After checking the materials, Fang Qing finally turned his attention to the main prize of this venture: the relics left behind by the Blue Sea Ancestor.
The first item was a strange curtain that could isolate divine sense. Embroidered in one corner was the na of the object: Heaven-Shrouding Curtain.
Whether this had been left by the Blue Sea Ancestor or issued by the sect, it was another exotic treasure of the mirage-pearl type.
Exotic treasures had no fixed rank yet each possessed its own unique wondrous function.
For example, although this curtain could not be used in combat, if it could deceive a Core Formation divine sense it would have many practical uses.
Next, Fang Qing looked at the iron scroll.
"Zhoutian Star Palace Map?"
He opened the scroll and saw nurous geographical diagrams along with various markings.
"Hmm?"
His divine sense examined it carefully and spotted a small tree imprint in the central region.
"Could this be the location of the Five Elents Fruit Tree?"
"This map looks quite detailed. The next ti the palace opens, carrying it should allow to locate quite a few treasures."
"The Zhoutian Star Palace is at least a Nascent Soul-level force!"
Fang Qing stored the iron-scroll map away, then picked up the two magical treasures that had belonged to the Blue Sea Ancestor.
"Magical treasures of a Core Formation perfection cultivator..."
He sent a strand of mana into one, yet found it extrely difficult to refine. He could not help sighing. "The foundation should still be intact. Even if their spirituality has greatly diminished, they are at least lower-grade third-rank..."
The two treasures consisted of one pearl and one flute.
Together with the Tide Birth Pearl, they made Fang Qing sigh that the Blue Sea Ancestor truly had a deep affection for pearls.
"Perhaps this pearl treasure can be nad Sea Transformation Pearl?"
Fang Qing could not help thinking of his original Sea Transformation Pearl. Even after it advanced to a lower-grade spiritual artifact it had remained of little use and had been sitting at the bottom of his storage bag all this ti.
After today it could finally retire in honor. Perhaps he could bestow it upon Qin Ruxue or Xiang Dahu?
After all, for an early-stage Foundation Establishnt cultivator a lower-grade spiritual artifact would be quite suitable.
He steadied his mind and looked at the greatest harvest from this adventure: the Tide Birth Pearl.
The pearl was the size of a baby's fist, glowing with deep blue light and carrying unfathomably profound mana fluctuations.
Fang Qing circulated the Blue Sea Technique, ford hand seals with both hands, and sent strands of mana into the Tide Birth Pearl, slowly beginning to refine it.
Boom!
After an unknown length of ti he finally imprinted his own mark upon the pearl. His divine sense imdiately sensed another dantian!
Or rather, a second dantian!
"So the so-called external core technique is actually using an artifact to create a second dantian for the cultivator?"
"It seems this pearl is quite helpful even for Core Formation cultivators. At the very least it can provide a large amount of mana in critical monts."
At this point Fang Qing could sense the terrifying Blue Sea Technique mana inside the Tide Birth Pearl.
It's Core Formation-level mana far surpassed his own in both quality and quantity.
"No wonder one must cultivate the Blue Sea Technique to refine the Tide Birth Pearl. If the mana is not of the sa origin it cannot be mobilized at all."
His heart stirred as he slowly began drawing upon the mana from the second dantian, that is, the external core.
In an instant Fang Qing's mana aura surged dramatically, breaking through late Foundation Establishnt, Foundation Establishnt perfection, and even faintly reaching the Core Formation level!
But at this mont both his body and mana began to feel overwheld.
It was the sa as how a Qi Refining cultivator could at most use lower-grade second-rank talismans. Using mid-grade second-rank talismans risked mutual destruction.
Fang Qing similarly felt his divine sense had reached its limit, making it difficult to mobilize any more external-pill mana.
"No wonder the sect requires pseudo-core cultivators of the Blue Sea Technique to refine the Tide Birth Pearl. Because pseudo-core-level divine sense can more easily control Core Formation mana?"
"Wait, no. This Tide Birth Pearl seems to have even more functions. I am not a Pseudo-core, yet I can barely possess Core Formation combat strength with its help. And according to Xiang Dahu's experience, this pearl can even grant Qi Refining cultivators Foundation Establishnt combat strength. It appears the Tide Birth Pearl cos in genuine and inferior versions. The one I have must be the genuine article!"
"A genuine Tide Birth Pearl can allow a mid-stage Foundation Establishnt cultivator like to barely possess Core Formation combat strength? Then once I reach late Foundation Establishnt or even perfection, would that not grant genuine Core Formation or even peak early Core Formation combat strength? Truly a wonderful treasure!"
Fang Qing was overjoyed, then shook his head. "But right now my mana has only barely reached Core Formation level. My divine sense, physique, and even third-rank thods are still far behind. Perhaps after refining those two other magical treasures I can barely hold my own against an early Core Formation cultivator for a while, but defeating one would still be unlikely."
"Of course, only a madman would fight a Core Formation cultivator at Foundation Establishnt. Using the Tide Birth Pearl to bully Foundation Establishnt and Dao Foundation cultivators is far more appealing!"
"I already have the magical treasure. The key now is divine sense and physique."
With a thought he activated the Dao-Genesis Pearl and attempted to convert the Tide Birth Pearl's external-core mana into primordial qi. For so reason it failed.
"It is ultimately still an external object after all."
Fang Qing shook his head.
"Moreover, the external-core technique has rely given a second dantian. The shackles and bottlenecks within my original dantian still remain."
Several days later.
Inside the quiet chamber.
Fang Qing held a verdant jade slip in his hand and silently comprehended its contents.
This too was a relic left by the Blue Sea Ancestor: the complete Blue Sea Technique!
It contained not only the Core Formation stage but even the sections on condensing a Nascent Soul.
In addition, it recorded several thods for crafting magical treasures suitable for Core Formation cultivators of the Blue Sea Technique, including the very recipe for refining the Tide Birth Pearl.
Countless personal insights and realizations from the Blue Sea Ancestor were also included.
With this jade slip in his possession, Fang Qing could honestly claim that the true orthodox lineage of the Blue Sea now rested with him.
More crucially, the Blue Sea Ancestor had left several secret arts and insights on the Core Formation thod itself.
According to Fang Qing’s estimation, if he mastered these secret arts and paired them with a single Core Formation Pill, his chances of success would be virtually guaranteed.
‘Compared to the Qi Ingestion path, the Qi Refining side truly is far more straightforward. As long as the resources are sufficient, five hundred years of lifespan is already waving at .’
After a mont of excitent, Fang Qing resud refining the Tide Birth Pearl.
‘This Tide Birth Pearl is ultimately an inanimate object. Once the mana stored inside is exhausted, it must either be replenished by the cultivator himself or placed atop a spirit vein, where it will automatically draw in the essence of the sun and moon to temper spiritual energy into mana.’
After imprinting every inch of the Tide Birth Pearl with his own mark, he opened his mouth and inhaled. The pearl sank directly into his dantian qi sea, hovering above the pool of liquid mana.
Fang Qing rested briefly, then took out the two other treasures: one pearl and one flute.
The Blue Sea Ancestor had also recorded details about these two items in the jade slip.
The Sea Transformation Pearl was originally nad the Stabilizing Sea Pearl. It had been refined from the inner core of a thousand-year spirit clam and was once a supre-grade magical treasure. Now it had fallen to lower grade.
This pearl could release boundless heavy water of mountains and seas to protect its owner, with endless profound uses.
According to the Blue Sea Ancestor’s original plan, he had intended to refine twenty-four Stabilizing Sea Pearls into a complete set of supre-grade magical treasure, which would remain highly useful even at the Nascent Soul stage.
As for the jade flute treasure, it had been the Blue Sea Ancestor’s natal magical treasure. He was a master of music, and when paired with this flute his sound-wave techniques could injure enemies invisibly, achieving victory without battle.
In his day, relying on this one offensive and one defensive treasure, the Blue Sea Ancestor had earned a modest reputation across the Eastern Sea, if not outright dominance.
‘Music? I know nothing about it. It seems I can only rely on the flute’s inherent power. If I can draw out thirty or forty percent of its strength, that will be good enough.’
‘The Sea Transformation Pearl, however, suits my needs perfectly.’
He circulated his external core. Core Formation-level Blue Sea Technique mana surged forth as he began refining the two treasures.
These artifacts had gone unrefined for a long ti and had dropped significantly in grade.
Now, bathed in Core Formation mana for the first ti in ages, they greedily absorbed the nourishnt, allowing Fang Qing to imprint his marks and achieve initial refinent without resistance.
‘Once these two treasures are refined, I will barely possess the capital to contend with Core Formation cultivators. My safety within the Minor Huan Sea will increase dramatically.
‘The only shortcomings remain my physique and divine sense. In the end, I will not be able to sustain the fight for long.’
Prolonged defense inevitably leads to defeat. The longer he clashed with a Core Formation cultivator, the greater Fang Qing felt his chances of losing would beco.
One careless mont and he might even suffer heavy injury!
But if he could elevate his physique and divine sense to Core Formation realm—or even just pseudo-core level—he would be able to fight an early Core Formation cultivator to a standstill.
After all, this Tide Birth Pearl was the genuine article, refined around the inner core of a superior third-rank flood dragon!
In theory, its upper limit was enough to elevate an early Core Formation cultivator’s mana by an entire minor realm.
‘Haha, this harvest is truly massive.’
After completing the initial refinent, Fang Qing ford hand seals with both hands and drew the two treasures into his dantian qi sea.
A cultivator’s dantian qi sea and sea of consciousness were his most private domains. Even a Core Formation divine sense could not peer inside directly.
Only if he were captured and forcibly scanned by a Core Formation cultivator would concealnt beco aningless.
Fang Qing flicked his sleeves and rose gracefully to his feet.
At this mont, a wisp of lung-tal qi transford from Wolfbreaker circulated within his lungs. Inside his dantian qi sea, the Tide Birth Pearl hovered like a blue sun. Below it, on the pool of liquid mana, floated the pearl and flute treasures. He was ard to the teeth.
A storage bag hung at his waist, filled with countless valuables.
Inside the blackwood ring on his finger lay a vast collection of third-rank spiritual items.
He wondered whether even the sect’s Core Formation ancestors were as wealthy as he was now.
With leisurely steps he left seclusion and found Qin Ruxue tending to the cave residence.
Upon seeing him, she bowed respectfully. “Young Master, Elder Tianding sent a voice transmission talisman inviting you to refine pills together.”
“Oh?”
‘Could Tianding have gotten lucky and obtained a second-rank longevity fruit?’
Fang Qing’s eyes brightened.
The return of this batch of exploration disciples marked a grand celebration for the sect’s upper echelons.
Not only him—almost every high-level figure had gained benefits, though many kept them hidden.
For Tianding to rember him showed considerable sincerity.
“Nothing pressing at the mont. I can go take a look. I was just planning to stretch my legs and accept an external assignnt as a guardian of so island.”
Fang Qing no longer cared much for the spirit vein and cold spring of his own cave residence.
Refining second-rank superior pills—or even third-rank pills—and advancing his later cultivation would be inconvenient within the Blue Sea Sect.
Therefore, his sights had long been set on Taibai Island!
If he could take responsibility for guarding that island, it would be ideal.
Although the island’s third-rank spiritual vein had suffered heavy damage, it was still more than enough to support his current cultivation.
Not to ntion the third-rank Ice Soul Cold Spring it possessed!
As for safety?
With his current strength, even if Heiyuan True Personage attacked personally he might not be able to take him down. Combined with the Plum Blossom Divination to foresee fortune and misfortune, it was others who should be worried.
User Comments
0 comments from readers