Stealthily cultivating in the chaotic world of demons and martial artists
Chapter 162 - 161 Star Bell Foundation Establishment (Seeking Subscriptions)_1

Chapter 162: Chapter 161 Star Bell Foundation Establishment (Seeking Subscriptions)_1

"Indeed, a foolhardy one..."

Fang Xi’s divine consciousness within the fragment scanned the scene and could not help but laugh wryly.

Today, he had listened to the Big Shaman’s teachings and felt very touched.

"The people of this land have a brilliant method to open their spirit apertures, but the subsequent techniques to absorb spiritual energy are somewhat crude. They rely solely on the apertures’ ability to sense and absorb the spiritual energy from heaven and earth. How can this compare to the method of circulation through the meridians?"

Therefore, Fang Xi casually selected a Qi Refining magic spell, added some of his own insight, then revised it and compiled the ’Spirit-opening Script’, which he taught to Ba Ji.

According to his estimates, it should significantly improve the other’s efficiency in absorbing spiritual energy, at least equivalent to one complete spirit aperture, or even two!

As for the crude technique possibly leading to deviation and madness?

After all, the bodies of the Shaman Race in this world are robust; they won’t suffer from a few reckless actions, and besides, if he did kill someone... well, he could just find a new ’mirror-holder’!

...

Some time later.

In front of the Big Shaman’s Dongfu.

"I did it!"

Ba Ji said excitedly, standing in front of the Big Shaman.

"Hmm? You have indeed become a formal ’Shaman’!"

The Big Shaman, holding Ba Ji’s arm and sensing carefully, his turbid gaze filled with a hint of shock, soon revealed a smile, "Go on, enter the cave and choose the battle mark that suits you best!"

"Yes!"

Ba Ji, with excitement, stepped into the cave.

Inside the cave was dark, so torches were lit.

On a row of stone platforms were numerous beast skins laid out, filled with complex patterns and symbols.

Some symbols were not even on beast skins but were recorded on stone slabs, with incredibly clear lines.

"Battle marks! Using the primordial energy of heaven and earth as ink, and oneself as the medium, inscribing battle marks upon the body, one can cast Shaman spells!"

Ba Ji, moved, took out a fragment of a bronze mirror.

Knowing this object was extraordinary, he deliberately brought it along when choosing his battle mark.

Fang Xi’s divine consciousness swept over and became even more moved, "These... Could all these be... array patterns?!"

He looked at numerous array patterns he had never seen before, his heart stirring, "That’s right... according to what the Shaman Race passes down, their Shaman spells are learned from monster beasts, and these beast skins here are all monster beast skins..."

Fang Xi had already found the Shaman Race’s power inheritance quite peculiar.

Now, after careful observation, he quickly realized even more, "The Shaman engraving rune patterns on their bodies is akin to ’refining arrays into the body’..."

Refining arrays into the body!

In the Southern Wilderness Cultivation Realm, only some Array Grandmasters dare to attempt this, as cultivators’ bodies are fragile.

But these Shaman, clearly with strong physiques, where even teenagers could effortlessly lift bronze cauldrons, and could open spirit apertures, had some special bodily structures.

"Refining arrays into the body, activating Shaman spells..."

"This approach is somewhat similar to monster beasts awakening their innate Monster Skills..."

Fang Xi’s divine consciousness swept across, quickly memorizing the patterns on each beast skin.

These were all precious treasures!

"The initial ’rune pattern’ chosen determines a Shaman’s path in the future..."

Ba Ji muttered to himself, "Green Wolf chose the ’Wind Blade rune pattern’, able to manipulate wind pressure to form wind blades. How should I choose?"

Regrettably, the mirror fragment in his hand remained still, offering no hints.

After all, Fang Xi had no clue about the Shaman’s path of battle marks and certainly didn’t want to make a fool of himself.

Moreover, advising this youngster, what importance was that compared to memorizing these array patterns?

...

In the Southern Wilderness Cultivation Realm.

Peach Blossom Pavilion.

"Congratulations on exiting seclusion, young master. After several months of seclusion, your cultivation must have improved greatly, right?"

Upon seeing Fang Xi coming out of seclusion, Jin Ling approached with a joyful expression to congratulate him.

"Haha, I’ve indeed made some progress," Fang Xi said, unable to hide the smile at the corner of his mouth.

Through the understanding of the numerous array patterns he had gleaned from the Big Shaman’s Dongfu, he felt his tirelessly cultivated path of arrays had finally achieved a breakthrough.

By now, he had nearly touched the threshold of a second-order Array Master and would soon step into the second order.

Second-order arrays!

Whether it’s the base-building family’s clan lands or the marketplaces... all need second-order Great Arrays for defense. Once Fang Xi released this news, he was sure to have a constant stream of visitors and would undoubtedly earn a substantial amount of spirit stone resources.

If he reached the third order...

His status would hardly be less than that of a Core Formation elder.

Isn’t it that the Song Family relies on a set of third-order arrays to ensure that their headquarters remain as stable as Mount Tai?

"After reaching the second order, I can set up second-order inferior Great Arrays. Of course... the arrays I set up will inevitably have some flaws, and creating my own arrays is ultimately more troublesome than learning second-order arrays..."

"However, at the very least, I could attempt to repair the ’Yi Wood Divine Thunder Formation’ a bit..."

Although both second-order Array Masters, Fang Xi’s skills might not necessarily match those of the Foundation Establishment cultivator who repaired the array in the past.

But Fang Xi also had a unique skill, which was the strange array patterns from another world!

Just a slight repair of the ’Yi Wood Divine Thunder Formation’ was within his confidence.

"Haha... Uncle, I’ve broken through!"

Wei Yixi also came to the courtyard, munching on a peach, and said with a grin.

Observing her cultivation level, she had already reached the seventh layer of Qi Refining.

"Hmm, not bad, keep working hard."

Fang Xi’s expression remained indifferent.

If he hadn’t sent Jin Ling to gift her a breakthrough pill, would this little girl even dream of advancing so quickly?

Fortunately, he had restrained everyone, merely to avoid being affected by the aftermath of the Core Formation spiritual object auction. By now, it should be almost over.

...

After Fang Xi left his retreat, he found an excuse to say he was leaving the city when in fact, he only took a stroll around before coming back with two second-rank Monster Beasts, which he sold in the market to exchange for materials.

Aside from the materials needed to repair second-rank Puppets, there were also some spirit materials that he intended to use for repairing the "Yi Wood Divine Thunder Formation."

Inside the secret chamber.

Fang Xi summoned the azure Innate True Fire, burning a piece of golden ore.

As the temperature steadily rose, the ore gradually melted.

And just when the ore was about to melt, he flicked his fingers rapidly, extracting strands of golden threads from it, weaving them like a fabric into the wings of a second-rank flying Puppet.

Although he had acquired a second-rank Puppet inheritance, he was not yet capable of independently crafting one.

But carrying out simple repairs and maintenance was not a big problem for him.

Several hours later, looking at the raven Puppet that now had faint hints of gold among its black feathers after being refined, Fang Xi nodded in satisfaction,

"Not bad, not bad... This flying Puppet’s speed should be faster than the average escape speed of a mid-Foundation Establishment Cultivator... except for those with special Spiritual Roots like wind and thunder!"

Fang Xi then took out the Array Disk and Array Flags of the Yi Wood Divine Thunder Formation, beginning to contemplate methods to repair the formation.

Time ticked by, and just as he started to have some ideas, his brow suddenly furrowed.

The next moment, he lifted the prohibition on the secret chamber and saw a Voice Transmission Talisman flying out.

Fang Xi took the Talisman and listened for a few moments, his face revealing a hint of joy, and he immediately left the retreat.

In the courtyard.

Under the Peach Blossom Tree, Ruan Xingling stood timidly in a peach-pink robe, appearing even lovelier than the flowers.

"Congratulations to Ruan for her successful Foundation Establishment! To succeed at such an advanced age truly sets an example for our generation!"

Watching this scene unfold, Fang Xi too showed a smile and performed a congratulatory ancient salute.

Calculating the time, it had indeed been several months since Ruan Xingling started her closed-door Foundation Establishment. It was indeed the right time for her to emerge successfully.

"It was merely a stroke of luck..."

Ruan Xingling’s hair was completely black, showing no signs of the earlier greying at the roots, evidently her vitality had greatly increased.

She smiled gently, and then said, "Something just came to my mind, I must return to Thousand Island Lake to resolve it as soon as possible, and I will have to entrust Dan’er to your guidance..."

This unexpected behavior immediately caught Fang Xi’s attention, "Why such haste, Ruan?"

Ruan Xingling gave a wry smile, and her face even turned somewhat pale.

After confirming that there was no one eavesdropping with her Divine Consciousness, she seemed to finally make up her mind,

"To tell you the truth... There are some untold difficulties regarding the success of my Foundation Establishment."

’I knew it, selling Peach Blossom Island wouldn’t be enough to afford the Base-building Spiritual Objects...’

Fang Xi’s mind stirred, listening to Ruan Xingling’s story.

"... It was due to the aid of someone else that I was able to successfully establish my foundation this time; I need to go back to repay that debt..."

Ruan Xingling said with a wry smile, yet still omitted the matter of the Demon Cultivator.

Fang Xi felt that she was likely too cautious and also didn’t want to cause him and the others unnecessary worry.

"Thousand Island Lake... is not a kind place."

After some thought, Fang Xi shared a bit of his own secrets, "I actually took part in the conflict at Dragon Fish Island in secret, seeking Base-building Spiritual Objects... I have a feeling that Ye Sanren from the Thirty Six Island Alliance has some other force behind him!"

"Ye Sanren?"

Ruan Xingling was shocked, then murmured to herself, "So it was him, that explains a lot. Thank you, Mr. Fang, for telling me this!"

"Will you still return to Thousand Island Lake, Ruan? Now that you have escaped the cage, why go back? Isn’t it better to hide in Baize Fairy City for a few decades until everything blows over?"

Fang Xi asked.

"I’m afraid not..."

Ruan Xingling shook her head slightly, her expression turning a touch mournful, "This is related to the cultivation technique I practice. Please, in the future, pass this to Dan’er..."

She handed over a jade slip, which Fang Xi probed with his Divine Consciousness. It was named "Mysterious Sound Skills" – a rare Sound Taoism technique proficient in various sonic spells, sharp in killing, and could be practiced all the way to the later stages of Foundation Establishment. Moreover, Cultivators with any of the Five Elements Spiritual Roots could practice it. It was extremely valuable.

’This woman, entrusting her cornerstone technique to me, clearly trusts me a lot...’

’But even so, she refuses to be explicit... Wait, there’s a message at the end of the jade slip?’

Fang Xi’s mind was stirred, all he could do was bow, "Safe travels on your journey, I will personally see you off from the city!"

...

Several days later.

Fang Xi, with Ruan Dan and a few others in tow, saw Ruan Xingling off.

Even though Ruan Dan was of a cold temperament, she couldn’t help but have red-rimmed eyes at this moment.

"Alright, let’s go back, it’s not as if it’s a farewell unto death... Your master is just going to take care of some matters, that’s all..."

Fang Xi waved his hand, taking everyone back.

In the afternoon, Lu Guo left the Peach Blossom Pavilion, seemingly captivated by the liveliness of Baize Fairy City. He planned to enjoy himself thoroughly in the outer city.

He wandered around and suddenly slipped into an alley. Then, a white-bearded old man emerged from it.

The old man made his way out of Fairy City and arrived at an uninhabited spot in the suburbs before taking out a talisman.

This talisman was square-shaped and, surprisingly, it was a rare Jade Talisman!

When he bit his finger and dropped his blood on it, the talisman’s surface shone with light.