Chapter 368: Chapter 366: Meat Ganoderma Lucidum (Please Subscribe)_1
Jade Island.
Ever since Fang Xi had caused a significant uproar, ghost cultivators had seldom appeared, but the area within dozens of miles around remained a forbidden zone for cultivators.
On this day.
An escape light arrived above Jade Island.
Fang Xi looked at the island, narrow at the top and wide at the bottom, shaped like a gourd, with a hint of anticipation on his face, "The Spiritual Vein of Jade Island... and the ghost creatures... heh heh..."
The last time he had come, he had been scared away by a ghost creature at the late stage of Core Formation that occupied the Underworld Earth Vein.
After all, with the opponent’s strength, within the Underworld Earth Vein, it was nearly comparable to that of a cultivator at Perfect Core Formation.
But now... the situation was completely different.
However, Fang Xi still hesitated somewhat.
Because when he had tried to probe the Underworld Earth Vein using the Purple Gas Heavenly Eye, that yellow murky gaze had given him a somewhat familiar feeling.
A cultivator’s Spirit Sense is exceptional, and such an impulsive feeling must not be without basis.
And after continuing the investigation this time, Fang Xi quickly learned the source of that sliver of familiarity.
"Old ghost!"
The lingering spirit residing within Zhan Tu’s body had eyes that radiated a yellow murkiness, just like the one he perceived, when it conversed with Fang Xi at Evergreen Pavilion all those years ago.
And now, on comparison, they indeed appeared very similar!
"It seems... this old ghost has hidden himself quite deeply."
"If I were to flatten Jade Island now, it would expose my strength... and if that old ghost gets scared off, it would be unsightly."
"After all, not much time is left in the hundred-year covenant..."
With that thought, Fang Xi raised his hand and cast several Array Flags into the void.
Several wooden Puppets descended from mid-air, landing in various places around Jade Island.
After finishing all of this, he casually transformed into a blue light and left...
...
Months passed by in the blink of an eye.
On Dragon Fish Island.
Inside a Dongfu.
"We have been waiting here for months, why hasn’t the old ancestor decreed his command for us to go and pay our respects?"
A Yan Family lady with bright eyes and pearly teeth, of stunning beauty, was starting to grow impatient.
"Patience..."
The old head of the Yan Family sat cross-legged on the meditation mat, speaking calmly: "Such high-ranking cultivators might spend a lifetime of ordinary people in one seclusion... We’ve only waited a few months, what’s the rush?"
"Indeed, dear sister Rong..."
A tall, voluptuous woman beside her quickly advised: "Didn’t the junior island master say the respected one is busy cultivating in seclusion and has no time to meet outsiders? Look, even the Island Master of Maple Leaf Island, that great Foundation Establishment cultivator, is waiting. What can we do?"
"But, but..."
Sister Rong murmured a few words, her voice gradually growing softer.
"Sigh..."
Seeing this, the tall woman also heaved a sigh.
"Don’t be discouraged, there will always be an opportunity..."
But the head of the Yan Family was comforting: "I too learned upon arriving on Dragon Fish Island that Senior Fang has not only returned but also advanced to late Core Formation, and even has a third-order Monster King as a Spiritual Beast!"
"Such a personage, even if he is the first cultivator of the three nations, even Core Formation ancestors might have to wait to visit..."
...
"It seems... the situation is still okay."
Zhong Hongyu swept through with her Divine Consciousness, taking in the situation of the Yan Family members and slightly nodded, "The Yan Family still knows their manners."
In the time that had passed, too many cultivators and forces had visited Dragon Fish Island, and she, along with Taishu Hong and Hai Da Niu, were almost run off their feet.
Late into these visits, they flatly refused to entertain any ordinary Qi Refining level forces, which provided some relief.
The Yan Family was able to stay and wait in a Dongfu allocated for Foundation Establishment forces, only because of some previous old connections. Although it was crowded, if they dared to make a fuss, it would be a case of throwing face.
"I can’t handle it anymore... some people are self-aware, but some are shameless, insisting to stay and seek connections, even if it means renting a Dongfu on the island..."
Hai Da Niu flew over, also looking exasperated: "This is really hard to manage... the lord is focused on cultivating in seclusion; otherwise, just showing his face and saying a word would solve this."
"These are trivial matters, certainly not as important as the young master’s seclusion."
Zhong Hongyu shook her head: "As for turning them down, we can leave that to Taishu Hong. He has a cold face for everyone anyway..."
Just as the two Foundation Establishment cultivators were discussing, the sky suddenly surged with a terrifying Spirit Qi Tidal.
Dark clouds gathered, revealing a huge Spirit Qi Vortex, which could be seen for dozens of miles around.
At the same time, an intense pressure spread, causing both Foundation Establishment cultivators’ escape lights to flicker unsteadily.
"Is this... the Core Formation phenomenon?"
Hai Da Niu looked towards the island’s center: "My, has another senior reached Core Formation?"
"No... this phenomenon is different from that of human cultivators..."
Zhong Hongyu gazed towards the horizon, noting streaks of dark green Demon Qi in the sky, even carrying a fragrance of grass and trees.
"This is the phenomenon of a monster beast advancing to third order... It seems to be a wooden attribute Monster King!"
She murmured to herself.
"Looks like it must be the lord’s Spiritual Pet, otherwise it would be impossible to advance here... My goodness..." Hai Da Niu touched his head: "How many third-order Spiritual Pets does the lord have?!"
"Monster beasts undergoing Core Formation?"
Ruan Xiuxiu transformed into a streak of light and also arrived midair, muttering to herself as she looked at the changes in the sky.
Just as one after another Foundation Establishment cultivator flew up to observe, outside Dragon Fish Island, two streams of Escape Light were stirring furiously.
A stream of black Qi was fiercely chasing the pink Escape Light ahead.
Inside that pink Escape Light was a female cultivator at the early stage of Foundation Establishment, wearing a very interesting talismanic armor.
Whenever the pursuer behind her launched an attack with a Spiritual Instrument, a talisman on the armor would activate and transform into magic, just enough to block the attack.
"Old Demon Wei... the Dragon Fish Island is right ahead. If you dare to pursue any further, you will surely find no place for your corpse."
The female cultivator within the pink Escape Light transmitted her voice, showing a trace of frustration and desperation.
"Hmph... you wretched maid, you think you’ve planned this well. Unfortunately, whether you can shift the disaster elsewhere also depends on whether others are willing or not..."
Old Demon Wei, looking like an elderly man, surprisingly had reached the late stage of Foundation Establishment.
At that moment, he furrowed his brows and looked in the direction of Dragon Fish Island, "A Core Formation celestial phenomenon... No, it’s the advancement of a Monster King!"
The pink Escape Light, which had been driven almost to desperation, immediately seized the opportunity and plunged into the Profound Wood Formation.
"What’s going on?"
Zhong Hongyu looked at the Prohibition Token in her hand and immediately furrowed her brows, "Taishu Hong, maintain order, and do not let anyone disturb the young master’s Spiritual Beast’s advancement..."
"Hai Danaiu, come with me to have a look."
The two of them glided through the air and reached inside the Great Array, where they saw two Foundation Establishment cultivators.
One was at the early stage of Foundation Establishment, a petite female cultivator wearing talismanic armor.
The other was Old Demon Wei, in the late stage of Foundation Establishment.
"Who are you two, to dare barge into my Dragon Fish Island’s Array?"
Zhong Hongyu immediately shouted a rebuke.
"Please forgive me, Fairy Hong Yu... This old man came only to pay a visit to the Island Master of Dragon Fish Island, and I brought a generous gift!"
Old Demon Wei hurriedly said, "And yet this wretched maid stole my precious gift!"
"Nonsense..."
The petite female cultivator retorted angrily, "Clearly you coveted the ’Jade Virtual Flower’ that belonged to me and wanted to murder me for it..."
"This Jade Virtual Flower is clearly something I found through painstaking efforts, a treasure I prepared to offer to the Island Master," Old Demon Wei replied calmly.
"You slander me!" the petite female cultivator, who was fuming with rage, suddenly showed a smile on her face, "I implore Fairy Hong Yu to know that my ancestors were well-acquainted with the Dragon Fish Island’s Lord Master. In the past, my parents once received great kindness from the Island Master. I, Linghu, am willing to meet with the Island Master to determine the truth."
"Damn it!"
Old Demon Wei’s eyes bulged out, totally unprepared for this twist.
When he thought about how she had deliberately led him to the vicinity of Dragon Fish Island with a fight-and-retreat strategy, it was clear she had premeditated the entire scheme to use him as a pawn for her own gain!
Suddenly, with his hands forming a seal, he transformed into a streak of pitch-black Demon Light, attempting to shoot backward.
"Refusing to meet the Island Master suggests a guilty conscience."
Zhong Hongyu sighed faintly and activated the Prohibition Token in her hand.
The Profound Wood Formation roared instantly, as numerous pitch-black giant trees plummeted from the sky, accurately striking the Demon Light.
With Zhong Hongyu herself being a cultivator in the late stage of Foundation Establishment and the Profound Wood Formation a high-grade, second-order Array,
it was naturally easy for her to slay Old Demon Wei, who was also in the late stage, within the Array.
It didn’t take long for Old Demon Wei to be crushed beneath a pitch-black giant tree amidst a scream of agony, leaving no trace of life.
Zhong Hongyu let out a cold laugh and then turned to stare blankly at the woman.
The petite female cultivator immediately shivered, "This humble woman is willing to wait with you, Sir, for my ancestor to leave seclusion to verify the truth."
"You are indeed clever, Sir, but just make sure not to use your smarts in the wrong way..."
Zhong Hongyu warned, and then took the woman back to Dragon Fish Island.
"This humble woman, Zong Linghu, has met all of you, Sirs."
Zong Linghu greeted Taishu Hong and others with a bow, appearing quite pitiable.
Just as Hai Danaiu scratched his head, wondering what to say, the celestial phenomenon in the sky suddenly disappeared.
"It should be a success..."
Taishu Hong looked at the scene, his eyes gleaming with eagerness, "But... why is there no outburst of Demon Qi?"
...
At this moment, Fang Xi was facing the third-order Taisui before him and was also somewhat at a loss, "This should be... a breakthrough, right? But why does it still look so lifeless even at third order..."
Before him, after breaking through to the third order, Taisui’s size had shrunk rather than grown.
From the size of several rooms down to the size of an Eight Immortals table, its skin was tender white with some golden patterns.
At the same time, a fragrance of Spirit Ganoderma wafted through the air.
"As expected, it’s Meat Ganoderma..."
Fang Xi swallowed involuntarily as a blue light flashed in his hand, and the Green Barley Sword appeared.
Puff!
He thrust his sword into Taisui, causing droplets of fragrant, milky white Spiritual Liquid to trickle down the blade.
This was the ’Meat Ganoderma Liquid,’ one of the auxiliary materials needed for refining the ’Crossing Extinction Pill.’
"Recently, I only need to revive the ’Vanishing Heart Orchid,’ then accelerate its growth to a thousand years, and I can begin refining the Crossing Extinction Pill..."
A hint of joy flickered through Fang Xi’s eyes.
Ever since he had cultivated the ’Heterodox Nascent Soul,’ his Magic Power and Divine Consciousness had increased dramatically, and he felt that his skills in pill refinement had improved by leaps and bounds.
With more practice refining high-grade pills, he believed that it wouldn’t be long before he could advance to a high-grade third-order pill refiner.