“Mm… delicious.”
This fish soup had only been sprinkled with a tiny bit of salt, yet its flavor was completely different from before.
Besides the freshness of the fish, it also carried a sweet taste, like a clear mountain spring, refreshing to the heart and lungs.
More importantly… once the fish soup entered his stomach, it continuously transformed into inner strength, even giving Fang Qing the feeling that he was about to burst from being overfilled.
‘Eating two and a half treasure fish in one go really is a bit too much nourishment for an empty body…’
‘If it were someone else, they could only use the method of “venting” to expel the excess medicinal effect from their body… but I’m different.’
Fang Qing took a deep breath. The Daosheng Pearl spun with a whirl, and his inner strength instantly transformed once more into pure yuanqi.
In an instant, his body was empty, like a sponge, madly absorbing the medicinal power.
When his inner strength accumulated to a certain critical point, it was transformed again, allowing Fang Qing to remain in a constant state of “hunger.”
By the time the east had begun to brighten, he let out a long breath and looked inward at the Daosheng Pearl.
Inside the Daosheng Pearl, half a wisp of strange “yuanqi” was forming, like clouds and rosy mists rising and gathering, suffused with light.
“Half a wisp?”
“According to what’s recorded in my Fang family’s Qi-Gathering Art, a hundred wisps become a thread, and a hundred threads become one Dao… I’m still very far from a full Dao.”
“I just wonder whether a complete Dao of yuanqi can be used as the first breath of true qi for an ancient Shu Breath-Ingestion cultivator entering the Dao… Wait, even if it can, I don’t have any cultivation method for ‘yuanqi’…”
Fang Qing shook his head, casting these stray thoughts to the back of his mind, and began trying to transform the power of his Red Sand Palm.
This time, with him actively controlling it, the force within his body was incomparably vigorous, and there was not the slightest risk of it overflowing. He could break through at his leisure.
Crack, crack, crack!
The joints throughout his body exploded with sound, and his entire person seemed to grow a few inches taller.
“Ha!”
Fang Qing casually tore at his clothes, and they ripped apart like paper.
He looked at his panther-like, healthy and powerful physique, at those faintly defined muscles that were not bulky but instead even more sharply lined, and could not help but nod. “So this is the real me… My previous body was still far too weak.”
The former Fang Qing had grown up living as a poor peasant for over ten years. He had never eaten anything good. Not only was he thin and small, his vital essence had been deficient as well.
Even after he later began practicing martial arts, it had not made up for much.
But after this time, he felt that all his innate deficiencies had been replenished!
And that was not all!
Fang Qing stretched out his right palm and pressed it against the blue rock beside him.
He did not seem to exert much force, but when he moved his hand away, a clear palm print could be seen, its edges incomparably smooth.
“Good! Red Sand Palm at major accomplishment… at least equivalent to someone who has bitterly trained for ten years, and from a wealthy household where nourishing tonics and meat were never lacking.”
He withdrew his palm and smiled in satisfaction.
Although, in mortal legends, no matter how powerful a martial arts expert was, they were no match for an immortal.
But with this level of cultivation, it was enough for him to protect himself in Dahua Fishing Village.
Fang Qing had not forgotten that there was still a Ruan Qi who kept thinking about him…
“For now, there’s no need to do anything. I’ll just wait for the Immortal Affinity Assembly.”
He took a deep breath, then looked toward the outside world again. “As for ancient Shu, I still need to lie low…”
…
Chu Shan Town.
This ordinary little town was somewhat unusual today. The townspeople had risen early under the old mayor’s leadership and swept the only bluestone-paved square clean, especially the raised platform, which was practically spotless.
After all, this was to welcome immortals!
How could there be dust in a place where immortals would set foot?
And before the sky had even brightened, parents from all directions had arrived here, some riding horse carriages or ox carts, some walking on foot, bringing their children of suitable age.
Although arriving several hours early would not affect the result of the spiritual test at the Immortal Affinity Assembly, they were simply willing to think it might.
“There are… quite a lot of children.”
Fang Qing mingled among the group from Dahua Fishing Village. Since he was the oldest, he had practically become the leader of the children.
Zhu’er followed behind him, somewhat expectant and somewhat nervous.
“Of course… Every Immortal Affinity Assembly has several thousand children.”
Beside him, Old Man Cha carried his tobacco pouch on his back, his expression somewhat nostalgic. “Back then, this old man… came here too.”
As he spoke the last part, his voice grew low, and his expression became somewhat dim.
Clearly, whether it was Old Man Cha or his children, none of them had possessed “immortal affinity”!
“What exactly is this aptitude for immortal cultivation? Spiritual roots?”
Fang Qing was somewhat curious and glanced around the group again.
Ruan Qi had long since passed the age limit, and he had no relatives taking the spiritual test either, so he was not in the group.
Moreover, during this period, Fang Qing had stayed secluded and given him no chance to make trouble.
In fact, if it were not for the sake of making a stable transition, with Fang Qing’s current martial arts, he could already easily crush the other party to death.
“Haha… This old man did once hear the mayor say that humans are the foremost spirits of all things, born with all five elements complete… Every person has the possibility of cultivating and awakening wisdom. It’s just that the aptitude of the vast majority is extremely poor, equivalent to none at all… Those who can stand out even slightly are considered to possess immortal affinity. As for this immortal affinity aptitude, it’s divided into several upper and lower grades, but this old man isn’t too clear on that.”
Ever since they had caught the little azure dragon, Old Man Cha had treated Fang Qing with complete sincerity, answering whatever he asked.
“So that’s how it is.”
Fang Qing nodded and followed the others to the bluestone square, occupying a corner.
As the sun rose higher and higher, more and more people gathered in the square.
“They’re here!”
Suddenly, someone cried out in alarm.
Fang Qing raised his head and saw a green-leaf magic boat crossing the sky. Several streaks of multicolored light flew down from the boat.
Wrapped within the light were women in palace dresses and young men in blue robes. Each one had the bearing of an immortal, and they carried an indescribably powerful aura.
Among them, one young woman merely swept a curious glance over the crowd, yet it made people not dare meet her gaze.
‘So strong!’
Fang Qing lowered his head slightly. ‘I can already be considered a martial arts expert among mortals, yet facing immortal cultivators, I actually feel like an ant… But there’s nothing to be done. They can fly, after all.’
‘If I don’t have aptitude… then I’ll think of another way!’
‘With the accumulation of two worlds, I will definitely be able to reach the peak!’
He clenched his fists.
At this moment, the mayor and the other higher-ups went forward with flattering smiles. After saying a few ingratiating words, strong townsmen immediately struck gongs, and someone shouted loudly, “The Immortal Affinity Assembly now begins… Each family will come forward for the spiritual test according to household registration when called…”
“Chu Shan Town… Huo Sandong!”
A chubby boy with a wealthy appearance, dressed in silk clothes, immediately stepped forward and was brought onto the platform.
A young man in blue held an eight-trigram stone plate in his hands and formed a hand seal.
Buzz!
A beam of light emerged from the eight-trigram stone plate and enveloped the chubby boy.
On the stone plate, five-colored radiance suddenly burst forth, but it was extremely faint.
“Aptitude… none. Next.”
The young man in blue announced without expression, as though he had long since grown accustomed to this.
“Wuwu… Mother…”
The chubby boy went down crying, and the mayor continued calling names: “Chu Shan Town… Wang Er’ya!”
Wang Er’ya’s clothing and dress were a little worse than the chubby boy’s from before, but she also looked like she came from a comfortable household without worries over food or clothing.
“Aptitude… none!” The young man in blue formed seals and cast the spell as usual, looked at the stone plate, and shook his head expressionlessly.
Wang Er’ya immediately pouted, the corners of her eyes red, but she still performed a bow before running down the platform and being pulled into her parents’ arms for comfort.
“Song Liuque… no aptitude!”
“Zhang Dadan… no aptitude…”
As the young man in blue pronounced judgment one after another, sounds of sobbing rose throughout the square, and the atmosphere grew increasingly heavy.
Finally, after over a hundred children had passed, the young man’s eyes lit up. “Li Yudan… spiritual roots inclined toward wood among the five elements. Medium aptitude… qualified!”
The crowd stirred with a roar. Many townspeople directly offered congratulations to the child: “Congratulations, Lord Immortal…”
Fang Qing looked toward that Li Yudan and saw that his clothes were covered in patches. He was thin, small, and dark, standing there stupidly, without seeming particularly clever.
His parents, however, hugged him tightly, tears streaming down their faces.
‘This aptitude… really has no pattern at all. It’s all up to fate… Wait, fate?’
Fang Qing’s heart stirred. ‘Ma Laosan said before… my Fang family seems to have… pretty good fate?’
After Li Yudan, there was another long string of disqualifications.
That young man in blue tested several hundred people in a row before his magic power finally ran low and he withdrew to meditate. A woman in palace dress took his place, and the line had reached the fishing villages outside the town.
During that time, two more children with aptitude appeared, but both had lower-grade aptitude.
Fang Qing possessed martial arts and exceptional patience, and he waited all the way until afternoon.
On the raised platform, a middle-aged man wearing the attire of the Bihai Sect had a trace of fatigue on his face as he said numbly, “Next…”
“Dahua Fishing Village… Luo Ping…”
“Dahua Fishing Village… Fang Qing!”
Finally, he heard his own name.
Fang Qing did not conceal anything. Wearing the expectation and nervousness of a youth on his face, he stepped onto the platform one step at a time.
“Oh? Your qi and blood are not bad… It seems your mortal martial arts have been trained to a state of great mastery.”
The blue-robed middle-aged man nodded and formed a hand seal. “Rise!”
Spiritual power surged, and an indescribable aura enveloped Fang Qing.
Fang Qing stared fixedly at the eight-trigram stone plate. On the stone plate, five colors—black, white, red, yellow, and green—flashed in succession. In the end, black light flared brilliantly, extending several inches.
“Mm, spiritual roots inclined toward water among the five elements… medium aptitude. Qualified!”
The blue-robed middle-aged man nodded slightly. “This junior brother, my name is Wei Gutong. From now on, we are both disciples of the Bihai Sect.”
“Greetings, Senior Brother.” Fang Qing hurriedly cupped his fists and walked into the ranks of the newly accepted disciples.
“This junior brother… I am your senior sister, Gong Susu…”
The palace-dressed young woman who had been regulating her breath opened her eyes and smiled faintly at Fang Qing, her attitude completely different from how she treated those with lower-grade aptitude.
Fang Qing was just about to exchange a few polite words when he suddenly heard the middle-aged man cry out in alarm: “Upper… upper-grade aptitude!”
“Mm?”
Fang Qing and Gong Susu looked over and saw Cha Zhu’er standing on the platform at a complete loss, while below the platform, Old Man Cha was so excited that he nearly fainted.
“Upper-grade aptitude?!”
“Aside from extraordinary-grade and heavenly-grade, upper-grade aptitude is already top-notch. In the future, she might even have hope of Foundation Establishment!”
A Bihai Sect disciple who had not spoken before had burning eyes and a face full of smiles as he stepped past Fang Qing. “This junior sister… welcome to the Bihai Sect. My name is Kan Zimeng…”
Gong Susu could no longer pay Fang Qing any attention either. She likewise gathered around Cha Zhu’er, her face brimming with a gentle smile.
Seeing this scene, Fang Qing only found it very interesting, while in his heart he let out a breath of relief. ‘No matter what… possessing the aptitude for immortal cultivation is wonderful.’