Just as Fang Qing was sacrificing and refining the bone bowl.
In the Esoteric Hidden-Treasury Domain.
At the foot of the Great Snow Mountain stood an ancient temple.
This temple had floors paved with golden bricks and walls built from cow's milk. Its surrounding pillars were supported by white bones, exuding an inexplicable aura. The temple gate looked eerie, resembling a gateway to the realm of the dead.
Throughout the temple burned candles made from so unknown fat, releasing a faint sandalwood fragrance.
In the rear courtyard of the temple stood a lotus bone platform. An old monk wearing a cockscomb hat and draped in a corpse-forest thangka kasaya had deeply sunken eye sockets. He held a bone knife and was carving flesh from a corpse before him, offering the at and bones for various terrifying manifestations to devour.
This was the sky burial ritual, imitating the deeds of the temple's enshrined self-realized Buddha—the Charnel Grounds Lord.
The Charnel Grounds Lord, also known as the Protector of the Corpse Grove, the Master of the Corpse Grove, or the Lord of the Graveyards, had attained Buddhahood in the body during ancient tis and was venerated by the Temple of All Beings Formless.
In the Esoteric Hidden-Treasury Domain, temples that enshrined such self-realized Buddhas were known as Temples of the Origin of All Dharmas. Their status ranked only below the Supre Origin Temple at the peak of the Great Snow Mountain—the Great Sun Wheel Turning Temple.
After completing the sky burial secret rite, the old monk pressed his palms together and silently recited scriptures.
When he opened his eyes, a tantric practitioner clad in a tiger-skin dharma robe, with a ferocious appearance, was already prostrating fivefold on the ground below the lotus bone high platform. He had been waiting who knew how long.
"Ah... our sect has gained another protector vajra!"
The old monk revealed a slight smile, assuming an expression of great joy.
"May the Dharma King grant instruction!"
The kneeling tantric practitioner kowtowed repeatedly.
"In the land of Ancient Shu, there is a believer who carries the karma of our path and holds fate upon his person. He may be subdued and taken as a protector vajra for this temple."
The old monk looked toward the ferocious-faced tantric practitioner. "Sangye... you have already passed the stages of joy and freedom from defilent, attained the supre ditative stability vision, obtained the white bone dharma, and mastered the vajra total holding. You have developed boundless wondrous wisdom light and perfected the Guru realm. You stand only one step away from realizing the irreversible stage of Dharma King. Go and subdue this vajra protector. Then your fate will be perfected without flaw, and you will attain the stage of Dharma King!"
"By your command."
The ferocious-faced tantric practitioner was wild with joy and kowtowed again and again. "However... Cloud Grazing Cliff has always disliked us Esoteric monks."
"No matter. Long ago on the Great Snow Mountain, a Buddhist decree was passed down: the day of our eastward crossing is not far off."
The old monk's turbid gaze turned toward the east. Suddenly he looked back, fixing his eyes on the sole enshrined principal image of the Temple of All Beings Without Form—the white bone dharma form of the Charnel Grounds Lord. A stray thought arose in his mind:
‘Our Buddha has long ceased to issue Buddhist decrees... This eastward crossing will likely require one more confrontation with the Corpse Yin Sect to complete the cycle of tribulations.’
"Hmm? Why do I suddenly feel a surge of premonition?"
In Ancient Shu, Fang Qing—who had just begun attempting the Six-Syllable Great Radiance Mantra, abruptly stopped what he was doing.
A premonition surged in his heart, so he imdiately cast a divination.
"Equal parts auspicious and ominous?"
"Judging from this hexagram, my fortune will be auspicious at first, then turn ominous, with good fortune concealed within the bad?"
Fang Qing fell into deep thought. The hexagrams in this place could not be fully trusted, yet neither could they be completely ignored. This likely ant that by borrowing the background of the Esoteric Hidden-Treasury Domain, he could indeed dominate in Ancient Shu for a ti, but eventually he would be discovered and exposed. Hence, auspicious first, then ominous?
Yet whether the ominous on could truly co to pass still depended on the strength of both sides—thus equal parts auspicious and ominous?
"In the end, strength remains the most important!"
He took a deep breath and assessed his own thods. On the Qi Refining side, spiritual artifacts and talismans needed no further ntion. On the Qi Ingestion side, the strength of a Dao Foundation cultivator—beyond re realm—depended primarily on the profundity of their Dao Foundation.
"Long-Awaited Sweet Rain" served for logistical recovery, while "Perched at the Abyss" could at most enhance movent and escape techniques. The Great Sun Empowernt Secret Art carried too grand a presence and heavy karma; once used, it was best to silence or convert the enemy completely. In that light, the [Lou tal] Dao Foundation still seed the best choice at present.
The [Lou tal] Dao Foundation's "Sharp Edge Chapter"—when paired with a flying sword would allow Fang Qing to contend even with late Foundation Establishnt cultivators. In the Verdant Jade Sect's domain, it could easily slay early Foundation Establishnt cultivators.
And in Ancient Shu, where tal virtue manifested the Dao openly, fighting against early or even mid-stage Dao Foundation cultivators from other lineages should pose no major problem.
"So the urgent task now is to find a flying sword? With the Six-Syllable Great Radiance Mantra at my disposal, I could refine one myself... Alas, what a pity about the last one in the Yanbo Blessed Land. That was a flying sword treasured by a Purple Mansion cultivator!"
Thinking of this, Fang Qing felt a pang of heartache. His thoughts turned to that Purple Mansion-grade "Xu Jinhuan" flying sword.
If he were still in the Minor Huan Sea, he could at least make a calculation. But at this point there was no need to even think about it. That "Xu Jinhuan" was clearly being watched by nurous Purple Mansion cultivators. How bold would he have to be to covet it?
"In terms of spiritual materials, Ancient Shu falls far short of the Minor Huan Sea. It might be better to gather sword-refining materials there, then sacrifice and refine them according to Ancient Shu regulations?"
The Heavenly Escape Sword Art did record several thods for refining swords.
Fang Qing knew that flying swords in Ancient Shu differed from those in the Qi Refining path. Over there, flying swords were most often infused with various restrictions and spells—more like magical artifacts or treasures shaped like flying swords.
Here, however, flying swords underwent dual refinent of form and substance, seeking only that single point of sharpness. They intertwined with the cultivator's life essence, becoming natal treasures that advanced alongside the cultivator's realm. By tier, they ranged from one revolution to nine revolutions. A one-revolution flying sword was the lowest, yet its value still rivaled several strands of true qi.
A nine-revolution flying sword would rank among the most renowned in the world.
Back then, the personal sword carried by the Purple Mansion great sword cultivator Master Yanbo—Xu Jinhuan—was none other than a seven-revolution flying sword!
"My strongest combat thod has now beco the flying sword? Without a natal flying sword, can one even call themselves a proper sword cultivator?
"Uh... I suppose I was never a proper sword cultivator to begin with."
Fang Qing transford his entire body's [Lou tal] mana and contemplated the Dao Foundation within his Qi sea. A flood of insights imdiately surged forth.
He took out an ordinary magical artifact flying sword from the Blue Sea Sect's storage bag and gave it a casual swing.
Sizzle sizzle!
Strands of sword qi condensed, and a piercing sharpness soared into the sky.
Under the enhancent of the Sharp Edge Chapter, this utterly ordinary magical artifact flying sword in his hand actually erupted with power comparable to a spiritual artifact!
"Sword cultivators dominate through the sword. Beyond re cultivation base, stages of the Sword Dao—starting from Condensing Sword Qi, then Sword Motion Like Thunder, Refining the Sword into Threads, Sword Light Division, Sword Intent Forming Montum, Sword Heart Clarity, One Sword Breaking Ten Thousand Laws, and so on."
"Among these sword dao stages, aside from the entry-level Condensing Sword Qi and the ultimate One Sword Breaking Ten Thousand Laws, the rest stand on equal footing. If one insists on ranking them, Condensing Sword Qi belongs to the Qi Ingestion level, while One Sword Breaking Ten Thousand Laws might reach Purple Mansion. The others all reside within the Dao Foundation realm, with no clear hierarchy. A sword cultivator who has attained Sword Motion Like Thunder can still pursue Sword Light Division or Sword Heart Clarity. Moreover, one who has achieved Sword Motion Like Thunder is not necessarily stronger—or weaker—than one who has attained Sword Light Division."
With the Sharp Edge Chapter's enhancent, Fang Qing had beco an unparalleled genius in the path of the sword.
Condensing Sword Qi was rely the entry step.
As the flying sword whistled through the air, it faintly stirred the sensation of wind and thunder.
"Sword Motion Like Thunder—also known as Sword Howls with Wind and Thunder. With the aid of wind, and my [Ji Water] auspicious wind... my fate actually provides so assistance at this mont?"
Fang Qing gained sudden understanding. He thrust out a single sword. Thunderous echoes rolled forth.
Rip!
Hundreds of ters away, an ancient tree was instantly cleaved in two down the middle. The cut surface was mirror-smooth.
"Sword Motion Like Thunder boosts sword speed! The sword strikes like thunder, shocking lesser foes while further amplifying the flying sword's sharpness. It complents the Sharp Edge Chapter perfectly."
His eyes shone brightly. He wanted to practice more sword forms, but suddenly the flying sword in his hand let out a mournful cry. A crack appeared on its blade.
"After all, it is only a magical artifact, not a spiritual one. It cannot withstand Dao Foundation sword arts. A few more uses and it breaks?"
Fang Qing shook his head and quietly moved the forging of a natal flying sword to the top of his priorities.
Yuanqing Market.
This was a fairly well-known marketplace in Yulin Commandery. The cultivators who frequented it generally had cultivations higher than early Qi Ingestion, and it was said that Dao Foundation great cultivators occasionally appeared.
With Ba Commandery now plunged back into war, marketplaces and wandering rchants had naturally scattered in panic.
Yulin Commandery, by contrast, appeared relatively peaceful.
Fang Qing used the Dao-Genesis Pearl to conceal most of his cultivation. At this mont he appeared as a ninth-layer Qi Ingestion [Lou tal] rogue cultivator, here to purchase so sword-forging materials.
After all, certain key aspects of the Heavenly Escape Sword Art's sword-refining techniques required materials unique to Ancient Shu.
This identity had been disguised with the Mirage Pearl. Sharp sword-like brows, a high nose bridge, a full heavenly court—most importantly, it was impervious to divination and calculation.
Once this identity had gauged the market prices, he would switch to his [Ji Water] Dao Foundation alias for the actual trades.
Fang Qing was no novice at transactions. He knew that to acquire truly good items, one had to deal with Dao Foundation forces!
Inside a shop.
"The Profound Origin Geng tal that the guest requires—this humble shop happens to have a small piece weighing one jin and three liang. But as for Celestial Axis Star Sand... we truly do not have any."
The shopkeeper was a seventh-layer Qi Ingestion cultivator. Facing Fang Qing, who appeared to be at the ninth layer, he was extrely warm and courteous.
"Never mind. The Profound Origin Geng tal will do. I will trade with pills that enhance mana."
Fang Qing took out a dicine bottle.
Inwardly, he felt rather speechless: Celestial Axis Star Sand was the most crucial ingredient. Without this rare material, the flying sword could not be refined even to the first revolution. As for Silver Gang Essence, Hundred-Refined Mysterious Iron, and similar materials, those could easily be gathered on Verdant Jade Island.
"To think it is actually a mana-enhancing pill with not the slightest trace of blood qi. Truly rare."
The shopkeeper accepted the dicine bottle, uncorked it, sniffed, and his eyes lit up with delight. He praised lavishly.
Fang Qing was about to take the Profound Origin Geng tal when a young man's voice suddenly ca from the side.
"Fellow Daoist, please wait a mont!"
He looked over and saw a gold-robed youth radiating sharp aura.
"This Profound Origin Geng tal is an excellent material for refining flying swords. This one quite likes it. Would Fellow Daoist be willing to part with it?"
The youth reached out, toyed with the Profound Origin Geng tal, and a half-smile played at the corner of his mouth.
"You must be from the [Kang tal] Zhao Family?"
Before Fang Qing could speak, the shopkeeper had already fixed his gaze on the emblem on the youth's sleeve and spoken up, his tone carrying a subtle warning.
"Indeed. This one is Zhao Wufeng."
Zhao Wufeng looked toward Fang Qing.
Fang Qing simply smiled politely and directly put the Profound Origin Geng tal away. "My apologies. I never wrong myself to accommodate others."
The shopkeeper's smiling face instantly froze.
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