Chapter 612: Chapter 610: Congratulatory Gift (Extra update, please subscribe!)_1
The night had fallen.
The incident of Fang Xi reaching the Transcendent God Realm at Mount Sang Qing immediately became the most sensational gossip throughout the entire Kong Sang Market.
Many Cultivators were exceedingly thrilled, eagerly discussing the deeds of Qing Hezi.
After all, the encounter with the Wang Family Ancestor gave them hope in breaking through to even higher realms!
However, they soon realized that they knew almost nothing about this ’Qing Hezi’, except that he was a senior who had an extravagant taste for good food and was also skilled in Array manipulation, secretly acquiring some Spiritual Objects from the Mysterious Dark Abyss...
Even more Cultivators went to Mount Sang Qing, kowtowing every three steps in hopes of becoming disciples of this Transcendent God Ancestor, and from then on, soaring to the heavens.
There were also many who wanted to offer gifts, send furnaces... looking to establish a connection.
But to their dismay, they eventually found out that the Arrays of Mount Sang Qing were always tightly sealed, and even Nascent Soul Cultivators could hardly get an audience despite personally sending invitations, leaving them utterly helpless...
Three months later.
Fang Xi first sipped a cup of Spiritual Tea and then leisurely selected an invitation from a pile of them.
’A hermit from Wuping Mountain?’
Reading the name on the invitation, Fang Xi also remembered.
This man was a Nascent Soul Individual Cultivator who occupied Wuping Mountain and had some reputation in the Kong Sang Market.
Only...
What caught his attention was not the cultivation of the hermit but the hidden contents within this invitation.
Buzz!
With a flick of his sleeve, Fang Xi released a ray of Demon Light that enveloped the invitation.
The next instant!
The invitation spontaneously combusted without any wind, revealing intricate array patterns, clearly a Talisman!
"This Talisman is of high craftsmanship... and hides a sliver of Divine Thought from a Transcendent God..."
"Such sneaking around is surely related to the Black Water Sect... It seems that this hermit is a covert inheritor of the Black Water Sect..."
As Fang Xi contemplated, he saw wisps of vapor materializing, drawing the surrounding Water Spirit Power, and forming a Water Mirror.
In the mirror, an image of a person appeared.
This person had a pale complexion, dressed in black, looked to be in his thirties, with a pitch-black watermark on his forehead.
Fang Xi recognized this person’s appearance – he was the Transcendent God Ancestor of the Black Water Sect known as Lord Hei Miao, from various jade slips.
"Congratulations, Sir, on completing your Transcendent God ascension!"
Lord Hei Miao in the Water Mirror saluted, his smile very amicable, "But, Sir, do you realize... disaster is about to befall you?"
"..."
Fang Xi didn’t respond. His heart was undisturbed, and he even felt like laughing.
Since ancient times, it seemed that swindlers, lobbyists, strategists... they all liked to use this tactic of pre-empting others, as if not mentioning eight or ten disasters or accidents was too embarrassing to even greet someone.
Seeing Fang Xi’s calm demeanor as he brewed himself another cup of Spiritual Tea and savored it slowly, Lord Hei Miao felt slightly embarrassed but still went on to speak, "Sir, do you know why my Black Water Sect was destroyed? The Dragon Controlling Sect is truly not a good lot... The so-called shortage of tribute is just an excuse; they have been harvesting the forces of Transcendent God Cultivators within their domain at regular intervals, feeding their Nascent Souls to that evil Flood Dragon!"
The Nascent Souls of Cultivators are a supreme delicacy for Monster beasts and can greatly increase their Cultivation.
If it was so for Nascent Soul Cultivators, naturally, the effect was even better for Transcendent God Cultivators.
If that Flood Dragon often ate Nascent Soul Cultivators, it might well have the chance to ascend to Integration in the future!
Fang Xi’s heart stirred, and then he smiled, "I’m all ears..."
"Before my Black Water Sect ruled this land, ’The Qingping Sect’ was in control, and before ’The Qingping Sect’, it was ’The San Shui Gang’... The downfall of these forces all shared one thing in common - they flourished for a time, and repeatedly produced Transcendent God Cultivators in their ranks!"
Lord Hei Miao spoke through clenched teeth, "We of the Setting Sun Plain, Mysterious Dark Abyss, White Bone Mountain... any Transcendent God force under the dominion of the Dragon Controlling Sect are seen as periodic sacrifices, taken to feed those evil Flood Dragons... To my knowledge, through such means, the Dragon Controlling Sect has already raised several fifth-tier Flood Dragons that have reached the Transcendent God level! Sir, now that you’ve reached Transcendent Godhood, won’t you soon enter the sight of the Dragon Controlling Sect, and isn’t that a disaster looming over you?"
"I see..."
Upon hearing this, Fang Xi seemed pensive.
It felt plausible that Immortal Cultivators would do such a thing.
A Transcendent God Sect being too strong underneath could affect the ruling of the Dragon Controlling Sect, regularly harvesting these sects not only eliminates the risk but also enhances their own Sect’s foundation... Only a fool wouldn’t do such a thing!
’No wonder the ’True Blood Pill’ felt somewhat odd to me; it seems it’s meant for the Flood Dragon to consume rather than for human use...’
’But if so, it seems the Monster beasts of the Dragon Controlling Sect are a bit too strong, and it’s all too easy for them to end up turning the tables on their masters...’
Seeing Fang Xi leisurely sipping tea, Lord Hei Miao couldn’t help but admire the other’s composure, "Sir seems to have everything under control?"
"Not quite..."
Fang Xi gently set down his teacup, "It’s just that the Dragon Controlling Sect recently harvested the Black Water Sect. They probably won’t wage a major war again so soon... Moreover, I have no plans of establishing a Sect or Family. If it comes to it, it would be easy for me to just leave. Wouldn’t that be for the best?"
Lord Hei Miao was speechless for a long time before uttering, "Sir truly leads an enviable carefree life!"
"We Cultivators shouldn’t bother with these superficialities. To win me over, I have to see what your intentions are," Fang Xi said, the corners of his mouth curving slightly.
"I’m not trying to win you over. My Black Water Sect has decided to relocate out of the Dragon Controlling Sect’s sphere of influence, but I alone can’t bear to leave this hometown..."
A hint of nostalgia passed over Lord Hei Miao’s face.
’I guess you can’t let go of the hatred, huh?’
Fang Xi sneered inwardly.
"Our two families helping each other out is definitely a mutually beneficial affair, not to mention... Sir, you’ve just ascended to Transcendent God, and you must have many questions about this realm of cultivation. My Black Water Sect, after all, has been passed down for countless generations, with a large number of notes and insights left by Transcendent God ancestors that will surely be of great help to your cultivation. Besides, there are Spiritual Pills suitable for Transcendent God cultivators to enhance their Magic Power..." Lord Hei Miao said earnestly.
In his view, this was indeed a situation beneficial to both parties.
"Do you have a fifth-tier Spirit Communicating Treasure?"
Fang Xi noticed that the things promised by Lord Hei Miao were all beneficial without cost and couldn’t help asking.
Lord Hei Miao fell silent for a moment before continuing, "Our sect possesses only one Spirit Communicating Treasure, and it has always been personally safeguarded by the Great Elder..."
"Sigh... who would have thought that even a Transcendent God cultivator in the Earth Immortal Realm would be so poor!?"
Fang Xi was speechless for a moment before saying, "If this is all you can offer, without showing real intent of alliance, then I shall pretend I’ve never met you..."
With a wave of his hand, a Demon Fire appeared and fell upon the surface of the mirror.
Hiss hiss!
The pitch-black Demon Fire spread quickly, covering the entire Water Mirror.
In less than a moment, the Water Mirror turned into a wisp of blue smoke and dissipated.
"Sigh... these forces are too stingy, not even offering a fifth-tier Spirit Communicating Treasure, and they expect me to risk my life for them..."
Fang Xi couldn’t help but complain.
Of course, he also knew that even such Transcendent God Sects would naturally keep treasures for their own Transcendent Gods.
What business is it to give them to outsiders?
The cost of this courting was simply too great.
However, this was exactly to his liking.
He never intended to form an alliance with the Black Water Sect in the first place.
When choosing allies, one naturally selects the strong!
Without a doubt, the Dragon Controlling Sect was the strongest in this region!
Perhaps there were Primordial Chaos Beasts in the Mysterious Dark Abyss that rivaled those Returning to Emptiness, but since they neither came ashore nor even to the shallows, they didn’t really count for much.
The law of the jungle was only natural!
...
A month later.
Two streaks of light appeared atop Mount Sang Qing, looking down at the pitch-black Great Array below, both with very solemn expressions.
One of them was a middle-aged cultivator in a yellow robe, dressed very neatly, with slightly frosty sideburns; he must have been a handsome man in his youth.
The other was a short figure in a ragged hemp robe, with a half-black and half-white beard and hair, and hands like chicken claws, looking like an unremarkable old beggar.
"Sir Qin Longzi..."
The middle-aged cultivator in the yellow robe clasped his hands together and said, "We’ve arrived..."
"Indeed, it is a fifth-tier array... Qing Hezi seems to have some skill." The old beggar, not knowing where he pulled out a chicken rump, nibbled on it with relish while occasionally taking swigs of liquor from a broken gourd at his waist, truly doing as he pleased, carefree and unbridled.
The Wang Family Ancestor didn’t dare show the slightest neglect towards this Sir Qin Longzi.
For he came from the Dragon Controlling Sect, and although their cultivations were similar, both at the early stage of Transcendent God, cultivators of the Dragon Controlling Sect were renowned far and wide for their Beast-controlling Skills. Being a Transcendent God cultivator from the sect, it’s quite possible he was commanding a fifth-tier Monster Beast!
If they were to fight, the Wang Family Ancestor would definitely be no match—not to mention Sir Qin Longzi represented a major Sect!
"When I first heard of this news, I too was astonished, and I had to hurry and end my seclusion to come see this cultivation prodigy."
Although the Wang Family Ancestor was full of praise in his speech, Sir Qin Longzi simply smiled slightly and did not say much.
Not long after, the Great Array opened a pathway, and Fang Xi, dressed in a black robe, stood at the entrance, bowing with clasped hands, "I’ve seen both sirs, please come inside for tea..."
The Wang Family Ancestor and Sir Qin Longzi exchanged a glance, then turned into two streaks of light and entered the pitch-black Array.
Both being Transcendent God cultivators, harboring exceptional trump cards, neither believed Fang Xi could do anything to them.
Moreover, they had the Dragon Controlling Sect standing behind them!
"Is this still Mount Sang Qing?"
Upon entering the Array, the Wang Family Ancestor saw the Ancestral Demon Tree planted beside Mount Sang Qing, its canopy already surpassing the peak of the mount.
"This tree is not simple..."
Sir Qin Longzi looked at the tree and muttered to himself.
"This is a Heaven and Earth Spirit Root that I relocated myself, just right to serve as the Array Eye for this array..."
A man in a black robe approached, his shoulders as if chiseled, and his expression full of coldness, "May I know the purpose of both sirs’ visit?"
"Hehe, congratulations to Sir Qing Hezi on ascending to Transcendent God, we have come to offer our congratulations."
The Wang Family Ancestor smiled slightly and opened a beautifully decorated box, "This is a ten-thousand-year-old Spirit Medicine, the ’Cloud Cotton Ginseng,’ a small token from my Wang family."
"Truly, it’s you, Friend Wang, who are rich and generous. I, an old man, have nothing of value..."
Sir Qin Longzi fumbled in his bosom, rummaging around left and right, and finally took out a bone of unknown origin, "My Dragon Controlling Sect also congratulates you on your ascent to Transcendent God and specially offers this bone as a gift!"