Chapter 475: Cicada Slough (Making up for arrears, 34)
Chapter 475: Cicada Slough (Making up for arrears, 34)
Ruyi Gate.
Inside the cave abode.
Fang Xi sat cross-legged in quiet meditation, then suddenly opened his eyes and swept his hand.
Three "Golden Cicada" sloughs appeared, lined up in a row, emitting a decaying aura that caused him to furrow his brows.
"It seems. . . something is wrong."
After a careful inspection, Fang Xi's face was left with only a bitter smile: "Their potential was over-stimulated. . . these aren't three high-grade fourth-tier demon beasts at all, but rather force-fed meat chickens raised for slaughter. . . Once dead, their vital essence quickly dissipates. . . I'd be laughing if I could even make low-grade fourth-tier wood puppets out of them."
He gritted his teeth, formed a hand seal, and a green rune flickered, flying into one of the Golden Cicada sloughs.
The next instant, something unexpected happened!
"Damn it. . ."
He muttered, cast a spell, and released Daqing: "Go. . . clean this up for me!"
Daqing let out a whine, appearing a bit aggrieved, but still manipulated the clouds and mist, becoming a garbage disposal worker. . .
"Tsk. . . The secret art I taught you is a supreme secret technique from the 'Celestial Demon Extermination Manual', what's wrong with being a garbage worker?"
Fang Xi paid it no mind. After Daqing cleaned up, he re-examined the three "cicada sloughs"!
Yes. . .
After the Golden Cicada died, its flesh and blood inexplicably melted away, leaving only three cicada sloughs.
Although they looked lifelike from the outside, their insides were hollow; they were just three golden skins!
"This is a huge loss. . ."
Seeing the three Golden Cicadas turn into cicada sloughs, Fang Xi couldn't help but feel heartache and regret.
If he could have refined these three Golden Cicadas into high-grade fourth-tier wood puppets, wouldn't he be able to run rampant throughout the South Barrens Cultivation World?
However, even without three wood puppets capable of rivaling late-stage Nascent Soul cultivators, he could still run rampant within the current Human Race territory. . . so perhaps there wasn't much difference?
His Divine Consciousness swept over the cicada sloughs inch by inch, when he suddenly uttered a sound of surprise and doubt.
He saw that inside the cicada sloughs, near the abdomen, there seemed to be some indistinct patterns.
Fang Xi picked up one of the cicada sloughs, examined it carefully, then looked at another.
"It seems. . . not patterns, but. . . talismans? Talismans similar to Phoenix Seal Script? !"
He picked up a jade slip, wanting to transcribe and complete these patterns. . .
Crack!
Suddenly, a crack appeared on the jade slip, he knew not when!
"An ordinary jade slip cannot bear it. . . even if it's incomplete?"
Fang Xi gazed at the seemingly incomplete purple seal characters inside the three cicada sloughs, and suddenly fell into thought: "Phoenix Seal Script also possesses similar characteristics. Clearly, these runes are of a high grade, perhaps even representing the outward manifestation of certain heavenly and earthly laws, which is why ordinary objects struggle to contain them?"
"Could it be. . . that these are actually 'Dragon Inscriptions'?"
Ever since learning about the origin of the 'Phoenix Seal Script', Fang Xi had been paying attention to collecting information on this matter.
It was only recently, after thoroughly fleecing the Lishang Demon Palace, that he finally obtained detailed information on these 'Dragon Inscriptions and Phoenix Seal Script'.
"Dragon Inscriptions. . . were formed by True Dragons comprehending the Great Dao of Time. . . described in their physical forms. . ."
Fang Xi gazed at the purple patterns, which indeed resembled earthworms, yet also snaked like serpents, bearing twisted traces that could easily make one dizzy if not careful.
"Time, Void. . . these two are the most supreme Great Daos. Besides True Spirits, great powerful beings from both the Demon Race and Human Race have comprehended them, each passing down different ancient texts and runes. However, their forms are largely similar. . . After all, the Great Dao exists independently; the closer one gets to the Great Dao, the more unified things become. . . Could it be that because True Dragons and Phoenixes have the deepest comprehension of these two Great Daos, even the 'Dao' comprehended by the Human Race takes the name 'Dragon Inscriptions and Phoenix Seal Script'?"
"It's a pity. . . that among the sects of the South Barrens today, there is no inheritance of 'Dragon Inscriptions and Phoenix Seal Script'."
"Fortunately, I still have the remnant soul of a Nascent Soul cultivator from the Primordial Demon Sect in my possession. Comprehending the basics of 'Phoenix Seal Script' shouldn't be a problem. . . As for these 'Dragon Inscriptions', I'll have to rely on future luck and serendipity."
Fang Xi carefully put away the three Golden Cicada sloughs.
To be able to naturally manifest 'Dragon Inscriptions' and bear them, these three skins were clearly no ordinary objects.
"It seems. . . it wasn't a loss after all? !"
...
After sorting out the various demon race puppets and categorizing his gains, Fang Xi entered a state of secluded bitter cultivation.
Ever since his spiritual root advanced, his cultivation speed had been rapid. With the aid of 'Lihe Pill', he felt that he was now only a sliver away from completing the seventeenth layer of the 'Withered Glory Chant'.
Therefore, he had to diligently cultivate daily without ceasing, striving to complete the cultivation method as soon as possible, so that he could then attempt to break through the mid-stage bottleneck!
Through these consecutive battles, Fang Xi had also deeply realized the inadequacy of his own cultivation.
If his realm was insufficient, he couldn't even fully unleash the power of his spirit treasures!
He slowly closed his eyes, circulating his cultivation through his body. As he did so, green and yellow light intertwined around him, and the rich wood spiritual energy from the fourth-tier spirit vein was rapidly drawn, forming a circle around him, even faintly manifesting illusory images of various spiritual plants.
Within his Dantian and Sea of Qi, the main Nascent Soul opened its eyes, absorbing wisps of magic power, seemingly growing continuously. . .
...
Cultivation knows no time.
Fang Xi diligently cultivated, occasionally emerging from seclusion to seek out Nangong Li and the eighteen Heavenly Concubines, observing and guiding them in arts like the Heavenly Demon Dance, while also conveniently inquiring about the Jiang Kingdom's situation.
According to Nangong Li, after the great victory of the demonic path in the Jiang Kingdom, the faction of the Demon Race led by Qing Changlao seemed to have abandoned the void passage on this side, instead merging with Feng Country.
Now, both the orthodox and demonic factions had joined forces, establishing the 'Two Modes Seven Absolutes Grand Array' at a strategic natural chasm on the border between the Jiang Kingdom and Feng Country, confronting the re-integrated Demon Race, their strategy being simply to delay.
After all, decades had already passed since the Demon Race's Realm Descent. If they delayed for several more decades, perhaps the Realm Descent would simply end.
As long as the Demon Race could not use the conversion array to pollute the spiritual energy of the South Barrens during this period, it would be considered a success!
As for the foremost orthodox cultivator whose Dharma Body was damaged, the late-stage Nascent Soul Grand Cultivator 'Tian Xingzi', he had already recovered most of his strength through body-snatching and was currently still in secluded cultivation.
Currently, both the Human and Demon Races seemed to be in a state of silently licking their wounds; a major war should not erupt again in the short term.
Fang Xi conversed freely with Nangong Li for a while, then returned to his cave abode and began his arduous cultivation.
...
Inside the cave abode.
Fang Xi opened his eyes: "Indeed. . . the Eighteen Heavenly Demon Dances are extremely beneficial for my cultivation of the 'Seven Emotions Departure Scroll'."
The benefits of powerful Divine Consciousness, naturally, go without saying.
After obtaining Tian Du Mojun's complete cultivation method and guidance, his progress in this secret art was simply leaps and bounds, finally mastering the first layer!
"First layer of 'Seven Emotions Departure Scroll': Divine Consciousness amplification. . ."
He released his Divine Consciousness. Previously, everything within a hundred li was clearly visible, and he could roughly sense the situation within two hundred li.
But now, Fang Xi felt his Divine Consciousness limit instantly surge by twenty to thirty percent. Everything within a hundred and twenty to thirty li was clearly visible, and he could even sense some vague situations beyond two hundred li!
"As expected of a cultivation method for Divine Consciousness. . ."
"Powerful Divine Consciousness also has certain benefits for breaking through realms."
"Furthermore, this cultivation method even comes with secret arts for Divine Consciousness attack and defense. . ."
Fang Xi had the distinct feeling of having stumbled upon a treasure.
The Divine Consciousness attack secret art of the 'Seven Emotions Departure Scroll' was named 'Heavenly Demon Chant'. With a single Heavenly Demon Sound, it would stir the opponent's seven emotions and six desires, causing their soul to feel as though it had entered an inverted mortal world, leading them to qi deviation if they were even slightly careless.
As for the defensive secret art, it was named 'Seven Emotions Armor'. It could cause a layer of seven-colored radiance to adhere to the Sea of Consciousness, resisting ordinary Divine Consciousness attacks.
Fang Xi wasn't particularly interested in this 'Seven Emotions Armor' secret art.
After all, he had the 'All-Heavens Precious Mirror' guarding his Sea of Consciousness, which was his most powerful soul defense trump card.
However, the 'Heavenly Demon Chant' could be diligently cultivated.
"With the first layer mastered, I can finally resolve the grudging soul-lure on me."
Fang Xi sighed.
He had always carried the grudging soul-lure on him before, merely concealing it with a secret technique.
Now, he could finally eradicate this long-standing hidden danger!
"Resentment, hatred. . . these are also among the seven emotions and six desires. They can be transformed into fuel for the 'Seven Emotions Departure Scroll', thus aiding me instead."
Fang Xi muttered, and his hand seal changed.
The next instant, a hint of seven-colored glass-like light flashed in his eyes. Faintly, he could see the resentment coiling around his body.
Most of it came from the Primordial Demon Sect disciples he had killed, truly not worth mentioning.
The strongest strand, however, was from the Seven Kills Demon Lord!
"Hate me. . ."
"Resent me. . ."
"The resentment of the weak is truly not worth mentioning."
Fang Xi's lips curved into a smirk. He began to circulate the secret art, drawing out the 'grudging soul-lure' and actively refining his Divine Consciousness, aiming to condense a bit of unshakeable 'Golden Nature'!
If his Divine Consciousness could be cultivated to the 'Golden Nature' immortal stage, then even a spiritual body could be as tangible as an ordinary physical body.
This was the realm of that Soul Transformation Demon Venerable from that day!
It was also a supreme divine ability that transformed the illusory into the real!
...
Time passed bit by bit.
The door to Fang Xi's cave abode remained unopened.
On this day.
"This heartless fellow. . . so many people from both the orthodox and demonic paths are requesting an audience, and I have to turn them all away. Just how many people will this offend?"
Nangong Li stroked the Four-Eared Finger Monkey on her shoulder, gazing at the spiritual mountain where Fang Xi's cave abode was located. Amidst her complaints, there was a faint hint of secret joy.
Currently, the great name of 'Yun Jizi' resounded throughout both the orthodox and demonic paths, hailed as the foremost figure below the Grand Cultivators.
And those who truly knew their stuff even called him the foremost cultivator of the South Barrens, a title that even Tian Xingzi and Tian Du Mojun had not come forward to deny.
Although most cultivators dismissed it, some old fossils remained tight-lipped about it. . .
Thanks to this, Nangong Li's status naturally rose accordingly.
Suddenly, her expression subtly changed as she gazed at the surroundings of the spiritual mountain.
Whoosh, whoosh!
A gentle breeze whistled, then swept up layers of heavenly and earthly spiritual energy, pouring into the cave abode.
For a moment, even the Ruyi Gate's fourth-tier spirit vein seemed barely able to sustain it.
Nangong Li was quite familiar with this scene: "This celestial phenomenon is far smaller than a Nascent Soul formation phenomenon. It must be that heartless fellow. . . breaking through to the mid-stage Nascent Soul realm? Heh. . . if someone had said earlier that the foremost cultivator of the South Barrens was only in the early-stage Nascent Soul realm, no one would have believed it. . ."
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