Stealthily cultivating in the chaotic world of demons and martial artists
Chapter 180 - 179: Second Order Array (Congratulations to the Silver Alliance!)_1

Chapter 180: Chapter 179: Second Order Array (Congratulations to the Silver Alliance!)_1

Southern Wilderness Cultivation Realm.

Inside the Dongfu.

Fang Xi toyed with the two demon pills in his hand, lost in deep thought.

This time, in the Great Liang World, he replenished his stock of monster materials. Unfortunately, his luck was poor, and he only extracted two demon pills.

One of the demon pills was entirely black, shimmering with specks of starlight, while the other was like the vast azure sea, from which one could faintly hear the sound of surging waves—an extraordinary thing indeed.

After safely storing the two demon pills, he casually retracted the array and abandoned this hastily established Dongfu in the spiritless land, flying towards another direction.

During his flight, the muscles and bones on his face writhed, transforming into the visage of an old and decrepit man. This mastery over his body, combined with the ’Hundred Illusions Skills’, could deceive even late-stage Foundation Establishment cultivators, who might not see through his disguise.

...

Qingling Market.

Baize Immortal City is the largest market in the nearby three countries, and Qingling Market can be considered the largest in Yue Country—the sector’s controller being none other than the Mysterious Heaven Sect!

The Mysterious Heaven Sect, holding sway over the Yue Country’s Cultivation World, occupied the ’Mysterious Heaven Mountain Range’ which contains a high-grade third-order Spiritual Vein. It is immensely rich in spiritual energy.

Moreover, within the borders of Yue Country, several minor spirit stone mines and some of the largest markets belonged to the Mysterious Heaven Sect.

As such, Qingling Market was also their property. An upper-grade second-order ’Five Elements Astral Array’ was set up for protection in the market. All year round, either a middle-stage or several early-stage Foundation Establishment enforcers from the sect were stationed there.

Even at the time when the Destroy Heaven Alliance was at its most audacious, they did not dare to infringe on Qingling Market.

On this day.

A black cloud descended at the entrance of Qingling Market, revealing an old Prime Taoist.

"Greetings to this senior!"

The ordinarily haughty spirit guards immediately changed their expression, bowing obsequiously and flattering as they performed a courtesy, "Senior, are you entering the market? I will open the array for you right away... May I inquire as to your esteemed name?"

Qi Refining cultivators queuing up did not feel the slightest bit impropriety about a Foundation Establishment cultivator cutting in line. Instead, they all looked up with admiring and curious eyes at the lean Taoist.

"I am... Prime Taoist Mu!"

Fang Xi’s voice was hoarse as he revealed a hint of a smile.

After entering the market, he walked along the main lane, and all the Qi Refining cultivators stepped aside, not daring to walk shoulder to shoulder with a Foundation Establishment heavyweight.

Fang Xi did not look at the stalls set up by individual cultivators or the other shops, heading straight to the largest ’Mysterious Heaven Pavilion’.

Unquestionably, this ’Mysterious Heaven Pavilion’ was also an asset of the Mysterious Heaven Sect.

"This senior... please proceed to the third floor!"

Upon seeing Fang Xi, the first-floor greeter immediately performed an extremely respectful bow, inviting him to the third floor.

Only after Fang Xi’s figure disappeared did the Qi Refining cultivators in the hall, who had been holding their breath, finally let out a sigh of relief.

"This is... a Foundation Establishment great cultivator? He can go directly up to the third floor?"

A girl in a red dress couldn’t help but express envy, "Even if my family’s ancestor were to come here, at most, he’s only ever reached the second floor..."

...

The environment on the third floor was very elegant. Shortly after Fang Xi took his seat, an Escape Light hurried over, turning into a dignified middle-aged man.

Dressed in a shimmering cyan magical robe with a red mark on his forehead, featuring refined features, he first smiled and bowed, "I am Yan Huayang, defender and chief manager of Mysterious Heaven Pavilion from Mysterious Heaven Sect. Greetings to Prime Taoist Mu... May I ask where Prime Taoist’s immortal abode is located? I must admit, to my embarrassment, although I consider myself widely connected in Yue Country, I am regrettably ignorant and have never heard of the Taoist’s name..."

"I devote myself entirely to arduous cultivation and seldom go out, so it is normal that the Taoist has not heard of me."

Fang Xi smiled. Of course, Mysterious Heaven Sect paid close attention to every Foundation Establishment cultivator in Yue Country, but this false identity had only appeared a few times in Baize Immortal City, and he was only at the peak of Qi Refining then. It was quite normal for him to be unheard of.

If they had heard of him, that would raise issues!

"I see. May I know what Prime Taoist has come to Mysterious Heaven Pavilion to purchase? Our Pavilion will surely make every effort to fulfill your needs..."

Yan Huayang spoke earnestly, conveying a sincere feeling.

They naturally needed to set the right tone with a Foundation Establishment cultivator whose background they didn’t know.

"Without hiding anything, I have come to seek the purchase of a two-hundred-year-old ’Dragon-transforming Ginseng’ as well as ’Jade Spirit Liquid’..." Fang Xi smiled.

For Qi Refining cultivators, these precious medicines would be nearly impossible to find, but for Foundation Establishment cultivators, they were merely a matter of investing a little effort.

This was the difference in access and stature.

’This person is collecting materials for Foundation Establishment Pills, presumably preparing them for a relative or a disciple...’ Yan Huayang thought, smiling and saying, "If you require second-grade demon pills, I’m afraid I cannot provide those... but our Pavilion does have a batch of Dragon-transforming Ginseng and Jade Spirit Liquid right now. I will retrieve them for you, the price being one thousand four hundred Spirit Stones. What do you think?"

"These two materials typically sell for around one thousand five hundred Spirit Stones. Consider it me owing you a favor..."

Fang Xi laughed heartily.

After all, what did favours owed to Prime Taoist Mu have to do with Fang Xi?

Moreover, the price for these auxiliary materials was the same as it had been for a batch of Dragon-transforming Ginseng at an auction he had attended before, a clear indication of the benefits brought by the status of Foundation Establishment cultivators.

When the maid brought over the box containing the materials, Yan Huayang picked up his cup of tea, feeling a bit frustrated.

In his conversation with Fang Xi, he prodded indirectly to probe the other’s background, only to be met with deflective responses from Fang Xi, who gave nothing away.

"Very good, this Dragon-transforming Ginseng is full of vigor, it must have been harvested not long ago, right?"

Fang Xi carefully checked the Dragon-transforming Ginseng and Jade Spirit Liquid, highly satisfied, and handed over the Spirit Stones. After pausing to think, he smiled again, "I am still missing a few materials..."

He promptly named a few spirit materials that he needed, causing Yan Huayang’s expression to shift, "Heavenly Silkworm Silk of five hundred years, Sky Disk Stone, Star-patterned Steel... these are materials for refining second-order Array Disks and Array Flags. Could it be that the Taoist is an Array Master?"

"Hehe, I have studied a bit..."

Fang Xi noncommittally replied, "Do you have these materials in stock by any chance?"

"Certainly, please wait for a moment..."

Yan Huayang picked up the Voice Transmission Talisman and gave a few instructions, his eyes becoming even more eager, "I do not know if Sir has any affiliations? Would you be interested in joining the Mysterious Heaven Sect? Our treatment of guests has always been exceptionally good..."

Fang Xi chuckled and deflected the conversation with a sidestep.

Although Yan Huayang was somewhat disappointed, he didn’t lose heart, after all, it was only their first meeting.

After the transaction was complete, as he watched Fang Xi’s departing figure, he thoughtfully touched the red mark between his eyebrows, his expression extraordinarily grave:

’Who exactly is this person? Even my spiritual vision feels like it can’t fully grasp him...’

...

After exiting the Qingling Market, Fang Xi commandeered his Escape Light and vanished in a flash.

Having circled around several times to ensure no one was following, he arrived at a desolate mountain, where he set up his Dongfu and arranged Arrays...with practiced ease.

Sitting cross-legged on a roughly hewn stone bed made with magic tools, Fang Xi first took out the box containing the Demon Pills and medicine along with the second-tier Pill Furnace that Ruan Xingling had crafted.

This furnace exuded a brass-like color, with faint beast patterns visible on its surface.

"Foundation Establishment Pill..."

He thought for a moment, then opened his mouth, exhaling a breath of bluish-green Innate True Fire, and began the alchemy process.

He was thoroughly familiar with the procedure to craft this particular pill.

And with his Foundation Establishment cultivation, bolstered by the assistance of a second-tier Pill Furnace, his current abilities were incomparable to before.

"This time I can use more supplementary materials, let’s see what my pill-concocting rate will be like..."

He started by adding supportive Spirit Medicines, included the Dragon-transforming Ginseng...

Then came the refining of the Demon Pill, merged with Jade Spirit Liquid to blend its medicinal properties...

Every step Fang Xi took was quite casual, yet carried a unique rhythm.

A month later.

"Open!"

He cast the pill-concluding Magic Spell, striking the Pill Furnace.

Hum!

As the second-tier Pill Furnace opened, a fragrance filled the air.

Three pills flew out, landing in Fang Xi’s hand, all emitting a deep blue glow of Foundation Establishment Pills!

However, one of them was slightly smaller, and its light faded in an instant, turning into a clump of black ash.

The other pill had a grey pattern emerging on its surface.

"Two pills completed, one of fine quality and one inferior... Sigh, I haven’t practiced in so long, my skills have regressed a bit. I thought I would get at least two fine-quality pills..."

After Fang Xi’s self-deprecating comment, he took out a jade bottle and stored the two Foundation Establishment Pills carefully.

After a brief rest to recuperate and meditate to restore his Magic Power...

Several days later, he wore a solemn expression, taking out Heavenly Silkworm Silk, Sky Disk Stone, Star-patterned Steel, along with other materials he had brought with him...

"These materials...are just barely enough to refine a second-tier superior Array Flag and Array Disk..."

"But I don’t need a permanent one, a single-use Array Disk will suffice..."

If it were permanent, repeated use might betray its secrets, whereas a single-use would be perfect, used and destroyed.

Moreover, a one-time-use Array has less stringent material requirements.

Fang Xi then took out the jade slip recorded with the ’Earth-shaking Treasure Mark’ and studied it intently.

Subsequently, he expelled a breath of Innate True Fire and began refining the ’Earth-moving Array Flag’...

Three days later, the ’Earth-moving Array Flag’ was complete, and already Fang Xi was relentlessly beginning to forge the ’Turn Stone to Mud Array Flag’...

These two Array Flags could form an ’Earth-moving’ Array Gate!

"Earth-moving, Mountain-shaking, Sky-breaching...I can create three Array Gates, and then in the Array Disk, consecrate the Treasure Patterns through the Way of Fusion..."

"With that, the Great Array is complete!"

...

Months later.

The incarnation of Prime Taoist Mu, Fang Xi, returned to the Qingling Market.

The third floor of the Mysterious Heaven Pavilion.

"Prime Taoist Mu..."

Yan Huayang was somewhat surprised to see Fang Xi’s arrival, "Could it be that Prime Taoist Mu has already acquired the Demon Pills? Still in need of a Pill Master? I can still introduce one or two..."

"Alas, Demon Pills are hard to find, I might as well try my luck with the beast waves in Baize Immortal City..." Fang Xi sighed, "This time, I’ve come to ask... Does Sir here, purchase Arrays?"

"This... Of course, we do purchase them."

Yan Huayang sipped his Spiritual Tea unhurriedly, "May I inquire about the grade of Sir’s Array?"

"It’s just a second-tier superior one-time-use Array... capable of delivering a blow comparable to a near third-tier one, enough to disrupt a Spiritual Vein..." Fang Xi calmly replied.

"Cough cough..."

Yan Huayang immediately covered his mouth, his face turning red with the effort to hold back, looking at Fang Xi, speechless for a long time...