Stealthily cultivating in the chaotic world of demons and martial artists
Chapter 242 - 241: Visit (Congratulations to the Silver Alliance)_1

Chapter 242: Chapter 241: Visit (Congratulations to the Silver Alliance)_1

A luminescent glow flew from afar, descending outside Dragon Fish Island, revealing a middle-aged man with a scholarly appearance.

The middle-aged man looked at the Dragon Fish Island Array and did not attempt to force his way in, but instead released a Voice Transmission Talisman.

A moment later, the light on the Profound Wood Formation flashed, opening up a passage.

The middle-aged man entered the passage directly and, familiar with Dragon Fish Island, made his way straight to the Evergreen Pavilion.

"Yan Dongqing seeks an audience with the Island Master!"

Standing outside the Evergreen Pavilion, he first paid respects to the void, and then proceeded to speak out loud.

"Since Ruan has achieved Foundation Establishment, you are one of our kin, so why such formality?"

Fang Xi’s Divine Consciousness Transmission rang as if right beside Yan Dongqing’s ear, causing the latter’s face to slightly change.

"Come up!"

Upon hearing Fang Xi’s command, Yan Dongqing straightened his robe and ascended the steps of Evergreen Pavilion.

At the top of the Evergreen Pavilion, just as Yan Dongqing was about to say something, the sight of Fang Xi startled him.

At this moment, Fang Xi not only had a gaunt face but even looked as emaciated as a neglected corpse, like a dried mummy!

"Please don’t be alarmed... I was contemplating a secret skill just now, and I did make some gains, but I admit the appearance might be a bit frightening. I ask for your understanding..."

Fang Xi smiled faintly, and yellow and green magic power swirled around his body, transforming from decay to vitality, as the flesh on his body rapidly filled out and he returned to looking like an elegant young man.

He indeed had not lied; he had recently been inspired and had mastered a secret transmission of the Kuyong Skills—the Endure Death Skill!

This secret skill was similar to the Turtle Breath Skill, specifically used by cultivators when they sustain severe injuries.

It is said that once the body turns to deadwood, no matter how severe the injury, it could preserve a thread of vitality and the breath could be concealed almost completely, waiting for the injuries to slowly heal.

"The physical body is just an appearance for cultivators like us; rather, congratulations are in order for the Island Master’s achievement of Divine Skill..."

Yan Dongqing was a bit surprised, but quickly filled his face with a smile and offered his flattery.

He saw very clearly that although he had achieved Foundation Establishment, it was only at the earliest stage, so naturally, he needed a strong backer to rely on.

And within Thousand Island Lake, the strongest and most reliable backer would certainly be the Lord Master of Dragon Fish Island.

The other party was gifted with Divine Skill and was above ordinary Foundation Establishment late stages. Without a doubt, he was one of Yue Country’s dependable pillars.

What’s more... there were many cultivators in Thousand Island Lake now, but once the heat around the ruins dissipated, they would ultimately leave.

However, the Lord Master of Dragon Fish Island was like a territorial tiger in Thousand Island Lake. Coupled with the relationship between Yan Ying and the market, which other dock could he rely on if not this one?

"By the way, I have yet to congratulate Dongqing on your successful Foundation Establishment."

Fang Xi clapped his hands and had a maid serve Spiritual Tea.

"It is all thanks to the market’s resources that Dongqing could achieve Foundation Establishment. If the Island Master had not given the word back then, my Yan Family would never have possessed such wealth... I have always remembered this great kindness and debt. I have prepared a gift, and I ask the Island Master to please accept it!"

Yan Dongqing paid his respects again, presenting a Jade Grease Box.

Fang Xi willed it, and two hands made of magic power easily received the gift, bringing it before him.

Upon opening it, purple light burst forth and filled the area.

Inside the Jade Grease Box was a segment of purple-colored spiritual wood. The bark was still fresh, seemingly having been cut very recently.

This spiritual wood had scales-like patterns on its bark, and the tree rings inside were densely packed, dating it back thousands of years!

"A third-tier ’Purple Dragon Wood’—you truly are thoughtful!"

Seeing it, even Fang Xi’s expression unwittingly transformed.

This ’Purple Dragon Wood’ was a third-tier lower grade spiritual wood, also one of several types of wood best suited for crafting third-tier talisman paper.

Even now with the output from Jade Island ruins, its value was almost on par with a genuine Foundation Establishment Pill.

The Yan Family had really spent a great deal on this.

"My Yan Family has always followed closely behind the Island Master. Now that Dongqing has completed Foundation Establishment and deeply benefited from the Island Master’s great grace, I wish to follow in your footsteps and commit myself to labor like a horse or dog!"

Yan Dongqing spoke solemnly.

"Sir, you are too polite. However, I always encourage local Foundation Establishment cultivators from Thousand Island Lake to support and help each other."

Fang Xi smiled slightly, accepted the ’Purple Dragon Wood,’ and by doing so, tacitly acknowledged Yan Dongqing’s pledge of loyalty.

Upon hearing this, joy instantly bloomed on Yan Dongqing’s face.

The two then chatted about the affairs of Ling Kong market, and the topic Fang Xi asked about most was undoubtedly the Jade Island Ruins.

Only then did he learn that, after continual exploration and breaking of prohibitions by Foundation Establishment cultivators, the Spiritual Medicine Garden of the Nine Leaves Sect had been turned upside down. Just recently, its prohibitions were breached and a grove of ancient spiritual trees with thousands of years of growth was revealed, causing a number of Foundation Establishment cultivators to fight fiercely again.

This segment of ’Purple Dragon Wood’ was one of the gains from that event.

’Seizing this good opportunity, I could indeed purchase some third-tier spiritual wood...’

Even Fang Xi, upon hearing this, felt tempted.

Some spirit medicines often have a growth limit, such as Golden Jade Ganoderma, which grows in thousand-year cycles. If they are not harvested after a thousand years, the parent plant will gradually wither and die, leaving a large number of seeds in its place.

Many of the spirit medicines in Thousand Island Lake’s gardens had died because of this, or others had gone through several cycles of reincarnation and the current offshoots were still young, which caused many cultivators to sigh in regret.

Compared to that, spiritual trees can mostly grow infinitely, with many reaching thousands or even tens of thousands of years in age, which is not uncommon.

In the spiritual medicine garden of the Nine Leaves Sect, naturally, various spirit medicines were more valuable.

However, thousands of years later, some spiritual trees that were casually transplanted back then had surpassed the value of the spirit medicines, which was something those cultivators from the Nine Leaves Sect had not foreseen.

Spiritual trees that could grow beyond a thousand years, of the third tier, were very attractive to Fang Xi.

Whether it was to be ground into pulp for the making of high-grade talisman paper, or to be refined into the Green Barley Sword to enhance its power, either option was excellent.

"So it goes... the innermost prohibitions of Jade Island have been almost entirely deciphered, and now only the most core areas remain?"

Upon hearing Yan Dongqing’s full account, Fang Xi’s face showed a look as if he were deep in thought.

"Indeed..."

Yan Dongqing shared everything, "With the bountiful harvest from the spiritual medicine garden, many cultivators are brimming with confidence this time. They have even invited a number of array masters from the Wood and Martial Kingdoms. It seems the core area’s prohibitions will be breached before long... When that time comes, I fear even the Core Formation elders from the Mysterious Heaven Sect and Baize Immortal City won’t be able to restrain themselves from intervening!"

He sighed, "At that point, we Foundation Establishment cultivators will not have much to do... Fortunately, after the excavation of the ruins, Thousand Island Lake can gradually return to peace."

Although the Yan Family had made a fortune during this period, they also felt like they were sitting on top of a volcano.

Even though Yan Dongqing had succeeded in his Foundation Establishment, this kind of anxiety had not diminished much.

"Core Formation elders, huh..."

For some reason, Fang Xi suddenly thought of the green-robed female cultivator with her enigmatic charm, or rather... the person suspected of being Situ Qingqing!

’The Situ Family has a deep feud with the Mysterious Heaven Sect...’

’If this woman is lurking back here at this time, perhaps there is some conspiracy afoot...’

’But, this isn’t my concern. I’m definitely not going to the Jade Island ruins, dead or alive.’

’I do need to find an opportunity to remind Ruan Xingling and Liu Sanqi, as well as Hong Yu... Although there are many treasures at this final stage, the dangers have also increased a thousandfold...’

...

Feeling uneasy, Fang Xi immediately instructed Yan Dongqing to go to the Jade Island ruins and called back Zhong Hongyu.

"Island Master..."

Zhong Hongyu, dressed in red magic attire, looked quite heroic and valiant.

"Has Sir Ruan, Ruan Xingling, not returned with you?"

Seeing only Zhong Hongyu, Fang Xi could not help but sigh.

Now it was Liu Sanqi’s turn to hold down the fort on Ling Kong Island, while Ruan Xingling and Zhong Hongyu were exploring the Jade Island ruins.

"Ruan mentioned that the ruins are at a critical stage. Through some jade slips and letters carried by the remains of ancient cultivators, we can almost confirm the presence of Core Formation spiritual objects in the ruins... Now many Foundation Establishment cultivators are going mad..."

Zhong Hongyu stuck out her tongue playfully, then handed over a jade slip: "This jade slip is a prohibition from one of the core areas. Sir Ruan was unable to do anything about it and wanted to see if the Island Master could examine it..."

Fang Xi took the jade slip, and as his Divine Consciousness entered it, he saw complicated and profound prohibition patterns interlocking to form a huge puzzle.

This was the external imprint of the prohibition from Ruan Xingling, now fully displayed within the jade slip.

Such a lotus-like pattern of prohibition was somewhat unfamiliar to Fang Xi.

He pondered for a moment, then continued speaking, "This kind of prohibition... resembles the style of the Buddhism Sect... The Buddhism Sect’s prohibitions are known for being very sturdy, difficult to deal with by being cunning, and can only be worn down slowly... I notice that this prohibition is definitely of the third tier, and without a Core Formation elder striking it day and night, it would be problematic..."

"The Island Master is truly formidable... Previously, an array master from the Martial Kingdom, full of swagger, still knew nothing about this prohibition."

Zhong Hongyu’s eyes lit up, "Must it be a Core Formation elder personally taking action?"

"If several late-stage Foundation Establishment cultivators work together to form an array, roughly they can too, but the expenditure would be great... On the dangerous land that is Jade Island, the risks might outweigh the benefits."

Fang Xi shook his head, "I’ve only seen the surface of this prohibition; to comprehend its deeper meaning requires further contemplation... You’ve come at an opportune time. I will write two letters; you are to deliver them to Liu Sanqi and Ruan Xingling... With Jade Island being as perilous as it is now, it’s best to return if possible."

Even though he knew that those two were of firm Dao heart and might not obediently listen, he still owed them the duty of a friend.

"And what about me?"

Zhong Hongyu pointed to her own nose.

"You’re still at the early stage of Foundation Establishment; even if there really is an opportunity for Core Formation, do you think you could snatch it away from someone else?"

Fang Xi rolled his eyes.

However, his mind suddenly thought of Zhan Tu.

This person had previously shown up at Dragon Fish Island for a transaction in a somewhat elusive manner, and his gesture was big, suggesting he was not lacking in opportunities.

’It seems... I can also take the opportunity to write more to this person, to enhance our relationship.’

’I’m not greedy; sharing some benefits is sufficient...’

Zhong Hongyu obediently murmured an affirmation.

She herself felt her magic power to be insufficient on her previous adventure to Jade Island, and her combat ability was lacking as well.

Amongst a group of Foundation Establishment cultivators, she was indeed one of the most likely to perish.

If she couldn’t obtain Core Formation spiritual objects, then just the spirit stones and resources she could earn from the earnings of Ling Kong market far surpassed venturing into ancient ruins fighting for life and death...

Each time she thought about it, she could not help but admire the Island Master’s foresight in reopening Ling Kong Island’s market. It was indeed an extremely correct decision.