"It's time to prepare for a runaway..."
Fang Qing pondered to himself on Taibai Island. "Within ten years, Xituo County is relatively safe. I can use this time to gather as many resources as possible, and then try to cross the territory of the Hehuan Sect to reach the Eastern Taiyi Xuanmen..."
"I have external alchemy power, which is barely enough to be considered a Duzi (a type of cultivator)..."
"According to the information I gathered from Gu Shu, only Purple Mansion cultivators can easily travel the world..."
"A Duzi is ultimately a step below a Purple Mansion early-stage cultivator."
[Remember this site's domain name: Taiwan Novel Network has many books, OYO.YO is super convenient]
If possible, Fang Qing would naturally like to wait until his cultivation breaks through to the Foundation Establishment Perfection stage, or even the Core Formation stage, before attempting a long journey.
But now he is almost forced into a corner.
"Xu Hei's situation is simple. Just pack up and go to Xituo County to await orders..."
"The Fang family... I'll just leave them be. Anyway, nobody knows my relationship with them;..."
Fang Qing transformed his [Ji Shui] magic power.
After reaching the mid-stage of the Dao Foundation Realm, if he didn't restrain himself, a gentle breeze and water mist would accompany him, refracting colorful light and making him appear like a celestial being. Holding the Myriad Spring Purification Bottle, he arrived at the edge of the Ice Soul Cold Spring.
Fang Qing chanted the Six-Syllable Mantra, activating the bottle's power. Instantly, a suction force formed, drawing a large amount of Ice Soul Spring water into the purification bottle. "The interior of this bottle can be divided into multiple layers, storing various kinds of spiritual water... quite convenient."
A thought struck him, and the vast power of his [Ji Shui] magic surged forth. He immediately sensed something mysterious beneath the earth being stirred, about to be thrown into the jade bottle. "It really can draw water veins... It can even take away a third-tier spiritual spring?"
Fang Qing severed his magic power, not actually making a move.
This Ice Soul Cold Spring ultimately belonged to the Azure Sea Sect; he was merely the guardian of Taibai Island.
Outsiders calling him "Island Master" was just flattery.
Normally, he could use the spiritual energy of the Ice Soul Cold Spring to refine pills, and no one would say a word.
But if he were to take this entire spiritual spring away, Patriarch Ruan and Sect Leader Shi would not allow it.
"Anyway, I'm stationed here, so this spiritual spring is still mine."
"I'll think about the spiritual spring I can carry with me when I leave...
But when I was collecting the water veins earlier, Fang Qing discovered that with his [Ji Shui] magic power and cultivation, he could divide the water veins of this third-tier spiritual spring.
"Perhaps... I can first split off a second-tier Ice Soul Cold Spring water vein?"
"Or even later, by piecing together various things, I can eventually create a third-tier spiritual spring?"
Having made up his mind, Fang Qing, holding the Wonderful Spring Purifying Bottle, walked out of the cave.
A female cultivator approached him; it was Bei Ling Shu.
In a daze, she seemed to see a spring, but upon closer inspection, she saw a young man in blue robes, surrounded by water mist and a gentle breeze, holding a jade bottle, like a god descending to earth. For a moment, her heart trembled, and she was awestruck: "Island Master... could it be that you have advanced to the late Foundation Establishment stage?"
"It's Ling Shu? What is it?"
Fang Qing knew that he was doing well on Tai Bai Island, so he couldn't help but act strangely, but he didn't care at all.
If one were to act like a local tyrant and still restrain oneself, wouldn't one have wasted their time enjoying this carefree life?
"The Cold Moon Grass under my jurisdiction has matured, and the sect has sent people to harvest it; it's not a big deal..."
Bei Lingxu thought for a moment, then added, "However, the Three Talents Market... it's said to be raking in money daily, attracting the covetous eyes of some Foundation Establishment forces. Green Water Hermit is struggling to cope and has sought help from my Taibai Island..."
"A transaction of money and goods, what kind of relationship is there? Seeking help?"
Fang Qing's face was half-smiled, but in his heart he thought, "As expected... the place where the chosen one resides cannot remain peaceful forever. Zhan Hongxiu is probably about to encounter another calamity, after which her strength will greatly increase, right?"
Three Talents Island.
Zhan Hongxiu's nostrils flared, and two long white breaths, like tortoises and cranes, swirled around her.
Beside her, a giant green tortoise the size of a millstone lay there, greedily absorbing the aura of magic power.
After a long while, she opened her eyes: "Finally... I've reached the ninth level of Qi Chain."
The *Turtle and Crane Longevity Technique* is a health-preserving cultivation method, and its cultivation speed is relatively slow. Her progress is already extremely fast, not inferior to the sect's prodigies.
The longevity tortoise beside her, having seemingly encountered some extraordinary event, faintly exudes the aura of a high-grade first-tier demon beast.
"After reaching the ninth level of Qi Chain, all that's left is accumulating mana. I can consider Foundation Establishment now,"
Zhan Hongxiu pondered slowly.
Speaking of Foundation Establishment, the first choice is naturally the Foundation Establishment Pill!
However, most rogue cultivators are poor, and only a few can cultivate to the ninth level of Qi Chain. Foundation Establishment Pills are practically unheard of.
Most of them exhaust their life savings to exchange for a Foundation Establishment spiritual item, which might be something like malevolent energy or a spiritual liquid beneficial to divine consciousness.
With something of even higher quality, perhaps she could obtain a miraculous elixir like the "Ice Heart Protecting Meridian Pill."
As for Foundation Establishment Pills?
Even if they occasionally appear at auctions, they are fiercely contested by major Foundation Establishment forces, leaving no room for
independent cultivators. Some even risk their lives to establish their Foundation, penniless, but these almost always end in sudden death.
Therefore, Zhan Hongxiu didn't even consider it.
She was wealthy and had her master as a backer, making her a direct descendant of a Foundation Establishment force, so she could consider auctioning a genuine Foundation Establishment Pill. "If there are no Foundation Establishment Pills for auction... then I'll have to risk killing second-tier demonic beasts to obtain their demonic cores, and then ask a master alchemist for help..."
Zhan Hongxiu frowned slightly at this thought.
Second-tier demonic beasts are found in the deep sea and are very rare, especially after the Overturning Sea Turtle launched its beast tide, their whereabouts have become even more scarce.
Even if one occasionally appears, it may not have a second-tier demonic core!
With her strength, hunting second-tier demonic beasts would be extremely dangerous.
"If only that talisman were still here..."
"Or... should we ask Master for help? But now the market is coveted, and Master probably can't easily get away..."
Thinking of the recent changes in the market, Zhan Hongxiu felt inexplicably uneasy.
Sanyuan Island has a superior geographical location, with no other spiritual vein islands nearby, and it is the only option for traveling cultivators who want to stay and rest in their caves. In the past, the Jiang and Lu families could make a fortune even just by renting caves.
After her master took over, due to his fair dealings, the number of people increased, and it gradually became known as the "holy land of rogue cultivators."
Green Water Hermit naturally understood that some powerful forces were jealous and trying to kill her by praising her.
Before the late Foundation Establishment stage... Having become a powerful cultivator of the same realm, he was no match for the so-called "holy land of rogue cultivators," and thus declined the offer, secretly ordering people to investigate the source of the rumors.
In recent months, a group of plundering cultivators had arrived outside the market. It was said that the bandit leader had already reached the Great Perfection of Qi Chain cultivation, possessed exquisite magical artifacts, and had two first-grade high-quality refined corpses to assist him. Ordinary Qi Chain cultivators were no match for him, and he committed several major crimes, causing widespread panic. As
the flow of people in the market gradually decreased, the disciples of Green Water Sect were very anxious. One junior brother rashly attacked and was instead killed, his head left at the market gate. Green Water Sect Master was furious and immediately left seclusion to find the group of plundering cultivators.
"I'm currently at the ninth level of Qi Refining, possessing those magical artifacts and exquisite talismans, and my combat skills aren't weak... I can lend my master a hand." Zhan Hongxiu was about to emerge from seclusion when suddenly the earth shook violently.
Her expression changed drastically, and she pulled out a token, only to see its radiance vanish with a crash.
"The second-tier protective array of the market... stopped?"
If the array had been breached, this token should have shattered into countless small pieces.
Now it was merely dim and lifeless, clearly indicating that the array had been stopped from the inside!
"Senior Sister!"
A streak of light landed outside the cave, revealing the young scholar, his face filled with terror: "Senior Brother... Senior Brother has gone mad... He colluded with the Tribulation Cultivators and shut down the market's grand formation."
"What?"
Zhan Hongxiu put away the Longevity Turtle, stepping on a red silk magic artifact. Seeing the market already in chaos, her face was full of confusion: "How dare he? Isn't he afraid of Master..." "
Haha, so you're here?"
Before the words were finished, several streaks of light chased after them, the leader being none other than "Lu Lingfeng"!
"Senior Brother... You betrayed the sect!"
Zhan Hongxiu's expression changed drastically. She then looked at the several unfamiliar Tribulation Cultivators beside Lu Lingfeng, vaguely feeling that they looked familiar: "Jiang Family cultivators?" "Haha, not bad... My ancestor has just achieved Foundation Establishment and has already gone to take the head of that Green Water Hermit... We're just waiting for you."
The Jiang Family cultivators laughed heartily, revealing even more shocking information.
"That's it. Since Senior Brother has become a traitor... then Master must have deliberately been lured out of the formation, perhaps even setting an ambush...
Lu Lingfeng's rebellion... is it because another Foundation Establishment Ancestor has emerged from the remnants of the Jiang family?"
Zhan Hongxiu's mind raced, guessing the truth.
This was actually Fang Qing's fault. Back then, he only wiped out the main family, leaving behind a large number of remnants.
Several direct descendants of the Jiang family did not cultivate on the main island, and they also had several secret vaults outside, among which they treasured a genuine Foundation Establishment Pill as the foundation for the family's resurgence.
Coincidentally, a Jiang family cultivator with exceptional talent recently reached the Qi Chain Perfection stage, successfully broke through by consuming the Foundation Establishment Pill, and then thought of reclaiming the ancestral property... which was a perfect match for Lu Lingfeng.
After all, the Jiang and Lu families had cooperated for many years and were related by marriage.
Green Water Hermit only took him in as his eldest disciple out of courtesy, and there was no real intimacy afterwards, yet the Jiang family promised to return the Lu family's island and 30% of the market revenue!
"Senior Sister...be careful!"
Just as Zhan Hongxiu was wavering, a loud shout rang in her ears.
She was pushed back several feet by a beam of light; it was her junior brother, who looked like a scholar.
The junior brother pushed her aside, gave her a bright smile, and suddenly several blood spots appeared on his body.
"Flying needle magic weapon? A sneak attack?"
Zhan Hongxiu stared at her junior brother's corpse, and in a daze, she seemed to see her grandfather again.
"Jiang family, Lu family..."
she murmured, touching the hairpin in her hair.
Two talismans were activated, turning into azure lightning that swept around.
"Second-tier low-grade—Jia Wood Yang Lightning Talisman?"
Lu Lingfeng exclaimed, taking out a black shield to protect his entire body and retreating continuously: "This woman has quite a few treasures on her. Where is your ancestor?" "Still dealing with that Green Water Hermit...that woman is quite powerful, but the ancestor called a few helpers."
The Jiang family cultivator replied.
Just then, a Foundation Establishment escape light was rapidly approaching, emitting the mana fluctuations of the early Foundation Establishment stage.
Sensing the magical energy fluctuations that were so different from her master's, Zhan Hongxiu finally gave up hope. She raised her hand and took out a high-quality, low-grade second-tier escape talisman: "You just wait!"
Activating the talisman, she transformed into a streak of light, flying out of the market with unparalleled speed, even the Foundation Establishment escape light couldn't catch up...
Ancient Shu.
Xituo County, Zengjia Town.
Fang Yixin, wearing a bamboo hat and a raincoat, sleeves rolled up, skillfully harvested the spiritual fields, inwardly cursing:
"This damned rain, it's been pouring down for three months... If it weren't for the protective array, the spiritual seedlings would have drowned long ago.
Ever since that night when I heard that awful crow's cry, it's been raining for three months straight, causing immense suffering to the people.
The cultivators are a little better off; the Zeng family has been protecting the spiritual fields with an array, barely managing to hold on until it's harvest time, when they immediately mobilized for a rush harvest." (
This book is first published online by 𝕥𝕨𝕜𝕒𝕟.𝕔𝕠𝕞.
After all, activating the array also requires a large amount of spiritual resources; time waits for no one!)
Fang Yixin He overheard other cultivators chatting and guessed that the strange celestial phenomenon was caused by the death of some important figure, so they dared not curse aloud, only grumbling in their hearts.
After finally harvesting the spirit rice, his hands, even with magical protection, were covered in small cuts.
Suddenly, he looked up and saw the dawn breaking, a golden sun piercing through the clouds and scattering across the earth. He breathed a sigh of relief: "Finally, it's over..." Along the way, he encountered various spirit farmers who greeted him with smiles upon seeing the rare sunshine.
"It wasn't easy..."
"Let's go have a few drinks tonight..."
"I heard some pretty ladies have come to the market, quite charming..."
"Nonsense, too expensive, the spiritual cost for the night is considerable..."
"I heard that there was a battle between foundational cultivators in Luohe Mountain, a great cultivator died, and a pile of 'Azure Yuan Stones' fell to the ground... the nearby cultivators got a great deal." "How about we all get together? Maybe we can snag a bargain..."
Fang Yixin looked at the speaker and saw that it was a tenant farmer from the Lu family who had registered at the same time as him. The tenant farmer had a mid-stage Qi Condensation cultivation level, but he didn't agree. Now that Xituo County was even more chaotic, they had even heard news of the Dao Foundation cultivators falling. How could he, with only a mere early-stage Qi Condensation cultivation level, dare to go out?
Wasn't he afraid that someone would collude with other cultivators to lure him out and kill him?
The Lu family cultivator didn't look at him, but instead looked at another old man with white hair and beard, who was thin and bony: "Old Tian... what do you say?" This Old Tian looked unremarkable, but he had a sixth-level Qi Condensation cultivation level, making him a minor expert among rogue cultivators.
He wasn't a tenant farmer from the Zeng family, but a day laborer for the Le family.
The Le family, like the Fang and Hu families, came here as refugees but possessed a deep-rooted foundation. They not only had an ancestor at the late stage of Qi Cultivation, but also a "Green Mulberry and Jujube Tree" passed down from their ancestors, which bore a new batch of jujubes every few years, beneficial to cultivation even when eaten raw.
In Zengjia Town, they were considered upper-class tenants, thus able to hire day laborers.
Old Tian had only recently wandered to Zengjia Town; his background was said to be questionable, and even with his higher cultivation level, no one wanted him as a tenant. He could only make a living by doing odd jobs for various families. Since the Le family cultivated more spiritual fields and needed more manpower, they hired workers.
"The younger generation of the Le family are all very clever, and now they're eager to cultivate… naturally they need to hire laborers."
"That Yue Mingxue is quite beautiful. I wonder if my Wuchen and Wujiu have a chance?"
Thinking of the Yue family, Fang Yixin couldn't help but feel envious.
That's what a proper Qi-accepting family should be like. His family and the Hu family were only slightly better than rogue cultivators.
On the way back to Zengjia Town, they saw a dwarf old man carrying a box, walking through the streets and alleys calling out his wares.
Fang Yixin, the Lu family scion, and Old Tian didn't dare to be negligent and bowed: "Old Xu..."
This old man's surname was Xu and his given name was Hei. He claimed to be a traveling merchant who had only been in Zengjia Town for a few days, but the Yue family patriarch was very polite to him.
According to Fang Yixin's guess, he was probably a great master in the late stage of Qi-accepting cultivation.
"Given the current chaos... anyone daring to travel out as a merchant must be a ruthless character."
Remembering Hu Quan'an's assessment, Fang Yixin dared not slight the dwarf old man.
"Hey, hey... no need for formalities. If you could patronize my business, I would be eternally grateful..." The old man,
Xu Hei, returned the greeting with a smile. True to his merchant nature, he was very polite. "I'm going to the Le family today to discuss the sale of those spirit fruits. If any of you have newly harvested rice, you can also trade with me..."
Xu Hei picked up his cargo box, about to leave, when he seemed to remember something. "By the way... I heard that the Ancient Shu is recruiting soldiers to reclaim lost territory, and they're also recruiting us rogue cultivators... I heard the rewards are generous, including Dao Foundation cultivation techniques, pills to enhance mana, magic artifacts and talismans... even Dao Foundation Pills! If you want to try your luck, you can go..."
"Ancient Shu... recruiting rogue cultivators?"
Hearing this news, Fang Yixin was genuinely stunned.
Lu Jiazi, standing nearby, was breathing heavily: "A Dao Foundation Pill? It's actually a Dao Foundation Pill? This is a miraculous elixir for reaching the Dao Foundation stage... Dao Foundation ancestors live to be two hundred years old, riding the clouds and mist, like immortals... If I were a Dao Foundation cultivator, I would have no regrets even if I died."
How could Fang Yixin not know how precious the Dao Foundation stage was?
This Zeng family ancestor was a Dao Foundation cultivator!
"This Lu family lad has ambitions for a Dao Foundation... Could it be that he consumed a True Immortal of the third rank or higher?"
A thought struck him. Looking at the Lu family lad who was becoming restless again, he thought to himself, "This guy will probably get a beating from his elders tonight..." Fang Yixin looked at Lao Tian: "Lao Tian... you just came from Ancient Shu, right? Have you thought about going back?"
"Go back?"
Lao Tian shook his head with a bitter expression. "I traveled a long way and saw only wailing everywhere. People were exchanging their own children to eat, it was like a hellish hell... I finally managed to settle down, why would I go back? Lao Tian only consumed a lower third-rank True Immortal, how could that possibly build a Dao Foundation?"
"Lao Tian, that's not right... Even if you can't build a Dao Foundation, if you could get a spiritual pill and break through to the late stage of Qi Refining, that would be good too." The Lu family lad said, "Look at the Le family patriarch and the traveling merchant Xu... they're living much better lives than us."
"This world is too cruel. Even those at the Foundation Establishment stage have many unspeakable hardships. How can one talk about being carefree and happy? It's just about surviving..."
Old Tian shook his head and said no more.
Fang Yixin, however, felt a stirring in his heart, thinking that Old Tian might have some kind of story behind him.
"But it's none of my business... Even if there's trouble, it's the Le family's problem."
He went straight home, where his wife, Madam Hu, greeted him: "Grandfather hasn't eaten or drunk anything for days..."
"What?"
Fang Yixin felt a pang of pain in his heart and rushed to Fang Jingchun's room, where he saw an old man lying on the bed, his face ashen.
He quickly channeled a wisp of magic power into him, but found that the old man was already on his deathbed, beyond saving.
The coolness of the [Ji Shui] magic power brought Fang Jingchun back to his senses. Seeing his grandson, he said, "Yi..."
"Grandfather, I'm here."
Fang Yixin quickly grasped his grandfather's hand.
"To see you enter the Dao, and to hear of the annihilation of my family by our enemies, I have no regrets in this life... Only one thing."
Fang Jingchun's last moments of lucidity made him much clearer. Recalling the past, he found that many scenes from his childhood in Sanshui'ao were blurred, but the most vivid memory was of his encounter with the immortal.
He took a few breaths and instructed, "After I die, bury me facing east..."
Before he could finish speaking, his eyes widened, and he breathed his last.
"Grandfather;..."
Fang Yixin was in a daze, two lines of tears already rolling down her cheeks.
Not long after, white banners were hung in the Fang residence, and the sound of weeping could be heard... Hu Quan'an also rushed over to offer condolences...
the Le family.
Xu Hei, who had just completed a transaction of Qi-cultivating materials, walked out of the mansion, gazing in the direction of the weeping, his eyes as calm as still water, and left Zengjia Town on his own...
Wusheng Temple.
Fang Qing sighed deeply: "Jing Chun is gone... His two younger siblings, whose inner strength was not as profound as his, died even earlier...
"From then on, the relationship between those families and me became increasingly distant...
Actually, this was a good thing for him.
The less blood ties there were, the less likely he was to be traced back.
Moreover, the three Fang siblings were all cautious people and did not leave behind any paintings or calligraphy.
In other words, everyone who had seen him in Sanshui'ao during his childhood and after he began cultivating immortality had already passed away.
Even if he met Fang Yixin in person afterward, the other party would only treat him as a stranger.
Ding ding!
Just then, the bell rang.
Fang Qing leisurely emerged from seclusion and saw Miao Feng and the other four Mingzi and Mingfei.
Miao Feng's eyes were bright, revealing a hint of pride: "Master sensed the dissipation of the spiritual energy impact and is about to go into seclusion... We have come to see him off..." Fang Qing looked up and saw a sliver of sunlight.
After calculating with his fingers, he realized that the spiritual energy impact from Su Wu's failure to prove his gold had indeed passed, and there was no time to delay; he had to go into seclusion.
He followed several disciples to the underground palace of Wusheng Temple, followed by Sangji's other disciples, as well as high-ranking monks and heretical protectors from the temple…
Sangji still looked fierce and menacing, wearing a tiger-skin robe, his hands clasped together: "The spiritual energy has passed, and I am about to go into seclusion to attain the status of Dharma King… You should cultivate diligently. If you see piled earth forming mountains, temples radiating precious light, heavenly flowers and golden lotuses, and mysterious Brahma lands emerging, all composed of countless treasures and hundreds of thousands of kinds of incense, adorned with wondrous beauty surpassing all heavenly beings… you should congratulate me!"
"As you command."
Miaofeng and the other disciples obeyed solemnly. They saw Sangji seal the underground palace, and one by one, Dharma protectors descended, inspecting the mandala rituals.
Another tiger-skin robe transformed into the Tiger Demon King, sitting in the center of the mandala.
"This formation was just sent from the Secret Realm, and it's already at the Purple Mansion level...
Sangji is in seclusion, protected by the Purple Mansion formation. Even if a Purple Mansion cultivator attacks, it can delay them for some time... Of course, this only applies to his cave." "
Furthermore, once attacked, these guardian Vajras will immediately report to the Great Snow Mountain... It's equivalent to starting a war with the Secret Realm, a fight to the death." "Therefore, seclusion in Xituo County is very safe..."
Fang Qing muttered to himself, looking at the beaming faces of Miao Feng and the other Mingzi, he really couldn't be bothered to pay attention: "They're about to face a great calamity... and they still don't realize it." He was previously clueless about the Purple Mansion, but after subduing Sangji, his knowledge broadened, how could he not know the difficulty of achieving the Purple Mansion?
Once the Purple Mansion is achieved, it's like a complete transformation, from then on, one is no longer a pawn in the ancient Shu capital, but a player.
Precisely because its status transcends the mortal world, it is extremely difficult to attain.
"But the Dharma King's path to non-retrogression is somewhat different, requiring the assistance of destiny... Although Sangji has consumed a spiritual object from the Purple Palace, his destiny is severely lacking... It can only be said... extremely difficult, with little hope."
Fang Qing glanced at the laughing and joking monks, thinking to himself, "It's best to pack up and run away as soon as possible..."
Sangji went into seclusion, but Wusheng Temple continued to operate as usual.
After all, breaking through to the Purple Mansion or Dharma King levels generally takes decades.
For the first ten years, nothing seemed amiss.
"This is Sangji's last bit of time to stall...
How to run, where to run, we still need to calculate first...
Inside the cave, Fang Qing sat cross-legged, a large brazier burning in front of him.
Joining a force at the True Monarch Immortal level has brought too many benefits, and he was indeed reluctant to leave.
Cultivating at Wusheng Temple, spiritual objects were collected and delivered to his door, and any magical artifacts he wanted to refine were available... Even if he wanted to improve his divination skills, there were corresponding scriptures to read.
Fang Qing has now absorbed the essence of the secret divination techniques such as fate divination and fire offering, and feels that his divination has greatly improved.
However, as his cultivation level increases, the karmic consequences involved also become heavier.
Apart from his own safety, he basically still can't calculate anything...
"If I go east now... it's a minor misfortune."
"What a pity, if I were in the Little Universe Sea, I should be able to deduce the source of the danger..."
Fang Qing shook his head, plum blossoms appearing in his mind, evolving into divination symbols.
"If we go west or north... then it's 'extremely unlucky'?"
"The west is the Hidden Domain, which is like walking into a trap... As for the north, could it still be that evil creature causing trouble?"
The Suwu Demon King failed to pass the Gold Cultivation test and transformed into an evil creature at the peak of the Purple Mansion realm, wreaking havoc in the northern border. It is said that it has already devoured several Purple Mansion Great Demons and has given rise to other evil transformations. In any case,
the Azure Bird Tribe is definitely severely weakened, but Luofeng Mountain is still there. Once they contact other Purple Mansion Great Demons, they can eventually resolve the situation. However, the Azure Bird Tribe's original plan will definitely fall apart.
Even if the evil creature leaves behind anything, it's not up to the Azure Bird Tribe to decide.
"Going north now... might lead to encountering a Purple Mansion Great Demon, thus causing great misfortune?"
"Going south... is a mixed blessing. Staying in place is 'neutral'... but there is a faint aura of calamity brewing, which may turn into an inauspicious omen as time goes by! It might even turn from minor misfortune to major misfortune!"
Fang Qing didn't even need to consult the divination to know why this was the case.
As time passed, Sangji's breakthrough became increasingly faint, naturally attracting the attention of many Purple Mansions, who then began to probe... If it was confirmed that he had truly failed and perished, then the Purple Mansions of Ancient Shu would swarm in and carve up the Wusheng Temple!
This was a harbinger of great misfortune!
"I still have to wait a few years, until the north is stable, then perhaps I can go to the east..." "
If all else fails, I'll retreat to the Small Universe Sea for decades, then come back with a different identity..."
"But without an identity and background, I can only flaunt myself in front of Qi Cultivation and Foundation Establishment cultivators, but once the Purple Mansions notice, it will be a huge flaw... After all, Foundation Establishment cultivators can't appear out of thin air; cultivators in this world are too cautious..."
In the Small Universe Sea, resources are plentiful, and opportunities abound.
It's not unacceptable for rogue cultivators to successfully establish their foundation through risk; in fact, it happens every now and then.
But it's different in Ancient Shu. Those who can forge a Foundation Establishment must at least have a high Qi Cultivation level, a source of cultivation techniques, and Foundation Establishment spiritual objects, Foundation Establishment pills, etc... An investigation would reveal many problems.
Autumn passed and spring came.
Fang Yixin worked in the spiritual field, occasionally gathering qi through hand seals.
He did this extremely discreetly, fearing outsiders would see.
Hu Quan'an kept watch for him nearby.
After Fang Jingchun's death, he gradually emerged from his grief and became the true head of the Fang family, much more composed in his dealings with others. His
two sons were growing up and both possessed the aptitude for cultivation; it was time to consider the matter of entering the Dao through qi cultivation.
Fang Yixin knew that his family had entered the Dao relatively late and lacked resources and background, likely destined to remain so for life. He placed all his hopes on his sons. Seeing that both sons had the aptitude for cultivation, he was overjoyed.
However, upon closer inspection, something different occurred.
The eldest son, Fang Wuchen, had thick eyebrows and large eyes, and a simple and honest personality… Hu Quan'an observed that he wasn't quite suited to the [Ji Shui] path, but rather to learning the Shide cultivation method from him.
Fang Yixin didn't hesitate at all, having his eldest son become Hu Quan'an's disciple to cultivate the *Baotu Guiyuan Jue*. This cultivation method was a fragment of a foundational Dao cultivation method, requiring the collection of a low-grade fourth-rank "Zhonghuang Zhizheng" (a type of medicinal essence).
This "Zhonghuang Zhizheng" required finding fertile soil in a field and collecting it using a secret incantation; a spiritual field would be faster and better.
Fang Yixin naturally set his sights on the spiritual fields he cultivated.
He only took a small amount, which wouldn't significantly affect the earth's energy and wouldn't delay the harvest much.
After completing today's energy collection, Fang Yixin sealed the earthy yellow energy into a jade bottle and handed it to Hu Quan'an.
"Not bad, not bad. With this addition, it's enough to forge a truly powerful essence… Wuchen has a good chance of entering the Dao,"
Hu Quan'an stroked his beard and smiled.
"I must thank you, senior."
Fang Yixin wanted Fang Wuchen to become his disciple, naturally because he coveted Hu Quan'an's inheritance.
The Hu family's destiny was far inferior to the Fang family's, and they hadn't produced any talented cultivators.
After Hu Quan'an passed away, the entire Hu family would belong to the Fang family!
"I still have a 'Earthly Essence Refining True Essence' technique, which I'll give to Wujiu. He has the same 'Ji Water' destiny as me, so he can inherit the family legacy..." Fang Yixin happily made her calculations. "It's just a pity that the Le family girl has no feelings for Wujiu, but she gets along well with my eldest brother... Wuchen is truly a fool with a fool's luck."
As they were walking back, they suddenly heard a rapid bell ringing, nine times in a row, shaking the surrounding area.
All the spiritual farmers stopped in their tracks, looking towards the Zeng family's main peak, their expressions very solemn.
"The master has summoned us..."
Hu Quan'an's expression changed several times, and he let out a long breath: "I'm afraid we'll have to fight with someone again..."
Fang Yixin's lips turned pale, and he clenched his teeth, knowing he couldn't refuse.
Fortunately, his family was the worst tenant farmer, only needing to provide one Qi Conversion cultivator.
Larger families like the Le family might need two or three!
The group didn't even have time to eat before gathering at a large courtyard belonging to the Zeng family.
Fang Yixin recognized them all; the Le family patriarch was also there, accompanied by two others, one of whom was Old Tian!
This Qi Conversion sixth-level cultivator had been valued by the Le family patriarch for his hard work and honest character, and had been directly promoted to a long-term laborer.
Now, naturally, he was being offered a place in his family's quota without hesitation; he wondered what benefits had been promised to Old Tian to get him to agree.
After an incense stick's time, a middle-aged cultivator dressed in brocade robes, looking like a wealthy landowner, entered the courtyard with a serious expression.
This man, named Zeng Guangli, possessed an eighth-level Qi Refining cultivation level and oversaw the tenant farmers at the foot of the mountain. He was also the one who led the Zeng family's soldiers to collect rent in previous years, and he held considerable prestige among the farmers.
At this moment, Zeng Guangli's portly face was no longer full of smiles, but instead carried a hint of sinister ruthlessness: "You've come here, so there's no need to say anything more. Follow me to kill... Merit will be rewarded: rent waivers, pills, magic weapons, talismans, cultivation techniques... Even if you die, you'll receive a pension, and your descendants can continue renting spirit fields, exempt from ten years of offerings!"
The tenant farmers naturally cheered loudly, at least outwardly setting off with high spirits.
The sky was pitch black, the moon hidden by dark clouds.
"A dark and windy night... truly a perfect time for killing."
From within the clouds, Zeng Qingye, dressed in black, seemed to have two points of light shining in his eyes.
After waiting a moment, two Foundation Establishment cultivators arrived on the wind, bowing respectfully: "Senior Zeng!"
Both were at the early Foundation Establishment stage. One was Yuan Bukong, the patriarch of the Yuan family of Lishan, and the other was Xuan Lu from the Xuan family of Dahu. "My two young friends have arrived. This time, our mission to destroy the Wu family will surely be successful,"
Zeng Qingye said with a gentle smile.
"Not at all... We all have to rely on you, Senior."
Yuan Bukong and Xuan Lu repeatedly declined, one cultivating [Well Wood] and the other [Water Ginseng]... Even though Zeng Qingye was only at the early Foundation Establishment stage, he could easily defeat them.
"The Wu family only has one early Foundation Establishment cultivator, who cultivates [Kui Wood]... which is exactly what I counter. Back then, the Wu family was in a sorry state, hiding in Xituo County, begging for mercy... and they also blatantly encroached on the interests of several of our families. Now that they've heard that Ancient Shu is recruiting, they want to run away after getting some benefits?"
Zeng Qingye sneered: "There's no such thing as a free lunch."
"That's right... but have you taken care of things at the temple?"
Xuan Lu was still somewhat uneasy.
"Don't worry, I've prepared generous gifts for the five bright sons and bright consorts in the temple..."
Zeng Qingye laughed, "They won't cause any trouble."
Yuan Bukong and Xuanlu exchanged a glance: "This Zeng Qingye is cunning and treacherous... Why is he suddenly so eager? Who knows if he has the support of the Secret Cult?" "The Wu family has no foundation anyway, so it's perfect to take them down!"
Thinking of the Dao Foundation family's wealth, these two Dao Foundation ancestors couldn't help but feel their appetites whetted.
A moment later. At the
Wu family's base.
Ear-piercing battle cries resounded through the heavens and earth, and various magical lights exploded wildly.
The thin protective array was broken in an instant, allowing the Wu family cultivators to engage in close combat with the allied forces of several families.
Fang Yixin's cultivation was shallow, and he only dared to wave flags and shout from the outside. With Hu Quan'an watching over him, he was truly terrified.
He watched as the Le family patriarch led the Le family head and Lao Tian into the enemy formation, disappearing in the blink of an eye.
"Who dares to offend my Wu family?"
Suddenly, a voice rang out, seemingly startled from seclusion.
A flash of black light, and the dozen or so Qi-absorbing cultivators from various families closest to them were all cut in half at the waist. Black blood flowed from their wounds, their internal organs shattered, their intestines transforming into jet-black vines that writhed wildly like snakes.
Whoosh!
In an instant, two more streaks of light descended, carrying power far exceeding that of Qi-absorbing cultivators—clearly a sneak attack.
The Wu family patriarch's figure flashed, disappearing into the void, then reappearing on the clouds. Upon seeing Zeng Qingye and the others, he was startled: "So it's these local tyrants! Good... even that old fellow Zeng Qingye has come."
"Wu Qishen is gone... he must be hiding with magic."
Yuan Bukong's eyes flashed with spiritual light, but he couldn't find any trace of him, so he could only look at Zeng Qingye.
"Heh heh, I've long heard of Kui Mu's skill in concealing his abilities; indeed, his reputation is well-deserved."
Zeng Qingye made a hand seal, placed it to his lips, and gently blew on it.
In the darkness, there seemed to be a great river, and on the river, a fishing boat with a fishing lantern swayed precariously, as if it might go out at any moment. But under the flickering light of this fishing lantern, a figure was illuminated—it was none other than Wu Qishen, the patriarch of the Wu family!
Yuan Bukong and Xuan Lu laughed heartily, each wielding their magical weapons as they approached.
Boom!
Fang Yixin looked up and saw various colored lights flashing in the sky, then suddenly exploding, revealing a celestial green flame.
Countless green flames fell like meteors; ordinary cultivators who were slightly touched by them were instantly devoured, their flesh and blood reduced to bare bones! In an instant, the battlefield transformed into a purgatory!
"This…"
The cultivators on both sides who were fighting were stunned, exchanging bewildered glances.
"Run!"
In the next instant, someone shouted, and a large number of cultivators scattered in all directions, fleeing for their lives with their heads in their hands...
Wusheng Temple.
"Damn it! Although I knew [Kui Mu] was good at hiding things, I never expected he actually hid such a big one… He had such a treasure but didn't even bother to offer it to the Buddha! Wu Qi Shen deserves to die!"
A crow landed, transforming into a protector, chattering incessantly.
Miao Feng Mingzi listened for a few moments, then immediately cursed and vanished on the wind. "What… what happened?" Fang Qing emerged from his secluded
meditation room, seeing the commotion, and couldn't help but ask. "Mingzi, what happened before was just a minor matter... Moyun Cliff is recruiting cultivators, and several Dao Foundation forces that originally moved into my Xituo County are now considering leaving..." Miaoshui Mingfei said with a smile, "Entering my Brahma Sect, you're unwilling to part with your flesh and bones, yet you expect to leave unscathed? Miaofeng gave a few subtle hints, and the Zeng family took action... The fact that several families joined forces to kill that Wu family Dao Foundation cultivator isn't a big deal, but with Wu Qishen's death, the Dao Foundation's mysteries within the storage artifact disintegrated." A celestial fire has appeared! Miao Shui Mingfei had clearly just communicated with the crow guardian deity: "That fire is a deep blue-green; touching it instantly destroys flesh and blood, leaving only bones… It is the 'Desert Bones Azure Fire,' ranked ninety-first on the Celestial Fire Ranking… This fire has a strong affinity with my White Bone Dao! Miao Feng is going to welcome this fire back…" "A celestial fire?" Fang Qing nodded. The Golden Fire Dao lineage is prominent in this world, not only because it is quite effective against other Dao lineages, but also because of its flying swords and strange fires! If a Fire Virtue cultivator can consume a celestial fire, it can almost guarantee an incredibly solid foundation and destiny, and even unparalleled power among those of the same level! For example, the former Pu Shan Jun's "Ember Calamity Flame" only ranked ninety-eighth on the Heavenly Spiritual Flame Ranking, even lower than the "Withered Azure Flame." According to Fang Qing's estimation, the value of this Heavenly Spiritual Flame was almost equivalent to a fifth or sixth-grade flying sword! "This kind of Heavenly Spiritual Flame is extremely intense and difficult to store in a storage artifact... However, the Wu family's Dao Foundation cultivation is based on [Kui Wood]. With the profound enhancement of their own Dao Foundation, they were able to barely contain it, and no one noticed... It was only after their death that it was exposed, causing a huge mess." Fang Qing shook his head. His first reaction was that someone had set a trap? But something didn't feel right. After all, Sang Ji had just gone into seclusion, and even the Purple Mansion couldn't see that he was lacking in stamina, and his chances of breaking through to the Dharma King level were slim. His own Wusheng Temple had the background of the Secret Realm, so it shouldn't be like this. "It's also possible that it really is just a cultivator's fortuitous encounter... Although there might be pitfalls later, there's always a way out... Even rogue cultivators can obtain treasures." "It's just that Miao Feng and the others still think that Wusheng Temple is at its zenith, each one arrogant and domineering, thinking that the spiritual objects that fell in Xituo County are destined to be with the Buddhist sect?" "That's fine, they're arrogant enough to keep it from outsiders at first." "If I were to act, I would never be as genuine as someone who truly believes in things from the bottom of their heart!" As for that "Withered Bones Azure Flame"? It is indeed precious, but he currently doesn't have the Fire Virtue Purple Mansion cultivation technique, and he doesn't care about ordinary foundation cultivation techniques. He wouldn't risk forcibly devouring and refining a strange flame, so naturally he'll watch Miao Feng fight to the death while he sits back and fishes. "However... among the families Miao Feng commands is the Zeng family... I wonder how Fang Yixin is doing?" That night, emerald green meteors rained down like rain. Ordinary Qi-cultivating cultivators, even those in the late Qi-cultivating stage, would have their flesh and blood completely destroyed and reduced to bones if their bodies were even slightly touched by them! Fang Yixin could swear that he had never seen such magnificent yet dangerous meteor showers in his entire life. He and Hu Quan'an were lucky, as they were on the outermost edge and watched the meteor shower and the emerald fire covering the ground without getting a single trace on themselves. However, a moment of panic was inevitable, and they scattered and fled for their lives along with the other cultivators. Fang Yixin was quick-witted and even managed to grab a storage bag and hide it in his bosom. He fled in a disheveled state all the way to Zeng Family Town. As a result, he learned that not only had Zeng Guangli died on the battlefield, but even the Zeng family's ancestor in the mid-stage of the Foundation Establishment stage had not returned! Those of them who had escaped first received no reward and were interrogated before being barely allowed to return home. "What a mess!" Hu Quan'an chugged tea, complaining to Fang Yixin, "Last night's battle... I used up all the life-saving talismans I had... but gained very little." " I happen to have a storage bag here. Why don't we open it and split it?" Fang Yixin said, pulling out his own hidden storage bag. "You're quite clever, kid!" Hu Quan'an's eyes lit up. He opened the storage bag, only to pour out a pile of spirit grains and a few miscellaneous items... "Pah... bad luck. Only the storage item itself is worth something." Hu Quan'an scoffed, tossing the storage bag to Fang Yixin. Fang Yixin, however, didn't mind and happily accepted it. He didn't have a storage item himself, and had long envied Hu Quan'an's for a long time. The two divided the spirit grain, and Fang Yixin asked, "This Zeng family..." " The Zeng family has three Dao Foundation Establishment cultivators. Even if one dies, they shouldn't have much trouble preserving their territory," Hu Quan'an replied in a low voice after glancing around. Just as they were about to say something, a mournful melody suddenly reached their ears. "This is..." Fang Yixin stepped outside, a bitter smile creeping across his face. The previous battle had been too brutal; almost every cultivator's family in the town had hung white banners. But the mournful music was very close; Fang Yixin looked and, sure enough, it was coming from the Le family. "Sigh... Back then, our Fang, Hu, Le, and Lu families settled here at the same time, so we're neighbors... We've always had a good relationship, so we should go and offer our condolences." He still remembered the Le family girl and was curious about the Le family's situation. He immediately invited Hu Quan'an, and the two went to the Le family's house together. "You wretched thing, get out of here!"
As soon as they entered the gate, they saw a five or six-year-old girl, beautiful and lovely, now crying with red eyes from being scolded. Fang Yixin and Hu Quan'an exchanged a glance, both feeling somewhat embarrassed: "The wife of the Le family patriarch is also a cultivator, but she is vulgar, jealous, and sexist... Seeing her today, her reputation is well-deserved."
Although the Le family is just a clan of officials, the Le family patriarch had eight sons, each with many wives and concubines. With
such a large population, there are now no fewer than a hundred people, which is why they have managed to find a few talented grandchildren.
As they entered the main hall, they heard Old Tian say, "I saw it clearly. The patriarch and the patriarch were fighting with the Wu family cultivators when suddenly a small green spark fell from the sky... The patriarch's clothes were only touched by a tiny spark, and he was instantly reduced to bones. The patriarch was not spared either... I risked my life to retrieve the patriarch's remains and escorted them here."
As he spoke, he took out two storage bags, which bore the Le family's mark.
"Old Tian... he's a really honest man."
Fang Yixin thought to himself. If he were in this situation and had no ties, he would have simply taken the storage bag and run away. There would be no need for him to return the remains. Old Tian must have been delayed because of these troubles, and he had only just returned.
"Storage bag?!"
Before the words were even finished, the atmosphere in the mourning hall changed.
Several men's eyes were green with greed. One of the younger men, relying on being the youngest son and having some talent, and being the mother's favorite, directly reached out and opened it, then shouted loudly, "How come there's only this much spiritual material?"
His suspicious eyes stared straight at Old Tian.
"Ahem!"
At the crucial moment, it was the old lady who coughed, suppressing the many children and grandchildren: "Old Tian... my family has to thank you." Although she was kind and gentle, a trace of fear deep in her eyes could not be dispelled.
After all, the Le family had lost their late-stage Qi Refining ancestor, and now the highest-cultivated person was actually Old Tian, the farmhand!
"I wouldn't dare, the master has private matters to attend to, Old Tian will take his leave first."
Old Tian cupped his hands and left the hall.
Fang Yixin felt a little awkward upon meeting him, and then followed Hu Quan'an to visit the old matriarch, offering a few words of comfort.
Not long after, the two left the Le family, both feeling somewhat unlucky.
"Without the patriarch to oversee things, the Le family is just a bunch of uncouth people. I think a division is not far off... It's a pity about that spiritual root." Hu Quan'an curled his lips, then looked at Fang Yixin. Seeing his expression, he couldn't help but laugh, "You're not really eyeing it, are you? Although the Le family seems to be declining now, several of the grandchildren have entered the Daoist cultivation. I think those few have the characteristics of wolf cubs. Although they are ignorant, they can bite hard when they get angry. Don't make a mistake... And that Old Tian, he is a master of the sixth level of Qi Condensation. His Golden Virtue Magic can cut spiritual rice quickly and efficiently. I'm sure he wouldn't be much slower in cutting off our heads..."
"Uncle Hu, you're joking. How could I? Even if we're from a rural, ignorant village, we wouldn't eat the flesh of a childless family like this..."
Fang Yixin chuckled and waved his hands repeatedly, then sighed, "I'm just a little sorry. That girl from the Le family and my Wuchen have always gotten along well... I heard she's very much favored by the family head, which has probably aroused a lot of jealousy. Now that she's lost her backer, I'm afraid her fate is worrying..."
"Wuchen?"
Hearing that his disciple was involved, Hu Quan'an's brows furrowed slightly, then relaxed: "The Le family's spiritual resources are limited. They'll probably only be able to support a few grandsons and won't be able to take care of their granddaughter. If you're interested... after the mourning period is over, go and arrange a marriage between our children. I'm sure the Le family won't mind getting rid of a burden... Hehe, country girls are ignorant. Marrying a woman with potential is what many rogue cultivators dream of. It's a good deal for my Wuchen. But we have to be quick, before the other families react, and finalize this matter..."
"That's exactly right."
Fang Yixin nodded repeatedly, thinking, "In this way, it won't be a complete loss... The Le family has declined, but my family has the Le family's daughter in our hands. Who can say what will happen in the long run?"
Just as they were pondering this, the two suddenly felt a heat around them.
The firelight in the sky flickered and wavered, then transformed into a figure, swaggering through the air and heading towards the mountain.
"It's the Zeng family's Qingye Ancestor..."
Hu Quan'an's face lit up with joy upon seeing him: "The Ancestor has returned safe and sound, and we can rest assured... Presumably, the reward will be issued soon."
At the mountaintop,
Zeng Yuchai stood among the many Zeng family cultivators, a hint of joy on her face. She said in a melodious voice, "Welcome back home, Ancestor..."
"Haha, juniors, disperse."
Zeng Qingye waved his hand in a booming voice, leading the two Foundation Establishment cultivators of the Zeng family back to their cave dwelling. He then activated the array, his expression finally relaxing. His aura suddenly weakened, his Daoist robes unfurled, and from his chest down, he had completely transformed into bare white bones!
For some reason, despite possessing only a half-skeleton body, he could still move normally.
"Ancestor?" The other two Foundation Establishment cultivators
of the Zeng
family, seeing this scene, were filled with grief.
"That 'Dead Bones Azure Flame' is incredibly powerful. Wu Qishen deliberately threw it out before his death, clearly wanting to take someone down with him... Of the three of us, Xuanlu has the best movement technique and stayed far away, so he dodged it. Yuan Bukong was the most unlucky. He cultivated [Well Wood], and when he was touched by this fire, he instantly turned into a skeleton, his immortal foundation dissipated, leaving only a piece of 'Burnt Tail Wood,' which is neither too big nor too small, a Dao Foundation Spiritual Object..."
Zeng Qingye looked at his own family and laughed, "My luck is neither good nor bad. Although I tried my best to avoid it, I was still touched by that azure flame and lost half of my Dharma Body... My lifespan has been greatly reduced, and I suppose my time to pass away is not far off."
"Ancestor;..."
The two Dao Foundation cultivators both cried loudly, and one of them asked hesitantly, "What about the Heavenly Spiritual Fire?"
They also cultivated [Beak Fire], and theoretically, they had the possibility of consuming spiritual fire and becoming cultivators of different fires.
"Insolence! What are your identities? What are your backgrounds? How dare you even dream of consuming a strange fire?"
Zeng Qingye roared in fury. "Our family's internal history records countless heroes and illustrious figures throughout history... all of whom, due to momentary greed, became resources, keys, and elixirs in the hands of the upper sects... After my death, the Zeng family will be in your hands, and I fear it will face utter ruin!"
"Ancestor, we dare not..."
Zeng Qingye, regardless of cultivation level or seniority, was a true ancestor. He had treated the two early-stage Dao Foundation cultivators like grandchildren before slowly saying, "The Venerable Sangji of Wusheng Temple is a great figure destined to become a Dharma King... If we obtain this treasure and do not present it to Wusheng Temple, what good will our fate be?" "To tell you the truth, the appearance of that 'Dry Bones Azure Fire' attracted no less than a dozen Dao Foundation cultivators. They all looked at each other, exchanging bewildered glances... They only dared to guard the fire until Miaofeng Mingzi arrived in person, and then respectfully presented the fire to him." "Up there, watching Mingzi take the spirit fire away..." Zeng Qingye finished speaking and then sneered, "In this Xituo territory, if there really is something good, if no one knows about it, they can keep it to themselves. But if they know about it, wouldn't they be courting death if they didn't offer it to the masters?"
He added in his heart, "Even if you get a treasure in secret, you have to consider a thousand times whether it's bait or a hook... I'm really afraid of being caught fishing...
Wusheng Temple.
Fang Qing looked at the clay bowl in front of him.
The bowl was yellowish-brown, with a wisp of emerald fire in the center, surrounded by thousands of green light spots, dancing like fireflies.
"They really brought it back?"
He was surprised. He had thought about it a thousand times, thinking it was some kind of scheme by the Purple Mansion, a treasure hook.
But in the end, after Miaofeng's visit, those Dao Foundation cultivators didn't dare to disobey in the slightest and respectfully offered the fire.
"Haha... Don't you even know who the Buddha is? When the Buddha becomes a disciple, even a tiny bit leaking from between his fingers will be enough for them to enjoy for ten lifetimes..." Miao Fengmingzi laughed heartily, extremely smug. Fang
Qing, seeing his foolish appearance, could only sigh in his heart: "Having a background is really good..."
"This fire belongs to the [Indoor Fire] category and cannot be supported by wood... It is quite compatible with my White Bone Dao. By refining it with Brahma methods and supplementing it with fire offerings, it can prove the 'White Bone Heart' and the 'Red-faced withered bones'..."
Miao Shan, however, was a bit clearer than Miao Fengmingzi. She put her hands together and said, "As for this fire, we can only wait for the Master to come out of seclusion before allocating it..."
It is risky for Dao Foundation cultivators to refine the spiritual fire of heaven and earth, but after reaching the Purple Mansion, there are not so many difficulties.
Even if they are not fire virtue cultivators, using this fire in battle is still a good method.
Fang Qing glanced at it a few times, his eyes flashing: "I see this fire is violent, so why not use the 'Fire Ribbon Bowl' to contain it..."
"Why?"
Miao Feng sneered: "This is something I worked hard to obtain... Fang Shuimingzi, you're trying to steal the peach with just a word, that's going too far."
"Because I am the head of the Five Bright Princes, so what?"
Fang Qing asked with a faint smile.
He didn't want to compete for this "Withered Bones Azure Fire," but rather to find a reasonable excuse for leaving in the future.
Being ostracized by the other four Bright Princes and Bright Consorts, leaving in anger, should be a reasonable development.
Anyway, if Sangji dies while attaining the Dharma King, then it's all over.
But if he succeeds in attaining the Dharma King, then he can easily testify for himself, such as giving him a secret mission, keeping his departure a secret, etc... That's why Fang Qing sat idly by while Miao Feng was hostile to him, and even before Sangji went into seclusion, he didn't let him leave any Dharma decree.
"Haha... Master appointed you as the head of the Five Bright Princes? Then why not take you to observe the Silver Crow's Golden Proof?"
Miao Feng laughed three times, looking at Qingjing Bright Consort.
This woman, who was closest to him and had acted together before, immediately spoke up: "This fire is precious, a spiritual object close to the Purple Mansion level. We need Master's return from seclusion to decide its fate. Until then, it's best if we jointly safeguard it..."
Of the five consorts, Miaoshan, who always handled worldly affairs, was the most obedient to Sangji. She hesitated: "Master's order has indeed not been revoked..."
Miaofeng was extremely anxious and immediately looked at Consort Miaoshui, secretly transmitting her voice: "Miaoshui... this Fang Shui specially crafted the 'Miaoquan Pure Bottle,' showing he's a daring and lecherous scoundrel, eyeing you..." Miaoshui
sighed: "This item... it's indeed best to wait until Master's return from seclusion before discussing it."
"Haha... good, you're all very good."
Fang Qing, "filled with grief and indignation," rode the Fire Luo Bowl and flew directly out of Wusheng Temple: "Since you don't acknowledge me, then wait until Master's return from seclusion, and then we'll talk... I'll wait and see!"
"Hmph!"
Miao Feng was overjoyed. "Haha... I've finally driven this person away. When Master comes out of seclusion, let's see how I complain!"
Miao Shan's expression shifted. "The Dharma Protector reports that Fang Shuimingzi went to the treasure vault and took away many treasures..."
"Write it down, write it all down... This is all evidence of this person's embezzlement!"
Miao Feng shouted, even more dismissive of the situation.
What did their Mingzi need cultivation for?
Besides, his true spirit was in the Master's hands; he couldn't escape no matter how hard he tried.
Thinking of his future presiding over Wusheng Temple and receiving Master's exclusive favor, he felt even more delighted...
Fool...
A gentle breeze blew as Fang Qing rode his Fire Ridge, feeling immensely pleased. The cicadas sensed
the autumn wind before it even stirred. If he waited until everyone realized Sangji's hopes were slim before leaving, not only would he attract countless stares, but he might not even be able to leave at all.
"Even if going out now is still an inauspicious omen, at least I can stay in Xituo County for now and not have to go back to Wusheng...
Perfect timing, let's go see how the Fang family is doing, and maybe even take some money from them...
The Zeng family. "
Zeng Yuchai felt a burning pain on her cheeks when she saw the Fire Luo Bowl descend.
She dared not be negligent and immediately knelt down: "Zeng Yuchai of the Zeng family welcomes the arrival of Master Ming."
"Why isn't Zeng Qingye here?"
Fang Qing swept his divine sense and saw two Dao Foundation cultivators flying over, and immediately said with dissatisfaction.
"Master Ming, please forgive me... My ancestor injured his body when he destroyed the Wu family and is currently in seclusion to recuperate..."
A Zeng family Dao Foundation cultivator said with a smile.
"Alright... Master, you have flown all the way here and are looking for a place to rest. Bring out the best wine, food, spiritual items, and spiritual water as soon as possible."
Fang Qing walked into the Zeng family's main hall with an arrogant expression.
Zeng Yushan, the head of the Zeng family's Daoist sect, readily agreed and hurriedly went to order a feast to be prepared.
He also arranged for singing and dancing girls to entertain Fang Qing.
Just as Fang Qing was enjoying himself, another Daoist from the Zeng family came forward with a letter in hand, his expression uncertain.
"Brother, what's wrong? Is this person not right?"
Zeng Yuchai asked with concern from the side.
"It's not that it's wrong... but this Mingzi was originally the head of the Five Mingzi. It seems he was driven out because of the internal strife at Wusheng Temple... Sigh, why does my family always encounter this kind of thing? I'm afraid that because my family offered the Heavenly Spirit Fire to Miaofeng Mingzi, this Mingzi is resentful and is deliberately making things difficult for us...
" Zeng Yuchuan looked troubled: "Although our family always listens to Miaofeng Mingzi, we absolutely cannot offend this one... Sigh, the big shots are fighting among themselves, why are we being dragged into this? Now that my second brother is with that Buddha, go down and give the order to my family to keep their tails between their legs and not give him a chance to cause trouble... Otherwise, the clan law will be set up for him!"
His expression was cold as he spoke. Zeng Yuchai knew that when this eldest brother got angry, he really wanted to kill people, so she hurriedly went down to give the order... "Haha... Come, have another drink."
At the banquet, Zeng Yushan accompanied him, while Fang Qing indulged in wine and women.
"That Miao Feng couldn't
be happier if I didn't go back... After all, in his view, with the Five Mingzi fighting amongst themselves, who would dare to kill whom? If I went back and used my position as an excuse, he would feel like he had a bone stuck in his throat... The current situation is just right." "
I'll travel around Xituo for a while, and when the divination shows a clear and auspicious sign, I'll make my escape... "
Fang Qing rarely relaxed, so he held a grand banquet for several days in a row, and also asked the Zeng family for offerings. He went into the Zeng family's treasury and took whatever he wanted, leaving the Zeng family with no way to express their suffering.
One day, feeling restless, he suggested going to Zengjia Town at the foot of the mountain for a stroll.
"Master, Master... there are only ordinary people and minor cultivators at the foot of the mountain. I'm afraid of offending my master."
Zeng Yushan hurriedly chased after him, forcing a smile.
"Haha, you don't need to worry, and you don't need to come along. I'm just going to take a stroll to see which benefactor is wise and has a karmic connection with Buddhism." Fang Qing waved his hand, rode the Fire Bowl, and landed at the foot of the mountain in the town.
Zeng Yushan couldn't stop him, so he could only sigh and watch Fang Qing leave, secretly pleased: "Down the mountain are all tenant farmers and outsiders... surely they won't harm my Zeng family, will they?"