Chapter 753: The End of the Great War
Chapter 753: The End of the Great War
Early morning.
Fang Xi, who had been meditating, slowly rose.
After a night of circulating the 'Longevity Art', he had gained quite a bit of lifespan from the Demonic Tree of Primordial Beginning.
Nourished by the Eternal Evergreen Body, the sense of emptiness within him had significantly lessened.
He drank a cup of spiritual dew and began preparing his meal for the day.
His staple was still 'Jade Grain Rice'. These sixth-tier spirit grains were now growing exceptionally well within the Earthly Immortal Spiritual Realm.
Each grain was plump and, when steamed with spiritual water, released an astonishing aroma.
The miniature palaces within the grains seemed to be wreathed in immortal qi. Consuming them greatly replenished one's blood and qi, and the taste was quite excellent.
Before long, the roasted meat, cooked over spirit fire, began to emit an enticing fragrance.
Fang Xi's main body's staple diet had always been Jade Grain Rice paired with ancient desolate beast meat.
While cultivators often fussed over their food, demanding refined grains and finely cut meat, his culinary philosophy was quite simple – as long as there was meat!
After eating his fill, he went to a spiritual pond.
Reflected in the clear pond water was a young man in green robes, with well-proportioned and handsome features, a perfect physique, and hair casually draped over his shoulders, exuding an air of leisure and nonchalance. . .
He gazed far into the distance, as if he could directly see the edges of the Earthly Immortal Spiritual Realm, where endless void shattered, revealing vast stretches of land.
Yet, these lands were not barren.
Instead, there were vast spiritual fields stretching for miles, medicinal gardens, and even beast pens. . .
A Divine Bean Spirit General displayed Divine Transformation-level magic power, directing numerous Yellow Bean Warriors, Bronze Bean Knights, Silver Bean Dao Soldiers, and Gold Bean Dao Generals to register and catalog the newly occupied lands, regulate the earth's qi. . . and incorporate them into the Earthly Immortal Spiritual Realm.
This was Fang Xi absorbing the 'cave-heaven treasure' of Flying Scorpion.
Roar! Roar!
From within this cave-heaven, a fierce beast actually leaped out, its cultivation having reached the Return to Void stage!
Fang Xi didn't even twitch an eyelid. From the northern part of the Earthly Immortal Spiritual Realm, a flood dragon made of vines naturally emerged.
This flood dragon let out a roar, then cooperated with several Jing Wood An from the south.
Coupled with the Dou Wood Xiezhi and Kui Wood Wolf that his External Avatar had captured while exploring the Starry Sky Immortal Mansion earlier, they collectively formed a verdant green grand array.
Within the Earthly Immortal Spiritual Realm, streaks of spiritual light crashed down.
That Return to Void fierce beast was completely suppressed before it could even let out a wail!
"This 'Four Wood Avian Star Grand Array', which gathers Horned Wood Flood Dragon, Dou Wood Xiezhi, Jing Wood An, and Kui Wood Wolf, can be considered perfected. . . Although it leverages the geographical advantages of the Earthly Immortal Spiritual Realm, the combined power of several fifth-tier demon beasts is enough to suppress a sixth-tier one. This is truly the power of formations!"
After all, the reason formations are considered the foremost of all cultivation arts is precisely because they allow cultivators of lower realms to prematurely wield the power of higher realms! RAN?O[Bеs
As various spiritual medicine gardens, rare spiritual medicines, and special spiritual plants were merged into the Earthly Immortal Spiritual Realm, the smile at the corners of Fang Xi's mouth widened: "Not bad. . . truly not bad!"
"Many of these spiritual plants are actually specialties of the Yao race. . . unobtainable even within human territories."
"They will greatly enrich my collection!"
The more complete ecosystem of the Earthly Immortal Spiritual Realm brought the benefit of the daily output of 'Myriad Wood Mother Qi' beginning to surge once more!
"Adding to that the Immortal Jade harvested. . ."
"There's no need for the External Avatar to work hard anymore. . . as long as I digest this for a few decades or a century, I might be able to break through the late-stage Return to Void bottleneck?"
Fang Xi couldn't help but feel extremely satisfied with this cultivation progress.
His cultivation speed, benefiting from the Earth Immortal Way inheritance, surpassed even peerless geniuses who didn't consume elixirs.
However, compared to those Return to Void cultivators who treated advanced magic power elixirs like everyday meals, he was still somewhat inferior.
Yet, he walked steadily, step by step.
Now that he had begun to pour in resources like mad, his magic power advancement speed had reached a point where even favored children of heaven, those 'Immortal Scions' who could treat elixirs as food, would gape in astonishment!
"Legend says that a true heaven-defying talent can elevate their Integration stage by one level in a few decades or a century. . . Compared to that, my aptitude is still too ordinary."
Fang Xi sighed.
After his daily routine inspection of the spiritual realm, he came to a patch of grass.
Large amounts of Myriad Wood Mother Qi transformed into emerald green chains, trapping a blade fragment within them.
It was indeed the fragment of an Immortal Abode Rare Treasure!
"By circulating my cultivation and refining it daily, sooner or later, I'll be able to expel Flying Scorpion's magic power imprint from this fragment. . ."
Fang Xi was in no hurry; after all, he already had enough magical treasures at hand.
At this moment, he casually waved his hand, sending out streaks of Immortal Source Qi, attempting to imprint this fragment of the Immortal Abode Rare Treasure.
Since the original owner had long since died, this was naturally a straightforward matter.
However, as he gazed at the shape of the blade, Fang Xi fell into contemplation.
In Long Qingzi's cultivation technique memories, there were quite a few powerful magical treasures that could be refined during the Return to Void stage, or even the Integration stage.
Among them was a technique for the 'Nine Nine Green Vine Gourd'!
Of course, the one beneath Emerald Island was merely a shrunken, imitation version made by later generations.
The Earth Immortal lineage generally preferred to use vine and wood materials to refine magical treasures, and gourds were a very common shape.
However, in Long Qingzi's memories, the most powerful was still the 'Two Five Soul-Slaying Gourd'!
It used a mutated gourd as its base, cultivating a stream of Geng Metal sharpness qi within the gourd.
The longer it was nurtured, the stronger its power became!
When unleashed, the gourd's mouth would open, and a brilliant light would shoot out, truly possessing the might to slay gods and cut down Buddhas!
Moreover, this 'Two Five Soul-Slaying Gourd' also had a quick refinement method.
As long as one could find a treasure abundant in Geng Metal qi, the nurturing step could be greatly expedited.
In Fang Xi's view, this blade fragment from an Immortal Abode Rare Treasure was perfectly suited.
It was inherently inclined towards metal-attribute supreme treasures, and its form was also a good match.
As long as he could find another mutated gourd and combine it with various rare materials, the 'Two Five Soul-Slaying Gourd' could be quickly completed.
"Even the auxiliary materials, after combining them with Flying Scorpion's collected treasures, I can gather most of them now. . ."
"At that time, this 'Two Five Soul-Slaying Gourd' could serve as my strongest overt method after achieving Integration."
Although Fang Xi currently possessed many methods, most of them couldn't see the light of day.
There's no need to mention the All-Heavens Precious Mirror and the Supreme Pole Star Life-Ending Divine Light for now. The Five Fires Seven Birds Fan has now been confirmed to be linked to the alias 'Old Man Fu', and also involved in Flying Scorpion's death, so it might well be investigated.
Not to mention the Qing He Sword (Fifth Generation); once it became known, Long Qingzi would certainly come looking for trouble.
After refining it into the 'Two Five Soul-Slaying Gourd', he should be able to add some components to the blade and transform it into a flying dagger style.
This wouldn't require remelting the fragment; it would be more like adding some decorations to the surface, or even repainting it, which was relatively simple. . .
What's more, when hidden within the gourd, no one would be able to see its true appearance. Those who truly saw it would likely be facing the flying dagger, and would either die or be severely wounded. . .
"The refinement method for this 'Two Five Soul-Slaying Gourd' came from an external heavenly book and was widely circulated among the higher echelons of the Human Race in the Earthly Immortal World, so there's no need to worry about revealing its origin. . ."
...
Sword Domain.
Before the perilous pass.
Accompanying a desolate beast roar, the demon beast siege army, originally fearless in death, suddenly froze.
Then, they began to retreat like a tide.
High in the sky.
Streaks of sword light were entangled with the Integration stage demon beasts, darting back and forth. A single flash of cold sword light carried an indescribable chill.
"Alas. . . this time, my Yao race ultimately made a wrong move. . ."
A mountain-like demon beast roared. Within its dark green Heavenly Demon Qi, a grayish-white small pagoda emerged.
This small pagoda suddenly grew to touch the heavens and earth. Countless Yao race totems appeared around it, and at its very top were the illusory figures of several great True Spirits.
Streaks of silvery-white light shimmered, stretching across before the numerous cultivators of Sword Pavilion, forming a 'Heavenly River' composed of void cracks, blocking the sword cultivators' path of pursuit.
"Soul Suppressing Pagoda? !"
A middle-aged sword cultivator with snow-white hair and sword-like eyebrows extending to his temples said with deep apprehension.
The Soul Suppressing Pagoda was one of the renowned magical treasures of the Yao race. This particular one had been refined to the high-grade seventh-tier, faintly touching the eighth-tier 'Semi-Immortal Artifact' level, making its void abilities extremely difficult to contend with.
The Integration stage demon cultivator on the opposite side doing this was naturally to cover the retreat of other high-tier demon cultivators.
"Trying to leave? !"
Whoosh!
Suddenly, streaks of green sword light shot up into the sky.
Terrifying sword qi, as if wielding the might of heaven and earth, descended like crushing golden mountains and toppling jade pillars.
Countless Immortal Abode glyphs suddenly erupted, actually splitting the 'Heavenly River' of void cracks into two!
One sword slashes the Heavenly River!
In the void, the figure of a white-robed sword cultivator appeared.
His figure was as straight as a sword, with sharp, starlit eyes. His appearance was that of someone around twenty years old, yet his cultivation had reached the late-stage Return to Void realm!
In his right hand, he held a green short sword!
This short sword was no more than a foot long, with no hilt, entirely verdant green, carrying an unparalleled sharpness.
"Hmph, a mere junior, only able to show off by relying on a flying sword that is an Immortal Abode Rare Treasure!"
From the dark green Heavenly Demon Qi, a flying sword of peculiar texture appeared, slicing through the air with a single strike.
The white-robed youth showed no fear, activating the short sword in his hand, engaging in a fierce mid-air battle with that 'demon sword'.
Only the clang of metal against metal echoed through the sky, and endless sword light shredded the clouds within a ten-thousand-li radius.
Suddenly, a sword cry like a dragon's roar was heard again.
The demon sword transformed into a streak of light, falling into the Integration stage demon cultivator's hand. Several grain-sized chips had already appeared on its blade.
Witnessing this, the demon couldn't help but let out a long cry filled with heartache, then turned and left.
This extended sword battle had been enough to hold this person back, allowing the high-tier demon cultivators to mostly escape.
As for those who hadn't gotten far, they were merely cannon fodder left behind to cover the retreat!
Among the Yao race, it was truly a world where the strong preyed on the weak!
"Don't even think of leaving!"
As the sword-wielding youth was about to give chase, the aforementioned middle-aged sword cultivator transformed into a streak of sword light and blocked him: "Do not pursue a cornered foe!"
"Sword Son, your swordsmanship is truly peerless. To be able to duel an early-Integration stage demon cultivator without falling behind in the slightest. . ."
Several streaks of light halted, revealing the cultivators within, most of whom were sword cultivators. Satisfaction appeared on their faces.
"What a pity. . . to not be able to slay a mighty Integration stage demon on the battlefield!"
The Sword Son sheathed his green short sword and said to the middle-aged man: "Pavilion Master, the Human-Yao Great War is about to end. I wish to travel the ninety-nine domains of the Human Race and challenge all swordsmen!"
"Although it is a tradition for Sword Pavilion Sword-Bearers to undertake a trial of wandering the world with their swords, isn't it too soon?"
A Sword Pavilion elder worriedly said.
"Please rest assured, everyone. It won't be long before I can cultivate to the peak of the Return to Void stage. Once I've challenged all swordsmen under heaven and forged an unhindered sword heart, I will be able to attempt a breakthrough to Integration and succeed. . ."
The young Sword Son's tone carried an indescribable determination: "Now that Flying Scorpion has rebelled and one of the Human Race Five Sons is vacant, after I achieve Integration, I must contend for it. . . to make my Sword Pavilion regain its former glory!"
"Sword Son, truly worthy of being a Sword Pavilion Sword-Bearer! The path of a sword cultivator must be unyielding like this, slashing through all obstacles. . ."
The middle-aged sword cultivator smiled with satisfaction: "Since that's the case, then go!"
"Pavilion Master, elders. . . I'm off!"
The Sword Son let out a long cry, and a streak of white light pierced through the void, vanishing into the distance in an instant. . .
...
Moonlight Immortal City.
Fang Xi, in his disguise as the Wang Family Ancestor, rode his little Black Tortoise leisurely back to the island in the lake.
"Welcome, Ancestor!"
"Ancestor's divine might!"
Wang Lingying and Li Rulin led a group of clansmen, respectfully greeting him.
Many clansmen secretly glanced at the little Black Tortoise beneath Fang Xi, their faces filled with disbelief.
'This Black Tortoise has actually advanced to the sixth-tier? '
'It's hard to imagine, I even fed it before. . . '
'The Old Ancestor truly keeps his power hidden. Now, not only is he a Grandmaster of formations and a mid-stage Return to Void cultivator, but with this sixth-tier Black Tortoise, my Wang family has nothing to worry about. . . '
'I heard the Yao race army just suffered a great loss. . . The Human-Yao Great War might end soon, and then it will be peaceful times again. . . '
Fang Xi's expression was calm, responding to the greetings of the juniors below with vague hums and haws.
Not long after, Wang Lingying and Li Rulin, perceiving his unspoken wish, discreetly led their people away.
As usual, he released the little Black Tortoise into the lake, while he himself entered his immortal cave.
Fairy Taiyin gracefully approached, massaging Fang Xi's shoulders.
"Now this is living. . ."
He took a sip of spiritual tea, his eyes comfortably squinted.
For Fang Xi, cultivation was for the sake of freedom and ease.
If he cultivated himself into a mere stone or a sharp sword, that would be far too dull.
Several days later, a streak of light landed within the immortal cave – it was indeed Fairy Chen!
"Fairy Chen, please come in!"
Fang Xi gave a smiling bow, inviting Fairy Chen into the immortal cave for tea.
"Fellow Daoist Wang, I have come this time on behalf of Moonlight Immortal City."
After Fairy Chen drank a cup of spiritual tea, her expression grew serious.
"Oh?"
Fang Xi's eyes brightened slightly: "Have the Immortal City's rewards been distributed?"
As a guest elder of Moonlight Immortal City, there was always compensation for every mission.
He therefore said directly: "If there's enough contribution, this old man would quite like to exchange for another slot to the Starry Sky Immortal Mansion mystic realm. . ."
Although the Dragon Pattern Wall had long been moved over, the Starry Sky Sect should have known by now, yet they kept it a secret.
However, Fang Xi had to display his usual interest, otherwise it would appear as if he had a guilty conscience.
"The Starry Sky Immortal Mansion slots are all gone. This time, the Immortal City lost Chi Songzi and another elder. . . The higher echelons of the Human Race rewarded us with several 'Two Modes Void Breaking Pills' and other rare resources. . . With Fellow Daoist Wang's contribution, it's not enough to exchange for a single 'Two Modes Void Breaking Pill'. . ."
Fairy Chen revealed an important piece of news.
"For this old man, children and grandchildren have their own fortunes. Rather than risking my life to accumulate contributions and exchange for a Two Modes Void Breaking Pill, I'd rather exchange for a few elixirs beneficial to Return to Void cultivation, or longevity spiritual pills. . ."
Fang Xi chuckled, appearing quite magnanimous.
Next, he asked about the latest developments regarding the Great War among the Three Races.
"The Yao race's military might has suffered losses in the Sword Domain and Yan Yu Sect, and they have begun to retreat. . ."
When Fairy Chen mentioned this, a hint of relief appeared on her face: "Although there will still be great battles ahead, the general trend is hard to change. . . This advance by the Yao race initially took great advantage of my Human Race, but then the Heavenly Demon Society's intelligence was leaked, leading to its complete eradication, and they suffered another huge loss. . . All things considered, it can only be said that we currently hold a slight advantage. . ."
After all, the Yao race's army had invaded Human territories and engaged in a great massacre.
Although they themselves suffered considerable losses, that was the nature of war.
"What about the Demon Race? " Feeling the aura of the All-Heavens Precious Mirror fragment still lingering in the direction of the Human Race's border, Fang Xi asked again.
"As for the Demon Race. . . the demonic army led by 'Zizai Tianmo Wang' made very ordinary progress. After receiving support from 'Mo Yun Zi', Five Elements Child and Mo Yun Zi joined forces to repel Zizai Tianmo Wang. . ."
Fairy Chen laughed: "This time, the Demon Race completely intended to pick up some scraps. . . Seeing that the Yao Race and Human Race were evenly matched, and gaining no benefits for themselves, they'll retreat before long. . . In fact, when the situation was critical, the Demon Race even began to contact my Human Race, leaking some intelligence about the Yao Race. . ."
Fang Xi was speechless regarding this situation.
If it were a struggle between just two races, the outcome would likely have been decided long ago.
Only in this situation where the three races were entangled, with another race stepping in to stir the pot whenever two were about to determine a victor, could the war drag on. . . lasting for countless years.
'Once I advance to Mahayana. . . and become unrivaled in this world, perhaps then this situation can change. . . '
A thought inexplicably arose in Fang Xi's mind.
This time, Fairy Chen had come primarily to win over the Wang Family Ancestor, hoping he would directly become an elder of Moonlight Immortal City.
After all, the current Wang Family Ancestor was no longer that cultivator who had just recently advanced to the early Return to Void stage.
Instead, he was a mid-stage Return to Void cultivator, possessing several excellent techniques, and even a sixth-tier Black Tortoise!
Frankly, he was already capable enough to establish a medium-sized sect, and wouldn't face much trouble dominating within the Starry Sky Domain.
Naturally, Fang Xi politely declined.
He had no intention of being deeply tied to Moonlight Immortal City.
He merely promised to continue serving as a guest elder of the Immortal City, and at the same time, used this contribution to exchange for some spiritual pills and rare materials from the Immortal City.
Among these rare materials were those needed for the 'Two Five Soul-Slaying Gourd' and those required for refining seventh-tier puppets.
After Fairy Chen departed, Fang Xi leisurely lay back in his grand armchair: "The great war has ended. . . Finally, I can enjoy a few days of leisure."
Although he knew that this temporary truce would not last long at all – at least with his lifespan, he would certainly encounter many more such conflicts.
Furthermore. . . after the great war ended, internal conflicts within the Human Race would undoubtedly resurface.
Flying Scorpion's rebellion. . . was also a major blow to the demon cultivator forces within the Human Race.
After all, when he served as one of the Human Race Five Sons, many cultivator forces actively gravitated towards him. Now, it was unknown how many of them had been swayed and betrayed, and each one would have to be scrutinized.
And this would naturally alienate those demon cultivators who were already on the fringes!
Not to mention, with one of the Human Race Five Sons' positions vacant, there would certainly be many Integration stage and above old monsters within the Human Race who would be tempted.
According to Fang Xi's knowledge, that 'Sixth Son of the Human Race' now held great hope!
At that time, it would be another fierce struggle between dragons and tigers!
"To become one of the Human Race Five Sons, first, one's background must be clean, and second, one must command respect. . ."
"Basically. . . it's still decided by combat!"
While such a method was primitive, it was also understandable, for cultivators were precisely a group who feared power more than they cherished virtue!
"However. . . that's none of my business!"
Fang Xi's main body had never thought of contending for a position among the Human Race Five Sons.
After all, glory also came with responsibility!
At most. . . he would send his External Avatar!
As an ascended cultivator registered with the Celestial Brahma Camp, his External Avatar's background was absolutely clean.
Moreover, he had already advanced to the mid-stage Return to Void realm. In the future, when he advanced to Integration. . . it would at least be more reasonable than the Wang Family Ancestor advancing to Integration.
"To become one of the Human Race Five Sons, besides filling a vacant position, one could also directly challenge an incumbent. . ."
"At that time, I can first let the External Avatar test Long Qingzi's capabilities. . ."
In this Great War among the Three Races, only one of the Five Sons, Flying Scorpion, had perished. Long Qingzi was still alive and well, which was a somewhat regrettable matter for Fang Xi.
...
Time flowed like water.
Several years later.
The Demon Race army retreated first, declaring a temporary end to the Human-Demon War.
Subsequently, the Yao race army retreated repeatedly, now almost reaching the Three Realms Mountain area, maintaining the previous balance with the Human Race.
Within the Human Race, geniuses constantly emerged, some with undercurrents of ambition, clearly exerting themselves because of the vacant position among the Human Race Five Sons.
Fang Xi paid no attention to these external commotions.
His External Avatar remained in the Celestial Brahma Domain, guarding the Penglai Immortal Pavilion.
His main body, meanwhile, hid within Moonlight Immortal City, occasionally emerging as the Wang Family Ancestor to indulge in leisurely enjoyment.
Most of the time, he used seclusion as an excuse to enter the Earthly Immortal Spiritual Realm, growing alongside it, his cultivation progressing at a rapid pace.
Beneath the Demonic Tree of Primordial Beginning.
Fang Xi held a demon insect shaped like a black cricket in his hand, murmuring: "This challenge is indeed quite significant. . ."
Over these past few years, he had finally thoroughly grasped Eastern Autumn Child's sixth-tier puppet art, especially the part concerning the refinement of quasi-seventh-tier puppets.
By this point, he finally had a certain degree of confidence to begin refining the demon body of Flying Scorpion's avatar!
Once this demon body was refined, its power would likely be no less than that of a Dragon Phoenix Puppet.
In some aspects, it might even surpass it!
Of course, refining this kind of ultra-small puppet was also a huge challenge for Fang Xi's puppet art.
Fortunately, he had a helper.
"Go!"
Fang Xi murmured, and from the crown of the Demonic Tree of Primordial Beginning, countless branches suddenly dangled down.
Among these branches, dense threads also emerged.
They continuously drilled into the demon insect's interior, causing its demon body to occasionally twitch in alarm, seemingly an instinctive reaction.
Having comprehended the six-rank puppet art, Fang Xi innovated upon it, utilizing wood puppets to replace many crucial steps.
As a result, controlling them became as effortless as moving an arm, and it also saved a considerable amount of materials.
“However. . . it still remains a lengthy undertaking. After all, the Demonic Tree is only at the six-rank, making it difficult to refine seven-rank puppets, even quasi-seven-rank ones. . . Therefore, it primarily still relies on me, the puppet master, to dismantle them. . . ”
Comments