Chapter 249: Taking Him In (Seeking Subscriptions)
Chapter 249: Taking Him In (Seeking Subscriptions)
Dragon Fish Island.
Inside the seclusion chamber.
Fang Xi was currently communicating with the 'All-Heavens Precious Mirror', observing the Shard World.
To his surprise, Dan Ya was still safe and sound. It seemed that after the centennial Heavenly Demonic Tribulation, the demonic cultivators were truly unable to descend into that realm again.
However, after their last transaction, Dan Ya seemed intent on testing Fang Xi's patience, proposing increasingly harsh exchange conditions.
Naturally, Fang Xi wouldn't indulge her. He directly halted all transactions, and both parties remained in this stalemate.
Even though his counterpart was a Wu King comparable to a Core Formation cultivator, Fang Xi believed his patience and lifespan were more than sufficient to outlast her, thus the deadlock had persisted until now.
"Finally starting to get anxious, aren't you? In another forty or fifty years. . . another round of Heavenly Demonic Tribulation will begin. . . At that time, Dan Ya, who displayed such extraordinary abilities in the last one, will surely become a key target."
Outside the chamber, a transmission talisman was constantly flickering.
He took the transmission talisman, listened for a few moments, then proceeded to the Evergreen Pavilion.
At the top of the Evergreen Pavilion, Zhong Hong Yu was waiting with a face full of apprehension.
"What is it? Didn't I say not to disturb me unless it was truly important? And what important matter is it that you dare not speak of in a transmission talisman?"
Fang Xi glanced at Zhong Hong Yu and asked casually.
But in the next instant, his Divine Consciousness detected a second Foundation Establishment cultivator at the top of the Evergreen Pavilion. Their cultivation aura had even reached the late Foundation Establishment stage, but it was extremely weak, as if they were gravely wounded.
"Brother Fang, it's me. . ."
Yuan Feihong gave a bitter smile, emerging from his hidden state. "White Peace Immortal City. . . it's over. . . I barely escaped with my life. . ."
"Oh? No need to rush, Brother Yuan. Sit down, have some spirit tea, and tell me slowly."
Fang Xi's expression, initially stirred, gradually became placid. He motioned for Zhong Hong Yu to go pour the tea.
Zhong Hong Yu couldn't help but admire the island master from the bottom of her heart.
To face such a monumental crisis, one that could annihilate a sect or family with a single misstep, and still remain so composed and at ease. . .
A faint tea fragrance diffused through the chamber. . .
Yuan Feihong gazed at the teacup before him, and at the young, handsome man opposite, who seemed to have endured the vicissitudes of life yet retained the heart of a child. For a moment, it was as if he had returned to White Peace Immortal City, to the Peach Blossom Pavilion. . .
Fortunately, he was a cultivator of considerable attainment after all. He forcibly suppressed this momentary trance and began to recount the events surrounding the fall of White Peace Immortal City. . .
"So, even after parting ways with Ouyang Zhen, Brother Yuan, you could still face the Black Heaven Sect's pursuit. . . After all, looking at the escape routes, there's nowhere else besides the Myriad Islands Lake."
Fang Xi listened, then said with a light chuckle.
"Indeed. Originally, I came here with the intention that if Ancestor Zhang still came, I would take him to Emerald Cliff and risk my life to stop him. . ."
Yuan Feihong clenched his fists.
Clearly, this hatred of a destroyed family and annihilated sect made him irreconcilable with the Black Heaven Sect!
"I am deeply grateful, Brother Fang, that you still acknowledge me as a friend. . ."
Yuan Feihong bowed while handing over a storage bag.
Fang Xi casually took it. His Divine Consciousness swept over it, and his expression immediately changed. "What are you doing?"
"These are merely external possessions. . . I'll be taking my leave shortly, and most of these won't be of any use to me then. . ."
Yuan Feihong replied with a bitter smile.
Fang Xi remained silent for a moment before saying, "Do you know, there's a rule on my Dragon Fish Island — enter my island, and all grudges dissipate. . ."
Yuan Feihong abruptly lifted his head, gazing at Fang Xi with disbelief.
How could he not discern Fang Xi's intention to take him in? But he never imagined the other party would risk so much. . .
What he didn't know was that Fang Xi was merely acting on a whim, simply because he had ample confidence within his heart.
After all, a late-stage Foundation Establishment subordinate was a valuable asset.
"Though my Dragon Fish Island is small, it's sufficient for Brother Yuan to stay for a few days. You just need to be careful not to leave the island recently, lest you be recognized by the Black Heaven Sect cultivators. . . If you are discovered, I, Fang, will absolutely deny having taken you in. Instead, I will claim you are cunning and deceitful, having used transformation arts to hide within my Dragon Fish Island."
Fang Xi said, a half-smile playing on his lips.
In truth, he also knew that after Ouyang Zhen's demise, the Black Heaven Sect's efforts to pursue Yuan Feihong would surely decrease by more than one level.
And with his 'Nine-Nethers Profound Wood Grand Array', he wouldn't be as credulous as Ouyang Zhen, preventing the strongest fortress from being breached from within.
"Brother Fang. . ."
Yuan Feihong couldn't help but be deeply moved. He had never expected that a single kind thought from him in the past could yield such abundant rewards now.
Yet, Senior Brother Ouyang. . .
"Alright, go down and recuperate properly. . ."
Fang Xi had Zhong Hong Yu escort Yuan Feihong away. He himself held the storage bag Yuan Feihong had given him earlier, a thoughtful expression on his face.
"In truth, the moment this person fled to Myriad Islands Lake, the outcome was already predetermined. . . The Black Heaven Sect will surely conduct a thorough search of the entire island group. . . and I will inevitably come into conflict with them!"
"The wealth of White Peace Immortal City, however, truly surpasses all others. . ."
"Even though I earned a quick fortune from the relic craze at Spirit Sky Island Market, it's still far from comparable to their hundreds of years of accumulation. . ."
...
Several months later.
Yan Chang Kong and several Foundation Establishment cultivators followed an old, white-haired Foundation Establishment cultivator with a sinister countenance to the outside of Dragon Fish Island.
"The trail ends here, but we can confirm that Yuan Feihong must have fled into the Myriad Islands Lake region! "Yan Chang Kong respectfully said to the sinister-faced elder.
This elder's identity was extraordinary. He was the Black Heaven Sect's Law Enforcement Elder, named 'Kuang Tian Xing', and his cultivation had astonishingly reached the perfected Foundation Establishment realm!
Not only that, the 'Corpse Transformation Chant' he cultivated was also a renowned top-tier cultivation method, said to refine both qi and body, making his combat power far exceed that of his peers.
Comparatively, even You Chong, the 'Purple Cloud Sword' from the Ethereal Valley Sect, who was currently rising in prominence, was merely a junior.
"Myriad Islands Lake. . . this region has indeed become a paradise for spectral entities. . ."
Kuang Tian Xing saw a patch of spectral mist not far away. A thoughtful expression appeared on his face. He suddenly formed hand seals, and a layer of dark green escape light enveloped his body as he flew towards it.
"Law Enforcement Elder. . ."
Yan Chang Kong gazed at the spectral mist, discovering several formidable figures comparable to Foundation Establishment cultivators within it. He couldn't help but shiver.
But in the next moment, Kuang Tian Xing's body erupted with dark green brilliance, transforming into a sheet of iridescent light that enveloped the spectral mist, slowly refining it.
From within the spectral mist, a three-headed wolf-soul monster with emerald eyes emerged, lunging towards Kuang Tian Xing.
"Indeed, a spectral entity!"
A jade-green gleam flashed in Kuang Tian Xing's eyes. His body instantly stiffened, covered by a layer of dark, black scales.
The spectral wolf bit onto the scales, which were thick with corpse qi, yet it couldn't break through them in the slightest.
Kuang Tian Xing let out a few cold laughs. His face rapidly shifted, becoming green-faced with fangs. His fingernails elongated monstrously. He seized the spectral wolf and tore it fiercely!
Rip!
The spectral wolf was instantly torn into several pieces, transforming into wisps of spectral mist.
Kuang Tian Xing, however, inhaled sharply. The spectral mist and yin qi transformed into a vortex, like a hundred rivers flowing into the sea, and were absorbed into his abdomen.
Even Yan Chang Kong and the other disciples, witnessing this scene, felt their scalps tingle. They exchanged glances, secretly thinking: 'Rumor has it. . . Elder Kuang's 'Corpse Transformation Chant' is more akin to a demonic cultivation art. Now it seems, those words were not unfounded. . . and his combat power is truly astonishing to the extreme. '
"Mere spectral entities, quite tasteless. . ."
A flash of dark green radiance rippled across Kuang Tian Xing's body, and he reverted to his elderly appearance. He chuckled, rubbing his stomach. "Alright, let's go to Dragon Fish Island. . ."
...
Dragon Fish Island.
Fang Xi was relaxing in the Evergreen Pavilion when he suddenly sensed a powerful Foundation Establishment cultivation aura approaching. His expression subtly shifted.
He sent out a transmission talisman, instructing Yuan Feihong to hide well. Only then did he let out a long whistle and, riding his mid-grade second-tier Green Corner Fish Dragon, arrived at the edge of the grand array.
His gaze swept over the scene, landing directly on Kuang Tian Xing:
"This one is Fang Xi, Island Master of Dragon Fish Island. May I know which esteemed member of the Black Heaven Sect you are?"
"This is our sect's Law Enforcement Elder — Elder Kuang Tian Xing!"
Yan Chang Kong hastily introduced him.
"So it's Elder Kuang. May I ask what brings you to my Dragon Fish Island? " Fang Xi said with a chuckle, trying to diffuse the tension.
"By sect decree, I am here to apprehend a criminal cultivator!"
Emerald green light flickered in Kuang Tian Xing's eyes, making him appear quite eerie, as he replied in a hoarse voice.
He raised his hand. Brilliance shimmered within a jade slip, revealing Yuan Feihong's likeness. "Has this person ever been to Dragon Fish Island?"
"Never!"
Fang Xi blinked, then shook his head with a sigh. "So Yuan Feihong of White Peace Immortal City has fallen to become a criminal cultivator? How truly miserable and down-and-out. . . Ah, back then, he and I were still friends."
"You truly haven't seen this person?"
Kuang Tian Xing said coldly, "You yourself said your acquaintance with him was not shallow. Furthermore. . . if you harbor a criminal cultivator, you will be treated as an accomplice!"
"Naturally not. " Fang Xi lied without even blinking.
"Since that's the case, do you dare let me search Dragon Fish Island once? " Kuang Tian Xing demanded.
"Elder Kuang, isn't that going too far?"
Fang Xi frowned. "You are also a cultivator. You should know that a Foundation Establishment cultivator always has many secrets. What reason is there to search the entire island indiscriminately?"
Kuang Tian Xing sneered. "In the State of Yue, my Black Heaven Sect *is* reason."
"Haha. . . good, good. . ."
Upon hearing this, Fang Xi burst into laughter.
Just as Yan Chang Kong was completely bewildered, Fang Xi declared loudly, "The Black Heaven Sect abandoned Myriad Islands Lake first, allowing the cultivators of the islands to be ravaged by spectral disasters without a single word or concern. Yet now, you suddenly remember that you are the 'Heaven' of Myriad Islands Lake. . . My apologies, but since the Black Heaven Sect abandoned us first, my Myriad Islands Lake will naturally no longer heed the Black Heaven Sect's commands."
Fang Xi saw very clearly that with the Black Heaven Sect's domineering nature, even if he hadn't taken in Yuan Feihong, he might still have had to submit to a search to prove his innocence.
Spirit Sky Island, Golden Tortoise Island, Maple Leaf Island. . . none of them would escape!
The crucial point was that Dragon Fish Island was far from innocent to begin with!
Just the forbidden area where the demonic tree and Taisui resided could absolutely not be seen by anyone.
Nor could the island's third-tier formation and its core be discovered.
Therefore, since they were bound to fall out anyway, it was better to take in Yuan Feihong first and earn some goodwill.
Yan Chang Kong and the other Foundation Establishment cultivators were instantly dumbfounded.
With the Black Heaven Sect having just destroyed White Peace Immortal City and their prestige at its peak, this was the first time they had ever heard a Foundation Establishment cultivator dare to speak like this.
Yan Chang Kong, in particular, grumbled inwardly: 'Before, he claimed he couldn't represent Myriad Islands Lake, so why is he now speaking of "my Myriad Islands Lake cultivators" again and again? '
"Good, good, good. . . " Kuang Tian Xing was stunned, staring at Fang Xi for a long while. "It seems. . . my Black Heaven Sect hasn't acted in Myriad Islands Lake for too long, causing people to forget the fates of the Song Clan, Situ Clan, and Red Leaf Valley back then, haven't they?"
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