Lying Low While Cultivating Immortality in Two Worlds

Within the Zhong Family estate.

“Young Master, today this subordinate saw Xiang Dahu again. That man truly holds you in utter contempt.”

Peng Yidao stood before a young man dressed in snow-white robes, speaking indignantly, seeming even angrier than the young master himself.

“Hmph. Xiang Dahu, one of those people from the Blue Sea Sect. I truly do not understand why Clan Uncle insists on using surrendered generals like them. That Fang Qing is one thing, at least he’s an alchemist.”

A trace of displeasure flashed across the Zhong Family young master’s face.

“Bei Lingshu is attractive enough and possesses genuine skill in spirit plant cultivation, yet he insists on favoring that Xiang Dahu instead.”

This young master of the Zhong Family had also reached the perfected ninth layer of Qi Refining.

“Still, Fang Qing has emerged from secluded cultivation? Good. Send someone to inform him that this young master requires several more Foundation Establishment Pills refined for me.”

Although Zhong Lingxiu had already bestowed one Foundation Establishment Pill upon him, his aptitude was simply too poor. He wanted several more as insurance.

Suddenly, a gust of icy wind swept through the great hall, causing the young master to shiver involuntarily.

“Ah? Clan Uncle?”

Upon seeing Zhong Lingxiu, he immediately bowed respectfully.

“Mm.”

Zhong Lingxiu stood with his hands clasped behind his back, his expression unreadable. He merely glanced toward Peng Yidao.

“The Blue Sea Sect frontline has recently grown short on manpower. You will head there.”

“Ah?”

Peng Yidao froze on the spot.

Yet he knew full well that the will of a Core Formation ancestor could not be defied. He could only grit his teeth and obey.

“This subordinate obeys.”

As a Foundation Establishment cultivator who had joined midway and originally come from the ranks of robbery cultivators, Zhong Lingxiu had long since planted methods upon him. Escaping halfway was impossible.

He could only curse inwardly in misery.

‘What terrible luck. I thought currying favor with the Zhong Family direct line would keep me far from danger. How did I suddenly end up banished to the frontline?’

Only after Peng Yidao departed did Zhong Lingxiu finally turn toward the Zhong Family young master.

“Zhong Kunyu, you belong to the Kun generation. A descendant of Elder Brother Lingfeng.”

“Yes…” Zhong Kunyu hurriedly replied. “But why send Peng Yidao away, Clan Uncle? Here on Taibai Island’s ancestral grounds, everything already feels unfamiliar to your nephew. It was rare to have someone so understanding at my side.”

As he spoke, his voice gradually weakened.

Something felt wrong.

“Elder Brother Lingfeng once showed me kindness. The two of us shared a good relationship in those days, which is why I valued you and granted you a Foundation Establishment Pill, hoping you might succeed in advancing.”

Zhong Lingxiu softly recounted the past.

“It is only that you should never have offended the Young Master.”

“The Young Master? Which one?”

Zhong Kunyu’s face filled with confusion.

On Taibai Island, whose status could possibly surpass his own?

But he had no time left to think further.

A streak of icy soul profound light flashed across his neck.

Bang!

His head tumbled to the ground. The wound had been completely frozen shut, not a single drop of blood spilling out.

Zhong Lingxiu remained expressionless. With a slap to his storage bag, he collected the corpse.

As the Zhong Family’s sole Core Formation ancestor, there was nothing he needed to explain to anyone.

Even though the Zhong Family was a clan rather than a sect, with family law and blood ties binding it together, none of that could restrain him in the slightest.

‘This conversion method truly is terrifying.’

Watching the scene, Fang Qing felt chills crawl across his scalp.

Normally, Zhong Lingxiu behaved well enough. Yet the moment Fang Qing issued an order, it was as if he became an entirely different person.

Ancient Shu.

Qingli Mountain.

An elderly man with completely white hair stood beneath the Azure Mulberry Jujube Tree, gazing at the fruits that were nearly ripe.

Fang Yixin was already very old.

Back then, relying on the gains from attacking the Xuantu Sect, he had barely managed to break through to the seventh layer of Qi Ingestion. After that, several decades passed without the slightest further progress.

By now, he had largely given up on cultivation altogether, spending his days playing with grandchildren and enjoying a peaceful life.

“Father… Shanglin has returned.”

At that moment, a middle-aged man walked over and spoke quietly.

“He brought news of Senior Tian’s death.”

“Old Tian…”

Fang Yixin paused, leaning heavily upon the black walking stick in his hand.

Over the years, he had sent off far too many people. The familiar faces from the past had become fewer and fewer.

Perhaps only that Dao Foundation great cultivator from the Four Directions Merchant Guild still remained evergreen and enduring.

“Earlier, I received a letter from one of the Tian Family juniors saying Old Tian had fallen gravely ill. At the time, I already had a bad feeling.”

Fang Yixin slowly made his way back toward the great residence, smiling faintly.

“We Qi Ingestion cultivators possess light bodies and robust health. Unless death is already at the doorstep, how could anyone suddenly become gravely ill?”

“And that old fellow Tian.” Fang Yixin chuckled. “At first he swore he would never marry, never father children, never take disciples. Yet in his later years he plunged straight into romance. He truly became the laughingstock of us old friends.”

Even Fang Wujiu could not help laughing at the mention of it.

This Old Tian had unexpectedly found romantic fortune late in life. It was said he once saved a woman who turned out to be the daughter of a mortal official family with extremely strict propriety.

During the rescue there had been unavoidable physical contact.

Had he refused to marry her afterward, the young lady would apparently have thrown herself into a well to die.

Thus, Old Tian had no choice but to marry the woman. Before long, she became pregnant, and his family line flourished with children and grandchildren.

When Fang Yixin returned to the residence, he saw a young man waiting there. Threads of [Ji Water] qi lingered faintly around him, and he had already reached the mid-stage of Qi Ingestion cultivation.

This person was Fang Shanglin.

The Qingli Fang Family had long since cast off the destitution of their wandering cultivator days. A jade pendant hung at Fang Shanglin’s waist, and it was actually a Qi Ingestion magical artifact. His bearing was graceful and refined, already carrying several traces of the demeanor expected from the son of an immortal cultivation family.

“Greetings, Grandfather. Greetings, Uncle.”

Fang Shanglin bowed respectfully. “I went to the Tian Family and happened to arrive just as Grandpa Tian passed away.”

“Did old Tian leave peacefully?” Fang Yixin asked leisurely. “I would think he departed this life without regrets.”

“No.”

At the mention of this, Fang Shanglin’s expression instead turned rather strange.

“Grandpa Tian did not die peacefully. In fact, it was quite undignified.”

“At the time, it was as though he had suddenly awakened from a dream. He was drenched in sweat, already on the verge of death, his eyes split wide with fury and the muscles on his face twitching like tightened cords. Suddenly he opened his throat and screamed hoarsely: ‘Go neither east nor north! The descendants will surely suffer a great calamity!’”

“After saying this, blood gushed from his throat. His clawed hands grasped wildly at empty air before…”

Hearing this, Fang Yixin and Fang Wujiu could not help but exchange glances.

…

Wusheng Temple.

The White Bone Dao had now launched campaigns in every direction and was no longer confined to Xituo Commandery alone. One could say it had carved out an enormous foundation for itself across Ancient Shu.

Of course, Sangji, the White Bone Dharma King, was equally cunning. He kept the direct lineage of the White Bone Dao from the Temple of All Beings Without Form stationed behind in Xituo.

As for the esoteric believers of the Black Heaven Path and Blood Sea Path, they had all been dispatched to other commanderies to spread the faith.

“Greetings, Venerable One.”

Inside a secret chamber, Sangji prostrated himself fully upon the ground before rising and presenting a stone box with both hands.

“This humble monk is incompetent. After all these years, I have only managed to collect this item. I was unable to find a Purple Mansion spiritual object suitable for [Ji Water] advancement.”

“It is already good enough that you found one.”

Fang Qing accepted the stone box. Before even opening it, he could already feel waves of [Ji Water] qi washing toward him, mixed with another form of water virtue aura that caused the qi and blood throughout his body to stir with vitality. He almost felt younger by several years.

“This is… a Purple Mansion spiritual object?”

He was somewhat surprised.

Opening the stone box, he saw that inside lay a spring of water.

It was crystal clear and translucent, carrying a subtle aura of eternal youth and overflowing with vigorous life force.

Beside him, Sangji’s voice slowly sounded.

“This Purple Mansion spiritual object is called the ‘Fountain of Agelessness.’ It was formed through the intermingling of [Ji Water] and [Bi Water], only barely reaching the threshold of a Purple Mansion spiritual object.”

“It possesses two wondrous effects. First, it preserves the user’s appearance from aging. Second, it can heal injuries. Even wounds suffered by Purple Mansion cultivators may be treated with it.”

“This humble monk felt that the second effect was particularly suited to Venerable One’s needs. Therefore, together with the two Dumu, Moonlight White and Peacock, I retrieved it for you.”

“You have been thoughtful.”

Fang Qing offered a word of reassurance.

Even for Purple Mansion cultivators, obtaining Purple Mansion spiritual objects was no easy task. There was no need to speak of the twists and dangers involved.

“This item, truly does suit my intentions rather well.”

Although the Fountain of Agelessness was not a Core Formation spiritual object, its miraculous effect of restoring flesh to bones and life to the dying made it extremely useful as insurance against the possibility of failure when attempting Core Formation.

In other words, it was equivalent to the Iceheart Meridian-Protecting Pill he had used during Foundation Establishment.

As for “preserving one’s appearance forever,” Fang Qing simply was not the sort of person who cared about such things.

“However, are there ranks among Purple Mansion spiritual objects as well?”

Fang Qing asked curiously.

“Indeed.”

“Among Purple Mansion spiritual materials, the highest grade are effective even for Great Spiritual Masters in cultivation. Those slightly below them possess miraculous effects for helping mid-stage Purple Mansion cultivators break through into the late stage. They are shortcuts toward becoming Great Spiritual Masters.”

“The next grade are primarily used to assist Purple Mansion cultivators in cultivating divine abilities. Slightly below those are materials for refining Purple Mansion treasures and formations.”

“As for Purple Mansion spiritual objects capable of assisting Dao Foundation perfection cultivators in breaking through, they are likewise highly sought after among Purple Mansion cultivators. However, not every Purple Mansion spiritual object possesses such effects. In truth, most do not.”

Sangji explained calmly.

“At the very bottom are items like the Fountain of Agelessness. They cannot aid Dao Foundation perfection cultivators in breakthrough and possess only minor effects such as preserving beauty and healing injuries.”

“If Venerable is interested, this humble monk possesses a handwritten copy of the Complete Scripture of Treasured Radiance. It was compiled long ago by a ‘Dharma King of Treasured Radiance,’ who traveled the world gathering records from countless texts to create an illustrated catalogue of Purple Mansion spiritual objects. It should prove somewhat useful.”

Sangji retrieved a Buddhist scripture and respectfully presented it with both hands.

“Very good. I shall study it carefully upon returning.”

The more Fang Qing dealt with this White Bone Dharma King, the more he felt the man was truly a walking treasure trove.

‘After all, he is no longer merely a direct disciple of a Golden Core sect. He has already become one of its upper echelon figures. His status has fundamentally changed.’

‘Moreover, the Great Snow Mountain lineage of the Esoteric Hidden-Treasury Domain possesses more than one “Self-Realized Buddha,” meaning several Golden Core True Lords oversee it. In terms of foundation and influence, it likely surpasses both Cloud Grazing Cliff and the Yin Corpse Sect. Only Descending Phoenix Mountain could compare.’

Holding the Fountain of Agelessness, Fang Qing returned directly to Taibai Island.

Naturally, he had no intention of immediately attempting Core Formation. He would wait until the secret realm opened and he obtained that Five Elements Spirit Fruit first.

And since his Qi Refining cultivation had reached a bottleneck, it was only natural that more of his attention shifted toward the Qi Ingestion path.

“A Purple Mansion spiritual object, even one mixed with [Bi Water] remains extraordinarily rare.”

Inside the cave abode, Fang Qing opened the stone box and quietly sensed the mysterious Dao resonance emanating from that pool of clear spring water. His expression grew distant.

Ever since advancing into the mid-stage Dao Foundation realm, his Qi Ingestion cultivation had remained stalled for many years.

There were still around three years remaining before the secret realm opened.

That was enough time for him to thoroughly study this Purple Mansion spiritual object.

If he could deepen his [Ji Water] Dao attainment by even a fraction or two, it would already be an excellent outcome.

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