Chapter 922: Making Connections (Celebrating Alliance Leader Lie Shanze)
Chapter 922: Making Connections (Celebrating Alliance Leader Lie Shanze)
Time flowed swiftly.
In the blink of an eye, another ten-odd years had elapsed.
"One million three hundred and seventy thousand Immortal Jade! Congratulations to this esteemed guest for successfully bidding on the 'Primordial Spirit Pill'!"
In the auction hall, the atmosphere had been heated to a fever pitch.
Fang Xi ate a spirit melon, calmly observing the scene.
He naturally participated in the Grand Auction of Blazing Sun Immortal City, though not from a VIP box, but from the regular audience seats.
He witnessed a series of treasure auctions, and aside from bidding on a few bottles of pills beneficial for Integration-stage cultivation, he did not make any other moves.
When the final item, the 'Primordial Spirit Pill', was brought onto the stage, a fierce dragon-tiger struggle indeed ensued.
The 'Primordial Spirit Pill' was not only the supreme lightning-transformation treasure, but it could also enhance one's Dao cultivation, accelerating the transformation of a Nascent Soul into a Primordial Spirit!
This drove all Mahayana cultivators into a frenzy.
Although instances of a single 'Primordial Spirit Pill' completely transforming a Nascent Soul were exceedingly rare, they certainly weren't unheard of!
Once successful, one would become a deathless True Immortal!
Under the allure of eternal life, many Mahayana cultivators showed no courtesy; if not for the True Immortals overseeing the auction, they might have immediately resorted to open combat.
‘Given this level of enthusiasm. . . Elder Ge probably bid two or three times before being immediately out of the running, right? ’
‘This is also thanks to him being a Mahayana Talisman Master, and mass-producing 'Item-Storing Talismans'. If it were an ordinary Mahayana cultivator, they wouldn’t even have had a chance to bid. ’
Fang Xi smiled faintly, then left the hall to complete the transaction.
"So it's Daoist Friend Fang."
The person presiding over the transaction was someone he knew quite well: Huang Jing, the steward of the Fengyuan Chamber of Commerce!
Upon seeing Fang Xi, Huang Jing immediately clasped his fists and bowed: "Congratulations, Daoist Friend, on successfully bidding for pills that enhance cultivation. The required amount of Immortal Jade is. . ."
Fang Xi nodded, then stroked his arm; a ripple of void energy flashed on his 'Item-Storing Talisman', causing a small pile of Immortal Jade and a Great Sun Pure Yang Pill to appear on the table.
Huang Jing counted them, handed over the pills, and smiled: "The payment and goods are settled, Daoist Friend. Farewell!"
Amidst their pleasantries, he subtly nodded.
Fang Xi understood that this meant a more detailed discussion later at the Hundred Flowers Pavilion. He discreetly put away the pills and departed.
People are truly strange.
If he had flattered and curried favor with Huang Jing before. . . Huang Jing might have disdained him.
But Fang Xi treated him like any ordinary stranger, not taking him too seriously, and over time, a sort of acquaintance developed at the Hundred Flowers Pavilion.
It was Huang Jing who, upon hearing that Fang Xi was skilled in Esoteric Body Cultivation, specifically came to seek his guidance.
Fang Xi neither confirmed nor denied it, and only after being treated to several rounds of flower wine did he impart the Esoteric Blissful Zen Art, making Huang Jing feel as if he had discovered a priceless treasure.
‘At this point, their acquaintance was purely that of casual drinking buddies. . . ’
‘Don't even mention introductions or anything of the sort; even asking him to give a little leeway in the auction was out of the question. . . He's just a steward, he wouldn't dare. ’
Fang Xi was perfectly clear on this point.
Leaving the auction, he touched the pill bottle in his embrace, lost in thought.
He naturally had no use for these Integration pills, but for his future advancement in the Mahayana realm, there were now traces to follow.
Moreover, these pills wouldn't go to waste; Immortal World pills were highly effective and could be given to his subordinates.
If truly necessary, he could even throw them into the Heaven-Connecting Spirit Tablet.
...
Two days later.
Hundred Flowers Pavilion.
"So, the 'Primordial Spirit Pill' ultimately fell into the hands of the Divine Wood Palace?"
Fang Xi slowly poured himself a cup of spirit wine, asking.
"Precisely. . . This palace has a Mahayana cultivator, a direct descendant of a True Immortal ancestor, who has now cultivated to the six-tribulation Mahayana realm. Unfortunately, the seventh heavenly tribulation will be difficult to overcome. . . Having used too many lightning-transformation treasures and secret arts before, ordinary tribulation-avoidance secret arts are now largely ineffective, forcing them to suffer a great loss."
Huang Jing drank a cup of immortal wine, his cheeks slightly flushed, and sighed: "Like you, Little Brother Fang, and myself. . . even if we cultivate to the Mahayana realm, and even accumulate millions of Immortal Jade, it will likely all be for naught in the end. . . Without a True Immortal supporting us from behind, even if we bid on the Primordial Spirit Pill, we might not have the fortune to enjoy it."
Fang Xi remained silent.
Blazing Sun Immortal City claimed fairness, but it was in fact limited.
He had long grown accustomed to such matters.
"Haha, I don't actually long for the Primordial Spirit Pill. To be able to cultivate to the Mahayana realm in this life is already satisfying. . . I'll still need Daoist Friend's help in looking out for the 'Six Immortals Transformation Pill'. . ."
Fang Xi toasted Huang Jing again.
This Six Immortals Transformation Pill was a crucial pill for breaking through the Mahayana bottleneck, capable of adding thirty percent to the breakthrough probability.
Although it wasn't the most effective pill of its kind, it was undoubtedly the most suitable for Fang Xi's identity.
Huang Jing, upon hearing this, paid it no mind: "I, Huang, will certainly keep an eye out for Daoist Friend. . ."
Hadn't people always made connections to establish their circles and gain benefits? He had long grown accustomed to it.
Fang Xi's straightforwardness, rather, made him feel genuine and unpretentious.
Far better than those cultivators who came bearing lavish gifts for a visit, only to expect him to open back doors for them.
One must remember, he was but a small steward; opening back doors would be courting death, wouldn't it?
"Many thanks."
Fang Xi raised his cup again.
"Hmm, I, Huang, await the day Daoist Friend Fang becomes a Mahayana Talisman Master. At that time, perhaps I can even introduce you into the Fengyuan Chamber of Commerce, and I'll have to rely on you in the future, haha. . . " Huang Jing, deep in his cups, feigned being overwhelmed by the wine and inquired: "As for that Blissful Zen Art, I still have some points of confusion. . . What is the meaning of 'Golden Summit Concave' and 'Impure Red Lotus'?"
"The explanation is simple, lean closer. . ."
...
Yongyun's Small Shop.
"Shopkeeper Yong, how has business been recently?"
Fang Xi stepped inside, offering a greeting.
"Asking the obvious."
Ever since that minor misunderstanding last time, their relationship had been like this.
However, Fang Xi paid no heed to Yong Yunmian's occasionally barbed remarks.
The other party ran a business; she still had to interact with him.
"Sigh. . . It seems Elder Ge will not get his wish."
Fang Xi sighed.
"Hmph. . . You talisman masters, every single one of you, are black-hearted, just waiting for Elder Ge to die under the heavenly tribulation so you can inherit his legacy. . . Now that fellow Zhao and fellow Qiu have jumped out, whose side are you on?"
"So it's Talisman Master Zhao and Talisman Master Qiu? " Fang Xi was startled, then immediately fell into thought.
As the saying goes: a small temple has strong demonic winds, and shallow waters house many turtles.
Even in Elder Ge's small circle of talisman masters, there was no shortage of contention for fame and profit.
Now that Elder Ge's plan for the Primordial Spirit Pill had failed, rumors circulated that because he had used some secret art to reduce the intensity of his previous immortal lightning tribulation, this current immortal lightning tribulation's power far surpassed anything before, making it something ordinary secret arts and lightning-transformation treasures couldn't withstand.
Therefore, the market was entirely pessimistic about whether he could overcome this heavenly tribulation.
Affected by this, the price of 'Item-Storing Talismans' in Blazing Sun Immortal City had been rising steadily. . .
And within the original circle, Talisman Master Zhao and Talisman Master Qiu had stepped forward to contend for influence.
These two were the only other Mahayana cultivators in the small circle besides Elder Ge, and their talisman-making skills were quite exquisite.
It seemed that Yong Yunmian had chosen the wrong side, and was now suffering collateral damage, causing her small shop's business to be dismal.
That was secondary; more critically, if her backer, Elder Ge, fell, whether she could smoothly run her shop in the immortal city in the future was truly hard to say.
"Please rest assured, Shopkeeper Yong, no matter what other talisman masters do, I will continue to conduct my transactions at Yongyun's Small Shop."
Fang Xi clasped his fists, then said: "Give me fifty dozen Myriad Star Talisman Paper, and another ten sheets of 'Void Jade Talisman Paper! '"
Upon hearing this, Yong Yunmian's previously gloomy face brightened slightly, then she cursed: "You truly don't know the immensity of heaven and earth, daring to even try to comprehend the 'Item-Storing Talisman'. . . Wait until you reach the Mahayana realm before dreaming of such a fine thing!"
Void Jade Talisman Paper was the best talisman paper for refining void-attribute talismans. It was even rumored that supreme-grade Void Jade Talisman Paper could carry immortal arts, becoming the medium for 'Immortal Abode True Talismans'.
Most talisman masters in the immortal city had purchased it, hoping to comprehend the refining technique of the 'Item-Storing Talisman'.
The result, of course, was widespread failure!
Hearing this, Fang Xi couldn't help but reveal a hint of an awkward smile: "It's for refining other void talismans, Shopkeeper. Don't wrongly accuse an innocent person out of thin air."
"Hmph! " Yong Yunmian snorted coldly, but felt much of the resentment in her heart dissipate.
...
Inside the cave abode in Vermilion Bird Lane.
With Fang Xi's profound attainments in formations, he could hear Ma Jing and Li Diao's daily wails through the adjacent formation.
He smiled, then entered the talisman-making room.
A sheet of 'Void Jade Talisman Paper' was taken out and spread open on the table.
This talisman paper was derived from a type of jade rat demon beast, naturally imbued with a trace of void power. After special processing, the paper was crystal clear like jade, resembling a jade talisman more than a beast-hide talisman.
Fang Xi picked up the talisman brush; threads of silvery-white lines converged on the brush, and he depicted an ancient seal script character on each of the four corners of the talisman paper.
His strokes were as if divinely guided, completed in a single breath.
Then. . .
Crack!
Countless silver threads burst forth, flashing brilliantly and engulfing the talisman paper.
Fang Xi's expression remained unchanged. A surge of void power appeared before him, suppressing this small void storm.
"It only collapsed at the very last step? It seems the completion rate has reached ninety-five to ninety-six percent. . ."
Elder Ge never refined 'Item-Storing Talismans' in front of the two Mahayana talisman masters, clearly deeply wary of Zhao and Qiu.
But before a group of Integration and Return to Void talisman masters, he had fewer reservations.
Fang Xi had chanced upon Elder Ge refining 'Item-Storing Talismans' several times, and had also gathered much information from Shopkeeper Yong — most of which he hadn't intentionally sought, but rather couldn't stop her from casually mentioning.
Such as the raw materials for this 'Void Jade Talisman Paper'. . .
In fact, for talisman masters, the quality of the talisman paper was of paramount importance, influencing numerous brushstrokes and subtle techniques.
This single point saved him many detours.
Of course, his greatest advantage was Fang Xi's profound insights into void laws, which far surpassed those of Talisman Master Ge and his ilk. . .
Thus, his research progressed at an astonishing rate.
By this point, he was confident that he could truly refine 'Item-Storing Talismans' within a few years!
After several failed attempts, Fang Xi went to another secret room.
Whoosh!
A colossal snake head appeared horizontally in the secret room, exuding a fierce aura potent enough to startle any intruder.
He took out an 'Item-Storing Talisman', retrieved various puppet materials, and began attempting to refine puppets. . .
Many of the puppet materials required for cultivating the 'Xuanji Secret Manual' had long since disappeared from the lower realms.
Fortunately, they still existed in the True Immortal World!
Fang Xi fell into a state of forgetting himself and external things, utterly unaware of the passage of time outside.
Suddenly.
Crack!
A crisp crack resounded. He looked down at a scrapped puppet component in his hand and couldn't help but sigh.
Any of the hundred arts of cultivation advanced through continuous failure, from which experience was gained and then sublimated.
Just as Fang Xi was about to continue refining puppets in one go.
Suddenly, he furrowed his brow and exited the puppet room.
After chanting a spell, a large amount of clear water appeared in the void, cleansing his entire body.
Fang Xi took out a token and shook it. All around him, silver chains responded, moving in unison—it was clearly the restrictions guarding his cave abode.
"So they've come. That's rather interesting."
He murmured, then walked towards the living room.
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