Chapter 62: Water–Fire Pill Art |
“This… how could I trouble Senior Brother like this?”
Fang Qing had not expected such a pleasant surprise—he could obtain a second-tier Spirit Pool for free.
“Haha… we are all family, how could it be trouble?”
Linghu Chong’s attitude was very cordial, without the slightest arrogance of a Core Formation direct descendant. “It is only that the spiritual energy in the Profound Azure Cave Dwelling is merely second-tier mid-grade. That may somewhat wrong you, Junior Brother. Aside from that, I shall immediately issue a hand order so that you may proceed to the sixth level of the Heavenly Book Pavilion and select a Foundation Establishment cultivation technique.”
He appeared to be entirely considering Fang Qing’s interests.
“Many thanks, Senior Brother.” Fang Qing naturally expressed repeated gratitude.
“It is only… there is one more matter.”
Linghu Chong sighed. “After Foundation Establishment, Junior Brother will no longer be a True Disciple… and it is wartime now. Newly advanced Foundation Establishment cultivators of our sect customarily have only one year to familiarize themselves with spiritual artifacts and convert their cultivation techniques… After that, they must accept deployment orders. To remain stationed within the sect is somewhat difficult.”
Foundation Establishment cultivators were no longer Qi Refining disciples. They were already the backbone of the sect. Securing a safe assignment was even harder.
“It is my duty!”
Fang Qing had long calculated the auspicious and inauspicious signs before resolutely advancing to Foundation Establishment. At this moment, his expression was naturally firm, even deceiving Linghu Chong.
“Good! Junior Brother is truly a model among our generation. If I were not burdened with administrative affairs, I would certainly go to the front lines as well and let the Zhong Family witness our bearing… Junior Brother, rest assured. I have my arrangements. Even if you go to the front lines, you will merely oversee logistics, responsible for refining pills…”
…
Heavenly Book Pavilion, sixth level.
Compared to the endless rows of bookcases and shelves below, this level was rather sparse. There was only a single wall of books. Each jade slip glowed faintly, sealed with restrictions that allowed Foundation Establishment divine sense to view only a small portion of the beginning.
With a sweep of Fang Qing’s divine sense, volumes surfaced one by one:
Azure Sea Art, Origin Wave Art, Mountain-Driving Art, Blazing Sun Three Transformations, Ice-Soul Cold Light…
What first entered his sight were numerous Foundation Establishment cultivation techniques and secret arts.
“Hmm? There is even the second-tier Ice-Soul Cold Light? Which Zhong Family Foundation Establishment cultivator did they Soul Search to obtain this?”
Fang Qing was intrigued. He only possessed the first-tier Ice-Soul Spirit Water refinement method. If he could obtain the cultivation method of Ice-Soul Cold Light, he might grasp this rather renowned Foundation Establishment spell.
‘But my ice spiritual root is not outstanding. It is basically useless…’
He turned to other miscellaneous volumes and found many second-tier top-grade inheritances.
“Second-tier top-grade formations? Talismans? Pill-refining inheritances?”
“Previously, even as a True Disciple, I could only reach the fourth level of the Heavenly Book Pavilion, browsing various Foundation Establishment insights and second-tier low-grade pill texts and formulas… Now the sect’s second-tier inheritances are fully open.”
Fang Qing deliberately searched but found no description whatsoever concerning the External Pill Art.
It seemed this technique was also top secret within the sect, likely known only to the two Core Formation Ancestors.
“My purpose here is primarily to convert my cultivation technique. The Commentary on the Water Classic was, after all, merely a Qi Refining technique, and quite mediocre… During Foundation Establishment, I nearly failed at the Qi Gate.”
Fang Qing took out the Sect Master’s hand order and lightly brushed it across the emerald jade slip containing Azure Sea Art.
Crackling sounds rang out, and the restriction upon Azure Sea Art instantly dissipated.
“Cultivation technique jade slips may not be taken out of the Heavenly Book Pavilion, but Foundation Establishment cultivators possess photographic memory…”
His divine sense entered the jade slip as he rapidly memorized and comprehended the technique.
“Hmm… Unlike the nine layers of Qi Refining, Foundation Establishment has only four realms… early stage, mid-stage, late stage, and peak completion!”
“Azure Sea Art is a refined technique. At the early stage of Foundation Establishment, one may condense at most twenty drops of liquid True Power within the Dantian Sea of Qi; at mid-stage, at most fifty drops; at late stage, ninety-nine drops… and at peak completion, one may possess one hundred drops of liquid True Power, condensed like an azure Grand Pill. Thus, Foundation Establishment peak completion may also be called the ‘False Pill Realm’!”
“A False Pill is ultimately not a true solidified Core Formation. Therefore, when a False Pill cultivator encounters a Core Formation early-stage Ancestor, he will still be crushed…”
“Linghu Jin refined the external pill Tide-Birth Pearl. His True Power and divine abilities likely rival those of an early-stage Core Formation, far surpassing False Pill cultivators…”
“So the function of the external pill Tide-Birth Pearl… is it to allow a False Pill cultivator to prematurely possess the True Power and divine abilities of early-stage Core Formation? Turning false into true—that is the External Pill?”
Fang Qing pondered inwardly, then examined the spells attached after Azure Sea Art.
Water-Transformation Escape? Azure Sea Shield?
“These two Foundation Establishment spells—one for escape, one for defense. Water-Transformation Escape relies on favorable terrain, achieving astonishing speed and even concealing one’s aura… Azure Sea Shield possesses outstanding defense. If one refines a second-tier Azure-Green Spirit Water into it, the defensive power can even double.”
“Why does it feel… as though Azure Sea Art remains somewhat incomplete? Or rather… somewhat weak during Foundation Establishment? Could this be a common flaw among water-aspected cultivators?”
“I wonder if things improve after Core Formation?”
The entire Azure Sea Art contained mnemonic verses from early-stage Foundation Establishment through peak completion, even including sections on how to form a Core.
However, it did not include cultivation beyond Core Formation, nor any Core Formation insights.
Clearly, this was Azure Sea Sect’s method of controlling Foundation Establishment cultivators.
Fang Qing had to admit they were already quite generous. At least they provided the complete Foundation Establishment technique, without dangling it layer by layer.
‘Compared to the World of Ancient Shu, where cultivation techniques were riddled with hidden traps, this place truly has simple and honest customs. It suits my heart well.’
…
Pill Island, Profound Azure Cave.
Outside the cave dwelling were several acres of Spirit Fields, all of second-tier grade, capable of growing second-tier spiritual herbs.
“Not bad, not bad… Foundation Establishment cultivators have two hundred years of lifespan. If I sow some inexpensive seeds now, a hundred years later that will be a considerable income.”
Fang Qing descended in his Escape Light, quite satisfied.
A thin layer of white light covered the Spirit Fields—protected by a first-tier formation.
With a flash of light in his hand, he took out the cave dwelling token and opened the gates of Profound Azure Cave.
“All second-tier cave dwellings of the sect are equipped with formations… though somewhat lazy. They are all sub-formations of the third-tier Seven Profound Azure Wave Array. At least they reach second-tier grade, though only second-tier low-grade… In the future, once I have spirit stones, I must personally arrange another second-tier formation to be truly at ease.”
A second-tier formation at the Foundation Establishment level would detect even a Core Formation divine sense intrusion!
After all, Foundation Establishment cultivators were the sect’s core backbone. Many possessed their own opportunities, thus they valued privacy greatly.
Profound Azure Cave was spacious, with a master bedroom, cultivation chamber, even a small garden and beast pen within…
Naturally, what Fang Qing valued most was the second-tier Spirit Pool within the pill-refining room!
Splash!
Within the pill-refining room, atop a deep azure pool, water splashed as cold vapor bubbled upward.
“Second-tier Cold Spring? Only second-tier low-grade… but still acceptable.”
Fang Qing lifted a strand of water, carefully sensing its water nature.
After a moment’s thought, he converted his True Power to Ji Water.
When it came to controlling springs and water, Ji Water True Power was most suitable.
With half a drop of liquid True Power dispersing, his power instantly rose to peak completion of the ninth layer of Qi Ingestion.
“Hmm… This Cold Spring has abundant water nature, without the slightest flaw. It seems the previous owner maintained it well, often nourishing it with spiritual herbs and spirit water…”
Fang Qing sensed carefully and nodded slightly. In a way, this was also a legacy left by predecessors.
“Hmm? What is this?”
His divine sense swept over the pool, and he suddenly formed hand seals.
Splash!
The spring water parted, revealing a slab of azure jade engraved densely with cloud-script characters.
“Water–Fire Pill Art? It seems to be a kind of Water-Control Technique?”
After comprehending it, Fang Qing’s eyes brightened. “Water and fire attacking together? By coordinating several specially prepared fire-aspected spirit waters and pills, one can temporarily treat this Spirit Pool as second-tier mid-grade? In terms of efficacy, it is no less than the sect’s second-tier mid-grade Cold–Hot Twin Springs… Quite ingenious.”
Second-tier pills required increasingly complex procedures. Having a hot spring would greatly facilitate matters.
At the end of the jade slab was a small line of characters:
“I, Xiang Shaocen, suffered hardship in youth, taking the sect as my home. After many years refining pills and encountering a fortunate opportunity, I created this ‘Water–Fire Pill Art’ to gift future generations…”
“This Pill Master Xiang indeed possesses an ancient style… Perhaps in the future I may seek out his descendants or disciples and likewise bestow some opportunity.”
Fang Qing’s expression turned solemn as he bowed toward the stone slab.
With this small surprise, he searched the cave dwelling inside and out once more. Unfortunately, there was nothing else.
…
Several days later.
Within Profound Azure Cave, Fang Qing sat cross-legged, converting his cultivation technique.
The Commentary on the Water Classic was originally a lower-tier technique beneath Azure Sea Art, so the conversion was exceedingly smooth.
Within the Dantian Sea of Qi, the originally black liquid True Power gradually took on strands of profound azure, appearing even more resplendent.
“At this rate, in a hundred days the technique will be fully converted. But with assistance from the Dao-Birth Pearl, it will only be faster… Upon reaching Foundation Establishment, I already possessed three drops of liquid True Power, which counts as a deep foundation—far stronger than those who have only one drop after Foundation Establishment… Coupled with a second-tier body-refining art, my strength in early-stage Foundation Establishment should suffice for self-preservation. I still need to replace my artifacts with spiritual artifacts, though—that will be another major expense.”
After concluding his cultivation, Fang Qing went to the small garden and brewed himself a pot of clear tea.
After taking a sip, his divine sense stirred and he ‘saw’ a graceful figure lingering outside the cave dwelling.
“She has indeed come. She is at least thoughtful.”
“Enter.” His divine sense transmitted, and the cave gates opened automatically.
The graceful figure bit her lip and walked in, respectfully bowing. “Greetings, Martial Uncle.”
Her face was full of pitiful charm—it was Qin Ruxue.
“Rise… Why did you fail at Foundation Establishment again this time?” Fang Qing sighed. After wasting two Foundation Establishment Pills, she was unlikely to receive any further support from the sect.
“Alas… I had already transformed my True Power into liquid, but before reaching the Spirit Gate, my emotions surged and I momentarily deviated my Qi… It should be the inner demon from my previous Foundation Establishment failure.”
Qin Ruxue gave a bleak smile.
“After this, what are your plans? Will you attempt Foundation Establishment on your own?”
Fang Qing fell silent for a moment, set down his teacup, and asked.
“After recovering from my injuries, I will continue refining array disks and array flags for the sect… Perhaps if I can exchange for a Foundation Establishment Spiritual Item in the future, I will attempt it once more.”
Qin Ruxue sighed.
Having failed even with a Foundation Establishment Pill, if she attempted Foundation Establishment without a Foundation Establishment Spiritual Item, there was a ninety-nine percent chance of failure—and certain death.
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