Chapter 651: Refusal (For the Alliance Leader, Night of Spasms)
Chapter 651: Refusal (For the Alliance Leader, Night of Spasms)
Inside the thatched hut.
Fang Xi was cultivating cross-legged when his expression suddenly shifted.
He flicked his finger lightly, and amidst a flash of emerald green light, a verdant vine emerged, curling a sound transmission talisman in from outside.
“Zhui Yue Chan Master. . . what important matter could there be at this time? Could it be related to those three late-stage Nascent Soul cultivators who frequently visit the island? ”
Fang Xi muttered softly.
Although he was wholeheartedly dedicated to secluded cultivation, he had also set up eyes and ears outside to avoid being sold out by Zhui Yue without his knowledge. . .
At this moment, he naturally knew that Zhui Yue Chan Master had not been very peaceful lately.
He pondered for a moment, and a token appeared in his hand. He gave it a slight shake.
Seeing this, Zhui Yue Chan Master's face showed neither sorrow nor joy. She loudly proclaimed a Buddhist mantra and walked inside.
Fang Xi occasionally joined Zhui Yue Chan Master for tea and discussions on the Dao, and thus, the two gradually became familiar with each other.
When Zhui Yue Chan Master arrived in the reception hall, she saw a youth, gentle as jade and evergreen as a pine, slowly brewing tea. “Chan Master has arrived at just the right time. This ‘Clear Spirit Water’ was only recently collected by myself from atop the Nine Heavens Astral Winds. It’s perfect for brewing tea. ”
Fang Xi smiled faintly, holding a sky-blue glazed teacup.
“To think it’s Clear Spirit Water from the Nine Heavens. . . It seems this humble nun is blessed with good fortune today. ”
Zhui Yue Chan Master sat down with natural grace, continuously twirling a string of Buddhist beads in her hand.
Fang Xi couldn't help but glance sideways. It wasn’t the first time he had seen this string of Buddhist beads carved from ten-thousand-year Soul Nurturing Wood, but he still felt a touch of covetousness.
Soul Nurturing Wood inherently possessed the effect of nourishing the soul, and after ten thousand years, its efficacy saw an incredible increase.
If a cultivator wore it for an extended period, it would be of great benefit to cultivating Divine Consciousness.
And for ghost cultivators, it would be an unsurpassed treasure.
Moreover, the string of beads in Zhui Yue Chan Master’s hand was also a Buddhist artifact, highly effective in dispelling inner demons and calming the mind.
‘This Minghuan World also has quite a few rare specialties. Once my divine ability is perfected, I should go scour. . . no, rather, find kind-hearted individuals in this world to properly exchange for some. ’
Resources in the lower realms were scarce; all the truly good things were in the hands of those high-stage cultivators.
If Fang Xi wanted to obtain the truly top-tier spiritual items of this world, seeking out those Divine Transformation cultivators would certainly be the way to go!
Zhui Yue Chan Master had no idea that Fang Xi’s mind was occupied with such thoughts. She merely chatted about everything under the sun with him and discussed their cultivation insights.
Each time she listened to Fang Xi recount his cultivation experiences, she gained considerable understanding, and her own knowledge was not without merit either.
The two conversed most pleasantly when suddenly, Zhui Yue Chan Master sighed, a trace of sorrow appearing on her face.
Fang Xi took another sip of spirit tea, pretending not to notice.
After all, although he had borrowed the spirit vein for cultivation, he had also paid the rent in Dharma Body Pills; it could be said they owed each other nothing.
If this woman thought she could use this to threaten him, she was sorely mistaken.
It was merely a spiritual land; there were plenty in the world. With his current cultivation, where couldn’t he go?
Seeing this, Zhui Yue Chan Master's expression grew even more bitter, yet she brazenly muttered to herself, “It is not easy for us rogue cultivators to cultivate. After finally seizing a spirit vein, several mystic realm spirit mines. . . we are coveted by both the righteous and demonic factions. If this humble nun didn’t have some standing and friends in the Buddhist sect, I fear even Guang Lei Temple would intervene. . . ”
“Oh? What matter is this? ”
Since the other party had no shame, Fang Xi might as well listen.
“The Primordial Demon Sect has challenged my Free and Unfettered Alliance to a battle, to decide the ownership of several top-tier ore veins, that much is fine. . . but the Taiqing Sect is taking advantage of the situation, wanting to renegotiate the location of the Grand Auction. . . one must know, this is Li Gou Immortal City’s greatest source of wealth. . . ”
The Minghuan World held a full-world auction once every hundred years. Fang Xi had long heard of it and yearned for it.
“Old Ghost Min of the Taiqing Sect is a late-stage Divine Transformation cultivator; this humble nun is absolutely no match. . . If they succeed this time, I fear they will push their luck, and even the immortal city’s spirit vein will not be safe! ”
Zhui Yue Chan Master twirled her Buddhist beads, sighing as she spoke.
She knew what Yun Jizi cared about most, treating it as prescribing the right medicine for the illness.
However, she hadn’t expected Fang Xi’s expression to remain unhurried. “That is truly regrettable. . . Perhaps I shall have to seek another place of cultivation. ”
To make an enemy of a late-stage Divine Transformation cultivator for a temporary cave-heaven? Fang Xi wasn’t that foolish!
Moreover, with Zhui Yue Chan Master here, many cultivators would still have to show some respect.
At the very least, before this woman passed away, Li Gou Immortal City would be as stable as Mount Tai. At most, life would just be a bit tighter.
For Fang Xi, as long as the five-stage spirit vein wasn’t lost, it wasn’t a big deal.
Seeing this, Zhui Yue Chan Master had, in fact, anticipated it.
After all, Yun Jizi was originally a person dedicated to ascetic cultivation; how could he possibly make an enemy of a fellow Daoist for this?
Pondering to herself, even Zhui Yue Chan Master herself would absolutely not do such a thing.
She gave a wry smile and placed the Buddhist beads in her hand onto the table.
The ten-thousand-year Soul Nurturing Wood was entirely dark, yet its surface was engraved with countless Sanskrit runes, each one shimmering with golden light, appearing exceedingly extraordinary.
“This string of Buddhist beads is the most precious item this humble nun possesses, apart from my life-bound Buddhist treasure. . . I wish to present it to fellow Daoist! ”
Zhui Yue Chan Master clasped her hands together in a Buddhist salute.
“Chan Master is truly too courteous. . . ”
Fang Xi picked up the Buddhist beads and toyed with them in his hand, feeling strands of sandalwood fragrance lingering, and his mind seemed to become much more peaceful.
Not only that, within his Sea of Consciousness, a cool sensation seemed to appear.
Although this point was negligible for him, whose Divine Consciousness was now incomparably powerful, accumulated over time, it would still be a considerable amount.
But after toying with them for a moment, Fang Xi placed the Buddhist beads back.
Under Zhui Yue Chan Master’s surprised gaze, he calmly replied, “Chan Master’s proposal truly moves my heart, but I am currently cultivating a secret art and genuinely cannot spare the time. . . Therefore, I can only apologize. ”“Fellow Daoist’s Dao heart is firm; this humble nun admires it. ”
With words having reached this point, Zhui Yue Chan Master could think of no other way. She could only pick up her string of Buddhist beads and gracefully depart.
After leaving the cave-heaven, she gazed at the sky full of radiant mist, momentarily lost in thought. . .
......
Inside the cave-heaven.
Fang Xi watched the direction Zhui Yue Chan Master had departed, remaining silent.
He was not greedy, nor did he feel that he should possess all the good things in the cultivation world.
One should be content with what one has.
Therefore, though he greatly liked that string of Buddhist beads, he wouldn’t go so far as to take what others cherished.
‘The crucial point is that this matter is slightly troublesome. . . against a late-stage Divine Transformation cultivator, without using the Withered Glory Mystic Light and a few major divine abilities, winning would still require some effort. And even if I win, I would enter the Taiqing Sect’s sights, leading to a series of subsequent troubles. . . Am I to exterminate the entire Taiqing Sect for such a minor matter? ’
‘Currently, the ‘Supreme Pole Star Life-Ending Divine Light’ is at a critical juncture. Once I master it, there will surely be celestial phenomena, and it’s not advisable to invite extraneous troubles. . . ’
Fang Xi thought to himself, then once again entered his daily cultivation state. . .
......
Several years swiftly passed.
On this day.
A spirit vessel, entirely azure and seemingly crafted from jade, rumbled to a halt outside Li Gou Immortal City.
“That’s. . . ”
Inside Li Gou Immortal City, a cultivator looked up, gazing at that spirit vessel, and suddenly felt his body tremble. “It’s the Taiqing Sect’s ‘Taiqing Divine Thunder Vessel’! Rumor has it this vessel condenses three hundred and sixty-five ‘Taiqing Divine Thunders’, each capable of severely injuring a Nascent Soul cultivator. If a hundred thunders strike at once, even a Divine Transformation cultivator must temporarily avoid its edge. . . ”
“Why has the Taiqing Sect deployed this vessel? Could an important figure have arrived, or are they planning to annihilate Li Gou Immortal City? ”
At this thought, many decisive cultivators immediately transformed into streaks of escape light, abandoning their stalls, shops, and even Daoist companions and disciples, as multi-colored escape lights scattered across the sky.
“Amitābha! ”
Suddenly, a female voice resounded through heaven and earth, carrying the power to soothe hearts. “Everyone, there is no need to panic. . . The fellow Daoists from the Taiqing Sect are merely here for a routine visit. ”
With a flash of her Heart Light Escape Art, Zhui Yue Chan Master appeared atop the city gate tower, her expression solemn.
“Hahaha. . . Zhui Yue Chan Master, it’s been many years. How have you been? ”
On the deck of the Taiqing Divine Thunder Vessel, an old man in Daoist robes appeared. His face was gaunt, his hair half black and half white, fastened with an ebony hairpin, making him appear quite unrestrained.
“Fellow Daoist Min. . . ”
Three Nascent Soul cultivators flew to Zhui Yue Chan Master’s side, gazing at the thunder vessel in mid-air. “For a mere battle, why deploy this spirit vessel? ”
“Haha, I heard that Chan Master nearly won her battle against the Primordial Demon Sect earlier; though defeated, it was still a glorious defeat. This old man dares not be careless. ”
Old Ghost Min chuckled strangely, and several more Nascent Soul cultivators from the Taiqing Sect stepped out behind him. “I trust Chan Master will not refuse this old man’s good intentions. . . ”
“Hmph, while a battle is acceptable, how it is fought must be decided by this humble nun. ”
Zhui Yue Chan Master clasped her hands together. “Our confrontation would involve too wide an area and harm the natural harmony. . . How about we let Nascent Soul cultivators make their moves instead, a best two out of three, what do you say? ”
“Good. ”
Old Ghost Min looked at a female Nascent Soul cultivator with a long sword on her back, and a faint smile suddenly appeared on his face. . .
......
Of all this, Fang Xi was completely unaware.
He was currently in secluded cultivation, having trained the ‘Supreme Pole Star Life-Ending Divine Light’ to a critical stage.
He was merely a hair’s breadth away from mastering it.
“Go! ”
Fang Xi formed hand seals, and countless purple dragon-script runes appeared around him. These runes, surrounding the spectral image of the Demonic Tree, rushed forth to merge into it.
The Demonic Tree let out a roar, its canopy trembling, and brushed out a strange mystic light.
At this moment, he flicked his ten fingers in rapid succession and shouted, “Go! ”
The Life and Death Seal flew out, and dragon-script runes appeared one after another on its base.
This time, it was clearly branded upon the Withered Glory Mystic Light, becoming ever new with the passage of time, causing the Withered Glory Mystic Light to shimmer with a strange purple hue.
Whoosh!
Fang Xi’s Divine Consciousness instantly plunged into emptiness, and his ‘Eternal Evergreen Body’ within him suddenly erupted.
His entire body seemed to transform into a jade-green emerald, with threads of golden light emerging.
Innumerable golden threads continuously rose, merging into the mystic light.
“So that’s how it is. . . ”
Fang Xi laughed heartily, knowing in his heart that he had successfully mastered this great divine ability!
And at the very moment of his success!
Rip!
Above Li Gou Immortal City, the spiritual energy of heaven and earth fluctuated for ten thousand li, and dark clouds gathered, and a drizzling heavy rain began to fall!
Those raindrops, astonishingly, carried a hint of crimson!
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