Chapter 959: Facing the Tribulation
Chapter 959: Facing the Tribulation
Time flew like shifting stars.
In the blink of an eye, three months had passed.
In Shu Land, at the Fang residence.
A divine glow shimmered within Fang Xi's face, clearly indicating he had gained immense benefits.
For over ninety days, he had single-mindedly devoted himself to cultivating the introductory chapter of the 'Earth Origin Golden Book'. Every day, he abstained from meat, vegetables, and grains, instead having Yan Jia procure Solomon's Seal, ginseng, and ganoderma lucidum to satiate his hunger. After these ninety-plus days, he felt his physique incredibly robust, his body purified as if cleansed of all impurities, refined to a near-perfect state.
“At this rate, in just seven more days, I can complete the Hundred-Day Foundation Establishment, drawing in the world's Yuan Qi and refining it into 'Earth Abyssal True Essence'. . . ”
Though Fang Xi knew this, there was little joy on his face.
“The karmic tribulation web of this world is incredibly tight. . . ”
“My premonitions have grown increasingly strong these past few days. Clearly, an external tribulation is imminent, and it will arrive even before my Hundred-Day Foundation Establishment is complete! ”
“Without cultivating magic power, it’s ultimately difficult to deduce the specifics of the external tribulation – such as who the exact enemy is, what their methods are, and so on. . . This makes it impossible to resolve it in advance. ”
Fang Xi chose to establish his Foundation using the methods from the 'Earth Origin Golden Book' primarily to lay a solid foundation.
He was also gambling that he could successfully cultivate magic power before the calamity arrived, then deduce the causes and effects, and resolve them one by one.
Practitioners of the Mystic Dao prefer to resolve tribulations before they manifest, or specifically refine corresponding magical treasures and pills. . . Even if the tribulation rages like a surging tide, they can calmly pass through, as if nothing happened.
This was also a highly advanced achievement.
But now, this method was clearly unusable.
Alternatively, when a tribulation descends, one could break through it with brute force; some powerful unorthodox cultivators and demonic cultivators often did so.
‘The key is, what good is my f*cking magic power. . . ’
‘To break the tribulation with a sword, my true body would likely need to act, dispatching a fully cultivated External Avatar. . . ’
This was actually quite simple. After all, his clones shared a mutual connection of mind; with but a single thought from him, powerful reinforcements would descend!
More crucially, with the All-Heavens Precious Mirror obscuring the heavenly secrets, no one could divine anything, making it absolutely the best material for a hidden manipulator!
“However, if I act too much, I will inevitably leave traces. . . Even without divinatory arts, even an ordinary constable could meticulously piece together clues and find my tracks. . . That would be troublesome. ”
Fang Xi shook his head: “Of course, the first few times shouldn't pose much of a problem, but to use it on such a minor tribulation would be overkill. . . Better to save it for later use. ”
Such interventions, if he wished them to remain undiscovered, had to be limited in number.
Otherwise, if his tracks were discovered, and it even drew the attention of the Heavenly Realm and beings above Dao Monarchs, even the 'All-Heavens Precious Mirror' might not guarantee his safety.
To use such a potent method on a mere external tribulation of entering the Dao was truly overkill, like using a butcher's knife to kill a chicken.
It would be more fitting for ambushing a Nascent Soul True Immortal!
“This can be my last resort. ”
“Beyond that, there's actively facing the tribulation. . . but I don't know where the calamity will come from? ”
Fang Xi pondered for a moment. If his current tribulation was an external one, it must have a cause.
It was nothing more than some karma accumulated previously. Either someone in the martial world wanted to cause him trouble – after all, he, 'A Sword of Shu', had offended many since his rise to prominence.
Or perhaps the Old Crow Monastery lineage wished to reclaim their sect's Daoist scriptures and treasures, or perhaps the Shushan School discovered his secret act of memorizing the 'Earth Origin Golden Book'. . .
“If the tribulation comes from the martial world, it's manageable. If it's from cultivators, then it'll be a bit troublesome. . . ”
He came to the back garden, stretching his hands casually.
Every stillness and movement carried an unstoppable, surging power.
Reaching the peak of his training, he immediately let out a clear cry. A long sword appeared in his hand, and he unleashed the Thirteen Flowing Cloud Swords.
Outside the practice area, Yan Jia stood at some unknown point.
But at this moment, as he watched Fang Xi's swordplay, he felt that every move was like a divine stroke from an immortal, dazzling and leaving him drenched in cold sweat.
If Fang Xi were to deal with him, it would likely be a matter of a single sword strike: ‘The Young Master’s martial arts have greatly advanced again, now reaching an unfathomable realm. . . ’
“What’s wrong? Has something happened outside the residence? ”
Suddenly, the myriad sword-lights, like fire trees and silver flowers, receded. Fang Xi stood holding his sword, asking indifferently.
“Precisely. . . Rumor has it that 'Yan Tie', the master of the 'Poisonous Hand Scholar', has broken through to the peak of the martial path and his power has greatly increased. He seems to be coming to trouble you, Young Master, over the matter of the Poisonous Hand Scholar. . . ”
Yan Jia bowed and replied.
“Poisonous Hand Scholar? ”
Fang Xi scoffed: “I recall Yan Tie is an expert of the unorthodox path, his pair of 'Poison Iron Hands' renowned throughout the martial world. He has always been a cold-hearted individual. How could such a rumor surface? It seems someone is using this as an excuse to cause trouble and come for me? Has anything major happened recently in the martial world? ”
“Young Master’s foresight is truly divine. According to the intelligence gathered by our scouts, Grandmaster Gong of Shu Land's 'Six Star Gate', along with more than ten veteran heroes, have jointly proposed to hold a Shu Land Martial Arts Assembly to elect a strong and capable alliance leader to confront the 'Evil Monarch'. . . ”
Yan Jia bowed. “In the martial world, the Dao wanes as the demonic path flourishes. . . ” Fang Xi sighed with emotion.
The martial world of Shu Land was currently far from peaceful. Demonic forces had risen, led by someone known as the 'Evil Monarch', whose martial arts were unfathomably profound. They had already massacred several martial sects, dominating the region for a time.
Meanwhile, the Six Star Gate, famous for its gunpowder and hidden weapons in Shu Land, had always held the leading position among Shu Land's righteous martial arts factions.
To counter the demonic forces, holding a martial arts assembly seemed a natural course of action.
However, such assemblies historically never lacked hidden blades and shadows, and endless schemes.
“Perhaps it's the Six Star Gate or some other sect planning to promote a young hero as the martial alliance leader. . . and I just happen to be in their way? ”
Fang Xi never hesitated to speculate about his enemies from the worst possible angle: “So they sent this Yan Tie, intending to eliminate me first, or at least injure me? ”
Although he might not fear a mere Yan Tie, if his Hundred-Day Foundation Establishment achievement were disrupted, the loss would far outweigh the gain.
By then, even killing his opponent a thousand times wouldn't compensate for it.
‘How about. . . I avoid him for seven days, and then make plans once I've cultivated magic power? Anyway, I still have a few safe houses in Shangyong Residence. . . ’
A glint flashed in Fang Xi's eyes, then he shook his head again: ‘That won't do either. . . Perhaps Yan Tie isn't my tribulation. By retreating, I might instead stumble into a true death tribulation. . . Karmic entanglements have always been this troublesome. ’
‘It seems I must adapt to whatever changes occur. If the tribulation truly becomes irreversible when it arrives, I'll simply break through it with force! ’
......
In a trance, seven days passed in a flash.
Inside the quiet room, Fang Xi's face was devoid of sorrow or joy. After swallowing a ginseng pill, he began to cultivate in silence.
He was now at the final critical juncture of his Hundred-Day Foundation Establishment. The Yuan Qi he had accumulated over these hundred days was continuously tempering his 'furnace and cauldron', aiming to condense a flawless Dao foundation, and with it, refine his True Qi into magic power.
Streaks of illusory golden threads appeared all over his body, imbued with the profound weight of the earth, as if cloaking him in a layer of golden armor.
Outside.
The moon was bright, stars were sparse, and crows cried in the night.
A tall figure, employing lightness skill, flitted across the rooftops, moving without the slightest sound, like a giant bat.
His figure was tall and slender, like a bamboo pole. His nose bridge was high, his cheeks sharp. Under the moonlight, his hands actually gleamed with a metallic luster, with twisted, worm-like patterns upon them.
This person was none other than Yan Tie, the 'Poison Iron Hand'!
When he was young, he once, by a twist of fate, rescued an eccentric.
That eccentric was an unorthodox sword immortal. Seeing that Yan Tie had no aptitude for cultivation, he gifted him a secret manual for the 'Poison Iron Hand' technique as repayment for saving his life.
This 'Poison Iron Hand' technique incorporated some unorthodox artifact refining principles, emphasizing the repeated tempering of one's palms with various herbs, and even metallic poisons, to make them impervious to blades and spears, fire and water. Even minor mastery would earn one immense renown in the martial world.
Yan Tie painstakingly cultivated this art for over ten years. In his early days roaming the martial world, he met with unhindered success and even gathered a group of disciples who aided his villainy.
Later, he encountered Xin Guihe, the 'Great Hero of Jiangnan'. In a battle that lasted roughly two hundred rounds, he narrowly lost a move, his 'Poison Iron Hand' broken by the opponent's 'Great Circulatory Qi Divine Palm'. He then regretfully withdrew from the martial world, returning to Shu Land to live in seclusion.
However, this man only grew fiercer with age; a centipede dies but never stiffens. During his seclusion, he not only fully recovered from his injuries but also cultivated the Poison Iron Hand to the Grandmaster stage. His palms became comparable to the sharpest divine weapons in the martial world, and infused with Miao Frontier Gu poisons, their might was boundless.
After achieving Grandmastery in his art, he originally intended to emerge from seclusion and seek trouble with the Great Hero of Jiangnan.
Unexpectedly, he was informed that the daughter of the Great Hero of Jiangnan was residing at the residence of 'A Sword of Shu'. He was also asked to kill 'A Sword of Shu', in exchange for a thousand taels of gold, ten beautiful maidens, three bushels of luminous pearls, and eight squares of emerald jade. . .
Yan Tie naturally agreed with delight and made his way towards the Fang residence.
With his robes fluttering, he had already entered the Fang residence, where he saw groups of gang members holding torches and weapons.
“Who goes there? ”
A gang member shouted, and a group of people parted, revealing archers behind them.
Thwip-thwip!
Bows twanged like startling thunder!
Facing an enemy, Fang Xi naturally would not be courteous. He had already secretly dispatched his subordinates, turning his stronghold into an impregnable fortress.
Seeing this scene, Yan Tie merely sneered coldly: “Petty tricks! ”
A circle of Qi energy rippled around him, making him seem like a hedgehog. Any strong bow or crossbow bolt that entered within a foot of his body immediately snapped!
“Innate Gang Qi? Invincible within a foot? ! ”
Behind the archers were two more rows of sword-and-shield wielders. Yan Jia stood in the center, his face turning grim as he gazed at Yan Tie's hands: “Is Your Excellency Yan Tie? ”
“Indeed. Today, all of you shall perish here. ”
Yan Tie's expression turned ferocious, and suddenly his figure flickered.
A clang of metal immediately erupted as the two rows of sword-and-shield wielders cried out in misery. Countless long blades and shields flew into the air, each clearly imprinted with distinct palm marks.
In an instant, Yan Tie's tall figure stood before Yan Jia, a savage smile spreading across his face.
Yan Jia roared in anger, but before his fist energy could erupt, he was sent flying by a slap from Yan Tie.
He spat out a mouthful of vital blood, his eyes nearly splitting as he watched Yan Tie barge into the quiet room he was guarding behind him!
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