Chapter 573: Shangshen Palace

Half a month later.

Qingli Marsh, Fe family.

A tall altar stood at the center of the square.

A strange Daoist priest, clad in robes and painted with pigments, danced wildly upon the altar, clutching a rattle and muttering incantations:

"First, summon the Heavenly Troops and Divine Generals of the Three Altars; second, invoke the ancestral masters of past generations; third, call forth the mountain spirits and myriad ghosts of the mortal realm…"

…

"Look at that—now that's real professional altar-calling, summoning deities!"

Lin Xu stared in awe: "Compared to that, our previous summoning of that fox spirit was nothing but a petty god!"

At these words, Old Lv's face darkened; he struck his sworn brother hard: "This is a high adept from the Shangshen Palace, hired at great expense by the Fe family—for our Five Families' covenant… How can a common shaman compare?"

"Those who practice spirit-summoning arts naturally thrive better within large factions…"

Fang Xing spoke up with fairness.

He found the cultivation methods of this world quite intriguing.

After all, the Daoist Sovereign's "Immortal Dao" governed only the spirit-root cultivation path.

In other words, only those who cultivated through spirit roots—progressing from Qi Condensation to Foundation Establishment, Golden Core, Nascent Soul, then Divine Transformation and Void Refinement—and who, after Void Refinement, gained endless lifespan, fell under his jurisdiction.

All other paths to cultivation lay beyond the Daoist Sovereign's authority.

"This spirit-summoning technique is essentially 'calling for big shots'—the more influence and lineage you have, the stronger the spirit you summon."

"Disciples of major sects can summon their ancestral masters or the demonic generals their sect has subdued…"

"For a lone cultivator, all they can summon are the entities they've painstakingly found and worshipped…"

"For instance, the spirit pact we signed with the Floating Cloud Five Friends felt roughly equivalent to a Qi Sensing Seventh Layer power—meaning, if we broke the pact, all we'd need to do is kill that seventh-layer 'witness,' and the matter would vanish."

Fang Xing gazed at the altar: "But this one is different…"

At this moment, representatives from all factions ascended the altar: Fe Tianbao, head of the Fe family; Xu family of Qingfeng Hollow; Yin family of San Yue Pond; the White Bone Alliance of Burial Ground; Song Clan's Seven Righteous Ones of Green Water Bay; and the six from Poison Dragon Slope.

On Fang Xing's side, Old Lv represented everyone and stepped onto the altar to recite the covenant.

It largely outlined the rights and duties of the five families toward the Fe family, and forbade mutual sabotage during the land reclamation.

"Oath before the gods… complete!"

Finally, as the high adept's voice rang out, the six each burned offerings and spirit pacts, then collectively lit and offered incense…

Suddenly!

A cold wind surged forth!

Fang Xing's Druidic perception made him feel as if a pair of eyes had swept over him, causing instant discomfort.

"An Yin Spirit True Person… this pact summoned a True Person as witness! If we break it and he does not punish us, his cultivation will surely plummet…"

"Hmm… the pressure from this Yin Spirit True Person feels comparable to a Golden Core cultivator, yet carries an additional sense of cosmic principles and authority… Is this power granted temporarily by the ritual, or has he always possessed it?"

…

"Alright, the covenant is sealed. Let's go."

Old Lv, as if after a grand military rally, glowed with excitement, his face flushed.

"With this covenant, at least during the land reclamation, we needn't fear sabotage from the Fe family or the other four."

Song Yunqian asked: "Is this the Fe family's concession and appeasement after last time's attack?"

"Naturally!"

Old Lv nodded: "Heh… ever since Fang Daoist was attacked last time, I felt we couldn't just sit idle. I sought out the Xu family head and contacted everyone else, urging the Fe family to mediate—hence this covenant."

"This effectively puts the Fe family on the spot—Old Lv is no novice."

"But this move also plants deep trouble. If I'm not mistaken, Old Lv is hiding behind the scenes, goading others to take the lead…"

Fang Xing's mind stirred; he joined the Floating Cloud Five Friends and boarded their floating boat, venturing deeper into the marsh.

Only the region around the Fe family's domain in Qingli Marsh appeared tranquil, filled with birdsong and blossoms.

The deeper they went, the thicker the mist grew; even seemingly flat ground could conceal bottomless bogs.

The more they advanced, the more bogs appeared, until they were forced to rely on the floating boat for travel.

"Watch out… each of you swallow a Toxin-Repelling Pill!"

Old Lv warned, and everyone quickly ingested antidotes.

Fang Xing also pretended to swallow a pill, then took a deep breath.

"Hmm… the marsh mist here is indeed toxic—a complex poison. Even Qi Sensing fifth or sixth-layer experts would fall ill if they stayed too long…"

"But for me, any toxin of natural origin is utterly ineffective…"

"These fumes contain toad venom, snake venom, and various plant and mineral toxins—truly nature's craftsmanship, fused into a deadly zone for mortals."

He felt his entire body rejoicing, for he had entered a wild, primal environment rich with natural energy.

"This place is perfect for my Druid path…"

…

Poison Dragon Slope.

A rise within the marsh, thick with fog, hissing softly.

Though called a slope, it was more like a small island in the marsh.

"Though Poison Dragon Slope doesn't require land reclamation, we must still carve out a land route from the outside—floating boats alone won't suffice."

Hu Liuniang scanned the surroundings and spoke gravely.

Many merchant caravans travel by land; for a small cultivation region to thrive, caravans are essential.

Besides, their floating boat was engraved with talismans, gliding swiftly and immune to corrosion.

Ordinary floating boats lacked such advantages. Thud!

The boat gently docked as Fang Xing stepped onto the soil of Poison Dragon Slope.

Hiss!

The ground was covered in moss; hissing sounds echoed around him.

His right hand shot out like lightning, pinching a green snake as thick as a chopstick.

The snake writhed, snapping its fangs toward Fang Xing's wrist, but he casually tossed it into the bog.

"Huh?"

Song Yunqian cast him a suspicious glance.

"I revere nature; my principle is 'unless necessary, cause no harm.' If for sustenance, I may kill any beast—but otherwise, no. Besides, per the pact, I'm here only to plant trees and purify the environment."

Fang Xing smiled and explained.

"I see. So Fang Daoist has already forged his own cultivation philosophy…"

Not a single word of disagreement!

Lin Xu and the others, no matter what they thought inside, all voiced agreement.

This was the advantage of lone cultivators banding together; in a major sect, such eccentricity would inevitably invite suppression.

After all, some elders loved to grind down the defiant.

"Since Fang Daoist won't act, then we shall."

Old Lv gulped down a mouthful of monkey wine; his muscles rippled, transforming instantly from a frail old man into a muscular giant: "Aha!"

He clenched his five fingers into a fist and slammed forward—powerful wind swept through the toxic mist, exploding countless venomous insects and snakes.

"Great Sage's Armor Punch? Spirit-Invoking Art?"

Fang Xing glanced and knew: though Old Lv's cultivation was low, his strength justified him as leader of the Floating Cloud Five.

Beside him, Lin Xu drew a magical sword and unleashed sword techniques.

Tie Luo the Hermit activated a magical artifact—the Iron Luo Umbrella—sending forth waves of dark blades like flying razors.

Song Yunqian flicked her ten fingers rapidly; crimson threads linked flying needles that danced through the air, sealing every gap.

Hu Liuniang cradled a pipa, her slender fingers plucking gently.

Together, the five had no rival among venomous creatures.

After slaying a toad the size of a millstone, they reached the island's center.

"Hmm, this spot is perfect for setting up an array!"

Fang Xing studied the terrain and nodded.

Old Lv opened his pack, buried a costly array disc, then distributed small flags.

"Rise!"

Fang Xing infused a trace of magical energy, waved gently—and a clear breeze appeared, dispersing the toxic mist and purifying the air.

"This 'Little Clear Wind Array' is excellent, but every moment it's active drains talisman coins!"

Old Lv winced: "Our funds can barely sustain it for two or three years—Fang Daoist, we'll be counting on you after that."

"Two or three years is enough."

Fang Xing smiled faintly.

For an ordinary Spirit Gardener, this would be a daunting challenge—but for him, with his plant-growth talent, it was a minor issue.

"Muddy qi dissipates, pure qi emerges…"

"As we cleanse this land's vein, we may soon discover—or even condense—a Sha vein…"

Tie Luo the Hermit gazed at the vanishing toxic mist, his face filled with awe.

Suddenly!

A hissing sound echoed.

After the thick fog on the island dispersed, a black snake six zhang long appeared!

It was as thick as a water barrel, its vertical pupils cold and merciless.

"Damn! On Poison Dragon Island, there's a beast nearly at the Seventh Level of Sensing Qi… this serpent is almost ready to condense its poison!"

Old Lv shook his fists: "No wonder the other four families didn't fight us for Poison Dragon Slope—they knew this was a trap!"

"What do we do?"

Song Yunqian's face turned pale: "We fight it…"

If they fled in shame, all their prior investments would be wasted—something the Five Cloud Friends could never accept.

"We fight it!"

Old Lv's eyes were bloodshot; as a lone cultivator, once pushed to the brink, he never lacked the courage to fight to the death.

"Wait!"

At that moment, Fang Xing stepped forward: "I'll speak with it…"

He walked to the front of the black snake, locking eyes with its vertical pupils, and emitted a hissing sound from his throat.

"This…?" Hu Liuniang gasped, thinking Fang Xing might be a serpent demon in disguise.

"A Serpent Speaker? I didn't know Friend Fang had a talent for beast taming?" Lin Xu's eyes lit up.

After communicating with the black snake, Fang Xing turned to the Five Cloud Friends: "We're lucky—this isn't its lair, just a molting site it's chosen. I've reached an agreement: as long as we allow it to molt here safely, we may take possession of this place!"

The Dao values life; he had already reached shore and no longer wished to fight or kill.

If something can be settled through negotiation, there's no need for violence.

"In that case… this is excellent."

Old Lv and the other four had no objections—they nodded eagerly: "Friend Fang has done us another great service—this black serpent is now our island's sacred guardian beast…"

(End of Chapter)