Chapter 694: The Grand Reclamation (Extra Chapter for Monthly Tickets)
Chapter 694: The Grand Reclamation (Extra Chapter for Monthly Tickets)
Three Realms Mountain.
Celestial Brahma Army Camp.
Inside the grotto-heaven on Lesser Night Peak.
Fang Xi's External Avatar formed hand seals, an aura of chilling demonic intent emanating from his body.
"Self-Transformation into Freedom, Freedom into Me!"
Black light flickered in his eyes as he continuously unleashed streams of profound arts towards a coffin opposite him.
Woo-woo!
In the void, it was as if celestial demons roared, as streams of pure demonic essence emerged from within the coffin, devoured by the Myriad Manifestations Demon Shadow behind Fang Xi.
From merely entering the late-stage Divine Transformation realm, his magic power ceaselessly condensed, and his demonic art solidified further, suddenly transforming into a suit of pitch-black armor that settled upon Fang Xi's body.
"Perfected Divine Transformation, just a sliver short!"
"This demonic art that could devour and assimilate was truly terrifying. . . There was barely any loss during the conversion of magic power."
A hint of shock flashed through Fang Xi's eyes.
After descending to this realm, he was assimilated by his main body, which also imparted the 'Myriad Manifestations True Demon Arts'—a version improved and verified by the Kyushu world's insights and his true self!
Since it was originally based on this very cultivation method, his practice proceeded with exceptional smoothness.
Before long, he successfully converted the cultivation method, and from then on, cultivating to Perfected Return to Void should pose no significant issue.
Having temporarily resolved the hidden danger, Fang Xi naturally sought to advance.
For cultivators practicing his demonic art, the best pill to increase magic power was, in fact, other cultivators who practiced the same foundational cultivation art!
Fang Xi therefore once again took action, drawing upon the cultivation of a certain ancestor from the Primordial Demon Sect within that coffin.
By today, he was finally just a hair's breadth from Perfected Divine Transformation!
"This sliver of a gap in my demonic cultivation, I should be able to bridge it with a few years of practice. . . then I can attempt to break through to the Return to Void realm."
Fang Xi touched his Dantian.
Within his Dantian's sea of qi, the External Avatar sat cross-legged, embracing the Netherworld Banner, and a red mark, precisely the six-rank Divine Infant Sword, gleamed on its brow!
"Converting demonic essence still incurred some loss, after all. Therefore, even if I devoured him, I wouldn't be able to reach Perfected Divine Transformation. . ."
After a long while, Fang Xi stood up and approached the edge of the coffin.
Inside, a divine demon lay, though its aura had already vanished into nothingness.
He gently exhaled, and this divine demon's body, which even a Numinous Treasure might not have been able to harm, instantly turned into dust, dissipating completely without a trace. . .
From that moment on, this ancestor of the Primordial Demon Sect was utterly annihilated, body and soul, leaving not a single trace of his existence in the world.
Witnessing this scene, Fang Xi couldn't help but fall silent.
If his External Avatar were to ever be captured by the Zizai Tianmo Wang, or any other demonic cultivator practicing the same demonic art, its fate would likely be just like that of the one before him.
Such was the cruelty of the demonic path!
"Fortunately, I'm just an External Avatar, here to experiment with the various inconceivable aspects of this demonic art. . ."
Fang Xi sneered and continued his secluded cultivation.
Having devoured such a massive surge of demonic power, though its circulation felt harmonious, he couldn't afford to be careless and needed to gradually adapt to it.
...
One day.
Just as he was cultivating, two streaks of escape light meandered over, landing outside Lesser Night Peak.
With a flash of light, the formation automatically opened.
Fang Xi stepped out, smiling, "My esteemed neighbors, please come in for tea!"
The visitors were, naturally, Yunxi Xianzi and Liu Xu.
Upon seeing Fang Xi, their beautiful eyes lit up. "Daoist Fang, observing your aura, it seems your cultivation has advanced significantly. Congratulations. . ."
They had heard the rumors, of course, but simply refused to believe that this individual's potential was exhausted.
Now, it seemed his cultivation was exceptionally profound, clearly a sign of great progress.
He was not far from Perfected Divine Transformation, and considering the mere few centuries that had passed, describing his cultivation progress as divine speed would be no exaggeration.
The outside world's rumors of his limited potential, causing many major powers to give up on him, were truly laughable!
"Daoist Fang, it seems you once concealed your brilliance, but now you're willing to reveal your edge? " Liu Xu said, her eyes brightening.
Her relationship with Fang Xi was somewhat complex.
Originally, Fang Xi had merely given Liu Xu a copy of the 'Longevity Art', not even taking her as a nominal disciple.
Later, upon seeing her break through to the Nascent Soul realm and assessing her character and temperament, he had somewhat accepted her, though without explicitly acknowledging her, making her a 'nominal disciple who wasn't a nominal disciple'.
Yet, after the battle in the Earthly Immortal Spiritual Realm, a wisp of a Celestial Maiden's spirit had merged with her, transforming her into an entirely new being.
Fang Xi felt that this woman should be more familiar with the Earthly Immortal World than he was; even if it was just fragments of memory awakened by seeing or hearing certain things, she at least had a rough understanding.
Her joining the Heavenly Charm Sect was likely also intentional.
He invited the two women into his grotto-heaven, brewed spirit tea, and then asked with a smile, "Why. . . has something good appeared in the market? I still have some superior-grade spirit stones left. . ."
The two women had received protection and chosen an easy assignment, overseeing a shop within the army camp's market.
Fang Xi routinely had them keep an eye out, and indeed, they had obtained quite a few good items.
Among them, rare spirit plants and seeds were secretly sent down to the lower realm, cultivated within his Earthly Immortal Spiritual Realm, causing the constantly growing Myriad Woods Mother Qi to increase, thereby boosting his own cultivation.
Alas, currently the Myriad Woods Mother Qi was still less than three hundred mu, and the one thousand mu threshold for the mid-stage Return to Void realm remained impossibly distant.
But Fang Xi's main body didn't mind; cultivation naturally became very slow after reaching the Return to Void realm.
Compared to Chi Songzi and Guang Qianjian, his progress was already remarkably fast.
Moreover, there was currently no major enemy capable of descending to kill him, so he felt no sense of urgency.
Most of his time was spent in leisurely amusement, roaming the myriad worlds, seeking a bit of fun. . .
Yunxi Xianzi, however, gave a bitter smile. "We sisters have heard some news, both good and bad. Which would Daoist Fang like to hear first? ""Let's hear the good news first. . ."
Fang Xi took a sip of spirit tea, feeling that "a night owl entering the house brings no good tidings."
"The good news is that after extensive inquiries, the Heavenly Charm Sect has received intelligence that the great war between our human race and the demon and monster races will not erupt for at least another thousand years. . ."
Liu Xu stated.
"'What kind of good news is this? I already knew it. . . ' Fang Xi grumbled inwardly, setting down his teacup, his expression turning solemn. "Then what's the bad news?"
"The bad news, naturally, is that with no major war, we must once again go forth and reclaim new lands. . . " Yunxi Xianzi's face was full of bitterness. "This time, it's a Grand Reclamation. Every single one of our Celestial Brahma Army's eight camps, none can avoid it. . . Myself and Liu Xu are likewise included."
Although the Heavenly Charm Sect had some background, allowing them to gain some benefits in ordinary times.
But when truly facing such a major event, even the Return to Void-level Uncle-Masters and Aunt-Masters couldn't escape, only managing to acquire some intelligence beforehand to prepare.
"Currently, in the market, there's still a batch of healing spirit pills and talisman materials. . . If Daoist Fang desires them, you must acquire them quickly, otherwise once the news spreads, their prices will surely skyrocket. . ."
Liu Xu advised.
"Grand Reclamation?"
Fang Xi murmured, "This is truly. . . unexpected. I wonder where we are to reclaim land?"
A Grand Reclamation differed from previous minor skirmishes; its scope covered at least an entire domain!
If successful, the human race's territory would expand to a hundred domains!
A domain was so vast that only Divine Transformation cultivators could traverse it freely and reach its borders.
The sheer breadth of it was unimaginable.
With the Celestial Brahma Army's meager forces, entering would be like scattering pepper; they would likely have to face far too many dangers alone.
"It shouldn't be near Three Realms Mountain, so we'll have to take a 'Super Teleportation Array'. . ."
Yunxi Xianzi said, "According to what the sect said, this time the higher-ups are extremely determined and will simultaneously relocate many low-level cultivators. . ."
Fang Xi was instantly speechless.
But it was normal to think that way.
Since neither the demon nor monster races desired war, it was impossible for the Celestial Brahma Army to simply let the numerous cultivators just cultivate.
They still had to be put to use.
"Alas. . . there's no other way."
Fang Xi sighed, looking at the two women. "What do the two of you plan to do? And is it possible to buy out our service now?"
Yunxi Xianzi and Liu Xu exchanged a glance, both shaking their heads. "Not to mention whether they'll close this loophole now, even if it were still allowed, a thousand superior-grade spirit stones is too high a price; we wouldn't even be able to borrow such a large sum from within the sect. . ."
Even if Fang Xi could afford the price, he was unwilling to flaunt his wealth.
His daily expenditures in the army camp were just a small portion; the real bulk of his transactions occurred when he disguised himself and ventured into various black markets.
In terms of wealth, he was now absolutely unrivaled among cultivators.
However, most of it had been sent to the Human World, thus leaving him utterly fearless.
He exuded a roguish air, as if saying, "I've got nothing to lose, what more can you do to me?"
'With my current strength, being treated as a Divine Transformation cultivator, the tasks shouldn't be too dangerous. . . '
If, wielding two six-rank Return to Void treasures, the tasks he encountered were still ninety percent fatal, then all other Divine Transformation cultivators should have long since perished.
If the Celestial Brahma Army truly did that, the cultivators below would have rebelled long ago.
One shouldn't assume cultivators are docile, especially ascended cultivators who had fought their way up from lower realms; decisiveness in killing was merely a basic quality for them. . .
Fang Xi looked at the two women, a clear understanding dawning on him. "It seems, Daoist Friends, that you wish to restart our previous alliance for mutual benefit. . ."
"Precisely. . . Daoist Fang, your divine abilities are extraordinary. With you, Kuang Tao Jushi, and Xu Qingzi, if we form a small team, we should be able to ensure our safety even in the wilderness."
Liu Xu said delightedly.
"Each of us excels in uncommon arts; we should be able to assist everyone and weather this storm together. " Yunxi Xianzi said earnestly.
"That could work. I have a good relationship with Pu Xianzi; I can bring her in. . . This woman excels in artifact refinement, having once forged a Numinous Treasure. She's a five-rank Artifact Refinement Grandmaster. . ."
Fang Xi chuckled.
At the mention of this, Yunxi Xianzi and Liu Xu's expressions subtly changed.
Liu Xu, moreover, muttered inwardly: 'The Island Master's old habits are back. . . It's just as the rumors say. '
"Daoist Pu joining us would naturally be excellent; it would give us even greater confidence."
After her brief change of expression, Yunxi Xianzi replied with a beaming smile.
"Very well."
Fang Xi nodded. "Thank you both for informing me. Since that is the case, I must also make ample preparations. . ."
...
Subsequently, Fang Xi noticed a difference.
In both the black market and the army camp's market, the prices of various spiritual items used to temporarily boost combat power or for healing skyrocketed.
Furthermore, numerous cultivators were holding successive secret meetings, and indeed, undercurrents were stirring.
A cultivator unaware of the inside story might have felt apprehensive, yet now, he was utterly fearless.
After visiting Kuang Tao Jushi and Pu Xianzi, among others, he had already agreed upon a temporary offensive and defensive alliance, thus allowing him to remain calm and composed.
And three months later, accompanied by the posting of a colossal immortal decree, the matter of the Grand Reclamation was finally settled!
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