ALL NOVEL Chapter 131: Demonic Cultivator
Fang Xi couldn’t tell how long he had been waiting.
Leaning against a peach tree, his presence seemed to blend with it seamlessly; one would hardly notice him unless approaching closely.
Wood-type techniques inherently excel at concealing one’s aura, and coupled with Fang Xi’s immense patience, he remained undetected.
After about an hour, a faint streak of light emerged from the villa.
Standing on a peach branch, Fang Xi silently tracked the figure’s movements, continuously shifting his position using the shadows, inching closer…
As the streak of light flew overhead, Fang Xi swept his divine sense over it!
Under this scrutiny, all disguises were rendered futile, revealing a gaunt and aged face with a hint of demonic aura!
“A demonic cultivator?!” Fang Xi was startled, only to be further surprised when he recognized the individual!
The person appeared to be around fifty or sixty years old, with a weathered, thin face. However, if one imagined that face fuller and more prosperous, along with those shrewd, cunning eyes…
“Situ Ying from the Situ Clan…the former manager of the spirit fields! He’s lost quite some weight, used to look much wealthier…” Fang Xi murmured softly.Fang Xi murmured to himself.
On Qingzhu Mountain, numerous spirit farmers deeply despised this man but were powerless against him. Including his past self, they often fell victim to Situ Ying’s exploitation.
Despite encountering his enemy unexpectedly, Fang Xi refrained from immediate action.
Although it had been over thirty years since their last meeting and this person’s cultivation had barely reached the seventh layer of Qi Refinement, he was no match for Fang Xi now!
However, if this individual appeared here, did it not signify involvement of the Situ Clan?
Fang Xi’s expression turned serious as he swiftly recalled information about the Situ Clan.
After the Situ Clan’s near annihilation, its surviving members formed the demonic faction known as the ‘Heaven Extinguishing Union’, vowing relentless conflict against the Profound Sky Sect and Song Clan!
It was rumored that following several setbacks, they were forced to flee into the Wood Nation…
“From what I see now, either these rumors were incorrect, or perhaps some remnants secretly returned? Choosing Wan Island Lake, such a remote location, to stir up trouble?”
“No wonder Wan Island Lake remained peaceful until these turbulent changes emerged over the past decade or so—it seems you’ve been orchestrating chaos behind the scenes!”
Fang Xi held no favorable sentiments towards the Situ Clan. Upon realizing that the unrest at Wan Island Lake involved demonic cultivators, his first instinct was—to report them!!
The Profound Sky Sect had long maintained warrants for members of the Heaven Extinguishing Union and Situ Clan, with exceptionally generous bounties offered.
By reporting them, Fang Xi could indirectly seek vengeance, avenging that arrow from years ago!
However, considering his own secrets, he quickly dismissed the idea.
“Perhaps… I should handle it myself?”
“Or maybe… wait until my strength improves before reporting them?”
Fang Xi gazed at the escaping light but remained indecisive, allowing it to fly beyond his territorial reach.
Despite harboring hatred, he understood the importance of patience!
Situ Ying alone was inconsequential!
But behind him lay the Situ Clan and the Heaven Extinguishing Union, likely harboring demonic Foundation Establishment cultivators!
Taking revenge on a minor enemy might inadvertently provoke the unseen forces behind them, making it counterproductive!
‘Ruan Xingling, how foolish to ally herself with demonic cultivators?’
Fang Xi recalled A-1 and returned to Jade Cliff, entering the underground stone cave.
Seated beneath the Demon Tree, he looked up at the desiccated corpses hanging from its aerial roots, falling deep into thought.
‘Either Ruan Xingling is unaware of whom she’s collaborating with, tempted by irresistible offers like Foundation Establishment spirit items?’
‘Or perhaps, even Ruan Xingling herself is secretly aligned with demonic cultivators? After her clan’s destruction, she constantly traveled, providing ample opportunity to encounter both demonic cultivators and members of the Situ Clan!’
‘Then there’s Lone Practitioner Ye from the Thirty-Six Islands… Although claimed as a rogue cultivator, is he truly one at Foundation Establishment stage? Why did he conveniently break through his bottleneck now? Could it be that he has some understanding or agreement with the Heaven Extinguishing Union?’
‘The choice of Wan Island Lake for their move suggests they’re playing a much larger game. Given their ambition, their goal must at least include covertly swallowing the entire Wan Island Lake region, right?’
As Fang Xi sat quietly pondering these possibilities, he was struck with sudden realization.
Unbeknownst to him, Wan Island Lake had seemingly become the epicenter of a brewing storm!
“My luck…”
“The Situ Clan really knows how to push it. First, exploiting my labor back then, and now interfering wherever I set my sights? Do they think they can just dominate everything like local lords?”
Fang Xi’s expression darkened.
In the past, striving for honesty, he found it difficult to maintain a facade year after year and never concealed his true identity fully. Being a spirit farmer for the Situ Clan on Qingzhu Mountain might not have raised suspicion within the Situ Clan itself, but it certainly would when viewed by the future Profound Sky Sect…
This posed yet another significant problem.
“The most critical issue is that the cultivation of my Second Wood Dharma Idol has reached a pivotal stage; I cannot leave this place. It’s one of the drawbacks of the Longevity Technique.”
Fang Xi glanced back at the Demon Tree, his eyes gradually turning somber.
On a desolate island, Situ Ying maneuvered his escape light, circling around to ensure no one was following him. Confirmed safe, he quietly descended into a secluded mountain valley.
Pop!
As soon as he entered the valley, the surroundings transformed dramatically!
Pure spiritual energy enveloped him, revealing numerous exquisitely crafted buildings adorned with intricate carvings and paintings. Within these structures, various cultivators were either meditating for cultivation or practicing magic spells.
Shockingly, this place was a branch of the Heaven Extinguishing Union!
“Miss!”
Situ Ying approached a palace, bowed respectfully, and called out.
“Enter!”
The palace doors opened, revealing a verdant glow from within. Oil lamps atop beast-headed statues emitted a captivating aroma.
At the center of countless lamps sat a graceful female cultivator, her demeanor ethereal and features delicate, akin to stepping out of an exquisite ink painting!
This woman was none other than Situ Qingqing!
Despite over thirty years passing, her appearance remained unchanged, with a cultivation base at Peak Qi Refining - likely due to age-defying medicinal pills.
“Miss, I have met with that person, and our collaboration seems promising…”
Situ Ying proceeded to recount every detail of his encounter with Ruan Xingling.
“Indeed, after witnessing our strength, she had no choice but to comply…” Situ Qingqing’s voice, clear as a mountain stream, carried a hint of amusement. “Even ‘Lone Practitioner Ye’ is now aligned with us; the Zhong Family’s downfall is inevitable… When that time comes, we’ll govern Wan Island Lake openly through the Thirty-Six Islands Alliance while operating behind the scenes, quietly amassing power. Eventually, we will seize the opportunity when the Profound Sky Sect faces a critical shortage of capable hands!”
As she spoke, her eyes filled with deep hatred.
The vengeance for her family’s destruction was such that even draining all the waters from Wan Island Lake and Vast Dream Marsh could not wash it away!
“Oh right, regarding the individual you asked me to investigate, Miss, I have the results.” Seemingly recalling something, Situ Ying handed a jade slip respectfully to Situ Qingqing, his face expressing admiration mixed with surprise. “I never expected that mere tenant farmer from our past estate would make quite a name for himself here at Wan Island Lake, chuckle… One wonders how many valuable items he managed to secure during the market chaos!”
In Situ Ying’s view, Fang Xi, once a minor spirit farmer at Initial Stage Qi Refinement, must have acquired numerous resources amidst the market turmoil to reach the seventh layer of Qi Refinement. It was likely due to sheer luck, possibly even stumbling upon two powerful cultivators perishing together and claiming their bags of holding…
While seemingly improbable, such fortuitous encounters were not uncommon in the vast cultivation world. Compared to true holders of immense destiny, this hardly merited attention.
Nevertheless, Situ Qingqing deeply resented Fang Xi!
Why should she endure relentless pursuit like a hunted dog, face countless risks while cultivating demonic arts, narrowly escaping death multiple times, only to barely reach the Late Stage of Qi Refinement now? Meanwhile, he effortlessly tended crops and raised fish on Peach Blossom Island, achieving the same level with ease?
“Fang Xi…”
As Situ Qingqing’s spiritual sense entered the jade slip, she saw a portrait of the young man, strikingly similar to the boy who once exclaimed, “With Miss Qingqing here, even the heavens seem brighter.”
Of course, practicing wood-type techniques and occasionally consuming age-retarding medicinal pills made maintaining youthful appearance quite normal.
What truly captivated her was Fang Xi’s identity and cultivation base!
“Over forty years old and just advanced to the seventh layer of Qi Refinement? And also pursuing Body Tempering? What a pity… If he had reached Late Stage Qi Refinement before turning forty, there might have been a slim chance for Foundation Establishment…”
“At his current age, the prospects for reaching Foundation Establishment are exceedingly dim…”
At over fifty years old and only in the seventh layer of Qi Refinement, there was no realistic chance to break through to Peak Qi Refinement before reaching the age limit of sixty. Consequently, such individuals were often disregarded.
In sects or Foundation Establishment clans, they might be assigned to manage shops in markets or sent to oversee territories among ordinary folk, establishing branch families. This would allow for bloodline expansion, hoping that future descendants might possess exceptional spiritual roots - potential immortal sprouts.
Situ Qingqing’s seemingly casual assessment belied the slight ripple of intrigue within her.
The intelligence report also detailed how Fang Xi, wielding the Qinghe Sword, had suppressed the Lu Clan on Peach Blossom Island using both Mid Qi Refinement and body cultivation prowess.
This immediately reminded Situ Qingqing of a mysterious body cultivator who had once saved her from pursuers. However, he refused any favors from the Situ Clan and swiftly departed without hesitation.
In hindsight, his decision proved remarkably astute! Had he boarded the treacherous ship of the Situ Clan, even if he survived the Blackwater Pond incident, he would have been ostracized as a demonic cultivator by the entire Yue Kingdom’s cultivation world!
‘Both at the second stage of Body Tempering, is it merely a coincidence?’
‘But even if it’s the same person, what difference does it make? Being in the seventh layer of Qi Refinement at over fifty suggests some minor secrets, but nothing extraordinary… The likelihood of this individual reaching Foundation Establishment in the future seems low.’
‘For now, our primary focus should be on the greater goal. Once we unify Wan Island Lake in the future, at most, I’ll grant him some additional rewards to settle past debts…’
Situ Qingqing swiftly dismissed thoughts of Fang Xi from her mind.
After all, in certain respects, he had once again aligned with their side…
With this consideration, Situ Qingqing casually placed the jade slip back into her bag of holding and turned towards Situ Ying. “You’ve done well. Ruan Xingling and Ruan Dan are crucial to our grand plan; they must not falter. Did she accept the ‘Reunion Renewal Pill’ you brought?”
“Heh heh, considering its importance for her female disciple’s Dao path, naturally she accepted it.” Situ Ying stroked his beard, feeling somewhat心疼(pained): “Such a specialized tier-2 medicinal pill is worth over a thousand spirit stones!”
“How else could we gain her trust?” A hint of crimson flickered in Situ Qingqing’s eyes. “As long as she dares to accept, there’s nothing we wouldn’t dare to give! In the future…it will depend on which one, master or disciple, seizes the opportunity to achieve Foundation Establishment, chortle…”
The girl’s melodious laughter echoed throughout the palace.
“Only by doing so can we truly gain her trust.”