Chapter 73: The End |
Although the opportunity lay right before his eyes, Fang Qing was even more cautious. He pinched a Second-Tier Top-Grade Escape Talisman in his hand and let Qin Ruxue walk ahead to scout the way.
The two entered the cave. As expected, the chill grew increasingly biting. Layers of Profound Ice condensed all around them, radiating multicolored brilliance—magnificent and dazzling.
After descending for some distance, their field of vision suddenly opened up. It was an underground ice cavern.
Icicles rose one after another as supporting pillars, and at the center was a Spiritual Spring overflowing with frigid air.
“Ice-Soul Cave?”
Qin Ruxue’s eyes lit up.
At that very moment, a sudden change erupted!
One ice spike after another formed out of thin air, striking against Qin Ruxue’s turtle-shell shield.
Her pretty face flushed red, and she nearly spat out a mouthful of essence blood.
An icicle shattered, revealing a white-robed, elderly Mid-Stage Foundation Establishment cultivator!
“Thieves of the Azure Sea Sect, die!”
He roared angrily, forming hand seals as bolts of icy thunder manifested one after another.
“Second-Tier Ice-Soul Thunder Art? Is this man the Zhong Family’s Punishment Hall Master?”
Qin Ruxue was startled.
With this man’s Foundation Establishment cultivation and mastery of ice-thunder Dao arts, if she had faced him alone, she would have had no chance of survival.
Not to mention that she had already been injured by the earlier sneak attack!
Had she not possessed a Second-Tier body-refining foundation, that strike would not have been a light injury, but a severe one!
Fortunately, several shields emerged at this moment, blocking the Ice-Soul Divine Thunder.
Fang Qing formed hand seals, and drops of Liquid True Power poured into the Hundred Souls Banner.
Hiss!
An enormous crimson sea python spirit essence manifested, commanding numerous Second-Tier demon souls into formation. Dense black mist enveloped the Zhong Family cultivator within.
“Ah? Top-Grade Spiritual Artifact? Peak Initial-Stage Foundation Establishment cultivation? Who are you?!”
The Zhong cultivator turned pale with shock.
Though he had steeled himself for death, he had hoped to kill several Azure Sea Sect Foundation Establishment cultivators before dying. Yet in the very first clash, he had encountered a formidable opponent.
“The dead need not know so much.”
Fang Qing pressed a hand to his brow. The divine sense attack of the Demon-Subduing Vajra Pestle descended with a thunderous impact, causing searing pain in the cultivator’s forehead.
Hiss!
The crimson sea python let out a sharp hiss, its massive tail lashing down viciously.
Beside them, Qin Ruxue had already begun taking out array flags to set up a formation.
The two cooperated with exceptional tacit understanding, treating this Zhong cultivator as though he were a sea beast.
Moments later—
“Ah... I am unwilling!”
The Zhong cultivator screamed miserably. Under the combined assault of numerous Second-Tier demon souls and Gui Water Yin Thunder, he was reduced to a corpse.
“Young Master...”
Qin Ruxue stepped forward to search the body, her face sour. “Only a few Mid-Grade Spirit Stones. What a pauper!”
“He likely handed over his entire fortune to those Zhong Family seeds who escaped.”
Fang Qing walked to the Ice-Soul Cold Spring, feeling the frigid air spilling out. “A Third-Tier Spiritual Spring. Truly an excellent place for pill refinement...”
Sweeping his divine sense through the spring water, he found two Ice-Soul Cold Hearts—both Second-Tier.
These spiritual items could assist Foundation Establishment cultivators in breaking through with their divine sense. If nurtured for several hundred more years, they might reach Third Tier—at that point becoming Core Formation spiritual items worth a hundred times more!
Even the Zhong Family had been reluctant to destroy them before leaving, likely hoping to return one day and reclaim their foundation.
But Fang Qing did not care. He took them directly, destroying the lute to cook the crane.
Several hundred years later, no matter how precious a Core Formation spiritual item might be, it would belong to the Azure Sea Sect.
What was eaten now belonged to himself.
This distinction, he understood clearly.
“Let’s go...”
After finishing, Fang Qing brought Qin Ruxue up to the medicinal garden above, preparing to continue the sweep.
At that moment, his divine sense suddenly felt a terrifying surge of frigid spiritual power erupt from the core of the Core Formation battlefield!
“The Zhong Family Ancestor? Has he fallen?”
Qin Ruxue was likewise startled, then somewhat dazed. “This battle... is finally ending.”
If one were to look from high above, after the death of the Zhong Family Ancestor, the remnants of the Zhong Family’s will to resist melted away like snowflakes.
“Junior Brother Linghu... how do you feel?”
Ruan Zhixuan handed over a Third-Tier healing pill, watching as Linghu Jin swallowed it.
“That old ghost was ruthless... he intended to drag this old man down with him. Fortunately, Senior Sister had given me a Third-Tier defensive talisman beforehand, otherwise he would have succeeded.”
Linghu Jin’s face had been greenish-black. After consuming the pill, his complexion improved somewhat, though frigid air still spilled from his mouth as he spoke, turning into ice shards that fell to the ground. “But in the end, we killed that old ghost. With our unification of the Small Huan Sea, we can finally console the Founding Ancestor.”
“This man was quite poor. Only a single Natal Magical Treasure, the Ice-Soul Pearl. It seems the rest of his foundation was handed to the batch of Zhong cultivators who fled.”
Ruan Zhixuan said.
“After returning, this old man will issue a pursuit order. From the highest heavens to the deepest hells—especially that Zhong Lingxiu!”
Linghu Ancestor’s killing intent surged.
——
“Mm...”
Ruan Zhixuan neither agreed nor disagreed. With a flip of her palm, a Third-Tier demon pill appeared. “The inner pill of this Sea-Covering Turtle also has your share.”
“This pill...”
Linghu Ancestor’s eyes flashed. “Could we refine another ‘Tide-Birth Pearl’?”
“The refinement of a Tide-Birth Pearl requires not only a Third-Tier demon pill as the primary material, but also several rare Third-Tier spiritual items. What I used before was drawn from the sect’s treasury left behind by the Azure Sea Founding Ancestor... now we would likely need to go to the Eastern Sea Cultivation World to gather them. Moreover... there is no second False Pill cultivator in our sect who cultivates the Azure Sea Art.”
Ruan Zhixuan shook her head. “My intention... is that this pill be used as material for your breakthrough into Core Formation. After this battle, assembling a set of Core Formation resources should not be difficult for our sect. I hope you can succeed.”
After all, the Tide-Birth Pearl was an External Pill method. Even possessing Core Formation combat power, Linghu Jin was still merely a Peak Foundation Establishment False Pill cultivator, with only two hundred years of lifespan.
If he broke through to Core Formation, he would enjoy five hundred years!
Moreover, the Tide-Birth Pearl could then be left vacant for the next False Pill cultivator.
If all went smoothly, the Azure Sea Sect would in the future have three Core Formation combatants presiding over it!
“Many thanks, Senior Sister!”
Linghu Jin was overjoyed.
Several months later.
Jade Island, Profound Azure Cave.
“Finally... back.”
Gazing at the Profound Azure Cave exactly as it had been before he left, Fang Qing let out a satisfied sigh.
This expedition had lasted years. Though the harvest had been abundant, it had indeed been exhausting.
Not only him—the sect’s other cultivators were the same.
Fortunately, the Azure Sea Sect was now unquestionably the overlord of the Small Huan Sea. From now on, the days ahead would be good ones.
The Azure Sea Sect clearly understood the principle of balancing tension and relaxation. Not only were large amounts of resource rewards distributed, but mandatory missions for Qi Refining disciples were waived for five years, allowing recuperation.
Foundation Establishment cultivators were even more so—they could freely roam, cultivate, visit friends, and enjoy life...
“Young Master... the Administrative Affairs Hall has issued garrison missions. The rewards are very generous, especially for Second-Tier Formation Masters...”
Qin Ruxue felt tempted.
The sect had newly acquired two Third-Tier spiritual veins at the Heavenly Heart Linked Islands and Taibai Island. Naturally, Foundation Establishment cultivators were needed to garrison them.
“Among them, the Heavenly Heart Linked Islands possess abundant spiritual energy... while Taibai Island, though it nearly fell in grade, has a Third-Tier Ice-Soul Cold Spring...”
More importantly, such garrison assignments were easy, took place in good conditions, and came with exceptionally generous benefits.
“I plan to enter seclusion within the sect for a period. Do as you wish...”
Fang Qing waved a hand. “However, if possible, Taibai Island would be better. Strive to obtain usage rights for that Ice-Soul Cold Spring...”
“Yes, this concubine understands.”
Qin Ruxue nodded, then added, “This concubine has also received several Sound-Transmitting Talismans regarding Linghu Chong and others—concerning changes in sect positions...”
In the ten-year war, the Azure Sea Sect had lost quite a few Foundation Establishment cultivators, including Elder Tianxing, who held real authority!
Naturally, replenishments were required afterward.
These internal power struggles concerned every Foundation Establishment Elder, since each held one vote in the Council of Elders.
Moreover, ninety-nine percent of cultivators in the Azure Sea Sect would reach only Foundation Establishment at best. Naturally, they could only contend for power and profit, planting their influence widely to benefit future descendants.
“In outsiders’ eyes, you and I are one body—that’s two votes. Somewhat worth courting...”
Fang Qing chuckled. “What did Linghu Chong say?”
“The Sect Master’s faction seems intent on pushing for the position of Punishment of Evil Hall Master, favoring Cui Zhe... Senior Brother Cui has broken through again in cultivation in recent years and is now Mid-Stage Foundation Establishment.”
Qin Ruxue said.
“As a master of an island, without Late-Stage Foundation Establishment cultivation, it is difficult to command full respect... but a Mid-Stage Foundation Establishment sword cultivator with abundant battle merits can indeed be advanced.”
Fang Qing understood and smiled. “Who says sword cultivators are simple-minded? Hasn’t Cui Zhe aligned himself with the Sect Master’s line?”
“It is said that Elder Tianxing also favored this person while alive. With the Sect Master’s faction strongly supporting him, the chances are high.”
Qin Ruxue said.
“And what about Elder Tianding’s side?”
Fang Qing asked casually.
“Pill Island itself lost several Second-Tier pill refiners... Elder Tianding is currently overwhelmed, seeking to appoint a new Pill Island Elder... basically not interfering in external affairs.”
Qin Ruxue provided more intelligence. “Floating Cloud Daoist and Withered Decay Daoist were attacked aboard a logistics ship and also perished...”
“Floating Cloud Daoist…”
Fang Qing still remembered the middle-aged man with a scholarly aura—master of Hua Lingsu and Gong Susu. He had not expected him to die as well.
Such was the unpredictability of war.
“If Young Master intends, you could likely expand your authority on Pill Island...”
Qin Ruxue was diligent. “And this concubine likewise has some influence on Array Island...”
“Where would I find the time for so many trivial matters?”
The reason Fang Qing had taken this Bright Consort was precisely to avoid managing mundane affairs. Recently, he needed to explore Ancient Shu and must focus all his attention.
“In that case, when voting for the Punishment of Evil Hall, you may represent me in supporting Cui Zhe... as for Pill Island, I will not interfere.”
After Qin Ruxue respectfully acknowledged and withdrew, he began calculating his own assets.
“Cultivation at Peak Initial-Stage Foundation Establishment. Top-Grade Spiritual Artifact Hundred Souls Banner. Three Mid-Grade Spiritual Artifact turtle-shell shields and flying vessel. Low-Grade Spiritual Artifacts Azure Spirit Armor and Sea-Transforming Pearl... wondrous item Mirage Pearl.”
“Also Second-Tier Top-Grade talismans Firebird Talisman, Thunder Escape Talisman, Vajra Protective Talisman... plus a stack of Mid- and Low-Grade talismans.”
“Two Second-Tier Ice-Soul Cold Hearts. One Foundation Establishment Pill. Five bottles of Water-Origin Pills. A large quantity of Second-Tier demon beast materials... and miscellaneous items.”
“With so many materials, many can be directly sold in the World of Ancient Shu. No need to wait for prices to rise...”
Fang Qing silently made up his mind. “Judging by the time, Xu Hei’s Smoke-Wave Blessed Land is about to open... this time, strive to obtain the Ji Water Dao Foundation spiritual item, as well as the subsequent portion of the Secret Treasury cultivation method...”