Lying Low While Cultivating Immortality in Two Worlds Chapter 81

"Such a divine pill—I can only regret that I have not yet laid eyes upon it."

Fang Qing calculated how many Water Essence Pills he had consud to reach the peak of early Foundation Establishnt, and a wave of longing rose in his heart.

"Haha... It is said that when our Blue Sea Ancestor ca here long ago, he was pursuing news of a secret realm. After searching everywhere without success, he established the sect on Verdant Jade Island."

Elder Tianding continued, "Yet according to our sect's records, in his later years the Ancestor finally discovered clues to that secret realm and departed, never to return."

"So... he may have perished inside the secret realm?"

Fang Qing had so guesses in his mind.

"At first, the Ancestor's disciples believed he had fallen within the secret realm. But many years later, forces such as Tianxin Linked Islands and the Zhong Family rose to prominence with Core Formation power. Although their inheritances should also originate from the Eastern Sea, it cannot be ruled out that they obtained relics from the Ancestor's Core Formation remains."

Elder Tianding explained.

"So... our sect suspects that clues to the secret realm lie in the hands of these two Core Formation forces?"

Fang Qing blinked, finally understanding the deeper reason why the Blue Sea Sect had insisted on destroying both Tianxin Linked Islands and the Zhong Family.

"Correct. Even if these two major Core Formation forces did not obtain the Ancestor's relics, after so many years our Blue Sea Sect has practically turned the entire Minor Huan Sea cultivation world upside down and still found not the slightest trace of the secret realm."

Elder Tianding sighed. "Therefore, the secret realm is most likely located at the foundational sites of these two powers—places we were previously unable to investigate."

"This deduction does seem quite reasonable."

Fang Qing rubbed his chin. "If spiritual qi leaks from the secret realm's location, it would very likely give rise to a high-grade spiritual vein."

"Exactly! That is the principle!"

Elder Tianding stroked his beard. "The sect has already dispatched core disciples to investigate. News should arrive before long."

Mystic Jade Cave.

"An entrance to a secret realm near Tianxin Island and Taibai Island?"

Fang Qing toyed with a second-rank treasure herb he had exchanged from the Pill Hall using Elder Tianding's token. A thoughtful look crossed his face. "No wonder they rushed to station people there the mont the war ended—and offered such generous treatnt to array masters."

"The Blue Sea Sect truly knows how to endure. They stubbornly wiped out two major Core Formation forces before finally beginning the search for the secret realm."

"Otherwise, the situation might have turned into a joint developnt by three parties. Who would not prefer sole possession?"

"Never mind. Now that the dicinal ingredients are all gathered, I can first refine the Minor Barrier-Breaking Pill."

As for Foundation Establishnt Pills? Those ranked as second-rank superior and carried considerable difficulty.

Moreover, Fang Qing had not yet fully digested the pill dao knowledge from Ancient Shu. There was no need to rush.

"Besides that... the true qi required for the Heavenly Escape Sword Art must be carefully collected by Qin Ruxue."

He increasingly felt that taking a wisdom consort back then had been the right decision.

In fact, it now seed almost insufficient.

After all, Qin Ruxue was quite busy herself.

"Could it be ti to start looking for a second wisdom consort? Or even a bright son would do..."

"But no matter what, I will not consider Martial Sister Gong Susu and her sister."

Inside the pill-refining chamber.

Fang Qing ford hand seals with both hands. Streams of mana poured into the second-rank cold spring.

Gurgle gurgle!

The cold spring continuously released frigid qi. The originally azure-green spiritual spring water gradually took on a faint crimson hue.

"This Water-Fire Pill Formula is truly ingenious. After sacrificing and refining Crimson Sun Spiritual Water into it, this spring has temporarily advanced to mid-grade second rank—on par with the Cold-Hot Dual Springs on Pill Island."

Watching the cold and hot waters within the spring intertwine in yin-yang harmony, forming the shape of a taiji diagram, Fang Qing nodded in satisfaction.

This Water-Fire Pill Formula had been a gift left by the previous owner of the cave residence, the Foundation Establishnt cultivator Xiang Shaocen. It could temporarily elevate a lower-grade second-rank spiritual spring to mid-grade second rank, providing great benefits for pill refining.

After all, the Minor Barrier-Breaking Pill Fang Qing now prepared to refine ranked as mid-grade second rank. Using a mid-grade second-rank spiritual pool for it would be perfectly complentary.

It would even suffice to attempt refining a Foundation Establishnt Pill with only a slight shortfall.

Foundation Establishnt Pills ranked as superior second rank, but their extre rarity made refining them in the Cold Spring Peak sowhat shocking to the world.

Using a lower-grade second-rank spiritual pool was possible but would undoubtedly drag down the success rate due to the spring's inferior quality.

In truth, even a mid-grade second-rank spiritual pool was slightly insufficient, though still within tolerable limits.

"I have received the lingering grace of a predecessor. I should express so gratitude."

Fang Qing thought of this task being handed to Qin Ruxue again and imdiately set the matter aside. He took out a Purple Qi Flower, a second-rank treasure herb.

The flower was as large as a bowl's mouth, its entire body blooming with lustrous, multicolored purple halos—a clear sign of a rare treasure herb.

"This main ingredient should be tempered with the hot spring first. After three days, switch to the cold spring. Only after three cycles of cold and heat can it be completed."

Fang Qing had already studied the Minor Barrier-Breaking Pill formula more than once and had even calculated an auspicious day to open the pool. He did not hesitate now. He tossed the flower into the spring water. Waves of intense heat surged forth, extracting the Purple Qi Flower into liquid form.

Fang Qing's divine sense instantly spread out, carefully observing every change in the dicinal properties and assisting the refinent process.

Ti passed unknowingly—three full months.

"Barrier-breaking pills of this kind are not only difficult to refine but take an extraordinarily long ti. No wonder they are even more expensive... or rather, they are priceless and rarely appear on the market."

He gazed silently at the bottom of the spiritual pool. With his divine sense sweeping over it, he could already make out two faint pill embryos forming there—the half-finished Minor Barrier-Breaking Pills!

By the standards of water-thod pill refining, reaching this stage already counted as success.

"The reason I succeeded on my very first attempt must be that my alchemy skill was already exceptional to begin with. After achieving Foundation Establishnt, it advanced considerably further, giving solid confidence in refining mid-grade second-rank pills. Moreover, I spent nearly ten years refining pills on Little White Island. Although I was not making Minor Barrier-Breaking Pills, Water Essence Pills are also mid-grade second rank, so the experience carried over quite naturally."

"Even now I faintly sense that my alchemy art has touched the threshold of superior second rank. If I were to attempt a Foundation Establishnt Pill, after failing two or three tis I would surely grasp the knack and succeed!"

Fang Qing continued observing. Above the two purple pill embryos, one had already condensed two silver pill patterns, while the other bore only a single half-pattern.

"One superior-grade pill and one inferior-grade pill."

"Although I avoided any major mistakes during the refinent, there were still so subtle oversights in the finer details, causing both pills to have slightly excessive pill toxin. If I wish to consu them, it would be best to nourish them gently with water-thod techniques for a year and a half."

"If I could seal the pool for ten years or longer, this inferior pill might even upgrade into a superior one."

Fang Qing nodded, then shook his head. He simply did not have that much free ti—at most he could wait a single year.

As for the remaining inferior Minor Barrier-Breaking Pill?

Even releasing it into the market would make countless early Foundation Establishnt cultivators turn red with envy.

"No need to rush. Second-rank pills naturally have deeply concealed dicinal properties that do not easily dissipate, so they can be stored for a very long ti. If paired with specialized nourishing jade bottles and sealing talismans, maintaining their potency for a century or more poses no problem. I can keep them as a hidden trump card or set them aside for Qin Ruxue."

Even an inferior Minor Barrier-Breaking Pill could assist in breaking through bottlenecks. The only drawbacks were excessive pill toxin and other minor negative effects. Any cultivator who broke through with it would still need several years of quiet ditation to consolidate their foundation, expel the toxins, and so forth.

But compared to overcoming a bottleneck, such side effects were negligible.

Half a year later.

Qin Ruxue used the pretext of returning to the sect to report on her mission. She returned to the Blue Sea Sect and arrived at Mystic Jade Cave.

"Young Master—this is Long Whale Bright Moon Qi!"

After a round of tender exchanges, Qin Ruxue handed Fang Qing a jade bottle. "Collecting this one was relatively easy. However, the other strand of true qi you require must be gathered from mortal battlefields, which is sowhat troubleso. I have already ordered people to search for ancient battlefield ruins in hopes of finding sothing."

"Oh? There is no hurry."

Fang Qing offered a few comforting words and accepted the Long Whale Bright Moon Qi. The qi inside was deep and vast like the sea, faintly carrying the imagery of a whale singing beneath a bright moon—an extraordinary aura at first glance.

After all, this was a seventh-rank true qi. Consuming it offered hope of reaching Purple Mansion, and even at the Qi Ingestion or Dao Foundation stages it would make one's mana far stronger than those who used lower-rank true qi.

The other strand of true qi, of course, was required for cultivating the Heavenly Escape Sword Art—also seventh rank.

[Lou tal], also known as [Military Martial tal] or [Weaponry tal], represented the orthodox position of tal. The true qi it required could only be gathered in battlefield environnts. The Minor Huan Sea truly lacked suitable conditions for this, whereas in Ancient Shu, with its endless wars and calamities, gathering such qi would be far more convenient.

Fang Qing's heart stirred. He smiled. "No need to rush on this matter—just keep it in mind. While you have been stationed on Taibai Island, have you discovered anything?"

He had naturally already told Qin Ruxue about Blue Sea True Personage and the secret realm.

Compared to the sect, Fang Qing naturally trusted his own wisdom consort far more.

"I originally had so doubts, but according to what Young Master said, the sect is indeed deliberately investigating Taibai Island. Yet I have not found the slightest clue regarding the secret realm."

Qin Ruxue continued, "Either the secret realm is hidden extrely deeply, or it lies on the side of Tianxin Island."

"If this secret realm were not deeply concealed, how could Blue Sea True Personage have searched for most of his life without success? And how could those two major Core Formation forces have failed to discover it?"

Fang Qing remained in excellent spirits. "Just keep paying attention. In any case, if any clues erge, the secret realm entrance will surely be protected by restrictions. Your array masters will be indispensable."

Truth be told, he still carried so lingering shadow from the Yanbo Blessed Land incident.

Even knowing this secret realm was within easy reach, he was not inclined to invest much effort.

After Qin Ruxue departed, Fang Qing took a mont to check on the situation in Ancient Shu.

Xu Hei had narrowly escaped disaster and continued acquiring spiritual items related to [Ji Water], but he had found nothing at all.

"Useless!"

Fang Qing cursed once, then sighed. He knew the class divisions in Ancient Shu were far too rigid.

Such Dao Foundation spiritual items were things Qi Ingestion cultivators could hardly even glimpse.

The mont one appeared, Dao Foundation or Purple Mansion forces would imdiately seize it and lock it away deep in their vaults. Without an exchange at the sa level, retrieving one was basically impossible.

"In the end, it is still a resource-starved land—nothing like Verdant Jade Island here."

He exhaled deeply and walked into the pill-refining chamber.

With a casual wave of his hand, a purple-qi-rich superior Minor Barrier-Breaking Pill with two silver pill patterns on its surface flew into his palm.

"Since things have co to this, I should first break through to mid Foundation Establishnt."

He gazed at the pill, his eyes calm and steady.