Smurfing (Seeking Bookmarks)

"Hehe, [Tail Fire] lineage, refining the Ember Tribulation Flame... That really scared this old fox to death."

Dark Candle Adept patted his chest in an exceedingly humanlike manner. The smile curling at the corners of his fox mouth even seemed faintly mocking.

"Cough, cough..."

Seeing that things were going awry, Fang Qing had no choice but to speak. "Fellow Daoist... I am here to purchase a cultivation method. Do you have one?"

"This old fox does not have a Great Sun cultivation method... But my Demon Race has abundant stores. This old fox will go back and ask around; there should be some leads."

Dark Candle Adept clearly enjoyed dealing in cultivation methods. Beneath the candlelight, his fox face looked shrewd and strange. "If you trust this old fox, pay a deposit first... Once this old fox finds it, I will contact you."

Fang Qing fell silent for a moment, then tossed out a yellow-skinned gourd.

Dark Candle Adept caught it, opened it, and sniffed it. "Mm... not bad, not bad. This old fox will remember this matter."

Fang Qing secretly transmitted his voice again, giving the old fox a meeting place and a password before retreating back into the crowd.

"This exchange meeting may have had an atmosphere sharp as drawn swords... but it truly leaked quite a bit of information..."

As he watched the spectacle, Fang Qing felt exhilarated inside, hoping Dark Candle Adept and the Pu Family cultivator would expose a few more explosive secrets about each other.

After the exchange ended, it was time for everyone to discuss matters among themselves.

Old Tian was still the first to step forward. He asked, "Old Tian bears the destiny of [Bond Metal], but my grandsons and granddaughters do not. Will there be any obstacles if they cultivate [Bond Metal] methods?"

Hearing this, Fang Qing's spirits lifted, and he looked toward the Shabby Daoist.

He would certainly have to switch to other cultivation methods in the future as well.

"A cultivator's fate can benefit their cultivation method, but it is not absolute..."

After thinking for a moment, the Shabby Daoist explained, "If Your Excellency's descendants possess another Metal Virtue fate, then cultivating [Bond Metal] methods will not face much obstruction... Their progress may merely be somewhat slower than with methods suited to their own nature. If they possess a Metal Virtue fate yet cultivate Wood-element or Fire-element methods, it is not impossible either, but their speed will be exceedingly slow, and they may even be more prone to qi deviation..."

Fang Qing immediately understood.

In this respect, Qi Ingestion methods were rather similar to the Qi Refinement Way.

According to the Qi Refinement Way's theories of immortality, the human body possessed all five elements. Thus, he could in fact cultivate all sorts of methods—metal, wood, fire, earth, even ice and so on.

It was simply that he excelled at Water-element methods. Perhaps one hour cultivating one of those would equal ten hours spent on another method!

If he wished to break through to a major realm and extend his lifespan, then naturally he should still focus on Water-element methods.

Yet once he established his foundation in the future, he could switch to the Azure Sea Sect's Core Formation method, the Azure Sea Method, or even choose another Water-element method.

On the Qi Ingestion side, however, once one selected a cultivation method, one had to walk that road into the dark.

"So that is how it is. Thank you, Fellow Daoist, for clearing up my confusion..."

Old Tian suddenly understood. Then, gritting his teeth, he said, "This old man was ignorant in his youth. When I first entered the Dao, I only ingested a lower third-grade True Qi, resulting in poor-quality mana. Is there any way to remedy it?"

"Hehe..."

The cultivator surnamed Pu sneered. "Once you enter the Dao, nothing can be changed. Since you ingested lower third-grade True Qi, then you are fated to remain in the Qi Ingestion realm for life. Do not dream of breaking through to the Dao Foundation realm."

The moment he said this, most of the cultivators present turned pale and miserable.

Clearly, rogue cultivators like them had no elders constantly instructing them. The first mouthful of True Qi upon entering the Dao was exceedingly precious, so naturally they refined whatever they could get their hands on. Most of their True Qi was lower third-grade. Not only did they have no hope of breaking through to the Dao Foundation realm, but even in ordinary cultivation and fights against cultivators of the same level, they would always be a head shorter.

"Actually... it is not entirely without a solution."

At that moment, the old fox spoke. "Water is by nature good at nourishing all things. If one can find several of the legendary spiritual waters of heaven and earth, such as Heaven-One Generates Water, it may be possible to purify one's mana and defy fate itself..."

"Hehe... In this age, metal and fire flourish greatly. Spiritual flames of heaven and earth, as well as the several strange metals of the universe capable of forging the Nine-Turn Flying Sword, are already incomparably rare... Spiritual waters of heaven and earth will only be rarer."

The cultivator surnamed Pu sneered. "Heaven-One Generates Water probably no longer exists in this world. To find it, one would need a great power to attain the Dao and greatly benefit Water Virtue throughout the world, only then might there be one or two parts hope... Even if you found it, Purple Mansion cultivators would go mad fighting over such a spiritual treasure. Do you dare covet it?"

The surrounding cultivators fell silent, merely committing the name Heaven-One Generates Water firmly to memory. It would most likely be useless effort, but what if?

"A great power attaining the Dao? Such changes can happen?"

Fang Qing was genuinely somewhat astonished.

"What is so strange about that? When Dao Foundation cultivators break through, there are heaven-and-earth phenomena. If a Purple Mansion cultivator breaks through, the range is even broader, enough to affect at least an entire commandery... When that ancestor of the Pu Family broke through back then, Yulin Commandery was ablaze beneath the sky. Who knew how many innocent passersby burned to death? Quite a few Wood-element cultivators also suffered qi deviation... Those in secluded cultivation attempting to break through major realms had it even worse. Aside from those cultivating Fire-element methods, who gained benefits, all the rest failed. Some directly perished, their Dao vanishing with them..."

The old fox said, "If a great power attains the Dao, the influence would certainly spread across the entire world... If they cultivated Water Virtue, what would a few more Water-element spiritual treasures between heaven and earth amount to?"

"Thank you. I have learned much."

Fang Qing cupped his hands in salute. No matter what, this was precious knowledge.

"Hehe... It is nothing, merely common knowledge. This old fox obtained a clerical post at Fallen Phoenix Mountain, where I am responsible for guarding the Langhuan Library. I usually enjoy reading most of all."

The old fox smiled.

"The Demon Race's sacred land—Fallen Phoenix Mountain?"

Fang Qing was still marveling at why the old fox loved dealing in cultivation methods so much. So he was a librarian. Then he heard the astonished cry of the cultivator surnamed Pu beside him.

Looking over again, he found the cultivator surnamed Pu full of wariness. None of his earlier aggressiveness remained.

"Fine... Their power is inferior, so he has decided to yield?"

Disciples born of such aristocratic clans could tilt their nostrils toward the heavens when facing those beneath them, yet before offspring of even greater clans, they could become incomparably humble. Their dual nature stood out vividly.

During the discussions that followed, the cultivator surnamed Pu had admitted defeat and said nothing at all. Fang Qing consequently heard no more juicy gossip and found it rather boring.

After the exchange meeting ended, the cultivators departed one after another.

Just as he was preparing to leave, he heard the Shabby Daoist speak. "Fellow Daoist Fang Shui, please stay..."

"What instructions does Daoist Priest have?"

Fang Qing secretly raised his guard, though his expression remained extremely polite.

"Thinking back to when I saw the few of you outside Floating Boat Market, it feels like only yesterday... As a child, you were able to ingest a strange fruit and find Floating Boat Market. That counts as fate."

The Shabby Daoist looked somewhat dazed. "And yet, here you are today; not only have you succeeded in Qi Ingestion and entered the Dao, you've reached the sixth level... Li Rulong is even more extraordinary, with destiny favoring him as a child of the era. To occupy the better part of Ba Commandery, even with the Purple Mansion's agreement in place, is truly a rare feat..."

"Ingesting a strange fruit?"

Fang Qing's eyelid twitched. If Li Rulong or the Pu Family did not leak this, then this old bastard is calculating me? He can calculate me? Is he still a Qi Ingestion cultivator? Could he be... Dao Foundation? Is he not afraid of the Purple Mansion decree?

At the same time, he cursed inwardly. I came to a Qi Ingestion-level exchange meeting and still ran into this kind of big shot... What a shitty pit of a place!

"Fortunately, I have As If in the Calculation. He thinks he has calculated me, but it is actually only a false surface appearance... Later, I can use Plum Blossom Divination to calculate him in return. According to the divination text, those who actively form karmic ties with me should be easier to calculate... But if his major realm exceeds mine, that should not be possible either. Besides, this is Ancient Shu, that heavenly-secret cesspit!"

At that moment, Fang Qing's expression shifted as he sensed another anomaly.

The Dao-Born Pearl within his body spun round and round, clear and turbid qi spreading out, myriad phenomena arising.

"This is... As If in the Calculation has been triggered?"

"This person might not be Dao Foundation?"

"Did a fucking Purple Mansion personally come down to smurf low-level cultivators? Is there any justice left? Any law left!?"

"I have worked diligently at the Azure Sea Sect for nearly ten years, yet I have never even seen what our own Core Formation ancestor looks like! Do Purple Mansion cultivators here really have to be this down-to-earth?"

Though he ranted wildly inside, Fang Qing maintained his act. On the surface, everything remained perfectly normal.

Or rather, concealed by the Dao-Born Pearl, even the fluctuations of his mind were covered by a layer of As If in the Calculation. Even if this Purple Mansion cultivator possessed some method of peering into hearts, he would see only a layer of false mental activity.

Fang Qing continued listening as the old Daoist said, "Though Li Rulong is a child of fortune for the moment, he has now reached his limit. The Dao Foundation clan stronghold, the Black Blight Sect... neither is something he can handle. Though this old man is weak, I am willing to contribute my modest strength for him. Would you be willing to deliver a letter for this old Daoist and invite him to join this exchange meeting?"

"Of course."

He readily agreed, took a bright yellow letter, and departed after bidding farewell.

Whoosh!

Fang Qing rode the Profound Ice Wheel and flew a great distance in one breath. Instinctively, he wanted to travel back to Jade Island and stop staying in this shitty place.

But in the next moment, his heart stirred, and he silently activated Plum Blossom Divination.

After the fright just now, by a fortunate coincidence, he had explored another transformation of As If in the Calculation.

"Though the heavenly secrets in Ancient Shu are a cesspit! I have the Dao-Born Pearl and can borrow its rank... Perhaps my divination ability can rival a Purple Mansion cultivator?"

"Furthermore, that Shabby Daoist took the initiative to form karma with me. Calculating him should be relatively easy..."

Within Fang Qing's sea of consciousness, several phantom plum blossoms drifted down and formed a hexagram:

"Great misfortune?!"

"Could it be... that Shabby Daoist has been watching me the entire time? The moment I travel through space, I will expose my greatest secret?"

He was incomparably shocked, yet his face revealed not the slightest trace. After asking around for the location of Li Rulong's army, he headed straight for it.

"Fortunately, for now, Li Rulong is the chess piece everyone values. I am only an insignificant figure at the edge... As long as I play my part well and leave the stage, no one will notice me."

"The most crucial thing is still the rank of Plum Blossom Divination and the Dao-Born Pearl... Otherwise, I would not even know whether I had entered the game, and I would die like a muddleheaded ghost..."