Clang!
The emerald green poisonous snake drill, comparable to a top-grade magical weapon, was about to burrow into Fang Xi's forehead.
In the next moment, a crimson light suddenly appeared from Fang Xi's forehead, resembling a helmet.
The poisonous drill hit the helmet, emitting a loud sound, and then was bounced off!
"How is this possible?"
"Could it be that he still has a top-grade defensive magical weapon hidden? But where is the mana to activate it?"
Miao Dong's face turned pale.
Meanwhile, a smile appeared on Fang Xi's face.
With a light shout, his figure shot out like a snake, leaping forward like a python on the water's surface, arriving in front of Miao Dong in eight steps.
"Secret Technique: Chaos Unlimited!"
Fang Xi raised his hand, and the astral energy surged, crashing down like thunder!
Boom!
The Golden Backed Ao let out a miserable cry, the water shield exploded, turning into mist.
Fang Xi's momentum did not diminish, another punch landed squarely on Miao Dong's forehead!
Bang!
The man's head instantly exploded like a watermelon, red and white matter flowing all over the ground.
"Hiss!"
"Roar!"
Behind Fang Xi, Qing'er, who was chasing, also let out a mournful cry, losing her breath as well.
Even the Golden Backed Ao under Fang Xi's feet let out a miserable cry and died instantly!
When a beast tamer forms a contract with a demonic beast, it is usually of a servitude nature. Once the beast tamer dies, the contracted demonic beast is bound to meet an unfortunate end... unless a blood contract is used, or a beast tamer actively releases the contract, otherwise, death is inevitable!
"You thought I was only at the fourth level of Qi Refinement, but you didn't know I've cultivated my body to the third level, capable of rivaling a late-stage Qi Refinement cultivator..."
Fang Xi sighed and began to clean up the battlefield.
Both the Golden Backed Ao and the Water Old Crow were low-grade first-tier demonic beasts, and even the mid-grade first-tier Azure Blood Python was worth quite a few spirit stones, but it was not easy to sell them in the Treasure Ship Market.
In mid-air, the Golden Dragon Sword suppressed the Black Claw and returned to Fang Xi's hand.
Fang Xi took a look and found that the black claw of this mid-grade magical weapon was already heavily damaged, on the verge of being scrapped, causing him to sigh.
His Profound Iron Shield was also corroded by the Azure Blood Python's innate venom mist, its surface pitted and scarred, almost ruined.
"If there are no gains, this time I've suffered a big loss."
After looting a storage bag from Miao Dong, Fang Xi dispersed the remains, gathered a bit of mana that had barely recovered, and controlled the Black Cloud Pouch to leave.
...
Within the Thousand Island Lake, islands were scattered all over, especially desolate islands without spiritual energy, which were commonly seen everywhere.
Fang Xi chose a spot and opened a hidden cave.
Inside the cave.
He took out Miao Dong's storage bag, spent a lot of time erasing its mana imprint, and then poured it out on the ground.
Rustling!
A large amount of miscellaneous items appeared.
Apart from some clothes, the main items were numerous bottles and jars. After checking, Fang Xi found that they were probably the food for the three spiritual beasts.
In addition, there were dozens of spirit stones and some low-grade talismans.
Among them was a piece of beast skin, on which many runes were depicted with blood, it was the 'Blood Contract Document'!
"It seems that beast tamers are quite poor, probably all their assets are invested in their spiritual pets..."
Fang Xi felt a bit emotional.
In fact, Miao Dong's strength was not bad. Even when encountering a Qi Refinement seventh-level cultivator, he could still manage with the help of his spiritual pets.
Unfortunately, he fell into Fang Xi's trap step by step, showcasing his weakness.
The aura of the Great Liang Blood Cultivation and the external characteristics were different from the Southern Wasteland's body cultivators, making it extremely easy to be overlooked, which happened to become Fang Xi's trump card.
He looked at the last few jade slips and books, flipping through them one by one.
"'Geography Records of the Thousand Island Lake'? Good stuff..."
"'Golden Water Technique'? Suitable for cultivators with a golden water spiritual root? The mutual generation of gold and water seems to be slightly better than the common techniques?"
"'Records of the Yue Country's Scenery'? I've already read this..."
Fang Xi looked at a few jade slips and did not find any beast taming inheritance, feeling slightly disappointed.
Fortunately, he was not a perfectionist in all things, so he casually opened a few books:
"Accidentally obtained the Azure Blood Snake Egg, named Qing'er, using 'Hundred Fragrance Snake Fruit', 'Wood Spirit Liquid'... mixed with spirit stone powder, brewed into a spirit liquid for soaking... hatched in a month..."
"In the second month, the Water Old Crow was greedy, brought back a 'Fruit Fragrance Carp', and abandoned the 'Jade Carp', punished with three days of no food..."
...
On the yellowed pages, there were detailed records of Miao Dong's feeding of the three spiritual pets!
This was a beast tamer's diary!
"Although there is no inheritance, most of the methods for raising three types of spiritual beasts are also included... could it be pieced together into an incomplete inheritance?"
Fang Xi stroked his chin, feeling quite satisfied.
...
Half a month later.
Fang Xi discreetly arrived at the Treasure Ship Island, hiding in a mortal town for a few days, changing locations a few times, and finally, with his true appearance, arrived at the entrance of the Treasure Ship Market.
"Esteemed immortal, do you need a guide?"
Another group of locals surrounded him, with Mo Qingyi among them, seemingly unaware of Miao Dong's incident.
"How many spirit stones?"
Fang Xi looked inexperienced, wearing a patched green robe that clearly showed he wasn't very wealthy.
"Just one spirit crystal per day!"
"Too expensive, no, no!"
Upon hearing this, Fang Xi immediately shook his head and walked into the market on his own.
"Alas... it seems this esteemed immortal is short on funds, today's business won't be successful."
Many guides lamented.
...
Inside the market, at a teahouse.
Fang Xi arrived at the information exchange place that Mo Qingyi had introduced to him before.
After entering the teahouse, Fang Xi ordered a pot of spirit tea and stared blankly at the white mist rising from the teacup.
In the tea, pieces of tea leaves emitted spiritual light, turning into colorful small fish, frolicking and chasing each other.
"This spirit tea contains spiritual energy, but the shop can only strive for taste and novelty..."
Fang Xi, who had changed a lot by now, carefully inspected it, confirmed that there was no problem, and took a sip.
A black small fish disappeared, causing the other small fish to swim faster.
At that moment, a man and a woman at the next table said, "The market has been restless recently... it is said that several fellow cultivators have gone missing. It's probably the work of the 'Kou Family's Twin Evils' again."
"The Kou brothers originally had three people, but later the youngest one died for some reason. Unable to survive in the Qingzhu Mountain, they came here to cause trouble for us. It's truly despicable!"
Another purple-faced man seemed to know some inside information and said indignantly.
Upon hearing this, Fang Xi's first reaction was, 'Could it be they've come to seek revenge on me?'
But he quickly came to his senses. The third Kou brother was killed by Situ Qingqing, who only knew that he was saved by a stranger body cultivator, what did it have to do with him, a weak and poor spiritual farmer?
'It's best not to openly take out the Golden Dragon Sword and that three-way storage bag...'
'Perfect, I've prepared Fang Xi's character as a poor guy, and I was planning to exchange the magical weapon for the Green Grain Sword...'
After thinking for a moment, Fang Xi realized that this identity had no loopholes, so he lowered his head again, casually playing with the spiritual fish in the tea.
He listened to a lot of gossip that day, added a few more spring waters, until the small fish in the teacup became blurry.
Only then did Fang Xi get up, and approached an old Daoist in front.
The old Daoist had white hair, meticulously groomed a goatee, and had sharp eyes.
Seeing Fang Xi approaching, he smiled and said, "What questions does this Daoist friend have? I am quite well-informed about the various secret channels within the market, as well as the news of the Thousand Island Lake."
This old Daoist turned out to be an 'information broker,' but he definitely knew more secrets than someone like Mo Qingyi.
And because of this, he charged a fee.
"I know the rules, let's go to a private room, and bring a pot of the best 'Clear Rain in the Morning' tea!"
Fang Xi nodded and followed the old Daoist to a private room in the teahouse.
After entering, the external sounds were immediately cut off, obviously equipped with a soundproof prohibition.
Such a private room required at least one spirit stone for a single use.
But when Fang Xi looked at the so-called 'Clear Rain in the Morning,' he found that it was just ordinary tea that mortals drank, causing the corners of his mouth to twitch.
He bought this spirit stone not for the tea, but for the information!
"I am the 'Decrepit Wood Daoist,' may I ask what this young friend wants to know?"
The Decrepit Wood Daoist politely clasped his hands.
"Daoist friend is too kind. I am Fang Xi, just a spiritual farmer from Qingzhu Mountain..."
Fang Xi was very honest, and with a bit of pain, he asked, "This time I came to the Thousand Island Lake, just looking for a quiet place to cultivate diligently, I wonder if you have any recommendations?"
"So, Daoist friend is a cultivator dedicated to cultivation!" The Decrepit Wood Daoist was somewhat surprised and asked, "Would you like to join a sect or a family? Many clans and sects are recruiting spiritual farmers for a long time."
"I don't want to, I really don't want to be bound anymore."
Fang Xi smiled bitterly in response.
"Then perhaps you could rent a cave in the market or elsewhere?"
The Decrepit Wood Daoist suggested another option.
"Well... I actually want a large piece of spiritual farmland, and I used to be a tenant farmer. Now I want to be a landlord."
Fang Xi expressed his inner thoughts. If he wanted to plant trees, he needed a large piece of land, right?
"A large piece of spiritual farmland, a landlord..." The Decrepit Wood Daoist's mouth twitched, somewhat understanding Fang Xi's needs. "So, Daoist friend wants to find unowned spiritual veins, or even become an island lord? Unfortunately... unowned spiritual islands were quite common a few hundred years ago, but in recent years, it's rare to hear about anyone discovering them."
"In that case, it's a pity..."
Fang Xi shook his head, feeling quite regretful.
"Daoist friend need not be disappointed. Occasionally, the Longyu Zhong Clan will release some unpopular spiritual islands for rent to wandering cultivators. It's always an opportunity... or some cultivators on the spiritual islands want to recruit people and will offer generous conditions, long-term leasing of large areas of spiritual land is possible, even becoming a second or third island lord... If you are interested, you can leave a message here, and I will keep an eye out for you."
"Thank you, Daoist."
Fang Xi listened, his heart moved, and he sincerely thanked the old Daoist, then asked, "Where in the market can I find arrays for sale? I want to buy a set to guard my cave..."
"The Dragon Gate Pavilion has them, the highest being a first-tier top-grade 'Cloud Mist Thunder Array'... Within this market, there is also an array master named Xu, as long as you pay a sufficient price, you can ask him to set up an array, the highest being a first-tier mid-grade array..."
The Decrepit Wood Daoist said with a smile.
As for second-tier arrays? Just like second-tier breaking prohibition talismans, they were strategic assets and had no trading channels for small forces at all.
Fang Xi asked a few more questions, and finally steered the conversation to the foundational cultivation techniques of the Longmen Pavilion.
The Decrepit Wood Daoist shook his head repeatedly, "How could those foundational techniques given by the foundational immortals be truly good for us wandering cultivators? Most of the techniques released are mediocre in power, and even very difficult... especially those body refining techniques, most of them are traps, claiming that when cultivated to the extreme, they can rival foundational cultivators, but in reality, there are many bottlenecks, and most can't even break through to the third level of body refining..."
He spoke with bitterness, "Body refining consumes too many resources. Instead of spending hundreds or thousands of spirit stones and not necessarily advancing to the third level of body refining, it's better to save up and go to the Bai Ze Immortal City to auction off a foundational pill!"
"Bai Ze Immortal City still auctions foundational pills? I wonder how much they cost?"
Fang Xi's eyes lit up.
"Several major auctions have had them, starting at three thousand spirit stones, with no upper limit... not to mention, buying it is one thing, but holding onto it is another skill."
The Decrepit Wood Daoist replied with a meaningful tone.
Obviously, after each round of foundational pill auctions, there would inevitably be several rounds of bloodshed!
Just thinking about it made one feel a chill down their spine!
(End of this chapter)