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Chapter 392: Procurement (Requesting Monthly Votes)

Chapter 392: Procurement (Requesting Monthly Votes)

Inside the cave abode.

Fang Xi sat cross-legged, refining a black round bead in his hand.

This bead was also used by the old ghost. Zhan Tu had once wielded this treasure to evade Madam Bi's pursuit in the Ancestral Hall, and instead entered among the Core Formation disciples to slaughter them.

"This item is not a spirit treasure, nor is it a magical tool, but rather a rare treasure!"

"Its effect is also very singular. . ."

He took a deep breath. After completely refining this bead and obtaining the information contained within it, he immediately got up and came outside the cave abode.

Outside, the moonlight was like water, and the breeze was cool.

Fang Xi held this bead in his hand and subtly infused a trace of magical power into it.

The next moment, his figure vanished in a flash, and then reappeared more than ten zhang away.

"As expected, it's a void divine ability!"

"Its effect is similar to Nascent Soul instant movement, but both the casting speed and distance are far inferior. . ."

"The advantage is that it can carry the physical body. . ."

"This rare treasure only possesses this single divine ability, named 'Flicker'!"

After trying it out, Fang Xi had only one thought in his mind: "This bead truly was a waste of a heavenly treasure in Zhan Tu's hands. . . If it were to fall into the hands of a high-level Body Cultivator, that would be truly terrifying."

"In any case, I'll keep this 'Flickering Spirit Bead' as a backup. . . After all, it's a void divine ability that even Core Formation cultivators can wield. The preciousness of this bead should be no less than that of an ordinary spirit artifact. . ."

Just at this moment, Fang Xi's divine consciousness swept out, and he put away the Flickering Spirit Bead, standing with his hands behind his back, as if admiring the moonlight.

Not long after, a flurry of hurried footsteps sounded nearby, and several maidservants walked over: "Senior, do you have any instructions?"

They were indeed diligent. They dared not approach the cave abode too closely, lest they disturb the senior, nor could they stay too far away. Otherwise, if a Nascent Soul cultivator had any instructions but couldn't find anyone, that would also be troublesome.

"Nothing. . . I was just practicing a cultivation technique."

Fang Xi waved his hand, looking at the approaching maidservants, with a female Foundation Establishment cultivator leading them.

This female cultivator had deep-set features, a high nose bridge, and a hint of azure in her eyes. Her every move carried a touch of exotic charm.

For the Huyan family to find female cultivators of such exotic charm to serve as maidservants, they had truly put in the effort.

"Are you from the Huyan family? Your appearance seems to differ from the main Huyan clan. . ."

Fang Xi scrutinized her face and asked casually.

"Reporting to Senior, this junior is indeed a member of the Huyan family, named Huyan Rou. . . " Huyan Rou curtsied gracefully and respectfully replied: "The reason for the difference from the main Huyan clan is likely because both my father and ancestors intermarried with the local 'Kuayi Tribe'. . ."

Fang Xi asked a few more questions, only then did he learn that the Huyan clan's ancestors were not local cultivators, but had migrated from the Central Earth Cultivation World.

In that great turmoil back then, the Central Plains Cultivation World was ravaged, becoming a shattered mess, and even less suitable for cultivators to practice.

The Huyan clan's ancestors continuously migrated westward. After numerous twists and turns and the deaths of several generations of family heads, they finally established their foundation near Crescent Moon Lake, and their legacy continued unbroken.

"Where is the largest cultivation city nearby?"

Fang Xi casually asked.

"Regarding cultivation cities, our family and several major forces nearby regularly choose an oasis to conduct trade. . . But the largest trading hub should be 'Heitu City', built by the Yellow Sand Sect!"

Huyan Rou replied.

"Heitu City?"

Fang Xi recalled the map gazetteer he had received from Huyan Dou earlier today, and quickly located its position. He couldn't help but become interested: "Tell me about the Yellow Sand Sect. . ."

"Yes."

Although Huyan Rou found it a little strange, she naturally dared not refuse a Nascent Soul cultivator's command. She said softly: "The Yellow Sand Sect is the overlord of the Flowing Sand Domain, a Nascent Soul sect with a legacy of several millennia. In this generation, it has two Nascent Soul cultivators. One of them, True Monarch Heisha, is rumored to have already advanced to the mid-stage Nascent Soul realm and is the foremost cultivator in the Flowing Sand Domain. . . The other, Venerable Gansha, is a newly advanced early-stage Nascent Soul cultivator from the past century. . ."

"Venerable Gansha?"

Fang Xi's expression remained calm, but inwardly, he suddenly felt like laughing.

He recalled a demonic Core Formation cultivator he had killed who seemed to have claimed his master was Venerable Gansha, and so on. . .

'If that Nascent Soul also entered the Long Evergreen Park, it's highly likely they have already perished. . . And the Yellow Sand Sect can discover this through life tablets, soul lamps, and similar items. . . This place is about to become turbulent. '

As for why the White Deer Formation Spirit teleported him here, Fang Xi also had a guess.

It was probably because it didn't matter where he went, so it casually chose a nearby and convenient route. . .

Since Venerable Gansha could go to the Long Evergreen Park mystic realm, there was clearly an ancient teleportation array or a void loophole of the Long Evergreen Park in the Flowing Sand Domain.

Since one could go, one could naturally also teleport back, and it would be the most time- and effort-saving method.

Fang Xi asked a few more questions. After receiving Huyan Rou's answers, he then rewarded her with a bottle of pills that were very useful to Foundation Establishment cultivators and sent her away.

...

The next day.

Huyan Dou came to pay a visit.

"Senior, are you satisfied with your stay in this cave abode? How have Little Rou and the others served you?"

Huyan Dou's face was plastered with smiles. In his words, there was a clear implication of offering his good daughter to Fang Xi's bed.

Such sycophancy, even Fang Xi found it a bit unbearable. He couldn't help but frown: "Speak plainly!"

"Yes. . . My Huyan family has recently encountered a problem and wishes to borrow Senior's esteemed reputation. If Senior is willing to lend a hand, our Huyan family would be eternally grateful. This is a token of our gratitude."

Huyan Dou took out a storage pouch and respectfully presented it to Fang Xi with both hands.

To his surprise, Fang Xi merely took it and glanced at it, then shook his head with a smile: "As an outsider cultivator, I do not wish to get involved in local disputes."

He actually refused directly, without even asking what it was! This was naturally because Fang Xi only wished to make a quick profit and then return to the South Barrens Cultivation World for diligent cultivation.

As for leaving a Nascent Soul soul lamp or similar means here, he still had some concerns.

After all, in the Three Kingdoms Cultivation World, even Core Formation cultivators were rare, so the safety of a Nascent Soul soul lamp could be guaranteed.

But if he left a Nascent Soul soul lamp here and it happened to fall into the hands of a Nascent Soul cultivator, that would be a huge problem.

'If you want me to act, you'd at least have to pay a price that could move me. It's just that my asking price is a bit high. . . '

To make Fang Xi act, they would at least need to produce a spiritual item of the 'Infant Condensing Pill' level.

Unfortunately, Fang Xi had just swept his gaze over it, and what the Huyan family could offer truly failed to move his heart.

"Senior. . ."

Huyan Dou's face was filled with a piteous expression. He wanted to persuade a few more words, but felt a cold divine consciousness sweep over him. He couldn't help but shiver, and cold sweat trickled down his forehead.

"No need to say more. Perhaps you think that because this venerable one offered spirit medicine as compensation, I am easy to talk to?"

Fang Xi let out two cold, derisive laughs: "A gentleman can be deceived with principle, but this venerable one is no gentleman. . ."

Huyan Dou's face immediately turned pale, and he hastily apologized and made amends.

After the man left, Fang Xi looked at his retreating back and couldn't help but let out a sigh.

He thought of his single good deed, releasing the White Deer Formation Spirit, and how it eventually repaid his kindness by holding a blade of grass in its mouth, rewarding him with the key to the Earthly Immortal Spiritual Realm, which could be considered the best of both worlds.

But when it came to this Huyan family, just being a little benevolent led to all sorts of requests coming to his door.

He couldn't help but lament the complexity of human nature, which truly left one at a loss for words.

Fang Xi sighed, and flicked his long sleeve. His figure immediately vanished.

After some time passed, when Huyan Dou nervously came to pay his respects again, he discovered that the entire cave abode was already empty. . .

While greatly startled, the man also couldn't help but secretly breathe a sigh of relief. . .

...

Heitu City.

As the most prosperous cultivator city in the vicinity, a large number of cultivators with pack beasts entered and exited daily.

Fang Xi suppressed his escape light, and, under the awestruck gazes of the guarding cultivators, entered the city openly and grandly.

His late-stage Core Formation cultivation was enough to ensure that no one dared harbor any ill intentions towards him.

Even in the Western Desert Cultivation World, Core Formation was already a pinnacle existence at the top of the cultivators' pyramid.

Within the city, the majority of those coming and going were still Qi Refinement and Foundation Establishment cultivators. Core Formation cultivators were extremely rare.

Fang Xi casually strolled around for a bit and soon learned about the various spiritual materials primarily produced in the Western Desert, as well as the prices of spirit stones.

After pondering for a moment, he walked into a shop.

"Senior, may I ask what you wish to purchase?"

A shopkeeper greeted him with a beaming smile, and upon sensing Fang Xi's Core Formation level magical power fluctuations, he bent his waist even lower.

"This venerable one wishes to purchase a large quantity of 'Sand Thorn Fruit,' 'Bronze Coconut Dates,' 'Yellow Earth Flower,' and 'Wutu Essence'. . ."

Fang Xi sat down without ceremony and spoke.

"May I ask what 'large quantity' entails. . . ? " The shopkeeper's eyes lit up, knowing he had encountered a wealthy patron.

"As much as you have, I'll take it all. However, this venerable one needs it gathered within three days."

Fang Xi stated.

"Three days. . . that's a bit rushed. The amount of goods our shop can procure is roughly. . ."

The shopkeeper calculated mentally for a moment and quoted a figure, then said: "If paid in spirit stones, it would be at least two hundred seventy thousand low-grade spirit stones; we'll waive the change for our esteemed guest."

"Agreed!"

Fang Xi agreed without much thought, and paid the deposit, then departed with the spirit contract.

Even after the transaction was complete, the shopkeeper was still somewhat dazed. He hadn't expected the other party to purchase such a large quantity of goods as simply as eating and drinking, and complete the deal so effortlessly.

'Could this be a sect procurement. . . '

'Could it be. . . that the Flowing Sand Domain is about to become chaotic again? '

The elderly shopkeeper felt no joy from making a huge profit. Instead, his heart was full of worry.

And in reality, his worries were not unfounded.

A group of Nascent Soul cultivators being trapped in the Long Evergreen Park mystic realm would inevitably lead to an immediate power imbalance among the top forces of the various cultivation worlds.

Before balance could be restored, chaos and war were highly likely to be unavoidable.

This was also the destiny of cultivators!

...

From this day onward, rumors of a wealthy patron continuously spread throughout Heitu City.

It was said that this wealthy patron was extremely generous, frequently visiting various shops, sweeping up all the hidden treasures that shops usually kept as their last resort.

Whether it was the inheritances of the hundred cultivation arts, or certain specialty products, ores, beast-taming methods. . . all were acquired by him.

He even frequently participated in auctions and trade fairs, constantly vying for rare spiritual items.

Originally, such a high-profile cultivator would certainly have been targeted by bandit cultivators.

However, the opponent's genuine late-stage Core Formation cultivation made many small groups of bandit cultivators afraid to show their faces.

In the cultivation world, after all, strength reigned supreme!

And even a cultivator at the perfected Core Formation stage, who could defeat this person, could not guarantee killing them.

Unless a Nascent Soul cultivator made a move! But Nascent Soul old monsters had too many ways to earn spirit stones. Even joining a sect and enjoying veneration and offerings was much simpler and easier than outright robbery. . .

In reality, even cultivators at the perfected Core Formation stage mostly focused on diligent cultivation, hoping to form a Nascent Soul one day, or in despair, nurturing their family and sect. They would not easily form enmity with an unfamiliar late-stage Core Formation cultivator!

Therefore, Fang Xi's procurement journey this time was truly very easy and pleasant. . .