Chapter 754: A Century (Requesting monthly votes at month-end)
Chapter 754: A Century (Requesting monthly votes at month-end)
Stars shifted and constellations wheeled.
Time flew by.
In the blink of an eye, another century had swiftly passed.
Within the Earthly Immortal Spiritual Realm.
Compared to before, this spiritual realm seemed to have expanded severalfold, now teeming with all sorts of exotic flowers and rare spirit beasts, presenting a thriving and vibrant scene.
"Squeak, squeak!"
A black insect, resembling a cricket, was perched on a purple flower, sucking spiritual dew.
A nearby Wood Qilin, watching the tiny pilferer, dared not make the slightest move, instead lying prostrate on the ground in deference.
The black cricket, sated, flapped its wings again.
It vanished into thin air, soaring away.
In an instant, it landed on a hand as white as jade.
"A miniature puppet. . . it's finally complete."
Fang Xi gazed at the demonic insect puppet in his hand and nodded subtly.
After all, he wasn't a true grandmaster of puppetry. It had taken him a full century, even with the aid of the Ancestor Demonic Tree, to barely complete this quasi-seventh-rank puppet.
As for the 'Erwu Soul-Slaying Gourd' he had conceptualized, although he had gathered all the supplementary materials, one of the main ingredients—a unique gourd—had yet to be found to his satisfaction, thus causing constant delays.
However, the blade fragment of an Immortal Abode Rare Treasure had been thoroughly refined by him and could now be used as a sharp, conventional means of attack.
Of course, for secrecy, once the blade was unleashed, it necessitated eliminating any witnesses.
"There are many unique gourds in the Earthly Immortal World, but most already have owners, or are located within dangerous mystic realms. . ."
Fang Xi considered the intelligence he had gathered over the years.
The 'Profound Heaven Gourd Vine' he favored most was located within a super-large Immortal Abode Secret Realm. Rumor had it that every time it opened, Integration cultivators would enter to explore, some even tragically perishing. . .
Besides that, there was the 'Crimson Cloud Gourd' he quite liked, which was produced by the Blazing Jade Sect's mountain-guarding spiritual root and rarely flowed out into the market.
That Blazing Jade Sect was an Integration-level sect, and its ancestors had left behind considerable powerful legacies. Before Fang Xi reached the Integration realm, he wouldn't even consider attempting something against them.
There was also a 'Seven Treasures Gourd Vine', rumored to bear seven-colored gourds, each with its unique and wondrous use. However, it was located on a peculiar spiritual island.
It was said that this 'Trapped Sky Island' floated in the void, randomly appearing somewhere in the Earthly Immortal World only once every few hundred to a thousand years—truly a massive pitfall!
The whereabouts of other unique gourds were all similar, which greatly disappointed him.
By now, sixth-rank treasure gourds no longer caught Fang Xi's eye.
Only those of seventh-rank and above were worth his consideration, which naturally increased the difficulty even further.
After carefully putting away the demonic insect puppet, Fang Xi came to the base of the dragon-patterned wall, resuming his cross-legged meditation to comprehend the Dragon Script.
Through years of continuous contemplation, his understanding of the Dragon Script had deepened considerably, and he had even refined several special Dragon Script talismans.
However, when it came to the 'Supreme Pole Star Life-Ending Divine Light', many difficulties still remained, leaving him lingering at the introductory stage, at best having gained a slightly deeper understanding.
Within the Earthly Immortal Spiritual Realm, wisps of Myriad Wood Mother Qi gathered, astonishingly covering an area of over four thousand mu.
Countless spiritual flowers, spiritual grasses, and even wood-element exotic beasts rejoiced, receiving the heavenly sweet rain.
The entire spiritual realm was growing at an astonishing speed. . .
...
Celestial Brahma Domain.
Penglai Immortal Pavilion.
From within the External Avatar's cave abode, a clear, flute-like whistle suddenly resounded.
A moment later.
Fang Xi emerged from his cave abode, letting out a yawn.
Life was this unpretentious; a mere century had passed in the blink of an eye.
"My cultivation progress still lags far behind my main body. . ."
"However, once the main body breaks through, I can simply head to the Three Races Battlefield and capture a few cultivators who practice the 'Myriad Manifestations True Demon Arts'. . ."
He mused inwardly, then headed towards a small waterside pavilion.
Spiritual lotuses dotted the pond, their faint fragrance wafting through the air.
Shui Lingxin was on one side, brewing tea with her fair hands.
Yunxi Xianzi, meanwhile, strummed a jade zither, exquisite heavenly melodies continuously flowing from her fingers.
"Excellent. . . Fellow Daoist Yunxi, this melody of yours, transforming the aura of the mortal world into musical notes, is truly ingenious."
Having heard the full piece, Fang Xi set down his spiritual tea and praised her.
"Alas. . . I also pondered for a long time, and with the help of Senior Sister Baolian, I barely managed to integrate the Celestial Charm Sect's cultivation method with my own studies. . . This is also thanks to our sect's cultivation method being inherently easy to cross-cultivate."
Yunxi Xianzi placed her hands on the zither and smiled sweetly, then her expression grew somewhat downcast: "It's a pity. . . our sect, in the end. . . is no more. . ."
Hearing this, Fang Xi couldn't help but fall silent.
That Integration Patriarch of the Celestial Charm Sect was one of the few top-tier existences among the human race confirmed to have perished after the great war against the demon race.
And without an Integration Patriarch to oversee it, the Celestial Charm Sect immediately splintered apart.
Yunxi Xianzi and Lady Baolian had not returned at that time, thus avoiding many messy and chaotic affairs.
At present, they were wholeheartedly relying on this place for secluded cultivation.
"Recently, the human territories have been experiencing surging changes, with many human prodigies emerging. . . The various Integration old monsters are also making moves, all vying for the vacant positions among the Human Race Five Sons. . . "As the overseer of Penglai Immortal Pavilion, Shui Lingxin had been silently monitoring the latest intelligence in the cultivation world.
She now took advantage of this rare opportunity to speak of it all.
"Speaking of which. . . a vacancy among the Five Sons has actually persisted for a full century, which is quite rare in history."
Yunxi Xianzi's face showed a thoughtful expression.
"It is said. . . that a Mahayana Loose Immortal has spoken, wishing to postpone the selection period, reportedly to wait for numerous new-generation prodigies to mature!"
Shui Lingxin glanced at Fang Xi: "There's also a rumor that a Mahayana Patriarch is waiting for a human prodigy who is still in the demon race's territory to return. . ."
"How could a high-ranking position among humans be privately bestowed? " Yunxi Xianzi laughed dismissively.
However, Fang Xi felt that this matter was actually quite plausible.
After all, Dao Lord Fang Xian had absolutely rendered meritorious service to the human race this time, having performed a colossal feat.
Furthermore, at the Integration realm, holding a complete Immortal Abode Rare Treasure, his combat power might well be sufficient.
If he returned to the human race now, he might genuinely be able to directly become one of the Human Race Five Sons.
It was just unknown why he had remained in the demon race's territory all this time.
'Perhaps he was enjoying himself too much. . . unwilling to miss out on opportunities. '
'When Dao Lord Fang Xian finally returns, it wouldn't be surprising even if he were at the mid-Integration or even late-Integration stage. '
Fang Xi muttered a silent complaint in his heart.
"There's actually such a rumor? Lingxin, do tell me more. " He picked up another pastry, smiling.
"Since Martial Uncle wishes to hear, Lingxin will naturally speak without reservation."
Shui Lingxin respectfully bowed and said: "It is said that for the sake of that prodigy who fell into the demon race's hands, several Mahayana Loose Immortals of our race purposely showed themselves at Three Realms Mountain, just to tie down the demon race's True Spirit-level existences. . . That prodigy is already at the Integration realm, and has fought against several of the demon race's Seven Great Sages, maintaining an undefeated record. . . By now, they should be returning soon."
"Affected by this, many prodigies of our race have also successively broken through. . . Among the more famous ones is the Sword Son of the Sword Domain, who wields a broken sword of Immortal Abode Rare Treasure grade. His cultivation has reached the Return to Void Perfected stage, and he has once slain an Integration cultivator with his sword, being but a step away from the Integration realm."
"Furthermore, there's a Dao Child from the Blazing Jade Sect, who possesses the 'Great Sun Fire Body', a top-tier spiritual physique. He has cultivated several Great Sun divine abilities and once refined several Return to Void Perfected demon cultivators to death. . ."
...
Shui Lingxin then gave examples of several other cultivators: "These are all new-generation human prodigies, hailed as existences with potential to charge towards the Mahayana Loose Immortal realm in the future. . ."
Pausing, she looked at Fang Xi: "Martial Uncle's only disadvantage is having ascended late. Otherwise, had you ascended several millennia earlier, you would surely have a place among the human prodigies now!"
Cultivators held a different definition of 'youth'.
According to the current standards for human prodigies, anyone under five thousand years old who could forge a formidable reputation within the human territories could be counted among them.
Thus, Shui Lingxin felt that Fang Xi had ascended late.
After all, with Martial Uncle's speed of cultivation advancement, there was a glimmer of hope for him to advance to the Integration realm within the next few millennia.
He would then be able to smoothly cross the threshold of 'human prodigy'.
"Haha. . . Your Martial Uncle, I, have always prioritized practical benefits over empty reputation. What's a mere title of 'human prodigy' worth?"
Fang Xi burst into laughter: "For me, it's not even as good as listening to your Master play a short tune here, and tasting the tea brewed by my niece. . ."
"If Martial Uncle likes it, your niece will brew tea for you every day from now on. . ."
Shui Lingxin smiled gently.
"That won't be necessary. One should not enjoy all their blessings to the fullest. . ."
Fang Xi said, shaking his head and swaying his body.
Seeing this, Shui Lingxin secretly rolled her eyes at Fang Xi.
Although this Martial Uncle spoke such words, he was actually quite entangled with Lady Baolian; who knew how much 'shared bliss' he secretly enjoyed. . .
Just then, a paper crane, as if endowed with spirit, descended from high in the sky and landed directly before Shui Lingxin.
Shui Lingxin was startled, momentarily unsure whether she should open it.
"A paper crane message?"
Yunxi Xianzi said: "At this time, for it to seek you out, there must be an important matter. Take a look."
"Yes!"
Shui Lingxin glanced at Fang Xi's expression, then opened the paper crane. After a quick scan of a few lines, her face changed: "The Sword Son of the Sword Pavilion has issued a Challenge for Dao Discussion to the Great Sun Fire Body Dao Child of the Blazing Jade Sect! And that Dao Child has already agreed, setting the Cultivation Battle for nine years from now at Falling Blossoms Mountain!"
"Oh?"
Hearing this, Fang Xi's eyes lit up: "Both of these are at the Return to Void Perfected realm, one peerless in the sword dao, the other possessing the Great Sun Fire Body. . . It truly promises to be quite a spectacle."
Although he said this, he had no intention whatsoever of going to watch it.
After all, even traveling by super teleportation array was too much hassle.
"These two are top-tier geniuses from the human race in the last ten thousand years, destined to reach Integration. . . I didn't expect them to clash so early."
Yunxi Xianzi's expression couldn't help but turn solemn.
Although she knew these two would inevitably compete for supremacy, for it to happen so early was still extremely rare.
"I now believe that rumor to be true. With the Human Race Five Sons' positions vacant, that prodigy of our race, currently still in the demon race's territory, must truly be an unexcelled genius, capable of putting such immense pressure on these Sword Son and Dao Child figures. . . They must first determine a victor, and only then can the winner challenge that person?"
Yunxi Xianzi had accurately grasped some key points.
But Fang Xi still felt that regardless of the outcome of this duel, for the winner, it might very well be a great tragedy!
The second update will be a bit late
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