Stealthily cultivating in the chaotic world of demons and martial artists
Chapter 399 - 397: Tree Movement (in honor of the Silver Alliance)_1

Chapter 399: Chapter 397: Tree Movement (in honor of the Silver Alliance)_1

Fang Xi, while studying the "Crimson Heart Pill Manual", would slap the table in admiration whenever he came across an exciting part.

Then, when encountering an obstacle or having some insight, he’d seize the opportunity to start refining pills, deepening his understanding through practice.

The pill furnace he was currently using had already become a third-grade top-quality treasure, known as the ’Qiankun Cauldron’, which he had obtained through bartering with the Yellow Sand Sect.

This cauldron stood on four legs with two handles, its surface exhibiting a bronze color.

With a breath from Fang Xi, a wisp of pitch-black infant flame fell beneath the Qiankun Cauldron, igniting into a roaring fire.

Subsequently, he took out jade boxes filled with spirit medicines, first revealing a kudzu-like spirit medicine that was ground into powder by streams of Yi Wood Divine Light and dropped into the pill cauldron.

Following that, a crimson ore was processed by Fang Xi’s magic power, turning into a scarlet liquid that poured along the cauldron’s mouth...

Throughout this process, Fang Xi appeared very relaxed, filled with eager anticipation as he actively tried out various newly learned pill refining techniques.

Before long, the furnace roared, and a cloud of black smoke rose from it.

Without a doubt, this batch of pills was ruined!

"At first, one naturally starts with worthless pills... then, gradually move on to more precious spirit medicines..."

"When enough problems have accumulated, and one faces an insurmountable bottleneck, it’s time to consume the ’Bodhi Enlightenment Pill’ to tackle all issues in one go, aiming to improve the Alchemy Skill."

Looking at the scrapped spirit medicines, Fang Xi didn’t even blink. He began to clean the pill furnace for another round of refining...

...

Years later.

Fang Xi sat cross-legged with disheveled hair, casting one Magic Spell after another into the Qiankun Cauldron.

With a boom, the Qiankun Cauldron’s lid suddenly lifted.

Black, white, red, yellow, green... clouds of five colors emerged from the cauldron’s mouth, and several pills flew out.

These pills each exhibited wonders, their bodies glinting with five colors, gathering into Fang Xi’s palm.

Then, two of them spontaneously exploded into powder, and another showed a grey-black pattern on its surface.

"There are two successful ’Five Cloud Pills’ out of this batch, one inferior grade, and two wastes... Out of ten portions of ingredients, this represents that my success rate is around twenty percent... I am still a step short of a true third-grade high-quality pill refining master."

Fang Xi sighed and carefully stored the two successful Five Cloud Pills.

"With my current Alchemy Skill, there is no certainty in successfully refining the ’Crossing Extinction Pill’..."

Over these years, he admitted to having reached a bottleneck in his Alchemy Skill.

Without a breakthrough, he could only waste copious amounts of high-grade spirit medicines, trying to find inspiration through practice.

But Fang Xi had an even better solution!

He took out a jade bottle, and upon opening it, a peculiar bodhi fragrance spilled out.

In an instant, he felt his Sea of Consciousness refreshingly clear.

"With so many accumulated problems... it’s the perfect time to resolve them all."

Muttering to himself, Fang Xi opened his mouth, a streak of blue light appeared and swept up the ’Bodhi Enlightenment Pill’, vanishing in an instant.

As soon as the pill entered his stomach, it transformed into a cold stream of Clear Qi, surging straight up to his Heavenly Spirit Sea of Consciousness!

Fang Xi was startled, feeling as if his mind suddenly cleared, his comprehension greatly enhanced!

Without delay, he took out the "Crimson Heart Pill Manual" and "Crossing Extinction Pill Recipe" and began pondering over the accumulated questions from his previous alchemy practices.

"I was wrong, my previous approach was flawed..."

"Harmonizing the dragon and tiger to turn Yin-Yang... I see, it should not be understood only in the context of Core Formation... Damn Chi Xinzi, you actually used cryptic language!"

"So there are a few subtleties in refining the Crossing Extinction Pill that, if done correctly, can increase the success rate by ten to twenty percent. Why didn’t I think of that before?"

Fang Xi felt his Divine Consciousness extremely active, with bursts of inspiration springing forth one after another.

After reflecting on the problems accumulated over the years, he revisited the "Crimson Heart Pill Manual", and suddenly everything became clear, understanding that he had fully integrated the content of the manual.

His Alchemy Skill had duly advanced to a third-grade high-quality level, and perhaps even to the third-grade extreme!

With such proficiency, he had sufficient confidence to now refine the ’Crossing Extinction Pill’.

Feeling his condition was still quite good, though slightly diminished, Fang Xi immediately took out a jade slip with the ’Transformative God Demon Body Divine Wood Array’ Array Map inscribed on it and began to earnestly study it...

Time passed unknowingly when Fang Xi suddenly felt darkness before his eyes, his head heavy as if filled with lead.

"The potency of the Enlightenment Pill has worn off..."

His expression changed, he held his forehead and hurriedly took a calming pill from beside him and swallowed it.

Then, a profound weariness swept over him.

Yielding to the sensation, Fang Xi collapsed to the ground and fell into a deep sleep.

...

Three days later.

Fang Xi finally got up, stretching his limbs, "I’ve finally recovered, though I still feel somewhat tired..."

"With my current skill in pill refining, I can now produce a large batch of magic power enhancing pills without too much waste."

"If I were to cultivate on a fourth-grade Spiritual Vein or higher, I should be able to quickly reach the state of Perfect Core Formation..."

With that thought, Fang Xi promptly stored all the various precious pills scattered around, and then casually left his retreat.

...

Jade Island.

Evergreen Hall, the rear hall.

Fang Xi’s entire body was enveloped in an Yi Wood Divine Light Shield, the protective light emerald green and shimmering, with patterns of vines and flowers continuously changing on its surface.

The residual defensive Arrays of the outside Evergreen Hall were readily ground down by his deployment of the Heterodox Nascent Soul.

Eight teleportation arrays stood silently, most of them already damaged.

In the center of the hall, a Demon Blood Flood Dragon lay coiled, its mouth still holding a second-grade Ghost Creature.

"You’ve worked hard," Fang Xi said to the Demon Blood Flood Dragon. With a sweep of his sleeve, he collected the flood dragon into the Mountain Sea Pearl.

At this moment, he had finally returned to Jade Island and had conducted a comprehensive survey of the gourd-shaped landmass.

"As long as the Underworld Earth Vein is sealed, it will be a good place for cultivation, sufficient for Nascent Soul... "

He turned his gaze to the eight ancient teleportation arrays.

The three that seemed intact were now utterly useless; recently, the only functional one was that leading to the Evergreen Garden Secret Land, but it must also be beyond repair by now.

However, there was still a glimmer of hope for the remaining five that were originally damaged.

Fang Xi could attempt to fix the ones that weren’t too badly damaged, and then, if the corresponding array on the other end wasn’t broken, they might still be usable.

Even though he didn’t know where they led, whether to the North Plains, the Eastern Sea, or elsewhere, they would surely bring a wealth of resources.

Still, this entailed certain risks, so Fang Xi decided to wait until after his Nascent Soul had formed before beginning his explorations.

...

A moment later, a streak of azure rainbow flew into the sky and landed atop a Dragon and Phoenix carriage.

"Young Master!"

Zhong Hongyu, accompanied by several Foundation Establishment Cultivators, respectfully greeted him.

Hai Danaiu, Ruan Xiuxiu, Zong Linghu, and others were all among them.

"All Core Formation-level ghost cultivators here have been eradicated by me... You should first study this Array Map and Array Flags... soon, I will set up arrays to gather the dark Yin Qi of this place, then use a Spirit Plant as the core Array Eye to suppress the Earth’s Vein."

With a wave of Fang Xi’s hand, several jade slips and array-setup items such as Array Flags and Array Disks flew into the hands of the cultivators.

"Your wisdom is unparalleled, my lord. Ever since I achieved Core Formation, I have also wanted to cleanse Jade Island," Zhong Hongyu said with a hint of joy on her face.

She was not like Taishu Hong and Zhang Zhusheng, who had hit a bottleneck with their pseudo-Core Formation; she was a genuine early Core Formation cultivator.

The resources of Dragon Fish Island, with its second-grade upper-level Spiritual Vein, could no longer satisfy her cultivation needs, and she was considering more suitable Spiritual Veins.

As an Immortal Cultivator, even if Zhong Hongyu dared only dream of Nascent Soul, even just advancing one more level in cultivation would be beneficial.

At the very least, a mid-Core Formation Immortal Cultivator would have enough power to surpass Taishu Hong and become the second-ranked cultivator in the Cultivation World of the three nations.

"The master is mighty! If we take this island, think of how many Spiritual Fields we could cultivate!" exclaims Hai Danaiu, who resembled a wealthy merchant.

Envy shone in the eyes of Ruan Xiuxiu, Zong Linghu, and other Foundation Establishment Cultivators.

The best Spiritual Veins in Thousand Island Lake prior to this were only around the second-grade, so could they perhaps, with a lifetime of cultivation on Jade Island, break through to perfect Foundation Establishment and possess a glimmer of hope for Core Formation?

"You all start by comprehending the method of array setting. I will be in charge when the time comes to establish the array," Fang Xi said, fully aware of their thoughts, though it was all inconsequential to him.

...

Half a month later.

Along with streaks of Escape Light that landed at various points on Jade Island, cultivators erected Array Flags, infusing them with Magic Power, causing columns of emerald light to rise up, piercing into the Ghost Mist...

"Heavenly Gang North Dipper Sealing Demon... activate the array!"

Accompanied by Fang Xi’s voice from the Voice Transmission Talisman, Zhong Hongyu immediately operated the array without hesitation.

Within the light columns, runes flickered, resembling swimming fish, which suddenly thickened.

From high above, seven shining dots could be seen, which then transformed into seven mighty columns of light that shot up into the sky.

Between each column of light, a membrane connected and expanded, enveloping the entire Jade Island...

Standing atop the massive stump left by the Evergreen Wood, Fang Xi held the most central Prohibition Array Disk as he continued to adjust and arrange.

Whoo-whoo!

Streams of Ghost Mist were sucked up by the light as if by a whale-surfacing, condensing rapidly... rolling in like black waves, converging at the base of the Evergreen Wood stump, revealing a huge crevice.

Fang Xi conjured an Array Flag in his hand and thrust it into the crevice.

Pop-pop!

Seven stars emerged, turning into small dots on the Array Flag, causing a thick silvery-white light screen to appear and form a seal that temporarily closed the gaping fissure in the ground.

The Ghost Mist swirling above Jade Island disappeared, replaced by the exceedingly pure spiritual energy from the Void, causing all Foundation Establishment cultivators to flush with excitement...

"The Underworld Earth Vein is temporarily sealed, but maintaining the seal requires continuous consumption... This presents a significant problem," Fang Xi thought, holding a blue Mountain Sea Pearl in his hand and then casting a Magic Spell.

Hovering mid-air, the Mountain Sea Pearl transformed into a light gate, which kept expanding.

Afterward, a series of pitch-black roots emerged from it, revealing the Monster Tree!

"The Monster Tree has always been mobile, but far too slow compared to the flight speed of cultivators..."

"With the Mountain Sea Pearl, it’s genuinely feasible to carry the tree around..."

"But now, it’s time for you to rely on it," Fang Xi whispered, channeling ’Longevity Skills’ to move the Monster Tree from the Mountain Sea Pearl.

Crack!

A thick, pitch-black root burrowed into the Evergreen Wood stump, sucking up nutrients.

Soon, numerous Qi Roots appeared, stretching out like countless reaching arms.

Many tendrils gripped the Earth’s surface and stumps outside and pulled fiercely...

The voluminous Monster Tree’s canopy gathered together like vines braiding into a wooden ball, suddenly emerging from the Mountain Sea Pearl.

Boom!

Eventually, the giant Monster Tree, which would require several people to hug, settled over the previously cracked Underworld Earth Vein.

Root after root began delving into the fissure, seemingly absorbing the Dark Energy of Geocentric Vein.

Countless Qi Roots, resembling needles and threads, densely packed, completely sealed the terrestrial gap.

"Indeed... the Monster Tree can consume anything."

Seeing this, Fang Xi couldn’t help but smile, "By using it to seal the Underworld Earth Vein, the consumption is minimized... In the future, it can even become the core of setting up a fourth-grade array..."

"And with the Mountain Sea Pearl abundant in spiritual energy, should I encounter a powerful enemy, I can transfer the Monster Tree into it, regaining my mobility..."

At one time, Fang Xi, a nobody in the Cultivation World, had to carefully conceal the Monster Tree.

But now as a Nascent Soul combatant, he had much fewer concerns.

After all, who was to question the origin of the Spirit Plant that became the core of Jade Island’s Great Array? Nobody dared ask, nor could anyone pry into the secrets of Jade Island.