Star Sky Professional
Chapter 272 - 226: Secret Cultivation (Request for Monthly Ticket)

Chapter 272: Chapter 226: Secret Cultivation (Request for Monthly Ticket)

Three Python Mountain.

The terrain here was akin to three pythons gathering together.

The central ’Snake Head Peak’ belonged to the main lineage of the Yun Family and was where their own family members resided.

The other ’Snake Formation Peak’ and ’Snake Tail Peak’ had many Cave Mansions and Spirit Fields developed... Most of which were rented out, while a small portion was inhabited by branches of the Yun lineage.

On this day.

In the council hall of Snake Head Peak.

Several of the Yun family elders were present, looking at the clan member below them who was weeping and complaining, and they all felt somewhat helpless.

All of them were old men of around 150 to 160 years, with little hope for Core Formation; they couldn’t even gamble on reaching the Fake Core - they had long given up on cultivation, focusing solely on practicing the Hundred Skills of Cultivating Immortality or dealing with family chores.

But the Yun Family had spread out for over a thousand years, and the types of family members were countless.

If it weren’t for the rule that only those with Spirit Roots were listed in the family genealogy, they might have even run out of space in the genealogy.

Nowadays, the Yun Family had thirteen factions, struggling for power and profit every day, which was immensely troubling.

"Lie shu-uncle, you must do us justice for the ninth branch! Those inhuman people of the third branch, taking advantage of the night, moved the boundary marker a whole ten feet..."

The head of the Yun’s Lie shu clan had two fleshy bumps on his head that appeared like a pair of fleshy horns, and he looked with vexation at the weeping old Qi Cultivator below.

"Previously, your family’s Xiaosi severely injured Yun Zhi of the third branch..."

"Now, it is their turn to retaliate."

"If a real fight were to break out, the third branch is not easy to provoke either."

He pulled out his dry tobacco pipe from his waist and scolded a few words nonchalantly, dismissing the person.

Before long, another Foundation Establishment Cultivator walked into the council hall, wearing a purple-red dress, petite in stature with a delicate appearance, who was the elder of the third branch: "Everyone... The Supreme Elder led the family head and others to the frontline. We must ensure the rear is secure."

"Does this mean I should simply endure this petty issue and suffer this disadvantage?"

The elder of the ninth branch, Lie, scoffed coldly, tapping his tobacco pipe to the side.

"Enough."

At that moment, a dignified old man sitting in the center abruptly spoke: "Enough from all of you..."

His mana had reached the late stage of Foundation Establishment "With a great calamity looming from outside and discord within, wouldn’t it be a laughing stock for others? The Daluo Alliance over there, they are eyeing us like a tiger watching its prey..."

With these words, all the elders fell silent.

The previous generation’s Supreme Elder failed in his Core Formation, and the act of renting out the mountain to gather Spirit Stones was a disgrace to the whole clan.

Even the decline of the family began from that time.

At first, it was manageable, but as Loose Cultivators started forming alliances and the relationship with the Xuantian Sect gradually estranged, these people began to entertain the idea of usurping control.

Among them, the most prominent was the ’Daluo Alliance,’ a force combined by many Loose Cultivators; their leader had already reached the Fake Core Stage.

If it weren’t for the timely Demonic-Righteous war, whereby their own Supreme Elder desperately sent out elite troops of the Yun Family to take the leader of the Daluo Alliance, ’Luo Tian,’ to the frontline, both parties might have already clashed.

However, after withdrawing a significant amount of high-ranking combat forces, the under-the-table sparks between both sides did not cease.

"The Snake Formation Peak has almost been completely occupied by the ’Daluo Alliance’... The situation has reached this point, according to the previous Supreme Elder’s plan, we must focus all efforts on the ’Snake Tail Peak,’ bring in other Foundation Establishment Cultivators, align with them, and counterbalance the ’Daluo Alliance’... Humph, forget about the Daluo Alliance, the key issue is the people behind it, those several families who are our former in-laws are eyeing the Spirit Veins of Three Python Mountain."

Just as the group of elders vehemently cursed those few Core Formation Families, another elder hurried into the hall.

"Elder Twelve, what brings you here in such haste?"

The elder from the third branch, the female Foundation Establishment, asked with a smiling expression.

"Just handling a small matter... A late-stage Foundation Establishment Cultivator has arrived, looking to rent a Cave Mansion, and I’ve already arranged for him to stay at the ’Snake Tail Peak.’"

Elder Twelve, a chubby middle-aged man who always appeared jovial, resembling a wealthy landowner, smiled and said, "He indeed has considerable wealth; he rented the best third-rank Cave Mansion and paid ten years’ rent in one go!"

"Late-stage Foundation Establishment... Could it be, he’s preparing for Core Formation?"

The ninth branch elder’s expression shifted slightly.

There were indeed some Loose Cultivators who used the Spirit Vein of Three Python Mountain for Foundation Establishment and Core Formation... but most had failed.

The last one who barely succeeded was Luo Tian of the Daluo Alliance...

"It likely isn’t..."

Elder Twelve thought carefully and shook his head: "I specifically used a secret technique to check; this person is still far from Perfect Foundation Establishment."

...

Snake Tail Peak.

"Although it’s a bit inferior to the Spirit Vein of the Heavenly Sword Sect, it’s passable... I can accept it."

Fang Xing glanced at his own Cave Mansion, immediately slapped his storage bag, and flying out were Array Flags and Array Plates, setting up an Array.

This time, he planned to set up a Quasi Third-Rank Array outside and use the Quasi Fourth-Rank grand array he had just obtained inside.

With this arrangement, surely no one would be able to disturb his cultivation.

When it came time for Core Formation, he would have his original body stand guard; even if a Nascent Soul True Monarch attacked, he could hold them off for a while.

After setting everything up, he had no desire to feign politeness with the neighboring tenants, going straight into the seclusion room and sitting cross-legged.

Raising his hand, numerous ’thousand-year stone milks’ appeared, along with many Jade Bottles containing Supreme-grade Elixirs.

The quantity was such that many of the Yun family’s Foundation Establishment Cultivators wouldn’t even dare to dream of it.

"First, cultivate to Perfect Foundation Establishment in one go."

Fang Xing picked up a bottle of thousand-year stone milk, extravagantly sprinkling it on himself, then swallowed an elixir, beginning his rapid progression in cultivation...

...

Blue Star.

Blue Sea District No. 69 Villa.

Freshly emerged from the virtual cabin after yet another victorious achievement, Fang Xing felt refreshed and invigorated.

"According to the rankings of the ’Federation Holographic Universe Company,’ I’ve already entered the top hundred thousand... The rewards have accumulated dozens of Sha Qi Crystals... Winning the next match should bring a Heavenly Gang Stone reward..."

"There’s no need to push too hard; reaching the top ten thousand will be just about right to call it quits."

"Trouble might really be brewing ahead with Martial Saints and Martial Gods fishing..."

As Fang Xing was pondering, he suddenly received a communication request.

"Gu Duan? Research group advisor?"

He glanced at the memo, slightly puzzled as he connected the call.

"Fang Xing, I’ve read several of your papers... You have some interesting ideas about simplifying the Tathagata Divine Palm," Gu Duan spoke calmly. "When Elder Nie recommended you before, I had my doubts, but now it seems my vision was too narrow..."

"I was just entertaining some wild thoughts," Fang Xing chuckled.

Martial Arts, after all, are mastered through repeated practice.

The Tathagata Divine Palm is actually quite simple.

"I’ve already exchanged your contribution value for Sha Qi Crystals and sent them via courier... This time I’m contacting you because there’s another matter: that interstellar martial arts competition, have you entered?"

Gu Duan’s expression became very serious.

"I have,"

Fang Xing nodded.

"Did you notice a contestant named ’Meteor’? I watched his combat videos... His palm technique definitely took a big step forward in simplifying the Tathagata Divine Palm!"

Gu Duan seemed very excited, sending over a few very familiar videos.

Fang Xing was somewhat speechless. The clips showed him using moves like Sky-Covering Hand and Five-Finger Mountain, thrashing other Sixth Realm opponents.

"Hmm... this palm technique truly bears some resemblance to the Tathagata Divine Palm!"

He looked a few times and pretended to agree.

In fact, Fang Xing had already largely simplified the Tathagata Divine Palm, then used tiny pieces of this idea as homework assignments given to Gu Duan.

Compared to that, ’Meteor’ revealed much more.

"Your current task is to closely observe this ’Meteor’ contestant, study his palm technique ideas... If you can get him to join our research group, that would be best."

Gu Duan said, "If you can do this, I’ll reward you with a Heavenly Gang Stone!"

"Yes, teacher, I’ll do my best."

Fang Xing’s face lit up with excitement.

Once the communication ended, he showed a thoughtful expression: ’Indeed... in modern information societies, everything is easily exposed... not to mention the automatic search by artificial intelligence...’

His combat videos were hidden among countless others and were quite inconspicuous, yet Gu Duan still discovered them.

This reminded Fang Xing of a previous suspicion, reaffirming that many Martial Arts experts in the Federation were quietly watching the contest.

"Perhaps... it’s time to make a bold retreat? The top ten thousand is too high..."

Fang Xing calculated the Sha Qi Crystals he had earned, feeling it was almost enough to condense the necessary Sha nodes.

What about the Gang Meridians?

Perhaps that would still have to go through the competition officials; surely he couldn’t really recruit ’Meteor’ into the group?

"Next match... After the next match, I’ll call it quits!"

He silently made up his mind.

...

Days later.

Fang Xing entered the holographic universe and visited a quaint martial arts dojo.

"This ambiance is rare..."

He touched his mask, knowing that beneath it was just a cluster of data, not his true face revealed by removing the mask.

This mask was merely a symbol of ’anonymity’ within the holographic universe.

Suddenly, Fang Xing felt a shiver run down his spine.

Then, he saw his opponent.

Ten feet away, stood an old man dressed in a black long robe with turtle shell-like hair and a crane’s hairdo.

The old man was hunched, seemingly very aged, wearing multi-layered linen shoes.

All in all, he gave Fang Xing a very old-fashioned feeling.

"Interesting, Meteor."

With hands clasped behind his back, the old man exuded a profound sense of a Grandmaster, "You go first!"

"What era is it now, still using this look? Are you trying to make me feel guilty like I’m punching out an elder care home?"

Fang Xing chuckled lightly, with all the confidence of a modern youth unafraid of earth or heaven.

Suddenly!

Boom!

The Golden Core Domain descended. With one step, the floorboards beneath him shattered, leaving a lingering image as he appeared above the old man, bringing down a chopping hand strike.

"Ghost God Saber? Almost... quite interesting!"

The old man’s palms had long, withered fingers, and now they moved like turning Tai Chi, "Blood Pointing and Vein Cutting!"

In an instant, his hands moved with incredible speed, touching points on Fang Xing’s arm.

The boundary between speed and slowness seemed blurred at that moment.

Fang Xing was baffled, already hit.

But in the next moment, his arm burst with golden light, seemingly unhurt as his palm struck the old man’s face, driving him into the wall and creating a profound hole.

"Darn it! Dragon Elephant Vajra Invincible Divine Power, Great Perfection? How unbecoming of you, attacking an old man like this!"

From the doorboard hole, the old man’s frustrated voice came.

Then he stepped out of the hole, twisting his neck with a sigh, "The hunted birds all day, today the bird pecks the hunter’s eye... If those old folks find out, they’ll laugh at me."

As he spoke, the old man straightened his bones, "To reach Dragon Elephant Perfection in the Golden Core Realm, such Martial Arts talent is not common..."