Within the vast void, all was dim and dark.
From time to time, streaks of silver radiance flashed through the emptiness. Each was a terrifying void storm of extreme danger.
Even with the wondrous protection of Moonlight White Dumu, they could only avoid or retreat from them.
At times, when confronted by overwhelming floods of silver-white brilliance stretching across the heavens, they had no choice but to withdraw from the void and return to the mortal world to evade disaster.
As Fang Qing traveled through the void with Moonlight White Dumu carrying him along, he felt only one thing clearly:
‘No wonder only after reaching Purple Mansion does one truly gain the qualifications to roam the world.’
Ancient Shu was simply too vast.
With the speed of a Dao Foundation cultivator, even flying at full speed for ten days or half a month might not be enough to leave the borders of Ancient Shu, let alone survive the countless dangers encountered along the way.
Of course, it was impossible for him to maintain maximum speed every day. His mana consumption would never keep up. He also needed to reserve strength in case of danger.
Still, the void itself was equally perilous.
Moonlight White Dumu was practically a disgrace among Purple Mansion cultivators. With her strength, she could only travel through the void for half an hour at a time before needing to return to the mortal world to recover her mana and divine abilities.
If they encountered Purple Mansion grand arrays or dangerous void regions, they had to avoid them from afar and detour through the mortal world instead.
The Eastern Water Bai Clan.
After traveling through the void for nearly half a day, Fang Qing and Moonlight White Dumu finally arrived at the Bai Clan territory.
The surrounding landscape was beautiful, with green mountains and clear waters. Numerous artesian springs flowed across the land.
At the center stood the Bai Clan ancestral grounds, shrouded beneath a strange layer of radiance that sealed off the surrounding void.
“A Purple Mansion grand array… As expected of a Purple Mansion immortal clan cultivating [Ji Water]. Their foundation truly is extraordinary.”
Fang Qing sighed in admiration before signaling Moonlight White Dumu beside him to step forward and announce their arrival.
Naturally, this journey was meant to make use of the Hidden-Treasury Domain and the name of the White Bone Dharma King to gather [Ji Water] cultivation methods and spiritual objects for himself. Even opportunities for Dao discussion would be worthwhile.
Before setting out, he had already performed divinations. As long as he acted cautiously, there should be no major danger.
‘This Eastern Water Bai Clan lies within the territory of the Blissful Union Sect. Surely they will not behave like those righteous sects and refuse entry to a Dumu of the White Bone Dharma King?’
Fang Qing held considerable expectations toward this Bai Clan.
Moonlight White Dumu stepped forward. Strands of white radiance blossomed from her body. Though not itself a divine ability, it carried the profound aura of the White Bone Contemplation divine ability.
Using this wondrous power to knock upon the array, the cultivators inside naturally understood that a Purple Mansion-level figure had arrived.
Not long afterward, layers of watery light screens parted open. From within flew an elderly late-stage Dao Foundation cultivator dressed in white robes.
He bowed respectfully. “I am Bai Mulin, Patriarch of the Eastern Water Bai Clan. Greetings to the two Spiritual Master. May I ask the purpose of your visit?”
“I am Moonlight White Dumu of the White Bone Dao. I have come seeking an audience with Spiritual Master Bai Mu.”
Miaoshan stepped forward and spoke calmly.
The moment he heard those words, fear appeared faintly on Bai Mulin’s face. At the same time, he hesitated, seemingly unwilling to allow the two Spiritual Master into the array.
Even Fang Qing found the reaction somewhat strange. ‘As a proper Purple Mansion Spiritual Master, and while standing within the protection of his own Purple Mansion grand array, could he truly fear two Dumu and Duzi?’
“Two fellow Daoists, this old man encountered some trouble while circulating his cultivation and cannot personally welcome you. Please forgive the discourtesy… Mulin, invite the two fellow Daoists to the Solitary Wood Grove.”
At that moment, a strand of divine ability power descended, accompanied by an aged voice.
“Your junior obeys the Ancestor’s command. Two Spiritual Master, please follow me.”
Only then did Bai Mulin let out a sigh of relief.
The more one belonged to a Purple Mansion immortal clan, the more one understood the terror of Purple Mansion cultivators. Before such figures, Dao Foundation cultivators like him scarcely even possessed the qualification to stand upright.
The only reason he could still maintain his composure was because he held the position of Bai Clan Patriarch.
Fang Qing and Moonlight White Dumu naturally did not mind. They stepped into the Purple Mansion grand array and immediately saw surging waves of [Ji Water] radiance rolling toward them.
Across the earth stretched chains of interconnected lakes like strings of pearls, endlessly spraying forth spring water.
Mixed within the spring water were even [Ji Water] spiritual objects of the Qi Ingestion level. At times, one could even faintly sense hidden auras belonging to the Dao Foundation rank.
“What a precious [Ji Water] land.”
After sensing it for a moment, Fang Qing could not help but praise it.
“Our clan has cultivated the [Ji Water] lineage for generations. Three Spiritual Masters have emerged from our bloodline, all of them chose to break through within the clan territory. With generations of accumulated phenomena, by the time of Spiritual Master Bai Mu, this place finally transformed into such a treasured land.”
Bai Mulin respectfully explained as he descended into a dense lakeside forest.
Fang Qing and Moonlight White Duomu likewise lowered their light and landed, only to pause in surprise.
“Where is Spiritual Master Bai Mu?”
The forest had formed from a single enormous banyan tree. Countless aerial roots pierced deep into the earth, making it seem as though one tree had become an entire forest.
Even more roots sprawled into the lake itself, weaving together into a dense network.
The scenery was elegant and beautiful, yet Bai Mu Spiritual Master was nowhere to be seen.
“Two fellow Daoists, I am Bai Mu…”
Just as Fang Qing and Moonlight White Duomu exchanged puzzled glances, a voice suddenly sounded beside them.
“Mm?”
Even Fang Qing was startled. Only then did he realize the speaker stood less than two zhang away from him.
At such a distance, a Core Formation cultivator could strike in an instant. Even when he had ambushed Heiyuan True beneath the Heaven-Shrouding Curtain, he had been much farther away than this.
‘If this person suddenly launched an attack… Miaoshan and I would at least cough blood from the impact. What kind of divine ability is this?’
Fang Qing looked over with deep vigilance, only to freeze again in surprise.
An elderly man with snow-white hair and beard stood there smiling at them. He wore plain white hemp robes, and his aura was so faint it was nearly equivalent to “nothingness.”
What made the scene even more horrifying was that the lower half of his body had completely fused with a banyan tree. Thick vines and countless banyan roots extended outward from him, while streams of flowing water coursed endlessly through the roots.
The currents surged without cease, radiating the light of [Ji Water]. Yet they also resembled living creatures, writhing constantly along the root network.
Beside them, Bai Mulin had already lowered his head deeply, not daring to look any further.
Clearly, this sort of scene was extremely dangerous even for late-stage Dao Foundation cultivators.
“Divine ability leakage?”
Moonlight White Dumu, however, seemed to perceive something. “Fellow Daoist Bai Mu, could it be that your cultivation of divine abilities failed, and the backlash injured your own body?”
“Sigh… exactly so.”
Spiritual Master Bai Mu waved his sleeve with a bitter smile.
“I achieved my divine ability ‘Long-Awaited Sweet Rain’ more than a full sixty years ago. Recently, I attempted to cultivate a second divine ability, ‘Hidden Forest Bank,’ in hopes of breaking through to mid-stage Purple Mansion. Yet something went wrong. I have no choice but to remain trapped here. I fear the two fellow Daoists must find this laughable.”
As he spoke, the white hemp robes draped downward, completely covering the lower half of his fused body.
“Mulin, why are you still standing there? Serve the tea.”
While speaking, countless banyan roots emerged and twisted together, forming tables, chairs, and benches.
“Many thanks, fellow Daoist.”
Fang Qing exchanged a glance with Miaoshan before both of them took their seats.
After Bai Mulin personally served the refreshments and fragrant tea, Bai Mu Spiritual Master opened his mouth and inhaled lightly. The tea immediately transformed into a thin stream that flew into his mouth. Faint specks of golden light shimmered within it, eventually condensing into finger-sized golden insects.
Bai Mu Spiritual Master chewed with crisp cracking sounds, as though he were grinding metal and iron between his teeth. After swallowing them, a flush of healthy redness finally appeared on his pale cheeks, and his condition visibly improved somewhat.
“[Kang Metal] spiritual objects?”
After observing for a moment, Fang Qing arrived at a conclusion.
“It seems the wood qi within Fellow Daoist’s body is overly abundant, forcing you to rely on metal virtue to cut and suppress it. We were rather reckless.”
Though Fang Qing himself was nothing special, beside him stood the Moonlight White Dumu, whose achievement relied upon Sangji’s divine abilities. Sangji’s divine abilities belonged to the lineage of [Nu Earth]. Clearly, the aura accompanying their arrival had made Bai Mu Spiritual Master somewhat uncomfortable, forcing him to consume [Kang Metal] spiritual objects to stabilize himself.
“[Nu Earth] is still manageable. Besides, neither of you possess divine abilities yourselves. This old bag of bones can still endure it.”
Bai Mu Spiritual Master chuckled lightly, sounding unconcerned.
“If instead a [Liu Earth] Spiritual Master skilled in nurturing vegetation had arrived, I truly would have suspected someone intended to harm this old man.”
Moonlight White Dumu pressed her palms together and asked softly, “Fellow Daoist cultivates divine abilities, so why did the result become so severe? Could it be you lacked confidence from the start?”
Bai Mu Spiritual Master sighed bitterly.
“My clan may call itself a Purple Mansion immortal clan, but only one complete divine ability inheritance remains intact, the ‘Long-Awaited Sweet Rain’ divine ability. After cultivating it to perfection, one must inevitably proceed into other [Ji Water] Dao Foundations…”
“There are simply too many [Ji Water] Dao Foundations beneath heaven. Ancient methods and modern methods are mixed together chaotically. Most possess low-grade true intents and have no hope of producing divine abilities.”
“By chance, our clan obtained a fragmentary Purple Mansion scripture called ‘Hidden Forest Bank.’ We patched together what we could and attempted to cultivate a divine ability from it. Who could have expected this old man’s fortune to be so poor? Right at the crucial moment of completing the divine ability, that exalted one attained Golden.”
Bai Mu Spiritual Master smiled helplessly.
‘Another unlucky soul…’
Fang Qing silently sighed inwardly.
‘At the critical point of cultivating water virtue, he happened to encounter the spiritual ambience caused by the great flourishing of earth virtue.’
‘Though judging from his condition, it is probably more than that. Most likely he also used crooked methods such as blood sacrifices or human pills to forcibly refine his divine ability, only to crash directly into disaster.’
Had this man not possessed one completed divine ability suppressing the backlash, he likely would have perished already.
“The aftereffects of the Kitchen Lord’s attainment still have not dissipated even now. The influence upon this world remains profound.”
Bai Mu Spiritual Master sighed deeply.
“I never imagined that even the Purple Mansion path would be so difficult.”
Fang Qing also let out a sigh.
“To be honest, I came here this time to complete the [Ji Water] path for a younger member of my family. I wonder whether your esteemed clan would be willing to trade the two Purple Mansion cultivation methods in your possession?”
“Additionally, I would like to purchase some [Ji Water] spiritual objects related to Dao Foundations. Purple Mansion-grade materials would naturally be even better.”
“We possess no [Ji Water] Purple Mansion spiritual objects at all.”
Bai Mu Spiritual Master immediately shook his head.
“As for Purple Mansion cultivation methods, those are the very foundation of our clan. If you wish to exchange for them, only treasures at the level of Purple Mansion dharma treasures would even make negotiations possible.”
Fang Qing sighed slightly.
“Then let us trade only for some [Ji Water] spiritual objects beneficial to the late Dao Foundation stage. I have a few [Zhen Water] materials in my possession.”
“That can be arranged.”
Perhaps due to his injuries, or perhaps because he did not wish to offend the Esoteric Hidden-Treasury Domain, Bai Mu Spiritual Master proved remarkably easy to speak with.
Fang Qing was likewise in high spirits. After all, encounters with a genuine [Ji Water] Purple Mansion cultivator were exceedingly rare.
After chatting for a while, the topic gradually shifted toward the Bai Clan of Eastern Waters superior sect, the Blissful Union Sect.
“The superior sect has always treated the local immortal clans fairly well. Aside from periodically demanding resources every few years, there has not been much else.”
Bai Mu Spiritual Master spoke calmly and lightly, though who knew how much bitterness and bloodshed lay hidden beneath those words.
Fang Qing was quite interested in that [Fang Sun] True Lord. After all, that figure stood at the dividing line between the Ancient Antiquity and the Recent Antiquity and seemed to have participated in numerous major events.
After a few indirect questions, Bai Mu Spiritual Master immediately replied: “That honored lady has likewise not appeared in the world for a very long time. However, her exalted title has been passed down.”
His expression became solemn and reverent.
“The Empress is exalted within the Great Sun, known by the name Fuyu. With dragon and phoenix heralding auspiciousness, she reigns supreme among all female immortals, and thus bears the sacred title of ‘Primordial Lord’”
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