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Chapter 373: Undying Wood Body (In Celebration of the Silver Grand Alliance Leader)

Chapter 373: Undying Wood Body (In Celebration of the Silver Grand Alliance Leader)

“Trouble. . . this puppet is likely the work of that Dragon Fish Island Master! ”

Within Zhan Tu’s Sea of Consciousness, the Old Ghost’s voice echoed, seemingly tinged with schadenfreude.

Zhan Tu's scalp tingled, but he quickly calmed down: “No matter. . . we will just wait. ”

...

Not long after, a green rainbow streaked across the southern sky, moving with astonishing speed.

As the light of the escape technique receded, Fang Xi's figure appeared. He looked at Zhan Tu, a hearty smile on his face: "Junior Friend Zhan. . . long time no see. To think you've already advanced to the mid-Core Formation stage. Truly, congratulations are in order. "

"That's nothing compared to the Island Master's late-Core Formation stage, which intimidates the Three Kingdoms. "

Zhan Tu was awed by his aura, but still replied neither subserviently nor arrogantly.

Fang Xi's expression gradually turned stern: "But the hundred-year agreement is drawing near. Why has fellow Daoist not gone to Dragon Fish Island, but instead secretly come to Emerald Cliff and even damaged my puppet? Could it be that you intend to break our agreement and seek treasure on your own? ! "

As he spoke, his aura steadily grew stronger, and the pressure of his late-Core Formation cultivation was released without reservation.

If this Old Ghost combined with Zhan Tu proved incapable, Fang Xi genuinely entertained the idea of directly subduing the Old Ghost, performing a soul search, and then seeking the treasure by himself.

Perhaps doing so would even increase the safety factor!

"Hmm? "

Seeing this, Zhan Tu immediately formed hand seals.

On him, the azure Withered Glory Chant magic power erupted fiercely, while his eyes were entirely withered yellow.

Amidst the transformation of withered and flourishing, his magic power actually elevated to the late-Core Formation realm!

"A fusion secret art? How interesting. . . "

Fang Xi showed an amused expression, but his oppressive aura, like a surging tide, rose higher and higher with each wave.

Zhan Tu suddenly spoke, his voice also turning ancient: "Junior. . . even if you can subdue this Old One, this Old One has a way to lock my divine soul, ensuring you get nothing at all. . . "

This Old Ghost was wise with age, seemingly having long seen through Fang Xi's thoughts.

Or rather, cooperation between cultivators inherently required equal, or at least similar, strength; otherwise, it would be no different from 'seeking a tiger's skin' – a perilous undertaking.

"Haha. . . Old Ghost, you jest. How could I possibly do such a thing? I merely wished to greet you. "

Fang Xi chuckled, his aura receding: "Might I ask when you intend to proceed with the relic's exploration? "

The Old Ghost pondered for a moment, then replied: "How about three months from now? "

"Three months, then? Perfect. . . I also have some personal matters to attend to. "

Fang Xi nodded, indicating his agreement.

"I just wonder, Island Master, are you still cultivating the Withered Glory Chant? "

The Old Ghost suddenly spoke again, posing another question.

"Naturally! "

Fang Xi raised his hand, and azure and yellow magic power flowed, the aura of his late-Core Formation, yet not yet perfected Core Formation, overflowing.

"Hehe. . . as expected, you chose to continue cultivating this method, and you've even cultivated it to the late-Core Formation stage. It seems your physique is not only extremely suited for the Withered Glory Chant, but you've also gained many fortuitous opportunities over the years. "

The Old Ghost's voice carried a hint of amusement: "Now that you've boarded our Nine Leaves Sect's ship, you're one of us. What more could this Old One be uneasy about? Three months from now, I shall await your esteemed presence here. "

His voice gradually deepened, and his eyes became much clearer.

"Island Master. . . we shall meet again in three months. "

Zhan Tu clasped his hands in a salute, and his escape light vanished into the distance.

Fang Xi, however, watched the retreating figure, lost in thought.

Even if the other party relied on a secret art to boost his strength to the late-Core Formation stage, Fang Xi could still subdue him with considerable ease.

It was the soul-locking secret art the Old Ghost mentioned that made him slightly wary.

Even if Fang Xi didn't care about that relic, losing the method to break through to the Nascent Soul realm, which required cooperation between the Withered Glory Chant and the Wood Spirit Body, would be too great a loss.

...

"Three months, then? So be it. . . "

Fang Xi released his Divine Consciousness, and his figure suddenly vanished.

Subsequently. . .

Within the underground grotto on Peach Blossom Island.

With a flash of light, Fang Xi's figure directly materialized.

He gazed at the damp grotto surroundings, as well as the 'Primordial Soul Lamp' that glowed even brighter, and a smile involuntarily appeared on his face: "Indeed. . . once the separated divine sense grows stronger. . . it can serve as a coordinate to cross back from other worlds. "

As for manipulating the All-Heavens Precious Mirror to freely traverse within the South Barrens Cultivation World?

Fang Xi currently lacked that ability; he could only skim a little off the top. . .

"However, there's still some risk here. "

He looked around, still not quite satisfied.

Although Peach Blossom Island was merely a first-order spirit vein island, cultivators still frequented it, so there was still a possibility of exposure!

To maintain secrecy, there was only one way. . .

The next instant, Fang Xi rolled up the Primordial Soul Lamp, transforming into a streak of green light, and vanished amidst shimmering light.

...

Yucheng County.

In a mortal mountain range, the surroundings were devoid of human habitation, and there were no spirit veins.

Fang Xi chanted a spell and plunged directly into the earth, descending a thousand zhang deep.

Deep underground.

A layer of green light appeared, pushing the soil and rock aside to form a sealed underground space.

Fang Xi placed the Primordial Soul Lamp in the center of the space, then looked around, and raised a hand.

*Puff, puff! *

Streaks of flags were struck into the walls, forming a type of barrier.

"Even if a Core Formation cultivator were to meticulously search inch by inch with their Divine Consciousness, they wouldn't discover this secret chamber. . . moreover, what cultivator would be so idle as to search inch by inch in the mortal world with their Divine Consciousness? "

Fang Xi murmured: "Even so. . . after this adventure, I still need to recall this separated divine sense. That way. . . my Divine Consciousness should advance further, right? "

This was primarily to prevent risks.

Fang Xi had always been quite fond of his own life.

He gazed at the Primordial Soul Lamp, observing how the azure flame core grew even more dazzling, subtly revealing his own figure. He couldn't help but sigh: "My divine soul has grown to such an extent, it could already be used to refine an external avatar, couldn't it? Unfortunately, the method I deduced has flaws, and now, this second external avatar cannot be refined at all. "

Or rather, many external avatar secret arts could at most refine only one external avatar.

Secret arts capable of refining two or three external avatars were sufficiently qualified to serve as the ultimate trump card of a Soul Transformation-level grand sect like the Primordial Demon Sect.

Fang Xi suspected that the complete 'Six Desires Heaven Mixing Demon' might be able to refine several more external avatars, but regrettably, what he obtained was incomplete, and most of it he had to supplement himself, so the secret art's rank and power would naturally be diminished.

After completing all this, he departed silently, soaring into the sky.

His Divine Consciousness swept across, confirming no oversights, before he left with peace of mind.

Upon returning to Dragon Fish Island, Fang Xi summoned Zhong Hong Yu. After giving a few instructions, he dismissed her and began his secluded cultivation to refine talismans, pills, and secret arts. . . preparing for this expedition.

After all, he had lived for nearly three hundred years, and venturing into a mystic realm was a first for him!

...

Three months later.

Emerald Cliff.

A gentle breeze rustled.

Fang Xi, clad in an azure bamboo daoist robe, stood suspended in mid-air, gazing towards Emerald Cliff.

Not long after, a green rainbow flew over; it was Zhan Tu.

"Island Master! "

Zhan Tu clasped his hands in a salute.

"That's enough. . . "

Fang Xi waved his hand, looking at Zhan Tu, or rather, at the Old Ghost within his body: "Is the mystic realm we're to explore within Emerald Cliff? "

"It is. . . and it isn't! "

Yellow light glowed in Zhan Tu's eyes, and his voice turned ancient.

Upon seeing this, Fang Xi secretly mused that back then, Zhan Tu had to feign sleep for the Old Ghost to emerge, but now, the transition between them was becoming increasingly seamless.

"Now that we are about to jointly explore the mystic realm, shouldn't we discuss the gains and agreements beforehand? "

Fang Xi's eyes flashed with sharp light as he suddenly asked.

"Of course. . . as long as fellow Daoist helps me pass a certain critical point, I shall present the 'Nine Heavens Pure Water' from within the mystic realm with both hands. . . Besides that, how about we split all other gains equally? "

The Old Ghost chuckled.

According to him, there was a difficult challenge within the mystic realm that could only be overcome with a certain degree of confidence by someone who had cultivated the Withered Glory Chant to the late-Core Formation stage.

Fang Xi, however, shook his head: "That's not enough! I need some benefits first. . . for example, give me the Soul Transformation chapter of the Withered Glory Chant, or give me the secret to breaking through to the Nascent Soul realm with the Wood Spirit Body combined with the Withered Glory Chant. . . "

"Don't you think that's a bit excessive, fellow Daoist? This Old One directly gave you the Nascent Soul late-stage cultivation method for the Withered Glory Chant back then, and now you still demand benefits from me? "

The Old Ghost huffed angrily.

"Hehe. . . if fellow Daoist agrees, I can guarantee that I'll leave that late-Core Formation ghost cultivator from the Netherworld Earth Vein to you. . . Otherwise, if one were to accidentally make a mistake during a fight later, it would be hard to say what might happen. "

Fang Xi replied with a chuckle.

"What? "

Upon mentioning that ghost cultivator, the Old Ghost's voice immediately changed: "That ghost cultivator. . . fine, you really are incredibly clever, kid. If little Zhan hadn't gone back then, and it had been you instead, how much better would that have been? Alas. . . that late-Core Formation ghost cultivator is indeed one of this Old One's contingencies."

Both parties were clever individuals; once Fang Xi laid it bare, there was little point in the Old Ghost denying it.

Therefore, he readily admitted: "At that time, I will still need fellow Daoist's assistance. . . In return, this Old One can indeed give fellow Daoist some items first. The Soul Transformation chapter of the Withered Glory Chant is the supreme inheritance of my Nine Leaves Sect and cannot be easily passed on, but the secret art regarding the Wood Spirit Body can be given to fellow Daoist first. "

The Old Ghost took out a jade slip, two streaks of yellow light submerged into it, and then he tossed it over.

Fang Xi reached out and caught it. With a sweep of his Divine Consciousness, he saw a secret art—the 'Undying Wood Body'! ! !

He read it carefully, and a hint of pleasant surprise appeared on his face.

This secret art was, astonishingly, a powerful divine ability that could only be used by cultivators who possessed the 'Wood Spirit Body' and were at the perfected Core Formation stage or above.

Once cast, it could instantly strengthen one's physique to an astonishing degree and temporarily grant the talent of 'immortality'. Even if one's head was severed or heart ripped out, they could still survive.

Of course, as the secret art stated, performing this would damage the inherent spiritual essence and potential of the 'Wood Spirit Body' itself.

But for breaking through the Nascent Soul bottleneck, it was just right.

"How is this 'Undying Wood Body'? "

The Old Ghost chuckled: "For cultivators, whether it's the physical body, magic power, or Divine Consciousness, any strength in these aspects aids in breaking through bottlenecks. . . With this 'Undying Wood Body' secret art, when breaking through to Nascent Soul, there's no need to worry at all about the backlash from the spiritual energy of heaven and earth during the body's infusion or the damage to the body's meridians from the true essence reversing during the 'Shattering Core to Form Nascent Soul' process. . . Even if it slightly damages the spiritual body, as long as one breaks through to Nascent Soul, it's all worth it. "

"Indeed, excellent, what a pity, I don't have the 'Wood Spirit Body' though. . . "

Fang Xi's face was filled with regret, yet also eagerness: "Nine Heavens Pure Water. . ."