Several months later.
Fang Qing and Qin Ruxue received battlefield intelligence.
"Thunder and lightning rage near Tianxin Island, black winds sweep across the skies—suspected Core Formation battle?"
Qin Ruxue held a voice transmission talisman and praised, "This must be Sect Master Shi breaking through to the Pseudo-Core Realm and refining the Tide Birth Pearl, granting him true Core Formation combat power"
"But there has been no follow-up. No news has spread of any Core Formation cultivator falling. Instead, strange phenona suddenly appeared on Tianxin Island, a pillar of light shot into the heavens and rumors of ruins existing on the island spread throughout the entire Minor Huan Sea almost overnight."
Fang Qing read the lower half of the talisman, his expression growing grave.
"So Ruan Ancestor and Sect Master Shi joined forces but still failed to take down Heiyuan True Personage?" Qin Ruxue asked in mild surprise.
"Not only that—Heiyuan True Personage imdiately countered by allowing the news of the ruins to spread far and wide. In doing so, he placed Ruan Zhixuan in an unfavorable position. If she cannot open the ruins quickly and secure their benefits, she risks doing all the work only for others to reap the rewards. Once more foreign Core Formation cultivators arrive, it will beco a situation where both sides suffer heavy losses."
Fang Qing sighed.
"Therefore—the next step is negotiations?"
Qin Ruxue sounded sowhat astonished.
"Correct. If both sides reach an agreent to jointly develop the secret realm, as our sect's foremost array master, you will certainly be summoned to Tianxin Island."
Fang Qing gazed steadily at Qin Ruxue.
Her presence there would serve as an embedded eye, allowing him to monitor every detail of the ruins' developnt with perfect clarity.
"Sigh—the sect's Array Masters were all led by Senior Brother Xuan Zhen back then, and they were trapped on Tianxin Island..."
Qin Ruxue spoke with considerable emotion.
A few days later, official news arrived from the Blue Sea Sect: Ancestor Ruan and Heiyuan True Personage had ceased hostilities. Both parties signed a third-rank spiritual contract that carried considerable binding force even on Core Formation cultivators, agreeing to jointly develop the Tianxin Island ruins.
Soon after, Qin Ruxue received the summons. She set out for Tianxin Island accompanied by several Array Island disciples at the Qi Refining stage.
This pattern of war followed by peace—truly the ga of Core Formation ancestors.
Compared to fighting to the death, jointly carving up the gains from the ruins was now the proper business at hand.
One could only wonder what treasures lay within those ruins to make even the Blue Sea Ancestor so fixated.
Through Qin Ruxue's perspective, Fang Qing gained a thorough understanding of the current situation on Tianxin Island.
Rumors on Tianxin Island claid that Heiyuan True Personage's demonic arts were astonishing, yet he was still no match for two Core Formation cultivators working together. However, he excelled in array formations. At a critical mont in the battle, he redirected the combined power of the two Core Formation cultivators toward the ruins' entrance, triggering a backlash from the restrictions—and thus the heavenly phenona appeared!
From Qin Ruxue's observations, the ruins entrance had already expanded sowhat after enduring Core Formation attacks. Combined with the third-rank restriction-breaking talismans provided by Heiyuan True Personage, progress toward opening the ruins advanced at an encouraging pace. In a few months to a few years, they would likely create a small gap and send people inside first.
Entry had strict cultivation requirents, however. Both Foundation Establishnt and Core Formation cultivators might be unable to enter. Only Qi Refining disciples qualified. Tianxin Island had already begun widely recruiting disciples, promising generous benefits.
They were screening for combat elites. The Blue Sea Sect would likely follow suit before long.
Fang Qing sensed the perspective from the Dao-Genesis Pearl through Qin Ruxue and could not help but smile. "I am now considered a Foundation Establishnt great cultivator after all. No need for to risk my life charging into the secret realm anymore—though dispatching Qi Refining disciples?"
His expression turned sowhat playful.
Though deeply curious about the ruins, Fang Qing had no intention of entering in person.
If he sent Qi Refining disciples instead, with his thods he could likely reap considerable benefits.
"Using Esoteric Hidden-Treasury Domain thods, empowering a few quick-success Foundation Establishnt cultivators is no problem at all—even reserving spots so that mana and divine abilities can be transmitted after they enter the ruins, avoiding restriction targeting."
"The only issue left to consider is how to preserve the spoils and gains after exiting the ruins without detection by those Core Formation cultivators."
Fang Qing's face grew solemn.
For ordinary cultivators, concealing anything from a Core Formation True Personage's divine sense would be nearly impossible—even for Foundation Establishnt cultivators, let alone Qi Refining disciples.
But Fang Qing possessed exquisite Daoist arts from another world, giving him considerable confidence.
Ancient Shu.
Yulin Commandery.
Outside a certain immortal city.
This immortal city was built against the mountains, grand and imposing, protected by a Purple Mansion-grade grand array that displayed ever-changing phenona.
"Young Master—this is the harvest from this period."
Xu Hei approached with a face full of smiles and handed over a storage bag.
Fang Qing casually accepted it. He gazed remotely at the vast city, where faint red decorations could be seen everywhere, lending the place a distinctly festive air.
"Young Master arrived at exactly the right ti. The Yulin Pu Family has just conquered the entirety of Ba Commandery, and it coincides with the four-hundredth birthday of their Purple Mansion Ancestor—Pu Shanjun. Therefore they have opened grand banquets. Any passing cultivator can go inside to beg for a cup of wine and so food"
Xu Hei reported respectfully.
"Four-hundredth birthday? Purple Mansion cultivators have a lifespan of five hundred years, so he has basically entered his twilight years."
Fang Qing recalled what Li Rulong had once said. Pu Shanjun had been astonishing in his youth, yet after achieving Purple Mansion he had faded into diocrity. At four hundred years old he remained only at early Purple Mansion—his Dao path truly severed.
Unfortunately, even though the Plum Blossom Divination hexagram showed auspicious signs, Fang Qing would never step one foot inside the range of the Pu Family mountain city's grand array!
After all, even the most reliable hexagrams could be wrong in this cursed place. The lesson from last ti had been learned thoroughly.
"Where is the token that monster gave you?"
Fang Qing asked casually.
He had co in person this ti because Xu Hei had not disappointed. He had finally found a lead on the [Ji Water] Purple Mansion technique.
It was still thanks to Fang Qing's old connection. During one exchange eting, Xu Hei had encountered that old fox, Anzhuzi!
The other party was also selling techniques, so Xu Hei approached with slim hope and struck up a conversation—unexpectedly, there really was a chance!
Anzhuzi claid he needed to return and make a copy, and he had changed the transaction location to right outside this Pu Family mountain city!
Fang Qing had co personally to oversee the deal. First, because the previous transaction had gone smoothly and established a asure of trust.
Second, because he had additional demands.
Tianxin Island’s secret realm was about to open. Fang Qing still held high expectations, so he naturally began preparing in advance.
The transaction location chosen by Anzhuzi was a desolate mountain on the outskirts of the Pu Family mountain city.
Fang Qing quietly divined his own fortune and found it to be a small auspicious sign.
That would have to do.
Midnight that sa day.
The short, dwarf-like Xu Hei arrived at the desolate mountain first.
The sky was dark, dotted here and there with faint green will-o’-the-wisps.
Xu Hei reached a crooked-neck tree and sent out the signal.
After waiting a short while, rustling sounds ca from the grass. An old fox suddenly darted out—it was Anzhuzi!
“Fellow Daoist, we et again.”
Xu Hei cupped his fists, smiling to reveal a mouthful of black-yellow teeth.
“No rush, no rush”
Anzhuzi grood his fur and whiskers. Every movent carried an oddly refined, scholarly air, more like a countryside old pedant than a bloodthirsty beast.
“You ntioned the [Ji Water] Purple Mansion technique last ti. Did you bring it? This old man has several [Zhen Water] demon general materials here.”
Xu Hei offered several boxes.
When opened, they revealed nurous second-rank demon beast materials, all mid-grade or better.
“Tsk tsk… quite the salty sea flavor.”
The old fox sniffed, his fox mouth splitting into a wide grin. “Excellent. We mountain demons have never gotten along with sea demons. These materials can be resold at a nice profit.”
Though both were demons, the differences between them were vast.
Even among mountain demons, wolf demons and rabbit demons could never live in harmony.
“Where is the technique?”
Xu Hei’s fingernails glead with a glossy green sheen as he asked.
“The [Ji Water] Purple Mansion technique—this old man naturally copied it. But I must warn you in advance: the technique is called the Listening to the Mysterious Cavern Spring Scripture. It requires ingesting seventh-rank inferior-grade Cavern Spring Clarity. For a cultivator who has not yet begun Qi Ingestion, everything is fine. But if you have already started ingesting qi… unless it happens to be exactly ‘Cavern Spring Clear qi,’ you probably cannot cultivate this thod.”
The old fox shook his head as he spoke.
“Most techniques this old man has seen only restrict the sa Dao lineage’s true qi.”
Xu Hei frowned.
“Hehe. Those are all mixed-grade thods for Qi Ingestion and Dao Foundation stages. Lower cultivators cobble them together and randomly choose a true qi to cultivate. Purple Mansion is far too precious. Usually the technique and the Qi-ingestion thod are paired together. Only with such perfect compatibility does one have any hope of forming divine abilities in the future.”
The old fox clearly looked down on those patchwork techniques. “From your situation, the person behind you has obviously already begun Qi Ingestion. That complicates things. Only the legendary ‘Primordial One Gives Birth to Water’ can purify the original true qi. One misstep in cultivation leaves us in exactly this predicant. Even if you take this Purple Mansion technique, you may not be able to cultivate it. Have you thought it through?”
“Naturally.”
Xu Hei knew Fang Qing’s intentions and accepted the ancient scroll without hesitation. Five large seal characters were written on the cover: Listening to the Mysterious Cavern Spring Scripture. When unrolled, it described everything from the qi-ingestion thod to Dao Foundation and even the breakthrough to Purple Mansion.
“Good.”
The old fox licked his whiskers, ready to leave.
“Wait!”
At that mont Xu Hei suddenly spoke.
“What? Do you intend to keep this old man’s pelt?” The old fox turned his head, his green eyes staring fixedly at Xu Hei.
“No.”
Xu Hei hastily put on a smiling face. “This old man still wishes to purchase a few items. Does Fellow Daoist have any in stock?”
“Purchase what? I already have enough [Zhen Water] materials and want no more.”
The old fox smiled again.
“This old man needs a storage artifact capable of concealing items from a Purple Mansion Spiritual Master. Early Purple Mansion is sufficient, of course.”
“Hiss—you truly dare to ask?” The old fox stared at Xu Hei, wondering what big sche this dwarf elder was planning.
He thought for a mont, about to refuse, then suddenly froze. “For such a transaction, it seems only the superior behind this old fox and the superior behind you can discuss it.”
“Hmm?”
Xu Hei’s hair stood on end. A flash of cyan light appeared ahead, revealing a young girl dressed in five-colored feathered robes, wearing a hairband, with cyan feather ornants on her forehead.
Her phoenix eyes were narrow and long, her bearing noble and lofty, almost impossible to look at directly.
Her aura was terrifying—she had clearly reached the Dao Foundation stage!
The demon girl smiled faintly and looked behind Xu Hei. “That human Dao Foundation cultivator, why not co out and show yourself?”
“Sigh—”
A sigh drifted from the void. Fang Qing stepped forward on rippling waves. “Fang Shui greets the young lady.”
“It’s you?”
Anzhuzi saw Fang Qing and reacted as if he had seen a ghost. His fox mouth fell open. He suddenly beat his chest and stamped his feet. “Why does Heaven favor the human race so much? Last ti I saw you, you were only at Qi Ingestion. Now you have already forged a Dao Foundation?! This old fox has cultivated for how many years and is still struggling at Qi Ingestion.”
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