Chapter 682: Congratulations (A tribute to the wise and brave Alliance Master Ling Sanjun)
Chapter 682: Congratulations (A tribute to the wise and brave Alliance Master Ling Sanjun)
The lake island cave abode.
"You blockhead, what are you afraid of?"
Fang Xi swept his Divine Consciousness and saw the little black tortoise playing dead, causing him to laugh and scold it playfully.
Only then did the little black tortoise poke its head out from the bottom of the lake, shrinking to the size of a palm, and landing behind his pant leg.
It blinked its big, watery eyes, watching two spheres of light descend.
Within the spheres of light, astonishingly, were two Return to Void cultivators!
One of them had a large head with only a sparse ring of white hair—it was precisely Chi Old Ghost.
The other had a cold, stern expression, bearing a long sword on his back, seemingly a sword cultivator.
Chi Old Ghost was the first to cup his hands and bow in greeting: "This one is Chi Songzi. Fellow Daoist Guang Qianjian and I are both elders of the Moonlight Immortal City's Elder Council. Congratulations, Fellow Daoist Wang, on breaking through to the Return to Void realm and becoming one of our peers!"
Guang Qianjian likewise offered an ancient salute.
Fang Xi's gaze was instantly drawn to the ancient, unadorned sword on the man's back.
The sword's design was archaic and unrefined, and though it remained in its scabbard, there was a hidden, yet potent, sword intent that made Fang Xi feel a secret chill of awe.
'That ought to be a sixth-rank sword artifact. . . '
He made a judgment in his heart.
Seeing this, Chi Songzi smiled and said: "Fellow Daoist Guang is a sword cultivator. He regards this 'Thousand Thunder Sword' as his very life; once it is unsheathed, its sword light is truly dazzling beyond compare. . ."
"So Fellow Daoist is indeed a sword cultivator. My sincerest apologies for the oversight!"
Fang Xi said a few polite words with a smile.
Sword cultivators have always been renowned for their sharp and incisive attacks among cultivators of the same realm. A Return to Void sword cultivator could truly sweep across the Earthly Immortal World.
But for him, it was merely 'so-so'.
Although he wasn't a pure sword cultivator, with a single swing of the Fifth Generation Qing He Sword, even peerless sword cultivators and 'sword scions' would all turn to ash. . .
'Hmm, after reaching the Return to Void realm, I should just barely be able to wield that fragmented Immortal Abode Rare Treasure sword. . . '
'It seems that, even without using the 'Supreme Pole Star Life-Ending Divine Light', my combat power among Return to Void cultivators is quite extraordinary. . . '
Fang Xi secretly calculated and drew a conclusion.
If he didn't care about exhausting his primordial qi, dealing with Chi Songzi and Guang Qianjian would be a matter of a single sword strike for him. . .
If he were to use the 'Supreme Pole Star Life-Ending Divine Light', he might be able to slaughter all the Return to Void cultivators in Moonlight Immortal City by himself!
After all, having broken through to a major realm, he and Return to Void cultivators were now on the same level. Using this great divine ability would not only have no backlash but would also gain a bonus!
In other words, against Return to Void cultivators, he could now lop off ten years of their lifespan for every year.
Only when facing Void Amalgamation cultivators would it take ten years to chip away about one year of their lifespan. . .
And once he advanced this great divine ability to the minor accomplishment stage, it might become three years of lifespan, able to lop off one year from a Void Amalgamation cultivator!
With this confidence, Fang Xi's demeanor when interacting with others was calm and natural. He invited the two Return to Void cultivators into his cave abode for tea.
Chi Songzi followed Fang Xi into the cave abode, secretly feeling surprised.
Recalling his own cautiousness when he had just advanced, facing fellow cultivators of the same realm, he couldn't help but feel that this 'Wang Family Ancestor' possessed a truly grand demeanor, as if he had experienced many major events.
"This 'Five-Colored Cloud Tip' was obtained by chance; its taste is quite good, please!"
Fang Xi raised his teacup.
Inside his teacup, five-colored tea leaves formed like clouds and mist, taking the shape of pines and cypresses.
Upon entering the mouth, the spirit tea released a cool sensation that flowed down his throat, truly excellent.
"Many thanks. . ."
After Chi Songzi and Guang Qianjian thanked him and sampled the tea, they began discussing some important considerations after reaching Return to Void.
Fang Xi had, after all, just broken through. Listening to these experiences for solidifying his early Return to Void realm was quite beneficial. Understanding that the other party was intentionally offering guidance and currying favor, he quickly expressed his thanks.
He also shared some of his own cultivation insights and experiences, which caused Chi Songzi to nod slightly.
"After a sword cultivator's sword qi becomes like silk, the next step is to purify the sword qi and sword intent, eventually reaching a state where nothing cannot be cut. . . one sword breaking all laws!"
Guang Qianjian also spoke of his own cultivation insights.
Although he was a sword cultivator and his path differed from the other two, Fang Xi still listened with great interest.
"My lifelong ambition is to enter the Sword Domain and challenge the Sword Pavilion with my blade!"
Guang Qianjian finally stated his ambition.
"The Sword Domain. . ."
Fang Xi felt a wave of emotion. This was also one of the human race's ninety-nine domains, truly a holy land for sword cultivators.
The Sword Pavilion was moreover the largest Void Amalgamation sect within the Sword Domain, with even Void Amalgamation-level sword cultivators among its members.
It was said that it once produced one of the Human Race Five Sons, who dominated with his sword.
It was just that after that mighty expert passed away, the Sword Pavilion had slightly declined.
"I once heard that the Sword Pavilion previously accepted a disciple who, upon joining, caused the Sword Pavilion's guardian sword to roar. . . That was an Immortal Abode Rare Treasure level sword, though incomplete, it was still extraordinary. . . The sect master of that generation, wielding this very sword, became one of the Human Race Five Sons, and during his tenure, he completely overshadowed the other four, reigning supreme for tens of thousands of years!"
Fang Xi said, filled with emotion.
"Precisely! That 'Sword Bearer' is my greatest goal in this life. . . " Intense battle intent erupted in Guang Qianjian's eyes.
Seeing this, Fang Xi secretly shook his head.
While the unyielding nature of sword cultivators was good, their battle-crazed, berserker-like style was truly not his cup of tea.
Therefore, although his sword dao realm was quite decent, he had never dedicated himself to its deep study.
Or rather, his sword techniques were full of 'technology and ruthlessness,' brimming with an artisan's feel. They clearly wouldn't make Guang Qianjian look at him differently, so there was no need to bring them out and make a fool of himself.
"Speaking of geniuses, that disciple with the 'Starry Sky Sacred Body' from the Starry Sky Sect in this domain is quite good, too, isn't he? He's probably reached Divine Transformation by now?"
Chi Songzi sighed deeply: "What's even more admirable is that this person excels at nurturing an invincible aura. When pushing for breakthroughs, he barely needs any rare spirit medicines as aid. . . Cultivators like him are said to have a much easier time breaking through major realms than we do."
Fang Xi smiled faintly, knowing that this person was probing the origins of his Return to Void breakthrough. He said: "This old man doesn't have such good fortune; breaking through major realms absolutely requires auxiliary items. . . This time, I got lucky. I found that evil dragon from the Dragon Taming Sect in the Xuanming Abyss, killed it, and obtained its treasures, barely managing to break through the Return to Void bottleneck. . ."
Although he had altered the appearance of the Hunyuan Heavenly Luo Umbrella, he had taken it out and used it when facing the great heavenly tribulation. It had long since fallen into the sight of Moonlight Immortal City. Such lightning-transforming treasures were incredibly rare, so a little speculation would reveal its origin.
And the Wang Family Ancestor originated from the Xuanming Abyss, a local 'snake' (local bigwig). Discovering a heavily injured evil dragon and killing it to obtain the Dragon Taming Sect's ten-thousand-year accumulation, though somewhat difficult, was not incomprehensible—in the cultivation world, there were far more valuable and even more preposterous fortuitous opportunities out there. . .
Having obtained the Dragon Taming Sect's ten-thousand-year accumulation and the 'Hunyuan Heavenly Luo Umbrella', it was no longer impossible for the Wang Family Ancestor to break through to Return to Void.
As for any subsequent covetousness?
As a Return to Void cultivator, he already possessed the ability to protect these riches, which was why Fang Xi wasn't afraid of exposure.
After all, the most crucial 'Hunyuan Heavenly Luo Umbrella' was merely a sixth-rank treasure, utterly useless against a Void Amalgamation tribulation, and thus wouldn't attract the attention of Void Amalgamation cultivators.
And Return to Void cultivators?
Even mighty experts at the peak of Return to Void, Fang Xi would only regard as people coming to deliver treasures and immortal jade!
"So Fellow Daoist actually obtained the Dragon Taming Sect's hidden treasures. . . No wonder your cultivation advanced by leaps and bounds."
Chi Songzi and Guang Qianjian exchanged a glance, both half-believing, half-doubting.
The man smiled faintly and took out a gift box: "I represent Moonlight Immortal City in congratulating Fellow Daoist on your joyous breakthrough to Return to Void. I wonder if Fellow Daoist might be interested in joining the 'Elder Council'?"
This was a direct attempt at recruitment.
The Wang Family Ancestor, after all, had a clean background and was a Return to Void cultivator; he was absolutely worth recruiting.
"This. . ."
Fang Xi hesitated for a moment.
"Moonlight Immortal City has only fellow Return to Void cultivators; we address each other as Fellow Daoists, and there is absolutely no oppression. Furthermore, if Fellow Daoist agrees, you can even move the Wang Family here. . . With Fellow Daoist presiding, the Wang Family would become a major power within the Return to Void Immortal City. . ."
Guang Qianjian impassively listed the benefits of joining Moonlight Immortal City.
These benefits might make the Ma Family's eyes light up, but Fang Xi had little interest.
However, for the sake of maintaining the Wang Family Ancestor's persona, he still had to listen.
He was silent for a moment before saying: "I've heard that your immortal city also has the position of guest elder. Is Zi Feng Lingjun of the Profound Nether Commerce Guild a guest elder of the immortal city?"
Chi Songzi nodded: "Precisely. However, a guest elder is merely a nominal position. . . without many of the benefits. But if the immortal city wishes to request a guest elder's assistance, the compensation must be agreed upon beforehand, and the guest elder also has the right to refuse."
"Since that is the case, this one is willing to serve as a guest elder for the immortal city."
Fang Xi smiled faintly.
"A guest elder. . . very well!"
A new Return to Void cultivator joining the Elder Council, they wouldn't know how many resources would have to be relinquished.
Becoming a guest elder, however, didn't require such commitments, and it aligned with Chi Songzi's minimum expectations.
Next, the three conversed and discussed the Dao for a while longer, before Chi Songzi was the first to bid farewell.
After all, the Wang Family Ancestor had just broken through to Return to Void; he still needed time to enter seclusion and solidify his cultivation. . .
...
After seeing the two off, Fang Xi slightly mended the formation damaged by the lightning tribulation, then instructed the little black tortoise: "I'm going into seclusion; don't let anyone disturb me!"
Immediately, he entered the depths of the cave abode and heavily closed the secret chamber door.
Inside the quiet room, Fang Xi sat cross-legged, finally having leisure to examine his own condition.
"After reaching Return to Void, the Withered Glory Chant's magic power within my body underwent a qualitative transformation, turning into Immortal Source Qi! This qi, used for refining my Life-Bound Treasures, should allow me to quickly elevate the 'Life and Death Seal' to the sixth-rank. . . Besides that, there's also the 'Netherworld Banner' and the 'Divine Infant Sword'. . ."
Aside from these, the fourth and fifth-rank treasures on Fang Xi's person could basically all be discarded.
The Life and Death Seal and the Divine Infant Sword, at least, were Life-Bound Treasures, making them relatively easy to upgrade.
As for the 'Netherworld Banner', it was entirely due to its superior materials; it was already 'half sixth-rank' to begin with, making it possible to easily elevate it to the rank of a sixth-rank Return to Void treasure.
As for the other few treasures, while it wasn't impossible to upgrade them, the cost would be too great and the time too long, so he could simply abandon them.
Fang Xi released his Divine Consciousness, and suddenly, he could faintly sense the surrounding thousand-li radius.
"After breaking through to Return to Void, the range of my Divine Consciousness also expanded, from several hundred li at Divine Transformation to over a thousand li. . . Of course, the most important thing is lifespan! My lifespan has increased by approximately another ten thousand years. . ."
A peak Divine Transformation cultivator in the Earthly Immortal World has a lifespan of about five thousand years. If they break through a major realm, their lifespan doubles, granting ten thousand years of longevity.
In other words, an extension of five thousand years of life!
However, Fang Xi possessed the 'Eternal Evergreen Body', which greatly enhanced his lifespan-extending capabilities, surprisingly granting him another ten thousand years of life!
"My current lifespan is already approaching the fifty-thousand-year mark. . . Even ordinary Void Amalgamation cultivators don't live as long as I do. . ."
His expression shifted, and a flash of green light appeared at his crown, as his primary Nascent Soul emerged.
At this moment, the primary Nascent Soul looked just like Fang Xi at thirteen or fourteen years old, with a distinct youthful appearance.
He formed hand seals, continuously channeling streams of magic power into the 'Fifth Generation Qing He Sword'.
This green, wood-grained broken sword suddenly roared, as streams of dark green light emerged, condensing into its blade. . .
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