Lying Low While Cultivating Immortality in Two Worlds Chapter 129

Several days later.

Fang Qing finished reading The Scripture of Nu Earth as Expounded by the Lord of the Charnel Grounds from beginning to end. He swallowed a dose of Bone Seed Fragrant Qi, and in an instant he achieved Dao Foundation and successfully cultivated the White Bone Contemplation.

"As expected of the Venerable One. His divine abilities are truly boundless."

Sangji prostrated himself in complete admiration.

"Enough. You may rise and speak..."

Fang Qing slowly recalled the various techniques Sangji had presented, then finally spoke. "Sangji... in your heart, why do you believe this world is the way it is?"

He needed to study and master all the Esoteric Hidden-Treasury thods one by one.

Yet what he wanted to understand even more was how a direct-line Golden Core sect disciple perceived the world.

"This realm is filthy and turbid, overrun with demons and monsters... Only when the Venerable One ascends to the highest seat can the entire world be swept clean."

Sangji prostrated himself once more.

"Never mind... Tell about the cultivation world instead."

Fang Qing waved his hand helplessly. He realized he had been foolish to ask a religious figure such a question.

"In the cultivation world, Dao Foundation and Qi Ingestion cultivators are nothing more than ants. Only those who reach Purple Mansion and beco Dharma Kings count as half a player on the board. Only the great Spiritual Masters of late Purple Mansion can influence the major tides of the world..."

Sangji pressed his palms together as he spoke.

'So I am still an ant?'

Fang Qing gave a self-deprecating smile and continued. "Then what do you know about the Supre Origin Temple, the Great Sun Wheel Turning Temple at the peak of the Great Snow Mountain?"

"This temple was established in the ancient antiquity. The exact period has been lost to history... It venerates the supre honored one of our Great Sun Esoteric Sect: the Great Sun Tathagata!"

Sangji spoke with deep reverence. "The monks of this temple primarily cultivate the [Star Sun] path. They rarely venture into the mortal world... Moreover, they rely entirely on empowernt transmission and very seldom practice Qi Ingestion..."

"Oh? Why is that? Is it because Great Sun Purple Qi is scarce?"

Fang Qing was curious.

Unexpectedly, Sangji smiled. "How could the Great Sun Wheel Turning Temple possibly lack Great Sun Purple Qi? They have as much as they desire... It is simply that a Buddha decree was issued long ago commanding the extermination of all orthodox Great Sun cultivators. For that reason they gradually ceased practicing Qi Ingestion..."

'Again with this?'

Fang Qing frowned. 'Could it be that the one who forbade Great Sun Purple Qi was the Great Sun Tathagata himself?'

"Not exactly... This humble monk once heard a Dharma King say that the one who prohibited Great Sun Purple Qi was the one on [Fang Sun]..."

Sangji continued. "However, the Great Snow Mountain tacitly approved the matter as well. Otherwise, how could a single individual possibly seal off the entire world?"

'As expected... There is a great secret hidden within the Great Sun True Explanation!'

Fang Qing thought to himself.

The ancient Great Sun Dao lineage cultivators were no longer tolerated by the present world.

The ancient thods had allowed one to gather and ingest qi to enter the Dao and cultivate. Yet the current new thods required ingesting qi, and ordinary mortals could not even harmonize with the first breath of true qi. It was clear that the highest levels did not want too many cultivators appearing.

'And that [Fang Sun] True Lord, whose ascension marked the beginning of the near-ancient calendar. Since his ti, True Lords have rarely walked the world... He also prohibited orthodox Great Sun cultivators. No matter how one looks at it, there is a major secret here...'

'But now is not the ti for to investigate.'

...

Boom!

The temple gates swung open with a thunderous sound.

Sangji strode out proudly, with Fang Qing following behind him.

'We pay respects to the Guru!'

The four Bright Ones were all present. Miaofeng, Miaoshui, Miaoshan, and Qingjing bowed respectfully.

From the corner of their eyes they caught sight of the Fire Luoba Bowl in Fang Qing's hand, and their expressions varied.

"Enough."

Sangji waved his hand, his face full of smiles. "I have obtained Fang Shui. My fate is now complete... I am preparing to enter seclusion to study the Buddhist Dharma thods and ready myself to attain the stage of non-retreat..."

"Congratulations, Guru!"

Miaofeng and the other Bright Ones were overjoyed.

If Sangji succeeded, the benefits to them would be imnse. With a casual wave of his hand he could grant them the status of Consecrated Sons or Consecrated Consorts. Their strength would instantly leap from the sha of Dao Foundation to the sha of Purple Mansion! Subduing perfect Dao Foundation cultivators would then beco quite easy. It would be a teoric rise.

Therefore, their congratulations were sincere and heartfelt.

"Very well. There is one more thing... I have already accepted Fang Shui as a Bright Son and bestowed upon him the Buddhist artifact Fire Luoba Bowl to take the place of Miaohuo."

Sangji glanced at Fang Qing and continued. "From today onward, Fang Shui Bright Son shall be the head of the Five Bright Ones. While this monk is in seclusion, he will be responsible for handling all affairs of the White Bone Dao."

In an ordinary force, such a sudden appointnt of a second-in-command would inevitably spark power struggles. But under the Esoteric Hidden-Treasury Domain system, even if these Bright Sons and Wisdom Consorts felt dissatisfied in their hearts, they could only endure it. Otherwise Sangji could simply strip them of their cultivation and replace them with anyone he pleased.

Fang Qing kept his eyes on his nose and his nose on his heart, appearing very humble. In truth, this was all content he had discussed and agreed upon with Sangji beforehand.

Fate and destiny were things that were always deeply hidden, especially for high-level cultivators. Unless Sangji opened his mind completely and allowed a Dharma King to inspect it, no one would notice anything amiss. Therefore when he claid his fate was complete, it was complete. He might even be able to swindle a Purple Mansion spiritual item from the All-Beings Formless Temple!

Of course, Fang Qing also very much hoped that Sangji could truly break through to Purple Mansion. That way he would have a Purple Mansion subordinate. Unfortunately, the chances were extrely slim. Moreover, if the Purple Mansion breakthrough failed, the cultivator would inevitably perish directly, their Dao rging with heaven and earth, beyond any salvation.

Now he had finally embedded himself into the Esoteric Hidden-Treasury system and gained a proper background... He could enjoy decades of freedom.

'But it is a pity that it is only these few decades.'

Fang Qing sighed inwardly as he watched Sangji depart.

"Fang Shui Bright Son... We offended you greatly before. Please be magnanimous."

Miaofeng Bright Son's expression shifted several tis, turning pale and then flushed, before he finally forced a smile.

"Indeed... If the Bright Son wishes this consort to make ands in any way, this consort will gladly comply."

Qingjing Wisdom Consort smiled charmingly and gave a flirtatious glance.

They were the ones tasked with pursuing Fang Shui. Even if they had failed to capture him, they had still caused him a minor offense.

"Wherever did that co from... I still need to thank the two of you. Otherwise, how could I have obtained such a great opportunity?"

Fang Qing smiled faintly and rapped his knuckles on the Fire Luoba Bowl in his hand.

The [Nu Earth] mana and the Buddhist light of the Six-Syllable Great Radiance Mantra made Miaoshui and Miaoshan nod in approval, their expressions tinged with envy. "This Buddhist artifact can release red lotus flas. We have coveted it for a long ti, but in the end that shaless Miaohuo took it for himself... Miaohuo's behavior was always crude. We never liked him..."

"I see."

Fang Qing kept a smile on his face, neither confirming nor denying their words. He said, "First, take to the storehouse to have a look..."

...

Wusheng Temple, underground.

Two ferocious, evil-looking statues guarded the doors to the underground prison.

"These two statues are imbued with the might of the Great Majestic Virtue Vajra, further reinforced by incantations such as the Killing Karma Speech Curse and the Majestic Virtue Vajra Curse... Even a Dao Foundation cultivator would find it difficult to break through them quickly..."

Miaoshui Wisdom Consort moved with supple grace, her charm flowing like water as she led the way ahead. "Only by using our [Nu Earth] path's Contemplation of Freedom White Bone Curse can they be opened..."

After opening the underground prison, rows of enormous chests ca into view.

Fang Qing flicked his sleeve lightly.

Crack!

Crack!

One chest after another sprang open, releasing radiant glows of various spiritual materials.

Piles of spiritual rice stacked like mountains, all sorts of precious dicines... even Qi Ingestion spiritual materials and Dao Foundation spiritual materials...

The entire warehouse was packed full to bursting!

"This... I thought the spiritual resources of this world were extrely scarce."

Fang Qing picked up a Dao Foundation spiritual item, a branch of Pure Radiance, and could not help sighing.

"Indeed, this realm produces very few spiritual items, but there are quite a number of Grotto-Heavens and Blessed Lands... Especially the Grotto-Heavens from the ancient and primordial antiquity. Who knows how many good things have accumulated inside them. Even Purple Mansion spiritual materials are not lacking... Many factions have been stockpiling for hundreds or thousands of years and have built up substantial reserves.

"Moreover... low-level cultivators may not see many good items, but this is the White Bone Dao!"

Miaofeng Bright Son smiled arrogantly and added, "If one day the Bright Son visits the treasure vault of the All-Beings Formless Temple, only then will you understand what it ans for treasures to soar to the heavens..."

Fang Qing nodded and walked over to a large golden vat.

Inside the vat was filled with ghee, emitting a powerful dicinal fragrance. A re sniff caused his blood and qi to stir slightly.

"This is Dragon Elephant Ghee... It is a major body-refinent dicine from our Esoteric Hidden-Treasury Domain, suitable for many Esoteric Hidden-Treasury techniques."

Qingjing Wisdom Consort explained for Fang Qing.

"What a fine item... With a vat this large, it should be more than enough for to cultivate to second-rank superior Body Refinent, or even third-rank."

Fang Qing waved his hand. "Send it to my room."

"This..."

Miaoshan and the others exchanged glances, then finally nodded.

Since this was the head of the Bright Ones personally appointed by the Guru, any issues would be his responsibility.

"Very well..."

After a brief tour of the six major underground vaults, Fang Qing arrived at the White Bone Temple and asked, "Normally, who is in charge of the temple's affairs?"

Miaoshan Wisdom Consort stepped forward. "It is this servant... For major matters we notify Miaoshui Wisdom Consort, who then reports to the Guru."

"Excellent. Then continue operating under the sa arrangent. The running of the White Bone Dao will rely on you, Miaoshan... Notify only when major matters arise."

Fang Qing looked toward the other four Bright Ones and Wisdom Consorts. "I have rarely obtained such an opportunity and intend to enter seclusion to properly digest it. All of you may go about your business."

"Yes!"

Miaofeng and the other Bright Ones and Wisdom Consorts looked at one another, then nodded and withdrew.

They felt a small sense of relief that Fang Qing had not stripped them of their authority.

Miaofeng Bright Son and Qingjing Wisdom Consort exchanged a glance, their expressions unreadable.

Situations where yesterday's mortal enemies beca today's colleagues were most common in the Esoteric Hidden-Treasury Domain.

"What should we do about the Yin Ping’er matter?"

Miaofeng Bright Son secretly transmitted his voice to Qingjing Wisdom Consort. "You have already taken what you wanted from her. If she cos looking for trouble, what then?"

"Hmph, she is nothing more than a re demonic-path demoness... Would she truly dare cause a disturbance at our White Bone Dao?"

Qingjing Wisdom Consort smiled faintly, her eyes flowing with charm. "We can secretly present this new Bright Son with a generous gift... That should resolve everything."

"A reasonable suggestion..."

Miaofeng Bright Son cast a greedy glance over Qingjing Wisdom Consort's exquisite figure, but he did not dare overstep in the slightest.

After all, she was the Guru's Wisdom Consort!

Until the Guru himself gave permission, he would not dare make any presumptuous move even if given ten tis the courage.

...

"Finally..."

Fang Qing closed the door to his room, set up a layer of protective array, and let out a long breath.

"With this identity, things should be a bit more stable here in Ancient Shu."

"With this layer of status, even if I go to trade with Purple Mansion-level forces, I will not have to fear them suddenly turning hostile and devouring whole... Of course, provided that the treasures involved in the trade do not arouse Purple Mansion greed."

"Otherwise, if a Purple Mansion cultivator kills and flees, I could hardly expect Sangji to avenge ."