Lying Low While Cultivating Immortality in Two Worlds

Heavenly Pillar Mountain.

At the summit, the ground formed a vast plaza paved with the qi-ingestion spiritual material known as Taihuang Stone. At a glance, its expanse seemed endless.

At the center of the plaza stood an earth-yellow palace. Its great doors were tightly shut, yet they radiated layer upon layer of mysterious light. In midair, those lights transformed into divine manifestations of beasts such as badgers, pheasants, bats, and raccoon dogs. There were also scenes of flourishing flora, birds, insects, fish, and the bustling tapestry of mortal life.

Fang Wuchen sat cross-legged, lifting his gaze for a sweep of the surroundings. There were no fewer than a hundred cultivators present, among them several at the Dao Foundation realm.

All of them were blocked by the palace gates, unable to advance even a step.

Above the gates was a recessed groove. It appeared incomplete, yet carried an inexplicable Dao resonance. It faintly resonated with the God-Striking Stone hidden within Fang Wuchen’s sleeve. Thinking of the origin of his own God-Striking Stone, his heart grew cold.

At that moment, two more Dao Foundation cultivators stepped onto the plaza. One wore a green robe and had a youthful, refined appearance. The other had a short, cropped haircut and carried a three-foot sword on his back.

“Fellow Daoists.”

Yin Xuanzi stepped forward to greet them. “Do you possess the token? We are all blocked by this Central Yellow Palace. Only with the token can the gates be opened. Time is of the essence. If the Purple Mansion cultivators outside confirm the situation and enter this Grotto Heaven, we will not even get a share of the spoils.”

The sword cultivator spoke with a hint of confusion.

“Indeed. I am Yin Xuanzi of the Yin Corpse Sect. Before departure, the sect allowed me to review certain records. Only then did I learn that this Grotto Heaven is called Taihuang Heaven. Within it lies this Central Yellow Palace, which contains six halls and nine towers, each storing countless treasures and Dao inheritances.”

Yin Xuanzi smiled faintly. “It is sealed by a divine ability and cannot be opened without the proper token. You will understand once you see the gate for yourselves.”

Liu Junyan stepped forward to the gate and froze.

Reaching into his robes, he took out a qi-ingestion artifact. It was also a God-Striking Stone.

“This item has always been treasured in my family for its usefulness during Qi Ingestion. Who would have thought.”

He muttered under his breath.

“Haha, this is the final piece. Now everything is complete.”

Yin Xuanzi was overjoyed. “Where are the rest of you, fellow Daoists?”

In an instant, Dao Foundation auras rose from all directions, each imbued with the profundity of earth virtue.

Even Fang Wuchen, his expression solemn, brought out his own God-Striking Stone.

In the next moment, all the stones merged into one, forming a bright yellow stone the size of a human head. It embedded perfectly into the groove upon the palace gate.

Rumble!

The gates of the palace swung open. Bats flew, raccoon dogs darted, pheasants hid, and beasts scattered…

These manifestations rushed into the void and vanished completely. In their place, streams of yellow qi overflowed, faintly forming the shapes of turtles and cranes.

“Yellow Court Essence?”

Liu Junyan examined it carefully, his face filled with disbelief. “This is true qi of at least seventh rank. Even a single strand is hard to obtain under normal circumstances, yet here it is everywhere?”

The Dao Foundation cultivators entered the Central Yellow Palace. Some could no longer restrain themselves and immediately began collecting the true qi.

Meanwhile, bursts of radiant light and the mysterious aura of treasures erupted from various halls and towers. Some even carried the might of divine abilities, causing the cultivators to tremble with fear while also filling them with anticipation.

“Purple Mansion treasures?”

“There are even Purple Mansion spiritual materials?”

Even Yin Xuanzi could not hide his excitement.

The value of Purple Mansion spiritual materials required no explanation. If they were aligned with earth virtue, they would directly affect the path of cultivation for those present.

Moreover, Purple Mansion treasures of the Qi Ingestion path differed from those of the Qi Refining path.

Qi Refining cultivators at Foundation Establishment could not wield Core Formation treasures.

But in the Qi Ingestion path, if one’s Dao Foundation matched or was sufficiently compatible, a Dao Foundation cultivator could unleash a portion of a Purple Mansion treasure’s power. This alone could elevate them above their peers, granting extraordinary might. In the current urgent situation, possessing such a treasure might even allow one to conceal themselves and survive the coming disaster.

“Six halls and nine towers. The six halls contain the aura of Purple Mansion treasures and spiritual materials.”

“As for the nine towers, they seem to hold only Dao Foundation artifacts and materials, or else conceal their brilliance entirely. Most likely they contain Dao scriptures.”

Fang Qing observed carefully and thought to himself:

‘Now that the treasures have appeared, those Purple Mansion cultivators will soon take action.’

‘The Central Yellow Palace is extraordinary. It may require those with specific fate to open it.’

‘But once opened, this will no longer concern low-level cultivators like us. We must seize whatever benefits we can now.’

‘Purple Mansion treasures and materials? I cannot take them out anyway.’

‘The Dao inheritances are what matter!’

Having made his decision, Fang Qing cast a glance aside. As expected, Fang Wuchen remained cautious and did not rush toward the six halls. Instead, he chose one of the towers.

Fang Qing’s heart stirred. The sword cultivator and Fachuan immediately followed, intending to ride on the fortune of his distant grand-nephew.

Fang Wuchen avoided the main crowd, yet still noticed several Dao Foundation cultivators following him. He could only sigh inwardly.

Arriving before a tower, he swept his gaze across it and saw a plaque inscribed with two characters:

Profound Yellow Tower.

Just as Fang Wuchen was about to step forward and enter, the surrounding vegetation suddenly burst into bloom. Vines shot out in all directions, transforming into wooden pythons and serpents that blocked his path.

“Is this the profundity of the [Liu Earth] Dao Foundation?”

He frowned slightly, opened his mouth, and spat out a stream of water.

The moment the water touched wood, it rotted instantly. In the blink of an eye, the dense mass of vegetation was completely corroded away.

Several breath-controlling magical artifacts came flying toward him, but Fang Wuchen casually caught them. With a few bites, he crushed and swallowed them into his stomach.

The “Primordial Refining Cauldron” could devour metal and consume iron. This was without preparation.

If he had cultivated outside for several years and absorbed large amounts of spiritual materials, he could normally store them within his body. When needed, he could directly draw upon the corresponding elemental interactions and spit them out against his enemies.

“The [Stomach Earth] stands at the proper position of the earth virtue. Against metal, fire, sun, and moon, it is hard to say. But when dealing with other earth virtues, it remains quite dominant.”

Fang Qing silently praised this as he drew his flying sword. With a flick of his finger, the blade rang out like a dragon’s roar.

Rip!

A sound like thunder echoed through the void. This was precisely the Dao Foundation sword art, Sword Motion Like Thunder!

The sword light twisted and coiled as it struck a spear that had attempted to ambush Fang Wuchen.

The spear recoiled like a venomous snake, revealing a black-robed elder with a grim expression. “Why has a secret monk appeared? And even cultivates sword arts? What a complete mess!”

“Haha, fellow Daoist, let us join forces.”

Fachuan took out several gold-and-fire talismans, their power enough to deter peers.

“Very well!”

Fang Wuchen agreed loudly, yet his heart was filled with caution. ‘Why are these two esoteric cultivators joining hands with me?’

Just as several Dao Foundation cultivators clashed, displaying profound techniques, the entire Central Yellow Palace suddenly trembled.

Above the palace dome, vast amounts of Yellow Court qi instantly dispersed.

The palace collapsed, pavilions crumbled, it was a scene of utter apocalypse.

‘Not good. A Purple Mansion cultivator has arrived!’

Fang Qing’s thoughts stirred as he saw the Profound Yellow Tower shaking violently. Cracks spread across its surface before it collapsed with a thunderous crash.

Countless Daoist scriptures flew through the air, mixed with scrolls and manuals, all falling together like a landslide.

Among them, a stone box flew toward Fang Wuchen. Its restriction opened slightly, releasing a burst of golden light.

Fachuan immediately raised his hand and released a second-rank high-grade Golden Palace Talisman, blocking the other Dao Foundation cultivators. Relying on his second-rank body refinement, he forcibly endured the shockwaves. Even as he coughed blood, he seized the stone box and opened it at once.

“The ‘Taisu Golden Scripture’? Hmm? Why is it only half?”

He spoke as if no one else existed. Meanwhile, Fang Qing’s flying sword circled around him, forming a protective barrier. Then he said to Fang Wuchen, “This is Fellow Daoist’s opportunity. My senior brother is only taking a look. It will be returned afterward.”

Fang Wuchen felt even more puzzled. ‘A Purple Mansion has taken action. Lives are at stake. And you are still reading scriptures? Will you even survive to take it out?’

Outside the Central Yellow Palace.

A Dao Foundation cultivator of earth virtue fled with a talisman in hand, his face filled with joy. “A Purple Mansion treasure, the Heaven-Seeing Earth-Escape Talisman. It can scout, conceal, and traverse the void. With this treasure, where in the world could I not go?”

“I truly carry destiny. Breaking through to Purple Mansion is within reach. Five hundred years of carefree life await me.”

As he laughed, he suddenly saw figures standing in midair, all smiling as they looked at him.

He froze. “How is this possible? I clearly used a treasure to scan the surroundings. There should be no one outside.”

But soon, his eyes turned vacant. He knelt on the ground and obediently took out all his treasures and spiritual items, placing them respectfully before him.

Before long, several more cultivators fled from the palace. They acted in exactly the same way, kneeling motionless like statues.

Spiritual Master Sen Chen glanced at the Heaven-Seeing Earth-Escape Talisman, then turned toward the demon king of the Great Wind Tribe.

“Yingzhu… back in the Yanbo Blessed Land, that trace of [Stomach Earth] golden origin truly fell into the hands of the Azure Bird Tribe? That tribe is already in ruins. I have investigated. There is little foundation left.”

“Haha…”

Demon King Yingzhu, draped in a crimson feather cloak, stood with a group of Purple Mansion demon kings, faintly confronting the other two factions.

“You have already guessed, have you not?”

“San Ji truly defected to the demons? The Eight Tribes would never unite unless there was a decree from a Demon Sage.”

Spiritual Master Si Chen and Kaiyuanzi were both shocked. “This is bad. We have fallen into the scheme of a great figure!”

At that moment, atop the Heavenly Pillar Peak, a ragged old Daoist appeared. It was none other than Spiritual Master San Ji.

By all logic, after sacrificing his fate, he should have been near death. Yet now his face was flushed with vitality, his voice clear and resonant.

“Today, I shall Attain Golden. I invite all of you to witness.”

“Attain Golden?”

Kaiyuanzi’s expression darkened. “San Ji, you are merely early Purple Mansion. Your four divine abilities are incomplete, and you lack the method to seek Golden. How dare you speak of attaining Golden?”

San Ji did not respond. He only sighed. “Since the near-ancient era, none have succeeded in Attaining Golden. Let it begin with me.”

As his words fell, countless earth and stone gathered, piling into mountains.

The Heavenly Pillar Mountain rose again, like a column supporting the heavens.

Behind San Ji’s head, a divine ability shone brilliantly. It was his sole divine ability, the Primordial Refining Cauldron.

A massive phantom cauldron appeared, three-legged with twin handles, its body earthen yellow and exuding supreme dignity.

The cauldron was the heaviest of all things under heaven.

San Ji stood within the cauldron like a pill. In his hand appeared a fragment of broken earth.

Under the cauldron’s true fire, the fragment shed its outer appearance, revealing a speck of gold.

The moment the gold appeared, phenomena erupted across the void. Profound yellow qi churned. Pheasants flew, deer bowed, bats stilled, beasts moved in reverence.

Spiritual Master Si Chen and Kaiyuanzi felt an overwhelming yearning rise within their divine abilities. They could barely suppress it, as if on the verge of Dao transformation.

“Divinity? Your demon race actually gave the [Wei Earth] divinity to San Ji?”

Kaiyuanzi was first shocked, then sneered. “Refining divinity brings endless benefits to Purple Mansion cultivators. But to ascend in one step is still a delusion. Seeking Golden? If it were so easy, why have countless heroes failed over eight thousand years? And he has not even perfected a single divine ability.”

Spiritual Master Si Chen, however, seemed to realize something. His gaze remained fixed on the cauldron.

San Ji having consumed the divinity. His aura grew ever more ethereal, vast, and unfathomable.

““Bearing All with Profound Virtue!”

A mysterious aura rose.

The Dao Foundation cultivators kneeling in the square suddenly awoke as if from a dream, drenched in sweat and filled with terror as they looked at the Purple Mansion demon kings.

At the same time, all Dao Foundation and Qi Ingestion cultivators still exploring the palaces were teleported beneath Heavenly Pillar Mountain.

Fang Qing and the others felt their surroundings shift. They appeared beneath the peak, drenched in sweat. A voice echoed in their ears.

“[Stomach Earth] with bearing great virtue carries the people and shows compassion to those below. Your opportunities are yours. You may become disciples of my lineage.”

“[Stomach Earth] divine ability, “Bearing All with Profound Virtue?”

Liu Junyan seemed struck by lightning. He muttered, “So that is it, so that is it. This divine ability was completely taken by [Stomach Earth]. Setting aside the changes in the cultivation method, even the true qi ingested at the beginning was wrong. Taking [Liu Earth] true qi while trying to cultivate [Stomach Earth] techniques? No wonder it could not succeed.”

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