Chapter 365: Chapter 363 Assistance (Seeking Monthly Tickets)_1
Although it was possible to use magic power and divine skills, along with spirit treasures to counteract the damage caused by the self-destruction of a Golden Core,
But Fang Xi naturally chose the simplest method: he ran to the Red Sun World to hide, and then returned openly and aboveboard.
"It’s a pity... this tactic is only a bit useful against Golden Cores... after all, inter-realm travel needs a little time..."
This time, it was the Old Yan who was controlled by Fang Xi, who self-destructed after he crossed over.
Whereas the last time he was possessed by the Yanmo Taoist Master, it was completely different.
The other’s Nascent Soul instantly teleported over and then brazenly possessed him.
How fast is Nascent Soul teleportation? It’s instantaneous upon thought and ignores most prohibitive defenses.
Fang Xi didn’t even have time to react.
If it wasn’t for the limited distance of teleportation, Nascent Soul cultivators would be even more terrifying.
"The higher one reaches in combat between cultivators, the more instantaneous and variable it becomes... Besides, using the ’cheater’ to expose the risk of inter-realm travel is also not secure."
The ’cheater’ travels to other worlds and comes back to the same place, which makes it an easy target when used in battle.
Therefore, Fang Xi hardly considered this aspect.
However, tonight, he did play a big game.
Calculating that the aftermath of the explosion would pass, Fang Xi teleported back and, sure enough, saw the area below in complete disarray.
The originally magnificent and exquisite Dongfu was now a hundred-zhang-deep pit, and there were even some spirit springs gushing out from within.
Around the Dongfu, where the spiritual energy was dense, there had been many buildings, most of which had now collapsed, with crimson flowing out from the cracks in the bricks and tiles...
Screams and wails rose and fell in succession...
And the entire Yiling Valley was boiling over because of the huge explosion that had occurred that night.
One after another, Escape Lights shot towards here, belonging to the only remaining Foundation Establishment cultivators of Yiling Valley.
"This... just now... was it a self-destruction by a Golden Core elder?"
The late-stage Foundation Establishment cultivator Li looked at the deep pit in front of him with a face full of panic and confusion.
He had seen Core Formation elders in action and knew that the power of a regular Core Formation elder wouldn’t be nearly as threatening.
And now, within Yiling Valley, it seemed there was only Master Yan as the remaining Core Formation cultivator?
"Is Master Yan alright?"
One of the Foundation Establishment cultivators hurriedly shouted aloud.
Regrettably, there was only silence in the void, a chilling feeling that caused cold sweat to cover the foreheads of every Foundation Establishment cultivator.
Suddenly, without a word, two Foundation Establishment Escape Lights flew toward the edge of the Great Array.
They were well aware that if even Master Yan couldn’t stand against the mighty enemy, Yiling Valley had gone from the safest place in the Martial Kingdom to the most dangerous one!
If they didn’t run now, when would they?
And a few Foundation Establishment cultivators from the Yu Family, after looking around, had an air of mystery about them.
This Golden Core self-destruction seemed... to have taken out several of the Yan Family’s cores, especially the Foundation Establishment consummate cultivators, as well.
As a result...
The next day, an internal struggle erupted within Yiling Valley. It is said that it was a bloodbath, with blood filling the valley...
...
As for all this, Fang Xi was already too lazy to continue watching.
At this moment, he was riding in his beloved carriage, heading to the Wood Kingdom.
Inside the carriage, he took out Old Yan’s Storage Bag and fished out a jade box from it.
Upon opening it, a greyish-brown Inner Core was revealed inside, its surface even twinkling with specks of stardust light!
"Another rank-three Inner Core, Daqing really does have good luck..."
Fang Xi couldn’t help but sigh.
Since he was wary of the Transformative Demon Beasts that might exist in the Ten Thousand Beast Mountain Range, he did not go on a killing spree there.
It was only upon about to leave the mountain range that he found a few unfortunate rank-three Monster Beasts, killed them, and took their Demon Pills.
However, after feeding Taisui, the demon energy of Taisui remained stagnant at the peak of the second rank, showing no signs of advancement.
The advancement from a rank-two to a rank-three Monster Beast was not as easy as one might think.
But it seems that Taisui was only one or two Inner Cores away from advancing.
Fang Xi was about to feed the Inner Core of the Demon Blood Flood Dragon to Taisui when Old Yan sent one over, wasn’t that lucky?
"Moreover... over at the Green Wood Sect, there should be a few rank-three Demon Pills to be had."
Fang Xi looked towards the Green Wood Sect, his gaze slightly lost in thought.
Although he had originally gone there to mix with the spiritual energy, he had become somewhat familiar with some people, and he intended to help out where he could.
"But under what identity should I do so?"
"Or should I assume the identity of Cao Chongyun, the Core Formation returnee... that would also make a good story."
"Later on, after pulling a few strings, the Green Wood Sect will have to change their surname to Fang!"
"But still, we should have some generosity. With my current late-stage Core Formation cultivation, commanding respect in the Cultivation World of the three kingdoms, even if I were to occupy their Spiritual Vein for cultivation, who would dare to disagree?"
...
Green Wood Forest.
The base of Green Wood Sect, which once stood firmly, has now undergone drastic changes.
Countless Evergreen Woods that had not yet fully grown withered away, their shadows fringing the perimeter of Green Wood Sect, now being relentlessly compressed by an overwhelming horde of Monster Beasts.
Outside Green Wood Sect, three third-grade Monster Beasts converged.
The one in the middle was particularly bizarre, resembling a giant Ancient Tree, yet its aura reached mid-third grade—a Thousand-year-old Wood Charm!
It was rare for Spirit Plants to transform into demons, but once they did, they tended to be formidable.
This Thousand-year-old Wood Charm let out a furious roar, and countless green pine needles fell like raindrops upon the protective Great Array of Green Wood Sect, causing the bamboo shadows to tremble.
Beside the Thousand-year-old Wood Charm, there were two other third-grade Monster Beasts—one resembled a pangolin, the other looked like a brown bear, both lower third-grade Monster Beasts.
Beyond these three leaders, there was a dense mass of low-grade Monster Beasts, along with numerous second-grade beasts, all forced into disorderly formations. Wave after wave, they slammed against the array, incessantly draining the Earth’s energy and Spiritual Power...
This assault had persisted for months, and the Green Wood Sect’s foundational Great Array was on the brink of collapse.
At many fragile points, the array became perilously weak and could no longer cover the vast Evergreen Forest. Moreover, the excessive drafting of the Earth’s energy caused many Evergreen Trees to wither.
Within the array.
With a grave expression, Zheng Shan said to the Sect Leader of Green Wood Sect, "Sect Leader... our reserve of Spirit Stones is nearly exhausted..."
Ling Yunzi had already passed away in meditation; the current Sect Leader of Green Wood Sect was a middle-aged Prime Taoist with a gaunt appearance, his Cultivation at the latter stages of Foundation Establishment, known by the Taoist name ’Cang Qingzi’.
Upon hearing this, Cang Qingzi could only offer a bitter smile, "The distress signals have been sent long ago, but Elder Zhang and Master Yan are unwilling to lend their aid... What can we do? Once the Great Array is breached, you all should flee for your lives... Sigh, fortunately, I made arrangements early for the Elders and disciples to leave and hide. The Green Wood Sect’s legacy will continue to exist, just without the same influence..."
Upon hearing this, a trace of sorrow flashed through Zheng Shan’s beautiful eyes.
Since the passing of Patriarch Lu Qing, Green Wood Sect had indeed been declining year by year.
Had it not been for the intense hidden rivalry with the many Foundation Establishment forces within the nation, depleting much of their strength, this disaster of the beast horde would not have been so difficult.
"Sister... you should leave as well," Cang Qingzi said with a bitter smile, waving his hand. "My lifespan is not much longer; I might as well die for the Sect. However, you Foundation Establishment Cultivators should escape, one by one, if possible..."
"No, I can’t leave. I must fight for the Sect until the very last moment," Zheng Shan’s eyes held a firm resolve.
"Green Wood Sect cannot be without the third-grade Spiritual Vein..."
Without it, they would have no hope of cultivating Core Formation Cultivators, and their decline would truly be set in stone.
This was something many disciples emotionally attached to the Sect could not accept.
Decades had passed, and Zheng Shan had only slightly advanced, barely reaching middle Foundation Establishment.
And Zheng Tie had long since passed away...
When she once again arrived at the front lines, gazing upon the terrifying Thousand-year-old Wood Charm, Zheng Shan felt an unparalleled clarity of mind and inexplicably remembered someone.
That ’Cao Chongyun,’ Brother Cao.
Years ago, he left to find an opportunity to break through the latter stages of Foundation Establishment, then abruptly vanished, causing the Sect to believe he had either fallen into danger and perished, or defected outright.
Fortunately, during that time, Pei Fei’s group of cultivation-robbers mysteriously perished, leaving Green Wood Sect with an abundance of matters to address, so nobody pursued the matter.
"He even deceived me into taking care of his Dongfu’s herb garden for a long time..."
In that moment, while Zheng Shan’s expression turned slightly vacant.
A streak of Blue Light flashed across the sky.
Along with a clear phoenix cry, a carriage approached slowly from the west.
The Thousand-year-old Wood Charm, resembling a huge green tree-person with a face on its trunk, suddenly curled its branches as if confronted by a natural predator.
If it was so affected, the pangolin-like beast and Monster Bear, upon seeing the Green Fire Luan, were nearly ready to submit outright.
"Three Demon Pills, not too shabby..."
From atop the carriage, a clear voice rang out, "Minions, take them for me!"
Roar! Roar!
The Demon Blood Flood Dragon roared, shaking its head and tail as it dived down to confront the Monster Bear.
Though it was a nearly third-grade Puppet, drawing on the body of a previously mid-third-grade Flood Dragon, it had no problems entangling with a lower third-grade Monster Beast.
The pangolin-like beast, its scales shimmering coldly, attempted to employ its Earth Escape Skills to flee, but was suddenly struck by a blot of dark fire, letting out a screech.
Before it could react, a horned creature raised its fist and pounded down upon it...
"Chirp! Chirp!"
The Green Fire Luan soared midair, like a blue sun shining.
The Monster Beast Army began to retreat en masse, no longer heeding the commands of the Thousand-year-old Wood Charm.
In the world of Monster Beasts, might made right; the law of the jungle was clear.
With its noble bloodline, the Green Fire Luan was an upper third-grade Monster Beast, easily usurping the leading and commanding authority from the Thousand-year-old Wood Charm.
At that moment, with a cry, the Green Fire Luan swooped down directly.
The face-like stump of the Thousand-year-old Wood Charm let out an angry roar, only to shake and send countless green pine needles densely towards the Green Fire Luan, which were then met with a layer of Azure Luan True Fire and reduced to ashes...
This Wood Element Monster, facing the Green Fire Luan, was truly unlucky!
The various Wooden Element Divine Skills inherent in its nature, just like Fang Xi previously, were utterly countered.
It didn’t take long for the Green Fire Luan to turn into a ball of fire, bursting into the Wood Charm’s body, igniting it, and reducing it to a green torch.
A moment later.
The Green Fire Luan emerged from the fire, holding a green Inner Core in its beak, and returned to the vicinity of the carriage.
"Xiao Qing did a good job, more useful than Daqing indeed," Fang Xi received the Wood Element Inner Core, a smile crossing his face.