Chapter 580: A Century Fleeting By (Congratulations to Alliance Leader Dong Li Ba Jiu Huang Hun Shi! )
Chapter 580: A Century Fleeting By (Congratulations to Alliance Leader Dong Li Ba Jiu Huang Hun Shi! )
Three days later.
Fang Xi's Divine Transformation Celebration concluded successfully.
His sermon was also a great success, for Fang Xi not only cultivated the strengths of both demon and fiend paths, but also possessed countless advanced cultivation experiences from the Kyushu World.
Even merely revealing a hint or sharing some insights from his Divine Transformation breakthrough was enough to leave a host of Nascent Soul Old Monsters utterly entranced.
As for the small auction that followed, it featured rare treasures from the outside world, especially the final ten teleportation slots, all of which fetched high prices.
Fang Xi intended to release batches of slots periodically in the future, thus allowing him to acquire substantial Spirit Stone resources to sustain Emerald Island's operations.
The Soul Transformation sects like the Saint Fire Cult, Penglai Immortal Island, and Ice God Palace generally operated in the same manner.
......
Most of the cultivators who had come for the Divine Transformation Celebration had already dispersed.
Fang Xi stood beneath the Demonic Tree, casually tipping a green-skinned gourd to his lips, pouring wine.
He looked somewhere and suddenly smiled, "Little Friend Lingxin, did you not return to the East Sea with your master?"
"Lingxin is visiting the Southern Desolate Cultivation World for the first time and wishes to travel around a bit. Does Senior not permit it?"
Shui Lingxin removed her veil, revealing a face of increasingly captivating beauty, like an elf under the moonlight.
"Did Little Friend Lingxin gain any insights from her travels in the Myriad Islands Lake?"
Fang Xi asked another question, seemingly unconcerned.
"Peach Blossom Island. . ."
Speaking of Peach Blossom Island, a hint of confusion involuntarily appeared on Shui Lingxin's face: "Lingxin can confirm I've never been there, yet inexplicably, there's a sense of familiarity and closeness. . ."
This was utterly incredible.
After all, Peach Blossom Island's spirit vein was practically unremarkable, yet it could evoke such reliance in a Nascent Soul cultivator, which was indeed unusual.
"Oh? " Fang Xi's eyes flickered, and he suddenly asked, "Peach Blossom Island has Mirror Moon Lake, Twin Peaks, Emerald Cliff. . . I wonder, Little Friend, which scenery do you like the most?"
"Twin Peaks, that place where a hundred flowers bloom. . ."
Shui Lingxin fell silent for a moment, then suddenly bowed gracefully, "Senior, please enlighten Lingxin. . ."
"Little Friend, do you know. . ."
Fang Xi raised a hand and plucked a leaf from the Ancestral Demonic Tree: "If one were to examine it from the most minute detail, there are no two identical leaves in this world. . . Therefore, Fellow Daoist is no one else; you are merely Shui Lingxin."
"Then why. . . does Lingxin feel some familiarity with Peach Blossom Island? " Shui Lingxin couldn't help but ask, "Is it. . . reincarnation?"
"While there are no two identical leaves in this world, if the base number is large enough, finding two almost completely identical leaves is somewhat possible. . . But no matter how similar, there will always be some differences. Therefore, you are you, not anyone else."
Fang Xi smiled faintly, "The talk of reincarnation is ethereal and elusive. For us cultivators, achieving eternal life and longevity is still the most crucial."
"Thank you, Senior, for enlightening me."
Shui Lingxin rose, seemingly letting go of something, her state of mind subtly improving.
Fang Xi watched the departing figure of the young woman, then suddenly recalled the mischievous girl who used to call him 'Uncle'.
"Yi Xi. . ."
"Even with eternal life and longevity, there are so many regrets. . ."
If he had achieved Core Formation back then, he could have easily helped Wei Yi Xi reach Foundation Establishment. Alas, a missed opportunity is a missed opportunity.
In life, there are always many regrets, just like encountering someone you admire in your youth, yet being too poor.
By the time you achieve success and fame, the one you admired might already be old and withered, or long since married.
"I hope that when I cultivate to a realm beyond an immortal, and can pull people from the River of Time, my heart will remain unchanged. . ."
Fang Xi gazed at the bright moon, and took another sip of green bamboo wine.
......
Time flowed leisurely.
In the blink of an eye, a century of time had hurried by.
The Saint Fire Cult's mountain gate had now been renamed Demonic Tree Ridge, becoming a widely renowned forbidden land in the Western Desert Cultivation World.
A Demonic Tree grew lush and verdant, its growth exceptionally pleasing.
Fang Xi's hobby remained the same as always: planting trees!
Furthermore, the Saint Fire Cult possessed a five-stage spiritual meridian, naturally providing a better environment than Emerald Island.
Therefore, after concluding the Divine Transformation Grand Ceremony, Fang Xi transplanted the Ancestral Demonic Tree to Bright Light Peak, establishing his cave dwelling there to cultivate in seclusion.
At the same time, he conveniently took over the Saint Fire Cult's inheritance, as well as its two ancient teleportation arrays.
By now, if a Southern Desolate cultivator wished to travel to the East Sea or Northern Plains, they would have to transfer through the teleportation arrays twice, incurring double the handling fee. . .
Inside the cave dwelling beneath the Demonic Tree.
Fang Xi was currently seated cross-legged, his aura terrifyingly intense, as dense waves of demonic qi converged around him.
Currently, the 'Withered Glory Chant' lacked subsequent cultivation methods, making it impossible to practice further. Thus, he chose the 'Celestial Demon Extermination Manual'! After all, compared to the 'Myriad Manifestations True Demon Arts' which only went up to Soul Transformation Perfected, the 'Celestial Demon Extermination Manual' could at least be cultivated up to Return to Void! As for cultivation methods beyond Return to Void? The Earthly Immortal World surely wouldn't be lacking.
Among the three thousand lower realms, the highest cultivation level one could reach was only Soul Transformation Perfected. Beyond Return to Void, one would inevitably be repelled by the world's inherent power, making it essentially impossible to remain in the lower realms.
Fang Xi clasped his hands together, and a phantom image of an ancient bronze mirror appeared in his palm.
The dense spiritual energy of heaven and earth around him was drawn in, and then, after being transformed by the 'All-Heavens Precious Mirror' and the 'Three-Phase Annihilation Art', it became concentrated demonic qi, which he rapidly absorbed.
"This 'Three-Phase Annihilation Art' is truly the premier auxiliary secret art. . . not only can it disguise one's identity, but it can also be used for cultivation!"
After a long while, he opened his eyes, a hint of joy appearing on his face.
With the aid of this five-stage spiritual meridian, coupled with his excellent cultivation method, his cultivation had steadily progressed.
However, cultivation during the Soul Transformation stage was naturally more arduous than during the Nascent Soul stage, and he couldn't find any spiritual medicines to aid his cultivation.
Fang Xi could only persist in daily meditation and cultivation, relying entirely on his own aptitude and the spiritual qi of the meridian to push through, making very slow progress.
"At this rate, it will likely take several more centuries to reach the peak of the early Soul Transformation stage, and then attempt to break through to the mid-stage. . ."
"Several centuries. . . if the Ancestor of the Bai family and Yunxi Xianzi knew, they would be incredibly envious."
"After all, the Human World is now fragmented and somewhat unsuitable for Soul Transformation cultivators to practice. . ."
As Fang Xi pondered this, he formed hand seals with both hands.
In the blink of an eye, the demonic qi on his body dissipated, transforming into an intensely rich fiend qi! Almost instantly, he transformed into a Soul Transformation Demon Venerable! This was the terrifying aspect of the 'Three-Phase Annihilation Art'.
Fang Xi had no doubt that with the 'All-Heavens Precious Mirror's grade, even upon reaching the Return to Void realm, he would still be able to transform as he pleased.
"Even if one manipulates the primal qi of heaven and earth after Return to Void, the qi one cultivates personally is still purified demonic qi or fiend qi. . ."
"With my current cultivation, I can now perform the 'Ancient Demon Refining Form' secret art for my second primordial spirit. . ."
A century had passed, and Tumo Venerable and Ghost Axe Venerable in the Kyushu Realm had successively attempted to break through to Soul Transformation.
Fang Xi did not break his word; he not only sent his second primordial spirit to guard them, but also lent them the wondrous item 'Qi Luck Gu'.
However, the results were mixed, one good and one bad.
Tumo Venerable successfully drew the spiritual power of heaven and earth into his body, weathered all calamities, and became the Kyushu Realm's third Soul Transformation Venerable.
But Ghost Axe Venerable ultimately fell short. At the last crucial moment, he failed to successfully break through the Soul Transformation bottleneck, though he did use a 'Return to Origin Secret Art' to disperse the spiritual power of heaven and earth, thus avoiding significant damage.
"The difficulty of Soul Transformation is evident!"
Fang Xi sighed inwardly.
He had already bestowed two 'Tortoise Longevity' Pills upon Bai Mei Zhenjun and Ghost Axe Venerable, after all, late-stage Nascent Soul cultivators in the Kyushu Realm were different from those in the Southern Desolate; they weren't solely focused on fighting and killing. It would be a huge loss if they were to perish due to vital essence depletion and dwindling lifespan.
"Now, with the assistance of Red-Demon Venerable, my second primordial spirit has already cultivated to the Nascent Soul Perfect realm, just waiting to break through the Soul Transformation bottle." Now, with the assistance of Red-Demon Venerable, my second primordial spirit has already cultivated to the Nascent Soul Perfect realm, just waiting to break through the Soul Transformation bottle. . ."
"Although as my second primordial spirit, cultivating to the Soul Transformation realm should pose no bottleneck, some auxiliary items still need to be prepared, as I cannot afford to fail at the last step. . ."
"The Qi Luck Gu and that piece of 'Demonic Black Blood Ore' are merely better than nothing."
However, according to Red Refining Demon Venerable, this'Ancient Demon Refining Form'sret art is truly quite beneficial in assisting demonic cultivators to break through to Soul Transformation.
The so-called 'Ancient Demon Refining Form' involves finding a Soul Transformation Demon Venerable to inject a stream of pure demonic essence into the body of a Nascent Soul Perfected demonic cultivator, assisting them in breaking through the Soul Transformation bottleneck.
It sounds simple, but it requires the recipient to offer no resistance whatsoever, and the practitioner must strive for complete mental and spiritual unity for it to succeed.
According to Redding Demon Venerable's original suggestion, she was prepared to perform it herself.
But considering such a matter involving the fundamental origin of his second primordial spirit, Fang Xi naturally wouldn't allow the Red refining Demon Venerable to interfere. Instead, he made her hand over the secret art, and after thoroughly comprehending it himself, he would personally carry it out!
"My second primordial spirit's breakthrough should not be a major problem; the key is to prepare for the tribulation. . ."
"Once it breaks through, I can arrange for it to explore the fifth world. . ."
Having made up his mind, Fang Xi came to the Ancestral Demonic Tree. The Demonic Tree tattoo on his back materialized, countless roots intertwined, and he began cultivating the 'Longevity Art'!
Exhale. . . Inhale. . .
With each breath he took, the countless branches of the Ancestral Demonic Tree trembled, seemingly following his rhythm. . .
Now, atop the five-stage spiritual meridian, the Demonic Tree grew even more robustly, almost entirely covering the original mountain gate of the Saint Fire Cult.
The name Demonic Tree Ridge was truly well-deserved!
After completing the circulation of the 'Longevity Art', Fang Xi silently performed an introspection, discovering that the one-third of golden patterns had recovered from its previous dimness, clearly fully replenished, and even beginning to grow again.
However, this growth was extremely slow.
"The Eternal Evergreen Body is truly difficult; I even suspect this isn't a cultivation method that can be successfully practiced in the Human World. . ."
He sighed, "But even so, I must continue cultivating it."
When he had broken through the Soul Transformation bottleneck earlier, that one-third of the 'Eternal Evergreen Body' could truly be said to have saved Fang Xi's life in the end.
Just for that alone, he would tirelessly continue to put in painstaking effort on the 'Longevity Art'! However, with him not leaving his dwelling for a century, some unfavorable rumors began to circulate in the Western Desert Cultivation World, such as their Soul Transformation Ancestor being unwell, or suffering from severe injuries.
Some even asserted with certainty that he had already perished. . .
Clearly, these were all tricks orchestrated by the remnants of the Saint Fire Cult who secretly bore him ill will!
"Jump, all of you, jump out, and then I'll swat you dead with a single slap!"
Fang Xi murmured, then suddenly raised an eyebrow.
News came from the wooden puppet he had deployed: a fish had taken the bait!
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