Inside the cave abode.
Fang Qing converted his [Winnowing Basket 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 let out a long breath. "Failed..."
Ancient Shu's cultivation methods were incomparably exquisite, but their requirements for "cultivation" were even higher.
Previously, he had only vaguely sensed the existence of this barrier. This attempt had allowed him to see it far 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 Dao scriptures and comprehend the Dao more deeply..."
"Or even... follow one's fate?"
Li Rulong acted entirely in accordance with his own fate. His fortune was now blazing like a raging fire, while cultivation poured into him as though it cost nothing. Fang Qing could not help feeling somewhat envious.
But even if Fang Qing wanted to imitate him, he could not.
Besides, Fang Qing's [Winnowing Basket Water] fate was not the same as Li Rulong's.
If he went to contend for supremacy instead, it certainly would not benefit his own cultivation in the slightest.
"Forget it... I'll first go certify as a First-Order High Grade alchemist."
Fang Qing rose and headed for the Pill Hall.
He needed to prove himself step by step as a Water-Method Alchemy genius, preparing for the contest for true discipleship in alchemy a few years from now.
"Only by advancing to First-Order High Grade Alchemist can I qualify to consult the sect's Second-Order alchemy scriptures and exchange Contribution Points for all sorts of inherited alchemy texts..."
"With the aid of my Spiritual Sense, and with my dharma power having broken through to Late Qi Refinement... in theory, I can try refining Second-Order pills. But... if I fail, the losses will be staggering."
"Moreover, to refine Second-Order pills, it would be best to rent a Second-Order Spirit Pool... Even if I add spirit stones, the Spirit Pool in my cave abode can only reach First-Order High Grade at most. It is not impossible to use it for Second-Order pills, but there will be some hindrance... when refining pills, perhaps that tiny difference will be enough to make success impossible."
As for the vigilance and suppression he might draw after certification?
Fang Qing had already divined that the auspicious outweighed the ominous, which was why he had decided to do this.
Pill Hall.
The hall was ancient and unadorned, with a faint scent of pills lingering in the air.
"Junior Brother Fang?"
Hua Lingsu was on duty at the Pill Hall today. Upon seeing Fang Qing, shock appeared on her face. "Although I heard about it long ago, I have yet to congratulate you, Junior Brother, on advancing to Late Qi Refinement. You can now be considered part of the direct core of our Pill Island branch..."
"It was merely a fortuitous coincidence. I only happened to break through by luck amid life and death."
Fang Qing was very courteous.
Yet with Late Qi Refinement cultivation, he truly ranked at the very top of Pill Island now.
Even if he went to seek a master, those Second-Order alchemists might directly take him in.
After all, Foundation Establishment cultivators had to focus on pill refinement and cultivation. If they had one or two capable disciples under them, those disciples would naturally be of great use.
"May I ask what brings you here, Junior Brother?"
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 intense astonishment appeared on her face. "You... I never expected Junior Brother to possess such talent in alchemy. But according to the rules, certification as a High Grade Alchemist requires an assessment... 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.
Inviting a Second-Order alchemist for certification, along with the many consumable materials for pill refinement, naturally could not be paid for by the sect. Otherwise, there would be plenty of Mid Grade Alchemists exploiting loopholes.
"Alright!"
Hua Lingsu accepted the spirit stones and gave him a receipt. "This will depend on which Second-Order alchemist has time available... Usually, you will need to wait from one to several months, and..."
Hesitation appeared on her face, but she still spoke. "There is another consideration. If an alchemist advancing to First-Order High Grade has not previously taken a master, then the Second-Order alchemist conducting the certification shares 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 very important. Junior Brother... would you like me to invite my master, Clouddrift Adept? My master is broad-minded and greatly appreciates talented people..."
"I fear disturbing Master Clouddrift's cultivation. It would be better to follow the sect's rules."
Fang Qing smiled slightly and did not take up her offer.
"In the end, I missed my chance..."
Hua Lingsu's heart darkened. Thinking again of the fallen Zha Zhu and Li Yusu... her complexion became somewhat ashen.
Just then, a melodious bell rang in their ears.
The toll was vast and majestic, yet carried a trace of stern killing intent.
"The sect's Spirit-Shocking Bell rang six times?"
After the bell ceased, Fang Qing murmured, "Has something major happened?"
He and Hua Lingsu flew out of the Pill Hall and saw Five-Tusk Warships gathering one after another, spirit-patterned radiance flashing upon them as they emitted intense spiritual pressure.
Standing on their decks were disciples whose auras ran deep.
The leader's dharma power was vast and mighty. He had clearly already achieved Foundation Establishment. His eyes were sharp as swords, and his chin slightly pointed.
"It's Cui Zhe... He actually succeeded in Foundation Establishment?"
Hua Lingsu was greatly shocked. "The Hall of Punishing Evil has mobilized on such a large scale. I wonder which household they are going to exterminate?"
"They have not mobilized the entire sect's disciples, so they clearly are not going to war against a Core Formation power... Then it must be a Foundation Establishment power."
Fang Qing appeared to be analyzing the situation, but inwardly he was already certain. "Flying Fish Island is about to suffer bloody misfortune."
With the Hall of Punishing Evil deploying in force, a mere Foundation Establishment power would surely find it hard to resist.
Unfortunately, as a Pill Island disciple, he would not ordinarily be conscripted for spell battles. He would miss an excellent chance to plunder.
After his First-Order High Grade Alchemist certification, he would next have to attempt refining Second-Order pills. That was a true gold-devouring beast!
"Wait... The sect may not be taking me, but I can go myself."
"Flying Fish Island is a Foundation Establishment power. There may well be survivors who slip through the net..."
"Besides... if they can steadily nurture Foundation Establishment cultivators, they must possess some Foundation Establishment opportunity!"
Among Foundation Establishment opportunities, Foundation Establishment Pills were the best, but there were also other spiritual items that could similarly assist 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 upon it, planted all over with mulberry trees, and Crouching Dragon Silkworms could occasionally be seen crawling about.
These spirit silkworms could spin Dragon-Soaring Silk, and the Dragon-Soaring Robes made from it were famed throughout the Lesser Vast Sea Cultivation Realm.
Besides that, fisheries had been artificially established in many nearby waters to raise Jewel-Eyed Fish.
This Dragon-Soaring Silk and these Jewel-Eyed Fish were the Hua Family's two great pillars of income.
"Ancestor... This season's spirit silkworms have suffered from disease, and silk production has fallen somewhat... Fortunately, the beast tamers sent by the Zhong Family have already eliminated the pests. Production is expected to return to normal next year..."
Hua Zongzheng, the Hua Family head, respectfully reported to his family's Foundation Establishment Ancestor, Hua Tianfeng.
Hua Tianfeng cut an imposing figure, his eyes like lightning, carrying the bearing of a great ruler of his generation.
Under normal circumstances, he cared most 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 been stirred by a sudden foreboding. I have a rather ominous feeling."
Hua Tianfeng suddenly waved a hand. "How is contact with them? Remember, all loose ends must be swept clean!"
"Please rest assured, Ancestor!"
Hua Zong glanced at the surrounding formations and talismans meant to prevent eavesdropping, and his voice unconsciously lowered. "Only a very few 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 those who have contributed, and our family will receive one pill..."
"Hmph... After all, we destroyed the Sea-Mixing Flood Serpent. That was a Third-Order spirit pet!"
Hua Tianfeng sneered, then said, "If the baleful intent grotto of our main family had not begun weakening and its output become insufficient... we would not have needed to take such a risk."
The Hua Family also possessed a baleful intent grotto on Flying Fish Island. Every hundred years, it could produce one strand of Profound Wind Baleful Intent. Such killing intent could amplify dharma power and was also a Foundation Establishment spiritual item. It was the Hua Family's foundation. Together with Foundation Establishment opportunities gathered through other channels, it barely ensured that the Hua Family's Foundation Establishment inheritance would not be severed.
But more than thirty years ago, dreadful news suddenly struck Flying Fish Island. For some unknown reason, the Profound Wind Baleful Intent Grotto's output of killing intent plummeted. The Profound Wind Baleful Intent that had originally been expected once every century might now require two hundred years, or even three to five hundred years, to produce a single strand!
Driven into a corner, the Hua Family had begun seeking another path, and thus they had become entangled with the Zhong Family.
"Among all Foundation Establishment opportunities, Foundation Establishment Pills are the best... Nurture those Foundation Establishment seeds in the main family well. Hopefully, our family can gain another Foundation Establishment cultivator."
After considering it for a moment, Hua Tianfeng said, "This time, those disciples from our family 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 can be bestowed upon them as appropriate..."
These Iceheart Meridian-Guarding Pills were Second-Order spirit pills unique to the Zhong Family. With 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 miraculous pills that assisted 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.
"Yes, among those in the sect, I think Lian'er of the third branch is quite good... He has also cultivated to Late Qi Refinement, enough to..."
Before Hua Zong could finish speaking, the ground shook violently.
He raised his head in alarm and saw his ancestor's expression turn incomparably ugly.
At the same time, a young yet imposing voice rang in his ears:
"By order of the Azure Sea Sect! The Hua Family has colluded with foreign enemies, an unforgivable crime... The entire clan shall be exterminated, to warn others by example!"
Several flying warships had appeared in the sky at some unknown time. Carrying an oppressive aura that bore down upon all living things, they crashed into Flying Fish Island's grand formation.
As the family's ancestral stronghold, the Hua Family had long spent a huge sum to establish the Four-Directions Heavenly Water Formation upon the island for protection. This formation was Second-Order Mid Grade. Even a Foundation Establishment Late Stage Cultivator attacking it could be resisted for a time.
But now, beneath the large-scale war artifact of a Core Formation sect—the Five-Tusk Warship—it was fragile as thin paper and was effortlessly torn apart.
At the warship's ram, lightning flashed like a sharp wedge, driving straight into the formation!
Endless waves, flying arrows, and hailstones crashed against the warships, yet all were blocked by a five-colored barrier, unable to harm the cultivators upon the decks in the slightest.
"Not bad, not bad. Our sect's Five-Tusk Warships, paired with the Restriction-Breaking Thunder Spike... can shatter Second-Order Mid Grade formations. Even against Second-Order High Grade formations... they can disrupt their operation and halt them for a moment."
Seeing this, Cui Zhe could not help nodding in satisfaction.
The Azure Sea Sect's Five-Tusk Warships were clan-exterminating weapons that made every Foundation Establishment power upon this sea tremble in fear!
Before you continue