Stealthily cultivating in the chaotic world of demons and martial artists
Chapter 233 - 232: Planning (Please Subscribe)_1

Chapter 233: Chapter 232: Planning (Please Subscribe)_1

Dragon Fish Island.

Fang Xi stood on the dock, staring at the departing ships, lost in thought.

He had just bid farewell to Yan Hongxiu.

The woman was already in her seventies. Since her last failure at Foundation Establishment, her health had been declining.

Even as time passed, the effects of the "Wrinkle-Resisting Pill" were gradually fading.

After all, this pill is only a second-tier Spiritual Pill; it could only maintain one’s youthful appearance for a few decades...

Recently, when Yan Dongqing, the head of the Yan Family, came to visit, Fang Xi took the opportunity to grant Yan Hongxiu’s request for leave.

She wished to return to Ling Kong Island to retire, and with the strength of her late Qi Refining phase, she could also provide some assistance to the family.

"What a pity... her life will not be much longer..."

Fang Xi shook his head and withdrew his Divine Consciousness.

The slaves by his side, including Xiahou Ying, faced similar problems, but all had solutions.

"My lord..."

As Fang Xi turned around, he saw a young female cultivator with a charming smile, seductive eyes like silk, and pupils that seemed to speak.

"Yan Ying, after you go back, take the time to learn from Xiahou Ying..."

Fang Xi waved his hand dismissively. This woman came with Yan Dongqing, meant to replace Yan Hongxiu’s position.

Her beauty was even superior to that of Yan Hongxiu, and it seemed she had received specialized training, to his satisfaction.

...

Occasionally mingling with the youth was something Fang Xi enjoyed.

After all, even though his body remained young, his spirit often experienced changes.

Being around the younger generation made him feel much younger at heart.

"After all, I’m already an old man of over a hundred and forty years..."

"Well, compared to my long lifespan, I’m barely in my teens..."

Evergreen Pavilion, Fang Xi dressed and looked out at the outside world.

Suddenly, his gaze turned towards the north of Thousand Island Lake, and his eyebrows subtly lifted.

...

Several days later, an explosive piece of news spread across Thousand Island Lake.

Ancient ruins were discovered in the northern region of Thousand Island Lake!

Because the emergence of the ruins caused such a great commotion, even Liu Sanqi couldn’t conceal it. This led a large number of cultivators to discover it, and the news spread like a tidal wave in all directions!

In a short time, it even made its way to Yue Country, and from there, to Baize Immortal City, Wood Kingdom, and Martial Kingdom.

For individual cultivators, exploring ancient Secret Realms was both an opportunity and a journey fraught with risks. Many cultivators swarmed in, causing the recently calm Thousand Island Lake to brace for an impending storm.

Inside the Evergreen Pavilion.

Fang Xi sat in the chief seat with Ruan Xingling and Zhong Hongyu by his side, listening to Liu Sanqi relate his experiences.

"So to speak..."

Ruan Xingling held a cup of Green Bamboo Wine in her hand: "Does that mean even Mid Foundation Establishment cultivators can’t break into the prohibition of Jade Island?"

Jade Island was the name given to the island where the ruins were located.

Because its prohibitions emitted a greenish light and made it appear like a giant jade from a distance, it was thus named.

"Indeed..."

Liu Sanqi’s face still showed traces of lingering fear: "However, even just searching the outskirts, I’ve found several rare Spirit Medicines. This goes to show how rich the resources in the Jade Island ruins are... According to my observations, as time goes on, those originally broken prohibitions will lose the power to bar us from entering. The ruins will ultimately open up..."

"Thousand Island Lake is getting troubled..."

Fang Xi sighed.

The four Mid Foundation Establishment cultivators present were influential in Thousand Island Lake, but with the spread of the news about the ruins, even high-level Foundation Establishment experts from neighboring countries might come to seek mysteries, truly muddying the waters.

"Mr. Fang, Sir Ruan, Sir Zhong... I have some expertise in identifying and searching for Spirit Medicines. Would you like to join me?"

Liu Sanqi extended an invitation.

Though his cultivation had reached Mid Foundation Establishment, he was still not as powerful in Divine Skills and Magic Power as Ruan Xingling and naturally feared the danger from the ruins and from other cultivators. Therefore, he proposed this idea, mainly to get Fang Xi, the leading cultivator of Thousand Island Lake, on his side!

After all, the last time this person had defeated a Late Foundation Establishment expert, and his Divine Skills and Magic Power were known in Yue Country, able to avoid much danger.

Other than prohibitions and traps, other cultivators were the most dangerous aspect of exploring ruins!

"Seeking the hidden and exploring secrets?"

Fang Xi pondered for a moment. Exploring ancient ruins didn’t seem like something he had ever tried before.

Unfortunately...

He shook his head: "I have no interest in ruins..."

"What?" Liu Sanqi was very surprised: "We individual cultivators lack resources, and our cultivation suffers at bottlenecks. This discovery is a godsend... Jade Island is right here in Thousand Island Lake, if we join forces to explore it, we will fully utilize the local advantage! Perhaps... within it, there are Spiritual Objects suitable for our breakthroughs in cultivation, or even for Core Formation!"

’I’d like to, indeed... but unfortunately, I cannot go.’

’Besides... even if there are Five Elements Fruit Trees within, they are not as important as my safety...’

’On Dragon Fish Island, with the help of the Nine Nether Profound Wood Array, even if a Core Formation comes to attack, I would not fear. I can peacefully and steadily cultivate to Core Formation, so why bother to venture out and take risks?’

Fang Xi spoke solemnly: "I am a cultivator wholeheartedly devoted to arduous cultivation. I disdain the idea of using external objects to force through bottlenecks..."

Actually, the first time he tried to break through the bottleneck of the late Foundation Establishment stage, if he had an auxiliary Spiritual Pill, he might have broken through already.

Liu Sanqi looked at Fang Xi, his lips quivered, but in the end, he could not say anything.

If someone didn’t even need pills to assist with their breakthrough, then ancient ruins indeed held no attraction for him.

"However, even though I won’t go, Hong Yu, you and Fairy Ruan could go together and try your luck..."

Fang Xi sighed.

After cultivating the Wood Qi Refining Body, he was confident about his Core Formation, but Ruan Xingling and Zhong Hongyu did not have this opportunity.

If they didn’t take this chance to try their luck in the ancient ruins, they might never achieve Core Formation in this lifetime!

Even without his saying, Ruan Xingling probably had her mind set on it already.

"Besides that... this time Thousand Island Lake might be even more dangerous than the last time."

Fang Xi made his judgment.

Last time, it was merely a crisis in Baize Immortal City that caused some Individual Cultivators to take refuge here, with the highest in cultivation being on the same level as Chong Ruhu.

But this time, with the emergence of ancient ruins, it’s completely different!

Strong cultivators in the late Foundation Establishment stage, even those who have completed Foundation Establishment, will appear!

Even the possibility that a Core Formation ancestor might be hiding nearby is not out of the question!

The danger has suddenly skyrocketed!

"This is indeed very worrisome..." Ruan Xingling’s expression immediately became grave.

The last time a Secret Realm appeared in Yue Country was a hundred years ago with the ’Purple Dark Mountain Secret Realm’!

After that event, nearby Situ Family and Red Leaf Valley were annihilated!

No matter the subsequent schemes, there were always elements of the innocent suffering for the guilty.

"It can’t be that bad, can it..."

Zhong Hongyu murmured, "As long as it doesn’t present an opportunity for Core Formation, it shouldn’t attract too many high-level Foundation Establishment masters... "

Upon hearing this, Liu Sanqi’s expression changed.

It seemed that he, who had experienced it firsthand, doubted whether the standard of this Secret Realm was even higher than that of the Purple Dark Mountain Secret Realm, to the extent that it could possibly attract the arrival of a Core Formation ancestor!

"So, what shall we do?"

Ruan Xingling looked towards Fang Xi.

"You three can form a small team and assist each other... and also move some of the family’s members to Dragon Fish Island."

Fang Xi smiled, "Since I won’t go into the Secret Realm, I can watch over your homestead, ensuring your safety on the retreat... Besides, why not start a business?"

"What kind of business?" Liu Sanqi asked curiously.

"The upcoming congregation of cultivators at Thousand Island Lake, along with many mid-to-high rank cultivators, will need Dongfus, Spirit Rice, and various Talismans and magic weapons for exploring the ruins... All of which will require replenishment nearby, and Baochuan Market, after all, only has a first-order Spiritual Vein and is too far away..."

Fang Xi smiled faintly, "Why not reopen the market on Ling Kong Island? By that time, just renting out Dongfus should already be a big business!"

Those who scour for gold may not make a fortune, but those providing services around the gold mine, they’re certain to make a killing!

Yan Family would undoubtedly support this venture.

"This... indeed has great potential."

Ruan Xingling’s eyes lit up.

Compared to fighting to the death in the ruins, opening a market was much safer, and would also conveniently reel in Spirit Stones.

"I can provide a set of second-order high-grade Array, taking a thirty percent share, with the rest Fairy Ruan, Sir Liu, and Fairy Zhong taking twenty percent each, and the remaining ten percent for Yan Family..."

Fang Xi presented his proposal, "Usually, we need only one mid-stage Foundation Establishment Cultivator to watch over the market... Of course, since I’m providing the Array, I won’t be the one sitting in."

"This... seems quite feasible, and Yan Family will surely agree," Liu Sanqi pondered and actually found the strategy quite favorable.

Taking advantage of the period when Jade Island’s ruins were a hot spot, the market would see no shortage of visitors, meaning plenty of Spirit Stones to earn!

Moreover... some Individual Cultivators might strike lucky and obtain treasures unwittingly, offering them for sale in the market at low prices.

This was an opportunity for them, the backstage managers!

Indeed, if we talk about safety and abundant spiritual energy, naturally the Cultivation Islands of the major Foundation Establishment cultivators are more suitable.

However, like Fang Xi and the others, none wanted their bases to be frequently entered and exited.

And moreover, Ling Kong Island was once chosen as a market location, as it’s naturally endowed with suitable geographical advantages.

So it was settled.

A few days later, Yan Dongqing, who had visited Dragon Fish Island once before, arrived with an odd expression on his face and saw that all four Foundation Establishment Cultivators had agreed to the market opening plan. He nodded repeatedly, assuring that the Yan Family would fully support it.

Fang Xi had known that this man was clever; giving him a ten percent share to manage the market was more than enough.

He took a ’Six-mysterious-tortoiseshell Array’ out of the warehouse and gave it to Ruan Xingling.

This Array, a second-order high-grade one, originated from the Array Skill Inheritance of the Song Family, was of the Water attribute, and when placed on the second-order Spiritual Vein of Ling Kong Island, with a mid-stage Foundation Establishment Cultivator stationed, should be sufficient to handle common scenarios.

Of course, now that a horde of cultivators was congregating, there would likely be many cultivation-robbers among them, possibly equipped with second-order Prohibition-breaking Talismans.

But Fang Xi had already made it clear with the three Foundation Establishment Cultivators that if things became untenable, they could abandon the market and flee outright.

Ruan Xingling and Liu Sanqi, both in mid-stage Foundation Establishment, should be fine.

The only concern was Fang Xi’s subordinate, Zhong Hongyu.

After all, she had only just established her foundation. Her Magic Power wasn’t deep, nor had she cultivated any powerful spells.

However, relying on several second-order talismans given to her by Fang Xi, coupled with the ’Flash VoidSkills’ for a surprise move, her chances of survival should be fine.