Stealthily cultivating in the chaotic world of demons and martial artists
Chapter 244 - 243: Catastrophe of the Underworld (Subscription Requested)_1

Chapter 244: Chapter 243: Catastrophe of the Underworld (Subscription Requested)_1

Half a month later.

Dragon Fish Island.

Three Escape Lights arrived in unison, descending into the Evergreen Pavilion.

Before long, a blue rainbow also flew over, settling on the top floor, revealing Fang Xi’s figure.

His gaze swept over Liu Sanqi, Zhong Hongyu, and Ruan Xingling before he smiled, "I was somewhat concerned when I heard that something happened at Jade Island, but now that I see all three of you have returned safely, I can finally put my mind at ease..."

"Thanks to Sir Liu’s assistance, otherwise I might not have been able to make it back..."

Ruan Xingling forced a smile, with an abnormal flush suddenly appearing on her face.

"You’re injured?"

With a flash of blue light, Fang Xi instantly arrived next to Ruan Xingling, his palm erupting in a cyan-yellow halo, grabbing her wrist.

The healing secret skills recorded in ’Kuyong Skills’ were extraordinarily effective, and in just a moment, Ruan Xingling opened her eyes and smiled slightly, "Thank you, Fang, for your help, I’m no longer in grave danger..."

"This is strange..."

Fang Xi withdrew his hand, looking at Ruan Xingling and then at Zhong Hongyu, "In this expedition to the ruins on Jade Island, Hong Yu was unharmed whereas you ended up grievously injured, which truly surprises me..."

Zhong Hongyu and Ruan Xingling both cultivated the same skills, yet Ruan Xingling was already a mid-stage Foundation Establishment cultivator, her reputation in combat shaking the Yue Country.

The result was that both went to Jade Island, but it was Ruan Xingling who ended up severely injured, while Zhong Hongyu seemed to be mostly unharmed.

"It’s all thanks to Ruan protecting me on Jade Island that I was able to return unscathed..."

Zhong Hongyu quickly explained.

It was only then that Fang Xi found out about the numerous Qi-Refining and Foundation Establishment level ghost creatures that emerged alongside the Underworld Earth Vein.

At the time, many cultivators were fighting independently, the scene was extremely chaotic, and thanks to Ruan Xingling’s protection, this woman might indeed have not been able to escape.

"I see..."

Fang Xi nodded, feeling as though Ruan Xingling was treating Zhong Hongyu as her personal disciple.

"Actually... If it was only those ghost creatures, I was confident I could have retreated with my whole body, and wouldn’t have ended up so heavily injured..."

After hesitating for a while, Ruan Xingling continued, "When I was on Jade Island, I found it strange when two Core Formation elders broke the prohibitions. Later, I became almost certain that someone had set a trap... and it was related to a female cultivator present. That female cultivator must have a grudge against Mysterious Heaven Sect and cultivates Demon Path skills!"

Hatred flickered across her face, "If it weren’t for chasing after that woman and fighting her, depleting some of my primordial energy, I wouldn’t have been gravely wounded by the ghost creatures afterward..."

"Oh?"

Fang Xi asked in detail and only then learned that at the time, there was also a mysterious female Foundation Establishment cultivator who seemed to attempt a sneak attack on Elder Zhang of the Mysterious Heaven Sect.

Although she did not succeed, she managed to escape, and even managed to put Elder Zhang in a situation where he was besieged by Golden Core ghost cultivators, employing very clever and skillful methods.

"That demon cultivator’s cultivation level is quite similar to mine, but the demon skills she practices are truly formidable. She not only has divine consciousness attack techniques but also a movement skill that is like a dream, an illusion... she leaves no trace when she flees!"

Ruan Xingling shared in detail, "I suspect that demon cultivator might possess an ’Illusory Spirit Root’... otherwise, she couldn’t possibly deceive my divine consciousness with a false form."

"Illusory Spirit Root?"

Liu Sanqi spoke up, "I have heard of this type of aptitude, it is said that those who possess this Spiritual Root find it particularly beneficial for cultivating illusion techniques..."

’What is Situ Qingqing’s Spiritual Root?’

Fang Xi pondered in his heart before shaking his head; how could he know such a secret?

However, judging from that demon cultivator’s tactics, it was indeed the ’Five Extremities Primordial Demon Skill’ without a doubt, and with a grudge against Mysterious Heaven Sect, the likelihood was high that it was Situ Qingqing.

Perhaps Ruan Xingling had discovered some clues, which is why she pursued that woman at all costs, resulting in her own severe injuries.

After all, Ruan Xingling held deep-seated enmity with the Situ Family of demon cultivators, it was a feud to the death.

And from Ruan Xingling and Zhong Hongyu’s account, Fang Xi finally learned the detailed circumstances of what happened.

This first-hand information was far more accurate than the rumors spread by other cultivators.

"There are actually more than three Golden Core ghost cultivators on Jade Island... unless the four major Core Formation powers join forces, they would be difficult to deal with..."

After listening, Fang Xi murmured.

"Not just that, the core area has long been invaded by Underworld ghost qi. Even if there are Core Formation Spiritual Objects, I’m afraid they have already been tainted..."

Ruan Xingling replied with a wry smile, "Without the lure of Core Formation spirit materials, the Golden Core Sects would not risk the fall of their elders in a battle with ghost cultivators, and might even give up on Thousand Island Lake, leaving the cultivators of the region to fend for themselves..."

"Planning to create a buffer zone? That’s indeed very likely..."

Fang Xi mused over the thought.

If it were a third-tier Monster King, at least after being killed one could obtain an Inner Core, but Golden Core ghost cultivators mostly dissipate into nothingness upon death, a loss to the utmost degree.

Furthermore, since the Nine Leaves Sect ruins did not hold much wealth anymore, any rational cultivator would be able to make a choice.

"It seems that the future of Thousand Island Lake will be troubled by ghost cultivators..."

Fang Xi said, "Fortunately, the defensive array of this island is strong enough to hold for some time... If my friends are worried that their own places are not secure, you are welcome to seek temporary shelter here..."

"Thank you for the generous offer, Island Master,"

Liu Sanqi cupped his hands in thanks but replied with a bitter smile, "I prefer to return to Golden Turtle Island. There, I have spirit medicines that I’ve labored over, and they can’t easily be transplanted..."

"I’m planning to return to Maple Leaf Island... Generally speaking, Core Formation ghost cultivators won’t leave their lairs. I believe I can handle ordinary ghost creatures."

Ruan Xingling thought for a moment, and ultimately responded in the same way.

"Since that’s the case, I won’t insist anymore..."

Upon hearing that, Fang Xi could only sigh and let them be.

Foundation Establishment cultivators are not children, but rather well-known figures in the Cultivation World. Since they said as much, they must have a certain level of confidence in dealing with the Ghost Calamity.

...

The exploration craze for the ancient ruins on Jade Island ultimately fizzled out.

Not only did a considerable number of prestigious Foundation Establishment cultivators perish, but even Qi Refining cultivators who sought easy gains met with numerous deaths.

And as various powers recognized the difficulties of Underworld Earth Veins and Ghost Cultivators, they too decided to evacuate one after another.

Baize Immortal City was the first to flee!

Before leaving, Yuan Feihong made a special visit to see Fang Xi.

The other party had astonishingly reached the late stages of Foundation Establishment.

It looked like the ’Rushing Essence Pill’ Fang Xi provided back then really helped a great deal.

After all the powers had departed, the Ling Kong market became a lot more desolate. Fang Xi didn’t even want to bother managing it. He withdrew most of the Spirit Stones and supplies, and then simply handed it over to Yan Dongqing.

Afterward, they calculated that with this ’Jade Island Ruins Craze,’ they, a few Foundation Establishment cultivators, had made a fortune. Just from Spirit Stones alone, they had amassed a small mountain’s worth, not to mention all kinds of rare Spirit Medicine, spirit materials, Exotic Treasures, and Cultivation Secret Skills...

However, the Ghost Calamity that followed at Thousand Island Lake also caused great hardship for the local cultivators.

The Core Formation-level Ghost Cultivators didn’t leave Jade Island, but they liked to dispatch lower-level Ghost Creatures to go out, collect living souls, and even there were cases where they breached spiritual islands, annihilating both the cultivators and ordinary people on them.

These Ghost Creatures roamed in groups of three to five or wandered alone, including those comparable to Foundation Establishment level. Ordinary Qi Refining cultivators were no match for them. Only the second-tier spiritual islands with Foundation Establishment cultivators in residence could barely fend them off.

This also led to the people of Thousand Island Lake, both cultivators and ordinary people, flocking to Maple Leaf, Dragon Fish, Golden Turtle, and Ling Kong islands for refuge.

Presumably, the number of cultivators and ordinary people seeking refuge on Dragon Fish Island was the most, since Fang Xi was known as the ’Number One Cultivator of Thousand Island Lake,’ which carried some credibility.

Since it was just some Qi Refining cultivators and ordinary people, Fang Xi couldn’t be too cold-hearted and heartless. Thus, he nonchalantly agreed and set aside several areas for them to rest and recuperate.

Moreover, he had to suppress the Monster Tree daily to prevent it from instinctively performing a Blood Sacrifice on all of them due to the abundance of blood food...

Even so, the entire region of Thousand Island Lake became much more desolate, and the Mysterious Heaven Sect had no reaction whatsoever.

It seemed that Elder Zhang indeed paid an extremely high price in order to break through the encirclement back then.

And without a doubt, this vast expanse of the Thousand Island Lake region had been abandoned by the Mysterious Heaven Sect.

The docks of Dragon Fish Island.

One after another, the mortal ships were docked, and many ordinary people, leading both old and young, disembarked from them.

These ordinary people were the descendants of the Thousand Island Lake cultivators. Now facing the Ghost Calamity, and not willing to flee to Yu County in Yue Country to become truly mundane individuals, they had no choice but to follow and take refuge with the cultivators on Dragon Fish Island and reside there.

"We’ve finally arrived..."

"Don’t be afraid, once we’re on Dragon Fish Island, there will be no more Ghost Creatures..."

"Wuu, Daddy... I want to find Daddy..."

...

Fang Xi concealed his form and stood in midair, silently watching these refugees of various states.

Suddenly, he raised an eyebrow and looked towards the lake not far away.

There, several streaks of Blue Light shimmered—Qi Refining cultivators steering magical tools for escort.

Not far off, a sudden gust of ghastly wind arose, with a stream of fog tens of zhang long wafting over, seemingly filled with numerous indistinct shadows flickering in and out.

"It’s those Ghost Creatures, they’ve followed us again!"

The face of an old man steering a Flying Sword turned pale: "I knew we shouldn’t have transported so many people at once. The collective life force of the mortals attracts the attention of Ghost Creatures too easily..."

"The family is too stingy, why not purchase a few more ’Concealing Qi Talismans’?"

A young girl with almond-shaped eyes and peach cheeks also appeared quite frustrated.

"Sigh... It’s useless to mention that now. Thankfully, there are no second-tier Ghost Creatures among them. Let’s fight them off!"

The old man steered his Flying Sword, which transformed into a brilliant white streak of light and pierced into the fog.

"Hee hee!"

The next moment, a strange laugh rang out from within the fog, and the old man’s complexion changed: "No good... my magical tool..."

"These Ghost Creatures are formidable, escape quickly, and notify the cultivators on Dragon Fish Island to come and help!"

The cultivators fought and retreated, heading towards Dragon Fish Island, while the slightly slower ships were quickly entangled by the grey fog. Terrible screams could be heard, followed by an eerie silence...

The fog continued unsatisfied, drifting towards the docks of Dragon Fish Island.

Just then, from within the Profound Wood Formation, a flash of black fog suddenly expanded, enveloping the ghost fog within it.

In just a moment, that patch of ghost fog vanished without a trace.

The old man and the young girl who witnessed this scene stared in astonishment...