Chapter 265: Limit (Requesting Monthly Tickets)
Chapter 265: Limit (Requesting Monthly Tickets)
The grand war of the Ethereal Valley Sect's invasion of the two countries ended with a whimper.
This was something none of the cultivators from the three countries had anticipated.
The Ethereal Valley Sect's cultivator army, which had originally surged into the two countries, conquering cities and seizing territories like a hot knife through butter, suddenly retreated without the slightest warning. They did so at all costs, even abandoning the spirit mountains and ore veins they had painstakingly captured without a second thought.
This resolute move left the rogue cultivators dumbfounded, and severely disadvantaged the local immortal clans who had previously sided with the Ethereal Valley Sect and acted as their guides within the two countries.
Many resolute clan heads and sect masters could only grit their teeth, abandon their family legacies, and likewise flee into the State of Wu.
Those who were more indecisive, however, were left to simultaneously plead for forgiveness from their superior sects while anxiously making arrangements for their future. . .
The scenes that Zhan Tu experienced were not only unfolding in the State of Yue but also similarly in the State of Mu.
Only after a long period did ambiguous news begin to spread, but most who heard it dismissed it as a mere joke.
But it wasn't until the Ethereal Valley Sect sealed its mountain gate, activated its grand formation, and adopted a stance of full defense that the cultivation world of the State of Wu erupted in an uproar, realizing that this matter might actually be true!
The Grand Elder of the Ethereal Valley Sect had died in battle!
It was even possible that the 'Nine Dragons Pearl', a supreme treasure, had been lost outside, causing the Ethereal Valley Sect to be unable to choose a new Grand Elder for a long time.
Even the original cultivation forces of the State of Wu began to stir restlessly.
After all, the Ethereal Valley Sect had ruled the State of Wu for far too long, suppressing all ambitious individuals and leaving them unable to act.
But soon after, the Ethereal Valley Sect high-profilely announced that they had welcomed a guest Grand Elder from outside.
This Grand Elder, surnamed Yan, was not only a sword cultivator but also a mid-stage Core Formation master, and immediately suppressed all dissent.
However, while the three countries seemingly returned to peace, countless undercurrents surged beneath the surface. . .
Amidst these ever-shifting tides, a certain rumor inexplicably spread far and wide—'Enter Dragon Fish Island, and all grievances vanish, all great tribulations cannot harm! '
In the hearts of many low-level cultivators, Dragon Fish Island in Myriad Islands Lake had practically become a sacred land, like a paradise untouched by the world. . .
...
Dragon Fish Island.
Evergreen Pavilion.
"Did the Island Master truly kill a Core Formation Ancestor of the Ethereal Valley Sect?"
Liu San Qi overturned the tea in front of him without even realizing it, while Yan Dong Qing beside him had his eyes wide open, like copper bells.
Even Ruan Xing Ling, though in seclusion, was startled by this matter and came to Dragon Fish Island, though her expression remained relatively composed.
"What Core Formation Ancestor? It was merely a Foundation Establishment cultivator who refined a wondrous treasure and possessed the combat power of a False Core. . ."
Fang Xi waved his hand, "I am also at Foundation Establishment Perfected. Is it not perfectly normal for me to kill a Foundation Establishment cultivator?"
"Normal. . . normal. . ."
Liu San Qi and Yan Dong Qing both chuckled apologetically, yet in their hearts, they grumbled, "Normal, my ass. . . That was an Ethereal Valley Sect Ancestor, a prominent figure among the three countries, and he actually died here. . ."
"Since Fellow Daoist Fang can kill a False Core with a formation, what do you plan to do next? " Ruan Xing Ling's eyes flashed as she asked the most crucial question.
"There is no need to do anything. . ."
Fang Xi sighed, "Currently, among the three countries, there should be no Core Formation Ancestor who would dare to rashly enter Dragon Fish Island. . ."
Although he had not refined the 'Nine Dragons Pearl', in the eyes of Ancestor Zhang and Ancestor Green, he was a suspected False Core, moreover, one who presided over a third-tier formation. He was truly a turtle shell, one they could not shake even if they joined forces.
As for the Ethereal Valley Sect, they are currently too preoccupied with internal strife to pay any mind to this place.
According to the intelligence Fang Xi had obtained from You Kun, he felt he could secure at least ten years of peace.
And ten years. . . that would be enough to achieve Core Formation!
"All you Island Masters have arrived, excellent. . . I have something I wish to discuss."
Fang Xi picked up his teacup and took a sip.
"What matter might that be? We are ready to go through hell and high water for you, even if it means death a thousand times over. " Yan Dong Qing quickly bowed, asking humbly.
The current Island Master of Dragon Fish Island could practically be seen as a half-Core Formation cultivator, and his attitude was the most fawning.
"I plan to fully activate the power of the 'Nine-Nethers Profound Wood Grand Array' and seal off the entire island. . . You are to inform all cultivators on the island that any who do not wish to enter death seclusion with this Island Master may first relocate to Maple Leaf Island, Golden Tortoise Island, or Spirit Sky Island. . ." RAN0-bЕS
Fang Xi said indifferently.
"You. . . intend to enter seclusion? Are the spirit stones sufficient? " Ruan Xing Ling raised an eyebrow, probing the crucial point.
In the eyes of the Foundation Establishment cultivators, although this third-tier grand formation possessed terrifying power, situated atop a second-tier spirit vein, its daily consumption of spirit stones was utterly astounding.
"No need. . ."
Fang Xi waved his hand, saying, "I have my own methods. . ."
Zhong Hong Yu and Tai Shu Hong exchanged glances, and at the same time, a thought emerged from the depths of their hearts: "Could it be. . . that there's an undiscovered third-tier spirit vein on Dragon Fish Island?"
...
To Fang Xi's surprise, even after announcing the island's impending sealing, not many cultivators chose to leave.
Perhaps those Qi Refinement cultivators were reluctant to give up their residency qualifications, or they wished to endure their remaining years of residence, looking forward to the treasure contest in the future.
After all, even if they didn't succeed in becoming the champion and obtaining a Foundation Establishment Spiritual Item,
as long as they performed even slightly well, they might be taken in as disciples by this Ancestor Fang, and from then on ascend to the heavens in a single step!
As for Zhong Hong Yu and the other Foundation Establishment cultivators, they were likely just taking a gamble.
Fang Xi couldn't be bothered with this, and at the same time, he declined Ruan Xing Ling's and Liu San Qi's offers to act as protectors. After seeing them off, he immediately activated the full power of the formation, causing the 'Nine-Nethers Profound Wood Grand Array' to completely envelop Dragon Fish Island. From the outside, the entire island appeared to be covered by a gigantic, inverted black sea bowl.
As fate would have it!
It just so happened that shortly after Fang Xi sealed the island, envoys from the Black Heaven Sect and the Green Wood Sect arrived late, only to gaze upon the inky black formation without the slightest courage to trespass.
After repeatedly sending out several sound transmission talismans but receiving no reply, they could only depart dejectedly. . .
...
On Dragon Fish Island.
As usual, Fang Xi lived a carefree and indulgent life with his maidservants.
Occasionally, he would take out the jade slip from You Kun's storage bag to study it.
That Grand Elder truly hadn't expected anyone among the three countries to be able to stop him, and thus had carried most of his family's possessions with him.
There were even quite a few jade slips containing cultivation methods.
To Fang Xi's regret, this person had not carried any third-tier legacies.
However, the 'Purple Cloud Cultivation Art' he cultivated was quite good; it was a top-tier cultivation method that led directly to the Nascent Soul realm, and was even a newly developed one.
Unfortunately, it was completely incompatible with Fang Xi's spiritual root aptitude, and he had no intention of switching cultivation methods again.
However, the other jade slips, which contained maps of the Southern Barrens Cultivation World, strange tales, customs of the cultivation world, and even a few secret arts, greatly intrigued Fang Xi.
He took out a purple jade slip and sent his Divine Consciousness into it.
"'Purple Qi Heavenly Eye'? A secret art for cultivating a pair of special eyes. . . It requires daily cleansing of the eyes with purple qi from the rising sun at dawn. . ."
Fang Xi thought of You Chong and You Kun's eyes, which occasionally burst with purple light, and mused, "This spirit eye technique seems quite good, but. . . it's somewhat redundant for me."
This spirit eye technique, it was said, when cultivated to its peak, could infuse one's gaze with Divine Consciousness attacks, harming an enemy's Sea of Consciousness.
It appeared to be of no low grade, seemingly originating from a Nascent Soul sect.
However. . . Fang Xi already possessed the Primordial Demonic Spike.
Furthermore, he was currently only focused on achieving Core Formation, disregarding all other matters.
"According to common sense, for a Foundation Establishment Perfected cultivator, the most crucial and difficult step is to make the spiritual power in their Dantian Sea of Qi extremely viscous, leading to the first signs of solidification. . . I have already surpassed that step."
"Now, it just depends on how far the 'Wood Spirit Body' can take me."
Fang Xi now inwardly observed his Dantian Sea of Qi, where two-tenths of his three hundred and sixty-five drops of liquid spiritual power had solidified.
From afar, it looked like a grand pill, continuously shimmering with intertwined green and yellow hues!
Indeed, as long as he willed it, he could immediately begin the Core Formation process.
Of course, Fang Xi would definitely not do so; he would wait until his spiritual power had solidified to its limit, striving to maximize his success rate.
"What a pity. . . that Grand Elder of the You family was also a pauper; there wasn't even a single Core Formation Spiritual Item in his storage bag. . . What a waste!"
Fang Xi muttered a curse under his breath, wondering if You Kun were still alive, would he be so enraged upon hearing this that he'd vomit blood?
...
Time flashed by, and another year or so passed.
Through the sound transmission talismans sent into the 'Nine-Nethers Profound Wood Grand Array' from outside, Fang Xi was kept well-informed about the situation in the cultivation world of the three countries.
Ever since that Grand Elder surnamed Yan announced his joining of the Ethereal Valley Sect as a guest Grand Elder, the cultivation world of the three countries had stabilized once more. The three factions ceased hostilities, still maintaining the general trend of the Black Heaven Sect and Green Wood Sect jointly resisting the Ethereal Valley Sect.
After all, during the previous battle at White Peace Immortal City, those two Core Formation Ancestors were truly put through the wringer by the Ethereal Valley Sect, nearly perishing on the spot.
Even now, they would need at least several decades to recover from their injuries.
As for the Ethereal Valley Sect, having lost a Grand Elder, they also didn't dare to make any significant moves, preferring to first quell the chaos within the State of Wu.
"One hundred and seventy-six years old. . ."
Inside the secret chamber, Fang Xi inwardly observed his Dantian Sea of Qi, seeing that his liquid spiritual power had solidified by three-tenths and reached its limit, not increasing by a single iota in the past few months.
"Is three-tenths solidification of spiritual power the limit of the Wood Spirit Body?"
"But it's enough. Let's begin!"
With a flash of his figure, he stepped out of the seclusion chamber and arrived at Dragon Fish Island's forbidden ground—beneath the demonic tree.
He casually pulled out a sound transmission talisman, and after giving a few instructions, tossed the talisman into the air.
Watching the talisman transform into a fleeting flash of fire, Fang Xi's eyes were filled with calm.
He didn't place much trust in the Foundation Establishment cultivators remaining on the island.
Choosing to enter seclusion beneath the demonic tree at this moment, with formations even laid out around it, meant that even a late-stage Foundation Establishment cultivator who dared to forcefully intrude would only find a dead end!
As for the miscellaneous affairs on the island, he unceremoniously handed them over to those three.
"So then. . . let's begin. . ."
Fang Xi sat cross-legged beneath the demonic tree, everything from his past vivid in his mind.
"It has been over one hundred and sixty years since I transmigrated. . ."
"From a humble spirit farmer of Green Bamboo Mountain, I have come to be the Island Master of Dragon Fish Island, whose name now shakes the three countries. . ."
"And now, I am about to begin Core Formation!"
He exhaled a long breath, not circulating his cultivation method, but merely performing ordinary meditation to adjust himself.
Both cultivation methods and Core Formation insights agreed that before a cultivator broke through, it was best to first calm one's mind and restore the three treasures of essence, qi, and spirit to their peak.
Fang Xi closed his eyes, falling into a peculiar state.
And the black mist outside Dragon Fish Island continued to maintain its sealed state, until this very day. . .
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