Chapter 249: Chapter 248: Taking In (Please Subscribe)_1
Dragon Fish Island.
In the closed-door cultivation room.
Fang Xi was communicating with the "Treasures of All Heavens," observing the Fragment World.
There, Danya was unexpectedly still safe and sound, as if after the hundred-year Heavenly Demon Catastrophe, the Demon Sect cultivators truly could no longer descend into the world.
However, after the last exchange, Danya seemed to want to test Fang Xi’s patience, proposing increasingly demanding conditions.
Fang Xi naturally would not indulge the other party and directly stopped the exchange, and thus both sides were at an impasse.
Even though the opponent was a Witch King whose power could rival someone of Core Formation, Fang Xi believed in his own patience and lifespan, which he felt were more than enough to outlast the other, hence the stalemate persisted to this day.
"So, you’re finally getting anxious, aren’t you? In another forty or fifty years... another cycle of the Heavenly Demon Catastrophe will start... Then Danya, who stood out last time, will surely become a prime target."
Just as Fang Xi was about to continue observing, he suddenly frowned and stepped out of the closed-door cultivation room.
Outside the cultivation room, a Voice Transmission Talisman was pulsing incessantly.
He took the talisman, listened for a few moments, and then headed to the Evergreen Pavilion.
At the top of the Evergreen Pavilion, Zhong Hongyu was waiting with a nervous expression.
"What’s the matter? Didn’t I say not to disturb me unless it’s something important? And what important matter do you dare not mention in the transmission talisman?"
Upon seeing Zhong Hongyu, Fang Xi casually asked.
But the next moment, his Divine Consciousness detected a second Foundation Establishment cultivator at the top of the Evergreen Pavilion, whose magic power aura was of the late Foundation Establishment stage, although extremely weakened, as if they had suffered a heavy injury.
"Fang, it’s me..."
Yuan Feihong gave a bitter smile as he emerged from his concealed state, "Baize Immortal City... it’s gone... I was the only one who escaped..."
"Oh? Brother Yuan, don’t worry, sit down and have a cup of Spiritual Tea, tell me slowly."
Fang Xi’s moved expression gradually became tranquil, instructing Zhong Hongyu to go and pour tea.
Zhong Hongyu couldn’t help but admire the Island Master from the bottom of her heart.
Faced with matters that could easily destroy a sect or family, he still managed to remain so calm and collected...
The faint scent of tea filled the room...
Looking at the teacup in front of him, and the young man who seemed to have experienced the vicissitudes of life while maintaining a young man’s innocence and handsome appearance, Yuan Feihong felt as if he were dreaming back to the times in Baize Immortal City, the Peach Blossom Pavilion...
Fortunately, being someone with considerable cultivation, he forcefully suppressed such distractions and began to describe the events leading up to and following the fall of Baize Immortal City.
"So, it seems that after parting ways with Ouyang Zhen, Brother Yuan might still be in danger of being hunted down by the Mysterious Heaven Sect... after all, considering the escape route, there is nowhere else but Thousand Island Lake."
Fang Xi listened and said with a light chuckle.
"Yes, originally when I came here, I was planning to take Elder Zhang to Jade Island if he still pursued me, ready to risk my life to take him down..."
Yuan Feihong clenched his fists tightly.
It was clear that the grudge of his family being destroyed made him and the Mysterious Heaven Sect irreconcilable enemies!
"Brother Fang, I am deeply grateful that you still recognize me as a friend..."
Yuan Feihong, while bowing, handed over a Storage Bag.
Fang Xi took it casually, scanned it with his Divine Consciousness, and his expression suddenly changed, "What are you doing?"
"It’s all just worldly possessions... I will take my leave shortly... Most of them are of no use to me now..."
Yuan Feihong replied with a bitter smile.
Fang Xi fell silent for a moment before saying, "Did you know, here on Dragon Fish Island, we have a rule—’Once you enter my island, all grudges are forgotten...’"
Yuan Feihong suddenly looked up, incredulously staring at Fang Xi.
How could he not understand Fang Xi’s intention to offer refuge, but he had never expected the other to take such a great risk...
But what he didn’t know was that Fang Xi acted with such freedom because he had the confidence in his heart.
After all, it was the support of a late-Stage Foundation Establishment cultivator.
"Although my Dragon Fish Island is small, it’s still enough for Brother Yuan to stay for a few days. However, you must be careful not to leave the island recently, so as not to be recognized by the Mysterious Heaven Sect cultivators... If you are discovered, I, Fang, will definitely not acknowledge that I have provided you refuge; rather, it will be because you are cunning, employing illusionary techniques and hiding within my Dragon Fish Island."
Fang Xi said half-jokingly.
In reality, he also knew that after Ouyang Zhen’s demise, Mysterious Heaven Sect’s pursuit of Yuan Feihong would certainly decrease, not just by one level.
And with the "Nine Nether Profound Wood Array," he would not be as easily deceived as Ouyang Zhen, allowing the most solid fortress to be breached from within.
"Brother Fang..."
Yuan Feihong was incredibly moved, never having imagined that a simple act of kindness in the past would bring such a generous reward now.
As for Elder Ouyang...
"Alright, you go down and tend to your injuries..."
Fang Xi instructed Zhong Hongyu to take Yuan Feihong away while he himself pondered with the Storage Bag Yuan had previously given, a thoughtful expression on his face.
"In fact, from the moment this man fled to Thousand Island Lake, the outcome was already sealed... The Mysterious Heaven Sect will surely conduct a massive search of the entire lake... And I’m bound to face them!"
"And the wealth of Baize Immortal City, indeed far surpasses the others..."
"Even though I’ve made a quick profit from the Ling Kong market and the craze for ruins, it’s still no match for their centuries of accumulation..."
...
Months later.
Yan Changkong and several Foundation Establishment cultivators, followed by an old, sinister-looking, white-haired, Foundation Establishment cultivator, arrived outside of Dragon Fish Island.
"The trail ends here, but we can confirm that Yuan Feihong must have escaped into the Thousand Island Lake area!"
Yan Changkong respectfully addressed the somber-faced elder.
This elder was no ordinary figure. He was a Law Enforcement Elder of the Mysterious Heaven Sect, named ’Kuang Tianxing’, and his cultivation had astonishingly reached the pinnacle of Foundation Establishment!
Not only that, but the ’Corpse Transformation Spell’ he practiced was also an infamously top-tier cultivation art, renowned for simultaneous cultivation of both law and body, with battle prowess far exceeding that of his peers.
By comparison, even Yu Chong of the Purple Cloud Sword from Yiling Valley, who had recently risen to fame, was but a junior.
"Thousand Island Lake... This area has indeed become a paradise for ghost creatures..."
Kuang Tianxing saw a swathe of ghost mist not far away and a contemplative look crossed his face. Suddenly, his hands formed a seal and a dark green Escape Light enveloped his body as he flew toward that location.
"Law Enforcement Elder..."
Yan Changkong looked at the ghost mist and discovered several entities inside that were as formidable as Foundation Establishment cultivators, which gave him a start.
But in the next moment, he saw the dark green radiance around Kuang Tianxing burst into a halo of light that enveloped and slowly refined the ghost mist.
From within the mist emerged a three-headed wolf spirit with emerald eyes, lunging at Kuang Tianxing.
"Indeed, ghost creatures!"
A flicker of emerald light flashed in Kuang Tianxing’s eyes and his body instantly stiffened, covered with a layer of black scales.
The ghostly wolf bit down on the dense Qi-imbued scales but was unable to penetrate them.
With a few cold chuckles, Kuang Tianxing’s face underwent a transformation, taking on a green complexion with fangs, and his fingernails grew rapidly as he seized the ghost wolf and tore it apart with force!
Rip!
The ghost wolf was instantly split into several pieces, turning into streams of ghost mist.
Kuang Tianxing then inhaled sharply and the ghost mist and Yin Qi converged into a whirlpool, flowing into him like rivers into the sea.
Even Yan Changkong and the other disciples watching this scene couldn’t help but shudder, exchanging glances and privately thinking, ’Rumors say that Elder Kuang’s practiced ’Corpse Transformation Spell’ is akin to the Demon Path. Seeing this now, it seems there was truth in those words... and indeed, his combat prowess is alarmingly incredible.’
"Just mere ghost creatures, not much taste..."
The dark green glow around Kuang Tianxing flashed again, reverting him back to his elderly appearance. He chuckled and rubbed his belly: "Alright, let us head to Dragon Fish Island..."
...
Dragon Fish Island.
Fang Xi was enjoying himself in the Evergreen Pavilion when he sensed a strong Foundation Establishment magic power approaching and his expression shifted subtly.
He sent out a Voice Transmission Talisman, instructing Yuan Feihong to hide. Then, with a loud cry, he stepped onto a second-order middle-grade Azure horn Fish Dragon and approached the edge of the Great Array.
His gaze swept over and landed directly on Kuang Tianxing:
"I am Fang Xi, Island Master of Dragon Fish Island. May I know which Elder of Mysterious Heaven Sect has honored us with his presence?"
"This is our Sect’s Law Enforcement Elder—Elder Kuang Tianxing!"
Yan Changkong hastily introduced.
"So it’s Elder Kuang. May I know the purpose of visiting my Dragon Fish Island?" Fang Xi chuckled and made light of the situation.
"I follow the Sect’s commands to pursue a criminal cultivator!"
Kuang Tianxing’s eyes flashed with an eerie emerald light, and he replied in a raspy voice.
Lifting his hand, the radiance flickered on the jade slip, revealing the face of Yuan Feihong: "Has this person been to Dragon Fish Island?"
"Never!"
Fang Xi blinked and shook his head with a sigh, "So Yuan Feihong from Baize Immortal City has fallen to the status of a criminal cultivator? How wretched and forlorn... Ah, I used to be friends with this man back in the day."
"You truly haven’t seen this person?"
Kuang Tianxing demanded coldly, "You said yourself that you were once on good terms with him. Moreover... if you harbor a criminal cultivator, you will be punished as an accomplice!"
"Of course, I haven’t," Fang Xi lied without batting an eye.
"If that’s so, would you dare let me search Dragon Fish Island?" Kuang Tianxing challenged.
"Elder Kuang, isn’t that a bit excessive?"
Fang Xi frowned, "As a cultivator yourself, you should understand that a Foundation Establishment cultivator always has many secrets. To insist on searching the entire island without distinction is unreasonable, is it not?"
Kuang Tianxing let out a cold laugh, "In Yue Country, Mysterious Heaven Sect IS the reason."
"Haha... very well then..."
At this, Fang Xi burst into laughter.
Yan Changkong didn’t understand Fang Xi’s reaction but then he heard Fang Xi speak loudly, "Mysterious Heaven Sect abandoned Thousand Island Lake first, allowing the island’s cultivators to suffer under the Ghost Calamity without offering any help. Now, you think of yourself as the ’heaven’ of Thousand Island Lake... Sorry, since Mysterious Heaven Sect abandoned us first, Thousand Island Lake naturally no longer heeds your commands."
Fang Xi saw clearly; given the Mysterious Heaven Sect’s tyranny, even if he had not sheltered Yuan Feihong, he still would likely be subject to a search, just to prove his innocence.
Ling Kong Island, Golden Turtle Island, Maple Leaf Island... not one would escape!
Especially since Dragon Fish Island wasn’t ’innocent’ to begin with!
The Monster Tree and Taisui located in the forbidden grounds absolutely could not be seen by others.
Nor could the third-order formation and Array Eyes on the island be discovered.
So, since a confrontation was inevitable, it would be better to shelter Yuan Feihong first, gaining his favor.
Yan Changkong and the Foundation Establishment cultivators were dumbfounded.
Having just destroyed Baize Immortal City, Mysterious Heaven Sect was at the height of its influence, and this was the first time they had heard a Foundation Establishment cultivator speak in such a way.
Especially Yan Changkong, who inwardly sneered, ’Before, you claimed you couldn’t represent Thousand Island Lake, but now you speak so boldly on behalf of its cultivators?’
"Good, good, good..." Kuang Tianxing was taken aback for a moment, staring at Fang Xi for a while, "It seems... Mysterious Heaven Sect has not taken action in Thousand Island Lake for too long, letting people forget the fate of the Song Family, Situ Family, and Red Leaf Valley, have they?"