Chapter 74: The Pi Family |
Ancient Shu, Yulin Commandery.
“Disciple pays respects to Master!”
Xu Hei respectfully knelt upon the ground, holding up a storage pouch with both hands: “The spiritual resources exchanged during this recent period are all within.”
“Mm.”
Fang Qing took the storage pouch and swept it with his divine sense, feeling fairly satisfied.
He controlled this man’s True Spirit and life essence, and could monitor him in real time, so he naturally knew that the man had not withheld or embezzled anything—
“This bottle of medicinal pills suitable for Qi Ingestion cultivators to increase True Power shall be bestowed upon you.”
Fang Qing casually tossed out a jade bottle, then gave him another larger storage pouch: “The demonic beast materials inside—go sell them again...”
“I shall respectfully follow your decree.”
“Smoke-Wave Blessed Land will soon open. Pay careful attention—are there any other pieces of news?”
Fang Qing had no intention of taking this dwarf old man in as a Bright Son; he merely used him casually as a servant.
Unexpectedly, Xu Hei truly had news: “Reporting to Master, after making inquiries from many sources, this disciple has finally confirmed that the Pi Family of Yulin Commandery should possess a Zhen Water Dao technique inheritance...”
“Oh? Speak in detail about this Pi Family.”
Fang Qing’s heart stirred.
Previously, Xu Hei had nearly fallen into a trap while gathering information on Zhen Water cultivation methods for him. He had not expected that this time he would uncover another lead.
“The Pi Family has lived for generations on Cangcui Mountain in Yulin Commandery. They are all subordinate to the Pu Family and bear considerable enmity toward the sword-cultivating Zhao Family...they primarily cultivate Horned Wood, though some clan members cultivate Zhen Water. They are suspected to possess a Zhen Water Dao Foundation cultivation technique. However, the only Dao Foundation cultivator in the clan at present, Pi Xiuyuan, also cultivates the Horned Wood path.”
Xu Hei dared not delay and quickly explained: “This humble one is merely a Qi Ingestion loose cultivator and does not dare trade with such a Dao Foundation great clan...”
“Indeed.”
Fang Qing nodded. Fair trade required mutual deterrence.
If Xu Hei went to trade, he would only be devoured completely, not even scraps left behind.
After all, this place was nothing like Jade Island, where the folk customs were simple and honest.
His heart stirred, and he secretly calculated the auspiciousness or inauspiciousness of this trip.
“An auspicious hexagram?”
Looking at the hexagram image, Fang Qing inwardly complained: As expected, this was still a wretched place...I gathered many divination manuals and advanced my cultivation. Now I have already reached Foundation Establishment...on Jade Island, a single hexagram could cause a third-tier demonic beast comparable to a Core Formation Ancestor to die. Yet in this cesspit, I can only barely calculate my own fortune and misfortune...
Still, being able to reference auspiciousness and danger was already no easy matter.
“In that case, I shall personally go conduct the trade. You may take your leave...”
After speaking, Fang Qing released fluctuations of peak early-stage Foundation Establishment True Power. He flew bodily through the air toward Cangcui Mountain.
Master had indeed already forged a Dao Foundation, one among the immortals...
Seeing this scene, Xu Hei felt nothing but envy in his heart.
Cangcui Mountain.
The mountain was exceptionally elegant. Even amid autumn’s killing chill and winter snow, the forests covering it remained lush and vibrant with life.
This day.
Fang Qing used the pearl to alter his appearance and disguised his Qi Ingestion Dao True Power aura. Riding escape light, he arrived at the foot of the mountain and saw several Qi Ingestion cultivators, their Horned Wood aura flourishing. He smiled and said, “Are you cultivators of the Pi Family? I am Fang Shui, here to pay a visit...”
“D—Dao Foundation great cultivator?”
Those Qi Ingestion cultivators froze instantly. One hurriedly cupped his hands: “We are indeed cultivators of the Pi Family. Senior, please wait a moment...”
While bowing, he repeatedly signaled to the two cultivators behind him.
Those two immediately fled up the mountain as though chased by some fierce beast.
Before long, a grand formation activated at full power, sealing the mountain in airtight protection.
“This...”
Fang Qing was speechless: What sort of person have they taken me for? A bandit cultivator? Or is the Pi Family ancestor absent?
From a glimpse of a part, one could infer the whole. The cultivators of Yulin Commandery were clearly not living well, remaining vigilant every day as though in wartime.
Before long, green radiance flickered as an old man approached slowly: “Fellow Daoist Fang...”
“Mm, this must be the Pi Family ancestor, Pi Xiuyuan...as expected, he cultivates Horned Wood. This wood is also called Blade-Head Wood or Crown-Top Wood...it indeed carries a sense of wood’s proper position.”
Fang Qing smiled and cupped his hands: “Fellow Daoist Pi...I have come uninvited. I hope you will not take offense.”
“Hehe, the juniors below behaved improperly and made a fool of themselves before fellow Daoist. Please come inside for tea.”
Deep wrinkles lined Pi Xiuyuan’s face like aged tree bark, yet his eyes were exceptionally bright, green light flickering within.
After welcoming Fang Qing, the two landed at a pavilion halfway up the mountain. Several maidservants respectfully served tea.
Pi Xiuyuan’s aura was steady, seemingly even calmer than before. He slowly sipped his tea before smiling: “May I ask where fellow Daoist comes from? For what purpose have you arrived?”
“I am merely a loose cultivator. I have come solely to trade for a Zhen Water cultivation technique...I heard your clan has Zhen Water cultivators. Might there be a Zhen Water Dao Foundation technique?”
Fang Qing stated his purpose frankly.
“Zhen Water cultivation technique?”
Pi Xiuyuan was taken aback. He had not expected Fang Qing to come for this. Cultivation techniques were always closely guarded secrets of each family. If Fang Qing were not also a Dao Foundation cultivator, demanding to trade for techniques upon arrival, he would have already driven him away.
“This...our family does possess a volume titled Whale-Swallowing Vast Sea Art, but it is a family inheritance and has never been traded with outsiders.”
Pi Xiuyuan lifted his teacup, his refusal unmistakable.
“Your clan excels in Horned Wood, with Zhen Water merely supplementary...why not first take a look at what I offer in trade?”
Fang Qing laughed and produced two jade boxes, opening them in succession.
A bloody scent mixed with the briny smell of sea salt rushed forth.
Pi Xiuyuan merely glanced once before freezing: “These are...materials from a Dao Foundation demonic beast?”
He looked at the box of fish scales and the box of turtle shell, brilliance flashing in his eyes.
After careful inspection, he said, “These fish scales should come from a demon general. However, excessive depletion during the hunt caused too much demonic qi to dissipate, greatly damaging their spiritual charm.”
He picked up a scale between index and middle finger, nodding and shaking his head: “If used for artifact refining or pill refining, there would be considerable risk. As for this turtle shell, it should come from an early-stage Dao Foundation demon general and is preserved extremely well.”
It was clear he was tempted.
That low-grade second-tier crystal-armored fish had been killed quite cleanly back then...it seemed that in the eyes of cultivators here, early-stage Foundation Establishment was still somewhat inferior to early-stage Dao Foundation...as for the mid-stage Foundation Establishment demon turtle, it had been mistaken for an early-stage Dao Foundation demon beast?
Fang Qing’s heart stirred, gaining a baseline for future pricing.
Of course, this was merely one family’s opinion. There could also be intentional price suppression. He would need to ask several more families before deciding.
For now, it was more important to conclude the transaction.
“These two items—in exchange for your clan’s cultivation technique?”
Fang Qing spoke calmly.
“This...very well.”
Pi Xiuyuan gave several instructions. Immediately, a family member brought up a box.
Opening it revealed an azure book: “This Whale-Swallowing Vast Sea Art was obtained several hundred years ago by an ancestor of our family during travels in the east, traded from a cultivator of the Vast Sea Sect...it only contains the Dao Foundation portion. That person said that if anyone could cultivate this technique’s Dao Foundation to the state of Facing the Abyss, they could go to the Vast Sea Sect to take a master.”
“Vast Sea Sect? Is there not only the Joyful Union Sect in the east?”
Fang Qing was startled.
“The Vast Sea Sect lies even further east of the Joyful Union Sect. From this Ancient Shu region, to the east is the territory of the Joyful Union Sect. Its breadth and depth are vast—without Purple Palace Realm cultivation, one cannot cross it in an instant. Back then, our ancestor spent several years traveling before returning.”
From Pi Xiuyuan’s explanation, Fang Qing gradually understood that he had indeed reincarnated in a rather unfortunate region.
This wretched place was surrounded on all sides by demonic sects.
But if one traveled east, beyond the territory of the Joyful Union Sect, one would reach the Central Plains, where numerous immortal sects stood—proclaiming themselves the orthodox Taiyi Mysterious Gate lineage. There were also the Hundred Schools of Thought. Purple Palace Immortal Clans were not everywhere, yet certainly not rare. There were even descendants of Golden Core cultivators!
“Only now do I understand how vast heaven and earth truly are.”
Fang Qing sighed with emotion. Taking the cultivation technique, he skimmed through it briefly: “Alas...it only goes as far as Dao Foundation.”
“Haha, how rare are Purple Palace wondrous techniques? Even if Dao Foundation families sought for several hundred years, they might not obtain a single Purple Palace cultivation method...not every family has the fortune of the Pu Family.”
Pi Xiuyuan flicked his sleeve, putting away the two great spiritual materials, and chuckled: “However, recently there is an opportunity. It is said that Smoke-Wave Blessed Land will open. The Purple Palace sword and Dao techniques are not something we can covet...but many Dao Foundation spiritual materials, artifacts, and cultivation methods might not be beyond contention.”
There was a subtle invitation in his words.
“I know my True Power is meager. I shall refrain from embarrassing myself in the Blessed Land.”
Fang Qing’s heart stirred. He then invited, “Fellow Daoist...shall we exchange a few moves?”
“Oh? Very well...”
Green light flashed in Pi Xiuyuan’s eyes as he readily agreed.
Moments later.
In midair not far from Cangcui Mountain.
Fang Qing focused intently, forming hand seals. A sheet of azure seawater appeared out of thin air, transforming into a shield.
This was the Foundation Establishment spell inherent to the Azure Sea Art—Azure Sea Shield. With his wealth, he had long refined second-tier Azure-Green Spirit Water into it. Its defensive power was sufficient to withstand the fierce assault of a mid-stage Foundation Establishment cultivator for a long time.
“Zhen Water?”
Pi Xiuyuan found it strange. This man was clearly also of Zhen Water Dao Foundation—why did he still need a Zhen Water cultivation technique?
With a wave of his hands, wooden swords materialized in the air: “This old man cultivates Horned Wood, Dao Foundation Severing Edge...the world believes only Metal Virtue produces sword cultivators, yet they do not know that the Horned Wood path likewise possesses wood’s sharp edge!”
Pi Xiuyuan activated his Dao Foundation, empowering the wooden swords. Streaks of light formed something like a sword formation, arriving in an instant!
Pu pu pu!
Facing those several wood-aspected flying swords, the Azure Sea Shield was broken in moments.
The flying swords did not slow, piercing through Fang Qing!
“Mm? This...”
Pi Xiuyuan’s gaze flashed as he saw the pierced Fang Qing transform into a mass of water. His true body appeared not far away.