Stealthily cultivating in the chaotic world of demons and martial artists
Chapter 1186 - 1040: Return to the Old Place (Seeking Basic Monthly Votes at the Beginning of the Month)

Chapter 1186: Chapter 1040: Return to the Old Place (Seeking Basic Monthly Votes at the Beginning of the Month)

Sun Moon Divine Breath Array.

At the highest point of the firmament, that majestic and vast divine mountain suddenly burst into a colorful radiance, revealing an incredibly terrifying figure.

Draped in a robe of piety, with a head full of white hair, their face was blurred, yet they carried an immense authority.

"Lord Taoist Master..."

Countless immortals bowed their heads in reverence.

This person was naturally the Thousand Swords Old Man, the Taoist Master of the Sun Moon Divine Mountain.

Thousand Swords Old Man’s divine thought swept across, causing Fang Xi to startle suddenly. However, a phantom of the "Treasures of All Heavens" within him lightly flickered, and then he behaved as if nothing had happened.

The mystery of the Taoist Fruit lies in defying all laws, disregarding logic.

Take, for instance, that widely known problem from a prior life: can God create a stone that He Himself cannot lift?

If it were the Taoist Fruit, then one could both create a stone that cannot be lifted and yet be able to lift it.

The same logic applied to Fang Xi.

He was able to comprehend numerous laws on the Thousand Monument Mountain, without revealing his personal laws, nor being detected by the Array Spirit and Thousand Swords Old Man.

Thousand Swords Old Man’s presence was grand and majestic, carrying the true meaning of the Way. His voice echoed throughout the Great Array, "Today, this old man will accept the thirty-ninth disciple..."

"Lord Taoist Master is taking a disciple?"

A group of immortals was incredibly surprised: "The last one was Taoist Master Qingping ten of thousands of years ago, wasn’t it?"

"Which of the immortals shall become a Prime Taoist this time?"

"It’s not necessarily a Prime Taoist... anyone who has achieved comprehension of ’One Sword Creates the Universe’ and showed it off within the Sun Moon Divine Breath Array could potentially win the favor of the Taoist Master and become his disciple..."

The immortals discussed fervently, all guessing the identity of the lucky individual.

Yet Fang Xi knew full well that to become an official disciple of Thousand Swords Old Man, there was only one strict condition: the laws he understood had to be of use to Thousand Swords Old Man, complementing ’One Sword Creates the Universe’!

Filling in the shortcomings was naturally more difficult the further one progressed.

Therefore, the disciples who were taken later in the order were actually more impressive, especially in terms of law comprehension.

At that moment, Thousand Swords Old Man, whose presence filled the heaven and earth, spoke again: "Tian Chong!"

"Tian Chong!"

"Tian Chong!"

A voice called out, echoing continuously within the Array.

Tian Chong, who was standing in front of a jade monument, was momentarily dazed. He immediately flew up into the air and solemnly greeted, "I pay my respects to my master..."

"Very well."

Solar Lunar Taoist Master lightly motioned with his hand, and the brilliance of the sun and the moon formed a rainbow bridge, leading Tian Chong towards the depths of the Sun Moon Divine Mountain.

Subsequently, the Taoist Master’s presence abruptly vanished.

The multitude of immortals only then felt the pressure on them lift, and they eagerly began discussing:

"Who is Tian Chong?"

"He’s that big fool—no wait, brother Tian truly has extraordinary determination and resolve, it’s truly admirable that he has achieved something!"

"Tian Chong..."

Know-it-all looked towards the divine mountain in the sky, thinking of his initial attitude, filled with immense anxiety.

Who could have imagined? That whimsical, overly ambitious immortal, to have such astounding talent in law comprehension, even attracting Thousand Swords Old Man to take him as an official disciple?

"Tian Chong..."

Immortal Luo was bewildered, evidently not remembering who Tian Chong was.

"Just an immortal..."

Fang Xi was somewhat surprised himself.

After all, to complete ’One Sword Creates the Universe’ became increasingly difficult; the most recent disciples that Thousand Swords Old Man had taken were all Prime Taoists.

And now, an immortal had appeared!

"It seems that, before long, comprehending the overall laws of Thousand Monument Mountain will start to flourish again..."

Learning from the successes of others is not shameful; it’s just that most people are merely imitators.

Fang Xi stroked his chin: "Viewing countless laws as a whole, encompassing everything for comprehension... indeed, it’s a path."

Unfortunately, this path was not suitable for him.

Not long after, the Thousand Monument Mountain suddenly let out a uniform roar.

The law runes on it seemed to have become even more complex and profound.

’Thousand Swords Old Man doesn’t hide anything; he immediately released the latest update...’

Seeing this scene, Fang Xi inwardly praised him.

However, this was normal, as if they were to comprehend something new on this basis, the one who stood to benefit the most was still Thousand Swords Old Man.

"Immortal Luo, did you notice any differences?"

He contemplated for a moment, and a surprised look appeared on his face.

"All the thousand jade monuments, originally connected, now this connection is even tighter, as if they are one entire entity..."

Although Luo Fu had a very poor memory, she seemed to have a superior edge in comprehending laws. At this moment, she muttered her perspective: "It feels as though it encompasses all things, one realm is almost perfectly complete...But still, one thing is missing—a kind of flowing vitality!"

"The flowing liveliness... What the immortal said is truly thought-provoking."

Fang Xi nodded solemnly, indicating agreement.

However, the Sword Spirit hanging from Luo Fu’s waist exclaimed, "Miss... you’ve been fooled again. How can such precious comprehension of laws be spoken aloud so casually?"

Fang Xi didn’t bother to intervene and instead silently experienced it himself.

Thousand Swords Old Man, as a Taoist Master, had diligently and single-handedly shared the comprehension of the Sword Array, attracting many talents to join.

After countless years of perfection, the laws here were impeccably comprehensive.

Most of the laws in the True Immortal Realm were included here—even exceedingly profound ones!

Today, Tian Chong was like constructing a building from the roof, repairing the whole once again, almost simulating the nascent stages of the Big Thousand World.

What was missing was indeed a sense of flow!

"Five Elements Rotation, Life and Death Reincarnation, Yin-Yang Reincarnation..."

"Perhaps what’s lacking is the inconspicuous Reincarnation Law?"

"If the Reincarnation Law were elevated to the level of a Taoist Seed, this ’One Sword Creates the Universe’ would almost be perfected..."

A sense of solemnity surged through Fang Xi’s heart.

"Recently, I have merged the Reincarnation Taoist Seed with the Jade Platform. The path chosen is now irrevocable!"

"The essence of the Reincarnation Law is extremely profound, its connection to other Taoist Masters minimal... Even if there is a response, it’s quite weak, allowing time to act."

Should he combine with Void or Life and Death Taoist Seed, the resonance with corresponding Taoist Masters might be extremely profound, even pinpointing Fang Xi’s position of union within the True Immortal Realm instantly!

Especially to that fearsome Taoist Master who controlled the Space-Time Path!

Given the Path he mastered, he might be able to teleport to any location within the True Immortal Realm in an instant!

Thus, to combine with the Void or Time Taoist Seed was simply a path to death.

And the Life and Death Taoist Seed wasn’t much better, after all, Taoist Masters had many means and wouldn’t be slow in traveling.

From sensing the specific location to pursuing it, the process of unification might not even be completed.

"The Reincarnation Law is somewhat better... Its essence highly profound, and the Reincarnation Taoist Seed has never been occupied by any Taoist Master..."

"Therefore, even if it can connect with other laws, the connections are quite weak, even if there’s a response, it’s quite vague..."

"This way, after my ascension, there will be a chance for escape and concealment."

Fang Xi naturally had set up Void Coordinates in several places within the True Immortal Realm, convenient for escape.

If things turned dire, he could also escape to the Shu Mountain world.

As for the Earth Immortal Realm?

Should a Taoist Master descend, it might very well burst the Earth Immortal Realm. However, as a world fused with his own origin, it could be special, being the only Medium Thousand World he could visit as a Taoist Master.

"Even if the Earth Immortal Realm could accommodate me, if I, as a Taoist Master, visit other Medium Thousand Worlds, it might just burst... Of course, in doing so, I, as a Taoist Master, would gain no benefit. Due to the destruction of the world, I’d inevitably suffer backlash from the Heavenly and Earthly Laws... leading to severe injuries or even death."

"After a successful escape, immediately use the Mirror of Illusion World for concealment, transforming into ’Lord Illusory Destruction’!"

Fang Xi, having obtained the legacy of the Mirror of Illusion World, knew that Lord Illusory Destruction didn’t face hostility from other Taoist Masters post-ascension and lived quite freely.

Only later, due to competition over treasures, when he fought against several Taoist Masters, did he suffer severe damage and eventually fell tragically, his legacy obtained by Celestial Immortal Yuanli.

"Reincarnation... huh?"

"After becoming a Taoist Master, it is crucial to meld many Taoist Seeds and master my own Path... Being close to the origin of the Path, my ability to comprehend laws will greatly increase..."

"By then, having thoroughly understood the local laws and incorporating them into Reincarnation..."

"Even if my swordsmanship cannot reach the ultimate stage of ’One Sword Creates the Universe,’ by primarily using arrays, supplementing them with the Sword Path, and elevating the ’Eight Gates Sword Array’ to a ’Sword Creates Heaven and Earth Array,’ at least making it an eleventh-level Array. This is still because my current cultivation is insufficient. Once I attain Taoist Master, should I be able to enhance it to twelfth level? What kind of landscape lies beyond Taoist Master?"

A glint of anticipation flashed in Fang Xi’s eyes.

...

In the sky, two figures turned into streams of light, swiftly streaking across.

On the ground below, golden bamboos converged mightily, forming a vast sea.

"Teacher, we’ve returned..."

Fang Xian looked down at the Golden Bamboo Sea below, a flicker of joy in his eyes.

This Golden Bamboo Sea was akin to his homeland, having been born there, bearing a special kind of affection.

Fang Xi planned to find a place to continue laying low, surviving the Taichi Seven Declines, along with seeking enlightenment and attaining Taoist Master.

Adhering to the principle of sticking with the familiar, he chose to return to the territory of Golden Bamboo Sea Spirit Mountain.

After all, he was very familiar with the area, and since no significant events had happened there over the many years, it proved to be stable, making it an excellent place for secluded cultivation.

"And also... when I attain Reincarnation Taoist Master, that Western Bliss Profound Realm might provide some cover..."

"After all, the Brahman Sect has long coveted the six pathways of reincarnation, a well-known fact... it’s highly likely that the one to attain Reincarnation Taoist Master this time might be a certain Buddha’s disciple..."

"King Wisdom Buddha of the Mundane World is known to be hospitable and amiable to others, and will surely provide some cover for me..."

As he pondered, Fang Xi had already led Fang Xian into Spirit Mountain.

There were more than millions of cultivators here.

With Escape Lights and towering buildings everywhere, Fang Xi directly chose a platform to land on, planning to have Fang Xian step forward to rent a sizable Cave Mansion, at least it couldn’t be a cramped cage.

Although this place still harbored ’True Sense Immortal’ Enduring Concealment and rent-collector Shi Yushu, who was also managing an apartment’s deed for him, Fang Xi didn’t plan to contact them.

Although... he, as a fugitive Earth Immortal from Abundant Karma House, was actually under minimal scrutiny; at most, due to Zu Long’s death, he would face some investigation, but it wasn’t a big deal.

But Fang Xi habitually preferred to be cautious.