Within the cave abode.
Fang Qing converted his [Jishui] magic power and circulated the Book of Contemplating the Black Mound, beginning his assault on the bottleneck of the seventh level of Breath Ingestion.
After a long while, he let out a long breath. “Failed…”
Although the ancient Shu cultivation art was incomparably profound, its requirements in terms of “Dao attainment” were even higher.
Previously, he had only vaguely sensed that this barrier existed. After this attempt, he understood it much more clearly.
“Even if my current total amount of yuanqi, once converted, is enough to compare with the seventh level of Breath Ingestion… if my Dao attainment is insufficient, forcing the breakthrough will only leave me heavily injured?”
“If I want to increase my Dao attainment, naturally I need to read more Daoist scriptures and comprehend the Dao more…”
“Or even… act in accordance with my fate constitution?”
Like Li Rulong, who acted entirely according to his own fate constitution—now his fortune was blazing like wildfire, and Dao attainment poured into him as if it cost nothing. Fang Qing truly found it somewhat enviable.
Only, if he were to imitate him, he would not be able to learn it.
Moreover, his [Jishui] fate was not the same thing as Li Rulong’s.
If he were the one to go contend for supremacy, it certainly would not benefit his own Dao attainment in the slightest.
“Forget it… I should first go certify as a first-tier high-grade alchemist.”
Fang Qing rose and headed for the Pill Hall.
He needed to prove, step by step, that he was a genius of water-method alchemy, making preparations for the struggle over the true inheritance disciple position in the Dao of Alchemy several years later.
“Only by advancing to a first-tier high-grade alchemist will I be qualified to consult the sect’s second-tier pill scriptures and exchange contribution points for various alchemy texts and inheritances…”
“With the aid of divine sense, and my magic power having broken through to the late stage of Qi Refining… in theory, I can attempt to refine second-tier pills now. It’s just that… if I fail, the losses will be simply astonishing.”
“Besides that, if I want to refine second-tier pills, it would be best to rent a second-tier spirit pool… The spirit pool in my cave abode, even with spirit stones added, is at most first-tier high-grade. It’s not that it can’t be used to refine second-tier pills, but there will be some hindrance… and during alchemy, it may be precisely that tiny difference that leads to failure.”
As for the vigilance and suppression from rivals that might come after certification?
Fang Qing had already divined it. The omen was more auspicious than ominous, and that was why he was taking this step.
……
Pill Hall.
The hall was ancient and simple, faintly exuding the scent of pills.
“Junior Brother Fang?”
The person on duty in the Pill Hall today was Hua Lingsu. Upon seeing Fang Qing, shock appeared on her face. “Although I had heard of it long ago, I still haven’t congratulated Junior Brother on advancing to the late stage of Qi Refining. You can now be considered one of the core direct-line disciples of our Pill Island faction…”
“It was only a coincidence of opportunity. I was fortunate enough to break through between life and death.”
Fang Qing appeared very courteous.
However, late-stage Qi Refining cultivation was indeed considered among the best in the current Pill Island.
In fact, even if he went to seek a master, those second-tier alchemists might very well accept him directly.
After all, Foundation Establishment cultivators had to focus on alchemy and cultivation… If they had one or two capable disciples under them, they would naturally be of great use.
“I wonder what Junior Brother has come for?”
Hua Lingsu asked.
“I have come to verify my status as a first-tier high-grade alchemist.”
Fang Qing replied with a faint smile.
“A first-tier high-grade alchemist?”
Hua Lingsu was taken aback. Then intense astonishment appeared on her face. “You… I never expected Junior Brother to have such talent in the Dao of Alchemy. However, according to the rules, certifying as a high-grade alchemist still requires an examination… A second-tier alchemist must be invited to observe, and Junior Brother must consecutively refine three different first-tier high-grade pills.”
“That is only natural… These are the fees required for certification.”
Fang Qing handed a bag of spirit stones to Hua Lingsu.
To invite a second-tier alchemist for certification, along with the many alchemy consumables, naturally could not be paid for by the sect. Otherwise, there would be no shortage of mid-grade alchemists taking advantage of loopholes.
“Very well!”
Hua Lingsu accepted the spirit stones and gave him a certificate. “This matter still depends on which second-tier alchemist has time… Generally, you will need to wait from one to several months. Also…”
Some hesitation appeared on her face, but she still spoke. “There is another custom involved. If a newly advanced first-tier high-grade alchemist has not previously taken a master, then the second-tier alchemist who certifies him will share half a master-disciple bond with him. If you request to become his disciple, there is a very high chance the other party will agree. Therefore, the choice is extremely important. Junior Brother… would you like to invite my master, Fu Yunzi, to come? My master is extremely magnanimous and greatly appreciates outstanding talent…”
“I fear only that I might delay Master Fu Yunzi’s cultivation. Let us simply follow the sect’s rules…”
Fang Qing smiled faintly and did not take up the offer.
“In the end, the chance was missed…”
Hua Lingsu’s heart dimmed. Then she thought of the fallen Cha Zhu and Li Yusu… and her complexion turned somewhat ashen.
Just then, a melodious bell rang in their ears.
The bell was vast and resonant, and carried a trace of killing intent.
“Six tolls of the sect’s Startling Spirit Bell?”
After the bell ended, Fang Qing murmured, “Has something major happened?”
He and Hua Lingsu flew out of the Pill Hall, and saw five-tusk warships gathering one after another. Spirit patterns shimmered upon them, carrying a powerful spiritual pressure.
On the decks stood disciples whose auras were deep and profound.
The one at their head had surging magic power, and had clearly already reached Foundation Establishment. His eyes were sharp as swords, and his chin was slightly pointed.
“It’s Cui Zhe… He actually succeeded in Foundation Establishment?”
Hua Lingsu was greatly shocked. “The Punishing Evil Hall is mobilizing on such a large scale. I wonder which family they’re going to annihilate?”
“They haven’t mobilized the disciples of the entire sect, so they’re clearly not going to war against a Core Formation power… Then it must be a Foundation Establishment power.”
Fang Qing seemed to be analyzing, but in his heart he was already certain: “Flying Fish Island is going to suffer terribly.”
With the Punishing Evil Hall mobilizing in force, a mere Foundation Establishment power definitely would not be able to resist.
Unfortunately, as a Pill Island disciple, he would customarily not be conscripted for combat, so he was missing a fine opportunity to plunder.
After certifying as a first-tier high-grade alchemist, the next step would be to attempt refining second-tier pills. That was a gold-devouring beast!
“Wait… If the sect won’t bring me, I can go on my own.”
“Flying Fish Island is a Foundation Establishment power. There might well be fish that slip through the net…”
“Moreover… if they can steadily nurture Foundation Establishment cultivators, they must have Foundation Establishment opportunities!”
Among Foundation Establishment opportunities, the Foundation Establishment Pill was best, but there were also other spiritual objects that likewise had the effect of aiding Foundation Establishment!
His heart stirred, and he circulated the Plum Blossom Changes.
Hua Lian was deeply involved with him. This time, the divination image was very easily interpreted:
“Benefit lies to the southeast. Great fortune!”
……
Flying Fish Island.
This island was shaped like a flying fish. A peak rose from it, planted full of mulberry trees, where one could occasionally see “Crouching Dragon Silkworms” crawling about.
This spirit silkworm could spin “Flying Dragon Silk,” and the “Flying Dragon Daoist Robes” made from it were extremely famous in the Lesser Huan Sea cultivation world.
Besides that, quite a few sea regions near the island had been artificially opened up into fishing grounds, where “Treasure-Eyed Fish” were raised.
This “Flying Dragon Silk” and these “Treasure-Eyed Fish” were the two great pillars of the Hua family’s income.
“Ancestor… The spirit silkworms suffered a blight this season, and silk production has decreased somewhat… Fortunately, with the spirit beast master sent by the Zhong family, the pests have already been removed. It is expected that production can return to normal next year…”
The Hua family head, Hua Zong, was respectfully reporting to his family’s Foundation Establishment ancestor, Hua Tianfeng.
Hua Tianfeng had an imposing bearing, his eyes like lightning, quite possessed of the air of a great hegemon of his generation.
In ordinary times, he was most concerned with such matters of family income and expenditure.
But today, he seemed somewhat absent-minded.
“Zong’er, I don’t know why… but my heart stirred on a whim today, and I have quite an ominous feeling.”
Hua Tianfeng suddenly waved his hand. “How is our contact with that side? Remember, you must clean up all loose ends!”
“Please rest assured, Ancestor!”
Hua Zong swept a glance over the surrounding formation, as well as the talismans that prevented eavesdropping, and his voice unconsciously lowered. “Only a scant few people in the family know of this matter… When the Zhong family contacted us last time, they said our family had rendered great merit. Recently, Taibai Island is refining several furnaces of Foundation Establishment Pills to reward meritorious subjects, and among them will be one pill for our family…”
“Hmph… After all, it destroyed the Sea-Churning Flood Serpent. That was a third-tier spirit pet!”
Hua Tianfeng sneered, then said, “If not for our family’s baleful pit beginning to weaken and its output becoming insufficient… we would not have taken such risks.”
The Hua family had a baleful pit on Flying Fish Island. Every hundred years, it could produce one strand of “Profound Wind Baleful Qi.” This baleful qi could amplify magic power, and could also be considered a Foundation Establishment spiritual object. It was the foundation of the Hua family. Together with Foundation Establishment opportunities collected through other channels, it barely ensured that the Hua family’s line of Foundation Establishment cultivators would not be cut off.
But more than thirty years ago, disaster suddenly struck Flying Fish Island. For some unknown reason, the output of baleful qi from that “Profound Wind Baleful Pit” greatly decreased. The Profound Wind Baleful Qi that was originally estimated to be obtainable once every hundred years might now take two hundred, or even three to five hundred years to produce a single strand!
With no other choice, the Hua family had begun seeking another path, and thus had hooked up with the Zhong family.
“Among the various Foundation Establishment opportunities, the Foundation Establishment Pill is best… Nurture those Foundation Establishment seeds of the family well. Hopefully, our family can gain one more Foundation Establishment cultivator.”
Hua Tianfeng pondered for a while. “This time, those family disciples in the sect have contributed greatly… Since we have the Foundation Establishment Pill, then the three Iceheart Meridian-Protecting Pills traded from the Zhong family can be bestowed upon them as appropriate…”
This “Iceheart Meridian-Protecting Pill” was a second-tier spirit pill specially produced by the Zhong family. Using “century-old ice soul” as the main ingredient, it could greatly strengthen the toughness of the meridians and protect a cultivator’s dantian. It was likewise a miraculous pill that assisted Foundation Establishment.
Unfortunately, it had no effect in adjusting a cultivator’s three treasures of essence, qi, and spirit. At most, it could increase the chance of Foundation Establishment by ten percent.
“Mm. Among those in the sect, I think Lian’er of the third branch is quite good… He has also cultivated to the late stage of Qi Refining, enough to…”
Before Hua Zong could finish speaking, the ground shook with a crash.
He raised his head in horror, only to discover that his ancestor’s face had become incomparably ugly.
At his ears, a young yet majestic voice rang out:
“The Bihai Sect has issued its decree! The Hua family colluded with foreign enemies, a crime that cannot be pardoned… The entire clan shall be exterminated as a warning to others!”
In the sky, at some unknown point, several flying warships had appeared. Carrying a pressure that seemed to bear down upon all living beings, they thunderously drove into Flying Fish Island’s great formation.
As the family’s nest, the Hua family had spent heavily long ago to build the “Four Directions Heavenly Water Formation” on the island for protection. This formation ranked second-tier mid-grade, and could withstand even a late-stage Foundation Establishment cultivator’s attack for a time.
But now, beneath the large-scale war artifact of a Core Formation sect—the five-tusk warship—it was as fragile as thin paper, easily torn apart.
At the position of the warship’s ram, a streak of lightning flickered like a sharp wedge, charging straight into the formation!
Endless waves of water, flying arrows, and hailstones smashed against the warship, but were all blocked by a five-colored shield, unable to harm the cultivators on the deck in the slightest.
“Not bad, not bad. Our sect’s five-tusk warship, paired with the ‘Restriction-Breaking Thunder Awl’… is sufficient to break through a second-tier mid-grade formation. Even a second-tier high-grade one… it can disrupt its operation and make it stagnate for a moment.”
Seeing this scene, Cui Zhe could not help but nod in satisfaction.
The Bihai Sect’s five-tusk warships were, upon this stretch of sea, a clan-exterminating weapon that made all Foundation Establishment powers tremble at the mere mention of them!