The moonlight was like water.
Inside the cave abode.
“Visualizing Black Mound, clear springs surge...”
Fang Qing had converted his mana into the Fuqi path and was silently comprehending [Ji Water].
Splash!
The magical power within his body surged tumultuously, breaking through a certain barrier in an instant.
“Finally… Fourth Layer of Fuqi.”
“It wasn’t a waste to consume so much Cenlü Spirit Liquid.”
Fang Qing opened his eyes, his expression somewhat invigorated: “With this, my Fuqi path cultivation method has also entered the mid-stage realm.”
He thought for a moment, then closed his eyes.
The Dao Birth Bead spun with a whir, and the [Ji Water] magical power surrounding Fang Qing vanished without a trace, transforming into Black Water magical power!
“The Water Sutra circulates and flows, naturally so…”
A smile crossed his face as he sensed the Black Water magical power within his body drifting with the current, suddenly breaking through, his dantian qi sea expanding by another full circle.
“Fifth Layer of Qi Refining… My speed is probably even a bit faster than Zha Zhu’s? Is it because I’m simultaneously cultivating the Three Flowers of essence, energy, and spirit, and have completely converted them all?”
After all, he also possessed the 《Horse-Head Vajra Guardian Divine Art》, simultaneously cultivating essence origin and spirit origin. This breakthrough similarly converted its distinct power!
“This cultivation speed is a bit too fast; it can be concealed somewhat.”
At this thought, Fang Qing immediately converted a portion of his Black Water magical power, causing his aura to drop back down to the Fourth Layer of Qi Refining.
After breaking through, he emerged from seclusion in high spirits and saw the transmission talisman sent by Xu Wusu: “Oh? The procedures are all done? Truly a double blessing.”
…
A moment later, inside a pavilion.
Fang Qing walked in and saw Xu Wusu brewing tea.
“Haha… Junior Brother Fang, I ran around many times to get the sect decree approved. With this, you can renovate your own cave abode and divert a water vein, as long as it doesn’t exceed the first rank.”
Xu Wusu took out a letter talisman: “Besides that, I contacted Martial Sister Qin from Zhen Island for you… Martial Sister Qin is a peak first-rank formation master and likewise has hopes of becoming a true heir. If it weren’t for Martial Brother Wulongzi’s good relationship with her, she really wouldn’t have agreed to help.”
“Many thanks.”
A hint of joy appeared on Fang Qing’s face. He accepted the letter talisman: “Regarding that ‘Spirit Condensing Powder,’ this junior brother happens to have some ideas…”
This “Spirit Condensing Powder” was one of the Five Dragons Association’s several ancient pill formulas. It had the effect of condensing spiritual sense, but its main material had long since gone extinct on Biyu Island.
“For the pill formulas on our side, if the main material goes extinct, most of the time we collect demonic beast materials from the sea as substitutes… For that ‘Seven Star Grass,’ what about using ‘Seven Star Treasure Fish’?”
“Sigh… We thought of this approach long ago and even obtained several Seven Star Treasure Fish to try, but whether it’s fish blood, fish meat, or fish bone… none meet the requirements.”
Xu Wusu shook his head in disappointment. Changing the main material of an ancient pill formula—how could it be a simple matter?
Without hundreds or thousands of experiments and accumulated knowledge… one must be a grandmaster of the pill refining arts, with a thorough grasp of medicinal transformations, to narrow it down to a few possibilities.
Even a grandmaster would have to fail several furnaces before having any hope of success.
“Sigh…”
Fang Qing similarly revealed a disappointed expression.
“Haha, let’s not mention this… A year has passed now, and the results are out for those twenty-five true heirs who entered secluded cultivation.”
Xu Wusu brought up another matter: “Martial Brother Zhang, Martial Sister Can… a total of eight successfully established their foundation. The rest all failed.”
“Twenty-five, eight succeeded? A success rate close to thirty percent?”
Fang Qing muttered.
“Indeed, one genuine Foundation Establishment Pill can increase the chances of successful Foundation Establishment by thirty percent…” When Xu Wusu mentioned this, he naturally meant something by it: “Now those failed true heirs are stepping down one after another. The competition for the new generation of true heirs must begin preparations ahead of time…”
This was actually a prompt asking for spirit stones.
“This time, running the procedures—many thanks, Martial Brother Xu. A small token; please help me deliver it to the association.”
Fang Qing smiled and took out a small bag of spirit stones.
“Haha, very good.”
Xu Wusu took the spirit stones, and the smile on his face became even more sincere. He sighed again: “Foundation Establishment is difficult… Even true heirs are permanently relegated to a separate register if they don’t succeed once. Who knows how they’ll repay the borrowed contribution points next? Unless the sect shows special mercy would they get a second chance at Foundation Establishment…”
Theoretically speaking, after failing once with a Foundation Establishment Pill, one would be abandoned by the sect, but naturally, there were exceptions.
For example, disciples of Core Formation Ancestors, direct descendants of powerful Inner Sect elders, and so on…
But Fang Qing was used to this. This bit of sect competition cruelty was simply nothing compared to Ancient Shu. Even if one tried to force Foundation Establishment without a pill and died upon failure, it was still better than consuming human pills, right?
“By the way, constructing a spirit spring in a cave abode is a massive project. Reconstruction takes a long time. Does Junior Brother plan to rent another cave abode?”
Before parting, Xu Wusu asked.
“No, I plan to go out to sea to catch fish… Perhaps I’ll catch a spirit fish that can assist in breaking through a realm, and my magical power will advance by leaps and bounds.”
Fang Qing spoke honestly.
“Going out to sea to catch fish—do you have a fleet?”
Xu Wusu smiled, unconcerned.
All the cultivators of the Azure Sea Sect knew that the sea contained unlimited opportunities. Why did so many still refuse to go out to sea?
Wasn’t it precisely because the deeper the sea, the more dangerous it became?
With a turn of bad luck, running into a third-rank or even fourth-rank demonic beast—even a Core Formation Ancestor might not make it back alive!
“No fleet. I still prefer to act alone.”
Fang Qing certainly wouldn’t team up with others. If he went out to sea alone, when encountering danger, he could still hide in Ancient Shu.
If it were a team, not to mention the issue of who would issue commands, just hiding would be difficult.
‘If I go out alone and don’t enter the deep sea, the risks are still somewhat controllable… Moreover, it’s perfect for making a nominal windfall.’
Cultivators going out to sea and catching high-rank spirit fish was likewise a shortcut to overnight riches!
Of course, far more ended up buried in fish bellies, but it still couldn’t stop more and more cultivators from exploring and catching… For example, Hua Lian—even without the sect organizing, had established his own fleet to go out to sea.
Fang Qing didn’t actually need to catch high-rank spirit fish; he only needed an excuse for a sudden windfall.
…
Whoosh.
The sea wind howled, greatly different from the serenity of a lake.
“The great sea water is [Zhen Water]. Compared to [Ji Water], it truly has a different kind of profundity…”
A lone sea boat drifted on the vast ocean. Fang Qing silently experienced the capricious nature of the great sea water.
“Fuqi path cultivation seems to place more emphasis on ‘Dao conduct,’ or rather… comprehension of Water Virtue.”
“Such a hassle; as expected, it’s not as good as the Qi Refining path, where one can advance boldly and vigorously…”
He contemplated for half a day but gained no insights, so he took out a pill formula and silently studied it.
This pill formula was precisely the “Spirit Condensing Powder” obtained from the Five Dragons Association!
“Qi Refining path medicinal pills primarily include liquids, powders, pellets, and pills… Each has its own merits, and refining techniques vary.”
“This Spirit Condensing Powder is more difficult to refine than spirit liquid.”
Fang Qing sighed.
It was already the seventh day after his conversation with Xu Wusu.
After obtaining the letter talisman, he immediately went to Zhen Island to request an audience with that Martial Sister Qin.
That Martial Sister Qin was indeed superb in formations and had self-studied the path of earth masters, so there was no need to find someone else to divert the water vein.
After inspecting Fang Qing’s cave abode, she immediately provided a renovation plan.
Fang Qing thus handed his cave abode over to Martial Sister Qin, packed his belongings, and went out to sea to catch fish.
But catching fish was just a pretense; his main focus was still his own cultivation.
After daily cultivation, he began pondering the pill formula again.
“This ancient Spirit Condensing Powder formula has actually mostly been deciphered by the Five Dragons Association. The vast majority of materials can be found on Biyu Island or replaced with substitutes; only this ‘Seven Star Grass’ is truly helpless…”
Thinking to this point, Fang Qing smiled mysteriously and patted his storage bag.
A jade box opened, revealing a strange spirit grass. On its spirit leaves were patterns like stars—precisely “Seven Star Grass.”
“Among the several pill formulas of the Five Dragons Association that benefit spiritual sense, only this ‘Spirit Condensing Powder’ had its main medicine found over in Ancient Shu… Next, as long as I wait for the spirit pool to be completed, I can personally attempt to open the furnace and refine it.”
For such a critically important medicinal pill, only an idiot would go refine it at Hanquan Peak, let alone hand it over to the Five Dragons Association.
Naturally, the proper course was to attempt refining and consuming it himself!
Sunrise and sunset, tides rising and tides ebbing…
Fang Qing sat cross-legged on the boat. Every day, he spent a fixed two hours refining qi and cultivating his technique, then another hour on body refining, cultivating the 《Horse-Head Vajra Guardian Divine Art》.
The remaining time was spent reading various miscellaneous books, pill scriptures, and studying ancient pill formulas.
When occasionally relaxing, he would half-lie on the fishing boat and cast his rod to fish in the sea.
He knew the stakes; he didn’t go to the dangerous deep sea at all, only lingering in a few safe sea areas near Biyu Island that had already been explored.
Thus, although his harvest was meager, there was also no danger.
On this day.
Splash!
Fang Qing felt his fishing rod tremble. Joy appeared on his face, and he pulled back forcefully.
A treasure fish with a body entirely of jade texture was flung out of the sea surface and easily grabbed in his hand.
This treasure fish opened its bloody maw, its mouth full of fangs like sawteeth, biting down on Fang Qing’s hand with crunching sounds, yet it couldn’t even break his skin.
“Jade Luster Treasure Fish? Good luck today…”
Fang Qing saw this scene, his palm exerting slight force, a hint of a smile surfacing on his face.
This fish was the main material for refining Jade Luster Spirit Liquid and counted as relatively high-value among treasure fish.
Of course, it was only a half-demon, not yet ranked; it simply couldn’t break through his first-rank lower-grade body refining defenses.
“If I encountered a first-rank lower-grade or even mid-grade spirit fish… it wouldn’t be so easy. After all, humans aren’t adept at underwater combat unless one cultivates special techniques, like water thunder and so on…”
Within the sect, there were specialized fisherman cultivators whose cultivation methods, spells, and magical instruments were all designed for underwater fishing; they were quite fierce when catching spirit fish.
Of course, if they encountered danger, they died very quickly as well…