Chapter 623: Chapter 621: Conspiracy (Seeking Subscription)_1
Kong Sang Market.
Fang Xi returned to Mount Sang Qing, still feeling that something was amiss.
"A sixth-rank treasure, moreover, a Thunder Transformation treasure... Even though it’s incomplete, its appearance at the Mo Sect’s grand auction is somewhat strange..."
"All things considered, it was right to stay away."
With abundant survival experience, although he hadn’t discovered anything, his instincts told him something was off.
But when, later on, Zuo Xiaoxuan reported that the auction in Mechanism City had ended smoothly, and the Dragon Controlling Sect had scraped together their resources, spending a fortune on Transcendent God Spiritual Ointment, a massive number of True Blood Pills, and myriad ten-thousand-year-old spiritual herbs to emerge as the final winner, obtaining the ’Mixed Origin Heavenly Umbrella’, and as Mo Sect’s Mechanism City once again set sail, returning to normalcy, Fang Xi felt he might have been overthinking things.
Even so, if given another chance, he would not compete against the Returning to Emptiness cultivators for anything...
At this moment, Fang Xi stood atop Mount Sang Qing, all six Demon Flames converting into the hue of Ghost Fire of Yellow Spring, incessantly igniting the ten-thousand-year-old Underworld Wood before him.
His ten fingers constantly shifted, swiftly inserting one magic spell after another into the Ghost Fire of Yellow Spring.
Burned by the Ghost Fire of Yellow Spring, the section of ten-thousand-year-old Underworld Wood gradually condensed, turning into an array rod six feet in length.
"Go!"
In Fang Xi’s right hand, the ’Mysterious Dark Banner’ appeared, transforming into a sinuous dark Underword River with nine curves and eighteen bends.
The turbid-colored ten-thousand-year-old Underworld Wood was infused with a mouthful of his essence blood, causing bloodstains to emerge on the surface of the wood, forming natural array patterns.
With a cold snort, his Nascent Soul appeared above his head, and Transcendent God level magic power was channeled into the array rod.
The ten-thousand-year-old Underworld Wood suddenly turned into a turbid yellow Flood Dragon, plunging into the Mysterious Dark Heavy Water, roaring and drawing in the black water, with its body crazily swelling in size!
In the blink of an eye, it transformed into a body a thousand zhang long, devouring the entire Nine Nether Underworld River.
Afterward, it became a brand-new ’Mysterious Dark Banner’ that fell into Fang Xi’s hands.
You could see its rod turbid yellow and the banner pitch black, with nine water-like patterns upon it.
"This array Taoist treasure has finally been refined," Fang Xi, holding the ’Mysterious Dark Banner’, said with much emotion. "This also signifies that my mastery of arrays has subtly touched upon the upper echelons of the fifth rank..."
Now that the ’Mysterious Dark Banner’ had ascended to the fifth rank, it meant that wherever and whenever Fang Xi deployed it, he could recreate the terrifying scene of the endless sands of the Nine Nether Underworld River, causing cultivators below the Transcendent God realm to dissipate their magic power instantly, leaving them at his mercy.
Even Transcendent God cultivators would be greatly suppressed!
"Now with a banner and a sword in hand, even Transcendent God mid-stage cultivators would also..."
The heterodox incarnation was full of ambition, but then thought of his original self and suddenly fell silent.
With his original self’s current divine skills, even perfect Transcendent God cultivators couldn’t stand a single strike from him.
Of course, that doesn’t count for the Monster Clan or Demon Clan...
"Sigh... Divine Sword Empty Benefit, is also useless..."
Fang Xi put away the ’Mysterious Dark Banner’, having contemplated for a moment, then soon cast these matters aside and headed over to another dongfu to seek pleasure with the Charming Women...
The range of a Transcendent God Earth Immortal’s Divine Consciousness was only a few hundred li, while his dongfu often spanned over a thousand li.
Moreover, having seized control of Kong Sang Market, he had also opened up multiple dongfus expressly for breeding various Spiritual Chefs and beauties... thereby indulging in spiritual delicacies and spirit wine, and enjoying the company of Charming Women...
These dongfus were far apart and isolated by great arrays, making them difficult for even Transcendent God cultivators to spy upon, allowing him to play to his heart’s content.
...
One day.
Fang Xi was eating, drinking, and merry-making when his brows suddenly raised.
A charming Wang family woman came up to him with an enchanting smile, and said, "Sir... someone outside the array seeks an audience, claiming to be the Hermit Xi Yi from Wuping Mountain..."
"Could it actually be this person?!"
Fang Xi casually finished his spirit wine, then continued to relish the spiritual delicacies served by the lovely woman.
Since he had taken charge of Kong Sang Market, all amusements at the Heavenly Immortal Tavern were free of charge, and each visit involved delicacies prepared by Spiritual Chefs and delivered personally.
If Fang Xi was particularly pleased with the meal, he would even arrange for chefs to come to the dongfu to cook elaborate dishes...
After having his fill, Fang Xi played with several maids for a while longer before finally ordering someone to summon the Hermit Xi Yi.
The Hermit Xi Yi was quite tall with a slightly crooked nose and deep-set eyes, dressed in a scholar’s attire.
Upon meeting Fang Xi in the parlor, he immediately gave a deep bow, "I pay my respects to the senior!"
Fang Xi remained silent, but then suddenly raised a hand.
Layers of radiant light appeared, sealing all the doors and windows.
He looked at the Hermit Xi Yi and shook his head slightly, "You’re not qualified to negotiate with me. Let the person behind you come out..."
The complexion of the Hermit Xi Yi changed, and then he lowered his head.
When he looked up again, two points of black light suddenly burst forth from his eyes, burning like flames, and his aura became inexplicably mysterious.
"Divine Consciousness Possession Skills!"
Fang Xi showed no sign of surprise, "Lord Hei Miao... we meet again."
The first time Fang Xi had "advanced to Transcendent God," Lord Hei Miao, under the guise of Hermit Xi Yi, sent a visiting card. They had one conversation and then he vanished into thin air.
Now, he had come, possessing a Nascent Soul Cultivator, and his intentions were certainly not trivial.
"It is difficult for Qing Hezi not to remember this individual..." Lord Hei Miao said with a low chuckle, "Does Sir know... that the Dragon Controlling Sect is on the brink of destruction?"
"Sir still likes to make startling statements..."
Fang Xi slowly poured himself a cup of Spirit Wine and drank it all in one gulp, silently watching Lord Hei Miao show off.
"Indeed, I have just returned from Mechanism City... where, at the previous grand auction, the sect master of the Dragon Controlling Sect, ’Lord Nine Dragon,’ spent a fortune and was willing to slow down the development of the sect just to secure the ’Mixed Origin Heavenly Umbrella.’ He fears nothing in his quest to reach Perfect Transcendence and hopes to glimpse the realm of Returning to Emptiness," Lord Hei Miao said gravely.
Lord Nine Dragon, the sect master of the Dragon Controlling Sect, previously declared that he was in the later stage of Transcendent God. Now it seemed, he had likely achieved Perfect Transcendence.
In the Earth Immortal Realm, Transcendent God Cultivators were not rare, but Returning to Emptiness Cultivators were, because they required the Unity of All Things, which is difficult to achieve. They could also trigger the Heaven and Earth Primordial Energy for thousands of miles, and their Divine Skills and Magic Powers were incredible, making them absolutely high-level Cultivators. Even if they joined some major forces, they could hold middle to high-level positions.
If one were to stay put and hold territory, then it was also possible to establish a dominant sect like the Dragon Controlling Sect, an entity not to be underestimated.
’If Lord Nine Dragon ascends to the realm of Returning to Emptiness... the Dragon Controlling Sect will become even stronger. It seems... that isn’t a bad thing for me. With two Returning to Emptiness powerhouses, the Dragon Controlling Sect might tolerate more from its subordinate sects, allowing a sect to have a number of Transcendent Gods or late-stage Transcendent Cultivators...’
’Even during its territorial expansion, as the Dragon Controlling Sect feasts on the spoils, we, its subordinate forces, might also sip some soup...’
Fang Xi thought to himself.
Seeing Fang Xi’s expression unchanged, Lord Hei Miao said, "My Black Water Sect has always been respectful to the Dragon Controlling Sect, and the slightest disobedience would lead to annihilation, even if we fled millions of miles away, we were still hunted down... our hatred is as profound as the heavens themselves!"
"To be frank, I have obtained solid evidence that the Dragon Controlling Sect condoned a vile Flood Dragon to breach and destroy sects and devour Nascent Souls... I’ve endured humiliation and heavy burdens before for the sake of my sect’s inheritance. Now, with the Dragon Controlling Sect’s current state, I have nothing left to worry about... I’ve already reported this matter to the Star Sect, and an emissary will soon arrive to deal with this matter. Sir should seize this opportunity well..."
After speaking, Lord Hei Miao swiftly performed a gesture with his hands, and the black light in his eyes disappeared. Hermit Xi Yi’s face now looked bewildered, his pupils slowly regained focus, and he bowed once again.
"You may leave," Fang Xi said with a wave of his hand, signaling Hermit Xi Yi to leave. As he watched him walk away, his eyes flickered...
...
Millions of miles away from Mount Sang Qing, deep within the Mysterious Dark Abyss.
A space was carved out within a rock, creating a secluded area.
Surrounded by a kaleidoscope of colors, it seemed to seal off all auras within the space, making it appear to the outside world as just an unusual rock.
In this space, Lord Hei Miao opened his eyes.
His aura had clearly reached the mid-stage of Transcendent God, evidently from some serendipity he had encountered during his days on the run.
Sitting opposite him was a person, draped in ink-black robes with a head of silver hair – it was the master of the Mo Sect, ’Ink-Silver Flood Dragon’!
"Lord Hei Miao, how did it go persuading our fellow Cultivators?" Ink-Silver Flood Dragon asked nonchalantly as he saw Lord Hei Miao open his eyes.
"Most are skeptical, they’re all opportunists. To expect them to actively revolt against the Dragon Controlling Sect is nearly a pipe dream..." Lord Hei Miao scoffed coldly, "However, that was just a smokescreen I released... Once the insider leaks this news, the Dragon Controlling Sect will only tighten the scrutiny on the subordinate sects, making it easier for us to hide and strike a deadly blow!"
A fierce look flashed across Lord Hei Miao’s face, "If this plan ultimately succeeds, your sect will finally have a real foothold; no longer will you need to wander the clouds..."
"This strategy is still quite risky," Ink-Silver Flood Dragon sighed, "It’s a pity... that Black Water Sect never truly gathered any solid evidence."
"Heh... The Star Sect was previously known as the mighty Demon Sect of the starry skies... even if they know that Cultivators from the Dragon Controlling Sect allowed a vile Flood Dragon to devour Nascent Souls, so what? In the Demon Sect, there are old demons who use their disciples and Taoist Companions to forge Magic Treasures!" Lord Hei Miao laughed coldly, "Unless the rulers of the Star Domain are those few Righteous Path sects known for their hatred of evil, even if I present the solid evidence, it would be futile... The great vengeance of our sect must be avenged by ourselves!"
Ink-Silver Flood Dragon fell silent, as if pondering something.
Meanwhile, Lord Hei Miao looked slightly excited, discussing his plans, "Now that Lord Nine Dragon is close to ascending to Returning to Emptiness, and will face the Major Heavenly Tribulation, it will be the weakest moment for the Dragon Controlling Sect... At that time, I’d like to witness the true power of Mo Sect’s Mechanism City!"
"As you wish, but you should know that my Mo Sect’s full support for you is not just for gaining the territory ruled by the Dragon Controlling Sect..." Ink-Silver Flood Dragon’s face remained as calm as a vast and endless blue sea, its undercurrents unknowable.
"Heh..." Lord Hei Miao chuckled, "Who would have thought that at the time of our sect’s extinction, when I fled in panic, I would chance upon a Secret Realm... and later meet you. If that Secret Realm hadn’t been too dangerous for me to explore alone, I would never have collaborated with others..."
"Regarding the Secret Realm of the Mysterious Dark Abyss, my Mo Sect understands it deeper than you do. Our cooperation is truly mutually beneficial," Ink-Silver Flood Dragon said, "After all, we’ve signed the ’Immortal Spiritual Document,’ and we cannot afford the consequences of breaking that contract..."
"Please rest assured, Sir. On the day our mission is accomplished, I will personally deliver the information about the entrance to the Secret Realm," Lord Hei Miao solemnly promised.