"Son-in-law?"
Fang Xi glanced at Feng Manlou and Mo Qingyu, nodding slightly, "It is... If I can marry Island Master Ruan, it would truly be a profitable venture in both wealth and status."
Such matters were not considered significant.
At least it indicated that the Bai Family and Mo Family preferred to use more gentle methods.
For Fang Xi, that was sufficient.
As for whether Peach Blossom Island would be named Ruan or Bai, as long as it didn't interfere with his cultivation, anything was acceptable.
"Friend Fang... do you not have a partner yet?"
Hua Chuanjuan suddenly asked a question that left Fang Xi speechless.
Although this female cultivator was tactful, she sometimes offered incredibly naive suggestions, which was quite amusing.
"I am only in the middle stage of Qi Refinement... and I am solely focused on the Dao, unwilling to waste time on personal matters!"
Fang Xi replied solemnly, "Let's not speak of this matter in the future!"
"I have spoken out of turn!" Hua Chuanjuan glanced at her husband's expression and quickly lowered her head.
...
"The Island Master has arrived!"
After the guests from the Feng Family and Mo Family had all gathered, accompanied by the shouts of the Old Decrepit Daoist, Ruan Xingling, dressed in a festive crimson robe, made her way gracefully to the main seat. She raised her wine cup, "I am grateful for everyone's presence. The Ruan Family is honored, please enjoy this cup!"
"Island Master, you are too kind!"
Fang Xi and the others raised their cups, and the atmosphere was harmonious.
"Hehe... how could I host such a grand feast without inviting myself?"
Suddenly, a sinister voice rang out from outside the courtyard.
The Old Decrepit Daoist's expression changed slightly as he sensed the speaker's cultivation, which seemed to be even stronger than the late stage of Qi Refinement!
A flash of golden light, and a figure appeared in the courtyard!
This person was short, not even exceeding one and a half meters in height, with small yellow eyes and unremarkable features. He wore a golden robe, but exuded an incredibly powerful aura, reaching the peak of the Qi Refinement stage!
"It's the Golden Tooth Old Monster from Golden Flame Island, why has he come as well?"
Feng Manlou's expression changed instantly.
"The Golden Tooth Old Monster?!"
The other independent cultivators fell silent as well.
This person, like the Fish Spirit, had reached the peak of Qi Refinement, just a step away from Foundation Establishment!
Moreover, his temperament was unpredictable, his strength formidable, and he monopolized the top-grade spiritual veins for cultivation on Golden Flame Island.
The previous Lu Family of Peach Blossom Island had tried to please him, but there were no lasting results.
Coming today, could it be that he intended to cause trouble for Ruan Xingling?
At this thought, everyone's expressions turned uneasy, and Wei Yixin even discreetly tightened his magical weapon.
"So it's Senior Golden Tooth, please take a seat!"
Ruan Xingling remained composed, instructing the servants to arrange a distinguished guest seat at the head of the table.
"Hehe... I may be an uninvited guest, but courtesy is still necessary."
The Golden Tooth Old Monster casually tossed out a piece of spiritual stone.
This spiritual stone was the same size as a standard low-grade spiritual stone, but purer, crystal clear, brimming with spiritual energy almost overflowing.
"Could it be a medium-grade spiritual stone?"
The Old Decrepit Daoist rubbed his eyes, finding it hard to believe.
This was a large currency used only among Foundation Establishment cultivators, as rumored.
"Indeed, indeed, the old man has good taste!"
The Golden Tooth Old Monster chuckled, taking a seat at the head of the table, then turned to Feng Manlou and Mo Qingyu across from him, "As the two families claim to be in-laws, I wonder what good gifts you have brought?"
Mo Qingyu's face immediately turned unpleasant.
Although he and Feng Manlou had prepared generous gifts, how could they compare to a medium-grade spiritual stone?
This was worth at least a hundred low-grade spiritual stones, often unattainable!
"Many thanks for Senior Golden Tooth's generous gift. Island Master, I offer you another toast!"
Ruan Xingling smiled graciously, seemingly unaware of the tension in Golden Tooth's words.
"Haha, young lady, you are quite something. The old man had dealings with your Ruan family ancestors in the past. As for that Lu Family, the old man has always looked down on them."
The Golden Tooth Old Monster raised his glass, laughing heartily, "Today, let's clarify the situation. I have also prepared another gift, please have a look!"
With a wave, he produced a box exuding a bloody aura.
After opening the lid, many people gasped in shock.
Inside the box was a head with wide-open eyes!
"This person seems to be the only mid-stage Qi Refinement cultivator who escaped from the Lu Family?" the Old Decrepit Daoist exclaimed after identifying the head.
After all, this person had nearly killed him initially, only fleeing when the situation turned unfavorable.
Naturally, he had a deep impression.
"How is it?" the Golden Tooth Old Monster asked with a hearty laugh.
"In the future, Peach Blossom Island and Golden Flame Island will naturally be friends."
Ruan Xingling drank a few more cups, her cheeks flushed, seemingly a bit tipsy but even more charming...
...
Below.
Delicious dishes were served like flowing water, but Wei Yixin felt a tightness in his chest, "What do you think... this Golden Tooth Old Monster is up to?"
"It's probably just to distance himself... our Island Master is quite powerful and resourceful."
Fang Xi was indifferent, enjoying the food and drink.
And he had some speculations in his mind.
The incident where he eliminated the second son of the Kou Family would likely be attributed to Ruan Xingling by outsiders, which was terrifying!
Even though the Golden Tooth Old Monster had a fearsome reputation and had killed several late-stage Qi Refinement cultivators, he was just one of many.
Moreover, as Golden Flame Island was adjacent to the three families, they naturally did not want any further entanglements and preferred to settle things with the Lu Family as soon as possible.
'Good, let Island Master Ruan take the blame...'
'I don't want to be in the limelight.'
Fang Xi ate heartily, then bid farewell and left, completely ignoring any further complications, returning to the Emerald Valley to focus on cultivation.
This left the Old Decrepit Daoist and the Wei couple, who had planned to discuss a solution with the other party.
How could he leave like this?
...
"Flies and dogs... how important is my cultivation?"
Emerald Cliff.
Inside the wooden house, Fang Xi sat cross-legged, cultivating the 'Changchun Technique.'
He had no interest in getting involved in these messy matters.
Feeling the spiritual energy of heaven and earth entering his body, he couldn't help but smile.
Even though this was not a top-tier spiritual land, it still provided a boost to cultivation.
At least, it was much better than the Great Liang and Mortal Realm.
Cultivating here, reaching the peak of the fifth level of the technique would likely be several times faster!
...
Unconsciously, spring passed and summer arrived.
Boom!
Dark clouds gathered, pouring rain heavily!
Fang Xi, wearing a raincoat and a bamboo hat, was inspecting the spiritual fields of the Emerald Cliff.
At the edge of the fields, a small courtyard had sprung up, with mortal workers diligent in their tasks. Occasionally, Fang Xi would lend a hand, using spells and magical tools to assist.
Legendary cultivators were said to have the power to move mountains and fill seas, which he couldn't do, but he had the ability to build a house.
After rewarding the workers with gold and silver, they gratefully departed.
For them, the residence of an immortal master was not to be offended without summons - they had learned this lesson the hard way.
As for Fang Xi, he was preparing to set up the 'Little Cloud Rain Formation' in the future, without fear of interference or prying eyes.
At this moment, he looked at the thriving red seedlings in the spiritual fields and nodded in satisfaction, "The effect of the blood of demonic beasts is truly remarkable..."
Since the mortal workers had left, he had taken the opportunity to cross over to the Great Liang and bring back a lot of demonic beast blood.
After irrigating the fields, the growth of the Red Blood Spirit Rice was exceptionally good.
"Originally, planting Red Blood Spirit Rice in these fields would yield around two hundred catties per mu. After my cultivation, the yield in autumn might reach three hundred catties?"
As a cultivator of spiritual plants, Fang Xi could estimate the harvest accurately.
"Red Blood Spirit Rice sells for thirty catties per low-grade spiritual stone. With thirteen mu of land, that would be around one hundred and thirty low-grade spiritual stones?"
"Indeed, being a landlord is more profitable than being a tenant farmer!"
"However, the progress in cultivation is still a bit slow."
Fang Xi extended his hand, and a faint green light radiated from his fingertips.
The rainwater nearby seemed to be drawn to him, carrying a hint of spiritual energy, turning into mist that enveloped the nearby fields.
"Adapting to the situation, adapting to the land... this Spring Wind Rain Technique, using natural rainwater, can cover a much larger area..."
After casting the spell on the thirteen acres of land, feeling the consumption of his mana, Fang Xi nodded and shook his head.
He increasingly felt that his low-grade spiritual root was a hindrance to his cultivation.
"At this rate... without using elixirs, only cultivating on spiritual land, I estimate it will take about five years to reach the peak of the fifth level of the Changchun Technique. Then, who knows how many years it will take to break through the bottleneck."
"Being in the middle stage of Qi Refinement is like this, and the later stages will be even more difficult. Even with ten years per level, it's definitely impossible to meet the basic requirements for Foundation Establishment before the age of sixty."
"Fortunately, I don't have the limitations of Qi and blood, so I don't need to worry about reaching the pinnacle of Qi Refinement before the age of sixty..."
Returning to the courtyard, Fang Xi changed into his raincoat.
According to his design, the small courtyard had been equipped with a kitchen, animal pen, well, medicinal field... it was small but complete, with a few additional facilities for convenience.
He went to the bathroom, turned on the faucet, and hot water flowed out quickly...
After a refreshing bath, Fang Xi put on lightweight clothes and headed to the training room.
According to his special requirements, this quiet room was built directly with thick rocks, covered with talismans, completely soundproof and lightproof, with a certain level of defense.
Once the door was closed, it was like being in a different world from the outside.
Fang Xi approached the cushion, lifting it to reveal a dark hole.
Taking out a Night Pearl, he descended directly.
During these days, Fang Xi had explored the Emerald Cliff, observing the terrain and preparing for the formation, and unexpectedly discovered a pleasant surprise.
On the steep cliffs, there was a cave!
He deliberately sealed the entrance to the cave, leaving only a passage facing the Wan Island Lake, with a concealment outside.
At the same time, he secretly built a tunnel leading directly to his main residence's training room.
Drip, drip...
This cave was connected to an underground water vein. When Fang Xi reached the bottom of the cave, he saw a pool of water and heard the sound of dripping water.
"This place is a bit small, it needs to be expanded!"
He embedded the Night Pearl in the rock, took out the Golden Dragon Knife and Golden Dragon Sword, and began to enlarge the cave.
These two top-grade magical weapons cut through iron like mud, slicing through rocks like cutting tofu, making them the best tools for the job.
In no time, several bags of rubble were filled.
Fang Xi went out through the exit on the cliff and threw the rubble into the lake...
(End of this chapter)