Chapter 741: The Tribulation Evading Art
Chapter 741: The Tribulation Evading Art
"Even so, a True Immortal of the Primordial Spirit type is still just a Human Immortal, inferior to me, an Earth Immortal. . ."
Fang Xi pursed his lips and looked back at the "Three Corpses Infant Transformation Secret Art" manual.
After comprehending it, he generally grasped its essence.
At its core, this secret art relies on rare treasures and wondrous elixirs such as 'Three Corpses Jade' and 'Heavenly Yin Pill' to attempt to transform one's Nascent Soul upon reaching the Void Amalgamation completion stage.
The original perfected Void Amalgamation Nascent Soul is then refined into a 'Three Corpses Nascent Soul'!
Such a 'Three Corpses Nascent Soul' possesses semi-substantive characteristics. If one cultivates this secret art and then attempts to break through the Integration bottleneck, it naturally reduces the difficulty of the bottleneck by more than half.
"But it's only useful for breaking through the bottleneck. . . for the Great Heavenly Tribulation of Integration, the Heart Demon Tribulation, and so on after the breakthrough, it has absolutely no effect. . ."
"If one isn't fully prepared, even if they achieve Integration, they'll still be struck dead by lightning!"
In his Earthly Immortal Spiritual Realm, Fang Xi silently comprehended the secret art, then rummaged through Old Freak Jiao's storage bag, discovering that the man had already been consciously collecting the main ingredients for refining 'Heavenly Yin Pill'.
By now, he had gathered about sixty to seventy percent.
'If refined and paired with the secret art, it should fetch a good amount of Immortal Jade. . . '
'However, a breakthrough secret art given by the Demon race. . . who knows what traps it might contain. '
Fang Xi was speechless. He returned to his cave abode and continued to draw talismans.
His progress with Phoenix Seal Script talismans was now advancing by leaps and bounds, but his progress with Dragon Seal Script was quite ordinary.
Even though he had relocated the Cicada clan and commanded them to continuously offer 'Golden Cicada Exuviae' to him, allowing him to endlessly refine 'Time Talisman Paper', the situation remained the same.
Time and Void, being the two most profound Great Dao Laws in the Earthly Immortal World, were extremely difficult to comprehend, let alone to even gain an initial understanding of.
Fang Xi also benefited from the 'All-Heavens Precious Mirror', which allowed him to regularly perceive the operation of the Void Origin. Only then could he make rapid progress in the Dao of Void, even surpassing an Integration-stage Heavenly Phoenix.
As for the Dragon Seal Script, it was hard to cheat his way through like this.
He spent some more time lingering in the Earthly Immortal Spiritual Realm, and by the way, also visited another cultivation city.
Alas, due to the Human-Demon War and the unrest in the Starry Sky Domain, the market city had long been desolate, with all industries withered. The previously bustling streets, even the pleasure houses, had few people, making him feel quite helpless.
...
Moonlight Immortal City.
Fang Xi held Buddhist beads, transforming into a golden streak of light that descended onto the island in the middle of the lake.
Not long after, a crimson streak of light surged over, revealing Chi Songzi.
"Fellow Daoist is unharmed, that's truly wonderful."
When he saw Fang Xi, a hint of joy flashed across his face.
"Fellow Daoist Chi Songzi, how are Fellow Daoist Shi Xianzi and Elder Tong? " Fang Xi asked calmly.
"After we parted that day, although this old man and Fairy Shi encountered Void Amalgamation enemies attempting to intercept and kill us, we barely managed to shake them off and return to Moonlight Immortal City. . ."
Upon mentioning this, Chi Songzi's expression suddenly darkened: "As for Elder Tong Bai, he was targeted by that Kunpeng and perished. . . not even his Nascent Soul escaped."
"So that's how it was?"
Hearing the follow-up from that day, Fang Xi couldn't help but sigh: "In that case, has our mission failed?"
"Not at all. When Elder Tong met this old man that day, he secretly entrusted his storage bag to me for safekeeping. Those few items have now been successfully transported to Moonlight Immortal City!"
A trace of hatred flashed across Chi Songzi's face: "The Heavenly Demon Society and Old Freak Jiao. . . my Immortal City will certainly not let them off!"
'It seems. . . it's very likely that this batch of materials are the raw ingredients for refining top-grade puppets. . . '
Seeing this, a guess surfaced in Fang Xi's mind.
At this moment, Chi Songzi proactively said: "Fellow Daoist and Fairy Shi are of noble character; our Immortal City has no way to repay you. This is the compensation we agreed upon last time."
As he spoke, he handed over a jade bottle and a brocade pouch.
Fang Xi took the jade bottle and saw a snow-white pill within it, floating like a bright, clear moon.
The brocade pouch, meanwhile, contained twice the amount of Immortal Jade as originally agreed, which must have been Chi Songzi's previous promise.
"This Flying Void Pill is indeed not bad!"
Fang Xi smiled faintly and put away the pill.
Chi Songzi was startled, then said solemnly: "This one previously made another promise: no matter what methods Fellow Daoist employed, our Immortal City would return the full cost. May I know the value of those three formation talismans and the formation-breaking cone?"
"So it's about that. . ."
Fang Xi smiled faintly and quoted a figure that made Chi Songzi's heart tremble with fear.
"This. . . please wait a moment, Fellow Daoist. This old man will return to discuss it with the other elders."
A moment later, Chi Songzi wiped the cold sweat from his brow and fled in disarray.
Seeing this, Fang Xi couldn't help but smile.
As long as the Immortal City's high-ranking members weren't foolish, they could basically guess that he was proficient in formations, and it was even possible that the formation talismans and the formation-breaking cone were refined by the Wang Family Ancestor himself.
The more so, the more they needed to retain this high-level talent in this time of crisis.
It was just a small amount of Immortal Jade; they would definitely have to give it in the end.
"And with this 'Flying Void Pill', revealing my mid-stage Void Amalgamation cultivation in the future will be a matter of course."
Fang Xi tossed the jade bottle, lost in thought.
His External Avatar didn't even have much use for this pill.
But in the future, whether he used it for trade with fellow cultivators or sold it directly, it would be excellent, and his hard work wouldn't have been in vain.
...
Time flew by.
Thirty years passed in the blink of an eye.
Celestial Brahma Domain.
Wilderness.
*Rip! *
A black bolt of lightning tore across the sky, accompanied by a piercing shriek.
Within the dark lightning, surprisingly, was a Divine Transformation demonic cultivator.
With his demonic cultivation, he could barely be considered a master in the Celestial Brahma Domain.
Yet at this moment, he was fleeing in a sorry state, as if being pursued by some ferocious beast.
*Caw! *
Behind this Divine Transformation demonic cultivator, a peacock's cry suddenly resounded.
Five-colored light transformed into a tail flame, faintly revealing a giant Five Heavens Peacock within.
It wielded five-colored divine light; with just a sweep, the Divine Transformation demonic cultivator screamed and fell to the ground.
"Myriad Manifestations True Demon Arts!"
Dread appeared in the demonic cultivator's eyes.
"Precisely this art!"
A black light flashed, and the giant peacock vanished, transforming into the External Avatar's figure.
Fang Xi was expressionless, his body enveloped in a layer of black demonic armor, as he formed a hand seal with one hand.
Two Heavenly Demon Arms emerged, grabbing the demonic cultivator from left and right, secretly suppressing all resistance from his demonic art.
"No. . . don't devour me."
Seeing Fang Xi approach step by step, intense fear surfaced in the demonic cultivator's eyes.
He already knew what fate awaited him if he was caught by someone who cultivated the same demonic art.
Because he had also tried this method, and had become deeply addicted to it.
"During the Human-Demon War, all sorts of monsters and demons have come out. . ."
Fang Xi sighed: "The True Demon Sect. . . a spy organization of the Demon race, has it actually infiltrated the Celestial Brahma Domain?"
"You're Jin Gangzi's subordinate?"
The demonic cultivator's face grew even more terrified.
"No, I'm just a demonic cultivator doing this out of interest. . ."
Fang Xi's eyes instantly became filled with demonic intent, and as he circulated the 'Myriad Manifestations True Demon Arts', a complete chest, demonic body. . . and a ferocious demonic head appeared behind the two Heavenly Demon Arms.
The demonic cultivator suddenly screamed, feeling his own Nascent Soul begin to wither.
Streams of pure demonic essence magic power were wantonly absorbed by Fang Xi.
In the end, the man transformed directly into a shriveled corpse.
*Whoosh! *
The wind blew, and a cloud of dust dissipated, revealing that the demonic cultivator had vanished without a trace.
Fang Xi, however, slightly closed his eyes and circulated his cultivation art: "Although the conversion of demonic qi into True Demon Qi consumes quite a bit, accumulating small amounts eventually adds up. Coupled with the previous few. . . it's enough to push my magic power to the peak of the early Void Amalgamation stage."
During this period, the great war between the Human and Demon races had attracted the attention of the Demon race.
The True Demon Sect, a spy organization of the Demon race within human territory, had become extremely active.
This also gave the External Avatar an opportunity.
He wandered through various domains and finally found some demonic spies who cultivated the 'Myriad Manifestations True Demon Arts'.
Although they were all Divine Transformation cultivators, their numbers added up.
After turning these demonic spies one by one into spiritual elixirs that enhanced his magic power, in just a few decades, his magic power increased at an incredibly fast rate.
Now he could go and break through the bottleneck, welcoming the minor heavenly tribulation.
"For cultivators of the 'Myriad Manifestations True Demon Arts' at a higher realm, facing lower-ranked co-cultivators, it's not just a realm suppression; the cultivation art itself is extremely restraining. . . these Divine Transformation demonic cultivators couldn't even make their Nascent Souls escape when they saw me."
"From this, it's clear that if I were to meet the Zizai Tianmo Wang, I would suffer the same fate!"
...
Penglai Immortal Pavilion.
Fang Xi had a permanent cave abode here.
Not long after he returned to his cave abode, Fairy Yunxi, dressed in a white dress and with a figure like that of an ordinary person, finally emerged from her seclusion and personally came to visit.
"Congratulations, Fellow Daoist Yunxi, on the completion of your Ghost Body!"
Fang Xi merely glanced, and in his Divine Consciousness, the woman's figure was still somewhat illusory, as if within a semi-transparent shell, moonlight and Nine-Nethers Yin Qi faintly circulated. He immediately knew that her method of condensing a ghost body was quite profound.
"I still haven't thanked Fellow Daoist for your protection along the way!"
Fairy Yunxi bowed respectfully, her demeanor having changed again, now like an orchid in an empty valley.
"Haha. . . Fellow Daoist, please come in for tea."
Fang Xi invited Fairy Yunxi into his cave abode, and they began to sample tea and discuss the Dao.
Before they knew it, the two of them began discussing the recent Human-Demon War.
"A few days ago. . . a senior sister from the sect came to find me to discuss this great war."
A trace of worry appeared on Fairy Yunxi's face: "The Demon race's army is fierce and aggressive. After several back-and-forths, they have now reached the walls of Heaven's Absolute City. The Thirty-Six Heavenly Stars Great Dipper Array has been breached, leaving only a single isolated city eye. . ."
"Aren't Jin Gangzi, Long Qingzi, and the other Human Race Five Sons largely overseeing the defense within the city?"
Fang Xi touched his jade teacup, speaking thoughtfully.
"The Human Race Five Sons are, after all, only Integration cultivators. . . According to rumors within the sect, our sect master is also within Heaven's Absolute City, and has even met senior 'Che'!"
Fairy Yunxi spoke gracefully.
"Senior Che?"
Upon hearing this, Fang Xi immediately became respectful: "That senior Loose Immortal of the Mahayana stage, who has always been quite active among the Human race?"
After entering the Mahayana stage, regardless of whether one is a Demon race True Spirit, a Demon Ancestor of the Demon race, or a Human race Loose Immortal, they all must face nine layers of tribulation.
There are no distinct early, mid, or late stages for the Mahayana realm.
In fact, as soon as one enters Mahayana, their Nascent Soul cultivates to Great Perfection, with no further room for advancement.
What is lacking are only the nine tribulations!
Only by surviving all nine tribulations can one ascend and become an Immortal!
Furthermore, these tribulations are far more terrifying than the Immortal Lightning Tribulation for breaking through to the Mahayana stage, and each one is stronger than the last.
Many Mahayana cultivators regrettably perish under their own immortal tribulations.
Therefore, most Mahayana cultivators are generally focused on cultivating in seclusion or searching for tribulation-crossing secret arts and treasures.
Those who can wholeheartedly strive for the human race are all worthy of respect.
"Precisely. . ."
Fairy Yunxi tucked a loose strand of hair behind her ear: "From this, it seems. . . before Heaven's Absolute City, a great battle between Mahayana cultivators is likely to erupt. . ."
"Indeed. . ."
Fang Xi had a look of longing on his face.
But in reality, he wished he could run as far away as possible.
He wouldn't foolishly wander under the noses of Mahayana cultivators; he might accidentally reveal a flaw.
What's more, Long Qingzi was still there!
He would never put himself in danger just for the sake of feasting his eyes.
"The sect's conscription is quite urgent now. If I wasn't unable to leave too far, I'm afraid I wouldn't have been spared either. . ."
Fairy Yunxi smiled: "It seems that choosing this path back then was a good thing after all. . ."
Hearing this, Fang Xi couldn't help but fall silent.
Liu Xu had Yunxi's protection, and Shui Lingxin, like himself, was a rogue cultivator, so their issues weren't too big yet.
But that group of Divine Transformation stage companions from Celestial Brahma City were quite miserable.
Apart from Fairy Pu, who was lucky enough to redeem herself in the last batch, Kuang Tao Jushi and others were successively conscripted and sent to the battlefield via super teleportation arrays.
The battlefield at this time was a meat grinder!
It was said that that batch of Divine Transformation cultivators had suffered heavy casualties. Among them, Kuang Tao Jushi, in order to escape the sea of suffering as soon as possible, risked attempting to break through the great Void Amalgamation bottleneck without being fully prepared, resulting in his demise. . .
Even that 'Liang Ru Long' was unlucky. He chose to join a force in Celestial Brahma City, initially attracted by the favorable contract terms and the provision of Divine Transformation spiritual items.
As a result, he was conscripted and sent to the battlefield. . .
Thoughts of many old acquaintances merely flashed through Fang Xi's eyes, and then, with a glint in his gaze, he embraced Supreme Oblivion, no longer burdened by attachments. . .
This special aura left Fairy Yunxi feeling deeply awed.
At this moment, carefully sensing Fang Xi's unconcealed magical cultivation, she was startled: "Fellow Daoist. . . are you perhaps about to break through again?"
"Indeed."
Fang Xi answered with a frank smile.
"Fellow Daoist is truly the number one genius of our Human World. I am ashamed of my own inferiority. . ."
Fairy Yunxi sighed deeply in admiration.
...
Wilderness.
Dark clouds gathered in the sky, and bolt after bolt of lightning descended.
This time, when undergoing the minor heavenly tribulation, Fang Xi did not ask anyone to guard him.
Even if Fairy Yunxi was trustworthy!
How could anyone compare to his main body?
This time, the External Avatar did not even use the Hunyuan Heavenly Luo Umbrella, that treasure for transforming lightning.
As for the Three Corpses Demon Banner?
Although his main body had decided to give this banner to his External Avatar, who was more suited to use it, under the might of the heavens, the tens of thousands of refined corpses, including the three Void Amalgamation demonic corpses, all trembled within the demon banner, not daring to move at all.
Although this demonic treasure was formidable in combat, it was useless when it came to undergoing tribulations!
However, the External Avatar remained undaunted.
He held the 'Divine Infant Sword', six demonic flames burning on its blade, and silently circulated his cultivation art, causing the 'Myriad Manifestations True Demon Arts' to continuously break through. . .
And then, he swung a sword light towards the thunderclouds!
*Whoosh! *
The Divine Infant Sword howled mournfully, its crimson sword qi mixed with demonic fire, painstakingly resisting one lightning tribulation after another.
But when the seventh lightning tribulation arrived, the pressure in the sky suddenly surged!
Even the External Avatar felt the pressure at this moment.
But he let out a cold laugh, and a seven-colored feather fan appeared in his hand.
*Chirp! Chirp! *
As the External Avatar fanned forcefully, a seven-colored halo of light emerged, from which flew out Heavenly Phoenixes, Kunpengs, Azure Luans, Peacocks. . .
A hundred birds cried out, instantly tearing apart the lightning tribulation!
"The minor heavenly tribulation of the mid-stage Void Amalgamation is naturally aimed at mid-stage Void Amalgamation cultivation. . ."
"But with a fan in hand, the External Avatar can even contend with late-stage or even perfected Void Amalgamation cultivators. . . Passing this shouldn't be a problem."
Fang Xi's main body stood with arms crossed, a relaxed expression on his face.
As expected. . .
Not long after, the thunderclouds in the sky dissipated, revealing the External Avatar, completely unharmed.
However, at this moment, the External Avatar's expression was a little strange, as he conjured a spirit beast pouch.
A green light flashed from the spirit beast pouch, revealing a magnificent Green Fire Luan.
This Green Fire Luan had its head deeply buried in its wings, seemingly in deep slumber.
But under the stimulation of the heavenly tribulation and lightning essence, there were signs of it awakening.
"Little Qing, after decades of sleep, are you finally waking up?"
Fang Xi looked up and saw that the endless thunderclouds even showed signs of re-gathering.
This, of course, wasn't the heavenly tribulation changing its mind and preparing to strike the External Avatar again, but rather Little Qing was about to undergo her sixth-tier Great Heavenly Tribulation!
Previously, Little Qing had been in her element following the External Avatar in the Earthly Immortal World.
Just the inner core of that Primordial Ancient Beast Cloud-Piercing Crane had greatly advanced her demonic power, giving her a glimmer of hope to break through to the sixth-tier.
Later, after obtaining the essence blood and legacy of a seventh-tier Azure Luan, she found it difficult to digest such massive energy and voluntarily entered a deep slumber.
Now, having awakened from her slumber, she was about to immediately undergo her sixth-tier Great Heavenly Tribulation.
"With her accumulation and foundation, it shouldn't be a big problem. . ."
"My turtle and phoenix pulling a carriage. . . it's finally going to happen."
...
"Yawn. . ."
Amidst the flashing lightning in the sky, Little Qing let out a yawn, then with a flash of green light, transformed into her human form.
She gazed at the thunderclouds in the sky with a hint of eagerness, having secretly overcome the Heart Demon Tribulation at some unknown point.
*Rip! *
A golden bolt of lightning struck down.
Little Qing formed hand seals, and a layer of green light shield rose up.
The golden lightning struck the green light shield, and the shield shimmered like water, continuously deflecting the bolts of electricity.
In the end, the first bolt of lightning didn't even break through Little Qing's demonic qi defense.
*Crack! *
Next came the second, the third. . .
Little Qing continued to use various demonic race spells in her human form to contend with them.
In a blink of an eye, six layers of lightning had passed!
When the seventh heavenly lightning descended, a golden spherical lightning bolt crashed down, numerous runes wrapped within it.
Little Qing let out a long cry, transforming into a Green Fire Luan, and fearlessly met the lightning.
*Rip! *
Countless golden electric arcs landed on her demonic bird body, leaving a scorched black layer.
But in a flash, another layer of Azure Luan True Fire appeared, enveloping Little Qing's entire body.
The scorched layer quickly receded, revealing even more radiant and beautiful feathers.
Little Qing's figure even underwent some changes, transforming from a Green Fire Luan into a true 'Azure Luan'!
"So Azure Luan True Fire also has healing properties. . . Is Little Qing directly using the heavenly lightning to temper her body, stimulating her bloodline to transform into a true Azure Luan bird?"
Seeing this scene, Fang Xi immediately knew that Little Qing had gained immense benefits from the seventh-tier Azure Luan legacy.
*Rumble! *
*Rumble! *
The Great Heavenly Tribulation struck one after another, but in the end, Little Qing actually opened her beak and directly spat out a green demonic core, allowing the demonic core to be tempered by the lightning as well.
*Chirp! *
Suddenly, a long cry of the Azure Luan tore through the thunderclouds, sweeping away all the lightning essence.
A green light flashed.
A magnificent Azure Luan landed before Fang Xi, then with another flash, transformed into her human form, now appearing as an adult Little Qing, with green eye shadow at the corners of her eyes, every frown and smile exuding boundless charm.
"Master, Little Qing succeeded!"
Little Qing giggled and grabbed Fang Xi's arm.
"Good. . . It seems you've indeed gained many good things from the Azure Luan legacy."
Fang Xi nodded with a smile.
"Mhm, with the help of the seventh-tier Azure Luan's precious blood, I successfully cast a secret art, and my bloodline has reverted to its ancestor. . . Now, among the Heavenly Phoenix clan, I'm considered of noble origin. . . Plus, with my attainments in the Dao of Void, I'm afraid that by the mid-Integration stage, I'll have the confidence to become one of the Seven Great Sages!"
Little Qing was already extraordinarily talented. That early-Integration stage Heavenly Phoenix had previously taken a fancy to her talent, hoping that the Heavenly Phoenix clan could produce another Great Sage besides the Hunyuan Great Sage.
Now, with her bloodline upgraded and her aptitude further advanced, even if a True Spirit Phoenix saw her, they might just be tempted.
She was naturally understanding. At this moment, with a beaming smile, she imprinted a green jade slip and handed it to Fang Xi: "Master, all the legacies I've gained are here. . ."
"Good, be good!"
Fang Xi praised her, sweeping his Divine Consciousness across it.
Although many of the Heavenly Phoenix clan's secret arts were only suitable for their own race to perform, there were also some secret arts that, after being modified, his main body could perhaps try one or two if he performed the Three-Phase Annihilation Art again.
"Hm?"
Suddenly, Fang Xi saw the last secret art and was startled: "Phoenix Abode Nirvana Art? Such a secret art actually exists in this world?"
"That's right. . . the conditions for this secret art are harsh, and one must also comprehend the Nirvana Divine Ability. . . It is a Tribulation Evading Secret Art."
Little Qing nodded: "From the legacy of that seventh-tier Heavenly Phoenix, I learned that this secret art is specifically used by Heavenly Phoenixes who fail to break through major realms. . . Only Heavenly Phoenixes who break through the Mahayana realm and overcome the Heart Demon Tribulation, but have no hope of surviving the Immortal Lightning Tribulation, will use it. . . Once performed, it can immediately nullify the Immortal Lightning Tribulation, or rather. . . postpone the Immortal Lightning Tribulation! Thus, gaining temporary Mahayana magic power. . ."
"Similar to a False Core or a Dharma Body Nascent Soul? It's just more demanding and short-lived, truly a momentary brilliance. . ."
Fang Xi seemed to recall something and immediately asked, "This secret art, at most, how long can it postpone the Immortal Lightning Tribulation?"
Xiao Qing thought for a moment, then replied uncertainly, "Nine is the ultimate numerical limit. If one employs the Phoenix Dwelling Nirvana Art. . . at most, it should be able to delay the Immortal Lightning Tribulation for eighty-one years. However, after eighty-one years, the heavenly lightning will double, relentless and unending! Master, what did you think of?"
"No wonder I felt. . . this demon race attack was somewhat urgent."
Fang Xi stroked his chin: "Currently, in the direction of Tianjue City, it's said that a battle between Mahayana stage cultivators is on the verge of breaking out. . . If that's truly the case, then the human race will suffer a great loss. . ."
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