Chapter 384: Chapter 382: Evergreen Destroyed (Seeking Subscription)_1
A swamp.
Several thousand-year-old Wood Charms, resembling guardian treants, let out roars in unison.
"I only want one Spirit Origin Pearl from you... Why be so stingy?"
Fang Xi coldly shouted, beckoning with his hand.
A streak of blood-colored lightning flashed across, striking a Wood Charm squarely!
In the blink of an eye, the Wood Charm was reduced to ashes by the countless blood-colored lightning.
Seeing this, the other two Wood Charms immediately retracted back into the swamp, not daring to show themselves again.
Fang Xi’s face brightened with joy upon seeing this, and he quickly cast a Magic Spell toward a stone platform.
Hum!
The stone platform rumbled, cracking open to reveal a flow of dense spiritual energy.
Then...
A Spirit Origin Pearl slowly rose from it, falling into Fang Xi’s hand.
"As expected, it’s a Spirit Origin Pearl, and its quality should be better than the one from the auction..."
After a careful inspection, the joy on his face grew even more intense.
That day, Fang Xi had used a little trick to trap the Thousand Mechanism Palace Master, and then immediately fled a thousand miles away.
He hadn’t expected to find a Spirit Origin Pearl while passing by this swamp, which was a pleasant surprise.
"Enough... With more and more high-level Cultivators entering recently, it’d be better to head to the Green Emperor Palace first!"
After securing the Spirit Origin Pearl, Fang Xi recalled the map given to him by the old ghost.
He had an advantage over the other Nascent Soul Cultivators precisely here; without aimlessly blundering like a headless fly, he could directly strike at the heart and find the most cherished Spiritual Objects.
Moreover, he would soon reach the endpoint of the map given by the old ghost.
"Wonder what advantages Zhan Tu has gained... With the old ghost’s guidance, he must have obtained more than me," Fang Xi sighed with a hint of longing.
Thinking about it, the benefits the old ghost gave to Zhan Tu must have been more than what he had received.
He turned into a streak of Blue Light, vanishing from the sky in the blink of an eye.
...
Green Emperor Palace.
This palace was located at the center of Evergreen Garden, a sprawling complex stretching over a hundred miles.
With its all-round painted eaves and carved railings, inlaid with jade, it overflowed with a pale blue Radiance, shrouded in a layer of blue mist, which allowed only a general view of the perimeter.
Despite this, the intricate runes and Prohibitions still made Fang Xi draw a sharp breath.
And around the Green Emperor Palace, there were always a few strong Divine Consciousnesses lurking, making Fang Xi dare not get too close.
After thinking for a moment, he came to a grove and put his hand on an ancient tree.
In an instant, it was as if he could feel the tree’s breath, the cycle of spring, summer, autumn, and winter, the waxing and waning of life...
Not long after, a Blue Light flickered above a Spiritual Flower, and a person stepped out from within – it was Zhan Tu, who had used the Wood Escape Skill to arrive!
"We meet again."
Fang Xi greeted, his gaze subtly scrutinizing Zhan Tu: "Sir has gained quite the bounty..."
"Ah, enough said... I was chased and killed by two Nascent Soul old ghosts, and the Treasure I managed to get my hands on was lost again..."
Zhan Tu’s face was full of bitterness, and whether it was genuine or not was unknown.
"Just ahead is the Green Emperor Palace, but it seems that there are a few Nascent Soul old monsters ensconced nearby... It’s difficult to make a move."
Fang Xi suddenly sighed, then looked at Zhan Tu with a piercing gaze: "Does the old ghost have any advice?"
Zhan Tu’s eyes turned a murky yellow as he spoke with an ancient voice, "Don’t mind them... Now is not the time when the Green Emperor Palace is truly open."
"Truly open?"
Fang Xi was somewhat puzzled.
"Hehe... The Prohibition of this palace is the most stringent place within Evergreen Garden... Since it was sealed back then, it cannot be entered until Evergreen Garden collapses significantly."
The old ghost casually explained, "However, Sir can rest assured that when the Secret Realm collapses, even if high-level Cultivators come in, it will be too late. We need only enter the Green Emperor Palace, take the Treasure, and then leave through one of the ancient teleportation arrays."
"To enter the Green Emperor Palace under the watchful eyes of numerous Nascent Soul old monsters, then take the Treasure and leave – you speak as if it’s quite simple..." Fang Xi’s mouth curled with a Mocking Color: "I’ve already acquired what I wanted and don’t plan on accompanying you on such a risky venture..."
"Hehe... Then, how does Sir plan to leave when the time comes?" the old ghost asked, completely at ease.
"With so many Cultivators in the Secret Realm, there’s always a way out..." Fang Xi replied with neither humility nor arrogance.
Just as the atmosphere between the two began to tense, Zhan Tu suddenly spoke up: "There’s no need for such hostility between you... I see that the Island Master is also inclined to help us, but he has conditions."
Being experienced Cultivators, they naturally knew what the other wanted to say, but of course, the old ghost was not likely to yield voluntarily, hence Zhan Tu offered a way out.
"Indeed... If you can provide the Transcendence Chapter of Kuyong Skills, or the advanced Divine Skill ’Kuyong Mysterious Light’, I wouldn’t mind fighting side by side with you gentlemen, taking a gamble even at the risk of my life."
Fang Xi calmly stated.
"Hehe... Why is Sir so concerned about the Transcendent Cultivation technique? Could it be that you are certain of your success in Transcendence?" the old ghost chuckled.
"You don’t need to know that."
Fang Xi’s expression gradually turned cold.
"Even if I possessed such inheritances, due to certain vows, I could not easily impart them," he said.
The old ghost suddenly spoke, "Moreover, I indeed do not have the subsequent Divine Skills of the Kuyong Mysterious Light... but... in the Green Emperor Palace, there might still be relevant inheritances."
"Does that mean we gain nothing? Just for the sake of something that might exist, you want me to join you two in risking danger?"
Fang Xi suddenly smiled brilliantly, "You two should know that this is impossible."
The old ghost fell silent for a moment as if weighing something, eventually snorting coldly, "The complete Kuyong Skills for Transcendent God, I do not have... but I do have a fragmented scroll, which details the secrets of advancing from Nascent Soul to Transcendent God for the Kuyong Skills... In theory, combined with the Kuyong Skills of the latter stages of Nascent Soul, one should be able to cultivate to the early stages of Transcendent God. This is my final offer."
"That will do."
After pondering for a moment and feeling that he could not squeeze anything more out of the old ghost, Fang Xi nodded.
The old ghost threw out a piece of emerald green jade slip, which Fang Xi caught and immediately began to examine without any niceties.
Watching all this, the old ghost sneered inwardly: ’The cultivation technique is indeed real, but whether you’ll live long enough to cultivate it... I don’t know. You’re reaching for the stars before even achieving Nascent Soul... If I didn’t need an extra hand for the trip to the Green Emperor Palace, I wouldn’t bother... However, as long as this person dies within the Green Emperor Palace, I would not have broken my vow.’
Afterwards, Fang Xi hid with Zhan Tu in the jungle, using the essence of vegetation to conceal their presence.
Time passed, unknowingly...
Boom!
The ground shook, and the wooden walls around the perimeter of Evergreen Garden began to collapse one after another... Bright silver space storms flashed by, sweeping chunks of Spirit Land into them.
The ground trembled slightly, finally reaching the forest.
"Evergreen perishes, Green Emperor appears!"
"I’ve waited so many years, and finally the day has come."
From within an ancient tree, the old ghost’s thin voice transmitted, "Zhan boy, it’s time to make a move."
Crack!
A layer of bark was torn open, revealing the figure of Zhan Tu.
But at this time, his features were withered, his cheeks sunken, his limbs as dry as kindling, appearing like a dried corpse.
This was the ’Endure Death Skill’ — a Secret Skill accompanied by the Kuyong Skills!
It was often used when a Cultivator suffered severe injuries, to conceal all signs of life and enter a healing slumber.
With a slight improvement, one’s body could appear like decaying wood, not leaking the slightest bit of their aura, hiding among the Evergreen Garden’s ubiquitous and vigorous Spiritual Trees, complementing each other perfectly.
Elsewhere, Fang Xi also emerged from a tree hole, still looking like a graceful and handsome youth.
"Is it about to begin?"
Fang Xi muttered to himself.
"Of course, but we should still change our appearances first," said the old ghost with a he-he laugh, seeming to have offended quite a few Cultivators before.
"Mm, you speak wisely."
Fang Xi thought of the Thousand Mechanism Palace Master, and immediately pulled out a human skin mask from his Storage Ring, pasted it onto his face, and changed into a black robe, appearing like a Core Formation Demon Cultivator covered with a layer of pitch-black demon light on his face.
Zhan Tu also employed a Secret Skill to transform himself into a handsome scholar in plain clothing.
"Ordinary Core Formation Cultivators no longer concern us, but beware of those few Nascent Soul... Let’s go!"
The two of them joined forces and flew towards the direction of the Green Emperor Palace.
...
The Green Emperor Palace at this time was vastly different from before, with countless mists dispersing and a column of blue light soaring towards the sky.
The dazzling Radiance was clearly visible within a hundred miles!
And at this time, the Prohibitions shrouding the palace also seemed to be dissipating bit by bit.
In the plaza in front of the main gate, quite a few Cultivators had already gathered.
Most of these Cultivators were Core Formation, with a few Nascent Soul Cultivators taking the lead, forming several groups.
The youth with white eyebrows toyed with an ice mirror in his hand, scanning the many Cultivators present, especially the faces of the Core Formation Cultivators, with a thoughtful expression on his face.
"What? Has a disciple of my school provoked the Ice God Palace?"
The Thousand Mechanism Palace Master watched the remaining few disciples eyed by a Nascent Soul old freak, her expression turning solemn.
"Not at all... I didn’t expect the Nascent Soul Cultivators of the Eastern Sea to acknowledge the fame of my Ice God Palace," the youth with white eyebrows said lightly. "I’m only seeking remnants from the Green Emperor Mountain... Fairy, do not misunderstand."
"So it is... The reputation of the Ice God Palace in the North Plains Cultivation World is indeed renowned even in the Eastern Sea," said the Thousand Mechanism Palace Master, her tone relaxing slightly. "Does the treasure mirror in the hand of fellow Daoist have a ’Breaking Delusion’ type of Divine Skill?"
The two Nascent Soul Cultivators were about to continue conversing when a stream of yellow sand, like a towering dragon, descended, and a barefoot man in sackcloth emerged from it.
This man had bold eyebrows and leopard-like eyes, his hair slightly curly and scorched yellow; he seemed to be at the peak of the early stage of Nascent Soul.
Some Demon Cultivators from the Western Desert immediately stepped forward and bowed, "Greetings, Lord Qian Sha..."
Lord Qian Sha’s expression was indifferent, scanning the surroundings and settling his gaze on the youth with white eyebrows and the Thousand Mechanism Palace Master, "My unworthy disciple has died..."
The youth with white eyebrows revealed a hint of a cold smile, "In the Secret Realm, one mustn’t blame others for their own life or death. And don’t say it wasn’t done by me; even if it were, does fellow Daoist seek revenge?"
The Thousand Mechanism Palace Master’s expression shifted slightly, "Let’s not draw our swords at each other, fellow Daoists... I did encounter a Nascent Soul old devil who loves bullying the weak... Perhaps the beloved disciple of Lord Qian Sha was also killed by this person..."