Chapter 294: The Demonic Disaster Rekindles (Seeking Monthly Votes)
Cultivation knows no days or months.
In the blink of an eye, another ten years passed. . .
Scripture Pavilion.
A streak of light flew over, transforming into Fang Xi's figure.
The fluctuations of spiritual energy around him had clearly reached the mid-stage Foundation Establishment realm. Moreover, having frequented the place to read, he had long since become familiar with the gate-keeping disciples, and was allowed in without even needing to show his token.
Fang Xi arrived at the entrance, suddenly pausing: "Where is the elder guarding the pavilion?"
He saw that the one now occupying the seat where the old scholar used to sit was an unfamiliar long-bearded cultivator.
"This junior brother. . . I am Fu Qing Shu. I was originally stationed at 'Qinghua Market,' but now I'm temporarily serving as the elder guarding the pavilion. As for the old scholar. . . he passed away a month ago. . ."
Fu Qing Shu cupped his hands, responding politely, a hint of sadness in his expression.
Fang Xi returned the greeting, then expressionlessly walked into the Scripture Pavilion and began to read.
By refining a large number of talismans, he had accumulated quite a bit of contribution points. He used them to exchange for some interesting books and secret arts from the Scripture Pavilion, which he then diligently studied.
However, his mood was not good today. After browsing through two books, he hastily departed.
"The morning mushroom knows not the passing of night and day; the cicada knows not spring and autumn. . ."
"The lifespan of cultivators is no different. . ."
"That is why I pursue longevity, and even eternal life. . ."
Fang Xi returned to Green Bamboo Grove and saw Zheng Shan, her eyes red-rimmed, waiting outside his cave dwelling.
Seeing Fang Xi, she immediately stepped forward: "Uncle-Master Cao. . . This is bad, Senior Master Zheng went out and returned severely injured. . ."
The Green Wood Sect had, in fact, sealed its gates, but there were always some necessary points of interaction with the outside world.
Even so, all Foundation Establishment cultivators who ventured out were extremely cautious.
Yet, unexpectedly, they still encountered an ambush and robbery!
"I'll go take a look. . ."
Fang Xi immediately took out a spiritual artifact, and taking Zheng Shan with him, went to Zheng Tie's cave dwelling.
Inside the cave dwelling, Zheng Tie's face was pale, but his spirits were still good. He was already able to walk around, seemingly having just seen off a group of guests.
"Ah, it's my virtuous nephew, come quickly."
Seeing Fang Xi, a smile appeared on his face: "You've broken through to mid-stage Foundation Establishment; your future path holds great promise. I am truly happy for you. . ."
"Uncle Zheng, you. . ."
Fang Xi's divine consciousness swept over him, and he immediately knew that Zheng Tie's injuries were quite severe, even affecting his Dantian Qi Sea, leaving irreversible internal damage within it. It was likely that his cultivation would never advance further in the future.
"Relax a bit, isn't it just that my cultivation can't advance an inch? What's the big deal? Your Uncle Zheng already hit a bottleneck long ago, unable to make progress. . . As long as one doesn't achieve Core Formation, Foundation Establishment cultivators all have a lifespan of around two hundred years. . ."
Zheng Tie, however, seemed to take it in stride, even comforting Zheng Shan in turn, though a hint of gloom still lingered between his brows.
"Uncle Zheng, whom did you encounter? " Fang Xi immediately asked.
"Sigh. . . blame my bad luck. This time I left the sect, originally just to go to the spirit stone mine to take over the mined spirit stones, but then I ran into Chun San Niang, one of Pei Fei's Four Great Foundation Establishment subordinates. . ."
Zheng Tie shook his head: "Fortunately, I had a life-saving escape talisman, otherwise, I might have lost this old life. . ."
Since the Green Wood Sect sealed its gates, most of the probing attempts had ceased.
Only Pei Fei's group continued to brazenly ambush and slaughter Green Wood Sect cultivators. . .
"So that's it."
Fang Xi sighed.
"You absolutely must not think of avenging me. . . that Chun San Niang's 'Soft Crimson Art' is insidious and treacherous, capable of striking people without them even realizing it. . . and you should know a thing or two about Pei Fei's fearsome reputation."
Zheng Tie instructed.
"Of course, I know that. . ."
Fang Xi chatted with Zheng Tie for a couple more sentences, then returned to Green Bamboo Grove with Zheng Shan.
Along the way, he saw Zheng Shan remaining silent, and couldn't help but speak: "You've already broken through to the Great Circle of Qi Refinement. Have you made preparations for Foundation Establishment?"
"I originally prepared some contribution points, and with what Senior Master Zheng bestowed, it should have been enough. . . Unfortunately, this time, the Green Wood Sect's share of 'Golden Jade Spirit Ganoderma' has decreased, so I'm afraid there will be further complications."
Zheng Shan replied bitterly.
"Oh? A share?"
Fang Xi continued to inquire, only then learning that the mystic realm, jointly guarded and developed by the three sects, had recently become active again and had even opened once.
Unfortunately, the Green Wood Sect no longer had a Core Formation ancestor, so their words carried no weight. They were forcibly deprived of several tenths of their spirit medicine share, and it was said that the elder of the Pill Refining Hall nearly vomited blood from sheer anger.
But even so, neither Ling Yun Zi nor anyone else could do anything about it.
The strong prey on the weak; this was the reality of the cultivation world!
"When I return this time, I intend to enter secluded cultivation for a year, deeply practicing a secret art. . ."
Fang Xi's eyes flickered as he spoke: "Therefore, during this period, I will seal my cave dwelling and decline all visitors."
"Understood!"
Zheng Shan was quite accustomed to this, as Uncle-Master Cao was precisely that kind of person.
Sometimes, he could even cultivate diligently for a year or even several years consecutively.
Within the Green Wood Sect, he even had the reputation of being an ascetic cultivator.
"As for you. . . give me your identity wooden token."
Fang Xi's gaze flickered as he looked at Zheng Shan again, saying: "I will transfer two thousand contribution points to you shortly. . . With two Foundation Establishment deacons guaranteeing, it should be enough to exchange for a Foundation Establishment Pill, right?"
"Eh?"
The surprise came too suddenly, leaving Zheng Shan with no time to react.
"Don't be too surprised. No matter what, you are Uncle Zheng's descendant, and now that he is severely injured. . . I should naturally take extra care of you."
Fang Xi murmured to himself, "This can also be considered a repayment for having used you during this period. . ."
"Many thanks, Uncle-Master Cao!"
Zheng Shan, however, was so excited her cheeks flushed red.
She had told herself that she had no right to mention this matter in front of Uncle-Master Cao, so she had never brought it up.
Unexpectedly, he had actually offered it proactively.
For a moment, her eyes even welled up. . .
...
Green Bamboo Grove.
Fang Xi sealed his cave dwelling and went to the deepest part, his secluded cultivation chamber.
His eyes flickered, and he suddenly took out a formation plate from his storage ring.
As the formation plate was activated, powerful restrictions emerged on the walls, sealing the entire cave dwelling.
"A quasi-third-order formation. . . now, within the Green Wood Sect, no one can break it."
Fang Xi murmured, then sat cross-legged and communicated with the All-Heavens Precious Mirror with his divine sense.
"Now. . . it is time for the hundred-year Heavenly Demonic Tribulation in the Shard World!"
"My spiritual power, meanwhile, has cultivated to the peak of early-stage Core Formation. . ."
"I can now go to Hei Nie City's sacred land to gather the thousand-year Vermilion Fruit. . ."
Any spirit medicine that reaches a thousand years of age will experience an incredible increase in its medicinal properties.
Even if consumed raw, a thousand-year Vermilion Fruit has a certain probability of helping an early-stage Core Formation cultivator break through their bottleneck!
What's more, Fang Xi himself possessed the 'Wood Spirit Body' as a foundation!
With both factors at play, he should have a strong hope of breaking through to mid-stage Core Formation!
"The hundred-year demonic disaster is, in reality, a testing ground for major demonic sects to cultivate their Foundation Establishment disciples. . . The disciples who are teleported there are basically all at the Great Circle of Foundation Establishment."
"I am now at the peak of early-stage Core Formation, possessing several spiritual treasures, a Core Formation puppet, and third-order talismans and formations. . . If I still don't dare to fight, it would be a joke."
With a thought, Fang Xi took out an item—it was precisely the misty Blurring Pearl!
He channeled a stream of spiritual power into it, and the Blurring Pearl transformed once more, emitting a pure mirage qi that enveloped Fang Xi's entire body.
Once the mirage qi dissipated, only an unfamiliar Wu King with a cold, sinister appearance remained in his place!
"These past few times gathering resources, I always hit and ran. . . and wasn't pursued. . . It seems that even if the demonic sect monitors the mystic realm, their monitoring might be limited."
"But to be safe, I'll still disguise myself as a Wu King for now. . ."
With a thought, Fang Xi had already arrived in the Shard World.
He oriented himself, then immediately flew into the air, heading towards Hei Nie City.
In Hei Nie City, not only was there the thousand-year Vermilion Fruit he had been yearning for, but also the female Wu King Dan Ya!
'Alright, alright. . . I did take quite a few things from you last time. If the people coming this time aren't too strong, saving your life should still be possible. '
Within the streaking light, Fang Xi's expression was cold and severe.
Since Emerald Cliff, he hadn't made a move for over twenty years!
...
Primordial Demon Sect.
Upon a massive stone platform, densely packed Foundation Establishment disciples stood.
These disciples, both male and female, each possessed a peculiar aura: some exuded chilling malevolence, some were captivatingly charming, and some even had ox horns and scales, radiating astonishing murderous intent.
The stone platform itself was exceptionally ancient, covered in mottled carvings that formed intricate seal characters.
In the corners of the stone platform, densely arranged superior-grade spirit stones were embedded.
A dark light flashed, revealing two figures, one male and one female.
The man who appeared had a handsome face and held a Ten Thousand Souls Banner, upon which tens of thousands of wronged souls seemed to roar and wail.
The woman, meanwhile, exuded an astonishing charm, clad in thin gauze, with bare feet and fingernails painted with crimson nail polish.
Beside this woman, there was a layer of pink mist, within which six tall figures vaguely accompanied her.
"Greetings, Uncle-Masters!"
The Foundation Establishment disciples on the stone platform bowed in unison.
These two were the Saint Son and Saintess of the Holy Sect from a century ago. Not only were their talents extraordinary, but they had also cultivated the Holy Sect's supreme cultivation methods. They were now already at the Core Formation realm, and there was great hope for them to condense a demonic Nascent Soul in the future.
"Enough. . ."
The handsome man's voice was like ten thousand years of profound ice: "Besides the trial, you all have one more mission for this Realm Descent!"
He shook the Ten Thousand Souls Banner, and a Wu King's soul, filled with agony, flew out, spitting out a wisp of smoke that transformed into a human figure—it was Dan Ya!
"This female slave, during the last Realm Descent, somehow learned external cultivation methods and the art of talismans. When you go down this time, you can kill this woman and investigate this matter thoroughly. . . Whoever completes this mission will be credited with a great merit!"
The man continued speaking.
Upon hearing this, the eyes of the Foundation Establishment disciples on the platform lit up.
Even if one obtained a Core Formation Spiritual Item in that trial small world, it didn't guarantee successful Core Formation!
However, great merits from the Holy Sect were rare. One great merit was enough to ask a Nascent Soul elder to perform a secret technique, 'Cleansing Meridians and Washing Marrow,' and with a Core Formation Spiritual Item, there were almost no cases of Core Formation failure!
Furthermore, if one successfully formed a Golden Core, this great merit could also be exchanged for many of the Holy Sect's secret arts and treasures, whose value was extraordinary.
That small realm was equipped with powerful restrictions, absolutely forbidding the appearance of fourth-order beings. Therefore, even if there were some dangers, they were still within an acceptable range!
"Hehe. . . this one has said everything. This one is too lazy to add more, so off you go!"
The barefoot girl smiled charmingly, and with a wave of her hand, an extremely surging Core Formation spiritual power submerged into the stone platform.
The handsome man also made a move, causing the stone platform to rumble. Silver light formed a grand gate, teleporting all the Foundation Establishment disciples away. . .
Moments later, the rumbling faded, the stone platform remained, with only the circle of superior-grade spirit stones turned to ash.
The handsome man's eyes flickered, and a cold voice emerged: "Junior Sister, just now. . . you seemed to pay special attention to that disciple surnamed Bai. If I'm not mistaken, that woman has also cultivated the 'Six Desires Heaven Mixing Demon,' hasn't she?"
"Hehe. . . Senior Brother's eyes are as sharp as a torch. Wan'er merely asked Junior Niece Bai to help collect a treasure. Could Senior Brother also be interested?"
The junior sister blinked, her aura transforming from seductive to pure, as if she were a saintess.
"Within that mystic realm, there are very few treasures left that are still useful to you and me. . . Junior Sister brought back a Nine-Eyed Bodhi Seed last time, could it be this time. . ."
The handsome man chuckled softly, then surprisingly switched to divine consciousness transmission.
The charming girl's expression changed: "Impossible. . . Do you know how much Wan'er paid to ensure success last time?"
"Fifty percent is not enough, how about thirty percent? Junior Sister, you wouldn't want me to report this to the elders, would you? After all, doing so might be considered a violation of sect rules. . ."
The handsome youth continued.
The charming girl immediately bit her red lip: "Deal!"
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