Chapter 126: Superior-grade Array Master (For the Silver Patron! )
"What a pity. . ."
Fang Xi couldn't help but feel a pang of regret for Ruan Xing Ling.
Only after Foundation Establishment, with a lifespan of two hundred years, could one truly be considered to have stepped through the grand gates of immortal cultivation!
This woman's aptitude, temperament, and fortune were all quite good; there was no reason to say she had no hope of Foundation Establishment.
To be interrupted this time could be considered missing an opportunity of moderate significance.
"If not for this time, I wouldn't have known that the atmosphere within the Alliance had degenerated to such a deplorable state. . ."
Ruan Xing Ling let out a cold laugh: "If Peach Blossom Island were to declare its secession from the Thirty-Six Islands Alliance, I fear that that Yu Lingzi and another Foundation Establishment cultivator from the Alliance would openly come to slaughter our entire clan!"
"This matter, perhaps, is related to the 'Three Upper Families'."
Fang Xi pondered for a moment, then gave his conclusion.
The establishment of Spirit Sky Island's market this time was largely also a decision of the Three Upper Families.
"Fortunately, their goal has already been achieved; next, they will even compensate us. . ."
Ruan Xing Ling's smile held a hint of bitterness.
"Still, I don't know what the Island Master encountered this time. . ."
Fang Xi's eyes flickered as he asked about the crucial point.
"This time, I obtained a fortunate encounter in White Peace Immortal City and gathered several precious hundred-year-old spirit herbs, preparing to cooperate with someone to ask a certain alchemy master to refine a 'Foundation Establishment Pill'!"
Ruan Xing Ling tucked a strand of her beautiful hair behind her ear, directly revealing the truth.
White Peace Immortal City was located at the border of the Yue, Wu, and Mu States, backed by the Myriad Beast Mountain Range. It was rich in resources, had a Core Formation ancestor overseeing it, and was protected by a third-order grand array. Fighting and killing were forbidden within the city.
Furthermore, it was the only channel through which Foundation Establishment Pills might flow, apart from Core Formation sects like the Black Heaven Sect!
"A Foundation Establishment Pill, actually!"
Fang Xi couldn't help but sigh with emotion; Ruan Xing Ling's luck was indeed quite good.
He had originally thought that she had only obtained one Foundation Establishment Spiritual Item; he hadn't expected her to actually have a chance to obtain a Foundation Establishment Pill!
No wonder the other forces were all anxious.
Other Foundation Establishment Spiritual Items, such as malevolent qi that could assist in body tempering, not only had a much lower success rate than the Foundation Establishment Pill, but most also lacked the pill's effect of protecting meridians and ensuring survival upon failed Foundation Establishment.
With this effect, cultivators would have a good mindset when breaking through, which actually provided a certain bonus to the success of Foundation Establishment.
Through further questioning, Fang Xi learned that there were several alchemy masters in White Peace Immortal City who accepted commissions to refine Foundation Establishment Pills, requiring only the client to provide the raw materials.
Furthermore, their pill-forming rates seemed quite good; it could be said that they were the greatest hope for rogue cultivators attempting Foundation Establishment in the surrounding three States.
"However, this time, I originally provided fewer spirit herbs in cooperation with others. If fewer than two pills were successfully formed, there wouldn't actually be much hope. . ."
Ruan Xing Ling spoke the truth: "After learning of Black Sand Island's destruction, I knew something was amiss in my heart, so I exchanged the original few hundred-year-old spirit herbs for the exotic treasure 'Bronze Ancient Sword' and rushed back all the way. . ."
"Alas. . . for rogue cultivators, achieving Foundation Establishment is as difficult as ascending to the heavens!"
Fang Xi did not ask Ruan Xing Ling why she didn't retrieve those few spirit herbs and find someone to cooperate with next time.
Within White Peace Immortal City, it was not as if there were no forces targeting her, or rather. . . the spirit herbs in her possession!
A chance to obtain a Foundation Establishment Pill was enough to make even Foundation Establishment forces covet it.
If she hadn't exchanged them for an artifact that could immediately enhance her combat power, Ruan Xing Ling might not have made it back alive!
"Without the support of a Foundation Establishment cultivator, to achieve Foundation Establishment truly requires a fortunate encounter. Perhaps Xing Ling's fortune was simply not enough. . ."
Ruan Xing Ling said regretfully.
Fang Xi, however, secretly took Ruan Xing Ling's lesson to heart. Even with a Core Formation ancestor overseeing White Peace Immortal City, one couldn't simply rest easy.
Those Foundation Establishment forces merely paid attention to appearances on the surface; in reality, they still preyed upon others!
Although White Peace Immortal City forbade fighting, if one exposed their wealth, they would still face open robbery and plunder.
'It seems that having someone else refine pills is utterly unreliable. '
'And emerging victorious at an auction would be even more conspicuous. '
'What should I do in the future? '
...
After Ruan Xing Ling departed, Fang Xi continued to inventory his assets.
The 'Green Origin Shield' from that second-in-command was a superior-grade defensive artifact, which could perfectly serve as a replacement after the 'Green Tortoise Shield' was rendered useless this time.
After all, Fang Xi was now a master of late-stage Qi Refinement; his artifacts also needed to be updated.
Apart from that, Ruan Xing Ling didn't want the Kou Family Leader's storage bag and gave it directly to Fang Xi.
As for that gigantic spirit boat, it was useless for Fang Xi to keep, so he handed it over to Ruan Xing Ling.
In total, the resources within the Kou Family Leader's storage bag were worth about a thousand spirit stones, which Fang Xi and Ruan Xing Ling split evenly.
Adding the 'contributions' of the other rogue cultivators, his visible wealth became incredibly abundant.
These were all spirit stones that could be openly spent.
As for the previous ones, they were considered ill-gotten gains, and he still needed to find a channel to launder them. . .
...
One year later.
Fang Xi was forty-four years old.
"Not bad, not bad. Four pills successfully formed. Even this 'Green Ganoderma Pill' doesn't pose a challenge to me. . ."
Ever since he learned of Ruan Xing Ling's plight, he had quietly increased the time he spent on alchemy.
By now, he had even successfully refined the 'Green Ganoderma Pill,' which was considered relatively difficult among superior-grade first-order pills.
"After all, this is equivalent to a Foundation Establishment cultivator studying alchemy, and I've spent so many years on it. . ."
"Next, it's time to try refining second-order pills, isn't it?"
Unfortunately, there were two significant problems in this regard.
The first problem was the lack of a second-order pill formula!
After all, the alchemy inheritance Fang Xi had acquired back then was only for the first-order.
The second was the lack of innate true fire for refining pills!
This type of flame was only possessed by Foundation Establishment cultivators.
However, Fang Xi, having thoroughly read ancient texts, found an alternative solution: using earth fire!
Unfortunately, Peach Blossom Island had no earth fire veins.
Even if it did, it would be impossible for him to use it for alchemy all day long.
"The reason why first-order spirit wood charcoal fire is inferior to second-order earth fire is, first, insufficient heat, and second, instability. . ."
"These two problems could actually be solved through array formations. . . by designing a 'Fire Gathering Array', and then burning a large amount of spirit wood charcoal to maintain long-term stability. . ."
Fang Xi pondered, then sketched a few rough designs within his jade slip.
The next moment, his eyes lit up: "I understand. . ."
In that instant, through analogy and inference, the difficult problem he had been struggling to comprehend within first-order array formations finally yielded a solution!
"Among the hundred arts of immortal cultivation, many actually share commonalities. . ."
He seemed to enter a state of enlightenment, beginning to design an array formation independently.
Half a day later. . .
Fang Xi gazed at the array formation in his hand, a look of emotion on his face: "Although this array consumes a lot of resources, nearly several times the cost compared to renting an earth fire chamber, its advantage lies in its concealment, and. . . it can be set up even in places without earth fire veins. The flames it produces exceed ordinary first-order spirit flames, faintly touching upon the second-order. . ."
"My current array mastery should now be considered to have broken through to superior-grade first-order, right?"
The purpose of array formations is to accomplish things that cultivators at their current level cannot, by consuming spirit stones and the amplification of restrictions!
For example, a superior-grade first-order Fire Gathering Array could theoretically boost the power of a first-order spirit fire to a level comparable to a second-order spirit fire, though the consumption would be considerable. . .
"And then, there's the second-order pill formula. . . I truly don't have one."
Gazing at the completed array formation, Fang Xi couldn't help but feel a little frustrated.
For him to design a second-order pill formula from scratch was completely unrealistic and beyond his current capabilities.
Even if he did, the materials required for a second-order pill formula would be quite terrifying; it wasn't something that could be managed with just a few or a dozen years' worth of spirit herbs.
'Even a Foundation Establishment cultivator would find it extremely difficult to raise their alchemy skills to the second-order. . . '
Fang Xi sighed, set aside his thoughts, and returned to the outside world to enjoy some tea.
Beneath the peach blossom tree, a jade slip appeared in his hand, and his divine consciousness immersed itself within it.
This jade slip had been found in the storage bag of that eighth-layer Qi Refinement second-in-command. It recorded a cultivation method named the 'Dragon Roar Art'.
Hmm, Fang Xi was certainly not attracted by its dual cultivation methods; he was merely interested in a certain chapter that emphasized calming the mind.
After all, these dual cultivation methods also had quite high requirements for male cultivators: one had to maintain a state of mind as still as water when casting the techniques.
Fang Xi felt that it could be used to temper his mind, allowing him to avoid interference from the demonic tree's instincts.
Indeed, perhaps because he had cultivated divine consciousness, his talent in these mind-calming and tranquilizing cultivation methods was surprisingly high.
After a little contemplation, he was able to get started.
Just as his mind settled into tranquility, a sound transmission talisman flew in from outside.
Fang Xi took it, couldn't help but sigh, then retrieved his Black Feather Boat and flew all the way to Twin Peaks West.
"Wuwuwu. . . Uncle, my mother, my mother she. . ."
Wei Yi Xi ran out, crying, her face covered in tear stains.
"I'll go take a look. . ."
Fang Xi offered some comfort, then walked into the room, smelling a strong medicinal scent.
Hua Chan Juan lay on the bed, her skin wrinkled like a chicken's and her hair white as a crane's. Her life force was like a candle flickering in the wind, ready to pass away at any moment.
Fang Xi was not surprised by this.
This woman had fallen ill from years of accumulated toil, and during the Kou Family Leader's attack on the island, she had expended her vital essence using a desperate spell, greatly damaging her lifespan.
By this point, her oil was drained and her lamp extinguished; no medicine could help!
"Fang. . . Fellow Daoist. . ."
Hua Chan Juan's eyes barely opened a sliver; there was no trace of her youthful beauty left.
She gazed at Fang Xi, who still looked like a young man, her expression dazed, as if she had returned to the past.
A moment later, she murmured: "Yi Xi. . . I can't let her go. . . There are too many bad people outside. . . She's too naive. . . Fellow Daoist is someone worthy of entrusting her to. . . I beg you, I beg you. . ."
"Mother!"
Wei Yi Xi hurriedly leaned closer, her face covered in tear stains.
"Please accept my daughter as your disciple! I don't ask for a smooth immortal path for her future, only that she can live safely and peacefully. . ."
Hua Chan Juan seemed to expend her last ounce of strength; after stating her request, she closed her eyes.
"Mother! !"
Wei Yi Xi's tears fell like rain.
Fang Xi sighed, walked out, and inspected the already rebuilt flower garden.
A moment later, Wei Yi Xi walked out from inside the house: "Uncle. . ."
"Xi Xi, your mother asked me to take you as my disciple. What are your thoughts on this? " Fang Xi stood with his hands behind his back, asking casually.
Gazing at the upright figure of the young man in green robes, as tall and straight as a pine, Wei Yi Xi knelt down: "Disciple greets Master!"
"I'm merely at the seventh layer of Qi Refinement; how can I properly take any disciples?"
Fang Xi shook his head, then looked at Wei Yi Xi, who remained kneeling, and sighed: "Fine. . . I will teach you everything I've learned, but you don't need to call me Master. . ."
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