Stealthily cultivating in the chaotic world of demons and martial artists
Chapter 245 - 244: One Hundred and Sixty (Seeking Monthly Ticket)_1

Chapter 245: Chapter 244: One Hundred and Sixty (Seeking Monthly Ticket)_1

Evergreen Pavilion.

Talisman-making Room.

Fang Xi meticulously ground the Spirit-opening Ink, dipped the talisman brush in it, and began to draw treasure patterns on the surface of a talisman paper radiating a purple halo, stroke by stroke.

"Go!"

Halfway through the talisman brush’s strokes, he pointed at the materials prepared by the side of the desk earlier, and a mouthful of Yi Wood True Fire spewed forth.

Countless Spirit Sand and beast blood... mixed together, the impurities burnt away, transforming into streams of spiritual ink under Fang Xi’s control, infusing into the talisman paper.

Atop the purple foundation of the talisman paper, suddenly there appeared numerous patterns sharp as swords.

Seeing this, Fang Xi’s forehead began to sweat more profusely, as the magic power of the ’Kuyong Skills’ within him was rapidly depleted.

The bluish-yellow liquid magic power was injected into the talisman paper, almost half spent before it finally held steady.

Above the talisman paper, various radiance flashed explosively, but at last, a silver light retracted, and it stabilized.

"Finally, it’s done!"

Gazing at the first ’Killing Immortal Treasure Symbol’ he had successfully crafted, Fang Xi let out a long breath.

After squandering many precious third-tier talisman papers and meticulously comprehending them for years, he finally succeeded in drawing his first treasure pattern talisman paper!

"Although treasure pattern talisman papers are much simpler compared to genuine third-tier talismans... my talisman-making skill should barely be considered quasi third-tier now, right?"

Fang Xi carefully inspected his first ’Killing Immortal Treasure Symbol,’ a look of joy surfacing on his face, "With this symbol’s power, it’s equivalent to the might of one strike from me wielding the Green Barley Sword..."

In other words, it could very well match the power of a single strike from a Core Formation elder!

"Counting the days, another few years have passed by, and I’m now a hundred and sixty years old..."

Fang Xi felt quite emotional.

After switching to cultivate the ’Kuyong Skills,’ the fine-tuning of his ’Yi Wood Magic Body’ was extremely difficult, but Fang Xi persisted patiently.

Now that all the paths of the cultivation technique had been minutely adjusted, Fang Xi was certain that the ’Kuyong Skills’ he exhibited should surpass the might of top-tier techniques by not just a small margin...

Unfortunately, this technique was still effective only for him alone; otherwise, it could have become a famed and unique art renowned throughout the Cultivation World.

"Two hundred and sixty drops of liquid magic power... This relentless cultivation day and night, aided by Spiritual Pills, has indeed not delayed the refinement of my magic power..."

"However, the current limit of my cultivation technique is far more than just three hundred drops of liquid magic power..."

After switching to cultivate the ’Kuyong Skills,’ Fang Xi knew the upper limit of his magic power had increased, and after the fine-tuning of the ’Yi Wood Magic Body,’ his foundations now even surpassed those exceptional geniuses from major sects who cultivated top-tier techniques!

The capacity of the Dantian Qi Ocean to hold more magic power greatly helped his Core Formation, and the Golden Core True Origin formed after the breakthrough would only be stronger, which were all good things.

After running his technique and completing the day’s work, Fang Xi walked out with his hands behind his back, leisurely exiting the closed-door cultivation room.

"The young master has left secluded cultivation!"

Yan Ying immediately greeted him with a face full of joy.

Her appearance was still the same as when Fang Xi first saw her, naturally because Fang Xi, without favoritism, had given each of his personal maidservants a ’Wrinkle-Resisting Pill.’

Yet Yan Ying dared not become proud because of favoritism, knowing that besides Xiahou Xin, the Qi Refining families who had moved one after the other to show their submission often presented beautiful female cultivators to serve in the Evergreen Pavilion, leading to a severe clandestine rivalry among them. Fang Xi, however, completely ignored it, treating it as a spectacle.

"Hmm... nothing serious on the island lately, right?"

He had two beautiful maidservants tend to him as he changed into a blue robe and asked casually.

"With the young master here, no demonic beasts or ghosts can do anything to Dragon Fish Island,"

Xiahou Xin flattered him.

"Sometimes... internal strife can be more troublesome than external threats. I have ordered it several times; we must measure the island’s food production and can’t just mindlessly accept refugees..."

Fang Xi frowned and scolded.

Although his Dragon Fish Island was vast in size, it was still just an island with limited capacity.

Fortunately, most of the Qi Refining families and mortals fled to Yu County in Yue Country, with only a small number who could not bear to leave their homeland seeking refuge on Dragon Fish Island.

Even so, Fang Xi felt that the population influx on Dragon Fish Island was reaching its limit and that continuing this way would inevitably brew trouble, hence he had long ago announced a halt to the massive acceptance of mortals.

This action, although cruel, ensured the stability and peace of Dragon Fish Island.

In the current Thousand Island Lake, the four big spiritual islands guarded their respective domains, and a tacit understanding had already formed with Dragon Fish Island at the forefront.

And Fang Xi had also replaced Ruan Xingling with the title ’Lord Master of Thousand Island Lake.’

Of course, he would never admit it openly.

After dressing properly, Fang Xi went up to the top floor of the Evergreen Pavilion, where a pretty Qi Refining female cultivator had already prepared the Spiritual Tea, waiting for Fang Xi’s arrival.

Fang Xi took the cup and took a gentle sip, "Not bad..."

"Thank you for the Island Master’s compliment."

This refined-looking female cultivator immediately showed a hint of joy upon hearing his words.

A single word of praise from Fang Xi could bring significant benefits to her family.

At that moment, a rainbow light flickered outside, swiftly arriving at the Evergreen Pavilion.

"It’s Hong Yu who has come... Come, sit down and have some tea with us,"

Seeing Zhong Hongyu, a smile appeared on Fang Xi’s face.

This lady’s appearance hadn’t changed much either, after all, she was a Foundation Establishment cultivator with a long life span.

’Speaking of which, I am over a hundred and sixty years old... Even for a Foundation Establishment cultivator, that’s entering old age...’

Fang Xi watched the cultivator sitting respectfully opposite him amidst the swirling tea fragrance and mused to himself.

Compared to him, Zhong Hongyu was much younger; she still had more than a hundred years to live and was considered Dragon Fish Island’s ’young island master’.

Although before Fang Xi had revealed his intentions, no one dared call her that, the title had already spread in private.

He had learned this information while wandering around with his aura concealed, practicing the ’Kuyong Skills’.

’Birth, aging, sickness, death, the cycle of the years... Even an Immortal Cultivator can’t escape this iron law, can they?’

He was filled with a myriad of feelings and then touched his own youthful and smooth cheek, not a wrinkle in sight: ’Oh... It turns out I still have nearly a thousand more years to live, nothing to worry about then...’

Over the years, he hadn’t neglected his ’Longevity Skills’, and the Demon Tree still continued to extend his lifetime.

Zhong Hongyu looked at Fang Xi across from her, feeling his aura mysterious and immeasurable, like an ancient tree that had witnessed the cycles of growth and decay, which filled her with immense reverence.

Although it was rumored that the lifespan of Dragon Fish Island’s master was waning and he hadn’t made a breakthrough past the late stage of Foundation Establishment, it seemed inevitable that his end would come within the next forty to fifty years.

Even the members of the Zhong Family on the island had started to gravitate towards her, but Zhong Hongyu dared not entertain such thoughts.

Moreover, she had two extremely powerful rivals, those being Yan Dongqing from the Yan Family and Liu Sanqi!

One of them had a profound cultivation and had broken through to the late stage of Foundation Establishment. Despite joining the island master at a later time, it was widely recognized that if the island master passed away before this individual, then this person would surely take control of Dragon Fish Island!

However, Liu Sanqi was also not young, and not many people were optimistic that he could break through Core Formation and extend his life, hence there were not many bets placed on him.

On the contrary, Yan Dongqing was quite young, had a way with people, and received support from the Top Three Families and some Qi Refining families that moved to the island later on.

Although Zhong Hongyu knew that the Top Three Families put forward Yan Dongqing to challenge her and to secure a position for themselves.

The person they truly wanted to support was Taishu Hong!

But Taishu Hong was currently only at the ninth level of Qi Refining, attempting to break through to the Great Perfection realm, still a long way off from Foundation Establishment.

Fang Xi, of course, was aware of these undercurrents, but he treated them all as entertainment.

In terms of lifespan, he could simply outlast all these so-called ’successors’ one by one!

To him, Dragon Fish Island was merely a temporary residence, but only if he chose to pass it on could someone else take over; if he didn’t, nobody could forcefully take it!

Right now, he was just waiting to see who would lose patience first and give him some amusement.

"Hongyu, you must have come today with important matters to discuss,"

Fang Xi said casually after taking another sip of Spiritual Tea.

"Indeed..."

When it came to serious matters, Zhong Hongyu’s expression became a bit more solemn.

This Foundation Establishment cultivator had been able to intricately unravel and manage the conflicts among the various Qi Refining families on Dragon Fish Island. Yet, the gravity on her face at this moment was extremely rare.

Zhong Hongyu said, "We have received news... Elder Bai Feng of Baize Immortal City is feared... to be on the verge of passing away!"

"Oh?!"

Fang Xi blew on his tea and chuckled, "This tea must be enjoyed while it’s hot for its unique flavor..."

After leisurely finishing his cup, he finally sighed deeply, "I never would have thought... that after hundreds of years of splendor, Baize Immortal City is finally facing its curtain call."

At the same time, Fang Xi was more certain in his mind that this time the news was not false.

’Master Bai Feng was already running low on lifespan, and the last but one visit to Ten Thousand Beast Mountain Range left him severely wounded, a great drain on his Primordial Energy...’

’And last time, in the ruins on Jade Island, he was injured by a Core Formation Ghost Cultivator... it only added to his troubles!’

’Rumor has it, back then, he secretly outmaneuvered Elder Zhang of Mysterious Heaven Sect to escape first... alas, although Elder Zhang was gravely injured, he survived thanks to his youth, while the less seriously wounded one is about to run out of time...’

In truth, when Elder Bai Feng left Elder Zhang behind and fled, it was a helpless decision.

If he had suffered another heavy injury, he likely would have died on Jade Island, and Baize Immortal City might not have had these last moments of peace but would have crumbled immediately.

Instead, Master Bai Feng returned to Baize Immortal City, where he could arrange his affairs...

"Indeed... the Cultivation World is about to fall into chaos."

Zhong Hongyu remarked with emotion.

When Master Bai Feng had first disappeared, Baize Immortal City was in disarray; now, needless to say, it would be much worse.

"When has the Cultivation World ever not been in chaos?"

Fang Xi scoffed, with his wealth of experience, he had lived through the turmoil of Bamboo Mountain, the beast tides, the chaos at Thousand Island Lake, the ruins on Jade Island, and now the Ghost Calamity... weren’t they all great upheavals?

However, for those with power, even a chaotic world could be weathered with ease, living carefree lives.

For the powerless lower classes, even during a golden age of peace, life was terribly hard.

"Should we prepare in advance?" Zhong Hongyu asked.

The last time Baize Immortal City was in turmoil, Thousand Island Lake was also affected.

"There’s no need for haste... among the three countries, where is not a fine place to go?"

Fang Xi laughed, "I’m afraid there are few Individual Cultivators who would be willing to flee to our Thousand Island Lake to face the Ghost Calamity... that’s a stroke of fortune amidst misfortune, isn’t it!?"