo.
The disciples jumped in surprise but rxed slightly upon recognizing the neer. ¡°Master, the Master is back!¡±
¡°Dad!¡± Mu Piaomiao, overwhelmed with relief, nearly wept, only to notice Mu Canglong¡¯s pale face, one hand limp and continuously bleeding.
With a firm wave of his hand, he sternly shouted, ¡°Piaomiao! Stay away!¡±
¡°Dad, what happened?¡± Stunned, Mu Piaomiao froze on the spot, unsure of how to react.
Mu Canglong nced around at everyone, took a deep breath, and dered, ¡°To all my disciples here, those who wish to return home should do so immediately. Those choosing to remain must contribute one hundred pounds of food!¡±
¡°Food?!¡± Confused by this seemingly nonsensical demand, Fang Xi couldn¡¯t help but ask, ¡°Master, why is that necessary?¡±
¡°It¡¯s because of demons!¡± A wry smile flickered across Mu Canglong¡¯s lips as he uttered, ¡°We¡can no longer leave ckstone City¡¡±
Before he could finish, his expression shifted abruptly, and he coughed out a mouthful of ck blood.
Simultaneously, dark veins emerged along his neck, tracing ominous patterns beneath his skin.
¡°That monster mark!¡± One of the dojo disciples, terrified, nearly wet himself. ¡°The master will turn into one of those cannibal beasts too¡¡±
He had witnessed several fellow disciples develop simr dark markings on their faces before bing ruthless and unrecognizable.
With a shriek, he grabbed a torch, bolted from the dojo, and vanished without a trace.
As soon as he fled, the remaining apprentices scattered like frightened birds or animals, leaving only a handful behind.
¡°Leave¡it¡¯s better if you go.¡± Witnessing this scene, Mu Canglong disyed a peculiar smile.
¡°Dad¡¡± Mu Piaomiao¡¯s eyes turned red, tears streaming down her cheeks.
¡°Sigh¡ Don¡¯t worry, despite being afflicted by demonic curse poison, my true force can suppress it for some time yet,¡± Mu Canglong reassured his daughter with a loving gaze.
¡°Master, what did you mean earlier when you said we can¡¯t leave ckstone City?¡± Fang Xi remained behind, showing keen interest as he looked at Mu Canglong and suddenly asked.
¡°It¡¯s exactly as I stated; the entire city has be a prison, and no one can escape¡¡± Mu Canglong shook his head, gazing somberly at the remaining few disciples. ¡°Aside from the danger of the demonic disaster¡we¡¯re likely to perish here due tock of food.¡±
Fang Xi instantly understood the gravity of the situation.
If ckstone City truly turned into a prison, what would be most scarce?
In arge city, there is abundance in people but scarcity in resources!
Even a small city like ckstone relied heavily on nearby farms and viges for daily supplies of food and produce, requiring long convoys of goods each day.
Once sealed off, without any fresh supplies entering, it would swiftly transform into¡a hell on earth!
¡®But what does he mean by ¡°can¡¯t leave¡±? Wait¡¡¯
Fang Xi¡¯s eyes gleamed with intensity. ¡°Demonic disaster? As in demons from the realm of monsters? Is there a demon causing havoc within the city?¡±
¡°Exactly!¡± Mu Canglong sat cross-legged on the ground, responding with a wry smile. ¡°We fear no great beasts, as they can be wounded and killed! Once cultivators inflict damage, given Great Liang¡¯s resources, even the most formidable beasts can eventually be overwhelmed.¡±
That sounds distinctly like a yer mindset¡ Essentially, whether it¡¯s a god or anything else, if you dare show your health bar, we¡¯ll find a way to take you down! Fang Xi silently acknowledged this sentiment.
Mu Canglong continued, ¡°¡However, demons are different; they cannot die! Even the weakest demon is invincible! Due to their immortality, whenever a region suffers under demonic influence, Great Liang often has no choice but to abandon it¡¡±
His tone was filled with despair.
To Fang Xi, it felt like - ¡®Report to GM: Someone is using a lock-health cheat¡¯!
Only now did he realize how incredibly challenging these demonic entities were!
¡®Undying and indestructible? For real?¡¯
Fang Xi found it hard to believe.
¡®Or perhaps¡these martial artists are simply too weak.¡¯
¡®A demon that eludes martial artists might not necessarily evade us cultivators.¡¯
¡®Even if they can¡¯t be defeated by Qi Refinement cultivators, perhaps a great Foundation Establishment master could easily dispatch them¡¡¯
¡®And if not even those masters seed, there¡¯s still Core Formation and Nascent Soul stages to consider¡¡¯
With this thought, Fang Xi felt somewhat relieved, his interest in these ¡®demons¡¯ significantly piqued.
¡®This world is truly fascinating; ordinary beast meat serves as invaluable treasures for body refinement, while demons seem invincible and immortal - isn¡¯t that every cultivator¡¯s dream?¡¯
¡°Is ckstone City now gued with demons?¡± Tang Xuan retreated several steps, his expression filled with terror yet tinged with hope. ¡°Master¡ I¡¯ve heard both the government forces and Yuanhe Mountain have True Force martial artists among them. They should, they should be able to¡¡±
Mu Canglong shook his head. ¡°Once, a martial arts Zongshi managed to y a demon ny-nine times within a short span¡ Yet, the demon couldn¡¯t be destroyed permanently and swiftly resurrected each time. In fact, the Zongshi eventually exhausted himself to death¡ Facing demons, warriors are akin to mere mortals confronting beasts, utterly helpless.¡±
¡°Our only hope now is to gather enough food supplies and then wait¡¡±
Upon hearing this, Liu Taotao¡¯s eyes lit up. ¡°Wait for the imperial court to save us?¡±
¡°No,¡± Mu Canglong shook his head. ¡°We wait until this demon is sated¡pletely loses interest in this ce and leaves on its own¡¡±
A sense of despair began to envelop everyone¡¯s hearts within the dojo.
¡°Ah, look! What¡¯s that?¡± Liu Taotao suddenly eximed, lifting his head.
Fang Xi followed his gaze, his expression instantly turning gravely serious.
He beheld¡ an enormous tree!
Its massive pitch-ck canopy continuously grew and expanded, resembling a colossal dark bowl threatening to engulf the entire ckstone City.
Numerous vine-like aerial roots dangled from the tree¡¯s crown, emitting faint wisps of ck mist.
An indescribable terror spread through the hearts of all who saw it.
As if responding to somemand, the rampaging monsters outside converged towards the city center.
Then, one by one, the aerial roots descended, piercing the back of their necks, suspending them like puppets swaying in the wind¡
¡°Is this¡ akin to the rtionship between worker ants and a queen ant?¡± Fang Xi murmured to himself. ¡°Are these monsters merely extracting nutrients to nourish the main tree, allowing it to grow?¡±
¡°I never expected to witness such a magnificent yet eerie form of life in this world¡¡±
Chapter 22: Demonic Curse Power
Several hourster.
Fang Xi returned to the Baiyun Dojo.
¡°Shidi, how did it go?¡± Liu Taotao and Tang Xuan immediately approached him.
They were among the steadfast Inner Sect disciples who chose to remain during the dojo¡¯s turmoil earlier.
Fang Xi shook his head. ¡°Taking advantage of the strange creatures¡¯ retreat, I checked near the city gates¡ The area outside is enveloped by ayer of ck mist, obstructed by some peculiar force for anyone attempting to pass through. Fearfully, ckstone City may truly be cut off from the world.¡±
Tang Xuan felt utterly despairing.
Fang Xi gazed thoughtfully at the towering tree canopy at the city center. ¡°I suggest¡ we relocate closer to the edge of ckstone City, near the city walls, and establish a stronghold before deciding our next steps¡¡±
¡°Why?¡±
The question came from Mu Piaomiao. After escorting her father to rest in their room, she had remained silent until now. ¡°It¡¯s because that Demon Tree continues to grow taller¡¡± Fang Xi exined. ¡°Any living creature beneath its canopy will undoubtedly face harassment from those descending pneumatophores, making it extremely dangerous¡¡±
In his mind, Fang Xi had another unspoken suspicion - that the Demon Tree would continue to grow taller indefinitely.
If this trend persisted, there would inevitablye a day when it reaches towering heights, its canopy overshadowing the entire ckstone City like a new sky!
At that point, it would spell doom for all within ckstone City!
¡®Of course, we cannot rule out the possibility that the Demon Tree might exhibit intelligence, choosing to selectively keep some humans as livestock for periodic consumption¡¡¯
¡®Demons¡ truly fascinating beings! Based on Mu Canglong¡¯s description, could this blockade be a ¡°Demonic Domain¡±? It seems somewhat akin to the early stages of an array formation.¡¯
¡°Cough, cough!¡±
Mu Canglong emerged unexpectedly, clearing his throat before saying, ¡°Fang Xi is right; let¡¯s follow his n¡ Additionally, during the dojo¡¯s relocation, everything else can be sacrificed except for food and fresh water¡¡±
¡°Papa, what about your health?¡± Mu Piaomiao looked at her father with concern.
Fang Xi also noticed that the tadpole-shaped dark patterns on Mu Canglong¡¯s body had spread further, reaching up to his chin.
¡°It¡¯s futile. This poison acts not only as venom but also as a ¡®curse¡¯,¡± Mu Canglong replied bitterly.
¡°Master, may I ask what you mean by ¡®curse¡¯?¡± Fang Xi¡¯s interest was piqued.
¡°Demons and monsters may just appear peculiarly shaped, possess greater strength, or have some unique abilities¡¡± Mu Canglong waved his hand dismissively. ¡°However, curses are entirely different! They represent a specific type of demonic power - Curse Energy! Its terror far surpasses even the vital energy, blood qi, or true force of cultivators¡ Once afflicted, it clings like a bone-deep infection, ensuring certain death¡¡±
¡°I see,¡± Fang Xi nodded, then saluted with cupped hands. ¡°Master, I need to go home briefly to attend to some matters. I¡¯ll rejoin youter.¡±
Outside, all the monsters had been hung from tree canopies, making the area remarkably safe now.
Many remaining disciples had already discreetly slipped away earlier.
Fang Xi formally bid farewell, being considerate as always.
¡°Um¡ Master, I also need to head home for a bit,¡± Liu Taotao timidly echoed.
¡°Hmm.¡± Mu Canglong nodded without any objection. ¡°Remember, we will regroup at the eastern city gate. Fang Xi¡¯s previous assessment was correct; the farther from the Demon Tree¡¯s main body, the better¡ Additionally, beware of those demon servants. Although they¡¯re merely infected by the demonic curse energy, they still pose a significant challenge.¡±
¡°Weren¡¯t we promised a leisurely experience? How did it suddenly turn into surviving a demonic apocalypse?¡± Fang Xi walked down the devastated streets, gazing at shattered shops and broken corpses scattered on the ground. asionally, wary eyes peered out from behind windows, leaving him speechless. ¡®And to make it worse, it feels like a battle royale version with a toxic circle constantly expanding outward¡¡¯
Fortunately,
Fang Xi could sense that if he wished, he could still return to the southern wilderness¡¯s cultivation world.
With this as his trump card, Fang Xi wasn¡¯t overly anxious.
He made his way, stopping intermittently, until he reached his mansion.
The main gatey splintered and copsed to one side.
Several guards¡¯ bodies were strewn around, some frozen in their final enraged poses.
¡°Of course¡¡± Fang Xi had anticipated this, his eyes flickering, as he stepped into the inner quarters.
A few maidsy dead in pools of blood, still clutching emerald leaves, pearls, gold jewelry, and other valuables¡
¡®Damn, even amidst danger, they thought only of stealing from their master before fleeing¡¡¯
As he continued through the residence, he confirmed that monsters had indeed attacked his home, resulting in severe casualties among the servants.
Most of the survivors had also fled, taking numerous valuables with them.
¡®Well, let it be; consider it their severance pay.¡¯
Fang Xi remained unperturbed, understanding that material possessions were transient.
He approached his bedroom, suddenly pausing before pushing open the door.
The room was equally chaotic inside.
Reality proved that prohibitions from the master during an apocalypse were about as effective as farting against a storm.
Unconcerned by the mess, Fang Xi walked towards a finely carved dragon and phoenix cab made of red sandalwood and knocked on its door.
¡°Ahhh!¡±
With a shriek, a petite figure burst out, wielding a pair of scissors for a swift attack.
Snap!
Speechless, Fang Xi effortlessly swatted away the scissors and delivered a p alongside, ¡°Lily, wake up! It¡¯s me!¡±
Hidden within the cab was none other than the maid Lily.
A vivid red handprint swiftly appeared on her cheek, starkly contrasting with her fair, delicate skin. However, she seemed to finally regain her senses, sobbing uncontrobly and barely managing to say through tears, ¡°Th-there are monsters¡ Sweet Pea, Jade Orchid¡ they¡ they¡¯re all dead¡¡±
¡°Where¡¯s Yuegui?¡± Fang Xi asked.
Lily shook her head, ¡°I didn¡¯t see her¡¡±
Recalling their journey, Fang Xi hadn¡¯t spotted Yuegui¡¯s body, which was reassuring news.
He gently stroked Lily¡¯s hair, feeling almost like petting a cat: ¡°Now that ckstone City is ruined, I¡¯ll give you two choices. First,e with me; second, take one hundred taels of gold along with your release deed and leave on your own. Choose one!¡±
Fang Xi nced around the bedroom, finding nothing significant to pack. In today¡¯s ckstone City, precious metals might as well be mere rubble - it would be more valuable to grab extra bags of rice from the kitchen instead!
¡®Wait, I could buy mortal rice from the cultivation world without even needing to carry them¡¡¯
¡°I¡¡± A spark of life returned to Lily¡¯s eyes. ¡°I will go with Gongzi¡¡±
¡°Wonderful!¡± Fang Xi nodded approvingly, impressed by this clever young girl. ¡°In that case, quickly get up and gather some essentials. Take a bag of rice from the kitchen before we leave¡¡±
Near the eastern gate of ckstone City, there stood residential houses along the city wall.
Baiyun Dojo had chosen this location as its temporary base, already at the outskirts of the city.
The small courtyard was packed with dojo apprentices and their rtives. Apart from Fang Xi bringing his maid, Liu Taotao and Tang Xuan had also brought their parents.
Surprisingly, even Second Senior Brother Wu Ji arrived with a beautiful woman, rumored to be his wife, boldly iming one of the rooms for themselves.
In the vicinity, numerous influential factions, mostly dojo masters with their apprentices, had driven away the original residents to secure prime real estate around this area.
With order copsing within the city, might made right!
As a result, Mu Canglong, despite his crippled state, had no choice but to feign cooperation with these dojo masters.
Late at night,
Mu Canglong gathered several key disciples to discuss the day¡¯s events.
¡°Cough¡ ording to the information I¡¯ve gathered, that Demon Tree can parasitize human and animal bodies. Initially, it descended upon the official residence, leading to the brutal deaths of our governor and most high-ranking officials¡¡±
A single flickeringmp illuminated the faces filled with shock and fear among those present. Mu Canglong¡¯s voice conveyed his helplessness, ¡°Currently¡ numerous dojos have gathered near the eastern gate, while Yuanhe Mountain controls the southern gate area. The situation at the northern gate is unknown, likely perilous territory. As for the western gate, sporadic reports indicate it has amassed arge number of refugees¡¡±
¡°The monsters controlled by the Demon Tree predominantly emerge at night, not during the day. Their numbers aren¡¯t overwhelming; if we remain cautious, we should be able to hold out for some time¡¡±
Mu Piaomiao looked deeply concerned, ¡°Father¡ our stored food and water can barely sustain us for one month.¡±
¡°One month?¡± Mu Canglong¡¯s mood visibly sank.
In reality, many people had perished within ckstone City. For those unafraid of danger, avoiding the core areas dominated by the tree canopy and its monstrous creations, it wouldn¡¯t be difficult to search residences and grain shops for supplies.
The true challengey in maintaining hope!
¡®In truth, all the high-ranking officials must know they¡¯ll inevitably be abandoned by the Great Liang imperial court¡¡¯
¡®These gatherings now are merely prolonging their desperate struggle.¡¯
Fang Xi crossed his arms and leaned against a pir, fullyprehending the situation: ¡®Our persistence now is merely clinging to an incredibly faint hope, hoping that this demonic entity will leave on its own after being sated¡¡¯
¡®But no one could have anticipated that the demon would be a tree! It might not depart at all, or even if it does, possibly only after spreading its canopy across the entire sky and killing everyone with its aerial roots¡¡¯
¡®Of course, based on its current rate of expansion, this process may take several months to a year¡ So initially, the greatest danger was actually¡ from other people!¡¯
As Fang Xi pondered these thoughts, Mu Canglong¡¯s expression suddenly changed. He coughed out a mouthful of ck blood and copsed into unconsciousness.
¡°Papa!¡± Mu Piaomiao cried out, rushing to support him.
Ignoring the franticmotion around them, Fang Xi stepped outside the room, gazing up at the gloomy sky.
With Baiyun Dojo¡¯s strongest fighter incapacitated, they likely couldn¡¯t hide their vulnerability from those who sought trouble. Danger seemed imminent!
Chapter 23: Mingqing Pavilion
Qingzhu Mountain.
Fang Xi materialized in the cer, cautiously scanning his surroundings.
Noticing that the protective talisman on the wall remained intact, albeit with its glow significantly weakened, he let out a sigh of relief.
¡°Since I could return, it seems I can easily escape from such perilous situations.¡±
As for attempting to bring others through the portal? The thought never crossed Fang Xi¡¯s mind!
His golden finger was paramount; even if every soul in ckstone City perished, he would notpromise this advantage.
This time, under the guise of searching for supplies, he had discreetly ventured to an uninhabited corner to make the crossing.
Fang Xi¡¯s expression gradually turned serious as he retrieved a small jade bottle from his robes.
Inside the bottley Demon-infected blood! ¡°The demons of the Great Liang World¡are different from demonic cultivators in the cultivation realm. At least, I haven¡¯t sensed any trace of demonic qi. However, their behavior is indeed quite peculiar¡¡±
After some contemtion, Fang Xi produced a jade te and carefully poured a single drop of dark crimson blood onto it.
ck!
The bead of bloodnded on the jade te with a sound akin to a pearl, seemingly already solidified.
Fang Xi¡¯s expression remained unchanged as he infused threads of vital energy into the jade te.
Instantly, numerous vein-like patterns emerged on its surface, spiraling around the blood droplet.
Sizzle!
Thin wisps of white smoke arose; upon contact with the bead, these veins vanished instantly, evaporatingpletely!
Unfazed by this sight, Fang Xi switched to inputting true force instead.
Buzzing!
The glow from the blood strands within the jade te intensified dramatically!
Thread after thread coiled around the blood droplet.
As they began enveloping and melting it, something astonishing urred - fragmented ck tadpole-like symbols started seeping out from within the bead.
Upon encountering these symbols, the blood strands formed by true force emitted sounds of strain and gradually corroded away.
Observing this, Fang Xi¡¯s expression turned serious.
¡°Setting aside vital energy for now, even a diluted form of lower-tier magical energy can erode a martial artist¡¯s true force?¡±
After employing cultivation techniques to examine Mu Canglong¡¯s condition, Fang Xi gained a clearer understanding of his state.
Earlier, the dojo master had suggested using substantial true force to resist, but now it seemed his demise was imminent!
¡°Magical energy¡ demonic power¡ can it truly surpass the Martial Path of Blood and Qi?¡±
Fang Xi pondered for a moment before activating another technique¡ªthe Evesting Spring Art!
Cool threads of magic power flowed into the jade te, transforming into green fments that continuously pierced towards the blood bead.
This time!
Even as the fragmented ck tadpole script reappeared, the green fments effortlessly prated through them.
Subsequently, the blood bead slowly dissolved, dissipating into a wisp of green smoke¡
¡°Can cultivators¡¯ magic power suppress magical energy?¡±
Fang Xi¡¯s eyes lit up with excitement.
This was indeed promising news. At least for cultivators, demons might not be invincible after all.
¡°Mu Canglong is nearing death; I wonder if the Pure Spirit Pill in my possession will help him?¡± Fang Xi mused as he stepped out of the log cabin.
On the door, he noticed a conspicuously ced note. With anticipation, he picked it up and read aloud, ¡°It¡¯s from Chen Ping¡¡±
Previously, he had asked Chen Ping to introduce him to certain social circles, and it appeared his request had finally borne fruit!
Half a dayter.
At Qingzhu Mountain Market.
Chen Ping and Fang Xi arrived, one after another, at a grand teahouse known as Mingqing Pavilion.
A hint of pride showed on Chen Ping¡¯s face as he reassured Fang Xi, ¡°Fellow Daoist Fang, please don¡¯t worry. Both Daoist Shen and Goddess Yunmeng are very amiable individuals with no airs about them.¡±
Fang Xi smiled wryly, ¡°It¡¯s not that I¡¯m worried, but rather¡¡±
He nced up at the signboard above the entrance.
The teahouse was called ¡®Mingqing Pavilion¡¯, renowned for selling spirit teas. Such high-end establishments were ces Fang Xi would never have considered visiting before.
However, swallowing his reservations, he decided to join, knowing it wouldn¡¯t hurt towork with like-minded individuals.
Of course, this decision stemmed from the fact that Chen Ping mentioned the gathering location within the market. If Chen Ping had suggested anywhere outside Qingzhu Mountain, Fang Xi would have immediately turned back without hesitation, severing ties with him.
¡°Oh, don¡¯t fret. The private room fee has already been paid by Goddess Yunmeng,¡± Chen Pingforted, sensing Fang Xi¡¯s concern.
¡°I see, then why wait any longer?¡± Fang Xi promptly pulled Chen Ping inside the Mingqing Pavilion.
The interior of the pavilion was elegantly furnished, featuring a rooftop terrace where a skilled pipa yer plucked soothing melodies with graceful fingers.
Incense burners around the area emitted calming fragrances that gently ascended into the air. Despite the presence of other guests, their conversations were hushed, creating an atmosphere of refined sophistication.
Seemingly slightly nervous, Chen Ping navigated through the premises and led them to a private booth.
Inside, a male and female cultivator already sat cross-legged on meditation cushions, both possessing Middle Stage Qi Refinement cultivation bases.
The male cultivator had a striking appearance, akin to wless jade, exuding elegance and charm. He wore a blue fox fur coat and donned a jade crown, giving him an extraordinary demeanor.
The female cultivator appeared to be around fifteen or sixteen years old, d in a pink gown. Her delicate skin seemed almost translucent, her features as gentle as flowing water, imbuing her with a dreamy and ethereal aura.
¡°Allow me to introduce you all,¡± said Chen Ping. ¡°This is Fellow Daoist Shen Haoran, and this is Goddess Yunmeng¡¡±
He continued, gesturing towards Fang Xi, ¡°And this is my good neighbor, Fellow Daoist Fang Xi.¡±
¡°Greetings to both of you.¡±
Fang Xi felt somewhat surprised, initially expecting Chen Ping¡¯s connections to consist only of Early Stage Qi Refinement peers. To his astonishment, Chen Ping had ess to such influential individuals.
¡°Greetings, Fellow Daoist Fang.¡±
Shen Haoran continued sipping his spirit tea, offering a casual greeting with minimal interest.
In contrast, Goddess Yunmeng stood up gracefully and bowed politely, disying impable manners and etiquette.
However, Fang Xi could sense that the more formal her demeanor, the greater the distance she intended to maintain.
¡°Today we¡¯re truly fortunate. Not only can we enjoy this ¡®Cloud Mist Spirit Tea,¡¯ but also witness Zitherist Feng¡¯s performance.¡±
As Chen Ping and Fang Xi took their seats, Chen Ping smiled warmly and said, ¡°We owe our thanks to Goddess Yunmeng.¡±
¡°I too did not expect Zitherist Feng to grace us with her presence¡¡± Goddess Yunmeng replied with a subtle smile.
Fang Xi refrained from joining their conversation, focusing instead on enjoying his tea and pastries. He understood his role clearly - merely as a secondary apaniment or background figure.
Goddess Yunmeng and Shen Haoran were evidently not low-tier wandering cultivators; their interest in Chen Ping likely stemmed from his talent in talisman crafting. Inparison, knowing he had no such specialized skills, Fang Xi preferred to remain inconspicuous and unassuming.
The spirit tea was exceptional, invigorating both body and mind with each sip. Simrly, the spiritual pastries not only left a delightful aftertaste but also enhanced one¡¯s cultivation base with every bite.
Fang Xi even felt that with daily enjoyment of such spiritual treasures, he might reach the peak of the thirdyer of Qi Refining within a month.
¡°Zitherist Feng is arriving soon! And she¡¯s bringing a distinguished guest.¡±
At that moment, a voice-transmission talisman flew in from outside.
As Shen Haoran caught it, his face lit up with joy, and he nced towards Fang Xi.
Fang Xi quickly surveyed the surroundings, realizing that while the private booth seemed spacious for four people, adding a fifth would make it slightly crowded.
As the minor cultivator with the weakest cultivation base and least influential background, he knew when to be discreet. He promptly stood up, ¡°Excuse me all, I just remembered an urgent matter at home. Please allow me to take my leave now.¡±
¡°But Zitherist Feng is about to perform, her music is truly rare¡¡± Goddess Yunmeng expressed regretfully, yet without any intention to detain him further.
Fang Xi bowed respectfully and exited the booth.
Dimly, he could still hear Shen Haoran speaking to Chen Ping, ¡°Fellow Daoist Chen, as a future talisman master, your status should reflect¡ Let me tell you, the distinguished guest joining us is a formidable Late Stage Qi Refinement expert¡¡±
¡°Oh? Then please introduce me, Brother Shen.¡± Chen Ping responded, sounding both surprised and intrigued.
As Fang Xi exited Mingqing Pavilion, he faintly heard the melody of a zither resonating from within.
Apparently, a graceful figure had appeared on the elevated tform.
Unfortunately, such refined pleasures were not meant for him at this stage.
¡®Without sufficient strength, don¡¯t try to enter higher circles¡¡¯
He quickly adjusted his mindset and returned to his shack.
Bang!
A gust of wind propelled by palm strikes forcefully hit the door.
The White Cloud Palm!
Although he didn¡¯t get to hear Goddess Feng¡¯s zither performance this time, at least he managed to enjoy some spirit tea and pastries.
This was an excellent opportunity for cultivation!
So far, only Red Snake Leg had achieved the dojo master realm, while White Cloud Palm still fell short.
Krak!
Fang Xi unleashed both palms in rapid session, forming a series of nine hand seals.
In an instant, his palms began emanating a grayish-ck hue.
Strangely, the gray gradually receded, while the ck expanded wildly.
¡°Whew!¡±
Fang Xi exhaled deeply, sending out a stream of white breath several feet away.
He examined his hands, confirming that they had fully entered the ck Cloud realm, signifying the level of a True Force cultivator!
The true force enhancement of the White Cloud Palm primarily focused on the hands, with lesser improvements to the rest of the bodypared to his previous breakthrough.
¡°So effortlessly broken through¡¡±
¡°Sigh¡ if only my talent in the path of immortality matched my aptitude in the Martial Path of Blood and Qi.¡±
Fang Xi¡¯s low-grade spiritual root talent had always been a source of frustration for him.
In the next moment, as he sensed the changes brought by the White Cloud Palm true force, his expression gradually turned serious.
Using his spiritual sense to examine himself internally, he discovered several additional whirlpools circting within his blood qi flow, primarily located around his legs and palms.
More rming was that these blood qi whirlpools seemed to exert mutual pull on each other, causing some disruption in his overall cirction.
¡°Is this¡ what Lu She meant by hindrance?¡±
¡°Well, unfortunately¡ I¡¯ve already broken through with Red Snake Leg, mixing my blood qi extensively. There¡¯s no turning back now, even if I practice another technique.¡±
Fang Xi gazed at his hands.
The White Cloud Palm could be both activated and suppressed; when he retracted the true force, his palms appeared pristine, white as jade, delicate like those of a refined noblewoman.
No one would suspect the immense strength contained within these seemingly harmless hands,parable to certain mythic beasts.
¡°The true forces of White Cloud Palm and Red Snake Leg indeed conflict with each other; this issue must be resolved¡¡±
¡°And there¡¯s still more progress ahead¡¡±
Being merely equivalent to early Qi Refinement as a body cultivator wasn¡¯t significant enough for Fang Xi. His focusy on future advancements and possibilities!
¡°At least¡ it seems Yuanhe Mountain hasn¡¯t slipped away yet¡¡±
Chapter 24: Taking Action
In Great Liang, ckstone City was nowpletely shrouded by ck mist.
At a corner of a dpidated house, Fang Xi quietly materialized.
Not only that, but he also carried a sack filled with rice.
Yes, it wasn¡¯t spirit bamboo rice, but ordinary rice meant for mortal servants and vigers. He had easily purchased it using some gold and silver coins.
¡®With this amount of supplies, I should be able to fulfill my task.¡¯
Fang Xi stroked his chin, ¡°If I wait a few more months until their resources deplete, perhaps I could even exchange rice for secret manuals. Now that sounds appealing¡¡±
¡°Of course, no resourcespare to the value of survival¡ Ah, seeing ckstone City like this, I must find a way to leave as soon as possible.¡±
He realized there were certain limitations to his transmigration ability; for instance, returning always brought him back to the exact same location where he departed.
This posed a challenge for Fang Xi if he wanted to exit ckstone City. Naturally, it was merely a challenge, not an impossibility.
Upon examining the ck mist outside the city, he confirmed it possessed characteristics of a formation spell.
Such a formation might trap mortals effectively, but cultivators have numerous ways to counter it.
Fang Xi was aware of several methods to bypass such restrictions, with the most convenient being a ¡®Barrier Breaking Talisman¡¯!
This rare and specialized paper talisman excelled at disrupting various formations.
¡°The current ck mist outside the city seems akin to a first-tier confinement formation. Using a first-tier ¡®Barrier Breaking Talisman¡¯, even if it can¡¯t fully destroy the mist, should at least temporarily create an escape route¡¡±
¡°Of course, a high-grade first-tier Barrier Breaking Talisman is both scarce and expensive, costing no less than dozens of spirit stones¡¡±
¡°I must urgently enhance my strength and establish trade between realms.¡±
Fang Xi gazed towards the city center, his expression filled with concern.
In just a few days, the Demon Tree had visibly grown taller.
It was clear that this monstrous entity continued to expand its size.
Given its present might and undying nature, even a great Foundation Establishment cultivator would struggle to contain it, while the ck mist outside merely represented a first-tier formation level.
If allowed to fully mature, especially once the ck mist reaches a second-tier formation equivalent, Fang Xi would truly be overwhelmed.
Without escaping early, he risked bing trapped here, potentially forcing him to abandon this world entirely!
At the eastern city gate, within therge residence of Baiyun Dojo.
A white-browed man stood with his polished steel staff, ring coldly at Mu Piaomiao and herpanions. ¡°I merely wish to pay respects to Senior Mu Canglong. Why do you obstruct my path?¡±
Near his feety an unfortunate figure, none other than Hao Lan.
¡°You¡¯re taking advantage during our crisis!¡± Mu Piaomiao gritted her teeth angrily.
Ever since Mu Canglong fell unconscious, his condition had been deteriorating rapidly, causing her immense concern over these past few days.
To her dismay, earlier this morning, someone unexpectedly attacked their dojo - it was this white-browed Yuan Fei, demanding a martial challenge against Mu Canglong!
Hao Lan stepped forward to reason but was swiftly struck down by Yuan Fei¡¯s staff.
It became clear to Mu Piaomiao then that Yuan Fei was indeed a formidable grandmaster, having surpassed the dojo master realm!
Among the young generation in ckstone City, he could be considered the top fighter.
¡°What more do you want? Even our Baiyun Dojo has acknowledged defeat,¡± Mu Piaomiao thought bitterly, ncing at her helpless junior siblings.
¡°Chuckles, ording to the rules of the dojo world, if I win a challenge issued upon your doorstep, I am entitled to everything from the defeated party.¡± Yuan Fei surveyed the surroundings. ¡°Seeing as you¡¯re all in dire straits now,pensating me with this residence and its stored provisions should suffice.¡±
His own White Ape Dojo had suffered greatly; even the dojo master perished in battle.
Having narrowly escaped to the Outer City, they found all prime locations already upied and resources scarce. Instantly, their thoughts turned towards seizing Baiyun Dojo.
Baiyun Dojo was strategically located with ample supplies, making it highly desirable. Most crucially¡ based on reliable information, Mu Canglong was gravely injured near death, and there were no other dojo-master level experts within Baiyun Dojo!
¡°Impossible!¡± Without hesitation, Mu Piaomiao rejected Yuan Fei¡¯s demand.
epting his terms would essentially mean forfeiting their lives!
¡°Hmph, if you won¡¯t ept courtesy, then brace for punishment. In this city now, survival of the fittest is thew of nature.¡± Yuan Fei tightened his grip on the long staff, his heart filled with murderous intent.
Many of his loved ones had perished during the demonic disaster, fueling his pent-up rage. Moreover, he couldn¡¯t help but notice that Mu Piaomiao was quite attractive¡
As he contemted his next move, a figure suddenly stepped forward and knelt down, dering, ¡°Wu Ji offers himself as your humble servant, sir!¡±
¡°Wu Ji, you¡¡± Tang Xuan pointed at Wu Ji, her entire body trembling.
Liu Taotao was equally taken aback; he never expected their second elder brother Wu Ji to betray them first. While it was true that without any True Force cultivators, Baiyun Dojo¡¯s position was precarious,
Such treachery¡
¡°Wu Ji? Not bad, not bad at all¡¡±
Yuan Fei burst outughing, ¡°Too bad¡ if you could betray Baiyun Dojo, you¡¯d just as easily betray me.¡±
¡°Huh?¡± Wu Ji lifted his head, his expression filled with panic.
In the next instant, a shadowy stick struck him on the forehead, shattering his skull and killing him instantly.
Thud!
Wu Ji¡¯s lifeless body crashed to the ground.
Witnessing someone alive moments ago now reduced to a corpse, Mu Piaomiao felt disoriented despite all she had endured these past few days.
¡°Well? You have only ten breaths to decide.¡± Yuan Fei exuded a sense of immense satisfaction.
This was the world he desired - where might made right!
If only there weren¡¯t that looming crisis within the city, it would be perfect.
¡°I¡ I agree¡¡± Mu Piaomiao reluctantly conceded. Without shelter or resources, survival seemed as distant as death itself.
Yet, dying death was always preferable to facing it immediately.
¡°We cannot agree.¡±
At that moment, a gentle voice echoed from outside the door.
Fang Xi entered, speaking calmly.
¡°Junior Brother Fang?¡± Mu Piaomiao¡¯s face lit up with relief. This junior brother had gone missing for several days while searching for supplies, causing her constant worry about potential mishaps.
His sudden appearance, however, seemed ill-timed, filling her heart with concern.
Yuan Fei, being such a ruthless man, wouldn¡¯t hesitate to kill!
¡°You won¡¯t ept?¡± Yuan Fei¡¯s eyes widened aggressively. ¡°Do you seek to settle this through martialbat?¡±
¡°Haha, I never engage in mere contests.¡± Fang Xi¡¯s smile gradually turned colder. ¡°I only kill!¡±
As he spoke, Fang Xi swiftly closed the distance to Yuan Fei and unleashed a palm strike.
Whish!
A gust of foul wind apanied his hand, turning it pitch-ck, with each sweep carrying intense poison!
¡°Remarkably swift movements! Deadly poisonous palm!¡± Yuan Fei flicked his staff, leaping backward like arge ape, and eximed apprehensively.
Mu Piaomiao and herpanions were stunned. ¡°ck Cloud realm?¡±
¡°Junior Brother Fang, you¡¯ve broken through?¡±
Staring at Fang Xi¡¯s palm, Mu Piaomiao felt aplex mix of emotions, difficult to articte.
Despite her diligent training, she had been unable to achieve the breakthrough that Fang Xi aplished so effortlessly. It would be disingenuous to im she wasn¡¯t envious or jealous.
However, amidst the sect¡¯s decline, having someone step forward to carry the dojo¡¯s banner brought her a sense of relief.
¡°Well¡ who knew Baiyun Dojo, aside from Mu Canglong, harbors another exceptional talent!¡± Yuan Fei, now at a distance, pointed his long staff at Fang Xi. ¡°¡®Limitless Staff¡¯ Yuan Fei, please grant me guidance¡¡±
¡°Limitless Staff?¡±
Fang Xi recalled Yuan Tiangang, who once performed at their family mansion; Yuan Fei was likely his rtive or a disciple under the same master.
Without hesitation, Tang Xuan activated Red Snake Leg, transforming into a swift shadow and lunging towards Yuan Fei.
Bang! Bang!
Yuan Fei roared continuously, wielding his long stick with such precision that it created an imprable defense, akin to a shield of ink.
However, amidst the flurry of stick shadows, Fang Xi¡¯s palm darted like a venomous snake, slipping through an almost imperceptible gap, and struck Yuan Fei squarely on the chest.
Crack!
The ear-piercing sound of bones shattering echoed as Yuan Fei flew backward, his eyes bloodshot and bulging out in disbelief. ¡°Impossible¡¡±
¡°Nothing is impossible¡¡± Fang Xi replied, withdrawing his palm.
His mastery of White Cloud Palm had transcended true force, providing him with a second level of physical enhancement. Although not doubling his true force, even a slight increase by one or two percent was enough to overpower an ordinary dojo master decisively.
In martial pursuits, once reaching the pinnacle, even the slightest advantage can be crucial in determining victory, much like elite athletes from his previous life.
Fang Xi¡¯s blood qi already surpassed Yuan Fei significantly, granting him a substantial edge. Combined with his heightened senses, he easily identified ws in Yuan Fei¡¯s staff technique, delivering a fatal blow effortlessly.
¡°D-d¡dead?¡±
Tang Xuan approached, examined Yuan Fei briefly, and confirmed his death. The single strike from Fang Xi had shattered Yuan Fei¡¯s internal organs,pounded by the intense poison, leaving no chance for survival.
¡°Since the demonic disaster, the rules of this city have changed; you all must adapt!¡± Fang Xi red sternly at Tang Xuan and hispanions, reprimanding them as if disciplining apprentices.
Under his rebuke, even Mu Piaomiao shrank back, feeling like they were facing Mu Canglong himself.
¡°Da-shixiong, please take a look!¡± Tang Xuan searched through the corpse¡¯s belongings and handed Fang Xi a secret manual.
¡°Evesting Staff Technique?¡± Fang Xi paid no heed to the slight change in address and carefully examined the manual.
He had no intention of learning more third-rate martial arts unless they were exceptionally suitable and minimally conflicting with his existing repertoire. Currently, his primary focus remained on Yuanhe Mountain.
¡°Greetings, Da-shixiong!¡±
Mu Piaomiao let out a wry smile and bowed alongside the others, acknowledging the new rule where might made right.
¡°I once promised you that I would assist the dojo once¡¡± Fang Xi looked at Mu Piaomiao and suddenly grinned.
As Mu Piaomiao felt her heart sink, fearing their bond was about to be severed, Fang Xi continued, ¡°My intervention against him was voluntary, so it doesn¡¯t count¡ Piaomiao, would you still invite me to help heal your father?¡±
¡°Heal my father?¡± Mu Piaomiao¡¯s small mouth widened in disbelief.
Chapter 25: Rescue
Inside the room, dimly lit.
Mu Canglongy unconscious on the bed, his face pale and weary.
Upon his cheeks, dark, tadpole-like runes writhed as if alive, evoking a deeply unsettling sensation.
Standing by the bedside, Mu Piaomiao looked anxious. ¡°Shidi¡ how is he?¡±
Fang Xi had just ced his right hand on Mu Canglong¡¯s wrist, seemingly checking his pulse.
In reality, he was subtly infusing pure strands of Evesting Spring Art magical energy into Mu Canglong¡¯s body.
Based on experiments within the cultivation realm, cultivators¡¯ magical energy should have a significant effect in dispelling curse-rted energies.
After approximately thirty breaths,
¡°Ughh¡¡± Mu Canglong¡¯s eyelids twitched violently before suddenly opening. ¡°I¡¡± ¡°Daddy!¡± Mu Piaomiao eximed, tears of joy streaming down her face.
¡°How do you feel now, Master Mu?¡± Fang Xi asked calmly, retracting his fingers.
The rescue effort had drained him significantly, but he maintained aposed demeanor.
¡°Much better¡¡± Confused, Mu Canglong turned to look at his daughter.
Demonstrating tactful understanding, Fang Xi discreetly stepped out, allowing father and daughter some private time to converse.
Upon stepping out of the room, Fang Xi was immediately greeted by a slender figure. ¡°Gongzi¡ I¡¯m so relieved you¡¯re safe,¡± Lily said with reddened eyes and a tearful voice.
A few days ago, Gongzi had mentioned going out to search for supplies but failed to return, nearly scaring her to death. With monsters now roaming the city at any given moment, Lily feared that Gongzi might fall victim to them.
Thankfully, their pir of support had finallye back.
¡°Don¡¯t worry, I¡¯m fine¡¡± Fang Xi nced at the coarse grain steamed bun in Lily¡¯s hand and smiled. ¡°What¡¯s this? Did you prepare something for me to eat?¡±
¡°Sister Piaomiao said we must be frugal and avoid waste¡ Gongzi, please bear with it for now.¡± Lily looked at the rough steamed bun in her hands, feeling somewhat embarrassed.
In the past, Fang Xi always enjoyed only the finest delicacies, even influencing the maids¡¯ ptes ordingly. Their current situation was indeed bleak.
However, humans are remarkably adaptable creatures, and Lily had swiftly adjusted to these circumstances. Before being sold to Fang Manor, she had endured a difficult life herself.
¡°Hmm.¡±
Fang Xi acknowledged Lily¡¯s concern but refrained from biting into the coarse grain steamed bun. He casually asked her a few more questions and discovered that near the city walls of ckstone City, monster sightings were extremely rare.
Conversely, as one moved closer to the city center, more monsters appeared, and their behavior didn¡¯t strictly adhere to the typical nocturnal pattern.
¡®It seems the Demonic Giant Tree at the city center is indeed this demon¡¯s weak point¡¡¯
¡®And those knowledgeable enough to hide near ckstone City¡¯s outskirts from the start could indeed survive for some time.¡¯
Fang Xi pondered silently upon receiving this crucial information.
At that moment, he noticed Tang Xuan carrying several steamed buns into Wu Ji¡¯s room. Inside, it seemed Wu Ji¡¯s wife, a remarkably beautiful woman, also resided there.
¡°Elder Brother Tang is bringing food to Miss Bai¡ Poor Miss Bai, not only did her entire family perish in the demonic disaster, but she was also forcibly taken by that Wu fellow who falsely ims her as his wife¡¡± Seeing Fang Xi¡¯s gaze, Lily hastily exined.
¡°I wouldn¡¯t have expected Wu Ji to be such a person,¡± Fang Xi remarked with a sigh, though he didn¡¯t dwell on it much. In present-day ckstone City, countless others suffered worse fates than Miss Bai.
Just then, the door behind them opened, and Mu Piaomiao stepped out. ¡°Da¡ Da-shixiong¡ My father requests your presence inside!¡±
¡°Of course!¡± Nodding towards Lily, Fang Xi entered the room.
Inside the room, Mu Canglong was half-reclining on his bed, staring at Fang Xi with astonishment as he entered. ¡°You¡¯ve already broken through to the ck Cloud realm?!¡±
Despite his daughter briefly exining recent events, Mu Canglong still found it hard to believe.
Not only had Fang Xi achieved breakthroughs at an astonishing speed, but immediately afterward, he could even y enemies of equal rank! Moreover, Fang Xi imed to be able to treat demonic curse-induced poisons!
This disciple¡¯s talent was truly extraordinary and somewhat mysterious.
¡°Indeed!¡± Fang Xi nodded confidently.
In this world, he didn¡¯t need to be overly cautious with his actions. After all, as the dojo master in ckstone City, he held a position among the absolute elite.
¡°Wonderful, wonderful! Finally, our Baiyun Dojo has a worthy sessor. I am prepared to entrust both the dojo leadership and my daughter to¡¡± Mu Canglong¡¯s face flushed with excitement.
¡°Hold on!¡± Fang Xi hastily waved his hand, having no desire to ept these burdens. ¡°Master Mu, would you still like your own severe poison treated?¡±
¡°Sigh¡¡± Mu Canglong let out a deep breath. ¡°One knows their own circumstances well; this curse originates from a demon¡ My blood qi cannot dissipate it, and I¡¯vee to terms with my fate. Seeing a disciple carry on my legacy before death brings me sce¡¡±
¡°Cough¡ Master Mu, there¡¯s no need for such despair,¡± Fang Xi interjected, clearing his throat. ¡°I possess a potent spirit pill that can neutralize numerous poisons¡ It cost me exactly one thousand taels of gold, purchased from a traveling merchant some time ago. Would you like to give it a try?¡±
Previously, to aid in digesting demonic flesh, he had specifically acquired a ¡®Pure Spirit Pill¡¯. Zhuo Luting, his Daoist friend, had praised it as unparalleled.
Now, Fang Xi feltpelled to experiment with its effects. After all, he harbored concerns about the magical energy from demons, needing a willing dojo master to test if cultivation realm pills would be effective against it.
Moreover, having established some rapport with Mu Canglong, Fang Xi didn¡¯t wish to see him perish right before his eyes.
¡°One thousand taels?¡±
Mu Canglong¡¯s lips twitched slightly.
Even his entire fortune might not amount to a thousand taels of gold. However, considering Fang Xi¡¯s notorious reputation, he genuinely believed it. This wastrel could indeed spend exorbitantly on mysterious pills with unknown origins!
Seeing the medicine bottle in Fang Xi¡¯s hand further reinforced this belief. The bottle was intricately carved from a single piece of exquisite jade, which would be considered an unparalleled treasure in the secr world, likely found only within the Great Liang Imperial Pce.
Such a fine jade bottle undoubtedly suggested that the medicinal pill inside must be exceptional.
The Pure Spirit Pill appeared entirely emerald green, emitting a faintly pleasant aroma. Just one whiff invigorated Mu Canglong, causing him to exim, ¡°It seems you¡¯ve encountered a true entric, well-versed in worldly affairs!¡±
¡°Please take the medication, Master Mu.¡±
Fang Xi moved behind Mu Canglong and ced a palm against his back.
As the test subject, constant monitoring was necessary; otherwise, how could it be called experimentation?
¡°Haha¡ let¡¯s do this!¡± Mu Canglong, unconcerned, had already resigned himself to death, making him indifferent to any oue.
Mu Canglong promptly swallowed the Pure Spirit Pill and silently focused on sensing its effects.
¡°Hmm?!¡±
Fang Xi observed closely, his expression subtly shifting.
After enough time had passed for an incense stick to burn:
Mu Canglong¡¯s face suddenly contorted with extreme pain. He opened his mouth and expelled a glob of ck blood.
Sizzle! Sizzle!
The limestone beside the bed instantly showed signs of corrosion.
However, Mu Canglong¡¯s pained expression quickly turned serene, as the curse marks on his face began to gradually fade away.
¡°Sigh¡¡±
Fang Xi withdrew his hand, gazing out the window towards the city center, his demeanor bing exceptionally grave.
¡°Ah¡ Master feels remarkably better now. There¡¯s warmth spreading from my lower abdomen, and the previous numbness has significantly diminished.¡±
Mu Canglong swiftly threw off the nkets, stood up, and beamed with joy.
¡°It¡¯s unfortunate that this medicinal pill can only suppress the curse, not eliminate the residual toxins¡ In a few months or years, they may resurface, rendering this spirit pillrgely ineffective at that time.¡±
Fang Xi shook his head regretfully.
The grade of the Pure Spirit Pill was still too low; if it were a high-tier first-rank ¡®Myriad Spirits Pill¡¯, perhapsplete recovery could have been achieved.
At the same time, Fang Xi felt an immense sense of caution stirring within him.
This wasn¡¯t even the direct poison from the Demon Tree itself, but merely residual magical energy from one of its puppets, and yet it proved to be so tenacious.
Undoubtedly, this realm harbored far greater dangers!
He needed to remain exceedingly cautious.
¡°Years, you say? That¡¯s still sufficient,¡± Mu Canglong chuckled bitterly. ¡°Considering we¡¯ve been trapped in the Demonic Domain, surviving even till tomorrow is uncertain.¡±
It was clear that he fully understood their precarious situation.
The notion of ¡®waiting for the demons to retreat on their own¡¯ was merely a desperate hope against all odds.
More likely, everyone would perish, trapped within ckstone City!
Inparison, facing death only after several months or years seemed insignificant.
¡°Well¡ as long as Master Mu remains resilient, it¡¯s not too concerning,¡± Fang Xi smiled. ¡°I have some questions about martial arts development I¡¯d like to discuss with you, master.¡±
¡°You wish to ask how to progress beyond true force?¡± Mu Canglong closed his eyes. ¡°Unfortunately¡ once true force is attained, there¡¯s no turning back. Even if you abandoned your current cultivation method and focused on another, blood qi chaos would still arise. Moreover, our sect¡¯s White Cloud Palm reaches its peak at the true force realm, with no further path¡¡±
¡°So, am I already on a dead-end road?¡± Fang Xi extended his right leg forward.
Bang!
Ayer of floor tiles instantly shattered into pieces.
¡°Red Snake Leg?¡± Mu Canglong nodded initially, then shook his head, ¡°So you¡¯ve also embarked on the path of mixed martial techniques.¡±
¡°It seems many independent cultivators before me have simrly practiced multiple martial arts and reached the true force realm,¡± Fang Xi¡¯s eyes lit up.
Mu Canglong pondered for a moment before cautiously responding, ¡°As martial practitioners, we naturally strive to advance further¡ Practicing martial arts with minimal conflict is one approach¡ Rumor has it that someone once cultivated seven or eight different martial arts, achieving enough prowess to challenge a True Vigor martial artist, but they soon met a violent demise¡¡±
¡°After true force,es true vigor?¡± Fang Xi seized the opportunity to inquire about martial arts progression.
¡°Once true force is attained, it is used to temper the internal organs, transforming muscles and marrow, strengthening the entire body until true vigor spontaneously emerges¡¡± Mu Canglong sighed, ¡°Unfortunately¡ true vigor martial arts belong to the sect¡¯s secret teachings, beyond the reach of dojo masters like myself.¡±
¡°I see. I wonder if cultivating true vigor martial arts could resolve the conflicts arising from multiple true forces?¡± Fang Xi asked curiously.
¡°It¡¯s likely not possible, but there¡¯s no doubt that mastering true vigor martial arts would make a practitioner stronger¡ As for whether it allows breaking through realms, even I do not know.¡± Mu Canglong¡¯s gaze appeared somewhat uncertain, clearly indicating this question exceeded his expertise.
After all, he was just a dojo master¡
Chapter 26: Three Months
At ckstone City¡¯s south gate.
¡°Please, I beg you!¡±
¡°This can¡¯t be happening!¡±
A group of people wept and pleaded, their silk attire indicating they were likely former nobles or officials¡¯ families.
Yet now, as they watched bags of their provisions being seized, their eyes filled with indescribable despair.
During the initial outbreak of the demonic disaster, luck had been on their side; they narrowly escaped the first wave and sought refuge near the south gate, following Yuanhe Mountain¡¯s cultivators.
But today, these very same cultivators from Yuanhe Mountain openly robbed them of their food!
¡°My father is an advisor to the Governor of Ding Province!¡± shouted a refined-looking schr loudly. ¡°My uncle holds a position within the Ding Provincial Army; they will not let this go unpunished.¡±
As he gazed at the bags of grain, cured meats¡ it felt as though his own life was being stolen away. ¡°Oh?¡± Qiao Wuchang rubbed his plump belly, having grown even fatter despite being trapped in ckstone City. With a smug smile, he stepped forward. ¡°Ah, Xu-gongzi, my apologies indeed!¡±
As he spoke, his right hand swung in a wide arc, delivering a swift p.
Crack!
Xu-gongzi flew backward, his cheek deeply caved in, clearly lifeless.
¡°Hmph! Foolish ingrate, I¡¯ve endured your insolence for far too long.¡±
Qiao Wuchang shook off the blood from his hand, gazing at the remaining dignitaries with a menacing grin.
The rules had drastically changed; these nobles were now no different thanmbs awaiting ughter.
On that fateful day, Linghu Yang realized there was no hope for breaking through the chaos and could only fortify their position, waiting for any opportunity to arise.
Contrary to dispersing, the cultivators of Yuanhe Mountain¡¯s branch tightened their discipline even further.
In times when order copses, those wielding violence unite, disying an intensified adherence to brutal rules. This transformation urs as the cataclysmic end-times unleash the primal instincts within humans!
Swiftly, Yuanhe Mountain took control of the entire south gate, conducting extensive raids for resources.
Ironically, the once-wealthy aristocrats bore the brunt of misfortune, asmoners had already been stripped bare of anything valuable.
¡°Ha ha¡ha ha¡¡± Watching these former high-ranking figures reduced to quivering like quails, Qiao Wuchang couldn¡¯t help but burst outughing. He grabbed hold of a woman adorned with emerald hairpins - seemingly one of the Magistrate¡¯s concubines. Unhesitating, he slung her over his shoulder, ready to enjoy her in private.
Not far away, Linghu Yang stood with hands sped behind his back, observing coldly.
Chunyu, standing beside him, wore a pained expression. ¡°Qiao Wuchang is going too far. Should we intervene?¡±
¡°No need,¡± Linghu Yang waved his hand dismissively, his tone chillingly cold. ¡°They¡¯re all doomed to die anyway; their backgrounds don¡¯t matter¡ Let Qiao Wuchang handle this; it might even prove beneficial!¡±
A slight shiver ran through Chunyu¡¯s mind; she had yet to fully grasp the drastic shift from peaceful times to chaos engulfing them.
¡°Chunyu-shizhi¡¡± Observing her reaction, Linghu Yang¡¯s lips curved into a peculiar sneer as he spoke icily, ¡°The Demonic Domain is established now. Unless the demonic spirits voluntarily retreat, escaping¡might only be possible for the most exalted Zongshi. The rest of us will likely perish here¡¡±
¡°But my path in martial arts shall not end here!
¡°As long as demons do not directly confront me, your shishu will survive, by any means necessary!
¡°Even when our food and water run out, I¡¯ll resort to every method avable¡ including cannibalism¡
¡°That is¡the core of your shishu¡¯s martial heart!¡±
Linghu Yang¡¯s eyes were resolute. ¡°I must ascend to the pinnacle of martial arts, reaching the realm of Zongshi, no matter the cost or methods employed!¡±
¡°A martial heart?¡± Chunyu appeared deeply shaken.
The same tragic scenarios unfolded repeatedly throughout ckstone City.
Despite these horrors, nothing could halt the relentless growth of the Demon Tree at the city¡¯s center, which continued to tower higher each day.
Its massive canopy first overshadowed the entire official residence area, then gradually spread across the Inner City and eventually encroached upon the Outer City.
Beneath this ominous tree, monstrous creatures thrived, leaving no ce safe for humans or animals alike.
This grim spectacle only deepened the survivors¡¯ despair, driving them tomit acts that crossed every moral boundary.
Time flowed like water, swiftly passing three months.
At the West City Gate.
Fang Xi, dressed in ck attire and wearing a conical hat, entered a bustling market area.
More urately, it resembled a gathering ce for survivors to exchange goods.
With furrowed brows, he navigated around the filth on the ground, observing emaciated women leaning against door frames, their faces pale.
As soon as they spotted men approaching, many of these women forced smiles, faint traces of their former beauty still visible between their eyebrows.
¡°I¡¯ve heard that among them are noble youngdies; just a small bag of grain can buy you a night¡¯spanionship¡¡±
Uninterested in such affairs, Fang Xi quickly moved past this section and headed towards the vendor stalls.
An array of precious antiques, valuable herbs, treasured swords, and des were scattered everywhere, treated like trash and sold at rock-bottom prices.
Sellers didn¡¯t want gold or silver, only food!
¡°Sir, take a look at this ancestral dragon-ying sword! Sharp enough to cut through hair with a mere breath, all for fifty pounds of grain!¡± An elderly man held up a prized sword, demonstrating its prowess by gently blowing strands of hair off his head.
Snip!
The hair cleanly parted, proving the de¡¯s exceptional sharpness!
In the past, such a treasure would have sparked fierce bidding wars among cultivators and wealthy individuals.
But now, with no practical use beyond sustenance, even a priceless sword was akin to worthless scrap metal.
¡°Rare Treasure¡ White Jade Nine Linked Rings!¡±
¡°Emerald Jade Guanyin Statue!¡±
¡°Selling Secret Manual¡ Red Rust Sword Secret Manual, includes Divine Intent Diagram, only one hundred pounds of grain!¡±
Ignoring the cries of emaciated sellers, Fang Xi entered a nearby room.
Inside, there stood a slightly gaunt mountain of flesh.
¡°Ah, you¡¯re here!¡± Fatso Han¡¯s weak voice echoed.
Adjacent to this meaty mound hung several bloody¡ rats?
It was a rare sight¡ªa stall selling rat meat.
¡°Fatso Han, looks like you¡¯ve lost weight again,¡± Fang Xi greeted him.
The cmity affecting ckstone City spared no one, including those in the ck market.
However, while wandering through this west district marketce, Fang Xi unexpectedly encountered an old friend, much to his surprise and delight.
Despite the apocalypse, Fatso Han somehow managed to secure a steady supply of rat meat for sale, far superior to stalls misleadingly advertising goods they didn¡¯t possess.
In fact, within the entire marketce, his was practically the only such stall.
Of course, Fang Xi wasn¡¯t there to buy rat meat for consumption.
On the contrary, upon seeing Fang Xi, Fatso Han reacted as if he¡¯d met a long-lost rtive,menting, ¡°Tell me about it! Food prices have skyrocketed recently¡ My pet Tai Sui is nearly starving to death. I had no choice but to cut back on my own meals; now I¡¯m down to just eight meals a day, barely surviving¡¡±
As Fatso Han spoke, he nced at his noticeably smaller belly with an air of infinite mncholy.
Fang Xi was somewhat speechless; after all, it was rumored that this man used to eat ten meals a day. In these times, seeing everyone outside famished and envious only made Fatso Han¡¯s situation seem¡ even more boastful!
¡°That ¡®Iron Arm Fist¡¯ manual you sold mest month was quite ordinary,¡± Fang Xi said mildly. ¡°If what you have now is simr in quality, I won¡¯t buy the secret manual, just give me the ta sui meat.¡±
When Fang Xi first encountered Fatso Han in the marketce, he felt unexpectedly fortunate.
Here was a steady source for demon flesh, and additionally, the man had ess to numerous martial manuals!
Fatso Han likely acquired them cheaply by trading food with cultivators.
Upon realizing this, Fang Xi immediately saw potential for coboration. He proposed that Fatso Han continue acquiring manuals, which Fang Xi would then purchase from him at a markup, using grain as payment.
As long as it wasn¡¯t spirit rice, obtaining regr grains from farmers near Qingzhu Mountain cost merely a fraction of gold or silver.
¡®Single-handedly, who knows how many people I¡¯ve indirectly supported? Truly boundless merit, truly boundless¡¡¯ Fang Xi mused to himself.
Fang Xi pondered silently.
Fatso Han shifted his position and said, ¡°The Iron Arm Fist I sold youst time was indeed the genuine secret from the Tie family. The old patriarch¡¯s iron fists nearly dominated half of the dojo world¡ If not for his starving grandson near death, he wouldn¡¯t have sold it so cheaply to me¡ Anyway, enough about that. As for the True Force manual you seek, I still don¡¯t have it! However, Yuanhe Mountain shows great interest. Shall I connect you with them for a potential deal?¡±
¡°No need, I¡¯ll approach them myself.¡± Fang Xi rubbed his fingers thoughtfully.
Currently, facing Linghu Yang who wasparable to the second stage of body refinement, he wasn¡¯t entirely confident: ¡°Show me everything you¡¯ve got!¡±
¡°These are my most prized secrets.¡±
Fatso Han pulled out a book and casually tossed it to Fang Xi.
As Fang Xi caught the book, a hint of delight flickered in his eyes: ¡°Iron Clothes Art?¡±
This technique belonged to the Outer Sect¡¯s hard-style martial arts, specifically designed to enhance the defense of one¡¯s torso and limbs.
Undeniably, itplemented his White Cloud Palm and Red Snake Leg well, at least without causing significant conflict. Of course, whether there would be any real shes could only be determined through practice.
¡°And this Divine Intent Diagram, definitely a small gem. Not bad at all. How much do you want for it?¡± Fang Xi casually asked.
¡°One thousand pounds of grain! It took considerable effort for me to obtain these¡¡± Fatso Han stated firmly.
¡°Five hundred pounds, plus ten pounds of ta sui meat!¡± Fang Xi frowned and immediately halved the price.
¡°That¡¯s not fair!¡± Surprisingly, Fatso Han blinked pitifully. ¡°Do you know how hard it is for me to save some grain? Isn¡¯t it all for feeding Tai Sui and supplying you with ta sui meat?¡±
Seeing his expression, Fang Xi couldn¡¯t help but grimace slightly.
Such a woeful demeanor might have been endearing from a child or a beauty, buting from a massive, no wait - a few-hundred-pound fat man, it just felt out of ce¡
¡°Fine, seeing you act like a wronged giant toddler, I¡¯ll concede one more step. Six hundred pounds.¡± Fang Xi waved dismissively.
¡°No deal! At least eight hundred pounds.¡±
After another round of bargaining, they settled on seven hundred pounds of grain as the final agreement, and Fang Xi left with the secret manuals first.
As for the grain and ta sui meat, delivery would naturally urter.
Had such arge transaction taken ce openly in the market, it would¡¯ve been fucking robbed within seconds!
Desperate and starving people could resort to anything!
¡°This fellow¡¡± Fatso Han watched Fang Xi¡¯s departing figure, thoughtfully stroking his chin. ¡°Heh heh¡ Could it be that he robbed several grain shops? Quite an ample supply of food he has¡ Too bad, too bad - not someone easily crossed. Hopefully, those guys at the market will be smart enough¡¡±
¡°Hmm? Wait, actually, their stupidity suits me better. Once they¡¯re all dead, I can conveniently seize their shops and grain!¡±
Chapter 27: A Solution
Several miles away.
Fang Xi pulled the Qinghe Sword from the chest of an elderly warrior, causing blood to spatter across the ground.
¡°Old man had no honor inbat, but I¡¯ve grown ustomed to such tactics.¡±
Ever since his extravagant purchases at the market months ago, he frequently faced attempted robberies whenever venturing out.
Fortunately, the highest level among these robbers was true energy cultivators, which he could easily handle. However, scavenging their bodies yielded little significant gains, leaving Fang Xi somewhat disappointed.
He entered an abandoned dwelling, devoid of inhabitants, and initiated the transmigration process.
¡®The best way to evade pursuit is bypletely disappearing!¡¯
¡®I¡¯ll spend some time in the cultivation world, honing my martial skills before returning¡¡¯
In ckstone City. The sky remained perpetually dim, with eerie light filtering throughyers of ck mist.
At the boundary between Inner and Outer Cities stood arge mansion.
A few scattered ¡®cursed beings¡¯ roamed aimlessly nearby.
Based on rapidly gained scavenging experience, entering the area under the tree canopy invariably led to attacks by aerial roots, along with relentless assaults from numerous Treefolk and cursed beings - it was virtually a death sentence!
The strength of Treefolk surpassed that of ordinary dojo masters.
Even confronting cursed beings posed significant challenges for martial apprentices with three transformations of blood and qi.
Despite dwindling resources, many fearless individuals risked their lives at the edge of danger, seeking opportunities amidst peril.
The wooden gate of the mansion gently opened, revealing two children emerging cautiously.
Unsure where they hailed from, these wandering orphans had formed a small team, venturing out to scavenge for supplies.
¡°Hurry up, the monsters will be here soon!¡± whispered a girl with braided hair, her voice hushed.
¡°Don¡¯t worry, Xiao Yun, Dog Brother is always quick!¡± replied a half-grown youth, running out from the inner quarters. He wore tattered clothes, his arms filled with bulging bundles.
Despite their cautious steps, they inadvertently caught the attention of a nearby cursed being.
¡°Oh no! Xiao Yun, you go first!¡±
Dog Brother thrust the bundled package into Xiao Yun¡¯s arms and pushed her away.
The cursed being tilted its head; it appeared as a woman, with most of its face covered in dark runes. Its vacant eyes fixed intently on the two living figures.
Suddenly, it elerated at a frightening speed.
¡°Run!¡±
Dog Brother grabbed a nearby rock, hurled it towards the female cursed being, and sprinted in the opposite direction. ¡°Come on,e after me!¡±
¡°Dog Brother!¡± Crying, Xiao Yun fled towards the Outer City.
If they didn¡¯t retrieve the food soon, the younger children back in their small shack would starve to death.
Thud!
Unfortunately, overwhelmed by grief, Xiao Yun wasn¡¯t watching where she was going and tripped hard.
Despite the pain, the little girl didn¡¯t cry out but clutched tightly onto the bundle in her arms. However, several pieces of cured meat still rolled free.
St!
One piece bounced a few times beforeing to rest beside a shoe.
Xiao Yun looked up and saw feet like iron pirs, followed by a man towering over her like a steel tower. Fear instantly washed across her face.
Every surviving child knew to stay far from anyone stronger than themselves, as strangers often harbored ill intent!
¡°H-Here¡here for you!¡± stammered Xiao Yun timidly, her voiceced with tears. ¡°But can you please leave some for me?¡±
Xiao Yun timidly asked, her voice trembling with near tears, ¡°Could you please leave some for me?¡±
The burly man picked up the cured meat, ced it in the little girl¡¯s hand, and smiled, ¡°I, Zhang Junming, never take what is unjustly earned!¡±
As he spoke, the man swiftly shed towards the female cursed being.
During his movement, his muscles flowed like water, revealing him to be a formidable martial artist at the dojo master level within external cultivation realms.
Bang!
With a blood-curdling scream, the cursed woman was sent flying.
Zhang Junming, holding one child under each arm, rapidly fled from danger. He only set them down once they reached the outskirts of the Outer City.
¡°Many thanks, great hero!¡± The young Dog Brother forced a smile, his sharp eyes darting around restlessly.
¡°Haha, worry not, I have no ill intentions. In fact, your quick-wittedness impresses me greatly. If circumstances were different, I would undoubtedly take you as my disciple,¡± Zhang Junming sighed. ¡°s¡ most of my disciples have already perished¡¡±
¡°Big brother, this is for you!¡± Xiao Yun, her eyes smiling brightly, offered a piece of cured meat to therge man.
Taken aback, Zhang Junming burst outughing. Despite previously dismissing such food months ago due to its dirtiness, he eagerly took the cured meat and took a hearty bite. ¡°Delicious, truly delicious¡¡±
¡°Delicious!¡±
On Qingzhu Mountain.
Fang Xi had caught a wild chicken and, without using a pot, simply plucked its feathers, cleaned out the innards, stuffed it with spirit bamboo shoots and mushrooms, added various seasonings, then coated it in y to create a beggar¡¯s chicken dish. With one bite of the wing, the savory taste was so intense it felt like his eyebrows might melt off.
¡°Haha, Fellow Daoist Fang, this beggar¡¯s chicken is truly exceptional.¡±
Chen Ping sat nearby, rapidly tearing into a sulent drumstick. The aroma wafted enticingly, and with just a gentle tug, the meat effortlessly separated from the bone.
Around the campfire were two more scattered cultivators, appearing much less affluent than Goddess Yunmeng¡¯s group, with cultivation bases at the early stages of Qi Refinement.
After returning from Mingqing Pavilion, Chen Ping felt somewhat apologetic. He decided to introduce Fang Xi to two new fellow practitioners once again. This time, he learned from his mistake and chose individuals within a simr cultivation level circle.
They set up near the shanty town outskirts for an impromptu outdoor barbecue.
¡°Ah¡ Fellow Daoist Fang, your culinary skills would undoubtedly make you a divine chef in the secr world. Have you ever considered bing a spiritual chef?¡±
One individual appeared quite ascetic and ethereal, yet he was rapidly devouring a chicken¡¯s hindquarters. Nearbyy two thoroughly picked clean chicken ws. The way he licked his fingers while eating suggested immense enjoyment, as if savoring some extraordinary delicacy.
This man introduced himself as ¡®Nine Profound Supreme¡¯. Despite his impressive demeanor, his actual cultivation base was only at the secondyer of Qi Refinement. Rumor had it that beforeing to Qingzhu Mountain, he served as an imperial advisor for a period in the mortal realm. However, upon arrival here, he found himself among the lowest ranks, though he possessed considerable knowledge, particrly about worldly affairs.
¡°Meat without wine is iplete!¡±
Beside Jiuxuan sat a young gentleman dressed in green attire, reminiscent of a secr hero from the mortal world.
He seemed around twenty years old but already boasted a cultivation base nearing the peak of the thirdyer of Qi Refining.
His name was Di Qi, hailing from a small Qi Refinement n near Qingzhu Mountain, where he ranked seventh among siblings.
Although his spiritual root aptitude was mediocre, he stood out as the most affluent among those present. At this moment, he promptly produced a gourd filled with spirit wine and began distributing it to everyone.
¡°Fellow Daoist Di, you¡¯re always so generous!¡± Chen Ping hastily grabbed a cup, nced at it, then tossed it aside, opting instead for a worn-out bowl. He smiled and remarked, ¡°A gourd of spirit wine like this could easily fetch one spirit stone in the market!¡±
¡°Not at all¡ I¡¯ve always believed that sharing cultivation insights with close friends is truly delightful!¡± Di Qi replied cheerfully.
In reality, he was quite conscious of his status as a n cultivator, even if it was akin to a loose cultivator from a Qi Refining family - it still ced him above ordinary independents!
However, considering Chen Ping¡¯s potential as a future talisman master, extending this courtesy was deemed necessary.
The four enjoyed feasting and drinking together, reveling in their camaraderie.
After satisfying their hunger and thirst, Nine Profound Supreme began recounting tales from his extensive travels across various regions, filled with extraordinary experiences.
Even Fang Xi listened intently, thoroughly engrossed.
Initially, his aim in joining different social circles was to broaden his knowledge and expand hiswork of connections.
As Jiuxuan boasted about capturing renowned martial experts from the secr world as servants, Fang Xi¡¯s eyes lit up, and he smiled, ¡°No matter how strong these worldly warriors may be, they can¡¯tpare to a cultivator in the firstyer of Qi Refinement, right?¡±
¡°True, but they make excellent servants for menial tasks or, in the case of those female heroes, delightful bedwarmers.¡± Nine Profound Supreme reminisced fondly, his smile radiating contentment.
¡°Not necessarily¡ If worldly martial artists prepare adequately, leveraging terrain and utilizing appropriate tools¡ Even early-stage Qi Refiners, once depleted of magical energy, could indeed face defeat,¡± Di Qi interjected.
As a family cultivator, he had been specifically warned by his elders about this.
¡°Actually¡ The path of body cultivation followed by mundane martial artists bears some resemnce to true body cultivation,¡± Fang Xi subtly steered the conversation.
¡°No, not quite¡¡± Nine Profound Supreme shook his head. ¡°Even someone like Qin Tian, renowned as one of Yue Kingdom¡¯s Ten Absolute Masters for mastering ten extraordinary physical techniques, despite his unparalleled prowess, ultimately fell shortpared to a cultivator at the first stage of Body Refinement. Furthermore, he met an untimely death within a few years.¡±
¡°It¡¯s likely he died due to internal conflicts from his cultivation methods. As cultivators, using our spiritual senses to introspect and harmonize such issues might have saved him or even led to greater achievements!¡± Fang Xi¡¯s eyes flickered with insight.
¡°Doubtful, doubtful, doubtful¡ If mortal martial arts wereparable to secret body cultivation techniques, we would all have embraced them long ago.¡± Chen Ping shook his head emphatically.
¡°Actually, there might be a solution,¡± Di Qi responded mysteriously.
¡°Oh? Please enlighten us, Daoist Di.¡± Fang Xi¡¯s heart stirred, sensing that the crucial moment had arrived.
Di Qi took a deep sip from his gourd, seemingly savoring the spirit wine with closed eyes before nodding and shaking his head rhythmically. ¡°A cultivator¡¯s spiritual sense can only temporarily suppress conflicting inner energies. To truly eliminate such hazards, one should consider purchasing ¡®Breath Harmonizing Pills¡¯ from the Pill Cauldron Pavilion. These pills excel at reconciling diverse inner energies. In my family, we once hired a rare martial artist, unmatched for centuries in the jianghu, as a servant, offering these very pills aspensation!¡±
Upon hearing this, Fang Xi¡¯s eyes lit up brightly.
It wasn¡¯t because he was certain the Breath Harmonizing Pill could solve his issue directly. Rather, the challenge of harmonizing mixed martial blood qi, which seemed insurmountable in Great Liang, might well be considered trivial by great Foundation Establishment cultivators in the southern wilderness¡¯s cultivation world!
¡®The Breath Harmonizing Pill is specifically designed to address issues with Yue Kingdom warriors¡¯ inner energies, not blood qi.¡¯
¡®However, it¡¯s possible that the Pill Cauldron Pavilion may have medicinal pills capable of harmonizing martial blood qi!¡¯
¡®Even medicinal pills to increase one¡¯s blood qi limit might be achievable if desired by skilled alchemists!¡¯
Fang Xi felt immensely pleased.
By exchanging resources and experiences between the two realms, his prospects for advancing on the Dao path and achieving longevity seemed brighter than ever!
Chapter 28: True Force Enters the Marrow
Shantytown.
Inside the cer.
Inhale¡ Exhale¡
Terrifying waves of air surged against the walls, spreading outward like they were about to form a sweeping gust.
Fang Xi, bare-chested, breathed deeply with his chest expanding and contracting like a bellows.
With each breath, his blood qi seemed to grow stronger, causing his muscles to be resilient, akin to rubber, filled with sticity.
¡°The principle behind Iron Clothes Art is shock absorption!¡±
¡°Once mastered, even blunt weapons wielded by other cultivators would struggle to inflict significant damage!¡±
Fang Xi took a fierce bite of Beefwood meat and closed his eyes, meditating on the Divine Intent Diagram for Iron Clothes Art. Time passed unnoticed.
Suddenly, he opened his eyes, ¡°Sess!¡±
Having achieved mastery over Iron Clothes Art, Fang Xi once again broke through his true force barrier!
This time, it felt as though an invisible veil had draped around his entire body, significantly enhancing his defense, particrly across his chest and back!
These areas were notably vulnerable due to gaps in White Cloud Palm and Red Snake Leg coverage!
¡°As expected¡ With the aid of spiritual energy from the cultivation world and the Beefwood meat, my martial arts progress has skyrocketed! Breaking through barriers now feels as effortless as eating or drinking.¡±
Fang Xi¡¯s eyes sparkled slightly.
Of course, this ease came naturally as he was already a true force cultivator. Advancing another martial art to such a level would inevitably be much simpler for him.
Moreover, his spiritual sense greatly aided hisprehension of the Divine Intent Diagrams.
¡°However¡the overall enhancement Iron Clothes Art provides to my true force is bing quite minimal.¡±
After examining himself internally for a moment, Fang Xi felt somewhat helpless.
Theµþ¼Óof true force martial arts is not as straightforward as simple addition.
If breaking through Red Snake Leg initially increased his true force by ten units, mastering White Cloud Palm added only around four to five units at most.
Naturally, even this increase of forty to fifty percent doubled hisbat strength.
But¡following that, Fang Xi studied various martial arts and chose the ¡®Heavenly Vision and Earthly Hearing Art¡¯. Uponpletion, it contributed approximately two units to his true force.
Now with the breakthrough of Iron Clothes Art, the total increase to his true force was less than one unit¡
¡°In reality, this is expected. The total amount of blood qi within a person is limited, so there must inherently be a cap¡otherwise, couldn¡¯t cultivators be invincible by continuously stacking martial arts?¡±
¡°However, as I continue mixing martial arts, the benefits diminish significantly, eventually approaching zero¡ Conversely, the conflicts within my blood qi intensify!¡±
Suddenly, faint streaks of an abnormal reddish hue appeared on Fang Xi¡¯s face but were swiftly suppressed by him.
¡°Using spiritual introspection, I¡¯ve tried to select non-conflicting martial arts as much as possible, but I¡¯ve reached my limit¡ Continuing this way will be increasingly counterproductive.¡±
Furthermore, relying on his terrifying introspection ability, Fang Xi subtly adjusted the four cultivation techniques, enhancing the coordination of their blood qi cirction and reducing conflicts.
If any other martial artist from the Great Liang World had practiced like he did, they would likely have been gued with numerous ailments¡
¡°Fortunately¡ afteryering these four martial arts, my true force now covers most parts of my body.¡±
In the Great Liang martial realm, the stages up to three transformations of blood and qi primarily focus on foundation-building, collectively known as ¡®martial apprentices¡¯!
Grasping Divine Intent Diagrams and integrating true force marks one as a ¡®true energy cultivator¡¯! This is equivalent to the first level of Body Tempering,parable to Initial Stage Qi Refinement for cultivators!
Beyond true force lies covering the entire body with it, strengthening internal organs, limbs, and every bone¡ awaiting the emergence of True Vigor! Such individuals are called ¡®True Vigor Martial Artists¡¯!
A martial artist achieving True Vigor isparable to the second level of body refinement, equivalent to Mid Qi Refining for a cultivator!
Currently, Fang Xi aims to enhance his strength byyering multiple martial arts techniques, striving to cover his entire body with true force forprehensive tempering.
The White Cloud Palm primarily strengthens the palms and arms, Red Snake Leg focuses on the legs, Iron Clothes Art covers the torso, while Heavenly Vision and Earthly Hearing Art, being somewhat unconventional, enhances eyesight and hearing, additionally aiding in head fortification.
¡°Unfortunately¡ I¡¯m still missing one True Vigor technique. Mu Canglong was merely a true force cultivator, so most of my understanding beyond this point is spective¡¡± Fang Xi¡¯s gaze lowered pensively. ¡°It¡¯s time to reap from the fattened Yuanhe Mountain branch.¡±
Although he had long known their presence near the south city gate, he hadn¡¯t taken action yet.
This dy mainly stemmed from Linghu Yang¡¯s martial skills reaching the True Vigor stage, akin to the second level of body refinement for a cultivator.
While not as versatile as a cultivator, he was still formidable. To ensure sess, Fang Xi needed to maximize his own capabilities before making any moves.
Besides, ckstone City was now like a giant cage; there was no escape for Linghu Yang! Thus, there was no rush.
Regardless, over time, Fang Xi would undoubtedly progress at the fastest rate!
At Qingzhu Mountain Market, within the Pill Cauldron Pavilion.
¡°Can I assist you with purchasing medicinal pills, Daoist friend?¡± Zhuo Luting greeted a veiled customer warmly, her expression unchanged.
Cultivators often preferred discretion, and concealing one¡¯s appearance was quitemon.
¡°I¡¯m seeking a specific type of medicinal pill to address issues rted to blood qi cirction within my body¡¡± Fang Xi spoke in a gruff voice, outlining his requirements.
After several martial breakthroughs, his physique had significantly transformed from before. Combined with covering his face, unless Zhuo Luting were a great Foundation Establishment cultivator, she wouldn¡¯t recognize him.
Although even if she did, it likely wouldn¡¯t matter¡
Zhuo Luting listened attentively, maintaining her smile. ¡°Are you looking for a medicinal pill that resolves conflicts between different types of blood qi, Daoist friend? Unfortunately, our pavilion does not currently stock such pills¡¡±
¡°No avable options?¡± A hint of disappointment crossed Fang Xi¡¯s mind.
Just then, Zhuo Luting continued with a pleasant tone, ¡°While we don¡¯t have them on hand, if the issue is solely about resolving conflicts between Qi Refinement and body cultivation blood qi, Daoist friend, our pavilion¡¯s alchemist can custom-create a pill tailored to your needs¡ However, regarding the cost¡¡±
¡°I don¡¯t have that many spirit stones.¡± Fang Xi sighed.
In truth, Fang Xi was already aware of this solution. By having the Pill Cauldron Pavilion¡¯s apothecary examine his body, diagnose the issue, prescribe a remedy, and then have an alchemist concoct a targeted medicine, the minor blood qi conflict could be easily resolved.
However, firstly, he wasn¡¯t from a prominent Foundation Establishment n with such influence or abundance of spirit stones.
Secondly, allowing someone to thoroughly inspect his body would inevitably reveal his unique condition, possibly even requiring him to disclose his cultivation technique¡ªan uneptable risk.
Thus, without further hesitation, he turned to leave.
Just then, Zhuo Luting spoke up again, ¡°If Daoist friend isn¡¯t seeking a permanent cure, I do have a temporary solution!¡±
¡°Oh? What kind of temporary solution?¡± Fang Xi paused, his eyes gleaming as he fixed his gaze on Zhuo Luting.
¡°Based on your description, the blood qi conflict seems like a minor issue. As long as one has a strong foundation, it shouldn¡¯t pose significant problems,¡± Zhuo Luting exined. ¡°Much like how water can suppress fire, but a single drop cannot extinguish a mountain ze¡ Our pavilion offers a ¡®Blood and Qi Pill¡¯, ssified as mid-tier first-grade, primarily intended for body cultivators. It enhances the internal essence and blood, fortifying their foundations¡ With a solid foundation, even if there are slight issues, they won¡¯t hinder future progress. However, this merely masks the problem, not addressing its root cause. In subsequent major realms, the issue will likely be more severe¡¡±
¡°Blood and Qi Pill?¡± Fang Xi¡¯s voice remained steady, but his thoughts raced internally.
This Blood and Qi Pill could actually increase the maximum limit of one¡¯s blood qi levels. In the Great Liang World, it would be considered an unparalleled divine medicine for enhancing martial arts aptitude!
In simpler terms, if Fang Xi had consumed such a pill earlier, he might never have been deemed unfit for martial pursuits¡
¡®This female cultivator makes sense¡¡¯
¡®If my total blood qi capacity increases, I can at least practice more martial arts¡¡¯
¡®As long as my foundation is strong, even with conflicting blood qi, managing it should not pose significant issues¡¡¯
¡®Who knows, before any potential dangers arise, I might already break through to be a martial artist?¡¯
After considering all angles, Fang Xi nodded in agreement. ¡°What is the price of this Blood and Qi Pill?¡±
Being a mid-grade first-tier medicinal pill, its cost would undoubtedly surpass that of the Pure Spirit Pill. A foreboding feeling stirred within him.
Sure enough, Zhuo Luting¡¯s face lit up with excitement, her red lips parting slightly as she replied, ¡°Five spirit stones per pill.¡±
¡°Cursed Pill Cauldron¡ robbing me of spirit stones¡¡± In the shantytown, Fang Xi stared at the blood-red medicinal pill in his hand, his face crestfallen.
To afford this single Blood and Qi Pill, he not only depleted all his savings by selling his entire stock of spirit rice but also borrowed four spirit stones from Chen Ping, Di Qi, and others! He agreed to repay them within a month, with an additional fifth stone as interest!
¡°Damn it, once I have spirit stones, I¡¯ll pop Blood and Qi Pills like candy and toss away extras¡¡± Fang Xi muttered angrily before swallowing the pill in one gulp, then closing his eyes to refine it with magical energy.
Soon, he felt the potency of the pill taking effect, warming his entire body.
The previous tension throughout his limbs and bones vanished, reced by a sense of immense relief.
¡°It works! The Blood and Qi Pill is truly effective!¡± A hint of joy shed in Fang Xi¡¯s eyes.
¡°To exin the blood qi conflict metaphorically, imagine your body as a house. Currently, there are several fierce beasts inside, confined in too small a space. This inevitably leads to conflicts and shes, causing mutual attacks that could ultimately bring down the entire house¡¡±
¡°The principle behind the Blood and Qi Pill is akin to reinforcing and expanding the room¡ Although the fierce beasts remain, the likelihood of the house copsing decreases significantly¡¡±
¡°Since the fierce beasts remain, it merely addresses the symptoms, not the root cause.¡±
After a long moment,
Fang Xi stood up, noticing the dark filth mixed with blood seeping from his body. With a wry smile, he fetched water to clean himself thoroughly.
Feeling refreshed both physically and mentally, he changed into clean clothes,y down on a bamboo chair, and gazed at the night sky. ¡°How long has it been¡ since I truly let go and just admired this starlit expanse?¡±
With a cultivator¡¯s spiritual sense and the aid of medicinal pills, the notion of being stuck without progress was simplyughable to him.
Yet only now did Fang Xi experience a genuine sense of relief and certainty.
In this tranquil moment, he seemed to hear a gentle flowing sound akin to a small river near his ears.
As Fang Xi focused, he realized the stream-like noise originated within his own body - it was¡the flow of his blood qi.
Crackling sounds erupted from his body, resembling popping beans as every joint resonated together!
¡°This is¡ true force entering the bones, beginning the marrow refinement process?¡± Fang Xi¡¯s eyes lit up.
His true force had reached an exceptionally high level, standing just one step away from generating True Force!
Chapter 29: Planning
ckstone City.
At the boundary between the Inner and Outer Cities.
Fang Xi strode confidently down the center of the street, acting like a ma for monsters.
Stomping!
Nearby creatures, as if drawn to delectable prey, rushed towards him with frenzied intensity.
¡°Die!¡±
Fang Xi casually unleashed a palm strike.
Bang!
The struck cursed being¡¯s spine contorted into a terrifying ¡®bow¡¯ shape, nearly splitting it in two. It flew backward, crashed onto the ground, andy motionless. It was worth noting that even martial apprentices with three transformations of blood and qi found these cursed beings challenging due to their incredibly resilient bodies.
Yet, under Fang Xi¡¯s power, they were as fragile as brittle wood!
Rip!
He grabbed a cursed being by its arm and effortlessly tore it off, causing blood to gush forth.
¡°It feels almost like tearing apart a beggar¡¯s chicken¡¡± Fang Xi frowned, dodging the spray of blood.
Although he wasn¡¯t affected by demonic magical toxins, he still felt it was rather unsanitary.
¡°If cursed beings crumble this easily under my hands, how much more fragile must ordinary humans be?¡±
With a sweeping kick from his right leg, he sent a group of nearby cursed beings flying.
In the next instant, a wooden figure charged towards Fang Xi, its skin pulsating as if countless insects were writhing beneath.
Pop! Pop!
As the wooden figure reached Fang Xi, its skin burst open, unleashing myriad nt roots from within its flesh and orifices,shing out at him!
Amidst thousands of whipping tendrils, several particrly cunning ones attempted to prate Fang Xi¡¯s body.
ng! ng!
The sound of metal striking echoed!
Despite resembling diamond-hard drills, the roots impaled on Fang Xi¡¯s skin could only leave fleeting white marks before swiftly dissipating.
¡°The Iron Clothes Art¡¯s defense is indeed impressive!¡± Fang Xi sliced through entangling vines with his hand, shaped like a de.
Next, a paper talisman appeared in his grasp.
¡°Fire!¡±
A ball of spirit me materialized and engulfed the wooden figure.
With a pitiful scream, the wooden figure disintegrated into ash.
¡°Cultivation spells prove highly effective against demonic servants!¡± Fang Xi nodded, then his expression shifted.
Assisted by the Heavenly Vision and Earthly Hearing Art, his eyesight and hearing greatly enhanced, he sensed multiple wooden figures converging upon him.
¡°Wasting paper talismans is shameful.¡±
Having tested his abilities, Fang Xi was about to leave when something caught his eye amidst the ashes of the wooden figure - a dusty seed.
¡°Surviving even under a cultivator¡¯s spirit me?¡± Fang Xi was slightly surprised. He carefully sealed the seed in a jade bottle and added several magical energy barriers on top.
Only then did he leisurely use Red Snake Leg to depart, leaving behind futile roars and pursuit from the remaining wooden figures¡
¡°Huff huff!¡±
After evading the wooden figures, Fang Xi gazed at the Demon Tree, his expression gradually growing serious: ¡°This demon¡¯s servants are increasing rapidly, their aura bing stronger. It seems close to advancing¡ I must leave here before it reaches that stage!¡±
To depart, however, he needed a Forced Entry Talisman. During his recent visit to the market, Fang Xi had specifically inquired and found its cost to be around thirty-five spirit stones!
Additionally, he still owed five spirit stones for the sweet treats to his fellow Daoist!
¡°I originally wanted to further hone my martial skills¡¡±
¡°But now, it looks like I should immediately seek out True Force martial arts, break through to the secondyer of Body Refinement, andmence trading between realms¡¡±
At the eastern city gate, the Baiyun Dojo encampment bustled with activity.
¡°Da-shixiong is back!¡± Liu Taotao¡¯s eyes lit up as he spotted Fang Xi and promptly approached to greet him.
¡°Hmm!¡±
Fang Xi casually tossed over a bag filled with provisions, immediately drawing everyone¡¯s attention.
In these times of dwindling supplies, his frequent outings always yielded abundant returns, effectively sustaining nearly half the dojo¡¯s poption.
In reality, if Mu Canglong knew that Fang Xi had also delivered close to a thousand pounds of food to Fatso Han this time, he would undoubtedly be even more astonished.
¡°Da-shixiong!¡±
Tang Xuan and others hastily took the bags, their faces beaming at the substantial weight indicating ample provisions.
As Fang Xi scanned the area, he noticed Hao Lan among them.
This unfortunate child had lost his father, the dojo master, during the demonic disaster, and the entire Boulder Dojo was wiped out. After relying on charity from the Baiyun Dojo for some time, he mustered the courage to be Mu Canglong¡¯s disciple, thus bing Fang Xi¡¯s little junior brother.
On the other hand, Tang Xuan seemed particrly contenttely, his face glowing red, clearly enjoying his time with Miss Bai.
After greeting Lily, Mu Piaomiao, and others one by one, Fang Xi headed to the significantly smaller training ground to begin practicing martial arts.
In the training area, several targets brought from the Baiyun Dojo stood ready.
One target appeared especially hefty, made entirely of iron with a rope wrapped around its exterior - it was Mu Canglong¡¯s personal wooden stake.
However, without hesitation, Fang Xi began using it diligently.
Bang! Bang! Bang!
His punches struck the iron post with teeth-grating sounds.
Watching this scene, Hao Lan swallowed hard, realizing how audacious he had been to challenge Da-shixiong earlier. Thankfully, his luck held¡
¡°Wait, is that¡?¡± After observing for a moment, his mouth dropped open in surprise.
As Fang Xi¡¯s strikes continued, the rope binding the iron post snapped, revealing its dark metallic surface beneath. Astonishingly, one after another, imprints of fists and palms became visible on the post!
¡°Not enough, still not enough!¡± Suddenly, Fang Xi let out a long cry, shaping his hand like a de.
Whack!
With a strike akin to a divine weapon, his hand de cleaved through the iron post, severing it as easily as if it were no thicker than an adult¡¯s thigh.
ng!
The massive severed portion crashed against the wall, causing intense vibrations and dislodging clouds of dust.
Witnesses to this spectacle stood agape.
¡°Fang Xi¡¡±
Mu Canglong appeared at the edge of the training area, gazing at the broken iron post with excitement. ¡°Could it be¡ you¡¯ve already surpassed the human body¡¯s limits and be a True Force Martial Artist?¡±
¡°Just barely short!¡± Fang Xi retracted his hand de, feeling slightly disappointed yet sensing the changes within him.
With the aid of Blood and Qi Pills, breaking through the human body¡¯s limits to attain True Force seemed tantalizingly close.
With his current progress in refining marrow with true force, it would likely take just a few more months, at most a year, to attain True Strength and break free from the limitations of Great Liang¡¯s third-rate martial arts!
Unfortunately, this pace was still too slow.
¡®Therefore¡ I need a True Strength martial art.¡¯
Fang Xi¡¯s eyes flickered as he turned to Mu Canglong. ¡°Master, has anything significant happened recently?¡±
¡°Most issues have been manageable,¡± Mu Canglong hesitated briefly before continuing, ¡°Recently, messengers from Yuanhe Mountain near the south city gate arrived, demanding ourpliance with their orders. They im that their Protector Envoy might have found a way for us to escape¡¡±
¡°A way to escape?¡±
Fang Xi¡¯s interest piqued immediately. ¡°What exactly is this method?¡±
¡°I¡¯m not entirely sure, but Yuanhe Mountain insists on our obedience, including the submission of food supplies¡ In return, they promise a limited number of spots for escape.¡± Mu Canglong¡¯s expression showed deep conflict.
It was clear that he doubted the feasibility of this n yet couldn¡¯t bear to give up hope. A drowning man clings desperately to even the slightest straw of possibility.
¡°For now, let¡¯s keep the dojo out of this and observe the situation further,¡± Fang Xi decided swiftly.
Within Baiyun Dojo, his decisions carried such weight that even Mu Canglong could not easily overturn them.
As he epted the handkerchief from Lily and wiped his hands, Fang Xi casually added, ¡°Also¡ I n to be away for some time.¡±
¡°Away again?¡± Mu Piaomiao felt disheartened. ¡°We have enough food supplies for many days¡¡±
¡°It¡¯s not about the food,¡± Fang Xi replied. ¡°If enemiese while I¡¯m gone, show them this iron pir.¡±
His decision to leave was naturally aimed at Yuanhe Mountain.
Whether it was the growth of the Demon Tree or the mounting debt pressure with five spirit stones owed, Fang Xi had to swiftly sell Great Liang¡¯s resources within the southern wilderness¡¯s cultivation realm and exchange them for spirit stones.
To aplish this, he needed at least Middle Stage Qi Refinement strength.
Fang Xi knew that achieving a breakthrough in the Evesting Spring Art beyond its fourthyer would not be feasible in the short term.
That left only his rapidly advancing martial arts as an option.
However, despite significant progress, he still fell short of attaining True Force mastery.
¡°Perhaps only Yuanhe Mountain¡¯s secret martial arts reach the True Force level, which could elerate my advancement significantly.¡±
With a contemtive gaze, Fang Xi stepped out of Baiyun Dojo¡¯s premises and quickly vanished amidst the deste streets.
At the South City Gate.
¡°Sir Protector¡ I¡¯ve already contacted all the dojo masters as instructed. Red Rock Dojo and Three Flowers Dojo have agreed to our terms. They will soon deliver substantial resources, manpower, their sect¡¯s martial arts, along with the Divine Intent Diagrams!¡± Qiao Wuchang reported, bowing deeply.
Facing him stood Linghu Yang, his aura increasingly profound, akin to both divine and demonic presence.
¡°I understand,¡± Linghu Yang nodded coldly.
¡°Sir Protector¡¡± Qiao Wuchang gritted his teeth, ¡°However¡ regarding the promised exit slots for them¡¡±
He harbored genuine concerns about this matter.
Despite being a trusted subordinate, Qiao Wuchang knew well that escape from the Demonic Domain was nearly impossible, even for gods or spirits!
¡°You doubt me?¡± Linghu Yang red icily at Qiao Wuchang.
¡°This subordinate wouldn¡¯t dare.¡± Although Qiao Wuchang had long entered the realm of True Force martial artists, he had no illusions about Linghu Yang¡¯s ability to effortlessly kill him. He immediately knelt down, pleading, ¡°Sir Protector, considering my unwavering loyalty¡ please guide me towards survival!¡±
¡°A way out¡ naturally exists.¡±
Linghu Yang closed his eyes. ¡°I¡¯ve already achieved mastery of True Force¡ Now, my next step is to break through to the Zongshi realm. Once aplished, perhaps I can find a way out¡¡±
¡°Zongshi?¡± Qiao Wuchang¡¯s eyes widened.
On the entire Yuanhe Mountain, only one legendary ancestor might have reached such a realm, if at all.
Moreover¡
As expected, Linghu Yang continued, ¡°Unfortunately¡ within our sect, only the martial artist portion of the Yuanhe Five Thunders Hand was passed down to me. Achieving the Zongshi level still poses some difficulties¡¡±
¡°Not surprising for someone like you, Protector Envoy.¡±
Qiao Wuchang¡¯s eyes gleamed momentarily before darkening with malice. ¡°So that¡¯s why you ordered those dojo masters to hand over their martial arts? To gather strengths from various schools?¡±
¡°Chuckle¡ What could be worth learning from third-rate martial arts?¡± Linghu Yang shook his head dismissively. ¡°My intention was merely to bestow them a grand gift, and then¡ use their blood and flesh to pave my path to bing a Zongshi¡ Here¡¯s your task: Starting today, capture unwilling cultivators for me - as many as possible!¡±
Chapter 30: Coercion
South Gate District.
¡°Yuanhe Mountain¡¯s branch is rumored to have numerous experts, and since the demonic disaster, they¡¯ve gathered even more rogue cultivators¡ If they all attack at once, it could be quite troublesome.¡±
After all, a cultivator¡¯s magical energy is finite.
Nevertheless, Fang Xi was determined to tackle this tough challenge.
¡°To dismantle Yuanhe Mountain, I must first clip its wings¡¡±
Fang Xi¡¯s n was straightforward.
Every day, Yuanhe Mountain¡¯s cultivators ventured out to gather resources, so he could simply lurk nearby, killing as many as emerged.
With ckstone City riddled with dangers, Yuanhe Mountain might not notice his presence initially!
By the time they realized something was amiss, it would likely be toote. Positioned near Yuanhe Mountain¡¯s encampment, Fang Xi soon spotted a group emerging.
Leading them was a strikinglyposed woman.
¡°A woman? Could she be Chunyu, one of the three top figures in this city?¡± Fang Xi¡¯s eyes lit up. ¡°Perfect target!¡±
He had no qualms about killing women; after all, the more beautiful and talented, the greater the threat! Beauty and talent often led to unpredictable variables, which were detested by those who sought safety above all else.
To Fang Xi, the more beautiful and talented an enemy was, the more deserving of death! Beauty and talent often led to unpredictable oues, and those who scrounge for survival detest unpredictability above all else.
Fang Xi¡¯s footsteps were incredibly light, akin to a graceful cat, as he effortlessly followed them.
Surprisingly, instead of infiltrating the Inner City border, the group split up covertly and surrounded arge abandoned mansion.
Draped in a white dress like a floating cloud, Chunyu gently glided inside.
Bang!
Momentster, a loud explosion resonated from within the mansion!
A coarse voice roared angrily, ¡°Yuanhe Mountain¡¯s bitch, just because I refused to submit, you dare to surround and kill me?!¡±
This was none other than Zhang Junming himself.
His muscles bulged massively, making him suddenly taller by a head, resembling a colossal spirit deity as he charged at Chunyu, shouting, ¡°Take this punch!¡±
With fingers thicker than turnips clenched together, his fist became like a giant pestle, unleashed with astonishing power!
¡°Cloud Whale Art indeed lives up to its reputation as top-tier among third-rate techniques, nearly rivaling some second-rate martial arts!¡±
However, Chunyu¡¯s body seemed as light as paper, effortlessly unaffected by the force. With the gust from Zhang Junming¡¯s punch, she gently floated backward, her cherry-red lips parting slightly.
¡°Cloud Whale Art!¡±
In ancient times, elephants were revered for their immense strength onnd. Yet, within the oceans, whales possessed even greater might surpassing that of elephants!
Legend has it that during antiquity, there existed colossal beasts known as ¡®Cloud Whales,¡¯ which treated the sky itself as their ocean, soaring amidst the clouds like titanic leviathans.
Inspired by these creatures, the ancestors of the Zhang family created the ¡°Cloud Whale Art,¡± renowned for its unparalleled defense and tremendous power!
Having mastered the Cloud Whale Art, Zhang Junming had virtually no equals among dojo masters in ckstone City! He could even rival true disciples of major sects!
¡°Pity¡ but it¡¯s still just a second-rate martial art!¡± Chunyu¡¯s delicate eyebrows furrowed slightly, genuinely expressing sympathy for Zhang Junming. Her jade-like finger pointed forward, ¡°Rushing Thunder Finger!¡±
This was a secret technique of Yuanhe Mountain, specifically designed to counter various external hard¹¦·ò styles!
Pffft, pffft!
Several tiny blood holes appeared on Zhang Junming¡¯s body.
His face turned pale as he halted his charge. ¡°Why?¡±
He merely declined recruitment; why would they send assassins after him?
Yuanhe Mountain had never been known for such ruthless tactics of forcing allegiance or facing annihtion!
¡°I¡¯m not entirely sure, but Linghu-shishu gave the direct order. My apologies!¡± Chunyu¡¯s eyes remained unwavering as she floated forward like a drifting cloud, poised to break Zhang Junming¡¯s limbs.
However, at that moment, a peculiar smile appeared on Zhang Junming¡¯s face. ¡°You fell for it!¡±
Instantly, his muscles began rippling fluidly, and with remarkable speed, he squeezed the bleeding wounds shut, allowing them to heal¡ regaining fullbat capability!
This was a secret technique from the Cloud Whale Art¡ªCloud Whale Muscle Control!
Once mastered, it allowed him to manipte his muscles, shifting the vulnerable points and weaknesses of the Cloud Whale Art!
It is well-known that external martial arts, like hard qi techniques, always have areas where true force cannot fully prate,monly referred to as ¡®vulnerable spots¡¯.
As a member of a major sect, Chunyu possessed exceptional insight and had precisely targeted these vulnerable spots to exploit Zhang Junming¡¯s defenses!
In reality, Zhang Junming hadn¡¯t been struck in a fatal weak point; instead, he feigned vulnerability to seize an opportunity to counterattack!
¡°Get down on your knees!¡±
Taking a deep breath, his chest expanded like a bellows, and he raised one palm high before striking downward with divine might, reminiscent of a celestial¡¯s seal crashing upon earth!
Boom!
Realizing toote that something was amiss, Chunyu could not retreat. She hastily lifted both hands, forming a lotus-like seal to barely withstand the impact.
With a thunderous noise, Chunyu flew backward, blood seeping from the corner of her mouth.
¡°Haha¡ Sect disciples aren¡¯t so impressive after all. Come at me again!¡± Zhang Junming, resembling a demonic lord incarnate, took bold strides forward, each step cracking the stone pavement beneath him.
His fighting spirit soared to its peak, confident of imminent victory.
Suddenly, startled cries of children echoed from within the mansion.
It was Xiao Yun, Gouzi, and the others!
Zhang Junming¡¯s expression darkened furiously. ¡°You¡ despicable!¡±
Having taken pity on the childrenst time, he had brought them under his care. He never anticipated that Yuanhe Mountain would target them, clearly exploiting them as his weakness.
Composing himself swiftly, Zhang Junming dered, ¡°They¡¯re just strays; I¡¯ll deal with you first and foremost!¡±
After years navigating the jianghu, he knew better than to sumb easily to threats.
Surrendering now would be the ultimate joke, potentially endangering both the hostages and himself!
Only a fool would choose such a path!
However, his momentary hesitation allowed Chunyu precious time to recover.
The woman¡¯s face was pale, blood seeping from the corner of her mouth. Beyond her icy demeanor, she now exuded an aura of vulnerability that evoked sympathy.
¡°Secret Technique - Seven Needle Acupoint Strike!¡±
Chunyu swiftly inserted seven thin needles into herself, not only stabilizing her injuries rapidly but also causing her true force to surge dramatically!
Apart from superior cultivation techniques, sect disciples held another significant advantage over ordinary cultivators: ess to umted skills and experiences passed down by their predecessors!
At its pinnacle, this generational knowledge culminated in unique secret techniques, enabling cultivators to unleash power beyond their inherent limits!
¡°White Lotus Seal Technique!¡±
In the next instant, Chunyu formed intricate hand seals with her ten pristine, agile fingers, resembling a white lotus gently blossoming amidst mes. With graceful precision, she directed the seal towards Zhang Junming¡¯s chest!
Bang!
Another deafening sound echoed.
Zhang Junming felt as if struck by a heavy hammer on his chest, flying backward and copsing onto the ground, unable to rise for quite some time.
¡°Cough¡ You¡¯ve won,¡± he managed, bitterness creeping into the corners of his lips as he nced at his chest. ¡°Your target is me; I hope you¡¯ll spare those who are uninvolved¡¡±
Chunyu slowly extracted the seven silver needles from her acupoints, about to speak when her expression suddenly shifted.
More screams emerged from within the mansion.
¡°Big Brother!¡±
Gouzi rushed out, supporting Xiao Yun, and helped prop up Zhang Junming while shouting, ¡°Several viins entered the courtyard just now, but this young man here killed them all¡¡±
Zhang Junming finally noticed another figure slowly emerging from the doorway¡ªit was Fang Xi!
¡°You? Fang Xi from Baiyun Dojo?¡± Chunyu recognized the young man, her feelings unexpectedly mixed.
Initially, when Fang Xi sought to join Yuanhe Mountain, it was Chunyu who assessed his aptitude, deeming it ordinary at best. Consequently, Linghu Yang had rejected him.
Later, she heard that he joined a dojo instead and rapidly achieved the three transformations of blood and qi¡ªan impressive feat.
This left a deep impression on Chunyu.
Now, upon seeing him today, it seemed as though Fang Xi had made yet another breakthrough in martial arts?
¡®If only we had epted him back then¡¡¯ Chunyu felt a pang of regret, but her expression remained unchanged. Coolly, she asked, ¡°Fang Xi, by representing Baiyun Dojo against Yuanhe Mountain, have you dered yourself our enemy?¡±
¡°You don¡¯t need to intimidate me with Yuanhe Mountain¡¯s name!¡± Fang Xi scoffed, stepping forward three paces. ¡°My presence here signifies the end for all nearby Yuanhe Mountain disciples¡ Now, it¡¯s your turn!¡±
When he began speaking, he was still beside Zhang Junming, but by the final word, he stood directly in front of Chunyu.
With a casual lift of his right hand, Fang Xi struck down as if swatting a fly.
Crackling sounds erupted from within his body, akin to popping beans, as his palm descended.
Chunyu¡¯s expression shifted wildly. ¡°Resonance of tendons and bones? True force prating marrow? Impossible¡¡±
She swiftly formed a lotus seal with her hands, causing lotuses to bloom beneath her feet as she retreated.
However, no matter how fast she moved, Fang Xi remained directly in front of her, leaving Chunyu helpless as his palm descended towards her!
Crack!
The strike sent her flying, shattering multiple ribs mid-air. She ultimately crashed heavily into a wall and slowly slid down like a toppled painting.
¡°Too weak, truly too weak.¡±
¡°Is this all the strength of Yuanhe Mountain¡¯s true disciple?¡± Fang Xi shook his head, unaware that his true force and blood qi levels already made him seem monstrous to other true force cultivators.
Meanwhile¡
Zhang Junming¡¯s lips twitched, barely suppressing a string of curses: ¡®Damn it¡ if I hadn¡¯t taken half her life first, would you have had such an easy victory?¡¯
Unfortunately, he dared not voice these thoughts aloud.
Fang Xi was indeed fearsome!
Even at Zhang Junming¡¯s peak condition, hecked confidence against such terrifying reserves of true force.
¡°You¡¡± Blood trickled from Chunyu¡¯s lips as she struggled to speak further.
But Fang Xi had no interest in sparing her any sympathy; with a swift hand strike, he rendered her unconscious. Then, he turned his gaze towards Zhang Junming.
¡°What do you n to do to our boss?¡± Gouzi and Xiao Yun immediately stepped forward, shielding Zhang Junming.
¡°Nothing much¡¡± Fang Xi waved his hand dismissively. ¡°Zhang brother, considering how Yuanhe Mountain treated you, have you thought about seeking revenge?¡±
¡°Revenge?¡± Zhang Junming studied Fang Xi intently. ¡°Are you trying to recruit me? Very well¡ I owe you my life, so I¡¯ll help you this once!¡±
He too had long harbored resentment against Yuanhe Mountain.
¡°Excellent!¡± Fang Xi nodded, lifting Chunyu effortlessly and departing.
His extraordinary lightness technique made carrying the nearly hundred-pound Chunyu seem effortless. In a sh, he found a secluded courtyard devoid of people.
Entering a random room, he tossed Chunyu onto the bed. Observing her disheveled hair and pallid face, he smiled contemtively, rubbing his fingers¡
Chapter 31: Confrontation at the Door
Fang Xi reached into his robes and produced a small medicine bottle. He poured out a pink pill, swiftly cing it into Chunyu¡¯s mouth.
Despite being unconscious, Chunyu subtly resisted.
However, Fang Xi didn¡¯t hesitate; he forcefully pried open her jaw and pushed the pill inside with his finger¡
Additionally, he took out several gold needles and inserted them into various points on her head.
¡°Umm¡¡± Chunyu¡¯s eyelids trembled violently before suddenly opening, revealing hazy eyes that were once clear.
¡°Tell me, what is your name¡¡±
Fang Xi¡¯s gaze intensified, his words carrying a peculiar power.
This was the ¡®Soul Confusion Technique¡¯!
A skill he had learned from Nine Profound Reverend. Not only did it require the use of specific drugs and acupuncture, but it could only be employed by cultivators with spiritual sense on non-cultivating mortals. If the target was even a basic Qi Refinement cultivator, the technique would bepletely ineffective, thus having numerous limitations.
As for the legendary Soul Search Technique, said to work on cultivators, Fang Xi had never encountered it.
¡°Chunyu¡¡±
A faint blue glow appeared in Chunyu¡¯s eyes as she replied nkly.
¡°Tell me, your position within Yuanhe Mountain¡¡± Fang Xi continued questioning.
¡°Yuanhe Mountain honor guard stationed at ckstone City¡¡±
¡°What was the purpose of your mission this time?¡±
¡°To capture Zhang Junming. The Protector-shishu instructed to keep him alive¡¡±
¡°Capture? That seems odd¡¡± Fang Xi stroked his chin thoughtfully. ¡°List all martial arts you know¡ And if there are any manuals or Divine Intent Diagrams, tell me their locations¡¡±
After nearly an hour,
¡°What a pity¡¡± Fang Xi gazed at Chunyu Meihao¡¯s form and sighed.
Based on her confession under the Soul Confusion Technique, she had not learned Yuanhe Mountain¡¯s renowned secret art¡ªthe Yuanhe Five Thunders Hand!
In fact, within the entire Yuanhe Mountain branch, only Linghu Yang possessed its true´«³Ð, albeit an iplete version. It reached up to True Force Martial Artist level butcked subsequent teachings for Martial Saint advancement.
Interestingly, in Chunyu¡¯s mind, Zongshi carried another title¡ªTrue Astral Martial Saint!
Apart from this revtion, the woman held little further value.
Fang Xi gently caressed her silky hair, his hand moving past her rounded earlobes, delicate chin, and finally reaching her swan-like graceful neck.
With a sharp crack, expressionless, he snapped it.
A once-gorgeous figure met her untimely demise, fading like a withered flower.
No melodramatic twists urred.
¡°It seems I must confront Linghu Yang head-on after all.¡±
Fang Xi genuinely wished to avoid engaging a True Force Martial Artist equivalent to secondyer body refinement.
Despite not being a cultivator, such opponents still posed numerous challenges.
However, now there was no other choice.
Half a month swiftly passed.
At Yuanhe Mountain¡¯s outpost, one by one, each dispatched team vanished without returning.
Even the most dim-witted disciples began noticing something amiss.
The disappearance of one or two teams could be attributed to bad luck. However, with all search parties sent out for supplies going missing, it was clearly beyond the capabilities of mindless wooden figures and cursed beings!
Outside, there must be a terrifying enemy systematically hunting down Yuanhe Mountain¡¯s forces!
Moreover, this adversary¡¯s tracking skills were exceptionally cunning. Linghu Yang had repeatedly conducted furious patrols, even disguising himself as an ordinary disciple to act as bait within the teams, yet he never managed to catch a glimpse of their sly foe!
In response, the previouslymitted alliance of dojos quickly shifted to a cautious wait-and-see stance. After all, those old foxes excelled at adapting to circumstances, like reeds swaying in the wind.
As Linghu Yang grew increasingly irritable, his treatment of ordinary disciples escted from verbal abuse to physical punishment. Unable to bear the mounting pressure, many disciples fled the outpost.
This led to a disheartening situation where the once-mighty Yuanhe Mountain resembled a crumbling tree shedding its monkeys¡
¡°Damn!¡±
Qiao Wuchang gazed at the outpost¡¯s entrance.
Once an ordinary boundary, it now seemed like the gateway to a terrifying abyss. Beyond Yuanhe Mountain¡¯s defenses lurked countless unseen monsters, ready to prey on them.
Only staying close to Linghu Yang provided any semnce of safety. Qiao Wuchang dared not venture out anymore, but as their food supplies dwindled day by day, his anxiety steadily grew.
¡°Sir, our provisions are nearly depleted. What should we do?¡± A Yuanhe Mountain disciple approached Qiao Wuchang and whispered urgently.
¡°How is that possible?¡± Qiao Wuchang instinctively dismissed the im, considering they had the most well-stocked reserves among all factions.
After a moment¡¯s thought, however, his face turned from pale to flushed with a hint of ferocity. ¡°Today, I¡¯ll personally lead a search through each disciple¡¯s quarters. We¡¯ll ughter all the captured women; let¡¯s start with mine¡ That should save us a significant amount, wouldn¡¯t you agree?¡±
¡°Yes¡¡± The disciple hesitated, wanting to say more, but with the honor guard himself leading the execution of the Assistant Minister¡¯s concubines, he found no words.
¡°You may leave now¡¡±
After dismissing the disciple, Qiao Wuchang felt an increasing frustration within him. He muttered to himself, ¡°No¡ I must speak with the Protector-shishu. This situation cannot continue!¡±
Linghu Yang¡¯s recent behavior had been peculiar as well, but Qiao Wuchang unconsciously overlooked these anomalies.
Gathering his thoughts carefully, he approached Linghu Yang¡¯s door and respectfully knocked three times, calling out, ¡°Linghu-shishu, Qiao Wuchang requests an audience!¡±
¡°Enter!¡± Linghu Yang¡¯s voice was remarkably calm, like an undercurrent beneath an iceberg.
Qiao Wuchang pushed open the door and found Linghu Yang donning his outer robe, smiling at him. ¡°Wuchang, how long have we known each other?¡±
¡°Since the day you arrived in ckstone City, sir, Wuchang has been by your side. It has been three years and six months,¡± Qiao Wuchang replied, bowing deeply.
¡°But¡ you have betrayed my trust,¡± Linghu Yang said mildly.
Immediately, Qiao Wuchang fell to his knees. ¡°Please forgive me, sir. It is truly due to that ndestine viin causing mischief¡ which resulted in insufficient captives¡¡±
Half a month ago, when orders were ryed to various dojo masters, Linghu Yang had assigned Qiao Wuchang a specific task.
With Yuanhe Mountain¡¯s strength, capturing solitary cultivators should have been effortless. However, since their dreaded nemesis reappeared recently, Qiao Wuchang dared not even step outside, let alone attempt any capturings.
¡°Enough. I¡¯ll forgive you if you help me with one more thing.¡± Linghu Yang walked over to a corner of the room, lifted a section of the floor, revealing a dark hole, and gestured for Qiao Wuchang to follow. ¡°Come along!¡±
¡°Your subordinate is willing to sacrifice all, enduring death without hesitation!¡± Qiao Wuchang promptlyplied, feeling somewhat puzzled. When did Linghu Yang dig a tunnel beneath his bedroom?
The tunnel was short; upon entering, they arrived at a cer.
Inside the cery¡
Qiao Wuchang¡¯s eyes widened slightly.
Linghu Yang¡¯s eerie voice echoed, ¡°Didn¡¯t you say¡ you would willingly sacrifice everything for me? Then let me grant your wish!¡±
¡°Ahh!¡±
A spine-chilling scream suddenly reverberated from within the cer.
¡°Brother Fang!¡±
Zhang Junming stood shoulder to shoulder with Fang Xi, gazing at the Yuanhe Mountain outpost under the gloomy sky.
Over recent days, they had teamed up and decimated Yuanhe Mountain¡¯s scouting parties, forcing them to retreat and hunker down. This vengeance brought immense satisfaction, lifting their spirits considerably. ¡°Now, Yuanhe Mountain has few remaining disciples, with only Qiao Wuchang posing any real threat, but even he is holed up. What should we do next?¡±
¡°It¡¯s simple,¡± Fang Xi replied, assessing the strength disparity between both sides. ¡°We¡¯ll charge through the main gate. You hold off Qiao Wuchang while I take care of Linghu Yang - just that straightforward!¡±
The bnce of power had shifted, making it the opportune time to strike without hesitation!
Currently, the Yuanhe Mountain outpost had very few disciples left, undermining their previous advantage of overwhelming numbers.
¡°Perfect! Count me as the vanguard!¡± Zhang Junmingughed heartily, striding confidently towards the main entrance of the Yuanhe Mountain outpost.
With a deep breath, his muscles rippled, bulging into numerous flesh knots along his arms. As if channeling all his might into one punch, he unleashed it with devastating force!
With one punch to split the heavens¡
Boom!
The sturdy gate shattered instantly.
Zhang Junming charged into the Yuanhe Mountain outpost like a war chariot, eliciting numerous screams from the disciples within.
¡°Hm?¡±
Fang Xi lightly stepped and leaped several meters,nding atop the wall. As he observed Zhang Junming¡¯s brutal ughter of Yuanhe Mountain disciples, he felt somewhat puzzled.
¡®Where is Linghu Yang?¡¯
¡®And Qiao Wuchang, why haven¡¯t they made a move yet?¡¯
Sensing something amiss, Fang Xi restrained himself from intervening and stealthily followed behind the rampaging Zhang Junming.
¡°Ha ha¡ you cowardly bunch, daring to ambush me?¡± Zhang Junming punched down another Yuanhe Mountain disciple and then viciously stomped on them.
The head beneath his foot exploded like a watermelon, sttering red and white fragments everywhere.
Though the scene was horrifying, as a True Force martial artist, it did not faze him in the slightest. Even if he had slightly kinder inclinations, encountering enemies intent on killing him would never evoke mercy.
In an era where starvation was always looming, showingpassion towards others often meant cruelty to oneself.
Zhang Junming carved a bloody path all the way to the Inner Court, sensing something amiss. He bellowed, ¡°Linghu Yang, Qiao Wuchang¡ get your asses out here!¡±
In the next instant, a door shattered.
Amidst flying splinters of wood, a figure emerged and unleashed a powerful palm strike.
Zhang Junming¡¯s muscles tensed as he met it with his fist.
Bang!
The moment their strikes connected, Zhang Junming felt an overwhelming force, akin to mountains crumbling and seas surging, effortlessly shattering even his peak true force.
Pffft!
His Cloud Whale Soft Body technique was breached, sending him hurtling backward, coughing up a mouthful of blood.
Kneeling on one knee, Zhang Junming stared at the figure before him and forcefully eximed, ¡°L-Linghu-Yang?¡±
Only a True Force Martial Artist could so easily dismantle his full burst of true force.
¡°So you¡¯re the rat who¡¯s been hiding outside?¡± Linghu Yang, d in a green coat, turned towards Zhang Junming, disappointment flickering in his eyes. ¡°Not much of a challenge after all¡¡±
Chapter 32: Immortal Techniques vs True Force
¡°Not quite¡¡± Linghu Yang raised his hand indifferently, as if ready to pass Zhang Junming¡¯s death sentence.
However, his eyebrows suddenly lifted. ¡°You¡¯re far too weak, not even a match for Chunyu¡ Who else is helping you?¡±
As expected¡ this guy isn¡¯t foolish. It¡¯s time for me to make my exit.
Fang Xi pondered briefly and then swiftly turned to run away!
The senses of a True Force martial artist are incredibly sharp. Almost instantly upon Fang Xi¡¯s movement, Linghu Yang detected him and gave chase. ¡°Atst, the true mastermind rat appears!¡±
Fang Xi didn¡¯t pause, moving like a swift serpent through grass. He darted past Yuanhe Mountain¡¯s entrance and quickly vanished into narrow alleyways.
After several twists and turns, he reached an uninhabited area.
Ahead, near a dpidated earthen wall, Linghu Yang stood with hands sped behind his back, calmly watching Fang Xi approach. ¡°Your speed is remarkable, your leg techniques akin to a snake¡ Are you a true disciple of Red Snake Leg? No, wait¡ Your true force and blood qi surpass that waste Lu She by far too much; you must have trained multiple martial arts¡ What a pity, such wasted potential!¡±
In Linghu Yang¡¯s view, practicing third-rate martial arts was tantamount to ruining one¡¯s future prospects! ¡°Enough talk!¡± Fang Xi rubbed his palms together, causing them to turn pitch-ck instantly.
With a swift movement, Linghu Yang bent his spine like a coiling python and then sprang forward, unleashing a rapid session of palm strikes.
Whooosh!
Terrifying gusts swept through, carrying potent venom within them.
¡°ck Cloud level White Cloud Palm?¡± Linghu Yang observed this with a smile. ¡°Once you reach True Strength, you¡¯ll realize¡ so-called poison techniques mean nothing against it¡¡±
He countered with both palms simultaneously, swift as thunderbolts.
Bam! Bam!
Their palms shed repeatedly, true force intertwining with True Strength¡
Fang Xi quickly noticed that the toxins from his palm strikes had no effect on Linghu Yang whatsoever. Moreover, Linghu Yang¡¯s True Force struck relentlessly like a torrential downpour, leaving him virtually defenseless.
In mere moments, Fang Xi¡¯s true force and blood qi were overwhelmed!
¡°What a pity¡¡± Despite their intense battle, Linghu Yang managed to speak, ¡°Your blood qi surpasses even my own during my cultivator days; truly remarkable talent. But practicing third-rate martial arts will never match me!¡±
As he uttered these words, Linghu Yang¡¯s speed suddenly surged!
Yuanhe Mountain Secret Technique - Dashing Thunder Step!
He closed the distance to Fang Xi, his palms moving like divine weapons aiming for Fang Xi¡¯s waist.
By the time Fang Xi realized, it was toote; his fingers fell short by nearly a foot!
Pffft!
A remarkable scene unfolded before Linghu Yang¡¯s eyes!
As if struck by immense force, he rapidly flew backward.
¡°What was that¡?¡± He lifted his hand to find a vivid red mark on his palm, nearly drawing blood.
¡°That is my secret technique¡ªthe Innate Invisible Sword Qi!¡± Fang Xi dered loudly, while internally thinking, ¡®Impressive for a body cultivator equivalent to Middle Stage Qi Refinement. Such formidable resilience! My Spirit Farmer Weeding Technique almost failed to breach your defenses¡¡¯
Linghu Yang fell silent for a moment before sneering, ¡°You¡¯re lying! Do you think being a True Astral Martial Saint allows you to project astral energy and harm me from distance? If you were truly a Zongshi, I would be dead already¡¡±
¡°You have a point!¡± Fang Xi nodded, once again ensuring there were no survivors nearby. ¡°Then¡ it¡¯s time for me to unleash my full power!¡±
¡°Full power?¡± Linghu Yang felt somewhat puzzled.
After their recent exchange, he had confirmed that Fang Xi was merely at the level of a True Force martial artist. Perhaps exceptional within this tier, even surpassing some sect¡¯s true disciples, but certainly not a match for him!
In a life-or-death battle, one cannot hide their true strength!
However, in the next instant, Fang Xi produced a yellow paper talisman like a divine wand wielder and then¡tore it?!
Rrrrip!
Suddenly, a terrifying wave of chilling cold descended.
Linghu Yang¡¯s face filled with shock. Just as he tried to dodge, he realized his legs were encased in ayer of ice, firmly freezing him to the ground.
¡°Eat my palm strike!¡± Fang Xi roared, unleashing a powerful blow.
Linghu Yang swiftly drew circles with both hands, focusing on defense. Suddenly, his martial instincts sensed immense danger; with a sound like cracking bones in his neck, he jerked his head aside just in time.
Shriek!
A burst of dark light assaulted him from behind, narrowly missing vital areas but still tearing a deep gash across his shoulder.
¡°That¡that is¡¡± Linghu Yang paid no heed to his injury, instead staring at the ¡®Qinghe Sword¡¯ hovering beside Fang Xi, utterly astounded. ¡°How¡how is this possible?¡±
In this world, true cultivation was unattainable for martial artists. To everyone, immortals existed only within stories and scripts.
Yet now, it seemed as though he was witnessing a genuine ¡®sword immortal¡¯!
Linghu Yang¡¯s expression suddenly turned incredibly fervent. ¡°Between you and me, there seems to be no grudge or conflict. You came seeking me, presumably because you want to leave the city¡ I have a way out, and I can teach it to you. Let¡¯s escape together, provided you tell me how all of this is even possible?¡±
¡°Leave the city?¡±
Fang Xi smiled faintly.
From an ordinary person¡¯s perspective, it was indeed easy to connect Linghu Yang revealing the method to exit with the subsequent attack on Yuanhe Mountain.
¡°No¡ I¡¯m only interested in your martial arts,¡± Fang Xi shook his head.
¡°Simply teach me your sword control technique, and I¡¯ll dly offer you the Yuanhe Five Thunders Hand!¡± Linghu Yang responded without hesitation.
This man truly had no qualms; for greater gain, notions of loyalty to his sect or secret teachings meant nothing to him.
¡°That won¡¯t be necessary. I can obtain the information I seek on my own.¡± Fang Xi looked at Linghu Yang, suddenly frowning. ¡°Your wounds¡ they¡¯re healing too quickly.¡±
Linghu Yang fell silent for a moment before tearing open his robe.
On his bare chest, striking ck symbols resembling tadpoles were visibly encircling his wound, akin to a circr seal.
Within this dark-sealed area, the bloody gash on his shoulder rapidly began to close.
¡°Cursed being?¡± Fang Xi furrowed his brow. ¡°No¡ how is it possible that you can harness demonic magical energy even slightly?¡±
¡°Magical energy of demonic origin¡ it surpasses martial power and is exceedingly difficult for mortals to control. Only by sacrificing vast amounts of cultivators¡¯ essence blood can it be briefly suppressed. This is one of Yuanhe Mountain¡¯s secret techniques!¡±
Linghu Yang produced a small bottle, swallowed its contents of brownish essence blood, and gained a deeper shade of red on his face. ¡°This is how we escape the city¡ The Demon Tree only hinders ordinary humans but won¡¯t intentionally obstruct its own kind. By transforming ourselves into conscious demonic beings, we naturally can flee this ce!¡±
¡°So your widespread capture of cultivators was solely to extract their essence blood? To suppress the magical energy within you?¡± Fang Xi subtly reached into his sleeve, gripping something hidden there. ¡°What about Qiao Wuchang, who ambushed me?¡±
¡°He¡¯s dead¡ With too little essence blood recently, I could feel the Demon Tree gradually encroaching on my consciousness¡¡± Linghu Yang smiled. ¡°How about that? Can¡¯t you consider it as retribution from me? Shouldn¡¯t this serve as a foundation for our cooperation?¡±
¡°You truly outdo me in cold-bloodedness andck of morals!¡± Fang Xi¡¯s expression remainedposed. ¡°Unfortunately, when I entered this world, I vowed to confront the most ruthless individuals, and you fit the bill perfectly!¡±
¡°That¡¯s truly unfortunate!¡±
The curse mark on Linghu Yang¡¯s chest rapidly spread across his entire body.
Suddenly!
Behind Fang Xi, the ground exploded as numerous tree roots surged upward like spears, densely piercing through the air!
This was a newfound ability after Linghu Yang transformed into a demihuman monster!
Even a regr True Strength martial artist, caught off guard, would likely suffer greatly!
However, Fang Xi remained vignt against Linghu Yang!
Ping! Pong!
The Spear of Earth array struck Fang Xi from behind, tearing his clothes but immediately halted by ayer of golden light, unable to advance further!
In Fang Xi¡¯s hand, a paper talisman swiftly consumed its energy¡ªthe Golden Light Barrier Talisman!
¡°You always manage to surprise me!¡± Linghu Yang observed the golden glow thoughtfully.
At that moment, Fang Xi pointed with his finger.
Whoosh!
Qinghe Sword transformed into a streak of jade-green light, thrusting forth like a bolt.
¡°Secret Technique: Five Thunder Extremity!¡±
Linghu Yang roared, sparks seemingly dancing between his hands before converging explosively inward, shockingly grasping the sword tip!
A terrifying burst of True Force caused even the Qinghe Sword to emit mournful cries.
¡®Damn, body cultivators are such a hassle!¡¯
Fang Xi observed that while the Qinghe Sword had torn through Linghu Yang¡¯s flesh, it got firmly lodged by his bones, unable to advance further.
The opponent¡¯s True Force even formed thread-like strands, attempting to sever Fang Xi¡¯s connection with the Qinghe Sword like unraveling a cocoon.
¡®If this person were born in the southern wilderness¡¯s cultivation world, they might have truly achieved great things!¡¯
Witnessing this disy, Fang Xi felt a sense of admiration but became more resolute in his decision to kill Linghu Yang.
His right hand flickered, revealing another powerful paper talisman from his reserve.
Electric sparks danced across its surface, resembling flowing lightning and emitting a terrifying aura as soon as it appeared.
It was a mid-tier, first-rank - Little Thunder Talisman!
¡°Go!¡±
Fang Xi infused magical energy into the talisman, directing it at Linghu Yang.
Boom!
Thunder erupted out of nowhere!
A streak of green lightning, carrying immense power, instantly struck Linghu Yang. His entire body turned charred, eliciting a horrific scream, indicating severe damage.
¡°The Little Thunder Talisman, not only a mid-tier first-order talisman but also of lightning attribute, may have additional potency against demons!¡±
Observing this, Fang Xi pondered briefly while his hands swiftly moved. ¡°Go!¡±
Unrestrained, the Qinghe Sword darted relentlessly, instantly severing Linghu Yang¡¯s limbs.
¡°Ahh!¡± With a blood-curdling scream, Linghu Yang fell unconscious.
Fang Xi approached and noticed faint tendrils of flesh regenerating at the wound sites, as if ck tadpole-like runes were stubbornly healing his injuries to sustain his life.
¡°This demonic magical energy is truly remarkable.¡±
With a sigh, Fang Xi grabbed the now limbless Linghu Yang and swiftly departed.
He needed to find a secure location where he could gradually interrogate Linghu Yang using the ¡®Soul Confusion Technique¡¯.
Linghu Yang had be deranged in his desperation to escape the city, even attacking fellow cultivators on his side.
Regardless of how Fang Xi dealt with him, he felt no moral qualms whatsoever.
Chapter 33: Breakthrough and Bargain
In ckstone City.
Within an abandoned, uninhabited residence,
Fang Xi stood with hands sped behind his back, gazing at Linghu Yang, whoy unconscious after being subjected to the Soul Confusion Technique.
This man¡¯s memories proved to be a vast treasure trove.
Not only did they contain the True Force martial artist chapter of ¡®Five Thunders Absolute Hand¡¯, but also details on ¡®Demonic Possession¡¯ technique and various secrets of Yuanhe Mountain, greatly expanding Fang Xi¡¯s knowledge.
¡°It¡¯s unfortunate¡ The so-called ¡®Demonic Possession¡¯ can only be slightly suppressed by a cultivator¡¯s vital essence¡ Eventually, one still transforms into apletely irrational monster.¡±
¡°Linghu Yang resorted to this as a desperate measure, akin to quenching thirst with poison. Perhaps¡being trapped within the Demonic Domain left him utterly hopeless, forcing him to take such a fatal gamble?¡±
¡°This individual had unwavering determination in pursuing cultivation, yet sadly, luck was not on his side¡¡±
After a moment of silence, Fang Xi flicked a spark from his finger. The sparknded on Linghu Yang, instantly igniting into a raging inferno that consumed him entirely, leaving nothing but ashes¡
Ignoring the conversation, Fang Xi stepped into the courtyard and began grilling the Beefwood meat.
As he ate, the secrets of the ¡®Yuanhe Five Thunders Hand¡¯ surfaced vividly in his mind, like pearls shining within him.
¡°The Yuanhe Five Thunders Hand is a sect-protecting technique from Yuanhe Mountain, with even Linghu Yang possessing only fragments¡ Moreover, based on his descriptions, it¡¯s challenging to reconstruct theplete Divine Intent Diagram,cking the most fundamental aspect - intent!¡±
Naturally, the full Divine Intent Diagram for Yuanhe Five Thunders Hand was not with Linghu Yang or anywhere in ckstone City; it resided securely at Yuanhe Mountain.
At present, Fang Xi could hardly aspire to ess it.
However, he didn¡¯t feel shortchanged.
After all, his foundation wasn¡¯t built upon the authentic martial arts training of Yuanhe Mountain, yielding true force!
By consistently blending martial techniques and practicing other third-rate arts, he had already managed to cover his body with true force, refining it deep into his marrow!
Originally, it would have taken several months or even years to naturally develop True Force.
Now, he merely wanted to elerate this process.
Thus, certain insights from the Yuanhe Five Thunders Hand were indeed valuable.
¡°Stimting various acupoints with true force can expedite the birth of True Force¡ Ingenious!¡±
Recalling a specific secret method, Fang Xi¡¯s eyes suddenly lit up.
¡°Only at the peak of true force can one attempt this cultivation; even a slight mistake could lead to paralysis or death¡ I wonder how many lives Yuanhe Mountain sacrificed to develop this secret technique¡¡±
Fang Xi voraciously consumed the Beefwood meat and abruptly stood up.
Rumbling!
Layers of martial techniques surged within Fang Xi¡¯s body, enveloping him with terrifying true force. His joints crackled like popping beans as his stature grew taller, transforming him into something akin to a fearsome demonic entity¡
¡°I¡¯ve already reached the peak of true force¡¡±
¡°Pentathunder Transformation, Big Dipper Body Refinement!¡± Fang Xi eximed softly, his right hand darting like a butterfly amidst flowers, tapping precise points on his body.
Instantaneously,
His face flushed blood red as he felt the cirction of true force elerate to a frightening speed. Even his body struggled under the strain, causing beads of blood to seep from his pores.
¡®With such brutal training methods, Mu Canglong would likely have perished halfway through due to his inadequate foundation!¡¯ Fang Xi thought inwardly, using his spiritual sense for introspection while effortlessly controlling his true force.
Having an additionalyer of spiritual sense allowed him fine control over his body, reaching the ¡®microscopic¡¯ level of precision¡ªan advantage rarely enjoyed by cultivators from Yuanhe Mountain.
Moreover, having consumed the Blood and Qi Pill, Fang Xi broke through human limits, causing his blood qi to surge dramatically. This made him akin to a prodigy in Qi and Blood martial arts!
With these favorable factorsbined, he could ovee many restrictions, progressing at a staggering pace that left Linghu Yang utterly astounded.
Time slowly passed by.
Half an hour, one hour, three hourster¡
Fang Xi¡¯s body suddenly jolted!
Ayer of dried blood scabs peeled off, revealing smooth, fair skin beneath.
¡°True Force¡ achieved!¡±
His eyes lit up as he felt a unique power emerging from deep within his organs and bone marrow.
This power blended elements from White Cloud Palm, Red Snake Leg, Iron Clothes Art, Heavenly Vision and Earthly Hearing Art, along with traces of Yuanhe Five Thunders Hand true energy, yet it was entirely distinct.
Furthermore¡ its intensity far surpassed ordinary true energy!
It also carried a mysteriously vibrant quality!
¡°No¡ not just vibrancy, but rather, it¡¯s the difference between True Force and true energy. True Force can possess special attributes!¡± Fang Xi gazed at his right hand, channeling the True Force onto a nearby wall.
Crash!
Instantaneously, the entire wall copsed, leaving behind a twisted wreckage with hints of scorched ckness¡
¡°ording to Linghu Yang¡¯s description, the True Force cultivated by Yuanhe Five Thunders Hand is called - Five Thunders Power. When striking an enemy, it can induce slight paralysis, and upon mastering it, even intimidate demons!¡±
Realizing this, Fang Xi examined his own strength and knew unequivocally that he had not developed the Five Thunders Power.
¡°Bing a True Strength martial artist through a mix of third-rate martial arts must be rare across the entire world¡ After reaching the martial artist level, my true forces merged into True Force, each retaining their unique effects.¡±
From the copsed wall, Fang Xi observed traces of Red Snake Leg¡¯s twisting power, White Cloud Palm¡¯s venomous force, and even hints of lightning energy¡
¡°In one strike, multiple effects can bebined!¡±
¡°This True Force shall henceforth be named - Primal Chaos Force!¡± Fang Xi nodded gently, christening his new martial art. ¡°Therefore¡ my current technique can be titled as Primal Chaos Thunderbolt¡ no, let¡¯s call it ¡®Primal Chaos True Art¡¯ instead!¡±
He distinctly felt that under the influence of Primal Chaos Force, his previously somewhat fragile internal organs underwent another round of strengthening.
Now, his physique wasparable to the secondyer of Body Refinement, equivalent to the Middle Stage of Qi Refinement for body cultivators.
¡°At this stage, even spirit farming techniques can¡¯t breach my defenses, and typical Middle Stage Qi Refinement spells wouldn¡¯t necessarily kill me if they hit directly¡ My survival capabilities have greatly increased.¡±
¡°Finally¡ finally I can engage in cross-boundary merchant dealings as nned.¡±
Fang Xi¡¯s eyes welled up with emotion, nearly bringing tears to his face.
Despite practicing the Evesting Spring Art daily, his progress was painfully slow, akin to a snail¡¯s crawl.
Yet Fang Xi knew all too well that mastering martial arts alone had no future; he needed to pursue immortal cultivation!
Currently, refining his martial skills served only to rapidly enhance his strength, thereby umting resources for his eventual path to immortality!
¡°The evidence proves my choice was entirely correct¡ After just a few months of martial training, I¡¯ve achieved powerparable to the Middle Stage of Qi Refinement!¡±
¡°If I hadn¡¯t focused on martial arts and instead solely dedicated myself to the Evesting Spring Art each day, I¡¯d still be stuck at the thirdyer of Qi Refining, with limited strength improvement!¡±
¡°Moreover¡ in the southern wilderness¡¯s cultivation world, ascending to the secondyer of Body Refinement requires resources worth at least a hundred spirit stones, which I could never afford.¡±
¡°Now, however, it¡¯s equivalent to earning over a hundred spirit stones within these few months - trulymendable, indeed!¡±
Fang Xi lifted his head, gazing at the towering Demon Tree, gradually suppressing his tion. ¡°It¡¯s time to make a run for it¡¡±
Waiting until the Demon Tree advanced further would surely turn joy into tragedy.
With this thought, Fang Xi wasted no time and activated his movement technique.
Whoosh!
In a single leap, he covered several yards,nding atop a nearby roof.
¡°My movement speed has significantly improved as well!¡± Fang Xi nodded lightly, determined his direction, and headed towards the market district near the West City Gate.
At the West City Gate.
After some time, the surroundings looked even more dire than before. Passersby resembled walking skeletons, as if they might copse at any moment.
With his face covered, Fang Xi entered the market district and noticed prices plummeting once again. Unfazed, he approached Fatso Han¡¯s shop and pushed open the door.
¡°Brother!¡± eximed Fatso Han, now visibly thinner but still resembling a shrunken mountain of flesh. With a mournful cry, he seemed ready to lunge and cling to Fang Xi¡¯s legs, his voice choked with tears, ¡°If you hadn¡¯te, old Han would¡¯ve starved and resorted to cannibalism!¡±
¡°Hold on!¡± Fang Xi waved a hand, somewhat surprised. ¡°Didn¡¯t I provide you with arge supply of food earlier? How did it get this bad?¡±
¡°You don¡¯t understand hunger when your belly is full¡¡± Fatso Han poured out his woes bitterly, ¡°Old Han has already reduced to eating just five meals a day¡ The real issue is Tai Sui, along with my subordinates and family; feeding them all takes up most of what I have!¡±
¡°Oh!¡± Fang Xi nodded thoughtfully.
It made sense; running a ck-market shop alone was not feasible for Fatso Han.
Moreover, unlike Fang Xi, he couldn¡¯t suddenly appear in this world through a transmigration; he had rtives and friends to care for.
¡°Brother, you finally came¡ I¡¯ve got eight martial arts manuals here, each one top-notch, including my own practiced ¡®Swallowing the Heavens Art¡¯¡ Truly, I¡¯m pulling out everything from my reserves. Just eight hundred - no, five hundred kilograms of grain per book!¡± Fatso Han shed five fingers, staring pitifully at Fang Xi.
Unexpectedly, Fang Xi shook his head. ¡°I don¡¯tck true force manuals anymore.¡±
¡°What?¡± Fatso Han felt as if struck by lightning, his massive mound of flesh sinking back with enough force to cause a minor tremor. Depressed, he pleaded, ¡°What do you want? Even if it¡¯s my concubines, we can negotiate!¡±
¡°Your concubines?¡±
Fang Xi shot him a disdainful nce but secretly admired his resilience. Some people, even amidst an apocalypse, manage to live quitefortably.
¡°My concubines are all exceptionally beautiful¡ especially Little Taohong, once a renowned beauty and courtesan in ckstone City,¡± Fatso Han hastily exined, sensing Fang Xi¡¯s potential interest. ¡°For just a thousand kilograms of grain, it¡¯s a fair deal.¡±
¡°Fatso Han,¡± Fang Xi¡¯s voice turned calm and serious. ¡°Enough with the jokes, let¡¯s make a deal¡ Do you wish to leave this ce?¡±
¡°Leave? This Demonic Domain?¡± Fatso Han¡¯s eyes narrowed, barely visible amidst hisyers of flesh.
Yet within those slits, a dangerous gleam shone forth: ¡°Can you really get out? Not through Linghu Yang¡¯s deceitful means, I hope? What do you want in return?¡±
¡°Don¡¯t worry, I¡¯m not like Linghu Yang.¡± Fang Xi secretly admired how well-informed Fatso Han was.
Linghu Yang being a fraud was something he had discovered only after undergoing Mind Confusion. Even with Demonic Possession, transforming him partially into a fiend, his chances of leaving the city were still uncertain at best!
¡°I need just one thing from you, and I¡¯ll take you out!¡± Fang Xi¡¯s gaze sharpened. ¡°It is¡ Tai Sui!¡±
¡°How dare you! Seeking old Han¡¯s life essence!¡± Fatso Han roared furiously, causing the entire mound of flesh to erupt violently!
Boom!
A terrifying surge of blood qi soared skyward.
The massive meat mountain mobilized, coalescing into a crushing punch that thunderously descended!
Chapter 34: Tai Sui
Fatso Han¡¯s rise within the ck market, nearly monopolizing the demon meat trade, was no mere coincidence¡ªit showcased his considerable abilities!
His cultivation of Swallow the Heavens Merit boasted unparalleled umtion of blood qi. At this moment, all his excess fat seemed to transform into muscle, containing an immense and boundless true force, even surpassing Fang Xi¡¯s strength before his recent breakthrough!
Moreover, with each overwhelming punch, Fatso Han¡¯s hefty body added terrifying momentum to his attacks!
¡°Not bad, not bad! Your martial prowess exceeds both Chunyu and Qiao Wuchang, only falling short of Linghu Yang!¡±
Fang Xiughed heartily, unleashing a swift palm strike.
Bang!
The entire small log cabin shook violently, causing a shower of dust to cascade down.
Fatso Han flew backward at an elerated pace, mming hard onto the ground!
Crash! Arge crater formed beneath him, and all the furniture inside the cabin shattered instantly.
With wide eyes, ignoring his injuries, Fatso Han muttered, ¡°True Force? How could you possibly break through as a martial artist?¡±
Despite collecting and practicing numerous third-rate martial arts, Fang Xi had managed to achieve the rank of martial artist¡ªan utterly astonishing feat!
¡°Haha, perhaps my martial foundation is exceptionally strong and inherently gifted,¡± Fang Xi replied with a heartyugh.
¡°Indeed¡in this vast world, there will always be individuals who defy conventional norms.¡±
Fatso Han struggled to his feet, hisrge hands like palm leaves brushing off the dust from his clothes.
¡°You seem to have encountered such people before?¡± Fang Xi¡¯s interest piqued slightly.
¡°During my travels, I¡¯ve heard of a few cases¡nothing significant.¡± Fatso Han waved dismissively and then asked seriously, ¡°If I give you the Tai Sui, will you take me out of here?¡±
¡°Certainly!¡± Fang Xi nodded firmly.
In the Great Liang World, he believed that mythic beast meat would currently be most valuable at Qingzhu Mountain Market.
Of course, true force manuals might fetch higher prices, but Fang Xi could never part with them; they were his trump cards!
Fatso Han squinted his eyes, ¡°Deal! However, I need to bring along my entire family.¡±
¡°No problem, as I also n to take some people with me.¡± Fang Xi agreed, nodding. ¡°But since you added conditions, so must I - hand over the Tai Sui now!¡±
¡°Agreed!¡±
Fatso Han¡¯s small eyes narrowed as he suddenly rolled towards a corner of the log cabin, digging with hisrge hands like shovels.
Momentster, he unearthed a white spherical mass and tossed it casually. ¡°Here you go!¡±
Fang Xi caught it, realizing it was a fleshy ball bearing scars from previous cuts, now mostly healed.
¡°This Tai Sui is an outcast beast that old Han stumbled upon with great difficulty. It has minimal offensive capabilities but possesses remarkable self-healing and growth rates! Just provide it ample food and water daily, and it will rapidly increase in size¡¡±
Fatso Han¡¯s face twitched visibly.
Fang Xi pressed on the Tai Sui, finding it pleasantly soft and yielding to the touch. The texture resembled the meat he usually consumed, causing him to nod approvingly. ¡°When it¡¯s time to leave, I¡¯ll send you a message; you know where to find me!¡±
He couldn¡¯t believe Fatso Han didn¡¯t already suspect his true identity. After all¡the wooden token used in their first transaction was a crucial clue.
¡°Baiyun Dojo, right? Understood¡¡± Fatso Han slumped back, appearing utterly dejected and dispirited.
However, for the sake of survival, he had no other choice.
At Baiyun Dojo¡¯s headquarters, Mu Canglong nced at a letter in his hand, a cold smile spreading across his face. ¡°The Three Flowers Dojo is getting desperate¡¡±
¡°Dad, what¡¯s happening?¡± Mu Piaomiao asked her father.
¡°Previously, when Yuanhe Mountain had ess to leave the city, these dojos eagerly flocked around them, offering supplies, secret manuals, and even women¡ Little did they know, within days, Yuanhe Mountain was targeted and decimated. Now, those brave enough to visit their quarters find itpletely empty¡¡±
Mu Canglong smirked as he put down the letter. ¡°With no other options, they¡¯re calling for a united front among the dojos, hoping to tap into our resources.¡±
¡°Hmph, a bunch of bastards!¡± Mu Piaomiao¡¯s cheeks flushed with anger.
¡°It¡¯s unsurprising; people will always act this way. One dojo master even considered making things ugly until he saw Da-shixiong¡¯s iron pir, which quickly silenced him¡¡± Mu Canglong sounded somewhat smug.
His disciple, despite being so young, had already reached the pinnacle of true force mastery - truly bringing honor to him. Unfortunately¡their path forward was now fixed. Such is the tragedy of practicing third-rate martial arts.
¡°Master¡ Master! It¡¯s not good¡¡±
Just then, Hao Lan stumbled in, his face filled with panic.
¡°What¡¯s happened?¡± Mu Canglong demanded calmly, unfazed by the sudden urgency.
¡°Someone hase to challenge our dojo!¡±
Hao Lan caught his breath and continued, ¡°It¡¯s ¡®Zheng Tianbao¡¯!¡±
¡°Zheng Tianbao?¡±
Mu Canglong was taken aback.
Of course, he had heard of Zheng Tianbao¡¯s reputation. As a solo cultivator, Zheng Tianbao excelled in the Cloud Soaring Art, boasting unparalleled agility. His actions were unpredictable, straddling the line between righteous and nefarious, and his strength was immensely fearsome. He even held the record of escaping from under a True Strength martial artist¡¯s pursuit!
The key question was, why would this non-dojo-affiliated individual show up here?
¡°Let¡¯s go, we must see for ourselves!¡± Composing himself, Mu Canglong strode towards the main gate, noticing that all the disciples had already emerged.
Tang Xuan and Liu Taotao stood together, anxiously gazing at the figure outside.
Dressed in ck robes, the man towered tall with a slightly pointed chin, exuding an air of harshness¡ªit could only be Zheng Tianbao!
Beside him were several other dojo masters. Recognizing them, Mu Canglong erupted in fury, ¡°Xu Mingjue of Three Flowers Dojo, Zhang Tianba of Red Rock Dojo¡ Have you actually brought outsiders to intervene?¡±
¡°Ah, Dojo Master Mu, you misunderstand. We merely heard about a challenger targeting your esteemed disciple and came to watch the spectacle,¡± Zhang Tianba replied with a grin. Despite his rough appearance, he was notoriously cunning, earning him the nickname ¡®Viper¡¯.
They had long been envious of Baiyun Dojo¡¯s resources but feared confronting it due to its two resident martial artists, especially Fang Xi, whose true force seemed almost otherworldly.
This time, they mustered their resolve, aligning themselves with Zheng Tianbao to collectively pressure Baiyun Dojo!
¡°If there¡¯s a challenge, please wait - our Da-shixiong is not present at the moment,¡± Liu Taotao blurted out.
¡°Heh, no problem¡ we can certainly wait. Even if it takes ten or more days, that wouldn¡¯t bother us. Dojo Master Mu, kindly host us during this period,¡± Zheng Tianbao chuckled, stepping forward to enter the dojo.
To be frank, their willingness stemmed from their own dwindling food supplies.
After all, True Force martial artists possessed extraordinary blood qi, apanied by equally voracious appetites!
¡°Certainly!¡± Mu Canglong¡¯s cheeks twitched slightly as he eyed the group of disciples following Zhang Tianba, inwardly groaning. This situation threatened to deplete Baiyun Dojo¡¯s provisions entirely!
When Fang Xi returned, he was greeted by this chaotic scene.
¡°What¡¯s going on here? Is our dojo turning into amunal dining hall?¡± He watched, somewhat speechless, as several cultivators raided the kitchen like bandits.
In the past, these high-ranking cultivators would never have engaged in such amusing behavior - fighting over a pot of rice!
¡°You¡¯re Fang Xi?¡± Zheng Tianbao put down his bowl and chopsticks, thenughed heartily. ¡°We¡¯vee to challenge your skills; isn¡¯t it only proper for your master to extend hospitality?¡±
¡°I¡¯ve seen plenty of beggars, but encountering ones who freeloach with such audacity is truly a first,¡± Fang Xi nodded, swiftly moving to stand before Zheng Tianbao.
¡°What?¡± Zheng Tianbao paled in shock.
His Cloud Soaring Art emphasized agility, yet he found himself outmatched by this young man!
¡°Since you¡¯re here, there¡¯s no leaving!¡± Fang Xi casually unleashed a p.
Zheng Tianbao raised his arm to block.
Crack!
Instantly, Zheng Tianbao felt multipleyers of force within that single strike! There were venomous energy, twisting force, and even a hint of lightning vigor¡ causing half of his body to tingle numbly.
Pop!
In the next moment, Fang Xi snapped Zheng Tianbao¡¯s arm and sent him flying across the room.
Witnessing this, Zhang Tianba¡¯s bowl slipped from fear, crashing to the ground and shattering instantly¡
An hourter.
¡°Shidi, you truly¡became a martial artist?¡±
Mu Piaomiao recalled Fang Xi¡¯s disy of divine prowess, effortlessly incapacitating Zhang Tianba and his cohorts with just a few moves. Her eyes sparkled with admiration.
¡°Yes!¡± Fang Xi nodded with a smile, confirming her observation.
¡°Wonderful!¡±
Tears welled up in Mu Canglong¡¯s tiger-like eyes as he eximed, ¡°Our Baiyun Dojo¡finally has its own martial artist! With a third-rate martial art alone, there is indeed hope for advancement! What are you all waiting for?¡±
Following his rebuke, Hao Lan, Liu Taotao, and the others hastily bowed and shouted loudly, ¡°Congrattions to Da-shixiong on breaking through to True Force and bing a martial artist!¡±
¡°It was merely a fortunate coincidence.¡±
Fang Xi knew well how challenging it was for local cultivators practicing third-rate martial arts to achieve such a breakthrough. Unless blessed with extraordinary innate talent, deemed exceptional by fate itself, one would need a simr cheat like him.
ncing around, he noticed that all unrted individuals had been dismissed. His tone turned serious as he said, ¡°Master Mu¡now we must consider how to escape from here.¡±
¡°Leaving? Easier said than done,¡± Mu Canglong chuckled bitterly. ¡°Linghu Yang once imed he had a way, but then Yuanhe Mountain was annihted¡¡±
As he spoke, his gaze shifted towards Fang Xi, suspecting that his disciple might have yed a significant role.
However, Mu Canglong, being a wise man, refrained from saying anything outright.
Fang Xi appreciated this cautious approach and responded, ¡°I encountered a Daoist who told me I would face a deadly crisis in the future, which could only be averted by a specific spirit talisman¡ So, I spent ten thousand taels of gold to acquire it from him¡ Looking back now, it may very well refer to today¡¯s situation.¡±
¡°Ten thousand taels of gold?!¡± Mu Canglong¡¯s lips twitched, yet somehow it seemed entirely usible for this disciple to do such a thing! After all, Fang Xi had previously purchased a medicinal pill worth one thousand taels of gold.
¡°Where is that spirit talisman?¡± Mu Piaomiao, genuinely believing the story, eagerly asked.
¡°It¡¯s at my old residence; let me search for it tomorrow¡¡± Fang Xi yawned.
In reality, he nned to wait until he saved enough spirit stones to buy the ¡®Forced Entry Talisman,¡¯ which would naturally serve as the solution¡
Chapter 35: Selling Meat
At Qingzhu Mountain Market.
Fang Xi deliberately activated his Primordial True Art, transforming into a masked, burly man carrying several dozen pounds of Beefwood meat as he entered the market.
This Beefwood meat was naturally harvested from Great Liang World.
As for the tai sui itself?
It remained stationed within the Great Liang World.
Being akin to a nt-like creature, it had minimal aggression and seldom moved, making it quite easy to maintain!
The idea of bringing the entire tai sui into the cultivation world did cross Fang Xi¡¯s mind but was swiftly dismissed.
After all, tai sui is inherently demonic, and he couldn¡¯t be certain if it possessed any form of intelligence.
Any potential leak of information would be too risky. Fang Xi navigated through various structures in the market, eventually stopping before a shop.
The golden signboard, adorned with elegant calligraphy, read ¡®Hundred Skills Pavilion¡¯ inrge characters.
Within the Qingzhu Mountain Market, the Pill Cauldron Pavilion specialized in selling medicinal pills, Heaven¡¯s Talisman Hall dealt with paper talismans, Thousand Machines Hall focused on techniques and puppets, Drunk Immortal Building catered to business conducted by female cultivators, while Mingqing Pavilion offered refined experiences like tea tasting and zither music.
On the other hand, Hundred Skills Pavilion sold a wide variety of goods, ranging from ordinary to extraordinary, and also regrly purchased spirit items.
This pavilion was Fang Xi¡¯s destination!
¡®Setting up my own stall would be too slow and attract unnecessary attention¡¡¯
¡®Selling to individual vendors might yield higher prices, but it also increases the risk of getting swindled or attracting unwanted attention¡¡¯
¡®Inparison,rger establishments have better credibility. At least they wouldn¡¯t jeopardize their reputation over just a few dozen spirit stones¡¡¯
Of course, once umting hundreds or thousands of spirit stones, even reputable businesses be unreliable; some might not hesitate to strike first!
It all boils down to what¡¯s at stake.
A handful of spirit stones isn¡¯t worth tarnishing the Hundred Skills Pavilion¡¯s reputation, but several thousand or more? Even if it meant destroying their own signboard, many would act without much hesitation.
Understanding this reality, Fang Xi had insisted on waiting until he reached the secondyer of Body Refinement before engaging in such transactions.
At most, only Mid Qi Refining cultivators would likely target him for a few dozen spirit stones¡ and he still has means to defend himself!
As Fang Xi entered the Hundred Skills Pavilion, a clerk promptly greeted him, ¡°Greetings, Daoist friend¡¡±
¡°I¡¯m here to sell mythic beast meat!¡± Fang Xi mmed the Beefwood chunk heavily onto the counter, his voice raspy, demeanor rough, exuding a menacing aura!
This wasn¡¯t merely an act. Although he was still a novice in the cultivation world, within Great Liang, he already had numerous lives on his hands, naturally shaping his presence differently.
¡°Alright, please wait a moment!¡± The clerk hurriedly went backstage to fetch the shopkeeper.
Hunters of mythic beasts were known to be ruthless characters! Even if this cultivator¡¯s apparent cultivation base seemed low, it could easily be a disguise.
Shortly after, a male cultivator emerged, dressed in sky-blue brocade embroidered with coins. Around forty years old, his affluent appearance radiated warmth and kindness. ¡°Does this Daoist wish to sell beast meat? I am Qi Liu, one of the shopkeepers at Hundred Skills Pavilion. May I take a look first?¡±
¡°Please do!¡± Sensing the profound spiritual energy fluctuations indicative of Late Stage Qi Refinement, Fang Xi inwardly felt cautious and gestured for permission.
Qi Liu¡¯s expression turned serious as he opened the package, revealing the stark white Beefwood meat inside.
He immediately performed a hand seal, casting a spell to check for toxins.
With some uncertainty, he then retrieved a copper mirror and shone it on the Beefwood meat.
Buzz!
A faint circle of white light appeared within the copper mirror.
Nodding, Qi Liu said, ¡°Daoist friend, please observe¡ This is our specialized magical artifact for identifying mythic beast meat. The color represents its tier; white signifies low-tier first rank, suitable for Qi Refinement level, while blue would indicate Foundation Establishment beasts¡ The number of circles denotes power: one circle equates to Early Qi Refining strength, two for Mid Qi Refining, three for Late Qi Refining¡ The beast you¡¯ve hunted barely qualifies as low-tier first rank¡ Based on my spell¡¯s analysis, this meat has a slight wood attribute, significantly replenishing blood and qi. Is that correct?¡±
¡°Indeed, your discernment is keen,¡± Fang Xi nodded approvingly.
Tai sui being a fungus, it could barely be considered as having a slight wood attribute.
As for its strength? It was even moreical, urately ssified as low-tier first rank without any exaggeration.
¡°Ah¡,¡± Qi Liu chuckled with evident pride but then hesitated slightly, ¡°Please forgive my ignorance; I cannot identify the species of this mythic beast.¡±
His gaze turned scrutinizing as he looked at Fang Xi.
¡°Well, I must admit, even I couldn¡¯t recognize it. Perhaps some hybrid or mutated variety¡¡± Fang Xi responded calmly, his heart skipping a beat internally.
¡°Hmm, the cultivation world indeed harbors vast diversity. Even I may not recognize all mythic beast species, quite regrettable¡¡±
The cultivation realm was filled with peculiar and unusual creatures, so Qi Liu didn¡¯t press further. After a moment¡¯s thought, he asked, ¡°Regarding the beast¡¯s meat¡ how much are you looking to sell it for?¡±
Seizing the opportunity, Fang Xi grinned, ¡°Based on market rates, low-tier first rank mythic beast meat goes for one spirit crystal per pound!¡±
¡°Haha¡ naturally, our purchase price will be below market rates,¡± Qi Liu smiled slightly. ¡°However¡ considering this is your first transaction here, Daoist friend, I¡¯ll make an exception for you. Yingsong!¡±
The waiter promptly stepped forward, separated and weighed the beast meat, then reported, ¡°Total weight: sixty-seven pounds, valued at six spirit stones and seven spirit crystals.¡±
Immediately, he produced six colorful spirit stones along with some fragmented spirit crystals, handing them to Fang Xi.
Fang Xi had to summon his Primordial Strength just to prevent himself from trembling with excitement.
Heaven have mercy!
When was thest time he possessed so many spirit stones?
In his previous life, even after a year of farmingbined with various minor earnings, he could barely umte two or three spirit stones!
Without sufficient spirit stones, his cultivation progress had been painfully slow. That¡¯s why,cking ess to the cultivation world¡¯s Body Tempering techniques, he turned to vital energy martial arts instead.
It all boiled down to one word - poverty!
Now, finally, he held such a significant amount of spirit stones!
Fortunately, Fang Xi knew he was surrounded by potential threats and swiftly tucked the spirit stones into his chest pocket with a heartyugh. ¡°Thanks for your fairness, shopkeeper!¡±
Just as he was about to take leave, Qi Liu¡¯s voice stopped him, ¡°Hold on!¡±
¡°What is it? Any further guidance, Shopkeeper Qi?¡± Fang Xi¡¯s eyes narrowed slightly, already channeling Primordial Strength into his palms.
At this close range, even if the opponent were a Late Stage Qi Refinement expert, facing a body refinement cultivator could prove disadvantageous!
¡°Ah¡nothing much, just wanted to ask if there¡¯s more meat from that mythic beast, Daoist friend? If so, don¡¯t forget to consider our humble establishment for future business.¡± Smiling broadly, Qi Liu escorted Fang Xi out of the Hundred Skills Pavilion, bowing respectfully until he departed.
Once Fang Xi disappeared into the crowd, Yingsong approached quickly, ¡°Uncle Liu¡was I mistaken earlier? This cultivator doesn¡¯t have a bag of holding, suggesting he might¡¯ve just gotten lucky finding the beast carcass¡ Also, selling ten pounds of meat for one spirit stone seems quite steep¡¡±
¡°Ah, I only look after you because you¡¯re my nephew. There¡¯s still much for you to learn.¡± Smiling, Qi Liu returned to the counter and examined the Beefwood meat closely. ¡°This beast meat may be just low-tier first rank, but it¡¯s remarkably pure. It can greatly replenish blood qi, so selling it to body cultivators should fetch at least one spirit stone per five pounds! As for whether he was incredibly lucky or truly formidable, what does that matter to me? A single mythic beast yields no more than a few hundred pounds of meat. Would risking our Hundred Skills Pavilion reputation over mere dozens of spirit stones be wise? The n would never forgive such a move!¡±
¡°You¡¯re absolutely right, Uncle Liu!¡± Yingsong nodded with a taught expression.
Qi Liu gazed in the direction Fang Xi had departed, withholding another thought.
When Fang Xi approached earlier, even his heart raced uneasily. Despite appearing to have a modest cultivation base, this customer might have been concealing it with some advanced breathing technique - undoubtedly a tough adversary!
Provoking someone like that over merely a low-tier first-rank mythic beast? His sanity hadn¡¯t left him yet!
¡°Am I being overly cautious?¡± Qi Liu pondered silently.
After changing his appearance multiple times and visiting several locations, Fang Xi finally exited the market, still feeling somewhat uneasy.
There was no help for it; back in Great Liang, he could afford to be reckless, knowing nobody could best him. In contrast, the southern wilderness¡¯ cultivation world made him apprehensive, aware that numerous individuals here were far stronger than himself!
Fortunately, upon leaving the market, Fang Xi cautiously walked a considerable distance without any rogue cultivators suddenly jumping out to kill or rob him.
Realizing this, he promptly discarded his original outer robe, donned spirit farmer attire, and returned to the shantytown.
Fang Xi then prepared to visit Chen Ping, intending not only to repay the loan but also to inquire about where to find Forced Entry Talismans.
¡®Come to think of it, when befriending Chen Ping, my aim was to expand trade channels and sell goods from Great Liang¡¡¯
¡®However, his connections are quite weak - just look at that impoverished Nine Profound old man, even poorer than me!¡¯
¡®Maybe Di Qi holds some promise¡ Next time I hunt other mythic beasts, I should consider selling them to him.¡¯
As for the Beefwood meat?
After selling a few hundred pounds, Fang Xi nned to stop. If people discovered he had ess to a beast endlessly producing mythic beast meat, they¡¯d likely tear him apart!
¡®Come to think of it, this tai sui property is truly remarkable.¡¯
¡®Holding such a resource could generate an endless supply of spirit stones¡¡¯
¡®Wait, no - I forgot to consider that body cultivators form a niche group, leading to market saturation eventually¡ And before prices plummet due to oversupply, there¡¯s a high chance I¡¯ll be exposed¡¡¯
Fang Xi approached Chen Ping¡¯s room and knocked on the door.
The one-month deadline was nearing, and as a man of his word, he knew debts must be repaid.
He had borrowed four spirit stones for the Blood and Qi Pill with the agreement to return five after a month, and indeed, it would be exactly five!
Although the interest rate was staggering at 25% per month, which annually equates to a whopping 300%!
¡®This Chen Ping fellow seems quite talented in lending money at exorbitant rates.¡¯
As Fang Xi pondered, Chen Ping opened the door, unable to suppress a look of joy, but then quickly switched to a sorrowful tone, ¡°Fellow Daoist Fang¡¡±
¡°What happened?¡± Fang Xi asked, utterly confused.
¡°I just received news¡ My master, Zong Wu, has met a soldier¡¯s end!¡± Chen Ping replied with deep anguish written across his face.
Chapter 36: Exchange Meet
¡°What? Symbol Master Zong¡ so sudden?¡±
Fang Xi¡¯s face disyed pure shock.
Zong Wu was the Symbol Master from whom he frequently purchased talismans. Naturally, Fang Xi also thought of his cultivation partner, Lu Zhi, known for her fiery figure and even more explosive temper.
¡°Oh!¡±
As Fang Xi observed Chen Ping, he noticed a restrained hint of joy on his face, realizing why now.
¡°Sigh¡ Fellow Daoist Lu has tragically lost her belovedpanion, and I must offer my condolences properly. However¡¡± Chen Ping nced at Fang Xi with an unmistakable expression seeking repayment, ¡°I don¡¯t currently have enough spirit stones to pay respects appropriately.¡±
Fortunately, Fang Xi hade prepared to settle his debt and promptly produced five spirit stones. ¡°Thanks to Brother Chen, Fellow Daoist Di, and Jiuxuanst month, here are five spirit stones. Please, Brother Chen, kindly return these to your fellow Daoists¡¡±
¡°Of course!¡±
With spirit stones in hand, Chen Ping hastily rushed off to purchase gifts, eager to console the bereaved. This left Fang Xi feeling quite dejected.
He hadn¡¯t even had a chance to mention his Forced Entry Talisman, silently cursing this lecherous bastard who prioritized women over friendship.
As a prosperous talisman master, Symbol Master Zong had rented an immortal cave within Qingzhu Mountain Market.
Upon entering, Fang Xi immediately felt the pure spiritual energy envelop him and couldn¡¯t help but marvel inwardly:
¡®So this is an immortal cave with a first-tier meridian? With such rich and pure spiritual energy aiding my cultivation, I likely would have already reached the peak of the thirdyer in the Evesting Spring Art, ready to attempt breaking through to Mid Qi Refining, wouldn¡¯t I?¡¯
In the southern wilderness¡¯s cultivation world, meridians were ssified into several tiers, corresponding to different realms like Qi Refinement, Foundation Establishment, etc.
A first-tier meridian primarily caters to the needs of Qi Refinement stage cultivators.
A second-tier meridian can support great Foundation Establishment cultivators during their meditation and cultivation.
Qingzhu Mountain possessed a first-tier meridian, typically sealed by an array, supplying energy only for internal market use.
Spirit farmers like Fang Xi, outside the market¡¯s formation, could barely harness residual energies from the meridian, effectively cultivating on subpar, almost negligible spirit veins.
In terms of effectiveness, it was just slightly better than mundane conditions.
¡°Jiuxuan Daoist, Fellow Daoist Di!¡±
As soon as Fang Xi entered the immortal cave, he recognized two familiar faces.
Old Daoist Jiuxuan still wore his robes, exuding an air of transcendent elegance. Upon seeing Fang Xi, Di Qi broke into a smile, ¡°Fellow Daoist Fang truly keeps his word!¡±
¡®It seems Chen Ping did return these two¡¯s spirit stones without keeping them for himself¡ Hmm, well then, he might be someone worth befriending.¡¯
Fang Xi genuinely feared that Chen Ping might have greedily pocketed his spirit stones.
After all, three of them had borrowed spirit stones from him together.
As they entered the inner room, they found numerous cultivators present, seemingly representing Symbol Master Zong¡¯swork of acquaintances.
His cultivation partner, Lu Zhi, dressed in mourning attire, graciously served spirit tea and refreshments to the guests. Despite not seeing her for several days, Fellow Daoist Lu appeared slightly worn out yet still as charming as ever. The elegantly somber outfit only added to her allure, stirring vivid fantasies in onlookers¡¯ minds.
Notably, Chen Ping couldn¡¯t help but stare intently.
¡°Hmm? They¡¯re here too?¡± Fang Xi quickly scanned the crowd and noticed Shen Haoran and Goddess Yunmeng beside Chen Ping, muttering under his breath.
¡°Hmph, just two arrogant individuals¡¡± Di Qi responded with evident difort upon spotting Shen Haoran.
¡°Oh?!¡± Fang Xi looked thoughtfully between Di Qi and Shen Haoran, instantly grasping the situation.
These were all Chen Ping¡¯s friends, likely interacting regrly. However, both Shen Haoran and Goddess Yunmeng surpassed Di Qi in terms of family background and cultivation base. Moreover, considering their behavior at Mingqing Pavilion, they clearly weren¡¯t known for humility or respect towards others.
It seemed that Di Qi might have faced some past grievances from them, harboring resentment as a result.
¡®Good thing he didn¡¯t outright call them snobs; this kid has some restraint after all.¡¯
Fang Xi nodded inwardly, then conferred with Nine Profound Reverend before jointly offering a low-grade spirit stone as their condolence gift.
¡°Ladies and Gentlemen!¡± After serving another round of tea, Lu Zhi rose from her seat at the head table and gracefully bowed. ¡°On behalf of myte husband, I express my heartfelt gratitude to all who havee today!¡±
¡°No need for such courtesy!¡±
¡°Not at all¡¡±
Fang Xi and the others hastily returned the gesture.
¡°Ahem¡ may I inquire why Symbol Master Zong met his demise?¡± Shen Haoran asked, holding a white jade folding fan with an air of elegance, reminiscent of a refined noble gentleman.
Lu Zhi promptly replied, ¡°That stubborn fool ignored our advice and ventured outside the market seeking opportunities, only to be killed by raiders¡ From what I¡¯ve gathered, the likely culprits are the ¡®Three Kou Brothers¡¯!¡±
¡°The Kou Brothers?!¡± Di Qi gasped sharply.
Noticing Jiuxuan¡¯s confusion, he exined further, ¡°The Three Kou Brothers are close siblings, rumored to each possess Late Stage Qi Refinement cultivation bases. Together, they can challenge even those in the great circle of Qi Refinement. Known for their rampant brutality, their hands are stained with countless lives¡¡±
¡°Oh, truly that vicious?¡± Jiuxuan¡¯s eyes widened.
Despite his title as ¡®Nine Profound Reverend¡¯, he was merely a novice with an early-stage Qi Refinement cultivation. Facing such ruthless adversaries, he feared he wouldn¡¯t stand a chance, barely enough to fill their appetites.
Fang Xi observed coldly from the sidelines as soon as the name ¡°Qiu¡± was mentioned, a strange silence fell over his acquaintances.
Not a single one pledged to seek vengeance for their fallenrade.
He couldn¡¯t help but inwardly sigh at the fickle nature of rtionships within the cultivation world, evident even in this brief moment.
While alive, Symbol Master Zong had been a mid-tier, first-rank talisman master with limitless potential. Yet, dead, he held no value whatsoever.
Moreover, avenging him would only invite trouble from formidable adversaries like the Three Kou Brothers!
¡°Hmph!¡±
Seeing this reaction, Lu Zhi let out an unsatisfied snort. However, she quicklyposed herself, retrieving a in silk handkerchief to wipe her eyes. ¡°With that dead man gone, I, being just a frail woman, cannot sustain this household alone. Therefore, I n to sell everything and return home¡ In gratitude for your presence here today, I shall host a barter exchange!¡±
At these words, many eyes lit up, including Fang Xi¡¯s.
s, remembering his empty pouch, Fang Xi shook his head with a wry smile:
¡®Ah¡I don¡¯t even have the means to be a vulture scavenger¡¡¯
Auctions were grand events in the cultivation world!
Additionally, among fellow cultivators, smaller barter exchanges asionally took ce, often involving direct trade of goods to fill each other¡¯s needs.
Considering the significant turnout despite Symbol Master Zong¡¯s demise, it seemed word had spread swiftly among fellow practitioners.
Momentster, Lu Zhi spoke softly, ¡°Cave number eight at Qingzhu Mountain, lease with five years remaining, starting bid at fifty spirit stones¡¡±
¡°I¡¯ll take it!¡±
¡°Mine for fifty-one spirit stones!¡±
Quickly, a yellow-robed old daoist secured the lease for fifty-five spirit stones.
Next, Lu Zhi produced a talisman brush. ¡°A high-grade first-rank talisman brush, crafted from Silvermoon Wolf fur¡¡±
This item once again sparked intense bidding among numerous talisman masters.
Fang Xi noticed Chen Ping¡¯s flushed face as he secretly conferred with Shen Haoran and Goddess Yunmeng, yet they refrained from participating in the auction.
¡®Did their negotiations fall through?¡¯
As Fang Xi pondered, he saw Lu Zhi present a weathered, yellowed jade slip. ¡°Myte husband¡¯s talisman crafting notes, containing methods to create various spirit talismans¡¡±
¡°One hundred spirit stones!¡± eximed a talisman apprentice, his eyes gleaming brightly, having previouslypeted for the talisman brush.
¡°Fifteen hundred spirit stones! This is the lifetime legacy of a Symbol Master; stop dreaming, boy!¡± another elderly talisman master promptly rebuked.
After intense bidding, the price settled at 176 spirit stones, with no further increases.
Cultivators, being astute individuals, wouldn¡¯t lose their rationality over a single Dao of talismans inheritance.
¡°Two¡two hundred spirit stones!¡± A new voice suddenly rang out.
Fang Xi turned to see it was Chen Ping!
His face pale, lips trembling slightly, yet his expression remained resolute.
¡°Excellent!¡± Lu Zhi, somewhat taken aback, promptly agreed, ¡°For two hundred spirit stones, myte husband¡¯s Dao of talismans inheritance shall be entrusted to Fellow Daoist Chen.¡±
¡°Thank you, indeed.¡± Chen Ping chuckled gleefully, but Fang Xi felt something wasn¡¯t quite right.
Even if Fellow Daoist Chen had some savings, it would likely amount to only a few spirit stones, most of which he had already spent on Goddess Hong Feng¡¯s items. How could he now afford such arge sum?
Unless¡ Shen Haoran and Goddess Yunmeng lent him the spirit stones.
However, neither of them were known for generosity; lending such a substantial amount to Chen Ping muste with stringent conditions! Moreover, there must be something valuable about Chen Ping that they desire.
Otherwise, plenty of impoverished rogue cultivators exist, yet none have managed to borrow significant sums of spirit stones like this.
As Fang Xi pondered, the exchange session neared its end. Lu Zhi had emptied Symbol Master Zong¡¯s entire stockpile of talismans, even selling some of his cherished collection.
Among them, one particr talisman caught Fang Xi¡¯s breath.
¡°A high-grade First-Order Forced Entry Talisman, a rare and exceptional item. That old fool spent a fortune on it, intending to study and replicate¡ah¡if any Daoist friends are interested, it can be yours for thirty spirit stones.¡±
Lu Zhi produced a wooden box and opened it to reveal a single talisman inside. The pale yellow parchment was adorned with intricate silver ink strokes, reminiscent of iron-like calligraphy, incrediblyplex.
Between the silvery runes, faint distortions seemed to radiate outward unexpectedly.
This was precisely the Forced Entry Talisman that Fang Xi desperately needed!
Unfortunately, after repaying his debt, he remained penniless.
¡®Such a pity, such a pity! If only I had more time¡¡¯ As hemented silently, a talisman master stroked his beard and spoke up, ¡°A First-Order Forced Entry Talisman can only break through First-Order restrictions and arrays, not particrly useful¡ If it were Second-Order, its value would skyrocket by tenfold or even hundredfold.¡±
First-tier formations were quite basic; even the protective arrays around Qingzhu Mountain Market employed second-tier techniques.
If those raiders obtained a second-tier Forced Entry Talisman, it could spell disaster for the entire market!
However, Fang Xi knew that first-tier Forced Entry Talismans still had significant utility - this old talisman master was attempting to suppress the price!
As expected, the man continued, ¡°At the Heavenly Talisman Hall, a well-crafted high-grade First-Tier Forced Entry Talisman sells for around thirty-five spirit stones. Your asking price seems somewhat steep¡¡±
¡°Hmph! There¡¯s not a hint of spiritual energy leakage from my talisman, and I¡¯ve already discounted it by five spirit stones. How can you call it steep?¡± Lu Zhi red fiercely, her fiery demeanor resurfacing.
¡°Ah¡¡± Witnessing this exchange, Fang Xi silently sighed to himself, ¡®Not every opportunity I encounter is meant for me¡¡¯
Without enough spirit stones at hand, he could only wait until his next sale of mythic beast meat, umte sufficient funds, and then try his luck again at the Heavenly Talisman Hall.
Chapter 37: Calamity Cultivator
¡°Ah¡ without spirit stones, we leave this treasure trove empty-handed. Trulymentable¡¡±
After the exchange session concluded, Fang Xi departed from the market alongside Nine Profound Reverend and Di Qi.
Nine Profound Reverend stroked his beard, sighing deeply with a mncholic expression.
It must be said, Lu Zhi¡¯s clearance sale featured many valuable items, all priced at least one to two tenths cheaper than the market rates!
Even Di Qi couldn¡¯t resist purchasing several paper talismans typically crafted by Symbol Master Zong.
Only Fang Xi and himself truly felt impoverished, left watching enviously from the sidelines.
¡°Sigh¡ what about me? Fellow Daoist Chen is truly impressive, securing the legacy of a Symbol Master!¡± Di Qi echoed another sigh, disying a hint of discontent. ¡°The craftsmanship of Symbol Master Zong was exceptional; I even suspect he might have obtained a tier-2 legacy¡ wonder how much of it will be revealed in those notes?¡±
¡°There¡¯s no chance of that. A tier-2 legacy for merely two hundred spirit stones? Does Fellow Daoist Lu think we¡¯re fools?¡± Fang Xi chuckled incredulously.
In his estimation, if the jade slip contained methods for crafting just a few high-grade tier-1 paper talismans, it would already be considered generous on Lu Zhi¡¯s part. ¡°You¡¯re right¡ but Fellow Daoist Chen still has an opportunity,¡± Nine Profound Reverend remarked solemnly. ¡°If he marries Fellow Daoist Lu, wouldn¡¯t it be a win-win situation? Not only would he win the heart of a beauty, but also gain ess to a true talisman master¡¯s secrets.¡±
¡°Haha! Let¡¯s hope so.¡± The three men shared a knowingugh typical among their gender.
The next day.
Fang Xi ventured down the mountain to purchase supplies and briefly returned to the Daliang World to extensively feed on Tai Sui, subsequently harvesting its flesh.
After several days, he had umted nearly four hundred pounds of Beefwood meat.
At the Hundred Skills Pavilion:
Thud!
Four hundred pounds of mythic beast meat crashed onto the floor, eliciting a wide grin from Shopkeeper Qi Liu.
His honest business practices were indeed paying off. As evidence, this wandering cultivator brought more mythic beast meat straight to him.
¡°Esteemed Daoist, choosing our Hundred Skills Pavilion truly is an honor for us. Yingsong, please serve some tea,¡± said Shopkeeper Qi with a warm smile.
After all, the previous batch of dozens of pounds of mythic beast meat was sold at a high price to a body cultivator, yielding a small but significant profit.
¡°My pleasure!¡± Yingsong promptly brewed a cup of spirit tea, but Fang Xi merely raised it without taking a sip.
In the cultivation world, one must always be cautious, especially when consuming anything. Vignce is paramount.
¡°The quality of this mythic beast meat matches the earlier batch; they muste from the same creature¡ Hm?¡± After examining the meat, Qi Liu suddenly appeared puzzled and uncertain. ¡°Could it be that this mythic beast has no bones? Beast bones are highly valuable - their marrow can serve as auxiliary ingredients for pill concoction, and the bone material itself is useful for crafting artifacts¡¡±
¡°Excellent observation, Shopkeeper! This mythic beast indeed has remarkably soft flesh, almost boneless - truly peculiar. Unfortunately, there¡¯s only one such specimen avable¡¡±
Fang Xi feigned a sigh, secretly vowing never to sell Beefwood meat at this market again.
After all¡ once he leaves ckstone City, he can easily hunt other beasts for sale.
Mythic beasts in the Daliang World are abundant and generally weak, making them perfect targets for farming experience!
¡°The 400 pounds of mythic beast meat totals forty spirit stones, Daoist friend. Does that sound fair?¡±
Qi Liu swiftly calcted the weight, rounding up slightly in favor of Fang Xi.
¡°Generous offer, Shopkeeper.¡± Fang Xi grinned widely. ¡°However, I¡¯m also interested in purchasing a paper talisman. Do you happen to have any at Hundred Skills Pavilion?¡±
Compared to Heavenly Talisman Hall or Pill Cauldron Pavilion, Hundred Skills Pavilion seemed more like a general store, prompting him to inquire here.
¡°Oh, which type of talisman?¡± Qi Liu appeared somewhat surprised.
¡°A banishing talisman, just a first-tier one will suffice,¡± Fang Xi emphasized firmly.
¡°A first-tier banishing talisman?¡± Qi Liu pondered briefly before smiling. ¡°Your timing is fortunate, Daoist friend. Such talismans are exceedingly rare; our pavilion usually doesn¡¯t stock them. However, coincidentally, a customer sold one yesterday. It¡¯s in pristine condition with minimal loss of spiritual energy. Please take a look!¡±
With a gentle tap on his waist pouch, Qi Liu retrieved a wooden box that looked somewhat familiar to Fang Xi. Upon opening it, a banishing talisman identical to the one he had seen before appeared before Fang Xi.
¡®Could this be from Symbol Master Zong¡¯s collection, and the buyer subsequently resold it to Hundred Skills Pavilion?¡¯
A thoughtful expression flickered across Fang Xi¡¯s eyes.
However, regardless of its origin, it didn¡¯t significantly matter to him.
After carefully examining the talisman, Fang Xi asked for the price, ¡°Impressive, indeed a high-grade first-rank banishing talisman. May I inquire how much you¡¯re selling it for?¡±
¡°Ah¡ Heavenly Talisman Hall would charge at least thirty-five spirit stones for such a talisman. However, I won¡¯t add any handling fee; simply the original price will suffice, Daoist friend.¡± Qi Liu said sincerely, taking a sip of tea.
¡®I distinctly remember Lu Zhi sold this talisman for only thirty-one spirit stones¡ Oh well, there¡¯s no point bringing it up.¡¯
Fang Xi maintained his aloof demeanor as a demon-hunting cultivator and nodded, ¡°The shopkeeper is fair!¡±
Internally, though, he felt like spitting blood due to the steep cost.
This single transaction nearly wiped out his savings from the past two years.
After Fang Xi left, Qi Liu stroked his chin, somewhat disgruntled. ¡°Misjudged him¡ Thisd might truly be just a low-rank cultivator with sheer luck. Did he think such limited knowledge could fool me? Hmph!¡±
Fang Xi, being only a minor cultivator, despite having memories of his predecessor, was constrained by his limited experience and couldn¡¯t fully conceal certain issues. Just a few exchanges with Shopkeeper Qi revealed his shorings.
¡°Several dozen spirit stones, forget it¡¡± Shopkeeper Qi sighed, leisurely returning upstairs to resume meditation and sipping tea¡
Upon hearing his sigh, Yingsong¡¯s eyes shifted as he went to the shop¡¯s backyard, clutching a voice-transmission talisman and muttering under his breath, ¡°Uncle Liu, Uncle Liu¡ It¡¯s not that I¡¯m disobeying you, but for you, several dozen spirit stones are mere pennies. To me, though, it¡¯s quite a fortune¡¡±
With magical energy surging, the voice-transmission talisman transformed into a burst of me and swiftly flew away, disappearing from sight¡
Exiting the market, Fang Xi instinctively took a circuitous route.
¡°Hmm, something¡¯s not right?¡±
As he activated his Heavenly Vision and Earthly Hearing Art, he sensed an anomaly and swiftly dropped to the ground, pressing his ear against it.
With True Force amplifying his hearing, he detected subtle vibrations through the earth.
¡°Behind me¡ someone is tracking me¡ likely two individuals!¡±
Fang Xi promptly changed direction, increasing his speed.
However, no matter how many times he altered course, the pair behind him persisted in pursuit. In fact, they were closing the gap, evidently sensing his unease and elerating as well.
Soon, within Fang Xi¡¯s field of vision, two figures emerged - one tall, one short.
A beginner in Early Stage Qi Refinement and another at Middle Stage Qi Refinement!
Sensing their unmasked spiritual power and malicious intent, Fang Xi felt slightly relieved internally but remained vignt. He demanded, ¡°Who are you? Why are you following me?¡±
¡°Heh heh, kid, hand over all your valuables!¡± The shorter cultivator, around thirty years old with numerous freckles on his face, sneered coldly. Holding several paper talismans, he began maneuvering from the side, intending to cut off Fang Xi¡¯s escape route.
¡°Cmity cultivators!¡±
Fang Xi¡¯s expression turned grim as he swiftly flicked his wrist, sending the Qinghe Sword soaring through the wind. It transformed into a streak of jade-green sword light, directly targeting the short cultivator.
¡°A magical artifact! Big brother, help me!¡± The short cultivator hastily pped a Golden Light Barrier Talisman onto himself, enveloping his body with a golden aura before crying out in panic.
¡°Haha¡ Such a shabby magical artifact, truly just a paper tiger!¡± Seeing the damaged edge on Qinghe Sword, the tall cultivatorughed instead of showing anger. He then tapped a dusty pouch at his waist.
A pitch-ck ghost-headed de emerged as a magical artifact, turning into a beam of dark light that entangled with the green sword glow of Qinghe Sword, effortlessly overpowering it.
¡°Low-grade magical artifact!¡± Fang Xi¡¯s resolve strengthened upon witnessing this scene.
His Qinghe Sword was already a subpar low-grade magical artifact, so being easily suppressed by the ghost-headed de made sense.
¡°How¡ How did you find me?¡± Fang Xi shouted sternly but inwardly fearful, quickly deciding to flee amidst his panic.
¡°Haha¡ Big brother, let this kid be mine. Just a thirdyer of Qi Refinement, should be easy pickings.¡±
The shorter cultivator, brimming with excitement, focused his gaze on Fang Xi while muttering incantations - clearly casting some form of spell!
As he uttered the final syble, two bright yellow earth spikes materialized before him.
¡°Go!¡± The short cultivator pointed at Fang Xi, sending the spikes hurtling forward.
Fang Xi somersaulted hastily to evade, his disheveled appearance further thrilling the short cultivator. ¡°With ¡®Three Sun Incense¡¯ on your hands, you can¡¯t escape! Prepare to die!¡±
Before the words had fully left his mouth, one of the earth spikes pierced through Fang Xi¡¯s back.
¡°Ahh!¡± Fang Xi screamed and copsed onto the ground.
However, in his panicked flight, he seemed to have misjudged his path, falling dangerously close to the taller cultivator.
¡°You talk too much!¡± remarked the tall cultivator to his shorterpanion as he approached Fang Xi¡¯s supposed corpse. Suddenly, something felt amiss.
Without its owner¡¯s magical support, how could that sword-shaped artifact continue to engage with the ghost-headed de? It wasn¡¯t inherently sentient!
¡°Uh-oh!¡±
Realizing this, the tall cultivator attempted to retreat.
But it was toote!
Fang Xi, who appeared lifeless on the ground, suddenly surged towards him at a terrifying speed, reaching within striking distance almost instantly.
In desperation, the taller cultivator hastily activated a Water Shield Talisman, enveloping himself with a protective aura of water.
Momentster, Fang Xi¡¯s fist mmed into the water shield!
Whump!
The shield bowed ominously under the impact but didn¡¯t break, its glow significantly dimming instead.
¡°A mid-stage body refinement cultivator!¡± Fear immediately surfaced on the tall cultivator¡¯s face. ¡°Daoist¡ misunderstanding¡¡±
¡°Primordial Strength!¡±
However, Fang Xi had no intention of further conversation. He raised his right hand high, gathering immense power at his fingertips before forcefully striking the water shield again!
Bam!
With all his might, Fang Xi unleashed Primordial Strength infused with multiple energies, causing an explosive burst that shattered the water shield, revealing the utterly despairing expression of the tall cultivator behind it.
The tall Cmity cultivator tried to speak further, but Fang Xi¡¯s finger had already pierced his throat.
Crack!
Fang Xi casually discarded the dead body and turned towards the pursuing short cultivator, asking, ¡°Did you enjoy that fight just now?¡±
Chapter 38: Preparing to Depart
Shunk!
Expressionless, Fang Xi reached back and swiftly pulled out the earth spike lodged in his flesh.
Having achieved mastery in Primordial Strength, he was equivalent to a cultivator at the secondyer of Body Refinement. Even spells from a Mid Qi Refining cultivator might not necessarily kill him, let alone one merely at the initial stage?
After prating his skin, the opponent¡¯s earth spike had been firmly trapped by his True Force-enhanced bones, unable to advance further.
¡°Spare me!¡±
The shorter cultivator dropped to his knees, pleading loudly, ¡°It¡¯s Qi Yingsong from Hundred Skills Pavilion who wants you dead¡ We were just following orders¡¡±
¡°How did you track me down?¡± Fang Xi asked coldly.
¡°Yingsong,¡± the short cultivator hastily responded, ¡°he ced Three-Day Fragrance on your teacup. This scent is nearly colorless and odorless; only specially trained individuals can detect it. It lingers for three days without dissipating¡¡±
¡°Aha, I see!¡± Fang Xi nodded, then suddenly darted forward like lightning, pressing his palm onto the short cultivator¡¯s head. St!
Instantaneously, the cultivator copsed, his skull shattered and life extinguished. As his hand opened, several ck bone needles rolled onto the ground.
¡°One-time magical artifacts, ¡®Bone Piercing Nails¡¯?¡±
Fang Xi, intrigued, carefully collected them.
Fang Xi showed no mercy towards enemies like venomous snakes.
After briefly searching the shorter cultivator¡¯s body, he found nothing particrly valuable. Next, Fang Xi retrieved the dusty bag of holding from the taller cultivator¡¯s waist and meticulously examined both corpses once more.
Then, he picked up the ghost-headed de which had lost its owner¡¯s magical infusion, now dimmed without its previous glow. With two sparks flickering, he incinerated the bodies to ashes before swiftly departing the scene.
¡°Damn Hundred Skills Pavilion¡ attacking me over just a few dozen spirit stones?¡± As Fang Xi walked away, he continued grumbling inwardly, ¡°Luckily there were no Late Stage Qi Refinement experts; otherwise, I¡¯d have been in serious danger¡¡±
¡°A few dozen spirit stones indeed only attract such caliber of adversaries¡¡±
He felt increasingly convinced that his decision to enhance his martial skills before engaging in cross-realm trade was truly wise!
¡°And¡ I was too impulsive before, not cautious enough.¡±
¡°This time, I must be far more prudent.¡±
Instead of returning to the shantytown, Fang Xi headed straight for his spirit bamboo grove. With a sh, he disappeared from sight.
No matter where on Qingzhu Mountain he hid, there was always a chance of being discovered. Only in the other world could he find absolute safety!
¡°Sigh¡ this Demon Tree has grown even taller and more imposing.¡±
In an abandoned house, Fang Xi looked up at the towering Demon Tree, its branches stretching towards the clouds with monstrous entities dangling from their ends. He sighed once again.
If not for the urgent situation here, with the Demon Tree on the verge of advancing, he wouldn¡¯t have hastily soldrge quantities of Beefwood meat, attracting unwanted attention.
¡°The cultivation path is truly fraught with thorns. Fortunately, this time, victory is mine.¡±
Only now, after reaching safety, did Fang Xi find the leisure to calmly examine his spoils of war.
First among them was the low-grade magical artifact¡ªthe ghost-headed de!
The de, entirely pitch-ck, measured three feet long and half a foot wide. Its hilt was wrapped in yin silk, culminating in a grotesque, fanged demon head at the end!
¡°Not bad, not bad. The internal restrictions of this magical artifact are intact; it nearly sliced my Qinghe Sword in two¡ It should fetch at least ten spirit stones!¡±
Fang Xi had long felt that the Qinghe Sword was quite unsatisfactory due to its damaged state. With this new acquisition, he finally found a suitable recement.
Apart from the de, there were also three single-use magical artifacts¡ªBone Piercing Nails!
These artifacts could only be used once but were highly insidious. Despite being one-time attacks, their power could potentially reach the upper limit of low-grade magical artifacts, making them remarkably potent.
¡°Unfortunately, body cultivators fear such tricks the least. With their superior survivability, they have the highest margin for error!¡±
Fang Xi¡¯s face beamed with delight, showing no trace of his earlier disdain for low-tier body cultivators.
Next, he retrieved a dusty little brocade pouch.
¡°It must be a bag of holding¡ The shorter cultivator had neither valuables nor medicinal pills; everything was likely stored in the taller one¡¯s bag.¡±
¡°These Cmity cultivators had weak cultivation bases and crude magical artifacts, not even a single defensive item. Otherwise, I wouldn¡¯t have defeated them so easily. Clearly, they were at the bottom rung among Cmity cultivators!¡±
Although Fang Xi had never used a bag of holding before, he knew enough from observing others.
Holding the bag with both hands, he channeled the Evesting Spring Art through them, infusing strands of magical energy into the bag to erase the original owner¡¯s imprint.
To Fang Xi¡¯s surprise, his magical energy was exceedingly feeble, requiring a full ten hours just to barely wipe away the previous owner¡¯s magical imprint from the bag of holding.
With a rumble!
As soon as Fang Xi sensed that the original magical imprint had been dispersed, he swiftly imprinted his own energy onto it.
Using the bag of holding, his spiritual sense seemed to extend beyond his body, perceiving another dimension altogether.
Inside, he found a gray space measuring approximately three feet by three feet in each dimension.
Within this storage area were numerous small items, including a pile of gold, silver, and jade trinkets, thirteen low-grade spirit stones, along with various bottles and misceneous objects.
¡°Truly remarkable for a bag of holding!¡± Fang Xi couldn¡¯t help but fondle it appreciatively. ¡°Just as I¡¯m nning to relocate, such a treasure arrives¡ these two brothers truly are like celestial messengers bearing gifts¡¡±
In reality, without considering that broken banishing talisman, Fang Xi was far poorer than these siblings!
¡°Cursed Hundred Skills Pavilion, even robbing someone as destitute as me! One day, you¡¯ll answer for this!¡±
Although based on their confessions, these desperate Cmity cultivators might not have been directly sent by Qi Liu or Qi Yingsong.
Considering Fang Xi¡¯s understanding of the shopkeeper, his operations were usually meticulous, making it unlikely he would employ such amateurs.
Nevertheless, Fang Xi squarely med the Hundred Skills Pavilion for this incident.
As for Yingsong, if they ever crossed paths again, there would be consequences.
¡°However, my current strength is insufficient to challenge such a colossal entity. For now, I must bide my time and focus on self-improvement¡¡±
Fang Xi decided toy low in Great Liang temporarily.
Coincidentally, this presented an opportunity to attempt evacuating people from ckstone City. After all, those at the dojo had some connection to him, and witnessing them perish here would indeed weigh heavily on his conscience.
Of course, once the escape route opened, Fang Xi intended to be the first one out, leaving the fate of the others to chance. If the Demon Tree¡¯s Demonic Domain proved too formidable, allowing only a few to pass through, they could me their own destiny!
At the Baiyun Dojo¡¯s quarters:
¡°Gongzi went out again; I wonder when he¡¯ll return?¡±
Lily stood by the door, vigntly watching outside.
As Fang Xi¡¯s strength and status steadily rose over recent days, the dojo members became increasingly courteous towards her, leaving the young girl feeling overwhelmed with unexpected favor.
However, Lily was well aware who had elevated her to this position, and she remained dutifully respectful in front of Fang Xi.
Earlier, Fang Xi had once again found a pretext to leave, and unable to stop him, she could only anxiously wait at the door each day.
In the next moment, a figure appeared at the end of the street, seemingly approaching.
¡°Gongzi¡¡±
Before Lily could finish her joyful exmation, her expression abruptly changed.
The ¡®person¡¯ staggering down the street emerged from its entrance, with tree roots coiling around their shoulders, as if their entire body had transformed into a haven for vines and tendrils.
¡°A monster!¡± Lily¡¯s shrill cry instantly echoed throughout the dojo.
¡°Prepare torches!¡±
¡°Defend against the enemy!¡±
¡°It¡¯s a wooden figure, quickly summon the Dojo Master!¡±
Chaos erupted across the City Gate District.
Multiple dojos were under attack, suffering immense casualties.
It seemed that the numerous monsters previously confined within the inner city had suddenly lost their restraints, now advancing madly towards the Outer City and even encroaching on the City Gate District!
¡°Die, you fiends!¡±
Mu Canglong swung his staff, knocking a cursed being off the wall. Observing several dojos under attack nearby, his expression darkened gravely. ¡°The range of demonic servants¡¯ activities is expanding again¡ At this rate, within three days, the entire Outer City will fall! I wonder when Fang Xi will return?¡±
As he pondered, two wooden figures leaped over the fire wall directly towards him.
In mid-flight, countless tendrils erupted from their bodies, forming armor-like structures.
¡°Haha¡ Bring it on!¡± Mu Canglong¡¯s hands turned pitch-ck as he fearlessly charged forward.
After just a few exchanges, he was sent flying, blood seeping from the corner of his mouth.
Wooden figures were far stronger than cursed beings; even dojo masters struggled against them, risking easy poisoning with any misstep!
¡°Dad!¡±
Mu Piaomiao waved her torch protectively in front of Mu Canglong, despair filling her eyes.
¡°Ahh!¡±
Despite being well-guarded earlier, once Mu Canglong himself faced life-threatening danger, no one could spare attention for Lily anymore.
She fell to the ground, watching helplessly as a cursed being slowly approached, its face covered in incantation markings. Overwhelmed by despair, she murmured, ¡°Gongzi, Lily can no longer serve you¡¡±
Pff!
¡°What did you say?¡±
A familiar voice echoed nearby. Lily, who had resigned herself to death with closed eyes, suddenly opened them and saw Fang Xi standing there.
With a swift chop from his right hand, the cursed being¡¯s head soared into the air.
¡°Hold on, I¡¯ll deal with youter!¡±
Leaving these words behind, Fang Xi charged towards the two wooden figures.
Although these wooden constructs were formidable, they still fell shortpared to True Strength martial artists. With each strike of his Primordial Strength, he shattered them effortlessly.
¡°Da-shixiong, you¡¯ve finally returned!¡± Tang Xuan eximed joyfully.
¡°Indeed!¡± Fang Xi scanned the area, swiftly moving to assist wherever needed.
After nearly an hour, the monsters retreated once again.
Exhausted, members of Baiyun Dojo copsed onto the ground, gasping for breath without any concern for their appearance. ¡°We survived! We made it!¡±
Tang Xuan noticed Fang Xi holding a torch and igniting one of the wooden figures, feeling curious. ¡°Da-shixiong, what are you doing?¡±
¡°Just a small experiment, nothing much.¡± Fang Xi watched intently as after burning the roots, two seeds emerged amidst the charred remains.
¡°One seed per wooden figure, perhaps?¡±
He carefully collected the seeds, intending to study them further at ater time.
¡°Sigh¡ Fang Xi, if it weren¡¯t for you this time, we might have lost many more lives at our dojo¡¡± Mu Canglong, supported by Mu Piaomiao, approached with a face full of lingering fear.
¡°The monster¡¯s activity range is expanding; we can¡¯t stay here any longer.¡± Fang Xi looked around at everyone, his voice somber. ¡°Prepare yourselves¡ We¡¯re leaving immediately!¡±
Chapter 39: Leaving the City
The sky was dark and gloomy.
Fang Xi looked up, squinting his eyes.
Ever since ckstone City fell into the Demonic Domain, its inhabitants had not seen the sun again.
During what would be daytime outside, the city resembled a perpetual overcast, with just a hint of light.
At night, the entire city plunged into imprable darkness.
Outside the city gates,
Fang Xi stood with hands sped behind him, gazing at theyer of ck mist that separated the inner and outer realms.
Beside him, the convoy from Baiyun Dojo awaited.
Tang Xuan pushed a tbed cart carrying Madam Bai, her exquisite beauty now clouded by worry as she stared at the ck mist. Around them were various supplies. Liu Taotao, Mu Piaomiao, and others also stood nearby, their expressions filled with concern, each bearing packed bags.
Even Zhang Junming was present, apanied by several street children.
¡°We¡¯ve tried traversing the ck mist,¡± Tang Xuan exined, ¡°no matter how far we venture out, we always end up back where we started¡ Even digging underground doesn¡¯t help; the ck mist extends beneath!¡±
Mu Canglong sighed and asked, ¡°When do we set off?¡±
¡°Waiting for more people!¡± Fang Xi replied quietly.
After roughly the time it takes to burn two incense sticks, another group approached.
It was a caravanprising dozens, centered around two horse-drawn carriages.
The curtain of the leading carriage lifted, revealing a mountain of flesh - none other than Fatty Han. ¡°Ha ha¡ Fang-brother¡ upon receiving your message, old Han promptly gathered everything and rushed here!¡±
Fang Xi gazed at the two carriages, particrly noting the sleek and well-groomed horses, feeling somewhat speechless.
In a city where people were continuously starving to death, maintaining such robust and fat livestock bordered on callous extravagance!
¡®Where the hell is this guy getting his food from? Oh wait, never mind, it¡¯s probably mine then, no issue there!¡¯
Shaking his head, Fang Xi looked at the people following him, his voice growing somber. ¡°I only have one talisman, which means we get just one chance. When the path appears, you must seize it yourselves!¡±
Approaching the ck mist, Fang Xi took out the Forced Entry Talisman.
At that moment, the colossal tree within the city seemed to sense something, causing its countless leaves to rustle audibly.
¡°Aoouuu!¡±
A faewolf entwined with vines howled towards the sky, sprinting furiously towards them.
Not only that, but from the city center emerged a massive half-severed python and an aperger than a house¡
These demonic servants, usually guarding the Demon Tree itself, appeared ready tounch a full-scale assault!
It¡¯s getting desperate, really desperate! Fang Xi¡¯s lips curled slightly; this sight only strengthened his resolve. ¡°Go!¡±
Infusing magical energy, heunched the Forced Entry Talisman. Countless silver threads burst forth from it, twisting¡ and prating deep into the ck mist.
Whooosh!
The ck mist violently churned, revealing a narrow passageway.
Dimly visible through the haze were blurry glimpses of the outside world, along with strands of sunlight peeking through - the radiance of hope!
¡°Let¡¯s move!¡±
With that, Fang Xi cast onest nce at ckstone City. Noticing the faewolf had reached the Outer City, he smiled calmly, gripped Lily firmly, and darted into the channel like lightning.
¡°Follow me!¡±
As Mu Canglong prepared to lead his daughter after Fang Xi, he realized someone was quicker - Fatty Han!
Despite his rotund appearance, his movements were incredibly agile, resembling a ball rolling swiftly. With unwavering determination, he became the second to enter the passage.
¡°Hurry up!¡± Watching as the passageway began to blur, seemingly on the verge of vanishing, Zhang Junming snapped out of his daze. Holding Gouzi in one hand, Xiao Yun in the other, and carrying another child on his back, he shed rapidly into the fading channel.
Inside the tunnel, everything felt disorienting.
Time and space seemed to twist and distort around them.
However, Fang Xi¡¯s expression remained resolute as he continued forward.
Suddenly!
Bright sunlight streamed down, revealing a broken stretch of an official road ahead. In the distance, verdant mountains and lush farnds appeared¡everything opened up before their eyes.
Behind them, ckstone City had vanished entirely, reced by a dense ck fog resembling a colossal dark bowl covering the earth.
¡°We¡made it out?¡± Lily looked up at the blue sky with its drifting clouds, tears streaming down her face.
Her tears were not solely from emotion but also due to eye strain. Having spent prolonged periods in dim conditions, sudden exposure to sunlight can cause photophobia.
Following Fang Xi, Fatty Han moved swiftly like a rolling ball, trailed by Zhang Junming, Mu Canglong¡
A torrent of people emerged, gazing upon the picturesquendscape of green hills and clear waters, each one weeping with gratitude:
¡°We survived¡ We actually survived!¡±
Even Mu Canglong and Zhang Junming couldn¡¯t help feeling a profound sense of relief after narrowly escaping death.
As they were caught in emotional turmoil, someone suddenly cried out, ¡°No¡the passage is getting blocked!¡±
In desperate attempts to save their lives, people often crowded into narrow passages only to find themselves trapped - amon urrence.
¡°No, the passage is closing!¡±
Mu Canglong watched as the channel within the ck mist steadily shrank, feeling equally rmed and turning to Fang Xi.
¡°The paper talisman¡¯s effect is about to expire¡ I don¡¯t have a second one on me,¡± Fang Xi shook his head.
It seemed that a tier-1 Forced Entry Talisman could only temporarily open a passage into the Demonic Domain, and for a limited duration at that.
¡®Topletely breach the Demon Tree¡¯s Demonic Domain, at least a tier-2 Forced Entry Talisman would be needed, and it must be done before its ascension!¡¯
A sudden thought crossed Fang Xi¡¯s mind, but he quickly chuckled and dismissed it with a shake of his head.
Without reaching Foundation Establishment, tackling the Demon Tree would be sheer folly.
Just then, the channel in the ck mist finally began to slowly close.
Thest person emerging was Tang Xuan from Baiyun Dojo!
He stopped his handcart, looked around, and spoke with evident confusion, ¡°Liu Taotao, Junior Sister Liu¡ she¡¯s still back there. She even pushed me out¡ what should we do?¡±
Without Liu Taotao¡¯s assistance, pushing the handcart loaded with people, he wouldn¡¯t have made it through!
¡°It¡¯s fate whether she survives or not!¡± Fang Xi sighed, turning to leave immediately.
They were still too close to the Demon Tree; if the demon regainedposure and expanded its Demonic Domain, chaos would ensue.
Seeing him depart, the other survivors followed like finding their leader, rallying behind Fang Xi.
All of them shared the desire to get as far away from this demonicir as possible!
Nightfall approached.
Fang Xi was roasting two pieces of Beefwood meat and eating them slowly. His appetite had grown significantly, requiring special demon meat just to feel satiated.
Near another bonfire, everyone else devoured their roasted game as if famished, gnawing on it voraciously.
Even Mu Piaomiao abandoned her usual genteel demeanor, tearing into a grilled rabbit with gusto, crunching bones audibly!
Mu Canglong managed to maintain some decorum while eating. After finishing his portion, he wiped the grease from his mouth and turned to Fang Xi, ¡°Where should we head next?¡±
¡°Do you have any suggestions, Master Mu?¡± Fang Xi responded with a question, genuinely unfamiliar with Great Liang. At this point, he only knew that ckstone City was within Ding Province.
As for its geography, local customs, or people¡¯s way of life, he had merely heard about them but never experienced firsthand.
¡°Hmm, ckstone City is ruined now, gued by demonic chaos and suffering¡ Perhaps the only rtively safe ce would be Sanyuan City, the capital of Ding Province.¡±
Mu Canglong offered his suggestion, ¡°Sanyuan City is guarded by the Dingzhou Army, and nearby lies the main gate of Yuanhe Mountain¡ It has remained peaceful for over a hundred years.¡±
¡°From what you say, it seems like a truly safe destination,¡± Fang Xi acknowledged.
He didn¡¯t particrly care where they went, but he wasn¡¯t necessarily keen on traveling with this group anymore. After all, one must always be cautious around others.
While he imed that the spirit pills and paper talismans used against demons were purchased himself, which was true, there might still be skeptics among them. What if someone reported him to the authorities or Yuanhe Mountain?
Therefore, Fang Xi decided that once they reached Sanyuan City¡¯s outskirts, he would part ways from this crowd.
¡°Haha, Brother Fang heading to Sanyuan City too?¡± A rolling mass approached not far away¡ªit was Fatty Han!
Fang Xi couldn¡¯t help but admire him; not only had Fatty Han sessfully escaped, thanks to the carriage, his entire harem of concubines also made it out intact.
Fatty Han dered, ¡°Although I¡¯m no local bigwig in Sanyuan City, I do have some connections. Today, brother, you¡¯ve saved me from dire straits. In the future, just seek out Old Han, and I¡¯ll never turn down your requests!¡±
¡°Sure!¡± Despite having transacted with Fatty Han before and finding him rtively trustworthy, Fang Xi didn¡¯t fully believe his grand promises and simply brushed them off casually.
The next morning,
Survivors gradually dispersed in small groups, and Zhang Junming also came to bid farewell.
Zhang Junming sped his hands respectfully, ¡°Many thanks for saving our lives, Fang-xiong. However, I won¡¯t be heading to Sanyuan City. Among these children, only Xiao Yun has surviving rtives, so I must escort her to them! May our paths cross again amidst enduringndscapes!¡±
¡°Farewell, may we meet again!¡±
Fang Xi reciprocated the gesture of farewell.
After Zhang Junming departed with the youngsters, only two groups remained at the site - Baiyun Dojo and Fatty Han¡¯s entourage.
¡°Ahem¡ I can lend you one of my carriages; just return it when you reach the next inhabited area.¡± Fatty Han waved generously.
In ckstone City, with its abundance of gold and silver, such wealth had be asmon as bricks or dirt during thete stages of the Demonic Domain. Anyone determined could easily amass riches.
However, a carriage was indeed needed at this moment, and Fang Xi epted without hesitation. He promptly arranged for Lily and some womenfolk, including Tang Xuan¡¯s paramour, to board the carriage.
The group slowly set off on their journey.
Less than an hourter, Fang Xi raised his hand and called out, ¡°Stop!¡±
¡°What¡¯s happening?¡± Mu Canglong and Fatty Han rushed over, expressions alert.
¡°Something¡¯s not right.¡±
Fang Xi closed his eyes, utilizing his enhanced hearing to faintly detect cries from behind them:
¡°Help me¡ Somebody, help¡¡±
¡°It¡¯sing from back there!¡± Fang Xi swiftly moved using his agile techniques, darting away towards the source of the sounds.
Mu Canglong and Fatty Han exchanged nces, puzzled yet following closely behind.
After rounding a hillside, they too heard a boy¡¯s voice: ¡°Great Hero Mu¡ Big Bro Fang¡ Help me¡ sniffle¡¡±
¡°That seems like the kid who was with Zhang Junming, named A-Gou - no, Gouzi,¡± Fatty Han rubbed his chin, feeling somewhat startled.
Fang Xi¡¯s hearing ability was not only clearly superior but far beyond his own! Having such a keen individual as an enemy would undoubtedly be dangerous and terrifying.
Fortunately, they were friends, not foes!
Chapter 40: Bestowing Names
Along the main road, they spotted a sobbing young boy intermittently running and stopping - it was Gouzi.
¡°What happened?¡±
In a flurry of fluttering garments, Fang Xi, Mu Canglong, and Han Feipeng swiftly surrounded Gouzi.
¡°Waaah¡ Hurry up and save our boss! He¡¯s been attacked by some monster!¡± Upon seeing Fang Xi and hispanions, Gouzi rushed towards them as if finding his saviors.
¡°What? Another monster?¡± Mu Canglong felt overwhelmed. ¡°What kind of monster is it?¡±
¡°Sob¡ I-I don¡¯t know¡ We couldn¡¯t even see it, but blood started pouring from our boss, Xiao Yun, Little Shu¡¡± Gouzi wept uncontrobly, gasping for breath.
¡°Could it be¡ another ¡®devil¡¯?¡± Mu Canglong¡¯s expression turned grave.
¡°No! It definitely wasn¡¯t a devil!¡± Fatty Hanposed himself and analyzed, ¡°In an old text I once read, it mentioned ¡®two devils shall not coexist¡¯, meaning only one devil can appear within a given region! Since ckstone City already has the Demon Tree, what Zhang Junming encountered must have been a unique type of beast!¡±
¡°A beast?¡± Fang Xi rubbed his chin thoughtfully. If Zhang Junming had indeed faced another devil, Fang Xi would have turned back without hesitation. However, encountering a mere beast was different.
He had always nned to hunt beastfolk for selling their meat!
With progress on the Evesting Spring Art stagnating, it seemed like the right time to purchase medicinal pills and elerate his cultivation using their power. This required spirit stones - lots and lots of them!
¡°Master Mu, take Gouzi back to the caravan. Fatty Han and I will go investigate!¡± After considering briefly, Fang Xi swiftly made his decision.
¡°Why me specifically, Old Han?¡± Fatty Han looked somewhat dejected.
¡°Naturally, because your strength is greater,¡± Fang Xi chuckled. Internally, he reasoned that even if they encountered danger, this mountain of flesh could both serve as a shield and draw more attention than himself. Why choose anyone else over Fatty Han or Mu Canglong?
Within the dense forest, bloodstains covered the gnarled roots of ancient trees.
Fang Xi¡¯s brow furrowed as he pulled a piece of fabric from one of the branches.
¡°It¡¯s from Zhang Junming¡¯s clothing!¡±
Fatty Han took out a handkerchief and wiped away his oily sweat. ¡°Looks like Zhang Junming wasn¡¯t so fortunate, Brother Fang. Why don¡¯t we just leave now? This ce is eerily unsettling.¡±
¡°Yes¡ An invisible beast, quite intriguing indeed,¡± Fang Xi mused thoughtfully. ¡°Perhaps¡ after its hunt, it hasn¡¯t left yet?¡±
With this idea in mind, he discreetly activated the Evesting Spring Art, channeling two strands of wood attribute magical energy into his eyes.
These were the spiritual vision techniques used by cultivators!
Of course, without specialized training for enhanced perception, their effectiveness in the cultivation world was limited. Primarily, they were useful in the mundane world to detect objects with high spiritual energy.
But in Great Liang?
Demon flesh and simr items also possess considerable spiritual energy.
A faint green glow flickered in Fang Xi¡¯s eyes as he scanned the surroundings.
Suddenly, his movements halted.
Just beside Fatty Han, hidden among the ancient trees,y a semi-transparent monster!
The creature appeared to be entirely made of ss, moving stealthily through the jungle. Its long tongue slowly extended and reached Fatty Han¡¯s side.
¡°Abomination!¡±
Fang Xi¡¯s voice thundered like spring lightning as he unleashed a punch towards Fatty Han.
¡°Agh!¡±
Caught off guard, Fatty Han instinctively activated his ¡®Swallowing the Heavens Art¡¯ for defense. Suddenly, he felt something elongated wrapping around his waist, apanied by a slimy texture and foul odor.
¡°What the hell is this thing?¡± With a furious roar, his body expanded rapidly, resembling a round ball, and managed to forcefully pry open the monster¡¯s tongue.
Simultaneously, Fang Xi struck the creature with explosive Primordial Strength!
Bang!
A series of powerful sts erupted, sending green blood sttering everywhere.
The sound of a heavy object hitting the ground echoed.
Only then did Fatty Han notice a monstrous beast lying on the forest floor, gradually regaining its dark green hue¡
This creature was over three meters long, with sharp limbs covered in scales. Its bulging eyes spun with keen intelligence, and at the base of its neck, there was a frilled cor-like membrane, giving it an imposing appearance from afar.
¡°What a massive chameleon beast!¡±
For some reason, when Fang Xi saw the membranous cor around its neck, it reminded him of a dog¡¯s protective cone-cor, causing him to burst outughing, ¡°Ha ha ha¡ Fatty Han, you nearly became a delivered meal there!¡±
Undeniably, this fat fellow made for quite apetent meat shield.
As he observed, arge bloody hole marred the back of the chameleon beast, surrounded by scattered green scales.
¡°Damn, we almost got taken down today,¡± Fatty Han growled menacingly. ¡°Tonight, Old Han is feasting on this beast¡¯s flesh!¡±
With a furious roar, his bulky frame leaped high and crashed down like a mountain copsing. ¡°Swallowing Heavens Palm!¡±
Fang Xi shook his head, ¡°I doubt you¡¯ll be able to stomach it!¡±
Nheless, he joined forces with Fatty Han in their attack.
The chameleon beast wasn¡¯t particrly strong; its main advantagey in its ability to hide seamlessly, making it elusive and formidable. However, once Fang Xi disrupted its ¡®Invisibility Spell¡¯, it became rather ordinary.
Soon enough, the beasty motionless on its back, transforming into a lifeless corpse.
Fang Xi wasted no time, pulling out a dagger to gut the chameleon beast and locate Zhang Junming¡¯s mutted remains.
¡°Uh¡ seems like it really can¡¯t be eaten¡¡± Fatty Han shook his head, slightly disappointed.
¡°Sigh¡ who would¡¯ve thought that our early morning farewell today was actually for thest time! However, since we didn¡¯t find Xiao Yun¡¯s body, perhaps she managed to escape?¡±
A sudden sense of life¡¯s unpredictability struck Fang Xi.
Having shared some acquaintance with them, he joined Fatty Han in burying Zhang Junming¡¯s corpse. Afterwards, he sent Fatty Han away first.
Once Fatty Han had left, Fang Xi tapped his bag of holding, retrieving the ghost-headed de with a hint of excitement on his face: ¡°This beast¡¯s skin should be useful for crafting special magical artifacts¡ And its meat along with bones, not bad at all, could fetch some spirit stones.¡±
At that moment, he inwardly expressed gratitude once again to his lucky charm friend.
Without this buddy¡¯s sponsored bag of holding, hiding the chameleon beastfolk¡¯s corpse would have been quite troublesome.
Back at the caravan¡
¡°Don¡¯t worry¡ Da-shixiong is exceptionally skilled, already a martial artist level expert. He¡¯ll surely bring your boss back.¡±
Mu Piaomiao wasforting Gouzi when suddenly, a distant mountain of flesh slowly descended andnded before them.
¡°Where¡¯s my boss?¡± Gouzi immediately asked.
¡°He¡¯s dead!¡± Fatty Han sighed, handing over a bloodstained piece of clothing to Gouzi.
Gouzi broke down, sobbing uncontrobly until he fainted.
¡°That¡¯s just how life goes; try not to dwell on it¡¡± Shaking his head, Fatty Han returned to indulge himself inside his carriage.
Indeed, after allocating one carriage for Fang Xi, he had summoned all his concubines to join him in his own, leaving everyone amazed by the sheer strength of the horse pulling it - truly a divine steed!
¡°Master is back!¡±
As Fatty Han entered the carriage, he was instantly enveloped by several tender arms.
¡°Heh heh¡¡±
Casually retrieving a bottle of fine wine from beneath the seat, he took a swig. ¡°Mm¡ I¡¯m back.¡± His eyes narrowed contentedly, barely visible through the slits.
¡®That Fang Xi definitely has secrets, but they¡¯re none of old Han¡¯s concern.¡¯
¡®Living carefree and joyful is the key to longevity¡ Greed begets no good, no good indeed. Each day with lovely wives and beautiful concubines, well-fed and content, that¡¯s happiness enough, pure happiness¡¡¯
Shortly thereafter, Fang Xi returned to the caravan.
¡°Let¡¯s set off - continue our journey!¡± He surveyed the group and issued hismand.
The convoy slowly moved forward, and Fang Xi approached Gouzi. ¡°Do you have anywhere else to go?¡±
¡°No¡¡± Gouzi replied, eyes vacant as he stared ahead.
¡°In that case,e with us to Three Essences City. I¡¯ll introduce you to Baiyun Dojo; at least you can earn your keep there!¡±
Fang Xi casually prepared to pass on this burden to Mu Piaomiao. After all, once Mu Canglong reached Three Essences City, it was highly likely he would need to sustain himself by reopening a dojo.
¡°Oh right, do you have a name?¡±
¡°No!¡± Gouzi answered.
¡°Well then, let me give you one. Since you¡¯re joining Zhang Junming, we¡¯ll use the surname Zhang¡ As for the given name? How about ¡®in jest amidst grand ambitions, life is best savored in intoxication¡¯? Let¡¯s call you Zhang Zui¡ No, wait, Zhang Mingding sounds better!¡±
¡°Zhang?¡± Gouzi pondered briefly before nodding firmly. ¡°From now on, my name shall be Zhang Mingding!¡±
¡°Hmm, excellent choice!¡± Fang Xi nodded, feeling a sense of continuation for Zhang Junming¡¯s legacy in this world, just as the ancients sought.
¡®Heh¡ pity that such continuation is merely superficial!¡¯
¡®Whether it¡¯s family lineage, bloodline, spiritual heritage, or leaving a mark in history¡nonepare to living oneself as the embodiment of history!¡¯
¡®I must achieve Foundation Establishment for eternal longevity!¡¯
With a determined gleam in his eyes, Fang Xi¡¯s resolve strengthened even further.
Several dayster.
At Qingzhu Mountain Market¡¯s shantytown, Fang Xi returned with an unassuming expression.
The scent from the Three Days Incense had long dissipated, and throughout his journey, he noticed no signs of heightened suspicion or rm.
After all, deaths outside the market weremonce, and people had grown ustomed to it. Unless someone significant perished, they would quickly be forgotten.
¡®Besides¡ if the Hundred Skills Pavilion is searching for a burly brute selling Beefwood meat, what does that have to do with me, a mere spirit farmer?¡¯
Having discreetly gathered information, Fang Xi felt reassured.
However, Chen Ping was nowhere to be seen; likely either in seclusion or bothering Fellow Daoist Lu again.
Fang Xi paid him no mind and decided to approach Di Qi directly.
¡°What?! Fellow Daoist Fang, you actually killed a beastfolk?¡± Di Qi scrutinized Fang Xi, as if reevaluating this spirit farmer entirely.
¡°Just got lucky, really. This particr beastfolk wasn¡¯t very strong¡¡± Fang Xi smiled modestly. ¡°The carcass is at my ce; I¡¯ll show it to you¡¡±
Naturally, he wouldn¡¯t reveal his bag of holding in front of Di Qi, so he had already ced the neatly cut beastfolk meat at home beforehand.
Upon entering Fang Xi¡¯s log cabin and seeing the piles of beast meat along with stark white bones, Di Qi finally believed him. ¡°Indeed, you¡¯re remarkably lucky, Daoist friend¡ Are these meant to be sold?¡±
¡°Yes!¡± Fang Xi rubbed his hands nervously, seemingly hesitant to broach the topic. ¡°With all the cutthroatpetition at the market, I dare not risk drawing attention myself. Would it be too much trouble for you, Daoist friend, to handle the sale on my behalf? If willing, I can offer you a ten percentmission!¡±
¡®This deal sounds promising!¡¯ Di Qi¡¯s eyes lit up instantly. His family had needs in this regard, and sessfully managing this could even earn him minor merit.
The key advantage was¡ he could profit from both ends!
His enthusiasm surged as he asked, ¡°What is the rank of this beastfolk? How many pounds does it weigh?¡±
¡°Approximately low-tier first rank¡¡± Fang Xi replied candidly. ¡°There¡¯s around three to four hundred pounds of meat, with bones counted separately¡ As for the hide, I¡¯ve decided to keep that.¡±
Even for a spirit farmer, striking luck and hunting down a beastfolk seemed usible enough.
After all, fortune favors the unpredictable; who could predict such chances?
Regardless, Fang Xi had no intention of selling a second beast through Di Qi after this instance.
Chapter 41: Qi Refinement Fourth Layer
The next day.
In the cer of his shack, Fang Xi sat cross-legged, gazing at a small ink jade bottle in his hand.
This was a bottle of ¡®Vitality Wood Pills¡¯, suitable for cultivators practicing wood attribute techniques during early to mid-Qi Refinement stages. They also had a mild effect in stimting breakthroughs at cultivation bottlenecks.
¡°Di Qi seems somewhat trustworthy, but selling both the beast¡¯s flesh and bones only fetched twenty spirit stones, which feels like a slight loss¡ He must have pocketed quite some profit from it¡¡±
As expected by Fang Xi, avoidingplications andpleting transactions swiftly was exactly what he desired. After all, his time here was limited.
In Great Liang, he had left the caravan under the pretext of wanting to travel independently. Regardless, with their slow pace, his agile speed would easily allow him to catch up within a few days, covering the distance in just several hours.
If he couldn¡¯t catch up¡ well, then so be it!
He had done his part, leaving little room forints.
¡°It¡¯s unfortunate I can¡¯t visit the Hundred Skills Pavilion; I won¡¯t be able to sell any more Beefwood meat now¡ Next time I hunt a beast, perhaps I should disguise myself as a wandering cultivator and sell it at the market¡¡± ¡°Compared to Di Qi, the Pill Cauldron Pavilion is truly outrageous! Selling one medicinal pill for thirty spirit stones¡ I even had to subsidize quite a bit¡¡±
Recalling the variety of pills at the Pill Cauldron Pavilion and their exorbitant prices, Fang Xi felt an urge to grit his teeth indignantly.
Wasn¡¯t being a two-realm transporter, tirelessly shuttling goods between worlds, already challenging enough? Yet these monopolists took all the damn profits!
¡°Sigh¡ Stay focused, cultivation is paramount.¡±
Fang Xiposed himself and poured out a single ¡®Vitality Wood Pill¡¯ from the ck jade bottle.
The pill was entirely emerald green but emitted a spicy aroma upon smelling it. After a moment¡¯s thought, he swallowed the pill and closed his eyes to refine its effects.
Soon, Fang Xi¡¯s expression shifted as he sensed a vast yet gentle surge of spiritual energy exploding within his dantian, stimting the Evesting Spring Art to stir eagerly.
Instinctively, he began circting the third level of the Evesting Spring Art, time and again.
When Fang Xi finally regained awareness, he realized that without noticing, he had continuously practiced the technique for six full hours.
Upon introspection, his face lit up with joy: ¡°I¡¯ve actually reached the peak of the thirdyer of Qi Refinement! It sure wasn¡¯t easy¡¡±
Merciful heavens! When he first crossed over, his cultivation was already at the thirdyer of Qi Refining, yet it took more than a year to reach its peak!
Now, finally, he had mastered this level and could attempt to break through the bottleneck to Middle Stage Qi Refinement!
¡°The power of medicinal pills is truly impressive!¡±
Fang Xi joyfully caressed the small ck jade bottle, which still contained two Vitality Wood Pills. He estimated that these should be enough for him to surpass the Middle Stage Qi Refinement barrier!
¡°Indeed, mindlessly meditating to cultivate is foolish; relying on pills is the true path!¡±
¡°Moreover, these spirit pills inherently contain spiritual energy. By consuming them, one primarily refines the internal spiritual energy and medicinal properties for cultivation purposes. This means even in Great Liang, I can continue advancing¡¡±
In that moment, Fang Xi contemted returning to Great Liang to fervently hunt beastfolk, exchanging their parts for medicinal pills to enhance his cultivation.
However, he swiftly dismissed such reckless thoughts!
Rapidly increasing one¡¯s cultivation base risks instability in foundational development!
Additionally, the cost of medicinal pills suitable for advancing from middle tote stages of Qi Refinement, specifically for breaking through bottlenecks, is exorbitantly high!
Not to mention, excessive consumption of pills leads to pill toxicity, which can severely hinder future breakthroughs to major realms!
¡°Sellingrge quantities of beastfolk meat would not only depress market prices but also bring diminishing returns, potentially exposing myself¡¡±
¡°Stability is key,¡± Fang Xi thought to himself. ¡°I¡¯m only seventeen, turning eighteen soon¡ No need to rush, no need at all¡¡±
Fang Xi gazed at the Vitality Wood Pill in his hand, lost in contemtion.
The next day.
Fang Xi emerged from his shack, a hint of frustration on his face.
Initially, he believed that consuming just one more Vitality Wood Pill would be enough to break through the bottleneck. However, contrary to his expectation, it took both remaining pills to finally ovee the barrier and reach the Middle Stage of the fourthyer of Qi Refinement, bing a mid-stage cultivator.
¡°Oh, my aptitude!¡±
Fang Xi began to realize that his low-grade spiritual root would increasingly be a stumbling block on his path to longevity.
In the Qi Refinement stage, while medicinal pills for enhancing magical energy were notmon, they could still be purchased with sufficient spirit stones. For great Foundation Establishment cultivators, such potency-enhancing pills were avable only once every ten years at Qingzhu Mountain Market¡¯s auction.
As for reaching Core Formation level, both the pill forms and centuries-aged spirit medicines became extraordinarily scarce and rare.
Relying solely on medicinal pills to advance, even without considering pill toxicity, seemed utterly impractical!
¡°Spiritual root¡ Spiritual root¡ I wonder if there¡¯s any way to improve it?¡± Fang Xi pondered deeply.
ording to the cultivation world¡¯s theory on spiritual roots, every cultivator possesses all five elements within their spiritual root. However, one or more of these elements may be more prominent, with the strongest element determining the cultivator¡¯s innate aptitude.
Fang Xi himself had a low-grade wood-biased spiritual root, indicating that among his five elemental spiritual roots, the wood element was the strongest but still only reached the level of a low-grade spiritual root.
Above low-grade, there were mid-grade and high-grade spiritual roots, followed by the legendary Earthly Spiritual Roots and Heavenly Spiritual Roots¡ªthese were merely spoken about in rumors, yet their appearance would inevitably trigger fiercepetition among super sects for potential Core Formation talents! They represented future powerhouses in the making!
¡°But¡ I don¡¯t recall hearing any methods to enhance spiritual roots? Perhaps it¡¯s because my predecessor¡¯s cultivation base was too low, limiting his knowledge?¡±
¡°If enhancing spiritual roots post-awakening were possible, why would sects bother searching for disciples with exceptional innate roots? Therefore, even if such a method exists, the cost must be exorbitant¡¡±
¡°Ah¡in short, it seems nearly impossible!¡± Fang Xi silently worried about his own Dao path.
He stepped into the courtyard, and suddenly, a tiny seed appeared in his hand.
This was a seed from iron gauze grass, casually collected during his time as a spirit farmer¡ªa type of resilient weedparable to steel.
Fang Xi retrieved this seed for practicing magic spells!
Having advanced to the Middle Stage of Qi Refinement, he could finally move beyond the awkward phase where only basic farming techniques like weed removal and rain invocation were within his reach. Now, he was ready to learn mid-tier first-order spells!
The spell he intended to master was called the ¡®Entangling Spell¡¯, a minor technique recorded in the Evesting Spring Art.
Its primary effect involved using magical energy to sprout seeds, creating vines that entangle and restrain enemies!
As expected from a run-of-the-mill cultivation technique with its apanying generic spells¡ their power is limited indeed.
Recalling the incantation, Fang Xi channeled his magical energy and tossed the seed.
Snap!
The seednded on the ground but remained motionless for quite some time¡
¡°Spell failed¡¡± Fang Xi sighed.
From the beginning, he had never been considered a genius in the path of cultivation.
Fortunately, proficiency in casting spells can be achieved through repeated practice.
Fang Xi didn¡¯t need immediatebat readiness, so he could recite the incantation slowly and perform the hand gestures deliberately, aiming to reduce theplexity.
After half a day of attempts,
apanied by a series of intricate and tongue-twisting phrases, Fang Xi formed seals with his hands and tossed the iron gauze grass seed.
¡°By Evesting Spring¡¯smand, let myriad woods flourish!¡±
In that instant, Fang Xi felt his magical energy surge like a dam bursting, pouring out instantly!
The iron gauze grass seed rapidly exploded upon hitting the ground, sprouting long, jet-ck leaves approximately three meters in length, each edged with sharp serrations that entwined around a wooden stake.
Crack! Crack!
Like a massive python, the iron gauze grass tightened continuously, shattering the wooden stake within moments, sending countless splinters flying.
¡°This power¡ it¡¯s decent enough, I suppose.¡±
¡°In critical moments, my fists will still prevail!¡±
Despite witnessing this disy, Fang Xi wasn¡¯t overly disappointed.
¡°Haha¡ Impressive wood-type magic!¡± Suddenly, a voice of admiration came from beyond the boundary wall.
Fang Xi noticed his neighbor Chen Ping watching nearby and smiled, ¡°Not at all¡ it can¡¯tpare to the agility and destructive power of your fire-based spells, Fellow Daoist.¡±
Perhaps only with Chen Ping could he engage in such mutual praise.
Chen Ping¡¯s cultivation techniques were even less impressive than Fang Xi¡¯s, relying solely on the Fireball Technique. However, through years of practice, he had indeed mastered it to an exceptional level.
¡°However, this Entangling Spell is a mid-grade first-stage spell. Could it be that Fellow Daoist Fang?¡±
Chen Ping suddenly looked at Fang Xi with surprise.
¡°Haha¡ pure coincidence, but yes, I finally broke through to the Middle Stage Qi Refinement!¡±
Fang Xi never intended to hide his progress in cultivation.
What he truly wanted to conceal was his body cultivation realm.
¡°I see, sincere congrattions are indeed in order, Fellow Daoist.¡±
Chen Ping bowed respectfully, envy evident in his eyes.
His aptitude was average, making both cultivation and breakthroughs exceptionally challenging.
Then, Chen Ping continued, ¡°Since we¡¯ve crossed paths, let me inform you¡ I¡¯m moving soon.¡±
¡°Oh? Why?¡± Fang Xi was taken aback.
Is Chen Ping giving up spirit farming?
¡°Truthfully, after obtaining Symbol Master Zong¡¯s legacy, my talisman crafting skills have significantly improved. Now, I am already a mid-rank first tier talisman master¡¡± Chen Ping proudly replied.
This time, it was Fang Xi¡¯s turn to envy Chen Ping.
Being a mid-rank first tier talisman master held much more value than being at the Middle Stage Qi Refinement.
¡®Damn, how is this fair¡ Even Symbol Master Zong barely reached this level, and previously, Chen Ping struggled with low-tier first rank spirit talismans. How did he suddenly make such rapid progress?¡¯ Fang Xi couldn¡¯tprehend it.
Chen Ping scratched his head, revealing another sincere smile. ¡°And¡ Fellow Daoist Lu, impressed by my diligence and potential in the Dao of talismans, has agreed to mentor me for a few days. She won¡¯t be leaving anytime soon¡¡±
Fang Xi was rendered speechless, barely managing to suppress a twitch at the corner of his mouth as he congratted Chen Ping, ¡°Well done, fellow Daoist! Persistence truly pays off!¡±
In the cultivation world, marital status is not highly regarded. Even female cultivators can have numerous paramours, and such rtionships are widely epted.
This eptance stems from the fact that both male and female cultivators possess equal potential for power through cultivation breakthroughs, showing no disparity in strength.
True equality lies in the bnce of power!
With Lu Zhi¡¯s high cultivation base, attractive appearance, and substantial inheritance¡
Even Fang Xi couldn¡¯t help feeling a bit envious at this moment.
After these thoughts, Fang Xi suddenly recalled the interactions between Goddess Yunmeng and others with Chen Ping: ¡®Could it be¡ Fellow Daoist Chen truly possesses some unique charm?¡¯
Despite scrutinizing him closely, Fang Xi still couldn¡¯t discern any special qualities. Moreover, if there was indeed a secret, how could Chen Ping have struggled so much before?
¡°Haha¡ Once Fellow Daoist Lu and I be cultivation partners, you¡¯ll surely receive a cup of spirit wine, Fellow Daoist Fang!¡± Chen Pingughed heartily, brimming with enthusiasm.
Chapter 42: Three Origins City
¡®Chen Ping must have some hidden secrets!¡¯ Back in the Great Liang World, Fang Xi¡¯s eyes sparkled with intrigue: ¡®Should I¡¡¯
In the next moment, he chuckled to himself, realizing, ¡°In the vast great thousand worlds, cultivators often encounter unique opportunities; having some secrets is only natural. There¡¯s no need to relentlessly dig deep or resort to murder for personal gain - it would be counterproductive! Regardless of how significant his secret might be, could it possibly surpass mine?¡±
With a metaphorical mountain of gold at his disposal, scheming to steal a beggar¡¯s pennies seemed truly¡ petty!
Having reached this conclusion, Fang Xi let go of his curiosity about Chen Ping. He quickly assessed their direction and spurred his horse to catch up with the caravan.
Honestly, he relished being away from the main group, enjoying somewhat of a lone adventurer status, as it provided ample opportunity to conceal certain activities.
For instance¡ Fang Xi had been continuously searching for traces of mythical beasts in the wilderness.
Unfortunately, despite the presence of demonic disturbances in Great Liang, encounters with such creatures were notmonce.
Ever since killing that chameleon beast, Fang Xi¡¯s luck seemed to have depleted entirely.
During his time wandering outside, he encountered no mythical beasts whatsoever. His journey remained uneventful as he swiftly caught up with the caravan once again.
¡°Gongzi is back!¡± Lily spotted Fang Xi, her eyes filled with warm smiles.
¡°Indeed, I¡¯m back!¡± Fang Xi nodded, observing the increasinglyrger caravan.
As the convoy passed through other towns and cities, they naturally acquired more livestock and carriages, growing progressively grander yet bulkier¡ However, this also eased their travel hardships significantly.
After exchanging a few words with the maidservant, Fang Xi sought out Fatty Han.
¡°Oh? Fang-xiong wants information about factions in Three Origins City?¡± Sitting in his carriage, Fatty Han was being served fruit peeled by one of his concubines. Upon hearing Fang Xi¡¯s request, heughed heartily, ¡°That¡¯s quite straightforward¡¡±
Since there was ample idle time on the road, Fatty Han decided to provide Fang Xi with a detailed overview of the power dynamics within Three Origins City.
As the capital city of Ding Province, Three Origins City boasted arge poption and thriving industries, resulting in aplex mix of influential factions.
¡°The most influential group in Three Origins City is undoubtedly the Dingzhou Army! They serve as the imperial court¡¯s stabilizing force in Ding Province¡ Every soldier within their ranks must have mastered their blood qi, achieving at least one transformation as a martial apprentice! To be a squad leader requires reaching three transformations of blood and qi, while True Force martial artists can lead a battalion. Above them are the eight Brigade Commanders, each renowned for years as aplished True Strength Martial Artists¡ As for the armymander¡¡± Fatty Han deliberately paused, building suspense.
¡°Could it be a True Astral Martial Saint?¡± Fang Xi interjected.
¡°If they were a Zongshi,manding such a position would indeed be usible, but that¡¯s not the case¡¡± Fatty Hanughed heartily. ¡°Being skilled inbat doesn¡¯t necessarily trante to leading wars¡ High martial prowess does not guarantee effectivemand over vast armies. The Dingzhou Armymander is simply a military official appointed by the Great Liang imperial court, with uncertain strength. However, rumor has it that he possesses an elite personal guard unit, so formidable that even a Zongshi might struggle to approach him¡¡±
¡°That makes sense,¡± Fang Xi nodded. ¡°If the imperial court and its officials hold the top influence, who holds the second-most power?¡±
¡°The second major power is Yuanhe Mountain.¡±
Fatty Han nced at Fang Xi¡¯s expressionless face before continuing, ¡°Yuanhe Mountain is a prominent sect in Ding Province, boasting dozens of True Strength Martial Artists with countless others ascending to True Force regrly. Their influence extends through intricateworks¡ It¡¯s rumored that within their ranks resides a Zongshi ancestor, though whether it¡¯s true or not remains uncertain.¡±
¡°As for the third, it¡¯s the Beast Hunt Society!¡±
¡°Beast Hunt Society?¡± Upon hearing this name, Fang Xi felt an instant affinity, sensing a connection with this organization.
Unaware of Fang Xi¡¯s thoughts, Fatty Han exined, ¡°With numerous mythical beasts lurking in the wilderness, deploying imperial forces or divine constables to handle each case individually would be impractical. However, civilian cultivators can also serve as a significant force. Thus, the Beast Hunt Society emerged, functioning like bounties set by the court. Any capable cultivator may hunt mythical beasts, earning rewards¡and gaining fame worldwide! Who among cultivators doesn¡¯t crave recognition and wealth? The Beast Hunt Society spans across the entire province. Whenever a cultivator sessfully subdues a challenging beast, their reputation spreads, and there are even monthly rankings¡¡±
¡°Indeed, that makes sense,¡± Fang Xi agreed.
Fang Xi continued his inquiries and learned that the fourth and fifth-ranked powers were the Chamber of Commerce and the Martial Union, leaving him somewhat speechless.
The Chamber of Commerce represented business alliances, essential for wealth generation among civilians - this was self-exnatory.
The Martial Union, on the other hand, was an alliance of dojos, surprisingly ranked only fifth. It seemed true to the adage that anything readily avable is often of low quality.
Martial arts taught for money would invariably be at the lowest tier; their diminished status made perfect sense, understandable indeed.
¡°Fatty Han, you seem to have missed some factions, like the ck market influence?¡± Fang Xi pondered briefly, narrowing his eyes slightly.
¡°Haha¡ The ck market is just rats scurrying in gutters, what real power could they wield?¡± Fatty Han chuckled humbly. ¡°Apart from that, there are the four major aristocratic families. I didn¡¯t list them separately because their influence spans across various sectors. Take the Huang Family, for example; they have members serving as military officers in the Dingzhou Army while also managing extensivemercial interests. Their affiliated businesses hold significant voting power within the Chamber of Commerce. Additionally, they exert control over several dojos and secretly gather numerous experts under their wing, making them quite formidable¡¡±
¡°I¡¯m not nning to confront anyone¡¡± Fang Xi chuckled softly, ¡°I just want to diligently practice martial arts and someday ascend to Zongshi rank!¡±
¡°Zongshi?¡± Fatty Han smiled wryly, ¡°Achieving true astral energy is incredibly arduous¡ I¡¯ve only heard from an elder about needing ¡®unity of spirit and strength,¡¯ ¡®harmony with the heavens¡¯¡ things like that.¡±
¡°Unity of spirit and strength?¡±
Fang Xi recalled simr descriptions in the Yuanhe Mountain secret manual, but they were exined more clearly.
The gap between a Zongshi and a martial artist was vast, consisting of several distinct steps.
The first step towards bing a Zongshi was cultivating fist intent!
The second step involved refining True Force down to its subtlest essence, transforming it into a great dragon along the spine, surging upwards through the crown chakra to break through Pangu¡¯s Pith!
This information wasn¡¯t documented in any manuals; it was shared by Linghu Yang¡¯s master.
There were likely further steps beyond¡ªfirst-stage martial artist, second-stage martial artist¡and possibly even third, fourth stages¡
As for when one could truly be a Zongshi, even Linghu Yang couldn¡¯t say.
¡®Training as a martial artist seems far more challenging than being a cultivator¡¡¯
¡®It¡¯s unfortunate that my Yuanhe Five Thunders Hand manual is iplete¡ Perhaps I should find a way to remedy this?¡¯
Fang Xi gazed at the scenery outside the carriage, lost in thought.
Over the following month, Fang Xi frequently fell behind the caravan to tend his fields in the southern wilderness¡¯s cultivation realm and manage interpersonal affairs.
asionally, he ventured into Ding Province¡¯s wilds, searching for traces of mythical beasts.
With great effort, he finally managed to defeat a two-headed snake demon. He promptly skinned it and stored the meat for future sale.
Fang Xi gradually came to terms with this reality. If mythical beasts weremonce across rural areas, how couldmon folk cultivate theirnds?
This world would likely have copsed long ago, with no existence of Great Liang¡¯s imperial court.
Thus, although demons lurked in the wilderness, they remained exceedingly rare.
The situation at ckstone City was exceptional, caused solely by the emergence of the Demon Tree, which had driven away other mythical beasts - a unique urrence!
One day, as the caravan ascended a hill, arge city came into view in the distance.
Situated at the confluence of two major rivers, this bustling metropolis boasted a massive harbor. Under the sunlight, the moat shimmered brilliantly, with grand flower boats gracefully cruising its waters¡
The majestic ancient city exuded a timeless aura, and atop its gate, the words ¡®Three Origins¡¯ were clearly visible on arge horizontal que.
¡°Three Origins City, we¡¯ve arrived!¡± Many within the convoy cheered excitedly.
Finally, they had reached their journey¡¯s end!
¡°Gongzi, look!¡± Lily pointed eagerly towards the nearby city, her excitement evident. ¡°So many people¡ It¡¯s so beautiful¡¡±
¡°Yes indeed!¡± Fang Xi smiled warmly, affectionately patting her head before turning to Mu Piaomiao. ¡°Piaomiao¡ please take care of Lily.¡±
¡°Da-shixiong, don¡¯t worry,¡± Mu Piaomiao agreed instinctively, but then realized something was amiss. ¡°Wait, Da-shixiong¡ you¡¯re not entering the city?¡±
¡°I only apanied you this far. All journeys muste to an end; it¡¯s time for me to go!¡± Fang Xi waved farewell to Mu Canglong and Fatty Han, swiftly turning and striding away.
Entering the city with such arge group was never his intention. With so many people and varying opinions, especially after revealing some of his extraordinary abilities, even Mu Canglong might not fully trust him.
Moreover, the siege of ckstone City was a significant event bound to attract attention from the authorities. Once they discovered this group of survivors, who could withstand their questioning? Human hearts often fail under scrutiny.
Therefore, Fang Xi chose not to test these hearts at all. By mysteriously disappearing without leaving any trace, no one would know his whereabouts, preventing anyone from considering betraying him to the officials.
Thus, he decided to depart alone, not even taking Lily along.
After all, she was just a servant girl. Having protected her through the demonic disaster and safely escorting her to Three Origins City already demonstrated immense kindness on his part. He owed her nothing beyond that gratitude.
Fang Xi¡¯s departure was remarkably nonchnt.
Watching his retreating figure, both Mu Canglong and Fatty Han fell silent. Although grateful for Fang Xi saving their lives, it was uncertain whether they would resist betraying their benefactor deep down.
However, now there was no room for such thoughts.
Because Fang Xi left them absolutely no opportunity!
¡°Progressing beyond True Strength Martial Artist bes quite challenging. Currently, my Martial Power Value is equivalent to a Second Step Martial Artist, but on the path to bing a Zongshi, I¡¯ve yet to take even a single step¡ Although with spiritual sense assistance, reaching the subtlety realm andprehending fist intent should be swift¡¡±
¡°But martial arts are merely protective means; cultivation is the true path to longevity¡¡±
Returning to the cultivation world, Fang Xi felt the abundant spiritual energy, significantly richer than in Great Liang, and inwardly marveled at the difference.
As he emerged from the cer into his shack, he noticed a voice-transmission talisman floating outside!
Fang Xi reached out, infusing it with a hint of magical energy.
A crisp young woman¡¯s voice echoed, ¡°Is this Daoist Friend Fang Xi? My name is Situ Qingqing, the newly appointed Crop Protector Envoy. Upon receiving this voice-transmission talisman, kindly respond.¡±
¡°The Situ n has reced their envoy?¡± Fang Xi was taken aback, holding the talisman. Nheless, he followed her instructions, channeled more magical energy, and tossed it gently.
Holding the voice-transmission talisman with surprise, Fang Xi followed the instructions, inputting magical energy and then tossing it away.
Whoosh!
The talisman transformed into a streak of firelight and disappeared.
Shortly after, an iron-leaf boat magical artifact flew towards him.
Standing on the iron-leaf boat was a striking young woman dressed in a light green gown. Her delicate eyebrows framed her slightly paleplexion, and while her features were not exceptionally remarkable, theybined harmoniously, giving her an ethereal, elf-like aura. With long hair cascading down to her waist, she resembled a graceful maiden straight from andscape painting.
¡°Greetings, Fellow Daoist Situ!¡± Fang Xi hastily bowed in respect.
Although his perception indicated she was only at the Middle Stage Qi Refinement realm, being associated with the Situ nmanded courtesy.
¡°Fellow Daoist Fang is already well-established among our Qingzhu Mountain spirit farmers; there¡¯s no need for such formality!¡± Situ Qingqing spoke, her voice as clear and pure as a mountain spring.
Chapter 43: Early Signs
¡°Is Daoist Situ Ying doing well?¡± Fang Xi nced at the new Crop Protector Envoy from the Situ n, struggling to find a topic of conversation and eventually asked about his concern.
Situ Qingqing¡¯s expression turned solemn. ¡°After investigation¡ he was found negligent, deceiving superiors while oppressing subordinates, engaging in bribery, and demanding kickbacks. The n has apprehended him, sentencing him to the Lightning Whip punishment and confinement for reflection¡ Were you in seclusion before, Daoist friend? Otherwise, you should have known this already.¡±
¡°I see,¡± Fang Xi nodded, secretly feeling pleased. That exploitative Situ Ying finally got hiseuppance!
Even his perception of the Situ n slightly improved.
However, he swiftly suppressed this newfound goodwill; as a tenant farmer, showing gratitude for minor favors from thendlord only revealed ingrained servitude within him!
Despite his inner thoughts, Fang Xi outwardly expressed deep emotion, almost effusive: ¡°The Situ n truly discerns every detail. With Miss Qingqing here, it feels like clear skies have returned¡¡±
¡®This person¡ is excessively ttering.¡¯
Feeling somewhat uneasy, Situ Qingqing initially intended to inquire more since Fang Xi was at Mid Qi Refining stage. However, she quickly changed course, saying, ¡°If you need anything in the future, feel free to visit me at Cave Number Three, Earth District, in the market.¡±
With that, she promptly steered her iron leaf boat and flew away. As he watched Situ Qingqing depart, Fang Xi slightly narrowed his eyes and muttered, ¡°Heh¡¡±
He didn¡¯t fully believe Situ Qingqing¡¯s exnation.
Through Di Qi, he had learned about how cultivator ns treat their kin. Even for a Foundation Establishment n like the Situs, every member with spiritual roots is highly valued. Would they truly impose punishment over such minor infractions?
Indeed¡ to cultivators, slightly exceeding the quota by a few bushels of spirit crops is indeed trivial!
Thus, Situ Qingqing¡¯s reassignment seemed quite unusual!
There might be some hidden agenda or perhaps she was secretly investigating something!
¡®Could it possibly be rted to me?¡¯
Fang Xi arrived at the jade bamboo grove, manually pulling weeds while suddenly letting out another sigh.
This market¡ seems restless once again!
Or rather, barely a year has passed since settling down from the Zi You Mountain secret realm frenzy, yet new undercurrents appear to be stirring!
¡®I hope I won¡¯t get implicated¡¡¯
¡®But as the Situ n¡¯s hired spirit farmer, if the nest copses, no egg remains safe.¡¯
¡®Should I just run now? After all, these local earnings don¡¯t matter much to me anymore¡ But the connections through Qingzhu Mountain Market are still crucial¡¡¯
For a moment, Fang Xi found himself indecisive.
However, he quickly resolved to observe the situation first.
Due to Situ Qingqing¡¯s sudden appearance, Fang Xi felt increasingly cautious and temporarily abandoned his n to venture into the Great Liang World. He also shelved the idea of disguising himself as a rogue cultivator to sell mythical beast meat at the market. Instead, he focused diligently on cultivating the Evesting Spring Art, Entangling Spell, and performing his duties as a spirit farmer.
In doing so, Fang Xi discovered something significant:
Without consuming medicinal pills and practicing within subpar spiritual energy conditions, his progress with the fourthyer of the Evesting Spring Art was excruciatingly slow.
Despite meditating for three to four hours daily, his cultivation advanced like a snail¡¯s crawl.
Based on his calctions, if this continued unabated, it might take over a decade to fully master the fourthyer of the Evesting Spring Art¡ªexcluding the challenge of breaking through to the fifthyer bottleneck.
The hardships faced by rogue cultivators and those with inferior aptitudes were evident here.
¡°umting magical energy is already this arduous¡ let alone breaking through bottlenecks! Having a low-grade spirit root truly is miserable¡¡±
¡°From what I¡¯ve gathered, the disadvantages of a low-grade spirit root extend across all aspects. Even when refining spiritual energy from medicinal pills, the absorption rate is significantly lowerpared to mid- or high-grade spirit roots¡ how utterly disheartening!¡±
After another session of meditation, Fang Xi rose, his brow furrowed with helplessness.
Given his low aptitude and unfavorable spiritual environment, without the aid of medicinal pills, he might never reach the pinnacle of the Qi Refinement stage in this lifetime!
¡°The only good news is that after mastering Primordial Strength, I can now lock my blood qi¡ Even at age one hundred, the Blood Qi Barrier won¡¯t be insurmountable for me!¡±
¡°However, without achieving full mastery of magical energy, I don¡¯t stand a chance to attempt Foundation Establishment!¡±
Fang Xi¡¯s expression remained cold.
In reality, even without Foundation Establishment spirit items or pills, a cultivator who reaches the great circle of Qi Refinement has an opportunity to attempt breakthrough on their own.
Unfortunately, the sess rate is abysmally low, rumored to be less than ten percent, with failure leading instantly to death and the dissolution of one¡¯s cultivation path.
Fang Xi had no inclination for such risky endeavors. Once he decides to attempt Foundation Establishment, acquiring at least one Foundation Establishment Pill would ensure his survival even if the attempt fails.
As long as he doesn¡¯t die, everything can be restarted!
He stood up, tidied himself, and walked out through the main gate.
¡°Hey there, handsome neighbor! Would you like to explore the principles of Yin-Yang with me?¡± From the adjacent log cabin, once upied by Chen Ping, emerged a seductive female cultivator, inviting him with a coy smile.
¡°Thank you, but please spare me from jests!¡± Fang Xi sternly declined, heading towards a specific location on Qingzhu Mountain.
He had arranged a gathering with Nine Profound Reverend and Di Qi.
On Qingzhu Mountain, near the spirit farm district, there was a picturesque spot with clear waters and lush scenery.
Fang Xi had deliberately hunted two wild chickens, roasting them to perfection with his special blend of spices. As they sizzled and dripped with oil, an enticing aroma filled the air.
Nine Profound Reverend and Di Qi sat nearby, eyeing the feast covetously.
Fang Xi nced around, feeling somewhat disappointed. ¡°Fellow Daoist Chen hasn¡¯te again¡¡±
¡°Ah¡ you don¡¯t know, but Fellow Daoist Chen has truly made it big!¡± Nine Profound Reverend¡¯s tone carried a hint of envy. ¡°Ever since acquiring Symbol Master Zong¡¯s notes, his progress in talisman crafting has been astonishingly rapid, almost meteoric. I heard he¡¯s already attempting high-grade first-tier paper talismans now¡¡±
¡°That¡¡± Fang Xi was momentarily stunned.
Could it be¡ that Chen Ping is indeed a rare, once-in-a-century talisman genius who just hadn¡¯t yet realized his potential before?
¡°Not only that, even Fellow Daoist Lu Zhi¡¯s attitude towards Chen has changed dramatically. Just the other day, I saw them strolling together intimately, quite affectionate¡¡± Di Qi also began sounding envious.
Despite being from a family of cultivators, it was merely a Qi Refining n, not much better off than rogue cultivators. If given the chance, Di Qi would eagerly kill Chen Ping and take his ce without hesitation.
What did widowhood matter? Or having children?
With his delicate stomach, he was well-suited for relying on others¡¯ sess, and moreover, Lu Zhi was exceptionally beautiful¡
¡°If Fellow Daoist Chen Ping bes a tier-one high-grade talisman master, his status in the market will rival even those great circle of Qi Refinement experts.¡±
Fang Xi sighed wistfully, ncing around before suggesting, ¡°Perhaps we should prepare generous gifts and pay him a visit soon.¡±
As rogue cultivators, having keen observational skills was crucial.
¡°Of course, naturally¡¡± Jiuxuan nodded repeatedly, despite feeling envious. Cultivating good rtions with Chen Ping could prove beneficial in the future.
¡°Heh¡don¡¯t get your hopes up.¡± At that moment, Di Qi chuckled coldly and shook his head. ¡°Chen Ping has already moved to an immortal¡¯s cave within the market. When I visited recently, I was stopped at the door by someone from Goddess Yunmeng¡¯s entourage! Seems like now that he¡¯s made it big, he¡¯s forgotten about us mere acquaintances¡¡±
¡®Goddess Yunmeng again?¡¯
Fang Xi instinctively felt that Chen Ping wasn¡¯t such a person, but if both Goddess Yunmeng and Shen Haoran were involved, it seemed usible. Their judgment was sharp; they had been investing in Chen Ping early on. With Chen Ping showing rapid ascension potential, it was natural for them to tighten their grip, possibly pushing out old connections and reshaping hiswork to suit their interests.
It was rumored that some domineering sects and ns would outright abduct exceptionally talented cultivators skilled in the four arts of cultivation, exploiting them relentlessly until death.
¡®However, Chen Ping¡¯s rapid progress in the Dao of talismans is quite unusual¡ Could Situ Qingqing havee specifically for him?¡¯
A thought crossed Fang Xi¡¯s mind as he earnestly asked bothpanions, ¡°Have there been any notable rumorstely?¡±
The Nine Profound Reverend, with flushed cheeks, shared a series of intriguing tales. Di Qi, sipping his wine silently, asionally chimed in with additional details.
From their conversation, Fang Xi gathered that everything seemed normal in the market, with no significant price hikes for magical artifacts or paper talismans. Moreover, there were no whispers of impending war.
¡®Maybe I¡¯m overthinking things just a bit?¡¯
¡®Perhaps the Situ n suddenly appointed aw enforcement elder known for detesting evil¡¡¯ Fang Xi reassured himself internally.
Just then, Di Qi spoke up again, ¡°Speaking of major news¡ naturally, it¡¯s about the Zi You Mountain secret realm. Red Leaf Valley and the Situ n jointly breached andpletely plundered it. Now, the area has been unsealed but lies barren. Rogue cultivators scoured the ce multiple times, finding nothing left¡¡±
¡°The Zi You Mountain secret realm?¡± Fang Xi¡¯s thoughts turned to Old Man Mai, and he fell silent.
After a moment, Nine Profound Reverend spoke enviously, ¡°It seems that Violet Serenity Mountain was just a minor secret realm, not significant enough for such joint efforts¡ However, with all its spirit treasures extracted, it¡¯s likely that within the next few years, both the Situ n and Red Leaf Valley may produce several new Foundation Establishment cultivators¡¡±
His words held no hidden intent, but they struck a chord with Fang Xi, causing his heart to skip a beat.
An ancient saying goes, ¡°Extreme prosperity leads to decline,¡± which seemed quite usible here.
With the Situ n and Red Leaf Valley acquiring numerous treasures, it wouldn¡¯t be surprising if others began coveting them.
Moreover, would neighboring powers be pleased if these two factions produced more Foundation Establishment cultivators? Even considering the cynical adage, ¡°A mountain cannot amodate two tigers,¡± once resources are depleted, could Red Leaf Valley and the Situ n truly maintain harmony?
¡®Might the recent unusual urrences stem from this very situation?¡¯
Fang Xi continued gnawing on the chicken leg, feeling unexpectedly rxed.
As someone at the lowest rung of the cultivation world, he realized none of the higher-level changes concerned him; all he needed to do was meet his grain quotas on time!
¡®No way am I getting involved in any cultivator wars!¡¯
¡®When ites to fleeing, nobody can match me!¡¯
¡®If chaos erupts here, I¡¯ll just hide in Great Liang for a few years!¡¯
Chapter 44: Chance Encounter
After lying low for some time, Fang Xi noticed that Situ Qingqing seemed uninterested in him. Seizing an opportunity, he disguised himself as a rogue cultivator and entered the Qingzhu Mountain Market.
This time, he wore a long dark green robe with a conical bamboo hat, appearing robust and emanating a menacing aura.
¡®Last visit, I was only at Initial Stage Qi Refinement; even the waiter looked down on me.¡¯
¡®This time is much better - Middle Stage Qi Refinement alreadymands respect¡¡¯
As Fang Xi passed by the Hundred Skills Pavilion, his gaze remained unwavering.
For certain grudges, until the right moment arrived, he chose to silently harbor them within his heart.
After paying a single spirit crystal for a stall fee at the Situ n¡¯s market outpost, Fang Xi reached his assigned spot and tapped his bag of holding.
Out came a snake skin scroll, arge quantity of eerie white snake bones, and chunks of snake meat preserved in ice.
The mixed scent of blood and decay caused nearby vendors to furrow their brows. However, seeing Fang Xi¡¯s intimidating presence, clearly not someone to be trifled with, they dared not say anything aloud, only griping internally. ¡°Wow, it¡¯s mythical beast meat!¡±
¡°Cultivators capable of hunting mythical beasts must be truly formidable!¡±
¡°I wish I could hunt mythical beasts too, but unfortunately, they¡¯re extremely rare in the Yue Kingdom. Whenever one is spotted, local cultivators swiftly snatch them up¡¡±
¡°Let me take a look!¡± Amidst scattered conversations, a schr-like cultivator stepped forward and greeted courteously, ¡°Greetings, brother. May I inquire about the quality of this mythical beast meat and its selling price?¡±
¡°It¡¯s low-tier first-rank snake demon meat - ten pounds for one low-grade spirit stone! The snake bones as a set cost five spirit stones! As for the snake skin, let¡¯s discuss separately¡¡± Fang Xi replied, seated cross-legged with only a slight lift of his eyes.
¡°What a pity, this meat seems to have been stored for some time. Even with ice, it doesn¡¯t appear very fresh¡¡± The schrmented, rising with his assessment.
¡°Scram, you penniless wretch!¡± Fang Xi¡¯s eyes shed open, revealing a sharp glint.
This schr was clearly not a body refinement cultivator, and his attire seemed hardly worth a single low-grade spirit stone. Worse still, his cultivation base was merely at the Initial Stage Qi Refinement!
He was definitely not the target customer Fang Xi sought!
¡°Oh¡ no need to get angry, brother. I¡¯m leaving now¡ right away¡¡± Fear made the schr¡¯s legs tremble as he quickly blended into the crowd.
The surrounding rogue cultivators chuckled, finding nothing unusual in the exchange.
In the cultivation world, those with higher cultivation bases could freely humiliate those weaker - it was thew of the jungle.
Once, Fang Xi had been at the very bottom, but now after advancing to Middle Stage Qi Refinement, he barely managed to climb slightly upwards.
Unfortunately¡the summit still remained far out of reach.
¡°Oh? More mythical beast meat?¡± A gruff voice boomed shortly thereafter.
The crowd parted as a burly man, towering over two meters tall and resembling an iron tower, approached the stall. He showed no interest in the snake skin or bones, focusing solely on the snake meat.
After inquiring about the price, he shook his head, ¡°Ten pounds for one spirit stone? Too expensive!¡±
Fang Xi nced at the customer, confirming him to be a body cultivator, and promptly shed a friendly smile. ¡°If Daoist friend purchases fifty pounds or more, I can offer a discount¡¡±
Following some negotiation, the burly man eventually tossed four spirit stones and bought fifty pounds of snake meat.
Sadly, after this transaction, there wasn¡¯t much business left. Only a paper talisman apprentice arrivedter, spending one spirit stone to buy all the snake blood, presumably for making talisman ink.
Unperturbed, Fang Xi disyed remarkable patience, typical among cultivators. Moreover, the spiritual energy within the market significantly surpassed that of the shantytown, providing an ideal setting for meditation.
Fang Xi continued meditating for an entire day.
As it neared time to close his stall, Fang Xi silently calcted, ¡°Today¡¯s sales were decent; I¡¯ve earned nine spirit stones¡¡±
Rogue cultivators without residential tokens were not allowed to stay overnight in the market, a measure taken to prevent them from exploiting its spiritual energy.
Just as Fang Xi prepared to pack up, he noticed two cultivators approaching while chatting jovially, causing his eyelids to twitch slightly: ¡®It¡¯s actually these two?¡¯
The pair was none other than Chen Ping and Lu Zhi.
Chen Ping donned ake-blue silk mage robe with golden embroidery, exuding confidence, while Lu Zhi had changed out of her mourning attire into a vibrant red dress, entuating her charm even more.
They strolled through the market, browsing casually, and soon arrived at Fang Xi¡¯s stall.
¡°Not bad, not bad! As expected, there are mythical beast hides avable here!¡± Chen Ping poked at the snake skin but expressed some disappointment, ¡°Unfortunately¡ just a low-tier first-rank beast. Daoist friend, how much for this snake hide?¡±
Clearly, he did not recognize Fang Xi. After all, Fang Xi had altered his appearance using cultivation techniques, appearing tall and robust, markedly different from his previous slight frame.
¡°Final price, ten spirit stones!¡± Seeing an easy target walk in, Fang Xi nced thoughtfully at Lu Zhi and promptly raised his initial offer.
Men often tend to overspend, puffing up their wallets for appearances, especially in front of women¡ªparticrly attractive ones.
¡°Deal!¡± As expected, Chen Ping agreed without hesitation.
However, Lu Zhi furrowed her brow, ¡°This snake skin is worth no more than five spirit stones¡ Isn¡¯t ten too steep?¡±
¡°Eh¡ This particr snake skin is pristine and intact. With careful processing, it could yield over a hundred sheets of paper talisman material. Paper made from mythical beast hides is significantly superior to ordinary parchment, reputedly even enhancing the sess rate of crafting talismans. It¡¯s truly not overpriced¡¡± Being good friends with Chen Ping, Fang Xi knew some tricks about paper talismans and quickly improvised convincingly.
¡°You¡¯re right, moreover¡ Big Sis Zhi, these mythical beast hide talismans hold special significance for me¡ Besides, as you know, I¡¯ve already achieved high-tier first-rank talisman mastery. The extra cost is negligible; just a few additional talismans will cover it.¡±
Chen Ping gazed affectionately at Lu Zhi.
¡®So their rtionship has reached this level already? Will I be attending their wedding next time?¡¯
¡®Wait¡ Has Chen Ping¡¯s progress in the Dao of talismans truly been that rapid? Last I heard from Jiuxuan, he was just attempting to craft tier-one high-grade talismans, and now he¡¯s seeded? This doesn¡¯t make sense¡ No, this isn¡¯t natural for cultivation standards!¡¯
As Fang Xi internally grumbled, Lu Zhi surprisingly agreed with his persuasion, nodding and saying, ¡°Fine, it¡¯s your call!¡±
Instantly, Chen Ping handed over ten spirit stones and took the snake demon skin.
Fang Xi watched the gullible customer depart, feeling slightly regretful.
¡®Had I known earlier, I should have sold the chameleon skin too¡ Unfortunately, bringing it out now might raise suspicions.¡¯
Since he had already given the chameleon beast carcass to Di Qi, selling its skin could potentially expose him. Moreover, the unique properties of such mythical beast leather tempted Fang Xi to keep it for personal use.
While observing Chen Ping leaving, Fang Xi caught a glimpse of a fleeting green figure out of the corner of his eye.
His pupils widened momentarily, but he quicklyposed himself, continuing to pack up his stall as if nothing happened¡
Only after exiting the market did Fang Xi exhale deeply, murmuring, ¡°It¡¯s Situ Qingqing¡ Was she tailing Chen Ping?¡±
¡°Could it be¡she¡¯s truly investigating Chen Ping, not me?¡±
¡°Was I overthinking things all along?¡±
¡°No, wait¡ Why would the Situ n show such interest in Chen Ping? Are they trying to recruit him or even abduct him as a mere tool? No, that doesn¡¯t seem likely¡ Chen Ping wouldn¡¯t merit such treatment unless he somehow breaks through to be a tier-2 paper talisman master, but that¡¯s practically impossible.¡±
Fang Xi chuckled softly, burning his disguise clothes before changing back into his spirit farmer attire. He then returned to his shack to continue cultivating.
Consistency was paramount on the path of cultivation. Even if his daily progress resembled a snail¡¯s pace, it was crucial not to neglect practice.
¡°Now that I have spirit stones, should I buy some medicinal pills tomorrow to aid my cultivation?¡± A thought crossed Fang Xi¡¯s mind while meditating. ¡°But is it worth it¡? With the spirit stones I have, I could purchase several Blood and Qi Pills suitable for body cultivators¡ With these pills¡¯ assistance, my martial arts progression would elerate faster. If I reach the third stage of Body Refinement, trading meat or engaging in other businesses would feel much safer, allowing quicker umtion of spirit stones. Later, I can invest in spiritual pills to enhance my cultivation, making it more efficient and boosting mybat power!¡±
To enhance hisbat power!
With ominous clouds looming on the horizon, this reason felt even morepelling.
After all, ensuring one¡¯s survival is always paramount!
The next day.
Fang Xi woke up early, ignoring the greetings from the neighboring female cultivator, and headed straight to the market.
Hundred Refinements Shop!
As soon as he entered, a wave of intense heat greeted him.
Despite being thergest magical item manufacturer in Qingzhu Mountain Market, Hundred Refinements Shop appeared remarkably unpretentious.
In front were counters disying various magical items for sale, while at the back stood numerous furnaces. Here, over a dozen alchemy apprentices, under their respective masters¡¯ guidance, worked diligently on repairing and crafting magical artifacts.
¡°Can I assist you, Daoist friend? Are you here to purchase magical items?¡± A burly cksmith with bare arms and flushed cheeks approached courteously.
¡°I¡¯d like tomission a custom magical item!¡± Fang Xi replied, producing the chameleon beast¡¯s skin. ¡°Although this mythical beast isn¡¯t high-ranked, it excels in concealment. I wish to use this hide as material to craft a unique magical artifact suitable for stealth!¡±
¡°I see. Pleasee inside; I¡¯ll fetch Master Gu!¡± The cksmith led Fang Xi to a guest room. Shortly after, the door opened, revealing an elderly man with graying hair. ¡°I am Gu Tian. This Daoist friend wishes to create a specialized magical artifact?¡±
¡°Indeed!¡± Fang Xi nodded.
Gu Tian examined the mythical beast¡¯s skin thoroughly, using a peculiar magical device to inspect it for quite some time before nodding and then shaking his head. ¡°The quality of this beast¡¯s skin is average, with ordinary defensive capabilities¡ However, its integrity is rtively good, suitable for inscribing formations. Do you have any specific requirements?¡±
¡°The item¡¯s grade doesn¡¯t need to be high; low-grade will suffice. Defense isn¡¯t a major concern either¡¡± Fang Xi exined, ¡°What matters most is concealing one¡¯s presence effectively, ideally to the point where no mortal can detect it¡ As for cultivators¡¯ Spirit Vision Technique or simr detection methods, those aren¡¯t necessary.¡±
Despite having encountered numerous entric customers, Gu Tian was still taken aback by Fang Xi¡¯s request. ¡°So¡this magical item is specifically targeted against mortals?¡±
Creating a magical item that would be easily seen through by cultivators felt like an insult to his craftsmanship!
At this moment, Fang Xi revealed his true intentions, ¡°Therefore¡there¡¯s no need for expensive materials or special formations¡ Could you offer it at a cheaper price?¡±
In Qingzhu Mountain Market, low-grade magical items typically cost around ten spirit stones, while mid- and high-grade items ranged from dozens to hundreds of spirit stones.
However, customizing any magical item would naturally be more expensive, even if it¡¯s low-grade.
Master Gu momentarily fell silent before responding, ¡°Yes, I can do that for fifteen low-grade spirit stones. Please pay a deposit of five spirit stones now and sign this contract¡¡±
The Hundred Refinements Shop had always maintained a strong reputation since its establishment. Additionally, signing the contract ensured confidentiality between both parties.
For Fang Xi, this arrangement was exactly what he desired.
After imprinting a trace of his magical energy onto the dual copies of the contract, Fang Xi paid the five spirit stone deposit and exited the Hundred Refinements Shop.
Chapter 45: The Eight Great Monster Kings
In the Great Liang World,
Three Origins City.
After confirming that Situ Qingqing was indeed focused on Chen Ping, Fang Xi waited patiently for some time until his magical artifact waspleted. Finally, using a protective charm to seal the cer once more, he crossed over again into the Great Liang World.
Standing by the roadside, Fang Xi observed the passing merchants and travelers.
Strangely, these people walked by without noticing him at all. Even when Fang Xi deliberately faced close to a young woman, she didn¡¯t utter a single word of rebuke like ¡°pervert.¡±
The culprit behind this phenomenon was naturally the leather armor Fang Xi wore - a low-grade magical item known as the Camouge Robe.
As per Fang Xi¡¯s request, the artificers at Hundred Refinements Shop had crafted it within just a few days.
This camouge robe featured several small formations inscribed upon it, providing dust-repelling properties, temperature regtion for warmth in winter and coolness in summer, and even the ability to slightly adjust its fit based on the wearer¡¯s size for maximumfort.
Beyond these features, its most significant function was - Mind Confusion! As Master Gu exined during delivery, by channeling magical energy and remaining passive, ordinary mortals would absolutely fail to detect the hidden wearer.
This im was verified with theborers assisting at the Hundred Refinements Shop¡¯s backyard. Despite their extraordinary physical prowess that would make them exceptional martial experts in the secr world, not a single one noticed Fang Xi using the magical artifact¡¯s effect.
However, for Master Gu, this artifact was far from ideal due to its missing high-level formation - the Spirit Concealment Formation!
Without it, even a cultivator at the firstyer of Qi Refinement, using basic spells like Heavenly Eye or Spirit Sight, could easily detect the user.
In his slightly obsessive pursuit of perfection, Master Gu offered to enhance the artifact further and achieve an impable result, even suggesting a discount.
But Fang Xi politely declined.
After all, the chameleon beast was only low-tier first rank, making the precious Spirit Concealment Formation too costly to justify.
More importantly¡ this formation was significantly more expensive than any dust-repelling or water-resistant enchantments!
Fang Xi¡¯s current supply of spirit stones was limited, and he couldn¡¯t afford such expenditures.
Fang Xi decided to save the substantial amount of spirit stones by exchanging them for Blood and Qi Pills, beneficial for body cultivation, intending to significantly enhance his abilities in Great Liang.
Based on previous experiences, the strategy of improving martial skills first and then leveraging those skills to acquire resources for cultivation seemed viable.
¡®If my martial arts could reach the third stage of Body Refinement, Qingzhu Mountain Market would pose little danger to me¡¡¯
Dressed casually in his camouge robe, Fang Xi strolled towards the city gate. The soldiers responsible for questioning and collecting taxes acted as if blind, not hindering him at all, allowing him easy entry into Three Origins City.
Finding a secluded spot, Fang Xi ceased inputting magical energy into the camouge robe, disabling its disguise effect. Instantaneously, his clothing changed color, transforming into a simple blue schr¡¯s attire, making him appear like an ordinary literati as he walked along the wide, eightne official road.
¡®I wonder how Baiyun Dojo and Fatty Han have been doing¡ But it¡¯s been nearly two months; they should have settled well in Three Origins City by now, right?¡¯
As Fang Xi continued walking, asionally pausing, he eventually stopped in front of a massive building.
The building stood tall and imposing, almost overshadowing the nearby official residence with its grandeur.
On each side of the structure, there were public notices adorned with vivid red markings.
¡°Eight Great Monster Kings of Ding Province!¡±
¡°Hunting Beast Rankings!¡±
¡°Rare Treasures List!¡±
¡°Hidden Dragons and Young Phoenixes List!¡±
Fang Xi identified them one by one, immediately skipping the ¡°Hidden Dragons and Young Phoenixes List,¡± which primarily ranked young martial artists and was subject to frequent changes. Instead, he focused on the mythical beasts list, starting with the top Eight Great Monster Kings.
¡°Dragonfish at Old Dragon Pool¡ Ranked first among the Eight Great Monster Kings of Ding Province. Once annihted a thousand-man army, killing thirteen True Strength Martial Artists¡ Any brave warrior who ys the Dragonfish will be rewarded with 100,000 taels of gold, appointed as a militarymander by the imperial court, granted arge estate in Ding Province, and awarded ten Red Blood Orchids¡¡±
¡°Great Peng King of Gale Ravine¡ One of the Eight Great Monster Kings of Ding Province, known for unparalleled flight speed¡ Reward amount¡¡±
¡°Cloudlink Mountain¡¯s Old Cyclops Wolf¡ A wolf monster, ranked among the Eight Great Monster Kings of Ding Province, cunning by nature¡¡±
¡°Large monster bear, spotted near Daqing Vige three months ago; injured seventeen and killed five¡ Reward: Three thousand taels of silver¡¡±
Unlike devils, monsters could be in outright.
Thus, Ding Province only ranked mythical beasts, not demonic entities!
The so-called ¡®Eight Great Monster Kings¡¯ were notorious beasts that had long terrorized Ding Province but remained unpunished due to their formidable nature. The bounty rewards for these creatures were exceptionally generous.
Based on Fang Xi¡¯s understanding, a Monster King likely possessed strength equivalent to Late Stage or even Full Circle Qi Refinement.
On the other hand, major monsters generally corresponded to Mid Qi Refining capabilities.
The snake and chameleon beasts he encountered earlier would at most count as minor monsters, while the Great Peng King, Dragonfish¡ ifpared to human warriors, they¡¯d be revered as Zongshi, True Astral Martial Saints! Possibly even more challenging than some humans.
¡®The Eight Great Monster Kings are persistent problems, beyond the reach of ordinary individuals¡ But for me, they represent untold treasures.¡¯
Fang Xi gazed at the list of the Eight Great Monster Kings, his eyes flickering slightly.
Of course, he was well aware of his own limitations; even without considering the abilities of cultivators, these monster kings were not easy adversaries for him currently.
However, once his power increases in the future, things might change¡
¡°Old Dragon Pool¡¯s Dragonfish? Is there such a thing as a tier-1 dragonfish? Pure-blooded dragonfish species are at least tier-2 mythical beasts¡ equivalent to great Foundation Establishment cultivators! This must be just a snake with awakened dragon blood? Even then¡ damn, it would still fetch an astronomical number of spirit stones¡¡±
As Fang Xi read the descriptions of the Eight Great Monster Kings, he envisioned mountains of spirit stones before his eyes!
Unfortunately, given his current strength, he could only consider challenging lesser monsters.
¡°No¡ even tackling them isn¡¯t urgent. Three Origins City controls most resources and manpower in Ding Province; they likely have more detailed intelligence. I should advance my Hun Yuan True Art further before making any ns¡¡±
¡°And perhaps¡ in such arge provincial city, there might be other Grandmaster Martial Arts avable!¡±
Fang Xi gently stroked his camouge robe, wearing an innocent smile.
While deep in thought, suddenmotion erupted on the street.
¡°The Street Sweeper Huang ising!¡±
¡°Everyone, run fast!¡±
Fang Xi looked over to see someone recklessly riding a horse through the crowded street, causing panic among vendors and pedestrians who struggled to dodge, ending up disheveled and frightened.
The radiant maiden atop the horse, instead of showing restraint, burst outughing loudly.
¡°Who is this?¡±
Fang Xi casually grabbed someone nearby and asked, ¡°What¡¯s happening?¡±
Initially, the person tried to break free but found Fang Xi¡¯s grip like an iron mp,pelling them to respond, ¡°It¡¯s Huang Ximei, the second daughter of the Huang Family!¡±
¡°The Huang Family from Three Origins City¡¯s prominent ns?¡±
Fang Xi understood now. It seemed that everywhere had individuals who exploited their family¡¯s influence, acting with impunity.
¡°Ah well, best not to provoke them!¡± Waiting until Miss Huang grandly paraded through the city streets, Fang Xi then avoided the cursing vendors hastily packing up their stalls, and entered the Beast Hunter¡¯s Pavilion.
The first two floors of the Beast Hunter¡¯s Pavilion served as arge inn. Many martial practitioners favored staying here due to its ess to thetest information on mythical beasts.
As soon as Fang Xi sat down, a waiter approached to serve tea.
¡°Sir, are you a cultivator? Would you like thetestprehensive listings we offer?¡± the waiter asked with a smile.
¡°Oh? How do these differ from the lists posted outside?¡± Intrigued, Fang Xi casually tossed a small silver coin towards the waiter.
The waiter¡¯s eyes immediately lit up. ¡°Sir, what you may not know is that our sold listings provide much more detail¡ Especially regarding gains and losses in past expeditions against mythical beasts, all meticulously recorded.¡±
¡°Sounds intriguing. Give me one, and make it the mostprehensive version,¡± Fang Xi responded with a smile, unconcerned about the cost.
¡°Certainly!¡±
Just as the waiter enthusiastically agreed and turned to leave, a sudden shriek pierced the air.
Crack!
A horsewhipshed from behind him, sending the waiter sprawling. Revealed behind was a vibrant young woman dressed in pale yellow attire.
¡°Huang Ximei?¡± Fang Xi frowned slightly, unsure why this second daughter seemed intent on causing trouble.
¡°Well, well, you certainly have a striking appearance!¡± Huang Ximei scanned Fang Xi, nodding approvingly. ¡°There¡¯s even a hint of heroic aura, much better than those effeminate types¡ I fancy you.¡±
Fang Xi touched his cheek, momentarily speechless. He had deliberately adjusted his features through cultivation techniques to appear less attractive than usual, yet still managed to draw such attention.
¡®However¡ if this could help me infiltrate the Yellow Mansion, it might not be so bad?¡¯
An idea shed through Fang Xi¡¯s mind, and he asked, ¡°What does the second miss intend by saying that?¡±
¡°Haha!¡± Huang Ximeiughed wildly. ¡°I¡¯m going to capture you and make you my eighty-second paramour!¡±
¡°Cough cough!¡± Fang Xi seemed caught off guard, choking slightly.
As he looked at Huang Ximei, a hint of regret surfaced in his expression.
Fang Xi appreciated fine tea, but this kind of low-quality offer held no appeal for him. ¡°What if I don¡¯t want that?¡±
¡°If you don¡¯t want it¡¡± Huang Ximei leaned closer, her breath fragrant like orchids. ¡°Then I¡¯ll resort to force - capturing your parents, friends, even wife and children¡ letting you watch as I torment them¡ Ha ha¡ isn¡¯t that brilliant?¡±
¡°This woman¡ is insane!¡± Studying her lovely face across from him, Fang Xi internally concluded, and his tone grew chilling. ¡°Aren¡¯t you afraid¡ of provoking someone beyond your reach?¡±
¡°Chuckle¡ The thrill lies in seeking novelty, after all. As for being beyond my reach? I am the second daughter of the Huang Family, with my uncle being the Commander of Dingzhou Army. In all of Ding Province, there¡¯s no one I cannot provoke¡¡± Huang Ximei¡¯s expression turned dreamy as she gazed at Fang Xi. ¡°With such a handsome face, adding a few cuts would undoubtedly create an even more striking image¡¡±
¡°Oh no, oh no¡ Miss Huang is about to snatch another handsome man,¡± observed a group nearby, their expressions eager for drama.
¡°The Huang Family¡¯s youngdy isn¡¯t bad-looking herself; being taken by her might not be so terrible¡¡± mused a young man thoughtfully.
¡°Hey, don¡¯t be foolish¡ This Miss Huang is notoriously deranged! She has a penchant for torturing and killing her male ythings after she¡¯s done with them!¡± An older cultivator swiftly pulled his ear, admonishing him.
Just as everyone expected Miss Huang to once again unleash brutal violence,
¡°Pff!¡±
¡°Hohoho¡¡±
Huang Ximei¡¯s expression froze, her gaze dropping down to Fang Xi¡¯s hand.
Fang Xi¡¯s hand was fair, slender¡ almost imbued with a demonic allure.
At that moment, two fingers of this hand were lodged deeply into her throat!
¡°How fragile¡¡± Fang Xi withdrew his fingers, gazing coldly at the fallen woman on the ground. ¡°Do you understand what it means when amon man¡¯s fury spills blood five steps away?¡± he asked icily.
Chapter 46: Fearless
¡°W-What just happened?¡± The surrounding patrons were instantly stunned.
Initially, they had been watching like spectators at a y, only to suddenly see the main character copse!
Not only did she fall, but a bloody hole also appeared in her throat.
¡°Ah, Miss?!¡±
¡°We must fight him!¡±
The few servants apanying Huang Ximei roared angrily and charged towards Fang Xi with fists flying, revealing themselves as cultivators.
Bang! Bang!
However, they swiftly flew back even faster, their lives brutally ended by Fang Xi¡¯s swift actions.
¡°Waiter, where¡¯s my detailed booklet?¡± Fang Xi casually sipped his tea, looking at the waiter.
¡°M¡Master¡it¡¯s right here¡¡±
Trembling, the waiter handed over a book to Fang Xi and hastily retreated as if fleeing for his life, treating Fang Xi not as a person but rather like a ferocious tiger!
¡°Tea finished, item obtained, time to leave.¡±
Fang Xi nonchntly tucked the booklet into his robes and prepared to depart.
Just then, a tall, imposing figure rushed in, dressed in the attire of the Beast Hunt Society. His demeanor exuded authority, clearly indicating a high-ranking position within the organization.
Noticing Huang Ximei lying on the ground, his expression turned icy cold. ¡°You¡¯ve gotten yourself into immense trouble¡ Do you know who she is and what the Huang Family entails?¡±
¡°So what?¡± Fang Xi asked nonchntly, ¡°Are you trying to stop me?¡±
¡°Since this incident urred at the Monster Hunting Building, we must bear responsibility¡ You won¡¯t escape.¡± The burly man looked at Fang Xi as if gazing upon a dead man. ¡°Even if you manage to flee from me, the Dingzhou Army will immediately seal the city gates and conduct a thorough search¡ You¡¯ll be like a rat, living in constant fear. Surrender quietly, and at least your death might be swift.¡±
¡°Haha¡ Escape?¡±
Amidst hisughter, Fang Xi¡¯s muscles bulged, joints cracking audibly, before he unleashed a powerful palm strike.
Bang!
The burly man took the blow, stumbling back several steps, then opened his mouth and spat out arge mouthful of blood. ¡°A¡a martial artist? But so what if you¡¯re one? Huang Yuanwu of the Huang Family has already reached Third Step Martial Artist¡ far stronger than I!¡±
The tall man had just recently broken through to martial artist level, but Fang Xi seemed at least a first-step martial artist, having already condensed his fist intent.
¡°Huang Yuanwu?¡± Fang Xi¡¯s interest piqued. ¡°So¡ does this mean the Huang Family possesses cultivation techniques up to the third step?¡±
Confused, the burly man wondered if this individual truly didn¡¯t grasp the significance of such information.
However, he soon wouldn¡¯t need to ponder further, as Fang Xi swiftly closed the distance between them.
As they crossed paths, a head soared into the air.
¡®Indeed¡ my strength is still formidable. Although I haven¡¯t extensively trained as a martial artist,bining multiple techniques with Primordial Strength, along with the assistance of cultivator abilities¡ makes dispatching ordinary martial artists effortless.¡¯
Fang Xi never showed mercy to those who sought harm against him, hence he delivered a lethal strike without hesitation.
As for attracting the attention of the colossal Beast Hunt Society?
Since he¡¯d already provoked the Huang Family, one more enemy didn¡¯t deter him. Besides, even if he backed down, the Beast Hunt Society would not be friendly towards an unknown outsider anyway.
¡°M-murder!¡±
At this moment, chaos erupted within the Monster Hunting Building.
Fang Xi seized the opportunity, burst through a window, and leaped outside. Finding an unnoticed corner away from prying eyes, he promptly activated the Camouge Suit.
Soon after, the sound of galloping hooves filled the air!
The first to arrive was a cavalry unit that swiftly sealed off the Monster Hunting Building!
Teams of skilled soldiers enforced the blockade, and the gates of Three Origins City had already been shut tight.
A city-wide manhunt would likelymence next.
¡°To see such rapid mobilization and response in ancient times is truly remarkable¡ Equipped with bows and crossbows, it¡¯s indeed difficult for ordinary cultivators or martial artists to escape from military encirclement.¡±
With a sigh, Fang Xi casually walked past one of the soldiers, who seemed oblivious, almost as if blind, though his expression hinted at slight confusion.
¡®My movements might still create faint wind sounds¡¡¯ Fang Xi acknowledged internally, paying no heed to the furious Huang Family members arriving on the scene. He nonchntly strode out of the encirclement, sauntering away¡
Late at night.
At the Huang Family residence.
The patriarch, Huang Yuanding, wore a grim expression as he stood with other leaders in the main hall, gazing upon the corpse covered by a white cloth. ¡°Has the City Guard still not captured the culprit?¡±
¡°Master, you must seek justice for Ximei¡¡± A wealthy woman adorned with red hairpins sobbed uncontrobly, her tears streaming like rain on a pear blossom. ¡°Ximei was such a good child, just perhaps too yful, but that heartless fiend¡¡±
¡°All right, please step down.¡±
Huang Yuanding frowned, and immediately several maids approached to escort the weeping woman away.
Just then, a robust voice boomed from outside the hall, ¡°Elder brother!¡±
¡°Huang Yuanwu¡you¡¯ve arrived?¡± As Huang Yuanding saw a captain d in armor enter the hall, a hint of relief appeared on his face. ¡°I heard the details from the Beast Hunt Society; it seems Ximei¡¯s fate finally caught up with her after wandering so recklessly¡ But taking lives within our Huang Family won¡¯t go unpunished.¡± His words carried a menacing undertone.
The neer was indeed Huang Yuanwu, one of the eight captains of the Dingzhou Army, possessing a cultivation base equivalent to a Third Step martial artist. He was renowned as a formidable expert across Ding Province, holding both high rank and significant influence!
After contemting briefly, he said, ¡°That murderer is meticulous, possibly even using concealment techniques¡ However, no matter. I have brought along a Nine Lives Mastiff from the military camp¡ It already exhibits traces of demonic nature, making it akin to a demihuman. With its exceptional sense of smell, we will undoubtedly find the perpetrator!¡±
As the saying goes: ¡°Nine dogs breed one mastiff!¡±
A Nine Lives Mastiff, being a type of demihuman, possesses unique characteristics from birth. It requires a female dog to give birth to exactly nine puppies in a single litter. These pups are then confined together, forcing them to fight amongst themselves like breeding venomous insects, until only the strongest survivor emerges as the true Nine Lives Mastiff!
Such mastiffs not only have exceptional scent detection but also possess remarkable strength,parable to that of ordinary martial artists.
Even within the Dingzhou Army, these mastiffs are scarce, indicating Huang Yuanwu had spared no expense for this endeavor.
He whistled, and a ck lion-like mastiff leaped forward from behind him. Its jade-green eyes seemed bottomless, instilling an eerie chill upon sight.
¡°Did the assant leave any belongings?¡± Huang Yuanwu asked.
¡°Hmm, we¡¯ve brought all the tea utensils he used,¡± Huang Yuanding nodded, gesturing towards a servant who promptly presented a set of sky-blue porcin teaware.
Huang Yuanwu inspected it briefly before letting the Nine Lives Mastiff sniff the teacup.
¡°Woof! Woof!¡±
The mastiff sniffed intently, then suddenly barked loudly towards the door.
¡°What¡¯s happening?¡± Huang Yuanding appeared puzzled.
However, Huang Yuanwu¡¯s expression turned solemn and serious. ¡°The Nine Lives Mastiff says¡the person is nearby!¡±
Outside the Yellow Mansion gates:
¡°So this is the Huang Family residence?¡± Fang Xi deactivated his Camouge Suit, emerging from the shadows, and murmured to himself as he gazed upon the imposing entrance.
¡°Young man, you should leave quickly. If you inadvertently offend someone important here, you¡¯ll be in trouble,¡± advised an elderly man holding antern nearby, noticing Fang Xi¡¯s disrespectful demeanor.
¡°Important person?¡± Fang Xi chuckled and strode towards the main gate of the Yellow Mansion.
This grand entrance was typically closed, only opening for distinguished guests. At the gate, several brutish servants were often stationed.
As soon as they spotted Fang Xi approaching, one barked aggressively, ¡°Can¡¯t you see where you are? Get lost! Are you looking for a beating?¡±
Being gatekeepers, their first skill was discernment. These cruel servants immediately recognized that Fang Xi had no valuable possessions or attendants, clearly indicating he wasn¡¯t a close friend or esteemed guest of the family. Thus, they felt free to humiliate him at will.
¡°Sigh¡ Shall wepare who can twist logic better?¡± Fang Xi red at the brutish servant and suddenly shouted, ¡°Hey¡how dare you step out with your left foot first!¡±
¡°What?¡± Before the servant could react, he found himself staring at his own back. Hisst thought was, ¡®Whose headless body is this¡it looks so familiar¡¡¯
This marked his final moment of consciousness.
With a swift hand strike, Fang Xi dispatched the approaching servant and then punched the main gate of the Yellow Mansion.
Boom!
The massive gate shattered instantly, sending countless splinters flying everywhere.
¡°Who is it?¡±
¡°Which fool dares to challenge us?¡±
A group of guards rushed forward, led by a formidable True Strength martial artist!
¡°You¡ daring to step with your right foot first? This greatly offends my superstitions - you deserve death!¡± Fang Xi roared angrily,unching a punch.
His objective was simple: randomly exterminate a powerful family and plunder their secret manuals! Though underhanded, he felt no shame about such methods. By targeting a notorious n, it could even be seen as ridding society of evil.
Crash!
Under Primordial Strength, the charging martial artist flew back at an even greater speed.
¡°How audacious!¡±
Apanied by barking dogs, Huang Yuanding emerged with several others, staring at Fang Xi. ¡°Does our esteemed guest hold a grudge against the Huang Family?¡±
¡°You dare to speak before me?¡± Fang Xi¡¯s eyes red, True Force surging through his right arm. With a sudden burst, he charged like an arrow, striking out with a palm. ¡°Seeking your own demise!¡±
A thunderous roar echoed beside Huang Yuanding as a figure suddenly stepped forward to shield him - it was Huang Yuanwu!
¡°Secret Technique: Winds from All Directions!¡± With a fierce shout, his body swelled like a colossal spirit, hands tearing through the air as if controlling wind currents. The surrounding spacepressed towards Fang Xi with immense force.
Fang Xi swiftly transformed his palm strike into a clenched fist and punched the void before him.
Crack!
An explosion akin to lightning dispersed countless swirling gusts of wind.
Fang Xi retreated rapidly, then leaped upwards,ughing heartily, ¡°Huang Family martial artists, not bad!¡±
In an instant, he flipped over a nearby wall, where hidden archers behind it cried out in agony, falling to the ground.
By the time Huang Yuanwu jumped onto the same wall, Fang Xi¡¯s silhouette had already vanished into the darkness outside.
¡°Nine Lives!¡± Huang Yuanwu roared furiously, prompting the ck mastiff to leap forth, sniffing the air and leading the way ahead.
Huang Yuanwu swiftly followed¡
¡°Yuanwu, be cautious!¡± After issuing this warning, Huang Yuanding turned around, his face flushed red with anger, fingers trembling. ¡°When did our Huang Family descend to such humiliation?¡±
He couldn¡¯tprehend why that man dared to act so recklessly, treatingws as nonexistent!
¡°What are you all still waiting for? Go assist the second master!¡± Seeing most of the guards standing dumbfounded, he couldn¡¯t help but roar angrily.
Chapter 47: Five Steps Zongshi
This night was far from peaceful in Three Origins City.
Especially near the Huang Family estate, numerous torch-bearing squads emerged en masse, resembling fiery dragons spreading out in all directions.
Fang Xi moved with incredible speed, as if propelled by wind, yet closely pursued by none other than Huang Yuanwu!
Originally, with his full effort, he could easily shake off any pursuers and vanish using the camouge robe, bing undetectable even to Nine Lives Mastiffs.
Such were the capabilities of a cultivator, forming the basis of his confidence to cause chaos in Three Origins City!
However, since his target tonight was Huang Yuanwu, he naturally had no intention of fleeing.
In a chase thatsted mere moments, they reached the overgrown garden behind an abandoned residence.
The garden featured scattered artificial mountains amidst patches of yellowed weeds. A once-lush pond nowy stagnant, emitting a foul odor.
Under the moonlight, Fang Xi turned around, calmly gazing at Huang Yuanwu. ¡°You dare to follow me? Quite bold!¡± ¡°Ha¡a mere novice martial artist, blowing such hot air!¡± Huang Yuanwu, with his muscr arms and slender waist, stood unmoving, exuding an aura of deep tranquility like a towering peak.
Beside Fang Xi, the pitch-ck Nine Lives Mastiff growled menacingly.
¡°Since Nine Lives is here, I can confirm there are no hidden ambushes nearby¡ but you!¡± Huang Yuanwu¡¯s gaze turned slightly serious. ¡°During our earlier encounter, I determined that despitecking condensed fist intent, your strength rivals that of a second-step martial artist. Truly a genius! However, provoking the Huang Family means certain death, regardless of your backing!¡±
It seemed he had mistaken Fang Xi¡¯s identity.
Indeed, given that Fang Xi had just broken through to the martial artist realm yet disyed powerparable to a second-step martial artist, it appeared as if he was an exceptionally gifted prodigy, likely mentored by renowned masters from a powerful faction!
If Huang Yuanwu knew the truth¡ªthat Fang Xi was merely a penniless martial artist, driven by desperation to steal the Huang Family¡¯s secret manuals¡ªhe would have been utterly speechless.
¡°Enough with the chatter¡ Your reinforcements won¡¯t arrive for another fifteen minutes.¡± As Fang Xi spoke, Primordial Strength surged throughout his body, causing him to suddenly rise higher on his stance.
In the next moment, the ground seemed to tremble as a terrifying force built up beneath his feet, coursing through his waist, spine, and arms¡ culminating in a lethal, explosive punch!
¡°Today, I¡¯ll make you understand that an unproven genius is no genius at all!¡± Huang Yuanwu roared, his hands pushing forward as if moving mountains.
Whoosh!
Fang Xi¡¯s fist struck Huang Yuanwu¡¯s palms like a tempest crashing against rocks. Despite the ferocity of Fang Xi¡¯s Primordial Strength, it was ultimately shattered, dispersing like sshing waves.
As a Third Step martial artist and one of Three Origins City¡¯s top experts, Huang Yuanwu naturally surpassed Fang Xi in power!
With a menacing grin, he prepared to counterattack with his terrifying True Force.
However, something felt suddenly amiss!
A horrifying prating force, akin to a sharp needle, pierced through his hand, tearing flesh and even damaging bone!
In that instant, just before Fang Xi¡¯s fist dissipated, a pitch-ck needle burst forth¡ªa Bone Piercing Nail, a single-use magical artifact!
¡°You¡ despicable!¡±
Huang Yuanwu stumbled back three steps, staring at his palm where a dark hole bled profusely.
¡°Damn, body cultivators are such a hassle!¡± Fang Xi internally grumbled, unaware of Huang Yuanwu¡¯s thoughts.
If this attack had been directed at a cultivator, the Bone Piercing Nail would have easily pierced their palm and continued straight to puncture their heart.
However, as a Third-Step martial artist, his physique was truly remarkable. Despite the Bone Piercing Nail¡¯s power nearing the limit of low-grade magical artifacts, it got lodged within his iron-hard bones.
¡°How dare you resort to such despicable tactics! Vile!¡±
Huang Yuanwu frowned, attempting to apply True Force pressure on the wound but found he couldn¡¯t stop the bleeding at all. Even worse, intense pain radiated throughout his entire arm, eliciting an involuntary curse.
¡°Chuckles¡ With scum like you, there¡¯s no need for fairness in the jianghu.¡±
Fang Xi swiftly turned and delivered a palm strike directly onto the head of the Nine Lives Mastiff.
The demihuman had taken advantage of Fang Xi¡¯s confrontation with Huang Yuanwu, sneaking behind them for a surprise attack. However, instead, it met Fang Xi¡¯s furious headlock!
With a terrifying burst of True Force, Fang Xi sent the Nine Lives Mastiff flying, crashing into the pond and causing a massive ssh.
Unfazed, Huang Yuanwu suddenly turned to flee!
His one arm hung limp, clearly unusable for the moment. As a Third-Step martial artist, fighting another with one hand immobilized would put him significantly at a disadvantage.
Before Huang Yuanwu could leap over the wall, he felt a menacing force hurtling towards him.
Thud!
A burst of dark light transformed into a ghostly broadsword and viciously struck him.
¡°Ah!¡±
Huang Yuanwu screamed as he fell back into the courtyard, revealing a deep gash on his chest that nearly exposed his bones.
¡°You¡who exactly are you?¡± His eyes filled with despair, unable to recall when the Huang Family had offended someone with such extraordinary abilities!
¡°I am the one who will take your life!¡± Fang Xi replied with a grin, pulling out more paper talismans.
Meanwhile, he internallypared the situation:
¡®Martial artists may be equivalent to cultivators at the second stage of Body Tempering, but they are much easier to handle¡¡¯
¡®If this were a body cultivator, they wouldn¡¯t expose such ring weaknesses. Martial artists simplyck experience dealing with cultivators¡¡¯
¡®Furthermore, body cultivators often augment themselves using various paper talismans and even magical armor¡¡¯
¡®The martial artists of Great Liang are truly too inexperienced¡¡¯
Without hesitation, Fang Xi activated a ¡®Golden Light Shield¡¯ talisman, charged forward, and engaged Huang Yuanwu in a brutal exchange of blows¡
In no time, carrying the now limbless Huang Yuanwu, Fang Xi leisurely departed from the deserted residence.
Shortly after, skilled members of the Huang Family and their guards arrived, panting heavily. They surveyed the scene¡¯s chaos, exchanging nces¡
The next day.
At the Monster Hunter Union:
¡°Have you heard? The Huang Family suffered a major cmity.¡±
Some cultivators whispered amongst themselves, their expressions animated with evident schadenfreude. After all, the Huang Family had long been notorious for their arrogance and tyranny.
¡°Just yesterday, the second daughter of the Huang Family provoked someone she shouldn¡¯t have and was killed on the spot¡ And guess what happened after they threatened retaliation? That very night, Second Master Huang went missing¡¡±
¡°But he¡¯s a militarymander! Who would dare to challenge both the imperial court and the Dingzhou Army?¡±
¡°Who else but an exceptionally fearsome viin¡ He appears to be around twenty years old, with a schrly demeanor. In the jianghu, they call him ¡®Ghostweary¡¯!¡± One cultivator boasted proudly, clearly well-informed, as he began recounting the tale.
¡°Oh? Why is he called Ghostweary?¡± another cultivator hastily asked.
¡°Naturally, it¡¯s because his origins are unknown, yet his martial prowess is incredibly strong. He acts recklessly, treating thews and authority of officials like child¡¯s y¡ Even more terrifyingly, his character is quite¡ vile. Do you know under what pretext he attacked the Yellow Mansionst night? Apparently¡ just because its inhabitants stepped out leading with their left foot, which vited his superstitions¡¡±
The surrounding cultivators fell silent, their faces grim.
Another individual chimed in, ¡°I heard¡ it was because he stepped with his right foot first?¡±
Despite this absurdity, everyone¡¯s scalps tingled, and they involuntarily nced at their own legs, wary of inadvertently provoking such an unpredictable enemy.
¡°Heh heh¡ do you really think Second Master Huang¡¯s disappearancest night marked the end?¡± The initial speaker chuckled slyly. ¡°That Ghostweary is incredibly audacious! After abducting the second master, he stealthily returned to the Yellow Mansion. Rumor has it, he went on a killing spree, taking many lives¡ Even Huang Yuanding, the patriarch of the Huang Family, sustained severe injuries. If not for timely intervention by the local authorities and Dingzhou Army, he might have been beaten to death!¡±
¡°Even without dying, after such a cmity, the Huang Family is likely to decline rapidly¡ Not only that, but they don¡¯t even know who their true enemy is. Tell me, isn¡¯t that infuriating?¡±
An elderly man set down his teacup with a soft sigh, ¡°The Huang Family reaped what they sowed; they brought this upon themselves!¡±
¡°Haha, indeed. Let¡¯s continue enjoying our tea¡¡±
Unaware of the tumult unfolding outside and having no interest in it, Fang Xi was focused within a room, diligently studying a secret manual in his hands.
The previous night, he had taken Huang Yuanwu captive and extracted vast amounts of information using the Soul Confusion Technique. Immediately afterward, heunched a surprise attack on the Yellow Mansion, causing chaos¡ªhis true aim being to search for secret manuals and the Divine Intent Diagram. Injuring the Huang Family Patriarch was merely coteral damage¡
¡°An ancestor of the Huang Family once trained at Yuanhe Mountain, reaching the realm of Fourth Step Martial Artist, just a step away from bing a Zongshi¡ Upon descending the mountain, they passed down this ¡®Heavenly Wind Secret Manual¡¯!¡±
Fang Xi meticulously examined the ancient text, which included the original version with the Divine Intent Diagram. By taking this manual, the Huang Family¡¯s lineage of the Divine Intent Diagram would likely be severed¡
¡°The cultivation path of a martial artist consists of five steps: First Step, condensing fist intent; Second Step, breaking through Pangu¡¯s Pith; Third Step, forging steel-like bones; Fourth Step, merging divine essence with physical strength¡ Following that is the pinnacle, where one harmonizes with the universe, achieving unity as a Zongshi!¡±
Fang Xi gleaned the first two steps from Linghu Yang¡¯s memories. However, Linghu Yang only knew these stages by hearsay from his master, without any specific details on cultivation!
But the ¡°Heavenly Wind Secret Manual¡± contained exactly that!
Fang Xi understood his own limitations well¡ªhe had just recently broken through to be a martial artist and hadn¡¯t yet reached even the First Step.
However, with his immense reserves, blood qi surpassing human limits, exceptional innate talent, and mastery over multiple major techniques, Fang Xi had developed the self-created Primordial True Art. Consequently, his strength was astonishing, allowing him to engage even second-step martial artists!
By incorporating some minor cultivator tricks, he could potentially ovee third or fourth-step martial artists as well.
But against a fifth-step Zongshi, also known as a True Astral Martial Saint, it became far less certain.
¡°Martial artist cultivation has only four steps; reaching the fifth step transforms one into a Zongshi, a Martial Saint! Phew, that¡¯s a relief¡ I thought there would be at least nine steps, maybe even subdivided into half-steps, half-step peaks, and half-step great circles!¡±
Currently, Fang Xi had no intention of confronting a True Astral Martial Saint.
His philosophy always revolved around overwhelming opponents through sheer power. Engaging enemies from a slightly higher realm was preferable, while crushing them from a significantly greater realm was ideal. The best oue, however, would be victory without directbat!
The path of immortality values life; excessive fighting and killing is unbing. Moreover, a True Astral Martial Saint roughly equates to a Late Stage Qi Refinement cultivator in the third stage of Body Refinement. Asking him to leap across just a small realm for such a challenge? No thank you¡
Although most Martial Saints in this world would likely perish against cultivators in the third stage of Body Refinement, one must not underestimate them either.
¡®Cultivators in the third stage of Body Refinement have an advantage due to their ess to resources from the cultivation world, utilizing external aids¡ However, when ites to mental fortitude and willpower, they may not necessarily surpass the Zongshis of this era¡¡¯
Chapter 48: Fist Intent
Holding the ¡®Heavenly Wind Secret Manual¡¯, Fang Xi began attempting to extract its essence and incorporate it into his own ¡®Primordial True Art¡¯.
¡°Hmm¡ Refining the spinal dragon, piercing directly into Pangu¡¯s Pith, achieving the Subtle Realm¡¡±
As Fang Xi read about the second step for martial artists, he pondered deeply: ¡°Subtle Realm? Pangu¡¯s Pith? So after breaking through to Pangu¡¯s Pith in the second step, one gains fine control over the entire body and internal visualization? Isn¡¯t this simr to my spiritual sense capabilities?¡±
¡°In that case, I can arguably say I¡¯ve already achieved this realm¡ meaning the second step holds no significance for me?¡±
¡°Cultivation truly surpasses martial arts significantly¡ With this understanding, once I develop fist intent, I can swiftly advance to a second-step martial artist¡
¡°As for the third step, Steel Muscles Iron Bones, purchasing some medicinal pills to aid bone refinement should also help me quickly ovee that hurdle¡
¡°So, the only gap left is the fourth step, merging spirit with strength?¡±
Drawing upon resources from another world to rapidly advance through martial arts realms was Fang Xi¡¯s proven experience.
At this moment, he focused intently on the sections rted to First Step Martial Artists within the Heavenly Wind Secret Manual. ¡°Fist intent, profound yet elusive¡ Generally speaking, it signifies reaching a pinnacle in martial arts. For someone practicing the Huang Family¡¯s techniques from the Heavenly Wind Secret Manual, mastering a secret skill and continually refining it can lead to insights¡¡±
¡°My ¡®Primordial True Art¡¯ is still in its early stages,cking specific secret skills¡ Therefore, by creating unique secret techniques for the ¡®Primordial True Art,¡¯ I have a high chance ofprehending fist intent¡ This is truly the advantage of independently developing one¡¯s own martial art!¡±
With this thought, Fang Xi set aside the manual and retrieved a jade bottle from his bag of holding.
After uncorking the bottle, he poured out a Blood and Qi Pill and promptly swallowed it.
¡°If we liken the realms of cultivators and martial artists to building a tower, then the inherent qualities of the individual form the foundation¡ The stronger the foundation, the greater the achievements!¡±
¡°Some exceptionally gifted cultivators can even defeat martial artists across higher realms! It¡¯s all due to their incredibly robust physical attributes¡¡±
¡°Thus, replenishing blood qi is crucial.¡±
After swallowing the Blood and Qi Pill, Fang Xi felt its potency spreading through his body. He stepped out of the room into the courtyard, beginning to practice martial arts.
It was somewhat ironic:
Initially, after killing the Huang Family¡¯s second daughter, he faced city-wide pursuit.
But following Huang Yuanwu¡¯s death and the severe blow dealt to the Huang Family, although his name remained on the wanted list, the frequency of citywide searches significantly decreased, almost to the point of nonexistence.
Even choosing a random abandoned residence, no one disturbed him.
Apparently¡ those with much to lose feared provoking this barefooted madman!
¡°Seize this opportunity to continue refining my skills!¡±
Fang Xi immersed himself in improving the Primordial True Art.
For him, this was the primary objective.
As for Baiyun Dojo and others, they were merely insignificant side matters¡
¡°Primordial¡ Primordial¡¡±
In the courtyard, Fang Xi wore only close-fitting shorts as he casually swung his fists and feet.
Each movement appeared effortless, almost like untrained farm work.
However, if a martial artist were present, they would sense profound wisdom hidden within each gesture, evoking endless contemtion.
¡°A secret technique emerges naturally when one¡¯s martial skills reach their peak mastery!¡±
¡°My Primordial Art borrows from numerous sources,cking perfect harmony, which has hindered the creation of a secret technique¡ But that¡¯s no concern.¡±
With the aid of Blood and Qi Pills, Fang Xi¡¯s physique continued to strengthen.
And at this moment, a glimmer of hope for developing his secret technique finally emerged!
As he focused his energy, a sh of inspiration struck him, prompting him to execute scattered moves.
¡°Failed¡¡±
¡°Not quite right¡¡±
¡°True Force cirction is incorrect¡¡±
¡°That move needs adjustment¡¡±
The sun set, the moon rose, and then the moon fell while the sun ascended again, time slipping unnoticed bit by bit.
Fang Xi, akin to a skilled sculptor, relentlessly honed the massive block of ¡°Primordial True Art,¡± gradually revealing its hidden gem to the world.
Finally¡
As the first rays of dawn draped over Fang Xi, his eyes shed with realization. With his right arm raised, fingers clenched together, he formed a palm and gently pushed forward:
¡°Secret Technique - Limitless Primordial!¡±
Boom!
A terrifying burst of True Force exploded before him, reducing a small hill to dust.
Rubble cascaded through the air as Fang Xi stood firmly on the ground, with the rising sun illuminating his back. ¡°Like the ascent of the sun, akin to the beginning of the cosmos! This is my fist intent!¡±
After mastering the secret techniques of the Primordial True Art, Fang Xi naturally grasped the concept of fist intent, taking a significant step forward to be a first-step martial artist!
But that was not all!
His True Force permeated his spine, causing this mighty dragon to flex fluidly, controlling his entire body effortlessly. From there, it ascended smoothly along the Ren and Du meridians, breaking through to reach Pangu¡¯s Pith at the crown of his head!
¡°The second step for a martial artist, the Subtle Realm, I¡¯ve already achieved long ago. Thus, this step cannot hinder me.¡±
In an instant, Fang Xi had taken two steps towards bing a Martial Dao Zongshi!
¡°As for the third step, Steel Sinews and Iron Bones, it builds upon the foundation of the Subtle Realm. Each day, one must temper their bones and sinews with True Force, transforming them into unparalleled resilience¡ It requires persistent effort over time.¡±
¡°While Great Liangcks spirit medicines to elerate this process, the cultivation world does offer numerous medicinal pills aiding bone and tendon refinement¡¡±
¡°And finally, the fusion of spirit and force¡that is a profound insight, undoubtedly the most challenging part.¡±
Fang Xi now held no doubts about his path ahead.
Bypleting these four steps, he could break through and be a Martial Dao Zongshi, a True Astral Martial Saint!
Even in Qingzhu Mountain Market, cultivators reaching the third stage of Body Refinement were considered notable figures.
In the southern wilderness¡¯s cultivation realm,
Fang Xi, upon his arrival, immediately checked his protective charm. Relieved to find the talisman still active and no signs of tampering with its minor mechanisms, he let out a sigh.
¡°Indeed¡ Situ Qingqing¡¯s target wasn¡¯t me, it must be Chen Ping!¡±
¡°But how did Chen Ping attract the attention of the Situ n?¡±
¡°Well, never mind, it¡¯s not my concern anyway.¡±
¡°What really excites me is fleeing Three Origins City after causing chaos - what a thrill!¡±
After breaking through to the second step martial artist rank in Great Liang, Fang Xi followed the intelligence obtained from the Monster Hunter Building. He hunted down a tiger spirit nearby, nning to sell its materials in the southern wilderness for spirit stones and purchase medicinal pills that aid in strengthening bones and tendons.
These types of medicinal pills were niche, primarily intended for body refinement cultivators, and thus quite expensive.
Additionally, Fang Xi had another scheme brewing.
Hunting monsters alone in Great Liang was too slow. Perhaps¡he shouldpete with the Monster Hunter Building, or even better, absorb their influence entirely!
This way, he could leverage his strongest asset - throwing money around!
By purchasing mythical beasts with gold and silver from Great Liang, then selling them here at Qingzhu Mountain for spirit stones, he could create a beneficial cycle - using most of the proceeds for his own needs while reinvesting a small portion back into acquiring more gold and silver for future transactions.
¡°Unfortunately¡ although the Monster Hunter Union ims independence, it likely operates under the influence of the government, possibly even involving Zongshi-level masters¡ I can strike swiftly and leave, but cannot constantly oversee such operations¡¡±
With a hint of regret, Fang Xi arrived at the Qingzhu Mountain Market.
This time, dressed in a purple robe, he had subtly altered his appearance beneath the veil using True Force to elongate his bones and tendons, crafting a young nobleman¡¯s look.
A gentle breeze carried a chill, causing nearby ordinary nts to already show signs of turning dry and yellow.
¡°Unbelievably, it¡¯s deep autumn now¡ And I¡¯m almost eighteen¡¡± Fang Xi caught a falling leaf, feeling somewhat contemtive.
However, considering his current situation, there was no room for leisure or pause. With a softugh, he crushed the dried leaf in his hand and fully entered the market formation.
At the Pill Cauldron Pavilion.
¡°Daoist friend, you¡¯re interested in purchasing medicinal pills for strengthening bones and tendons?¡±
Zhuo Luting¡¯s graceful demeanor remained unchanged, her every expression exuding a gentle elegance. After hearing Fang Xi¡¯s request, she pondered briefly before introducing, ¡°Our pavilion offers the ¡®Jade Bone Pill¡¯, ranked as high-grade first-tier, which is most effective for bone fortification¡ As for tendons? You can use the ¡®Tiger-Leopard Muscle Enhancement Paste¡¯. Apply it to the specific areas needing tendon training; it allows for greater flexibility and resilience¡¡±
¡°Not bad, not bad¡¡± Fang Xi responded thoughtfully. Then he asked, somewhat hesitantly, ¡°I¡¯m just wondering¡ what are the prices?¡±
In his mind, he had already braced himself for a hefty cost.
As expected, Zhuo Luting replied with a smile, ¡°The Jade Bone Pill costs thirty spirit stones per bottle, and the Tiger-Leopard Muscle Enhancement Paste is twenty spirit stones per box. Daoist friend, you may wish to purchase one of each to try them out¡¡±
¡°So expensive,¡± Fang Xi feigned surprise, appearing slightly troubled.
¡°Not at all expensive, considering the Jade Bone Pill is primarily used as an asional aid by body cultivators in the third stage of Body Refinement¡ As for the Tiger-Leopard Muscle Enhancement Paste, its ingredients are hard to obtain, requiring precious materials from first-stage tiger and leopard spirits.¡± Zhuo Luting¡¯s gentle smile remained unwavering, indicating there would be no discounts.
Fang Xi internally rolled his eyes, ¡°I only have a few spirit stones¡¡±
Just as Zhuo Luting¡¯s expression began to turn icy, Fang Xi quickly added, ¡°Do you ept materials for trade here?¡±
¡°Well¡ our pavilion typically doesn¡¯t take raw materials unless they¡¯re spirit grasses,¡± Zhuo Luting replied after a moment¡¯s thought.
¡°What about mythical beast materials?¡± Fang Xi produced a tiger bone from his bag of holding. He had distinctly heard Zhuo Luting mention that some pastes required suchponents; surely she wouldn¡¯t deny their value now?
¡°A demon tiger?¡± Zhuo Luting retrieved a small mirror that seemed somewhat familiar to Fang Xi and shone it on the tiger bone.
Buzzing softly, two faint rings of white light appeared.
¡°Daoist friend, you¡¯ve actually in a mid-grade first-stage tiger spirit!¡± Zhuo Luting¡¯s demeanor instantly became more respectful, her red lips pursed slightly. ¡°I can offer Daoist friend a fair price¡¡±
Momentster, Fang Xi emerged from the Pill Cauldron Pavilion, delightedly patting his bag of holding.
Insidey the Jade Bone Pill and Tiger-Leopard Muscle Enhancement Paste, intact as before, along with an additional thirty spirit stones.
¡°Selling mythical beasts is indeed lucrative for acquiring spirit stones! Unfortunately¡¡±
Fang Xi¡¯s gaze lowered thoughtfully. He had already sold beast meat at the Hundred Skills Pavilion, Di Qi¡¯s shop, the rogue cultivator market, and now the Pill Cauldron Pavilion.
While it seemed uneventful so far, if someone were to connect these four ces simultaneously, they might uncover suspicious patterns.
Additionally, the managers of Qingzhu Mountain Market could notice, upon careful analysis, that the frequency of mythical beast materials appearing recently was unusually high¡
¡®If I continue recklessly, it will be abnormal, attracting attention and potentially danger¡¡¯
As Fang Xi pondered whether he should lie low for some time, out of the corner of his eye, he caught a glimpse of a fleeting green figure.
Chapter 49: Chaos Begins
¡°It¡¯s actually her? Situ Qingqing!¡±
Upon spotting Situ Qingqing, Fang Xi didn¡¯t hesitate for a moment, acting like any ordinary passerby as he brushed past her.
However, after crossing paths, Fang Xi suddenly felt uneasy.
He noticed that around Situ Qingqing, several cultivators, presumably at mid tote Qi Refinement stages, formed a circle and headed towards the immortal¡¯s cave district.
¡°Law enforcement cultivators? Instead of being open about their actions, they¡¯re proceeding stealthily¡ Could it be a secret mission?¡±
Fang Xi¡¯s scalp tingled with unease, instinctively moving towards the market exit.
Sensing that something significant might unfold, his first reaction was to flee andy low in Great Liang for a few years.
But it seemed his response was toote.
Just as he reached the edge of the mist, a chill ran down his spine, prompting him to hastily retreat! Buzzzz!
The previously thin veil enveloping the market rapidly thickened, emitting powerful waves of spiritual energy. Numerous colorful runes swam leisurely within the dense fog like small fish, each carrying an aura of extreme danger.
¡°What¡¯s happening?¡±
¡°That¡¯s Qingzhu Mountain Market¡¯s protective array - the tier-2 Skies Azure as Water Formation! Why has it suddenly been fully activated?¡±
A rogue cultivator anxiously eximed on the spot.
The formation of Qingzhu Mountain Market typically operated at its lowest power consumption, only activating fully during significant events.
Now, with the formation suddenly running at full capacity and sealing off the entire market, it was clear that something serious must have urred!
Especially for hidden tribtion cultivators, they felt like ants caught in a hot pan, agitated beyond measure. ¡°Where are the Situ people? Quicklye out and exin! Let us leave!¡±
¡°Everyone, please remain calm!¡± At this moment, a group ofw enforcement cultivators dressed uniformly in dark ck robes appeared, flying on their swords. Clearly members of the Situ n, they announced loudly using amplification magic from mid-air: ¡°Today¡¯s activation of the market formation is solely to apprehend tribtion cultivators. Fellow practitioners, kindly stay where you are and avoid any sudden movements!¡±
Within a fully operational tier-2 formation, even cultivators at the peak of Qi Refinement could not fly using magical artifacts.
Only the authorized and recognized Situ nw enforcement team had such capability!
As Fang Xi heard this, he suddenly recalled his recent encounter with Situ Qingqing, his expression growing increasingly grave.
Soon, he observed thew enforcement cultivators encircling several buildings, including the Hundred Skills Pavilion shockingly among them.
Boom!
Ping! Pang!
The sounds of magical technique explosions and shing magical items filled the air.
Suddenly, amidst another deafening roar, the entire Hundred Skills Pavilion copsed into rubble.
From within the debris, several beams of light emerged, led by none other than Shopkeeper Qi Liu!
¡°Hmph, dare you from the Qi n engage against my Situ n?¡± bellowed the leader of the Situ n¡¯sw enforcement squad, visibly enraged.
¡°Ha ha¡ The Situ n¡¯s tyranny ends today! By order of the upper sect, all ns shall unite to confront you!¡± Despite bloodstains on his chest, Qi Liu controlled a copper bell artifact, firmly protecting himself and those behind him. His voice resonated far and wide, ¡°Red Leaf Valley has been annihted¡ your Situ n is next!¡±
Soon after, additional voices echoed simultaneously, ¡°By decree of the upper sect, exterminate the Situ n!¡±
These calls originated from prominent establishments like Heavenly Talisman Hall and Mingqing Pavilion.
Cultivators in Late Stage Qi Refinement poured out from these buildings, joining the battle against the Situ n¡¯sw enforcement team.
¡°These major forces have united to take action¡¡± murmured an elderly cultivator, astonishment written across his face. ¡°This sky¡ is about to change dramatically!¡±
To operate shops within Qingzhu Mountain Market, each establishment typically had backing from Foundation Establishment-level forces at minimum.
With multiple factions simultaneously challenging the Situ n, it meant they would face numerous adversaries of equal standing. Moreover¡ the mention of an upper sect¡¯s decree sparked countless spections.
¡°Yes¡ the winds of change are blowing, and this is our opportunity! Brothers, what are we waiting for? Let¡¯s seize the chance!¡± A cloaked cultivator¡¯s eyes gleamed with a blood-red aura, indicating he practiced some nefarious cultivation technique. After his exuberant roar, he charged towards an opulent building nearby.
For countless rogue cultivators, such chaos in the market was a rare lifetime opportunity that might nevere again!
¡®Damn¡ what a coincidence?¡¯ Fang Xi felt incredibly frustrated.
He never anticipated that while purchasing medicinal pills, he would stumble upon the confrontation between the Situ n and these rebellious factions.
Fortunately, armed with his golden finger for survival, Fang Xi remained rtively calm. He carefully surveyed the scene and noticed that only the Situ n¡¯sw enforcement team and the rebel forces were actively engaged inbat within the market.
In fact, rogue cultivators unaffiliated with either sideprised over eighty percent of those present! However, amidst the chaos caused by someone¡¯s rming shout, sporadic disturbances had already erupted, and greater turmoil seemed imminent.
Contrary to his actions in previous dreams, Fang Xi did not rush towards the Pill Cauldron Pavilion this time. Instead, he moved away from the crowd.
With his golden finger offering hope for longevity, he wouldn¡¯t risk it all just for minor gains. Even if the Pill Cauldron Pavilion contained a Foundation Establishment Pill¡he wouldn¡¯t consider it!
After all, his cultivation base was still too low!
As he walked, Fang Xi activated his camouge robe, minimizing his presence as much as possible. He also drew his ghost-headed de and gripped the Bone Piercing Nail tightly, ready to act at any moment.
Once reaching the edge of the formation, far from the market area, Fang Xi stopped and began pondering:
¡°Earlier, Mingqing Pavilion was among the rebellious forces¡ As far as I know, Goddess Yunmeng has some connection to that pavilion¡ And Shen Haoran, he seems deeply involved with the Heavenly Talisman Hall¡ Chen Ping¡ Could it be that Situ Qingqing found clues rted to the rebellion through Chen Ping?¡±
Despite the rebels¡¯ fierce mor, Fang Xi remained confident that the Situ n held the upper hand!
The evidencey before them - the fully activated ¡®Skies Azure as Water Formation¡¯!
With this tier-2 formation¡¯s assistance, even Foundation Establishment cultivators within it would suffer severe injuries!
Moreover, the key figures from various factions operating within the market were predominantly at Late Stage or Great Perfection Qi Refinement levels.
Rumble!
As expected, shortly after, dense clouds began swirling once again.
Countless restriction runes converged, transforming into numerous vibrant orbs that descended from the sky, precisely targeting the rebellious cultivators.
These colorful orbs may appear insignificant, but each strike equaled the full force of a great circle Qi Refinement cultivator!
Buzz!
Upon impact, Qi Liu¡¯s copper bell artifact emitted a mournful sound, and a crack visibly appeared on its surface.
¡°Damn¡ Goddess Yunmeng, haven¡¯t you taken action yet?¡± He nced towards Mingqing Pavilion.
There, Goddess Yunmeng was manipting a ribbon to conjure countless flower petals, entrapping Situ Qingqing and thew enforcement team cultivators.
Her cultivation base shockingly revealed her to be in the Late Stage Qi Refinement!
It became apparent that her previous level might have been intentionally concealed!
This woman must possess an exceptionally advanced concealment technique!
¡°Xi xi¡ Shopkeeper Qi, no need to worry; our reinforcements have arrived!¡± Goddess Yunmeng smiled radiantly.
As if responding to her words, the Skies Azure as Water Formation rippled intensely, dispersingyers of mist to reveal a translucent, multi-colored barrier.
Outside this restriction, a massive pitch-ck sword, several meters long, was relentlessly assaulting the entire formation!
Controlling the giant sword was a burly man d in ck robes and barefooted, with unkempt stubble framing his face. His eyes gleamed fiercely, exuding an intimidating aura.
¡°Foundation Establishment cultivator!¡± Fang Xi instinctively shrank back upon witnessing this scene.
The ck-robed man¡¯s expression remained cold as iron. With a sudden wave of his hand, the colossal ck sword hovered above the formation, its tip igniting with dark mes that radiated terrifying magical fluctuations.
¡°Sigh¡ After decades, Fellow Daoist Long has indeed advanced to Mid-Stage Foundation Establishment!¡±
At that moment, a figure dressed in azure flew out from the market, standing aloft amidst the wind, their voice resonating throughout the area.
It was the Situ n¡¯s Foundation Establishment cultivator!
d in a blue Daoist robe, the cultivator appeared gaunt, with a perpetually somber expression on their face. They dered loudly, ¡°Fellow Daoist Long, now that you see me here, you must realize your ns havee to naught¡ Although humble, even at the initial stage of Foundation Establishment, I assure you, with this tier-2 formation, resisting you will pose no challenge!¡±
The appearance of this Situ n¡¯s Foundation Establishment cultivator felt like a sudden ssh of cold water on all the tribtion cultivators in the market, instantly dousing their fervor and swiftly halting the chaos.
Indeed, despite their potential for wealth through robbery, they were trapped within the n¡¯s formation, with a Foundation Establishment cultivator guarding it. How could they possibly escape?
As rationality took precedence, the disorder gradually subsided.
¡°Wait, something¡¯s not right!¡± Fang Xi¡¯s hair stood on end.
¡°It seems the Situ n received information early, securing the advantage and even setting up a hidden ambush with a great Foundation Establishment cultivator. But that ck-d, barefoot man shows no sign of retreat; he must have another trump card!¡±
Just as Fang Xi pondered what this trump card might be, he spotted a blood-red glow soaring from within the market and striking the Skies Azure as Water Formation.
The blood-red glow burst open, revealing a paper talisman emitting silver waves that distorted the formation¡¯s energy flow¡
¡°That is¡¡± Fang Xi voiced his suspicion, ¡°a Forced Entry Talisman?! A tier-2 Forced Entry Talisman?! How is that possible?¡±
While tier-1 Forced Entry Talismans were rtivelymon, tier-2 versions were strategic resources, rarely seen in the markets. Their sale would inevitably generate rumors and intelligence spreading throughout themunity.
At least, the Situ n should not have been caught off guard!
Yet, it was unfolding right before their eyes!
Buzzing!
A Forced Entry Talisman specifically disrupts formations, and when detonated from within, its power amplifies significantly!
In an instant, amidst the furious roars of the Situ n¡¯s Foundation Establishment cultivators,yers of the Skies Azure as Water Formation crumbled. Countless wisps of mist dispersed, and the vibrant restriction runes shattered¡
¡°The Situ n¡¯s fate is sealed!¡± The burly man outside sneered, his massive pitch-ck sword descending swiftly.
Boom!
Thergest building in the market split instantly into two halves.
Initially stunned rogue cultivators now turned red-eyed, resuming their frenzied battles with renewed vigor. True chaos erupted, spreading uncontrobly¡
Under the allure of immense profit, any rogue cultivator can be a tribtion seeker!
Such is the cultivation world!
Chapter 50: Enemies
Chaos erupted!
With the sky-blue watery array breached, Qingzhu Mountain Market descended into pandemonium.
Rogue cultivators, being both lowly and cunning, often exhibited the most treacherous and savage behavior among their peers.
Realizing that the Situ n had no chance of turning the tide today, greed took hold, instantly plunging the market into chaos.
Cultivators were in everywhere, and shops were piged indiscriminately!
¡°Seriously, what absolute fucking chaos!¡± Fang Xi cursed under his breath as he swiftly fled from the market.
Now was the perfect opportunity to escape, with the tier-2 formation broken!
He didn¡¯t want to risk directly crossing over within the market; who knew if any Foundation Establishment cultivators might be scanning the area with their divine senses? If discovered, revealing his ability to traverse worlds could lead to disastrous consequences.
Several other rogue cultivators, mostly seasoned and cautious ones, also chose to flee alongside Fang Xi. Swish, swish!
Fang Xi moved like lightning, aided by his camouge robe, leaving no trace behind.
Although everyone present was a cultivator, few bothered to cast Spirit Vision Technique on themselves amidst the chaos.
Moreover, as he ran away, distancing himself from the epicenter of turmoil, the danger decreased significantly.
Along the way, Fang Xi passed through the shantytown, feeling somewhat regretful. ¡°My nted spirit rice and buried wine¡¡±
The shantytown was equally chaotic, with many cultivators anxiously gazing at the mes engulfing Qingzhu Mountain Market, their expressions filled with unease.
Meanwhile, more spirit farmers quietly returned to their rooms and picked up their magical artifacts.
¡°Grandpa¡ Grandpa, don¡¯t go!¡± Outside a fence, a six or seven-year-old boy clung tightly to an old farmer¡¯s pant leg.
¡°Goodd, Grandpa isn¡¯t doing this for himself. Listen to your father, stay hidden, and wait for me toe back!¡± The old farmer¡¯s eyes were resolute, holding a long-handled pipe artifact with a brass body and white jade mouthpiece. Without hesitation, he charged towards the market.
He had lived his life fully; this venture might lead to death, but it could also yield enough spirit items to significantly aid his grandson¡¯s Dao path.
¡°Honey¡¡± A woman¡¯s wailing cry asionally echoed through the shantytown.
After hearing such pleas repeatedly, Fang Xi¡¯s expression gradually turned numb as he continued on his way.
His mind was made up - once far from the battlefield, he would immediately head for Great Liang!
He needed to wait until this chaos subsided before considering his next steps.
Boom!
Just as Fang Xi exited the shantytown, a deafening explosion sounded behind him. The terrifying surge of spiritual energy caused his heart to pound violently.
Subsequently, he witnessed countless streaks of light soaring out from the market, fleeing in all directions.
¡®Flying with magical artifacts, big deal, huh?¡¯
¡®Well, alright, they really are impressive!¡¯
As Fang Xi watched cultivators maneuvering flight artifacts and speeding past overhead, he couldn¡¯t help but feel a slight twinge of envy in his sarcastic thoughts.
After descending from Qingzhu Mountain, Fang Xi¡¯s eyebrows suddenly furrowed.
Behind him, three streaks of light were entangled inbat¡ swiftly passing by and continuing ahead.
To his surprise, one of the cultivators controlling a dark cloud was someone he recognized!
Dressed in attendant attire with only an Initial Stage Qi Refinement cultivation base, this individual continuously drew paper talismans from a bag of holding,unching relentless attacks on a graceful figure piloting an iron leaf boat ahead.
It was none other than Qi Yingsong from Hundred Skills Pavilion!
This person had once hired Cmity cultivators to rob Fang Xi. If not for his breakthrough to the second stage of Body Tempering, he might have perished!
Such a grudge demanded retribution!
¡°Bitch, you won¡¯t escape!¡±
Yingsong primarily provided support, aided by a burly man beside him who controlled a flying shuttle, boasting a Late Stage Qi Refinement cultivation base!
The muscr man red at the fleeing figure, spewing continuous streams of vulgar insults.
Surprisingly, Fang Xi recognized the graceful silhouette as well - it was Situ Qingqing!
¡°So it¡¯s her? Being pursued relentlessly?¡±
¡°It seems the Situ n¡¯s situation has truly deteriorated. Is she trying to break through and flee for her life?¡±
Fang Xi gazed upon the Late Stage Qi Refinement brute, filled with apprehension.
d in coarse yellow robes, the man had eyes like copper bells and a twisted scar resembling a centipede across his face. With a cultivation base already at Late Stage Qi Refinement, he appeared exceptionally formidable and not someone easily provoked!
Inparison, Situ Qingqing¡¯s Middle Stage Qi Refinement cultivation was hardly any help.
¡®Is it really worth taking such risks for an enemy? Seems rather unwise.¡¯
¡®Should I just forget about this feud? Revenge can wait; wouldn¡¯t it be better to target easier foes elsewhere, like in Great Liang?¡¯
Fang Xi decided to make a wide detour, intending to quietly leave the scene.
As for Situ Qingqing?
Her fate held no concern for him.
Just as he began his diversion, the aerial battle took a sudden turn.
Ahead, Situ Qingqing, her face pale atop the iron leaf boat, nced back at the rapidly approaching yellow-robed man and Yingsong. Gritting her teeth, she retrieved a dull gray sphere, roughly the size of a longan fruit, from her bag of holding and tossed it behind her.
Simultaneously, with a swift hand gesture, sheunched a spirit talisman that transformed into countless green pine needles, hurtling towards her pursuers.
¡°Trivial tricks!¡± The Late Stage Qi Refinement yellow-robed man sneered, casually summoning a golden longsword magical artifact. With each flick, he deflected the pine needles before charging directly at Situ Qingqing.
However, upon spotting the ck bead amidst the pine needles, his expression abruptly shifted. ¡°Not good¡ Is that a yin thunder pellet?¡±
Boom!
A sh of pitch-ck lightning streaked across the sky.
The charred remains of the yellow-robed man plummeted from the sky.
Simultaneously, his desperate final strike with the golden longsword pierced through three of Situ Qingqing¡¯s green shields. As the sword¡¯s gleam struck her, her face grew even paler, almost devoid of any color. The iron leaf boat wavered precariously and, after Yingsong unleashed another paper talisman attack, finally crashed to the ground.
¡°That woman was truly troublesome¡ Damn, one of the Three Heroes of Kou is dead here. This will bring immense trouble for meter¡ His two elder brothers aren¡¯t ones to be trifled with.¡±
Yingsong descended on ck clouds, eyeing the unconscious Situ Qingqing ahead, blood seeping through her clothing at the chest. He hesitated, still wary of approaching too closely.
¡°Something¡¯s off about this woman. Despite being only Middle Stage Qi Refinement, she possesses such wealth. Could she be from the direct lineage of the Situ n? Wait¡ Considering she used yin thunder pellets, capable of threatening even Foundation Establishment cultivators, might she be the granddaughter of a Situ n patriarch?¡±
Analyzing the situation, Yingsong¡¯s expression turned exhrated: ¡°Capturing this female would be a significant achievement within my n, ha ha¡¡±
Initially, when the Hundred Skills Pavilion formally severed ties with the Situ n, Qi Yingsong was quite taken aback.
After all, strategic decisions of the n leadership wouldn¡¯t be disclosed to someone at his lowly position, and the ensuing battle erupted unexpectedly swiftly.
Upon witnessing the activation of the sky-blue watery array, Qi Yingsong genuinely believed he was doomed.
Yet, against all odds, their side gained the upper hand, decisively defeating the Situ n.
In the chaotic aftermath, members of the Situ n scattered, attempting breakout maneuvers. His uncle pursued one particrly important figure.
Being somewhat timid, Yingsong chose to follow the Late Stage Qi Refinement cultivator, targeting a female cultivator in Middle Stage Qi Refinement.
It seemed like an effortless victory within reach, but he never anticipated such a dramatic reversal.
¡°This woman¡¡±
Just as Yingsong prepared to advance, suddenly, a blue jade pendant on him emitted a loud rumble.
Instantaneously, a shimmering azure shield materialized, enveloping his entire body.
Before Yingsong¡¯s expression could change, he felt an immense force strike the protective barrier, causing the jade pendant to emit a mournful cry!
¡°Hmm? A self-activating defensive artifact? The Hundred Skills Pavilion truly has considerable resources¡¡±
A somewhat familiar voice echoed out.
Yingsong nced over and saw a masked Cmity cultivator slowly retracting his fist. Strangely, that voice seemed recognizable.
In an instant, drawing upon a cultivator¡¯s uncanny memory, he recalled: ¡°Aren¡¯t you the cultivator who sells mythical beast meat?¡±
Initially, when the two Cmity cultivators failed to return after their encounter, Yingsong had nearly suspected they fled with the plundered wealth! Now it was clear that his uncle had grossly misjudged them.
This cultivator was unmistakably ruthless, forged amidst mountains of corpses and seas of blood!
Fang Xi showed no hesitation, unleashing punch after punch, mercilessly striking the protective barrier.
¡°Daoist friend¡ let¡¯s discuss this calmly!¡±
¡°I represent the Baiqiao Qi n!¡±
¡°I¡I canpensate you!¡± Yingsong pleaded fearfully while attempting to tear several paper talismans.
However, Fang Xi wouldn¡¯t give him a chance. With a furious roar, he concentrated his True Force intensely.
¡°Secret Technique - Limitless Primordial!¡±
Bang!
An overwhelming force, far greater than before, mmed into the aquamarine shield.
Crackling sounds erupted!
The blue jade pendant cracked extensively and instantly crumbled to dust.
Unrelenting, Fang Xi¡¯s two fingers directly pierced Yingsong¡¯s throat.
¡°Ughh¡¡± With terror in his eyes, Yingsong slowly copsed.
His hands loosened, allowing several paper talismans to gently flutter down.
¡°This is another advantage of body cultivation - swift strikes at a moment¡¯s notice¡ The speed allows no time for enemies to react.¡±
Fang Xi conjured fireballs to destroy the evidence, ensuringplete obliteration of the corpse. He swiftly grabbed Yingsong¡¯s bag of holding, mentally assessing the gains from this battle: ¡°Of course¡ the camouge robe¡¯s concealment feature is crucial too. Few cultivators constantly maintain spiritual sight, so hiding effectively from ordinary perception greatly aids in executing surprise attacks for a body cultivator¡¡±
While the bag of holding was valuable, Fang Xi had no time to gradually erase its magical energy imprint.
Moreover, the real significant spoils were the Late Stage Qi Refinement expert¡¯s magical artifacts and bag of holding!
After finishing everything, Fang Xi turned towards Situ Qingqing¡¯s prone form and suddenly asked, ¡°Have you slept enough, Daoist friend?¡±
¡°I truly can¡¯t hide anything from you!¡± Situ Qingqing slowly rose, her hair disheveled and blood trickling from the corner of her mouth. Despite her state, she maintained an extraordinary presence.
¡°I have no intention to be your enemy, Daoist friend. There¡¯s no need for you to reveal your final safeguard,¡± Fang Xi chuckled openly, maintaining his disguise without fear of being recognized by Situ Qingqing.
¡°Indeed, I am Situ Qingqing and must express my gratitude for saving me, Daoist friend.¡± She smiled gently and gracefully bowed.
Situ Qingqing was remarkably astute; noticing Fang Xi¡¯s masked face, she understood his intent to conceal his identity and refrained from further questioning. Instead, she produced a token, saying, ¡°This is a symbol of trust from the Situ n. Please ept it, as we shall surely repay you in the future!¡±
As she tossed the token towards him, Fang Xi did not catch it, allowing it to fall to the ground. The moment grew awkward.
¡°It wasn¡¯t specifically done to save you¡¡± Fang Xi watched the token, representing a significant debt owed by the Situ n,nd on the ground, envisioning its symbolic copse.
Yes¡ what use was a favor from a n nearing annihtion?
He preferred tangible benefits instead!
Thus, Fang Xi smiled and said, ¡°No need for formalities, O Fairy Maiden. If you wish to reciprocate, simply tell me what happened here. Honestly, I¡¯m utterly bewildered by this chaos at the market¡¡±
Chapter 51:
A new year, a new beginning, I''m sorry for your book friends. I''ve been waiting for a long time. This book will be on the shelves tomorrow, March 1st. Please support me a lot.£¡
In the past year, Wen Jian started a family and started a business. He felt a lot of emotions. This year, he will work hard to support his family. Tomorrow, it will definitely be more popr. In addition, this book adds unlimited flow to the longevity of Gou Dao. With the improvement of the protagonist''s great realm and the exploration of the golden finger function, there will be more interesting worlds and settings.It unfolded, and a big plot is just about to start after it is on the shelves. Book friends, please look forward to it..
Let''s talk about the addition of updates. The allies of this book will all add three updates, and then there will be the arrears of Chapter 55 of the previous book. Woohoo, the copy will definitely be paid off..
As for updates, they are generally ced at 6:00 in the morning and 3:00 in the afternoon. There are two chapters in the morning and more in the afternoon..
Finally, and most importantly! Still seeking subscription, seeking subscription, seeking subscription£¡£¡£¡£¡
After all, the author relies on subscriptions to eat, especially the first order of results, which is very important to the author. I also ask all book friends to help copy the text. Thank you.£¡£¡£¡
Chapter 52: Blood Symbol Spiritual Body
¡°The chaos at the market?¡±
Upon mentioning this, Situ Qingqing¡¯s expression became incrediblyplex - filled with hatred, anger¡ yet also resignation, bitterness, and even a hint of fear.
¡°As you may have heard, the Baiqiao Qi n, Qingye Xu n, Tianfu Shen n, and Song Family all targeted my family¡ It was simply because they coveted our gains from the Zi You Mountain secret realm,¡± Situ Qingqing replied coldly after a long pause.
¡®This woman is hiding something; I recall¡ someone mentioned ¡°an order from the upper sect¡±¡ There is only one upper sect in Yue Kingdom, which is the Profound Sky Sect! With dozens of great Foundation Establishment cultivators and a Core Formation patriarch overseeing it, they are undoubtedly the dominant force in Yue Kingdom¡¯s cultivation world!¡¯
¡®However¡ did both the Situ n and Red Leaf Valley truly suffer due to the Zi You Mountain secret realm?¡¯
Fang Xi pondered internally before casually asking his most pressing question, ¡°By the way¡ today¡¯s market formation seemed breached by a second-rank Barrier-Breaking Talisman. Could this be connected to Goddess Yunmeng and talisman master Chen Ping?¡±
¡°Hmm? Daoist, you¡¯re aware of Chen Ping?¡± Situ Qingqing seemed genuinely surprised.
¡°Ah¡ naturally, I know some about him,¡± Fang Xi replied enigmatically.
Situ Qingqing bit her red lips before sighing, ¡°Given the situation now, there¡¯s no harm in sharing¡ Indeed, today¡¯s market breach was due to our miscalction. We didn¡¯t anticipate that Chen Ping would awaken his ¡®Blood Symbol Spirit Body¡¯!¡± ¡°I see¡¡± Fang Xi nodded. ¡°However, could the goddess enlighten me with more details about this ¡®Blood Symbol Spirit Body¡¯?¡±
He was aware that within the cultivation world, some cultivators not only possessed spiritual roots but also had certain innate spiritual bodies granting them unique talents.
For instance, the ¡®Sword Bone¡¯ greatly benefited sword cultivators. Simrly, the ¡®Mystic Water Spiritual Body¡¯, whenbined with a water elemental root cultivator, significantly elerated their cultivation progress. A mid-grade cultivator possessing such a spiritual body could achieve a speedparable to a high-grade water elemental genius.
Such revtions about spiritual bodies had previously caused great stir throughout the Yue Kingdom.
However, these spiritual bodies were even rarer than spiritual roots, urring perhaps once in ten thousand cultivators. As for the specifics of the Blood Symbol Spirit Body, Fang Xi truly did not know, as this was the first time he had heard of it.
However, spiritual bodies are even rarer than spiritual roots, with only one cultivator in ten thousand likely to possess such a trait.
As for the effects of a Blood Symbol Spirit Body, Fang Xi genuinely had no knowledge; this was his first encounter with it.
¡°The Blood Symbol Spirit Body is a unique constitution aligned with the Dao of Talismans,¡± Situ Qingqing exined. ¡°It inherently enhances a cultivator¡¯s proficiency, allowing rapid progress in the art of paper talismans. Not only does it increase the sess rate by actively utilizing one¡¯s vital essence and blood, but it also facilitates breakthroughs, enabling the creation of higher-tier talismans¡ In critical moments, one can even sacrifice personal longevity to elevate a specific talisman¡¯s rank significantly!¡±
¡°A Dao of Talismans constitution?¡± Fang Xi was taken aback, surprised that there could be a spiritual body specifically suited for mastering paper talismans.
The concept seemed almost inconceivable. However, considering the countless extraordinary techniques and secret skills within the cultivation world, encountering a rare Blood Symbol Spirit Body wasn¡¯t entirely unexpected.
Fang Xi quickly connected this information to Chen Ping¡¯s sudden advancement and the crucial tier-2 Barrier-Breaking Talisman found at the market. ¡°So¡that Barrier-Breaking Talisman was crafted by Chen Ping, originally high-grade tier-1¡ But by sacrificing his vital essence and longevity, he forcefully elevated it to tier-2? This Blood Symbol Spirit Body is truly terrifying!¡±
¡°Hmph, it¡¯s merely a desperate move akin to draining a pond to catch fish. Chen Ping is still at the Qi Refinement stage¡ To achieve this with a single paper talisman, he must have consumed at least half a sixty-year cycle of his longevity.¡± Situ Qingqing spoke with evident anger, ¡°Our Situ n had already traced clues through that Cloud Dream wench from Mingqing Pavilion, nning to apprehend her soon. But unexpectedly, they resorted to such frantic measures¡¡±
¡®Wait, something doesn¡¯t add up¡ If Chen Ping possesses a Blood Symbol Spirit Body, how could he have been so impoverished and destitute initially? And why would he even be a spirit farmer?¡¯
Fang Xi pondered these thoughts before directly questioning Situ Qingqing.
Situ Qingqing responded calmly, ¡°The Blood Symbol Spirit Body istent by nature; its effects aren¡¯t immediately apparent. The key lies in triggering itter on¡¡±
¡°Could the supposed ¡®triggering¡¯ require a specific legacy or paper talisman?¡± Fang Xi spected, recalling how Chen Ping¡¯s transformation coincided with obtaining Symbol Master Zong¡¯s notes.
¡°Not quite¡¡± Situ Qingqing smirked coldly, ¡°While our Situ n hasn¡¯t extensively studied spiritual bodies, based on my deductions, activating this particr one likely demands some form of blood sacrifice!¡±
¡°Blood sacrifice?!¡±
Instantly, Fang Xi remembered the ¡®Three Kou Brothers,¡¯ who were suspected of murdering Symbol Master Zong!
The assant pursuing Situ Qingqing was none other than the youngest of the ¡®Three Kou Brothers¡¯! It was clear that they were aligned with these rebellious forces.
Of course, ¡°Three Kou Brothers¡± is what outsiders called them; the siblings typically referred to themselves as the Three Heroes¡
Connecting these dots sent chills down Fang Xi¡¯s spine!
¡®I always found it peculiar how Chen Ping¡¯s social circle seemed unusually elevated¡ Likely, before his spiritual body awakened, Goddess Yunmeng and others noticed something unusual about him and intentionally befriended him¡¡¯
¡®It seems even before activating the Blood Symbol Spirit Body, there might have been subtle signs or clues detectable through certain methods¡¡¯
¡®Then, they must have researched ways to initiate the awakening¡ Goddess Yunmeng and her allies probably gathered numerous blood sacrificeponents for Chen Ping, including those from Symbol Master Zong¡¡¯
¡®Fortunately, I stayed vignt and rarely left Qingzhu Mountain; otherwise, who knows what could have happened¡¡¯
¡®Tsk tsk¡ Fellow Daoist Lu truly walked straight into a den of lions. Wonder if Chen Ping himself was aware? This situation reeks of killing the husband to take the wife - truly despicable! And the children of Symbol Master Zong, essentially epting their father¡¯s murderer as their new patriarch¡¡¯
¡®Then came Chen Ping¡¯s sessful awakening of his Blood Symbol Spirit Body, soaring to new heights¡¡¯
Fang Xi had personally witnessed some pivotal moments within these events.
Reflecting now, he realized there were clear signs all along.
¡®Everything is clearer now¡ Due to the substantial gains by the Situ n and Red Leaf Valley from the Zi You Mountain secret realm, their power surged significantly. This rmed the Profound Sky Sect, prompting them to orchestrate a crackdown through nearby forces¡¡¯
¡®As for Chen Ping? Initially, Goddess Yunmeng might have intended to recruit this potential Blood Symbol Spirit Body genius¡ However, as circumstances evolved, they decided on a blood sacrifice instead, aiming to exploit his immense power recklessly¡ Ultimately, draining his longevity to create a tier-2 barrier-breaking talisman, contributing to the assault on Qingzhu Mountain Market!¡¯
Humans, even cultivators, often exhibit short-sightedness.
Goddess Yunmeng was backed by the Greenleaf Xu n, merely a Foundation Establishment family.
Securing a top-tier talent with a Blood Symbol Spirit Body would be challenging, and more likely, a singlemand from the Profound Sky Sect wouldpel them to obediently send him to the sect as a disciple.
In such a scenario, while they could receive some rewards from the sect, it would not amount to muchpared to the benefits of breaching Qingzhu Mountain Market.
The potential gains from conquering Qingzhu Mountain Market far outweighed any individual benefits!
¡®Stripping resources bare is often the preferred strategy for rogue cultivators and small sects¡ The idea of nurturing an unparalleled genius to achieve meteoric sess and subsequently benefiting their entire sect, like lifting all boats with one¡¯s rise, isn¡¯t unheard of but is exceedingly rare¡ Why? Because the limited resources of small factions simply cannot adequately support such extraordinary talent, and it may even attract premature elimination by rival forces! This perfectly illustrates the saying: ¡°When virtue fails to match power, cmity inevitably follows!¡°¡¯
¡®Conversely, employing short-sighted tactics akin to killing the goose for its eggs might seem wasteful, yet they yield greater immediate gains¡ The choice bes clear without further exnation!¡¯
Fang Xi sighed deeply, both out of contemtion and regret for Chen Ping.
Had he been born within a resource-rich cultivation world, supported by a powerful sect, his path might have been smoother, avoiding this tragic dead-end.
¡°Could it be that Daoist friend knows Chen Ping?¡± Situ Qingqing¡¯s observant eyes seemed to hint at her understanding.
¡°No, I was merelymenting the fall of such a top-tier Dao of Talismans prodigy¡¡± Fang Xi¡¯s heart skipped a beat, but his tone remainedposed.
A Qi Refinement cultivator typically has a lifespan around a hundred years, and losing half a sixty-year cycle equates to thirty years! This was no trivial loss.
Situ Qingqing did not press further, instead offering another sincere bow. ¡°Your strength is truly exceptional, Daoist friend. Would you be willing to join our Situ n as a guest official? Although our n faces turbulent times, adversity reveals true character. We assure all iing rogue cultivators equal treatment; any contributions will be duly rewarded with medicinal pills for enhancing magical energy, powerful magical artifacts, potent paper talismans, or even insights from my ancestor¡¯s Foundation Establishment journey¡all shared generously!¡±
¡®Situ Qingqing indeed holds a significant position¡ promising insights on Foundation Establishment so casually.¡¯
Fang Xi felt slightly tempted, but only just a little.
Perhaps Situ Qingqing was right; facing imminent doom, the Situ n might resort to desperate measures. However, why would he willingly be coteral damage for their cause?
Thus, he firmly declined, ¡°I prefer the freedom of a wandering spirit, unwilling to join any faction¡ May the fairy stay safe, until we meet again!¡±
With a courteous gesture, Fang Xi unleashed his movement technique and swiftly darted away like a serpent, disappearing after just a few turns¡
¡®Who could this person be?¡¯ Situ Qingqing¡¯s gaze narrowed as she watched Fang Xi depart. ¡®A body cultivator at the secondyer of Body Tempering¡ using movements akin to secr martial artists yet surpassing them¡ Such an individual should not remain obscure. If only our n¡¯s Four Seas Hall still existed, we might have uncovered some clues¡¡¯
However, a bitter smile quickly crossed her face.
The sudden attack on Qingzhu Mountain Market had left their Foundation Establishment patriarch¡¯s fate uncertain.
The future of the Situ n hung in the bnce, leaving no resources to investigate a mere Middle Stage Qi Refinement body cultivator.
¡®Sitru Qingqing will remember this grudge against Profound Sky Sect, Xu n, Song n, and all involved.¡¯
Situ Qingqing cast onest nce towards the market direction, switched to another flower basket magical artifact, and swiftly flew away¡
Meanwhile, Fang Xi had sprinted far away, reaching a secluded forest.
A creek flowed nearby, its surface adorned with fallen leaves from nearby trees.
He chose a spot beneath a massive bluish stone, dug out a hidden cer, and set up protective measures.
With everything prepared, he promptly decided to travel through time once more!
¡®Qingzhu Mountain area is about to be chaotic. The downfall of major powers always attracts smaller fish eager for their share. Hundreds of miles around won¡¯t remain peaceful¡ I¡¯d rather not get involved; hiding seems like the best option.¡¯
This time, Fang Xi nned to stay well-hidden in Great Liang for several years.
Even if it slowed his progress with the Evesting Spring Art¡ truth be told, he hadn¡¯t made much headway anyway. Besides, there¡¯s always the Primordial True Art as a substitute!
If he could ascend to True Astral Martial Saint rank in Great Liang, equivalent to the third stage of Body Refinement Zongshi realm, returning might even allow him another chance at reaping benefits amidst chaos.
¡®Nope¡ better skip the leftovers entirely. With control over trade between two realms, resources will never be a concern.¡¯
In Great Liang, on a deste mountain outside Three Origins City, Fang Xi materialized. With a hint of excitement, he looked at the two bags of holding in his hands, ¡°Finally, it¡¯s time to inspect my spoils¡¡±
Chapter 53: Opening a Bag of Holding
I must reflect on myself; I failed to restrain myself when I encountered my enemy.
Fang Xi spread out two bags of holding before him, one exquisite and one crude, silently alert.
Murdering someone and stealing their treasures was indeed quite satisfying, but it wasn¡¯t so wonderful when the tables were turned, and he became the murdered party. Fang Xi, who had once possessed a veritable treasure trove, refused to end up like this.
After calming his emotions, he picked up the crude bag first, which belonged to Yingsong. This person¡¯s spiritual power was weak, and considering that Fang Xi was already at the Middle Stage Qi Refinement stage, he managed to unlock it within ten minutes.
As expected, inside the bag was a space about the same size as the bag on Fang Xi¡¯s own person, containing two stacks of paper talismans, a dozen spirit stones, some clothes, and misceneous items.
In fact, Fang Xi suspected that therge number of paper talismans might not have been for Yingsong¡¯s personal use, but rather gifts from Qi Liu meant to save his life.
Considering that cultivators in the Initial Stage of Qi Refinement possessed weak magical powers, they couldn¡¯t even use high-grade magical artifacts, so paper talismans proved more convenient.
Other than the flying device Yingsong had ridden, named the ¡°ck Cloud Pouch,¡± Fang Xi also acquired several other loot items.
¡°Overall, these aren¡¯t bad.¡± ¡°But the real prize is still that master from the Kou n¡¡± Fang Xi picked up the third brother¡¯s bag of holding, which was clearly much more refined.
Not only was it beautifully crafted, but its magical signature was also exceptionally powerful. Fang Xi spent more than five or six hours before he finally managed to erase the seal and open the bag¡
Despite having prepared himself somewhat for whaty within, his eyes still narrowed slightly.
Spirit stones!
The first thing that caught his eye was a pile of over a hundred spirit stones tucked away in one corner of the bag!
¡°Hit the jackpot this time¡,¡± Fang Xi murmured, ncing at the rest of his loot, then paused in surprise.
This bag¡¯s capacity clearly exceeded those of the other two; it was roughly three cubic meters in size, and among its contents were bloodstained magical artifacts, materials, medicinal pills, jade slips, letters, and more. Most everything seemed to have been carelessly stuffed inside in haste.
This third younger brother of the Kou n must¡¯ve robbed quite a few people at the market as well, amassing a hefty fortune¡
But now, these umted riches naturally became Fang Xi¡¯s own without any qualms on his part. He discarded his original bag of holding and upgraded directly to the tripartmental version belonging to the Kou n¡¯s third brother, feeling much more spacious as a result.
He had no intention whatsoever of leaving the remaining two bags empty, so he decided they would be used specifically for transporting mythical beast materials. For a cultivator engaged in interrealm trade, the more bags of holding one possessed, the better.
Fang Xi could already envision the day when he would rise to be one of the eight-bag disciples of the Beggar Sect¡ªor perhaps even reach the lofty rank of nine bags elder¡
Night fell.
¡°Many thanks to the Kou brothers for their generous gifts!¡±
Fang Xi had finally finished sorting through all his belongings and was currently holding the fruits of hisbor from today¡¯s work: a golden longsword magical artifact!
This magical artifact measured twenty-three inches in length and one inch in width, with a body entirely made of gold and covered in intricate scales. The pommel bore a dragon embellishment, while the de emanated a chilling aura that instilled fear upon first sight.
It was clearly a high-grade magical artifact¡ªthe Golden Flood Dragon Sword!
Even the cheapest high-grade artifacts cost at least a hundred low-grade spirit stones in the market.
Too bad it¡¯s stolen goods, unfit for public use.
The mere thought of Fang Xi¡¯s third brother having two older brothers who were also in the Late Stage of Qi Refinement left him feeling somewhat rmed.
In ordance with the cultivation world¡¯s rule that whoever defeats an enemy gets to keep the spoils of war, this Kou brothers¡¯ bag of holding should have belonged to Situ Qingqing¡ªbut the female cultivator hadn¡¯t brought it up, so she must be tacitly acknowledging that it is rightfully hers.
Fang Xi felt he¡¯d saved her life, so taking some loot wouldn¡¯t harm anyone.
At present, he could only ept this minor inconvenience as part of the job.
In addition to the high-grade magical artifact, there was also a mid-grade ¡®ck iron shield¡¯ within the Kou brothers¡¯ bag of holding, which Fang Xi extracted and meticulously refined to serve as protective equipment.
As for the flying shuttle he rode, it had been destroyed by the ck thunderp and was beyond repair.
¡°Thus, with the addition of this ck cloud pouch used to hasten our journey, we now have a full set of attack, defense, and travel magical artifacts¡ As expected, killing people and taking their treasures is the quickest way to make money,¡± Fang Xi muttered to himself.
Aside from magical artifacts, among the pile of plundered goods, he also unearthed quite a few jade bottles containing medicinal pills, including one Wood Yuan Pill, which was truly a pleasant surprise.
Unfortunately, the most valuable item was a bottle of Golden Earls Grain, a medicinal pill that cultivators who cultivated metal elemental techniques could use to refine their spiritual energy, likely belonging to the third brother of the Kou n.
Fang Xi couldn¡¯t utilize it, so he decided to keep it safely stored away forter.
There were some healing and detoxification medicinal pills, as well as arge number of fasting pills, all organized and sorted before being put away. There would surelye a time when they proved useful.
Amongst those jade slips, there was a great deal of misceneous information. It included the entirety of the Fire elemental cultivation technique, along with half of the Goldwind Incantation¡
Regrettably, like the Evesting Spring Art, these were all run-of-the-mill techniques, and Fang Xi had no ns to switch his main focus of study.
As a cultivator with predominantly earth and wood elemental spiritual roots, would he ever have any hope of reaching Foundation Establishment if he continued to cultivate techniques from the metal and earth schools? But it was the misceneous learning, travelogues, and humanistic texts within the jade slips that most piqued Fang Xi¡¯s curiosity, expanding his horizons, and he resolved to take some time to peruse themter.
¡°And finally, thisst.¡±
Fang Xi picked up the final jade slip.
This particr slip was not only thicker than the others, its material differed as well; it resembledmon white jade, smooth and lustrous, streaked with golden veins throughout. One nce made it clear: this was a high-quality item among jade slips.
When Fang Xi first acquired it, there were even flecks of blood on its surface, likely because many cultivators had lost their lives fighting over the object.
Upon probing deeper with his spiritual senses, countless bits of information instantly surfaced before him, beginning with a line of golden text:
¡¾ An Introduction to the Dao of Arrays (First Volume) ¡¿
It was a legacy of tier-one array masters! The four arts of cultivation¡ªarray, alchemy, weaponry, and paper talismans¡ªwere each worthy of diligent study. Even the lowest-ranked talisman masters could live in unparalleled luxury, let alone those at the apex of the social hierarchy, the array masters!
Before acquiring these jade slips, Fang Xi too had contemted specializing in one such skill to supplement himself.
However, what he had originally intended to study was the Dao of paper talismans, for which purpose he¡¯d even gone so far as to cultivate good rtions with some talisman masters, such as Symbol Master Zong¡ªonly for fate to y its cruel tricks.
By now, Symbol Master Zong was dead, and there was no need to mention Chen Ping.
Yet who could have anticipated that a legacy of the Dao of formations woulde into his possession?!
Fang Xi had already skimmed through it; this legacy truly only covered the basics, suitable for neers to the field of formations. The most advanced formation within was merely high-grade tier one!
But it was still sufficient, for if sold, it could fetch at least several hundred spirit stones!
As for why the legacy of the Dao of arrays was valued about the same as Symbol Master Zong¡¯s notes on the Dao of Talismans¡
¡°Fucking formations are too fucking hard!¡±
As Fang Xi read the very first sentence of the introduction to the Dao of arrays, he found himself dumbstruck.
¡°Formations gather the transformations of heaven and earth, exhaustively explore the mysteries of multiplication and division, and cultivators should observe them mentally for half the effort¡¡±
Mentally! This was a skill exclusive to great Foundation Establishment cultivators!
With divine sense, one could project their consciousness beyond their body to detect changes within dozens or even hundreds of meters¡¯ radius, gaining a significant advantage in battle against enemies. Furthermore, having ess to divine sense would afford one many conveniences when crafting paper talismans, concocting pills, and forging weapons.
That¡¯s why those great Foundation Establishment cultivators would often focus on one of the four arts to assist their cultivation and spend countless years honing their longevity¡ªmost could achieve some degree of sess.
And now Fang Xi finally understood why array masters were considered the apex of disdain among cultivators! Other artificers like alchemists or equipment forgers could begin their studies during the Qi Refinement stage, but array masters had to wait until Foundation Establishment before they could even enter the field!
But never mind; with divine sense, studying restrictions, charting topography, preciselyying out formations, and observing subsequent evolutions all became vastly more convenient!
¡°The key point is that Qi Refinement stage cultivators simply don¡¯t have divine senses¡ªthey only have spiritual senses capable of introspection¡¡±
Fang Xi really wanted to roast this.
When he continued reading, he saw that studying spell formations required specialized spaces,rge numbers of spirit stones to craft spell formation tes and gs, and so on. He was even more dumbfounded¡
In truth, these resources weren¡¯t particrly difficult to acquire. The key requirement for truly mastering the Dao of arraysy in aptitude, also known as innate understanding of the Dao!
For other three branches of craftsmanship, such as pill concocting or paper talisman crafting, one could umte resources, conductrge-scale experiments, and gradually build up experience and techniques, thereby slowly improving over time.
In other words, if you weren¡¯t afraid to waste resources, you could always make progress.
But when it came to the Dao of formations, if you couldn¡¯t grasp it, that was just how it was! No matter how many times you tried, you¡¯d still fail!
Amongst Foundation Stage cultivators, those who specialized in pill and weapon concoction or talisman crafting were far moremon than array masters¡ªthis was another reason why few chose to study thetter.
¡°Paper talismans bring wealth; pills and weapons destroy fortunes; advise people to learn arrays, for heaven will strike them down with lightning!¡±
Fang Xi¡¯s lips twitched as he read the clear notations added by some junior member of the sect. But upon closer consideration, among rogue cultivators, the most prevalent profession was that of a talisman master, while alchemists and equipment forgers were rare, oftencking the skill possessed by those fromrger factions. Array masters, meanwhile, were extremely umon¡but also quite fitting¡
¡°It¡¯s too bad¡I don¡¯t have any legacies whatsoever.¡±
¡°Never mind, I¡¯ll take a look anyway. It¡¯s difficult enough to cultivate here in Great Liang, so perhaps I should spend some time determining whether I have talent for the Dao of arrays before proceeding¡¡±
Fang Xiposed himself and continued his research on the basics of the Dao of arrays.
¡°A formation consists of several importantponents: the formation energy source, formation markings, restrictions, the eye of the spell¡¡±
The formation energy source was where a spell¡¯s power came from. Some legendary spellcasters could even use celestial bodies like stars to form spells with destructive capabilities that could annihte heaven and earth.
Of course, today most cultivators used meridians as their formation energy sources, often supplementing them with spirit stones.
For example, the Skies Azure as Water Formation at Qingzhu Mountain Market! This spell was a tier-2 formation, but Qingzhu Mountain only had ess to tier-1 meridians, which were insufficient to sustain tier-2 formations at full capacity¡ªhence why the Skies Azure as Water Formation normally only ran on minimal power consumption.
In times of war, however, one could safely investrge quantities of spirit stones into the formation energy source, fully unleashing its maximum potential!
After the formation energy source came the formation markings¡ªthe part that consumed countless spellcasters¡¯ blood, sweat, and tears!
Comprehending formation markings required mainly innate understanding!
Different spells called for different arrangement of formation markings, which formed restrictions whenbined. These markings were the foundation upon which everything else rested; if the formation markings conflicted with each other, the spell would fail outright!
Fang Xi examined the formation markings of a basic spell, those densely packed symbols making his vision swim, much like how a programmer might see error code after error code¡
Chapter 54:
Half a monthter.
Fang Xi sat cross-legged with his eyes unfocused and holding a jade slip in his hands. Before him was a simple arrangement of three stones representing the Three Powers Formation. The three rocks were stacked together, but within this configurationy countless potentialbinations.
Nearby, there was also a pile of calction rods, along with the equations he had written out himself, various notes, and other important points¡
¡°I got it!¡±
Suddenly, Fang Xi¡¯s eyes gleamed as he began to calcte. After a moment, he slumped back down dejectedly. ¡°This isn¡¯t right¡ None of these are right¡¡±
Ever since obtaining that legacy of the Dao of arrays, he had begun studying its contents relentlessly, forsaking sleep and food alike. When thirsty, he drank from the mountain springs; when hungry, he took a pill to stave off hunger. He madly tackled the first section of the introductory material.
The first section contained only the most basic ¡®Three Powers Formation Marking,¡¯ which required the reader to decipher the marking and form a small restriction around it¡ªa rtively minor task.
At the same time, it served as a method for assessing a cultivator¡¯s aptitude andprehension of the Dao of arrays.
Later on, it was stated that true array geniuses could solve such puzzles at a nce. Solving them within a single day counted as exceptional aptitude, while solving them within three days was considered average. Finally, solving them within seven days would still count as eptable, though somewhatcking, provided one could manage to gain entry to the field. But now¡ Fang Xi had been contemting this formation for fifteen days already.
Hisplexion was pallid, like that of an old schr who had spent his life studying ssics, and his eyes were beginning to grow bloodshot.
¡°How is the character ¡®array¡¯ exined? Why won¡¯t any of my attempts at writing it be correct?¡±
¡°Fucking¡ Fucking hell!¡±
Crash!
He abruptly stood up and kicked aside Three Talents Broken Stone with one foot. ¡°I¡¯m truly fucking stupid¡ A person who can¡¯t solve a simple math question from the public service exam wants to analyze the formations of another world¡ I really am stupid, honestly!¡±
¡°What shitty array? Fuck it¡ªI¡¯m not studying anymore, I¡¯m gonna train!¡±
Three-Talents Broken Stone¡¯s design may have appeared simple, but solving it required addressing problems from multiple dimensions, far beyond Fang Xi¡¯s current mathematical abilities.
After this period of diligent research, he finally came to a realization: He most certainly did not possess genius-level aptitude when it came to the Dao of arrays!
And so, Fang Xi gave up, choosing instead to be a salted fish¡ªoh wait, no, he started training!
He opened a small jade bottle and poured out a single Jade Bone Pill.
This pill was pure white all over, carrying a hint of sweet milkiness, yet tasted bitter upon consumption. The most important part was that after refining its medicinal strength, Fang Xi felt every bone in his body begin tingling and prickling.
It was as if countless ants were crawling along, gnawing on his bones¡
Before long, these sensations transformed into burning heat¡
Only after this continuous cycle repeated nine times did everything graduallye to a stop.
At that moment, some pale yellow filth also oozed from his pores.
¡°Bone refinement?¡± Fang Xi pondered aloud.
To advance from the second step to the third, one must refine their bones until they¡¯re as strong as steel and iron¡ªa painstaking process requiring daily stimtion with True Force. Even the slightest mistake could result in disability or paralysis, so haste was absolutely forbidden!
However, with the aid of spirit pills from the cultivation world, Fang Xi¡¯s bone refinement proceeded at lightning speed!
After fully refining the medicinal power of the Jade Bone Pill, Fang Xi retrieved the Tiger Leopard Muscle Transformation Ointment and applied it generously to therge muscles of his thighs and arms.
As soon as he rubbed in the ointment, a wave of coolness flooded through him.
Seizing the opportunity, Fang Xi rose to his feet and began punching out a set of martial art forms.
Pow, pow!
Although each strike appeared casual, the air around him emitted terrifying ripping sounds. With every punch, Fang Xi felt his tendons and bones tearing apart before swiftly regenerating, bing stronger¡
An hourter, Fang Xi stopped moving and exhaled deeply. This long breath shot forth like an arrow, piercing several feet into the air before slowly dissipating.
¡°Before I finish consuming this medicinal pill, I will definitely break through to the third step!¡±
¡°And then, onto the fourth step, ¡®Spirit and Strength Unites¡¯?¡±
¡°Ah-ha! This is how it¡¯s supposed to be done! Punching through flesh and bone, soaring on swords like immortals, living forever and ever¡ªthese are the romantic ideals of our kind¡ Who needs those stinking formation masters?¡±
Fang Xi was rtively satisfied with his innate talent (read: wealth) when it came to martial arts.
He closed his eyes, inspecting himself internally. After consuming the medicinal pills, one needed time to adapt, as well as purge the toxic waste they contained. Therefore, Fang Xi didn¡¯t wish to consume another Jade Bone Pill immediately.
Even so, he was confident that within a month, he would cultivate steel bones and be a third-step martial arts master!
However, the final stage, ¡°spirit and strength united,¡± required enlightenment, a spiritual awakening.
At present, Fang Xi remained thoroughly confused.
The Heavenly Wind Secret Manual also spoke vaguely about this stage, saying some martial artists gained enlightenment through endless battles against death, while others achieved it naturally by observing the rise and fall of flowers. Many more never understood spirit and strength unity even unto death!
¡°The Huang Family¡¯s manuals truly are rather rough¡¡± Fang Xi gazed toward Yuanhe Mountain and fell into deep thought. ¡°Perhaps¡ I should borrow another manual for a look? It just so happens that I have many questions regarding Zongshi¡¯s harmony with the heavens as well¡¡±
Yuanhe Mountain.
This mountain was located to the north of Three Origins City, separated by only a few dozen kilometers¡¯ distance.
Three Origins Cityy at the confluence of great rivers, and its northern border was marked by steep mountains.
Once within these ranges, one would find five peaks that rose toward the sky like human hands.
The narrow path leading up to them was a mere thread of light.
This was Yuanhe Mountain¡¯s entrance¡ªthe Blood Gate!
To enter Yuanhe Mountain, one must pass through the Blood Gate!
This gate took advantage of the terrain¡¯s natural advantages, offering formidable defense against any who dared approach¡ªguarding Yuanhe Mountain from countless enemies throughout history.
Even the rocks nearby had been dyed bloodred, supposedly stained by the enemies¡¯ spilled blood.
Presently, Yuanhe Mountain held sway over Ding Province, having subdued all opposition. Yet the former caution remained, and Yuanhe Mountain disciples guarded the entrance to the Blood Gate around-the-clock; numerous hidden patrols were stationed along the narrow ledge.
In some special locations, even archery holes had been carved out!
With such defenses, even if Great Liang raised tens of thousands of troops to attack, they could hold their position for many days¡ªindeed, this ce was as impregnable as a fortress!
Late at night!
The cold wind blew fiercely, but the Yuanhe Mountain disciples guarding the Blood Gate remained steadfast and alert, their every movement imbued with discipline.
But none of this concerned Fang Xi¡
A dark cloud slowly drifted across the sky.
¡°Are you dumb? I can fly!¡±
Fang Xi piloted his refined flying device¡ªthe ck Cloud Purse¡ªto cross the perilous Blood Gate and enter the heart of Yuanhe Mountain.
¡°With my current strength, any martial artists whoe here will be stepping onto their own deathbeds!¡±
¡°Only those with three steps of steel bones¡ªthose whose skeletal structure has been strengthened¡ªwill pose some difficulty¡ But they¡¯re still as fragile as paper before the Golden Flood Dragon Sword¡¡±
After all, he wasn¡¯t a body cultivator from the southern wilderness. Those body cultivators had learned their lesson long ago: whenever they stepped into battle, they would don full sets of magical artifact-grade armor, transforming themselves into true man-shaped beasts!
Cultivators were a group that relied heavily on external aid.
Luckily, these martial artists didn¡¯t have ess to such magical artifacts.
¡°Beyond them, there¡¯s only the legendary Zongshi.¡±
Fang Xi¡¯s eyes were deep and profound.
¡°But it doesn¡¯t matter¡ I can fly! Even if I¡¯m not strong enough to beat him head-on, with my high-grade magical artifact, I can still outwit him by flying around!¡±
Yuanhe Mountain had five peaks, each with its own unique scenery and status within the sect.
The thumb-like ¡®Xuepo Peak¡¯ was where the Yuanhe Mountain Sect Leader and main assembly hall resided.
The index finger-like ¡®Wan Gu Peak¡¯ was home to the martial artists, honor guards, and elders of the sect.
As for the pinky- and ring-finger-like two peaks, they were reserved for ordinary disciples and servants.
Finally, there was the middle finger-like ¡®Lei Jiefeng¡¯!
This peak was the tallest on Yuanhe Mountain, but it was also a restricted area that no disciple could enter¡ªthis was where past generations of sect leaders and elders were buried.
However, there were rumors that the only zongshi, or grandmaster, of Yuanhe Mountain¡ªthe Martial Saint himself¡ªlived secluded within Lei Jiefeng!
Fang Xi took advantage of the night to strut proudly onto the summit of Lei Jiefeng.
Because this ce was off-limits, there were usually no disciples patrolling here. No one from top to bottom of Yuanhe Mountain would ever have thought an enemy could invade from above!
¡°The view isn¡¯t bad!¡± Fang Xi stood with his hands sped behind his back, then began strolling through this restricted area of Yuanhe Mountain at will.
Atop Lei Jiefengy a smallke.
Near thekey a stretch of pure-white tombs, each grave and gravestone adorned with snow-white soil¡ It was quite a peculiar sight.
¡°Perhaps these tomb owners brought their martial secret manuals, or their favorite treasures from life, such as gold coins and jade artifacts, to be buried with them¡¡± Fang Xi muttered to himself, his mind drifting toward bing a treasure hunter.
¡°Heh heh¡ Our sect¡¯s founders were all poverty-stricken ghosts; there probably aren¡¯t any valuables here.¡±
Suddenly, a voice emerged from the darkness.
Fang Xi¡¯s expression remained unchanged, but he secretly held a golden bell protective talisman within his hand, ready to summon a ck-iron shield from his bag of holding at any moment.
The golden bell protective talisman was a mid-grade defensive paper talisman he had found among his loot, boasting formidable defensive capabilities. At least, it would have no trouble blocking a strike from someone in Late Stage Qi Refinement.
With this trump card up his sleeve, Fang Xi¡¯s demeanor became rxed and carefree. ¡°Old Grandmaster Yuanhe Mountain? May I inquire after you?¡±
¡°Haha, ¡®inquire¡¯ is too much¡ My name is Linghu Shan!¡±
A green-clothed old man appeared slowly under the moonlight, hands sped behind his back.
The man¡¯s head wasrge, his skin deathly pale, and his white hair hung limp on both sides, making him appear quite aged. Yet Fang Xi could sense that this person possessed an incredibly potent life force¡ªlike he wasn¡¯t facing amon mortal, but rather some savage beast concealed beneath human skin.
By now, Linghu had reached Fang Xi. His muddied eyes swept over the young man before shaking his head. ¡°This sect¡¯s disciples are truly disappointing; their ancestors¡¯ treasures have long been dug up by sessive generations of sect leaders¡ Even I haven¡¯t managed to acquire many, how very regrettable¡¡±
Fang Xi was somewhat shocked¡ªGreat Liang still ced great importance on their ancestors and masters¡ªbut the individual before him was clearly someone who dared to dig up his own ancestral grave.
Linghu turned toward Fang Xi. ¡°You¡¯re¡the one who caused such havoc in Three Origins City, Ghostweary, right? Perhaps you¡¯ve set your sights on our zongshi¡¯s techniques?¡±
Fang Xi¡¯s expression remained unchanged. ¡°How do you know that?¡±
¡°Heh heh¡ Although everyone says Ghostweary is vtile, upon careful examination of the intelligence¡I discovered that you were actually after the Huang Family¡¯s secret manual, and the patriarch of the Huang n was merely a fourth-step martial artist¡¡±
Linghu dug his ear. ¡°Therefore, I suspect that you will inevitablye to Yuanhe Mountain, as you seek all martial artists¡¯ techniques, naturally including those of zongshi.¡±
¡°Exactly so,¡± Fang Xiughed heartily. ¡°So, will you give them to me or not?¡±
¡°Yes!¡± Linghu answered sincerely.
¡°If you won¡¯t, then¡hm?¡± This unexpected reply left Fang Xi momentarily stunned.
Chapter 55: A Martial Dojo
Linghu Shan¡¯s response genuinely stunned Fang Xi.
For any martial arts organization, sharing foundational techniques typically led to relentless conflicts, often until one side perished, right?
Fang Xi had already mentally prepared his next moves: turning hostile, engaging inbat, swiftly soaring high above, and then methodically wearing down this Zongshi with paper talismans and magical artifacts from the sky¡
But instead¡ the opponentpletely defied convention!
¡°Hmm? Why would you give it away?¡± Fang Xi directly voiced his confusion.
¡°Ha ha¡ In truth, even with ess to cultivation techniques, only a minuscule number can achieve Zongshi status!¡± Linghu Shan¡¯s flippant demeanor shifted to solemnity. ¡°What truly matters is always the individual! It depends on their aptitude, character, and perseverance! Sadly, despite these qualities, bing a Zongshi still relies partly on luck! With too few Zongshi in Ding Province amidst rampant Monster Kings, gaining another Zongshi is undoubtedly beneficial for humanity! Since you appreciate our Yuanhe Mountain technique, young man, I must support your endeavor.¡±
¡°Well, if that¡¯s the case, I won¡¯t decline such generosity.¡± Fang Xi smiled faintly, showing no hesitation or embarrassment in epting the offer.
¡°The Yuan Fusion Five Thunders Hand is no ordinary mastery technique, being a fundamental secret of Yuanhe Mountain¡ Surely, if I bestow it upon you, it warrants at least a significant favor in return?¡± At this moment, Linghu Shan¡¯s true intentions finally surfaced.
¡°Hmm, what do you require?¡± Fang Xiposed himself, recognizing the typical rhythm of negotiation had begun. ¡°If one day you ascend to Zongshi rank, would you join forces with me to y the Dragonfish lurking in the Old Dragon Pool!¡± Linghu Shan spoke with unrestrained hatred on his face, ¡°This monstrous Dragonfish has terrorized the region, even devouring myst remaining blood descendant¡¡±
¡°A Monster King Dragonfish?¡±
Fang Xi nodded, ¡°Very well¡I ept your terms.¡±
In any case, once he reached the third stage of Body Refinement, confronting such mythical beasts was inevitable sooner orter.
A first-stage mythical beast awakened with dragon blood would be immensely valuable; an opportunity not to be missed!
¡°Ha ha, splendid!¡±
With a casual toss from Linghu Shan, a scroll made of animal hidended in Fang Xi¡¯s hands.
The aura emanating from this scroll left Fang Xi slightly uneasy, suggesting it might be leather from ate-stage Tier 1 mythical beast.
On its surface, there were detailed illustrations depicting the grand scenery of Yuanhe Mountain¡¯s five peaks. Among them, Lei Ji Peak was constantly enveloped by swirling azure lightning.
¡®Is this the Divine Intent Diagram for Yuan Fusion Five Thunders Hand?¡¯
Just a nce assured Fang Xi that it wasn¡¯t counterfeit.
On the reverse side of the Divine Intent Diagram, tiny text, almost as small as ants, densely documented the cultivation method for ¡®Yuan Fusion Five Thunders Hand¡¯. Comparing it to Linghu Yang¡¯s verbal exnation revealed no discrepancies.
¡®This old man is truly serious¡¡¯
Fang Xi initially suspected that there might be some hidden traps within this technique. After all, even minor errors in advanced cultivation methods could lead to detrimental effects taking years to manifest, often irreversible.
¡°I¡¯ve given you the secret manual now. As a third-step martial arts master with tempered steel-like muscles, your next step is the fourth stage - Divine Union¡ While Yuanhe Mountain has recorded some techniques to aid breakthroughs, their effectiveness may vary.¡±
Linghu Shan¡¯s perceptive gaze seemed to instantly discern Fang Xi¡¯s current realm: ¡°As for Zongshi attainment and Harmony with Nature¡ it ultimately depends on individual insight and opportunity! In my youth, I spent twenty years away from the mountain, disguising myself as an ordinary person devoid of martial skills, experiencing life¡¯s vicissitudes¡ until finally achieving sudden enlightenment.¡±
He then shared numerous insights about breakthroughs, his words filled with genuine sincerity.
Fang Xi diligently noted them down, intending to validate these teachings in the future.
Their conversation flowed amicably, with Linghu Shan even expressing a desire to form a sworn brotherhood with Fang Xi and inviting him to be a Guest Elder at Yuanhe Mountain.
Fang Xi politely declined several times before finally taking his leave, descending Lei Ji Peak alone.
Watching Fang Xi¡¯s disappearing figure, Linghu Shan stroked his small beard, his eyes gradually deepening in thought. ¡°For a third step martial arts master to remain soposed in my presence, he must possess some hidden trump cards¡ What happened at the Blood Gate? Even I couldn¡¯t ascend Lei Ji Peak without arousing suspicion. Are all those disciples down there asleep or bought off?¡±
Rather than believing such scenarios, he preferred to think that Yuanhe Mountain might have additional secret passages!
¡°Well, well, in any case, it¡¯s best to avoid conflict and foster good rtions¡ These young ones these days, each more fierce than thest! Clearly, Ghostweary is prepared to take what he wants by force if denied!¡±
Linghu Shan ced his hands behind his back, pondering news of thetest courtesans turning their trade in Three Origins City¡ªa habit reflecting his character.
In past years, his righteous, vengeance-seeking Master, fiery-tempered Shixiong (Senior Brother), and chivalrous Shidi (Junior Brother) had all met untimely deaths¡
Only he survived, reaching the esteemed rank of Zongshi (Grandmaster).
This longevity was due to cultivating goodwill wherever possible and avoiding confrontation whenever he could.
As for the Yuan Fusion Five Thunders Hand manual? Would descendants audacious enough to exhume ancestral tombs truly care about such secrets?
¡®Choosing not to engage was indeed wise!¡¯
Descending from Lei Ji Peak, Fang Xi activated his camouge robe and effortlessly blended out of Yuanhe Mountain.
Despite its stringent defenses, for him, it felt akin to strolling through his own backyard - entering and exiting at will.
Acquiring the Yuan Fusion Five Thunders Hand technique along with guidance from a Zongshi made this trip exceptionally fruitful.
As for any potential traps set by Linghu Shan?
Fang Xi remained undeterred.
His primary cultivation focus was not the Yuan Fusion Five Thunders Hand but rather the Primordial True Art!
The reason he stole the secret manual was merely to extract its essence and enhance his mastery of the Primordial True Art. Even if there were hidden traps within the Grandmaster teachings, they could at most lead him astray, wasting some time, without fundamentally harming his foundation.
However, when the timees, he would undoubtedly annihte everyone on Yuanhe Mountain!
¡®Linghu Shan seems quite knowledgeable; perhaps I should seek more guidance from him in the future¡¡¯
Beyond just the Grandmaster Martial Arts, Fang Xi showed keen interest in various secret techniques umted over the years at Yuanhe Mountain, such as the Demonic Possession method. These methods and experiences often relied on oral transmission, meaning even after wiping out Yuanhe Mountain, obtaining them might prove difficult.
In Three Origins City.
As the capital of Ding Province, it was vast and expansive, divided into the Inner City, Outer City, and an outermost extended district.
Naturally, property prices were highest near the Inner City, where nobles and high-ranking officials resided.
The Outer City housed merchants of various sizes, dojo masters, andmercial streets.
Living in the farthest extended district were thergest numbers of ordinary people.
One day, within the Outer City, at a threepartment courtyard house:
¡°Gongzi, look at this spacious courtyard! The rooms in the back are brand new, with red bricks and green tiles freshly renovated justst year¡ Plus, there¡¯s even a water well!¡±
A real estate agent was showing Fang Xi around properties.
Considering the cultivation world had be increasingly perilous, with ongoing conflicts between numerous Foundation Establishment factions, Fang Xi decided toy low in Great Liang while focusing on advancing his martial arts proficiency.
Before ascending Yuanhe Mountain, he had already exhausted all body-refinement medicinal pills, achieving the third step martial arts master realm with steel-like sinews and iron-like bones!
Next, he aimed to explore the technique of Divine Union and ultimately grasp the profoundly mystical state of Zongshi - Harmony with Nature.
Therefore, Fang Xi nned to purchase a house in Three Origins City and practice what Linghu Shan referred to as ¡°cultivating amidst worldly affairs.¡±
¡®However, I don¡¯t need to pretend like an ordinary person¡ The Primordial True Art is still rudimentary, making it perfect for recruiting disciples as test subjects¡ Additionally, teaching novices and transforming them into experts will allow me to assess any shorings in my own martial arts.¡¯
Fang Xi surveyed the courtyard, feeling quite satisfied.
Not only could the front area be converted into a small dojo, but the spacious backyard provided ample space for his personal training.
He promptly asked the broker, ¡°How much does this ce cost?¡±
The broker¡¯s eyes lit up, ¡°Just nine hundred taels of fine silver!¡±
¡°Affordable, I¡¯ll take it!¡±
Fang Xi knew he might be overpaying, but he didn¡¯t care and agreed casually.
¡°Gongzi is decisive! May I inquire your esteemed name? I¡¯ll immediately prepare the deed contract!¡± The broker grinned widely, barely showing any eyes amidst his broad smile - what a truly¡ juicy target indeed!
¡°Fang Leng!¡± Fang Xi replied with a smile.
Considering his original name had ties to Baiyun Dojo, he decided not to use it in Three Origins City. To further conceal his identity, he subtly altered a few features on his face using True Force.
Additionally, due to his martial breakthrough, Fang Xi had be taller and more robust.
Even if Lily encountered him face-to-face, she might not recognize him.
¡°Ah, Gongzi Fang Leng! May I inquire where you¡¯re from, and do you have travel credentials? These are needed for transferring property at the yamen¡¡± the broker asked with another ingratiating smile.
¡°Hmm?¡±
Fang Xi shot him a questioning look. ¡°The reason this gongzi hired you is for convenience. Ifcking travel credentials means no transfer can be made, then I¡¯ll find another broker who can handle it!¡±
After all, he was willing to spend extra money precisely for ease of transactions. If this broker couldn¡¯t resolve such issues, why should Fang Xi let him earn so much profit?
¡°It¡¯s fine, we can proceed without travel credentials. I¡¯ll take care of it right away.¡± The broker hastily responded, fearing that Fang Xi might leave.
Bribing the yamen clerks would cost just a fraction of what he stood to gain from this fat sheep, far exceeding any potential expenses.
¡°Now that¡¯s more like it!¡± Fang Xi reverted to his aloof demeanor, smiling broadly. ¡°When serving this gongzi, rest assured you won¡¯t go unrewarded¡ This gongzi also requires a few maids for cooking andundry; arrange for them, and yourmission will be generous.¡±
Three dayster.
A modestly opened ¡°Anytime Martial Arts Dojo¡± debuted with little fanfare.
Fang Xi only briefly appeared to greet neighbors and potential customers when hanging the signboard, without much effort put into promotion orworking.
In fact, he didn¡¯t even showcase any profound martial skills.
As a result, the dojo remained cold and deserted from its opening day, attracting not a single apprentice.
Fang Xi wasn¡¯t overly concerned; after all, it was just for leisure purposes.
Each day, he would sit on his armchair, holding a book containing various formations and restrictions, diligently studying them.
He even hired local tutors to teach him indigenous calction techniques.
Fang Xi showed unwavering determination; currently, exploring other fields like pills, paper talismans, and artifacts was impractical due to limited resources, leaving him ample free time.
By synthesizing knowledge from three worlds¡¯ mathematical disciplines, he aimed to grasp the fundamentals of array formations!
Even mastering the basics, merely first-tier proficiency, would establish him as a craftsman within the cultivation realm. This could significantly enhance his reputation and ie prospects in the future!
Chapter 56: Accepting Disciples
Two monthster.
In Three Origins City, at the Intervale Dojo.
The premises remained virtually deserted, but Fang Xi was undeterred.
At that moment, hey reclined in a taishi chair, removing the book covering his face with a hint of satisfaction. ¡°Ever since deciphering the Trigram formation markings, I finally understand some parts of that legacy¡¡±
Although it was only the beginning, Fang Xi maintained immense enthusiasm.
He well knew that even for a great Foundation Establishment cultivator using divine sense, progress in the four arts of cultivationrgely depended on innate talent and the resources invested!
For instance, a Foundation Establishment alchemist might quickly master tier-1 medicinal pills. With substantial resource investment, they could attempt tier-2 pills, but the returns may not justify the expenditure.
Ultimately, one¡¯s proficiency still hinges on natural aptitude!
And when ites to formations, the requirements are even more specialized. Fang Xi¡¯s mediocre talent clearly made this endeavor challenging and unrewarding.
However¡ what choice did he have?
Since he only possessed tier-1 formation legacy at hand, Fang Xi had no choice but to persevere and delve deeper.
¡°Hmph¡ha¡¡±
In the training yard of the dojo¡¯s front courtyard, it wasn¡¯t entirely devoid of people. At that moment, a red-clothed maiden was practicing her boxing techniques against a wooden post.
She stood taller than most girls her age, with flushed cheeks. Though not exceptionally beautiful, she still possessed some charm.
¡°Master, how was my practice?¡± The girl finished her set of boxing moves and eagerly looked towards Fang Xi.
¡°Not bad, not bad¡¡± Fang Xi praised insincerely, ¡°Your execution of this ¡®Primordial Fist¡¯ is quite impressive. Soon enough, you should be able to grasp initial control over your blood qi, entering the first transformation stage. With dedication, refining true force in the future and bing a renowned hero in the jianghu seems within reach, indeed very promising¡¡±
The maiden¡¯s name was Sun Hongdie, the daughter of their neighbor Uncle Sun.
It was unclear what had spurred her sudden desire to learn martial arts, but unfortunately, the Sun familycked sufficient funds for enrollment fees atrger dojos.
Conveniently, Fang Xi¡¯s dojo was right next door to Uncle Sun¡¯s residence, making it easy for Sun Hongdie to attend, and the fees were remarkably affordable.
Thus, both parties readily agreed, enrolling Sun Hongdie at the Intervale Dojo.
However¡
¡°Hongdie, there¡¯s still firewood left to chop!¡±
A man¡¯s head suddenly appeared over the nearby wall¡ªit was Uncle Sun himself.
¡°Oh!¡±
Sun Hongdie reluctantly set aside her martial dreams to fetch water and chop wood¡
When she returned, barely enough time had passed for one incense stick to burn.
¡°Hongdie, it¡¯s time to prepare dinner¡¡±
This time, a woman¡¯s head peeked out from the neighboring house¡ªher mother.
¡°Alright!¡± Hongdie responded, now showing signs of irritation on her face.
Just as she was about to leave, she narrowed her eyes, scrutinizing Fang Xi like a cunning fox. ¡°Master¡did you make some arrangement with my family? Were you purposely tricking me into practicing martial arts?¡±
Her suspicions had been brewing for a while; this dojo charged only one-tenth the fee of others, and surprisingly, they even received a further seven percent discount!
¡°This is just too suspiciously cheap!¡±
¡°Uh¡ I assure you, it¡¯s not intentional. You must trust your master,¡± Fang Xi replied, his eyes wide open with apparent sincerity.
¡°As if I believe that! This Primordial Fist doesn¡¯t seem particrly powerful either¡¡± Sun Hongdie muttered to herself.
At that moment, Uncle Sun from next door walked into the dojo with a grin. ¡°Nephew Fang Leng, fancy joining me for a drink tonight? I¡¯ve got some choice pork head meat freshly prepared!¡±
¡°Certainly, sounds great!¡± Fang Xi put down his book and smiled in response.
¡°Wonderful! I¡¯ll ask my wife to prepare a few more dishes then!¡± Uncle Sun beamed happily.
In truth, he had ulterior motives. Although Fang Leng was an outsider and the dojocked apprentices, he clearly had money!
Uncle Sun had made inquiries; this house wasn¡¯t rented but purchased outright!
Moreover, anyone opening a dojo must possess martial skills and good health!
Wealthy, young, handsome, and healthy¡ what did all these qualities signify? An ideal candidate for a son-inw!
His daughter Hongdie, already fifteen, remained unmarried, causing him considerable anxiety. Furthermore, she insisted on learning martial arts - hardly suitable for a woman, right? Still, he eventually agreed, not primarily due to the dojo¡¯s low fees, but because proximity offered its advantages - striking while the iron is hot!
As for tuition costs? Well, they could wait.
His daughter, Hongdie, was already fifteen and unmarried, causing him immense anxiety.
To make matters worse, she insisted on learning martial arts¡ªwas that even suitable for a woman?
Despite his reservations, he ultimately agreed, not because Intervale Dojo¡¯s fees were affordable, but due to its proximity¡ªthe closer, the better for their ns!
As for tuition? Whatever he paid now would be recouped with interestter; Fang Xi would eventually plead for Uncle Sun¡¯s patronage!
With this thought, Uncle Sun couldn¡¯t help but stroke his beard smugly.
Sun Hongdie red at her father, sensing some nefarious scheme brewing beneath his surface calm.
Little did she know, Uncle Sun had already decided to package and sell her like a stale egg¡
The braised pig head meat was fragrant,plemented by Old Zhang¡¯s homemade yellow wine from the alley entrance.
Fang Xi enjoyed the meal, albeit slightly annoyed by Uncle Sun frequently asking Sun Hongdie to serve dishes and refill drinks. However, he didn¡¯t mind much; as Sun Hongdie¡¯s teacher, the saying goes ¡°once a teacher, always a father.¡±
Isn¡¯t it natural for a daughter to serve her father during meals?
Nightfall.
After enjoying his meal and drinks, Fang Xi hummed a tune as he approached the dojo, ready to unlock the door. Suddenly, he nced to the side.
In the cold night wind, two dark figures seemed to be wriggling like stray dogs.
¡°Street kids?¡±
With Fang Xi¡¯s exceptional eyesight, he immediately discerned that huddled in the corner of darkness were not wild animals but¡humans!
Two emaciated children, dressed in tattered clothes akin to beggars, were curled up against the wall seeking shelter from the chill.
¡°You¡which group of beggars do you belong to?¡± Fang Xi asked, directing the question at the older child as he walked closer.
The elder one, with messy hair, lifted his head and shed a pleading smile. ¡°Sir¡we¡¯re from the Land Temple, but it¡¯s been taken over by some outsider beggars¡ Please have mercy and spare us some food¡¡±
This slightly older beggar appeared to be around twelve or thirteen years old, but through observing his blood qi, Fang Xi estimated him to be about fifteen - a sign of long-term malnutrition.
¡°The world is indeed harsh¡ What¡¯s your name?¡± Fang Xi recalled Zhang Mingding and couldn¡¯t help but ask.
¡°Q-Qing Sang!¡± Qing Sang looked at the burly man with pleading eyes.
If they didn¡¯t find food soon, they might starve to death by tomorrow.
However, he watched as the man opened his gate, stepped inside, and then¡ m!
The gate closed forcefully behind him.
Qing Sang lowered his head, the glimmer of hope gradually fading from his eyes¡
¡°Big brother¡ I¡¯m hungry!¡±
The younger beggar murmured softly, unclear if it was due to hunger-induced delirium or perhaps a dream.
The cold wind persisted relentlessly.
An unknown amount of time passed.
Snap!
From within the walled courtyard, several white objects were tossed out,nding near their feet.
¡°These are¡ steamed buns? A¡¯Dai, wake up quickly¡ we have buns to eat.¡±
Qing Sang grabbed the buns and immediately stuffed them into his mouth. When was thest time he experienced such a satisfying, savory taste?
Beside him, A¡¯Dai also seized a bun and devoured it hungrily, almost resembling a wild beast rather than a human!
The next morning.
As dawn broke, Fang Xi opened the dojo¡¯s gate and leisurely stretched under the warm sunlight.
¡°M-Mister!¡±
A timid voice called out nearby.
¡°Oh? It¡¯s you two again? Still hanging around?¡± Fang Xi squinted slightly.
Small kindnesses may be appreciated, but excessive charity breeds resentment.
If these beggars thought he was too lenient and sought a long-term handout, then¡
¡°Many thanks for yesterday¡¯s generous meal, kind benefactor!¡±
Qing Sang and A¡¯Dai bowed fervently twice before getting up to leave.
Having survived on the streets for years, Qing Sang well understood that one cannot forever rely on others¡¯ goodwill and charity¡
¡°Wait!¡± At that moment, Fang Xi suddenly called out to them. ¡°As you can see, I run a martial arts dojo. Since fate has brought us together, let me teach you a move!¡±
Young street beggars often faced bullying from older ones due to their youth and frailty.
Qing Sang immediately stopped, staring intently at Fang Xi.
Without hesitation, Fang Xi raised his right arm, clenched his fingers into a fist, drew it back, and swiftly thrust forward!
Bang!
The air resonated with a cracking sound.
¡°This technique is called Moon-Stealing Form, perfect for those of smaller stature¡ When executing it, remember to channel your power from the feet through the waist¡¡±
He then meticulously exined a few key points.
These were not techniques from the Martial Path of Blood and Qi but rather minor tricks.
Even if mastered, they could not lead to the first transformation of blood and qi, and instead might potentially harm one¡¯s body.
They resembled ¡®killer moves¡¯ in nature!
However¡ it had to be admitted that their effectiveness was remarkably swift! While ineffective against skilled fighters, these tricks would surely seed against those with no martial training!
The Moon-Stealing Form, when executed by a child, specifically targeted lower areas; any momentarypse in attention risked painful consequences¡
If used during a formalpetition, such tactics would undoubtedly draw fierce condemnation from spectators.
But why would beggars care about such reactions?
As for potential bodily harm? If they couldn¡¯t secure food, Qing Sang and his brother might starve to death within days¡
Compared to imminent starvation, future injuries seemed trivial.
¡°All right, let¡¯s go!¡±
After teaching the two beggars, Fang Xi returned directly to the dojo. This impromptu act was merely on a whim.
He also wondered how the seeds he nted today might grow in the future.
Upon returning to the dojo, he spread out a sheet of white paper in his private room, picked up a brush, and began practicing calligraphy!
Yes, practicing calligraphy!
Following the techniques outlined in Linghu Shan¡¯s Yuan Fusion Five Thunders Hand manual, reaching the fourth step of martial mastery - ¡®Spirit unites with Vigor¡¯ - primarily relied on insight.
However, there were methods to elerate progress.
Yuanhe Mountain¡¯s secret technique involved - Calligraphy Practice!
By continuously writing, one could refine the True Force within their wrist and fingers, harmonizing it with the brush, aiming for each stroke to embody both form and spirit perfectly!
As Linghu Shan recounted, during a moment of drunken inspiration, he spontaneously copied an ancient literary piece using this method and achieved a breakthrough right then¡
¡°Unite Spirit with Vigor, merge Hand with Strength, ultimately manifesting onto paper¡¡±
Fang Xi examined the character ¡®y¨¯ng¡¯ (eternity) he had just written, frowning at its noticeably crooked appearance.
There was no easy fix; while writing, controlling the True Force flow through his wrist ording to specific patterns proved highly challenging.
It felt akin to asking someone to write with heavy stones tied to their arms - simply managing to produce any legible script would bemendable.
¡°It seems¡I still need more practice,¡± Fang Xi thought somewhat helplessly.
Chapter 57: Marriage
Another month passed.
One day, Fang Xi examined his calligraphy practice sheet and noticed that each character exuded both form and spirit, appearing wless and radiant.
¡°Divine Union achieved¡ Sess!¡±
At this moment, Fang Xi felt his True Force circting effortlessly within him, even stirring beneath his skin as if yearning to burst forth¡ yet it remained just an impulse.
¡°I¡¯ve heard that a True Astral Martial Saint¡¯s true astral energy can manifest externally; perhaps it¡¯s indeed possible¡¡±
The Divine Union signifies the pinnacle of True Force cirction!
For a Zongshi, their True Force transforms into True Astral Energy!
True Astral Energy not only enhances destructive and defensive capabilities significantly but also allows movement outside the body!
Havingpleted this step, Fang Xi reached the fourth-step martial schr level, standing at the peak of this realm. Next, he aimed for Divine Fusion with the Universe, achieving Harmony with Nature, to ascend to the rank of Zongshi!
¡°It¡¯s unfortunate¡ Yuanhe Mountain has some knowledge about the fourth-step martial schr stage, but there are no secret techniques for breaking through to Zongshi¡ Otherwise, Linghu Shan wouldn¡¯t have been stuck for twenty years!¡±
After finishing his writing, Fang Xi felt quite content and headed towards the training grounds.
As usual, Sun Hongdie was the only one present there.
Over the past month, a few disciples sporadically approached to seek apprenticeship but quickly left¡
¡°Master¡ when will I finally grasp my blood qi and achieve the first transformation?¡± Sun Hongdie looked at Fang Xi with a hint of resentment.
Each time her master praised her exceptional talent, iming she was on the verge of reaching the first transformation, yet months had passed without any progress.
¡°Soon, very soon,¡± Fang Xi replied with a slight smile. ¡°Don¡¯t worry¡¡±
In reality, Sun Hongdie¡¯s martial aptitude was even worse than he anticipated. Moreover, daily distractions from family matters prevented her from fully concentrating on her training. Achieving anything under these circumstances seemed downright impossible! His previouspliments were merely ways to pacify a child.
Seeing Sun Hongdie¡¯s puffed-up face in frustration, Fang Xi couldn¡¯t help but chuckle ungraciously.
¡®Sigh, it¡¯s only now that I truly feel like a young man again¡¡¯
Recalling his recently passed eighteenth birthday, Fang Xi couldn¡¯t help but feel somewhat nostalgic.
After arriving in the Great Liang World, he had been so focused on cultivating and making breakthroughs that he didn¡¯t even celebrate this significant milestone.
Perhaps past experiences made such asions seem trivial byparison.
¡®I wonder how the battle at Qingzhu Mountain is progressing? Has the Situ n met its demise yet?¡¯
The thought shed through Fang Xi¡¯s mind, but truthfully, he held no interest in the fate of the Situ n.
With chaos undoubtedly reigning, being merely at the second stage of Body Tempering offered little security. It would be wiser to avoid this dangerous period for at least a year or two before returning to assess the situation¡
What left Fang Xi slightly mncholic was that after finishing the bottle of Wood Yuan Pills, his progress in magical energy virtually halted.
In the Great Liang World, spiritual energy was exceedingly scarce. To continue advancing, he would need to switch to absorbing the spiritual energy from within spirit stones during cultivation.
However, this approach was incredibly extravagant, as spirit stones were typically reserved for emergencies, such as replenishing magical energy during breakthroughs or battles.
Thus, Fang Xi resisted the temptation and limited himself to practicing his cultivation technique once daily before focusing on other tasks.
¡®The peak of the fourthyer with the Evesting Spring Art is just so-so¡¡¯
¡®The current priority remains breaking through to be a True Astral Martial Saint!¡¯
¡®Also, mythical beast meat can easily spoil, but their hides and bones won¡¯t¡ If I collect enough, selling them to the southern wilderness¡¯s cultivation worldter could yield a significant fortune!¡¯
The Yue Kingdom, being a well-established cultivation nation, had dense poptions and scarce untouched forests, leading to a rarity of mythical beasts. asionally, when one did appear, it was often swiftly surrounded and in by cultivators from all directions!
As mythical beasts became increasingly rare, the prices for their resources steadily climbed.
This presented a prime opportunity to earn spirit stones!
¡®The Beast Hunt Society and Yuanhe Mountain¡ That old man Linghu Shan must have some valuable goods!¡¯
Fang Xi made up his mind to spend more time chatting with Brother Linghu, hoping to glean some benefits along the way.
¡°Master, those beggars havee again!¡±
After being called home for dinner half an hourter, Sun Hongdie spotted a small string of copper coins at the entrance. She promptly picked them up and gleefully brought them to Fang Xi.
She was referring to Qing Sang and A-Dai.
Since ten days ago, these two youngsters asionally appeared near the dojo, leaving behind some items before departing.
¡°It seems they¡¯re doing quite well now.¡±
Fang Xi, seated in his taishi chair, took a sip from his purple y teapot and instructed Sun Hongdie, ¡°Bring them inside!¡±
Sun Hongdie eagerly skipped out toply.
Shortly after, the two young beggars entered the dojo.
Although their clothes remained tattered, their overall health appeared much improved. Upon seeing Fang Xi, they immediately knelt down and bowed, saying, ¡°Qing Sang (A-Dai) greets the Dojo Master!¡±
¡°You two seem to understand gratitude; that¡¯smendable¡¡±
Fang Xi was reasonably satisfied. Their ability to quickly obtain food and money indicated that they had indeed mastered the Moon-Stealing Form.
This technique, with its sudden burst of power, even when executed by children, could overwhelm most martial apprentices undergoing the first transformation of blood and qi. It proved more than sufficient against ordinary people.
Unexpectedly, by casually saving two children and teaching them a few techniques, Fang Xi discovered their talents were quite promising.
¡°Now¡ both of you, take off your shirts!¡± Fang Xi instructed.
Qing Sang hesitated momentarily before he and A-Dai removed their tattered tops.
Their bodies revealed extensive filth, pus-filled sores, and numerous scars¡
Fang Xi nced past the rest, focusing on their arms, shoulders, and hands.
He noticed a significant injury on Qing Sang¡¯s shoulder, likely caused by rigorous practice of the Moon-Stealing Form.
On the other hand, A-Dai¡¯s shoulder showed no signs of damage, yet still caught Fang Xi¡¯s attention.
¡°Not bad, not bad¡¡± Fang Xi looked at A-Dai and said, ¡°Not only have you mastered the Moon-Stealing Form, but you also added your own variations. Unlike this fool beside you who blindly practiced without adaptation¡¡±
A-Dai¡¯s expression remained nk, uncertain if he fully understood.
Qing Sang, however, stood with his mouth slightly agape, almost disbelieving.
However, Fang Xi quickly recalled his own experience with martial arts training. Despite practicing relentlessly to near-exhaustion each day, his first attempt atbat had failed miserably. If not for A-Dai¡¯s intervention, that enraged old beggar might have killed him on the spot!
Was it possible that A-Dai¡¯s natural talent surpassed even his own?
Fang Xi began forming some ideas.
He indeed needed to cultivate individuals as test subjects to refine his Primordial True Art. After all, this technique was only in its initial stages, and there might be inherent ws.
Identifying and correcting issues within the art could potentially aid him in bing a Zongshi!
¡°Excellent. From today onwards, you two are apprentices of Intervale Dojo. Consider the gifts you brought earlier as tuition fees. Starting now,e here every day for four hours of martial training¡ With time, you may be aplished fighters.¡± Fang Xi chuckled, suddenly appearing at the center of the training ground.
Sun Hongdie jumped in surprise; despite watching Fang Xi closely, she couldn¡¯t discern how he moved so swiftly.
¡®I didn¡¯t realize my master is truly a formidable fighter?¡¯ Her eyes widened, finding it hard to believe.
Unbothered by her reaction, Fang Ximenced demonstrating the Primordial Fist Technique.
This was his adapted version of the ¡®Primordial True Art¡¯ introductory chapter, designed to elerate blood qi concentration and facilitate breakthroughs in true force.
¡°My Primordial Fist Technique has a mantra - Body like a bow, legs like pines, fists swift as wind, intent unfettered!¡±
Fang Xi demonstrated each move meticulously. ¡°To master martial arts, relentless dedication is required! Don¡¯t let my youthful appearance deceive you; I¡¯ve been cultivating this skill for over twenty years!¡±
Such advice came from a young man who had just turned eighteen.
Bang!
As Fang Xi spoke, he swiftly approached the wooden post and struck it with a punch.
Crash!
The post shattered instantly, sending splinters flying through the air.
¡°Wow! Ugh¡ yuck¡¡± Sun Hongdie, about to speak, found her mouth filled with wood debris and dust, leading her to ungracefully spit repeatedly.
In contrast, Qing Sang and A-Dai¡¯s eyes sparkled with admiration.
¡°All right, I¡¯ve now demonstrated the four major stances of the Primordial Fist Technique. Now, show me what you¡¯ve learned,¡± Fang Xi dered, returning to sit in the taishi chair.
¡°Master, please guide us!¡± Qing Sang promptly stepped forward, hands sped together, and swiftly assumed the first stance.
¡°This person¡¡± Sun Hongdie was astonished. Although she could spot numerous ws and mistakes in Qing Sang¡¯s execution, he managed to stumble through the entire set.
In contrast, when she first learned¡ her master had to teach her each move individually, step by step. How many days did it take for her to grasp the full sequence? Was it ten days? Or even half a month?
After Qing Sang finished, Fang Xi gave some instructions to A-Dai. Despite his seemingly foolish demeanor, A-Dai stepped forward confidently and began setting up his stance.
This time, Sun Hongdie remained silent, utterly speechless.
Despite appearing clumsy, A-Dai executed the fist technique meticulously, wlessly enough that even she couldn¡¯t find any errors!
¡°Genius¡ a true martial arts prodigy!¡± Sun Hongdie murmured under her breath.
Instantly, she cast a resentful nce at Fang Xi.
Clearly, his earlier deception about A-Dai¡¯s abilities had been exposed¡
¡°Very well, A-Dai, your execution of all four stances is impressive. From now on, Qing Sang, you will learn the techniques from A-Dai, while practicing strength with the wooden stakes under Shijie Sun Hongdie¡¯s guidance!¡±
Fang Xi showed little surprise; it didn¡¯t faze him much.
No matter how talented A-Dai might be, he wasparable at best to Linghu Yang. While this could delight Linghu Shan, for Fang Xi, it wasn¡¯t particrly impressive¡
Even if A-Dai possessed spiritual roots, whether Earth rank or Heaven rank, so what?
Fang Xi had no intention of teaching him cultivation, nor would he ever bring him to the southern wilderness¡¯s cultivation world.
Thus¡ they were all the same, merely serving as small training guinea pigs.
¡°Master¡¡± At that moment, Sun Hongdie¡¯s eyes turned red, her voice trembling with suppressed tears. ¡°Please tell me the truth¡ Do I really have poor talent?¡±
Despite practicing for so long, even an average person should have gained some control over their blood qi by now.
¡°Uh¡¡± Fang Xi pondered briefly before saying, ¡°Your mom called you home for dinner¡¡±
Indeed, earlier someone had shouted for Sun Hongdie to return for a meal, and quite some time had passed since then.
¡°Master, don¡¯t avoid the question!¡± Sun Hongdie eximed indignantly.
¡°Sigh, silly disciple¡¡± Fang Xi sighed, his gaze filled with pity, and finally revealed the truth, ¡°Perhaps¡ you should just go home and get married instead?¡±
Chapter 58: Grandmaster Association
Spring gave way to autumn.
In the blink of an eye, another year had passed.
Fang Xi took a sip of wine, quietly celebrating his neenth birthday.
¡®Southern wilderness¡ I wonder how it fares now?¡¯
Initially, he had randomly chosen a location for his transmigration, and theoretically, returning wouldn¡¯t pose significant danger. However, Fang Xi decided to wait until he became a Zongshi before going back to assess the situation.
After all, the concept of time differs greatly between cultivators and ordinary people. Wars couldst decades or even centuries.
Qingzhu Mountain¡¯s vicinity must still be chaotic, so patience was key.
Having reached the fourth step as a martial artist, the next stage involved harmonizing with the universe, emphasizing sudden enlightenment rather than external resources or environment.
However, it was precisely thisck of requirement that concerned Fang Xi! Otherwise, he might have attempted a breakthrough using potent spiritual medicines!
¡°It¡¯s not entirely hopeless¡ ording to rumors, during Qingzhu Mountain¡¯s auction gatherings, there have been instances where a ¡®Spirit Enlightenment Pill¡¯ was sold. It temporarily enhances a cultivator¡¯sprehension¡ The final bid reportedly went for hundreds of spirit stones.¡±
¡°If I had one, it might elerate my understanding of Harmony with Nature?¡±
¡°Unfortunately, even with spirit stones, there¡¯s no guarantee I could acquire such a pill.¡±
Fang Xi sighed and began tidying up the wolf pelt on his table.
He had spent a hefty sum to purchase this wolf pelt in Three Origins City - specifically, the hide of a faewolf! Alongside it, he also collected a ne made from wolf teeth as an added bonus.
These items would be valuable for future trade in the southern wilderness, equivalent to spirit stones!
However, given Fang Leng¡¯s status, asionally gathering mythical beast materials could pass as personal interest, but amassingrge quantities would draw unwanted attention. Moreover, the primary source for such materials in Three Origins City was the Hunters Guild!
¡®Someday, all these resources will bear the name Fang!¡¯
¡®But not yet.¡¯
Fang Xi carefully stored away the faewolf pelt and headed towards the training grounds.
Sun Hongdie, having been thoroughly discouraged by him, had already returned home to get married. Now, only a few remaining students practiced at the training grounds, all of whom were recent recruits.
¡°Master!¡±
Qing Sang, now promoted to Da-shixiong (eldest disciple), had benefited greatly from ample food and resumed martial arts training. Over the past year, he grew rapidly, taking on a more mature appearance resembling a young adult.
Notably, after defeating an entire street¡¯s worth of beggars, he had reimed their territory from rival gangs. This allowed him to gather many young beggars who not only begged but also monopolized businesses like vegetable trading and night soil collection. While they didn¡¯t earn vast riches daily, their ie far surpassed that of ordinary civilians, enabling them to secure lodging near Fang Xi¡¯s dojo.
¡°Hmm¡ Already achieved three transformations of blood and qi? Excellent work!¡± With just one nce, Fang Xi recognized Qing Sang¡¯s breakthrough in martial arts realm.
¡°This is all thanks to Master¡¯s guidance!¡± Qing Sang responded humbly with a smile. ¡°I still fall far shortpared to A-Dai¡ He condensed his true force over a month ago. Considering this year¡¯s Martial Union Eight Horses selection, I believe Shidi has a high chance of being chosen. When that happens, Master¡¯s dojo will gain significant renown.¡±
The Martial Union refers to the alliance of dojos, and as for these new talent evaluations, Fang Xi had always been indifferent.
However, what surprised him was finding out that among the contenders this time was Zhang Mingding from Baiyun Dojo!
Recalling how Zhang Junming had adopted Mingding when he was merely a beggar, it broughtfort knowing that his achievements would surely please Zhang Junming¡¯s spirit wherever he may be now.
¡°By the way¡ Where¡¯s A-Dai?¡±
Fang Xi nced around but didn¡¯t spot A-Dai, prompting him to curiously inquire:
¡°A disturbance broke out near the street corner,¡± Qing Sang calmly replied. ¡°A-Dai Shidi, being courageous and just, has already gone to handle it. It¡¯s the ck Tiger Gang causing trouble again, demanding increased monthly payments¡¡±
¡°I see.¡±
Fang Xi understood the situation.
In recent years, the gang dynamics in Three Origins City had be increasingly chaotic, undergoing several major shifts. Surprisingly, Fang Xi bore some responsibility for this upheaval!
It all stemmed from the fall of the Huang Family!
As one of the four prominent ns, since their strongest martial expert was brutally defeated by Fang Xi and their ancestral home left devastated, the Huang Family rapidly declined. Within months, they were annihted with not a single survivor!
The remaining three great families and other influential groups quietly divided the Huang Family¡¯s former interests among themselves. With the copse of such a colossal entity like the Huang Family, those above soughtrger shares while smaller factions below fiercely fought over scraps.
This led to considerable chaos, marked by intense gang rivalries during that period. However, these conflicts generally did not affect ordinary citizens.
Shortly thereafter, a young man dressed in green approached the dojo from outside.
His features remained ordinary, eyes devoid of spirit, giving off a dull and vacant appearance.
¡°Qing Mu-Shixiong!¡±
¡°Greetings, Qing Mu-Shixiong!¡±
Despite hisckluster demeanor, the dojo apprentices dared not show any disrespect and promptly bowed to him.
Ah, A-Dai¡¯s full name was indeed Qing Mu, chosen by Fang Xi himself. Later, A-Dai adopted Qing Sang¡¯s surname as well.
However, both Qing Sang and Fang Xi still preferred calling him A-Dai.
¡°Master, Dage¡ it¡¯s taken care of.¡±
Qing Mu approached Fang Xi, first paying his respects before addressing Qing Sang.
He had now reached the dojo master realm. In other cities, he could easily open his own dojo¡ªwell, either for deception or legitimately establishing a martial lineage.
¡°Hmm, good that it¡¯s resolved. Eh?¡± Fang Xi stepped forward and felt Qing Mu¡¯s arm, noting, ¡°Your blood qi umtion is remarkably swift¡ The true force realm can¡¯t hold you back anymore, excellent, truly impressive¡¡±
Fang Xi nodded repeatedly, visibly delighted.
After all, the Protocosmic Divine Intent Diagram was casually drawn by him, yet Qing Mu managed to break through using it, confirming that his path was on the right track!
If Qing Mu could continue along the path of the Primordial True Art, eventually achieving True Force, it would signify that this art¡¯s foundation was solid andrgely free from significant ws.
¡°Unfortunately¡ as your teacher, I am merely at the true force realm myself. However, here¡¯s what we¡¯ll do -e tonight, I have some insights and experiences to discuss with you.¡±
Fang Xi publicly imed to be at the true force realm, even as dojo master.
After all, within the Martial Union itself, few individuals managed to break through to be True Strength Martial Artists.
Naturally, Fang Xi preferred not to draw undue attention.
¡°Master, does this mean our Primordial True Art could potentially lead to bing a martial artist?¡± Qing Sang¡¯s eyes lit up, quickly nudging Qing Mu¡¯s head towards Fang Xi. ¡°Hurry, thank your Master!¡±
Being a martial artist was truly prestigious! Although Three Origins City served as the capital of Ding Province, powerful factions strictly controlled ess to high-level martial arts and secret techniques.
Achieving the rank of martial artist represented reaching the upper echelons.
Consequently, how valuable would a cultivation technique be if it could potentially train one to be a martial artist? Even Qing Sang couldn¡¯t fathom its worth.
¡°Oh, thank you, Master.¡± Compared to Qing Sang¡¯s enthusiasm, Qing Mu remained somewhat dazed, only expressing gratitude when prompted by his brother¡¯s nudge.
Yuanhe Mountain.
Lei Ji Peak.
Linghu Shan reclined in his chair, facing a massive copper hotpot before him. Carved wooden charcoal, shaped like various beasts, emitted mes that eagerly licked the pot¡¯s base, causing the milky-white broth inside to boil vigorously.
Surrounding the hotpot were porcin tes piled high with beef,mb, and assorted vegetables. Nearby stood an ice-carved crystal basin filled with chilled fruits, both visually appealing and enticingly appetizing.
¡°Linghu Shan!¡±
Fang Xi approached and casually tossed over arge yellow gourd.
¡°Hm?¡±
Linghu Shan caught it, removed the stopper, and gulped down a hearty mouthful before exhaling contentedly, ¡°Excellent wine¡¡±
Fang Xi sat by the hotpot, picking up chopsticks to add meat while grumbling, ¡°I can¡¯t help but feel you¡¯re leading me astray. That so-called Zongshi¡¯s ¡®Worldly Heart Refinement¡¯ seems utterly ineffective¡¡±
¡°Ha ha, young friend, you¡¯re too impatient. It¡¯s been only a few years¡ This spirit monkey wine is superb; bring more next time!¡± Linghu Shan took another big swig, devouring chunks of meat as he spoke through a mouthful, somewhat muffled, ¡°Even with your exceptional talent, breaking through to Zongshi requires the right opportunity¡ In truth, if you achieve it within ten years, your martial arts aptitude could be unmatched for a century in Ding Province. Even those old codgers from the Grandmaster Association would be astonished.¡±
¡°Grandmaster Association? What organization is that?¡± Fang Xi¡¯s interest piqued.
Chatting with Linghu Shan always revealed some insider information, which was one of the reasons he asionally sought him out.
¡°The Grandmaster Association¡ it¡¯s a mysterious group spread throughout Great Liang. Membership requires being a True Astral Martial Saint, supposedly aiming to explore realms beyond the Martial Saint level¡¡± Linghu Shan seemed lost in thought.
¡°Beyond Martial Saint?!¡± Fang Xi¡¯s heart stirred. ¡°Have they found anything?¡±
¡°Unfortunately, no. The Zongshi realm appears to be the pinnacle for martial practitioners.¡± Linghu Shan shook his head regretfully.
¡°That truly is unfortunate.¡±
Fang Xi felt slightly disappointed.
He had initially believed this world might have Foundation Establishment body cultivators, only to find out that True Astral Martial Saint is indeed the limit!
¡°The Grandmaster Association consists of individuals who refuse to ept this limitation. They believe there must be higher realms beyond Martial Saint and thus began studying demons¡ Particrly focusing on the devil¡¯s immortality and magical energy traits, seen as potential keys to advancement. They conducted numerous gruesome experiments, but s, without any significant breakthroughs¡¡± Linghu Shan sighed deeply.
¡°Studying¡ devils?¡± Fang Xi suddenly sneered, ¡°When ites to gruesome acts, your Yuanhe Mountain¡¯s Seed Demon Technique certainly rivals them. Or perhaps¡ did you acquire this secret technique from the Grandmaster Association?¡±
¡°Haha, the Grandmaster Association is merely a loose organization. In my youth, I indeed joined it as an individual,¡± Linghu Shan admitted without denial.
¡°Looks like¡once I be a Zongshi, I should visit the Grandmaster Association myself,¡± Fang Xi resolved internally.
After finishing his meal, he stood up and dered, ¡°Linghu Shan, let¡¯s have another battle!¡±
Despite being only a Fourth Step martial artist, engaging with a Martial Saint might offer insights into harnessing true astral energy, taking the first step towards transforming True Force into True Astral Energy!
¡°Another fight?¡± Linghu Shan rolled his eyes andy back down immediately. ¡°Nope, not interested¡ Your secret technique with that light shield is too unfair - you can hit me, but I can¡¯t retaliate. It takes all the fun out of it¡¡±
Truthfully, Linghu Shan was genuinely curious about Ghostweary Fang Leng¡¯s secret technique. Unfortunately, Fang Xi guarded it closely, denying him any chance to observe it.
¡®Could it be some imitation of devil abilities?¡¯
Linghu Shan quickly changed the subject, guessing internally, ¡°In reality, whether one chooses the path of worldly indulgence or the route of life-and-deathbat for breakthroughs, the most crucial aspect is recognizing one¡¯s own heart. This serves as the starting point for bing a Zongshi!¡±
¡°A Zongshi¡¯s heart? My heart?¡± Fang Xi was taken aback.
Chapter 59: Persuasion
¡°My heart¡¡±
Descending from Yuanhe Mountain, Fang Xi employed his movement techniques to swiftly head towards Three Origins City.
As he traveled, his thoughts remained focused on the recent confrontation with Linghu Shan.
No, it was less of a duel and more a one-sided thrashing.
The might of a True Astral Martial Saint was overwhelming; Linghu Shan dominated throughout, with his projected Astral Qi exceptionally potent.
Several times, Fang Xi nearly couldn¡¯t resist the urge to unleash a magical artifact and directly take down that old fool!
Most crucially, even after the battle, his understanding of how to condense true astral energy and break through to Zongshi remained shrouded in confusion.
Upon entering Three Origins City, Fang Xi initially nned to return to the Interspace Dojo.
Suddenly, a thought struck him. He found a secluded spot, transformed back from Fang Leng¡¯s guise, and resumed his original appearance as Fang Xi. In the Outer City, near a modest dojo with two rows of swaying willow trees outside, its signboard gleamed anew. Inscribed on it were the words ¡®Baiyun Dojo¡¯, adorned with cloud patterns at the edges.
Within the practice field,
Zhang Mingding, his expression resolute, was immersing his hands in boiling venom from a metal pot to strengthen them.
Following Fang Xi¡¯s rmendation, he had be a disciple under Mu Canglong at Baiyun Dojo, making him Mu Piaomiao¡¯s little shidi.
Currently, he was diligently practicing the White Cloud Palm and had already reached the dark cloud stage!
He stood just a step away from achieving True Force as a ck cloud level practitioner.
¡°Excellent!¡±
Mu Canglong, sipping tea from his cherished purple y teapot nearby, nodded approvingly. ¡°Among Three Origins City¡¯s eighteen rising stars now, only a couple can consistently outmatch you¡ This year, Mingding, you have a strong chance in the Martial Union¡¯s eight steeds selection¡ cough cough¡¡±
¡°Dad, your health isn¡¯t fully recovered; you shouldn¡¯t be wandering around.¡±
Mu Piaomiao hurried over to support him. Years ago, her father narrowly escaped death in ckstone City, saved by one of Fang Xi¡¯s spirit pills. However, residual toxins persisted, causing his health to deteriorate steadily despite numerous consultations with healers, all to no avail.
Mu Canglong¡¯s evident joy likely stemmed from witnessing the dojo finally gaining a promising sessor.
Unbeknownst to them, a pair of eyes silently observed from atop the wall.
¡°Mu Canglong won¡¯tst much longer¡¡± Fang Xi sighed inwardly and swiftly entered the dojo with a flutter of his robes, disying remarkable agility that went unnoticed by any passing disciples.
In one of the finest private rooms, Lily was diligently embroidering a garment. The dense stitching revealed her meticulous attention and dedication.
¡°Gongzi¡¡±
As she embroidered, Lily gazed at the clothing, seemingly entranced.
¡°Ah¡¡± Fang Xi let out another sigh but chose not to enter the room, instead departing quietly.
His visit today had been driven by a desire from within, simply to check on the Baiyun Dojo members. Seeing they were doing well brought him peace of mind.
¡°My heart¡ My Zongshi¡¯s heart¡ is focused on bing stronger! Stronger!¡±
¡°This isn¡¯t the southern wilderness¡¯s cultivation realm; as long as my power grows sufficiently, strong enough¡ I can ovee anything!¡±
¡°Even if I break through to Zongshi level, there would be far fewer concerns¡ No need for hiding or concealing my identity.¡±
Fang Xi¡¯s expression gradually hardened: ¡°Unrestricted freedom¡ grounded in immense strength, this must be¡ my martial heart!¡±
Naturally, Three Origins City had its own ck market, and it was significantlyrger than ckstone City¡¯s.
At the end of a bustlingmercial street within the Inner City, if introduced by a familiar patron, one could pass through several discreet walls to enter another thriving avenue.
¡°Is this the ck market of Three Origins City?¡± Fang Xi walked amidst the stalls, ncing at rare weapons, secret manuals, precious medicines¡ Anything found here typically had questionable origins.
Moreover, there were numerous counterfeit goods!
Fang Xi knew this ck market well, having purchased some mythical beast materials from it before. However, his visit today wasn¡¯t for shopping.
After passing several small booths, Fang Xi approached a particr building.
¡°Thousand Golds Building?¡± Smirking, Fang Xi remarked, ¡°Shouldn¡¯t it be Thousand Pounds instead?¡±
He promptly entered.
¡°What can I get you, sir?¡± A waiter greeted him with a wide grin.
¡°I¡¯m looking for someone! Is Fatty Han around?¡± Fang Xi scanned the area, noticing it was a meat shop.
Despite losing his tai sui, Fatty Han had returned to his old trade, staying true to his roots.
¡°Fatty Han, the shopkeeper? Right away, sir!¡± The waiter, taken aback by Fang Xi¡¯s confident demeanor, assumed they were acquaintances and hurriedly went to inform Fatty Han.
The waiter jumped in surprise, sensing from Fang Xi¡¯s confident demeanor that they must be acquaintances. He hastily went inside to ry the message.
Soon, he returned to escort Fang Xi into a private room.
¡°Fang Xiong¡ Fatty Han has missed you terribly!¡±
As expected, within the room stood a mountain of meat.
Fatty Han sat on the floor surrounded byrge bowls filled with roasted chicken, duck, suckling pig¡ Various sulent meats piled high like miniature hills, awaiting his voracious consumption.
Upon seeing Fang Xi enter, he promptly dropped the chicken leg in hand and warmly greeted him.
¡°Fatty Han, you¡¯ve gotten even fatter than before!¡± Fang Xi couldn¡¯t help but tease, noticing the increased bulk since theirst encounter.
It was indeed their first meeting since arriving in Three Origins City.
With a wave of his hand, Fatty Han dismissed the waiter. Turning serious, he looked at Fang Xi and dered, ¡°Fang Xiong, your visit to the ck market surely means there¡¯s something you need old Han to handle. Be it scaling mountains of des or enduring seas of boiling oil, just say the word!¡±
¡°No need for such drastic measures involving your hefty thousand pounds,¡± Fang Xi shook his head. ¡°I simply want you to keep an eye out for mythical beast materials in the ck market. I¡¯m willing to pay top prices¡¡±
With that, he tossed Fatty Han a heavy pouch filled with gold.
¡°Mythical beast materials? No problem¡ Although rare, they do surface periodically!¡± As Fatty Han epted the pouch, his smile became even more genuine. ¡°By the way, Fang Xiong, after ourst meeting, where did you go?¡±
¡°Just wandered around here and there¡ Once you receive the materials, store them here, and I¡¯ll collect them every so often.¡±
After giving these instructions, Fang Xi prepared to leave.
¡°Wait, Fang Xiong¡¡± Fatty Han called out to stop him. ¡°Are you aware¡ that Baiyun Dojo has recently gotten into trouble?¡±
¡°Oh?¡± Unaware of this development, Fang Xi halted immediately. ¡°Please enlighten me¡¡±
¡°It¡¯s rted to the Martial Union affairs again. Since the Huang Family¡¯s downfall, their covertly controlled ¡®Flying Rainbow Dojo¡¯ and ¡®Yellow Jade Dojo¡¯ have faced consecutive setbacks, significantly weakening their influence. They were forced to withdraw from the core circle of the Martial Union. Coincidentally, over the past two years, several smaller dojos have rapidly risen in prominence¡ This sparked a power struggle! And just at this time, with the recent eight steeds selection underway, Zhang Mingding from Baiyun Dojo got entangled in it as well¡¡±
Fatty Han swiftly provided the intelligence.
¡°It seems¡ some people don¡¯t want smaller dojos gaining prominence and challenging their position,¡± Fang Xi¡¯s eyes darkened thoughtfully.
This wasn¡¯t just about Zhang Mingding¡¯s situation; his own Interspace Dojo might be at risk as well!
¡®Hmph, those individuals likely underestimate the prowess of Ghostweary Fang Leng!¡¯ Fang Xi muttered to himself before asking, ¡°Do you know which specific dojos?¡±
¡°Savage Wind Dojo¡¯s patriarch, Old Master Ximen, was once hailed as the Martial Union¡¯s top martial artist. However, he was consistently suppressed by the Huang Family. Now, it appears he harbors ambitions to consolidate power within the Martial Union¡¡± Fatty Han promptly replied.
¡°Many thanks.¡±
Fang Xi bowed with sped hands and turned to leave.
Of course, he wouldn¡¯t take Fatty Han¡¯s word blindly, but further investigation would reveal the truth.
Watching Fang Xi depart, Fatty Han immediately summoned a waiter, ¡°I recall¡the Ximen n secretly lends money at high interest rates, right? Quickly send more people to borrow from them, don¡¯t worry about the high interest¡ Wait!¡±
As the waiter nodded and prepared to exit, Fatty Han called out again, ¡°Never mind, forget this matter!¡±
He still felt an inexplicable unease around Fang Xi.
Even though it seemed like taking advantage of the situation, Fatty Han wanted to avoid any actions that might displease Fang Xi¡
¡°Savage Wind Dojo, Ximen n?¡±
After leaving the ck market, Fang Xi pondered and decided against immediately transforming into Ghostweary to carry out the killings.
Otherwise, by tomorrow, rumors would spread throughout Three Origins City that the entire Ximen n met their tragic end due to stepping out with their left foot first.
¡®Would anyone believe such a tale? Unless they could prove Ghostweary was mentally deranged¡¡¯
¡®If I follow Linghu Shan¡¯s advice to act like an ordinary person, wouldn¡¯t I just be allowing myself to be ughtered? How frustrating!¡¯
¡®His path of experiencing worldly life to temper his heart is not mine!¡¯
¡®My heart¡ My heart¡¡¯
Deep in thought, Fang Xi entered a dim alleyway.
Upon emerging from it, he was no longer Fang Xi but had taken on the appearance of Fang Leng!
At the Interspace Dojo.
Qing Sang emerged with a gentle smile on his face, ready to return home.
Snap!
In the next instant, a pebble whizzed towards him, but he swiftly caught it. ¡°Who¡¯s there?¡±
A fleeting shadow shed and vanished.
Qing Sang immediately gave chase.
The pursuit led them quickly into an empty alleyway.
¡°Qing Sang¡ seeing Qing Mu surpass you day by day must be quite unsettling, isn¡¯t it?¡± The figure turned around, wearing a mask that concealed all but his eyes.
¡°Hmph, such a tiresome trick!¡± Qing Sang assumed a fighting stance.
His bond with Qing Mu was unbreakable, forged through life-and-death experiences!
¡°Chuckle¡ Your master never truly favored you; it was always Qing Mu¡ One day, he will pass everything onto Qing Mu, not you!¡± The masked manughed. ¡°Moreover¡ impending doom awaits the Interspace Dojo, did you know?¡±
¡°Haha¡ trying to scare me with empty threats? When I was risking my life on the streets against wild dogs, who knows where you were hiding!¡±
Qing Sang roared furiously and threw a powerful punch.
Having diligently practiced the Primordial True Art for years, his cultivation base was quite advanced. He concentrated most of his strength into this single strike, generating an awe-inspiring force!
However, in the blink of an eye, the masked man effortlessly dodged the punch, moving like a spectral apparition!
As Qing Sang¡¯s punch missed, he felt a sharp pain in his back, causing him to lurch forward and copse onto the ground, struggling to get up for several moments.
¡°A True Force martial artist?¡± Qing Sang stared at the masked man, almost disbelievingly.
Since when had dojo masters be somonce?
¡°Heh heh¡ I¡¯m merely a vanguard; behind me lies the true authority, a grand martial artist¡ And your Interspace Dojo only has two measly fighters¡¡±
The masked man spoke calmly, ¡°Whether you perish with the dojo or find a path to survival depends solely on your choice!¡±
Chapter 60: The Arena
In Three Origins City, on the eighth day of the eighth month.
The Martial Union convened its assembly, gathering numerous dojo masters together.
¡°Hey, old brother Zhang!¡±
¡°Hear that Old Hu took another concubine recently? Still going strong as ever!¡±
¡°Aren¡¯t you Old Master Ximen from Fierce Wind Dojo? Surprising to see you here!¡±
Fang Xi stood to the side, mingling with other disillusioned dojo masters, uninterested in engaging in superficial business ttery.
Therger dojos dominated the Martial Union, setting so-called rules that effectively raised barriers, making it difficult for neers like himself.
This restrictive environment significantly contributed to Intervale Dojo¡¯s previous dismal business.
Mu Canglong was also among the crowd, his face beaming as he conversed animatedly with a female dojo master in her forties. He didn¡¯t recognize Fang Xi at all. After all, the current Fang Xi wore Fang Leng¡¯s visage.
With the muscle and bone transformation capabilities of a fourth-step martial schr,bined with minor cultivation techniques, even a Zongshi would struggle to discern his disguise.
Their gathering ce was Tailwind Hall in Three Origins City.
Not only was this hall exquisitely ornate, but its architecture resembled the character ¡®»Ø¡¯ (Hui), featuring private booths surrounding a massive central stage on all sides.
The stage could host performances, dances, or¡martial contests!
After some modest pleasantries, the numerous dojo masters took their seats.
In a sh, an elderly man with white hair and beard, sporting a bright red flesh tumor on his forehead, leaped onto the arena floor. With fists cupped towards the crowd, he announced, ¡°Ladies and gentlemen¡ today¡¯s Martial Union gathering aims to select the ¡®Eight Steeds¡¯. Any willing apprentice under twenty years from participating dojos may register. Let the martial contests begin!¡±
Being named among the ¡®Eight Steeds¡¯ not only brought prestige but also represented significant support from the Martial Union for further development, enhancing one¡¯s dojo reputation along the way. The benefits were numerous, making thepetition fiercely intense.
Qing Mu, representing Intervale Dojo, had naturally registered early, eagerly awaiting his turn to step onto the arena floor.
¡°The first match: Yang Jian from Qingxuan Dojo versus Pan Miaomiao from Bao Ping Dojo!¡±
Fang Xi remainedposed, seated firmly in his taishi chair. Sipping tea, he observed the opening bout unfold on the arena floor.
¡°Bao Ping Dojo actually sent a woman topete?¡± A nearby white-haired dojo master couldn¡¯t help but exim.
¡°Old Brother Zhao might not know, but Pan Miaomiao is already a martial apprentice with three transformations of blood and qi!¡± Another dojo master exined to Gym Leader Zhao, ¡°She practices Bao Ping Dojo¡¯s ¡®Bao Ping Seal¡¯, a profound and intricate martial art. It¡¯s said to surpass ordinary third-rate techniques significantly, reaching near second-rate martial skill standards.¡±
As expected, within just three moves, Pan Miaomiao swiftly knocked Yang Jian off the arena, decisively winning the first match.
¡°Master, they fight so quickly!¡± Qing Sang remarked as she watched pair after pair ascend the arena stage, each round swiftly determining a winner.
¡°Indeed¡ In Qi and Blood martial arts, even a slight edge in skill can lead to overwhelming superiority in actualbat! After all, our focus is on defeating an opponent with a single move¡ If a match goes beyond thirty exchanges without a clear winner, it¡¯s essentially just for show!¡±
Fang Xi set down his teacup, imparting wisdom to his student.
¡°Dojo Master Fang, your insight is spot-on,¡± Gym Leader Zhao responded, his eyes brightening despite himself. ¡°May I inquire where your esteemed dojo trains its disciples?¡±
¡°I am humble Fang Leng, founder of Intervale Dojo.¡± Fang Xi smiled slightly.
¡°Intervale Dojo?¡± Gym Leader Zhao blushed, embarrassed that despite his extensive knowledge, he had never heard of this dojo name. He could only feign amusement to cover his ignorance.
At that moment, the elderly man with facial tumors shouted from above, ¡°Next match¡ Qing Mu from Intervale Dojo versus Song Sifei from Great Peng Dojo!¡±
¡°Go ahead!¡± Fang Xi urged Qing Mu, who stood nearby, seemingly dazed.
¡°Oh!¡± With a vacant expression, Qing Mu acknowledged themand, walked to the arena edge, and climbed onto the tform¡
¡°Uh, that¡¡± Gym Leader Zhao looked at Qing Mu with pity. ¡°Is this child truly clueless? The steps are right next to him¡¡±
In reality, most young warriors, seeking to impress with their agility, would leap onto the arena using acrobatic techniques.
Seeing someone like Qing Mu simply walking up was indeed rare¡
However, Qing Sang understood that beneath A-Dai¡¯s clumsy exteriory a focused determination. He genuinely didn¡¯t care about others¡¯ perceptions; when his master instructed him to step onto the stage, he did so without hesitation, and if told to fight, he would engage without question!
¡°Begin!¡±
Song Sifei, d in blue attire revealing his muscr arms, shed a hint of delight upon seeing Qing Mu enter the arena.
As soon as the referee announced the start, his arms moved swiftly, unleashing the Great Peng Iron Wing Fist towards Qing Mu!
To Song Sifei, encountering such an opponent who couldn¡¯t even jump onto the arena tform felt incredibly fortunate for his first match!
¡°Agh!¡±
Before Song Sifei could react, a sharp pain struck his chest, sending him flying off the arena floor.
¡°How¡did I lose?¡± Confusion spread across his face, unable toprehend how he had been defeated by this apparent fool.
¡°Hmm?¡±
¡°True force?¡±
¡°A cultivator?¡±
Apart from the well-informed major dojos and higher-ups, the smaller dojos were left utterly stunned.
¡°Who is this young man? Already a cultivator at such an age!¡±
Mu Canglong, astonished, turned to Zhang Mingding beside him and said, ¡°He¡¯s your formidable adversary. If you encounter him, it¡¯s best to concede!¡±
Canglong deeply understood the stark difference between a cultivator and a martial apprentice.
¡°He¡is truly that strong?¡± Zhang Mingding, having won one match himself, seemed unconvinced.
¡°Not only strong, but his innate talent¡probably only matches your Da-shixiong Fang Xi.¡± Mu Canglong sighed, wondering where his exceptionally gifted eldest disciple had gone now.
¡°Old Master Ximen, please observe!¡±
In Tailwind Hall¡¯srgest private booth, an elderly man with robust hands and amanding presence sat quietly, puffing on his golden pipe. His gaze was fixed on Qing Mu as he entered the arena.
Beside him, a middle-aged cultivator bowed respectfully and said, ¡°That¡¯s Qing Mu, just like Zhang Mingding, from a small dojo¡¡±
¡°Hmph, Baiyun Dojo is one thing, but this Intervale Dojo dared to open without even seeking our endorsement! Clearly, they hold us in contempt!¡±
Another well-rounded cultivator stroked his neatly trimmed mustache with a smile. This was Ximen He, the proprietor of Fierce Wind Dojo and son of Old Master Ximen: ¡°Just their luck, stumbling upon a prodigy. And some within the alliance want to groom him¡ Fear not, Father. I¡¯ve rigged today¡¯s draw beforehand, and arrangements have been made for the next match. Thatd will be carried off the arena floor, guaranteed!¡±
¡°A-He!¡± Old Master Ximen suddenly red sharply at his son.
During moments of contentment, he resembled a simple vige farmer, but when enraged, he transformed into an intimidating wrathful deity, leaving Ximen He breathless with fear. ¡°Father¡¡±
¡°I¡¯ve told you before, avoid such underhanded tricks; they tarnish our Ximen n¡¯s reputation. Shutting down a mere small dojo is as simple as lifting a finger - there¡¯s no need for such deceitful tactics.¡± Old Master Ximen shook his head and continued, ¡°Moreover¡ you fail to understand the broader picture!¡±
¡°The broader picture?¡± Ximen He seemed taken aback.
¡°Yes¡ The Martial Union has be too chaotic and requires consolidation; this is the intention of those above us.¡± Old Master Ximen leisurely refilled his pipe with tobo. ¡°The Huang Family may have left, but there¡¯s still the Qian Family¡ With their support secured, these minor issues below hardly matter. As for that Qing Mu fellow, he¡¯ll soon be your own dog. Is it wise to kill one¡¯s own dog outright? What a waste!¡±
¡°The Qian Family, one of the four great ns, supports us now?¡± Ximen He¡¯s eyes lit up. ¡°Then we truly have nothing to fear¡ Ha ha, Father, your foresight and strategy are unmatched!¡±
He couldn¡¯t wait to witness the crestfallen faces of his opponents once everything unfolded.
¡°A-Dai, well done.¡±
As A-Dai stepped off the arena floor, he maintained his distant, absent-minded demeanor.
However, Gym Leader Zhao beside Fang Xi couldn¡¯t contain his excitement. ¡°Brother Fang¡ I have a granddaughter, just turned sixteen, blossoming beautifully. Would you consider arranging a marriage?¡±
Fang Xiughed it off, skillfully evading the topic.
Qing Sang patted A-Dai¡¯s shoulder. ¡°Great job, Qing Mu¡ Here, have a meat bun to boost your energy for the next round!¡±
He produced a steaming paper-wrapped bundle of buns while speaking.
¡°Big brother¡¡±
Qing Mu nced at Qing Sang, took a big bite of the meat bun, and shed a childlike grin.
¡°For the next match¡ Intervale Dojo¡¯s Qing Mu versus Fierce Wind Dojo¡¯s Ximen Zhong!¡± announced the elderly man with facial tumors from atop the arena.
¡°Another early turn, Brother Fang. Your disciple may be skilled, but luck hasn¡¯t been on his side¡¡± Gym Leader Zhao shook his head. ¡°Ximen Zhong is the personal son of Ximen He, the leader of Fierce Wind Dojo, trained directly by him. He has already attained true force proficiency¡¡±
¡°Go ahead!¡± Fang Xi said calmly to A-Dai.
A-Dai nodded and entered the arena. Across from him stood a young man d in scarlet robes, his face filled with arrogance. ¡°So you¡¯re Qing Mu, huh? If I don¡¯t knock you off this stage within twenty moves, I¡¯ll take your surname!¡±
Below the arena,
¡°Master! Earlier, a ck-clothed man approached me and instructed me to secretly mix this powder into A-Dai¡¯s food!¡± Qing Sang, visibly conflicted, stepped closer to Fang Xi and handed him a yellow paper packet. ¡°I couldn¡¯t do it¡¡±
Fang Xi nodded, epting the package and quickly examining its contents. ¡°Muscle-Burning Powder? Impressive¡ They intended for my disciple to die in the arena?¡±
¡°What? A-Dai, he?¡± Qing Sang recoiled as if struck by lightning, taking several steps backward.
¡°Don¡¯t worry, A-Dai always trusted you; otherwise, why would he have eaten those buns?¡± Fang Xi chuckled heartily, his gaze fixed on the arena.
On the stage, figures moved swiftly, exchanging over a dozen moves within moments.
¡°Damn it, you¡¯ve forced my hand.¡±
Cornered in the arena, Ximen Zhong¡¯s face twisted with ferocity, his hands moving like the wind.
¡°Secret Technique: Fierce Mountain Palm!¡±
His palms instantly turned crimson, unleashing a flurry of strikes akin to ghostly apparitions, filling the air with scarlet palm shadows.
¡°Not good!¡±
Below the stage, Mu Canglong looked on with terror. ¡°This is the lethal secret move from the Fierce Wind Dojo. Once unleashed, it invariably results in death or grave injury!¡±
Several elderly spectators closed their eyes, unable to bear witnessing the oue.
In the next instant, A-Dai stood firmly, rooted to the spot, slowly releasing a single palm strike.
The strike was unremarkable, devoid of any intricate finesse, yet perfectly executed!
p!
A-Dai¡¯s palm effortlessly evaded the barrage of shadowy attacks, striking directly against Ximen Zhong¡¯s chest and sending him flying off the arena.
Ximen Zhong stood stunned, momentarily frozen.
Suddenly!
BANG!
A bloody hole erupted in his back, spilling out countless organs mixed with shattered bones, resembling an explosion!
Secret Technique: Primordial Limitless Strike!
Chapter 61: Ominous Fame
¡°Good job!¡±
Amidst the shocked audience, Fang Xi pped and cheered first.
¡°A-Dai truly possesses extraordinary talent, to have mastered even my secret technique from the Primordial True Art!¡±
Fang Xi was delighted within his heart.
If A-Dai could already unleash this secret technique, it meant that he would have no problem cultivating future True Forces. The Primordial True Art had been thoroughly revised, and now it was a formidable martial art known as ¡°Unbreakable.¡±
In contrast, Dojo Master Zhao, who sat nearby, had absolutely no idea what joy filled Fang Xi¡¯s heart. His ass twitched slightly, moving away to keep distance between them.
As for the marriage proposal earlier? That must¡¯ve been him having a seizure, spouting nonsense! This Intervale Dojo was home to lunatics both master and disciple¡ªkeeping one¡¯s distance seemed prudent indeed!
¡°Insolent! You dare to kill my Zhong¡¯er? Give me your life!¡±
Inside the private booth, Ximen He had been smiling as he watched the match from his seat, but upon seeing his son¡¯s back explode and his organs spill out, his face first filled with disbelief, then exploded with fury. With a furious roar, he smashed through the window, descending from above like a god of war, and struck out with his palm.
Qing Mu raised both arms high, using a posture simr to that of the legendary King of Qin lifting a heavy weight to block the attack head-on.
Bang!
He staggered backward seven steps, leaving deep footprints on the arena floor with each one, before his cheeks flushed red and he coughed up a mouthful of blood. ¡°True strength?! How dare you kill my son¡ªgive me your life to pay for it! Not just you, your family, your teachers¡everyone must die!¡±
Ximen He¡¯s rage burned hot; he was already a martial artist by cultivation, and being unable to defeat Qing Mu with a single strike only fanned the mes of his fury. With another enraged shout, he unleashed two palms simultaneously, unleashing True Force like crashing waves.
Crack!
In the next moment, there was a sh of movement. Fang Xi had appeared beside Qing Mu, grabbing Ximen He¡¯s wrist with his right hand. ¡°You¡¯re trying to kill me? I can¡¯t pretend not to hear such words!¡±
¡°Hm?¡± Ximen He stared at Fang Xi in disbelief, feeling as if his years of painstakingly cultivated True Force had encountered an iron wall he could not break through no matter how he tried.
¡°A martial artist? How is that possible?¡±
Most dojos only taught third-rate martial arts; True Force cultivation was considered the limit! Onlyrge, prestigious dojos like Fierce Wind Dojo offered second-rate training, which could help cultivators surpass the martial artist rank and cultivate True Force!
But weren¡¯t all Intervale Dojo¡¯s facilities dpidated? How could they possibly¡?
Before Ximen He could fully process this thought, he saw the smile on Fang Xi¡¯s face gradually turn colder.
Crack!
Fang Xi forcefully crushed Ximen He¡¯s wrist bone with a snap, then kicked out with his other foot tond squarely on Ximen He¡¯s chest.
¡°Ugh!¡±
Ximen He¡¯s chest caved in, blood mixed with viscera spraying from his mouth as his body flew off the arena floor andnded next to his son.
¡°Heyer?¡± A furious roar echoed from the VIP booth.
Old Gentleman Ximen looked at his dead son and grandson¡ His hand clenched so tightly around his pipe that it broke, his eyes shing with a fury that could consume all in its path.
¡°Damn it!¡±
The martial arts master watching from below the arena felt cold sweat bead on his forehead as he took in those two corpses lying side by side.
¡°What happened? How did things suddenly turn out like this?¡±
Zhang Mingding was stunned.
¡°It was Ximen Zhong who made the first move, but he ended up being killed in retaliation¡ Ximen He couldn¡¯t bear to let him get away with bullying, yet even he met a violent end¡ It seems they truly encountered someone formidable.¡±
Mu Canglong exhaled slowly. ¡°But sometimes¡ªno, most of the time¡ªthe Fierce Wind Dojo doesn¡¯t y by the rules!¡±
¡°This young man has cultivated to be a martial artist, and Intervale Dojo actually carries on the legacy of such a master?¡±
¡°Uh-oh, Old Gentleman Ximen used to be the Martial Union¡¯s top fighter; his cultivation base is already at the steel-boned level¡¡±
¡°Heh, finally some good entertainment.¡±
The expressions of the spectators below varied greatly.
¡°Ximen old man, what are you yelping about?¡±
Facing Old Gentleman Ximen¡¯s murderous gaze, Fang Xi merely scratched his ear. ¡°Once they step onto this arena floor and sign that death certificate, no one can me anyone else if they get beaten to death. Your son vited the rules by bullying someone smaller than him; getting beaten to death is actually quite lenient for him. I haven¡¯t even settled ounts with you yet!¡±
¡°Hmph!¡±
Old Gentleman Ximen clenched his fists, seemingly ready to attack at any moment¡ªbut he never did jump onto the arena floor.
The young were quick on their feet, after all!
He was already old, and moreover, his eyesight was keen as ever. Despite being a third-step martial arts master with a steel-like body, this young fighter could easily beat his son to death, which meant that his cultivation base must be at least second step.
In a life-and-death battle, Old Gentleman Ximen had little confidence in victory.
Although martial artists could suppress blood qi to maintain physical function, age¡had taken its toll on his heart.
This was his greatest weakness!
On top of that, Old Gentleman Ximen harbored another worry within himself.
Worst-case scenario¡if this opponent was a master of the third step, then he absolutely could not afford to make a move today.
Otherwise, the entire Fierce Wind Dojo would be forfeit!
Fortunately, despite his age, the man had long since honed himself into a state of expertise¡ªand thus had long since prepared for every contingency!
¡°Please, Young Master Qian, look at these two viins,¡± he said as he bowed before them. ¡°They bullied this old man, who is weak and frail, and brutally beat him until they killed both his son and grandson¡¡±
In an instant, tears welled up in his eyes, and he begged, ¡°Please bring justice on behalf of this elder!¡±
Beside Old Gentleman Ximen stood a young man dressed in fine clothes, whose presence must have gone unnoticed by everyone else. He wore an jade crown atop his head, and his robes were embroidered with gold coins along the hem, while his smile was gentle, his eyes deep, and his bearing lofty, giving off the air of a descendant of a noble family.
The sight of those golden coins made each of the other dojo masters¡¯ expressions shift. ¡°It¡¯s the Qian Family!¡±
¡°The Qian n is one of the four great families¡ªcould it possibly reach its hand into our world of martial arts?¡±
¡°This Intervale Dojo is in trouble¡¡±
¡°I am Qian Qiming! I have been invited to partake in this grand event.¡±
Qian Qiming¡¯s smile was warm and genuine, devoid of any pretentiousness; his mannerisms were like a gentle spring breeze, putting everyone at ease. ¡°It truly is unfortunate that two such skilled fighters should meet their demise¡¡±
¡°What? Are you here for Fierce Wind Dojo?¡±
Fang Xi scoffed coldly, cutting straight to the heart of the matter.
The smile on Qian Qiming¡¯s face froze slightly¡ªthe man standing before him certainly didn¡¯t y by the rules.
Or perhaps he was simply too direct!
How could someone rip off the band-aid like this, without a hint of fear for his own family legacy?
After a pause, Qian Qiming¡¯s smile also turned frosty. ¡°This humble servant is indeed unskilled, but it just so happens that I hold the position of judicial magistrate within the prefectural capital. This esteemed brother has engaged in mortalbat with one of my disciples, and ording to reason, you ought to pay a visit to the official residence¡¡±
In matters concerning life-and-death decrees, the principle was that unless civilians brought them up, officials would not pursue them. Were they to insist on being strict about these terms, it would be illegal! Qian Qiming was no fool¡ªhe knew how to leverage the power of the government against his opponent.
Of all the masters present, who dared defy the officials?
That was the irresistible tide of fate¡ªno matter how powerful your martial prowess, if you were deemed guilty, you would be arrested and imprisoned, helpless to defend yourself.
Qian Qiming had seen many proud and unruly martial artists in his time.
But how did it end up going for him?
¡°Ah¡what a pity,¡± Mu Canglong sighed quietly to himself; he felt that this Fang Leng would not have a good end.
¡°Officials, I¡¯m so afraid!¡± Qian Qiming scoffed coldly, finally realizing what he truly desired at this moment. ¡°Young Master Qian, do you know that stepping out with your left foot first is deeply offensive?¡±
¡°What are you talking about?¡± Qian Qiming frowned, but the expression on his face quickly changed from one of mirth to sorrow as his personal attendant whispered urgently into his ear.
Qian Qiming¡¯s legs immediately went weak, and his smile turned into a pained expression, looking quiteical. ¡°Dare¡dare me to ask, sir¡what kind of rtionship¡do you share with that¡individual?¡±
¡°I am Fang Leng, who once walked the jianghu. The people of Three Origins City spared my life and bestowed upon me the nickname Ghostweary.¡±
Fang Xi sneered.
¡°Ghostweary!¡±
¡°So it was him?!¡±
A name lives on like a tree casts its shadow! In an instant, Tailwind Hall fell silent.
Why had the Huang Family, one of the four great ns, been annihted back then? Wasn¡¯t it because they angered this man? And now, the Qian n had done the same?
Qian Qiming¡¯splexion was stark white, as if he might faint at any moment.
¡°Ghostweary¡ Fang Leng?¡±
Old Gentleman Ximen felt his heart twist painfully, as if he had swallowed several kilograms of bitter medicine.
Why would you, Ding Province¡¯s most infamous demon, open a martial arts school here for no reason? Are you just here to scam people?
In the next instant, Fang Xi had already reached him, standing almost nose-to-nose.
¡°Aah!¡±
Before Old Gentleman Ximen could activate his True Strength, he found himself suddenly devoid of energy, his body growing cold and cold¡
As Ghostweary killed the Martial Union¡¯s former number one expert with a single strike, the old servant behind Qian Qiming drew his weapon, a fierce gleam shing through his eyes.
ng!
A sh of white light followed.
¡°Ah!¡± Qian Qiming screamed, blood spraying from his left leg, which was now missing its lower half.
¡°Do you find this satisfactory, distinguished gentleman?¡± The old servant bowed deeply, asking with utmost humility.
As members of highborn families, they enjoyed the glory afforded by their status all the time¡ªbut during times of crisis, they must also be prepared to sacrifice themselves for the sake of their ns!
¡°Hahaha¡ The Qian Family is far more sensible than the Huangs; get lost!¡±
Fang Xi waved his hand.
¡°Disciple, let us leave!¡±
With that, he vanished from Tailwind Hall, appearing beside Qing Sang and Qing Mu before stepping out ahead of them.
The entire hall of martial masters fell silent.
¡°Master, you really¡are Ghostweary, who destroyed the Huang n?¡±
On their journey, Qing Mu remained silent and absentminded.
In contrast, Qing Sang¡¯s face was full of disbelief.
¡°Who is spreading these rumors? This master did not destroy the Huang n. I merely killed a few people and stole a handful of swords,¡± Fang Xi said as they walked.
Before long, they arrived at Intervale Dojo.
¡°But¡ Master, why must you break this peaceful life to admit that you are Ghostweary?¡± Qing Sang suddenly asked another question.
¡°Because your actions have given me an example¡ People should still confront their own hearts.¡±
Fang Xiughed heartily. ¡°This master seeks unrestrained freedom, so why hide? Tonight¡you all leave first¡ªyes, take Sun Hongdie¡¯s family next door with you.¡±
Although the Qian Family had appeared to yield on the surface, it was unlikely that past events would be settled so easily. There would certainly be a great battle tonight! It wouldn¡¯t do for any innocent flowers or grasses to get caught in the crossfire.
Fang Xi¡¯s mind was brimming with excitement; he felt like his True Force was about to burst through his body. Naturally, he couldn¡¯t pass up such an opportunity. And moreover, embracing one¡¯s true self and acting without restraint wasn¡¯t necessarily suicidal.
If he truly couldn¡¯t defeat them tonight¡well, then he¡¯d just flee with the ck Cloud Purse!
As for gaining the title of zongshi, how could his own little life be less important?
This too stemmed from his true heart!
Chapter 62: Breaking Through to Martial Saint
The moon hung bright and clear overhead.
Around Intervale Dojo, silence had fallen without anyone noticing when it did.
¡°Midnight strikes three, be careful with fire!¡±
The night watchman struck his bronze gong and ppers as he slowly walked down the streets.
All the gates of Three Origins City were tightly shut, even changing out their guards to deploy more formidable Dingzhou soldiers.
On this night, countless peopley awake unable to sleep.
A storm wasing.
At Intervale Dojo¡¯s practice field, Fang Xi calmly practiced the Primordial True Art.
As for whether Qing Sang and Qing Mu could escape, he wasn¡¯t too concerned. After all, if he was fine, they would be fine as well. If he couldn¡¯t even protect himself, what use were they? And if they tried to capture him and threaten him? He never sumbed to threats. ¡°Harmony with Heaven and Earth, one with the cosmos?¡±
During movement training, Fang Xi felt his every strike burst forth from within him, overflowing with vigor. Just a little more, and the power would spew forth from his limbs and bones, transforming into something even more profound!
Whoosh!
At that moment, a figure seemed to emerge directly from the darkness, like a giant python bursting forth, muscles bulging on its arm, ws sharp as des, veins stark against its skin, and Fang Xi¡¯s assantunched its attack.
Boom!
Fang Xi appeared to have anticipated this move; he held out his right hand and blocked the sneak attack, unleashing a burst of Primordial True Strength!
Crack!
In the darkness, it was as if lightning had struck, freezing the attacker mid-strike.
In a duel between masters, such a brief opening was more than enough for one side to secure victory or defeat!
Fang Xi brought his left hand¡¯s fingers together, forming a fist, akin to how a mighty spirit god would brandish an axe, ready to cleave mountains apart¡ªbut then paused, swinging his fist around, and striking elsewhere.
Bang bang!
The courtyard wall was punched through, and a martial artist emerged: over three meters tall, covered in sinewy muscle, skin the color of ck iron. As the man crossed his arms before his chest, he let out a roar like that of a wild beast:
¡°Secret Technique: Myriad Beasts¡¯ Roar!¡±
Fang Xi¡¯s changed direction just in time, blocking the man¡¯s path.
The opponent¡¯s expression flickered, and they crossed their arms protectively over their chest.
Immediately after, he let out a pained groan and was sent flying with his arms broken, white bones peeking through the faintly visible cracks, at even greater speed.
Yet during this opening, the shadowy figure who had ambushed Fang Xi leapt away to perch atop the wall, his movements astonishingly agile, though his stature was exceedingly short, like that of a dwarf.
¡°Ghostweary Fang Leng?¡± The dwarf¡¯s eyes were emerald green as he emitted a venomous cry. ¡°He¡¯s gonna charge me extra¡ That intelligence from the prefectural capital is fucking inurate¡ªhow could they say this guy only has the strength of a third step martial arts master? Didn¡¯t you see how the old lion¡¯s arm got snapped off? This guy is a peak expert in the fourth step! Even saying he¡¯s a half-step zongshi would be more believable!¡±
¡°I just knew it. After revealing my identity, I figured there¡¯d be consequences.¡± Fang Xi withdrew his fist and stood straight, looking around. ¡°Come on out, everyone!¡±
Whoosh!
Amidst billowing robes, figures emerged one after another.
Beside the dwarf appeared a tall silhouette covered in golden fur, its arms draped limply before its body¡ªthe ¡®Iron Lion¡¯ who had ambushed Fang Xi earlier!
In addition, standing atop the roof of the house was a woman dressed in a long violet gown, holding a mandarin duck pike in her hand.
A lone figure with silvery hair and a pipe in his mouth slowly walked through the main gate: ¡°Ghostweary¡you¡¯vemitted countless offenses against thew, yet you dare to act so brazenly? Why not take one step back and swear never to set foot within Three Origins City¡¯s borders? We old men will withdraw, how about it?¡±
Though every single assant was at least a third-step martial artist, possessing steel-like bones, they were still people with families and livelihoods, and thus had no desire to recklessly throw their lives away.
If Fang Leng were only a third-step martial artist, this might be possible; however, the target of their attack far exceeded their expectations, naturally necessitatingpromise.
¡°Haha¡this is the imperial court, all bark and no bite!¡±
Fang Xi shook his head. ¡°However¡I must rely on each of you for my final move!¡±
As he spoke, his body rapidly expanded, bulging muscles swelling beneath his skin as veins snaked like pythons across his flesh. When he uttered hisst word, Fang Xi arrived before the old man, a palm asrge as a leaf faning down over his head.
¡°Reversing Big Dipper Stars!¡±
The one-eyed man smoked his pipe, but his movements were incredibly nimble, tapping points along Fang Xi¡¯s meridians with lightning speed.
The pipe pierced the air with a terrifying hiss!
In the next instant, their figures crossed.
Shhhf! Shhhf!
Red dots appeared on Fang Xi¡¯s skin, but his flesh rapidly writhed and healed itself.
The old man stumbled back several steps, coughing incessantly. ¡°Cough¡cough¡ Divine union with strength? As expected of a fourth-step martial schr¡ Hurry, he¡¯s gone mad trying to break through to Zongshi via a life-and-death battle. We can¡¯t make it too easy for him¡ªinitiate Protocol B immediately and deploy the Dingzhou Army!¡±
As he spoke, he retreated at top speed.
But Fang Xi was faster still, his footsteps like slithering snakes as he arrived before the one-eyed old man.
¡°Good nerve!¡± The violet-robed woman cried out sweetly, and her mandarin duck pike arrived where she had been first, already behind Fang Xi.
The short dwarf and Iron Lion attacked from either side, unleashing iparably powerful fists upon Fang Xi¡¯s vital points.
It was clear that this was an attack meant to force Fang Xi to defend himself¡ªthe old man might have been able to defeat the one-eyed man, but even if he did, being struck by three great martial artists would likely mean death!
¡°Sssshh!¡±
Just then, all four heard Fang Xi¡¯s breaths¡ªlike those of an ancient giant python, yet also akin to the thousand-year-old spirit turtle¡ªas they filled the courtyard. It seemed as though Fang Xi sucked the very wind and clouds into his lungs, causing his chest to swell high.
¡°Ha!¡±
A sudden p of thunder exploded within the courtyard.
Amidst this rumbling sound, carrying terrifying strength and force, all four were momentarily stunned, save for the old man.
This one narrow gap allowed Fang Xi to press his palm against the top of the old man¡¯s head just before everyone else could react. ¡°Secret Technique: Primordial Limitless!¡±
Wham!
His palm struck like the inverted Seal of Heaven, crushing down upon the old man as if Mount Tai had descended from above, inch by inch pressing him into the ground until his lower body was a bloody mess¡ªclearly dead.
Only then did Fang Xi turn around, grabbing the violet-clothed woman¡¯s mandarin duck pike.
¡°Die!¡±
But in the brief moment he¡¯d bought, he could only block the woman¡¯s weapon, leaving him vulnerable to the attacks of both the dwarf and Iron Lion.
Ka-pow!
The blows packed with the true force of a martial zongshi sounded like they were striking a copper bell when theynded on Fang Xi¡¯s body.
¡°No¡what is this?¡±
The dwarf stumbled backward, staring at its own hands, now covered in bloody holes. A wave of terror washed over it. ¡°Astral Qi?¡±
Under the moonlight, Fang Xi¡¯s clothing tore away where he¡¯d been struck, revealing pure white skin. Upon that skin floated a faintyer of pale blood-colored true astral energy.
The true astral energy hadsted for only a moment before dissipating¡ªbut it was enough to prevent Fang Xi from sustaining severe injury.
¡°You¡¯ve already broken through to Zongshi?!¡± The violet-robed woman¡¯s shrill voice pierced through the night sky.
¡°Just short of¡but I¡¯ve found the path,¡± said Fang Xi with a faint smile, pointing once more.
The violet-clothed woman immediately withdrew her mandarin duck pike and returned to defense, her body shielded by countless crescent-shaped des of light.
Even so, Fang Xi¡¯s finger could only reach three inches from her forehead before pausing.
But that was enough! A strand of blood-red Astral Qi appeared on Fang Xi¡¯s fingertip, piercing through the violet-clothed woman¡¯s forehead in a sh.
A red dot appeared on the woman¡¯s forehead; her body froze, and her vital energy instantly dissipated.
¡°Go!¡±
Iron Lion let out a furious roar as he stepped forward to block Fang Xi¡¯s path.
The dwarf shrieked and turned tail to flee!
Ghostweary was far too terrifying! Not only did this team sessfully surround and kill them, they even managed to break through to Zongshi during battle!
¡°Dingzhou Army orders: tten this courtyard!¡±
Escaping from the small training hall, the dwarf looked at the elite Dingzhou Army soldiers arrayed along the streets, especially their bows, and felt somewhat relieved again. Even if one were a Zongshi, they would surely perish under thebined attacks of such a force!
Surrounded by the Dingzhou Army¡¯s martial force, encircled with bows and crossbows, and under the pressure of skilled fighters, anyone would die!
The dwarf fled into the midst of the army, gasping for breath as sorrow washed over him once more¡ªIron Lion must have died at the hands of that vicious man while trying to buy him time to escape.
¡°Form the Wind Elephant Formation! Forward!¡± A military officer bearing golden armor on his left shoulder immediately ryed orders from atop the formation.
Wave after wave of soldiers surged forward, surrounding the entire dojo.
¡°Prepare your bows¡fire!¡±
A series of whistles sounded as arrows shot forth from within the courtyard.
¡°By chance, a godly dart flies like dice, shattering the highest peak of Zhong Nan Mountain!¡±
A figure stepped out from the yard, a ck iron shield floating beside them, holding a slender golden sword, their voice melodious.
In the next moment, a sh of swordlight flew from their hand, slicing through the armored soldiers like they were mere paper. With one swing, the dwarf and the elite officer disappeared beneath the light, never to be seen again.
The Dingzhou Army stared nkly at this scene, then let out terrified cries when the person finally departed. ¡°Officer¡the officer is dead!¡±
In the distant darkness, Fang Xi returned the Golden Flood Dragon Sword, feeling the majority of his remaining spiritual energy dissipate. He could only smile wryly. ¡°High-grade magical artifacts should still be used only by those in Late Stage Qi Refinement; forcing use beyond one¡¯s capabilities consumes too much energy¡¡±
¡°Ah well, since I¡¯ve already broken through, I can finally return home.¡±
With a flicker, the figure vanished without a trace.
Under the same night sky¡
Wham!
Qing Mu¡¯s A-Dai threw another punch, sending yet another cultivator flying.
Qing Sang hid behind Qing Mu, blood oozing from the corner of his mouth.
Ever since they arrived at this new world, they had been under constant attack by mysterious assants, and now they were forced to the brink of despair!
But just as the situation seemed direst, a brilliant burst of fireworks exploded over the Outer City. The besiegers suddenly retreated.
As Qing Mu and Qing Sang exchanged puzzled nces, a carriage sped down the official road, and a kindly old gentleman emerged.
Seeing Qing Mu and hispanion, he promptly smiled. ¡°Young heroes¡this elder is a representative of the provincial officials and local aristocracy. Rest assured, no one will harm you from here on out¡¡±
Chapter 63: Qingzhu Mountain, Continued
The southern wilderness cultivation realm.
A stream babbled along, and verdant trees stretched as far as the eye could see.
Boom!
Suddenly, a b of green stone lifted away, revealing a cer below.
Fang Xi held the Golden Flood Dragon Sword in one hand and a paper talisman in the other as he cautiously poked his head out from above.
Upon seeing that everything beyond the cers was as it had been, with few changes since before his departure, Fang Xi breathed a sigh of relief.
¡°I¡¯ve finally returned here.¡±
He took a deep breath, intoxicated by the spiritual energy unique to this region of the southern wilderness.
¡°Only I could have seeded¡ If another fourth-step martial schr were to attempt such a feat under the siege of Three Origins City¡¯s experts and military forces, even if they managed to break through, they would likely be surrounded and cornered.¡± ¡°At least I achieved what I came for.¡±
¡°Breaking through to True Astral Martial Saint is equivalent to reaching the third stage of Body Refinement in cultivation; you¡¯d beparable to ate-stage Qi Refinement grandmaster!¡±
¡°Even though the chaos surrounding Qingzhu Mountain¡¯s market has yet to end, we¡¯ll still be able to protect ourselves.¡±
When Fang Xi first escaped Qingzhu Mountain¡¯s market, it was because he feared the ensuing chaos¡ªbut now, he found himself eager to take part. After all, chaos provided the best foothold.
¡°No, I must remain cautious,¡± he thought. ¡°Right now, my priority is finding people and gathering information on the current situation!¡±
Fang Xi looked up at the sky, then chose a direction and swiftly departed using his movement techniques.
Yue Kingdom.
Jiahe City.
This was the nearest mortal city to Qingzhu Mountain.
Within the best restaurant in the city, Heavenly Immortal Pavilion, which stood at the center of Jiahe City, where rent was extremely expensive and every inch of space was highly valued, construction had been carried out with great elegance.
Most notably, its highest floor was typically reserved only for esteemed guests, though even the employees working there might not know who these honored customers were.
¡°Grandfather, rumor has it that the true owner behind Heavenly Immortal Pavilion is someone so powerful, even the mayor treats them with utmost respect,¡± the girl said curiously, her eyes shining as she nced around the room. ¡°I wonder just who this divine being might be?¡±
On the second-highest floor of Heavenly Immortal Pavilion, a luxurious and refined young woman sat within a private dining room, door wide open, asking her grandfather questions with eager curiosity.
¡°Heh heh, you¡¯vee to the right person¡¡± The old man chuckled, stroking his beard thoughtfully, then finally lowered his voice under the girl¡¯s repeated requests. ¡°The only ones worthy of receiving such deferential treatment from the mayor must be Xian Shi¡¡±
¡°Xian Shi?¡± At this, the girl¡¯s eyes lit up, darting left and right as if seeking a path upstairs.
Unfortunately, the highest floor¡¯s entrance seemed to be elsewhere.
At this moment, another youth d in teal approached the second floor and looked around. Then, as if having settled on a direction, he headed toward a wooden wall adorned with a painting of an ancient woman dressed in formal attire.
¡°This is it¡¡± Fang Xi murmured, walking through the door.
sh!
A burst of light engulfed him, swallowing him whole.
Fang Xi had studied An Introduction to the Dao of Arrays, so naturally, he recognized this as merely a minor restriction meant to deter mortals; it waspletely ineffective against cultivators like himself.
¡°Grandpa¡¡±
The girl tugged at her grandfather¡¯s sleeve, gazing after his disappearing figure.
The old man¡¯s eyes were zed over, and even when wine spilled onto him, he didn¡¯t notice. Only after several seconds did he turn back to his granddaughter. ¡°Yunyun, you¡¯re very fortunate. That teal-d youth must have been some great Xian Shi.¡±
¡°A Xian Shi¡,¡± the girl echoed, her eyes gleaming with admiration.
Beyond the restrictionsy wooden stairs.
Fang Xi climbed step by step until he reached the highest floor of the Heavenly Immortal Pavilion.
The interior was elegantly decorated, with every item perhaps beyond mortal reach; the view was also exceptionally expansive, offering a panorama of Jiahe City¡¯s scenery.
There were few seats, and only a handful of people sat within.
¡°Heh heh¡ This Daoist friend is Gao Hongdan, honored proprietor of the Heavenly Immortal Pavilion!¡± A rotund man dressed like an ordinary mortal smiled broadly as he cupped his hands respectfully to Fang Xi. ¡°This establishment wees all cultivators, so please feel free to stay and enjoy yourself here. All manner ofmon goods are provided free of charge.¡±
¡°Such generosity!¡±
Fang Xi returned the gesture.
Gao Hongdanughed heartily. ¡°I¡¯m fond of making friends myself¡ To be perfectly honest, it¡¯s also because Prince Eight of Yue Kingdom has been supporting me. If you would tell me your ce of origin, I wonder if you might be willing to join us at the pce as a spiritual advisor? As long as you¡¯re willing toe, there will be no shortage of spirit stones, and whatever else you desire from the mortal realm, whether it be gold and silver, precious gems, beautiful women, luxurious residences, fine horses, or rare antiques¡all will be provided!¡±
¡°Many thanks for Gao-daoist¡¯s kind offer, but unfortunately this humble one is still young and wishes to continue struggling along the Dao path.¡±
Fang Xi politely declined and promised, ¡°Once this humble one grows old or loses heart, I will definitelye to visit, and at that time, I hope Daoist friends will ept me.¡±
¡°Haha, of course, of course.¡± Gao Hongdan didn¡¯t force him further; he had seen many young cultivators like this before¡ªeach one more proud than thest¡ªand their hearts were set on lofty ideals.
Old cultivators who had reached their sixties, however, were his true target. Those whose Foundation Establishment aspirations had faded away could establish a family among nobility, or pass down their bloodline, provided they found themselves in the right circles. In such cases, riches and glory would naturally follow.
¡®Excellent, just as expected. All these weaklings.¡¯
Fang Xi scanned the crowd and discovered that aside from Gao Hongdan¡¯s Middle Stage Qi Refinement strength, most customers were at Initial Stage Qi Refinement.
In other words, he could ughter everyone here with ease by himself, ensuring his safety. He couldn¡¯t help but rx. After some thought, he sat down near a window to enjoy the scenery outside.
On this floor, some cultivators held bottles of spirit wine, drinking alone, while others enjoyed delicacies, and yet others conversed amicably.
After waiting for about an hour, Fang Xi heard neers next door discussing information he sought:
¡°Ah¡another refined corpse has appeared near Jiahe City. Old Song and I joined forces to defeat it, but he identally ingested some corpse poison¡¡± A young man in the thirdyer of Qi Refinement took a sip of wine, his expression filled with resentment. ¡°Even if the Situ n was annihted, their evil deeds harmed many!¡±
Fang Xi¡¯s heart jolted at these words, and he walked over.
¡°This Daoist friend is most courteous. My humble name is Chen Mo. May I ask what brings you here?¡± The young man seemed somewhat nervous as Fang Xi approached. After all, he was only in the thirdyer of Qi Refinement, and his friend beside him had an even lower cultivation base, in the secondyer. Both were on edge.
Most cultivators who mingled among mortals tended to be like this, cautious and self-conscious due to their low-level cultivation bases.
¡°I¡¯ve been cultivating in seclusion for the past two years,¡± Fang Xi said as he sat down rather casually. ¡°Just now, I heard about the destruction of the Situ n. What exactly happened?¡±
M Chen rxed visibly. ¡°The Situ nmitted countless atrocities against Red Leaf Valley, so they were ordered by Xuantian Sect to be annihted¡ That urred just two years ago.¡±
¡°Oh? How exactly did that happen? Which forces were involved?¡± Fang Xi continued questioning him.
Meng Mo was somewhat surprised, but this information was public knowledge and no one cared much about it. ¡°The Baiqiao Qi n, Qingye Xu n, Tianfu Shen n, Huangfeng Long n, and Song n all joined forces¡ Everything went smoothly when they razed Red Leaf Valley and Qingzhu Mountain Market, until they reached the Situ n¡¯s headquarters at ckwater Pond, where they suffered heavy casualties!¡±
¡°What kind of heavy casualties?¡± Fang Xi showed interest.
¡°Ah¡ The Situ n was notorious for its tyranny, but we only learned afterward that it was actually a demonic force descended from ¡®Situ Jiu,¡¯ a demonic cultivator who once terrorized their neighboring country. This ancestor excelled in corpse refinement techniques¡ Unfortunately, the ckwater Pond meridian is rather weak, and the region is gued by poisonous miasma; the only noteworthy aspect is a narrow yin meridian suitable for raising corpses¡ When the Situ n settled here, they must have spent considerable effort on reconnaissance.¡±
¡°On the day of the battle, cultivator armies ughtered their way to the Situ n, which emerged with coffins raised inbat. Hundreds of coffins poured forth from the gates, countless ancestral corpses rising from their graves to join the fray, ughtering the attacking cultivators until blood flowed like rivers¡ Tsk, tsk. I¡¯ve heard that the Situ n has a n tradition wherein any cultivator descendant must be buried within the corpse-raising grounds after death, bing part of the family¡¯s capital. This disy certainly shocked the attacking cultivators; rumor has it there were five or six Foundation Establishment-level flying corpses among them, not to mention the leader, who had already reachedte-stage Foundation Establishment!¡±
¡°However, Profound Sky Sect sent cultivators to supervise the battle, and it was only after the family cultivators deployed the Divine Heavenly Fire Formation that the Situs were finally forced to surrender after months of fighting. But the most elite members of the Situ n had already escaped, transforming into demonic cultivators and wreaking havoc on their former territory¡ And the attacking cultivator n, also mostlyprised of Foundation Establishment cultivators, suffered heavy casualties as well. Baiqiao Qi n lost one of their patriarchs, while the Shen n¡¯s Foundation Establishment cultivators were wiped out entirely, demoting them to Qi Refinement status. In the end, the remnants of the Situ n ughtered the surviving members of this n, sparing no one¡¡±
¡°Instead, although the remnants of the Situ n still retained some Qi Refinement level refined corpses, ckwater Pond became the favorite haunt for exploration by Yue Kingdom rogue cultivators.¡±
Having spoken at once, M¨° felt his throat dry, and he took a sip of tea.
¡°How unexpected!¡±
Fang Xi listened with surprise as well. He hadn¡¯t expected the desperate struggle and counterattack of the Situ n to be so fierce and decisive!
But the Situ n didn¡¯t diepletely, did they? Were any of their descendants able to escape? I wonder if Situ Qingqing made it out alive? Even if she did, I¡¯m afraid she would have been turned into a demonic cultivator¡
Fang Xi found something fishy about the final battle, and he suspected it was likely due to the involvement of Profound Sky Sect, which used its influence to ensure both sides emerged victorious, leaving the spoils of war for itself.
But there were plenty of clever people in the cultivation realm; everyone could see what was happening, but no one dared to say it aloud¡ªafter all, Profound Sky Sect had a Core Formation patriarch.
¡°By any chance, how did things end up at the Qingzhu Mountain Market?¡± Fang Xi pondered briefly before asking about his most pressing concern.
¡°I do happen to know,¡± Gao Hongdan said as he walked over with a smile. ¡°The Qingzhu Mountain Market originally fell under the control of the Situ n, butter, the Long n patriarch broke through their defenses¡ During the subsequent siege on ckwater Pond, the Long n suffered heavy casualties and were forced to relinquish much of their profits. The ownership of Qingzhu Mountain changed hands several times during this tumultuous period, and for a while, the entire area became a battleground where Plunderers ughtered and robbed at will, selling mostly counterfeit goods¡ As a result, many cultivators nearby fled.¡±
¡°Afterward, several rogue cultivators who had reached the great circle of Qi Refinement formed an alliance called ¡®Qingzhu Union¡¯ and took over the management of the market. After some more purges against the Plunderers, they managed to somewhat stabilize the market, though only just. They could guarantee peace within the market itself, but disputes outside its walls remained unchecked¡ Nevertheless, the market has be a rare location for disposing of stolen goods within Yue Kingdom¡¯s cultivation circles, so it has gained quite a reputation.¡±
¡°The cultivation world¡¯s ck market?¡± Fang Xi murmured to himself, finally understanding the situation.
Chapter 64: Selling Off the Stolen Goods
After leaving the Heavenly Immortal Pavilion, Fang Xi equipped himself fully and adjusted his mentality before returning to Qingzhu Mountain.
The mountain was lush with verdant bamboo, still as vibrant as ever¡ªbut the people were long gone.
Fang Xi arrived at the shantytown where Ling Nong had once lived, only to see that it was now a field of ruins, as if this ce had been abandoned for some time already.
¡°Indeed, it¡¯s no longer safe outside the market, nor is there any Foundation Establishment cultivator to deter crime¡ Who would be willing toe here and farm?¡±
With a sigh, he found his own little log cabin.
This too was a site of ruins; perhaps because of some conflict,rge sections of the house had copsed.
Crack!
Fang Xi grabbed a ceiling beam and forcefully lifted it up. His strength was astonishingly great these days, so under his exertion, a massive amount of wooden boards and debris flew upward, revealing broken tables, chairs, stools, and even some mysterious fragments of bone.
¡°Fond¡¡± Fang Xi sighed regretfully, finding the location of the cer he had excavated in the past. The entrance to the tunnel had long since been buried beneathyers of soil, looking indistinguishable from other parts of the area.
Fang Xi produced a ghost-headed de, using it like a shovel, and quickly unearthed the original cer.
¡°I left in such haste back then, I didn¡¯t even bring my belongings¡¡±
He went to a corner, easily digging out a small sake jar.
Opening it revealed a sour smell.
¡°How unfortunate¡¡±
Fang Xi nced at thebel¡ªthe jars were from when he had attempted to set up a control group while experimenting with winemaking.
After two years, it was now clear that his attempt had failed. He continued digging out jars of spirit wine; most had either broken seals or spoiled aromas. Yet as soon as one particr jar was opened, Fang Xi¡¯s eyes lit up.
Crack!
The y seal shattered, releasing a burst of fragrant liquor.
¡°Is this¡a sess?¡±
Sighing wistfully, Fang Xi hurriedly checked thebel and jotted down the original form. He took a sip, then frowned slightly. ¡°The taste is far too poor¡ And there¡¯s barely any effect from the spirit rice.¡±
ording to Fang Xi¡¯s initial ns, his spirit rice wines should have been ptable, even incorporating the functionality of the appetite-suppressing pills.
But it seemed he had underestimated how simple winemaking actually was.
¡°Ai¡ How many ancient events end up being but material for future ridicule¡¡±
Fang Xi rubbed the cer walls, his expression dazed as he recalled those bygone days. Then, he lifted a sake jar, holding it upside-down before tilting it toward his mouth, allowing the contents to flow forth.
The taste of the wine was average, bordering on bitter, yet perfectly matched his current mood.
Clunk.
When he finished drinking, Fang Xi tossed the jar aside, letting it smash against the wall and shatter into countless pieces.
¡°There¡¯s no need to return here again.¡± After exiting the cer, Fang Xi gave it onest look before turning around and striding away.
At Qingzhu Mountain¡¯s market entrance, Fang Xi looked up at the newly erected gateway with great sorrow.
Now he had taken on Fang Leng¡¯s appearance and wore a bamboo hat to conceal his identity as well as a long green robe.
¡°Wee, fellow Daoist! To enter the Green Bamboo Market, please pay one spirit crystal!¡±
Below the gateway stood two cultivators who charged admission fees from those wishing to enter the market.
These cultivators¡¯ cultivation bases were not high; they were only in the middle stage of Qi Refining, wearing uniforms of green with a mark of inteced bamboo on their chests that identified them as members of the Cyan Bamboo Society.
¡°The old Green Bamboo Mountain Market never charged for entry¡¡±
Fang Xi grumbled inwardly but did not refute anything. Following local customs, he paid a single spirit crystal to receive a wooden token bearing an identifying seal.
¡°This token will allow you to remain within the formation for twenty-four hours. If you exceed this time limit, it will inevitably trigger a counterattack!¡± As he handed over the token, the cultivator from the Cyan Bamboo Society warned him, ¡°This formation¡ is likely tier-2, but I cannot identify its nature¡¡±
¡°I understand!¡± Fang Xi cupped his fist respectfully, hung the token around his waist, and walked through the gateway into the interior of the formation.
¡°This formation¡ must be tier-2, but I cannot recognize its type¡¡±
Although Fang Xi had diligently studied An Introduction to the Dao of Arrays, unfortunately, he could barely be considered a low-rank first-tier array master, much less recognize the origin of this market¡¯s protective formation.
He could only confirm that it was not the same as the Skies Azure as Water Formation from before.
To think this Cyan Bamboo Society has connections enough to acquire a tier-2 mountain-protection array¡
Before long, Fang Xi arrived at the interior of the market.
As soon as he entered, his ears were assaulted by a cacophony of lively sounds. He looked around and found that theyout of Green Bamboo Market had undergone significant changes; two additional streets had been constructed branching off from the original main street, and the open-air za for vendors had doubled in size, making the entire ce seem even more imposing.
¡°Apparently, the leader of the Cyan Bamboo Society is quite resourceful.¡±
Fang Xi made his assessment quietly within himself.
Over the past two years, one Foundation Establishment n after another had fallen, causing major shifts in power dynamics and leaving behind numerous opportunities. Rumor had it that some rogue cultivators seized this rare chance to sessfully reach Foundation Establishment!
The Cyan Bamboo Society took over Qingzhu Mountain, transforming the local market into a ck market, which attracted no small amount of traffic. However, most of the cultivators engaged in transactions wore masks or other disguises, their bodies emanating intense murderous auras¡ªthey clearly weren¡¯t good people.
Hmm¡ Guess I¡¯m not exactly a righteous individual myself¡
Fang Xi rubbed his cheek and strolled through the market to get a general sense of prices for magical artifacts, paper talismans, and medicinal pills.
Then he began carefully noting down potential ces to sell his goods.
Indeed, when the Qingzhu Mountain Market was razed, he had profited from it as well.
The youngest of the Three Kou Brothers¡¯ bag of holding contained quite a few valuable items, such as the Golden Grain Pills that Fang Xi couldn¡¯t use himself¡ªso he¡¯d sold them during this opportunity.
Furthermore, there were three bags on Elder Fang Xi¡¯s person, each filled with various materials collected over the years from mythical beasts.
¡°Heavenly Talisman Hall is gone, and so is Hundred Skills Pavilion¡ It¡¯s normal that these two families behind those establishments suffered heavy losses in the ckwater Pond incident¡¡±
Hundred Skills Pavilion¡¯s backers were the Foundation Establishment Qi n, who lost one great cultivator, while Shen n, whose backing Heavenly Talisman Hall, met an even more tragic fate, having beenpletely exterminated.
Only Mingqing Pavilion remained open. Fang Xi recalled that Goddess Yunmeng¡¯s surname seemed to be Xu; she hailed from the Verdant Xue n!
The Verdant Xue n was the Foundation Establishment force behind Mingqing Pavilion.
But at present, Fang Xi had no desire whatsoever to go drink tea.
Upon recalling Goddess Yunmeng, he couldn¡¯t help but think of Shen Haoran¡ªoh, that one was probably doomed.
And then there were Chen Ping, Lu Zhi, Nine Profound Reverend, Di Qi¡ These formerpanions¡¯ fates remained unknown to this day.
Fang Xi sighed and steadied his mind. Based on past experience, he headed toward thergest and most extravagant shop in the market: Vast Seas Building. He had already confirmed that it belonged to the Song n!
The Song n held great renown within the Yue Kingdom, wielding influence over all other cultivator ns save for the Profound Sky Sect itself! Other Foundation Establishment ns had to be distinguished by their surnames.
Within the entirety of Yue Province, there was only one Song n.
Rumor had it that within the Song n stood a great elder who had reached the pinnacle of Foundation Establishment, as well as more than five Foundation Establishment cultivators altogether!
It was precisely due to such formidable strength that even themandments of the Profound Sky Sect could be disobeyed with impunity¡ªand yet, during the recent campaign against Red Leaf Valley and the Situ n, they had profited handsomely.
¡°Therger the sect, the greater its emphasis on reputation¡ Until confronted with massive gains, they¡¯re rtively trustworthy.¡±
¡°Does the Song n¡¯s threshold exceed that of Hundred Skills Pavilion?¡±
With these thoughts, Fang Xi stepped inside the Vast Seas Building.
¡°Good customer, what can we do for you today? Our Vast Seas Building has everything from magical artifacts and medicinal pills to spirit talismans and formations, not to mention spirit pets and alchemy cauldrons¡ªwhatever you desire!¡±
A waiter d in a sky-blue robe promptly approached.
¡°This humble one wishes to sell something; please bring someone who can make decisions.¡±
Fang Xi scanned his surroundings within the Vast Seas Building, then frowned. ¡°Also¡this ce is far too crowded and noisy.¡±
¡°Good customer, pleasee upstairs to our private rooms,¡± the waiter readily invited, leading Fang Xi up to the second floor.
The room wasrge, with a fragrance burner on the table that released a soothing incense smoke. Before long, a servant girl entered and offered him spirit tea.
This Song n truly is quite wealthy.
Fang Xi sniffed the air, feeling his internal magical power subtly fluctuate, and couldn¡¯t help but sigh.
However, he still refused to partake.
After enough time had passed for an incense stick to burn, the door opened once more, and a male cultivator walked in wearing navy blue robes and a jade crown, his sharp features framed by straight brows. He bowed first. ¡°I am Song Qing. May I inquire after this Daoist friend¡¯s name?¡±
¡°I am Fang Leng!¡± Fang Xi replied coldly.
¡°Oh, it¡¯s Fellow Daoist Fang. I wonder what brings you to my Vast Seas Building?¡± Song Qing had received obvious specialized training in interacting with others; his every movement was performed with propriety.
Yet there was also a faint hint of arrogance between his brows.
This was perfectly normal¡ªafter all, he was from the prestigious Song n.
Moreover, cultivators ate this sort of thing up like hotcakes.
¡°I¡¯vee to sell some things and purchase others.¡±
After reaching the third stage of Body Refinement, Great Liang¡¯s martial path, as Linghu Shan had exined, had reached its limit for advancement, so Fang Xi naturally needed to change tactics.
With spiritual roots as pathetic as his, if he wanted to improve his Evesting Spring Art, he¡¯d likely have to resort to taking pills.
¡°Oh, then today we shall open our eyes to new things.¡± Song Qing sat down and took a sip of spirit tea, his eyes gleaming with anticipation.
Then he watched as Fang Xi produced a medicinal bottle from within his bag of holding and set it on the table.
Song Qing picked up the medicinal bottle, opened it, and sniffed inside. ¡°Mm¡ high-grade tier-one spirit pill, Golden Grain Pill. Suitable for use by a cultivator with metal elemental spiritual roots in Late Stage Qi Refinement wishing to enhance their magical energy. One pill costs twenty low-grade spirit stones, and these five are still potent. This building will ept ny spirit stones for them. What does Fellow Daoist think?¡±
¡°Good.¡±
Fang Xi thought for a moment, then took out some spiritual ingredients from his bag of holding to dispose of.
Back when that Kou Family third brother had killed and robbed him, he¡¯d also casually stolen a number of misceneous things, none of which were useful to Fang Xi, so he decided to sell them all together.
After Song Qing finished appraising them, they amounted to sixty-five low-grade spirit stones at most.
¡°In that case¡the total cost will be one hundred and fifty-five low-grade spirit stones.¡±
Song Qing finished counting, then swept up the Golden Grain Pills along with everything else with a wave of his sleeve, leaving only a pile of colorful low-grade spirit stones on the table. ¡°Daoist friend, please check the count yourself to ensure uracy.¡±
Fang Xi nodded, meticulously beginning to count them.
At this sight, Song Qing¡¯s smile widened further. ¡°Does Fellow Daoist wish to purchase anything from our establishment? We have every manner of rare treasure here, surely something to meet your needs.¡±
Chapter 65: Everlasting Youth
¡°Everything one could need?¡±
Fang Xi had originally nned to buy two bottles of Wood Yuan Pills and leave.
But when he heard Song Qing speak with such grandiosity, he couldn¡¯t resist asking, as if possessed by some deity, ¡°Is there also any spirit object or secret method that can enhance the wood elemental spiritual root¡¯s aptitude?¡±
The pleased expression on Song Qing¡¯s face froze over. After pondering seriously for a moment, he asked, ¡°Does Fellow Daoist lean toward wood elemental spiritual roots?¡±
¡°Indeed!¡±
Fang Xi¡¯s heart thumped. Could it be that such a thing really existed?
¡°Haha, what a coincidence!¡± Song Qing pped his hands. ¡°The item Fellow Daoist seeks truly is avable within this establishment!¡±
¡°Fellow Daoist Song, are you teasing me?¡± Fang Xi looked him up and down with suspicion.
Perhaps due to his limited experience, was it possible that enhancing one¡¯s aptitude or whatever, was actually quite simple in the southern wilderness¡¯s cultivation world? ¡°In truth, Fellow Daoist would have known immediately upon hearing my suggestion, which is¡he possesses a type of wood elemental spiritual body!¡± Song Qing didn¡¯t bother with riddles; he cut straight to the point.
Unless Fang Xi hadn¡¯t been drinking spirit tea, he would¡¯ve spit all over Song Qing¡¯s face.
¡°Cough¡this humble one is not a cultivator with a spiritual body, even if it weretent!¡±
Fang Xi was very certain of this.
¡°Haha¡who said that a spiritual body must be innate?¡± Song Qingughed heartily. ¡°The cultivation world contains countless wondrous techniques and secrets; acquiring a unique spiritual body throughter-stage cultivation is by no means impossible!¡±
At this moment, Fang Xi¡¯s heart thumped wildly.
But then he quickly regained hisposure and smiled bitterly. ¡°Even if such a method exists, there¡¯s no way to guarantee its authenticity, and furthermore¡this humble one likely couldn¡¯t afford it.¡±
Though the temptation was great, Fang Xi knew something: there was no such thing as a free lunch under heaven!
As long as he didn¡¯t gamble, he would never lose!
¡°Ha ha¡this humble one can swear upon Xin Mo that this technique is genuine.¡±
Song Qing seemed to have anticipated Fang Xi¡¯s reaction, and he chuckled. ¡°Daoist friend, why don¡¯t you hear me out first? This arcane art has quite the connection to Qingzhu Mountain¡¯s market and the Situ n. Have you heard of Violet Serenity Mountain¡¯s Arcane Realm?¡±
Fang Xi¡¯s heart stirred slightly. ¡°This arcane realm is renowned far and wide. It¡¯s said that the Situ n and Red Leaf Valley¹Ï·ÖÁ˸ô¦, and both families met their demise because of it!¡±
¡°Exactly!¡± Song Qing pped his hands with a smile. ¡°This secret technique was acquired by my Song family from the Situ n¡¯s treasure trove. ording to intelligence gleaned from captured souls, it originated within Violet Serenity Mountain¡¯s arcane realm! Unfortunately¡this secret technique is suitable only for cultivators who cultivate wood elemental spiritual energy, and its requirements are rather stringent. Otherwise, our n would never have been willing to sell it.¡±
As he spoke, Song Qing produced a jade slip so vividly green that it seemed about to drip, upon which a paper talisman had been pasted.
Fang Xi¡¯s gaze burned with unabashed interest. ¡°Is this the jade slip from the Situ n¡¯s treasure trove?¡±
¡°Of course not; it¡¯s merely a copy, but one stamped with magical techniques to ensure it¡¯s no different from the original!¡±
To guarantee this, Song Qing even swore an oath of Xin Mo, vowing that the item was genuine.
Every cultivator could potentially encounter Xin Mo, especially during moments of intense emotion or breakthroughs in cultivation realms, which made it quite dangerous.
Song Qing was already at Late Stage Qi Refinement at such a young age, so his Dao path did lend some credibility to his im.
But Fang Xi sneered coldly. ¡°Medicinal pills, paper talismans, magical artifacts¡ªthey all diminish with use¡ Only cultivation techniques can be infinitely copied. The shopkeeper is quite skilled at multiplication, it seems.¡±
¡°Ah, this Daoist friend has mistaken me for someone else; within our family, these replicas are extremely limited, so I won¡¯t sell any more beyond what we have.¡±
With a firm expression on his face, Song Qing pushed forward the jade slip he held. ¡°This jade slip contains restrictions, so you may only view a small portion of its contents.¡±
This was to be expected when purchasing a cultivation technique or simr goods. Otherwise, given cultivators¡¯ excellent memories, they might memorize everything after just a few nces.
Fang Xi epted the jade slip and ced it against his forehead.
¡°The Live-Forever Technique!¡±
He swiftly saw the name of this arcane art.
Upon reading the brief summary, he discovered that much of it had been redacted, but from what remained, he could tell that it focused mainly on cultivating spirit nts, extracting essence from nts and vegetation, etc¡ It truly was a method for cultivating an acquired spiritual body!
¡°I can¡¯t believe it¡¯s real.¡± Fang Xi¡¯s expression was one of shock as he put down the jade slip and looked back at Song Qing. ¡°Could you please tell me how much this ¡®Live-Forever Technique¡¯ costs?¡±
¡°Ah ha, not too expensive, only five hundred spirit stones.¡± Song Qing revealed his smile. ¡°If Fellow Daoist does not have enough spirit stones, this establishment also epts various spirit objects as coteral.¡±
Atst, he showed his true intentions.
Fang Xi hesitated for quite some time before gritting his teeth and producing a bag of holding. With a wave of his hand over its surface, one after another,yers of mythical beast hides emerged.
¡°Beast materials?¡± Song Qing¡¯s eyes lit up, and he rapidly began to appraise them. ¡°First-ss mid-grade faewolf pelt, well-preserved¡ What kind of mythical beast is this? Never seen it before, but still first-ss mid-grade¡ Faewolf fangs, somewhat damaged¡¡±
Fang Xi emptied two bags of holding. Fortunately, on his visit to Fatty Han earlier, he had acquired plenty of beast materials; otherwise, he wouldn¡¯t have been able toe up with such arge quantity.
In the end, he sold these goods for more than 200 spirit stones.
Adding this sum to the revenue from selling golden earl grains, plus the more than 100 spirit stones Fang Xi already possessed, he finally managed to scrape together the full 500.
Song Qing solemnly drafted a contract, creating two identical copies, which he waited until both parties had imprinted their spiritual energies onto before saying cheerfully, ¡°Fellow Daoist Fang, money and goods exchanged!¡±
After collecting all the spirit stones, Song Qing began chanting an incantation, his hands glowing with light as he tore open the paper talisman on the jade slip.
This was a special kind of restriction¡ªif it wasn¡¯t deactivated ording to a specific sequence, it would inevitably self-destruct!
However, there seemed to be something else behind Song Qing¡¯s smile.
At this sight, Fang Xi¡¯s heart couldn¡¯t help but sink. But to him, mythical beasts¡¯ materials werepletely worthless; he¡¯d only spent some spirit stones on a chance that mighte to pass.
He picked up the jade slip and ced it against his forehead.
Before long, his face turned alternating shades of blue and red, his eyes bloodshot.
Crack!
Fang Xi pped the table heavily, his eyes furious, their veins filled with crimson. ¡°Song¡you cheated me?¡±
¡°Does Fellow Daoist mean anything by these words?¡± Song Qing sidestepped the question with a smile. ¡°This humble one has sworn upon Xin Mo, and the secret technique described within this jade slip is indeed for cultivating a second spiritual body.¡±
¡°But¡ªbut this fucking¡¡±
Fang Xi stood, seemingly ready to break into violence at any wrong word, then sneered instead. ¡°These strict conditions¡ªthis earth¡¯s spiritual roots, along with the considerable time required¡ªare truly too harsh!¡±
Seeing how Fang Xi managed to control his anger, even Song Qing was somewhat surprised.
¡°Fellow Daoist, if you act thusly, won¡¯t you fear tarnishing 10,000 Seas Pavilion¡¯s reputation?¡± Fang Xi asked, hisplexion again turning slightly green.
¡°Have you not read this contract, Daoist friend? This establishment has sold you tier-2 cultivation methods for 500 spirit stones, which is absolutely advantageous to you! How could there be any mistake? We have neither resorted to coercion nor forced sales; it was your choice to approach us!¡±
Song Qing sneered in response. ¡°If Daoist friend has no solid proof and simply nders my Wanhai Building¡¯s reputation, know that the Song family is not one to be trifled with!¡± He deliberately emphasized ¡®Song family¡¯.
¡°This loss¡this humble one will bear, but might I ask if the shopkeeper can return some spirit stones, even just a hundred?¡±
Fang Xi¡¯s expression kept shifting, like he¡¯d opened up a dye shop. In the end, he squeezed out a smile, bowing pathetically as he begged.
¡°Heh heh¡¡±
Song Qing¡¯s face resembled an iceberg. ¡°Customer¡it¡¯s time for you to leave.¡±
He had nothing to fear, since Wanhai Building¡¯s defenses were at least tier-2!
¡°All right, the green waters flow endlessly, and the verdant mountains never change¡ªI look forward to our next meeting!¡±
With a soul-deep sense of devastation, Fang Xi rose from his seat, then walked out of Wanhai Building.
His footsteps quickened, swiftly disappearing into the crowd.
After changing directions several times and assuming numerous disguises, Fang Xi confirmed that no one was tailing him before finally exhaling a long breath.
As he caressed his bag of holding, sensing the jade slip within, he forcibly restrained himself so as not tough out loud.
The Live-Forever Technique was indeed quite deceptive! ording to this secret technique, cultivating a spiritual body via cultivation after birth naturally required iparably strict conditions.
First, forget about wood elemental spiritual roots¡ªits true strictnessy in the need to refine a ¡®heaven-and-earth spirit root¡¯ as sustenance, which would be the cultivator¡¯s ¡®life essence spirit nt¡¯!
Only then could they continuously cultivate their life essence spirit nt, absorb its vitality essence qi and strength from the sun and moon, and temper their own wood elemental postnatal spiritual body!
This so-called ¡®heaven-and-earth spirit root¡¯ had to be made of rare treasures from nature; even a third-order spirit nt would suffice if pressed. To Qi Refinement cultivators, it was nothing short of a pitfall!
Moreover, that spirit nt needed suitable meridians for growth!
That is, you also needed a plot ofnd with at least third-order meridians to grow the spirit root, whereupon cultivation couldmence!
But that wasn¡¯t the most deceptive part of the Live-Forever Technique!
The most deceptive part was that while cultivating this magical technique, cultivators couldn¡¯t leave their life essence spirit nt too far away, nor could they stay apart for too long or the cultivation would fail!
And time, of course, was measured in centuries!
¡°A hundred years of cultivation yields a Qing Mu spirit body, a thousand years of cultivation yields an Yi Mu dharma body, ten thousand years of cultivation yields an Evergreen body, and all three together make up the legendary ¡®Live-Forever Dao Body,¡¯ capable of immortality!¡±
¡°This method of cultivation truly¡¡±
To be honest, when Fang Xi first saw this information, he felt speechless.
Even the lowest-level Qing Mu Spirit Body required third-order spiritual roots and a plot of third-order spiritualnd upon which to cultivate for a hundred years, during which time the cultivator could not leave!
¡°Third-order spiritual veins¡ªprobably only Profound Sky Sect has any within the entire Yue Kingdom?¡±
¡°Even if all those problems were solved, cultivating a second-order spirit body would still take a hundred years! I¡¯d have aged out long before then!¡±
¡°And don¡¯t even get me started on the Yin-Yang Wood Dharmk?a?a: only patriarchs with sufficient longevity might have a chance at experimenting with it, let alone Primordial Infant True Monarchs. But since they can already form cores, their spiritual roots must be extraordinary, possibly even possessing innate spiritual bodies. Why bother cultivating a wed second-order one?¡±
¡°This is fucking like adding salt to a snake just to make it longer! What a useless endeavor!¡±
¡°Althoughter on, it does mention that certain specially crafted spirit fluids can hasten the growth of spirit nts, but the cost involved is astronomical¡ Especially the highest-tier ¡®Good Fortune Spirit Fluid,¡¯ which is said to cause a spirit nt to grow a hundred years overnight with a single drop¡ªbut I¡¯ve never even heard of such a thing! Perhaps it exists in the Immortal Realm, but there¡¯s probably none to be found in the southern wilderness¡¯s cultivation world!¡±
Song Qing from 10 was obviously trying to rip off the spirit stones by selling this Live-Forever Technique!
But Fang Xi allowed himself to be ripped off anyway, because he suddenly remembered the Demon Tree from ckstone City!
Chapter 66: Three Types of Spiritual Bodies
¡®That Demon Tree managed to thrive in Great Liang¡¯s sparse spiritual energy environment; it likely doesn¡¯t require specific meridian conditions¡¡¯
¡®Furthermore, by consuming flesh and blood, it grows remarkably fast - changing visibly each day¡¡¯
¡®I wonder if it could be considered a ¡®Heaven-Earth Spiritual Root¡¯?¡¯
Although Fang Xi currently had no means to utilize the Demon Tree, he still possessed three dusty seeds left from defeating the wooden figures, stored within his bag of holding!
Aware of this potential, Fang Xi felt a surge of excitement.
If he could cultivate these into a postnatal spiritual body, despite his low-grade spirit root, there might truly be hope for advancing on his Dao path!
Thus, everything at the 10,000 Seas Pavilion was merely an act. Since Song Qing wanted to perform, Fang Xi yed along ordingly.
After all, Song Qing initially harbored ill intentions towards him, a grudge Fang Xi hadn¡¯t forgotten.
¡®However, now I¡¯ve lost all those umted mythical beast materials over the years¡ Time to restock in Great Liang¡¡¯ Fang Xi had long coveted the Eight Great Monster Kings, particrly their leader, the Dragonfish King.
As he exited the Green Bamboo Market, he sensed several gazes upon him, eliciting a wry smile internally:
¡®No surprise with the most chaotic ck market around; murder and theft have practically be an industry here¡¡¯
Nevertheless, Fang Xi remained unfazed.
As a True Astral Martial Saint, his Zongshi-level true astral energy could fully resist attacks from magical artifacts. Before it depleted, his defense was unparalleled.
This effectively made him equivalent to a third-stage Body Refinement cultivator, andbined with other cultivation techniques, he could confidently face even Late Stage Qi Refinement opponents!
To Fang Xi¡¯s surprise, after initially targeting him, those gazes quickly dispersed. Throughout his entire journey away from Qingzhu Mountain, he encountered no tribtion cultivators.
¡®Maybe¡the Cyan Bamboo Society maintains a semnce of order better than I expected?¡¯
¡®Or is it because they see me as impoverished and think there¡¯s little worth stealing?¡¯
Regardless, this was fortunate for him.
Fang Xi promptly elerated, swiftly leaving the vicinity of Qingzhu Mountain behind.
Outside Jiahe City,
In a deste mountain range, Fang Xi used the high-grade magical artifact, the Golden Flood Dragon Sword, to haphazardly carve out an immortal¡¯s cave within the rocky terrain.
He then moved a massive boulder to block the entrance and affixed a protective ¡®amulet¡¯ nearby.
Havingpleted these tasks, Fang Xi finally let out a long sigh.
His visit to the Qingzhu Mountain Market had been somewhat impulsive.
Yet, unexpectedly, the gains were immense!
With fervent eyes, Fang Xi retrieved the jade slip containing the ¡®Longevity Technique¡¯ and began meticulously studying it.
Sharpening one¡¯s de does not hinder chopping wood!
There were no spiritual meridians in this area, and given his low-grade spirit root, even cultivating for ten days or more would yield minimal progress.
It would have been wiser to focus onprehending cultivation techniques first!
Three dayster.
Fang Xi put down the jade slip, feeling his head heavy with exhaustion. He consumed a fasting pill and promptly fell asleep.
This deep slumbersted another full day and night before Fang Xi awoke, fully refreshed. After some contemtion, he retrieved the three seeds from his bag of holding.
These seeds appeared unremarkable, covered in a dusty gray hue, yet Fang Xi had carefully sealed them due to their significance - they were products of the original Demon Tree!
¡°To cultivate the ¡®Longevity Technique¡¯, one must possess predominantly wood attribute spiritual roots, which I already fulfill.¡±
¡°Next, I need to find a seed or sapling of a celestial earth spiritual root!¡±
The jade slip provided guidance for identifying such celestial earth spiritual roots, and this was the primary method Fang Xi had been studying over these past few days!
Although he didn¡¯t know the specific species of the Demon Tree, given its core body had reached third-order Core Formation level, it seemed promising.
However, verification was still necessary.
Fang Xi recited an incantation, causing intricate sybles to echo throughout the immortal¡¯s cave.
He extended his right hand, and at the tip of his index finger, a bright green glow emerged suddenly.
With a solemn expression, Fang Xi directed this glowing point into one of the tree seeds.
Thump! Thump!
In a momentary trance, he felt as if he could hear the heartbeat within the seed.
Subsequently, beneath the dusty surface of the seed, ayer of blood-red light began to shimmer.
¡°It responds!¡± Fang Xi eximed with delight, ¡°This meets the criteria and can be refined as my lifebound spirit nt!¡±
To ensure reliability, he tested the other two seeds as well. Finding them equally vibrant with life force, all three met the requirements for refinement.
In the end, Fang Xi naturally chose the seed with the most abundant vitality and strongest aura, carefully preserving it for future use. The remaining two were also securely stored away.
At this moment, he realized that these Demon Tree seeds,parable to third-order spirit nts, might indeed be his most valuable possessions!
¡®Unfortunately¡ I dare not return to ckstone City just yet¡¡¯
Fang Xi held no fear towards the beasts of the Great Liang World. However, devils were unpredictable, best avoided whenever possible, especially given his current weak strength!
Now, cultivating the ¡®Longevity Technique¡¯ had be his top priority.
With his limited aptitude, without improving his spiritual body, advancing further on the cultivation path would remain a distant dream.
¡®The Longevity Technique will undoubtedly cultivate a wood elemental spiritual body¡ Over time, the stronger the spiritual body grows, spanning boundaries from a hundred years, to a thousand, even ten thousand!¡¯
¡°The Demon Tree should grow quite rapidly¡ I wonder if transnting it elsewhere will cause any changes?¡±
Having chosen his lifebound spirit nt, the next step was to find a location with spiritual meridians to nt its root.
This posed a significant challenge, as most meridian-rich areas in the Yue Kingdom were already upied by powerful factions.
Fortunately, the Demon Tree likely requires minimal spiritual energy.
However, Fang Xi still decided to seek out a ce with abundant spiritual energy whenever possible!
¡°In theory, the more plentiful the spiritual energy, the faster the spirit nt grows¡ Although the Demon Tree might not care, I certainly do!¡±
The Longevity Technique¡¯s cultivation time is uncertain, but during this period, Fang Xi must continue refining his own skills!
The Longevity Technique only pertains to developing a postnatal spiritual body and does not enhance one¡¯s cultivation base. If cultivating this technique dys his practice for several decades, even achieving the spiritual body eventually would be futile; Fang Xi would be an old man, facing a disheartening end to his life!
¡°While cultivating the spiritual body, it¡¯s best to utilize the spiritual meridians¡¯ power for refining the Evesting Spring Art! This way, there¡¯s a chance to break through the full Qi Refinement realm before my lifespan ends, thus increasing the likelihood of reaching Foundation Establishment!¡±
As a True Astral Martial Saint, Fang Xi could effortlessly live for two sixty-year cycles. Moreover, just before death, his hidden blood qi would surge, ensuring an abundance of vitality. This meant that one of the three barriers to Foundation Establishment - the Blood Qi Barrier - posed no issue for him.
Since he needed to cultivate the Evesting Spring Art himself, Fang Xi decided against nting the Demon Tree in the Great Liang World.
Although it might have been less risky there,
cultivating the ¡®Longevity Technique¡¯ and developing a secondary spiritual body requires absorbing vast amounts of pure spiritual energy. However, Great Liag is essentially a cultivation wastnd¡ highly unsuitable for such practice.
¡°Additionally, there¡¯s the matter of feeding the Demon Tree with blood¡ But I do have ess to Beefwood!¡±
Recalling the tai sui, Fang Xi had brought it along to Three Origins City, asionally cutting off pieces for consumption.
¡°The only uncertainty is how quickly the Demon Tree will grow¡ Nevertheless, I must prepare for potentially being confined to one location for at least twenty or thirty years¡¡±
The major pitfall of cultivating the ¡®Longevity Technique¡¯ lies in the fact that during its lengthy process, one cannot leave the vicinity of their lifebound spirit nt.
A brief departure might be possible, but staying away for too long risks severing the connection, leading to all previous efforts bing futile!
Once enemies discover this weakness, I could easily be trapped to my demise!
¡°The best approach would be to find an uninhabited location with spirit meridians, stockpile ample food, paper talismans, and spirit stones¡ then cultivate the Longevity Technique relentlessly until achieving great mastery!¡±
¡°At the very least, I should aim for cultivating the acquired ¡®Greenwood Spirit Body¡¯, right?¡±
The Longevity Technique¡¯s ims were indeed grandiose, mentioning concepts like Yin Wood Embodiment and Longevity Dao Bodies found only in legends.
However, Fang Xi had heard of the ¡°Greenwood Spirit Body,¡± also known as the ¡®Greenwood Spirit Form,¡¯ which was a recognized aptitude trait.
Decades ago, it was rumored that a Spirit Seeker from the neighboring Greenwood Sect of the Wood Nation discovered a genius within the Yue Kingdom possessing a ¡®ckwater Spirit Body¡¯!
Despite having only mid-grade water spiritual roots, whenbined with the ckwater Spirit Body, their cultivation speed rivaled prodigies with Earth-ranked water spiritual roots. The individual was promptly taken away, elevating their entire family¡¯s status, who subsequently moved to the Wood Nation.
This enraged the Profound Sky Sect, nearly sparking a conflict between them and the Greenwood Sect!
As this incident almost led to a full-blown war between the two nations¡¯ cultivation worlds, it became a widely discussed topic for many years, even reaching Fang Xi¡¯s ears.
The ¡®ckwater Spirit Body¡¯ is simr in nature to the ¡®Greenwood Spirit Body¡¯.
¡°I¡¯m not overly ambitious; achieving a secondary Greenwood Spirit Body would suffice,¡± Fang Xi murmured to himself. ¡°Combined with my current spiritual root, it should beparable to a high-grade one¡ But if I need long-term protection, formations are still the best option¡ I mustn¡¯t neglect the legacies of the Dao of arrays! If all else fails, I¡¯ll have to purchase somerge spell formation tes¡¡±
As for hiring an array master to set up formations? It posed privacy concerns, so Fang Xi dismissed that idea.
¡°Sigh¡ Still too reactive.¡±
Fang Xi disliked being on the defensive. Even if his weakness were discovered and enemies surrounded him, he could always abandon the Demon Tree and escape through transmigration to save his life. However, this would inevitably disrupt his progress with the Longevity Technique!
While contemting future ns, Fang Xi suddenly recalled how the Demon Tree oncemanded numerous demonic servants, wreaking havoc in ckstone City. His eyes then lit up with realization:
¡°Hmm¡ Although I can¡¯t stray far from my lifebound spirit nt, puppets might be possible¡ They could serve as the most convenient supplement. Perhaps I should focus on Puppetry Arts?¡±
With his mind broadening, Fang Xi also recognized the potential of Beast Control Techniques, which could assist him greatly despite his limited mobility.
Such is the convenience for cultivators; with theirprehensive knowledge, most problems can be circumvented through alternative solutions.
¡°The Puppet and Beast Control Techniques aren¡¯t as widely spread as the four arts of cultivation. Finding their legacies might be troublesome¡ However, by investing spirit stones without focusing on quality, should I still be able to locate some?¡±
Mentioning the Beast Control Technique reminded Fang Xi of the abundant mythical beasts in the Great Liang world, causing his eyes to slightly narrow.
Previously, he had concerns that transporting living beings between worlds could risk exposing his secret. But if he could fully control a creature¡¯s life and death, it wouldn¡¯t pose much of an issue.
¡°Hmm¡ before bringing tai sui over, it would be best to establish a master-servant contract¡¡±
¡°That way, any possibility of betrayal could bepletely eliminated.¡±
With this thought, Fang Xi looked at the Demon Tree seed in his hand, suddenly finding its allure diminished.
To ensure safety, before refining the tree seed, he decided to repeatedly cleanse it using techniques from the Longevity Technique, only proceeding once certain no issues remained¡
Chapter 67: Planning to Slay Dragons
In the Great Liang World.
At the foot of Yuanhe Mountain.
Acquiring formations or seeking legacies of puppetry and beast control techniques required vast quantities of spirit stones!
With limited resources, Fang Xi naturally chose to cross over immediately, targeting the Eight Great Monster Kings.
Although there were still numerous issues lingering in the Great Liang World, to him now, they felt like mere breezes brushing past his face.
After all, bing a Zongshi marked reaching the pinnacle of human potential!
Combined with the capabilities of a cultivator, even if besieged by tens of thousands of troops, Fang Xi could effortlessly escape.
Thus, he no longer cared about the risk of exposure.
¡°Who goes there?¡± At the Blood Gate, the guard disciple saw a youth approaching gracefully, making the rugged mountain path seem as smooth as t ground beneath his feet. With caution, the disciple inquired. ¡°It¡¯s me, Fang Leng!¡± Fang Xi replied with a warm smile. ¡°I¡¯vee to pay respects! Please grant me an audience with Grandmaster Linghu Shan!¡±
Indeed, for his first visit after bing a Zongshi, it was important to maintain formality.
In the next moment, the Yuanhe Mountain disciple seemed to weaken at the knees, stumbled backward, and hastily scrambled away while running.
As he fled, he shouted in a voice akin to a broken gong, ¡°It¡¯s terrible¡ The great demon Ghost Fearsome has arrived to pay respects!¡±
Fang Xi remained speechless.
¡°Ha ha ha ha!¡±
An hourter at Lei Ji Peak.
Linghu Shanughed uproariously, holding his belly with no regard for etiquette, even pping his thigh as he chuckled uncontrobly.
¡°What ¡®disciples of Ding Province¡¯s top martial force¡¯? Each one as timid as mice¡ It seems there are serious issues with your Yuanhe Mountain¡¯s education!¡± Fang Xi appeared slightly embarrassed and asked, ¡°I¡¯ve always treated people kindly; when did I be such a great demon?¡±
¡°Heh¡¡± Linghu Shan barely managed to suppress his grin. ¡°You¡¯ve killed two of Dingzhou Army¡¯s eight militarymanders, along with numerous third-step martial arts masters known for their irond strength¡ Every time Ghost Fearsome appears, it results in a bloodbath among Three Origins City¡¯s martial elite. If that¡¯s not the mark of a great demon, what is? Even I struggle to exin this to our sect¡¯s disciples. With your formal arrival today, they half-expected you to wipe out all of Yuanhe Mountain!¡±
¡°Sigh¡ if others hadn¡¯t pushed me, I wouldn¡¯t have wanted any of this.¡± Fang Xi sighed and then inquired, ¡°How are my two apprentices doing?¡±
¡°Don¡¯t worry, they¡¯re being well-fed and cared for, lest your anger leads to another massacre of Three Origins City¡¯s leadership¡¡±
Linghu Shan sneered disdainfully, ¡°That bunch¡ they¡¯re quite adept at changing their allegiances with the wind.¡±
He then turned to Fang Xi, expressing his amazement once more, ¡°I haven¡¯t yet congratted you on breaking through to Martial Saint and achieving the title of Zongshi! Even considering your exceptional talent, I thought it would take at least ten years. Yet, astonishingly, it¡¯s been less than two! Xiao You, you must not be even thirty yet, right? Remarkable¡ A Zongshi under thirty ranks among the top few across the entire realm.¡±
¡®Actually, I¡¯m not even twenty yet¡¡¯ Fang Xi considered revealing this but decided against it. Instead, he asked, ¡°Given my aptitude, do you think I could join the ¡®Zongshi Association¡¯?¡±
He held great interest in that organization.
In Great Liang, martial arts only reached the True Astral Martial Saint level, which corresponds to the third stage of Body Tempering - still quite limited.
Fang Xi aimed to achieve Foundation Establishment in Body Tempering and subsequently enhance his Qi Refinement realm!
Since there was no clear path forward in martial arts, he resolved to forge his own way.
Fang Xi felt confident about this endeavor. With ample spirit stones and sufficient strength, he could purchase body cultivation techniques from the cultivation world, potentially even those reaching the fourth level of Body Tempering for reference!
Despite the vast differences between martial arts and body cultivation, there might be aspects where they couldplement each other.
Focusing on this world¡¯s martial arts was primarily due to their emphasis on cultivating blood qi, which differed significantly from the cultivation world¡¯s Body Tempering techniques. This approach could potentially provide great benefits for oveing the blood qi barrier at Foundation Establishment!
¡®If it truly doesn¡¯t work out, I¡¯ll pivot towards the orthodox path of body cultivation¡ After all, initially, my goal was just to be stronger quickly through martial arts, gaining self-protection capabilities.¡¯
¡°You want to join that group of lunatics?¡± Linghu Shan shook his head, then nodded. ¡°With your talent, they will undoubtedly ept you. Your abilities may prove useful for their exploration beyond Zongshi rank¡ However, beware, people within the Zongshi Association can be quite difficult to deal with!¡±
¡°Thank you for the advice.¡± Fang Xi bowed respectfully, finally addressing the main topic. ¡°As I promised before, once I reach Zongshi rank, we will join forces to y that vicious Dragonfish¡¡±
A swift sh of excitement crossed Linghu Shan¡¯s face. ¡°Xiao You keeps his word!¡±
The Dragonfish at Old Dragon Pool held a deep grudge against him, and he had longed for revenge for years.
¡°However, knowing oneself and one¡¯s enemy is crucial to ensure victory!¡± Fang Xi stated. ¡°I need the most detailed information avable about it!¡±
The Monster Kings of Great Liang were at least Late Stage Qi Refinement mythical beasts. With the added potency of Dragonfish lineage, they became even more formidable, potentially turning any battle on its head.
Fang Xi didn¡¯t assume that bing a True Astral Martial Saint made him invincible.
¡°Of course¡¡± Linghu Shan entered his room and soon emerged with a thick stack of documents. ¡°I¡¯ve been closely monitoring everything about that beast!¡±
Fang Xi casually took the files, his eyes scanning swiftly through them. Yuanhe Mountain¡¯s intelligence was indeedprehensive. Based on the destruction caused by the dragon-blooded snake monster, it confirmed that its power did not exceed that of a typical Qi Refinement stage mythical beast, alleviating hisst lingering concerns.
¡°In truth¡ against any mythical beast, including Monster Kings, we could theoretically deploy overwhelming force without reservation. However, each of Ding Province¡¯s Eight Great Monster Kings has unique abilities¡¡±
Linghu Shan borated, ¡°For instance, the Great Peng King can fly¡ And this Dragonfish King, aside from having scales impervious to ordinary weapons, only sumbs to divine artifacts for minimal damage. At the first sign of trouble, it retreats into the Old Dragon Pool¡ Despite its name, the pool is incredibly deep. I suspect there may be underground waterways connecting it to the nearby ¡®Coiling Dragon Lake¡¯, making the creature extremely difficult to y!¡±
¡°Difficult to breach?¡±
Fang Xi set down the scroll and stretchedzily. In this brief moment, he had already skimmed through its contents. ¡°How does itpare to a Zongshi¡¯s astral energy shield?¡±
¡°Even more formidable!¡± Linghu Shan¡¯s expression turned grave. ¡°Moreover¡ our astral energy can eventually be depleted, but that beast¡¯s scales remain invulnerable indefinitely.¡±
Generating true astral energy was highly demanding on a Zongshi¡¯s physical strength and blood qi.
In contrast, the defensive capabilities of a mythical beast¡¯s scales or fur were inherently enduring.
This was their fundamental difference!
¡°There¡¯s no point in further discussion; why don¡¯t we spar instead?¡± Fang Xi felt a surge of excitement, as since his ascension to True Astral Martial Saint, he hadn¡¯t yet engaged anyone inbat!
¡°Well¡ let¡¯s skip that. I¡¯m getting old and can¡¯t match up to you young ones¡¡± Linghu Shan instinctively tried to avoid the challenge.
¡°What if I told you I have a method to prate the Dragonfish¡¯s scales, requiring your assistance for practical testing?¡± Fang Xi quickly dangled the bait.
¡°In that case, I must risk my life to apany you.¡± A spark lit up in Linghu Shan¡¯s eyes, and he promptly agreed.
At Lei Ji Peak.
On the rear mountainside.
A vacant area surrounded by peculiarly shaped ck stones, piled into fantastical formations.
¡°Let¡¯s do it here¡¡± Linghu Shan calmly spoke as he stepped into the center of the open space.
Zzzt!
In the next instant, his figure dramatically transformed from an unassuming old man to a towering giant over two meters tall!
Not only that, but muscles bulged across his arms and thighs, even tearing through his original clothing.
Whoosh!
With swift movement, he appeared before Fang Xi, his fingers crackling with wind and thunder, striking like lightning.
¡°Secret Technique: Pentathunder Transformation!¡±
This secret technique looked entirely different when wielded by a True Force martial artistpared to a True Astral Martial Saint!
Under Linghu Shan¡¯s control, each finger emitted bursts of astral energy, forming a colossal w enveloped in electric sparks - its sheer might was awe-inspiring!
¡°Going all out right away, huh?!¡± Fang Xi chuckled lightly and retreated.
As he leaped backward, wisps of blood-red astral energy emerged from his limbs and pores, coalescing around him to create a crimson breastte-like shield.
Zzzt!
The massive, lightning-wrapped astral w struck the breastte, producing a teeth-grating sound. Although it distorted the shield, it ultimately failed to breach it.
¡°The True Astral Martial Saints can rival Late Stage Qi Refinement precisely because of their astral energy!¡±
Fang Xi retreated seven steps, his movements graceful like stepping on lotus blossoms, as he observed this scene thoughtfully.
By projecting astral energy to form armor, Zongshi could effectively resist attacks from both Qi Refinement magic spells and magical artifacts!
This was the true reliance of a Martial Saint!
As for relying solely on the physical body?
Even with further enhancements akin to tempered steel, it would likely only allow one¡¯s bones to withstand mid-to-high grade magical artifacts at best.
Any body cultivator foolish enough to directly sh against magical artifacts using just their flesh is simply a moron!
¡°Linghu Shan¡ beware, I¡¯m about to unleash my true skills!¡± Fang Xi warned, forming his right hand into a sword-like gesture. ¡°Go!¡±
A streak of golden light instantly shot forth, exuding majestic sword aura apanied by faint dragon roars!
High-grade Magical Artifact - Golden Flood Dragon Sword!
ng!
The Golden Flood Dragon Sword transformed into radiant gold, swiftly striking towards Linghu Shan.
In an instant, Linghu Shan reacted swiftly, retracting his right arm to shield his chest. Terrifying crimson astral energy erupted around it, resembling armored gauntlets, creating multiple illusory reflections.
¡°Secret Technique: Eight-Armed ughter Dragon!¡±
Bang!
The golden streak collided with the scarlet astral energy but rebounded unexpectedly.
Unfazed, Fang Xi¡¯s fingers moved rapidly, akin to plucking strings on a zither.
The golden light circled around and swiftly returned to Linghu Shan¡¯s back, resembling a serpent striking with its flickering tongue.
¡°Ah!¡±
Linghu Shan roared, his muscles bulging as he lunged backward like a bear charging headfirst!
As his astral energy collided with the Golden Flood Dragon Sword, it produced a crisp sound akin to countless pearls hitting a jade te.
Undeterred, the sword only slightly slowed down but was ultimately evaded by Linghu Shan¡¯s agile roll.
¡°I concede!¡± As soon as Linghu Shan climbed to his feet, he hastily raised his hand and shouted, ¡°My astral energy is depleted¡¡±
A Zongshi¡¯s astral energy is limited, yet typically sufficient for a single battle. However, due to the exceptional sharpness of the Golden Flood Dragon Sword, Linghu Shan had been forced to unleash all his power just to defend against it. With his astral energy exhausted, he dared not risk confronting a high-grade magical artifact directly with his fleshly body.
Seeing Linghu Shan¡¯s concession, Fang Xi promptly recalled his magical artifact.
¡°Xiao You¡ could you be the legendary Sword Immortal?!¡± Despite appearing disheveled, Linghu Shan, with his thick face, showed no concern over losing. Instead, he was captivated by Fang Xi¡¯s disy of flying sword techniques. ¡°Earlier, I heard Yuanhe Mountain disciples mention your ability to decapitate foes with a flying sword, thinking they were uttering nonsense. Yet here, it proves to be true!¡±
¡°This is a secret flying sword technique of my sect, primarily involving refining astral energy into threads and controlling the sword through them!¡± Fang Xi put on a serious expression, spouting nonsense with utmost conviction.
However, cultivators in this world were incredibly self-assured and prideful; they might not believe in cultivation, but mentioning it as a martial arts secret could easily convince them!
Chapter 68: Killing the Snake
In Ding Province, at the Old Dragon Pool.
Under the sparse stars of a moonlit night, a dark cloud drifted from afar and paused above the pool¡¯s surface.
Fang Xi, concealed within the ck Cloud Pocket, stealthily observed the Old Dragon Pool.
He certainly wasn¡¯t foolish enough to confront a Monster King based solely on intelligence reports.
What if the Dragonfish had unexpectedly reached Foundation Establishment, defying reason?
Therefore, personally verifying the situation was essential for safety!
Time seemed to pass unnoticed.
Beneath the bright moon, its light shimmered like water.
Ssh! Suddenly, ripples appeared on the mirror-like surface of the Old Dragon Pool.
The water erupted, revealing a massive, menacing ck serpent¡¯s head, followed by a body as thick as arge vat, stretching nearly thirty meters long!
It was the Dragonfish King of the Old Dragon Pool!
¡°What a formidable water snake!¡± From the ck Cloud Pocket, Fang Xi felt reassured; although the creature¡¯s aura was strong, it hadn¡¯t surpassed the limits of Qi Refinement!
At that moment, the colossal serpent coiled around itself, its head raised high, icy vertical pupils gazing at the moon while exhaling a purple forked tongue!
Hssss¡
Hssss¡
This giant python appeared to be absorbing lunar essence under the moonlight!
Even more astonishing to Fang Xi was the sight of two small bulges atop the python¡¯s head!
¡°No wonder it¡¯s called a Dragonfish¡ It truly possesses a trace of dragon bloodline!¡±
¡°Jackpot! This mythical beast must be worth a fortune in spirit stones!¡±
¡°If other cultivators saw it, they¡¯d surely go mad trying to capture and tame it as their own spirit pet, right? After all, beasts with dragon blood tend to be incredibly powerful and advance rapidly, often reaching at least tier-2¡¡±
Fang Xi surmised that the only reason this Dragonfish hadn¡¯t yet ascended to tier-2 was due to the limitations of the Great Liang World!
In the southern wilderness¡¯s cultivation realm, it might have already broken through to tier-2, or possibly even tier-3!
¡°That¡¯s enough for now!¡±
The next day, as the morning sun rose,
Fang Xi watchedzily from his ck Cloud Pocket as the Dragonfish crawled back into its pool.
Not far from the Old Dragon Pool, nestled within a valley, stood a military encampment.
Hundreds of Yuanhe Mountain disciples d in leather armor and heavy te mail moved with disciplined precision, responding swiftly to strictmands.
Fang Xi descended near the camp and approached the entrance. Upon notification, Linghu Shan immediately emerged to greet him.
Linghu Shan donned full metal armor, giving off an amusing image akin to a monkey inside a tin can, despite the serious demeanor.
Fang Xi knew that this armor was specifically crafted to fit Linghu Shan¡¯s erged form when his blood qi surged.
¡°Xiao You, what do you think of my five hundred ¡®Wind Thunder Army¡¯?¡± Linghu Shan proudly introduced, ¡°Out of Yuanhe Mountain¡¯s tens of thousands of disciples, only the cream of the crop were selected for this Wind Thunder Army. Together, they can challenge even a Zongshi!¡±
In essence, it closely resembled Dingzhou Army¡¯s formidable martial force.
Fang Xi nced at the array of armors, bows, arrows, long spears, and even two crossbow carts, then bluntly remarked, ¡°I¡¯m thinking¡ Great Liang might be doomed!¡±
Privately possessing such military equipment was punishable by death in ancient times!
Given the Wind Thunder Army¡¯s configuration, it could potentially lead to the extermination of the entire Yuanhe Mountain sect, along with their extended families.
¡°Hahaha¡ Even if the imperial court desires stability in Ding Province, they must align themselves with our Yuanhe Mountain!¡± Linghu Shan responded assertively.
¡°Well then¡¡± The fate of the Great Liang court mattered little to Fang Xi. ¡°I¡¯ve figured out the movement patterns of that young serpent. It¡¯s time to begin the n.¡±
¡°Many thanks for your assistance!¡± Linghu Shan solemnly bowed with sped fists. ¡°I have already sent messenger hawks with your information to the Zongshi Association. They should contact you promptly!¡±
Near the Old Dragon Pool, at the snake-dragon¡¯s feeding grounds.
Bang! Bang! Bang!
Soldiers of the wind and thunder army, d in armor, dragged heavily sedated cattle and sheep one by one, carelessly tossing them into the wilderness.
Watching this scene, Fang Xi was somewhat speechless. ¡°Isn¡¯t this trap¡ too crude?¡±
Linghu Shan chuckled beside him, ¡°That beast is incredibly stupid; it has fallen for identical traps three times already¡ Unfortunately, each time it managed to escape due to its tough scales.¡±
As Linghu Shan exined, the snake-dragon had extremely high resistance to toxins, making it nearly impossible to find a poison lethal enough to kill it. Even these powerful sedatives, capable of incapacitating a group of elephants, might only slow it down briefly.
Moreover, once sensing danger, the snake-dragon would rely on its imprable scales and swiftly retreat into the Old Dragon Pool.
Once it reaches the water, there would truly be no way to deal with it.
¡°It seems¡ these mythical beasts are quite dim-witted¡¡± Fang Xi mused inwardly, wondering if this was unique to the Great Liang World.
¡°Indeed, mythical beasts behave predictably¡ Only devils exhibit unpredictable and varied tactics,cking any discernible pattern,¡± Linghu Shan replied. He then asked Fang Xi, ¡°Are you really not wearing armor? Are you certain your secret technique will work against that monstrous creature?¡±
Linghu Shan was deeply impressed by Fang Xi¡¯s protective aura shield.
¡°I believe it should be effective.¡±
Based on his observation, Fang Xi confirmed the snake-dragon to be at Late Stage Qi Refinement, possibly even reaching great perfection stage for mythical beasts.
Ordinary defensive paper talismans might not suffice, but fortunately, he had a mid-grade defensive magical artifact¡ªthe ck Iron Shield!
It could certainly withstand at least one or two rounds of attack!
If after one or two rounds the snake-dragon still persisted, he would consider retreating. Hunting often requires immense patience.
Hunting requires immense patience.
Fang Xi and Linghu Shan waited for seven consecutive days without any sign of the snake-dragon.
Finally, on the eighth night:
Hisss!
A winding snake-like path emerged from the Old Dragon Pool, leading directly to the trap location.
In the darkness, the snake-dragon swiftly swallowed one of the cattle whole.
Unsatisfied after consuming the first cow, it proceeded to devour the nearby white sheep, each devoured with a single gulp, relishing its meal.
Critically, despite feasting on this surplus of cattle and sheep, the snake-dragon moved as swift as wind, showing no significant decrease in speed. For a moment, Fang Xi suspected that Linghu Shan might have purchased counterfeit medicine.
Fortunately, his exceptional eyesight allowed him to discern a subtle change - the snake-dragon seemed slightly more lethargic than before.
¡°Now!¡± Linghu Shan roared, charging forward with a massive mountain cleaver taller than himself.
¡°Launch!¡± Simultaneously, amander of the wind and thunder army bellowed, prompting a martial artist to forcefully strike down, activating the trebuchet-style crossbow powered by over a dozen cultivators working together.
Whoosh!
With a piercing sound akin to a sonic boom, a jet-ck streak instantly appeared, striking the snake-dragon and producing a brilliant shower of sparks!
Fang Xi could clearly see that from this strike, the snake-dragon merely lost a few scales, leaving behind only a negligible blood streak on its body.
¡°Beast, prepare to die!¡± Linghu Shan charged forward at that moment.
His giant cleaver erupted with a burst of crimson light amidst the darkness - Zongshi Astral Qi!
¡°Secret Technique: Heavenly sh!¡±
The massive de descended like a bolt of lightning, striking squarely onto the snake-dragon¡¯s body.
Thud!
A deep wound, exposing bone, appeared instantly!
Hiss!
The snake-dragon¡¯s scales trembled violently as its tail whipped fiercely.
Crash!
The ground churned, as if plowed multiple times by the force.
Despite his armor and true astral energy providing dualyers of defense, Linghu Shan was flung away effortlessly, akin to a fly swatted aside!
¡°Wind Battalion, engage!¡± Without hesitation, themander of the wind and thunder army issued the order.
A hundred-man squad armed with long spears and axes immediately advanced, entangling the snake-dragon!
¡°Thunder Battalion, block its escape route!¡±
Following themand, cultivators surged forward one after another, inflicting insignificant wounds on the snake-dragon before being effortlessly torn apart and devoured¡
In essence, they were sacrificing lives to prevent the snake-dragon from escaping!
¡°Hisss!¡±
The snake-dragon endured another strike from Linghu Shan¡¯s returning de, then enraged, opened its serpent jaws wide and swallowed nearly half of a wind and thunder soldier. Rearing high, it emitted a menacing hiss.
¡°The moment hase¡¡±
Fang Xi, draped in his camouge robe, had been observing coldly from the edge of the battlefield.
As the snake-dragon arched threateningly, Fang Xi¡¯s eyes lit up, and he swiftly unleashed the Golden Flood Dragon Sword!
Shoo!
Like a streaking meteor, the golden sword gleamed through the dark night sky, striking precisely at the vulnerable spot just behind the snake-dragon¡¯s head!
Pshhh!
Being a high-grade magical artifact, the Golden Flood Dragon Sword was exceptionally sharp. The snake-dragon¡¯s scales offered minimal resistance before being brutally pierced, causing a torrent of blood to gush forth.
¡°Hiss!¡±
Overwhelmed by pain, the snake-dragon instantly spat out the partially consumed corpse and violently thrashed.
Boom! Boom!
It felt like an earthquake as soldiers of the wind and thunder army stumbled, with some unfortunate ones crushed into pulp.
Seizing this opportunity, the snake-dragon burst through the encirclement, frantically darting towards the Old Dragon Pool!
Once it reached the water, there would be no stopping it!
¡°Stop this beast!¡± Linghu Shan roared furiously, blocking the giant snake with sessive shes of his long de.
However, the snake-dragon paid no heed to the additional wounds, enduring the bloodied gashes as it relentlessly crawled towards the Old Dragon Pool! To the creature, although this tiny ant could inflict damage, its power paled inparison to the golden light¡¯s potency.
¡°Frustrating! This again, just like before!¡± Linghu Shan seethed with anger.
In the previous siege, despite being able to breach the snake-dragon¡¯s defenses, the injuries inflicted were negligible given its massive size. The beast had stubbornly endured the wounds and retreated back into the Old Dragon Pool.
Was history about to repeat itself once more?
¡°Now!¡± At this critical moment, Fang Xi struck again.
This time, the Golden Flood Dragon Sword acted like a golden needle, piercing through the snake-dragon¡¯s defense and impaling its left eye.
¡°Hissss!¡±
The snake-dragon, writhing in pain, drew a deep breath, releasing a cloud of ck mist from its mouth that explosively expanded!
The tendrils of ck smoke resembled chains, forcing even the hidden Fang Xi to reveal his true form. ¡°Mythical beast magic?¡±
Having encountered numerous mythical beasts in Great Liang, he almost forgot that those in the cultivation realm possessed such abilities! Likely due to the scarcity of spiritual energy in Great Liang, none of the beasts there exhibited these powers.
But evidently, this snake-dragon, with its potent bloodline and exceptional talents, awakened a specific type of ancestral magic during perilous times!
Bang!
Having identified the despicable ant responsible for the sneak attack, the snake-dragon hissed fiercely and swiftly struck with its massive tail.
¡°ck Iron Shield!¡±
¡°Golden Bell Barrier!¡±
¡°True Astral Field!¡±
Fang Xi rapidly activated threeyers of defense. Momentster, he felt an overwhelming force akin to mountains copsing, hurling him violently through the air.
The ck Iron Shield shattered first, followed by the Golden Bell Barrier tearing apart. Even his protective true astral field was pushed to its limits!
Fortunately, as a Martial Saint, Fang Xi¡¯s physical resilience was formidable, allowing him to withstand such impact without harm.
Regaining control mid-air, he summoned the ck Cloud Pocket, using it to gently propel himself forward.
With the burst of true astral energy, Fang Xi reached behind the snake-dragon, noticing the still-bleeding wound near its vulnerable spot.
¡°Entangling Spell!¡±
Iron gauze grass sprouted like chains, growing wildly from the ground, ensnaring the snake-dragon securely, akin to iron ws emerging to hold it fast.
¡°Secret Technique: Primordial Infinity!¡±
Wielding the Golden Flood Dragon Sword, Fang Xi merged with the de, bing a streak of golden lightning that mmed directly into the existing wound!
¡°Hissss!¡±
The snake-dragon roared, its colossal body reaching the edge of the Old Dragon Pool just as its remaining eye fixed desperately on the water below - but it fell short by mere inches.
Thud!
Its enormous corpse copsed heavily at the poolside.
Thus, one of Ding Province¡¯s Eight Great Monster Kings met its demise!
Chapter 69: Evaluation
The first rays of sunlight illuminated the massive snake corpse, casting a golden glow on its scales.
A metallic boot stepped firmly onto the serpent¡¯s head, pressing down hard.
The remaining vertical pupil seemed to twitch slightly, as if ready to rise again.
¡°That damn beast¡ even dead, it still tries to frighten us! Indeed, snakes have always been known for their tenacity,¡± Linghu Shan spat, then turned his gaze towards Fang Xi.
As per their agreement, all materials from the snake-dragon belonged to Fang Xi.
Ignoring etiquettepletely, Fang Xi busied himself with multiple buckets, collecting the serpent¡¯s blood while muttering incessantly, ¡°What a loss¡ what a loss¡¡±
He winced at the sight of the snake-dragon¡¯s spilled blood across the battlefield.
This was the blood of a high-grade rank-one mythical beast, and moreover, one with Dragon Division lineage!
Although the dragon lineage was exceedingly weak, making extraction impossible, it would undoubtedly catch the eye of talisman masters like Chen Ping, who might go red-eyed over such a find! This blood was invaluable as spiritual material for crafting top-tier talisman ink! Not only useful for talisman masters but also highly beneficial for alchemists.
¡°Wealthy, wealthy¡¡±
First, he collected the snake¡¯s blood, then its skin and meat¡
¡°The snake bones and teeth can be used for equipment forging, serving as raw materials for high-grade magical artifacts, while the scales are perfect for creating superior spirit armor¡¡±
Fang Xi quickly estimated their value and felt slightly dizzy.
Regardless of rank or size, this serpent monster was the most impressive he had ever encountered. Altogether, it must be worth at least a thousand spirit stones!
He sliced open the snake¡¯s belly, retrieved the galldder, searched thoroughly, and suddenly sighed.
¡°Xiao You, what are you looking for?¡± Linghu Shan approached, his face filled with curiosity.
¡°I¡¯ve heard that creatures like snake-dragons may develop an inner core within them, but apparently not this one¡¡± Fang Xi nced at his bloody hands and sighed again.
In reality, mythical beasts capable of forming an inner core were predominantly third-rank or higher, which would undoubtedly cause chaos if they appeared in the Yue Kingdom.
Apart from that, only some exceptionally gifted tier-2 mythical beasts might possess a monster core¡ªthese cores were equally priceless!
Unfortunately, this snake-dragon was merely a tier-1 creature and did not have an inner core.
Fang Xi estimated that with its exceptional bloodline talent, if it had been a tier-2 beast, it would undoubtedly have developed a monster core¡ªbut then, he likely would have been the one fleeing for his life, possibly without any chance of escape!
Nevertheless, Fang Xi felt quite satisfied with the oue.
¡°You may be mistaken, Xiao You. Our sect¡¯s secret records contain extensive information on mythical beasts, but there has never been any mention of them forming inner cores¡¡± Linghu Shan said with a smile.
Since avenging his greatest grudge, the old man appeared visibly relieved and at ease.
¡°Really? Might I borrow those records to take a look?¡± Fang Xi¡¯s eyes lit up.
He had long been intrigued by the demons and mythical creatures in this world. Additionally, he hoped to explore Great Liang further, searching for other celestial spiritual roots simr to the one he possessed.
After all, the Demon Tree seemed inherently sinister; it was best to avoid relying on it whenever possible¡
At the border of Ding Province, a massive boundary marker stood tall.
On the wide official road, a figure suddenly appeared out of nowhere.
The individual seemed around forty years old, with bronze-colored skin and hands resting on his knees. From afar, he resembled an ancient copper statue.
Approaching the boundary marker, he sighed, ¡°Ding Province¡ It¡¯s been ten years since myst visit.¡±
¡°Zhou Tong! Didn¡¯t expect you to be sent for this assessment,¡± said a voice from atop the boundary marker.
An elderly man had taken a seat there, d in dark martial attire. His face bore deep wrinkles and age spots, yet his eyes gleamed intensely, giving off an unsettling vibe, akin to that of arge bat.
¡°Greetings, Senior Yan of Falcon Fist!¡± Zhou Tong bowed respectfully with sped hands. ¡°Senior, are you also here to evaluate the new talent?¡±
¡°Yes, ordinarily, a mere Zongshi wouldn¡¯t require my personal involvement. However, I¡¯ve heard about his exceptional talent - breaking through before thirty and even mastering a hundred-mile flying sword technique. Feeling restless, I decided toe see for myself¡¡± Old Yanmented, ¡°Each generation brings forth remarkable talents indeed!¡±
Zhou Tong couldn¡¯t help but feel anxious for the neer; boasting such achievements at the peak of human limits seemed rather excessive.
Indeed, the association had specifically sent both him and Old Yan to assess the candidate.
Although all Zongshi were Martial Saints, there was still a clear hierarchy in strength.
For instance, there were naturally gifted individuals like Zhou Tong himself, and seasoned veterans like Old Yan.
These exceptional figures were considered top-tier Martial Saints within the Zongshi Association!
The association gathered numerous Martial Saints who contributed their secret techniques, allowing each other to learn from strengths and ovee weaknesses. This coborative effort resulted in the creation of supreme martial arts surpassing even the finest existing practices!
Both Zhou Tong and Old Yan had cultivated these supreme martial arts, including pinnacle secret techniques inspired by ¡®devils¡¯.
In terms of power, they ranked among the foremost Martial Saints worldwide!
Their presence during this assessment also served as a subtle disy of authority to the neer.
¡°Let¡¯s go. I¡¯m eager to meet that young fellow, and it will be nice to see my old friends on Yuanhe Mountain¡¡±
With a chuckle, Old Yan vanished instantly.
Zhou Tong sighed with a wry smile and followed suit.
Yuanhe Mountain.
Lei Ji Peak.
Upon returning to Yuanhe Mountain, Fang Xi immediately requested all avable scrolls on devils and began meticulously studying them:
[Mountain Salt City Blood Hand: In the 27th year of Great Liang¡¯s Mu Zong reign, the ¡°Blood Hand Devil¡± emerged in Mountain Salt City with highly contagious properties. Symptoms included hands turning red¡ After seven days, those with red hands sumbed to madness and death, incurable by any means, leading to the creation of a Demonic Domain¡]
[Wanghai City Dream Demon: During the sixth year of Great Liang¡¯s Ying Zong reign, residents of Wanghai City continuously fell into dreams, never waking up¡ Eventually, the entire city perished in their sleep¡]
[t South Province Sword Demon: In the thirteenth year of Great Chu¡¯s Xian Zong reign, a cksmith in t South Province crafted a treasured sword capable of slicing through iron effortlessly. It was subsequently offered as tribute to the imperial pce¡ The following year, Emperor Xian Zong used this sword to kill fifty-three individuals including the Empress, Crown Prince, other princes, and concubines¡ The Great Chu Imperial Pce became engulfed in a Demonic Domain. Despite the outer court¡¯s desperate efforts, numerous Zongshi suffered heavy casualties, ultimately resulting in failure¡]
As Fang Xi read through these ounts of demons, his expression turned deeply solemn. ¡°Compared to monsters¡ the power of devils is even more terrifying, bizarre, and seemingly insurmountable!¡±
In the final scroll, he found mention of ckstone City¡¯s Demon Tree.
However, apart from this instance, there were no other recorded demons resembling trees.
¡®It seems¡ I won¡¯t find any suitable alternatives.¡¯
Fang Xi felt utterly helpless.
¡®Furthermore¡ when a devil truly unleashes its power, it bes virtually unstoppable¡ For example, Great Chu, presumably the empire before Great Liang, was annihted by just one sword demon¡¡¯
¡®The entire might of the Great Chu imperial court could not ovee a single devil¡ Fortunately, devils are extremely rare, far fewer than monsters; otherwise, humanity would have no chance of survival in this world¡¡¯
Suddenly, his expression shifted as he stepped out of the room.
A ck silhouette was swiftly approaching across the mountainousndscape beneath the sky.
With each graceful step on the treetops, the figure covered nearly twenty-five meters effortlessly, appearing like a giant bat soaring from afar. The mastery of their lightness martial arts reached an astonishingly extraordinary level.
¡°Who approaches? Identify yourself!¡± Fang Xi stood with hands sped behind his back, calmly addressing the giant bat.
¡°Heh heh¡ Impudent youngster, let this elder teach you some manners!¡±
Therge bat descended, revealing an elderly man with silver hair and deep-set wrinkles. His hands formed beak-like shapes as they swiftly lunged forward!
¡°Peeoow!¡±
His boxing style was peculiarly swift, apanied by the cries of soaring birds!
¡°Witness my Hundred Falcons Fist!¡±
Terrifying true astral energy coalesced at his fingertips, subtly shaping into forms resembling falcons!
¡°Well met!¡± Fang Xi eximed in admiration, casually striking out. The surrounding air currents seemed to converge into his palm, forming a formidable barrier.
Countless falcons collided with the barrier, emitting shrill cries before dissipating without a trace¡
¡°Not bad, bring it on again!¡±
With a sudden shift, the ck shadow appeared beside Fang Xi, apanied by even more piercing bird calls.
¡°Secret Technique: Hundred Falcons¡¯ Cry!¡±
Instantaneously, the old man¡¯s body expanded, appearing like a monstrous entity with hundreds of arms and hands. Numerous beak-like projections emerged, all converging towards Fang Xi simultaneously!
¡°Take this punch!¡±
Fang Xi¡¯s expression turned solemn as he suddenly roared and unleashed a punch with immense force, akin to splitting the heavens:
¡°Secret Technique - Primordial Infinity!¡±
Bang! Bang!
Countless shadows of fists and fingers shed, sending astral energy surging across the white stone floor, leaving behind numerous small holes.
Finally, Fang Xi¡¯s fist met the old man¡¯s, resulting in a disy of evenly matched power!
¡°Well done,d. I am Yan Sun, and I approve¡¡± The old man¡¯s face showed surprise, but just as he was about to reveal his identity, a sudden burst of golden light emerged from Fang Xi¡¯s sleeve, swift as lightning, heading straight for his chest!
Ayer of crimson astral energy instantly appeared on his chest, but having already expended much earlier,bined with the recent focus on exchanging punches with Fang Xi, left this defense remarkably weak.
With minimal resistance, the golden light tore through the crimson astral energy, followed by a sh of sword re piercing directly into the old man¡¯s chest.
¡°Ugh!¡±
The old man staggered back several steps, falling to the ground. He looked at the bleeding wound on his chest and pointed shakily at Fang Xi, gasping, ¡°Y-you¡ young man, youck martial integrity¡ We agreed to use fists; how could you¡use a sword?!¡±
¡°Against enemies, there¡¯s no room for sentiment.¡±
Fang Xi approached the old man, raising his fist to strike.
Just then, Linghu Shan¡¯s voice boomed from afar, ¡°Hold your hand, Old Yanzi! That is¡¡±
Swish! Swish!
Two figures entered the courtyard, one after another - it was Linghu Shan followed by a middle-aged man with bronze-toned skin.
Upon witnessing the scene, Linghu Shan remainedposed, but Zhou Tong¡¯s eyes widened like copper bells. ¡°How could this be? Old Yan¡¡±
Despite Yan Sun¡¯s entric temperament, he was among the top ten experts in the Zongshi Association!
How could he possibly lose to a newly minted Zongshi?
¡°Oh, old buddy, who are these two?¡± Fang Xi already had his suspicions but feigned ignorance, asking casually.
¡°Haha¡ Allow me to introduce them, my friend Fang. These are Yan Sun and Zhou Tong, both members of the Zongshi Association. They¡¯re here to discuss your membership.¡± Linghu Shan¡¯s eyes flickered as he chuckled, conveniently avoiding any mention of the assessment.
¡°Ah, so what do they think of me? Am I qualified enough?¡±
Fang Xi looked down at Yan Sun with a smile and asked casually.
¡°Enough? Absolutely enough¡¡± Zhou Tong quickly responded, ncing at Old Yan lying nearby.
Chapter 70: Aftermath
¡°Haha¡ they say there¡¯s no better way to be acquainted than through a good fight! Gentlemen, let¡¯s have a drink!¡±
At Lei Ji Peak,
Following Fang Xi¡¯s defeat of Falcon, Linghu Shan swiftly arranged a banquet.
Fang Xi acted as if nothing had happened, raising his wine cup towards Falcon, whose chest was still bandaged. ¡°Come,e, Old Yan, another toast!¡±
Despite the bitterness in his mouth, Falcon dared not offend this young and exceptionally talented powerhouse. He reluctantly picked up his cup and took a sip.
¡°Now that¡¯s more like it; we¡¯re allrades here.¡± Fang Xiughed heartily before turning to Zhou Tong. ¡°As a member of the Zongshi Association, naturally, I¡¯m interested in realms beyond zongshi. Could you enlighten me on how far your research has progressed?¡±
¡°We¡¯ve made some progress¡¡± Zhou Tong¡¯s expression turned serious.
The Zongshi Association was formed by zongshi seeking breakthroughs. Knowing about Fang Leng¡¯s exceptional talent and formidable strength, they would undoubtedly share their knowledge generously with him.
All efforts were aimed at finding the path forward! ¡°I¡¯d be eager to hear more details,¡± Fang Xi said, setting down his wine cup and listening attentively.
¡°Actually¡ bing a Martial Saint marks the pinnacle of martial arts mastery.¡± Zhou Tong gathered his thoughts before continuing, ¡°The Zongshi Association has collected various top-tier martial techniques,bining their strengths to ultimately create several exceptional skills known as ¡®Seven Absolute Arts¡¯. By training exceptionally gifted disciples from a young age, we¡¯ve only managed to achieve full-body coverage with true astral energy, reaching what is called the ¡®Astral Body¡¯ state¡¡±
¡°Filling one¡¯s entire body with true astral energy is already quite impressive.¡±
Fang Xi pondered thoughtfully.
For zongshi, true astral energy was limited; like himself and Linghu Shan, they typically released it sparingly during critical moments, akin to donning partial armor.
If true astral energy could continuously envelop the whole body, providing unbroken protection, it would be equivalent to wearing full-body armor, significantly enhancing defensive capabilities beyondparison.
¡°Is achieving full-body true astral energy the peak of a Martial Saint?¡± Fang Xi murmured to himself.
¡°It may or may not be¡ The association leader once spected that after attaining the ¡®Astral Body¡¯, the next step would be ¡®True Astral Manifestation¡¯!¡±
Falcon continued, ¡°Unfortunately¡ among all members of the Zongshi Association, not a single zongshi has achieved this so-called True Astral Manifestation. After all, human blood qi is inherently limited. Regardless of one¡¯s exceptional talent and extraordinary blood qi, even with consumption of rare treasures, it remains difficult to concentrate true astral energy sufficiently for manifestation¡¡±
¡°That truly is unfortunate¡¡± Fang Xi pursed his lips, contemting whether he could find tier-2 medicinal pills in the cultivation world that significantly boost blood qi.
Once his qi circted throughout his body, perhaps such pills could help him achieve ¡®True Astral Manifestation¡¯?
¡°Actually, True Astral Manifestation is just one path,¡± Zhou Tong interjected. ¡°Currently, within the association, there are two main factions. One advocates deep exploration of true astral potential, ultimately aiming for a breakthrough¡ The other faction focuses on studying various secret techniques, emphasizing learning from Demons!¡±
Recalling Yuanhe Mountain¡¯s Seed Demon Technique, Fang Xi nodded, ¡°If one could harness demonic abilities, it indeed could be considered a significant breakthrough beyond zongshi level.¡±
¡°It¡¯s not as simple as that. Numerous experiments within our association have ended in failure¡ Demon magical energy is profoundly terrifying; even zongshis can only resist it slightly longer than ordinary people.¡±
Zhou Tong chuckled bitterly, ¡°In our society, learning demonic magical energies primarily relies on simting them through one¡¯s own blood qi, creating various secret techniques¡ Only a handful of true lunatics dare to directly imnt demons within themselves!¡±
¡°Intriguing,¡± Fang Xi said with newfound interest. ¡°Have there been any sessful results?¡±
Falcon and Zhou Tong exchanged nces before Zhou Tong stepped forward again.
¡°Please bear with my humble disy!¡± he eximed.
Instantly, dark patterns emerged across his body.
¡°Demonic seals?¡± Fang Xi¡¯s pupils contracted, then he shook his head, ¡°Not quite; it still fundamentally relies on blood qi simtion!¡±
¡°Our society has developed several secret techniques using zongshi-level microscopic control over blood qi. The one I¡¯m demonstrating is called ¡®Secret Art of Restoration¡¯!¡± Zhou Tong¡¯s voice boomed as he suddenly picked up a dagger and sliced his arm.
After deliberately removing his true astral defense, a bloody wound appeared instantly.
However, just as quickly, the cut began to rapidly heal itself.
The ck markings on Zhou Tong¡¯s body dissipated, and he sat back down. ¡°This Secret Art of Restoration stimtes blood qi, elerating physical healing¡ As long as vital organs or the head aren¡¯t damaged, even severed limbs can be reattached.¡±
¡°Remarkable Secret Art!¡± Fang Xi¡¯s eyes lit up. ¡°May I observe it further?¡±
Falconughed heartily. ¡°As a brother within the Zongshi Association, Grandmaster Fang, of course you can! However, we must follow the association¡¯s rules¡ Our association has always been informal, but we regrly issue tasks. Bypleting these tasks, Grandmaster Fang can earn contributions and redeem them for various exceptional legacies and secret arts!¡±
¡°I see,¡± Fang Xi responded, slightly disappointed.
He then recalled that even in ancient times, teachers often withheld knowledge from their disciples. Considering this, the Zongshi Association¡¯s approach to exchanging techniques based on contributions was quite progressive.
Unfortunately, there still seemed to be no path beyond zongshi¡
¡®On the bright side, I have a direction now. I don¡¯t necessarily need those spective breakthrough methods¡ Seeking fourth-level Body Tempering legacies from the cultivation world would likely be more reliable.¡¯
Previously, he couldn¡¯t pursue cultivation world Body Tempering techniques due tock of spirit stones and insufficient strength. But circumstances had changed.
¡®However¡ those demon-rted secret arts and research could be worth exploring by redeeming relevant information¡¡¯
Fang Xi¡¯s interest red, and his conversation with these two zongshi became even more engaging.
In Three Origins City.
At the ck market¡¯s Thousand Gold Hall, Fatty Han was devouring a sulent, golden-brown roasted suckling pig, his mouth smacking with grease.
¡°You seem quite content, you fatso.¡±
Suddenly, a voice nearby startled Fatty Han, causing him to drop the roast pig from his hands.
He hastily looked towards the source and saw Fang Xi standing there.
¡°Ah, it¡¯s Brother Fang¡¡± Fatty Han quickly mustered a grin.
Fang Xi possessed mysterious means; previously, when instructed to acquire mythical beast materials, Fatty Han had profited significantly, making Fang Xi akin to a god of wealth for him.
Of course, Fatty Han couldn¡¯t forget how soon after mentioning changes within the Martial Union, the entire Ximen n met their demise¡
Although rumors suggested that the Ximen n¡¯s misfortune stemmed from provoking Ghostweary, the methods used by Ghostweary and Fang Xi¡ seemed strikingly simr. Even if not master and apprentice, they were undoubtedly allies!
However, aware of the potential consequences, Fatty Han chose to pretend he had forgotten about this incident.
¡°Fatty Han, would you like a promotion?¡± Fang Xi casually took a seat and teased.
¡°Well¡ my abilities are limited, unsure what kind of promotion you mean?¡± Fatty Han cautiously responded, unable to dismiss the question outright.
¡°How about bing the Great Shopkeeper of the Monster Hunter Building?¡±
Fang Xi replied with an enigmatic smile.
With a sudden crash!
The mountain of flesh toppled over as Fatty Han struggled to rise, his face flushed with embarrassment. ¡°Don¡¯t tease old Han, Fang brother. The Beast Hunt Society has strong ties with the imperial court; it¡¯s deep waters¡ Old Han doesn¡¯t want to risk losing this hefty thousand pounds of meat there.¡±
¡°Don¡¯t worry, you won¡¯t¡¡± Fang Xi shook his head reassuringly.
Even Linghu Shan, a mere aging zongshi, dared to maintain a force of five hundred wind and thunder soldiers. Naturally, Fang Xi felt even more fearless, extending his demonic ws towards the Beast Hunt Society¡
Fortunately, the Zongshi Association wasn¡¯t entirely useless; at least Falcon seemed to have connections within the imperial court.
After hearing Fang Xi¡¯s n, Falcon confidently patted his chest, assuring him that he would handle everything promptly.
After all, it was just about cing someone within the Beast Hunt Society, albeit as the Great Shopkeeper!
For Fang Xi, it simply meant securing another source for mythical beast materials.
In reality, these cultivators and martial artists could only manage mid-grade first-rank beasts at best, while high-grade Monster Kings were beyond their capabilities.
To defeat Ding Province¡¯s Eight¡ªno, Seven Great Monster Kings, Fang Xi would still need to act personally.
¡°Given Fang brother¡¯s trust, old Han is willing to stake this ample body weight and take on the role of Great Shopkeeper!¡± After some thought, Fatty Han finally gritted his teeth and agreed.
¡°Excellent!¡± Fang Xiughed heartily and strode out confidently.
At Baiyun Dojo, on this particr day, sorrowful weeping echoed unexpectedly.
Whitenterns hung at the entrance alongside mourning banners.
All dojo disciples had changed into funeral attire, their expressions filled with grief.
In the center of the dojo, a memorial altar was set up, prominently disying Mu Canglong¡¯s namete.
Mu Canglong had been afflicted by a curse in ckstone City years ago. Although he managed to prolong his life with medicinal pills, there was a limit, and now he finally passed away.
Mu Piaomiao seemed like a soulless puppet, staring nkly at everything around her. Instead, it was Zhang Mingding and Tang Xuan who took charge of overseeing the arrangements.
A pervasive atmosphere of sadness enveloped the entire dojo.
Fang Xi stood outside, silently paid his respects, and then turned to leave.
¡°I, ever heartless, seek only freedom amidst chaos¡¡±
At Intervale Dojo:
¡°Do you think¡when will Master return?¡± Qing Sang fiddled with a white jade ruyi, its smooth texture adorned with three embedded night pearls, making it an invaluable treasure.
Yet at that moment, he casually held it just to scratch an itch, finding it somewhat inconvenient and promptly tossed the ruyi back into a chest.
Nearby, severalrge chests overflowed with gold and silver ornaments, their opulence nearly spilling out.
All these riches were ¡®apologies¡¯ from influential families within the city!
¡°I don¡¯t know¡¡± Qing Mu¡¯s expression remained nk.
¡°Sigh¡ Talking to you is pointless¡ Let me tell you, on that night, our master broke through the siege, killing four great martial artists with his bare fists. Finally, using his flying sword, he struck fearlessly across vast distances, decapitating generals amidst thousands of troops. It left the entire city¡¯s nobility utterly stunned; otherwise, how could we be sofortably resting here now?¡±
Qing Sang¡¯s face flushed with excitement. ¡°I wonder where Master is right now. Maybe he¡¯lle back to teach us divine techniques¡¡±
Oh, how he too dreamed of bing a flying sword immortal!
Qing Sang believed his loyalty had been tested, now eagerly anticipating the chance to serve his master diligently and someday inherit the flying sword technique!
¡°Cough¡ Forget about divine powers; even I practice the Primordial True Art!¡± Fang Xi cleared his throat as he suddenly appeared within the dojo.
¡°Master!¡±
Both Qing Sang and A-Dai eximed simultaneously.
¡°Hmm!¡±
Fang Xi looked at Qing Sang, then turned to A-Dai and dered, ¡°Starting today, the Intervale Dojo shall be passed on to you, Qing Sang¡¡±
To be honest, the dojo was merely a house with some reputation, never holding much significance for Fang Xi.
¡°Master¡ I don¡¯t wish to inherit the dojo. Instead, I want to stay by your side, offering unwavering service!¡± Qing Sang knelt fervently, his voice loud and clear.
He too dreamed of bing a Martial Dao Zongshi, wielding influence over an entire city!
Such is the aspiration of a true man!
¡°This is non-negotiable!¡± Fang Xi waved dismissively.
After handling these matters, his primary focus would shift to the southern wilderness¡¯ Longevity Techniques in the cultivation realm.
Achieving immortality through enlightenment remained his utmost priority!
Chapter 71: Geography of Yue Kingdom
In the southern wilderness¡¯s cultivation realm.
At the Heavenly Immortal Pavilion.
A small y teapot atop a fire stove emitted gentle wisps of steam.
Ge Hongdan, dressed casually in loose robes with his hair tied up in a knot and secured by a ckwood pin, exuded a rxed demeanor at home.
He lifted the teapot and poured Fang Xi a cup of tea. ¡°For brewing tea, snowmelt is ideal, followed by mountain spring water, then rainwater¡ This isst year¡¯s stored snowmelt. The weather was favorable, with the first snowfall urring at just the right time. Daoist friend, please taste it and tell me how you find it?¡±
¡°It doesn¡¯tpare to spirit spring water!¡± Fang Xi spoke honestly.
Instantly, Ge Hongdan fell silent, a hint of self-doubt creeping onto his face.
After all, for a cultivator who hadpletely abandoned the cultivation path, acquiring wealth, jewels, or secr power was effortless. However, obtaining anything rted to the cultivation world remained virtually impossible¡
Yet paradoxically, even a bowl of spirit rice would be considered superior to any gourmet delicacies by most cultivators! A patched-up magical robe held more prestige than a nobleman¡¯s thousand-gold fur coat! Within the cultivation world, anything unrted to cultivation stood at the very bottom of the hierarchy of disdain.
¡°Haha¡ Nheless, this tea is quite good.¡± Fang Xiughed to ease the awkwardness and asked, ¡°Daoist Ge, may I inquire about the items I requested?¡±
¡°Already prepared, please take a look!¡± Composing himself, Ge Hongdan unrolled a scroll on the table, revealing a map with mountains and rivers - it was clearly a topographical depiction of the Yue Kingdom!
To ancient people, maps were highly valuable possessions, and even for cultivators, their significance remainedrgely unchanged.
¡°Please observe, Daoist friend, Jiahe City is located here!¡± Ge Hongdan pointed at a tiny spot on the map.
Fang Xi scrutinized closely before finding Jiahe City, noticing that nearby Qingzhu Mountain Market had a more prominent marking.
The entire Qingzhu Mountain Markety towards the northeast within the territory known as the ¡®Yue Kingdom¡¯.
This map was extensive, not only depicting the Yue Kingdom but also its neighboring Wood and Wu Nations¡ One could see these three kingdoms forming a tripod-like bnce, with the Yue Kingdom situated farthest north.
At the borders between the nations, there existed a massive mountain range shaped like the letter ¡®Y¡¯, dividing the three kingdoms.
It was called the ¡®Myriad Beasts Mountain Range¡¯, rumored to harbor third-order mythical beasts reaching Core Formation stage deep within its reaches.
At every passable mountain entrance, there were cultivators¡¯ markets and fortresses established.
These fortressed markets resembled strings of pearls, with thergest one located at the intersection of all three nations. It was prominentlybeled in massive letters as ¡°Bai Ze Immortal City¡±!
¡°Is this it? The sanctuary for rogue cultivators - Bai Ze Immortal City?¡± Fang Xi gazed at the location marked on the map, his words filled with boundless yearning.
In each of the Yue, Wood, and Wu kingdoms, dominant sects exerted control over everything, even monopolizing the supply of Foundation Establishment Pills. Only a few wealthy cultivator ns could afford the immense cost to obtain such pills from these sects.
Rogue cultivators struggled to survive amidst these constraints, often finding themselves squeezed between powerful factions.
However, Bai Ze Immortal City stood apart. Originally just a cultivators¡¯ market, its strategic position beyond direct jurisdiction of any kingdom allowed it to rapidly be a hub for rogue cultivators. Leveraging the abundant resources from the nearby Myriad Beasts Mountain Range, it continually grew until True Person Bai Feng achieved Core Formation, ultimately establishing an entire cultivation city!
Nowadays, it is considered the only ce within the three kingdoms where rogue cultivators have a chance to acquire a Foundation Establishment Pill, revered as their sacred haven.
¡°Yes¡ if only I were thirty years younger, perhaps even I would have ventured to Bai Ze Immortal City, seeking my own fortune,¡± Ge Hongdan sighed wistfully.
Fang Xi¡¯s gaze shifted away from Bai Ze Immortal City; it was a ce teeming with diverse characters, far from ideal for cultivating the Longevity Technique.
His cultivation principle was clear: avoidpetition, quietly nurture growth like nting seeds, and never seek out perilousnds of fierce contention.
Instead, Fang Xi looked further northward, beyond the Yue Kingdom.
At the northern border of Yuey a vast body of water known as ¡®Wan Ind Lake.¡¯ This immenseke stretched endlessly, merging with the ¡®Vast Dream Marsh¡¯ farther north.
The marsh was perpetually shrouded in dense fog, imprable even by Foundation Stage cultivators¡¯ divine senses. Its expanse is boundless, and ording to legends, even Core Formation patriarchs who venture within often disappear without a trace.
It is said that crossing the Vast Dream Marsh leads one to territories far to the north, home to a more powerful and prosperous cultivation realm than the southern wilderness.
Within Wan Ind Lake, countless inds are scattered like stars across the sky, some possessing spiritual veins upied by small sects and minor ns.
The ancestralnds of Yue Kingdom¡¯s ¡®Zhong Family of Dragonfish¡¯, one of the seven major cultivator ns, were located nearby.
Ah, the so-called seven great cultivator ns of Yue Kingdom consisted of Foundation Establishment families led by the Song n. Each generation produced Foundation Stage cultivators, standing alongside Red Leaf Valley and other Foundation Establishment sects as the thirteen dominant forces in Yue Kingdom, all under the authority of the Profound Sky Sect.
However, with the destruction of the Heavenly Talisman Shen n, ckwater Situ n, and Red Leaf Valley, only five of the original seven cultivator ns remained intact.
It was rumored that the Song n had recently elevated another cultivator family, the Tu Family, assisting their patriarch to reach Foundation Establishment. This move suggested their intention to rece one of the diminished ns with the Tu Family.
¡°In the Yue Kingdom, the Core Formation patriarch-led Profound Sky Sect reigns supreme like the heavens themselves! Only those possessing Foundation Stage cultivators can im power as influential ns. As for countless Qi Refinement families, smaller sects, and even the lowest-tier rogue cultivators, they struggle tirelessly¡¡±
Fang Xi sighed inwardly, his gaze fixed on Wan Ind Lake.
Within this vastke, inds rich in spiritual energy were scarce, numbering only a few dozen. Some of these were upied by small Qi Refinement sects, Qi Refinement families, or individual rogue cultivators. Among them, there existed an alliance known as ¡®Thirty-Six Inds¡¯ that stood against the Zhong Family of Dragonfish.
Currently, the Qingzhu Mountain Market was chaotic, having transformed into a ck market with significant safety concerns. Naturally, Fang Xi had no intention of venturing there.
To cultivate the ¡®Longevity Technique¡¯, it would be ideal to find a location with spiritual veins.
Fang Xi¡¯s gaze turned towards the Wan Ind Lake region.
This area predominantly consisted of Qi Refinement cultivators, with stable factions that remained at a standoff. No major conflicts had urred in recent decades, making it rtively peaceful.
With numerous inds scattered across theke, the spiritual veins were fragmented; most were first-tier or even lower quality, and resources were not particrly abundant.
Overall, this region did not attract attention fromrge influential forces but was perfect for cautious growth and development.
¡°Wan Ind Lake is vast; perhaps I can discover new spiritual veins¡ Even if they¡¯re only first-tier or lesser, they¡¯ll suffice¡¡±
¡°Once I set up protective formations, I can cultivate the Longevity Technique while simultaneously advancing my cultivation through meditation¡¡±
¡°After refining my spiritual body, I¡¯ll then head to Bai Ze Immortal City to n for reaching Foundation Establishment!¡±
Fang Xi¡¯s minimum goal was to sessfully cultivate the ¡®Azure Wood Spirit Body¡¯!
Without it, given his low-grade spirit root aptitude, achieving Foundation Establishment would be highly uncertain.
Even though he could continuously acquire vast quantities of spirit stones through inter-realm trade and wouldn¡¯t hesitate to consume medicinal pills despite potential toxicity for cultivation, both trading and purchasingrge numbers of pills risked attracting attention from Foundation Stage cultivators!
Once he achieved the spiritual body, his reliance on medicinal pills would significantly decrease.
¡°Firstly, I must focus on growing the tree; it¡¯s like sharpening the axe before chopping wood.¡±
¡°The Demon Tree grows quite rapidly¡ if it doesn¡¯t meet expectations, at least I can cut my losses early.¡±
¡°I¡¯ll set a limit of twenty years! I¡¯m only twenty now, so by then, I¡¯ll just be forty! If cultivating the Longevity Technique proves too challenging, there¡¯s still time to reconsider.¡±
Fang Xi secretly imposed this deadline upon himself.
¡°Nevertheless, certain purchases are necessary¡¡±
His gaze scanned the area around Wan Ind Lake, noticing the marker for the ¡®Treasure Ship Market¡¯, which brought him even greater satisfaction.
Although Qingzhu Mountain Market had many good items, its size allowed for unfair treatment towards customers, causing some issues. Fang Xi decided against visiting it again.
With valuable items at hand, Fang Xi could easily sell them at another market and then purchase legacies, formations, and more¡
¡°Not bad, truly excellent resources!¡±
After formting his n, Fang Xi looked up and said to Ge Hongdan, ¡°Many thanks, Daoist friend!¡±
As he spoke, Fang Xi took out ten spirit stones and handed them to Ge Hongdan.
¡°Haha, you¡¯re most wee.¡±
Grinning widely with the spirit stones in hand, Ge Hongdan reveled in this hard currency prized by all cultivators. Despite any worldly power one might possess, obtaining spirit stones was notoriously difficult.
Having received the payment, Ge Hongdan resumed sipping his tea, now somewhat curious, ¡°Could it be that Daoist friend wishes to visit Bai Ze Immortal City?¡±
¡°Indeed, I do!¡± Fang Xi responded promptly.
Although truthfully, he had no intention of going there; Bai Ze Immortal City housed Core Formation patriarchs and countless great Foundation Establishment cultivators. Fang Xi preferred not to draw attention under their watchful eyes. However, maintaining secrecy was essential.
¡°I happen to have a few friends in Bai Ze Immortal City,¡± Ge Hongdan offered with a smile, providing several contact details. ¡°If you go there, feel free to pay them a visit¡¡±
Fang Xi carefully noted each detail, expressing his gratitude. Once the transaction wasplete, he swiftly departed from the Heavenly Immortal Pavilion.
Wan Ind Lake was approximately six to seven thousand kilometers away from Qingzhu Mountain Market - this distance being just as the crow flies.
Considering the obstacles of mountains, rivers, and potential bandits along the way¡ even for ancient people of that era, many might never leave their local vige throughout their entire lives, with only exceptionally capable individuals venturing as far as the county town.
Fang Xi employed efficient movement techniques, conserving his energy, allowing him to effortlessly travel at a pace faster than a galloping horse, covering around five or six hundred kilometers per day.
Although he possessed the ck Cloud Pocket magical artifact for transportation, Qi Refinement cultivators have limited magical energy. Continuously using such artifacts for travel is extravagant and leaves one vulnerable to unexpected dangers.
Thus, Fang Xi primarily relied on physical movement techniques, asionally resting by riding horses. He reserved the ck Cloud Pocket for crossingrge bodies of water, rivers, or traversing steep cliffs and impassable terrain, flying low over these obstacles.
With this approach, despite taking longer routes, he estimated it would take about twenty days to reach Wan Ind Lake.
After more than ten days:
Fang Xi had been traveling continuously, enduring the elements, and only asionally stopping in major cities for brief rxation.
One evening, as twilight approached, Fang Xi found a cave for rest.
¡°If not for conveniences like fasting pills and cleanliness talismans for cultivators¡ long-distance travel would be even more arduous.¡±
After consuming a fasting pill, Fang Xi couldn¡¯t help butment over ancient transportation methods.
¡°I¡¯ve heard that¡ between major markets, regr caravans operate using beasts of burden, which makes travel much easier¡ and safer too.¡±
Qingzhu Mountain Market used to have such services, but now it¡¯s fucking just a ck market!
As a result, there were no organized caravans avable.
Fang Xi had no choice but to journey alone.
Fortunately, he maintained a low profile and avoided trouble, so aside from the fatigue of travel, nothing particrly eventful urred along the way.
There were neither Cmity cultivators jumping out to kill and loot nor any distressed female cultivators needing rescue.
After a restful night, Fang Xi felt rejuvenated and continued his journey, eventually reaching Yu County in the northern part of the Yue Kingdom.
Chapter 72: Wan Island Lake
The Yue Kingdomprised thirty-two counties.
Among them, Yu County was situated in the northern frontier and spanned two to three timesrger than typical counties.
This county featured a densework of waterways, bustling with frequent boat traffic. Wooden and stone bridges weremonce, presenting a scene vastly different from Qingzhu Mountain Market¡¯s surroundings.
At Wan Ind Lake:
On thekeside dock,
countless fishing boats clustered together, their movements creating ripples across theke surface. Bathed in sunlight, these waves shimmered like countless scales.
Fang Xi arrived at the dock, noticing numerous fishermen wearing straw bamboo hats, draped in green reed cloaks, and d in gray or ck trousers. Some sat, others stood by the roadside, selling their freshly caught fish.
¡°Young man, want a big blue carp?¡± asked an elderly fisherman with a smile.
¡°No, thank you. I¡¯m actually looking for a boat to venture deep into Wan Ind Lake.¡± Fang Xi produced a silver ingot. Its dazzling gleam caught the attention of many fishermen, yet they shook their heads repeatedly. ¡°Venturing deep into Wan Ind Lake is extremely dangerous; we wouldn¡¯t dare¡
¡°It¡¯s said that there are immortals living within its depths!¡±
¡°We can only make a living near the shore, never daring to offend any immortals. If they took offense, our catch would vanish next year, leaving us all destitute!¡±
As more fishermen gathered around, Fang Xi smiled and exchanged his silver for a gold ingot. ¡°With this gold, just one trip would be enough to buynd and a house, ensuring you never need to fish again¡¡±
¡°I¡¯m in!¡± A young fisherman promptly stepped forward. ¡°Gongzi, are you seeking immortals? In fact, I¡¯ve previously taken several young heroes deep into theke on simr quests for divine encounters¡¡±
¡°Anyone else?¡±
Fang Xi nced around, knowing well that substantial rewards always attract brave souls. He produced another piece of gold, predictably drawing interest from numerous fishermen.
Without further ado, Fang Xi inspected their boats and finally chose one with a scarlet carp painted at its bow.
The boat¡¯s captain appeared to be in his forties or fifties, with weathered features andrge, sturdy hands. However, he was actually only in his thirties and introduced himself as ¡®Old Hai¡¯.
Once the boat was selected, Old Hai pushed off using a bamboo pole, slowly steering away from the dock towards the heart of theke.
Several hourster¡
Dusk approached, casting golden hues mixed with subtle reds across the water¡¯s surface.
Old Hai navigated the boat, raising his voice to sing a fishing song: ¡°Reeds drifting oh hey¡ Little boat silently glides hey¡ Abundant catch next year hey¡¡±
As the sun set in the west, apanied by the fishermen¡¯s songs echoing across the twilight, it created a uniquely charming atmosphere.
Fang Xi stood on the deck, feeling the gentle breeze against his face, and leisurely stretched with contentment.
¡°Would our esteemed guest like to have dinner now?¡± At this moment, a woman emerged from the cabin of the small ck-roofed boat, softly asking.
She appeared younger than Old Hai, adorned with a small white flower in her hair, suggesting she must have been quite attractive in her youth.
For fishermen, a ck-roofed boat was their home, where they experienced life¡¯s milestones from birth to death¡ªall aboard the vessel.
Naturally, this woman was Old Hai¡¯s wife.
¡°All right¡I¡¯ll take a bowl of fish soup!¡± Fang Xi nodded and casually tossed a silver bean towards her.
Upon receiving the tip, the woman promptly returned inside the cabin, swiftly preparing a carp with skilled hands.
The head and bones were simmered into a rich, creamy broth, seasoned only with a pinch of salt for its exquisite vor. The fillets, sliced thinly, were gently roasted until lightly golden, releasing enticing aromas.
Paired with homemade wine, it made for a delightful meal experience.
Fang Xi enjoyed the food immensely and rewarded the woman with another silver bean.
After epting the second tip, the woman lingered instead of leaving, coyly asking, ¡°With the nightfall dew settling, would Gongzi require any additional service?¡±
In ancient times, many boatwomen had additional upations, and Fang Xi was no stranger to this practice. He promptly shook his head and declined.
Witnessing this scene, Old Hai, who had been steering the boat all along, couldn¡¯t help but sigh inwardly.
Having spent most of his life around Wan Ind Lake, enduring both wind and rain, he may not have umted much wealth, but his discernment remained sharp.
The scarlet carp adorning the bow of the boat represented the highest honor for fishing families. In Wan Ind Lake, after storms, rare sightings of crimson-scaled carps with dragon-like whiskers urred asionally. These were highly prized yet incredibly difficult to catch. Only those sessful in capturing such a scarlet carp could engrave its symbol on their boat¡¯s prow.
Old Hai, originally able to barely make ends meet through fishing, took up Fang Xi¡¯s business because he recognized the youth as truly extraordinary. Either Fang Xi was a well-to-do young master or a budding hero traversing the jianghu.
If he could gain favor with someone like him, perhaps future generations of his family could pursue education and martial arts, escaping the hardships of a fisherman¡¯s life.
Truly impoverished people from ancient times often didn¡¯t dwell on these matters. Yet unexpectedly, the young master showed no interest whatsoever.
Fang Xi seemed to hear Old Hai¡¯s sigh. He walked to the bow of the boat, directing Old Hai while assuring him, ¡°Don¡¯t worry, once we reach our destination, this Gongzi will reward you generously!¡±
Five dayster.
¡°Gongzi¡ after passing this Golden Turtle Reef, we dare not venture further¡¡±
Old Hai pointed to a nearby rock protruding from theke, resembling a giant turtle¡¯s head, and addressed Fang Xi, ¡°Fishermen around here typically only brave the shallows; very few ever go this deep¡ Based on my experience, venturing any farther would surely invite great cmity!¡±
¡°Hmm, this far is sufficient.¡±
Fang Xi took out Ge Hongdan¡¯s geomancy map, nced at it, and nodded unconsciously.
The reason he hired the boat was simply to avoid flying too far with the ck Cloud Pocket himself.
Upon reaching the Golden Turtle Reef, they were now quite close to the Treasure Ship Market.
With that, Fang Xi tapped his bag of holding.
A mass of dark clouds emerged, enveloping him as he ascended from the deck.
¡°You two can return now,¡± Fang Xi instructed, tossing them a gold ingot before steering the ck cloud away.
¡°This¡¡± Old Hai stood dumbfounded for a moment, then suddenly knelt down, repeatedly bowing his head. ¡°Xian Shi, full ofpassion¡ please forgive me, Xian Shi, please forgive me!¡±
As he rose, seeing his wife joyfully tucking the gold into her bosom, he couldn¡¯t help but feel somewhat dejected. ¡°Ah¡ if only the Immortal Master had taken notice of you¡¡±
Perhaps she could have been bestowed with an immortal seed, allowing their descendants to embark on the cultivation path.
The Treasure Ship Market was located on Treasure Ship Ind.
This ind, shaped like a grand treasure ship due to its square form, had earned its name ordingly.
Upon the ind, there existed a first-tier spiritual vein,ter imed by the Zhong Family of Dragonfish and transformed into a bustling market. Surrounding the market were terraced fields, cultivated with abundant spirit rice.
Fang Xi altered his appearance once more, partially obscuring his face, and steered the ck Cloud Pocket. Within just one hour, he arrived at Treasure Ship Ind.
There were no aerial restrictions above the ind, allowing him to effortlessly fly over the uneven terraced fields until reaching the entrance of the market.
As Fang Xi nced down at the diligent spirit farmers asionally looking up with envious eyes, he felt a mix of emotions stirring within him.
Without his golden finger, he might still be a spirit farmer on Qingzhu Mountain, likely to be caught in the devastation when the Situ n met its end¡
¡°Greetings, esteemed Immortal Master! Is this your first visit to our market?¡± At the market entrance, several mortals squatted nearby. Upon seeing Fang Xi¡¯s magical artifact descend, they quickly swarmed around him. ¡°We serve as local guides, well-versed in every corner of the market¡¡±
¡°Hmm, you¡¯ll do!¡±
Fang Xi pointed at a young servant dressed in green attire.
The servant¡¯s face immediately lit up with joy, dispersing hispetitors and leading Fang Xi ahead. ¡°To enter the Treasure Ship Market, no credentials or spirit stone fees are required¡ However, if caught by patrol cultivators after nightfall without leaving, it could lead to unpleasant consequences¡ Xian Shi, hiring me for a day costs merely one spirit crystal! My name is Mo Qingyi, and today I am fortunate to meet such an esteemed Immortal¡¡±
¡°You¡ seem to be just an ordinary mortal?¡± Fang Xi casually remarked as he followed Mo Qingyi¡¯s guidance.
At this mention, Mo Qingyi¡¯s demeanor turned somber. ¡°I am indeed dull-witted,cking the spiritual root aptitude inherited from my grandfather¡¡±
After further conversation, Fang Xi learned that Wan Ind Lake differed significantly from Qingzhu Mountain. Here, numerous descendants of cultivators resided, many of whomcked spiritual roots but still lived on the inds, forming viges and towns.
Ordinary mortals living near the market and securing livelihoods were invariably direct descendants within three generations of cultivators.
¡®Each of these inds essentially functions like its own small nation?¡¯
¡®Hmm¡ Despite being called inds, they are actually quiterge. In my previous life¡¯s Japan, these could correspond to territories controlled by daimyos with hundreds of thousands or even millions of koku¡¡¯
Fang Xi internally mused, then smiled and said, ¡°Do your job well, and you won¡¯t be short on rewards¡ I¡¯m nning to sell some mythical beast materials and purchase a Body Tempering technique, along with legacies rted to puppetry and Beast Control¡¡±
Previously, his focus on martial arts training in Great Liang was due to its rapid progression, minimal material requirements, and assistance in breaking through blood qi barriers during Foundation Establishment.
If he were to achieve the third stage of Body Refinement using cultivation world techniques instead, it would have cost him a fortune in spirit stones.
At minimum, it would require constant consumption of spirit rice,bined with medicinal baths made from various spirit medicines, alongside supplementary medicinal pills¡
Overall, practicing martial arts in Great Liang proved more cost-effective.
However, now that he had reached Zongshi level with no further path ahead, Fang Xi needed to prepare for transitioning to cultivation.
Mo Qingyi pondered for a moment before responding, ¡°For selling mythical beast materials, there are several senior vendors in the stall area who consistently buy such items. However, the most reputable ce is ¡®Dragon Gate Pavilion¡¯ run by the Zhong family!¡±
¡°As for puppetry techniques? Please forgive my limited knowledge; I haven¡¯t heard of any ce selling such legacies¡ However, regarding Beast Control Technique, there¡¯s Xian Shi Miao who keeps three spirit pets. He might possess rted legacies, and you could inquire with him.¡±
¡°Lead the way, let¡¯s go to the Dragon Gate Pavilion first!¡± Fang Xi nodded, quite satisfied with this guide.
If he had to gather this information on his own, it would have consumed significant time and effort.
Dragon Gate Pavilion.
The Zhong Family of Dragonfish specialized in breeding spirit fish, particrly the ¡®Azure Jade Carp¡¯, known for its exquisite taste and gentle spiritual energy content. This made them especially suitable for water elemental cultivators, as long-term consumption was akin to cultivating with medicinal pills, without the risk of pill toxicity.
Rumor has it that among thousands of Azure Jade Carps, one might find a Fish King, which possesses traces of Dragonfish blood, often referred to as the ¡®little azure dragon¡¯!
Combining this ¡®little azure dragon¡¯ with a few rare spirit medicines creates the ¡®Azure Dragon Soup¡¯. Even great Foundation Establishment cultivators can derive benefits from consuming it.
Unfortunately, most rogue cultivators never get to experience the vor of Azure Dragon Soup in their lifetime.
These precious spirit objects, aside from a small portion used by the Zhong Family themselves, are primarily offered as tribute to the Profound Sky Sect in exchange for valuable resources like Foundation Establishment Pills.
Chapter 73: Flying Fish Mage Robe
At the Dragon Gate Pavilion.
The pavilion was octagonal, with entrances facing each direction.
Above the eaves, intricately carved were ¡®Chiwen¡¯ figures - creatures possessing dragon heads and fish bodies.
¡°Wee, Daoist friends!¡±
As Fang Xi and Mo Qingyi entered the pavilion, they were greeted by a young man in Mid Qi Refining stage.
Dressed in a deep ck mage robe, it featured embroidered flying fish patches. These flying fish had an exceptionally majestic appearance,plete with two sets of dragon whiskers.
¡°Flying fish mage robes?¡± Having listened to Mo Qingyi¡¯s exnations along the way, Fang Xi recognized this as the standard attire for Zhong n members. His expression turned serious. ¡°Are you from the Zhong n?¡±
¡°Yes, I am Zhong Wangu. May I inquire what items the Daoist friend is interested in purchasing? Our pavilion just received a fresh batch of turquoise jade carp; perhaps you would like to take a look¡¡± Zhong Wangu enthusiastically suggested, ¡°These spirit fish have exquisite vor, especially when paired with our local specialty, Heavenly Stem Water Spirit Rice - it¡¯s truly unmatched!¡±
¡°Eating rice and enjoying fish soup indeed sounds delightful,¡± Fang Xi smiled. ¡°However, I¡¯m primarily looking to purchase a Body Tempering cultivation technique, preferably for at least the fourthyer!¡± ¡°A Foundation Establishment technique? Daoist friend, you¡¯re a body cultivator?¡± Zhong Wangu appeared slightly taken aback. ¡°My apologies, truly did not expect¡¡±
¡°Besides Body Tempering techniques, if your esteemed pavilion has legacies of Puppetry or Beast Control Techniques, I would also be interested to see them,¡± Fang Xi confidently stated, nowparable to Late Stage Qi Refinement without fearing much due to the absence of great Foundation Establishment cultivators.
Hearing this request, Zhong Wangu smiled wryly. ¡°Such legacies, even at first rank, are extremely rare. Unfortunately, we do not have any¡ However, our pavilion does offer first-rank legacies in paper talisman creation, equipment forging, and spirit nt cultivation. Would these interest you?¡±
The four arts of cultivation - arrays, pills, weapons, and talismans - form the basis for most cultivators¡¯ training.
Puppetry and Beast Control Techniques, on the other hand, are more niche and umon.
Finding such skills casually browsing through a shop indeed relies heavily on luck.
¡°Well then, bring all those options for me to review.¡± Fang Xi waved his hand assertively, disying his wealth.
As Zhong Wangu stepped behind the counter, Fang Xi soon felt a prickling sensation, as if under scrutiny. Clearly, the expert overseeing the pavilion had turned their attention towards him.
¡°Please take a look, Daoist friend!¡±
After about the time it takes to drink a cup of tea, Zhong Wangu returned with a wooden tray holding several jade slips sealed with protective talismans.
He picked up a blue jade slip first and began, ¡°The ¡®Lightning-tempered Golden Body¡¯, an iplete technique but still containing four levels. It harnesses the power of nine heavens¡¯ purple lightning to temper your body, resulting in formidablebat strength, particrly effective against demonic entities! Price: three hundred fifty spirit stones¡¡±
Seeing Fang Xi¡¯s expressionless face, he quickly switched to another blood-red jade slip. ¡°The ¡®Myriad Beasts Body¡¯, requires refining mythical beasts¡¯ essence blood during cultivation. This secret art allows temporary transformation into a mythical beast, greatly enhancing battle capabilities¡ priced at four hundred spirit stones! However, this technique is prone to qi deviation for those without strong willpower. Additionally, reaching the fourth level is extremely challenging, necessitating tier-2 mythical beast essence blood as a catalyst.¡±
¡®Even then, it¡¯s more expensive than the Lightning-tempered Golden Body. Clearly, the ws in the first technique must be even worse than the second¡ Harnessing heavenly lightning to temper one¡¯s body? You could easily get struck dead¡¡¯ Fang Xi mentally criticized, noticing that Zhong Wangu had stopped speaking, likely gauging his financial capability.
Smiling, Fang Xi handed over his bag of holding.
Zhong Wangu epted it, noticing that the owner¡¯s magical energy imprint had already been removed. With his spiritual sense, he scanned its contents and drew a sharp breath, ¡°This Daoist¡are you selling mythical beast materials?¡±
¡°Yes, please dispose of them ordingly.¡±
Fang Xi remainedposed.
The bag of holding he offered was the smallest one on him, containing not snake-dragon materials but rather treasures unearthed from the Beast Hunt Society¡¯s storeroom.
Snake-dragons possessed traces of dragon bloodline and were high-grade first-tier beasts, making theirponents exceedingly valuable. Moreover, considering the Zhong Family of Dragonfish could cultivate and awaken dragon bloodlines in little Azure Dragons, they might have extensive research and specific needs rted to Dragonfish lineage. Revealing snake-dragon materials impulsively could potentially invite unwantedplications.
Therefore, Fang Xi chose to present a bag filled with ordinary low- and mid-grade first-tier mythical beast materials instead.
¡°Please wait, Daoist friend¡¡±
Zhong Wangu promptly summoned another member of the Zhong n to verify and tally the items in front of them while he continued introducing other jade slips.
¡°The Myriad Swords Manual - a Qi Refinement cultivation technique with integrated Body Tempering, priced at four hundred fifty spirit stones.¡±
¡°A high-rank first-tier equipment forging legacy - ¡®Clearbrook¡¯s Artisanal Forging Notes,¡¯ selling for three hundred spirit stones.¡±
¡°A high-rank first-tier paper talisman crafting legacy, two hundred fifty spirit stones.¡±
¡°And finally, this one is a spirit farming legacy, obtained from an elderly farmer named Jia Feicai!¡± Zhong Wangu touched thest jade slip, his expression somewhat nostalgic. ¡°He was a cultivator from our ind, possessing spiritual roots albeit of the lowest quality. Throughout his life as a spirit farmer, he remained stuck at the secondyer of Qi Refinement. After his death, his family discovered this spirit farming legacy among his belongings¡ It summarizes his lifetime of experience, primarily focused on caring for spirit rice, but also including knowledge about cultivating various spirit medicines. The price is just twenty spirit stones.¡±
As Zhong Wangu spoke, his demeanor appeared somber, likely reflecting his own mediocre aptitude.
In the cultivation world, practitioners like him and Jia Feicai were the norm. They spent their entire lives hovering in the Qi Refinement stage, quietly contributing to their families and children, only to pass away without any fanfare.
Upon hearing the price, Fang Xi¡¯s lips twitched.
Being a spirit farmer was essentially an advanced version of a spirit farmer role - considered one of the lowest-ranked crafts among the hundred skills of cultivation. Even then, it seemed remarkably affordable!
However, with his ns to cultivate trees soon, this spirit farming legacy would be highly useful. Therefore, he said, ¡°I¡¯ll buy it¡¡±
¡°Excellent.¡± Zhong Wangu smiled slightly and proceeded to discuss further with the nearby n disciple, ¡°The materials from your mythical beast sale include: one mid-grade mutated first-tier hide, a pair of unknown mythical beast tusks, one low-grade first-tier mouse skin, and a set of mouse bones¡ totaling to 172 spirit stones!¡±
¡°That works for me; let¡¯s make the trade,¡± Fang Xi nodded.
Under Zhong Wangu¡¯s disappointed gaze, Fang Xi only purchased the spirit farming legacy and reimed his bag of holding containing 152 assorted low-grade spirit stones.
¡°Let¡¯s go!¡± Fang Xi gathered his belongings and turned to Mo Qingyi beside him.
Despite feeling tempted, he wouldn¡¯t hastily buy a Foundation Establishment level Body Tempering technique due to its exorbitant cost¡
To purchase theplete manual, he would likely have to reveal the snake-dragon materials, increasing unnecessary risks.
As they exited the Dragon Gate Pavilion, Mo Qingyi seemed to snap out of his earlier astonishment and expressed some regret, ¡°Xian Shi, if you wish to sell mythical beast materials, I know better channels that could fetch at least half more¡¡±
¡°No need, I dislikeplications,¡± Fang Xi shook his head. While rogue cultivators might offer higher acquisition prices, dealing with their constant nitpicking and haggling was exhausting. It was far simpler to handle everything swiftly without such hassles. ¡°Now¡ let¡¯s find Daoist Friend Miao who raises spirit pets!¡±
¡°Indeed, please follow me, Daoist Friend!¡±
Mo Qingyi led the way, sharing information as they walked, ¡°Senior Miao Dong is an expert at the sixth level of Qi Refinement and cares for three spirit pets. One of them is a ¡®water crow,¡¯ which frequently catches spirit fish, making many of us quite envious¡¡±
The Treasure Ship Market also offered immortal¡¯s caves for rent. Miao Dong¡¯s cave was located on the outskirts, boasting pleasant scenery and a small courtyard.
Mo Qingyi stepped forward to knock on the door, but after waiting for some time, there was no response.
Fang Xi pondered briefly before flicking out a munication talisman¡¯. The talisman transformed into a burst of fiery light and flew into the courtyard.
Soon, the gate opened, revealing an elderly man dressed in vibrant robes with an unusual appearance, marked by three fleshy growths on his forehead.
Miao Dongpletely ignored Mo Qingyi and looked directly at Fang Xi. ¡°Daoist friend, what brings you here?¡±
His gaze held caution, amon trait among rogue cultivators.
Fang Xi bowed respectfully, ¡°I¡¯ve heard that Daoist Miao is skilled in controlling mythical beasts. I wished to inquire if it¡¯s possible to purchase your Beast Control legacy?¡±
¡°Hmph! My livelihood skills? How could I possibly sell them?¡± Miao Dong red at Mo Qingyi. ¡°I recognize you; next time you dare bring someone here, beware, or I¡¯ll feed you to my precious pets!¡±
Seeing Mo Qingyi¡¯s face pale, Miao Dong moved to close the gate.
Hssss!
Suddenly, a snake-like hissing emerged from within his sleeve.
Miao Dong¡¯s expression shifted, turning towards Fang Xi, and unexpectedly, a smile appeared on his face. ¡°Daoist friend, may I ask for your esteemed name?¡±
¡°Fang Leng,¡± Fang Xi replied, using his customary alias.
¡°In that case¡ pleasee inside for a detailed discussion.¡± Miao Dong stepped aside, allowing Fang Xi to enter.
This man¡¯s temperament is peculiar; he seems quite difficult to deal with.
Fang Xi silently grumbled to himself as he walked into the courtyard.
Mo Qingyi, however, forced a smile and indicated that he would wait outside, suggesting his preference not to enter. As just an ordinary mortal, offending a cultivator left him uneasy and fearful of venturing further.
Miao Dong¡¯s courtyard was notrge, yet nearly half its area was upied by a pond. At the edge of the pond, a water crow rested, meticulously grooming its feathers with its long beak. Its bright, glossy eyes disyed remarkable intelligence.
Within the pond itself, a dark shadow lurked beneath the muddy depths, unclear to discern.
¡°Please take a seat, Daoist friend¡¡±
Miao Dong gestured for Fang Xi to sit on a meditation cushion, his expression turning solemn. ¡°May I inquire why Fellow Daoist Fang seeks the legacy of Beastmasters?¡±
¡°I encountered a mythical beast I truly adore and wish to tame it as my spirit pet, nothing more!¡± Fang Xi promptly offered this excuse.
In reality, what he wanted to explore more deeply was puppetry, as aplement to his future endeavors where he couldn¡¯t stray too far from nting trees.
But isn¡¯t finding a legacy in puppetry virtually impossible?
Considering the abundance of mythical beasts in the Great Liang World, this might serve as a temporary solution.
¡°It¡¯s quite simple¡¡±
Upon hearing this, Miao Dong¡¯s face immediately lit up with delight. ¡°In truth, there are many ways for cultivators to form contracts with mythical beasts without needing to specialize in Beast Control Techniques. However, if one wishes to control multiple beasts and arrange them in formations¡ Have you heard of the ¡®Blood Pact Document¡¯, Fellow Daoist?¡±
¡°Please enlighten me further?¡± Fang Xi responded, feigning interest while adapting flexibly to the situation.
¡°Asmonly known, the best method to contract a mythical beast involves using divine sense to prate its mentalndscape. This allows instant control over the beast¡¯s life or death. Unfortunately, only great Foundation Establishment cultivators possess such divine sense¡¡± Miao Dong shook his head, continuing, ¡°Alternatively, there is the blood pact technique, which involves setting up an array consuming a cultivator¡¯s vital essence to create a binding mark. After forming the pact, if the mythical beast dies, the cultivator remains unharmed; however, should the cultivator perish, the beast will inevitably explode and die¡ The ¡®Blood Pact Document¡¯ is a convenient method devised by skilled Beastmasters. As long as the spirit pet¡¯s cultivation base does not exceed your own realm by more than one major level, it can be effectively controlled upon signing the pact.¡±
Chapter 74: Duel of Magic
¡°I wonder what the price is for this Blood Pact Document?¡±
Fang Xi¡¯s interest piqued slightly as he posed the question.
¡°Hehe, crafting such an item is arduous, and the materials required are quite rare. Normally, I wouldn¡¯t sell it¡¡± Miao Dong deliberately built suspense before finally continuing, ¡°However, Daoist friend¡do you happen to possess high-tier snake demon essence blood?¡±
Fang Xi¡¯s expression instantly turned cold. ¡°How did you know?¡±
¡°Please don¡¯t be rmed, Daoist friend.¡± Miao Dong hastily waved his hands and then flicked his sleeves.
Hssss!
A small serpent, resembling polished jade, emerged from his sleeve, coiling around his arm affectionately while flicking its forked tongue.
¡°This is a ¡®Blood Jade Python,¡¯ already cultivated by me to mid-first rank. My Qing¡¯er here has a keen sensitivity to essence blood of simr species¡ Recently, have you encountered a snake demon with a higher tier than Qing¡¯er?¡± Miao Dong extended a finger to yfully tease the Blood Jade Python. ¡°Even though you¡¯ve cleaned thoroughly, the scent hasn¡¯t fully dissipated¡¡±
¡°So what?¡± Fang Xi¡¯s face was cold as ice, pressing for more information. ¡°I have a Blood Pact Document here, and it just so happens that I¡¯m seeking to exchange it for a bottle of high-grade snake blood.¡± Miao Dong offered a sincere bow.
Among his three spirit pets, the Blood Jade Python possessed the best innate bloodline talent, nearing the threshold of advancing to High-Rank First-Stage.
Unfortunately, it fell slightly short.
If he could obtain simr high-grade snake blood as a catalyst,bined with a medicinal pill and secret techniques, the chances of breakthrough would significantly increase!
With such a breakthrough, achieving Late Stage Qi Refinementbat capabilities, Miao Dong would undoubtedly be a notable figure within the Treasure Ship Market.
¡°Well¡ I do have some snake demon blood, but I¡¯m unsure of its exact grade. It was acquired unintentionally a few days ago, and I don¡¯t currently have it on me,¡± Fang Xi paused before saying, ¡°Let me retrieve it first, then we can proceed with the trade.¡±
In reality, he had already decided to abandon this deal. The blood he carried was not from an ordinary high-grade First-Stage snake demon; it was from a snake-dragon, potentially involvingplications.
Trading it for merely a Blood Pact Document simply wasn¡¯t worth the risk!
¡°I see¡ Then I¡¯ll have to wait for now,¡± Miao Dong replied somewhat disappointedly, lifting his teacup as a gesture to bid farewell.
Fang Xi bowed courteously and exited the immortal¡¯s cave.
Combat was strictly prohibited within the Treasure Ship Market, ensuring a harmonious atmosphere.
Once the cave entrance closed behind Fang Xi, Miao Dong¡¯s Blood Jade Python began hissing anxiously.
¡°Qing¡¯er, don¡¯t fret!¡± Miao Dong soothed the Blood Jade Python, gently stroking its jade-like head, deep in thought. ¡°Ordinary snake demon essence wouldn¡¯t agitate Qing¡¯er this much. Could it be that person possesses tier-2 snake demon blood?¡±
The mere thought made his breathing heavy with anticipation.
A cultivator at merely the fourth level of Qi Refinement potentially carrying tier-2 snake demon treasure blood? This alone justified action from a sixth-level Qi Refinement cultivator like himself!
Miao Dong had unwavering confidence in his abilities. With his three spirit pets, he could hold his own even against ordinary seventh-level Qi Refinement cultivators.
¡°If there is indeed tier-2 snake demon treasure blood, Qing¡¯er might someday ascend to the second rank¡¡±
As this possibility dawned on him, Miao Dong¡¯s eyes couldn¡¯t help but ignite with fervor.
¡°I might have revealed my wealth too openly at the Treasure Ship Market¡ Luckily, I wasn¡¯t using my true appearance.¡±
As a former rogue cultivator, Fang Xi fully understood the principle of survival of the fittest among practitioners.
Even for tribtion cultivators, it was crucial to bnce risk against potential gains.
In the cultivation world, numerous extraordinary techniques and secret arts existed, making it possible for even a first-level Qi Refinement cultivator to turn the tables unexpectedly¡ªlet alone if they were secretly disguising themselves as Foundation Establishment cultivators!
Therefore, carrying a few to a dozen spirit stones is considered normal for Initial Stage Qi Refinement cultivators, unlikely to arouse suspicion. However, possessing dozens or hundreds could be risky.
For Mid Qi Refining cultivators, holding onto tens of spirit stones is manageable, but nearing a hundred bes precarious.
¡°At the Dragon Gate Pavilion, I only disyed materials worth about a hundred spirit stones, spent twenty, and couldn¡¯t afford a several-hundred-stone body refinement technique, so it shouldn¡¯t raise any major concerns¡¡±
Larger influential factions tend to have higher tolerances within their establishments.
As for the previous incident at Wanhai Pavilion? Song Qing probably assumed Fang Xi had been drained dry, leaving him penniless by now.
¡°Still, there remains some risk.¡±
¡°Especially with high-grade first-rank snake-dragon materials worth nearly a thousand spirit stones, even Foundation Establishment cultivators might be rmed!¡±
As Fang Xi pondered this, he casually tossed two spirit crystals to Mo Qingyi standing nearby, who eagerly epted them with gratitude. With her heartfelt thanks, Fang Xi mounted the ck Cloud Pocket and departed from the Treasure Ship Market.
¡°This time was just reconnaissance¡ next visit, I¡¯ll reveal my true appearance!¡±
Fang Xi intended to find a spot near Wan Ind Lake with spiritual veins for nting trees - a long-term business endeavor that couldn¡¯t rely solely on disguises. After all, cultivators were not ordinary mortals from the Great Liang World; they weren¡¯t so easily deceived!
In any case, his actual appearance was unremarkable, with no questionable background or secrets to hide. There was nothing shameful about showing his face.
With these thoughts, Fang Xi piloted the ck Cloud Pocket, flying dozens of miles away from the market, aiming to locate an uninhabited ind or rocky outcrop where he could create an immortal¡¯s cave for rest.
¡°Caw!¡±
Suddenly, an unexpected event unfolded!
From theke surface, thousands of sshes erupted as a demonic bird with entirely ck feathers soared out!
This creature remarkably navigated underwater at astonishing speed! Emitting a shrill, unpleasant cry, it pped its wings, gathering demonic energy to form two water arrows. Leveraging its advantageous position, it swiftlyunched an assault towards Fang Xi!
Any unsuspecting cultivator would likely have been pierced by these sudden water arrows!
¡°Who is it?¡± Fang Xi, however, remained vignt ever since leaving the market. Sensing something amiss, he swiftly tapped his bag of holding.
A pitch-ck ck Iron Shield flew out, instantly blocking him from harm.
ng! ng!
The two water arrows struck the shield with resounding impacts akin to tolling bells before dissipating into mist.
¡°A water crow?!¡± Recognizing this spirit beast, Fang Xi angrily shouted, ¡°Miao Dong! You dare to ambush me?¡±
From beneath theke, a shadow gradually emerged and ascended - revealing a massive gold-backed turtle, asrge as an eight-person dining table!
Standing atop the turtle, Miao Dong folded his arms, expression cold. ¡°If the Daoist friend is willing to hand over that snake blood, we can resolve this peacefully. Otherwise¡¡±
¡°Go die!¡±
Fang Xi infused magical energy into a fireball paper talisman and hurled it towards Miao Dong.
A colossal ball of me materialized, hurtling through the air.
¡°Hmph, mere parlor tricks!¡± Miao Dong sneered, making no move to evade.
In the next instant, the fireball crashed above him but was blocked by a translucent water barrier. Despite the ensuing explosion, not a hint of heat prated through.
Therge creature beneath Miao Dong was a ¡®golden-backed turtle¡¯, only low-rank first-tier, but it had mastered a natural beast magic - Water Barrier Technique!
Not only was it an excellent means of transportation on theke, its defensive capabilities were remarkably strong.
Especially within the vastke, deploying the Water Barrier Technique provided significant advantages with minimal energy consumption, sustaining for extended periods and rivaling some mid-rank first-tier protective spells.
After sneering confidently, Miao Dong calmly retrieved a jet-ck w-like magical artifact from his bag of holding. Its origin as a mythical beast¡¯s w was unclear, yet its edges were razor-sharp.
As he channeled magical energy into it, ready to unleash a fierce attack against Fang Xi, a sudden dread filled him. Shocked, he cried out in horror, ¡°No!¡±
A golden streak of sword light had unexpectedly sliced the water crow in half mid-air!
Fang Xi¡¯s initial Fireball Technique was merely a feint. Spotting the iing stealth attack by the water crow, he smirked and unleashed the Golden Flood Dragon Sword!
This high-grade magical artifact possessed unparalleled sharpness. With just one strike, it effortlessly decimated the flying spirit pet!
¡°My spirit pet!¡± Miao Dong¡¯s eyes turned red, deeply connected empathically to the water crow.
To him, this bird wasn¡¯t just a spirit pet; it was also his primary tool for catching spirit fish, essentially his livelihood and source of ie!
Now, Miao Dong¡¯s source of ie had been shattered by Fang Xi!
He never imagined that someone at merely the fourth level of Qi Refinement could possess a high-grade flying sword as a magical artifact!
¡®This flying sword is impressive, but it consumes too much magical energy!¡¯
Fang Xi controlled the Golden Flood Dragon Sword, feeling his magical energy rapidly depleting. He knew he could only strike a few more times before running outpletely, leaving him vulnerable to being overwhelmed¡ªwithout magical energy, one cannot activate magical artifacts or paper talismans, bing utterly defenseless.
¡°Well¡ truly cunning indeed!¡±
After mourning briefly, Miao Dong contemted retreating.
This fourth-level Qi Refinement cultivator was proving difficult, armed with exceptional magical artifacts and possibly significant backing!
¡°Miao Dong, don¡¯t even think about escaping. Once I return to my n, I¡¯ll surely inform our patriarch¡ You can expect to be a tribtion cultivator, hunted far and wide!¡± Fang Xi sneered, effectively dashing any hopes of escape for Miao Dong, then directed the Golden Flood Dragon Sword towards him.
The sword glinted, emitting a resonant dragon¡¯s roar, streaking down like a golden meteor.
¡°Go!¡±
With no other choice, Miao Dong activated his ck w-shaped magical artifact to meet the Golden Flood Dragon Sword.
As the two artifacts shed mid-air, producing a series of metallic ngs, deep gouges quickly appeared on the w artifact, signaling its imminent destruction!
¡°I¡¯m all in now!¡±
Miao Dong nced at Fang Xi, then hastily retrieved a qi-restoring pill from his robes and consumed it.
As a sixth-level Qi Refiner, Miao Dong possessed greater magical reserves than his opponent! Moreover, Fang Xi was controlling a high-grade magical artifact!
Having offended this influential Gongzi, escape would inevitably lead to being hunted down. It was better to kill him now and end all future troubles!
Sure enough, momentster, Fang Xi appeared drained, his face pale as the ck Cloud Pocket dissipated, causing him to plummet towards theke surface.
¡°Go!¡± Seeing the opportunity, Miao Dong jubntly directed the golden-backed turtle closer.
He still had Qing¡¯er as his trump card; once within striking distance, it would guarantee a fatal blow!
Watching ¡®Fang Leng¡¯ grow increasingly fearful, Miao Dong¡¯s expression lit up with delight, and he swiftly performed a hand gesture.
¡°Zzzt!¡±
The Blood Jade Python, Qing¡¯er, lunged immediately towards Fang Xi.
¡°Up!¡±
Panicking, Fang Xi hastily summoned the ck Iron Shield!
¡°Pffft!¡±
Unexpectedly, mid-flight, the Blood Jade Python opened its mouth and unleashed a burst of toxic mist!
This venomous cloud, refined by Qing¡¯er since birth through constant ingestion of various poisons, specialized in corrupting magical artifacts. Upon contact, the poison rapidly corroded the ck Iron Shield, emitting sizzling sounds that rendered it ineffective, causing it to plummet from the air.
A sharp horn suddenly emerged on the forehead of the Blood Jade Python, Qing¡¯er, transforming it into a lethal green arrow hurtling straight at Fang Xi!
This innate demonic technique was known as Venomous Serpent Strike!
¡°Yes!¡± Miao Dong eximed triumphantly, aware that Qing¡¯er¡¯s attack rivaled the power of a high-grade magical artifact, serving as his hidden ace!
Chapter 75: Withered Wood
ng!
The emerald-green venomous drill, possessing power akin to a high-grade magical artifact, was mere moments away from piercing Fang Xi¡¯s forehead.
In an instant, a crimson glow suddenly appeared on Fang Xi¡¯s forehead, resembling a helmet.
When the toxic horn struck the helmet, it resounded loudly and was immediately deflected!
¡°How is this possible?¡±
¡°Could he have concealed another high-grade defensive artifact? But where does he find the magical energy to activate it?¡± Miao Dong¡¯s expression drastically changed.
Meanwhile, a faint smile emerged on Fang Xi¡¯s face.
With a swift cry, his body darted like a serpent, taking eight quick steps across the water surface before reaching Miao Dong.
¡°Secret Technique: Limitless Primordial!¡± Fang Xi raised his hand, unleashing a surge of astral energy that descended with thunderous force!
Boom!
The gold-backed sea turtle let out a pitiful shriek as its protective shield exploded, turning into a mist that filled the air.
Undeterred, Fang Xi unleashed another punch, striking Miao Dong directly on the forehead as he failed to evade in time!
Crack!
Miao Dong¡¯s head burst like a watermelon, sttering red and white matter everywhere.
¡°Zzzt!¡±
¡°Ahh!¡±
Behind Fang Xi, Qing Er emitted a sorrowful cry and also lost her breath simultaneously.
Even the gold-backed sea turtle beneath Fang Xi let out a pitiful cry and instantly perished!
When Beastmasters form contracts with mythical beasts, they typically establish a servitude bond. Upon the Beastmaster¡¯s death, the contracted beast inevitably meets its demise¡ unless alternative methods like using a Beast Control Token or voluntarily dissolving the contract are employed, otherwise it is certain to perish!
¡°You thought I was only at the fourth level of Qi Refinement, but little did you know, I¡¯ve reached the third stage of Body Tempering, capable of facing Late Stage Qi Refinement cultivators¡¡±
Fang Xi sighed, beginning to clean up the battlefield.
The gold-backed sea turtle and water crow were low-rank first-tier mythical beasts, while the jade-blooded python was mid-rank first-tier, all worth a significant number of spirit stones. However, selling them directly at the Treasure Ship Market could be problematic.
In mid-air, the Golden Flood Dragon Sword pressed down the ck w before returning to Fang Xi¡¯s hand.
Inspecting it, he noticed that the mid-grade magical artifact¡¯s ck w was heavily damaged, nearing the point of irreparable ruin, causing him to sigh involuntarily.
His ck Iron Shield had also suffered, corroded by the jade-blooded python¡¯s innate toxic mist, leaving its surface pitted and severely weakened.
¡°If there aren¡¯t any gains from this, it¡¯ll be quite a loss.¡±
Finally, Fang Xi retrieved Miao Dong¡¯s bag of holding, destroyed the corpse to erase evidence, then gathered his barely recovered magical energy to depart on the ck Cloud Pocket.
Within Wan Ind Lake, numerous inds were scattered like stars across the sky, with many barren ones devoid of spiritual energy beingmonce.
Fang Xi selected one such ind and discreetly carved out a hidden immortal¡¯s cave.
Inside the cave, he produced Miao Dong¡¯s bag of holding. After considerable effort to erase its magical energy imprint, Fang Xi emptied it onto the ground.
With a rustling sound, arge assortment of items spilled forth.
Apart from some clothing, the majority consisted of various bottles and jars. Upon inspection, Fang Xi realized they likely contained food for those three spirit beasts.
Additionally, there were several dozen spirit stones and a few low-rank paper talismans.
Among these, he found a piece of animal hide inscribed with numerous blood-written symbols - it was the ¡®Blood Pact Document¡¯!
¡°Seems like Beastmasters aren¡¯t particrly wealthy; probably investing most of their resources into their spirit pets¡¡± Fang Xi mused somewhat wistfully.
In truth, Miao Dong¡¯s strength wasn¡¯tcking; even against a cultivator at the seventhyer of Qi Refinement, his spirit pets could have held their own through coordinated tactics.
Unfortunately, he fell prey to Fang Xi¡¯s feigned weakness, gradually lured into a trap.
The characteristics of Great Liang¡¯s Qi and Blood martial arts differed significantly from those of the southern wilderness body cultivation techniques, making them easily overlooked - perfect as Fang Xi¡¯s trump card.
He nced at the remaining jade slips and books, flipping through each one.
¡°Wan Ind Lake Geography? Quite useful¡¡±
¡°The Metal-Water Art¡±? Suitable for cultivators with Metal-Water spiritual roots? Combining Metal and Water elements seems slightly better thanmon dual-element techniques?¡±
¡°Yue Kingdom Gazetteer? I¡¯ve already read this¡¡±
After examining several jade slips, Fang Xi found no signs of Beast Control legacy teachings, feeling somewhat disappointed.
Fortunately, he wasn¡¯t someone who demanded perfection in every aspect. He casually opened a few more books:
¡°identally obtained a Blue Blood Snake egg, named it Qing Er. Used ¡®Hundred Fragrant Snake Fruit¡¯, ¡®Wood Spirit Liquid¡¯¡ mixed with spirit stone powder to create a spirit solution for soaking¡ emerged after one month¡¡±
¡°Second month, the water crow was greedy and brought back a ¡®Fruity Carp¡¯, abandoning the ¡®Turquoise Jade Carp¡¯. Punished with three days of fasting¡¡±
On the yellowed pages, meticulously documented were Miao Dong¡¯s records of feeding his three spirit pets! This was indeed a Beast Control journal.
¡°Despiteckingplete legacies, most methods for nurturing these three types of spirit beasts are detailed here¡ Could this serve as a fragmented legacy?¡±
Fang Xi rubbed his chin, feeling it wasn¡¯t entirely a loss.
Half a monthter.
Fang Xi discreetly arrived at Treasure Ship Ind and hid for several days within nearby mortal towns, moving between different locations. Eventually, using Fang Xi¡¯s true appearance, he approached the entrance to the Treasure Ship Market.
¡°Immortal Master, would you like a guide?¡±
Once again, a group of local guides surrounded him, including Mo Qingyi, seemingly unaware of Miao Dong¡¯s fate.
¡°How much do spirit stones cost?¡± Fang Xi asked with an innocent demeanor, dressed in a patched-up green mage robe, clearly indicating his modest financial status.
¡°Just one spirit crystal per day!¡±
¡°That¡¯s too expensive, no thanks!¡± Fang Xi immediately shook his head and entered the market on his own.
¡°Ah¡ Looks like this Immortal Master is quite strapped for cash; no business today,¡± sighed multiple guides in disappointment.
Inside the market, at a certain teahouse, Fang Xi arrived at the information exchange spot that Mo Qingyi had previously mentioned.
Entering the teahouse, Fang Xi ordered a pot of spirit tea and found himself momentarily captivated by the rising white mist from his cup.
Within the tea, leaves shimmered with spiritual light, transforming into vibrant, colorful fish yfully chasing each other.
¡°The spiritual content in this tea is quite ordinary; hence, the proprietor focuses on enhancing its taste and novelty¡¡± Fang Xi, now more discerning than before, carefully inspected the tea, confirmed it was safe, and took a sip.
A ck fish disappeared, causing the remaining fish to dart around even faster.
At that moment, he overheard a conversation between a man and woman at a nearby table: ¡°The market hasn¡¯t been peacefultely¡ Several Daoist friends have gone missing. It¡¯s likely the work of those ¡®Kou n Fiends¡¯ again.¡±
¡°Originally, there were three Kou brothers, but somehow the youngest one met his end. Unable to maintain their position at Qingzhu Mountain, they¡¯vee here to cause trouble for us. Truly despicable!¡± The second speaker, a burly man with a purple face, seemed well-informed as he spoke angrily.
Fang Xi¡¯s immediate reaction was - ¡®Could they be seeking revenge against me?¡¯
However, he quickly realized that Kou¡¯s third brother had been killed by Situ Qingqing, and she only knew she was saved by an unknown body cultivator. What could this have to do with him, a weak and impoverished spirit farmer?
¡®Best not to openly disy the Golden Flood Dragon Sword or those three bags of holding¡¡¯
¡®In fact, it aligns perfectly with Fang Xi¡¯s persona as a poor spirit farmer. I should switch back to using the Qinghe Sword anyway¡¡¯
After some thought, Fang Xi concluded there were no obvious ws in his cover. He lowered his head again, casually ying with the spiritual energy fish.
Throughout the day, he overheard plenty of gossip and refilled the teacups several times until the fish within became faintly visible due to diluted tea.
Finally, Fang Xi rose and approached an elderly man in a Daoist robe.
The old man had silvery-white hair, a meticulously groomed goatee beard, and sharp, spirited eyes.
Upon seeing Fang Xi approach, he smiled warmly, ¡°What question does this Daoist friend seek to ask? I am well-informed about various secretive channels within the market, including news from Wan Ind Lake.¡±
This venerable Daoist turned out to be another ¡®Mr. Know-It-All,¡¯ but undoubtedly, his knowledge far surpassed that of ordinary individuals like Mo Qingyi.
Consequently, his services came at a cost.
¡°I¡¯m familiar with your rules. Let¡¯s go to a private room and order a pot of premium ¡®Spring Rain¡¯ tea!¡± Fang Xi nodded, following the old Daoist to a secluded booth within the teahouse.
Upon entering, all external sounds were instantly muffled, clearly indicating soundproofing restrictions in ce. Using such a private booth typically cost at least one spirit stone per session.
However, when Fang Xi saw what was meant by ¡®Spring Rain¡¯ tea, he realized it was merelymon brew for mortals, causing his lips to twitch slightly.
The price paid here wasn¡¯t for the tea itself, but for the information and intelligence it represented!
¡°Old humble servant, Xiu Mu Daoist, at your service. May I inquire what matters Xiao You wishes to discuss?¡± The Xiu Mu Daoist courteously bowed with sped hands.
¡°No need for formalities, Daoist friend. My name is Fang Xi, just a spirit farmer from Qingzhu Mountain Market¡¡± Fang Xi replied candidly, then hesitantly asked, ¡°I¡¯vee to Wan Ind Lake seeking a quiet ce for rigorous cultivation. Could you rmend any options?¡±
¡°A dedicated cultivator like yourself! Quite intriguing,¡± Xiu Mu Daoist responded, surprised. ¡°Would Daoist friend be interested in joining any influential group? Several ns and sects are always recruiting spirit farmers.¡±
¡°Not interested, truly wish to avoid further constraints.¡± Fang Xi answered with a wry smile.
¡°Then perhaps renting an immortal¡¯s cave long-term near the market might suit you?¡± suggested Xiu Mu Daoist.
¡°Well¡ to be honest, I desire arger spirit field. And having been a tenant enough, now I wish to be andlord,¡± Fang Xi revealed his inner thoughts. After all, nting trees would indeed require a substantial piece ofnd.
¡°Arge spirit field, andlord¡¡± The corners of Xiumu¡¯s mouth twitched as he began to grasp Fang Xi¡¯s desires. ¡°I see, Daoist friend seeks unimednds with spiritual veins, perhaps even bing an ind lord? Unfortunately¡ hundreds of years ago, unowned spirit inds were quitemon, but in recent decades, it¡¯s rare to hear about any being discovered.¡±
¡°That is truly unfortunate¡¡± Fang Xi shook his head, appearing genuinely disappointed.
¡°Daoist friend need not despair. asionally, the Dragonfish Zhong n leases out inds with lesser-grade spiritual veins for long-term rentals by rogue cultivators, which could still present an opportunity¡ Alternatively, some Daoists on existing spirit inds might seek partners and offer generous terms. This could include long-term leasing of vast spirit fields or even positions like second or third ind lords¡ If interested, you can leave your information here, and this old Daoist will keep an eye out for such opportunities.¡±
¡°Many thanks, Daoist priest.¡± Fang Xi felt genuinely grateful, expressing his appreciation sincerely before asking, ¡°In the market, where can I find formations for sale? I¡¯m looking to purchase one for protecting my immortal¡¯s cave¡¡±
¡°The Dragon Gate Pavilion offers formations up to high-tier first-order, such as the ¡®Cloud Mist Thunderp Array¡¯¡ Additionally, there is a resident array master named Xu here in our market. With sufficient payment, he can bemissioned for mid-tier first-order formations¡¡± The old Daoist, Xiu Mu, spoke with a cheerful smile.
As for tier-two formations? Simr to second-order Barrier Breaking Talismans, they were considered strategic resources and typically unavable unless one belonged to a major power,cking any direct channels for trade.
Fang Xi asked several more questions before steering the conversation towards Foundation Establishment cultivation methods at the Dragon Gate Pavilion.
Xiu Mu shook his head repeatedly, ¡°Would those Foundation Establishment immortal ns truly provide us rogue cultivators with genuine top-notch techniques? Most released methods are mediocre or even exceedingly difficult¡ Especially those body tempering techniques, many are outright traps. They im that mastering them could rival a Foundation Stage cultivator, but in reality, they¡¯re filled with numerous bottlenecks, making it exceptionally hard to break through even to the third stage of Body Refinement¡¡±
His tone carried a hint of bitterness, ¡°Body tempering consumes vast resources; spending hundreds or thousands of spirit stones without guaranteed advancement beyond the third stage of Body Refinement isn¡¯t worth it. It¡¯s better to save up instead and bid on a Foundation Establishment Pill at Baize Immortal City!¡±
¡°Baize Immortal City auctions Foundation Establishment Pills? Do you know their selling price?¡± Fang Xi¡¯s eyes lit up curiously.
¡°It has appeared in several major auctions before, with a starting bid at three thousand spirit stones, no upper limit¡¡± The old Daoist, Xiu Mu, continued with a meaningful tone, ¡°But obtaining one is not enough; holding onto it safely requires true skill.¡±
His words clearly implied that each Foundation Establishment Pill auction inevitably followed by waves of bloody chaos!
Just contemting this scenario sent shivers down Fang Xi¡¯s spine!
Chapter 76: Leaf Return Divine Sect
Treasure Ship Market.
Immortal¡¯s Cave C37.
After leaving the teahouse, Fang Xi directly rented this immortal¡¯s cave at the market.
Costing only one low-grade spirit stone per month, the cave was surprisingly spacious, including a practice room, kitchen, study¡ It had all the essentials despite itspact size, akin to how even small sparrows possessplete organs.
Moreover, it boasted abundant spiritual energy.
Compared to his previous residence as a spirit farmer, the concentration here was significantly higher, meeting the standard of a first-rank spiritual vein.
Rushing water filled the air!
Fang Xi washed himself thoroughly once again, ensuring not a trace of scent remained.
Ever since his encounter with the Blood Jade Python, he made it a habit to bathe multiple times upon returning to his cave, even purchasing a skincare elixir popr among female cultivators, imed to eliminate any odors from the body. Feeling like he nearly shed ayer of skin, he changed into fresh clothes and sat cross-legged in the practice room.
On the meditation cushion, Fang Xi activated the Evesting Spring Art, causing a faint green aura to burst forth around him.
As Fang Xi felt the intense spiritual pressure from the environment, he noticed spiritual energy entering his body at a faster rate than usual. This energy circted through his qi passageways and ultimately returned to his dantian, transforming into mist-like magical power. A hint of satisfaction appeared on his face.
With the Evesting Spring Art active, vitality surged throughout his body, as if every inch of muscle, tendon, and bone were like parched travelers basking in heavenly rainfall.
Even though the Evesting Spring Art faced a bottleneck, making progress difficult, the nourishment provided by its wood attribute magical energy was invaluable.
¡°Indeed¡the higher the concentration of spiritual veins, the better the cultivation results.¡±
¡°If possible, securing a first-tier spiritual vein location would be ideal¡ Unfortunately, it seems highly unlikely, but even a lesser-quality one would suffice¡¡±
Fang Xi nned to spend several months in the Treasure Ship Market, exploring various avenues and strategizing for acquiring spiritualnd.
Once obtained, meticulous surveying of the terrain would be necessary, along with gaining a thorough understanding of surrounding influences. Building rapport with neighbors and ensuring all preparations wereplete before nting any tree seeds would be crucial before beginning the cultivation of the Longevity Technique.
All this could potentially take several years.
Such a lengthy period must not be wasted.
Thus, he rented an immortal¡¯s cave to focus more intently on cultivating the Evesting Spring Art.
¡®Always prepare for the worst-case scenario¡¡¯
¡®Even if the Longevity Technique ultimately falls short, by persistently cultivating on spiritualnd, advancing my Evesting Spring Art cultivation will still yield significant gains.¡¯
Afterpleting his full cirction, Fang Xi began contemting options for acquiring spiritualnd.
¡°The Dragonfish Zhong n¡¯s spirit ind long-term rentals are indeed enticing¡ By leasing one, I could leverage their influence for protection and ensure safety¡ Unfortunately, the price would undoubtedly be steep. As a mere fourth-level Qi Refinement minor cultivator, suddenly spendingrge sums of spirit stones for decades-long leases would draw too much attention¡ Moreover, gaining the Zhong Family¡¯s protection mightter obligate me to join their battles - should Iply or refuse?¡±
¡°Joining a small Qi Refinement faction could quickly lead to internal power struggles, but it also offers greater freedom¡¡±
¡°The best option would be a particrly weak group; then, if they rebel, I could eliminate them all¡ Taking control of an entire ind outright, provided we don¡¯t get besieged by demonic cultivators¡¡±
Fang Xi pondered this scenario and felt somewhat speechless.
¡°Never mind¡ I¡¯ll wait and see if any opportunities arise first¡ It¡¯s best to keep a low profile, always.¡±
Although Wan Ind Lake seemed to have richer spiritual vein resourcespared to Qingzhu Mountain, such chances weren¡¯t readily avable.
Moreover¡ even when opportunities did present themselves, they typically wouldn¡¯t be suited for a mere rogue cultivator at the fourth level of Qi Refinement.
With that thought, Fang Xi tapped his bag of holding once more.
A snake skin scroll and a massive bundle of snake bones suddenly appeared on the ground.
The snake skin disyed faint mottled patterns, still retaining its scales.
The snake bones looked menacing, emitting a chilling aura that sent shivers down one¡¯s spine.
These were the hide and bones of the snake-dragon!
¡°Valuable items indeed, but quite conspicuous. Without trusted channels, it¡¯s difficult to sell them¡¡± Fang Xi stroked his chin, feeling slightly regretful.
In truth, he didn¡¯t really want to sell these precious resources either. Based on Miao Dong¡¯s reaction, it was clear that the snake-dragon provided top-tier materials of the first rank. Selling them would likely undervalue their worth, especially since he currently wasn¡¯t severelycking in spirit stones.
¡°Fortunately, the snake-dragon was massive¡ wasting some scales isn¡¯t too concerning.¡±
Fang Xi spread out the snake skin, which had already undergone initial processing and emitted no foul odor.
The skin was remarkably durable; despite pulling with both hands, he found it nearly impossible to tear.
After contemting for a moment, he gripped the ¡®Golden Flood Dragon Sword¡¯ with his right hand, pressed its tip against the snake skin, and channeling true astral energy, managed to painstakingly cut through it, creating several small holes.
Using the snake¡¯s tendons, he then fashioned a rudimentary inner armor.
Once worn, with an outer robe covering it, there would be no visible signs of the hidden protection.
¡°This isn¡¯t a magical artifact¡ but it should block most attacks. The only concern is resistance against prating or concussive secondary effects. However, as a body cultivator with robust fleshly strength, I¡¯m not overly worried about these additional damages¡¡±
Fang Xi nced at the snake bones, realizing he trulycked expertise here. He would need to find a trustworthy artificer for further assistance.
On a positive note, now that he had settled down, he could first purchase some medicinal pills to aid his cultivation and see if he could break through to the fifthyer of Qi Refinement.
Moreover, I can take my time to find an exceptional artificer with both skill and reputable character.
The next day.
At the teahouse,
Fang Xi ordered another pot of ¡®Five Carp Pearl y¡¯ spirit tea. As he sipped and listened to the idle chatter around him, he felt remarkably at ease, akin to someone leisurely observing flowers bloom or clouds drift by.
However, there were no significant news this time; most discussions revolved around rogue cultivators achieving cultivation breakthroughs, reaching Late Stage Qi Refinement, or lucky individuals catching spirit fish from theke - trivial matters.
After steeping his tea thrice, Old Daoist Xiu Mu approached with a hint of joy on his face, ¡°Excellent tidings for you, Daoist friend!¡±
¡°Oh? What good news is it?¡± Fang Xi responded, feeling a sudden anticipation stir within him.
Could it be that he finally found some leads on spiritualnd?
¡°Well¡ naturally about¡ hehe!¡± Old Daoist Xiu Mu chuckled, gesturing towards a private booth.
Momentster, inside the booth.
Fang Xi, disregarding the ordinary tea, awaited Old Daoist Xiu Mu¡¯s exnation.
¡°Your humble servant has been diligently gathering information as per your request, and finally, we have concrete news!¡± Old Daoist Xiu Mu announced proudly, ¡°This year, the Dragonfish Zhong n ns to release contracts for two low-tier spirit inds. Bing an ind lord is indeed a remarkable opportunity!¡±
¡°Oh? And what are the requirements?¡± Fang Xi asked, maintaining aposed demeanor.
¡°The requirements? First, protect the mortals on the ind from natural disasters and potential mythical beast incursions¡ Second, serve as a guest senior of the Zhong n, providing assistance when necessary. Naturally, the Zhong n willpensate based on the situation¡¡± the old Daoist said with a smile.
¡°How long is the lease period? What¡¯s the cost?¡±
Fang Xi sighed inwardly; it seemed exploiting opportunities from major powers wouldn¡¯t be so easy. Despite already leaning towards rejection, he decided to hear out the price.
¡°One hundred spirit stones per year, with a minimum ten-year lease!¡± the old Daoist stared intently at Fang Xi.
¡®Ten years would amount to one thousand spirit stones? If I could afford that, even this old Daoist might get suspicious ideas!¡¯
Rolling his eyes internally, Fang Xi forced a wry smile onto his face. ¡°Such an expensive proposition? Well then, forget it¡ I won¡¯t be an ind lord after all. Are there any other options?¡±
¡°Sigh¡ indeed, it¡¯s costly, but bing an ind lord grants full autonomy over its development - many small ns and sects rely heavily on such foundations¡ However, for a solitary Daoist like yourself, it may not be suitable.¡± The old Daoist let out another sigh. ¡°As an alternative¡ within the alliance of Thirty-Six Inds, Little Leaf Ind¡¯s Lord, Guru Falling Leaf, seeks a guest senior for his sect. I mentioned your circumstances, and they showed great interest. They have agreed to allocate ten acres of spirit fields for you to cultivate.¡±
¡°The Alliance of Thirty-Six Inds?¡±
Fang Xi had heard about this faction; supposedly, it was a coalition of Qi Refinement forces opposing the Dragonfish Zhong n. However, he wasn¡¯t clear on the specifics and decided to inquire further.
¡°The ¡®Alliance of Thirty-Six Inds¡¯ indeed represents one of the two major Foundation Establishment factions at Wan Ind Lake¡ It is essentially a union of various Qi Refinement groups. Interestingly, some of these groups harbor grudges against each other and even engage in conflicts¡ Yet, when faced with pressure from the Zhong n, they unite against external threats¡¡± The old Daoist stroked his beard, smiling. ¡°Originally, the Alliance of Thirty-Six Indscked any Foundation Establishment cultivators. They pooled resources to hire a rogue Foundation Establishment cultivator as their patron, effectively rallying under his banner¡ In recent years, the Zhong n has shown no intent for expansion, resulting in rtive peace between both sides.¡±
¡°I see. How strong is Guru Falling Leaf¡¯s cultivation base? What is his character like? Does he have any notable enemies or rival factions?¡± Since Fang Xi had already rented the private booth and paid with spirit stones, he naturally wanted to rify all details.
¡°Guru Falling Leaf originally started as a fisherman. Later, after falling into the water, he fortuitously stumbled upon an ancient immortal¡¯s cave, obtaining its legacy of cultivation techniques. He possesses mid-grade spiritual roots¡ Eventually, he reached the mid-Qi Refinement stage, defeated the Ye Family who previously controlled Little Leaf Ind, and established the ¡®Leaf Return Divine Sect,¡¯ bing its founding sect leader¡ As for enemies, I haven¡¯t really heard much about them. However, within his sect, there likely aren¡¯t more than ten Qi Refinement cultivators.¡±
The old Daoist, Rottenwood, seemed to barely suppress his amusement.
¡°A sect with fewer than ten Qi Refinement cultivators and a leader only at mid-Qi Refinement stage?¡±
Upon hearing this, Fang Xi couldn¡¯t help but feel an itch to act.
However, considering he nned to spend decades nting trees here, it would be best not to create unnecessary enmity. Even if he were to eliminate all enemies, tarnishing his reputation could easily invite attacks from righteous forces - that wouldn¡¯t be ideal!
Harmony brings prosperity; indeed, harmony is key!
Repeating these words mentally several times, Fang Xi finally calmed down. ¡°May I inquire about Little Leaf Ind¡¯s quality?¡±
¡°It merely has a marginal, non-tiered spiritual vein, significantly weakerpared to the spiritual density around the Treasure Ship Market!¡± The old Daoist shook his head.
¡°Ah, well¡¡± After pondering for a moment, Fang Xi asked, ¡°I must admit, I am somewhat intrigued. How can one contact this Guru Falling Leaf?¡±
Rottenwood nodded, as he had anticipated that most spirit farmers would likely choose to join a Qi Refinement-level sect. ¡°In half a month, Guru Falling Leaf will personally transport a batch of spirit rice to the Treasure Ship Market for sale. If you¡¯re interested, we can arrange a detailed discussion there. This old Daoist will serve as the intermediary between you both¡¡±
This aligned perfectly with his business interests, allowing him to earn an additionalmission!
Chapter 77: Endurance
Half a monthter.
At the Dragon Gate Pavilion.
Fang Xi emerged slightly dispirited.
He hade to attempt purchasing a Step-Breaking Pill.
His cultivation with the Evesting Spring Art had long reached the peak of the fourth level of Qi Refinement, yet he struggled to break through.
Even the once-effective Wood Yuan Pills no longer stimted his progress past the bottleneck.
Naturally, Fang Xi considered buying other types of Step-Breaking Pills.
Inside the Dragon Gate Pavilion, Zhong Wangu again attended to him. The Zhong n cultivator did not recognize Fang Xi, but after hearing his situation, felt quite helpless.
After all, medicinal pills that assist cultivators in breaking through bottlenecks are inherently scarce. Especially when even Wood Yuan Pills proved ineffective.
In response, Zhong Wangu offered two options: First, rely on personal strength by deep meditation orbat-induced enlightenment, aiming for a self-driven breakthrough. Second, purchase the ¡®Violet Wood Pill¡¯!
This particr pill aids Middle Stage Qi Refinement cultivators in oveing their bottleneck to reach Late Stage Qi Refinement, with reportedly high sess rates.
Using it merely for a breakthrough at the fourth level seemed rather excessive and wasteful.
Moreover, consuming one pill diminishes the effectiveness significantly if taken repeatedly in the future.
Privately wealthy, Fang Xi feigned ignorance and boldly asked about the price.
Zhong Wangu informed him that these Step-Breaking Pills were extremely rare, even considered highly valuable within the Zhong family. The Dragon Gate Pavilion itself did not have any in stock.
However, during the annual auctions at the Treasure Ship Market, one or two pills would asionally appear, but the prices¡
¡°Often reaching two to three hundred spirit stones¡¡±
¡°Even if I had that many spirit stones, my status wouldn¡¯t allow me to spend them¡not to mention, it might still be unaffordable¡¡±
Feeling dejected, Fang Xi reluctantly left the Dragon Gate Pavilion.
It was truly disheartening when having spirit stones yet being unable to purchase what you desire.
¡°Oh well¡ Let¡¯s see what Old Daoist Xiu Mu has to offer,¡± he sighed as he headed towards the teahouse.
¡°Fellow Daoist Fang, I¡¯ve been waiting for you!¡± Upon seeing Fang Xi, the old Daoist Xiu Mu cheerfully rose to greet him. ¡°The usual arrangement?¡±
¡°Yes!¡±
Fang Xi reserved a private booth while watching Daoist Xiu Mu send out amunication talisman. After about an hour, the booth door opened, and an elderly Daoist entered. He wore a green mage robe with an ebony crown, appearing around fifty years old, his demeanor quite dignified. ¡°Greetings, Fellow Daoists! Gui Ye salutes you both!¡±
¡°Come, let me introduce you. This is Fellow Daoist Fang Xi, renowned for exceptional mastery in spirit cultivation¡¡±
The Old Wood Daoist stood up with a beaming smile, ¡°This is High Master Gui Ye, the leader of Gui Ye Divine Sect!¡±
¡®Divine Sect?¡¯
Fang Xi nced at High Master Gui Ye, who was only at the sixth level of Qi Refinement, feeling somewhat speechless. Nevertheless, he courteously responded, ¡°Your reputation, High Master Gui Ye, is as thunderous as it gets!¡±
¡°Ha ha, Fellow Daoist Fang is too kind!¡± High Master Gui Ye casually took a seat, not bothering whether the drink was mortal tea or spirit tea, and gulped it down in one swig. ¡°Recently, the price of spirit rice at Treasure Ship Market has plummeted¡ It¡¯s been quite a struggle; I¡¯ve nearly worn out my voice for just a few spirit stones¡¡±
He then turned to Fang Xi, ¡°With your cultivation at Middle Stage Qi Refinement, you¡¯re already quite formidable¡ Joining our Gui Ye Divine Sect would truly be like adding wings to a tiger¡ As assurance, this old Daoist guarantees that upon entry, you¡¯ll be appointed as the head of the Spirit nt Department - a prestigious position!¡±
¡°How many members does the Spirit nt Department have within your esteemed sect, Fellow Daoist Gui Ye?¡± Fang Xi queried, showing his discernment.
¡°Ha ha¡¡± High Master Gui Yeughed evasively, ¡°Although newly established, the Spirit nt Department holds great potential¡ You will have full authority over all appointments, ensuring a bright future indeed!¡±
¡®Somehow, I feel like this would make me amander without any troops.¡¯
¡®High Master Gui Ye appears generous, but his words seem overly embellished¡ It feels rather unreliable.¡¯
Holding onto a sliver of hope, Fang Xi asked another question, ¡°I¡¯m curious about the treatment for cultivators within the Gui Ye Divine Sect. How many spirit stones are provided annually, and are there any mandatory tasks?¡±
At this mention, High Master Gui Ye¡¯s expression shifted slightly. ¡°Well¡ our sect is newly established, still in its initial stages, with details yet to be fully defined. However, given your talents, Fellow Daoist, I am confident you would quickly distinguish yourself¡ Moreover, our sect is willing to grant you ten acres of spirit fields - that¡¯s quite substantial!¡±
Fang Xi¡¯s smile gradually stiffened, but he maintained hisposure and final courtesy. ¡°I deeply appreciate your esteemed favor¡ However, this matter is significant, and I require some time to carefully consider it.¡±
¡°Very well¡¡± High Master Gui Ye rose from his seat. ¡°Please think it through thoroughly¡ My offer is exceptionally generous by Wan Ind Lake standards.¡±
As Fang Xi watched Gui Ye depart, he turned towards Old Daoist Xiu Mu.
Knowing what Fang Xi wanted to ask, Xiu Mu nodded and said, ¡°While High Master Gui Ye may prioritize fame and wealth, his proposal is indeed favorable. If made public, countless individuals would undoubtedly be tempted¡¡±
¡°By ¡®many people,¡¯ you don¡¯t mean just the spirit farmers outside the Treasure Ship Market, do you?¡± Fang Xi nced sidelong at the old Daoist.
¡°Precisely¡¡± The decrepit Daoist responded without any hint of embarrassment. ¡°For other Qi Refinement factions, if you wish to join and receive such favorable terms, one typically needs to prove their trustworthiness first. This might involve joining forces to eliminate enemies or venturing into dangerous territories¡¡±
¡°In essence¡ it¡¯s like presenting a letter of intent, isn¡¯t it?¡±
Fang Xi nodded thoughtfully.
It seemed that despite its apparent stability, Wan Ind Lake¡¯s cultivation world was not devoid of deceit and vendetta-driven violence.
¡°But I¡¯m only twenty years old; there¡¯s no rush,¡± Fang Xi mused. ¡°I can spend several years carefully observing and waiting for the best opportunity.¡±
With this realization, his demeanor lightened significantly. After entrusting the decrepit Daoist to keep an eye on the situation, Fang Xi rose and left the teahouse, feeling more rxed than before.
In the Great Liang World,
Yun Lian Mountain.
¡°Aoooo!¡±
A wolf¡¯s howl reverberated across the mountainous terrain, echoing through the valleys.
Numerous wild beasts, terrified, fled for their lives, defecating in panic.
This was ¡®Old One-Eye¡¯, one of the Eight Great Monster Kings of Ding Province, who dominated Yun Lian Mountain with cunning nature.
Whenever faced with military assaults, it swiftly retreated deep into the forest, remaining hidden and elusive.
Once the raids passed, Old One-Eye would recklessly descend from the mountains to prey on vigers, particrly favoring children.
Its howl could intimidate countless beasts; even lions and tigers, upon hearing it, would cower trembling, helpless against its onught.
However, this time, Old One-Eye¡¯s howl was filled with unmistakable terror!
¡°No matter how sly you think you are, you¡¯ll still taste my wrath¡¡± Fang Xiughed heartily as ayer of astral energy enveloped his fist, striking fiercely at the wolf¡¯s midsection.
From within Old One-Eye¡¯s body came a distinct sound of bones cracking, sending the creature flying sideways.
It was a massive white wolf, over three meters tall, its fur shimmering like pure silver. Its lone eye now brimmed with pain and venomous resentment.
Despite its expertise in hiding, encountering a flying enemy left it vulnerable, especially when that enemy possessed the strength to single-handedly defeat it!
¡°Die!¡± Fang Xi showed no sign of relenting, channeling magical energy into the Golden Flood Dragon Sword. With a resounding boom, the de transformed into a streak of golden light, slicing through the wolf¡¯s head.
Thud!
The massive wolf¡¯s head hit the ground, its emerald eyes still open and unnerving to behold.
¡°Another mythical beast in!¡± Fang Xi promptly stepped forward to gather various materials.
¡°This werewolf¡¯s fur provides warmth in winter and coolness in summer, resistant to both water and fire, yet incredibly soft and silky¡ªa truly exceptional quality¡¡± Fang Xi stroked the wolf¡¯s fur, carefully preserving a tuft with the most brilliant luster.
Each strand of this tuft shimmered with radiance, possessing just the right bnce of suppleness and firmness, making it excellent material for crafting talisman brushes¡ªextremely valuable!
¡°Although this werewolf is a high-rank first-tier creature, its value is significantly lower than that snake-dragon. Perfectly timed to disguise myself and sell it, supplementing our household expenses¡¡±
A hint of joy appeared on Fang Xi¡¯s face.
Despite having the Blood Contract Document at hand, he never considered using it on Old One-Eye. This monster was vicious and cruel, known for consuming countless humans.
Moreover¡its cunning nature meant even under the blood pact¡¯s suppression, there was a high risk of it turning against its master!
¡°The southern wilderness isn¡¯t like Great Liang; if I slip up or worse, if this werewolf instantly breaks through to second-order upon arrival, what then?¡±
When surpassing a major cultivation realm, the blood pact bes notably less secure.
Therefore, Fang Xi preferred using the blood pact on Tai Sui instead. Although merely a low-rank first-tier nt-type mythical beast, it had minimal self-awareness and would hardly resist even when being carved for flesh.
Moreover¡ there were advantages to having lower-ranked beasts. Even if brought to the southern wilderness¡¯s cultivation world and allowed to breakthrough, it would only reach mid-rank first-tier at most¡ still manageable within his control.
¡°Hmm, Tai Sui is actually quite useful¡ I¡¯ve yet to see any mythical beast grow flesh as rapidly as it does!¡±
¡°The Demon Tree requires blood sustenance; Tai Sui seems perfectly suited for this purpose¡¡±
Fang Xi rubbed his chin thoughtfully.
At that moment, figures flickered through the jungle, with Zhou Tong, Linghu Shan, and Falcon hastily arriving on the scene.
Their expressions turned numb upon seeing the wolf carcass lying on the ground.
It seemed no monster could withstand Grandmaster Fang¡¯s might when he chose to act.
Notably, they had rushed over swiftly after receiving the signal, taking minimal time en route.
In such a brief span, Fang Xi managed to y a monster king? This level of power likely ced him among the top few even within the Zongshi Association!
¡°Zhou Tong, Falcon¡ what brings you two here?¡± Fang Xi was somewhat surprised by their presence.
He had been hunting monsters in Ding Province alongside Linghu Shan and the wind and thunder camp. Linghu Shan¡¯s arrival made sense, but these two were unexpected.
Falcon¡¯s expression grew grim, barely speaking, while Zhou Tong chuckled wryly and exined, ¡°There¡¯s a new mission from the association!¡±
¡°Oh?¡± Fang Xi¡¯s eyes lit up. ¡°How many merit points is it worth?¡±
¡°The task is quite challenging; we might not be able to handle it alone, so we¡¯vee to request Grandmaster Fang¡¯s assistance.¡± Zhou Tong, having never lost directly to Fang Xi, maintained his dignity and spoke casually. ¡°With your contribution this time¡ you¡¯ll undoubtedly earn enough merit points to exchange for a secret technique from the association!¡±
¡°Really? That sounds promising!¡± Recalling Zhou Tong¡¯s demonstration of the Secret Art of Restoration, Fang Xi¡¯s eyes sparkled. ¡°What kind of mission is it?¡±
¡°There¡¯s a renowned mad zongshi within the association who hasn¡¯t been heard from recently. The association wants us to check on their situation,¡± Zhou Tong began exining.
¡°Oh? Who might that be?¡±
Fang Xi¡¯s interest piqued. The Zongshi Association itself was filled with entrics, so just how deranged must someone be for even them tobel him as ¡®mad¡¯? Perhaps it could be someone from the notoriously bloodthirsty and insane faction known as Demonic Possession, which advocates learning demonic techniques?
Chapter 78: The Great Zongshi
¡°Madman, who is it?¡±
Linghu Shan seemed to recall something, and his expression turned gravely serious.
Falcon responded solemnly, ¡°Qiubai Mountain - Dugu Wuwang!¡±
¡°It¡¯s actually that old madman!¡± Linghu Shan gasped sharply and then turned to Fang Xi, saying, ¡°It might be best not to visit Qiubai Mountain¡¡±
¡°Oh? What makes this Dugu Wuwang so exceptional?¡± Fang Xi¡¯s interest piqued, prompting him to inquire further.
¡°Dugu Wuwang¡¡± Linghu Shan sighed deeply. ¡°He gained fame six decades ago, possessing an unparalleled talent that transcended both ancient and modern times. It¡¯s said he achieved zongshi status at just twenty years of age, undefeated across thend! Back then, his name was - Dugu Sheng!¡±
¡°Not only that, but as an extraordinary genius, he developed supreme martial techniques himself and was one of the founders of our Zongshi Association¡ If not for his obsession with martial arts and exploring paths beyond Martial Saint level¡ perhaps he would have been the first-ever Chairman.¡±
Even Falcon appeared somber at the mention of Dugu Sheng.
¡°If he was twenty years old sixty years ago, that would make him around eighty now. Is the association asking us to verify if this person is still alive?¡± Fang Xi queried. ¡°It likely includes that consideration¡¡± Zhou Tong seemed hesitant but, seeing only fellow Zongshi Association members around, decided to be forthright. ¡°Generally speaking, even martial artists reaching their eighties can still summon their peak blood qi¡ However, this senior Dugu stands apart. After achieving mastery in martial arts, he tried various methods to break through beyond the zongshi realm but failed¡ Hence, he changed his name to Dugu Wuwang, meaning ¡®Hopeless Solitary¡¯! He is the founder of our association¡¯s Demonic Possession technique!¡±
¡°As you know, while some zongshi advocate studying Demons, they merely simte it with blood qi¡ Only true lunatics would attempt to harness magical energy!¡±
¡°Indeed!¡± Fang Xi recalled Linghu Yang, the prodigious martial artist from Yuanhe Mountain who had pursued a simr path and ended up resembling more closely a cursed being.
¡°But Dugu Wuwang is different! He believed that only by studying true Demons could one find hope for breakthrough¡ His Seed Demon Technique was primitive and brutal; instead of extracting magical energy from demonic servants or subordinates, he¡ consumed or even grafted parts of the Demon¡¯s core essence!¡±
As Zhou Tong spoke, his expression betrayed a hint of fear.
Falcon involuntarily shuddered, ¡°Most individuals experimenting with direct contact to a Demon¡¯s essence met their demise¡ Yet this zongshi confined himself at Qiubai Mountain, asionally managing to retain sanity¡¡±
¡°However, over the past month, as his end approached, his lucidity seemed increasingly diminished. No updates havee from the zongshi guarding Qiubai Mountain, suggesting some unforeseen event may have urred! Consequently, the Zongshi Association issued a mission for other zongshi to investigate¡ To be honest, already some have perished¡¡±
¡°I see¡¡±
Having heard the full story, Fang Xi became more intrigued by this Zongshi Dugu Wuwang.
To dare consuming or grafting a Demon¡¯s core essence? Truly relentless!
Perhaps this individual genuinely glimpsed a path towards breakthrough?
Qiubai Mountain.
Located at the border between Ding and Lan Provinces, this mountain was infested with mythical beasts, making it perilous for any unprepared individuals to venture within.
¡°Caw!¡±
¡°Caw!¡±
Fang Xi, Zhou Tong, and Falcon traversed through the rugged terrain as effortlessly as walking on t ground. As aplished zongshi, they had reached the pinnacle of human physical capabilities, utilizing their strength with remarkable precision and efficiency.
With just a gentle tap on a branch, each leap propelled them several meters forward.
After navigating deep into the forest for an indeterminate time, Fang Xi looked up and spotted a stark ck peak rising abruptly like a sword de piercing the sky.
Around this mountain, numerous crow-like mythical beasts circled ominously!
These crows wererger than eagles, all sporting blood-red eyes.
Suddenly!
A red-eyed crow swooped down, revealing its slender beak lined with menacing white teeth!
¡°Despite being mythical beasts, they¡¯re quite foolish!¡± Before Fang Xi could react, Zhou Tong swiftly stepped forward.
He practiced martial arts called ¡®Copper Statue Art¡¯ - a top-tier, hard cultivation technique. At its peak, one¡¯s body bes impervious to des and resistant to both fire and water.
As he shielded hispanions, Zhou Tong resembled a formidable copper wall. His skin transformed into a rich bronze hue, and no matter how fiercely the crow beasts pecked or wed, only faint white marks appeared momentarily before vanishing instantly.
¡°These bird beasts aren¡¯t bad. Observing one daily might help refine my Falcon Fist technique¡¡±
Falcon¡¯s hands spread wide, swooping like a giant bat.
Simultaneously, his bones crackled with countless sounds akin to birds¡¯ cries.
¡°Secret Technique - Hundred Falcons Cry!¡±
His hands morphed into beak-like formations, unleashing thousands of simultaneous pecks that sent the skyful of crows plummeting with agonized squawks.
Countless ck feathers scattered, resembling a torrential ck rainstorm.
¡°Caw! Caw!¡±
As numerous crow carcasses fell, Falcon burst outughing and seized the most majestic among them.
The mythical bird had glossy jet-ck feathers and menacing talons, still attempting resistance even in Falcon¡¯s grasp.
Suddenly, it opened its beak,unching a projectile akin to a pitch-ck worm at Falcon¡¯s throat, swift as an arrow!
Chiu!
In an instant, ayer of astral energy manifested around Falcon¡¯s neck, deflecting the projectile away.
Falcon¡¯s expression darkened sharply. ¡°Ungrateful creature! Taming these wild beasts is futile; what a waste of effort!¡±
With a sharp crack, he exerted force with his right hand, snapping the crow¡¯s neck effortlessly.
¡°Old man Yan, if you¡¯re not keeping any birds, give me this one¡¡± Fang Xi chuckled lightly, already busy collecting the bird carcasses.
Instantly, all the mythical beast materials in Fang Xi¡¯s hand, whether feathers or flesh, vanished without a trace.
Witnessing this, both Falcon and Zhou Tong¡¯s pupils contracted slightly, but wisely chose not to inquire further about his secret abilities.
After all, Fang Xi was far too powerful!
Every zongshi harbors secrets, and attempting to pry into them could easily lead to a relentless, life-or-death confrontation!
Fang Xi casually observed the two great zongshi battling monsters while collecting some materials himself. As they gathered enough, the crow flock grew wiser, flying away at a distance and no longer risking certain death by approaching.
¡°Haha¡ These mere minor beasts are hardly worth mentioning!¡± Zhou Tongughed heartily.
With his mastery of Copper Statue Art, even facing a Monster King wouldn¡¯t daunt him significantly.
Snap!
Suddenly, a glob of white bird droppings descended from the sky, sttering right onto his face.
¡°Aaargh¡ I¡¯ll kill you all!¡± Zhou Tong¡¯s face turned beet red as he roared, grabbing a nearby stone and hurling it forcefully towards the sky.
Crack!
The stone, enveloped in astral energy, shot upwards like an arrow fired from a powerful crossbow, emitting a piercing sonic boom with deadly force.
In an instant, it struck one of the crows, causing it to plummet mid-air. Fang Xi swiftly caught the falling bird.
¡®Ah¡ how embarrassing¡¡¯
Speechless, Zhou Tong swiftly followed the two zongshi towards Qiubai Mountain.
The mountain¡¯s pitch-ck surface was incredibly steep, devoid of any paths suitable for climbing.
In the crevices between cliffs and rock faces, faint glimpses of eerie white bones were visible. Some appeared to be remains of various animals and birds¡ while others seemed unmistakably human!
Unfazed, the three zongshi swiftly ascended towards the summit.
At the top of Qiubai Peaky a t open area with a thatched hut nestled within it. Several ck crows perched on the hut, grooming their feathers.
Upon noticing the neers, they let out harsh, discordant cries and hastily flew away.
¡°Is this¡ Dugu Wuwang¡¯s residence?¡± Fang Xi asked Zhou Tong.
¡°No¡ This is Master Yu¡¯s dwelling, where he guarded Dugu Wuwang. The absence of anyone here confirms something has gone wrong!¡± Falcon¡¯s expression darkened as he led Fang Xi around to the back of the hut.
Behind the hut, the mountain rocks turned even darker, resembling iron in coloration.
Fang Xi deliberately stomped hard, leaving only a shallow mark on the pitch-ck stone.
¡°These stones are remarkably tough,¡± he observed, somewhat astonished. Even without exerting his full strength, such force should have shattered ordinary limestone easily.
¡°This mountain may contain rare iron deposits¡ making it extraordinarily hard,¡± Zhou Tong exined to Fang Xi. ¡°Precisely because of this resilience, Grandmaster Dugu chose it as his self-imposed sealing ce¡¡±
Momentster, they arrived at a small hilltop before Fang Xi.
The entire mountainside indented inward, forming a cave entrance.
More startlingly, thick chains, each as wide as an adult¡¯s thigh, were scattered around and extended deep into the cave. It seemed less like restraining a person and more akin to binding some ferocious beast!
¡°Caw!¡±
A ck crow flew overhead but abruptly emitted a panicked cry, as if caught by an invisible giant hand, and was swiftly dragged into the cave above.
An unnerving crunching sound echoed immediately¡
¡°Remarkable skill!¡± Fang Xi¡¯s eyes lit up at the sight.
Clearly, Dugu Wuwang, sealed within the cave, had mastered a technique akin to telekic absorption. Each day, he would draw blood meals from outside into the cave for sustenance.
To achieve such control over vast distances required absolute mastery of true astral energy, bordering on divine proficiency!
¡°Oh no!¡±
On the other side, Zhou Tong picked up half of a jade flute from the ground, his expression grim to the extreme. ¡°This belongs to Dongmen Lin, one of our previous reconnaissance members - it¡¯s his personal weapon. Fearfully, he must have met a simr fate!¡±
¡°Roar!¡±
Just as Zhou Tong finished speaking, a beastly howl erupted from within the cave.
The gut-wrenching roar induced immense pressure on everyone present, making them feel suffocated.
Instantly, Fang Xi recalled the Demon Tree in ckstone City, and his expression turned gravely serious.
¡®This is truly a ruthless individual, capable of devouring the essence of demons whole. Linghu Yang doesn¡¯t evenpare!¡¯
As these thoughts raced through his mind,
Snap!
A figure swiftly emerged from the cave, moving like lightning!
¡°Hah!¡± Zhou Tong roared, pushing his cultivation technique to its limit. His entire body seemed to transform into bronze as he unleashed a powerful palm strike at the approaching figure.
Crack!
The figure was effortlessly sent flying away.
Falcon¡¯s pupils contracted almost to pinpoints when he realized that the one flung aside was not Dugu Wuwang but a mutted corpse!
¡°Agh!¡±
In the next instant, apanied by the nging of chains, multiple iron links, each as thick as a human thigh, whipped wildly like dragonfish, simultaneously striking towards the trio.
Fang Xi had barely taken two steps back when he heard a blood-curdling scream!
It was Falcon!
Chapter 79: Qi Circulating Throughout
Chirp! Chirp!
An eruption of countless bird cries filled the air!
Secret Technique: Hundred Falcons¡¯ Cry!
Terrified, Falcon unleashed his ultimate move.
However, this time, the piercing sound of white birdscked its usual sharpness and instead carried a mournfulment, akin to the sorrowful cry of a cuckoo¡¯s bloodied wail!
Fang Xi looked up to see iron chains rattling, with one end bound around a person.
The individual appeared disheveled, their clothes torn and tattered, yet massive shackles hung from their shoulder des, neck, wrists, and ankles.
Despite these restraints, their movements were remarkably agile, effortlessly countering Falcon¡¯s desperate attack.
As the two figures separated, Falcon¡¯s face turned pale as he stared at his right shoulder. Shockingly, half of his arm had vanished without a trace¡
On the opposite side,
Dugu Wuwang held the severed limb, and beneath his hair, two faint scarlet glows seemed to flicker.
¡°Dugu Zongshi? We¡¯re from the Zongshi Association!¡±
Zhou Tong¡¯s face paled with shock. ¡°Why did he attack us?¡±
¡°Damn it, something went terribly wrong¡ Not only is Dugu Wuwang alive, but he¡¯s also gone insane¡¡±
Falcon swiftly retreated, intricate patterns resembling mystical seals appearing on his body.
The bleeding from his severed arm rapidly stopped, and new flesh began to regenerate at the wound, elerating its healing process.
This was the Secret Art of Restoration!
As a renowned expert from the Zongshi Association, Falcon naturally had prepared several secret techniques for such situations.
Unfortunately, his arm remained in Dugu Wuwang¡¯s grasp; otherwise, he could have reattached it immediately.
The mention of ¡®Dugu Wuwang¡¯ seemed to trigger a reaction in the figure opposite them.
Dugu Wuwang abruptly lifted his head.
With a rustle, his hair spread out, revealing a pair of crimson eyes.
Despite being over eighty years old, Dugu Wuwang disyed remarkable vigor. His skin was taut, his posture erect, and every muscle on his body appeared incredibly robust. Veins like writhing blue worms stood out prominently, belying any signs of age or frailty.
¡°Dugu¡ Wuwang¡¡± he muttered, his bloodshot eyes intensifying further. ¡°Flesh of demons¡ be my blood¡ devouring fiends and consuming magic¡ surpassing zongshi¡ beyond mastery¡¡±
¡°Dugu Wuwang is regaining consciousness!¡± Zhou Tong¡¯s face lit up with joy at this sight. ¡°The association mission brief stated that if we manage to save this great zongshi, our merit points would double!¡±
However, in the next moment:
Dugu Wuwang let out a guttural roar, his muscles bulging as flesh intertwined with itself. Body hair fused together, forming swathes of jet-ck scales that covered him entirely.
Thin ck lines converged on his forehead, protruding outward to transform into two slightly curved, pitch-dark horns.
Instantaneously, Dugu Wuwang morphed into a grotesque figure, adorned with scales and demonic horns! No, he had be a demon!
With a swift movement, even Fang Xi struggled to track his trajectory through the air. The massive iron chains strained under the force, emitting mournful cries from the immense pressure.
In the next instant, this demonic warrior reached Zhou Tong, unleashing a vicious strike with ws that no longer resembled human hands.
¡°Secret Technique: Origin Copper Body!¡±
Within a sh, Zhou Tong deployed his ultimate hidden skill!
Abandoning offense entirely, he focused on defense, crossing his arms to shield his chest.
His astral energy transformed into a brass-like hue, making him appear like a deity descended from the heavens!
Zhou Tong had unparalleled confidence in this move: ¡°Even for the guild leader, my defense cannot be breached within a single attack!¡±
But momentster, searing pain surged through his arms!
¡°How is this possible?¡± Stunned, he looked down at the demon ws pressing against his crossed limbs.
Whish!
Instantly, each scale on the demonic arm vibrated, emitting bursts of air currents, amplifying the force behind the w strike!
Bam!
Dugu Wuwang¡¯s demonic transformation allowed for a second burst of power; his razor-sharp ws shattered Zhou Tong¡¯s arms and struck directly onto his chest.
The hard-qin zongshi was instantly sent flying, bones breaking audibly beneath his ribs¡
Swoosh!
With a rushing sound, each scale on the demon warrior¡¯s arm vibrated, propelling additional force into the strike.
The victorious demon warrior aimed to follow up with another attack, but suddenly felt a strong pull at his ankles as thick iron chains tightened around them.
Fang Xi moved swiftly, like a fleeting shadow, grabbing Zhou Tong and rapidly retreating.
¡°Cough¡cough¡¡±
Zhou Tong spat out blood mixed with fragments from his internal organs, revealing the patterns of the Secret Art of Restoration on his body. ¡°Just barely¡so close! That bastard nearly shattered my heart!¡±
¡°Is that¡could it be ¡®Qi Circting Throughout¡¯?!¡± Falcon, missing one arm, stared at Dugu Wuwang transformed into a demon warrior, his face filled with uncertainty and surprise. ¡°I didn¡¯t expect Dugu Wuwang to truly be such a prodigious genius,bining the pinnacle of astral energy mastery with demonic transformation. This form optimizes every aspect for martial arts application¡ Now, every part, every organ of his body is perfectly attuned to martial techniques, unleashing unparalleled effectiveness!¡±
Within the Zongshi Association, there were two major schools of thought regarding zongshi advancement:
Firstly, focusing solely on astral energy, achieving the ultimate limit known as ¡®Qi Circting Throughout¡¯, before attempting ¡®True Astral Manifestation¡¯!
In this path, ¡®Qi Circting Throughout¡¯ involved saturating the entire body with astral energy, enhancing a Martial Saint¡¯s capabilitiesprehensively.
The second path involved exploring the Fiend¡¯s route!
It seemed that Dugu Wuwang had subtly merged both paths together!
Not only did he achieve ¡®Qi Circting Throughout¡¯, but he also utilized demonic transformation to enhance his organs and reshape his physique, resulting in an astonishing increase in power.
Fang Xi examined Dugu Wuwang¡¯s feet closely.
Despite being covered with scales and sharp ws, the peculiarly twisted muscle contours and pores capable of expelling air were clearly designed for enhancing movement techniques!
¡°A monster, truly a monstrous creature!¡±
¡°To think this world¡¯s cultivators could reach such heights!¡± Fang Xi was deeply moved.
Simultaneously, a profound sense of admiration for Dugu Wuwang arose within him.
Achieving this level, Dugu Wuwang undoubtedly deserved the title of the greatest zongshi in a century!
Taking a deep breath, Fang Xi stepped forward steadily.
¡°Grandmaster Fang, what are you doing?¡± Falcon watched, utterly astonished. ¡°Dugu Wuwang, fearing his own descent into madness, forged these mystic iron chains at Seeking Defeat Peak to restrain himself¡ just in case he loses control and attacks indiscriminately¡ Keeping our distance is wise; getting closer would be courting death!¡±
¡°How can I easily give up encountering such an opponent?¡±
Fang Xi¡¯s eyes zed with intensity as he suddenly roared, ¡°Primal Unity!¡±
Buzz!
In that instant, crimson astral energy surged forth from every limb, bone, and pore of his body!
From a distance, it appeared as if he were d in a suit of scarlet armor!
¡°That is¡the genuine ¡®Astral Energy Cirction¡¯?¡± Zhou Tong rubbed his face incredulously. ¡°Hasn¡¯t Grandmaster Fang just achieved zongshi status? How could he already reach the pinnacle of astral energy control? Wait¡ ording to our association¡¯s research, achieving ¡®Astral Energy Cirction¡¯ requires a wless body, devoid of any hidden injuries, with blood qi at its absolute peak. Without those meticulously developed secret medicines, how is this possible?¡±
Based on the Zongshi Association¡¯s findings, mastering ¡®Astral Energy Cirction¡¯ necessitated being a zongshi and attaining the realm of a perfect, unblemished physique.
In reality, advancing through martial ranks often involvedpetitive battles, leading to few cultivators remaining entirely injury-free. Even among zongshis, such perfection was rare!
Within the Zongshi Association, only exceptional prodigies nurtured from a young age, practicing top-tier techniques, had a chance to break through to this realm! Alternatively, one would need extremely valuable secret medicines to heal the body, mend injuries, and enhance blood qi.
This was the very realm that Zhou Tong and Falcon had relentlessly pursued.
Yet now, it effortlessly manifested within Fang Xi!
¡°So this is¡the pinnacle of astral energy?¡±
Fang Xi shook his arm, noticing that with a fullyer of astral energy enveloping him, air resistance seemed significantly reduced. A realization dawned upon him.
The concept of ¡®Qi permeating the body¡¯ essentially creates a streamlined virtual armor around the zongshi, minimizing air resistance to its lowest possible level.
With reduced air resistance, the speed of one¡¯s strikes naturally increases!
In any martial art, achieving ¡®Qi permeating the body¡¯ transforms the cultivator into the optimal form for executing that specific martial technique!
¡°However, the orthodox path for warriors relies on astral energy; once depleted, it¡¯s gone!¡±
¡°Dugu Wuwang truly went further by transforming his own flesh and blood, transcending humanity through martial arts!¡±
Fang Xi¡¯s ability to reach this point was entirely due to the nourishing effects of the Evesting Spring Art,plemented by the cultivation world¡¯s Blood and Qi Pills among other medicinal aids.
Combining these allowed him to ascend to the peak of the zongshi realm.
Nevertheless, attaining ¡®True Astral Manifestation¡¯ still posed significant challenges.
As per Fang Xi¡¯s conjecture, he might require a second-order Blood and Qi replenishing treasure pill to grasp the opportunity for breakthrough!
But for now, this was more than enough!
Fang Xi faced the transformed demon Dugu Wuwang, his right hand clenched tightly into a fist!
Boom!
As he unleashed this punch, Fang Xi felt not resistance but rather amplification from the surrounding air, akin to a fish effortlessly gliding through water. His boxing technique soared to unprecedented heights.
¡°Demonic flesh¡ transform me into a zongshi!¡±
From Dugu Wuwang¡¯s snarling mouth filled with sharp teeth, emerged a mumbled incantation as he extended his wed hand!
The motion appeared casual, yet concealed lethal intent and infinite variations, showcasing martial skills deeply ingrained within him!
Snap!
The fist of true astral energy met the demon¡¯s razor-sharp ws.
In the next instant, with a gusting sound:
Dugu Wuwang¡¯s arm propelled forward even faster than Fang Xi, lunging towards him!
Fang Xi swiftly retreated, narrowly avoiding the heart-piercing w at the critical moment.
Chiss!
After missing its target, the scaled ws underwent a bizarre transformation.
The sharp ws detached swiftly, propelled with immense force like bullets firing outwards.
Bang! Bang!
Fang Xi couldn¡¯t evade in time, and five nails struck his chest, sending him flying backward.
¡°Ah¡ Grandmaster Fang, what folly!¡± Witnessing this, Falcon sighed softly, ¡°With Dugu Wuwang¡¯s current strength, even if the Union Head himself arrived with those few ¡®Qi-perfused¡¯ grandmasters, they might not be able to subdue him¡ This is dire; he doesn¡¯t possess the Secret Art of Restoration!¡±
However, momentster, Falcon¡¯s jaw dropped as Fang Xi stood up unscathed, casually dusting off his chest.
Rustle! Rustle!
His clothing tore apart like confetti scattered by a gust, fluttering away. Several w fragments mixed with snake-dragon scales fell to the ground.
¡°Not bad, managing to prate twoyers of my defense¡ Just shy of actually harming me.¡± Fang Xi raised his head, eyes gleaming with unprecedented interest. ¡°Let¡¯s begin round two!¡±
Chapter 80: Victory
¡°Gulp!¡±
Fang Xi swiftly swallowed a Blood and Qi Pill, feeling his surging blood qi transform into dense true astral energy within him.
A pitted shield materialized beside him, while additionally, a golden defensive aura enveloped Fang Xi¡¯s entire body!
At that moment, he was fully armed and ready!
On the opposite side, Dugu Wuwang seemed to sense something as well and slowly retreated towards the cave entrance.
For him, this withdrawal was merely strategic, preparing for a more potent attack!
By reaching the cave mouth, the constraints of the mystic iron chains would significantly lessen!
¡°Despite being half-mad, your martial intuition is still razor-sharp like a wild beast!¡± Fang Xiughed heartily, advancing boldly into Dugu Wuwang¡¯s striking range.
He raised his palm high, akin to reversing Mount Tai itself, before mming it down with immense force: ¡°Secret Technique - Limitless Primordial!¡±
Rumble!
Dugu Wuwang erupted with streams of air, his figure flickering rapidly, even capable of changing direction mid-air.
In an instant, he weaved through the flurry of fist shadows and positioned himself directly above Fang Xi.
Such agility defied description!
Even Falcon, who prided himself on exceptional movement techniques, broke out in cold sweat at the sight. If he dared to attempt such a maneuver, there could only be one oue¡ªhe¡¯d be crushed into pulp amidst Fang Xi¡¯s barrage of fists!
Yet, against all odds, Dugu Wuwang found a way to surpass his limits, breaking through the impossible!
¡°Roar!¡±
In mid-air, Dugu Wuwang let out a peculiar cry as his tightly arranged scales began transforming once more. His body contours became even more streamlined, the ghostly horns on his forehead sharper, and something seemed poised to burst forth from his back near the ribs!
Fang Xi¡¯s warrior intuition surmised it was a pair of wings about to emerge!
As he leaped into the sky, these wings would allow him to soar - truly astonishing adaptability for a demonic cultivator!
In the next instant.
Dugu Wuwang plummeted down from the air.
With twin horns atop his head, covered in scales, and a bulge along his back,
he no longer resembled a human but rather¡a Qilin!
¡°I remember now!¡± Zhou Tong murmured almost involuntarily, ¡°The flesh that Dugu Wuwang devoured earlier belonged to the rampaging Qilin Demon, fallen during its rampage across Central Province!¡±
Compared to their opponents, Fang Xi faced an even greater pressure.
A leap by the Qilin spells doom for the world!
Transformed into a demon, Dugu Wuwang roared fiercely, cing both hands on the ck Iron Shield and ripping at it with immense force.
Crack!
Amidst a teeth-grating sound, the shield, already weakened by the Blood Jade Python¡¯s corrosive venom, emitted a mournful groan before shatteringpletely!
With a furious roar, Fang Xi raised his fist towards the sky, ¡°Limitless Primal Chaos!¡±
Crack!
His fist collided with Dugu Wuwang¡¯s razor-sharp ws, causing intense sparks as the astral energy shield battled against the demon¡¯s talons.
Fang Xi heard the Qilin Demon¡¯s bellow and sensed its foul breath seemingly right before him.
Puff! Puff!
In an instant, countless scales from Dugu Wuwang¡¯s arm scattered like a torrential hailstorm, pelting Fang Xi¡¯s defensive aura.
Pop! Pop!
The protective aura shimmered but ultimately shattered, allowing the Qilin scales to pierce through Fang Xi¡¯s astral energy cloak like flying knives.
Simultaneously, a golden sword gleam materialized in mid-air, radiating grand dominance as it thrust directly towards Dugu Wuwang¡¯s vital point at the chest!
Witnessing this strike, even Falcon grimaced, subconsciously clutching his own slightly aching chest.
¡°Roar!¡±
As soon as the Golden Flood Dragon Sword appeared, it instilled a profound sense of impending danger in Dugu Wuwang!
In the nick of time, he abandoned his sh with Fang Xi, swiftly grabbing out with both hands. Miraculously, he managed to seize the streak of light, tightly gripping the sword de.
The sharp edge sliced through his scales and skin¡ yet was firmly lodged by his bones, unable to prate further!
Fang Xi¡¯s expression remained unflinching, his gaze deep like still waters, as if everything unfolding was precisely as he had anticipated.
With his left hand, he scattered seeds of iron gauze grass, while his right hand clenched into a fist, calmly meeting Dugu Wuwang¡¯s eyes.
¡°Devour demons, consume fiends¡ Transform me¡ Transform me¡ Divine Ability!¡± Dugu Wuwang roared, exerting immense force with both hands, even causing minute cracks to appear on the Golden Flood Dragon Sword.
However, in the next moment, masses of iron gauze grass took root and sprouted around him. Strands as hard as steel enveloped his entire body, leaving only his horned head exposed.
¡°Secret Technique: Primordial Infinity!¡±
Fang Xi held something tightly in his palm, crushed it, then swiftly pressed it against Dugu Wuwang¡¯s forehead.
Boom!
Dugu Wuwang flew backward, crashing into the pitch-ck rock wall akin to tempered steel, creating a massive dent!
¡°Huff¡huff¡ That was intense!¡± Fang Xi lowered his arm, feelingpletely drained of astral energy.
¡°If not for those ck iron chains restraining Dugu Wuwang¡ we would have surely perished today!¡±
¡°You¡¡± Zhou Tong approached, surveying the devastated surroundings.
Upon closer inspection, deep footprints and palm imprints marred the rock-hard surface, some even causing it to shatter.
¡°Did you kill Grandmaster Dugu?¡± Falcon approached, searching for his severed arm.
¡°Not yet¡¡±
As soon as Fang Xi spoke, he noticed both Falcon and Zhou Tong hastily retreat like frightened rabbits.
¡°It¡¯s not over¡ just yet.¡±
A figure slowly emerged from the cave - unmistakably Dugu Wuwang!
However, at that moment, he had reverted to his normal human form, with no red glow in his eyes, revealing a stern and dignified face. ¡°Zhou Tong, Falcon¡ have you two forgotten me?¡±
¡°Greetings, Grandmaster Dugu!¡± Zhou Tong and Falcon stepped forward, still incredulous. ¡°Grandmaster¡you¡you¡¯re recovered?¡±
¡°Yes, somewhat¡¡± Dugu Wuwang casually sat down on the ground, his gaze fixed on Fang Xi. ¡°What¡did you inject into my body just now?¡±
He sensed that without this intervention, his qi deviation would likely have driven himpletely insane.
Unexpectedly, during his frenzy, Dugu Wuwang felt a soothing sensation spread throughout his body, followed by a refreshing coolness in his mind, which brought him back to consciousness.
¡°It¡¯s merely a tranquility-enhancing medicinal pill, costing me ten thousand gold pieces for self-protection¡¡± Fang Xi replied with a smile.
This was based on his experience treating Mu Canglong.
¡°Excellent, excellent! Ten thousand gold well spent. Give me another ten or eight pills¡ For such trivial matters as money, just ask these two youngsters!¡± Dugu Wuwang flicked his hair casually, chuckling.
¡°I¡¯m afraid that won¡¯t be possible!¡± Fang Xi shook his head slightly, expressing some regret.
¡°Why not?¡± Dugu Wuwang¡¯s expression turned somber and deste. ¡°To be honest¡ at any moment, I might suffer another qi deviation. Without the aid of those pills, even these world¡¯s strongest mystical iron chains may fail to restrain me!¡±
Zhou Tong and Falcon involuntarily shuddered.
If this eminent zongshi were to escape and wreak havoc upon the world, they would bear significant responsibility!
¡°You don¡¯t need to frighten me, esteemed zongshi.¡± Fang Xi crossed his legs, mirroring their position, and smiled. ¡°I do have a bottle of those pills with me. If the zongshi desires them, I am willing to offer them, provided you give me something in return!¡±
¡°Oh? What would that be?¡± Dugu Wuwang¡¯s interest was piqued.
¡°Just¡ Grandmaster, after achieving ¡®Qi Cirction Throughout,¡¯ I seek your secret technique for swallowing and refining demons!¡± Fang Xi stated calmly.
Dugu Wuwang startled, scrutinizing Fang Xi closely. ¡°Young man, by your vitality, you seem barely past twenty yet have already cultivated to the pinnacle of zongshi realm. Your innate talent surpasses even mine¡ Instead of pursuing the path of ¡®True Astral Manifestation,¡¯ you desire my deranged secret technique? Ha ha¡ Truly intriguing! Very intriguing indeed!¡±
¡°What? Grandmaster Fang, you¡¯re only twenty years old?¡±
Falcon¡¯s eyes widened. ¡°I thought it was under thirty, not just over twenty?¡±
In the next moment, he realized his mistake - being under thirty could indeed mean merely twenty!
This young man¡¯s talent far exceeded his wildest imagination!
Perhaps, the future of the Zongshi Association trulyy with him!
¡°I want both the True Astral Manifestation technique and the method to swallow demons, harnessing their power for myself!¡± Fang Xi replied firmly andposedly.
He intended to cultivate the Demon Tree someday, andpared to those who consume demons directly, his actions wouldn¡¯t be much different¡ªpossibly even more perilous.
Although the Longevity Technique offered some rted methods, obtaining techniques to maintain sanity while consuming demons would provide additional security.
¡°Haha¡ well said!¡± Dugu Wuwang burst outughing, his voice like thunder echoing through the valley. ¡°Upon careful reflection, I realized my oversight when devouring the Qilin demon¡¯s flesh. Achieving ¡®Qi Circting Body¡¯ was not sufficient to fully suppress its demonic nature¡ One must ascend to the next level, reaching the realm of ¡®True Astral Manifestation.¡¯ With a martial artist¡¯s extraordinary spirit, highly condensed astral energy, and unparalleled physique¡ it bes barely possible to subdue and assimte parts of a fiend for personal use!¡±
¡°As for you young ones wanting to learn this secret technique, I am more than happy to teach you.¡±
After finishing hisughter, he began reciting the method aloud: ¡°Devour demons, transform as my divine ability¡¡±
Fang Xi listened briefly, noticing simrities to the fragmented phrases Dugu Wuwang muttered during his moments of madness. He swiftly memorized the technique and then handed a small jade bottle to Dugu Wuwang. ¡°These are the remaining medicinal pills. Senior, please use them sparingly; they should sustain you for another year or so¡¡±
Dugu Wuwang uncorked the jade bottle, sniffed its contents, and nodded with satisfaction. He turned to walk back into the cave, the heavy chains trailing behind him, emitting dull nking sounds.
¡°You two, remember to visit the association and bring the leader here¡¡± As his figure disappearedpletely into the darkness of the cave, a faint voice echoed out, ¡°With so many incidents happening here, there¡¯s some aftermath that needs addressing¡¡±
¡°Yes!¡±
Zhou Tong and Falcon exchanged nces, both smiling wryly as they acknowledged themand.
During Dugu Wuwang¡¯s madness, he was merely an old lunatic, but once regained his sanity, he became an esteemed elder of the Zongshi Association, evenmanding respect from the leader himself. Ordering them around posed no issue whatsoever, despite nearly killing them in his deranged state earlier.
¡°Grandmaster Fang, the leader will undoubtedly be eager to meet you.¡±
At this moment, Zhou Tong looked at Fang Xi with a hint of reverence in his eyes, something unexpected for a Martial Saint and zongshi like himself. Yet, it was undeniably present.
Even Falcon felt it was natural, questioning if he had been training under a false perception of what a true zongshi should be¡
Chapter 81: Island Lord of Peach Blossom
Six monthster.
At the Treasure Ship Market.
Disguised as a hunchbacked old man, Fang Xi emerged from the Dragon Gate Pavilion with a proud demeanor.
Behind him, Zhong Wangu respectfully bowed to bid farewell.
Over this period, Fang Xi had continuously assumed various appearances to handle materials obtained from Old One-Eye, Great Peng King, and the other seven Monster Kings of Ding Province.
Simultaneously, he made multiple purchases at the Dragon Gate Pavilion under different guises.
He acquired the ¡°Myriad Beasts Body¡± technique, paper talisman legacies, among others.
After all, oncemitted to tree cultivation, he would be confined for years, so proper preparations were essential.
The thought of the ¡°Myriad Beasts Body¡± brought a somber expression to Fang Xi¡¯s face. This orthodox Immortal Body Tempering technique was not only incredibly challenging but also required terrifying resources.
The methodprised fouryers!
Completing just the firstyer demanded dozens of spirit stones, resulting in the first level of Body Tempering, equivalent to early Qi Refinement stage power.
For the secondyer, over a hundred spirit stones¡¯ worth of medicinal baths and various mythical beasts¡¯ essence blood were needed to temper one¡¯s physique.
The thirdyer approached nearly a thousand spirit stones, allowing the practitioner to learn ¡®Beast Transformation Secret Art¡¯. However, it was both arduous and prone to causing qi deviations.
As for the final fourthyer¡
¡®The fuck, it actually requires essence blood from specific tier-2 mythical beasts¡ How am I supposed to obtain that?¡¯
¡®With such exorbitant costs, no wonder body cultivators are always broke! The thirdyer alone demands nearly a thousand spirit stones; I can only imagine how much the fourthyer would require.¡¯
¡®Even reaching ¡®Qi Circting Throughout¡¯, with my Primordial True Art, didn¡¯t cost more than two hundred spirit stones worth of medicinal pills!¡¯
Fang Xi felt somewhat disheartened by these thoughts.
Fortunately, his primary intention for acquiring this body tempering technique was to cross-reference it with the Primordial True Art.
Combining the extensive research from the Zongshi Association on ¡®True Astral Manifestation¡¯ with the insights gained from mastering four levels of his own Body Tempering technique, Fang Xi began formting ideas for further breakthroughs in his Primordial True Art.
¡®However, I should visit the Dragon Gate Pavilion less¡ Even though I¡¯ve tried to extend the intervals, it still draws attention¡¡¯
After circling through the market several times to ensure he wasn¡¯t being followed, Fang Xi exited the Treasure Ship Market.
Assuming his original appearance, he changed direction and, stepping onto the Qinghe Sword, discreetly flew back to his immortal¡¯s cave.
At the entrance to his cave, amunication talisman hovered near the door, emitting a faint spiritual glow.
¡°Hmm?¡±
Fang Xi¡¯s expression shifted as he reached out and retrieved the talisman. Injecting a thread of magical energy, the voice of Old Daoist Xiu Mu resonated:
¡°Fellow Daoist Fang¡the gathering is about tomence. Please join us at the teahouse tomorrow.¡±
¡°It seems¡this old Daoist has found another avenue?¡± Fang Xi pondered thoughtfully.
The next day.
Inside a private room at the teahouse, Fang Xi entered and found several individuals already seated.
He recognized Old Daoist Xiu Mu immediately, along with three other cultivators - two women and one man.
One of the female cultivators had average looks but wore a peach-colored pce dress, adorned with two silver bells wrapped around her left wrist.
The remaining male and female appeared quite close, seemingly cultivation partners.
¡°Everyone, this is Fellow Daoist Fang Xi!¡± Old Daoist Xiu Mu cheerfully introduced him to the group, then turned to Fang Xi and said, ¡°This is Fellow Daoist Ruan Xingling, a mid-tier first-rank artificer. And these two are esteemed spouses Wei Yixin and Hua Chanjuan!¡±
¡°Greetings to all three!¡± Fang Xi responded with a warm smile, discreetly observing them as he took his seat.
Ruan Xingling possessed a cultivation base in the seventhyer of Qi Refining, reaching Late Stage Qi Refinement. As an artificer, her status was notably higher than the others, cing her naturally in the main seat.
Though her facial features were ordinary, she had fair, luminous skin, exuding a gentle demeanor reminiscent of refined elegance.
In reality, as a cultivator advances in their cultivation base, each breakthrough purifies their muscles and marrow through cultivation techniques, typically resulting in strikingly handsome men or beautiful women.
Especially significant realm breakthroughs can achieve effects akin toplete cosmetic transformation.
However, some cultivators intentionally defy this trend, even deliberately disfiguring their appearance to emphasize their unwavering focus on the path of cultivation, shunning romantic attachments.
Inparison, Huachanjuan¡¯s bright eyes and charming smile made her outwardly more attractive than Ruan Xingling, but she fell significantly short in terms of poise and elegance.
Both Huachanjuan and her cultivation partner, Wei Yixin, were at the fifthyer of Qi Refinement. Wei Yixin wore ck attire, his expression cold and demeanor resolute, exuding a steadfast determination evident upon first nce.
¡°Ladies and gentlemen¡¡± The old Daoist, Xiu Mu, scanned the group with a beaming smile before speaking, ¡°I won¡¯t keep you in suspense any longer. Today, we¡¯ve gathered here due to the request from Fellow Daoists Fang and Wei, which has finally yielded promising leads¡ Ruan Daoist, what do you think of these three?¡±
Ruan Xingling nodded gently, her voice measured, ¡°Naturally, I trust your introductions, Fellow Daoist Xiu Mu. These three Daoist friends being in Mid-Stage Qi Refinement indicate sufficient cultivation bases¡ However, it seems one person is still missing!¡±
The old Daoist Xiu Mu¡¯s smile remained unchanged. ¡°How about including myself, Daoist friend? To be honest¡ these old bones also crave some action!¡±
¡°If Fellow Daoist Xiu Mu is also willing to join, I have no objections.¡± A hint of delight swiftly shed across Ruan Xingling¡¯s face, as if she had just realized something.
¡°Cough¡ Fellow Daoist Xiu Mu, could you rify what this is about?¡± Fang Xi, slightly uneasy but with some suspicions, furrowed his brow.
¡°Ahem, it was my oversight¡ Fellow Daoist Fang, haven¡¯t you always desired extensive spiritualnd for cultivation?¡± The old Daoist¡¯s voice carried a note of respect. ¡°This is Daoist Ruan, the former ind lord of Peach Blossom Ind!¡±
¡°Peach Blossom Ind?¡±
Fang Xi paused, quickly recalling Wan Ind Lake¡¯s geographical records and vaguely remembered it as one of the thirty-six inds. However, he thought the ind lord¡¯s surname should be Lu, not Ruan.
¡°Fellow Daoist Xiu Mu exaggerates; I am merely a stray dog without a home¡¡± A wry smile crossed Ruan Xingling¡¯s face.
After further exnation from Old Daoist Xiu Mu, Fang Xi grasped the situation better.
Ruan Xingling was the daughter of the previous ind lord of Peach Blossom Ind.
The ind housed a first-order spiritual vein, discovered centuries ago by the ancestors of the Ruan family who subsequently imed it. Through generations, they branched out, forming a small cultivator n focused on Qi Refinement¡ªthe Peach Blossom Ruan n!
However, several decades ago, the bloodline of the ind¡¯s ruling family had weakened significantly, with no male descendants possessing spiritual roots for generations.
After the death of their Great Elder, who was at Late Stage Qi Refinement, the n faced further cmities and lost multiple members within the Qi Refinement stage.
Seizing this opportunity, a guest cultivator named Lu colluded with others to rebel, nearly annihting the entire Ruan family and usurping control over the ind openly.
Fortunately, one direct descendant survived - none other than Ruan Xingling herself.
At the time of her family¡¯s misfortune, she happened to be traveling outside the ind, only being at the early Qi Refinement realm. Forced to flee tearfully, she left her homnd behind.
It wasn¡¯t until recently, after breaking through to thete stages of cultivation, that thoughts of vengeance arose, prompting her return to Wan Ind Lake.
¡°Once our n seeds, Xianzi Ruan has agreed to share control of Peach Blossom Ind with us. The Wei couple, weary of conflict, desire to retire and establish a new n amidst peaceful surroundings. With two peaks and ake on Peach Blossom Ind, we can allocate one peak to the Wei couple, while I humbly ept the second peak. As for Xianzi Ruan, naturally, she will oversee the main vein at Mirror Moon Lake, bing the true ind lord!¡±
The old Daoist Xiu Mu grinned at Fang Xi and continued, ¡°As for Fellow Daoist Fang¡ there is ¡®Emerald Cliff¡¯ on the ind, connected to a secondary branch of a first-tier spiritual vein. Although its spiritual energy quality is not exceptional, it can still support the cultivation of several acres of spirit fields. Xianzi Ruan is willing to lease this area to you rent-free for a hundred years, provided your assistance in this endeavor.¡±
Upon hearing these words, Fang Xi was momentarily speechless.
¡®So fucking what if I¡¯m only at the fourth level of Qi Refinement? Am I just here as filler?¡¯
¡®Thinking yourselves superior because your cultivation bases are higher than mine? Care to step up and test me? I¡¯ll even let you have one hand tied behind your backs!¡¯
However, he quicklyposed himself and began weighing the pros and cons of the situation carefully.
A simple inquiry would confirm the truth of this matter, so it seemed likely that Ruan Xingling¡¯s status as the daughter of the former ind lord was genuine.
Fang Xi felt a sudden sense of relief:
¡®Phew, I almost ended up following that Lu guy¡¯s script¡¡¯
¡®A lesson learned indeed. From now on, when eliminating enemies, I must ensure they¡¯repletely eradicated to avoid future troubles!¡¯
¡®But a hundred-year lease on a low-grade spiritualnd isn¡¯t bad at all; definitely worth taking action for!¡¯
¡®Wait¡¡¯
Fang Xi nced at Xiu Mu and asked, ¡°Fellow Daoist Xiu Mu, will you also participate?¡±
¡°Yes¡¡± The old Daoist chuckled bitterly, ¡°I¡¯ve often heard you speak passionately about this opportunity, Fellow Daoist Fang, and it sparked some thoughts within me too. Bing an ind lord, cultivating fields, and raising fish sounds carefree indeed. It¡¯s certainly preferable to relying on one¡¯s reputation just to make ends meet in the market. Moreover¡ with my lifespan nearing its end, I must consider the future for my descendants.¡±
Internally, Fang Xi scorned the old man but then turned to Ruan Xingling, asking, ¡°Fellow Daoist Ruan¡ when that Lu fellow was wreaking havoc initially, did you not seek redress? Or does the Thirty-Six Inds Alliance not intervene?¡±
Ruan Xingling replied with a bitter smile, ¡°The Thirty-Six Inds Alliance is loosely structured; members even harbor deep-seated grudges against each other¡ Conflicts among them are quitemon. As long as it wasn¡¯t an attack by the Dragonfish Zhong n, no intervention would ur. Back then, our Ruan family had alliances through marriage, but after that Lu individual seized our resources, he swiftly broke through to Late Stage Qi Refinement. He then forcibly married a distant cousin from the Ruan n, assuming the role of ind lord as a son-inw. Consequently, neither the Feng family of White Feather Ind nor the Mo family of ck Sand Ind intervened¡¡±
¡°Truly a twisted and bizarre tale¡¡± Fang Xi sighed inwardly thinking, ¡®In small temples, great demons lurk; shallow waters breed numerous turtles¡¡¯
¡°Today, I humbly request your assistance for my vengeance. As a pledge, I shall swear upon Xin Mo to fulfill all previous promises.¡±
Ruan Xingling stood up, gracefully bowing to each of them.
As she moved, her tinkling bells resonated softly, subtly calming their minds.
¡°Fear not, fellow Daoists! Eliminating evil and promoting virtue is our duty as cultivators!¡± Wei Yixin was the first tomit with assurance.
¡°This old Daoist will undoubtedly lend his support!¡± The aged Daoist Xiu Mu exuded a menacing aura. ¡°To be honest¡I have some connections within the thirty-six inds. If Daoist Ruan pursues rightful revenge against the direct lineage, killing that Lu fellow should face no objections!¡±
¡°Um¡if you don¡¯t mind me asking, what is the current strength of the Peach Blossom Ind bandits?¡± Fang Xi hesitantly inquiredst.
¡°That ¡®Lu Jingqing¡¯ broke through to Eighth Layer Qi Refinement years ago andmands four subordinates at Mid-Stage Qi Refinement¡¡± Ruan Xingling revealed candidly. ¡°When the timees, please leave Lu Jingqing to me while entrusting his subordinates to your capable hands!¡±
Chapter 82: Scarlet Blood Spirit Rice
¡°Considering your status, couldn¡¯t you invite another Late Stage Qi Refinement expert for assistance?¡± Fang Xi queried, somewhat puzzled.
Against an opponent at the eighth level of Qi Refinement, a coordinated attack seemed like the safer strategy.
¡°Well¡ there are certainplications I cannot disclose, but please rest assured, I am confident in ying our adversary.¡± A determined expression crossed Ruan Xingling¡¯s face.
Fang Xi was about to press further when Wei Yixin interrupted, ¡°Xianzi Ruan has her reasons, Daoist friend. Insisting on such inquiries is not the conduct of a gentleman!¡±
¡®The hell¡¡¯ Fang Xi was speechless; wasn¡¯t his intent simply to ensure everyone¡¯s safety by understanding Ruan Xingling¡¯s trump card? It seemed Wei Yixin had lost touch with reality.
With a cultivation partner already, why would he need to fawn over Ruan Xingling? Or perhaps he was just a hopeless bootlicker?
¡®No wait, maybe he truly believes himself to be a gentleman? But then again¡ gentlemen don¡¯t tend to have long lives¡¡¯
Suppressing a coldugh internally, Fang Xi quickly apologized, ¡°My oversight¡ Xianzi, please forgive me!¡±
¡°It¡¯s alright!¡± Ruan Xingling¡¯s demeanor visibly softened. ¡°If no one else has any issues, let us exchange Xin Mo Oaths now!¡± ¡°I¡ hereby take the oath!¡± After confirming that the Xin Mo Oath required only secrecy and mutual non-harm during the operation, Fang Xi was the first to swear.
¡°Hmph!¡± Wei Yixin seemed quite disdainful but still took the oath alongside his cultivation partner Hua Chanjuan. Finally, it was the turn of Old Daoist Xiu Mu.
¡°Alright¡ everyone can now prepare ordingly. As for the timing, let¡¯s choose one month from today,¡± Ruan Xingling announced.
¡°One monthter? A wise decision, Xianzi.¡± Old Daoist Xiu Mu stroked his beard with a smile.
¡°Fang Xi, could you be referring to the Treasure Ship Market¡¯s annual auction event urring then? Could it be¡ Xianzi has received intelligence that Lu Jingqing will attend?¡± Fang Xi appeared thoughtful.
¡°Indeed, your insights are sharp, Daoist friend.¡± Ruan Xingling nodded approvingly.
Noticing Wei Yixin¡¯s displeased expression, Fang Xi shook his head and exined, ¡°I merely have ns to purchase a high-quality defensive magical artifact, so I keep track of auction schedules.¡±
¡°Yes, we indeed obtained information confirming that the traitor Lu will be present at this year¡¯s auction. When the timees, we can directly ambush and eliminate him without needing to assault Peach Blossom Ind¡¯s protective array!¡± Ruan Xingling rified further.
Attacking a mountain protection array, even if only tier-1, is arduous and risky for a group of Qi Refinement cultivators. There¡¯s a significant chance of being counter-killed unless they possess tier-1 barrier-breaking talismans!
However, a single barrier-breaking talisman might not suffice to dismantle an entirerge array! At best, it could create a temporary breach, briefly disrupting the formation¡¯s power, allowing attackers to infiltrate. Once inside, it would be a fight to the death - either them or their target!
The reason Qingzhu Mountain Market¡¯s ¡®Skies Azure as Water Formation¡¯ was effortlessly breached by a second-order barrier-breaking talisman was entirely due to its detonation from within the formation!
Most of a formation¡¯s power is directed outward; attacking from inside versus outside presents vastly different levels of difficulty.
If Ruan Xingling could devise a way for someone to detonate a tier-1 barrier-breaking talisman internally, it would indeed have a high chance of destroying the Lu n¡¯s protective array.
However, given that there now seemed to be a better option avable, this woman likely didn¡¯t wish to ruin the painstakingly established array either.
¡°Excellent!¡± Upon hearing they wouldn¡¯t need to assault Peach Blossom Ind¡¯s defenses, Wei Yixin and his wife couldn¡¯t hide their relief, their faces filled with joy.
After concluding their discussion, the group prepared to take their leave.
Fang Xi intentionally lingered behind, noticing Old Daoist Xiu Mu apanying him out.
As they were about to part ways, the old man whispered softly, ¡°Xianzi Ruan wasn¡¯t actually unable to attractte-stage cultivators, but she feared inviting wolves into her fold¡ Even a great circle of Qi Refinement expert expressed interest, on the condition that Xianzi Ruan first agree to be cultivation partners. However, being deeply devoted to the Great Way, Xianzi Ruan refused to lose her yin essence, thus negotiations never reached fruition¡¡±
¡°I see,¡± Fang Xi replied, appearing enlightened yet feeling somewhat torn betweenughter and tears. ¡®So it seems¡ my low cultivation base might have inadvertently worked in my favor?¡¯
Nighttime.
Inside Cave Thirty-seven marked ¡®C¡¯ at Qingzhu Mountain.
A fist-sized night pearl embedded in the wall illuminated the room brightly, akin to daylight.
Fang Xi took out a book casually purchased from a bookstore and flipped to the section on Peach Blossom Ind within Wan Ind Lake, studying it carefully.
¡°Peach Blossom Ind¡ Located in the southeastern chain of Wan Ind Lake, nearby inds include White Feather, ck Sand, and Golden me Inds!¡±
¡°The ind stretches over thirty miles north to south and twenty miles east to west¡ It features spiritualnds such as Twin Peaks, Mirror Moon Lake, and Jade Cliff. Only Mirror Moon Lake has a first-tier spiritual vein, while the rest are considered minor¡¡±
¡°On the ind, there is arge mortal town with several viges, totaling more than ten thousand inhabitants¡ Tsk tsk, this practically constitutes a small county.¡±
In Wan Ind Lake, cultivators and mortals coexist, primarily on these inds.
Most of these mortals are descendants of cultivators, benefiting from the proximity to abundant spiritual energy. Consequently, the likelihood of their offspring possessing spiritual roots is high, serving as a crucial source for replenishing the ranks of cultivators.
¡°No wonder that old Daoist Xiu Mu wanted to be the Second Ind Lord; it¡¯s essentially being a local emperor¡¡±
¡°Ruan Xingling has both strength and legitimacy¡ With my assistance to smooth rtions, once Lu Jingqing is eliminated, she¡¯ll undoubtedly secure the ind lord position. I could then enjoy centuries of stability¡ This deal is worth pursuing!¡±
In the cultivation world, regardless of one¡¯s noble intentions, ultimate sess hinges on power.
As for Ruan Xingling¡¯s confidence in defeating her enemy? As an artificer, it¡¯s likely she acquired high-quality magical artifacts, potent paper talismans, or even single-use treasures, such as those ¡®yin thunder pellets¡¯!
¡°Of course, Ruan Xingling probablycks the resources and connections to purchase yin thunder pellets¡ But she may have other disposable items at hand, making this transaction worthwhile!¡±
¡°It¡¯s unfortunate that she¡¯s only a mid-tier first-rank artificer; otherwise, after witnessing herbat skills, building camaraderie, and confirming her character, entrusting her with the snake-dragon materials for crafting would be viable¡¡±
¡°As a somewhat unconventional body cultivator, I still prefer adhering to cultivation customs - wearingplete spirit armor before engaging in battle¡¡±
A month swiftly passed.
As the auction approached, the foot traffic in the Treasure Ship Market gradually increased.
Major merchants seized this opportunity tounch promotional events, often raising prices¡ªyes, actually increasing them!
After all, high-grade medicinal pills and magical artifacts were always in high demand, leading to intense bidding wars.
With their established reputation, theserge shops had no trouble selling at premium rates!
On the other hand, more individual stalls began popping up, resulting in fiercepetition and slight price reductions among vendors.
Fang Xi took advantage of this rare moment to sell all his low-grade materials from beasts like the Red-eyed Crow.
Although he had quite a few items, they blended seamlessly amidst the massive volume of transactions happening in the market, remaining inconspicuous.
Having disposed of all his low-grade mythical beast materials, Fang Xi felt quite content as he started strolling through the streets.
In his bag of holding, only the snake-dragon¡¯s skin, bones, and blood remained, along with Old One-Eye¡¯s wolf hide, fur bristles, wings, ws from a high-grade first-stage flying creature, and other most valuable items.
Fang Xi decided to keep these materials for personal use or wait for the right opportunity to sell them.
Meanwhile, after purchasing several legacies previously, he had around four hundred low-grade spirit stones left.
¡®Indeed, being a merchant between two realms pays off handsomely!¡¯
With a rxed mindset, Fang Xi strolled among the vendors, not specifically seeking any hidden treasures but simply browsing casually.
¡°High-grade magical swords on sale, only one hundred spirit stones each!¡±
¡°First-tier high-grade ¡®Flying Talisman¡¯! Experience the flight technique of a great Foundation Establishment cultivator¡ Selling with regret at twenty spirit stones!¡±
¡°Various rare minerals, waiting for the destined buyer!¡±
¡°Mythical beast meat at bargain prices, fifteen pounds for one spirit stone!¡±
¡°Diverse cultivation techniques and secret arts - buy ten books and get a bonus ancestral treasure map!¡±
Fang Xi approached a stall selling cultivation techniques and examined the treasure maps, his lips twitching slightly.
Throughout his time in the cultivation world, he had never indulged in the popr pastime of seeking hidden treasures or exploring ancient immortal caves¡¯ ruins. He was well aware of how treacherous it could be!
Most treasure maps were fake, while some of the remaining few might even lead to plunderers¡¯ traps!
Only one in ten thousand, perhaps even one in a hundred thousand, would point towards genuine treasures like those found in the Zi You Mountain secret realm.
However, obtaining such significant opportunities without sufficient strength often led to tragic oues, much like what befell the Situ n and Red Leaf Valley¡
After browsing for quite some time, Fang Xi found no promising deals and couldn¡¯t help but chuckle wryly.
¡®I guess I don¡¯t have that protagonist luck after all¡¡¯
With an inward sigh, he stopped at a stall selling spirit rice.
The vendor was an elderly farmer wearing a conical hat, with only an Initial Stage Qi Refinement cultivation base. He greeted everyone warmly, exuding cautious humility that strangely reminded Fang Xi of Old Man Mai.
Fang Xi squatted down, sifted through the spirit rice on disy, and picked up a handful of ck grains.
¡°Daoist friend, this Ninth Water Spirit Rice is rich in water elemental essence. As you can see, each grain is plump and full, priced affordably, and there are discounts for bulk purchases.¡± Seeing Fang Xi¡¯s interest, the old farmer promptly began his pitch.
¡°Hmm, indeed impressive!¡± Fang Xi, having thoroughly studied the legacy of the spirit farmer, knew that ¡®Jia Feicai¡¯ dedicated his life to farming and possessed exceptional insights into spirit rice cultivation.
As a spirit farmer himself, Fang Xi resonated with these insights, making his understanding progress much faster than studying formations or paper talismans.
With a gentle touch at his fingertips, he could tell that the spiritual energy contained within this Ninth Water Spirit Rice was even more abundant than what shops typically sold - it seemed like a small batch of high-quality grains.
However, Fang Xi swiftly put down the Ninth Water Spirit Rice and instead picked up a handful of nearby crimson-colored spirit rice.
This spirit rice had a deep fiery red hue, apanied by a slightly unpleasant, pungent odor.
¡°Is this ¡®Scarlet Blood Spirit Rice¡¯? It looks quite good, suitable for next year¡¯s seeds,¡± Fang Xi remarked appreciatively.
¡°Ah, Daoist friend knows quality!¡± The old farmer gave him a thumbs-up. ¡°This Scarlet Blood Spirit Rice is indeed my proudest creation¡ Consumed regrly, it greatly benefits one¡¯s physical strength. Unfortunately, its taste isn¡¯t appealing; only body cultivators asionally buy some.¡±
The coarse texture and difficult-to-remove pungency made Scarlet Blood Spirit Rice sell cheaply.
But Fang Xi didn¡¯t mind¡ After all, most of his harvest would be used for brewing wine or feeding Tai Sui.
Since he nned to be a spirit farmer, self-production and sales were essential, creating a sustainable cycle.
One acre of spirit field requires around seven to eight pounds of spirit seeds. Fang Xi decided to err on the side of abundance, calcting ten pounds per acre, and smiled, ¡°Give me a hundred pounds of ¡®Scarlet Blood Spirit Grains¡¯¡¡±
¡°Sure thing!¡± The old farmer beamed, delighted as businessmenced.
Chapter 83: Auction
After purchasing one hundred pounds of superior ¡®Scarlet Blood Spirit Rice¡¯ as seeds, Fang Xi continued browsing several magical artifact shops.
His high-grade magical artifact, the Golden Flood Dragon Sword, had sustained some damage during his battle with Dugu Wuwang and ideally needed repairs. However, revealing a high-grade magical artifact under Fang Xi¡¯s current identity was highly impractical.
Moreover¡ the Kou n¡¯s Two Fiends were still active nearby!
Consequently, Fang Xi decided against pursuing any repairs.
¡°Nevertheless, since the ck Iron Shield ispletely damaged, I need to acquire a mid-grade defensive artifact along with another offensive artifact. Hmm, I should also rece the ck Cloud Pocket.¡±
As a Middle Stage Qi Refinement cultivator, possessing a few mid-grade artifacts seemed quite reasonable. In the market, the price for mid-grade artifacts typically fluctuated between dozens of spirit stones.
Defensive artifacts generally cost more than offensive ones, while specialized artifacts often exceeded both categories in price.
After searching diligently, Fang Xi found a ¡®Green Turtle Shield¡¯ at one particr stall.
¡°This shield is crafted primarily from the shell of a mid-tier first-stage spirit turtle andes equipped with a Water Essence Barrier spell. At sixty spirit stones, it¡¯s truly a bargain!¡± The stall owner, a cultivator with whisker-like facial hair, disyed shrewdness in his eyes. Hevishly praised the mid-grade artifact, almost making it soundparable to legendary magical items.
Fang Xi countered firmly, ¡°The Water Essence Barrier is quitemon. Aside from its effectiveness against fire-based spells, what else does it offer? Reduce the price by five more spirit stones and I¡¯ll buy it!¡±
It wasn¡¯t that he truly cared about these few spirit stones, but maintaining his persona as a minor Qi Refinement cultivator was essential.
Just as Fang Xi¡¯s throat grew dry from bargaining, a series of crisp bell-like sounds suddenly rang near him.
Ting-a-ling¡
¡°Fellow Daoist Fang!¡± Ruan Xingling¡¯s voice chimed like silver bells. ¡°Shopping for magical artifacts?¡±
¡°Yes¡ with recent developments, I¡¯m preparing to acquire a better protective artifact.¡± Fang Xi intentionally spoke vaguely, but Ruan Xingling understood he was gearing up for the impending battle.
¡°The quality of magical artifacts sold here is merely average¡¡± Ruan Xingling shook her head.
¡°How dare you nder my goods without evidence?¡± protested the stall owner with mouse-like whiskers.
¡°This Green Turtle Shield has wed veins¡ And look here, signs of repair¡ It¡¯s likely refurbished second-hand, isn¡¯t it?¡± Ruan Xingling pointed out several issues, smirking coldly.
¡°Uh¡ how about a discount then? Forty spirit stones?¡± The whiskered cultivator, realizing he had encountered someone knowledgeable, quickly amended his price.
¡°I¡¯ll take it!¡± Fang Xi¡¯s eyes lit up immediately.
¡°Deal!¡± The stall owner¡¯s eyes brightened, surprised at making another sale.
After their transaction wasplete, Ruan Xingling quietly suggested, ¡°If you seek high-quality magical artifacts, why not attend the auction? I¡¯ve reserved a confidential private booth¡¡±
Naturally, items at the auction would be of exceptional quality.
Fang Xi smiled wryly and declined, ¡°This single artifact has nearly depleted my resources. As for the auction, I¡¯ll just broaden my knowledge without bidding¡¡±
In truth, he had secretly booked a private booth under a concealed identity beforehand, but there was no need to reveal that to Ruan Xingling.
After all, it¡¯s wise not to unt one¡¯s wealth, even if she was part of his trusted group!
¡°Understood, I won¡¯t press further then.¡±
Ruan Xingling gracefully departed, her silver bells chiming softly with each step.
She sensed that Fang Xi might have some secrets; after all, a spirit farmer continuously spending at the teahouse and aspiring to act as a local host seemed somewhat unusual.
However, they had all taken oaths, understanding that mutual support now is sufficient for their shared goals.
On the day of the auction, the sky shimmered with various hues of magical lights.
Spirit boats glided through the air, docking at the market¡¯s outskirts.
Cultivators riding spirit beasts or soaring on flying swords approached, their flowing robes billowing like celestial beings.
¡°Wow¡ Look over there, those must be thergest three ns from the thirty-six inds - Taishu, Yuchi, and Xiahou Families¡¯ flying boats!¡±
¡°Even Yu Lingzi, the renowned rogue cultivator at great perfection stage, has arrived.¡±
¡°This auction might even draw the attention of the Zhong Family patriarch; without a Foundation Establishment cultivator present, it could be uncontroble¡¡±
Amidst the crowd¡¯s chatter, Fang Xi, disguised as a robust man with a square jawline, strode confidently towards the Dragon Gate Pavilion.
Along the way, Zhong n members d in ck flying fish mage robes were visibly maintaining order everywhere.
¡°Greetings, esteemed guest! Please present your invitation!¡±
At the entrance of the Dragon Gate Pavilion, Zhong Wangu noticed a tall, imposing figure in azure attire approaching and couldn¡¯t help but be struck by his presence, silently admiring such a formidable-looking body cultivator. Nheless, he adhered to the scripted greeting for guests.
¡°Here!¡± Fang Xi produced the expensive invitation he had purchased.
¡°Ah, you¡¯re an honored guest with a private booth. Please follow me to Booth No. 16, designated ¡®Xuan¡¯!¡±
Zhong Wangu promptly led Fang Xi to one of the private booths lined up nearby.
Upon opening the door, the sound of flowing water greeted them.
Inside the booth, surprisingly, was a built-in pool connected to the outside via channels. Within it swam graceful koi carp, their scales shimmering like turquoise jade.
¡°Esteemed guest, these are our family¡¯s Turquoise Jade Carp!¡± Zhong Wangu smiled broadly. ¡°For each private booth, we offer a tter of fish sashimi¡¡±
¡°Not bad.¡±
Fang Xi took a seat, impressed inwardly that this Foundation Establishment sect, which started as fish traders, truly knew how to promote their spirit fish at every opportunity.
¡°Here¡¯s your bidding spirit sign,¡± Zhong Wangu exined further. ¡°If you¡¯re interested in any auction item, write down your bid amount and hand it to the spirit fish. The fish will then deliver it securely¡ ensuringplete confidentiality!¡±
Fang Xi now understood that this auction employed a secret bidding system, with the highest bidder ultimately securing the item.
¡®It makes sense¡ openly shouting bids could easily incite animosity.¡¯
¡®With this secret bidding method, even after winning, one remains unaware of who else was involved¡¡¯
¡®This suggests that conflicts among major cultivation forces at Wan Ind Lake are not intense, and the Zhong Family has no intention of provokingrge-scale wars¡ That¡¯s definitely a good thing!¡¯
Wan Ind Lake seems to be the right choice indeed.
Satisfied, Fang Xi settledfortably into his seated position.
Zhong Wangu bowed and exited the booth. Shortly thereafter, the scene from the auction stage appeared within one of the room¡¯s copper mirrors.
On the stage stood a jovial middle-aged man, his face beaming as he warmly addressed the crowd with customary pleasantries.
¡°I am Zhong Wanjun of the Zhong Family! Greetings to all esteemed Daoist friends. As your host for today¡¯s auction, I hope each of you finds items that truly captivate your interest¡¡±
Despite his affable demeanor, this individual exuded abundant spiritual energy, clearly indicating a cultivation base at the pinnacle of Qi Refinement, reaching great perfection!
Fang Xi closed his eyes to rest, waiting patiently. After approximately the time it takes for an incense stick to burn, the sound of a gong echoed, signaling the official start of the auction!
¡°Petra Breaker Pill¡ Used to ovee bottlenecks from Middle to Late Stage Qi Refinement, suitable for cultivators with various cultivation techniques. Starting bid: four hundred spirit stones!¡±
Zhong Wanjun proceeded to describe the ingredients and origins of the Petra Breaker Pill¡ mentioning it was crafted by a renowned pill concocting master, all delivered with captivating enthusiasm, devoid of any awkwardness.
Meanwhile, Fang Xi noticed a spirit sign beside him.
If interested in the Petra Breaker Pill, one could write their desired price on the spirit sign and pass it to the turquoise jade carp. The highest bidder would secure the item, with final settlements made upon departure.
¡°Not bad, not bad¡ With this system, aside from the Zhong Family themselves, the chances of information leakage seem minimal¡¡±
¡°Perhaps I can afford something after all?¡±
Fang Xi counted his bag of holding and found he had three hundred eighty-seven spirit stones.
¡®Well¡ turns out I¡¯m still dirt poor, unable to even meet the starting bids¡¡¯ He chuckled bitterly but continued watching attentively.
¡°Azure Fire Sword¡ A high-grade rank-one magical artifact, freshly forged, exceptionally sharp, imbued with ¡®Inferno Technique¡¯. Starting bid: one hundred fifty spirit stones¡¡±
¡°Rank-one top-tier defensive paper talisman - Talisman of Indestructibility! Can withstand a full-force strike from a great circle Qi Refinement cultivator, truly superior for self-defense and life preservation! Starting bid: forty spirit stones¡¡±
As expected, every item at this auction was exceptional, making Fang Xi feel that his visit would indeed be worthwhile.
However, although these items were impressive, they still fell shortpared to the initial shock created by the Petra Breaker Pill.
This was amon tactic among merchants: start with small premium goods, follow up with bulk offerings, intersperse with asional surprises, and save the most significant items forst.
When the Talisman of Indestructibility appeared, Fang Xi casually submitted a bid slip with one hundred low-grade spirit stones, just for the fun of it.
The carp swiftly swam away, carrying the spirit sign in its mouth.
While savoring the taste of spirit fish meat, Fang Xi enjoyed observing the auctioned items, broadening his knowledge and experience.
Momentster, Zhong Wanjun introduced another piece:
¡°A heavy sword forged from extraterrestrial meteoric iron!¡±
With great effort, he lifted a massive pitch-ck de for disy. The sword, nearly two meters long and as wide as an adult¡¯s palm, resembled a door panel.
Most crucially, despite Zhong Wanjun¡¯s cultivation base, even though not specifically a body cultivator, his arms possessed considerable strength. Yet, lifting this sword seemed genuinely arduous for him.
¡°Pant¡ This sword is crafted from extraterrestrial meteoric iron, known for its peculiar properties. It cannot conduct magical energy nor ept inscribed arrays, but it is incredibly resilient¡ Later, an artificer devised a unique method, melting down the material to create this heavy sword. Weighing 236 pounds, its edge is exceptionally sharp, yet remarkably durable; even high-grade magical artifacts struggle to inflict any damage¡¡±
¡°Upon appraisal, our pavilion deems this swordparable to a high-grade magical artifact, particrly suitable for body cultivators¡ Starting bid: two hundred spirit stones!¡±
As Fang Xi listened to the description, his eyes lit up.
He was also a body cultivator after all! Relying solely on bare fists felt somewhat limited; this sword would be perfect for him.
Regarding its weight?
Since bing a zongshi, his arm strength could effortlessly lift thousands of kilograms, making it trivial to handle even multi-ton rocks.
¡°Let¡¯s just bid three hundred¡ Wait, I don¡¯t have enough spirit stones. No matter, I can always use mythical beast materials to cover any debtter.¡±
Fang Xi swiftly filled in the number and handed it back to Spirit Fish. Based on his observations, there weren¡¯t many body cultivators in the Treasure Ship Market, sopetition should be minimal.
Meanwhile, Zhong Wanjun picked up a jade bottle from the stage and began another introduction, ¡°A bottle of Scarlet Ape blood essence. The Scarlet Ape is a high-grade first-order mythical beast. Don¡¯t let the small size deceive you; this is refined from its entire blood volume¡ Starting bid at three hundred fifty spirit stones!¡±
¡°This is¡ one of the rmended blood essences for cultivating the thirdyer of the ¡®Myriad Beasts Body¡¯ technique?¡± Fang Xi immediately recalled, having purchased the relevant jade slip before. His gaze turned slightly wary, ¡°Is the Zhong Family¡ perhaps fishing for something? Or specifically targeting me?¡±
Chapter 84: Tier-2 Treasure Pill
Out of caution, Fang Xi refrained from bidding.
He quietly observed through the copper mirror as one item after another was brought onto the auction stage, with Zhong Wanjunvishly praising each artifact.
After his initial shock, Fang Xiposed himself.
Realizing that he wasn¡¯t the only body cultivator practicing the Myriad Beasts Body technique, it seemed unlikely this was specifically targeting him. Moreover, considering the purchase timeline, he might not even havepleted the firstyer yet.
The chances of baiting someone else were higher than catching him off guard!
During the auction, Fang Xi made just one bid, for a scroll called the ¡°God of Wine Manual.¡±
Despite its grandiose name, the God of Wine Manual turned out to be merely a brewer¡¯s personal notes, containing recipes for a few tier-1 spirit wines¡
Fang Xi casually offered two hundred spirit stones, partly to make up for a small regret from his past.
Recalling how his ambitious brewing ns had abruptly halted, andter revisiting the site only to find his cer spoiled, truly evoked a sense of mncholy nostalgia. As time gradually passed, the auction finally neared its conclusion.
Onstage, Zhong Wanjun¡¯s expression grew solemn, signaling for servers holding red cloth-covered trays to approach.
¡°Now, we enter the climax of our auction with the first featured item!¡±
Zhong Wanjun lifted the red silk cloth, revealing a shimmering green spirit armor on a white jade tter.
¡°A low-grade spirit artifact - Azure Carp Armor! Crafted from the scales of six thousand seven hundred azure jade carp kings, this armor can adjust its size effortlessly, remaining pristine and dust-free. It features five integrated arrays for Gathering Spirit, Protection, Detoxification, Water Repulsion, and Golden Light¡ Starting bid at six hundred spirit stones!¡±
¡°A spirit artifact?¡± Fang Xi was slightly taken aback within his private booth.
Qi Refinement cultivators used magical artifacts, while Foundation Establishment cultivators utilized spirit artifacts!
These spirit artifacts require the potent magical energy only essible to Foundation Establishment cultivators!
For a Qi Refinement cultivator to attempt using one would be akin to a child wielding a heavy hammer, highly impractical.
¡®How many here are actually qualified to bid on such items?¡¯
¡®In Wan Ind Lake, there¡¯s only the Zhong Family patriarch as a Foundation Establishment cultivator; surely he wouldn¡¯t sell it to himself¡ There¡¯s just one rogue Foundation Establishment cultivator, and perhaps some visiting Foundation Establishment cultivators from elsewhere?¡¯
Fang Xi leaned back, showing no interest in bidding.
However, when the second item appeared, his eyes couldn¡¯t help but brighten slightly.
¡°Tier-2 Spiritual Pill - Seven Treasures Snake Blood Pill! Crafted primarily from the essence and blood of a tier-2 snake demon, it significantly replenishes blood qi and enhances a cultivator¡¯s innate foundation!¡± On stage, Zhong Wanjun held up a ssy jade bottle for introduction.
Through the translucent ss, one could see arge crimson pill inside, resembling fresh blood. ¡°Starting bid at five hundred spirit stones!¡±
¡°A tier-2 pill to enhance blood qi?¡± Fang Xi¡¯s eyes showed a hint of longing.
If he acquired this pill along with his progress on the fourthyer of the Myriad Beasts Body technique and the research materials from the Zongshi Association, he felt confident about breaking through to the ¡®True Astral Manifestation¡¯ realm!
¡®I can¡¯t afford to lose control; I¡¯ve already spent too many spirit stones¡ Most bidding for tier-2 pills will be among Foundation Establishment cultivators¡ Any attempt by me would draw too much attention!¡¯
¡®Even if I consume this tier-2 spiritual pill, there¡¯s no guarantee of a smooth breakthrough¡ Moreover, the Zhong Family might not withstand pressure from a Foundation Establishment cultivator just for my sake¡ It could lead to significantplications!¡¯
Fang Xi gazed at the pill reflected in the copper mirror, gradually regaining hisposure, his eyes once again bing as tranquil as an ancient well.
Despite having valuable mythical beast materials at his disposal, it might not be enough to secure that tier-2 spiritual pill.
However, opportunities would arise again in the future; for now, he was still too weak.
¡®Fine, fine, let it be¡¡¯ He sighed deeply and quietly awaited the end of the auction.
The final item up for bid was a medicinal pill designed to aid Foundation Establishment cultivators in oveing bottlenecks, with its reserve price set above two thousand spirit stones.
At this moment, Fang Xi wished the auction had been conducted openly rather than through secret bidding, just to witness the excitement firsthand.
After thest round of silent bidding concluded, Zhong Wanjun surprisingly did not dere the winner. Instead, he smiled and announced, ¡°Dear Daoist friends, following today¡¯s auction, we have decided to introduce a new free-trading session. You may use the provided magical artifacts tomunicate among yourselves. Once agreements are reached, transactions can bepleted either within your private booths or designated secret rooms. The Zhong Family will remain unaware of whether any deals were made or their contents¡¡±
¡°The chosen artifact is the copper mirror before each of you. Simply infuse it with your magical energy to participate.¡±
Intrigued, Fang Xi cautiously channeled a thread of magical energy into the copper mirror.
Instantly, he felt this strand of his magical energy merging into an immense ¡®pond¡¯. Even his spiritual sense seemed to attach itself and enter the pond alongside it.
¡°How fascinating! Is this what it feels like for a Foundation Establishment cultivator¡¯s divine sense to leave the body?¡±
Within the pond, various carp-like forms, created from magical energy, swam about. Among them, a ck carp released a series of bubbles.
¡°Zhong Wanjun, your family¡¯s gadget is quite intriguing¡¡±
At that moment, arge, vibrantly colored fish approached, significantly bigger than the other small fish!
¡°Greetings, Senior!¡± Zhong Wanjun transformed into a green carp, also emitting bubbles, ¡°This magical artifact is called the ¡®Myriad Fish Mirror,¡¯ merely a novelty item with limitedmunication range and high energy consumption. It¡¯s only meant to bring some amusement to everyone here¡¡± He candidly pointed out several drawbacks of the Myriad Fish Mirror.
¡°Fascinating!¡±
Embracing this rare opportunity to experience his spiritual sense outside his body, Fang Xi became a small red carp, curiously swimming around the ¡®pond¡¯.
¡®It feels just like ying a virtual reality game¡¡¯
¡®But how does this work? Is there any instruction manual?¡¯
Fang Xi, though inexperienced, was quick to learn.
Noticing a nearby white carp blowing bubbles, his curiosity piqued, and he swam towards it.
Pop!
The bubble burst, and a voice only Fang Xi could hear echoed in his ears: ¡°I want Foundation Establishment Pills, I want Foundation Establishment Pills, I want Foundation Establishment Pills¡¡±
¡®Damn, me too! But they must exist and be willing to trade for this to work!¡¯
With a deadpan expression, Fang Xi mimicked the action and blew his own bubble, ¡°Seeking tier-1 formations, seeking tier-1 formations -rge coverage, suitable for farming¡¡±
Pop-pop!
Several small fish collided with his bubble but received no response.
Unfazed, Fang Xi patiently waited. Having already given up on obtaining the Tier-2 Blood Qi Pill, his mindset was rxed, embodying a philosophy of ¡®gain is fortunate, loss is destiny¡¯.
Before long, a blue carp approached, spat out a bubble, and directly aimed it at Fang Xi.
A voice resonated in Fang Xi¡¯s ear, ¡°I have a mid-tier tier-1 Little Clouds and Rain Formation, make your offer!¡±
Fang Xi¡¯s spirit lifted as he responded with another bubble, ¡°Interested in tier-1 high-grade mythical beast materials?¡±
The blue carp swiftly replied, ¡°Yes, interested!¡±
¡°Meet at Room Hexuan 16 for the transaction!¡±
After sending his reply, Fang Xi immediately withdrew that strand of magical energy.
Within the private booth, Fang Xi yed with the copper mirror, finding it quite intriguing.
¡®This magical artifact seems far from ordinary¡¡¯
Soon after, someone knocked on the booth door. When Fang Xi opened it, a graceful female cultivator, her face veiled, entered.
Her aura was indistinct, making it impossible to discern her cultivation base, clearly indicating she practiced some secret concealment technique.
Fang Xi maintained aposed expression; although he couldn¡¯t hide his own cultivation, others seeing him at merely the fourth level of Qi Refinement yet so wealthy and fearless would likely assume he was concealing his true strength!
This served as a strategic deception!
¡°A tier-1 mid-grade Little Clouds and Rain Formation,plete with formation disk, gs, and an apanying operation jade slip!¡± The elegant female cultivator wasted no words, waved her hand, and a massive jade box appeared. Upon opening it, exquisite formation gs emerged, shimmering with remarkable spiritual light: ¡°This formation has both spirit gathering and concealment effects, covering arge area. It¡¯s suitable as a protective array for small sects or families. However, if your materials¡¯ value is less than five hundred spirit stones, I won¡¯t consider the exchange. Additionally, if you¡¯re unfamiliar with its setup and require me to install it personally, there will be an extra charge of one hundred spirit stones!¡±
¡°No need for further visits.¡±
Fang Xi, albeit not yet a fully-fledged array master, had some knowledge¡ With guidance from jade slips, he was capable of setting up formations.
After pondering briefly, he took out his bag of holding and gently emptied its contents. A massive wolf pelt, two bird ws, along with various other misceneous animal materials appeared before her. ¡°Take a look¡¡±
The female array master picked up the wolf pelt, her eyes shimmering with spiritual light: ¡°Tier-1 high-grade faewolf hide¡¡±
¡°Tier-1 high-grade mythic bird talons¡¡±
¡°And this is¡an unknown mythical beast¡¯s internal tendon, likely also tier-1 high-grade?¡±
¡°You¡did you raid some mythical beasts¡¯ir? Wait¡these aren¡¯t even the same species¡¡±
By the end, the female array master clearly showed signs of apprehension.
Only someone exceptionally ruthless could have in so many Late Stage Qi Refinement mythical beasts!
¡®Suppressing one¡¯s aura to just the fourth level of Qi Refinement - who do you think you¡¯re fooling?¡¯ she silently scoffed as she gathered the materials. ¡°These materials are highly satisfactory; the deal is done!¡±
She hastily departed, leaving Fang Xi without a chance to engage in conversation.
Am I really that intimidating?
He gently touched his disguised square jawline, feeling it still conveyed quite a distinctive appearance.
After thoroughly examining both the formation g and disk, he also packed away the jade box and stepped out of the private booth. ¡°Let¡¯s settle the payment¡¡±
Immediately, a servant approached, guiding Fang Xi to another secluded room.
¡°Guest from Room 16, Xuan Pavilion, you sessfully bid on the Talisman of Indestructibility and the extraterrestrial meteoric iron sword. However, regarding the God of Wine Manual, I¡¯m truly sorry to inform¡¡±
In front of Fang Xi, an elderly shopkeeper-like cultivator pushed two boxes onto the table.
Upon opening them, he found a golden paper talisman and the extraterrestrial meteoric iron sword inside.
¡®I clearlyck experience¡¡¯ Fang Xi thought while examining the items, ¡®I overpaid for the talisman¡ The meteoric iron sword is suitable only for body cultivators, limiting its audience and thus reducing its potential value¡¡¯
¡®The final item, the God of Wine Manual, may seem modest at first nce, but it could enable small ns to establish their own winemaking industry - a steady long-term source of ie¡ Two hundred spirit stones were definitely not enough.¡¯
¡°The Talisman of Indestructibility costs one hundred spirit stones, and the extraterrestrial meteoric iron sword three hundred spirit stones, totaling four hundred spirit stones!¡± the old shopkeeper said with a smile.
Fang Xi silently nodded, extracting his remaining three hundred eighty-seven low-grade spirit stones from his bag of holding. He then asked, ¡°My spirit stones are insufficient; can I use other items aspensation?¡±
¡°Certainly, however, there will be a ten percent discount applied!¡±
The old shopkeeper gently stroked his graying beard, a hint of delight flickering in his eyes.
Chapter 85: Ambush
After leaving the auction, Fang Xi took several detours.
He stealthily exited the market, ensuring no one was tailing him, before reverting to his original appearance and returning to Immortal¡¯s Cave C37.
¡°What a wonderful ce¡ Unfortunately, I can¡¯t stay much longer.¡±
Gazing at every nt and detail within the cave, sensing the pure first-stage spiritual energy around him, Fang Xi couldn¡¯t help but sigh inwardly.
He had alreadypleted the checkout procedures and would have to leave by the end of this month.
After all, it was time to focus on cultivating trees!
¡°Anyone obstructing my tree cultivation will die!¡±
A cold glint shed in Fang Xi¡¯s eyes. Knowing that preparation is key, he began inspecting his equipment.
For defense, he had the mid-tier first-stage ¡®Green Turtle Shield¡¯, along with the Talisman of Indestructibility for critical moments. Combined with his own steel-like physique and true astral energy, he felt reasonably secure. In terms of offense, the Qinghe Sword was inadequate; he could rece it with the newly acquired extraterrestrial meteoric iron sword. Lastly, the Golden Flood Dragon Sword and his martial arts cultivation served as his trump cards.
The only concern was mobility, as the ck Cloud Pocket seemed somewhat slow.
¡®Hmm¡ tomorrow, I can borrow twenty spirit stones from Old Daoist Xiu Mu and purchase a flight talisman as backup¡¡¯
It wasn¡¯t that Fang Xicked spirit stones; if he did, a trip to Great Liang would suffice, with abundant mythical beasts awaiting him there.
Especially the Eight Great Monster Kings, whose locations were well-known - they possessed limited intelligence and no mastery over monster techniques, practically making them free for the taking.
Fang Xi aimed to foster a good rtionship with Old Daoist Xiu Mu.
At least, after borrowing these twenty spirit stones, the old Daoist would likely not wish for his death, fearing nobody would repay him!
¡®We¡¯re brothers in the same trench, so is it too much to ask for a loan of twenty spirit stones?¡¯
¡®Worst case scenario, once my farming seeds, I¡¯ll repay him with spirit grains¡¡¯
After some contemtion, Fang Xi retrieved the box containing the ¡®Little Cloud Rain Array¡¯ and took out the jade slip to study it carefully.
An hourter, feeling slightly weary, he opened his eyes, ¡°I understand¡ but still can¡¯t use it!¡±
If the female array master was considered a top schr, then without a doubt, Fang Xi was unquestionably a bottom-tier novice when it came to formations!
A false underachiever: After a genius exins the problem-solving approach and demonstrates the form, you think, ¡°Hmm¡ I got it now!¡±
A true underachiever: Despite a genius exining the problem-solving approach, you still damn well don¡¯t understand!
Fang Xi was currently the epitome of a true underachiever!
Fortunately, within this jade slip, not only did it provide the solution method for the ¡®Little Cloud Rain Array¡¯, but also theplete answer!
Even for a genuine underachiever, simply copying down the solution wouldn¡¯t be too challenging!
¡®I feel like all my previous efforts were wasted¡ How foolish of me, truly. I shouldn¡¯t have even tried learning formations!¡¯
¡®Next time I have the chance, maybe I should focus on studying paper talismans instead!¡¯
¡®Before, there were no other legacies of the hundred skills of cultivation avable. But now, even if I starve to death, I won¡¯t¡¡¯ Ah forget it, best not to tempt fate.
¡®Compared to grappling with formations, perhaps I should just go kill a few more mythical beasts.¡¯
Fang Xi retrieved the extraterrestrial meteoric iron sword from his bag of holding. As soon as he held it, he felt its considerable weight straining his arm.
The sword had a simple, ancient design, yet its de was incredibly sharp. Surprisingly, when touched, it didn¡¯t feel cold at all; instead, it emitted a slight warmth.
Unfortunately, this meteoric iron truly could not hold any magical energy; otherwise, it would have been exceptional material for crafting magical artifacts!
The resulting sword couldn¡¯t be used for aerial control or flight; it was only suitable for shing and thrusting with one¡¯s hands,cking the elegance typically associated with cultivators. However, Fang Xi didn¡¯t mind at all.
Whoosh!
Capitalizing on his strength, he casually swung the sword a few times.
Within the immortal¡¯s cave, a fierce gust of wind immediately swept through!
Crack!
As the tip of the sword sliced through, a limestone block effortlessly split into two equal halves.
¡°Excellent sword! With its weight alone, it could crush someone to death.¡±
¡°A heavy yet sharp de, ingeniously crafted¡ I shall call you ck Iron Sword!¡±
Fang Xi waved the ck Iron Sword several more times, finding it quitefortable to handle.
After some thought, excitement surged within him. With a soft exmation, he channeled his true astral energy into the ck Iron Sword!
A remarkable scene unfolded!
Threads of astral energy enveloped the massive ck sword, infusing it with a subtle dark red hue!
With a flick of his finger, the sword resonated deeply, emitting an ancient and robust sound.
At the tip, a three-inch-long crimson aura emerged, resembling a sword glow!
It seemed that this particr sword did not conflict with astral energy.
¡°Not bad, not bad¡ When the timees, I¡¯ll first circte my qi throughout my body, then wield the ck Iron Sword infused with astral energy. Ideally, coupled with full high-grade armor, I¡¯ll be an unstoppable humanoid beast! One sword strike per foe!¡±
Several dayster.
On a hidden reef several miles away from Peach Blossom Ind, several figures sat cross-legged, concealed by a veil of mist.
¡°Ruan Daoist¡¯s ¡®Misty Concealment Talisman¡¯ is truly remarkable. Today, that thief Lu will surely meet his end!¡± praised the old Daoist Xiu Mu, gently manipting strands of water vapor with his fingers.
Wei Yixin and Hua Chanjuan remained silent, diligently inspecting their paper talismans and polishing their magical artifacts. For them, this was a do-or-die battle, leaving no room for error!
Fang Xi pretended to wipe the Green Turtle Shield while ncing up at the sky, ¡°Will our enemies really take this route?¡±
He genuinely disliked such uncertain waiting. If Lu Jingqing were on the ind, Fang Xi would have preferred attempting a stealthy infiltration followed by an ambush kill.
No!
Grand disys of prowess and stealing the limelight weren¡¯t Fang Xi¡¯s style. Instead, he¡¯d rather disguise himself, secretly inflict severe injuries on Lu Jingqing, and then let hispanions effortlessly reap the rewards¡
However, Ruan Xingling expressed unwavering confidence, and neither Xiu Mu nor the others were keen onunching a direct assault on the formation, opting for an ambush instead.
Ruan Xingling, who had been resting with her eyes closed, opened them and spoke, ¡°The thief Lu is escorting a batch of valuable spirit objects to the Treasure Ship Market for sale, followed by attending an auction. Currently, he¡¯s on his way back¡ I have kept close tabs on his movements.¡±
¡°Could he have received advance warning?¡± Fang Xi cautiously asked.
¡°No, very few know of my return, and those informed have sworn secrecy,¡± Ruan Xingling replied confidently.
Seeing this, Fang Xi felt it best not to press further; otherwise, her cultivation partners might grow suspicious again.
¡®Isn¡¯t she just at the fifthyer of Qi Refinement? Who knows, I might break through myself in a few days¡¡¯
Fang Xi drew the Qinghe Sword and meticulously polished it.
Although the sword was only a low-grade magical item, somewhat damaged, it encapsted the life¡¯s work of a spirit farmer¡ªmuch like Jia Feicai¡¯s spirit farming legacy.
Sadly, most rogue cultivators in the cultivation world die as inconspicuously as stray dogs.
As Ruan Xingling observed the Qinghe Sword, she seemed several times on the verge of speaking but restrained herself each instance.
She desperately wanted to ask why, after borrowing twenty spirit stones from Old Daoist Xiu Mu, Fang Xi didn¡¯t purchase a better magical artifact instead opting for a ¡®flight talisman¡¯!
However, akin to cultivation techniques and secret arts, magical artifacts and paper talismans also constituted a cultivator¡¯s overall strength - considered private matters. Thus, Ruan Xingling found it difficult to broach the topic.
Whoosh!
Suddenly, a sound pierced the air as a voice-transmission talisman arrived!
Ruan Xingling caught it, her face brightening with joy. ¡°That Lu scoundrel is almost here, apanied by four others. One at Late Stage Qi Refinement, three at Mid-Stage, and among them, there¡¯s someone loyal to me!¡±
¡®No wonder she has such detailed knowledge of the Lu n¡¯s movements; she must have nted an insider,¡¯ thought Wei Yixin, his wife, and Old Daoist Xiu Mu, their expressions revealingprehension.
Instantly, all five individuals braced themselves, gripping their magical artifacts tightly.
As expected, momentster, a small flying boat emerged from the distance. With just a swift sh, it covered considerable ground, arriving overhead near the rocky outcrop.
¡°Attack!¡± Ruan Xinglingmanded sharply, taking the lead as pink light shimmered around her,unching a streak of sword glow skyward.
Within the sword glow, a de engraved with numerous runes became visible, devoid of a hilt, its body gleaming coldly - unmistakably a high-grade magical artifact!
Simultaneously, as Ruan Xingling initiated her strike, Old Daoist Xiu Mu, Wei Yixin, his wife, and Fang Xi sprang into action.
Two flying daggers, a whisk, and the Qinghe Sword soared simultaneously into the air.
These five streaks of light swiftly intercepted the flying boat.
¡°Hmph, audacious! How dare you obstruct the Lu n?¡± Amidst a cold snort, the flying boat vanished, revealing five cultivators. Leading them was a burly middle-aged man with a face emanating a purplish aura, exuding authority even without disying anger.
Behind the middle-aged man stood a seductive female cultivator in her thirties or forties, apanied by three Mid-Stage Qi Refinement cultivators.
¡°Lu Jingqing!¡± Ruan Xingling, standing on her floral basket, ascended into the sky and sternly dered, ¡°Today marks your final hour!¡±
Snap!
As if Ruan Xingling¡¯s words were a signal, just as she finished speaking, the female cultivor behind Lu Jingqing suddenly struck him with a palm to his vulnerable back!
On her fingers, five striking ck rings resembled some peculiar magical artifacts.
¡°Pff!¡±
Caught off guard, Lu Jingqing violently coughed up a mouthful of blood, his face turning crimson. He stared at the rapidly fleeing female cultivor, gasping, ¡°Bitch¡ how dare you?!¡±
¡°Hmph! You ughtered my Ruan family¡¯s cultivators and forced me into marriage; I¡¯ve longed for your death!¡±
The Ruan female cultivator swiftly pped a paper talisman onto herself, summoning a golden protective shield.
Withstanding the onught of her threepanions, she cursed while flying towards Ruan Xingling, ¡°Sister, save me!¡±
A sudden twist unfolded before their eyes!
Seeing this, Wei Yixin and his wife wore expressions filled with delight.
Lu Jingqing¡¯s wife had turned traitor - victory was now assured!
Fang Xi and Old Daoist Xiu Mu exchanged nces and subtly took a step back, sensing that things seemed too straightforward.
In the next instant, another unexpected event urred!
As the Ruan woman approached Ruan Xingling, her right hand adorned with rings suddenly lunged at Xingling¡¯s chest!
Ruan Xingling¡¯s expressive eyes flickered, and without warning, she parted her cherry-red lips, releasing a small white dart!
Puff!
This white dart was a one-time mid-grade magical artifact, exploding violently and shattering the golden protective shield.
Struck by the dart in her chest, the Ruan woman¡¯s face twisted into an incredibly menacing expression. ¡°Bitch¡ how did you discover my true intentions?¡±
¡°You¡¯re from a coteral branch; I never trusted you¡ Moreover, marrying that man elevated your status from coteral to direct lineage, granting control over the entire Peach Blossom Ind. Why would you betray everything for mere personal grudges? I merely used you as leverage to gather intelligence on Lu¡¯s whereabouts¡¡± Ruan Xingling replied indifferently, her in features suddenly revealing a shrewd expression.
¡°Peachie?¡±
Upon hearing this, the pallor vanished from Lu Jingqing¡¯s face, and his aura surged back to its peak at the eighthyer of Qi Refinement as he fiercely charged forward!
It was clear now - his earlier injuries were feigned all along!
Moreover, with a prolonged whistle, another concealed streak of light emerged, transforming into a grim-faced cultivator d in ck robes, boasting a cultivation base at the seventhyer of Qi Refining.
The ck-robed cultivator wielded a small ck banner, exuding an unscrupulous aura. He addressed Lu Jingqing, who was holding Peachie tightly while wailing, ¡°We should have followed my advice and killed the girl outright. Thisplication cost us dearly, even losing our asset¡¡±
Chapter 86: Successive Countermeasures
Chapter 86: Sessive Countermeasures
The female cultivator surnamed Ruan, being only at mid-stage Qi Refinement, fell victim to Ruan Xingling¡¯s scheme. A bloody hole pierced her chest, and within moments, she sumbed to death.
Lu Jingqing abruptly lifted her head, expression icy cold. ¡°Bitch, I¡¯ll make you pay with your life!¡±
¡°Oh no!¡± The old Daoist, Xiu Mu, looked gravely concerned. ¡°The Lu n has unexpectedly enlisted a Late Stage Qi Refinement expert; this battle will be formidable¡¡±
Fang Xi clenched his jaw, determination etched across his face as he tightened his grip on the Qinghe Sword. He appeared every bit the fearless warrior ready to embrace martyrdom!
Yet internally, another thought emerged:
¡®Ruan Xingling is indeed not one of those n geniuses who be oblivious to human deceit due to obsessive cultivation. Instead, she¡¯s both courageous and strategic. Knowing well that the traitor was unreliable, she must have prepared additional countermeasures¡ This could still work!¡¯
And sure enough!
In the next instant, a streak of white light swiftly approached, revealing an elderly cultivator with snow-white hair and beard, d in a long robe made of crane feathers. His aura radiated power, indicating he had reached the Ninth Layer of Qi Refinement!
¡°West wind blows aging upon myriadkes, overnight graying the locks of Xiang Monarch. Ahh, greetings to all present!¡± The elderly Daoist with crane-feather robes exuded kindness and grace, bowing elegantly to everyone present.
A look of deep apprehension surfaced on Lu Jingqing¡¯s face:
¡°Wind White Dream from Feathered Isle? Does your ind intend to interfere in Peach Blossom Ind¡¯s affairs?¡±
Shaking his head, Wind White Dream replied, ¡°Firstly, this Peach Blossom Ind does not solely belong to you. Secondly, Ruan Xingling is my great-granddaughter, hardly an outsider.¡±
¡°You old fool, seeking death?! From this day forth, there will be relentless conflict between our inds until one stands victorious!¡± Roaring furiously, strands of ape-like hair began sprouting from Lu Jingqing¡¯s body.
His magical energy surged rapidly, transforming him instantly into a massive red-furred monkey with fiery eyes!
Fang Xi found this scene strikingly familiar: ¡®Could it be the beast transformation secret art from the Myriad Beasts Body?¡¯
¡°So, you¡¯ve indeed been cultivating a body refinement technique alongside others!¡±
Ruan Xingling gently patted her flower basket, releasing a fragrant sandalwood aroma.
¡°Brother Yin, take care of that wretched woman; I¡¯ll handle Wind White Dream! With my newly mastered Red Ape Transformationbined with my original cultivation, even facing a cultivator at the great perfection of Qi Refinement should pose no issue,¡± Lu Jingqing snarled menacingly. Then, turning to his three mid-stage Qi Refinement subordinates, hemanded, ¡°As for those insignificantckeys, deal with them!¡±
Just as his menacing Scarlet Ape form prepared to leap forward, he let out a sudden cry of anguish, ¡°What¡¯s happening? My magical energy?¡±
¡°So it was indeed you who purchased that bottle of Scarlet Ape blood essence,¡± Ruan Xingling said with a smile, gently caressing her flower basket.
¡°You bitch, did you poison it? You knew I¡¯ve been struggling to reach the thirdyer of my Body Tempering technique and desperately seeking this item. Did you bribe the Zhong Family?¡± Lu Jingqing shrieked, seemingly realizing the deception.
¡°Truly foolish¡ If the Zhong Family were willing to forsake their reputation and secretly harm you alongside me, why would I need to intervene personally? For them, crushing you would be like squashing an ant; no borate scheme required¡ The Scarlet Ape blood essence itself is genuine, but what you didn¡¯t know is that despite its immense strength, the mythical Scarlet Ape has a natural weakness. Upon smelling the ¡®Heavenly Sandalwood¡¯ from my flower basket, it bes weak and lethargic throughout its body¡¡± Ruan Xingling chuckled. ¡°Since you have refined the blood essence and now inhale this ¡®Heavenly Sandalwood¡¯, your magical energy will dissipate, leaving you unconscious for several days¡ Ironically, this process actually benefits the refinement of Scarlet Ape blood essence, but unfortunately, you won¡¯t live long enough to reap those rewards!¡±
¡°Excellent¡ With you at the helm of Peach Blossom Ind¡¯s affairs, I am truly worry-free.¡± Feng Bai Meng chuckled contentedly, clearly impressed by Ruan Xingling¡¯s strategic nning.
Even Daoist Yin hastily sent out a ck beam from his small banner to envelop himself, contemting whether he should immediately flee.
Xiu Mu and others, witnessing this unexpected turn, filled with joy once more on their faces.
Only Fang Xi cursed inwardly, ¡®So the Scarlet Ape blood essence at the auction was meant to lure Lu Jingqing, not me!¡¯
¡®Damn these cultivator ns, who knows how many traps they¡¯ve hidden within their legacies¡ specifically targeting rogue cultivators!¡¯
Although it currently backfired on their enemy, Fang Xi shared the sameck of lineage knowledge as Lu Jingqing, cing him among the disadvantaged at the bottom of the cultivation world!
Facing cultivator ns that hoarded secret information shamelessly and monopolized resources, unsuspecting individuals like Fang Xi could easily fall victim to unforeseen pitfalls!
And when such misfortunes struck, those n scions would gleefully trample further, sneering, ¡°Peasants dreaming of greatness? Bah!¡±
¡°Cough¡ Ruan Xingling!!!¡±
Lu Jingqing swiftly drew a dagger and stabbed it into his own thigh, momentarily regaining rity. With a menacing tone, he muttered, ¡°Well¡ this family¡¯s vengeance has truly honed you. Your cunning and scheming match that of your deadbeat father exactly. Fortunately, I took precautions against you at thest moment!¡±
Snap!
A burst of fireworks suddenly exploded mid-air, forming a grotesque demonic face pattern.
Momentster, two more beams of escaping light approached, revealing identical twin brothers.
Upon seeing them, Fang Xi felt a sense of familiarity. After some thought, he recognized their identity.
The Daoist Xiu Mu beat him to it, calling out their names, ¡°Kou n¡¯s Twin Fiends? Lu Jingqing¡ you¡¯ve actually colluded with Plunderer cultivators? Once word gets out, not just the Thirty-Six Inds, but the entire Wan Ind Lake will have no ce for you!¡±
¡°Big Bro, they¡¯re so annoying! Let¡¯s kill ¡®em all!¡± The younger brother of the Twin Fiends yawnedzily.
¡°Yes¡ don¡¯t worry, old Lu. Once we wipe them out, nobody will know,¡± Kou Jioughed heartily, his words dripping with murderous intent.
¡°To think these two showed up; thisplicates matters significantly.¡±
Feng Baimeng performed a double-handed seal and tossed out a spirit beast pouch. From it emerged numerous graceful blue butterflies, fluttering gracefully.
As they danced through the air, these butterflies scattered specks of shimmering blue dust, transforming their surroundings into a dreamlike scene.
¡°Dream Butterfly Gu?! This old man is an insect cultivator!¡± The elder Kou brother frowned and turned to Lu Jingqing. ¡°Old Lu, leave that stubborn old Bai fellow to Daoist Yin; we¡¯ll take care of the girl!¡±
Kou¡¯s younger brother gazed at Ruan Xingling, shaking his head slightly with regret. ¡°What a pity¡ªher magical artifacts are quite lovely, but not her appearance¡¡±
Previously, as three brothers united, they could face opponents at peak Qi Refinement stage. However, after the mysterious death of the third brother during the Qingzhu Mountain Market battle, losing a member left them unable to form theirbat formation. Their days became increasingly difficult, given their numerous enemies.
The remaining two brothers decided to flee thousands of miles away, eventually settling at Wan Ind Lake, where they allied themselves with the Lu n.
As for concerns about associating with Plunderer cultivators, Lu Jingqing was unconcerned. Many cultivation ns secretly maintained murky forces to handle dirty work.
If not for the Kou brothers¡¯ truly abysmal reputation, he would have boldly hired them as guest seniors. Even now, seeking their assistance felt like picking the easiest target among soft options.
Lu Jingqing frowned and urgently called out to Daoist Yin, ¡°Please intercept that old Wind bastard! I¡¯ll double your agreed payment afterward!¡±
With that, he pped a ¡®Talisman of Indestructibility¡¯ onto himself, enveloping his body in a shimmering golden protective shield. He then settled down cross-legged on theke surface, continuously consuming medicinal pills as if purging toxins through cultivation.
¡°Damn it, better make it worth my while!¡± Daoist Yin roared angrily, forming hand seals with both hands and channeling magical energy into his small banner.
Cackling sinisterly, translucent ghost figures emerged, transforming into dense ck clouds that entangled with Feng Baimeng¡¯s Dream Butterfly Gu.
¡°Haha, can¡¯t we two brothers handle just one at the seventhyer of Qi Refining? Big Bro, let¡¯s kill¡ but save this girl for me!¡±
The second Kou brother nced around, pointing at Wei Yixin¡¯s cultivation partner Hua Chanjuan, a gleeful expression spreading across his face.
Wei Yixin and his wife¡¯s expressions instantly darkened, bing incredibly grim.
The situation clearly favored their opponents!
¡°Charge!¡±
As Late Stage Qi Refinement experts shed fiercely, even Ruan Xingling joined the fray, controlling her flying sword against the Kou brothers. The three mid-stage Qi Refiners from the Lu n also bellowed, drawing their magical artifacts and attacking Fang Xi¡¯s group.
¡°All-out assault!¡±
The Wei couple released two mid-grade flying daggers, engaging one of the mid-stage Qi Refining cultivators. Both pairs maneuvered away from the central battle area, attempting to avoid direct confrontation.
Coincidentally, not far from them:
With a wave of his horsetail whisk, the old Daoist known as Xiu Mu unleashed myriad silver threads like blossoming flowers, entangling another Lu n cultivator¡¯s magical artifact and steering it towards a different direction.
¡®Damn, everyone¡¯s ying smart here¡ Each side is trying to distance themselves from the Late Stage Qi Refiners, waiting to gauge the oue of the main battlefield¡ Giving a chance for the losing party to escape.¡¯
Fang Xi¡¯s lips twitched as he observed the approaching Lu n cultivator, whose expression seemed ecstatic, as if hitting the jackpot.
The opponent was an elderly cultivator in his fifties or sixties, d in a gray long robe, with a demeanor of fierce determination. ¡°Traitorous wretch, I¡¯ll take you down!¡±
He summoned a yellow leather gourd as his magical artifact, releasing clusters of ck water spheres that hurtled towards Fang Xi.
Fang Xi activated the ¡®Green Turtle Shield¡¯, causing arge azure turtle shell to rapidly expand, resembling a shield before him.
Pop-pop!
The ck water spheres burst upon impact with the turtle shell, appearing less potent than expected.
¡®Alright, even this guy is holding back!¡¯
¡®No wait, he¡¯s driving me away from the battlefield to observe the situation better!¡¯
¡®That expression is impressively convincing - kudos to him!¡¯
Fang Xi silently praised its effectiveness and released the ¡®Qinghe Sword¡¯ to create further disruption. Then, he swiftly fled on the ck Cloud Pocket.
¡°Traitor, you won¡¯t escape!¡±
The old cultivator¡¯s eyes gleamed as he casually produced a peach wood shield to deflect the Qinghe Sword, immediately giving chase to Fang Xi!
In their pursuit, they flew over ten kilometers away within moments, leaving the core battlefield¡¯s spiritual glow barely visible.
¡°Heh heh¡ You¡¯re quite amusing, boy. Releasing such a pathetic flying sword; you should learn acting from this old man!¡± The old cultivator surged his speed, intercepting Fang Xi and unhesitatingly unleashed his formidable magical energy at the fifthyer of Qi Refinement: ¡°However, being a Lu n cultivator, I must ultimately y you for my masters¡¡±
His cunning n was simple: by killing Fang Xi for the Lu n, he would justify his favorable treatment. As for loyalty, he intended to gauge the situation - if the Lu n emerged victorious, he would capitalize on their sess. But if they were defeated¡ he certainly wouldn¡¯t sacrifice himself needlessly.
After all, Lu Jingqing had only recently usurped power and hadn¡¯t yet had time to cultivate dedicated loyalists. For an outsider tomit this far was alreadymendable.
¡°Enough bbering!¡±
In the next instant, the old cultivator watched in surprise as the fourth-level Qi Refinement cultivator pulled out a massive ck sword, resembling a door panel, and charged forward instead of retreating!
Bang!
Fang Xi, wielding the ck Iron Sword, forcefully struck the peach wood shield.
Bang!
The wooden shield shattered instantly, and with unstoppable momentum, the ck Iron Sword sliced through the old man¡¯s waist.
Its terrifying destructive power ripped open his chest, revealing fragments of spine and internal organs¡
Chapter 87: Execution
Chapter 87: Execution
Above theke¡¯s surface.
The remnants of the old cultivator sshed into the water, spreading a broad crimson hue.
Fang Xi swiftly retrieved the old man¡¯s gourd magical artifact and bag of holding, remaining silent as he contemted his situation.
The ¡®ck Cloud Pocket¡¯ was still too slow; if not for the old cultivator¡¯s overconfidence and carelessness while approaching, Fang Xi might not have gotten close enough so quickly. His sudden retreat caught the enemy off guard, allowing him to narrow the distance.
Otherwise, he would have had to resort to using the ¡®flight talisman¡¯.
This highlighted one of the drawbacks of being a body cultivator - limitations in long-range attacks.
¡°Not just long-range attacks, but also reconnaissance!¡± Fang Xi leaned on the ck Iron Sword, attempting to assess the central battlefield¡¯s status but found himself unable¡
Meanwhile, Old Daoist Xiu Mu and Wei Yixin¡¯s couple had tactfully chosen different directions to flee, leaving their fates uncertain.
¡®What if¡ I change my appearance now and infiltrate back as someone else?¡¯ A sudden idea emerged in Fang Xi¡¯s mind.
With a Zongshi¡¯s ¡®Qi Cirction Mastery¡¯bined with the ck Iron Sword, he was confident enough to take down a Late Stage Qi Refinement cultivator. This would undoubtedly tip the bnce on the battlefield!
¡®However, it might seem too deliberate. Ruan Xingling has limited allies here; she could easily guess that one among us is involved¡ If she investigates further, I¡¯d be exposed¡¡¯
¡®Although exposing my identity doesn¡¯t sound catastrophic, it still feels unwise¡ High power attracts suspicion and envy, and this woman isn¡¯t easy to fool¡¡¯
¡®Forget it, let¡¯s quietly wait for the oue instead. Given Ruan Xingling¡¯s shrewdness, she likely has some trump cards up her sleeve¡¡¯
¡®Even if we lose this gamble, there will always be other opportunities, or perhaps consider joining Gui Ye Divine Sect as the head of their Spirit nt Department?¡¯
On the battlefield above Lake Reef,
a cluster of blue luminescence entangled with ck clouds, revealing glimpses of fluttering blue butterflies amidst ghostly wails¡
Lu Jingqing, protected by his Talisman of Indestructibility, sat cross-legged and silently channeling his cultivation technique. Having reverted from his Crimson Ape form, his eyelids twitched frequently, indicating that he would soon regain full mobility.
As for Ruan Xingling?
With only a seventhyer Qi Refinement cultivation base, she faced grave peril being besieged by the Kou brothers.
¡°Haha¡ Keep pushing, big bro! This little bitch is almost done!¡±
Kou¡¯s second brother wielded a Golden Dragonfish de, its de glinting as it haphazardly hacked at Ruan Xingling¡¯s floral basket shield.
Each strike on her protective basket caused petals to scatter, visibly weakening the spirit nt within, which seemed close to wilting.
The elder Kou brother, moreposed, remained silent, using a Golden Dragonfish Hammer as his weapon!
This heavy high-grade magical artifact shed repeatedly with Ruan Xingling¡¯s flying sword, eliciting mournful cries with every impact.
Together, the Kou brothers overwhelmed Ruan Xingling, clearly dominating the battle.
Suddenly, the eldest Kou brother shed a menacing grin and surged his magical energy!
Boom!
The Golden Dragon Hammer rapidly expanded several times, its scales shimmering with golden light as ifing alive. With a forceful strike, it preciselynded on the flying sword¡¯s de!
Buzzzz!
A distinct crack appeared on the surface of the flying sword, sending it plunging into theke and creating ripples.
¡°Ugh¡¡±
Standing atop her flower basket, surrounded by countless petals, Ruan Xingling¡¯s face flushed red before turning deathly pale.
¡°Haha¡ Time to die!¡± Seeing an opportunity, the second Kou brother transformed his Golden Dragon de into a streak of radiant light. The de¡¯s glow intensified, swiftly piercing through the flower basket¡¯s defense and aiming directly for Ruan Xingling¡¯s slender, fair neck!
Despite being greedy and lecherous, he showed no mercy towards average-looking female cultivators, ruthlessly crushing them like wilted flowers.
Jingle-jangle!
Just as the de prated the flower basket, Ruan Xingling gently shook her left hand, producing a melodious bell sound.
Both Kou brothers felt their minds jolt, as if struck by a hammer, leaving them disoriented and dazed.
The Golden Dragonfish de and Hammer, both high-grade magical artifacts, swayed uncontrobly like intoxicated warriors mid-flight.
Seizing the opportunity, Ruan Xingling tapped her bag of holding, releasing a shimmering paper talisman.
After infusing it with magical energy, the talisman activated instantly, unleashing streaks of flickering lightning!
A second-order low-grade¡ªLightning Strike Talisman!
Zap!
A bolt of purple lightning descended from above, striking the eldest Kou brother directly!
His defensive aura shattered as easily as parchment, and the spiritual glow of his mage robe dimmed rapidly, disintegrating into ash!
Boom!
In its aftermath, the eldest Kou brother¡¯s upper body was charred ck, his life force swiftly weakening¡ªan unmistakable sign of severe injury!
¡°Big Bro?!¡±
Snapping out of his daze, the younger Kou brother panicked and hastily maneuvered the Golden Dragonfish de to shield his elder sibling.
¡°It turns out you possess a unique magical artifact that targets the mentalndscape! And a second-order paper talisman too! You¡¯ve been hiding your true capabilities well, Miss Ruan!¡± The eldest Kou brother spat out a mouthful of blood, gasping for breath.
¡°I must admit, I didn¡¯t expect you, Eldest Brother Kou, to be a third-stage body cultivator! Otherwise¡ there would have been no escape from that lightning strike!¡±
Ruan Xingling twirled the bell in her hand, her voice remaining steady and calm.
¡°Hmph! And what about now?¡±
The leader of the Kou n tore open his upper garments, exuding a menacing aura.
However, in the next instant, he froze.
One, two, three¡
Smiling slyly, Ruan Xingling produced three distinct-colored paper talismans from her bag of holding, each pulsating with potent magical energy. She gleefully dered, ¡°It¡¯s time for both of you to make your journey!¡±
¡°Not good, split up!¡± The leader cried out oddly, forming hand seals. His wounds burst open, releasing a crimson glow that enveloped him entirely. With astonishing speed, he darted away, employing a rare blood escape technique!
¡°Big Bro!¡±
Seeing his elder brother flee, Kou Jiao had no choice but to choose another direction, transforming into a streak of golden light to escape.
At the scene, Ruan Xingling watched as the fearsome Kou brothers made their getaway. Suddenly, she let out a bitterugh as the paper talismans in her hand turned ethereal, disintegrating into specks of shimmering light¡ They were all fakes!
¡°What a pity; I can¡¯t detain both of them even if those paper talismans were genuine. My magical energy is nearly depleted.¡±
With a soft sigh, she turned her attention to the cultivator named Yin engaged with Feng Bai Meng and nodded resolutely. ¡°At least today, one shall not escape!¡±
Ruan Xingling steered her flower basket towards Feng Bai Meng¡¯s battlefield, the melodious chimes ringing once more¡
¡°Damn it, I never expected that girl to be so troublesome!¡± The second Kou sibling maneuvered his escape light, swiftly covering over ten kilometers in mere moments.
Gritting his teeth internally, hemented, ¡°We¡¯ve truly met our match this time, sigh¡ Ever since the mysterious disappearance of our third brother, my luck keeps worsening¡¡±
¡°Today¡¯s grudge will not go unavenged; someday, the Ruan family will pay dearly! Hmph!¡±
As the second Kou sibling uttered these defeated words, something caught his peripheral vision - a leisurely drifting ck cloud magical artifact.
Upon it stood a figure, wielding a massive ck iron sword and seemingly observing the battlefield from afar.
Noticing their approaching escape light, the figure hastily turned to flee in terror.
¡°It¡¯s one of that woman¡¯s subordinates!¡± A fierce gleam shed in the second Kou sibling¡¯s eyes as he prepared to pursue and eliminate the interloper!
However, at thest moment, he reconsidered, ¡°Surviving is paramount¡ Consider yourself lucky!¡±
¡°Why isn¡¯t he chasing me? This doesn¡¯t align with the nature of tribtion cultivators!¡± Fang Xi continued his act, but noticed that the escaping light seemed intent on leaving rather than pursuing him, causing a slight frustration.
If the opponent had directly chased after him, Fang Xi could have replicated his earlier counter-attack against the old cultivator, saving one ¡®flight talisman¡¯.
¡°What a pity, truly unfortunate!¡±
With a sigh, he retrieved a flight talisman and pped it onto himself.
As magical energy coursed through him, his body soared upwards at a speed far exceeding the ck Cloud Pocket!
Momentster, the second Kou brother realized that the mere fourth-level Qi Refinement cultivator wasn¡¯t fleeing; instead, he was flying towards him. Unable to contain his fury, he roared, ¡°Boy, you¡¯re seeking death!¡±
The Golden Dragon de transformed into a streak of blinding light, swiftly bearing down on Fang Xi!
Fang Xi neither dodged nor retreated, letting out a powerful shout.
His true astral energy red outward, enveloping his entire body like a crimson veil!
ng!
The Golden Dragon de struck the true astral energy shield and rebounded instantly.
In the next instant, Fang Xi met the utterly horrified gaze of the second Kou brother.
Flight Talisman activated!
Astric energy surged throughout his body!
The ck Iron Sword resonated loudly, its de and tip glowing with a three-inch-long scarlet sword aura!
¡°sh!¡±
Holding the sword with both hands, Fang Xi raised it high, unleashing a forceful downward strike reminiscent of splitting Mount Hua!
Thwack!
Infused with astral energy, the ck Iron Sword effortlessly cleaved through the golden protective barrier andnded squarely on the second Kou brother¡¯s body.
Only after Fang Xi had distanced himself did the second Kou brother seem to react. A blood-red line appeared on his forehead, extending downward across his nose, mouth, and finally reaching his abdomen.
His body then split apart horizontally, separating into two halves that fell onto theke surface, leaving a trail of blood sttered in the air.
With just one strike, the tribtion cultivator met his demise!
Fang Xi sheathed the ck Iron Sword, feeling highly satisfied with this maneuver. He intentionally chose a vertical sh over a horizontal one, fearing that a cultivator¡¯s resilience might allow them to still use secret techniques or magical artifacts even when severed at the waist.
A downward strike, however, ensured instant death, leaving no chance for struggle!
¡°Too bad itcks some immortal ir though¡¡± Fang Xi muttered as he collected the second Kou brother¡¯s bag of holding along with a familiar-looking Golden Dragonfish de.
¡°This magical artifact¡ indeed matches the set from the third Kou brother. Wonder how long until I can gather all three pieces.¡±
He stored the Golden Dragonfish de in his own bag of holding and carefully hid away the second Kou brother¡¯s belongings. After a moment¡¯s thought, he retrieved the old cultivator¡¯s yellow gourd artifact, refined it further, andmanded it to expel a glob of ck liquid onto himself!
Ssh!
The patched-up green mage robe instantly tore, giving him a disheveled appearance. However, beneath the robes, his skin remained unblemished and smooth.
With his true astral energy shielding him, mid-grade magical artifacts couldn¡¯t breach his defenses.
¡°Should be convincing enough now?¡±
Having prepared ordingly, Fang Xi steered the ck Cloud Pocket and swayed towards the central battlefield.
His timing was impable, arriving just as Ruan Xingling gently rang her bell, momentarily mesmerizing the cultivator named Yin.
Countless blue Dream Butterfly Gu swiftly flew forth, enveloping the Yin cultivator entirely.
When the swarm dispersed, only a gaunt skeleton-like corpse remained, sinking into theke.
¡°Well done, Xingling!¡±
Feng Baimeng, visibly delighted, retrieved the deceased cultivator¡¯s bag of holding and small banner magical artifact.
At that moment, from two other directions, Old Daoist Xiu Mu and Wei Yixin with his wife also approached.
The Wei couple appearedposed and energetic; being two against one had not strained them significantly. In contrast, Old Daoist Xiu Mu seemed somewhat depleted of magical energy.
However, the most disheveled among them was undoubtedly Fang Xi.
¡°Fellow Daoist Fang, you actually survived against that fifthyer Lu n cultivator?¡± Hua Chanjuan covered her mouth, expressing disbelief.
¡°I exhausted all my trump cards after a grueling battle, finally managing to y that formidable foe¡¡± Fang Xi lifted the yellow gourd in his hand, responding with a wry smile.
With the situation now under control, it was crucial to disy some strength during the uing division of spoils. Otherwise, everyone might see him as an easy target for exploitation.
Ruan Xingling descended from her flower basket, scanning each person with a gentle smile. ¡°I¡¯m relieved to see everyone unharmed - truly cause for celebration!¡±
The old Daoist, Xiu Mu, bowed with a wry grin, ¡°Thanks to the Xianzi¡¯s formidable magical prowess, those Kou brothers were driven away. Otherwise, we would have met our demise¡ My apologies for my own ipetence; I allowed the Lu n cultivator to escape.¡±
With a stern expression, Wei Yixin tossed a severed head towards them.
As Feng Baimengnded, the group surrounded Lu Jingqing. Trapped within the protection of the Talisman of Indestructibility, Lu Jingqing finally opened his eyes, only to be filled with despair upon witnessing this scene¡
Chapter 88: Seizing the Island
Chapter 88: Seizing the Ind
Peach Blossom Ind.
This ind boasted stunning scenery with vast peach blossom forests. During their peak blooming season, petals fluttered gracefully, creating a breathtaking sight.
Mirror Moon Lake.
Theke¡¯s surface shimmered like a t mirror, surrounded by ascending spiritual mist that reflected the moonlight - clearly indicative of an active formation.
Shhhhh!
One day, five streaks of light approached swiftly from the horizon, striking the formation with lightning speed.
Inside the Lu familypound near Mirror Moon Lake,
Ruan Xingling¡¯s face was cold as ice as she tossed a severed head, unmistakably Lu Jingqing¡¯s. Her voice, infused with a hint of magical energy, echoed throughout the entire estate, ¡°Lu Jingqing is dead!¡±
Their arrival was so swift that the formation had no time to fully activate. Moreover, Ruan Xingling seemed well-acquainted with the Lu n¡¯s formations, directly targeting the eye of the spell and beheading an Initial Stage Qi Refinement elder with a single sword strike!
It appeared this protective array of the Lu n might have once belonged to the Ruan Family¡
Additionally, with the n leader, a Late Stage Qi Refinement cultivator, and four Mid-Stage Qi Refinement experts already in, only Initial Stage Qi Refinement members remained, posing little threat to Fang Xi¡¯s group.
Thus, after killing Lu Jingqing, Ruan Xingling chose tounch a decisive final assault!
More crucially¡ Feng Baimeng did not apany them on this mission!
Perhaps Ruan Xingling felt her presence alone was enough to suppress any resistance, or maybe she had other important matters to attend to.
In any case, the dirty work now fell upon Fang Xi and his threepanions.
For rogue cultivators, this might not be considered dirty work but rather a lucrative opportunity. After all, by convention, the spoils of defeating a great enemy belong to the vanquisher.
¡°Kill those with Lu bloodline!¡±
¡°Kill anyone resisting or refusing surrender!¡±
¡°Kill anyone deliberately damaging property!¡±
Seated at the formation¡¯s central hub, Ruan Xingling uttered these three chilling ¡®kill¡¯mands, akin to a deration that unleashed a wave of ughter.
This is the reality of the cultivation world - if you don¡¯t kill, others will surely kill you.
Fang Xi, clutching the Qinghe Sword, wore a cold expression as he kicked open a room door.
¡°Aaahh, I¡¯ll take you down!¡± Inside the room, a plump young man in the Initial Stage Qi Refinement brandished a paper talisman, instantly activating its magical energy.
Several green wooden arrows struck Fang Xi¡¯s protective aura, causing ripples but failing to prate his defenses.
Being only at the Initial Stage Qi Refinement, while Fang Xi was already in Mid-Stage Qi Refinement, the disparity in their realms proved decisive!
With the Qinghe Sword in hand, Fang Xi wielded it like an ordinary de. In one swift motion, he sliced through the cultivator¡¯s neck, sending the head flying.
A woman¡¯s scream echoed from within the room.
Frowning slightly, Fang Xi noticed it was just a mortal and deemed her unworthy of his attention. Without hesitation, he moved on to another target.
¡®This time, I must disy some true strength.¡¯
¡®Yes, let¡¯s use True Force level martial arts¡ Mid-Stage Qi Refinementbined with second stage of Body Tempering should suffice!¡¯
With True Force coursing through his feet, Fang Xi¡¯s figure became ghostly swift, effortlessly darting past several individuals like a fleeting shadow.
Caught off guard, these few suddenly found their bodies severed at the waist, copsing onto the ground amidst agonizing screams: ¡°Aaaaaah!¡±
Blood mixed with peach blossoms, scattering wildly across the courtyard.
¡°Kill them, protect our Lu n!¡±
¡°Fight to the death against these enemies!¡±
Most rogue cultivators knelt, pleading for mercy, but the remaining members of the Lu n fiercely resisted.
After all, they knew well that the Ruan Family would never spare them!
An elderly Lu n cultivator, with white hair, roared furiously, seemingly invoking some demonic secret technique. His aura surged to Mid-Stage Qi Refinement as paper talismans shimmered in his hands.
¡°Little Thunder Talisman?!¡± Wei Yixin cried out in horror, struck by lightning and sent flying, coughing blood.
¡°Fall back and defend! Wait until the effect of his secret technique wears off!¡± The old Daoist Xiu Mu waved his horsetail whisk, firmly shielding himself.
At that moment, Fang Xi approached, wielding the Qinghe Sword and charging directly towards the old man.
¡°Go!¡±
The grim-faced old man swiftly raised his hand and unleashed another Fireball Talisman.
Boom!
The fiery st shattered Fang Xi¡¯s protective aura, threatening to engulf him entirely.
In the next moment, Fang Xi channeled his True Force, shing with his sword. Astonishingly, he cleaved through the mes, followed by a swift upward thrust.
Pop!
Qinghe Sword pierced the old man¡¯s defensive magical artifact, sending it flying, then streaked like a jade arc piercing the sun directly into the elder¡¯s chest.
¡°Kill¡kill the traitor¡¡± The old man murmured, blood seeping from the corner of his mouth.
Thud!
Fang Xi withdrew the Qinghe Sword without sparing a nce at the fallen corpse, immediately turning towards the remaining Lu n Qi Refinement cultivators.
As his sword shed, heads rolled relentlessly.
This scene left Wei Yixin and his wife visibly shaken, their faces drained of color, filled with terror.
Meanwhile, Old Daoist Xiu Mu seemed somewhat enlightened. ¡°Now I see why Fellow Daoist Fang was so confident; turns out he¡¯s a body cultivator¡ Judging by that defense, he must be at the second stage of Body Tempering, right? No wonder he could y an enemy in the fifthyer of Qi Refinement¡ And daring to scheme for control over spiritualnd, truly hiding his true capabilities!¡±
Unperturbed by these observations, Fang Xi continued, dispatching each Lu n cultivator who dared face him, one sword strike at a time.
Amidst swirling peach blossoms, his Qinghe Sword became drenched in blood.
It was unclear how long the ughtersted until only thest cultivator remained, kneeling before Fang Xi in sheer terror. ¡°We surrender, we willingly submit¡¡±
Silently, Fang Xi wiped his de clean on the clothing of a nearby corpse, then stood under a peach blossom tree, arms crossed, holding his sword.
As the sun set in the west, it seemed indifferent to all that unfolded below.
In the town of Peach Blossom Ind, wisps of cooking smoke rose from mortal households.
Unbeknownst to the tens of thousands of ordinary inhabitants, their world had irrevocably changed at this very moment¡
As night fell,
at the Lu Manor by Mirror Moon Lake, within the main hall.
A dense crowd knelt on the floor, facing a gruesome pyramid of severed heads piled before them.
The once lofty cultivators of the Lu n now wore expressions frozen in terror, captured at the moment of their demise.
The air reeked with a mixture of blood and decay, yet not a single person dared to flinch or frown.
Ruan Xingling sat regally in the head seat, surrounded by fine spirit wines and delicaciesid out before her.
Xiu Mu and hispanions stood nearby, while Wei Yixin and his wife observed Fang Xi thoughtfully, their breaths slightlybored.
Hua Chanjuan repeatedly signaled with her eyes, but noticed her cultivation partner remained unresponsive, causing her some frustration.
She mustered a smile towards Fang Xi and cooed softly, ¡°Fang Xiong¡ since we¡¯ll be cultivating together on this ind as neighbors, they say distant rtives cannotpare to close neighbors. My husband may not always find the right words; if he has caused any offense, please do not hold it against us!¡±
She discreetly nudged Wei Yixin¡¯s foot, prompting him to finally step forward, fists cupped respectfully, albeit with stiffness in his tone, ¡°Fang Xiong, my apologies¡¡±
¡°Fellow Daoists, you jest too much. These were trivial matters, never bothering me in the slightest,¡± Fang Xi responded with a smile.
As long as they didn¡¯t interfere with his tree nting, anything was negotiable; otherwise¡
After exchanging smiles to bury their grievances, the old Daoist Xiu Mu leisurely spoke up, ¡°Goddess Ruan¡the inventory isplete.¡±
He nced at the kneeling captives and chuckled lightly, ¡°Twelve Initial Stage Qi Refinement cultivators from the Lu n were all eliminated. Among six guest seniors, three were killed, and the remaining three surrendered¡¡±
As for the Mid-Stage Qi Refinement cultivators of the Lu n, they naturally stood with their patriarch, Lu Jingqing.
One was in by Wei Yixin and his wife, while another nearly defeated Old Daoist Xiu Mu before realizing the dire situation and promptly fled.
The one Fang Xi killed was merely a hired guest senior.
¡°Additionally, the storeroom¡¯s spirit stones and spirit rice remainrgely intact¡ Especially noteworthy is that tier-2 ¡®Spirit Peach Tree¡¯ in the herb field. Thanks to Fellow Daoist Fang¡¯s swift and decisive swordsmanship, it was not destroyed and remains unharmed,¡± added Xiu Mu, subtly praising Fang Xi.
¡°A Spirit Peach Tree?!¡± Ruan Xingling¡¯s expression turned pensive, as if recalling something. ¡°When¡those Lu traitors turned against us, even my father couldn¡¯t bear to destroy this tree¡¡± Her gaze suddenly grew cold. ¡°Have all the Lu n members been executed?¡±
¡°All cultivators have been eradicated, but regarding the mortals, we await your instructions, Goddess Ruan.¡± The old Daoist bowed deeply.
¡°idental deaths during battle are one thing,¡± Ruan Xingling continued coldly, ¡°but indiscriminate ughter of mortals after the conflict would tarnish our reputation and bring disgrace upon Wan Ind Lake.¡±
¡°All surviving Lu n members must be confined for life!¡± she dered firmly.
¡°As youmand!¡± The old Daoist bowed deeply, his demeanor unwavering. ¡°There is yet another issue - several men from the Lu n married women of the Ruan Family, including some from the direct lineage¡¡±
He pped his hands, and a trembling woman emerged holding a baby. ¡°This child¡¯s father was an Initial Stage Qi Refinement cultivator from the Lu n, while his mother belonged to the Ruan Family¡¯s mortal descendants. She died due toplications during childbirth. What should be done with him?¡±
¡°Confin¡¡± Ruan Xingling began, her eyes somber, but gazing at the infant¡¯s face, she fell silent.
After a long moment, she finally spoke, ¡°Let it be¡ Send the child to be raised by mortals in the vige¡ Does he have a name?¡±
¡°Not yet named. Please bestow one, O Goddess Ruan,¡± replied the old Daoist.
¡°Fellow Daoist Fang, what do you suggest?¡± Ruan Xingling turned to Fang Xi.
¡°After considering his circumstances, perhaps¡ we could call him ¡®Lu Guo¡¯,¡± Fang Xi suggested thoughtfully.
He couldn¡¯t fully gauge Ruan Xingling¡¯s intentions; giving the child the surname Ruan might imply leniency towards the Lu n.
¡°Excellent choice!¡±
Ruan Xingling then instructed the wet nurse to take Lu Guo away and swiftly proceeded to handle the surrender of rogue cultivators and mortals.
Finally, the hall emptied, leaving only Fang Xi and the others behind.
Standing up, Ruan Xingling said, ¡°Having avenged my great hatred, it is all thanks to your assistance. Please ept my gratitude.¡±
¡°We couldn¡¯t possibly!¡± Fang Xi and the group hastily declined her gesture.
¡°Rest assured, fellow Daoists, I will honor my previous oath without fail, and together we shall share this Peach Blossom Ind!¡± Ruan Xingling¡¯s gaze swept over the anxious faces of Wei Yixin and his wife, lingered on Daoist Xiu Mu with his slightly trembling sleeves, and finally settled on the expressionless face of Fang Xi before she smiled softly.
¡°Many thanks, Ind Lord!¡±
Fang Xi solemnly bowed, acknowledging their host-guest rtionship.
¡°Many thanks, Ind Lord!¡± Wei Yixin and his wife echoed joyfully.
Hua Chanjuan nced at Fang Xi, fearing that he might leverage his superior magical strength to im her Twin Peaks territory. With a quick turn of thought, she proposed, ¡°Goddess Ruan, considering our life-and-death bond, how about we swear brotherhood and sisterhood, bing known as the ¡®Peach Blossom Five Immortals¡¯ or the ¡®Five Righteous Peaches¡¯? What do you think?¡±
¡°Cough¡cough¡¡±
The corner of Fang Xi¡¯s mouth twitched, barely suppressing augh. What fucking ridiculous nicknames? If we formed some idol group with these names, it would undoubtedly flop.
This female cultivator truly had a knack for creative names!
¡°Inappropriate. Ruan Goddess is at Late Stage Qi Refinement and already an ind lord!¡± Daoist Xiu Mu was the first to object. ¡°Her esteemed status cannot be equated with ours.¡±
¡°Let¡¯s drop this matter¡¡±
Ruan Xingling seemed somewhat intrigued, but seeing Wei Yixin hastily apologizing and facing opposition from Daoist Xiu Mu and Fang Xi, she gracefully acquiesced.
After further conversation, each member returned to their respective rooms.
Inside a hastily cleanedrge chamber, fragrant smoke wafted gently from a purple jade incense burner.
Fang Xi affixed a protective talisman on the door, sat cross-legged on a mulberry-yellow prayer cushion, and took out the bags of holding he acquired earlier.
Without even ncing at the others¡¯ bags, he directly pulled out Kou Family¡¯s second son¡¯s pouch and began using his magical energy to forcefully erase its identifying mark.
Several hourster, the bag of holding burst open with a loud noise.
One particr item caught Fang Xi¡¯s attention, causing his eyes to brighten involuntarily. ¡°It¡¯s actually here..¡±
Chapter 89: Fifth Layer of Qi Refinement
Chapter 89: Fifth Layer of Qi Refinement
Fang Xi yed with a scroll, his face filled with surprise and unexpected delight.
Within the second Kou brother¡¯s bag of holding, he found none other than the Wine God Manual!
The very wine recipe collection that had slipped through his fingers at the auction was unexpectedly won by this Kou sibling.
¡®Could it be that he intended to establish his own influence?¡¯
¡®Or perhaps he himself is a connoisseur, fond of indulging in wine?¡¯
Unable to determine the reason, Fang Xi set aside the Wine God Manual and began inventorying the rest of the items.
There were several mid-grade magical artifacts, a stack of paper talismans, clothing¡and finally, a pile of spirit stones totaling around five or six hundred.
It must be noted that plunderers at Late Stage Qi Refinement possessed considerable wealth.
Despite killing numerous early Qi Refinement cultivators and even one mid-stage, theirbined riches did not match this single individual¡¯s bounty. ¡°Additionally, there¡¯s a Golden Flood Dragon de artifact, simr to the sword - best kept hidden from public view.¡±
Afterpleting the inventory, Fang Xi organized the items systematically within the bags of holding.
These would be crucial for future expeditions to transport goods across Great Liang.
Once everything was sorted, he tore open a protective charm and stepped out of the room.
Outside, the moonlit night was serene, with its reflection merging seamlessly with theke surface, making it hard to distinguish reality from illusion.
Taking advantage of the tranquil darkness, Fang Xi strolled leisurely, appreciating the scenic beauty of Mirror Moon Lake.
asionally, muffled sobs could be heard from nearby secluded houses, but Fang Xi paid them no heed. Instead, he approached thekeside, quietly enjoying the lunar view and murmured, ¡°What a¡ truly long day!¡±
Gazing at the moon, he suddenly felt a profound sense of mncholy.
At that moment, his expression shifted. Perhaps due to a change in his emotional state affecting his internal magical energy, he sensed the fourth level of the Evesting Spring Art stirring, as if poised to break through its current limitations and enter a new realm.
¡°Is this¡an opportunity for breakthrough?¡±
Fang Xi knew that failing to seize this chance might result in losing it altogether.
With that thought, he immediately sat cross-legged, activating his cultivation technique.
There were no enemies around now, and besides¡being a body cultivator, even a surprise attack wouldn¡¯t instantly defeat him.
Mirror Moon Lake indeed lived up to its reputation as a first-tier spiritual vein; the abundance of spiritual energy surpassed even what he had experienced in his immortal¡¯s cave at the Treasure Ship Market.
Fang Xi silently absorbed spiritual energy, transforming it into magical power.
Unaware of time passing, he felt the Evesting Spring Art¡¯s magical energy carve new pathways within his qi passageways, further strengthening him. Satisfied, Fang Xi opened his eyes.
Outside, the faint morning light revealed a red sun rising in the east, casting vibrant hues across the sky.
Without realizing, it was already dawn!
He stood up, casually wiping away dewdrops from his cor and exhaled deeply, ¡°Finally¡ reached the fifthyer of Qi Refinement!¡±
Fang Xi had been stuck at the fourth level for quite some time, but his diligent daily cultivation paid off.
Seizing this opportunity, he finally broke through the bottleneck!
¡°Congrattions, Fellow Daoist Fang, on your cultivation breakthrough.¡±
A melodious voice, akin to tinkling silver bells, suddenly echoed nearby.
¡°Ind Lord!¡± Fang Xi saw Ruan Xingling and couldn¡¯t help but express surprise, ¡°You?¡±
¡°I noticed your moment of enlightenment yesterday and stayed nearby to guard you,¡± Ruan Xingling approached gracefully before thoughtfully inquiring, ¡°The cultivation technique you¡¯re using seems rather ordinary¡¡±
¡°Not to withhold information, I am indeed practicing the ¡®Evesting Spring Art¡¯¡¡±
Fang Xi scratched his head, seeming slightly embarrassed as he replied.
In truth, he had considered changing his cultivation technique. However, finding better methods within the market was exceedingly rare. Moreover, after witnessing how Ruan Xingling tricked Lu Jingqing, his desire to switch diminished.
Rather than risking an unfamiliar technique, it made more sense to continue refining the Evesting Spring Art, which he knew best!
Additionally, there were advantages tomon techniques - their widespread use meant any potential pitfalls would have been identified and rectified by countless rogue cultivators over time, greatly reducing the risk of hidden traps!
¡°The Evesting Spring Art isn¡¯t bad; its strength lies in being bnced and harmonious¡ If I recall correctly, the Lu n¡¯s Technique Pavilion also contains ¡®Qing Mu Art,¡¯ which could be gifted to you,¡± Ruan Xingling said with a warm smile.
¡°Many thanks, Daoist friend!¡± Fang Xi promptly expressed his gratitude, though internally, he still leaned towards merely referencing it rather than adopting it fully.
¡°Furthermore, the spiritualnd at Jade Cliff has been prepared¡¡± Ruan Xingling hinted subtly, ¡°Among Peach Blossom Ind¡¯s spiritualnds, Mirror Moon Lake is the finest, followed by East Twin Peak, then West Twin Peak¡with Jade Cliff being the least desirable. Are you sure about choosing that location, Daoist friend?¡±
Fang Xi sensed that with her strength, even if she were to im the East Twin Peak forcefully, neither Old Daoist Xiu Mu nor Wei Yixin¡¯s couple would dare to object much.
¡°Jade Cliff is already excellent. To be honest, I¡¯ve been a spirit farmer all this time, just dreaming of one day bing andowner,¡± Fang Xi said with a hint of satisfaction on her face.
While Twin Peaks were desirable, they were too close to Mirror Moon Lake, constantly bustling with people, which wouldn¡¯t provide the desired privacy.
¡°Oh well!¡± Ruan Xingling seemed slightly speechless and tossed over a wooden token.
The token emitted a faint peach fragrance, crafted from the core of a peach tree. On its backside, Fang Xi¡¯s name was engraved along with a hundred-year lease agreement for Jade Cliff. Remarkably, the token appeared to have undergone refinement, making it akin to a low-grade magical item.
¡°Input a thread of your magical energy, and from today onwards, this will serve as your proof of ownership,¡± Ruan Xingling exined. ¡°With this token, you¡¯ll have ess rights to our Mirror Moon Lake ¡®Watermoon Great Array¡¯.¡±
¡°Many thanks, Daoist friend!¡±
Fang Xi epted the token, expressing gratitude once more, feeling a surge of excitement within her.
Finally, finally¡
it¡¯s time to start nting trees!
Jade Cliff was situated on the eastern side of Peach Blossom Ind, approximately ten miles away from Mirror Moon Lake and Twin Peaks.
Upon reaching Jade Cliff, Fang Xi found it adjacent to Wan Ind Lake. To the east stretched an endless expanse of water, with waves asionally crashing against the sheer cliffs.
The cliff face appeared predominantly green, resembling a massive piece of jade when viewed from afar, hence its name.
Although there were some minor spiritual veins at Jade Cliff, they were insignificant, indicating ack of abundant spiritual energy.
Fang Xi ascended the cliff and noticed about ten acres of cultivated spirit fields. Along the edges of these fields stood several log cabins, presumably built by the Lu n¡¯s employed spirit farmers.
As for those spirit farmers?
If not killed yesterday, they likely either submitted or fled. In any case, it was Ruan Xingling¡¯s issue, not his concern.
¡°I¡¯m twenty-one this year, and it¡¯s still early spring. If I act promptly, I can sow the Scarlet Blood Spirit Rice seeds.¡±
After inspecting the entire area around Jade Cliff, Fang Xi confirmed that there were indeed thirteen acres of well-maintained spirit fields, causing him to nod approvingly. ¡°It¡¯s evident that the previous spirit farmers took great care here. Unfortunately¡ what a waste¡¡±
He certainly wasn¡¯t foolish enough to nt the Demon Tree right away.
Fang Xi was a patient individual; after securing thisnd, he nned to wait at least two more years to observe any potential threats.
Then, he would set up concealment formations to shield his activities and gradually establish himself as reclusive, disliking social interactions. This would minimize contact with other cultivators on the ind.
Finally, he needed to find an opportunity to stage a dramatic scene - ideally getting severely wounded, appearing disillusioned, and choosing this ce for retirement.
Over time, people should gradually stop disturbing him while he focuses on nting trees.
As for these initial years?
He decided to start by cultivating some spirit rice and concentrate on his cultivation without distractions.
Breaking through to the fifthyer of the Evesting Spring Art was promising, and with no immediate bottlenecks ahead, it was now about steadily umting strength.
With a creak, Fang Xi pushed open the wooden door and stepped inside.
The log cabins were built quite rudimentary, with furniture scattered across the floor and broken shards of pots and bowls visible everywhere. It immediately conveyed the hasty retreat of the previous spirit farmers amidst panic.
¡®What happened to the owner of this house? Surely not dispatched to battle and then killed by my sword, all just for leasing these few acres of fields?¡¯
Fang Xi felt somewhat speechless.
Recalling his own past on Qingzhu Mountain, where he willingly became a tenant farmer for a mere six units of leased spirit field, he suddenly felt suffocated¡
¡®If I hadn¡¯t awakened my golden finger, I might have been conscripted by the Situ n to fight over these six hectares¡¡¯
¡®Given the brutal intensity of that war and my original cultivation at merely early Qi Refinement, it would¡¯ve been almost certain death!¡¯
¡®Thankfully, I ran fast enough!¡¯
Feeling somewhat relieved, Fang Xi meticulously examined the log cabin¡¯s structure and then shook his head, ¡°Nope, this has to be torn down and rebuilt!¡±
Assuming no issues arose, he nned to stay here for a long time, but the current cabin was too dpidated.
In Fang Xi¡¯s vision, it should at least resemble a small four-sided courtyard house. Additionally, during construction, he could incorporate various innovative conveniences of his own design.
¡°Doing everything alone is too cumbersome. There¡¯s a town on the ind already; we can enlist its mortal masons and tile workers.¡±
Fang Xi promptly decided to temporarily reside in the log cabin while calling upon locals to rebuild a new courtyard residence nearby.
With this n in mind, he couldn¡¯t sit still any longer. He took out the ck Cloud Pocket and swiftly headed towards Peach Blossom Ind¡¯s only mortal settlement.
The town on Peach Blossom Ind, named ¡®Peach Blossom Town¡¯, was quite small. Its streets were paved with limestone bs, and houses were spaced apart generously, each featuring courtyards adorned with peach trees.
As Fang Xi flew overhead using his magical artifact, pedestrians below knelt respectfully, addressing him as ¡®Immortal Master¡¯.
¡°Where can I find the local town mayor?¡± Fang Xi shouted uponnding directly at the town¡¯s center.
Shortly after, a middle-aged man dressed in silk attire and bearing a prosperous appearance stepped forward from the crowd. ¡°Greetings, esteemed Immortal Master. My humble self is Zhou Quanyou, the local town mayor¡ It seems there¡¯s still some time before the Spirit Assessment Ceremony. May I inquire what instructions you have for me?¡±
Not every descendant of cultivators possesses spiritual roots, so both the Lu and Ruan ns periodically visited this mortal town to assess children for such aptitude. For the townsfolk, it represented a rare opportunity akin to ascending to heaven.
Of course, previous asions when the Lu n took spiritually gifted children ended tragically¡
Fang Xi was aware of this practice and waved his hand dismissively. ¡°I am not here for the Spirit Assessment. Instead, Ie from Jade Cliff and require assistance in constructing a residence nearby. Please allocate some workers, equipped with provisions, to work on this daily. You will be wellpensated.¡±
With that, he pped his bag of holding, producing several gold bars which he tossed towards them. Unconcerned about potential greed under such public scrutiny, he promptly departed on the ck Cloud Pocket.
Even long after Fang Xi had left, Zhou Quanyou remained deeply bowed, his face filled with obsequious expressions¡
Chapter 90: The Ceremony
Chapter 90: The Ceremony
Time flew swiftly, and a month had passed.
At Mirror Moon Lake,
in the herb field area, beneath the central tier-2 spirit peach tree.
Ruan Xingling, d in a pink pce dress, gently caressed the ancient branches of the peach tree, twisted like coiled dragons. Her expression seemed nostalgic, as if reminiscing¡
On the limbs of the spirit peach tree hung a few green peaches, clearly unripe.
¡°I remember¡ these peaches take three years to mature, yet they taste incredibly sweet. Sadly, Father never let me have more than a few, saying they were reserved for the children during their foundation cultivation phase. These peaches possess gentle spiritual energy, free from any pill toxicity, making them supreme for cultivating one¡¯s elemental base¡¡± Ruan Xingling murmured almost to herself, ¡°When Lu rebelled, Father could have easily destroyed this tree but couldn¡¯t bear to¡¡±
¡°Now¡ this spirit nt has finally returned to my hands.¡±
¡°Xingling, enduring humiliation and bearing burdens all these years, you¡¯ve ultimately avenged your grudge. I am truly pleased,¡± said an elderly voice.
An elderly man in a crane-patterned robe approached leisurely¡ªit was Feng Baimeng. Gently stroking his beard, he spoke with a kindly tone, ¡°As for your position within the alliance, there¡¯s no need to worry. With my reputation and that old Daoist Xiu Mu¡¯s connections, being the rightful heirs of Peach Blossom Ind, suppressing these traitors will leave no room for dissent¡¡±
¡°As far as the nearby families go, our Bai Yufeng n and the Moraxi Mo n fully support you, considering our kinship ties¡ Lu Jingqing is aware of this too; instead of aligning with us, he seeks favor from Golden Tooth, the entric from Golden me Ind. But would Golden Tooth truly oppose all three ns just for a mere dead man? Your seat as Ind Lord is secure. When do you n to hold the grand ceremony for assuming the title? I¡¯ll ensure Manlou brings a substantial gift!¡±
Feng Baimeng continued talking at length, seemingly typical for the elderly who often be more talkative with age. ¡°Oh right, do you still remember Manlou? That little rascal has grown into quite a handsome young man now!¡±
¡°But how could you entrust this sacred Peach Blossom Ind to outsiders? That old Daoist Xiu Mu might be tolerable, but the other three rogue cultivators are merely at Mid-Stage Qi Refinement with no notable connections or specialized skills¡¡±
Ruan Xingling¡¯s expression remained resolute. ¡°I have my own ns for this matter. The Ruan Familycks sufficient manpower and requires assistance!¡±
¡°Indeed!¡± Feng Baimeng pped his hands, smiling. ¡°If you need people, why not rely on the Bai n and Mo n? We¡¯re all family; would we ever harm you?¡±
¡°Sigh¡ Must you pressure me?¡± Ruan Xingling¡¯s features gradually hardened. ¡°Since Great-Grandfather is here, let me make it clear¡ Even if I were to seek a husband from another n in the future, neither the Mo nor Feng ns will be considered. After all, I bear the name of Ruan!¡±
¡°You¡¡± Feng Baimeng¡¯s beard trembled slightly before heposed himself again, letting out a long sigh. ¡°Ah¡ Yuanzhan truly has a remarkable daughter.¡±
At Jade Cliff, a group of mortals armed with blueprints provided by Fang Xi were diligentlyying foundations, stacking bricks¡ working tirelessly.
Whenever Fang Xi came to supervise, they trembled nervously, wearing humble and ingratiating smiles, almost ready to kneel and bow their heads in reverence.
Most wore tattered clothes patched multiple times, appearing gaunt and malnourished. Yet despite this, they seemed somewhat better off than themoners in Yue Kingdom.
Fang Xi could only silently feel relieved that he hadn¡¯t been reincarnated as one of these spiritually rootlessmon folk; otherwise, life would have been unbearable from day one.
He ventured into his spirit field, beginning tasks like weeding and fertilizing¡
asionally, he employed the Spring Breeze and Timely Rain Technique along with the Golden Seventh Metal Grass Cutting Sword, feeling grateful that his old skills had not gone rusty.
¡°Phew¡¡± After finishing work on another acre, Fang Xi straightened up, taking a deep breath.
¡°Generally speaking, even a skilled spirit farmer can barely manage three or four acres at most.¡±
¡°Now I have thirteen acres, which under normal circumstances would require hiring several spirit farmers, allowing me to be a small-scalendlord in the cultivation world¡ Then imagine having beautiful wives, lovely servants, fine clothing, exquisite food, grand mansions - what bliss!¡±
¡°Fortunately, being a body cultivator, I can handle it all myself.¡±
After expressing his sentiments, Fang Xi continued to work diligently, head bowed.
Following the spirit farming legacy, once the spirit field was properly prepared, it was time to sow the Scarlet Blood Spirit Rice seeds.
This particr spirit rice is nted in spring and harvested in autumn, requiring special irrigation with spirit water throughout the season. Ideally, mixing some wild animal blood, preferably from mythical beasts, enhances its growth.
By doing so, the resulting spirit rice gains abundant blood qi.
For other spirit farmers, obtaining mythical beast blood might be challenging, but for Fang Xi, it was as easy as finding ordinary spring water.
¡°Fellow Daoist Fang, how¡¯s the nting of spirit rice going?!¡±
An hourter, arge paper crane leisurely flew over, and a figure jumped down from it - none other than Xiu Mu the old Daoist!
With a cheerful greeting, he noticed Fang Xi looking up. ¡°Fellow Daoist Xiu Mu, here to remind me about the spirit stones? I¡¯ve already mentioned that I¡¯ll repay you once the spirit rice harvests!¡±
¡°It¡¯s not just about those twenty spirit stones¡¡± Xiu Mu hastily waved his hand and nced at the fields. ¡°Eh? You¡¯re actually growing Scarlet Blood Spirit Rice? This type doesn¡¯t fetch much price¡¡±
¡°The local spiritual energy is insufficient, so I¡¯m starting with varieties that require less energy. Building soil fertilityes first¡¡± Fang Xi hopped onto the edge of the field, rubbing his hands together. ¡°I didn¡¯t expect your visit, Fellow Daoist. What brings you here?¡±
¡°After three days, it will be the grand ceremony for Goddess Ruan¡¯s appointment as Ind Lord.¡± Xiu Mu¡¯s expression turned serious as he mentioned the main purpose of his visit. ¡°The old Daoist hase to deliver an invitation!¡±
¡°Ah!¡±
Fang Xi epted the invitation, nced at it briefly, and casually ced it into his bag of holding. ¡°Many thanks, Daoist friend. Please convey my message that I¡¯ll definitely attend in three days!¡±
Xiu Mu was taken aback; Fellow Daoist Fang seemed quite sociable in the market, but upon arriving at Peach Blossom Ind, he appeared somewhat distant. After pondering for a moment, Xiu Mu decided to hint further, ¡°For this ceremony honoring Goddess Ruan, representatives from both the Feng and Mo ns are expected to attend¡¡±
¡°Oh!¡± Fang Xi responded with deliberate ambiguity, aiming to reinforce his aloof image.
Feeling anxious, Xiu Mu chose to be blunt, ¡°Currently, Goddess Ruan values us four greatly, but we¡¯re essentially guests here. It¡¯s best if we stick together, acting in unison, so we can support each other effectively!¡±
Does Fang Xi truly not understand such basic pragmatism?
¡°I see!¡± Fang Xi nodded initially, then shook his head. ¡°However, I only wish to cultivate quietly at Jade Cliff and have no interest in getting involved with external matters. Perhaps your suggestion of moving together is not suitable for me¡¡±
Left speechless for a moment, Xiu Mu eventually stamped his foot in frustration and departed, waving his sleeves.
Three dayster.
At Mirror Moon Lake¡¯s shore, within the Ruan family mansion.
Cultivators from the surrounding area gathered together, filling over a dozen tables.
Red silk banners adorned the estate, creating an atmosphere of festive celebration.
The tables wereden with freshly picked spirit fruits and pastries made from spirit rice, while tea flowed abundantly like water.
Fang Xi casually chose a low-grade magical item from his spoils as a congrattory gift and was seated at one of the peripheral tables, coincidentally joining Wei Yixin and his wife.
Meanwhile, Xiu Mu, adept at social maneuvering, acted as a temporary host, weing guests almost like a member of the Ruan family himself.
asionally, some cultivators nced at Fang Xi¡¯s group with expressions ranging from envy to jealousy¡and even resentment!
¡°Goddess Ruan isn¡¯t wise here; why would she recruit these rogue cultivators? Their cultivation bases seem quite ordinary¡¡±
¡°Indeed! Offering them spiritualnd, even if it¡¯s insignificant, still provides a foundation for their future! They¡¯ve truly hit the jackpot!¡±
What defines a rogue cultivator? Like floating duckweed, without a fixed abode, drifting aimlessly,cking support in old age¡they represent the lowest stratum of the cultivation world!
Acquiring a piece of spiritualnd, however, serves as the foundational basis for establishing a n or sect.
Countless rogue cultivators spend their entire lives yearning for such an opportunity, only to never glimpse any hope.
Witnessing Fang Xi and three other rogues secure a foothold now naturally fueled envy, with some even harboring resentment!
¡°You don¡¯t quite understand; Goddess Ruan¡¯s strategy is truly clever,¡± said an old cultivator, his face glowing brightly. He took a sip of spirit tea and began exining enthusiastically, ¡°Although she is a formidable Late Stage Qi Refinement expert, being alone has its limitations. By gathering rogue cultivators without established roots as her supportwork and integrating allied familial powers, she creates internal checks and bnces, ensuring temporary stability¡ Additionally, by promoting spiritual-rooted children from the mortal popce and bestowing them with the ¡®Ruan¡¯ surname, she deepens her foundation, forming a tripartite bnce¡ In several decades, when these trusted cultivators mature, this territory will be as solid as an iron fortress!¡±
Fang Xi, with sharper hearing than Wei Yixin and his wife, couldn¡¯t help but feel speechless upon overhearing this. A tiny ind¡¯s territory was being likened to a kingdom?
Is this old cultivator perhaps a former swindler of geomancy from the mundane world? Did he also dabble in dragon-ying techniques or something simr?
¡°Fellow Daoist Fang, please enjoy some tea!¡± Wei Yixin managed a stiff smile, taking initiative to mend rtions with Fang Xi.
Over the past few days, after being guided by his cultivation partner, he realized that as a future rooted cultivator, there was no need for constant conflict. Instead, fostering good rtionships with neighbors would be beneficial - without any harm!
Moreover, Peach Blossom Ind itself wasn¡¯t entirely tranquil either!
¡°Hmm, have you settledfortably on West Peak already? What do you n to do for livelihood?¡± Fang Xi casually asked while sipping his spirit tea.
¡°West Peak has several dwellings; they just require minor repairs to make them habitable¡¡± This time, Hua Chanjuan eagerly joined the conversation, herughter charming and full of vitality, her expression brimming with anticipation for the future: ¡°There¡¯s also a beautiful sea of flowers¡ I know techniques for cultivating jade bees, so we intend to train more of them. Next year, we should be able to harvest spirit honey. However, my husband here, ustomed to wielding a de for battles, struggles even with making bee hives - they turn out crooked and quite unsightly¡¡±
¡°Now with our own spiritualnd, we can save on medicinal pills for cultivation and instead purchase more spirit seeds. As fellow Daoists, you being a spirit farmer, please teach us well about farming! I¡¯m tired of living by the edge of a de. Selling some magical artifacts should also allow me to buy a few nice outfits¡¡±
She chattered incessantly before finally inviting them, ¡°My husband and I n to establish a family lineage, what do you think of calling it ¡®Twin Wei¡¯?¡±
¡°Why bring this up now?¡± Wei Yixin¡¯s face flushed red.
Fang Xi momentarily paused, then nced at Hua Chanjuan¡¯s t abdomen, feeling somewhat speechless.
Forming a Qi Refining family would indeed be a long and arduous journey for them.
Outside, Xiu Mu¡¯s robust voice echoed, ¡°From White Feather Ind, Feng Manlou of the Feng n, and from ck Sand Ind, Mo Qingyu of the Mo n, have arrived!¡±
Most guests turned their attention towards the entrance, witnessing two young cultivators, one d in white robes and the other in green, entering together. Both were strikingly handsome, exuding grace and elegance that left many secretly impressed.
¡°Hmph! The shamelessness of the Feng and Mo ns, scheming for a marriage alliance? Disgusting!¡± Hua Chanjuan spat softly, her expression visibly displeased.
Chapter 91: Old Monster Goldtooth
Chapter 91: Old Monster Goldtooth
¡°A potential son-inw?¡±
Fang Xi nced at Feng Manlou and Mo Qingyu, nodding slightly. ¡°Indeed¡ marrying the ind lord would be quite advantageous, securing both wealth and influence.¡±
Such arrangements were not umon.
At least it indicated that the Bai n and Mo n preferred more diplomatic means over conflict.
For Fang Xi, this was satisfactory enough. Whether Peach Blossom Ind bore the name of ¡®Ruan¡¯ or ¡®Bai¡¯, as long as his tree cultivation remained undisturbed, he had no objections.
¡°Fellow Daoist Fang¡ you don¡¯t seem to have a cultivation partner yet?¡± Hua Chanjuan suddenly posed a question that left Fang Xi torn betweenughter and tears.
Despite herposed demeanor, this female cultivator asionally disyed remarkably naive suggestions, which could be quite unexpected.
¡°I¡¯m only in Mid-Stage Qi Refinement¡ Moreover, my focus is solely on the Great Dao; I do not wish to divert my attention to romantic matters!¡± Fang Xi replied firmly. ¡°Please refrain from discussing such topics in the future!¡±
¡°My apologies, I spoke out of turn!¡± Hua Chanjuan noticed her husband¡¯s expression and hastily lowered her head.
¡°Ind Lord arrives!¡±
After all guests from the Feng and Mo ns had gathered, apanied by the old Daoist¡¯s announcement, Ruan Xingling elegantly entered wearing a festive bright red mage robe. She took her seat at the head table, raised a wine cup, and said, ¡°We deeply appreciate everyone¡¯s presence today. Please join me in this toast!¡±
¡°My pleasure, Ind Lord!¡±
Fang Xi and others promptly lifted their cups, ensuring a convivial atmosphere between hosts and guests.
¡°Ahem¡ with such a grand feast nearby, how could you not invite an old fellow like myself?¡±
Suddenly, a sardonic voice echoed from outside the courtyard.
The old Daoist¡¯s expression shifted slightly as he sensed the speaker¡¯s magical energy, seemingly stronger than even Late Stage Qi Refinement!
In a sh of golden light, a figure appeared within the courtyard!
This individual was short-statured, barely over five feet tall, with beady eyes and rather unappealing features. Dressed in a golden mage robe, they exuded an immensely powerful aura, clearly having reached the great circle of Qi Refinement!
¡°It¡¯s Old Monster Goldtooth from Golden me Ind! Why has he shown up here?¡± Feng Manlou¡¯s face instantly paled.
¡°Old Monster Goldtooth?!¡± The rogue cultivator guests fell silent, struck with apprehension.
Much like Yu Lingzi, this person was also at the great circle of Qi Refinement, just one step away from Foundation Establishment!
Known for his unpredictable temper and astonishing power, he monopolized a tier-1 high-grade spiritual vein on Golden me Ind for cultivation.
Previously, Peach Blossom Ind¡¯s Lu n had tried to curry favor with him, but it didn¡¯t lead anywhere significant.
Could his unexpected arrival today be aimed at challenging Ruan Xingling?
At this thought, everyone grew visibly uneasy, with Wei Yixin secretly tightening his grip on his magical artifact.
¡°Ah, Patriarch Goldtooth! Please take your honored seat!¡± Unfazed by the neer, Ruan Xingling instructed her attendants to prepare a prestigious position at the head table.
¡°Heh heh¡ Although I¡¯m an uninvited guest, etiquette must still be observed.¡± Old Monster Goldtooth casually tossed out a spirit stone.
The spirit stone appeared simr in size to a standard low-grade one but was significantly purer, crystal-clear, brimming with abundant spiritual energy nearly overflowing from within.
¡°Could it be a mid-grade spirit stone?¡± The old Daoist, Xiu Mu, rubbed his eyes, hardly believing what he saw.
Such stones were rumored to serve asrge-denomination currency among Foundation Establishment cultivators.
¡°Well, well, the old man has keen eyes indeed!¡± Old Monster Goldtooth chuckled, taking his seat at the head table. Then, turning to Feng Manlou and Mo Qingyu across from him, he asked, ¡°Your families im kinship ties; let¡¯s see what valuable gifts you¡¯ve brought?¡±
Mo Qingyu¡¯s expression instantly turned grim. While both he and Feng Manlou had prepared generous gifts, they paled inparison to a single mid-grade spirit stone.
This gift was worth at least one hundred low-grade spirit stones, often more than that couldn¡¯t even be purchased!
¡°Many thanks for your generous offering, Patriarch Goldtooth! Ruan Xingling raises another toast to you!¡± Ruan Xingling smiled warmly, seemingly oblivious to the tension hidden within Old Monster Goldtooth¡¯s words.
¡°Haha, girl, you¡¯re quite impressive. Back in the day, your Ruan Family ancestors and I had a good rapport. As for that so-called Lu n, I¡¯ve always held them in contempt.¡± Old Monster Goldtooth downed his cup with a heartyugh. ¡°Today, not only have I rified my stance, but I also brought an additional gift. Behold!¡±
He pped his bag of holding and produced a box emanating a strong scent of blood.
As the lid opened, gasps echoed throughout the hall.
Insidey a severed head, its eyes wide open in shock!
¡°That seems to be the only surviving Mid-Stage Qi Refinement cultivator from the Lu n,¡± eximed Old Daoist Xiumu upon recognition, involuntarily letting out a cry.
After all, this cultivator had nearly killed him before recognizing the unfavorable situation and making a hasty escape. The encounter left a deep impression on Xiumu.
¡°Well?¡±
Old Monster Goldtooth chuckled expectantly.
¡°Naturally, Peach Blossom Ind and Golden me Ind shall be friends from now on.¡±
Ruan Xingling, having consumed several cups of wine, disyed a rosy flush on her cheeks. Though appearing slightly tipsy, it only enhanced her charming allure¡
Below at the feast, exquisite dishes flowed onto the tables like a stream, but Wei Yixin felt a tightness in his chest. ¡°Do you think¡ what is Old Monster Goldtooth really after?¡±
¡°Most likely just distancing himself from any involvement¡ Our ind lord has considerable influence and cunning.¡±
Fang Xi, on the other hand, eagerly indulged in the food and drink, enjoying it immensely.
In his mind, he had some spections too.
The outside world would likely attribute the elimination of the second Kou brother to Ruan Xingling, which was quite terrifying! Even with Old Monster Goldtooth¡¯s fearsome reputation, one could count on one hand the Late Stage Qi Refinement cultivators he had in.
Moreover, given Golden me Ind¡¯s proximity to the three neighboring ns, avoiding further entanglements made sense. Cutting ties early with the Lu n seemed the best strategy.
¡®Perfect, let Ind Lord Ruan carry this burden¡¡¯ ¡®I have no desire for such notoriety.¡¯
Fang Xi ate heartily until fully satisfied, then followed the crowd to bid farewell without any concern for subsequent matters. He promptly returned to Jade Valley for uninterrupted cultivation.
This left Old Daoist Xiu Mu and the Wei couple utterly dumbfounded, as they were nning to discuss further ns together.
During the banquet earlier, Feng Manlou and Mo Qingyu had announced their intention to send cultivators to assist Ruan Xingling in securing Peach Blossom Ind. They were expecting to strategize, so why did Fang Xi leave so abruptly?
¡°Petty intrigues¡ they pale inparison to my cultivation progress.¡±
At Jade Cliff.
Inside his log cabin, Fang Xi sat cross-legged, practicing the Evesting Spring Art.
He consistently avoided getting entangled in such chaotic affairs.
As he felt the world¡¯s spiritual energy flowing inward, immense satisfaction washed over him, eliciting a subtle smile on his face.
Even this subpar spiritualnd provided a boost for cultivation.
At least, it was significantly better than Great Liang and the mortal realm.
Practicing here would elerate his progress towards mastering the fifthyer of the technique by several folds!
Unbeknownst to him, spring had faded away, giving way to summer.
With a thunderous roar!
ck clouds gathered, unleashing torrential rain!
Fang Xi, d in a straw cape and conical hat, was inspecting the spirit fields at Jade Cliff amidst the downpour.
At the edge of the spirit fields, a small four-sided courtyard house had risen from the ground. The diligent work of mortals,bined with Fang Xi asionally employing magical techniques and artifacts for assistance, brought it to fruition.
While legendary great cultivators were said to possess powers capable of moving mountains or filling seas, Fang Xi couldn¡¯t achieve such feats yet. However, constructing a residence was well within his capabilities.
After rewarding the mortal craftsmen with additional gold and silver, they departed with heartfelt gratitude. To them, trespassing on the dwelling ce of an Immortal Master without summons was strictly forbidden¡ªa lesson learned through many bloody experiences.
Fang Xi nned toter set up the ¡®Little Clouds and Rain Formation¡¯, ensuring no unwanted disturbances or prying eyes.
As he gazed upon the robust red seedlings thriving in the spirit fields, he nodded contentedly, ¡°The mythical beast blood truly has remarkable effects¡¡±
Since the departure of those mortal craftsmen, Fang Xi seized an opportunity to travel back to Great Liang, procuring numerous quantities of mythical beast blood.
After irrigation, the Scarlet Blood Spirit Rice showed remarkably promising growth.
¡°Originally, these spirit fields would yield around two hundred pounds per acre when nted with Scarlet Blood Spirit Rice. With my cultivation methods, perhaps by autumn we could achieve over three hundred pounds per acre?¡±
As a spirit farmer, Fang Xi could estimate the harvest fairly urately.
¡®Scarlet Blood Spirit Rice sells for thirty pounds per low-grade spirit stone in the market. With thirteen acres here, that¡¯s equivalent to one hundred thirty low-grade spirit stones?¡¯
¡®Indeed, being andowner is much more profitable than a tenant farmer!¡¯
¡®The only downside is the slow progress in cultivating my technique.¡¯
Fang Xi extended his hand, and faint threads of green light blossomed at his fingertips. Nearby raindrops seemed drawn towards him, carrying traces of spiritual energy, which he transformed into a mist enveloping the surrounding spirit fields.
¡®Adapting to time and ce¡ By harnessing natural rainfall, the range of this Spring Breeze and Timely Rain Technique significantly increases¡¡¯
After casting the spell on all thirteen acres, Fang Xi assessed the magical energy expenditure, nodding yet shaking his head slightly.
He increasingly felt the limitations imposed by his low-grade spirit root on his cultivation progress.
¡®At this pace¡ without relying on medicinal pills and only cultivating on spiritualnd, reaching the peak of the fifthyer in the Evesting Spring Art would likely take around five years¡ Then who knows how many more years I¡¯d be stuck at the bottleneck.¡¯
¡®The Mid-Stage Qi Refinement is already challenging; the Late Stage will undoubtedly be even harder. Achieving oneyer every ten years might not suffice, making it impossible to meet the basic requirements for Foundation Establishment before the age limit of sixty¡¡¯
¡®Fortunately, I am not constrained by blood qi limitations, so there¡¯s no need to rush achieving perfection in Qi Refinement within a single decade¡¡¯
Fang Xi returned to his residence and changed into a straw raincoat.
Following his design, the four-sided courtyard house now included a kitchen, animal pens, a well, herb fields, and various other amenities. Despite its modest size, it had all the essential features necessary forfortable living.
He headed to the bathing area, opened the faucet, and swiftly enjoyed hot water flowing¡
After a refreshing shower, Fang Xi dressed in lightweight clothing and entered the cultivation room.
This secluded chamber met his specific requirements, constructed from extremely thick stone blocks with paper talismans covering the walls. It providedplete soundproofing, light blocking, and some level of defensive protection.
Once the door was closed, it felt like entering another world entirely.
Fang Xi approached the meditation cushion, lifted it aside, and revealed a dark opening beneath.
He grabbed a night pearl, illuminating his path as he descended.
Over these past days, Fang Xi had thoroughly explored Jade Cliff, studying its terrain to prepare for setting up various formations. In the process, he discovered an unexpected delight:
A cave nestled within the sheer cliff face!
He intentionally blocked all entrances except one facing Wan Ind Lake, carefully concealing it from view outside.
Simultaneously, he secretly constructed a tunnel leading directly to the cultivation room of his residence.
Drip¡ Drip¡
The cave connected to an underground water vein. As Fang Xi reached the bottom, he saw a pool of water with droplets echoing around him.
¡°This ce is still too small; I need to expand it further!¡±
He embedded the night pearl in a rock, then took out the Golden Flood Dragon de and Sword, beginning to erge the cave.
These high-grade magical artifacts cut through iron effortlessly, slicing rocks as easily as butter - truly ideal tools for such work.
Before long, several bags of holding were filled with broken stones.
Fang Xi exited via the cliff-side entrance and tossed the debris into the depths of theke¡
Chapter 92: Bathing in Decay
Chapter 92: Bathing in Decay
After diligentbor, Fang Xi gazed upon the expanded cave chamber.
He sat on a rock, took out the jade slip containing the ¡®Longevity Technique¡¯, and began to slowlyprehend it.
This location was naturally chosen for nting his tree - ensuring minimal chances of exposure from the start.
Moreover, should any trouble arise, with secrets revealed or facing strong adversaries¡¯ siege, he could escape through the cliffside opposite, directly jumping into Wan Ind Lake.
Once in theke, using its waters to conceal his movement, he could swiftly traverse away - a seamless n!
It served as a precautionary measure.
¡°Hmm¡ With this setup, even if I fail while cultivating the Longevity Technique, the potential damage to my body and magical energy would be minimal¡¡±
After several rounds of studying the technique, Fang Xi reached this conclusion.
A momentter, he put away the jade slip and retrieved the dusty seed. Out of the three seeds, he had meticulously selected this one for its most abundant vitality.
As for attempting the Demon Tree from the Great Liang World, only a fool would consider such a risk!
Under the gentle glow of the night pearl, Fang Xi recited a series of intricate and esoteric incantations, his eyes suddenly shimmering with green radiance.
In the next moment, he produced a magical dagger, withdrew his true astral energy, and forcefully cut open his finger¡¯s skin. Drops of blood dripped from his fingertip onto the spiritual seed.
Gurgling sounds emerged as something peculiar happened. The blood swiftly prated into the seed, being rapidly absorbed by it! On the surface of the seed, fine crimson runes briefly appeared before quickly vanishing without a trace¡
This marked the initial stage of refining the lifebound spirit nt for the Longevity Technique!
Each day, Fang Xi would cleanse the spiritual seed with his magical energy, supplemented by drops of his own blood, to establish a connection!
Since this was a seed from the Demon Tree, Fang Xi took extra precautions, ensuring all possible contingencies were covered.
Afterpleting his daily practice, Fang Xi hesitated momentarily. After a brief pause, a determined expression shed across his face. Gripping the spiritual seed tightly, his fingers moved fluidly, akin to manipting yin and yang energies!
¡°Hah!¡±
With a fierce shout, Fang Xi activated ¡®Qi Circting Body¡¯, enveloping himself in a blood-red aura.
¡°Primordial True Art!¡±
He meticulously practiced martial techniques, channeling highly concentrated fist intent through his palms to continuously refine the spiritual seed!
This was Dugu Wuwang¡¯s ¡®Demon-Devouring Technique¡¯!
Using the zongshi¡¯s immense blood qi and willpower¡ he relentlessly assaulted and cleansed any residual demonic presence within the seed!
By now, Fang Xi was nearly certain that no trace of foreign consciousness remained in the spiritual seed; only his own imprint persisted.
¡°What a pity¡ If I had achieved the ¡®True Astral Manifestation¡¯ realm, it would have been even more foolproof!¡±
Afterpleting a set of boxing moves, Fang Xi gazed at the spiritual seed with a hint of sentiment, but quickly dismissed his concerns.
Dugu Wuwang, being just a Body Tempering Zongshi, managed to remain unharmed for years after consuming a piece of the Qilin Demon¡¯s flesh.
As a cultivator, armed with additional tranquility-inducing medicinal pills, there was no way a mere demonic seed could defeat him! Only facing the entire Demon Tree itself might pose a simr challenge!
After some busy work, Fang Xi concealed the cliff entrance and crawled back through the secret passageway to his cultivation room.
Sitting cross-legged, heposed himself, focusing on cultivating the Evesting Spring Art!
Oncepleting several cycles of Qi cirction, Fang Xi stepped out of the cultivation room to learn paper talisman crafting in the talisman studio or attempt artificing in the workshop.
His peaceful life was simple yet unpretentious.
Each day consisted of tending to the spirit field, excavating the cave, practicing cultivation techniques, and experimenting with various cultivation crafts¡
Previously at the Treasure Ship Market, Fang Xi had diligently collected numerous legacies.
However, after months of experimentation, he had to admit that hecked exceptional talent in pill concocting, paper talisman creation, and artificing. To make any progress, he would need to expend vast quantities of materials simply by brute force!
This realization left Fang Xi somewhat disheartened.
It became evident that he indeed wasn¡¯t a prodigy in these areas.
On the other hand, Miao Dong¡¯sÑøÖ³ÈÕÖ¾,Rearing Journal provided valuable insights, significantly advancing his progress as a spirit nter.
¡°Could it be that my talents lie primarily in nurturing spirit beasts and nts?¡± Fang Xi couldn¡¯t help but suspect this.
Apart from these skills, there was his long-standing interest in puppetry legacy, which remained elusive due to its niche nature, yielding no leads thus far.
Fang Xi believed that within the technique pavilions of major ns, one might find such puppetry legacies. However, since they were not openly shared, he had no idea where to even consider stealing them!
¡°Well¡ nothing in life is ever perfect,¡± Fang Xi sighed. ¡°My preparations are now sufficient enough.¡±
As he watched the gradually subsiding rain outside the window, Fang Xi made a decision quietly, ¡°It¡¯s time¡to set up the Little Clouds and Rain Formation.¡±
Summer rainse swiftly and depart just as quickly.
The next day dawned clear, with not a cloud in sight, revealing a bright sunny sky.
Fang Xi grabbed a fishing basket and leaped down from Jade Cliff!
Whoosh!
A ck cloud instantly appeared beneath him, supporting his descent.
Gliding over theke¡¯s surface, he chose a rocky spot, cast his fishing rod, and began angling for fish.
Wan Ind Lake was known to harbor spirit fish!
In fact, many cultivators made their livelihood here, such as Miao Dong who raised water crows.
However, Fang Xi wasn¡¯t actually interested in catching spirit fish; it was purely for leisure.
After several hours, a massive paper crane slowly approached from the direction of Mirror Moon Lake.
Noticing his empty fishing basket, Fang Xi stowed both the rod and basket into his bag of holding before heading towards the iing figure.
¡°Haha¡ Fellow Daoist Fang seems quite rxed today. May I ask how many fish you caught?¡±
Xiu Mu observed Fang Xi¡¯s actions and deliberately asked with a grin, knowing well that living creatures cannot be stored in a bag of holding.
¡°nting crops and fishing are more about cultivating tranquility!¡± Fang Xi replied coolly, his expression unyielding.
¡°Ha ha ha!¡±
Xiu Mu chuckled heartily, clearly relishing this moment. Having endured Fang Xi¡¯s sarcastic jabs numerous times before, he finally felt vindicated today.
¡°Fellow Daoist Xiu Mu, what brings you here today?¡± Fang Xi pursed his lips, unwilling to engage further with this half-buried old man. He could see that Xiu Mu¡¯s cultivation was no longer sufficient to suppress his aging body, emitting faint wisps of deathly aura.
This individual¡¯s end was undoubtedly near; his willingness to risk everything earlier had been for the sake of his descendants.
¡°Today is a joyous asion. My descendants have arrived, and I cordially invite Daoist friend to join us in celebration.¡± Xiu Mu bowed sincerely, adding, ¡°In the future, my great-grandchild will be under your care.¡±
¡°That seems like a personal matter¡¡± Fang Xi shook his head repeatedly. However, seeing Xiu Mu practically pleading, he recalled how the old Daoist had lent him twenty spirit stones once. Reluctantly, Fang Xi nodded, ¡°Fine, I¡¯lle along for some refreshments¡¡±
He promptly produced the ck Cloud Pocket and leisurely followed Xiu Mu towards the eastern peak of Gemini Peak.
¡°A spiritualnd, indeed¡¡±
Xiu Mu, being elderly and frail, seemed to have even his magical energy diminished significantly. The paper crane he controlled moved at a pace simr to a brisk human jog, allowing him ample time to confide his thoughts with Fang Xi:
¡°We¡¯re truly fortunate these days, thanks to the benevolent Ind Lord whose word carries immense weight¡ Back when Wan Ind Lake¡¯s cultivation territories were first established, my Mu Family ancestors were only at the sixth level of Qi Refinement. They bravely led their kin through hardships, losing eight rtives along the way, just to barely carve out a spirit ind. Yet, in no time, it was deceitfully seized by others. Our ancestor died heartbroken, spitting blood from sheer anger¡¡±
¡°Subsequent generations proved incapable, surviving merely asborers for other powers or tenant farmers. While nominally considered a Qi Refining n, in reality, we were akin to rootless rogue cultivators¡¡±
¡°By my generation, I managed to rely on umted connections, engaging in information trading and acting as a middleman¡¡±
¡°But now, our Mu Family finally has a ce to pass down its legacy. When Xiu Mu dies, I will face our ancestors with pride¡¡±
¡®Xiu Mu¡¯ - this was indeed the true name of the old Daoist.
His cheeks flushed red, reminiscent of a dying glow before the end.
Fang Xi feared that Xiu Mu might suddenly gasp for breath and plummet off the magical artifact.
Fortunately, the old Daoist maintained steady control as they leisurely arrived at the eastern peak of Gemini Peak.
The mountain wasn¡¯t particrly high but was lush with verdant foliage, offering quite picturesque scenery.
At a spiritual energy convergence point, several rows of log cabins had already been constructed. Some still retained their bark, emitting a refreshing scent of nts and wood.
A group of men, women, and children were busily working. Upon seeing Xiu Mu approach, they hastily greeted him with bows, addressing him as ¡®Patriarch¡¯!
Observing them, Fang Xi noted there were at least several dozen individuals, including families with both young and old members. Among them, two or three elderly people appeared as aged as Xiu Mu, yet their cultivation bases were only at the second or thirdyers of Qi Refinement. Their faces and hands bore deep signs of hardship, reminiscent of the demeanor Fang Xi often saw in other ns¡¯ tenant spirit farmers.
¡°These few must not only have inferior spiritual roots but also suffer under the exploitation of wealthy households, leaving them no time to cultivate,¡± Fang Xi surmised silently. ¡°Even saving a few spirit crystals is likely done secretly to pass on to their younger generations; with such low cultivation, their lives are essentially wasted¡¡±
Despite these thoughts, Fang Xi smiled warmly and returned greetings to each person individually.
Xiu Mu deliberately guided Fang Xi towards a handsome young man d in brocade robes, solemnly introducing him, ¡°This is my great-grandson - Mu Wen. He has already cultivated to the fourth level of Qi Refinement at just over twenty years old, possessing aptitudes nearlyparable to yours, Daoist friend. Indeed, he is destined to be the next patriarch of our Mu Family¡¡±
Upon hearing this praise, a hint of pride flickered across Mu Wen¡¯s face.
Then Xiu Mu continued, ¡°Wen, quickly greet your Uncle Fang! Your Uncle Fang not only excels in farming but also once single-handedly, with just his sword, decimated the entire Lu n - quite the feat for a sword cultivator!¡±
¡°Greetings, Uncle Fang!¡± Reluctantly, Mu Wen stepped forward to pay respects to Fang Xi, who appeared barely older than himself. Internally, however, he grumbled, ¡®Single-handedly with a sword, decimating the Lu n? They were mostly Initial Stage Qi Refiners back then, with only a Late Stage expert overseeing them; I could have done it too if given the chance!¡¯
¡°Dear nephew, please rise¡¡± Fang Xi gestured courteously with both hands, adding, ¡°As for aptitude, mine is merely average.¡±
In truth, Fang Xi knew well his own circumstances. Without the resources from trading between two realms, which allowed him to purchase medicinal pills, he likely would still be struggling at the third level of Qi Refining!
¡°Did you hear that, Cousin Manlou? These rogue cultivators are still at the third or fourth levels of Qi Refinement in their mid-twenties, yet they act so proud¡¡±
A white jade boat soared overhead and abruptly halted.
Mo Qingyu leaped down, addressing Feng Manlou on the boat, ¡°In our Mo n, if descendants haven¡¯t surpassed the fourth level of Qi Refinement by age twenty-five, they¡¯re sent to work in the family¡¯s spirit fields or shops¡¡±
Chapter 93: A Furious Break of Swords
Chapter 93: A Furious Break of Swords
¡°Fellow Daoist Xiu Mu¡¡±
Fang Xi turned to nce at the uninvited guests and then looked towards Old Daoist Xiu Mu.
¡°Sigh¡¡± Xiu Mu let out a breath, stepping forward to greet them, ¡°Fellow Daoists Mo and Feng¡ What brings you here today?¡±
¡°Haha, well, since we¡¯ve joined asw enforcement cultivators for Mirror Moon Lake, it¡¯s our responsibility to ensure the safety of Peach Blossom Ind. With such a diverse crowd gathered here today, we must verify everyone¡¯s identity to prevent any demonic cultivators from infiltrating,¡± Feng Manlou dered with righteous conviction as he descended from the flying boat.
These n cultivators naturally had little inmon with the rogue cultivators upying Twin Peaks. Whenever they encountered each other, there was always some snide banter involved.
Fang Xi decided to step aside, choosing not to engage. After all, his Jade Cliff was far away, allowing him to avoid the conflict altogether.
Soon after, Wei Yixin and his wife arrived from West Peak. Notably, Hua Chanjuan was visibly pregnant, carrying six months along.
Fang Xi hurriedly approached to offer his congrattions, secretly calcting how much he would need to contribute once the child is born.
For this gathering hosted by Old Daoist Xiu Mu, Fang Xi had already gifted a low-grade spirit stone, which wasn¡¯t insignificant! ¡°Fang Xi, perfect timing! Help me reason with this stubborn bull!¡±
Since bing pregnant, Hua Chanjuan¡¯s temper had grown even more fiery. She jabbed her finger at Wei Yixin¡¯s forehead, scolding, ¡°I told him to focus on tending flowers and bees, but he wouldn¡¯t listen! A few words from others, and he¡¯s off adventuring again¡ How many peaceful days have we even had?¡±
¡°Isn¡¯t it all for our child?¡± Wei Yixin replied softly, his face unusually tender. ¡°I need to find spirit objects to nourish your pregnancy¡ Andter, when the baby is born, there will be a need for foundational cultivation essentials. If they possess spiritual roots, we¡¯ll also require resources for their future practice¡¡±
Watching this exchange, Fang Xi didn¡¯t want another serving of their affectionate disy and turned his attention elsewhere.
He noticed that after speaking briefly with Mu Wen, Mo Qingyu nced his way with a challenging gleam in his eyes. In a loud voice, Mo Qingyu dered, ¡°I heard you single-handedly cut through an entire cultivation n with just one sword¡ Ha, who considers the Lu n a significant family anyway? Fellow Daoist Fang, your low-grade magical artifact, the Qinghe Sword, seems quite renowned on Peach Blossom Ind. Would you care to demonstrate its prowess?¡±
With a cultivation base clearly at the sixthyer of Qi Refining, just a step away from the seventh, Mo Qingyu naturally looked down upon Fang Xi, who was merely at the fourthyer initially and now barely reaching the fifth.
Hearing the deliberate emphasis on ¡®low-grade magical artifact¡¯, Fang Xi smiled wryly and responded, ¡°Fellow Daoist Mo must jest; what sword techniques could a spirit farmer like me know? It¡¯s just some haphazard training, relying solely on determination and bravery¡¡±
As he spoke, Fang Xi produced the Qinghe Sword.
The de resembled a verdant leaf and was indeed a low-grade magical item, showing signs of wear and damage.
Feng Manlou and Mo Qingyu couldn¡¯t help but disy expressions of disdain upon seeing it.
Despite being at Mid-Stage Qi Refinement, his sword was still merely low-grade.
Not only that, but it appeared significantly worn out.
Even Mu Wen felt her own magical artifacts were far superior to Fang Xi¡¯s¡
¡°This sword was gifted to me by a dear friend; we¡¯ve beenpanions for many years. s, s¡¡± Holding the Qinghe Sword, Fang Xi seemed to envision Old Man Mai¡¯s warm smile and voice as if by fate¡¯s design.
With this very sword in hand, he had carved a bloody path, achieving what other spirit farmers spent their entire lives striving for yet could never attain.
His gaze turned icy, and with two fingers gripping the de, hemented, ¡°Truly unfortunate¡¡±
A sharp cracking sound echoed!
Applying force with his fingers, Fang Xi snapped the Qinghe Sword in half.
Clunk!
The broken halves of the de and hilt fell to the ground, leaving Mo Qingyu momentarily stunned.
¡°Such a pity that this sword, possessing its own spirit, refused to be dishonored and chose to shatter itself!¡± Fang Xi nced at Mo Qingyu, his chilling stare making thetter involuntarily stiffen.
With a coldugh, Fang Xi ignored Xiu Mu and the others, turning to depart.
Stunned, Mo Qingyu recalled Fang Xi¡¯s earlier words - ¡®What sword techniques could we spirit farmers possibly know? Just improvised training and relying on sheer courage to fight¡¡¯
Gazing at the broken halves of the sword, he suddenly realized that if anyone dared to threaten his foundation as a rogue cultivator, Fang Xi would indeed risk everything!
¡°Ah¡ Mo brother, were you unaware that Fang Xi is already at the second stage of Body Tempering, a true body cultivator?¡± Feng Manlou casually remarked beside Mo Qingyu.
Despite having connections with the Mo n, Feng Manlou was a rival to Mo Qingyu. Seizing the opportunity, he aimed to undermine him further, ¡°Offending such a person, Mo brother, means you must always be vignt; he won¡¯t hesitate to draw blood¡¡±
¡°You¡¡± Mo Qingyu red at Feng Manlou, then shot a look at Mu Wen before angrily storming off, shaking his hand in frustration.
Seeing this, a hint of satisfaction curved Feng Manlou¡¯s lips as he too departed.
The banquet ended on a sour note.
After Wei Yixin and his wife departed, Mu Wen approached Xiu Mu, ¡°Patriarch, I¡¡±
p!
Xiu Mu swiftly delivered a loud backhand across Mu Wen¡¯s face, leaving him stunned.
¡°Do you know where you went wrong?¡± Xiu Mu¡¯s eyes reddened visibly. ¡°The old Daoist never imagined that despite your exceptional minor spiritual root aptitude, which led us to tirelessly support you alongside your father and uncles¡ªensuring you had every opportunity others enjoyed¡we inadvertently fostered such arrogance within you! Youck discernment between right and wrong, unable to distinguish friend from foe!¡±
¡°Did you think you were a noble n¡¯s young master, destined to align with the Feng and Mo ns? No, you¡¯re just a rogue cultivator! When our family was disced, barely able to stay together, your father and uncles worked day and night on others¡¯ spirit fields, squeezing out scarce moments for cultivation¡ Your mother spent each day refining silk fibers for merchants, her hands nearly worn raw! All this hardship was merely to save a few spirit crystals for your training.¡±
¡°Old Daoist Xiu Mu had initially nned to personally guide you, but with countless responsibilities, I could only let you train independently. And this is what you¡¯ve learned?¡± He seethed with anger.
Jade Cliff and West Peak were allies; maintaining friendship was crucial, not animosity. Respect towards Mirror Moon Lake was necessary, yet vignce against other family cultivators must never be neglected.
Despite his earnest teachings and guidance before the boy even ascended the mountain, he couldn¡¯t have anticipated such a disastrous oue.
¡°Patriarch¡ our family already possesses spiritualnd as its foundation. Why can¡¯t we aspire to be a renowned cultivator n someday?¡± Mu Wen still seemed unconvinced.
¡°You¡¡± Xiu Mu¡¯s fury red, prompting him once again to lunge for another strike, only to be firmly restrained by several elderly farmers. ¡°Wen just made a momentarypse in judgment,¡± they pleaded. ¡°With more guidance, it¡¯ll be fine.¡±
¡°Fine? What future is there now?¡± Xiu Mu angrily kicked over the redwood table in rage. ¡°Originally, this old Daoist intended to plead with Fellow Daoist Fang, hoping to secure work for you all in his spirit fields, which would earn us additional spirit stones each year. Now, everything is ruined!¡±
The elderly farmers exchanged nces, their spirits visibly dampened.
¡°After this public fallout, both sides should leave me alone from now on, right?¡±
Fang Xi crossed his arms, steering the ck Cloud Pocket as he flew towards Jade Cliff.
The Qinghe Sword held significant sentimental value to him; it was his first magical artifact, after all, and had cost over two spirit stones!
Alright, truth be told, it was just average¡
But seeing Mo Qingyu¡¯s provocation today, he casually used it as a symbol for severing ties, feeling that its worth exceeded expectations.
¡®From this day forward, my unpredictable temper will lead me to draw or break my sword at any moment. The reputation of my erratic nature and solitary disposition is bound to spread throughout Peach Blossom Ind, ensuring few dare to befriend me¡¡¯
¡®Return home, back to farming!¡¯
Upon arriving at Jade Cliff, Fang Xi first examined the growth of the Scarlet Blood Spirit Sprout before meticulously surveying the terrain, preparing for the future instation of the Little Cloudrain Array.
This process also served as practice in cultivating the Dao of arrays.
As the sun set, casting golden light across the sky, Fang Xi held apass while walking around his four-sided courtyard house.
¡°The formation has its life gate, death gate, and eye¡ The eye must be ced within my home, utilizing this area¡¯s spiritual vein to minimize the energy consumption for maintaining the Little Cloudrain Array should not be an issue. When activated, it could even enhance the Gathering Spirit effect¡ If limited only to the cultivation room, boosting the spiritual energy inside to low-rank first-tier should be manageable¡¡±
Fang Xi meticulously recorded the measurements into a jade slip, deciding promptly that after the autumn harvest, he would begin work on this project.
Just as he was about to fetch a fish from theke for dinner, he suddenly felt a presence and looked up.
Amidst the fading evening glow, a flower basket gracefully descended, apanied by tinkling silver bells.
¡°Greetings, Ind Lord!¡±
Upon seeing Ruan Xingling, Fang Xi hastily bowed in respect.
¡°I¡¯ve heard about today¡¯s incident¡¡± Ruan Xingling¡¯s expression remainedposed. ¡°I have already reimed the Qinghe Sword and can forge you a new one¡¡±
Although her governance relied on maintaining internal and external bnce, it also necessitated resolving conflicts and continually winning over hearts.
¡°Many thanks, Ind Lord. However, my lifelong aspiration is to transform swords into ploughs; I no longer wish for violence¡¡± Fang Xi bowed respectfully and continued earnestly, ¡°But if you¡¯re willing to assist me, there is indeed one matter I¡¯d like to trouble you with.¡±
¡°Speak!¡± Ruan Xingling¡¯s interest was immediately piqued.
¡°I¡¯m in need of a mobility magical artifact, and coincidentally, I¡¯ve acquired these materials. Would you be willing to craft them for me, Ind Lord?¡± Fang Xi pped his bag of holding, revealing a massive set of demon bird wing skeletons along with numerous feathers.
¡°These are¡ tier-1 high-grade demon bird wing bones and plumage?¡± Ruan Xingling examined them, her eyes brightening. ¡°You trust me with this?¡±
¡°Absolutely!¡±
Fang Xi naturally wouldn¡¯t hand over the more valuable snake-dragon materials to Ruan Xingling just yet. After all, she was only a mid-grade first-tier artificer; what if something went wrong during the crafting process? It made sense to test the waters with these demon bird materials first, as he had long been wanting to upgrade from the ck Cloud Pocket anyway.
¡°Did you also obtain these from your encounter at Qingzhu Mountain Market?¡± Ruan Xingling pondered as she epted the materials.
¡°The Ind Lord?¡±
Fang Xi abruptly looked up to see Ruan Xingling expressionless, saying, ¡°As our guest senior, it¡¯s natural for me to conduct some investigation. The individuals sent to Qingzhu Mountain Market have recently returned with their findings. Your appearance, background, and origins all appear quite clean. Regarding your disappearance for two years and subsequent significant advancement in cultivation, I assume it wasrgely due to benefiting greatly from the chaos at Qingzhu Mountain Market, correct?¡±
¡®She actually thinks I would rob the market? Am I that kind of person?¡¯ Fang Xi mentally rolled his eyes, but on his face, a wry smile emerged, conveying the message ¡®I see, Ind Lord knows.¡¯
¡°We¡¯ve faced hardships together, though not enough to bepletely open with each other. Nevertheless, let me assure you, Daoist friend - if you remain true to me, I will undoubtedly reciprocate!¡± With those words, Ruan Xingling gracefully ascended using her floral basket. As she soared, she added onest sentence for Fang Xi¡¯s ears alone, ¡°To be honest¡ I am already a tier-one high-grade artificer!¡±
Chapter 94: Departure
Chapter 94: Departure
Summer gave way to autumn.
At Jade Cliff, the thirteen acres of spirit fields bore full and heavy rice panicles, nearly touching the ground, revealing evenly distributed spirit grains within.
Fang Xi, wielding a sickle, began harvesting.
The growth of these Scarlet Blood Spirit Rice nts matched his estimations closely, yielding approximately three hundred pounds of spirit rice per acre.
During this time, Old Daoist Xiu Mu persistently visited with a shameless grin, attempting to introduce Fang Xi to some of his own spirit farmers. However, Fang Xi consistently declined his offers.
Then Wei Yixin arrived, boasting about her recent bountiful expedition outside, and even invited Fang Xi to join her on future ind adventures.
Naturally, Fang Xi rolled his eyes and once again refused.
By now, his rtionships with both families had significantly grown distant, precisely as he desired.
Within the four-sided courtyard house, Fang Xi had specifically constructed a granary. After storing thest sack of spirit rice, he let out a long sigh. Even for him, the continuousbor over days left him feeling somewhat weary.
After sitting down to meditate and regte his breath, Fang Xi retrieved the newly harvested spirit rice and cooked a pot of Scarlet Blood Spirit Rice.
Whish! Whish!
Once the rice was fully cooked, Fang Xi lifted the pot lid to reveal a vibrant red cauldron of Scarlet Blood Spirit Rice, still steaming hot.
However, amidst the steam, there was a faintly bloody odor.
Fang Xi picked up his chopsticks and took just one bite before frowning. ¡°Indeed, it¡¯s quite coarse with a slight metallic taste¡ It¡¯s best not eaten alone but incorporated into other pastries or dishes.¡±
Despite this, after consuming the Scarlet Blood Spirit Rice, he felt a surge in his internal blood cirction, simr to the effect of eating Beefwood meat.
¡®Well, this spirit rice isn¡¯t for me anyway, but for Tai Sui. This should suffice¡¡¯
For Tai Sui to produce more meat, continuous feeding would be necessary.
Fang Xi believed that cultivation world¡¯s spirit rice must significantly outperform ordinary grain.
¡°When the timees, I¡¯ll grow spirit rice, feed it to Tai Sui, then use the resulting Beefwood meat to nourish the Demon Tree¡ A perfect self-sustaining supply chain!¡±
He could save some spirit rice as seeds for nting again next year.
This way, it would essentially create an endless supply of Beefwood meat, eliminating the need to venture out for blood meals!
It also reduces the risk of exposing the Demon Tree!
¡°Hmm, I must return the borrowed spirit stones; I always keep my promises.¡±
Fang Xi deliberately set aside six hundred pounds of Scarlet Blood Spirit Rice to return to Old Daoist Xiu Mu. The old Daoist had shownmendable foresight and decisiveness when lending Fang Xi twenty spirit stones for the ¡®flight talisman¡¯.
Unfortunately, with so many underachieving descendants, the future of the Mu Family seemed worrisome.
Previously, despite Old Daoist Xiu Mu¡¯s assurances that his family would work tirelessly, Fang Xi declined the offer entirely, not wanting any disruptions. This refusal wasn¡¯t rted to repaying the debt.
¡®However¡ once I start cultivating the ¡°Longevity Technique¡± in the future, I won¡¯t be able to venture far from Jade Cliff¡ It might actually be necessary to have someone gather information about the outside world and even purchase supplies on my behalf¡¡¯
¡®But it can¡¯t be an adult; ideally, they should be raised from a young age for utmost loyalty¡¡¯
¡®Still too troublesome. If only I could find some puppetry techniques instead.¡¯
Fang Xi packed the spirit rice into his bag of holding, released the ck Cloud Pocket, and instantly soared into the sky, heading towards Mirror Moon Lake.
Earlier that day, Ruan Xingling sent a voice-transmission talisman informing him that the flying magical artifact was ready, making this a convenient time to handle both matters at once.
At Mirror Moon Lake.
A shimmering spiritual mist enveloped the area, with an illusionary crescent moon appearing to float amidst it.
Fang Xi produced his magical artifact token, causing the fog to part automatically and reveal a pathway.
He steered the ck Cloud Pocket directly into the Ruan Family¡¯s estate, seeking out Ruan Xingling.
In the rear courtyard,
Ruan Xingling retrieved a palm-sized flying boat and handed it to Fang Xi, saying, ¡°Mission aplished! Take a look!¡±
Fang Xi nodded, carefully examining the small boat.
The vessel was mulberry-yellow, approximately the size of one¡¯s hand, disying subtle wood grain patterns on its surface. On each side of the boat, two ck wing designs were depicted.
¡°ck Feathered Boat,¡± Ruan Xingling exined, ¡°crafted primarily from tier-1 high-grade bird wing bones. I also incorporated a piece of Cloud Silk Wood for enhanced stability andfort. It features a wind-resistant barrier that protects against turbulent gusts during flight¡ You can give it a try.¡±
¡°No need, I trust your craftsmanship as the Ind Lord.¡± Fang Xi smiled and promptly stored the ck Feathered Boat, then asked, ¡°May I inquire how much this endeavor is worth in spirit stones?¡±
¡°Just the cost of the Cloud Silk Wood material will suffice. Crafting such artifacts actually benefits my cultivation in artificing techniques!¡± Ruan Xingling waved her hand dismissively. ¡°After all, I intended to reforge your Qinghe Sword anyway; this simply changes the arrangement¡¡±
¡°By the way, there doesn¡¯t seem to be any geothermal fire within Mirror Moon Lake?¡± Fang Xi pondered as he walked away from theke.
He possessed some knowledge of artificing legacies, albeit limited. After realizing hisck of talent, he had stopped pursuing it further, but still understood the basics.
To refine a tier-1 magical artifact, without being a Foundation Establishment cultivator capable of using innate true fire, one must rely on geothermal fire!
However, neither Mirror Moon Lake nor Peach Blossom Ind appeared to have such volcanic veins!
¡°So¡ perhaps they employ alternative, unconventional artificing methods? Like raising a mythical beast that can produce demonic mes?!¡± Fang Xi stroked his chin, then retrieved the ck Feathered Boat.
After infusing it with magical energy, the boat instantly expanded into a small vessel about three meters long.
Feeling no resistance during the infusion process, Fang Xi nodded in satisfaction.
As he stepped onto the boat, he noticed several grooves at its base designed to hold spirit stones, which could substitute for a cultivator¡¯s expended magical energy.
Typically, long-distance flight with spirit boats cannot solely rely on a cultivator¡¯s magical energy; instead, they require consuming spirit stones!
However, for travel within Peach Blossom Ind, Fang Xi¡¯s own magical energy would suffice.
¡°Let¡¯s go!¡±
With a cultivation technique gesture, the ck Feathered Boat soared effortlessly into the sky, transforming into a streak of ck light!
¡°This speed is significantly faster than the ck Cloud Pocket, nearlyparable to a flight talisman!¡±
After ascending and testing its performance, Fang Xi fell silent, impressed by the vessel¡¯s capabilities.
This spirit boat likely approached the level of a high-grade magical artifact.
¡°What a substantial favor¡¡±
Unfortunately, this only made Fang Xi more hesitant to ask Ruan Xingling to craft the snake-dragon armor.
¡°Once back, during the agricultural downtime, I must swiftly set up the Little Cloudrain Array to ensureplete privacy¡¡±
After all, with the underground caverns developed, everything was now on track.
By next year, it should be ready for nting trees.
Feeling quite content, Fang Xi arrived at the eastern peak of Gemini Peak.
¡°Patriarch!¡±
At that moment, heart-wrenching cries emerged from amidst the continuous rows of houses.
¡°What happened?¡± Fang Xi descended from his flying boat and promptly asked a nearby Mu Family cultivator.
¡°Patriarch Mu Xiu¡has passed away!¡±
The cultivator, around fifty years old, had bloodshot eyes and his voice trembled with grief. ¡°Your timing is perfect, Daoist friend. I was just about to notify everyone¡ Xiu Mu, he unexpectedly¡¡±
Fang Xi recalled their previous encounter, sensing that Old Daoist Xiu Mu appeared close to reaching his final days. He fell silent, realizing how fragile life could sometimes be.
Compared to rogue cultivators who were like drifting reeds in the wind, Old Daoist Xiu Mu¡¯s passing at home allowed him to be buried in the family¡¯s spiritualnd, with his great deeds recorded in the n¡¯s genealogy. In this regard, his life could indeed be considered fulfilled¡
¡°This truly is¡¡± Fang Xi hastily offered someforting words but then remembered noticing the aura of death on Xiu Mu several months ago.
Presumably, Xiu Mu himself was well aware and had already made arrangements for his afterlife affairs, leaving Fang Xi momentarily speechless.
He took a few steps forward, entering the Mu Family¡¯s main hall, which had been temporarily set up as a mourning chamber. A group of grieving rtives d in mourning attire wept profusely.
¡°Xiu Mu and I were friends, so I¡¯vee here specially to pay my respects!¡± Fang Xi lit three incense sticks, solemnly bowed, and turned towards the Mu Family members to express his sentiments.
¡°Many thanks¡¡±
Mu Wen, dressed in mourning attire, wiped away his tears, seeming to have lost some of his previous arrogance when interacting with others.
¡®Young people grow up so quickly¡ I hope this marks a positive change for them, not¹¼¸ºing Old Xiu Mu¡¯s efforts after all¡¡¯ Fang Xi sighed inwardly and then added, ¡°I had borrowed twenty spirit stones from Daoist Xiu Mu earlier. With today¡¯s abundant harvest of spirit rice, I nned to repay him, only to learn it¡¯s now a farewell forever, s¡ May Daoist Xiu Mu, in his future reincarnation, continue on the Dao path!¡±
These were merely words spoken out of courtesy, as the cultivation world did not truly believe in concepts like the underworld or reincarnation. The mention of rebirth was simply a hopeful sentiment.
Upon hearing this, Mu Wen appeared somewhat taken aback. ¡°The patriarch never mentioned such a debt before his soul departed to the vast expanse of the cosmos¡¡±
Twenty spirit stones! Could it be that the patriarch was confused at the time? Yet, why didn¡¯t he leave any written proof of the loan?
Fortunately, this person remembered to return the money, but one wonders if interest was deducted!
Mu Wen¡¯s thoughts raced in various directions.
Seeing his perplexed expression, Fang Xi didn¡¯t dwell on it further and handed Mu Wen a bag of holding containing six hundred pounds of spirit rice. ¡°Here¡¯s six hundred pounds of spirit rice, with the bag itself as my funeral offering. No need to reciprocate, dear nephew¡¡±
¡°But how can I ept such generosity?¡± Although Mu Wen¡¯s words were polite, his hand clung tightly to the bag of holding.
Fang Xi offered a few moreforting words before turning to leave, inwardly sighing, ¡°Just scratching the surface of change¡ Indeed, altering one¡¯s core nature is the hardest task.¡±
At Jade Cliff.
Fang Xi did not attend Old Daoist Xiu Mu¡¯s funeral.
He had paid his respects once, fulfilling his obligation, and saw no need for further involvement.
After all, their rtionship was solely between him and the old Daoist.
As for the expectation that Fang Xi would extend this camaraderie to his descendants? It was indeed quite naive¡
Fang Xi retrieved the previously measured geographic coordinates from a jade slip, then proceeded to a specific location. Holding an array g in both hands, he forcefully plunged it into the ground!
The formation g was entirely white, adorned with numerous mysterious symbols emitting a shimmering glow.
¡°The Little Cloudrain Array requires eighteen gs in total, along with additional auxiliaryponents¡ Plus, the core formation disk makes it significantly more expensive than ordinary magical artifacts¡¡±
¡°Any slight error during setup could disrupt the entire formation¡¯s continuity¡¡±
Fang Xi couldn¡¯t help but marvel at why mastering divine sense is crucial for beginners studying formations.
Without divine sense, unable to project externally, measuring and calcting became cumbersome tasks. Even observing the flow of spiritual energy after cing the formation gs was far less intuitive without divine sense.
Fortunately, he had the jade slip as a guide; by following its instructions, Fang Xi managed to proceed sessfully.
After a busy day, he entered the cultivation room, solemnly embedding low-grade spirit stones into the formation disk one by one.
¡°Heavenly Stems and Earthly Branches are correct¡ Just now!¡±
Having calcted the precise time and distance, Fang Xi buried the formation disk within the prepared spell eye.
Buzzzz!
Instantly, the formation disk activated, revealing strands of pure white spiritual patterns that spread outward continuously.
Holding the main control token for adjusting restrictions, Fang Xi meticulously fine-tuned the array¡
Chapter 95: Returning Again
Chapter 95: Returning Again
The winter scenery at Jade Cliff appeared deste.
Whish!
Suddenly, an enigmatic mist emerged from the void. Initially just a thin veil of white fog, it grew denser until it enveloped the entire cliffside.
This mist was unlike ordinary haze; through it, one could initially discern faint outlines of the spirit fields, but within moments, they vanishedpletely¡
¡°Sess!¡±
Fang Xi, controlling the ck Feather Boat, surveyed the area and felt highly satisfied with the Little Cloudrain Array¡¯s effect.
Not only did the formation cover all the spirit fields and courtyard, but it also epassed the entirety of Jade Cliff.
With this setup, the likelihood of the underground cavern being exposed significantly decreased.
¡°The Little Cloudrain Array excels in Gathering Spirit and Concealment effects¡ Its defensive capabilities are average, but with a Mid Qi Refinement cultivator wielding the Restriction Command Token to oversee the formation, it can hinder even Late Stage or great perfection Qi Refinement cultivators for some time¡¡± Fang Xi held the Restriction Command Token, which served as both a keyponent of the formation and its operational control device.
Apart from this primary token, there were three secondary tokens that allowed adjustments to ess permissions. The lowest granted entry only to the outermost perimeter of the array, while the highest enabled full control over the formation¡¯s offensive capabilities against enemies.
¡°With this formation, my fallback is secure.¡±
Although the Little Cloudrain Array was merely mid-tier first rank, barring any Barrier Breaking Talismans, it would effectively resist intruders for a significant period.
This setup would provide ample time for Mirror Moon Lake to detect any threat and send reinforcements.
With such defenses, even cultivators at Peak Qi Refining could be kept at bay, ensuring a secure fallback n.
¡°Time to focus on nting trees¡¡± Fang Xi rubbed his hands, mentally strategizing.
¡°At present, what I stillck for my preparations are puppet techniques and snake-dragon spirit armor¡¡±
If he had high-grade armor crafted from snake-dragon materials, his strength would reach another level, allowing him to face even Peak Qi Refining cultivators without fear.
Puppet techniques, on the other hand, wouldpensate for his limitation of not being able to stray too far from his lifebound spirit nt.
¡°If obtaining spirit armor proves impossible, I¡¯ll have no choice but tomission an artificer from the market to craft it¡¡±
It must be noted that Fang Xi was inherently cautious by nature.
And given Ruan Xingling¡¯s exceptional intelligence, it naturally inclined him to keep some distance¡
¡°As for puppet techniques, if I can¡¯t find them¡I might just rely on raising a few spirit beasts as substitutes.¡±
In certain aspects, spirit beasts were indeed less convenient than puppets.
After considering all this, Fang Xi gazed over theke surface and let out a long whistle. The ck Feather Boat transformed into a streak of light, skimming low across the water, leaving behindrge sshes.
In the next moment, Fang Xi¡¯s eyes lit up with excitement.
Did he just spot a spirit fish?
Wan Ind Lake indeed harbored mythical beasts, yet it took him almost a year to encounter one - his luck could be considered neither good nor bad.
Feeling ted, Fang Xi propelled the ck Feather Boat, chasing after that fleeting azure shadow.
Ssh!
The panicked azure figure, seemingly disoriented, suddenly veered straight towards Fang Xi.
Bang!
It crashed heavily into the ck Feather Boat, apparently knocking itself unconscious.
Fang Xi was momentarily speechless. With a swift motion of his right hand, he grabbed the dazed azure shape, now floating belly-up.
Upon closer inspection, he realized it was arge green fish, resembling a turquoise jade carp and weighing around five or six pounds.
¡°Will eating such a foolish fish make me dumb too¡?¡± he muttered sarcastically as he returned to his courtyard.
This courtyard featured a pond stocked with water nts and lotus flowers.
With a ssh!
Fang Xi tossed the big green fish into the pond. Instantly, it regained its bearings and began circling rapidly.
¡°Indeed, somewhat dim-witted¡¡± he observed, slightly bemused.
His decision to capture this turquoise jade carp was merely on impulse.
From Miao Dong¡¯s iplete Beast Control legacy, he had learned specialized techniques for cultivating bloodlines. Moreover, due to his work advancing the Blood Jade Python, he had extensively studied Dragonfish bloodline enhancements.
¡°Rumor has it that the Bluish Jade Carp King also possesses traces of Dragonfish bloodline; wonder if I can cultivate those traits¡¡±
Fang Xi dared to conduct this experiment solely because he had ample supplies of snake-dragon essence blood, with no fear of depletion.
If sessful, creating a ¡®little azure dragon¡¯ would be immensely rewarding! Additionally, his interest was piqued by the legendary ¡®Azure Dragon Soup¡¯¡
After setting up the Little Cloudrain Array, Fang Xi¡¯s daily routine remainedrgely unchanged.
His primary focus was on meditation and cultivating his spiritual seed, asionally interspersed with practicing other skills or feeding and ying with therge green fish.
It was unclear if the fish trulycked intelligence; despite several feedings with snake-dragon blood, Fang Xi noticed little change in its spiritual energy¡
In terms of cultivation progress, however, it was remarkably smooth.
With the Gathering Spirit effect activated, the spiritual energy within his cultivation room now rivaled that found near low-tier first-rank spiritual veins.
Fang Xi estimated that he would need approximately four years to reach the peak of the fifthyer of Qi Refinement.
Nevertheless, this pace seemed too slow for him. He nned to leave the ind once more for final purchases, including acquiring medicinal pills to enhance his magical energy.
One day,
a flower basket approached from the west andnded outside the Little Cloudrain Array.
¡°A formation?¡± Ruan Xingling gazed at Jade Cliff shrouded in mist, her delicate brows furrowed slightly as she cast out a voice-transmission talisman.
Inside the cultivation room,
Fang Xi noticed the faintly glowing Restriction Command Token, rose to his feet, and stepped out towards the array¡¯s edge.
With a gentle wave of the token, the cloud cover parted, revealing a voice-transmission talisman darting aimlessly like a headless fly within the fog.
As Fang Xi reached out to grasp the talisman, a hint of shock shed across his eyes. He swiftly opened the formation, mounted the ck Feather Boat, and soared skyward.
¡°Greetings, Ind Lord!¡±
Ruan Xingling appeared unchanged yet seemed to exude a newfound grace and authority.
¡°You¡¯ve set up a formation here? Good¡ Peach Blossom Ind might not be peacefultely.¡±
Ruan Xingling inspected the formation with evident satisfaction.
¡°Ind Lord, your presence suggests that matter is indeed true?¡±
Fang Xi¡¯s expression turned grim.
¡°It¡¯s undoubtedly true; otherwise, I wouldn¡¯t havee personally to inform you. Let¡¯s discuss this further in the debate hall.¡±
Ruan Xingling sighed deeply.
At Mirror Moon Lake, within the Ruan Family¡¯s grand hall.
¡°My dear husband!¡±
Hua Chanjuan, herrge belly protruding, wept uncontrobly like a rain-soaked pear blossom.
Fang Xi, Mu Wen, even Feng Manlou and Mo Qingyu were present, each deep in thought as they gazed at Ruan Xingling seated at the head of the hall.
¡°The news has been confirmed,¡± Ruan Xingling began with a grim expression. ¡°Our fellow Daoist Wei Yixin encountered tribtion cultivators during his travels and perished.¡±
Fang Xi¡¯s heart skipped a beat. Among the original four guest seniors of Peach Blossom Ind, Old Daoist Xiu Mu had passed away first, followed by Wei Yixin meeting cmity on his journey. Was it now his turn next?
¡°Has the identity of the enemy been determined?¡± Fang Xi stepped forward, asking solemnly.
¡°It should be the eldest from the Kou n¡¡± Ruan Xingling responded gravely. ¡°His younger brother mysteriously fell, leading him to deeply resent us¡¡±
¡°I see!¡± Fang Xi nodded, finding this exnation usible.
However, upon observing the serene expressions of Feng Manlou and Mo Qingyu, he sensed that matters might not be as straightforward.
¡°This ind lord will dispatch patrols to cover the entire ind. Everyone, it¡¯s best not to venture out unnecessarily during this time,¡± Ruan Xingling concluded.
¡°Mirror Moon Lake and Twin Peaks should be fine; they¡¯re close enough to assist each other quickly. But regarding Fellow Daoist Fang¡¯s location¡¡± Feng Manlou hesitated slightly.
¡°No worries, Fellow Daoist Fang has already installed a protective formation at Jade Cliff, ensuring its safety.¡± Ruan Xingling waved his hand dismissively.
Upon hearing this, everyone below couldn¡¯t help but nce towards Fang Xi with astonishment on their faces.
¡°A protective formation?!¡± Mu Wen expressed disbelief.
For a cultivation influence, possessing spiritualnd was just the initial step in establishing roots. Only by adding a protective formation could one truly secure a solid foundation! Even the most basic formations cost several hundred spirit stones¡ªhow did Fang Xi manage to afford one?
Having such a formation greatly enhances both security and privacy, making even Mu Wen envious.
After concluding their discussion, Fang Xi exited the hall and immediately noticed Hua Chanjuan still grieving.
¡°Sob¡ That heartless man left us, mother and child, behind. How can we possibly survive now?¡± Tears filled her eyes, reflecting her profound uncertainty about the future.
¡°Ind Lord Ruan is a person of integrity. Let me offer you some advice, Daoist Friend Hua: The more one acts, the greater the chances for mistakes; act less, err less; act not at all, avoid error entirely!¡± Fang Xi stepped closer and whispered, ¡°Peach Blossom Ind has its Ind Lord,w enforcement cultivators, and protective arrays¡ As long as you remain within Peach Blossom Ind, you will be safe!¡±
Hua Chanjuan was startled, realizing the depth of unseenplexities involved.
She was never foolish to begin with, and upon careful contemtion, she sensed an unfathomable intrigue behind the scenes. With determination, she gritted her teeth, ¡°I won¡¯t leave the ind. No, from now on, I won¡¯t even let my child descend West Peak. I refuse to believe anyone would dare harm us so openly after this!¡±
¡°That¡¡±
Fang Xi felt she might be overreacting but found it difficult to continue persuading her. He could only shake his head and depart using the ck Feather Boat.
In the harsh winter, snowkes danced across the nine heavens.
¡°Phew¡ what a grim year it¡¯s been,¡± sighed Fang Xi, d in his green mage robe that kept him warm in winter and cool in summer, unaffected by the chill.
Two months had passed since Wei Yixin¡¯s death. Initially, Ruan Xingling patrolled Peach Blossom Ind day and night but found no trace of tribtion cultivators.
As time went on, thew enforcement team gradually became less vignt.
Eventually, they even resumed interactions with the outside world, as many cultivation resources required external trade and exchange¡
On a bright and sunny afternoon, Fang Xi hopped onto the ck Feather Boat, discreetly departing from Jade Cliff.
His destination was naturally the Treasure Ship Market!
Over these past weeks, he visited Great Liang frequently and acquired numerous mythical beast materials from Fatty Han at the Hunting Fiends Pavilion, all needing to be sold.
Additionally, he intended to purchase a variety of medicinal pills for cultivation, different spirit ores for artificing, nk paper for drawing talismans, and various spirit herbs for pill concoction¡
Although Fang Xicked exceptional talent in the four arts of cultivation, he remained hopeful given ample time. Especially when it came to pill concocting!
Fortunately, he was still at the introductory level, primarily practicing with ¡®Fasting Pills¡¯ using Scarlet Blood Spirit Rice as the main ingredient.
Otherwise, purchasing various aged medicinal herbs would have been an enormous expense.
Considering this might be hisst chance for decades before entering seclusion, having some misceneous tasks to upy himself during that period seemed prudent.
En route,
Fang Xi appeared rxed yet subtly vignt, without significant concern.
How many Foundation Establishment cultivators could Wan Ind Lake possibly have? They certainly wouldn¡¯t waste time on trivial matters like these.
Regardless of who orchestrated Wei Yixin¡¯s demise, the most formidable adversary they likely fielded was a Peak Qi Refinement cultivator!
If anyone dared to ambush him now, they¡¯d receive a massive surprise!
Chapter 96: Spiritual Snake Armor
Chapter 96: Spiritual Snake Armor
At the Treasure Ship Market.
Fang Xi disembarked from his ck Feather Boat at a distance, having transformed his appearance to resemble a rugged-faced man. He then stepped onto a mid-grade flying sword magical artifact and descended near the market entrance.
¡°Sir Immortal, would you need a guide?¡±
A group of mortals immediately surrounded him, their expressions eager yet respectful.
¡°You¡¯ll do!¡± Fang Xi casually pointed to one individual, who turned out to be Mo Qingyi!
¡°Many thanks, Sir Immortal. Allow me to lead your way!¡±
Mo Qingyi appeared much as before; after all, only a few years had passed since theyst met. Taking the lead, he asked, ¡°May I inquire what information this Immortal Master seeks? I am exceedingly familiar with this market¡¡±
¡®Bullshit!¡¯ Fang Xi silently scoffed.
Mo Qingyi likely knew only the surface-level channels within the market, being just an ordinary mortal. In terms of resource connections, he paled inparison to Old Daoist Xiu Mu, who had been operating here for many years.
The reason Fang Xi sought a guide was merely to maintain the facade of a neer. Experienced individuals wouldn¡¯t fall for such obvious traps.
¡°Your surname is Mo, and you belong to the ¡®Qing¡¯ generation. By any chance, are you rted to the Mo n of ck Sand Ind?¡± Fang Xi casually inquired, thinking about Mo Qingyu.
Without concealing anything, Mo Qingyi straightened his posture instinctively and replied, ¡°To be honest, Sir Immortal, my ancestors indeed hailed from the Mo n on ck Sand Ind!¡±
¡°I see,¡± Fang Xi responded without probing further. Cultivators often had numerous descendants, so it was usible for one branch to end up on Treasure Ship Ind.
Moreover, this could be part of those cultivator ns¡¯ contingency ns! Even if their main family on ck Sand Ind were annihted, their bloodline would continue elsewhere.
With some luck, they might return like Ruan Xingling, staging a triumphanteback¡ potentially reviving the n¡¯s fortunes twice or even thrice over!
Revitalizing the n!
For cultivators within a family, aside from achieving Foundation Establishment, this aspiration was likely their most significant goal.
¡°Who is the best artificer here? I need him to craft something!¡± Fang Xi dered boldly.
Mo Qingyi pondered for a moment. ¡°The finest local artificer should be Master Lu from Heavenly Crafts Workshop. He has been a tier-one high-grade artificer for many years, and his skills have only improved since then¡ Apart from him, there¡¯s Guest Official Cui at Dragon Gate Pavilion and the rogue cultivator Gong Zhuzi, both possessing exceptional craftsmanship¡¡±
¡®Not surprising, aligns with what I¡¯ve heard before,¡¯ thought Fang Xi.
After considering, he said, ¡°Let¡¯s head to Heavenly Crafts Workshop first and find Master Lu!¡±
The Heavenly Crafts Workshop consisted of two separate buildings - the front housed a typical magical artifact shop, while the rear contained multiple artificing workshops connected to earthme furnaces. Even through the walls, one could feel the intense heat emanating from within.
As Fang Xi entered the shop, a greeter approached him, ¡°What type of magical artifact is this esteemed guest interested in purchasing?¡±
¡°Custom order, I¡¯m here for Master Lu!¡±
Fang Xi casually tossed out a low-grade spirit stone.
The greeter¡¯s eyes immediately lit up, ¡°Please follow me to the private booth, honored guest. I¡¯ll bring tea right away¡¡±
Naturally, Mo Qingyi waited outside the store.
Momentster, inside the private booth, a burly man with well-defined muscles walked in. ¡°What kind of custom-made artifact does this distinguished guest desire?¡±
Fang Xi nced at the closed door and cleared his throat, ¡°I require a tier-1 high-grade magical artifact crafted from mythical beast materials! Can you ensure confidentiality?¡±
Master Lu furrowed his brow momentarily before rxing it. ¡°Rest assured, guest. Our Heavenly Crafts Workshop has been established for over two hundred years and has even created spirit artifacts for Foundation Establishment cultivators¡ Very well, I can first swear a Xin Mo Oath to absolutely not disclose your privacy¡¡±
¡°Many thanks!¡± Fang Xi bowed courteously, watching closely as Master Lu uttered the oath. Satisfied, he tapped his bag of holding.
A sh of light revealed a snake skin and arge quantity of snake bones. A faint aura of pressure emanated from the skin, scales, and bones alike.
¡°A tier-1 high-grade snake demon indeed¡ Hmm? The quality seems exceptionally good.¡±
Master Lu activated a cultivation technique, summoning a small me on his finger to burn a piece of snake scale.
After quite some time, the scale showed no sign of damage whatsoever.
His expression turned serious, ¡°The serpent¡¯s bloodline appears truly extraordinary!¡±
¡°Indeed,¡± Fang Xi responded with a smile. ¡°How much would it cost to craft a full set of spirit armor using these materials?¡±
Master Lu pondered for a moment before replying, ¡°Refining this mythical beast material requires more than ordinary mes; we must utilize the earthme vein behind the Heavenly Crafts Workshop. Crafting aplete set of spirit armor is a significant task, taking at least one month! As for the price¡ two hundred spirit stones!¡±
Outside, even a single-purpose, high-grade magical artifact typically cost around a hundred spirit stones.
¡°Agreed. I¡¯ll pay half now as a deposit and the remaining amount uponpletion. Let¡¯s formalize the agreement through a contract!¡±
Fang Xi nodded as he watched Master Lu draft the contract. Both parties inputted a thread of their magical energy into it, then Fang Xi handed over one hundred spirit stones from his bag of holding, took his copy of the agreement, and departed from the Heavenly Crafts Workshop.
Outside, he dismissed Mo Qingyi, blending seamlessly into the crowd before swiftly disappearing.
Momentster, with a new set of clothes and transformed appearance, Fang Xi headed directly to the market and rented an immortal¡¯s cave for a month, settling down temporarily.
Each day, under different guises, he sold mythical beast materials and exchanged them for various items such as medicinal pills, paper talismans, and raw spirit ores.
Time flowed like water, quickly passing by nearly twenty-five days.
At the teahouse, Old Daoist Xiu Mu was long gone, but under new ownership, business remained brisk.
asionally, Fang Xi would visit to enjoy a cup of spirit tea while listening to news from Wanhu Ind and the broader Yue Kingdom cultivation realm.
On this particr day,
he ordered his usual ¡°Five Carp ying with Pearls,¡± watching the spiritual energy carp chase each other yfully. Suddenly, he heard the teahouse ownerment, ¡°Have any of you heard¡ about the resurgence of demonic cultivators from the Situ n?¡±
¡®Situ n?!¡¯
Fang Xi sighed inwardly; it had been ages since hest encountered that familiar name.
Fang Xi looked up with a hint of a smile. ¡°I must ask the proprietor to enlighten us; naturally, spirit tea and pastries will be plentiful¡¡±
¡°Many thanks, many thanks!¡± The teahouse owner chuckled heartily. His livelihood depended on sharing cultivation world secrets and thetest news, attracting patrons for their tea sessions.
After acknowledging everyone present with sped hands, he began narrating like a storyteller, just short of using a gavel for emphasis. ¡°Speaking of the Situ n, they were once among the seven great cultivator ns of Yue Kingdom. What constitutes a cultivator n? It requires producing Foundation Establishment cultivators generation after generation! In Yue Kingdom, aside from the Profound Sky Sect itself, there were these five major sects followed by the Situ n!¡±
Red Leaf Valley had also been one of the original five major sects but waster annihted. A new Foundation Establishment sect called ¡®Qiyang Faction¡¯ subsequently rose to prominence, taking Red Leaf Valley¡¯s ce.
Fang Xi sensed that behind every power shift in Yue Kingdom, an unseen hand seemed to manipte events - this invisible force was none other than the Profound Sky Sect!
The Profound Sky Sect controlled the most valuable third-order spiritual energynds within Yue Kingdom, along with its richest spirit stone mines and thergest markets.
The remaining fragments, beyond their direct control, were distributed among subordinate Foundation Establishment ns and sects, maintaining the count of thirteen.
Whenever any branch threatened to surpass the main trunk¡¯s strength, it would swiftly be pruned - examples included the former Situ n and Red Leaf Valley.
After pruning, new forces were nurtured to rece them, serving as loyal dogs for the Profound Sky Sect!
As for the lowest tier, consisting of Qi Refinement ns and sects, they yearned to serve but never got the chance.
¡°After the Situ n was annihted, many surviving members fled and turned into demonic cultivators. Thergest group among them formed the ¡®Heaven Extinguishing Union¡¯! This faction has beenbeled by the Profound Sky Sect as a demonic organization, with bounties ced on its key leaders. However, despite efforts, they have yet to be eradicated.
¡°Recently, this ¡®Heaven Extinguishing Union¡¯ carried out a significant act - plundering a marketce under the Song n¡¯s jurisdiction. Rumor has it that every member of the Song n present was ughtered, their heads hung from the market entrance, creating a gruesome scene¡ Little did they know, this enraged the Profound Sky Sect immensely. Consequently, a Core Formation patriarch from the sect personally intervened!¡±
At the most thrilling part, the teahouse owner paused dramatically, taking a sip of his tea instead of continuing the tale.
Impatient cultivators shouted, ¡°Owner, why did you stop? Keep going¡ The Gold Core patriarch intervened, what happened next?¡±
The teahouse owner smiled without responding.
Only after Fang Xi led the group to order another pot of spirit tea did he cheerfully continue, ¡°When a Core Formation great cultivator acts, the oue is self-exnatory. The Heaven Extinguishing Union was caught off guard, and it¡¯s rumored that one of their Foundation Establishment members perished on the spot¡¡±
¡°Despite this setback, neither the Situ n nor the ¡®Heaven Extinguishing Union¡¯ werepletely annihted. Instead, they fled southeast and took refuge within the borders of the Wood Nation!¡±
¡°The Wood Nation!¡± Fang Xi understood immediately. Just like the Profound Sky Sect, the Greenwood Sect there had a Core Formation patriarch overseeing it. In fact, due to past incidents involving the Spirit Seeker Envoy, tensions between the sects had escted nearly to the point of open conflict.
For remnants of the Situ n to flee into that nation was indeed a sensible choice.
¡°Why did the Heaven Extinguishing Union target the Song n¡¯s market instead?¡± another cultivator asked a different question.
¡°Ah¡ The Profound Sky Sect¡¯s markets have stringent defenses, with at least second-order high-grade protective arrays and Mid-Stage Foundation Establishment experts guarding them. Even if given ten times their courage, the Heaven Extinguishing Union wouldn¡¯t dare touch those,¡± the teahouse owner chuckled. ¡°The Song n, on the other hand, is different¡¡±
¡°And let me tell you,¡± he continued, ¡°when the Situ n was initially annihted, the Song n yed a leading role. Their mutual hatred runs as deep as the ocean! However, the Song n isn¡¯t simple either; their patriarch is already in the great circle of Foundation Establishment, a significant figure with hopes of reaching Core Formation soon¡¡±
As the conversation shifted to repeatedly glorifying the actions of the Core Formation patriarch, painting vivid scenes of devastation, Fang Xi realized there wasn¡¯t much new information being shared.
He stood up and left the teahouse.
¡°I didn¡¯t expect to hear updates about old acquaintances¡ Situ n, Song n, well, well¡¡±
Neither n was particrlymendable; Fang Xi reveled as their rivalry intensified like dogs tearing at each other.
Meanwhile, there had been no news about Chen Ping or Nine Profound Reverend, whom he had been closely monitoring.
Perhaps due to their shallow cultivation and limited reputation, it wasn¡¯t surprising that information remained scarce. Unable to gather more details, Fang Xi decided not to dwell on it further.
Assuming the guise of a burly man with a square jawline, Fang Xi arrived at the Heavenly Crafts Workshop.
Inside a private booth:
¡°Perfect timing, guest! The armor isplete, please take a look!¡± Master Lu, his muscr arms bare,ughed heartily while opening a massive iron chest.
Within the chesty an impressive set of spirit armor. It included inner and outer armor, arm guards, wrist protectors, knee pads, boots, gloves, a helmet¡ all seeminglyprehensive and radiating formidable spiritual light.
¡°I¡¯m d to fulfill my promise. This ¡®Spiritual Snake Armor¡¯ is tier-1 high-grade, equipped with formations such as ¡®Sturdiness¡¯, ¡®Water Repulsion¡¯, ¡®Custom Fit¡¯¡ Additionally, it inherently exudes amanding aura, deterring snakes and insects, providing some resistance against toxins. Its total weight is sixty-seven pounds!¡± Master Lu introduced enthusiastically, his face glowing with pride and eyes shining brightly.
Chapter 97: Instant Kill
Chapter 97: Instant Kill
¡°Excellent, excellent!¡±
Fang Xi picked up the helmet.
It gleamed silver-white and featured a full-face design. Even at the eye sockets of the visor, two crystalline lenses were set in ce.
¡°This visor required considerable effort from this old man,¡± Master Lu exined. ¡°The lenses here are crafted from the toughest snake scales, shaped precisely, and treated with a secret tempering technique to make them transparent, ensuring no hindrance to your vision¡ Only then could I fulfill the customer¡¯s request forplete coverage without any blind spots! However, please note that despite these measures, the eye socket area remains slightly weakerpared to other parts of the armor.¡±
¡°Satisfactory indeed, very impressive.¡± After meticulously inspecting the entire suit of armor, Fang Xi nodded approvingly. ¡°Thank you, Master Lu, for all your hard work. Here are the remaining spirit stones!¡±
He had prepared a pouch containing one hundred spirit stones beforehand, which he now took out and pushed towards Master Lu.
However, Master Lu did not ept it. Instead, he touched a ring on his hand, revealing a pile of spirit stones on the table, amounting to at least four or five hundred.
¡°What is the meaning of this, Daoist friend?¡±
Fang Xi¡¯s eyes slightly narrowed. ¡°Let me be candid, I truly cherish these snake demon materials immensely,¡± Master Lu said with a jovial smile. ¡°By any chance, do you have more spare parts from this demon? I am willing to offer a high price for them.¡±
¡°Sigh¡ The snake demon materials have already been¡¡± Fang Xi began, but was interrupted by Master Lu, ¡°There¡¯s no need to im that these are all you have, my discerning eyes can tell. Such a massive serpent would yield far more materials than just this¡¡±
¡°Master Lu, please let me finish. Although the snake was indeed enormous, it was in collectively by several Daoist friends. Consequently, the materials were divided among us. Honestly, I don¡¯t possess any additional pieces now.¡± Fang Xi spread his hands, emphasizing hisck of further resources.
¡°Is what you say true, Daoist friend?¡± Master Lu stared intently at Fang Xi, unleashing the formidable aura of a Late Stage Qi Refinement cultivator.
¡°Certainly true! And might I ask, does your establishment resort to coercive buying and selling practices?¡± Fang Xi chuckled coldly, maintaining an air of nonchnce.
¡°In that case, forgive my presumption, esteemed Daoist friend.¡± Master Lu shook his head regretfully.
¡°Rest assured, great master, I will immediately seek out those friends and inquire on your behalf¡¡± Fang Xi bowed respectfully, his tone implying a sense of duty, then left behind the spirit stones, took the ¡®spirit snake armor¡¯, and exited Heavenly Craft Pavilion.
¡®Indeed¡ strength is the foundation for everything.¡¯
¡®If he hadn¡¯t sensed my true power far surpassing Mid-Stage Qi Refinement, who knows what means he might have employed¡¡¯
With onest nce at the Heavenly Craft Pavilion, Fang Xi smirked bitterly. Upon returning to his immortal¡¯s cave, he promptly gathered all the recently purchased goods and headed straight to Great Liang.
Wealth should never be unted!
Despite appearing as only a Fifth Layer Qi Refinement cultivator based on his resistance to Master Lu¡¯s pressure, it was clear he was actually in the Late Stage Qi Refinement realm. But so what?
In recent days, his expenditures and acquired resources had already exceeded one thousand spirit stones.
And that didn¡¯t even include the coveted snake-dragon materials which even Master Lu desired!
Unless he were a Foundation Establishment cultivator, he had unwittingly set himself up for danger!
However, a Foundation Establishment cultivator wouldn¡¯t act with such secrecy.
¡°My ck Iron Sword hasn¡¯t tasted blood in quite some time¡¡± Fang Xi murmured, fully equipping the spirit snake armor except for the helmet, which he held in hand, and then donning a long outer robe over it.
After multiple inspections, he found no issues with the spirit snake armor. He surmised that Master Lu feared him causing trouble within the market, potentially damaging the reputation of Heavenly Craft Pavilion through breach of contract.
Fang Xi murmured softly, donning his full set of spirit snake armor except for the helmet, which he held in hand, and thenyered a long robe over it.
After multiple inspections, he found no issues with the spirit snake armor.
Presumably, Master Lu feared Fang Xi might raise a ruckus at the market, risking damage to Heavenly Craft Pavilion¡¯s reputation through breach of contract.
¡°Will they only resort to their schemes once I leave the market?¡±
¡°Although I¡¯m confident in my movement techniques, there¡¯s still a chance I can¡¯t evade all spies from various factions¡¡±
¡°Of course, it¡¯s even more likely that they¡¯ve tampered with the auction items!¡±
Thus, Fang Xi promptly transferred arge portion of his acquired goods into the Great Liang World, nning to retrieve themter upon returning to Peach Blossom Ind.
This ability to make items vanish into thin air would render most tracking methods ineffective.
After all, techniques like Three-Day Incense typically have limitations on time and distance.
Once too far or after sufficient time passes, their effects are likely to diminish significantly!
As for the spirit snake armor, its exceptional defensive capabilities were too valuable for Fang Xi to discard wearing it.
Moreover, without setting some bait, how could one hope to catch any fish?
The next day.
Fang Xi, disguised as the square-jawed man, confidently walked out of the market district.
Unbeknownst to him, several small rats were already trailing behind.
¡°I didn¡¯t expect the Xue n to be here too!¡±
¡°Not just the Xue n, the Lu n is present as well!¡±
¡°This fellow seems quite skilled; our trick of hiding within the goods might have been discovered¡¡±
¡°Fortunately, higher-ups assigned us to surveil him round-the-clock, or he could¡¯ve easily slipped away¡¡±
¡°After all, it¡¯s over a thousand spirit stones worth of supplies - even someone at Late Stage Qi Refinement wouldn¡¯t stand a chance!¡±
These rats exchanged nces, secretly sharing information before swiftly reporting back to their respective masters.
Unaware of the lurking danger, Fang Xi confidently stepped off Treasure Ship Ind. Once outside, he donned the spirit snake armor¡¯s helmet and lowered its visor.
Snap!
Transparent snake scales covered his eyes, reflecting a cold, reptilian indifference.
As he departed, several figures began trailing him closely behind.
Though concealed with hidden identities, each exuded a powerful aura characteristic of Late Stage Qi Refinement cultivators!
¡°Who would¡¯ve thought, Lu¡ heh heh!¡± A grinning old woman, leaning on her cane, abruptly stopped her chuckle midugh.
¡°That brat wears spirit snake armor, making it tough to breach. Best to use heavy magical artifacts for shock attacks¡ or needle-like artifacts to pierce through¡ The armor has water affinity; wood and earth element spells should be most effective,¡± rasped Master Lu, disguised as a gaunt figure with his face obscured.
¡°Isn¡¯t there some secret weakness? Considering his wealth, he must at least be a Late Stage Qi Refinement cultivator, possibly even Peak Qi Refining.¡± Another elderly man spoke up.
Another elderly man spoke up.
¡°With a contract in ce, it¡¯s risky¡ Besides, others aren¡¯t fools.¡±
If any issues with the spirit armor were discovered, the aggrieved party would undoubtedly publicize it at the market, leading to disastrous consequences for Heavenly Craft Pavilion.
Master Lu, though reluctant to miss out on such lucrative ie, couldn¡¯t afford to tarnish his reputation. After all, given his craftsmanship and association with Heavenly Craft Pavilion, he could gradually earn one thousand spirit stones over time; it might just take longer¡
¡°Heh heh, since we¡¯re all here, let¡¯s decide how to divide the spoils beforehand. We don¡¯t want distrust among us to let that fat sheep escape - now that would be hrious!¡± a female cultivator chimed in coyly.
¡°Indeed, let¡¯s first secure our prize before discussing the division. I personally only require the materials from the snake demon!¡± Master Lu rasped, swiftly settling the allocation n.
Several Late Stage Qi Refinement experts boarded their spirit boat, stealthily trailing Fang Xi as they quickly covered dozens of kilometers between them.
Without hesitation, Fang Xi sought out a deste ind, gently descending while drawing his ck Iron Sword.
Shortly after, another spirit boat arrived carrying five Late Stage Qi Refinement cultivators, all with their faces concealed. An eerie cackle came from one of them, a wizened old woman, ¡°Is this the chosen ce for your demise?¡±
Experience had made these elders astute!
Despite their confidence, they cautiously surveyed the deste ind to ensure there were no hidden traps or formations.
¡°Your demise? Although small, this ind is ample enough to bury you all!¡± Fang Xi gripped his sword firmly, his torn robes revealing the full set of gleaming silver ¡®spirit snake armor¡¯ beneath.
Buzzing!
In the next instant, a crimson true astral energy cloak manifested over the spirit snake armor!
The ck Iron Sword hummed loudly, emitting a three-inch-long sword aura!
¡°Kill!¡±
With a fierce shout, Fang Xi propelled himself forward like a ferocious beast unleashed!
Martial arts demand swift and explosive action!
He deliberately chosend, ying to his strengths!
His aim was to utilize his zongshi-level agility for a single, decisive strike!
As Qi circted throughout his body, Fang Xi¡¯s physique expanded, every inch tightly fitting within the spirit snake armor.
The spirit armor¡¯s adaptive feature fit him perfectly, allowing Fang Xi to move like a sleek arrow directly above the old woman. With both hands raised high, he swung his massive sword downward with immense force!
Crash!
As the de descended, the old woman¡¯s aura shield shattered first, followed by her ck iron buckler.
¡°No!¡±
She desperately raised her cane overhead, but it couldn¡¯t withstand the crushing impact akin to a mountain descending upon her!
BANG!
After a deafening explosion, all that remained where the old woman once stood was a deep crater and a severely bent, misshapen metal cane flying out from the debris.
¡°Tough opponent!¡± Master Lu roared angrily, summoning three interlocking shields for protection. Yet, even with these defenses, the sight of Fang Xi wielding the ck iron sword brought no sense of security whatsoever!
Boom!
Rumble!
While Fang Xi attacked the elderly woman, the other four cultivators did not remain idle. A bolt of lightning, a flying sword, a wooden spear, and a colossal ck iron hammer simultaneously struck Fang Xi!
His true astral energy barrier flickered repeatedly, groaning under the strain before finally shattering.
Being besieged by four Late Stage Qi Refinement experts took its toll!
In the next instant, these weakened attacks struck the spirit snake armor, further reducing their impact by nearly half.
The remaining residual force and vibrations were effortlessly absorbed by Fang Xi¡¯s zongshi-level steel-boned physique.
¡°Who¡¯s next?¡± He swiftly switched his grip on the sword with alternating hands, now facing the four cultivators head-on, his eyes gleaming intensely.
¡°Damn it, he¡¯s a cultivator at the third stage of Body Refinement!¡± eximed the sultry-voiced female cultivator,unching several more needle-like projectiles in rapid session.
These flying needles were remarkably part of a high-grade magical artifact set!
Clink! Clink!
Fang Xi moved like lightning, incredibly swift.
At such close range, no magical artifacts or paper talismans could match his speed.
As for chanting spells¡in actualbat, it bordered onical.
Fang Xi charged towards the speaking female cultivator, seemingly vanishing as he activated the Muscle Compression Art and positioned himself entirely behind his door-like ck Iron Sword.
Ping! Pong!
The set of flying needles struck the surface of the ck Iron Sword, producing dazzling sparks.
Before the female cultivator could react, Fang Xi was already in front of her, unleashing a punch with a roar, ¡°Primordial Limitless!¡±
His powerful true astral energy instantly tore through her spiritual light shield. The veil fell away, revealing her delicate and pitifully lovely face: ¡°You can¡¯t kill me, I am¡¡±
Bang!
Her words were cut short as her beautiful head exploded, leaving only her decapitated body to crumple to the ground.
¡°Now¡ there are just three left.¡±
In swift, predatory movements akin to a rabbit leaping or a falcon striking, Fang Xi had already killed two Late Stage Qi Refinement cultivators.
He turned, gazing at the remaining trio who had repeatedly attacked him with paper talismans and magical artifacts, a cold smile spreading across his face.
Chapter 98: Return to Great Liang
Chapter 98: Return to Great Liang
¡®Could this person¡ be a disguised Foundation Establishment cultivator just ying along?¡¯
A chilling thought emerged simultaneously in Master Lu and hispanions¡¯ minds.
To swiftly dispatch two Late Stage Qi Refinement cultivators was a terrifying feat even most Peak Qi Refiners couldn¡¯t achieve!
¡°Dammit, today either he dies or we do!¡± The old man stepped onto a peculiar ck crow-like bird and soared into the air. ¡°His movements rely on drawing power from the earth; use aerial flight devices!¡±
Master Lu and the grim-faced middle-aged man, who had remained silent throughout, quickly awakened from their shock and ascended using their flying magical artifacts.
¡°Hold nothing back! Use our trump cards, kill him now!¡± The old man shouted hoarsely, clearly consumed by fear.
In a moment of foolish recklessness, they had provoked such a formidable enemy. If he escaped, their n¡¯s future would likely¡
¡°You¡¯ve found me?¡±
Fang Xi looked up with a chuckle, activated a newly purchased ¡®Flight Talisman¡¯ on himself, and swallowed a ¡®Raging Blood Pill¡¯ to replenish his blood qi! Instantaneously, the previously dormant astral energy erupted once more from his body!
Qi Circting Body!
Three-inch Sword Aura!
Flight Talisman!
Having achieved the rank of Great Grandmaster, Fang Xi¡¯s body cultivation base already rivaled that of Peak Qi Refiners in the cultivation world!
He transformed into a swift ck blur, effortlessly darting past the old man as he reached for something in his bag of holding.
A blood-red line appeared on the opponent¡¯s forehead, swiftly extending down across his nose, chin, and even through the mythical beast beneath him¡
¡°Dammit! Die already!¡± The grim-faced middle-aged man roared furiously, finally revealing his trump card.
In his hand, he swiftly activated an intricately crafted yellow paper talisman with flickering electrical sparks.
Boom!
A bolt of earth-toned lightning descended straight from the sky, striking Fang Xi immediately after he dispatched the old man!
The astral energy around Fang Xi burst, while the spirit snake armor offered minimal defense against this divine thunder, seemingly ready to disperse itself!
This was a tier-2 low-grade Earthly Fifth Divine Thunder Talisman!
Being predominantly earth attribute, it effectively countered water attribute defenses like the spirit armor!
¡°It worked?¡± Master Lu showed signs of excitement.
Based on his understanding, even a rogue cultivator at the third stage of Body Refinement would likely be incapacitated by such a lightning strike¡
Pfft!
In the next instant, two golden beams resembling scissors suddenly attacked from either side, engaging fiercely with his protective shields.
A figure descended from above, slicing through thest shield with a ck Iron Sword before cleanly severing Master Lu¡¯s neck.
As Master Lu¡¯s head flew off, only one thought crossed his mind: ¡°My final creation, the spirit snake armor¡its defense is unexpectedly so¡strong?!¡±
Little did he know that the true strengthy not in the high-rank first-tier spirit armor but rather in Fang Xi¡¯s astral energy cloak. Combined, theirµþ¼Ó·ÀÓùÁ¦·ÀÓùÁ¦ multiplied exponentially!
With a thud, Master Lu¡¯s head sshed onto theke surface.
Fang Xi turned to gaze at the stern middle-aged man who had earlier unleashed the Earthly Fifth Divine Thunder Talisman. ¡°Any more tier-2 paper talismans? Feel free to give them a try¡¡±
The middle-aged man remained silent, summoning a ck flying boat and frantically fleeing towards the Treasure Ship Market.
He now fully realized that this opponent was among the elite few below Foundation Establishment rank.
Despite being five Late Stage Qi Refinement cultivators, they had exhausted all their trump cards only to be decimated, with four already in!
If he didn¡¯t escape now, would he simply wait to be killed?
¡°Die!¡± Fang Xi¡¯s expression hardened as he relentlessly pursued the fleeing man.
¡°I am an honorary guest of the Zhong Family! I¡¯ve sent amunication talisman; the Foundation Establishment Protector of the Treasure Ship Market will arrive soon!¡± the middle-aged man shouted desperately over his shoulder.
¡°Feh!¡± Fang Xi ignored him, his arms swelling visibly, muscles bulging like tumors, as he poured hisst reserves of true astral energy into the ck Iron Sword.
With a swift motion, the ck Iron Sword became a streak of pitch-ck lightning, instantly striking the middle-aged man¡¯s flying boat.
The opponent let out a blood-curdling scream as his figure plummeted.
Fang Xi unleashed both the Golden Flood Dragon Sword and de, swiftly closing in for the kill!
¡°Foundation Establishment? Oh, how terrifying!¡± he mocked internally, showing no mercy in his actions.
The Golden Flood Dragon de tore through the middle-aged man¡¯s defensive aura, allowing the Golden Flood Dragon Sword to pierce directly into his chest.
Fang Xi grabbed the corpse, retrieved the man¡¯s bag of holding, and then dove deep into theke, reiming his ck Iron Sword along the way.
In the next instant, Fang Xi vanished without a trace.
Shortly after, a figure soaring on wind currents approached from the direction of the Treasure Ship Market. Upon seeing the floating corpse of the middle-aged man, their expression turned grim.
Their powerful divine sense swept across every inch meticulously, but the assant had already disappeared without a trace¡
In the Great Liang World.
On a deste mountain.
Within a hastily carved cave on a cliffside, Fang Xi suddenly materialized.
His expression shifted sharply as he coughed up a mouthful of blood, then gritted his teeth and removed the spirit snake armor from his body.
Shockingly, burn marks were visible across his chest.
Scattered within the cavey piles of numerous spirit objects and paper talismans, collectively worth far more than a thousand spirit stones - a fortune enough to make any Qi Refinement cultivator envious.
However, Fang Xi paid them no heed, immediately seeking out healing medicinal pills. After consuming one, hisplexion gradually improved.
Next, with both hands forming intricate seals, he channeled his blood qi, causing mysterious patterns to emerge on his skin.
¡°Essence Restoration Secret Art!¡±
This secret technique mimicked the regenerative abilities of ¡®devils¡¯, utilizing a martial practitioner¡¯s blood qi for rapid recovery.
He had acquired it after rescuing Dugu Wuwang, earningmendation at the Zongshi Association meeting.
Momentster,yers of ckened dead skin peeled off Fang Xi, revealing new flesh beneath.
Combining the effects of cultivation spiritual pills and the martial arts secret technique, his injuries rapidly healed¡
After some time, Fang Xi exhaled deeply, thinking, ¡®I took too great a risk this time. Someone concealed a tier-2 paper talisman specifically targeting the spirit snake armor¡¡¯
If not for his peak third-stage Body Refinement physique and the initial protection from astral energy, the injuries would have been far more severe than just being heavily wounded.
¡®The middle-aged man mentioned that a Zhong Family Foundation Establishment cultivator is on their way¡¡¯
¡®Maybe it¡¯s best toy low for a few months during this next crossing, waiting until things settle down¡¡¯
Fang Xi doubted that a Foundation Establishment cultivator, with the crucial duty of guarding the market, could leisurely stake out in the wilderness for several months!
¡°Perfect timing anyway; once I start practicing the Longevity Technique, I can¡¯t stray too far from the Demon Tree, nor will I be able to cross over¡¡±
¡°It¡¯s probably wise to tie up loose ends here in Great Liang first.¡±
As Fang Xi thought about Mu Piaomiao, Lily, Qing Sang, and others, his facial expression softened noticeably.
In the next moment, he entered another room within the immortal¡¯s cave.
This chamber was filled withrge quantities of food, the floor covered in dirt.
He reached into the soil and pulled out a massive white fleshy blob¡ªTai Sui!
¡°Old friend, it¡¯s time for the southern wilderness!¡±
Gazing at this beneficial creature, which was also the first mythical beast he encountered, Fang Xi murmured with a hint of smile, ¡°But before we go¡¡±
With a sh on his hand, a blood-red document appeared - it was the ¡®blood contract deed¡¯!
¡°Go!¡±
In the next moment, Fang Xi sliced open his finger, extracting a drop of vital blood.
As the bloodnded on the deed, wisps of ck smoke rose, causing the entire document to spontaneously ignite without fire.
Fang Xi chanted under his breath, channeling magical energy and pointing towards Tai Sui.
Whoosh!
The strands of ck smoke coalesced, forming a hidden crimson rune that swiftly merged into Tai Sui¡¯s body.
Throughout this process, Tai Sui remained passive like a vegetative being, showing no resistance whatsoever.
¡°A true nt-based mythical beast indeed!¡± Feeling the established connection through thepleted contract, Fang Xi couldn¡¯t help but feel highly satisfied.
Tai Sui¡¯s minimal resistance exceeded his expectations, making the formation of the blood pact remarkably smooth.
Now, with this blood pact, he could instantly control Tai Sui¡¯s life or death at any time!
Unless Tai Sui managed to break through to tier-2 Foundation Establishment, there would be no way for it to resist!
Currently, Tai Sui was merely a low-tier first-rank mythical beast, although technically now it should be considered a spirit beast.
Among cultivators, uncontrolled mythical creatures were generally referred to as mythical beasts. However, those tamed as mounts or guardians of sects were termed spirit beasts!
Upon entering Three Origins City, Fang Xi immediately sensed something amiss.
The city gates were sealed, and martialw had been imposed.
The streets were unusually sparse with pedestrians, filled with an air of unease.
¡°What¡¯s happening here?¡±
Fang Xi headed to Yuanhe Mountain¡¯s residence within Three Origins City, producing a blue crystal token casually given to him by Linghu Shan.
¡°Greetings, Elder!¡± The gatekeeping disciple paled upon seeing the token and promptly escorted Fang Xi inside.
Soon after, a portly middle-aged man approached, bowing respectfully, ¡°Hu Buwei greets the elder.¡±
Despite his well-fed appearance, his eyes revealed sharp acumen and amanding presence, indicating he was indeed a skilled martial artist!
¡°I haven¡¯t visited Three Origins City for some time. What events have transpired?¡± Fang Xi casually asked while seated in a taishi chair.
Since he traveled exclusively on the ck Feather Boat, often encountering no one along the way, he naturally remained uninformed about recent developments.
¡°Ah¡ recently, there¡¯s been some turmoil in the imperial court. The old emperor passed away, and the new emperor ascended at just six years of age. Consequently, the Grand Preceptor has taken control as regent, leading to significant conflicts with the imperial harem and court ministers¡¡±
Hu Buwei sighed bitterly. ¡°Ding Province itself was rtively peaceful initially, but near Big Barrier Mountain, a band of roving rebels gained unknown support and rapidly grew in strength. They¡¯ve been consistently seizing cities and territories, now reaching the outskirts of Three Origins City¡ The Dingzhou Army engaged them once but suffered a crushing defeat!¡±
¡°Even the Dingzhou Army was defeated?¡± Fang Xi sounded somewhat astonished.
This couldn¡¯t be attributed to him; although he had killed two officers of the Dingzhou Army, their overall power remainedrgely intact.
¡°I heard¡¡± Hu Buwei lowered his voice, ¡°There are multiple zongshimanding the rebel forces!¡±
¡°So that¡¯s how it is,¡± Fang Xi nodded in understanding. After asking a few more questions, he leisurely took his leave.
At Baiyun Dojo, Mu Piaomiao now served as the dojo master, with Zhang Mingding and other disciples assisting her.
Inside the main hall:
¡°Shijie, due to the ongoing conflict, many disciples have returned home. The city¡¯s food prices have skyrocketed¡ Our dojo¡¯s funds will be depleted by the end of this month,¡± Zhang Mingding said, worry evident as he held the ount ledger.
¡°Sigh¡¡± Mu Piaomiao shared his concern before gritting her teeth. ¡°Sell all my jewelry, and let everyone contribute what they can. Buy as much food as possible with whatever resources we have.¡±
Having endured hardship once in ckstone City, she vowed never to face starvation again.
¡°Heh, well done, little shimei! Money is insignificant; wealthes and goes!¡±
Suddenly, a young voice echoed from outside the door.
¡°That voice sounds familiar¡¡±
¡°And that dismissive tone about money¡ Da-shixiong?!¡±
Seeing the neer, Mu Piaomiao couldn¡¯t help but tear up. ¡°You¡¯ve finally returned¡¡±
Chapter 99: Facing the Formation Alone
Chapter 99: Facing the Formation Alone
Early morning.
¡°Gongzi, don¡¯t leave¡¡± Lily murmured in her sleep, still talking in her dreams.
Fang Xi shook his head gently and ced several small jade bottles on the table. These contained low-grade healing and detoxifying medicinal pills from the cultivation world.
In Great Liang, they would be considered priceless ¡®divine pills¡¯!
He stepped out of the room and headed towards the training grounds.
¡°From white to dark clouds, then onward to ck clouds!¡±
Mu Piaomiao moved swiftly like the wind, her palms following her every step with immense true force - a testament to her recent breakthrough as a True Force martial artist!
¡°Congrattions, Little Shimei, for achieving the dojo master realm!¡± Fang Xi smiled upon witnessing this progress.
¡°I must thank Da-shixiong for yesterday¡¯s gift of Blood and Qi Pills. The potency of these spiritual pills is truly astonishing¡¡± Mu Piaomiao recalled how her da-shixiong casually bestowed a chest filled with gold, feeling almost as if it were a dream. Compared to the precious metals, the spiritual pills were even more incredible. Just one pill had enabled her blood qi to surge, allowing her to sessfully ascend to the dojo master level. Compared to gold and silver, the spiritual pill was even more astonishing.
Just one dose had allowed her blood qi to break through, effortlessly elevating her to the dojo master realm.
With that entire bottle of Blood and Qi Pills, each generation of the dojo could consistently produce dojo masters!
This truly ensured asting legacy!
¡°I wonder if these spiritual pills¡¡±
She nced at Fang Xi, knowing she probably shouldn¡¯t ask, but her curiosity couldn¡¯t be suppressed.
¡°Oh, during my recent travels, I coincidentally encountered the same person who sold me those spiritual pills before, so I bought some more¡¡±
Nowadays, for Fang Xi, acquiring such pills was merely a drop in the ocean.
¡°I see¡¡± Mu Piaomiao¡¯s eyes welled up with tears, and suddenly she began to sob, ¡°It¡¯s truly wonderful¡ But it¡¯s too bad Shixiong didn¡¯t arrive sooner, otherwise my father might have¡¡±
Fang Xi fell silent upon hearing this.
The cycle of life, aging, sickness, and death among mortals is indeed unpredictable.
That¡¯s precisely why he dedicated himself to the path of cultivation, seeking immortality!
At the Intervale Dojo.
Fang Xi, hands sped behind his back, stepped inside.
Contrasting with its once obscure state, devoid of visitors, the Intervale Dojo had undergone a remarkable transformation. Not only had it expanded several times in size, but its gilded signboard now exuded grandeur.
Despite the looming threat of enemy forces encircling the city, there were still a few apprentices present. However, observing their lethargic demeanor and well-fed appearances, Fang Xi surmised they were likely aristocratic scions here to ce bets rather than train seriously.
¡°Who are you? If you¡¯re here to enroll for martial training, go pay at the back¡¡± Sun Hongdie, now married, was assisting within the dojo. Upon seeing Fang Xi, she rolled her eyes immediately. ¡°I¡¯ve said this many times, my master Ghostweary is not affiliated with those invading forces¡¡±
Using his original appearance, even Sun Hongdie, who knew Fang Leng well, failed to recognize him. By now, Fang Xi no longer cared about concealing his identity.
¡°It¡¯s me!¡± he replied calmly, his familiar tone causing Sun Hongdie¡¯s eyes to widen instantly.
In his calm voice, Fang Xi replied with a familiar tone that instantly widened Sun Hongdie¡¯s eyes. ¡°Master¡ Are you wearing one of those legendary human skin masks? Let me feel it¡¡±
¡°Get lost!¡±
Faced with such a disrespectful female disciple, Fang Xi always enforced strict discipline.
After reprimanding Sun Hongdie briefly, he ventured deeper into the dojo and encountered Qing Sang.
¡°M-master, sir, you¡¯re back? That¡¯s fantastic! With the rebels at our gates, I wasn¡¯t sure what to do¡¡± Qing Sang quickly recognized Fang Xi after Sun Hongdie¡¯s exnation.
Having lived together for so long, certain familiar traits were unmistakable.
¡°Don¡¯t worry about this situation. The so-called rebel siege¡ will be resolved swiftly,¡± Fang Xi assured her with a wave of his hand.
Many acquaintances resided within Three Origins City, and if it fell, countless lives would be devastated. Within the limits of his ability, Fang Xi did not hesitate to intervene.
As night fell, Linghu Shan of Yuanhe Mountain arrived upon receiving Fang Xi¡¯s signal.
¡°Fang Xi!¡± Linghu Shan greeted with a bow, his expression somewhat troubled.
¡°Which side will Yuanhe Mountain support during this siege by rebel forces?¡± Fang Xi asked directly.
¡°Neither side, really. With our influence at Yuanhe Mountain, regardless of who ultimately ims power, we¡¯ll always have a ce in Ding Province,¡± Linghu Shan replied cheerfully. ¡°The only concern is that some assets may suffer losses amidst the conflict¡ Ah, what truly troubles me is those brothels and pleasure houses; they¡¯ve been closedtely¡¡±
¡°Understood. And what about the Zongshi Association?¡±
¡°Theyrgely lean towards the current imperial court, as its development has intricate ties with the government¡¡± Linghu Shan answered.
Fang Xi recalled Fatty Han; without the backing of the Zongshi Association, he wouldn¡¯t have infiltrated the Beast Hunter¡¯s Pavilion so easily.
¡°Hmm, got it. I appreciate your insights.¡± Fang Xi nodded. ¡°By the way, are there any zongshi supporting these rebels? If so, from which factions?¡±
As Linghu Shan mentioned this, his expression turned somewhat grim. ¡°Those are members of the ¡®Nihming Society¡¯¡¡±
From Linghu Shan¡¯s exnation, Fang Xi gradually grasped the situation.
The so-called ¡®Nihming Society¡¯ was actually a faction that had splintered off from the ¡®Zongshi Association¡¯.
Its leader, Pang Fei, boasted an astonishing cultivation base at the Zongshi realm of ¡®Qi Circting Body¡¯, nearly equal to the head of the Zongshi Association!
After failing to secure the leadership position years ago, Pang Fei angrily left with his followers and established the ¡®Nihming Society¡¯!
He also held unique insights on breaking through beyond the zongshi level.
¡°Breaking through by harnessing momentum?¡± Fang Xi was taken aback.
¡°Yes¡¡± Linghu Shan affirmed. ¡°Pang Fei follows the path of True Astral Manifestation but believes that human blood qi has inherent limits. Seeking potential within oneself is akin to chasing shadows; instead, he advocates borrowing external ¡®momentum¡¯ for breakthrough!¡±
¡°Momentum can stem from both heaven and earth, as well as from people themselves! For instance, it could be the collective might of an army or even¡the grand momentum of ascending to the supreme throne! To achieve this, he developed a martial art called ¡®Dragon Emperor Fist¡¯! Truly remarkable, its power grows exponentially with greater momentum!¡±
¡°No wonder he supports the rebel army; he aims to be emperor himself! Is this his version of Dragon Emperor Fist?¡± Fang Xi couldn¡¯t help but marvel.
If this man truly ascended to the throne with mastery over the Dragon Emperor Fist, what unimaginable power would he wield?
¡°Sigh¡ Once capable of matching the Zongshi Association leader, now bolstered by the momentum of the rebellious forces, even the association head might struggle to resist him¡¡± Linghu Shan sighed deeply. ¡°I fear Three Origins City will not withstand this assault¡¡±
As they conversed, the piercing sound of military horns suddenly echoed from afar, growing louder and closer.
Clop-clop!
The thunderous galloping of thousands of horses approached rapidly.
¡°The rebels are attacking!¡±
Harsh cries spread like a ry, quickly echoing throughout the entire city.
¡°Let¡¯s go take a look!¡±
Fang Xi ced his hands behind his back, gently pushed off with his feet, and leaped onto a rooftop. With each step, harnessing momentum, his figure soared as if riding the wind, akin to arge bird effortlessly gliding ny meters away in an instant.
¡°Fang Xi, wait for these old bones!¡± Behind him, Linghu Shan desperately tried to catch up but only fell further behind.
On top of the city wall, Fang Xi stood at the peak of a watchtower, witnessing distant formations resembling ck tidal waves surging towards them.
Their momentum was like an unstoppable mountain, their advance as fierce as raging fire - a sight that struck terror into all who beheld it!
Many hastily recruited cultivators on the city wall trembled uncontrobly at this spectacle. Even for zongshi, facing such overwhelming forces meant certain death by encirclement!
Boom!
Boom!
Boom!
After three beats of the war drum, the chaotic army gradually halted. A single rider swiftly approached like an arrow, stopping beneath the city wall: ¡°Listen up, people of Three Origins City! You have half an hour to surrender; otherwise, once the city falls, there will be three days of ughter!¡±
Intentionally showcasing his martial prowess, his voice carried far and wide, causing every listener among the cultivators to pale with shock: ¡°A zongshi issuing threats?!¡±
¡°Damn, I¡¯ve heard rumors about the rebel army¡¯sck of discipline and penchant for massacring cities, but it seems true.¡±
¡°What should we do? What should we do?¡±
¡°Fang Xi, be cautious. With so many rebels and their zongshi support, even these old bones of mine might not withstand it¡¡±
With a rustle of wind, Linghu Shan appeared alongside him on the watchtower.
Fang Xi remained silent, casting a quick nce towards Baiyun Dojo and Intervale Dojo before casually discarding his long robe.
Swish!
A set of silvery-white armor instantly materialized around him!
The Spirit Snake Armor!
He donned the helmet, then with a light leap, jumped from the city wall, gliding gracefully towards the rebel forces like a soaring bird!
¡°Who dares to challenge us?¡± The heralding zongshi initially thought Fang Xi was courting death by jumping down. However, upon witnessing such extraordinary qinggong mastery, he paled in shock.
¡°The one who will end you!¡± Fang Xi summoned the ck Iron Sword, making a swift swing!
In that instant, both the heralding zongshi and his mount were cleaved in two!
With a loud cry, Fang Xi charged into the rebel ranks!
¡°Fire arrows!¡±
Countless arrows rained down, covering a vast area, making it nearly impossible for even a zongshi¡¯s agility to evade!
Clink! nk!
As the barrage struck, every arrow was effortlessly blocked by Fang Xi¡¯s spirit snake armor, leaving not a single mark on its surface.
¡°Is this¡a divine being?¡±
Linghu Shan watched this spectacle, nearly pulling out his beard in astonishment, utterly speechless.
¡°Iron Flooatese!¡± As Fang Xi charged towards them, the heavy-armored cavalry whistled and surged forth like a tidal wave.
However, in the next instant, Fang Xi¡¯s sword emitted a three-inch-long de aura, slicing through thick iron armor as effortlessly as cutting tofu. With swift precision, he severed chains and dispatched any soldier blocking his path, none standing a chance against a single strike!
¡°Remarkable courage!¡±
Witnessing Fang Xi break through their ranks with one sword, several zongshi disguised as ordinary soldiers stealthily approached him from different angles beforeunching a coordinated attack amidst the chaos.
Bang! Bang! Bang!
Fists, palms, and kicks struck simultaneously!
Theirbined true astral energies tore through Fang Xi¡¯s outer astral shield, impacting directly on the spirit snake armor.
Yet, within moments, these three zongshi were horrified to find that over seventy percent of their force had been dissipated by the armor, rendering it ineffective against Fang Xi encased inside!
Unfazed, Fang Xi channeled astral energy into the ck Iron Sword and casually swung it in a half-circle motion.
sh!
All three zongshi were instantly cut in half, their agonized screams echoing around.
The surrounding soldiers, witnessing this gruesome scene, recoiled in terror, retreating despite the executioner¡¯s attempts to enforce discipline.
¡°That¡¯s not human, it¡¯s a monster!¡±
¡°The zongshi are dead, r-run¡run for your lives!¡±
Amidst the chaos, Fang Xi relentlessly cut through enemy ranks and seized gs, charging directly towards themander¡¯s g!
Themander represents the courage of the entire army! Regardless of the peril, themander¡¯s g must never fall; otherwise, the troops could swiftly crumble into disarray!
Chapter 100: Tai Suis Advancement
Chapter 100: Tai Sui''s Advancement
¡°How formidable!¡±
On themand tform,
a towering figure with crimson eyes and skin pale as if devoid of blood abruptly stood up.
¡°He¡¯s at the pinnacle of Zongshi mastery, d in precious armor impervious to des, swords, and even astral energy!¡±
¡°Have everyone stand aside; I¡¯ll confront him personally!¡±
This man was none other than Pang Fei, the leader of the Nascent Fate Society!
With a soft exmation, his body surged with astral energy, disying remarkable power!
Moreover, as his demonic-like form moved, his spirit melded seamlessly with the might of the entire army. This fusion manifested a faintly visible pitch-ck Dragonfish hovering in mid-air, exerting immense pressure on Fang Xi!
Suppressing force through spiritual secret arts! Pang Fei¡¯s strength unequivocally ced him at the absolute summit of Great Liang!
Pffft!
Fang Xi swung his sword downward, only to find no one daring to obstruct him anymore. Even the relentless barrage of arrows and hidden weapons ceased.
In their ce, he felt an even more terrifying pressure descending upon him!
The surroundings suddenly darkened, revealing a mutted ck Dragonfish with exposed skeletal parts, menacingly lunging towards Fang Xi!
For an ordinary cultivator or even a Zongshi, under such overwhelming force, their movements would likely slow by half, leaving them vulnerable to ughter!
¡°Dragon Fist of the Emperor?!¡±
¡°A single punch epassing immense momentum and spiritual secret techniques - truly a pinnacle martial art of our time!¡± Fang Xi marveled, his spiritual sense sharp as a de, instantly piercing through the oppressive aura. Ahead, he glimpsed a figure resembling both deity and demon, delivering a powerful strike directly at him!
This punch carried the weight of a mountain, seemingly imbued with the strength of countless raging soldiers!
One man embodying an entire army!
¡°Secret Technique: Primordial Limitless!¡±
Fang Xi unleashed the Primordial Secret Technique with his sword, foregoing any defense as he struck forth!
It was a clear strategy aiming for mutual destruction!
Pang Fei¡¯s eyebrows furrowed, forcing him to swiftly transform his punch into a series of rapid palm strikes. His hands moved like ghostly shadows, striking the sword eighteen times in quick session, barely managing to halt its advance.
¡°Pang Fei!¡± Fang Xi roared, ¡°Borrowed momentum is never truly yours!¡±
Abruptly releasing his sword, he clenched his right hand into an overpowering fist.
¡°Secret Technique - Heir Apparent Dragon Command!¡±
Pang Fei countered with his own fist, each move executed wlessly. Amidst their exchange, a fragmented dragon shape coalesced around him - this was his highly concentrated astral energy!
Indeed, Pang Fei had taken the first step towards ¡®True Astral Manifestation¡¯!
sh!
Their astral fists collided, and surprisingly, the dragon-shaped astral energy seemed to possess its own intelligence, swiftly circling around Fang Xi to strike at his back.
Bang!
Buzz!
With a thunderous roar akin to a dragon¡¯s, Fang Xi¡¯s astral energy cloak was torn apart, exposing his rear.
But it was Pang Fei who felt astonished next!
He sensed that most of his dragon-shaped astral energy¡¯s destructive force was absorbed by Fang Xi¡¯s spirit snake armor.
The remaining impact could easily be endured by a Zongshi¡¯s physique.
As they shed relentlessly, astral energies surged around them.
¡°No!¡±
Soldiers caught too slow within their vicinity were instantly shredded to pieces amidst the chaos.
Even Pang Fei¡¯s weapons, forged from hundred-refined steel, were left battered and twisted as if by immense unseen forces¡
The ground churned violently, resembling the writhing of colossal earthworms beneath the surface.
As their battle intensified, the twobatants moved faster, akin to scarlet Dragonfish sweeping through the chaotic battlefield¡
After nearly an hour, amidst the ruins and debris:
Pang Fei¡¯s upper garments hung torn, revealing multiple fist imprints on his body.
¡°I¡I¡¯ve been defeated!¡± His dragon-shaped Astral Energy had long dissipated, leaving him with the aura of a frail old man.
¡°Fate can be borrowed but must also be repaid¡¡± Fang Xi whispered to Pang Fei across from him. ¡°Our fierce battle forced the rebels to scatter¡ Once they disperse, their collective momentum dissipates, depriving you of the military force¡¯s momentum!¡±
¡°s¡ If only I could have ascended to the throne, my Dragon Fist of the Emperor would never have faltered!¡± Pang Feiughed heartily before coughing up blood mixed with pieces of internal organs.
¡°The Dragon Fist of the Emperor is indeed a remarkable secret art,¡± Fang Xi said with a smile. ¡°Would it be possible for you to pass it on to me? Let me continue your journey and witness the scenery beyond Zongshi status in your stead¡¡±
The annals of Great Liang history record:
In the first year of Ming Emperor¡¯s reign, March, rebel forces attacked Three Origins City.
Zongshi ¡®Fang Xi¡¯ intervened, defeating three Nascent Fate Society Zongshis and ultimately engaging Pang Fei in a fierce battle on the battlefield.
Their sh left a trail of bloodshed in its wake!
With Pang Fei defeated, the rebel forces scattered!
Zongshi Fang Xi then vanished mysteriously, akin to glimpsing only the head of an elusive divine dragon, earning him the revered title of ¡®Supreme Grandmaster¡¯!
In the southern wilderness of the cultivation realm, on Wanhu Ind, beneath theke surface¡
The ¡°Supreme Grandmaster¡± Fang Xi emerged cautiously, holding his Green Turtle Shield in one hand and wielding the Golden Flood Dragon de with the other. After ensuring no one was nearby, he swiftly mounted the ck Feather Boat and vanished without a trace.
¡°It¡¯s as expected¡ after months have passed, everyone would assume the culprit has fled.¡±
Fang Xi circled once more with the ck Feather Boat before returning to the vicinity of Peach Blossom Ind, a thoughtful expression on his face:
¡°The Treasure Ship Market issue is resolved, but Peach Blossom Ind still remains¡¡±
Previously, Wei Yixin had ventured out seeking opportunities only to meet his demise.
While the prevailing theory med the Kou n leader, Fang Xi felt something wasn¡¯t quite right.
Theoretically, to protect their interests at Peach Blossom Ind, either the Feng or Mo ns could also be potential culprits!
Or even Old Monster Goldtooth from Golden me Ind!
¡°No matter who it is, anyone obstructing my tree nting must die!¡±
¡°Regardless of grand ambitions or n conspiracies¡ once you¡¯re dead, all those nse to naught!¡±
Although Fang Xi didn¡¯t directly retaliate against the families of the five Late Stage Qi Refinement cultivators who tried to ambush him, losing such elite members inevitably dealt them heavy blows and made them vulnerable to rivals¡¯ covetous eyes, possibly leading to their downfall¡
This applied equally to the Feng and Mo ns!
¡°Others might need evidence, but I don¡¯t require proof, just usible suspicion!¡±
Fang Xi¡¯s expression grew stern.
With his possession of powerful magical artifacts like the spirit snake armor and ck Iron Sword, not publicly known yet,bined with his own strength, even facing Old Monster Goldtooth seemed feasible!
One monthter.
Peach Blossom Ind.
Jade Cliff.
Fang Xinded outside the Little Cloudrain Array, waved his token gently, and instantly opened a passageway.
Within the channel, several voice-transmission talismans awaited him.
¡°Finally returned¡¡±
¡°Even missed the spring nting; renting now will definitely decrease this year¡¯s spirit rice yield¡¡±
Sighing, Fang Xi picked up one of the talismans and recognized it as from Hua Chanjuan.
The female cultivator had given birth to a daughter named ¡®Wei Yixi¡¯ during winter and invited him for celebratory drinks.
However, Fang Xi was already away at that time, inevitably missing the asion.
Apart from Hua Chanjuan, there were more voice-transmission talismans from Ruan Xingling, Mu Wen, and others¡
Their messages ranged from important matters to simple greetings. Not receiving any response, they assumed Fang Xi was either in seclusion or out of town.
¡®I can just use being in seclusion as an excuse when needed¡¡¯
Upon entering his four-sided courtyard house, Fang Xi inspected thoroughly and noted with satisfaction that there were no signs of intrusion into the protective formation.
He lifted the prayer mat, revealing a hidden path leading down to the underground cave.
Swiftly, Fang Xi traversed through the tunnel and once again crossed over to Great Liang.
Momentster.
In the deserted underground cave, Fang Xi suddenly appeared, apanied by a mythical beast!
It was Tai Sui!
Upon entering the southern wilderness cultivation realm, the white, gtinous mass of Tai Sui seemed to tremble all over.
Standing nearby, Fang Xi held his Golden Flood Dragon de with an icy gaze.
If Tai Sui showed any signs of breaking free from the blood pact, he was ready to strike instantly and y the mythical beast!
Buzzing sounds filled the air as surrounding world¡¯s spiritual energy surged towards them, forming a small whirlpool!
Tai Sui¡¯s flesh expanded rapidly, devouring the spiritual energy like a parchednd receiving its first rain after a long drought!
Its demonic aura swiftly intensified, quickly surpassing the low-tier first-rank limit to reach mid-tier first rank!
¡°As expected, the Great Liang World is spiritually impoverished; these mythical beasts are akin to underdeveloped newborns¡¡±
¡°Once they reach the southern wilderness, they immediately absorb vast amounts of spiritual energy, greatly increasing their chances of advancing!¡±
The Golden Flood Dragon de hummed in Fang Xi¡¯s hand.
However, when he noticed that Tai Sui¡¯s demonic aura stabilized after reaching mid-tier first rank, maintaining the blood pact intact, he couldn¡¯t help but sigh in relief.
His choice of a low-tier first-rank Tai Sui proved to be remarkably wise! Had he selected one of those exceptionally gifted high-rank first-tier beasts, it might have directly ascended to tier-2, causing significant chaos!
Now, Fang Xi examined Tai Sui again and observed that its body had significantly swollen. Originally the size of a water vat, it now resembled a small room, adorned with swirling cloud-like patterns on its surface.
With a slicing sound, Fang Xi cut off arge chunk of Tai Sui flesh.
The Tai Sui wriggled momentarily, swiftly healing its wound.
¡°Hmm¡ still behaves like a vegetative nt monster!¡±
Fang Xi gazed at the massive piece of Beefwood, easily weighing several dozen pounds, and couldn¡¯t help but swallow nervously.
After advancing in rank, this Beefwood seemed¡ even more appetizing?!
¡°Mid-tier first rank mythical beast meat, continuously replenishing¡ This bodes well for cultivating trees and progressing my spiritual body aspirations!¡±
A hint of satisfaction appeared on Fang Xi¡¯s face.
In the next moment, he tapped his bag of holding, producing a sack filled with Scarlet Blood Spirit Rice.
The Tai Sui unconsciously consumed it, enveloping and dissolving the spirit rice¡
Once its wounds healed, new flesh visibly began to grow rapidly.
¡°Excellent¡ Using ordinary food, it takes roughly ten pounds to gain one pound of Tai Sui flesh¡ With Scarlet Blood Spirit Rice, the ratio is approximately one-to-one¡¡±
Fang Xi mentally noted these proportions.
¡°Once I cultivate more acres of spirit fields in the future, there will be an endless supply of mythical beast meat¡¡±
¡°However, nting trees can wait for now¡ Let some time pass before proceeding. The measures I set up earlier should have taken effect by now.¡±
Fang Xi then visited Great Liang once more, meticulously checking and categorizing the collected spirit materials and supplies without any oversight.
Afterpleting these tasks, he finally sighed with relief, returned to his courtyard, and prepared to send a voice-transmission talisman to Ruan Xingling, assuring her of his safe arrival.
Ssh!
At that moment, a sudden burst of waves erupted from the pond.
Arge green fish leaped onto the shore with a thud, its lifeless eyes fixed on Fang Xi, seemingly conveying a hint of grievance.
¡°Oh?¡±
Fang Xi smacked his forehead, realizing what he had forgotten.
In his long absence, he neglected to feed the fish¡
Fortunately, this big green fish was a spirit beast, sustained by the spiritual energy from the Little Cloudrain Array; otherwise, it likely would have starved to death¡
¡°You even know how to beg for food now? Are you getting smarter?¡±
Fang Xi rubbed his chin, kicked therge green fish back into the pond, and simultaneously scattered a handful of Scarlet Blood Spirit Rice over it.
The rice tasted unpleasant, suitable only for brewing wine or feeding mythical beasts - not something he himself would consume.
Earlier at the Treasure Ship Market, he had already procured high-quality spirit rice seeds, eagerly awaiting the chance to nt them.
Chapter 101: One Year Later
Chapter 101: One Year Later
The next day.
At Jade Cliff.
Fang Xi rubbed his sore back, sighed, and continued bending over to rent ¡®Scarlet Blood Spirit Rice¡¯.
This time, besides the Scarlet Blood Spirit Rice, he also selected a plot with abundant spiritual energy to sow an acre of ¡®Clear Lotus Spirit Rice¡¯!
This type of spirit rice requires cultivation in paddy fields, resembling lotus flowers. At harvest time, by peeling open the lotus flower and leaves, one reveals the seed pod filled with spirit rice grains.
Moreover, when consumed, it imparts a delightful aroma reminiscent of lotus blossoms, offering an exquisite taste experience.
Such is the spirit rice truly meant for cultivators!
Fang Xi nted it primarily for his own consumption.
¡°Little Cloudrain Array, activate!¡± After tending to an entire acre, he flew into the air, took out the Restriction Command Token, and inputted the cultivation technique.
Swishhh!
Invisible ripples spread outward, coalescing dense white mist into rain clouds that gently showered droplets of spiritual water below.
With therge array at his disposal, even farming became significantly more convenient.
Fang Xi spent several busy days before finallypleting the renting of spirit rice.
Just as he was about to rest and catch his breath, he noticed a voice-transmission talisman flying towards him.
Upon receiving it, he opened the formation gate and saw Ruan Xingling gracefully enter, standing on her floral basket with a cheerful smile.
¡°Greetings, Ind Lord,¡± Fang Xi bowed respectfully.
¡°I tried reaching you multiple times earlier, but couldn¡¯t find any trace¡ I feared something unfortunate had befallen you.¡± Ruan Xingling scrutinized Fang Xi, noticing his cultivation base remained at the fifthyer of Qi Refinement, which slightly furrowed her brow.
¡°Recently, I was in seclusion practicing a new magic spell, unable to leave. Did the Ind Lord need assistance?¡± Fang Xi casually provided an excuse.
¡°It¡¯s nothing urgent, just that during the Spirit Evaluation Congress, we discovered some promising talents and wanted your presence for the ceremony¡¡± Ruan Xingling sighed, ¡°Wan Ind Lake has not been peacefultely. First, there was a madman outside the Treasure Ship Market who killed five Late Stage Qi Refinement cultivators, causing turmoil and shifting power dynamics within the market¡ And half a month ago, my great-grandfather and the Mo n patriarch were ambushed by unknown assants while traveling, sustaining severe injuries!¡±
¡°What?¡± Fang Xi¡¯s face paled dramatically. ¡°So many significant incidents urred? Could that madman have reached Foundation Establishment? How are the Feng n¡¯s and Mo n¡¯s patriarchs faring now?¡±
¡°Not very optimistic, but they managed to survive somehow. Rumor has it that the assant was a silver-armored giant wielding a ck sword¡ with incredibly devastating attacks,¡± Ruan Xingling said gravely. ¡°Despite having high-grade defensive magical artifacts, Patriarch Mo¡¯s body was nearly cleaved in half by a single strike. If not for timely assistance, he likely would have perished¡¡±
Fang Xi pondered briefly before cautiously suggesting, ¡°Could it be¡ Old Monster Goldtooth hired this outsider?¡±
¡°Impossible¡¡± Ruan Xingling responded. ¡°Even Golden me Ind suffered an attack from this silver-armored figure, resulting in numerous casualties. Old Monster Goldtooth personally intervened but couldn¡¯t subdue him; instead, he sustained damage to his vital energy¡ If not for quickly retreating into their protective formation, he too might have been severely injured¡¡±
Previously, Fang Xi hadn¡¯t cared about who the mastermind behind the incidents was; anyone suspicious had faced his wrath, including Old Monster Goldtooth.
¡°Whoa¡¡± Fang Xi feigned surprise, drawing in a sharp breath. ¡°Such ferocity! Could this be yet another cultivator at the great circle of Qi Refining?¡±
¡°Hmm, this individual seems unpredictable and vtile. You must be cautious and avoid leaving the ind for now.¡±
After giving her warning, Ruan Xingling nced at the spirit field nted with Clear Lotus Spirit Rice. ¡°This is¡ Clear Lotus Spirit Rice?¡±
¡°Yes, recently the fertility of the spirit field has improved, aided by the cultivation formation as well. Now we can grow some high-quality rice.¡±
Fang Xi squatted on the field ridge, his eyes filled with anticipation for the uing harvest.
¡°This rice looks promising. When it¡¯s time for the harvest, make sure to save some for me¡¡± Ruan Xingling said with a faint smile, then softly sighed, ¡°Ah¡ this Ind Lord has been quite busytely, needing to help stabilize the situation between the Feng and Mo ns¡ I fear it will remain hectic for some time.¡±
Although Feng Baimeng and the Mo n patriarch survived, they suffered severe losses to their vital energy.
Given their advanced age, even if their injuries healed, their lifespan was nearing its end¡
As a result, any further schemes or intrigues had to be set aside.
This development allowed Ruan Xingling to feel a notable easing of tensions on the ind recently. Feng Manlou and Mo Qingyu ceased causing trouble, seemingly keeping a low profile¡
It was precisely what Fang Xi aimed for.
Following these incidents, apart from Late Stage Qi Refinement cultivators, few dared to venture beyond the protective barrier surrounding the ind.
The recent calm provided an ideal opportunity for nting trees.
Of course, for added caution, it would be best to wait another year until things settle downpletely¡
Spring turned to autumn.
Another year had passed.
Fang Xi calcted his age - now twenty-three, with his cultivation still lingering at the fifthyer of Qi Refinement.
With a ssh!
In the courtyard near the pond, a robust and plumprge green fish swam about, significantly bigger than before.
Casually creating a magical energy shield to hold back the pool water, Fang Xi muttered, ¡°This fish never advances no matter how well I care for it. Maybe it¡¯s time to stew it?¡±
Ssh!
Instantly, the frightenedrge green fish hid trembling in the pond¡¯s muddy bottom¡
¡®Smart little fellow¡¡¯
Seeing this reaction, Fang Xi chuckled inwardly, then rose to head towards the spirit fields and begin harvesting the spirit rice.
The twelve acres of Scarlet Blood Spirit Rice, due to being ntedte, yielded only around two hundred pounds per acre.
After several busy days, he managed to gather a total of over two thousand seven hundred pounds of spirit rice, all stacked neatly into the storage warehouse.
¡°With so much spirit rice, even Tai Sui won¡¯t finish it all¡ It¡¯s time to try making wine. The ¡®God of Wine Manual¡¯ has a tier-one wine form that strengthens blood qi, perfectly suited for Scarlet Blood Spirit Rice¡¡±
Fang Xi mentally nned as he approached the best paddy field.
Above the shallow water, numerous lotus leaf bundles were clearly visible. He picked one up, peeled open the lotus leaf, and found it filled with spirit riceden lotus pods.
A refreshing fragrance of lotus blossoms immediately wafted through the air.
Fang Xi carefully peeled open the lotus pods to reveal Clear Lotus Spirit Rice grains, each about the size of a longan fruit, resembling small lotus seeds. They were uniformly white with only a subtle hint of pink at their tips, looking akin to miniature longevity peaches - truly enticing to the eye.
¡°Ind Lord Ruan has been eagerly anticipating this spirit rice; it¡¯s time I deliver some!¡±
The yield for Clear Lotus Spirit Rice was even lower, averaging around just one hundred pounds per acre.
Fang Xi packed thirty pounds of spirit rice and, after a moment¡¯s thought, added another ten pounds. Using his ck Feather Boat, he headed towards Mirror Moon Lake, where the Ruan Family resided in the ¡®Mirror Moon Vi¡¯.
¡°Fellow Daoist Fang, you¡¯ve arrived!¡± Feng Manlou emerged from inside, greeted Fang Xi with a bow, and said, ¡°Here to request an audience with the Ind Lord? She happens to be avable now, let me announce your presence!¡±
¡°Many thanks, Daoist friend.¡±
Sensing Feng Manlou¡¯s genuine goodwill, Fang Xi bowed gratefully.
Indeed, since Feng Baimeng¡¯s severe injury, he seemed to have abandoned certain ambitions. He had started a family and made efforts to integrate fully into Peach Blossom Ind.
Naturally, his rtionship with Fang Xi shifted from hostility to amicability.
On the other hand, Mo Qingyu appeared relentless despitecking support from the Mo n, but without their backing, she couldn¡¯t cause much trouble.
Fang Xi decided to leave such concerns for Ruan Xingling to handle herself.
A short whileter, Feng Manlou reappeared, saying, ¡°The Ind Lord will see you now!¡±
Fang Xi nodded and entered the hall, where he found Ruan Xingling waiting.
Compared to their past interactions, her demeanor now carried even more authority, gradually obscuring the gentle and gracious image of the vibrant woman that once lingered in Fang Xi¡¯s memory¡
¡±¡I thought it would be fitting to bring some of this season¡¯s spirit rice harvest for the Ind Lord.¡±
Fang Xi chatted casually about mundane matters like farming and fish rearing, presenting Clear Lotus Spirit Rice wrapped in lotus leaves.
¡°I merely mentioned it in passing; you¡¯ve been very thoughtful.¡± Ruan Xingling gazed at the lotus leaf bundle before asking suddenly, ¡°Since Fellow Daoist is devoted to agriculture, have you considered finding a cultivation partner? Wouldn¡¯t they provide valuable support? If you¡¯re willing, this ind lord could assist in making introductions¡¡±
¡°Ah¡ actually, aside from farming, I still harbor aspirations on my cultivation path,¡± Fang Xi replied with a raised eyebrow, gently declining. ¡°Having dedicated myself to the way of immortality, it would be difficult tomit elsewhere. Please understand, Ind Lord. In truth¡ after returning, I n to enter seclusion for rigorous cultivation, and fear I may not visit often in the future¡¡±
¡°I didn¡¯t expect you to be one who embraces ascetic cultivation.¡±
Ruan Xingling¡¯s expression remained warm. ¡°Very well¡ You may leave now!¡±
¡°With your permission, I shall take my leave!¡± Fang Xi bowed and exited the hall.
Behind him, he faintly heard a soft sigh, devoid of the usual melodious bell-like sound¡
After leaving Mirror Moon Lake, Fang Xi contemted his next move. Instead of heading directly back to Jade Cliff, he decided to detour towards Twin Peaks.
On East Peak, Mu Wen, now the head of the Mu Family, had established arge residence and cultivated numerous spirit fields around it. The scene suggested a thriving lifestyle.
Apart fromcking a protective mountain formation, it already resembled the beginnings of a small n estate.
Observing several diligent old farmers tending the spirit fields, Fang Xi nodded yet shook his head slightly. He did not descend his flying boat but continued onward to West Twin Peak instead.
At West Peak:
A profusion of flowers covered the ground, and within a valley, a spirit spring flowed gently.
Adjacent to the spirit spring stood a modest dwelling enclosed by a bamboo fence.
Inside the fence, there were over a dozen beehives, with snowy-white jade bees buzzing in and out continuously.
Hua Chanjuan appeared somewhat more worn-out than before, with a baby girl strapped to her back as she tended to the bee hives. Upon seeing the approaching light, she initially startled, but upon recognizing Fang Xi, her expression softened. ¡°Ah, Fellow Daoist Fang, what brings you here this time?¡±
¡°Fellow Daoist Hua!¡±
Fang Xi handed over ten pounds of spirit rice and said, ¡°I¡¯m about to enter long-term seclusion this time, aiming to break through to Late Stage Qi Refinement before turning forty¡ Although the Dao path is uncertain, one must always strive for it. Therefore, I won¡¯t be able to visit frequently in the future. Please forgive any rudeness!¡±
¡°Entering seclusion for cultivation, that¡¯s excellent, trulymendable!¡± Hua Chanjuan responded with a smile on her face. ¡°To be honest, I wish my Yi Xi could stay by my side constantly, ideally never even leaving West Peak. The outside world is full of bad people!¡±
¡®Has this female cultivator lost her mind?¡¯ Fang Xi thought, somewhat taken aback.
¡°Oh, I haven¡¯t yet invited you inside for a bowl of spirit honey water, Daoist friend!¡± Hua Chanjuan seemed suddenly reminded. ¡°My ¡®Jade Bee Spirit Honey¡¯, even the Ind Lord praised its taste¡¡±
¡°No need.¡± Fang Xi waved his hand and hopped onto his flying boat, departing swiftly.
Back at Jade Cliff, he took a deep breath, feeling slightly exhrated.
Everything was now prepared; it was finally time to start nting trees!
Chapter 102: Mastering the Longevity Technique
Chapter 102: Mastering the Longevity Technique
Winter gave way to spring, as life and growth surged anew!
Within the underground cave.
Night pearls illuminated with their radiant glow.
At its center, on level ground, Fang Xi stood solemnly, holding a spirit seed that had undergone multiple purifications through the Longevity Technique.
This spirit seed, originating from the Demon Tree, had been repeatedly refined by him, bing virtually one with his essence. He could even sense a subtle anticipation akin to joy, as if the seed was nearing its moment of germination.
¡°Having prepared so meticulously¡¡±
¡°After enduring such a long wait¡¡±
¡°Let¡¯s begin!¡±
With a deep sigh, Fang Xi buried the seed in the earth. Then, forming hand seals, he channeled magical energy forth, incanting, ¡°By themand of longevity, let the spirit nt sprout - swiftly!¡± The dusty seed beneath the surface suddenly acted like a voracious demon, hungrily devouring Fang Xi¡¯s magical energy, causing beads of cold sweat to form on his forehead.
Just as Fang Xi thought the spirit seed might drain all his magical energy, it abruptly emitted a sensation of satisfaction.
Snap!
The seed¡¯s surface split open, releasing a tender green shoot that pushed through the soil, transforming into a sapling barely two inches tall!
Upon closer inspection, this sapling closely resembled ckstone City¡¯s Demon Tree, akin to a miniature ck banyan tree.
¡°Lifebound Spirit nt, sessful!¡±
Fang Xi could sense that this spirit nt had be one with him. As it grew, strands of vitality essence qi were drawn from the earth, merging into his body and forming a profound connection!
This connection would weaken as the distance between him and his lifebound spirit nt increased, eventually severing entirely.
It was precisely why cultivators practicing the ¡®Longevity Technique¡¯ couldn¡¯t stray too far from their lifebound spirit nts!
¡°This feeling¡ truly remarkable!¡±
In that moment, Fang Xi felt as if he had transformed into a nt himself, experiencing a sudden surge of insights flooding his mind.
As though embodying an ancient tree, enduring seasonal changes day after day, year after year¡
¡°Begone!¡±
Following an instinctive impulse, he formed a gesture and incanted a spell.
Bang!
Suddenly, several sharp wooden spikes erupted from the nearby ground!
These spikes gleamed like polished iron, even sporting barbs at their edges, exuding a terrifying potential for harm.
It was the ¡®Earth Spike Technique¡¯!
Since reaching the fifthyer of Qi Refinement, Fang Xi had been diligently studying this magic spell, and now, unexpectedly, he achieved mastery over it.
Not only did he master it, but its potency seemed to have significantly increased when cast!
¡°I can also sense¡ newfound insights regarding the Entangling Spell.¡±
Fang Xi¡¯s eyes gleamed slightly, ¡°I didn¡¯t expect such benefits from the Longevity Technique? No¡ perhaps the key lies within this Demon Tree itself!¡±
Originating from the Great Liang World, this demonic entity had entered the cultivation realm and grown by absorbing spiritual energy.
Even Fang Xi couldn¡¯t predict what form the Demon Tree would ultimately take.
¡°However, judging by its growth rate¡ hopefully I won¡¯t have to wait until my natural death?¡±
He gently caressed the sapling, his face filled with delight and satisfaction. A serene yet thriving aura emanated from him, reflecting both tranquility and vitality.
¡°What should I call you in the future? Eternal Evergreen Tree? Longevity Tree?¡±
As Fang Xi pondered, his expression suddenly changed!
Through the connection with his lifebound spirit nt, he sensed a strong desire for something on his person¡ªor rather, within his bag of holding!
Fang Xi considered briefly and retrieved two dusty seeds from the bag.
Upon seeing them, the lifebound spirit nt instantly disyed immense excitement and longing.
¡°If it¡¯s worth doing, do it right,¡± Fang Xi murmured as he ced the seeds next to the Demon Tree.
In the next moment,
Rustle! Rustle!
The ground near the sapling cracked open, revealing tendrils-like roots that swiftly grasped the two seeds. Then, they pierced into them, seemingly extracting their nutrients¡ªa ruthless act of self-destruction!
The seeds of this Demon Tree seemed inherently brutal by nature!
Stimted by these seeds, Fang Xi¡¯s lifebound spirit nt began to rapidly grow.
Three inches, four inches, one foot¡
In an instant, it soared over three feet tall, transforming into a glossy ck trunk with lush foliage - a magnificent Spirit Tree!
Numerous aerial roots dangled from its green canopy, exploring and extending outward¡ revealing an intense craving for flesh and blood!
¡°Return!¡± Fang Xi¡¯s eyes chilled as he issued themand.
All the aerial roots and vines instantly retracted. The Demon Tree shuddered, emitting a sense ofίÇü, almost pleading, ¡°I¡¯m hungry¡¡±
¡°Devouring your brethren for sustenance¡and that insatiable hunger for flesh!¡±
¡°You shall remain the Demon Tree after all!¡±
¡°And henceforth, without my explicitmand, you are not allowed to attack any living beings!¡± Fang Xi dered firmly.
Bound by the Longevity Technique, Fang Xi and the Demon Tree had be inseparable; the spirit nt was now an extension of himself. Consequently, issuingmands required merely a single thought.
At the same time, his suspicions were further confirmed.
The Demon Tree¡¯s behavior indeed resembled that of an evil entity¡ It must not be discovered; otherwise, Fang Xi could easily be suspected as a demonic cultivator!
¡°I hope you can grow swiftly and deliver some results soon, at least allowing me to cultivate the Azure Wood Spirit Body¡¡±
¡°Come on, feast!¡±
Fang Xi carried tworge buckets filled with Beefwood meat to the base of the Demon Tree.
Swish! Swish!
Numerous aerial roots descended, plunging into the Beefwood meat, seemingly sucking out its essence.
In moments, chunks of Beefwood turned to ash and dissipated.
And the Demon Tree appeared to have¡ grown taller slightly?
¡°As expected¡ the growth rate of this Demon Tree is truly astonishing!¡± Fang Xi¡¯s eyes lit up.
His conjecture was correct!
Looking at the two seeds now devoid of any life force, Fang Xi felt a sense of regret.
If only this sapling could devour the main body of the Demon Tree from ckstone City, how rapidly would it develop? Perhaps his ¡®Second Wood Dharmak¨¡ya¡¯ could have been instantly achieved?
However, given his current strength, approaching that massive Demon Tree¡ would essentially be delivering himself for ughter!
Several dayster.
In the cer, Fang Xi followed the ratios specified in the God of Wine Manual to prepare multiple jars of spirit wine using Scarlet Blood Spirit Rice as the primary ingredient. He then buried them for aging within the cer.
Among these, there were also a few batches based on forms he had developed himself at the Green Bamboo Market. Although rudimentary by his current standards, they served as keepsakes of his early experimentation.
Afterpleting this task, Fang Xi fed the fish and proceeded to the spirit fields, where he began sowing seeds of Scarlet Blood Spirit Rice.
When initially measuring Jade Cliff, he had envisionedying the groundwork for future expansion of his spirit fields. Now, having identified two promising locations, he was ready to cultivate several more acres.
As Fang Xi moved about, he could sense the connection with the Demon Tree and its constantly extending roots deep within the earth. The tree acted like another extension of himself, continuously absorbing the vitality essence qi from thend and nts, infusing it into his body. This created a ¡®circtory cycle¡¯ between them.
Fang Xi stepped out of the Little Cloudrain Array, pacing the ground to measure distance.
Three li, four li¡
After walking nearly five to six li, the ¡®circting connection¡¯ began to weaken significantly, signaling to Fang Xi that any further distance would inevitably disrupt his Longevity Technique!
¡°The greatest w of the Longevity Technique is its inability to stray too far from one¡¯s lifebound spirit nt¡ I can¡¯t even traverse freely?¡±
¡°However, I recall the Ancestral Demon Tree in ckstone City seemed capable of movement¡ albeit quite troublesome.¡±
¡°This presents an interesting possibility; at least it wouldn¡¯t confine me to a single location permanently.¡±
Fang Xi turned back, deep in thought.
¡°Fellow Daoist Fang!¡±
At that moment, a figure approached - surprisingly, it was the elegant Feng Manlou!
¡°Fellow Daoist Feng!¡± Fang Xi bowed respectfully. ¡°Can I assist you with something?¡±
Feng Manlou¡¯s face bore traces of hardship, marked by a hint of sorrow. ¡°I just received news that the Mo n patriarch¡ has passed away!¡±
¡°What?¡± Fang Xi feigned shock, internally sighing with relief, realizing he had ousted yet another enemy.
The Mo n patriarch was expected to live for several more years, but after sustaining severe injuries from Fang Xi, his vital energy greatly diminished, leading to a shortened lifespan.
While cultivators in the Qi Refinement stage theoretically had a maximum lifespan of two sixty-year cycles, approximately 120 years, very few actually reached that age. This was due to constant battles and resulting injuries, which significantly depleted their vital energy and adversely affected their longevity.
Only cultivators practicing wood attribute techniques and adept at self-care could generally outlive their peers by a margin.
¡°I must attend the funeral proceedings now, Fellow Daoist Fang?¡± Feng Manlou tentatively asked.
¡°Fellow Daoist, I¡¯m not well-acquainted with the Mo n, so perhaps it¡¯s best if I don¡¯t join¡¡± Fang Xi politely declined, his tone mild.
¡°Ah¡¡±
Feng Manlou did not insist, merely sighing before departing.
He couldn¡¯t help but think about Mo Qingyu, the proud young man who had always relied on his family¡¯s influence, umting no shortage of enemies along the way. With the Mo n patriarch¡¯s demise, their status would likely plummet dramatically. It remained uncertain how many would seize the opportunity to strike further when they were down!
In the underground cavern, Fang Xi gazed at the ten-foot-tall Demon Tree with a hint of mncholy. ¡°In this world¡is there truly no one who can achieve immortality?¡±
With the demise of the Mo n¡¯s patriarch today, it seemed likely that the Feng n¡¯s patriarch would soon follow suit, stirring deep emotions within Fang Xi.
As usual, he cut off arge piece of Beefwood meat for the Demon Tree to feast upon.
After feeding the sapling, Fang Xi sat cross-legged beneath it, activating the Longevity Technique. He absorbed the vitality essence qi from nts, refining his acquired spiritual body.
This was a painstaking process; even attaining the lowest level ¡®Azure Wood Spirit Body¡¯ required a century of dedication!
Moreover, it demanded high-quality spirit nts and spiritual veins.
However, Fang Xi had taken an unconventional path by discovering the peculiar Demon Tree, effectively bypassing these barriers.
During his cultivation, one of the aerial roots from the Demon Tree canopy descended and prated Fang Xi¡¯s back.
¡°Hm? What is this¡¡±
Fang Xi opened his eyes, momentarily wondering if he had somehow crossed over again, perhaps bing a red-eyed elderly man known for wielding a folding fan¡
But in the next instant, he couldn¡¯t help but exhale a contented sigh.
Blood Qi!
An incredibly pure surge of Blood Qi flowed through the Demon Tree¡¯s aerial root into his body.
Fang Xi looked at his hands, suddenly feeling an invigorating life force coursing through him, as if rejuvenated to his peak physical condition at seventeen or eighteen years old!
¡°Does the Demon Tree absorb blood essence and then reciprocate it?¡±
¡°The Longevity Technique doesn¡¯t seem to describe this phenomenon. Is this unique to the Demon Tree itself?¡±
Chapter 103: Prolonging Longevity
Chapter 103: Prolonging Longevity
After a period of observation and experimentation, Fang Xi gained a rough understanding of the situation.
The Demon Tree could absorb flesh and blood, converting it into highly pure life vital energy, which would then be returned to its owner!
Life vital energy is crucial for many ¡®Longevity-Enhancing Medicinal Pills¡¯!
¡°In other words¡ each time I cultivate, it¡¯s akin to consuming an Age-Prolonging Pill. Could this potentially offset the lifespan lost during a day?¡±
¡°Wouldn¡¯t that mean I could essentially achieve immortality? No, wait, there¡¯s a key requirement missing - vast amounts of blood qi!¡±
Based on Fang Xi¡¯s observations, the Demon Tree¡¯s daily feedback of vital energy roughly equaled half a day of life span.
In essence, he could live two days¡¯ worth of life in just one ordinary day!
His longevity effectively doubled!
If allowed unrestricted absorption of blood qi by the Demon Tree, achieving ¡®immortality¡¯ might even be possible! However, this was practically unfeasible due to the limited amount of flesh produced from the Beefwood. Expanding the Demon Tree recklessly without regard for consequences would consume resources far beyond what Peach Blossom Ind could provide, risking discovery and intervention by cultivators seeking to eliminate such threats.
Despite Peach Blossom Ind¡¯s abundant flesh resources, such rapid growth would inevitably attract attention, leading to cultivators arriving to y demons and purge evil!
¡°Regardless, even doubling my lifespan is incredibly astonishing!¡±
¡°In other words, if I keep cultivating trees, could I potentially live for over two hundred years, even at the Qi Refinement stage?¡± Fang Xi¡¯s eyes lit up with excitement.
A typical Qi Refinement stage cultivator has a lifespan of roughly two sixty-year cycles, equating to 120 years! Foundation Establishment cultivators can expect four sixty-year cycles, around 240 years! Those who Form their Gold Cores enjoy a venerable longevity approaching five hundred years!
Additionally, certain Age-Prolonging Pills can further extend one¡¯s lifespan to some extent.
Moreover, cultivators practicing wood-type techniques, if they avoidbat and focus on maintaining good health, can usually ensure reaching their maximum natural lifespan.
Fang Xi, having delved deeply into the ¡®Longevity Technique¡¯, knew that the most effective way to extend one¡¯s life was by cultivating a postnatal wood-type spiritual body!
After all, spirit wood endures eternally!
Cultivators awakening the ¡®Azure Wood Spirit Body¡¯ can increase their lifespan by approximately ten to twenty percent!
The legendary ¡®Second Wood Dharma Body¡¯ is even more astounding, capable of enhancing a cultivator¡¯s lifespan by nearly fifty percent!
In other words, if a Qi Refinement cultivator awakened the ¡®Second Wood Dharma Body¡¯, they could potentially live up to 180 years, nearing the lifespan of a Foundation Establishment cultivator!
Simrly, a Foundation Establishment cultivator with this enhancement could effortlessly surpass 300 years of life!
As for the ¡®Evesting Verdant Physique¡¯?
It is highly unlikely that such a physique exists in this world; perhaps only within the realm of immortals would one find such an ethereal constitution.
From the brief descriptions in the Longevity Technique, Fang Xi learned that one key effect of the Evesting Verdant Physique was remarkably straightforward - it granted an extension of longevity by ten thousand years!
Such a destined immortal¡¯s body, capable of achieving eternal life, can likely manifest only in the celestial realms.
Previously, Fang Xi had meticulously nned his strategies with long-term foresight, knowing fully well that awakening the ¡®Azure Wood Spirit Body¡¯ would significantly extend his lifespan.
¡°But I never expected the Demon Tree to offer such a heaven-defying opportunity!¡±
¡°With such immense longevity, how am I supposed to fill my days?¡±
Fang Xi found himself grappling with the delightful dilemma of excessive time.
Afterpleting his cultivation session, he intentionally severed his connection to the qi root, stood up, and began pondering a set of boxing techniques.
These were the Dragon Emperor Fist moves taught to him by Pang Fei!
While leveraging external factors was skillfully done, Fang Xi valued more highly the spiritual techniques and advanced martial arts concepts, which he integrated into his Primordial True Art.
¡°Hmm?¡±
As he continued refining his boxing technique, Fang Xi suddenly noticed that his blood qi, previously at the zongshi peak with no apparent room for further breakthrough, seemed to have subtly thickened.
With a cultivator¡¯s spiritual sensebined with a zongshi¡¯s perception, he could not be mistaken!
¡°So¡this life vital energy can replenish my blood qi?¡±
¡°It makes sense, as aging is closely tied to the decline of blood qi.¡±
¡°Continuing this way, although each increment is minimal¡over years or even decades, the cumtive effect would rival consuming a tier-2 blood qi precious pill, potentially surpassing it!¡±
Fang Xi clenched his fists tightly, ¡°The inability of zongshi to achieve True Astral Manifestation stems entirely from the limitations of their physical bodies¡ With Great Liang mortals having limited lifespans of mere centuries, how can they umte sufficiently robust blood qi?¡±
¡°But I am different¡with the Demon Tree¡¯s enhancements and by investing ample time!¡±
¡°If anyone can break through to True Astral Manifestation, it will undoubtedly be me!¡±
Feeling ted, Fang Xi walked to the four-sided courtyard house.
In the pond, therge green fish had rapidly grown and now weighed approximately twenty to thirty pounds! Its aura had also ascended from low-rank first-tier to mid-rank first-tier!
After consuming vast amounts of snake-dragon essence blood, this once lethargic fish finally advanced to a higher minor realm!
¡°Looks like you¡¯ve grown significantly again¡¡± Fang Xi scattered a handful of Scarlet Blood Spirit Rice into the pond, stroking his chin as if speaking to himself, ¡°If within ten years you don¡¯t reach high-rank first-tier, then it¡¯s off with your head for sashimi¡ Thinly sliced fish dipped in sauce, that would be truly satisfying!¡±
At the bottom of the pond, therge green fish trembled uncontrobly: ¡®Humans are so terrifying¡¡¯
Seasons passed from spring to autumn.
One day, while Fang Xi was conducting his routine inspection of the spirit fields, he caught a glimpse out of the corner of his eye¡ªa ck beetle voraciously devouring Scarlet Blood Spirit Rice.
¡°Dammit!¡±
With a swift thought, Fang Xi flicked his finger, sending a burst of seventh metal sword energy flying and instantly impaling the ck beetle.
Upon closer examination, he discovered that these pests had infested the entire spirit field at some point without him noticing!
¡°ck-striped golden beetles, known for their aggressive nature, thrive on consuming spirit rice¡¡±
Fang Xi effortlessly found this information within the spirit nter legacy.
¡°It must be an issue with the formation¡¡±
He meticulously inspected it and found that the southeastern corner of the formation was slightly unstable, asionally causing the restrictions to falter and allowing insects to exploit the weakness.
After repairing the Little Cloudrain Array, Fang Xi promptly began exterminating pests in each acre of the field.
It¡¯s never toote to mend one¡¯s ways!
Although a bountiful harvest was no longer possible this year, ensuring some yield remained crucial!
After busy work spanning over ten days, Fang Xi observed a small cage filled with numerous ck-striped golden beetles, rubbing his chin thoughtfully.
Among these beetles, there was one exceptional creature: its body shimmered like Qingyu jade, adorned with intricate patterns on its back, resembling a regal monarch among the other beetles.
¡°Blue and white tortoise beetle!¡±
¡°So there¡¯s even a leader amongst them¡¡±
Fang Xi pondered for a moment before retrieving a jade slip from his bag of holding.
This jade slip had been found within the bag belonging to one of the five Late Stage Qi Refinement cultivators who attempted to ambush himst time. It must have belonged to some unfortunate soul, containing a notebook about insect cultivation.
Although the notebook was iplete,bined with Fang Xi¡¯s prior knowledge from the Beast Control legacy, he could still manage to understand it adequately.
¡°ck-striped golden beetles are practically useless; their demonic aura is weak, and a single basic spirit farming extermination spell would wipe out most¡ However, these pests reproduce abundantly and rapidly, much like rats¡ If you selectively breed the best among them, there¡¯s a chance to produce blue and white tortoise beetles!¡±
The blue and white tortoise beetle was indeed a low-rank first-tier demonic insect. Although individually weak, their potential impact could be significant inrge numbers.
Fang Xi decided to create an insect chamber for breeding purposes, focusing on selective improvement through generations.
This would also serve as excellent practice for his Pest Repelling Technique and Beast Control Art.
Recently, despite not neglecting the study of the four arts of cultivation, he had seen minimal progress.
In contrast, Fang Xi felt confident about his aptitude in spirit nts and beasts.
¡°Insects naturally grow rapidly, and with my ample time, I can cultivate the most exceptional breeds!¡±
¡°The leftover insects can even feed therge green fish - perfect!¡±
Fang Xi nced at the spirit fields, noting severe crop losses, and shook his head with concern.
These pests were not consuming ordinary spirit rice but rather Beefwood meat, sapping vital energy from the Demon Tree itself! That was essentially draining his very life force!
¡°One day, they¡¯ll have to regurgitate everything they¡¯ve taken from me!¡±
¡°Forget feeding them to the fish, straight to the Demon Tree!¡± Fang Xi thought viciously.
Winter arrived, with snowkes gently drifting down.
Fang Xi ventured to the wine cer and retrieved a bottle of aged ¡®Scarlet Blood Wine¡¯!
After removing the cork, he noticed the deep red liquid inside, reminiscent of blood, emitting an intoxicating aroma.
Taking a sip, Fang Xi found that the original raw scent of Scarlet Blood Spirit Rice had vanished, reced by an exceptionally rich and potent vor, akin to fiery spirits like baijiu or erguotou.
¡°What a strong wine!¡±
Feeling as if he had swallowed a ball of me, along with a slight invigoration of his blood qi, Fang Xi nodded yet shook his head simultaneously.
This ¡®Scarlet Blood Wine¡¯ had indeed turned out well, but unfortunately, it was most effective for those in the early stages of Body Tempering, helping to strengthen their foundation and enhance their blood qi.
For him, it merely stirred his blood qi slightly without significantly increasing its potency. This was because, after advancing to the Qi Circting Body stage and bing a grandmaster, his body cultivation base equaled that of a Peak Qi Refining cultivator!
Progressing further would undoubtedly be immensely challenging!
Fortunately, there was still the Demon Tree, providing a steady albeit modest daily boost to his vitality.
Carrying a jug of wine, Fang Xi descended into the underground cave.
The Demon Tree had grown several feet taller, now exceeding fifteen feet in height, roughly equivalent to a single-story building¡¯s stature.
Fang Xi sat cross-legged beneath the Demon Tree, feeling vast amounts of second-growth wood essence flowing into his body.
Adjacent to him, a pneumatic root lowered and coiled around the wine bottle, allowing him to take a sip effortlessly.
The Demon Tree essentially served as Fang Xi¡¯s extension, enabling him to manipte its pneumatic roots for various tasks with ease.
¡°Longevity is within reach, truly within reach¡¡±
During his daily cultivation, Fang Xi felt an unceasing surge of vitality throughout his limbs and entire being, bringing a joyful expression to his face.
Suddenly, he furrowed his brow and retrieved a restriction token.
¡°Someone has arrived?¡±
Fang Xi returned to his cultivation room, cing the prayer mat back in its original position before stepping out of the courtyard.
With a wave, he deactivated the formation, revealing a figure gracefully descending on a floral basket¡ªit was Ruan Xingling!
¡°Greetings, Ind Lord!¡± Fang Xi hastily bowed in respect.
Amidst swirling petals, Ruan Xingling elegantly alighted from the flower basket, resembling a celestial maiden descending from the heavens. ¡°There have been pest infestations in Peach Blossom Ind¡¯s spirit fields recently; I specifically came to check¡¡±
¡°Ah, my fields have also suffered greatly¡¡±
Fang Xi¡¯s face showed a mix of bitterness and forced cheerfulness. ¡°Since you¡¯vee, Ind Lord, please take a seat in my courtyard. I just brewed some ¡®Scarlet Blood Wine¡¯!¡±
Inviting guests to sit in the courtyard was essential etiquette.
As for the underground cave? Fang Xi had meticulously disguised it, further protected by formations.
Qi Refinement cultivatorsck divine sense and cannot project it externally, making it difficult for them to detect any anomalies.
Ruan Xingling entered the courtyard, showing no interest in therge green fish. With hands sped behind her back, she surveyed the surroundings and sighed, ¡°This courtyard seems somewhat empty and deste. You could nt peach trees¡ On Peach Blossom Ind, we have them everywhere, creating a beautiful scene when blossoms fall each year.¡±
¡°Ind Lord is right,¡± agreed Fang Xi, carrying a tray with two bottles of aged Scarlet Blood Wine, which he offered Ruan Xingling to taste.
Holding a jade cup, Ruan Xingling sipped the Scarlet Blood Wine and slightly furrowed her brow. ¡°This wine is quite strong. Do you have any other varieties?¡±
¡°Well¡¡± Fang Xi pondered briefly. ¡°I do have some homemade local brews, though they¡¯re rather experimental and may not be to your refined taste.¡±
¡°Let¡¯s give them a try.¡± Ruan Xingling¡¯s eyes sparkled like morning stars.
Fang Xi, with no other choice, retrieved two more bottles of liquor, poured a cup for Ruan Xingling, and apanied her by taking a sip himself.
The spirit rice wine was barely ptable, carrying a persistent sour taste that could not be eliminated, no matter his efforts.
¡°Although this wine¡¯s vor is average, the subtle sourness adds character. Does it have a name?¡±
Ruan Xingling found it quite enjoyable despite its imperfections.
¡°No name yet¡ How about ¡®Bamboo Wine¡¯?¡± Fang Xi echoed with sentiment as he tasted it again, reminiscing about those market days.
¡°Bamboo Wine, yes, excellent choice¡ I hope to enjoy this Bamboo Wine every year from now on.¡±
Ruan Xingling gracefully ascended, surrounded by thousands of petals. ¡°Today, my great-grandfather¡ reached the end of his lifespan and passed away¡¡±
¡°My condolences, Ind Lord¡¡±
As Fang Xi watched Ruan Xingling depart, he silently thought to himself, ¡®Another one outlived¡¡¯
Chapter 104: Four Years
Chapter 104: Four Years
Winter gave way to spring, summer faded into autumn!
The flora around Jade Cliff turned from yellow to green, marking four swift cycles of seasons.
In the underground cave:
¡°Calcting by age, I¡¯m now twenty-eight years old¡¡±
Fang Xi gradually concluded his cultivation session, the verdant aura shimmering on his body slowly subsiding.
Remarkably, his cultivation base had reached the sixth level of Qi Refinement!
With the aid of the first-tier spiritual vein within his cultivation chamber, Fang Xi¡¯s progress with the Evesting Spring Art elerated significantly, reaching its peak at the fifth level within just a few years.
He then attempted to break through the bottleneck, surprisingly seeding without much difficulty.
¡°However, this is merely a minor breakthrough in the Mid Qi Refinement stage, not particrly noteworthy¡ The real challenge lies ahead, transitioning from the sixth to the seventh level, which is the greatest bottleneck in the Qi Refinement stage.¡± Fang Xi¡¯s expression grew solemn.
Many Qi Refinement cultivators spend their entire lives unable to ovee this barrier and advance to the Late Stage Qi Refinement!
Especially those like him, with inferior spiritual root aptitudes!
In the Wan Ind Lake region, cultivators who reach the Late Stage Qi Refinement canfortably assume the position of Ind Lord on smaller inds, such as Ruan Xingling!
¡°Fortunately, time is on my side; I¡¯ll take it slow¡ Who knows, with persistence, maybe I¡¯ll even cultivate a spiritual body along the way!¡±
Fang Xi stood up, maintaining a positive mindset.
Dressed in his azure robes, it seemed as if the four passing years had left no trace on him; instead, he appeared even more youthful.
Standing quietly, Fang Xi resembled a graceful orchid amidst jade trees, exuding tranquility and serenity¡
¡°Wood-type techniques inherently have age-defying effects, coupled with my cultivation focus, allowing me to maintain this facade¡¡±
Fang Xi nced behind at the Demon Tree, now towering over six feet tall. Dark pneumatophores and vines hung from its canopy, which shimmered emerald green¡ already exhibiting some characteristics of the Ancestral Demon Tree.
¡°I didn¡¯t expect such pleasant surprises along the way.¡±
Underneath the tree, Fang Ximanded a vine to retrieve a dusty seed from within the canopy.
It was a Demon Tree Seed!
He inspected it briefly, then grabbed an ordinary wild rabbit from a nearby cage and ced the seed onto the rabbit¡¯s body.
In the next moment!
The seed erupted with countless tendrils, prating deep into the rabbit¡¯s flesh, even devouring its marrow, eliciting agonized cries from the creature¡
Shortly after, the tree seedpletely reced the rabbit¡¯s skeleton, causing it to eerily stand upright. Following Fang Xi¡¯s mentalmand, the transformed rabbit performed various movements¡
¡°The puppetry technique I¡¯ve been seeking was actually right beside me all along¡¡±
Demon Trees inherently possess the ability to control puppets and servants.
This parasitic method using tree seeds was gradually developed by Fang Xi over time.
As he could control the Demon Tree, it allowed him to indirectly manipte its puppets, creating a unique ¡®Wood Puppet Technique¡¯!
¡°However¡ the seeds for these puppets are inherently one tier lower than the mother tree.¡±
Fang Xi took out another seed and sensed thatpared to his own tier-2 Demon Tree, this seed was distinctly of a lesser grade - at most tier-1!
¡°The tree seeds I obtained were likely one level inferior to the Ancestral Demon Tree¡ but after bringing them to the cultivation world, they absorbed vast amounts of spiritual energy, leading to further mutations and breakthroughs?¡±
Fang Xi stroked his chin, bing increasingly curious about the Ancestral Demon Tree.
At the same time, he felt relieved.
He no longer had to worry that if these seeds fell into others¡¯ hands, identical Demon Trees would be cultivated just like his.
After all, they were all weakened versions of the original seed.
¡°Someday, my Demon Tree may very well devour the Ancestral Demon Tree!¡± Fang Xi harbored this ambitious aspiration within himself.
His Demon Tree being a weaker variant of the Ancestral Demon Tree, even with enhanced spiritual energy, might not achieve the Evesting Verdant Physique! To truly attain immortality someday, he would inevitably have to confront the Ancestral Demon Tree!
After feeding Beefwood meat to his Demon Tree, Fang Xi proceeded to inspect each of his spirit beasts.
Therge blue fish remained as lethargic as ever, showing little change even after several years.
In contrast, within the specially designated insect chamber, amidst the numerous ck-striped golden beetles, asional flecks of green had begun to appear.
Fang Xi¡¯s face brightened at this sight. With a hand gesture forming a cultivation technique, he collected those few blue and white tortoise beetles for separate nurturingter.
Without scaling up these insect-type mythical beasts, their overall power would remain limited.
Currently, cultivating them was primarily for practice with the Beast Control Art, but they could also serve as an overt trump card.
Indeed, even the public persona of Fang Xi needed some hidden strengths!
¡°I can¡¯t leave the vicinity of the Demon Tree; even going to Mirror Moon Lake is troublesome¡¡±
¡°Having declined several invitations from the Ind Lord over these years, I fear Ruan Xingling might be growing impatient¡¡±
¡°There are also small items asionally needed for unexpected purposes, which require someone to procure them.¡±
¡°I certainly can¡¯t just bring a corpse here first and turn it into a wooden puppet, right?¡±
Fang Xi walked between the crop rows, asionally unscrewing the cap of his waist-hung gourd to sip on spirit wine.
After living here for several years, he had be intimately familiar with every nt and tree at Jade Cliff.
In fact¡
He had gained control over them!
With a step, one of the Demon Tree¡¯s roots emerged briefly before swiftly retracting back underground.
¡°The roots of this Demon Tree grow remarkably fast. Before long, they¡¯ll likely spread throughout the entire Jade Cliff, won¡¯t they?¡±
Approaching the cliff edge, he gazed at the ripplingke surface, pondering silently. ¡°Perhaps¡I should grant it some more autonomy, like allowing its tendrils to reach into theke daily for fishing?¡±
The more blood sustenance the Demon Tree received, the richer the life essence it would reciprocate. Currently, it only replenished half a day¡¯s worth of longevity each day.
Fang Xi had been consciously restraining the Demon Tree¡¯s craving for flesh, preventing it from transforming the entirety of Peach Blossom Ind into a Demonic Domain. This restraint itself was a form of cultivation!
Later that afternoon, Fang Xi was brewing tea and leisurely savoring it.
In his courtyard, over a dozen peach trees had been nted, all gifts from Ruan Xingling. These were reportedly offshoots from a tier-2 spirit peach tree, barely qualifying as spirit nts themselves.
Using his expertise as a spirit nter, Fang Xi sessfully transnted and nurtured all these peach trees to life, much to Ruan Xingling¡¯s surprise.
¡°Now that these spirit nts have adapted to the local conditions, we should be able to enjoy peaches next year¡¡± He leaned against one of the trees, letting delicate peach blossoms gently fall on his shoulders. ¡°Hmm¡ with these peach flowers, I can brew peach blossom wine¡ The ¡®God of Wine Manual¡¯ has a perfect recipe to enhance their floral aroma¡¡±
The warm afternoon sun, ideal for a springtime nap, lulled Fang Xi into drowsiness. Just as he yawned, ready to catch some sleep, the Restriction Command Token began shing light!
¡°Who¡¯s this uninvited guest again?¡±
Fang Xi channeled magical energy into the token, activating the formation, and saw a figure approaching - wearing a jade crown, d in splendid robes, exuding an extraordinary presence. This individual floated gracefully on a white feather magical artifact.
¡°So it¡¯s him!¡± Fang Xi murmured to himself.
It was none other than Feng Manlou!
Having epted his fate, this individual married and started a family on Peach Blossom Ind, diligently working to mend rtions with the three rogue cultivator ns, achieving considerable sess.
Even Fang Xi, aiming to maintain open channels ofmunication, gradually warmed up to Feng Manlou. Over time, they became friends through their interactions.
In contrast, Mo Qingyu showed no restraint even after the death of the Mo n¡¯s patriarch. A few years ago, Ruan Xingling exiled him from the ind, and since then, his whereabouts remained unknown¡
As Feng Manlou descended from his magical artifact, he noticed Fang Xi¡¯s rxed demeanor, appearing carefree and idle, which couldn¡¯t help but evoke some envy. ¡°Fang Xiong, I truly admire your lifestyle - tending fields, raising fish, unconcerned with outside affairs¡ it must feel like living as a celestial being¡ Hmm? Did you break through?¡±
Sensing that Fang Xi had reached the sixth level of Qi Refinement, Feng Manlou felt even more astonished. This cultivation base now matched his own, despite Late Stage Qi Refinement being a significant hurdle for any descendant of a Qi Refining n.
Feng Manlou had already achieved the sixth level long before, yet he found himself stuck at a bottleneck while Fang Xi managed to catch up.
¡°It took me a full five years just to advance one level,¡± Fang Xi sighed, shaking his head in apparent disappointment with his aptitude.
Feng Manlou empathized and sighed simrly, ¡°I¡¯ve heard that within Foundation Establishment sects and aristocratic families, one must break through to Late Stage Qi Refinement before reaching thirty years old to be considered hopeful for Foundation Establishment¡ In our Qi Refining ns, even breaking through by forty is enough to garner significant attention and cultivation support. Don¡¯t lose heart, Fang Xiong, there¡¯s still hope¡¡±
¡°I¡¯ve just advanced, and umting magical energy takes time. Besides, there¡¯s still a major bottleneck ahead.¡± Fang Xi smiled bitterly.
During hisst visit to the Treasure Ship Market, he had been unable to find any medicinal pills specifically aiding breakthroughs to Late Stage Qi Refinement.
Such pills were not only precious but also incredibly rare. Whenever they appeared, they were snatched up immediately.
One could only hope to encounter them by patiently waiting at auctions. Otherwise, cultivators aiming to ovee bottlenecks relied either on gradual progress over time or sudden enlightenment during intense battles.
¡°Fang Xiong, your unwavering dedication to cultivation, staying secluded for five whole years, culminating in this advancement to the sixth level of Qi Refinement, trulymands my utmost admiration,¡± Feng Manlou said solemnly, bowing respectfully. Then, with a change in demeanor, he grinned, ¡°May I request a cup of spirit wine to share in your joy?¡±
¡°Ha ha, always eyeing my best treasures!¡±
Smiling, Fang Xi fetched a bottle of Crimson Blood Wine and tossed it to Feng Manlou. ¡°Last year was blessed with favorable weather, making this batch of wine truly exceptional, almost as if divinely enhanced.¡±
¡°Many thanks.¡±
Feng Manlou uncorked the bottle, sniffed its aroma, but instead of drinking it, he quickly tucked it into his robes.
As a married man with children, although his offspring were too young to test for spiritual roots yet, this spirit wine could enhance their blood qi. By having them consume it, their bodies would be robust and resistant to illnesses - which was highly beneficial.
Feng Manlou¡¯s recent diligent efforts assisting Ruan Xingling stemmed from his desire to secure fruits from that tier-2 Spirit Peach Tree.
¡®Ah¡ once a carefree youth, now transformed into a doting dad¡¡¯ Fang Xi couldn¡¯t help but feel nostalgic witnessing this scene.
He continued sipping his spirit tea quietly. After some time, Feng Manlou, undeterred, shamelessly asked for more spirit tea.
Rolling his eyes, Fang Xi still poured another cup for Feng Manlou. ¡°You never visit without a reason. Has something happened on the indtely?¡±
¡°Haha, you finally ask!¡± Feng Manlou tilted his head back, draining the spirit tea before continuing, ¡°This year¡¯s Spirit Evaluation Congress promises to be exceptionally lively¡ Of course, you¡¯ve always preferred quietude, but this time is different. It brings both joy and surprise for the Ind Lord!¡±
Chapter 105: Tenant-Farmers
Chapter 105: Tenant-Farmers
¡°Joy and¡ surprise?¡± Fang Xi pondered for a moment. ¡°Could this joyous event refer to discovering a promising talent?¡±
¡°Precisely!¡± Feng Manlou pped his thigh with excitement. ¡°At the recent Spirit Evaluation Congress, the Ind Lord found a young girl possessing a high-grade fire elemental spiritual root! Overjoyed, he immediately epted her as his disciple, bestowing upon her the surname ¡®Ruan¡¯ and naming her ¡®Ruan Dan¡¯!¡±
Cultivators possess spiritual roots epassing all five elements, categorized by their strongest attribute.
With a high-grade fire elemental spiritual root, she would even qualify for admission into the prestigious Profound Sky Sect!
Notably, Ruan Xingling herself was also an artificer, with her own spiritual roots heavily inclined towards fire.
¡°Finding a sessor must indeed bring great joy to the Ind Lord,¡± Fang Xi murmured while fidgeting with his purple y teacup. ¡°And what about the surprise?¡±
¡°The surprise, well¡ among these young talents, there¡¯s another child named ¡®Lu Guo¡¯, who possesses a mid-grade wood elemental spiritual root¡¡± Feng Manlou spoke as if it pained him deeply.
¡°Lu Guo?¡± Fang Xi suddenly recalled the night of the ind conquest, standing before the grisly memorial mound, where he had seen a fair-skinned infant swaddled tightly. Considering the age now, six or seven years seemed just right for testing spiritual roots. ¡°I didn¡¯t expect it to be him! Although, given that his father was a cultivator, the likelihood of having spiritual roots is naturally higher than for ordinary mortals.¡±
¡°Ah, it alles down to his father,¡± Feng Manlou sighed repeatedly. ¡°Others might not know, but surely you do - his father was a Lu n cultivator!¡± Feng Manlou continuedmenting, ¡°When the Lu n cultivators were ughtered and their mortals imprisoned until death, only this infant escaped unscathed. What a coincidence that he just happens to possess spiritual roots?¡±
If Lu Guo had been an ordinary mortal, he would have lived a peaceful life in Peach Blossom Town, with no further consequences.
But possessing spiritual roots changed everything!
It marked the beginning of his cultivation journey. While Foundation Establishment may not be guaranteed, bing at least a Qi Refinement cultivator seemed well within reach, granting him the power for potential revenge!
¡°Ah¡ what can we do now? What did the Ind Lord say?¡± Fang Xi asked, getting to the crux of the matter.
¡°The Ind Lord?¡± Feng Manlou suddenly looked somewhat sheepish. ¡°He said to entrust the boy to you¡ after all, who else named him back then?¡±
¡°Hmm?¡± Fang Xi¡¯s eyes widened as he followed Feng Manlou outside the formation.
Only then did he see a young boy, around six or seven years old, kneeling near Jade Cliff. With rosy lips and fair features, the child appeared handsome despite biting his teeth against the pain from his knees, showing remarkable stubbornness without uttering a singleint.
¡°What does ¡®leave him with me¡¯ mean? To be a spirit farmer under my guidance?¡± Fang Xi looked at Feng Manlou.
Feng Manlou shrugged. ¡°I¡¯m not sure, but probably¡that¡¯s what it implies?¡±
In his view, bing a spirit farmer under Fang Xi seemed quite favorable. At least there would be no shortage of spirit rice, and life would be peaceful without conflict.
Moreover, Fang Xi wouldn¡¯t likely teach the child any powerful magical techniques; only those rted to spirit farming. After all, Lu Guo¡¯s father might have been one of the many whom Fang Xi had felled using the Qinghe Sword!
As Feng Manlou pondered, he grew increasingly impressed with the Ind Lord¡¯s decision.
Among everyone on the ind, Fang Xi was the most suitable choice. Known for being reclusive, Fang Xi rarely ventured out, engaged in social events, or interacted much with others.
And certainly, he wouldn¡¯t align himself with the Lu n.
Byparison, the Mu Family involved too many people and opinions, while the mother-daughter pair at West Twin Peak¡
Feng Manlou hastily shook his head, feeling that since her husband¡¯s death, Hua Chanjuan had be increasingly entric. She and her daughter secluded themselves atop West Peak, tending flowers and bees, refusing to descend no matter what!
They were also persistent in saving money to purchase some kind of mountain protection formation, as if constantly fearing harm from others!
¡®Wait¡ If the Ind Lord wanted this child to die, he would have sent him to West Twin Peak with that madwoman!¡¯ ¡®So by bringing him here to Jade Cliff, does it mean he intends for the boy to survive?¡¯
A sudden realization shed through Feng Manlou¡¯s mind, granting him a profound understanding of Ruan Xingling¡¯s intentions.
¡°Sigh¡ Very well.¡± Fang Xi shook his head and approached Lu Guo.
Lu Guo lifted his head, revealing parched lips as he pleaded, ¡°B-begging¡ Immortal¡ please ept me as your disciple¡¡±
Like other chosen candidates, he had been brought to Mirror Moon Lake, expecting to be a lofty immortal. Instead, he narrowly escaped being cast into the abyss. Based on what he witnessed along the journey, this ce seemed to be hisst chance.
However, Fang Xi¡¯s next words nearly pushed him over the edge, ¡°I don¡¯t take disciples¡¡±
Lu Guo¡¯s expression turned nk, tinged with a hint of despair.
¡°But¡¡± Fang Xi continued, ¡°I do need tenant farmers. Boy, do you know how to work the fields?¡± he asked.
¡°Yes! I¡¯ve been helping since I was very young!¡± Lu Guo hastily replied.
¡°Alright then, let¡¯s leave it at that.¡± Fang Xi nodded, signaling Feng Manlou to depart.
He led the boy into the Little Cloudrain Array himself.
Upon entering, the stark contrast with the outside world prompted Lu Guo to take a deep breath of the refreshing air. The cliff resembled polished jade, providing warmth in winter and coolness in summer. Acres of spirit fields sprouted vibrant green seedlings, enveloped by a thin veil of white mist.
Not far away stood a massive residence.
Everything here seemed akin to a paradise depicted in paintings!
¡°Starting today, you¡¯ll live here. Later, I¡¯ll give you some wood; build yourself a shelter¡¡± Fang Xi guided Lu Guo to the edge of the spirit fields and casually pointed out a spot.
It was a slightly t, open area.
Lu Guo, momentarily stunned, quickly nodded in understanding.
¡°Remember, your allowed movement is restricted to this spirit field area only. Do not damage any crops, and do not enter therge residence¡ otherwise, I will kill you!¡± Fang Xi warned with a smile, gently patting Lu Guo¡¯s head.
Under the dual surveince of the Demon Tree¡¯s roots and the array, there was no way a small boy could cross his boundaries-unless¡ someone possessed Lu Guo!
¡°Yes¡¡± Lu Guo shrank his neck, too afraid now to inquire about when he might begin learning immortal techniques.
One monthter.
At Jade Cliff.
Near the spirit fields, a simple triangr hut had been erected, primarily constructed from wood with straw roofing.
Despite its rudimentary appearance, due to the formation¡¯s properties, it remained warm in winter and cool in summer, making it suitable for habitation.
A small figure emerged from the hut - none other than Lu Guo!
He carefully patrolled around the spirit fields, always cautious when encountering pests. After all, without having reached Qi Refinement yet, anymon demonic insect could easily take his life.
Whenever he spotted weeds, he needed various saws just to manage their removal.
Despite his young age, Lu Guo was remarkably proficient at these tasks, almost to the point of eliciting sympathy.
As he struggled with another patch of ¡®sawtooth grass¡¯, his hands inadvertently touched the leaves, instantly cutting open a gash.
¡°Ouch! Why do you keep doing this yourself? Didn¡¯t I tell you? Let Auntie handle it!¡± Nearby, a plump female cultivator in her thirties hurried over, examined Lu Guo¡¯s hand, and cast a ¡®Minor Rejuvenation Technique¡¯.
With a sh of green light, the wound on Lu Guo¡¯s hand began to heal.
She then nced at the sawtooth grass in the spirit field, snapped her fingers, and unleashed a strand of golden seventh metal sword energy, effortlessly severing the weed at its roots.
¡°Thank you, Auntie Wang!¡± Lu Guo bowed respectfully.
This woman, surnamed Wang, had a cultivation base at the third level of Qi Refining. She was a widow with a child to care for.
After Ruan Xingling insisted on adding Lu Guo as a tenant, Fang Xi figured that managing one sheep or two is much the same effort. So, he asked Feng Manlou to introduce another tenant-farmer.
As a result, Feng Manlou brought Widow Wang.
The female cultivator hailed from White Feather Ind, where her family had been tenant-farmers for three generations, ensuring their reputation was impable.
However, the spirit fields on White Feather Ind were limited, and eventually, there wasn¡¯t enoughnd avable for all tenants.
Widow Wang¡¯s husband tragically lost his life during a private duel over tenancy rights.
Although the Feng n severely punished the opponent afterward, Widow Wang, with a child to raise, no longer wished to continue living on White Feather Ind.
At this opportune moment, Feng Manlou was seeking suitable candidates for Fang Xi, and thus, their interests aligned perfectly.
Upon meeting Widow Wang, Fang Xi assessed her skills and found her quite proficient in cultivating spirit rice. Consequently, he epted her as a tenant, providing her with a wooden hut near the spirit fields to live with her son, nicknamed ¡°Little Hu.¡±
Fang Xi subsequently leased five acres of spirit fields to her, agreeing that they would share the harvest with a four-six split.
Naturally, Fang Xi received sixty percent, while Widow Wang took forty.
Even these terms were joyfully epted by Widow Wang, who promptly signed the contract and sought the Ind Lord¡¯s notarization for a ten-year lease agreement.
After all, Fang Xi provided the seeds, and having ess to spiritualnd for cultivation was enticing enough for any Initial Stage Qi Refinement spirit farmer.
Widow Wang, being diligent, often noticed Lu Guo getting injured while tending to the spirit fields. She frequently lent him a helping hand.
As the sun climbed high in the sky, Fang Xi leisurely strolled over, tea pot in hand, to inspect the spirit fields.
¡°Master!¡± Widow Wang respectfully greeted him.
¡°Greetings, Master!¡± Lu Guo followed suit, despite not being formally apprenticed under Fang Xi; he too had be a tenant-farmer like Widow Wang.
¡°Hmm¡ The fields look well-tended,¡± Fang Xi remarked. Taking a sip from his tea pot, he smiled at Lu Guo and said, ¡°Starting today, I will teach you the firstyer of the Evesting Spring Art. Pay close attention and strive to channel qi into your body as soon as possible, bing a true cultivator!¡±
¡°Yes, Master!¡±
Lu Guo clenched his fists tightly, excitement gleaming in his eyes.
Finally, he was about to be a cultivator?
Seeing his eager expression, Widow Wang hesitated to inform him that the ¡®Evesting Spring Art¡¯ is one of the mostmon cultivation techniques. Even her own ¡®ck Water Art¡¯, though basic, surpassed it in intricacy!
Moreover, just the firstyer¡
With the master nearby, she couldn¡¯t bear to spoil the child¡¯s joy.
¡®Well, let him enjoy this moment for a bit longer!¡¯, she thought.
Recalling Feng Manlou¡¯s instructions before their arrival, Widow Wang also refrained from giving Lu Guo too much guidance.
Fang Xi approached Widow Wang and engaged in casual conversation, ¡°How¡¯s Little Hu doing? Adjusting well?¡±
¡°Thanks to Master, everything is going smoothly,¡± Widow Wang smiled.
¡°But I¡¯ve heard that Wan Ind Lake hasn¡¯t been peacefultely, any idea why?¡± Fang Xi had agreed to bring someone rmended by Feng Manlou partly because he indeed needed assistance and also due to hisck of information sources, which required rectifying.
Widow Wang often visited Mirror Moon Lake in her free time, joining other women to gossip about local affairs, making her a suitable choice for updates.
¡°You¡¯re right, it has been quite restless.¡±
Widow Wang didn¡¯t suspect any ulterior motives; after all, this news was known to every cultivator:
¡°Oh¡ it¡¯s just because our Thirty-Six Inds are nning arge market fair, isn¡¯t it? Rumor has it that Spirit Hollow Ind, where they chose for the event, contains a tier-2 spiritual vein. It¡¯s bound to be incredibly lively when it opens¡¡±
Chapter 106: Borrowing Money
Chapter 106: Borrowing Money
¡°A tier-2 spiritual vein? Quite extravagant!¡±
Fang Xi¡¯s smile remained, but it held a hint of coldness.
Inwardly, he grumbled to himself, ¡®Is this Spirit Hollow Ind Market trying to challenge the Zhong Family¡¯s Treasure Ship Market head-on?¡¯
¡®Damn, hasn¡¯t it been peaceful for just a few years?¡¯
The Zhong Family had amassed vast wealth in spirit stones and cultivation resources through their control over the Treasure Ship Market, inevitably stirring envy among the Thirty Six Inds alliance.
However, without some significant backing, they wouldn¡¯t dare to openly challenge the Zhong Family¡¯s territory now - something must have emboldened them!
Beside him, Widow Wang continued incessantly, ¡°I heard that on the opening day, all medicinal pills and magical artifacts in the market will be discounted¡ Many folks from Peach Blossom Ind n to go together!¡±
While markets could offer benefits, they also posed inherent dangers, with potential threats like Cmity cultivators lurking nearby.
Cultivatorscking sufficient power should ideally travel in groups to enhance their safety. Privately, Fang Xi prayed for no major upheaval, especially one that might affect Peach Blossom Ind.
Noticing Lu Guo¡¯s eager expression, Fang Xi promptly found a secluded spot and began teaching him the first level of the ¡®Evesting Spring Art¡¯. After ensuring that Lu Guo had memorized it, he casually instructed Widow Wang to guide the boy further.
Fang Xi indeed showed little interest in this child.
¡°Oh right, since you¡¯ve been on the ind for some time now, what do you think of everyone here?¡± Fang Xi asked Widow Wang at the end of their conversation.
¡°Steward Feng has impable manners, and Ind Lord Ruan is like a celestial fairy¡¡± Widow Wang¡¯s eyes shifted thoughtfully. ¡°As for the mother-daughter pair on West Twin Peak, I haven¡¯t even met them. Could it be that Master wishes to know about the widow named Hua? In that case, I could certainly¡¡±
¡°Cough, let¡¯s talk more about the Mu n!¡± Fang Xi interrupted with a cough.
¡°The Mu n, ah¡¡± Widow Wang pondered; she had recently befriended someone from the Mu family: ¡°I heard their Patriarch Mu wants to establish a presence at the Spirit Hollow Market, and he¡¯s actively seeking spirit stones for funding!¡±
¡°At the Spirit Hollow Market?¡±
Peach Blossom Ind was also part of the Thirty Six Inds Alliance. Although not particrly influential, as a gesture, the Spirit Hollow Ind market managers offered them a deed to a shop.
Ruan Xingling was considering opening an artificing workshop and searching for a suitable shopkeeper.
Undoubtedly, this would be a highly sought-after position! Not only would it allow cultivation atop tier-2 spiritual veins, but it also provided opportunities to interact with numerous cultivators while enjoying all the conveniences of the market!
In addition to various shops selling medicinal pills, paper talismans, and magical artifacts, a typical market invariably included auctions, restaurants, and even establishments like the ¡®Melodic Sounds Pavilion¡¯, filled with female cultivators¡
¡°Such a lucrative opportunity will naturally attract fiercepetition. It¡¯s no surprise that Mu Wen is borrowing spirit stones to influence her chances,¡± Fang Xi understood well enough.
¡°Exactly¡ But the Mu n must be truly desperate, asking me for spirit stones! If I could manage to scrounge up even one, they¡¯d consider themselves lucky!¡± Widow Wang appeared quite disgruntled.
Several dayster.
Lu Guo continued his daily routine, tending to farm work and squeezing out time for diligent cultivation.
One day, Feng Manlou paid another visit.
In the courtyard, peach blossoms were in full bloom.
Feng Manlou and Fang Xi sat beneath a peach tree, sipping spirit tea.
¡°Fellow Daoist Fang, have you grown restless amidst this tranquility? Would you like to join me at the Spirit Hollow Market?¡± Feng Manlou extended an invitation.
¡°The Spirit Hollow Market? I think I¡¯ll pass¡¡± Fang Xi cradled the teacup with both hands, asionally taking small sips.
In truth, simply escaping from Jade Cliff was quite a feat for him.
Moreover, there was no guarantee that the Spirit Hollow Market would open smoothly.
He couldn¡¯t imagine the Zhong Family of Dragonfish remaining indifferent; their behavior mirrored that of the Situ n, which he hade to understand well. Even without direct threats to their interests, these powerful aristocratic families were arrogant and domineering. Once their core interests were challenged, they wouldn¡¯t hesitate to shed pretenses, revealing their ruthless nature.
¡°Ah¡ Fang Xiong, your caution ismendable, but unfortunately, I must attend.¡± Feng Manlou¡¯s face showed a hint of bitterness. ¡°The Ind Lord intends for me to serve as the shopkeeper there, leaving me with little choice¡¡±
This revtion did not surprise Fang Xi. Strictly speaking, his rtionship with the Mu n, Wei Family, and Ruan Xingling was more akin to an alliance rather than a subordinate status.
Feng Manlou was truly one of Ruan Xingling¡¯s trusted subordinates. When it came to appointing a shopkeeper, relying on someone from within their alliance was crucial.
¡°How about you? Not optimistic either? It¡¯s a tier-2 spiritual vein after all!¡± Fang Xi¡¯s expression held a teasing tone.
¡°Ah¡ everyone knows that fish is notorious for devouring people!¡± Feng Manlou, now treating Fang Xi as a confidant, spoke more freely. ¡°The alliance must have some leverage to dare challenge the Zhong Family of Dragonfish¡ but I sincerely hope it doesn¡¯t escte into conflict. After all, even a single snowke from such powerful forces can spell disaster for us minor cultivators!¡±
¡°I couldn¡¯t agree more¡¡± Fang Xi sighed, and both fell silent.
In the cultivation world, the opinions of lower-tier cultivators hardly mattered. Just like in the Zhong Family of Dragonfish, decisions of war or peace rested solely upon the word of their Foundation Establishment patriarch¡
It was no different at Peach Blossom Ind. Even if Feng Manlou didn¡¯t want to go, a singlemand from Ruan Xingling wouldpel him!
As they continued their conversation, Widow Wang approached them. ¡°Sir¡ The Patriarch of the Mu n is here, requesting an audience!¡±
¡°Mu Wen?¡±
Fang Xi pondered for a moment before looking at Feng Manlou.
¡°Sigh¡ He believes I¡¯m his main rival for the shopkeeper position this time. It¡¯s best if I avoid him!¡± Feng Manlou sighed and said to Fang Xi with a wry smile.
Naturally, Fang Xi nodded and instructed Widow Wang to help Feng Manlou find a ce to hide.
Shortly after, Mu Wen entered the courtyard, dressed elegantly and appearing more mature than before. Upon seeing Fang Xi, he bowed respectfully, ¡°Your humble nephew greets Uncle!¡±
¡°My dear nephew, please rise swiftly; such formalities aren¡¯t necessary,¡± Fang Xi responded with a smile as he hurriedly helped Mu Wen up. ¡°You wouldn¡¯t visit without a reason. There must be something important today!¡±
Mu Wen blushed slightly but continued, ¡°When our patriarch was alive, he always spoke highly of you as his close confidant, urging us younger generations to learn from you¡ This time, facing trouble, I¡¯vee specifically seeking Uncle Fang¡¯s assistance.¡±
¡°Oh? What seems to be the issue?¡± Fang Xi asked, despite already knowing the answer.
¡°Uncle, are you aware that Spirit Hollow Ind ns to open a new market? Our Mu n has cultivated the eastern peak of Gemini Peak, but unfortunately, its limited spiritual energy allows for only twenty acres of spirit fields at most. With the n¡¯s poption growing rapidly, resources have be increasingly scarce¡¡±
Mu Wen began toment his troubles incessantly.
Although the eastern peak of Gemini Peak had better spiritual energy and spirit fieldspared to Jade Cliff, the Mu n¡¯s poption, including numerous cultivators, was rapidly growing. With more people, resources became scarce, leading to frequent squabbles among n factions over trivial matters.
When Mu Xiu was in charge, his authority kept everything under control. However, with Mu Wen at the helm, he found it increasingly difficult to manage.
Thus, he sought to establish a new source of ie for the n - the Spirit Hollow Market!
As a shopkeeper, while not outright embezzling, he could discreetly supply some goods from the n for sale at the market without raising suspicion.
¡±¡However, securing connections at all levels requires funds, and our n treasury is running low on spirit stones. Uncle, I humbly request a loan of one hundred spirit stones. Your nephew will undoubtedly repay you, with interest!¡± Mu Wen concluded by offering another sincere bow.
¡°Ah, Mu Wen¡¡± Fang Xi leisurely blew aside the tea leaves before speaking. ¡°The Spirit Hollow Market is akin to a den of dragons and tigers, far from a safe ce. Wouldn¡¯t it be better to peacefully continue as spirit farmers? Look at your uncle here, living quitefortably and carefree.¡±
Out of respect for Old Daoist Xiu Mu, Fang Xi feltpelled to offer some guidance.
¡°The essence of being a cultivator lies inpetition! Without striving and contending, how can one secure resources for cultivation or break through barriers?¡±
Mu Wen suddenly raised his head, fists clenched tightly. ¡°Uncle, you may have given up on your own Dao path, but I still aspire to achieve Foundation Establishment someday and bring honor to our family!¡±
Fang Xi remained silent for a moment before shaking his head. ¡°Even though I¡¯ve been farming these fields for years, my earnings haven¡¯t been substantial. This time, I¡¯m afraid I cannot help you.¡±
¡°Uncle Fang, when the patriarch heard about needing spirit stones, he agreed without hesitation¡¡± Mu Wen¡¯s eyes welled with tears.
¡°Sigh, it¡¯s not that I am unwilling; indeed, I simply cannot afford it. Please leave now¡¡± Fang Xi lifted his teacup, signaling dismissal.
Mu Wen seemed inclined to argue further, but realizing they had no real bond, he reluctantly stood up, filled with resentment.
After departing Jade Cliff, his dissatisfaction grew. ¡°Well, well, Fang Xi¡ You think I don¡¯t know? Your granaries must be overflowing with spirit rice, yet you refuse to lend a mere hundred spirit stones. The patriarch truly misjudged you back then!¡± He took a few steps, then as if struck by a thought, activated a concealment talisman and hid himself near the roadside.
¡°Ah¡ Fang Xiong, your goodwill was truly misced; I never expected him to be such a¡¡± Feng Manlou emerged from his room after Mu Wen¡¯s departure, shaking his head with a sigh.
¡°You know, it¡¯s quite interesting how some people avoid the Spirit Hollow Market at all costs, while others flock there eagerly¡¡±
Fang Xi chuckled heartily and casually tossed a handful of spirit rice into the pond.
Therge blue fish swam swiftly, its tail flicking as it devoured the spirit rice.
In truth¡ Fang Xi didn¡¯t have much money on hand.
His granary held very little spirit rice, most having been consumed by Tai Sui, that voracious eater.
Of course, he could still easily spare one hundred spirit stones if needed.
But who did Mu Wen think he was?
¡°Precisely so¡¡± Feng Manlou stroked his chin before suddenly asking, ¡°Seems like you and Daoist Xiu Mu share a good rtionship, Fang Xiong?¡±
¡°I suppose we do. Unfortunately, the younger generationckspetence. The downfall of the Mu n will likelye under Mu Wen¡¯s watch¡¡± Fang Xi then grinned again, adding, ¡°But what does it matter to me?¡±
¡°Many thanks!¡± Feng Manlou¡¯s eyes lit up, and he swiftly took his leave.
He had been grappling with this issue, only for an ideal scapegoat to conveniently present itself.
With these words, Fang Xi effectively abandoned Mu Wen entirely.
Now, Feng Manlou felt unreserved about employing some subtle tactics against him.
Given Feng Manlou¡¯s worldly experience and social acumen honed within aristocratic circles, Mu Wen stood no chance. In fact, Mu Wen might unwittingly aid his adversary even after being manipted!
For instance, approaching Mu Wen under the guise of wanting to withdraw from thepetition, Feng Manlou could demand a sum of spirit stones - and Mu Wen just mightply!
The Little Cloudrain Array dissipated as Feng Manlou emerged on his feather-shaped magical artifact, swiftly disappearing from sight.
Watching this scene unfold from the roadside, Mu Wen clenched his teeth angrily. ¡°Fang Xi¡ you deceitful scoundrel! Not only did you refuse to lend me spirit stones, but now you¡¯re colluding with those from aristocratic families!¡±
¡°Patriarch, you¡¯ve misjudged someone; it¡¯s this man who is the traitor among our three great ns!¡± With determination in his eyes, Mu Wen gritted his teeth. ¡°I won¡¯t back down. I¡¯ll show you how the Mu n will flourish under my leadership!¡±
Chapter 107: The Art of Pill Concoction
Chapter 107: The Art of Pill Concoction
¡°Cultivating wood within the dantian, seeking longevity¡¡±
In the underground cavern.
Fang Xi sat cross-legged beneath the Demon Tree, with a vital qi root extending from his back and connecting to its canopy.
As pure vital energy flowed through him daily, his physique grew increasingly vibrant.
Even the progress of his ¡®Longevity Technique¡¯ advanced rapidly by leaps and bounds.
Through introspection using his spiritual sense, he could discern a faint emerald-greenwork spreading throughout his limbs and bones, emanating from his dantian¡¯s sea of qi towards muscles, veins, and flesh¡
This was the process of constructing the ¡®Azure Wood Spirit Body¡¯!
¡°In just a few more years, I should achieve mastery over the Azure Wood Spirit Body, right?¡±
Fang Xi opened his eyes, two green glints shing within them. Once he aplished the ¡®Azure Wood Spirit Body¡¯, despite having a low-grade wood elemental spiritual root, his aptitude would rival those with high-grade spiritual roots, akin to geniuses.
However, Fang Xi¡¯s ambitions extended beyond this!
He aimed to at least cultivate the ¡®Second Wood Dharma Body¡¯!
Such a spiritual body was scarcely mentioned in cultivation lore, but it was certain that any cultivator possessing it, barring untimely demise, invariably ascended to Nascent Soul greatness!
With the growth rate of the Demon Tree, achieving the ¡®Second Wood Dharma Body¡¯ within several decades seemed entirely feasible!
After each day¡¯s cultivation, Fang Xi routinely inspected his spirit field.
¡°Ooh!¡±
On a nearby ridge, a bare-bottomed little boy was joyfully running, followed by a toy tiger that lumbered along slowly with its four legs moving.
¡°Little Hu, where did you get this mechanical tiger puppet?¡± Fang Xi paused and casually asked.
¡°My mom just returned from the Spirit Hollow Market and bought it for me.¡± Little Hu sniffled, grinning foolishly as he replied.
¡°Hmm, go y now!¡± Fang Xi patted Little Hu¡¯s head, feeling somewhat dejected. ¡®Damn, after searching for years, I¡¯ve yet to find even a trace of puppetry techniques¡ And now, while tending my tree, I discover a puppeteer¡¯s work at the Spirit Hollow Market? Is fate ying tricks on me?¡¯
¡®Well, life is rarely smooth; unexpected setbacks happen. Stayposed, stayposed¡¡¯ he reminded himself silently.
Isn¡¯t it just about inheriting puppetry skills? As long as one lives long enough, opportunities will eventually arise.
¡°Sir!¡±
Upon reaching Widow Wang¡¯s log cabin, she immediately emerged with a beaming smile to greet him. ¡°The Spirit Hollow Market is vast and beautiful, filled with abundant spiritual energy¡ I specifically bought a pack of spirit tea for you, Sir, and was just thinking to deliver it!¡±
¡°Ah, thank you very much.¡±
The spirit tea wasn¡¯t worth even a single spirit stone, but it was the thought that counted. If Fang Xi refused it, Widow Wang would likely worry.
Seeing him ept it with a smile, her grin widened. ¡°I also visited the Ind Lord¡¯s shop at the Spirit Hollow Market, called ¡®Fire Refinement Pavilion¡¯. The Great Shopkeeper there is Mu Wen!¡±
Fang Xi was not surprised by this oue. After all, Feng Manlou had no intention ofpeting with Mu Wen.
Mu Wen himself went all-in, mortgaging several acres of his family¡¯s spirit fields to borrow a vast amount of spirit stones, ensuring he could grease the necessary palms.
With Feng Manlou voluntarily withdrawing, Ruan Xingling couldn¡¯t object much and ultimately granted the position to Mu Wen.
¡±¡I believe the Zhong Family of Dragonfish has epted this decision,¡± Widow Wang continued. ¡°If the Thirty Six Inds truly unite, ourbined Late Stage Qi Refinement cultivators would outnumber those of the Zhong Family significantly¡ By forming a jointw enforcement team, security around the inds will greatly improve. On my way here, I didn¡¯t encounter any Plunderer cultivators¡¡±
Widow Wang seemed envious. ¡°It appears that the Mu Family patriarch made the right gamble; they stand to make substantial profits¡¡±
¡°In that case¡ it¡¯s indeed a good thing!¡± Fang Xi smiled warmly.
Regardless of why the Zhong Family backed down, peace is always preferable. He needed a tranquil environment for nting trees here.
As for Mu Wen¡¯s temporary sess? Let him have his moment; short-lived prosperity means little.
In a hundred years, we¡¯ll see if he even matters then!
¡°Wang Aunt!¡±
Just then, another person arrived at Widow Wang¡¯s residence - it was Lu Guo!
Upon seeing Fang Xi, he instinctively shuddered before bowing respectfully, ¡°Master!¡±
¡°Ah.¡±
Fang Xi nodded, noticing that Lu Guo had already channeled qi into his body, bing a first-level Qi Refinement cultivator!
¡®Impressive for someone with mid-grade spiritual roots. It¡¯s only been a few months?¡¯
¡®How long did it take my original self to reach the first level of Qi Refinement? A year? Or was it two years?¡¯
¡®No matter¡ maintainposure, stayposed!¡¯
Suppressing the twitch at the corner of his eye, Fang Xi walked away without interrupting Widow Wang and Lu Guo.
Shortly after, Lu Guo emerged from Widow Wang¡¯s house, holding a small wooden dagger.
With a thread of magical energy infused, the wooden dagger unexpectedly floated in mid-air!
¡®A low-grade magical item?¡¯
¡®No¡ not quite a magical item, just a subpar toy, probably worth only a few spirit crystals¡¡¯
At a nce, Fang Xi recognized this as a simr trinket to Little Hu¡¯s mechanical beast -cking any realbat potential, purely intended for children¡¯s y.
Despite its simplicity, Lu Guo cherished the wooden dagger, carefully wiping it down before attaching it solemnly to his waistband.
¡°It seems¡it¡¯s also time to teach him theter levels of the Evesting Spring Art,¡± Fang Xi mused upon witnessing this scene.
A mid-grade spiritual root aptitude indeed offered significant advantages over a low-grade one.
Coupled with cultivating since childhood in a spiritual environment, there was a genuine possibility for Lu Guo to eventually break through to Late Stage Qi Refinement.
One could only wonder what Ruan Xingling truly had in mind.
Summer gave way to autumn, and soon another year drew to a close.
Fang Xi inspected the five-acre spirit field, then split the profits with Widow Wang in their usual 60-40 ratio, ensuring she had a prosperous holiday season.
In contrast, Lu Guo¡¯s situation remained sparse; he still resided in his wooden hut.
One day, amidst the vibrant flowers, Ruan Xingling¡¯s magical artifact descended within the Little Cloudrain Array.
¡°Ind Lord graces us with her presence, bringing honor upon this humble abode!¡± Fang Xi greeted warmly, smiling. ¡°I¡¯ve prepared some ¡®Bamboo Wine¡¯, please allow me to offer you a cup.¡±
¡°Hmm!¡±
Ruan Xingling and Fang Xi moved under the peach tree, opening a bottle of Bamboo Wine together.
For reasons unknown, Ruan Xingling seemed particrly fond of this variety.
On the other hand, Fang Xi had diverse tastes - enjoying both Bamboo Wine and Crimson Blood Wine alike. Recently, he even brewed a batch of Peach Blossom Wine.
This wine carried the delicate aroma of peach blossoms, which was highly favored by many female cultivators. Strangely enough, Ruan Xingling still preferred Bamboo Wine over others.
¡°Lu Guo has reached the first level of Qi Refinement. I anticipate him advancing to the second level next year¡¡± Fang Xi casually remarked as he poured a cup for Ruan Xingling.
¡°Indeed, mid-grade spiritual roots show promise, but it¡¯s unfortunate that he falls shortpared to Dan¡¯er.¡±
Ruan Xingling¡¯s expression remained indifferent, showing no signs of her emotions. Instead, she turned her attention to Fang Xi with concern, ¡°At twenty-eight years old and already at the sixth level of Qi Refinement, if you can break through to Late Stage Qi Refinement within a few years, there¡¯s hope for Foundation Establishment!¡±
¡°Ind Lord jests¡¡± Fang Xi¡¯s face filled with bitterness. ¡°I¡¯ve just entered the sixth level, and umting and refining magical energy alone will take several years. Without at least five to six years of cultivation, I won¡¯t reach its peak, let alone the significant bottleneck of reaching Late Stage¡ If I manage to breakthrough before turning forty, I¡¯d consider myself incredibly fortunate.¡±
¡°The bottleneck between Middle and Late Stage Qi Refinement is indeed quite challenging¡¡±
Ruan Xingling recalled how both the Feng and Mo ns had fallen into chaos after their n heads, who were in Late Stage Qi Refinement, passed away.
It was only with her intervention and support¡ªalong with depleting substantial family resources to purchase two Step-Breaking Pills from the market¡ªthat they sessfully cultivated new members to stabilize the Late Stage Qi Refinement positions and regain order.
For rogue cultivators, even affording basic magical energy-enhancing pills was difficult; purchasing Step-Breaking Pills seemed out of reach.
¡°With your spirit rice harvest, aside from asional pest issues, it¡¯s nearly bountiful every year. After umting for a few more years, buying a Step-Breaking Pill from the market should not be a problem¡¡±
Ruan Xingling seemed genuinely concerned for Fang Xi¡¯s prospects.
With the resources from these ten-plus acres of spirit fields, Fang Xi still had a chance to reach Late Stage Qi Refinement.
Even if the yield was insufficient, he could mortgage a few acres like Mu Wen did, essentially killing the goose thatys the golden eggs, and it would certainly be enough!
¡°Ah¡¡± Mentioning this topic, Fang Xi let out a long sigh, filled with mncholy. ¡°In truth, my granary has very little spirit rice left.¡±
¡°Hm?¡± Ruan Xingling appeared surprised. ¡°Did you use it all for brewing wine?¡±
¡°Not at all!¡± With a wry smile, Fang Xi led Ruan Xingling to his dedicated pill-concocting room.
This space was specifically set up for practicing his alchemy skills. The aroma of medicines wafted through the air, and in one corner, there were piles of spirit wood and spirit coal.
At the center of the room stood a three-legged, double-eared purple copper pill furnace, clearly a low-grade magical artifact!
¡°You¡are studying the art of pill concoction?¡± Ruan Xingling¡¯s eyes brightened. ¡°Have you made any progress?¡±
¡°If I were to concoct Fasting Pills now, barely breaking even¡ As for others, it¡¯s still a significant loss!¡±
Fang Xi replied expressionlessly, ¡°Pill concocting impoverishes three generations, and studying arrays ruins a lifetime - I¡¯ve truly witnessed it¡¡±
¡°Ah¡¡± she sighed.
Numerous cultivators could produce Fasting Pills, making it virtually impossible to earn spirit stones through this method.
Ruan Xingling gazed at the pill furnace, spirit medicines¡and immediately understood the considerable expenses involved.
She couldn¡¯t help but disapprove of Fang Xi¡¯s decision to spend spirit rice on practice materials for pill concoction, questioning, ¡°The art of pill concocting is vast and profound; upon realizing yourck of talent, one should promptly cut their losses. Why continue like this?¡±
In reality, Fang Xi had purchased these materials and waste pills using other sources of spirit stones. His primary ie always came from selling mythical beast materials, not from farming spirit rice.
cing the pill concocting room here was specifically intended to create an excuse for his spirit rice consumption.
Judging by her reaction, Ruan Xingling genuinely believed him.
¡°Sigh¡ with my mediocre aptitude, I thought mastering pill concoction might allow me to earn resources¡ But after investing so much, it became hard to let go, forcing me to keep pouring more into it¡¡± Fang Xi¡¯s demeanor conveyed a sense of being consumed by his pursuit.
¡°You¡ Ah!¡± Ruan Xingling shook her head repeatedly, exasperated.
Ruan Xingling shook her head repeatedly, ¡°Fortunately, your cultivation hasn¡¯t suffered much. From now on, pause your pill concocting and focus on cultivating instead, umting spirit rice¡ In the future, with some determination, you might still secure resources to break through to Late Stage Qi Refinement before turning forty.¡±
¡°Well¡ I just want to steadily cultivate to Late Stage Qi Refinement now. As for reaching that milestone by age forty? Sess would be delightful, but failure would simply mean it¡¯s my destiny!¡± Fang Xi sighed, downing the bamboo wine in one gulp. ¡°Cultivator ns strive to achieve Late Stage Qi Refinement before forty primarily for a slim chance at Foundation Establishment. However, I¡¯ve let go of any obsession with reaching Foundation Establishment. Gradually oveing bottlenecks peacefully isn¡¯t bad either¡ After all, I n to spend my life farming and fishing on Peach Blossom Ind, enjoying a tranquil existence¡¡±
Faced with Fang Xi¡¯sid-back attitude, Ruan Xingling was momentarily speechless.
Chapter 108: Ten Years of Tree Planting
Chapter 108: Ten Years of Tree nting
After obtaining the advanced techniques of the Evesting Spring Art, Lu Guo¡¯s cultivation progress elerated rapidly.
In his first year, he broke through to be a cultivator at the first level of Qi Refinement. With another year of diligent training, he surpassed to the second level.
Then, within less than two more years, he achieved yet another breakthrough, reaching the thirdyer of Qi Refining.
He had attained the same realm as Fang Xi when they initially crossed over!
And remarkably, Lu Guo was still only twelve years old!
While breaking through the early stages of Qi Refinement is generally easierpared toter stages, it still marked him as a minor prodigy.
The reason for hisck of recognition was entirely due to his remote location and being overshadowed by another individual.
Among the same batch of immortal sprouts, ¡®Ruan Dan,¡¯ who apprenticed under Ruan Xingling, experienced extraordinary growth in her cultivation base.
Five yearster, she astonishingly broke through the bottleneck of Initial Stage Qi Refinement, achieving the fourth level, well into the Middle Stage! At this pace, breaking through to Late Stage Qi Refinement before the age of thirty seemed highly likely, making her a promising candidate for Foundation Establishment!
Currently, she was adored by all and regarded as the crown princess of Peach Blossom Ind.
Inparison to these two young geniuses, Fang Xi¡¯s progress was somewhat harder to gauge.
Since starting his tree cultivation, he had noticed gradual improvements in his aptitude. The speed and efficiency at which he absorbed spiritual energy significantly increased.
However, reaching the sixth level of Qi Refinement proved increasingly challengingpared to earlier stages. It took him four full years just to master the sixthyer of the Evesting Spring Art, yet he remained stuck at this bottleneck, unable to advance further into Late Stage Qi Refinement.
It has now been another year since then!
Despite this, Fang Xi maintained a positive mindset. He diligently practiced his cultivation daily, persisted with nting trees, and asionally tended to fish or insects. He had a strong premonition that his Longevity Technique was on the verge of a significant breakthrough!
After years of cultivation, the spirit fields at Jade Cliff had expanded to fifteen acres.
With Fang Xi overseeing and rarely getting directly involved, most of thebor fell upon Lu Guo¡¯s shoulders.
At twelve years old, the boy was already over a meter tall, dressed in simple linen clothes, resembling a young adult as he worked diligently in the spirit fields.
¡°Golden Seventh Metal Sword Energy!¡±
Lu Guo flicked his finger, summoning a faintly golden sword energy that instantly pierced through a plump green caterpir.
In the next moment, his right hand moved gracefully like a blooming lotus, generating multiple streams of sword energy to cut down weeds.
¡°Luuu big brother!¡±
Nearby in the fields, there was another child, around seven or eight years old - it was Wang Xiaohu!
His hair tied up in a child¡¯s knot, he watched Lu Guo wielding sword energy with envy on his face. ¡°I started Qi Refinement this year, and next year Mom will teach me powerful magical techniques! Then I¡¯ll be just like you, Lu big brother!¡±
¡°Chuckles¡¡±
Lu Guo ruffled Wang Xiaohu¡¯s hair, his smile filled with bitterness.
To date, Fang Xi had only taught him the first fouryers of the Evesting Spring Art, along with two basic spirit farming techniques.
As for truly powerful magical techniques? They were never even mentioned.
It wasn¡¯t just Fang Xi; even Widow Wang dared not breach such taboos.
Cultivators matured mentally at an early age, and by now, Lu Guo understood that his ability to pursue cultivation peacefully was already immense fortune. He didn¡¯t dare harbor excessive ambitions.
While weeding the spirit field, he thought to himself, ¡®I can¡¯t be a spirit farmer my whole life. Once I break through to Mid-Stage Qi Refinement, I should find a way to board a spirit boat and venture to the market¡ Ah, but will the Ind Lord be willing to let me go?¡¯
Just then, he noticed ripples spreading across the clouds of the Little Cloudrain Array, causing him great surprise. ¡°This is¡ someone intruding the array?! Could there be an enemy?¡±
The disturbance within the Little Cloudrain Array immediately caught the attention of everyone at Jade Cliff.
When Fang Xi emerged, even Widow Wang stood nearby with heightened tension, wielding a long ck de as if ready to fight fiercely at any moment.
Fang Xi¡¯s expression, however, seemed somewhat peculiar.
After five years, he still appeared youthful and handsome, embodying the elegance of a refined gentleman. There was no hint that he was actually a thirty-three-year-old middle-aged man.
Mu Wen then produced a restriction token and with a gentle wave, dispersed the clouds. Revealed behind them was a young man d in opulent attire, standing on a golden flying boat and holding a golden ring-shaped magical artifact - none other than Mu Wen himself!
¡°Fang Xi, why disrupt my mountain protection array?¡± Fang Xi frowned, his voice stern as he demanded.
¡°Dear uncle, don¡¯t be upset!¡± Mu Wenughed heartily, unabashedly disying his powerful magical energy at the sixth level of Qi Refinement. ¡°Your nephew has been busy at Spirit Hollow Market and only recently returned to the ind for duty reporting. Concerned about you, I made it a point to visit along the way. Uncle, would you kindly appraise this new magical artifact, the Glorious Gold Ring?¡±
The golden ring in his handbined both offensive and defensive capabilities, even possessing the ability to entrap opponents. It turned out to be a rare high-grade magical artifact, and not just any ordinary one but a top-tier among high-grade artifacts!
Over these five years, the Dragonfish Zhong n allowed the Spirit Hollow Market to flourish, gradually eroding the trade volume from the Treasure Ship Market. Many spective cultivators profited immensely during this period.
With decent spiritual root aptitude and favorable opportunities, Mu Wen trained diligently on a second-order spiritual vein and recently broke through to the sixth level of Qi Refinement!
Moreover, he acquired such a premium magical artifact!
On this triumphant return, fueled by resentment over Fang Xi¡¯s refusal to lend spirit stones years ago, Mu Wen deliberately came to unt his sess and mock him¡
He wanted Fang Xi to see just how well he had prospered!
As for genuinely attacking Jade Cliff, that was entirely out of the question.
¡°Indeed impressive!¡± Contrary to expectations, Fang Xi remained unperturbed, even finding time toment casually on Mu Wen¡¯s boastful remarks. ¡°The surface of this Glorious Gold Ring shines brilliantly; could it be infused with ¡®gold essence¡¯? That¡¯s a material used for forging spirit artifacts, surely making it quite expensive?¡±
¡°Oh, merely around two hundred spirit stones!¡± Mu Wen boasted proudly. ¡°To enlighten dear uncle, Foundation Establishment cultivator Yu Lingzi now oversees our Spirit Hollow Market. The Zhong Family has chosen reconciliation, and the market grows rapidly each day, its future boundless¡ This nephew ns to harness the n¡¯s resources to acquire a shop within the market and even relocate most of our kin to Spirit Hollow Ind, after all, it boasts a tier-2 spiritual vein!¡±
What was the eastern peak of Gemini Peakpared to that? A mere insignificant, low-tier spiritual vein held no appeal anymore.
Fang Xi initially found it peculiar when the Thirty Six Inds alliance decided to establish the Spirit Hollow Market.
Later, it was revealed that several years ago, Yu Lingzi - a rogue cultivator at the great perfection stage of Qi Refinement - had unexpectedly achieved Foundation Establishment! Not only did he seed in his breakthrough, but he was also recruited by the Taishu Family from one of the Thirty Six Inds, bing their guest Retired Elder and overseeing the Spirit Hollow Market.
With a Foundation Establishment cultivator guarding the market, bolstered by protective formations, even if the entire Zhong Family mobilized, they might not emerge victorious.
After all, the Thirty Six Inds boasted another Foundation Establishment benefactor!
In contrast, the Dragonfish Zhong n currently had just two Foundation Establishment members¡
Therefore, despite the Spirit Hollow Market siphoning off significant business from the Treasure Ship Market, the Dragonfish Zhong n could only endure this silent loss!
Initially, this information was kept secret, causing Feng Manlou immense frustration. He openlymented that if he had known earlier, he would have acted without hesitation, preventing Mu Wen from gaining such advantage.
Upon hearing this, Fang Xi couldn¡¯t help but sigh, attributing it to luck favoring fools.
Now, upon learning about Mu Wen¡¯s ¡®grand n,¡¯ Fang Xi inwardly marveled, ¡°Market shops can be quite expensive; does my dear nephew have enough spirit stones?¡±
¡®Even if you, old man, want to cozy up for borrowing spirit stones now, I¡¯m not interested!¡¯ Mu Wen mentally rolled his eyes.
Mu Wen internally rolled his eyes and retorted, ¡°No need for Uncle to worry, I have my own connections¡ Since Uncle is knowledgeable about magical artifacts, why not experience one firsthand?¡±
¡°No, no thanks. I focus on cultivation for wellness, notbat,¡± Fang Xi waved his hands repeatedly.
¡°Consider it as Uncle conceding defeat!¡± Mu Wen dered triumphantly.
¡°Haha¡¡±
Mu Wen burst outughing, feeling deeply satisfied. While he couldn¡¯t truly harm Fang Xi, humiliating him thoroughly did alleviate some of his pent-up frustration.
With that, Mu Wen swiftly turned his flying boat into a streak of light heading towards Mirror Moon Lake.
¡°Pah! What a character!¡± Widow Wang waited until they were gone before spitting disdainfully, showing her loyalty to the nearby master.
As for Lu Guo, he gazed at Fang Xi with a face full of disappointment.
¡®Could it be that the Ind Lord wanted me to follow this man just to learn spirit farming, resigning myself to a lifetime of humble agriculture?¡¯
¡®No, I refuse!¡¯ he thought vehemently.
¡°All right, everyone should continue with their tasks.¡±
Fang Xi gently patted Wang Xiaohu¡¯s head, enjoying the lively feel of the spirited little boy. With a smile, he asked, ¡°Fellow Daoist Wang¡ after testing your son¡¯s spiritual roots, what was his aptitude like?¡±
¡°Thank you for your concern, Master. He has a low-grade water-wood spirit root!¡± Widow Wang promptly replied.
¡°Oh? Would he be interested in learning the ¡®Evesting Spring Art¡¯ from me? To be honest, over these years, I¡¯ve gained considerable insights while practicing it. It can preserve youth and enhance vitality, with boundless benefits¡¡± Fang Xi showed genuine interest.
Considering Lu Guo¡¯s awkward position, fostering Wang Xiaohu seemed like a better alternative.
¡°No, thank you!¡±
Widow Wang hastily declined, ¡°Our Little Hu¡¯s water element in his spirit root is stronger than the wood element. It would be best for him to learn the ck Water Art under my guidance¡¡±
She feared that Fang Xi might lead the child astray.
After all, as a cultivator,cking basicbat skills could prove disastrous when facing future enemies or cmities. Even if one willingly chose to live life as a cautious old turtle, they must still ensure no adversaries dared to strike at their doorstep!
News of Mu Wen¡¯s return swiftly spread across Peach Blossom Ind.
Mu Wen orchestrated grand festivities, inviting guests and unting his wealth extravagantly. During the banquet, he casually revealed how he had bested Fang Xi, garnering widespread admiration.
Although Fang Xi was once renowned for his valor, it had been ten years since he single-handedly suppressed the Lu n with just a sword!
A decade brings many changes!
His feats had faded, gradually forgotten¡
Moreover, as Fang Xi remained focused on farming and never ventured beyond Jade Cliff, whispers arose questioning his reputation, evenbeling him a timid recluse!
With Mu Wen stepping over Fang Xi, he ascended to prominence, bing the talk of the ind. This wasn¡¯t solely due to his astonishingbat prowess, securing his position as the top Mid-Stage Qi Refinement cultivator on Peach Blossom Ind. It was also because he amassed vast quantities of spirit stones!
Most cultivators on the ind utilized the unique peach wood, abundant there, to craft low-grade peach wood swords or talismans. They entrusted these items to Mu Wen for consignment sales, exchanging them for spirit stones and resources.
As the de facto patron saint of wealth, Mu Wen was someone no one dared offend.
Subsequently, rumors surfaced about Fang Xi¡¯s refusal to lend spirit stones and Feng Manlou voluntarily withdrawing from business opportunities. Fellow cultivators mocked both as shortsighted and cowardly¡ missing out on such exceptional chances!
Chapter 109: Three Joys at Once
Chapter 109: Three Joys at Once
Under the peach tree,
¡°Fang Xiong, I truly regret my past choices¡¡±
Feng Manlou, now middle-aged with slight frost at his temples, eschewed his usual favorite Peach Blossom Wine. Instead, he poured himself arge bowl of Scarlet Blood Wine and downed it beforementing dejectedly.
¡°Why dwell on such matters? Mu Wen¡¯s brief fame was earned through risky ventures back then. You chose stability, gaining a loving wife and cherished children, enjoying years of tranquility - that¡¯s no loss¡¡± Fang Xi spoke calmly, d in a jade-green robe.
As Feng Manlou gazed at Fang Xi, he couldn¡¯t help but feel the stark contrast between Fang Xi¡¯s youthful vitality and his own aging appearance, which deepened his sorrow. ¡°Come¡ let¡¯s drink!¡±
Fang Xi opted for Peach Blossom Wine instead of Scarlet Blood Wine.
This wine had a clear green hue, emitting a subtle fragrance of peach blossoms. With its smooth taste, it was highly favored among cultivators. asionally, Widow Wang or Lu Guo would sell some at local barter markets on Peach Blossom Ind, finding it even more popr than Scarlet Blood Wine and yielding various essential items in exchange.
Observing the radiant youth under the peach tree, sensing the ethereal aura around him - serene yet vibrant, free from worldly desires - Feng Manlou genuinely believed that this was a true ascetic who had transcended fame and strife, disliking conflict. Moved, he sincerely said, ¡°Fang Xiong¡ thank you for your wisdom!¡±
¡°If the world cheats me, betrays me, or humiliates me, what should I do?¡± Fang Xi plucked a peach blossom branch and replied mildly, ¡°Endure it, yield to it, avoid it¡ Wait for a hundred years, then revisit the situation!¡± ¡°And after those hundred years, what then?¡± Feng Manlou¡¯s eyes lit up.
¡°After a hundred years, naturally both myself and my enemies will have turned to dust. Unless they miraculously reach Foundation Establishment?¡± Fang Xi rolled his eyes in response.
After sending off a bewildered Feng Manlou, who seemed lost in philosophical contemtion, Fang Xi headed to his cultivation room.
Running through one cycle of the Evesting Spring Art, he found no sign of progress at the bottleneck.
With unwavering calmness, he affixed a ¡®Protection Talisman¡¯ behind the cultivation room door, then entered the secret passageway leading to the underground cave.
Swish!
A massive pitch-ck banyan tree nearly dominated the entire cavern space!
Standing over nine meters tall, its canopy blocked out the sky, with countless aerial roots cascading down amidst intertwined root systems on the ground.
In a corner, the tier-1 mid-grade Tai Sui trembled visibly, seemingly fearing that the Demon Tree might devour it¡
¡®This Tai Sui¡ ever since advancing to tier-1 mid-grade, it has be quite intelligent¡¡¯
¡®Does this behavior indicate it¡¯s about to ascend to a tier-1 high-grade mythical beast?¡¯
Fang Xi reassured Tai Sui through their blood pact connection, feeling slightly exhrated.
If Tai Sui reached tier-1 high-grade, the growth rate of the Demon Tree would undoubtedly elerate significantly!
After his usual ritual of feeding the tree with flesh, Fang Xi sat cross-legged beneath it and began cultivating the Longevity Technique!
Puff!
Puff! Puff!
This day seemed different from the rest! Following the first aura root prating Fang Xi¡¯s back, a second, then a third followed suit¡
Immersed in the transcendent state of the Longevity Technique, oblivious to his surroundings, Fang Xi instinctively drew upon the vitality essence qi and forces of sun and moon cycles from the Demon Tree¡
Through his spiritual introspection, Fang Xi could ¡®see¡¯ the countless emerald-greenworks within him finally takingplete form, interconnected seamlessly. Streams of nt essences coursed through these channels, permeating throughout his entire body!
The Azure Wood Spirit Body - achieved!
With a sudden surge,
Bam!
Fang Xi felt momentarily disoriented, but as he regained consciousness, he sensed an overwhelming vitality coursing through his body, iparable to before!
¡°So this is¡the Azure Wood Spirit Body?¡±
He gently touched his face, a glimmer shining briefly in his eyes: ¡°Ten years¡ confined to one ce, enduring arduous cultivation for a decade¡ My Azure Wood Spirit Body has finally been aplished!¡±
Without dy, Fang Xi eagerly attempted to circte his ¡®Evesting Spring Art¡¯, sensing for the world¡¯s spiritual energy!
Instantly, he felt astonished.
Under the influence of external spiritual pressure, vast amounts of spiritual energy surged towards him at speeds several times faster than usual!
His body effortlessly absorbed this influx, channeling it through his qi passageways into the dantian, transforming it into magical energy!
The speed of his cultivation skyrocketed exponentially!
This sensation was incredibly exhrating, causing him to repeatedly immerse himself in circting the technique, oblivious to time swiftly passing by.
Finally!
Fang Xi sensed that the Evesting magical energy within his dantian had reached its limit, continuously expanding new pathways within his body.
In an instant, his magical energy nearly doubled!
The Evesting Spring Art ascended to a higher level, entering thete stage of the seventhyer of Qi Refinement!
¡°Haha¡ with a talent nowparable to tier-1 high-grade spiritual roots, the bottleneck of Late Stage Qi Refinement is no longer a hurdle!¡±
¡°Aplishing the Azure Wood Spirit Body and breaking through to thete stage on the same day - truly a double celebration!¡±
Fang Xi opened his eyes, bursting intoughter.
At just thirty-three years old, even if his Longevity Technique failed, he still possessed the Azure Wood Spirit Body.
With this newfound aptitude, achieving Foundation Establishment seemed within reach! The hope for immortality was now tangible!
¡°Wait?¡±
Fang Xi suddenly felt something amiss. He opened and then closed his eyes¡ sensing as if a third ¡®eye¡¯ had appeared at his forehead!
Despite having his physical eyes shut, this ¡®eye¡¯ allowed him to perceive everything clearly within a ten-meter radius around him.
Moreover, he could even observe himself from different angles. In his field of vision, he saw a young man d in azure robes, sitting cross-legged with eyes slightly closed!
¡°This seems like¡ divine sense?!¡±
Drawing upon his previous experience during the auction when using a magical artifact to project his spiritual sense, Fang Xi quickly recognized it as the ¡®divine sense¡¯, typically associated only with Foundation Establishment cultivators!
¡°ording to legends, even a cultivator in the initial stages of Foundation Establishment can extend their divine sense up to sixty meters away, perceiving every minute detail within its range!¡±
¡°My current limit may be just ten meters, but it is indeed divine sense!¡±
¡°But, this, this¡ could it be a unique feature of the Azure Wood Spirit Body, enabling a cultivator to develop divine sense prematurely, even in Late Stage Qi Refinement?!¡±
¡°Or is it due to the Demon Tree¡¯s peculiarity? Or perhaps the result of multiple factorsbined?¡±
Fang Xi began to understand why major sects fervently sought out cultivators with exceptional spiritual bodies.
¡°Now¡ with dragon-like blood qi and developed divine sense! I¡¯ve already ovee two out of three barriers to Foundation Establishment!¡±
Fang Xi found it almost unbelievable. ¡°Doesn¡¯t this mean that after reaching the tenth level of Qi Refinement, even without any medicinal pills, I would have at least a thirty to forty percent chance of sess when attempting Foundation Establishment?¡±
Of course, attempting Foundation Establishment without proper safeguards could lead to severe injury or death, so Fang Xi would never choose such a reckless path. When he decided to make the attempt, he would undoubtedly rely on a Foundation Establishment Pill for added assurance.
¡°Divine sense, I¡¯ve actually cultivated divine sense!¡± Fang Xi eagerly emerged from the underground cave, using his newfound divine sense to perceive the world anew.
In the pond, the big azure fish was stealthily cultivating its demonic aura, constantly watching Fang Xi with deadpan eyes, fearing it might end up as sashimi anytime soon.
After all, their ten-year deadline had arrived!
Within the insect room, several generations of gold beetles now predominantly disyed a green hue, indicating they were quite usable.
Fang Xi ventured outside towards the fields. With his current divine sense limit being nine meters (thirty feet), he needed to approach closely for detailed observation.
Inside the wooden hut, Lu Guo was diligently meditating and cultivating. In a corner beneath the floor, Fang Xi detected a few low-grade spirit stones hidden away - unsure how thed managed to umte them.
Next, Fang Xi approached Widow Wang¡¯s residence, but upon scanning with divine sense, he hastily covered his eyes, having inadvertently witnessed something private.
He turned and quickly left. Fortunately, most Qi Refinement cultivators couldn¡¯t detect such scans; otherwise, it would have been truly awkward¡
Several dayster.
Underneath the peach tree in Fang Xi¡¯s courtyard, he had spent these past few days mastering his divine sense, learning to expand and retract it with ease.
At that moment, he put down a jade slip in his hand.
Remarkably, this jade slip contained the legacy of array theory - ¡°Introduction to Array Theory¡±!
With his newfound ability, those previouslyplex and mysterious formation markings now seemed significantly simpler.
¡°With divine sense assistance, everyone can be a little genius!¡±
¡°No wonder they rmend acquiring divine sense before delving into the jade slips. It truly makes things much easier¡¡± Fang Xi couldn¡¯t help but feel impressed.
After developing his divine sense, he felt sharper and more perceptive, even noticing a significant eleration in his thought processes. This prompted him to revisit the four arts of cultivation, which had once been challenging for him to grasp.
To his surprise¡ what were once insurmountable difficulties now appeared as smooth pathways!
¡°Unfortunately¡ my resources and time are limited. I still need to practice the Evesting Spring Art and Longevity Technique daily, along with tending to my crops and fish¡¡±
After some thought, Fang Xi made his decision.
Given these newfound capabilities, he would naturally focus on mastering formations - the pinnacle of the artistry hierarchy!
Then, as secondary expertise, pill concocting!
As for artificing and talisman crafting? They would have to rely on serendipity¡
Of course, if during his studies he discovered exceptional talent in one particr skill, significantly surpassing the others, Fang Xi would promptly adjust his priorities ordingly.
¡°Haha¡ Now I can be considered a formation prodigy too,¡± Fang Xi chuckled gleefully, retrieving the jade slip that apanied his purchase of the Little Cloudrain Array.
With his enhanced divine sense, revisiting the jade slip provided him with numerous new insights.
¡°The way I previously set up this formation was too rigid¡¡±
¡°Formations should be dynamic; altering these key points could increase its power even further¡¡±
¡°This area seems somewhat wed¡¡±
Fang Xi walked through the formation, observing it with his divine sense andparing it to the array diagram, uncovering many discrepancies he hadn¡¯t noticed before.
Before, he was practically blind! Now, with his eyes finally opened, he could fully grasp the formation¡¯s intricacies.
At that moment, scanning with his divine sense, Fang Xi noticed Widow Wang working nearby and couldn¡¯t help but nce at her figure appreciatively. ¡°Well hidden indeed; one wouldn¡¯t suspect anything¡¡±
In the next instant, maintaining aposed expression, Fang Xi exchanged pleasantries with Widow Wang.
The Wood Attribute Cultivation Technique inherently excelled in concealing one¡¯s aura, and being at a significantly higher realm than both Widow Wang and Lu Guo, he effortlessly hid his breakthrough to Late Stage Qi Refinement from them!
¡°As for Ruan Xingling¡ I need to find a way to conceal this from her too.¡±
After all, he had initially portrayed himself as someone with mediocre aptitude, deeply immersed in arduous cultivation. How would he exin such a sudden breakthrough?
Unlike the patriarchs of the Feng and Mo families, he hadn¡¯t used tier-breaking medicinal pills!
¡°Breaking through to Late Stage Qi Refinement at age thirty-three seems quite imusible given my supposed aptitude. It¡¯s best to keep this concealed¡¡±
Chapter 110: Golden Tooths Savage Display
Chapter 110: Golden Tooth''s Savage Disy
Several monthster.
At Jade Cliff.
Above the Scarlet Blood Spirit Field,yers of mist continuously shifted and adjusted ording to Fang Xi¡¯s will¡
After his fine-tuning, the Little Cloudrain Array now exhibited significantly enhanced power!
¡°Finally aplished¡ I can now barely be considered a low-rank first-tier array master.¡±
Fang Xi held the Restriction Command Token, a look of satisfaction spreading across his face.
Over these past months, his progress in the path of array formations had been nothing short of meteoric!
Indeed, divine sense proved to be an unparalleled tool for mastering various aspects of cultivation and the hundred skills of cultivation!
With it, his study of arrays felt almost like cheating. Only now did Fang Xi fully grasp that identical formations, when set as static Death Arrays versus dynamically controlled Live Arrays, disyed vastly different strengths - akin to night and day.
Simrly, operating with the simplistic aid of the Restriction Command Token paled inparison to direct control by an array master, creating another stark contrast between heaven and earth.
Specifically, a static Death Array is most vulnerable to same-tier Barrier Breaking Talismans, which can create pathways, allowing intruders to breach and destroy the formation.
In contrast, a dynamic Live Array enables timely damage mitigation, trapping or redirecting invading enemies within its confines.
As for formations directly controlled by an array master?
¡°Array fundamentals are just the foundation; there are advanced techniques like ¡®Cascading Formations¡¯ and ¡®Nested Arrays¡¯. Simply put, these involve creating ¡®formations within formations¡¯!¡± Fang Xi¡¯s eyes lit up as he solved another array problem. ¡°I see! The concept of ¡®Nested Arrays¡¯ means cing one formation inside another - truly ingenious!¡±
With this approach, even if enemies use Barrier Breaking Talismans to breach the outeryer, they would only find themselves trapped or ensnared by an even more formidable confinement or killing array.
Moreover, due to the dynamic nature of the formations, any breaches can automatically repair themselves, making it significantly harder for Barrier Breaking Talismans to seed.
Suddenly, Fang Xi sensed someone approaching outside his formation. Without hesitation, he formed a hand seal with intricate gestures and channeled it into the nearby white mist.
The cloud cover parted, revealing a clear path.
Feng Manlou was about to knock using a voice-transmission talisman when the entrance opened unexpectedly, catching him off guard. Nevertheless, he swiftly flew in. ¡°Fang Xiong!¡±
His expression showed slight anxiety, but he did not notice any change in Fang Xi¡¯s cultivation base.
This was a recent trick Fang Xi had mastered. After developing divine sense, leveraging his connection with the Demon Tree, he could ¡®store¡¯ part of his magical energy within its very essence, effectively concealing his true cultivation level.
Now, even cultivators at Late Stage or Great Perfection of Qi Refinement would perceive him merely as an ordinary sixth-level Qi Refiner with average magical energy.
¡°Feng Xiong, you seem quite hurried,¡± Fang Xi asked, ¡°is there some urgent matter?¡±
¡°Something grave has happened,¡± Feng Manlou anxiously replied, ¡°Old Monster Goldtooth from Golden me Ind has fully recovered his injuries and is once again acting recklessly. He intends to forcefully take over our shops on Spirit Hollow Ind!¡±
¡°The Ind Lord requests Fellow Daoist Fang¡¯s presence at Mirror Moon Lake for a strategy meeting!¡± he added hastily.
¡°Old Monster Goldtooth, huh?¡± Fang Xi¡¯s eyes narrowed slightly.
This veteran cultivator at the tenth level of Qi Refinement had been left half-dead by Fang Xi years ago. After recuperating for several years, he cautiously surveyed his surroundings for more time before realizing that his nemesis, the ¡®Silver Armored Giant,¡¯ had departed. Gradually, he resumed his audacious ways.
However, circumstances had changed.
With the constraints of the Longevity Technique, Fang Xi could not step beyond Jade Cliff, even for a moment.
Thus, Fang Xi could only offer a wry smile, ¡°Feng Xiong, my apologies¡ I have no intention of leaving Peach Blossom Ind to engage in further conflicts!¡±
Feng Manlou was taken aback, ¡°But this is an invitation from the Ind Lord himself!¡±
Although Fang Xi held a position higher than that of an honorary guest, shouldn¡¯t he still show respect to the host?
¡°Take care, farewell!¡± Fang Xi¡¯s expression gradually turned impassive as he turned to leave.
¡°You¡ sigh!¡± Feng Manlou stomped his foot in frustration, reluctantly heading back to report his failure.
¡°It¡¯s not unwillingness, but rather an inability to leave!¡± Fang Xi sighed softly as he watched Feng Manlou depart.
The constraints of the Longevity Technique prevented him from straying too far from Jade Cliff; his desire was limited by necessity.
¡°Hmm? Wait a moment!¡±
¡°Now that my magical energy has reached Late Stage Qi Refinement, aided by divine sense, my connection with the Demon Tree is even stronger¡ I¡¯ve yet to test its maximum range!¡±
¡°Furthermore¡¡±
With a single step, Fang Xi disappeared into the mist and swiftly arrived outside Jade Cliff.
One mile, two miles¡
Four miles, five miles!
Surprisingly, the sensation of the connection nearly breaking did not reur!
Fang Xi¡¯s eyes brightened as he continued pushing the limit further.
Eventually, when he had ventured approximately ten miles away from Jade Cliff, he once again felt the impending disconnection.
¡°Ten miles, huh? Still quite a distance from Mirror Moon Lake¡¡± He let out a soft sigh, yet remained undeterred.
Instead, with a mere thought, the Demon Tree, acting like his extension, rumbled as countless roots surged outward in one direction!
In no time, they pierced through the Little Cloudrain Array, reaching the western edge of Jade Cliff and extending several more miles beyond!
Fang Xi had always kept the Demon Tree restrained; if allowed to spread freely, its reach would be truly formidable! In the future, covering the entire Peach Blossom Ind could pose no issue!
Within this vast rootwork, every area could be considered part of the Demon Tree¡¯s domain!
As a result, Fang Xi¡¯s reach extended further, epassing Mirror Moon Lake and Twin Peaks regions!
¡°Atst¡ I finally won¡¯t feel trapped anymore.¡±
¡°Or should I say, my prison has just expanded from Jade Cliff to the entire Peach Blossom Ind?¡±
Fang Xi began walking back.
With his return, the Demon Tree¡¯s roots gradually retracted as well.
Without the protection of the Little Cloudrain Array, exposing the Demon Tree itself risked discovery.
Such extensive root expansion was only feasible when Fang Xi needed to visit Mirror Moon Lake - a special case!
Previously, with the Demon Tree being smaller, its roots couldn¡¯t extend so far, but now it barely managed to achieve this reach.
Even though he could ess Mirror Moon Lake, Fang Xi had no intention of intervening in Old Monster Goldtooth¡¯s affairs.
After all, the dispute involved merely seizing shops owned by the Feng, Mo, and Ruan ns on Spirit Hollow Ind, not matters of life or death for their foundations!
¡®However, if Old Monster Goldtooth, already at Peak Qi Refining, suddenly starts shamelessly amassing resources, could it be that Yu Lingzi¡¯s influence is pushing him towards attempting Foundation Establishment?¡¯
A sudden thought crossed Fang Xi¡¯s mind.
If Old Monster Goldtooth were to seed in reaching Foundation Establishment, it would indeed pose a significant threat!
Unfortunately, during their past encounter, Fang Xi couldn¡¯t ovee him due to the ind¡¯s protective array. Being in the great circle of Qi Refinement made him formidable!
At Jade Cliff, within Fang Xi¡¯s courtyard.
Therge blue fish noticed no one around and leisurely blew bubbles in the pond.
Pop! Pop!
Bubbles floated to the surface, even attempting to disrupt the surrounding confinement formation!
¡°Ah, you¡¯re not being very obedient, aren¡¯t you?¡±
Suddenly, a voice emerged from nearby.
Startled, therge blue fish¡¯s dead-fish eyes widened as it spotted that detestable human standing by the pond edge, seemingly unnoticed until now, gazing at it with a grin.
A sense of life¡¯s hardships instantly overwhelmed therge blue fish!
¡°The ten-year period is up, time for some sashimi!¡±
Fang Xi chuckled heartily and swiftly formed hand seals with both hands.
A cloud descended, transforming into chains that swiftly ensnared therge blue fish.
Despite struggling fiercely, therge blue fish, already reaching mid-first rank, found itself powerless against these seemingly delicate white chains made of clouds.
Tears began streaming uncontrobly from its eyes, hitting the ground with audible pops - each drop was actually a pearl!
¡°Fish tears turning into pearls? Even among mortals, such treasures are rare indeed¡¡±
Fang Xi loosened his grip on the knife and pressed down on therge blue fish¡¯s head. ¡°Could it be that you have merfolk lineage somehow? Wait, no¡ I clearly fed you snake-dragon essence!¡±
¡°Fine, considering you still have some usefulness, I¡¯ll give you another chance!¡±
In the next moment, Fang Xi formed a double-handed seal, releasing his divine sense which forcefully prated into therge blue fish¡¯s body!
The fish shuddered violently, its eyes rolling upwards as if near death.
ording to Miao Dong¡¯s Beast Control legacy, Foundation Establishment cultivators could effortlessly dominate beasts using their divine sense imprint.
Qi Refinement cultivators,cking divine sense assistance, required tools like Blood Contract Documents instead.
Now, Fang Xi employed this divine sense imprint technique from the Beast Control legacy to forcibly establish a master-servant bond with therge blue fish!
After a brief period, the imprint was sessfully set.
Unless therge blue fish reached Foundation Establishment, it would be utterly unable to resist anymand from Fang Xi!
Such was the might of Foundation Establishment divine sense!
¡°I¡¯ll grant you ten more years and provide all remaining snake-dragon essence blood. If you fail to ascend to high-rank first-tier fish king status by then, I¡¯ll simply kill you for meat.¡±
Fang Xi casually pped therge blue fish back into the pond, his tone indifferent.
Tears streamed down the fish¡¯s face; although it had lost its freedom as a demonic creature, at least its life was spared. Upon hearing its new master¡¯smand, the fish couldn¡¯t help but nod repeatedly.
After subduing therge blue fish, Fang Xi proceeded to check on the gold beetles in the insect room.
He carefully selected all the blue and white tortoise beetles, then individually tamed them using methods from the ¡®Insect Control Notes¡¯.
ording to the notes, there were two ways to control a swarm of mythical beasts like gold beetles:
Firstly, one could cultivate an Insect King, establish a divine sense contract with it, and subsequentlymand the entire swarm through the king. Although not as precise as controlling an extension of oneself, the swarm maintains its own order and remains highly obedient, with minimal energy expenditure.
The second method involved setting up a specialized ¡®Contract Formation¡¯, infusing it with the cultivator¡¯s blood essence, and forming weaker contracts with each individual insect. This approach allows for intricate control over the swarm but demands significant consumption of the cultivator¡¯s blood essence and divine sense.
Weighing the pros and cons, Fang Xi naturally chose the first option. He selected thergest and most potent blue and white tortoise beetle as the Insect King, established a master-servant contract with it, and then used this king tomand the entire swarm.
Afterpleting his preparations, Fang Xi realized hecked a crucial item: a spirit beast bag! The gold beetles were living creatures and couldn¡¯t be stored in a regr bag of holding.
Initially, he hadn¡¯t considered acquiring spirit beasts, so he never purchased a spirit beast bag beforehand.
Even the wise can overlook something amidst many considerations.
Fortunately, Fang Xi had someone to run errands for him. After pondering briefly, he called upon Lu Guo.
¡°What is yourmand, Master?¡± Lu Guo adopted a deferential posture.
¡°On the first and fifteenth days of each month, there are exchange meets at Mirror Moon Lake by Peach Blossom Ind cultivators. Take this pouch of spirit stones and see if they have any spirit beast bags avable. If so, purchase two.¡±
Fang Xi handed a small bag to Lu Guo, filled with low-grade spirit stones about the size of fingernails.
¡°Yes, sir!¡± Lu Guo¡¯s eyes brightened; he was ustomed to running errands for Fang Xi and asionally managed to pocket some extra money along the way.
Chapter 111: Rumors
Chapter 111: Rumors
After several days.
Lu Guo returned to Jade Cliff, bringing back two spirit beast bags for Fang Xi.
Surprisingly, one of them was inclined towards water attributes, likely because Lu Guo knew Fang Xi had a spirit fish.
This attentiveness made Fang Xi regard him more favorably.
As long as Lu Guo could efficiently handle tasks¡ asional minor benefits along the way were not worth scrutinizing.
Thus, Fang Xi chose to overlook any hidden personal gains on his part.
Half a monthter.
Fang Xi sat beneath a peach tree, holding a branch made from its wood.
His jet-ck hair was tied up in a simple knot, secured with a peachwood pin. Dressed in white robes, he meticulously carved the wooden branch with focused concentration. Peeling, drying, and engraving formation markings¡
Uponpleting each step, the peachwood branch transformed into a formation gpole.
Next, Fang Xi retrieved a g crafted from silkworm silk,bining it with the gpole through refinement and infusing it with magical energy.
Buzzing sounds echoed!
Formation markings lit up on the g, forming seamless restrictions without any glitches or interruptions.
Witnessing this, Fang Xi couldn¡¯t help but smile, knowing that the formation g had been sessfully refined.
In the following moment, he tapped his bag of holding, revealing two identical formation gs along with a small octagonal formation disk embedded with spirit stones.
¡°Lesser Misdirection Formation, activate!¡±
Heunched the three formation gs around the pond, simultaneously inputting cultivation techniques into the formation disk.
Instantly,yers of mist emerged, obscuring the entire pond area.
As various glimmers shed, the original location of the pond transformed into an ordinary wall with green brick paving, as if the pond had vanishedpletely.
Through the formation disk, one could still glimpse the bewildered-lookingrge blue fish at the bottom of the hidden pond¡
The Lesser Misdirection Formation - barely qualifying as a low-tier first-rank array, its sole capabilities were concealment and misguidance. In terms of both range and potency, it fell significantly shortpared to the Little Cloudrain Array.
Primarily used by secr cultivators to obstruct ordinary mortals!
However, its significance was immense, marking Fang Xi¡¯s first sessful creation of a formation artifact!
As he delved deeper into formations, Fang Xi increasingly realized their boundless intricacies. It seemed unlikely that even dedicating a cultivator¡¯s entire lifetime might fully grasp this field.
Formations, talismans, and pill crafting shared simrplexities.
Therefore, Fang Xi focused his secondary cultivation solely on mastering pill concocting techniques.
And the results were quite promising.
With the ability to use divine sense within the pill furnace, observing real-time changes in medicinal properties, Fang Xi enjoyed significant advantages over typical Qi Refinement alchemists. His progress in pill concoction could be described as rapid, advancing leaps each day. He had already begun attempting to refine low-tier first rank detoxification and healing pills, far beyond being just a novice who only knew how to craft Fasting Pills.
This newfound proficiency led to a swift depletion of various materials.
Despite prior preparation, Fang Xi felt his inventory dwindling¡
¡°Perhaps¡after achieving some mastery in pill concocting, I should start earning money through it?¡±
Fang Xi habitually kept his knowledge of formations secret.
Moreover, pill concocting required only for others to bring ingredients, whereas setting up and adjusting formations often necessitated visiting clients¡¯ premises¡which entirely contradicted his principles.
¡°Master!¡±
A few dayster, Widow Wang arrived at Fang Xi¡¯s residence, visibly upset.
¡°Fellow Daoist Wang, what has angered you so much?¡±
Fang Xi smiled serenely, appearing unperturbed.
¡°Oh, those old hags! They¡¯ve been spreading malicious gossip about you behind your back, calling Master names¡ I couldn¡¯t stand it and gave them all a piece of my mind!¡± Widow Wang eximed indignantly.
Indeed, her fiery personality had allowed her to boldly bring her child to seek refuge on this outer ind as a tenant farmer.
¡°Oh? What exactly were they saying about me?¡± Fang Xi¡¯s interest was piqued.
¡°Those bitches said¡said that Master is ungrateful, just like an old turtle minding its own patch ofnd¡¡± She continued, ¡°And they imed that Master suffered severe injuries long ago, fearing any confrontation would worsen his condition; hence, he dare not engage with anyone¡¡±
Widow Wang recounted each rumor one by one.
As Fang Xi listened, he found it quite amusing. Seeing his genuineck of concern, Widow Wang marveled at his resilience.
¡°My personal reputation matters little; the true crux for Peach Blossom Ind lies with the Ind Lord¡ How did the decision go regarding our previous discussion?¡±
Fang Xi probed further at a crucial point.
¡°It¡¯s already been decided; in two months, the Ind Lord will personally challenge Old Monster Goldtooth!¡±
Widow Wang wore a deeply concerned expression. ¡°The stakes involve three shops in the Spirit Hollow Market. The oue isn¡¯t based on victory or defeat, but rather on whether the Ind Lord can withstand Old Monster Goldtooth for the duration of one incense stick burning. If he fails, we must graciously surrender the contracts to those three shops. If sessful, Old Monster Goldtooth not only relinquishes any im to the shops, but alsopensates us with a sum of spirit stones!¡±
¡°A formal magical duel agreement?¡± Fang Xi murmured.
Ruan Xingling¡¯s spiritual root aptitude was significantly better than his previous one, being high-grade. After ten years, she would have undoubtedly reached at least the ninthyer of Qi Refinement!
Facing off against a cultivator at the great circle of Qi Refinement from the peak of Late Stage Qi Refinement, holding out for the time it takes an incense stick to burn seems usible, albeit challenging.
However, Fang Xi believed that Ruan Xingling wouldn¡¯t propose such a bet without some level of confidence.
It was equally normal for Old Monster Goldtooth to ept - this served as a testament to their respective strengths!
If Ruan Xingling could endure for the length of one incense stick, then duringrge-scale battles between cultivators, disciples from Goldtooth Ind would likely suffer heavy casualties!
Moreover, with the aid of Peach Blossom Ind¡¯s protective formation, Old Monster Jin Ya would be unable to defeat Ruan Xingling and thus had no choice but to concede.
However, Ruan Xingling couldn¡¯t indefinitely remain confined on Peach Blossom Ind either. Additionally, considering the cultivators from White Feather and ck Sand Inds, if Old Monster Jin Ya disregarded his reputation and targeted lower-ranked disciples through sneak attacks, it could be quite problematic.
Therefore, agreeing to this mutualpromise via a wagered duel was the most suitable resolution.
¡°The cultivation world isn¡¯t solely about violence and conflict; when power levels areparable, diplomacy and pragmatism be crucial¡¡±
With these thoughts, Fang Xi dismissed Widow Wang.
He returned to his cultivation room and began practicing the Evesting Spring Art.
Since acquiring the Azure Wood Spirit Body, Fang Xi¡¯s cultivation speed had increased several-fold. The smooth progression of his magical energy felt almost addictive, making it hard to stop!
Based on Fang Xi¡¯s estimation, utilizing a first-tier spiritual vein, even without consuming any medicinal pills, he was confident that within five years, he could advance by one level, reaching the ninthyer of Qi Refinement within ten years!
Breaking through in Late Stage Qi Refinement inherently bes significantly more challenging than in Mid-Stage Qi Refinement.
Advancing one level every five years is akin to the speed expected of high-grade spirit roots!
Take Ruan Xingling as an example! Once at the seventhyer of Qi Refining, after ten years, she would now be around the ninthyer with her cultivation base!
Fang Xi estimated that if he still had a low-grade spirit root, mastering the techniques up to the seventhyer of Qi Refining alone would likely require at least a decade of arduous practice, not even counting breakthroughs through minor bottlenecks!
¡°Even if it takes me ten years, I¡¯ll only be forty-three by then, reaching the ninthyer of Qi Refinement. Spend another ten years, and I should undoubtedly attain the great perfection of Qi Refinement. At fifty-three, I can begin preparing for Foundation Establishment¡ This aligns with the standard expectations for Chosen within Qi Refining ns.¡±
As for disciples from Gold Core sects?
With ess to third-order spiritual veins, personal mentorship, and ample supply of medicinal pills, coupled with their superior innate spirit root aptitudes, many achieve Peak Qi Refinement in their twenties before attempting to break through to Foundation Establishment.
Fang Xi shows no interest inparing himself to such individuals!
Alright¡ truthfully, there¡¯s really noparison¡
Time swiftly passed.
Two months flew by, and it was now the day of Ruan Xingling¡¯s scheduled duel with Old Monster Goldtooth.
Early in the morning, Lu Guo eagerly prepared to head towards the designated battleground¡ªa deste reef¡ªwhere he intended to watch the fight. However,ckingpanionship and feeling uncertain, he dared not venture out alone.
Without any means of transportation, not even a flying magical artifact, his only option beyond the ind would be swimming¡
¡°Master!¡±
Widow Wang arrived with Little Hu, both dressed formally. ¡°The duel is set for noon. When do you think we should depart?¡±
¡°No need, you two go ahead without me. I¡¯ll pass on this spectacle.¡±
Fang Xi shook his head, appearing carefree like a wandering hermit. He wore loose-fitting robes, his hair loosely draped over his shoulders, hands tucked within his sleeves.
¡°But¡this battle concerns the Ind Lord and all of Peach Blossom Ind¡ Master, haven¡¯t you always been close friends with the Ind Lord? Every year around the end of the lunar cycle, the Ind Lord visits to taste your new wines¡¡±
Even Widow Wang seemed puzzled.
Could it be true that Master Fang, as outsiders spected, had sustained grave injuries and dare not leave Peach Blossom Ind?
Regrettably, she didn¡¯t have the courage to ask directly. Instead, she led Lu Guo and Wang Xiaohu aboard a small spirit boat, joining other cultivators from the ind to witness the duel at the reef¡
After they left, Jade Cliff fell silent once again, enveloped in tranquility¡
¡°Finally¡ they¡¯re gone. Much quieter now!¡± Fang Xi picked up the gourd at his waist, removed the stopper, and took a sip of Peach Blossom Wine.
The subtle fragrance of peaches filled his senses as the spirit wine flowed down his throat.
With a softugh, he stepped out from Jade Cliff.
Below him, tendrils of the Demon Tree¡¯s roots grew and extended¡ seemingly following every step he took.
¡°Peach Blossom Ind feels so quiet now¡¡±
At Mirror Moon Lake.
Fang Xi took another sip of spirit wine, enjoying the serene view over the spiritualke.
The water was crystal clear, teeming with lush aquatic nts and small fish darting about. It was rumored that even spirit fish were cultivated within thiske!
While not as renowned as the Dragonfish Zhong n¡¯s turquoise jade carp, these spirit fish were still a significant investment by Ruan Xingling. Over time, they had grown in numbers, generating substantial ie in spirit stones each year.
Presently, Peach Blossom Ind¡¯s peaceful atmosphere also attracted numerous rogue cultivators, either as guest masters or tenants renting immortal¡¯s caves.
Once the immortal sprouts from sessive Spirit Evaluation Congresses matured, it would indeed form the promising beginnings of a thriving power base.
Mirror Moon Lake remainedrgely unupied.
Even those uninterested inbat likely feltpelled to show their loyalty to the Ind Lord.
After some thought, Fang Xi headed towards West Twin Peak.
Near the spiritualnd at West Twin Peak, he noticed ayer of mist shrouding the area.
¡°Low-tier first rank - Illusion Formation?¡±
Fang Xi was slightly surprised, ¡°Did Daoist Hua really create an entire formation here?¡±
As he observed the formation, his hands itched involuntarily. Extending his divine sense, he began searching for its weak points.
The array was of low quality and specifically a crude ¡®Death Array¡¯, but finding vulnerabilities posed no challenge to Fang Xi as an aplished array master.
After a brief moment, he stepped into the mist, asionally advancing or retreating¡
With just two more steps, the view suddenly cleared, revealing a fragrant valley filled with blossoming flowers.
¡°Who are you?¡± A crisp and melodious voice unexpectedly sounded as Fang Xi admired the flora, hand gently cupping a flower.
Looking down, he saw a delightful little girl with a round, fair face, her hair styled in twin bun-like knots atop her head, dressed in a pure white short-sleeved dress. She blinked herrge, bright ck eyes curiously while examining him from top to bottom.
¡°I am¡¡± Fang Xi¡¯s lips curved into a smile, ¡°your uncle¡¡±
Chapter 112: Fairy Tao Ling
Chapter 112: Fairy Tao Ling
¡°Uncle?¡±
The girl with chubby cheeks looked puzzled and then shook her head, ¡°You¡¯re lying! I don¡¯t have any uncles¡¡±
¡°Haha!¡±
Fang Xi couldn¡¯t resist gently pinching her cheek again, smiling, ¡°Your name is ¡®Wei Yixi¡¯, isn¡¯t it? If I didn¡¯t know you, how would I know your name?¡±
Wei Yixi furrowed her lovely small eyebrows, seemingly troubled as she nibbled on her finger. She appeared to be genuinely pondering how this stranger knew her name; could he really be her uncle?
¡°Good girl, Yixi¡¡± Fang Xi¡¯s expression softened. ¡°Uncle identally took the wrong path. Can you open the formation and let me out, please? Uncle will bring you some yummy treatster¡¡±
¡°Yes!¡±
Wei Yixi nodded, reaching into her tiny bag for a token.
In the next moment, with a sly smile, she suddenly jumped back, far away from him, and waved the token. Instantly, a dense fog emerged, separating them.
¡°You lied!¡±
Wei Yixi feigned surprise and scratched her cheek. ¡°If you were my uncle, how could you not know the secret to entering the formation? Mama! Mama,e quick, there¡¯s a bad person!¡±
Her crisp voice echoed far and wide throughout the valley.
¡°Who dares trespass on West Peak? Show yourself, vermin!¡± A stern shout apanied by a sh of magical artifact¡¯s light descended swiftly from mid-air, revealing a middle-aged woman.
Upon seeing Fang Xi, she hesitated momentarily. ¡°Fellow Daoist Hua, it has been ten years¡¡±
Fang Xi solemnly bowed with mixed emotions.
Hua Chanjuan no longer resembled the graceful figure she had been a decade ago. Instead, wrinkles lined her eyes, her back was slightly hunched, and her hair showed streaks of gray amidst the ck, making her appear akin to a forty-year-old woman in the mortal realm.
Cultivators typically do not age so rapidly, but over these past ten years, Hua Chanjuan had relentlessly worked, umted spirit stones, and purchased formations¡ leading to signs of exhaustion and strain taking their toll.
¡°Is that¡ Fellow Daoist Fang Xi?!¡± Hua Chanjuan seemed almost disbelief.
Although her face remained unchanged, Hua Chanjuan¡¯s demeanor had shifted dramatically from the cautious and reserved spirit farmer she once was.
Now, Fang Xi exuded an aura of elegance and vitality, standing tall like a vibrant evergreen pine, brimming with energy that made even Hua Chanjuan feel rejuvenated.
¡°Mother¡who is this?¡±
Wei Yixi tugged at Hua Chanjuan¡¯s sleeve, whispering softly. It was the first time she had seen her mother treat an outsider cultivator so warmly, piquing her curiosity immensely.
¡°This is Uncle Fang Xi, whom I¡¯ve told you about before. He can be considered a good friend of your father and me¡¡± Hua Chanjuan¡¯s expression wasplex as she turned to Fang Xi. ¡°It has been ten years since west met. Pleasee inside, Daoist friend, for a cup of honey water¡¡±
¡°Many thanks!¡±
Fang Xi bowed slightly and followed Hua Chanjuan into the house.
Wei Yixi continued to observe Fang Xi curiously, seemingly intent on memorizing every detail of this uncle¡¯s appearance and mannerisms.
¡°Yixi, shouldn¡¯t you greet your uncle?¡± Fang Xi took a sip of honey water and began teasing the child again.
¡°Uncle!¡± Wei Yixi promptly responded obediently, suddenly recalling something and pping her fair hands excitedly. ¡°I remember now, you¡¯re the uncle who stays hidden just like my mom!¡±
This time, Wei Yixi obediently called out, but then suddenly remembering something, she pped her fair little hands excitedly. ¡°I know now! You¡¯re that uncle who, just like my mom, hides away at Jade Cliff and neveres out!¡±
¡°Cough¡cough¡¡±
Fang Xi choked slightly, while Hua Chanjuan gently scolded her daughter, ¡°How is that polite? Always be courteous to outsiders¡¡±
¡°But didn¡¯t Mother say there are many bad people down the mountain?¡± Wei Yixi questioned with confusion.
Hua Chanjuan fell silent for a moment before turning to Fang Xi and offering an apologetic bow. ¡°Please excuse her; children often speak without thinking.¡±
¡°Not at all, Yi Xi¡¯s innocence and charm are delightful,¡± Fang Xi replied with a heartyugh. He then proceeded to inquire about the girl¡¯s spiritual roots.
To his observation, Hua Chanjuan¡¯s fortune seemed quite good - Wei Yixi possessed mid-grade water elemental spiritual roots. The offspring of two cultivators typically had a higher likelihood of inheriting exceptional spiritual rootspared to those born from a cultivator and a mortal.
Fang Xi was not surprised by this oue.
¡°Daoist friend, you rarely venture out. What brings you here today?¡± Hua Chanjuan asked, her expression bing serious as she held her daughter close.
¡°Sigh¡ It¡¯s because the Ind Lord has challenged Old Monster Goldtooth today, and I¡¯m feeling somewhat uneasy¡¡±
Fang Xi exined his situation, ¡°I came here seeking advice from Daoist friend, but unexpectedly found this ce already protected by an array. My inadvertent intrusion caused me to trigger it; please forgive me!¡±
He rose and offered a sincere apology.
Regardless of circumstances,ÉÃ×Ô´³Èë±ðÈ˵ÄÕó·¨×ÜÊDz»µ±µÄÐÐΪ¡£trespassing into someone¡¯s protective formation is always inappropriate.
¡°So that¡¯s what it¡¯s about!¡± Hua Chanjuan¡¯s face was cold as ice. ¡°Others have visited before with simr intentions, and my response remains unchanged¡ Anyone daring to im West Peak will meet their end at my hands! This peak is all that connects me to myte husband and our daughter, Yi Xi! As for who wins between the Ind Lord and Ruan Xingling, it matters not to me!¡±
Fang Xi keenly sensed a hint of resentment towards Ruan Xingling in Hua Chanjuan¡¯s demeanor.
Perhaps deep down, she still suspected that during Wei Yixin¡¯s unfortunate incident, Ruan Xingling might have yed a role or at least tacitly approved!
¡°Having devoted myself to arduous cultivation, I¡¯m uncertain when we may meet again after today. Take care, Daoist friend!¡±
Finally, Fang Xi bowed respectfully, preparing to take his leave.
¡°Uncle!¡±
Just as he was about to exit the formation, Wei Yixi rushed out, raising her small fists and calling loudly, ¡°Don¡¯t forget, you promised to bring me some yummy treats¡¡±
The child, likely seldom encountering outsiders, showed little caution.
Fang Xi nodded, deciding to arrange for some snacks and delicacies to be delivered to herter. Humoring children could indeed be quite enjoyable.
At Jade Cliff.
As the sun set in the west, casting golden hues across theke¡¯s surface,
¡°Master, we¡¯re back.¡±
Widow Wang returned to Jade Cliff with Lu Guo and two others, her face beaming with joy.
¡°It seems the Ind Lord emerged victorious in today¡¯s bet,¡± Fang Xi observed, a smile forming on his face.
Ruan Xingling¡¯s win aligned perfectly with his interests.
¡°That¡¯s right! Master, it was truly unfortunate you couldn¡¯t attend¡¡± Widow Wang began recounting enthusiastically, ¡°Today, our Ind Lord, d in red, disyed immense divine might¡ She held her own against Old Monster Goldtooth, who is at Peak Qi Refinement. For nearly half an incense time, they fought fiercely before gracefully conceding¡ In my opinion, that Old Monster Goldtooth couldn¡¯t overpower our Ind Lord!¡±
¡°Yes, indeed¡ Whenever the Ind Lord made a move, bell chimes echoed incessantly, causing anyone nearby to feel disoriented, unable to budge¡¡± Lu Guo chimed in from the side.
¡®It appears Ruan Xingling has indeed reached the pinnacle of the ninthyer of Qi Refinement, possibly even the great perfection of the tenthyer¡¡¯ Fang Xi thought to himself, smiling. ¡°From now on, the name ¡®Peach Bell Goddess¡¯ will surely resound throughout Wan Ind Lake.¡±
Meanwhile, with Old Monster Goldtooth¡¯s losses both financially and reputationally, his progress towards Foundation Establishment would undoubtedly be hindered - a significant advantage for Fang Xi.
¡°After this battle, our Peach Blossom Ind will now be recognized among the Thirty Six Inds. No one foolish enough to challenge us will dare scheme against our market shops again.¡± Widow Wang¡¯s face glowed with pride, but then as if recalling something else, she scoffed, ¡°I bet the happiest person here is that Mu Wen. I heard the Ind Lord was quite impressed during the recent performance review and has allowed him to continue as Great Shopkeeper!¡±
¡°I see,¡± Fang Xi responded indifferently.
Only when Mu Wen breaks through to Late Stage Qi Refinement will he earn Fang Xi¡¯s respect.
¡°As for Mu Wen, I¡¯ve also heard some news about him,¡± Lu Guo suddenly interjected.
¡°Oh? Do share¡¡± Fang Xi smiled slightly, adding, ¡°If it¡¯s valuable, Master might teach you an additional magic spell today¡¡±
¡°Many thanks, Master.¡± Lu Guo hastily expressed gratitude before sharing his insights: ¡°While mingling with the Mu n youngsters, I overheard them saying there¡¯s turmoil within their n recently¡ Apparently, the patriarch not only ns to pledge all their spirit fields but also intends to mortgage their ancestral spiritualnd. This is to borrow a substantial amount of spirit stones for purchasing a shop at the Spirit Hollow Market¡ Some elders strongly disagree, even threatening to split the n!¡±
¡°This sounds like addiction to risky spection¡¡± Fang Xi murmured, involuntarily recalling the wealthy second-generation heirs from his previous life.
As long as they didn¡¯t venture into entrepreneurship or gambling, even if they squandered extravagantly, it could take several decades before truly depleting their family fortune¡
However, once they embarked on major ventures or significant investments, the risks skyrocketed!
While a few might seed, failure was far moremon.
Mu Wen, having tasted sess from past spections, likely aimed for a big move this time! If sessful, the Mu n would firmly establish themselves within the Spirit Hollow Market, anchored by its tier-2 spiritual vein!
As for potential failure?
This individual probably believed he would never falter.
¡°I actually think it¡¯s feasible. Owning a shop in a tier-2 spiritual vein market can sustain multiple generations easily,¡± Widow Wang said with evident envy. ¡°Especially now, who would dare target cultivators from Peach Blossom Ind?¡±
¡°Lu Guo, what¡¯s your opinion?¡± Fang Xi turned towards Lu Guo.
¡°Master, I believe sticking to farming is most reliable!¡± Despite harboring thoughts of venturing out, Lu Guo remained steadfast andposed.
¡°Excellent. Tomorrow, I¡¯ll teach you some magic spells¡¡± Fang Xi nodded, visibly satisfied.
The fate of the Mu n did not significantly concern him. He merely felt a sense of mncholy when remembering Mu Xiu from years past.
The next day, Fang Xi taught Lu Guo the intricacies of the Spring Breeze and Timely Rain Technique and the Golden Seventh Metal Grass-Sweeping Sword. Afterwards, he sent him to deliver some refreshments to Twin Peak West.
Fang Xi was a man of his word, after all.
Autumn arrived, bearing abundant harvests.
Once again, the spirit fields yielded a bountiful crop. During this busy period of gathering spirit rice, even Widow Wang enlisted Wang Xiaohu¡¯s help alongside herself, collecting any overlooked grains from the fields.
Thoughborious, the sight of full granaries filled them with a deep sense of aplishment.
However, Fang Xi discreetly assessed the fertility of the spirit fields, nning to reserve one or two acres for nting spirit herb seeds the following year. His pill concocting requiredrge quantities of materials for practice, and his current stock was dwindling, necessitating replenishment from external sources. Cultivating these himself would undoubtedly be the most cost-effective solution.
This meant more hard work for Lu Guo next year, as he would need to learn additional methods for growing various spirit herbs¡ But by teaching him these skills, Fang Xi was essentially imparting the knowledge of a spirit nter, something other spirit farmers would eagerly wee!
Winter approached, bringing heavy snowfall outside.
Fang Xi activated the Little Cloudrain Array, maintaining spring-like warmth within its perimeter, causing peach blossoms to bloom profusely in the courtyard.
Underneath the peach tree stood acquered ck table, adorned with a bamboo wine bottle and two cups. Silently, Fang Xi poured himself a ss, savoring the familiar bitter taste upon drinking it.
This year, Ruan Xingling did not visit¡
Chapter 113: Silver Armor Reappears
Chapter 113: Silver Armor Reappears
As spring arrived, nature bloomed with verdant growth and birds took flight.
Fang Xi approached a meticulously prepared acre of spirit field, carefully inspected it, and nodded approvingly. ¡°This spirit field has abundant spiritual energy, suitable for nting various spirit herbs and medicines.¡±
After further examination, he waved his finger, summoning a streak of sword qi that divided the field into two sections.
¡°In this half, we¡¯ll nt ¡®Blood-Replenishing Grass¡¯, and in the other half, Snake Orchid Fruit!¡±
Both ¡®Blood-Replenishing Grass¡¯ and ¡®Snake Orchid Fruit¡¯ serve as primary ingredients for a low-rank first-tier medicinal pill¡ªthe ¡®Blood-Clotting Pill¡¯.
The ¡®Blood-Clotting Pill¡¯ is particrly effective against external wounds and considered one of the cheaper pills avable in the market due to itsmonality, making their seeds easily essible.
Turning to Lu Guo beside him, Fang Xi said, ¡°For the first year, I¡¯ll guide you through the nting process; by the second year, you¡¯ll need to manage on your own.¡±
¡°Yes, Master.¡±
Lu Guo attentively watched Fang Xi¡¯s actions, silently memorizing each step. ¡°Master, let me assist too!¡± Soon, another figure joined them at the edge of the field¡ªit was Widow Wang! After tending to her own spirit field, she hade over to help.
Fang Xi didn¡¯t reveal Widow Wang¡¯s subtle intentions, tacitly epting her assistance. The technique for cultivating specific spirit nts would typically cost a rogue cultivator around one or two spirit stones even in the frencer market.
In the underground cave, Fang Xi gazed at the Demon Tree now over ten meters tall, falling deep in thought.
With its canopy already reaching the cavern¡¯s ceiling, further growth would be challenging. He decided to focus on expanding the tree¡¯s root system next.
¡°An Azure Wood Spirit Body of ten years¡ it seems I¡¯ll need another ny years to cultivate the Second Wood Dharma Body?¡±
This pace was indeed too slow.
Fang Xi did not wish to expend such a significant portion of his longevity here.
¡°I must speed things up!¡±
To elerate the growth of the Demon Tree, Fang Xi turned his attention to Tai Sui.
Currently, Tai Sui¡¯s demonic aura had reached the peak of mid-rank first-tier. If it could ascend one more rank to high-rank first-tier, its flesh would undoubtedly be even more nourishing!
Additionally, Fang Xi loosened the formation controlling ess to the groundwater, allowing the Demon Tree daily outings for fishing as a treat.
¡°That useless saltwater fish¡ if it ascends to high-rank first-tier and gains the ability tomand fish swarms, we could driverge groups of wild spirit fish to feed the Demon Tree.¡±
After considering his options, Fang Xi concluded that the most effective approach would be to swiftly cultivate Tai Sui to high-rank first-tier!
Having developed divine sense, he reinforced Tai Sui with an additional divine sense imprint, ensuring the mythical beast wouldn¡¯t cause any unexpected mischief.
¡°Tai Sui has a solid foundation, justcking that final push¡¡±
He then headed to the pill refining room, preparing to practice the creation of mid-rank first-tier medicinal pills.
Within the pill refining legacy jade slip, Fang Xi selected a specific spiritual pill called ¡®Beast Grain Pellet¡¯!
This pill is highly favored by most spirit beasts, and long-term consumption stimtes their growth and development.
If sessfully concocted, both Tai Sui and the saltwater fish might have a better chance at advancing their ranks.
As seasons passed from spring to autumn,
the Bloodgrass turned deep crimson across the spirit field, while the Snake Orchids disyed vibrant emerald green stems with coiled snake-like branches. Atop each branch hung one or two blueberry-shaped fruits, ranging from single to double clusters.
Fang Xi had meticulously chosen these two types of spirit nts, which were suitable for medicinal use after just one year¡¯s growth. For optimal potency, however, five to ten years would be ideal.
¡°This harvest, we¡¯ll only take half the spirit herbs and leave the rest to continue growing,¡± Fang Xi decided upon inspecting them.
¡°Alright!¡± Lu Guo and Widow Wang, armed with jade bottles and boxes, carefully harvested the spirit herb fruits using specific techniques. They also employed magical energy to seal in the medicinal properties, ensuring each nt was preserved at its peak perfection.
Wang Xiaohu could not handle such agricultural tasks; his role was limited to gathering rice within the spirit field¡
Once the herb field harvest wasplete, Fang Xi directly stored the medicinal ingredients into his bag of holding and returned to the mansion to begin pill concoction.
Watching Fang Xi depart, Widow Wang pondered thoughtfully, ¡°Is the Master going to concoct the ¡®Blood-Clotting Pill¡¯ now? After investing so many resources over these years, it seems he¡¯s finally making some progress¡¡±
Many cultivators were capable of concocting Fasting Pills.
However, those skilled enough to produce Blood-Clotting Pills were far lessmon, making them qualified as apprentices in even the best medicinal pill shops at the markets.
Widow Wang was well aware of Fang Xi¡¯s substantial investments over the years, particrly in his pursuit of pill concoction techniques. She had even purchased spirit coal for him on asion.
To see these efforts bearing fruit now filled her with unexpected admiration. ¡°Ah¡ if only I knew earlier, I would have asked Master to take my Little Hu as an apprentice,¡± she sighed. ¡°Even if not to learn the Evesting Spring Art, mastering pill concoction would still be immensely beneficial¡¡±
Hearing this, Lu Guo¡¯s face darkened involuntarily.
By now, he had a clear understanding of the level of cultivation technique the Evesting Spring Art represented.
Realizing her slip, Widow Wang hastily changed the subject. ¡°Have you heard about the Mu n situation?¡±
¡°The whole Peach Blossom Ind is abuzz with it, of course I have,¡± Lu Guo replied mildly.
Mu Wen was determined to pledge their family¡¯s spiritualnd as coteral to purchase a shop within the Spirit Hollow Market.
Unable to resolve their disputes, the elders finally appealed to Ruan Xingling in anger. Under her arbitration, several acres of spirit fields were divided among them, effectively formalizing the separation of households.
With no further constraints, Mu Wen used his spiritualnd as coteral and borrowed a substantial amount of spirit stones from the Feng and Mo ns. He then invested everything into Spirit Hollow Market, sessfully purchasing a shop. Recently, he has been hostingvish feasts and proiming this ¡®good news¡¯ far and wide!
¡°That Mu n patriarch is indeed decisive!¡± Widow Wang couldn¡¯t help but sigh. ¡°Every inch ofnd within the Spirit Hollow Market is immensely valuable now. Even renting out a single shop to outsiders could yield a significant number of spirit stones annually. With a bit more effort, repaying the loan wouldn¡¯t be too daunting¡ After just forty or fifty hardworking years, both the shop and the spiritualnd would belong solely to the Mu n.¡±
¡°Spirit Hollow Market¡¡± Lu Guo murmured, his eyes filled with envy.
He also dreamed of making his mark there, but unfortunately, his unique status might not allow it. The Ind Lord and others may not permit him to leave freely. For now, these aspirations remained confined to his thoughts alone.
In the Pill Concocting Room,
Fang Xi ignited some charcoal and set up a fire control formation nearby.
With these two elements, he now had sufficient spirit mes for Qi Refinement stage medicinal pills.
As for second-order pills? Without ess to a Foundation Establishment cultivator¡¯s intrinsic true fire, it was best to rent earthme facilities instead.
He retrieved fresh ¡®Blood Replenishing Grass¡¯ and ¡®Snake Orchid Fruits¡¯, then followed the pill form instructions meticulously - grinding some into powder or extracting juice from others forter use.
Next, Fang Xi opened the pill furnace, added the ingredients, and began the concoction process.
His divine sense immersed within the furnace, swiftly tracking every change in the liquid mixture, which greatly elerated his understanding of the herbs¡¯ properties. For any other Qi Refinement alchemist, they would be left pondering over the pill furnace, relying solely on trial-and-error results to infer improvements. The difference between their methods was immense and practically iparable.
Bang!
A subtle explosion resonated from the pill furnace.
Expressionless, Fang Xi opened the furnace and removed several ck, foul-smelling fragments.
Undoubtedly, this attempt at pill concoction had failed.
Even with the aid of divine sense, pill concoction remained no easy task!
Unfazed, Fang Xi recorded the lesson learned: ¡°Too hasty in execution, overly focused on maximizing the potency of herbal properties¡ Continue!¡±
The spirit me continued to burn relentlessly.
After three days and nights, Fang Xi focused on the violet copper pill furnace before him, forming a sealing cultivation technique with his hands: ¡°Open!¡±
Buzz!
The pill furnace lid lifted, releasing a rich medicinal aroma this time.
Momentster, several pills flew out andnded in Fang Xi¡¯s hand.
Expressionless, he examined them closely. These medicinal pills were pearl-sized, perfectly round, with a flowing crimson surface - totaling seven in number!
However, within an instant, two of the pills rapidly darkened, turning jet ck.
Among the remaining five, one disyed a faint gray streak across its surface.
¡°Seven pills produced from this batch: two duds, one inferior quality¡¡± Fang Xi murmured to himself as he carefully ced the remaining four genuine ¡®Blood-Clotting Pills¡¯ into a jade bottle.
Such sess rate wasmendable for a low-rank first-tier alchemy apprentice.
Having reached this level of practice, he now felt confident enough to tackle the more challenging ¡®Beast Grain Pellet¡¯!
Nevertheless, it wasn¡¯t the right time yet.
After prolonged pill concocting, both his divine sense and physical body were significantly fatigued.
Fang Xi exited the pill refining room, took a bath, changed clothes, and rested thoroughly until he felt refreshed. Revived, he ventured outside once again.
Lu Guo was sitting idly near the fields when he spotted Fang Xi approaching and hastily stood up, ¡°Master!¡±
¡°What¡¯s happening over there?¡± Fang Xi pointed towards Widow Wang¡¯s house.
From within Widow Wang¡¯s home, Little Hu¡¯s mournful cries echoed continuously.
¡°Over the past few days, Widow Wang has been in a bad mood. Little Hu happened to misbehave again and got beaten,¡± Lu Guo exined, his emotions mixed with what seemed like envy or something akin.
¡°Hmm, so it¡¯s raining, and she¡¯s taking out her frustration on him since she¡¯s idle anyway¡ Why is Widow Wang feeling so upset?¡± Fang Xi stroked his chin thoughtfully.
¡°Widow Wang, seeking more profit, chose not to sell her umted spirit rice at Peach Blossom Ind¡¯s exchange fair. Instead, she entrusted someone to bring it to the Spirit Hollow Market for sale. There were no issues before, but this time, it was plundered, leaving her with neither goods nor money¡¡± Lu Guo responded.
¡°Encountered a plunderer? That¡¯s quitemon¡¡±
Fang Xi nodded; it was normal for plunderers to operate around markets, especially bustling ones like the Spirit Hollow Market.
¡°Yes, several cultivators from Peach Blossom Ind also died recently, yet no arrest warrants have been issued,¡± Lu Guo added.
¡°That¡¯s peculiar. Any idea who could be responsible?¡± Fang Xi found it odd. Could this plunderer be exceptionally ruthless, even someone Ruan Xingling fears?
¡°Apparently, the plunderer wore silver armor and wielded a ck iron sword as a magical artifact¡ Their attack was brutally savage,¡± Lu Guo recounted all the information he had gathered.
¡°Silver armor and a ck sword?¡±
Fang Xi drew in a sharp breath. His initial reaction was relief that he hadn¡¯t been involved, but then he felt an overwhelming sense of being unjustly med!
¡°You¡¯ve heard of such a person, Master?¡± Lu Guo¡¯s interest piqued immediately.
¡°It was roughly ten years ago, when you were still young¡¡± Fang Xi sighed. ¡°A vicious assant ambushed the former great elders and n heads of the Mo and Feng ns, severely injuring even Old Monster Goldtooth. At that time, witnesses saw the attacker wearing silver armor and wielding a ck sword¡ I never expected this fiend to remain hidden for a decade only to reappear causing chaos again!¡±
As Fang Xi spoke, realization dawned on him.
The silver-armored plunderer¡¯s recent appearance suggested one of two scenarios: either his old enemies were framing him to tarnish his reputation, or¡someone was deliberately using his past notoriety to stir up trouble while hiding behind his name!
Either way¡ someone is deliberately using his past reputation to sow chaos and reap benefits from the confusion!
Chapter 114: The Three-Year Pact
Chapter 114: The Three-Year Pact
At Mirror Moon Lake¡¯s shore,
Hundred Birds Pavilion.
This was where Peach Blossom Ind¡¯s cultivators held their exchange gatherings on the first and fifteenth days of each month.
It was currently the fifteenth day.
Fang Xi, d in a green robe with a wooden hairpin adorning his head, arrived at the market area, his flowing sleeves adding to his graceful demeanor.
¡°Who is this person?¡±
Manyters, including rogue cultivators and newly recruited immortal sprouts, exchanged nces, none recognizing him!
With his exceptional bearing, resembling a fragrant orchid or elegant jade tree, they surely would have remembered seeing him before.
A few older Mu Family members rubbed their eyes and recognized him, ¡°That¡¯s Fellow Daoist Fang Xi, once from one of the three prominent families!¡± ¡°Oh, so he¡¯s the old¡ er!¡± A young girl murmured, quickly covering her mouth as if realizing her slip.
Whispering behind someone¡¯s back was eptable, but shecked the courage to openly discuss a cultivator at the peak of Middle Qi Refinement right in front of them!
On the Thirty Six Inds, Late Stage Qi Refinement was sufficient to secure the position of Ind Lord, while even the sixth level of Qi Refinement could earn one a mid-level status, potentially bing an elder!
After all, being just a step away from reaching theter stages meant significant potential, although for some, that step might never be crossed in their lifetime.
Unconcerned with the crowd, Fang Xi set up his stall, disying histest batch of ¡®Blood-Clotting Pills¡¯, some low-grade Detoxification Pills, and arge quantity of Fasting Pills.
Due to their affordable prices, several cultivators soon approached to inquire about the goods.
During these interactions, Fang Xi revealed himself as an alchemist and offered his services for pill concoction. Unfortunately, few cultivators trusted his alchemical skills, resulting in minimal business.
However, Fang Xi remained unfazed; establishing this reputation meant that anyone seeking his services could directly visit Jade Cliff in the future.
¡°Esteemed elder Mu Zhong greets you, honored uncle,¡± said an elderly cultivator, bowing respectfully before Fang Xi. ¡°Congrattions on your remarkable achievements in pill concoction!¡±
With graying hair, deeply lined hands, and face, yet robust joints, it was evident he was a seasoned spirit farmer ustomed to years ofbor.
¡°Hmm, from the Mu Family?¡± Fang Xi recognized him, aided by a cultivator¡¯s photographic memory. This man had once been among those following Old Daoist Xiu Mu, albeit younger back then.
Mu Zhong smiled sheepishly, ¡°Honored uncle still remembers me? What an honor¡ Ah, I recall our patriarch earnestly advised us to emte your steadiness, just like yesterday. Can¡¯t believe it¡¯s already been ten long years¡¡±
After further conversation, Fang Xi learned that Mu Zhong belonged to the branch within the Mu Family which had shed with Mu Wen over division of assets.
Mu Zhong continued, ¡°Now we¡¯ve been allotted just two acres of spirit fields. Our family of five diligently cultivates them, leading a modest but content life. Although we don¡¯t earn many spirit stones, it¡¯s fulfilling and safe!¡±
With evident frustration, Mu Zhong added, ¡°The recent incident with the ind¡¯s market team affected two members of our Mu Family. The second and third branches were devastated, yet the patriarch remains focused solely on his spirit stone business!¡±
His words carried a tone of deep resentment.
Fang Xi had ventured out this time not only for a change of pace but also to gather information about the ¡®silver-armored figure¡¯. Upon hearing Mu Zhong¡¯s ount, he sighed, ¡°Mu Wen has his own difficulties too. With suchrge annual debts to repay, the pressure is immense¡ If the shop¡¯s business at Spirit Hollow Market declines further, it could be disastrous¡¡±
¡°Ah¡ I should have tried harder to dissuade the patriarch back then,¡± Mu Zhongmented. ¡°If anything goes wrong and the family¡¯s foundation crumbles, how will I face our ancestors after a hundred years?¡± He wiped away tears with his dirty sleeve, fists clenching tightly. ¡°It¡¯s all that damned silver-armored figure¡¯s fault!¡±
¡°Yes, me lies entirely with that viin!¡± Fang Xi sympathetically stroked his cheek, echoing Mu Zhong¡¯s sentiment. ¡°Do you know who exactly this person might be? What¡¯s their background?¡±
¡°I¡¯m not sure, but after this incident, the Spirit Hollow Market issued a warrant for his arrest. We then discovered that besides injuring Old Monster Goldtooth and others years ago, he was also responsible for a major crime outside the Treasure Ship Market. He killed five Late Stage Qi Refinement cultivators! It¡¯s likely he was already injured at that time; otherwise, the patriarchs of Feng and Mo families might not have escaped with their lives¡¡±
Mu Zhong spoke through gritted teeth, clearly seething.
Although he held little regard for Mu Wen, witnessing the Mu Family¡¯s investments suffer setbacks affected him deeply. As a n cultivator, their fortunes rose and fell together - such ties could not be severed merely by distancing oneself from family affairs.
¡°Yes¡¡± Fang Xi murmured, surprised to learn how far the investigation had progressed.
Fortunately, when he first visited the Treasure Ship Market, he used a false identity.
¡®Imitted the initial two incidents, but the recent ones definitely weren¡¯t me¡ Someone must be impersonating me, but why? Is it a setup?¡¯
¡®Who cares who they¡¯re targeting? I¡¯m staying put, no matter what.¡¯
Fang Xi pondered this, feeling increasingly resolved to remain steadfast against any changes.
After all, even in the worst-case scenario, he could simply abandon everything, jump into theke, and cross over anew.
Having achieved the Azure Wood Spirit Body and reaching the seventhyer of Qi Refining, he hadn¡¯t truly lost out.
As long as he survived, there would always be a chance to start afresh!
¡°Rumors now abound that the silver-armored figure possesses great circle of Qi Refinement strength, augmented by advanced Body Tempering cultivation. Itsbat prowess is formidable, ughtering Late Stage Qi Refiners like mere chickens¡ As a result, visitor numbers at the Spirit Hollow Market have significantly decreased, leading to a dismal downturn in business.¡±
A single silver-armored figure could sow chaos and instill widespread fear.
If left unchecked for too long, it would attract other plunderers while stirring greed among local cultivators, further exacerbatingwlessness around the Spirit Hollow Market and impactingmerce even more.
Ultimately, this would create a vicious cycle!
The familiar scent of maniption made Fang Xi realize: ¡®This feels¡like something the Zhong Family might be behind!¡¯
He didn¡¯t need concrete evidence; simply identifying who benefits most from the situation points directly to the prime suspect.
With Spirit Hollow Market¡¯s business affected, regardless if not first, the Zhong Family would certainly rank among the top beneficiaries!
But why would the Zhong Family orchestrate such a ¡®silver-armored incident¡¯?
¡®They¡¯re trying to find a scapegoat, damn them! They can¡¯t openly dere war, but with the silver-armored figure havingmitted major crimes ten years ago, including murders near the Treasure Ship Market, it clearly isn¡¯t one of theirs. This allows them to distance themselves convincingly!¡¯
Fang Xi understood this well because he was certain the silver-armored figure was a fake.
However, other cultivators were not aware of this!
To them, the silver-armored figure¡¯s brutal actions resembled those of a demonic cultivator. After healing for ten years and resuming criminal activities was entirely usible!
It wouldn¡¯t immediately connect to the Zhong Family in their minds!
¡®Well yed, Zhong Family, using my name while tarnishing my reputation¡ Just wait, I¡¯ll make note of this debt and ensure future retribution!¡¯ Fang Xi seethed inwardly.
On the surface, he maintained hisposed demeanor, continuing with his business as usual.
As time passed, he prepared to head back to Jade Cliff soon.
Suddenly,motion arose within the crowd, which swiftly parted to both sides. People bowed respectfully, their faces disying ingratiating smiles, addressing someone as ¡®Crown Princess¡¯!
¡°Hmm?¡±
Without lifting his head, Fang Xi scanned the area with divine sense and immediately spotted a graceful young woman dressed in a red ruqun, her eyes strikingly almond-shaped.
Her cultivation base appeared only at the fourth level of Qi Refinement, but under his divine sense, all her hidden aspects became evident - she surprisingly had reached the fifthyer of Qi Refinement, having cultivated a technique to suppress her aura.
This was likely Ruan Xingling¡¯s directive; after all, standing out too much invites scrutiny, which is seldom advantageous.
¡®So this must be Ruan Dan? Truly deserving of being called a genius with high-grade spiritual roots. Meanwhile, Lu Guo still lingers in the Initial Stages of Qi Refinement!¡¯ Fang Xi thought silently.
Fang Xi observed silently.
Not only did Lu Guo have inferior spiritual root aptitudepared to her, but the resources and cultivation support he received were vastly different from hers - a disparity akin to heaven and earth. Falling behind by such a margin was thus understandable.
Ruan Dan¡¯s expression remained as cold as millennia-old ice as she approached Fang Xi¡¯s stall. ¡°Are you Fang Xi?¡±
¡°I am indeed Fang Xi. Greetings, Crown Prince!¡± Fang Xi rose and bowed gracefully, exuding an impressive demeanor.
However, upon seeing this, Ruan Dan¡¯s eyes grew even icier deep within.
From a young age, she had heard tales of Fang Xi, wielding a single sword with unmatched prowess beneath the Ind Lord.
Later, when she became the Ind Lord¡¯s disciple, Fang Xi retreated like a turtle, hiding at Jade Cliff for ten years without emerging!
Last year, during the critical duel arranged between the Ind Lord and Old Monster Goldtooth, Fang Xi shockingly refused to participate!
As someone already considered the future crown prince, Ruan Dan could not tolerate such a ¡®feudal stronghold¡¯ existing on her territory!
Moreover, the ambiguous rtionship between her master and Fang Xi further fueled her resentment.
Over time, these feelings umted, making it impossible for her to greet Fang Xi cordially.
Yet, Fang Xi seemed oblivious to her displeasure. ¡°Does the Crown Prince require any medicinal pills? Anything that catches your eye from my stall, I¡¯ll dly give you a bottle!¡±
¡°No need!¡± Ruan Dan replied coldly.
¡°Then¡is the crown prince interested in learning to concoct pills? To be honest, my pill concocting skill has already reached first-rank low-grade, and the sess rate¡¡±
Before Fang Xi could continue his flow of words, Ruan Dan interrupted, ¡°I¡¯ve heard Fellow Daoist Fang is formidable in magicalbat¡ Despite my modest abilities, in three years¡¯ time, I intend to visit Jade Cliff for a personal exchange!¡±
The young woman exuded great confidence.
Her true cultivation base had already surpassed the fifthyer of Qi Refinement, and by then, she would undoubtedly reach the sixthyer, possibly even its peak.
As a mere rogue cultivator at Middle Qi Refinement stage, despite also practicing Body Tempering, Ruan Dan was certain she could easily defeat him!
¡°A challenge to magicalbat?¡±
¡°The Ind Lord¡¯s disciple personally issuing a duel invitation? Seems like there¡¯s growing discontent towards Jade Cliff.¡±
The surrounding rogue cultivators and disciples wore expressions anticipating a spectacle. They had long harbored secret resentment and envy towards the special status enjoyed by Jade Cliff and Twin Peaks¡
Seeing Fang Xi in trouble, refraining from adding further adversity was alreadymendable.
However, a few older and more cautious individuals expressed concern: ¡°Isn¡¯t this too risky for the crown princess? After all, Fang Xi is at the pinnacle of Middle Qi Refinement, highly skilled with multiple techniques, including body refinement¡¡±
¡°Tsk, our young mistress is akin to a celestial being! How can some insignificant rogue cultivatorpare?¡±
¡°In three years, victory will surely belong to our young mistress!¡±
The crowd of onlookers nearly erupted into arguments over this spectacle.
¡°Uh¡ how about we call it off? I¡¯m really focused on self-cultivation and not skilled inbat!¡± Fang Xi scratched his head, surprised to encounter such trouble during his outing.
¡°Even if you persistently hide at Jade Cliff, I will personally seek you out someday!¡±
Ruan Dan had already nned this move; today¡¯s encounter merely provided an opportunity to set the challenge.
¡°Sigh¡ Crown Prince, since you insist on pressuring me, then I¡ forfeit! I concede right now!¡±
Fang Xi shamelessly surrendered without any hesitation.
Upon hearing this, Ruan Dan couldn¡¯t help but be taken aback¡
She had envisioned numerous scenarios, but never anticipated that her opponent, despite being only at the apparent ¡®fourth level of Qi Refinement,¡¯ would directly forfeit!
Does this person have no sense of dignity?
Chapter 115: Advancement and Outings
Chapter 115: Advancement and Outings
At Jade Cliff.
¡°Ah, I should¡¯ve known better than to venture out!¡± Fang Ximented, feeling quite dispirited after encountering trouble during his trip.
To him, the girl¡¯s indignation seemed like a joke.
As for her ¡®three-year pact¡¯?
Well, he never agreed to it!
Staying cautious while cultivating was more his style; the thrill-seeking approach wasn¡¯t suited for him.
In the alchemy room,
Fang Xi opened the pill furnace, ready to start another batch of concoction.
During his outing today, he had purchased materials for the ¡®Beast Grain Pellets,¡¯ allowing him to resume production once again. This particr pill was mid-tier, first-rank, significantly more challenging than the Blood-Clotting Pill.
Fang Xi had previously attempted it, ruining several batches. However, now he felt confident enough to seed.
He warmed up the furnace, added medicinal ingredients, increased the temperature, harmonized the properties, and condensed the liquid essence¡
Each movement by Fang Xi was steady and assured, as if he had meticulously nned every step.
After several hours, the pill furnace rumbled, emitting a distinctive fragrant aroma.
¡°Collect!¡±
With a gesture using the collection technique, several earth-yellow medicinal pills flew from the furnace into his palm.
Crack!
Three of the pills immediately shattered with a crisp sound upon emerging.
Among the remaining three, one disyed a dull grayish hue, indicating it was a dud pill!
Holding the two genuine Beast Grain Pellets, Fang Xi paid no heed to the giant salted fish lounging in the courtyard and headed towards the underground cave.
¡°Here, have some!¡± Fang Xi casually tossed two Beast Grain Pellets towards Tai Sui.
Tai Sui silently wriggled and absorbed the pills, gradually dissolving them¡
Meanwhile, Fang Xi gazed at the defective pill in his hand, deep in thought.
This waste pill, although sessfully formed, contained excessive pill toxicity and erratic medicinal properties, rendering it harmful rather than beneficial!
In truth, since he began pill concocting, he had umted quite a few such waste pills with virtually no value.
However, as Fang Xi looked at the Demon Tree, an idea struck him, ¡°Heye eat!¡±
The Demon Tree extended one of its aerial roots, snatched the waste pill from Fang Xi¡¯s hand, and engulfed it within its canopy.
¡°Hmm¡ seems like nothing untoward happened!¡±
¡°From now on, I¡¯ll feed all waste pills to the Demon Tree; it¡¯s a good way to utilize trash¡¡±
As Fang Xi pondered, he suddenly noticed a change in the underground cave¡¯s spiritual energy.
A significant amount of spiritual energy was converging, even forming a small whirlpool!
At the center of this whirlpool, Tai Sui appeared akin to a ball of white dough rapidly rising.
¡°Has it advanced to a tier-1 high-grade mythical beast?¡±
Fang Xi realized that this wasn¡¯t solely due to the Beast Grain Pellet but because Tai Sui was already near the peak of mid-tier first rank. Consuming the pellet provided the opportunity for breakthrough.
¡°Excellent, truly excellent¡¡± A wave of joy appeared on Fang Xi¡¯s face.
This Tai Sui creature was far more impressive than that useless salted fish!
Fang Xi promptly assessed Tai Sui¡¯s various abilities and found that its strength remained quite weak, barely able to react when attacked. However, its recovery and self-healing capabilities had significantly improved.
Moreover, its size had nearly doubledpared to before!
¡°In the future, you¡¯ll have to endure even more work.¡±
Fang Xi gently stroked Tai Sui¡¯s soft, tender surface, feeling quite contemtive.
Without this mythical beast, his approach to cultivating trees would undoubtedly lean towards brutal violence, which shed with hisid-back cultivation persona¡
After conducting tests, he confirmed that tier-1 high-grade Beefwood meat indeed suited the Demon Tree¡¯s taste better.
Unfortunately, the Demon Tree had already grown close to the ceiling of the cave, and Fang Xi couldn¡¯t risk having it break through directly at Jade Cliff. Instead, hemanded the tree to primarily extend horizontally and focus on developing its root system.
Now, whenever observing the Demon Tree hunt, Fang Xi noted how its extensive roots acted like a within theke, effortlessly capturing numerous fishes, river ms, crabs, and green shrimps¡
¡°Pity that salted fish wasn¡¯t up to the task; otherwise¡¡±
Winter gave way to spring, and time continued its cyclical march.
In the blink of an eye, the Bloodgrass and Snake Orchid Fruits in Fang Xi¡¯s medicinal herb field had reached a maximum age of five years for cultivation purposes.
Within the underground cave, numerous aerial roots hung down, while above ground, various banyan tree-like formations created a distinct nt world of their own.
Beneath the banyan trees,
Fang Xi sat cross-legged, gradually concluding his cultivation session.
He opened his eyes, revealing a fleeting green glow within them: ¡°I¡¯ve reached the eighthyer of Qi Refinement¡ Ever since mastering the Azure Wood Spirit Body, even transitioning from the seventh to the eighthyer felt effortless.¡±
He estimated that with his original low-grade spiritual roots, this minor bottleneck might have stalled him for ten or more years.
Some Qi Refinement cultivators never managed to break through such bottlenecks throughout their entire lives!
Moreover, over these past few years, Fang Xi diligently studied pill concocting and array formations. He could now consistently produce four Beast Grain Pellets per furnace batch, reaching the pinnacle of mid-tier first-rank Alchemists. This allowed him to attempt some tier-one high-grade medicinal pills.
As for formations?
He had thoroughly analyzed the Little Cloudrain Array, steadily advancing his Dao of arrays to mid-tier first-rank proficiency.
The study of array formations is inherently more challenging, leading to slightly slower progress, often getting stuck at difficult hurdles along the way.
In contrast, progress in pill concocting could be elerated by consuming vast resources for practice. However, array cultivation faced a persistent problem; until he fully understood it, there was simply no way to advance further!
Fang Xi felt utterly helpless about this predicament.
After feeding the Demon Tree, he returned to the courtyard and gazed at the Great Azure Fish swimming in the pond, his expression growing even more resigned.
Over these years, Tai Sui had reached tier-one high-grade, while despite consuming thest drop of snake-dragon essence refined into a medicinal pill, the Great Azure Fish remained stubbornly at mid-tier first rank!
If not for promising ten years¡¯ time - with only five having passed so far - Fang Xi might have already taken drastic action, turning it into a spicy sour fish soup!
¡°Speaking of cultivation, just as I estimated, I¡¯ve reached the eighthyer of Qi Refinement at age thirty-eight!¡±
Seated under the peach tree, Fang Xi took out a yellow-skinned gourd and sipped from it, enjoying some Peach Blossom Brew.
This brew represented his pursuit of perfection, evolved from the original Peach Blossom Wine. Aged for three years, its peach fragrance became richer without overpowering the overall taste.
About an hourter, a voice-transmission talisman flew in.
Casually catching it, Fang Xi exchanged a few words, then tossed the talisman away.
Shortly after, Lu Guo entered, now dressed in gray attire and appearing as a fifteen or sixteen-year-old youth.
Remarkably, his cultivation base had reached the fourth level of Qi Refinement!
Now, it would no longer be easily discredited outside.
¡°Greetings, Master!¡±
Lu Guo, with his striking features and sword-like brows, possessed considerable handsomeness. A resilient determination could be seen in his eyes, cultivated through years of hardbor on the fields.
¡°Are you truly decided? No regrets?¡± Fang Xi looked at him, calmly stating, ¡°Joining the jointw enforcement team means facing constant risk of death!¡±
¡°No regrets!¡± Lu Guo gritted his teeth, his expression resolute.
Over these past few years, the ¡®silver-armored figure¡¯ remained elusive, evading capture. Even rumors suggested that Foundation Establishment cultivator Yu Lingzi personally attempted to hunt and kill the culprit but still failed, further solidifying the silver-armored figure¡¯s fearsome reputation as the ¡®First Under Foundation Establishment¡¯!
Moreover, the silver-armored figure was brutally ruthless; after each pursuit, they would merely lie low for some time before re-emerging tomit more major crimes! This situation increasingly harmed the business at Spirit Hollow Market, leaving even Foundation Establishment cultivators overwhelmed and distressed.
In desperation, the Taishu, Yuchi, and Xiahou families jointly pushed for the Thirty-Six Inds Alliance to establish abinedw enforcement team, tasked with patrolling the hundred-mile radius around Spirit Hollow Ind!
The operation required numerous cultivators, which the three leading inds alone couldn¡¯t sustain without risking their own resources excessively. Therefore, they sought assistance from various other inds.
As members of the Thirty-Six Inds Alliance, and having already established their shops there¡
Peach Blossom Ind naturally fell within this jurisdiction and began recruiting rogue cultivators for the task.
The mission was undeniably perilous, but Lu Guo saw it as an opportunity!
Under normal circumstances, being the son of a condemned man, he would never have a chance to leave the ind, likely doomed to farm at Jade Cliff for his entire life!
Recently, his cultivation progress had significantly slowed due to insufficient resources like medicinal pills.
This stagnation was unbearable for Lu Guo, who had long nned to venture beyond the ind.
In his eyes, this recruitment presented a heaven-sent opportunity!
Without the risk of imminent danger, every cultivator on the ind would eagerly vie for such positions, leaving no room for him. Only with highly dangerous tasks akin to ¡®filling war trenches¡¯ would there be scarce volunteers, making it possible for him to step forward withoutpetition!
¡°Well, that¡¯s quite decisive. Your fate upon departure will depend solely on your own fortune,¡± Fang Xi said, taking another sip of peach wine. ¡°We can¡¯t afford to lose our farming hands here. Don¡¯t mention Wang Xiaohu; he is still too young¡¡±
Lu Guo, not daring to contradict Fang Xi, swiftly responded, ¡°I¡¯ve found a suitable recement, a rogue cultivator from elsewhere named Hai Dagui. He¡¯s around my age, with a cultivation base at the thirdyer of Qi Refinement.¡±
¡°Hmm, bring him tomorrow for evaluation.¡±
Fang Xi was somewhat satisfied with Lu Guo¡¯s response. After a moment¡¯s thought, he retrieved ten spirit stones from his bag of holding. ¡°You¡¯ve been tilling thisnd for many years, and your uing journey is fraught with danger. Here are ten low-grade spirit stones;bined with your savings, it should be enough to purchase a mid-grade defensive magical artifact¡¡±
Lu Guo involuntarily shuddered.
His secret stash of spirit stones had always remained hidden, so being discovered by Fang Xi caught him off guard. Cold sweat broke out on his forehead, filling him with unease.
¡°Many thanks, Master!¡± Despite his inner turmoil, Lu Guo maintained a grateful expression as he epted the spirit stones.
¡°You may leave now¡¡± Fang Xi waved dismissively, allowing Lu Guo to depart.
He genuinely did not care much about Lu Guo¡¯s fate or survival beyond this point. After all, nurturing the son of an enemy was simply inconceivable!
In truth, Lu Guo himself had gradually realized that at Jade Cliff, his life would be confined to farming until old age, prompting him to seize any opportunity to escape the ind, no matter the cost!
After Lu Guo left, Fang Xi paused briefly before once again indulging in his fine wine.
Several hourster,
within the secret talisman workshop he had created:
Fang Xi picked up a talisman brush, dipped it in spirit ink, and began drawing intricate strokes on a paper talisman with fluid grace.
As the brush tip touched down, threads of spiritual energy flowed effortlessly.
In no time, a low-grade ¡®Qi Restoration Talisman¡¯ waspleted.
The surface of the talisman shed momentarily with an aura, then settled into subdued radiance.
Expressionless, Fang Xi carefully stored the talisman and let out a long breath.
¡°Fifteen years of tree nting, fifteen years studying the four arts of cultivation. The first ten were challenging to grasp, but thest five saw rapid progress¡¡±
Despite this, due to only dabbling superficially, his talisman crafting skills remained at first-rank low-grade.
As for artificing? He still remained unskilled!
Fang Xi acknowledged that hecked innate talent in artificing and decided against wasting further resources on it. Even creating talismans served merely as asional leisure activity.
Chapter 116: Defeat
Chapter 116: Defeat
The next day.
¡°Waaaa¡ Lu Gege, don¡¯t go¡ I heard that silver-armored demon is really fierce; you¡¯ll surely die if you face it.¡±
Little Hu, barely over ten years old, clung to Lu Guo, sobbing.
¡°Be good, Little Hu. Your gege promises to return safely,¡± Lu Guo reassured him, his expression softening as he patted the boy¡¯s head.
Turning around, he addressed a sturdy youth behind him, d in coarse linen clothes with broad hands and feet, and striking features: ¡°This is Little Hu from the Wang n. In the future, we¡¯ll both be tenant-farmers here, so let¡¯s get along well¡¡±
¡°Don¡¯t worry, Brother Lu, I¡¯ll treat him just like my own little brother!¡± The dark-skinned youth responded cheerfully, exuding a sense of sincerity.
¡°Alright, follow me now, I¡¯ll introduce you to our lord!¡±
Lu Guo nodded and led Hai Dagui, the broad-featured youth, towards Fang Xi¡¯s grand residence.
¡°What a magnificent house! S-so huge¡ Even back home,ndlords couldn¡¯t afford such luxury¡¡± Hai Dagui was initially awestruck by the exquisite beauty of the courtyard. As they entered, he noticed vibrant peach blossoms scattered amidst the garden, where a white-clothed young man stood gracefully near the pond, his hands sped behind his back, resembling a jade tree swaying elegantly in the breeze.
In the pond, upon noticing the neers, a massive azure carp rolled its dead-eyed gaze and bared menacing rows of teeth, disying intimidation typical of a mid-tier first-rank mythical beast. This nearly frightened Hai Dagui, still at Initial Stage Qi Refinement, causing him to stumble.
¡°Whoa, what a huge fish¡¡± he muttered, staring at therge blue carp.
It was Lu Guo who nudged him gently, ¡°Haven¡¯t you greeted the Master yet?¡±
¡°Yes, yes¡¡± Hai Dagui seemed to awaken from a dream, hesitating between wanting to kneel yet fearing disrespect. ¡°My name is Hai Dagui, greetings to the Master. I humbly request your shelter! I will surely work diligently on the fields¡¡±
¡°Pfft!¡±
Fang Xi couldn¡¯t help but chuckle at this fellow¡¯s antics. However, recalling his earlier demeanor, filled with deeply ingrained humility, Fang Xi suddenly had a suspicion. ¡°Were you born among mortals?¡±
¡°That¡¯s right, my parents were fishermen¡ I¡¯ve been helping them since birth, until I turned ten when an old Daoist appeared. He told me about having spiritual roots and offered to guide me in cultivation¡¡±
Hai Dagui spoke animatedly before turning somber, ¡±¡Unfortunately, not long after, my master passed away¡¡±
Hai Dagui¡¯s expression brightened momentarily before turning somber. ¡°Unfortunately, my master passed away not long after¡¡±
Fang Xi studied his face, feeling a sense of familiarity. After recalling for a moment, he asked, ¡°Your father¡was he named ¡®Old Hai¡¯? Did he live on a fishing boat with a scarlet red carp emblem?¡±
Surprised, Hai Dagui nodded vigorously. ¡°Yes, yes! Could it be that Master knew my dad?¡±
¡°Just a chance encounter,¡± Fang Xi sighed.
When Fang Xi first arrived at Wan Ind Lake, it was Old Hai who had ferried him across. He never expected that Old Hai¡¯s child would possess spiritual roots and end up being brought to him. It seemed truly fated.
¡°To meet the descendant of an old acquaintance today is quite unexpected. Take this small token as a greeting gift.¡±
He rummaged through his bag of holding, found a hoe-like magical artifact, and handed it to Hai Dagui.
¡°Many thanks, Master! Many thanks!¡± Holding the artifact, Hai Dagui expressed his gratitude repeatedly. Upon infusing it with magical energy, he eximed in surprise, ¡°It¡¯s actually a mid-grade magical artifact?!¡±
Unnoticed by Fang Xi, Lu Guo¡¯s expression turned grim, as if struck by a de¡
¡°Keep up the good work!¡±
Fang Xipletely disregarded Lu Guo and offered a few more words of encouragement to Hai Dagui.
Currently, his bag of holding no longer contained any low-grade magical artifacts.
Moreover, Hai Dagui differed from Lu Guo; there was no fatherly vengeance between them, only a fortuitous connection¡
Whom to favor or neglect was entirely based on Fang Xi¡¯s whims.
After all, isn¡¯t the ultimate goal of cultivation for longevity and the freedom to act ording to one¡¯s desires?
Feeling disheartened, Lu Guo bid farewell and began to leave.
Just as he reached the edge of the formation, a sudden sh of red light appeared in the distance. A streak of escaping brilliance rushed towards them, revealing a crimson-d maiden who shouted, ¡°Fang Xi¡e forth and fight me!¡±
¡°The crown princess?¡± Lu Guo murmured, hastily stepping aside.
Ruan Dan had diligently cultivated without respite these past years, breaking through to the sixth level of Qi Refinement. Yet, it seemed she had lost her mind today, challenging Fang Xi!
¡°Why does the crown princess insist on pushing so hard?¡± Fang Xi sighed, steering the ck Feather Boat out of the formation.
Hadn¡¯t he clearly rejected her long ago?
Why would this young maiden take their three-year agreement so seriously? Herck ofposure was evident, betraying Ruan Xingling¡¯s painstaking efforts to teach her restraint and breathing techniques!
¡°Enough talk, let¡¯s fight!¡± Ruan Dan stood proud like a fiery phoenix, forming hand seals as she summoned a red ribbon. The ribbon gracefully danced in mid-air, resembling a crimson Dragonfish with wisps of scarlet spiritual energy emanating from it - unmistakably a high-grade magical artifact!
Fang Xi sighed helplessly, releasing his Green Turtle Shield. The turtle shell rapidly expanded, enveloped by ayer of water for added defense.
Crack!
The red ribbon struck the turtle shell, eliciting a mournful sound under the immense pressure.
After all, the Green Turtle Shield was only a mid-grade magical artifact!
¡°Hah!¡±
With a forceful shout, Fang Xi surged his blood qi, punching at the red ribbon and momentarily deflecting it. His eyes shed like lightning as he charged towards Ruan Dan, drawing a mid-grade peach wood sword from his bag of holding, which streaked forth swiftly!
ng!
Ruan Dan pursed her lips slightly, casting a simple cultivation technique. A red mirror appeared before her, unleashing a torrent of mes.
The peach wood sword emitted a sorrowful cry, seemingly damaged in its essence.
¡°What a pity¡ I won¡¯t get to witness Fellow Daoist Fang¡¯s renowned closebat skills! And certainly not on solid ground!¡±
Ruan Dan¡¯s fingers danced like plucking strings on a zither, manipting the red ribbon with myriad transformations. It first ensnared the turtle shell tightly before surging towards Fang Xi.
Simultaneously, she uttered a sharpmand, causing fireballs to burst forth from the mirror, transforming into agile firebirds!
¡°Princess, is this not taking it too far?!¡± A sh of anger crossed Fang Xi¡¯s face as he tossed out a spirit beast bag.
Buzzing sounds filled the air as numerous blue and white tortoise beetles emerged, forming two dense clouds of insects. One swarm targeted the red ribbon, while the other headed straight for Ruan Dan.
Pop! Pop!
The blue and white tortoise beetles collided with the firebirds, creating bursts of sparks mid-air, followed by falling insect carcasses amidst embers.
¡°Insect Cultivator?!¡± Ruan Dan was startled; she only knew that Fang Xi excelled in close-quarters sword techniques but had no idea he also wielded insect control arts!
As she hastily retreated, several blue and white tortoise beetles reached her side, evading the mirror artifact and biting at Ruan Dan¡¯s spiritual light shield.
A shrill noise echoed instantly.
¡°Ice Arrow Talisman!¡± Gritting her teeth, she produced a pure white paper talisman. Upon activation, a barrage of ice arrows shot forth.
Struck, the blue and white tortoise beetles turned into icy sculptures, crashing down from the sky.
Suddenly, Ruan Dan¡¯s vision blurred - unbeknownst to her, Fang Xi had swiftly closed the distance, his fingers clenched into a fist!
Bang!
The defensive shield was instantly torn apart.
However, in the next moment, a smile appeared on Ruan Dan¡¯s face as she extended her pale jade-like hand, revealing two bells wrapped around her wrist.
Jingle-jangle!
The pleasant bell sounds resonated, carrying waves that targeted the mentalndscape.
Fang Xi¡¯s divine sense stirred, effortlessly neutralizing the attack. Yet instead of responding immediately, he feigned bewilderment.
Seeing this, Ruan Dan let out a sigh of relief and gleefully produced a flying sword, pointing it at Fang Xi¡¯s chest. ¡°Fellow Daoist Fang, can we consider me the victor now?¡±
As if awakening from a dream, Fang Xi gazed at the bells on Ruan Dan¡¯s wrist, deeply moved. ¡°I didn¡¯t expect the Ind Lord to pass you such a powerful magical artifact, the ¡®Mind-Bewitching Bells¡¯!¡±
He recognized this artifact well, as it was one used by Ruan Xingling herself. Its ability to assault a cultivator¡¯s mentalndscape made it highly troublesome. However, for someone with cultivated divine sense like himself, such an attack posed little threat.
¡°Let me enlighten Fellow Daoist Fang,¡± Ruan Dan said proudly, lifting her chin. ¡°My master has already broken through the Late Stage Qi Refinement bottleneck, reaching the pinnacle of the tenth level. Naturally, she no longer needs this artifact.¡±
Feeling the humiliation from three years ago swept away, Ruan Dan¡¯s mood soared with immense satisfaction.
¡°It seems I have lost!¡± Fang Xi sighed, turning to leave without dy. He carefully collected the remains of the golden beetles, his demeanor appearing dejected¡
Within the underground cave:
¡°Supreme Unity infuses me; Azure Wood grants longevity!¡±
Fang Xi sat cross-legged beneath the Demon Tree, feeling the intensifying essence of nts and vegetation along with the power of cyclical ages within him. With a sweep of his divine sense, he observed numerous fragmented runes shimmering in shades of emerald green, interspersed with silver glimmers.
It seemed as though the forces of nature were spontaneously forming ancient runes within his body.
Even contemting these iplete runes brought forth profound insights and realizations.
¡°The Yi Wood Dharma Body is gradually coalescing¡¡±
¡°Fascinating! This innate spiritual body appears to embody the intricacies of runes? Or perhaps¡runes are tools developed by cultivators to simplify their understanding of the Great Dao?¡±
Fang Xi had a moment of rity: ¡°Acquiring this immense opportunity truly feels like sheer luck. Compared to this, what do reputation and the honor or shame from battle victories even matter?¡±
The ¡®Longevity Technique¡¯ alone was merely a bone of contention!
However,bined with the Demon Tree, it represented an unparalleled chance that not even Gold Core patriarchs or Nascent Soul great beings could attain!
After all, regardless of how formidable they might be at Core Formation or Nascent Soul stages, their influence was limited to this world and couldn¡¯t extend into the realm of Great Liang!
Moreover, considering the extraordinary nature of the Demon Tree, there likely wasn¡¯t another one like it in existence here.
Observing the formation of the Yi Wood Dharma Body from start to finish was also a significant gain for Fang Xi. Although he couldn¡¯t fullyprehend it yet, he diligently stored these insights within his mind.
Perhaps only after reaching Foundation Establishment or even Core Formation would their impact gradually be apparent¡
Afterpleting today¡¯s session of the Longevity Technique, Fang Xi waved his hand, causing the qi roots to retract back into him as he stood up.
Boom!
With this simple movement, the temperature in the cavern surged dramatically, akin to an invisible furnace igniting.
¡°Hah¡¡± As Fang Xi assumed a boxing stance, his blood qi intensified, generating a scorching sensation that made the surrounding Demon Tree roots instinctively retreat.
Gradually, his intangible blood qi transformed into tangible true astral energy, continuously expanding and coalescing behind Fang Xi, seemingly on the verge of taking shape¡
¡°True Astral Manifestation, almost there!¡± Fang Xi murmured to himself.
With the daily amplification from the Demon Tree, one day soon, he would surpass the limits of Great Liang¡¯s martial arts realm and achieve True Astral Manifestation!
This level equates to the fourth stage of techniques like the Myriad Beasts Body,parable to an early Foundation Establishment cultivator!
Chapter 117: Defeat and Departure
Chapter 117: Defeat and Departure
News of Fang Xi¡¯s defeat by Ruan Dan swiftly spread across Peach Blossom Ind.
The cultivators¡¯ reaction¡ was remarkably indifferent!
After all, Fang Xi had been inactive for fifteen years, losing much of his reputation. Even if he retained any renown, it was associated with titles like ¡°Old Turtle of Jade Cliff¡± or ¡°Low-Tier First Rank Alchemist.¡±
On the other hand, Ruan Dan was a darling of the heavens with high-grade spiritual roots, meticulously tutored by the Ind Lord, Fairy Peachbell herself. Given their equal cultivation bases at the sixth level of Qi Refinement, her victory was expected; a loss would have been truly shocking!
Poorly understood by Ruan Dan, had she intentionally thrust her sword at thest moment, it likely would have shattered her own flying sword.
Soon, another event overshadowed this incident!
The Mu n had copsed!
Years ago, the Mu n mortgaged their spiritualnd to borrow vast quantities of spirit stones from the Feng and Mo ns. They took a desperate gamble, purchasing shops within the Spirit Hollow Market. Initially, they anticipated that with the market¡¯s booming business, they could manage to repay the agreed-upon amount of spirit stones, including interest, each year by sheer determination.
s, fate did not align with their hopes! The ¡®silver-armored figure¡¯ incidents escted, causing significant disruption to Spirit Hollow Market¡¯s trade routes, even if notpletely halted.
Mu Wen¡¯s shop, far from thriving, suffered losses year after year! With diminishing revenue and mounting expenses, they could no longer repay their annual spirit stone debts.
Rumors had it that Mu Wen sold his own high-grade magical artifacts, mobilized contributions from the entire n, and sought loans everywhere, barely managing repayment for two years. However, by the third year, there was simply no way to fill the widening gap.
Now, both the Feng and Mo ns were considering seizing the property outright. With the contract in hand, even Ruan Xingling would find it difficult to intervene.
Naturally, the Mu n felt as though mourning their lineage, frantically trying to borrow spirit stones from all corners. Yet, with their precarious standing, who dared lend them anything?
As the deadline approached, this became the hottest topic on Peach Blossom Ind. Even outsiders knew of Mu Wen¡¯s infamous reputation as a prodigal son.
It was indeed rare for rogue cultivators, after generations of arduous effort spanning multiple lifetimes, to finally secure a piece of spiritualnd only to lose it within two generations. Many cultivator ns saw this as a cautionary tale, intending to use it to educate their younger descendants.
Thud!
Thud!
Hai Dagui vigorously tilled the soil with his mid-grade magical hoe.
¡°Uncle¡ Uncle, save me!¡±
¡°Just two hundred spirit stones¡ no, make it one hundred!¡±
¡°Our three families stand united; you can¡¯t abandon me now¡ If the Mu n falls, yours will be next!¡±
asionally, faint voices prated the barrier¡¯s shield from outside.
¡°So noisy! What¡¯s he mumbling about?¡± Hai Dagui paused after plowing a full acre, resting by the field and taking a sip of tea.
¡°Aren¡¯t we talking about that wastrel again? Used to strut around arrogantly, but now he¡¯s been kneeling out there for days, begging¡¡± Wang Xiaohu approached, his face filled with disdain. ¡°My mother says he¡¯s like a bottomless pit, impossible to fill¡ And our master won¡¯t intervene either. Remember how audacious he was when he barged here before? Does he think we¡¯ve forgotten so easily? I wonder how he even has the nerve to show up again¡¡±
¡°This constant noise isn¡¯t sustainable¡¡± Hai Dagui expressed his annoyance. ¡°Last night during my Qi Refinement practice, his shouting startled me, nearly causing my true qi to deviate¡¡±
¡°The Master is already adjusting the formation, adding a soundproofing restriction¡ Just bear with it for now; think of it as enduring barking dogs!¡±
Wang Xiaohu yawned.
Suddenly, a beam of white light shot upwards from within the courtyard, merging into the surrounding mist.
Talisman runes swam past like fish, and Mu Wen¡¯s wailing gradually diminished until it fadedpletely into silence¡
¡°Finally, thank goodness! A few more days of that, and I wouldn¡¯t have gotten any sleep.¡±
Hai Dagui let out a long sigh, then curiously asked, ¡°How much would a piece of spiritualnd be worth in spirit stones?¡±
¡°I¡¯m not sure exactly, but probably this size and amount¡¡± Wang Xiaohu drew a circle in the air, paused to consider, and then widened his arms, seemingly dissatisfied with the initial circle¡¯s smallness.
¡°Oh my, damn wastrel! If I had that many spirit stones, I¡¯d hide them under my bed and keep one eye open just watching over them.¡± Hai Dagui was astounded.
¡°But isn¡¯t the key here about spirit stones? No, it¡¯s about the spiritualnd itself¡ Even if you have spirit stones, there¡¯s no guarantee someone would sell suchnd!¡± Wang Xiaohu snorted dismissively.
Three dayster.
Mu Wen departed, disheveled and dejected, like a walking corpse.
Within the courtyard,
Fang Xi leaned against a peach tree, taking a bite of a ripe fruit.
Although these spirit peaches were not as exceptional as those from the second-order trees in his medicinal herb field, their taste was still quite enjoyable.
With a crisp and sweet vor, they certainly satisfied his appetite well enough.
Suddenly, sensing something, Fang Xi waved his hand to temporarily dispel the formation, creating a pathway.
Amidst swirling petals, a female cultivator gracefully descended.
She wore a pink blouse and skirt ensemble, her features ordinary yet untouched by time, exuding a subtle maturity.
Seeing this woman, Fang Xi felt momentarily transported back to when he first arrived at Wan Ind Lake, recalling their initial meeting on the Treasure Ship Market.
¡°Greetings, Ind Lord.¡±
He hastily tossed aside the peach and stepped forward to pay respects.
¡°Daoist friend truly excels in preserving youth¡¡±
Ruan Xingling spoke with a warm smile, observing how Fang Xi seemed to appear younger with each encounter.
¡°Ah¡ it¡¯s just my Wood Attribute Cultivation Technique, which naturally aids in maintaining one¡¯s appearance, coupled with a positive mindset,¡± Fang Xi replied, shaking his head.
Many Wood element cultivation techniques have age-defying effects, and consuming specific anti-aging medicinal pills can further preserve youthful looks.
For cultivators, maintaining youthful appearance was not umon. Even without practicing a Wood Attribute Cultivation Technique, breaking through early enough could preserve one¡¯s ageless visage indefinitely.
Moreover, certain specialized techniques even offered a ¡®rejuvenation¡¯ effect.
Ruan Xingling herself had taken anti-aging pills, so she wasn¡¯t fazed by Fang Xi¡¯s youthful look. Smiling, she said, ¡°My disciple can be quite mischievous; please don¡¯t hold it against her, Daoist friend!¡±
¡°Congrattions on acquiring such a promising disciple, Daoist friend,¡± Fang Xi replied with a slight smile, indicating his understanding andck of concern.
As he spoke, his divine sense swept briefly, confirming that Ruan Xingling had indeed reached the tenth level of Qi Refinement. It seemed now was the time for him to venture out in search of Foundation Establishment opportunities?
While Wan Ind Lake was vast, chances for Foundation Establishment were rtively scarce. Generally, cultivators at Peak Qi Refining would strive to obtain a Foundation Establishment Pill or, at the very least, another suitable Foundation Establishment spirit item.
Attempting Foundation Establishment unprepared significantly increased both the failure and mortality rates.
Fang Xi was determined to consume a Foundation Establishment Pill. Although he already felt somewhat confident about reaching Foundation Establishment, the primary reason was the Pill¡¯s guarantee of survival upon failure! For him, any breakthrough method carrying a risk of death was uneptable.
Whether it¡¯s Ancient Method, Sensory Path, or Heavenly Dao Foundation Establishment¡ any technique with a risk of death can all take a backseat!
Fang Xi was determined to rely on the Foundation Establishment Pill for his breakthrough!
With such monumental opportunities at hand, he must remain steadfast like an old, cunning dog!
Ruan Xingling, using her apprentice as just a starting point, then brought up the issue of the Mu n, her face filled with a smile. ¡°To express my apologies, if Daoist friend pleads their case, this Ind Lord might intervene in matters concerning the Mu n¡¡±
In the past, when members of the Feng and Mo ns reached Late Stage Qi Refinement faced imminent peril, she had stepped in to stabilize the situation. She personally escorted them to the market, utilizing her family¡¯s resources to purchase Step-Breaking Pills¡ ensuring survival until they achieved Late Stage Qi Refinement, thus securing a smooth transition. This act bestowed immense gratitude upon both ns.
Moreover, as the Ind Lord of Peach Blossom Ind, she inherently possessed the authority to interfere!
¡°Ah¡ despite Daoist Xiu Mu¡¯s tireless efforts, I never imagined the Mu n would end up in such dire straits.¡± Fang Xi sighed deeply. ¡°Although I shared a close friendship with him, how could I burden the Ind Lord with personal requests? Please handle the matter impartially, but ensure that Mu Zhong¡¯s lineage remains unaffected¡¡±
Ruan Xingling nodded gently and sighed, ¡°Mu Zhong¡¯s branch has already been separated from the n, and their spirit fields were not part of the coteral agreement. Naturally, no one will touch them¡ Ah, when I presided over the division of the Mu n years ago, even then, I felt Mu Wen was taking too great a risk. It was merely to provide some reassurance for Daoist Xiu Mu, though sadly it seems my fears havee true!¡±
¡°Fate is unpredictable; who could foresee such changes within just fifteen years¡¡± Fang Ximented before suddenly asking, ¡°Is the Ind Lord nning to venture out in search of a Foundation Establishment opportunity?¡±
¡°It appears your apprentice mentioned my breakthrough aspirations,¡± Ruan Xingling initially seemed surprised but quickly acknowledged, ¡°Indeed, that¡¯s correct. My life has had its ups and downs - contentment in youth, aimlessness as I grew,ter avenging my grudges¡and finally, receiving an exceptional disciple. With this fulfilling journey, I must seize the chance at Foundation Establishment.¡±
¡°Then allow me to offer early congrattions on your sessful Foundation Establishment, Daoist friend.¡± Fang Xi solemnly bowed with sped hands.
¡°Thank you for your auspicious words. As I pass by today, I specifically came to enjoy a cup of bamboo wine, let it serve as farewell.¡± Ruan Xingling smiled warmly, her otherwise ordinary features momentarily exuding a hint of charm.
Fang Xi promptly retrieved several years-aged bamboo wine from his cer, generously treating Ruan Xingling before seeing the Ind Lord depart¡
High above the ind,
Ruan Xingling stood on her floral basket magical artifact, gazing at Peach Blossom Ind and then towards Jade Cliff, murmuring to herself, ¡°So¡ it truly wasn¡¯t you¡¡±
In truth, she had always found Fang Xi somewhat mysterious.
Moreover, after the second appearance of the silver-armored figure, which severely injured Feng Baimeng and others, Ruan Xingling¡¯s suspicions intensified.
Although there was no concrete evidence, certain coincidences couldn¡¯t be ignored.
However, considering Fang Xi¡¯s cultivation base, Ruan Xingling eventually realized she was being overly suspicious.
Following those events, she frequently visited Fang Xi for drinks, partly as a means to test him further.
But over these many years, she finally confirmed that he was indeed just an ordinary spirit farmer, perhaps with some minor secrets, but nothing significant. After all, his focus remained solely on farming, showing no signs of ulterior motives or ambition; rather, he was quite contentedly reclusive¡
One can hide temporarily, but not indefinitely.
After observing him for fifteen years, Ruan Xingling felt confident in her judgment.
Furthermore, during the silver-armored figure¡¯s reappearance five years ago, Fang Xi never left the ind!
She even made a special visit to confirm his presence on the ind at that time!
These two incidents were fundamentally unrted!
Reflecting on her asional doubts from the past, Ruan Xingling now chuckled softly, feeling how absurdly imaginative she had been.
¡°Where might my opportunity for Foundation Establishment lie?¡±
With onest nce at Peach Blossom Ind, Ruan Xingling gently tapped her basket magical artifact. Amidst a flurry of petals dancing in the sky, she transformed into a streak of pink light and swiftly vanished into the distance¡
Chapter 118: Night Raid
Chapter 118: Night Raid
One monthter.
Fang Xipleted his daily cultivation routine and stepped out for some fresh air.
Typically, after patrolling around the spirit fields once, he considered it sufficient exercise for the day.
As he pondered whether to return to pill concocting or delve deeper into formation studies, Widow Wang returned, muttering curses under her breath.
¡°What happened?¡± Fang Xi intercepted Widow Wang, casually asking.
¡°A tragedy, such a terrible tragedy!¡± Widow Wang¡¯s face looked deeply troubled. ¡°Today, the Mo n came to im theirnd¡ The Mu n suffered greatly; even their Patriarch knelt pleadingly, but it was utterly futile. Several elderly spirit farmers died right there in the spirit fields, their blood sttered everywhere¡¡±
¡°Oh? Only the Mo n involved?¡±
Fang Xi felt somewhat puzzled.
¡°Apparently, Patriarch Mo struck a deal with Patriarch Feng, consolidating all debts under his control. It seems like a well-nned scheme, targeting thisnd for quite some time¡¡± Widow Wang spoke angrily. Being a tenant farmer herself, she strongly disapproved of such ruthless tactics byndlords.
¡°Oh, I see!¡±
Fang Xi quickly grasped the situation. A single piece of spiritualnd was insufficient for both ns to divide, especially considering it was only from East Twin Peak with mediocre spiritual energy levels. It wasn¡¯t imusible that the Mo n could offer more spirit stones or other valuablepensation to regain partial ownership from the Feng n.
Moreover, Patriarch Mo was already at Late Stage Qi Refinement!
With him leading the charge and Ruan Xingling conveniently absent, Mu Wen had little chance to counteract their moves.
¡°The Mu n¡ is finished!¡± Widow Wangmented. ¡°Although I couldn¡¯t stand their patriarch, the rest of the n members are innocent¡ Just think back to when the Mu family was so prosperous, yet within merely a few decades¡¡±
In its heyday, Mu Xiu¡¯s establishment of the n foundation had left countless nearby rogue cultivators envious. Even Widow Wang often heard tales filled with admiration about those times.
How swiftly fortunes change!
As for Fang Xi, he genuinely did not care about the Mu n¡¯s future. He had already mentioned to Ruan Xingling that saving Mu Zhong¡¯s branch was enough of a gesture.
As far as Mu Wen was concerned? Let him perish!
What Fang Xi didn¡¯t expect was another visitorter in the afternoon - it was Mu Zhong himself!
The man before Fang Xi appeared frail and elderly, with a head full of white hair, yet his eyes sparkled with vitality. Holding a jug of spirit wine, he immediately bowed upon seeing Fang Xi, eximing, ¡°Nephew greets my esteemed uncle!¡±
¡°Rise quickly, what brings you here today?¡± Fang Xi invited him to sit under the peach tree and asked Widow Wang to serve some spirit tea.
¡°Not in the mood for tea today, I want wine!¡± Mu Zhong smiled, revealing yellowed teeth, as he poured out the spirit tea and filled arge bowl with spirit wine instead.
Fang Xi took a whiff; the wine was potent, reminiscent of the ¡®Crimson Blood Wine¡¯ he used to sell.
¡°Gulp!¡±
Mu Zhong downed the bowl swiftly, his voice choking with emotion, ¡°Our main family is ruined¡ Now, all branches have lost their livelihoods ande seeking refuge with me. But I only have two acres ofnd and arge family to support, how many can I save?¡±
¡°I witnessed thend confiscation earlier¡ The elder from the second branch, he deliberately crashed onto the field ridge, ending his life right there!¡±
¡°Our ancestors fought tirelessly through hardships to secure this ancestral legacynd, and now it¡¯s lost just like that. How will we face our forefathers when we join them? Woe¡¡± As Mu Zhong continued, seemingly bing intoxicated, his words turned rambling and incoherent.
¡°In those days, our patriarch held you in high regard¡ He often said Mu Wen had developed an arrogant air, unfit to be the family head, and even considered recing him. It was only due to the persuasion of several elders, including your second uncle from the second branch, that he relented. To see such an oue today truly saddens me¡¡±
Fang Xi remained silent, listening intently without interruption.
As Mu Zhong¡¯s speech continued, he seemed to tire eventually. Leaning against the peach tree, he gazed towards East Twin Peak, mumbling incessantly before slowly drifting off to sleep¡
Several hourster.
Fang Xi approached and checked Mu Zhong¡¯s breathing, relieved to find he was still alive. Considering Mu Zhong¡¯s advanced age, nearing his natural end,bined with the shock he experienced today, it would have been quite troublesome if he had died here abruptly.
¡®Could it be that this man, sensing his own impending demise, deliberately wanted to die on my premises just to cause trouble?¡¯
¡®No, unlikely¡ He was likely overwhelmed by emotions but couldn¡¯t share them with anyone else; certainly not appropriate to burden the widow and her daughter on West Peak¡¡¯
Rubbing his temples, Fang Xi sighed and called for Sea Great Noble, instructing him to carry Mu Zhong back to his home.
¡°Oh my¡¡±
Less than an hourter, Sea Great Wealth returned as if being chased by assassins, panting, ¡°Too terrifying, too terrifying¡¡±
¡°Hey, what¡¯s wrong with you, Great Noble? Did you encounter a silver-armored demon?¡± Widow Wang, leaning against the doorframe, couldn¡¯t help but chuckle at his state.
¡°You guys didn¡¯t see it - Mu Zhong¡¯s house was packed with people¡ As soon as I entered andid him down, someone grabbed my clothes asking if we¡¯re still epting tenant-farmers here¡ How could I discuss such matters with outsiders? Then, several women started pulling on me, asking if I needed a wife¡¡± A slight blush crept across Sea Great Wealth¡¯s face as he recounted the events.
¡°Well, well, never thought anyone would fancy you! The Mu n girls were always so picky back then, huh? Wait, something¡¯s not right¡¡± Widow Wang doubled overughing, suddenly sensing something amiss. ¡°Great Noble, weren¡¯t you in need of a wife? Why didn¡¯t you bring one back? Are you afraid Master might me you and have hidden her outside? Don¡¯t worry, just bring her in boldly; Auntie will speak to the Master for you¡¡±
¡°I dare not take any Mu woman!¡±
Sea Great Wealth hastily shook his head, ¡°Although I need a wife, I¡¯m well aware of the risks involved. I wouldn¡¯t dare ept such an offer¡¡±
¡°Alright, alright, everyone back to work.¡± Having listened long enough, Fang Xi noticed the conversation veering further off-topic and couldn¡¯t resist stepping in with a reprimand. ¡°Get back to your tasks¡ Oh yes, where is Mu Wen?¡±
¡°Heard that after losing their spiritualnds, the Mu n patriarch felt too ashamed to stay on Peach Blossom Ind and left immediately¡¡± Sea Great Wealth shared all he knew.
Despite losing their spiritualnds, the Mu n still had some savings, allowing them to rent an immortal¡¯s cave. If necessary, they could also work as spirit farmers or servants¡ With their skills, survival on Peach Blossom Ind was possible, albeit much harder akin to rogue cultivators.
However, Mu Wen definitelycked the face to remain any longer.
He might have gone to Spirit Hollow Ind, but unfortunately, it was highly likely that the Mu n¡¯s shop there had been transferred to the Feng n. Whether Ruan Xingling would continue appointing him as the Great Shopkeeper remained uncertain.
With Ruan Xingling currently absent, the ind was under the charge of Crown Princess Ruan Dan. Recalling how she dared to challenge and publicly humiliate him years ago, Fang Xi concluded she was ruthlessly indifferent even towards her own kin.
Half a monthter.
Late at night.
The sky was dim and devoid of light, with ck clouds obscuring the moon.
A shadowy figure stealthily ascended Jade Cliff, approaching the Little Cloudrain Array. From within their robes, they produced a paper talisman¡ªa tier-1 Barrier Breaking Talisman!
Creating second-rank barrier-breaking talismans required exceptionally stringent materials and skilled craftsmanship, making them extremely rare. Inparison, first-rank barrier-breaking talismans were much moremon.
With this talisman activated, the figure opened a pathway through the cloud mist of the Little Cloudrain Array and stepped inside.
¡°Fang Xi¡ I¡¯ll make you pay with your life!¡±
The intruder bore a menacing expression, wielding a magical artifact in his right hand and holding a small ck bottle in his left.
As the ck clouds dispersed, moonlight illuminated his face¡ªit was Mu Wen!
He nced at Widow Wang and Sea Great Wealth¡¯s log cabin before turning towards Fang Xi¡¯s residence. With a sinister grin, he quietly approached the four-sided courtyard house.
This time, Mu Wen had meticulously prepared and was determined to¡
¡°Hm?¡±
In the next instant, he lost his bnce, falling face-first into the muddy ground, mouth filled with dirt.
¡°What¡?¡± Stunned, he looked down to find numerous dark tree roots entangled around his ankles, seemingly out of nowhere.
¡°What the hell is this?¡±
Mu Wen swung his ck dagger-like magical artifact but failed to leave any significant marks on the tree roots, causing his face to pale in shock.
Although not as potent as a high-grade Glorious Gold Ring, this dagger was still a mid-grade magical artifact!
Before Mu Wen could gather resolve and risk exposing himself by casting a powerful spell,
¡°Plop!¡±
A strong force yanked him downwards, pulling his entire body into the earth.
Aboveground, only a small pit remained, quickly covered over as the retracting tree roots concealed their presence¡
¡°Whooosh!¡±
Before Mu Wen couldprehend what was happening, he plummeted from the cave¡¯s ceiling, disoriented and dazed by the fall.
Swiftly, tree roots snaked towards him from all directions, entangling his limbs and lifting him into the air, forming a cruciform position.
As he looked ahead, his pupils widened in shock at the sight of an indescribably terrifying giant tree.
Below it, Fang Xi sat cross-legged, connected to the Demon Tree through a single aerial root.
¡°This¡ An evil cultivator? A demonic entity?!¡± Mu Wen eximed in surprise, only to realize that his bag of holding, magical artifacts, and the dark bottle had been seized by tendrils and brought to Fang Xi¡¯s side.
¡°Oh, isn¡¯t this my little nephew?¡± Fang Xi opened his eyes,posed and unruffled as he approached Mu Wen. ¡°What brings you here to visit your old uncle tonight?¡±
¡°This¡¡± Large beads of sweat dripped down Mu Wen¡¯s forehead. Attempting to circte his magical energy, he found it seemingly blocked throughout his body, filling him with even greater despair.
Fang Xi took the ck dagger artifact, casually tossing it aside, then nced at the dark bottle. He instructed a tendril to hold it at a distance while opening it; immediately, the tendril began turning ck and decaying¡
¡°I mustmend you for obtaining such potent poison like Hundred Turtledoves Poison, capable of inflicting severe harm even on Middle Qi Refinement cultivators¡¡±
Fang Xi then used another tentacle to close the bottle cap carefully. Although this poison held little threat to him, he still needed to be cautious. ¡°However, I can¡¯t quite understand why you targeted me specifically? Is it just because I¡¯m well-off? Oh, and given that Jade Cliff is far from Mirror Moon Lake, did you think no one would notice anymotion there? Were you concerned about potential witnesses if you chose the mother-daughter pair at Twin Peak West as your targets instead? Or perhaps, do you harbor resentment over my refusal to lend you spirit stones earlier?¡±
Mu Wen stared at Fang Xi, astonished, feeling as though every thought had been urately read by this man.
Moreover, considering this cave and the Demon Tree¡this person must undoubtedly be a seasoned old demon. Fear instantly brought tears to Mu Wen¡¯s eyes: ¡°Uncle, spare me! For the sake of our patriarch¡sob¡sob¡¡±
In the next moment, writhing vines stuffed his mouth, making it difficult for him to speak.
¡°Don¡¯t worry, dear nephew, your uncle only needs a small favor from you before letting you go¡¡±
Fang Xi produced a dusty seed and approached Mu Wen. ¡°Your uncle has never received any formal puppetry training, so I¡¯ve had to develop my own techniques through trial and error. Could you please help refine them further¡¡±
Chapter 119: Ninth Level
Chapter 119: Ninth Level
Within the underground cave:
Swish! Swash!
As a mature Demon Tree, upon realizing that the cave was bing narrower, it had learned to continuously excavate downwards using its roots while discardingrge amounts of soil into theke.
Fang Xi didn¡¯t interfere with the Demon Tree¡¯s self-taught construction skills; he only provided asional guidance for proper support and reinforcement, ensuring the Jade Cliff wouldn¡¯t copse. Otherwise, he let it operate independently.
At this moment, Fang Xi was examining the ¡®human puppet¡¯ before him!
The human puppet resembled Mu Wen, with ashen skin disying faint wood-like textures. asionally, tree roots could be seen emerging from or retreating back into the puppet¡¯s facial openings.
¡°Stand up!¡±
¡°Move forward!¡±
¡°Jump!¡± Fang Xi wasn¡¯t proficient in puppet techniques but relied on the Demon Tree¡¯s ability to control demonic servants for basic maniption. It felt somewhat sluggish and unresponsive, akin to controlling ve insects with the Insect King.
¡°Perform cultivation maneuver!¡± Fang Xi¡¯s eyes flickered as he issued a newmand.
Mu Wen executed a cultivation technique, causing ayer of spiritual aura to shimmer around his body, emitting fluctuations equivalent to the fifthyer of Qi Refinement!
¡°This person originally had a cultivation base at the sixthyer of Qi Refinement, but after being transformed into a puppet, their realm dropped to the fifthyer!¡±
Fang Xi pondered for a moment before issuing a newmand.
Whoosh!
Mu Wen executed a cultivation technique, causing the ck dagger artifact to emit a loud hum and transform into a streak of dark light, deeply embedding itself into the rock wall.
¡°Remarkable, his cultivation base is indeed preserved, along with the ability to control magical artifacts?¡±
This revtion brought immense joy to Fang Xi.
With this capability, couldn¡¯t he potentiallymand a vast army of ¡®human puppets¡¯? Even a formationposed of numerous Late Stage Qi Refinement cultivators could challenge Foundation Establishment beings!
However, momentster, Fang Xi noticed something amiss.
Mu Wen¡¯s maniption of the artifact was remarkably stiff,cking fluidity and adaptability - a fatal w inbat situations.
¡®This feels¡ despite being at the fifthyer of Qi Refinement, he might not even be able to defeat Hai Dagui¡ And constantly needing mymands makes it too cumbersome.¡¯
¡®His attack power matches the fifthyer of Qi Refinement, but his defense is severelycking. Being a human body, he has no instinct for evasive maneuvers; I¡¯d need to monitor him continuously¡ Yet controlling through the Demon Tree introduces significant dy¡¡¯
At that moment, Fang Xi realized the difference between his Wooden Puppet Technique and orthodox puppetry methods.
The orthodox puppetry legacy not only included methods for creating puppets but also techniques for controlling them effectively inbat! In fact, the control aspect was even more crucial!
A cultivator¡¯s divine or spiritual sense is inherently limited; non-puppeteers can typically manipte only one or two puppets at most. However, a skilled puppeteer can divide their consciousness,manding an entire army of puppets!
Moreover, advanced puppets can be imbued with ¡®puppet souls¡¯, granting them a degree of intelligence!
¡°Indeed, having powerful divine sense greatly enhances puppetry skills. Unfortunately, I¡¯ve yet to acquire any such legacy¡¡±
The Spirit Hollow Market might have it, but currently, Fang Xi had no means to visit!
After thorough experimentation, Fang Xi determined the detailed specifications of his human puppet Mu Wen and shook his head, feeling somewhat disappointed.
The attacks were overly rigid, andmands faced significant dys¡
Compared to the precision of orthodox puppet maniption, there was a stark contrast between heaven and earth.
Additionally, once transformed into a ¡®human puppet,¡¯ further cultivation and improvement became impossible.
¡°After all, my control through the Demon Tree is indirect,cking the finesse achievable by a true puppeteer. It¡¯s understandable, though¡ Perhaps in the future, acquiring and studying a proper puppetry technique couldpensate for these shorings¡¡±
¡°However, this ¡®Wood Puppet Technique¡¯ does have its advantages. First, it allows for massive numbers; with sufficient Demon Tree seeds, one can control as many puppets as desired!¡±
¡°Secondly, the materials needed are simple - justplete corpses suffice¡ Creating a vast army of cultivator puppets in the future is no longer a distant dream.¡±
Fang Xi rubbed his chin, realizing that if he continued down this path, he would undoubtedly stray further from conventional cultivation and risk bing a pariah within the cultivation world.
¡°In fact, there¡¯s another perspective to consider. While cultivator-made human puppets may not be of high quality, mythical beasts crafted into ¡®beast puppets¡¯ could prove quite effective!¡±
Mythical beasts typically possess tough hides and superior defenses, traits which would likely carry over when transformed into puppets!
This meansmands given to them can also be kept rtively simple!
Additionally, due to their robust nature, beast materials are less prone to damage, increasing the overall fault tolerance!
¡°A puppet beast army, perhaps? It¡¯s worth exploring¡¡± Fang Xi stroked his chin thoughtfully. ¡°I must also address the issue of Demon Tree seed proliferation. By employing puppet techniques, I could potentially install mechanisms inside each puppet. If damaged, these mechanisms would destroy the Demon Tree seed immediately?¡±
¡°This n is quite promising; all we need now is a puppet-making legacy¡¡±
Although the Demon Tree seeds had been downgraded, Fang Xi still preferred to prevent their widespread distribution.
After some thought, he saw great potential in this idea and decided to include it as a backup n.
Currently, venturing out to collect numerous fresh mythical beast corpses was not feasible for him.
¡°As for you?¡± Fang Xi looked at Mu Wen, prompting the roots within his body to emerge, intertwining on his face to form a vine mask.
¡°From today onwards, you shall be known as ¡®A-1¡¯ and will solely be responsible for guarding the underground cave.¡±
Immediately, A-1 positioned himself against the cave wall, resembling a statue¡
News about the Mu n Patriarch swiftly faded from interest on Peach Blossom Ind.
The cultivation world is pragmatic; once a loser disappears, unless they return as a triumphant hero someday, they are gradually forgotten by all.
While some members of the Mu n left Peach Blossom Ind, others continued striving there, reverting to their previous state of being rootless like floating duckweeds¡
Undoubtedly more infamous than Mu Wen was the ¡®Silver Armored Demon¡¯!
This individual¡¯s notoriety grew exponentially with each escape from Foundation Establishment cultivators. They even formed a tribtion cult, repeatedly shing with the jointw enforcement teams of the Thirty Six Inds Alliance, resulting in brutal carnage!
By now, the mere mention of their name could silence crying children at night!
However, for a cultivator who preferred istion and never ventured to the market, such infamy held little impact.
On the other hand, Hai Dagui remained constantly worried about his friend Lu Guo, praying fervently that he wouldn¡¯t encounter the Silver Armored Demon head-on¡
Five yearster.
Inside his cultivation room, Fang Xi silently circted the Evesting Spring Art, feeling the surging magical energy within his dantian¡¯s sea of qi. It naturally overflowed, opening new channels for cirction.
This breakthrough was effortless and remarkably smooth.
¡°Twenty years since nting my tree, now at age forty-three, I¡¯ve reached the ninth level of Qi Refinement!¡±
Fang Xi felt quite satisfied with his progress.
Breaking through one level every five years primarily stemmed from Jade Cliff¡¯s limited spiritual energy environment. The low-tier spirit vein, aided by the Little Cloudrain Array¡¯s Gathering Spirit effect, barely managed to enhance the cultivation room¡¯s spiritual energy to a low-rank first-tier level.
For Late Stage Qi Refinement cultivators, a high-rank first-tier spiritual vein is considered minimally suitable for cultivation.
Apart from that, my pill concocting skill has steadily improved to mid-high first rank, but my array formation mastery remains stuck at mid-grade, hindered by a significant barrier.¡±
Fang Xi felt quite helpless about this situation.
While studying formations, whenever he encountered a difficult problem, he had no choice but to painstakingly ponder over it. In contrast, with sufficient materials and his current divine sense realm, Fang Xi could effortlessly progress through pill concocting, at least for medicinal pills within the Qi Refinement stage¡
As a result, in recent years, Fang Xi focused primarily on refining pills, cing formation study as secondary.
Regarding the Dao of talismans, he inadvertently advanced to mid-rank first-tier without realizing it. This may have been influenced by daily insights gained from the fragmented silver runes of the Second Wood Dharma Idol. Regardless, Fang Xi felt particrly gifted in drawing Wood element talismans, achieving higher sess ratespared to other types.
Lastly, his artificing skills remained unremarkable¡ having beenpletely abandoned.
Exiting the cultivation room, Fang Xi nced at the blue-and-white golden tortoise beetles. Now, the insect chamber was filled with these jade-like creatures adorned with blue markings; not a single ck-striped golden beetle remained.
Even the Insect King, due to consistently consuming ¡®Beast Grain Pellets¡¯, had ascended to mid-rank first-tier!
The wine cer was also filled with various types of spirit wines, aged from one to several years, with the oldest batch boasting a remarkable twenty-year maturation period!
These aged spirit wines had a rich amber hue and were so viscous that strands could be lifted with chopsticks, making them highly prized among cultivators who indulged in such pleasures.
Despite not being exceptionally high in grade, their exceptional taste ensured they could still fetchrge quantities of spirit stones when sold.
On Jade Cliff, Fang Xi had cultivated a total of twenty acres of diverse spirit fields, including five acres dedicated to medicine nts.
Among these, the oldest batches of Blood-Replenishing Grass and Snake Orchid Fruits were already ten years mature, ready for sale or use as auxiliary ingredients in mid- to high-grade first-rank medicinal pills.
¡°In truth, if a cultivator possesses spiritualnd, focusing on farming rather thanbat can quickly umte resources without much strife¡¡±
After inspecting all areas, Fang Xi approached the pond, his eyes gleaming menacingly.
Even now, the Great Azure Fish remained stubbornly at mid-rank first tier!
¡°The decade has passed, and you¡¯ve missed yourst chance - me only yourself!¡±
He unsheathed the Golden Flood Dragon de, preparing to send the Great Azure Fish on its final journey.
Suddenly!
The Great Azure Fish leaped, emitting abundant demonic aura that attracted surrounding spiritual energy, forming a small whirlpool.
¡°Is this¡a breakthrough?¡±
Fang Xi¡¯s eyes twitched slightly. ¡°Really waiting till thest moment to advance? Is this fish even more cautious than me?¡±
As he marveled, the Great Azure Fish consumed vast amounts of spiritual energy, rapidly growing over two meters long. Its species seemed to transform as well, resembling more closely the sleek bodies of catfish or eels, with elongated azure whiskers¡
¡°A high-rank first-tier Qingyu Carp King, nicknamed ¡®little azure dragon¡¯¡¡±
Gazing at the nowrger, snake-like Great Azure Fish, Fang Xi grinned menacingly. ¡°Finally advanced¡ I¡¯ve been craving ¡®Azure Dragon Soup¡¯ for so long!¡±
With a ssh!
The triumphant Great Azure Fish froze mid-air, plummeting back into the pond and causing a significantmotion.
Didn¡¯t they agree on sparing its life upon advancement? Why is it destined for soup instead?
Could this truly be fate?!
Compared to cunning humans, it remained far too naive!
Chapter 120: Return
Chapter 120: Return
Above Wan Ind Lake.
A swift azure shadow darted through the water, herding countless fish towards an underwater cave entrance.
As the fish entered, numerous tendrils emerged from the cave¡¯s mouth like a vast,pletely sealing it off and capturing all the fish within¡
Ssh!
The Great Azure Fish surfaced with Fang Xi standing atop it, saying, ¡°Well done¡¡±
Being a Fish King with awakened Dragonfish bloodline, the Great Azure Fish naturally possessed the ability to control fish swarms. Herdingrge groups of fish as sustenance for the Demon Tree was remarkably effortless for it.
Stealthily blowing a few bubbles, the Great Azure Fish sighed in relief, knowing it had finally escaped death.
As for beingbeled a traitor among fishes? Well, there wasn¡¯t much choice¡
Life as a fish is tough indeed! ¡°Let¡¯s go, time to explore around!¡±
Fang Xi mounted the Great Azure Fish, testing its speed, and found it quite impressive underwater - suitable enough for transportation purposes.
Interestingly, this fish had also awakened several aquatic magic abilities, allowing it to briefly leap out of the water with some agility.
¡°If it reaches tier-2, it should be able to manipte water vapor and fly above the surface¡ perhaps truly bing a suitable mount or spirit pet.¡±
Fang Xi nudged the Great Azure Fish with his foot. ¡°Did you hear that? Keep guiding the fish schools diligently for your master, or else I¡¯ll still make soup out of you¡¡±
The Great Azure Fish hastily nodded, nearly shedding pearl-like tears.
¡°Being able to cultivate a low-grade spirit fish to high-rank first-tier indicates my Beast Control Art has likely reached high-rank first-tier proficiency as well¡¡±
Initially, Fang Xi had taken in the Great Azure Fish merely to experiment with various cultivation methods and refine his Beast Control Technique.
He was well aware that consuming vast amounts of snake-dragon essence blood just to create a small azure dragon was highly inefficient in terms of cost-benefit.
Certainly, the Zhong Family wouldn¡¯t use such a method; it would be far too wasteful¡
Moreover, the Great Azure Fish¡¯s rapid advancement was entirely due to the snake-dragon essence blood. Now, with the essence blood depleted and considering the snake-dragon itself was only high-rank first-tier, there would be little further assistance for the Great Azure Fish¡¯s future growth.
For this fish to break through to tier-2, it would require much more time and additional opportunities.
After releasing the Great Azure Fish into Wan Ind Lake with instructions not to stray too far from Jade Cliff, Fang Xi left it unattended.
Regardless, he had already imnted a Divine Consciousness Imprint and established a master-servant bond, allowing him to control its life with a single thought. At least until this fish ascends to tier-2, it possesses no means of resistance.
Fang Xi then proceeded to the spirit field to inspect the growth of this year¡¯s spirit rice crop.
¡°Master!¡±
Hai Dagui, now a robust young man with sun-kissed skin, greeted him with a sincere smile. ¡°Looks like another bountiful harvest year ahead!¡±
¡°Hmm, your rewards will certainly not becking when the timees.¡±
Fang Xi nodded and also acknowledged Wang Xiaohu, who appeared youthful despite his age.
As Widow Wang grew older, most of the field work was primarily handled by Wang Xiaohu.
However, today, both Hai Dagui and Wang Xiaohu seemed hesitant, as if they wanted to say something.
¡°What seems to be the matter?¡±
Fang Xi casually plucked a grain cluster for inspection while asking.
¡°Master, it¡¯s like this, Lu Guo recently returned to Peach Blossom Ind¡¡± Hai Dagui and Wang Xiaohu exchanged nces before Wang Xiaohu stepped forward, ¡°Five years ago, Lu joined the jointw enforcement team and fought relentlessly in the outside world for several years. During their most recent mission, he sustained severe injuries. It is said that he repeatedly used life-saving secret techniques, draining his vital energy, which ultimately damaged his foundation. Forced to leave the enforcement team, he came back to Peach Blossom Ind for recovery¡¡±
¡°Oh!¡±
Fang Xi¡¯s expression remainedposed, yet he felt somewhat mncholic.
For ordinary individuals, without risking everything, there were no opportunities. However, even when taking such risks, the likelihood of losing, as seen with Mu Wen and now Lu Guo, was significantly higher!
The cultivation world is far more brutal; not only could one lose all material possessions, but also potentially their very life!
Lu Guo¡¯s survival, returning with his life intact, was indeed quite fortunate.
Wang Xiaohu and Hai Dagui nced at each other again. ¡°Lu wants toe back and continue serving you, Master.¡±
Despite saving some spirit stones over the years, Lu Guo had spent the majority on treating his injuries, leaving him impoverished. Unable to afford renting an immortal¡¯s cave, he turned to his childhood friends for help.
¡°Oh?¡± Fang Xi showed neither approval nor disapproval. ¡°Bring him here, I¡¯d like to see him¡¡±
Three dayster.
Lu Guo entered the estate, gazing at the familiar surroundings, especially the vibrant and youthful Fang Xi, feeling as if it were just yesterday. Mixed emotions stirred within him as he respectfully bowed, ¡°Master!¡±
¡°Hmm, already at the sixth level of Qi Refinement, impressive!¡± Fang Xi replied, holding a fishing rod by the pond, angling for colorful koi fish swimming below.
With a sweep of his divine sense, Fang Xi assessed Lu Guo¡¯s condition instantly.
Firstly, despite appearing young, streaks of white hair had emerged at Lu Guo¡¯s temples, hinting at premature aging. This indicated damage to his vital energy and possibly a significant reduction in longevity.
Moreover, although he was at the sixth level of Qi Refinement, his magical energy felt unstable, suggesting he may have relied on medicinal pills and that his injuries had not fully healed.
Originally, advancing two levels in magical energy over five years meant Lu Guo¡¯s gamble could not be considered a loss. With enough opportunities, ying formidable foes and earning rewards might even grant him hope to break through to Late Stage Qi Refinement from the Spirit Hollow Market!
However,w enforcement duties were excessively dangerous. While he survived several perils, luck cannot always be trusted.
This time, facing a powerful enemy, he was forced to employ a life-threatening secret technique, ultimately damaging his foundation.
¡°Ah, Lu Guo¡ Your skills are wasted here, tending fields¡¡± Fang Xi shook his head, unwilling to retain such a cultivator.
A cultivator who has seen bloodshed differs greatly from someone like Wang Xiaohu. Once hands are stained with lives taken, desires run wild, making them unpredictable factors.
With lives on his hands and ambitions unleashed, Lu Guo had be an unpredictable factor.
Fang Xi¡¯s sole focus was peaceful farming. Recently, the growth rate of the Demon Tree had elerated significantly, leading him to believe that within a few decades, he could cultivate the ¡®Second-Type Wood Dharma Body¡¯. He couldn¡¯t afford any setbacks now.
¡°Master, with my vital energy damaged, I can no longer engage easily in battles or hunt mythical beasts¡¡± Lu Guo chuckled bitterly and continued, ¡°However, Mastercks capable assistance. Although humble, over the years, I¡¯ve made many acquaintances and have ess to information beyond Peach Blossom Ind. I could gather intelligence for you, even asionally leaving the ind on errands¡¡±
Having served under Fang Xi before, Lu Guo understood what his master needed.
¡°That sounds intriguing, but how can I trust your ability to collect information?¡± Fang Xi cast aside his fishing rod,ughing as he asked.
¡®This man¡ still as patient and shrewd as ever.¡¯
Lu Guo felt suddenly uneasy, sensing that Fang Xi might havepletely seen through him. Suppressing this difort, he quickly responded, ¡°Master, are you aware that there was an assassination attempt on the crown prince?¡±
¡°Hmm? When did this happen? Who was the assassin?¡±
Fang Xi genuinely didn¡¯t know; both Hai Dagui and Wang Xiaohu were low-ranking members of Peach Blossom Ind, privy to little confidential information.
¡°It happened two years ago, and I coincidentally have some inside knowledge¡¡± Lu Guo maintained aposed expression. ¡°The assant remains unknown but possessed a Late Stage Qi Refinement cultivation base. They severely injured the crown prince; if not for his high-quality magical artifacts and life-saving paper talismans gifted by the Ind Lord, he might have met an untimely demise¡¡±
¡°Who holds such animosity against Ruan Dan?¡± Fang Xi asked, somewhat puzzled.
¡°Even without any specific grudges, there could still be enemies. The crown prince has exceptional talent, having disyed a sixth-level Qi Refinement cultivation base just five years ago! If not for that injury, he likely would have already broken through to Late Stage Qi Refinement!¡± Lu Guo analyzed thoughtfully. ¡°Achieving Late Stage Qi Refinement before age thirty is the standard for elite disciples in major sects, marking them as prime candidates for Foundation Establishment with even a slim chance at Core Formation in the future. Many people would be unwilling to see such potential realized¡¡±
¡°The tallest tree catches the wind first,¡± Fang Xi sighed contemtively, immediately thinking of Ruan Xingling. Her path to Foundation Establishment was undoubtedly going to face challenges as well.
As for himself¡
Hmm, currently forty-three years old, announcing a breakthrough to Late Stage Qi Refinement wouldn¡¯t raise eyebrows.
Breaking through to Late Stage Qi Refinement before age forty marked one as an ¡®elite seed¡¯ among smaller ns and sects, indicating a possibility of reaching Peak Qi Refinement before turning sixty and preserving a sliver of hope for Foundation Establishment.
Breaking through after age forty garners significantly less attention and scrutiny.
¡®Having been stuck at this bottleneck for so many years, it¡¯s about time to make a breakthrough,¡¯ Fang Xi thought to himself, already being at the ninth level of Qi Refining.
He then turned his gaze back to Lu Guo.
This man¡¯s analysis was thorough and well-reasoned, showcasing both courage and strategy. If not for his severe injuries, he likely could have achieved significant sess in the future.
¡°What is your take on the silver-armored demon?¡± Fang Xi posed another question.
¡°Although formidable, the silver-armored demon remains only a Qi Refinement stage cultivator. The ability to repeatedly escape from Foundation Establishment cultivators suggests strong support from a Foundation-level faction, most probably the Dragonfish Zhong n!¡± Lu Guo replied firmly.
While it might have been unclear to others in previous years, now even the astute individuals had begun to suspect. It was entirely possible that ndestine conflicts between the Dragonfish Zhong n and the Thirty-Six Inds Alliance¡¯s Foundation Establishment patriarchs had already urred.
The calm standoff between Wan Ind Lake¡¯s two major factions was nearing its breaking point, signaling the imminent onset of a true cultivator war!
¡°A storm brews over theke,¡± Fang Xi murmured, gazing towards Wan Ind Lake.
Ssh!
At the horizon where sky meets water, dense ck clouds gathered, lightning shed, and torrential rain suddenly poured down. As the rainfall hit the Little Cloudrain Array, it was repelled by the restrictions, trickling off in thin streams along the edges¡
Fang Xi then turned to Lu Guo and sighed, ¡°Very well, you may stay.¡±
¡°Many thanks, Master!¡± Overjoyed, Lu Guo bowed deeply in gratitude.
Upon returning to Peach Blossom Ind, Lu Guo discreetly built another thatched hut near Jade Cliff.
He spent his days farming with Wang Xiaohu, Hai Dagui, Widow Wang, and others. asionally, he would venture out on errands for Fang Xi, gathering intelligence¡
Cultivatorsmunicated over short distances using voice-transmission talismans, slightly longer ranges with spirit doves, or even more advanced methods like flying sword messages, projection talismans, and water mirror techniques.
As such, obtaining information didn¡¯t require leaving Peach Blossom Ind.
Fang Xi reviewed the numerous reports, feeling only one thing¡ªthe Wan Ind Lake cultivation world was far from peaceful.
Raiders were rampant, iming the lives of many renowned rogue cultivators! Even families and sects upying entire inds faced annihtion¡
¡°When two major forces sh, they first aim to stabilize their surroundings by eliminating neutral parties and third-party influences¡¡±
¡°The war between Wan Ind Lake and the Thirty-Six Inds Alliance followed this pattern, targeting rogue cultivators and ming it all on raiders¡ And now, I seem to be taking the brunt of the me!¡±
Reading about the ¡®silver-armored demon¡¯ responsible for wiping out entire households, Fang Xi was utterly speechless.
The escting tension affected Peach Blossom Ind as well, leading to soaring prices for magical artifacts and paper talismans. Exchange gatherings became frequent, with cultivators anxiously awaiting any official derations¡
One yearter.
News arrived¡ªThe Mo n of ck Sand Ind had been annihted!
Chapter 121: Storm Approaching
Chapter 121: Storm Approaching
Mirror Moon Lake.
Within a mesmerizing spiritual mist, a luminous full moon shone brightly - unmistakably indicating the Water-Moon Grand Formation at its peak activation.
Debate Hall.
Fang Xi entered and noticed that many individuals had already arrived.
Mu Zhong, Feng Manlou, and others greeted him with nods and salutations.
¡°Fellow Daoist Hua is here too? Quite unexpected!¡±
Seeing the somewhat aged Hua Chanjuan present, Fang Xi couldn¡¯t help but be astonished internally.
The destruction of ck Sand Ind¡¯s Mo n had a profound impact on all factions within Peach Blossom Ind.
Even Hua Chanjuan, who rarely ventured out and was more reclusive than Fang Xi himself, broke her routine to attend this crucial meeting. ¡°Ladies and gentlemen¡¡±
Ruan Dan, d in a zing red dress, stood before Ruan Xingling¡¯s former seat, looking down at the gathered crowd. ¡°Since everyone has arrived, let us discuss how to respond¡¡±
¡°Crown Princess, please seek justice for my family.¡±
A middle-aged man dressed in azure Daoist robes knelt on the ground, tears streaming down his face.
His name was ¡®Mo Qinghe¡¯, belonging to the Qing generation of the Mo n. After the Mo n seized the Mu n¡¯s spiritualnds years ago, he was appointed as the head of the Mo n¡¯s branch at East Twin Peak, possessing a cultivation base in the fifthyer of Qi Refinement.
Although the main branch of the Mo n was annihted, many n members living elsewhere had escaped unscathed.
As he wept, he recounted the events that unfolded on ck Sand Ind.
Just two days prior, a group of Cmity cultivators effortlessly breached the ind¡¯s protective barrier, led by none other than the notorious ¡®Silver-armored Demon¡¯!
Patriarch Mo, a Late Stage Qi Refinement cultivator, perished in battle on the spot!
Numerous n members were ughtered!
Only a few survivors managed to escape, bringing news of the catastrophe¡
Some terrified Mo n members fled even further without stopping at Peach Blossom Ind, fearing they might never return.
¡°What should we do now?¡± Feng Manlou, appearing middle-aged, broke out in cold sweat from anxiety. White Feather Ind¡¯s strength wasparable to that of ck Sand Ind; if the Silver-armored Demon struck again, the Feng n would likely face a simr fate.
Even worse¡ Peach Blossom Ind¡¯s power currently stood weaker still! Theycked any openly known Late Stage Qi Refinement cultivators!
¡°Report this immediately to our alliance!¡±
¡°It has already been done. Perhaps we should contact White Feather and Golden me Inds for mutual protection? Old Monster Goldtooth¡ no, Patriarch Goldtooth, once reconciled with us¡¡±
The group of Middle Qi Refinement cultivators paced anxiously, seemingly lost like headless chickens.
¡°Hmph, short-sighted fools!¡± Hua Chanjuan scoffed bitterly. ¡°Inviting wolves into our home!¡±
She turned to Ruan Dan and asked, ¡°Where is the Ind Lord? Even if she¡¯s away seeking opportunities, given this dire situation¡ surely as her disciple, you must have some means to contact her?¡±
Fang Xi noticed that several previously frantic old cultivators now wore expressions of relief, leaving him speechless.
¡®These cultivators likely wanted to recall Ruan Xingling long ago but hesitated due to fear of responsibility¡ Interrupting someone¡¯s Foundation Establishment could undoubtedly breed deep resentment.¡¯
¡®Fellow Daoist Hua has always been somewhat aloof; if only she had considered this earlier, she wouldn¡¯t be thrust forward as their scapegoat.¡¯
Ruan Dan remained unfazed, responding, ¡°I don¡¯t possess any method to contact my master!¡±
This statement was undoubtedly false, but from her perspective, ensuring the safety of all on Peach Blossom Ind paled inparison to Shizun¡¯s Foundation Establishment!
After all, spiritual veins are notoriously difficult to destroy; ck Sand Ind is merely left in chaos now. The Cmity cultivators, having killed and looted, would likely take valuable spirit medicines before retreating rather than waiting for the jointw enforcement team to besiege them.
If the daring Mo n cultivators were brave enough, they could already announce ns to rebuild their n¡
¡°What?¡±
¡°How could this happen?¡±
Upon hearing that even Ruan Dan couldn¡¯t contact their master, shock and panic visibly spread across Feng Manlou¡¯s face.
¡°Everyone, there¡¯s no need to worry!¡± Seeing their reactions, a wry smile appeared at the corner of Ruan Dan¡¯s lips. ¡°The Cmity cultivators will leave after plundering ck Sand Ind and won¡¯t linger around nearby inds¡ As acting Ind Lord, I¡¯ve reported this incident to the Thirty Six Inds Alliance. Thew enforcement team will arrive soon, so there¡¯s nothing to fret about!¡±
Fang Xi stepped out of the debate hall, feeling thating here today was a grave mistake.
Amidst all themotion and arguments, no resolution had been reached.
Judging by Ruan Dan¡¯s demeanor, it seemed he was determined not to disturb Ruan Xingling¡¯s Foundation Establishment, even if it meant sacrificing Peach Blossom Ind¡
In fairness, if Fang Xi were in Ruan Dan¡¯s position, he might agree with this decision!
After all, once Shizun achieved Foundation Establishment, what significance did a mere Peach Blossom Ind hold?
Unfortunately, he now found himself part of the expendable faction!
¡®Maybe the situation isn¡¯t entirely dire. The Cmity cultivators indeed have reason to flee far away after raiding ck Sand Ind¡ However, there are two points that remain unexined.¡¯
¡®Firstly, the Silver-armored Demon is akin to the Zhong Family¡¯s watchdog. Was this operation orchestrated from above or merely impulsive?¡¯
¡®Secondly, if they were simply targeting any random ind for robbery, Peach Blossom Ind would have been a better choice than ck Sand Ind. Why didn¡¯t they choose ours instead?¡¯
¡®Could it be that their true intentions lie elsewhere?¡¯
¡°Uncle, let your old nephew apany you for a walk!¡±
Soon, someone caught up from behind - it was Mu Zhong.
¡°Yes, let¡¯s take a stroll together.¡±
Fang Xi and Mu Zhong reached East Twin Peak, where they gazed upon the white banners of mourning raised by the Mo n branch nearby, both falling silent momentarily.
¡°The ways of this world are truly unpredictable¡¡± Mu Zhong sighed as he walked amidst the spirit fields. ¡°Back then, the Mo n forcefully seizednds, only to meet such a fate now¡ Ha, karma indeed strikes swiftly!¡±
In reality, there is no concept of karmic retribution in the cultivation world; these beliefs were merely self-constions.
¡°These two acres belong to my family, cultivated with spirit rice for over a decade. The spiritual energy here is abundant; perhaps next year we could nt medicinal herbs¡¡±
¡°Our Mu n has just these roots left in this ce. Even if Cmity cultivators arrive, I would fight them to myst breath!¡±
As the sun set in the west, Mu Zhong picked up a handful of soil, clenching it tightly in his hand while sitting on the field ridge. ¡°s¡ this old nephewcks the strength anymore.¡±
With those words, his eyes slowly closed, and the soil slipped through his fingers back onto the ground.
The venerable elder of the Mu n ultimately passed away before the impending cmity struck.
¡°Rest peacefully now¡¡±
Fang Xi, with his keen perception of vitality, knew that Mu Zhong had indeed departed, reaching the natural end of his lifespan. In the cultivation world, dying due to age was considered a rtively favorable oue.
But why did Mu Zhong confide such cryptic thoughts to Fang Xi?
It likely stemmed from seeking connection and trust, hoping that Fang Xi, remembering their past alliance between three ns, would protect this final lineage during times of crisis.
Thew enforcement team from the Thirty Six Inds Alliance arrived swiftly. After patrolling the area with several flying boats for some time, they announced that the Cmity cultivator had fled and urged everyone to continue living peacefully.
Then, without lingering any further, they departed like clouds dispersing after a storm.
This approach left many cultivators feeling uneasy about the situation¡¯s implications.
Two monthster.
At Jade Cliff.
Fang Xi sipped tea beneath a peach tree, with Hai Dagui and Wang Xiaohu standing nearby.
Shortly after, Lu Guo entered, holding a letter in his hand.
¡°Master, I entrusted some acquaintances within thew enforcement team to investigate, and they¡¯ve confirmed the situation,¡± Lu Guo said, bowing respectfully.
¡°Give me the details!¡± Fang Xi¡¯s expression remained unchanged as he continued sipping his tea, but both Wang Xiaohu and Hai Dagui sensed a sudden heaviness in the atmosphere.
¡°The joint patrol by thew enforcement team indeed seemed rather perfunctory!¡± Lu Guo took a deep breath before responding, ¡°Moreover, most of them have already withdrawn back to Spirit Hollow Market¡ This is quite unusual, deviating from their usual practices.¡±
¡°As expected¡¡± Fang Xi sighed inwardly, feeling somewhat bitter:
¡®Ruan Xingling truly lives up to her name as Peachbell Goddess, attracting such united opposition from major powers¡¡¯
Ruan Xingling had been seeking Foundation Establishment opportunities for five years now, and it was no longer a secret; those who needed to know were well aware.
Naturally, the Dragonfish Zhong n did not wish to see another Foundation Stage cultivator emerge from the Thirty Six Inds.
Likewise, there might be others within these inds who shared that sentiment.
Hence, the Silver-armored Demon¡¯s attack on ck Sand Ind aimed to force Ruan Xingling¡¯s return, intending to dy or even sabotage her chance at Foundation Establishment!
Even Ruan Dan¡¯s assassination attempt might not have been unrted to this matter!
But why not directly target Peach Blossom Ind instead?
¡®Ruan Xingling is clever and patient; there have been cases where individuals endured silently despite their families being wiped out, only returning for vengeance once reaching Late Stage Qi Refinement.¡¯
¡®Wiping out Peach Blossom Ind would free her from any lingering concerns, potentially aiding her path to Foundation Establishment¡¡¯
¡®The strategy of first eliminating ck Sand Ind and then pressuring Peach Blossom Ind changes things.¡¯
¡®I didn¡¯t anticipate that Ruan Dan would withstand the pressure, refusing to call back Ruan Xingling even at the cost of his life¡¡¯ thought Fang Xi.
He felt he was gradually grasping the underlying threads of recent events. Once understanding the main connections, it bes easier to navigate the situation.
¡®It seems highly likely that several Peak Qi Refinement elders are orchestrating these events behind the scenes¡¡¯
If there were hidden Foundation Establishment cultivators, infiltrating Peach Blossom Ind or surveilling ces like Jade Cliff, Fang Xi would undoubtedly sense them! This assurance stemmed from having already cultivated divine sense, which further heightened within the range of the Demon Tree, making him exceptionally vignt.
¡®The primary attack direction is undoubtedly Mirror Moon Lake! The key target must be Ruan Dan!¡¯
A typical Cmity cultivator would likely start with the easier target, attacking Jade Cliff first due to its weaker defenses and distance from Mirror Moon Lake, aiming to gain some advantage quickly.
However, if there¡¯s a specific n and objective, they would still focus on Mirror Moon Lake!
After all, Fang Xi was merely an acquaintance with a superficial bond, whereas Ruan Dan was his beloved disciple!
¡®The Zhong Family will be the primary force here, while certain high-ranking members of the Thirty Six Inds alliance will intentionally hinder progress. This may involve creating patrol vulnerabilities to allow the ¡®Silver-armored Demon¡¯ to wreak havoc! Both sides have tacit understanding.¡¯
¡®What should my stance be?¡¯
¡®Save them if possible, but once it bes untenable, immediately withdraw!¡¯
¡®Why, why must so many people constantly disrupt my tree nting?¡¯
¡®This time I won¡¯t forget¡ anyone who interferes with my tree nting shall die!¡¯
A fleeting malevolence shed across Fang Xi¡¯s face, causing all three nearby individuals to shudder involuntarily.
He looked at Wang Xiaohu and the others, speaking gravely, ¡°With recent instability escting, I need to revoke your ess privileges for entering and exiting the Little Cloudrain Array daily. The array must remain fully activated at all times! Focus on practicing life-saving magical techniques and skills; otherwise, when chaos erupts, there will be no turning back.¡±
¡°Many thanks for the warning, Master,¡± Lu Guo responded, his expression serious, subtly sensing something ominous.
As for Wang Xiaohu and Hai Dagui, they remained oblivious and confused.
Sometimes, ignorance truly is bliss.
Fang Xi decided he would inform Widow Wang about this situation when the time came; surprisingly, she could often be relied upon during critical moments.
Chapter 122: Duel
Chapter 122: Duel
Six monthster, near Peach Blossom Ind.
Nightfall.
Onboard arge flying boat, over thirty meters long:
¡°Peach Blossom Ind, you Ruan bastards, I¡¯ming for you!¡±
The eldest Kou brother, d in silver-white spirit armor and holding his helmet, stared icily towards Peach Blossom Ind, his face radiating murderous intent.
Years ago, he had epted the Lu n patriarch¡¯s invitation to ambush Ruan Xingling but suffered a humiliating defeat, even losing his second brother in the chaos!
Once renowned as the fearsome Three Fiends of the Kou n at Qingzhu Mountain Market, now only one lone survivor remained!
This grudge ran deeper than the sea and higher than the sky!
Seeking revenge constantly weighed on the eldest Kou brother¡¯s mind, yet he was unable to ovee Ruan Xingling¡¯s strength! Later, he secretly joined the Dragonfish Zhong n, bing their ck glove to execute covert operations. In the process, his cultivation base significantly improved, reaching the great perfection stage of the tenth level of Qi Refinement!
Due to his additional Body Tempering practice, his prowess matched that of a Late Stage Qi Refinement cultivator. This impressed a Zhong n elder who bestowed upon him a set of ¡®White Turtle Armor¡¯ and a heavy ck metallic sword. Disguised as the once notorious ¡®silver-armored figure,¡¯ who mysteriously vanished after causing havoc, he was tasked with attacking Spirit Hollow Market.
Although his identity waster suspected by the Taishu Family, maintaining this facade remained crucial before tensions escted openly.
¡°Listen up, everyone! Tonight¡¯s assault on Peach Blossom Ind will primarily target Mirror Moon Lake. There isn¡¯t a single Late Stage Qi Refinement cultivator there, so feel free to enjoy yourselves¡ Don¡¯t worry about the Thirty-Six Inds¡¯w enforcement team; they have an understanding with our superiors and won¡¯t interfere with our fun!¡± The leader of the Kou n addressed the vicious group behind him.
Despite the hostile rtionship between the Thirty-Six Inds Alliance and the Zhong Family, the allianceprised numerous factions withplex dynamics. Among them, the ¡®Sanshang Family¡¯ particrly opposed any Foundation Establishment cultivator emerging from Peach Blossom Ind.
Behind the Kou n leader, various menacing cultivators cheered loudly. Some were Plunderers he had casually recruited over the years, while others hailed from the Dragonfish Zhong n!
Their efforts were instrumental in the recent attack on ck Sand Ind¡¯s Mo n.
¡°Boss, Peach Blossom Ind has three key locations: Mirror Moon Lake, Twin Peaks, and Jade Cliff, each guarded by protective formations¡¡± A middle-aged man stepped forward, d in teal robes, gracefully waving an ivory folding fan. His demeanor suggested that he must have been quite handsome in his youth.
Now, with narrowed eyes and a cunning demeanor, he resembled a sly military advisor.
¡°Mo Qingyu¡ We owe much of our sess against the Mo n to your inside help, ha ha¡ I truly admire you, ruthless enough to betray even your own family! If you have any ideas, speak freely!¡± The Kou n leader¡¯s voice boomed like a tolling bell.
This middle-aged man was none other than Mo Qingyu from the Mo n, who had once vied for Ruan Xingling¡¯s affection alongside Feng Manlou!
After the death of the previous Mo n patriarch, due to his numerous enemies, Mo Qingyu was expelled from the ind and disappeared without a trace. It turns out, he became a Plunderer cultivator!
¡°Hmph, that new n head belonged to my sworn enemy¡¯s faction. Once he took power, he relentlessly suppressed my supporters, creating a deep-seated blood feud!¡± Mo Qingyu snorted coldly before continuing, ¡°Ruan Dan will undoubtedly be at Mirror Moon Lake. Allow me to lead a squad to attack Jade Cliff first, feigning strength to draw attention.¡±
¡°How so? Do you hold a grudge against those cultivators there?¡± A chill flickered in the Kou n leader¡¯s eyes.
The three families on Peach Blossom Ind were all former subordinates of Ruan Xingling and thus, his enemies!
Given the chance, Mo Qingyu would not hesitate to settle scores with each one!
Pausing momentarily, he asked, ¡°What is the defensive strength over there?¡±
¡°Rest assured, leader,¡± Mo Qingyu continued, ¡°there are only two cultivators at the sixthyer of Qi Refinement, one severely injured and the other overly cautious - hardly a concern¡ The formation is merely mid-tier first rank. Even without a Barrier Breaking Talisman, give me a few men to encircle and attack for half an hour, and we¡¯ll surely breach it!¡±
Mo Qingyu¡¯s magical energy surged, indicating he had already reached the seventhyer of Qi Refinement. As a Plunderer cultivator, dailybat was routine, granting him immense experience in lethal encounters.
Just six months prior, during the assault on ck Sand Ind, it was his hand that personally severed the head of Patriarch Mo.
¡°Hmph, bring more brothers along and chop off that old turtle¡¯s head!¡± Kou n¡¯s leader swiftly made his decision.
After splitting their forces, the spirit boat boldly entered Peach Blossom Ind¡¯s airspace, hovering above ake shimmering like polished jade.
Boom!
Formation markings flickered across the spirit boat, channeling vast amounts of spiritual light into a massive bolt of lightning that struck the Watersun Formation below.
Within the formation, a radiant full moon shed with the thunder, rapidly draining its energy.
The deafening impact instantly triggered panic throughout the ind.
Shouts of battle, cries for help, and wails of despair mingled together as chaos began to spread¡
At Jade Cliff, the deafening noise jolted Lu Guo awake. As he stepped outside and assessed the situation, his heart sank with dread.
The Little Cloudrain Array flickered, dispersingyers of mist to reveal a hazy view of the chaos unfolding beyond.
A group of over a dozen Mid Qi Refinement cultivators, led by a middle-aged schr in Late Stage Qi Refinement, unleashed a barrage of magical artifacts and paper talismans against the formation.
¡°Unfortunate! Plunderer cultivators?!¡±
Lu Guo hastily retrieved a dual-headed golden shuttle artifact. Meanwhile, Hai Dagui, Widow Wang, and Wang Xiaohu emerged, their faces filled with deep concern.
¡°They¡¯re really here? Oh my god¡¡±
Hai Dagui¡¯s limbs trembled slightly, hands shaking as he held his paper talisman.
¡°We must confront them head-on!¡± Widow Wang brandished a long ck-ded artifact, shielding Wang Xiaohu behind her.
¡°As expected¡¡± Fang Xi, d in a blue mage robe, stepped out from the courtyard gate. His gaze remained calm, devoid of surprise, like still water.
¡°Master!¡± Seeing Fang Xi¡¯sposed demeanor, Hai Dagui and the others felt reassured, as if finding their steadfast leader amidst chaos.
¡°The enemy is formidable; our Little Cloudrain Array is only a mid-tier first-rank formation and won¡¯t withstand sustained bombardment¡ Once they breach it, the aftermath of their attacks will still destroy the spirit field.¡±
Fang Xi gently caressed the spirit seedlings, his expression filled with reluctance.
¡®At this critical moment, why worry about these spirit seedlings?¡¯ Lu Guo¡¯s eye twitched uncontrobly. Drawing from his years ofbat experience, he knew that as soon as therge array fell, they should leap into theke to escape, perhaps grasping onto a slim chance of survival!
After all, their side had just two individuals at the sixth level of Qi Refinement, while the opposing force boasted Late Stage Qi Refinement cultivators!
¡°Come, join me outside the array to confront the enemies!¡± Fang Xi retrieved a peach wood sword, gripped it firmly, and addressed Lu Guo and the others.
Without hesitation, he strode towards the edge of the formation, his face calm andposed.
¡°This¡¡± Hai Dagui gritted his teeth and followed closely behind.
¡°If you¡¯re seeking death, Master, don¡¯t drag us widows and orphans along¡¡± Widow Wang muttered angrily but also trailed after him.
¡°You lot¡ Ahh!¡± Lu Guo stomped his foot in frustration, swiftly assessing both sides¡¯ strengths before stopping at the boundary of the formation.
As Fang Xi stepped outside the Little Cloudrain Array¡¯s coverage, he spotted Mo Qingyu, now appearing middle-aged. ¡°Isn¡¯t this Fellow Daoist Mo Qingyu? How have you aged so drastically?¡±
¡°You old tortoise, today I¡¯ll finally chop off your dog head!¡± The sight of Fang Xi stirred both new and old grudges within Mo Qingyu.
Years ago, Fang Xi had humiliated him with a mere low-grade flying sword, a humiliation Mo Qingyu never forgot!
With a flick of his ivory fan, Mo Qingyu channeled the powerful magical energy of Late Stage Qi Refinement, creating streams of green spiritual light that formed razor-sharp wind des, sweeping towards Fang Xi.
Facing these deadly cyclonic des, Fang Xi performed a double-handed seal, ¡°Wooden Shield Technique!¡±
Rumble!
The ground cracked open, revealing a massive wooden wall akin to a colossal shield, effectively blocking all the green wind des. Although each de left deep gashes on the wooden shield, they ultimately failed to prate through it.
¡°This¡¡± Mo Qingyu¡¯s eye twitched as he eximed, ¡°You¡¯ve reached Late Stage Qi Refinement already?¡±
¡°It took me several decades to barely break through to thete stage! Aren¡¯t you at the same level?¡±
With a heartyugh, Fang Xi sped his hands together and shouted, ¡°Earth Spike Technique!¡±
Pffft! Pffft!
The ground split open, unleashing numerous wooden spikes with a ck iron sheen, each adorned with thorns.
Against Late Stage Qi Refinement magic, these Mid Qi Refinement Plunderers were practically defenseless, akin to sitting ducks. The wooden spikes pierced through their protective shields effortlessly, striking vital areas and causing blood to stter¡
In just one move, over a dozen Mid Qi Refinement Plunderers were annihted!
¡°This power¡ something¡¯s not right!¡± Mo Qingyu activated a green jade pendant, creating a shimmering barrier that barely repelled a single wooden spike. Suddenly, he realized confronting this individual tonight might have been a grave mistake.
¡®Divine sense assistance truly gives a formidable edge inbat¡¡¯
Currently, Fang Xi was indeed only utilizing magical energy from the seventhyer of Qi Refinement.
However, after two minor breakthroughs, his divine sense could now cover approximately twenty meters, making it highly effective for coordinating in battle. With divine sense at y, every movement and even the flow of his opponent¡¯s magical energy became crystal clear, almost as if cheating.
This allowed him to pinpoint vulnerabilities precisely, turning an ordinary ¡®Earth Spike Technique¡¯ into a deadly attack capable of ying multiple Mid Qi Refinement cultivators in a single strike.
Even their defensive weaknesses were crystal clear to him!
Thus, with just an ordinary ¡®Wood Thorn Technique¡¯, he could y over a dozen Mid Qi Refinement opponents.
¡®With divine sense assistance, I can achieve maximum results using minimal magical energy.¡¯
¡®Now, relying solely on magic spells, I am capable of defeating average Late Stage Qi Refinement cultivators!¡¯
Fang Xi let out a triumphantugh as his peach wood sword transformed into a streak of deep green light, soaring through the air.
¡°Ha!¡±
Mo Qingyu attempted to defend with his fan-shaped magical artifact, but after a few exchanges, he sensed something was amiss.
The peach wood sword consistently evaded critical strikes, effortlessly dodging his lethal moves, and each thrust came from unexpected angles, leaving him drenched in cold sweat. Without his jade pendant¡¯s defense, he might have been killed multiple times already!
¡°This¡¡±
Lu Guo also broke into a cold sweat, suddenly recalling stories from his childhood about how this man had single-handedly suppressed the entire Lu n with just one sword. Hisbat prowess was unrivaled on Peach Blossom Ind!
It seemed evident now that Fang Xi¡¯s skills remained razor-sharp!
No, perhaps it was more urate to say that the de had been sheathed all along, only revealing its sharpness today!
Mo Qingyu sensed defeat creeping in and frantically channeled magical energy into his ivory fan, deflecting Fang Xi¡¯s peach wood sword. He swiftly released several paper talismans to entangle Fang Xi while making a hasty retreat towards Mirror Moon Lake.
However, as he passed near a pit, an unexpected change urred!
Several seeds rapidly sprouted, and vines burst forth, ensnaring him instantly!
It was an Entangling Spell trap! Unbeknownst to Mo Qingyu, Fang Xi had anticipated his escape route beforehand.
With a swift movement, Fang Xi appeared before Mo Qingyu and casually delivered a p.
Crack!
The jade pendant shield shattered, followed by Mo Qingyu¡¯s skull deforming¡
¡°Master, your divine might!¡± Lu Guo, who had stepped out of the formation unnoticed, now stood alongside Hai Dagui, cheering for Fang Xi.
At that moment, Fang Xi nced towards Mirror Moon Lake, noticing faint flickers of firelight emerging from that direction.
¡°Is Mirror Moon Lake under attack? Could it be the silver-armored fiend?¡± Widow Wang¡¯s expression turned grim.
¡°You all, return to the formation and stay vignt. Do not venture outside!¡±
Fang Xi maintained his extended divine sense, relieved to find no Foundation Establishment cultivators nearby. With newfound confidence, he pointed at Lu Guo. ¡°Lu Guo, with your highest cultivation base among them, apany me to investigate Mirror Moon Lake¡¡±
Chapter 123: Rescue
Chapter 123: Rescue
¡®Oh no¡ Master noticed my earlier hesitation within the formation.¡¯
Lu Guo trailed behind Fang Xi, silentlymenting his predicament.
He realized that hisck of apparent loyalty had led to this critical moment, where instead of staying safely at Jade Cliff, he was now venturing into danger with Fang Xi.
¡®Fortunately¡ after Master shattered the defensive barrier with a single strike, it seems his Body Tempering cultivation also experienced a breakthrough. With both realms advancing, even if we encounter someone at Peak Qi Refining, we should still be able to hold our own for a while¡¡¯
Having gained experience through past adventures, Lu Guo¡¯s keen judgment told him that following Fang Xi during this chaos might actually be safer than remaining at Jade Cliff.
Fang Xi steered the ck Feather Boat, covering the distance of several miles swiftly.
Boom!
In the near vicinity, a spirit boat over thirty feet long unleashed relentless bombardment. Shockwaves and lightning danced wildly,bining with numerous magical artifacts¡¯ attacks, causing the moonlight illusion on Mirror Moon Lake to shatter instantly, revealing the vast structures beneath.
The Water-Moon Grand Formation, broken! ¡°This¡¡±
As Lu Guo saw a figure d in silver armor leap from the flying boat, he involuntarily eximed, ¡°It¡¯s a Silver-armored Demon?!¡±
He had hoped it was merely a group of ordinary tribtion cultivators, but instead, they encountered the worst-case scenario!
His face instantly turned grim.
¡°Ha ha¡ Kill!¡±
¡°Follow the boss, feast on victory!¡±
Rogue cultivators riding various magical artifacts descended like a swarm of locusts, setting aze both residences and spirit fields¡ mes soared high, dispersing the night¡¯s darkness for their amusement.
Soon, Twin Peaks were also engulfed in fire!
¡°Go!¡± Fang Xi shouted briefly, directing the ck Feather Boat towards Twin Peaks.
¡°Huh?¡± Lu Guo looked at his master, puzzled.
Without turning back, Fang Xi replied, ¡°My life is far too precious to directly confront such a powerful Silver-armored Demon. We¡¯ll head to Twin Peaks where there are fewer enemies; save as many as we can¡¡±
Inbat, he always emphasized overwhelming through superior realms.
His effortless defeat of Mo Qingyu earlier exemplified this strategy,bining mastery in Body Tempering, the ninth level of Qi Refining, and sheer dominance with divine sense!
Facing that pseudo-Silver-armored Demon, however, posed some risk.
After all, it was undoubtedly a master at least at the Peak Qi Refining level.
And Ruan Dan? What friendship did Fang Xi have with her?! In fact, there were minor grievances between them; thus, he wouldn¡¯t be med for not rescuing her¡
¡°I¡¯ll head to West Peak, you go to East Peak and check on Mu Zhong¡¯s family¡¡±
With a startled expression on Lu Guo¡¯s face, Fang Xi propelled him towards the eastern peak while flying himself to the west.
At West Peak:
The low-tier first-rank Illusion Formation had already been breached long ago.
From within the valley, continuous sounds ofbat echoed out.
Swish!
Witnessing this scene, Fang Xi felt a chill surge through him. He poured magical energy into the ck Feather Boat, transforming it into a streak of ck light as it swiftly entered the valley.
Inside the valley:
mes engulfed the flower garden, casting a crimson glow across the surroundings.
Hua Chanjuan and her daughter, wielding their magical artifacts, battled against a group of tribtion cultivators, clearly struggling at a disadvantage.
Bzzz!
Countless jade bees vibrated their wings, generating a thunderous hum. Under themand of a queen bee, about palm-sized and pristine like white jade, they continuously swarmed towards three cultivators.
Leading these three cultivators was a male with an eighthyer Qi Refinement cultivation base, his face twisted in a sinister grin. He controlled a red-skinned gourd, continuously spewing toxic smoke and mes that incinerated numerous jade bees.
The other two tribtion cultivators wielded sword-like magical artifacts, fiercely shing against those released by Hua Chanjuan.
¡°Forget about the old hag; keep the young one alive!¡± shouted the male cultivator at the eighthyer of Qi Refinement. ¡°I¡¯m currently mastering this ¡®Dragon Roar Art¡¯ and need some high-quality furnaces! Heh heh¡ girl, if you surrender quietly, I might consider sparing your mother!¡±
¡°Never!¡± With a fierce determination, Hua Chanjuan spat out a mouthful of vital blood and performed a cultivation technique.
Instantly, her flying de artifact glowed with a crimson aura, surging with immense magical energy, nearly reaching Late Stage Qi Refinement potency.
¡°Watch out, she¡¯s using a secret life-threatening technique!¡± The tribtion cultivators¡¯ artifacts were sliced apart by the scarlet de light.
Hua Chanjuan expelled another mouthful of vital blood, transforming her flying de into a streak of zing crimson, directly targeting the leading male cultivator!
¡°Heh heh, mere trifles!¡± The male cultivator sneered, calmly summoning a green shield that effortlessly repelled the de¡¯s glow.
With his cultivation at the eighthyer of Qi Refinement, even if Hua Chanjuan employed a vital energy-consuming secret technique to go all out, she could barely surpass Late Stage Qi Refinement for a few strikes - insufficient to harm him significantly!
¡°Yi Xi, I¡¯m going to detonate the queen bee, sacrificing myself to hold them off. You must flee immediately, don¡¯t look back!¡± Hua Chanjuan, her hair disheveled and blood seeping from the corner of her mouth, resembling a fearsome demon, whispered urgently to her daughter beside her.
Twenty-year-old Wei Yixi, now grown into a young woman, eyes red with emotion, choked out, ¡°Mother¡¡±
In this moment, mother and daughter faced imminent separation.
Boom! Boom!
The ground suddenly cracked, unleashing sharp wooden spikes in a surprise attack.
¡°Ahh!¡±
Amidst agonized screams, all tribtion cultivators except the male attacker met their demise instantly!
¡°Who¡¯s there?¡± Panicking, the male cultivator hastily positioned both his shield and gourd defensively around himself. ¡°My boss is the silver-armored figure! Daoist friend, think twice before acting!¡±
Swish! Swish!
From the surrounding gardens, roots of spirit flowers and nts rapidly grew, twisting into numerous dark green vines adorned with fine thorns, swiftly enveloping towards the male cultivator.
¡°Move!¡± With a grim expression, he performed a cultivation technique, unleashing a torrent of mes from his red gourd to scorch the vines.
Wave after wave of vines turned to charcoal, yet more continued to surge forth endlessly from the ground!
¡°Not good!¡±
Feeling the immense depletion of his magical energy and noticing his diminishing room for evasion, the male cultivator decided to retreat. He hastily released a blood-red escape talisman, ready to activate it.
Ping!
Amidst countless vines, a peach wood sword suddenly pierced through, striking against the blue shield with a crisp sound.
Following closely behind the flying sword was a human figure!
His fist surged with true astral energy, resembling a colossal axe capable of splitting the heavens, as it descended forcefully!
Boom!
The shield flew aside, and effortlessly, even the cultivator¡¯s magical energy barrier was torn apart.
In an instant, an astral energy bolt, akin to a flying sword, pierced through the male cultivator¡¯s forehead, leaving a tiny bloodied hole. He copsed onto the ground.
These swift actions unfolded like lightning, and throughout it all, the cultivator never had a chance to activate his life-saving paper talisman.
Countless vines recoiled back into the earth, revealing Fang Xi¡¯s slender figure, sturdy as a pine tree.
He smiled at Wei Yixi and promptly collected the fallen cultivator¡¯s bag of holding without hesitation. After a moment¡¯s thought, he also retrieved the nearby tribtion cultivator¡¯s corpse into the same bag.
¡°Uncle!¡±
Seeing the familiar figure just as she remembered, Wei Yixi eximed joyfully.
¡°Fellow Daoist Hua¡¡±
Fang Xi looked at Hua Chanjuan, noticing her rapidly fading vital signs.
¡°It¡¯s no concern; I merely expended some vital energy. I can still hold on! Won¡¯t die just yet!¡± Hua Chanjuan recalled her flying knife magical artifact, and strands of her remaining dark hair instantly turned white, making her appear several years older within moments.
¡°Mama¡¡±
Witnessing this transformation, tears welled up uncontrobly in Wei Yixi¡¯s eyes.
At East Twin Peak, Lu Guo wielded his shuttle-shaped magical artifact, transforming it into a streak of light that pierced through the chest of a tribtion cultivator unable to dodge.
¡°Dying¡ dying¡¡±
He was also holding onto a young boy, whom he had rescued from Mu Zhong¡¯s family. The situation there had been dire; Mu Zhong instructed Lu Guo to escape with the child while their entire family stayed behind to dy the attackers.
Despite their sacrifice, even as Lu Guo fled down the mountain with the boy, they were still pursued by tribtion cultivators.
¡°Heh heh¡ you think we¡¯d let you get away?¡± A female cultivator d in nearly translucent pce attire emerged from the darkness, smirking. ¡°It¡¯s only because our second-inmand heard about beautiful female cultivators on the West Peak, their yin essences intact, and rushed over impatiently. Otherwise, you wouldn¡¯t have made it this far¡¡±
¡°Headed to the West Peak, huh? They¡¯re likely doomed now¡¡± Lu Guo coughed, responding with a cold smile.
¡°You seek death!¡± The alluring yet icy-faced female tribtion cultivator waved her snowy-white serpent whip, ready to send Lu Guo to his demise.
Pffft! Pffft!
In the next instant, numerous vines erupted from the ground, swiftly entangling the surrounding tribtion cultivators.
¡°Is this¡the Entangling Spell? Help me!¡±
¡°How can such a basic spell be so powerful? Ah¡¡±
Countless thick vines ensnared the tribtion cultivators, constricting like pythons with relentless force until their bones snapped and they perished.
¡°Ah, spare me, Senior! Spare me!¡± The expression of the alluring female cultivator drastically changed as she knelt, pleading for mercy.
In the next instant, a merciless wooden splinter pierced her exquisite head without hesitation.
¡°Lu Guo¡¡± A flying boat halted nearby, Wei Yixi¡¯s voice resonating from it; she still recognized this helpfulpanion.
¡°Hua Auntie, I¡¯m relieved you¡¯re both safe!¡± Lu Guo spotted Hua Chanjuan and her daughter, visibly easing his tension.
¡°All right, take him along, and prepare to leave.¡± Fang Xi stood at the bow of the ck Feather Boat, hands sped behind his back, gazing towards Mirror Moon Lake.
With so many people aboard, the ck Feather Boat appeared quite crowded.
This was all he could manage; the rest would merely involve staunchly defending Jade Cliff.
Hmm, if these tribtion cultivators ventured into his territory, it might indeed be quite a spectacle.
Jade Cliff was his stronghold, fortified by the Demon Tree, making it virtually impregnable¡
At Mirror Moon Lake.
¡°Kill them!¡±
¡°Charge!¡±
Young men and women, mostly in their twenties, eyes filled with fervor, fiercely engaged at the frontline.
The glow of magical artifacts and paper talismans illuminated the area, but due to their shallow realms and weak magical power, they were often swiftly overwhelmed by tribtion cultivators, resulting in decapitation after just a few exchanges.
These individuals were past generations¡¯ immortal sprouts, raised from childhood with unwavering loyalty. They represented the most devoted group to Ruan Xingling and were meant to be the future backbone of her forces, yet now, they met meaningless deaths¡
It was eerily reminiscent of the Lu n¡¯s annihtion decades ago.
Bang!
Kou n¡¯s leader, d in white turtle armor, crushed someone¡¯s head underfoot, akin to a cat ying with its prey. He scrutinized a young girl dressed in red across from him, standing before a tier-2 spirit peach tree.
With his strength, he could effortlessly kill Ruan Dan, but orders demanded she be taken alive. Thus, Kou n¡¯s leader didn¡¯t mind indulging in some sport.
¡°You fiend!¡± Ruan Dan spat, crossing her hands to ring the ¡®Mind-Bewitching Bells¡¯.
Jingle!
As the crisp bell sound echoed, Kou n¡¯s leader momentarily froze.
Seizing this opportunity, Ruan Dan quickly activated a terrifying tier-one high-grade talisman. A sh of lightning pierced through, shattering Kou n leader¡¯s magical force shield.
¡®A chance!¡¯ Ruan Dan¡¯s expression hardened as she unleashed both her red ribbon and mirror artifacts, wielding a short jade-red sword. With a swift motion like a rainbow piercing the sun, she aimed straight for Kou n leader¡¯s throat!
That junction between the armor seemed rtively weaker, potentially a vulnerable spot!
Chapter 124: Unique Treasure
Puff!
The blood-red sword light encountered a massive hand encased in white jade armor, dispersing like waves crashing against rocks and instantly shattering.
¡°Little girl, you¡¯re still too inexperienced to match wits with me!¡± The leader of the Kou n sneered menacingly, his tone mocking.
Ruan Dan, being only at the Mid Qi Refinement realm, posed no threat with her red ribbon or mirror magical artifacts against him, protected by the white turtle shell.
As for the unexpected flying sword?
With his left hand gripping the de, he gently flicked it away. The short sword emitted a mournful cry as it spun off into the distance.
Just as Ruan Dan prepared to dodge, she felt a sudden sharp pain in her right arm.
In the next instant, the Silver-armored Demon appeared beside her, seizing her wrist.
With a casual twist, her right arm contorted into a twisted knot resembling a pretzel. Puff!
Ruan Dan swiftly unleashed a burst of sword qi, severing her own arm, and retreated hastily, battered and disheveled.
¡°Not bad, little girl. You¡¯ve got some grit; I like that!¡± Holding her severed hand, the leader of the Kou n praised nonchntly. ¡°Your master has a deep grudge against me, so I¡¯ll make sure to torment you thoroughly before spreading the news far and wide. Ha ha, let¡¯s see if she dares to return then¡¡±
¡°You dare not touch me!¡±
Ruan Dan¡¯s eyes turned bloodshot as she clutched the wound on her arm.
A severed arm was rtively easy to heal with various potent spiritual medicines. However, when twisted like a pretzel andpletely rupturing the qi passageways, recovery became significantly more challenging, requiring rare tier-2 spiritual pills or direct intervention from a Core Formation patriarch.
Such severe injury would hinder Ruan Dan¡¯s future cultivation; even if she could still reach Peak Qi Refinement, breaking through Foundation Establishment would be exponentially harder due to the increased difficulty of oveing blood qi barriers!
In essence, her Dao path had beenrgely obstructed!
¡°Chuckle¡¡± Kou n¡¯s leader sneered, mes igniting in his palm as he reduced Ruan Dan¡¯s arm to ashes. ¡°Next, I¡¯ll destroy your dantian and sea of qi, rendering you utterly useless! Don¡¯t even think about self-destruction; in my presence, suicide is not an option¡¡±
Ruan Dan¡¯s face paled involuntarily.
¡°Oh? And pray tell, what grudge have we ever shared?¡±
In the next instant, petals danced wildly across the sky!
A figure gracefully appeared, emanating the formidable magical energy characteristic of Peak Qi Refinement!
¡°Master!¡± Ruan Dan felt both ted and deeply regretful¡
Her joy stemmed from finding salvation at the brink of despair, but her regret¡
¡°Haha, still haven¡¯t achieved Foundation Establishment!¡±
Kou n¡¯s leaderughed uproariously. ¡°Today, finally, I will avenge my second brother!¡±
¡°Second brother, that voice¡ You must be the leader of the Kou n?!¡±
Ruan Xingling¡¯s flight abruptly halted; within just a few exchanges, she had deduced the identity of the Silver-armored Demon.
¡°So what if you know? Time to die, bastard!¡± The Kou n leader¡¯s magical energy surged as he wielded a massive ck sword with one hand and summoned a golden flood dragon hammer with the other.
Suddenly,
Puff, puff, puff!
The ground cracked open, and tendrils like tentacles emerged, binding the Kou n leader¡¯s limbs.
¡°Peach Bell Fairy, my apologies for arrivingte!¡± Amidst a longughter, Fang Xi steered the ck Feather Boat, rushing to the scene with Lu Guo and others in tow.
¡°It¡¯s the Ind Lord!¡±
Seeing Ruan Xingling arrive, Hua Chanjuan and herpanions felt emboldened and fiercely reengaged the Plunderer Cultivators below.
¡°Another Late Stage Qi Refiner?¡± Kou n¡¯s leader frowned deeply.
The difference between Mid and Late Stage Qi Refinement was significant, nearly doubling one¡¯s magical energy¡ªa far greater disparity than the slight increase from seventh to eighthyers of Qi Refinement!
This neer represented a substantial game-changer!
Of course, his team of Plunderer Cultivators boasted several experts, but both the second-inmand at West Twin Peak and Mo Qingyu heading towards Jade Valley¡had gone silent without any updates!
¡°Could it be him?!¡± Ruan Dan stared at Fang Xi, particrly sensing his surging magical energy at the seventhyer of Qi Refinement, feeling utterly humiliated, as if he¡¯d be aughingstock!
¡°Damn it, another old foe resurfacing! Is Mo Qingyu truly a fool or already dead?¡±
With a fierce shout, the Kou n leader activated a paper talisman ced on his chest.
Instantly, his body swelled, nearly ripping the white turtle shell apart as he transformed into a small armored giant.
The special vines binding his hands and feet also snapped simultaneously.
Puff!
He swung his ck heavy sword, which streaked like lightning, swiftly closing in on Fang Xi!
Bam!
The Green Turtle Shield¡¯s water elemental barrier shattered instantly, followed by the turtle shell itself, splintering under the impact of the ck sword.
However, this significantly slowed down the momentum of the de.
Fang Xi slightly bent forward and struck the heavy sword with his palm.
ng!
The pitch-ck sword flew sideways, revealing a faint crack on its surface.
Just for show, far inferior to my ck Iron Sword!
If not for needing to conceal his identity, Fang Xi would have eagerly drawn the ck Iron Sword to dispatch this adversary in one swift blow.
It was high time to settle their fateful entanglement with the Kou n brothers!
In mid-air, Ruan Xingling stood atop her basket magical artifact, controlling a flying sword that fiercely battled against the golden flood dragon hammer, seemingly gaining the upper hand.
Once reliant on specialized artifacts, her cultivation had now reached the great circle of Qi Refinement, allowing her to evenly match skills with the Kou n leader alone.
Moreover, having Fang Xi nearby, already at Late Stage Qi Refinement, further added pressure on their opponents.
¡°Fellow Daoist Fang, could you please distract him momentarily¡¡±
Ruan Xingling produced an ancient bronze sword, covered with rust and disying a simple, antiquated design. It even bore traces of soil, as if freshly unearthed.
¡°Perfect!¡± Fang Xi nodded, drawing his peach wood sword, and charged forward immediately.
Having recently broken through to Late Stage Qi Refinement and also advancing to the thirdyer in Body Tempering was quite advantageous.
With this dual cultivation approach, despite having a slightly weaker cultivation base, he could still effectively contain Kou n¡¯s leader for some time.
Initially, Fang Xi had no intention of involving himself in Ruan Dan¡¯s fate.
However, upon seeing that Ruan Xingling had already returned, it seemed natural to lend support on the battlefield.
Whoosh!
The peach wood sword in Fang Xi¡¯s hand became a streak of dark green light, each strike targeting vital points on Kou n¡¯s leader without fail.
While Kou n¡¯s leader dared to directly face Ruan Dan¡¯s flying sword attacks, he genuinely feared confronting Fang Xi¡¯s sword res and hastily avoided them instead.
Pfft!
Under the sword¡¯s impact, a shallow mark appeared instantly on the white turtle shell.
In the next moment, Fang Xi¡¯s figure shed, evading one of Kou n leader¡¯s lightning attribute paper talismans.
¡°Damn¡ This guy¡¯s movement is too swift!¡±
Kou n¡¯s leader attempted several times to eliminate Fang Xi first but was consistently thwarted by Fang Xi¡¯s agile maneuvers, leading to mounting frustration.
Meanwhile, Ruan Xingling muttered incantations under her breath, channeling vast amounts of spiritual energy into the ancient bronze sword, causing it to emit a terrifying aura!
¡°That¡¯s¡a unique treasure?!¡± Fang Xi¡¯s pupils contracted slightly, observing the battlefield continuously with his divine sense.
Qi Refinement cultivators use magical artifacts! Foundation Establishment cultivators employ spirit artifacts! Core Formation patriarchs wield magical treasures!
And unique treasures belong to a separate category, distinct from this hierarchy!
The primary difference lies in their universalpatibility; anyone can refine them without designated ownership. Once acquired, there is no need to erase previous magical energy imprints, unlike with magical treasures that cannot be stored within oneself.
Some exceptionally powerful unique treasures can even greatly benefit Core Formation patriarchs.
However, Ruan Xingling¡¯s ancient bronze sword was clearly not of such caliber, but rather among the lowest tier, suitable for showcasing prowess during the Qi Refinement stage!
Despite its limitations, when wielding this unique treasure, her attacks likely surpassed only those achievable by using ¡®talisman treasures,¡¯ which sacrifice some potency for ease of creation.
Noticing that Ruan Xingling had activated her unique treasure, Fang Xi deliberately took a punch from the Kou n leader, using the impact to swiftly retreat and create distance.
His divine sense also detected that the Kou n leader likely harbored a formidable trump card, yet chose not to waste it on him!
If they continued entangled until his opponent faced imminent peril, the oue could be unpredictable!
Regardless, Fang Xi had already demonstrated what a typical Late Stage Qi Refinement cultivator plus a body refinement practitioner could achieve. It was now time for Ruan Xingling to handle the rest herself.
¡°Go!¡±
In mid-air, Ruan Xingling extended her right hand, holding the ancient bronze sword aloft, which emitted a brilliant aura.
The sword glint shimmered, resembling a frenzied dance of a celestial dragon, swiftly striking towards Kou n¡¯s leader¡¯s chest.
In rapid session, he hurled multiple paper talismans:
mes!
Ice Rain!
Lightning!
Countless magic spell auras flickered but were effortlessly pierced by the ancient bronze sword, directly impaling his torso.
¡°Ugh!¡±
Kou n¡¯s leader coughed out a mouthful of blood, yet a triumphant smile appeared in his eyes.
Under the cover of exploding spell lights, a tiny ck thunder pellet silently materialized beside Ruan Xingling and suddenly detonated!
Boom!
Terrifying lightning surged, engulfing Ruan Xingling within its st.
¡°No!¡± Witnessing this, Ruan Dan couldn¡¯t help but scream in anguish.
¡°Haha¡ Finally¡ finally¡ avenged!¡± Kou n¡¯s leader muttered, gazing at the ancient bronze sword lodged in his chest. The de had prated through the white turtle shell, deeply piercing him as blood continuously dripped down.
With a thud, Ruan Dan copsed onto the ground, his life force extinguished.
¡°Revenge?¡± A soft voice echoed unexpectedly - it was Ruan Xingling!
She gracefully approached from another direction, her attire pristine and undamaged, showing no signs of injury.
¡°Ind Lord¡ you¡¯re unharmed?¡± Fang Xi feigned surprise.
In truth, his divine sense had already detected that after summoning the ancient bronze sword to attack, Ruan Xingling secretly used an ¡®illusion talisman¡¯. This created an identical phantom to take the blow while she discreetly employed the Invisibility Spell to distance herself unnoticed.
¡°I¡¯m not sure why this person harbored such deep hatred towards me, so I had to be cautious,¡± Ruan Xingling calmly replied, her tone turning cold. ¡°The Silver Armored Demon is dead; shouldn¡¯t you all surrender immediately?¡±
¡°Oh no, our boss is dead!¡±
¡°Quick, run!¡±
The Plunderer Cultivators scattered hastily, with many falling victim to the pursuing Peach Blossom Ind cultivators.
Ruan Xingling merely observed this scene indifferently, without joining the pursuit.
She approached the fallen leader of the Kou n, retrieved her ancient bronze sword, and then turned to Fang Xi, saying, ¡°This enemy was in by ourbined efforts, Fellow Daoist Fang. Let¡¯s divide the spoils equally, how about it?¡±
¡°Your prowess is exceptional, Ind Lord. I only provided minor distractions¡¡±
Fang Xi picked up the dead leader¡¯s bag of holding and handed it to Ruan Xingling.
Using her magical energy, Ruan Xingling erased the imprint on the bag, then tossed it back to Fang Xi, stating, ¡°Choose first¡ you lead.¡±
Fang Xi epted the bag, scanning it with divine sense. He discovered its internal space was surprisinglyrge, even containing a flying boat over thirty feet long!
Unfortunately, most items inside were not particrly useful for him.
After some thought, he nced at the golden hammer lying abandoned after losing control: ¡°I¡¯ll take this high-grade magical artifact!¡±
Chapter 125: Golden Flood Dragon Shears
In reality, the most valuable item on the eldest Kou brother was his ¡®White Turtle Shell Armor¡¯! Despite being damaged, it still held greater worth than a high-grade magical artifact.
Apart from that, therge flying boat was also quite valuable.
Unfortunately, neither held much use for Fang Xi.
He preferred obtaining the spacious bag of holding instead!
¡°Golden Flood Dragon Hammer?!¡± Ruan Xingling seemed surprised, as she had initially expected him to choose the set of spirit armor.
However, she didn¡¯t voice any objections and swiftlypleted the distribution with Fang Xi.
¡°The Ind Lord must have other important matters upon return today. I won¡¯t disturb further; please do visit Jade Cliff another day, my hospitality awaits!¡±
Surveying the surrounding wreckage, Fang Xi bowed respectfully before taking his leave.
Lu Guo closely followed behind Fang Xi, both ascending onto the ck Feather Boat which transformed into a streak of light, vanishing swiftly into the distance. ¡°Master!¡±
Ruan Dan approached, her arm severed and eyes reddened with distress.
¡°Idiot!¡± Ruan Xingling¡¯s delicate brows furrowed sternly, her tone icy cold. ¡°I clearly gave you a Yin-Yang Sensing Talisman. Why did you not use it? If not for hearing about the incident at ck Sand Ind, your master might not have rushed back in time. Even achieving Foundation Establishment would have been overshadowed by lifelong regret¡¡±
At Jade Cliff.
Within the underground cave.
¡®After all, they contributed the most effort. Taking the highest value items right away would be quite tactless¡¡¯
¡®Besides, I already have spirit snake armor.¡¯
Beneath the Demon Tree, Fang Xi sat cross-legged.
Suddenly, he pped his bag of holding, revealing several blood-soaked corpses - all from today¡¯s Cmity Cultivators encounter.
Rustle!
From the Demon Tree, numerous aerial roots descended, piercing into the corpses and suspending them aloft.
As this urred, the bodies rapidly withered, transforming into swaying mummies.
The scene appeared exceptionally sinister and terrifying.
¡°Indeed¡ cultivators¡¯ flesh is rich in spiritual energy, far surpassing even spirit rice or Beefwood for the Demon Tree¡¡±
Sensing the mixed emotions of joy and craving emanating from the Demon Tree, Fang Xi¡¯s expression remained unsettled.
He hadn¡¯t yet reached desperation; using humans as fertilizer was best avoided whenever possible.
After some thought, he finally produced the corpse of the second-inmand, who was at the eighthyer of Qi Refinement.
¡°What a pity! If it were the elder Kou n leader¡¯s body, I definitely would¡¯ve made him into a puppet. With his third-stage Body Refinement, he¡¯d be akin to a humanoid mythical beast¡¡±
However, considering the ¡®Silver-armored Demon¡¯ was Kou n¡¯s leader, his corpse might need to be handed over for investigation, so Fang Xi never considered using it.
Now, gazing at the second-inmand¡¯s body at the eighthyer of Qi Refinement, he decided after some thought to let the Demon Tree absorb it.
As the Demon Tree consumed the flesh and blood of an eighthyer Qi Refinement cultivator, its branches wildly thrashed with increased fervor.
Plop!
Suddenly, one of the pneumatophores descended and pierced into Fang Xi¡¯s back.
¡°Ah!¡± Fang Xi sighed contentedly, feeling deeply satisfied.
With this infusion, he sensed that his longevity had increased by at least thirty days!
Over these past few years, as the Demon Tree consistently consumed high-quality Beefwood, the daily supply of life force provided to him had steadily grown stronger¡
Currently, Fang Xi could vaguely discern his maximum lifespan, which now approached approximately two hundred years.
This already rivaled some Foundation Establishment cultivators!
Bloodlust flickered in his eyes, fueling an insatiable desire within him: ¡°Kill¡and devour! As long as I devour enough¡I will achieve¡immortality!!!¡±
The Demon Tree, filled with excitement, its vines and branches swayed wildly, even extending beneath the houses of Widow Wang and Hai Dagui. With just a single thought from Fang Xi, they could¡
¡°No!¡±
In the next instant, Fang Xi forcefullymanded the Demon Tree to retract its tendrils, his expression turning grimly troubled. ¡°Was that¡ almost a qi deviation, or something else?¡±
Had he followed that impulse, it might have escted uncontrobly, potentially leading to the absorption of every cultivator on the ind!
Such actions were not aligned with his nature or intentions.
¡°What¡¯s happening¡to me?¡± Fang Xi immediately sat cross-legged and began circting the Evesting Spring Art.
As a refreshing sensation permeated his body, the previous inner restlessness swiftly dissipated.
He severed the pneumatophores connected to him, gazing at the massive Demon Tree with a clouded expression. ¡°Is this the¡instinct of the Demon Tree?¡±
This spirit nt seemed inherently cruel by nature.
Initially, after refining it, there appeared no issues, but gradually, subtle influences started surfacing.
Several dayster.
In the courtyard, Fang Xi sat beneath a peach tree, sipping his spirit tea leisurely.
Since that unusual incident, everything had remained calm with no further urrences. Despite multiple attempts toprehend the ¡®Longevity Technique¡¯, he found no solution to his predicament.
Thus, adhering to the principle of bncing work and rest, he decided to pause his cultivation for a few days. Each day, he indulged in tea drinking as a form of self-care, focusing on nurturing both body and mind.
Taking a light sip of the spirit tea, he suddenly waved his hand.
Instantaneously, three gleaming high-grade magical artifacts appeared on the table - a de, a sword, and a hammer!
The sword was his Golden Flood Dragon Sword, which held sentimental value after years ofpanionship, now fully repaired from its previous damage.
¡°Fittingly, I¡¯ve collected the Kou n¡¯s trio of golden flood dragon artifacts¡ Although they aren¡¯t particrly useful,¡± Fang Xi remarked sarcastically.
These three renowned high-grade magical artifacts were widely known in Qingzhu Mountain Market. He never imagined there woulde a day when he¡¯d possess all of them.
¡°Guess it satisfies my small collecting habit somewhat¡ Wait, something seems off?¡±
With a sweep of his divine sense, just as he prepared to return the items to his bag of holding, he noticed something amiss.
As Fang Xi examined the three artifacts closely, he sensed a hidden intricacy that intriguingly aligned with the concept of bined magical artifacts¡¯ from his artificing legacy.
¡°Could it be¡?¡±
Fang Xi¡¯s eyes lit up as he picked up the Golden Flood Dragon de and noticed a groove on its de, perfectly matching the shape of the Golden Flood Dragon Sword¡
Simrly, the Golden Flood Dragon Hammer seemed to have separableponents¡
¡°This isn¡¯t just a set of artifacts, but rather¡a single artifact! Wait¡¡±
After a moment, Fang Xibined the trio of Golden Flood Dragon artifacts, revealing a brand new magical tool before him.
It was a massive pair of shears, adorned with golden scales, emanating a profound aura and dazzling spiritual light.
¡°Not just any magical artifact, this is¡a spirit artifact meant for Foundation Establishment cultivators!¡±
¡°A low-grade spirit artifact¡ªthe Golden Flood Dragon Shears!¡± Fang Xi¡¯s eyes sparkled brightly.
Unbeknownst to him, years ago, the Kou brothers had identally stumbled upon a Foundation Establishment cultivator¡¯s immortal¡¯s cave, obtaining numerous opportunities, one of which included this very low-grade spirit artifact!
However, Qi Refinement cultivators typically struggled to use spirit artifacts. Upon studying it, the Kou brothers discovered that this particr spirit artifact was unique; it could be disassembled into three high-grade magical artifacts, allowing them each to utilize a portion.
Now, these three artifacts finally reunited!
¡°A spirit artifact usable only by Foundation Establishment cultivators?!¡± Fang Xi¡¯s interest piqued as he channeled Evesting Spring Art¡¯s magical energy into the Golden Flood Dragon Shears.
Soon, a strained expression appeared on his face, while the shears began to emit a faint glow and levitate, radiating powerful spiritual fluctuations.
¡®The potency seemsparable to Ruan Xingling¡¯s unique treasure?¡¯
¡®But the energy consumption is significantly higher; I don¡¯t recall her struggling this much¡ Even though she was at the great circle of Qi Refinement, just one level ahead of me¡¡¯
¡®It confirms that spirit artifacts truly aren¡¯t suited for Qi Refinement cultivators.¡¯
Fang Xi had heard that within Foundation Establishment cultivators, their magical energy condenses into a liquid state, vastly different from the gaseous form possessed by Qi Refinement cultivators!
Even with merely a single drop, they can unleash tremendous power when casting low-level magic spells, effortlessly annihting Qi Refinement cultivators!
¡°The inherent strength of their magical energy transforms ordinary spells and artifacts into marvels.¡±
His desire for reaching Foundation Establishment grew stronger.
Simultaneously, he couldn¡¯t help but envy Ruan Xingling. Her unique treasure clearly consumed less energy yet delivered greater impact, making it far superior to these battered shears.
Thinking about Ruan Xingling, Fang Xi sighed once more.
In that crucial moment, she arrived just in time and killed the Silver-armored Demon. Although it appeared as a victory, in reality, they had lost¡
As he pondered, Fang Xi sensed something amiss, his expression shifted abruptly. He stored the Golden Flood Dragon Shears away securely and proactively opened the formation.
Shortly after, Ruan Xingling gracefully entered.
¡°Greetings, Ind Lord!¡±
Fang Xi casually bowed with sped hands and smiled, ¡°Please, have a seat and enjoy some tea!¡±
Ruan Xingling sat across from Fang Xi, picked up the teacup, took a delicate sip, and couldn¡¯t help but express her admiration, ¡°Your tea artistry has truly improved, Fellow Daoist Fang. Out there, I often miss the fine teas and exquisite wines here¡¡±
¡°How is your disciple doing?¡± Fang Xi asked nonchntly while retrieving pastries.
Mentioning Ruan Dan, a mix of anger and sorrow surfaced on Ruan Xingling¡¯s face, ¡°Her physical magic body suffered severe damage; the prospects for reaching Foundation Establishment now seem dim¡ Hmph, during the rampage of the Silver-armored Demon, where was the Thirty-Six Inds¡¯w enforcement team? I must seek justice from the alliance regarding this matter!¡±
Judging by Ruan Xingling¡¯s demeanor, she intended to pursue formal channels for redress within the Thirty-Six Inds Alliance, rather than having Peach Blossom Ind break away from it!
The implications were significant. Once leaving the Thirty-Six Inds Alliance, they would be enemies! Even if justified, their position would turn untenable.
By pursuing formal channels for appeal instead, it signaled unwillingness to escte tensions - maintaining harmony and ensuring mutual benefits. Consequently, those above must providepensation and appeasement!
From this response alone, Fang Xi recognized that Ruan Xingling remainedposed and rational.
¡°This time, I truly owe you a debt of gratitude; Peach Blossom Ind might not have endured until my arrival otherwise¡¡±
Ruan Xingling stood up, performing a graceful bow.
¡°Please don¡¯t overstate your thanks, Ind Lord¡¡± Fang Xi waved his hands repeatedly, then poured another cup of spirit tea for Ruan Xingling. ¡°Actually, there¡¯s something I¡¯ve been wanting to ask about¡ Foundation Establishment!¡±
Having steadily umted strength, he finally broke through to the seventhyer of Qi Refinement, making it reasonable for him to inquire about Foundation Establishment matters now.
As for revealing his true cultivation base?
With the Demon Tree storing his magical energy, Ruan Xingling couldn¡¯t detect it at all. After all, shecked divine sense abilities.
¡°Foundation Establishment¡¡±
Ruan Xingling¡¯s face involuntarily twisted with a bitter smile. ¡°To the Yue Kingdom cultivation world, Wan Ind Lake is considered barren, with very few opportunities for Foundation Establishment¡ As for those chances within the entire Yue Kingdom, most are controlled by the Profound Sky Sect. Even the seven great ns and Five Great Sects struggle to obtain Foundation Establishment Pills¡ However, they asionally manage to secure secondary-grade Foundation Establishment spirit items, ensuring their family legacies continue.¡±
¡°On this journey, I traveled extensively before finally settling in Bai Ze Immortal City, preparing for my own Foundation Establishment. But upon hearing about ck Sand Ind¡¯s destruction, I had no choice but to return¡¡±
Fang Xi¡¯s expression grew solemn. The news of the Silver-armored Demon annihting ck Sand Ind had spread widely throughout the Yue Kingdom¡¯s cultivation world, and it was clear without guessing that the mastermind behind it was linked to Wan Ind Lake¡¯s Foundation Establishment powers.
Their aim: to thwart Ruan Xingling¡¯s path to Foundation Establishment!
Chapter 126: High-Grade Formation Master
Chapter 126: High-Grade Formation Master
¡°Truly unfortunate¡¡±
Fang Xi couldn¡¯t help but feel sorry for Ruan Xingling.
Upon reaching Foundation Establishment, one gains a lifespan of two hundred years, truly stepping into the realm of immortality!
This woman possessedmendable aptitude, temperament, and opportunities; there was indeed hope for her to achieve Foundation Establishment.
The interruption this time could be considered a significant missed chance.
¡°If not for this incident, I wouldn¡¯t have realized how deeply corrupt the alliance has be¡¡± Ruan Xingling scoffed bitterly.
¡°Announcing Peach Blossom Ind¡¯s departure from the Thirty-Six Inds Alliance would likely provoke Yu Lingzi and the other Foundation Establishment cultivator within the alliance. They could then openly attack and annihte us!¡±
¡°This matter may involve the ¡®Three Upper Families¡¯,¡± Fang Xi concluded after a moment of contemtion.
The Three Upper Families of the Thirty-Six Indsprised Taishu, Yuchi, and Xiahou ns, each boasting multiple Late Stage Qi Refinement cultivators and patriarchs at the great circle of Qi Refinement. Some even suspected hidden n members who had secretly achieved Foundation Establishment! The establishment of the Spirit Hollow Market wasrgely decided by these Three Upper Families.
¡°Fortunately, their goal has been achieved, and they willpensate us further¡¡±
Ruan Xingling¡¯s smile held a hint of bitterness.
¡°We still don¡¯t know what exactly the Ind Lord obtained this time¡¡± Fang Xi¡¯s eyes flickered, probing for crucial information.
¡°On my recent visit to Baize Immortal City, I seized a significant opportunity. I managed to gather several rare hundred-year-old spirit medicines, intending to coborate with a renowned pill-concocting master to create a ¡®Foundation Establishment Pill¡¯!¡± Ruan Xingling smoothed her hair, revealing the truth directly.
Baize Immortal City was located at the intersection of Yue, Wu, and Wood Nations, nestled against the Myriad Beasts Mountain Range. It boasted abundant resources, overseen by a Core Formation patriarch and protected by third-order defensive arrays. Within the city,bat and killing were strictly prohibited.
Moreover, apart from Gold Core sects like the Profound Sky Sect, it was the only known source where Foundation Establishment Pills might be avable!
¡°A Foundation Establishment Pill!¡±
Even Fang Xi couldn¡¯t help but marvel at Ruan Xingling¡¯s remarkable fortune. Initially, he had assumed she merely acquired one type of Foundation Establishment spirit object. To his surprise, she had a chance to obtain a Foundation Establishment Pill! No wonder other factions were growing anxious.
Other Foundation Establishment spirit items, such as malevolent qi for body tempering, not only had significantly lower sess ratespared to the Foundation Establishment Pill, but alsocked its protective effect on the qi passageways, ensuring survival even if the attempt failed.
This safeguard allowed cultivators to approach their breakthrough with greater confidence, which itself contributed positively to achieving sessful Foundation Establishment.
Through further questioning, Fang Xi learned that Baize Immortal City housed several renowned pill-concocting masters who eptedmissions for crafting Foundation Establishment Pills, provided the client supplied the necessary raw materials.
Their sess rates appeared quite promising, making them the best hope for rogue cultivators from the nearby three kingdoms seeking Foundation Establishment.
¡°However, this time I coborated with limited spirit medicines, and if fewer than two pills result, my prospects won¡¯t be too favorable¡¡± Ruan Xingling revealed candidly. ¡°After learning about ck Sand Ind¡¯s destruction, sensing trouble, I exchanged some hundred-year-old spirit nts for the exotic treasure ¡®Ancient Bronze Sword¡¯ and hastily returned¡¡±
¡°Sigh¡ Achieving Foundation Establishment as a rogue cultivator is harder than ascending to heaven!¡±
Fang Xi refrained from asking why Ruan Xingling didn¡¯t retrieve those few spirit medicines and seek coboration elsewhere next time.
Within Baize Immortal City, there might be factions targeting her¡ªor more precisely¡the spirit medicines she possessed!
The prospect of obtaining a Foundation Establishment Pill was enticing enough to stir even Foundation Stage powers.
If not for exchanging them for an immediatebat boost with the ancient bronze sword, Ruan Xingling may never have returned safely!
¡°Without the support of a Foundation Stage mentor, achieving Foundation Establishment indeed requires significant fortune. Perhaps my opportunities were insufficient¡¡± Ruan Xinglingmented.
Fang Xi silently took note of Ruan Xingling¡¯s cautionary tale. Even in Baize Immortal City, having Core Formation patriarchs overseeing matters did not guaranteeplete safety.
While these Foundation Stage factions appeared civilized on the surface, beneath it all, they remained ruthless predators!
Although directbat is forbidden in Baize Immortal City, unting wealth could still invite forceful theft.
¡®It seems relying on others for pill concoction is highly unreliable.¡¯
¡®Winning at auctions only draws more attention.¡¯
¡®What should I n for the future?¡¯
After Ruan Xingling left, Fang Xi continued to assess his newfound resources.
The ¡®Azure Origin Shield¡¯ from the second-inmand was a high-grade defensive magical artifact, perfectly suitable as a recement for his now destroyed Green Turtle Shield.
As Fang Xi had reached Late Stage Qi Refinement, upgrading his magical artifacts became essential.
Additionally, Ruan Xingling did not im the Kou n leader¡¯s bag of holding, leaving it directly for Fang Xi.
However, the massive spirit boat held no use for Fang Xi, so he handed it over to Ruan Xingling.
In total, the contents of the Kou n leader¡¯s bag of holding were estimated to be worth around one thousand spirit stones, which Fang Xi and Ruan Xingling divided equally.
Combined with contributions from other Plunderer Cultivators, his apparent wealth grew immensely.
These newly acquired spirit stones could be openly spent without issue.
As for the earlier stash, considered stolen goods, he still needed to find a way to discreetly sell them¡
One yearter.
Fang Xi turned forty-four years old.
¡°Not bad, not bad. Four sessful pills, even the challenging ¡®Qingzhi Pill¡¯ can¡¯t stump me now¡¡±
Ever since learning about Ruan Xingling¡¯s predicament, he had quietly increased his time spent on refining medicinal pills.
At this point, he sessfully produced even one of the more difficult tier-one high-grade pills, the Qingzhi Pill.
¡°After all, my study of pill concoction is akin to that of a Foundation Establishment cultivator, and I¡¯ve devoted several years to it¡¡±
¡°Next, should I attempt to refine tier-2 medicinal pills?¡±
Unfortunately, there were two significant issues.
The first problem was theck of tier-2 pill forms! Fang Xi initially acquired only the first-rank legacy of pill concoction.
The second issue was the absence of intrinsic true fire, which only Foundation Establishment cultivators possess.
However, after thorough research in ancient texts, Fang Xi found an alternative solution - using earthme!
Regrettably, Peach Blossom Ind did not have any essible earthme veins.
Even if such veins existed, constant ess for pill concoction would be highly unlikely.
¡°The reason why first-tier spirit wood charcoal falls shortpared to second-tier earthme is twofold: firstly, insufficient firepower, and secondly, instability¡¡±
¡°These two issues can actually be addressed through an array¡ By designing a ¡®Fire Gathering Formation¡¯, we can maintain long-term stability usingrge quantities of spirit wood charcoal¡¡±
Fang Xi pondered for a moment and began sketching rough diagrams within a jade slip.
Suddenly, his eyes lit up, ¡°I understand now¡¡±
In that instant, drawing connections from simr concepts, he resolved the challenging problems he had been grappling with in tier-1 formations!
¡°The hundred skills of cultivation indeed share many interrted aspects¡¡±
As if entering a state of enlightenment, he started spontaneously designing a new formation.
Half a dayter¡
Fang Xi gazed at thepleted formation, feeling quite contemtive. ¡°Although this formation consumes significantly more resources - almost several timespared to renting an earthme chamber - its advantage lies in secrecy, and moreover¡ it can be set up even where no earthme veins exist. The generated mes surpass typical first-rank spirit mes, subtly approaching tier-2 quality¡¡±
¡°Considering my current proficiency, I must have now achieved a breakthrough to tier-1 high-grade in the Dao of arrays, right?¡±
The purpose of formations is to harness spirit stones and restrictions, amplifying effects beyond what a cultivator¡¯s current cultivation base could achieve!
For example, a tier-1 high-grade fire-gathering formation theoretically can elevate the potency of a first-rank spirit me to nearly match that of a second-rank spirit me, albeit with significant energy consumption¡
¡°And then there¡¯s the matter of a tier-2 pill form¡ I truly don¡¯t have one.¡±
Gazing at thepleted formation, Fang Xi couldn¡¯t help feeling somewhat disheartened.
Designing a tier-2 pill form from scratch was entirely unrealistic, far exceeding his capabilities.
Even if he had ess to such a form, the materials required for tier-2 pills are incredibly demanding, not something easily sourced within just a few or even ten years.
¡°Even for someone in the Foundation Establishment stage, advancing their pill concocting skill to tier-2 is remarkably challenging¡¡± Fang Xi sighed, setting aside these thoughts, and returned to the outside world to enjoy his tea.
Underneath the peach tree, a jade slip materialized in his hand as he immersed his divine sense within it.
This jade slip was found among the belongings of the second-inmand, who was at the eighthyer of Qi Refinement. It contained a technique called the ¡°Dragon¡¯s Roar Art¡±.
Note, Fang Xi was not drawn to its Ways of Supplementation; rather, he valued a section focusing on calming the mind and enhancing focus.
The Ways of Supplementation demanded considerable control from male cultivators, requiring them to maintain a state of absolute tranquility during its practice.
Fang Xi thought it could be useful for refining his mind, helping him resist the instinctual influences of the Demon Tree.
Indeed, perhaps due to having cultivated divine sense, he disyed exceptional talent in techniques focused on mental calmness andposure.
With just a brief contemtion, he quickly grasped the basics.
As Fang Xi reached a meditative state, a voice-transmission talisman arrived unexpectedly.
Sighing, he took the ck Feather Boat and swiftly flew towards the Western Twin Peak.
¡°Waaah¡ Uncle, my mom, she¡¡± Wei Yixi sobbed, her face streaked with tears as she ran out.
¡°I¡¯ll go check on her¡¡±
After offering someforting words, Fang Xi entered the house, immediately noticing a strong medicinal scent.
Hua Chanjuany on the bed, her skin wrinkled and hair gray, her life force flickering like a candle about to extinguish at any moment.
This was no surprise to Fang Xi. Overexertion had taken its toll on her health, exacerbated by expending vital energy during the desperate spell she cast when the Kou n leader attacked the ind, severely damaging her longevity.
Now, she was nearing the end, her vitality depleted beyond remedy!
¡°Fang¡ Daoist friend¡¡± Hua Chanjuan¡¯s eyes opened slightly, revealing no trace of her youthful beauty from days past.
As she gazed at Fang Xi, who still appeared as a youngd, her expression seemed lost, as if revisiting memories of bygone times. After a moment, she murmured weakly, ¡°Yixi¡ I can¡¯t let go of her¡ There are too many dangers outside¡ She is so innocent¡ Daoist friend, you¡¯re worthy to be entrusted with her care¡ Please, please¡¡±
¡°Mama!¡± Wei Yixi rushed closer, tears streaming down her face.
¡°Please ept my daughter as your apprentice! Not for a smooth path towards immortality, but only for her safety¡¡± With these words, Hua Chanjuan seemingly exhausted herst strength and closed her eyes.
¡°Mama!¡± Wei Yixi sobbed uncontrobly.
Sighing deeply, Fang Xi stepped out of the room to inspect the newly rebuilt flower garden.
A short whileter, Wei Yixi emerged from the house, ¡°Uncle¡¡±
¡°Xixi, your mother asked me to take you as my apprentice. What do you think about it?¡± Fang Xi casually inquired, hands sped behind his back.
Gazing upon the upright figure of the green-robed youth, reminiscent of a towering pine, Wei Yixi knelt before him, ¡°Disciple greets Master!¡±
¡°I¡¯m merely at the seventhyer of Qi Refinement; hardly suitable to ept apprentices.¡± Fang Xi shook his head. Seeing Wei Yixi persistently kneeling, he sighed again, ¡°Very well¡ I will teach you everything I know, but there¡¯s no need to call me ¡®Master¡¯¡¡±
Chapter 127: The Fiftieth Birthday
Chapter 127: The Fiftieth Birthday
Six yearster.
At Jade Cliff.
¡°Uncle!¡±
Wei Yixi entered the Little Cloudrain Array and gazed upon Fang Xi, still appearing as a youthful teenager. For some reason, a blush crept across her face.
¡°Hmm, how¡¯s your Beast Control Art progressing?¡±
Fang Xi rose from his seated position, his tone indicating readiness to provide guidance.
Since Hua Chanjuan¡¯s death, Wei Yixi had been unsupervised, freely moving about Western Twin Peak.
However, she preferred solitude, often spending time at Jade Cliff.
Today, Wei Yixi wore a delicately embroidered lotus-colored dress with a smooth jade circlet adorning her forehead, clearly showing effort in her attire. Upon hearing Fang Xi inquire about her Beast Control Art, she couldn¡¯t help but feel slightly disheartened and gently tapped her spirit beast bag.
The spirit beast bag resembled a fragrant pouch; with a light tap, numerous jade bees emerged, clustering around a queen bee.
¡°Uncle¡ look, I¡¯ve already cultivated the queen bee to mid-rank first-tier. Not only that, my cultivation base also broke throughst night - now I¡¯m at the sixth level of Qi Refining¡¡±
Wei Yixi proudly showcased her achievement with excitement.
Lu Guo, returning from plowing nearby fields, couldn¡¯t help but feel slightly disheartened at this sight. Only a few years older than Wei Yixi, both possessed mid-grade spiritual roots. Yet now, this young girl had caught up to his cultivation level.
Due to a damaged foundation and facing the significant bottleneck between Middle and Late Qi Refinement stages, he hadn¡¯t achieved a breakthrough for several years.
¡°Very impressive¡¡± Fang Xi whistled, summoning a swarm of vivid green insects that revealed their leader: a high-rank first-tier Blue Flower Golden Beetle Insect King!
Upon seeing the White Jade Queen Bee, the Insect King immediately responded aggressively. The swarm of azure jade beetles formed a menacing ghostly face pattern, emitting a subtle threat.
¡°Uncle¡your control over the insect swarm is remarkably precise. Have you fully contracted each individual bug?¡± Wei Yixi¡¯s eyes lit up, recalling simr techniques from her Beast Control studies.
¡°No, it¡¯s just a minor application of spiritual sense. Today, I¡¯ll teach you how¡¡± With a smile, Fang Xi guided Wei Yixi through the intricacies of Beast Control before they returned together to the courtyard under the peach tree.
Swish!
In the pond, the Great Azure Fish spat out a bubble containing a plump Turquoise Carp.
¡°Since you¡¯re here today, Uncle will prepare sour cabbage fish for us.¡±
Fang Xi took out a small knife resembling ice jade, skillfully slicing the Turquoise Carp into thin pieces. Combined with the tangy cabbage broth, it exuded a tantalizing aroma.
After enjoying the fish, they had fresh spirit peaches to savor as well.
¡°Mmm¡ Uncle¡¯s cooking is always so delicious¡¡±
As Wei Yixi praised him, she stealthily reached for the jade pot on the table, only to be gently stopped by Fang Xi tapping her hand with his chopsticks: ¡°Uncle¡ I really want to taste your homemade wine again! Yixi isn¡¯t a child anymore.¡±
¡°Chuckles¡¡±
Fang Xi merely savored his ten-year-aged Peach Blossom Wine without pouring any for Wei Yixi. She was quite the tippler; once she started drinking happily, his precious cer collection would be at risk¡
Moreover, her behavior while intoxicated wasn¡¯t exactlymendable, often leading to wild antics¡
Amidst theirughter and banter, Widow Wang, now appearing as an elderly woman, entered the courtyard. ¡°Master, Miss¡¡±
¡°Widow Aunt!¡± Wei Yixi politely nodded.
¡°Go ahead and tell us what¡¯s on your mind¡¡± Fang Xi held his wine cup, sensing that after seven peaceful years since the Silver-armored Demon incident, this tranquil life was about to be disrupted once again.
¡°The Alliance has issued another call for contributions,¡± Widow Wang began. ¡°They require manpower and resources from all thirty-six inds, along with recruiting numerous rogue cultivators¡¡±
She continued, ¡°Little Hu reported back saying that representatives from Moraxi Ind¡¯s Mo n have alreadye here to plead their case with the Ind Lord¡¡±
Seven years ago, Ruan Xingling personally brought the body of the Kou n leader to the Alliance of Thirty-Six Inds to file aint.
The final oue merely resulted in disciplining a feww enforcement cultivators, followed by distributing the bounty rewards for capturing the ¡®Silver-armored Demon¡¯ aspensation.
In recent years, tensions between the Alliance of Thirty-Six Inds and the Zhong Family had be increasingly apparent, with the threat of open conflict looming at any moment.
As for ck Sand Ind¡¯s Mo n?
Under the leadership of Peach Blossom Ind¡¯s Mo Qinghe, they rebuilt their main family and rallied various branch ns to return, sessfully reestablishing the Mo n, albeit weakened significantly. Over time, they gradually became vassals of Peach Blossom Ind.
With the addition of the closely allied Feng n, Peach Blossom Ind now stood as a formidable faction within the Alliance of Thirty-Six Inds.
Unfortunately¡ with numerous responsibilities upying her mind, Ruan Xingling¡¯s cultivation base struggled to make any breakthroughs.
This situation likely suited various interests, resulting in a period of tranquility for Peach Blossom Ind.
But now, things have changed significantly!
¡°Since we¡¯re residing on Peach Blossom Ind, we should at least contribute some resources, even if not our personal presence¡¡± Fang Xi pondered for a moment before turning to Wei Yixi and saying, ¡°You don¡¯t need to contribute anything from your side; I¡¯ll personally support the Ind Lord with some assistance, and that should suffice¡¡±
¡°You¡¯re always so thoughtful, Uncle¡¡± Wei Yixi smiled sweetly. ¡°By the way, Uncle is about to celebrate his fiftieth birthday soon! What gift would you like? Let me prepare something special¡¡±
Cultivators generally do not ce much importance on birthdays, but reaching fifty years holds significant meaning. Especially as Fang Xi, now recognized as the second strongest cultivator on the ind and a Late Stage Qi Refinement practitioner, those who once secretly envied or belittled him were eager to curry favor. With this milestone, he might even receive a substantial amount of spirit stones under the guise of celebrating his birthday!
¡°Can¡¯t believe I¡¯m already turning fifty¡¡± Fang Xi gently touched his smooth, youthful-looking face - even making Wei Yixi envious - and suddenly chuckled, ¡°It¡¯s not a particrly special asion, no need for grand celebrations or inviting many guests. When the timees, I¡¯ll open a few twenty-year-aged ¡®Peach Blossom Wine¡¯ jars and invite just a handful of close friends for a toast¡¡±
Several monthster.
Within the underground stone cave, Fang Xi opened his eyes, revealing twin beams of fluctuating azure light about an inch long.
¡°After twenty-seven years of nurturing trees, my physical body has reached fifty¡ Finally, Peak Qi Refining!¡±
The tenthyer of Qi Refinement was a distinctive milestone, marking the great circle of Qi Refiningpletion! From here on, it became possible to attempt Foundation Establishment!
Fang Xi sensed that his Evesting Spring Art¡¯s magical energy could no longer advance further, having reached a limit within the Qi Refinement stage. To break through again, he would need to fully activate his technique and challenge the Foundation Establishment bottleneck!
With his wless fleshly body, abundant blood qi, and divine sense extending over thirty meters, even without consuming any Foundation Establishment spirit objects or pills, he estimated a chance of sess between thirty to forty percent!
Such odds were beyond what many rogue cultivators could ever hope for.
Unfortunately, the dire consequences of failing Foundation Establishment¡ªeither death or severe injurypelled Fang Xi to resist such impulsiveness.
¡°Foundation Establishment Pill! Once the Secondary Wood magical body is achieved, I must prioritize obtaining the Foundation Establishment Pill!¡±
Through introspection, Fang Xi observed that the silver runes forming the Secondary Wood magical body were already more than halfwaypleted; likely within another decade or so, it would be aplished!
¡°Today marks a momentous asion, deserving celebration!¡±
A hint of joy graced his lips as he emerged from the cultivation room.
Soon, Widow Wang, Wang Xiaohu, Hai Dagui, Lu Guo, and others arrived respectfully to offer their greetings: ¡°Congrattions on your fiftieth birthday, Master! With Foundation Establishment within reach, may your path towards immortality flourish!¡±
¡°Ha ha, here are some rewards!¡± Fang Xi cheerfully handed out spirit stone red packets to each person.
¡°Giggles, Uncle, I¡¯ve speciallye to celebrate your fiftieth birthday!¡± At that moment, Wei Yixi arrived with a broad smile, carrying arge red gift box.
Fang Xi epted it and opened to reveal a vibrant green mage robe, shimmering with radiant hues and embroidered with intricate bamboo patterns. As he unfolded it, a potent spiritual glow emanated from the garment.
Yixi grinned, ¡°Uncle, these high-grade ¡®Cyan Bamboo Magic Robes¡¯ were carefully chosen just for you. They feature permanent enchantments for Dust Repellent, Protection, and Gathering Spirit formations, even providing autonomous self-defense in times of danger!¡±
¡°A high-grade mage robe costs around two hundred spirit stones at the market; Yixi, you truly thoughtfulness shines through.¡± Fang Xi, quite touched, gratefully epted the robe.
Since receiving his guidance in Beast Control techniques, Wei Yixi had significantly improved her skills in managing jade bees. Additionally, with her private spiritualnd, she no longer needed to purchase medicinal pills or rent an immortal¡¯s cave¡ Over time, this frugal approach made her quite affluent.
¡°Quickly, Uncle, put them on!¡± Wei Yixi urged with a smile.
¡°All right!¡±
Seeing Widow Wang and others also urging him, Fang Xi entered the inner room, changed into the cyan bamboo mage robe, and emerged.
The crowd beheld a graceful youth, with sharp features and luminous eyes, exuding an ethereal aura thatplemented his new attire perfectly. They couldn¡¯t help but burst out in apuse.
¡°Master, those clothes truly suit you; Miss Yixi has excellent taste,¡± Widow Wang said with a beaming smile.
¡°Yes¡ Yixi is indeed gifted and resourceful. The one who marries her someday will be truly fortunate,¡± Fang Xi chuckled heartily.
¡°On this joyous asion, Uncle will make an exception and let you have an extra cup of twenty-year-aged peach blossom wine¡¡±
¡°Really?¡± Wei Yixi¡¯s eyes lit up brightly, but before she could respond further, a female voice echoed from outside:
¡°Ruan Dan from Mirror Moon Lake, on behalf of my master, offers heartfelt congrattions to Uncle Fang for boundless longevity and presents a special gift!¡±
¡°It¡¯s actually her?!¡± Fang Xi was slightly taken aback, waving his hand to dispel the formation. A one-armed female cultivator gracefully approached¡ªit was Ruan Dan!
Dressed in a long ck robe, her expression cold, the right sleeve hung empty, fluttering in the wind. Surprisingly, her cultivation base had remarkably advanced to the seventhyer of Qi Refinement!
¡°Greetings, Daoist Friend Ruan! Congrattions on your breakthrough!¡± Fang Xi weed her warmly with a smile. Since losing her arm, Ruan Dan¡¯s demeanor had be noticeably cooler and more reserved, less irritating than before.
It seemed that the previous assassination attempt, coupled with the recent setback caused by the Kou n leader severing her Dao path, had finally spurred Ruan Dan¡¯s growth.
However, the price she paid was indeed steep!
On the other hand, seeing Ruan Dan break through after years of recovery ignited a renewed determination in Lu Guo¡¯s eyes.
Despite having simr foundational damage, if Ruan Dan could ovee the bottleneck between Middle and Late Qi Refinement stages, why couldn¡¯t he?
¡°Congrattions, Uncle Fang! Here is a gift from my master as a token of celebration!¡± Ruan Dan bowed respectfully and presented a long rectangr box.
Upon opening it, a sharp aura immediately wafted out. Insidey a tranquil azure-colored longsword, resembling a slender de of grain, its elongated shape somewhat familiar to Fang Xi. ¡°This is¡¡±
¡°It is the ¡®Qinghe Sword¡¯, re-crafted by my master and now elevated to high-grade quality!¡± Ruan Dan answered with reverence.
Since losing her arm, she had be much more reserved, even upon reaching the seventhyer of Qi Refinement,cking her former arrogance.
¡°That¡¯s the legendary Qinghe Sword, which made waves on Peach Blossom Ind back then?¡± Wei Yixi¡¯s eyes widened, as if gazing upon a mythe alive.
The legend surrounding this sword held deep connections to her own family, stirringplex emotions within her heart.
¡°Such thoughtful consideration from the Ind Lord¡¡±
Fang Xi visibly needed a high-grade magical artifact at this stage. Picking up the Qinghe Sword, he gently flicked it, eliciting a resonant sound akin to a dragon¡¯s roar!
Given the significance of this moment, Ruan Xingling¡¯s decision to reforge this sword held deep meaning.
Chapter 128: The Pill Furnace
Chapter 128: The Pill Furnace
¡°Where is the Ind Lord?¡±
Fang Xi sheathed his Qinghe Sword and unexpectedly asked.
Given his rtionship with Ruan Xingling, she would typically attend his birthday celebration herself rather than sending a junior disciple as a representative.
¡°My master is currently entertaining an important guest,¡± Ruan Dan exined with a slight bow, expressing Ruan Xingling¡¯s apologies. ¡°She instructed me to inform you that she will join shortly¡¡±
¡°I see¡¡± Fang Xi responded nonchntly, showing no signs of concern. With a smile, he said, ¡°Since the crown princess is here, we must toast a few more times together¡¡±
¡°Agreed¡¡±
Ruan Dan, observing Fang Xi¡¯s graceful demeanor, couldn¡¯t help but feel regretful. In her youthful arrogance, she had indeed offended many people, paying a painful priceter on. Now seeking reconciliation, she wondered if it was toote?
The twenty-year-aged peach blossom wine was rich and aromatic, its aftertaste lingering long; one could easily be intoxicated without noticing.
Notably, Wei Yixi, the young maiden, gradually blushed, eventually slumping over the table, clearly overwhelmed by the alcohol, yet still mumbling incessantly. Ruan Dan, having consumed several cups, also disyed flushed cheeks, her eyes sparkling.
¡°Haha, let¡¯s all enjoy ourselves today¡¡± Fang Xi echoed, feeling a resurgence of youthful exuberance after drinking multiple cups. ¡°I¡¯ll go invite the Ind Lord to join us for some drinks¡¡±
With that, he swiftly mounted the ck Feather Boat and flew towards Mirror Moon Lake.
As the astral winds howled around him, his eyes remained clear, showing no hint of intoxication.
Fang Xi was genuinely intrigued by Ruan Xingling¡¯s important guest.
Within the vi grounds:
¡°Fellow Daoist Fang¡¡±
Two cultivators spotted Fang Xi and hurried to greet him.
¡°Where is the Ind Lord? Today being his grand birthday celebration, I¡¯vee specially to invite him for a toast,¡± Fang Xi said with a warm smile.
Unwilling to show any disrespect towards the ind¡¯s second strongest cultivator, one of them promptly replied, ¡°The Ind Lord is entertaining a guest at the Warm Intoxication Pavilion. Fellow Daoist Fang, please feel free to wait nearby.¡±
¡°Hmm, then I¡¯ll head to the Rain Listening Pavilion just next door.¡±
Casually, Fang Xi allowed one of the cultivators to apany him to the Rain Listening Pavilion.
He was extremely familiar with theyout here; the Rain Listening Pavilion bordered the Warm Intoxication Pavilion, located only tens of meters away!
Having achieved great perfection, his divine sense now extended up to thirty meters, approximately ten Zhangs!
Upon reaching the Rain Listening Pavilion, Fang Xi sipped spirit tea while discreetly releasing his divine sense. Concerned about potential restrictions within the Warm Intoxication Pavilion, such as protective charms, he dared not recklessly extend his senses inside.
However, even from outside, he could faintly hear snippets of conversation:
¡°¡my Zhong Family patriarch¡¡±
¡°The fall of the Thirty-Six Inds may be imminent¡¡±
¡°Yu Lingzi is dead¡ Consider your options carefully¡¡±
After the time it takes for an incense stick to burn, a middle-aged cultivator emerges from the Warm Intoxication Pavilion.
His temples are graying, yet his face seems vaguely familiar to Fang Xi.
¡°It¡¯s that former greeter from Dragon Gate Pavilion - Zhong Wangu!¡±
¡°So, a member of the Zhong Family has indeede to sway Peach Blossom Ind?¡±
¡°If what he said is true, then Yu Lingzi, the Foundation Establishment cultivator at Spirit Hollow Market, is dead?¡±
¡°The Alliance of Thirty-Six Inds meticulously nned to outshine the Zhong Family, only to suffer a severe blow right at the start!¡±
After Zhong Wangu departed with a grim expression, Ruan Xingling arrived at Rain Listening Pavilion.
¡°Ind Lord, I¡¯ve opened three jars of twenty-year-aged wine from my collection. Care to join me for a drink?¡± Fang Xi cheerfully extended the invitation.
¡°Perfect timing!¡± Ruan Xingling gently waved her hand, enveloping herself in a swirl of petals. Their escaping glows merged, and together they soared into the sky.
Facing the piercing astral winds, Ruan Xingling gazed at Fang Xi with an enigmatic smile. ¡°Fellow Daoist Fang, is there something you wish to ask?¡±
¡°Now that the Qinghe Sword has been reforged, I understand your intentions, Ind Lord. However¡¡± A hint of hesitation crossed Fang Xi¡¯s face. ¡°My lifelong aspiration is to turn swords into ploughshares; I have no desire for further conflict¡¡±
¡°Unfortunately, in the cultivation world, if you don¡¯t kill, others will seek to kill you. The three great sects covetously watch over us, aiming to fully integrate the Alliance into their own sect, perhaps even dominating Wan Ind Lake¡¡± Ruan Xingling spoke bitterly. ¡°To achieve this, they were willing to collude with outsiders and sabotage my Foundation Establishment ceremony¡¡±
¡®Does she intend to reveal her true thoughts now?¡¯
Fang Xi cautiously asked, ¡°So does the Ind Lord favor the Zhong Family?¡±
¡°The Zhong Family is no less ferocious than beasts!¡± Ruan Xingling shook her head more vigorously. ¡°Don¡¯t you know that behind the Silver-armored Demon incident seven years ago, there was undoubtedly support from the Zhong Family! How could I align with them¡?¡±
Fang Xi fell silent.
Just earlier, he had witnessed Zhong Wangu acting as their envoy! Moreover, Zhong Wangu revealed crucial information, suggesting that the Zhong Family held significant advantages. Yet despite this, Ruan Xingling seemed unwilling to choose them.
Could it be¡that a third party has intervened at Wan Ind Lake?
It wasn¡¯t entirely imusible!
¡®I just wonder¡which faction is involved? And how did Ruan Xingling establish contact and trust with them?¡¯
Fang Xi suppressed his curiosity.
In truth, he didn¡¯t care who ruled Wan Ind Lake, as long as they didn¡¯t interfere with his tree cultivation. For now, he apanied Ruan Xingling to Jade Cliff, where they shared fine wine together, enjoying the hospitality fully¡
As night fell, the gathering at Jade Cliff dispersed, leaving only Fang Xi sitting quietly beneath the peach tree.
The Great Azure Fish huddled at the bottom of the pond, too afraid to surface even slightly. Despite having achieved the status of Fish King and acting as a traitor among its kind, it remained genuinely terrified each time facing its inscrutable master.
¡°The death of Yu Lingzi cannot be concealed forever, no matter how much the Three Upper Families try¡¡±
¡°Initiating conflict this recklessly was unwise for the Alliance of Thirty-Six Inds!¡±
¡°The Zhong Family¡¯s aggressive stance is risky; it remains to be seen how it will ultimately end¡ However, one can foresee that Foundation Establishment cultivators will inevitably intervene.¡±
¡°When they do, the intensity of war will drastically escte!¡±
Fang Xi had reached Peak Qi Refining in both Qi Refinement and Body Tempering, confident that few could match him within the Qi Refinement stage.
Standing under the Demon Tree, he felt virtually invincible, daring to challenge even Foundation Establishment cultivators¡ though just barely¡
He always valued overpowering opponents with his realm rather than being overmatched by theirs!
Even possessing Foundation Establishment-levelbat prowess, engaging in direct battles against simrly ranked foes required utmost caution, let alone not yet being at that stage himself!
Entering such a formidable conflict solely for Ruan Xingling would indeed be foolish.
¡®If faced with a true formidable enemy, such as a Foundation Establishment cultivator attacking Peach Blossom Ind¡ I would abandon the Demon Tree and flee without hesitation!¡¯
¡®After all, I still have over a hundred years of longevity left. It¡¯s entirely possible to find another Demon Tree seed in Great Liang and continue cultivating elsewhere!¡¯
¡®Battling at Foundation Establishment while only in Qi Refinement may sound thrilling, but it¡¯s not my style!¡¯
¡®For enduring immortality, caution is paramount - it ensures longevity!¡¯
Life is irreceable; once lost, there truly remains nothing.
Apart from that, nothing else is indispensable!
Fang Xi has always been unwaveringly firm in this belief.
¡®However, enhancing my strength further should be my top priority for now!¡¯
As he thought about the Demon Tree, Fang Xi gazed at his clenched fist.
Currently, Fang Xi could deeply sense the terrifying reserves of blood qi hidden within his physique!
This was the result of nearly thirty years of consistent cultivation through tree nting, steadily increasing his blood qi each day!
It had effectively equaled consuming one or even multiple tier-2 blood qi precious pills!
¡®Soon¡ No, perhaps I can temporarily set aside daily life extension vital energy absorption and Second Wood Dharma Idol training, focusing instead on amplifying my own blood qi, aiming for the ¡®True Astral Manifestation¡¯ realm!¡¯
In Great Liang¡¯s legends, this martial arts boundary roughly corresponds to the fourthyer of cultivation in techniques like the Myriad Beasts Body, equivalent to the initial stages of Foundation Establishment for body cultivators!
Even if his abilities might still fall shortpared to Foundation Establishment cultivators, he would at least possess some self-defense capabilities.
With this thought, Fang Xi ventured into the underground cave and saw the Demon Tree, now over eighteen meters tall with its roots extending downward. He couldn¡¯t help but take a deep breath, calling out, ¡°A-1!¡±
The wooden puppet wearing a vine mask immediately emerged from the shadows and approached Fang Xi.
¡°Go near Mirror Moon Lake and monitor Ruan Xingling¡¯s every move. As soon as she leaves the manor, report back to me immediately!¡±
Following Fang Xi¡¯s instruction, A-1 promptly set off towards Mirror Moon Lake.
Shortly after,
At thekeside, within a grove of peach trees.
A-1 reached the edge of an ordinary peach tree, extended his palm, and countless tendrils sprouted from it, merging seamlessly with the tree. In the next moment, his entire body mysteriously vanished into the trunk, leaving only his face hidden inside a hollow, eyes vacant yet fixed on the direction of the manor.
This was one of Fang Xi¡¯s minor discoveries - these wooden puppets possessed a peculiar Wood Escape spell, allowing them to blend with trees while nearly eliminating their presence entirely. They were perfect for reconnaissance tasks!
Fang Xi¡¯s decision wasn¡¯t driven by suspicion towards Ruan Xingling; rather, he was simply curious about the third-party faction involved. After all, any force daring to intervene in Wan Ind Lake must be at least a Foundation Establishment level entity!
By being vignt, he could prepare himself should unforeseen dangers arise!
One yearter.
In the Pill Room, Fang Xi flipped through a pill manual while beginning his concoction process.
He was currently working on a recently acquired pill form from an exchange meeting - the Qi Supplement Pill!
This pill was quite intriguing, divided into three grades: low, middle, and high.
The low-grade Qi Supplement Pill could only restore approximately sixty to seventy percent of magical energy for Initial Stage Qi Refinement cultivators within a short period.
On the other hand, a tier-1 high-grade Qi Supplement Pill could swiftly recover around forty to fifty percent of magical energy, even after depletion, for Peak Qi Refinement cultivators!
¡®Once reaching tier-1 high-grade, both acquiring pill forms and sourcing ingredients be significantly more challenging¡¡¯
Fang Xi extended his divine sense, closely monitoring the medicinal properties¡¯ changes within the translucent pill liquid inside the pill furnace. He felt remarkably confident and adept at this task.
In the next moment, he gently tapped the pill furnace, unleashing a series of cultivation techniques.
Buzzing sounds filled the air!
The pill furnace opened wide, releasing a fragrant aroma throughout the room.
A condensed mass of liquid emerged, shedding numerous impurities that actively detached and reabsorbed back into the furnace.
Five wless medicinal pills, resembling pure pearls, appeared in Fang Xi¡¯s hand - all of them were high-grade Qi Supplement Pills!
¡°Next!¡±
Fang Xi carefully stored the pills and continued to execute more extraction techniques on the pill furnace.
Instantly, a rich herbal aroma filled the air.
Smaller pills emerged one by one,nding on the jade te. Astonishingly, there were eight mid-grade Qi Supplement Pills!
Remarkably, the mes beneath the pill furnace had not yet extinguished!
As Fang Xi performed the extraction technique for the third time, sixteen low-grade Qi Supplement Pills flew out!
¡°The impurities from high-grade spiritual pills can serve as primary ingredients for mid-grade medicinal pills¡ With this ¡®Threefold Wave¡¯ extraction technique, I can reuse the remnants of high-grade pills for further concoction. As a result, nearly ny percent of the medicinal materials in a single batch can be utilized¡¡±
Fang Xi cast a slightly regretful nce at the violet copper pill furnace: ¡°If only the quality of this pill furnace were better, we could have produced even more mid and low-grade pills¡¡±
Chapter 129: Deciding Strategy
Chapter 129: Deciding Strategy
After neatly categorizing and storing the replenishing qi pills, Fang Xi gracefully rose to his feet.
He would use the high-grade pills himself, while the mid and low-grade ones could be traded at exchange gatherings for various resources.
Once proficient in any of the four arts of cultivation, earning spirit stones became rtively easy.
Since revealing his Late Stage Qi Refinement cultivation base, Fang Xi¡¯s reputation soared on Peach Blossom Ind, leading numerous rogue cultivators to seek him out for pill concoction requests.
Initially, some may have approached merely to establish connections, not overly concerned about sess rates.
However, as news spread about Fang Xi¡¯s exceptional alchemy skills and reasonable fees, his business steadily increased.
¡®I never realized being an alchemist is so lucrative¡ Whenmissioned for pill concoction, I can freely view the pill form without charge, and there¡¯s nopensation needed if the medicinal pills fail during the process¡¡¯
¡®As long as just one genuine pill emerges from each batch, it counts as sessful concoction, yielding substantial rewards¡¡¯
These were standard practices among alchemists, initially hard for Fang Xi to believe. He couldn¡¯t help but marvel at their immense profitability; no wonder they often looked down upon talisman masters and artificers¡ Upon exiting the alchemy room, Fang Xi encountered Lu Guo, who appeared visibly anxious.
¡°What seems to be the matter?¡±
Fang Xi¡¯s eyebrows slightly raised; ever since witnessing Ruan Dan¡¯s breakthrough despite losing his arm, this individual seemed greatly inspired and had been diligently practicing cultivation.
The sudden visit must indicate something significant!
¡°The Zhong Family¡ The Zhong Family has dered war on the Thirty-Six Inds Alliance!¡± Lu Guo bowed with both hands, presenting a jade slip. ¡°This is the deration document¡ If what it states is true, then Yu Lingzi indeed perished¡ We¡ we need to decide our course of action.¡±
Fang Xi epted the jade slip, scanned it briefly with divine sense, and smiled, ¡°Quite grandiose¡¡±
As one of the seven prominent Foundation Establishment ns in the Yue Kingdom, the Zhong Family boasted numerous talents. This deration was written with fervent passion, detailing various instances where the Thirty-Six Inds Alliance betrayed trust and instigated conflict through underhanded means.
However, there was not a single mention of the ¡®Silver-armored Demon.¡¯
After all, aristocratic families often have their own ways.
And ultimately, history is always penned by the victors.
Most crucially, within the jade slip, a specific image was deliberately imprinted - the scene of Foundation Establishment cultivator Yu Lingzi¡¯s death!
Originally, the Thirty-Six Inds Alliance relied solely on a rogue Foundation Establishment cultivator as their patron. With the addition of Yu Lingzi as a guest Retired Elder from the Taishu Family, they felt confident enough to confront the Zhong Family.
Now, with one cultivator dead, their position weakened significantly, showing signs of defeat even before the battle began.
¡°The Taishu Family hid their true depth well. No wonder Yu Lingzi achieved Foundation Establishment; he must have been one of their own all along,ter concealing his identity and starting anew¡ For the Zhong Family to uncover this information clearly indicates they have spies embedded within the Taishu ranks!¡±
Upon seeing these revtions, Fang Xi couldn¡¯t help but feel a mix of emotions.
¡°But now, with the Zhong Family¡¯s forces bearing down on us, what should we do?¡±
Lu Guo looked apprehensive, even showing traces of retrospective fear.
He had just received news that Spirit Hollow Market was overrun, and most of his former colleagues from the jointw enforcement team faced grim prospects.
Had he not been severely injured and retired earlier, he might have suffered the same fate! A sense of relief washed over him, grateful for not bing another casualty at Spirit Hollow Market!
Could this be what Master referred to as ¡®within cmity lies opportunity¡¯?
¡°Given such significant events, naturally we follow the Ind Lord¡¯s lead,¡± Fang Xi responded matter-of-factly, causing Lu Guo to involuntarily roll his eyes internally.
During the Silver-armored Demon attack, Fang Xi hadn¡¯t exactly disyed unwavering loyalty.
Of course, many cultivators act simrly, and Lu Guo wasn¡¯t foolish enough to report him either. With his status, rashly whistleblowing could backfire, potentially bringing disaster upon himself!
As expected, momentster, a voice-transmission talisman arrived.
Fang Xi epted it, a hint of smile spreading across his face. ¡°The Ind Lord wishes to convene a meeting. Let¡¯s head to the debate hall¡¡±
Inside the assembly hall,
numerous cultivators had gathered together.
Peach Blossom Ind was currently thriving, boasting three cultivators at Late Stage Qi Refinement or higher - Ruan Dan, Fang Xi, and Ruan Xingling!
Among the Thirty Six Inds, this made them indisputably one of the top forces, no wonder they faced constant envy and scrutiny.
The assassination attempt on Ruan Dan hindered his cultivation progress, while Ruan Xingling¡¯s inability to reach Foundation Establishment stemmed from interference by various factions.
Now, after several decades, new batches of immortal sprouts were gradually maturing. Despite the heavy casualties suffered earlier, the intense life-and-death battles significantly strengthened the resolve and determination of these cultivators.
In recent years, five to six cultivators have emerged at the sixth level of Qi Refining, far surpassing the sparse handful seen before.
¡°Uncle!¡±
Amidst the crowd, Wei Yixi spotted Fang Xi approaching in his cyan bamboo mage robes, her eyes immediately lit up, and she waved enthusiastically.
¡°Ai¡ nearly thirty now, yet still acting like a little girl.¡± Fang Xi walked over, gently ruffling Wei Yixi¡¯s hair with a hint of exasperation.
However, this innocent and carefree demeanor was reserved only for her interactions with Fang Xi; most of the time, she disyed a mischievous nature. On Peach Blossom Ind, she had gradually earned a reputation as the ¡°little demoness¡± from West Peak¡
As he nced around, he noticed members of the Mu n were present too - specifically, Mu Zhong¡¯s youngest son, Mu Liuying.
In addition to them, Patriarch Mo Qinghe of the Mo n unexpectedly attended, indicating his firm resolve to be a vassal of Peach Blossom Ind.
Once everyone gathered, Ruan Dan announced loudly, ¡°The Ind Lord arrives!¡±
Ruan Xingling, d in a vibrant red Pce dress, entered and took her seat at the head position.
¡°Greetings, Ind Lord!¡± The group of cultivators hastily bowed in respect.
¡°No need¡ Today, I have summoned all of you primarily due to the impending war between the Zhong Family and the Thirty-Six Inds Alliance!¡± Ruan Xingling spoke softly, her voice melodious like crisp silver bells, recounting the events leading up to the conflict. ¡°Now, regarding the future course of our Peach Blossom Ind, this Ind Lord wishes to hear your opinions.¡±
¡°What else needs to be said? The Thirty-Six Inds Alliance acted unjustly first and is already at a disadvantage. We should directly pledge allegiance to the Zhong Family!¡± eximed a rugged-looking cultivator with a bushy beard.
A rugged-looking cultivator with a bushy beard spoke loudly.
As soon as he finished, everyone turned to nce at him.
¡®He is likely a covert agent for the Zhong Family - no wait, more probably an overt pawn!¡¯ Fang Xi thought inwardly.
Sure enough, a female cultivator immediately countered, ¡°The Zhong Family¡¯s main forces are still far away. If we announce our betrayal now, what happens when that rogue Foundation Establishment cultivator retaliates?¡±
¡°Hardly a mere retainer would risk his life for Taishu and their allies!¡± the bearded man dismissed her concern casually. ¡°Everyone can see that the Thirty-Six Inds Alliance stands on the brink of peril. If not now, then when should we jump ship? Although it carries some danger, great fortune lies within risks. By turning against them and achieving significant merit, there might even be a chance for Foundation Establishment rewards. Please consider this wisely, Ind Lord!¡±
¡°Foundation Establishment, Foundation Establishment indeed¡¡± Ruan Xingling sighed deeply.
Since losing her opportunity years ago, she had never found another chance for advancement.
Suddenly, she dered, ¡°This ind lord has made her decision; we will pledge allegiance to the Zhong Family!¡±
¡°What?¡± Many heads shot up in shock, while the bearded man looked ecstatic. ¡°An enlightened choice, Ind Lord!¡±
¡°Fellow Daoist Fang, please wait!¡± After the crowd dispersed, Ruan Dan intercepted Fang Xi.
¡°Hmm, does the crown princess need something?¡± Fang Xi was slightly taken aback.
¡°My master requests your presence!¡± Ruan Dan lowered her voice and led Fang Xi to a secluded chamber.
The room, adorned with protective talismans, became remarkably quiet once closed.
¡°Fellow Daoist Fang¡¡± As expected, Ruan Xingling was inside, her expression solemn. ¡°I wonder if your Qinghe Sword remains as sharp?¡±
¡°Even if it¡¯s a rusty old de, when the moment calls for it, it can still take lives¡¡± Fang Xi sighed. ¡°What guidance does the Ind Lord seek from me?¡±
¡°Oh, merely discussing¡¡± Ruan Xingling smiled thinly. ¡°Today¡¯s public deration of allegiance to the Zhong Family is actually part of our alliance¡¯s strategy!¡±
¡°Hm?¡± Fang Xi abruptly lifted his head.
¡°Hmph! Compared to the Alliance¡¯s indifference towards impending doom, the Zhong Family actively sent forces to attack, annihting the Mo n and injuring my disciple, resulting in her losing an arm. Do you think such grievances should be easily forgotten?¡± Ruan Xingling exined with a cold smirk. ¡°Now, by using our informant within the Zhong Family, we will lure a significant figure here for negotiations, allowing us to ambush them at the opportune time¡¡±
¡°I see,¡± Fang Xi nodded.
¡°I know you prefer tending to your fields and fish, but with chaos engulfing Wan Ind Lake, no ind can remain unaffected¡¡± Ruan Xingling continued. ¡°If this n seeds, I swear as the Ind Lord that Jade Cliff shall forever serve as sacred spiritualnd for the Fang family!¡±
¡°Many thanks, Ind Lord!¡± Fang Xi sighed. ¡°This old sword of mine belongs to you now¡¡±
Given the circumstances, he had little choice but to agree.
Nightfall.
ck clouds shrouded the moon.
A faint streak of light, maintaining a low profile, glided over Mirror Moon Lake and disappeared into the vi.
Shortly after, a graceful figure ascended, scattering countless petals around her.
Near Mirror Moon Lake, within the hollow of a peach tree, a seemingly decayed vine mask stirred slightly. From behind it, two eyes watched the scene with an expressionless gaze.
Inside the underground stone cave,
¡°So Ruan Xingling indeed has connections with a third party¡¡±
¡°That dim aura and presence¡¡± Fang Xi¡¯s eyes snapped open.
Through the connection between the Demon Tree and its demonic servants, he could perceive as if through their own senses!
Fang Xi harbored no resentment towards Ruan Xingling for keeping secrets from him. After all, a ruler without discretion risks losing his ministers, just as a minister without secrecy risks endangering himself! Throughout history, confidentiality has always been paramount for those aiming at great achievements!
Moreover, aside from some past acquaintance, his rtionship with Ruan Xingling was not particrly close. It was understandable that she would take precautions against him during critical moments; he could empathize with her reasoning.
Fang Xi rubbed his chin thoughtfully. ¡°Ruan Xingling¡¯s active involvement with a third party, venturing into such risky endeavors, must mean significant benefits await her¡¡±
Like Fang Xi, Ruan Xingling had already reached the great perfection stage of the tenth level of Qi Refinement, with no further progress possible in magical energy.
What she sought now could only be Foundation Establishment!
This was Fang Xi¡¯s deduction; after all, she was deeply devoted to her Daoist path. Beyond opportunities for Foundation Establishment, he couldn¡¯t imagine anything elsepelling enough to sway her.
¡®Old Ruan is somewhat selfish, not sharing this opportunity with me¡¡¯
¡®No matter, I¡¯ll find my own way!¡¯
Behind Fang Xi, numerous banyan tree aerial roots swayed and prated deep into his body.
Previously, it was merely the Demon Tree¡¯s ¡®nourishment¡¯ after being well-fed, but now, Fang Xi aimed to fully exploit its potential.
He convertedrge amounts of vital essence into pure vital energy power, then infused it within himself, seeking a breakthrough!
¡°Almost there!¡± Fang Xi murmured softly. ¡°When that momentes¡¡±
Chapter 130: Shift in Offensive and Defensive Positions
Chapter 130: Shift in Offensive and Defensive Positions
Several dayster.
Representatives from the Zhong Family arrived for negotiations.
Peach Blossom Ind was adorned with vibrant blossoms, creating a picturesque scene filled with hues of purple and red - truly captivating.
¡°Zhong Wangu, securing allegiance from Peach Blossom Ind¡¯s three Late Stage Qi Refinement cultivators is indeed a significant aplishment¡¡±
An elderly cultivator remarked to Zhong Wangu.
This old cultivator, frail yet dignified, wore a dark ck flying fish mage robe, boasting a remarkable cultivation base at the Late Stage Qi Refinement!
They were part of the entourage apanying the family patriarch, Zhong Tianchou, and had been lodged in the Guests¡¯ Courtyard.
In cultivator ns, the patriarch typically holds limited power, acting more akin to a chief steward. The role is often entrusted to cultivators who may not possess exceptional aptitude but excel in managing administrative tasks.
Zhong Tianchou, with his cultivation base at the ninth level of Qi Refinement, was considered quite aplished. Moreover, as the Zhong Family Patriarch himself made this visit, it underscored their high regard for Peach Blossom Ind.
¡°I hope everything goes smoothly this time¡¡± Zhong Wangu¡¯s expression turned slightly somber.
His early experiences as a host during youth had exposed him to various facets of life, teaching him that many situations are seldom as straightforward as they appear.
Suddenly, the formation roared to life, trapping their entire group within its confines.
¡°Not good!¡± Zhong Wangu instinctively activated a defensive magical artifact. ¡°Peach Blossom Ind seems to harbor ill intentions this time!¡±
The courtyard gate opened, and Fang Xi emerged, wielding the Qinghe Sword.
¡°Life seldom lets us meet; we drift like stars apart¡¡± His cold gaze swept over the crowd, momentarily lingering on Zhong Wangu before his Qinghe Sword transformed into a streak of emerald light, resembling a jade dragon as it shot forth. With a swift arc, the sword engulfed one of the Zhong Family cultivators¡
¡°How audacious!¡± Zhong Wangu bellowed,unching five scarlet medicinal pills into the air, which detonated upon striking the Qing Yuan Shield.
The ground trembled amidst swirling smoke. Amidst the chaos, Fang Xi emerged as a shadow, the Qinghe Sword swiftly slicing through Zhong Wangu¡¯s neck.
¡°Hah¡ I cannot¡¡±
Blood bubbled from the corner of Zhong Wangu¡¯s mouth as he clutched at his throat and crumpled to the ground.
¡°He¡¯s Late Stage Qi Refinement!¡±
¡°With high-grade magical artifacts for both flying sword and shield!¡±
¡°Quick, let¡¯s retreat!¡±
The remaining Zhong Family cultivators in the courtyard erupted with furious roars, but soon their voices fell silent.
Fang Xi emerged from amidst them, wiping his Qinghe Sword clean.
Outside, Lu Guo gazed at the scattered corpses on the ground and suddenly felt an intense chill creeping over him¡
Boom!
In the distance, the Water-Moon Grand Formation activated with full force, enveloping the entire honor guard station under a lunar glow.
Dimly from within, sounds of explosions echoed alongside a man¡¯s enraged shouts: ¡°Peach Blossom Ind is courting its own demise¡¡±
¡°That¡¯s the Zhong Family Patriarch!¡± whispered a nearby Qi Refinement cultivator softly.
This individual was a cultivator from ck Sand Ind¡¯s Mo n, sent as reinforcement. He appeared to be only sixteen or seventeen years old, yet already possessed a cultivation base at the third level of Qi Refining.
More importantly, Fang Xi sensed something familiar about this young man!
¡°Don¡¯t worry, the Ind Lord is a great perfection cultivator, aided by both a powerful formation and his Late Stage Qi Refinement disciple. They can surely handle it¡¡± Fang Xi responded casually before asking, ¡°Who might you be?¡±
¡°Mo Xiaoyao, pleased to meet you, Senior!¡± Mo Xiaoyao hastily bowed, showing utmost respect.
¡°Mo Xiaoyao? A fine name indeed¡¡± A hint of smile yed on Fang Xi¡¯s lips as he suddenly realized the source of familiarity. ¡°How are you rted to Mo Qingyi?¡±
¡°He is my grandfather!¡± Mo Xiaoyao hesitated briefly but quickly replied.
His grandfather was merely a mortal, living and struggling amidst hardships in the Treasure Ship Market. He had married multiple ordinary women, ensuring a continuous lineage of descendants.
Eventually, among his grandchildren, they discovered Mo Xiaoyao with spiritual roots, bringing immense joy. Subsequently, significant resources were invested in his cultivation, leading to his current cultivation base.
However, tragedy struck when the Moraxi Mo n on ck Sand Ind was annihted. The new patriarch rebuilt the n, calling upon various branches to return and granting them direct lineage status.
Despite being bedridden by illness at the time, Mo Qingyi decided to risk everything for the family¡¯s survival. Thus, he entrusted Mo Xiaoyao to lead their kin back and reestablish the Moraxi Mo n on ck Sand Ind!
¡°Senior¡ could it be that you knew my grandfather?¡± Mo Xiaoyao asked, visibly excited.
If this Late Stage Qi Refinement expert had connections to his family, it could significantly enhance Mo Xiaoyao¡¯s standing within the Moraxi Mo n on ck Sand Ind.
After all, currently, no member of the Mo n held a Late Stage Qi Refinement cultivation base!
¡°I visited the market once; we did have a brief encounter,¡± Fang Xi reflected, gazing at Mo Xiaoyao, who bore a striking resemnce to Mo Qingyi.
The idea of mortals cing their hopes for longevity through bloodline session seemed somewhatmendable now.
Suddenly, another deafening sound echoed nearby. Amidst intense magical spiritual light, the entire honor guard station copsed explosively!
As therge array dissipated and the illusion of Water Moon vanished, a figure stumbled out - it was Ruan Dan!
¡°The Ind Lordmands: Seal the entire ind!¡±
Ruan Dan¡¯s chest bore a bloody patch, clearly indicating severe injuries. Yet, she exuded satisfaction from avenging her enemy, dering, ¡°The Zhong Family Patriarch is dead!¡±
It had undoubtedly been the Zhong Family who orchestrated the silver-armored figure¡¯s attack on Peach Blossom Ind years ago.
This act served as partial retribution for losing her arm!
¡°Yes, ma¡¯am!¡± The crowd responded promptly, swiftly returning to their positions.
Fang Xi nodded towards Ruan Dan before heading back to Jade Cliff.
Ssh!
Just then, a green silhouette emerged from theke surface, continuously spitting bubbles - it was the terrified Great Azure Fish, its eyes rolling with fright!
Through divine sensemunication, it conveyed simple messages:
¡°Has there been a confrontation between powerful cultivators near Peach Blossom Ind? Everything seems tumultuous?¡±
¡°As I suspected, the Zhong Family wouldn¡¯t fully trust Peach Blossom Ind outright. The patriarch might have just been a decoy, likely apanied by hidden Foundation Establishment cultivators!¡±
Fang Xi immediately descended into the Little Cloudrain Array and activated it at full strength. He then retreated into the underground stone cave.
¡°The Little Cloudrain Array may not withstand a scan by a Foundation Establishment cultivator¡¯s divine sense¡¡±
¡°But if any such scan passes over the stone cave, I will certainly detect it.¡±
Beneath the Demon Tree, Fang Xi sat cross-legged, quietly awaiting the oue.
Three dayster.
A shocking news spread rapidly throughout Wan Ind Lake!
The Zhong Family Patriarch, Zhong Tianchou, was killed by the Peach Blossom Ind Lord!
Rumors imed that the Peach Blossom Ind Lord demonstrated both courage and cunning, employing a feigned surrender strategy to effortlessly trap Zhong Tianchou to his demise!
In secret, even more outrageous spections circted, covering a wide range of possibilities.
Some suggested Zhong Tianchou fell for a beauty trap, while others imed Peach Blossom Ind genuinely intended to surrender but were preemptively discovered by the Three Upper Families.
Among the most exaggerated rumors was that the Zhong Family had been well-prepared, with two hidden Foundation Establishment patriarchs present, aiming to annihte Peach Blossom Ind in one decisive strike.
However, unexpectedly, during the critical moment, the Thirty-Six Inds Alliance¡¯s Foundation Establishment benefactor - Loose Cultivator Ye - intervened!
Previously known only as an early Foundation Establishment cultivator and rarely seen in public, Loose Cultivator Ye surprisingly revealed a cultivation base elevated to Mid-Stage Foundation Establishment, overpowering both Zhong Family patriarchs decisively!
After a fierce battle, realizing they could not gain any advantage, the two Zhong Family patriarchs reluctantly retreated.
¡°After this battle, the Thirty-Six Inds Alliance¡¯s reputation has greatly soared. It seems they¡¯ve effectively shaken off the setbacks from the Spirit Hollow Market attack and Yu Lingzi¡¯s death¡¡± At Jade Cliff, Lu Guo stood before Fang Xi, summarizing the situation.
¡°Yes¡ I didn¡¯t expect Loose Cultivator Ye, supposedly just a hired retainer, to actually intervene and reveal he had secretly advanced to Mid-Stage Foundation Establishment!¡± Fang Xi echoed with admiration.
While only a small step separates Early-Stage Foundation Establishment from Mid-Stage, it trantes into the ability to defeat two or even three early stage opponents! A mid-stage cultivator facing initial stage cultivators can truly dominate them with overwhelming power.
As a result, not only did the Zhong Family¡¯s two early Foundation Establishment patriarchs suffer defeat and flee, but their vital energies may have been significantly weakened as well.
¡°Hmph, I suspect Loose Cultivator Ye also had his own motives; otherwise, why would he let Yu Lingzi die without intervening earlier? He only stepped in at the critical moment to turn the tide!¡± Wei Yixi chimed in indignantly, overhearing their conversation.
¡°Yixi?!¡± Fang Xi red sharply at his wayward niece. ¡°Discussing the private affairs of great Foundation Establishment cultivators? If overheard, nine lives wouldn¡¯t be enough for your demise!¡±
¡°Uncle, I was just sharing privately,¡± Wei Yixi stuck out her tongue. ¡°Sister Ruan Dan told me that this ¡®Loose Cultivator Ye¡¯ might not want other Foundation Establishment cultivators sharing the tributes from the Thirty-Six Inds¡¡±
¡°You still dare to continue?¡± Fang Xi feigned a strike, finally scaring Wei Yixi into silence.
He turned to Lu Guo. ¡°Go on¡¡±
¡°Afterwards, taking advantage of the chaos caused by the Zhong Family losing their patriarch, the Thirty-Six Inds Allianceunched a counteroffensive. It¡¯s rumored they swiftly reimed Spirit Hollow Ind, a tier-2 spiritual vein territory, and even pushed deep into the former Zhong Familyke domain¡
¡°The rogue cultivators from Peach Blossom Ind were also drawn in, joining the Thirty-Six Inds Alliance. Some even began rallying cries to attack Dragonfish Ind!¡±
Lu Guo couldn¡¯t quite grasp his feelings about this turn of events.
The shifting dynamics of the cultivation world seemed truly rapid.
Just moments ago, the Thirty-Six Inds Alliance appeared precarious, yet now they were achieving victory after victory.
Dragonfish Ind was the stronghold of the Dragonfish Zhong n, housing millions of mortals and boasting a high-grade tier-2 spiritual vein!
Considering the extensive effort invested over generations to construct Peach Blossom Ind¡¯s protective barrier, with a Foundation Establishment cultivator guarding it, evente-stage Foundation Establishment opponents would find it difficult to breach.
Fang Xi found this slogan rather amusing and somewhat speechless.
¡®However, has the hidden faction connected to Ruan Xingling made their move during these events?¡¯
Fang Xi was aware of the recent battles involving Foundation Establishment cultivators near Peach Blossom Ind, which the Great Azure Fish had witnessed firsthand!
¡®To face two adversaries at once and even injure both, aside from being Mid-Stage Foundation Establishment¡ could Loose Cultivator Ye have received assistance from another Foundation Establishment cultivator?¡¯
¡®I didn¡¯t expect the tide of offense and defense to shift so dramatically within just a few years.¡¯
This sudden change intrigued Fang Xi greatly. Indeed, given enough time, one can witness anything unfold.
Now, as the Thirty-Six Indsunched their counterattack, numerous rogue cultivators on Peach Blossom Ind were enticed by the alliance¡¯s high bounties and rewards, joining en masse. This led to a significant decrease in activity on the ind.
Fang Xi couldn¡¯t be happier; Peach Blossom Ind became rtively safe in the rear, providing him ample opportunity to focus on his tree cultivation.
On this particr night,
hidden within the peach wood, A-1 spotted once again that faint streak of escaping light.
¡°I¡¯m d I didn¡¯t recall A-1 and kept him on watch; it¡¯s finally paying off.¡±
Fang Xi¡¯s eyes lit up at Jade Cliff, immediatelymanding his ck Feather Boat to fly out from therge formation.
He descended several miles away from Mirror Moon Lake, then cautiously approached using stealthy movement techniques.
Soon, he reached the peach blossom grove, suppressing his aura as he awaited the escape light to emerge¡
Chapter 131: Demonic Cultivator
Chapter 131: Demonic Cultivator
Fang Xi couldn¡¯t tell how long he had been waiting.
Leaning against a peach tree, his presence seemed to blend with it seamlessly; one would hardly notice him unless approaching closely.
Wood-type techniques inherently excel at concealing one¡¯s aura, and coupled with Fang Xi¡¯s immense patience, he remained undetected.
After about an hour, a faint streak of light emerged from the vi.
Standing on a peach branch, Fang Xi silently tracked the figure¡¯s movements, continuously shifting his position using the shadows, inching closer¡
As the streak of light flew overhead, Fang Xi swept his divine sense over it!
Under this scrutiny, all disguises were rendered futile, revealing a gaunt and aged face with a hint of demonic aura!
¡°A demonic cultivator?!¡± Fang Xi was startled, only to be further surprised when he recognized the individual!
The person appeared to be around fifty or sixty years old, with a weathered, thin face. However, if one imagined that face fuller and more prosperous, along with those shrewd, cunning eyes¡ ¡°Situ Ying from the Situ n¡the former manager of the spirit fields! He¡¯s lost quite some weight, used to look much wealthier¡¡± Fang Xi murmured softly.
Fang Xi murmured to himself.
On Qingzhu Mountain, numerous spirit farmers deeply despised this man but were powerless against him. Including his past self, they often fell victim to Situ Ying¡¯s exploitation.
Despite encountering his enemy unexpectedly, Fang Xi refrained from immediate action.
Although it had been over thirty years since theirst meeting and this person¡¯s cultivation had barely reached the seventhyer of Qi Refinement, he was no match for Fang Xi now!
However, if this individual appeared here, did it not signify involvement of the Situ n?
Fang Xi¡¯s expression turned serious as he swiftly recalled information about the Situ n.
After the Situ n¡¯s near annihtion, its surviving members formed the demonic faction known as the ¡®Heaven Extinguishing Union¡¯, vowing relentless conflict against the Profound Sky Sect and Song n!
It was rumored that following several setbacks, they were forced to flee into the Wood Nation¡
¡°From what I see now, either these rumors were incorrect, or perhaps some remnants secretly returned? Choosing Wan Ind Lake, such a remote location, to stir up trouble?¡±
¡°No wonder Wan Ind Lake remained peaceful until these turbulent changes emerged over the past decade or so¡ªit seems you¡¯ve been orchestrating chaos behind the scenes!¡±
Fang Xi held no favorable sentiments towards the Situ n. Upon realizing that the unrest at Wan Ind Lake involved demonic cultivators, his first instinct was¡ªto report them!!
The Profound Sky Sect had long maintained warrants for members of the Heaven Extinguishing Union and Situ n, with exceptionally generous bounties offered.
By reporting them, Fang Xi could indirectly seek vengeance, avenging that arrow from years ago!
However, considering his own secrets, he quickly dismissed the idea.
¡°Perhaps¡ I should handle it myself?¡±
¡°Or maybe¡ wait until my strength improves before reporting them?¡±
Fang Xi gazed at the escaping light but remained indecisive, allowing it to fly beyond his territorial reach.
Despite harboring hatred, he understood the importance of patience!
Situ Ying alone was inconsequential!
But behind himy the Situ n and the Heaven Extinguishing Union, likely harboring demonic Foundation Establishment cultivators!
Taking revenge on a minor enemy might inadvertently provoke the unseen forces behind them, making it counterproductive!
¡®Ruan Xingling, how foolish to ally herself with demonic cultivators?¡¯
Fang Xi recalled A-1 and returned to Jade Cliff, entering the underground stone cave.
Seated beneath the Demon Tree, he looked up at the desated corpses hanging from its aerial roots, falling deep into thought.
¡®Either Ruan Xingling is unaware of whom she¡¯s coborating with, tempted by irresistible offers like Foundation Establishment spirit items?¡¯
¡®Or perhaps, even Ruan Xingling herself is secretly aligned with demonic cultivators? After her n¡¯s destruction, she constantly traveled, providing ample opportunity to encounter both demonic cultivators and members of the Situ n!¡¯
¡®Then there¡¯s Lone Practitioner Ye from the Thirty-Six Inds¡ Although imed as a rogue cultivator, is he truly one at Foundation Establishment stage? Why did he conveniently break through his bottleneck now? Could it be that he has some understanding or agreement with the Heaven Extinguishing Union?¡¯
¡®The choice of Wan Ind Lake for their move suggests they¡¯re ying a muchrger game. Given their ambition, their goal must at least include covertly swallowing the entire Wan Ind Lake region, right?¡¯
As Fang Xi sat quietly pondering these possibilities, he was struck with sudden realization.
Unbeknownst to him, Wan Ind Lake had seemingly be the epicenter of a brewing storm!
¡°My luck¡¡±
¡°The Situ n really knows how to push it. First, exploiting mybor back then, and now interfering wherever I set my sights? Do they think they can just dominate everything like local lords?¡±
Fang Xi¡¯s expression darkened.
In the past, striving for honesty, he found it difficult to maintain a facade year after year and never concealed his true identity fully. Being a spirit farmer for the Situ n on Qingzhu Mountain might not have raised suspicion within the Situ n itself, but it certainly would when viewed by the future Profound Sky Sect¡
This posed yet another significant problem.
¡°The most critical issue is that the cultivation of my Second Wood Dharma Idol has reached a pivotal stage; I cannot leave this ce. It¡¯s one of the drawbacks of the Longevity Technique.¡±
Fang Xi nced back at the Demon Tree, his eyes gradually turning somber.
On a deste ind, Situ Ying maneuvered his escape light, circling around to ensure no one was following him. Confirmed safe, he quietly descended into a secluded mountain valley.
Pop!
As soon as he entered the valley, the surroundings transformed dramatically!
Pure spiritual energy enveloped him, revealing numerous exquisitely crafted buildings adorned with intricate carvings and paintings. Within these structures, various cultivators were either meditating for cultivation or practicing magic spells.
Shockingly, this ce was a branch of the Heaven Extinguishing Union!
¡°Miss!¡±
Situ Ying approached a pce, bowed respectfully, and called out.
¡°Enter!¡±
The pce doors opened, revealing a verdant glow from within. Oilmps atop beast-headed statues emitted a captivating aroma.
At the center of countlessmps sat a graceful female cultivator, her demeanor ethereal and features delicate, akin to stepping out of an exquisite ink painting!
This woman was none other than Situ Qingqing!
Despite over thirty years passing, her appearance remained unchanged, with a cultivation base at Peak Qi Refining - likely due to age-defying medicinal pills.
¡°Miss, I have met with that person, and our coboration seems promising¡¡±
Situ Ying proceeded to recount every detail of his encounter with Ruan Xingling.
¡°Indeed, after witnessing our strength, she had no choice but toply¡¡± Situ Qingqing¡¯s voice, clear as a mountain stream, carried a hint of amusement. ¡°Even ¡®Lone Practitioner Ye¡¯ is now aligned with us; the Zhong Family¡¯s downfall is inevitable¡ When that timees, we¡¯ll govern Wan Ind Lake openly through the Thirty-Six Inds Alliance while operating behind the scenes, quietly amassing power. Eventually, we will seize the opportunity when the Profound Sky Sect faces a critical shortage of capable hands!¡±
As she spoke, her eyes filled with deep hatred.
The vengeance for her family¡¯s destruction was such that even draining all the waters from Wan Ind Lake and Vast Dream Marsh could not wash it away!
¡°Oh right, regarding the individual you asked me to investigate, Miss, I have the results.¡± Seemingly recalling something, Situ Ying handed a jade slip respectfully to Situ Qingqing, his face expressing admiration mixed with surprise. ¡°I never expected that mere tenant farmer from our past estate would make quite a name for himself here at Wan Ind Lake, chuckle¡ One wonders how many valuable items he managed to secure during the market chaos!¡±
In Situ Ying¡¯s view, Fang Xi, once a minor spirit farmer at Initial Stage Qi Refinement, must have acquired numerous resources amidst the market turmoil to reach the seventhyer of Qi Refinement. It was likely due to sheer luck, possibly even stumbling upon two powerful cultivators perishing together and iming their bags of holding¡
While seemingly improbable, such fortuitous encounters were not umon in the vast cultivation world. Compared to true holders of immense destiny, this hardly merited attention.
Nevertheless, Situ Qingqing deeply resented Fang Xi!
Why should she endure relentless pursuit like a hunted dog, face countless risks while cultivating demonic arts, narrowly escaping death multiple times, only to barely reach the Late Stage of Qi Refinement now? Meanwhile, he effortlessly tended crops and raised fish on Peach Blossom Ind, achieving the same level with ease?
¡°Fang Xi¡¡±
As Situ Qingqing¡¯s spiritual sense entered the jade slip, she saw a portrait of the young man, strikingly simr to the boy who once eximed, ¡°With Miss Qingqing here, even the heavens seem brighter.¡±
Of course, practicing wood-type techniques and asionally consuming age-retarding medicinal pills made maintaining youthful appearance quite normal.
What truly captivated her was Fang Xi¡¯s identity and cultivation base!
¡°Over forty years old and just advanced to the seventhyer of Qi Refinement? And also pursuing Body Tempering? What a pity¡ If he had reached Late Stage Qi Refinement before turning forty, there might have been a slim chance for Foundation Establishment¡¡±
¡°At his current age, the prospects for reaching Foundation Establishment are exceedingly dim¡¡±
At over fifty years old and only in the seventhyer of Qi Refinement, there was no realistic chance to break through to Peak Qi Refinement before reaching the age limit of sixty. Consequently, such individuals were often disregarded.
In sects or Foundation Establishment ns, they might be assigned to manage shops in markets or sent to oversee territories among ordinary folk, establishing branch families. This would allow for bloodline expansion, hoping that future descendants might possess exceptional spiritual roots - potential immortal sprouts.
Situ Qingqing¡¯s seemingly casual assessment belied the slight ripple of intrigue within her.
The intelligence report also detailed how Fang Xi, wielding the Qinghe Sword, had suppressed the Lu n on Peach Blossom Ind using both Mid Qi Refinement and body cultivation prowess.
This immediately reminded Situ Qingqing of a mysterious body cultivator who had once saved her from pursuers. However, he refused any favors from the Situ n and swiftly departed without hesitation.
In hindsight, his decision proved remarkably astute! Had he boarded the treacherous ship of the Situ n, even if he survived the ckwater Pond incident, he would have been ostracized as a demonic cultivator by the entire Yue Kingdom¡¯s cultivation world!
¡®Both at the second stage of Body Tempering, is it merely a coincidence?¡¯
¡®But even if it¡¯s the same person, what difference does it make? Being in the seventhyer of Qi Refinement at over fifty suggests some minor secrets, but nothing extraordinary¡ The likelihood of this individual reaching Foundation Establishment in the future seems low.¡¯
¡®For now, our primary focus should be on the greater goal. Once we unify Wan Ind Lake in the future, at most, I¡¯ll grant him some additional rewards to settle past debts¡¡¯
Situ Qingqing swiftly dismissed thoughts of Fang Xi from her mind.
After all, in certain respects, he had once again aligned with their side¡
With this consideration, Situ Qingqing casually ced the jade slip back into her bag of holding and turned towards Situ Ying. ¡°You¡¯ve done well. Ruan Xingling and Ruan Dan are crucial to our grand n; they must not falter. Did she ept the ¡®Reunion Renewal Pill¡¯ you brought?¡±
¡°Heh heh, considering its importance for her female disciple¡¯s Dao path, naturally she epted it.¡± Situ Ying stroked his beard, feeling somewhatÐÄÌÛ(pained): ¡°Such a specialized tier-2 medicinal pill is worth over a thousand spirit stones!¡±
¡°How else could we gain her trust?¡± A hint of crimson flickered in Situ Qingqing¡¯s eyes. ¡°As long as she dares to ept, there¡¯s nothing we wouldn¡¯t dare to give! In the future¡it will depend on which one, master or disciple, seizes the opportunity to achieve Foundation Establishment, chortle¡¡±
The girl¡¯s melodiousughter echoed throughout the pce.
¡°Only by doing so can we truly gain her trust.¡±
Chapter 132: Fleshly Body Foundation Establishment
Chapter 132: Fleshly Body Foundation Establishment
Two yearster.
At Jade Cliff:
¡°Master¡ any news on thetest battle reports?¡±
Widow Wang, now visibly aged, anxiously awaited at the door with a humble and ingratiating demeanor, making Fang Xi slightly uneasy. ¡°Come inside¡¡±
Two years ago, the tide of war had shifted.
The Thirty-Six Inds Alliance formed a united army to confront the Dragonfish Zhong n!
The mes of conflict spread throughout every corner of Wan Ind Lake. Short-staffed, the alliance aggressively recruited rogue cultivators, offering exceptionally generous terms.
For those ranking high on the battle achievements list, there were even Foundation Establishment spirit items avable as rewards!
Additionally, the Thirty-Six Inds Alliance promised that after the war, victorious cultivators could choose unimed spirit inds to establish their own ns or sects without interference from the alliance! This enticement drew vast numbers of cultivators, including many elderly ones who held onto theirst breaths, prepared to perish on the battlefield for the sake of their descendants.
Though weakened in magical power, such cultivators often remained formidable!
As a result¡ Lu Guo, Hai Dagui, and even Widow Wang¡¯s son Little Hu couldn¡¯t resist secretly enlisting and heading towards the battlegrounds.
Widow Wang fretted day and night, visiting Fang Xi daily for updates.
¡°Don¡¯t worry, Little Hu and others joined the team led by the crown princess. Naturally, they¡¯ll be taken care of¡¡± Fang Xi smiled reassuringly. ¡°Haven¡¯t you heard that ¡®Little Ring Ind¡¯ has already been captured? With this ind fallen, Dragonfish Ind¡¯s defenses are wide open, signaling the imminent end of the war. Soon, Little Hu and his friends will return¡¡±
¡°But wars always im lives, especially sect battles. Attacking mountain-defending arrays is essentially sacrificing people to breach them¡¡± Widow Wang gazed at theke near the cliff edge, her expression growing even more anxious. ¡°I should have been firmer back then, perhaps even breaking one of Little Hu¡¯s legs¡ it would have been better than this situation now. I was truly foolish, so foolish¡¡±
Fang Xi sighed, observing Widow Wang as she seemed on the verge of descending into despair like Xianglin Sao from literature. Silently, he got up to continue harvesting weeds.
With the ongoing war, it had be difficult to find tenant-farmers for cultivation work. Thus, Master Fang himself had no choice but to tend the fields.
Ruan Dan had indeed approached him earlier, urging him to join the fray. She emphasized that given the current favorable circumstances, participating in these battles posed minimal danger and offered ample opportunities for earning merits.
In the future, securing an entire spirit ind wouldn¡¯t be much of an issue either, yet Fang Xi steadfastly declined.
Despite many finding his decision puzzling, he remained content with his choice. As long as no one disturbed his tree tending, everything else was fine.
Nighttime.
In the underground cave beneath the Demon Tree, Fang Xi clung to one of its aerial roots, extracting vital essence from it.
The root trembled, attempting to retract and resist his grasp.
After a while,
Plop!
Fang Xi released the aerial root, which promptly curled back into the tree¡¯s canopy.
The entire Demon Tree shuddered, seemingly expressing discontent and anger!
¡°This resistance is growing increasingly severe!¡± Fang Xi observed with a deep frown.
Ever since he decided to aggressively extract blood qi from the Demon Tree, aiming for a swift breakthrough to True Astral Manifestation, the tree¡¯s defiance had be stronger. Even using the intricacies of the Longevity Technique, he found it challenging to suppress the tree, noticing signs of potential bacsh.
This reinforced Fang Xi¡¯s suspicion that the Demon Tree¡¯s instincts¡were recovering!
And beginning to influence him in return!
Yet, progress towards achieving the Second Wood Dharma Idol remained elusive.
Tonight, the Demon Tree even refused to connect with him, forcing Fang Xi to actively grasp its pneumatophores just to extract that final trace of blood qi.
¡°Indeed, it¡¯s a demon from Great Liang, fundamentally different from the spiritual roots found in the cultivation world!¡± Fang Xi sighed, his eyes flickering with faint crimson glints.
In the next moment, standing atop a surface formed by countless banyan tree roots, he gently lifted his hand!
Boom!
This simple gesture ignited a surge behind him, resembling a colossal sun of blood qi rising, enveloping his entire body and radiating light and heat outward continuously!
Sizzle!
Instantaneously, the densely intertwinedyers of banyan tree roots dispersed, revealing rocks and soil buried for many years.
¡°White Cloud Palm!¡±
Fang Xi assumed a boxing stance, meticulously practicing each move of the martial arts he had learned.
¡°Red Snake Leg!¡±
¡°Heavenly Vision and Earthly Hearing Art!¡±
¡°Yuan Fusion Five Thunders Hand!¡±
As time passed, Fang Xi¡¯s movements elerated, yet each precise strike remained clearly visible, creating a seemingly contradictory disy.
Boom!
While his martial techniques evolved continuously, strands of true astral energy emerged around Fang Xi, also shifting and coalescing¡
¡°Dragon Emperor Fist!¡±
In the final move, Fang Xi unleashed a powerful punch!
Roarrrr!!
Behind him, countless threads of true astral energy converged to form a blood-red Dragonfish visible even to mortal eyes!
The Dragonfish stretched over nine meters long, with every scale distinctly clear, just shy of manifesting its inverse scales! Upon its appearance, a mysterious force seemed to envelop and empower Fang Xi!
¡°The Dragon Emperor Fist is indeed an unparalleled supreme technique!
¡°But my martial foundation will forever be the Primordial True Art!¡±
With hands moving like the principles of Taiji, Fang Xi instantly dispersed the blood dragon behind him.
Immediately thereafter, the numerous threads of true astral energy reassembled, forming a hazy humanoid figure!
This figure stood approximately eighteen meters tall, positioned directly behind Fang Xi, bearing striking resemnce to him in both face and physique.
An eighteen-meter golden avatar!
No!
This terrifying creation was entirely based on blood qi and true astral energy, breaking through to a new level!
¡°Primordial True Body¡ Condense!¡± Fang Xi roared, bringing his palms together.
Instantly, the colossal astral figure behind him mirrored the motion, its massive arms sweeping across the cave, sending countless rocks flying and forcing the Demon Tree¡¯s roots to retreat¡
¡°After thirty years! The True Astral Manifestation¡ finally achieved!¡±
Fang Xi felt a surge of terrifying power refining his limbs, bones, dantian, and qi passageways, further strengthening his tendons, skin, and muscles¡
In this moment, his body underwent an extraordinary transformation, enabling him to effortlessly withstand even high-grade magical artifacts with bare hands!
A realm never before breached by martial artists in Great Liang¡ªthe True Astral Manifestation!
An elusive breakthrough sought for generations by Zongshi, yet unattained until now!
It had finally been aplished by Fang Xi!
¡°Above Martial Saint lies¡the Martial God! The divine pinnacle among warriors!¡±
After nurturing trees for thirty years, at age fifty-three, Fang Xi finally ascended to the realm of Martial God!
In that instant, Dugu Wuwang¡¯s words about the essence of Devil-Refining once again vividly surfaced in Fang Xi¡¯s mind.
¡°Only with a ¡®True Astral Manifestation¡¯ physique and the extraordinary spirit of a Zongshi can one truly refine, consume¡a devil!¡±
Within Fang Xi¡¯s thoughts, it felt as if a taut string suddenly snapped.
A refreshing rity filled his mentalndscape, giving rise to countless realizations:
¡°At what point did I be bound by the ¡®Second Wood Dharma Idol¡¯?¡±
¡°To achieve the ¡®Second Wood Dharma Idol,¡¯ I passively watched numerous dangers emerge around me without intervening¡¡±
¡°As time went on, its formation increasingly slowed, yet I failed to perceive anything amiss?¡±
Fang Xi¡¯s eyes shed like lightning, focusing intently on the Demon Tree!
The trembling Demon Tree responded by causing all the desated corpses hanging from its aerial roots to open their eyes, emitting intense scarlet light!
¡°It¡¯s the Demon Tree¡ Its innate influence has been affecting me!¡± Fang Xi roared, instantlyprehending everything.
The Longevity Technique, being primarily an immortal cultivation method, had limited insights into ¡®demons¡¯, and its magical energy refinement also possessed vulnerabilities.
Moreover, when Fang Xi initially practiced the Demon Refining Art, it was not yet fully perfected,cking the crucial aspect of ¡®True Astral Manifestation¡¯ for his physique!
This oversight allowed a residual trace of the demon seed to persist.
After lying dormant for several decades, this remnant finally took hold as the innate nature of the Demon Tree, turning against its very owner!
Since the Demon Tree and Fang Xi were originally one entity, the tree¡¯s instinctual influence subtly altered Fang Xi¡¯s personality over time!
¡®If I hadn¡¯t sensed the impending danger and swiftly achieved the realm of True Astral Manifestation, my instincts might have gradually taken control¡ Eventually, I could have be utterly lethargic, transforming into a true shut-in¡ much like a stationary tree?¡¯
¡°Die!¡±
Instantlyprehending the sequence of events, Fang Xi, consumed with fury, unleashed a devastating punch towards the Demon Tree!
Whoosh!
Behind him, the towering sixty-foot Primordial True Body mirrored his action, delivering a fist swift as lightning that struck the Demon Tree before any counteraction could be made!
Crack!
A massive fist imprint appeared on the Demon Tree¡¯s trunk, and from the torn ck bark, crimson blood began to flow.
¡°Ouch!¡±
¡°It hurts so much!¡± The hanging corpses on the aerial roots emitted varying cries.
In the next instant, tendrils of ck mist emerged from the tree, spreading outwards¡
¡°Demonic Domain?!¡± Fang Xi¡¯s eyes twitched.
He had never harbored any interest in preserving his victims like cured meat; these tribtion cultivator corpses were clearly influenced by the Demon Tree!
¡°Die now!¡±
For Fang Xi, maintaining autonomy was paramount. Without it, even with his Evesting Longevity Physique, he would be worth no more than a fart!
With both hands extended, he activated the Primordial True Body once again, gripping the Demon Tree¡¯s trunk tightly as terrifying strength coursed through his arms.
Boom!
The entire Jade Cliff shook violently, akin to a devastating earthquake!
His formidable blood qi transformed into a zing sun, beginning to evaporate the dark mist¡
Puff! Puff!
From within the Demon Tree¡¯s canopy, countless aerial roots, resembling python-like tentacles, attempted to pierce Fang Xi but were repelled by the colossal Primordial True Body.
As each air root barely managed to prate the Primordial True Body, it encountered tenfold stronger true astral erosion and instantly turned to ash.
¡°No¡¡± One of the corpses cried out in agony, ¡°Wh¡why¡¡±
¡°You should never have gained consciousness, even if just instinctual!¡± Fang Xi¡¯s gaze was icy cold, recalling Dugu Wuwang¡¯s Devil-Forge secret technique word by word.
In the next moment, he opened his mouth wide and viciously bit down.
Even for a demon, encountering a Martial God meant risking a painful loss!
Swallowing!
The blood-red giant, resembling a six-zhang golden body, lifted the severed-rooted Demon Tree high and began devouring it piece by piece.
Instantaneously, countless fragments flooded Fang Xi¡¯s consciousness.
Some were glimpses from nature, while others depicted grand cosmic events akin to supernova explosions¡
Theirmon thread was a chilling indifference, as if urging him towards madness!
This was an inevitable consequence when swallowing demons!
Fortunately, Fang Xi¡¯s Demon Tree had undergone multiple purifications since its demonic seed stage, significantly reducing the inherent madness and corruption.
At this point, only remnants of its instinctual recovery remained intact. Moreover, with the connection established by the ¡®Longevity Technique¡¯, Fang Xi treated the Demon Tree as part of himself, significantly suppressing its power.
Without such control, even another Martial God might not have seeded against it.
Drawing upon past experiences, Fang Xi continuously digested and suppressed the consciousness fragments of the Demon Tree using his Divine Sense and the Devil-Forge secret art¡
An indeterminate amount of time passed within the cave, now strewn with broken stones and burning roots. Tai Sui huddled in a corner, trembling uncontrobly.
Fang Xi stood firm, the Primordial True Body behind him having vanished.
His divine sense revealed a massive pitch-ck banyan tree tattoo on his back, vividly detailed like an intricate marking¡
¡°The Demon Tree has beenpletely suppressed and refined¡¡±
¡°However, the Longevity Technique has failed¡¡±
Fang Xi could feel the silver runes representing the Second Wood Dharma Idol stagnating and fading¡ losing their original luster.
Though somewhat disheartened, considering the potential danger posed by the fully revived Demon Tree, the sacrifice was undoubtedly worth it.
Chapter 133: Inventory and Departure
Chapter 133: Inventory and Departure
¡°The troubles may have just passed, but there¡¯s still much to address¡¡±
With a sigh, Fang Xi returned through the secret passage to his cultivation room.
As soon as he opened the door, he heard Widow Wang¡¯s voice, ¡°M-Master¡ There seemed to be an earthquake at Jade Cliff moments ago¡ I¡I think I saw numerous tree roots emerging from the spirit field¡¡±
¡°Hm?¡±
A fierce glint shed in Fang Xi¡¯s eyes as he nced at the moonlit night outside.
Due to the protection of the Little Cloudrain Array, the minor earthquake at Jade Cliff had no impact on the surrounding area.
So¡ is Widow Wang the only witness?
In a swift motion, Fang Xi appeared behind Widow Wang.
Bang! Widow Wang¡¯s eyes rolled back, and she fainted instantly.
¡°Congrattions¡ Achievement unlocked: Nighttime Widow Encounter!¡±
Staring at the unconscious Widow Wang lying on the ground, Fang Xi muttered sarcastically to alleviate his killing intent.
After all, with the Demon Tree gone from the underground cave and Tai Sui safely returned to Great Liang, his current mindset was rtively calm. He now felt secure, fearing little about any secrets being discovered.
¡°However, just to be cautious¡¡±
Fang Xi extended his right hand, and a vine-like root emerged from his sleeve, binding Widow Wang before pulling her closer.
Since fully refining the Demon Tree, Fang Xi felt as if he had gained a servant akin to it, possessing all its abilities.
But¡the Demon Tree was nowpletely dead, devoid of vitality and unable to be rented, rendering the ¡®Longevity Technique¡¯ unusable!
Using the Technique of Demon Refinement on the Demon Tree, Fang Xi realized, was akin to how cultivators create magical artifacts from spirit wood roots!
Once crafted into an artifact, it could no longer be nted to regain life¡¯s energy!
Yet, this was necessary to suppress the demonic influence on his will!
¡°Still, there might be a workaround¡¡±
Instantly, Fang Xi caused the vine to bloom, producing a seed in his hand.
This was a Puppet Seed from the Demon Tree, still retaining a hint of vitality!
Despite that, Fang Xi sensed he could effortlesslymand it to perish, ensuring it would never sprout again!
¡°Unfortunately¡ this is only a third-generation seed, forever one tier below my own Demon Tree and two tiers below the Ancestral Demon Tree!¡±
¡°Sowing this third-generation seed holds little significance now. Instead, I should someday venture to Great Liang in search of the Ancestral Demon Tree¡¡±
He gazed at the puppet seed, ultimately deciding against imnting it into Widow Wang. Instead, he employed another secret technique.
This technique resembled the ¡®Soul Confusion Technique¡¯ acquired from Nine Profundities Old Daoist years ago. Combined with the abilities of his Demon Tree, temporarily altering the memories of a low-rank cultivator posed no significant challenge.
Fang Xi began chanting incantations as nt-like tendrils emerged from his sleeves, piercing into Widow Wang¡¯s acupoints.
Her eyes opened nkly, meeting Fang Xi¡¯s gaze.
Suddenly, a brilliant green light erupted from Fang Xi¡¯s eyes, prating deep into Widow Wang¡¯s pupils.
The green glow seemed infectious, causing a flicker of pain on Widow Wang¡¯s face before her eyes also emitted a simr green radiance, followed by her immediate copse¡
¡°It¡¯s done.¡±
Fang Xi carried Widow Wang back to her home and then leisurely sat down beneath the peach tree.
Unaware of time passing, the morning sun rose from the east, casting strands of profound violet qi downward.
Fang Xi, who had been introspecting his condition continuously, opened his eyes:
¡°Thirty years since nting that tree, now at age fifty-three, I¡¯ve reached Peak Qi Refinement with my martial arts True Astral Manifestationparable to the fourth level of Body Tempering¡¡±
¡°In terms of skills, both Dao of arrays and pill concocting are high-rank first-tier, while spirit nts and Beast Control Art are also high-rank first-tier; paper talismans are mid-rank first-tier¡¡±
¡°I achieved the ¡®Azure Wood Spirit Body¡¯, although the ¡®Second Wood Dharma Idol¡¯ fell short but left some residual effects. Currently, my spiritual body enhances appearance, extends lifespan, amplifies my spiritual roots, and boosts wood-type magic spells¡ My maximum longevity is now at least three hundred years!¡±
¡°Onerge bag of holding, numerous smaller bags, a low-grade spirit artifact ¡®Golden Flood Dragon Shears¡¯, high-grade magical artifacts including spirit snake armor, ck Iron Sword, Qing Yuan Shield, Qinghe Sword, ck Feather Boat¡ Additionally, a batch of stolen magical artifacts, and over two thousand spirit stones.¡±
¡°A cer full of spirit wine, a vast quantity of medicinal pills, a moderate number of paper talismans, a high-rank first-tier Insect King - the blue-and-white golden tortoise beetle swarm, and finally, a stubborn dead fish refusing to break through until its final moments¡¡±
¡°An immortal¡¯s cave at Jade Cliff, along with twenty-five acres of spirit fields¡¡±
¡°Unbeknownst to me, I¡¯ve umted such substantial resources over time. Time truly is the greatest magician!¡± Fang Xi couldn¡¯t help but marvel after tallying his assets.
He felt slightly regretful aboutpletely refining the Demon Tree, but he had no regrets overall. If he hadn¡¯t acted then, it was uncertain who would have ended up refining whom in the future.
Indeed, these demonic spirit nts from heaven and earth are immensely dangerous!
As for the ¡®Second Wood Dharma Idol¡¯? There will be opportunities to re-cultivate itter!
¡°But¡ now that I¡¯m free from concerns about the Longevity Technique, I am truly liberated¡ I am free¡¡± Fang Xi spread out his arms, as if grasping at the very essence of freedom itself.
¡°This is perfect; while newly emancipated, I can n for Foundation Establishment¡¡±
¡°At the same time, I must distance myself from Wan Ind Lake¡¯s whirlpool.¡±
¡°Sometimes in life, taking a step back is necessary.¡± Fang Xi privately strategized.
Foundation Establishment! The first milestone on the path to immortality, requiring breakthroughs in essence, qi, and spirit!
¡°With my Divine Warrior physique, passing the blood qi barrier should pose no problem!¡±
¡°The Evesting Spring Art is amon cultivation technique; even at Peak Qi Refinement, its magical energy won¡¯t be particrly strong. This hurdle seems quite challenging¡¡±
¡°For divine sense, it shouldn¡¯t pose much of a problem¡¡±
¡°ording to rumors, Foundation Establishment is difficult for individuals with low or mid-grade spiritual roots, while high-grade roots provide significant advantages¡ Earth-ranked spiritual roots inherently offer a thirty percent chance of sess, and Heaven-graded roots face no bottlenecks until Core Formation!¡±
As for spiritual bodies, most tend to facilitate Foundation Establishment, significantly increasing the chances of sess.
Fang Xi understood the reason behind this well enough.
For instance, his ¡®Azure Wood Spirit Body¡¯ directly awakened his divine sense uponpletion, akin to cheating through the third barrier of essence, qi, and spirit, thereby enhancing his likelihood of sess considerably!
¡°Even if I have a seventy to eighty percent, or nearly ny-nine percent chance of sessful Foundation Establishment, as long as failure carries a risk of death, I must still consume a Foundation Establishment Pill!¡±
Moreover, Fang Xi felt that his current magical energy from the Evesting Spring Art was rtively weak, necessitating the boost provided by a medicinal pill.
Despite this, he had no regrets about not switching to cultivate Qing Mu Gong earlier!
After all, there might have been hidden pitfalls within Qing Mu Gong!
In contrast, the Evesting Spring Art, being a widely-used technique, apart from average magical power, posed few significant issues.
Despite this, Fang Xi harbored no regrets for not switching to ¡®Qing Mu Arts¡¯ earlier!
After all, there might have been hidden traps within that cultivation method.
In contrast, the Evesting Spring Art, being a widely known technique, had only average magical energy capabilities but posed few significant issues.
¡°Foundation Establishment Pill! Baize Immortal City!¡± Fang Xi silently nned his future steps.
At that moment, Widow Wang¡¯s voice echoed from outside the door, ¡°Master¡¡±
¡°Come in¡¡± Fang Xi replied, expression unchanging.
Widow Wang entered and bowed respectfully, ¡°Master¡ it seems there was a mythical beast disturbance in the spirit fieldst night! Quite a number of spirit sprouts were damaged!¡±
¡°Hmm, indeed, it was a rare nt-type monster. I¡¯ve already in it. The creature¡¯s demonic aura may cause you some dizziness for a few days, but taking these medicinal pills should alleviate the symptoms¡¡± Nodding, Fang Xi casually tossed her a bottle of pills.
¡°Thank you, Master!¡±
Widow Wang, having forgotten most of the previous night¡¯s events, vaguely recalled something about the spirit field and tentacles, so she epted the exnation gratefully. She left happily with the medicinal pills, intending not to consume them herself but to save them for Little Hu.
After seeing Widow Wang off, Fang Xi whistled and gently leaped towards the cliff.
Whooosh!
As he descended, the wind roared wildly in his ears.
Just before Fang Xi would have plunged into theke, a massive azure fish resembling a giant eel burst out of the water, allowing him to step onto its head.
¡°Let¡¯s go, take a tour around!¡±
Fang Xi felt a surge of excitement; after being confined for thirty years as a tree-tending recluse, gaining newfound freedom demanded some indulgence.
The Great Azure Fish blew bubbles, puzzled by its master¡¯s sudden enthusiasm. Typically, Fang Xi rarely ventured beyond Jade Cliff, so this was quite unusual. However, it had no choice but toply, carrying Fang Xi swiftly through theke like a speedboat. At Fang Xi¡¯smand, it even createdrge waves intentionally, then served as an impromptu surfboard, enabling Fang Xi to ride atop them¡
As the sun set in the west,
Wei Yixi stood atop Jade Cliff and spotted a young man d in azure robes, riding his spirit beast through the waves. A captivating smile emerged on her face as she greeted him, ¡°Uncle¡ weren¡¯t you always reluctant to leave? What inspired this sudden interest?¡±
¡°Haven¡¯t ventured out for a while; thought I¡¯d take a stroll today,¡± Fang Xi replied casually.
With no more vulnerabilities now, he felt remarkably at ease, which only enhanced his charismatic presence in Wei Yixi¡¯s eyes.
¡°By the way, Uncle¡ I heard that the cultivators¡¯ alliance has already reached Dragonfish Ind¡ If not for you stopping me, I could have gained fame amidst their ranks by now. How does the title ¡®Goddess Jadebee¡¯ sound?¡± asked Wei Yixi.
Originally, she had intended to join the battle, but Fang Xi held her back. ording to him, others riskedbat for spiritualnds and resources, but since she possessed both, venturing into war would be outright foolish.
¡°How about ¡®Demoness Jadebee¡¯ instead!¡± Fang Xi smiled slightly before continuing, ¡°Speaking of, your timing is perfect. There are some matters I need to entrust to you.¡±
¡°What matters?¡± Wei Yixi suddenly felt a sense of unease creeping in.
¡°Well, with my absence from Jade Cliff and the immortal¡¯s cave, along with the cer full of spirit wines, I¡¯ll need you to look after these temporarily¡ You can keep half the profits from the spirit fields!¡±
Fang Xi¡¯s words greatly startled Wei Yixi. She quickly examined him from head to toe, noticing no signs of impending exhaustion. Concerned, she asked, ¡°Uncle, are you going on a long journey?¡±
¡°Yes, indeed¡¡±
Unaware of the internal grumbling by this little demoness, Fang Xi would have surely given her a couple of flicks on the forehead if he had known. Instead, he exined solemnly, ¡°As your master, despite being considered a Late Stage Qi Refinement expert, I am already fifty-three years old. It¡¯s time for me to seek opportunities to break through my current stage. After all¡ before my days end, Uncle still aims for Foundation Establishment!¡±
¡°Foundation Establishment? No, please don¡¯t¡ Uncle, failing at such a breakthrough could lead to severe injury or worse! You mustn¡¯t go!¡± Wei Yixi clung tightly to Fang Xi¡¯s sleeve, her plea heartfelt.
¡°This is our path as cultivators!¡± Fang Xi gently but resolutely freed himself from Wei Yixi¡¯s grasp. ¡°Regarding the Ind Lord, you can convey my farewell on my behalf. Additionally, tell her to take care of herself!¡±
Ruan Xingling seemed entangled with remnants of the Situ n, and Fang Xi preferred not to get deeply involved. Thus, he could only offer a subtle reminder.
After receiving Wei Yixi¡¯s tearful agreement, Fang Xi returned to his immortal¡¯s cave, packed essential items into his bag of holding, then ced his hands behind his back. Standing atop the Great Azure Fish, he departed into the sunset. ¡°Yixi, the Qinghe Sword and Blue-Flowered Golden Tortoise Beetle Insect King within the cave are now yours, bestowed by your master¡¡±
With that, before attempting Foundation Establishment, Fang Xi nned to first visit Great Liang.
It had been thirty years since their separation; how were his old friends faring?
Chapter 134: The Present Situation
Chapter 134: The Present Situation
In the sixteenth year of Emperor Ming¡¯s reign.
Emperor Ming personally took control, leading to intense conflicts with factions loyal to the Empress Dowager and Prime Minister. These shes ultimately forced the Empress Dowager tomit suicide.
On their deathbed, the Prime Minister¡¯s faction retaliated by allowing rebel forces to invade the capital, resulting in the massacre of imperial family members and high-ranking officials¡ Horses thundered through the pce grounds as blood flowed like rivers¡
Historians named this event ¡®The Long de Night¡¯!
Following that night, the Great Liang imperial court copsed dramatically, ushering in an era of regional warlords vying for power amidst rising Dragonfish rebellions!
Although Emperor Ming had died, with no clear sessor, the era continued to be marked under Great Liang¡¯s reign.
It is now the thirty-third year of Emperor Ming¡¯s era.
In Three Origins City,
After casually cing Tai Sui within a hastily excavated immortal¡¯s cave amidst the mountains, Fang Xi made his way to this city. The once flying Dragon banner of Great Liang was long gone from Three Origins City, reced by a dark golden g emzoned with the character ¡®Li¨¢ng¡¯ and its apanying Dragonfish emblem!
¡°King Liang?¡± Fang Xi silently uttered the name of this rising monarch from Ding Province, then chuckled softly as he entered the city.
Neither the city guards nor the pedestrians seemed to notice him, allowing Fang Xi to pass through the gates unimpeded.
¡°Did you hear? King Liangunched an attack against King Gui and achieved a great victory!¡±
¡°But I heard that King Liang fell into an ambush at Twin Dragons Mountain?¡±
¡°Hush¡ Don¡¯t say such things! Be careful not to undermine military morale; it could cost you your head!¡±
As Fang Xi walked, snippets of hushed conversations reached his ears without any hindrance.
Clop-clop!
asionally, fully armed elite soldiers arrogantly rode their horses through the streets, intimidating pedestrians who dared not voice their anger despite their resentment.
In times of chaos, military power reigned supreme!
In times of chaos, military power reigns supreme!
The status of warriors significantly elevated, and as trusted personal guards to rebel lords, these tooth soldiers couldmit murder with impunity, unchecked by anyw.
Prices for goods skyrocketed across the market, food costs spiraling upward.
Recalling the countless destitute wanderers in the Outer City, desperate to find stability within the city walls, Fang Xi couldn¡¯t help but sigh, ¡°In troubled times,mon folk fare worse than dogs¡¡±
Lost in thought, he arrived at the location where Intervale Dojo once stood.
To his surprise, it was no longer a dojo but had been transformed into arge courtyard residence, guarded by soldiers at the entrance.
¡°What ce is this?¡± Fang Xi¡¯s eyes flickered as he casually intercepted an elderly passerby.
Initially, the old man felt irritated at being stopped, but upon seeing the young man dressed in azure robes with an extraordinary demeanor, he dared not dismiss him lightly. With respect, he replied, ¡°This is the residence of Zhou Shenglong, General Zhou, a rovingmander under King Liang¡¡±
¡°And what happened to the original Intervale Dojo?¡±
¡°Intervale Dojo?¡± The old man looked puzzled for a moment before pping his head. ¡°Oh, that must be from several decades ago, right? Ahh¡ back then, the dojo was incredibly popr, attracting many nobles and influential figures¡ Unfortunately, its rise was swift, but so was its fall. Rumor has it, there was a bitter feud between the two main dojo masters leading to a violent sh. Many lives were lost, they parted ways, and subsequently, the dojo declined¡¡±
¡°A feud between the two main dojo masters?¡± Fang Xi, recalling Qing Mu and Qing Sang¡¯s brotherly bond, found this unlikely.
Yet, he couldn¡¯t help but chuckle softly at his own naivety.
After several decades, how could people remain unchanged?
¡°Afterwards, when King Liang attacked the city, the sessor of the declining dojo attempted resistance. Once the city fell, he was killed, and King Liang seized control of the dojo¡¡±
Unaware, the old man revealed quite a bit more than intended. Realizing his slip, he hastily covered his mouth. Seeing no one around, he let out a sigh of relief.
¡°I see, thank you very much, sir.¡±
Fang Xi casually tossed him a gold coin, turned, and walked away.
The old man rubbed his eyes, confirmed it was indeed a gold coin, quickly tucked it into his pocket, and nced furtively around like a thief¡
At Baiyun Dojo.
Unlike Intervale Dojo¡¯s dissolution, Baiyun Dojo had stubbornly taken root in Three Origins City. Despite facing sieges, Mu Piaomiao decisively maintained neutrality against all odds, ultimately avoiding retribution after the city¡¯s fall.
¡°Even with my intervention, I cannot halt the decline of an entire dynasty¡¡± Standing before the dojo entrance, Fang Xi gazed at the weathered signboard and couldn¡¯t help but sigh.
¡°Who might you be? Are you here to seek martial arts training?¡± A disciple emerged, noticing Fang Xi¡¯s exquisite cyan bamboo magic robes, and cautiously asked without showing any disrespect.
¡°I¡¯vee to visit some old acquaintances¡¡±
With a sweep of his divine sense, Fang Xi located Mu Piaomiao lying on a wicker chair in the backyard. ¡°No need for introductions, I¡¯ll go directly¡¡± His figure flickered, swiftly entering the dojo interior.
The disciple, unaware of Fang Xi¡¯s departure, rubbed his eyes and then shrieked, ¡°A ghost! Aaaah!!!¡±
Mu Piaomiao, with her silvery hair cascading over the soft chair, gazed up at the lush grapevineden with ripe fruit.
For someone from ancient times, reaching sixty was considered a long and full life.
In her youth, she had endured much hardship. Thanks to the spirit pills provided by Fang Xiter on, she still maintained keen senses despite aging. However, deep within hery sorrow for growing old and fear of impending death.
¡°Shimei¡¡±
Suddenly, a figure in cyan robes appeared before her, softly calling out.
Standing there, he resembled a vibrant jade bamboo, exuding vitality - a lively energy unique to the young.
¡°Youth¡ truly wonderful¡¡± Mu Piaomiao murmured, her face filled with longing. ¡°It feels like I¡¯ve gone back in time, seeing Da-shixiong once more¡¡±
¡°Cough, Shimei, it¡¯s really me,¡± Fang Xi gently reminded her with a cough.
Mu Piaomiao snapped out of her daze, touching her wrinkled face and then staring intently at Fang Xi. ¡°Am I not dreaming?!¡±
¡°No, you¡¯re not¡¡± Fang Xi¡¯s lips twitched, surprised by this unexpected side of his shimei.
Mu Piaomiao nced at Fang Xi again and suddenly chuckled, ¡°Are you his son? Or perhaps even his grandson? Don¡¯t joke like this with Grandma¡¡±
¡°Back in ckstone City¡¡± Fang Xi paused to recall a specific incident from their time during the Demon Tree cmity. He then mentioned an embarrassing event involving Mu Piaomiao, ¡°You secretly snuck to the kitchente at night and almost got beaten by Master Mu¡¡±
¡°How could your grandfather reveal such things?¡± Mu Piaomiao felt slightly embarrassed but gradually, her expression shifted from certainty to confusion while looking at Fang Xi.
The identical appearance was understandable, but the aura, demeanor, and even a subtle sense of familiarity?
¡°Da-shixiong?¡± she cautiously called out.
¡°What can I do for you, little Shimei?¡± Fang Xi responded with a smile.
¡°Don¡¯t say another word! I¡¯m dying of embarrassment!¡± Mu Piaomiao picked up a nearby palm leaf fan and covered her face.
¡°Hahaha!¡±
Seeing his little shimei still as lively and charming as before, Fang Xi couldn¡¯t help but burst intoughter.
¡°You¡¯re truly Da-shixiong? How can you be so young?¡± Mu Piaomiao asked, astonished.
¡°At the peak of martial arts, one can reverse aging, defy death¡all these feats are effortless!¡±
Fang Xi stood with hands behind his back, exuding the demeanor of a grandmaster.
¡°Unfortunately, Shimei, my achievements have been limited, and I remain at the true force realm even now¡¡± Mu Piaomiao sighed. Initially, Fang Xi had given her medicinal pills, but she chose to save them for nurturing future dojo masters instead.
This decision ensured the continuity of Baiyun Dojo¡¯s leadership across generations, albeit at the cost of her own cultivation progress.
¡°How are the others doing?¡± Fang Xi thought about Zhang Mingding and Lily¡
¡°The old ones aged, and some passed away¡ Not many from our initial group remain.¡± Mu Piaomiao put down the palm leaf fan. ¡°However, Zhang Mingding lived up to his exceptional talent, aided by your guidance and the medicinal pills¡ Heter broke through to True Force, bing a martial artist. After traveling the world, he aimed for the Zongshi realm and has since gained a renowned reputation as a great hero. It¡¯s just unclear if he achieved the Zongshi title yet.¡±
She shared updates on several more individuals.
For mortals, thirty years epass two generations, filled with inevitable cycles of birth, aging, sickness, and death¡
Finally, she added, ¡°Lily moved out of the dojo, and I bought her a nearby courtyard house to live in. She¡ has had a difficult life and never married¡¡±
Mu Piaomiao herself remained unmarried as well, dedicated to overseeing her father¡¯s dojo.
Upon hearing this, Fang Xi couldn¡¯t help but feel deeply moved.
Just then, a burly man strode in from outside. ¡°Old Master, one of the disciples imed he saw something eerie outside, so I came to check¡ Hm? Who might you be?¡±
The man stared at Fang Xi with a puzzled expression, unsure how an outsider could be present in the dojo.
Mu Piaomiao nced at Fang Xi, noticing hisck of objection, and promptly introduced him, ¡°This is your great uncle-master¡ Hurry, go offer your respects!¡± Then turning to Fang Xi, she added, ¡°This is the current owner of Baiyun Dojo - Mu Baizheng! Baizheng, show your respect immediately.¡±
¡°Great uncle-master? Sect uncle, I¡¯ve met all your fellow sect brothers, so could it be¡¡± Mu Baizheng scratched his head, feeling increasingly suspicious about this seemingly effeminate neer.
Fang Xi, however, was not inclined to engage further and simply flicked his finger.
Boom!
Invisible true astral energy manifested, forcing Mu Baizheng to his knees and causing cracks to appear on the floor beneath him.
¡°Ah¡ True Astral Energy externalized?!¡± Recognizing its significance, Mu Baizheng, astounded yet perceptive, hastily bowed in reverence. ¡°Great Uncle-Master, greetings! Could you be a Zongshi?¡±
ording to legends, only Martial Saints could externalize their True Astral Energy. However, achieving such finesse without any visible effort was truly extraordinary!
¡°Well-behaved!¡±
Fang Xi smiled warmly and casually rewarded Mu Baizheng with a bottle of first-rank Blood and Qi Pills.
Mu Baizheng epted the bottle, opened it, and immediately recognized the familiar medicinal aroma, his expression shifting dramatically. He swiftly tucked the bottle away as if hiding stolen goods, heart pounding rapidly.
He remembered this scent well!
As an orphan taken in by Baiyun Dojo, Mu Baizheng had average talent but excelled in his steadiness and honesty. Later, his sect uncle bestowed upon him a medicinal pill, enabling him to break through to the realm of True Force martial artists. This distinguished him among his fellow disciples, ultimately leading to his appointment as dojo master!
The pill from that time carried the same fragrance! Despite being typically reserved, he couldn¡¯t resist feeling an urge to prostrate himself again before Fang Xi¡
This was the exact scent of that medicinal pill from years ago! Despite being a straightforward person, Mu Baizheng felt an overwhelming urge to prostrate himself again before Fang Xi¡
¡°Shixiong, what brings you back this time?¡±
Mu Piaomiao gestured for Mu Baizheng to stand aside, his expression turning serious.
¡°To settle some worldly matters. By the way, how is Yuanhe Mountain faring outside the city?¡± Fang Xi casually asked.
¡°Over a decade ago, King Liang rose to power, sweeping across the jianghu. He personally visited Yuanhe Mountain seeking the secret manual for the ¡®Yuanhe Five Thunders Hand.¡¯ With the old grandmaster Linghu having already passed away, there was no one to stop him, and he breached their gates¡¡± Mu Piaomiao recounted.
¡°How¡ Could it be that even my reputation as the Supreme Grandmaster holds no sway anymore?¡± Fang Xi seemed somewhat taken aback.
¡°The Supreme Grandmaster?¡± Mu Piaomiao rolled his eyes. ¡°We¡¯re mere mortals here. You¡¯ve been gone for thirty years; how much of your prestige could have remained?¡±
Chapter 135: The Martial God Sect
Chapter 135: The Martial God Sect
A decade brings change to both people and affairs!
Now, Fang Xi finally understood the meaning behind this saying.
He had forgotten that Great Liang was not like the southern wilderness¡¯ cultivation world, where even ordinary cultivators lived past a hundred years and those at Foundation Establishment could endure for over two centuries.
Instead, it was akin to a feudal society with limited information flow, where reaching fifty was considered a long lifespan for mortals!
Regardless of how renowned a Supreme Grandmaster might be, after disappearing for thirty years, their influence inevitably waned¡
Moreover, who could clearly discern the truth about events from decades ago? Misconceptions may have spread over time!
Additionally, as Liang Wang ascended to power, he needed to establish his authority!
If fear of a mere reputation tied to someone vanished for over a decade prevented him from dealing with Yuanhe Mountain, what credibility would he hold?
Lastly, the so-called Supreme Grandmaster, although rumored to be friendly with Yuanhe Mountain¡¯s Zongshi, did not originate from there! Of course, the origins of the legendary Supreme Grandmaster Fang Xi were always shrouded in mystery.
Some imed Fang Xi was a wandering hero, others believed he hailed from Yuanhe Mountain, and some even suggested he founded the Intervale Dojo.
More amusingly, some researchers theorized that Fang Xi came from Baiyun Dojo¡ but nobody took it seriously, dismissing it as a coincidence of names.
The portrait-making skills in Great Liang were rather rudimentary, and very few people had ever seen Fang Xi¡¯s true appearance.
Over time, the image of the fabled ¡®Supreme Grandmaster¡¯ drifted further away from its original depiction¡
The next day.
Near Baiyun Dojo, there stood a small courtyard residence.
In its garden, golden and white flowers bloomed profusely, showcasing their vibrant beauty amidst fiercepetition.
Fang Xi stood with hands sped behind his back, gazing at these blossoms.
Inside the house, a veiled figure approached the door.
¡°Gongzi, seeing you as youthful as ever brings me greatfort. However, I will not meet with you today¡¡±
Lily¡¯s aged voice echoed from behind the door.
Fang Xi remained silent, said nothing more, and turned to leave.
Long ago, Madam Li refused to see Emperor Wu of Han for likely simr reasons.
¡°As one relies on beauty to please others, when that beauty fades, so does affection; and with waning affectiones the end of favor¡¡±
¡°But¡why would anyone perceive me as such?¡±
Fang Xi¡¯s divine sense had already detected Lily and discerned her health was good, thanksrgely to the effectiveness of the medicinal pills he left years ago.
That alone was sufficient¡
¡°I cannot bear to witness heroes grow feeble or beauties age gracefully¡¡±
His mood inexplicably felt somewhat gloomy.
Since feeling glum, he needed a ce to vent his emotions.
Unconsciously, Fang Xi found himself standing before an opulent pce.
On the vast white marble square, numerous armored soldiers patrolled, each one robust and fierce - unmistakably cultivators!
¡°Death to any unauthorized intruders at Liang Pce!¡±
A guard drew his sword, clearly indicating that killing was as routine for him as daily meals.
¡°Get lost!¡± Fang Xi expanded his chest, gathered his breath deep within his dantian, and unleashed a thunderous roar.
Boom!
Terrifying sound waves radiated outward from Fang Xi, spreading in all directions.
The leading guards copsed instantly, blood spurting from their mouths and noses, with some even showing traces of brain matter¡
With a swift leap, Fang Xi entered the Liang Pce!
Swish! Swish!
His intrusion caused an immediatemotion.
Countless soldiers surrounded him, roaring together, ¡°Assassin! Protect His Majesty!¡±
From high above in watchtowers, archers took aim, crossbow bolts pointed directly at Fang Xi.
Additionally, several martial artists, each possessing at least the rank of Martial Master, moved to encircle him.
Pffft! Pffft!
Fang Xi maintained a steady pace, enveloped by countless streams of astral energy forming like an outeryer around him, continuously projecting spikes outward. Any approaching martial artist was instantly pierced, spurting blood before falling to the ground¡
In the blink of an eye, Fang Xi had reached the central axis of the royal pce, arriving in front of Hanguang Hall.
Several elderly figures d in ck blocked his path.
¡°Such a young Zongshi, why rush to your death?¡± one of them sighed deeply before stepping forward.
Boom!
Terrifying blood qi surged from their bodies!
As masters of Qi and Blood martial arts, these Zongshi could lock their blood qi at peak levels, maintaining maximumbat strength until their final moments!
¡°Liang Wang! Show yourself or get out here!¡± Fang Xi roared, ignoring the approaching soldiers and archers, directing his demand straight ahead.
¡°I am the very Liang Wang you seek!¡±
A regal figure, dressed in Dragonfish robes, emerged from the pce with imposing strides, exuding an awe-inspiring presence. Shockingly, he too was a Zongshi cultivator!
Moreover, Fang Xi sensed inexplicably that immense power from the heavens and earth converged upon this individual, infusing every movement with the authority of a true king!
¡°It truly is Liang Wang!¡± Fang Xi nodded, recognizing that this convergence of power was not through the secret technique of the Dragon Emperor Fist, but rather by harnessing the essence of heaven, earth, and humanity-a terrifying umtion of the spirit of millions under his rule!
¡°What a pity¡ You fall far short of Pang Fei¡¯s prowess. If only he had your status; he might have already achieved True Astral Manifestation, wouldn¡¯t you say?¡±
¡°Pang Fei? Who exactly are you?¡±
Liang Wang¡¯s expression shifted abruptly as his body filled with astral energy, revealing him to be a formidable Great Grandmaster with Qi Circting Body mastery.
¡°I am Fang Xi, here to seek vengeance for my old friend from Yuanhe Mountain!¡± Fang Xi replied calmly.
¡°The Supreme Grandmaster who suppressed Pang Fei thirty years ago?¡± An aged white-haired grandmaster eximed, a rare look of fear crossing his face.
¡°Kill!¡± Liang Wangmanded coldly with a wave of his hand.
BANG BANG!
The sound of countless bowstrings echoed!
A torrent of arrows descended like a heavy rainstorm.
In the next moment!
Countless faces looked up, filled with astonishment and terror¡
A colossal blood-red giant, over sixty feet tall (nearly twenty meters), materialized around Fang Xi!
Puff puff!
Numerous arrows struck the giant, bouncing off its skin without leaving any trace. Even secret techniques wielded by Zongshis could not inflict the slightest harm on this crimson behemoth.
¡°Divine¡ Divine being!¡± At that instant, even the most fervent soldiers of Liang Wang trembled in fear, dropping their weapons ttering to the ground as they knelt.
¡°A demon! Run!¡±
Even the more resilient cultivators, upon witnessing this spectacle, promptly fled.
¡°Tru¡True Astral Manifestation?¡± Liang Wang¡¯s pupils contracted to pinpoints. ¡°Grandmaster Fang¡ please stand down! I am willing to¡¡±
¡°Secret Technique: Limitless Primordial Chaos!¡±
But Fang Xi had no intention of listening!
As he unleashed his secret technique, the blood-red giant mirrored his movements with even greater speed and power.
In an instant, it seemed as if hundreds of colossal scarlet hands descended from the sky!
Rumbling thunder echoed, and the earth trembled violently!
Hanguang Hall was reduced to rubble, and nearly half of the entire Liang Pcey destroyed!
Amidst the wreckage, scattered remnants of flesh and blood stained the ground - all that remained of Liang Wang and the renowned Zongshis.
Dayster, a shocking news spread throughout thend:
After disappearing for over thirty years, the Supreme Grandmaster Fang Xi reemerged in the jianghu, killing Liang Wang, one of the most powerful figures across the realm, with a single punch!
It was rumored that during his three-decade seclusion, Fang Xi finally achieved the legendary ¡®True Astral Manifestation¡¯ breakthrough!
The path of martial arts did not end at the Zongshi level; there were further heights yet unexplored!
This revtion instantly transformed the world¡¯sndscape!
At ckstone City.
Fang Xi stood atop a mountain peak, overlooking the city where he had settled upon his initial arrival through transmigration.
The once omnipresent Demonic Domain, resembling an inverted ck bowl that covered the entire city, was now nowhere to be seen.
In its cey a deste and eerie wastnd of ruins!
¡°The local annals record¡ Ming Emperor¡¯s sixth year, the Demon Tree fled, destination unknown¡¡±
Fang Xi¡¯s lips twitched involuntarily.
After effortlessly crushing Liang Wang, he had rushed without dy towards ckstone City.
Yet upon arriving, all he found was a ghost town!
¡°I forgot that after consuming everyone in a city, the Demon Tree would depart¡ The defenders¡¯ stance back then did have some merit.¡±
¡°Now the predicament deepens - just where has the Demon Tree gone?¡±
The Great Liang World spanned vast territories, and even as a cultivator, Fang Xi couldn¡¯t search every inch ofnd.
¡°Perhaps I can only find it when this demon resurfaces, devouring another city and shocking the world again?¡± He murmured, ¡°Or maybe establish a force dedicated to tracking down demons?¡±
This idea had long been on Fang Xi¡¯s mind.
Upon his return, he discovered that the imperial-backed Monster Hunting Pavilion had already been annihted, with no trace of Fatty Han, the Great Shopkeeper¡ indeed, a small regret.
Fortunately, from Liang Wang¡¯s treasure vault, Fang Xi managed to acquire numerous valuable materials from mythical beasts.
As he pondered, several distinct figures unexpectedly approached him.
Among them were men and women, old and young, some dressed unusually, but they all shared onemon trait - each exuded the profound aura of a Martial Dao Grandmaster!
The foremost individual, with sun-kissed skin and aged features, brightened upon seeing Fang Xi and stepped forward. ¡°Indeed, it¡¯s Grandmaster Fang!¡±
¡°Zhou Tong?¡± Recognizing the elderly man, Fang Xi couldn¡¯t help but sigh, ¡°What happened to Falcon?¡±
¡°Falcon passed away ten years ago¡¡± Zhou Tong replied apprehensively before introducing others to Fang Xi, ¡°These are the Grandmasters from our Zongshi Association. Upon hearing about your breakthrough, they rushed here eagerly.¡±
For these Grandmasters, wealth and power were easily attainable; their sole pursuit was reaching beyond the realm of Martial Saint!
¡°Dare I ask, Grandmaster Fang, what lies above the Martial Saint realm?¡± A female Grandmaster stepped forward, bowed respectfully with fists cupped, seeking rification.
Fang Xi turned to face the gathering Grandmasters, a slight smile forming at the corners of his lips.
In the next instant, a towering twenty-meter-tall crimson figure materialized behind him!
His Primordial True Body!
¡°Above Martial Saint lies the realm of Martial God!¡± Fang Xi solemnly dered.
¡°Hail the Martial God!¡±
All the Grandmasters bowed deeply, some even with tears welling up in their eyes.
Finally, someone had achieved the path beyond the Zongshi realm! In that moment, Fang Xi became their revered ¡®God¡¯!
¡°I intend to establish the ¡®Martial God Sect¡¯ and share the way of the Martial God with all of you!¡±
Following this deration, Fang Xi uttered words that brought immense joy to all the Zongshi:
¡°Since you agree, I represent the Zongshi Association and hereby merge its members into the Martial God Sect!¡±
The female Zongshi who initially posed the question promptly responded.
As the current head of the Zongshi Association, she cared little for power; moreover, once Fang Xi expressed his intentions, her stance became inconsequential.
¡°Bowing to the sect leader, we express our profound gratitude for imparting the path of the Martial God!¡± Zhou Tong and the other Zongshi immediately paid their respects again.
In that instant, the Martial God Sect effortlessly reced the Zongshi Association, bing the foremost major sect in the world!
Establishing influence - this was an idea long harbored by Fang Xi. He needed individuals to track down demon activity on his behalf.
Additionally, it served as a means to advance beyond the Martial God realm!
¡®After all, I am only one person with limited capabilities. Having achieved True Astral Manifestation, I have no clue how to further break through¡ Instead, by disseminating my techniques and even granting tier-2 medicines, I can turn this world into a testing ground for refining subsequent cultivation methods¡¡¯
Using an entire world as hisboratory would allow him to deduce future cultivation techniques.
With over three hundred years of longevity, Fang Xi could afford to wait, nurturing generation after generation of rising Chosen!
As for potential bacsh? Fang Xi remained undeterred. He intended to bestow tier-2 blood qi medicinal pills only after reaching Foundation Establishment, thereby safely assisting disciples in achieving new Martial Gods!
At early Foundation Establishment, defeating a Martial God would be virtually guaranteed!
After all, cultivators possess numerous techniques, while Martial Gods rely on singr methods and cannot even fly¡
Even with enhanced jumping abilities, theyck agility and would ultimately be kited to death by Foundation Establishment cultivators!
Chapter 136: Great Chaos
Chapter 136: Great Chaos
In the southern wilderness¡¯s cultivation world:
Dragonfish Ind.
Fang Xi, dressed in a conical hat and straw cloak like any ordinary fisherman, stood on a small wooden boat, gazing from afar as a massive army of cultivators assaulted the ind.
After establishing the Martial Divine Gate in the Great Liang World, he found himself somewhat idle.
Reuniting with old acquaintances only highlighted their fading youth¡
Witnessing heroes grow weary with age further strengthened his resolve. He returned to the cultivation world, determined to prepare for Foundation Establishment.
Just then, the Thirty-Six Inds Allianceunched a full-scale attack on Dragonfish Ind, which Fang Xi naturally wouldn¡¯t miss.
After years of fierce battles, even a Foundation Establishment patriarch of the Zhong Family perished. Now, they¡¯ve retreated deep within the ind, relying heavily on the high-grade tier-2 Watershield Magnificence Formation to defend!
The Dragonfish Zhong n is resource-rich; before heading to Baize Immortal City, I must ¡®borrow¡¯ some¡ Prior to his Body Tempering breakthrough, Fang Xi might not have dared to involve himself in such chaos. But now, across the vast Wan Ind Lake, aside from Scattered Cultivator Ye, the Foundation Establishment members of the Zhong n, and a few others, there were few who posed a threat to him.
Moreover, Fang Xi knew his limits well. If the situation became too perilous, he would promptly withdraw without hesitation.
As he observed, enormous spirit boats carrying the cultivator army bombarded the blue water barrier enveloping Dragonfish Ind relentlessly.
This standoff had persisted for nearly a year, depleting both the earth vein spiritual energy and the Zhong Family¡¯s spirit stone reserves at a frantic pace. The power of the Watershield Magnificence Formation had weakened by almost forty to fifty percent, exposing more vulnerabilities.
Under the guidance of an array master, the cultivator army targeted these weak spots aggressively.
By this day, therge formation was teetering on the brink of copse!
¡°Target coordinates at Jia Si position, element Wood - Fire!¡± Ruan Dan¡¯s firm voice echoed nearby.
Daring not to hesitate, Lu Guo channeled his magical energy, unleashing streams of dark green spell light that descended like raindrops.
Beside him stood Hai Dagui and Wang Xiaohu.
Since joining the allied forces, aside from participating in several major battles earlier, their daily routine now consisted of targeting specific locations with magic spells to gradually weaken therge array¡¯s potency.
After each round of attacks, the trio appeared pale-faced, their internal magical energy depleted. They would promptly sit cross-legged, grasping spirit stones to replenish their reserves.
¡°Wah¡ I don¡¯t want to fight anymore, I miss home, I miss my mother¡¡± Wang Xiaohu, having the weakest cultivation base, recovered first but spoke with a tearful tone.
During the previous battles, although Ruan Dan had looked out for them, she wasn¡¯t there to babysit continuously. The young cultivators had faced numerous close calls, leaving them shaken and fearful.
¡°Cough cough¡¡±
Hai Dagui asionally coughed, as his lungs had been pierced by a flying sword during the earlier battles, leaving him with lingering respiratory issues. With a bitter smile, he said, ¡°If we leave now, wouldn¡¯t it be all for naught? We¡¯ve been attacking this formation day and night, barely finding time to cultivate, just so that once it breaks, we can rush in and im our share of treasures. I¡¯ve heard the Zhong Family is like royalty around Wan Ind Lake, their n treasury filled with valuable goods¡ And rumor has it, deep within their spiritual veins lies an ¡®Earthly Fiend Lake¡¯, which every fifty years yields a strand of ¡®ckwind Fiendish Qi¡¯. This rare essence aids cultivators in tempering their bodies, facilitating breakthroughs in blood qi cultivation - it¡¯s truly a Foundation Establishment spirit item!¡±
Although such fiendish qi could only marginally increase one¡¯s chances at reaching Foundation Establishment by one or half a percent, it was still a coveted treasure among many rogue cultivators.
Lu Guo remained silent, opting instead to consume another medicinal pill to swiftly replenish his magical energy. The battlefield situation changed rapidly; running out of magical energy would be fatal.
His goal, however, did not lie solely with Foundation Establishment spirit items.
Having navigated the outside world for many years, Lu Guo knew well that despite the presence of ¡®ckwind Fiendish Qi¡¯, this treasure was highly coveted by elite cultivators like the crown princess and others at Late Stage Qi Refinement or even great perfection stages. Rushing headlong as mere small fry would be akin to seeking death.
Finding any spirit object beneficial for breaking through the bottleneck to Late Stage Qi Refinement would already be cause for immense gratitude.
Suddenly, the spirit boat he was on jolted violently!
¡°That¡¯s¡¡±
Ignoring Wang Xiaohu and hispanion who had stumbled, Lu Guo rushed to the railing and witnessed an extraordinary sight.
The azure water barrier, which had obstructed them for over a year, shattered instantly, transforming into a cascade of spiritual light that sprinkled around like stardust.
It seemed as if heaven and earth were showered with a brilliant blue rain of light.
Ahead, the mist dispersed, revealing a bustling ind in full view to all the gathered cultivators.
¡°Dragonfish Ind!¡±
¡°It¡¯s Dragonfish Ind!¡±
¡°The Watershield Magnificence Formation has been broken!¡±
¡°Charge! Attack!¡±
Countless cultivators went berserk, riding their magical artifacts like a swarm of locusts, surging towards the heart of the Dragonfish Zhong n stronghold.
¡°A tier-2 Barrier Breaking Talisman?¡±
Just moments ago, Fang Xi had observed Scattered Cultivator Ye targeting the weakest point of the formation and deploying a tier-2 Barrier Breaking Talisman.
The Watershield Magnificence Formation, although a high-grade tier-2 array, had already been worn down for over a year by the attacking forces, reducing its power by nearly half!
By identifying the vulnerable spot and using a tier-2 Barrier Breaking Talisman, breaching it was inevitable.
This situation differed from Qingzhu Mountain Market, where therge array was destroyed from within; here, it was breached externally.
Normally, a tier-2 Barrier Breaking Talisman alone would not effortlessly dismantle such a formidable array from outside. However, with the formation¡¯s strength halved, it became significantly easier.
¡°Hmm? Something seems off¡¡± Fang Xi noticed an issue - the Thirty-Six Inds¡¯ joint forces appeared caughtpletely unprepared.
¡°Did Scattered Cultivator Ye fail to inform the Mikami n about this n?¡±
¡°Moreover, considering our progress today, we could have broken the Watershield Magnificence Formation in just a few more months. Why waste a precious tier-2 Barrier Breaking Talisman now?¡±
¡°Unless there was intelligence suggesting that reinforcements for the Zhong Family were imminent¡¡±
¡°Or perhaps¡was it intentionally done to create chaos? To inflict greater casualties on the Thirty-Six Inds while taking advantage amidst the turmoil?¡±
¡°Well, no matter. This actually ys right into my hands.¡±
¡°Therge array is broken?¡±
¡°Brothers, let¡¯s charge!¡±
As soon as the Ind Protection Array copsed, rogue cultivators who were initially just spectators turned like sharks sensing blood. With a sudden frenzy, they easily breached the Thirty-Six Inds¡¯ warning line and rushed onto the battlefield.
On Dragonfish Ind,
Within a cultivated spirit field, an old spirit farmer from the Zhong Family wielded his sickle-like magical artifact, grimly severing the head of a young cultivator.
Before he could catch his breath or replenish his magical energy, several more rogue cultivators approached with sinister grins, engulfing him with their magic spells¡
This chaotic scene unfolded across various locations on Dragonfish Ind.
The Zhong Family, the Alliance forces, and opportunistic tribtion cultivators descended into utter pandemonium!
¡°Senior Ye, what is the meaning of this?¡± On thergest spirit boat, Tai Shuhe, the patriarch of the Tai Shu n, stared at the standing cultivator with hands sped behind his back, his face filled with shock and anger.
The battlefield had descended into utter chaos.
¡°Well?¡± Scattered Cultivator Ye turned around, revealing a face that appeared to be in his thirties, strikingly pale as if it might emit light itself. He chuckled lightly, ¡°I learned that the Zhong Family risked everything to seek external aid, and reinforcements are already en route. Isn¡¯t it logical to resolve Dragonfish Ind first? For this purpose, I even used a precious ¡®Barrier Breaking Talisman¡¯, remember to repay me for itter!¡±
¡°Even so, couldn¡¯t you have informed us beforehand? This suddenness allowed those rogue cultivators to gain unexpected advantages¡¡± The Yuchi Family¡¯s patriarch, a burly man with a darkplexion, expressed his discontentment clearly.
¡°Haha, Senior Ye focuses on the big picture, overlooking minor details - it¡¯s only natural¡¡±
The Xiahou n patriarch, with a smile stered across his face, subtly signaled to the other two family heads and said, ¡°Since the Watershield Magnificence Formation is breached, it¡¯s time for Senior Ye to confront the Zhong Family Patriarch¡¡±
¡°Hmph, naturally!¡±
Scattered Cultivator Ye produced a disc-shaped azure spirit artifact, transforming into a streak of light that swiftly reached the Zhong Family ancestral hall on Dragonfish Ind. He called out, ¡°Zhong Tianjun! Come forth for battle¡¡±
Whoosh!
A beam of light emerged, its magical energy fluctuations causing countless Qi Refinement cultivators to pale.
These were unmistakably the energy ripples of a Foundation Establishment cultivator!
Even a casual spell from such a being could severely injure or potentially kill Late Stage Qi Refinement cultivators!
However, this Zhong Family patriarch did not linger forbat; after feinting briefly, he attempted to flee towards the horizon.
¡°Hmph, you won¡¯t escape!¡± Scattered Cultivator Ye nced at Dragonfish Ind, snorted coldly, and immediately pursued the fleeing figure.
¡°Kill!¡±
With the Foundation Establishment cultivators gone, the remaining battles intensified on Dragonfish Ind. Qi Refinement cultivators fell incessantly, and even Late Stage experts often sumbed under overwhelming assaults. The sight of Peak Qi Refinement masters perishing was no longer surprising.
With a ssh, the small wooden boat approached Dragonfish Ind amidst turbulent waters.
Dressed as a fisherman, Fang Xi concealed his spirit snake armor beneath his straw rain cape. He aimed to avoid revealing his Body Tempering cultivation base and relied on this armor for protection.
Confidently, Fang Xi strode onto Dragonfish Ind, hands sped behind his back.
Whoosh!
Beside him, frenzied cultivators noticed his arrival and immediately directed several flying daggers towards him.
Fang Xi flicked his fingers, sending the daggers hurtling back at even greater speed, piercing their original owners effortlessly.
¡°That guy is formidable; best not to engage. Let¡¯s move!¡±
¡°Your strength is impressive, sir. We¡¯ll leave this area to you¡¡±
The nearby cultivators, startled, hastily fled like avoiding venomous creatures.
Unhurriedly, Fang Xi searched the fallen bodies, collecting their bags of holding along the way.
¡°There are three key locations on Dragonfish Ind: First, the Zhong Family ancestral residence, now transformed into a hell on earth - it¡¯s the primary battleground¡ Second, Spirit Medicine Valley, containing numerous aged spirit medicines and possibly an alchemist¡ Lastly, the Fish Breeding Lake, where turquoise jade carp are raised. It may hold a legacy of Beast Control Technique, alongside abundant resources of spirit fish¡¡±
Fang Xi hadn¡¯t forgotten the auction item showcased by the Zhong Family¡ªan armor crafted from scales of the azure jade carp king.
Therefore, if a cultivator¡¯s luck holds, they could potentially gather a vast amount of resources from the fishery alone!
¡°As for me? Naturally, I¡¯m heading to¡¡±
He made his way towards Spirit Medicine Valley.
After all, the Zhong Family ancestral residence likely held the most valuable items but would also be the site of intense battles. The true treasures were probably already secured by Foundation Establishment patriarchs.
It seemed more practical to focus on gathering some spirit medicines instead!
Fang Xi was always cautious by nature.
Throughout his journey, any cultivator daring to attack him met their swift demise, while he gleefully imed their bags of holding.
¡°This is merely self-defense, not murder for loot¡¡± Fang Xi muttered as he entered Spirit Medicine Valley.
Upon stepping inside, a surge of pure spiritual energy greeted him, causing him to nod slightly. ¡°As expected from a high-grade tier-2 spiritual vein, this truly piques my interest¡¡±
The valley naturally had protective formations, but they had long been breached. Several corpsesy scattered on the ground, including those wearing flying fish mage robes from the Zhong Family and tribtion cultivators alike.
Clearly, many cultivators shared Fang Xi¡¯s thoughts and had already acted upon them.
¡°Haha¡ This high-grade pill furnace shall now belong to yours truly.¡±
As Fang Xi ventured deeper into the valley, he heard a boastfulughter emanating from within the cluster of buildings. Momentster, a sh of light revealed a short-statured, grotesque-looking Peak Qi Refinement cultivator emerging.
¡°Old Monster Goldtooth?!¡±
Chapter 137: Great Revenge Achieved
Chapter 137: Great Revenge Achieved
Old Monster Goldtooth exuded a sense of deep satisfaction.
As a cultivator with a Peak Qi Refinement cultivation base, he had eagerly joined the Thirty-Six Inds Alliance when witnessing their unstoppable momentum.
Typically, he would coast during battles, but this time, seizing Dragonfish Ind, he led the charge, boldly entering Spirit Medicine Valley first.
¡®The Zhong Family¡¯s ancestral residence is coveted by the three great sects; I have no interest inpeting for it.¡¯
¡®Ha ha, hitting the jackpot! Who knew there¡¯d be so many unharvested spirit medicines left in the Spirit Medicine Valley¡¡¯
¡®Hmm? A youngster daring to obstruct me?¡¯ Old Monster Goldtooth saw a fisherman-like cultivator blocking his path ahead and couldn¡¯t help but burst with anger.
Being at the pinnacle of Qi Refinement, he was now considered among the top-tier experts, given the absence of Foundation Establishment cultivators. It was already generous not to plunder others, yet someone dared to challenge him?
With a cold snort, Goldtoothunched a golden longsword magical artifact towards the fisherman.
To his surprise, the fisherman extended his right hand and effortlessly grasped Goldtooth¡¯s high-grade magical artifact, the ¡®ck Gold de¡¯. The five fingers acted like an iron vice, rendering the ck Gold de helpless despite its mournful cries, unable to break free regardless of Goldtooth¡¯s attempts. Pffft!
The aftermath of the de¡¯s aura tore through the conical hat and straw cloak, revealing a towering figure d in shimmering silver armor beneath.
¡°This¡ Silver-armored Demon?!¡± Old Monster Goldtooth shrieked, his face rapidly shifting colors like a dye shop - from red to white, then to pale blue, disying an array of expressions. ¡°Weren¡¯t you dead?¡±
Their encounter over thirty years ago had left a deep psychological scar on him, even manifesting as Xin Mo, a Foundation Establishment barrier he couldn¡¯t ovee for years.
Only after hearing about the demon¡¯s supposed demise did Old Monster Goldtooth feel his heart demon gradually dissipate, allowing him to finally n a final push towards Foundation Establishment before his longevity ran out.
But¡
Damn it, why would this adversary appear here now?
With another scream akin to a frightened maiden encountering a formidable foe, Old Monster Goldtooth turned to flee.
In the next instant, a massive blood-red arm, several meters long, descended from the sky like swatting a fly!
Whack!
Old Monster Goldtooth was brutally mmed into the ground, coughing up a mouthful of fresh blood, severely wounded by just one strike!
¡°You¡you¡¡±
As the silver-armored figure approached, Old Monster Goldtooth felt like reliving a nightmare, his Dao heart nearly shattering. He pleaded, ¡°Don¡¯te any closer¡¡±
¡°Any final words?¡± asked Fang Xi.
To subdue Jin Ya, Fang Xi had indeed exerted full force, using one arm of his Primordial True Body to deliver a devastating surprise attack.
Now standing close to Old Monster Goldtooth, he remained confident that no unexpected tricks could be yed.
¡°Ruan Xingling deceived me!¡± With a raspy voice, these were Jin Ya¡¯sst words before Fang Xi shattered his heart with a swift kick.
¡°What does this have to do with Ruan Xingling? Oh? Did you think she was lying to you?¡± Fang Xi nodded, then picked up Old Monster Goldtooth¡¯s bag of holding.
Probing it with divine sense, he discovered numerous valuable items. Aside from boxes filled with spirit medicines, at the center of the storage spacey an exquisite pill furnace, seemingly carved entirely from violet jade.
¡°A high-grade magical artifact - Violet Jade Furnace?! Perfect, I¡¯ve been needing a top-quality pill furnace.¡±
Satisfied, Fang Xi nodded and turned his attention towards the building interior. ¡°All six of you,e out now!¡±
Under his divine sense, nothing could escape his scrutiny.
Six figures emerged, all Late Stage Qi Refinement cultivators.
The burly leader stepped forward and handed over a bag of holding. ¡°Senior, these are our harvests. We also yield this location to you. Might we be allowed to leave?¡±
¡°Hmm, go ahead!¡± Fang Xi nodded.
Relieved like receiving a pardon, the six swiftly fled Spirit Medicine Valley.
¡°Big Bro¡why didn¡¯t we try fighting back? It was just one person¡¡± Second Brother, somewhat naive, couldn¡¯t help but speak up.
¡°You fool! If they can see through my ¡®Mist Barrier Bead¡¯, it¡¯s likely they¡¯ve cultivated their divine sense¡ Didn¡¯t you notice that even Old Monster Goldtooth is dead, and Big Bro addressed them as Senior? That¡¯s a great Foundation Establishment cultivator!¡± Little Sister rolled her eyes and whispered sternly, ¡°If you want to die, don¡¯t drag us down with you!¡±
¡°A great Foundation Establishment cultivator?¡± Second Brother gasped, quickly covering his mouth before lowering his voice. ¡°This person is shameless, bypassing the main residence to snatch leftovers from us instead! This situation turned out disastrous; should we check elsewhere?¡±
¡°Let¡¯s move on!¡±
However, the eldest brother among them pondered for a moment before deciding, ¡°If even a Foundation Establishment cultivator is sneaking around here, the battles in the main residence must be even more intense. Our livese first; let¡¯s leave this ce¡¡±
While cultivators nevercked courage to face challenges head-on, some knew when it was prudent to retreat from escting danger.
Unyielding bravery could easily lead to rigidity and fragility!
Inside the Zhong Family¡¯s main residence:
shes ofbat spells erupted from every courtyard, and cultivators perished all around.
Huddled in a corner, Lu Guo deeply regretted joining the charge with therger group. Why had he done it?
Not far away, Tai Shuhe wielded his jade-green flying sword, itsughter resonating throughout the area. ¡°Zhong Family, your end has finallye!¡±
He skillfully maneuvered the jade-green flying sword back and forth, each strike iming the life of another Zhong family member d in a flying fish mage robe.
¡°Stop!¡±manded a frail, elderly voice.
The jade-green flying sword collided with a shieldposed of countless fish scales.
Tai Shuhe nced at the intervening hoary-haired old man and sneered, ¡°Zhong Qinghao, still breathing, I see? But not for long, eh?¡±
To Tai Shuhe, the old man¡¯s life force resembled a flickering candle in the wind, on the verge of extinguishing at any moment. At this stage, a cultivator¡¯s magical energy also significantly weakens. Despite being at the tenth level of Qi Refinement, the elder posed little threat.
¡°Even if this old man dies, I¡¯ll take you vile bandits down with me! Though I may perish, the Zhong Family shall endure¡¡±
With trembling hands, Zhong Qinghao produced a tattered, yellowed paper talisman.
The paper talisman appeared ordinary, akin to those sold by rogue cultivators on street stalls, with only a small green dagger depicted on it.
As soon as Tai Shuhe saw it, his eyes widened, and he turned to flee, eximing, ¡°A talisman treasure? You still have a talisman treasure?¡±
¡°Correct guess! How could a frog like you fathom the depths of our Zhong Family¡¯s resources? Prepare to meet your end!¡±
Zhong Qinghao infused the talisman with magical energy, causing intense fluctuations to emanate from it. A jade-green dagger materialized, aimed directly at Tai Shuhe.
Shwip!
With a sh of de light, Tai Shuhe¡¯s high-grade protective shield and magical energy barrier were effortlessly torn apart, as if made of mere paper, by the emerald glow¡
Tai Shuhe lowered his head, staring at the bloody gash on his chest, murmuring, ¡°I refuse to ept this¡¡±
He had led the Taishu Family to crush the Zhong Family, on the verge of achieving what even their ancestors couldn¡¯t - dominating Wan Ind Lake. How, how could he possibly die here?
Puff! Puff!
Before sumbing to darkness, Tai Shuhe witnessed the jade-green dagger talisman ruthlessly dispatching the core experts of the San Shang n one by one, fueling his further resentment.
Bam!
Tai Shuhe¡¯s body copsed onto the ground, joining the fallen Qi Refinement experts.
¡°Uncle Ancestor, divine might!¡±
The remaining Zhong Family cultivators, filled with joy, suddenly witnessed a figure materialize behind Zhong Qinghao. A pale and delicate hand effortlessly pierced through both the fish-scale shield and the old uncle-ancestor¡¯s chest!
¡°Well, having taken so many along on your final journey, you should be content now.¡±
¡°This talisman treasure shall be mine to im.¡±
A peculiar tone resonated from the ck-robed figure¡¯s voice.
¡°Foundation Establishment¡¡± Zhong Qinghao attempted to manipte the talisman treasure for a counterattack but found himself unable to speak. ck mes erupted from his facial orifices, instantly reducing him to ash.
With its master gone, the jade flying dagger lost control, shimmered briefly, and transformed back into a paper talisman, gently drifting down from the air.
¡°Heh heh¡ Truly remarkable, though it can only be used once more.¡±
The ck-robed figure caught the Jade Dagger Talisman Treasure and casually waved his hand.
Globs of pitch-ck demonic fire surged towards the Zhong Family cultivators, turning any defensive artifacts into ashes upon contact.
Unhindered, the figure strode confidently into the Zhong n storehouse, beginning a thorough plunder.
Nearby, several simrly d figuresĬÆõly joined in, searching for valuable resources.
In a corner, Lu Guo clutched tightly onto an invisibility talisman, watching in disbelief as everything unfolded before his eyes¡
¡°Watch as his grand edifice rises, watch as he feasts with guests, only to witness its copse¡¡± Fang Xi emerged from Spirit Medicine Valley and observed the burning Zhong Family mansion without entering.
He hadn¡¯t forgotten that during the battle at Wan Ind Lake, a third party of demonic cultivators had intervened!
Thus, Fang Xi chose to capitalize on his sess and discreetly left Dragonfish Ind.
¡°Hmm?¡±
Just as he was about to summon the Great Azure Fish for transportation, his gaze flickered. He noticed several bursts of dark light emerging from the Zhong Family mansion, scattering in different directions.
A few were close enough to instinctively scan with his divine sense.
¡°To meet again, truly¡ fate!¡± Fang Xi recognized one among them - it was Situ Ying!
Situ Ying wore a human skin mask, disguised as an ordinary Plunderer Cultivator, flying towards theke.
¡°I once warned you not to fall into my hands¡¡±
¡°Now, it¡¯s time for those words toe true.¡±
Fang Xi unleashed the ck Feather Boat, swiftly chasing after Situ Ying like lightning.
¡°Hm? Someone is pursuing me? Seeking death!¡±
Situ Ying deliberately slowed down, leading Fang Xi further away from Dragonfish Ind before turning around. ¡°Daring to rob your grandpa?¡±
As a Late Stage Qi Refinement cultivator, practicing demonic techniques and experienced inbat, Fang Xi believed himself to be a formidable adversary within this stage.
In the next instant, Situ Ying¡¯s expression drastically changed, ¡°Silver-armored Demon?!¡±
Whoosh!
But Fang Xi gave him no chance.
Holding the ck Iron Sword with both hands, his Primordial True Body manifested, lifting him effortlessly before a swift strike!
A red line shed, slicing through Situ Ying¡¯s position.
Situ Ying¡¯s face paled; he attempted to speak but was interrupted by a blood-red mark appearing on his forehead, swiftly traveling down across his nose, chin, chest, and abdomen¡
With a gush, his body split in two mid-air, blood sttering into theke below.
Fang Xi soared back, swiftly grabbing Situ Ying¡¯s bag of holding. ¡°Revenge is sweet, truly satisfying¡ s, I¡¯m still too kind-hearted, not tormenting you further to quell my anger¡¡±
The area wasn¡¯t entirely safe, being a battlefield for cultivators after all!
If Loose Cultivator Ye hadn¡¯t intentionally disrupted the formation earlier, forcing the cultivator forces into individual battles, Fang Xi wouldn¡¯t have had such an opportune moment to strike amidst chaos.
As for interrogating Situ Ying?
Fang Xi feared potential hidden tricks of demonic cultivators. Moreover, regardless of any concealed plots, they mattered little to him now as he was about to leave¡
Chapter 138: Foundation Establishment Pill Formula
Chapter 138: Foundation Establishment Pill Form
After ying his enemies, Fang Xi did not linger. Hemanded the ck Feather Boat and swiftly flew away from the Wan Ind Lake region.
Now at Peak Qi Refinement, with abundant energy reserves, he could sustain long-distance flight using magical artifacts. With the assistance of high-grade Qi Supplement Pills, it posed little challenge.
Having flown several thousand kilometers, Fang Xi finally chose a deste mountain to descend and establish a new immortal¡¯s cave.
Inside the immortal¡¯s cave, a luminous night pearl cast its radiant glow.
Fang Xi retrieved the bags of holding captured during the Dragonfish Ind battle and began examining their contents one by one.
First were the various tribtion cultivators¡¯ magical artifacts and bags of holding¡ Apart from Old Monster Goldtooth contributing a high-grade ¡®ck Gold de¡¯, there weren¡¯t any particrly exceptional treasures.
¡°Tsk¡ As expected, rogue cultivators are always broke,¡± Fang Xi muttered, fully understanding the reason. Who would bring their entire fortune to a battlefield? Naturally, they leave it for their heirs, disciples, or close friends.
He continued sifting through the items obtained from Spirit Medicine Valley, including a high-grade violet jade furnace, over twenty paste jade boxes, and several jade slips¡
These paste jade boxes were specially crafted to preserve the vitality of spirit medicines and spirit wood for extended periods. As for the jade slips, they contained numerous pill forms, even three tier-2 forms: ¡®Waterswell Pill¡¯, ¡®Appearance-Firming Pill¡¯, and¡
¡°Foundation Establishment Pill?!¡±
Fang Xi stared at the Foundation Establishment Pill form in his hand, feeling utterly astonished!
The ¡®Waterswell Pill¡¯ was a tier-2 spirit pill, designed to enhance magical energy specifically for water elemental Foundation Establishment cultivators.
The ¡®Solidify Appearance Pill¡¯ could be considered an upgraded version of the first-rank ¡®Age-Defying Pill¡¯. While each Age-Defying Pill only maintained youthful appearance for a few years, the Solidify Appearance Pill could preserve one¡¯s looks for several decades, making it particrly sought after by female cultivators.
But what about the ¡®Foundation Establishment Pill¡¯?
Fang Xi took a deep breath, regaining hisposure amidst the surprise. ¡°Considering the Dragonfish Zhong n is one of the seven Foundation Establishment immortal families in Yue Kingdom, possessing the Foundation Establishment Pill form isn¡¯t unexpected, understandable even¡ However, having the form alone means little; sourcing the ingredients is the true challenge!¡±
In fact, Baize Immortal City already sold the Foundation Establishment Pill form, and surprisingly at quite an affordable price.
Otherwise, how would Ruan Xingling have known her spirit medicines could be used to concoct such a pill?
¡°Still, this saves me some spirit stones,¡± Fang Xi thought, feeling somewhat satisfied as he began meticulously studying the Foundation Establishment Pill form.
This particr form was originally created centuries ago by True Monarch Shu Tong. Over a thousand years, countless alchemists studied and improved upon it¡ resulting in numerous versions avable. In recent centuries, it had reached a point where further refinements were deemed impossible.
¡°The main ingredient for the Foundation Establishment Pill is at least one three-hundred-year-old ¡®Golden Jade Spirit Mushroom¡¯. The two crucial secondary ingredients are ¡®Dragon Ginseng¡¯ aged over two hundred years and ¡®Jade Spirit Liquid¡¯. Additionally, there are thirteen other secondaryponents¡¡±
¡°Fifteen of these secondary ingredients can be purchased with spirit stones and aremonly used in other medicinal pills¡ Dragon Ginseng and Jade Spirit Liquid might be slightly troublesome, but they should still be obtainable in Baize Immortal City, requiring only some spirit stones and time. The real challenge lies with the Golden Jade Spirit Mushroom!¡±
The Profound Sky Sect¡¯s monopoly on the ¡®Foundation Establishment Pill¡¯ stemmed precisely from their control over this critical primary material!
Fang Xi had discussed this with Ruan Xingling before; ording to her, the ¡®Golden Jade Spirit Mushroom¡¯ was an exceptionally delicate heavenly spirit herb, extremely difficult to cultivate in the current conditions of the cultivation world.
Rumor had it that the Profound Sky Sect, along with the Greenwood Sect and Yiling Valley, jointly controlled an arcane realm. Within this self-contained space, abundant spiritual energy thrived, harnessing nature¡¯s fortune to nurture vast quantities of rare spirit herbs!
Every ten years, this arcane realm would open, allowing Qi Refinement cultivators from the three sects to enter and harvest spirit herbs.
Only Qi Refinement cultivators could participate because powerful restrictions within the arcane realm made it nearly impossible for Foundation Establishment or even Core Formation patriarchs to breach!
As such, the Golden Jade Spirit Mushroom is tightly controlled by these three Core Formation sects, making it virtually impossible for any to reach the outside market!
The asional Foundation Establishment Pills found in Baize Immortal Citye from an alternative source.
¡°A tier-2 spirit beast¡¯s inner core, perhaps?¡±
Fang Xi stroked the jade slip containing the Foundation Establishment Pill form, deep in thought.
Certain exceptionally gifted tier-2 mythical beasts can form an inner core within their bodies, which could substitute for the Golden Jade Spirit Mushroom as the primary ingredient for the Foundation Establishment Pill!
Baize Immortal City, being near the Myriad Beasts Mountain Range, asionally sees cultivators hunting down tier-2 mythical beasts with inner cores to craft Foundation Establishment Pills!
However, this endeavor is incredibly dangerous!
Firstly, most tier-2 mythical beasts cannot actually develop inner cores; only extremely rare and uniquely talented ones have a slight chance of forming them!
To find such special beasts, one must venture deep into the Myriad Beasts Mountain Range!
Even if discovered, these gifted tier-2 mythical beasts possessbat abilities surpassing those of early Foundation Establishment cultivators, making them ferociously dangerous and difficult to subdue!
Lastly, the depths of the mountain range are known to harbor third-rank great monsters!
Encountering one would be a nightmare even for Core Formation patriarchs, let alone Foundation Establishment cultivators who stand little chance of survival!
Despite these dangers, countless hunting teams ventured deep into the Myriad Beasts Mountain Range each year near Baize Immortal City. Many included Foundation Establishment cultivators who risked their lives for the sake of their descendants or disciples¡ often meeting their demise¡
¡°Foundation Establishment Pill¡¡±
Fang Xi dared to go to Baize Immortal City only because he had confidence in obtaining such a pill!
¡°A tier-2 mythical beast¡¯s inner core, huh?¡±
He stroked his chin, feeling optimistic about his chances!
The southern wilderness might be challenging, but Great Liang certainly presented opportunities!
Throughout Great Liang, there existed Monster Kings akin to the snake-dragon, possessing exceptional innate abilities!
However, due to the sparse spiritual energy, they typically remained at the peak of first rank, struggling to advance further.
¡°If I capture and bind one with a contract, bringing it to the cultivation world could potentially trigger its breakthrough to tier-2! Then ughtering it for the inner core would be feasible¡¡±
¡°Of course, before capturing, I must imprint my divine sense on it and use the Beast Control Technique to ce numerous restrictions within its body. Additionally, setting external traps¡ once it breaks through to tier-2, immediately detonate all prepared contingencies!¡±
¡°With my Martial God power as backup, it shouldn¡¯t pose too much difficulty!¡±
With Fang Xi¡¯s divine sense, if he established a master-servant contract, he could instantlymand even a tier-1 high-grade mythical beast like the Great Azure Fish to perish with a single thought!
For a tier-2 mythical beast, it might not result in immediate death but would still cause severe injury! Combined with traps and his own Foundation Establishment power¡ facing a mere newly advanced tier-2 beast felt almost unfair to Fang Xi!
¡°However, there¡¯s still some risk involved¡ It would be best to purchase a tier-two array as backup!¡±
Thus, Fang Xi set his next destination: Baize Immortal City!
While he didn¡¯tck the main ingredients for the Foundation Establishment Pill, he needed auxiliary materials and a tier-two array.
Furthermore, upon obtaining the monster core, he didn¡¯t n to entrust someone else with pill concoction; instead, he intended to do it himself!
It was entirely feasible for a Foundation Establishment cultivator to master a specific tier-two pill form through repeated practice.
¡°A Tier 2 Alchemist primarily relies on their divine sense, magical energy, and intrinsic true fire¡¡±
¡°I already possess divine sense, and I can substitute intrinsic true fire with earthme or a fire-gathering formation. With my Peak Qi Refinement magical energy, supplemented by a few Qi Supplement Pills, I should just manage. After all, pill concoction isn¡¯tbat, so it ought to be within reach¡¡±
¡°I¡¯m already a tier-1 high-grade alchemist with this Foundation Establishment Pill form at hand. After attempting ten batches, I refuse to believe I won¡¯t produce at least one sessful pill!¡± Fang Xi clenched his teeth determinedly.
For ordinary major powers, nurturing an alchemist with such extravagance would bepletely unthinkable.
How crucial is the Foundation Establishment Pill? How rare and precious are its ingredients?
Only tier-2 high-grade alchemists can even consider epting tasks rted to it.
Typically, when practicing with Foundation Establishment Pills, two failed batches might be tolerated at most. Under no circumstances should more than three batches¡¯ worth of materials be wasted; if not a single pill seeds by then, the attempt would surely be abandoned! Further support for crafting Foundation Establishment Pills would cease unless the alchemist personally gathered additional ingredients!
Collecting the mainponents for a Foundation Establishment Pill is as difficult as ascending to the heavens!
Even if a fortunate Foundation Establishment cultivator managed to y a tier-2 mythical beast and obtain its inner core, they¡¯d be out of their mind to let an inexperienced pill master use it for practice!
However, for Fang Xi, possessing resources from an entire world meant the primary materials were virtually inexhaustible, albeit requiring some time to acquire.
¡°This Foundation Establishment Pill form meticulously details the refining techniques for two different sets of main ingredients - impressive indeed¡¡±
Fang Xi carefully stored the Foundation Establishment Pill form and began examining thest ¡®Situ Ying¡¯s bag of holding.
The bag of holding was ck with a red string tied at its mouth, giving it a slightly sinister appearance.
Upon opening it, Fang Xi found numerous and varied items inside.
¡°So many spirit stones, magical artifacts, medicinal pills¡ Did this person raid the Zhong Family¡¯s storage?¡±
Fang Xi emptied the contents and examined each item, feeling pleasantly surprised despite himself.
Considering Situ Ying¡¯s position on that day, he quickly realized: ¡®As expected, Lone Practitioner Ye had colluded with the Situ n. Situ Ying was specifically sent to reap the benefits¡ He can take his share, and I¡¯ll im mine. This is payback for years of excessive rents and exploitation - now they owe me both principal and interest!¡¯
¡°Hmm?¡± As Fang Xi meticulously scanned every object with his divine sense, he suddenly uttered a soft questioning sound and retrieved what appeared to be an ordinary low-grade water attribute spirit stone.
Within this spirit stone, he detected a faint trace of another¡¯s divine sense entwined around it, forming some sort of marker.
¡°A Foundation Establishment cultivator¡¯s Divine Consciousness Imprint? They indeed ced tracking measures on him¡¡±
With a coldugh, Fang Xi promptly destroyed the water spirit stone.
A typical Qi Refinement cultivator, even at great perfection stage, would not detect a Foundation Establishment Divine Consciousness imprint. If left unnoticed during the transfer to his bag of holding, it could potentially lead demonic cultivators to trace Fang Xi¡¯s trailter on.
¡°Quite cautious indeed¡¡±
Fang Xi meticulously examined Situ Ying¡¯s other personal items but found nothing unusual. Nheless, he decided to discard any suspicious or unnecessary objects.
After a brief moment, only a pitch-ck jade slip remained in Fang Xi¡¯s hand.
He infused his divine sense into it and immediately discovered cultivation mantras - unmistakably the technique practiced by Situ Ying!
¡°Blood Fiend Demon Art?!¡±
In truth, the Situ n had renounced their dark past long ago. However, after being annihted, they evidently cast aside all scruples and reverted to their old ways.
Fang Xi leaned back on a stone chair carved from ck gold, crossing one leg over the other, as he briefly skimmed through this cultivation method.
¡°So, demonic cultivators also absorb world¡¯s spiritual energy? Just with some distinct transformations¡ This Blood Fiend Demon Art requires a foundationid with a cultivator¡¯s essence blood, truly vile¡ Hmm, seems like rapid progress is possible¡ Oh, there are several secret techniques too, quite intriguing¡¡±
Chapter 139: Bai Ze Immortal City
Chapter 139: Bai Ze Immortal City
The Blood Fiend Demon Art¡¯s distinctive feature was its rapid advancement in magical energy cultivation!
Moreover, it possessed immense destructive power and various peculiar secret techniques!
However, its side effects included significant changes to the cultivator¡¯s temperament, potentially leading to qi deviation!
Fang Xi had little interest in the ¡®Blood Fiend Demon Art¡¯ itself but focused on the apanying secret techniques mentionedter.
One such technique, the ¡®Blood Fiend sh¡¯, required foundational magical energy from the Blood Fiend Demon Art, which Fang Xi could not yet achieve.
But another technique, the ¡®Blood Ignition Escape Technique¡¯, intrigued him. By consuming one¡¯s own vital blood, it transformed the user into a streak of bloodlight for swift escape, boasting astonishing speed. It was rumored that even at the Qi Refinement stage, this technique could allow evasion from early Foundation Establishment opponents. Fang Xi felt he could master this skill effectively.
Considering he was already at the fourth level of Body Tempering, his vital energy reserves were exceptionally robust, with ample blood supply; thus, he wasn¡¯t concerned about depletion.
¡°It¡¯s unfortunate¡ there isn¡¯t any secret technique I envisioned, where immense power can be gained by sacrificing longevity¡¡±
Fang Xi expressed slight disappointment. With his significantly extended lifespan, he didn¡¯t mind such sacrifices, knowing full well he could always replenish it through tree cultivationter!
¡°Perhaps Bai Ze Immortal City might have something like that; I should keep an eye out in the future¡¡±
Additionally, at the end of the ¡®Blood Fiend Demon Art¡¯, there was a corpse-refining technique that captivated Fang Xi¡¯s attention.
Situ Nine, the ancestor of the Situ n, was a renowned demonic cultivator known for his expertise in refining corpses!
In fact, the Situ n¡¯s reserves included a collection of refined corpses, even boasting flying corpsesparable to Foundation Establishment beings!
While Fang Xi himself wasn¡¯t fond of refined corpses, truth be told, due to his experience with the Demon Tree, he had gained considerable knowledge in this area.
Demonic servants could essentially be considered as puppets, not much different from refined corpses.
Although Situ Ying hadn¡¯t mastered the true essence of corpse-refining techniques, the methods for controlling refined corpses intrigued Fang Xi greatly.
Controlling numerous puppets as a puppeteer shared striking simrities with a demonic cultivatormanding vast numbers of refined corpses.
The stronger one¡¯s divine sense, the greater their proficiency in such control!
Fang Xi never forgot about his n for a puppet army! Moreover, future hunts for demon cores would inevitably yield materials from Foundation Establishment mythical beasts; it would indeed be a waste not to utilize them with the Demon Tree.
¡®Once I reach Foundation Establishment, having a batch of Foundation Establishment puppets¡ Wouldn¡¯t that allow me to dominate the surrounding three kingdoms?¡¯
¡®No, no, domination isn¡¯t my style¡ Let¡¯s focus on reaching Foundation Establishment first, and we¡¯ll see from there¡¡¯
Half a monthter.
After traveling intermittently and intentionally taking a detour, Fang Xi finally followed his map¡¯s guidance to reach Bai Ze Immortal City near the Myriad Beasts Mountain Range!
Within a vast radius of this city, thendscape wasrgely wild with few signs of mortal settlements or cultivated viges.
Being so close to the Myriad Beasts Mountain Range, asional escaped mythical beasts posed significant dangers, making it inhospitable for ordinary humans to reside there.
Fang Xi steered the ck Feather Boat over a mountain peak when he suddenly halted.
Ahead, a magnificent Immortal Cityy at the horizon¡¯s edge, radiating vibrant multicolored hues!
Circryers of city walls surrounded a central snow-white mountain peak, adorned with numerous inscribed paper talismans and traces of spiritual glow.
A bustling crowd of cultivators, either on foot, riding magical artifacts, or apanied by spirit beasts, formed lively streams near the city gates.
For a moment, Fang Xi felt as if he had returned to the mortal realm.
This city was entirely inhabited by cultivators!
¡°Third-order spiritual veins - Bai Peak Mountain?!¡±
Fang Xi gazed at the snow-white peak at the very center, murmuring softly.
Even approaching Bai Ze Immortal City, he felt a palpable sense of pressure in the air.
Undoubtedly, this emanated from the city¡¯s third-rank Guardian Great Array!
¡°A tier-3 formation is fully integrated with the earth¡¯s veins, possessing the ability to create its own self-contained world¡¡±
Recalling fragments from his array legacy knowledge, Fang Xipared them with the environment around Bai Ze Immortal City.
Within a tier-3 formation, it bes effortless to lock down spiritual veins, distribute varying concentrations of spiritual energy across different areas, and even teleport cultivators at will!
The path of formations undergoes a terrifying transformation and leap once reaching the third rank!
For instance, Bai Ze Immortal City¡¯s Guardian Great Array, being fused with the local environment, would significantly mitigate any damage caused by even a third-rank Barrier Breaking Talisman.
An explosion within such a formation would have minimal effect.
Regardless of how powerful a tier-3 paper talisman might be, against the scope of an entire region, it holds little significance.
This exemplifies the sheer terror of high-tier Great Restriction Formations!
As Fang Xi approached the city walls of Bai Ze Immortal City, he felt a subtle pressure gradually increasing on him¡
¡°A spatial restriction?¡±
He promptly descended his flight, stowed away the ck Feather Boat, and walked towards the main entrance of Bai Ze Immortal City.
¡°Ladies and gentlemen¡ there is a one low-grade spirit stone entry fee per person. After nightfall, those without fixed amodations will be expelled from the city!¡±
At the city gate, patrol guards d in spirit armor stood watch, each with a cultivation base remarkably at Late Stage Qi Refinement!
Fang Xi patiently queued up to enter the Immortal City.
¡°And what might your name be, fellow daoist?¡±
When it was his turn, Fang Xi straightforwardly provided his true identity.
After all, he had no outstanding cases against him, nor was he a demonic cultivator. His background was clear, and seeking breakthrough opportunities in Bai Ze Immortal City was entirely reasonable!
¡°Ah, Fellow Daoist Fang, here¡¯s your identity token, please keep it safe!¡±
Upon receiving a single spirit stone, the guard issued Fang Xi a token engraved with his personal information, allowing him ess into Bai Ze Immortal City.
¡°Phew¡¡±
As soon as Fang Xi entered the city, he felt the abundant pure spiritual energy around him, graded at tier-1 high-quality, far surpassing his own Jade Cliff.
¡°ording to rumors, Bai Ze Immortal City is divided into three main regions. The Outer City has spiritual energy concentration of tier-1 high-grade, while the Inner City is approximately tier-2¡ As for the core area, Bai Peak Mountain, it¡¯s a third-rank spiritualnd. Wow¡¡±
Fang Xi sighed with admiration and began strolling casually through the Outer City.
Even within the Outer City, the crisscrossing streets were significantly more bustling than typical marketces.
Shop after shop lined up densely, and with just a nce, Fang Xi recognized several familiar signs:
¡®Hundred Skills Pavilion¡¯, ¡®Mingqing Pavilion¡¯, ¡®Ten Seas Tower¡¯¡
¡°Baiqiao Qi n, Verdant Xue n, and even the Song n¡ all part of the seven major Foundation Establishment aristocratic families in Yue Kingdom. Oh wait, now there are only six left¡¡±
Fang Xi mentally listed the Foundation Establishment forces behind these shops, adding, ¡°And they¡¯re all¡ acquaintances!¡±
Qi Yingsong from the Hundred Skills Pavilion had attempted murder for wealth, while Goddess Yunmeng of the Verdant Xue n captured Chen Ping. As for that Blood Symbol Spirit Body genius, Fang Xi was unsure about his current situation.
The Song n, with their gift of the ¡®Longevity Technique¡¯ from Song Qing, had indeed benefited Fang Xi greatly, but their intentions were far from benevolent!
¡®I wonder how many acquaintances from those old market days are still alive¡¡¯
¡®As for Shen Haoran of the Heavenly Talisman Hall¡¯s Shen n¡ I fear he likely met his demise along with his entire family.¡¯
Apart from the shops established by Yue Kingdom¡¯s Foundation Establishment powers, Fang Xi also noticed numerous establishments selling medicinal pills, magical artifacts, and paper talismans.
Being located at the intersection of three kingdoms, Bai Ze Immortal City attracted not just cultivator ns from Yue, but various factions across the region!
This diverse mix made it an ideal ce for rogue cultivators to thrive and dispose of illicit goods!
Instead of browsing the shops, Fang Xi headed straight to the office responsible for leasing immortal¡¯s caves within the city. There, he rented one in the Outer City for a ten-year term.
The business of renting out Bai Ze Immortal City¡¯s caves has always been managed by disciples under True Person Bai Feng, providing them with steady ie even without active involvement.
Notably, the tier-2 spiritualnds in the Inner City generate substantial revenue daily!
¡°Bristling Willow Lane, Building 87!¡±
Holding a message token and map, Fang Xi made his way to ane within the Outer City.
This area seemed designated for immortal¡¯s caves, with individual courtyards scattered at intervals of several meters apart. Each building had its own entrance,plete with shielding formations ensuring excellent privacy.
¡®Cultivators highly value their privacy; this arrangement makes sense¡though it does seem like inefficient use of space¡¡¯
Fang Xi sighed, found Building 87, and used the message token to activate the formation. Momentster, he pushed open the gate.
Inside, the courtyard was tranquil, featuring a small bridge over flowing water, animal enclosures, storage rooms, a cultivation chamber, and a kitchen¡ªall well-equipped.
¡°The formation is quite basic, just low-tier first rank, barely enough to conceal outsiders¡¯ gaze¡¡± He took a quick tour around, nning to set up his own formation as this standard one proved inadequate.
Noticing the existing furniture, Fang Xi mentally noted items needed for purchase before stepping out of the residence.
As he emerged, the neighboring courtyard gate opened, revealing two cultivators.
One was a male cultivator at Peak Qi Refinement, appearing youthful despite his silver hair, radiating vitality with a glowingplexion.
The other, a charming and delicate female cultivator, seemed to be around the sixth level of Qi Refining.
They disyed affectionate behavior, resembling a grandfather and granddaughter.
Upon seeing Fang Xi, both were momentarily taken aback.
¡°Greetings, esteemed neighbors,¡± Fang Xi said, smiling and bowing respectfully. ¡°My name is Fang Xi. I¡¯ve just rented here, so we¡¯ll be living nearby from now on¡¡±
Fang Xi inwardly marveled, not surprised at all considering Bai Ze Immortal City¡¯s reputation; even its Outer City was filled with hidden talents.
Currently, he projected a cultivation base around the eighthyer of Qi Refinement - neither high nor low, ensuring he wouldn¡¯t be underestimated.
After fully refining the Demon Tree, Fang Xi found that his previous method for storing magical energy still worked and became even more convenient. Naturally, he chose to conceal part of his true cultivation base.
Having remained in the seventhyer of Qi Refinement for quite some time, advancing and subsequently leaving Peach Blossom Ind seemed perfectly reasonable!
¡°Ah, Fellow Daoist Fang, I am ¡®Su Lie¡¯, and this is my cultivation partner, ¡®Jin Ling¡¯!¡± Su Lie introduced them cheerfully, appearing as a quintessential friendly elder.
¡°Greetings, Daoist Su and Goddess Jin¡¡± Fang Xi maintained aposed expression, but internally, he couldn¡¯t help but note the significant age difference between Su Lie and his cultivation partner.
In the cultivation world, however, age gaps in rtionships weremon, whether it be older husbands with younger wives or vice versa. With the existence of Age-Defying Pills and simr remedies, concerns about such disparities were minimal.
For instance, Fang Xi himself looked dashing and elegant¡ without explicitly stating his age, no one would guess he was nearing fifty-four!
Indeed, Fang Xi had always preferred staying low-key and avoiding fame. If circumstances allowed, he aimed to reach Foundation Establishment before turning sixty, thus attracting less attention.
It was widely epted in the cultivation realm that the chances of achieving Foundation Establishment significantly decrease after reaching sixty years of age¡
Chapter 140: Selling Illicit Goods
Chapter 140: Selling Illicit Goods
Two months swiftly passed.
Fang Xi had settledfortably into Baize Immortal City and be acquainted with his neighbors in Smokey Willow Lane.
Apart from Su Lie¡¯s couple, he developed a decent rtionship with another neighbor named ¡®Grapevine Fairy¡¯. She was at the seventhyer of Qi Refinement and a high-rank first-tier talisman master.
Living in Baize wasn¡¯t easy!
Su Lie and his wife relied on his profound cultivation, venturing out daily to hunt mythical beasts in the Myriad Beasts Mountain Range.
The Grapevine Fairy, on the other hand, purchased paper talismans and ink, then crafted them into finished talismans for sale, earning through her hard work.
Rent in Baize Immortal City was exorbitant, requiring rogue cultivators to possess specific skilled trades to afford long-term residence.
If one¡¯s proficiency in the hundred skills of cultivation was only low or mid-rank first-tier, without reaching Late Stage Qi Refinement, no one would even consider taking them along for dangerous hunts in the Myriad Beasts Mountain Range!
Fortunately, Fang Xi didn¡¯t face such challenges. By subtly showcasing his exceptional pill concocting abilities, he quickly gained favor with the Grapevine Fairy, Su Lie, and others who were more than willing to befriend him.
After all, alchemists held a higher status within the hierarchypared to talisman masters.
To cover his expenses openly, Fang Xi often procured medicinal ingredients, concocted pills, and sold them, satisfying his financial needs.
Additionally, he could also gather materials for his ¡®Foundation Establishment Pill¡¯.
¡°With a Core Formation patriarch guarding Baize Immortal City,bat is strictly prohibited¡ Moreover, being a hub for resources from three countries, it truly is an ideal ce for cultivation¡¡±
In the alchemy room, Fang Xi gazed at the Violet Jade Furnace before him, a hint of satisfaction shing in his eyes.
With a gentle tap of his hand, the furnace lid opened, and several medicinal pills flew out,nding in his grasp.
Pop!
One pill burst, turning to ck ash instantly. Another disyed a faint gray streak on its surface, indicating it was an inferior-quality pill.
¡°This ¡®Dragonification Pill¡¯ is ssified as high-rank first-tier, yet even among such pills, it¡¯s notoriously difficult to concoct. For most ordinary pill masters, sessfully producing two or three pills per batch would be considered exceptional craftsmanship.¡±
¡°In contrast, with my attempt, I¡¯ve managed four genuine pills and one inferior-quality pill per batch. This ces my skill near the peak of first-stage mastery, justcking practice with tier-2 pill forms¡¡±
Fang Xi looked at the remaining Dragonification Pills, a subtle smile gracing his face.
He had obtained this Dragonification Pill form from the Dragonfish Zhong n!
The main ingredient required a fifty-year-old ¡®Dragon Transformation Ginseng¡¯, which fortuitously existed in the medicinal herb field. The Plunderer Cultivator had uprooted it entirely, sealing it within a petroleum jade box.
Upon first seeing this ginseng, Fang Xi had cursed its wastefulness. If it were several hundred years old, he could havepleted one of the auxiliary materials needed for his Foundation Establishment Pill.
¡°The Zhong Family¡¯s ability to raise that little Azure Dragon relies solely on these ¡®Dragonification Pills¡¯!¡±
Holding the pills, he approached the pond in the courtyard.
Ssh!
The Great Azure Fish, seemingly sensing something enticing, eagerly surfaced from the water.
¡°You¡¯re good at nothing except eating!¡± Fang Xi red furiously but still tossed a Dragonification Pill into the fish¡¯s mouth. ¡°I¡¯ll give you another fifty years; if you can¡¯t break through to tier-2 by then, prepare to die!¡±
This Great Azure Fish was incrediblyzy, and Fang Xi suspected it might deliberately dy breakthroughs until the veryst moment.
However, it must be said, this is precisely how Xiu Mu ensures its survival.
If the fish were to breakthrough now, considering its innate talent with a trace of Dragonfish blood, there¡¯s a chance it could form a nascent pearl¡
And that would be the end of it¡
Fang Xi needed monster cores to practice for refining the Foundation Establishment Pill!
After scolding his spirit pet, Fang Xi sat down on a stone stool in the courtyard, pouring himself a cup of spirit tea. ¡°For the fifteen auxiliary ingredients of the Foundation Establishment Pill, I¡¯ve already collected thirteen. Only two remain: the two-hundred-year-old Dragon Transformation Ginseng and the Jade Spirit Solution!¡±
The Zhong Family¡¯s medicinal herb fields likely did not contain any two-hundred-year-old Dragon Transformation Ginseng; otherwise, they would have already attempted to coborate with others in Baize Immortal City for Foundation Establishment Pill refinement, aiming to produce another Foundation Establishment cultivator within their n.
Fang Xi had visited various shops and inquired from neighbors, discovering that numerous Peak Qi Refinement cultivators were quietly gathering materials for the Foundation Establishment Pill.
To acquire all necessary auxiliary ingredients, one must constantly monitor major tradingpanies¡¯ auctions and exchange events, or alternatively wait for the decennial grand auction held in Baize Immortal City.
Although rare, the two-hundred-year-old Dragon Transformation Ginseng and Jade Spirit Solution asionally appeared at theserge-scale auctions.
Even more so, during the once-a-decade grand auction, Foundation Establishment Pills themselves might asionally surface, making it certain that both of these spirit medicines would be avable!
¡°The next grand auction is in three years, by then I¡¯ll be fifty-six¡ Well, never mind, just three years, I can certainly afford to wait!¡±
¡°In the meantime, I should visit other tradingpanies frequently; who knows, I might find them sooner!¡±
Having decided to refine his own Foundation Establishment Pill, Fang Xi needed significantlyrger quantities of auxiliary materialspared to others. Conservatively, he aimed to prepare ten sets or more.
Of course, some ingredients might not require a full set, such as the Jade Spirit Solution. Only a few drops are needed per batch for its catalytic properties, hence a small bottle would suffice¡
¡°Is it time now?¡±
Fang Xi silently flew out of Baize Immortal City and upon his return, transformed into a long-bearded Daoist d in Qingyi robes.
¡°The city entrance fee is one spirit stone. May I ask for your esteemed name, Daoist friend?¡± The gatekeeper spirit, seeing no long-term rental talisman presented, asked as part of routine procedure.
Additionally, he gave this Daoist an extra nce.
After all, reaching Peak Qi Refinement made one notable even within Baize Immortal City.
¡°I am¡ Daoist Mu!¡± Fang Xi, with hands concealed inside his wide sleeves, coolly provided his assumed name.
Momentster, holding a second identity token, he entered Baize Immortal City under his new guise.
By altering his appearance and re-entering the city, Fang Xi aimed to establish an alternate persona. With a Martial God¡¯s control over his body, encountering challenges below Foundation Establishment level should not pose significant issues.
Creating the alias ¡°Daoist Mu¡± was naturally intended for selling illicit goods. Furthermore, using such aliases would be ideal even when participating in future auctions.
Fang Xi entered the Outer City with ease, heading directly towards a magical artifact shop.
He had meticulously researched beforehand; this shop was backed by a Foundation Establishment n from the Wood Nation, known to have little connection with Yue Kingdom¡¯s cultivators.
The items he intended to sell were naturally all stolen goods.
For instance, some of the magical artifacts acquired during his time as the silver-armored figure over thirty years ago, and more recently, useless resources plundered from the Dragonfish Zhong Family.
Indeed, recent news confirmed that the Thirty-Six Inds Alliance achieved a decisive victory, annihting the Dragonfish Zhong Family.
The Zhong Family¡¯s reinforcements retreated midway, effectively acknowledging the Thirty-Six Inds Alliance¡¯s dominance over Wan Ind Lake.
As a result of this battle, the Taishu Sect and other top factions suffered heavy losses, leaving them no choice but to lie low and recover their strength.
Wan Ind Lake entered a period of rtive calm.
However, Fang Xi knew well that this was far from the end, merely the beginning!
It seemed likely that control over Wan Ind Lake¡¯s resources had fallen into the hands of demonic cultivators, orchestrated by none other than the Situ n!
¡®Sneakily reporting this won¡¯t benefit me much¡ Besides, it¡¯s too easy to get caught¡¡¯
¡®Best to wait until after reaching Foundation Establishment when I have more capabilities¡¡¯
With these thoughts, Fang Xi entered a shop, where a greeter promptly approached with a weing smile. ¡°Greetings, esteemed guest! What type of magical artifacts do you seek?¡±
¡°Does your esteemed establishment purchase second-hand magical artifacts?¡± Fang Xi¡¯s gaunt Daoist face broke into a grin, resembling a withered tree blooming anew, which looked somewhat eerie.
¡°Certainly, we do.¡± The greeter¡¯s smile remained unchanged.
¡°The quantity I have is quite substantial; please fetch the shopkeeper¡¡±
Fang Xi had been holding onto his first batch of goods for over thirty years, and given the recent demise of the Zhong Family, they were now safe to surface without raising suspicion. However, out of caution, it was still best to discreetly offload them.
He possessed immense patience, willing to quietly sell the stolen items over several years.
After about an hour, the shopkeeper, beaming widely, escorted Fang Xi out of the store.
¡°Fellow Daoist Fang, you¡¯re back!¡±
As Fang Xi returned to Smokey Willow Lane, he encountered a graceful beauty dressed in a green ruqun attire, exuding an elegant demeanor.
She appeared to be in herte twenties or early thirties, with an oval-shaped face and a gentle air reminiscent of a refined noblewoman.
¡°Grapevine Fairy!¡± He nodded in greeting. ¡°Yes¡ I was out purchasing alchemy materials.¡±
¡°Ah, I truly envy you, Fellow Daoist, for mastering the Pill Concocting Technique¡ Unlike me, I can only draw talismans day after day just to make ends meet¡ My talisman brush is practically worn down to stubble¡ yet barely earning any spirit stones; even affording rent bes difficult,¡± Grapevine Fairymented somewhat sorrowfully.
¡°Uh¡¡±
Fang Xi found himself momentarily at a loss for words.
Was she implying that he should buy her a high-grade talisman brush? Or perhaps cover her rent, or maybe even¡ suggest living together?
¡®No, cultivators have numerous peculiar powers and secret techniques. I mustn¡¯t inadvertently fall prey to them¡¡¯
Fang Xi briefly nced at her curvaceous figure, smiled, and retreated to his courtyard, closing the door behind him.
¡°Tsk¡ just another one with desires but no courage.¡± The Grapevine Fairy returned to her immortal¡¯s cave, muttering under her breath.
In her past, she had gained prominence through cultivating charm techniques, fully understanding what men desired. However, due to powerful enemiester on, she was forced to flee for refuge in Baize Immortal City, adopting talisman crafting as her livelihood while discreetly engaging in other side ventures.
Initially, seeing Fang Xi¡¯s decent appearance, she thought he might be a promising new client. Yet unexpectedly, he turned out to be so timid!
The next day,
Fang Xi visited Su Lie and his wife, bearing a bottle of casually concocted medicinal pills as a gift. After some casual conversation, he subtly began probing about the Grapevine Fairy¡¯s background.
¡°She isn¡¯t a proper female cultivator; you must be cautious, Fellow Daoist. Rumor has it, many male cultivators in the Outer City have fought over her, even leading to duels outside the city walls!¡± Upon receiving the spirit pills, Jin Ling initially wore a broad smile, but his expression chilled when mentioning the Grapevine Fairy.
¡°I see, thank you for letting me know¡¡±
Fang Xi felt slightly disappointed inwardly. It seemed there wasn¡¯t much issue with purchasing one, and he certainly could afford a talisman brush¡
After selling his goods thus far, his bag of holding now held over five thousand spirit stones, enough to potentially bid on a Foundation Establishment Pill.
However, it wasn¡¯t appropriate to continue this conversation further, so they shifted their talk to discussing various aspects of the Myriad Beasts Mountain Range.
¡°Making a living within the Myriad Beasts Mountains is no easy task¡ Even seemingly ordinary groups of first-rank mythical beasts may hide tier-2 Beast Kings behind them¡¡± Su Lie expressed with deep sentiment, ¡°Last year, I heard about a Foundation Establishment cultivator who, while pursuing a suspected tier-2 spirit beast with a nascent pearl, inadvertently entered the territory of two ¡®Thunderhorn Pythons¡¯ equivalent to Late Foundation Establishment stage. He returned gravely injured and barely managed to arrange his final affairs before passing away¡ Ah, if even great Foundation Establishment cultivators face such risks, how challenging must it be for rogue cultivators like us to obtain tier-2 nascent pearls!¡±
Chapter 141: The Grand Auction
Chapter 141: The Grand Auction
Three Years Later.
As Baize Immortal City¡¯s decennial grand auction approached, the flow of people within the city noticeably increased.
Private exchange gatherings also surged, bing more frequent and fervent than ever before.
Seizing this rare opportunity, Fang Xi managed to offload some conspicuous stolen goods, raising his spirit stone count to seven thousand!
Feeling ted after handling his gains, Fang Xi headed straight to the rogue cultivators¡¯ market area, browsing through each stall one by one.
Although he had never stumbled upon any hidden treasures, it¡¯s always good to dream - who knows when fortune might strike?!
¡°Selling high-grade magical artifacts at bargain prices¡¡±
¡°Specialties from the Myriad Beasts Mountain Range,e take a look¡¡±
¡°Premium paper talismans, top-quality!¡±
As he browsed, Fang Xi helplessly realized his luck was not with him today! With knowledge of the four arts of cultivation and his divine sense, he could instantly appraise the value of items on each stall. His conclusion: there were hardly any opportunities to find hidden gems!
¡°No wonder finding bargains has be legendary; it¡¯s precisely due to their extreme rarity¡¡±
¡°Ah well, I might as well stick to purchasing at auctions for quality goods¡¡±
Fang Xi was about to leave when suddenly, his gaze caught on a paper talisman stall.
¡°Looking for talismans, Daoist friend? Everything here is top-quality!¡± proimed a woman in her fifties from behind the stall.
¡°Not bad indeed¡¡± Fang Xi picked up a ¡®Cold Wind Talisman¡¯, feeling its sturdy texture and appreciating the smooth, refined strokes on the talisman. Without a doubt, this was a premium item!
¡°What¡¯s the price?¡±
¡°This tier-one high-grade Cold Wind Talisman summons icy gusts, freezing your enemies over a wide area. The cost is twenty-five spirit stones!¡± the elderly woman quoted promptly.
The old woman promptly and skillfully quoted the price.
With her temples frosted white and deep crow¡¯s feet at the corners of her eyes, one could still faintly discern traces of her youthful beauty.
¡°If you purchase five or more, there¡¯s a discount!¡± Seeing Fang Xi take out spirit stones, the elderly woman quickly added with a smile, almost sounding ingratiating.
¡®Time truly is as ruthless as a butcher¡¯s knife¡¡¯ Fang Xi observed this scene and couldn¡¯t help butment internally, ¡®Even Lu Zhi, the fiery-tempered goddess from Qingzhu Mountain Market, has be so business-minded now¡¡¯
Indeed, Fang Xi had recognized her.
The woman selling these paper talismans was none other than Chen Ping¡¯s unrequited love interest¡ªthe widow of Symbol Master Zong¡ªLu Zhi herself!
¡°Meeting an old acquaintance, yet it seems Goddess Lu does not recognize me¡¡± Fang Xi suddenly chuckled softly.
Since he was simply strolling through the market and not here to sell illicit goods, he hadn¡¯t assumed Daoist Mu¡¯s persona this time, revealing his true identity instead.
¡°Hmm?¡± Lu Zhi abruptly lifted her head, gazing at the young man who exuded grace like an elegant orchid amidst jade trees. A hint of uncertainty and surprise flickered in her eyes.
The face did seem somewhat familiar to her. Drawing upon a cultivator¡¯s exceptional memory, she finally traced this sense of recognition amidst her numbness: ¡°You are¡from Qingzhu Mountain Market¡the spirit farmer?¡±
¡°Indeed,¡± Fang Xi smiled warmly. ¡°It has been many years since west met. How have you fared, Fellow Daoist Lu?¡±
Lu Zhi suddenly felt a pang of shame. Despite wasting numerous years, she remained at the sixth level of Qi Refinement, growing older and past her prime. In contrast, the youthful appearance before her had not aged, with a cultivation base surpassing hers, already reaching Late Stage Qi Refinement!
This realization amplified Lu Zhi¡¯s sense of how drastically circumstances had changed.
¡°Sigh¡ I¡¯ve managed somehow.¡± A multitude of emotions welled up within her, yet they all condensed into a single sigh.
¡°Oh, by the way, how is Fellow Daoist Chen Ping doing? During the chaos at the market back then, I could only hastily flee for my life, unsure of his fate¡¡± Fang Xi expressed regretfully.
¡°Yes, he considered you a friend too¡ He now¡¡±
A deeper bitterness filled Lu Zhi¡¯s expression as she continued, ¡°He¡¯s managing alright, but due to importantmitments, it¡¯s difficult for him to venture out¡¡±
¡®Oh? It seems this Lu Zhi had quite a good rtionship with Chen Ping. Does she remain unaware of the truth behind his blood sacrifice to awaken a spiritual body?¡¯
Fang Xi¡¯s heart stirred upon hearing this.
¡°As for Chen Ping¡¯s friends, Nine Profound Reverend reached the end of his longevity and passed away, while Di Qi couldn¡¯t escape cmity and perished during the market chaos¡¡±
Lu Zhi unexpectedly knew about Chen Ping¡¯s mischievouspanions, causing Fang Xi¡¯s heart to tremble.
Nine Profound Reverend was fortunate enough to survive the market chaos but ultimately sumbed to the limits of his longevity.
Di Qi met an even worse fate, falling directly amidst the turmoil. Whether he was merely caught as coteral damage or it stemmed from his own greed remains unknown¡
¡°Sigh¡ After decades of immortal cultivation, half my old acquaintances have faded away.¡±
With ament, Fang Xi turned to Lu Zhi and said, ¡°If you see Brother Chen someday, please convey my greetings.¡±
¡°Mother¡¡± At that moment, a tall cultivator d in ck approached. His cultivation base was at the seventhyer of Qi Refinement, exuding faintly malevolent energy. He red at Fang Xi and asked, ¡°Who is this person?¡±
¡°He¡¯s a former friend of mine¡¡± Lu Zhi shook her head, reluctant to borate further. ¡°Did you bring the materials I requested?¡±
¡°Of course, they¡¯re all here!¡± The ck-clothed cultivator hastily produced his bag of holding.
Evening approached.
The rogue cultivators began packing up their stalls, ready to return for meditation and cultivation.
Lu Zhi simrly stored her paper talismans into her bag of holding, walking slowly. As she entered an alleyway, she spotted Fang Xi waiting there.
¡°Fellow Daoist Lu, your earlier words seemed to hold more unsaid meaning.¡±
Fang Xi stood with arms crossed, evidently having anticipated this meeting.
Looking around cautiously to ensure they were alone, Lu Zhi stepped closer and whispered, ¡°Chen Ping mentioned you as his close friend, so I¡¯ll trust you once¡ Chen Ping¡¯s situation is dire; he¡¯s imprisoned somewhere, forced to draw talismans day and night. His longevity has been severely depleted, leaving him with only a couple of years at most¡¡±
This revtion did not surprise Fang Xi at all. With Chen Ping possessing a Blood Symbol Spirit Body, naturally adept in the Dao of Talismans, it was likely that his talisman crafting skills had already advanced to tier-2¡ªa truly exceptional tool for exploitation!
Encountering a powerful n would inevitably lead to relentless exploitation until death!
¡°Could it be the Verdant Xue n?¡± Fang Xi spected.
He spected.
The Verdant Xu n, backing the Mingqing Pavilion, was likely involved. Initially, even Goddess Yunmeng belonged to their influence. Considering all this, they seemed the most probable captors of Chen Ping.
¡°You know?!¡± Lu Zhi eximed, taken aback.
¡°I have some suspicions, but unfortunately, my strength is insufficient to rescue this old friend¡¡± Fang Xi sighed deeply and turned to leave.
His sole purpose in waiting here had been to inquire about his old friend¡¯s well-being. Chen Ping had treated him kindly in the past, and if within his power, Fang Xi wouldn¡¯t have hesitated to help.
However¡ he himself had not yet reached Foundation Establishment.
The Verdant Xu n boasted Foundation Establishment-level might, making the disparity between them too vast. All Fang Xi could do was offer his regrets¡
As Lu Zhi watched Fang Xi depart, she didn¡¯t express any resentment; instead, she let out a soft sigh. Even as a cultivator, she had encountered numerous situations beyond her control - such is the harsh reality of life¡
¡°Considering his age, Chen Ping is slightly older than me. He exhausted thirty years of longevity to upgrade the Barrier Breaking Talisman, and now with another thirty years passed, he should only be nearing eighty¡ Why has his condition deteriorated so suddenly?¡±
¡°Oh right, I forgot that if the Xu n pressured him once, they could do it again¡ Could it be they forced Chen Ping to enhance yet another unique paper talisman, leading to such depletion of his longevity?¡±
Fang Xi couldn¡¯t help but feel chilled by the ruthless tactics employed by these Foundation Establishment aristocratic families.
They truly exploited their tools until everyst drop wasÕ¥ed out!
At Mistwillow Alley,
¡°Fellow Daoist Fang, wonderful news!¡± As Fang Xi approached, Su Lie spotted him immediately and eximed, ¡°Remember you asked me about trade gatherings? I¡¯ve found one taking ce at the teahouse, where there might be Beryl Spirit Liquid for sale¡ Of course, the seller mentioned that if the bids don¡¯t meet their expectations, they¡¯ll send it to the grand auction instead.¡±
¡°Many thanks, Daoist friend! Please lead the way; let me meet the seller first!¡±
Fang Xi responded with equal enthusiasm, sping his hands respectfully.
During these three years, he hadn¡¯t gone entirely unrewarded. As ¡°Daoist Mu,¡± he had sessfully acquired ten drops of Beryl Spirit Liquid and a 200-year-old Dragon Transformation Ginseng from arge merchant firm.
However, when ites to auxiliary ingredients for the Foundation Establishment Pill, more is always better, so this opportunity couldn¡¯t be missed.
Apanied by Su Lie, they promptly headed to the exchange meeting and located the seller.
After a confidential negotiation, Fang Xi paid a satisfactory amount of spirit stones and obtained half a bottle of Beryl Spirit Liquid.
¡®Ah, now I have enough Beryl Spirit Liquid; only the Dragon Transformation Ginseng quantity remains short!¡¯ Fang Xi thought, secretly delighted as he awaited the grand auction.
Gathering only auxiliary materials was significantly easier than those arduously seeking tier-2 monster cores, making him less conspicuous among Peak Qi Refinement cultivators.
¡®In truth, if I exchanged using tier-2 monster cores, I could instantly gather all necessary auxiliary materials¡¡¯
¡®The issue is¡it would attract far too much attention.¡¯
Fang Xi¡¯s n to hunt monsters for cores continued to evolve, all leading up to the grand auction!
One monthter.
Fang Xi, disguised as Daoist Mu, entered the Inner City and approached the grand auction house located at the foot of White Peak Mountain.
¡°Sir, you hold a private booth invitation. Please follow me!¡±
With a charming smile, a servant girl escorted Fang Xi to the second floor of the auction venue.
Numerous elevated tforms overlooked the entire auction hall from above.
¡°The private booths ensure absolute confidentiality for our guests. After bidding sessfully on any item, it can be directly delivered to your booth for transaction¡¡±
As they walked, the servant girl introduced the facilities and rules of the auction house.
¡°Not bad¡ quite considerate,¡± Fang Xi nodded, impressed by Baize Immortal City¡¯s attentiveness towards its customers.
He took a seat in his assigned booth, quietly awaiting the start of the auction.
After about an hour, most seats on the first level were filled.
The resounding strike of a copper gong signaled the entrance of a middle-aged cultivator. With amanding presence, he strode onto the stage dressed in a purple magic robe. His round face exuded affluence and amiability, yet his eyes resembled deep, serene pools, conveying authority without anger.
¡°Is this individual presiding over the auction?¡± A subtle murmur of excitement rippled through the crowd.
¡°The eighteenth disciple of True Person Bai Feng¡ªOuyang Zhen?!¡± Fang Xi also felt anticipation building within him.
As a disciple of a Core Formation patriarch, Ouyang Zhen disyed an impressive cultivation base, reachingte-stage Foundation Establishment, clearly dominating the aura in the room!
¡°Many thanks for gracing us with your presence. The grand auction shall nowmence!¡± Ouyang Zhen¡¯s voice echoed in the ears of every cultivator present. ¡°The first item up for bid¡ªthe mid-grade spirit artifact ¡®Jade Cloud Five Mist Silk¡¯ - capable of defense, flight, entrapment, and attack¡ Starting price: one thousand two hundred spirit stones!¡±
Chapter 142: The Song Clans Young Master
¡°One thousand three hundred spirit stones!¡±
¡°Thirteen hundred and fifty spirit stones!¡±
The mid-grade spirit artifact attracted good bidding, likely due to the high-quality items featured at the beginning of the auction.
Moreover, most bids came from Foundation Establishment cultivators!
Fang Xi silently observed their posturing, and eventually, the Blue Cloud Five Mist Silk sold for fourteen hundred spirit stones to a cultivator in one of the private booths.
¡°Violet Wood Pill - A medicinal aid for wood attribute spiritual root cultivators, assisting breakthroughs from Middle to Late Qi Refinement stage. Divided into three sets, with one pill per set, starting bid at three hundred spirit stones. First set¡¡±
With a hint of smile, Ouyang Zhen continued the auction proceedings.
Leaning back in his soft chair, Fang Xi marveled at the grandeur of thisrge-scale event.
A variety of Step-Breaking Pills, premium medicinal pills enhancing magical energy¡ High-quality magical artifacts¡
Curiosities¡
It was truly overwhelming and dazzling to behold.
¡°Unique Treasure - Violet umtion Bracelet! An exceptional itembining both offensive and defensive capabilities, recently unearthed from ancient cultivation ruins. Requires minimal magical energy consumption, suitable for Foundation Establishment cultivators, boasting power surpassing even high-grade spirit artifacts. Starting bid at two thousand spirit stones, with increments not less than one hundred spirit stones each!¡±
After nearly an hour, Ouyang Zhen showcased a distinctive purple bracelet adorned with intricate mystical patterns, emitting abundant spiritual light, clearly indicating its extraordinary nature.
¡°Two thousand one hundred spirit stones!¡± immediately called out an elderly voice.
¡°Two thousand two hundred spirit stones!¡±
The Foundation Establishment cultivators present showed keen interest in this ¡®Violet umtion Bracelet¡¯, quickly driving the price to a lofty 2,900 spirit stones!
¡°Three thousand five hundred spirit stones!¡± Suddenly, a confident young man¡¯s voice resonated throughout the hall, overpowering all other bidders.
Everyone turned towards the private booth where the window was open, revealing a Foundation Establishment cultivator seated inside. He wore a sea-blue mage robe and donned a jade crown, with striking features and piercing eyes. Holding a jade folding fan, he exuded an air of elegance, akin to a carefree noble gentleman. Unfazed by the crowd¡¯s attention, he gracefully bowed with a broad smile on his face.
¡°It¡¯s actually him?¡±
¡°The crown prince of Yue Kingdom¡¯s Song n - Song Qing!¡±
¡°I heard that originally, he managed the Bamboo Grove Market branch of Ten Seas Pavilion. His exceptional performance surpassed allpetitors, securing his position as the Song n¡¯s heir apparent. Since then, his cultivation base advanced rapidly, reaching unstoppable momentum, and he achieved Foundation Establishment at just over thirty years old! He is hailed as a rare genius among the Yue Kingdom¡¯s n cultivators!¡±
Fang Xi observed Song Qing, his eyes subtly deepening as he listened to the murmurs from all around.
He never expected that a mere shopkeeper at 10,000 Seas Pavilion would now be the crown prince of the Song n and achieve Foundation Establishment!
This person indeed held a grudge against him!
However¡ patience was still required!
¡®Yes, but this individual reaching Foundation Establishment confirms that the Longevity Technique I have is genuine, with no hidden omissions. After all, he truly swore the Vow of Heart¡¯s Demon back then!¡¯
For a cultivator who disregards the Dao path and shows little interest in advancing their cultivation, the Vow of Heart¡¯s Demon holds rtively weak constraints.
But Song Qing was different!
Since he could sessfully cultivate after taking such a vow, achieving Foundation Establishment, it clearly indicated the truthfulness of his oath!
¡®Yet, the Song n¡ likely still possesses the original Longevity Technique!¡¯
Fang Xi felt determined to obtain it.
Moreover, having cultivated the Longevity Technique, he aimed to eliminate any potential risks.
After all, if discovered as the one who initially purchased it, coupled with his previously ordinary aptitude suddenly transforming into an ¡®Azure Wood Spirit Body,¡¯ seriousplications could arise. There was even a risk of exposing his golden finger!
Even Core Formation patriarchs would be immensely intrigued by the rapid development of an Azure Wood Spirit Body!
¡®But, the timing isn¡¯t right yet¡¡¯ Fang Xi shifted his gaze away from Song Qing, stifling a bored yawn.
¡°So it¡¯s the young master of the Song n. Very well, let¡¯s grant them some face¡¡±
¡°Haha, I am the patriarch of the Maple Leaf Han n. How fares the health of the Song n¡¯s patriarch?¡±
Indeed, the Song n¡¯s influence was significant; all Foundation Establishment cultivators ceased their bidding.
Of course, it might also be because the price for the Violet umtion Bracelet had reached its peak, allowing Song Qing to secure it effortlessly.
¡°With my master¡¯s reputation guaranteeing fairness, each auction will strictly prohibit any use of coercion¡¡±
Ouyang Zhen let out a cold snort, subtly jabbing at Song Qing before continuing with the auction.
The next items brought forth were various spirit beast eggs and young pets.
Storm Falcons, Dual-headed Earth Lizards, Thunder-horned Pythons¡
Fang Xi watched with keen interest, noting that several of these mythical beasts could match Foundation Establishment cultivators when fully grown.
However, for ordinary rogue cultivators, the ongoing cost of feeding and caring for such creatures was substantial. Additionally, mythical beasts have long lifespans, often taking many years to mature.
As a result, most purchases were made by family-based cultivators.
In numerous cultivator ns, after the patriarch passes away, they would either voluntarily release the spirit pet¡¯s contract or create a Beast Control token, ensuring the pet guards the n for decades, if not centuries!
After the spirit pets concluded their auction, another batch appeared, consisting of cultivation techniques, secret arts, and even legacies rted to the four arts of cultivation.
Fang Xi nced through them but found no technique or secret art of particr interest.
As for legacies?
¡°Only tier-2 paper talisman crafting¡ seems like there¡¯s a significant restriction on advanced techniques within the cultivation world.¡±
Fang Xi merely observed without purchasing any.
Finally, just as he was growing bored, Ouyang Zhen¡¯s voice echoed through the hall: ¡°A single Dragon Transformation Ginseng, aged two hundred and twenty-two years, a crucial ingredient for refining Foundation Establishment Pills. Starting bid at eight hundred spirit stones, with each increment not less than fifty spirit stones!¡±
¡°Nine hundred spirit stones!¡±
In the main hall downstairs, a rogue cultivator at Peak Qi Refinement couldn¡¯t resist shouting their offer.
¡°One thousand spirit stones!¡±
The atmosphere instantly became lively, with bids rising rapidly from various directions, quickly reaching one thousand two hundred spirit stones.
¡°One thousand three hundred spirit stones!¡±
Naturally, Fang Xi joined in with his own bid.
This price had already surpassed the usual cost of Dragon Transformation Ginseng.
¡°One thousand three hundred fifty spirit stones!¡±
From a private booth, a young man gritted his teeth and raised the bid.
Beside him, an elderly figure sighed, ¡°Hui nephew, one thousand three hundred fifty spirit stones is the maximum support your family can provide. If anyone further increases the bid, you must be prepared to let it go.¡±
¡°Uncle, with this Dragon Transformation Ginseng and our family¡¯s stored Jade Spirit Liquid, I¡¯ll have all the auxiliary materials for the Foundation Establishment Pill. Once someone offers a tier-2 monster core, we can coborate on pill concoction. If at least two pills seed¡ I will finally reach Foundation Establishment. Giving up now would be unbearable!¡± Yun nephew clenched his fists, silently praying.
The price was already quite high.
However, momentster, a calm voice rang out again, ¡°One thousand four hundred spirit stones!¡±
This bid seemed like the final straw that tipped the bnce, causing the young man to slump back in his chair, his face drained of expression, eyes losing their shine¡
¡°Hmph¡ Another fool, probably a rogue cultivator without proper connections¡¡± In another private booth, Song Qing chuckled dismissively, ¡°With the right channels, both Dragon Transformation Ginseng and Jade Spirit Liquid together wouldn¡¯t cost more than fifteen hundred spirit stones. The truly hard-to-find item is the tier-2 monster core! Our n has prepared multiple sets of auxiliary ingredients, but finding the monster core remains challenging¡¡±
His gaze shifted towards Beast Mountain, subtly revealing a mix of longing and fear.
¡°Despite paying a hefty premium, I finally managed to secure it¡ Well, if being overcharged is what it takes¡¡± Fang Xi sighed with relief and leisurely observed the auction floor.
However, the next item caught himpletely off guard.
¡°A tier-two high-grade ¡®Gale Golden de Array¡¯,plete with formation disk and gs, freshly crafted¡ Simple to operate yet astonishingly powerful, suitable as a mountain protection array covering several dozen square miles¡ A rare and exceptional piece.¡±
Ouyang Zhen smiled broadly while disying shimmering formation gs one by one. ¡°Starting bid at three thousand spirit stones. This opportunity must not be missed for those seeking to protect their n or establish a market.¡±
Fang Xi¡¯s eyes instantly lit up.
He could not possibly set up a tier-two high-grade formation himself. Moreover, the ¡®Gale Golden de Array¡¯ excelled inbat; when fully activated, evente-stage Foundation Establishment mythical beasts trapped within its deadly sector would struggle to survive!
Of course, most Foundation Establishment beasts possess intelligence and wouldn¡¯t foolishly venture deep into such an array.
But Fang Xi was different!
He could ensure that any beast entering immediately falls into the deadly sector!
¡°With this array, acquiring a monster core will be as effortless as picking fruit from a bag¡¡±
Fang Xi¡¯s eyes gleamed momentarily, but upon noticing Song Qing¡¯s private booth, his expression turned somber.
Having witnessed this individual¡¯s nature, Fang Xi knew he was no benevolent character. Exposing such wealth would easily make him a target.
¡°Let¡¯s wait and observe some more¡¡±
Fang Xi held back, while the bidding frenzy for this formation intensified among the Foundation Establishment powers, quickly surpassing four thousand spirit stones!
After calcting his resources, Fang Xi decided to abandon any bid attempt. At most, following recent sales of illicit goods, he had umted seven thousand spirit stones. However, considering previous purchases and current expenses, he now only possessed over three thousand low-grade spirit stones.
It wasn¡¯t aboutpeting; simply put, he couldn¡¯t afford it!
In the end, the tier-two high-grade formation sold for a staggering five thousand spirit stones, acquired by a newly established Foundation Establishment n urgently needing a mountain protection array.
A few more auction items passed before Ouyang Zhen presented another set consisting of a formation disk and gs:
¡°A partial tier-two mid-grade ¡®Divine Second Wood Thunder Array¡¯¡ Several formation gs are missing, and the formation disk has been damaged but subsequently repaired, retaining some of its original power¡¡±
Fang Xi gazed at the green formation gs, feeling somewhat hesitant.
Suddenly, a woman¡¯s voice echoed from one of the private booths: ¡°What is the coverage range of this array? Can the life and death gates be altered?¡±
Her questions touched upon crucial aspects, suggesting she might be an array master herself.
Fang Xi¡¯s ears perked up, listening intently as Ouyang Zhen responded somewhat awkwardly, ¡°The coverage of this array has been reduced to approximately six hundred meters (two hundred yards), and its concealment capabilities have weakened significantly. However, most other restrictions remainrgely intact¡¡±
¡°Six hundred meters?¡± The female array master let out a dismissiveugh, asking no further.
Several experienced cultivators also sighed audibly.
Typically, when fully operational, a Tier 2 array could cover several miles or even tens of miles in radius!
Only six hundred meters? That¡¯s barely above a first-rank level - hardly useful!
Moreover, with diminished concealment abilities, it would be challenging to hide effectively. Even if deployed as a trap in the wilderness, few mythical beasts would foolishly venture inside.
Essentially, it seemed quite useless.
¡°Cough, cough¡ Next is the tier-two mid-grade ¡®Iplete Divine Lightning of Second Wood Formation,¡¯ starting bid at fifteen hundred spirit stones! Each subsequent bid must not be less than twenty spirit stones increment!¡± Ouyang Zhen appeared somewhat helpless; the formation had been damaged by its owner while hunting mythical beasts outside, leaving them no choice but to abandon it for auction. At least selling the materials salvaged some valuepared to outright scrapping it!
As expected, there was minimalpetition among the cultivators below¡
After sporadic bids, a guest from one of the private booths secured the formation for sixteen hundred spirit stones.
Ouyang Zhen heaved a sigh of relief, his face once again brightening with a smile. ¡°Ladies and gentlemen¡ we nowe to the final, highlight item of ourrge auction¡¡±
Chapter 143: Enslaving a Monster King
Fang Xi didn¡¯t even bother to nce at the final auction item.
He fervently hoped that Ouyang Zhen would introduce more Foundation Establishment Pills, drawing attention away from himself.
After securing the ¡®Iplete Second-Wood Divine Thunder Formation¡¯, Fang Xi promptly left the venue. He instructed a servant to notify the auction house staff to bring his purchased items for immediate handover, then exited through a secret passage provided by them.
¡®During this auction, I only acquired the Dragon Transformation Ginseng and the Magic Wood Divine Thunder Formation, exposing assets worth around three thousand¡¡¯
¡®Normally, it might attract the notice of Foundation Establishment cultivators, but with everyone focused on the finale, the chances of being observed are minimal¡¡¯
¡®It¡¯s time to make my escape¡¡¯
Fang Xi walked out of the Inner City without returning to his home in Smokey Willow Lane, instead heading directly beyond the city gates.
Although his martial prowess wasparable to the fourth level of Body Tempering, hecked tier-2 spiritual armor! Engaging inbat against an early Foundation Establishment cultivator could be risky, as victory was not assured.
Naturally, avoiding unnecessaryplications seemed prudent. As for staying hidden in Baize Immortal City to concoct pills and achieve Foundation Establishment?
Fang Xi hesitated to attempt inter-realm traversal within the confines of a third-rank Restrictive Great Array. The potential consequences were too unpredictable.
If his movements were sensed by any opponent, it could lead to disastrous consequences.
Moreover, staying within Baize Immortal City would prevent him from setting up formations and extracting pills!
Thus, Fang Xi decided on a swift n: attack quickly before retreating just as fast!
Upon leaving the Immortal City, Fang Xi felt a sudden sense of freedom, a smile unconsciously spreading across his face.
He extended his divine sense, activated his magical artifact, and transformed into a streak of escape light, swiftly disappearing into the distance.
Even if confronted by pursuing Foundation Establishment cultivators, he resolved to immediately flee and find opportunities along the way to cross between realms!
Naturally, avoiding Foundation Establishment cultivators altogether was preferable.
Considering they possessed divine sense, there was a risk that if caught within their perception range during a forced crossing, his golden finger might be exposed!
¡°Hmm? Someone truly fearless?¡±
After flying several kilometers beyond the city limits, Fang Xi noticed a group of menacing cultivators approaching ominously on a spirit boat.
¡°I¡¯m certain I checked with my divine sense; there should be no tracking marks on me.¡±
¡°Are they tailing indiscriminately? Do they intend to strike at anyone exiting the auction with suitable cultivation base?¡± Fang Xi¡¯s eyes turned icy.
Such tribtion cultivators were akin to locusts in the cultivation world.
¡°Daoist friend¡¡± From atop the spirit boat, the leading cultivator called out, surprisingly at the great circle of Qi Refinement stage.
¡°Die!¡± Fang Xi wasted no words; his towering Primordial True Body emerged behind him, and with fingers clenched, he swiftly threw a punch!
Boom!
Before the great circle Qi Refinement cultivator could react, their protective magical artifact shattered, and both body and spirit boat disintegrated into fragments!
¡°Not good!¡±
¡°It¡¯s a great Foundation Establishment cultivator!¡±
¡°Quick, flee!¡±
The remaining tribtion cultivators scattered like frightened animals but were swiftly caught by a massive hand, crushing each one after another¡
Swoosh!
One among them sensed impending doom, activated a paper talisman, transforming into a streak of golden light, and escaped towards Baize Immortal City at a speed even Fang Xi couldn¡¯t match.
¡°A Tier 2 Escape Talisman?¡± Fang Xi retracted his Primordial True Body, frowning. ¡°Seems they have some backing after all. Time for Foundation Establishment is crucial now¡¡±
Using Daoist Mu¡¯s identity, Fang Xi promptly departed after dispatching the surviving raiders.
Fang Xi swiftly flew back to the Yue Kingdom, moving at lightning speed.
Upon reaching ake midway through his journey, he chose that location for his transmigration.
In Great Liang¡
At the headquarters of the Martial God Sect, Fang Xi materialized in ckstone City.
This city was once abandoned but still retained numerous structures, all potentially useful for rebuilding.
Moreover¡
Following the principle of ¡°two devils not coexisting,¡± any area where a powerful devil resides long-term bes remarkably peaceful as nearby demons tend to relocate.
By now, ckstone City had gradually started repopting.
Arge influx of warriors arrived, clearing away the rubble and ruins to construct grandiose new edifices.
Inside a secluded training chamber.
The door thunderously opened, revealing Fang Xi stepping out.
¡°Sect Leader!¡±
The waiting maid¡¯s eyes lit up instantly upon seeing Fang Xi emerge. The Sect Leader often went into seclusion for several months or even a year, clearly demonstrating his extraordinary nature.
¡°Who is currently present within the sect?¡± Fang Xi casually inquired.
¡°Liu, the Left Envoy, has just returned, while Zhou, the Right Envoy, remains abroad¡ Additionally, the Five Phases Elder is here!¡± the maid promptly bowed and reported.
The Left and Right Envoys, along with the five elders, constituted the highest leadership within the Martial God Sect, second only to Fang Xi himself as the Sect Leader.
As for the Left Envoy Liu Ruyan?
The woman addressing him was none other than Liu Ruyan, the former leader of the Zongshi Association who had led her followers to pledge allegiance. Her cultivation base had long reached the pinnacle Qi Circting Body stage, making her a Great Grandmaster.
¡°Summon Protector Liu!¡±manded Fang Xi as he entered the grand hall, its ancient and robust architectureposed of massive stones seemingly captivating his thoughts.
Shortly after, Liu Ruyan stepped inside, ¡°Sect Leader¡¡±
¡°How has the situation within the sect beentely?¡±
Fang Xi sat cross-legged on a stone throne, resembling an ancient deity.
¡°Lady Liu reports: Following King Gui¡¯s surrender, Kings Yong and Dasheng also submitted¡ Last month, the final rebel king, ¡®ck Dragon King,¡¯ was executed¡ The realm is now unified!¡±
Liu Ruyan bowed respectfully, her voice soft and delicate.
The Zongshi Association itself held immense power capable of influencing the entire world. Since Fang Xi established the Martial God Sect, it attracted numerous dedicated martial artists, including those who had previously withdrawn from society.
In times of turmoil, the support of such Zongshi masters was crucial. Each major rebel king had influential Zongshi backing them. However, upon discovering the existence of the Martial God realm beyond that of Martial Saints¡ªespecially after witnessing the effortless defeat of King Liang¡ªthey all chose to submit one by one.
¡°The realm¡ truly unified?¡± Fang Xi murmured softly.
He had merely delegated tasks to his subordinates, never expecting them to conquer the entire realm so quietly and swiftly.
With his current influence, ascending to the throne as Emperor would merely require a single promation.
¡°s¡ wealth and power mean nothing but fleeting clouds to me¡¡± Fang Xi sighed inwardly before continuing, ¡°How is the preparation of various records progressing?¡±
¡°All previously hidden archives from the imperial family have been seized, along with intelligence on demons across different regions. They¡¯ve all been transcribed and stored in the library,¡± Liu Ruyan replied. ¡°Additionally, regarding the information you requested about Monster Kings¡ I personally examined each case to ensure their uracy.¡±
¡°Hmm, well done!¡±
Fang Xi was pleasantly surprised by herpetence. When he had tasked her with gathering intel on Monster Kings, it was naturally for the purpose of capturing a few and taking them to the southern wilderness - ultimately to y them there!
To increase the chances of obtaining their inner cores, he needed long-lived monsters with exceptional innate abilities. These powerful Monster Kings often wreaked havoc in their territories, even proving difficult targets for Zongshi hunters. By subduing and transporting them himself, then extracting their cores upon ughter, Fang Xi could bring significant benefits to the people of Great Liang.
¡°This venerable one rewards merit ordingly. Here¡¯s a copy of mypiled ¡®Martial God Codex¡¯!¡± Fang Xi casually tossed over a scroll containing his experiences in condensing true astral energy and breaking through to the Martial God realm.
¡°Many thanks, Sect Leader!¡± Liu Ruyan joyfully bowed in gratitude.
Isn¡¯t this precisely what every Zongshi joining the Martial God Sect hopes for?
¡°To break through to Martial God, you¡¯ll require special medicinal aids¡ Work diligently, and this venerable one will not neglect those who serve me.¡±
Fang Xi¡¯s lips curved into a slight smile at these words.
Once he reached Foundation Establishment, finding the pill form for tier-2 blood qi enhancement would be merely a trivial effort.
Several monthster.
In Great Liang, at Monkey Mountain.
A group of monstrous monkeys resided here, each possessing immense strength and frequently wreaking havoc when descending from the mountain.
The regional military had attempted multiple times to eliminate them but always returned unsessful, due to the presence of a formidable Giant Ape King among them!
This Monster King boasted not only incredible strength but also copper-like skin and iron-hard bones. Even a Zongshi¡¯s full-power attack struggled to breach its defenses, making it exceptionally difficult to contend with!
¡°Chirp! Chirp!¡±
¡°Squeak! Squeak!¡±
One day, the calls of numerous monkeys echoed through the forest once again.
Tigers, wolves, and other wild animals trembled, scattering in fear for their lives. Near Monkey Mountain, the monkeys were truly the undisputed kings of beasts!
With a thud, a figure leaped down from the cliff edge, continuously firing astral energy from his fingers to dissipate the impact against the smooth rock face.
¡°You damn monkeys, so what if I just drank some of your wine?¡± Zhou Tong¡¯s body shimmered bronze, resembling a living statue of copper as he crashed heavily onto the ground, creating arge crater.
Unfazed, he rose swiftly, dusted off the dirt, and looked up to see a towering three-meter golden giant ape charging towards him, eliciting a startled reaction, ¡°This monkey king is truly relentless¡¡±
Having already battled this colossal golden ape, Zhou Tong felt utterly helpless.
The monkey boasted thick hide and iron-like bones, making it nearly impervious to even Zongshi Astral Qi attacks - a formidable adversary indeed!
In their previous encounters, he had beenpletely outmatched, barely escaping with his life each time!
Seeing the Monkey King pursuing him again, Zhou Tong immediately took off running!
¡°Ziiik!¡±
The golden Monkey King, seemingly enraged, relentlessly chased after him.
As one fled and the other pursued, they swiftly covered dozens of miles within moments.
Bang!
Suddenly, a burst of fireworks exploded in mid-air.
Upon seeing this, Zhou Tong rejoiced and changed direction, heading straight towards the source of the fireworks. ¡°Come on, you beast, if you dare, keep chasing me!¡±
The Monkey King hesitated briefly, its eyes flickering with human-like uncertainty, but then bared its fangs and continued the pursuit.
In its experience, no human had ever posed a genuine threat to its life!
After enough time passed for an incense stick to burn:
Bang!
A massive, crimson arm several meters long materialized out of nowhere, firmly pinning the Monkey King to the ground.
Despite relentless struggles, the Monkey King could not ovee the immense strength of the Primordial True Body¡¯s grip.
¡°Good work, Zhou Tong¡¡±
Fang Xi stood with hands sped behind his back, apanied by numerous members of the Martial God Sect trailing closely behind.
With numerous Zongshi cooperating, even ordinary Monster Kings were swiftly captured and transported to ckstone City headquarters.
Only truly formidable adversaries warranted Fang Xi¡¯s personal intervention!
These included those capable of flight or diving deep underwater, posing significant challenges for lesser Zongshi.
The Kapisa King, however, possessed exceptional innate abilities, making him invincible onnd!
Fang Xi observed with satisfaction; such a powerful Monster King umting immense strength over time, it would be unusual if he didn¡¯t possess a monster core upon breakthrough!
Approaching the Kapisa King, Fang Xi exerted more pressure with his Primordial True Body¡¯s fingers.
Cracking sounds akin to popping beans emanated from the monkey¡¯s body, apanied by increasingly shrill cries.
¡°If you don¡¯t want to die, behave obediently and resist no further!¡± Fang Xi nced coldly at the Kapisa King, sending out his divine sense to forcefully imprint a ve mark within its sea of consciousness.
The ferocity in the Kapisa King¡¯s eyes gradually dissipated, reced by docility.
¡°Good¡¡± Fang Xi released the Kapisa King, who now stood behind him like a massive, several-ton child.
Zhou Tong watched, awestruck. ¡°Just one look was enough to subdue such a mighty Monster King! Could this be the power of a Martial God?!¡±
Chapter 144: Extracting the Core
Chapter 144: Extracting the Core
In the southern wilderness of the cultivation world.
A deste area with sandy terrain devoid of any vegetation.
Within a hundred-mile radius, there were no signs of human habitation or activity by cultivators.
Fang Xi meticulously measured thend using his divine sense, periodically burying formation gs and other arrayponents at strategic intervals.
This was the chosen location for his monster-ying endeavor.
Although formations could be activated without spiritual vein support, it would consume a significant amount of spirit stones instead.
To Fang Xi, exchanging dozens to hundreds of spirit stones for a single monster core seemed like an incredibly profitable deal.
His approach was shockingly unconventional, so maintaining secrecy was paramount. Wasting some spirit stones along the way was deemed eptable¡
As a tier-one high-grade array master, setting up this ¡®Divine Thunderbolt Array¡¯ came naturally to him. With just two days of effort, he sessfully deployed the mid-tier tier-2 Great Array. ¡°Activate!¡±
After inserting sufficient spirit stones into various formation disks and the eye of the spell, Fang Xi cast a cultivation technique onto the restriction token.
Boom!
Instantly, streams of azure spiritual light emerged from the formation gs, intensifying rapidly and emitting dazzling electrical sparks!
Massive bolts of electricity coalesced, formingyers of dark clouds spanning hundreds of meters with flickering lightning within, exuding an aura of vibrant energy!
¡°This is too conspicuous¡ I should set up additional concealment arrays nearby¡¡±
Fang Xi adjusted the formation, his eyes twitching slightly.
He felt tricked by Ouyang Zhen.
The array wasn¡¯t just slightly wed; apart from the Death Gate, the rest was riddled with vulnerabilities!
Even after attempting repairs, it seemed like a drop in the ocean!
¡°Once past the Death Gate, this formation won¡¯t effectively trap tier-2 mythical beasts. Even a Peak Qi Refinement cultivator, if knowledgeable about formations, might break through. Its effective range is likely limited to around a hundred meters¡ Of course, assuming no one actively controls the array.¡±
As Fang Xi studied the intricacies of the formation, being an array master himself, he could ensure that within the Death Gate area, tier-2 mythical beasts would be unable to escape and would fully endure the Great Array¡¯s power!
¡°In general, others may have gotten ripped off, but for me, it barely meets my needs¡¡±
Feeling somewhat disgruntled, he realized only a fool would willingly enter the Death Gate given the nature of this formation.
Over the following three days, Fang Xi diligently set up multiple tier-1 formations outside the Great Array to minimize its aura and avoid drawing attention.
Then, he settled down to meditate, restoring his magical energy to peak levels before activating allponents of the Great Array.
With preparationsplete, Fang Xi stepped into the Death Gate and suddenly vanished!
Momentster,
when he reappeared, a towering three-meter tall golden-haired demon ape materialized beside him!
The Diamond Ape King!
¡°Chirp chirp!¡±
Upon arrival, the bewildered Monster King swiftly roared, repeatedly pounding its chest!
In mid-air, spiritual energy began converging, forming a whirlpool!
It was about to ascend!
In reality, whether for mythical beasts or cultivators, ascending near spiritual veins is most favorable.
However, Fang Xi wouldn¡¯t provide such conditions; at best, he scattered some spirit stones to artificially create a more spiritually enriched environment.
Despite this, the Monster King from the Great Liang World exhibited remarkable umtion and exceptional innate talent.
As soon as it crossed over, free from the constraints of the Great Liang World, it immediately initiated ascension!
¡°Chirp chirp!¡±
The Diamond Ape King relentlessly pounded its chest, blood seeping from its pores.
Its bones rapidly expanded, causing the body to surge in height¡
In mere moments, it doubled in size, transforming into a colossal monster monkey over six meters tall!
Moreover, the aura of this ape skyrocketed as golden fur coalesced on its chest, forming a distinct pattern. Its fangs protruded menacingly, eyes turning crimson, and when gazing at Fang Xi - its ¡®original master¡¯ - it disyed a hint of ferocious intent!
¡°As expected, once mythical beasts reach tier-2, my original Divine Consciousness Imprint bes insufficient for control¡ Trying to retaliate against your master? Heh¡¡±
Sensing that the Diamond Ape King had indeed broken through to tier-2, Fang Xi bared a sinister smile and swiftly performed a gesture, detonating the divine sense restriction. ¡°Die!¡±
¡°Zhi-zhi!¡± The tier-2 ape let out a pitiful scream, clutching its head with blood streaming from its nostrils.
Not only that, but various hidden techniques nted by Fang Xi throughout its body erupted simultaneously! While some were destroyed by the powerful demonic energy during the transformation, those remaining caused the monster monkey immense agony, weakening its aura significantly.
Fang Xi, who had already retreated to a safe distance, produced a small green g and vigorously waved it, shouting, ¡°Divine Thunderbolt Array¡ Activate!¡±
Boom!
Dark clouds gathered in the sky, and suddenly, a massive bolt of jade-colored lightning descended, striking the monster monkey directly.
¡°Skree!¡±
With just one strike, the tier-2 demon monkey was severely wounded!
The Monkey King let out a piercing cry as patterns on its chest shed brightly. Amidst a burst of earthy yellow light, it scooped up dirt from the ground, transforming it into a colossal boulder that hurtled towards Fang Xi!
Bang!
Unfazed, Fang Xi watched as the enormous rock was halted mid-air by a shimmering five-colored barrier formed by the formation¡¯s restrictions. In any other part of the Great Array, this attack might have breached the defenses, but within the Death Gate, all restrictions remained exceptionally potent!
¡°Again!¡± With aposed expression, he continued waving the formation g, summoning a second thunderbolt, then a third¡
Momentster, the Great Array dissipated, leaving behind only the massive corpse of the demon monkey on the ground.
Its fur was scorched ck, yet it still maintained a defiant roaring pose. If not for the absence of life force, it would almost seem alive!
¡°A tier-2 demon monkey¡¯s fur and bones¡ truly valuable materials.¡±
With a wave of his hand, Fang Xi sent tendrils from his sleeves like tentacles into the monster monkey¡¯s body.
Momentster, his expression brightened as he produced the Golden Flood Dragon Shears and sliced open a bloody wound on the monkey¡¯s abdomen.
One of the tendrils delved inside and soon emerged with a crystal stone, roughly the size of a walnut, bearing earthy yellow hues speckled with flecks of gold.
¡°A monster core?!¡± Fang Xi eximed joyously. ¡°It was worth selecting this exceptionally gifted one! Just as expected, I¡¯ve struck gold on my first attempt!¡±
He carefully ced the coveted monster core, capable of making Foundation Establishment cultivators envious, into a jade box and sealed it with a paper talisman. Then, Fang Xi turned his attention towards the demon monkey¡¯s corpse.
After some thought, he retrieved a Demon Tree seed and nted it near the remains.
Crackling sounds echoed¡
Amidst a series of teeth-chattering noises, the Diamond Ape King rose once more, performing several stiff movements.
¡°Hmm¡ Althoughcking agility, its defense and attack capabilities are still at tier-2 level¡ This can be considered a quasi-tier-2 puppet!¡±
Fang Xi¡¯s face lit up with delight. ¡°With this quasi-tier-2 puppet¡¯s assistance, the risks ahead should decrease significantly¡¡±
One yearter.
Within the Magic Wood Divine Thunderbolt Array.
Countless green bolts of lightning coalesced, resembling a fierce azure Dragonfish as they descended and struck a horned tier-2 python on its head.
The pitch-ck python, now severed in two, struggled relentlessly on the ground before gradually losing its life essence.
Shortly after, a massive golden ape, moving stiffly, entered the formation. Unfazed by the gore, it began rummaging through the shattered remains of the python.
¡°Nothing again?!¡± Outside the formation, Fang Xi sighed deeply.
At fifty-seven years old, he appeared significantly more weathered than before. His cyan bamboo magic robes were torn and tattered, yet every gesture emanated an indescribable malevolent aura!
Recalling his recent frenzied endeavors, even Fang Xi couldn¡¯t help but exhale heavily.
Over the past year, he continuously brought Monster Kings from Great Liang into the array, waiting for them to break through to tier-2 before killing them for their cores. Through numerous trials, Fang Xi discovered that possessing exceptional talent or powerful bloodlines did not guarantee the presence of a monster core.
For instance, the python within the formation had activated a trace of Dragonfish lineage, simr to the previous snake-dragon, yet still yielded no core.
Conversely, he once killed a mythical beast simr to Tai Sui - a white fleshy mass covered with countless eyes, yet surprisingly weak. Despite being easily in by a single Magic Wood Divine Thunder strike, it yielded a grayish-white inner core from its belly!
Throughout these numerous monster hunts, Fang Xi also encountered unexpected setbacks.
For instance, there was a tier-2 insectoid creature that possessed an unusually peculiar innate ability, akin to camouge and feigning death.
Even Fang Xi fell for this deception, only to be ambushed as soon as the creature entered the formation!
The attack left a deep wound on his chest, nearly exposing bone. If not for his extraordinary Martial God physique, he likely would have perished on the spot!
Following that incident, Fang Xi became even more cautious, often relying on puppets to extract the monster cores instead.
¡°Now, I¡¯ve eliminated all named Monster Kings in Great Liang. It¡¯s time to stop¡¡±
Fang Xi gently patted his bag of holding, which contained ten jade boxes filled with monster cores!
This collection represented a fortune so immense, it could drive the Profound Sky Sect mad!
He dared not entrust these cores to any pill-concocting great masters either.
¡°I must endure the hardship myself¡¡± Fang Xi sighed mournfully. He proceeded to collect the remains of the tier-2 python while instructing the Diamond Ape and other puppets to dismantle the Divine Thunderbolt Array¡¯s gs one by one.
Afterpletely dismantling the formation, he meticulously cleared any traces of his presence before swiftly departing without hesitation using an artifact.
Tian Nan City.
This bustling metropolis was renowned within the Yue Kingdom for its thrivingmerce and countless restaurants and entertainment venues.
Fang Xi immersed himself here, adopting the guise of a wealthy young noble, and took a well-deserved three-month break. Only then did he emerge from his indulgent retreat to venture outside the city.
Most cultivators tended to iste themselves from worldly affairs, purportedly to prevent their Dao hearts from being clouded by distractions.
After all, the myriad temptations of life - love, hate, passion, and grudges - could potentially hinder one¡¯s progress on the Dao path.
Fang Xi didn¡¯t entirely agree with this viewpoint.
However, the rarity of cultivators engaging with the mundane world presented him with an opportunity.
Outside Tian Nan City, he found a picturesque location nestled amidst mountains and clear waters. First, he set up an illusionary barrier to deter mortals, then carved out an immortal¡¯s cave and fortified it with the ¡®Divine Thunderbolt Array¡¯.
Oncepleted, Fang Xi installed a ¡®Fire Control Array¡¯ within the cave. After fine-tuning it, he nodded in satisfaction. In the alchemy room, he retrieved the jade slip containing the Foundation Establishment Pill form and began meticulously studying it.
He had already scrutinized this form numerous times, even purchasing an additional version from Bai Ze Immortal City as a precaution forparison. Furthermore, he had conducted multiple simted pill concoctions, confident that most issues were addressed.
Of course, some genuine challenges would only surface during actual pill creation, requiring individual solutions.
For many alchemists, opportunities to trial-and-error when crafting Foundation Establishment Pills were exceedingly rare.
But not for Fang Xi!
Chapter 145: Pill Concoction
Chapter 145: Pill Concoction
Inside the immortal¡¯s cave.
The runes of the fire control formation illuminated one by one, drawing upon spirit stones and spiritual energy to create a tier-2 azure me beneath the Violet Jade Furnace.
Heat waves surged, steadily increasing the temperature around it.
Sensing the stability and obedience of this me, Fang Xi nodded with satisfaction.
His designed formation operated remarkably well, with its only drawback being the consumption of spirit stones.
Fang Xi took a deep breath and first retrieved other medicinal ingredients to concoct a batch of ¡®Qi Supplement Pills¡¯.
In the art of pill concoction, this technique is known as ¡®Warming the Furnace¡¯!
When using a pill furnace that has been idle for a long time, the performance during the first batch often diminishes, potentially affecting subsequent pill oues. Therefore, before attempting important medicinal pills, alchemists typically start by concocting a different type of pill beforehand.
With a solemn expression, Fang Xi set aside the prepared Qi Supplement Pills and then extracted sixteen jade boxes from his bag of holding. As he opened them, various ingredients became visible, with a striking gray-white monster core catching the most attention.
¡°Let¡¯s begin!¡± Fang Xi murmured and first retrieved a pristine white ¡®Dragon Transformation Ginseng¡¯, resembling fine jade, before carefully slicing off a portion with a small jade knife.
To concoct a Foundation Establishment Pill, one actually doesn¡¯t require an entire Dragon Transformation Ginseng; just a segment is sufficient. However, once cut, this ginseng rapidly loses its medicinal potency, hence it is typically sold whole.
¡°These monster cores are from early Foundation Establishment beasts. I don¡¯t expect to produce more than two pills per batch, so naturally, I¡¯ll use minimal ingredients¡ Small quantities at a time, gradually umting experience¡¡±
Fang Xi released his divine sense, directing it into the Violet Jade Furnace.
In the next moment, he ced the sliced Dragon Transformation Ginseng inside, manipting mes to envelop it and refine it into a transparent liquid essence.
Next came the other auxiliary materials¡
Throughout this process, Fang Xi meticulously observed every change within the medicine furnace using his divine sense.
Since he wasn¡¯t expecting sess with his first batch, his mindset remained calm, treating it purely as an experimental exercise.
As soon as the grayish-white monster core entered the pill furnace, Fang Xi¡¯s expression turned unprecedentedly solemn.
Roar! Roar!
Upon encountering the mes, the monster core instantly unleashed a powerful resistance, apanied by faint sounds of furious mythical beasts.
¡°Concocting with monster beast cores indeedcks the gentleness found in spirit medicines¡¡±
Fang Xi swiftly added the Jade Spirit Solution to blend the medicinal properties and stabilize the various ingredients.
However, in the very next moment!
Boom!
The Violet Jade Furnace trembled violently as the internal conflict between the drug solution and the monster core escted, resulting in both turning to ashes!
In this first attempt, Fang Xi failed even before reaching the stage of solidifying the liquid into a pill.
¡°Hm¡ The impact from the monster beast core was too strong, and I introduced the Jade Spirit Solution slightlyte¡¡± His face remained impassive, showing no concern for having destroyed such an incredibly valuable monster beast core. Instead, he reflected on his pill-concocting experience thus far.
After resting overnight and mentally rehearsing numerous times, Fang Xi once againmenced pill concoction!
Bang!
This time, he barely managed to integrate the Jade Spirit Solution with the monster core, merging it with the drug solution. Yet, at the final step¡
Three monthster.
¡°Sixth batch!¡±
Fang Xi¡¯s expression remainedposed, his gaze sharp and focused as he skillfully added each ingredient to the pill furnace with fluid grace.
Next, he introduced a crystal-like monster inner core along with the Jade Spirit Solution!
¡°In the fifth batch, I was close to forming the pill just before running out of magical energy at the critical moment¡¡±
This time, Fang Xi was well-prepared. He perfectly activated the demonic energy from the monster core, seamlessly blending it with the existing medicinal liquid, resulting in a translucent mixture tinged with shades of purple and green.
The roaring mes continuously nurtured this mass of liquid¡
After seven days and nights, Fang Xi consumed a Qi Supplement Pill to replenish his magical energy before calmly executing a magic art:
¡°Condense!¡±
Within the pill furnace, the purplish-green liquid rapidly concentrated, its color shifting between various hues of iridescent shimmer¡
Sweat beaded on Fang Xi¡¯s forehead as he struggled to stabilize the conflicting spiritual energies within the medicinal pill.
Three dayster.
¡°Open the furnace!¡±
His magical energy surged, channeling multiple magic arts into the Violet Jade Furnace.
With a resounding rumble, a pale blue medicinal pill emerged,nding in Fang Xi¡¯s hand.
Before any joy could surface on his face, the Foundation Establishment Pill swiftly turned ck, exploded, and disintegrated into ash.
¡°I need to refine my technique for extracting the pill¡I rushed it slightly earlier.¡±
Another three months passed.
As Fang Xi¡¯s attempts continued, the time he spent on each Foundation Establishment Pill grew longer, which was indeed a positive sign.
Initially, he had failed early in the process, but now, he could persist all the way to the final step of extracting the pill.
¡°Eighteenth batch!¡±
Fang Xi meticulously navigated through each challenging stage until reaching the crucial extraction phase.
This time, having refined his original technique for collecting pills, he cast a new magic seal into the pill furnace.
The Violet Jade Furnace rumbled open, filling the room with a potent medicinal aroma.
A deep blue medicinal pillnded in Fang Xi¡¯s hand - it was the Foundation Establishment Pill!
However, upon closer inspection, there was a gray alchemy marking visible on its surface!
¡°Inferior-grade Foundation Establishment Pill?!¡± Fang Xi frowned. ¡°It seems my previous method still has imperfections¡¡±
Despite being inferior grade, this pill retained the remarkable effect of aiding a cultivator¡¯s transformation during Foundation Establishment. The downside was its excessive pill toxicity and slightly diminished efficacypared to a genuine Foundation Establishment Pill, estimated at only around 60-70% effectiveness.
¡°But it¡¯s enough, more than enough¡¡±
¡°As long as the Foundation Establishment Pill safeguards the meridians and ensures survival even if the attempt fails, that alone is sufficient¡¡±
Fang Xi carefully stored away this substandard Foundation Establishment Pill and then went to catch up on much-needed sleep.
The recent pressure had been immense, especially during the final few batches.
Despite reminding himself that failure would merely mean repeating the process of gathering materials, the supply of Monster Kings in Great Liang was not inexhaustible.
Now, with all stress swept aside, Fang Xi joyfully took a few months off for leisure before returning refreshed to resume his work!
For the ninth batch of Foundation Establishment Pills, Fang Xi approached it freely, letting his creativity soar¡ He tested several hypotheses one by one, but ultimately, the furnace exploded midway through the process.
With a heartyugh, he cleaned the furnace and proceeded to refine thest monster beast inner core.
This time, as if aided by divine providence, he sessfully produced a genuine Foundation Establishment Pill in his final attempt!
Lying half-reclined on his bed within the immortal¡¯s cave, Fang Xi tossed two jade bottles in his hands.
¡°With ten monster beast cores, any pill concocting grandmaster could easily produce at least ten genuine Foundation Establishment Pills¡¡±
This wasn¡¯t to say they always seeded with every batch, but some grandmasters were capable of creating two Foundation Establishment Pills per furnace!
In contrast, Fang Xi managed only two pills from ten cores, one of which was inferior quality¡ªa significant loss!
Yet, he still felt it was quite profitable.
At the very least, he quietly obtained two Foundation Establishment Pills and learned the art of crafting them!
Armed with this skill, he could dare to impersonate a tier-2 pill concocting grandmaster!
However, Fang Xi had no intention of doing so.
As he yed with the jade bottles containing the Foundation Establishment Pills, he began contemting his path to Foundation Establishment.
¡°Swallowing the Foundation Establishment Pill for transformation should ideally be done above a tier-2 spiritual vein, benefiting from its enhancement¡¡±
¡°With my identity as Fang Xi, I can openly dere my intent to break through to Foundation Establishment¡ At just fifty-eight years old, I can im that nearing the sixty-year deadline, I¡¯m taking a desperate gamble!¡±
Although the self-guided Foundation Establishment process has extremely low sess rates and high mortality, there have been fortunate exceptions!
¡°Or perhaps¡ announce having luckily acquired a Foundation Establishment spirit item?¡±
¡°After all, once reaching Foundation Establishment, the spirit object is consumed. Who could verify it then?¡±
Bai Ze Immortal City was renowned as a sanctuary for rogue cultivators seeking Foundation Establishment.
News of sessful rogue cultivators achieving this milestone circted regrly, ensuring a reasonable level of credibility.
Since Fang Xi had meticulously nned to acquire a Foundation Establishment Pill, he naturally aimed for optimal conditions across all aspects.
Renting a tier-2 spiritual vein immortal¡¯s cave indeed offered unparalleled safetypared to any other location within the Yue Kingdom.
Moreover¡Fang Xi also considered the challenges post-Foundation Establishment.
¡°After reaching Foundation Establishment, despite my superior spiritual roots, I¡¯ll still require ess to a tier-2 spiritual vein, suitable cultivation techniques, and ample resources for effective practice¡ Ideally, having support from a major power would be beneficial.¡±
¡°Bai Ze Immortal City seems promising¡ If I achieve Foundation Establishment here, with a clear background, they might seek me out. Perhaps I could leverage this opportunity to join them?¡±
As for the Core Formation sects in the three kingdoms, they were not part of Fang Xi¡¯s considerations. Aside from potentially stringent entry evaluations, simply being a disciple not raised from childhood by a sect virtually guaranteed exclusion from its inner circles, unless under extraordinary circumstances.
After all, loyalty is highly valued within sects!
With this decision made, Fang Xi tidied up his cave and returned to Bai Ze Immortal City.
Smokey Willow Lane, Building 87.
He had previously rented it for ten years, and the lease was still valid.
Gazing at his little courtyard brought a sense of familiarity.
¡°Fellow Daoist, you¡¯re back! Something significant happened recently!¡±
The Grapevine Fairy, d in a green dress, brightened upon seeing Fang Xi. ¡°Your cultivation¡ has reached great perfection?¡±
¡°Indeed, by sheer fortune, I finally advanced to the tenth level of Qi Refinement!¡± Fang Xi smiled slightly. Since he aimed for Foundation Establishment soon, there was no need to conceal his cultivation base publicly anymore. He then asked, ¡°What urred?¡±
¡°Sigh¡ Jin Ling¡¯s husband, nearing the end of his longevity, rented a tier-2 immortal¡¯s cave in the inner city to attempt Foundation Establishment but failed, leading to his demise¡¡± The Grapevine Fairy recounted with a tone of respect, acknowledging that Fang Xi was now a formidable expert at the great perfection stage.
¡°Oh¡ truly unexpected.¡±
Fang Xi promptly took some gifts and headed to Su Lie¡¯s residence to offer condolences.
¡°Fellow Daoist Fang¡¡±
Jin Ling, dressed in a snowy white gown, looked on with a cold expression.
¡°My condolences, Fellow Daoist Jin,¡± Fang Xi offered sympathetically.
¡°You know old Su¡¯s temperament well¡ Before exhausting his longevity, he would inevitably take the chance.¡± Jin Ling spoke emotionlessly, ¡°Before entering his death-defying seclusion, he mentioned his greatest regret was not attempting earlier, before age sixty, which led to diminished blood qi and reduced chances of sess¡ Not once did he consider me; how utterly heartless!¡±
Fang Xi remained speechless, unsure how to respond.
The next day, Fang Xi ventured to the inner city and found the manager responsible for rentals, requesting a tier-two immortal¡¯s cave.
¡°Certainly, certainly¡¡± The manager, dressed in a green silk robe, introduced himself with a smile as Manager Han. ¡°May I ask what purpose you have for renting an immortal¡¯s cave? If it¡¯s for seclusion to break through your cultivation, our top-tier ¡®A¡¯ ss caves are ideal, boasting tier-two high-grade spiritual energy inside!¡±
¡°Indeed, it¡¯s for breaking through in seclusion!¡± Fang Xi replied firmly.
Noticing Fang Xi¡¯s Peak Qi Refinement cultivation base, Manager Han¡¯s expression turned slightly more serious. ¡°If I may inquire, how old is esteemed sir?¡±
¡°Fifty-eight years¡¡± Fang Xi answered with a weary demeanor.
¡°Ah, an A-ss immortal¡¯s cave costs one hundred spirit stones per year¡¡± Without further ado, Manager Han swiftly processed the rental formalities.
After Fang Xi left, Manager Han watched his departing figure, a hint of pity evident on his face.
Having worked here, he had seen numerous rogue cultivators attempting their final gamble before reaching the age of sixty.
Most ended up failing; some even tragically lost their lives due to bad luck.
¡°Foundation Establishment, ah¡¡± A trace of mncholy and self-deprecation crossed Manager Han¡¯s face. ¡°The true darlings of the heavens achieve Peak Qi Refining by thirty and then breakthrough using Foundation Establishment Pills¡ How can mere elders like uspare?¡±
Chapter 146:
Cave A36.
Using his restriction token, Fang Xi opened the entrance and stepped inside.
The surrounding air was thick with spiritual energy, gradually forming a faint mist.
He took a deep breath, feeling as if he could ascend to immortality.
¡°The spiritual energy here is unparalleled, truly deserving of its tier-two high-grade status¡¡±
The interior furnishings were simple, consisting only of stone tables, chairs, and benches. The cave had separate areas for sleeping and cultivation, with a spirit spring continuously bubbling within thetter.
¡°The formation seems quite decent¡¡± Fang Xi circled around, examining the cave¡¯s protective array before tapping his bag of holding.
Puff! Puff!
Small gs materialized, nted on all four walls. Hum!
With shimmering spiritual light, a barrier emerged, followed by additional restrictions for creating mist and soundproofing.
Fang Xi naturally couldn¡¯t fully trust Bai Ze Immortal City; it was essential to take precautions.
After setting everything up, he sat cross-legged beside the spirit spring, swallowed a Fasting Pill, and quietly focused on harmonizing his vital energies¡
His thoughts raced through memories - scenes from his life before the transmigration, the struggle for survival after, the terror when facing death for the first time, the ecstasy upon re-transmigrating¡ Each vivid encounter, filled with hatred or affection, reyed vividly in his mind.
Foundation Establishment marked the first major milestone on the Immortal Path!
Once achieved, one truly transcended the ordinary realm of mortals!
Fang Xi gradually calmed his thoughts and silently activated the Evesting Spring Art, enveloping his body with ayer of radiant green light.
He remained seated for over half a month.
One day, Fang Xi abruptly opened his eyes, feeling his vitality at its peak, with no further room to enhance it!
¡°It¡¯s time!¡±
Without hesitation, he retrieved the jade bottle containing the genuine Foundation Establishment Pill, removed the stopper, and swallowed the pill emitting a blue aura.
¡°If I fail now, fate would indeed be cruel!¡±
With unwavering confidence, he channeled the Evesting Spring Art,unching himself towards the pinnacle!
Whooosh!
As if drawn by some unseen force, the surrounding heaven and earth spiritual energy surged into the cultivation room, steadily intensifying and forming a whirlpool¡
Time passed, seemingly endless.
The potent spiritual energy transformed into a cascading waterfall, rushing down and permeating through Fang Xi¡¯s crown, cleansing his entire physical being.
Pain!
An intense agony elicited a stifled groan from him.
This was the first barrier of Foundation Establishment - the Blood Qi Barrier!
A massive influx of spiritual energy enters a cultivator¡¯s body, and if their physique cannot withstand it, they will fail Foundation Establishment!
Those with weakened blood qi or physical impairments face greater risks at this stage, increasing the likelihood of failure!
However, Fang Xi, initially caught off guard, quickly regainedposure and faced it resolutely.
¡®My martial arts proficiency isparable to the fourth stage of Body Tempering, with exceptionally robust blood qi¡ If I cannot pass this stage, then no one else could either!¡¯
Fang Xi exuded unwavering confidence.
As expected, his body stood firm like a rock amidst raging waves, enduring the howling winds and crashing tides without faltering. He effortlessly refined vast amounts of heaven and earth¡¯s spiritual energy, channeling it into his dantian¡¯s sea of qi!
The second challenge - the Magical Energy Barrier!
Initially, Fang Xi might have struggled here, having only perfected themon Evesting Spring Art for magical energy cultivation.
However, the potent effects of the Foundation Establishment Pill, with minimal depletion so far, boosted his Evesting Spring Art exponentially. This surge rapidly refined the intense influx of external spiritual energy, transforming it into a dense azure mist-like magical energy!
The azure mist grew increasingly thicker and denser¡ yet fell just short, unable to further condense.
In a moment of inspired rity, Fang Xi focused his divine sense inward, delving into his dantian¡¯s sea of qi.
The third barrier - the Divine Sense Barrier!
With the aid of his Azure Wood Spirit Body, he had already cultivated his divine sense, making this stage as effortless as walking on t ground!
Under the guidance of his divine sense, Fang Xi achieved unparalleled mental focus. Within his dantian, the intensely concentrated azure mist continued relentlesslypressing¡
Drip!
Drip!
Time seemed to blur away, marked only by the sound of falling droplets echoing in Fang Xi¡¯s ears.
The sound of dripping water echoed faintly in Fang Xi¡¯s ears.
In the next instant, as he inspected his dantian¡¯s energy sea internally, he observed droplets of azure liquid magical energy falling like raindrops.
One drop, two drops¡ ten drops, twenty drops!
After the first drop condensed, the process elerated rapidly. Once reaching twenty drops of liquid magical energy, the absorption of external spiritual energy ceased, graduallying to a halt.
These twenty drops formed a shimmering emerald pool at the base of his dantian¡¯s energy sea. Suddenly, they initiated the flow of his cultivation technique, circting throughout his entire body in a great cirction.
This was the Foundation Establishment process for strengthening muscles and cleansing marrow!
From this moment on, a Foundation Establishment cultivator gains vastly extended longevity, truly stepping into the realm of immortal cultivation!
¡°Foundation Establishment¡ aplished!¡±
Fang Xi opened his eyes, revealing twin beams of green light extending over a foot before gradually dissipating.
He gently touched his face, hands¡ a hint of satisfaction appeared on his expression.
This was a realm unattainable even in the original host¡¯s wildest dreams! Yet, it had finally been achieved by him!
¡°Hmm? Has it been a hundred days already? No wonder ancient texts often mention ¡®hundred-day Foundation Establishment¡¯¡¡±
With several months remaining on the immortal¡¯s cave lease, Fang Xi decided not to rush out of seclusion. Instead, he continued to consolidate his cultivation base.
Upon activating the Evesting Spring Art once more, he disappointingly realized that this technique could now only slowly restore magical energy, no longer enhancing it further.
¡°As expected¡ finding a new cultivation method must be my top priority.¡±
Fang Xi opened his eyes and examined his current state with divine sense.
¡°My longevity has increased significantly, by approximately two sixty-year cycles, which is around 120 years¡ So now, I can potentially live over four hundred twenty years? With just a bit more effort, couldn¡¯t I match the lifespan of an average Core Formation patriarch?¡±
A hint of joy shed in his eyes.
Ordinarily, sessful Foundation Establishment adds about a century to a cultivator¡¯s longevity. However, due to Fang Xi¡¯s Azure Wood Spirit Body and partial Second Wood Dharma Body, there was a significant bonus in this aspect, resulting in far greater life expectancy than most!
Moreover, Fang Xi noticed a substantial surge in his divine sense, expanding from roughly thirty meters to an impressive one hundred fifty meters!
¡°Typically, early Foundation Establishment cultivators have divine sense ranging from thirty to forty meters¡ With mine now at fifty, it¡¯s akin to having innate talent for powerful divine sense¡¡±
A hint of satisfaction appeared on Fang Xi¡¯s face as he retrieved the low-grade spirit artifact, Golden Flood Dragon Shears.
Previously, channeling magical energy into this artifact was quite strenuous, akin to a child wielding a heavy hammer. However, with just one drop of liquid magical energy, he effortlessly refined the low-grade spirit artifact.
Buzzzz!
The Golden Flood Dragon Shears hummed loudly, hovering three feet above the ground. Layers of golden runes shed along their des, emitting intense fluctuations.
¡°As expected, only the liquid magical energy of Foundation Establishment cultivators is most suitable for activating spirit artifacts!¡± Fang Xi observed thoughtfully.
After reaching Foundation Establishment, his previous magical artifacts had bergely obsolete and needed recement.
His situation was rtively fortunate, possessing one low-grade spirit artifact as backup. In contrast, poorer rogue cultivators often continued using mere magical artifacts post-Foundation Establishment, severely limiting theirbat effectiveness - truly a disgrace to their newfound stage!
Havingpleted his inventory, Fang Xi resumed meditation and breathing exercises to consolidate his cultivation base.
One monthter.
¡°Hmm?¡±
As Fang Xi explored his sea of consciousness with potent divine sense, he suddenly made a discovery.
The sea of consciousness is the most vital aspect for any cultivator; even minor damage can lead to memory loss or, at worst,plete soul dispersal.
Fang Xi had been continuously scanning himself with divine sense, searching for clues rted to his golden finger.
Now, finally, there was a breakthrough!
His divine sense delved deep within the sea of consciousness, and amidst its furthest reaches, he encountered a shattered Bronze Mirror!
¡°This¡ Isn¡¯t this the bronze mirror I casually bought from a roadside stall?¡± Fang Xi¡¯s eyes widened as he realized he had found the culprit behind his transmigration!
In the next moment, the Bronze Mirror faded away, revealing fragmented information:
¡°So that¡¯s how it works¡¡±
Within the immortal¡¯s cave, Fang Xi abruptly opened his eyes while still seated cross-legged.
He had finally deciphered the nature of his golden finger!
¡°A hard-to-describe spiritual treasure, but in a damaged state, which I happened upon¡¡±
¡°Part of it merged with me, granting me the ability to traverse the Great Liang World¡ In reality, the Bronze Mirror¡¯s capabilities extend far beyond that¡ It enables one to journey across various realms¡¡±
Fang Xi couldn¡¯t help but recall legends from the southern wilderness¡¯s cultivation world.
It was rumored that beneath the realm of immortalsy countless small worlds, akin to grains of sand innumerable. Thend epassing the southern wilderness was merely a trivial corner amidst these vast realms¡
¡°An artifact capable of traversing multiple worlds, could it be a supreme treasure of the Immortal Realm?¡±
¡°Could even my previous world be one among those countless realms?¡±
Fang Xi¡¯s eyes brightened slightly.
At this moment, he sensed that with his recent Foundation Establishment, another function of the Bronze Mirror had been unlocked.
Now, besides Great Liang, he could anchor to an additional world!
Moreover, within that new world, there should be another part of the Bronze Mirror¡¯s true form!
¡°This must at least be a priceless treasure of the immortal realm. I should immediately travel and search for its missingponents!¡±
Nearly ready to set off, Fang Xi managed to restrain himself.
After all, he was within someone else¡¯s Immortal City, protected by a tier-three formation creating its own domain.
If detected during teleportation or if he dyed beyond his lease term, causing others to intrude upon his immortal¡¯s cave, exining the situation would be quite challenging¡
¡°Forget it, I¡¯ll wait until after exiting seclusion and find a ce outside to attempt this¡¡±
Several monthster.
With hands sped behind his back, Manager Han inspected each immortal¡¯s cave in turn. Pausing before Cave Thirty-Six marked ¡®A¡¯, he muttered, ¡°The lease is nearly up; surely they haven¡¯t died inside?¡±
He had seen this scenario often - waiting for the lease to expire, then entering to collect the remains and iming any leftover inheritance with a smile.
Suddenly, with a loud rumble, the cave¡¯s entrance swung open, revealing a cultivator d in a green robe stepping out.
¡°Daoist friend, you¡¡± Manager Han rubbed his eyes, initially preparing some customary words of condolence. However, he quickly noticed that this individual¡¯s appearance remained unchanged from before. Typically, failing Foundation Establishment, especially for older cultivators, would severely deplete their vital energy, causing them to visibly age¡
Yet now, the subtle fluctuations of magical energy and the faint aura emanating from this person?
¡°Senior¡have you achieved Foundation Establishment?¡± Manager Han solemnly bowed, cautiously asking.
¡°Yes, I managed it by sheer luck!¡± Fang Xi replied with a smile, appearing quite content.
¡°Han Fenglin offers heartfelt congrattions on your sessful Foundation Establishment, Senior! May your path towards the Great Dao be promising!¡±
Manager Han immediately bowed again, feeling a mix ofplex emotions within him. He knew that Bai Ze Immortal City would soon experience a small stir due to this individual¡¯s Foundation Establishment breakthrough¡
Chapter 147:
Smokey Willow Lane, Building 87.
¡°Qianbei, you¡¯ve actually reached Foundation Establishment? Congrattions and heartfelt felicitations to you!¡± The Grapevine Fairy¡¯s cherry-red lips widened in surprise, her face filled with bewilderment.
As she recalled her audacious flirtation with Fang Xi, unaware of his true potential, she felt an intense desire to find a crack in the ground and disappear into it.
¡°Congrattions, Qianbei, on achieving Foundation Establishment!¡± Jin Ling followed the customs of the cultivation world by performing an ancient salute, her expression deeply mixed.
¡°Sigh¡ It was after hearing your ount of Fellow Daoist Su¡¯s determination that I, too, considering my approaching sixtieth year limit, decided to take this perilous leap¡¡± Fang Xi wore a somber look, reflecting on the risks he had faced. ¡°I merely got lucky¡¡±
In reality, his Foundation Establishment process had been remarkably smooth, almost as if he could have seeded without needing the Foundation Establishment Pill.
However, even given another hundred chances, Fang Xi would still choose to use the pill for the added safety! Longevity demands unwavering caution, like an old dog¡¯s steady approach.
Any breakthrough with a risk of death would be utterly irresponsible towards his four hundred years of potential longevity!
¡°Su Lie¡¡± Jin Ling seemed to ponder something and shook her head sadly. Her cultivation partner was already past sixty yet insisted on attempting the breakthrough without a life-saving Foundation Establishment Pill. His fatal failure could indeed be seen as self-inflicted, reaping what he had sown¡
¡°Furthermore¡¡± Fang Xi smiled and took a sip of spirit tea before continuing, ¡°I must apologize for troubling both of you esteemed neighbors today. There is actually a favor I¡¯d like to ask.¡±
¡°Qianbei, whatever your request, this junior stands ready to assist!¡± The Grapevine Fairy¡¯s eyes immediately brightened.
Running errands for a great Foundation Establishment cultivator! Among the numerous Qi Refinement cultivators in the city, few have connections with those at the Foundation Establishment stage. If she could impress him, it would elevate her status significantly, making her someone associated with a Foundation Establishment practitioner, greatly enhancing her standing in the Outer City!
¡°As Qianbeimands, I am at your service!¡± Jin Ling responded gracefully.
Fang Xi couldn¡¯t help but marvel at how distinctly one¡¯s position changes after achieving a major breakthrough in the cultivation world - it truly felt like night and day!
He cleared his throat and said, ¡°I¡¯m not fond ofmotion. With news of my Foundation Establishment spreading, there will undoubtedly be numerous visitors in theing days. I request both of you to serve as my greeters. ept calling cards from ordinary factions, but for any influential groups that cannot be easily dismissed, please inform me so I can personally receive them¡¡±
¡°Oh, such a simple task! Qianbei, rest assured. Having spent over a decade in Baize Immortal City, I am well-acquainted with its major powers. Your wishes shall be fulfilled!¡± The Grapevine Fairy confidently patted her firm chest.
Serving as doorkeepers for a Foundation Establishment cultivator was a coveted position many Qi Refinement cultivators could only dream of obtaining. After all, being a gatekeeper implied representing the Foundation Establishment cultivator in weing guests, signifying a close rtionship with them.
The Grapevine Fairy stole another nce at Fang Xi:
¡®Might it be¡ this great cultivator intends to take us as concubines? We must gently persuade Jin Ling then¡ What an exceptional opportunity; she should seize it without hesitation.¡¯
Given the vast disparity in status, the Grapevine Fairy didn¡¯t dare harbor hopes of bing his primary wife; instead, she merely envisioned herself as a secondary consort.
Unaware of Grapevine Fairy¡¯s thoughts and her intention to befriend Jin Ling for future assistance within their shared quarters, Fang Xi had simply sought two random helpers out of convenience.
After giving them all necessary instructions, he promptly returned to his seclusion.
As expected, when news spread that another rogue cultivator achieved Foundation Establishment in Baize Immortal City, it caused quite a stir in the Outer City.
Each sessful Foundation Establishment by a rogue cultivator greatly inspired countless others there.
Instantly, numerous cultivators wished to pay visits to Fang Xi.
Most were from small to mid-sized factions, aiming to make connections by presenting calling cards and gifts¡
Some tiny Qi Refinement factions even offered their leadership positions outright, provided Fang Xi would ept¡
After all, having a Foundation Establishment cultivator as their leader would instantly elevate them to significant influence within the Outer City.
Jin Ling and Grapevine Fairy, mutually overseeing each other yet asionally coborating, managed everything efficiently. They sorted and stored the gifts and calling cards neatly, awaiting Fang Xi¡¯s review.
However, one individual who tried to gift servants and furnaces was met with Grapevine Fairy¡¯s sarcastic rebukes. Seeing two exquisite goddesses present, he realized his attempt at ttery had backfired, and reluctantly departed¡
Of course, these were all minor forces at the Qi Refinement level.
Once Foundation Establishment representatives arrived, Grapevine Fairy and Jin Ling dared not act independently and had to request Fang Xi¡¯s personal presence for reception.
Fang Xi waited anxiously for half a month, yet the individual he most desired to meet did not appear.
Just as his suspicions grew, while feeding the Great Azure Fish by the pond, he saw Grapevine Fairy hastily approach with news: ¡°Qianbei¡ Song Qing, the crown prince of the Song n, has arrived!¡±
¡°Oh?¡± Rubbing his chin, Fang Xi stood up, ¡°I shall personally go out to wee him!¡±
Upon reaching the entrance, Fang Xi indeed spotted Song Qing from their previous encounter, still dressed impably with a jade folding fan in hand. Upon seeing Fang Xi, he smiled and bowed courteously, saying, ¡°Song Qing offers heartfelt congrattions on your sessful Foundation Establishment, Daoist friend! Please ept this humble gift!¡±
Clearly, Song Qing did not recognize Fang Xi as the rogue cultivator who had disguised himself to purchase the ¡®Longevity Technique¡¯ earlier.
¡°Ah, it¡¯s the young master of the Song n! Please,e right in!¡± Fang Xi feigned surprise and delight, inviting Song Qing into the courtyard and instructing Jin Ling and Grapevine Fairy to serve spirit tea.
¡°Your courtyard exudes a serene atmosphere, reminiscent of leisurely clouds and wild cranes¡¡±
Song Qing exuded grace and charm, making everyone around him feel warmly weed. As he tapped his fan against the pond edge, hemented on the little azure dragon with admiration before smiling, ¡°To be candid¡ my primary purpose here is to congratte you on achieving Foundation Establishment, Daoist friend. Secondly, I wish to invite you to join our Song n!¡±
¡°Join the Song n?¡± Fang Xi feigned contemtion, but internally felt quite puzzled.
He knew that after reaching Foundation Establishment, numerous factions would seek to recruit him, yet he didn¡¯t expect the first suitor to be the Song n!
¡®What¡¯s this? A narrow escape from fate?¡¯
Noticing Fang Xi¡¯s hesitation, Song Qing chuckled heartily and continued, ¡°Being from the Yue Kingdom yourself, Daoist friend, you must surely be familiar with the seven great aristocratic families?¡±
¡°Famed indeed!¡± Fang Xi nodded affirmatively.
Song Qing borated, ¡°Among the seven Foundation Establishment immortal ns of the Yue Kingdom - Baiqiao Qi n, Verdant Xu n, Huangfeng Long n - all recognize the leadership of our Song n. Decades ago, the ckwater Situ n and Heavenly Talisman Shen n declined, while the Tu n and Wan n emerged as new powers¡ Their current Foundation Establishment patriarchs were originally rogue cultivators, now elevated to influential positions, founding their ns and enjoying immense prestige!¡±
¡°What does Daoist friend mean by this?¡± Fang Xi¡¯s eyes brightened.
¡°If you join our Song n, I, Song Qing, guarantee within twenty years¡ your Fang n will secure a ce among the seven great aristocratic families!¡±
With amanding presence, Song Qing dered, ¡°Having lived at Wan Ind Lake for several decades, Daoist must be aware that the Dragonfish Zhong n, once among the seven great aristocratic families, has now fallen from grace. Our Song n is actively seeking suitable candidates¡¡±
¡®So they want me to step into the Dragonfish Zhong n¡¯s storm!¡¯ Fang Xi internally rolled his eyes. ¡®And they expect me to return to Wan Ind Lake to establish my own n¡ Yeah right¡ If Wan Ind Lake was such a paradise, why would I have fled in the first ce?!¡¯
He knew all too well that Wan Ind Lake had be treacherously murky and unpredictable.
¡®The Song n harbors ill intentions, trying to make me fill their pitfall!¡¯
¡®I refuse to believe they¡¯repletely unaware of the underlying situation!¡¯
¡®Furthermore, could this person also be meddling behind the scenes, preventing other Foundation Establishment factions within the city from extending invitations?¡¯
Fang Xi had no intention whatsoever of joining the Song n, but he feigned interest on the surface. ¡°Well¡ since I¡¯ve just reached Foundation Establishment, please allow me some time to consider your offer, Daoist friend.¡±
¡°Agreed. This Gongzi will give you a few days to ponder. Remember, opportunities to join one of the seven great ns are rare¡¡± Song Qing chuckled lightly, without even tasting the spirit tea offered by Jin Ling, and promptly took his leave.
¡°Gongzi!¡± A member of the Song n approached from the doorway.
¡°Let¡¯s discuss further inside the carriage!¡±
Song Qing stepped onto a vehicle pulled by two spirit steeds, his expression turning cold and distant.
The Song n servant followed suit, bowing respectfully before reporting, ¡°We¡¯ve thoroughly investigated¡ Fang Xi, a rogue cultivator from the Yue Kingdom, once worked as a spirit farmer at Qingzhu Mountain Market. His appearance matches perfectly¡ After disappearing for two years following the Qingzhu Mountain incident, he reappeared at Wan Ind Lake, assisting Peach Blossom Ind¡¯s Lady Ruan Xingling to reim her ancestralnds. In return, he was granted Jade Cliff where he farmed and raised fish for thirty years. At age forty, he made a breakthrough to Late Stage Qi Refinement, and five years ago, left Peach Blossom Ind for Baize Immortal City with a cultivation base already at the eighthyer of Qi Refinement. Recently, within the past few months, he reached Peak Qi Refining, rented a tier-2 spiritual vein immortal¡¯s cave, and achieved Foundation Establishment¡¡±
¡°A rogue cultivator reaching Foundation Establishment must have some luck on their side!¡± However, Song Qing remained unconvinced. ¡°This individual has low aptitude; his rapid progress is undoubtedly due to seizing vast resources during the chaos at Qingzhu Mountain and the upheaval at Dragonfish Ind!¡±
¡°It also helps that the Yue Kingdom has been unstable these past decades, with sessive falls among its Foundation Establishment cultivators. Otherwise, how would someone like him ever emerge?¡±
As the eldest son of the prestigious Song n, Song Qing naturally disfavored rogue cultivators suspected of profiting off fallen Foundation Establishment immortals.
¡°Five years ago, this person was still at the eighthyer of Qi Refinement, yet suddenly reached Peak Qi Refinement - it seems somewhat suspicious¡¡± The Song n servant pointed out another concern.
¡°Perhaps he concealed his cultivation; upon leaving Peach Blossom Ind, he likely reached the ninth level of Qi Refining¡ Even if not, there are numerous medicinal pills in the cultivation world to aid breakthroughs. Achieving Peak Qi Refining just before turning sixty suggests some hidden secrets, albeit not significant ones¡¡± Song Qing casually stroked the Violet umtion Bracelet on his left wrist.
Every rogue cultivator capable of reaching Foundation Establishment must harbor their own minor secrets. If someone with low aptitude still managed to seed by their twenties or thirties, that would warrant genuine scrutiny!
¡°I suspect this individual stumbled upon a Foundation Establishment spirit item during his time at Dragonfish Ind; otherwise, how could he have achieved sess? It¡¯s unfortunate we didn¡¯t discover it sooner, allowing him to utilize it seamlessly.¡± Song Qing shook his head.
As for the Foundation Establishment Pills? Their distribution was closely monitored, so he never considered them as a possibility!
¡°Crown Prince, your wisdom ismendable, but¡ do we truly wish to support such a person?¡± The Song n servant seemed somewhat reluctant.
After all, Fang Xi hailed from the lineage of a venerable patriarch among the Foundation Establishment Immortals!
¡°Wan Ind Lake runs deep waters; let¡¯s ce our first move to test the currents¡¡± Song Qing lightly tapped his fan, appearing confident and well-prepared.
Ultimately, which rogue cultivator wouldn¡¯t yearn for rapid advancement? And who among them would dare reject an olive branch extended by the young master of the prestigious Song n?
Chapter 148: Three Transmigrations
Chapter 148: Three Transmigrations
Several dayster.
Fang Xi gradually ceased his practice, a hint of helplessness crossing his brow.
As before, the Evesting Spring Art had no effect on advancing his Foundation Establishment magical energy.
Currently, what hecked most was a wood attribute Foundation Establishment cultivation technique.
Unfortunately, he hadn¡¯t seen any during thestrge auction!
¡°And¡ after the Song n incident, surprisingly, no other influential factions have invited me. Do I need to personally approach them and offer my services?¡±
Reflecting on this, Fang Xi felt that perhaps his appeal wasn¡¯t strong enough.
Having a clean background was advantageous, but it seemed like his only edge.
For ordinary factions, offending the Song n over him wouldn¡¯t be worth it! On the other hand, major powers with Core Formation patriarchs or Late Foundation Establishment cultivators didn¡¯t find him particrly noteworthy, leading to this awkward situation. ¡°Perhaps¡ should I showcase some exceptional skills, like tier-2 pill concocting? To increase my value and raise my standing?¡±
¡°If all else fails, I could still make a living by concocting pills for others in Bai Ze Immortal City, earning resources for cultivation¡¡±
¡°For techniques and such, maybe posting a quest at a merchant guild could yield results¡¡±
Initially, Fang Xi had hoped to freeload without any obligations.
However, it now seemed quite challenging.
¡°In any case, I must absolutely decline the Song n¡¯s invitation.¡±
He decided to wait another month and observe the situation before making further decisions. After all, with his extended longevity, time was on his side.
¡°Once thismotion settles down, I¡¯ll venture out and attempt to reach the second otherworld¡¡±
Fang Xi sighed softly, once againposing his thoughts.
Although the Great Liang World¡¯s benefits were diminishing for him, the prospect of exploring a new realm filled him with anticipation.
Who knows, the next otherworld might offer even more extraordinary cultivation techniques!
¡°Qianbei, there is a Foundation Establishment cultivator outside requesting an audience!¡± At that moment, another voice-transmission talisman arrived, carrying Jin Ling¡¯s message.
¡°Oh?¡±
Fang Xi¡¯s expression shifted as he stepped out of the immortal¡¯s cave, spotting a young cultivator around thirty years old standing mid-air, smiling atop a six-winged spirit beast.
¡°Is this Daoist friend from Bai Feng Mountain?¡± Fang Xi bowed respectfully.
Only cultivators from Bai Feng Mountain lineage were permitted to fly within Bai Ze Immortal City.
¡°Yes, indeed,¡± Fang Xi replied with augh. ¡°I am ¡®Yuan Feihong,¡¯ pleased to meet you, Daoist friend! Congrattions on achieving Foundation Establishment!¡±
The young cultivator was about to descend with his flying spirit pet when suddenly, as if sensing something, the six-winged serpent beneath him hesitated and refused tond, struggling mid-air.
Slightly taken aback, he promptly recalled the spirit beast into its bag. Then, step by step, almost as if walking down invisible stairs, he gracefully reached the ground.
¡°Many thanks, Fellow Daoist Yuan. Pleasee inside!¡± Fang Xi invited Yuan Feihong into the courtyard, instructing two maidservants to serve tea while engaging in polite conversation.
Within moments, Fang Xi learned that this individual was the thirty-second disciple of Patriarch Whitepeak. Ouyang Zhen, who presided over therge auction, was his Eighth Elder Brother.
¡°Fellow Daoist Fang achieving Foundation Establishment here in Bai Ze Immortal City seems quite fated¡¡± Yuan Feihong sipped the spirit tea and sighed, ¡°My teacher, deeply understanding the hardships faced by rogue cultivators, established this Immortal City, disseminated the Foundation Establishment Pill form widely, and tasked several pill concocting grandmasters to ept external tasks¡¡±
¡°True Person Bai Feng¡¯s actions truly embody immeasurable merit¡¡± Fang Xi concurred solemnly.
True Person Bai Feng¡¯s actions indeed benefited many rogue cultivators across the three countries.
Even Fang Xi himself owed his sessful Foundation Establishment to the widespread avability of the Foundation Establishment Pill form.
Their conversation naturally became more amicable as they continued.
¡±¡As far as I know, Fellow Daoist Fang is a rogue cultivator by origin and has not joined any significant force?¡± Yuan Feihong finally broached the main topic.
¡°That¡¯s correct¡ To be honest, my cultivation relies solely on the widely known ¡®Evesting Spring Art¡¯. Even after reaching Foundation Establishment, I¡¯m still struggling with finding suitable techniques¡¡± Fang Xi replied with a wry smile.
¡°Would you perhaps have interest in bing an honorary guest of our Bai Ze Immortal City?¡± Yuan Feihong¡¯s eyes sparkled. ¡°To reveal the truth¡ that is precisely why I¡¯vee today. As an honorary guest of Bai Ze Immortal City, you would receive a free immortal¡¯s cave within the Inner City, ess to select cultivation techniques from Bai Feng Mountain¡¯s Techniques Pavilion, and annual stipends of spirit stones. These benefits should greatly assist your path, Fellow Daoist!¡±
His choice of approaching Fang Xi was well-considered.
Fang Xi had a clean background, having achieved Foundation Establishment in Bai Ze Immortal City, which naturally elicited goodwill. However, the most important factor was Fang Xi¡¯s mild temperament, indicating he was unlikely to cause trouble.
The cultivation world isn¡¯t solely about conflict and violence. Even for Core Formation influences, disciples or honorary guests causing constant trouble, leaving death in their wake, can be immensely problematic.
Yuan Feihong had conducted background checks on Fang Xi; his ability to farm peacefully at Peach Blossom Ind for thirty years while maintaining friendly rtions with the Ind Lord clearly indicated amendable character.
Moreover, Fang Xi demonstrated both courage and wisdom - daring to risk everything in youth, yet content to cultivatend once stability was achieved. Such qualities were precisely what major powers seek as their backbone and foundation!
¡°Your gracious offer leaves me deeply indebted and overwhelmed!¡± Fang Xi expressed, feigning surprise and gratitude. ¡°However, I¡¯m uncertain about any constraints thate with being an honorary guest.¡±
¡°As an honorary guest of our city, you would periodically need toplete missions assigned by Bai Feng Mountain,¡± Yuan Feihong responded solemnly. ¡°Of course, we wouldn¡¯t ask for tasks overly dangerous. Uponpletion, appropriate rewards are provided¡ Additionally, once bing an honorary guest, if one wishes to leave, they must have served for at least fifty years¡¡±
¡°This¡ please allow me some time to consider it. I¡¯ll provide my response after half a month, is that eptable?¡± Fang Xi asked thoughtfully. He didn¡¯t particrly mind the fifty-yearmitment, considering his extensive lifespan! His concerny primarily with these mandatory missions, sensing potential risks involved.
Honestly, among nearby nations, there seemed no better ce to acquire cultivation resources. The reason he needed time to ponder was merely for final confirmation.
¡°Hmm, naturally such matters require careful consideration. You may inquire around; our treatment of honorary guests remains consistent,¡± Yuan Feihong replied with a smile, appearing confident in her approach.
As Fang Xi watched Yuan Feihong depart, his eyes flickered thoughtfully.
Joining such a major influence would likely involve some form of scrutiny. However, even Core Formation patriarchs wouldn¡¯t recklessly probe a Foundation Establishment cultivator¡¯s sea of consciousness or vital energy centers like the dantian; doing so could easily escte to a deadly confrontation. At most, they might examine one¡¯s bone age and check for any disguises.
¡°As long as they don¡¯t conduct a thorough investigation, my spiritual body and the Demon Tree should remain undetected¡¡±
¡°If those two secrets stay hidden, there shouldn¡¯t be any significant issues¡¡±
Fang Xi realized that since reaching Foundation Establishment, not only had his divine sense greatly increased, but he could also utilize the Demon Tree more effectively to conceal additional aspects.
As for the Bronze Mirror, his golden finger? Even with careful examination, it remained elusive, truly adding an element of mystique¡
¡°Congrattions, Qianbei! Heartfelt congrattions!¡±
The Grapevine Fairy entered, her face radiant with joy. ¡°Qianbei, bing an honorary guest of Bai Ze Immortal City truly promises boundless prospects¡¡±
For an ordinary rogue cultivator, attaining Foundation Establishment within a Core Formation influence significantly elevated their status.
¡°Not yet confirmed, why jinx it?¡± Fang Xi rebuked casually, though internally, he leaned towards epting Yuan Feihong¡¯s invitation to be Bai Ze Immortal City¡¯s honorary guest. After all, this was part of his original n.
Following Yuan Feihong¡¯s visit, news of Fang Xi potentially joining Bai Ze Immortal City somehow leaked out. Suddenly, numerous Foundation Establishment influences started arriving to offer their congrattions. Despite feeling overwhelmed, Fang Xi diligently hosted them, taking advantage to receive many gifts¡ªa small windfall of spirit stones ensued.
As night fell,
Fang Xi was preparing to meditate when suddenmotion arose at his door.
¡°What¡¯s happening?¡± With a frown, he rose and stepped outside the immortal¡¯s cave, only to see the Grapevine Fairy engaged in an argument with an elderly woman.
Upon noticing Fang Xi emerge, she quickly shifted her expression to one of dismay, ¡°Qianbei¡ this old woman insists she is your friend and tried to force her way in!¡±
Fang Xi nced over, recognizing the elderly woman and the burly man supporting her in Late Stage Qi Refinement, and couldn¡¯t help but sigh, ¡°They indeed are my friends. Fellow Daoist Lu, pleasee in for a chat!¡±
Seeing these unremarkable individuals truly were Fang Xi¡¯s friends, the Grapevine Fairy¡¯s demeanor changed slightly, swiftly putting on a weing smile, ¡°Please, both of you, make yourselves at home!¡±
The burly man in Late Stage Qi Refinement appeared visibly excited, never expecting that his mother had connections with a Foundation Establishment cultivator.
Lu Zhi, however, looked stunned as they entered the courtyard, constantly observing Fang Xi.
¡°Fellow Daoist Lu¡this time¡¡±
Before Fang Xi could finish, Lu Zhi unexpectedly knelt down, causing him to change expression slightly, ¡°What are you doing?¡±
¡°Qianbei, please save Chen Ping¡¡± Lu Zhi remained kneeling, pleading with her head bowed.
¡°Sigh¡ Although I¡¯ve reached Foundation Establishment, there are multiple Foundation Establishment cultivators within the Verdant Xue n¡¡± Fang Xi hesitated, gently touching his spirit beast bag at the waist.
¡°I initially heard about a rogue cultivator named Fang Xi achieving Foundation Establishment but couldn¡¯t be certain,¡± Lu Zhi began without pause, ¡°Until today, I dared to visit you¡ Chen Ping was once your esteemed friend, and now he is near his end, holding no further value for the Xu n. Qianbei, not only have you achieved Foundation Establishment, but you¡¯re also an honorary guest of Bai Ze Immortal City. I have alreadyid the groundwork; if Qianbei speaks up, Chen Ping can peacefully enjoy his remaining years¡¡±
¡°Mother¡¡± The burly man beside her looked uneasy, ncing around uncertainly, fearing that his mother might offend this powerful individual.
¡°You¡¯ve brought it this far, leaving me with little choice in response.¡±
Fang Xi recalled how Chen Ping had indeed been helpful on Qingzhu Mountain, diligently introducing him to various connections. Now, having reached Foundation Establishment, he could certainly do more. Interceding on behalf of Chen Ping should pose no significant issues.
Three dayster.
Fang Xi discreetly left Bai Ze Immortal City and ventured into the wilderness to carve out an underground immortal¡¯s cave, quickly setting up protective formations around it.
¡°The time hase¡¡±
He sat cross-legged, inspecting his spirit artifacts, puppets, and other possessions¡
¡°Let¡¯s begin, exploring a brand new world!¡±
¡°Perhaps here I can discover divine techniques, hidden secrets, and limitless resources, never needing to rely on others again¡¡±
With anticipation gleaming in his eyes, Fang Xi focused his divine sense on the Bronze Mirror.
In the next instant!
His entire being¡
remained exactly where he was!!!
¡°Hmm?¡±
Fang Xi abruptly opened his eyes, ¡°What happened? Is the Bronze Mirror malfunctioning? No¡wait¡¡±
He sensed part of his divine sense entering what felt like a ck hole, then ¡®witnessed¡¯ another world unfolding before him: ¡°Has my divine sense traversed through?¡±
Chapter 149: Negotiations
Chapter 149: Negotiations
¡°What¡ is happening here?¡±
In the southern wilderness¡¯s cultivation world, within his underground immortal¡¯s cave, Fang Xi sat cross-legged.
Through the Bronze Mirror, his divine sense observed a different perspective.
The sound of flowing water echoed, shimmering ripples danced¡
Cobblestones lined the creek bed, surrounded by lush aquatic nts, with fish and shrimp darting about¡
As he extended his divine sense further, Fang Xi realized its reach was unexpectedly limited.
¡°After reaching Foundation Establishment, my divine sense should cover a radius of fifty meters. Why here, does it only extend to five meters?¡±
He felt puzzled.
It seemed that traversing worlds, or rather, the energy drain from bridging two realms severely suppressed his divine sense on the other side! ¡°Wait, who is ¡®I¡¯ there?¡±
Scanning himself with divine sense, Fang Xi noticed half a fragment resembling a bronze mirror quietly resting at the riverbed.
The edges of this bronze mirror shard disyed jagged cracks, while faint inscriptions marred its surface, appearing rough and almost naturally formed.
¡°This fragment seems like part of the Bronze Mirror within my sea of consciousness?¡±
¡°Am I expanding my divine sense outward, centered around this fragment?¡±
¡°Oh no¡ I can only perceive but cannot move!¡±
¡°How can I retrieve this mirror piece?¡±
Fang Xi felt a headacheing on.
Maintaining this continuous divine sense connection also started to drain his energy gradually.
Thus, he withdrew his divine sense, severing the link with the Bronze Mirror fragment in that other world.
¡°So far¡ I¡¯ve discovered that through the Bronze Mirror, I can establish contact with fragments from another realm and use those fragments as anchor points to extend my divine sense¡¡±
¡°However, beyond this, it seems there¡¯s nothing else I can do.¡±
¡°I certainly understand that the innate nature of the spirit treasure is urging me to reunite its scattered pieces, but how am I supposed to collect them all¡? I can¡¯t even physically cross over¡¡±
Fang Xi was utterly speechless.
He had hoped that opening the door would reveal the Immortal Realm right before him, ensuring an abundance of cultivation techniques, treasures, and medicinal pills, effortlessly leading to his ascension and enlightenment!
And yet, this was what awaited him?
¡°This golden finger must be broken!¡±
¡°Forget it, I guess I¡¯ll just go back and diligently work for another fifty years!¡±
In Bai Ze Immortal City¡¯s Outer District, there stood Mingqing Pavilion.
Elegantly furnished, musicians were performing as Fang Xi entered.
¡°Qianbei, you¡¡± A middle-aged woman approached, her eyes flickering with suspicion upon seeing Fang Xi. ¡°Are you by any chance surnamed Fang?¡±
¡°Yes, indeed. Fellow Daoist Lu Zhi has reserved a private room, right? Please lead the way¡¡± Fang Xi nodded and nced at the middle-aged woman, adding, ¡°Goddess Yunmeng, it¡¯s been many years¡ Our initial acquaintance wasrgely thanks to Fellow Daoist Chen Ping¡¯s introduction.¡±
¡°That¡¯s true¡¡± The beautiful woman, Goddess Yunmeng, showed a hint of unease on her face at the mention of Chen Ping.
She recalled how shortsighted they had been back then, expelling the now-great Foundation Establishment cultivator for their so-called esteemed guests. This memory left her anxious, fearing his potential retribution. Having failed her own attempt at reaching Foundation Establishment earlier, she waster assigned to manage family businesses and gradually lost influence within the n core.
With a creak, the door to the private room opened, revealing several individuals inside.
Lu Zhi was present, apanied by an elderly man with snow-white hair, gaunt like a skeleton, and a face marked with age spots. Despite his aged appearance, one could still discern traces of Chen Ping from years past.
Among them was a burly man d in a violet robe, with a broad forehead and piercing eyes, exuding a formidable presence indicative of early Foundation Establishment cultivation.
Upon seeing Fang Xi, the violet-robed man smiled warmly. ¡°Are you Fellow Daoist Fang Xi? I am Xu Shuolei, Retired Elder of the Verdant Xue n.¡±
¡°Greetings, Daoist Xu!¡±
As Fang Xi took his seat, he noticed Goddess Yunmeng preparing to leave. Quickly, he said, ¡°This matter concerns you as well; please stay and join the conversation.¡±
Goddess Yunmeng shuddered delicately, casting a pleading nce towards her patriarch for help.
However, Xu Shuolei feigned ignorance. ¡°Very well, Yun¡¯er, remain here and serve tea¡¡±
¡°Yes, sir!¡±
Goddess Yunmeng knelt gracefully beside the tea table, offered a bow, and began skillfully preparing tea with dainty hands¡
A subtle aroma of tea filled the air¡
Fang Xi first studied Goddess Yunmeng, then nced at Lu Zhi, inwardly sighing with mixed emotions.
It was evident that Goddess Yunmeng had taken Age-Defying Pills or simr elixirs, maintaining her beauty despite being in her fifties or sixties.
In contrast, Lu Zhi clearly endured much hardship over the years.
The most pitiable, however, was Chen Ping seated nearby. Upon seeing Fang Xi, he choked back tears, unable to speak, his eyes brimming with emotion.
Sensing Chen Ping¡¯s frail vitality, akin to a candle flickering in the wind, Fang Xi let out another sigh.
This sigh broke the silence within the private booth.
Xu Shuolei spoke firmly, ¡°The Verdant Xue n has never engaged in kidnapping. Fellow Daoist Chen Ping was cordially invited as our guest elder, without any coercion or confinement¡ Isn¡¯t that right, Fellow Daoist Chen?¡±
Startled, Chen Ping hastily nodded. ¡°Yes, indeed¡¡±
Fang Xi smiled slightly. ¡°If it¡¯s merely a misunderstanding, then all is well. However, Chen Ping is my childhood friend who wishes to spend his remaining years peacefully in Bai Ze Immortal City. What does the Xu n think about this?¡±
¡°The Xu n fully supports it!¡± Xu Shuolei dered emphatically. ¡°In recognition of Fellow Daoist Chen Ping¡¯s tireless service and contributions, we shall provide him with a residence in the Outer City for his retirement!¡±
¡°Since that¡¯s settled, I have nothing more to add¡ But what about Goddess Yunmeng?¡± Fang Xi cautiously probed.
Xu Shuolei raised an eyebrow. ¡°Yun¡¯er has caused much offense; allow me to offer apologies on her behalf. The n will impose severe punishmentter and order her topensate Fellow Daoist Chen Ping with a sum of spirit stones¡¡±
¡°Fellow Daoist Xu handles matters justly and decisively, trulymendable¡¡± With those words, Fang Xi bowed respectfully, ushered Lu Zhi and Chen Ping to their feet, and bid farewell to leave.
After the trio departed, Goddess Yunmeng anxiously turned to the patriarch. ¡°Patriarch¡¡±
¡°You wish to ask why I let Chen Ping go?¡± Xu Shuolei sipped his tea with a smile. ¡°His usefulness has reached its end, and he only has about a month of longevity left. Would you have him die here, solidifying our reputation for mistreatment?¡±
Goddess Yunmeng suddenly understood. ¡°So it¡¯s all about maintaining our image, Patriarch?¡±
¡°Indeed, we are a righteous n, and appearances matter greatly¡ Moreover, we¡¯ve already taken precautions ensuring he can¡¯t step beyond White Lake Immortal City or tarnish our name. Living under our roof means he remains under our surveince, just in a different location. Additionally, his knowledge of paper talisman legacies will stay within our grasp¡ Now that a Foundation Establishment guest elder from Bai Ze Immortal City has interceded on his behalf, granting this favor seems appropriate.¡±
¡°Furthermore, his Daoist partner Lu Zhi is still firmly under our control. He wouldn¡¯t dare cause any trouble, especially nearing his own demise¡ Unless he disregards her safety entirely!¡±
Foundation Establishment cultivators often serve as n patriarchs and high-ranking figures, generally avoiding unnecessary violence.
With a lifespan of two hundred years, there¡¯s little reason to risk one¡¯s life; enjoying existence takes precedence.
Xu Shuolei shook his head, expressing some regret. ¡°It¡¯s truly unfortunate that despite residing with us for so many years, he never produced offspring with spiritual roots or bodies¡ It appears forcing matters does not yield sweet results after all.¡±
Upon hearing this, Goddess Yunmeng couldn¡¯t help but blush slightly.
On the bustling street, Lu Zhi supported Chen Ping as they walked slowly, resembling an ordinary elderly couple from the countryside.
Chen Ping¡¯s eyes darted around incessantly, taking in the surroundings as if he couldn¡¯t get enough of the sights.
¡°Fellow Daoist¡ no, Senior Fang¡ words cannot express my immense gratitude!¡±
Upon reaching their residence, he suddenly bowed deeply with great reverence to Fang Xi.
¡°We¡¯re friends after all; it was just a small gesture¡¡±
Fang Xi hastily helped him up, only to find a blood-colored jade slip discreetly ced in his hand. Without showing any reaction, he carefully tucked it away and watched as Chen Ping and Lu Zhi entered their home before turning to leave.
¡°Chen Ping will never forget your kindness; I offer my lifelong dedication and expertise¡ Please ept this legacy of paper talismans for appraisal, which someday may be passed down to Lu Zhi¡¯s descendants¡¡±
At Smokey Willow Lane, Building 87.
Fang Xi held the blood-red jade slip, reading Chen Ping¡¯s message right at the start:
¡°For Lu Zhi¡¯s descendants? Aren¡¯t they children of the index talisman master?¡±
¡°The index talisman master was once nearly chosen as sacrificial material to awaken the Blood Symbol Spirit Body¡¡±
Muttering to himself, Fang Xi wondered about Chen Ping¡¯s intentions. Was it out of guilt orpensation?
¡°Human nature¡ truly is aplex thing.¡±
As he continued reading, Fang Xi discovered that the talisman legacy within the jade slip was astonishingly tier-two high-grade!
Moreover, there were subtle hints suggesting its potential reach into third-order!
¡°A Blood Symbol Spirit Body, truly deserving of reverence from the Dao of Talismans¡¡±
¡°Pity my own talisman proficiency is only mid-rank first-tier¡ Could I end up drawing talismans for spirit stones in the future?¡±
Fang Xi contemted for a moment before carefully putting away the jade slip.
At that instant, Grapevine Fairy entered gracefully, d in a translucent Pce dress. ¡°Qianbei¡¡±
Her voice was tender and alluringly soft.
¡°Grapevine Fairy¡ I appreciate your assistance these past few days. These spirit stones serve as yourpensation.¡±
Fang Xi¡¯s expression remained icy as he tossed out several spirit stones.
Grapevine Fairy¡¯s face instantly changed, turning deathly pale. ¡°Qianbei?¡±
¡°Leave now!¡± Fang Xi waved dismissively, showing no interest in further conversation.
In the world of mortals, the roles of guest attendants and gatekeepers were crucial, often entrusted to trusted confidants. Their effectiveness could either facilitate smooth social interactions or inadvertently invite numerous enemies.
¡°Qianbei, what wrong have Imitted?¡± Grapevine Fairy, visibly shaken, bowed deeply.
¡°That hairpin looks nice; it must be a new magical artifact, isn¡¯t it?¡± Fang Xi shook his head. ¡°Just moments ago, this venerable one met with Daoist Yuan, yet before any agreement was reached, news spread like wildfire¡ For such breaches alone, this venerable one would be justified in killing you!¡±
His tone grew increasingly stern, exuding a terrifying aura that made the Grapevine Fairy retreat fearfully, stammering, ¡°I was wrong, I was truly wrong¡¡±
¡°Still not leaving?! Get out!¡±
Fang Xi¡¯s fiercemand sent the Grapevine Fairy scrambling away hastily, her figure utterly disheveled.
As he watched her depart, Fang Xi stroked his chin thoughtfully.
In truth, he had long been aware of this woman¡¯s vanity and superficiality. Earlier, he merely yed along to enhance his own reputation while preparing for Chen Ping¡¯s rescue.
Now, she held little further utility for him. Even if he were to seek a concubine, he wouldn¡¯t choose someone socking in discernment and unaware of priorities.
¡°Qianbei¡¡± At that moment, the charming and adorable Jin Ling entered. ¡°Seems like Daoist Sister Grapevine is quite frightened¡¡±
¡°Jin Ling Daoist sister¡¡± Fang Xi¡¯s expression softened as he sighed, ¡°These past few days, I owe you much gratitude¡¡±
This young woman provedmendable, handling receptions with propriety, aligning perfectly with Fang Xi¡¯s expectations.
Chapter 150: Myriad Laws Pavilion
At the ¡°10,000 Seas Pavilion¡±.
Bang!
A fine jade teacup shattered on the floor.
The passing maidservants trembled with fear, anxious not to further anger the young master.
¡°Well¡ well, Fang Xi indeed! I gave him several days, yet he still dares to dy¡¡± Song Qing sneered and turned to a servant nearby, asking, ¡°Did he visit Mingqing Pavilion today?¡±
¡°Yes, apparently to redeem the freedom of an acquaintance from the Qingye Xu n¡ and they agreed,¡± the servant responded with a bow.
¡°Chortle, climbing the lofty branches of Bai Ze Immortal City now, too good for our Song n¡¯s invitation? Fine, I¡¯ll tolerate that¡ But meddling with the Xu n as well? Does he disregard the prestige of Yue Kingdom¡¯s seven great aristocratic families?¡± Song Qing scoffed, adding, ¡°Typical narrow-mindedness of a rogue cultivator¡¡±
¡°Should we teach him a lesson, young master?¡± The servant lowered his voice, with a cunning gleam in his eyes, harboring numerous malicious thoughts.
Song Qing was slightly tempted but quickly shook his head. ¡°This is Bai Ze Immortal City, guarded by True Persons; it¡¯s not ideal for direct action¡ However, has this individual be an honorary guest of Bai Ze Immortal City yet?¡± ¡°Gongzi, your insight is remarkable¡¡± The servant¡¯s eyes brightened as an idea struck him.
¡°At present, Bai Feng Mountain should be under the daily management of Ouyang Zhen, one of the eighteen disciples of True Person Bai Feng¡ He responds better to subtle persuasion than force. If I confront him directly, it might provoke resistance andplicate matters further¡ Instead, go inform Xu Shuolei to approach Ouyang Zhen, expressing his grievances. Tell him to im that someone, even before officially joining Bai Feng Mountain, is already abusing their influence!¡±
Song Qing gently touched the bracelet on his left hand, a hint of satisfaction shing across his face.
Half a monthter.
At Bai Feng Mountain, enveloped by swirling spirit mists indicative of its third-order spiritual veins, terraced medicinal fields stretched across the slopes. Colorful restrictions shimmered around each plot¡ At the summit stood numerous pavilions and buildings, housing True Person Bai Feng and his disciples.
True Person Bai Feng had taken dozens of apprentices, but unfortunately, none managed to achieve Core Formation. Out of the previous seventeen disciples, some perished due to reaching their longevity limit, while others died during battles or explorations.
As a result, Ouyang Zhen, the eighteenth disciple, effectively served as the eldest brother. With True Person Bai Feng often in seclusion, Ouyang Zhen handled most affairs rted to the Immortal City.
On this particr day,
A six-winged spirit snake pped its wings, stirring powerful gusts as it descended before a grand pce.
¡°Thirty, slow down¡¡± Ouyang Zhen frowned, holding onto his ount ledger tightly. He watched Yuan Feihong burst in with urgency.
¡°Elder Brother Eighteen¡¡± Yuan Feihong sounded somewhat aggrieved. ¡°I worked hard to recruit an honorary guest for our Immortal City. Why did you reject him?¡±
¡°You mean the rogue cultivator Fang Xi who reached Foundation Establishment?¡± Ouyang Zhen put down the ledger and rose from his seat. ¡°I was just about to discuss this matter with you¡ Someoneined that he is overly domineering, suggesting he might not be suitable for stability here!¡±
¡°The Qingye Xu n was undoubtedly acting under Song n¡¯s direction,¡± Yuan Feihong said swiftly yet respectfully, ¡°Ever since Song Qing failed to recruit Fang Xi, resentment festered secretly, leading them to spread these rumors¡ I doubt Eighth Elder Brother is unaware of this!¡±
¡°I indeed have some knowledge about it¡¡± Ouyang Zhen smiled. ¡°But given that Song Qing has indirectly shown deference, we must grant the Song n some face¡¡±
¡°Song n¡¡± Yuan Feihong remained unconvinced.
¡°I understand; you want to say the Song n is just a Foundation Establishment n¡ But are you aware that the Core Formation patriarch of the Profound Sky Sect reached his four-hundredth birthday decades ago and now faces his impending end? Yet, the sect hasn¡¯t cultivated another Core Formation cultivator. Meanwhile, the Song n¡¯s patriarch achieved the great circle of Foundation Establishment early on, likely already nning for Core Formation in secret?¡±
Ouyang Zhen¡¯s expression turned incredibly grave. ¡°The Song n¡¯s fate stands at a critical juncture - either immense sess or catastrophic failure¡ Therefore, if possible, it¡¯s best not to provoke them¡ Of course, even with their potential Core Formation strength, we hold no fear. However, as before, engaging over a rogue cultivator who barely attained Foundation Establishment near sixty simply isn¡¯t worth it¡¡±
As the lord of an Immortal City, sometimes one must assess situations pragmatically, recognizing that not everything can go entirely as nned.
Determining worth often requires careful consideration and weighing of factors.
¡°But¡ Fang Xi truly seems extraordinary,¡± Yuan Feihong insisted anxiously. ¡°My ¡®Little Azure¡¯ has always had keen intuition, yet on that day, it showed fear towards him. This indicates he must possess exceptional skills¡¡±
¡°Your six-winged hissing snake indeed excels at observation¡ with innate spiritual senses, able to discern auspicious or ominous signs.¡±
Ouyang Zhen hesitated briefly before responding, ¡°As your Shixiong, I understand you¡¯ve just ventured out from seclusion, focused solely on serving our sect¡¯s interests¡ Very well, let¡¯s give this rogue cultivator another chance. Tomorrow, bring him to the second floor of the Myriad Laws Pavilion. At that time, I will personally join you, along with Master¡¯s ¡®Candle Illuminating Mirror,¡¯ to examine his true origins¡ If he is genuinely a prodigious talent, overlooked like a pearl hidden in the sea, even offending the Song n would be worthwhile to secure him as an honorary guest. Who knows, once Master emerges from seclusion, we might gain an exceptional disciple¡¡±
¡°If not, then assist him in purchasing cultivation techniques as an apology for earlier incidents. There¡¯s no need to harbor guilt anymore. Our master often praises you for having a pure heart, which contributes to your rapid progress in cultivation. However, do remember to maintain innerposure and avoid being disturbed by external matters¡¡±
This resolution and guidance were both reasonable and sensible, leaving Yuan Feihong unable to find any fault with it.
In Smokey Willow Lane.
Upon seeing Yuan Feihong arrive for a visit, Fang Xi couldn¡¯t help but show delight, ¡°Fellow Daoist Yuan, after careful consideration¡¡±
¡°Wait a moment¡¡± Yuan Feihong seemed slightly embarrassed. ¡°Today, let¡¯s not discuss other matters. I heard that you¡¯ve been troubled by finding suitable cultivation techniques. To alleviate your concern, have you heard of the ¡®Myriad Laws Pavilion¡¯?¡±
Fang Xi¡¯s heart stirred, sensing that there might be a change regarding the honorary guest matter. However, he maintainedposure and responded, ¡°The Myriad Laws Pavilion? Isn¡¯t it the influential establishment within the inner city, specializing in selling cultivation techniques? Unfortunately, I¡¯ve visited before, but didn¡¯t find any technique to my liking¡¡±
¡°That¡¯s just the first floor. The Myriad Laws Pavilion has a second level too. Although the elite techniques there can¡¯tpare with n or sect-guarding arts, they are still quite exceptional. As your guarantor, I invite you to take a look inside!¡±
Yuan Feihong spoke with genuine sincerity, perhaps driven by a desire topensate him.
¡°Really? Well then, thank you¡ Shall we head over now?¡± Fang Xi felt genuinely intrigued.
If he could indeed acquire suitable cultivation techniques, his need to join Bai Feng Mountain would diminish significantly.
Together, they walked towards the inner city, approaching a massive building.
Above the entrance, gilded letters spelled out ¡®Myriad Laws Pavilion¡¯.
¡°Greetings to both of you¡ Thirtieth Young Master, what brings you here today?¡± The receptionist, recognizing Yuan Fei, instantly beamed.
¡°I¡¯m here to vouch for Fellow Daoist Fang. Please summon your shopkeeper and prepare to open the second floor!¡± Yuan Fei waved a golden token while turning to Fang Xi, ¡°Although not as extensive as Bai Feng Mountain¡¯s Techniques Pavilion, the second floor here is still considered significant, with limited ess granted.¡±
¡°Indeed, I¡¯m eager to see it¡¡± Anticipation flickered in Fang Xi¡¯s eyes.
Shortly after, an elderly schr-like shopkeeper emerged, holding an ancient scroll. ¡°Greetings, I am Kong Jiang, the shopkeeper of Myriad Laws Pavilion. Salutations to Thirtieth Young Master and this esteemed guest¡ You wish to visit the second floor? Please follow me!¡±
Fang Xi trailed behind the schrly shopkeeper, ascending the stairs to reach the second floor of the Myriad Laws Pavilion.
The second level was spacious, filled with a faint aroma of sandalwood lingering in the air.
Fang Xi paused, observing the shimmering restrictions on the wooden walls around him and a mirror suspended near the entrance, his gaze thoughtful.
¡°This is our pavilion¡¯s protective formation - the Eight Directions Immutable Formation. Please proceed!¡±
Kong Jiang stepped through first.
Yuan Feihong followed closely behind.
With a subtle smile ying on his lips, Fang Xi also entered beneath the mystical glow of the mirror.
As soon as he touched the mystical light, he felt as if every aspect of his body was scrutinized thoroughly, but the sensation vanished quickly. Prior to entering, Fang Xi had already activated the Demon Tree, employing its concealment technique.
Pausing briefly, he then casually surveyed the second floor of the Myriad Laws Pavilion, acting as if nothing unusual had urred.
The second floor was quite small, featuring only a few rows of bookshelves neatly arranged with jade slips.
¡°Ah¡ this level is typically reserved for Bai Ze Immortal City¡¯s esteemed guests; ess is not easily granted to others¡ Each jade slip contains only partial information about cultivation techniques and secret arts. To obtain theplete versions, one must purchase them, along with swearing an oath not to impart these skills to anyone else¡ Of course, you can opt for outright ownership, but the price would be¡¡± Kong Jiang chuckled, providing the introduction.
Kong Jiang cheerfully provided introductions.
Secret techniques and cultivation methods have always been at the core of any cultivation force. While the Myriad Laws Pavilion couldn¡¯t match Bai Feng Mountain¡¯s Techniques Pavilion, it was significantly superior to those typically found within Foundation Establishment-level immortal ns.
Fang Xi, with a serious expression, first examined thebels on each wooden shelf:
¡¯ Cultivation Methods¡¯, ¡®Secret Techniques¡¯, ¡®Hundred Skills of Cultivation¡¯¡
He approached the shelf for cultivation methods, extending his divine sense to scan through the jade slips stacked there.
Quickly dismissing techniques unsuitable for his attributes like metal, fire, and earth, he focused on wood attribute methods:
¡°The Ripple Art, suitable for dual water-wood elemental cultivators, offers potent magical energy, excelling inbat¡¡±
¡°The Violet Bamboo Art, ideal for wood elemental spiritual root cultivators, also enhances Body Tempering. Requires ingestion of specialized medicinal pills called ¡®Violet Bamboo Pills¡¯ during training¡¡±
¡°The Spirit Leaf Art¡progresses slowly but aids in oveing cultivation bottlenecks.¡±
¡°The Qing Mu Longevity Art, a wood attribute technique, provides average magical power yet has rapid cultivation speed¡with an additional effect of preserving youth!¡±
After some deliberation, Fang Xi picked up ¡°Spirit Leaf Art¡± and ¡°Cyanwood Longevity Art¡± for closer examination.
Kong Jiang, with a smile, began to borate, ¡°The ¡®Spirit Leaf Art¡¯ is an ancient technique, immensely powerful¡ unfortunately, it only extends up to Late Foundation Establishment stage.¡±
¡°As for this ¡®Cyanwood Longevity Art¡¯, it originated from the Wood Nation. It¡¯s said to be derived from the Core Formation sect that ruled before the Greenwood Sect, known for its stability despite moderate power. However, its key advantage lies in safety during cultivation¡ and remarkably, it can be practiced all the way to Initial Core Formation!¡±
¡°What a pity, both are ancient techniques and not among the top-tier incantations,¡± Yuan Feihong sighed softly.
¡°Oh? How does one distinguish between ancient and modern techniques, and what makes a top-tier magic incantation special?¡± Fang Xi asked, holding the jade slips with a smile.
Chapter 151: Qing Mu Longevity
¡°Well, you see¡ both ancient and new techniques have their top-tier methods. Amon feature is rapid advancement of magical energy, along with various powerful magic spells and divine abilities¡¡± Yuan Feihong scratched his head thoughtfully. ¡°As for the distinction between ancient and new techniques, it emerged only within the past few thousand years. For example, my cultivation method, the Netherheart Art, is considered a premier new technique. Its key characteristic? More detailed progression levels¡ In the Foundation Establishment stage, my Netherheart Art can be subdivided into nineyers, transforming major bottlenecks into smaller ones, making breakthroughs rtively easier¡¡±
¡°Conversely, those ancient techniques typically have simpler divisions like early, mid,te Foundation Establishment, and full mastery, making breakthroughs more challenging.¡±
¡°I see, then do you happen to have any wood attribute new techniques here?¡± Fang Xi had no interest in seeking unnecessary difficulties; if there was an easier path to breakthrough, he preferred taking it.
Dividing arge stage into numerous smaller steps provided clear targets, indeed facilitating greater sess.
¡°Well, about that¡ our pavilion¡¯s second floor does not offer such techniques,¡± Kong Jiang said with an awkward smile.
Fang Xi felt slightly disappointed but understood the reasoning. After all, as an outsider, he couldn¡¯t expect ess to the best options.
For cultivation methods avable for sale, simply being functional was alreadymendable.
¡°Very well, I¡¯ll choose this ¡®Azure Wood Longevity Art¡¯ then¡¡±
Fang Xi swiftly made his decision; since he intended to cultivate it, naturally, a higher-tier method would be preferable. ¡°Excellent choice, with thirty-less¡¯s endorsement, we can proceed with the transaction.¡± Kong Jiang smiled, stroking his beard before adding, ¡°The original version of this cultivation technique costs one thousand spirit stones, and if you wish to acquire exclusive rights, ten thousand spirit stones will suffice.¡±
¡°How could I afford that much?¡± Fang Xi chuckled wryly, taking out one thousand spirit stones from his bag of holding and cing them on the nearby table.
Kong Jiang meticulously counted the stones, then solemnly retreated behind the pavilion, opened a specific formation, and retrieved a wooden box.
Inside the boxy a deep green jade slip. ¡°Before the exchange, please swear upon the Great Dao that you will not disclose this cultivation technique to others!¡±
With a serious expression, Fang Xi took the oath promptly.
Subsequently, he calmly epted the jade slip from Kong Jiang and immersed his divine sense within it.
The Qi Refinement and Foundation Establishment stages of the ¡®Azure Wood Longevity Art¡¯ unfolded clearly before him. Upon reaching the end and confirming the inclusion of Core Formation instructions, he nodded in satisfaction.
¡°It¡¯s truly gratifying to have been able to assist Daoist friend today.¡±
Seeing the sessfulpletion of the transaction, Yuan Feihong visibly breathed a sigh of relief.
¡°Fellow Daoist Yuan¡¡±
However, Fang Xi didn¡¯t leave and instead casually browsed around the second floor. Seemingly nonchnt, he asked, ¡°Has there been anyplication regarding my admission to Bai Ze Immortal City?¡±
¡°Um¡ indeed, that¡¯s correct,¡± Yuan Feihong replied with a wry smile.
¡°In that case, I wouldn¡¯t wish to put Fellow Daoist Yuan in a difficult position¡ let¡¯s drop this matter.¡± Fang Xi maintained aposed smile. ¡°Moreover, if you¡¯ll allow me some indulgence, I would like to purchase another book here. Is that eptable?¡±
¡°Well¡¡± Kong Jiang appeared somewhat anxious.
In contrast, Yuan Feihong fell into contemtion.
¡°I realize it¡¯s an unreasonable request, but upon seeing a particr legacy, I find myself truly captivated. After this transaction, consider it as a favor owed from me.¡±
Fang Xi noticed Yuan Feihong¡¯s hesitation and intentionally raised the stakes. After all, favors hold value only when both parties attach importance; otherwise, they mean nothing!
¡°That works, let¡¯s proceed!¡± Yuan Feihong agreed. ¡°No need for you to owe me a favor, just consider our debts settled¡¡±
His relief was palpable, leaving Fang Xi slightly puzzled. Nevertheless, he seized the opportunity and approached the wooden shelf disying the hundred skills of cultivation. Picking up a jade slip, he beamed brightly, ¡°Could you tell me the price for this Second Rank Puppet Technique legacy?¡±
An hourter.
On the second floor of the Myriad Laws Pavilion.
Kong Jiang and Fang Xi had already departed, leaving Yuan Feihong alone, gazing pensively at the mirror.
Within the formation, a sh of light appeared as Ouyang Zhen stepped out, swiftly casting a cultivation technique towards the mirror.
The mirror¡¯s surface shimmered momentarily before transforming into a streak of radiant light that flew into Ouyang Zhen¡¯s sleeve.
He nced at his little junior brother and asked with a smile, ¡°Why didn¡¯t you inquire about the oue, Shidi?¡±
¡°Since Shixiong neither immediately informed nor hinted anything, I knew the result,¡± Yuan Feihong replied with a wry smile. ¡°It seems Fellow Daoist Fang still doesn¡¯t meet Shixiong¡¯s expectations¡¡±
¡°Hmm, bone age of fifty-eight¡ Decent body refinement, but average magical energy. Judging from appearance, his spiritual root aptitude is quite ordinary too¡¡± Ouyang Zhen continued, ¡°Using my divine sense enhanced by Master¡¯s ¡®Insight Mirror¡¯, even a Mid-Foundation Establishment cultivator wouldn¡¯t detect it. You can be assured¡¡±
Ouyang Zhen revealed his findings, ¡°This individual does indeed have some minor secrets, but they merely involve concealing his body refinement capabilities. Your Little Qing likely hesitated due to his potent closebat skills¡ His potential is limited and not worth our investment. Let¡¯s forego offering him as an honorary guest¡¡±
¡°As Shixiong wishes,¡± Yuan Feihong acquiesced with a bow, showing no further contention.
¡°Haha, this fellow has a bit of cunning! He took advantage of the situation to acquire a tier-2 puppet technique!¡± Ouyang Zhenughed heartily. ¡°With this skill, he¡¯ll manage well enough in the Immortal City; there¡¯s no need for concern, Shidi¡ Moreover, now our debts are settled, neither owing the other anything.¡±
¡°Yes¡¡± Yuan Feihong murmured softly.
In truth, not all favors appreciate over time; sometimes, unreturned kindness can breed resentment. Promptly repaying a favor can be a wise decision.
Fang Xi acknowledged that he had no personal bond with Yuan Feihong nor any expectation of future repayment as her cultivation advanced.
It was better to cash in now rather than hold onto potential debts; practicality prevailed!
Returning to Smokey Willow Lane, Building 87, Fang Xi gazed at the courtyard and its first-rank spiritual energy environment, then shook his head. ¡°While I have my cultivation techniques, I can¡¯t expect to freeload on this immortal¡¯s cave indefinitely. Still need to rent somewhere in the inner city¡¡±
¡°Well, that suits me fine - working for others is out of the question¡ I¡¯ll continue being a rogue cultivator¡¡±
¡°Those unexpectedplications surrounding the honorary guest affair, the ones behind it, hmph¡¡± Fang Xi¡¯s eyes gleamed deeply.
After about two weeks, rumors began circting throughout Bai Ze Immortal City. The tale of a rogue Foundation Establishment cultivator failing to be an honorary guest became a popr joke.
While Qi Refinement cultivators dared not show disrespect to Foundation Establishment practitioners directly, they gleefully spread gossip behind their backs, likely fueled by some hidden envy or malice.
Fang Xi, having recently achieved Foundation Establishment as a rogue cultivator, gained another round of minor fame - albeit this time for infamy¡
However, he remainedpletely unfazed.
What did others¡¯ opinions matter to him? In a few hundred years, he could dance on their graves if he pleased!
During this period, Chen Ping unexpectedly passed away, leaving Fang Xi somewhat saddened. He attended the mourning ceremony and bid farewell to Lu Zhi and others.
¡°Daoist Jin Ling¡ my reputation in the city has taken a turn for the worsetely. Would you consider leaving?¡± After paying his respects to Chen Ping and saying goodbye to Lu Zhi and herpanions, Fang Xi casually asked Jin Ling when they were alone.
¡°I firmly believe Qianbei is not such a person!¡± Despite her delicate appearance, Jin Ling disyed unexpected conviction.
¡°That¡¯s excellent,¡± Fang Xiughed heartily. ¡°I happen to be in need of a maid and steward. If Daoist friend wouldn¡¯t mind, let us head to the inner city first and rent a tier-two immortal¡¯s cave before discussing other matters¡¡±
The Inner City of Bai Ze Immortal City was ssified as tier-2 spiritualnd, with various grades of immortal¡¯s caves avable.
As expected, the manager handling rentals was once again Manager Han from their previous encounter.
Fang Xi promptly leased an immortal¡¯s cave at a cost of seven hundred fifty spirit stones for a minimum ten-year term.
The new immortal¡¯s cave was spacious, and after inspecting it thoroughly, Fang Xi found that its spiritual energy quality was around mid-tier for tier-2, suitable enough for his cultivation needs. He felt quite satisfied.
¡°Master, please name the immortal¡¯s cave!¡± Jin Ling handed him a talisman brush with a cheerful smile.
¡°How about ¡®Peach Blossom Pavilion¡¯¡ On Peach Blossom Ind stands Peach Blossom Pavilion, Within this pavilion dwells the Peach Blossom Immortal, The immortal sows peach trees aplenty, And plucks blossoms to sell for wine money¡¡± Fang Xi spoke with a sense of nostalgia.
He anticipated spending a significant amount of time living in the Peach Blossom Pavilion.
The recentplications surrounding the honorary guest position likely stemmed from some mischief-maker, possibly even Song Qing of the Song n!
If he ventured out of the city frequently now, there could be potential dangers lurking!
While Fang Xi wasn¡¯t afraid, there was no need to directly confront the Song n either.
Instead, he decided to remain within Bai Ze Immortal City indefinitely!
With mid-tier tier-2 spiritual energy avable here,bined with his cultivation techniques and aptitude akin to high-grade spiritual roots, he could steadily enhance his magical energy through meditation alone, without requiring additional resources!
Moreover, as the young master of a prominent n, with high status and responsibilities, how feasible would it be for them to keep a constant watch over Bai Ze Immortal City long-term?
In terms of patience and spare time, Fang Xi held a clear advantage!
Once his realm surpasses theirs in the future, he will effortlessly suppress and seek revenge!
Two yearster.
At Peach Blossom Pavilion.
Inside a secluded room, Fang Xi opened his eyes, revealing a gentle azure glow within them.
¡°One year toprehend the technique, another year to adjust the flow of magical energy. Today, I have finally mastered the ¡®Azure Wood Longevity Art¡¯¡¡±
He felt deeply moved.
In terms ofplexity and intricacy, the ¡®Azure Wood Longevity Art¡¯ far surpassed techniques like the ¡®Evesting Spring Art¡¯ or ¡®Greenwood Arts¡¯. As expected, it was truly worthy of being a cultivation method capable of reaching Core Formation!
Adjusting the cultivation technique itself was no simple task either.
Fortunately, Fang Xi discovered that his ¡®Azure Wood Spirit Body¡¯ possessed boundless wonders, seemingly enhancing even this process.
Without such an advantage, transitioning the foundation of his cultivation technique would not have been so effortless.
Focusing inward on his dantian, he observed twenty droplets of azure liquid magical energy. Strikingly, their color had deepened, now vibrant and almost translucent, resembling exquisite jade with faint patterns emerging on their surfaces.
These were the transformed droplets of magical energy from the ¡®Azure Wood Longevity Art¡¯. Although the total quantity remained unchanged, their quality had significantly increased!
¡°After reaching Foundation Establishment, the subsequent cultivation primarily involves increasing the maximum limit of liquid magical energy¡¡±
¡°ording to the description of the ¡®Azure Wood Longevity Art¡¯, one must umte at least forty to fifty drops of liquid magical energy within the dantian before attempting a breakthrough to Mid-Foundation Establishment¡ This process typically takes cultivators several decades of gradual refinement, unless aided by medicinal pills¡¡±
Replenishing expended magical energy was swift, but increasing its overall limit proved exceedingly challenging.
Unfortunately, after entering the Foundation Establishment stage, finding medicinal pills that enhance magical energy became quite rare.
For instance, the Waterswell Pill form Fang Xi obtained from the Dragonfish Zhong n required main ingredients with hundreds of years¡¯ growth, making them difficult to gather¡
This clearly demonstrated how arduous it is for Foundation Establishment cultivators to advance their magical energy.
Moreover, some cultivators, constrained by their spiritual root aptitudes, might spend their entire lives lingering only in early Foundation Establishment.
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