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Chapter 92: Mu Xiu (Seeking Monthly Votes)

Chapter 92: Mu Xiu (Seeking Monthly Votes)

After a period of diligent labor, Fang Xi gazed at the now expanded cave.

Fang Xi sat on a rock, taking out the jade slip for the 'Longevity Art' and slowly began to comprehend it.

This place, naturally, was where he intended to plant his tree!

This way, the chances of early exposure were minimized.

Furthermore, should he encounter trouble, his secret be leaked, or even if he were besieged by powerful enemies, he could escape from the cliffs on the other side, directly leaping into the Myriad Islands Lake.

Once in the lake, he could use the water for cover, traversing it directly—a truly seamless escape!

This was a measure taken to be prepared for any eventuality.

“Hmm. . . this way, even if I fail in cultivating the 'Longevity Art', the damage to my body and magical power will be minimal. . . ”

A moment later, he put away the jade slip and took out the dull gray seed.

This was the one he had meticulously chosen from the three seeds, possessing the most vibrant and abundant life force.

As for that demonic tree in the Da Liang world, he'd have to be insane to entertain any thoughts about it!

Under the soft glow of the luminous pearl.

Fang Xi chanted a series of guttural, obscure incantations, and streaks of green light suddenly burst forth from his eyes.

The next moment, he pulled out an artifact dagger, withdrew his True Gang, and forcefully cut the skin of his finger, letting drops of fresh blood fall onto the spirit seed.

Gurgle!

Something strange occurred.

The blood, as it dripped onto the seed, rapidly permeated it, swiftly absorbed!

And on the surface of the seed, fine blood-red runes appeared, only to quickly vanish, disappearing without a trace. . .

This was the initial preparation for refining one's Life-Bound Spirit Plant within the 'Longevity Art'!

Each day, he would cleanse the spirit seed with magical power, supplemented by his essence blood, to establish a connection!

Since this was a seed of a demonic tree, Fang Xi had made even more thorough preparations, striving to be ready for any contingency.

After completing his daily practices, Fang Xi hesitated slightly.

After a long moment of stunned contemplation, a ruthless glint suddenly appeared on his face. He grabbed the spirit seed, his five fingers nimble, as if turning Yin and Yang!

"Hmph!"

Fang Xi roared, activating 'Qi permeating the whole body', his entire form enveloped in a layer of blood-red aura.

"Primordial Chaos True Art!"

He practiced his martial arts move by move, his extremely condensed fist intent gathering in his palm, continuously refining this spirit seed!

This was the 'Demon Devouring Art' of Dugu Wuwang!

Using the Blood-Qi and will of a Grandmaster. . . to relentlessly impact and cleanse any remnant will within the demonic seed!

By now, Fang Xi was basically certain that there was no other trace of residual consciousness left within this spirit seed, only his own imprint remaining.

"What a pity. . . if I could have advanced to the 'True Gang Transformation' realm, it would be even more foolproof!"

After finishing a set of fist techniques, Fang Xi looked at the spirit seed, feeling a slight sense of regret, but he quickly dismissed his worries.

Dugu Wuwang, back then, was merely a Body Cultivation Grandmaster, yet after devouring a piece of the Kirin Demon's flesh and blood, he remained perfectly fine for so long.

As a cultivator, with the addition of spirit-calming medicinal pills, he wouldn't be defeated by a mere demonic seed!

It would be a different story if it were the demonic tree's main body!

...

After a flurry of activity, Fang Xi concealed the cliff entrance and crawled back to his cultivation chamber along the secret passage.

Sitting cross-legged, Fang Xi calmed his mind and began cultivating the 'Evergreen Chant'!

Once his cultivation had completed a full cycle, he left the cultivation chamber to learn talisman drawing in the talisman-making room, or attempt artifact refining in the artifact refining room.

Such was the simple and unadorned nature of his peaceful life.

Every day, he tended to his spirit fields, dug out the caves, cultivated his arts, and then attempted to learn cultivation crafts. . .

Back when he was in the Treasure Ship Market, Fang Xi had tried his best to collect quite a few inheritances.

However, after months of experimenting with each, he had to admit that he possessed no special talent in alchemy, talisman-making, or artifact refining.

To make any significant progress, he could only brute force his way through by expending vast amounts of materials!

This outcome left Fang Xi feeling somewhat dejected.

It proved that he was indeed no genius.

However, the feeding log left by Miao Dong allowed him to discern some tricks of the trade, and his progress as a spirit plant cultivator was remarkably quick.

"Could it be that all my talents are focused on raising spirit beasts and spirit plants?"

Fang Xi couldn't help but suspect as much.

Beyond that, the puppet mastery inheritance that he had always longed for remained without any news, as it was truly too niche.

In reality, Fang Xi believed that such puppet mastery inheritances should exist within the cultivation technique pavilions of those major families.

But since they didn't publicize it, he had no idea where to even go to seize it!

"Forget it. . . where in this world is there anything truly perfect?"

"My current preparations are just about sufficient."

Fang Xi watched the rain outside his window gradually cease, making a silent decision: "It's time. . . to set up the 'Small Cloud Rain Formation'."

...

Summer rains came and went quickly.

The next day dawned with a clear, cloudless sky for thousands of miles. Fang Xi, carrying a fish basket, leapt down from Emerald Cliff!

Whoosh!

A black cloud immediately appeared, supporting his figure.

He cruised over the lake's surface, chose a reef, cast his fishing rod, and began to fish.

In the Myriad Islands Lake, there were spirit fish!

Indeed, many cultivators even made a living from it, like Miao Dong, who raised water crows.

Fang Xi wasn't actually trying to catch spirit fish; he was merely looking for some amusement.

Several hours later, a giant paper crane slowly flew from the direction of Mirror Moon Lake.

Fang Xi glanced at his empty fish basket, then stored both his fishing rod and basket into his storage pouch before going to meet it.

"Haha. . . Fellow Daoist Fang seems quite leisurely today. I wonder how many fish you've caught?"

Old Man saw Fang Xi's actions and carefully asked with a smile.

It was common knowledge that living creatures could not be placed in storage pouches.

"Farming and fishing are about nurturing the heart!"

Fang Xi replied with a cold expression.

"Hahahaha!"

The old man burst into hearty laughter, his mood clearly uploaded. He had been needled by Fang Xi's sarcastic remarks many times before, and today, he finally felt a sense of pride and vindication.

"Old Man, what brings you here today?" " Fang Xi curled his lips, not bothering to argue with this old man who was practically half in the grave.

He could tell that old man's cultivation could no longer suppress the decay of his body, as wisps of death qi emanated from him.

This person's lifespan was definitely nearing its end; his willingness to fight desperately back then was also for the sake of his descendants.

"Today is a great day of joy. All of my descendants have arrived, and I've specially come to invite Fellow Daoist to celebrate with us."

The old man bowed sincerely: "In the future, I will entrust my great-grandson to Fellow Daoist's care."

"This is your family's own business. . ."

Fang Xi shook his head repeatedly, but seeing the old man's almost pleasing expression, and recalling the favor of the twenty spirit stones he had lent him back then, he reluctantly nodded: "Fine, I'll come and have a cup of humble wine." Fang Xi shook his head repeatedly, but seeing the old man's almost pleasing expression, and recalling the favor of the twenty spirit stones he had lent him back then, he reluctantly nodded: "Fine, I'll come and have a cup of humble wine."

He immediately took out his black Cloud Pouch, slowly and leisurely following the old man as they headed together towards Twin Peaks East Peak.

"A spiritual land, indeed. . ."

Old man deadwood, frail with age, seemed to have significantly diminished magical power; the paper crane he rode was barely as fast as an adult running. He took the opportunity to speak his heart to Fang Xi: "We've truly caught a good era. And with the benevolent Island Lord, a man of his word. . . I recall back then, when the Myriad Islands Lake cultivation domain was first opened, my Mu family ancestor was only at Qi Refinement sixth level. He led a group of clansmen, braving thorns and thistles, and eight uncles died before they barely managed to open up a spirit island. Yet, in the blink of an eye, it was cunningly seized and forcefully plundered, driving our ancestor to vomit blood and die from anger. . ."

"His descendants were incompetent, always relying on working as tenant farmers for other powers to survive. To put it nicely, we were a Qi Refinement family, but in reality, we were rootless rogue cultivators. . ."

"By my generation, we barely managed to make a living by leveraging accumulated connections, doing jobs like trading information and acting as intermediaries. . ."

"But now, our Mu family finally has a place that can be passed down. After I, Mu Xiu, die, I will also have the face to meet my ancestors. . ."

'Mu Xiu'-this was Old man's true name.

His face was flushed, quite akin to a final burst of vitality before death.

Fang Xi was even afraid that old man deadwood wouldn't be able to catch his breath and would simply plummet off his artifact.

Fortunately, the old man controlled his artifact quite steadily, and they slowly made their way to Twin Peaks East Peak.

This mountain peak wasn't very high; its woods were lush, and the scenery was quite beautiful.

At the nodes where spiritual energy converged, several rows of wooden houses had already been constructed. Some still had unpeeled bark, emitting a faint, fresh scent of wood and vegetation.

Several men, women, old, and young were busily working. Upon seeing the old man approach, they quickly stepped forward to bow, calling out'Ancestor'!

Fang Xi looked over and saw that there were at least several dozen people, men and women alike, with their entire families in tow.

Among them, two or three elders were almost as old as old man, yet their cultivation was only at Qi Refining second or third level. Their faces and hands were covered in the marks of hard living, and they even exuded a familiar aura that Fang Xi recognized—they were likely also tenant spirit farmers for other families.

'These few must not only have inferior spiritual roots but also be exploited by powerful families, with no time to cultivate. They even secretly save spirit crystals from their meager meals to give to their descendants, resulting in such low cultivation. Their lives are probably considered wasted. . . '

Fang Xi speculated inwardly, yet a smile appeared on his face as he greeted each one.

The old man carefully led him to a handsome young man dressed in brocade robes and solemnly introduced him: "This is my great-grandson-Mu Wen. He has already cultivated to Qi Refinement fourth level at just over twenty years old. His talent is almost comparable to yours, Fellow Daoist. He will be the next family head of my Mu family. . ."

Upon hearing this, Mu Wen subtly showed a hint of smugness.

Then, he heard the old man say: "Wen'er, quickly greet your Uncle Fang! Your Uncle Fang not only cultivates spirit fields exceptionally well, but also, back then, he single-handedly, with one sword, practically cut his way through the entire Lu family, showing quite the demeanor of a sword cultivator!"

"Greetings, Uncle Fang!"

Mu Wen somewhat reluctantly stepped forward to bow to Fang Xi, who didn't look much older than himself, secretly grumbling in his heart: 'Single-handedly, with one sword, cut through the Lu family? The Lu family only had early-stage Qi Refinement cultivators back then, and a grand expert at late-stage Qi Refinement holding the fort. I could do it too! '

"Nephew, quickly rise. . . " Fang Xi lightly lifted his hands as if supporting him: "In terms of talent, I'm just average."

In reality, he knew his own situation best.

Without the resources brought by his inter-world travel and trade to purchase medicinal pills, he would most likely still be struggling at Qi Refinement third level!

"Cousin Man Lou, did you hear that? These rogue cultivators are only at Qi Refinement third or fourth level even in their twenties, yet they act like it's something amazing. . ."

A white jade boat flew over, abruptly halting in the air above.

Mo Qing Yu leapt down, saying to Feng Man Lou on the boat: "In my Mo family, if a descendant cannot break through to Qi Refinement fourth level by the age of twenty-five, then they can only be sent to work in the family's spirit fields and shops. . ."