Chapter 218: Chapter 217: Liu Sanqi (Congratulations to the Silver Alliance!)_1
The Master Bai Feng of Baize Immortal City was originally an Individual Cultivator.
Later on, by a stroke of fate, he successfully formed his Core and then occupied what was once a trading area to establish Baize Immortal City, which has been around for several centuries by now.
It’s just that a Core Formation Master’s lifespan is so long, they outlive generations of Cultivators, making it seem as though they possess Immortality themselves.
In fact, Fang Xi did a quick calculation to realize that this Master Bai Feng was already over four hundred years old...
After outliving over a dozen of his disciples, could it be that the time had come for this Core Formation Master to be sent off by his disciples as well?
Fang Xi waved his hand to dismiss Zhong Hongyu, and holding a cup of Spiritual Tea, he fell into deep thought.
In this world, even Yuan Ying True Masters simply have to resign themselves to their fate and Sit and Transform or reincarnate when their lives come to an end.
As for Soul Possession? Since it damages heavenly harmony, it does not extend one’s lifespan.
Master Bai Feng will inevitably Sit and Transform sooner or later, there’s no doubt about it, unless he defies fate and breaks through to Nascent Soul...
’This time, Master Bai Feng risked entering the depths of the Ten Thousand Beast Mountain Range to hunt the Monster King, probably also for a tier-three Demon Pill...’
’Although this person has many disciples, the path to achieving a Golden Core is fraught with insurmountable difficulties, even Ouyang Zhen seems to be lacking in some aspect?’
’The last time the tier-three Demon Pill was up for grabs, Master Bai Feng lost to Ancestor Jiang, and Ouyang Zhen also missed out on a great opportunity...’
In truth, for Cultivators of the three countries, to be able to refine a Monster King’s Inner Core into a Jia Dan is already a remarkable opportunity...
’So it seems, when Master Bai Feng Sits and Transforms, Baize Immortal City, without a Core Formation Master in command... will definitely be thrown into turmoil, and even the Mysterious Heaven Sect, Green Wood Sect, and Yiling Valley might make a move!’
Baize Immortal City attracts a large number of Individual Cultivators, claiming to be the sacred place of trade for them, how much business and flow of people has it taken from the markets of the three Sects?
In the past, Master Bai Feng’s presence was a deterrent, but now it’s a bit troublesome.
’The lineage of White Peak Mountain is still powerful, Ouyang Zhen was already at the late stage of Foundation Establishment last time we met... it wouldn’t be strange if he has now broken through to the peak of Foundation Establishment, and with the command over the ’Kui Cattle Drum,’ a tier-three treasure, seated atop a tier-three Array... he should also have the power to contest.’
At least, Fang Xi felt that fending off a Golden Core Sect wouldn’t be a big issue.
However... if the three Great Core Formation Sects joined forces, it would be a different story, as Ouyang Zhen is not a Core Formation Master!
Immortal Cultivators are mostly selfish, only swayed by their interests.
The last time Ancestor Jiang helped Baize Immortal City, it was merely because there was no safe place during a beast tide, and for the sake of a tier-three Demon Pill.
This time, even if Mysterious Heaven Sect makes a move against Baize Immortal City, Fang Xi wouldn’t find it strange in the slightest.
"The mountain rain is coming, wind fills the building..."
"Alas, I have long since hidden in this small building, becoming one with it, regardless of spring, summer, autumn, and winter..."
Fang Xi thought for a while and began drafting two letters in response.
The one to Zhan Tu was rather casual, simply mentioning he could lend him a few hundred Spirit Stones when the time comes, and the rest would be up to his own efforts.
As for Yan Changkong’s letter, it was written with more caution, starting with thanks for the information shared, followed by a gift, and a request for him to continue keeping an eye on the events at Baize Immortal City and to inform him.
Currently, with Elder Zhang Zhang Zhusheng of the Mysterious Heaven Sect in power, with his extensive lifespan and robust years, he was quite stable.
Who knows... Perhaps some astute Individual Cultivators have already sought refuge in Yue Country to escape impending trouble!
...
A year later.
News about Master Bai Feng reverberated through Yue Country, even reaching the usually secluded Dragon Fish Island, where people were discussing it.
Fang Xi heard the rumors, which grew more ridiculous by the day, with some even claiming that Master Bai Feng had long since passed away.
’It looks like... the upper echelons of Yue Country are about to make a move?’
’Or perhaps... is it false information spread by the lineage of White Peak Mountain? After all, they’ve used this tactic before...’
’But then again... what does this have to do with me, just enjoy the show...’
Fang Xi sat leisurely on the top of Evergreen Pavilion, looking at the busy figures in Spirit Medicine Valley and the fish farm, feeling a sense of relaxation wash over him.
Just then, his brow twitched, and he opened the Array.
A green Voice Transmission Talisman, like a swift falcon, circled once and landed in his hand.
After briefly listening, Fang Xi’s face changed, and he made the Profound Wood Formation reveal a passageway.
A streak of blue Escape Light descended, the aura of Foundation Establishment around it causing the Azure horn Fish Dragons in the fish farm to lift their heads.
The blue Escape Light landed in front of Fang Xi, revealing a Foundation Establishment Cultivator.
This man, about thirty years old, with a small goatee and his hair held up by a black wood pin, wearing a tattered Taoist Robe and resembling a traveling doctor from the mortal realms, carrying a worn-out medicine chest on his back.
Most importantly, his Magic Power was impressively at the middle stage of Foundation Establishment!
"I am Liu Sanqi, I’ve had the pleasure of meeting Mr. Fang!"
The middle-stage Foundation Establishment Cultivator with a goatee greeted Fang Xi with a smile, his eyes subtly glancing over Fang Xi and the vast canopy of the Monster Tree above, betraying a slight change in his expression.
"So it is Cultivator Liu... I had heard of Cultivator Liu’s remarkable healing skills when I was in Baize Immortal City, it’s just that fate denied us a meeting until now..."
Fang Xi smiled as he returned the greeting with a clasped fist and invited Liu Sanqi to enter the Evergreen Pavilion, ordering Zhong Hongyu to serve tea.
Once both of them were seated, with the host and guest settled and Spiritual Tea served, Fang Xi took a sip of Cloud Dragon Tea before inquiring, "Cultivator Liu has come to my Dragon Fish Island, may I ask what urgent matter brings you here? Could it be to purchase Spirit Fish or Talismans, or perhaps pills?"
"Ah..." Liu Sanqi chuckled bitterly, shaking his hand, "In truth... I can no longer stay in Baize Immortal City and wish to find a place of refuge... Thousand Island Lake is remote and perfectly suits my needs... Quite frankly, before coming to Dragon Fish Island, I had already visited Maple Leaf Island, where Island Master Ruan generously offered me ’Golden Turtle Island’ as a temporary dwelling... Thus, my visit today is also to call upon a neighbor!"
While chuckling bitterly, Liu Sanqi retrieved a gift from his medicine chest, several century-old Spirit Plants that could serve as principal ingredients for some tier-two Pill Recipes.
His medicine chest looked worn, but in actuality, it must be a Storage Artifact.
"Oh? So we’re neighbors now? With the current unstable situation, I hope we can look out for each other..."
Fang Xi was courteous for a few sentences before asking directly, "I heard... is it true that Master Bai Feng is nearing his end and is about to Sit and Transform?"
"That... I don’t know, but we Individual Cultivators try to avoid trouble when we can. I’m also here to lay low."
Liu Sanqi replied with a wry smile.
The fact that even a mid-Foundation Establishment expert like him was fleeing in a panic indicated that the situation in Baize Immortal City was indeed deepening.
After chatting with Liu Sanqi for a while longer, Fang Xi learned that he was a Spirit Plant Farmer who excelled at cultivating various Spirit Medicines, which prompted Fang Xi to feel a closer bond with him.
After all, as a second-order alchemist, he indeed needed a lot of Spirit Medicines.
Liu Sanqi, too, was amazed at Fang Xi’s extensive knowledge, particularly in the field of Spirit Plant farming. The more they talked, the more they hit it off, almost regretting not having met sooner.
Several hours later, Liu Sanqi finally took his leave.
A green Escape Light flashed and he flew beyond the parameters of Dragon Fish Island.
At that moment, Liu Sanqi touched his chest, feeling somewhat relieved: "Dragon Fish Island’s Fang Xi... this person is really not simple. Although he’s only at early Foundation Establishment, I felt a sense of danger from him... And that Spiritual Tree... even I felt palpitations..."
All he really wanted was to seek refuge at Thousand Island Lake, so why was it that everywhere he turned there were formidable individuals?
Thinking this, Liu Sanqi couldn’t help but laugh and cry at his own luck.
’Fortunately, this Sir seems to be a diligent and dedicated cultivator, as long as we don’t cross each other’s paths...’
Liu Sanqi muttered to himself before transforming into an Escape Light and flying back to Golden Turtle Island.
Meanwhile, Fang Xi watched the direction Liu Sanqi left in, deep in thought.
He stepped out of the Evergreen Pavilion and saw roots of the Monster Tree emerging from the ground, twining around his ankles.
"Hm? You want to devour him?"
"That mid-Foundation Establishment one not only has abundant Qi and blood, but also carries a fragrance of herbs and trees... Much more appetizing than the average Foundation Establishment cultivator?"
"Could it be... he has some special constitution?"
After pondering for a moment, Fang Xi chuckled to himself: "Don’t eat... unless he becomes an enemy."
He firmed his expression, suppressed the roots of the Monster Tree, and then headed down to the underground of the Evergreen Pavilion.
Gurgle, gurgle!
Bubbles continuously emerged from Ground Evil Lake, with streams of Evil Qi forming at the bottom of the crust and gathering above the lake, creating a dark cloud of mist.
This was Dragon Fish Island’s greatest treasure—Ground Evil Lake!
Calculating the years, in at most about another decade, he would be able to purify a stream of ’Black Wind Evil Qi’, right?"
Fang Xi extended his Divine Consciousness, estimating the concentration of the Evil Qi, and muttered to himself.
This ’Black Wind Evil Qi’ could temper the physique of cultivators and was considered a beneficial Spiritual Object for those at Foundation Establishment, a rarity that Qi Refining cultivators would break their heads over in the outside world.
However, for Fang Xi, it was rather commonplace.
A mere stream of Evil Qi wasn’t even worth half the value of a Foundation Establishment Pill.
"Either I could casually bestow it upon my subordinates or purify the Evil Qi to refine other items..."
"Heh... I wonder how many people are coveting this stream of Evil Qi... and how much fun and ’fertilizer’ it’ll bring me?"
...
A few months later.
Atop the Evergreen Pavilion.
Fang Xi was lying on a soft chair, observing the daily life of the Shaman Race from the Fragment World, who were continuing their arduous journey to rebuild their homeland after surviving the Sky Demon Tribulation.
Danya had also become much shrewder, seizing many Treasure Patterns, though she charged exorbitantly for each one.
She was now in the midst of a patience contest with the Demon Mirror.
"Young Master, please save my Yan Family..."
Hongxiu, who had been in closed-door cultivation, suddenly rushed in. She had reached the eighth level of Qi Refining, a remarkable achievement for someone with her aptitude and Spiritual Root.
But at this moment, Hongxiu’s face was filled with urgency as she knelt on the ground and pleaded desperately.
"Stand up first, and explain clearly what’s happened,"
Fang Xi frowned and commanded.
Knowing that the young master didn’t like such formalities, Hongxiu forced herself to stand up: "Nowadays, Baize Immortal City is in chaos, and many Individual Cultivators are fleeing... Some have come to Thousand Island Lake. Just the other day... a group of people, led by a Foundation Establishment Cultivator, forcibly took over our Ling Kong Island..."
Although Fang Xi had taught her to be self-reliant, her opponent was a Foundation Establishment Cultivator!
Hongxiu had no choice but to kneel again.
After further questioning by Fang Xi, he learned that the Foundation Establishment Cultivator’s name was ’Li Lei,’ who had been operating in Baize Immortal City for years, with a retinue of Qi Refining late-stage and peak cultivators, forming a force called ’Three Points Hall.’
Li Lei, being new to Thousand Island Lake, did not dare to target islands guarded by Foundation Establishment Cultivators and instead looked for easy targets—resulting in disaster for the Yan Family.
’Could it be... is Ling Kong Island really cursed with bad Feng Shui, for it to always be in trouble?’
After learning the whole story, Fang Xi couldn’t help but furrow his brows.