Chapter 160: All-Heavens Precious Mirror (A toast to the patron, Cramping Night! )
Chapter 160: All-Heavens Precious Mirror (A toast to the patron, Cramping Night! )
When the Core Formation Spiritual Item made its appearance, at first, no one even dared to bid, and the auction house fell into a deathly silence.
Especially the Qi Refinement rogue cultivators. They could only stare with covetous eyes at the 'Profound Water Liquid' in Ouyang Zhen's hands, perhaps this was the closest they would ever come to Core Formation in their entire lives. . .
After a long while, only then did a Foundation Establishment cultivator in one of the private rooms tremblingly make a bid: "Eleven thousand spirit stones. . ."
"Twelve thousand. . ."
"Fifteen thousand. . ."
"I offer fifteen thousand spirit stones, plus three 'Moon Crystal Treasures'. . ."
"Fourteen thousand spirit stones, and this old man will add this piece of 'Six Harmony Golden Essence'. . . This is a material for refining magic treasures!"
...
He was only at the early Foundation Establishment stage, and bidding for the 'Profound Water Liquid' would be utterly useless to him. On the contrary, he might become a target for all.
"Just who is auctioning this item? Is it a trap?"
"White Peace Immortal City is located at the border of three countries, and only late-stage Foundation Establishment and perfected Foundation Establishment cultivators from those three countries would have a need for this item. . ."
"I don't understand, I truly don't. . ."
Fang Xi had to admit that after achieving Foundation Establishment, though his horizons and social circle had broadened considerably, he still couldn't quite see through the true movements of the higher echelons.
For instance, within the State of Yue, the Song Clan's ancestor was stubbornly defending with a third-order formation, and the Black Heaven Sect's ancestor couldn't do anything about it. So, they're using a Core Formation Spiritual Item to lure the opponent out?
"No, the Song Clan's ancestor wouldn't possibly leave before forming their Core. . . So, it's to attract other members of the Song Clan, and then take advantage of the chaos?"
Before deciding to go all out in war, the Black Heaven Sect wouldn't dare openly rob and kill other Foundation Establishment cultivators of the Song Clan. After all, as long as the Song Clan's ancestor had even a sliver of a chance at forming their Core, the other factions wouldn't dare completely break ties.
"And. . . perhaps the Song Clan has some other trump card?"
"This is assuming the Profound Water Liquid is a bait from the Black Heaven Sect. . . The true situation would be far more complicated. Perhaps, it's just a small Qi Refinement cultivator who luckily obtained a Core Formation Spiritual Item and is planning to sell it for a huge sum of spirit stones!"
Fang Xi looked at the increasingly lively bidding, and stood up to leave.
The allure of a Core Formation Spiritual Item was too great! He was a little worried that White Peace Immortal City and Ouyang Zhen wouldn't be able to keep the situation under control, and it wouldn't be good if he walked too slowly and got splattered with blood.
...
Peach Blossom Pavilion.
"Oh? Island Master Ruan is back too?"
When Fang Xi returned to Peach Blossom Pavilion, he saw Ruan Xing Ling, and couldn't help but be slightly surprised.
"Indeed. . . Having successfully bid for what I needed, Xing Ling didn't dare to linger. I've already rented a second-order immortal cave from the immortal city, and am preparing to go into secluded cultivation for my breakthrough!"
Ruan Xing Ling exuded an aura of unyielding determination! Foundation Establishment at an advanced age truly was a desperate struggle! "Island Master Ruan's essence, qi, and spirit are perfectly complete, and her aura is astonishing. I fear it won't be long before the immortal city gains another fellow cultivator."
Fang Xi offered his blessings.
"Many thanks!"
Ruan Xing Ling smiled sweetly, bade farewell to Ruan Dan and the others, and vanished into the street.
...
Fang Xi, on his part, ordered Wei Yi Xi and the others not to leave recently, while he himself entered secluded cultivation.
Inside the cultivation quiet room.
He sat cross-legged, closed his eyes, and used his Divine Consciousness to sense the bronze mirror.
"This bronze mirror can connect to the myriad heavens. Perhaps I should call it the 'All-Heavens Precious Mirror'?"
With a thought, he passed through the bronze mirror, and once again arrived in the Shard World.
It was still the riverbed. Outside, heavy snow fell, and the water flowed slowly, as if about to freeze.
By the riverbank, there was a trail of footprints, as if someone had been lingering there.
"Hmm, smaller than an adult. . . It should be a youth? !"
Fang Xi's Divine Consciousness investigated for a moment, and he made a judgment.
He finally confirmed at this moment that traversing the two worlds with his Divine Consciousness had the effect of tempering his own Divine Consciousness.
After some time, his own Divine Consciousness was even steadily growing. Currently, in the South Barrens Cultivation World, it could extend over fifty-three zhang.
In the Shard World, it was just over five zhang. . .
It was precisely because he discovered this effect that Fang Xi continued to do it tirelessly.
"Hmm?"
At this moment, Fang Xi noticed a youth dressed in white fox furs, who had come to the riverbank again.
Observing his appearance, he vaguely resembled the youth who had been killed and robbed before.
"A relative? Younger brother?"
Fang Xi's interest was piqued.
The dead youth's body had long since drifted downstream with the river current.
However, an item he had secretly hidden was still there.
Plop! At this moment, the youth on the bank took off his animal hide clothes, jumped into the river, and searched for something inch by inch.
"Looks like. . . he's here to find that thing?"
"This fragment of mine is a spirit treasure, so it shouldn't be easily damaged. . ."
Fang Xi's thoughts stirred, he had long been impatient to stay here.
The next moment! The youth, who was diving, discovered something in the water that was faintly glowing.
He swam towards it, and found that the glowing object was a broken bronze mirror.
"What. . . is this. . . treasure?"
Bubbles escaped the youth's mouth, he kicked his legs, and with a dive, he scooped the bronze mirror fragment into his hand.
Splash!
By the river, the youth climbed ashore, his body red from the cold, and hurriedly started a fire to warm himself.
Even though he had cultivated and possessed a strong physique, going into the water under such snowy conditions still almost froze him to the bone.
At this moment, the youth roasted himself by the fire, while gazing at the bronze mirror fragment in his hand, his face filled with bewilderment.
He saw that on the mirror's surface, there was astonishingly a glowing dot! "Is this. . . a divine object?"
"Or is it some treasure left behind by a Great Wu?"
The youth murmured, and although Fang Xi couldn't understand him, he noted down all the pronunciations.
The youth rubbed the mirror for a long time, then suddenly placed the fragment on the ground, drew a bone dagger, and fiercely stabbed at the bronze mirror's surface!
Thud!
The bronze mirror remained completely still, while the bone dagger, on the other hand, had a small chip in it.
The youth scratched his head, and then put the mirror fragment into the fire to bake.
"Damn it. . ."
Inside the mirror, Fang Xi's Divine Consciousness couldn't help but curse inwardly: "This old man kindly guided you to a treasure, and this is how you treat this old man? You truly are no human!"
Fortunately, just as Fang Xi had anticipated, the bronze mirror fragment was completely unharmed by the flames, and even seemed to become more polished and new with age.
The youth finally understood that this was a rare treasure, but looking at the glowing dot on the mirror's surface, he was a bit perplexed.
"Brother's relic. . . I must find it. . . only then can I enlighten my spirit!"
The youth murmured, gazing at the river, and then glancing at the sky, preparing to return later.
But as he left, he found that on the mirror fragment, he was getting farther and farther from the glowing dot.
"This. . ."
The youth took a few steps left, then a few steps right. . . and suddenly understood a little.
Holding the mirror fragment, he murmured: "Something. . . is in the river?"
With a plop! The youth jumped into the river again, and following the mirror's guidance, swam to the location where the treasure was hidden that day, and grasped the dusty grey stone.
Splash!
He leaped out of the river, and suddenly let out a long howl to the sky: "Brother. . . is it your Wu Soul in heaven, guiding me? With this 'Enlightenment Stone', I will surely succeed in awakening my spirit and avenge you. . ."
"What gibberish is he babbling about?"
Fang Xi's Divine Consciousness meticulously noted everything, but he still didn't understand.
He followed this youth, watching him place the bronze mirror fragment and the stone into a small animal-hide pouch, and carefully hang it on his chest, then make his way back.
Along the way, Fang Xi's Divine Consciousness occasionally scanned the surroundings, taking note of the landscapes and customs of this world.
About an hour later, he 'saw' a crude, primitive encampment.
A massive palisade stood at the mouth of the valley, along with defensive structures like arrow towers.
After passing through the valley, there were numerous shacks built from animal hides and wood, and some humans dressed in animal skins were active.
The youth walked directly into a shack to rest, and next door, a tall woman was breastfeeding.
After coaxing the baby to sleep, she then went to teach several one or two-year-old infants nearby how to babble.
On a wooden stake by the entrance, a massive, stark white skull of a monstrous beast was impaled, looking extraordinarily terrifying.
"Good, finally arrived at a human settlement, now I can follow along and learn to speak. . ."
Fang Xi's Divine Consciousness swept across the surroundings, and he couldn't help but feel very satisfied: "It's just. . . it feels a bit too primitive. . ."
His Divine Consciousness extended outward, constantly recording everything he saw.
Time passed unknowingly, and amidst a burst of clamor, the youth was woken up, and came out of the tent.
At the valley entrance, loud cheers could be heard.
Several burly men covered in tattoos and battle glyphs were carrying several hunted beasts, returning with a bountiful harvest.
"This is. . ."
As the youth drew closer, Fang Xi's Divine Consciousness swept over, and he saw a massive, house-sized black-furred wild boar with six sword-like tusks.
"Is this. . . a demon beast? Its aura feels a bit different. . ."
"But it should be quite strong, just its physical body alone, can it compare to a mid to late-stage Qi Refinement cultivator?"
Towards this world, he suddenly began to feel a sliver of anticipation once more.
...
"Not bad, not bad. This exploration yielded great results. . ."
Inside the cultivation room, Fang Xi recovered his senses, and let out a wry smile.
Feeling the emptiness and fatigue in his Divine Consciousness, he couldn't help but sit cross-legged, and consume a pill to recover.
He had a feeling that it was through these repeated cycles of depletion and recovery that his Divine Consciousness was being tempered.
Of course, the 'All-Heavens Precious Mirror' also deserved credit.
If it weren't for traversing the two worlds, and merely relying on constant Divine Consciousness consumption could yield gains, then Divine Consciousness secret arts and cultivation techniques would be too simple. The Divine Consciousness of those Foundation Establishment cultivators would also rapidly improve, and they wouldn't be stuck in a certain realm for long.
When Fang Xi emerged from secluded cultivation, he found his courtyard quite lively.
Since Wei Yi Xi couldn't go out, she opened a spirit wine, and pulled Ruan Dan and the others to drink together. She even tried to scare the Big Green Fish by threatening to make 'Little Green Dragon Soup'.
However, the Big Green Fish paid no attention, leisurely swimming about on its own, occasionally blowing bubbles.
"Young Master!"
Jin Ling, who had gone out for errands, returned, but her small face was pale with fright, and she patted her chest, saying: "You scared this servant to death. . ."
"Did the auction yield results?"
Fang Xi guessed what it was, and asked with a smile.
Hearing this, Ruan Dan and the others couldn't help but perk up their ears.
"Indeed. . ."
Jin Ling said: "Right now, rumors are flying everywhere outside. Some say the Song Clan went bankrupt to snatch the Core Formation Spiritual Item, while others say it was bought by a lone late-stage Foundation Establishment cultivator from the State of Mu. . . But after the grand auction ended, a fierce battle indeed erupted outside the immortal city. Many Foundation Establishment cultivators took action, and the spiritual light and destruction were truly terrifying. . ."
"A turbulent autumn indeed. . ."
Fang Xi sighed, wondering if he had chosen the wrong posture for 'lying flat'? How could it be that after only about ten years of lying flat, his peaceful life was about to be broken?
"No, as long as I wholeheartedly lie flat, no one can do anything to me!"
He made up his mind, and said in a deep voice: "From today onwards, Peach Blossom Pavilion will close its doors to guests. All of you, go into secluded cultivation!"
"Uncle. . ."
Wei Yi Xi stared at him pitifully.
"Especially you! At your age, you still haven't broken through to late-stage Qi Refinement, you're practically a disgrace to me!"
Fang Xi put on a serious face: "No breaking through to late-stage Qi Refinement, no emerging from secluded cultivation!"
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