Chapter 600: Thousand Absolutes Poison (Bonus Chapter for Monthly Votes)
Chapter 600: Thousand Absolutes Poison (Bonus Chapter for Monthly Votes)
Earthly Immortal World.
Sangqing Peak.
Meng Zhuzi arrived at a peach forest and saw Fang Xi brewing tea.
"Little Meng, it's been quite some time, hasn't it? The last time we met was when that Soul Transformation yao cultivator appeared outside the market. . ."
Fang Xi poured himself a cup of tea and spoke slowly.
His words were full of feigned innocence.
The previous appearance of a Soul Transformation yao cultivator had indeed left Kungsang Market on tenterhooks for several days.
But it was the subsequent whistleblowing by the Five Sworn Siblings of Green Mountain that truly blew the lid off everything.
However, after Fang Xi's meddling, things immediately became different.
The Soul Transformation-level backer of the Counter-Current Alliance was exposed. It was said that a Soul Transformation patriarch from the Black Water Sect had specifically visited the market for this, taking Tao Zhilan with them.
In addition, they personally oversaw the area and apprehended quite a few people.
According to Fang Xi's estimation, after all this, the Wang Family likely wouldn't be able to hide any longer.
It was even highly probable that the Black Water Sect would dispatch troops to attack the Wang Family's ancestral grounds next.
"Indeed, in such a short time, everything has truly changed."
Meng Zhuzi couldn't help but sigh with emotion when he brought up the matter: "Has Senior ever heard of the 'Counter-Current Alliance'?"
He briefly recounted the events of that day, as there was no longer any need for secrecy.
Fang Xi listened, then thoughtfully remarked: "It seems. . . the Counter-Current Alliance truly has audacious gall. It's truly fortunate that none of you were involved."
"Exactly. It's just a pity about my second brother. . ."
Meng Zhuzi didn't feel sorry for his fifth sister, as she had brought it upon herself.
But the death of his second brother, Zhu Hong, at the hands of a Nascent Soul cultivator from the Counter-Current Alliance, truly pained him to the core.
It was akin to having his left and right arms severed!
"The dead cannot be brought back to life. . . you needn't grieve too much."
After offering a few words of comfort, Fang Xi inquired about Meng Zhuzi's purpose in coming.
Earlier, knowing that this group was preparing to report to the Black Water Sect, and to prevent Soul Transformation cultivators from detecting the flaws in his femtometer robots, Fang Xi had ordered all robots to self-destruct, abandoning his long-standing surveillance.
He felt a little strange in his heart as well.
Didn't Meng Zhuzi and the others originally intend to flee far away after selling their fifth sister?
Could it be that they now wished to stay and seek revenge?
Or did they believe the Counter-Current Alliance wouldn't amount to much?
"Though Wang Qiao is a core member of the Wang Family and a Nascent Soul cultivator, some true secrets are likely only known to that Soul Transformation patriarch of the Wang Family. . ."
Fang Xi felt that there might still be some protracted struggle involved.
However, no matter which side won, it was none of his concern.
"It's like this, I heard news that a private exchange fair for high-level cultivators is going to be held in an outside region. . . I specifically came to inform Senior."
Meng Zhuzi said respectfully.
"A private exchange fair for high-level cultivators?"
Fang Xi was momentarily stunned; he truly hadn't heard any related news recently.
It seemed that occasionally giving out small favors to win over the Five Sworn Siblings of Green Mountain was quite useful after all. They were local bigwigs, and their connections were certainly wider than his own.
"Where is it?"
Fang Xi asked about the trading location and the token, feeling quite satisfied. He casually pulled out a bottle of "Purifying Water Pills" and tossed them to Meng Zhuzi.
Of course, there were still Taiyi's spies inside, resuming the surveillance. . .
...
Several months later.
Fang Xi, clad in a black robe, had a face-covering mask on.
This mask was something his true self had obtained from Wang Qiao; its concealment ability was indeed outstanding, difficult even for Soul Transformation cultivators to discern.
The External Avatar naturally put it to use without hesitation.
At this moment, he had become a Grand Cultivator whose true appearance and aura were indistinct, but whose spiritual power fluctuations had reached the late-stage Nascent Soul realm!
"It's time to find an opportunity to reveal my identity as a Demonic Grand Cultivator in Kungsang Market. . ."
"This way, I can lay the groundwork for my future breakthrough to Soul Transformation. . ."
"Without Soul Transformation strength, it won't be easy to occupy a complete fifth-order spirit vein and carve out a piece of territory in the Xuanming Abyss. . ."
He flew into the Xuanming Abyss, and after penetrating hundreds of thousands of miles deep, he followed the map given by Meng Zhuzi and found a sea region.
On the vast, desolate, dark sea surface, a massive tower ship was anchored.
This tower ship was tens of miles long and about a mile wide, looking just like a moving island.
On the ship's body, palaces and jade pavilions, carved beams and painted pillars, upturned eaves and bracket sets. . . it was built like a magnificent city, grand and majestic.
Fang Xi went directly to the city's entrance and saw a long street paved with ironwood.
"Centennial ironwood? Truly extravagant. . ."
He stepped on the dark, hard floor beneath his feet, which was sturdier than ordinary bluestone slabs, and couldn't help but sigh with emotion.
"Greetings, Senior, this one, Huang San, pays his respects!"
A Core Formation cultivator, enveloped in a faint yellow mist, immediately stepped forward to greet him.
Fang Xi could sense that the mist around this person was a special restriction array, subtly resonating with the giant formation array on the enormous ship. Even a Soul Transformation cultivator would find it difficult to break through for a moment, and it would easily trigger the grand formation's alarm and counterattack.
"Mm, this one heard there was a trading fair for high-level cultivators here, so I came to take a look. . ."
Fang Xi said indifferently, his hands clasped behind his back."It is truly fortunate for our Profound Nether Commerce Guild to receive the presence of a Nascent Soul Grand Cultivator. Senior, please proceed to the 'Cold Heaven Hall'!"
Huang San became even more respectful, leading the way.
Not long after, Fang Xi arrived at a grand hall.
The hall was naturally resplendent with gold and jade, and upon entering, he discovered that its interior formed its own pocket dimension.
The ceiling of the hall was a vast, boundless starry sky, and the hall itself was incredibly spacious, apparently having its space expanded through a formation array.
At this time, some impatient high-level cultivators had already set up their own stalls in the hall, selling many pills and spirit treasures.
"There are still seven days until the small auction. Senior may trade freely, as long as there is no forced buying or selling. If you have any questions, you may ask the silver-robed Xuan-rank attendants. . ."
Huang San bowed.
"Mm, your 'Profound Nether Commerce Guild' seems to be more than just a local force, isn't it?"
Fang Xi asked, his words carrying an underlying meaning.
"That goes without saying. Our guild has some standing at least within the Starry Sky Domain. . ."
Huang San introduced with a hint of pride, then bowed and withdrew.
"They conduct business even within the Starry Sky Domain. . . it seems they are another Void Amalgamation-level force. I hope they can bring me some surprises."
Fang Xi muttered, beginning to wander around.
...
The cultivators with stalls here all had decent cultivation levels, at least Core Formation and above, with a good number of Nascent Soul cultivators as well.
Fang Xi browsed around, getting a general sense of things.
Immediately, he stopped before a stall.
"Fellow Daoist, what on my stall has caught your eye?"
The stall owner was a red-robed burly man, his cultivation already at mid-stage Nascent Soul, with a black horn growing from his head, his aura quite fierce.
But upon sensing Fang Xi's late-stage Nascent Soul spiritual power fluctuations, his tone immediately became much milder.
"These few pieces of 'Demonfall Iron' are quite good. . . they must have been concocted over a long time from the burial ground of a large number of Demon Race members. . ."
Within the "Myriad Manifestations True Demon Arts," there were several secret arts and the refinement of sinister treasures that required the addition of this "Demonfall Iron."
Among them was the "Demonic Yin Thunder," which required the use of "Profound Nether Crystal"!
"Fellow Daoist has sharp eyes, this is the first time a cultivator has recognized the origin of these demon irons at a glance. . ."
The red-robed, black-horned cultivator smiled: "These 'Demonfall Iron' are common materials over in the Three Realms Mountain, but to find their way to our 'Starry Sky Domain', they are extremely rare. If Fellow Daoist wishes to have them, I can give an honest price. . ."
Fang Xi unhurriedly bargained and subtly inquired about the situation in the Three Realms Mountain.
The news he received was that everything was well; although there were small-scale skirmishes from time to time, no major war had broken out yet.
Hearing this news, his heart stirred.
Regardless of Fangxian Dao Lord or Bingxuanzi, they would all eventually appear on the "Welcoming Immortal Platform."
And each of them possessed Soul Transformation cultivation, by no means weak, so as long as they didn't encounter the three-race war, the probability of their demise was low.
"Wait. . . Fangxian Dao Lord likely hitched a ride on the ascension channel opened by that perfected Soul Transformation Demon Venerable, perhaps directly ascending to the Demon Race territory. . ."
"And that fifth-order Xuan Turtle had a miserable fate as well, borrowing the Human World's ascension platform, it must have arrived in my human race's controlled territory, which is probably quite troublesome. . ."
Fang Xi couldn't quite decide whether to feel regret or schadenfreude. He took out a supreme-grade spirit stone, purchased the "Demonfall Iron," and finding no other items to his liking, he quietly moved to a corner of the main hall, sat cross-legged, and closed his eyes to meditate.
Several days passed swiftly.
"Thank you all for gracing us with your presence. This one, Di Yi, will be presiding over this small auction. . ."
Fang Xi opened his eyes to see that a jade platform had appeared in the center of the hall at some point.
A Soul Transformation cultivator, wearing a ghost-head mask, stood in the middle of the jade platform, speaking some formal words.
"Without further ado, this auction will only accept bids in supreme-grade spirit stones or Immortal Jade. If there are rare materials, I can appraise them. . . Now for the first item up for bid – one 'Nascent Soul Condensing Pill', starting bid ten supreme-grade spirit stones!"
Fang Xi's eyes flickered as he looked at the displayed pill, a hint of surprise appearing on his face.
"I didn't expect. . . this Profound Nether Commerce Guild to be quite powerful. . ."
However, the Nascent Soul Condensing Pill was no longer useful to him. He watched a group of cultivators vie for it, finally seeing it sold for over twenty supreme-grade spirit stones.
"The second item up for bid, a Spirit Treasure – the Mountain-Suppressing Seal. . ."
Various treasures were presented one by one, creating a dazzling array that left one almost overwhelmed.
"Next up for auction is a bottle of venom, known as the profoundly strange 'Thousand Absolutes Poison'!"
Di Yi slowly raised a jade pot.
The jade pot was semi-transparent, and dimly visible within was a mass of purple viscous liquid, continuously manifesting the shapes of various venomous creatures.
"Thousand Absolutes Poison?"
An old crone leaning on a crutch exclaimed: "It is rumored to be a rare and peculiar poison capable of killing even Soul Transformation cultivators. . . It's just a pity. . ."
She shook her head, though it was unclear what she regretted.
Fang Xi, however, saw this peculiar poison and his eyes lit up.
Among the intelligence he had gathered, this "Thousand Absolutes Poison" was precisely one of the few poisons most effective at countering the "undying physique" of the yao race!
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