Chapter 120: Return (Please vote for monthly tickets)
Chapter 120: Return (Please vote for monthly tickets)
On Myriad Islands Lake.
A green figure swiftly moved, herding thousands of fish schools, and then disappeared into an underwater cave.
After these fish schools entered, root tendrils emerged from the cave entrance, like a large net, completely sealing off the cave. The fish inside were caught in one fell swoop. . .
Splash!
The Big Green Fish surfaced, with Fang Xi standing on its back. "Well done. . ."
As a fish king that had awakened a trace of flood dragon bloodline, the Big Green Fish naturally possessed the ability to control fish schools. Herding large schools of fish to provide an extra meal for the Demonic Tree was exceedingly simple.
The Big Green Fish secretly blew a few bubbles, lamenting that it finally didn't have to die.
As for becoming a fish traitor? There was no other way. . .
"Let's go, let's look around!"
Fang Xi controlled the Big Green Fish, testing its movement speed. He found that it was quite good in the water, barely suitable as a mode of transport.
Moreover, this fish had even awakened a few water-element spells, capable of flapping about slightly above the water.
"If it reaches the second-order, it should be able to control water mist and fly above the water. . . perhaps it can truly be cultivated into a spirit beast mount."
Fang Xi tapped the Big Green Fish with his foot. "Did you hear that? From now on, herd the fish well for this master, otherwise, I'll still stew you. . ."
The Big Green Fish hastily nodded, almost shedding pearl-like tears.
"To be able to cultivate a low-grade spirit fish into a first-order superior-grade one, my beast-taming art should also have reached the first-order superior-grade level. . ."
Originally, adopting the Big Green Fish was merely to test various cultivation methods and to refine his beast-taming arts.
And Fang Xi naturally knew that he had consumed a large amount of snake-flood dragon essence blood to barely cultivate a small green dragon, which was a very low cost-performance solution.
At the very least, the Zhong Clan definitely didn't use this method; otherwise, it would be too much of a loss. . .
Furthermore, the Big Green Fish was able to advance rapidly in rank, entirely relying on the snake-flood dragon essence blood.
Now that the essence blood was exhausted, and the snake-flood dragon was only first-order superior-grade, it wouldn't be much help for the Big Green Fish's future advancement.
For this fish to break through to the second-order, it would require even more time and greater opportunities.
...
After releasing the Big Green Fish into Myriad Islands Lake and instructing it not to stray too far from Emerald Cliff, Fang Xi didn't pay it much more attention.
In any case, he had already imprinted his Divine Consciousness onto this fish and signed a master-servant contract; a single thought could control its life and death.
At least before this fish advanced to the second-order, it had no power to resist whatsoever.
He arrived at the spirit field to check the growth of this year's spirit rice.
"Master!"
Hai Da Gui had grown into a simple-looking, dark-skinned young man, smiling subserviently beside him. "I see another bountiful harvest this year!"
"Hmm, when the time comes, your reward won't be little."
Fang Xi nodded and greeted the boy-like Xiao Hu.
Widow Wang was also gradually getting older, and the farm work was mainly handled by Xiao Hu.
But today, both of them looked as if they wanted to speak but hesitated.
"Is something wrong?"
Fang Xi plucked an ear of rice for inspection and asked casually.
"Master, it's like this, Lu Guo recently returned to Peach Blossom Island. . . " Hai Da Gui and Xiao Hu exchanged glances. It was Xiao Hu who stepped forward. "Brother Lu joined the joint enforcement team five years ago and fought for several years outside. As a result, he suffered severe injuries in a recent operation. It's said he repeatedly used secret techniques that depleted his vitality to save his life, damaging his foundation. He had no choice but to withdraw from the enforcement team and return to Peach Blossom Island to recuperate. . ."
"Oh!"
Fang Xi's expression was faint, with a hint of emotion.
Ordinary people have no opportunity if they don't fight for their lives. But even if they do fight for their lives, the probability of losing, like Mu Wen and Lu Guo, is greater!
The cultivation world is even more cruel; losing not only means losing one's original capital, but even potentially one's life!
Lu Guo being able to save his life, his luck was still pretty good.
Xiao Hu and Hai Da Gui exchanged glances. "Brother Lu still wants to come back and continue working for Master."
Although Lu Guo had accumulated some Spirit Stones over the past few years, treating his injuries consumed most of them, truly leaving him penniless. Unable to even rent a cave dwelling, he could only seek help from his two friends.
"Oh?"
Fang Xi gave an noncommittal response. "Bring him back for me to see. . ."
...
Three days later.
Lu Guo walked into the residence, gazing at the familiar scenery, especially the vibrant Fang Xi, feeling as if everything was just yesterday. His heart filled with an unidentifiable feeling, he respectfully bowed. "Master!"
"Hmm, Qi Refinement sixth layer, not bad!"
Fang Xi held a fishing rod in his hand, fishing for colorful koi in the pond.
With a sweep of his Divine Consciousness, everything about Lu Guo was instantly revealed to him.
First, his appearance. Although Lu Guo now looked like a young man, faint strands of white hair had appeared at his temples, showing signs of aging. This was a manifestation of damaged vitality and even a significant reduction in lifespan.
Besides that, although this person was at the sixth layer of Qi Refinement, his magic power was unstable, likely due to consuming pills, and his injuries had not fully healed.
Originally, advancing two layers in magic power in five years, Lu Guo's gamble couldn't be considered a loss.
If he had enough opportunities, slaying powerful enemies to gain rewards, he might have received blessings from Spirit Sky Island, giving him hope of breaking through to the late-stage Qi Refinement!
However, the enforcement team's missions were too dangerous. Even if he had overcome several perils, his luck couldn't always be so good.
This time, he encountered a powerful enemy and had no choice but to use a desperate secret technique, ultimately damaging his foundation.
"Lu Guo ah. . . with your abilities, to farm here with me is a waste of your talent. . ."
Fang Xi shook his head, unwilling to keep this person.
A cultivator who had seen blood was vastly different from someone like Xiao Hu.
Having taken lives, his heart had also grown wild, making him an uncontrollable factor.
Fang Xi just wanted to farm peacefully. Recently, the Demonic Tree's growth had accelerated several times, and he felt he could cultivate the 'Wood Spirit Body' within a few decades. He couldn't afford to fail at the last step.
"Master, my vitality is now injured, I cannot easily engage in combat again or hunt demon beasts. . ."
Lu Guo gave a bitter laugh. "Master, you also lack a capable person under your command. This one, though unworthy, has made many friends over the years and is very well-informed about news outside Peach Blossom Island. I can gather information for Master, or even occasionally run errands off the island. . ."
He had, after all, served under Fang Xi before, knowing what the other party needed.
"That sounds good, but how can I trust your information-gathering abilities? " Fang Xi tossed his fishing rod and asked with a laugh.
'This person. . . is still as patient and shrewd as before. '
Lu Guo's heart suddenly felt empty, feeling as though he had been completely seen through by the other party. He quickly suppressed this uncomfortable feeling and spoke, answering, "Master, do you know that the Young Island Master was once assassinated?"
"Hmm? When? Who was the assailant?"
Fang Xi truly didn't know about this. After all, Hai Da Gui and Xiao Hu were both at the bottom of Peach Blossom Island's hierarchy and couldn't hear any secret news.
"This happened two years ago. I happened to learn a bit of inside information. . . " Lu Guo's expression was calm. "The assailant is unknown, but was a late-stage Qi Refinement cultivator. At that time, they severely wounded the Young Island Master. If not for the high-quality artifact on the Young Island Master and the life-saving talisman granted by the Island Master, she might have perished. . ."
"Who has a grudge against Ruan Dan?"
Fang Xi felt a bit confused.
"Even without a grudge, they could still be an enemy," Lu Guo analyzed. "The Young Island Master's talent is extraordinary. She already displayed sixth-layer Qi Refinement cultivation in a battle five years ago. If not for her injuries, she would probably have already broken through to late-stage Qi Refinement by now!"
"Late-stage Qi Refinement before the age of thirty is the standard for elite disciples of major sects, definitely a Foundation Establishment seed, and in the future, even a sliver of hope for Core Formation. Too many people don't wish to see this happen. . ."
"The tallest tree in the forest is the first to be felled by the wind. . ."
Fang Xi sighed with emotion and thought of Ruan Xing Ling. This woman's Foundation Establishment process would likely not be too smooth either.
And himself. . .
Hmm, he was now forty-three years old. If he announced he had broken through to late-stage Qi Refinement, it wouldn't be a big problem.
Breaking through to late-stage Qi Refinement before the age of forty was the goal for 'elite seeds' sought by some small families and sects, because there was still a possibility of reaching Qi Refinement Completion before sixty, retaining a sliver of hope for Foundation Establishment.
Breaking through after forty would attract much less attention and effort.
'Stuck at this bottleneck for so many years, it's about time to break through. '
Fang Xi, who was actually at the ninth layer of Qi Refinement, thought to himself.
He looked at Lu Guo again.
This person's analysis was logical and well-reasoned, truly courageous and resourceful. If he hadn't suffered severe injuries, he might truly achieve something in the future.
"What do you think of the Silver-Armored Demon? " Fang Xi asked another question.
"Although the Silver-Armored Demon is powerful, it is ultimately just a Qi Refinement cultivator," Lu Guo answered in a deep voice. "To repeatedly escape from Foundation Establishment cultivators, there must be strong backing from a Foundation Establishment force behind it. Most likely the Dragon Fish Zhong Clan!"
If people hadn't seen it in previous years, by now, smart people had already come to realize it.
Furthermore, the Foundation Establishment ancestors of the Dragon Fish Zhong Clan and the Thirty-Six Islands Alliance might have even clashed secretly a few times.
The peaceful standoff between the two major forces of Myriad Islands Lake was about to be broken. What followed would be a true cultivator war!
"The storm is brewing over the lake!"
Fang Xi looked towards Myriad Islands Lake, muttering to himself.
Pitter-patter!
At the horizon where the lake met the sky, dark clouds gathered thickly, lightning flashed, and suddenly, a torrential downpour began.
The rainwater fell upon the small Cloud Rain Array but was blocked by the restriction, dripping in strands from the edges. . .
He turned to look at Lu Guo. "Alright, you can stay."
"Many thanks, Master! " Lu Guo was overjoyed and bowed in gratitude.
...
Lu Guo returned to Peach Blossom Island and quietly built another thatched hut within Emerald Cliff.
Every day, he would farm with Xiao Hu, Hai Da Gui, Widow Wang, and others, occasionally running errands and gathering information for Fang Xi. . .
Among cultivators, for short distances, messages could be transmitted via sound transmission talismans; for slightly longer distances, spirit pigeons could be used for messaging, or more advanced methods like flying sword messages, projection talismans, water mirror techniques, etc.
Therefore, if it was just to gather information, he didn't even need to leave Peach Blossom Island.
Fang Xi held numerous pieces of intelligence; his only feeling was that the Myriad Islands Lake cultivation world was no longer peaceful.
Marauding cultivators ran rampant, and many renowned rogue cultivators met with tragic ends!
Even families and sects that occupied an island were trampled flat. . .
"When two major forces clash, they will inevitably first stabilize their surroundings, clearing out third parties and neutral forces. . ."
"When Myriad Islands Lake and the Thirty-Six Islands Alliance went to war, they also acted in this manner: first harvesting the rogue cultivators, then blaming it on the bandit cultivators. . . And now, the one taking the most blame is actually myself!"
Fang Xi looked at the intelligence reports that casually mentioned the 'Silver-Armored Demon' wiping out entire families. He was utterly speechless.
Affected by this, Peach Blossom Island was also on high alert; the prices of artifacts and talismans began to climb, various exchange gatherings were frequently held, and all cultivators nervously awaited their judgment. . .
One year later.
News arrived that the Mo Family of Black Sand Island had been annihilated!
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