Chapter 964: Five Tigers Severing Souls (Bonus Chapter, Please Vote for Monthly Tickets)
Fang Xi immersed himself in cultivation, gradually losing all sense of self and surroundings.
To him, after killing Lei Juexin, the martial arts gathering no longer concerned him.
In the jianghu martial arts world, whether the righteous faction won or the demonic path triumphed, what bird business was it of his?
Could it make his cultivation methods advance another layer?
Cultivators, by nature, were mostly such cold and indifferent individuals.
If it weren't for the requirements of "good deeds," "external merits," and so on for ascension, even orthodox Xuanmen sects would likely just seal their mountain gates and dedicate themselves solely to serene cultivation.
In a trance, he knew not how much time had passed.
On this day.
Multicolored light shimmered around Fang Xi's body. Suddenly, he felt a layer of impurities shed from his magic power, and his cultivation advanced another step. A joyful expression involuntarily bloomed on his face as he awoke from his meditative trance.
"My breakthrough this time was an exception, achieved by a combination of the previous few instances of shedding magic power impurities being relatively easy, coupled with the great joy in my heart from slaying my enemy, and also my first time cultivating in seclusion. . . If I were to cultivate painstakingly in a cave abode, at this rate, it would take at least a thousand years to complete all thirteen purifications of true qi!"
He calculated with his fingers, understanding many things.
"Different cultivation methods in the Sword Immortal realm vary. Some continuously purify their magic power, others condense Nascent Souls, True Cores, or even refine qi into formidable spiritual constructs. . ."
"However, no matter the process, the final step to attaining the status of a Loose Immortal will invariably be the refining of a Primordial Spirit!"
"The method of the "Primordial Chaos Scripture" that I deduced primarily focuses on purifying magic power. However, there are shortcuts to take. If I can find some heavenly materials and earthly treasures, or even refine spiritual pills and miraculous medicines, it might not be impossible to augment and purify my magic power!"
"Furthermore, if I can find "Five Elements True Fiend Qi" and refine it into my magic power, it could also accelerate the transformation of my Earth Gate Primordial True Magic Power into Primordial Chaos Five Elements Magic Power!"
"Or, perhaps, find this world's geomagnetic dao art to combine the five elements of true qi. . ."
"Alas, all of these are exceedingly difficult and require serendipitous opportunities."
Even though Fang Xi possessed the ability to divine and calculate, he was not the only one in this world with such talents.
If he were to force these matters, he would easily incur karma with Earth Immortals, Heavenly Immortals, and even Golden Immortals from the Upper Realms.
For now, he could only rely on his own cultivation realm to vaguely sense a few places with some karmic affinity to him, places that might conceal opportunities.
There were even two opportunities that lay five hundred and thirteen hundred years in the future!
To live until then, he might even have to undergo two or three reincarnations, only then would it be somewhat possible!
In truth, cultivators did not particularly favor reincarnation.
After all, even with someone's protection, a wisp of soul cast into the cycle of reincarnation was akin to a gamble.
Suffering hardships in the next life, or having mediocre cultivation aptitude. . . all were highly probable outcomes.
The more times one reincarnated, the more obscured their true spirit became, making it even harder to seek the Dao.
"Hmm?"
Just then, Fang Xi vaguely felt the restriction he had casually set up being triggered.
Not only that, he even calculated that among the group of people who triggered the restriction, there was someone with whom he had some karmic entanglement.
"What a pity. . . I haven't learned any of those crystal surveillance and sensing techniques from the Demonic Dao."
Fang Xi shook his head, summoned his "Heavenly Demon Beheading Immortal Sword," and walked out of the cave.
He saw that a group of people had appeared on the mountain peak at some unknown time.
Judging by their tight-fitting attire, with swords at their waists and sabers in hand, they appeared to be martial artists, possibly even participants of the martial arts gathering.
However, their current state was quite disheveled. Some had bloodstains and wounds on their bodies, and all wore expressions of panic, as if fleeing for their lives.
Currently blocked by a layer of multicolored restriction, they realized that an extraordinary individual must be living in seclusion on this mountain, and involuntarily, expressions of relief at a narrow escape appeared on their faces.
"Hmm? You are 'Sword of Shu,' Young Hero Fang Xi?"
Suddenly, a woman dressed as a female knight-errant called out.
Although Fang Xi had made a name for himself as 'Sword of Shu,' he was still considered a junior in the jianghu martial arts world.
His fame was mainly confined to the vicinity of Shangyong Prefecture. Most martial arts veterans did not know him, but some younger generation heroes and heroines were familiar with him.
He happened to know the person who spoke, it was "Jade Maiden" Cui Feifei.
"So it is Jade Maiden herself. . ."
He smiled, withdrew the multicolored restriction, and casually asked, "The fifteenth of the eighth month, the martial arts gathering, how did it go?"
"The martial arts gathering. . ."
Cui Feifei let out a bitter laugh: "Originally, Old Hero Gong proposed that young talents under thirty compete for the position of Martial Arts Alliance Leader. . . But just as the battle reached its climax, the Evil Monarch suddenly led a group of demonic sect experts to besiege us. He somehow cultivated a set of wicked demonic arts and instantly burned 'Thunder Roar,' the Vice-Leader of the Six Star Gate, into a skeleton. . ."
"Not only that, but the Evil Monarch also had a group of wicked rogue cultivators acting as his demonic henchmen. Currently, there's one right behind us who can control black qi and transform into a fierce tiger, having already devoured quite a few fellow martial artists."
At the mention of this, some of these martial arts experts had red eyes, while others gnashed their teeth.
Even more, someone's eyes darted around before they shouted, "We are willing to swear allegiance to Sword of Shu as the Martial Arts Alliance Leader! Please, Young Hero Fang, lead us in avenging ourselves!"
Evidently, they harbored intentions of clinging to Fang Xi, perhaps even gaining an immortal opportunity or inheritance.
Roar! Roar!
Just as the martial arts heroes clamored in disarray, a tiger's roar suddenly echoed from within the dense forest!
A strange wind swept through, and trees toppled, clearly indicating a large creature was rapidly approaching.
"It's coming!"
Cui Feifei's beautiful face paled, as she saw the trees on both sides part, and from within them leaped out a gigantic tiger!
This tiger had fierce, drooping eyes and a white forehead, and was even more colossal than an ordinary mountain tiger. What was even more astonishing was the layer of greyish-white mist swirling around its body, within which wisps of vengeful spirits flickered in and out of sight.
Among them, there were a few that these martial artists were quite familiar with.
"Is that. . . Old Master Zhang of the Zhang family?"
"Senior Jiang 'Flying Bear'?"
"Twin Leaf Blade. . ."
Cui Feifei and the others, seeing martial arts heroes they had just met moments ago transform into evil creatures serving the tiger, couldn't help but fill their eyes with terror.
"What a fiend!"
Fang Xi's expression turned solemn as he shouted, "I must face this evil creature with all my might. I'm afraid I won't be able to look after you all. Run for your lives!"
He let out a long cry, his body and sword becoming one, and charged towards the giant tiger. The two engaged in a fierce struggle.
Roar! Roar!
And as Fang Xi departed, two more giant tigers leaped out from the forest, charging towards the group of martial artists.
"Run!"
Among the crowd, someone let out a shout, and immediately, everyone scattered in disarray.
As some of the knights-errant fled, they secretly cursed in their hearts: 'I actually thought that 'Sword of Shu' was something great. Who knew he was just a silver spearhead with a wax tip – flashy but useless! I even considered becoming his disciple before, I must have had my heart blinded by lard! '
Chickens flapping and dogs leaping, wolves dashing and pigs rushing. . .
After a great commotion, all the martial artists scattered and fled for their lives.
Only then did Fang Xi let out a long breath. With a flick of his sword art, he drew a circle, and a surge of sword qi trapped the giant tiger within.
"These so-called martial arts heroes harbor extremely ill intentions. If they truly were to become my disciples, I'd be vexed to death. . ."
"This spell, though. . . it's somewhat interesting."
Fang Xi pressed down with his Heavenly Demon Beheading Immortal Sword, and sword shadows filled the sky. One by one, the *chang* ghosts were dealt with by him, sent back into the cycle of reincarnation.
It seemed as if he intended to use this fierce tiger to hone his sword skills.
Before long, tiger roars suddenly echoed from all directions.
Fang Xi retrieved his sword and stood still, seeing two more giant tigers leap out from the dense forest, one from the left and one from the right.
And behind him, the two giant tigers that had been hunting the martial artists also closed in, their claws and teeth covered in fresh blood and shredded flesh, clearly indicating a significant harvest.
The first giant tiger, which he had been using as a whetstone, was now crouched at the feet of a strange person, whimpering oddly.
"How audacious! To dare harm my beloved pet!"
This strange person had disheveled hair, black teeth, and tattoos, dressed in beast hides like a savage. He shouted, "I am the Five Tiger Superior from Black Devil Cave on Three-Fork Mountain! Boy, what sect are you from? State your name!"
Though the Five Tiger Superior appeared savage, he was in fact outwardly crude but inwardly meticulous. Seeing Fang Xi subtly possessing some superior sword techniques, he decided to first inquire about his origins before making a move.
In truth, Fang Xi did not possess any superior sword arts or techniques, nor did he have an excellent flying sword. Even his current swordplay was entirely derived from his main body's experience with sword manipulation in the cultivation world, refined through actual combat.
Of course, with his main body's Earth Immortal-level cultivation, even if he wasn't a sword cultivator, the sword arts he had adapted were still considered top-tier among unorthodox paths.
At this, he offered a faint smile: "My name is Fang Xi, without sect or faction. . . I suppose you could call me a rogue cultivator!"
"Then you've chosen your own path to death."
The Five Tiger Superior was instantly overjoyed. Secretly activating his magic art, the five fierce tigers spontaneously lunged towards the center, their momentum incredibly vicious!
"If I had truly refined a superior sword technique and possessed a flying sword, how could you still be alive?"
Fang Xi put away his Heavenly Demon Beheading Immortal Sword, a cold sneer in his heart, and with a wave of his hand, scattered something.
In the void, the five Yang-attribute primal energies of Jia Wood, Bing Fire, Wu Earth, Geng Metal, and Ren Water moved in response. The five elements circulated, erupting into a powerful ring of thunderous light!
It was precisely the "Five Elements Divine Thunder" divine ability!
Thunder arts possessed immense power and were among the most favored protective Daoist arts for cultivators to refine.
If one walked the righteous path, it would naturally be the Yang-Geng lineage, most adept at harming evil demons and Yin creatures.
Conversely, within unorthodox, heterodox, or even demonic sects, there were countless secret demonic thunder and Yin thunder spells, or even specially refined thunder pills, capable of destroying areas spanning tens of thousands or even hundreds of thousands of li, leaving all living creatures dead!
The magic power cultivated by the Five Tiger Superior from Black Devil Cave on Three-Fork Mountain was actually quite crude and shallow. Only his "Five Tigers Severing Souls Art" was a formidable demonic spell. The "Hundred Souls Tiger Devil" formed by this cultivation was somewhere between a living creature and a spirit, exceedingly ferocious, and capable of controlling *chang* ghosts. Even cultivators with stronger magic power than him often found themselves no match.
With the five tigers gathered, cooperating with each other, and subtly possessing the might of a formation, they had unknowningly resolved countless powerful enemies for him.
It just so happened that the "Hundred Souls Tiger Devil" cultivated by this spell was countered by orthodox thunder arts.
Although the Five Elements Divine Thunder cultivated by Fang Xi's "Primordial Chaos Scripture" was from an unorthodox path, it possessed a semblance of the might of orthodox Xuanmen thunder arts – vast, masculine, and infinitely powerful!
As the multicolored thunderous light swept across, the giant tigers didn't even have time to whimper before they turned into ashes!
The remaining power of the thunderous light did not diminish. A Five Elements Divine Thunder, as thick as a wrist, struck the Five Tiger Superior directly, blasting him and the ground he stood on into a massive pit several zhang wide!
"Fellow Daoist, what splendid thunder arts!"
Just then, a cheer came from mid-air.
With a flash of sword light, a tall, white-robed swordsman stood smiling. He cupped his hands and said, "I am 'Cold Mountain Sword Guest' Peng Xifan. Greetings, Fellow Daoist. . . A few of my Sword Immortal friends and I were entrusted to come and observe this martial arts gathering, and we happened to witness this wicked demonic cultivator wantonly killing and refining methods. . . Fellow Daoist, to act with your sword, you are clearly a person of chivalrous spirit and righteous heart. Would you be willing to gather with us for a while and meet some fellow cultivators?"
"'Cold Mountain Sword Guest' Peng Xifan?"
Fang Xi almost had his hand tremble, nearly slaying this person with his Heavenly Demon Beheading Immortal Sword. . .
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