Chapter 772: The Great Thousand World
Chapter 772: The Great Thousand World
The might of the Void Amalgamation Heavenly Tribulation had truly reached this level!
‘In the end, cultivating as a Ghost Cultivator truly is a dead end! ’
Watching this scene, Liu Xu's resolve solidified even further: she absolutely could not break through to the Return to Void realm using the Disintegration Secret Art.
After all, her lifespan was still quite long; she could continue searching for supplementary spiritual items and make more attempts.
Becoming a Ghost Cultivator. . . was likely the last resort after all hope for the Dao Path was lost.
"Just a single sound of thunder is like this; what kind of power does this dual gold-silver Heavenly Lightning truly possess?"
Shui Lingxin diligently circulated her Spiritual Eye Technique, attempting to clearly discern the figure undergoing tribulation.
Alas, the External Avatar, controlling the outer formations, had long since encircled the massive green mountain in layers upon layers.
At the peak of the mountain formed by the Grand Unity Azure Wood Divine Light.
Fang Xi’s eyes appeared neither fully open nor fully closed, clearly still immersed in the lingering aftereffects of the Inner Demon Tribulation.
It had to be said, an Inner Demon of the Void Amalgamation level was indeed incredibly arduous.
Fortunately, his Dao Heart was as hard as iron, and he had made many preparations beforehand.
Whether it was his daily spiritual conditioning with Buddhist artifacts, or his tempering of the heart in the mortal world, all ensured that no matter what illusion he experienced, he could maintain a thread of clarity within, ultimately breaking free from the tribulation!
And just as the Heavenly Tribulation descended, Fang Xi, as if by physical instinct, summoned the ‘Hunyuan Heavenly Luo Umbrella’!
The umbrella continuously pulsed with Five Elements Mystic Light, transforming into primordial chaos, attempting to neutralize the lightning tribulation.
But in the very next moment, it was reduced to dust within the gold-silver lightning!
Just the first bolt of lightning had destroyed this sixth-rank lightning-nullifying treasure!
Yet, the Hunyuan Heavenly Luo Umbrella had, at the very least, bought Fang Xi enough time!
He stretched, his body crackling with a series of pops and snaps.
The illusory figures of the Four True Spirits—Phoenix, Qilin, True Dragon, and Black Tortoise—emerged, forming a layer of four-colored armor on his body.
Behind Fang Xi, a colossal figure materialized, its face and physique identical to his own.
Humans are the chief of all spirits, therefore the Heavenly Demon True Body is, in essence, the Human Race True Body!
The illusory Dharma Idol stretched out its massive hand and crushed the first Heavenly Lightning bolt.
CRACK!
The second bolt of dual gold-silver Heavenly Lightning descended, its terrifying might forcing Yunxi Xianzi and the other onlookers to retreat again and again, eventually even landing on the ground, unable to clearly see the core of the Heavenly Tribulation.
"Go!"
Fang Xi fiercely struck the ‘Myriad Demon Armor’.
As the Myriad Demon Armor roared, a layer of illusory four-colored light transformed into armor, continuously expanding to meet the lightning tribulation in mid-air.
Bzzzt! Bzzzt!
After passing through the four-colored Mystic Light, the dual gold-silver Heavenly Lightning abruptly shrank by nearly half, transforming from the thickness of a bucket to that of a bowl, then was struck by Fang Xi’s punch.
BANG!
Countless gold-silver electric arcs burst open, bouncing across the colossal Dharma Idol formed by the Heavenly Demon True Body, as if adorning it with a layer of gold and silver armor.
RUMBLE!
The Heavenly Lightning struck in quick succession; in the blink of an eye, eight layers of lightning had passed!
The ninth bolt of lightning crashed down, shattering even the illusory Myriad Demon Armor in the void!
Even the demon race's secret tribulation-passing technique still had its limits!
"Heavenly Demon True Body!"
Fang Xi roared, punching skyward!
RUMBLE!
The Heavenly Demon Dharma Idol roared and threw a punch as well; the colossal fist-shadow met the gold-silver lightning, transforming into a streak of white light.
Whoosh! Whoosh!
Beneath the white light, the illusory Ancestral Demonic Tree began to burn fiercely.
That colossal green mountain, entirely formed from Grand Unity Azure Wood Divine Light, which in some sense represented Fang Xi's cultivation, had a layer shaved off!
Lightning flashed several times!
The tenth, eleventh, and twelfth bolts of lightning crashed down!
CRACK!
The Heavenly Demon Dharma Idol perished together with the tenth and eleventh bolts of lightning.
Following that. . .
The twelfth bolt of lightning struck directly onto Fang Xi’s chest.
Sizzzzzle!
Electric arcs flashed wildly around him; his magic robe instantly dissolved into green smoke, revealing incredibly smooth skin. . .
"Pfft!"
Fang Xi spat out a mouthful of vital blood, watching as the colossal green mountain collapsed with a rumble: "Twelve layers of lightning have passed. . ."
Above the firmament, countless dark clouds gathered, and the Heavenly Might suddenly intensified!
"What? !"
Shui Lingxin's face paled in shock upon seeing this: "What's going on? Shouldn't a Void Amalgamation cultivator's lightning tribulation only have twelve layers?"
"No. . ."
Madam Baolian's face was also deathly pale: "Legend has it that some monstrous Return to Void cultivators encounter more Heavenly Tribulations; this is the principle of Heaven and Earth's balance. . ."
"Uncle-Master. . ."
Shui Lingxin clenched her hands tightly, gazing at the collapsing green mountain, appearing extremely uneasy.
...
RUMBLE RUMBLE RUMBLE!
The thirteenth, fourteenth, and fifteenth bolts of lightning crashed down.
Within the colossal pit, countless plumes of smoke and dust danced.
Fang Xi lay at the bottom of the pit, wiping away the blood from the corner of his mouth.
By now, patterns resembling cracked porcelain had appeared all over his body.
A vibrant green light, brimming with life, stubbornly surged from the cracks, seemingly striving to seal his wounds.
The Eternal Evergreen Body radiated astonishing vitality, rapidly healing his terrifying injuries.
"Hahaha. . . the Way of Balance, what a joke!"
Fang Xi gazed at the thunderclouds that still hadn't dissipated in the sky, a hint of mad laughter appearing at the corner of his mouth.
Then, he clasped his hands together, and a dark green seal character emerged: "Spiritual Realm. . . Open!"
A layer of jade-like color instantly permeated the void of the Earthly Immortal World, continuously expanding outward.
Utilizing the time gained from the previous tribulation, the Earthly Immortal Spiritual Realm had finally completed its expansion.
At this moment, scene after scene of illusory projections materialized behind Fang Xi.
Sizzzzle!
A bolt of Heavenly Lightning descended, and upon entering the Spiritual Realm, it astonishingly began to rapidly dissipate.
At this moment, all things within the Earthly Immortal Spiritual Realm, whether willing or unwilling, were bearing a portion of the Heavenly Tribulation's backlash for Fang Xi, no matter how minuscule!
RUMBLE!
The seventeenth and eighteenth bolts of Heavenly Lightning descended, yet within the jade-like Spiritual Realm, they appeared utterly powerless.
"It didn't even force out the Ancestral Demonic Tree's tribulation-substitute technique. . ."
"Nor did it force me to use the Fifth Generation Green-Sword. . ."
"And it certainly didn't force me to make my External Avatar withstand the lightning. . ."
"A double grand Heavenly Tribulation, its power is just average, I suppose. . ."
The clouds dispersed, the lightning vanished, and a fine, misty rain descended.
An incredibly dense, almost tangible vitality emanated from Fang Xi's body.
Following that, he flipped over and stood up, the injuries sustained under the eighteen bolts of the grand Void Amalgamation Heavenly Tribulation rapidly healing.
"This is. . . Void Amalgamation?"
Feeling the explosive increase in his Divine Consciousness, physical strength, and even the essence of his magic power, Fang Xi murmured.
"Congratulations, fellow Daoist, on advancing to Void Amalgamation!"
Yunxi Xianzi and the others were finally able to bypass the External Avatar's defenses and come face-to-face with Fang Xi's true self to offer their congratulations.
"Mm. . . I will be entering secluded cultivation for a period."
Fang Xi casually uttered a few words, then transformed into a streak of light, preparing to return to his cave abode to thoroughly digest the benefits of this advancement.
"Sigh. . ."
Seeing this scene, Shui Lingxin couldn't help but sigh: "My Penglai Immortal Pavilion, I'm afraid it won't be peaceful from now on. . ."
Even if this place was very remote, the commotion of Heaven and Earth Yuan Qi caused by a Void Amalgamation breakthrough was too great!
It was likely that many cultivators in the wilderness would discover these Heaven and Earth anomalies and make their conjectures.
This news would quickly spread.
And a single Void Amalgamation cultivator was enough to attract overtures from the human race's most top-tier forces!
"My Penglai Immortal Pavilion can now also be considered a major human force with a Void Amalgamation Grand Power overseeing it."
Yunxi Xianzi chuckled, playfully teasing her disciple.
After all, Fang Xi and Madam Baolian were still nominally guest elders of the Penglai Immortal Pavilion. . .
...
As for the commotions and disturbances outside, Fang Xi simply couldn't be bothered.
Upon entering his cave abode, he immediately returned to the Earthly Immortal Spiritual Realm, slowly digesting his explosively growing magic power and Divine Consciousness. . .
He remained seated cross-legged beneath the Ancestral Demonic Tree for several months before he could barely adapt to the early Void Amalgamation realm.
"Indeed, above Void Amalgamation, lies an entirely new world."
Fang Xi looked up and saw that the Ancestral Demonic Tree had also grown significantly taller, becoming even more robust.
Earth Immortal cultivation was intimately connected to one's spiritual root.
Now, with his cultivation breaking through to Void Amalgamation, the Ancestral Demonic Tree's grade had also advanced to the seventh-rank, becoming a rare Worldly Spiritual Root in the Earthly Immortal World even outside!
Light flashed in his hand, and the sixth-rank ‘Life and Death Seal’ appeared.
"As a Life-Bound Magical Treasure. . . as long as it's nurtured with my now qualitative-changed Void Amalgamation magic power, it should be able to advance to seventh-rank. . . but I don't know how long that will take."
"However, there's a simpler method now. . ."
Fang Xi looked at the Ancestral Demonic Tree behind him.
The ‘Life and Death Seal’ was originally refined from materials of the Ancestral Demonic Tree, and now the Ancestral Demonic Tree was a towering seventh-rank.
As long as he continuously refined and incorporated seventh-rank branches from the Ancestral Demonic Tree, enhancing the ‘Life and Death Seal’s essence, and coupled with his own early Void Amalgamation magic power, it should swiftly elevate to the seventh-rank!
Fang Xi even harbored a slight suspicion that many of the eighteen bolts of dual gold-silver lightning from the grand Void Amalgamation Heavenly Tribulation he endured were actually endured on behalf of the Ancestral Demonic Tree!
After reaching Void Amalgamation, the quality of his magic power even surpassed ordinary Immortal Essence Qi.
And once he reached the Great Ascension level, the essence of his magic power would once again elevate, known as ‘Immortal Yuan Power’, allowing him to refine semi-immortal artifacts!
Although the might of semi-immortal artifacts was still inferior to complete Immortal Abode Rare Treasures, they were equivalent to some fragmented Immortal Abode Rare Treasures.
He sat cross-legged; a spiritual light flashed above his Heavenly Spirit, and his Main Nascent Soul emerged.
At this moment, his Main Nascent Soul was entirely green and about a foot in size.
"A Nascent Soul is originally the product of a cultivator's essence, qi, and spirit condensed to a high degree; its essence is illusory. . ."
"But a Void Amalgamation cultivator's Nascent Soul has already become semi-materialized. . . capable of unlimited possession."
Fang Xi caressed his Nascent Soul body, feeling immensely satisfied: "It's said that upon reaching the Great Ascension realm, a perfected Nascent Soul's height and appearance become identical to the cultivator's true self, and it can even endure indefinitely without a physical body!"
"At that point, the physical body truly becomes a foul skin-bag, something that can be discarded at will. . ."
"Only such a perfected Nascent Soul is the true seed of a Primordial Spirit, possessing the foundation to transform into one. . ."
True Immortals with Primordial Spirits have endless lifespans; even Fang Xi, in his current state, felt a twinge of envy.
At this moment, with a slight perception, he knew his own lifespan was roughly around eighty thousand years.
"In the Earthly Immortal World, ordinary human Soul Transformation cultivators have lifespans around four to five thousand years, and Return to Void cultivators generally have lifespans of ten thousand years. . ."
"Void Amalgamation cultivators, however, have lifespans in the tens of thousands of years, typically not exceeding thirty thousand years. . ."
"Great Ascension Rogue Immortals. . . have lifespans between fifty thousand and one hundred thousand years. It's said that every so often, they encounter Immortal Lightning Tribulations, and must pass nine consecutive times to completely transform their Nascent Soul into a Primordial Spirit and ascend to the True Immortal World!"
"Is my current lifespan at the Great Ascension Rogue Immortal level?"
The Main Nascent Soul murmured, then summoned the ‘Life and Death Seal’, made of black wood and smooth as jade on its surface.
As his outwardly acknowledged Life-Bound Magical Treasure, this item rarely made an appearance; when it did, it claimed lives.
The Main Nascent Soul sent out a series of incantations, and its early Void Amalgamation magic power let out a dragon's roar as it surged into the ‘Life and Death Seal’.
Light flashed on the surface of the ‘Life and Death Seal’, and an illusory Ancestral Demonic Tree appeared.
A mysterious Mystic Light was generated, flowing from the roots through the trunk, finally sweeping out from the crown of the tree.
The Main Nascent Soul's hand seals shifted, and streaks of purple Dragon-Seal Script emerged around its body.
These Dragon-Seal Scripts rapidly merged into the Withered Glory Mystic Light, causing a qualitative transformation in this streak of Mystic Light!
"Now that I've reached the Void Amalgamation realm, even a perfected Void Amalgamation cultivator, struck by my Supreme Pole Star Life-Ending Divine Light, will lose ten years of their lifespan for every year of my own lifespan I expend. . . Even a Great Ascension Rogue Immortal, with my eighty thousand years of lifespan, could have their lifespan shortened by eight thousand. . ."
This, in reality, already posed an extreme deterrent to Great Ascension cultivators.
After all, in Fang Xi's view, if one's lifespan was consumed so drastically, the Great Ascension-level Heavenly Tribulation might even accelerate its arrival.
Because a Great Ascension cultivator's tribulations didn't arrive with realm advancement, but rather with the passage of time. . .
"And this, is merely an entry-level grand Divine Ability!"
The Supreme Pole Star Life-Ending Divine Light Divine Ability has three levels: basic, minor mastery, and major mastery.
Since Fang Xi first achieved basic mastery after utilizing the Minghuan World, he had made virtually no further progress.
However, recently, through the opportunities provided by the Dragon-Patterned Wall and the Xuanjing Wall, he had begun to make leaps and bounds in the path of Dragon-Seal Script.
Especially the insights gained from the Xuanjing Wall, which made Fang Xi realize that his accumulation was already sufficient.
He was just a step away from breaking through to a higher level of Divine Ability.
And advancing to Void Amalgamation was undoubtedly the best opportunity!
At this moment, the Main Nascent Soul's small hand seals shifted, and the purple Dragon-Seal Scripts that were originally swirling around it rumbled, faintly condensing into the shape of a flood dragon.
This flood dragon was entirely purple, each scale seemingly composed of a different Dragon-Seal Script, and it possessed a single horn on its forehead.
The purple flood dragon wagged its head and tail, charging into the ‘Withered Glory Mystic Light’.
This divine light instantly turned faint purple, imbued with an inexplicable aura of desolation; all things around withered, as if entering the autumn and winter seasons. . .
"Supreme Pole Star Life-Ending Divine Light. . . Minor Mastery!"
A hint of joy appeared on Fang Xi's face.
With this grand Divine Ability reaching minor mastery, its power to strip away the lifespan of cultivators at the same realm reached a terrifying ratio of one to thirty-three years!
As long as he expended one year of his own lifespan, he could wantonly strip a Void Amalgamation cultivator of thirty-three years of their lifespan!
"In this way, even the long-lived Void Amalgamation powerhouses of the demon and devil races would be completely outmatched before me. . ."
"Furthermore, even Great Ascension Rogue Immortals, if their great limit is within twenty-four thousand years, could potentially be slain by me. . ."
"Even Changqingzi back then, hadn't cultivated this grand Divine Ability to the minor mastery stage, right?"
Fang Xi deeply felt his own terrifying power; perhaps it had already exceeded certain limits.
However, the true world fundamentally needed no talk of limits, nor any so-called balance; there was only the constant strengthening of the strong!
If one possessed an advantage, the proper course of action was to magnify that advantage by any means necessary!
A flash of spiritual light!
The Main Nascent Soul, after demonstrating the grand Divine Ability, returned to its position. Fang Xi opened his eyes: "As I expected, after reaching Void Amalgamation, I can indeed traverse the Earthly Immortal World unchallenged. . ."
However, he then recalled the fate of the Fangxian Dao Master.
Although his own magic power and Divine Abilities far surpassed the Fangxian Dao Master's, even if the Fangxian Dao Master were resurrected now, he would only be defeated by Fang Xi.
But the other party's experience served as a deep warning in Fang Xi's heart.
‘A certain Great Ascension Rogue Immortal, narrow-minded, might not be pleased to see a true genius rise. . . ’
For a Great Ascension Rogue Immortal, human interests were all illusory; their true pursuit was the advancement of their own cultivation, passing a few more layers of tribulations, and ultimately ascending to the True Immortal World!
What if there were peerless geniuses among the human race?
If they couldn't bring benefit to oneself, they were still useless!
‘Now, perhaps I can attempt to investigate the Dao Master’s death. . . ’
A thought surfaced in Fang Xi's mind.
After reaching Void Amalgamation, he was already invincible on Trapped Sky Island; it was the perfect time to clear things up and then relocate the Kyushu World to the Earthly Immortal World!
This was the best way to make the Kyushu World advance by leaps and bounds in a short period!
As for transforming the Kyushu World into the foremost lower realm, perhaps even surpassing the Earthly Immortal World?
That was the grand aspiration of the Kyushu people, not his.
Bringing the Kyushu World cultivators to the Earthly Immortal World was already being exceptionally benevolent and righteous.
‘With Gui Axe and Tumo’s aptitudes, I wonder if they can achieve Void Amalgamation in the future. . . ’
These two cultivators had sworn an oath: if they didn't avenge the Dao Master, their Great Dao would be difficult to achieve!
The so-called Great Dao, at the very least, implied achieving True Immortal status!
...
After a moment's thought, a yellow-skinned gourd and a small red-skinned gourd appeared in Fang Xi's hand.
As for the ‘Innate Pristine Qi Purple Gourd’, its Innate Pristine Qi had not yet been consumed, and the purple-skinned gourd was the best vessel for it, so there was no need to use it for artifact refinement for now.
The essence qi from both the yellow-skinned gourd and the red-skinned gourd had been extracted; they were now merely seventh-rank materials, which was just right.
"What a pity. . . none of these gourds contained gourd seeds. . . otherwise, if I could plant the Seven Treasures Gourd Vine within the Earthly Immortal Spiritual Realm, that would be truly marvelous. . ."
Fang Xi sighed inwardly.
Light flashed in his hand, and dozens of boxes instantly flew out.
Upon opening them, streaks of spiritual light of various colors emerged.
Inside, there were unknown metals shimmering with dazzling brilliance, and strange liquids radiating magnificent colors—all were, surprisingly, auxiliary materials for refining the ‘Erwu Soul-Slaying Gourd’.
In the center, there was a fragmented blade of an Immortal Abode Rare Treasure grade, obtained from the ephemeral clone.
All that was missing was a seventh-rank gourd!
Furthermore, Fang Xi planned to merge these two gourds together, which should enhance their material by another degree.
Even the purple-skinned gourd he possessed, and any more Seven Treasures Gourds he might acquire in the future, could be refined into it to enhance the magical treasure’s power.
"As for the gourd's base color, I can choose the yellow skin as primary; yellow leans towards gold. . ."
With his plan settled, Fang Xi immediately spurted out a stream of emerald-green True Fire.
Upon his advancement to Void Amalgamation, the True Fire within his body immediately increased in power, capable of easily melting even seventh-rank materials.
First, an unknown metal was melted by the emerald-green True Fire, instantly transforming into a vibrant, multi-colored liquid. With a slight pull from Fang Xi, crystal-clear fine threads were drawn from it.
Following that, Fang Xi refined that brilliantly colored liquid into various rare materials, then tossed the red-skinned gourd inside. . .
Several days later.
Fang Xi took a deep breath and picked up the yellow-skinned gourd.
This yellow-skinned gourd was now vastly different from before; not only was its surface smoother and more lustrous like a piece of yellow jade, but it had also become incredibly heavy.
Whoosh! Whoosh!
The {Taiyi Scripture} materialized, displaying array diagrams upon its surface.
Fang Xi gave a soft shout, his immensely powerful Divine Consciousness guiding a carving knife shrunk to its absolute limit, beginning to carve prototype array formations within the gourd's interior.
Arranging profound formations within a single gourd was also a test of his mastery as a Formation Master.
Forty-nine days later.
Before Fang Xi, a ball of emerald-green True Fire blazed fiercely. Within it were the yellow-skinned gourd and the fragmented blade of Immortal Abode Rare Treasure grade.
Between these two, countless wisps of metallic threads now interconnected them.
Even the fragmented blade had been modified; it now appeared more slender, resembling a flying dagger.
Within the yellow-skinned gourd, a rumble sounded, and array formations emerged one after another.
The gourd's mouth opened, and a dense aura of Geng Metal emerged.
"Go!"
Fang Xi's hand seals shifted like a whirlwind, causing the fragmented blade-dagger to hum.
Suddenly, the flying dagger transformed into a streak of white light and plunged into the yellow-skinned gourd.
The yellow-skinned gourd trembled, emitting a sound like a great bell.
"The Erwu Soul-Slaying Gourd is complete!"
Fang Xi cast an incantation, and the yellow-skinned gourd immediately shrank to the size of an adult's fist, which he then hung at his waist.
After all, it primarily relied on the power of the fragmented blade, so the difficulty of this artifact refinement was not high; in fact, it was quite effortless.
However, he could imagine how astonishing it would be to the world when this flying dagger was unsheathed once more!
"Now, at early Void Amalgamation, with a Blood Fiend Banner and an Erwu Soul-Slaying Gourd in hand. . . it's quite good."
"At the very least, my apparent strength is enough to contend with even a mid-stage Void Amalgamation cultivator."
Fang Xi was relatively satisfied with his current strength.
After all, he had learned from the Fangxian Dao Master's lesson and wasn't planning to be too high-profile; what he had revealed was already sufficient to gain attention.
"Among ascended cultivators, many talented individuals emerge. . ."
Fang Xi silently sighed with emotion, but did not emerge from seclusion.
Instead, his expression became incredibly solemn.
After advancing to Void Amalgamation, upgrading the Supreme Pole Star Life-Ending Divine Light seemed less important compared to what was to come. . .
He clasped his hands together, and the All-Heavens Precious Mirror appeared.
His early Void Amalgamation magic power surged wildly into the All-Heavens Precious Mirror, making Fang Xi feel a step closer to completely mastering this incredible treasure.
"I can now mobilize more Void Energy. . ."
"Now, purely in terms of comprehension of void laws and control over Void Energy, I dare compare myself even to a True Spirit-level phoenix. . ."
A hint of joy appeared on Fang Xi's face.
Then, his Divine Consciousness infinitely expanded, as if 'seeing' the entire Earthly Immortal World through the ‘All-Heavens Precious Mirror’!
From his perspective, the boundless void was vast and endless; the ‘Earthly Immortal World’ was like a sun, attracting countless small worlds, as numerous as grains of sand. . .
"Buddhist sects speak of Small Thousand Worlds, Middle Thousand Worlds, and Great Thousand Worlds. . ."
Suddenly, a thought surfaced in Fang Xi's mind.
Immediately after, he saw yet another 'star' beyond the stars of the Earthly Immortal World!
"If the True Immortal World is regarded as a Great Thousand World, then the Earthly Immortal World and this other world. . . both fall under the category of Middle Thousand Worlds. . ."
Through the 'All-Heavens Precious Mirror', Fang Xi's gaze pierced towards that other Middle Thousand World.
In terms of sheer scale, he felt it ought to be on the same level as the Earthly Immortal World, even giving him a strong sense of danger.
'No need to be too reckless at first. . . '
He fixed his gaze upon the countless sand-like small worlds surrounding that 'star'.
"However, with a Middle Thousand World right here, didn't that imply. . ."
Fang Xi's Divine Consciousness suddenly soared, and he saw. . .
Comments