Stealthily cultivating in the chaotic world of demons and martial artists
Chapter 677 - 650: Rejection (Congratulations to the Night Leader for Cramping!)_1

Chapter 677: Chapter 650: Rejection (Congratulations to the Night Leader for Cramping!)_1

In the thatched cottage.

Fang Xi was meditating cross-legged when his expression suddenly changed.

With a slight flick of his fingers, amid the flickering green light, a blue vine appeared, rolling a Voice Transmission Talisman into the room from outside.

"Master Zhui Yue... What important matter could there be at this time? Could it be related to those three Nascent Soul cultivators who have been frequently visiting the island?"

Fang Xi murmured to himself.

Although he was wholeheartedly secluded in intensive cultivation, he had spies arranged in the outside world, so as not to be completely unaware and be sold out by Zhui Yue...

He naturally knew that Master Zhui Yue had been restless recently.

He pondered for a moment, then a command token appeared in his hand, which he shook slightly.

Outside the thatched cottage, a layer of rosy light dissipated, revealing a narrow passage just wide enough for one person to pass through.

Seeing this, Master Zhui Yue’s face remained neither sad nor happy as she chanted a Buddhist invocation and walked in.

Fang Xi occasionally joined Master Zhui Yue for tea and discourse, so they gradually became familiar with each other.

By the time Master Zhui Yue reached the living room, she saw a young man, gentle as jade and evergreen as a pine, slowly brewing tea: "The timing of the Master’s visit is perfect. This ’Clear Spirit Water’ is something I have only recently gathered from above the Nine Heavens Gang Wind, perfect for brewing tea."

Fang Xi said with a slight smile, holding the celestial blue-glazed teacup and saucer in his hand.

"To think it is Clear Spirit Water from above the Nine Heavens, it seems I am in for a treat today," Master Zhui Yue said as she sat down generously, constantly twirling her Buddhist beads in hand.

Fang Xi couldn’t help but give a sidelong glance; this string of Soul Nourishing Wood beads carved from ten-thousand-year-old wood wasn’t new to him, yet he still coveted it.

Soul Nourishing Wood was naturally efficacious in nurturing the Divine Soul, and after ten thousand years, its effects became incredibly potent.

If a cultivator wore it for a long time, it would greatly benefit their cultivation of Divine Consciousness.

For a Ghost Cultivator, it was an unparalleled Supreme Treasure.

Moreover, the bead string in Master Zhui Yue’s hands was also a Buddhist spiritual object and very effective in dispelling Heart Demons and calming the mind.

’In this Minghuan World, there are indeed quite a few rare and unique local products. Once my Divine Skills are perfected, I should go and... no, exchange with the kindhearted people of this world.’

The resources in the Lower Realm are scarce, and the real good stuff is all in the hands of high-level cultivators.

If Fang Xi wants to obtain the truly top-tier Spiritual Objects of this world, seeking out those Transcendent God cultivators would be the right choice!

Master Zhui Yue had no idea Fang Xi was harboring these thoughts in his mind; she simply chatted with Fang Xi about various topics and discussed their cultivation insights.

Every time she listened to Fang Xi’s experiences in cultivation, she gained a lot of insights, and her own learning was not without merit as well.

Their conversation was delightful, but suddenly Master Zhui Yue sighed, a hint of sorrow appearing on her face.

Fang Xi took another sip of Spiritual Tea, feigning ignorance.

After all, although he used the Spiritual Vein for cultivation, he also paid the rent in Body Pills, which meant they were even.

If this woman thought she could blackmail him with this, she would be sorely mistaken.

Just a piece of Spirit Land—there is plenty of it in the world. With his current level of cultivation, where couldn’t he go?

Seeing his reaction, Master Zhui Yue’s face showed even greater bitterness, but she shamelessly muttered to herself, "We Individual Cultivators have a hard time cultivating. It wasn’t easy to seize a Spiritual Vein and a few mines in Secret Realms... only to become the target of both the righteous and the Demon Sects. If it were not for my some standing and friends in the Buddhism Sect, even Guang Thunder Temple might get involved..."

"Oh? What’s the matter?"

Since the other party was shameless, Fang Xi didn’t mind listening.

"The Primitive Devil Door has challenged our Free and Unfettered Alliance to a contest of skills to determine the ownership of a few top-tier mine veins, that would be one thing... but the Taiqing Sect is taking advantage of our situation, wanting to renegotiate the site of the grand auction... You should know that is Li Gou Immortal City’s biggest source of income..."

The Minghuan World holds a grand auction once every hundred years, something Fang Xi had long heard of and yearned for.

"Old Min from the Taiqing Sect has a level of cultivation in the later stages of Transcendent God, I am no match for him... If Taiqing Sect succeeds this time, they may become even more aggressive. Even the Spiritual Veins of Immortal City are at risk!"

Master Zhui Yue said, twirling her beads and sighing.

She knew what Fang Xi was most interested in and played to his concerns.

However, she did not anticipate Fang Xi’s response to remain calm and unhurried: "That is truly regrettable... Perhaps I need to seek out another cultivation spot."

To make an enemy out of a late-stage Transcendent God cultivator just for a temporary Dongfu? Fang Xi was not that foolish!

Moreover, with Master Zhui Yue there, many cultivators would have to give her face.

At least until the day of her Sitting and Transforming, Li Gou Immortal City would be stable as Mount Tai, albeit maybe a bit more frugal.

For Fang Xi, as long as the fifth-tier Spiritual Vein remained intact, it was of no great concern.

Master Zhui Yue expected this response; after all, Fang Xi was devoted to arduous cultivation, how could he become an enemy to a fellow Taoist over this?

Upon reflection, even Master Zhui Yue herself would never do such a thing.

She gave a wry smile and placed the Buddhist beads on the table.

The ten-thousand-year Soul Nourishing Wood beads were dark and lustrous, engraved with countless Brahman Sect symbols, each one gleaming with Golden Light and looking extraordinary.

"This string of Buddhist beads is second only to my life’s most treasured Buddha relic... I wish to bestow it upon you, Sir!"

Master Zhui Yue said with her hands clasped together in prayer.

"The Master is too generous..."

Fang Xi picked up the beads and toyed with them, feeling an enveloping scent of sandalwood and a sense of peace enveloping his spirit.

Not only that, but inside his Sea of Consciousness, there seemed to be an added cool breath.

Though for someone like him with an incredibly powerful Divine Consciousness, this was rather negligible, it would still accumulate to a sizable amount over time.

However, after playing with it for a while, Fang Xi put the beads back down.

Under the astonished gaze of Master Zhui Yue, he answered tranquilly, "Master’s proposal is indeed tempting, but alas, I am currently engrossed in the cultivation of a secret skill and truly cannot spare the time... Therefore, I must regretfully decline."

"Sir, your Dao heart is steadfast; I admire your resolve," Master Zhui Yue acknowledged.

With the conversation having reached this point, Master Zhui Yue found himself without recourse and could only pick up his string of Buddhist beads and gracefully take his leave.

Once outside the Dongfu, gazing upon the omnipresent glow of the sunset, he couldn’t help but become momentarily captivated...

...

Inside the Dongfu.

Fang Xi watched in the direction of Master Zhui Yue’s departure, silent and unspoken.

He was not greedy, nor did he believe that he ought to hold all the treasures of the Cultivation World in his hands.

One should be content and happy with one’s lot.

Thus, although he quite fancied the string of Buddhist beads, he was not inclined to deprive others of their cherished possessions.

’The crux of the matter is that this is somewhat challenging... To defeat a late-stage Transcendent God cultivator without using the Kuyong Mysterious Light or several great divine skills would require considerable effort, and even in victory, it would attract the attention of the Taiqing Sect, leading to a series of troubles... Would I exterminate the entire Taiqing Sect just for this trifling matter?’

’Recently, the "Supreme Northern Dipper Life-controlling Divine Light" has reached a critical moment. Once the threshold is crossed, it will surely provoke celestial phenomena, and it is ill-advised to complicate matters further...’

Fang Xi pondered to himself and resumed his daily cultivation routines...

...

Years flew by swiftly.

On this particular day.

A spirit boat, entirely cyan like carved from jade, thunderously approached the outskirts of Li Gou Immortal City.

"That is..."

Within Li Gou Immortal City, a cultivator looked up at the approaching spirit boat and suddenly felt his body tremble: "The ’Taiching Divine Thunder Ship’ of the Taiqing Sect! It’s said this ship harnesses three hundred sixty-five ’Taiqing Divine Thunders’, each capable of severely injuring a Nascent Soul cultivator, and should a hundred thunders strike simultaneously, even a Transcendent God cultivator would have to retreat from its edge..."

"Why has the Taiqing Sect deployed this ship? Could it be that a person of importance is to arrive, or is it to destroy Li Gou Immortal City?"

With this thought, many decisive cultivators immediately transformed into Escape Light, abandoning their stalls, shops, and even their Taoist companions and disciples, scattering in colorful streaks across the sky.

"Amitabha!"

Suddenly, a woman’s voice echoed through heaven and earth, carrying the power to soothe people’s hearts: "There is no need to panic... The cultivators of the Taiqing Sect have simply come for their routine visit."

With a flash of the Heart Light Dodging Method, Master Zhui Yue appeared atop the city gate tower, her expression grave.

"Haha... Master Zhui Yue, it has been many years since we last met, how have you been?"

Aboard the deck of the Taiching Divine Thunder Ship, an elder in a Taoist robe emerged, his appearance emaciated with half-black, half-white hair held by an ebony pin, exuding a carefree demeanor.

"Old Min..."

Three Nascent Soul cultivators flew to Master Zhui Yue’s side, gazing at the thunder ship in midair: "Is this elaborate spirit boat really necessary for a mere contest of skills?"

"Haha, hearing that the Master almost claimed victory against the Primitive Devil Door during a contest, despite the defeat, it was a glorious performance. I dare not take the matter lightly," Old Min cackled strangely, and several Nascent Soul cultivators from the Taiqing Sect stood behind him: "I trust the Master will not refuse my kind offer..."

"Humph, a contest is acceptable, but the conditions of the contest must be set by myself," Master Zhui Yue said with her palms pressed together. "Our skirmish might disturb the celestial balance unnecessarily... It might be better to let the Nascent Soul cultivators take part, best of three bouts. How does that sound?"

"Agreed."

Old Min looked towards a Nascent Soul woman cultivator with a sword on her back, his face suddenly revealing a hint of a smile...

...

All of this was unknown to Fang Xi.

At the moment, he was in seclusion, cultivating the "Supreme Northern Dipper Life-controlling Divine Light" to a critical juncture.

He was but a hair’s breadth away from making a breakthrough.

"Go!"

Fang Xi shaped seals with his hands as countless purple Dragon Chapter Scripts emerged around him, clustering and eagerly melding into the phantom of the Monster Tree.

The Monster Tree roared, its treetop shaking, casting forth an indescribable Mysterious Light.

At that moment, he flicked his fingers rapidly and cried out, "Quickly!"

The Life-Death Seal shot forward, and streaks of Dragon Chapter Scripts surfaced upon it.

This time, they were clearly imprinted upon the Kuyong Mysterious Light, enduring and undimmed, giving the Kuyong Mysterious Light a strange touch of purple.

The sound of rushing water filled the air!

In an instant, Fang Xi’s Divine Consciousness dove into the void, and his Eternal Green Body erupted within him.

His entire being seemed to transform into a verdant emerald statue, with golden threads surfacing all over.

Countless golden threads continued to ascend and merged into the Mysterious Light.

"So that’s how it is..."

Fang Xi laughed heartily, realizing he had mastered entry into this mighty Divine Skill!

And just at the moment of his success!

A crackling sound ripped through the air!

Above Li Gou Immortal City, the Heaven and Earth Primordial Energy surged for miles, darkness enveloped the sky, and a pattering rain began to pour down!

The raindrops were surprisingly tinged with a hint of crimson!