Chapter 128: The Pill Furnace (Please subscribe)
Chapter 128: The Pill Furnace (Please subscribe)
"Where is the Island Master?"
Fang Xi put away his Green Reaping Sword, but then suddenly asked.
Given his relationship with Ruan Xing Ling, on her grand birthday, she would surely come in person to congratulate him, rather than sending a young disciple to do it.
"My Master is currently entertaining an important guest. She instructed me to come and inform you that she will arrive shortly. . ."
Ruan Dan bowed slightly, conveying Ruan Xing Ling's apologies.
"So that's how it is. . ."
Fang Xi remained unperturbed, seemingly unbothered by this, and smiled: "Young Island Master, since you're here, you must drink a few more cups. . ."
"Alright. . ."
When she was young and impetuous, she had indeed offended many people. She later paid a heavy price, and now, wanting to make amends, she wondered if it was too late.
The twenty-year-old Peach Blossom Wine was fragrant and mellow on the palate, with a lingering aftertaste, easy to get drunk on if one wasn't careful.
Especially the little lass Wei Yi Xi, who, without realizing it, had already flushed red and collapsed on the table, overwhelmed by the alcohol, still mumbling something under her breath.
Ruan Dan also had a few cups, her face flushed like flying clouds, her eyes shimmering.
"Haha, everyone must enjoy themselves today. . ."
Fang Xi also drank several cups, feeling quite like an old man indulging in youthful exuberance: "Let me go invite the Island Master to drink with us. . ."
With that, he directly steered his Black Feather Boat and flew towards Mirror Moon Lake.
The fierce winds whistled by, but his eyes were clear, showing not a trace of drunkenness.
He was genuinely interested in Ruan Xing Ling's important guest.
Inside the manor.
"Fellow Daoist Fang. . ."
Two cultivators saw Fang Xi and quickly came forward to greet him.
"Where is the Island Master? Today is my grand birthday, so I specifically came to invite her for a drink."
Fang Xi said with a beaming smile.
Regarding this second-most powerful expert on the island, the cultivator dared not neglect him and directly replied: "The Island Master is entertaining a guest in the 'Drunken Warm Pavilion'. Fellow Daoist Fang, perhaps you could wait a moment."
"Hmm, then I'll just wait in the 'Listening Rain Tower' next door."
Fang Xi acted casually, asking one person to accompany him to the Listening Rain Tower.
He was extremely familiar with the layout here. The Listening Rain Tower was adjacent to the 'Drunken Warm Pavilion', merely tens of meters away!
And after breaking through to Great Perfection, his Divine Consciousness range could reach ten zhang, which was about thirty-three meters!
After arriving at the Listening Rain Tower, Fang Xi sipped spiritual tea while secretly releasing his Divine Consciousness.
Although he was concerned that the Drunken Warm Pavilion might have restrictions inside, such as 'protective talismans' and the like, Fang Xi dared not rashly extend his Divine Consciousness into it.
But even from outside, he could hear muffled words.
"...My Zhong family ancestor. . ."
". . . The demise of the Thirty-Six Islands is not far off. . ."
". . . Yu Lingzi is dead. . . Fellow Daoist, think carefully. . ."
...
After the time it takes for an incense stick to burn, a middle-aged cultivator flew out of the Drunken Warm Pavilion.
His temples were streaked with white, but his face gave Fang Xi a subtle sense of familiarity.
"It's that attendant from Dragon Gate Pavilion back then—Zhong Wangu!"
"It's actually someone from the Zhong family, coming to win over Peach Blossom Island?"
"If what he said is true, the Foundation Establishment cultivator of Spirit Sky Island Market—Yu Lingzi—is dead?"
"The Thirty-Six Islands Alliance painstakingly schemed to surpass the Zhong family, but unexpectedly suffered a heavy blow right at the beginning!"
...
After the gloomy-faced Zhong Wangu left, Ruan Xing Ling came to the Listening Rain Tower.
"Island Master, I've opened three jars of twenty-year-old aged wine over there. Why don't you come have a drink?"
Fang Xi cheerfully extended the invitation.
"Perfect!"
Ruan Xing Ling waved lightly, and a shower of flower petals enveloped her. Their escape lights connected, and they soared into the sky together.
The fierce winds hit their faces, but Ruan Xing Ling looked at Fang Xi with a half-smile: "Fellow Daoist Fang, is there anything you wish to ask?"
"Since the Island Master has already reforged the Green Reaping Sword, I understand your meaning, but. . ."
Fang Xi's face showed hesitation: "In this life, I only wish to beat swords into ploughshares, and no longer engage in strife and killing. . ."
"Alas, in the cultivation world, if you don't kill others, others will kill you. The three major families are eyeing us covetously, wanting to fully integrate the alliance, turn it into a sect, or even dominate Myriad Islands Lake. . ."
Ruan Xing Ling said bitterly: "For this, they wouldn't hesitate to unite with outsiders, disrupting my Foundation Establishment preparations. . ."
'This time, is she perhaps opening up? '
Fang Xi probed, asking: "Then does the Island Master favor the Zhong family more?"
"The Zhong family are wolves!"
Ruan Xing Ling shook her head even more: "Don't you know that the Silver-Armored Demon seven years ago must have had the Zhong family's backing? How could I possibly side with them. . ."
Fang Xi fell silent.
He had just seen Zhong Wangu acting as a lobbyist!
Furthermore, the other party even revealed important news. From this, it seemed the Zhong family should have the upper hand.
Under these circumstances, Ruan Xing Ling seemingly chose none of them.
Could it be. . . there's a third-party force interfering in Myriad Islands Lake?
That's not impossible!
'It's just. . . which force could it be? And how did Ruan Xing Ling connect with them and come to trust them? '
Fang Xi suppressed his desire to probe further.
In truth, he didn't care who ruled Myriad Islands Lake, as long as they didn't disturb his tree planting.
At present, he and Ruan Xing Ling arrived at Emerald Cliff, drinking fine wine together, both host and guest enjoying themselves. . .
...
Night fell.
The crowd at Emerald Cliff dispersed, leaving only Fang Xi sitting quietly beneath the peach tree.
The Big Green Fish in the pond huddled at the bottom, not daring to even peek out.
Even though it had already become a Fish King and served as a fish-traitor, facing this master whose emotions were unreadable, it was still filled with heartfelt dread every time.
"The matter of Yu Lingzi's death, even if the three major families wished to conceal it, would eventually be impossible to hide. . ."
"This time, the Thirty-Six Islands Alliance actively provoked trouble, which can only be called unwise!"
"The Zhong family has revealed its sharp edge, and who knows how it will end. . . But what is predictable is that the Foundation Establishment cultivators will certainly make their moves."
"At that time, the intensity of the war will be completely different!"
Although Fang Xi's Qi Refinement and Body Cultivation had both reached the Great Perfection stage of Qi Refinement, he believed he had few rivals in the Qi Refinement period.
Standing beneath the Demonic Tree, he could be called invincible in Qi Refinement, daring to fight even a Foundation Establishment cultivator. . . but it would only be *a* fight, nothing more. . .
He had always advocated suppressing others with his realm, not being suppressed by them!
Even with Foundation Establishment combat power, battling a Foundation Establishment cultivator of the same rank would require extreme caution, let alone the fact that he wasn't even at the Foundation Establishment stage yet!
Fighting such a formidable enemy for the sake of Ruan Xing Ling would also be a very foolish act.
'If I truly face a formidable enemy, with a Foundation Establishment cultivator attacking Peach Blossom Island. . . even if I have to abandon the Demonic Tree, I must escape! '
'After all, I still have over a hundred years of lifespan. I can completely go to Da Liang again, get some Demonic Tree seeds, and find another place to continue planting trees! '
'While it might be passionate to face Foundation Establishment with Qi Refinement, it's not my style! '
'For longevity and eternal vision, one must be cautious to endure! '
Life is singular; if it's gone, truly nothing is left.
Besides that, there's nothing that cannot be discarded!
Fang Xi had always been incredibly firm in his original intention.
'However, I can also try to enhance my strength first! '
Thinking of the Demonic Tree, he looked at his fist.
The current Fang Xi could already feel the terrifying blood-qi hidden beneath his physical body!
This was the gain from nearly thirty years of tree planting, continuously accumulating blood-qi every day!
It was already comparable to taking one or even multiple second-order blood-qi-enhancing precious pills!
'Before long. . . no, I can put aside the daily lifespan-extending vital energy and the cultivation of the Wood Spirit Body, and instead fully boost my own blood-qi to sprint towards the 'True Vigor Manifestation' realm! '
This legendary martial arts realm in Da Liang was comparable to the fourth stage of an immortal body cultivation art like the 'Myriad Beast Body', equivalent to an early Foundation Establishment body cultivator!
Even if his methods might be slightly inferior to a Foundation Establishment cultivator, he could barely possess a certain level of self-preservation.
Thinking of this, Fang Xi came to the underground grotto, and seeing the Demonic Tree that had grown downwards for over six zhang, he couldn't help but take a deep breath: "Jia Yi!"
The wooden puppet wearing a vine mask immediately stepped out from the shadows and came before Fang Xi.
"Go to the vicinity of Mirror Moon Lake, monitor every move of Ruan Xing Ling. The moment she leaves the manor, report to me immediately!"
Fang Xi gave the order, and Jia Yi immediately set off towards Mirror Moon Lake.
Shortly after.
By the lake, in the peach blossom forest.
Jia Yi arrived at the edge of an ordinary peach tree, extended his palm, and countless tendrils emerged from his palm, merging with the peach tree.
The next moment, he strangely submerged his entire body into the tree trunk, his face hidden inside a tree hollow, staring blankly towards the manor.
This was also a small discovery of Fang Xi's: this type of wooden puppet possessed a strange wood-concealment technique, allowing it to merge with trees, and its aura was nearly imperceptible.
Extremely suitable for use as a scout!
Fang Xi's action wasn't out of suspicion towards Ruan Xing Ling, but merely out of curiosity about that third-party force.
After all, anyone daring to interfere in Myriad Islands Lake would at least have to be a Foundation Establishment force!
In case he invited a wolf into his home, he could at least be prepared!
...
One year later.
In the pill refinement room.
Fang Xi began refining pills while flipping through a book on alchemy.
What he was refining now was a pill formula he had recently acquired from an exchange meet—the Qi Supplementing Pill!
This pill was quite interesting, divided into three grades: low, medium, and superior.
Among them, the low-grade Qi Supplementing Pill could only restore sixty to seventy percent of an early Qi Refinement cultivator's spiritual power in a short period.
As for the first-order superior-grade Qi Supplementing Pill, even if a Great Perfection Qi Refinement cultivator's spiritual power was depleted, it could restore forty to fifty percent in a short time!
'After reaching first-order superior-grade, neither pill formulas nor medicinal ingredients are easy to collect. . . '
Fang Xi released his Divine Consciousness, sensing the changes in the medicinal properties of the translucent pill liquids inside the pill furnace. He actually felt a sense of ease and mastery.
The next moment, he lightly patted the pill furnace, casting a series of hand seals.
*Buzz! *
The pill furnace opened wide, and a clear fragrance wafted out.
A mass of congealed medicinal liquid flew out, with many impurities actively peeling off and sinking back into the pill furnace.
Five pills, pure and flawless like pearls, floated into Fang Xi's hand. All were superior-grade Qi Supplementing Pills!
"Again!"
Fang Xi put away the pills and continued to cast the pill-gathering hand seals towards the pill furnace.
In an instant, medicinal fragrance permeated the air.
Smaller pills emerged one by one, landing on a jade plate. They were clearly eight mid-grade Qi Supplementing Pills!
By this point, the flame at the bottom of the pill furnace still hadn't extinguished!
When Fang Xi performed the pill-gathering hand seals for the third time, another sixteen low-grade Qi Supplementing Pills flew out!
"The impurities from superior-grade spiritual pills, for mid-grade pills, might just be the main ingredients. . . My set of 'Three-Fold Wave' pill-gathering hand seals can repeatedly refine the residual materials from superior-grade pills. This way, the medicinal ingredient utilization rate for a single furnace of pills approaches ninety percent. . ."
Fang Xi looked at the Violet Copper Pill Furnace with a hint of regret: "If only this pill furnace wasn't of poor quality, I could have produced a few more mid and low-grade pills. . ."
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