Chapter 273: A Century's Pact (Please Subscribe)
Chapter 273: A Century's Pact (Please Subscribe)
A hint of hesitation flickered across Fang Xi's face, but he still accepted the jade slip. After carefully examining it multiple times, his Divine Consciousness entered it.
Soon, a flicker of wild joy appeared on his face, which then turned to confusion, before settling into an expression of utmost difficulty.
"The 'Withered Glory Chant' actually has such a requirement for advancing to the Nascent Soul realm. . . This is truly a massive problem."
After a long while, Fang Xi's face looked as though a dye shop had opened upon it, and he let out a deep sigh: "After cultivating the 'Withered Glory Chant' to Core Formation Perfected, to advance to the Nascent Soul realm, one must actually cultivate the complementary 'Longevity Art'. . . and even cultivate it to the stage of 'Wood Spirit Body' to successfully advance to Nascent Soul! Otherwise, one will never be able to advance! This. . . this is simply. . ."
It turned out that within the jade slip, there was not only the 'Withered Glory Chant' cultivation method from Qi Refinement to late-stage Nascent Soul, but also a complementary 'Longevity Art'.
Fang Xi had seen most of these contents before. After silently comparing them in his mind, he confirmed their authenticity.
In the final crucial instructions, the old ghost had even specified that for the 'Withered Glory Chant' to advance to the Nascent Soul realm, one absolutely had to cultivate the 'Wood Spirit Body'!
'The 'Withered Glory Chant' and the 'Longevity Art' truly complement each other. By coincidence, I've been walking the correct path, avoiding a lot of trouble. . . '
"Fellow Daoist, don't fret. Since our sect uses this art as its inheritance, it naturally has a way to solve this. . ."
The old ghost said, shaking his head with a swagger.
"How to solve it? Achieving the Verdant Wood Spiritual Body might be acceptable; a Core Formation cultivator, if they truly set their mind to it, could meet the conditions. . . but it wouldn't be worth the effort. Those capable of forming a Golden Core generally don't have poor spiritual root aptitudes, and the Verdant Wood Spiritual Body doesn't provide much of an increase. . . The Wood Spirit Body, on the other hand, requires a thousand years! A thousand years. . . Unless I'm an old Nascent Soul monster, how could I live for a thousand years?"
Fang Xi's eyes were bloodshot: "Fine. . . I simply won't cultivate this wretched art anymore!"
"Fellow Daoist, Fellow Daoist, don't be hasty, listen to this old man explain slowly. . ."
The old ghost was truly afraid Fang Xi would just switch cultivation methods, which would ruin everything: "Not only is the 'Withered Glory Chant' exceedingly powerful, its complementary 'Withered Glory Mystic Light' is also incredibly sharp. . . Can Fellow Daoist truly bear to abandon it?"
"What's more. . . if you cultivate the Wood Spirit Body, and then push the 'Withered Glory Chant' to Core Formation Perfected, with the two working in conjunction, it will be of great benefit for breaking through the Nascent Soul bottleneck. . . Even in ancient times, condensing a Nascent Soul was a heavenly chasm. What do you think is the value of a cultivation method or secret art that can increase the chances of condensing a Nascent Soul, Fellow Daoist?"
"Beneficial for condensing a Nascent Soul? " Fang Xi's eyes flickered, seeming somewhat moved: "By how much can it increase the probability?"
"Fellow Daoist has indeed stumped this old man. Our sect has never had a single Nascent Soul cultivator apart from the founding patriarch, so this old man doesn't know the specifics. However, even though our sect's founding patriarch possessed a heaven-grade wood spiritual root, he did not awaken a spirit body. Yet, he ultimately relied on the 'Withered Glory Chant' to cultivate a Nascent Soul, and recorded this matter in detail in the sect's secret records. . . That is how this old man came to know a thing or two. " The old ghost saw Fang Xi take the bait and inwardly chuckled: 'Indeed. . . any Core Formation cultivator cannot escape the allure of condensing a Nascent Soul! '
"It seems the solution lies in a secret art that can promote spiritual root growth? Does Fellow Daoist possess 'Fortune Spiritual Liquid'?"
Fang Xi's gaze suddenly shifted, fixing intently on the old ghost.
"How could this old man possess something like Fortune Spiritual Liquid, which is rumored to exist only in the Immortal World? " The old ghost shook his head: "However, our sect's founding patriarch did once receive a bottle of 'Nine Heavens Pure Water' as a gift from Green Emperor Mountain. This spiritual liquid is made by diluting Fortune Spiritual Liquid and mixing it with ten-thousand-year spiritual milk, Three Light Divine Water, and a series of other heavenly materials and earthly treasures, then refined by a Soul Transformation cultivator. It also has the miraculous effect of promoting spiritual root growth! This 'Nine Heavens Pure Water' is something this old man also doesn't possess, but it is present within that ancient ruin."
"No wonder you only asked for my promise and didn't require an oath. " Fang Xi understood: "With such a heaven-sent opportunity laid out there, I would beg you to take me!"
"Indeed. If not for a certain pass within that ruin requiring someone who has cultivated the 'Withered Glory Chant' to late-stage Core Formation to pass through, why would this old man bother to win you over?"
The old ghost subconsciously reached out to stroke his beard, but only touched a patch of mist.
"It seems you also had a plan when possessing this person."
Fang Xi looked at Zhan Tu, suddenly realizing.
Zhan Tu possessed a superior-grade fire-wood dual spiritual root; theoretically, he could also cultivate the 'Withered Glory Chant'!
"Hmph. . . When the ruin was opened, this old man had just emerged from his seal and was on the verge of having his soul scattered. I truly couldn't find anyone better, so I had to make do for now. . . It's a pity this person's spiritual root is too poor, and fire counters wood. If he were to cultivate wood-element cultivation methods, it would be best to employ the 'Reverse Fire Secret Art' to nourish wood with fire. . ."
The old ghost chattered on and on, like a motor-mouth. He had probably been sealed for too long, and hadn't communicated with outsiders in ages.
"What is this 'Reverse Fire Secret Art'? " Fang Xi asked with interest.
"Heh heh, the common folk are ignorant; they only know to make this Zhan boy cultivate fire-element cultivation methods. . . but they don't realize there's also a path for him to cultivate wood-element methods. This 'Reverse Fire Secret Art' is a secret transmission of my Nine Leaves Sect. Once mastered, it can transform the fire-attribute spiritual energy absorbed during cultivation through three cycles: fire generates earth, earth generates metal, metal generates water. . . and finally, water can nourish wood. In this way. . . this person's cultivation speed would be even faster than that of a typical superior-grade spiritual root."
The old ghost spoke voluminously.
Fang Xi listened, then shook his head: "Aside from sects specializing in wood-attribute cultivation methods, few would bother to research this. . . If a disciple's spiritual root aptitude favors fire, they can simply cultivate fire-attribute methods directly. . ."
"Ignorant junior. . . Do you know that some ancient grand divine abilities and secret arts have requirements not only for cultivation methods but even for spiritual root attributes? These secret arts are prepared precisely for such purposes."
The old ghost rebuked him, but then seemed to realize he had misspoken: "You've asked this old man too many questions, yet you haven't answered me yet. . ."
"Go together to some ruin, to retrieve something?"
Fang Xi smiled: "When, and what is to be retrieved?"
"It will take time for you to cultivate the 'Withered Glory Chant' to late-stage Core Formation, and this child's Core Formation will take even longer. . . This old man cannot be certain, but it will surely be a century from now, won't it? A century later, we can arrange to meet here again and then study the matter. . . As for what is to be retrieved, I will tell you then!"
For the old ghost, he had merely given away a late-stage cultivation method that Fang Xi 'couldn't cultivate' and gained an ally, so he naturally hadn't lost out.
Fang Xi's expression darkened: "A century from now? By then, if I've cultivated the 'Withered Glory Chant' for a hundred years, I'm afraid I wouldn't bear to switch, would I?"
"Haha, it's good that you know, young man. If there's nothing else, this old man must depart. . . Staying away for too long, that Old Ancestor Zhang will grow suspicious."
The mist on the old ghost's face rapidly dissipated, and he closed his eyes.
Zhan Tu opened his eyes, his consciousness still somewhat muddled, and bowed to Fang Xi.
“Very well, you may withdraw. ”
Fang Xi stared at Zhan Tu for a long moment, then finally waved his hand.
Zhan Tu's heart lightened, and he immediately bowed once more, then took his leave.
It wasn't until he had exited the Evergreen Pavilion that he touched his Dantian, transmitting a slightly excited message in his mind: "Old ghost. . . you truly are formidable. Just a few words, and you managed to fool a Core Formation Old Ancestor. . ."
"Heh heh. . . As long as this person cultivates the 'Withered Glory Chant', he will absolutely not escape this old ancestor's grasp. " The old ghost's voice echoed, tinged with a hint of smugness.
On top of the pavilion.
Fang Xi stood by the window, watching them depart.
In his heart, he was still lamenting: 'What a. . . good person! To actually give me a cultivation method for free. . . With this, cultivating the 'Withered Glory Chant' to late-stage Nascent Soul won't be much of a problem at all. '
What Wood Spirit Body?
He had already cultivated it long ago!
'As for Soul Transformation? Could it be that one needs the 'Eternal Evergreen Body' physique? '
'However, for me, that's not an impossible feat either. . . '
'I never expected the Nine Leaves Sect to have such a background and foundation. It seems I'll have to visit Emerald Island to investigate when I have some free time in the future. . . '
Even a perilous place from which Zhang Zhu Sheng, a False Core, could escape, Fang Xi was no longer very afraid of it now.
As for the century's pact? Naturally, he would decide whether to participate based on his cultivation and mood at that time. . .
...
Half a month later.
Fang Xi's Core Formation grand ceremony officially began.
As news of his Core Formation spread, the entire Myriad Islands Lake—no, the entire State of Yue, and even the Three Kingdoms—was in an uproar.
After all, the last rogue cultivator to achieve Core Formation was True Person Baifeng!
From that day onward, Fang Xi was bound to replace True Person Baifeng and become the aspiration and idol of countless rogue cultivators.
As for the Core Formation celebration?
Fang Xi had not originally intended to hold a grand event, but since Zhang Zhu Sheng had already arrived, he could only reluctantly go through with it. However, he instructed that everything be kept simple, inviting only acquaintances for a light drink, just as a gesture, and that would be enough.
Dragon Fish Island was exceptionally lively on this day.
Within the Evergreen Pavilion, streaks of escape light flew in and out, belonging to busy maidservants and various cultivators.
Dressed in a Green Bamboo Spirit Robe, Fang Xi sat in the main seat, hosting Zhang Zhu Sheng, his esteemed guest.
With a slight gesture from the Core Formation Old Ancestor, Xuan Xuan Zi presented a gift box. Upon opening it, five superior-grade spirit stones were revealed inside: "The Black Heaven Sect congratulates Fellow Daoist on your joyous Core Formation!"
"Many thanks, many thanks!"
Fang Xi clasped his fists in gratitude.
Old Ancestor Zhang then asked with a smile: "I wonder if Fellow Daoist has chosen a Daoist title yet?"
A Core Formation Old Ancestor, in the cultivation world, was certainly qualified to possess a Daoist title.
"Not yet. . ."
Fang Xi replied with a smile.
"I've observed that Fellow Daoist enjoys traveling by dragon. How about 'True Person Azure Dragon'? Or perhaps using 'Dragon Fish' as your title would also be excellent. " Old Ancestor Zhang suggested with a smile, exceedingly eager.
Being able to suggest a Daoist title also implied a very close relationship between the two parties.
Fang Xi pondered for a moment, then shook his head: "Let me think about it some more. . ."
While 'True Person Azure Dragon' sounded majestic, what he rode was actually a fish!
When that time came, he would most likely be secretly called 'True Person Green Fish,' drastically lowering his prestige!
'Damn you, Da Qing, you still haven't advanced into a third-tier dragon species. You already have a death wish! '
A fierce glint flashed in Fang Xi's eyes.
In the fish farm, Da Qing, who had originally been lazily floating on the surface of the lake, for some unknown reason, suddenly had all its scales stand on end, its pair of dead-fish eyes gazing around in terror. . .
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