Stealthily cultivating in the chaotic world of demons and martial artists
Chapter 193 - 192: Taoist Path (Congratulations to the Silver Alliance!)_1

Chapter 193: Chapter 192: Taoist Path (Congratulations to the Silver Alliance!)_1

"The Evergreen Pavilion really lives up to being a second-tier upper-grade Spiritual Vein... The speed of cultivation is indeed faster than that of the Peach Blossom Pavilion."

After a night of seclusion, Fang Xi emerged from the Training Room with a hint of joy on his face, "With the aid of this Spiritual Vein, perhaps I can break through the mid-stage of Foundation Establishment even faster?"

Previously, during his arduous cultivation in Baize Immortal City, his progress in Magic Power was actually hindered due to the occasional tempering of the ’Green Barley Sword’.

However, every now and then, he would collect or refine Dan Medicines to enhance his Magic Power, which still amounted to continual advancement.

After all, Dan Medicines that can improve the Magic Power during the Foundation Establishment period are extremely rare, even when collecting raw materials oneself.

Basically, it would take several years to make a batch and refine a few Dan Medicines... and there’s also the chance of failure.

"Dan Medicines and such can only be considered external assistance, and are not always reliable... It’s not as stable as a Spiritual Vein rich in spiritual energy."

Fang Xi’s face was lit with a smile, while Xiahou Ying, who was cleaning the courtyard, tensed up like a startled little rabbit and called out, "Greetings, Island Master!"

"Hmm!"

Fang Xi did not pay her any attention and let out a long howl.

"Roar roar!"

In the fish farm, Daqing, who had been leading a group of Green Jade Carps, suddenly soared into the air, creating huge waves that completely drenched the shore-bound Zhong Qi, leaving the old man too angered to speak.

Xiahou Ying watched dumbfounded as an azure ’Flood Dragon’ descended from the sky, carrying the Island Master on an inspection tour of the whole island.

Dragon riding through the skies, like an Immortal from a painting!

After a leisurely circuit around the island, Fang Xi let the Azure horn Fish Dragon return to the fish farm, while he himself landed on the top floor of the Evergreen Pavilion.

Zzzap!

Xiahou Ying poured the piping hot Spirit Spring Water into a teacup and presented it to Fang Xi with both hands.

"Brewing tea and watching the scenery is one of the great joys of the mortal world..."

Fang Xi took a sip of the Spiritual Tea and exclaimed with emotion.

After sorting things out over this period, Dragon Fish Island was now fully under his control, making him the true Master of Dragon Fish Island.

’Although the Yimu God Thunder Formation is only temporary, its power is not bad, and with my strength... Even if someone at the later or even perfect stage of Foundation Establishment comes to attack, they might not get any advantage...’

Fang Xi thought ahead cautiously, beginning to consider the enemies he might face.

Currently, Mysterious Heaven Sect dominates Yue Country, making the region inside peaceful, and there has been no war among the three countries, meaning the possibility of a Core Formation attack is almost nonexistent.

Moreover, Thousand Island Lake is located at the northernmost edge of Yue Country, which itself lies north of Wood and Wu countries; even if Yue Country were invaded, it would be the Mysterious Heaven Mountain Range at the nation’s core that would be attacked first.

’Aside from that, my enemies... are probably Song Qing and the Demon Cultivators?’

’However, Song Qing thinks too highly of himself and might not consider me an enemy, nor is he likely to know that it was I who caused the death of his entire family... Currently wanted by the whole Yue Country, he may have already fled abroad...’

’As for the Demon Cultivators? There’s probably only Ye Sanren at the mid-stage of Foundation Establishment, and I’ll squash him if he dares to come!’

’Looking at it this way, it seems I’ll have decades of peaceful days ahead on Dragon Fish Island...’

’Moreover, within my own Array, I can easily travel to Great Liang...’

As Fang Xi pondered, two streaks of Escape Light suddenly appeared outside the Yimu God Thunder Formation.

He smiled slightly and directly opened the Array’s passage, allowing Ruan Dan and Ruan Xingling to walk in side by side.

"Fang, you’ve already set up a second-tier Array. It seems this place is now extremely secure..."

Ruan Xingling looked at the Yimu God Thunder Formation with a smile in her eyes.

"Haha... Xingling, you know I bought a set of Arrays early on. Now it just so happens to be perfect for guarding my property. Dragon Fish Island is indeed not bad, it’s just a pity that Ground Evil Lake has already been harvested... As for fish farming and agriculture, that can only be done leisurely."

Growing Spirit Medicine takes too long, but Spirit Rice can be harvested in a year or two. Fang Xi has quite the expectation for the second-tier Spirit Rice.

While saying this, he poured a cup of Spiritual Tea for Ruan Xingling and Ruan Dan with a smile.

"Xingling’s Maple Leaf Island only has a piece of Spiritual Tree worth looking forward to... Dan’s Golden Turtle Island is more suitable for rearing Spirit Turtles..."

Ruan Xingling spoke with ease as she and her disciple had also been sorting out their own Spirit Islands recently.

"Also... the masters of various islands have sent people to submit to me!"

Ruan Xingling looked somewhat helpless. Most of these Spirit Island masters were at the late stages of Qi Refining, together forming a significant force.

However, a batch had been cleared out previously by the Song Family, and some had been planted by the Yan Family.

The ones coming to surrender now, it was hard to tell how many spies were mixed in, with the good intermingled with the bad, and possibly even remnants of Demon Cultivators among them!

Ruan Xingling thought to sort it out and secure her position as ’Master of Thousand Island Lake’, which would no doubt take much time and effort.

Fang Xi, on the other hand, had no interest in ruling over Thousand Island Lake.

He simply wished to plant trees peacefully on this land and then smoothly cultivate until perfect Foundation Establishment, and even progressing to Core Formation...

’To live a stable life, some preparations are essential...’

’And the Yimu God Thunder Formation being only second-tier grade is far from enough... It should be at least a third-tier Array...’

Fang Xi already had a plan in mind.

Once successful, his Dragon Fish Island would be as stable as Mount Tai; even if it couldn’t compare to the Song Family in its heyday, it wouldn’t be far behind.

...

Peach Blossom Island.

Gemini West Peak.

A swarm of fist-sized Jade Bees hovered around the flower garden.

Wei Yixi gazed at this scene, feeling somewhat absent-minded.

Since following the three Foundation Establishment cultivators and returning to Thousand Island Lake, she had come back to Peach Blossom Island.

During this period, Peach Blossom Island also experienced its share of turmoil, but when the news of the three great Foundation Establishment cultivators’ arrival spread, peace was restored immediately.

She returned to her long-awaited hometown, only to find everything had changed; not happy at all, her heart sank.

Shoo!

Lost in thought, Wei Yixi suddenly received a Voice Transmission Talisman.

She caught it with her bare hands and after listening for a moment, a joyful expression appeared on her face, "Uncle is here..."

By the time Wei Yixi arrived at Jadeite Cliff on her magical artifact, she saw Fang Xi inspecting the Spiritual Field.

Old Hai Dagui was following him, appearing middle-aged and even slightly frail.

Inside the house where Hai Dagui lived, a female cultivator and several children were tremulously gazing in the direction of Fang Xi.

"You’ve managed this place well. From now on, Jadeite Cliff is yours to take care of. We’ll split the rent fifty-fifty... You just need to deliver it to Dragon Fish Island each year," Fang Xi said as he looked over his estate, filled with emotion.

Only decades had passed, and yet he already felt like everything was different.

What about after a few hundred years?

"Uncle!"

At that moment, Wei Yixi descended from the sky and ran over with a radiant face.

"Hmm, let’s go, you’ll come with me to see Xingling."

Fang Xi led Wei Yixi and Hai Dagui to the shore of Mirror Moon Lake.

There, Ruan Xingling and Ruan Dan were waiting, along with others.

For instance, Wang Xiaohu—yes, he had also returned. Given his history of hard work without much recognition, securing the position of lord of a spiritual island within Thousand Island Lake should be no problem.

The Feng Family’s young master was unfamiliar to Fang Xi, but he recognized the figure from the Mo Family as Mo Xiaoyao, a distant descendant of Mo Qingyu from Baochuan Market.

Now the master of Black Sand Island, his rise provoked a sense of deep emotion.

"You’ve all come, that’s good..."

Ruan Xingling first nodded to Fang Xi and then said, "I will relocate some of my clan to Maple Leaf Island... From now on, Peach Blossom Island will be overseen by Wei Yixi."

"Island Master, me?"

Wei Yixi pointed at herself, somewhat in disbelief.

But the others present seemed to agree.

After all, Wei Yixi was at the peak of Qi Refining; in Thousand Island Lake, she held the same status as Old Gold Teeth Weirdo, enough to be considered an elder.

Moreover, with the support of three Foundation Establishment cultivators, no matter which island she ruled, she would be very secure.

Once everything was arranged, Ruan Xingling smiled and said to Fang Xi, "Walk with me!"

"Sure!"

Fang Xi walked side by side with Ruan Xingling while Ruan Dan gave the surrounding people a sharp look. The cultivators all lowered their heads, practicing the discipline of "eyes watching the nose, nose watching the heart," not daring to make any major movements.

...

Beside Mirror Moon Lake was a Peach Blossom Forest, planted with second-rank Spirit Peach Trees that had degenerated, some even becoming ordinary trees.

Now with spring warmth and flowers blossoming, the peach blossoms intoxicated those who beheld them.

Ruan Xingling stood beneath the Peach Blossom Tree, more graceful than the flowers, yet she sighed softly, "Does Fang think Xingling covets power and status?"

In recent days she had aggressively placed her own people and taken over various spiritual islands, squeezing the territory of the Yan Family.

Today, she almost gave up Peach Blossom Island, transferring most of her people to Maple Leaf Island, clearly setting her sights on being the master of Thousand Island Lake.

"Xingling, your dedication to the Taoist path is unmatched in my lifetime," said Fang Xi as he offered her a peach blossom to console her.

"Sigh... Fang has come to comfort Xingling again..." Ruan Xingling seemed lost in thought, her expression distant, "Among these three countries, how many Foundation Establishment cultivators can reach Core Formation? Even someone as strong as Ancestor Song, who was famous in his youth, didn’t he ultimately face the demise of both himself and his clan..."

Both Fang Xi and Ruan Xingling believed that Ancestor Song must have attempted to breakthrough the Core Formation bottleneck.

Yet he didn’t succeed; otherwise, the situation in Yue Country would have already changed.

In fact, aside from the Yu Family of Yiling Valley, nurturing a new Golden Core cultivator in any of the three nations was extremely challenging.

Unless one had the fortune to recruit a disciple with a Heaven Grade Spiritual Root.

Otherwise, like the Mysterious Heaven Sect, their lineage almost faced extinction...

Sects with true Core Formation cultivators, who controlled an entire region, tended to fare poorly when a new Core Formation rival arose from another power or during an invasion by another nation.

The ’Green Wood Longevity Skills’ in Fang Xi’s possession were said to originate from a Golden Core sect in Wood Kingdom before the Green Wood Sect era.

"Golden Pill Grand Path, Core Formation bottleneck... how difficult it is!"

Fang Xi too sighed.

"In this lifetime, Xingling may reach the late stages of Foundation Establishment or even its peak, but I dare not dream of reaching Core Formation. I can only immerse in the beauty of Thousand Island Lake... Fang, would you always stay with Xingling?"

Ruan Xingling appeared to open her heart for the first time.

"I’m sorry..." After a long silence, Fang Xi said, "I have promised my life to the immortal path and cannot make the same promise to you..."

"I see..."

Ruan Xingling’s smile seemed tinged with bitterness, "Although I’ve long known the outcome, without asking, I would never find peace..."