Rebel Army (Seeking Follow-Up Reads)

Time flew by.

Half a month later, Fang Qing looked at the spirit pool before him with satisfaction.

Refining pills in his own cave abode was truly satisfying. During this time, he had already tried refining several pools of "Jadeflower Spirit Water," which also served to nourish the spirit pool. A few days ago, he had attempted to refine "Ginseng Green Spirit Water" once, and had likewise succeeded.

"My condition is good. I can try Spirit-Concentrating Powder."

Fang Qing took out the jade box containing "Seven-Star Grass."

Qi Refinement Way spirit medicines were divided into four types: "water, powder, pill, elixir." Spirit-Concentrating Powder belonged to the second type. It was a powdered medicinal pill, ranked First-Order High Grade.

Moreover, it was an ancient formula. Even with the existing research, Five Dragons Child might not necessarily be able to refine it successfully in a single attempt.

Fang Qing was merely embracing the notion that failure was the mother of success, hoping to accumulate more experience.

Glug!

As the "Seven-Star Grass" fell into the spirit pool, Fang Qing circulated the Water Control Art. A burst of extreme cold emerged, instantly pulverizing the Seven-Star Grass...

Then the spirit pool began to ripple, waves forming a vortex.

Within the vortex, specks of medicinal power were flung out, forming layers of dazzling colors.

"Gather!"

Fang Qing's expression turned solemn as he formed a hand seal...

Without realizing it, dawn had arrived.

Pfft!

Looking at the pool of spring water before him that gave off a foul stench, Fang Qing sighed and cast a spell.

Crash!

The valve of the underground water vein opened, and the failed spring water instantly poured away.

"The first refinement failed, as expected... The problem was still in handling the Seven-Star Grass. Next time, I'll try several other extraction methods."

He sighed, took out some research materials from before the establishment of the Five Dragons Society, and added his own insights.

"I'll rest and meditate for a day, then try again..."

In a blur, another half month passed.

Fang Qing attempted to refine "Spirit-Concentrating Powder" several times. Without exception, every attempt failed.

Then, all the Seven-Star Grass in his possession was exhausted.

"Perfect... Senior Brother Ming Lingzhen should have finished refining the artifact by now. Once I pick it up, I'll head to Ancient Shu to restock..."

Artifact Refining Peak.

"Junior Brother, you're here. Perfect... your Sea Pearl has been refined."

Ming Lingzhen held a wine gourd, took a great gulp, and pulled out a case.

When he opened it, a fist-sized azure pearl lay inside, with a spirit-sealing talisman affixed to its surface.

"It's completely new, with not a trace of foreign mana inside. Once you refine it, Junior Brother, you'll be able to wield it as easily as an arm..."

A faint flush colored Ming Lingzhen's cheeks, as if he was somewhat drunk. "This Spirit Pearl artifact is First-Order High Grade. Not only can it store a hundred thousand jin of seawater, its body has also been reinforced, allowing it to be hurled at enemies... Among offensive artifacts, it's quite good."

Having completed a work he was proud of, he was clearly in high spirits. "Junior Brother Fang... you may give it a name."

"Let's call it the Sea-Transforming Pearl."

Fang Qing took the Sea-Transforming Pearl into his hand. Strands of Black Water mana immediately flowed into it, refining it...

The reason he named it the Sea-Transforming Pearl was naturally because he hoped this pearl would continue advancing alongside him and one day truly transform into a vast sea!

After thanking Senior Brother Ming once more, Fang Qing took out the spirit stones earned from selling Golden Spearfish at the Palace of Miscellaneous Affairs, paid the remaining balance, accepted another task, and left the Azure Sea Sect.

"The Azure Sea Sect truly deserves to be one of the three major powers of the Lesser Vast Sea. With a Core Formation ancestor overseeing it, disciples are at least quite safe on Jade Island. There are no Cultivator Bandits or such matters..."

"Even if disciples bear blood feuds against one another, they wait until they are out at sea to settle them in secret. They leave no clues or evidence on the island..."

After arriving in the wilderness, Fang Qing casually opened up a cave abode. With a flash of light, he arrived in Ancient Shu.

Ba Commandery.

A great lake.

"What's going on? Where is Jade Heaven Market's great ship?"

Fang Qing, who had come to purchase Seven-Star Grass, looked over the rippling blue lake, his expression changing.

Although Jade Heaven Market was a mobile market, he had long since inquired about the time and place. Ordinarily, a market like this lived on its reputation and would not change arrangements lightly.

He stepped over the water as though walking on solid ground, making his way to the center of the lake to inspect it.

Glug glug!

A string of bubbles rose. Fang Qing's expression immediately changed. A crimson talisman appeared in one hand, while his other hand secretly gripped the Sea-Transforming Pearl as he retreated several steps.

Splash!

The lake water parted, revealing a river clam.

The river clam carried a trace of demonic aura, as well as peculiar artifact fluctuations. It seemed to be a refined "living artifact."

"Fellow Daoist... due to the chaos in the cultivation world, Jade Heaven Market has suspended trade in Ba Commandery."

A pleasant female voice came from within the river clam. "Please forgive any inconvenience caused."

I don't want to forgive it either, but what can I do?

Fang Qing grumbled inwardly, then said, "What chaos has occurred?"

One had to know that Ba Commandery had previously been plagued by natural disasters and human calamities, yet cultivators had still visited the market.

Who would have thought that this river clam only knew how to repeat those two lines?

"I overestimated the artifact-refining level. I thought it was a sound-transmission device, but it turns out it's just a phonograph... Was it set to activate once it sensed a cultivator's mana?"

"It didn't even say when the market would reopen."

Fang Qing felt that things had become troublesome.

"Seven-Star Grass" was also a spirit herb in Ancient Shu. If he gathered it by himself, who knew until what year of the monkey and month of the horse it would take?

"Jade Heaven Market is out. Floating Boat Market hasn't arrived yet..."

"Do I have to trade with those cultivation families? I know of several nearby Qi Ingestion families. None have a Dao Foundation Great Cultivator overseeing them..."

After thinking it over, he ultimately needed a great deal of practice to refine Spirit-Concentrating Powder. He immediately chose a direction and rode the Green Leaf Boat away.

Red Maple Valley.

This was the Ye Family's cultivation ground. Several dozen mortal villages surrounded the valley, clustered around it.

The Ye Family was merely an ordinary Qi Ingestion family, established less than a century ago. The family had only one Late Qi Ingestion ancestor.

Fang Qing had obtained all this intelligence while scraping and struggling through the markets.

If he was choosing cultivators to trade with, he naturally would not seek out anyone too strong.

This Ye Family was just right for the area.

Whoosh!

A streak of green light flew over, revealing the Green Leaf Boat within it.

Fang Qing suddenly halted the artifact as a sword cry reached his ears.

"This is..."

He focused his gaze, and was immediately rather surprised.

Around the valley, an army of mortals had appeared at some unknown time. They were slaughtering the villages and mountain folk.

Even more surprisingly, cultivators were fighting above Red Maple Valley.

One of them was unmistakably a sword cultivator. His aura gave Fang Qing a vaguely familiar feeling.

"Mid Qi Ingestion!"

He muttered the words, deeply shocked.

The person battling that sword light was actually a Late Qi Ingestion cultivator. Yet he cultivated Wood Virtue. Every strike carried the feeling of spring returning to the earth and grass and trees reviving, only for it all to be shattered by a surge of Kangjin energy!

"That man... could he be the Ye Family ancestor of Red Maple Valley? He's far too weak, isn't he? He's probably only just entered Late Qi Ingestion. Perhaps even the first mouthful of True Qi he refined back then was of low rank, merely among the lower three orders..."

Fang Qing shook his head after watching for a few moments.

Although metal and fire manifested the Dao in this world, the difference between minor realms was enough to erase much of that advantage.

If Fang Qing established Dao Foundation, he was confident that he could blow many Late Qi Ingestion cultivators of metal and fire lineages to death in a single breath.

If he reached Late Qi Ingestion, he would also be fairly confident in fighting Mid Qi Ingestion cultivators of metal and fire lineages.

Yet the Ye Family ancestor was so lacking. Aside from his wood-element cultivation technique being completely countered by metal, his mana was mixed and impure, and his realm was not particularly high either.

"Probably only Qi Ingestion Seventh Layer, no higher."

As Fang Qing sighed inwardly, he saw a sword light with man and sword united slash down, hacking the Ye Family ancestor until he spat blood and fell from midair.

Meanwhile, the army flying banners bearing the character "Li" had completed its encirclement of the valley.

"My elder brother is favored by Heaven's mandate. Your Ye Family must not stubbornly resist... Quickly join the Rebel Army and fight the demonic cultivators together. That is the proper path."

Several more cultivators flew out from the army, with Guo Tianhong at their head!

"Ancestor?"

"Grandfather?"

Several cultivators ran out from Maple Leaf Valley. Their mana was even weaker, all of them actually at Early Qi Ingestion.

Seeing their ancestor coughing blood and collapsing, their eyes reddened as they wanted to risk their lives.

One of them, however, had eyes darting wildly about, seeming inclined to kneel or find an opportunity to flee.

"Wait... wait!"

The Ye Family ancestor hurriedly stopped his clansmen. His Ye Family had only this handful of cultivators so far. If they all died, would not the Ye Family of Red Maple Valley be left without descendants?

He barely managed to bow toward Li Rulong, who was descending from the sky. "General Li, my Ye Family is willing to submit."

"Excellent."

Li Rulong stepped forward and personally helped the Ye Family ancestor up. "I have a medicinal pill here. Take it and heal your injuries... Since you have joined my Rebel Army, you must strictly observe military discipline. Otherwise, my Army-Settling Sword was made for you!"

"We understand."

Seeing that their own ancestor had surrendered, the Ye Family cultivators naturally did not resist and surrendered one after another.

Only then did Li Rulong look toward another patch of high sky. "Who goes there?"

"Haha... Brother Li, long time no see. How did you become a general?"

Fang Qing's heart tightened. Knowing that he had been discovered, he waved his hand to disperse the surrounding water vapor and guided the Green Leaf Boat down.

When he saw Li Rulong again, he found the man dressed in gleaming silver armor, his appearance now even more imposing and dignified.

What was even more startling was that his mana had actually reached around the Fifth Layer of Qi Ingestion!

"I only reached Qi Ingestion Fourth Layer in Ji Water mana even with the aid of medicinal pills... Could this man have better aptitude than me, along with abundant resources?"

Fang Qing was puzzled.

"So it is Brother Fang."

Li Rulong nodded, a sincere smile appearing on his face. "Could it be that you heard I had raised the banner of rebellion and came specifically to join me? Let me introduce you to several like-minded fellow Daoists..."

Fang Qing looked over and saw Guo Tianhong leading several cultivators toward him. Their cultivation levels ranged from Early Qi Ingestion to Mid Qi Ingestion.

Are these weaklings pecking at each other?

He was speechless inwardly, though a puzzled expression still appeared on his face. "Join you? I was merely planning to find the Ye Family and exchange for some spirit materials. I never expected to run into this..."

"I see. But seeing a friend today still brings me joy... Pass down the order. A banquet will be held in Red Maple Valley."

Li Rulong instructed the Ye Family ancestor, already treating Red Maple Valley as his own territory.

Seeing this, the Ye Family ancestor could only force a smile and agree...