Chapter 924: Reversal
Chapter 924: Reversal
Vermilion Sparrow Lane Cave Abode.
Inside the secret chamber.
Fang Xi sat cross-legged, constantly forming hand seals.
Mysterious light shimmered from each hand seal, continuously imprinting into the body of the ferocious black snake before him.
This black snake puppet, small and exquisite in form, surprisingly had six pairs of incomplete wings on its back, from which strange fluctuations emanated.
“The final step: installing the puppet’s core. ”
A light flashed in Fang Xi’s hand, revealing an item resembling a twelve-sided die.
The item hovered in mid-air, its surface densely inscribed with numerous Immortal Abode Secret Glyphs, which were now lighting up one by one, releasing a rich immortal qi that overflowed from within.
Numerous puppet secret arts flashed through Fang Xi’s mind.
Just for this single puppet core, the amount of Immortal Jade consumed was like a small mountain.
If an outsider were to see it, they would surely be dumbfounded.
“Go! ”
At this moment, as he urged a hand seal, the twelve-sided puppet core instantly transformed into a stream of light, sinking into the forehead of the six-winged black snake.
Upon the puppet’s forehead, a strange glyph composed of spirals and sharp angles immediately appeared.
Suddenly, Fang Xi felt a faint connection between his divine consciousness and this eighth-rank puppet.
Hiss, hiss!
The six-winged black snake seemed to come alive, red light emitting from its vertical pupils, followed by a burst of Mahayana-level spiritual pressure from its entire body, as it flexibly moved through the void.
This was merely the puppet’s initial form; if it were to retract the layer of ‘Size as Desired’ divine ability on its body, it would likely transform into a mountain-sized behemoth in an instant, showcasing a trace of the Lower Realm’s Demonic Race Serpent Ancestor’s grandeur!
“An eighth-rank puppet, finally complete. ”
Upon seeing this, Fang Xi’s face showed little joy; instead, it held a trace of melancholy.
He had continuously practiced the “Xuanji Secret Manual” using the numerous Mahayana cultivators he captured from the Lower Realm and puppet materials purchased from the True Immortal World as a foundation, but the results were far from satisfactory.
Attempts to refine Myriad Tribulation Puppets all ended in failure!
The rare materials he acquired, especially the Nascent Souls of several Mahayana cultivators, all dissipated into nothingness!
This truly left Fang Xi filled with regret, as he speculated that Gui Xu Zi, an unrivaled Grandmaster specializing in puppetry, must have had some special connection with Zang Mingzi to barely manage to refine a single Myriad Tribulation Puppet.
In his own hands, puppet crafting, not being his primary focus, proved exceptionally difficult.
After all, previously, most of Fang Xi’s energy was spent on puppet control and maintenance; his mastery of puppet arts was quite niche, and now it was time to pay his dues.
Realizing this, he immediately changed his approach, no longer focusing solely on the difficult-to-craft Myriad Tribulation Puppets, but instead turning to refine ordinary eighth-rank puppets.
After several more failures, he finally utilized the remaining incomplete materials to refine this ‘Six-winged Black Snake’!
“The Six-winged Black Snake, its main body is that of a Serpent Ancestor, its wings come from the Jiuchi race, and its internal core is a hodgepodge of parts. . . Its strength is barely adequate, perhaps comparable to a Three-Tribulation Mahayana cultivator. ”
Feeling the puppet’s strength, Fang Xi sighed inwardly.
His puppet crafting skills were, frankly, mediocre.
“Within Immortal Cities, cultivation arts and crafts below the eighth rank are relatively common and easily purchasable. . . but eighth-rank techniques, or even higher True Immortal-grade inheritances, are exceedingly rare; even if they appear, they are immediately bought up by major powers and high-level cultivators. . . ”
Fang Xi now had the insight to know that the “Xuanji Secret Manual” in his hands was considered a decent puppet inheritance, even in the True Immortal World.
He put away the puppet and then went to the talisman crafting room outside.
Upon the desk, a sheet of Void Jade Talisman Paper was already laid out.
Fang Xi picked up his talisman brush, saturating it with talisman ink.
Accompanying a few incantations, ripples spread through the void, and wisps of void law lines settled onto the tip of his talisman brush.
His hands moved ceaselessly; with a raised hand, he depicted ancient glyphs on all four corners of the talisman paper.
Following this, the void energy at the tip of the talisman brush circulated according to mysterious patterns, counteracting the void’s crushing pressure from the outside.
A silver light flashed upon the talisman paper, revealing an ‘Item-Storing Talisman’ identical to those sold in talisman shops!
“It’s finally done. . . ”
A hint of joy flashed across Fang Xi’s face.
Elder Ge guarded the ‘Item-Storing Talisman’ like the apple of his eye, concealing its refining method fiercely.
Now, however, he had finally succeeded in secretly learning the technique. `
“So, it turns out the most crucial part of crafting an Item-Storing Talisman is the final stroke: one must circulate void energy to form a small restriction, counteracting the void’s external crushing pressure. . . ”
“This profound mystery, if not for me, who is proficient in void laws, observing it firsthand, it would have been utterly impossible to perceive. . . ”
Fang Xi’s expression became slightly invigorated: “An ‘Item-Storing Talisman’ yields a profit of about ten Immortal Jade. . . it’s one of the most cost-effective talismans for talisman masters below the True Immortal realm. Learning this talisman will make laundering the Immortal Jade from the Lower Realm even simpler and easier. . . ”
“Moreover, successfully drawing this talisman signifies that my mastery of talismans has also reached the eighth rank. . . ”
Currently, among the hundred cultivation arts, Fang Xi’s mastery of formations remained the highest, reaching the ninth rank, making him an ‘Immortal Array Master’!
Even in the True Immortal World, such a feat is exceedingly rare, conferring a status comparable to a Nascent Soul True Immortal!
Naturally, he had no intention of exposing this.
Besides that, both his puppet arts and talisman crafting skills had now reached the eighth rank.
His spirit farmer skills, boosted by the Myriad Wood Mother Qi and Earthly Immortal inheritance, coupled with his current cultivation level, made upgrading to eighth rank not particularly difficult.
Next in line were his seventh-rank skills, such as alchemy and spirit cuisine.
“Next, I can display more of my talismanic prowess to earn more spirit stones. . . After all, breaking through under the pressure of two major talisman masters isn’t without precedent. ”
“Afterward, I can purchase the ‘Six Immortals Transformation Pill’ and successfully advance to the Mahayana realm. ”“An eighth-rank talisman master at the Mahayana realm should meet the recruitment standards of the Fengyuan Chamber of Commerce. . . I can easily join. If I further reveal my ‘Item-Storing Talisman’ skill, I’ll be even more highly valued. . . but that’s a small trump card, I’ll only play it when the situation calls for it. . . ”
Fang Xi had a very clear outline of his future.
“And there’s no rush now, there are plenty of opportunities. . . Even if the plan fails, at worst, I’ll just find another place to start anew. ”
His true body still needed about ninety thousand years to undergo tribulation and become an immortal, so he wasn’t in dire need of cultivation methods beyond the Earthly Immortal realm. `
With such a long period of time, he naturally possessed the leisure and mindset of an immortal, allowing him to slowly plot and plan.
...
Several days later.
Fang Xi drew a few more ‘Item-Storing Talismans’, using up his reserves of Void Jade Talisman Paper, before calmly emerging from seclusion.
Whoosh!
A beam of light lingered within his cave abode’s formation, and once he emerged from seclusion, it eagerly flew towards him.
With a single gesture of his hand, the beam of light flew into his grasp, transforming into a small jade sword.
His divine consciousness swept over it, and a faint smile involuntarily appeared at the corner of his mouth.
This flying sword message was from Shopkeeper Yong Yunmian, and it naturally brought good news.
After disappearing for a period, Elder Ge reappeared, announcing that he had safely passed his eighth Immortal Lightning Tribulation, with only one more remaining until he reached the realm of immortal True Immortals!
Upon his return this time, even the City Lord’s faction of Blazing Sun Immortal City was startled; it was said that a disciple of the Blazing Sun Immortal personally met with Elder Ge for a long discussion, and numerous major powers in the city extended olive branches, only to be politely declined.
If Elder Ge wished to join, with his cultivation as a Mahayana cultivator and his mastery of talismans, he could have long ago joined any faction.
His current actions, raising the banner of the Talisman Master Alliance, clearly indicated grander ambitions. `
Once he achieved True Immortal status, he might even be able to establish a sect of his own.
At that time, with an immortal True Immortal overseeing it, his lineage would surely be passed down for tens of thousands of years, or even forever!
‘This Elder Ge has quite the ambition. . . but to me, it makes no difference. ’
Fang Xi scoffed lightly, continuing to read.
Now that Elder Ge had returned like a king, Talisman Masters Zhao and Qiu had fallen on hard times; it was said they had already been expelled from Blazing Sun Immortal City, never to return.
However, towards the numerous talisman masters who had followed those two, Elder Ge showed considerable magnanimity, giving them a way out. `
No matter the era, punishing only the ringleaders while letting others off lightly is always an excellent way to appease people.
‘Indeed, this old man intends to establish his own faction; otherwise, he wouldn’t be so eager to recruit defectors and expand his influence. . . ’
Fang Xi confirmed his suspicions, stepped out of his cave abode, and prepared to pay a visit.
His steadfast stance during this great upheaval might even earn him a small reward.
According to Yong Yunmian’s tone, he might even be accepted as a nominal disciple by Elder Ge.
Hmm, for an Integration stage cultivator, this was indeed a tremendous opportunity.
If Elder Ge were to pass all nine tribulations and achieve True Immortal status, even a Mahayana cultivator might not be able to become his disciple.
But for Fang Xi, this was truly somewhat amusing. . .
‘All in all, I still have to go deal with it. . . ’
Suddenly, after stepping out of the formation’s sound-proofing effect, a string of curses reached his ears.
“Zhang family, you go too far! ”
Shi Yushu, disheveled and resembling a vengeful ghost, was loudly cursing at the cave abode of Fang Xi’s neighbor: “You dare to commit such an act, yet you’re afraid of being talked about? ”
“What crime did Ma Jing and Li Diao commit? They were once fellow disciples, yet you actually killed them mercilessly. ”
“Are you willing to face me on the ‘Life-and-Death Stage’ in Blazing Sun City? Today, I will fight you to the death. . . ”
His eyes were bloodshot, seemingly tinged with crimson.
‘Cultivation deviation? Almost. . . ’
Seeing this person’s expression, Fang Xi’s heart involuntarily tightened, and he shouted: “Calm your mind! ”
His words seemed to carry a mysterious power, causing Shi Yushu’s eyes to regain a sliver of clarity. Then, seeing Fang Xi, his voice unexpectedly became choked with sobs: “Senior Fang. . . The Zhang family are not human! I originally thought carving up the sect was their limit, but I never expected. . . Today, only today did I learn that Ma Jing and Li Diao were actually ambushed just after leaving Blazing Sun Immortal City, their bodies abandoned by the roadside, left for wild dogs to gnaw upon. . . ”
“This. . . is truly a tragedy. ”
Fang Xi let out a long, quiet sigh.
He still remembered Ma Jing’s furious roar of ‘My fate is mine to control, not Heaven’s’, and had thought this youth would achieve great things. `
Yet, he never expected that not long after, he would fall dead by the roadside, taking Li Diao with him.
He had, in a way, watched these two youths grow up, and at this moment, he couldn’t help but sigh with emotion.
“Pah! ”
Just then, the Zhang family’s cave abode gate opened, and it was the same old woman from that day who emerged, scolding: “You speak baseless lies, slandering us! My Zhang family will not let this rest with you! If you truly want to be a good person, you should continue to bear the cultivation expenses of those two and support them until they succeed, instead of abandoning them yourself and only now hypocritically coming here to curse! ”
Shi Yushu was instantly struck as if by lightning, frozen in place. . .
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