Stealthily cultivating in the chaotic world of demons and martial artists
Chapter 285 - 284: Qingqing (Seeking Subscription)_1

Chapter 285: Chapter 284: Qingqing (Seeking Subscription)_1

"Really... quite the commotion."

Atop a locust tree, Fang Xi stood amidst the foliage, silently observing the Foundation Establishment battle unfolding at the derelict residence: "I didn’t expect... to encounter another acquaintance, Situ Qingqing..."

He had sensed the presence of the Qi Refining cultivator disguised as a Foundation Establishment disciple from the Green Wood Sect with his Divine Consciousness before he even entered the teahouse, which he found quite interesting.

Moreover, he had also detected the aura of Demon Skills around the person enshrouded in black fog.

Had it been anyone else, he might not have been so certain, but how could it be that the very skills the other party cultivated were the ’Five Extremities Primordial Demon Skill,’ which he was extremely familiar with?

Thus, after the exchange meeting concluded, Fang Xi followed these two individuals the entire way and witnessed the Foundation Establishment disciple from Green Wood Sect fishing for victims.

Although the youth from the Situ Family was very cautious, under the scrutiny of Foundation Establishment Divine Consciousness, there was truly nowhere to hide.

However... as the mantis stalks the cicada, unaware of the oriole behind, the Foundation Establishment disciple from Green Wood Sect could never have imagined that a bored Core Formation elder would be surreptitiously tracking him in the shadows.

Shortly thereafter, Fang Xi witnessed this interesting play.

’Situ Qingqing originally had high cultivation, but she is now seriously injured... her strength seems to have fallen to mid-stage Foundation Establishment. The Illusory Spirit Root is only adept at illusions and concealment and not skilled in direct combat... After her illusions were broken by this rather interesting Exotic Treasure, facing a late-stage Foundation Establishment opponent, she is clearly at a complete disadvantage...’

Fang Xi watched silently, making no move to intervene.

After all, although he knew Situ Qingqing, they were not close...

...

"Dustaining Mirror?!"

Situ Qingqing’s expression changed drastically upon seeing the silver mirror treasure, "Good, good, good... Green Wood Sect really intends to pursue a massacre to the bitter end! I hate... I hate myself for working for Green Wood Sect, even setting aside the enmity with my Family!"

In the past, it was the Mysterious Heaven Sect, driven by the Situ Family, that had pushed their family to the brink and caused her much suffering.

Luckily, the Green Wood Sect from Wood Kingdom covertly offered assistance, enabling her to relocate her Family and recuperate within Wood Kingdom.

Given that the Green Wood Sect was at odds with Mysterious Heaven Sect at the time, it seemed only right to do so.

Therefore, Situ Qingqing had served Green Wood Sect loyally, whether it was causing chaos at Thousand Island Lake, or later when war broke out where she led troops into Yue Country, engaging in wanton slaughter and even ultimately killing the former leader of Mysterious Heaven Sect, thereby avenging her Family’s blood feud!

However... circumstances changed abruptly afterward, with Yiling Valley invading both countries, and Green Wood Sect actually joined forces with Mysterious Heaven Sect!

Against the decision of a Core Formation elder, Situ Qingqing, no matter how unwilling, had no choice but to comply and temporarily set aside her hatred.

But unexpectedly... her fate turned out to be the end faced by a cornered fox, cooking the hound once it’s done hunting!

Lu Qing failed to win over Fang Xi and also couldn’t cultivate a second Core Formation disciple or even a Jia Dan within Green Wood Sect... naturally, he had to start preparing for what would come after him.

With the Sect’s complete Foundation Establishment and a third tier Great Array, it was possible to maintain the foundations temporarily without issues.

The next step was to deal with unstable elements within Wood Kingdom.

Like those at the peak of Foundation Establishment who could potentially reach Core Formation, as well as the forces of the Demon Path!

The Situ Family unfortunately was also listed among the victims!

Situ Qingqing had already been ambushed, suffering grave injuries, which left her with no choice but to hide in the mundane world to recuperate, even her Primordial Energy so depleted from casting Secret Skills that she almost reached the point of Sitting and Transforming.

That person from the Situ Family was thus frantic to procure a second-tier Longevity Pill for her.

But they never expected that the Longevity Pill would be a trap as well!

Currently, under the illuminating radiance of the Dustaining Mirror, all illusion spells had nowhere to hide.

A monkey-faced cultivator was relentlessly attacking Situ Qingqing with a set of flying knife Spiritual Instruments.

By Situ Qingqing’s side, the youth from before had already been decapitated.

"Family Head?"

"Protect the Family Head!"

"Let’s fight them with everything we’ve got!"

The last few members of the Situ Family within the derelict residence roared angrily upon witnessing this scene, casting their Secret Skills.

Some turned their eyes blood red and skin bluish black, seemingly transforming themselves into zombies and pouncing directly at the monkey-faced Foundation Establishment cultivator.

"No... don’t..."

Situ Qingqing’s face filled with urgency, wielding a pitch-black banner that emitted dark light, barely managing to protect herself, then seeing one relative after another fall to the flying knives.

Seeing this, her face suddenly showed streaks of black qi, with fangs emerging, as if she had turned into a ghost with a green face and fierce fangs.

"Nether Transformation Skills?! You can still cast it... Are you so desperate that you don’t want to live?"

The monkey-faced Foundation Establishment cultivator quickly retreated, obviously very wary, and summoned a huge blue Turtle Shell Shield to protect himself.

The next moment!

Bright red flames exploded within the derelict residence, and a beam of light struck the ’Dustaining Mirror’ directly, causing it to cry out in lamentation and fall to the ground.

Several figures flew out from the derelict residence, scattering in all directions, shockingly all of them ’Situ Qingqing’!

The monkey-faced Foundation Establishment cultivator chased them down in frustration, only to realize that he had been following an Illusory Phantom, returning in chagrin...

...

"Illusory Spirit Root coupled with Demon Path Secret Skills... truly not bad, even I in my Foundation Establishment period might have been misled."

"But now, no longer..."

Fang Xi released his Divine Consciousness, covering dozens of miles around, following Situ Qingqing at a leisurely pace.

Situ Qingqing flew for hundreds of miles before finally being unable to hold on, collapsing on a hillside.

"Great Aunt... Great Aunt..."

In her arms, there was a little girl, who looked pitifully up while calling out.

Suddenly, the girl’s vision blurred and with a flash of blue light, a figure appeared to have ’grown’ directly out of the bushes.

She immediately stepped in front of Situ Qingqing, her voice both childlike and plaintive as she called out, "You can’t hurt my great-aunt grandma!"

"Great-aunt grandma..."

Fang Xi’s mouth twitched slightly, he touched his smooth cheek, then looking at Situ Qingqing, whose hair had turned white, sighed and said, "We have both grown old..."

...

The night breeze was cool.

Situ Qingqing shivered, waking up.

As she opened her eyes, she saw a clear moonlight, and it seemed she was lying down on a grassy lawn somewhere.

The fragrance of grass and trees drifted around her, bringing a sense of peace and tranquility.

"Cultivator Situ, you have finally awakened."

A young voice came through, startling Situ Qingqing.

She quickly stood up only to see someone she had not expected at all, standing with his hands behind his back, gazing at the moon.

At his feet lay a little girl, who appeared to be in deep sleep.

"Greetings... Sir Fang!"

Seeing Fang Xi in his true form, Situ Qingqing’s expression became extremely complicated, then she bowed deeply, "Thank you for saving me, Sir!"

"I did not save you, you broke through the encirclement yourself..."

Fang Xi shook his head, "It’s just a pity... that your vital energies are now extremely weak, and you’re probably on the cusp of dying... you’re going to die..."

"Yes, I’m going to die..."

Situ Qingqing seemed to think of something, slapped her Storage Bag, and a second-order Longevity Pill appeared.

"This pill may seem normal, but there is no vitality within it... it’s a counterfeit."

Fang Xi shook his head calmly.

"It seems... Qingqing is truly fated to perish here today."

Situ Qingqing showed a sorrowful smile, "To have a Master accompany Qingqing in her final moments... is truly Qingqing’s blessing!"

"Hmm, I have a question for you."

Fang Xi suddenly spoke up, "Has Island Lord Ruan Xingling come to look for you in the past few years?"

Since he had encountered her, there was no harm in asking. It would not be a waste of all the effort he had taken in following her for so long.

"Ruan? Isn’t she at Thousand Island Lake?"

Situ Qingqing replied in surprise.

Fang Xi’s Divine Consciousness reached out, not letting any of Situ Qingqing’s subtle expressions go unnoticed.

From her answer, it seemed she was telling the truth.

’So it seems... Ruan Xingling indeed intends to reach Core Formation. If she were to utterly despair, before her lifespan runs out she would surely strike at Martial Kingdom to avenge her disciple, Ruan Dan.’

Fang Xi muttered to himself, then stood with his hands behind his back, with no intention of offering help, ready to watch Situ Qingqing die.

Situ Qingqing looked at Fang Xi but suddenly knelt down, "There’s one more thing I beg of you..."

"Is it for this little girl?"

Fang Xi looked thoughtfully at the little girl who had fallen into a slumber.

"This girl is the only direct descendent of the Situ Family... I dare not ask the Master to take her in, only to provide her a place to stay..."

Situ Qingqing pleaded sorrowfully.

"If you want a place to stay, isn’t that easy? Just find a wealthy family in some mortal city and send her on her way..."

Fang Xi’s lips curved, "Living as a mortal, in total peace throughout one’s life, isn’t a bad thing either... As for me, I have decided to leave the three countries, I cannot take this burden with me."

Despair filled Situ Qingqing’s eyes.

Yet having lived nearly two hundred years, her will was firm, "If that’s the case, then there’s nothing to be done... I hate this, why is heaven so unfair, treating the Situ Family so harshly! Why couldn’t I have achieved Foundation Establishment, why couldn’t I reach Core Formation..."

"Your Foundation Establishment was achieved through the method of Blood Sacrifice, naturally, you wouldn’t reach Core Formation..."

Fang Xi sighed.

"Although I am of Illusory Spirit Root, it is of the lowest grade... Even compared to the mediocre Five Elements Spiritual Roots, my cultivation speed was even slower, I failed to establish foundation multiple times... If I hadn’t used the Stealing Immortal Foundation method, how could I have succeeded in foundation establishment? Once this method succeeds, one is doomed never to reach Core Formation... Being able to achieve foundation building and slay my enemies has satisfied one of my wishes..."

In the end, Situ Qingqing took one last look at the little girl who slept, her lips starting to hum an unknown lullaby.

The Magic Power in her body was dissipating, and her skin was becoming old and saggy...

Clearly, she was in the process of Sitting and Transforming!

"Master Fang... please answer one last question for me! The person outside Green Bamboo Mountain Market that day..."

Situ Qingqing’s voice grew weaker and weaker until eventually, she exhaled a long breath, her body curling into a ball.

"You were probably imagining things, I was simply filled with rage upon seeing my nemesis that day..."

Fang Xi sighed, flicked a bit of True Fire, and incinerated Situ Qingqing into ashes, then reached out his hand.

A Storage Bag came into his possession.

The next day.

A blue Escape Light with a little girl in tow flickered a few times above a nameless mountain, then vanished...

Atop the nameless mountain, there now stood a new grave with a wordless stele in front.

A gentle breeze blew by, carrying several white petals that settled upon the wordless stele...