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Chapter 326: Core Origin (Making up for 16 missed updates)

Fang Xi was now quite experienced and knowledgeable.

After a brief contemplation, he designed several formation restrictions that could cooperate with the ten-thousand-year Black Ice, which should be able to preserve the vitality of the 'Illusory Extinction Heart Orchid' for a century.

"However, to freeze its vitality to such an extent, thousand-year ice jade is far from enough. . . Ten-thousand-year Black Ice would be best."

He let out a light sigh, sitting cross-legged beneath the Demonic Tree of Primordial Beginning.

The 'Longevity Art' operated on its own, almost like an instinct, contributing vital essence to him.

The Taisui lay lazily to the side, its demonic power still around the second tier.

"Next. . . I should vigorously cultivate the Taisui, as the 'Flesh Ganoderma Liquid' auxiliary ingredient requires at least a third-tier Taisui. . ."

Fang Xi secretly glanced at the 'dead salted fish' in the distance, not bothering to pay it any mind.

In his possession, he still had quite a few Core Formation spiritual items, as well as flood dragon blood essence, and even a demonic blood flood dragon's inner core. . .

After a quick calculation, he took out a map of the Yuan Kingdom and began searching for a suitable location: "The Yuan Kingdom is vast. . . places of extreme cold aren't hard to find. If I can locate a Core Formation sect there, they should have reserves of ten-thousand-year Black Ice. . ."

"I hadn't expected that I myself would be wanted by the Hunyuan Sect. While the Blurring Pearl's concealment technique should be undetectable in the Three Kingdoms Alliance cultivation world, it might be a bit awkward in the Yuan Kingdom. . ."

Fortunately, Fang Xi now had no shortage of such methods.

After a moment's thought, he devised a strategy: "When it comes to concealment and being undetectable. . . the Human Chrysalis Art is truly unparalleled. Although I cannot cultivate demonic arts, my External Avatar can. . . Combining it with the 'Blood Skin Method' from another world and a secret art from the Saint Son's collection, then refining them together with the Blurring Pearl. . . even Perfected Core Formation cultivators who practice spiritual eye techniques might not be able to see through it. . . Alas, I was still too complacent before."

Fang Xi reflected inwardly.

Ever since his strength greatly increased, he had indeed become a bit less cautious. This mindset was unacceptable!

...

Red Sun Realm.

Floating Slaughter Mountain.

At the edge of a cliff, a thatched hut had appeared at some unknown time.

Fang Xi sat cross-legged inside, continuously chanting obscure and complex incantations.

His tone fluctuated wildly, sometimes producing sounds that seemed to transcend human limits, imbued with an inexplicable quality that sent shivers down the spines of those who heard them.

"Hehehe. . ."

From somewhere within the void, a strange laugh suddenly echoed.

Then, something seemed to slowly writhe within the shadows, suddenly transforming into a jet-black arrow that shot towards Fang Xi's glabella!

*Thump! *

Fang Xi didn't dodge or evade, then watched as this demonic entity crashed into him, exploding into a burst of smoke and fire. . .

Wisps of black qi emerged, all of which were absorbed through his seven orifices.

Fang Xi inexplicably felt his cultivation deepen by another layer. He even gained some insights into the profound methods of the Heavenly Demon, a hint of joy appearing on his face: "This 'Dao Seizing Method' truly progresses remarkably fast in cultivation!"

Three years ago, after suffering a hidden loss at the Yama Dao Palace on Floating Slaughter Mountain, he settled down in this place.

By continuously dispatching Yin Souls to investigate the Yama Dao Palace, he had indeed gathered quite a bit of intelligence.

For instance. . .

Within the Yama Dao Palace, although there were no living beings, a monster was lurking!

This monster was named—Dao Calamity!

No one knew how this entity had truly appeared; they only knew that it emerged after the Yama Palace Master passed away, or rather, mysteriously vanished.

Its form was indescribable, and its divine abilities were unfathomable. . .

In any case, many of the Yin Souls Fang Xi dispatched had dissipated because of it. However, this Dao Calamity never left the Yama Dao Palace, so the vicinity was still relatively safe.

The reason Fang Xi continuously sent fearless Yin Souls to explore the Yama Dao Palace was naturally not to offer snacks to that Dao Calamity, but to collect various Daoist scriptures and secret arts. . .

By now, he had already assembled a complete scroll of the 'Demon Guiding Art' inheritance.

"The Demon Guiding Art allows one to attract demonic entities, then control and devour them, thereby directly stepping into the path of Qi Refinement. . ."

"The Spirit Fragmentation Art enables one to split their thoughts into myriad forms, allowing for temporary possession. . . ranging from livestock to Daoists, or even demonic entities. . . it encompasses all!"

"Finally, there's the 'Dao Seizing Method'. . . Once cultivated to grand completion, one can form a Core, a Core known as—the Heavenly Demon Sarira!"

Originally, Fang Xi had considered cultivating other methods, but after seeing the description of the 'Dao Seizing Method', he directly chose this demonic scripture.

"As long as one refines the 'Heavenly Demon Sarira', a single thought can transform them into a Heavenly Demon. . . A Heavenly Demon is formless and immaterial, gathering and dispersing without regularity, capable of freely changing skins. . . In other words—body possession!"

This 'Dao Seizing Method' was actually a secret body possession art!

Furthermore, it could be performed during Core Formation, without needing to wait until achieving Nascent Soul!

Unfortunately, Fang Xi searched everywhere but couldn't find a Daoist temple for cultivating the 'Demon Guiding Art', so he could only cultivate it diligently on his own.

For him, who was already a Daoist True Person, cultivating the 'Demon Guiding Art' was an extremely simple matter.

Those demonic entities that were incredibly difficult for Daoist acolytes, requiring immense effort to overcome, were like child's play before Fang Xi.

After all, outer demons at the Qi Refinement level were practically offering themselves up when facing him, a true Core Formation demonic entity.

As long as one continuously devoured external demonic entities using the Demon Guiding Art, their magic power would advance by leaps and bounds.

Fang Xi only took a few months to reach grand completion.

Next, it was the 'Spirit Fragmentation Art'!

Cultivating this art required an extremely strong Divine Consciousness as its foundation, allowing for myriad possessions, somewhat similar to Corpse Control Arts and puppet manipulation. Fang Xi also progressed rapidly, and by now, had begun attempting to learn the 'Dao Seizing Method'!

Currently, this method was far from grand completion, and even further from Core Formation, but Fang Xi intended to dedicate himself to its cultivation.

If he mastered the 'Dao Seizing Method', it would be equivalent to gaining an extra life.

Therefore, he simply settled in a hut on Floating Slaughter Mountain, cultivating Dao Arts diligently every day, striving to condense the 'Heavenly Demon Sarira' as soon as possible!

After all, he still had numerous Core Formation spiritual items supplied by his main body, which greatly facilitated forming a Golden Core.

As for whether this new method would conflict with his original cultivation. . .

Fang Xi's conclusion was. . . it didn't matter!

It was just an External Avatar anyway, he would see when the time came.

"Hm? More entertainment arriving?"

He cast a slight glance from the corner of his eye and saw a group of people winding their way up the mountain.

Leading them was a woman in red.

He was quite familiar with this woman; it was Xiao Mei, the young mistress of the Treasure Light Merchant Guild and a disciple of the Heartless Temple!

Ever since Pang Gong Feng went missing, this woman had frequently come to search in the vicinity of Floating Slaughter Mountain.

Upon coincidentally meeting Fang Xi, she immediately performed a great bow of reverence. After inquiring about his residence, she even started visiting him frequently.

After all, this was a Daoist True Person. If he could be brought into the Treasure Light Merchant Guild, the guild's scale would surely expand several times over!

Even merely drawing closer to him might avert a future disaster!

Xiao Mei did not know that if Fang Xi hadn't disdained the Heartless Temple's cultivation methods, perhaps with a single thought, her entire sect would have. . . vanished!

"Xiao Mei of the Xiao family greets True Person!"

Not long after, Xiao Mei and her entourage arrived before the thatched hut. Seeing Fang Xi meditating, she immediately performed a great bow of reverence: "My Xiao family has specially selected some gifts for True Person; please accept them with a smile. . ."

Behind her, several curvaceous maidservants nervously opened gift boxes.

Inside the gift boxes were various rare treasures and exotic pills.

"Five Viscera Pills?"

Fang Xi, who had performed soul-searching on Pang Gong Feng, naturally knew the origin of these pills: "This Venerable One has no use for such trifles. . ."

"True Person's Dao Arts are profound, so naturally, you wouldn't need Five Viscera Pills. However, they are excellent for rewarding disciples and subordinates on a daily basis. . ."

Xiao Mei maintained her prostrate posture: "Besides that, these maidservants were all carefully selected by this humble girl. Their primal yin is still intact, perfect for serving True Person's daily needs. . ."

"Hehe. . . As the saying goes, 'gifts from inferiors must hide a request. ' What, then, is your request? " Fang Xi sneered, asking casually.

"My Xiao family would not dare presume to offer service to True Person, but we only ask for True Person's assistance to help the Xiao family survive the great calamity twenty years from now!"

Xiao Mei whispered.

"Twenty years from now. . ."

Fang Xi pondered for a moment, then leisurely said: "Is it for that grand event?"

"The Dao Palace's disciple selection, held every thirty years, was originally a grand event. But with the Dao Master's absence, it has become a great disaster. . . Xiao Mei only begs True Person to act and help the Xiao family overcome this calamity. If the Xiao family is fortunate enough to survive, we will surely serve True Person like oxen and horses in the future."

Xiao Mei said earnestly.

'This woman is full of schemes. . . A pity she's a woman, otherwise, this 'skin' is truly not bad. . . '

Fang Xi muttered inwardly, recalling his main body's instructions from his last routine maintenance trip to the Southern Barrens Cultivation World.

At this moment, he was twirling a pearl in his hand—the 'Blurring Pearl'!

'To satisfy my main body's requirements, it's quite simple. . . just make a human skin mask. '

'The Blood Skin Method and the Human Chrysalis Art share quite a few similarities. . . Perhaps the flaw of the Human Chrysalis Art requiring demonic arts as its foundation could be improved. . . '

"Regarding this Dao Palace disciple selection assembly, tell this Venerable One more about it. . ."

Fang Xi said leisurely.

"Yes. . ."

A hint of joy appeared on Xiao Mei's face, and she proceeded to explain in detail: "Back then, to test his disciples, the Yama Dao Master set up a secret realm. . . All who wished to join the Dao Palace had to enter it and undergo trials. . . After the Dao Master's absence, the secret realm fell under the control of powerful Daoist temples such as the Five Viscera Temple, White Bone Temple, and Yellow Spring Temple. . . They still dispatched disciples from various regions to enter the secret realm. . . My Heartless Temple is also bound by this rule."

"When the Dao Palace selects disciples, a large number of Daoists and Daoist priests must be dispatched into the secret realm. . . Often, only one in ten returns. . ."

"This is a great calamity for my Xiao family; I implore True Person to save us!"

After Xiao Mei finished speaking, she couldn't help but look at Fang Xi with apprehension.

"Disciple selection, you say? Interesting. . . Was the death rate also so high when the Dao Master was still present? " Fang Xi asked.

Although somewhat surprised that this True Person wasn't quite clear about these matters, Xiao Mei still respectfully replied: "When the Yama Dao Master was still alive, there weren't many dangers within the secret realm; in fact, there were many opportunities. . . It's only now that it has become increasingly perilous. Those powerful temple masters even changed the name of this selection to the 'Core Origin Assembly'. . ."

"Core Origin Assembly? That is quite interesting. . . " Fang Xi smiled: "If this Venerable One has time in the future, perhaps I will go take a look."