After leaving the auction, Fang Xi took a few detours.
Sneaking out of the market, making sure no one was following, he changed back to his original appearance and returned to Cave No. 37 in the shape of the character "丙".
"What a good place... but unfortunately, I won't stay long."
Gazing at the plants and trees in the cave, sensing the pure first-order spiritual energy around his body, Fang Xi couldn't help but sigh.
He had already checked out of the room and would be leaving at the end of the month.
After all, he would soon be fighting for planting trees!
"Anyone who blocks me from planting trees will die!"
A hint of coldness flashed in Fang Xi's eyes as he began to inspect his equipment.
For defense, he had a first-order medium-grade "Green Turtle Shield," a crucial "Diamond Talisman" for critical moments, along with his own strong body and true essence, which posed no problem.
In terms of attack, the "Green Wheat Sword" was not up to par, so he could use the recently purchased "Heavenly Meteorite Sword" instead, with the final "Golden Dragon Sword" and his martial arts cultivation as his trump cards.
However, in terms of mobility, the "Black Cloud Pouch" was a bit slow.
"Hmm... I can go borrow twenty spirit stones from Senior Xuemu tomorrow and buy a 'Flying Talisman' as a backup..."
It's not that Fang Xi was out of spirit stones.
If he ran out, he could go to Daliang where there were plenty of demonic beasts.
Especially the Eight Great Demon Kings, their whereabouts had long been discovered, they were not yet intelligent, and didn't know demonic arts, making them easy targets.
Fang Xi wanted to establish a good relationship with Senior Xuemu.
At least, after lending out these twenty spirit stones, that old Daoist probably wouldn't want him dead, as no one would return his spirit stones!
"We're all brothers in the same trench, it's not excessive to borrow twenty spirit stones from him, right?"
"At worst, when I succeed in farming, I can repay him with spiritual grains..."
After some contemplation, Fang Xi took out a box containing the "Little Cloud Rain Array," retrieved a jade slip, and carefully pondered it.
Half an hour later, he opened his eyes slightly tiredly, "I understand... but I still can't do it!"
If that female formation master was a top student, then without a doubt, Fang Xi was a formation layman!
A fake layman: The top student tells you the solution, then you plug in the formula and calculate, oh... I got it!
A real layman: The top student tells you the solution, damn... I still can't do it!
Fang Xi was now a real layman!
Fortunately, this jade slip not only contained the solution to the "Little Cloud Rain Array," but also the answer!
Even a real layman could copy the answer without much difficulty!
"All my previous efforts feel like they were in vain... I'm so silly, really, I shouldn't have learned formations!"
"Next time, I should learn talisman crafting instead!"
"I didn't have the inheritance of other immortal arts before, even if I starve to death now, I won't... forget it, let's not talk about losing face."
"Compared to learning formations, I'd rather go kill a few more demonic beasts."
Fang Xi took out the Heavenly Meteorite Sword from his storage bag, held it in his hand, and felt his whole arm become heavy.
This sword had a simple shape, an extremely sharp blade, not cold to the touch, but rather warm.
Unfortunately, this meteorite iron couldn't contain any spiritual power, otherwise, it would definitely be a top-grade material for crafting artifacts!
This sword couldn't be used for flying or manipulating from a distance, only for slashing and stabbing by hand, lacking the elegance of a cultivator, but Fang Xi didn't mind.
Whoosh!
Taking advantage of his strength, he casually swung it a few times.
A gust of wind suddenly rose in the cave!
Crack!
Where the sword tip passed, a piece of green stone was evenly split in half.
"Good sword! With this weight alone, it could crush someone to death."
"A heavy sword with a sharp edge, skillfully crafted... I'll call you the Profound Iron Sword!"
Fang Xi waved the Profound Iron Sword a few more times and felt quite comfortable with it.
After some contemplation, he suddenly became excited, gave a light shout, his true essence surged, infused into the Profound Iron Sword!
A miraculous scene unfolded!
Threads of true essence spread all over the Profound Iron Sword, giving the dark giant sword a hint of dark red color!
Flicking his finger, the sword hummed, heavy and ancient.
On the sword tip, three inches of crimson true essence suddenly emerged, like a sword aura!
This sword seemed to harmonize well with the true essence.
"Not bad, not bad... when the time comes, I'll first fill myself with true essence, then use the enhanced Profound Iron Sword, and it would be best to wear a full set of top-grade artifacts, definitely like a humanoid beast! One sword, one little friend!"
...
Several days later.
Dozens of miles away from Peach Blossom Island, on a hidden reef.
Several figures were sitting cross-legged on the reef, concealing themselves with water mist.
"Friend Ruan, this 'Mist Concealment Talisman' of yours is truly mysterious. Today, that Lu scoundrel will surely meet his end!"
The old Daoist Xuemu flicked a strand of water mist, praising.
Wei Yixin and Hua Chuanjuan remained silent, quietly checking their talismans and wiping their artifacts.
For them, this was a battle where they staked their lives, with no room for error!
Fang Xi pretended to wipe the Green Turtle Shield, then looked up at the sky, "Will the enemy really take this route?"
In reality, he didn't like this kind of uncertain waiting.
If that Lu Jingqing was on the island, he would be willing to try sneaking in for an ambush.
No!
Showing off his might and stealing the limelight was not Fang Xi's style.
He would only disguise himself, secretly severely injure Lu Jingqing, and then let his group easily pick the fruits...
However, Ruan Xingling was resolute, and Xuemu and the others were not willing to attack head-on, choosing to ambush.
Ruan Xingling, who had been resting with her eyes closed, opened her eyes, "Lu scoundrel is escorting a batch of spiritual items to the Treasure Ship Market for sale, and is now returning... I have his whereabouts under control."
"Will this person receive advance notice?" Fang Xi cautiously asked.
"He won't. Very few people know that I'm back, and those I've contacted have promised to keep it confidential." Ruan Xingling seemed confident.
Seeing this, Fang Xi didn't say much.
Otherwise, those Daoist companions would raise their eyebrows again.
"Just at the fifth level of Qi Refinement? Maybe I'll break through in a few days..."
Fang Xi took out the Green Wheat Sword and carefully wiped it.
Although this sword was only a low-grade artifact and somewhat damaged, it condensed the life of a spiritual farmer.
Just like the inheritance of Jia Feicai's spiritual planting.
Most of the wandering cultivators in the cultivation world died like stray dogs.
Seeing this Green Wheat Sword, Ruan Xingling seemed to want to say something several times but held back.
She wanted to ask why Fang Xi borrowed twenty spirit stones from Xuemu but didn't buy a better artifact, opting for a 'Flying Talisman' instead.
However, just like cultivation techniques, artifacts, and talismans, overall strength was also a cultivator's privacy, so she didn't want to ask.
Swish!
At that moment, a sound broke the silence, a sound transmission talisman flew in!
Ruan Xingling took it, a look of joy on her face, "That Lu scoundrel is about to arrive. There are five of them, one in the late Qi Refinement stage, and four in the middle stage, one of whom is mine!"
"No wonder this woman knows everything about the Lu family's every move, turns out she planted a spy?"
Wei Yixin and Hua Chuanjuan were filled with joy.
Fang Xi and Xuemu exchanged a glance and silently took a step back.
They felt that things were too simple.
In the next moment, another change occurred!
The Ruan family woman approached Ruan Xingling, and with her hand wearing five black rings, she suddenly grabbed Ruan Xingling's heart!
And Ruan Xingling, with her beautiful eyes turning, suddenly opened her small cherry mouth and a white nail flew out!
Puff!
This white nail turned out to be a one-time medium-grade artifact, bursting out and shattering the golden shield.
The Ruan family woman's chest was hit by the nail, her face suddenly becoming extremely fierce, "You... how did you find out?"
"You're a collateral branch, I never trusted you... moreover, after marrying that person, you went from a collateral branch to the main branch, controlling the entire Peach Blossom Island. How could you betray for a mere grudge? I just used you to get information about Lu scoundrel... that's all."
Ruan Xingling replied indifferently, a shrewd look suddenly appearing on her plain face.
"Peach?"
Seeing this, Lu Jingqing's pale face disappeared, and his aura returned to the peak of the eighth level of Qi Refinement, rushing towards them fiercely!
His previous injury was indeed a pretense!
Not only that, with a long roar, a hidden figure suddenly appeared, transforming into a sinister-looking black-robed cultivator at the seventh level of Qi Refinement behind Lu Jingqing.
The black-robed cultivator wielded a black small flag, his aura not like a righteous person, and said to Lu Jingqing, who was hugging Peach and crying, "As the old man said, just kill this girl directly, why make it so complicated, and even lose your wife..."
(End of this chapter)