Chapter 274: Chapter 273: Core Formation Celebration (Request for Monthly Ticket)_1
"The present You Yuezi from the Gloomy Moon Sect, arrives!"
"Long Feng from the Long Family, arrives!"
"Island Master Liu from Golden Turtle Island, arrives!"
"The head of the Yan Family from Ling Kong Island, arrives!"
...
Outside the Evergreen Pavilion, the voice of the guest greeter continued to rise, and many precious gifts were subsequently announced.
The sects and families of Yue Country that received the message did their best to curry favor with Fang Xi, sparing no expense.
One after another, Spiritual Objects and spirit materials, capable of driving Qi Refining Cultivators mad, were piled up like little mountains as if they cost nothing.
After all, this man was not only a Core Formation Master but was also rumored to be very stingy and vengeful.
Back when the Great War of the Cultivation World of the three countries took place, he had even refused refuge to cultivators from the two Foundation Establishment families, the Xu Family, and the Qi Family.
By now, the Qi Family had perished in the war, while the Xu Family had lost all their Foundation Establishment elders, with only a handful of Qi Refining Cultivators desperately holding on, much like a flickering candle in the wind, soon to be extinguished.
Even without Fang Xi taking action or signaling anything, the cultivators below would handle matters perfectly just to please him.
Fang Xi did not care about any of these, nor did he need to greet the guests himself, after all, his Cultivation and status were evident.
He only needed to sit serenely on the high platform, occasionally exchanging a few perfunctory words with Zhang Zhusheng, and that was enough.
"It seems Sir does not favor titles like ’Dragon Fish’ or ’Master Qinglong’... then perhaps... ’Master Mu’?"
Zhang Zhusheng said, his smile hiding more than it revealed.
Fang Xi’s heart chilled, but he was not too surprised, only lamenting, ’My disguise has been uncovered...’
Ever since You Kun attacked him, leading to his death within a third-grade Array, he knew he could no longer maintain the guise of ’Prime Taoist Mu.’
After all, within the Cultivation World of the three countries, those who had high achievements in Array were few, and those who had reached the third-grade were virtually nonexistent.
The only one, who was the elusive, ephemeral ’Prime Taoist Mu.’
With such connections, it was inevitable that he would be identified as Prime Taoist Mu, or at least someone highly related to him.
"Master Mu? This title is indeed not bad..."
Fang Xi nodded slightly, thus acknowledging Elder Zhang’s guess.
After all, having attained Core Formation, he no longer feared his identity being exposed.
"So it was indeed so..." Zhang Zhusheng raised a toast to Fang Xi: "Years ago, Sir assisted our Mysterious Heaven Sect in eradicating the cancer that was the Song Family... I owe you a favor for that. Let’s drink another cup."
Standing behind Zhang Zhusheng, Xuan Xuanzi wiped the nonexistent cold sweat from his forehead.
After Fang Xi’s Core Formation, Xuan Xuanzi had repeatedly studied his background, aware of the past grievances between him and the Song Family at Baize Immortal City.
’This newly ascended Core Formation elder not only has profound knowledge in Arrays and Talismans but is also narrow-minded and petty...’
Xuan Xuanzi had decided that upon his return, he would warn his Sect and close associates that they must never offend this Master Mu, or the repercussions would be endless!
Didn’t the Song Family, the Qi Family... all those who had offended him meet with terrible fates, their families and doors obliterated?
"Foundation Establishment Cultivator Hai Dagui, arrives!"
Along with the guest greeter’s announcement from outside, a Cultivator with an honest face and Foundation Establishment Magic Power fluctuations entered the Evergreen Pavilion.
Upon seeing Fang Xi, he immediately bowed with great respect, "I offer my congratulations to your lordship for the grand joy of Core Formation..."
After bowing three times, he continued to kneel: "And my gratitude to your lordship for bestowing the Evil Qi which helped me reach Foundation Establishment... I shall serve your lordship as a tenant for generations to come..."
"To rise above in the competition and receive the Black Wind Evil Qi, it was due to your own hard work in Cultivation and fortune... it has little to do with me."
Fang Xi held his forehead with his hand: "Hurry now, take your seat."
Although recollecting the stories of several generations of the commoner Hai family, turning into Immortal Cultivators and even achieving Foundation Establishment, was quite inspiring.
But a magnificent gathering of immortals seemed to have fallen to the level of celebrating the birthday of a country old lady upon the inclusion of such a bumpkin, which was somewhat distasteful...
Fang Xi sipped his Peach Blossom Brew with a forlorn spirit. His Divine Consciousness had long since enveloped the surrounding twenty li, yet he still subconsciously glanced toward the entrance.
"Oh? Is Mr. Fang perhaps waiting for someone?"
Zhang Zhusheng asked curiously.
"No... Just casually taking a glance."
Fang Xi gestured with his cup.
Meanwhile, Liu Sanqi, observing below, had a complex expression as he watched Fang Xi achieve Core Formation. He had never expected that the once Foundation Establishment Cultivator of the Fairy City, the Lord Master of Dragon Fish Island, could truly reach this step.
As he was immersed in his thoughts, he suddenly trembled and looked towards the outside of Evergreen Pavilion.
A blue Escape Light radiating a terrifying might that far exceeded Foundation Establishment was rapidly approaching from beyond Dragon Fish Island, pushing aside the clouds on both sides.
"It’s Core Formation!"
"Another Core Formation elder has come!"
"What virtue does our Thousand Island Lake have?"
The many Foundation Establishment cultivators stood up one after another, while the Qi Refining cultivators did not know where to stand.
"Zhang Sir, it seems I must go out and welcome my peer."
Fang Xi stood up and transformed into a stream of azure light. With just a flash, he was outside Evergreen Pavilion.
At that moment, the arriving Escape Light had also just reached the front of Evergreen Pavilion. The blue tassels slowly retracted, revealing an ordinary-faced, azure-robed old man with a ruddy complexion and a resonant voice: "Lu Qing from Green Wood Sect, offers congratulations! Wishing Mr. Fang a Grand Accomplishment of Golden Core and an eternally smooth path in the Immortal Realm!"
"So it is Sir Lu. Sir has traveled from afar to offer such kindness; please enter the Evergreen Pavilion!"
Fang Xi promptly returned the gesture, inviting Lu Qing into the Evergreen Pavilion.
This one is a mid-stage Core Formation Cultivator, their magic power truly extraordinary.
Yet, rumors say they were gravely injured before, looking at them now, their complexion seems not too bad, eh?
After a moment of thought, he secretly activated a secret skill from the Kuyong Skills, remotely sensing.
In an instant, the depths of Fang Xi’s eyes flashed alternately with green and yellow, feeling as if a hazy gray mist had enshrouded the world.
Around the cultivators, green vitality spread from their bodies.
Among them, Zhang Zhusheng, who had come to greet him, emitted the strongest vitality...
One can only say that even after expending some lifespan, there are still two hundred good years left... much more vibrant than the average Foundation Establishment Cultivator!
But Lu Qing...
’Vitality as feeble as a faint flame, vanishing in a flash... This person probably doesn’t have many years left, in such a condition, they still dare to come out?’
’Wrong, it is precisely because of this condition, that they must make a grand appearance, isn’t it?’
Fang Xi sighed inwardly, yet his expression remained unchanged, introducing Lu Qing with a smile.
"Old Ancestor Qing, you actually came too?"
Zhang Zhusheng looked at Lu Qing taking a seat, his expression full of surprise.
"Hmph... I heard Yue Country has such a promising young talent, naturally, I couldn’t wait to come congratulate... Even if people from my sect are a bit slow, with the escape speed of us Core Formation Cultivators, crossing thousands of waters and mountains is but a trivial matter..."
Lu Qing scoffed, his tone still somewhat Yin-Yang despite having made an alliance with the Mysterious Heaven Sect.
And Zhang Zhusheng became inwardly fraught with suspicions.
Piecing together Fang Xi’s frequent glances outside the pavilion earlier, could it be that there was a preexisting tacit agreement with the Green Wood Sect?
Wouldn’t that be extremely bad for his plans?
Currently, with three countries vying for supremacy, the emergence of this new Core Formation, there’s a great chance they could decide the future direction of the Cultivation World among the three countries, so one must be cautious!
"Patriarch Lu... please, this Little Green Dragon Soup is a specialty of our island, delicious beyond compare."
Fang Xi was just warmly accommodating when he saw Lu Qing fumbling inside his sleeve, feeling here and there, before saying: "I came in haste, this gift... I have not yet..."
"This is but a modest banquet, no need for..." Fang Xi’s smile remained, as he was about to politely decline, when he heard Lu Qing laugh and throw a jade slip: "Of course, I’ve prepared it in advance."
’Rumors say that old Golden Core ancestors are quirky, the longer they live, the more so, indeed it’s true...’
Fang Xi muttered to himself, picked up the jade slip, and upon probing it with his Divine Consciousness, his face slightly changed.
"How about the gift, Mr. Fang?"
Lu Qing laughed heartily, grabbed the wine pot, and without using a wine cup, poured the wine directly into his mouth.
"Sir, your gift is truly extraordinary..."
Fang Xi sighed, tapping the jade slip with his fingers: "Such value... truly requires me to weigh it carefully. Come... try this spirit wine, this Peach Blossom Brew is personally buried by me nearly a hundred years ago."
"Oh? A century-aged spirit wine?"
Lu Qing’s eyes lit up, seemingly not caring at all about Fang Xi’s reaction: "Then I must savor it properly..."
The banquet ended with Elder Zhang full of concerns.
Fortunately, he noticed that Prime Taoist Mu didn’t seem to be specifically waiting for the Green Wood Sect’s Lu Qing, but for someone else.
It wasn’t until the end of the banquet that a guest from outside came in with a young woman cultivator following behind.
"From Maple Leaf Island, the Ruan Family envoy—Ruan Xiuxiu sends her congratulations, celebrating the old ancestor’s Core Formation!"
The young woman’s features were picturesque, but the key was her excellent demeanor, making many female cultivators present feel inferior.
Knowing that Immortal Cultivators can slightly amend their features with minor effort, female cultivators typically all possess beautiful visages.
At this time, what stood out was their individual demeanors.
This woman’s aura was like a quiet and secluded orchid, somewhat similar to Ruan Xingling.
"Xiuxiu..."
Fang Xi sighed, asking, "Where is your island master?"
"Reporting to the old ancestor, Lord Ruan left several years ago, traveling abroad in search of a Core Formation opportunity..."
Ruan Xiuxiu replied calmly: "Before departing, the island master instructed that she knew you would achieve Grand Accomplishment of Golden Core, hence she prepared the gift in advance and commanded me to deliver it!"
Fang Xi ordered someone to bring it over and personally opened the gift box.
Inside the box was a jug of spirit wine, aged for many years.
He broke the seal, and a rich aroma with a hint of familiarity hit his nose.
"Green Bamboo Wine!"
Fang Xi poured himself a cup, then looked back into the gift box to find another jade slip.
Upon probing it with his Divine Consciousness, he saw a brewing recipe.
The recipe for Green Bamboo Wine was something Fang Xi had cobbled together when he was penniless in the market, unable even to afford a single wine formula.
It had no special effects, and it even tasted a bit bitter.
For some reason, Ruan Xingling liked to drink it quite a bit and later even took the recipe away.
Now, inside the jade slip was a tier-two spirit wine recipe named "Green Bamboo Wine"!
Fang Xi immediately recognized that it was an improved recipe based on his own, and wondered how much effort had been put into it.
At the end of the recipe, there was a phrase—’Do not lose, do not forget, do not miss, do not hurt.’
"Do not lose, do not forget, do not miss, do not hurt, eh?"
Fang Xi gave a bitter smile, raised his cup, and drank it down in one gulp, murmuring to himself: "This wine... is still very bitter..."