Chapter 611: Congratulatory Gift (Bonus Chapter, Please Subscribe! )
Chapter 611: Congratulatory Gift (Bonus Chapter, Please Subscribe! )
Night fell.
The matter of Sangqing Peak's Soul Transformation heavenly phenomenon immediately became the most sensational topic of conversation throughout the entire Kungsang Market.
Many cultivators were incredibly excited, eagerly discussing Qing Hezi's exploits.
After all, his success, along with that of the Wang Family Ancestor, showed them the hope of breaking through to higher realms!
However, they soon discovered that they knew almost nothing about that 'Qing Hezi,' only that he was a senior who enjoyed good food, was also skilled in formations, and secretly acquired some Profound Nether Abyss spirit items. . .
Furthermore, many cultivators prostrated themselves, three steps a bow, five steps a kowtow, heading towards Sangqing Peak, hoping to become disciples of this Soul Transformation patriarch and soar to great heights from then on.
There were also many who wanted to send gifts, or even cauldron maidens. . . to establish connections.
Alas, they eventually found that Sangqing Peak's formation remained tightly sealed, and even Nascent Soul cultivators personally sending invitation cards found it difficult to gain an audience, leaving them utterly helpless. . .
Fang Xi first took a sip of spirit tea, then unhurriedly drew out one invitation card from a pile.
'Xiyi Sanren of Wuping Mountain? '
Looking at the name on the invitation card, Fang Xi recalled.
This person was a Nascent Soul rogue cultivator who occupied Wuping Mountain and had some renown in Kungsang Market.
However. . .
What caught his attention was not Xiyi Sanren's cultivation, but rather something hidden within this invitation card.
Buzz!
Fang Xi flicked his sleeve, and a streak of demonic light flew out, enveloping the invitation card.
The next instant!
The invitation card spontaneously combusted without wind, revealing dense patterns of formations within it—it was actually a talisman!
"This talisman's craftsmanship is very high. . . and it secretly contains a trace of Soul Transformation divine consciousness. . ."
"So secretive, it's eighty percent related to the Black Water Sect. . . That Xiyi Sanren, it seems, is a hidden lineage successor of the Black Water Sect. . ."
As Fang Xi pondered, he saw wisps of water vapor emerge, drawing upon the surrounding water spiritual energy to form a water mirror.
Within the water mirror, a human figure appeared.
This person had pale skin, was clad in black robes, appeared to be in his thirties, and had a dark water-mark imprint on his brow.
Fang Xi recognized the person's appearance; it was precisely the Black Water Sect's Soul Transformation patriarch mentioned in various jade slips—Black Mǐao Venerable.
"Congratulations, fellow Daoist, on successfully achieving Soul Transformation!"
Black Mǐao Venerable in the water mirror bowed, a very amiable smile on his face: "However, does fellow Daoist know. . . that great disaster is already upon you! ?"
"..."
Fang Xi didn't respond, his heart utterly unmoved, even feeling a slight urge to laugh.
Since ancient times, be it swindlers, lobbyists, or strategists. . . they all seem to favor this tactic of making the first move, and without mentioning at least ten or eight bloody disasters or imminent calamities, they'd be too embarrassed to even greet someone.
Seeing Fang Xi's unhurried manner, as he brewed himself another cup of spirit tea and slowly savored it, Black Mǐao Venerable felt a slight awkwardness in his heart, but still spoke of his own accord: "Does fellow Daoist know why my Black Water Sect was annihilated? That Dragon Taming Sect is truly not good people. . . The so-called 'shortage of offerings' was just an excuse; they have consistently been harvesting the Soul Transformation forces within their jurisdiction, feeding our Nascent Souls to that wicked flood dragon!"
A cultivator's Nascent Soul is an unparalleled delicacy for demon beasts, and can also greatly increase their cultivation.
If it's like this for Nascent Soul cultivators, the effect is naturally even better for Soul Transformation cultivators.
If that Return to Void flood dragon frequently consumed cultivators' Nascent Souls, it might even have hope of advancing to the Void Amalgamation realm in the future!
Fang Xi's heart stirred, and then he smiled: "I'd like to hear the details. . ."
"Before my Black Water Sect, the ones ruling this place were the 'Qingping Sect,' and before the 'Qingping Sect,' it was the 'Three Waters Gang'. . . The downfall of all these forces shared a common point—they prospered for a period, and then repeatedly produced Soul Transformation cultivators within their ranks!"
Black Mǐao Venerable said through gritted teeth: "We, from Sunset Plain, Profound Nether Abyss, White Bone Mountain. . . any Soul Transformation force under the Dragon Taming Sect's rule, without exception, are regarded as regularly harvested blood food, taken to feed those wicked flood dragons. . . As far as I know, by relying on such methods, the Dragon Taming Sect has already successively cultivated several fifth-stage flood dragons of the Soul Transformation level! Fellow Daoist has now achieved Soul Transformation, and is about to enter the Dragon Taming Sect's sight, isn't this a great disaster looming over you?"
"So that's how it is. . ."
Upon hearing this, Fang Xi seemed lost in thought.
He felt that given the temperament of cultivators, it was indeed highly possible for them to do such a thing.
If the Soul Transformation sects below them became too strong, it would affect the Dragon Taming Sect's rule. Regularly harvesting Soul Transformation sects not only eliminated hidden dangers but also increased the sect's own foundation. . . Only a fool wouldn't do such a thing!
'No wonder the "True Blood Pill" felt a bit strange to me; it seems it was meant for flood dragons, not for humans. . . '
'It's just that, in this way, the Dragon Taming Sect's demon beasts seem to have become a bit too strong, and they might easily turn the tables on their masters. . . '
Black Mǐao Venerable, seeing Fang Xi leisurely sipping tea, couldn't help but admire his composure: "Fellow Daoist seems to have everything under control?"
"Not at all. . ."
Fang Xi gently set down his teacup: "It's just that the Dragon Taming Sect has only just finished harvesting the Black Water Sect, so they might not immediately launch another major campaign. . . Furthermore, I have no intention of establishing a sect or a family. When that time truly comes, I can simply leave; wouldn't that be splendid?"
Black Mǐao Venerable was speechless for a long moment before uttering: "Fellow Daoist is truly unfettered, enviable indeed!"
"We cultivators shouldn't bother with such empty talk. If you wish to win me over, I must see what intentions you truly hold?"
"It's not about winning you over. My Black Water Sect has already decided to relocate outside the Dragon Taming Sect's sphere of influence; only this old man is reluctant to leave his homeland. . ."
'I think he just can't let go of his hatred, can he? '
Fang Xi muttered to himself.
"Our two families helping each other is absolutely a mutually beneficial matter, setting aside everything else. . . Fellow Daoist has just advanced to Soul Transformation, and surely has many unanswered questions about cultivating in this realm. My Black Water Sect, after all, has been passed down for countless generations and possesses a large number of handwritten notes and experience journals left by Soul Transformation patriarchs, which will undoubtedly be of great help to fellow Daoist's cultivation. Besides that, there are also spirit pills suitable for Soul Transformation cultivators to enhance their magical power. . . " Black Mǐao Venerable said earnestly.
In his view, this was indeed a win-win situation.
"Do you have any fifth-stage Numinous Treasures?"
Fang Xi saw that Black Mǐao Venerable was promising only things that were beneficial but required no effort, so he couldn't help but ask.
Black Mǐao Venerable was silent for a moment, then spoke again: "This sect only has one Numinous Treasure, and it has always been personally safeguarded by the Grand Elder. . ."
"Sigh. . . I never thought that Soul Transformation cultivators in the Earthly Immortal World would all be this poor! ?"
Fang Xi was speechless for a moment upon hearing this, then said: "Such furtive behavior does not convey the intention of forming an alliance. I can simply pretend I've never met fellow Daoist. . ."
He waved his hand, and a demonic flame appeared, landing on the mirror's surface.
Hiss!
The inky black demonic flame swiftly spread, covering the water mirror.
In less than a moment, the water mirror turned into a wisp of green smoke and dissipated.
"Sigh. . . These factions are all too stingy. They don't even offer a single fifth-stage Numinous Treasure, yet they expect me to risk my life for them. . ."
Of course, he also knew that even for those Soul Transformation sects, any treasures they possessed would naturally be reserved for their own Soul Transformation cultivators.
What kind of sense does it make to give them to outsiders?
The cost of winning him over would be too heavy.
However, this was precisely what he wanted.
He had never intended to ally with the Black Water Sect in the first place.
When choosing allies, one naturally chooses the strong!
Without a doubt, in this region, the Dragon Taming Sect was the strongest!
Perhaps there was a primeval desolate beast in the Profound Nether Abyss comparable to a Return to Void cultivator—the giant Kun—but since it didn't come ashore, nor even into the shallow seas, it wasn't really anything to worry about.
The strong preying on the weak was also a matter of course!
...
One month later.
Two streaks of light appeared above Sangqing Peak, both figures looking exceptionally solemn as they gazed at the dark grand array below.
One of them wore yellow robes, impeccably dressed, appearing middle-aged with slightly frosted temples; in his youth, he must have been a handsome man.
The other person was short in stature, wearing a tattered hemp robe, with half-black, half-white beard and hair, and hands like chicken claws, resembling an unremarkable old beggar.
"Fellow Daoist Qin Longzi. . ."
The middle-aged cultivator in yellow robes cupped his fists: "This is the place. . ."
"Indeed, it's a fifth-stage formation. . . That Qing Hezi has quite a few tricks up his sleeve. " The old beggar, who knows where he pulled out a chicken butt from, gnawed on it with lingering delight, occasionally taking sips of wine from the broken gourd at his waist, truly acting as he pleased, unrestrained and carefree.
The Wang Family Ancestor did not dare to neglect this Qin Longzi in the slightest.
Because the other party was from the Dragon Taming Sect, and although his cultivation was similar to his own, both being at the early Soul Transformation stage, Dragon Taming Sect cultivators were renowned for their beast-taming techniques. As a Soul Transformation cultivator within that sect, he might very well be controlling a fifth-stage demon beast!
If they were to truly fight, the Wang Family Ancestor would definitely not be his opponent—not to mention that the other party also represented a major sect!
"When I first learned of this news, I was also very surprised and had to hastily end my seclusion to come and see this cultivation prodigy."
Although the Wang Family Ancestor expressed immense admiration in his words, Qin Longzi merely smiled faintly, saying nothing more.
Not long after, the grand array parted to reveal a passage. Fang Xi, clad in black robes, stood at the entrance of the passage, cupping his fists in greeting: "Greetings, fellow Daoists. Please come in for tea. . ."
The Wang Family Ancestor and Qin Longzi exchanged a glance, then transformed into two streaks of light and entered the inky black formation.
Both were Soul Transformation cultivators, each holding extraordinary trump cards, and fundamentally did not believe Fang Xi could do anything to them.
Moreover, the Dragon Taming Sect stood behind them!
"Is this still Sangqing Peak?"
Immediately upon entering the formation, the Wang Family Ancestor saw the Ancestral Demonic Tree planted next to Sangqing Peak, its crown now already exceeding the peak's summit.
"This tree is not simple. . ."
Qin Longzi gazed at the tree, muttering to himself.
"This is a Heavenly Earth Spiritual Root that I transplanted; it conveniently serves as the eye of this formation. . ."
A black-robed figure walked over, his shoulders sharply defined as if carved by a knife, his brows filled with a cold demeanor: "May I ask what brings you two fellow Daoists here?"
"Hehe, congratulations, fellow Daoist Qing Hezi, on advancing to Soul Transformation. We specially came to offer our felicitations."
The Wang Family Ancestor smiled faintly and opened a brocade box: "This is a ten-thousand-year spirit herb—'Cloud Cotton Ginseng'—a small token of goodwill from my Wang family."
"This old man has nothing of value. . ."
Qin Longzi rummaged around in his robes, left and right, finally pulling out a bone from who knows where: "My Dragon Taming Sect also congratulates fellow Daoist on your joyous advancement to Soul Transformation, and specially presents this bone as a congratulatory gift!"
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