Chapter 455: One Sword Comes from the South (Congratulating the Alliance Leader 'Book Oil Up')
“Within the conversion array, there must be ‘Heavenly Demon Qi’! ”
Fang Xi's eyes brightened slightly.
Currently, his External Avatar was still painstakingly experimenting with ‘demonic qi’, at best achieving certain results and building a reputation.
Yet, the ‘Heaven and Earth Origin Energy Particle Spectrum’ remained a distant prospect.
After all, compared to Heavenly Demon Qi, ordinary demonic qi was like charcoal next to diamonds!
If even a wisp could be obtained, the research in the Kyushu World would undoubtedly achieve a groundbreaking advance.
At that point. . . he, too, could reap substantial benefits, perhaps even reaching the Soul Transformation realm without the need for the ‘Eternal Evergreen Body’!
“This looming war, it truly seems unavoidable. Alas, all I wished for was to plant trees and raise fish. . . why must I be pushed to such extremes? ”
Fang Xi sighed with deep emotion, “Perhaps this is the true meaning of the ‘Green Reaping Sword’s existence, after all? ”
Rustle, rustle!
Having weathered the lightning tribulation, the Demonic Tree of Primordial Beginning now appeared even more lush and vibrant.
Its emerald green leaves were veined with streaks of gold and silver, lending it an air of profound mystery.
“For this journey, I must bring my old companion along. ”
Fang Xi gently stroked the Demonic Tree of Primordial Beginning's bark, a soft sigh escaping him.
With a thought, he released Heiwei.
Numerous root-vines descended, coiling around Heiwei and hoisting it directly into the vast canopy.
Huala la!
Countless vines and roots, like the most intricate mechanical arms, began the arduous process of transforming this four-stage great demon into a wood puppet.
No matter how formidable the great demon's physique—a body difficult for even spirit artifacts to harm—it proved utterly vulnerable beneath the encroaching root-vines. . .
Fang Xi was already a peak third-stage puppet master, and with the vast knowledge assimilated from the Kyushu World, refining wood puppets had become second nature to him.
It was even smoother and more seamless than the last time he refined the ‘Five Elements Lin Clan’.
“Yet, it felt as though this demon bird was inferior in all respects to that Horned Dragon. . . After all, that one had awakened the Qilin bloodline, a true royal lineage among demon beasts, whereas this Iron Winged Eagle's bloodline was merely mediocre. . . Still, it was undoubtedly superior to Gui Shan. . . ”
Time passed, its duration indiscernible.
At last. . .
A colossal black eagle puppet, wings spread wide with immense span, and a truly ferocious countenance, was slowly lowered by the Demonic Tree.
Fang Xi observed it closely, then performed subtle adjustments to the Iron Winged Eagle before reinstalling its original demon core. . .
Boom!
A surge of four-stage demonic qi erupted, shooting towards the heavens!
“Human Transformation! ”
Fang Xi formed a hand seal, and the Iron Winged Eagle was engulfed in a verdant light. As the radiance dissipated, a human figure emerged.
There were no wings on its back, nor any trace of its aquiline nose. . .
After all, he was bound for the battlefield this time, and Fang Xi wished to avoid attracting undue hostility.
Moreover, the act of refining demon beasts into puppets would inevitably draw even greater animosity. . .
“With this in mind. . . ”
Fang Xi gazed at the puppet, then suddenly touched his storage ring.
With a flicker of silver light, two more puppets materialized simultaneously.
One possessed green horns and silver arms, its face expressionless, its body marked by gruesome, stitched seams.
The other was eagle-headed with a human body, one arm ending in a bird’s talon.
“Three four-stage puppets, complemented by those Core Formation-level puppets. . . even a mid-stage Nascent Soul cultivator would be forced to flee in disarray. . . This was the formidable might of a puppet master! ”
Fang Xi formed a hand seal, activating the ‘Thousand Mechanisms Box’ secret art. A sliver of divine consciousness emerged and settled into the wood puppet.
After completing the puppet’s refinement, he turned around to observe the Demonic Tree, which was steadily shrinking. . .
Since its breakthrough to four-stage, the Demonic Tree, though still unable to assume human form, could nevertheless employ certain size-altering divine abilities.
“Mountain Sea Pearl. . . Open! ”
The Mountain Sea Pearl tattoo on Fang Xi's hand glowed, transforming into a cerulean orb and opening a gateway.
The Demonic Tree of Primordial Beginning burrowed within, rapidly expanding and taking root. . .
Immediately thereafter, Fang Xi sensed a slight impedance in his ‘Longevity Art’.
“The spiritual energy within the Mountain Sea Pearl's pocket dimension was, after all, not comparable to Emerald Island’s four-stage spirit vein. . . ”
“Fortunately, my ‘Longevity Art’ remained uninterrupted. . . ”
Ever since discerning the changes beyond the ‘Wood Spirit Body’, Fang Xi had maintained his ‘Longevity Art’, though thus far, it had yielded no discernible results. . .
Indeed, Fang Xi had always harbored the suspicion that the Demonic Tree of Primordial Beginning might well be his most potent subordinate!
If they were to truly contend, even Gui Shan, Horned Dragon, or his four-stage puppets. . . would likely be no match for it!
Woosh!
With the Demonic Tree of Primordial Beginning now gone, the crevice leading to the Netherworld earth vein resurfaced.
However, this time, thanks to the ‘Five Elements Restriction’ Fang Xi had laid down previously, the strands of earth vein Yin qi behaved with surprising docility, posing no threat to the seal.
Simultaneously, the entirety of Emerald Island quaked. The four-stage ‘Nine-Nethers Profound Wood Grand Array’ began to degrade, reverting to a mere peak third-stage ‘Profound Wood Array’!
“I still possess a considerable amount of assets on this island. . . not to mention the batch of spirit herbs and ‘Jitu’ previously transplanted to the Evergreen Palace, the ten thousand acres of spirit fields, and the cultivated Azure Water Winged Snakes and Wind Thunder Horned Pythons. . . ”
“It seemed prudent to leave Gui Shan behind. . . with his four-stage cultivation, he should generally be able to manage any disturbances. ”
Fang Xi prepared to bring Horned Dragon and Green Fire Luan along.
This was not merely to put on a grand display of dragons and phoenixes pulling his carriage, but rather because Gui Shan’s earlier words had sparked a subtle idea in his mind.
The Green Fire Luan, this three-stage spirit beast, could perhaps serve as a compelling lure to ambush the Heavenly Phoenix clan?
After all, its bloodline talent, evinced by its ability to awaken the Green Luan Fire, was indeed exceptional.
Regrettably, when Fang Xi had first subdued this spirit bird, he had already refined his External Avatar; thus, while the Green Luan Fire was miraculous, he hadn't fully exploited its potential.
Unless. . . should the Green Fire Luan advance to four-stage, the might of its Green Luan Spirit Flame would assuredly skyrocket!
At that point, Green Fire Luan, relying solely on this spirit flame, would likely be able to move unhindered even among Nascent Soul cultivators.
...
Several days later.
Gong Ling and Feng Bingxian took their leave, both expressing to Fang Xi, the Alliance Leader of the Three Kingdoms Alliance, their willingness to relocate their sects into the Three Kingdoms and join its burgeoning family.
Fang Xi treated them with impartiality, designating two territories within the State of Wu, thus granting Feng Bingxian the same favorable terms as Gong Ling.
Not long after, a magnificent carriage, drawn by a dragon and a phoenix, entered the Myriad Beasts Mountain Range.
“This old servant bows to his Master! ”
From within the Myriad Beasts Mountain Range, a streak of light shot forth, bowing respectfully. It was none other than Gui Shan!
For some inexplicable reason, the old fellow seemed far more deferential today.
Perhaps it was due to witnessing Fang Xi effortlessly dispatch the Iron Winged Eagle, a creature even more powerful than himself?
Gui Shan, at least, knew himself to be no match for Heiwei; indeed, had Heiwei deployed its escape technique, he wouldn't have even been able to flee.
Yet such a transformed great demon was actually slain by the Dragon Fish Island Lord. . .
A profound sense of awe burgeoned in the old man's heart, and he practically regarded Fang Xi as a grand cultivator of the mid-stage Nascent Soul realm.
“Hmm, I am preparing to depart for the Jiang Kingdom. . . Emerald Island shall be entrusted to your care during this period. ”
Fang Xi patted Gui Shan's shoulder, speaking amiably.
“Please rest assured, Master. This old servant shall protect Emerald Island, even if it costs me my very life! ”
Gui Shan immediately thumped his chest, making a resolute vow.
“Excellent, excellent. . . ”
Fang Xi's face was filled with commendation, yet in his heart, he mused: ‘I’d be a fool to trust your words. . . If the enemy isn’t formidable, you’d naturally intervene when necessary, but if they prove too strong. . . you old turtle would most certainly prioritize your own hide. . . Still, forget it. ’
Should Emerald Island encounter an adversary even Gui Shan cannot manage during his absence, then Fang Xi would simply have to chalk it up to bad luck. . .
At most, he would later annihilate his foes to avenge his subordinates. . .
...
Yuan Kingdom.
Dozens of ‘Windchaser Hawks’ were wreaking havoc in the cerulean expanse, occasionally swooping down to peck to death a group of cultivators fleeing across the ground.
Among this group of cultivators, a few attempted to scatter and escape.
But each time, a Windchaser Hawk would descend, ensuring their complete demise.
The surviving cultivators, witnessing this, naturally understood that the demon beasts were merely toying with them, for this flock of Windchaser Hawks were all third-stage demon beasts, possessed of no small intelligence!
Even so, they could only grudgingly obey the flying creatures’ will, coalescing into a single group to flee.
Or rather. . . being herded!
“Damn these Windchaser Hawks, I’ll fight them to the death! ”
Among the group of cultivators on the ground, witnessing several stragglers pecked to death by a Windchaser Hawk, a young Foundation Establishment cultivator finally could bear it no longer and reached into his bosom.
Within his bosom, he still held a ‘Talisman Treasure’!
This was a trump card bequeathed by his family’s ancestor; as long as he caught them off guard. . . he could at least severely wound a Windchaser Hawk!
“Wait! ”
An old cultivator beside him gripped his hand tightly: “Don’t be impulsive. . . ”
“But. . . these demon birds are simply toying with us! ”
The young Foundation Establishment cultivator’s eyes were bloodshot: “My Daoist companion, my younger brother. . . they are all dead. . . ”
“Heh heh, who cannot fight to the death? The key lies in fighting with purpose. ”
The old cultivator pulled open his robes, revealing a string of thunder pearls: “This old man once served as a demon hunter for a period and is well-acquainted with the habits of various demon beasts. The behavior of these Windchaser Hawks is highly irregular. . . they are clearly herding us. According to my conjecture, they are either driving us to their young’s nest or to feed a bird king that is on the verge of advancing. . . Our cultivator flesh and blood, being rich in spiritual energy, is truly an unparalleled delicacy for demon beasts. ”
“Then why don’t they simply kill us outright? ” the youth inquired, perplexed.
“That’s likely the demon birds’ perverse amusement. . . In any case, once we reach the nest, unleash whatever trump cards you have hidden away! ”
“Preferably, their eggs and young, to utterly wipe out their lineage. . . ”
The group of cultivators was ceaselessly herded until they arrived before a verdant cliff.
Upon the cliff, sure enough, rested colossal bird nests.
“No. . . there’s no chirping from young birds, this bodes ill. . . ”
The old cultivator let out a tragic laugh: “There must be a bird king here, on the cusp of advancing, that requires us as a supplement. . . ”
With their current capabilities, a desperate, suicidal attack might destroy some young birds, but inflicting significant harm upon a peak third-stage demon bird was nothing short of a fantasy.
Screech!
Numerous Windchaser Hawks circled in the sky, and then a gigantic wing burst forth, shattering half the cliff face as it extended directly from within the mountain.
The oppressive four-stage demonic qi caused the group of cultivators to begin to suffocate.
Just then, from between heaven and earth, an exceedingly crisp sword cry resounded!
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