Chapter 206: Soaring Earth Golden Light Boots (Congratulations to the Silver Grand Alliance Leader! )
Chapter 206: Soaring Earth Golden Light Boots (Congratulations to the Silver Grand Alliance Leader! )
Maple Leaf Island.
This island was shaped like a maple leaf, with vast expanses of spiritual plants on it. It was once Ye San Ren's Daoist sanctuary.
Ye San Ren had built a palace atop the island's second-order, superior-grade spirit vein, naming it 'Red Maple Palace'!
On this day, a Green Corner Fish Dragon flew in from afar, swaggering up to the exterior of Red Maple Palace. A gentle, jade-like young cultivator descended from its back.
“Please inform Fairy Ruan, and say that Fang Xi requests an audience! ”
Fang Xi landed at the entrance of Red Maple Palace and spoke to a Ruan family cultivator.
“Senior Fang. . . I'll go at once. ”
The cultivator dared not delay and quickly ran into the palace to report, though some silent grumbling churned within him.
Not long after, Ruan Xing Ling, dressed in a crimson palace gown, came out to greet him: “Fellow Daoist Fang. . . ”
“Fairy Ruan. . . ”
Fang Xi sighed, a look of sorrow appearing on his face: “Please accept my condolences. . . ”
Ruan Xing Ling's smile faltered, and her expression turned serious: “Please come inside so we may speak in detail! ”
Inside the living room.
The maidservant who came to pour tea seemed to sense the Island Master's poor mood today, and after pouring the spiritual tea, she tiptoed out quietly, fearing she might anger the Island Master.
“. . . I have been investigating Ruan Dan's situation, and found traces of the Situ Clan's demonic cultivators. . . ”
Fang Xi didn't drink the tea and directly stated the outcome: “A sliver of Ruan Dan's curse-mark is still in their hands. If she were to encounter them, I fear she would be doomed. . . ”
Ruan Xing Ling's body swayed slightly, her expression turning a little pale, then she replied with a bitter smile: “Alas. . . I never thought I would be the one to harm Dan'er. . . Originally, when I saw the Song Clan's thunderous cleansing, flattening the Myriad Islands Lake, I believed there were no more demonic cultivators left in Myriad Islands Lake. . . Where are those demonic cultivators now? ”
Though her expression was pale, her eyes blazed like fire.
Fang Xi, meanwhile, sighed: “I'm afraid they have already returned to the State of Mu. . . ”
In the State of Mu, they would be unfamiliar with the people and places; even Foundation Establishment cultivators would find it difficult to locate the hidden Situ Clan demonic cultivators.
Ruan Xing Ling rose and gracefully bowed to Fang Xi: “Many thanks, Fellow Daoist Fang, for informing me of this news. . . ”
“No need for politeness. I also came this time seeking Fairy Ruan's help with something. Might Fairy be able to refine a superior-grade spirit artifact? ”
Fang Xi inquired.
After much thought, he still decided to have the spirit artifact refined, to add another layer of security for himself.
“What kind of primary material? ”
Ruan Xing Ling was momentarily stunned, then immediately asked.
“A second-order, top-grade material—Earth Flame Crystal, for refining a flight-type spirit artifact. . . I will need to engrave the final array patterns. ”
Fang Xi spoke truthfully.
Although there were third-order ores in Song Qing's storage ring, Maple Leaf Island did not possess a third-order earth-fire vein, so Ruan Xing Ling would not be able to melt it either.
As for setting up a third-order Fire Gathering Grand Array? That would be too great a test of Fang Xi's and Ruan Xing Ling's respective skills. . .
He still proceeded with his original plan, intending to first refine a limited-use spirit artifact for practice.
As for permanent third-order treasures, he could entirely wait until after forming his Core to consider them.
Core Formation cultivators, as long as their core qi is abundant, can simultaneously nurture several life-bound treasures. However, they usually specialize in one, not storing the others in their Dantian, but rather using the treasures' inherent power for self-defense.
As for the issue of secrecy?
Different cultivation realms could bear different levels of secrets.
For instance, for Qi Refinement cultivators, the secret of a single Foundation Establishment Pill could easily cost them their lives.
But to Core Formation ancestors, a Foundation Establishment Pill was merely something they could casually produce, and outsiders would never dare to covet it.
Previously, in White Peace Immortal City, Fang Xi dared not reveal the secret of his treasure patterns, knowing he couldn't protect it.
But now, his combat strength could even kill late-stage Foundation Establishment cultivators, and he was about to plant his tree and set up the 'Nine-Nethers Profound Wood Grand Array'. Within the entire State of Yue, almost no one could break into his lair, so his apprehensions were greatly reduced.
What's more. . . Ruan Xing Ling should also be trustworthy. . . She wouldn't betray the secret.
“I can reluctantly give it a try! ”
Ruan Xing Ling thought for a moment and replied frankly.
“Excellent then. ”
Fang Xi nodded with a smile, gazing at Ruan Xing Ling's retreating figure as she went to prepare, yet he felt a hint of hesitation.
He was contemplating whether to impart the 'Molten Gold Art' and secret techniques he had obtained from the Song Clan to her.
After all, Ruan Xing Ling, like Ruan Dan, was a superior-grade fire spiritual root cultivator.
‘Pity. . . Ruan Xing Ling cultivates the attribute-less 'Profound Sound Art', so switching cultivation methods would take considerable time. ’
‘And. . . where would one find a Heaven and Earth Spirit Root? Alright, a spiritual root is a minor issue, for example, a Phoenix Perching Parasol Wood? But what about a third-order spiritual land? Could she possibly run to White Peace Immortal City and join White Peace Peak to plant a tree? ’
‘If there were no great demands on spiritual qi, unless I gave her a Demonic Tree seed, but that's impossible. ’
‘Furthermore, giving her the cultivation method could easily expose the fact that I killed Song Qing. . . ’
‘Finally, cultivating in seclusion for a hundred years just for a one to two-tenths chance of forming a Core might not even be secure. . . ’
Ruan Xing Ling was already nearing a hundred years old; if she were to cultivate in seclusion for another hundred years, a slight oversight could lead to her reaching her lifespan limit. . .
Moreover, being confined to one place for so long might instead cause her to miss other opportunities for Core Formation within those hundred years. . .
‘Unless it's a long-lived cultivator like me, otherwise, it's slightly more loss than gain. . . ’
‘Ugh. . . It's still the same old saying, if you want high cost-effectiveness, you still have to rely on the Demonic Tree, but that's impossible. . . ’Fang Xi pondered repeatedly, and could only sigh faintly.
Within the scope of what he could do, to help Ruan Xing Ling achieve Core Formation, he was confident he could achieve it.
But to disregard all cost and consequence, even jeopardizing his own Dao path, to fully assist this woman in forming her Core, he could not do. . .
...
Several months later.
Fang Xi, stepping onto the Green Corner Fish Dragon, departed from Maple Leaf Island.
At this moment, on his left and right feet, he wore a black boot embroidered with gold threads on each, adorned with various complex and profound patterns.
These were a pair of single-use, superior-grade spirit artifacts—the 'Soaring Earth Golden Light Boots'!
The left one was the 'Soaring Earth Boot', primarily featuring the 'Soaring Earth Spiritual Pattern'; the right one was the Golden Light Boot, engraved with the 'Golden Light Spiritual Pattern'!
Normally, they could slightly enhance a cultivator's movement technique and flight speed, but at crucial moments, by merging the two great spiritual patterns, they could activate the 'Soaring Earth Golden Light Treasure Pattern', raising their escape speed to an incredible degree!
Alas. . . they could only be used once before being rendered useless!
Recalling the artifact refining process of recent days, Fang Xi felt a bit helpless.
The Earth Flame Crystal truly lived up to its name as a second-order, top-grade material; even the fire crows Ruan Xing Ling nurtured found it difficult to refine. In the end, it was only by him and Ruan Xing Ling taking turns to assist with their Innate True Fire that they finally managed to completely melt this primary material.
When engraving the treasure patterns, Fang Xi openly displayed them, but Ruan Xing Ling merely congratulated Fang Xi on his further advancements in array formations, saying nothing else.
As for her artifact refining prowess, it could only be said to barely reach the superior-grade of second-order. She had originally intended to refine this pair of spirit artifact boots into something that could be used two to three times, but something went wrong, and in the end, they could only be used once before being completely destroyed.
But for Fang Xi, this was already enough.
At a critical moment, they could even help him escape with his life from a Core Formation ancestor!
Of course, it was best if none of this happened.
...
‘Fortunately, with this trip out, the final preparations have been completed. ’
‘Once the 'Nine-Nethers Profound Wood Grand Array' is set up, and I no longer fear Core Formation forces. . . I can then copy down a version of the 'Molten Gold Art' for Ruan Xing Ling, explain the pros and cons, and let her decide for herself. . . ’
‘By then, my strength will be entirely capable of handling the problems and covetousness that come with obtaining the Song Clan's treasure. . . Besides, this is assuming Ruan Xing Ling leaks the secret; after so many years of acquaintance, she wouldn't betray me like that, would she? ’
‘Of course, regarding inter-world travel and the Demonic Tree, they absolutely cannot be exposed. Once something like this is exposed, a Nascent Soul True Monarch might directly descend, and no grand array would be of any use. . . ’
Fang Xi never shied away from considering things from the worst possible angle.
This time, he had revealed a portion of the unique properties of the treasure patterns, and Ruan Xing Ling would surely know.
Then, when setting up the Nine-Nethers Profound Wood Grand Array, he could coincidentally wait for a period of time.
By then, if no problems had arisen, he could then copy the cultivation method and give her a copy.
As for how to prepare the spiritual root and spiritual land, and whether or not to cultivate it, Ruan Xing Ling would need to make those choices herself.
...
Dragon Fish Island.
Evergreen Pavilion.
Fang Xi sent the Green Corner Fish Dragon back to its fish farm, while he himself landed on the pavilion's rooftop.
Feeling that his escape light was subtly a bit faster than before, he couldn't help but feel rather satisfied with the 'Soaring Earth Golden Light Boots'.
This spirit artifact was primarily for saving his life.
With its burst of escape speed, it was enough to instantly distance him from Core Formation cultivators, and even escape the extreme range of their Divine Consciousness.
As for Nascent Soul True Monarchs?
Fang Xi was completely blind to the power of such old monsters, and therefore couldn't estimate it.
He sat cross-legged and began to inventory the inheritances he had obtained: “This time planting the tree. . . will again be several decades of arduous cultivation, and I should concurrently cultivate the Hundred Arts of Immortal Cultivation. ”
The inheritances in Fang Xi's possession were primarily third-order array formations, from the Song Clan. In addition, there were several second-order Hundred Arts of Immortal Cultivation inheritances, among which there was even an artifact refining inheritance, reaching the superior-grade of second-order.
This was already quite good; after all, the Song Clan was merely a Foundation Establishment family.
‘Pity, I truly have no talent in artifact refining. . . ’
‘During my arduous cultivation period, I should still primarily focus on array formations, secondarily on alchemy, and thirdly on talisman making. . . ’
‘As for puppet arts, my focus should mainly be on repair and enhancing control. Creating puppets is painstaking and exhausting, and requires consuming a large amount of materials, so forget it. . . ’
Fang Xi's puppet arts, in fact, formed their own unique style, primarily focused on 'wood puppets', using simple materials, and relying on the Demonic Tree for large-scale manipulation.
Regarding these puppets, he also vaguely had a concept: that they should be combined with array formations to cultivate the 'Way of Battle Arrays'!
This way, he could compensate for the puppets' drawbacks of slow reaction time and high offense, low defense.
‘Although mobile third-order array formations cannot fuse with spirit veins and earth qi, leading to greatly reduced defensive power, they could at least withstand several attacks from a Core Formation ancestor. . . and erupt with power comparable to Core Formation! That would be enough. . . ’
However, to research mobile array deployment was much more difficult than setting up fixed array flags and array eyes.
Furthermore, Fang Xi was an array master who was somewhat specialized, having some deficiencies in his fundamentals.
This time in secluded cultivation, he was also preparing to arduously cultivate the Song Clan's third-order array formation inheritance, to solidify his foundation and make his advantages even more prominent!
Comments