Chapter 940: Fang Xian (Congratulations to Alliance Leader Qingfeng Wen Xian Zui Mingyue Huan Meng Hui)
Chapter 940: Fang Xian (Congratulations to Alliance Leader Qingfeng Wen Xian Zui Mingyue Huan Meng Hui)
Stars shifted and revolved, time turned its wheel.
In the blink of an eye, several millennia had passed.
“Guest Elder, these are this year's accounts. . . ”
Qi Hou deferentially handed a ledger to Fang Xi for his review.
At this moment, he appeared white-haired and decrepit, showing all the signs of old age. This was actually not a good sign.
High-level cultivators rarely exhibited such changes, unless they were in the final period of their lifespan depletion.
Even without employing the Withered Glory Chant's ability to sense lifespan, Fang Xi knew this old man was nearing his end.
‘Indeed, it's been almost ten thousand years. . . ’
‘Even I have already overcome eight layers of Mahayana Immortal Lightning Tribulation, just one more layer to go, and I'll achieve the Earth Immortal realm. ’
Fang Xi mused to himself.
“Mm, the accounts are well-kept. . . You've worked hard by yourself since Gong Jiujin left. ”
He glanced at the accounts, nodding in approval.
“To serve the Pavilion, I wouldn't shrink from a myriad deaths. . . ”
Qi Hou's wrinkled old face broke into a smile, revealing only a few remaining teeth.
He was here showing great loyalty, but the other steward had long since vanished.
Gong Jiujin originally had a fair amount of lifespan left, but alas, he owed too many Immortal Jade to the masters. During a ten-thousand-year celebration at a dueling arena, he was forced onto the stage, then encountered an immortal prodigy at the Integration stage who could slay Mahayana cultivators, and was utterly crushed, dying on the spot. . .
This made Fang Xi sigh inwardly with emotion, realizing that regardless of whether one was as greedy and ruthless as a wolf, or as cunning as a fox, they still couldn't escape the mercilessness of time.
As Qi Hou spoke, he chuckled himself: “Guest Elder, after ten thousand years of acquaintance, you must surely understand what kind of person I am. . . Throughout my life, I've joined many sects, but the higher my cultivation, and the older I grew, the more nostalgic I became. . . ”
Fang Xi nodded.
He now understood that the Three Yuan Gate and several other sects were all places Qi Hou had once resided.
Some were minor sects from his Qi Refinement and Foundation Establishment stages, some from his Core Formation and Nascent Soul stages. . .
These ant-like sects couldn't even be officially listed as sects in the True Immortal World, and if not for Qi Hou pulling them along, they would have been wiped out untold years ago.
He was a nostalgic person, unwilling to part with his sects, which was why he held the title of Grand Elder, and constantly schemed for them. . .
‘Time is merciless, but people are sentimental. Is that what they mean? ’ Fang Xi mused inwardly.
“It is said that when a man is about to die, his words are kind. . . After I die, the Three Yuan Gate will be entrusted to Shi Yushu. I implore you, Guest Elder, to look after them a little. . . ”
During the Bright Moon Palace upheaval back then, its subordinate minor forces attacked each other, engaging in several joint battles, and Shi Yushu proved his loyalty in the war, chosen by Old Qi as his successor.
These matters of Qi Hou's had long been openly acknowledged, and he now pleaded.
“I. . . I'll see. ”
Fang Xi sighed.
“Heh heh. . . I, this old man, have met countless people, but someone like Guest Elder, I've seen for the first time. Not greedy or possessive, even when the headquarters tried to transfer you, you stubbornly refused to leave, yet, Guest Elder, you have no great benefit here. . . ”
Perhaps it was because he was nearing death that Qi Hou spoke with much greater ease; some of his words could even be called audacious.
Over these ten thousand years, Fang Xi had not competed or snatched, contentedly guarding this dilapidated shop.
At first, the headquarters seemed to be observing something.
Later, after that ‘Dugu Fang’ made rapid progress, and after several more millennia had passed for Sixth Miss, she seemed to finally remember that there was still such a Guest Elder, and had once sent people to recruit him.
At that time, if Fang Xi had just agreed, he could have immediately escaped his sea of suffering.
But he still refused.
It was as if he was doing it all for this hundred-square-meter cultivation cave abode.
“I'm just cultivating, that's all. Once I become an Immortal, what won't I have? ”
Fang Xi rarely spoke the truth.
Qi Hou, however, shook his head repeatedly: “The Dao of Earth Immortals emphasizes resources the most. Even for the Human Immortal path of Primordial Spirit True Immortals, is this meager annual income from 'Item-Storing Talismans' enough? ”
“Old Qi, you're too attached to appearances. . . ”
Fang Xi stood up, equally helpless. It was rare for him to speak the truth, yet no one believed him.
He walked to the doorway, and then said: “Don't worry, I've already arranged your posthumous affairs. The grand monks are excellent at performing salvation rituals, and have already reserved a spot for you in the best burial ground. . . ”
Qi Hou was speechless for a long moment.
Then, looking at Fang Xi's retreating back, a few tears welled up in his eyes, as he seemingly reluctantly caressed the furniture in the dilapidated shop. . .
...
‘Another one to see off. . . ’
Stepping out of the Fengyuan Chamber of Commerce's small shop, Fang Xi's mood couldn't help but dip for a moment.
However, upon seeing the various worldly indulgences and bustling activities outside, his spirits immediately lifted again.
The benefit of cultivation was that it allowed him to remain eternally youthful.
Things like senility were extremely difficult to detect on him.
‘Hmm, and that matter with the Black Xuan Cult. . . They haven't found me in ten thousand years, so the storm must have passed. . . ’
‘The items from those people's Item-Storing Talismans, is it time to fence them? ’
After enjoying himself with a bit of sightseeing, Fang Xi returned to his own cave abode.
He had lived an incredibly comfortable life over these ten thousand years.
After all, it was a place of exile, far from the struggles within the Pavilion.
And with the protection of the Buddhist Sect here, as long as he didn't stir up trouble, no one would bother him.
Fang Xi's Earthly Immortal Spiritual Realm resources had long since surpassed sufficiency, and now he merely had to wait patiently, descending to the lower realms once every millennium, to inspect the Earthly Immortal World, and then undergo his tribulation.
“The Ninth Immortal Lightning Tribulation, becoming an Immortal. . . it's close. . . ”
Thinking of how, over these years, Dugu Fang's great name had been heard even here in the Golden Bamboo Sea, a smile appeared on Fang Xi's lips.
This Heavenly Immortal seed was quite a good person, having drawn away a lot of firepower for him.
Fang Xi introspected, and saw that his Nascent Soul had almost completely transformed into a Primordial Spirit, its entire form semi-transparent and resembling jade. Through the Primordial Spirit, faintly visible within was the spiritual root of heaven and earth, the Ancestral Demonic Tree.
‘Dao Fruit, creation. . . ’
Within the Earthly Immortal Spiritual Realm.
The Ancestral Demonic Tree was largely withered, hanging by a thread.
Not far away, the Ginseng Fruit Tree was lush and green, and upon its crown, a single fruit had formed.
It was fist-sized, pearly white and delicate pink, shaped like a baby. Beside it were two emerald green leaves; indeed, it was a nearly 'ripe' Ginseng Fruit!
“This Ginseng Fruit has peculiar properties, and now that it's almost ripe, it wouldn't be good to keep it here. . . ”
“It's a good opportunity to find a way to return to the Earthly Immortal World and undergo the Ninth Immortal Lightning Tribulation. . . ”
As he thought this, Fang Xi transformed into a streak of light, flying out of the Spirit Mountain after a thousand years.
...
A hidden cave abode somewhere in the Golden Bamboo Sea.
Fang Xi stood with his hands behind his back, the void behind him opening up, swallowing him whole.
Inside the Earthly Immortal Spiritual Realm.
He walked past the already withered Ancestral Demonic Tree, and arrived before the Ginseng Fruit Tree.
“Hmph! ”
Fang Xi uttered a true incantation, and wisps of Myriad Wood Mother Qi gathered, descending into the Ginseng Fruit Tree.
This Myriad Wood Mother Qi inherently possessed the miraculous effect of ripening spiritual plants!
Upon being injected now, it immediately completed the last bit of the power of time, causing the Ginseng Fruit to ripen prematurely!
Waaah!
A cry resounded, just like a human baby's first wail upon birth. A flash of white light swept across the Ginseng Fruit's surface, and it fell from the branch.
‘According to the True Immortal World's ancient texts, Ginseng Fruit falls upon encountering metal, burrows into the earth upon encountering soil, and withers upon encountering wood. . . ’
‘But a single Ginseng Fruit Tree should bear at least thirty-three fruits. . . ’
‘This kind of fruit, conceived by a spiritual root through a secret art to nurture life force, is entirely different. . . ’
Fang Xi's thoughts whirled rapidly, and he did not use a jade box or similar item to catch it, allowing the Ginseng Fruit to fall to the ground.
Crack!
From the Ginseng Fruit, a cracking sound emerged, and a pearly white infant subsequently appeared.
With one step, he instantly grew a year older; after seven steps, he had grown into the appearance of a seven-year-old child.
The two green leaves transformed into a cyan child's robe, draping over his body.
Fang Xi looked intently, and saw that the child had rosy lips and white teeth, a slightly chubby baby face, and a cinnabar mole between his brows. Upon seeing Fang Xi, his dark little eyes immediately lit up, and he ran over on his small feet, kneeling on the ground: “This child greets Father. . . Boo-hoo! ”
Before he could finish speaking, his mouth was sealed by a burst of magical power, and he could only stare innocently at Fang Xi.
“Ahem, ahem. . . Although you were born from this spiritual realm's fruit tree, you are naturally nurtured by heaven and earth. Don't call me father, just call me Master. ”
Fang Xi coughed, dispelling the magical power, and asked: “Do you understand? ”
“Understood! ”
The small child seemed a bit wronged. Since he first gained consciousness, he had been inside this Ginseng Fruit Tree, and the Ginseng Fruit Tree had been nurtured within the Earthly Immortal Spiritual Realm.
To him, Fang Xi was this very world.
But the other party wouldn't let him call him father, only master. . . He immediately whimpered a wronged “Master! ”
“Mm. ”
Fang Xi smiled faintly. Without a trace, he performed soul-searching on the child, knowing that he only had memories from after the True Immortal World, and he couldn't help but let out a long breath in relief.
‘In that case, this child still needs to be placed in the True Immortal World. Never taking him to the lower realms is the only way to be safe. ’
After making this decision in his heart, he looked at the little brat: “Do you have a name? ”
Although this Ginseng Fruit was born with innate knowledge, it still possessed the heart of a newborn, and many things were still hazy to him.
At this moment, enlightened by intuition, he bowed again: “Please, Master, bestow a name upon me! ”
“Mm, so be it. . . ”
Fang Xi feigned thinking for a moment, then said: “Since that's the case, you shall take my surname, Fang. . . As for your given name? A single character 'Xian' will suffice. From today onwards, you shall be called 'Fang Xian'. ”
“Thank you, Master, I have a name now! ”
A wide smile bloomed on Fang Xian's face, and he immediately performed a backflip somersault.
“Mm, since you're going to cultivate immortality with me, your Master, come let me see your aptitude. . . ”
As Fang Xi looked at this disciple, he couldn't help but recall the 'salted egg' disciple he casually took in back in the Red Sun Realm, whose bones had long since turned to ash.
At this thought, he felt a pang of melancholy.
He placed his palm on Fang Xian's small head, and an unsurprised expression appeared on his face: “The other spiritual roots are fine, but this wood spiritual root is so outstanding it far surpasses the Heavenly Grade Spiritual Root category. Perhaps it should be called—'Immortal Wood Spiritual Root'? ”
Fang Xi looked at Fang Xian, then at the Ginseng Fruit Tree behind Fang Xian, and sighed: “Indeed, taking in a disciple is truly a matter of great expense. ”
Since Fang Xian possessed the Immortal Wood Spiritual Root, he was naturally extremely suitable to inherit the Earth Immortal legacy!
And this 'Ginseng Fruit Tree' and he were simply a match made in heaven!
It's likely that, just as his name suggests, he is destined to become an Immortal in this lifetime!
and will also be his successor!
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