Cultivating Immortality in a World of Chaos

Fang Xi didn’t even bother to glance at the final auction item.

He fervently hoped that Ouyang Zhen would introduce more Foundation Establishment Pills, drawing attention away from himself.

After securing the ‘Incomplete Second-Wood Divine Thunder Formation’, Fang Xi promptly left the venue. He instructed a servant to notify the auction house staff to bring his purchased items for immediate handover, then exited through a secret passage provided by them.

‘During this auction, I only acquired the Dragon Transformation Ginseng and the Magic Wood Divine Thunder Formation, exposing assets worth around three thousand…’

‘Normally, it might attract the notice of Foundation Establishment cultivators, but with everyone focused on the finale, the chances of being observed are minimal…’

‘It’s time to make my escape…’

Fang Xi walked out of the Inner City without returning to his home in Smokey Willow Lane, instead heading directly beyond the city gates.

Although his martial prowess was comparable to the fourth level of Body Tempering, he lacked tier-2 spiritual armor! Engaging in combat against an early Foundation Establishment cultivator could be risky, as victory was not assured.

Naturally, avoiding unnecessary complications seemed prudent.

As for staying hidden in Baize Immortal City to concoct pills and achieve Foundation Establishment?

Fang Xi hesitated to attempt inter-realm traversal within the confines of a third-rank Restrictive Great Array. The potential consequences were too unpredictable.

If his movements were sensed by any opponent, it could lead to disastrous consequences.

Moreover, staying within Baize Immortal City would prevent him from setting up formations and extracting pills!

Thus, Fang Xi decided on a swift plan: attack quickly before retreating just as fast!

Upon leaving the Immortal City, Fang Xi felt a sudden sense of freedom, a smile unconsciously spreading across his face.

He extended his divine sense, activated his magical artifact, and transformed into a streak of escape light, swiftly disappearing into the distance.

Even if confronted by pursuing Foundation Establishment cultivators, he resolved to immediately flee and find opportunities along the way to cross between realms!

Naturally, avoiding Foundation Establishment cultivators altogether was preferable.

Considering they possessed divine sense, there was a risk that if caught within their perception range during a forced crossing, his golden finger might be exposed!

“Hmm? Someone truly fearless?”

After flying several kilometers beyond the city limits, Fang Xi noticed a group of menacing cultivators approaching ominously on a spirit boat.

“I’m certain I checked with my divine sense; there should be no tracking marks on me.”

“Are they tailing indiscriminately? Do they intend to strike at anyone exiting the auction with suitable cultivation base?” Fang Xi’s eyes turned icy.

Such tribulation cultivators were akin to locusts in the cultivation world.

“Daoist friend…” From atop the spirit boat, the leading cultivator called out, surprisingly at the great circle of Qi Refinement stage.

“Die!” Fang Xi wasted no words; his towering Primordial True Body emerged behind him, and with fingers clenched, he swiftly threw a punch!

Boom!

Before the great circle Qi Refinement cultivator could react, their protective magical artifact shattered, and both body and spirit boat disintegrated into fragments!

“Not good!”

“It’s a great Foundation Establishment cultivator!”

“Quick, flee!”

The remaining tribulation cultivators scattered like frightened animals but were swiftly caught by a massive hand, crushing each one after another…

Swoosh!

One among them sensed impending doom, activated a paper talisman, transforming into a streak of golden light, and escaped towards Baize Immortal City at a speed even Fang Xi couldn’t match.

“A Tier 2 Escape Talisman?” Fang Xi retracted his Primordial True Body, frowning. “Seems they have some backing after all. Time for Foundation Establishment is crucial now…”

Using Daoist Mu’s identity, Fang Xi promptly departed after dispatching the surviving raiders.

Fang Xi swiftly flew back to the Yue Kingdom, moving at lightning speed.

Upon reaching a lake midway through his journey, he chose that location for his transmigration.

In Great Liang…

At the headquarters of the Martial God Sect, Fang Xi materialized in Blackstone City.

This city was once abandoned but still retained numerous structures, all potentially useful for rebuilding.

Moreover…

Following the principle of “two devils not coexisting,” any area where a powerful devil resides long-term becomes remarkably peaceful as nearby demons tend to relocate.

By now, Blackstone City had gradually started repopulating.

A large influx of warriors arrived, clearing away the rubble and ruins to construct grandiose new edifices.

Inside a secluded training chamber.

The door thunderously opened, revealing Fang Xi stepping out.

“Sect Leader!”

The waiting maid’s eyes lit up instantly upon seeing Fang Xi emerge. The Sect Leader often went into seclusion for several months or even a year, clearly demonstrating his extraordinary nature.

“Who is currently present within the sect?” Fang Xi casually inquired.

“Liu, the Left Envoy, has just returned, while Zhou, the Right Envoy, remains abroad… Additionally, the Five Phases Elder is here!” the maid promptly bowed and reported.

The Left and Right Envoys, along with the five elders, constituted the highest leadership within the Martial God Sect, second only to Fang Xi himself as the Sect Leader.

As for the Left Envoy Liu Ruyan?

The woman addressing him was none other than Liu Ruyan, the former leader of the Zongshi Association who had led her followers to pledge allegiance. Her cultivation base had long reached the pinnacle Qi Circulating Body stage, making her a Great Grandmaster.

“Summon Protector Liu!” commanded Fang Xi as he entered the grand hall, its ancient and robust architecture composed of massive stones seemingly captivating his thoughts.

Shortly after, Liu Ruyan stepped inside, “Sect Leader…”

“How has the situation within the sect been lately?”

Fang Xi sat cross-legged on a stone throne, resembling an ancient deity.

“Lady Liu reports: Following King Gui’s surrender, Kings Yong and Dasheng also submitted… Last month, the final rebel king, ‘Black Dragon King,’ was executed… The realm is now unified!”

Liu Ruyan bowed respectfully, her voice soft and delicate.

The Zongshi Association itself held immense power capable of influencing the entire world. Since Fang Xi established the Martial God Sect, it attracted numerous dedicated martial artists, including those who had previously withdrawn from society.

In times of turmoil, the support of such Zongshi masters was crucial. Each major rebel king had influential Zongshi backing them. However, upon discovering the existence of the Martial God realm beyond that of Martial Saints—especially after witnessing the effortless defeat of King Liang—they all chose to submit one by one.

“The realm… truly unified?” Fang Xi murmured softly.

He had merely delegated tasks to his subordinates, never expecting them to conquer the entire realm so quietly and swiftly.

With his current influence, ascending to the throne as Emperor would merely require a single proclamation.

“Alas… wealth and power mean nothing but fleeting clouds to me…” Fang Xi sighed inwardly before continuing, “How is the preparation of various records progressing?”

“All previously hidden archives from the imperial family have been seized, along with intelligence on demons across different regions. They’ve all been transcribed and stored in the library,” Liu Ruyan replied. “Additionally, regarding the information you requested about Monster Kings… I personally examined each case to ensure their accuracy.”

“Hmm, well done!”

Fang Xi was pleasantly surprised by her competence. When he had tasked her with gathering intel on Monster Kings, it was naturally for the purpose of capturing a few and taking them to the southern wilderness - ultimately to slay them there!

To increase the chances of obtaining their inner cores, he needed long-lived monsters with exceptional innate abilities. These powerful Monster Kings often wreaked havoc in their territories, even proving difficult targets for Zongshi hunters. By subduing and transporting them himself, then extracting their cores upon slaughter, Fang Xi could bring significant benefits to the people of Great Liang.

“This venerable one rewards merit accordingly. Here’s a copy of my compiled ‘Martial God Codex’!” Fang Xi casually tossed over a scroll containing his experiences in condensing true astral energy and breaking through to the Martial God realm.

“Many thanks, Sect Leader!” Liu Ruyan joyfully bowed in gratitude.

Isn’t this precisely what every Zongshi joining the Martial God Sect hopes for?

“To break through to Martial God, you’ll require special medicinal aids… Work diligently, and this venerable one will not neglect those who serve me.”

Fang Xi’s lips curved into a slight smile at these words.

Once he reached Foundation Establishment, finding the pill formula for tier-2 blood qi enhancement would be merely a trivial effort.

Several months later.

In Great Liang, at Monkey Mountain.

A group of monstrous monkeys resided here, each possessing immense strength and frequently wreaking havoc when descending from the mountain.

The regional military had attempted multiple times to eliminate them but always returned unsuccessful, due to the presence of a formidable Giant Ape King among them!

This Monster King boasted not only incredible strength but also copper-like skin and iron-hard bones. Even a Zongshi’s full-power attack struggled to breach its defenses, making it exceptionally difficult to contend with!

“Chirp! Chirp!”

“Squeak! Squeak!”

One day, the calls of numerous monkeys echoed through the forest once again.

Tigers, wolves, and other wild animals trembled, scattering in fear for their lives. Near Monkey Mountain, the monkeys were truly the undisputed kings of beasts!

With a thud, a figure leaped down from the cliff edge, continuously firing astral energy from his fingers to dissipate the impact against the smooth rock face.

“You damn monkeys, so what if I just drank some of your wine?” Zhou Tong’s body shimmered bronze, resembling a living statue of copper as he crashed heavily onto the ground, creating a large crater.

Unfazed, he rose swiftly, dusted off the dirt, and looked up to see a towering three-meter golden giant ape charging towards him, eliciting a startled reaction, “This monkey king is truly relentless…”

Having already battled this colossal golden ape, Zhou Tong felt utterly helpless.

The monkey boasted thick hide and iron-like bones, making it nearly impervious to even Zongshi Astral Qi attacks - a formidable adversary indeed!

In their previous encounters, he had been completely outmatched, barely escaping with his life each time!

Seeing the Monkey King pursuing him again, Zhou Tong immediately took off running!

“Ziiik!”

The golden Monkey King, seemingly enraged, relentlessly chased after him.

As one fled and the other pursued, they swiftly covered dozens of miles within moments.

Bang!

Suddenly, a burst of fireworks exploded in mid-air.

Upon seeing this, Zhou Tong rejoiced and changed direction, heading straight towards the source of the fireworks. “Come on, you beast, if you dare, keep chasing me!”

The Monkey King hesitated briefly, its eyes flickering with human-like uncertainty, but then bared its fangs and continued the pursuit.

In its experience, no human had ever posed a genuine threat to its life!

After enough time passed for an incense stick to burn:

Bang!

A massive, crimson arm several meters long materialized out of nowhere, firmly pinning the Monkey King to the ground.

Despite relentless struggles, the Monkey King could not overcome the immense strength of the Primordial True Body’s grip.

“Good work, Zhou Tong…”

Fang Xi stood with hands clasped behind his back, accompanied by numerous members of the Martial God Sect trailing closely behind.

With numerous Zongshi cooperating, even ordinary Monster Kings were swiftly captured and transported to Blackstone City headquarters.

Only truly formidable adversaries warranted Fang Xi’s personal intervention!

These included those capable of flight or diving deep underwater, posing significant challenges for lesser Zongshi.

The Kapisa King, however, possessed exceptional innate abilities, making him invincible on land!

Fang Xi observed with satisfaction; such a powerful Monster King accumulating immense strength over time, it would be unusual if he didn’t possess a monster core upon breakthrough!

Approaching the Kapisa King, Fang Xi exerted more pressure with his Primordial True Body’s fingers.

Cracking sounds akin to popping beans emanated from the monkey’s body, accompanied by increasingly shrill cries.

“If you don’t want to die, behave obediently and resist no further!” Fang Xi glanced coldly at the Kapisa King, sending out his divine sense to forcefully imprint a slave mark within its sea of consciousness.

The ferocity in the Kapisa King’s eyes gradually dissipated, replaced by docility.

“Good…” Fang Xi released the Kapisa King, who now stood behind him like a massive, several-ton child.

Zhou Tong watched, awestruck. “Just one look was enough to subdue such a mighty Monster King! Could this be the power of a Martial God?!”