The winter scenery at the Emerald Cliff was desolate.
Whoosh!
Suddenly, an unnamed mist emerged from the void. Initially a faint white mist, it grew thicker, eventually enveloping the entire cliff.
This mist was different from ordinary white mist. Through it, the blurry scenes of the spiritual fields could still be seen, but in the blink of an eye, they disappeared without a trace.
"It's done!"
Fang Xi controlled the Black Feather Boat, surveying the area and feeling satisfied with the effects of the Little Cloud Rain Formation.
This formation not only covered all the spiritual fields and residences but also enveloped the Emerald Cliff.
With this, the possibility of the underground caves being exposed was even smaller.
"The 'Little Cloud Rain Formation' has the effects of gathering spirits and concealing... Its defensive power is only average, but as long as a mid-level Qi Refinement cultivator holds the command token, it can at least block late Qi Refinement or even Nascent Soul cultivators for a period of time..."
Fang Xi held the command token, which was part of the formation, acting as an operating key.
In addition to this main token, there were three other subsidiary tokens that could adjust permissions. The lowest could only enter and exit the outermost part of the formation, while the highest could control the formation to attack enemies.
"With this formation, my rear is secure."
Although the Little Cloud Rain Formation was only a middle-grade first-tier formation, as long as the opponent didn't have a breaking prohibition talisman, it could resist for a period of time.
With this time, it was enough for Mirror Moon Lake to notice if something was amiss and send reinforcements.
In this way, even Qi Refinement Nascent Soul cultivators could be kept at bay, ensuring the safety of the rear.
"Planting trees, planting trees..."
Fang Xi rubbed his hands, secretly planning.
"At this point, what's still lacking is the Puppet Technique and the Snake-Dragon Spirit Armor..."
If he had a top-quality armor made from Snake-Dragon materials, his strength could be elevated, making him unafraid even when facing Nascent Soul cultivators.
And the Puppet Technique could make up for his inability to stray too far from his own spiritual plants.
"If the spirit armor is not feasible, I can only go out and commission a craftsman in the market to make it..."
It had to be said that Fang Xi was naturally suspicious.
And Ruan Xingling was too intelligent, making him naturally want to keep his distance...
"As for not being able to find the Puppet Technique... I might have to raise a few spiritual beasts as substitutes."
In some aspects, spiritual beasts were not as convenient as puppets.
As Fang Xi pondered, he looked at the lake and couldn't help but let out a long howl. The Black Feather Boat turned into a streak of light, flying above the lake.
He was ready to catch a fish as a sacrifice, as per his usual practice.
As for fishing? Maybe not, his skills were always lacking...
Swoosh!
The Black Feather Boat disappeared into the distance, creating large ripples on the lake's surface.
The next moment, a gleam flashed in Fang Xi's eyes.
Did he see a spiritual fish?
There were already demonic beasts in the Wan Dao Lake, encountering them only once a year, luck could be said to be neither good nor bad.
A hint of joy rose in Fang Xi's heart as he urged the Black Feather Boat to chase after the green shadow.
Splash!
The green shadow panicked and fled, then suddenly seemed to change direction, heading straight towards Fang Xi.
Bang!
It crashed heavily into the Black Feather Boat, seemingly knocking itself unconscious.
Fang Xi was speechless, reaching out with his right hand to grab the green-shadowed fish that had turned belly up.
Upon closer inspection, he realized it was a large green fish, somewhat similar to a Green Jade Carp, weighing about five or six catties.
"Such a foolish fish, will eating it make me foolish too..."
He quipped, returning to the courtyard.
The courtyard had a pond, with only some water plants and lotus flowers transplanted.
Splash!
Fang Xi tossed the large green fish into the pond, and it immediately flipped over, swimming in circles in the pond.
"Indeed a bit foolish..."
He watched with some speechlessness.
He casually caught the Green Jade Carp, just a whim.
In the incomplete Beast Taming Legacy of Miao Dong, there was a special method for cultivating bloodlines, and even for the advancement of the Azure Blood Python, there was considerable research on the Dragon Bloodline.
"The rumored Green Jade Carp King also has a hint of Dragon Bloodline, I wonder if it can be cultivated..."
The reason Fang Xi dared to conduct this experiment was entirely due to having a large amount of Snake-Dragon essence blood on hand, unafraid of the consumption.
If he could cultivate a 'Little Green Dragon', it would be a huge gain!
He also had some interest in the legendary 'Green Dragon Soup'...
After setting up the 'Little Cloud Rain Formation, Fang Xi's daily life was not much different from usual.
His main activities were meditation and cultivation, refining spiritual seeds, occasionally practicing other skills, or feeding and playing with the large green fish.
The large green fish didn't seem to change much in spiritual power after being fed with Snake-Dragon blood a few times...
As for cultivation, it was going smoothly.
After activating the 'Spirit Gathering' effect, the spiritual energy inside the cultivation room was comparable to those of lower-grade first-tier spiritual veins.
Fang Xi estimated that he would probably only need four years to reach the peak of the fifth level of Qi Refinement.
However, this speed was still a bit slow, so he was preparing to leave the island for one last purchase, along with buying a batch of elixirs to enhance his mana.
On this day, a flower basket arrived from the west, landing outside the Little Cloud Rain Formation.
"Formation?"
Ruan Xingling looked at the mist-covered Emerald Cliff, her eyebrows furrowed slightly, and she sent out a sound transmission talisman.
Inside the cultivation room.
Fang Xi looked at the slightly glowing command token, got up, and walked outside.
He waved the token lightly, dispersing a patch of mist, revealing a sound transmission talisman that seemed to be wandering aimlessly in the mist.
Reaching out to take the sound transmission talisman, Fang Xi's eyes showed a hint of shock, quickly opening the formation and controlling the Black Feather Boat to soar into the sky.
"Greetings, Island Master!"
Ruan Xingling remained as she was before, but seemed to exude a more dignified aura.
"You've set up a formation here? Good... Recently, Peach Blossom Island might not be peaceful."
Ruan Xingling inspected the formation and seemed quite satisfied.
"Island Master has come in person, it seems the matter is true?"
Fang Xi's expression, however, didn't look too good.
"Of course it's true, otherwise I wouldn't have come to personally summon you. Let's go to the council hall together."
Ruan Xingling sighed.
...
Mirror Moon Lake.
Inside the Ruan family's main hall.
"Eldest Brother!"
Hua Chanjuan, with a big belly, cried with tears in her eyes.
Fang Xi, Mu Wen, and even Feng Manlou and Mo Qingyu were present, each lost in thought, looking at Ruan Xingling sitting at the head.
"The news has been confirmed, Wei Yixin, Wei Daoist friend, encountered an attack while traveling outside and perished!"
Ruan Xingling's expression was somewhat grim.
Fang Xi's heart skipped a beat.
The former Four Honored Guests of Peach Blossom Island, Xiu Mu Lao Dao passed away first, Wei Yixin encountered misfortune outside, would it be his turn next?
"Do we know who the enemy is?"
He stepped forward, asking in a deep voice.
"It should be the eldest son of the Kou family..."
Ruan Xingling replied solemnly, "This person's second brother inexplicably perished, which led to his deep hatred towards us..."
"I see!"
Fang Xi nodded, this inference was reasonable.
But when he glanced at the calm faces of Feng Manlou and Mo Qingyu, he felt that things might not be so simple.
"I will send people to patrol the entire island. It's best for everyone not to go out casually recently."
Ruan Xingling concluded.
"Mirror Moon Lake and Twin Peaks are fine, not far away, they can watch over each other. As for Daoist friend Fang's side..."
Feng Manlou hesitated.
"It's fine, Daoist friend Fang has set up a formation at the Emerald Cliff, so it's safe."
Ruan Xingling waved her hand.
Upon hearing this, everyone below couldn't help but look at Fang Xi, showing surprise.
"He actually has a protective formation?"
Mu Wen looked incredulous.
For a cultivation force, having a spiritual land could only be considered as having a foundation, but to have a formation protecting it, that would mean a solid foundation!
Even the lowest-grade formation would cost several hundred spiritual stones, how did Fang Xi afford it?
With a protective formation, safety and privacy were greatly enhanced, making others envious.
...
After the meeting, Fang Xi walked out of the main hall and saw the still grieving Hua Chanjuan.
"Sob... that heartless person left, leaving us mother and child alone. How can we live?"
Hua Chanjuan's eyes were teary, filled with confusion about the future.
"Island Master is a trustworthy person. I'll pass on a word from Flower Daoist friend: Do more, make more mistakes; do less, make fewer mistakes; do nothing, make no mistakes!"
Fang Xi approached and whispered, "With Island Master, law enforcement cultivators, and the great formation on Peach Blossom Island, as long as Flower Daoist friend doesn't leave the island, you will be safe!"
Hua Chanjuan shuddered.
She was not a foolish woman, and upon careful consideration, she felt that the situation behind the scenes was unfathomable. She gritted her teeth, "I won't leave the island, no, I won't let my child go to the Western Peak in the future. I don't believe that there are still people daring to harm us so openly!"
"This..."
Fang Xi felt she was going a bit too far, but he couldn't continue to persuade her, so he could only shake his head and drive the Black Feather Boat away.
...
Winter, snow fluttering in the sky.
"Sigh... it's a bleak year."
Fang Xi wore a blue robe, warm in winter and cool in summer, feeling no cold at all.
It had been two months since Wei Yixin's death. Initially, Ruan Xingling patrolled Peach Blossom Island day and night, but found no trace of the attackers.
As time passed, the law enforcement team gradually relaxed.
Even communication with the outside world was restored.
After all, many cultivation resources needed to be exchanged and traded with the outside world...
On a sunny afternoon, Fang Xi boarded the Black Feather Boat and discreetly left the Emerald Cliff.
His destination was naturally the Treasure Ship Market!
During this time, he had gone to the Great Liang area, obtaining a lot of demonic beast resources from Han Pangzi of the Demon Hunting Tower, all of which needed to be dealt with.
And he also needed to purchase a batch of elixirs for cultivation, as well as various spiritual minerals for refining, blank talisman paper for drawing symbols, and even various spiritual herbs for alchemy...
Although his talent in the four arts of cultivation was not outstanding, Fang Xi was not completely discouraged.
Especially in alchemy!
Fortunately, he was still lingering in the introductory level of alchemy, with the most practice being the 'Qi Deviation Pill', which could be made using Red Blood Spirit Rice as the main material.
Otherwise, just buying various years of medicinal herbs would be a huge expense.
After this purchase, he might have to go into seclusion for decades, during which he would have to deal with some miscellaneous matters.
On the way.
Fang Xi looked relaxed but remained vigilant, not too worried.
There were only a few Foundation Establishment cultivators in the entire Wan Dao Lake. It wouldn't be worth wasting time on such trivial matters.
Regardless of who the mastermind behind Wei Yixin's assassination was, if they sent Nascent Soul cultivators to kill him, it would be a big surprise!
(End of this chapter)