Stealthily cultivating in the chaotic world of demons and martial artists
Chapter 1069 - 923 Reversal

Chapter 1069: Chapter 923 Reversal

Vermilion Bird Lane Dongfu.

Within the secret chamber.

Fang Xi sat cross-legged, continuously forming hand seals.

Seal after seal flickered with indescribable radiance, unceasingly entering the body of a fierce black snake in front of him.

This black snake Puppet was small and exquisite, with its back bearing six pairs of incomplete wings, currently emanating mysterious fluctuations.

"The final step, placing the Puppet Core."

A flash of light appeared in Fang Xi’s hand, revealing an object resembling a twelve-sided die.

This object hovered in midair, its surface engraved with copious amounts of densely packed Immortal Mansion Secret Inscriptions, which were now lighting up one by one, overflowing with rich Immortal Qi.

"To fill the core of an eighth-tier Puppet, the finest Spirit Stones are not enough... It must be filled with Immortal Jade, and that too a substantial amount of refined Immortal Jade, coupled with the ’Heart of Ten Thousand Rocks’..."

Countless bits of Puppetry Skill flashed through Fang Xi’s mind.

Just this single Puppet Core consumed an amount of Immortal Jade equivalent to a small hill.

If seen by outsiders, they would definitely be struck dumb with amazement.

"Go!"

At this moment, he spurred his magic spell, and the twelve-sided Puppet Core immediately transformed into a streak of light, entering into the forehead of the Six-Winged Black Snake.

Above the Puppet’s forehead, a bizarre inscription composed of whirlpools and sharp angles suddenly appeared.

All of a sudden, Fang Xi felt a slight connection between his Divine Thought and this eighth-tier Puppet.

Hiss hiss!

The Six-Winged Black Snake seemed to come to life, red light emerging from its vertical pupils, and then its entire body erupted with Mahayana-level Spiritual Pressure, nimbly weaving through the Void.

This was still the Puppet’s initial state; if it were to withdraw the omnipotent Divine Skill from its body, it could instantly become as massive as a small mountain, briefly manifesting the grandeur of the Monster Clan’s Snake Ancestor from the Lower Realm!

"An eighth-tier Puppet, finally completed."

Fang Xi saw this scene, yet his face did not show much joy. Instead, he wore a touch of melancholy.

He had based his efforts on capturing many Mahayana, as well as purchasing Puppet Material from the True Immortal Realm, and continuously practiced the "Mysterious Jade Reference." However, the outcomes fell short of expectations.

His attempts to refine a Ten Thousand Tribulations Puppet all ended in failure!

Especially since the precious materials he obtained, particularly several Mahayana Nascent Souls, vanished into thin air!

This filled Fang Xi with regret. He guessed that Guixu Zi, being a top-tier Grandmaster specializing in puppetry and having a special connection with Zangmingzi, was barely able to refine a Ten Thousand Tribulations Puppet.

In his own hands, as Puppet creation was not his main focus, it proved to be exceedingly difficult.

After all, Fang Xi had previously devoted most of his efforts to Puppet manipulation and maintenance. His proficiency in puppetry could be considered a sidetrack, and now he was paying the tuition fee for it.

Upon realizing this, he immediately changed his approach. He stopped focusing on creating a difficult Ten Thousand Tribulations Puppet and instead turned to refining ordinary eighth-tier Puppets.

After several failures, he finally used some leftover damaged materials to refine this ’Six-Winged Black Snake’!

"The Six-Winged Black Snake, its main body from the Snake Ancestor, wings from the Jiuchi Clan, and inner core haphazardly assembled... Its strength is barely adequate, comparable to a three-tribulation Mahayana," Fang Xi inwardly sighed, assessing the Puppet’s strength.

His puppetry skills were indeed mediocre.

"In the Immortal City, arts of Immortal Cultivation below the eighth tier are quite common and can be easily purchased... But eighth-tier arts, let alone those of the higher True Immortal level, are extremely rare, and even when they do appear, they would immediately be bought by powerful forces and high-level Cultivators..."

At this moment, Fang Xi had an insight. He knew that the "Mysterious Jade Reference" in his hands was considered a decent Puppet heritage even in the True Immortal Realm.

He stowed the Puppet away and then entered the Talisman-making Room in the outside world.

On the desk, a sheet of Jade Talisman paper was already prepared.

Fang Xi picked up the talisman brush, soaking it in talisman ink.

Accompanied by a few chants, ripples spread through the Void, and strands of the Void Laws descended upon the tip of the talisman brush.

His hand movements were ceaseless, as he began to draw ancient inscriptions at the four corners of the paper.

Then, with an indescribable regulation, the Void Force at the tip of the brush counteracted the outside Void’s crushing force.

A flash of silver light on the paper, and there revealed a ’Storage Talisman’ identical to those sold in the talisman shops!

"It has finally been made..."

Elder Ge treated the ’Storage Talisman’ as precious as his own eyes, and the method of crafting it was kept a tightly-held secret.

Now, however, it had been successfully pilfered by Fang Xi.

"It turns out that the key to making a Storage Talisman lies in the final stroke; it must utilize Void Force to form a small Prohibition, opposing the external pressure of the Void..."

"Such subtlety, had I not been proficient in Void Laws and watched it in person, would have been imperceptible no matter what..."

Fang Xi’s expression brightened slightly, "A ’Storage 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 level. Now that I’ve learned it, laundering Lower Realm Immortal Jade is going to be simpler and easier..."

"Moreover, successfully creating this talisman means my proficiency in talismans has also reached the eighth tier..."

Currently, Fang Xi’s proficiency in the Hundred Arts of Immortal Cultivation was still highest in Arrays, reaching the ninth tier, making him an ’Immortal Array Master’!

Even in the True Immortal Realm, such individuals were extremely rare and held a status comparable to that of a True Immortal of Origin Soul!

Of course, he had no intention of revealing this fact.

Beyond that, both his puppet skill and Talisman Making Skill had now also reached the eighth tier.

The Spirit Plant Farmer’s craftsmanship, blessed with the Mother Qi of All Woods and Earth Immortal Heritage, coupled with reaching a sufficient level of cultivation, made advancing to the eighth rank not too difficult.

Next in line were the seventh rank arts of alchemy and spiritual delicacies.

"Following that, I can display more of my mastery in talismanic arts, to earn more Spirit Stones... After all, with the pressure of two Grandmaster Talisman Masters, it’s not unprecedented for me to have a breakthrough in the midst of battle."

"Afterward, I’ll purchase the ’Six Immortals Turn Flying Pill’ to successfully ascend to the Mahayana Realm."

"A Mahayana Realm eighth rank Talisman Master should meet the recruitment standards of Abundant Karma House... I can easily get started there. If I also display my ’Storage Talisman’ skills, I’ll be given even more consideration... But that is a small trump card, to be played depending on the situation..."

Fang Xi had a very clear outline for his future.

"And there’s no rush at all now, there are plenty of opportunities... Even if my plans fail, I can just start over somewhere else."

His true self still needed about ninety thousand years to transcend tribulation and become an Immortal, so he was not in urgent need of post-Earth Immortal cultivation methods.

With such a vast span of time, naturally, he possessed the leisure and mindset of an Immortal being, slowly making his plans.

...

Several days later.

Fang Xi drew some more ’Storage Talismans’, depleting the stash of Void Jade talisman paper at hand, and then leisurely emerged from seclusion.

Whoosh!

A radiance roamed within the array of his Dongfu, and as soon he left seclusion, it eagerly flew towards him.

With a single beckoning hand, the radiance arrived in his hand, transforming into a small jade sword.

With a sweep of his Divine Thought, a trace of a smile couldn’t help but appear at the corner of his mouth.

This flying sword delivered a message from Yong Shopkeeper of the Yong Yunmian, naturally, it was good news.

Elder Ge had vanished for a period of time but had now reappeared, announcing that he had smoothly transcended his eighth Immortal Thunder Calamity. He was only one last Immortal Thunder Tribulation away from the realm of eternal Immortality!

Upon his return this time, even the rulers of the Fiery Sun Immortal City were stirred. It was said that a disciple of Immortal Lie Ri spoke with Elder Ge at length, and many major powers within the city extended olive branches, all of which were politely declined.

If Elder Ge wished to join any power, with his Mahayana Cultivation and expertise in talismans, he could have joined any of them long ago.

Now, by bringing up the Talisman Masters Association, it was clear he harbored grand ambitions.

Once he achieved true Immortality, he might even be able to establish the foundation of a Sect.

By that time, with an Immortal ensuring Immortality guarding it, the Taoist system could be passed down for tens of thousands of years, or even forever!

’This Elder Ge has quite the ambition... but for me, it makes no difference either way.’

Fang Xi chuckled and continued to read.

Now that Elder Ge had returned in triumph, those two Talisman Masters, Zhao and Qiu, found themselves in deep trouble, reportedly being ostracized from Fiery Sun Immortal City, unable to return ever again.

As for the many Talisman Masters who followed them, Elder Ge displayed considerable leniency, a good way to soothe hearts by punishing only the ringleaders while overlooking the rest of their crimes.

’Indeed, the old man intends to establish his own faction; otherwise, he would never recruit defectors so openly, seeking to expand his influence...’

Fang Xi confirmed his suspicions, stepped out of his Dongfu, and prepared to pay a visit.

Having taken a firm stand in this major change, perhaps he could even receive a reward.

According to Yong Yunmian, he might even be taken as a nominal disciple by Elder Ge.

Well, for an Integration Cultivator, that would indeed be a tremendous opportunity.

If he waited until Elder Ge had transcended the Nine Tribulations and achieved true Immortality, even a Mahayana Cultivator might not be able to become his disciple.

But for Fang Xi, this was actually a bit laughable...

’In any case, I still have to deal with it...’

Suddenly, as he stepped beyond the sound-proofing array, a series of curses reached his ears.

"Zhang Family, you’re going too far!"

Shi Yushu, with disheveled hair and looking like an enraged ghost, was furiously berating the Dongfu next to Fang Xi’s: "You dare to do such things, yet you can’t stand being called out for them?"

"What wrong did Ma Jing and Li Dao commit? They were once fellow disciples, yet you callously murdered them."

"Would you dare to join me at Fiery Sun Immortal City’s ’Life and Death Stage’? Today, I’ll risk everything to fight you..."

His eyes were bloodshot, seemingly tinged with blood.

’Possession by a demon? It’s imminent...’

Seeing Shi Yushu’s expression, Fang Xi felt a chill in his heart and shouted, "Calm your mind!"

His words seemed to carry an inexplicable power, clearing Shi Yushu’s eyes slightly. Upon noticing Fang Xi, Shi Yushu’s tone became choked up, "Senior Fang... The Zhang Family acts against all decency. I initially thought dividing up the sect was their limit, but now... today I’ve come to realize, soon after Ma Jing and Li Dao left Fiery Sun Immortal City, they were ambushed and murdered, their corpses discarded by the road, left for wild dogs to gnaw..."

"This... is indeed a tragedy."

Fang Xi let out a mournful sigh.

He remembered when Ma Jing bellowed, ’My fate is mine to command, not the heavens’, expecting the youth to achieve great things.

Yet, unexpectedly, he fell by the roadside in a short time, along with Li Dao.

Having watched the two youths grow up, he couldn’t help feeling somber.

"Pah!"

At that moment, the gates to the Zhang Family Dongfu swung open, and the same old woman from before emerged, shouting, "You slander us without evidence; my Zhang Family will not rest until we settle this! If you really want to play the good guy, you should’ve continued to bear the cost for those two’s cultivation and help them succeed, not abandon them and come here now to play the saint."

Shi Yushu seemed struck by lightning, standing frozen in place...