Chapter 290: Peace Negotiations (Seeking Monthly Votes)
Chapter 290: Peace Negotiations (Seeking Monthly Votes)
Inside the Scripture Pavilion.
Although most of the books were merely introductions, requiring contribution points to exchange for the full texts, they still greatly broadened Fang Xi's horizons.
He put down the last volume, then made his way to the secret arts section.
After a brief browse, Fang Xi's expression turned somewhat grim: "Lu Qing misled me. . ."
"He even said Green Wood Sect's secret arts would be greatly beneficial to me. . ."
"But these wood-element secret arts. . . they all feel inferior to those recorded in the Withered Glory Chant. Was I truly expecting too much?"
Fang Xi reflected upon himself. He cultivated a top-tier wood-element cultivation method, and he had the detailed version of the 'Withered Glory Chant' given by Old Ghost. Indeed, the Green Wood Sect's so-called wood-element secret arts were useless to him.
"Thankfully, I didn't agree to Lu Qing's terms back then. . . otherwise, I would have suffered a huge loss. . ."
These secret arts collected by the Green Wood Sect were quite interesting, though.
He scanned through the introductions one by one, and when he saw one particular art, his eyes lit up slightly, and he returned to the first floor.
Near the main entrance, there was a wooden desk, behind which sat a white-haired elder.
This person appeared to have a faint life force, yet his magic power had reached the peak Foundation Establishment stage.
'As expected of the Green Wood Sect, they still have some hidden depths. '
'But what am I thinking about these things for? I'm just here to make a living. '
Fang Xi approached the elder and bowed respectfully: "Greetings, Elder Guardian of the Pavilion!"
"Hmm? A new guest elder? !
The old man opened his eyelids, glanced at Fang Xi, then slowly closed them again, asking casually: "According to the rules, newly initiated Foundation Establishment cultivators can choose one cultivation method or secret art for free. What is your choice?"
"The Secret Record of Jade Talismans!"
Fang Xi stated his choice.
The old man opened his eyes again and scrutinized Fang Xi from head to toe: "Young man. . . what ambition. . . Do you wish to research the 'Jade Talisman Arts' of ancient cultivators?"
The Dao of Talismans was very popular during the first and second stages, as it was easy to learn and inexpensive.
However, at the third stage, it routinely required third-tier spiritual wood and monster king hides as talisman paper materials, making the consumption quite terrifying.
Throughout the Three Kingdoms, there was currently only one acknowledged third-tier Talisman Master, Old Ancestor Fang.
However, it was rumored that in ancient times, the talismans made by ancient cultivators were not carried on paper, but were crafted from gold and jade, forming special 'gold and jade talismans'! This type of talisman could not only store more spell power but also be cast multiple times.
In Fang Xi's view, they were somewhat similar to artifacts or spirit artifacts.
They could even be regarded as special types of artifacts with limited uses! This 'Secret Record of Jade Talismans' was barely placed in the secret arts section, and it wasn't an ancient talisman secret art, but merely recorded a secret method for refining a kind of 'talisman jade'.
As for the corresponding talisman secret arts, there was nothing at all; it was just a fragmented collection obtained by the Green Wood Sect.
"I am also a Talisman Master, so naturally, I am very interested in this. . ."
Fang Xi smiled, sighing inwardly at the same time. If he hadn't failed to find a secret art he truly desired, who would choose one that was only half complete?
"Very well. . . What secret art a Foundation Establishment cultivator of this sect chooses is their freedom."
The Elder Guardian of the Pavilion chuckled, took out a blank jade slip from his storage pouch, imprinted it with his Divine Consciousness, and handed it to Fang Xi: "This is a one-time jade slip; it will self-destruct after being viewed once. . . Take it."
Fang Xi received the jade slip but did not leave. Instead, he looked curiously at the Elder Guardian: "Do you perhaps remember all the cultivation methods and secret arts in the pavilion, Elder?"
"Naturally. . . I grew up in the Green Wood Sect since childhood, and at eighteen, I became a gate-guarding disciple. My greatest pleasure in life is reading. . . I have read most of the classics in the Scripture Pavilion."
The elder stroked his beard, a hint of self-satisfaction on his face: "Later, people even forgot my name, calling me only 'Old Bookman. ' Whenever disciples came to inquire about cultivation methods or secret arts, I could always offer appropriate advice. . ."
Old Bookman chuckled: "I think you're quite good. In the future, you can come to the Scripture Pavilion to find me more often. . ."
"I will!"
Fang Xi walked out of the Scripture Pavilion, piloted a spirit artifact, and disappeared into the air. . .
...
Emerald Bamboo Forest.
Here lay a patch of bamboo forest, emerald green like jade, radiating astonishing spiritual energy.
Hidden amidst the bamboo, there was a small azure mountain.
The small mountain was hollowed out inside, forming a cave abode, with a vast spiritual herb garden outside.
On this day, Fang Xi arrived piloting a spirit artifact, surveyed the place thoroughly, and couldn't help but feel quite satisfied.
"A third-tier low-grade spiritual energy is barely enough for my use. . . After all, Core Formation cultivation isn't breaking through a major realm; it won't cause exaggerated celestial phenomena stretching for dozens of miles."
"What's more. . . when cultivators absorb spiritual energy for cultivation, even at Foundation Establishment or Core Formation. . . they can only absorb the spiritual energy in a small radius around them, without any extraordinary phenomena. . . As for being able to observe the flow of spiritual energy within a hundred-mile radius as easily as looking at lines on one's palm, even a Nascent Soul True Monarch might not be able to achieve that."
Through the cultivation method given by Old Ghost, Fang Xi had also gained a general understanding of a Nascent Soul True Monarch's abilities.
They did not possess the ability to directly manipulate the spiritual energy of heaven and earth; they still had to go through the process of absorbing spiritual energy, refining it into internal magic power, and then casting spells. . .
Being able to directly control the spiritual energy between heaven and earth, perhaps only Soul Transformation cultivators could achieve that!
"What's more. . . Lu Qing is still just a Core Formation cultivator. . ."
Fang Xi's Divine Consciousness swept across a twenty-mile radius: "I can set up a formation array. . . to enclose this Emerald Bamboo Forest."
"That way, even if there are some anomalies, the formation will conceal them. . . But it must be one obvious and one hidden. A second-tier low-grade on the surface would be fine. . . it matches my current financial standing."
Fang Xi entered the cave abode, and seeing that all sorts of facilities were quite complete, he couldn't help but feel relatively satisfied.
He came to the seclusion chamber within the cave abode.
Sitting on the meditation cushion, feeling the dense spiritual energy around him, he couldn't help but reveal a faint smile and began his first proper cultivation session at the Core Formation stage. . .
...
Night fell deep.
Inside the Spirit Nurturing Cave.
Lu Qing sat cross-legged on a meditation cushion, his face serene, yet appearing a touch older than when he had congratulated Fang Xi.
Seeing this scene, Money Laodao and Senior Brother Fu exchanged a glance, both somewhat worried.
For the Old Ancestor to be like this, didn't it mean that even his Core Formation magic power could no longer maintain his appearance, suggesting his end was not far off?
Before the two of them stood a capable and astute-looking middle-aged man, who was none other than the Green Wood Sect's sect master, Wei Xuan!
"...So, after this old man departs, it's unlikely that another Core Formation cultivator will emerge from the peak Foundation Establishment cultivators in the State of Mu. . ."
Lu Qing's eyes swept over the Foundation Establishment cultivators present, and he sneered: "But have you forgotten how my Green Wood Sect utterly annihilated the Muyuan Sect when we first rose to power?"
"What's more. . . how can you be certain that among those rogue cultivators, there isn't someone like the Dragon Fish Island Master?"
"In the cultivation world, superior aptitude doesn't guarantee ascent to higher realms, nor does inferior aptitude mean one cannot achieve great things. . . Alas, this old man is about to pass away, but before I do, I will certainly arrange everything so that the sect doesn't crumble instantly. . ."
Speaking of this, Lu Qing looked at Senior Brother Fu.
Senior Brother Fu quickly knelt: "Old Ancestor. . . This disciple is incompetent; I failed to capture Situ Qing Qing. But I saw her use a secret art in desperation at the end, so she should be close to her end. If she consumed that second-tier longevity pill, she would surely die. . ."
"The Situ family's demonic cultivation inheritance is quite cryptic, coupled with their Corpse Refinement Dao. . . Although this sect has collected most of it, we haven't obtained the complete original text. . . that's quite a pity."
Lu Qing commented blandly, noncommittally: "Rise. . . In the future, the Green Wood Sect will rely on you few to support it. . ."
"With the formations, coupled with this purge and consolidation. . . for my Green Wood Sect to defend the State of Mu for another hundred years, there should be no major problem. . ."
Wei Xuan said in a deep voice: "As long as there are no external enemies, give us another hundred years, and my Green Wood Sect might not be unable to cultivate another Core Formation Old Ancestor!"
"External enemies, huh. . ."
Lu Qing looked in the direction of the Ethereal Valley Sect, and suddenly flicked out a jade slip: "This was sent by Old Ghost Yan. Take a look. . ."
Wei Xuan took it and looked, an expression of disbelief immediately appearing on his face, mixed with some pleasant surprise.
After he finished reading, he handed the jade slip to Senior Brother Fu and Money Laodao behind him.
Upon reading it, the Foundation Establishment cultivators couldn't help but show joy in their eyes: "Old Ancestor, is this true? Is Old Ghost Yan truly willing to swear an oath never to invade our State of Mu in his lifetime?"
"Hmph, whether it's true or not, this old man will naturally go and confirm it personally before my lifespan runs out. . ."
Lu Qing snorted coldly: "Even if his Dao path is hopeless, those other special Netherworld Oaths, if even we Core Formation cultivators violate them, we will suffer severe damage. . . This old man remembers that there should still be a special talisman for signing Netherworld Oaths in the storeroom, correct?"
"Reporting to Old Ancestor, that is correct. . ."
Money Laodao quickly replied.
"It was originally prepared for that Old Ancestor Fang, but unexpectedly, it will now be used on Old Ghost Yan. . ."
Lu Qing shook his head.
Wei Xuan, however, stepped forward: "If we unilaterally make peace with the Ethereal Valley Sect, will it affect our alliance with the Black Heaven Sect?"
"You don't need to worry about that. Old Ghost Yan also sent a proposal for peace talks to the Black Heaven Sect."
Lu Qing shook his head, then sneered: "Old Ghost Yan is, after all, here to retire, not to wage war and slaughter. . . Now that he's swallowed the State of Wu and the Ethereal Valley, it's enough for him to lord over them and establish his family. . . The fact that he can let go so easily, not even touching the State of Mu, this fatty chunk of meat after this old man passes away, his mindset is a bit beyond my expectations. . ."
"Perhaps. . . his true intention isn't here? Even if the Ethereal Valley Sect attacks, we can rely on our formations to defend the Green Wood Forest without much trouble. . . At that time, if the State of Yue provides support and invades the State of Wu, the enemy's army will collapse. . ."
Senior Brother Fu speculated.
"That his intention isn't here is true. . . After all, there's still another Core Formation cultivator among the Three Kingdoms, but Old Ghost Yan doesn't even mention him. . ."
Lu Qing suddenly said: "And Fang Xi also killed an Ethereal Valley Sect Grand Elder. If this vendetta isn't avenged, Old Ghost Yan won't be able to command respect. . . Forget it, it's just a fight between high-level cultivators; a large-scale war in the cultivation world won't reignite."
He looked at Money Laodao: "Are there two more Foundation Establishment cultivators joining the sect today?"
"Precisely. One is named Cao Chong Yun, and the other is Tie Jiu. Their respective information is here."
Money Laodao immediately handed the blood essence wooden tokens, jade slips, and other items to Lu Qing.
"At a time when the Green Wood Sect is precarious, Foundation Establishment cultivators are voluntarily joining, hehe. . ."
Lu Qing didn't pay much attention to the information, as it could all be faked.
"Then, Old Ancestor. . . what should we do?"
A hint of killing intent appeared on Wei Xuan's face.
"Listen to their words and observe their actions. . . If their intentions are impure, they will expose themselves sooner or later."
Lu Qing shook his head: "You can be ruthless towards outsiders, but against those of our own sect, it's best not to act recklessly without evidence, lest it discourages them. . ."
"We respectfully accept your teachings!"
Wei Xuan and the other Foundation Establishment cultivators all bowed, deferentially accepting their orders.
Comments