Chapter 335: Non-Objects (Congratulations to Alliance Master Satan Under the Moonlight! )
Chapter 335: Non-Objects (Congratulations to Alliance Master Satan Under the Moonlight! )
Time flowed like water.
In the blink of an eye, several years had passed.
Now, the outside world knew that the Profound Ice Palace had another early-stage Core Formation Grand Elder overseeing it, and the Profound Ice Palace's standing had once again stabilized.
And Fang Xi was quite clear about his own position: he merely ensured that the Profound Ice Palace's last shred of legacy would not be severed. He would absolutely not fight to the death for the Profound Ice Palace. Whenever he needed to step forward to contend for external interests, he would always relinquish and step aside, causing the Profound Ice Palace elders to be secretly displeased, yet utterly helpless.
On the contrary, by showing utter disregard for the Profound Ice Palace's interests, he earned himself a good, benevolent reputation among his fellow Core Formation Daoists nearby. As for the resentment of Foundation Establishment cultivators, was that even a concern for a Core Formation cultivator?
With 'Yun Jizi's' cultivation, as long as he single-mindedly guarded his third-order formation, he was truly as stable as Mount Tai!
Even if his reputation wasn't the best. . . Fang Xi was already used to being called an 'old tortoise'.
He continued his daily routine of cultivation. Within his cave abode, situated on a superior-grade third-order spirit vein, the effects of his 'Wood Spirit Body' were fully unleashed.
One day.
Inside the cave abode.
Fang Xi waved his hand, dismissing Jiang Ling, who had just tied his belt.
The woman bowed, respectfully exiting the living quarters.
He then went to the study, casually picking up an ancient beast-skin book. "Currently, the most important matter is still cultivating my magic power, striving to complete the fifteenth level of the 'Withered Glory Chant' as soon as possible. After that, it's finding the 'Jade Talisman Art' and a method to lift the 'Resentful Soul Incantation'. . ."
Knowing that he had been marked by someone, yet being powerless to do anything about it, was something Fang Xi particularly detested.
"The Jade Talisman Art. . . there's a lead with Tianmeng. . ."
"As for the 'Resentful Soul Incantation,' do I have to inquire at the Red Blood Cult, or even in the Jiang Kingdom's demonic territories? I've heard those areas are extremely dangerous, with too many demonic cultivators. . . It's probably better to at least wait until I'm in the late-stage Core Formation realm or even Nascent Soul before planning that."
The Jiang Kingdom was demonic territory, and it was said that its populace lived in utter destitution.
Moreover, the major demonic sects within the country had secretly supported the Red Blood Cult, causing even the Hunyuan Sect to suffer a minor setback.
"These are all long-term matters. . . no rush."
Thinking of Jiang Ling's departing figure just now, Fang Xi couldn't help but think of Palace Master Feng.
That person's 'Phoenix Cry Physique' had its best effect the first time, and he naturally hadn't utilized it yet.
Furthermore, this type of spirit body was completely ineffective for breaking through to Nascent Soul or even the minor realms beyond Nascent Soul.
Otherwise, this woman would have long since latched onto a major Nascent Soul sect and become the favored concubine of an old Nascent Soul expert; she wouldn't be living so miserably.
"Sponsoring Core Formation is out, but I can let her grow on her own. . ."
"After all, she's been cultivating all this time. Who knows, maybe by the time I emerge from my closed-door cultivation someday, she'll have successfully formed her Core?"
"Even if she doesn't succeed in Core Formation, if I can get her assistance, coupled with my 'Wood Spirit Body'. . . I'd still have a certain degree of certainty for breaking through to late-stage Core Formation."
With her current cultivation, assisting a breakthrough to mid-stage Core Formation would be most effective, but assisting a breakthrough to late-stage Core Formation would be quite a stretch.
However, Fang Xi still had his 'Wood Spirit Body', and combining the two still made a breakthrough somewhat possible.
For him, that was enough.
After all, the advantage of the 'Wood Spirit Body' lay in its powerful vitality and its lack of fear concerning the backlash from a failed breakthrough, thus allowing for many attempts.
Other Core Formation cultivators might need to recuperate for several years or even decades after a single failed breakthrough, significantly delaying their Dao path.
Therefore, before each breakthrough attempt, they would strive to be as prepared as possible, and their mindset would be filled with a deep sense of apprehension about success or failure.
But Fang Xi only needed to recuperate for a few months, allowing him to advance with great vigor!
Sometimes, with such a mindset, even if preparations were slightly lacking, the chances of a breakthrough were still higher.
Having made up his mind, he went to his closed-door cultivation chamber.
After sending out several streams of magic power, activating the restrictions, and sealing off the cave abode, Fang Xi sat cross-legged on a bright yellow meditation mat.
The meditation mat exuded a subtle fragrance, woven from a type of spirit herb, inherently possessing the effect of calming the mind and concentrating the spirit.
Fang Xi closed his eyes, re-entering his cultivation of the 'Withered Glory Chant'.
...
Red Sun Realm.
Thatched hut on Floating Slaughter Mountain.
Fang Xi was sitting cross-legged in cultivation.
At this moment, he opened his eyes, a hint of confusion in them. "After forming the Core with the 'Dao-Seizing Art'. . . I feel somewhat stuck with no path forward. It seems it's still because I haven't received the true inheritance. I wonder how that Yama Palace Master cultivated back then. . ."
Unfortunately, no matter how many wandering spirits he dispatched into the Yama Dao Palace for exploration during this period, he gained nothing.
Just then, in the sky not far away, a flash of light suddenly appeared.
A streak of light sped rapidly towards him, carrying the magic power fluctuations of a Core Formation cultivator.
Fang Xi's Divine Consciousness swept out, and within the streak of light, he saw a female Daoist priest dressed in a dark-colored Daoist robe.
This female Daoist priest possessed truly beautiful features, her beauty capable of toppling kingdoms and cities. However, her aura was indifferent, as if she were a supreme being who had forgotten all emotions, or perhaps a mere stone, clearly having cultivated some unique technique.
Upon seeing this female Core Formation cultivator, Fang Xi had only one thought:
'Thankfully, I didn't go and devour the Emotionless Temple back then, otherwise, turning into a stone would be utterly devoid of fun. . . ’
This female Daoist priest must have cultivated the 'Emotionless Temple's' cultivation method. This lineage was also extremely strange; upon reaching profound realms, it would sever all seven emotions and six desires, making one like a stone. It also involved the mysteries of 'objects' and 'non-objects'. It was said that after forming a Golden Core, one could neutralize many divine ability attacks, which was profoundly abstruse.
"Hua Feiye of the Emotionless Temple, greetings, Daoist friend."
The female Daoist priest landed before the thatched hut and performed a Daoist bow.
"So it is Daoist friend Hua. . . This humble Daoist, 'Qing Muzi', salutes you."
Fang Xi rose and returned the salute.
"This humble Daoist has come because I heard that Daoist Xiao Mei of our temple wished to invite a True Person to the 'Pill Origin Assembly'. . . Is this true?"
Xiao Mei was a Daoist back then, but nearly twenty years had passed, and she frequently visited Fang Xi, receiving his guidance, and had long since advanced to Daoist Master.
"Indeed, I made such a promise."
Fang Xi thought of the Xiao family's tireless efforts to curry favor and show filial devotion over the years, and he couldn't help but nod.
"Since that is the case. . . please accompany Feiye to the 'Pill Origin Assembly'. This time, the Xiao family's human tax will be directly exempted by our temple's decision. . ."
Hua Feiye said indifferently.
Even though it was a suggestion, when she spoke it, it was like a straightforward statement, utterly devoid of emotion.
"That is precisely what I desire, yet I dared not ask. . ."
Fang Xi smiled faintly. In a situation where True Persons and Feathered Scholars were the apex of the Red Sun Realm, he could, with a single word, exempt the Xiao family from the calamity of clan extermination.
Achieving that was quite enough.
"Excellent then. . . We shall go together to the Daoist Palace Mystic Realm, and while we're there, we can meet the various fellow Daoists from the Five Viscera Temple, the White Bone Temple, and the Yellow Spring Temple. . ."
Hua Feiye said frostily.
Even though it was a suggestion, when she spoke it, it was like a straightforward statement, utterly devoid of emotion.
"The fellow Daoists of the Five Viscera Temple, you say? Indeed, I should meet them. . ."
Fang Xi, however, showed a rather interested expression.
After all, he had long heard that currently, in the world, with the Five Viscera, White Bone, and Yellow Spring lineages leading, quite a few Core Formation True Persons had emerged.
They were far beyond what the Emotionless Temple or the Skinless Temple, with only a single True Person and Feathered Scholar each, could compare to.
...
In a certain city.
Yu Hua led a pitch-black donkey, walking along the street.
"Daoist friend, are you perhaps here to participate in this 'Pill Origin Assembly'?"
An old Daoist walked towards him, his beard long, his eyes gleaming with shrewdness.
"Precisely. . ."
Yu Hua let out a sigh.
Ever since he parted ways with that True Person last time, his life had become vastly different.
From a common townsperson, he had become a high and mighty Daoist Master!
The change in his mentality made it difficult for him to fully accept and digest it for a time.
Fortunately, he was also someone with a firm Dao heart. After a brief period of indulgence in the powerful strength brought by being a Daoist Master, he began to continue searching for a way forward.
However, having lost that great fortuitous encounter, his Dao path subsequently became bumpy and difficult.
Twenty years had passed, and he had only cultivated the 'Skinning Art' to great mastery.
As for Core Formation, it was nowhere in sight.
Fortunately, it wasn't until recently that he got news—the 'Pill Origin Assembly' was about to be held!
This was a grand Daoist event, and many Daoist temples would nominate Daoist Masters and Daoists of outstanding aptitude to participate.
And it was said that within that 'Myriad Transformations Mystic Realm', cultivation methods from all the Daoist temples and Ten Directions Monasteries could be found.
Historically, most Daoists and Daoist Masters who survived would see their cultivation soar, and among them, there were many who formed Golden Cores and ascended to True Person status!
Yu Hua was therefore tempted.
He immediately put his plan into action, even ambushing a Daoist who was going to participate in the Pill Origin Assembly, donning the other party's human skin to disguise his identity, preparing to join this grand event!
Although it was rumored that this mystic realm also held some dangers, fortune was sought in danger!
If he hadn't ventured out dangerously back then to search for major medicinal materials, how could he have met that True Person, thereby escaping a death calamity and gaining a great fortuitous encounter, soaring to the heavens in a single step?
"What a coincidence. . . this old Daoist, Bai Yunzi of the Black Wind Temple, was also assigned to participate in this assembly. May I ask Daoist friend, how should I address you?"
The old Daoist immediately perked up.
"This humble Daoist is 'Yun Hezi', from the Setting Sun Temple!"
"Daoist friend, you might not be aware, but although this 'Myriad Transformations Mystic Realm' contains immense opportunities like Earth Essence Fruit and Myriad Transformations Jade Bi, the risks are also extremely great. . . This untalented old Daoist has already brought together a few Daoist Masters to form a small alliance. I wonder if Daoist friend would be interested in joining?"
The old Daoist immediately tried to recruit him.
"Well. . . this humble one is shallow in talent and meager in learning. I plan to observe for a bit first. . ."
Yu Hua, of course, wouldn't join immediately. Instead, a great sense of vigilance rose in his heart.
"Very well. . . Daoist friend should indeed inquire more. But this old Daoist can guarantee that while this old Daoist's alliance may not be considered foremost in strength, its reliability is top-tier. . ."
The old Daoist smiled, then took out a small booklet from a black-lacquered cloth bag at his waist. "This is a secret manual compiled by this old Daoist, specifically for this Pill Origin Assembly mystic realm. . . It contains not only a map of the mystic realm but also information on several troublesome figures. . . For just five Five Viscera Pills, it's truly not expensive."
Yu Hua was immediately speechless, feeling that everything the old Daoist had said before was fake; selling this booklet was the real intention.
"Five is too expensive, how about three?"
"Deal! " The old Daoist was instantly overjoyed.
Yu Hua immediately knew that his offer had still been too high.
But since things had come to this, he could only take out three pills from his sleeve.
These pills were as large as longans, yet within them, five streams of light seemed to circulate repeatedly, making them quite peculiar.
These were 'Five Viscera Pills', rumored to have originated from the Five Viscera Temple. They could increase cultivation, nourish the physical body, and strengthen blood qi. . . bringing many benefits to Daoists and Daoist Masters. They were also extremely durable for storage, and soon became widely popular, serving as currency for transactions among Daoist Masters.
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