Chapter 85: Ambush (Seeking Monthly Votes)
Chapter 85: Ambush (Seeking Monthly Votes)
After leaving the auction, Fang Xi took several detours.
He then secretly slipped out of the Cultivation City. Only after confirming that no one was following him did he revert to his original appearance and return to Cave Abode Number Thirty-Seven, Section C.
"What a truly wonderful place. . . Too bad I won't be staying much longer."
As he gazed at every blade of grass and every twig within the cave abode, sensing the pure first-order spiritual energy surrounding him, Fang Xi couldn't help but sigh inwardly.
He had already completed the check-out procedures and would be leaving by the end of the month.
After all, the next step was to strive for 'tree planting'!
"Those who obstruct my tree planting shall die!"
A chilling glint flickered in Fang Xi's eyes. As the saying goes, "A craftsman must first sharpen his tools if he is to do his work well. " He began to inspect his equipment.
For offense, the Green Reaping Sword was utterly inadequate. It could be replaced by the newly purchased Extraterrestrial Meteorite Sword, while the Golden Flood Dragon Shears and his martial cultivation were his ultimate trump cards.
Only in terms of movement was the Black Cloud Pouch somewhat slow.
'Hmm. . . Tomorrow I can go borrow twenty Spirit Stones from Old Man Rottenwood to buy a 'Flight Talisman' for backup. . . '
It wasn't that Fang Xi was out of Spirit Stones.
If he were truly short on Spirit Stones, he could always make a trip to Da Liang, where there were plenty of demon beasts.
Especially the Eight Great Demon Kings, whose haunts had long been scouted out. They lacked intelligence and couldn't even use demon arts; it was practically like getting them for free.
Fang Xi simply wanted to build a good relationship with Old Man Rottenwood.
At the very least, after lending out these twenty Spirit Stones, that old Daoist would most likely not want him to die, lest there be no one to repay him!
'We're all brothers in the same trench, so lending him twenty Spirit Stones isn't too much, is it? '
'Worst case, I'll pay him back with spirit grain once my farming endeavors succeed. . . '
After a period of contemplation, Fang Xi took out the box containing the 'Minor Cloud Rain Array', retrieved the jade slip, and meticulously began to comprehend it.
Half an hour later, he opened his eyes, feeling slightly fatigued. "I understand. . . but I still can't do it!"
If that female formation master was a top student, then without a doubt, Fang Xi was a complete dunce when it came to formations!
The 'fake dunce': The top student tells you the solution, you plug it into the formula, and lo and behold. . . "I've got it!"
The 'true dunce': The top student tells you the solution, and you still can't freaking do it!
Fang Xi, at this moment, was the true dunce!
Fortunately, this jade slip contained not only the solution to the 'Minor Cloud Rain Array' but also the answers!
Even a true dunce would have no problem simply copying down the answers!
'It feels like all my previous efforts were for naught. . . I'm so foolish, truly, I should never have tried to learn formations! '
'Next time I have a chance, I'll learn talisman crafting instead! '
'Before, I didn't have any other cultivation arts inheritances, but now, even if I starve to death, I still wouldn't. . . forget it, let's not say things that will come back to bite me. '
'Compared to learning formations, I'd rather just go kill a few more demon beasts. '
Fang Xi took out the Extraterrestrial Meteorite Sword from his storage pouch. Holding it, he immediately felt his entire arm grow heavier by several degrees.
The sword had an ancient, unadorned design, and its blade was exceptionally sharp. When touched, it wasn't cold; rather, it had a warm sensation.
Unfortunately, this meteorite iron truly couldn't contain any magical power; otherwise, it would have been a top-grade material for forging artifacts!
This sword couldn't be used for sword-flight or remote manipulation. It could only be wielded by hand for chopping and stabbing, utterly lacking the demeanor of a cultivator. However, Fang Xi didn't mind.
Whoosh! Whoosh!
Relying on his immense arm strength, he swung it a few times casually.
Inside the cave abode, a violent gust of wind immediately erupted!
Thwack!
Wherever the sword tip passed, a bluestone was evenly split into two halves down the middle.
"Good sword! With just its weight, it could smash people to death."
"A heavy sword with an edge, crafted with exquisite skill. . . I'll call you Profound Iron Sword!"
Fang Xi swung the Profound Iron Sword a few times, finding it quite comfortable to wield.
He pondered for a moment, then suddenly grew excited. With a soft shout, his true qi surged forth, pouring into the Profound Iron Sword!
A miraculous scene unfolded!
Streaks of true qi spread across the Profound Iron Sword, causing the dark, massive sword to suddenly take on a dark red hue!
Fang Xi flicked a finger, and the sword hummed, solid and ancient.
From the sword tip, a three-inch-long crimson blade of true qi abruptly emerged, akin to a sword gleam!
This sword, it seemed, was not in conflict with true qi.
"Not bad, not bad. . . When the time comes, I'll first circulate qi throughout my body, then wield the Profound Iron Sword imbued with true qi. It would be best to don a full set of superior-grade artifact armor; I'd definitely be a human-shaped fierce beast! One sword strike, one dead kid!"
...
Several days later.
Dozens of miles away from Peach Blossom Island, upon a hidden reef.
Several figures sat cross-legged, concealing their forms with the help of a mist.
"Fellow Daoist Ruan's 'Mist Concealment Talisman' is truly profound. That villain Lu will surely be decapitated today!"
Old Man Rottenwood twirled a wisp of mist with his fingers, complimenting.
Wei Yi Xin and Hua Chan Juan remained silent, simply and quietly checking their talismans and wiping down their artifacts.
For them, this was a battle where their very lives were at stake; there was no room for error!
Fang Xi, pretending to wipe his Green Turtle Shield, then looked up at the sky. "Will the enemy really take this path?"
He actually disliked this kind of uncertain waiting.
If Lu Jing Qing were on the island, he would be willing to attempt an infiltration and ambush.
No!
Making a grand display of power and hogging all the glory was not Fang Xi's style.
He would only disguise himself, secretly inflict heavy injuries on Lu Jing Qing, and then let his group easily reap the benefits. . .
However, Ruan Xing Ling was absolutely confident, and Old Man Rottenwood and the others were unwilling to directly assault the formation, opting for an ambush instead.
Ruan Xing Ling, who had been resting with her eyes closed, opened them. "That villain Lu is transporting a batch of spiritual items to the Treasure Ship Market for sale, and then attending an auction. He is currently on his way back. . . His whereabouts are all within this one's grasp."
"Could this person have received news in advance? " Fang Xi cautiously inquired.
"No, very few people know of this one's return, and all those this one contacted have promised secrecy. " Ruan Xing Ling seemed to be full of confidence.
Seeing this, Fang Xi found it hard to say anything more.
Otherwise, that Daoist Companion couple would once again raise their eyebrows and find fault.
'It's just Qi Refinement fifth-level, isn't it? Perhaps I'll break through in a few days. . . '
Fang Xi drew out his Green Reaping Sword and meticulously wiped it clean.
Although this sword was merely a low-grade artifact and somewhat damaged, it encapsulated the entire life of a Spirit Farmer.
Just like the spiritual plant cultivator's inheritance from that Jia Feicai.
Most Rogue Cultivators in the cultivation world died like wild dogs.
Upon seeing the Green Reaping Sword, Ruan Xing Ling seemed to hesitate several times, wanting to speak, but forcibly held back.
She really wanted to ask why, since he borrowed twenty Spirit Stones from Old Man Rottenwood, he didn't buy a better artifact, but instead purchased a 'Flight Talisman'? !
However, just like cultivation methods and secret arts, a cultivator's overall strength, including their artifacts and talismans, was considered private. She found it awkward to inquire.
Whoosh!
Just then, a whooshing sound broke the air, and a sound transmission talisman flew over!
Ruan Xing Ling took it, and a joyous expression appeared on her face. "That villain Lu is about to arrive! There are five of them, one late-stage Qi Refinement, four mid-stage Qi Refinement, and one of them is my person!"
'No wonder this woman knows Lu family's every move like the back of her hand; so she planted an internal informant? '
Wei Yi Xin's couple and Old Man Rottenwood all wore expressions of understanding.
The five immediately roused their spirits, clutching their artifacts tightly.
Indeed, not long after, a small flying boat appeared in the distance. With a mere flash, it traversed a great distance and arrived directly above the reef.
"Act!"
Ruan Xing Ling lightly shouted, making the first move. Amidst flashing pink light, a sword gleam shot skyward.
Within the sword gleam, there was surprisingly a sword artifact with numerous runes carved onto its surface. It had no hilt, and its blade gleamed with a cold light—it was a superior-grade artifact!
Just as Ruan Xing Ling made her move, Old Man Rottenwood, Wei Yi Xin's couple, and Fang Xi acted almost simultaneously.
Two flying daggers, a whisk, and a Green Reaping Sword simultaneously flew into the air.
With a single surge, the five streaks of light intercepted the flying boat.
"Hmph, how dare you intercept my Lu family?"
Amidst a cold snort, the flying boat abruptly vanished, and five cultivators materialized. The leader among them was a middle-aged man with a purplish complexion, exuding an aura of authority without anger.
Behind the middle-aged man followed a female cultivator in her thirties or forties, exuding a captivating allure, along with three mid-stage Qi Refinement cultivators.
"Lu Jing Qing!"
Ruan Xing Ling, stepping on a flower basket, flew into the air and coldly shouted, "Today is the day you shall die!"
Slap!
As if Ruan Xing Ling's words were a signal, the moment her voice fell, the female cultivator standing behind Lu Jing Qing suddenly delivered a palm strike to the vital point on Lu Jing Qing's back!
Her five fingers were strikingly adorned with five jet-black rings, resembling some kind of exotic artifact.
"Pfft!"
Caught off guard, Lu Jing Qing violently spat out a mouthful of fresh blood, his face flushed crimson. He glared at the swiftly fleeing female cultivator. "Vile hussy. . . How dare you? !"
"Hmph, you slaughtered my Ruan family cultivators and forcibly took me as your wife. I wish nothing more than for you to die!"
The female cultivator surnamed Ruan slapped a talisman onto herself, and a golden protective barrier immediately appeared.
She endured the encirclement of her three companions, cursing as she flew towards Ruan Xing Ling. "Sister, save me!"
A sudden turn of events!
Upon seeing this scene, Wei Yi Xin's couple were filled with joy.
Lu Jing Qing's wife had even betrayed him; this battle was a sure win!
Fang Xi and Old Man Rottenwood, however, exchanged a glance and silently took a step back.
They just felt that this matter was too simple.
The next instant, another anomaly occurred!
The woman surnamed Ruan approached Ruan Xing Ling, and her ring-adorned right hand suddenly clawed towards Ruan Xing Ling's heart!
Meanwhile, Ruan Xing Ling's beautiful eyes glinted, and she suddenly opened her cherry lips, from which a small white nail shot out!
Pffft!
This small white nail was surprisingly a single-use mid-grade artifact, which violently erupted and shattered the golden protective barrier.
The woman surnamed Ruan was struck by the nail in her chest, and her face abruptly turned incomparably sinister. "Vile hussy. . . How did you find out?"
"You are merely from a collateral branch; I never trusted you. . . Moreover, after marrying that man, you rose from a collateral branch to the main lineage, gaining control of the entire Peach Blossom Island. How could you possibly betray him for mere hatred? I simply went along with the flow and used you to obtain information about that villain Lu. . ."
Ruan Xing Ling replied indifferently, and a shrewd expression suddenly appeared on her ordinary-looking face.
"Tao'er?"
Seeing this, Lu Jing Qing's pale complexion vanished, and his aura returned to the peak of late-stage Qi Refinement as he fiercely charged forward!
His previous injury was indeed feigned!
Not only that, but with a long howl from him, another concealed escape light suddenly appeared, transforming into a sinister-faced black-robed cultivator whose cultivation was clearly at the seventh-level Qi Refinement.
The black-robed cultivator, wielding a small black banner and exuding an aura unlike that of a righteous person, said to Lu Jing Qing, who was clutching Tao'er and wailing, "We should have just killed this girl as this old man said. Why go through all this trouble and even lose your 'wife'. . ."
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