Stealthily cultivating in the chaotic world of demons and martial artists
Chapter 174 - 173: Third-order Earth Flames (Subscription required)_1

Chapter 174: Chapter 173: Third-order Earth Flames (Subscription required)_1

"I am but a mirror for fair exchange... you provide me with Battle Marks, and I give compensation!"

In the Peach Blossom Pavilion, inside the closed-door cultivation room.

Fang Xi opened his eyes, the corners of his mouth curled into a faint smile.

He was ready to let go a little, to become a transporter of knowledge.

For the ’Mirror Holder,’ this was a mutually beneficial affair.

The Cultivation World was replete with innumerable Cultivation Secret Skills; there was always something that the other party needed.

And all he needed were Spirit Marks and Treasure Patterns as compensation.

In doing so, the ’Mirror Holder’s cultivation was naturally better the higher it was.

Anyway, he wasn’t afraid that within that world, someone could destroy the ’Treasures of All Heavens’; that was nearly an impossible task.

Therefore, Fang Xi easily decided to give up the Green Wolf and became Big Shaman’s business partner instead.

"No need to worry too much about the affairs over there, just get the matters at hand done well..."

He took out two jade slips, carefully copying the ’Xun Wind Spirit Mark’ and the ’Metal Spirit Mark’ into them.

Then, he began to ponder over them with great care.

After a long while, Fang Xi opened his eyes again:

"The way of Battle Marks indeed has some merits!"

"Now, it is time to make a choice... to carve either the ’Xun Wind Spirit Mark’ or the ’Metal Spirit Mark’ onto the spiritual instrument?"

These two great Spirit Marks need not be engraved together on a third-grade Spiritual Tree.

But if done so, the material would be wasted!

The composition of magic patterns into Spirit Marks, and Spirit Marks into Treasure Patterns, are the core of the Battle Mark system!

And it seems that there is no way to combine the Xun Wind Spirit Mark with the Metal Spirit Mark.

If done so, one might temporarily create a powerful spiritual instrument, but it would have no potential for further upgrades.

Without much consideration, Fang Xi confirmed his choice:

"I am planning to refine a spiritual instrument Flying Sword... since it is a sword, naturally I choose the ’Metal Spirit Mark’ to enhance its sharpness..."

As for which Spirit Marks will be needed in the future to combine with the ’Metal Spirit Mark’ to form a Treasure Pattern, Fang Xi presently has no clue.

After all, the Big Shaman is only second-order.

The precious knowledge about ’Treasure Patterns’ is only held in the hands of ’Witch Kings’ in the major cities.

’Ah... when will the Big Shaman die, murdered for his treasures... I hope the next person to kill him will be a Witch King...’

Fang Xi complained in his mind, then began to comprehend how to combine the ’Metal Spirit Mark’ with the spiritual instrument.

With his extensive experience in forging magical tools before, this task wasn’t without clues.

...

Several months later.

Under the Peach Blossom Tree.

Fang Xi sipped his Peach Blossom Brew by himself, with Ruan Xingling sitting opposite him.

This lady still preferred her Green Bamboo Wine as always.

"This is last year’s Spirit Stones from Pill Tool Pavilion..."

Ruan Xingling tossed a small bag over, inside of which were a pitiful few dozen Spirit Stones...

Fang Xi accepted them without any change in expression.

The understanding between him and Ruan Xingling was quite clear.

Both shared the same principle of being solely devoted to the Dao and wouldn’t let romantic affairs deter their great cause, nor would they entangle themselves in messy affairs.

"I wonder if hiring Ruan the Talisman Forger comes at a changed rate?"

After receiving the Spirit Stones, Fang Xi finally showed a hint of a smile: "I would like to refine a spiritual instrument..."

"Oh? What kind of design?"

Ruan Xingling showed interest.

The next moment, she saw Fang Xi toss her a jade slip.

Ruan Xingling scanned it with her Divine Consciousness and was immediately surprised; she didn’t speak out loud but used her Divine Consciousness Transmission: "Third-order Spiritual Tree as the main material? A Wooden Element Flying Sword? Is Sir Fang really entrusting this task to Xingling? Wouldn’t it be better to give it to Grandmaster Ouye... the success rate would be higher..."

"I only trust Xingling..."

Fang Xi said with a slight smile, replying through the same Divine Consciousness Transmission: "Moreover... there is no need for you to refine it completely, just a rough embryo will do, then I will imprint it with array patterns... Ah, when refining, be sure to leave enough space for adding array patterns later on, the specific design is all in the jade slip..."

"It seems Sir Fang has finally reaped some rewards from his last reflection on special array patterns. Xingling must congratulate Sir... I presume your path in arrays will soon be promoted to second-order middle grade, right?" Ruan Xingling’s beautiful eyes lit up.

"Not at all... I’ve just had a slight insight into arrays and found a few combinable magic patterns, that’s all."

Fang Xi responded modestly.

In truth, if he hadn’t obtained the formula for the ’Metal Spirit Mark,’ even if he had all other lower-level magic patterns, he might not have been able to combine them!

Such is the limitation of talent and insight!

...

Two days later.

Baize Immortal City, within the rented third-order Earth Flames Room in the Inner City Area.

Ruan Xingling looked as Fang Xi took out a jade ointment chest; upon opening it, a section of Spiritual Tree radiated dazzling splendor.

"Indeed, it is third-order spirit material, good enough even for forging magical treasures..."

She inhaled sharply, looking at Fang Xi: "Xingling always feels that Sir Fang is unfathomable..."

"Oh, it’s just good luck, nothing more..."

Fang Xi waved his hand dismissively.

In fact, he truly did not need to open a store to earn Spirit Stones, as he still had not depleted the corpses of second-tier monster beasts in his Storage Bag.

But there was no need to flaunt his wealth.

Ruan Xingling gave a slight smile but did not probe further. She was a woman with a strong sense of boundaries and knew that if she delved deeper, she might not even be able to continue being friends with Fang Xi. It was better to maintain the relationship as it was.

After pondering for a while, she finally spoke, "It’s not easy to refine third-tier Spiritual Wood, even if it’s just a rough embryo. The fire crows I’ve raised aren’t strong enough. You really do have foresight, renting such Earth Flames chambers..."

Inside Baize Immortal City, there were naturally occurring fire veins that were rented out.

Fang Xi once had the idea of renting an Earth Flames chamber in Baize Immortal City to forge Foundation Establishment Pills, but later he gave up on it.

However, at this moment both he and Ruan Xingling were at the Foundation Establishment stage, and the Evergreen Wood was equivalent to an inferior Foundation Establishment Pill, which was more than sufficient to preserve their natural strength.

Moreover, this was the worst-case scenario where Baize Immortal City kept an eye on the Earth Flames chamber and even harbored covetous desires.

Fang Xi felt that the situation would not deteriorate to such an extent.

However, before starting the talisman forging, he still set up an Array as usual to conceal the situation inside the Refining Chamber.

Ruan Xingling, on the other hand, walked around, observing the structure of the Earth Flames chamber.

The walls of the Earth Flames chamber were made of pitch-black rocks, and the floor was covered with a layer of ice jade. Even so, the temperature inside the room was still quite high.

In the center of the Earth Flames chamber, there was a fierce-looking dragon head, surrounded by thick brass rings.

When these brass rings were pulled, the dragon’s mouth would open, spewing out terrifying, scorching flames!

’Baize Immortal City’s Earth Flames chambers are divided into the ’Vermilion Bird,’ ’Flame Dragon,’ and ’Fire Turtle’ three levels... The fire of the Vermilion Bird is the tamest and can be used for both pill concoction and talisman forging, accessible only to the Bai Feng lineage... The Earth Flames in the Fire Turtle chamber are mild but not hot enough, suitable only for pill concoction. Fire in the Flame Dragon chamber is violent and hard to control, apt only for talisman forging; otherwise, the fierce flames would completely damage the medical properties...’

As a second-tier alchemy master, Fang Xi had a say in all kinds of flames.

At this moment, Ruan Dan gave a graceful smile, took out several pieces of ore, and put them into the dragon’s mouth to begin warming the furnace.

...

Both spent close to half a month in the Flame Dragon-level Earth Flames chamber.

Inside the Earth Flames chamber.

The fiery heat turned into waves of hot air, continuously sweeping around.

Even Fang Xi had beads of sweat on his forehead.

He took a pill and looked at Ruan Xingling, noting that the Fairy Taoling was even more affected than him, her entire body nearly drenched, revealing her delicate curves.

"Brother Fang, it’s time to start!"

Ruan Xingling’s voice was calm, her gaze intensely focused on the spirit materials within the third-tier Earth Flames.

By this time, all kinds of materials had already melted and she had injected them into the ’Evergreen Wood,’ forming a three-foot-long green sword embryo with many spaces specially reserved according to Fang Xi’s request.

"Activate the Great Array!"

The next moment, Fang Xi formed a magic spell with both hands and magic power surged out.

The ’Metal Array Banners’ he had refined in advance rose up, emitting a sharp aura.

Countless golden patterns converged, forming ancient and mysterious symbols with a desolate and archaic aura.

Those were the four Magic Spells that composed the ’Metal Spirit Pattern’!

The Array Banners were inscribed with Magic Spells, and at the moment of the Spiritual Instruments’ formation, they merged the four Magic Spells into the Spirit Mark!

This was the optimal path chosen by Fang Xi, who combined his knowledge of the array path.

"Swiftly!"

As the liquid magic power of the ’Green Wood Longevity Skills’ continued to deplete, Fang Xi melded the four Magic Spells into a pale golden ’Metal Spirit Mark,’ which he fiercely imprinted on the Evergreen Wood sword embryo.

"Solidify!"

Seeing the Evergreen Wood sword tremor, with slivers of golden threads in its wooden patterns, Ruan Xingling seized the opportunity to perform the final step.

A layer of lustrous gleam fell upon the wooden sword, allowing the golden threads to penetrate into the body of the sword.

And the Evergreen Wood sword’s radiance turned inward, as if covered with an additional layer, exuding a gentle glow.

"Brother Fang, now is the time for a Blood Sacrifice to bond the Spiritual Instrument to your heart and mind!"

That was a suggestion made by Ruan Xingling after seeing the plan for forging a Spiritual Instrument in Fang Xi’s jade slip.

In the Refining Equipment Inheritance she had learned, there was a ’Blood Sacrifice Method,’ which stresses performing a Sacrificial Refining with a cultivator’s own Essence Blood at the moment of a talisman or Spiritual Instrument’s completion, allowing it to be wielded as easily as an extension of one’s arm; it becomes more powerful in combat, and even if taken by an enemy, it cannot be imbued with their essence for some time.

Fang Xi, upon hearing this, flicked his finger.

A drop of dark red blood fell onto the Green Wood sword embryo and instantly merged into it.

"It’s done!"

Ruan Xingling then injected a few Magic Spells, gradually cooling the Evergreen Wood sword embryo as a large hand of magic power flew out and caught the wooden sword.

Fang Xi scrutinized it carefully, seeing that the Evergreen Wood sword was three feet long, an inch wide at the blade, its main color green, showcasing wooden grain, with a light glimmer of golden at the edge—all it took was one touch to feel an aura of sharpness emanating from it.

"Typically, wooden Flying Swords are known for their toughness, but this Flying Sword of Brother Fang’s is quite sharp..."

Ruan Xingling wiped away her sweat and said with a smiling face, "As I see it, among the medium-grade Spiritual Instruments, this one could be considered a fine piece. Moreover, given its sturdy material, it can clash against top-grade Spiritual Instruments without fear of damage... I’m very much looking forward to seeing Brother Fang add more array patterns in the future, elevating it to a top-grade and even an exceptional Spiritual Instrument!"

No mistake... Fang Xi informed Ruan Xingling that with additional array patterns in the future, the sword might rise to the rank of a top-grade Spiritual Instrument, and it could even compare to the rare exceptional Spiritual Instruments.

As for the changes in the Treasure Pattern after the gathering of Spirit Marks, he kept that completely secret.

"This sword’s success wouldn’t have been possible without the help of Xingling!"

Fang Xi expressed his thanks with a bow and handed over a bag full of Spirit Stones.

Ruan Xingling unapologetically accepted and asked solemnly, "May I have the honor of naming this sword?"