Stealthily cultivating in the chaotic world of demons and martial artists
Chapter 288 - 287: Green Wood Forest (Congratulating the Silver Alliance)_1

Chapter 288: Chapter 287: Green Wood Forest (Congratulating the Silver Alliance)_1

Green Wood Forest.

This place is known as the holy land of the Wood Kingdom, not only for its third-grade, top-quality Spiritual Vein, but also for the exotic flowers and herbs that blanket the area, competing in beauty and splendor.

Especially notable are the ’Evergreen Trees’, lush and dense, forming a forest.

Such Spiritual Trees are common for decades or even a hundred years.

But once they surpass a century, they become second-grade Spiritual Trees.

Inside the Evergreen Forest, most of the Spiritual Trees are first-grade, with a few second-grade ones.

Even thousand-year-old third-grade Evergreen Wood is not uncommon.

The primary material for Fang Xi’s original ’Green Barley Sword’ was forged from this type of Spiritual Wood!

Outside Green Wood Forest, a thin layer of green mist always shrouds the area, hazy and full of the fresh scent of grass and trees.

On this day.

A streak of light, carrying the magic power fluctuations of a Foundation Establishment phase cultivator, arrived outside the thin green mist and released a Voice Transmission Talisman.

The light retracted, revealing an ordinary-looking young man in the early stages of Foundation Establishment.

It was Fang Xi, who had used a Mirage Bead and Secret Skills to change his appearance!

Before long, the mist parted, and a Foundation Establishment Escape Light approached with a hearty laugh, "Cao... you’ve finally achieved Foundation Establishment."

"Uncle Zheng..."

Upon seeing this person, Fang Xi immediately clasped his fist in a greeting, his demeanor extremely respectful.

"Well, well..."

’Uncle Zheng’, with cultivation around the mid Foundation Establishment stage, looked Fang Xi up and down several times, feeling moved, "Back when I explored the ancient cultivator’s Dongfu with Brother Cao, he blocked that vicious talisman for me... From then on, we were friends through life and death. I was still heartbroken when Brother Cao passed away. Previously, you wrote to me saying you bought a Foundation Establishment Spiritual Object at the black market and were ready to try for Foundation Establishment. I replied asking you to wait... I was trying to figure something out in the Sect; if not an authentic Foundation Establishment Pill, an inferior one was still possible. But I never expected you to succeed in Foundation Establishment in one go..."

As Uncle Zheng spoke, he also seemed deeply touched, "If Brother Cao knows about this from the netherworld, he would be extremely delighted..."

Hearing this, Fang Xi also made a sorrowful expression.

Currently, he was going by the name ’Cao Chongyun’, purportedly a nephew to ’Zheng Tie’, the person in charge of Foundation Establishment affairs in the Green Wood Sect.

His father was also a cultivator at the Foundation Establishment stage, with a very close friendship to Zheng Tie in their younger years, but sadly perished in the invasion battle at Yiling Valley...

In reality... all of this was false!

Fang Xi followed Zheng Tie into the Mountain Protecting Array of Green Wood Forest, feeling very contemplative.

’Who would have thought... that the meticulous efforts of the Situ Family would ultimately benefit me...’

Not only was this ’Cao Chongyun’ a sham, but in fact, the real ’Cao Chongyun’ and his father were fabrications too!

All of this was part of the strategy devised after Situ Qingqing and her people withdrew into the Wood Kingdom.

The lady knew well that Demon Cultivators lacked a foundation in the three kingdoms, and even with temporary advantages, it was essential to prepare thoroughly with more than one hiding spot.

One of those ’hiding spots’ she planned was within the Green Wood Sect!

This was the definition of darkness under the light!

’Cao Chongyun’ and his father were all roles undertaken by Demon Cultivators disguised by the Situ Family, and even the ancient cultivator’s Dongfu that Zheng Tie had a fateful encounter with was set up by the Situ Family themselves...

The so-called ’blocking a vicious talisman’ was just an act they had orchestrated.

Thanks to Situ Qingqing’s ’Illusory Spirit Root’, such deceptions were seamless.

All these secrets were recorded on a jade slip inside Situ Qingqing’s Storage Bag.

Fang Xi even found ’Cao Chongyun’s’ human skin amongst the compilation of Demon Path materials, which appeared to be specially prepared for the ’Human Pupa Skill’.

Although he couldn’t use the Human Pupa Skill, there was little difficulty in presenting Cao Chongyun’s appearance through the skin, and imitating the man.

After reading through the various ’settings’ on the jade slip, there was little difficulty in playing the role of ’Cao Chongyun’.

After all, this person’s parents were both Individual Cultivators with not many friends.

The only ’uncle’, Zheng Tie, only saw him once a few years, and all necessary information was noted down.

Situ Qingqing had not yet decided who would take on the role, only intending to send a young Foundation Establishment member of the Situ Family into the Sect after a change of face.

So, Fang Xi felt that the conditions could apply to himself as well, and took the identity of Cao Chongyun without any hesitation.

Then, after disguising himself, he calmly made his way to the Green Wood Sect.

The two of them entered the inner parts of the Green Wood Sect, one after the other.

As soon as he entered, Fang Xi felt a wave of pure spiritual energy rush at him, filled with the rich vitality of plants, and he couldn’t help but show a pleased expression, "Such a dense Spiritual Vein..."

"Are you kidding me? Our Green Wood Sect’s Spiritual Vein is the best in the three kingdoms!"

Zheng Tie said, "Your Spiritual Root’s Wooden Element is the most prominent... I had previously advised your father to send you to the Green Wood Sect for cultivation... But, let’s not talk too much..."

Fang Xi, of course, knew that Cao Chongyun’s persona had a top-grade Wooden Spirit Root, considered somewhat talented.

Not to mention, the Green Wood Sect has various cultivation techniques, but specializes more in the Wooden Element.

However, the risk of a child joining the Green Wood Sect is too great; it’s easy for them to be brainwashed, and using the "Human Pupa Skill" appropriately is challenging.

When the two arrived at Zheng Tie’s Dongfu, Fang Xi discovered that the spiritual energy of the spiritual veins here was much denser than that of Dragon Fish Island.

In front of the Dongfu, there were several acres of Spiritual Field, filled with various Spirit Medicines.

"Haha... Look, nephew, this Spiritual Field was given to me when the Sect allocated the Dongfu after my Foundation Establishment," Zheng Tie said proudly, "I’ve planted all kinds of Spirit Medicines here. They have been growing for fifty years now..."

"With the nourishment from a third-grade spiritual vein, the growth rate of the Spirit Medicines is faster too..."

Zheng Tie said with pride, "These Spirit Medicines are still on the low side in terms of maturity... If you go to the core area to see, or even take a look at our Patriarch’s Spiritual Medicine Garden, that scene, tsk tsk..."

When he mentioned Lu Qing, he suddenly fell silent.

Fang Xi smoothly changed the topic, "Your nephew has just succeeded in Foundation Establishment, and currently only possesses Talisman skills to rely on, wondering where to go from here?"

"The loss of the markets in Baize Immortal City is indeed a problem for Individual Cultivator Foundation Establishers."

Zheng Tie took a sip of his Spiritual Tea, his demeanor calm and unhurried.

He appeared to be in his middle years, with a face like jade and wearing a green robe; he must have been a handsome man in his youth and was still quite charming: "What does my noble nephew wish to do? Start a Foundation Establishment force of your own, or establish a Family? If so, I could plan for you..."

After all, since the Yiling Valley’s invasion, the various Foundation Establishment forces of Wood Kingdom suffered heavy losses.

There was still a chance with a second-grade Spiritual Vein.

"No, I am wholeheartedly devoted to the Taoist Path. I have no desire to be the leader of a force, nor to take wives and concubines to start a Family..."

Fang Xi shook his head, "May I ask if your nephew can join the Sect?"

"Haha, nephew is truly wise; of course, you can!" Zheng Tie patted his chest, "With your uncle as your guarantor, the Sect will definitely treat you as one of its own..."

"Thanks, uncle!"

Fang Xi expressed his joy with a bow and then inquired about the joining process and certain taboos, especially regarding the matter of the Dongfu.

These matters had actually already been thoroughly investigated by the Situ Family, but Fang Xi still planned to ask.

"Our Green Wood Sect’s best Dongfus, naturally, are those offered in homage to Patriarch Lu... Besides that, there are a few top-grade third-class Dongfus reserved for several Foundation Establishment cultivators who are Golden Core seedlings," said Zheng Tie, "The rest of the mid-grade and low-grade third-class Dongfus... can then be allocated to us Foundation Establishment stewards. These Dongfus were originally somewhat insufficient, and if you had come earlier, nephew, you might have had to be arranged to stay in a top-grade second-class Dongfu... But now, one can choose at will, although it’s still best to give some benefits to the General Affairs Hall, after all, even after passing the Dongfu hurdle, you will still need to deal with those people on a regular basis with various tasks..."

Fang Xi understood.

Before the great war between the three Cultivation World countries, the Green Wood Sect had numerous Foundation Establishment cultivators, and many Individual Cultivator Foundation Establishers also joined. Naturally, the third-grade spiritual vein Dongfus were insufficient.

But now, many Foundation Establishment cultivators have been wounded or killed, and even the Green Wood Sect’s Patriarch is nearing Sitting and Transforming. At these turbulent times, for an Individual Cultivator to achieve Foundation Establishment means they are exceptionally cautious and shrewd, with naturally fewer joining.

Wouldn’t resources and Dongfus become available then?

Immediately after, Zheng Tie led Fang Xi to the General Affairs Hall of the Green Wood Sect.

From the outside, the General Affairs Hall was strikingly conspicuous, a large wooden palace with a wide square around it.

Many Qi Refining disciples of the Green Wood Sect gathered on the square, focusing on a massive jade wall that displayed various missions with attached rewards, updated in real-time.

As Foundation Establishment cultivators, the two didn’t have to wait in the square and went directly inside the palace.

"Brother Zheng, what wind has blown you here?"

After the disciple announced their arrival, it didn’t take long for a person to come out to greet them, a green-robed elder with a long beard.

"Elder Qian!"

Zheng Tie introduced with a smile, "This is ’Cao Chongyun,’ my nephew. He is of clean background, and after his Foundation Establishment, he has come especially to join our Green Wood Sect!"

"So this is Mr. Cao..." Elder Qian’s eyes brightened as he clasped his hands towards Fang Xi with a smile, "It seems I’ll be calling you Brother Cao before long. Please, come inside... There is another cultivator who has just completed Foundation Establishment and wants to join the Green Wood Sect; you can go through the process together."

"Oh? Who might that be?"

As Zheng Tie followed Elder Qian inside, he inquired.

"It’s an Individual Cultivator ’Tie Jiu,’ a genius who succeeded in Foundation Establishment on his own, recommended by Brother Fu..." Elder Qian answered with a beaming smile.

"Truly a self-made Foundation Establishment cultivator? I’ve heard of this person too, a formidable combat cultivator, indeed..."

Zheng Tie commented with a smile.

A combat cultivator, of course, refers to those who do not excel in other crafts but are adept in fighting with magic.

For a Sect like Green Wood Sect, such individuals are extremely welcome because combat cultivators often breakthrough in their cultivation more easily, fighting on the edge of life and death.

Following Elder Qian into an inner chamber, Fang Xi and Zheng Tie saw two Foundation Establishment-stage cultivators sitting there, one at the initial stage with a scar from a blade on his face, exuding a fierce demeanor.

As for the other? Fang Xi had met him not too long ago; it was that masked man with a monkey face who was at the later stages of Foundation Establishment!

"Brother Fu..."

Zheng Tie quickly greeted him, as the other was a powerful late-stage Foundation Establishment cultivator, "I heard that Brother was out on a secret mission last time. I didn’t expect that mission was to unearth a gem for our Sect..."

Hearing Zheng Tie’s compliment, Brother Fu’s face darkened, "Let’s not talk about that mission... However, during my trip, it was convenient to bring back a talent for the Sect, which can also count as a considerable contribution..."