Time flew by.
Three months later.
Jadeite Island.
A fishing village.
Fang Qing was bare-chested, drying nets in the sun.
Ever since Old Man Zha’s family had rescued him three months ago, they had taken him in. He had scrambled to do work for them, mainly so he could familiarize himself with the environment and practice the language.
Although the language of Jadeite Island was somewhat similar to the Ba tongue, it was ultimately still different in certain ways, and he had to adjust to it bit by bit.
Fortunately, Old Man Zha assumed he came from some distant place. The various islands were far apart, so a slight change in accent was perfectly normal.
As for Fang Qing’s explanation of his identity, it was naturally the old, worn-out excuse of amnesia. He only remembered his name…
After all, he was a stranger in a strange land and could not come up with any good excuse.
Luckily, Old Man Zha did not mind and took him in directly.
Though, based on Fang Qing’s observations, the other party merely wanted an extra laborer—perhaps with some other scheme in mind as well.
“It’s also thanks to the fact that people here can harvest food from the sea. Even mortals can actually keep themselves fed and clothed… They don’t lack one mouthful of food for me.”
“Brother Fang, it’s time to eat!”
Just as Fang Qing was sighing to himself, a little girl came running over, holding a large sea-bowl with a chipped rim.
“Thank you, Zhu’er.”
Fang Qing took it and saw pieces of dark-green cake in the bowl. Eating it gave him the taste of seaweed mixed with rice.
This was food made from sea algae. Though the flavor was ordinary, it was more than enough to fill the stomach.
Occasionally, they could also pick up some seafood. In terms of abundance of materials, this place actually surpassed the Sanshui’ao where he had lived before—though of course, it still could not compare to his previous life.
“Heehee…”
Zhu’er wore a short bright-red jacket, her hair tied into little horn braids. Her eyes darted about adorably as she squatted on the ground playing with seashells.
“Zhu’er, you’re so cute. You must have the aptitude for immortal cultivation. You’ll definitely be chosen by the Blue Sea Sect and become an immortal.”
Fang Qing teased her.
After learning about things during this period, he had gained some understanding of this sea region.
The Little Huan Sea, Jadeite Island!
The Little Huan Sea was part of the “East Sea cultivation world,” located in its southeastern corner. Within it were three sects, each with a Core Formation ancestor presiding over it, protecting the populace so that the demonic beasts in the sea dared not offend.
And scattered throughout the Little Huan Sea were many small islands. Some had great Foundation Establishment cultivators presiding over them and had become minor powers of their own; others were guarded by Qi Refining immortal masters and struggled to survive.
“Because the outer sea is very dangerous, islands without Qi Refining cultivators to guard them simply can’t sustain mortals… Mortals and cultivators live mixed together, so a lot of information isn’t exactly secret.”
Fang Qing gazed toward the depths of the island, his eyes profound. “And the Blue Sea Sect can be considered an orthodox, reputable sect. Every so often, they select children with spiritual roots to enter the sect… This is my chance!”
His gaze burned hot. Although being fourteen or fifteen was a little old, for the sake of cultivating immortality, he did not care if he was an old cucumber painted green!
“Moreover… the immortal cultivation techniques here are exactly the kind I imagined: as long as you have aptitude and obtain them, you can cultivate. You won’t be stuck at the threshold of the first breath of qi… In the fishing village, there are all sorts of legends about martial arts experts falling into the sea and finding the remains of predecessors, or poor scholars discovering immortal cultivation manuals in sutras, then stepping onto the path of cultivation and ultimately attaining the Dao and becoming immortals!”
Compared to the high-threshold immortal cultivation of Ancient Shu, Fang Qing felt that the cultivation techniques here suited him better.
Of course, his greatest confidence still came from his cheat ability, “Return to Origin.” Even if he took the wrong path, he would not be afraid!
The greatest joy in life was having the right to take back a move!
Thus, Fang Qing was determined to seize the opportunity at the Blue Sea Sect’s Immortal Destiny Assembly!
At dusk, the setting sun sank westward, casting thousands upon thousands of rays of golden light.
“Haha, Little Fang, come give me a hand.”
On the Zha family fishing boat, Old Man Zha leapt down holding a wooden bucket.
Fang Qing took it and found that it was filled with sea fish packed together.
“Bad luck today. Only a few blue-pattern fish…”
Old Man Zha shook his head and sighed. “If only we could catch a treasure fish…”
Fang Qing knew that so-called “treasure fish” had already surpassed ordinary fish. They were “variant species,” possessing many medicinal uses, and even immortal masters could make use of them.
Among mortals, they were even priceless treasures!
“As expected, those who live by the mountains eat from the mountains, and those who live by the sea eat from the sea… It’s said that those great Qi Refining cultivators rely heavily on treasure fish in their daily cultivation… As for Foundation Establishment experts? Naturally, they eat true demonic beasts…”
Compared to demonic beasts, these so-called “variant treasure fish” were probably only at the level of half-demons. Once they became true demonic beasts, ordinary fishermen could not deal with them at all. It was very easy for the boat to be destroyed and everyone aboard to die. It was said that this was how Zhu’er’s parents had perished.
“When you were young, you caught a red-scaled snapper. You’ll definitely be able to catch another one.”
Fang Qing laughed amiably, knowing exactly what to say to make Old Man Zha happiest.
While coaxing the old man, he began working, dealing with the blue-pattern fish.
These blue-pattern fish had blue scales and fangs, with a fierce bearing. They even tried to gnaw at his fingers. Their tails struck with no small amount of force, making them quite difficult to handle.
Thinking of this, Fang Qing’s gaze sank slightly, and his hand shot out like lightning.
“Red Sand Hand!”
The surface of his palm turned faintly red. He seized a blue-pattern fish and exerted a little force, crushing its brain.
“Good lad. Your Red Sand Hand can be considered to have reached the entry level.”
Seeing this, Old Man Zha nodded in satisfaction.
The so-called “Red Sand Hand” was a third-rate martial art. On Jadeite Island, it was nothing special. Most mortals learned a move or two to strengthen their bodies.
Among the sea folk of this fishing village, the most commonplace techniques were the “Red Sand Hand” and the “Thousand-Catty Drop.”
The former was a fish-catching skill that required training with a special kind of red sand found on the beach.
The Thousand-Catty Drop was a lightness technique used to stabilize one’s stance on a boat.
Since Fang Qing wanted to go aboard and help, Old Man Zha had naturally passed both techniques on to him.
“Heh…”
Old Man Zha smiled as he took out a pipe with an ancient bronze mouthpiece and leaned against the side of the boat to rest. Watching Fang Qing clean one blue-pattern fish after another, he suddenly said, “Little brother, you’ve been here for three months now, haven’t you?”
“Yes, three months.”
Fang Qing’s hands did not stop. He knew what Old Man Zha intended.
“You want to go to the Immortal Destiny Assembly? Although the Blue Sea Immortal Sect accepts children, you’re a bit old, and you’re not from this island. It won’t be easy…”
Old Man Zha shook his head as he spoke.
“Please enlighten me, Elder.”
Fang Qing finished cleaning the blue-pattern fish, stepped forward, and gave a respectful bow.
He knew that this old fisherman might have rescued him out of a moment of kindness, but taking him in for so long and even teaching him martial arts could not be explained by mere kindness.
“This man must want something. He wants to use me.”
“But having value to be used is still something to be glad about. At least he invested first…”
Fang Qing’s expression did not change.
Beside them, Zhu’er blinked and came forward to help her grandfather pound his back. Her voice carried a milky softness. “Grandpa, just help Brother Fang…”
“Go, go!”
Old Man Zha was so annoyed that he shot Fang Qing a vicious glare, then coaxed Zhu’er away before finally speaking. “During this period, this old man has gone out to sea constantly, wandering the waters near the island. Unfortunately, I haven’t caught a single treasure fish…”
“If there were a treasure fish to improve her aptitude, then even if little sister Zhu’er has no spiritual roots, she could take advantage of the opportunity after the Immortal Destiny Assembly to practice martial arts…”
Fang Qing indicated that he understood.
“A single treasure fish is worth at least a hundred silver shells…” Old Man Zha sighed. “In our village, an old hand who doesn’t dare go into the deep sea would be considered praiseworthy if he could catch two or three treasure fish in his entire life. But this old man knows of a route. In a few days, it will be the ‘Sea Dragon King’s Birthday.’ During the sacrifice, Sea Dragon Reef will definitely attract treasure fish!”
“The Sea Dragon’s Birthday?”
Fang Qing’s expression turned solemn. “What exactly is the procedure?”
He knew the main act had arrived.
“The so-called Sea Dragon King’s Birthday…” Old Man Zha’s expression grew distant as he began to explain. “It is a sacrifice held by us fishermen. An old hand at sea must steer a boat and deliver the offerings, as well as the strongmen guarding those offerings, to Sea Dragon Reef… When night falls, the large boat leaves, and only a few strongmen remain to watch over the offerings. After enduring through the night until dawn, there will be the wondrous sight of ‘ten thousand fish paying homage.’ Among them, there will surely be a few treasure fish. With your current hand technique, you have a very good chance of catching one.”
After he finished speaking, his expectant gaze fixed directly on Fang Qing.
“This matter… must be extremely dangerous. May I ask where the danger lies? I have a few questions. Please clear them up for me.”
Fang Qing’s expression was grave.
“Danger… naturally there is some, but in past years, nothing major has happened.”
Old Man Zha explained one by one, then said with solemnity, “Little brother, you are outstanding and will surely not remain an ordinary man. This little old man swears on his family name and ancestors: as long as you agree to participate in this Sea Dragon’s Birthday, I will immediately vouch for you and have you registered as a resident of Dahuá Fishing Village. You will definitely be able to attend the Immortal Destiny Assembly.”
“It sounds… as though it isn’t very dangerous… Yeah right!”
Fang Qing pondered inwardly. “With the Blue Sea Sect here, there definitely shouldn’t be any great demons that dare run wild, but this so-called Sea Dragon King is still highly suspicious…”
“Fortunately, from what I hear of the procedure, only those on the reef island are in danger… and the danger comes at night, so it can be avoided directly.”
Although his mind was already inclined, a look of difficulty still appeared on his face. “This… I need to consider it carefully.”
“That’s only natural. Little brother, think it over properly. Immortal destiny is a rare opportunity. At your age, if you miss this year, you may not be able to register again next year.”
Old Man Zha smiled. In Fang Qing’s eyes, that old face actually resembled his old uncle somewhat.
…
Late at night.
Fang Qing inspected his surroundings, carried a bucket of red sand, and called out with his mind.
“Dao-Generating Pearl!”
Rumble!
Clouds steamed and rosy mists billowed; heaven and earth intersected!
Clear and turbid qi churned, forming a gateway.
In the blink of an eye, the world had changed.
The land of Ancient Shu, inside a cave.
Fang Qing’s figure appeared. Beside him were the corpses of several jackals, their skulls caved in, clearly killed by heavy blows.
He touched his own hands, somewhat contemplative. “I used the cheat ability ‘Return to Origin’ to convert the inner force of the Red Sand Hand into primordial qi, and there’s actually only this tiny bit?”
At this moment, if Fang Qing looked inward at the Dao-Generating Pearl, he could sense that in some abstruse place neither inside nor outside his body, the Red Sand Hand skill he had originally cultivated had abruptly transformed into a white speck of light ten times smaller than a grain of rice, so tiny one could almost overlook it.
“Fortunately, I can convert the skill of the Thousand-Catty Drop in the same way and then add it to the Red Sand Hand… This is the reason my martial progress has been so rapid.”
Over the past three months, although he had rarely crossed back, he had been constantly exploring how to use his cheat ability.
For example, “Return to Origin”!
With a thought from Fang Qing, that grain of primordial qi abruptly transformed into his cultivation in the Thousand-Catty Drop, making his legs strong and powerful—equivalent to those fishermen who had trained for half a year!
“This… is incredible.”
Joy appeared on his face. “Looking at it this way, if I cultivate a large number of low-level techniques and then reset all the points, perhaps I can rapidly add points to one martial art until it reaches the peak, or even a transcendent level?”
Fang Qing thought about it, then hesitated somewhat. “However, issues like efficiency and loss in the process, as well as the bottlenecks of profound martial arts, all need to be considered…”
During the new-book period, the tentative schedule is two updates a day for six thousand words total, with updates at six in the morning.