Rustle, rustle!
Inside the cave dwelling, Fang Qing seemed utterly absorbed in this Secret Treasury Domain cultivation manual, continuously turning its pages.
Rumble!
After turning to a fresh page, he saw the visualization diagram of the Horse-Head Vajra Protector Divine Art.
"So this is... the Horse-Head Vajra?"
Fang Qing's eyes seemed to contain nothing but this strange deity. It had a horse's face, three faces and eight arms, a crimson-red body, and held Dharma implements such as a skull bowl and Vajra Pestle. Snake ornaments hung from both its ears.
It was incomparably majestic, yet also carried an eerie, sinister air.
"Visualize this image as the secret principal deity, and it can strengthen the spirit..."
After finishing the book, he roughly understood this Secret Treasury Domain body-refinement method.
"This Horse-Head Vajra Protector Divine Art has four sequences. The first is the 'Fierce Donkey Demon Sequence,' the second is the 'Mule-Faced Vajra Prajna Sequence,' the third is the 'Horse-Head Wisdom King Wrath Sequence,' and then there is a final realm whose name is not even known... Although this only contains the cultivation method for the first sequence, one merely needs to meditate daily, supplemented by hand seals, mantras, and visualization of the principal deity's image to advance... It truly suits my needs."
Almost instinctively, Fang Qing sat in the full lotus position and formed the "Treasure Vase Mudra." The blood and qi within him stirred faintly, transforming into an inexplicable strange force.
Splash!
At that moment, the Dao-Born Pearl within him turned slightly. Clear and turbid qi flowed, clouds rising and rosy vapors spreading, like an icy spring slowly passing through his heart. He shuddered at once. "Revert to Root, Return to Origin!"
In an instant, that tiny trace of strange force gained from the Secret Treasury Domain technique was entirely transformed into Origin Qi.
"As expected of an evil art. It makes one unable to stop."
Fang Qing sighed, then tried transforming that tiny bit of Origin Qi in the Dao-Born Pearl once more.
This time, something miraculous happened.
Though it was still the strange blood-and-qi force of the Secret Treasury Domain, Fang Qing felt his heart become clear. He no longer had the reckless urge to devote himself desperately to cultivating the Horse-Head Vajra Protector Divine Art.
"It seems... this transformation by the Dao-Born Pearl is also a kind of 'filtering'?"
He steadied himself. "The strange force hidden within the cultivation method, even its traps... were they washed away after one transformation?"
"In that case, I can use this cultivation method for now."
This Secret Treasury Domain cultivation method was a fragment, containing only the first sequence, the "Fierce Donkey Demon Sequence."
By Fang Qing's estimation, after completing the first sequence, it might rival the completion of First-Order Body Refinement in the Qi Refinement Way, allowing one to fight Qi Refining Great Perfection cultivators with the physical body alone?
It might even surpass that, rivaling Quasi-Second-Order or even true Second-Order Body Refinement?
No matter what, it could certainly achieve his goal of strengthening his physique and spirit, reinforcing the essence and spirit among the three flowers of essence, qi, and spirit, so that Foundation Establishment would not be dragged down.
"It's just that there are pitfalls. Ordinary people can't wade through them..."
"And the Black Ridge Observation Book might have traps as well..."
Fang Qing grumbled, then began truly cultivating it.
A night passed.
He rose and stretched lazily.
Though he had substituted meditation for sleep, he did not feel the slightest fatigue. His spirit was incomparably full.
At the same time.
Fang Qing exerted a little force and clenched his five fingers into a fist, immediately sensing that his sinews, bones, skin, and flesh had strengthened once again. Their hardness had soared!
"My physique was already at the level of an Innate Grandmaster among mortals... Yet after cultivating for only one night, the increase in strength has already surpassed the enhancement of peerless martial arts like the Divine Martial Canon..."
"Compared to cultivating immortality, mortal martial arts have truly fallen behind in every respect."
"If this continues, then so long as I persevere and complete the first sequence, its power will truly be boundless. It can serve as one of my trump cards."
After regulating his breath, he swallowed several Grain-Escaping Pills. These pills used Spirit Grain as their main ingredient; they could not only satisfy hunger, but also cleanse the body and strengthen blood and qi.
After eating and drinking his fill, Fang Qing went to Cold Spring Peak, found a Spirit Spring, and began refining "Jadeflower Spirit Water."
Several days later, after a portion of Jadeflower Spirit Water was refined, he took out a stalk of "Jade Qi Ginseng," converted his power into [Winnowing Basket Water] Dharma Power, and began challenging "Ginseng Green Spirit Water."
Clearly, even with [Winnowing Basket Water] Dharma Power assisting his ability to control spring water, the first pool quickly failed.
Fang Qing remained unhurried. He cleaned up the medicinal dregs and took out a second stalk of "Jade Qi Ginseng."
Sensing the gazes of several disciples around him, he frowned and muttered inwardly, This is still a little too eye-catching. It seems building a Spirit Spring in my cave dwelling is imperative. Otherwise, it will be difficult to handle the many pills that need to be refined in secret...
Cold Spring Peak was good in every way, except that it was far too public.
No wonder those Pill Island disciples with profound cultivation all established private medicinal pools.
With that thought, Fang Qing tossed the second portion of Jade Qi Ginseng into the spring water.
Not far away, Li Yusu saw this scene and felt his face flush red.
Last time, he had mocked Fang Qing. In the end, his own breakthrough had failed, while Fang Qing had succeeded.
When they met again, he still had to honestly call the other man Senior Brother.
And that was not all!
He could sense his master's disappointed gaze after his failed advancement, as well as the faint disdain of his fellow disciples.
With the aptitude of a mid-grade spiritual root, breaking through the bottleneck from Early Qi Refinement to Mid Qi Refinement should have been a sure thing.
The only explanation was that his middling aptitude had barely qualified, and his luck had also been poor.
After one failed breakthrough, not only were his body and Dharma Power origin damaged, but his next breakthrough would become even more difficult.
With his sect lowering its investment in him, Li Yusu immediately found every step difficult. He could only take on more sect tasks, such as washing gauze, which he had previously disdained...
Of course, Fang Qing had also seen Li Yudan, but he could not be bothered to pay him any attention.
His eyes held only the great Dao of immortality. For such a minor roadside character, by the time they met again, perhaps even his bones would have turned to ash.
Fang Qing focused completely on the refinement of this pool of "Ginseng Green Spirit Water."
"The first step, extract the spirit liquid..."
"The second step, Profound Origin Triple Cycle, merge and transform the medicinal liquid... Hm? This change in medicinal properties? How should I deal with it?"
Before he could finish thinking, the water in the Spirit Pool rippled, and a stream of black liquid surged out...
"Failed again..."
Fang Qing sighed.
Alchemy was like this. Without guidance from a skilled master, one simply could not find the knack of entry without failing dozens or hundreds of times.
It was still manageable with low-grade pills, but the higher the grade, the more unbearable the cost became.
"I should go back..."
"Though I still have extra Jade Qi Ginseng on hand, exposing too much would not be good..."
Fang Qing shook his head and sighed. He went to the Pill Island main hall, handed in the "Jadeflower Spirit Water," then spent Contribution Points to purchase a gourd of "Ginseng Green Spirit Water."
Now that he was somewhat wealthier, he wanted to try using spirit water to assist his cultivation.
Inside the cave dwelling.
Fang Qing studied the yellow-skinned gourd in his hand.
The gourd was only the size of a thumb. After he removed the stopper, he could smell the fragrance of ginseng.
He tipped it slightly, and several drops of emerald-green spirit water fell into his mouth, carrying a faint hint of bitterness.
Stimulated by this, the Black Water Dharma Power cultivated from the Water Classic Commentary within him immediately began circulating, becoming somewhat hot and restless.
Fang Qing hurriedly began meditating, carefully absorbing the medicinal power.
Without realizing it, several hours had passed.
He opened his eyes and sensed the wisp of gaseous Dharma Power added to his dantian. A trace of delight appeared on his face. "Good... This is enough to equal two days of cultivation. This gourd of spirit water should increase a month's worth of cultivation."
Originally, Fang Qing had estimated that after breaking through to Mid Qi Refinement, without any other external aid, he would need at least three or four years to cultivate the fourth layer of Dharma Power to completion.
If his supply of "Ginseng Green Spirit Water" remained unbroken, he could save at least half that time!
"And..."
Fang Qing activated the "Dao-Born Pearl" and changed his entire foundation back into [Winnowing Basket Water] Dharma Power.
In an instant, the sound of a clear spring tinkling arose inside the cave dwelling, accompanied by gusts of gentle breeze.
"This Ginseng Green Spirit Water should also have some effect on the cultivation of Dharma Power in the Breath-Nourishing Dao..."
He swallowed more spirit water and delightedly discovered that his body's drug resistance, as well as the sensation of fatigue in his Dharma Power, had vanished.
"Originally, Ginseng Green Spirit Water could only be taken once per day... But after transforming my cultivation method, I can take it twice?"
"Could it be... the drug resistance in my Dharma Power was washed away as well?"
"If so, my Dharma Power can still advance by leaps and bounds. Perhaps I will only need one year before I can attempt to break through to the Qi Refining Fifth Layer?"
Delight filled Fang Qing's face as he closed his eyes again.
Within the cave dwelling, clear springs gushed and a fresh breeze drifted in. It was precisely the imagery of clear springs and gentle breezes belonging to [Winnowing Basket Water].
Half an hour later, the young man on the meditation cushion slowly finished his cultivation, a hint of joy appearing on his face.
Fang Qing walked out of the cultivation chamber and saw a bright-yellow voice transmission talisman hovering at the entrance of his cave dwelling. His expression shifted. "Who has come looking for me? Hua Lian?"
With a hand seal, a gust of clear wind wrapped around the voice transmission talisman and delivered it into his hand.
After he infused it with a trace of Dharma Power, a pleasant female voice came from it.
"So it is her? I should meet her."
Fang Qing murmured, then opened the cave dwelling's gates.
Outside the cave dwelling stood two cultivators who seemed to have been waiting for a long time.
One was Li Yudan—no, Li Yusu—whose face looked rather weathered and dejected.
The other was a young woman with a peach-blossom face and an ethereal, refined beauty. It was actually Zha Zhu!
After all these years, the little girl of old had already blossomed into a graceful young woman. Paired with her misty temperament, it was almost impossible to believe that she had once been a fisherwoman's daughter.
"Zhu'er, and this... Junior Brother Li."
Fang Qing invited them into his cave dwelling. "My humble home is simple. There is no tea, only clear spring water..."
"Thank you."
Zha Zhu showed a trace of apology. "Brother Fang Qing, I had been in seclusion before. I never expected so many things to happen..."
"It is nothing. After all, there was indeed only an employment relationship between your family and me, and now our accounts are settled."
Fang Qing smiled and looked at Li Yusu. "As for this Junior Brother Li, though his words and conduct were somewhat excessive, he was wholeheartedly doing it for your sake..."
He did not know why Zha Zhu had come to visit. Had she seen that he had risen again and come to salvage things?
But honestly speaking, what could a mere Mid Qi Refinement cultivator and First-Order Low Grade alchemist amount to in the eyes of Clouddrift Adept, a Foundation Establishment cultivator and second-order alchemy master?
After chatting for a few more sentences, Fang Qing saw Zha Zhu and Li Yusu out of the cave dwelling. Then he saw a Green Leaf Flying Boat descend, with Hua Lian standing atop it.
"I truly do not know what wind is blowing today. Everyone has come to this little brother's cave dwelling..."
Fang Qing laughed heartily.
When Hua Lian saw Zha Zhu, the expression on his face became even gentler. "Sect Grand Fishing has begun. The fleet has entered the deep sea, yet there are some bargains to be picked up in the nearby waters. I thought Junior Brother should be free, so I came especially to ask..."
For Azure Sea Sect disciples, living by the sea and eating from the sea, cultivating with spirit fish, had always been part of daily life.
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