Stealthily cultivating in the chaotic world of demons and martial artists
Chapter 206 - 205: Vertical Ground Golden Light Boots (Congratulations to the Silver Alliance!)_1

Chapter 206: Chapter 205: Vertical Ground Golden Light Boots (Congratulations to the Silver Alliance!)_1

Maple Leaf Island.

The island is shaped like a maple leaf, and it is covered with a vast array of spirit plants. It was once the dojo of Master Ye Sanren.

Master Ye Sanren built a palace over the second-tier superior spiritual vein on this island and named it ’Red Maple Palace’!

One day, an azure-horned fish dragon flew from afar and swaggered to the outside of Red Maple Palace. A young cultivator with a temperament gentle as jade descended from it.

"Please announce my arrival to Fairy Ruan, just say Fang Xi seeks an audience!"

Fang Xi landed at the entrance of Red Maple Palace and spoke to a cultivator of the Ruan Family.

"Senior Fang... I will go at once."

The cultivator did not dare to delay. He hurriedly ran into the palace to report, while feeling somewhat sarcastic in his heart.

He naturally recognized Fang Xi, and he knew that this Foundation Establishment senior had an unusual relationship with their island master. Why then the need for such formality?

It wasn’t long before Ruan Xingling, dressed in a bright red palace dress, came out to greet him: "Mr. Fang..."

"Fairy Ruan..."

Fang Xi sighed, a look of sorrow surfacing on his face: "Please accept my condolences..."

Ruan Xingling’s smile froze for a moment, and her expression turned serious: "Please come in so we can talk in detail!"

Inside the living room.

The maid who came to pour tea seemed to sense that the island master was in a poor mood today. After pouring the Spiritual Tea, she tiptoed out, afraid of provoking the island master’s ire.

"...I have been investigating Ruan Dan’s situation, and I found threads leading to the demon cultivator of the Situ Family..."

Fang Xi didn’t bother with tea and just stated the results: "Ruan Dan still has a sliver of a curse attached to her by the other party. Should they encounter each other, I fear there’s little chance of fortune..."

Ruan Xingling swayed slightly, her complexion turning somewhat pale, then she responded with a bitter smile: "Ah... I never expected, it was I who harmed Dan’er... Initially, when I saw the Song Family’s thunderous cleansing of the Thousand Island Lake, leveling it, I thought there were no more demon cultivators left in the lake... Where are those demon cultivators now?"

Although her expression was pale, her eyes burned like fire.

Fang Xi sighed: "I’m afraid they have already returned to the Wood Kingdom..."

It is difficult for even a Foundation Establishment cultivator to find the hidden demon cultivators of the Situ Family amidst the unfamiliar terrains of the Wood Kingdom.

Ruan Xingling stood up and gave Fang Xi a graceful bow: "Thank you, Mr. Fang, for informing me of this..."

"No need for courtesy. I have come this time also with a matter that requires Fairy Ruan’s assistance. I wonder if the Fairy might have the ability to refine a superior Spiritual Instrument?"

Fang Xi inquired.

After mulling it over, he still decided to proceed with the creation of the Spiritual Instruments, adding an extra layer of security for himself.

"What sort of primary material?"

Ruan Xingling was taken aback for a moment before she asked.

"Second-tier top-grade material—Earth Flame Crystal Stone, to refine a type of flying escape Spiritual Instrument... I will need to imprint the last array patterns myself," Fang Xi said honestly.

Though in Song Qing’s storage ring were materials from third-tier mines, Maple Leaf Island did not have a third-tier Earth Flame Vein, so even if given to Ruan Xingling, she would not be able to melt them.

As for setting up a Third-Tier Gathering Fire Great Array? It would be too much of a test for both Fang Xi and Ruan Xingling’s skills...

He still planned to go with the original plan, aiming to first refine a Spiritual Instrument with a limited number of uses to practice.

As for a permanent third-tier magical treasure, that can be left until after he reaches Core Formation.

A Core Formation cultivator, provided they have abundant qi, can nurture multiple life-bound magical artifacts at once. Generally, however, they specialize in one, while the rest are not taken into the core but used for defense based on the magical treasure’s own power.

As for the issue of leaking secrets?

Different cultivation stages carry different levels of secrets they can hold.

For instance, for a Qi Refining cultivator, the secret of a single Foundation Establishment Pill could cost their life.

Whereas for a Core Formation elder, a Foundation Establishment Pill is something that can be freely given, and outsiders wouldn’t dare to covet.

Previously in Baize Fairy City, Fang Xi did not dare to reveal the secret of the Treasure Pattern because he knew he couldn’t protect it.

But now, his combat power was such that he could even kill those in the late Foundation Establishment stage, and he was about to plant a tree and set up the ’Nine Nether Profound Wood Array’. Practically no one in Yue Country could enter his lair, so his concerns were much lessened.

Besides... Ruan Xingling should be trustworthy... she would probably not divulge secrets.

"It can be barely attempted!"

Ruan Xingling considered for a moment before answering confidently.

"That is very good."

Fang Xi nodded with a smile, watching Ruan Xingling’s back as she went to prepare, yet he was somewhat hesitant.

He was considering whether or not to pass on the ’Melting Gold Spell’ and Secret Skill Inheritance he obtained from the Song Family to her.

After all, like Ruan Dan, Ruan Xingling was also a cultivator with a superior Fire Spiritual Root.

’It’s a pity... Ruan Xingling cultivates the attribute-less ’Mysterious Sound Skills’, which would require a fair amount of time to switch cultivation methods.’

’And... where to find a Heaven and Earth Spirit Root? Well, the Spirit Root isn’t much of an issue, like the Phoenix Nesting Wutong Wood, but what about Tier-three Spirit Land? Could she really go to Baize Fairy City and join Baize Peak to plant trees?’

’When talking about not demanding too much from spiritual energy, unless one gives her a seed of the Monster Tree, which is an impossible affair.’

’Plus, giving her the cultivation skill could easily expose that I killed Song Qing...’

’Lastly, sitting in meditation for a hundred years, just for a ten to twenty percent chance of Core Formation, isn’t exactly safe...’

Ruan Xingling was nearing a hundred years old; if she were to go into seclusion for another hundred years and be slightly careless, she might reach the end of her lifespan...

Even more, such a period of long seclusion would, in effect, be a long-term confinement in one place, possibly leading her to miss other opportunities for Core Formation over those hundred years...

’Unless you’re a longevity cultivator like me, the trade-off is somewhat not worth the gain...’

’Eh... as always, to get the best value for money, you’d need to go to the Monster Tree, but that’s impossible...’

Fang Xi thought it over and could only let out a deep sigh.

Within his capabilities, he believed he could assist Ruan Xingling in her Core Formation.

But to do so regardless of cost and consequences, even at the risk of his own Taoist Path, to fully support this woman in her Core Formation, he could not...

...

Several months later.

Fang Xi, riding on the Azure Horn Fish Dragon, left Maple Leaf Island.

At that moment, on each of his feet, he was wearing a boot with a black base embroidered with golden threads, adorned with all kinds of intricate and mysterious patterns.

These were one-time use high-grade Spiritual Instruments—the ’Vertical Ground Golden Light Boots’!

The left one was the ’Vertical Ground Boot’, primarily focused on the ’Spirit Mark of Vertical Ground’, while the right one was the Golden Light Boot, branded with the ’Golden Light Spirit Mark’!

Ordinarily, they could slightly improve a cultivator’s agility and speed of escape. At a critical moment, merging the two great Spirit Marks would allow one to activate the ’Vertical Ground Golden Light Treasure Pattern’, elevating the escape speed to an unbelievable level!

Alas... they could only be used once, after which they would be discarded!

Reflecting on the process of refining these artifacts, Fang Xi also felt somewhat helpless.

The Earth Flame Crystal Stone truly deserved its reputation as a second-grade top-quality material. Even the fire crows raised by Ruan Xingling had difficulty refining it, and ultimately it was only through alternating between himself and Ruan Xingling, using Innate True Fire in tandem, that they managed to fully melt this main ingredient.

When it came to branding the Treasure Pattern, Fang Xi did so openly, but Ruan Xingling merely congratulated him on his improved array skills and said nothing else.

Her own Talisman forging prowess was barely enough to reach the second-grade top-quality level. Originally, she planned to refine the Spiritual Boots so they could be used two or three times, but problems arose and in the end, they could only be used once before being completely destroyed.

But for Fang Xi, this was already enough.

At a crucial moment, it could even help him escape the hands of a Core Formation ancestor!

Of course, it would be best if such a situation never occurred.

...

’Fortunately, my final preparations for this trip have also been completed.’

’Once the ’Nine Nether Profound Wood Array’ is set up and I can stand up to the Core Formation forces... I might then transcribe a copy of the ’Melting Gold Spell’ for Ruan Xingling, explain the pros and cons, and let her make her own choice...’

’By that time, my strength will be fully capable of handling the problems and covetousness brought about by acquiring the Song Family treasure. Besides, this assumes Ruan Xingling would leak the information. After so many years of association, she wouldn’t betray me like that, right?’

’Of course, about traveling through different realms, and especially the Monster Tree, I definitely cannot reveal those. Once exposed, a Nascent Soul True Monarch might descend directly, making any Great Array useless...’

Fang Xi always contemplates problems from the worst possible angle.

This time, his display of the unique treasure patterns would certainly be known to Ruan Xingling.

Then, when setting up the Nine Nether Profound Wood Array, he could just wait a while.

If there’s no problem by then, he could transcribe and give her a copy of the cultivation method.

As for how to prepare the Spiritual Root and Spirit Land, as well as whether to cultivate it or not, it’s up to Ruan Xingling to decide.

...

Dragon Fish Island.

Evergreen Pavilion.

Fang Xi had the Azure Horn Fish Dragon return to the fish farm, and he himself descended onto the pavilion roof.

Feeling that his Escape Light was a bit faster than before, he was quite satisfied with the ’Vertical Ground Golden Light Boots’.

This Spiritual Instrument was mainly for protecting his life.

With its burst of speed, he could distance himself from a Core Formation cultivator in a blink and even escape beyond the limits of the cultivator’s Divine Consciousness.

As for a Nascent Soul True Monarch?

Fang Xi had no understanding of such old monsters’ power, and thus he could not estimate it.

He sat cross-legged, beginning to take inventory of the inheritance he had obtained: "This time, planting trees... has again been decades of hard work, I should supplement the cultivation with the Hundred Arts of Immortal Cultivation."

The inheritance Fang Xi possessed was mainly third-grade arrays from the Song Family. Besides these, he had several second-grade Immortal Cultivation arts, including one for Refining Equipment that reached second-grade top-quality.

This was already quite good since the Song Family was only a Foundation Establishment Family.

Beyond that, he had Chen Ping’s almost third-grade talismanic inheritance and the second-grade top-quality alchemy inheritance purchased from the Mysterious Heaven Pavilion.

’Considering all this, the inheritances of the Four Arts of Cultivation in my hands are all above second-grade top quality... This foundation is comparable to a strong Foundation Establishment Family that’s been around for hundreds of years...’

’It’s a pity I have no talent in artifact refinement...’

’During the period of hardships, I should still focus on the array, supplement with alchemy, take up talisman-making on the side...’

’As for puppet skill, it’s mainly about repair and enhancement of control. Making puppets is troublesome and resource-consuming, so forget about it...’

Fang Xi’s puppet skill was actually unique, mainly using ’Wood Puppets’, which were simple in materials and could be manipulated in large numbers through the Monster Tree.

About these puppets, he also had a vague idea, to combine them with arrays, and cultivate the ’Path of the Battle Array’!

With it, he could compensate for the puppets’ slow reaction and high offense but low defense.

’Although a mobile third-grade array can’t merge with the Spiritual Veins and Earth Energy, reducing its defensive power, at the very least it could withstand several attacks from a Core Formation ancestor... and unleash power comparable to that of Core Formation. That’s enough...’

However, researching mobile arrays was much harder than setting up fixed Array Flags and Array Eyes.

Fang Xi was a bit of a one-trick Array Master with some fundamental deficiencies.

This retreat was to rigorously cultivate the Song Family’s third-grade Array Skill Inheritance, to solidify his foundation and make his strengths stand out even more!