Chapter 854: Subordinates
Chapter 854: Subordinates
Inside the grand hall.
Following the deliberations of the various Void Amalgamation cultivators, a series of preparations for the great war were methodically arranged.
Towards the end, Qing Xu Tong Zi, somewhat impatient, said, ". . . That's all. You may go and prepare."
The Void Amalgamation cultivators bowed in unison, then exited the hall.
Fang Xi and the other four Human Race Five Sons walked out last.
"Amitabha. . . Fellow Daoist Qing He Zi, as one of the newly appointed Human Race Five Sons, you must have many things you don't understand. You can come to the Golden Brahma Dwelling to ask this humble monk."
Although Jin Gangzi didn't recognize Qing He Zi, he felt a spiritual intuition and proactively extended goodwill.
"Many thanks, Fellow Daoist. I will definitely pay a visit later."
"Hmph, Long Qingzi is holed up in Po Suo Twin Cities, which is currently under siege by a large army. It's another battlefield entirely, so of course, he couldn't come. . ."
Mo Yun Zi snorted, seemingly displeased.
After all, the intensity of that battlefield wasn't high, with only some late-stage Void Amalgamation demon and alien races making a move.
Long Qingzi's actions thus carried the suspicion of passively avoiding battle.
"So that's how it is. . ."
Fang Xi felt a touch of regret.
He had originally wanted to find an opportunity to completely settle the old grievances with Long Qingzi.
It seemed he would have to wait a little longer. . .
Fang Xi strode out of the palace, his peripheral vision catching sight of a figure. His heart instantly brightened, and his lips moved subtly.
That person shuddered, then transformed into a streak of light and departed without looking back.
Next to him, the Five Elements Child observed this scene, his face filled with contemplation. . .
......
*Rumble. *
The palace gates closed once more.
Qing Xu Tong Zi, however, did not leave. Instead, he grinned as he sat cross-legged on a chair and asked, "You've seen them now. What do you think?"
"Mid-stage Void Amalgamation, cultivation not hidden. . ."
A Daoist carrying a sword walked out; it was Bu Xing Da Cheng.
"Indeed, a pure human."
Che Xuanyuan coughed, his face appearing somewhat pale.
He had not yet recovered from his severe injuries and had reluctantly participated in the great war, only to be ambushed by the demon race. His injuries were now likely the most severe among the three Mahayana cultivators.
"He cultivates the 'Myriad Manifestations True Demon Arts'. Other 'Heavenly Demon True Sect' techniques at least offer a chance to overcome the Heavenly Demon Tribulation, but no demonic cultivator has ever advanced to Mahayana relying on this particular demonic art. . ."
The final one to appear was the Meng-surname Mahayana cultivator, clearly not optimistic about Qing He Zi.
"This old man originally selected this person as one of the Five Sons out of desperation; there truly weren't any other good candidates. . ."
Qing Xu Tong Zi said nonchalantly, "Unable to advance to Mahayana? That just saves us the effort of nurturing a Mahayana opportunity. . . Alas, even Mo Yun Zi himself will find it difficult to overcome his demonic tribulation. The Mahayana Immortal Thunder Tribulation is already incredibly arduous; adding another layer of tribulation makes it even harder. . ."
At his words, the other Mahayana cultivators fell silent.
Breaking through to Mahayana was incredibly difficult. Even with the support of other human Mahayana cultivators, very few among the successive Human Race Five Sons managed to break through; most remained trapped before the bottleneck until death.
Bu Xing Da Cheng said, "Five Elements Child is already quite old, and Long Qingzi has damaged his origin. . . The only one with a genuine sliver of hope is Jin Gangzi. In truth, if it weren't for someone's partiality, this old man believes that Dao Lord Fang Xian would be an excellent candidate for a 'Fairy Fang'. . . Perhaps with even greater hope of breaking through to Mahayana than Jin Gangzi in the future. . ."
"Hmph. . . That Dao Lord Fang Xian lacked sufficient strength himself and died in a miserable defeat during his duel with Five Elements Child. What more is there to say?"
The Meng-surname Mahayana cultivator snorted coldly, retorted sharply.
"Enough. There's no need to mention those who have died. . ."
Qing Xu Tong Zi, seeing this, frowned and lightly reprimanded them, suppressing the rising tempers of the two Mahayana cultivators.
He naturally knew there were some hidden details, but a dead genius was no longer a genius.
As for the Meng-surname Mahayana cultivator, he naturally harbored some selfish motives, but who among men could be entirely without self-interest?
As long as the greater righteousness remained intact, minor flaws and blemishes had to be tolerated.
After all, if one wasn't deaf or dumb, one couldn't be a good household elder.
"Very well, let's not speak of Dao Lord Fang Xian. . . But do you truly believe that 'Qing He Zi' can take down the Terrestrial Great Sage? With his mid-stage Void Amalgamation cultivation, although his demonic art is refined and sharp, at most he can exchange a few blows with a late-stage Void Amalgamation cultivator. How incredibly difficult would it be to kill the Terrestrial Great Sage?"
The Meng-surname Mahayana cultivator suddenly said grimly, "The other day, Fellow Daoist Qing Xu said he hadn't found any traces of other Fellow Daoists, yet Qing He Zi managed to slay the Terrestrial Great Sage alone, without relying on the power of a Mahayana cultivator from behind him. . . He must possess a great secret, a great opportunity!"
At these words, the other Mahayana cultivators were somewhat stirred.
"To be able to utterly slay a peak Void Amalgamation cultivator with a mid-stage Void Amalgamation cultivation. . . it almost makes me think of that heaven-defying talent in human history. . ."
Che Xuanyuan gave a bitter laugh.
"Hmph, perhaps this 'Qing He Zi' possesses a complete Immortal Abode Rare Treasure, or has mastered some heaven-defying divine ability. . . Otherwise, it's simply inexplicable."
The Meng-surname Mahayana cultivator's voice seemed to carry a hint of instigation.
"Ahem. . ."
Qing Xu Tong Zi coughed, "With a great enemy before us, this matter need not be mentioned again. . . Furthermore, he has a mysterious Mahayana cultivator behind him!"
"Indeed!"
Bu Xing Da Cheng stared coldly at the Meng-surname Mahayana cultivator. "Fellow Daoist Meng, with war imminent, do not do anything that brings pain to our kin and joy to our enemies. . ."
"This old man said nothing at all. . ."
The Meng-surname Mahayana cultivator cackled a few times. "Where have you all let your thoughts wander?"
At these words, the other three Mahayana cultivators felt helpless in their hearts. . .
......
Fang Xi walked with his hands clasped behind his back, seemingly admiring the scenery of Tian Yuan City.
Unbeknownst to him, he arrived at a certain encampment.
This encampment was not on Immortal Jade Mountain, but its spiritual energy was quite abundant, thick as clouds, with spiritual rain drizzling down.
At the top floor of a spirit pagoda, a white banner was actually hung.
He was slightly surprised and approached the main gate of the encampment.
"This. . . Senior?"
A Nascent Soul cultivator, seeing Fang Xi, was instantly startled. "I didn't know Senior would grace us with your presence. Please, come in. . ."
Fang Xi recognized this person. He was a small genius from the Wang Family, a Nascent Soul seed from back then.
He hadn't expected him to have cultivated to the Nascent Soul stage now.
Furthermore, he had been assigned to the task of welcoming and seeing off guests.
"This should be the Moonlight Immortal City's encampment, right?"
Fang Xi did not enter, but casually asked, "Has someone fallen?"
The Wang Family cultivator shivered, then bowed and replied, "Reporting to Senior, it was our city's Grand Elder. . . who unfortunately perished while on a mission, encountering a seventh-tier demon race. Now, the new Grand Elder of our city, 'Dongqiuzi,' is overseeing affairs."
'Things have changed, and people are no longer the same. . . '
Fang Xi couldn't help but sigh in his heart.
He then heard the Wang Family Nascent Soul cultivator add, "If Senior wishes to offer condolences, please proceed to the spirit hall. . ."
"Never mind. . ."
Fang Xi waved his hand. "This venerable one originally intended to make a transaction with the immortal city, but it seems now is not quite the right time. . ."
He swept his divine consciousness over the area and saw Fairy Chen, Wang Lingying, and others, but he had no intention of revealing himself and acknowledging them. Instead, he turned and left.
At a street corner, an old man dressed in a myriad-star Daoist robe, his head full of white hair, was respectfully waiting.
Upon seeing Fang Xi approach, he immediately bowed. "Zhai Xingzi greets Senior!"
The Wang Family Nascent Soul cultivator rubbed his eyes.
If he wasn't mistaken, that seemed to be Zhai Xingzi of the Starry Sky Sect!
As the overlord of the Starry Sky Domain, the Supreme Elder of the Starry Sky Sect was a Void Amalgamation cultivator!
For a Void Amalgamation cultivator to be so respectful, could that Senior's cultivation be far beyond his imagination?
"Never mind. . . Let's find a place to chat."
Fang Xi waved his hand, speaking with a hint of languidness.
"Then, Senior, why not grace this old man's cave abode with your presence? In this old man's cave abode, I just happen to have a jar of eight-hundred-year-old 'Seven Stars Brew'. . ."
Zhai Xingzi said somewhat ingratiatingly.
"That works too. . ."
Fang Xi listened, gave a noncommittal reply, and followed Zhai Xingzi back to Immortal Jade Mountain, entering his cave abode.
Zhai Xingzi's cave abode was somewhat unique. Upon entering, one found themselves neither touching the sky nor the ground, as if suspended in a cosmic river of stars, making it almost impossible to discern direction.
A white jade-like sampan quietly floated within the river of stars.
Zhai Xingzi personally opened a bottle of spirit wine and filled Fang Xi's cup. "This old man offers this wine as a toast to Senior!"
He was merely a mid-stage Void Amalgamation cultivator, naturally a head shorter when facing one of the Human Race Five Sons, almost considering himself a junior.
Fang Xi saw a dark liquid within the white jade wine cup, continuously emitting its fragrance.
And within the wine, myriad stars seemed to twinkle.
He took a sip, and couldn't help but smile. "To float amidst a river of stars and savor fine wine like this, it indeed offers a unique rustic charm!"
"As long as Senior likes it. . ."
Zhai Xingzi said, his old face creased with a fawning expression, "Did Senior have some business when you went to the Moonlight Immortal City encampment earlier? This old man happens to manage the many sects in the Starry Sky Domain. Whatever the matter, I will surely handle it perfectly for Senior!"
"Well said. . ."
Fang Xi laughed heartily. "This one has quite an interest in the Dao of formations. I heard that back then, your Starry Sky Domain had an overseas immortal abode, and within it, there was an immortal array capable of reducing one's cultivation realm, which is quite fascinating. . . Unfortunately, when I recently went to observe it, I found it to be almost completely ruined, which is truly heartbreaking. . ."
"Ah, it's about that. That immortal abode's formation, capable of reducing one's cultivation, was indeed quite troublesome. . ."
Zhai Xingzi laughed, "Had that formation not already been flawed back then, this old man would not have been able to open a breach. . ."
Fang Xi vaguely recalled that this Void Amalgamation Ancestor had indeed taken action in that overseas immortal abode back then.
Even later, after the disciple with the Starry Sky Sacred Body was annihilated, he personally intervened and had a great battle with Dao Lord Fang Xian. . .
Of course, in the end, it only served to enhance Dao Lord Fang Xian's reputation.
"Hmm, I have a wish: I'd like to see the complete appearance of that formation. . ."
Fang Xi started the topic.
Zhai Xingzi immediately said, "This old man will exert all his effort to handle this matter perfectly for Senior!"
Even if this matter offended all the Void Amalgamation sects within the domain, Zhai Xingzi would not hesitate!
After all, this was a rare opportunity!
"Haha. . . There's no need to go to such lengths."
Fang Xi slowly took another sip of spirit wine, then said, "As one of the Human Race Five Sons, I am currently in need of some subordinates. . . Zhai Xingzi, tell these Void Amalgamation forces under your command that if they hand over what I desire, I will arrange for them to join my ranks and guard some less dangerous locations. . ."
Zhai Xingzi's eyes lit up. His humble flattery was, in fact, precisely for this!
With war imminent, some were stirred by fervent emotion, while others were solely concerned with their own prospects. This, too, was human nature. . .
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