Chapter 107 |
Several days later.
Mystic Jade Cave Residence.
Several late-stage Qi Refining disciples waited with visible nervousness.
"It is said that the master of Mystic Jade Cave was once the acting hall master of Pill Island, a genuine second-rank alchemy grandmaster."
A handsome young Qi Refining disciple glanced around the group and lowered his voice. "That is a true big shot, yet he has summoned us. There seems to be only one thing we all share in common."
A middle-aged man dressed in black martial attire, looking every bit like a wandering hero from the mortal world, picked up the thread. "None of us have a Foundation Establishment elder backing us in the sect. We are all at late-stage Qi Refining and have signed up for the secret realm mission this time."
Xiang Dahu, with his eighth-layer Qi Refining cultivation, stood among them like a husky trying to blend in with wolves. He kept his mouth firmly shut.
These Qi Refining disciples naturally did not recognize him, let alone know that he was the cave master's personal servant.
"So it seems Martial Uncle has a use for us."
"Correct. The sect is allowing us to keep part of our gains. It is probably to motivate the elders to arm us as thoroughly as possible."
The last female disciple wore form-fitting leather armor that revealed generous expanses of skin and accentuated her alluring figure.
The others felt a stir in their hearts but offered no objection. After all, this explanation made the most sense.
Besides, they were perfectly willing to be used in this way.
The danger of this secret realm mission was enough to make anyone shudder just thinking about it.
If not for the chance at Foundation Establishment, none of them would have risked their lives.
While the five waited anxiously, two figures approached.
One wore a blue robe. He looked young with gentle, refined eyes. It was Fang Qing.
The woman beside him wore a snow-white palace dress that highlighted her long legs and graceful, dignified bearing. It was Qin Ruxue.
"Greetings, Martial Uncle."
The five disciples hurriedly paid their respects. Those who recognized Qin Ruxue felt even more uneasy. With her and the Array Island master together, this was practically another powerful faction within the sect. If they could join her side, Foundation Establishment would no longer be a distant dream.
Fang Qing took his seat calmly while Qin Ruxue served tea. "Report your names and cultivation levels."
"This junior is Miao Yifan, ninth-layer Qi Refining. Greetings, Martial Uncle."
The young male cultivator who had spoken first bowed immediately.
"Li Tianlong, ninth-layer Qi Refining."
This was the middle-aged man in black martial attire.
"I... I am Xiang Dahu, eighth-layer Qi Refining."
Xiang Dahu scratched his head and flashed a simple, honest grin.
"This humble one is Shu Rou, ninth-layer Qi Refining."
The female disciple in leather armor gave a charming wink.
The last woman, dressed in the light green skirt, was named Bei Lingshu and was likewise at ninth-layer Qi Refining.
"Mm. You have probably already guessed why I summoned you. I intend to invest in you ahead of time. In return, I want a share of whatever you obtain inside the secret realm. Of course, if you can bring out the specific items I need, the rewards will be even greater. A Foundation Establishment Pill would not be out of the question."
Fang Qing spoke with clear intent.
At the mere mention of the words "Foundation Establishment Pill," the five disciples' breathing grew noticeably heavier.
He was not simply dangling an empty promise. With his ability, slaying a few demons to harvest their cores and refining Foundation Establishment Pills was as easy as turning over his hand.
"Of course, business is business. It must be willing on both sides. If anyone is unwilling, you may leave right now. This elder will not pursue the matter."
Fang Qing took a sip of the tea Qin Ruxue had brewed and waited a moment. Then, smiling, he patted his storage bag.
Whoosh! Whoosh!
Streaks of spiritual light flashed, nearly blinding the Qi Refining disciples.
"Here are ten superior-grade magical artifacts covering attack, defense, flight, and concealment. Each of you may choose two."
Superior-grade magical artifacts were only slightly stronger than high-grade ones and still belonged to the first rank. To Fang Qing they were not even a drop in the ocean.
Yet the disciples stared at the glowing flying blades, flying swords, spirit pearls, treasure pagodas, and other items in stunned silence.
If Fang Qing wished, he could have prepared spiritual artifacts instead, but late-stage Qi Refining cultivators lacked the mana to unleash their full power.
Once the five had made their selections, Fang Qing waved his hand again and produced a stack of talismans. "Your cultivation is still insufficient to drive mid-grade second-rank spiritual talismans, so I have prepared fifteen inferior-grade second-rank spiritual talismans. Each of you will receive three."
Finally, there were the second-rank healing spirit pills.
One could say that after this complete outfitting, the equipment of these five individuals had already reached the level reserved for the sect’s core disciples.
After Fang Qing had spent lavishly, he handed over five jade slips. These contained illustrated catalogs of the spiritual herbs required for him to refine second-rank superior Barrier-Breaking Pills and various mana-enhancing pills.
“These are the items this elder requires. If you die inside the secret realm, then everything ends there. If you survive and return, bringing back even one of them will be enough to repay these magical artifacts, talismans, and pills. Bring back several more, and you may exchange them with this elder for whatever you need, including Foundation Establishment Pills.”
“Thank you, Elder! We will fight to the death for Elder!”
Miao Yifan and the other disciples flushed with excitement and answered loudly.
“Very well. You may go now.”
Fang Qing waved his hand and dismissed the five of them from the cave residence.
“Young Master, do you think these five have any hope?”
Qin Ruxue poured tea for Fang Qing and asked casually.
“They are merely cannon fodder and a smokescreen. All the Foundation Establishment elders are doing the same thing, even Senior Brother Tianding. If I did not participate, it would make me stand out.”
Fang Qing shook his head with a wry smile. “Those disciples said one thing correctly earlier. The sect allows them to keep part of the harvest only to make us Foundation Establishment elders go all out. But they never stop to think that no spiritual item can possibly escape a Core Formation divine sense. In the end, what trickles out are merely things the Core Formation ancestors disdain. I have no interest in scavenging such leftovers.”
As he spoke, another disciple returned. It was Xiang Dahu.
“Very good. It seems you have made your decision?”
Fang Qing stood up. His aura shifted abruptly, like the rising sun, and the temperature around them surged sharply.
“Exactly. I ask Martial Uncle to perform the ritual!”
Xiang Dahu kowtowed deeply.
“Excellent!”
Fang Qing placed one palm on top of Xiang Dahu’s head and activated the Great Sun Empowerment Secret Art to bestow the great precept of empowerment upon him!
He even reserved a position among the Five Bright Sons.
Currently he had only Qin Ruxue as his wisdom consort, with four spots still open, which was more than enough.
However, Fang Qing did not use this position to empower Xiang Dahu with mana and allow him to achieve instant Foundation Establishment.
After all, they had not yet entered the secret realm ruins.
“Rise. From now on there is no need to call me Martial Uncle. Like Qin Ruxue, simply address me as Young Master.”
Fang Qing waved his hand for Xiang Dahu to stand, then handed him the Mystical Wood Ring along with the Flesh-Storing Artifact Technique.
“Inside this Mystical Wood Ring are a superior spiritual artifact Hundred Souls Banner, several second-rank superior spiritual talismans, a few mid-grade defensive spiritual artifact shields, and a lip bead for concealment, all items you will need inside the secret realm. Once you emerge from the secret realm, I guarantee you will achieve Foundation Establishment success!”
He added a reminder. “Hide this ring inside your body and do not show it to anyone.”
“Superior spiritual artifact? Second-rank superior talismans? Martial Uncle—no, Young Master, I fear this lowly one may be unable to wield them properly and could instead become trapped in the secret realm.”
Xiang Dahu hesitated.
“It will be fine. Once you enter the secret realm, you will understand how to use them.”
Fang Qing gave a playful smile and suddenly took out another jade slip. “The core disciples from the sect this time are definitely these few. Recognize each one clearly. You must be wary of one or several among them, as they may be carrying talisman treasures.”
“And the mission for these core disciples will surely be to search for the greatest secret of the ruins or to locate the remains of Ancestor Blue Sea. Among them there may be descendants of Ancestor Blue Sea carrying bloodline tracking talismans and the like. You should proceed as follows…”
This was what he had calculated using Plum Blossom Divination, combined with his deep understanding of the sect. It was absolutely foolproof.
Watching Xiang Dahu’s departing figure, Fang Qing calculated inwardly:
‘An early Foundation Establishment cultivator equipped with superior spiritual artifacts and second-rank superior talismans should possess power roughly comparable to a Qi Refining cultivator using a talisman treasure. Even if the talisman treasure is a bit stronger, it has limitations in time and mana. As long as one avoids direct confrontation and opts for guerrilla tactics, there is definitely a good chance of victory.’
‘Hmm, in the worst case, at the critical moment I can simply take over directly.’
After all, this time he had truly brought out even his most prized possessions. If Xiang Dahu died inside the secret realm, Fang Qing would be the one spitting blood.
Several months later.
A massive five-toothed warship slowly sailed out from Verdant Jade Island.
Fang Qing stood silently in midair, watching Qin Ruxue and this group of disciples depart.
“Junior Brother cannot bear to part with them? You could simply go to Tianxin Island yourself.”
A streak of escape light landed beside him, revealing Tianding’s figure. His voice was teasing.
“No. I am merely feeling a little sentimental. Although our sect has many Qi Refining disciples, the number of late-stage Qi Refining elites is ultimately small. After experiencing several major wars, if we suffer too many losses this time, it will be detrimental to the sect’s future.”
Fang Qing’s worried expression earned Tianding Elder’s sincere respect. “Junior Brother truly exhausts himself for the sect. It is said that Tianxin Island is auctioning part of the slots, attracting many rogue cultivators and even pillaging cultivators skilled in Qi Refining. You and I both know that while these rogue experts may not match our sect disciples in cultivation depth, when pushed to the brink they truly dare to fight with everything they have.”
“In truth, I am also worried that my own investment will go to waste.”
In reality, Fang Qing simply did not want to leave the protection of the sect’s third-rank grand array.
Although both sides had signed a truce agreement backed by a third-rank spiritual contract, it might not be reliable.
If a Nascent Soul spiritual item appeared inside the ruins, this fragile peace would inevitably be shattered.
Staying away from Tianxin Island meant staying away from danger.
“That is true.”
Elder Tianding also showed concern upon hearing this and lowered his voice. “What this old man seeks is merely a second-rank longevity fruit. If refined into a longevity pill, it would be enough to extend our lifespans by ten or eight years.”
“Senior Brother thinks far ahead. I simply want some pills for advancement and breaking through bottlenecks.”
When Fang Qing heard about the longevity pill, his heart stirred as well.
The secret “endure until Purple Mansion” plan he had devised also required ample lifespan, and he had a great demand for various longevity spiritual items.
Of course, Fang Qing was still young, barely over fifty years old. Compared to the two-hundred-year lifespan of Foundation Establishment cultivators, he was in his prime. He could not openly seek longevity spiritual items, but he could certainly collect them in secret.
“However, these are all minor paths. The true supreme path is still Core Formation! Nascent Soul!”
The increase in lifespan from breaking through major cultivation realms far surpassed anything a longevity spiritual item could provide.