Lying Low While Cultivating Immortality in Two Worlds Chapter 85

Ti slipped away unnoticed amid hurried pill refining.

Outside the Mystic Jade Cave, nurous spirit herbs grew lush and verdant, thriving vigorously.

The cave residence doors had remained closed for a long while, gathering a layer of dust that lent them an air of age and neglect.

Yet inside, protected by arrays, every corner remained spotlessly clean and bright as new.

In the pill-refining chamber, Fang Qing gazed at the three azure-blue great pills arrayed neatly before him. His expression showed neither joy nor sorrow; he rely let out a soft sigh. "Only three?"

During this period he had ceaselessly studied pill scriptures from both worlds, experinting by incorporating various Ancient Shu-specific [Ji Water] Qi Ingestion-grade spiritual materials into the process of refining Foundation Establishnt Pills.

Failures had been plentiful. In the end, of the eight Foundation Establishnt Pills he attempted to refine evenly, only these three had succeeded!

"Through various appraisal thods, they should possess a portion of the effects of a Dao Foundation Pill, and they lean toward [Ji Water] and [Zhen Water]..."

"As for their actual efficacy, one can only know after consuming them. The one thing I can confirm is that even if they prove ineffective, they are at least harmless and carry the additional benefit of protecting the ridians of Qi Ingestion cultivators."

"With my second-rank physique, combined with the marrow-cleansing and tendon-changing transformation that occurs during Foundation Establishnt, I should not perish and have my Dao extinguished even if forging a Dao Foundation fails."

"If worst cos to worst, I still have the Dao-Genesis Pearl as my final safeguard. It can dissolve any runaway mana completely."

"Moreover, since these Dao Foundation Pills lean toward Ji and Zhen, I can attempt to cast my Dao Foundation using the Observing the Black Mausoleum Book, where my grasp is far greater!"

Fang Qing took the three self-refined Dao Foundation Pills and entered the seclusion chamber. He silently adjusted his condition.

He had already converted his mana long ago. Now, with his Observing the Black Mausoleum Book at the perfect ninth layer, the slightest circulation stirred whistling clear winds and caused springs to bubble up from the ground.

"The Dao Foundation is mysterious beyond mysterious."

"The Dao is the beginning of heaven and earth, the ancestor of the myriad things. Profound and obscure, dark and dim, it cannot be nad, yet it contains infinite wonders. By uniting the human body with heaven and earth, one commands the transformations of the six qi."

Another saying goes: "The Dao arises from one, stands upon three, is completed in five, flourishes at seven, and rests at nine. Thus heaven is ninety thousand li from earth. Nine abysses separate ten stars, uniting the way of heaven and earth, penetrating the transformations of yin and yang—this is called the immortal foundation."

Fang Qing sank into deep contemplation. Various Ancient Shu Dao scriptures he had read surfaced in his mind.

Then, without further hesitation, he swallowed one of the self-refined Dao Foundation Pills and circulated the [Ji Water] mana within his body.

"I observe the Black Mausoleum, where a spring resides. Yin energy gathers and gives rise to more yin to give birth; stillness flows to the extre, uniting the marvel of Kan and Li mutually generating. The body feels light as a feather, clothes untouched by water. When the qi forms, it penetrates the entire body. Entering the heavenly gate, passing through the twelve-storied pavilion, combining with golden nectar and jade liquors—thus the Immortal Foundation is achieved."

In an instant, boundless [Ji Water] mana surged within Fang Qing's dantian qi sea. It pierced through the twelve-storied pavilion, causing violent pain in his ridians. His essence blood boiled, and he felt on the verge of collapse.

With a thought, he opened his mouth and inhaled. The other two Dao Foundation Pills entered at once, transforming into rolling waves of profound qi that rged into his dantian and fused with his mana, forming a single immortal foundation.

The mont this immortal foundation took shape, clarity dawned in Fang Qing's heart: "[Ji Water] Dao Foundation—Long-Awaited Sweet Rain!"

"Long-Awaited Sweet Rain is a celestial blessing, a divine and marvelous power. When it arrives, clouds roll across the vast sky, winds chant over broad fields. At first it is like fine silk threads, dense and delicate, moistening all things in utter silence. Gradually it becos like pearl curtains, fluttering and dancing, bestowing grace upon fields in quiet dreams. Wherever it touches, withered crops regain their verdant hue, wilted leaves revive in glory. Drought demons flee, scorched earth grows moist once more."

"What an excellent Long-Awaited Sweet Rain!"

Inside the sealed chamber, Fang Qing abruptly opened his eyes.

Whoosh!

Clear winds rose fiercely, and springs gushed from the ground.

"This... it succeeded just like that?"

He touched his cheek and suddenly smiled. "It was not actually that difficult. All my thorough preparations were almost excessive."

Then he calculated the ti and felt a stir in his heart. "I have been in seclusion for a full year? Yet casting this Immortal Foundation felt like only an instant."

At this thought, deep emotion welled up. "At fifty years old, I have finally cast my Dao Foundation!"

This sense of distorted ti made Fang Qing realize clearly that without even one of those Dao Foundation Pills, today's outco might have been entirely different.

Moreover, he had cast his Dao Foundation using the [Ji Water] thod, where his attainnt was deepest.

The difficulty of achieving a Dao Foundation could be seen at a glance!

"The Ancient Shu [Ji Water] Dao Foundation Long-Awaited Sweet Rain is, on the Qi Refining path, nearly comparable to a divine ability—only its offensive power is sowhat lacking, so it can be called a pseudo-divine ability!"

Fang Qing carefully sensed the differences between Dao Foundation and Foundation Establishnt cultivators.

"Hmm. This Long-Awaited Sweet Rain pseudo-divine ability possesses many marvelous effects. I can walk upon waves as if on flat ground, purify turbid waters into clarity, and at the sa ti serve as a remarkably powerful healing ability. Transford into sweet rain water, its effect is no less than a second-rank Muscle-regenerating and Bone-nding Pill. Yet unlike second-rank pills that consu materials, this Dao Foundation marvel requires only mana expenditure!"

"Finally, it also nourishes all things, promotes the growth of spirit plants, and turns decay back to flourishing."

"Overall, this Immortal Foundation's pseudo-divine ability leans toward healing and logistics. Its direct killing power is not high."

"Even so, the enhancent it provides to a cultivator is imnse. Though I am only at early Dao Foundation, I no longer fear ordinary mid-stage Foundation Establishnt cultivators."

"Most wonderfully, it can point-activate spring waters—greatly benefiting my water-thod pill refining."

Having cast his Dao Foundation in a single day, Fang Qing's mood soared.

At that mont, as he inwardly observed his Dao-Genesis Pearl, an inexplicable sensation arose.

"This..."

Fang Qing's heart stirred. The Dao-Genesis Pearl spun once. Clear and turbid qi mutually generated, clouds stead and rosy lights glowed. In an instant it dissolved the Long-Awaited Sweet Rain Dao Foundation completely!

"As expected—the Dao-Genesis Pearl can even dissolve a Dao Foundation!"

His expression turned shocked. Then, with a shift of thought, he converted his mana to the Whale Devouring Vast Sea Formula!

In the next breath, the Dao-Genesis Pearl spat out the profound qi that had ford Long-Awaited Sweet Rain. It fell into Fang Qing's dantian and transford into another Dao Foundation.

"This is... [Zhen Water] Dao Foundation—'Perched at the Abyss'?"

Fang Qing's eyes widened in astonishnt. "The Dao-Genesis Pearl can actually convert Dao Foundations? This... this... this is completely unreasonable... So as long as I break through to Dao Foundation, it is a permanent certification? I can switch freely at will? What kind of supre power is this?"

A chill ran through his heart, and suddenly he realized that the world he had truly transmigrated into was none other than Ancient Shu!

"So... Ancient Shu is my main world after all? This Dao-Genesis Pearl pairs so perfectly with the Qi Ingestion path?"

Fang Qing contemplated the "Perched at the Abyss" position, and imdiately a steady stream of [Zhen Water] attainnt converged in his mind.

"Perched at the abyss, envying the fish—better to retreat and weave a net. This Dao Foundation boosts movent techniques, allowing one to tread dangerous ground with ever greater spirit and vigor!"

"This is rely the most basic mystery of the Dao Foundation. There seems to be much more waiting to be developed. For instance, 'retreat and weave a net' carries a sense of deducing hexagrams and divine abilities—perhaps the power to weave a net of fate, ensnaring cultivators unknowingly until they fall into the trap?"

Fang Qing gradually gained insight. Dao Foundation cultivators were likewise divided into early, middle, and late stages.

Beyond differences in mana strength, the distinction between these realms likely lay in the degree of developnt and mastery over one's own Dao Foundation!

Having studied the Purple Mansion technique Heavenly Escape Sword Art, he knew the key to breaking through to Purple Mansion was to sublimate the Dao Foundation into divine abilities!

"Cultivation, true cultivation—borrowing the false to cultivate the true. Transforming a pseudo-divine ability of the Dao Foundation into a genuine divine ability is precisely the process from Dao Foundation to Purple Mansion."

Fang Qing's thoughts flashed like lightning. Suddenly he ford another hand seal.

The [Zhen Water] mana shifted once more, transforming into the keen sword qi of [Lou tal]!

Qin Ruxue had already delivered [Lou tal] true qi earlier, and naturally he had long since used it to enter the threshold of the Heavenly Escape Sword Art.

At this mont the Dao-Genesis Pearl spun, and the "Perched at the Abyss" Dao Foundation instantly changed. A wisp of golden light erged within his dantian qi sea—the [Lou tal] Dao Foundation: Sharp Edge Chapter!

This Dao Foundation required a flying sword to display its full mystery, enhancing the sword's sharpness, allowing it to pierce the azure firmant, travel a hundred li, and return with a severed head.

"An offensive-type Dao Foundation!"

Fang Qing was overjoyed. "With this Dao Foundation's enhancent and a proper flying sword in hand, even Cui Zhe would likely lose in a sword duel—I could contend with late Foundation Establishnt cultivators!"

He imdiately frowned. "But the conversion has already consud so much primordial qi. Has it begun dipping into the liquid mana reserves of the Blue Sea Technique?"

What Fang Qing had truly cultivated himself was, after all, the Dao Foundation from the Observing the Black Mausoleum Book. Its mana quality fell far short of a Purple Mansion technique like the Heavenly Escape Sword Art, so conversions naturally fell insufficient and required external primordial qi to supplent.

"And the real main portion is still this..."

A faint smile curved his lips. He ford seals with both hands, sat cross-legged, chanted the Great Sun Tathagata Esoteric Mantra, and visualized the perfect Great Sun Empowernt Grand Hand Seal in his sea of consciousness.

The Great Sun Empowernt Secret Art abruptly circulated.

In an instant, not only the [Lou tal] mana from the Heavenly Escape Sword Art but even all the primordial qi derived from the Blue Sea Technique's liquid mana was completely transford—finally forging the Dao Foundation: Blazing Spirit Radiance!

"The Blazing Spirit is the essence of the sun's soul, the heroic spirit of heavenly radiance. It blazes across the nine heavens, burning clouds and boiling seas to display its ferocity..."

"So this Great Sun Empowernt Secret Art actually belongs to the [Star Sun] lineage!"

"[Star Sun]—the central yang of heaven, boundless in might, intimate with the essence of Li Fire, occupying the true position of the sun!"

Fang Qing sensed the attainnt gained from comprehending the Dao Foundation and gently circulated Blazing Spirit Radiance.

In that mont, a second sun appeared inside the sealed chamber!

Two suns in the sky!

The brilliant sunlight enveloped everything, dispelling all evil, demonic qi, and ghostly qi, while converting and subduing all things—even making stubborn stones nod in reverence toward the Great Sun.

"What an overbearingly powerful Dao Foundation!"

Fang Qing was startled and hastily stopped.

"This Blazing Spirit Radiance Dao Foundation is suprely domineering. It has special advantages against all demonic and evil techniques, and it carries strong psychological suggestion effects—capable of unknowingly enslaving others..."

He converted back to the Blue Sea Technique's mana, and the vision of two suns in the chamber instantly vanished.

On the ground now lay several semi-transparent stones, each containing what seed to be flickering flas within.

"These are... [Star Sun] spiritual items? Qi Ingestion grade?"

"Shaped like stone, fire burning inside—they should be Li Fire Stones. Quite rare. In Ancient Shu they could fetch quite a few good things."

Fang Qing could only laugh wryly, yet he still collected them carefully. Then he sat cross-legged again and pondered silently.

"Now that I have broken through to Dao Foundation, the Dao-Genesis Pearl can convert Dao Foundations. If one day I reach Purple Mansion, could it even convert divine abilities? In that broken place called Ancient Shu... I would truly be invincible."

But when he thought of the twelve [Year Arbiters] guardians and figures like the Kitchen Lord who were Golden Core True Lords... he could probably only dominate among the lower cultivators at best.

Keep a low profile—continue cultivating the cautious way!

Still, one thing was certain: once his [Ji Water] broke through to a major realm in the Qi Ingestion path, the Dao-Genesis Pearl could forcibly elevate [Zhen Water], [Lou tal], [Star Sun], and other different lineages' cultivations to the sa realm.

However... actually cultivating them would still be extrely difficult.

He had just tested it. Only the [Zhen Water]'s Whale Devouring Vast Sea Formula Dao Foundation could still be cultivated afterward. The others—[Lou tal] and [Star Sun] techniques—remained stubbornly hard to advance.

This was just like his Qi Refining path. He possessed a mid-grade water spiritual root, so he clung tightly to the Blue Sea Technique. If he tried cultivating a fire-attribute technique, progress would crawl like a tortoise.

But if he truly cultivated a fire-attribute thod, converting mana for Foundation Establishnt would be effortless—though subsequent advancent would likewise be slow.

In that case, in the future he should primarily cultivate the water virtue path. All other techniques would rely entirely on the Dao-Genesis Pearl for conversion.

Once he reached Purple Mansion in water virtue... would he beco a yin-yang five-virtue Purple Mansion cultivator? Er... it would seem highly adaptable, yet still the kind of existence that the [Year Arbiters] could see through with a single glance.