Chapter 728: Battlefield (Bonus Chapter, Seeking Monthly Votes)
Chapter 728: Battlefield (Bonus Chapter, Seeking Monthly Votes)
Earthly Immortal World.
Celestial Brahma City.
With a flash of silver light, the figure of Fang Xi's External Avatar appeared, a hint of joy on his face: “Since my main body has advanced to the mid-stage Return to Void, I can begin cultivating as well. . . ”
He pondered for a moment, then a touch of regret crossed his features: “However, Return to Void cultivation is too slow, and far too tedious. . . This time, heading to the Three Races Battlefield, why not capture a few Divine Transformation demon cultivators who practice the 'Myriad Manifestations True Demon Arts'? They would be excellent supplements, far better than any spiritual pills. ”
Of course, if possible, capturing a Return to Void demon cultivator who cultivates the 'Myriad Manifestations True Demon Arts' would allow for an instant breakthrough, reaching the mid-stage Return to Void without any issues.
Only at the late-stage Return to Void would another bottleneck need to be broken.
However, such recklessness could easily lead to surpassing his main body's cultivation.
Thus, Fang Xi has always been very cautious in this regard.
“Yunxi Xianzi has broken through to Return to Void, and Liu Xu and Shui Lingxin are both at that Yin Vein location, preparing to set up spiritual arrays and establish their sect. . . ”
For pioneering new lands, such matters are quite common.
As long as they can gain a foothold and survive against the wild beasts and evil entities that follow, their legacy can be passed down.
Fang Xi believes that with Yunxi Xianzi present, there shouldn't be much of a problem.
“If they come to me to set up a sect-protecting grand array, I can offer a discount. That would be a massive project. . . ”
“Since the Three Races Battlefield is currently quiet, the danger of going there isn't too great. I can give it a try. . . ”
He murmured to himself, then transformed into a streak of light, flying towards the direction of the super teleportation array.
...
Years later.
Three Realms Mountain.
At a public cultivation city.
Fang Xi, in the guise of 'Elder Fu', arrived before a shop.
The shop was only of moderate size, but its signboard bore a crescent moon emblem.
“According to the Grand Shopkeeper, this should be the place, right? ”
He entered, and two Foundation Establishment-level maidservants immediately came forward to greet him: “Esteemed guest, how may 'New Moon Everlasting' assist you? ”
“Bring out your shopkeeper. ”
Fang Xi let out a cold snort, a wisp of his spiritual power leaking out.
The two maidservants recoiled several steps, their faces turning slightly pale, and retreated behind the counter.
Not long after, a Nascent Soul cultivator, a middle-aged scholar with a fan, came out to greet him: “Senior, how may I be of service? ”
Fang Xi casually tossed over a talisman.
This was the secret signal he had agreed upon with the Grand Shopkeeper.
“Ah, an honored guest! Please, come in! ”
Upon seeing the talisman, the Nascent Soul cultivator's eyes immediately lit up, and he spoke with even greater deference than before.
“Mm. ”
Fang Xi followed the Nascent Soul cultivator to the back of the shop, where the cultivator bowed once more: “The Grand Shopkeeper has given orders that we are to serve Senior well and ensure your complete satisfaction upon your arrival. ”
“Enough. I prefer peace and quiet. When will your Grand Shopkeeper arrive? ”
Fang Xi asked casually.
“The Grand Shopkeeper is currently handling matters in the Sword Domain; they will certainly arrive within three months at the latest. ”
The shopkeeper promptly replied.
“Very well. Have you arranged a place for me to stay? I shall wait for them for three months. . . ”
Fang Xi nodded.
“Our establishment has excellent immortal caves. If our esteemed guest does not find them too simple, please feel free to reside there temporarily. . . ”
The shopkeeper immediately bowed.
...
Two months later.
Inside the immortal cave of New Moon Everlasting.
Fang Xi was pouring himself a cup of wine, drinking alone, when his brow suddenly twitched.
A flash of light outside, and three Return to Void cultivators entered.
One of them was indeed the Grand Shopkeeper of the New Moon Merchant Guild, presumably surnamed Zhou.
Another person was someone he was very familiar with — it was Guang Qianjian!
However, at this moment, he still wasn't carrying his longsword. It was unclear if that flying sword had ultimately been reforged.
The aura of the last Return to Void cultivator was unfathomably deep, faintly reaching the late-stage Return to Void realm, causing Fang Xi to take another look.
With such cultivation, even within the Starry Sky Sect, one would be considered highly esteemed, ranking below only one person and above ten thousand.
“Elder Fu truly keeps his word. Allow me to introduce you, this is Fellow Daoist Guang Qianjian. . . ”
Grand Shopkeeper Zhou smiled broadly, then looked towards the late-stage Return to Void cultivator.
This person wore a gray daoist robe, unremarkable in appearance, but carried a huge bamboo box on his back.
Fang Xi didn't wait for Grand Shopkeeper Zhou to introduce him, and chuckled: “I have heard that in Moonlight Immortal City, there is a sixth-rank superior-grade puppet master named 'Dongqiuzi'. That must be you, Fellow Daoist? ”
“That is indeed me. ”
Dongqiuzi forced out a stiff smile.
It was evident that he was solely devoted to puppets, and rarely engaged in social interaction.
Even just exchanging a few words with Fang Xi, an outsider, he appeared somewhat awkward.
Perhaps, only a genius so immersed in his own world could cultivate the art of puppetry to the sixth-rank superior-grade, or even quasi-seventh-rank, level.
Fang Xi was actually quite interested in Grandmaster Dongqiuzi, but unfortunately, the timing wasn't right.
“It seems Elder Fu has made up his mind to act with us. . . ”
Grand Shopkeeper Zhou said with a smile: “At that time. . . the 'Dragon Blood Phoenix Marrow Flower' will certainly be yours, Fellow Daoist. As for the essence blood. . . our guild is only speculating at present whether dragon and phoenix essence blood can still be obtained there. It's truly hard to say. ”
Fang Xi narrowed his eyes: “If there isn't any, then I'll simply consider this matter closed. ”
“Good, Fellow Daoist is truly virtuous. ”
Grand Shopkeeper Zhou nodded: “We shall rest for three days, and then depart immediately after three days. . . ”...
Three days later.
A spiritual boat flew past a grand array, heading towards the unknown barbaric battlefield.
Fang Xi stood with his hands behind his back, noticing that the spiritual boat passed through the light barrier without triggering the grand array's counterattack. He couldn't help but look at Grand Shopkeeper Zhou.
Grand Shopkeeper Zhou smiled slightly: “Our merchant guild has a branch at Three Realms Mountain, and our relationship with the local stationed troops is quite good. We managed to acquire identity talismans for entry and exit. . . ”
“So that's how it is. This will indeed save us a lot of trouble. ”
Fang Xi nodded slightly, then his expression suddenly grew solemn as he sensed the surrounding void.
As the Three Realms Mountain served as a Three Races Battlefield, besides being dotted with fortresses, more importantly, the void was filled with various incomplete restrictions and shattered void cracks left behind by battles of great divine abilities!
In this place, even a Return to Void cultivator's divine consciousness could not extend too far.
And a single misstep could lead to crashing into a trap or remnant restriction.
Adding to that, there were constantly ambushing and patrolling demon and monster race teams.
It could be said that, apart from large armies marching out, this battlefield was fraught with danger everywhere!
Fang Xi, however, wasn't worried. After all, he could run very fast. . .
After admiring the battlefield scenery with considerable interest, he approached Dongqiuzi, who was currently tinkering with a puppet arm.
Dongqiuzi sat cross-legged, a table before him, upon which lay a chessboard.
Numerous human, monster, and demon chess pieces of various shapes were gathered upon it.
“Fellow Daoist, this chessboard of yours. . . it seems to integrate formations and puppetry. . . ”
Fang Xi observed it for a moment, then spoke first.
“Oh? You actually recognize some of the subtle mysteries of my 'Three Heroes Chessboard'? It seems your attainments in the path of puppetry and formations are quite profound. . . ”
Dongqiuzi looked up, speaking with a touch of surprise.
Grand Shopkeeper Zhou, however, merely chuckled: “Grandmaster Dongqiuzi, this Elder Fu is a sixth-rank talisman master. . . ”
In his heart, Elder Fu was most proficient in the Way of Talismans, and perhaps dabbled in alchemy as well.
If Dongqiuzi had said Fang Xi was skilled in talismans and alchemy, he wouldn't have been surprised in the least.
But now, for him to suggest that Fang Xi's attainments in the Way of Formations and Puppetry were profound—wasn't that a joke?
In the cultivation world, how could such an all-rounder exist?
“Just a little, just a little. . . ”
Fang Xi chuckled humbly, picking up a black eagle chess piece: “Fifth-rank puppets, formation-infused spirits. . . The pieces you've crafted, Fellow Daoist, are all quasi-fifth-rank puppets. During combat, they can be controlled by the array spirits within the chessboard, allowing one array spirit to command dozens. This can set up a formation powerful enough to make even Return to Void cultivators flee in disarray! ”
Infusing spirits into puppets consumes a great deal.
He could tell that most of the dozens of puppet chess pieces on the board were of the quasi-fifth-rank level.
When combat was required, the chessboard would temporarily generate some auxiliary 'array spirits' to enter and control them.
This was equivalent to one array spirit commanding dozens of puppets, significantly reducing the cost.
Moreover, with numerous puppets coordinating with the chessboard, it formed another formidable array.
Furthermore, with this person's late-stage Return to Void cultivation, he would likely not fall into a disadvantage even against a perfected Return to Void cultivator.
“Indeed, indeed. . . Temporarily infusing puppets with 'illusory array spirits' through a formation board is a secret puppetry art that I, this old man, only comprehended in the last century! ”
Dongqiuzi's eyes lit up. He had clearly been touched where he was itching for discussion: “What flaws do you see in my puppets? ”
Fang Xi didn't stand on ceremony, and conversed freely with Grandmaster Dongqiuzi.
They discussed everything from the miniaturization of puppets to the creation of special puppets, such as flesh puppets.
This left Grand Shopkeeper Zhou, who was nearby, somewhat dumbfounded.
This Elder Fu could indeed discuss puppetry with a grandmaster of puppets. Could it be that the capable are truly omnipotent?
Fang Xi and Dongqiuzi exchanged insights for a while. Although it was impossible for them to discuss the true inheritance of sixth-rank puppetry, Fang Xi still learned some of its profound mysteries, feeling it was well worth his time.
‘This Grandmaster Dongqiuzi, besides puppet warfare, is also extremely skilled in crafting flesh puppets and bone puppets. . . No wonder Moonlight Immortal City remains so preoccupied with that suspected burial ground of seventh-rank dragons and phoenixes. . . ’
According to his conjecture, Grandmaster Dongqiuzi has a high probability of refining those two seventh-rank dragon and phoenix corpses into puppets. . . if they exist.
‘At that time, Moonlight Immortal City will likely become one of the top powers in the Starry Sky Domain, second only to the Starry Sky Sect. ’
‘The Wang Family Ancestor truly is just a guest elder. For such a crucial mission, he couldn't even hear a whisper of it. . . ’
Fang Xi couldn't help but secretly disdain his main body's current identity for a moment.
The Wang Family Ancestor, this identity of his main body, had long been severed and had no connection whatsoever with ascended cultivators. Therefore, even if one day the ascended cultivator 'Fang Xi' were to receive the same treatment as Fang Xian Daoist, it would be none of the Wang Family Ancestor's business.
...
Just as the spiritual boat continued to delve deeper into the battlefield.
In an immortal cave, dark true demonic qi permeated the air.
“Hmm? ”
A demon cultivator, seated cross-legged with seven fingers, clad in black armor, and possessing a ferocious appearance, suddenly opened his eyes.
His pupils were crimson. At that moment, a black light flashed in his hand, and he took out a crystal ball from his storage bracelet.
Inside the transparent crystal ball, several points of light could be seen moving rapidly.
“Four human Return to Void cultivators. . . If I kill them all, my military merits will probably be enough to open the 'Demon Ascension Trial'. . . ”
The crimson-eyed demon cultivator stood up, letting out a sudden roar.
Roar! Roar!
A twin-headed flood dragon emerged, landing at his feet.
This flood dragon had two heads, one black and one white, both incredibly ferocious. Wisps of true demonic qi emanated from its body; it was actually a demonicized, mutated Return to Void flood dragon!
The crimson-eyed demon cultivator stood atop the twin-headed flood dragon. The flood dragon immediately let out a roar, then swayed its head and tail, transforming into a black streak of light that swiftly vanished into the horizon.
After this demon departed, a bell-like laughter seemed to echo in the void: “It wasn't in vain that I sold this demon pearl to 'Mo Xuan'. This is already the third time, isn't it. . . ”
A flash in the void, and a breathtakingly beautiful female demon cultivator with wings on her back and two small crimson horns on her head appeared.
“Hehe. . . Our demon race's newly developed 'Demon Response Pearl' ensures that it's perfectly normal for human cultivators, caught unprepared, to have their traces discovered. ”
Accompanying an ancient voice, another tall, withered demonic shadow appeared, conversing freely: “Though Mo Xuan's demonic cultivation is astonishing, his actions are reckless. . . As fellow kin, we should look out for each other. His military merits should also be shared somewhat. . . ”
The tall, withered demonic shadow approached the winged demoness, chuckling: “Your 'Void Demon Clan's' void abilities are unparalleled in the Earthly Immortal World, not inferior to even the Heavenly Phoenix Clan. I, this old man, shall brazenly seek a favor. ”
“Hmph! ”
The winged demoness formed hand seals, and a shimmering silver light enveloped her and the tall, withered demon cultivator's figures, instantly vanishing them. . .
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