Stealthily cultivating in the chaotic world of demons and martial artists
Chapter 130 - 129: The Change in Offense and Defense (Congratulations in Silver!)_1

Chapter 130: Chapter 129: The Change in Offense and Defense (Congratulations in Silver!)_1

Several days later.

The Zhong Family sent people to negotiate.

Peach Blossom Island was a riot of falling petals, resplendent with vibrant purple and red hues, offering an exceptionally fine view.

"Wangu, if you can persuade the three late-stage Qi Refining cultivators on Peach Blossom Island to submit, it would be a significant achievement..."

An elderly cultivator said to Zhong Wangu.

This old man was decrepit and dressed in a black Flying Fish Mage Robe, his cultivation clearly at the late stage of Qi Refining!

They were all attendants who had come with the Family Head ’Zhong Tianchou’, and were arranged in the Reception Courtyard.

In a Cultivating Immortal Family, the Family Head actually didn’t wield much power, acting more like a family’s steward, often held by cultivators who weren’t especially gifted but were adept at managing affairs.

Zhong Tianchou had a cultivation of the ninth layer of Qi Refining, which was quite impressive.

The fact that the Family Head of the Zhong Family had come in person showed the importance he placed on Peach Blossom Island.

"Hopefully, everything will go smoothly this time..."

Zhong Wangu’s expression was slightly grim.

His youthful career as a greeter had exposed him to all facets of life, and he knew that many things were not as simple as they seemed.

Just then, the Array roared to life, trapping them all inside.

"Damn it!"

Zhong Wangu instinctively raised a defensive magical item. "Peach Blossom Island appears to have ill intent this time!"

The courtyard door opened, and Fang Xi, holding the Green Barley Sword, emerged.

"People don’t meet by chance. It’s like the interaction of ginseng and commerce..."

His eyes, cold to the extreme, swept over everyone present, lingering on Zhong Wangu, before his Green Barley Sword turned into a cyan streak of light, shooting out like an Azure Dragon. The sword light swept up and swallowed a Zhong Family cultivator...

"How audacious!"

Zhong Wangu bellowed, as five red pills flew out and landed on the Qingyuan Shield, detonating in succession.

The ground trembled, and amid the swirling smoke, Fang Xi leapt out like a shadow, the Green Barley Sword in his hand, and in an instant, it swept across Zhong Wangu’s neck.

"Heh heh... I can’t..."

Zhong Wangu’s mouth foamed with blood, and he fell to the ground, clutching his throat.

"He’s a late-stage Qi Refining cultivator!"

"He also has high-grade magical weapons, a Flying Sword, and a shield!"

"Run!"

...

The cultivators from the Zhong Family in the small courtyard roared with fury, but soon all was silent.

Fang Xi walked out, wiping the Green Barley Sword in his hand.

Outside the door, Lu Guo looked at the corpses scattered around and suddenly felt very cold... very cold...

Boom!

Not far away, the Water Moon Array activated with full force, a moonlight enveloping the entire building.

From inside the building came the muffled sound of explosions and the angry roaring of a man, "You Peach Blossom Island are bringing about your own destruction..."

"It’s the Zhong Family Head!"

A Qi Refining cultivator whispered nearby.

This person was a cultivator from the Mo Family of Black Sand Island sent as reinforcements and appeared to be only sixteen or seventeen years old, yet he had a cultivation at the third layer of Qi Refining.

What’s more, Fang Xi felt that this person looked familiar!

"Don’t worry, the Island Master is a Great Perfection cultivator, and with the support of the Great Array and late-stage disciples, he will surely cope..."

Fang Xi casually replied before asking, "Who are you?"

"I am Mo Xiaoyao, I have seen the senior!"

Mo Xiaoyao quickly bowed, replying with a very respectful manner.

"Mo Xiaoyao? Nice name..."

Fang Xi’s mouth held a trace of a smile, suddenly finding the source of that familiar feeling, "Is Mo Qingyi related to you?"

"He’s my family’s ancestor!"

Mo Xiaoyao was momentarily startled, but then he quickly responded.

His grandfather was a mere mortal who had struggled to survive in Baochuan Market, marrying many mortal women and continuing his lineage.

Finally, among his grandchildren, a child with a Spiritual Root was found—him. Overjoyed, he invested significant resources to raise his cultivation to where it was today.

Then, when the Mo Family of Black Sand Island was destroyed and the new Family Head rebuilt the Mo Family, calling for many branches to return and granting them direct lineage status.

Although Mo Qingyi was already bedridden with sickness at the time, he still decided to bet everything on the family, hence he ordered Mo Xiaoyao to lead his clan members back to rebuild the Mo Family of Black Sand Island!

"Senior... Do you perhaps know my ancestor?" Mo Xiaoyao asked, somewhat excited.

If this late-stage Qi Refining powerhouse had relations with his family, his status within the Mo Family of Black Sand Island could be greatly elevated.

After all, the current Mo Family didn’t yet have a late-stage Qi Refining cultivator to preside over them!

"I’ve been to the Market once; just a passing acquaintance, I suppose."

Fang Xi, looking at Mo Xiaoyao, who bore a striking resemblance to Mo Qingyi, felt quite emotional.

Mortals placing their hope for immortality in their bloodline, seems like there is something to be said for it, isn’t there?

Just then, there was another loud noise not far away.

In the intense light of the spells, the entire building collapsed with a bang!

The Great Array dissipated, the water moon disappeared, and a figure stumbled out—it was Ruan Dan!

"The Island Master has given an order, seal the entire island!"

Ruan Dan’s chest was stained with blood, clearly suffering serious injuries, yet filled with the exhilaration of having killed her enemy: "The Zhong Family Head is dead!"

It must have been the Zhong Family who instigated the Silver Armor to attack Peach Blossom Island back then!

With this, she had avenged the loss of her arm to some extent!

"Yes!"

Everyone rushed to their assigned tasks without delay.

Fang Xi nodded to Ruan Dan and also returned to Jadeite Cliff.

Swish!

Just then, a green shadow flew out from the surface of the lake, continuously blowing bubbles.

It was the big Daqing fish that was so scared it kept rolling its eyes!

Through Divine Consciousness, it was now able to convey some simple meanings.

"There’s a great cultivator fighting near Peach Blossom Island, turning heaven and earth upside down?"

"Just as I thought, the Zhong Family doesn’t fully trust Peach Blossom Island either. The family head is probably just a front, with Foundation Establishment cultivators accompanying them in secret!"

Fang Xi immediately descended into the Little Cloud Rain Array, activating the Great Array with all his might.

He then went into the underground cave.

’The Little Cloud Rain Array might not be able to withstand the scanning of a Foundation Establishment cultivator’s Divine Consciousness...’

’But as long as Divine Consciousness scans the cave, I will surely be able to detect it.’

Underneath the Demon Tree, Fang Xi sat cross-legged, quietly waiting for the outcome.

...

Three days later.

A shocking news roared through Thousand Island Lake!

The Zhong Family head, Zhong Tianchou, died at the hands of the Peach Blossom Island Master!

Rumors have it that the Island Master of Peach Blossom Island was both brave and strategic, using a ruse of feigned surrender to have Zhong Tianchou willingly deliver his life!

Even wilder rumors abounded in the background, claiming all sorts of things.

For instance, Zhong Tianchou fell for a beauty trap, or that Peach Blossom Island had truly surrendered, only to have been discovered in advance by the Three Upper Families, and so on.

The most exaggerated of all claimed that the Zhong Family was actually prepared for this, with even two Foundation Establishment old ancestors coming in secret, intending to wipe out Peach Blossom Island in one fell swoop.

But unexpectedly, at the crucial moment, the Foundation Establishment patron of the Thirty Six Island Alliance, Ye Sanren, took action!

This Ye Sanren, previously just a Foundation Establishment early stage cultivator and rarely seen, displayed unexpectedly advanced cultivation this time, having reached the mid-stage of Foundation Establishment, almost overpowering the two Zhong Family Foundation Establishment combatants single-handedly!

After a fierce battle, seeing no advantage to gain, the two Zhong Family old ancestors had no choice but to retreat, licking their wounds.

...

"With this battle, the Thirty Six Island Alliance has gained tremendous momentum, sweeping away the previous turmoil of Ling Kong Market being breached, and the death of Yu Lingzi..."

Jadeite Cliff.

Lu Guo stood in front of Fang Xi, concluding at last.

"Yeah... who would have thought that this ’Ye Sanren’, who was supposedly just invited as a patron, would actually take action when it mattered, and secretly advanced to the mid-stage of Foundation Establishment!"

Fang Xi was also marveling.

The mid-stage of Foundation Establishment might seem only a small realm away from the early stage, but in reality, it could take on two or three early stage cultivators!

A mid-stage cultivator taking action against an early stage cultivator could indeed achieve overwhelming superiority.

Therefore, not only did the two early stage old ancestors of the Zhong Family flee in defeat, they may even have suffered some damage to their primordial energy.

"Hmph, I think this Ye Sanren also has his own agenda; otherwise, why would he stand idly by while Yu Lingzi met his end? Only stepping in at the critical moment to turn the tide!" Wei Yixi muttered resentfully while listening.

"Yixi?!"

Fang Xi glared at his good-for-nothing niece, "The privacies of a Foundation Establishment cultivator are for you to discuss? If someone were to overhear you, not even nine lives would be enough to save you!"

"Uncle, I was just talking in private," Wei Yixi stuck out her tongue. "I heard it from sister Ruan Dan; they say that ’Ye Sanren’ may not want to see any other Foundation Establishment cultivators share in the patronage of the Thirty Six Islands..."

"Are you still talking?"

Fang Xi feigned a threat to hit her, which finally scared Wei Yixi enough to not dare to say more.

He turned to Lu Guo, "Continue..."

"After this, the cultivator army of the Thirty Six Island Alliance took advantage of the chaos following the loss of the Zhong Family head to launch a counterattack. It’s said that Ling Kong Island, a second-tier Spiritual Vein island, was recaptured in a single move, and even the Zhong Family’s lake area was invaded..."

"The individual cultivators on Peach Blossom Island were also drawn to the cause, joining the Thirty Six Island Alliance, and some even shouted slogans to storm Dragon Fish Island!"

Lu Guo himself didn’t know what to feel about it.

The ever-changing landscape of the Cultivation World was indeed moving a bit too fast.

A moment before, the Thirty Six Island Alliance was in a precarious state, but now they were scoring victories in succession.

Dragon Fish Island was none other than the main stronghold of the Dragon Fish Zhong Family, with millions of mortals living above and a second-tier top-quality Spiritual Vein!

With its generations of effort invested in constructing the protective Great Array, as long as it was manned by a Foundation Establishment cultivator, even those at the late stage of Foundation Establishment would find it hard to breach.

Regarding this slogan, Fang Xi was also quite speechless.

’Yet, did that force secretly allied with Ruan Xingling make a move in all this?’

Fang Xi was aware of the battle between Foundation Establishment cultivators that took place near Peach Blossom Island.

The Daqing fish had even witnessed it!

’Able to fight two against one and even injure two Foundation Establishment cultivators, aside from being at the mid-stage of Foundation Establishment, perhaps Ye Sanren also had assistance from another Foundation Establishment cultivator?’

’Who would have thought that in just a few years, the offensive and defensive situation would change.’

Such changes seemed quite amusing to Fang Xi.

Indeed, if one lived long enough, all sorts of things could be witnessed.

Now that the Thirty Six Islands were counterattacking, a large number of the individual cultivators on Peach Blossom Island were lured by the lucrative rewards and reimbursements of the allied forces, joining them in droves, making the island much quieter than before.

Fang Xi, however, couldn’t be happier with this turn of events. With Peach Blossom Island becoming a safe rear area, he could cultivate his trees with ease.

...

This night.

The hidden Jia Yi in the peach woods saw that dim streak of Escape Light again.

"It’s not in vain that I haven’t deactivated Jia Yi, letting it keep its vigil. Finally, there’s another yield."

In Jadeite Cliff, Fang Xi’s eyes lit up as he immediately steered the Black Feather Boat, flying out of the Great Array.

He stopped the Escape Light several miles away from Mirror Moon Lake and approached stealthily, using a low-profile body technique.

Before long, he arrived in the Peach Blossom Forest, concealing his breath, waiting for that streak of Escape Light to fly out...