Stealthily cultivating in the chaotic world of demons and martial artists
Chapter 588 - 586: Overturning Wind (Extra update, please subscribe)_1

Chapter 588: Chapter 586: Overturning Wind (Extra update, please subscribe)_1

After a long while, Fang Xi set down the "Unnamed Diary," lost in thought.

Mo Sect’s Mechanism City was indeed as he had anticipated, akin to a moving marketplace.

But according to ’Li Ming’s’ travel notes, he had conversed with an Immortal Cultivator in Mechanism City, who claimed to come from beyond the Setting Sun Plain.

This made Fang Xi marvel somewhat at the range of Mechanism City’s movements.

Besides, the shops in Mechanism City were well-stocked and did not refuse transactions with mortals. They even occasionally tested for Spiritual Roots and selected disciples...

For Fang Xi, the arrival of Mo Family’s Mechanism City in three-month’s time was undoubtedly an excellent opportunity to engage with the Earth Immortal Realm’s native Cultivators.

Over two months later.

A team left Flying Sun City, heading for the capital of Ding Country—Lan City!

Naturally, Mo Sect’s Mechanism City would not stop near Flying Sun City just to trade.

To them, a mere Flying Sun City was simply not significant enough.

Ding Country, however, was a different story, and it was said that envoys and caravans had even been dispatched from neighboring countries for the trade event.

Fang Xi rode a green donkey, blending inconspicuously into the Li Family’s group, looking quite indistinct among the crowd.

However, Li Family’s guard ’Li Guangjin’ dared not underestimate this Instructor Fang.

Being able to persuade the Family Head, this guest must possess exceptional skills.

As such, he wanted to show goodwill and a desire for closeness.

During the journey, he would occasionally come over to chat with Fang Xi.

With Fang Xi’s courteous demeanor, the two chatted and laughed together.

It did not take long for Li Guangjin to be won over by Fang Xi’s profound knowledge.

"So it’s true...the ’Falling Demon Lake’ really exists because of the fall of a great Demon, creating a lake spanning over a hundred thousand miles?"

Li Guangjin’s eyes widened in awe.

"That is taken from ’Xiao Guangzi Travel Notes.’ This predecessor was also a Martial Taoist True Pill-level master; he should not be mistaken..."

Fang Xi smiled gently, "Moreover, it is rumored that Xiao Guangzi was once a prince, who did not get to inherit the throne. Instead, he wandered the world, taking joy in recording various strange tales and anecdotes..."

"So he was of princely status, must have access to many secrets; it seems likely to be true."

Li Guangjin had no doubt about this.

After all, the Royal Families of various countries were guarded by Immortal Cultivators, and not just any ordinary Immortal Cultivators, but at least one or two Nascent Soul ancestors!

For example, within Ding Country, the monarch had once cultivated Martial Arts into the Immortal Path, reached the Nascent Soul realm, and after abdicating his throne, established a new monarch.

And it was rumored that there were several such Nascent Soul ancestors within the Ding Country’s Royal Family!

That was the true capital for the Ding Royal Family to suppress the various Martial Art Families.

"A Martial Taoist True Pill would normally be well-qualified to inherit the position of crown prince, but it is a pity that the then-crown prince was of the Immortal Path Core Formation..."

Fang Xi shook his head and sighed, then discussed a few notable Martial Art Families within Ding Country.

Combining his experiences along the way, he felt a tinge of melancholy:

’Given that the aura of the Earth Immortal Realm easily rivals that of a first-tier Spiritual Energy environment... cultivation here is much easier, and progress in Martial Arts swift. Even ordinary cultivation techniques are not difficult... However, although most common people know one or two martial techniques, they only ever reach the Acquired Stage, and it’s one in a thousand who enters the Innate Stage..."

’True Martial Taoist Pills are even rarer, one in a million... Even the old ancestor of the Li Family is only at the peak of Innate Stage, and may not be able to condense a Martial Taoist True Pill in this lifetime, let alone encounter a great opportunity to step onto the Immortal Path using Martial Arts...’

Although Martial Arts cultivation requires fewer resources, resources are indeed needed!

And breakthroughs in major realms are equally hard to achieve.

As for the final step, ’Ascending through Martial Arts,’ which requires precious ’Martial Arts Pills’ or heavenly materials and earthly treasures, it is even more daunting.

Within Ding Country, the last person to ’Ascend through Martial Arts’ was a legend from a hundred years ago.

"Be on guard!"

Suddenly, a voice full of vigilance came from the front of the caravan!

Li Guangjin gave Fang Xi an apologetic smile, moved like a fleeting shadow, and jumped onto a carriage, his voice booming like a bell: "Li Family disciples, form the Array!"

He pulled out a small flag inserted on the carriage, channeling his Innate energy into it.

Lines emerged on the flag, transforming into a huge ’Li’ character.

This seemingly ordinary small flag was actually a piece of ’Martial Equipment.’

Within the caravan, flags from the Zhang, Zhao, and other families, including the God Sense Sect’s flag, lit up. Each turned into a beam of light, shooting into the sky and forming a misty white fog that enveloped the entire caravan.

Seeing this, Fang Xi nodded to himself in approval: "To set up an Array while on the move... and it’s even of a third-tier high-grade level, truly not bad..."

Such defensive capability could last a long time even against an attack by late Core Formation Cultivators and also offer protection to mortals.

He quietly released his Divine Consciousness and saw a green Escape Light coming from ten miles ahead, pulsating with Core Formation-level Magic Power fluctuations.

This was not a Martial Taoist True Pill, but a genuine Core Formation Stage Cultivator!

The comer, dressed in white robes and wearing a golden crown, looked refined and courteous as he stopped in front of the caravan and bowed, "I am Wei Qingfeng, may I ask who is in charge here?"

Many guards dispersed, and a large man in a purple robe with a beard emerged. He was a towering figure, striding like a dragon and a tiger, exuding an intimidating presence. He did not seem to fear the Core Formation Cultivator before him and merely clasped his fists in return, "I am ’Zhang Longhu’, the lord of Flying Sun City. May I ask who you are?"

Zhang Longhu himself had already cultivated to the Martial Taoist True Pill, and he had even reached the advanced stages of the True Core realm.

As long as he cultivated to the Great Perfection of True Core, he would have the opportunity to consume the ’Martial Arts Pill’ and transition to the Immortal Path.

Moreover, as a lord personally appointed by the monarch of Ding Country, with the support of Ding Country behind him, his power was comparable to that of a Nascent Soul Sect!

Although he was out on the road, he had already set up Martial Equipment Arrays capable of matching those at Great Perfection of Core Formation, so naturally, he had nothing to fear!

"So, it’s Lord Zhang!"

Wei Qingfeng said with a smile, "I am an elder from the nearby ’Washing Sword Sect,’ and this is my identity token..."

He tossed out a pink token with a mark of petals and a short sword, surrounded by a ring of seal script.

Zhang Longhu took a look at it, and his expression immediately relaxed a bit.

The Washing Sword Sect was also one of the upright Sects within Ding Country, known for its good reputation. He had verified the token, and it was indeed genuine.

"May I know what advice Elder Wei has for me?"

Zhang Longhu asked with neither servility nor overbearing pride.

Wei Qingfeng smiled very amiably, speaking as equals, "Are you gentlemen heading to Mechanism City? I happen to have the same intention; why not travel together... Recently, the variety of goods from all directions has also attracted quite a few cultivation-robbers."

At the mention of cultivation-robbers, Zhang Longhu’s face changed, and he forced a smile, "We are just small entrepreneurs, dealing with some low-grade Spiritual Objects among mortals. I’m afraid there aren’t many cultivation-robbers who would take interest, but they might lose a few teeth in the process... Cultivation-robbers are people too; they won’t do things that bring harm without benefit. As for traveling together? Let’s forget it..."

Offers of help without cause, either deception or theft!

Out and about, Mayor Zhang was still very careful and cautious.

"In that case, let’s drop this matter..."

Wei Qingfeng, who had an incredibly good temper, didn’t get angry even when refused, and with a smiling fist salute, he turned into a streak of Escape Light and flew away.

Seeing this, Zhang Longhu heaved a sigh of relief, feeling slightly regretful in his heart.

"No matter, continue the journey!"

With his command, the caravan continued to move forward slowly.

...

Nightfall.

Nine round moons hung above the sky.

Fang Xi held a wine gourd in his hand, admiring the rare moonlight.

’After settling for several years, perhaps it’s time to leave?’

He extended his Divine Consciousness, able to see a hundred miles away where Wei Qingfeng was actually talking with another Core Formation Cultivator.

The space in the Earth Immortal Realm was stronger, the Divine Consciousness of ordinary Core Formation Cultivators had a shorter reach, and a hundred miles was a very safe distance.

After all, not everyone was as unlucky as they were to encounter a Transcendent God with nothing better to do.

"Brother Wei... Are you really going to make a move? If you do this, I’m afraid not even the Washing Sword Sect can protect you..."

The other Core Formation Cultivator was a middle-aged man with a meaty face, filled with Evil Qi.

"Hehe, ’Without venturing into a tiger’s den, how can one capture its cubs’..."

Wei Qingfeng’s eyes were strewn with streaks of blood, "I’ve already found out that Zhang Longhu secretly spent his entire fortune this time, bringing a large quantity of Spiritual Objects in hopes of exchanging them for a ’Martial Arts Pill’ in Mechanism City... If we don’t make a move now, when do we wait for him to succeed in the trade? ’Martial Arts Pills’ are useless for Cultivators like us."

"Tsk tsk... Spiritual Objects that can be exchanged for a ’Martial Arts Pill’ are indeed worth making a move for."

The Cultivator with a face full of Evil Qi seemed persuaded, "After this one deal, let’s flee far away. As long as we’re not within the territory of Ding Country, can those old Nascent Soul monsters really do anything to us?"

"Exactly... It just so happens that my ’Evil Heart Spell’ has also hit a bottleneck, in need of a large-scale Blood Sacrifice... Those who practice martial arts have abundant Qi and blood, making them excellent offerings."

Wei Qingfeng’s eyes shone with a ferocious glint.

Although he appeared to be a graceful gentleman on the surface, he secretly cultivated a Demon Path technique—the ’Evil Heart Spell.’ Although this Magic Spell advanced at a rate comparable to top-tier cultivation techniques and had the peculiar effect of reducing bottlenecks, it was easy to become lost in madness if not careful, and it often required Blood Sacrifices.

In his Sect, Wei Qingfeng was naturally seen as a graceful young noble, and no one knew that he was actually an evil cultivation-robber who committed atrocities in secret. Unlike other cultivation-robbers who were just after wealth, the places he passed through were left with not even chickens or dogs alive.

"Today, I’ve already gained Zhang Longhu’s trust... According to the plan, in two days at Eagle Sad Gorge, you will chase and attack me, and we will coordinate from within and without..."

Wei Qingfeng slowly recounted his grand scheme.

Even though he practiced the Demon Path and acted crazily, he was extremely calm and careful when setting traps, "There’s only one Martial Taoist True Pill in the Flying Sun City caravan, and I will seize the moment to break that Array. Then it will be there for the taking..."

"Hehe... Indeed, it’s a good plan."

Suddenly, a cold sneer sounded.

"Who’s there?"

Wei Qingfeng’s expression changed, with a flick of the Folding Fan in his hand, a misty green whirlwind swiftly enveloped him in its protection.

The Core Formation burly man bellowed, his body covered in a layer of yellowish-brown armor.

However, as their Divine Consciousness swept the surrounding area, they found no sign of the person who sneered, causing their complexions to drastically change...