Cultivating Immortality in a World of Chaos

Old Monster Goldtooth exuded a sense of deep satisfaction.

As a cultivator with a Peak Qi Refinement cultivation base, he had eagerly joined the Thirty-Six Islands Alliance when witnessing their unstoppable momentum.

Typically, he would coast during battles, but this time, seizing Dragonfish Island, he led the charge, boldly entering Spirit Medicine Valley first.

‘The Zhong Family’s ancestral residence is coveted by the three great sects; I have no interest in competing for it.’

‘Ha ha, hitting the jackpot! Who knew there’d be so many unharvested spirit medicines left in the Spirit Medicine Valley…’

‘Hmm? A youngster daring to obstruct me?’ Old Monster Goldtooth saw a fisherman-like cultivator blocking his path ahead and couldn’t help but burst with anger.

Being at the pinnacle of Qi Refinement, he was now considered among the top-tier experts, given the absence of Foundation Establishment cultivators. It was already generous not to plunder others, yet someone dared to challenge him?

With a cold snort, Goldtooth launched a golden longsword magical artifact towards the fisherman.

To his surprise, the fisherman extended his right hand and effortlessly grasped Goldtooth’s high-grade magical artifact, the ‘Black Gold Blade’. The five fingers acted like an iron vice, rendering the Black Gold Blade helpless despite its mournful cries, unable to break free regardless of Goldtooth’s attempts.

Pffft!

The aftermath of the blade’s aura tore through the conical hat and straw cloak, revealing a towering figure clad in shimmering silver armor beneath.

“This… Silver-armored Demon?!” Old Monster Goldtooth shrieked, his face rapidly shifting colors like a dye shop - from red to white, then to pale blue, displaying an array of expressions. “Weren’t you dead?”

Their encounter over thirty years ago had left a deep psychological scar on him, even manifesting as Xin Mo, a Foundation Establishment barrier he couldn’t overcome for years.

Only after hearing about the demon’s supposed demise did Old Monster Goldtooth feel his heart demon gradually dissipate, allowing him to finally plan a final push towards Foundation Establishment before his longevity ran out.

But…

Damn it, why would this adversary appear here now?

With another scream akin to a frightened maiden encountering a formidable foe, Old Monster Goldtooth turned to flee.

In the next instant, a massive blood-red arm, several meters long, descended from the sky like swatting a fly!

Whack!

Old Monster Goldtooth was brutally slammed into the ground, coughing up a mouthful of fresh blood, severely wounded by just one strike!

“You…you…”

As the silver-armored figure approached, Old Monster Goldtooth felt like reliving a nightmare, his Dao heart nearly shattering. He pleaded, “Don’t come any closer…”

“Any final words?” asked Fang Xi.

To subdue Jin Ya, Fang Xi had indeed exerted full force, using one arm of his Primordial True Body to deliver a devastating surprise attack.

Now standing close to Old Monster Goldtooth, he remained confident that no unexpected tricks could be played.

“Ruan Xingling deceived me!” With a raspy voice, these were Jin Ya’s last words before Fang Xi shattered his heart with a swift kick.

“What does this have to do with Ruan Xingling? Oh? Did you think she was lying to you?” Fang Xi nodded, then picked up Old Monster Goldtooth’s bag of holding.

Probing it with divine sense, he discovered numerous valuable items. Aside from boxes filled with spirit medicines, at the center of the storage space lay an exquisite pill furnace, seemingly carved entirely from violet jade.

“A high-grade magical artifact - Violet Jade Furnace?! Perfect, I’ve been needing a top-quality pill furnace.”

Satisfied, Fang Xi nodded and turned his attention towards the building interior. “All six of you, come out now!”

Under his divine sense, nothing could escape his scrutiny.

Six figures emerged, all Late Stage Qi Refinement cultivators.

The burly leader stepped forward and handed over a bag of holding. “Senior, these are our harvests. We also yield this location to you. Might we be allowed to leave?”

“Hmm, go ahead!” Fang Xi nodded.

Relieved like receiving a pardon, the six swiftly fled Spirit Medicine Valley.

“Big Bro…why didn’t we try fighting back? It was just one person…” Second Brother, somewhat naive, couldn’t help but speak up.

“You fool! If they can see through my ‘Mist Barrier Bead’, it’s likely they’ve cultivated their divine sense… Didn’t you notice that even Old Monster Goldtooth is dead, and Big Bro addressed them as Senior? That’s a great Foundation Establishment cultivator!” Little Sister rolled her eyes and whispered sternly, “If you want to die, don’t drag us down with you!”

“A great Foundation Establishment cultivator?” Second Brother gasped, quickly covering his mouth before lowering his voice. “This person is shameless, bypassing the main residence to snatch leftovers from us instead! This situation turned out disastrous; should we check elsewhere?”

“Let’s move on!”

However, the eldest brother among them pondered for a moment before deciding, “If even a Foundation Establishment cultivator is sneaking around here, the battles in the main residence must be even more intense. Our lives come first; let’s leave this place…”

While cultivators never lacked courage to face challenges head-on, some knew when it was prudent to retreat from escalating danger.

Unyielding bravery could easily lead to rigidity and fragility!

---

Inside the Zhong Family’s main residence:

Flashes of combat spells erupted from every courtyard, and cultivators perished all around.

Huddled in a corner, Lu Guo deeply regretted joining the charge with the larger group. Why had he done it?

Not far away, Tai Shuhe wielded his jade-green flying sword, its laughter resonating throughout the area. “Zhong Family, your end has finally come!”

He skillfully maneuvered the jade-green flying sword back and forth, each strike claiming the life of another Zhong family member clad in a flying fish mage robe.

“Stop!” commanded a frail, elderly voice.

The jade-green flying sword collided with a shield composed of countless fish scales.

Tai Shuhe glanced at the intervening hoary-haired old man and sneered, “Zhong Qinghao, still breathing, I see? But not for long, eh?”

To Tai Shuhe, the old man’s life force resembled a flickering candle in the wind, on the verge of extinguishing at any moment. At this stage, a cultivator’s magical energy also significantly weakens. Despite being at the tenth level of Qi Refinement, the elder posed little threat.

“Even if this old man dies, I’ll take you vile bandits down with me! Though I may perish, the Zhong Family shall endure…”

With trembling hands, Zhong Qinghao produced a tattered, yellowed paper talisman.

The paper talisman appeared ordinary, akin to those sold by rogue cultivators on street stalls, with only a small green dagger depicted on it.

As soon as Tai Shuhe saw it, his eyes widened, and he turned to flee, exclaiming, “A talisman treasure? You still have a talisman treasure?”

“Correct guess! How could a frog like you fathom the depths of our Zhong Family’s resources? Prepare to meet your end!”

Zhong Qinghao infused the talisman with magical energy, causing intense fluctuations to emanate from it. A jade-green dagger materialized, aimed directly at Tai Shuhe.

Shwip!

With a flash of blade light, Tai Shuhe’s high-grade protective shield and magical energy barrier were effortlessly torn apart, as if made of mere paper, by the emerald glow…

Tai Shuhe lowered his head, staring at the bloody gash on his chest, murmuring, “I refuse to accept this…”

He had led the Taishu Family to crush the Zhong Family, on the verge of achieving what even their ancestors couldn’t - dominating Wan Island Lake. How, how could he possibly die here?

Puff! Puff!

Before succumbing to darkness, Tai Shuhe witnessed the jade-green dagger talisman ruthlessly dispatching the core experts of the San Shang Clan one by one, fueling his further resentment.

Bam!

Tai Shuhe’s body collapsed onto the ground, joining the fallen Qi Refinement experts.

“Uncle Ancestor, divine might!”

The remaining Zhong Family cultivators, filled with joy, suddenly witnessed a figure materialize behind Zhong Qinghao. A pale and delicate hand effortlessly pierced through both the fish-scale shield and the old uncle-ancestor’s chest!

“Well, having taken so many along on your final journey, you should be content now.”

“This talisman treasure shall be mine to claim.”

A peculiar tone resonated from the black-robed figure’s voice.

“Foundation Establishment…” Zhong Qinghao attempted to manipulate the talisman treasure for a counterattack but found himself unable to speak. Black flames erupted from his facial orifices, instantly reducing him to ash.

With its master gone, the jade flying dagger lost control, shimmered briefly, and transformed back into a paper talisman, gently drifting down from the air.

“Heh heh… Truly remarkable, though it can only be used once more.”

The black-robed figure caught the Jade Dagger Talisman Treasure and casually waved his hand.

Globs of pitch-black demonic fire surged towards the Zhong Family cultivators, turning any defensive artifacts into ashes upon contact.

Unhindered, the figure strode confidently into the Zhong clan storehouse, beginning a thorough plunder.

Nearby, several similarly clad figures默契ly joined in, searching for valuable resources.

In a corner, Lu Guo clutched tightly onto an invisibility talisman, watching in disbelief as everything unfolded before his eyes…

---

“Watch as his grand edifice rises, watch as he feasts with guests, only to witness its collapse…” Fang Xi emerged from Spirit Medicine Valley and observed the burning Zhong Family mansion without entering.

He hadn’t forgotten that during the battle at Wan Island Lake, a third party of demonic cultivators had intervened!

Thus, Fang Xi chose to capitalize on his success and discreetly left Dragonfish Island.

“Hmm?”

Just as he was about to summon the Great Azure Fish for transportation, his gaze flickered. He noticed several bursts of dark light emerging from the Zhong Family mansion, scattering in different directions.

A few were close enough to instinctively scan with his divine sense.

“To meet again, truly… fate!” Fang Xi recognized one among them - it was Situ Ying!

Situ Ying wore a human skin mask, disguised as an ordinary Plunderer Cultivator, flying towards the lake.

“I once warned you not to fall into my hands…”

“Now, it’s time for those words to come true.”

Fang Xi unleashed the Black Feather Boat, swiftly chasing after Situ Ying like lightning.

“Hm? Someone is pursuing me? Seeking death!”

Situ Ying deliberately slowed down, leading Fang Xi further away from Dragonfish Island before turning around. “Daring to rob your grandpa?”

As a Late Stage Qi Refinement cultivator, practicing demonic techniques and experienced in combat, Fang Xi believed himself to be a formidable adversary within this stage.

In the next instant, Situ Ying’s expression drastically changed, “Silver-armored Demon?!”

Whoosh!

But Fang Xi gave him no chance.

Holding the Black Iron Sword with both hands, his Primordial True Body manifested, lifting him effortlessly before a swift strike!

A red line flashed, slicing through Situ Ying’s position.

Situ Ying’s face paled; he attempted to speak but was interrupted by a blood-red mark appearing on his forehead, swiftly traveling down across his nose, chin, chest, and abdomen…

With a gush, his body split in two mid-air, blood splattering into the lake below.

Fang Xi soared back, swiftly grabbing Situ Ying’s bag of holding. “Revenge is sweet, truly satisfying… Alas, I’m still too kind-hearted, not tormenting you further to quell my anger…”

The area wasn’t entirely safe, being a battlefield for cultivators after all!

If Loose Cultivator Ye hadn’t intentionally disrupted the formation earlier, forcing the cultivator forces into individual battles, Fang Xi wouldn’t have had such an opportune moment to strike amidst chaos.

As for interrogating Situ Ying?

Fang Xi feared potential hidden tricks of demonic cultivators. Moreover, regardless of any concealed plots, they mattered little to him now as he was about to leave…