Stealthily cultivating in the chaotic world of demons and martial artists
Chapter 271 - 270: Xuantian Comes to Congratulate (Congratulations to Chief June123!)_1

Chapter 271: Chapter 270: Xuantian Comes to Congratulate (Congratulations to Chief June123!)_1

"So that’s how it is!"

Master Xuan Xuanzi suddenly understood, immediately feeling an immense jealousy, "That Island Master of Dragon Fish Island must have seized the earliest opportunity by virtue of his proximity and obtained a precious opportunity for Core Formation from the ruins of the Nine Leaves Sect!"

"It all makes sense now, it all adds up... I was wondering, with his level of talent, how could he possibly have achieved Core Formation with just Mysterious Water Essence?"

Not far away, standing respectfully was Zhan Tu, who shuddered slightly, and then glanced over at Yan Changkong, who was also standing respectfully beside him.

’Old Ancestor Qing has told me... that besides the Underworld Earth Vein and Ghost Cultivators, there are no opportunities for Core Formation within the core areas of the Nine Leaves Sect...’

However, in the presence of the Core Formation elder, Old Ancestor Qing was extremely quiet, so he did not dare to ask rashly.

Instead, Yan Changkong and he exchanged a glance and smiled at each other.

The two of them were specifically brought along because they were acquaintances of Dragon Fish Island’s Master.

This showed the influence of this newly advanced Core Formation Cultivator!

And the Mysterious Heaven Sect valued him extremely!

’If Elder Kuang knew about this... who knows how flustered and regretful he would be, but he has already died in battle...’

Yan Changkong muttered this to himself in his heart.

As everyone was silent, the view suddenly broadened ahead of them.

After passing a range of mountains, vast expanses of lake water appeared before everyone, with a small dock below where several dark awning boats were moored.

The early morning sun was rising, casting a shimmering light over the lake.

Thousand Island Lake, we’ve arrived!

...

"Hmm?"

Atop a cliff, Fang Xi was sitting cross-legged, absorbing the Great Sun Purple Qi to refine his eyes.

Since achieving Core Formation, he practiced some secret skills from Yiling Valley when he had nothing better to do.

Suddenly, he felt a powerful surge of energy approaching and couldn’t help but let out a long howl.

The Azure Horn Fish Dragon swayed its head and tail as it rode the clouds and the mist, allowing Fang Xi to ride the dragon and ascend, looking like an Immortal, to the edge of Dragon Fish Island.

To the south, a Five-Colored Tower Boat suddenly leaped out of the sea of clouds and transformed into a beam of Escape Light, moving at an extremely fast speed.

In the blink of an eye, it reached the edge of Dragon Fish Island.

Four beams of Escape Light descended from the boat, with the lead person clearly manifesting the magic power fluctuations of a Core Formation Cultivator!

"Zhang Zhusheng of the Mysterious Heaven Sect greets Mr. Fang, congratulations to Mr. Fang on your successful Core Formation!"

Zhang Zhusheng, upon seeing Fang Xi’s youthful appearance and the genuine Core Formation spiritual power, was startled, and immediately displayed even greater envy, solemnly performing a greeting.

"So it’s Zhang of the Mysterious Heaven Sect..."

Fang Xi returned the greeting and looked towards Xuan Xuanzi, Yan Changkong, and Zhan Tu who were behind Zhang Zhusheng.

The three naturally hurried to perform their salutations, addressing him as ’senior’!

In the Cultivation World, the rule was that aside from direct disciples, family within three generations, and those of higher realm, all automatically had their seniority elevated.

"Please rise..."

Fang Xi slightly lifted his hand, now carrying a different air than before.

Xuan Xuanzi and Yan Changkong got up, feeling quite mixed emotions in their hearts.

Zhan Tu, however, felt a void in his heart, perceiving that Fang Xi seemed to have given him an extra glance — could it be...

He couldn’t help but regret trading his Core Formation insights here last time; it was too careless of him.

But back then, in the face of looming war and death, there was no choice.

"Please!"

Fang Xi led Zhang Zhusheng and the others to Evergreen Pavilion, where Yan Ying and the serving girls brought forth ’Cloud Dragon Tea’, not daring to even breathe too loudly.

After all, cultivators in Yue Country knew that the Mysterious Heaven Sect was the real ’heaven’!

Even if a Foundation Establishment power was temporarily flourishing, it was merely a cloud in the sky, vanishing with a puff of wind...

And now, Dragon Fish Island had somehow risen to a position equal to that of the Mysterious Heaven Sect!

This transformation was something they all found hard to get accustomed to.

"Dragon Fish Island doesn’t have much to offer, but this Spiritual Tea is decent, please..."

Fang Xi sipped the Spiritual Tea and began to chat casually with Zhang Zhusheng.

Although the latter was only a Jia Dan, the Mysterious Heaven Sect had Core Formation traditions. As they discussed experiences of early-stage Core Formation, not only was Fang Xi listening intently, but Xuan Xuanzi and the other two were all ears as well, not wanting to miss a single word.

However, Zhang Zhusheng mentioned that these were all just an introduction to the conversation before bringing up the inside story of the great battle between the three sects back then:

"Yiling Valley’s You Kun, that shameless old man, not only secretly allied with Green Wood Sect but also conspired with me against Old Ancestor Qing... During the great battle in Baize Immortal City that day, he initially collaborated with me to ambush Old Ancestor Qing. Once I earnestly countered Old Ancestor Qing’s magical artifact and my life-bound magical artifact was damaged, that’s when the lurking Old Ghost Yan launched a sneak attack with his sword... Had I not cultivated some life-saving secret skill, I might have perished on the spot..."

When Zhang Zhusheng spoke of these things, he was still visibly shaken, clearly indicating that the situation at the time was extremely perilous, and this Jia Dan Cultivator barely escaped death...

"Afterwards... Old Ghost Yan stopped pretending and joined You Kun in fighting against me and Old Ancestor Qing. Both Old Ancestor Qing and I were gravely injured at the time; how could we be a match for an External Pill and a mid-Core Formation opponent? We were embarrassingly pursued for thousands of miles... After returning to our respective sects, our injuries are still not fully healed... Cough cough..."

Zhang Zhusheng coughed twice, then solemnly cupped his hands in salute: "Years ago, I heard that Sir Fang Xi defeated You Kun in battle, I was truly overjoyed. Thank you, Sir Fang Xi, for eliminating this great enemy for our sect... Alas, at that time Sir Fang Xi was in deep seclusion for Core Formation, otherwise, our sect would have certainly personally visited to give our profuse thanks..."

If it weren’t for You Kun’s unexpected demise in Yue Country, possibly the Cultivation World of the three nations might now be under Yiling Valley’s dominance!

"It’s also because the Supreme Elder of the Yu Family was too impetuous, entering my Array... otherwise, I would have been completely powerless,"

Fang Xi replied modestly.

Meanwhile, Xuan Xuanzi and others felt a void in their hearts, secretly thinking that with Elder Zhang’s current state, if he turned hostile and activated the third-tier Array, then the entire delegation from Mysterious Heaven Sect would meet their end here today!

With this thought, their backs couldn’t help but break out in a cold sweat.

Fang Xi, on the other hand, had no intention of killing Elder Zhang, since he wasn’t some demon and there was nothing desirable on the elder for him to covet.

However, through the sensitivity of the "Kuyong Skills," he knew that although Elder Zhang’s injuries had not yet healed, there was a vigorous vitality within him, which made him nod inwardly in agreement:

’Being young is an advantage... He’s only about three hundred years old this year, isn’t he? He still has two hundred years of life left, so he can recover from his injuries, whether it was from the ruins on Jade Island before or from the serious damage he received in the battle of Baize Immortal City... at most, it shortens a bit of his positive life.’

’Master Bai Feng, on the other hand, is old, and even if his injuries are lighter than Elder Zhang’s, after he returns, he will have no choice but to sit and transform...’

’Old Ghost Qing from Green Wood Sect was from the same era as Ancestor Jiang and Master Bai Feng, and even though he was born many years later, by now, he’s probably also approaching the end of his lifespan, right?’

The lack of a successor that Mysterious Heaven Sect and Baize Immortal City once faced is now playing out in Green Wood Sect!

This made Fang Xi reflect that indeed, the longer one lives, the more likely it is to witness many interesting things.

High magic power means little; a long lifespan and youthful vigor are the real advantages!

’Currently, I have a lifespan of over two thousand years; as long as I don’t act recklessly and cultivate steadily... I should be able to achieve Perfect Core Formation no matter what...’

’Then there’s the matter of Nascent Soul. With two thousand years to prepare... I must ensure that it is foolproof!’

...

"... After all, Yiling Valley is a sect established by disciples of a Nascent Soul Great Sect, and I’m currently rather anxious... What should I do if I offend the Upper Sect?" Fang Xi feigned fear to test out Zhang Zhusheng’s intelligence and situational analysis.

"Haha, Sir thinks too much. Yiling Valley has already established its own sect, and both the Nascent Soul True Monarch and the Ancestral Founder of the Sect have passed away long ago... How much affection could they still hold for the Mixed Origin Sect? As for Old Ghost Yan, he’s practically withdrawn from sect affairs... Would the Mixed Origin Sect really waste several or even more than ten years’ time, dispatching several Golden Core Cultivators to back him up?"

Zhang Zhusheng dismissed the idea with a contemptuous curl of his lip.

As for the Nascent Soul Cultivators, he didn’t even mention them, clearly indicating neither You Kun nor Master Yan had the clout to reach the ears of a Nascent Soul True Monarch...

And as for something like the "Nine Dragon Balls," it’s even more laughable. Such a thing is merely an additional magical artifact for a Core Formation Cultivator... A Nascent Soul old monster wouldn’t give it a second look.

It’s only in those remote places where a Cultivator can rule supreme just by reaching early Core Formation that would desperately need such external pills to consolidate their sect or family’s fate, and would covet treasures like the "Nine Dragon Balls."

"So that’s how it is... Having heard your words, it’s as if a light has been turned on for me, and I no longer have to be on tenterhooks."

Fang Xi acted as if he’d had an epiphany.

In fact, he, of course, was aware of such insider information, or else he wouldn’t have spent years peacefully cultivating to achieve Core Formation.

And it seems that the Mixed Origin Sect in Yuan Country has enemies as well.

Master Yan was also severely injured on the battlefield, which led him to go back to his hometown disheartened to retire.

Under such circumstances, it’s even less likely that the Nascent Soul old monsters from the Mixed Origin Sect would leave the sect voluntarily.

Aren’t they afraid that with no one to oversee the operation, it would be destroyed by Nascent Soul old monsters from rival factions?

As for sending a few Golden Cores, Fang Xi wasn’t the least bit afraid.

After all, if he couldn’t beat them, he could still run away!

Now that he had listened to the Core Formation Master’s analysis from Mysterious Heaven Sect, and the Mixed Origin Sect wouldn’t even be dispatching Golden Cores, he had even less to worry about.

"Sir can rest assured... But now that you have achieved Core Formation, are you planning to start a sect or something else?"

Zhang Zhusheng smiled and introduced another topic: "Whether you want to start a sect or focus on secluded cultivation, a second-order Spiritual Vein is far from sufficient for our needs... If Sir is interested, I am willing to take the initiative and offer Baize Immortal City to you as a gift to celebrate your Core Formation. What do you say? Such a mutually beneficial proposition, I’m sure Old Ancestor Qing from Green Wood Sect would gladly agree to as well."

’And then have me take the brunt in facing Martial Kingdom and Master Yan, who’s in mid-Core Formation?’

Fang Xi mentally retorted, recognizing the pitfall in the proposal.

However, this was a blatant stratagem!

After all, a Core Formation Cultivator’s cultivation requires a third-order Spiritual Vein, and such places are extremely rare in all three countries.

If he didn’t choose Baize Immortal City, what was he supposed to do, seize the mountain gates of the three sects or play hide and seek with the Ghost Cultivators on Jade Island?

The Song Family used to have a third-order lower-grade Spiritual Vein at Moon Viewing Mountain, but it was damaged by Fang Xi’s "Earth-shaking Great Array" and had long since fallen to a second-tier standard.

In this way, Fang Xi had quite literally shot himself in the foot...