“Indeed… once war breaks out, Taibai Island lies far from Verdant Jade Island. The battlefield will be perilous, and the island-protecting grand array is only second-rank. If the Sea-Destroying Alliance launches a large-scale assault, would that not amount to trapping yourself in a dead end?”
Linghu Zhong looked somewhat puzzled.
He truly meant well for Fang Qing and genuinely believed this was not a bad choice.
He simply could not understand why Fang Qing resisted it so strongly.
Little did he know that at this very moment, Fang Qing was silently circulating the Plum Blossom Divination Art. In his mind, several plum blossom petals scattered and formed a hexagram.
‘Minor misfortune?’
‘Sigh, ever since refining the Tide-Birth Pearl, nearly everything I do in the Minor Huan Sea produces auspicious hexagrams. Now it has fallen all the way to minor misfortune. Clearly, if I return, there is a high chance I will be treated like an alchemy laborer and eventually clash with those two Core Formation battle powers.’
Fang Qing was not afraid of conflict, but murdering one’s masters and exterminating one’s ancestors did not sound particularly good either.
The Blue Sea Sect walked a path that was both righteous and sinister. Although they had done things such as raising flood serpents, they had also been tricked by him before. Their accounts could be considered settled.
If he now overturned the heavens and slaughtered his fellow sect members, would that not merely let Heiyuan True Personage laugh himself silly?
‘No matter what, I have now inherited the legacy of Blue Sea True Personage. That practically makes me half an ancestor of the Blue Sea Sect.’
Naturally, Fang Qing could not say any of this to Linghu Zhong.
He merely asked, “The war between righteous and demonic paths may erupt at any moment. Who exactly will remain stationed on Taibai Island?”
“Taibai Island…”
Linghu Zhong looked troubled.
After all, it possessed a third-rank spirit vein and even a third-rank spirit spring.
Yet in times of war, stationing too many cultivators there served little purpose, while stationing too few merely handed them over to the demonic path as prey.
“If nothing else, we can harvest all the spirit herbs and remove every Ice Soul Heart from the Ice Soul Cold Spring, whether first-rank or second-rank… that would be enough.”
Even Heiyuan True Personage would not destroy a third-rank spirit spring and spirit vein for no reason.
If the island truly fell to the Sea-Destroying Alliance, they could simply seize it back in the future.
“Sigh, Junior Brother Fang, I will return to the sect and do my best to negotiate on your behalf.”
After repeated attempts at persuasion, Linghu Zhong could only sigh helplessly. “But if the sect issues an official order in the future, your situation will no longer be as favorable as it is now.”
“Many thanks, Senior Brother.”
Fang Qing watched Linghu Zhong depart Taibai Island aboard his flying spirit artifact, streams of multicolored light trailing behind him. A strange glimmer flickered within Fang Qing’s eyes.
‘Sigh… I have only occupied this place for a few decades and the sect already cannot tolerate it anymore? If one day I form my Core, they would probably worship me as an ancestor instead.’
After a moment of thought, another idea surfaced in his mind. If he truly wished to continue occupying Taibai Island, the solution was actually simple.
He only needed Yu Xiang’er’s side to cooperate by launching a frenzied assault against the Blue Sea Sect and escalating the war.
Then he could order Zhan Hongxiu to blockade the routes, just like before, attacking spirit ships traveling along the waterways.
Once the sea lanes were severed and the battlefield grew chaotic, Fang Qing would naturally have every excuse to ignore orders, perhaps even carving out his own independent territory.
Fang Qing cast another divination.
This course of action yielded a hexagram of ‘minor fortune’.
“Oh?”
“Then what exactly is the most suitable course of development at present?”
He continued calculating silently. Suddenly, his heart stirred.
‘A friend comes from afar. Is this not a joy?’
‘This person appears faintly connected to Taibai Island?’
“Mm. I can roughly guess who it is.”
“As expected, the Minor Huan Sea truly is better. If this were Ancient Shu, even Moonlight White Dumu would never allow divinations this precise.”
“So… what I need to do now is delay and wait for that variable to arrive on its own?”
…
Ancient Shu, Xituo Commandery, Wusheng Temple.
Since the hexagram on the Minor Huan Sea side indicated “wait for change through delay” and await the arrival of the destined person, Fang Qing calculated the time and found no need to hurry. He wandered outside for some leisure first before finally arriving at Wusheng Temple.
“Duzi!”
Qingling emerged to greet him.
No… at this point, a layer of solemn Buddhist radiance surrounded her body. She had clearly already received the empowerment and great precepts. She should now be addressed as “Peacock Dumu”.
Her receiving this Dharma meant Sangji had already returned.
Sure enough, the next moment, Peacock Dumu bowed respectfully and said, “The Dharma King summons you.”
“Mm.”
Fang Qing followed Peacock Dumu into the meditation chamber and met Sangji.
Compared to before, Sangji now appeared much younger, almost like a youth. Yet he was thin as a skeleton, and even the tiger-skin kasaya hanging from his body appeared loose and oversized.
“Sangji pays respects to the Venerable One!”
After dismissing Peacock Dumu, Sangji first performed a full five-body prostration before speaking again. “Reporting to the Venerable One, Benefactor Xu Hei has successfully broken through to Dao Foundation and may now be used by the Venerable One.”
“Oh? Not bad at all.”
Fang Qing did not pay much attention to the matter and instead asked, “During your journey to the Esoteric Hidden-Treasury Domain, did you gain anything?”
“Naturally there are. This humble monk has been conferred the title of ‘White Bone Dharma King,’ and now oversees all Buddhist affairs within Ancient Shu. In the future, even if esoteric cultivators from the various Temples of the Origin of All Dharmas such as the Great Black Heaven Temple cross eastward, they too must obey this humble monk’s Dharma decree.”
Sangji reported respectfully.
Fang Qing nodded slightly upon hearing this.
From the very beginning, Sangji had been sent here carrying the fate of the Esoteric Hidden-Treasury Domain.
Moreover, this had also been a wager between the Esoteric Hidden-Treasury Domain and Ancient Shu. If Sangji failed to attain the Dharma King realm, then the Hidden-Treasury Domain’s attempt to cross eastward would fail entirely, and all of Xituo Commandery would once more return to the control of Cloud Grazing Cliff.
But Sangji had succeeded.
Naturally, the rewards were immense. The sphere of influence of the Hidden-Treasury Domain could even expand further outward because of it.
“Besides that, this humble monk also brought a mighty Buddhist artifact from our temple for self-protection. According to immortal cultivation terminology, it would be called a ‘Purple Mansion treasure.’ It saves decades of sacrificial refinement.”
Sangji took out a white relic bead and handed it to Fang Qing.
“It is this ‘White Bone Sarira.’”
“Oh? Then I must take a look.”
Fang Qing reached out to accept it, only to discover that the object was astonishingly heavy, as though weighing thousands of jin. It even resisted him faintly, displaying remarkable spirituality.
Unlike Qi Refining path treasures, these Purple Mansion treasures could be used even by Dao Foundation cultivators, though only if they belonged to the same lineage or possessed the sacrificial refinement incantation.
A thought stirred in Fang Qing’s mind.
The Dao-Genesis Pearl spun lightly, transforming his mana into [Nu Earth] mana. This time, he lifted the White Bone Sarira with ease and attempted a preliminary refinement.
“What a fine treasure!”
Merely through rough refinement, Fang Qing obtained a great deal of information.
“This White Bone Sarira is not only indestructible as a Purple Mansion treasure, but also possesses numerous wondrous abilities.”
“The first is [Divine Demon], allowing it to transform into a ‘White Bone Great Strength Divine Demon.’ It possesses boundless strength and an indestructible vajra body capable of moving mountains and overturning seas.”
“The second is [Cleansing Mortal Dust]. It can summon a stream of Forgetting River water to wash away filth, karma, and even various marks upon the body. It is especially effective against curse-type shamanic craft.”
Fang Qing’s eyes immediately brightened.
This Purple Mansion treasure could be used at the Dao Foundation realm and possessed all sorts of wondrous effects. In the future, if brought back to the Minor Huan Sea, it could even assist his own cultivation.
“Indeed. This [Cleansing Mortal Dust] ability directly corresponds to the second divine ability this humble monk intends to cultivate, known as ‘Cleansing Mortal Ties.’ That is why the temple bestowed this Buddhist artifact upon me, hoping to aid me in this endeavor.”
Sangji smiled faintly.
Fang Qing played with the White Bone Sarira for a while before tossing it back into Sangji’s hands.
“If I kept this Purple Mansion treasure myself, it would merely be a child carrying gold through the marketplace. I could not unleash much of its power anyway. Better for you to use it.”
Inwardly, he could not help grumbling:
‘It seems I have quite the affinity with bead-type objects. The Dao-Genesis Pearl, the Sea Transformation Pearl, the Tide-Birth Pearl. If I add another White Bone Sarira bead, this is becoming absurd.’
A thought suddenly arose in his mind, and he asked, “Within the Hidden-Treasury Domain, are there Buddhist artifacts even more precious than Purple Mansion treasures?”
“Naturally there are. They are known as Buddhist Treasures!”
Sangji pressed his palms together.
“We Dharma Kings can at most wield Purple Mansion treasures. However, within the Temple of All Beings Without Form, there truly is a Buddhist Treasure enshrined. In immortal cultivation terminology, it is called a ‘True Treasure,’ meaning a treasure wielded by a True Lord. It is said that the forging of such a treasure requires the use of Buddha nature, making them incomparably precious.”
So-called Buddha nature was in truth Divinity, Golden nature.
Only True Lords who had attained the Golden Position possessed such a thing, and it was intimately tied to their very source. Too much could not be depleted.
Moreover, those who failed to attain Golden could never condense Golden nature.
Thus, True Treasures were exceedingly rare.
Yet Sangji did not hesitate in the slightest before casually revealing the hidden foundation of his own temple.
“I see…”
Fang Qing nodded.
He understood that Buddhist Treasures and True Treasures were far beyond his reach for now. Some early Purple Mansion cultivators were practically paupers, still using Dao Foundation spirit artifacts. Sangji obtaining a Purple Mansion treasure-level Buddhist artifact immediately after his breakthrough already demonstrated the advantages of backing a great power.
“By the way, what is your view on the matter of the Xuantu Sect?”
Fang Qing asked.
“The Xuantu Sect possesses only a single Purple Mansion cultivator, known as ‘Xuantu Spiritual Master,’ who is at the early Purple Mansion stage.”
Sangji replied, “In truth, Xuantu Spiritual Master had already sent word to this humble monk long ago. However, this humble monk has lost face in this matter. At the very least, I must raise monk soldiers, march against the Xuantu Sect, besiege their mountain gate, kill thirteen Dao Foundation cultivators, and conveniently expand Buddhist territory along the way. Only then can this karmic entanglement be resolved.”
The coldness within his words sent a chill through Fang Qing.
‘That’s right. Advancing to Purple Mansion is a complete rebirth, transcending the mortal state. To many Purple Mansion cultivators, only fellow Purple Mansion cultivators can truly be considered “human.”’
‘As for those below them, unless they are direct personal disciples, their deaths amount to little more than a dispute over face. Three cups of punishment wine and the matter is over.’
‘Before this war with the Xuantu Sect has even begun, the higher-ups on both sides have probably already negotiated the price. Even how much territory will be ceded and how many people must die has likely already been decided.’
Fang Qing suddenly felt a trace of pity.
To those lower-level cultivators, what exactly did all this amount to? Thinking more deeply, he realized that the relationships between Purple Mansion cultivators truly were extraordinarily complicated.
His thoughts drifted toward Li Rulong.
Back then, Li Rulong had been supported by the Pu Clan and used as the spearhead in attacking the commandery where the Black Gu Sect was located.
At the time, Pu Shanjun had not yet exposed his intent to defect to the demon race. When handling Li Rulong, this discarded pawn, he had outwardly stood on the same side as the Purple Mansion cultivators of the Black Gu Sect.
Or rather, both sides had actually belonged under Cloud Grazing Cliff. When facing the demon race, they naturally presented a united front.
As for the rise and fall, grudges and vendettas of the various forces in Ba Commandery, they meant absolutely nothing in the eyes of Purple Mansion cultivators.
‘The countless lives of the world are merely pieces in the games of Purple Mansion cultivators. I wonder how many Qi Ingestion and Dao Foundation cultivators will die in this great war within Xituo Commandery.’
Fang Qing sighed inwardly, suddenly feeling somewhat dispirited.
“This humble monk has one more matter to report to the Venerable One.”
At that moment, Sangji spoke again.
“The Venerable’s cultivation technique, the [Horse-Headed Vajra Protector Divine Method], has already had its third-stage scripture retrieved by this humble monk, namely the ‘Wrathful Stage of the Horse-Headed Wisdom King.’ However, this technique is ultimately intended for Dharma Protectors and is not especially profound.”
“If the Venerable One wishes to continue cultivating it, then after mastering the third sequence, you may switch to cultivating the ‘Dragon-Elephant Golden Body Attainment Method’ copied by this humble monk.”
“…”
At the mention of this, Fang Qing let out a long sigh.
“After decades of painstaking tempering, I have only brought the second stage of this cultivation method to major success. I am still one step short of complete perfection.”
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