One year later.
A Five-Tusked Great Ship, resembling an aerial fortress, flew out from the Azure Sea Sect. Once it reached beyond the island, it descended onto the sea and cleaved through the waves to advance, conserving spiritual power.
This was a warship dispatched by the Azure Sea Sect to reinforce the front lines. The deck was packed densely with cultivators.
“Young Master delaying departure by a month truly was a wise choice, I heard the previous warship was ambushed by Zhong Family cultivators and suffered heavy losses.”
Qin Ruxue wore a fitted white combat dress, looking valiant and heroic. Her gaze toward Fang Qing was filled with admiration.
“You should take on missions properly this ti and strive to obtain another Foundation Establishnt Pill.”
Fang Qing spoke with a faint smile at the corner of his lips.
Although cultivators who failed twice at Foundation Establishnt found it difficult to obtain another opportunity from the sect, it was warti now! If they wanted people to risk their lives, they naturally had to loosen restrictions.
Moreover, with his own support and by taking the back door through Linghu Chong, the chances were still quite high.
Though Qin Ruxue was nominally in the Qi Refining stage, she actually possessed Foundation Establishnt–level combat power. Even if it was not sustained for long, executing missions ant for Qi Refining disciples would basically pose no danger to her and instead offer abundant opportunities to earn rit.
Besides, was he not behind the scenes providing strategies and divining fortune and misfortune?
“This trip, I must also reap more benefits.”
Fang Qing gazed at the sea and muttered inwardly.
After reaching Foundation Establishnt, cultivation had grown increasingly difficult.
According to his converted Azure Sea Art, after a year of cultivation, there were still only three drops of liquid True Power within his Dantian Sea of Qi, with hardly any growth.
He estimated that at least another year would be required to break through the upper limit and condense a fourth drop of liquid True Power.
Such liquid True Power, once consud, was easy enough to replenish, but increasing its upper limit was extrely difficult!
“By this calculation, it takes about two years to increase the upper limit by one drop of liquid True Power. To accumulate one hundred drops and reach the False Pill Realm, then attempt Core Formation, would require at least one hundred ninety-four years! And that doesn’t even include the bottlenecks between early-, mid-, and late-stage Foundation Establishnt.”
“Foundation Establishnt cultivators only live two hundred years. Even with life-extending pills, it is hard to exceed two hundred twenty years, this also ans that with mid-grade aptitude like mine, if I only shut myself inside a Cave Dwelling to cultivate bitterly without relying on any external ans, I might not even reach peak Foundation Establishnt before old age!”
No wonder cultivators of mid-grade or low-grade aptitude, even if they were fortunate enough to establish their foundation, had no hope of Core Formation in their lifetis. Most of them hovered in the early or mid stages of Foundation Establishnt.
If one wished to increase cultivation speed, there were varying degrees of difficulty.
The hardest was naturally improving one’s innate aptitude. Fang Qing had read so many texts, yet still had not found a thod to enhance aptitude.
The easier way was to improve external conditions, such as cultivating atop a third-tier spiritual vein, or consuming pills that enhanced True Power!
“Among second-tier pills, breakthrough pills are the most precious. Next co pills that increase True Power, previously, I couldn’t find the formulas on the fourth floor of the Heavenly Book Pavilion, but the sixth floor had them.”
During this past year, while converting his cultivation thod, Fang Qing had also refined several pools of second-tier pills, earning sect contribution points and gaining entry to the sixth floor of the Heavenly Book Pavilion, where he exchanged for several pill formulas.
At this mont, his hand inside his sleeve was continuously rubbing a jade slip of erald green.
“Water Origin Pill, a second-tier mid-grade pill. Using a second-tier water-aspected Demon Core, flesh, blood, and marrow as primary materials, it assists Foundation Establishnt cultivators in cultivation.”
The Azure Sea Sect’s pill formulas fully embodied the characteristic of living off the sea. For Foundation Establishnt cultivators wishing to enhance True Power, materials from second-tier demonic beasts were indispensable.
Of course, not every second-tier sea beast ford a Demon Core. Thus, the Water Origin Pill likewise had two grades. One used only flesh, blood, and marrow without a Demon Core as its primary ingredients, forming a second-tier low-grade pill suitable for early-stage Foundation Establishnt cultivators.
If a second-tier Demon Core was used as the primary material, it would beco second-tier mid-grade. So exceptional batches could even approach second-tier top-grade, suitable for mid- or even late-stage Foundation Establishnt cultivators to refine their True Power!
“But second-tier Demon Cores are extrely precious. If available, they are basically used to refine Foundation Establishnt Pills, using them for True Power–enhancing pills is quite extravagant.”
“Therefore, many mid- and even late-stage Foundation Establishnt cultivators in the Azure Sea Sect likely use only the second-tier low-grade Water Origin Pill for cultivation. Most probably don’t take pills regularly at all, relying solely on Cave Dwelling spiritual energy for bitter cultivation.”
If Fang Qing wished to achieve Core Formation, he naturally had to cultivate by consuming Water Origin Pills.
But ordinarily, second-tier demonic beasts hid deep in the sea. Hunting them required large ships venturing into the deep ocean and relying on luck to encounter one or two amidst the vast waters.
How could it compare to now? A third-tier demonic beast was actively driving large numbers of second-tier demonic beasts over. With sufficient skill, one could slaughter them freely, of course, if one’s cultivation and spells were inadequate and one beca food for demonic beasts instead, there would be no grounds for complaint.
His heart stirred as he took out another jade slip, filled with battlefield intelligence.
In the most prominent position was the image of a third-tier demonic beast.
“Third-Tier Demon King, Sea-Covering Turtle!”
Under Fang Qing’s gaze, the turtle was massive as a mountain, its shell a blue-green hue covered with ferocious barbs.
Even as an image, it radiated a terrifying aura.
“As expected of a third-tier demonic beast, though turtle-type demonic beasts are not known for offensive power. It is probably about evenly matched with Sect Master Linghu, who possesses Core Formation combat power through External Pill Art.”
Having divined in advance, this troop transport ship traveled smoothly and reached the Zhong Family sea region.
Little White Island.
This island had originally been occupied by the Zhong Family, but was later seized by the Azure Sea Sect and used as a bridgehead for invading Zhong Family waters.
On the island, various lights flashed brilliantly, clearly indicating formidable formations had already been arranged.
Whoosh! Whoosh!
Streams of flying vessels and flashes of artifact light streaked through the air, each carrying cultivators. These were Azure Sea Sect disciples, or hired loose cultivators, heading out to hunt sea beasts and Zhong Family cultivators.
Bloodstains upon the reefs had yet to fade, adding several degrees of ferocious aura to the island.
Rumble!
The Five-Tusked Great Ship docked at the harbor, prompting cheers from many cultivators ahead.
“Oh? It seems the cultivators of Little White Island are very welcoming of our arrival. Clearly, the pressure on the front lines is imnse.”
Clad in a blue robe with Azure Spirit Inner Armor worn beneath, Fang Qing, as a Foundation Establishnt cultivator, naturally did not travel alongside Qin Ruxue. Instead, he was invited to the center of Little White Island, into a newly constructed Ancient Bronze Hall.
“This style sowhat resembles the sect’s Administrative Affairs Hall.”
Upon entering, he saw two rows of Foundation Establishnt cultivators seated on either side. Elder Wanbao sat at the head with an expressionless face.
“Senior Brother Wanbao, we have co to receive orders.”
Fang Qing and the other Foundation Establishnt cultivators from the sa ship cupped their fists in salute.
“Good, good, Junior Brother Zhang, you are responsible for repairing the island’s formations. Junior Brother Lu, you go to the Talisman Hall.”
Elder Wanbao took out several jade slips and swiftly assigned tasks, then looked toward Fang Qing. “Junior Brother Fang, congratulations on successfully establishing your foundation.”
“Many thanks, Senior Brother Wanbao.”
Fang Qing returned the salute.
“Haha, you have newly advanced to Foundation Establishnt and are also an alchemist. Under this old man’s command, you shall handle logistics. The front lines are urgent, and we are in dire need of several types of healing and yang-aspected pills, hmm, you will be responsible for refining the Yang Profound Pill.”
Elder Wanbao smiled. This had also been ntioned in the flying letter sent by Linghu Chong.
“I have reviewed the formula for the Yang Profound Pill. There are no major issues, I only require a hot spring.”
After so thought, Fang Qing replied.
The Yang Profound Pill was rely a first-tier top-grade pill, but when held in the mouth, it emitted a continuous stream of blazing sun energy to nourish the Dharma Body. Clearly, many cultivators had suffered frost injuries in the sect’s war against the Zhong Family.
“No problem. The island has already been modified. There are eight Spring Eyes, three of which are hot springs. I will issue orders to allocate one for your use.”
Elder Wanbao readily agreed.
Night fell.
As a high-ranking sect cultivator, even in warti, my treatnt did not diminish much.
On Little White Island, he was allocated a second-tier Cave Dwelling. Though its spiritual energy was only second-tier low-grade, it was already decent.
Seated cross-legged upon a ditation cushion, he silently contemplated the intelligence he had gathered today.
Reports from the rear could be falsified; only the front lines were truly reliable.
“At present, the entire battlefield can be broadly divided into two parts, the first is the main battlefield. Led by the sect’s two Core Formation Ancestors, the majority of elite cultivators are jointly attacking the Zhong Family’s headquarters, Taibai Island!”
Taibai Island was protected by a third-tier formation and presided over by Zhong Xuanli, a Core Formation cultivator. It had withstood the Azure Sea Sect’s army for a full two years!
Of course, these two years had not been aningless. The consumption of spiritual vein energy and resources alone had reached astronomical levels.
The Zhong Family’s grand formation continuously drew upon the earth-vein spiritual energy, already causing the island’s spiritual power to gradually thin. In a few more years, it might destabilize the earth veins, greatly reducing the formation’s power, that would be the opportunity to breach the island!
The other battlefield concerned the Sea-Covering Turtle!
This Demon King’s whereabouts were unpredictable. It stirred massive beast tides to attack the Azure Sea Sect’s transport fleets and supply routes, most critically, Little White Island.
Occasionally, the Sea-Covering Turtle personally attacked the island’s defensive formation, forcing Sect Master Linghu to return in reinforcent and granting Taibai Island respite.
“So it seems, both battlefields are in a stalemate, waiting to see which side fails to endure?”
Fang Qing’s expression gradually grew solemn. “The Azure Sea Sect has marched far for this campaign. Though it enjoys the abundant resources of the Heavenly Heart Linked Islands and is flourishing for now, if its weakness is seized and logistics suffer severe damage, the entire expeditionary force could be trapped in Zhong Family waters, that would be disastrous.”
Now that he was a Foundation Establishnt cultivator of the sect, his stance naturally aligned with it.
“The Zhong Family Ancestor hides within the formation and cannot be easily dealt with. The key lies with the Sea-Covering Turtle! If its exact whereabouts can be determined, the two Core Formation Ancestors joining forces could potentially slay it.”
But that old turtle was extrely cunning. Each ti, it confird that the Blue Wave Fairy was restrained by the Zhong Family Ancestor before exchanging a few moves with Sect Master Linghu.
At the slightest sign of trouble, it would imdiately enter the deep sea and flee thousands of miles.
In short, it avoided ever facing both Core Formation Ancestors of the Azure Sea Sect at the sa ti, cautious to the extre.
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