“Greetings, Duzi.”
Within the Wusheng Temple, Miaoshan offered a respectful salute.
To say she held no resentment toward this Bright Son who had disappeared for years, only to return after her master attained the Dharma King realm, would be a lie. Yet she now stood as a Dumu under the Dharma King. Before Sangji departed, he had personally instructed that even at the cost of her life, she must ensure Fang Qing’s safety. Miaoshan could only suppress her grievances and greet him with a gentle smile.
“Greetings, Moonlight White Dumu. I have heard that Miaofeng, Miaoshui, and the others perished in martyrdom. I deeply regret it, have they reincarnated?”
Fang Qing asked.
“They have not…” Moonlight White Dumu sighed softly. “They died within the Grotto Heaven ritual, and it was Xuantu Spiritual Master who personally took action. Even their true spirits could not escape. Both body and soul were completely annihilated.”
“Truly a pity.”
Fang Qing let out a quiet sigh, then carefully observed this “Moonlight White Dumu.”
Compared to before, her features were even more exquisite, as if painted. A faint, translucent glow enveloped her at all times, clear and radiant, stirring the heart.
Curiosity flickered in his eyes as he asked.
“I only borrow wondrous power from the Dharma King and possess no true divine abilities of my own. However, traversing the void, changing physical vessels, protective mystic radiance, and divination of those below are all effortless. The Dharma King has also granted me the Moon-Viewing White Lotus Attainment Method. With diligent cultivation, it offers many profound effects.”
Moonlight White Dumu replied calmly.
“Not bad, not bad, let me take a look at your mana.”
Fang Qing reached out and took Miaoshan’s pale hand, sensing that faint layer of light.
“Though it is only a thin layer of mystic radiance, it still carries a trace of divine ability.”
His spiritual intuition screamed in warning, as though he were touching something terrifying.
Even this was with Miaoshan restraining herself. If she revealed her “Moonlight White Bone Form,” he would likely end up like those members of the Tie family, kneeling as he transformed into a skeleton.
“Do not resist…”
Fang Qing activated the Tide-Birth Pearl, sending a thread of mana into Miaoshan’s body.
“Mm…”
Miaoshan let out a soft sound. The Buddhist topknot on her head trembled slightly.
When Fang Qing looked again, her expression had already returned to solemn serenity.
‘A newly advanced Duzi or Dumu is called the shame of the Purple Mansion, but it is still Purple Mansion!’
‘The mana within Miaoshan’s body likely surpasses mine at present, close to mid-stage Core Formation.’
‘And that is only the quantity. The quality is even greater.’
‘Combined with her many mystic abilities, early Core Formation cultivators would likely be no match. Even mid-stage Core Formation could only barely contend. No one could truly defeat a Duzi, because they can always escape. Once they step into the void, unless a formation that seals space has been prepared in advance, they cannot be held.’
Fang Qing withdrew his hand. “I'll Trouble the Dumu to take me on a tour through the void.”
“You… are also a Duzi, are you not?”
Miaoshan’s expression turned slightly strange. That strand of mana just now far exceeded Dao Foundation, clearly marking Fang Qing as one of the same rank.
She initially thought he was joking, but seeing his serious expression, she still took his hand and stepped into the void.
Rumble.
In an instant, Fang Qing found himself standing in a realm of darkness. Silver-white radiance flickered in all directions.
He had seen the secret realm of Tianxin Island before and recognized it immediately. Those were terrifying void storms.
Even Core Formation or Nascent Soul cultivators would perish if caught within them.
Ordinary cultivators, even at Core Formation, would be like mortals swept into a raging river, completely powerless, carried wherever the current took them.
But now—A cool moonlight descended, enveloping him.
Fang Qing instantly felt freed from that helpless drifting sensation.
He glanced over and saw that the radiance surrounding Miaoshan had extended to cover him.
‘As expected… Purple Mansion-level power is entirely different from the innate abilities of third-rank demon beasts. I have never heard of any such beast freely roaming void turbulence. Unless it is one of those rare void-type divine creatures.’
Fang Qing silently remarked.
Miaoshan herself appeared slightly strained as she guided him around several silver void storms. After traveling only a short distance, she tore through space once more, returning them to the material world.
“This place… Baixuan Commandery?”
Fang Qing swept his divine sense across the surroundings and recognized several familiar landmarks. Shock rose within him.
“As expected, traveling through the void is far faster than ordinary flight. Core Formation cultivators cannot match this speed. Even Nascent Soul cultivators would struggle unless they release their Nascent Soul.”
“My Wind Escape technique, even at peak mastery, can only briefly break through space. It is completely different from this kind of long-distance travel.”
“The art of traversing the Great Void makes use of the strange yet corresponding relationship between the Void and the present world. Traveling a short distance through the Void may translate into tens of thousands of li in the real world.”
After this round of experimentation, Fang Qing gained a clear understanding of his own combat strength. Even counting the Tide-Birth Pearl external core and his two magical treasures, he was only at the level of a Duzi. As for escape and survival techniques, he was actually inferior even to a Duzi!
“Keep a low profile. I still need to remain low-key.”
Fang Qing turned to Miaoshan. “We can return now.”
“Please wait a moment, Duzi. There are fated individuals here whom the Dharma King has instructed us to find. Our White Bone Dao can absorb fresh blood, and then take revenge one step at a time, especially against the Xuantu Sect!”
Miaoshan pressed her palms together. Behind her, the moonlight suddenly shifted, tinged with streaks of blood-red radiance.
Fang Qing fell silent upon hearing this.
During the more than twenty years Sangji had been in seclusion, Wusheng Temple had indeed grown increasingly strained. Later, there were even Purple Mansion decrees forcibly conscripting Brahma disciples as slaves. Such events were truly shocking.
Presumably, that Xuantu Spiritual Master had never expected Sangji to succeed in his breakthrough, and had thus unknowingly incurred such massive karma.
“Attacking a Purple Mansion sect is not something to decide lightly. We should wait for the Dharma King’s return before making that decision.”
“Within Xituo Commandery, matters concerning Dao Foundation forces can be decided by you. As for the Qi Ingestion factions, they merely drift with the current. There is no need to be overly harsh with them.”
Fang Qing spoke calmly.
This was clearly laying groundwork for the Fang Family of Qingli Mountain, though there was no need to state it outright.
After this [Stomach Earth] affair, Fang Qing felt it would be better for him to sever ties with the Fang Family.
“Oh, and the Zeng Family… do not ‘convert’ their entire clan. Instead, you should elevate one of them to Dao Foundation.”
These esoteric cultivators still needed Fang Qing’s supervision. Otherwise, who knew what shocking antics they might produce.
Regardless of the Zeng Family’s intentions, it was a fact that three of their Dao Foundation cultivators had died in battle for Wusheng Temple. If you then stripped them clean and turned their remains into human-bone artifacts, how could you possibly maintain any standing in the future?
“As for the Great Lake Xuan Family and the other Dao Foundation clans that defected to the enemy, wiping them out completely would not be an issue.”
After giving a few instructions, Fang Qing noticed a group quietly approaching in stealth.
The leader among them was someone he found surprisingly familiar.
“Hm? It’s actually her? Interesting…”
He remained to the side, watching as Miaoshan manifested the ‘Moonlight White Dumu Form’ and guided the group forward. Only then did he realize they were all members of the demon race, mostly the old, weak, and injured.
At the front stood a Dao Foundation cultivator wearing tattered green armor. Her features were delicate and refined, and a green feather ornament adorned her forehead. It was none other than Qingling, the little princess of the Azure Bird Tribe.
“Qingling greets the Moonlight White Dumu, and greets Fang Shui Duzi!”
Upon seeing Fang Qing, Qingling’s expression shifted between pale and flushed. In the end, she bowed gracefully, no longer displaying the arrogance of a princess of the Azure Bird Tribe.
“Princess, why the change from arrogance to humility?”
Fang Qing almost could not hold back a laugh. He even wanted to blurt out that very question.
But he forced himself to remain composed, watching as Miaoshan spoke with Qingling.
‘So the Azure Bird Tribe has truly fallen into ruin, all because of that abomination transformed from Suwu back then. Not only are there no Purple Mansion spiritual items left, it even devoured several great demons of the tribe.’
‘The competition among the demon race is brutally fierce. The name ‘Azure Bird Tribe’ may not disappear, but this branch of bloodline will be replaced. A new noble lineage will be drawn down from Descending Phoenix Mountain. As for this little princess, her fate will surely be miserable.’
‘That must be why she steeled her heart and chose to join my White Bone Dao.’
After piecing together the cause and effect, Fang Qing could not help but slap the table in admiration. ‘What bold resolve. My White Bone Dao is currently in need of people. Under Sangji, even counting myself, there are still three vacant positions. Out in the wider world, people would fight tooth and nail for such spots.’
Sure enough, Miaoshan’s gentle voice followed. “The Dharma King has already issued his decree. Qingha, upon entering my White Bone Dao, you shall be conferred the title of ‘Peacock Dumu’ Your subordinates will remain under your command. As a branch of the White Bone Dao, you may establish your own incense temple and lineage.”
“Many thanks, Dharma King!”
Having been accepted, Qingling let out a long breath of relief.
She had once been proud and ambitious, intending to break into the Purple Mansion realm and restore her domain.
But the situation had changed too quickly. The Parrot Vermilion Demon King of the Great Wind Tribe had rendered great merit and set his sights on the Azure Bird Tribe, seeking to devour her noble bloodline. Through schemes and ambush, he had even stolen the Purple Mansion spiritual item she had prepared for herself.
Now, she had reached a dead end and could only seek refuge in the White Bone Dao.
“Fellow Daoist Qingling.”
Only after Qingling finished speaking with Miaoshan did Fang Qing step forward.
Unexpectedly, when Qingling saw him, her heart sank.
‘Not good… could he be asking about that person? Sigh, forget it. In the end, this is all karma left behind by Suwu.’
She forced a smile. “Greetings, Duzi.”
“Old acquaintances meeting again calls for a grand drink. I wonder, where is my friend Li? Has he fallen in battle?”
Fang Qing asked with some curiosity.
“That is not the case…” Qingling gritted her teeth. “To be honest, Li Rulong was stripped of his fate and destiny by the Demon King Suwu using the ‘Dragon-Tiger Golden Pill Method.’ He has already perished. Not only him, even that human Purple Mansion cultivator, Pu Shanjun, met the same end. Both possessed extraordinary fates. Suwu had long been plotting this. I was truly powerless to stop it.”
“I did not expect Fellow Daoist Rulong to meet such an end.”
Fang Qing’s expression remained calm. He had never been particularly close to Li Rulong. Instead, he felt a trace of satisfaction inwardly.
‘Dragon-Tiger Golden Pill Method? Could that be a method for attaining the Golden position? Even if I cannot use it, it would still be worth studying.’
‘The remnants of the Azure Bird Tribe are a treasure trove. Who knows how many treasures and secret arts they possess. Sangji has done quite well this time.’
His thoughts shifted, and his expression flickered slightly.
‘As for Pu Shanjun?’
A deeper realization seemed to form in his mind.
‘Back when Li Rulong performed the intercalation ritual, my preparations were somewhat rushed… yet in the end, it still succeeded.’
‘At first I thought it was mere luck. Only later did I realize that Pu Shanjun was the one orchestrating everything from behind the scenes. No matter what Li Rulong did, the ritual was destined to succeed.’
‘The Zhao Family? A mere Dao Foundation clan, and they dared to place pieces on a Purple Mansion chessboard?’
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