Lying Low While Cultivating Immortality in Two Worlds

The Qi Ingestion world.

Ancient Shu, Wushan Commandery.

This land served as the eastern gateway of Ancient Shu. Beyond it lay the territory of the Blissful Union Sect.

More than a year had passed since the White Bone Dao’s eastern campaign began. At long last, the esoteric monk soldiers had stepped onto the soil of this commandery.

Inside the military command tent.

Ripples suddenly spread through the void as Fang Qing emerged from thin air. Before him floated a strand of dark radiance filled with countless terrifying manifestations, mysterious and profound in equal measure. It was none other than the Demon-Subduing Black Dumu.

“Greetings, Dumu. So you are guarding the tent today… I have come to see the Dharma King.”

Fang Qing smiled faintly.

“Vajra Strength Duzi, please enter.”

This “Vajra Strength Duzi” held an exalted status within the White Bone Path, second only to the White Bone Dharma King himself. She had long heard of him by reputation.

And throughout this campaign, this Duzi had appeared only once, during the initial assault on the Xuantu Sect. Afterward, the exhausting duties of escorting the marching army had never fallen upon him even once. From this alone, one could see how greatly favored he was by the Dharma King.

Fang Qing stepped into the tent and saw Sangji within.

Sangji pressed his palms together. His divine ability circulated instantly, sealing the surrounding void. “Greetings, Venerable One…”

“I obtained an interesting item today. Take a look.”

Fang Qing casually tossed over a jade box.

Sangji opened it and found a pitch-black fruit roughly the size of a fist within, its surface covered in blood-colored patterns.

The fruit resembled a black infant. Upon seeing Sangji, it suddenly opened its eyes, revealing nothing but crimson blood-light inside…

“Oh? A Purple Mansion spiritual object? It seems to have been artificially created through blood sacrifice techniques… What a pity.”

After a long moment, the White Bone Dharma King shook his head and closed the jade box again.

“And why is it a pity?” Fang Qing asked casually.

Naturally, after obtaining the Resentful Infant Fruit, he had already used karmic calculations to understand most of its effects.

In any case, he certainly had no intention of using it himself to advance into the Nascent Soul realm. But in the Eastern Sea cultivation world, who knew what kind of astronomical price it might fetch?

“This Purple Mansion spiritual object carries impure and mixed aura, but its medicinal effects are extremely potent… In the past, it may have been only slightly inferior to those Purple Mansion spiritual objects capable of assisting a breakthrough into the Great Spiritual Master realm. But that was before…”

Sangji pressed his palms together.

“Ever since that great figure forbade the human race from consuming blood food, human pills, and related methods, the effectiveness of this material has inevitably declined greatly. And among demonic cultivators, earth-virtue cultivators would certainly refuse it outright.”

‘Kitchen God, you’ve done every evil imaginable… no, you’ve done a great deed.’

‘Unfortunately, it’s inconveniencing me.’

Fang Qing stored away the Resentful Infant Fruit again, already planning to trade it in the Eastern Sea cultivation world.

After all, Purple Mansion cultivators of the Qi Ingestion path might fail to recognize its true value, but Core Formation cultivators of the Qi Refining path would certainly go mad over such a treasure.

Then Sangji continued speaking. “However… it may still be possible to exchange it for a spiritual object beneficial for breaking through to Purple Mansion.”

“Oh? That would not be bad at all. At the very least, it is worth far more than the Fountain of Agelessness.”

Fang Qing’s heart stirred slightly. “I require a Purple Mansion spiritual object capable of assisting a cultivator whose [Ji Water] Dao Foundation has reached perfection. You can begin making inquiries.”

At present, he had already entered the late Dao Foundation stage. Furthermore, after passing through heavenly lightning tribulation, he had obtained considerable water-virtue Dao attainment.

Perfecting the “Perched at the Abyss” Dao Foundation would not be difficult. It was time to begin considering the breakthrough to Purple Mansion.

‘But the Purple Mansion barrier is extremely difficult. I’m not Li Rulong, entering closed-door cultivation recklessly without preparing anything.’

‘Then again, he was different from the beginning. He was already material for a human pill… he didn’t need to prepare much at all.’

‘And Sangji struggled for decades before reaching Purple Mansion. Even if my foundation is deeper than theirs, I’ll probably still need at least ten years or so.’

‘After all, not everyone is like the Kitchen God, instantly refining a divine ability in a single moment.’

After contemplating his future Dao path for a while, Fang Qing shifted the conversation toward the war.

“The Xuanwu Sect of Wushan Commandery originally possessed a Purple Mansion Spiritual Master, but that individual exhausted their lifespan and perished several decades ago. Cloud Grazing Cliff has merely stood by and watched without truly intervening. Once we sweep through this commandery, our Esoteric Domain will directly border the Blissful Union Sect.”

Sangji’s expression turned solemn.

“However, Great Spiritual Master Senchen once sent a letter requesting a share of the profits we gain from Wushan Commandery.”

‘Another Purple Mansion cultivator coming to divide the spoils. They really want a bite out of everything.’

Fang Qing complained inwardly before asking, “Does he mean the treasury of the Xuanwu Sect?”

Sangji shook his head. “How would the Xuanwu Sect dare resist the monk soldiers? Their sect master already led the disciples northward long ago. Rumor says they were incorporated directly into the army and sent to fight the demon race.”

“Great Spiritual Master Senchen’s interest lies in the Grotto Heaven of Wushan Commandery!”

“Hm? Wushan Commandery has a Grotto Heaven?”

Fang Qing was instantly startled. The impression Taihuang Heaven had left on him previously was simply too deep. “What Grotto Heaven is it? Can it be opened?”

“This Grotto Heaven is known as ‘White Principle.’ It should have been left behind by a Metal-Virtue True Lord, though its history has long since vanished into obscurity.”

Sangji explained slowly.

“But war breeds chaos and death, and such times are precisely when fate-born individuals emerge most easily. Or rather, in great upheaval, variables are born most readily. Throughout history, whenever the world descended into disorder, it became the perfect opportunity for Grotto Heaven and Blessed Lands to emerge into the world.”

“Thus, this eastern advance of the monk soldiers may very well stir the White Principle Grotto Heaven into appearing.”

“That is also why our army has been advancing so slowly.”

“Another Grotto Heaven… Hopefully there will not be too many unforeseen complications.”

Fang Qing murmured softly.

“Venerable One jests. Over the course of more than eight thousand years since the Recent Antiquity began, many Grotto Heaven have appeared, yet the Taihuang Heaven has only ever had a single example.”

Sangji offered reassurance. “How is Venerable’s progress with the ‘Dragon Elephant Golden Body Attainment Method’? Would you require assistance from additional Dumu?”

“We can discuss that later. I have other important matters to attend to. Release the void restriction.”

Fang Qing watched as Sangji dispelled the divine ability sealing the surrounding void. In the next instant, his figure flickered and vanished directly into space itself.

…

Qi Refining world.

Outside Ice Heaven Island.

“There is no doubt that I have now become a thorn in Master Heavenly Talisman’s side…”

Fang Qing’s figure slowly emerged, a relaxed smile hanging upon his lips. “Unfortunately for him… he will never catch me.”

After reaching the Core Formation realm, the clearest proof of identity naturally became one’s True Core power.

Yet the one who had stolen the treasure Heavenly Talisman needed was a mid-stage Core Formation cultivator practicing the Devouring Sea Art. What did that have to do with him, a cultivator of the Blue Sea Technique?

With the Dao-Genesis Pearl, Fang Qing could even directly dissolve the True Core within his body and revert himself into a mere Foundation Establishment cultivator.

Under the sweep of Nascent Soul divine sense, he might very well be overlooked entirely.

‘Still, to remain cautious, it is best not to return to Ice Heaven Island for now. The Eastern Sea Cultivation World is vast enough. I can simply develop elsewhere.’

‘As for the arrangements afterward, Zhong Lingxiu can handle them.’

Fang Qing silently observed his own dantian inwardly.

At this moment, there was no True Core within his qi sea. Only the liquid mana of a Foundation Establishment cultivator remained.

Within the Dao-Genesis Pearl, however, were stored one portion of primordial essence transformed from a True Core, along with another portion of primordial blazing essence from late-stage Dao Foundation cultivation.

‘In the end, my Qi Refining cultivation is still too low. Even pouring in the entirety of a True Core does not increase my mana by much. The effect is not even comparable to the Tide-Birth Pearl.’

‘But once I reach the Purple Mansion realm, the situation will certainly be very different.’

No longer lingering, he silently slipped into the void, disappearing without a trace.

…

Ice Heaven Market.

The once magnificent nine-layer palace complex now showed signs of ruin and decay everywhere.

After Ice Heaven True Personage had been exposed as the Bloodworm Demon and publicly executed after capture, his disciples and followers scattered like frightened birds. Some had even been directly killed.

The enormous marketplace had abruptly fallen into desolation. Its traffic had decreased by nearly ninety percent.

There was even a real possibility that the market itself would shut down permanently.

Precisely because of this, many cultivators were hastily selling off their cave dwellings and storefronts within the market. Prices had collapsed, yet scarcely anyone was willing to take them over.

Amid such an environment, the Zhong Alliance instead chose to move against the tide.

Zhong Lingxiu personally arrived at the market, preparing to purchase shops and cave dwellings at dirt-cheap prices.

“He’s here again…”

As a Core Formation cultivator, Zhong Lingxiu instinctively frowned.

Over the past several days, he had occasionally felt strange premonitions. At times, a chilling sensation even crawled across his entire body.

Ordinary Core Formation cultivators might have ignored such feelings, or assumed there was a flaw in their cultivation technique.

But Zhong Lingxiu’s true spirit was directly linked to the Young Master, and the conclusion he received was simple:

Master Heavenly Talisman had not left.

In fact, every so often, the man swept the entirety of Ice Heaven Island with his divine sense, as though determined to dig three feet into the ground if necessary just to drag that mysterious person out into the open.

‘Unfortunately, all his efforts are useless.’

‘And according to the Young Master’s divination. Ice Heaven Market possesses the fate of “extreme decline turning into prosperity.” If I seize the opportunity to acquire more shops and cave dwellings now, the Zhong Alliance will no longer need my personal support in the future. Instead, it will continuously generate resources of its own, perhaps even enough to sustain the cultivation of several Core Formation cultivators.’

At this thought, a faint smile appeared at the corner of Zhong Lingxiu’s lips as he looked toward the Core Formation True Personage seated before him.

It was none other than True Personage Xuanqi, the same man who had once come personally to demand rent payments.

“Fellow Daoist… you truly intend to sell both your cave dwelling and storefront? These are shops in the middle third district. Every inch of land here is worth its weight in gold.”

Zhong Lingxiu took a sip of spirit tea before speaking.

True Personage Xuanqi, however, wore an utterly defeated expression.

As one of the market’s administrators, he had only been an external guest elder and had never participated in Ice Heaven True Personage’s affairs. After enduring examination beneath Master Heavenly Talisman’s Heart-Inquiry Talisman, he had been released unharmed.

Yet the experience had left him like a startled bird at the mere twang of a bowstring.

At Zhong Lingxiu’s words, he could only force out a bitter smile.

“What Ice Heaven Market remains anymore? This old man survived by sheer luck. I only wish to leave this place far behind and spend the remainder of my years in peace.”

This True Personage’s fortune had truly been decent.

Even in Ice Heaven True Personage’s final stages, he still required personnel on the surface to maintain the market’s normal operation. Xuanqi had happened to be one of those people.

Moreover, because he genuinely knew nothing, his conscience remained entirely clear, making him especially suitable for handling outside negotiations.

That was precisely why he escaped the fate of having his blood essence drained and his True Core dug out.

He took out several third-rank contracts shimmering with spiritual light.

“To be honest, these spirit contracts and land deeds are already nothing more than waste paper. Who would still acknowledge them now?”

‘That may not necessarily be true.’

Zhong Lingxiu thought inwardly.

As a purchaser, he not only possessed the Young Master’s divination, but had also vaguely come into contact with a hidden force operating in secret.

Although they were divided into several groups and concealed their identities carefully, their methods were grand and their appetite enormous. They were acquiring nearly every fixed asset they could get their hands on.

Clearly, this was the true reason behind the Young Master’s divination of decline reversing into prosperity.

‘If a major power truly enters the market, then in order to restore confidence and preserve the market’s credibility, the best course of action would inevitably be to publicly recognize all previous Ice Heaven Market contracts and transactions as valid.’

‘At that point, these papers would no longer be scraps. They would become high-grade and even supreme-grade spirit stones.’

A trace of pity surfaced in Zhong Lingxiu’s heart, though none of it appeared upon his face.

“It is merely a gamble. The Zhong Alliance is poor. If we do not take risks, we cannot survive.”

“That is true enough…”

True Personage Xuanqi nodded in agreement, though inwardly he sighed.

‘The harder one struggles, the easier it is to sink even deeper into the abyss… Forget it. Better for this old man to leave quickly.’

Still, after hearing Zhong Lingxiu’s offered price, he instinctively frowned.

“This amount of spirit stones is far too little…”

“It is already quite generous. After all, this is merely a gamble. Our alliance is small and weak.”

Zhong Lingxiu shook his head.

Although he had never met that mysterious group personally, both sides shared a tacit understanding:

Absolutely no price inflation.

They were deliberately suppressing asset prices as hard as possible.

Doing so not only kept acquisition costs low, but also prevented observant parties from guessing that something larger was unfolding behind the scenes.

“Ah… forget it. Deal.”

True Personage Xuanqi let out a long sigh.

He was truly terrified now. All he wanted was to sever ties with Ice Heaven Market as quickly as possible.

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