Cultivating Immortality in Two Realms

Chapter 133 Alchemy

"Ru Xue... has reached the mid-stage of Foundation Establishment."

Taibai Island.

Fang Qing returned to his cave dwelling, sensed the surroundings briefly, and nodded in satisfaction.

Qin Ruxue finally made a breakthrough after obtaining that "Minor Barrier-Breaking Pill".

"This girl's aptitude is actually quite average, otherwise she wouldn't have failed twice in the Foundation Establishment stage. Her only redeeming quality is her talent in formations…aptitude, aptitude…although in the Qi Refining path, even the worst aptitude can lead to Core Formation with enough resources, even a pig can…but the better the aptitude, the less resources are consumed, and the faster the cultivation." "How about…after I finish my private cultivation, I reincarnate her?"

A thought suddenly occurred to him: "The quality of spiritual roots depends on luck, but the probability of a cultivator's offspring developing spiritual roots is higher. If they are nurtured with various spiritual herbs in the womb, the probability of developing high-quality spiritual roots can be increased even further..."

"It might be difficult to obtain a top-grade spiritual root after several reincarnations, but obtaining a slightly inferior spiritual root shouldn't be a problem..."

"And Xiang Dahu, he'll most likely never reach the Core Formation stage in this lifetime; we'll see in his next life!"

"However, if we're waiting for my Purple Mansion, what do these two need? Wouldn't it be better to just immediately convert Tara to Buddhism?"

Although the title "Du Zi" carries a sense of shame in the ancient Shu Kingdom, within the realm of Qi Refining, it's practically a cultivator at the early stage of Core Formation. There are only two or three like that in the entire Lesser Universe Sea.

"Indeed... this method of reincarnation is mainly for those who have suffered from war and have no choice but to die... or those whose lifespan is nearing its end and have no choice but to reincarnate? There must be some restrictions, otherwise wouldn't the Secret Dharma King be immortal and live a more carefree life than the great figures on the throne?" Fang Qing silently recalled the "Reincarnation Method" taught by Sangji.

"This method first requires the use of the Great Snow Mountain's status; once the true spirit has traveled through it, all secrets will be revealed... Then, depending on the level of cultivation, the number of reincarnations is limited; it's impossible to reincarnate indefinitely..."

"Finally, many ancient Shu cultivation techniques contain methods that can kill true spirits. If the true spirits are all destroyed, then you will be completely annihilated, and there's no point in thinking about reincarnation..."

"If I want to help people reincarnate, the key is to first establish my own private server..."

He thought about it and found it quite troublesome, so he decided to put the matter aside for the time being: "Now that things have finally calmed down on both sides, I should go into seclusion and cultivate myself for decades to reflect and mature..."

Back in ancient Shu, Fang Qing had already recalled Xu Hei, and along with a stack of ordination certificates stamped with the White Bone Dao seal, officially formalizing his identity. From then on, Xu Hei would no longer have to worry about being turned away when trading with Daoist families.

Then he instructed this person to collect more spiritual items for the Dao Foundation stage, travel around ancient Shu as a merchant, and even form a loose cultivator merchant guild to expand its scale and make it more convenient for trade between the two realms and the sale of stolen goods.

The reason we didn't do it before was because we didn't have the background or connections.

Nowadays, as long as it doesn't involve the trading of Purple Mansion spiritual items, the White Bone Path can hold on.

"Actually, there are quite a few ancient Shu spiritual treasures, but the aristocratic families and sects are too hateful, and they have hidden them all deep in their hoards... They simply won't bring them out unless there is an equal channel for dialogue and trade."

As Fang Qing pondered this, he left the pass and arrived at the Ice Soul Cold Spring.

After all, he was a water-based alchemist, and using this third-tier spiritual spring was still the most convenient way for him to refine this [Ji Shui] elixir.

"My natal element is [Ji Water], which complements my Water Virtue cultivation methods quite well, making the [Ji Water] cultivation method even faster..."

"Although the 'Listening to the Mysterious Cave Spring Scripture' is a Purple Mansion technique with endless mysteries, I have extensive knowledge of various techniques and my cultivation is not bad. I also have many pills and spiritual items to enhance my magical power... My progress is quite fast. In about a few years or ten years, I should be able to break through to the mid-stage of the Dao Foundation. I need this great medicine."

He took out the "Life Spring Flower," and saw that the flower petals curled slightly, and dew condensed in mid-air, dripping down like tears.

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"This is indeed a fine spiritual essence... How to refine the pill without damaging it still requires some consideration..."

After pondering the pairing of ruler and minister, Fang Qing first took out some Qi-nourishing spiritual items to refine them and then circulated the Water Control Technique.

The third-tier cold spring immediately began to ripple slightly...

Several months later.

"receive!"

Fang Qing made a hand seal, causing the cold spring to boil like a Tai Chi symbol, refining it with both heat and cold, and took out a large azure pill.

"What a fine elixir..."

He briefly examined the medicinal properties, and a smile appeared on his face: "This pill can assist cultivators in the early stages of the [Ji Shui] Dao Foundation stage in breaking through... In terms of grade, according to the Qi Refining Dao, it should be between the middle and upper grades of the second tier..."

The fact that Fang Qing could create his own second-tier pill formulas indicates that his alchemy skills had indeed reached the near-third tier.

"That was a bit of a shortcut on my part."

Fang Qing looked at the pill and smiled slightly: "This pill could be called the 'Life Spring Pill'... In fact, it hasn't changed or transformed much of the medicinal properties; it's just maximizing the strengths and minimizing the weaknesses, trying to compensate for the shortcomings of taking the Life Spring Flower raw..."

Generally speaking, such spiritual creatures can be consumed raw.

However, some medicines are potent, while others are highly toxic... That's why they need to be refined into pills to maximize their medicinal properties and minimize their weaknesses. Fang Qing's "Life Spring Pill" follows this principle, making its refinement a sure thing.

If he were to combine the properties of multiple main ingredients to refine different pills, even with much practice, he would likely fail several times before he could even begin to grasp the basics.

"A proper alchemist needs to develop their own pill formulas... I've reached this point now, and although it might seem like I've taken a shortcut, it's still pretty good..." He felt gratified, carefully put away the "Life Spring Pill," and leisurely walked out of the cave where the cold spring was located.

After leaving the pass, Xiang Dahu and Bei Lingshu naturally came to pay their respects and discuss some trivial matters.

"Oh? A demonic cultivator is testing the island's formation?"

Although Fang Qing already knew, she was still surprised in front of Bei Lingshu.

"That's right, just a few Qi Refining Demon Cultivators... I chased after them and killed them all."

Xiang Dahu said.

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"Junior Brother Xiang, we must not be careless... What if we fall into a demonic ambush?" Bei Lingshu was much more composed.

She didn't know that although Xiang Dahu had only recently established his foundation, he possessed a second-tier body refinement technique and his spiritual artifacts and talismans were of high quality. Even if he encountered a mid-Foundation Establishment cultivator, he could hold his own for a while.

"Our sect is still engaged in a major battle with the Sea Annihilation Alliance...we certainly cannot afford to relax."

Fang Qing looked at Bei Lingshu, and then thought of the dozen or so Qi Refining disciples on the island, and couldn't help but shake his head.

No matter how high one's cultivation level is, if subordinates collude to deceive one, nothing can be accomplished.

Not only Bihaimen, but he was the same.

If it weren't for Xiang Dahu acting as his informant, he wouldn't have known that in this small place, there were a dozen or so people with many private entanglements, and that someone had almost tried to take advantage of his long period of seclusion to exploit his lack of worldly knowledge and frame his fellow disciples for profit.

"Human nature is indeed the most complex thing in the world..."

He sighed inwardly, "And I... am indeed not cut out to manage a sect. Fortunately, there are some profound Taoist techniques in ancient Shu that can assist me..."

Fang Qing had heard Sang Ji mention several wondrous Dao Foundations. Although they didn't significantly boost combat power, they allowed one to hear thoughts, investigate the netherworld, and discern ideas… Faced with such a Dao Foundation, unless one's cultivation level was higher or they possessed other high-level treasures for protection, it was difficult to conceal many things. "I could try to find one and practice it as an auxiliary method first…"

"Anyway, as long as I swallow another True Essence as a catalyst, the Dao Foundation will be established in an instant... By then, who can hide it from me?" "Unfortunately, this kind of Dao Foundation is only good for bullying those below me..."

"Even I, in a real crisis, wouldn't talk about procedural justice with the subordinates; I'd just start searching their souls..."

He asked a few more questions, most of which were answered by Bei Lingshu, and only then did he learn that the outside world had become increasingly stable in recent years.

Most of the Foundation Establishment cultivators did not make a move; only a group of Qi Refining disciples fought to the death. It seemed that the high-level cultivators of the Azure Sea Sect and the Extinction Sea Alliance had reached some kind of tacit understanding.

"That's... fine too."

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Fang Qing chuckled.

Both worlds were peaceful, which was perfect for his cultivation.

"Perhaps... while things are still relatively peaceful in Ancient Shu, I should actively go out to visit friends and seek opportunities? But these opportunities in Ancient Shu are truly hard to come by; they're like a hot potato!"

"As for daily transactions and discussions... we could visit the Bai family of the Purple Mansion..."

At this moment, Bei Lingxu said, "Sanyuan Island was in chaos for several years, but it was eventually pacified and occupied by a Foundation Establishment cultivator. This cultivator had no intention of establishing a family, but instead continued the Sancai Market and recruited talents. Recently, it has become increasingly prosperous..."

"Yes, after all, the spiritual veins of Sanyuan Island are quite good; it's not something that ordinary Qi Refining cultivators can occupy..."

Fang Qing, however, felt that this was perfectly reasonable.

"Oh, right... there's another interesting tidbit."

As Bei Lingxu finished speaking, he seemed to remember something and smiled, saying, "That Foundation Establishment cultivator took in several disciples, including a female cultivator surnamed Zhan who raised a 'Longevity Turtle,' which is said to be a descendant of the second-tier demonic beast from the Jiang family back then. However, it has no connection with the Jiang family and is instead the most active in hunting down the remnants of the Jiang family..."

"Oh? Why is that?"

Fang Qing vaguely guessed the identity of the female cultivator surnamed Zhan and was somewhat curious.

Bei Lingchu was surprised that the island lord was actually interested in a mere Qi Refining female cultivator, but still said, "It is said that the Jiang family made things difficult for this woman when she was a rogue cultivator... and it seems that her grandfather later died at the hands of Jiang family cultivators."

"Is that so?"

Fang Qing felt a stirring in his heart, yet also a sense of entitlement.

Women with this kind of fate often turn misfortune into good fortune, even finding auspicious objects on the street—but those around them are not so lucky. In fact, because these women frequently encounter danger, those around them are more likely to die!

This was also Fang Qing's personal experience in the ancient Shu region. He also inquired about many of the methods used by Sangji in the Secret Realm to create Destiny Seeds, and gradually began to understand. "So... it was the right thing to not take in Zhan Hongxiu back then, otherwise, where would Xiaoyao be today? He would definitely be driven crazy by her." Just as he was thinking this, Fang Qing took out a jade pendant and saw that the shimmering white light on it was getting stronger and stronger, so he couldn't help but let out a soft exclamation.

This was a trick he used on Zhan Hongxiu back then; presumably, his master, a mere Foundation Establishment cultivator, wouldn't have been able to discover it.

But judging from the current situation, this woman is quite close to him and seems to be heading towards Taibai Island!