Stealthily cultivating in the chaotic world of demons and martial artists

’Indeed, the free gifts are the most costly...’

Gazing at the aged Yuan Ying True Monarch before him, who deeply bowed asking nothing in return but for his acceptance of the treasure, Fang Xi sighed inwardly.

After a moment of thought, he nodded and said, "Very well, I shall accept this item..."

"Thank you, Sir!"

Joy immediately surfaced on Lord Yunzhu’s face as he took his leave.

He had already deemed Fang Xi to be an ascetic cultivator, the kind who seldom engaged in the strife of the Cultivation World, one who was wholeheartedly devoted to cultivating in seclusion and thus greatly valued inner nature. Even without promising anything in return, accepting the item had already forged a certain karmic link.

If the Three Immortals Sect were to ever encounter trouble, then Lord Tiankui would be a significant aid.

"These old monsters of Nascent Soul, each one craftier than the last..."

Fang Xi sighed once again, returning to his Dongfu, where he properly set up the bony basin and began preparing certain materials for the Demon Fire Refined Infant School.

He had already collected all of these materials and it was time to start some preliminary refining.

Inside the Refining Chamber.

Fang Xi finished processing a piece of Thousand-Year Ice Jade when suddenly he touched his Storage Ring and a greyish-white small tower emerged.

"Devil-locking Tower!"

As a top-ranked Treasure of Void listed in the ’Sky Demon Slaying Immortal Tactics,’ he naturally would not overlook it.

However, despite continuous sacrificial refining with infant fire over the past few days, there had not been the slightest response from the Devil-locking Tower.

This led Fang Xi to speculate that, perhaps similar to the Five Elements Ring, the human race might not be able to use treasures from the Monster Clan.

’Actually, it’s not entirely impossible... but it would mean completely reforging the tower from the ground up, remaking it into a style suitable for Human Cultivators...’

’My skills in talisman forging are somewhat lacking; it would be better to entrust it to The Nine States...’

Fang Xi made a silent decision, and then another colorful jade slip appeared in his hand.

As his Divine Consciousness entered it, he immediately saw the densely packed text and images within; at the beginning was the name of a Tier-4 intermediate-grade alchemy inheritance – Langhuan Pill Book!

"This item is indeed fated for me..."

"Time is the grandest of directors, always bringing the right items into the hands of those who are suited..."

Fang Xi’s lips curved into a faint smile.

Although he now had the wealth of The Nine States and no longer held this pill book in high regard, as part of his collection to enrich his alchemical knowledge, it was still quite good.

...

Months later, a shocking piece of news spread through the Western Desert Cultivation World!

The Black Dragon Sect was annihilated in a bloodbath due to undeniable evidence of collusion with the Monster Clan!

Rumors had it that Lord Black Sky, the Nascent Soul late-stage great cultivator, was besieged by several great cultivators and perished on the spot, his Nascent Soul failing to escape.

All high-ranking cultivators of the Black Dragon Sect were identified and killed one by one, resulting in horrific casualties. The few low-ranking disciples who were lucky enough to survive had their Cultivation destroyed and were reduced to mortals.

Furthermore, the mysterious demise of the Supreme Elder of the Immortal Bewitching Sect, along with the death of the life-bound soul worm enshrined in the Ancestor Hall, plunged the entire southern regions into leaderless chaos. The initially advantageous situation almost dissipated overnight, even allowing the Monster Clan to break through the defensive line.

In the end, it was the Sacred Fire Sect that organized a group of Cultivators and struggled to push the battle line back.

Given the magnitude of this event, even Fang Xi, who typically stayed out of the public eye, heard the news during one of his rare outings to replenish materials.

"The Black Dragon Sect... is finished..."

"Even a great power with a legacy of thousands of years can’t withstand the ravages of age and time, can it?"

"Perhaps... only true Immortals can enjoy Long Life, after all."

With a sigh in his heart, he felt even more determined to pursue the path of cultivation.

...

A year later.

Fang Xi, fully prepared, sat cross-legged in the closed-door cultivation room.

Before him, with a flash of silver light in the Void, a Heterodox Nascent Soul stepped forward, tossing him a worm.

This worm resembled an Eight Clawed Spider, its entire body like white jade, and its surface traced with fine silver lines.

"This ’Fortune Worm,’ I have fully analyzed; the report is here."

The Heterodox Nascent Soul handed a report to Fang Xi.

Skimming rapidly, Fang Xi’s expression revealed a trace of surprise as he reached the end, "So it can be used this way, huh?"

"Of course. Since this ’Fortune Worm’ can consume fortune, it can also replenish it... Normally, you can use this worm to absorb the fortune from those with great destinies, and on the brink of a major breakthrough, use a secret skill to make it disgorge and augment yourself. This should be of some help..."

The Heterodox Nascent Soul said indifferently, "Though, the notion of fortune is ethereal and many Cultivators do not believe in it... According to calculations, this kind of fortune boost can only increase the probability of a breakthrough by a mere six to seven percent at most; it’s a slight advantage, nothing more."

"At least it solves the problem of it silently siphoning off my own fortune, and it’s an additional means of dealing with enemies, so that’s not bad."

Fang Xi was quite satisfied with this unexpected boon, and he looked at the Heterodox Nascent Soul with a solemn expression, "It’s time to begin!"

’Zhang Huohua’ remained calm, and a black light flashed above his Heavenly Spirit as the Heterodox Nascent Soul emerged.

With a deep breath, Fang Xi once again cast the ’Skill of Assimilation’...

...

Inside the Refining Chamber.

A complex and exquisite Array stood silently, its surface embedded with a great number of superior Spirit Stones.

Even at its core, several top-quality Spirit Stones shone with astonishing Spiritual Radiance.

In the six corners of the room, different Demon Flames burnt brightly.

Bone-Melting Blood Flame, Black Corpse Fire, Ten-Thousand Poisonous Demon Flame, Three Suns Demon Flame, Red Lotus Demon Flame... and lastly, the Ghost Fire of Yellow Spring.

The Six Great Demonic Flames burned quietly in various colors, constantly raising the temperature inside the room and carrying an atmosphere that captivated the soul.

A flash of blue light.

Fang Xi, wearing a blue robe, held a Heterodox Nascent Soul in his hand and appeared outside the array, checking the array patterns for one last time.

"The secret skill provided by Demon Lord Chi Lian is basically correct, but if we followed the original version, the chance of failure would be high... In the worst case, the Demon Flames could erupt out of control, turning the Heterodox Nascent Soul into ashes."

"Recently, this Demon Fire Refined Infant secret skill has been improved by The Nine States, and I can say the success rate is quite high... and even if it fails, you’ll still have a chance to escape, remember to seize it."

Fang Xi instructed, then let the Heterodox Nascent Soul sit in the center of the array, in a cross-legged position.

The Heterodox Nascent Soul’s face was solemn, fingers forming a Magic Spell, with the form of Yama appearing behind him. This form, originally several feet tall, continually shrank, and under the chanting of a secret incantation, it completely merged into the Nascent Soul’s body.

At this moment, ranging from essence to spirit, the Heterodox Nascent Soul reached its peak condition.

Seeing this, Fang Xi flicked his finger.

A jade-white Spirit Pill flew out and was enveloped by a stream of life-bound infant fire expelled by the Heterodox Nascent Soul, swallowing it and slowly refining it within his belly.

This was the ’Ice Profound Pill’, a Spirit Pill refined mainly from various cold-natured Spirit Medicines, specifically designed to protect the Origin Soul of infants, resisting the invasion of Demon Fires.

In the original method given by Demon Lord Chi Lian, this step was not included.

As the Heterodox Nascent Soul refined the Ice Profound Pill, a layer of icy armor formed by the condensed cold air, wearing it on his body.

"It’s working well, let’s begin!"

Fang Xi took a deep breath, and a surge of blue Magic Power flowed out, activating the entire array.

Humming!

The array roared into life, with array patterns flashing on, forming a strange six-sided Prohibition. At each corner, a column of light soared into the sky.

Whoosh whoosh!

The six streams of Demon Flames rose up within the columns of light, floating in midair.

"Speed up!"

Accompanied by a Magic Spell cast by Fang Xi, first came the Bone-Melting Blood Flame, which turned into a scarlet radiance and fell upon the Heterodox Nascent Soul, igniting fiercely.

Sizzle!

The icy armor on the Heterodox Nascent Soul shimmered, his little face set in a frown, fingers rapidly forming a spell. Suddenly, he opened his mouth and actively drew in a wisp of Demon Fire into his belly.

In a flash, the Heterodox Nascent Soul seemed to be under torture from thousands of cuts, his little face completely contorting with pain.

’This Heterodox Nascent Soul was originally created by cutting corners, to rebuild its foundation, it has to be broken down and started afresh...’

Fang Xi sighed and mutated his hand signs: "Again!"

The grey-white Black Corpse Fire shivered, then joined the Bone-Melting Blood Flame.

The dual-colored Demon Flames scorched so fiercely that even the icy armor began to melt.

The Heterodox Nascent Soul used the cold air to protect his body, barely bearing the Bone-Melting Blood Flame, then opened his mouth again to draw in the Black Corpse Fire.

Following that came the Ten Thousands Poisonous Demon Flame, Three Suns Demon Fire, Red Lotus Demon Flames...

Until the final addition of the Ghost Fire of Yellow Spring, the Heterodox Nascent Soul was already wrapped in a terrifying muddle of multicolored, dazzlingly brilliant Demon Flames.

Zzt!

The overlapping of the six kinds of Demon Flames signified even more terrifying power.

The icy armor on the body of the Heterodox Nascent Soul had completely vaporized, revealing a cyan-black body that showed signs of being scorched.

"Quickly!"

Fang Xi’s hands flew through various sequences of Magic Spells, each reinforcing the array.

Using the Demon Fire to refine the Nascent Soul, in no time at all the Nascent Soul would be reduced to ash.

Therefore, he first protected the Nascent Soul’s essence with the ’Ice Profound Pill,’ then with the array, he suppressed the power of each Great Demonic Flame.

Otherwise, if any one type of Demon Flame unleashed its full power, the Heterodox Nascent Soul would have been long gone...

"Ahh!"

Suddenly, the Heterodox Nascent Soul clutched his head and began to scream in agony.

The multicolored mix of Demon Flames even swiftly refined his essence, making the Heterodox Nascent Soul look even more gaunt, and in places, start to fall apart...

"Go!"

Seeing that the secret skill was at a critical moment, Fang Xi immediately unleashed the full might of the array.

Amid the roars of the array, several top-grade Spirit Stones exploded instantaneously, turning into dust, while the premium Spirit Stones also dulled instantly, evidently drained of a massive amount of Spiritual Power!

A column of light fell, enveloping the Heterodox Nascent Soul, allowing him to remain lucid for a brief moment.

"Yama, Six Paths of Reincarnation!"

The Heterodox Nascent Soul pointed to the sky with one hand and to the earth with the other, bellowing: "Bind!"

The entangling mixed Demon Flames trembled, and in an instant, they turned into six differently colored Fire Dragons, which were drawn into the belly of the Heterodox Nascent Soul as he opened his mouth and inhaled them one by one.

"Ah!"

Having swallowed such violently explosive Demon Flames, the Heterodox Nascent Soul could no longer hold on and collapsed to the ground, screaming once again.

His cries were so pitiful that Fang Xi couldn’t bear to look.

However, focused as he was with his Divine Consciousness, he also saw promising changes taking place.

Patches of the Heterodox Nascent Soul’s scorched skin turned to ash, rapidly peeling off... then a new layer of flesh emerged.

Destruction and rebirth were happening in a constant tug of war.

In such a situation, all that could be relied upon was the fortitude of the Heterodox Nascent Soul’s character.