Chapter 864: News from the Demon Race
Chapter 864: News from the Demon Race
Night fell, deep and profound.
The cultivators outside were exceptionally excited, advancing to expand their victory under the leadership of their respective sects and high-level cultivators.
Fang Xi, however, was disinclined to venture out, announcing his secluded cultivation right within Tianyuan City.
His place of seclusion was a cave abode within the Black Turtle Pavilion.
Previously, the 'Nine Serenities Netherworld River Profound Sand Immortal Array' had completely drained the pseudo-immortal vein of Jade White Mountain, utterly destroying the cave abodes of all Return to Void, Void Amalgamation, and Mahayana cultivators in one fell swoop, essentially dismantling their homes thoroughly.
This caused the subsequent high-level cultivators to lose their excellent cultivation spots one after another, and who knows how many secretly stomped their feet and cursed.
Fortunately, with the great righteousness of the Human Race holding sway, no one dared to voice such complaints directly.
Although this particular cave abode was rich in spiritual energy, for a Void Amalgamation cultivator, it was merely adequate.
This Monster Race Great Sage's wealth was naturally abundant, even richer than that of the Land-Walking Great Sage!
The most precious item was naturally the 'Impelling Sea Rod', a treasure ranked among incomplete Immortal Abode Rare Treasures, with its power only surpassed by the Qing He Sword (Fifth Generation).
Besides that, there was also a True Spirit Phoenix Feather.
A flash of crimson light appeared in Fang Xi's hand, revealing a vibrant, multicolored phoenix feather. Feeling the unfathomable bloodline power within it, he couldn't help but fall into thought: "This item. . . it could certainly be refined into the 'Five Fires Seven Birds Fan', making its power comparable to the Nine Dragons Cauldron."
Such a minor task didn't require Huo Cangzi's intervention; he could accomplish it himself.
Conveniently, Huo Cangzi was also under his strict command to replace the artifact spirit of the 'Netherworld Banner', so he had no time for these trivial matters.
Speaking of the True Spirit Phoenix Feather, Fang Xi thought of Divine Calculator.
This late-stage Void Amalgamation grand cultivator, whose divination arts were hailed as the best among the Human Race, had coincidentally avoided this four-race war despite being imprisoned on Trapped Sky Island. It was unclear whether he was truly wise disguised as foolish, or if his path of divination had serious flaws.
'This person was trapped within an Immortal Abode secret realm, and had even tried to tempt me with a True Spirit Phoenix Feather back then. . . '
'Later, my main body was wholly engrossed in studying the Shinto, almost forgetting about him. . . '
'Now that the True Spirit Phoenix Feather is in hand, should I still go rescue him? '
Fang Xi stroked his chin: "Knowing my main body's thoughts, I'll probably still go rescue him. . . After all, when Trapped Sky Island converges with the Earthly Immortal World, those Shinto cultivators on the island will still be needed as guides and strategists. . ."
During his time as one of the Human Race Five Sons, he also found it quite troublesome.
After all, Fang Xi was completely ignorant of major Human Race affairs, lacking suitable advisors for military strategy, which made him very passive in many matters.
Although, given his strength and the backing he had, no one would dare to shortchange him on the spoils of war.
However, some benefits that could have been secured were difficult to obtain because his subordinates, like Zhai Xingzi and his motley crew, were simply unreliable.
'If Divine Calculator were to be recruited as a strategist, with his strength, renown, and charisma. . . my Qing Hezi's Human Race Five Sons' faction would truly be established! '
'Hmm, for saving his life, repaying me by serving as a slave or maid, that's quite reasonable, right? '
'I won't ask him to be bound here for his entire life. Perhaps, in the future, another of the Human Race Five Sons might emerge under Qing Hezi's command, which would also be quite an interesting tale for the Human Race. . . '
While he was deep in thought, Fang Xi's eyes flickered slightly, and he opened the cave abode's restrictions.
A figure flashed in, precisely Ji Fei Xue.
At this moment, Ji Fei Xue was clad in a snow-white robe, her full bosom prominent, her hips rounded. She smiled gently: "This concubine thanks fellow Daoist for saving my life. . ."
As she offered her thanks, she removed her veil, revealing a peerlessly beautiful face capable of toppling nations.
Fang Xi chuckled heartily, sweeping an arm around her, and a warm, soft jade-like body nestled into his embrace.
He knew in his heart that while Ji Fei Xue's embrace did contain gratitude for his saving her life, it wasn't much.
Among high-level cultivators, everything was decided by benefits alone.
His arrangement of the final grand array had saved Ji Fei Xue's mission, so gratitude was only one aspect.
More importantly, this woman and the Black Turtle Pavilion behind her wished to curry favor with him, this new Human Race Five Son!
Regarding this, Fang Xi was naturally fearless; he simply ate the sugar coating.
Immediately, he waved a hand, and the light within the cave abode instantly dimmed. . .
...
Several months later.
In the cave abode, within the seclusion chamber.
Fang Xi clasped his hands in an incantation, channeling streams of demonic light into the 'Five Fires Seven Birds Fan' before him.
On the surface of the Five Fires Seven Birds Fan, multicolored flames flickered, suddenly transforming into the shapes of various birds, such as a Heavenly Phoenix, a Kunpeng, and a Green Luan.
Their auras were all stronger than before, having likely reached the Seventh-tier level!
This time, the Human Race achieved a great victory, slaying quite a number of Seventh-tier birds. Fang Xi gained a considerable harvest of their Natal Feathers, exchanging them for war merits to acquire several suitable ones, which he had now replaced one by one.
At this moment, his incantation changed!
Chirp!
Accompanied by a clear cry, another True Flame Phoenix materialized, splendid and dignified, exuding an indescribably noble aura. Its wings spread wide, and it directly swallowed the Flaming Heavenly Phoenix.
Other Seventh-tier Kunpeng, Green Luans, and the like, could only prostrate themselves to the side, expressing their submission.
Fang Xi frantically poured his magical power into it, continuously throwing in various rare materials to be refined within the flames.
A moment later, the True Flame Phoenix let out a long cry and returned into the Five Fires Seven Birds Fan.
The surface of the Five Fires Seven Birds Fan flashed with crimson light, then manifested multicolored hues again, but with crimson now dominating more significantly.
"It's done!"
Fang Xi's eyes brightened considerably at this sight, knowing that he had finally refined the phoenix feather and integrated it into the Five Fires Seven Birds Fan!
And after expending so many rare materials, this imitation of an Immortal Abode Rare Treasure had finally undergone a complete transformation, now capable of rivaling the Nine Dragons Cauldron.
Thinking of the Nine Dragons Cauldron, Fang Xi couldn't help but sigh at the capriciousness of fate.
The Kunpeng feather on this Five Fires Seven Birds Fan was actually exchanged from the Grand Elder of the Yan Yu Sect.
The other party, being merely a Void Amalgamation cultivator, naturally readily agreed to the Human Race Five Son's transaction, even offering a good discount.
His original Five Fires Seven Birds Fan had also utilized materials from that Kunpeng, and recalling the circumstances of first encountering that great Kunpeng truly made Fang Xi sigh with emotion, as if worldly affairs were indeed a cycle.
"Fortunately, I finally have a handy magic treasure now. . ."
He held the Five Fires Seven Birds Fan, a faint smile on his face.
After reaching the mid-stage Void Amalgamation realm, while the Divine Infant Sword and Six Paths Demonic Flames were sharp, they lacked the decisive, overbearing might to seal a victory.
The Five Fires Seven Birds Fan, however, had arrived at precisely the right moment.
As for the Netherworld Banner and the Impelling Sea Rod?
The Netherworld Banner was a trump card, not to be lightly used.
The Impelling Sea Rod, on the other hand, had extremely high requirements for cultivation and physique. The External Avatar had used it a few times and felt it wasn't quite suitable.
Ultimately, it was given to his main body for use.
With his main body's current Body Cultivation, wielding the Impelling Sea Rod felt somewhat complementary.
However, compared to the Through-Arm Great Sage, who was virtually one with the rod, unleashing the full power of this incomplete Immortal Abode Rare Treasure with a single strike that left no ghosts or gods in its wake, it was still considerably lacking.
...
'Now that the 'Five Fires Seven Birds Fan' has been reforged, should I venture out? '
'The Monster Race has just suffered a defeat and is retreating en masse, while the Human Race is pursuing them, gaining substantial spoils. . . '
'But war is dangerous, so I won't go. '
'My efforts in Tianyuan City have already fulfilled my duty to the Human Race. . . As one of the Human Race Five Sons, choosing to be stationed in the heavily fortified rear of Tianyuan City is also quite reasonable. . . '
'And those Mahayana cultivators, they truly aren't being proper people. . . I've rendered such great service, and as one of the Human Race Five Sons, I was merely summoned for some encouragement, and given a few notes on breaking through to the Mahayana stage, along with some auxiliary secret arts and formations. . . As for the rumored Mahayana Spiritual Item resources, I haven't even seen a single strand of hair. . . '
'Indeed, I, this Human Race Five Son who started halfway, am truly like a child raised by a stepmother. . . '
'No, that's not right. Even Jin Gangzi still has to desperately venture into the Barbarian Wilderness to seek Mahayana opportunities. . . It seems the Human Race is truly not well-off in this regard. '
Fang Xi sighed to himself.
Just then, a fragrant breeze passed, and a graceful figure walked in.
"Fei Xue. . ."
He smiled faintly: "What brings you here today? To sample tea?"
Although Ji Fei Xue had repaid him well that day, she had since been utterly swamped with rebuilding Tianyuan City's formations and numerous miscellaneous affairs of the Black Turtle Pavilion.
Ji Fei Xue removed her veil, casting a charming and flirtatious glance at Fang Xi, then sighed, her expression turning serious: "From the Demon Race battlefield, our hidden agents embedded within both the Monster and Demon Races have sent back the latest news, confirmed to be accurate. . ."
Fang Xi looked at Ji Fei Xue's expression, his posture involuntarily straightening: "It seems. . . to be bad news."
"Indeed, precisely when our side was engaged in a great battle with the Monster Race, the Demon Race's army, which had been dispatched to restrain them, was instead ambushed by the Alien Alliance and suffered a crushing defeat. . . Not only that, but the Alien Alliance seized one hundred and eight Demon Cities in one go, causing the Demon Race to painfully lose nearly half of its territory. . ."
Ji Fei Xue took a deep breath and said.
"How could it be so catastrophic?"
Fang Xi couldn't help but be startled upon hearing this.
"Firstly, three Demon Ancestors – Zixuan has fallen, while Xuelong and Qingmian are gravely wounded, their Mahayana combat power inferior to their foes. . ."
Ji Fei Xue enumerated: "Secondly, the Demon Race had already experienced an internal strife, suffering heavy losses to its vitality, and then failed to react in time. . ."
Fang Xi inexplicably thought of the events he had encountered when he traveled to the demon territory back then.
"It seems the Alien Races' infiltration of our three races has reached a truly alarming level. . . The Heart Clan. . ."
He murmured.
"Our race has already invited numerous masters to research and develop artifacts and secret arts to detect the Heart Clan. . . but I fear it may be too little, too late."
Ji Fei Xue replied.
"What is the clan's current plan? Are we perhaps going to aid the Demon Race?"
Fang Xi stroked his chin.
"Currently, the Human and Demon Races are allied. With the Demon Race collapsing, and the danger of teeth chattering when the lips are gone, our Human Race naturally must lend a strong hand."
Ji Fei Xue said: "According to rumor, the Demon Race's horrific defeat has finally startled an ancient demon overlord into coming out of seclusion. He has already survived seven Mahayana Heavenly Tribulations, and his strength is unfathomable!"
"A Seventh-Tribulation Mahayana?"
Fang Xi's expression turned slightly grave.
A Ninth-Tribulation Mahayana cultivator is a True Immortal who has formed a Primordial Spirit, ascending to eternal life.
Hence, in the Earthly Immortal World, the most formidable cultivators are those at the Seventh or Eighth-Tribulation Mahayana stage. He even suspected that ancient demon overlord was the Demon Race's last remaining foundation.
Though there seemed to be only one tribulation separating the Sixth and Seventh-Tribulation stages, insufficient strength meant absolute failure, marking a true watershed for Mahayana cultivators.
"However. . . no matter who goes to aid the Demon Race, it's impossible for them to send me."
Fang Xi pondered for a moment, then said with a frank smile.
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