Cultivating Immortality in a World of Chaos

Chapter 126: High-Grade Formation Master

“Truly unfortunate…”

Fang Xi couldn’t help but feel sorry for Ruan Xingling.

Upon reaching Foundation Establishment, one gains a lifespan of two hundred years, truly stepping into the realm of immortality!

This woman possessed commendable aptitude, temperament, and opportunities; there was indeed hope for her to achieve Foundation Establishment.

The interruption this time could be considered a significant missed chance.

“If not for this incident, I wouldn’t have realized how deeply corrupt the alliance has become…” Ruan Xingling scoffed bitterly.

“Announcing Peach Blossom Island’s departure from the Thirty-Six Islands Alliance would likely provoke Yu Lingzi and the other Foundation Establishment cultivator within the alliance. They could then openly attack and annihilate us!”

“This matter may involve the ‘Three Upper Families’,” Fang Xi concluded after a moment of contemplation.

The Three Upper Families of the Thirty-Six Islands comprised Taishu, Yuchi, and Xiahou clans, each boasting multiple Late Stage Qi Refinement cultivators and patriarchs at the great circle of Qi Refinement. Some even suspected hidden clan members who had secretly achieved Foundation Establishment!

The establishment of the Spirit Hollow Market was largely decided by these Three Upper Families.

“Fortunately, their goal has been achieved, and they will compensate us further…”

Ruan Xingling’s smile held a hint of bitterness.

“We still don’t know what exactly the Island Lord obtained this time…” Fang Xi’s eyes flickered, probing for crucial information.

“On my recent visit to Baize Immortal City, I seized a significant opportunity. I managed to gather several rare hundred-year-old spirit medicines, intending to collaborate with a renowned pill-concocting master to create a ‘Foundation Establishment Pill’!” Ruan Xingling smoothed her hair, revealing the truth directly.

Baize Immortal City was located at the intersection of Yue, Wu, and Wood Nations, nestled against the Myriad Beasts Mountain Range. It boasted abundant resources, overseen by a Core Formation patriarch and protected by third-order defensive arrays. Within the city, combat and killing were strictly prohibited.

Moreover, apart from Gold Core sects like the Profound Sky Sect, it was the only known source where Foundation Establishment Pills might be available!

“A Foundation Establishment Pill!”

Even Fang Xi couldn’t help but marvel at Ruan Xingling’s remarkable fortune. Initially, he had assumed she merely acquired one type of Foundation Establishment spirit object. To his surprise, she had a chance to obtain a Foundation Establishment Pill! No wonder other factions were growing anxious.

Other Foundation Establishment spirit items, such as malevolent qi for body tempering, not only had significantly lower success rates compared to the Foundation Establishment Pill, but also lacked its protective effect on the qi passageways, ensuring survival even if the attempt failed.

This safeguard allowed cultivators to approach their breakthrough with greater confidence, which itself contributed positively to achieving successful Foundation Establishment.

Through further questioning, Fang Xi learned that Baize Immortal City housed several renowned pill-concocting masters who accepted commissions for crafting Foundation Establishment Pills, provided the client supplied the necessary raw materials.

Their success rates appeared quite promising, making them the best hope for rogue cultivators from the nearby three kingdoms seeking Foundation Establishment.

“However, this time I collaborated with limited spirit medicines, and if fewer than two pills result, my prospects won’t be too favorable…” Ruan Xingling revealed candidly. “After learning about Black Sand Island’s destruction, sensing trouble, I exchanged some hundred-year-old spirit plants for the exotic treasure ‘Ancient Bronze Sword’ and hastily returned…”

“Sigh… Achieving Foundation Establishment as a rogue cultivator is harder than ascending to heaven!”

Fang Xi refrained from asking why Ruan Xingling didn’t retrieve those few spirit medicines and seek collaboration elsewhere next time.

Within Baize Immortal City, there might be factions targeting her—or more precisely…the spirit medicines she possessed!

The prospect of obtaining a Foundation Establishment Pill was enticing enough to stir even Foundation Stage powers.

If not for exchanging them for an immediate combat boost with the ancient bronze sword, Ruan Xingling may never have returned safely!

“Without the support of a Foundation Stage mentor, achieving Foundation Establishment indeed requires significant fortune. Perhaps my opportunities were insufficient…” Ruan Xingling lamented.

Fang Xi silently took note of Ruan Xingling’s cautionary tale. Even in Baize Immortal City, having Core Formation patriarchs overseeing matters did not guarantee complete safety.

While these Foundation Stage factions appeared civilized on the surface, beneath it all, they remained ruthless predators!

Although direct combat is forbidden in Baize Immortal City, flaunting wealth could still invite forceful theft.

‘It seems relying on others for pill concoction is highly unreliable.’

‘Winning at auctions only draws more attention.’

‘What should I plan for the future?’

---

After Ruan Xingling left, Fang Xi continued to assess his newfound resources.

The ‘Azure Origin Shield’ from the second-in-command was a high-grade defensive magical artifact, perfectly suitable as a replacement for his now destroyed Green Turtle Shield.

As Fang Xi had reached Late Stage Qi Refinement, upgrading his magical artifacts became essential.

Additionally, Ruan Xingling did not claim the Kou Clan leader’s bag of holding, leaving it directly for Fang Xi.

However, the massive spirit boat held no use for Fang Xi, so he handed it over to Ruan Xingling.

In total, the contents of the Kou Clan leader’s bag of holding were estimated to be worth around one thousand spirit stones, which Fang Xi and Ruan Xingling divided equally.

Combined with contributions from other Plunderer Cultivators, his apparent wealth grew immensely.

These newly acquired spirit stones could be openly spent without issue.

As for the earlier stash, considered stolen goods, he still needed to find a way to discreetly sell them…

---

One year later.

Fang Xi turned forty-four years old.

“Not bad, not bad. Four successful pills, even the challenging ‘Qingzhi Pill’ can’t stump me now…”

Ever since learning about Ruan Xingling’s predicament, he had quietly increased his time spent on refining medicinal pills.

At this point, he successfully produced even one of the more difficult tier-one high-grade pills, the Qingzhi Pill.

“After all, my study of pill concoction is akin to that of a Foundation Establishment cultivator, and I’ve devoted several years to it…”

“Next, should I attempt to refine tier-2 medicinal pills?”

Unfortunately, there were two significant issues.

The first problem was the lack of tier-2 pill formulas! Fang Xi initially acquired only the first-rank legacy of pill concoction.

The second issue was the absence of intrinsic true fire, which only Foundation Establishment cultivators possess.

However, after thorough research in ancient texts, Fang Xi found an alternative solution - using earthflame!

Regrettably, Peach Blossom Island did not have any accessible earthflame veins.

Even if such veins existed, constant access for pill concoction would be highly unlikely.

“The reason why first-tier spirit wood charcoal falls short compared to second-tier earthflame is twofold: firstly, insufficient firepower, and secondly, instability…”

“These two issues can actually be addressed through an array… By designing a ‘Fire Gathering Formation’, we can maintain long-term stability using large quantities of spirit wood charcoal…”

Fang Xi pondered for a moment and began sketching rough diagrams within a jade slip.

Suddenly, his eyes lit up, “I understand now…”

In that instant, drawing connections from similar concepts, he resolved the challenging problems he had been grappling with in tier-1 formations!

“The hundred skills of cultivation indeed share many interrelated aspects…”

As if entering a state of enlightenment, he started spontaneously designing a new formation.

Half a day later…

Fang Xi gazed at the completed formation, feeling quite contemplative. “Although this formation consumes significantly more resources - almost several times compared to renting an earthflame chamber - its advantage lies in secrecy, and moreover… it can be set up even where no earthflame veins exist. The generated flames surpass typical first-rank spirit flames, subtly approaching tier-2 quality…”

“Considering my current proficiency, I must have now achieved a breakthrough to tier-1 high-grade in the Dao of arrays, right?”

The purpose of formations is to harness spirit stones and restrictions, amplifying effects beyond what a cultivator’s current cultivation base could achieve!

For example, a tier-1 high-grade fire-gathering formation theoretically can elevate the potency of a first-rank spirit flame to nearly match that of a second-rank spirit flame, albeit with significant energy consumption…

“And then there’s the matter of a tier-2 pill formula… I truly don’t have one.”

Gazing at the completed formation, Fang Xi couldn’t help feeling somewhat disheartened.

Designing a tier-2 pill formula from scratch was entirely unrealistic, far exceeding his capabilities.

Even if he had access to such a formula, the materials required for tier-2 pills are incredibly demanding, not something easily sourced within just a few or even ten years.

“Even for someone in the Foundation Establishment stage, advancing their pill concocting skill to tier-2 is remarkably challenging…” Fang Xi sighed, setting aside these thoughts, and returned to the outside world to enjoy his tea.

Underneath the peach tree, a jade slip materialized in his hand as he immersed his divine sense within it.

This jade slip was found among the belongings of the second-in-command, who was at the eighth layer of Qi Refinement. It contained a technique called the “Dragon’s Roar Art”.

Note, Fang Xi was not drawn to its Ways of Supplementation; rather, he valued a section focusing on calming the mind and enhancing focus.

The Ways of Supplementation demanded considerable control from male cultivators, requiring them to maintain a state of absolute tranquility during its practice.

Fang Xi thought it could be useful for refining his mind, helping him resist the instinctual influences of the Demon Tree.

Indeed, perhaps due to having cultivated divine sense, he displayed exceptional talent in techniques focused on mental calmness and composure.

With just a brief contemplation, he quickly grasped the basics.

As Fang Xi reached a meditative state, a voice-transmission talisman arrived unexpectedly.

Sighing, he took the Black Feather Boat and swiftly flew towards the Western Twin Peak.

“Waaah… Uncle, my mom, she…” Wei Yixi sobbed, her face streaked with tears as she ran out.

“I’ll go check on her…”

After offering some comforting words, Fang Xi entered the house, immediately noticing a strong medicinal scent.

Hua Chanjuan lay on the bed, her skin wrinkled and hair gray, her life force flickering like a candle about to extinguish at any moment.

This was no surprise to Fang Xi. Overexertion had taken its toll on her health, exacerbated by expending vital energy during the desperate spell she cast when the Kou Clan leader attacked the island, severely damaging her longevity.

Now, she was nearing the end, her vitality depleted beyond remedy!

“Fang… Daoist friend…” Hua Chanjuan’s eyes opened slightly, revealing no trace of her youthful beauty from days past.

As she gazed at Fang Xi, who still appeared as a young lad, her expression seemed lost, as if revisiting memories of bygone times. After a moment, she murmured weakly, “Yixi… I can’t let go of her… There are too many dangers outside… She is so innocent… Daoist friend, you’re worthy to be entrusted with her care… Please, please…”

“Mama!” Wei Yixi rushed closer, tears streaming down her face.

“Please accept my daughter as your apprentice! Not for a smooth path towards immortality, but only for her safety…” With these words, Hua Chanjuan seemingly exhausted her last strength and closed her eyes.

“Mama!” Wei Yixi sobbed uncontrollably.

Sighing deeply, Fang Xi stepped out of the room to inspect the newly rebuilt flower garden.

A short while later, Wei Yixi emerged from the house, “Uncle…”

“Xixi, your mother asked me to take you as my apprentice. What do you think about it?” Fang Xi casually inquired, hands clasped behind his back.

Gazing upon the upright figure of the green-robed youth, reminiscent of a towering pine, Wei Yixi knelt before him, “Disciple greets Master!”

“I’m merely at the seventh layer of Qi Refinement; hardly suitable to accept apprentices.” Fang Xi shook his head. Seeing Wei Yixi persistently kneeling, he sighed again, “Very well… I will teach you everything I know, but there’s no need to call me ‘Master’…”