Stealthily cultivating in the chaotic world of demons and martial artists
Chapter 179 - 178 Middle Stage of Foundation Establishment (Seeking Monthly Ticket)_1

Chapter 179: Chapter 178 Middle Stage of Foundation Establishment (Seeking Monthly Ticket)_1

Although the mirror was small, Fang Xi, using his Divine Consciousness as a pen, could write characters as tiny as an ant’s leg.

With the ability of the Witch King, it was naturally no problem to remember everything he saw in an instant.

After finishing one side, he could erase it and rewrite it.

Even the pictures that were displayed came to life, as memorable as those displayed in the jade slips.

In this intermittent way, after he finished transcribing the inheritance, his Divine Consciousness was indeed overexerted and he felt somewhat tired.

...

In the Southern Wilderness Cultivation Realm.

Inside a closed-door cultivation room.

Fang Xi had a joyful expression as he examined the jade slip in his hand that recorded the ’Earth-shaking Treasure Mark.’

"With this Treasure Mark, I feel like everything has been worth it," he said.

After resting for a while, Fang Xi immediately picked up the jade slip and began to comprehend it.

In the array path, he had relied solely on Divine Consciousness and diligent study to slowly improve.

But this time it was different!

To him, the battle mark system, those Spirit Marks, and Treasure Marks, were like a series of formulas and theorems!

As long as he took a formula and applied it, he could always solve some difficult problems.

This was the key to improving one’s Array Taoist cultivation, although it might be more unconventional and specialized...

"Once the Earth-shaking Treasure Skills are unleashed, they shock everything within a hundred miles, making the ground shake and mountains quake... most adept at destroying ley lines... huh?"

After half a day of comprehension, Fang Xi suddenly opened his eyes, feeling that something was amiss.

"The reason why a third-order forbidden Great Array is so hard to break through, even with internal explosions from third-order Prohibition-breaking Talismans having little effect, is because it connects to the ley lines and forms a world of its own... If the ley lines are broken, a third-order Great Array and a common array would no longer have much difference. Coupled with a large number of Prohibition-breaking Talismans and a siege from experts, it’s very likely that it could be broken through in a short time!"

"Three thousand paths to the Dao, all lead to the same destination... This battle mark system resembles the innate Monster Skills of Monster beasts... which means, if a Monster King with an Earth Attribute awoke an innate Divine Skill similar to the ’Earth-shaking Treasure Mark,’ it wouldn’t be surprising at all."

"If such a Monster King took action, along with other third-order Monster Kings, even Baize Immortal City could be in danger..."

"Of course, the Song Family would be even more so!"

Fang Xi stroked his chin.

Having the ’Earth-shaking Treasure Mark’ at his disposal, he was confident in elevating his proficiency in arrays to an upper-grade second-order, and truly beginning to craft a set of second-order arrays!

He even considered trying to incorporate the ’Earth-shaking Treasure Mark’ into them!

"An upper-grade second-order Array Flag and Array Disk can barely withstand the power of a third-order ability, perfect for creating a single-use array... Using arrays to break arrays, shaking the foundation of a third-order array wouldn’t be an issue."

"I wonder how many Spirit Stones it could fetch if taken to Mysterious Heaven Sect... and incidentally, it could be a bit of revenge too."

As for the issue of the battle marks being leaked?

A fully crafted Array Flag wouldn’t expose all of its array patterns.

And forcefully disassembling it for study could easily result in damage.

Fang Xi could also set a few minor prohibitions, causing the Array Disk to self-destruct once its core was tampered with—just like how he had rigged his second-order Puppets early on so that once destroyed, their inner structures would self-destruct.

...

Several months later.

At the Drunk White Pool.

"Haha... I’m happy today, no one leaves sober," Luo Gong proclaimed, lifting his cup, his demeanor excited.

Fang Xi and Prime Taoist Huangsha sat at the table, each raising a glass, "Congratulations to Luo Sir, on advancing to the mid-stage of Foundation Establishment!"

Luo Gong’s upper-grade Spiritual Root meant he started establishing foundation just a few years later than Fang Xi.

He had recently made a breakthrough to the mid-stage of Foundation Establishment!

Therefore, he invited a handful of good friends for a celebratory banquet.

"Luo Sir truly deserves his talent in foundation establishment on his own, quite remarkable..." Prime Taoist Huangsha’s face was full of envy.

He was still at the early stage of Foundation Establishment, stuck at a frustrating bottleneck, likely to remain there for the rest of his life.

Looking at the prosperous and powerfully magical Luo Gong, it was impossible for him not to feel jealous.

"Congratulations, brother Luo, why not share some insights into your breakthrough with us?" Fang Xi seemed to be considering how to earn back his gift money.

"Ah, the breakthrough..." Luo Gong reminisced for a moment before speaking earnestly, "Until recently, I considered my magic power refined enough for a breakthrough and had even thought of further polishing it... Suddenly, on a whim, I sensed the signs of a breakthrough, and, keeping in mind that we cultivators should be fearless and diligent, I immediately went into seclusion..."

"...The process was indeed tough. Fortunately, I established my own foundation with fierce and robust characteristics of magic power... In the end, I managed to break through by the skin of my teeth, even though I did suffer some minor injuries to my meridians. If I were to do it again, I might not dare to be so rash..."

After Luo Gong finished speaking, he still seemed somewhat apprehensive.

’As expected... His cultivation progress should be about the same as mine currently... However, the sheer force of his self-established foundation’s magic power is comparable to a partial effect of a breakthrough pill... That is an advantage he’s earned with his life.’ Fang Xi thought to himself.

If he had a breakthrough pill, he could also try to advance to the mid-stage of Foundation Establishment.

Yet, such pills were precious and rare, even more so than those that augment magic power. Apart from the decade-long major auctions, there wasn’t much hope of acquiring one.

"Luo Sir, this too was a matter of fate, let’s drink to it!" Fang Xi kept urging drinks, and after most of the guests departed, he accompanied Luo Gong on a boat on the lake, eating lotus seeds to ease the effects of alcohol.

"I wonder how Prime Taoist Huaheng has been doing lately?" he took the opportunity to inquire about things he was interested in.

"Master Huahe, after all, has been a thief for many years; he’s cunning and adept at change. He escaped from the city long ago... and recently he’s even plundered several merchant caravans, mercilessly slaughtering Qi Refining cultivators with his Foundation Establishment abilities, not even caring to save face..." Luo Gong spoke of this matter with a hint of regret: "It’s a pity, having let him escape once, the vicinity of Baize Immortal City won’t be peaceful for long..."

A Foundation Establishment cultivator not within Baize Immortal City is like a tiger entering the mountains. If they set their mind on being a cultivation-robber, the damage can be extensive.

As Luo Gong ate his lotus seeds in big mouthfuls, he glanced at Fang Xi and with a smile that wasn’t quite a smile, he said, "Sir, you are also fortunate not to have gone out on an adventure with that Master Huahe... However, are you aware that the Ten Thousand Beast Mountain Range has been restless lately? I fear a monster tide is approaching..."

’As expected...’

Fang Xi’s heart chilled, understanding that Baize Immortal City naturally had access to more firsthand information about the strange occurrences in the Ten Thousand Beast Mountain Range.

Even Luo Gong, as a guest cultivator, said so; the monster tide seemed unavoidable.

"Actually, this monster tide is a blessing... I’ve recently advanced to the mid-stage of Foundation Establishment and I intend to kill a few second-rank Monster beasts to accumulate resources for advancing to the later stage!"

Luo Gong laughed heartily: "We cultivators should always be brave and ever-progressing!"

"Your determination is extraordinary, I admire it!"

Fang Xi said sincerely.

...

’Monster tide...’

’Once the monster tide starts, Baize Immortal City will likely conscript a large number of cultivators... Of course, there will also be compensation...’

’According to past practices, they won’t force Foundation Establishment cultivators to join, but if the battle turns unfavorable, who knows what might happen...’

’However, once the monster tide comes, monster materials often drop in price... But it’s also a good opportunity to sell monster materials.’

’As for me, a drop in price doesn’t really matter, given that I don’t have any capital...’

...

As Fang Xi pondered, he returned to the Peach Blossom Pavilion.

"Uncle... I’ve had a breakthrough!"

As soon as he walked in, Wei Yixi cheerfully shared the good news with him.

"Not bad, reaching Qi Refining Great Perfection before sixty."

With a sweep of his Divine Consciousness, Fang Xi noticed that Wei Yixi’s cultivation had broken through, and she was now a Qi Refining Great Perfection cultivator; he couldn’t help but smile.

"Mmm..."

Wei Yixi’s expression was one of excitement which then shifted to determination: "Uncle... I want to bid you farewell and join others in hunting demons at the periphery of the Ten Thousand Beast Mountain Range... I heard that recently, many precious Monster beasts have come out, and it’s the best time to get second-rank Demon Pills!"

"Although hunting Monster beasts is relatively easy now, you’d better not..."

Fang Xi shook his head.

Wei Yixi wasn’t like Ruan Dan; Ruan Dan practiced the powerful ancient Mysterious Sound Skills and was taught by Ruan Xingling from a young age with fierce combat skills, and also had life-saving items from a Foundation Establishment cultivator.

Even so, last time it was multiple life-threatening encounters, and only with a bit of luck did she finally obtain the Demon Pill.

If Wei Yixi were to go... it’s likely she wouldn’t survive the first wave.

"You should stay put... As for Base-building Spiritual Objects, uncle will think of something..."

Fang Xi said.

"Uncle... Base-building Spiritual Objects are quite expensive," Wei Yixi’s eyes were filled with emotions.

"It’s alright... you can sign a Spiritual Agreement now and slowly pay back the Spirit Stones later..."

Fang Xi laughed heartily.

For him, acquiring a Foundation Establishment Pill was indeed not a difficult task.

After speaking a few words with Jin Ling, he left Baize Immortal City and found a secluded area to establish a Dongfu, then crossed over.

...

Great Liang World.

Martial God Sect!

It had already become the sacred land dreamed of by countless martial artists!

Furthermore, as the sect and power hierarchies had effectively unified the world, along with the centralization of power, various riches and beauties were continuously flocking to Black Stone City, shaping it into a new ’capital’. People had come to call Black Stone City ’Wu Jing’!

In this place, Grandmasters and Great Grandmasters were not to say omnipresent, but neither were they rare.

And the Martial Gods were the Martial God Sect’s strongest assurance in suppressing all regions!

The breakthrough to the extreme limits of martial arts was akin to miraculous changes that could create a new world. A Martial God would no longer be overwhelmed by armies; single-handedly defeating entire forces had become a possibility, even commonplace.

"Actually... this situation isn’t too great either. With the higher-ups wielding extraordinary power, one person can oppose an army, and if they carry on with inheritance lockdowns, the lower levels will have no hope left..."

Martial God Sect, within the study.

Fang Xi was browsing through the cultivation skills recently created by many martial arts prodigies, looking thoughtful.

After all, the time had been too short; the path to follow after becoming a Martial God was still unclear.

Luckily, he was very patient.

After stepping out of the study, he proceeded to another square.

Bang!

Bang! Bang!

One by one, top-tier Monster Kings were brought in by Zhang Mingding, who dragged them before Fang Xi: "Reporting to the Sect Leader, the number of Monster Kings in the world is dwindling, and these are the only few left nearby..."

Perhaps these Monster Kings were even more formidable than Great Grandmasters, yet when faced with a Martial God, they had no choice but to kneel!

"Mm, you’ve done well..."

Fang Xi looked at the few Monster Kings and saw a turtle among them. He couldn’t help but laugh, "This one also belongs to the water types, hopefully it can produce a Demon Pill..."

Since any attribute of Demon Pill could be used to refine a Foundation Establishment Pill, his interest in this aquatic Monster beast had other reasons.