Inside the cave abode.
Fang Qing sat cross-legged, observing inwardly the pitch-black True Core within his dantian.
This core had not been condensed through the Black Profound Scripture, but through the Devouring Sea Art.
He had first spent some time cultivating the Devouring Sea Art to the introductory stage, refining a strand of its mana as a seed.
Afterward, through the Dao-Genesis Pearl’s conversion ability, he transformed the True Core formed from his own Blue Sea Technique into this pitch-black core.
‘The Devouring Sea Art truly deserves its reputation as a supreme demonic cultivation method. The quality of its mana is astonishing, During the conversion process, my original Qi Refining mana was actually insufficient. I had to draw upon the primordial qi reserves from my Qi Ingestion cultivation as well.’
Fang Qing murmured softly as he examined the black True Core once more.
Its color was endlessly deep as it rotated slowly within his dantian, like a miniature black hole devouring everything around it.
‘The reason the Devouring Sea Art is considered a demonic art is naturally because it can devour all kinds of water-attributed pills, treasures, demon cores, and similar resources. Its effects are absurdly powerful, somewhat similar to the earth virtue Dao Foundation, Primordial Refining Cauldron.’
‘With that, cultivation speed naturally advances at a terrifying pace. Furthermore, the Core Formation section contains a special secret technique capable of purifying the impurities within devoured mana and True Cores. Its effects far surpass ordinary demonic arts, and the hidden dangers are much smaller.’
‘But no purification method could possibly compare to the Dao-Genesis Pearl. If I handled it myself, I could completely refine everything without leaving any aftereffects behind. As long as I continuously devoured the True Cores of cultivators practicing water-attributed techniques, my cultivation speed during the Core Formation stage would become unimaginable.’
Yet Fang Qing merely let out a faint sigh.
Back in Ancient Shu, he had refused even to consume blood qi pills. How could he possibly cultivate by devouring the blood essence and True Cores of human cultivators now?
For humans to remain human, there still had to be certain bottom lines.
Fang Qing did not consider himself a good person, but neither had he fallen so low as to eat people.
‘Still, the Devouring Sea Art embodies the idea of embracing all rivers into the sea. Even merely consuming water-attributed pills improves their effects by severalfold. I can even directly consume spirit herbs raw.’
‘And while I will not eat people, I can eat demon beasts instead.’
‘The demon core of a third-rank great demon should produce excellent effects. Unfortunately, those are equally difficult to obtain. The resources of the Minor Huan Sea cultivation world are still too barren. Outside of secret realms, it simply cannot sustain True Core cultivation.’
‘Once the resources currently in my possession are exhausted, I will have to consider heading toward the Eastern Sea cultivation world.’
By then, Zhong Lingxiu and the others should have already established a solid foundation for him there.
…
One year later.
Ancient Shu, Xituo Commandery.
After spending a period in secluded cultivation stabilizing his realm, Fang Qing refined the “Core Formation Pill” he had promised to the Blue Sea Sect. Once he sent it back to the sect, he returned once more to Ancient Shu.
Within Wusheng Temple.
“Sangji, what do you think of this treasure?”
Fang Qing took out the “Bronze Ge” obtained from the Void-Stepping Hall.
The ancient dagger-axe was entirely bronze in color and astonishingly heavy.
Its quality clearly surpassed both the Sea Transformation Pearl and the jade flute, though it was not a dharma treasure, but rather an exotic treasure.
The Bronze Ge stood nearly as tall as a person. Though incomparably heavy, in Sangji’s hands it seemed as light as a feather.
He swung it several times. A ring of divine ability light bloomed behind his head and descended onto the Bronze Ge, refining it briefly.
Only after a long while did the White Bone Dharma King open his eyes again, a trace of regret visible on his face.
“The quality is exceptional. It appears forged from a mixture of various spirit metals. It possesses a faint trace of Purple Mansion might, yet it is not truly a Purple Mansion dharma treasure and contains no divine ability profundities.”
“At best, it can only be considered an exceptionally high-quality embryonic vessel for a Purple Mansion dharma treasure. If one could find a true grandmaster artificer, it might perhaps be forged into a genuine Purple Mansion dharma treasure.”
“A grandmaster artificer? Would the monks from Black Spring Temple we met previously suffice?”
Fang Qing thought of his own Miraculous Spring Pure Vase.
“I fear they fall somewhat short. In the current era, metal and fire flourish greatly. The finest artificer grandmasters still emerge from those two great lineages.”
Sangji continued, “[Yi Fire] is the orthodox position of fire virtue. Descending Phoenix Mountain contains many demon race artificer grandmasters. Unfortunately, the tides have now reversed. It is unlikely we could contact them again.”
The White Bone lineage had taken in that Peacock Dumu precisely because they saw the demon race rising in strength and chose to support Cloud Grazing Cliff’s enemies. At present, the White Bone lineage and the demon race stood opposed to one another. Seeking their help in refining treasures was impossible.
“Other than that, cultivators of [Ghost Metal] and [Ox Metal] among the metal virtue lineages are also highly skilled in the art of metal refinement.”
“Forget it. This matter can be considered slowly over time.”
Fang Qing knew very well that a Purple Mansion dharma treasure was incomparably precious. Creating one required enormous amounts of resources and favors. It was not something that could be accomplished overnight.
Even Sangji, this White Bone Dharma King, had only been able to borrow the sect’s “White Bone Sarira” after breaking through to Purple Mansion because of the backing of his sect.
An ordinary rogue Purple Mansion cultivator, after breaking through, would likely still possess nothing at all. Even after decades, they might remain unable to gather enough wealth for a Purple Mansion dharma treasure and continue miserably using Dao Foundation spirit artifacts instead.
‘The poverty of spiritual resources in Ancient Shu truly speaks for itself.’
“Now that I’ve successfully formed my Core, although my combat strength still falls short of White Bone Dharma King, I should no longer be inferior to Peacock and Moonlight White, those two Dumu. Of course, if they truly wanted to flee, there’s no way I could stop them.”
Fang Qing’s gaze drifted eastward.
‘I can start trying to explore places farther away. Though there’s no rush for now. I should first review the records and see how Xituo Commandery has developed over these years.’
Qingli Mountain.
Fang Shanglin wore a neatly trimmed mustache and still retained his handsome appearance, though now he carried an added air of noble refinement.
By this point, he had long since married and become the father of several children.
Fang Yixin and Fang Wujiu had intentionally groomed him to take over the family early, and thus he had already become the head of the Fang Family.
The current Fang Family not only occupied Qingli Mountain and reclaimed large amounts of spirit farmland, but had also recruited a rogue cultivator as a live-in son-in-law for his twin younger sister Fang Shangning. They had even taken in several rogue cultivator tenant families. The “Qingli Fang Family” now possessed a modest reputation within Xituo Commandery.
But Fang Shanglin still felt it was far from enough.
Working endlessly to farm spirit fields and brew spirit wine, painstakingly accumulating family wealth, even if they saved until death, they still might not be able to exchange for a single Dao Foundation spiritual object.
As he played with the jade pendant in his hand, he walked into the main hall.
“Greetings, Grandfather. Greetings, Second Uncle.”
Fang Yixin and Fang Wujiu were both present. Fang Wujiu still appeared middle-aged as he smiled and said, “Shanglin, you’ve come. We owe you thanks for helping settle that little matter involving Shangxuan and Shangqing earlier.”
Fang Shangxuan and Fang Shangqing were both his children, named after the “xuanqing sword” Fang Yixin had seized years ago. They were the only two members of his branch possessing cultivation aptitude.
No matter how fortunate the Fang Family’s fate might be, it was impossible for every generation to produce cultivators without fail. By now, the family already had a large mortal population.
Those mortals had settled at the foot of Qingli Mountain, preparing to marry and produce descendants as quickly as possible, gradually forming villages and towns.
“Second Uncle is too polite.”
Fang Shanglin exchanged a few courteous words before noticing his grandfather squatting at the doorway, silently smoking from his pipe.
“Grandfather, have you considered the matter I mentioned before? I personally visited Qingyu Mountain. There truly is a ‘Greenjade Ore Vein’ there. If we can secure even a portion of it, the profits in the future will be endless. We might even accumulate enough wealth to exchange for a Dao Foundation spiritual object for Grandfather and Second Uncle to use.”
“This old man has lived his whole life by one principle. Eat only as much as your stomach can handle.”
Fang Yixin knocked the ash from his pipe against the doorstep.
“With this old man’s aptitude, I likely won’t even reach perfect Qi Ingestion in this lifetime. And even if I somehow do, by then my lifespan will already be near its end and my blood qi declining. How could I possibly break through?”
“The Greenjade Ore Vein produces Greenjade Stone. That’s material used to forge Qi Ingestion magical artifacts,” Fang Wujiu added. “Can our family really swallow something like this? Even if we could, how much would it cost? How much manpower would it require?”
“Second Uncle can rest assured. I’ve already negotiated with the Zeng Family. They’re a Dao Foundation clan, so naturally they’ll take the larger share. Our family only needs to contribute fifty thousand jin of spirit rice. At that time, they’ll take seventy percent while we take thirty. If not for our family’s relationship with the Zeng Family, how could such a good opportunity possibly fall into our hands?”
Fang Shanglin spoke confidently.
“And what if there’s a problem hidden within this?”
Fang Wujiu sucked in a cold breath.
“Fifty thousand jin of spirit rice? Our family has spent decades farming, and our entire granary only contains twenty thousand jin.”
“When the time comes, we can borrow more from Master Fayuan or the Four Directions Merchant Association. Once the Greenjade Stone starts being mined, everything will improve.”
Fang Shanglin’s heart burned with excitement.
Grandfather was already old, while Second Uncle’s aptitude was far too poor.
If the family truly managed to obtain a Dao Foundation spiritual item in the future, who else could it possibly be intended for besides him?
“What relationship does our family even have with the Zeng Family?”
Fang Yixin suddenly spoke coldly.
“If you insist there’s one, then it’s the relationship from back when our family were their tenant farmers, kneeling and kowtowing before them. When this old man encountered a noble daughter of the Zeng Family on the road in those years, I had to step aside and salute respectfully. What face would we possibly have before them?”
The meaning behind his words was clear. He did not trust this business at all.
“Grandfather!”
Fang Shanglin’s eyes instantly reddened.
“For this transaction, your grandson has run himself ragged and exhausted endless effort before finally building a connection with that young master of the Zeng Family. And now with a single sentence you want to reject it entirely? I personally inspected that Greenjade Ore Vein. There’s no mistake. The reserves are enormous. Our family will absolutely earn a fortune from this.”
“If the profits are truly that great, why would they bring you along?”
Fang Wujiu sighed and asked quietly.
“Naturally because they value our Qingli Fang Family and value me personally! Our family once produced a Dao Foundation great cultivator. Since my father could reach Dao Foundation, then I can as well!”
Fang Shanglin’s tone became increasingly agitated.
In the end, the three parted on poor terms.
“Sigh…”
Watching Fang Shanglin leave, Fang Yixin let out a long sigh.
“How did Shanglin become like this?”
Fang Wujiu muttered blankly.
“How else could it be?”
Fang Yixin gave a bitter smile.
“He’s different from you. Back when you were young, our family were still tenant farmers of the Zeng Family. You suffered greatly. But by the time he was born, our family had already established itself in Qingli Mountain. And because we pitied him for losing his father young, we couldn’t bear to discipline him too harshly.”
“We raised him like the son of an aristocratic clan. He learned little else, but he certainly picked up plenty of the pride and arrogance of those great families.”
“He wasn’t wrong about one thing. He truly does have a Dao Foundation father. Deep in his heart, he carries ambitions of forging a Dao Foundation himself.”
“When a person reaches adulthood, unless they suffer a devastating loss involving life, death, or the destruction of their family, they rarely change. Some people don’t improve even after suffering such a disaster.”
“Not good! The family head seal?!”
Fang Wujiu’s expression suddenly changed drastically.
“Shanglin acts impulsively. If he takes the family head seal and forces the matter through before we can stop him, what are we supposed to do then?!”
“Damn it! Quickly, go after him!”
Fang Yixin’s face changed greatly as well.
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