Chapter 399: Numinous Treasure (Seeking Subscription)
Chapter 399: Numinous Treasure (Seeking Subscription)
"Oh my. . . this cultivator died a truly miserable death."
The sky was clear and bright, and Emerald Island was lush with greenery, having regained its vitality.
Hai Da Niu accidentally crushed a cultivator's arm bone. Witnessing the horrific injuries on the remains, he couldn't help but sigh in commiseration.
"Alas. . . this must be a fellow Daoist who perished here when the mystic realm appeared back then. Why don't. . . we bury him?"
Zong Linghu arrived on a streak of light, and seeing this scene, she couldn't help but suggest.
"Bury him? Alright then!"
Hai Da Niu nodded, and began digging a pit.
Seeing this, a hint of joy subtly appeared on Zong Linghu's face.
But a foreign cultivator's storage pouch. . . if she helped bury him, perhaps she could. . .
Hai Da Niu moved quickly; after all, he cultivated earth-attribute techniques. He swiftly buried the remains and even erected a tombstone.
Then, with practiced ease, he tucked the cultivator's relinquished storage pouch into his bosom.
This sight made Zong Linghu's eyes redden, and her hand instinctively pressed against her talisman armor.
"Little sister, don't overthink it. . . everything on this island belongs to Master, and I'm just keeping it safe for him."
Hai Da Niu declared with an utterly righteous expression.
'I'll believe you when pigs fly! And. . . who are you calling little sister? '
Zong Linghu's face was filled with disbelief, when suddenly a voice echoed in her ears: "All of you, come see me at the Evergreen Palace!"
Before long, several streaks of light converged at the Evergreen Palace.
"Congratulations, Island Master, on completely taking over this place."
Zong Linghu gazed at the majestic Evergreen Palace and the profusely growing Demonic Tree behind it. Just as she was awestruck by its opulence and the Demonic Tree's eeriness, she saw Fang Xi seated cross-legged on the main dais of the hall. She quickly composed herself and bowed gracefully in congratulation.
"Congratulations, Master, on taking this island! There are quite a few spiritual materials, as well as cultivators' storage pouches and spirit artifacts here. . . I've been holding onto them for you."
As he spoke, Hai Da Niu produced several broken spirit artifacts and storage pouches.
This sight made Zong Linghu's eyelids twitch. She had originally intended to subtly report this simpleton, but she never imagined he would be so. . . cunning? !
"Indeed. . . and the entire island of ruins also needs tidying up."
Fang Xi glanced disdainfully at the rubbish on the ground, then said thoughtfully: "You all clean Emerald Island thoroughly once more. All spiritual items and opportunities found during this process shall be yours. Consider it a reward for your hard work!"
"Thank you, Master, thank you, Master!"
Hai Da Niu quickly expressed his gratitude, and swiftly stashed the storage pouches back into his possession.
This scene made Zong Linghu's chest tighten; she knew this fellow was doing it on purpose.
"Thank you, Young Master!"
Zhong Hong Yu's eyes lit up. There were still many ruins on Emerald Island, especially those few Spirit Herb Gardens – even Core Formation cultivators would be tempted by them.
Unfortunately, for Fang Xi, who had emerged from the Long Evergreen Park mystic realm, they were nothing special.
With a Core Formation cultivator leading several Foundation Establishment cultivators as laborers, the entire Emerald Island was quickly cleaned anew.
All cultivator remains were piled in one place for burning, and the broken walls and ruins were also cleared away.
Hai Da Niu also suggested re-cultivating a large area of spirit fields at the site of the Spirit Herb Gardens, and even volunteered to be Fang Xi's spirit farmer, guaranteeing to cultivate the land exceptionally well. Fang Xi, however, unhesitatingly sent him away.
What a joke!
Spirit fields opened on a fourth-tier Spirit Vein would yield bountiful harvests every year, no matter which spirit farmer tended them.
This simpleton most likely just wanted an excuse to stick around Emerald Island.
After all, this was a fourth-tier low-grade Spirit Vein, considered top-tier in the Three Kingdoms cultivation world.
But Fang Xi naturally wouldn't agree. While things might be different later, for the next decade or so, no cultivators would certainly be allowed on the island, as it was the place where he planned to achieve Nascent Soul!
Therefore, after using them, Zhong Hong Yu and the others were unceremoniously sent away by him.
Chirp, chirp!
The Green Fire Luan soared and danced above Emerald Island, its tail flames forming beautiful tassels, appearing very joyful.
Da Qing also found a spiritual pond and brought many stones, seemingly wanting to build its own small nest.
Fang Xi was not as leisurely as his spirit pets. Instead, he measured Emerald Island once more, arranging array flags or burying refined array-setting tools at each pre-determined array node.
"A true fourth-tier array cannot be set up right now. . . but a peak third-tier one poses no problem. . . and combined with the Demonic Tree's Demonic Domain. . . my newly deduced 'Nine-Nethers Profound Wood Grand Array' should be able to reach a quasi-fourth tier level. . ."
Swallowing a 'Bodhi Enlightenment Pill' to enhance his comprehension, and finally studying the array diagram of the 'Myriad Transformations Divine Wood Grand Array', significantly boosted Fang Xi's array cultivation skills.
At the very least, he could now apply some of the comprehensible superficialities of the 'Myriad Transformations Divine Wood Grand Array' to his own 'Nine-Nethers Profound Wood Grand Array'.
"With a quasi-fourth tier array, combined with the Green Fire Luan, Da Qing, Black Fire Demonic Corpse, and others. . . I'll be three-tenths safer when I form my Nascent Soul. . . even Nascent Soul cultivators will have a tough time here. . ."
"Of course, the most crucial factor is still my External Avatar!"
Fang Xi buried a thick array flag, lost in thought.
The External Avatar could not only assist a cultivator in crossing their tribulation, but was also the perfect guardian!
In the cultivation world, human hearts were treacherous. Even dual cultivation Daoist Companions, dearest friends, or family. . . could never compare to one's own self-assurance!
During this period, cultivators from Myriad Islands Lake and even the State of Yue finally learned that the Dragon Fish Island Master had occupied Emerald Island. Unfortunately, even when a few daring cultivators occasionally approached, they were casually sent away by the Green Fire Luan and Da Qing.Fang Xi certainly wouldn't be courteous with others regarding his cultivation grounds. Anyone daring to spy would be incinerated by Little Green.
Dozens of days later, the brand-new 'Nine-Nethers Profound Wood Grand Array' was fully set up. A layer of dark, hazy mist enveloped the entire Emerald Island, completely isolating its interior from the outside. . .
Evergreen Palace.
After a slight tidying, it was now barely habitable.
Fang Xi entered the specially designated cultivation chamber, sensing the immensely abundant spiritual pressure and spiritual energy in the void. A look of satisfaction appeared on his face: "A fourth-tier low-grade Spirit Vein. . . for my current self, it's almost too much."
Even with the 'Wood Spirit Body', cultivating on a fourth-tier Spirit Vein was somewhat extravagant for a Core Formation cultivator.
The cave dwelling Fang Xi chose was naturally the most spiritually abundant spot along the entire Spirit Vein.
The cultivation chamber was simply furnished, with only a single meditation mat.
However, at the edge of the meditation mat, there was a green Spirit Stone, emitting an ethereal, dream-like blue light.
Countless streams of spiritual energy surged forth, forming a thin mist around the Spirit Stone.
"The supreme-grade wood-attribute Spirit Stone obtained from the old ghost's storage pouch was finally wood-attribute, considered a 'Spirit Eye Item'. Placed in a cultivation area, it could slightly augment the spiritual energy. . . even if only by a little, which cultivator would ever complain about too much spiritual energy?"
Fang Xi sat cross-legged on the meditation mat, his hands resting over his Dantian.
Within his Dantian Qi Sea, the Withered Glory Golden Core shone brilliantly, suffused with abundant purple qi.
The External Avatar sat cross-legged, holding the Star-Patterned Chessboard in its hands, a faint, unreadable smile playing on its face, when it suddenly struck out a hand seal.
A small seal, hovering above the Golden Core, instantly flew out, coursing along his meridians before finally settling in Fang Xi's palm.
With a flash of black light, the 'Life and Death Seal' manifested.
Fang Xi gazed at the seal, a faint smile gradually appearing on his face.
This 'Life and Death Seal' artifact was refined primarily from a branch of the Ancestral Demonic Tree, and then continuously nurtured by being sealed within two generations of Demonic Tree sub-strains using the 'Treasure Incubation Art'.
One could say that since its refinement, it had hardly hindered Fang Xi's cultivation at all, yet its power had continuously grown.
Now, Fang Xi merely needed to retrieve it into his Dantian and cultivate it slightly with his Golden Core's origin energy, and he could feel a hazy 'sentience' brewing within the small seal.
"The Life and Death Seal, refined over many years through the 'Treasure Incubation Art' and coupled with the Demonic Tree's terrifying growth rate, is equivalent to being nurtured by a Core Formation cultivator with their Golden Core True Essence for over a thousand years. . ."
"The only reason it hasn't advanced to a Numinous Treasure is entirely because it hasn't been imbued with my own essence as its master. . ."
"Now, its foundation is solid. With a little more nurturing from me, it will definitely advance to a fourth-tier Numinous Treasure!"
"When I cross the Nascent Soul lightning tribulation then, I'll have an even greater certainty of success!"
Fang Xi's lips curved into a slight smile. He tucked the Life and Death Seal back into his Dantian and began to meditate cross-legged, practicing his cultivation technique.
With a fourth-tier Spirit Vein and numerous pills to enhance his magic power, even if his 'Withered Glory Chant' progress was slightly delayed by his Life-Bound Artifact, it wouldn't disappoint him.
"Around three hundred years old, I should be able to cultivate to Core Formation Completion, or even achieve Nascent Soul. . . A Nascent Soul cultivator at three hundred years old would still be considered a young prodigy. . ."
"I never thought. . . I almost believed I'd have to drag on until I was nearly five hundred, on the verge of my Golden Core's lifespan limit, before barely managing to achieve Nascent Soul. . ."
"Thinking it over. . . I still have to blame the old ghost's century-long pact! Although I gained many benefits from this agreement. . . I also took several risks, which was quite imprudent."
...
Cultivation knew no time.
After the 'Nine-Nethers Profound Wood Grand Array' was completed, Emerald Island remained peaceful and undisturbed, and Fang Xi entered deep secluded cultivation.
Even the matters of repairing and comprehending the ancient teleportation array were completely cast to the back of his mind.
After all, compared to his own cultivation, everything else was illusory.
Time revolved, spring gave way to autumn, summer turned to winter. . .
In the blink of an eye, several more years passed.
On this day.
Inside the cultivation chamber.
The supreme-grade wood-attribute Spirit Stone emitted a hazy green radiance, flickering indistinctly on Fang Xi's face.
On Fang Xi's cheeks, a burst of green light suddenly appeared, then shifted to yellow light.
The green and yellow lights alternated and flickered, continuing for nine cycles before slowly ceasing.
He suddenly opened his eyes and exhaled a mouthful of turbid qi.
Within this turbid qi, there seemed to be a faint, fishy odor, the impurities purged from his internal organs and every part of his body.
Fang Xi's slightly bewildered eyes gradually refocused, and then a smile appeared: "Finally. . . Core Formation Completion."
There was no bottleneck from late-stage Core Formation to Core Formation Completion; as long as one's magic power was sufficient, one could continuously advance.
With a large quantity of self-refined pills, a fourth-tier Spirit Vein, and Spirit Stones, the cultivation results were naturally extremely gratifying.
Not only that, a year earlier, after being imbued with Fang Xi's essence, the Life and Death Seal had fully awakened its sentience, becoming a Numinous Treasure!
As it was a Life-Bound Artifact he had personally nurtured, the sentience it developed was naturally deeply reliant on Fang Xi, having long since regarded him as its sole master.
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