Chapter 216: Chapter 215 Yan Changkong (Seeking Subscription)_1
"Alas... the once so innocent Shaman Race has also become cunning these days..."
Dragon Fish Island.
Evergreen Pavilion.
Fang Xi sighed deeply.
Just now, Danya had come to him with a Treasure Pattern to trade again.
Moreover, this Treasure Pattern was to be exchanged for both the ’Five Extremities Primordial Demon Skill’ and the latter half of a second-grade concealing Array.
Because she had found a Treasure Pattern containing the Metal Spirit Pattern!
Fang Xi was indeed very interested in it. Seeing that the Shaman Race was actually not having an easy time, he allowed her to exploit a loophole and completed the trade, obtaining a brand new Treasure Pattern!
"Xiuxian Treasure Pattern!"
He took out a jade slip and began to inscribe this Treasure Pattern.
The Tribe of Five Elements’ fundamental heritage ’Five Elements Treasure Pattern’ was something that Xue Ku still refused to trade, but they had many other Treasure Patterns in their collection.
Among them was a ’Xiuxian Treasure Pattern’, which contained the ’Metal Spirit Pattern’!
"Xiuxian Treasure Pattern, a combination of the Metal Spirit Pattern, Sword Control Spirit Pattern, and Annihilation Spirit Pattern as a foundation... Extremely powerful in terms of offensive capabilities, not bad at all."
Fang Xi was very satisfied with the exchange item this time.
His ’Green Barley Sword’ finally had an opportunity for enhancement!
The material of this sword was originally third-grade, and after continuous cultivation by him, it was now almost comparable to a top-grade Spiritual Instrument!
Once the Treasure Pattern is branded, it can’t be said to be immediately comparable to a magical treasure, but at least it will far surpass the level of a top-grade Spiritual Instrument!
"With a little more nurturing, the future third-grade offensive magical weapon will be in hand!"
In fact, what Fang Xi did not know was that compared to the ’Five Elements Flying Sword,’ the demon cultivators of the Holy Sect were more fond of refining a ’Xiuxian Flying Sword’!
A Witch King who has cultivated a ’Xiuxian Treasure Pattern’ is often the favorite of demon sword cultivators...
"After being thrashed in the Fragment World, Danya has finally admitted defeat... started hiding her people, and should be able to avoid this Heavenly Demon Catastrophe..."
"Generally speaking, just hiding for a year, and the Sky Demon will go back on their own..."
Once Fang Xi discovered that Danya in the Fragment World had started to set up Arrays and hide her people, he no longer interfered.
After all, with a thread of his Divine Consciousness there, he wouldn’t miss anything important.
...
In the Refining Chamber.
This was actually the place Fang Xi visited the least, with many areas covered in a thick layer of dust.
Now, Fang Xi pointed casually, and a streak of green light flew out, cavorting in midair with green patterns swirling around, emanating specks of golden light like a fish, appearing extremely spirited.
"Top-grade Spiritual Instrument—Green Barley Sword!"
Fang Xi held the Green Barley Sword in his hand and felt a bit sentimental: "It’s not in vain that I’ve nurtured this little treasure with Primordial Energy over many years, even slightly delaying my cultivation progress... It finally has broken through a level."
Above the top-grade Spiritual Instruments, it is rumored that there are supreme-grade Spiritual Instruments, although they are very rare. These are often either defective products of third-grade magical weapon refinement or the result of a talisman forger adding precious materials and displaying extraordinary skill when forging top-grade Spiritual Instruments.
The Exotic Treasure in Fang Xi’s possession—the Purple Yunzhu Bracelet—roughly corresponds to the level of a supreme-grade Spiritual Instrument.
"I wonder how much might the Green Barley Sword enhance its power after being configured with the Treasure Pattern?"
A look of anticipation flashed in his eyes as he waved his hand to arrange the Array Flags.
When he had first forged the ’Green Barley Sword’, Fang Xi had reserved enough space to continue branding Spirit Marks in the future.
At this moment, he exhaled a breath of Innate True Fire and began to scorch the sword’s body.
The temperature inside the Refining Chamber gradually started to rise.
...
Time unconsciously passed, and three years went by.
Fang Xi caressed his dantian and walked out of the Refining Chamber feeling somewhat frustrated.
The ’Xiuxian Treasure Pattern’ on the ’Green Barley Sword’ had been successfully branded. Even after the branding of the Treasure Pattern, this little magical treasure had completely surpassed the Purple Yunzhu Bracelet’s supreme-grade Spiritual Instrument level, reaching the quasi third-grade level.
But...
"Too good of a result can also be a problem..."
Fang Xi muttered to himself with a wry smile on his face.
The ’Green Barley Sword’ had indeed been upgraded to the quasi third-grade, which was definitely good news, but the Magic Power needed to wield this sword had also increased by hundreds or thousands of times.
With his current mid-Foundation Establishment Magic Power, he would nearly exhaust his supply after only a few uses!
This made Fang Xi think back to the time when he was still a Qi Refining cultivator and tried to wield the ’Gold Dragon Scissors’.
’Magical treasures can only be wielded by Core Formation Masters... although powerful, wielding a magical treasure while only at the mid-Foundation Establishment level, is like a child swinging a large hammer, not only exhausting but also dangerous if one is not careful...’
According to Fang Xi’s estimate, he would at least need to cultivate the ’Green Wood Longevity Skills’ to the thirteenth level and become a late or complete Foundation Establishment cultivator with sufficiently robust Magic Power before he could barely bring the ’Green Barley Sword’ into actual combat.
There isn’t a separate layer of cultivation for a complete Foundation Establishment. It refers to the cultivation of late Foundation Establishment Magic Power to a state of ’completeness’ where there is no further progression, only Core Formation remaining.
Fang Xi suppressed his slightly frustrated mood, invited Yan Hongxue and Xiahou Ying over to drink and make merry together, dispelling his worries.
In the blink of an eye, another carefree three months passed.
That day.
A streak of Escape Light of astonishing speed, emitting Spiritual Pressure far exceeding that of Qi Refining cultivators, flew from the south into Thousand Island Lake and directly towards Dragon Fish Island!
"It’s a Foundation Establishment great cultivator!"
"This Escape Light and breath are so unfamiliar... a Foundation Establishment cultivator from outside?"
Along the way, many Qi Refining late-stage Island Masters saw this beam of Escape Light and subconsciously shrank their necks, feeling that the peace in Thousand Island Lake was about to be disturbed again.
...
Dragon Fish Island.
Fang Xi, who was embracing Yan Hongxiu, raised an eyebrow with a bit of schadenfreude on his face.
"Young Master..."
Yan Hongxiu was lost in her emotions, still curious why Fang Xi had stopped all of a sudden.
The next moment, she saw Fang Xi hugging her and flying out of the Evergreen Pavilion, which startled her: "Could it be that we’re going to the clouds again?"
However, she soon realized she was wrong.
Fang Xi, with Yan Hongxiu in tow, arrived at the edge of the Profound Wood Formation, where they saw a cultivator standing on a white jade flying boat.
This Foundation Establishment cultivator looked quite young, only in his twenties or thirties, with sword-like eyebrows and starry eyes. His long hair was tied into a bun, secured with a small emerald sword.
Upon seeing Yan Hongxiu, he was the first to speak: "Sister Hongxiu!"
"Is it Changkong? Changkong... you’ve finally succeeded in Foundation Establishment... sob sob sob..."
Upon seeing Yan Changkong, Yan Hongxiu’s tears fell like raindrops.
"Greetings, Sir Yan, congratulations on your successful Foundation Establishment. Please come in for some tea!"
Fang Xi greeted nonchalantly.
"I have been informed about the family matters by Uncle, and I’d like to thank Lord Fang for your protection during this period and for the previous assistance..."
Yan Changkong smiled warmly, with an air of decorum and politeness about him.
Coming from Mysterious Heaven Sect, he had good judgment and did not dare to rush into the Profound Wood Formation previously.
But now, invited by Fang Xi, he entered Dragon Fish Island with much confidence.
After all, after Foundation Establishment, he had automatically become part of the middle to high ranks of Mysterious Heaven Sect. Unless Fang Xi was a madman, he wouldn’t rashly attack a Foundation Establishment cultivator of Mysterious Heaven Sect at its stronghold!
The three of them went to the Evergreen Pavilion, where Yan Hongxiu instructed Xiahou Ying to make tea.
She usually sat on equal terms with Xiahou Ying, and since she was a newcomer, she even always had to be kept under control. Today, she finally had her moment of triumph!
Xiahou Ying, seeing Yan Hongxiu had a family member succeed in Foundation Establishment, didn’t dare to rebel and really obediently went to make tea.
"Haha, Sir Yan, you must try this ’Cloud Dragon Tea’. It’s a fine tea with a superb taste and limited production in Spirit Medicine Valley, offered only to esteemed guests."
Fang Xi presented a cup of Spiritual Tea, and Yan Hongxiu, keeping him company, watched Yan Changkong chatting comfortably with their master.
In their conversation, she found out that more than three years ago, the head of the Yan family, bringing a group of strong hands, had gone to great lengths to bring the Spirit Stones and supplies they had gathered to Mysterious Heaven Sect and handed them over to Yan Changkong; he then immediately took on missions, hunted Monster Beasts, killed Evil Cultivators, and exchanged merit points...
In the process, the cultivators from the Yan family died until only the seventh son of the Yan family and Yan Dongqing were left. They finally managed to scrape together five thousand points of merit for Yan Changkong after two years.
Yan Changkong didn’t dare to take it lightly and immediately went back to the Sect to apply for a Foundation Establishment Pill.
He was also lucky. A year later, the Mysterious Heaven Sect’s team that went to harvest herbs in the Secret Realm returned with their loads full, and this year’s Sect alchemists performed above expectations, producing more Foundation Establishment Pills than usual. He managed to get one at the very end.
He then went into seclusion, took the Foundation Establishment Pill, and after three months of arduous cultivation, he had a breakthrough to Foundation Establishment!
"Before coming here... I already sent the clan head and Dongqing back to Ling Kong Island..."
Yan Changkong said in conclusion.
"Good... if our ancestors knew of your successful Foundation Establishment, they would be very pleased."
Yan Hongxiu wiped the corners of her eyes, her joy overflowing, mixed with a bit of sadness.
After all, for Yan Changkong to reach Foundation Establishment, the Yan family indeed paid too much.
She was just about to say something when she noticed a fleeting impatient look passing through Yan Changkong’s brows, leaving her with an empty feeling and an ominous premonition...
Sects prefer to recruit Immortal Seedlings from a young age, as this method ensures the highest loyalty and makes it easier for daily indoctrination and brainwashing.
Yan Changkong and another member of the Yan family were sent to the Sect at the age of four or five. Over time, accustomed to the environment, they might not necessarily feel a strong sense of belonging to the family.
This time he returned merely because the family played a role in helping him establish his foundation, and he felt he should repay them, then put the worldly ties to rest, so he could have a more stable Dao Heart, better cultivate, and break through in the future.
While repaying the kindness of the family was one thing, becoming enemies with other Foundation Establishment cultivators over it, or staying long-term at Thousand Island Lake to expand territory for the Yan family and thereby neglecting his own cultivation and acquiring Sect merit points, was quite another.
"I remember that as a child, I was closest to Sister Hongxiu. I hope you will treat her well in the future... Sigh, I’m also familiar with this ’Cloud Dragon Tea’. I remember liking to play in the Spirit Medicine Valley as a kid..."
Yan Changkong sipped his tea while seeming to mention casually, "Recently, our Sect is somewhat dissatisfied with Thousand Island Lake... how come the ’Little Green Dragon’ that the Zhong Family has always been offering as tribute, is now gone?"
Fang Xi heard this and couldn’t help but chuckle internally.
This man invoked his Mysterious Heaven Sect identity and subtly pointed out Fang Xi’s previous occupation of Yan Family’s Dragon Fish Island, but it was all just a feint.
As long as he promised to treat Yan Hongxiu well, even elevate her status as a concubine or even a primary wife, Yan Changkong would probably be quite satisfied.
’But why... should I listen to your bluffs?’
’Just a newly advanced Foundation Establishment cultivator... even if the head of the Mysterious Heaven Sect came to my Dragon Fish Island, he too would have to lie low!’
Fang Xi set down his tea cup and spoke calmly, "The Little Green Dragon is difficult to tame and I need it for my own use; I’m afraid I won’t be able to supply to Mysterious Heaven Sect like the Zhong Family did before... However, I have forged some second-rank low-quality talismans, if you’re interested, we could exchange some..."
"You’re a second-rank Talisman Master?" Yan Changkong’s eyes widened in disbelief.
A Talisman Master surely hides supreme talismans, making their combat power hard to estimate, but definitely stronger than him.
Not to mention, there were second-rank Grand Arrays guarding the island, as well as a second-rank Monster Beast!
’This man is already well-established and difficult to coerce; more inclined to appeasement than force. Alas, I wanted to seek justice for Sister Hongxiu, but it seems now I have achieved the opposite...’