Lying Low While Cultivating Immortality in Two Worlds Chapter 86

Ancient Shu.

Fang Qing stepped out from the temporary cave dwelling he had opened up and stretched lazily.

At this mont, his body radiated the brilliant aura of a great sun. He had clearly converted his cultivation to the Great Sun Empowernt Secret Art.

"By forging my Dao Foundation with the Great Sun Empowernt Secret Art, if I claid I was not an Esoteric Hidden-Treasury Domain Guru at this point, I doubt anyone would believe ."

"Of course, the true benefit is this—I can now promote four bright sons or wisdom consorts, instantly granting them Dao Foundation-level strength."

Although such bright sons and consorts were looked down upon in this region, on the Qi Refining path they would be solid early Foundation Establishnt cultivators.

"However, promoting ordinary mortals consus far too much. It is best if they already have so foundation, and ideally the very best if they have received my empowernt and share the sa lineage of technique."

"This Esoteric Hidden-Treasury Domain lineage is truly shaless. When a Guru engages in battle, they are bound to bring along their five bright sons. Is this not simply righteous gang-beating?"

After achieving Dao Foundation, many matters in Ancient Shu could now be set in motion.

In particular, the subsequent stages of the Horse-Headed Vajra Protector Divine thod had long been sothing Fang Qing coveted.

"This wretched place—even divination cannot be fully trusted here."

He first divined his own fortune, then shook his head. "Still this wretched place. The hierarchy is far too rigid, and surveillance is far too strict. Any Dao Foundation or Purple Mansion cultivator is guaranteed to have deep roots and backing. Soone like with no foundation could be blasted to pieces by a superior cultivator on a whim one day."

"Therefore, I still need to secure a background for myself."

As for how to find one? Fang Qing naturally had a plan ready long ago.

Little Chamber Mountain.

This mountain lay on the border of Ba Commandery. Its peaks were short and unremarkable.

Halfway up the mountain stood a few simple buildings, with small patches of spirit fields reclaid nearby, giving the place a faint trace of human presence.

On this day, several streaks of light descended near the buildings, and soon the sounds of combat rang out.

"Cough cough... This old man has secluded himself here. Why must you press so relentlessly?"

The old blind man from Floating Boat Market sacrificed an inkstone-like magical artifact. It instantly swelled to the size of a fake mountain, swirling with black astral winds that protected his entire body.

"Enough nonsense, old blind man. All the spirit fields you reclaid now belong to my Mu Family."

Several Qi Ingestion early and mid-stage cultivators each piloted their magical artifacts, their attitudes arrogant and overbearing.

Inside the buildings, a few mortals watched the battle in the sky with faces full of worry.

The old blind man was old and frail. Gradually he could no longer bear the strain. He sighed inwardly: Alas... this old blind man truly is fated to face this tribulation.

"Stop!"

At that mont, a young voice rang out. Though it carried no particular authority, for so reason these Qi Ingestion cultivators imdiately halted and froze motionless in midair.

After a few breaths, a white-jade flying boat arrived trailing glistening light. Upon it stood a single figure whose [Ji Water] mana was unfathomably deep. It was none other than Fang Qing!

"Hmm, they really stopped. Good."

Seeing this scene, he felt reasonably satisfied. ‘[Ji Water] truly deserves to be my natal affinity. After advancing to Dao Foundation, the original effect of verbal persuasion has grown even stronger.’

"Dao... Dao Foundation great cultivator?"

The Mu Family cultivators gaped in shock upon seeing Fang Qing.

Even the old blind man felt his mind tremble, unable to contain himself.

Though he had often said he held high hopes for Fang Qing, in truth he had invested in many young cultivators over the years. Only one—Li Rulong—had truly achieved Dao Foundation.

In the lands of Ancient Shu, Dao Foundation cultivators were suprely honored, barely qualifying to be called ancestors of a region. How could such a realm be reached so easily?

"You... why have you co here? Is soone directing you from behind?"

Fang Qing looked toward the Mu Family cultivators.

"No... no one... We simply knew there was only a feeble old man here and thought to swallow up this spirit land. Even if we could not take it all, we could at least harvest so spirit rice during autumn and bring it back..."

The Mu Family cultivators found themselves utterly unable to lie. They confessed their calculations openly.

"Harvesting spirit rice?"

Fang Qing's mouth twitched slightly. It had been a long ti since he had seen such impoverished low-level cultivators.

"Cough cough... Senior Fang, the Mu Family is rely a small Qi Ingestion clan nearby. This is the extent of their sches."

The old blind man coughed once, first offering Fang Qing a solemn bow before speaking.

"Never mind. All of you, end yourselves."

Fang Qing spoke indifferently.

The mont the words left his mouth, one of the early Qi Ingestion cultivators could no longer resist. He raised the longsword in his hand toward his own neck—only for a mid-stage companion to knock it away. "No... no!"

Yet even that mid-stage cultivator's face twisted in struggle. Several tis his magical artifact rose toward his own crown, only to lower again. He cried out desperately, "Senior, spare us! Senior, spare our lives!"

Even with Dao Foundation-level verbal persuasion, at most it could force early Qi Ingestion cultivators to suicide. Mid-stage proved sowhat difficult—after all, the desire for life and death is one of humanity's greatest instincts and not so easily twisted.

Fang Qing understood this clearly in his heart. He spoke once more:

"Kill!"

He did not circulate his mana. He simply uttered the single word plainly and without flourish.

But in an instant, the heaven and earth condensed moisture into blades, swords, and other weapons that pierced straight into the bodies of those Qi Ingestion cultivators.

Blood sprayed wildly. Laughter mingled with slaughter!

The old blind man's pitch-black eye sockets could not see this scene, yet he sensed it clearly and was equally stunned. "This is the might of a Dao Foundation?"

"Mm. This Lip Spear Tongue Sword has quite decent power. Crushing ordinary Qi Ingestion weaklings is more than enough."

Fang Qing watched the scene and gave an inward nod of approval.

This was the upgraded version of verbal sharpness after achieving Dao Foundation. He had nad it Lip Spear Tongue Sword: one could spit words that beca soldiers, launching spears to kill.

The key point was that it consud no mana whatsoever, functioning almost like an innate divine ability.

'When I cultivated the [Zhen Water] and [Lou tal] lineages and so on, I never possessed this kind of innate talent. Indeed, a cultivator's fate must align with the lineage for endless mysteries to erge.'

He descended from his escape light. The old blind man invited him inside with utmost respect and served tea in the guest hall.

Inside the hall.

After the host and guest took their seats, the old blind man imdiately dismissed his son, grandchildren, and other idle family mbers. He spoke gravely, "Senior has co this ti for this item, yes?"

He reached into his sleeve with a trembling hand and drew out a bone bowl.

The bowl shone with a bright yellow hue tinged with dark black, carrying an aura of bloody, sinister evil.

"Correct. Since I promised you, Fellow Daoist, I naturally must bear this karma on your behalf."

Fang Qing spoke calmly and openly.

In truth, he lacked any background or roots. It was simpler to layer himself with an Esoteric Hidden-Treasury Domain background. After all, Esoteric monks were forbidden from crossing eastward. Using this identity to muddle through in Ancient Shu posed no issue. The old blind man had lived comfortably eating and drinking under it for so many years—why should it not work?

"Thank you, Fellow Daoist! But... are you truly going to take refuge in the Esoteric path? The Esoteric Hidden-Treasury Domain is..."

The old blind man's expression froze. He could not help but offer one piece of advice.

"What other choice do we rogue cultivators have?"

Fang Qing's face remained calm as he accepted the bone bowl.

The bowl felt completely ordinary in his hand, showing no unusual reaction.

'I will try it later with the Great Sun Empowernt Secret Art.'

Although he had achieved his goal on this trip, Fang Qing did not leave imdiately.

The old blind man was extrely knowledgeable. Naturally Fang Qing wanted to chat a bit more and, in passing, confirm the final details regarding the Horse-Headed Vajra Protector Divine thod.

"Ba Commandery has grown chaotic again lately. Ever since the Black Gu Sect's Purple Mansion fell, the Pu Family tore up the previous agreent and brazenly launched an attack."

The old blind man sighed softly.

"Does the Cliff-Above not care this ti?" Fang Qing asked curiously.

"How could they care? The Black Gu Sect only had one Purple Mansion and now it’s obvious they’ve been abandoned." The old blind man gave a wry chuckle. "After all, we are a demonic path force here. The law is the survival of the fittest. The Black Sect has beco the weak one now. Its only fate is to be carved up and devoured—unless another Purple Mansion great power erges."

"Demonic path, righteous path? What is righteous, and what is demonic?"

Fang Qing felt a touch of emotion.

"This old blind man has pondered the question often. I can only offer so shallow views. If there are errors or omissions, Senior, please do not bla ." The old blind man continued, "In the most ancient tis, righteous and demonic were divided by lineage. Great Sun, tal Virtue, and Fire Virtue were righteous. What then was demonic? Naturally the remaining three: Taiyin, Water, and Wood Virtues! This was simply the victors writing history. Because the twelve [Year Arbiters] were occupied by the first three, those who followed beca righteous while those who opposed beca demonic."

In other words, Great Sun along with tal and Fire Virtues held the advantage in primordial tis and claid the positions of [Year Arbiters]. Taiyin and the others, wanting to rise, had no choice but rebellion and were branded demonic. There was so logic to it.

Fang Qing inwardly agreed.

"Cloud Grazing Cliff and the Corpse Yin Sect to the south both cultivate Earth Virtue." The old blind man added, "Earth Virtue is demonic!"

"That does not seem right. I have heard that the Blissful Union Sect to the east cultivates [Fang Sun]?" Fang Qing voiced his doubt.

"Haha. After recent antiquity tis, righteous and demonic grew muddled. The division ca to rest solely on the cultivator's own conduct. Those who use human pills or devour blood qi are demonic. The righteous path uses heaven-and-earth spiritual items and demon beast materials for cultivation. One can glimpse the truth from the heavenly signs that appear during their Dao transformation." The old blind man supplented, "Therefore Great Sun lineage can also produce demonic cultivators, while among Earth Virtue cultivators there are good people. This old man once read an ancient text that spoke of a [Stomach Earth] great power in ancient antiquity who walked the path of a divine lord, sheltered the common people, and received incense offerings from ten thousand households."

Great Sun lineage? Could it be that orthodox Great Sun cultivators are the true righteous path, while nowadays they are mostly demonic?

Fang Qing recalled the intelligence he had gathered back then. As for [Stomach Earth], it sparked an association in his mind:

The path of a divine lord? Could this refer to that Kitchen Lord? No wonder he was called Divine Lord Dongyuan, Spiritually Responsive Registrar of Fate. rather than True Lord Dongyuan, Spiritually Responsive Registrar of Fate.. Not True Lord, but Divine Lord—because he walked the divine path. In any case, it could be said that from bad bamboo ca good shoots.

It was just that this one's divinity had already scattered and fallen apart. His end probably had not been a good one.

"Sigh... in this broken place, good people never live long."

After finishing the discussion on righteous and demonic with the old blind man, Fang Qing took his leave amid the other's deep bow and transford into a streak of flowing light as he departed.

"This bone bowl..."

Upon returning to the temporary cave dwelling he had opened, Fang Qing finally took out the Esoteric bone bowl to examine it closely. "It possesses the ability to assist in severing fate. Quite marvelous indeed."

Yet when he infused it with his Dao Foundation-level [Ji Water] mana, there was no reaction at all.

Fang Qing understood at once. He converted to the [Star Sun] mana of the Great Sun Empowernt Secret Art.

In that instant the bone bowl trembled lightly. One pattern after another surfaced on its surface, forming various mysterious and complex Esoteric runes and symbols that gathered around a single seed character.

"The Six-Syllable Great Radiance Mantra?!"

Fang Qing probed with his divine sense and comprehended its aning. He could not help feeling a touch of disappointnt. "I had actually hoped it might be a continuation of the Horse-Headed Vajra Protector Divine thod."

After a brief contemplation he understood: this Six-Syllable Great Radiance Mantra was a supre Esoteric incantation from the Hidden-Treasury Domain. It could enhance all manner of cultivation practices. When used in artifact refining, it increased treasure light and elevated quality—profoundly wondrous in every way!