Chapter 79: News of a Secret Realm |
Fang Qing pinched the Sound-Transmitting Talisman, a playful expression on his face.
In the entire Azure Sea Sect, probably only he and those two Core Formation Ancestors knew what Sect Master Linghu’s “Core Formation” truly amounted to.
An External Pill was not a genuine Core Formation after all. Sect Master Linghu most likely still possessed only the lifespan of a Foundation Establishment cultivator...and he was already no longer young, was he? If he could not achieve true Core Formation soon...the Sect Master’s Faction would likely become quite a spectacle to watch.”
Fang Qing merely paid slight attention to this matter. What Qin Ruxue said next was what truly caught his interest: “The Zhong Family remnants and the Heavenly Heart Linked Islands remnants have merged...forming the Sea-Destroying Alliance”, specializing in assassinations and sabotage against our Azure Sea Sect? And the Azure Sea Sect has responded in kind, branding them as part of the Demonic Path?”
The Sea-Destroying Alliance was undoubtedly a gathering place for defeated dogs huddling together for warmth. Not only the remnants of those two Core Formation forces, but other factions that harbored hatred toward the Azure Sea Sect, such as the remnants of the former Hua Family of Flying Fish Island, would most likely join as well.
Calculated this way, it was no small potential threat.
Of course, what truly concerned Fang Qing was news of Zhong Lingxiu.
“This person has not shown himself for quite some time...”
“What a pity, what a pity...”
That was a tremendously powerful treasure capable of determining victory in a single blow during combat.
Even among Dao Foundation cultivators of the World of Ancient Shu, it would likely be no trivial item.
If he knew Zhong Lingxiu’s whereabouts, he would not mind leading people to surround and kill the man, seizing his treasure.
Outside the Profound Azure Cave.
Clusters of spiritual herbs swayed gracefully. Dew gathered upon their emerald leaves, emitting faint spiritual energy.
Fang Qing merely swept a glance over them before ignoring them.
Although he had asked Qin Ruxue to scatter seeds of Second-Tier spiritual herbs within the cave dwelling’s spiritual fields, without a century of time, there would be little practical use from them.
On Pill Island, many Qi Refining disciples appeared at ease, gathering in twos and threes or attempting pill refinement, filled with the relaxation that followed a great war.
It seemed the Azure Sea Sect truly did not take the so-called Sea-Destroying Alliance to heart...which made sense. The other side had no Core Formation Ancestor, at most a few Foundation Establishment cultivators...
Fang Qing had not left his cave dwelling for quite some time. After strolling casually for a while, he arrived at Cold Spring Peak.
Watching disciple after disciple occupy spiritual pools to attempt pill refinement, he could not help but laugh softly, recalling how he had once washed gauze and refined pills here in the beginning.
“Quick...look! Senior Sister Gong is going to refine pills!”
Suddenly, several disciples gathered ahead, staring at a spiritual spring with anticipation on their faces.
Fang Qing swept his Divine Sense and smiled faintly.
The one refining pills here was actually Gong Susu.
With a tense little face, her voice neither hurried nor slow, she said, “Junior Brothers...today I will refine the Bright Jade Pill. This pill has slight beauty-preserving effects. Those who wish to learn from me must first pay fifty Contribution Points...I can answer three questions.”
Fang Qing was momentarily speechless. “How has this woman fallen to such a state?”
Teaching junior disciples was nothing unusual, but charging such a high fee clearly carried a certain profiteering nature.
“Hmm...her complexion looks fine, but her True Power fluctuations are unstable...she appears severely injured in vitality...could it be?”
His heart stirred with a guess.
At this moment, Gong Susu also saw Fang Qing. Her expression became extremely complex, yet she still stepped forward and bowed respectfully. “Disciple greets Martial Uncle Fang...thank you, Martial Uncle, for taking care of Junior Sister Hua previously.”
“Ah? So he is a Martial Uncle at the Foundation Establishment stage?”
“I recognize him—this is Martial Uncle Fang of our sect. When Martial Uncle Fang first came to Cold Spring Peak, he used my spiritual pool.”
Many disciples gathered and bowed, their eyes filled with fervor and admiration.
After all, Fang Qing had risen from an ordinary disciple to a True Disciple, and then to Foundation Establishment...on this small Pill Island, he was considered something of a legend.
“Come with me.”
Fang Qing frowned slightly and led Gong Susu to a pavilion.
With a flick of his finger, a sound-isolating barrier spread out, sealing off inside from outside.
The pavilion instantly became utterly silent.
“You are injured. What happened?”
Fang Qing asked casually.
“Reporting to Martial Uncle...I used battle merits to exchange for a Foundation Establishment Pill from the sect and attempted Foundation Establishment...but unfortunately, I failed.”
Gong Susu answered gloomily.
After ten years of great war, the Azure Sea Sect had consecutively destroyed two Core Formation forces and obtained extremely abundant spoils.
The higher-ups had eaten their fill, and at last some scraps had fallen to the lower ranks.
The Azure Sea Sect released quite a number of Foundation Establishment Pills. Many Qi Refining disciples seized this opportunity and successfully advanced.
Naturally, there were not few who failed, such as Gong Susu.
“Not only did she fail in Foundation Establishment, but her Second-Tier Pill Master teacher also died in battle...no wonder her circumstances are poor.”
Fang Qing sighed inwardly. Having satisfied his curiosity, he prepared to leave, intending to visit Elder Tianding as well.
“Martial Uncle...please wait.”
Yet Gong Susu, biting her silver teeth for some reason, spoke to stop him.
“Hmm? What else is there?”
Fang Qing looked at her, only to see her face flushed red as she said softly, “This concubine’s Junior Sister was captivated at first sight by Martial Uncle’s heroic bearing...may I ask if Martial Uncle still lacks a concubine?”
She knew that Fang Qing did not abstain from women. After reaching Foundation Establishment, he had taken Qin Ruxue of Array Island as a concubine and even devoted great effort to helping her achieve Foundation Establishment.
Now having lost her backing, she had staked everything in a desperate attempt at Foundation Establishment, only to fail. She was nearly reduced to the same fate as Five Dragons Child, forced to refine pills for the sect for life to repay debts. She still wished to grasp at one final life-saving straw.
If Fang Qing agreed, that would mean the backing of two Foundation Establishment cultivators.
Even she might retain a sliver of hope for a second attempt at Foundation Establishment.
After all...Qin Ruxue had attempted Foundation Establishment three times, using three Foundation Establishment Pills before barely succeeding, likewise becoming a legend among the Azure Sea Sect’s lower-ranking cultivators.
“Is that so...do I look like such a sucker?”
Fang Qing grumbled inwardly, his expression turning cold. “I have no intention of taking a concubine. However, I will offer Martial Niece Gong one piece of advice...walk the Righteous Path and do not always attempt crooked and unorthodox ways.”
With that, he flicked his sleeve and drifted away.
Only Gong Susu remained standing silently, her face gradually turning pale...
Deep within the Pill Hall.
“Elder Brother Tianding...”
Fang Qing smiled and cupped his hands in greeting, noticing that this elder brother seemed somewhat more aged than before.
After ten years of great war, even though Pill Island had only handled logistics, it had been extremely taxing. This was understandable.
“Junior Brother Fang?”
Elder Tianding’s face brightened. “Have you come out of seclusion to help this old man?”
“Well...I’m afraid I must disappoint you, Elder Brother. I have only recently established my foundation and still intend to enter seclusion to improve my cultivation.”
Fang Qing shook his head with a smile, causing Elder Tianding to feel somewhat stifled.
“Sigh...I used to find those Second-Tier Pill Masters competing for power and profit rather irritating. Now that many familiar faces are suddenly gone, I instead feel inexplicably lonely...”
The longer cultivators lived, the stranger their temperaments could become.
Fang Qing had heard similar rumors and did not find it surprising.
After sipping spiritual tea and chatting casually for a while, he finally mentioned his own matter.
“Oh? You wish to exchange for several Second-Tier treasure herbs?”
Elder Tianding accepted Fang Qing’s list. “Junior Brother, what you require is...quite miscellaneous.”
Naturally, Fang Qing would not directly present the ingredients for the Minor Barrier-Breaking Pill. Moreover, Qin Ruxue had already gathered several of them.
He merely added a few additional materials to those not yet collected and handed the combined list to Tianding.
“I am preparing to modify an ancient pill formula, thus I require various materials.”
Fang Qing smiled.
“Junior Brother...these Second-Tier treasure herbs are sect property. Using them for private pill refinement is somewhat against regulations.
Elder Tianding spoke solemnly. “Unless you serve as a Pill Hall Elder and refine pills for the sect...”
“Elder Brother, I have a Water-Origin Pill here. Please appraise it and see what you think?”
Fang Qing chuckled inwardly and handed over a pill.
“This...a Second-Tier Mid-Grade Water-Origin Pill? You brat are truly extravagant—using a Second-Tier Demon Core for pill refinement? With that Demon Core, would it not be better to refine a Foundation Establishment Pill?”
Elder Tianding shook his head repeatedly, scolding Fang Qing for wasting resources.
“I happened to obtain one by chance, so I experimented a little...”
Fang Qing said, “I am now preparing to attempt replacing the Second-Tier Demon Core with Second-Tier Mid-Grade demonic beast flesh and blood, combined with other medicinal materials. If successful, it would greatly benefit our sect.”
“Is that so...”
Elder Tianding calmly slipped the Water-Origin Pill into his sleeve. “Since Junior Brother is acting for the sect’s benefit, let this be the only time—there will not be another.”
With the transaction concluded, their relationship seemed to grow somewhat closer.
Elder Tianding then began offering suggestions on how to replace the Second-Tier Demon Core.
Fang Qing listened and gained considerable insight.
After all, he could draw upon alchemical knowledge from another world and had recently been studying the Shen Yuan Essays. Occasionally, a remark from him would cause Elder Tianding’s eyes to shine, praising Fang Qing’s alchemical talent repeatedly.
From pill refinement they moved to cultivation, and eventually to the Sea-Destroying Alliance.
“The Sea-Destroying Alliance? Clowns jumping about, unworthy of concern.”
Elder Tianding waved his hand. “Their continued activity is merely due to the remaining foundations of those two Core Formation forces that escaped.
Hmph. If not for keeping them to attract those harboring ill intent toward our sect, and incidentally to investigate the whereabouts of the Azure Sea Founding Ancestor, the sect would have already destroyed them.”
“What? There is such a consideration?”
Fang Qing was somewhat startled.
Elder Tianding smiled. “The Sect Master’s Faction thinks highly of you. After all, you succeeded in Foundation Establishment on your first attempt and are considered a core member of the sect...
There is no harm in you knowing some information. Do you know why our sect’s Azure Sea Founding Ancestor came to establish the sect in the Small Huan Sea?”
“This...was it not because competition here is relatively less intense?” Fang Qing’s heart stirred.
“Less intense competition? That is one reason, perhaps...but beyond that, it was for a Secret Realm!”
Elder Tianding spoke astonishing words.
“A Secret Realm?”
Fang Qing felt a jolt, unable to help his reflexive reaction.
“Indeed. A Secret Realm was constructed by an ancient cultivator of great divine abilities. Within it not only is spiritual energy abundant, but there are numerous treasures and pills—
Even a single one could potentially raise your or my cultivation by an entire layer.”
At this point, Elder Tianding’s face filled with longing.