Chapter 125: Chapter 124 Gold Dragon Scissors (Seeking Subscription)_1
Indeed, the most valuable item on the eldest son of Kou family must be the ’White Turtle Armor’ he wore!
Even damaged, its worth exceeded that of a superior Spiritual Instrument.
Besides that, the large flying ship was also quite valuable.
Unfortunately, they were of little use to Fang Xi.
He would rather have that large-capacity Storage Bag!
"Gold Dragon Hammer?!"
Ruan Xingling was somewhat surprised, as she originally thought he would choose that set of Spirit armor.
However, she didn’t say anything and quickly completed the treasure division with Fang Xi.
"The Island Master returns today, and there must be other important matters. I shall not disturb you further. Please visit Jadeite Cliff another day, and I will clean the seats in anticipation of your arrival!"
Fang Xi, observing the mess around him, was the first to bow respectfully and take his leave.
Lu Guo followed closely behind Fang Xi, and the two boarded the Black Feather Boat, transforming into a streak of light that rapidly disappeared in the distance.
"Master!"
Ruan Dan, who had lost an arm, stepped forward, his eyes red.
"Foolish!"
Ruan Xingling’s elegant eyebrows raised, her tone laced with a hint of chillness, "I clearly gave you the ’Yin Yang Induction Talisman’, why didn’t you use it? If it weren’t for the news of an incident at Black Sand Island, your master might not have come back in time. Even if you achieve Foundation Establishment, it will be a lifelong regret..."
...
Jadeite Cliff.
Underground cavern.
’After all, I contributed the most. To just take the most valuable item like that would be really shameless...’
’Besides, I already have the Spirit Snake Armor.’
Underneath the Monster Tree, Fang Xi sat cross-legged.
Suddenly, he slapped his Storage Bag, and several bloody corpses emerged, all from today’s cultivation-heist.
Shushushu!
From the Monster Tree, numerous Qi Roots hung down, piercing into the corpses, lifting them into the air.
During this process, the corpses dried up, turned into mummies, and continued to sway slightly.
This scene looked particularly sinister and terrifying.
"Indeed... the flesh and blood of Immortal Cultivators are rich in spiritual energy, far superior to Spirit Rice and Taisui Meat for the Monster Tree..."
Feeling the excitement and eager emotions mixed from the Monster Tree, Fang Xi’s expression fluctuated between light and dark.
He hadn’t been pushed to the very last step yet, and it was best to do less of using humans as fertilizer.
After some thought, he finally took out the corpse of the second-in-command, who was at the eighth level of Qi Refining.
"It’s a pity. If it were the corpse of the eldest son of the Kou family, it would definitely have been made into a puppet. This person was at the third level of Body Refining, equivalent to a humanoid Monster Beast..."
But the eldest son of the Kou family was a ’Silver Armored Demon’, and the body might have to be handed over; Fang Xi never really considered it.
At this moment, looking at the corpse of the second-in-command at the eighth level of Qi Refining, he thought for a while before allowing the Monster Tree to absorb it.
After the Monster Tree drew the flesh and blood of a Qi Refining Stage cultivator, its branches danced wildly, becoming even more excited.
Pupu!
Suddenly, a Qi Root dropped down directly and pierced into Fang Xi’s back.
"Mmm!"
Fang Xi let out a contented and satisfying sigh.
This transfer, he felt that his lifespan had increased by at least thirty days!
In fact, over the past few years, accompanying the Monster Tree in consuming high-quality Taisui Meat, the life force it provided daily had also been constantly enriching and thickening...
By now, Fang Xi had a slight understanding of the upper limit of his lifespan, which was roughly around two hundred years.
This was already comparable to some Foundation Establishment cultivators!
At this moment, his eyes flashed with a hint of bloodlust, and an infinite desire surged in his heart, "Kill... to devour! As long as I devour enough... I can... attain immortality!!!"
The Monster Tree was exceedingly excited, its vines and branches dancing, even proactively extending towards the underground of Widow Wang and Hai Dagui’s houses, ready to act on a single thought from Fang Xi...
"No!"
The next moment, Fang Xi forcefully ordered the Monster Tree to retract its tendrils, his expression turning extremely ugly, "Was that... almost going demonically insane, or something else?"
If he had followed that impulse, there was a possibility it would escalate and eventually consume all the cultivators on the island!
Such an act was not his style or intention!
"What is... happening to me?"
Fang Xi immediately sat cross-legged and practiced the Eternal Spring Skills.
With a cooling sensation roaming through his body, the previous irritability in his heart rapidly dissipated.
He disconnected the Qi Roots behind him, looking at the vast Monster Tree with a heavy expression, "The... instinct of the Monster Tree?"
It seemed that this Spirit Plant harbored cruelty in its nature.
After being refined by him, it initially seemed harmless, but gradually its subtle influence emerged.
...
Several days later.
Within the courtyard.
Fang Xi sat under the Peach Blossom Tree, savoring tea.
Since that peculiar incident that night, it had been peaceful, and nothing else had happened.
Even after several times pondering over the ’Longevity Skills’, he couldn’t find a solution.
He could only take a break from Cultivation for a few days, combining work with leisure, daily tea sipping for health, and nurturing body and spirit.
He took a light sip of the Spiritual Tea and suddenly swept his hand across.
On the table, three dazzling top-grade artifacts immediately appeared!
They were a knife, a sword, and a hammer!
The sword was the Gold Dragon Sword, which had been his companion for many years; Fang Xi had grown quite fond of it, and any minor damage it had sustained had long since been repaired.
"The Kou family’s notorious ’Gold Dragon Three-piece Set’... Have I actually collected it all? Although it’s not very useful..."
Fang Xi commented with some irony.
In the Green Bamboo Mountain Market, these three top-grade artifacts were famous. He never would have imagined that one day he would be able to gather them all.
"Consider it satisfying a little bit of my collecting obsession... Huh, something’s not right?"
His Divine Consciousness swept over them, and as he was about to put the trio back into his Storage Bag, he suddenly noticed something was amiss.
There seemed to be some hidden mechanism within these three artifacts that coincidentally matched the concept of ’Combined Artifacts’ from the Refining Equipment Inheritance!
"Could it be..."
Fang Xi’s eyes lit up as he picked up the Gold Dragon Knife, feeling that a certain groove on the blade fit perfectly with the Gold Dragon Sword...
And it seemed the Gold Dragon Hammer could also be taken apart...
"These are not a set of artifacts, but... one artifact, no, wait..."
A moment later, Fang Xi assembled the Gold Dragon Set, and a brand-new artifact appeared before him.
It was a huge pair of scissors with golden scales on the surface, radiating a profound aura and dazzling spiritual brilliance.
"This is not an ordinary artifact, but... a Spiritual Instrument used by Foundation Establishment Cultivators!"
"Lower-grade Spiritual Instrument—Gold Dragon Scissors!"
Fang Xi’s eyes sparkled slightly.
What he didn’t know was that the three brothers from the Kou family had once stumbled into a Foundation Establishment Cultivator’s Dongfu by mistake and obtained a great fortune, one of which was this lower-grade Spiritual Instrument!
But since Qi Refining Cultivators were unable to wield Spiritual Instruments, the three brothers, after some research, discovered that this instrument was special—it could be separated into three top-grade artifacts and thus was divided among them for use.
And now, the three artifacts had finally merged into one!
"A Spiritual Instrument that only Foundation Establishment Cultivators can use?!"
Fang Xi was curious and channeled the magic power of Eternal Spring Skills into the Gold Dragon Scissors.
Before long, a strained look appeared on his face, but the Gold Dragon Scissors only glowed slightly, hovering in mid-air and emitting strong spiritual energy fluctuations.
’This power, I suppose it’s comparable to Ruan Xingling wielding that Exotic Treasure?’
’But the consumption is much larger, I didn’t see her struggle as much as I am now... Even though she is at the peak of Qi Refining Great Perfection and is only one level above me...’
’Indeed, Spiritual Instruments are not suitable for Qi Refining Cultivators.’
Fang Xi had heard that Foundation Establishment Cultivators condensed liquid magic power within their bodies, completely different from the gaseous magic power of Qi Refining Stage Cultivators!
Even just a drop of it, when used to perform low-level spells, could unleash immense power and effortlessly annihilate Qi Refining Cultivators!
"The essence of magic power is formidable; whether casting spells or using magical artifacts, both can turn decay into a miracle."
In his heart, he yearned even more for Foundation Establishment.
But at the same time, he couldn’t help but feel envious of Ruan Xingling. It was clear that her Exotic Treasure consumed less energy and was more powerful than this lousy pair of scissors.
Thinking of Ruan Xingling, Fang Xi sighed once again.
In this situation, she had turned the tide by arriving at the crucial moment and defeating the Silver Armored Demon. It seemed like a victory, but in fact, it was a loss...
While he was reflecting, Fang Xi’s expression changed as if sensing something. He quickly stored the Gold Dragon Scissors into his Storage Bag and proactively deactivated his array.
It wasn’t long before Ruan Xingling arrived with leisure.
"Greetings, Island Master!"
Fang Xi waved his hand casually, laughing, "Please, have a seat and enjoy some tea!"
Ruan Xingling sat opposite Fang Xi, picked up the teacup, and took a gentle sip, couldn’t help remarking, "Mr. Fang, your tea art has improved further. When I’m away, I often miss the clear tea and fine wine here..."
"How is your disciple?"
Fang Xi took out some pastries and asked casually.
At the mention of Ruan Dan, Ruan Xingling’s face showed a mix of anger and sorrow: "Her physical body has been damaged, making her chances of Foundation Establishment bleak... Hmph, where was the law enforcement team of the Thirty Six Islands when the Silver Armored Demon was wreaking havoc? I must seek justice from the alliance for this!"
Seeing Ruan Xingling’s demeanor, she was planning to make an appeal through official channels to the Thirty Six Island Alliance and not to have Peach Blossom Island leave the alliance.
There was a significant difference.
Once they withdrew from the Thirty Six Island Alliance, they would be seen as enemies, and even a justified cause would become unjustified!
But by lodging an appeal through official channels, she was showing no desire to upset the balance—opposing parties should work together, and the higher-ups must provide assurances and compensation!
From this decision alone, Fang Xi could see that Ruan Xingling was still rational.
"I owe you thanks this time; otherwise, Peach Blossom Island might not have held out until I arrived..."
Ruan Xingling got up and gave a deep bow.
"Island Master, you flatter me too much..."
Fang Xi waved his hand again and again, pouring another cup of Spiritual Tea for Ruan Xingling, "What I really want to ask about is... Foundation Establishment!"
Having amassed considerable potential, he had finally broken through and advanced to the seventh level of Qi Refining. It was very reasonable for him to start inquiring about Foundation Establishment.
As for his true cultivation level?
With the Demonic Tree storing his magic power, Ruan Xingling could not detect it at all.
After all, she did not possess Divine Consciousness.
"Foundation Establishment..."
Upon hearing this, a wry smile appeared on Ruan Xingling’s face: "Thousand Island Lake is merely a barren land to the Cultivation World of Yue Country, with very few opportunities for Foundation Establishment... As for the opportunities within Yue Country itself, most are controlled by the Mysterious Heaven Sect. Even the Seven Major Clans and the five major sects rarely get their hands on Foundation Establishment Pills... Of course, these lesser Foundation-building Spiritual Objects that ensure the continuity of the clans are occasionally available."
"On this trip, I traveled around and finally settled in Baize Immortal City, preparing for Foundation Establishment, but then I heard the news of Black Sand Island being destroyed and had to return immediately..."
Fang Xi’s expression turned serious; the event of the Silver Armored Demon obliterating Black Sand Island was widely publicized in the Cultivation World of Yue Country, with clear signs that forces from Thousand Island Lake seeking to prevent Ruan Xingling’s advancement were behind it.
The purpose was to thwart Ruan Xingling’s attempt at Foundation Establishment!