Chapter 104: Chapter 103: Four Years (Request for Monthly Tickets)_1 Chapter 104: Chapter 103: Four Years (Request for Monthly Tickets)_1 Winter passes and spring arrives, summer fades and autumn comes!
The vegetation around Jadeite Cliff turned from yellow back to green, and in the blink of an eye, four cold and warm seasons had cycled through!
The underground cavern.
“By my reckoning, I’m also twenty-eight years old this year…”
Fang Xi gradually ceased his cultivation practice, the azure-green spiritual light on his body slowly returning to tranquility.
At this moment, his cultivation level had actually reached the sixth layer of the Qi Refining Stage!
With a first-grade Spiritual Root and a cultivation room, Fang Xi’s progression in the ‘Eternal Spring Skills’ cultivation technique had sped up, and he reached the peak of the fifth layer in a few years.
Then, he attempted to surge through the bottleneck, and to his surprise, he easily broke through.
“However, it’s merely the minor breakthrough of the mid-stage Qi Refining period, nothing to make a fuss about… The true challenge is advancing from the sixth layer to the seventh layer within the Qi Refining Stage, which is the biggest bottleneck.”
Fang Xi’s expression became somewhat solemn.
Many Qi Refining cultivators spend their entire lives unable to break through this barrier, unable to promote to the late stage of Qi Refining!
Especially for someone with low innate spiritual root talent like himself!
In the Thousand Island Lake region, Immortal Cultivators in the late Qi Refining stage could already secure the position of Island Master for some of the smaller islands, like Ruan Xingling!
“Fortunately, I have enough time to grind it out… Slowly grinding away, perhaps I’ll cultivate a Spirit Body!”
Fang Xi stood up, his mindset quite positive.
He wore a green robe, and the four years seemed unable to leave any trace on him; he even appeared to become younger.
Just standing there quietly, he was like an orchid among jade trees, serene and remote…
“Wooden Element cultivation techniques naturally have a preserving effect on one’s appearance, and since I also cultivate my disposition, I can passably bluff…”
Fang Xi looked back at the Demon Tree behind him, only to see that the tree had now grown to be two zhang tall, its dark Qi Roots and vines drooping down, and its crown lush and green… It already possessed some of the elegance of the Ancestral Demon Tree.
“What I didn’t expect was that there would be some unexpected joys.”
Fang Xi stood under the tree, allowing a vine to bring down a dusty seed from the treetop.
This was a seed of the Demon Tree!
He looked at it and then caught a common rabbit from a cage in the corner, tossing the seed onto the animal.
In the next instant!
The seed exploded into myriad tendrils that penetrated the rabbit’s body, even starting to devour its marrow and causing the rabbit to let out a pained wail…
A moment later, the tree seed had fully replaced the rabbit’s skeleton and began to eerily stand upright, performing various actions in accordance with Fang Xi’s will…
“The puppet skill I’ve been searching for has actually been by my side all along…”
The Demon Tree inherently possesses the ability to control puppets and servants.
This parasitic ability of the tree seed was also gradually discovered by Fang Xi later on.
Since the Demon Tree could control the seed, and he could control the Demon Tree, he could also indirectly manipulate the puppets, forming a unique set of ‘Wood Puppet Skills’!
“But… the seeds for the puppets are a grade lower than the mother tree.”
Fang Xi took out another seed, feeling that compared to the Demon Tree behind him, it was entirely a full grade lower.
If the Demon Tree behind him was of the second order, then this seed, at most, was first order!
“The seeds I obtained are probably also a level lower than the Ancestral Demon Tree… But after being brought to the Cultivation World and absorbing a large amount of spiritual energy, did they undergo mutations and breakthroughs?”
Fang Xi stroked his chin, his curiosity about that Ancestral Demon Tree growing even stronger.
At the same time, he breathed a sigh of relief.
There was no need to worry about these seeds being sown by others who might then grow a Demon Tree just like his.
After all, they are weakened versions of the seeds.
“In the future, my Demon Tree may very well devour the Ancestral Demon Tree!”
Fang Xi secretly planted a wild ambition in his heart.
His Demon Tree was a weakened version of the Ancestral Demon Tree, and even with the reinforcement of spiritual energy, it might not necessarily cultivate into the ‘Eternal Green Body’!
In the future, if he truly desired immortality, sooner or later, he would have to confront the Ancestral Demon Tree!
…
After cutting up some Taisui meat to feed to the Demon Tree, Fang Xi then checked on his spiritual beasts one by one.
The Daqing fish was still as listless as ever, and he hadn’t seen much change in it over the years.
On the other hand, among the large number of Black Patterned Golden Beetles in the specially designated insect room, a few were beginning to occasionally show specks of cyan.
Fang Xi’s face brightened slightly at the sight. Forming a magic spell with his hands, he collected those few Cyan Flower Golden Beetles to be cultivated separately in the future.
This type of insect demon beast has little power without scale.
Currently being raised for fun, apart from refining his Beast Controlling Skills, they can also serve as a trump card out in the open.
Hmm, the public version of Fang Xi also needs a trump card!
…
“I can’t leave the range of the Demon Tree; I can’t even go to Mirror Moon Lake, which is quite bothersome…”
“Over the past few years, I’ve declined several summons from the Island Master; I feel like Ruan Xingling is almost getting angry…”
“There are also some small unexpected items that need to be acquired, requiring someone to handle it.”
“I can’t just bring in a corpse and then turn it into a wooden puppet, can I?”
As Fang Xi walked between the farm ridges, he occasionally uncorked the wine gourd at his waist, pouring a sip of Spirit Wine into his mouth.
Having lived here for many years, he was exceedingly familiar with every blade of grass and tree on Jadeite Cliff.
Even… control!
With a step, a root of the Demonic Beast Tree emerged under Fang Xi’s foot, and then quickly coiled back.
“This Demonic Beast Tree’s roots grow so fast. In no time, they’ll spread throughout the entire Jadeite Cliff, right?”
He came to the edge of the cliff, looking at the rippling surface of the lake, silent and thoughtful. “Perhaps… I should loosen its restrictions a bit, such as letting it stretch its tendrils into the lake to catch fish every day?”
Only when the Monster Tree receives more blood food will it reciprocate with more abundant primordial life energy.
Rather than like now, where it only grants half a day’s lifespan every day.
In fact, Fang Xi had been restraining the bloodlust of the Monster Tree all this time, which is why he hadn’t allowed it to turn the entire Peach Blossom Island into a Demon Realm.
This too, is a kind of cultivation of the mind!
…
This afternoon.
Fang Xi had just made some tea, savoring it slowly.
In his courtyard, he had already planted more than a dozen peach blossom trees, all of which were sent by Ruan Xingling.
They were said to be offshoots of that second-rank Spirit Peach Tree, barely qualifying as Spirit Plants.
With his expertise as a Spirit Plant Farmer, Fang Xi had brought all these transplanted peach trees back to life, even astonishing Ruan Xingling.
“Now that these Spirit Plants have adapted to the soil, I suppose we’ll have peaches to eat next year…”
He leaned against a tree, letting the peach blossom petals fall on his shoulders. “Hmm… and peach blossoms too, which can be used to brew Peach Blossom Wine… In the ‘Alcohol Deity Manual’, there’s exactly a recipe that can add a floral fragrance to the wine…”
The afternoon sun was warm and intoxicating, just perfect for a spring nap.
Fang Xi yawned, about to take a nap when the prohibition token began to flash its light!
“Who could this uninvited guest be this time?”
He channeled his magic power into the token, opening the array, only to see a man wearing a jade crown and brocade clothes, with an extraordinary bearing, arriving on a white feather artifact.
“So it’s him!”
Fang Xi murmured to himself.
It was ‘Feng Man Building’!
After accepting his fate, this person got married and had children on Peach Blossom Island. He diligently worked on easing the tensions between the three major Individual Cultivator families, indeed quite adept at navigating social interactions.
Even Fang Xi, because he needed to maintain a channel of communication, had given Feng Man Building a favorable impression. Over time, they could even be considered friends.
On the other hand, Mo Qingyu, from the Mo Family, even after the death of their family elder, didn’t know to be more restrained. In the past few years, she was banished from the island by Ruan Xingling, her whereabouts unknown…
Feng Man Building stepped off his artifact and saw Fang Xi’s leisurely demeanor, appearing languid and relaxed, which made him somewhat envious. “Brother Fang, I truly envy you, tending your fields and raising fish, unconcerned with worldly affairs… spending your days like an immortal… Eh? You’ve made a breakthrough?”
He sensed Fang Xi’s Qi Refining Stage Six cultivation and was even more surprised.
The other’s cultivation level had caught up to his own.
After all, even as a descendant of a Qi Refining family, the late stages of Qi Refining were a major hurdle.
Feng Man Building had long reached Qi Refining Stage Six but had been stuck at the bottleneck, yet Fang Xi had caught up with him.
“It took a whole five years just to improve by one level, sigh…”
Fang Xi shook his head, his expression one of disappointment in his own aptitude.
Feng Man Building empathized, similarly sighing. “I’ve heard that those Foundation Establishment sect disciples and noble family heirs are expected to break through the later stages of Qi Refining before the age of thirty to be considered hopefuls for Foundation Establishment… In our Qi Refining families, if one can break through the later stages of Qi Refining before the age of forty, it’s enough to be noticed and nurtured. Brother Fang, don’t be discouraged, there’s still hope…”
“I’ve just advanced, and it takes time to accumulate magic power, let alone facing a major bottleneck.”
Fang Xi gave a wry smile.
Last time he was at Baochuan Market, he didn’t manage to acquire any elixirs that could help break through the later stages of Qi Refining.
Such elixirs are not only precious but also very rare.
Once they appear, they are promptly bought.
Unless one stakes out at an auction, there might be a slim chance of encountering one or two.
Other than that, cultivators wanting to break through a bottleneck can only rely on time to grind it out slowly, or through an epiphany during a fierce battle.
“Brother Fang, you have been diligently cultivating, not leaving your home for five years, and finally advanced to Qi Refining Stage Six. I admire that greatly.”
Feng Man Building bowed formally, changing his expression to a smile. “May I ask for some Spirit Wine to taste? To share in your joy?”
“Haha, you’re always thinking about my good stuff.”
Fang Xi laughed but still went to get a bottle of Red Blood Wine and tossed it to Feng Man Building. “Last year the weather was favorable for wine making, like there was divine help. It’s definitely from the best batch.”
“Thank you.”
Feng Man Building pulled out the cork, sniffed the fragrance of the wine, but did not drink it, instead tucking it into his chest.
Having wed and fathered children, his kids were still too young to test for their Spiritual Roots, but this Spirit Wine could strengthen vitality. Bringing it home for them to drink would ensure their bodies remained robust and free from illness, which was excellent.
Lately, he was still fixated on acquiring the fruits of the second-rank Spirit Peach Tree, so he had been running errands for Ruan Xingling with even more diligence.
“Ah… once a carefree young man, now turned into a greasy dad…”
Watching this scene, Fang Xi was inwardly moved.
He continued to drink his Spiritual Tea. Half a day later, Feng Man Building shamelessly came seeking Spiritual Tea to drink.
Fang Xi rolled his eyes, but still poured Feng Man Building a cup. “You never visit without reason. Has something happened on the island recently?”
“Haha, you finally asked!”
Feng Man Building tilted his head back and drained the Spiritual Tea, then spoke, “This year’s Spirit Testing Convention is particularly lively… Of course, you’ve always disliked the fuss, but this time it’s different. This year has really brought joy and surprise to the Island Master!”