Stealthily cultivating in the chaotic world of demons and martial artists
Chapter 370 - 368: Golden Core Order (Congratulations to the Silver Alliance)_1

Chapter 370: Chapter 368: Golden Core Order (Congratulations to the Silver Alliance)_1

Taishu Hong’s gaze shifted back and forth between the Demon Pill and the jade slip.

Clearly, the so-called first option was promptly dismissed by him.

In the three nations, how difficult was it to find an opportunity for Core Formation?

Not to mention that Jia Dan cultivators couldn’t advance an inch, but even a Jia Dan possessed the strength and lifespan of the early stages of Core Formation—something that many cultivators with Earth Attribute Spiritual Roots could only dream of!

Taishu Hong was well aware that he was no longer young, and the chances for Core Formation within the three nations were, in fact, few and far between.

As for going to Yuan Country?

It would be even more difficult to compete against those Sect cultivators.

Perhaps what the Island Master offered was the greatest opportunity of his life.

"Ancient Sword Cultivation... One Sword Breaks Ten Thousand Laws."

Taishu Hong looked at the jade slip with a hint of eagerness in his eyes, but his hand reached for the jade box containing the Demon Pill, "Ancient Sword Cultivation techniques notwithstanding, real strength comes from a high realm!"

When Fang Xi saw Taishu Hong choose the third-tier Demon Pill, he felt a twinge of regret.

He was quite curious to witness the power of the ’Taibai Sword Tactic,’ and if Taishu Hong’s talent in the Sword Path was satisfactory, he wouldn’t rule out supporting the other in condensing a true Golden Core in the future.

However, since the other party had already made his choice, a mere top-quality Jin Ling Spiritual Root wasn’t worth his further advice.

"Since you have made your choice, so be it!"

Fang Xi suddenly made a hand gesture, and the Heterodox Nascent Soul within his Dantian Qi Ocean mirrored the motion.

A talisman appeared and entered into Taishu Hong’s body.

Taishu Hong was startled but soon scanned his body with his Divine Consciousness, only to find no difference from before.

What Fang Xi used was a minor technique of the Yanmo Path—Six Paths Reincarnation Skills.

With the strength of the Heterodox Nascent Soul, the prohibition cast was not to be detected by Taishu Hong who was merely at Perfect Foundation Establishment—not to mention Core Formation, even at Perfect Core Formation, it was doubtful he could notice it.

Only upon ascending to Nascent Soul could he possibly break free of control.

"Thank you, Island Master, for your generous gift. From now on, Taishu Hong shall be the sword in the hands of the Island Master!"

Taishu Hong bowed again with a clasped fist.

"Hmm, here is a summary of my Core Formation experiences; take it and ponder over it well, and don’t waste this Demon Pill."

Fang Xi threw out a jade slip, sending the overjoyed Taishu Hong away.

A Foundation Establishment cultivator refining a Demon Pill to achieve Jia Dan indeed carried a certain failure rate.

Only, the chance of condensing a Jia Dan increased by refining a Demon Pill was about the same as the chance of a cultivator increasing the probability of forming a True Core by consuming Five Elements Spirit Fruits.

With this foundation, coupled with some auxiliary Spirit Medicines, as well as the cultivator’s own heart, will, and the chance of Core Formation inherent in their cultivation technique’s realm, the success rate was quite high.

"There are two more Demon Pills left... among them, there is one with the Earth Attribute. It’s a pity this Hai Danaiu isn’t ambitious. If he had already achieved Perfect Foundation Establishment, I would have casually bestowed it..."

However, Fang Xi knew that this was the sad reality for the vast majority of Foundation Establishment cultivators in the Southern Wilderness Cultivation Realm.

Not to mention advancing to late-stage or Perfect Foundation Establishment.

Even advancing to the middle stage of Foundation Establishment was considered worthy of grand celebration, with many trapped at the initial stage of Foundation Establishment for a lifetime!

Just like in Yuan Country where most Core Formation cultivators were at the initial stage of Core Formation, even barely on par with External Pill and Jia Dan cultivators!

Fang Xi sighed, and with a light tap of his foot, he appeared in the midst of the Peach Blossom Forest.

A breeze blew gently, scattering peach blossoms all around.

From within the peach forest, a woman emerged with picturesque eyebrows and an aura like an orchid in a secluded valley—Ruan Xiuxiu!

It was just a pity that the woman’s cultivation was only at the beginning stage of Foundation Establishment!

Fang Xi glanced over her, took another swig of Green Bamboo Wine, and his eyes held a trace of reminiscence.

"Ruan Xiuxiu, pays respects to the Elder Ancestor!"

Ruan Xiuxiu knelt down gracefully, evidently someone Fang Xi had summoned.

"What a pity..."

With a flick of his finger, the Green Barley Sword flew out, becoming like a green flood dragon.

With a sword light’s cold flash, the temperature within the Peach Blossom Forest dropped suddenly!

Blue light flickered, with peach blossoms dancing in the sky, and a branch from a Spirit Peach Tree was cut down, revealing a smooth and clean cut.

Then, little bits of sawdust fell, and a wooden talisman landed in Fang Xi’s hand.

Fang Xi extended his right hand, and a point of blue light shimmered on his index finger as he drew a talisman on the wooden piece.

With a flash of blue light, the previously new wooden talisman became as smooth and warm as jade, faintly exuding the scent of peach wood.

"Take this..."

Fang Xi casually tossed the wooden talisman to Ruan Xiuxiu.

"Elder Ancestor..."

Ruan Xiuxiu held the wooden talisman in both hands, appearing somewhat at a loss.

"This is the Golden Core Order of this seat... With this as proof, if the Ruan Family nurtures a Perfect Foundation Establishment cultivator in the future, they may present this order here in exchange for a Core Formation Spiritual Object!"

Fang Xi declared solemnly.

"Thank you, Elder Ancestor!"

Ruan Xiuxiu immediately prostrated in gratitude, her heart filled with immense excitement.

"You may leave..."

Fang Xi waved his hand and sighed softly.

Ruan Xiuxiu bowed deeply before retreating from Peach Blossom Forest, a pang of regret for the previous family head suddenly arising in her heart...

However, she didn’t know that although Fang Xi had given a promise, he had left some room for flexibility.

If he encountered a truly suitable successor, he would naturally provide a genuine Core Formation spiritual object.

If not entirely satisfied, a Beast Inner Dan was still an opportunity for Core Formation that others could only yearn for without success.

Even more so, it was possible to just send them off with "Mysterious Water Essence".

After all, this substance was the accompanying spiritual liquid of "Mysterious Water Crystal", and the disciples of the Demon Sect had indeed gathered quite a bit of it.

...

Several days later.

After handling the affairs of Dragon Fish Island and sending away most visiting cultivators, Fang Xi finally returned to a peaceful life.

The Spiritual Vein of Dragon Fish Island was only a second-grade upper level, making cultivation progress extremely slow.

Fang Xi thus simply put aside his cultivation for the time being, strolling around and even specifically revisiting Peach Blossom Island, rewarding various old acquaintances with some small opportunities after meeting them.

Cultivation, for him, was meant to enjoy life better and for longer, a principle he would never change.

Hence, he took the rare opportunity to relax properly.

...

One year later.

Within the Mountain Sea Pearl Dongfu.

Sitting cross-legged under the Monster Tree, Fang Xi suddenly opened his eyes, "Recently, the spiritual energy of Dragon Fish Island can’t even compare to the near third-grade Spiritual Vein within the Mountain Sea Pearl..."

A near third-grade Spiritual Vein was barely sufficient to support a Core Formation cultivator’s practice.

It would just be somewhat slower.

For Fang Xi’s prolonged lifespan, in reality, this wasn’t much of an issue.

Indeed, if he truly wanted to find a place for dedicated cultivation, whether going to any of the three Sects or Baize Immortal City, there were Dongfus with third-grade Spiritual Veins, but Fang Xi found it too bothersome; after all, he still had matters on Dragon Fish Island.

Moreover, he had an emotional attachment to Thousand Island Lake, the second home he rarely returned to, so he chose to stay longer; to be a salted fish if so be it.

What about going to the Red Sun World? The Spiritual Vein of Floating Toa Mountain was just average. Initially, the Yanmo Path’s advancement to Nascent Soul was mainly through unorthodox and evil ways, using the power of an entire world to nourish oneself, and after breaking through to Nascent Soul, the cultivation stagnated, always remaining at the initial stage of Nascent Soul.

Otherwise, Fang Xi might not even dare to consider targeting the Taoist sins of the adversary.

"Looking at it this way, the Red Sun World is among the weaker realms beneath the Earth Immortal Realm within the three thousand minor worlds, isn’t it? Could there be other worlds which are especially powerful? This kind of information, I’m afraid only disciples from the Transcendent God Sects might know a thing or two..."

Fang Xi suddenly remembered his hundred-year agreement with the old ghost on Zhan Tu’s body.

"Zhan Tu is nearly the same age as Zhong Hongyu, now over 160 years old. With the old ghost’s cultivation, Core Formation should be easy for him, and perhaps he might even offer me some pleasant surprises?"

"With only a little over ten years left until the century-long agreement... That old ghost is very secretive, and his connection with the last Ghost Cultivator of Jade Island is extensive, even possibly..."

"Once I finish with Dragon Fish Island’s various affairs, I could indeed visit the Mysterious Heaven Sect, borrow a Dongfu from Zhang Zhusheng, and quietly cultivate for ten years..."

Currently, Fang Xi’s cultivation had reached the later phase of Core Formation, and there were no bottlenecks ahead; with patient cultivation, he would inevitably reach the Perfect Core Formation stage, satisfying the conditions for forming a Nascent Soul!

But even with fast progression, it would still require decades of hard work.

"My cultivation can no longer advance, so it’s time to consider the risks involved in following the old ghost to explore the ruins..."

After all, the ruins were related to Green Emperor Mountain, which once produced a Transcendent God cultivator, so the array prohibition would inevitably be extraordinary, and even a Nascent Soul cultivator would need to be extra cautious there.

"The best solution would, of course, be to sacrificially refine an external incarnation..."

"Unfortunately... the externalization technique I’ve comprehended can’t cultivate a second incarnation."

Fang Xi already had an external incarnation, which was his "Heterodox Nascent Soul".

Additionally, since the technique was somewhat incomplete, he had no way to create a second incarnation.

Otherwise, he would have surely acted already.

Besides, the old ghost had deep concealment, and even if he could cultivate an incarnation, a hastily refined one with at most Core Formation strength would hardly break any situation.

"I’ll still have to take action myself... That old ghost could never imagine that I would possess Nascent Soul combat strength in such a short time!"

"But in this case, the safety of my true body is very important."

"Just right, one of the Demon Path secret skills from the Yanmo Path Master’s memory might be usable."

Fang Xi’s expression turned somewhat mysterious, "But first... I need to test it."

Cultivators in the Cultivation World actually always enjoy seeking the mysterious and exploring the unknown, looking for ancient cultivator Dongfus or Secret Realms, then obtaining opportunities from them.

Of course, such acts are also very dangerous, like Yan Dongqing, who perished during one such exploration.

Fang Xi had not participated in such activities precisely to avoid risks as much as possible.

"I’ve already refined a Heterodox Nascent Soul, the chances of being killed instantly are slim... and relying on the many treasures and secret skills, I should have no problem securing time for the ’cheater’ teleportation to save my life..."

"The most critical point is that after teleportation, the return should be to the original place... If trapped in a certain Secret Realm, it would mean abandoning the entire Southern Wilderness Cultivation Realm."

"This problem might be solved with an external incarnation, and yet I can’t cultivate a second one..."

Fang Xi previously utilized the peculiarities of the external incarnation in the Red Sun World to play a ’great teleportation spell’, making use of the feature that teleportation between two realms would anchor to the incarnation!

"From this, it’s clear that the Treasures of All Heavens is anchored to my Divine Soul; without the Divine Soul, one would appear in the original location..."

"As long as I leave part of my Divine Soul in the Southern Wilderness Cultivation Realm, or even on Dragon Fish Island... even if trapped within a grand array or Secret Realm, as long as I teleport to the Red Sun World and then back, I can return directly to Dragon Fish Island... this can be regarded as a supreme life-saving skill!"

"Moreover... if I set up several points, it could even function like an ’ancient teleportation array’, such as if I go to the Yuan Country Cultivation Realm, I could arrive in an instant. The problem is how the teleportation would choose between multiple Divine Soul anchors if set up... Unfortunately, such a method can only be used temporarily; after exploring and returning, the Divine Soul must be reabsorbed."

After all, how important is a cultivator’s Divine Soul? Even a wisp falling into the hands of other cultivators could locate the owner and even be used by Demon Path cultivators to cast curse techniques!

To endow the Divine Soul with self-preservation, the only way would be using the ’external incarnation’ secret technique.