Annihilating the Clan (Please Bookmark)

Inside the cave abode.

Fang Qing converted his [Ji Water] dharma power and circulated the Black Ridge Observation Book, beginning his attempt to break through the bottleneck of the Qi Ingestion Seventh Layer.

After a long while, he exhaled a long breath. "Failed..."

Ancient Shu's cultivation technique was exquisitely profound, but its requirements for one's "cultivation" were even greater.

Previously, he had only vaguely sensed the existence of this barrier. With this attempt, he understood it much more clearly.

"Even if my current total Origin Qi, once converted, is enough to rival the Qi Ingestion Seventh Layer... if my cultivation is insufficient, forcing a breakthrough will only leave me seriously injured?"

"To increase one's cultivation, one naturally needs to read more Daoist scriptures and comprehend the Dao more deeply..."

"Perhaps even... follow one's fate?"

Li Rulong had acted entirely in accordance with his own fate. His fortune now blazed like a raging fire, while cultivation poured into him as though it cost nothing. Fang Qing could not help but feel envious.

But even if Fang Qing wanted to imitate him, he could not.

Besides, his [Ji Water] fate was not the same as Li Rulong's.

If he were to compete for supremacy instead, it would surely bring not the slightest benefit to his own cultivation.

"Forget it... I should first go certify as a First-Order High Grade alchemist."

Fang Qing rose to his feet and headed for the Pill Hall.

He intended to prove, step by step, that he was a genius of Water-Method Alchemy, preparing for the contest for a True Disciple of the alchemical path several years from now.

"Only after advancing to a First-Order High Grade alchemist will I be qualified to consult the sect's second-order alchemical scriptures and exchange contribution points for all sorts of alchemical book inheritances..."

"With the aid of my divine sense, and now that my dharma power has reached Late Qi Refinement... theoretically, I can attempt to refine second-order pills. But... should I fail, the losses would be staggering."

"Furthermore, to refine second-order pills, it would be best to rent a second-order spirit pool... Even with spirit stones added, the spirit pool in my cave abode can at most reach First-Order High Grade. It is not impossible to use it to refine second-order pills, but there would be some obstruction... during pill refinement, that tiny difference might be enough to cause failure."

As for the wariness and suppression from possible rivals after his certification?

Fang Qing had already performed a divination. The auspicious outweighed the inauspicious, which was why he was taking this step.

Pill Hall.

The ancient hall was simple and unadorned, faintly exuding the fragrance of pills.

"Junior Brother Fang?"

Hua Lingsu was on duty at the Pill Hall today. Upon seeing Fang Qing, her face revealed astonishment. "Although I heard about it long ago, I have not yet congratulated you, Junior Brother, on advancing to Late Qi Refinement. You can now be considered part of Pill Island's direct core line..."

"It was merely a fortunate coincidence. I only broke through by luck amidst life and death."

Fang Qing appeared very modest.

Yet Late Qi Refinement cultivation was indeed among the very best on Pill Island today.

Even if he went to seek a master, those second-order alchemists might directly accept him.

After all, Foundation Establishment cultivators had to focus on pill refinement and cultivation... If they had one or two capable disciples under their command, they would naturally be of great use.

"May I ask why Junior Brother has come?"

Hua Lingsu asked.

"I have come to certify as a First-Order High Grade alchemist."

Fang Qing answered with a faint smile.

"A First-Order High Grade alchemist?"

Hua Lingsu froze, then an intense look of shock appeared on her face. "You... I never imagined Junior Brother possessed such talent in the alchemical path. But according to the rules, certification as a high-grade alchemist requires an examination... A second-order alchemist must be invited to observe, and Junior Brother must consecutively refine three different First-Order High Grade pills."

"Of course... This is the required certification fee."

Fang Qing handed a pouch of spirit stones to Hua Lingsu.

To invite a second-order alchemist to certify him, along with the many consumable materials for pill refinement, could naturally not be paid for by the sect. Otherwise, plenty of mid-grade alchemists would exploit the loophole.

"Good!"

Hua Lingsu accepted the spirit stones and gave him a receipt. "This will also depend on which second-order alchemist has time... Usually, you must wait anywhere from one to several months, and..."

There was some hesitation on her face, but she still spoke. "There is another consideration. If one advancing to a First-Order High Grade alchemist has not previously taken a master, then the second-order alchemist conducting the certification will share the bond of half a master. If you ask to become their disciple, there is a strong chance they will agree. Therefore, the choice is extremely important, Junior Brother... Would you like to invite my master, Clouddrift Adept? My master is exceedingly magnanimous and greatly appreciates talented individuals..."

"I fear I would delay Master Clouddrift Adept's cultivation. It is better to follow the sect's rules."

Fang Qing smiled slightly and did not take the bait.

"In the end, I missed the chance..."

Hua Lingsu felt dejected. Then, thinking of the fallen Zha Zhu and Li Yusu... her face grew somewhat ashen.

Just then, a melodious bell rang in both their ears.

The bell was grand and vast, carrying a trace of grim, murderous intent.

"The sect's Spirit-Shocking Bell rang six times?"

When the bells ceased, Fang Qing muttered, "Has something major happened?"

He and Hua Lingsu flew out of the Pill Hall, only to see Five-Tusk Warships gathering together. Spirit-patterned radiance flashed across them, emanating intense spiritual pressure.

Standing upon their decks were disciples with profound auras.

At their head stood a man whose dharma power surged mightily, clearly already at Foundation Establishment. His eyes were sharp as swords, and his chin was slightly pointed.

"It is Cui Zhe... He actually succeeded in Foundation Establishment?"

Hua Lingsu was greatly startled. "The Hall of Punishing Evil is mobilizing on such a large scale. I wonder which family they intend to exterminate?"

"They have not mobilized the entire sect's disciples, so they clearly are not going to war with a Core Formation faction... That means it is a Foundation Establishment faction."

Though Fang Qing seemed to be analyzing the situation, he had already reached a conclusion. "Flying Fish Island is about to suffer a bloody disaster."

With the Hall of Punishing Evil making such a massive deployment, a mere Foundation Establishment faction would certainly find it difficult to resist.

Unfortunately, as a Pill Island disciple, he would not be summoned for spell combat by convention. He would miss an excellent opportunity to plunder.

After certifying as a First-Order High Grade alchemist, he would next attempt to refine second-order pills. That was a true spirit-stone-devouring beast!

"Wait... If the sect will not take me, I can go by myself."

"Flying Fish Island is a Foundation Establishment faction. There may well be fish that slipped through the net..."

"Besides... if they can steadily nurture Foundation Establishment cultivators, they must possess a Foundation Establishment opportunity!"

Among Foundation Establishment opportunities, Foundation Establishment Pills were the best, but other spiritual objects could likewise assist one in Foundation Establishment!

His heart stirred as he circulated Plum Blossom Divination.

Hua Lian was deeply entangled with him, yet this time, the divination was easily interpreted:

"Profit lies in the southeast. Great auspiciousness!"

Flying Fish Island.

The island resembled a flying fish. A peak rose from its surface, covered in mulberry trees, with the occasional Crouching Dragon Silkworm crawling among them.

These spirit silkworms could spin Dragon-Soaring Silk, and the Dragon-Soaring Robes made from it were famously renowned throughout the Lesser Vast Sea Cultivation Realm.

Furthermore, fisheries had been artificially established in many of the waters surrounding the island, where Jewel-Eyed Fish were raised.

Dragon-Soaring Silk and Jewel-Eyed Fish were the two main pillars of the Hua Family's income.

"Ancestor... This season's spirit silkworms suffered a disease, and silk production has decreased somewhat... Fortunately, the beastmasters sent by the Zhong Family have already eliminated the pests. Output should return to normal next year..."

The Hua Family patriarch, Hua Zongzheng, respectfully reported to his Foundation Establishment Ancestor, Hua Tianfeng.

Hua Tianfeng possessed an imposing bearing, his eyes flashed like lightning, and he carried the air of a great leader of his generation.

Under ordinary circumstances, he cared most deeply about such matters of family income and expenditure.

But today, he appeared somewhat absent-minded.

"Zong'er, I do not know why... but today my heart has stirred with a sudden premonition, and I feel a rather ominous foreboding."

Hua Tianfeng suddenly waved a hand. "How is the contact with them progressing? Remember, we must thoroughly clean up all loose ends!"

"Please rest assured, Ancestor!"

Hua Zong glanced at the surrounding formations and talismans meant to prevent eavesdropping. His voice unconsciously lowered. "Only a handful of people in the family know of this matter... The Zhong Family contacted us last time and said our family had rendered great merit. Supreme White Island has recently been refining several batches of Foundation Establishment Pills to reward meritorious subjects, and our family will receive one pill among them..."

"Hmph... After all, we destroyed the Sea-Mixing Flood Serpent. That was a third-order spirit pet!"

Hua Tianfeng sneered, then said, "Had the Baleful Intent grotto of our main family not begun to weaken, its output becoming insufficient... we would not have needed to take such a risk."

The Hua Family also possessed a Baleful Intent grotto on Flying Fish Island, which yielded one strand of Profound Wind Baleful Intent every hundred years. Such Sha Qi could enhance dharma power and was also a Foundation Establishment spiritual object. It was the foundation of the Hua Family. Together with Foundation Establishment opportunities gathered through other channels, it barely ensured that the Hua Family's Foundation Establishment lineage would not die out.

But more than thirty years ago, terrible news suddenly struck Flying Fish Island. For some unknown reason, output from that Profound Wind Baleful Intent Grotto had sharply declined. The Profound Wind Baleful Intent, once estimated to yield one strand every century, might now take two hundred years, or even three to five hundred years, to yield a single strand!

With no other choice, the Hua Family began seeking another path, and thus became entangled with the Zhong Family.

"Of all Foundation Establishment opportunities, Foundation Establishment Pills are the finest... Carefully nurture those Foundation Establishment seeds of our main family. Perhaps our family may produce another Foundation Establishment cultivator."

After considering it, Hua Tianfeng said, "This time, those main-family disciples within the sect have rendered great merit... Since we have obtained a Foundation Establishment Pill, the three Iceheart Meridian-Guarding Pills traded from the Zhong Family may be bestowed upon them as appropriate..."

These Iceheart Meridian-Guarding Pills were second-order spirit pills unique to the Zhong Family. Using Hundred-Year Ice Essence as their primary ingredient, they could greatly strengthen the toughness of one's meridians and protect a cultivator's dantian. They were likewise excellent spirit medicines that assisted in Foundation Establishment.

Unfortunately, they had no effect on harmonizing a cultivator's three treasures of essence, qi, and spirit, and could at most increase the chance of Foundation Establishment by ten percent.

"Mm, among those in the sect, I think Lian'er from the third branch is quite good... He has also cultivated to Late Qi Refinement and is sufficient to..."

Before Hua Zong could finish, the ground jolted violently.

He raised his head in horror and saw his ancestor's face turn incomparably ugly.

At the same time, a youthful yet imposing voice rang in his ears:

"By order of the Azure Sea Sect! The Hua Family colluded with foreign enemies, an unforgivable crime... Their entire clan shall be exterminated, to serve as a warning to others!"

Several flying warships had appeared in the sky at some unknown moment, carrying an oppressive force that seemed to weigh upon all living things as they crashed into the Flying Fish Island formation.

As the family's ancestral stronghold, the Hua Family had long ago spent a huge sum to construct the Four-Directions Heavenly Water Formation around the island. This formation was a Second-Order Mid Grade formation; even a Foundation Establishment Late Stage Cultivator attacking it could be resisted for a time.

Yet beneath the large-scale war artifact of a Core Formation sect—the Five-Tusk Warship—it was as fragile as thin paper, easily torn apart.

At the ram of the warship, lightning flickered like a sharp wedge, shooting straight into the formation!

Boundless waves, flying arrows, and hailstones crashed against the warship, yet all were blocked by a five-colored shield, unable to harm the cultivators on the deck in the slightest.

"Not bad, not bad. Our sect's Five-Tusk Warships, combined with the Restriction-Breaking Thunder Spike... are enough to shatter second-order mid-grade formations. Even against second-order high-grade formations... they can disrupt their operation and freeze them for a moment."

Cui Zhe could not help but nod in satisfaction at the sight.

The Azure Sea Sect's Five-Tusk Warships were clan-extermination weapons that made every Foundation Establishment faction across these seas tremble at the mere mention of them!