Chapter 594: Five Sworn Siblings (Requesting Monthly Tickets)
Chapter 594: Five Sworn Siblings (Requesting Monthly Tickets)
“Now, deep within the Xuanming Abyss, a million li in, the dangers of Ghost Gate Reef are already enough to cause Core Formation cultivators to perish. As for Nascent Soul cultivators, it's hard to say. . . ”
“Further inward, three million li more, lies the 'Mist Sea', and then, the rumored 'Sea Eye' at the very center of the Xuanming Abyss. Who knows what dangers lurk there? ”
Fang Xi murmured, while the Core Formation puppet beside him nimbly laid out a series of items.
Among them were fishing nets woven from 'Black Nirvanic Silkworms', and a fishing rod. The rod was made of bamboo, its main material a type of 'Ten-Thousand-Year Iron Bamboo', its surface emitting a dark, refined iron luster, yet possessing incredible resilience. The fishing line, naturally, was made from the silk of the 'Black Nirvanic Silkworm', but this particular strand was extraordinary, spun by the Silkworm King itself.
Although not a professional angler, Fang Xi, when enjoying life, liked to make all preparations to the highest standard.
He piloted his spirit boat into the 'Ghost Gate Reef' area, dropping anchor before a reef shaped like an ox horn, then brought his fishing rod and nets to the bow.
He first tried casting his nets several times, but didn't haul up anything good. Instead, a few black fish and black snakes launched surprise attacks, which Fang Xi easily chopped into several pieces, preparing them for a pot of snake soup.
He then picked up the fishing rod, threaded a red worm onto the hook, and cast it into the black water.
The bait, naturally, was also bought from Kungsang Market, and it wasn't cheap.
One could only say that the Black Water Sect truly controlled the entire supply chain, holding these fishermen of the cultivation world firmly in their grasp.
Fang Xi held the fishing rod in one hand and yawned with the other.
Several hours later, he abruptly reeled in his fishing rod.
Splash!
The Profound Nether heavy water parted, and a salamander, as thick as an adult's arm, was reeled out.
This salamander was entirely greenish-black, its belly crimson with flecks of blood. It had four legs, shook its head, wagged its tail, and resembled a flood dragon.
“Indeed, a dragon species, and its bloodline power is quite rich. . . It's just a pity this one is only at twenty or thirty years of demonic qi cultivation. . . Simply too low-grade, it wouldn't fetch much money at the market. ”
Fang Xi picked up the salamander, played with it for a moment, then casually tossed it back into the water.
This type of salamander usually needs at least two hundred years of cultivation to be of significant use.
Upon reaching five hundred years of cultivation, horns will grow on its head, further undergoing dragon transformation, making it a standout among third-order demon beasts. Subduing one would require considerable effort.
And according to legend, this type of black salamander, upon reaching a thousand years of cultivation, will truly transform into a dragon. Not the mixed-blood flood dragon type like Green Corner Fish Dragon, but a dragon species with a truly rich True Dragon bloodline, one that even among the Demon race, could be revered as an Imperial Prince by the Flood Dragon clan. . .
“However, a thousand-year-cultivation salamander, after transforming into a dragon, would likely be equivalent to a Shapeshifting Great Demon. . . Ordinary Foundation Establishment and Core Formation fishermen would just be delivering themselves as food. . . ”
“The Black Water Sect has always offered bounties for this type of salamander. Could it be for purified dragon blood? Does this sect possess a special secret art for refining essence blood? ”
Fang Xi could only speculate thus.
The essence blood of a demon race king was extremely useful, whether for cultivating divine abilities, refining treasures, or even practicing some special cultivation methods.
If the human race could improve demonic cultivator techniques from ancient demonic race cultivation methods, then demon race cultivation methods naturally could too.
In the Earthly Immortal World, there were also some human 'demon cultivators', most of whom possessed half-demon bloodlines. Some arrogant and proud individuals also cultivated human race techniques concurrently, preparing for a future 'human-demon unity' and breakthrough to the Return to Void realm.
Fang Xi naturally looked down on purified dragon blood; after all, he even had the blood of a fifth-order crocodile flood dragon.
At this point, he was treating it entirely as entertainment, and cast another line.
As he waited for a bite, a spirit boat suddenly approached.
On that spirit boat, several cultivators were vaguely standing, both male and female. Leading them was a burly man in purple robes, possessing a dignified and imposing appearance, with a cultivation around the late-stage Core Formation realm.
Among the other fishermen, he could already be considered to have profound cultivation.
When he saw Fang Xi fishing alone, he subconsciously wanted to step forward and strike up a conversation, but after a sweep of his Divine Consciousness, a cold sweat broke out on his forehead.
The human race in the Earthly Immortal World was not entirely peaceful, let alone in this Xuanming Abyss, where cultivators dying daily was simply the most normal thing.
Encountering a high-level cultivator in this place might not necessarily be a good thing.
“Big Brother, for us to encounter a fellow cultivator in such a vast Ghost Gate Reef, it must be fate. . . But he seems to have occupied a few good spots that we previously explored. . . ”
A green-robed scholar frowned, transmitting his words with Divine Consciousness.
His cultivation was slightly inferior, so he couldn't discern Fang Xi's true strength, but he knew that cultivators daring to venture out alone were extremely troublesome and certainly possessed a special skill or two.
“Don't be rude! This is a Nascent Soul cultivator, he wouldn't stoop to snatching such a small catch from us. . . ”
No sooner had the burly man in purple robes finished his reprimand than he heard his junior sister beside him cheer, “I've caught something. . . ”
He looked over and saw that senior retract his fishing rod, having caught a black salamander.
“Why is it you again? ! ”
Fang Xi gazed at the salamander he had just released, utterly speechless.
And the salamander also stared at him with wide eyes, looking utterly innocent.
This reminded Fang Xi of a certain deadbeat fish that had freeloaded its way all the way to shapeshifting. He immediately let out a cold laugh: “Still trying to freeload? I won't fall for that again. . . ”
With a wave of his hand, a surge of magical power enveloped the salamander, tossing it far away.
“Oh my! ”
At this moment, from the spirit boat not far away, a girl in a peach-colored skirt exclaimed in surprise: “That person. . . why did you release the salamander? Although that salamander seemed to have shallow cultivation, it could still fetch quite a few Spirit Stones at a pharmacy! ”
“Junior Sister, don't be rude! ”
The burly man in purple robes trembled with fright, hastily reprimanded her, and then bowed to Fang Xi: “We apologize for disturbing Senior. Please don't take offense! ”
Only the junior sister, whose cultivation was merely at the Foundation Establishment realm, looked at her elder brother, then at Fang Xi, a hint of disbelief in her eyes.
“Could this black-robed cultivator actually be a Nascent Soul Ancestor?
Why does he look so young?
Although Fang Xi had concealed his true appearance, he hadn't deliberately disguised himself as an old man. His face, with its sword-like eyebrows and star-like eyes, was quite handsome, save for a hint of fierce aura between his brows.
“No matter. You few, come over. I have something to ask. ”
When those cultivators came aboard Fang Xi's boat, they saw several Core Formation puppets bringing out tables, chairs, and benches, setting up a feast. This couldn't help but fill their hearts with even greater awe.
‘This senior's puppets could easily subdue us. . . Is there a Nascent Soul cultivator known for their Mechanism Puppet Art near the Xuanming Abyss? ’
The burly man in purple robes felt a jolt in his heart, then cupped his fists and bowed: “This humble one, Meng Zhuzi, greets Senior. ”
“This humble one, Zhu Hong, greets Senior! ” Zhu Hong, dressed as a scholar, was at mid-stage Core Formation cultivation and appeared very shrewd.
“Tao Zhilan. . . greets Senior! ” Tao Zhilan was the girl in the peach-colored dress who had spoken earlier, her cultivation merely around the Foundation Establishment realm.
Afterward, two more cultivators stepped forward to pay their respects.
...
Among these five cultivators, three were Core Formation and two were Foundation Establishment, considered the basic configuration for a Xuanming Abyss team.
It was evident that Meng Zhuzi was the leader, with Zhu Hong serving as the strategist.
Although these five had different cultivation levels, they were sworn siblings, having lived and earned their livelihood together in the Xuanming Abyss for several decades.
“So, you all are also here to fish. . . ”
Fang Xi chuckled: “Consider it me occupying your prized spot. I shall treat you to a meal, to repay this karmic debt. ”
Meng Zhuzi was about to refuse, but seeing Zhu Hong give him a signal, he immediately changed his words: “In that case. . . many thanks, Senior. ”
Fang Xi clapped his hands, signaling the puppets to bring the prepared black snake and black fish to the table, and then opened a jar of spirit wine.
Zhu Hong and the other man were fine, but Tao Zhilan couldn't help but be startled: “This is a third-order Blackwater Demon Beast. . . The Blackwater Profound Serpent is the hardest to kill, yet it's been made into a delicacy. . . ”
“As long as you all like it. ”
Fang Xi raised his wine cup: “To your health! ”
With a Nascent Soul cultivator offering a toast, these cultivators naturally dared not refuse, and all drank it down.
After three rounds of wine, and discussing a few more things, these few people became somewhat more relaxed.
Fang Xi then learned that these five had come to the Xuanming Abyss primarily to gather the cultivation materials they each needed.
Not to mention the two Foundation Establishment cultivators needing Core Formation spiritual items, their older brothers, young as they were, had already reached late-stage Core Formation. They still needed to prepare for forming their Nascent Souls, and if they didn't come to the Xuanming Abyss, they might go bankrupt trying to buy a single Nascent Soul spiritual item in the future.
“The Black Water Sect holds a grand auction once every hundred years, where Nascent Soul Transformation Pills, Nascent Soul Condensation Pills, and other Nascent Soul spiritual items frequently appear. . . ”
Tao Zhilan sighed, then suddenly realizing something, she changed the subject: “Although Ghost Gate Reef is the least dangerous among the four perilous lands, one can still easily perish if careless. . . I heard that last year, someone in the Mist Sea encountered a fourth-order demon beast undergoing its fifth-order Soul Transformation heavenly tribulation, and was so frightened they fled in disarray. . . ”
Fang Xi chuckled inwardly, understanding that this small team likely had some savings, and Tao Zhilan's reluctance to talk more was simply out of fear that he, a Nascent Soul cultivator, might kill them for their treasures.
However, he became interested in the fifth-order Soul Transformation Demon Beast: “There's actually a Soul Transformation Great Demon? This Xuanming Abyss truly is incredibly perilous. . . ”
“Indeed. . . And the Sea Eye of the Xuanming Abyss is even more so. After all, this endless Profound Nether heavy water, who knows which underground water vein it connects to? It's fraught with danger, and even Soul Transformation cultivators dare not delve deep into the Sea Eye to investigate. . . ”
Zhu Hong explained with a smile, then began to indirectly inquire about Fang Xi's purpose in coming here.
After all, 'Ghost Gate Reef' was always mostly explored by Core Formation and Foundation Establishment cultivators. Nascent Soul cultivators were a bit overqualified.
“I merely wish to experience the various sights of the Xuanming Abyss. . . It's just a pity I'm somewhat afraid of death and don't wish to go to overly dangerous places, so I came to 'Ghost Gate Reef' for a vacation, merely for some amusement. . . ”
Fang Xi spoke truthfully.
Tao Zhilan and the other cultivators were all speechless.
They were fighting tooth and nail in the Xuanming Abyss for a meager amount of cultivation resources, while the other party was there for leisure. . .
Alright, as a Nascent Soul cultivator, as long as one was careful, there wouldn't be much problem in the Ghost Gate Reef sea area. As long as one didn't venture deeper, the risk indeed seemed low.
This senior, it seems, has a remarkably steady approach.
Fang Xi raised his wine cup, just about to drink again, when his Divine Consciousness swept out, and his expression suddenly shifted slightly!
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