Chapter 670: Redemption (Bonus Chapter, Seeking Monthly Votes)
Chapter 670: Redemption (Bonus Chapter, Seeking Monthly Votes)
The Earthly Immortal World.
Three Realms Mountain.
This mountain was located at the border between the human, demon, and yao races, where major and minor battles erupted from time to time, yet treasures coveted by countless cultivators frequently appeared. As a result, high-stage cultivators here were significantly more numerous than in the other ninety-nine domains.
Furthermore, many human allied armies were routinely stationed here.
At this moment, within a military camp spanning over ten thousand li,
a majestic and boundless jade platform quietly stood.
This jade platform had nine layers, each surface intricately carved with countless exotic beasts, bird-script, and floral patterns. . .
It was the renowned 'Welcoming Immortal Platform'!
On this day,
the nine-layered jade platform suddenly rumbled, and array patterns lit up one by one.
The void shattered, transforming into a massive spatial rift.
Several figures, somewhat dishevelled, rushed out of the rift, appearing as one man and three women – none other than Fang Xi, Liu Xu, Yunxi Xianzi, and Xiao Qing.
'Compared to the 'All-Heavens Precious Mirror' which transports one with a single thought. . . this ascension platform's passage is truly. . . a trap! '
Fang Xi expressionlessly flicked a few spells onto himself, making his clothes spotlessly clean, and even found time to glance at the stowaways within his cave-heaven treasure, before silently complaining in his heart.
Ascending via the ascension platform still carried certain risks!
His ascension with the three women began peacefully enough, but then they encountered one mishap after another.
First, they encountered a group of strange, ferocious beasts roaming the primordial void, each possessing Soul Transformation cultivation and above, forcing the four of them into a desperate retreat.
Then, midway through their journey, they actually encountered another void storm!
Although it was just a small storm, the three women nearly perished. Had Fang Xi not intervened at the critical moment, unleashing a meticulously refined Phoenix-Seal Talisman, it's likely that, apart from Xiao Qing whose talent was unique and who might have barely escaped with her life, the other two would have completely fallen!
And after this small void storm, just as they were about to enter the Earthly Immortal World, the four of them actually encountered a large void storm that was forming! Terrified, they spared no expense, using various trump card secret arts to boost their speed in the primordial void, finally just barely managing to enter the Earthly Immortal World as the large void storm fully formed!
'As expected. . . Horned Dragon and Gui Shan are fine, after all, they are my spirit pets. . . And Red refining Demon Venerable is also fine, being a soul Transformation cultivator after all. '
Fang Xi's divine consciousness swept through his cave-heaven treasure, seeing that the few intelligent demonic beasts he had prepared beforehand, yet deliberately not contracted, had all turned to dust, causing him to fall silent.
Attempting to smuggle oneself into the Earthly Immortal World was not as simple as imagined. This, in turn, highlighted the immense power of the 'All-Heavens Precious Mirror' even more.
All heavens and myriad realms, traversable at will!
At this moment, the three women's faces were somewhat pale, seemingly not yet recovered from the after-effects of ascension. And as Fang Xi released his divine consciousness, he could already see dense ranks of black-armored soldiers beyond the nine-layered jade platform.
These soldiers were surprisingly all cultivators, most of them at the Core Formation stage, and Nascent Soul cultivators were not uncommon either. Their armor was even more exquisite, suggesting they were figures like squad leaders.
"Amitābha!"
Accompanying the Buddhist chant, a golden light appeared and swiftly moved across the ground, with golden petals floating all around. Fang Xi lightly pinched one of them, feeling that it contained a wealth of information, even including the languages and scripts of the Earthly Immortal World.
The three women's expressions also improved significantly. They each took a golden petal, instantly grasping several of the most common human languages and scripts of the Earthly Immortal World.
"This humble monk, Hua Yan, is ordered to guard the 'Welcoming Immortal Platform'. Greetings, fellow Daoists."
The golden light landed, revealing a bald monk, clad in moon-white monastic robes, holding a Vajra Zen Staff adorned with nine golden flood dragon patterns. His cultivation, surprisingly, had already reached the perfected Soul Transformation realm.
Yunxi Xianzi and the other women exchanged glances, finally looking at Fang Xi.
Fang Xi naturally stepped forward: "We merely met in the lower realm and, fearing the dangers of the primordial void, decided to ascend together. . . Master Hua Yan's Buddhist cultivation technique is truly exquisite, to be able to instantly make us understand the languages and scripts of the Earthly Immortal World. . ."
"This is merely a minor divine ability of our Buddhist sect, 'Transmission of Mind'. . . In the Earthly Immortal World, there are several kinds of talismans that can make an ordinary, ignorant person become immensely learned, which is no difficult feat."
Master Hua Yan smiled: "You all must be from the Azure Dragon Star Domain. This humble monk will not inquire further, but please cooperate by leaving your spiritual power imprint and receiving your identity tokens. . ."
"Azure Dragon Star Domain?"
Fang Xi was slightly surprised. He had thought that after ascending, they would automatically be identified as cultivators ascended from the Human World.
As if sensing his curiosity, Master Hua Yan explained: "If it were tens of thousands of years ago, when Long Qingzi was on duty at Three Realms Mountain, fellow Daoists would still need to confirm their origins from a minor realm, with a dedicated Welcoming Immortal Platform to lock it in. Many cultivators were dissatisfied with this. . . Later, when Five Elements Child took charge, he changed the rules, making them slightly more lenient. And for the past millennium, since our Buddhist sect's 'Jin Gangzi' took command, all ascendants are uniformly categorized by the four cardinal star domains, without the specific need to declare their minor realm of origin. . ."
"Long Qingzi? Jin Gangzi? Five Elements Child?"
Yunxi Xianzi seemed a little puzzled.
However, she had not heard of Long Qingzi's name before, merely feeling that these three must be great figures in the Earthly Immortal World.
"These three are all among the Human Race Five Sons. . . The Five Sons are positions that can only be held by the supreme cultivators of our human race, shouldering the destiny of the entire clan."
Hua Yan replied with a face full of envy and fanaticism.
He then took out an alms bowl, and with a gentle flick, Buddhist chants emerged: "You all have arrived at a fortunate time. Not many years have passed since the great war between the three races, and currently, there are only minor skirmishes, no major conflicts. . . Now, please infuse a trace of spiritual power into this alms bowl, so this humble monk can create your identity documents. . ."
"May I ask why this is necessary?"
Liu Xu inquired.
Of course, she was likely feigning ignorance, as with a Celestial Maiden's remnant soul, she was not entirely clueless about the Earthly Immortal World.
"Everyone. . . this ascension platform and Welcoming Immortal Platform, which allow even those whose Soul Transformation cultivation is not yet perfected to ascend to the Earthly Immortal World, require extremely rare materials and have bestowed upon you all the grace of paving your path to Dao. . . " Hua Yan earnestly said: "By using the ascension platform to ascend, you incur karma. . . If you do not wish for your Great Dao to be incomplete in the future, it would be best to settle this karma with us."
"Then, how does one settle it?"
Fang Xi asked.
"During the great war between the three races, any ascendants would have been unable to leave at all; they would have had to be drafted into the army and join the war against the demons and yao."
Hua Yan said: "Fortunately, there's no major war now, and the pressure on Three Realms Mountain isn't too great. If fellow Daoists do not wish to be drafted into the army, you only need to pay a certain 'fee'. . ."
Although this person appeared solemn and dignified, when he mentioned the 'fee', he carried a hint of an ineffable expression.
"It's reasonable to pay a reward for using the ascension platform, but how much is this 'fee'?"
Yunxi Xianzi asked.
She was, after all, an old ancestor of a sect in the lower realm, having plundered the East Sea Cultivation World for a thousand years, and then followed Fang Xi on his campaigns, truly accumulating a substantial family fortune.
"Easy, easy. . ."
Hua Yan, smiling, took out several jade slips and distributed them to the Soul Transformation cultivators present: "If any of you possess the spiritual items listed in these jade slips, one such item can grant you freedom. If calculated in supreme-grade spirit stones, around a thousand would suffice. . ."
"One thousand supreme-grade spirit stones? " Yunxi Xianzi exclaimed in surprise.
She had originally thought herself immensely wealthy, but now it seemed she was nothing at all. . .
Fang Xi paid it no mind. His divine consciousness entered the jade slip, and he saw the names of extremely rare spiritual items one by one:
Nine Serene Yellow Spring Crystal, Life-Death Flower, Blazing Profound Stone. . .
'So the lower realms produce so many rare spiritual items? '
A joyous thought arose in his heart, and he secretly committed them to memory.
For the Earthly Immortal World, descending to the lower realms was extremely difficult, so these spiritual items could only be sought by chance from ascending cultivators. But he was different!
Trade between these worlds was still feasible!
And at the end of the jade slip, Fang Xi, as expected, saw the name 'Solar Gold Essence'.
'This redemption fee is frighteningly high. . . It seems they simply don't want to let these ascending cultivators go. '
"These spiritual items are all extremely rare; I'm afraid I cannot afford them."
Fang Xi returned the jade slip and sighed.
"Fellow Daoist, there's no need to be discouraged. Join our 'Celestial Brahma Army', and you can regain your freedom after just one thousand years."
Hua Yan smiled.
Fang Xi feigned helplessness and infused a trace of spiritual power into the alms bowl. The alms bowl rumbled, and before long, a golden leaf flew out. Upon the golden leaf were densely packed ancient seal characters.
"May I ask for fellow Daoist's esteemed name?"
"Fang Xi!"
Fang Xi frankly stated his true name. Truth be told, he often interacted with others using aliases such as Dragon Fish Island Master, Yun Jizi, or Qing Hezi; his real name rarely appeared. Even cultivators from the lower realms, unless they were particularly close to him, might not know it.
"So it's Fellow Daoist Fang. . ."
Hua Yan bowed and handed the golden leaf to Fang Xi: "This is proof of your rank as a 'Captain' in our army. Please keep it well."
He then looked at Liu Xu and the others. Yunxi Xianzi and Liu Xu each stepped forward, infused spiritual power, and obtained the same 'Captain' rank.
When it was Xiao Qing's turn, the moment she infused a trace of spiritual power, the alms bowl rumbled.
A golden light flashed, revealing the phantom form of a majestic Green Fire Luan within.
"A fifth-stage yao? !"
Hua Yan's eyes widened. Around the Welcoming Immortal Platform, countless cultivators chanted Buddhist names.
In the void, a gigantic golden swastika symbol suddenly appeared, pressing down directly.
Even though Xiao Qing was a Soul Transformation yao cultivator, facing this golden swastika, she clearly struggled immensely: "Master. . ."
"This bird is my spirit beast. May I ask what the issue is?"
Fang Xi immediately stepped forward and said.
"A spirit beast?"
Hua Yan's expression softened slightly: "After all, our human race is at odds with the yao and demon races. While many cultivators do have contracted spirit beasts, there was one instance where a fifth-stage Profound Tortoise followed a human cultivator who ascended. Somehow, it ended up on our side, causing a great deal of trouble. Only afterwards did we learn that it was actually a wild Soul Transformation yao cultivator. . . Since then, our scrutiny has become inevitably more cautious."
He formed a hand seal, and a spell descended upon Xiao Qing.
Immediately, a blood mark appeared on Xiao Qing's forehead.
"Indeed, it is a spirit beast bound by a cultivator's blood contract. . . However, even though this yao possesses Soul Transformation cultivation, it cannot be granted the rank of Captain in the Celestial Brahma Army; it can only be registered as fellow Daoist's mount. . ."
Hua Yan explained with a smile.
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