“Heh, [Wei Fire] Dao lineage, refining the embers of tribulation fire… it really scared this old fox to death.”
An Zhuzi patted his chest in a highly human-like manner, the grin tugging at his fox muzzle seemingly carrying a trace of mockery.
“Ahem…”
Fang Qing saw that the situation was turning sour and had to speak up. “Fellow Daoist… I am the one currently seeking to purchase a cultivation technique. Do you have one on hand?”
“This old fox doesn’t have a Great Sun cultivation technique on hand… but my demon race’s treasury is abundant. If this old fox goes back to ask, there should be some leads.”
An Zhuzi clearly had a great fondness for the business of buying and selling techniques. His fox face under the candlelight appeared extremely shrewd and eerie. “If you trust this old fox, pay a deposit first… this old fox will contact you again once I’ve found something.”
Fang Qing was silent for a moment, then tossed out a yellow gourd.
An Zhuzi caught it, opened it, and sniffed. “Mm… not bad, not bad. This old fox will remember this matter.”
Fang Qing then secretly sent a voice transmission, giving the old fox a rendezvous point and countersign, before retreating back into the crowd.
‘Though the atmosphere at this exchange meeting was tense and confrontational… quite a bit of intelligence was indeed leaked…’
He watched the drama unfold with relish, inwardly thrilled, hoping that An Zhuzi and the Pu family cultivator would drop a few more explosive revelations on each other.
Once the exchange ended, it was time for the mutual discussion segment.
It was still that same Old Tian who stepped forward first and asked, “This old Tian bears a [Lou Gold] destiny, but my grandchildren do not. If they cultivate a [Lou Gold] technique, I wonder if there would be any obstacles?”
Hearing this, Fang Qing’s spirits lifted, and he looked toward the unkempt Daoist.
In the future, he would definitely switch to cultivating other techniques as well.
“A cultivator’s destined constitution has boosting effects on cultivation techniques, but it is not absolute…”
The unkempt Daoist thought for a moment, then explained, “If your descendant possesses another Metal virtue fate, cultivating a [Lou Gold] technique won’t present too many obstacles… only, their progress might be somewhat slower compared to a technique more suited to them… If one possesses a Metal virtue fate yet cultivates Wood or Fire element techniques, it is not impossible, but the speed will be extremely slow, and they will be even more prone to qi deviation…”
Hearing this, Fang Qing immediately understood.
In this regard, Fuqi Dao techniques were actually rather similar to those of the Qi Refinement Dao.
According to the Qi Refinement Dao’s immortal cultivation theory, the human body possesses all five elements. Therefore, he could actually cultivate Metal, Wood, Fire, Earth, and even Ice attribute techniques.
It was just that he was innately suited to Water element techniques; one hour of cultivating those might match ten hours of any other technique!
If he still wanted to break through to a major realm and extend his lifespan, naturally it would still be best to focus on Water element techniques.
Only, after Foundation Establishment in the future, he could still switch to the Azure Sea Sect’s Core Formation technique, the ‘Azure Sea Technique,’ or even switch to another Water element technique.
But on the Fuqi Dao side, once you selected a technique at the start, you were forced to walk that single path to the bitter end.
“So that’s how it is. Many thanks, Fellow Daoist, for dispelling my confusion…”
Old Tian suddenly saw the light, then gritted his teeth. “This old man was ignorant back then. When I first entered the Dao, I only ingested a single stream of low-third-grade True Qi, resulting in my magic power being of poor quality. I wonder if there is still any way to make up for it?”
“Heh…” The Pu surnamed cultivator sneered. “After entering the Dao, there is no changing it. Since you ingested low-third-grade True Qi, then you are fated to remain in the Fuqi Realm for life. Don’t even think about breaking through to Dao Foundation.”
Once these words were spoken, most of the cultivators present turned deathly pale.
It was obvious that rogue cultivators like them had no elders to constantly remind them. The first mouthful of True Qi upon entering the Dao was also extremely precious, so naturally they refined whatever they had. Most of their True Qi was low-third-grade. Not only was breaking through to Dao Foundation hopeless, but even their daily cultivation and fighting fellow cultivators of the same level put them at a disadvantage.
“Actually… it is not that there is no way.”
At this time, the old fox opened his mouth. “Water is naturally good at nourishing all things. If one can find those few types of Heaven and Earth spiritual waters spoken of in legends, such as the ‘Heaven-One Birth Water,’ it is not necessarily impossible to purify one’s magic power and defy heaven to change one’s fate…”
“Heh… in this world, Metal and Fire are greatly dominant. Heaven and Earth spiritual flames and the several kinds of cosmic wonder metals capable of forging Nine Revolutions Flying Swords are exceedingly rare… Heaven and Earth spiritual water will only be even scarcer.”
The Pu surnamed cultivator sneered coldly. “I’m afraid the ‘Heaven-One Birth Water’ no longer exists in this world. To find it, unless a great power proves the Dao and greatly benefits the Water virtue of the world, there might be one or two points of hope… Even if you did find it, such a spiritual object would be madly snatched up even by Purple Mansion cultivators. How dare you lot still vainly hope for it?”
The surrounding cultivators fell silent, only firmly memorizing the name ‘Heaven-One Birth Water.’ Although it was most likely a futile effort… what if?
“A great power proving the Dao? There’s actually this kind of change?”
Fang Qing was truly somewhat surprised.
“What’s so strange about that? When a Dao Foundation cultivator breaks through, there are heaven and earth phenomena. If a Purple Mansion cultivator breaks through, the scope is even wider, affecting at least one commandery… Back when that Pu family ancestor broke through, Yulin Commandery was ablaze, its fire light reaching the heavens. Who knows how many innocent passersby were burned to death, and quite a few Wood element cultivators suffered qi deviation… Those in closed-door seclusion trying to break through to a major realm had it even worse. Apart from Fire cultivators who reaped benefits, the rest all failed, some directly dying and dispersing…”
The old fox spoke up. “If a great power proves the Dao, the effects would absolutely spread throughout the world… If one cultivates Water virtue, what would a few more Water element spiritual objects in heaven and earth count for?”
“Many thanks. I have been taught.”
Fang Qing cupped his fists and saluted. No matter what, this was precious knowledge.
“Heh… it’s nothing, all just common knowledge. This old fox got a civilian post at ‘Fallen Phoenix Mountain,’ responsible for overseeing the ‘Langhuan Book Pavilion,’ and usually likes nothing more than reading.”
The old fox said with a smile.
“The demon race’s holy land—Fallen Phoenix Mountain?”
Fang Qing was still lamenting that no wonder the old fox loved doing technique transactions so much; turns out he was just a librarian, when the Pu surnamed cultivator’s cry of alarm rang by his ear.
He looked over again and discovered that the Pu surnamed cultivator’s face was full of dread, completely lacking his previous aggression.
‘Alright… so his power can’t compare, and he’s decided to back down?’
This kind of offspring from a great aristocratic family could stick his nostrils up to the sky when facing those below him, yet could be incomparably humble when facing those from a higher tier—a truly dual nature.
For the remainder of the exchange, because the Pu surnamed cultivator admitted defeat and didn’t say a word, Fang Qing couldn’t hear anything juicy instead, and felt rather bored.
Once the exchange meeting ended, the various cultivators dispersed one by one.
He was just preparing to leave when he heard the unkempt old Daoist speak up. “Fellow Daoist Fang Shui, please stay a moment…”
“What instructions does the Daoist have?”
Fang Qing was secretly on guard, though his expression was very polite.
“Thinking back to those years, seeing you few outside Floating Boat Workshop still feels like yesterday… In your youth, you were able to consume a strange fruit and find your way to Floating Boat Workshop. That can be considered fate.”
The unkempt Daoist’s expression was somewhat dazed. “And now, not only have you entered the Dao through Fuqi, you’re already at the sixth layer… Li Rulong is even more extraordinary—blessed by destiny, a son of the era, able to occupy most of Ba Commandery. Though it was due to a Purple Mansion agreement, it is still a rare feat…”
‘A strange fruit?’
Fang Qing’s eye twitched. ‘If this wasn’t leaked by Li Rulong or the Pu family, then this old fellow divined me? He can calculate me? And he’s still a Fuqi cultivator? Could he be… Dao Foundation? Isn’t he afraid of the Purple Mansion prohibition?’
At the same time, he secretly cursed in his heart. ‘I attend an exchange meeting at the Fuqi level and bump into this kind of big shot… what a fucking shithole of a place!’
‘Fortunately, I have ‘As if within calculation.’ He thinks he divined me, but it’s actually just a false surface layer… Later, I’ll use the 《Plum Blossom Yi》 to calculate him back. According to the divination manual, someone who actively forms karma with me like this should be easier to calculate… But if his major realm exceeds mine, that shouldn’t be possible, especially in Ancient Shu, this shithole of heavenly secrets!’
At this moment, Fang Qing’s expression shifted slightly as he sensed another layer of abnormality.
The Dao Birth Pearl within his body spun with a whirl, clear and turbid qi suffusing outward in a magnificent sight.
‘This is… ‘As if within calculation’ being triggered?’
‘This person… could he not even be at Dao Foundation?’
‘The fuck? A Purple Mansion cultivator personally descending to bomb fish? Is there still heavenly justice? Is there still the law of the king!?’
‘I’ve been working diligently in the Azure Sea Sect for almost ten years, and I haven’t even seen what my own Core Formation ancestor looks like! Do the Purple Mansion cultivators over here have to be so down-to-earth!?’
Although he was wildly complaining in his heart, Fang Qing maintained his acting, his surface appearance completely normal.
Or rather, with the Dao Birth Pearl masking him, the fluctuations of his mind and spirit were similarly shrouded in a layer of ‘As if within calculation.’ Even if this Purple Mansion cultivator possessed some heart-peering art, he would only see a layer of false mental activity.
Fang Qing continued listening, and heard the old Daoist speak. “Although Li Rulong is a son of destiny for this era, he has now reached his limit. Dao Foundation aristocratic garrisons, the Black Chong Sect… none of these are things he can handle. Though this old one is weak, I am willing to do my humble part for him. I wonder if the young friend would be willing to deliver a letter for this old Daoist, inviting him to join this exchange meeting?”
“This is only natural.”
He readily agreed, took a bright yellow letter, and bid farewell before leaving.
Whoosh!
Fang Qing stepped onto his Profound Ice Wheel and flew out a long distance in one breath. Subconsciously, he wanted to teleport back to Jade Island and not stay in this broken place a moment longer.
But the next moment, his heart stirred, and he silently operated the 《Plum Blossom Yi》.
After the fright just now, he had stumbled upon another layer of transformation to ‘As if within calculation’ through a fortuitous combination of circumstances.
‘Although the heavenly secrets of the Ancient Shu region are a shithole! But I have the Dao Birth Pearl. Borrowing its status… my divination ability might perhaps be comparable to a Purple Mansion cultivator?’
‘Plus, earlier that unkempt Daoist actively sought me out to form karma, so calculating him should be relatively easy…’
Within Fang Qing’s sea of consciousness, several illusory plum blossom petals drifted down, forming a hexagram:
“Calamitous?!”
“Could it be… that unkempt Daoist has been monitoring me this whole time? The moment I teleport, I would expose my greatest secret?”
His heart was incomparably shocked, but his face didn’t reveal it in the slightest. He inquired about the location of Li Rulong’s army and immediately hurried over.
“Fortunately, for now, Li Rulong is the chess piece everyone values; I’m just an insignificant minor character… As long as I act out my part well and then exit the stage, no one will pay attention to me.”
“The most critical thing is still the status of the 《Plum Blossom Yi》 and the Dao Birth Pearl… Otherwise, I wouldn’t even know if I had already entered the board, dying like a clueless ghost…”