Cultivating Immortality in a World of Chaos

Several months later.

At Jade Cliff.

Above the Scarlet Blood Spirit Field, layers of mist continuously shifted and adjusted according to Fang Xi’s will…

After his fine-tuning, the Little Cloudrain Array now exhibited significantly enhanced power!

“Finally accomplished… I can now barely be considered a low-rank first-tier array master.”

Fang Xi held the Restriction Command Token, a look of satisfaction spreading across his face.

Over these past months, his progress in the path of array formations had been nothing short of meteoric!

Indeed, divine sense proved to be an unparalleled tool for mastering various aspects of cultivation and the hundred skills of cultivation!

With it, his study of arrays felt almost like cheating.

Only now did Fang Xi fully grasp that identical formations, when set as static Death Arrays versus dynamically controlled Live Arrays, displayed vastly different strengths - akin to night and day.

Similarly, operating with the simplistic aid of the Restriction Command Token paled in comparison to direct control by an array master, creating another stark contrast between heaven and earth.

Specifically, a static Death Array is most vulnerable to same-tier Barrier Breaking Talismans, which can create pathways, allowing intruders to breach and destroy the formation.

In contrast, a dynamic Live Array enables timely damage mitigation, trapping or redirecting invading enemies within its confines.

As for formations directly controlled by an array master?

“Array fundamentals are just the foundation; there are advanced techniques like ‘Cascading Formations’ and ‘Nested Arrays’. Simply put, these involve creating ‘formations within formations’!” Fang Xi’s eyes lit up as he solved another array problem. “I see! The concept of ‘Nested Arrays’ means placing one formation inside another - truly ingenious!”

With this approach, even if enemies use Barrier Breaking Talismans to breach the outer layer, they would only find themselves trapped or ensnared by an even more formidable confinement or killing array.

Moreover, due to the dynamic nature of the formations, any breaches can automatically repair themselves, making it significantly harder for Barrier Breaking Talismans to succeed.

Suddenly, Fang Xi sensed someone approaching outside his formation. Without hesitation, he formed a hand seal with intricate gestures and channeled it into the nearby white mist.

The cloud cover parted, revealing a clear path.

Feng Manlou was about to knock using a voice-transmission talisman when the entrance opened unexpectedly, catching him off guard. Nevertheless, he swiftly flew in. “Fang Xiong!”

His expression showed slight anxiety, but he did not notice any change in Fang Xi’s cultivation base.

This was a recent trick Fang Xi had mastered. After developing divine sense, leveraging his connection with the Demon Tree, he could ‘store’ part of his magical energy within its very essence, effectively concealing his true cultivation level.

Now, even cultivators at Late Stage or Great Perfection of Qi Refinement would perceive him merely as an ordinary sixth-level Qi Refiner with average magical energy.

“Feng Xiong, you seem quite hurried,” Fang Xi asked, “is there some urgent matter?”

“Something grave has happened,” Feng Manlou anxiously replied, “Old Monster Goldtooth from Golden Flame Island has fully recovered his injuries and is once again acting recklessly. He intends to forcefully take over our shops on Spirit Hollow Island!”

“The Island Lord requests Fellow Daoist Fang’s presence at Mirror Moon Lake for a strategy meeting!” he added hastily.

“Old Monster Goldtooth, huh?” Fang Xi’s eyes narrowed slightly.

This veteran cultivator at the tenth level of Qi Refinement had been left half-dead by Fang Xi years ago. After recuperating for several years, he cautiously surveyed his surroundings for more time before realizing that his nemesis, the ‘Silver Armored Giant,’ had departed. Gradually, he resumed his audacious ways.

However, circumstances had changed.

With the constraints of the Longevity Technique, Fang Xi could not step beyond Jade Cliff, even for a moment.

Thus, Fang Xi could only offer a wry smile, “Feng Xiong, my apologies… I have no intention of leaving Peach Blossom Island to engage in further conflicts!”

Feng Manlou was taken aback, “But this is an invitation from the Island Lord himself!”

Although Fang Xi held a position higher than that of an honorary guest, shouldn’t he still show respect to the host?

“Take care, farewell!” Fang Xi’s expression gradually turned impassive as he turned to leave.

“You… sigh!” Feng Manlou stomped his foot in frustration, reluctantly heading back to report his failure.

---

“It’s not unwillingness, but rather an inability to leave!” Fang Xi sighed softly as he watched Feng Manlou depart.

The constraints of the Longevity Technique prevented him from straying too far from Jade Cliff; his desire was limited by necessity.

“Hmm? Wait a moment!”

“Now that my magical energy has reached Late Stage Qi Refinement, aided by divine sense, my connection with the Demon Tree is even stronger… I’ve yet to test its maximum range!”

“Furthermore…”

With a single step, Fang Xi disappeared into the mist and swiftly arrived outside Jade Cliff.

One mile, two miles…

Four miles, five miles!

Surprisingly, the sensation of the connection nearly breaking did not reoccur!

Fang Xi’s eyes brightened as he continued pushing the limit further.

Eventually, when he had ventured approximately ten miles away from Jade Cliff, he once again felt the impending disconnection.

“Ten miles, huh? Still quite a distance from Mirror Moon Lake…” He let out a soft sigh, yet remained undeterred.

Instead, with a mere thought, the Demon Tree, acting like his extension, rumbled as countless roots surged outward in one direction!

In no time, they pierced through the Little Cloudrain Array, reaching the western edge of Jade Cliff and extending several more miles beyond!

Fang Xi had always kept the Demon Tree restrained; if allowed to spread freely, its reach would be truly formidable! In the future, covering the entire Peach Blossom Island could pose no issue!

Within this vast root network, every area could be considered part of the Demon Tree’s domain!

As a result, Fang Xi’s reach extended further, encompassing Mirror Moon Lake and Twin Peaks regions!

“At last… I finally won’t feel trapped anymore.”

“Or should I say, my prison has just expanded from Jade Cliff to the entire Peach Blossom Island?”

Fang Xi began walking back.

With his return, the Demon Tree’s roots gradually retracted as well.

Without the protection of the Little Cloudrain Array, exposing the Demon Tree itself risked discovery.

Such extensive root expansion was only feasible when Fang Xi needed to visit Mirror Moon Lake - a special case!

Previously, with the Demon Tree being smaller, its roots couldn’t extend so far, but now it barely managed to achieve this reach.

Even though he could access Mirror Moon Lake, Fang Xi had no intention of intervening in Old Monster Goldtooth’s affairs.

After all, the dispute involved merely seizing shops owned by the Feng, Mo, and Ruan Clans on Spirit Hollow Island, not matters of life or death for their foundations!

‘However, if Old Monster Goldtooth, already at Peak Qi Refining, suddenly starts shamelessly amassing resources, could it be that Yu Lingzi’s influence is pushing him towards attempting Foundation Establishment?’

A sudden thought crossed Fang Xi’s mind.

If Old Monster Goldtooth were to succeed in reaching Foundation Establishment, it would indeed pose a significant threat!

Unfortunately, during their past encounter, Fang Xi couldn’t overcome him due to the island’s protective array. Being in the great circle of Qi Refinement made him formidable!

---

At Jade Cliff, within Fang Xi’s courtyard.

The large blue fish noticed no one around and leisurely blew bubbles in the pond.

Pop! Pop!

Bubbles floated to the surface, even attempting to disrupt the surrounding confinement formation!

“Ah, you’re not being very obedient, aren’t you?”

Suddenly, a voice emerged from nearby.

Startled, the large blue fish’s dead-fish eyes widened as it spotted that detestable human standing by the pond edge, seemingly unnoticed until now, gazing at it with a grin.

A sense of life’s hardships instantly overwhelmed the large blue fish!

“The ten-year period is up, time for some sashimi!”

Fang Xi chuckled heartily and swiftly formed hand seals with both hands.

A cloud descended, transforming into chains that swiftly ensnared the large blue fish.

Despite struggling fiercely, the large blue fish, already reaching mid-first rank, found itself powerless against these seemingly delicate white chains made of clouds.

Tears began streaming uncontrollably from its eyes, hitting the ground with audible pops - each drop was actually a pearl!

“Fish tears turning into pearls? Even among mortals, such treasures are rare indeed…”

Fang Xi loosened his grip on the knife and pressed down on the large blue fish’s head. “Could it be that you have merfolk lineage somehow? Wait, no… I clearly fed you snake-dragon essence!”

“Fine, considering you still have some usefulness, I’ll give you another chance!”

In the next moment, Fang Xi formed a double-handed seal, releasing his divine sense which forcefully penetrated into the large blue fish’s body!

The fish shuddered violently, its eyes rolling upwards as if near death.

According to Miao Dong’s Beast Control legacy, Foundation Establishment cultivators could effortlessly dominate beasts using their divine sense imprint.

Qi Refinement cultivators, lacking divine sense assistance, required tools like Blood Contract Documents instead.

Now, Fang Xi employed this divine sense imprint technique from the Beast Control legacy to forcibly establish a master-servant bond with the large blue fish!

After a brief period, the imprint was successfully set.

Unless the large blue fish reached Foundation Establishment, it would be utterly unable to resist any command from Fang Xi!

Such was the might of Foundation Establishment divine sense!

“I’ll grant you ten more years and provide all remaining snake-dragon essence blood. If you fail to ascend to high-rank first-tier fish king status by then, I’ll simply kill you for meat.”

Fang Xi casually slapped the large blue fish back into the pond, his tone indifferent.

Tears streamed down the fish’s face; although it had lost its freedom as a demonic creature, at least its life was spared. Upon hearing its new master’s command, the fish couldn’t help but nod repeatedly.

---

After subduing the large blue fish, Fang Xi proceeded to check on the gold beetles in the insect room.

He carefully selected all the blue and white tortoise beetles, then individually tamed them using methods from the ‘Insect Control Notes’.

According to the notes, there were two ways to control a swarm of mythical beasts like gold beetles:

Firstly, one could cultivate an Insect King, establish a divine sense contract with it, and subsequently command the entire swarm through the king. Although not as precise as controlling an extension of oneself, the swarm maintains its own order and remains highly obedient, with minimal energy expenditure.

The second method involved setting up a specialized ‘Contract Formation’, infusing it with the cultivator’s blood essence, and forming weaker contracts with each individual insect. This approach allows for intricate control over the swarm but demands significant consumption of the cultivator’s blood essence and divine sense.

Weighing the pros and cons, Fang Xi naturally chose the first option. He selected the largest and most potent blue and white tortoise beetle as the Insect King, established a master-servant contract with it, and then used this king to command the entire swarm.

After completing his preparations, Fang Xi realized he lacked a crucial item: a spirit beast bag! The gold beetles were living creatures and couldn’t be stored in a regular bag of holding.

Initially, he hadn’t considered acquiring spirit beasts, so he never purchased a spirit beast bag beforehand.

Even the wise can overlook something amidst many considerations.

Fortunately, Fang Xi had someone to run errands for him. After pondering briefly, he called upon Lu Guo.

“What is your command, Master?” Lu Guo adopted a deferential posture.

“On the first and fifteenth days of each month, there are exchange meets at Mirror Moon Lake by Peach Blossom Island cultivators. Take this pouch of spirit stones and see if they have any spirit beast bags available. If so, purchase two.”

Fang Xi handed a small bag to Lu Guo, filled with low-grade spirit stones about the size of fingernails.

“Yes, sir!” Lu Guo’s eyes brightened; he was accustomed to running errands for Fang Xi and occasionally managed to pocket some extra money along the way.