Chapter 140 |
Hu Quanan’s sudden change in attitude was, of course, not of his own will.
Rather, without even realizing it, he had already been influenced by Fang Qing, a certain thought in his mind subtly altered.
This was precisely one of the wondrous applications Fang Qing had discovered after experimenting with numerous Dao Foundation, the profound ability of the [Radiant Spirit Brilliance]!
‘This Dao Foundation can forcibly convert even stones, and can just as easily turn cultivators into my servants…’
Originally, when Fang Qing saw Hu Quanan discover the qi storage bottles and prepare to massacre the Fang Family, he had considered revealing himself and directly converting the man into a servant to serve the Fang Family from that point onward.
Yet for some reason, a sudden intuition arose in his heart. He felt that acting so openly would instead create a massive flaw.
Thus, he chose a far gentler method.
The Radiant Spirit Brilliance did not forcibly convert. It merely exerted a subtle influence, altering a single thought within Hu Quanan’s mind.
It changed his original intention of ‘slaughtering the Fang Family to seize opportunity’ into ‘supporting the Fang Family in stepping onto the immortal path.’
‘I used the power of my Dao Foundation to influence a mere Qi Ingestion cultivator. There is no way he could detect it. The effect should last for at least several decades.’
‘If after several decades the Fang Family still cannot develop the strength to protect themselves, then their destruction would only be deserved. In any case, there are still two other branches of incense.’
During this trip to Ba Commandery, Hu Quanan had also taken the opportunity to inspect the Fang Family’s other two branches before finally arriving here.
‘Judging by the route, they should be able to safely reach Zhenxi Pass. That place now allows mortals to pass freely, so there is no need for me to intervene.’
Fang Qing formed a hand seal and quietly vanished.
Seeing that the Fang Family’s lineage remained orderly, he felt at ease.
As for meeting them in person?
Fang Jingchun was already advanced in years. If he were to see Fang Qing still in the prime of youth, it would likely only bring him sorrow.
Coupled with that earlier inexplicable sense of foreboding, it was better not to meet at all.
Whoosh!
Fang Qing rode the Fire Luoba Bowl. Having returned to his homeland after so long, he wandered briefly through Ba Commandery and Yulin Commandery.
The condition of mortals in these two regions was far from ideal, yet there were far fewer cultivators and no major battles.
‘I wonder what benefits Cloud Grazing Cliff received. They actually endured Pu Shanjun’s defection, as well as the deaths of the two Purple Mansion cultivators from Black Gu Sect and Shangyong Sect.’
As he traveled on his artifact, Fang Qing casually pondered, ‘Or perhaps they simply treat that peak Purple Mansion great demon attempting to break through as a dead demon. They are waiting for it to fail and perish before settling accounts with the Azure Bird Tribe?’
For nearly eight thousand years, no one had successfully advanced to the Golden Core realm. For a peak Purple Mansion great demon attempting such a breakthrough, the resistance would not be too great. Cloud Grazing Cliff might even be happy to see it succeed and simply go along with the flow.
Fang Qing felt that the latter possibility was more likely.
This time, Cloud Grazing Cliff had truly suffered significant losses. They would certainly seek compensation.
When that time came, without the protection of a peak Purple Mansion great demon, the Azure Bird Tribe’s fate would likely be grim.
‘Even so, they are still one of the Eight Tribes of Descending Phoenix Mountain. They will not be completely wiped out…’
‘And there is no need for me to worry about a group of demons…’
Just as he was thinking, several streaks of light entered his vision.
“Stop right there, thief! Leave behind the Dao Foundation spiritual artifact and we may spare your life!”
Fang Qing swept his divine sense forward and saw a golden streak fleeing ahead, with several strands of black qi chasing behind.
An angry and exasperated voice rang out from within the black qi.
The fluctuations of mana from both sides were not particularly strong. All of them were at the Qi Ingestion stage.
‘A Dao Foundation spiritual artifact? That is quite something…’
Curiosity stirred within him, and he did not move to avoid them.
Spiritual resources in Ancient Shu were scarce. Among rogue cultivators, even possessing a decent magical artifact was rare.
Yet for Dao Foundation cultivators, a Dao Foundation spiritual artifact was still a valuable treasure, something that might take years or even decades to accumulate.
At the Purple Mansion realm, treasures took on unique spiritual properties, somewhat different from the artifact system of the Qi Refining path.
Overall, Dao Foundation spiritual artifacts were precious items even for Dao Foundation cultivators.
For example, Miaohuo Bright Son only had a single valuable item, the Fire Luoba Bowl, which he had obtained from Sangji. In the end, Fang Qing had used it as proof of identity, nothing more than a disguise.
This place was not like Taibai Island, where one could freely switch Dao Foundations.
Now whenever Fang Qing traveled, he used the [Nu Earth] mana, paired with the Fire Luoba Bowl, making him resemble a second Miaohuo Bright Son.
“Hmm?”
Out of curiosity, Fang Qing extended his divine sense and saw that the fleeing cultivator held a rather peculiar Dao Foundation spiritual artifact.
It was a jade pot, simple and ancient in design.
Judging by its aura, it was indeed a genuine Dao Foundation spiritual artifact.
“Fellow Daoist, please wait!”
He let out a light shout. Although his Dao Foundation had changed, this innate talent spell was still present.
Those few Qi Ingestion cultivators actually stopped running the moment they heard his words and stood there in a daze.
When they saw Fang Qing approach and felt the oppressive weight of his Dao Foundation, they dropped to their knees one after another. “We greet Senior.”
The group of Qi Ingestion cultivators felt their hearts pound with unease. The one who had fled first even wished he could slap himself. ‘When someone tells you to stop, you stop. If they tell you to die, why don’t you just die?’
“This Dao Foundation spiritual artifact seems to have an affinity with me… Hand it over and let me take a look.”
Fang Qing smiled gently and spoke directly.
The Qi Ingestion cultivator found himself unable to control his own body. He held the jade pot with both hands and respectfully offered it to Fang Qing for inspection.
Fang Qing took it in hand and immediately understood. “It really is a [Ji Water] spiritual artifact. This pot seems capable of collecting water veins? Incredible.”
On the Qi Refining side, magical artifacts emphasized raw power and simplicity. For example, his former Sea Transformation Pearl could only hold water but could not collect water veins. To draw in a water vein and form something like a spirit spring required mobilizing array masters and earth masters together in a major operation.
This jade pot was different. With a light collection, it could draw away the water vein and release it elsewhere.
“Isn’t this… a portable spirit spring?”
Fang Qing’s eyes lit up. “With this, the drawback of us water-method alchemists being unable to carry our pill furnaces and flee at night can be easily solved. What a fine treasure.”
However, he was not blinded by greed. He looked toward the Qi Ingestion cultivator who had offered the pot. “This pot. where did it come from?”
‘This Dao Foundation spiritual artifact came rather suspiciously… Could someone have specifically set this as bait for me?’
He quickly divined in his heart and received a minor ominous hexagram image. His heart chilled slightly. ‘There really is something? But it does not seem aimed at me?’
“Reporting to Senior, this pot is called ‘Juntian.’ It was originally a family heirloom of the Tianshui Luo Family. Later, after the Luo Family was wiped out overnight, it fell into the hands of the Luo Clan of Kuian.”
“Then came the banquet at Pu Family Mountain City, where the Luo Family’s Dao Foundation ancestor perished and the Luo Family was breached by rogue cultivators… A large number of treasures scattered in all directions, and this item ended up with me.”
The Qi Ingestion cultivator spoke more and more fluently. “Now that I have encountered Senior, I have truly met a wise lord…”
‘No wonder I felt it had an affinity with me. It was actually a Luo Family heirloom?’
‘Was my own fate or even the blood and bones of my ancestors refined into it?’
‘Wait, isn't this coincidence a bit too perfect?’
Fang Qing muttered to himself inwardly, then tossed the Juntian Pot back. “I see… You may continue.”
He piloted the Fire Luoba Bowl and turned into a streak of escape light, heading toward Xituo Commandery.
‘Whether it is bait or not, swallowing it would not cause any real harm, but I simply choose not to swallow it.’
“A Dao Foundation level [Ji Water] spiritual artifact is nothing special. There are so many materials in the Wusheng Temple treasury. I can simply take some out and commission an artifact refiner to craft one.”
‘This has given me an idea. The magical artifacts and spiritual artifacts of this world may not have the raw power of those on the Qi Refining side, but they have their own unique uses in many situations. Perhaps I should stock up on some.’
‘The only issue is finding an artifact refiner, and it must be one who cultivates [Ji Water] in order to add the [Ji Water] profundities. But no matter what, it will at least be clean.’
The Qi Ingestion cultivator held the Juntian Pot, still finding it hard to believe. “There are actually seniors with such noble character these days?”
Had it been any Dao Foundation cultivator he had met before, they would likely have killed them outright and seized the treasure.
Asking about the origin of the treasure and then simply leaving was truly the first time he had seen such a thing.
At the same time.
Atop a pitch-black cliff, a person sat cross-legged.
He appeared to be only fifteen or sixteen years old, with red lips and white teeth, looking like a youth. Only the ring of clear light behind his head revealed that he was no ordinary mortal. This youth was currently pinching his fingers in calculation, his face showing a mix of relief and strangeness.
“Just a little more and it would have been like throwing a meat bun at a dog.”
‘If that thing fell into the Esoteric Hidden-Treasury Domain, would I have to go beg those monks to redeem it? Or perhaps buy a Bright Son from them?’
‘These Esoteric cultists really do have a knack for manipulating fate…’
At that moment, a black cloud drifted over. Standing atop it was a slovenly Daoist: San Ji.
“San Ji, you still dare to come here?”
The youth’s face immediately turned fierce. Countless black insects crawled across his body. “Do you want to die?”
Spiritual Master San Ji, however, let out a long laugh. “Your divine calculations are truly marvelous. This old man does indeed have a death wish.”
“Black…”
The youth shook his head. “You know full well that although I possess Dao calculation divine abilities, they cannot divine Purple Mansion. In the era when ancient True Lords roamed the world, one could easily calculate something terrifying and die on the spot. Yet you still come here joking with me.”
Spiritual Master San Ji asked solemnly, “Fellow Daoist, have you found enough children of fate to open that Eastern Sea Blessed Land?”
“San Ji, are you truly here today specifically seeking death?”
The youth stood up. Endless black shadows lingered behind him, as if a ferocious beast was about to break free.
“Not at all…”
Spiritual Master San Ji spoke softly. “A Blessed Land is merely something you forged. How does it compare to a Grotto Heaven?”
“Grotto Heaven? Which one?”
The youth stopped what he was doing.
“Supreme Yellow Heaven!”
San Ji’s expression turned serious as he answered.
“A Grotto Heaven is created by a True Lord’s fortune. It is filled with spiritual items and forms its own world, even possessing sun, moon, and stars.”
The youth licked his lips and suddenly burst into loud laughter. “You have finally agreed.”
“Correct. I only need fellow Daoist’s assistance.”
San Ji bowed once more.
“Fine, fine, Since that is the case, let us put our past grudges aside.”
The youth smiled broadly. “Whatever you need, just say the word.”
“Kun Origin Wu Earth, Primordial One Gives Birth to Water…”
Spiritual Master San Ji listed a series of Purple Mansion spiritual materials and finally said, “Of course, I also need a thick portion of [Nu Earth] fate.”
“Si…”
The youth sneered coldly. “San Ji, you really know how to ask for the moon and stars, but I agree.”