Chapter 283: Scheming (For the Silver Alliance Grandmaster)
Chapter 283: Scheming (For the Silver Alliance Grandmaster)
The Progenitor Demonic Tree had fallen!
It had perished under a bizarre two-colored lightning tribulation!
'He himself' stared blankly at this scene, waiting for the lightning to dissipate, then immediately stepped forward, frantically searching for the corpse of the Progenitor Demonic Tree.
Ashes, desolation. . .
As far as the eye could see, everything was scorched black.
Fang Xi watched all of this with great interest, as if he were watching a virtual reality immersive movie.
Then, 'he' dug out a fist-sized, gray-black object from the deepest part of the earth, amidst countless ashes, with faint blood-colored patterns on its surface. . . a 'seed'?
Fang Xi's Divine Consciousness suddenly stirred, and then he withdrew from Zhang Ming Ding's sea of consciousness.
His figure flashed, and he appeared in Zhang Ming Ding's bedroom.
Immediately after, that carved four-poster bed instantly split into pieces, revealing a hidden box beneath.
As if an invisible giant hand appeared in the void, it opened the box and took out that gray-black, fist-sized seed.
The moment he saw this item, the Demonic Tree tattoo on Fang Xi's back began to stir excitedly, even carrying a trace of. . . fear?
"A seed of the Progenitor Demonic Tree? !"
Fang Xi held this seed and couldn't help but burst into laughter.
He hadn't expected everything to go so smoothly!
"Master Mu. . ."
Zhang Ming Ding entered soon after, seeing his shattered bed and the hidden passage, his facial muscles couldn't help but twitch: "I had long intended to report this matter, and offer this item to Master. . ."
"Never mind, you've done well, very well!"
Fang Xi carefully enveloped the seed in Wood Spirit Divine Light, sealed it within a jade paste box, and then, in one go, affixed seventeen or eighteen spiritual talismans to it.
Only after placing this item into his storage ring did he finally let out a sigh of relief.
As long as he had this item, everything was worth it!
He looked to the side, at Zhang Ming Ding, who was still deeply bowed and bent over, and suddenly smiled: "What reward do you want?"
"Serving Master, I dare not ask for rewards. . . It's just that ever since Envoy Liu died, some of her supporters formed the 'God Reversal Society' and have been secretly causing trouble for the Martial God Gate. . ."
Zhang Ming Ding replied.
If a Martial God from the God Reversal Society dared to appear before him, it went without saying, they would surely be beaten like little children, one punch each.
Alas. . . the God Reversal Society simply wouldn't engage him in direct combat.
Instead, they would lie in wait, assassinate, and specifically stir up trouble when he wasn't around.
This was quite a headache.
"God Reversal Society. . ."
Fang Xi looked at Zhang Ming Ding, feeling a little emotional.
This 'Blood-Qi Dead Core' was completely different from an Immortal Dao Golden Core, and even inferior to the divine abilities of a False Core.
Moreover, he also didn't know many of the cultivators' methods.
From his memories, Fang Xi had also glimpsed other things, knowing that this person, in order to achieve Blood-Qi Core Formation, had secretly done many cruel deeds, and had another serendipitous encounter while researching demons.
Fang Xi himself had known a thing or two about these matters during his investigations among the populace, but considering his successful governance, which had led to the previous life-and-death trial, passing it meant all was forgiven, and compared to the Progenitor Demonic Tree, these were trivial matters.
"I will teach you a few minor techniques, once mastered, it won't be difficult to track down those rats by following their tails. . ."
Fang Xi smiled faintly, took out a jade slip, imprinted several spells within it with his Divine Consciousness, and casually tossed it to Zhang Ming Ding.
"Many thanks, Master!"
Zhang Ming Ding was overjoyed.
"I intend to go back and research the 'Demons' again, don't bother me unless it's important, that Han Yue is quite good, she's worth promoting. . ."
Fang Xi smiled faintly, his figure dissipating like a phantom bubble.
Meanwhile, Zhang Ming Ding, following Fang Xi's instructions, placed the jade slip on his forehead, and his eyes widened incessantly: "This. . . this is. . ."
...
Southern Barrens Cultivation World.
In the cave abode on the desolate island.
Fang Xi was currently seated cross-legged, a mid-grade Spirit Stone in his hand flickering with spiritual light, gradually dimming, until it finally turned to ash.
"The recovery of Dharma power for a Core Formation cultivator is truly a challenge. . ."
"In a place without a spirit vein, meditation and cultivation are unbearably slow, and I can only rely on Spirit Stones for replenishment. . ."
Although he still had some superior-grade Spirit Stones in his storage bag, Fang Xi couldn't bear to waste them here.
He thought for a moment, then slapped his storage bag, and two boxes appeared.
On one of them were affixed seventeen or eighteen shimmering talismans, and inside was precisely that 'Progenitor Demonic Tree Seed'!
"With the seed. . . I still need a high-grade spirit vein. . ."
"Let's save that for later, I really don't want to be trapped in one place for another few hundred or thousand years so soon. . ."
Fang Xi sighed and properly put away this box.
After obtaining the 'Progenitor Demonic Tree Seed', he had researched several other 'Demons' in Da Liang, and taking Zhang Ming Ding's information, he returned to the cultivation world.
For him, this was his 'root' in cultivation!
"And there's this. . ."
Fang Xi opened another box, which contained the path of the Martial Immortal, as compiled by Zhang Ming Ding.
"Martial Immortal. . ."
"It can be considered a crippled version of a Core Formation body cultivator, I suppose. . . Without physical divine abilities, it can only be considered semi-third-order power. . . That's why it was so easily defeated by my Wood Spirit Divine Light. . ."
"But it's not bad, at least it's quick to achieve and requires few resources. . . Using an entire world as a training ground for cultivation methods, a hundred years of cultivation, has finally borne some decent fruit."
Fang Xi pondered the pros and cons of the Martial Immortal path.
He was now determined to pursue the Immortal Dao, and didn't really want to imprint any messy paths onto his main body.
Lest these create obstacles for his future Dao path, that would be truly unfortunate.
Fortunately, cultivators had many methods, and even if he didn't practice this Martial Immortal path himself, he could still make full use of it.
Massively cultivating quasi-third-order body cultivators of this Blood-Qi martial arts type, or waiting until he could cultivate puppet avatars before trying it, seemed like a good option?
"But these aren't the most pressing matters. . ."
"The most pressing thing is that I still lack a third-order spirit vein for cultivation. . . Or at least a superior-grade second-order one? It's just that, in that case, the speed of my Dharma power advancement would be quite 'moving'. . ."
"It seems. . . my previous plan can be implemented now?"
Fang Xi thought for a moment, and took out a pearl shrouded in wisps of mist from his storage ring.
It was precisely the Blurring Pearl!
He chanted a few incantations, and struck the Blurring Pearl with a spell incantation.
The Blurring Pearl erupted with wisps of mirage qi, enveloping his entire being.
In the blink of an eye, Fang Xi's appearance instantly transformed greatly, turning into Liu San Qi's likeness.
He thought for a moment, and then cast the Concealment Secret Art from the 'Withered Glory Chant', his Dharma power fluctuations also dropping from early Core Formation to the Foundation Establishment stage.
Next, Fang Xi unhurriedly opened the door to his secluded cultivation chamber and walked out.
"Goo-goo. . ."
The circling Daqing turned its head, and upon seeing Liu San Qi, its lifeless fish-eyes suddenly widened, and it opened its mouth, about to spray a pillar of water in attack.
After all, this 'Liu San Qi' not only had the exact same Dharma power aura, but even the same Divine Consciousness as the real one.
But the next moment, it sensed something was off.
From 'Liu San Qi's' body, a fluctuation of the master-servant contract emanated!
This was the spirit beast's greatest proof for recognizing its master!
All these various factors confused even Daqing, and on its lifeless fish-eyes, mosquito-coil-like patterns seemed to spin.
"Not bad. . . Even my spirit beast almost didn't recognize me."
Fang Xi chuckled, and with another hand seal, he instantly transformed into a young man with ordinary features, around the mid-Foundation Establishment stage. He slapped his spirit beast pouch, stored away the Green Corner Fish Dragon, and transformed into a streak of green rainbow light, instantly flying away from the desolate island.
...
State of Mu.
This state was located southeast of the State of Yue, separated by the Myriad Beast Mountain Range.
By passing through White Peace Immortal City or several frontier market towns, it was now easily passable for the current Fang Xi.
"Ah, White Peace Immortal City. . ."
Recalling the scenes he had casually observed when passing through the immortal city, Fang Xi, within the green streak of light, couldn't help but show a complicated expression on his face.
The immortal city had now completely transformed into a fortress of war, lacking even a trace of its former atmosphere as a free market town or a city for rogue cultivators.
Large numbers of disciples from the Green Wood Sect and Black Heaven Sect were stationed here, relying on third-order formations and spirit veins, becoming the frontline of resistance against the Ethereal Valley Sect.
'If this were still a city for rogue cultivators, it would be a rather good place for cultivation. . . '
Fang Xi thought it over and over, deciding he still needed to join a Core Formation power to 'leech' off a third-order spirit vein.
Of course, under a different identity. . .
This might seem less advantageous than agreeing to Lu Qing's request, but in reality, it was vastly different.
One was a target in the open, while the other could hide in the shadows, leisurely observing the changing tides. . . And if anything felt even slightly off, he could gracefully withdraw and leave!
"Currently, the three targets I've prepared are the Black Heaven Sect, the Ethereal Valley Sect, and the Green Wood Sect. . ."
A sharp glint flickered in Fang Xi's eyes.
That's right, the Ethereal Valley Sect was also one of his targets.
However, considering the deep foundation of the Ethereal Valley Sect and its connection to the Hunyuan Sect, it was quite possible that any high-level foreign cultivators would first settle in this sect, which would inevitably bring some trouble, so he decided to skip it. . .
As for the second, the Black Heaven Sect, its advantage lay in Grand Elder Zhang Zhu Sheng being able to hold on for another two hundred years, ensuring great stability.
But there was still that old ghost!
Towards this person, Fang Xi still maintained a cautious attitude, after all, he didn't know their origins, and they might have some secret art that could expose his disguise.
'Combined with some traces he had found during his last trip to Emerald Island, this old ghost's background was far from simple. . . Fortunately, he hadn't rashly made a move to capture this person last time, but had instead formed a slight acquaintance. '
'Taking everything into account, only the Green Wood Sect remained. . . '
'Lu Qing was going to sit in meditation and die within two years. . . Even if there was still a third-order grand formation, who could stop me? '
Fang Xi was actually still a little tempted by what Lu Qing had said last time.
The Green Wood Sect had indeed started with wood-element cultivation methods, and it was truly possible they had items and secret arts that could be useful to him!
'Of course. . . although he wouldn't be able to enjoy the most central cave abode of a third-order spirit vein, it wouldn't be bad to just 'leech' off the outer perimeter. . . '
After all, he had even considered cultivating arduously on a second-order spirit vein for hundreds of years.
'If he were assigned to be stationed in White Peace Immortal City, that would actually be acceptable as well. . . '
The green streak of rainbow light flashed repeatedly, and Fang Xi, now a young Foundation Establishment cultivator, entered the territory of the State of Mu.
The biggest difference between this state and the State of Yue was probably its extremely abundant vegetation, with lush forests visible everywhere.
Moreover, even ordinary households liked to cultivate flowers and plants in their courtyards or by their gates, and looking out, it was all green, making Fang Xi feel refreshed and at ease just by looking at it.
Green Pot Market.
This market town was built by a Foundation Establishment family in the State of Mu, and had flourished for a hundred years, building up a good reputation in the vicinity, so its business was quite good.
On this day, Fang Xi descended his escape light from afar, once again concealed his aura, transformed into a Qi Refinement cultivator, unhurriedly paid the fee, and entered the market town.
'Next. . . is to find a Qi Refinement Perfected predatory cultivator, refine a wood puppet to extract their memories, then disguise himself as this person. . . and finally, enter seclusion and announce his successful self-Foundation Establishment. '
'With my current disguise, even if Lu Qing were right in front of me, he would find it difficult to see through. . . '
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