Chapter 190: Deliberation (End of Month – Seeking Monthly Votes)
Chapter 190: Deliberation (End of Month – Seeking Monthly Votes)
"In that case, won't Myriad Islands Lake be left without a master again?"
Fang Xi looked at Ruan Xing Ling. "Xing Ling, do you wish to claim this territory?"
Ruan Xing Ling didn't refute, appearing quite moved by the idea.
After all, it was also her homeland.
It was just that previously, it had been occupied by Demonic Cultivators. After the Song Clan leveled Myriad Islands Lake, it was then taken over by the Yan Family, who were backed by the Song Clan. It was truly a case of "driving out the wolf at the front gate, only for a tiger to enter at the back door."
Now that the Song Clan had fallen and the Black Heaven Sect was undergoing a transition of old and new, settling down in peace, it was an excellent opportunity!
"Well. . . Xing Ling does have this intention, but I'll have to ask Dan'er first. . ."
Ruan Xing Ling immediately flew out a sound transmission talisman and summoned Ruan Dan.
Only in White Peace Immortal City were there so many Foundation Establishment cultivators; in the State of Yue, they would absolutely be the embryonic form of a Foundation Establishment force.
The three sat under a peach blossom tree, with Jin Ling pouring wine and Wei Yi Xi arranging pastries.
Ruan Xing Ling then explained her plan, looking at Ruan Dan. "Dan'er, what do you think?"
"Dan'er naturally supports Master in reclaiming her family's heritage, and incidentally, reigning over the entire Myriad Islands Lake! " Ruan Dan answered without hesitation.
"Go? Of course we go! Uncle. . . let's fight our way back together!"
Wei Yi Xi, on the side, listened with sparkling eyes.
She still harbored a lingering attachment to her family's spiritual land.
Jin Ling, on the other hand, looked somewhat at a loss.
"Very well then. . . let us decide upon this."
Fang Xi glanced at Jin Ling, sighing as he spoke.
In reality, if Foundation Establishment cultivators were to return to Peach Blossom Island, its spiritual vein would no longer be sufficient.
Fortunately, within Myriad Islands Lake, there were also several second-order spiritual veins.
Ruan Xing Ling took out a map of Myriad Islands Lake, on which all the major islands were marked.
Of course, it mainly marked those with spiritual veins. If an island had no spiritual energy, unless its territory was vast, it wouldn't be specifically marked.
"Within Myriad Islands Lake, there are four islands possessing second-order spiritual veins: Dragon Fish Island, Spirit Sky Island, Maple Leaf Island, and Golden Turtle Island. . ."
"Among these, Dragon Fish Island and Maple Leaf Island both possess high-grade second-order spiritual veins. . . Golden Turtle Island has a mid-grade second-order spiritual vein, and the spiritual vein on Spirit Sky Island is roughly low-grade second-order. . . As for the other smaller islands, they might also have second-order spiritual veins, but Xing Ling is unaware of them. . ."
Ruan Xing Ling analyzed.
Given the scale of Myriad Islands Lake, it was more than enough to support several Foundation Establishment cultivators.
Among these islands, Dragon Fish Island was previously the stronghold of the Dragon Fish Zhong Clan. Spirit Sky Island once belonged to the Thirty-Six Islands Alliance and was later developed into a Cultivation City.
Then there was Maple Leaf Island, shaped like a maple leaf, which was once the Daoist abode of 'Ye San Ren'.
Golden Turtle Island, on the other hand, belonged to the Tai Shu Family.
Alright. . . currently, these were all the Yan Family's territories!
"The Yan Family's Old Ancestor, Yan Wuxu, originally came from a small Qi Refinement clan, and had always relied on the Song Clan for survival. Later, Yan Wuxu, through the accumulated efforts of several generations, cultivated to Qi Refinement Perfected, fortuitously obtained a Foundation Establishment spiritual item, and thus successfully achieved Foundation Establishment. After that, he remained stuck at early-stage Foundation Establishment. . . dedicating himself to developing his clan."
Ruan Dan also provided information on the Yan Family's Old Ancestor: "Currently, Myriad Islands Lake belongs to the Yan Family, but they only have one early-stage Foundation Establishment cultivator. . ."
Fang Xi glanced at those present. Alright, they had three early-stage Foundation Establishment cultivators on their side.
"The Yan Family is nothing to worry about. The crucial point is the Black Heaven Sect's attitude in the State of Yue!"
Ruan Xing Ling said, "During this period, while I was slaying demon beasts on the city wall, I also got to know several Black Heaven Sect Foundation Establishment cultivators who came to assist. Compared to letting the Yan Family continue to hold Myriad Islands Lake, the Black Heaven Sect would definitely prefer to replace them. What's more, we are more worthy of winning over than Yan Wuxu. . ."
"From this perspective, it seems quite good."
Fang Xi smiled. "We can go back and take a look. I've also grown somewhat nostalgic for the scenery of Myriad Islands Lake. . ."
After the other women left, Jin Ling remained in place, her face filled with trepidation.
Fang Xi looked at her, similarly filled with emotion. "Jin Ling, how long have you been with me?"
"Almost thirty years. . ."
Although she had consumed a 'Face-Preserving Pill', Jin Ling also felt her youth slipping away, a strange sadness welling up within her.
"Are you willing to come with me to Myriad Islands Lake? I happen to have a spiritual land on Peach Blossom Island that I could gift you for your retirement. . ."
Towards those who had always followed him, enduring hardships without complaint, Fang Xi was still quite generous.
"Forget it then. . . Young Master, Jin Ling prefers White Peace Immortal City and does not wish to leave."
Jin Ling thought it over carefully, then immediately replied.
She was already old, and it wouldn't be long before her beauty faded. She had no children either. What difference would going to Myriad Islands Lake make?
Myriad Islands Lake was the homeland of Ruan Xing Ling and the others, but not hers.
"Alas. . . fine. When the time comes, I will renew this cave-dwelling for another ten years. . ."
Fang Xi sighed and tossed over a storage bag. "These things, they are all for you too. . ."
"Young Master. . ."
Jin Ling took the storage bag, and her eyes immediately reddened.
Fang Xi, however, waved his hand and directly entered his seclusion chamber.
In the storage bag he gave Jin Ling, he had placed pills, artifacts, spiritual items, and other resources worth one thousand Spirit Stones.
As for that inferior-grade Foundation Establishment Pill?
This woman had long passed her sixtieth year, and had not cultivated to Qi Refinement Perfected. A Foundation Establishment Pill would be useless to her and would instead easily invite trouble.
Fang Xi could only feel helpless about this.
However, it was merely a fleeting scenery in life, and he would not stop his onward march for it.
‘Now that the Song Clan is destroyed and the Demonic Cultivators have retreated. . . it is indeed the opportune moment. ’
‘Coincidentally, I am also about to break through to the mid-stage. . . it's better not to wander carelessly under the eyes of a Core Formation Perfected cultivator. . . ’
Luo Gong's previous lesson made Fang Xi profoundly aware that even an immortal city was not necessarily absolutely safe.
Even if he wasn't exactly "a tree standing out in the forest" (referring to being too prominent), his Foundation Establishment at the brink of his lifespan, followed by such rapid progress, was clearly abnormal.
Attracting too much attention would not be good.
It's better to go back and continue cultivating the tree.
To cultivate a tree in White Peace Immortal City would simply be courting death, but now there was an opportune moment, which he naturally had to seize.
...
Although he was preparing to leave, there was still much work to be done.
For example, transferring or long-term leasing out the 'Pill Cauldron Pavilion'.
This shop had been acquired at a low price before, and now its value had soared. Both Fang Xi and Ruan Xing Ling had made a hefty profit, causing Fang Xi to sigh with emotion that even the Four Arts of Cultivation couldn't compare to speculating in real estate for Spirit Stones.
As for how many people had bled profusely, selling off their ancestral properties and losing even their pants during this turmoil, and how many had secretly acquired assets and amassed vast fortunes, it was truly hard to say.
Furthermore, Ruan Xing Ling also needed to contact fellow Daoists of the Black Heaven Sect to express their willingness to expel the Yan Family for the sect and guard the northern frontier.
In the State of Yue, attempting to claim territory as a ruler without going through the Black Heaven Sect was absolutely impossible.
However, during this period, a piece of news spread.
The Black Heaven Sect's Grand Elder—Daoist Jiang—had passed away!
The new False Core cultivator—Zhang Zhu Sheng—had succeeded as Grand Elder!
This left many cultivators filled with endless lament. That living fossil of the Yue State's cultivation world, ultimately, still found the Great Dao hopeless and his soul wandered into the void.
And after Grand Elder Zhang fully took power, the Black Heaven Sect also proceeded steadily, recruiting defectors and rebels, and settling accounts with the Song Clan's forces.
Ruan Xing Ling's visit could be said to have perfectly suited their preferences.
The two sides hit it off immediately and promptly established a spirit contract.
...
Peach Blossom Pavilion.
"So. . . the Black Heaven Sect has agreed to us occupying Myriad Islands Lake?"
Fang Xi toyed with a token Ruan Xing Ling had brought, his expression somewhat amused.
This token was expensively made, likely comparable to a high-grade artifact. Its surface was covered in cloud patterns, with 'Xuan' carved on the front and 'Tian' on the back, serving as a credential for forces affiliated with the Black Heaven Sect.
"What are the Black Heaven Sect's demands?"
Returning the token to Ruan Xing Ling, Fang Xi asked.
Ruan Xing Ling's expression was also very peculiar. "To pardon the Yan Family. . . Yan Wuxu knelt very quickly. As early as the Song Clan's downfall, he completely submitted to the Black Heaven Sect, even sending all the talented children from his clan into the sect as outer disciples. . . Now that the Black Heaven Sect is undergoing a transition of old and new, they wish for peace and quiet, not trouble!"
"And then, they probably weren't too pleased with the Yan Family anyway, so they agreed to our request, letting the three of us go to Myriad Islands Lake to watch over that family. . . or rather, to keep each other in check?"
Ruan Dan wore a thoughtful expression.
"Regardless, it's good that they agreed. . . Next, is the issue of allocating the spiritual islands."
Fang Xi opened the map of Myriad Islands Lake. "The Yan Family still wishes to occupy a high-grade second-order spiritual vein? That's wishful thinking. . ."
A high-grade second-order spiritual vein could support a Foundation Establishment cultivator's cultivation all the way to late-stage Foundation Establishment, or even Perfected.
Fang Xi would certainly not yield.
With three Foundation Establishment cultivators on their side, it would be strange to concede to one early-stage Foundation Establishment cultivator.
"The Yan Family is merely a minor clan; residing on Spirit Sky Island is enough for them."
With a single word, Ruan Xing Ling sealed the Yan Family's fate.
"Hmm, I think Dragon Fish Island is quite good. It suits me well."
Fang Xi didn't stand on ceremony, immediately asking for the best second-order spiritual island.
Splash!
As he spoke, Da Qing (Big Green) also flew out from the pond, soaring through the air on clouds and mist. If one weren't careful, they might have thought they saw a true flood dragon.
"This is. . . that Big Green Fish?"
Ruan Dan's eyes widened.
When did that ornamental fish in the pond advance? Why had she not noticed it at all?
She even felt that this fish might be stronger than her! ?
"A second-order. . . Green Corner Fish Dragon. With this spirit beast, you indeed have more room to maneuver in Myriad Islands Lake."
Ruan Xing Ling's eyes shimmered with wonder. "Brother Fang. . . you've kept Xing Ling in bitter suspense. . . Very well, then. This Dragon Fish Island shall be given to Brother Fang. Maple Leaf Island will be Xing Ling's, and as for Dan'er, she'll have to make do with being the Island Master of Golden Turtle Island. . ."
In reality, with Dragon Fish Island's spiritual vein, it was more than sufficient to support the cultivation of three Foundation Establishment cultivators.
However, this was a division of interests, not a division of Daoist abodes.
After all, if Ruan Xing Ling were to stay on Dragon Fish Island for a few years, would Fang Xi truly drive her away?
Furthermore, Ruan Dan would likely cultivate on Maple Leaf Island as well, merely nominally ruling Golden Turtle Island to acquire its resources.
Although the three of them had a good relationship, in this initial division, they could not be careless.
Fang Xi successfully claimed Dragon Fish Island, and his mood was good.
Dragon Fish Island possessed a high-grade second-order spiritual vein and an Earthly Baleful Lake, both extremely precious resources.
In terms of spiritual energy alone, it could even surpass Peach Blossom Pavilion.
It would definitely be more than sufficient to support his cultivation until late-stage Foundation Establishment.
When the time came, he could arrange a 'Spirit Gathering' formation to condense the island's spiritual energy, temporarily elevating a certain area to low-grade third-order, which wouldn't be a big problem either.
Theoretically, having a low-grade third-order spiritual vein would already be enough to support Core Formation. . .
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