Cultivating Immortality in Two Realms

Chapter 9 Commentary on the Waterways Classic

Senior Brother Hua is handsome and has impeccable manners. He greets every disciple who comes, and he moves among different people without neglecting anyone.

A moment later, the pavilion was full.

"Gentlemen...we are all new disciples, we should get closer to each other in the future."

Senior Brother Hua raised his glass and drank it all in one gulp.

"Of course..."

Everyone readily agreed, and a young man with freckles on his face complimented, "Senior Brother Hua's surname is 'Hua'? Could it be that you're from Flying Fish Island?"

Senior Brother Hua immediately showed some smugness: "Not bad, relying on the blessings of my ancestors, I was fortunate enough to be accepted into our sect..."

"Where is Flying Fish Island?"

A female disciple asked Fang Qing the question that was on his mind.

"Haha, this junior sister must be from a secular background. This Flying Fish Island is the island where the Foundation Establishment Immortal Clan 'Hua Family' is located. It has a second-tier spiritual vein and is rich in 'Flying Dragon Silk' and 'Treasure Eye Fish'..."

Another disciple, who looked more mature, explained, then looked at Senior Brother Hua: "I never imagined that Senior Brother Hua was born into the Foundation Establishment Immortal Clan. He is bound to have a bright future."

"Alas... the path to immortality is arduous, and I too am fraught with peril at every turn."

Senior Brother Hua shook his head with a wry smile: "Besides... although we are called the Immortal Clan, what are we compared to the Azure Sea Sect, whose Core Formation cultivators have been passed down through generations?"

The banquet continued, but Fang Qing noticed that something was off about the atmosphere.

The group quickly divided into several smaller circles based on their social background.

Hua, who was born into the Foundation Establishment Immortal Clan, naturally became the focus of everyone's attention and stood out from the crowd.

In addition, the disciples from the Qi Refining Family were also somewhat arrogant. While flattering Senior Brother Hua, they subtly rejected disciples from the rogue cultivator background and those from secular backgrounds like Fang Qing.

Of course, these signs were very subtle, and since Senior Brother Hua was not stupid, he tried his best to mediate, so few of these naive disciples noticed anything.

Therefore, the banquet appeared to be a harmonious affair, with both hosts and guests enjoying themselves.

Fang Qing quietly drank and ate, quite content.

Before we knew it, the banquet was coming to an end.

"I'll stop here as your elder brother. I wish all my fellow disciples a long and prosperous path to immortality..."

Senior Brother Hua escorted his fellow disciples out, radiating brilliance.

Fang Qing, meanwhile, blended in with several disciples of ordinary origin, returning the greetings along with them, remaining completely inconspicuous.

Just then, a streak of light flew by, crimson in color, adorned with shimmering, colorful tassels.

The crimson light fell, transforming into a red ribbon that tied around the waist of a young girl with skin as smooth as jade and features as beautiful as a painting.

She glanced around and asked, "Who is Fang Qing?"

Under the astonished gazes of Senior Brother Hua, Yu Taohua, and the others, Fang Qing braced himself and stepped forward, bowing: "I am Fang Qing, greetings to this Senior Sister."

"Yes, I am Hua Lingsu from Dan Island. I have been ordered to take you to Dan Island to advance to the inner disciple level. Let's go!"

Hua Lingsu raised her hand, and the red ribbon, as if alive, stepped forward, wrapped around Fang Qing's waist, and carried him into and out of the Azure Netherworld, disappearing without a trace.

"Junior Brother Fang... no, Senior Brother Fang, you've really kept it well hidden."

One of the disciples gasped in astonishment and then secretly glanced at Senior Brother Hua.

Senior Brother Hua's expression remained unchanged, but his smile widened: "I didn't expect Junior Brother Fang to have such connections. We should get closer to each other in the future..."

The disciples thought for a moment. They were too far from Dan Island, so they decided to prioritize flattering Senior Brother Hua and quickly put on fawning smiles again...

……

Fang Qing climbed to a high place and looked into the distance. He saw a thick fog quickly dissipate, revealing a small island.

The island is dotted with strangely shaped peaks, many brightly colored buildings, and what appears to be quite a few hot springs.

Of course, many more places remain shrouded in thick fog, making it difficult to see clearly.

"Junior Brother Fang, our Pill Island primarily uses water-based alchemy. You have joined Pill Island as an inner disciple... In principle, you could take an elder as your master, but currently no elders are interested in accepting disciples. You can use your disciple token to listen to your senior brothers and sisters explain the ways of cultivation and alchemy at the 'Pill Cauldron Platform' on the first and fifteenth of each month. Sometimes, the elders will also come to give lectures..."

Hua Lingsu descended in a flash of light to explain to Fang Qing.

"Water-based alchemy? Not the kind with an alchemy furnace?"

In Fang Qing's memory, fire seemed indispensable in alchemy.

"Fire-based alchemy is also practiced, but in our Azure Sea Sect, water-based methods are the primary focus... We have produced many alchemy masters."

Hua Lingsu smiled, revealing dimples on her face: "Furthermore... compared to fire-based alchemy, our water-based alchemy is gentler, produces fewer toxins, and, with the island's unique 'dual springs of hot and cold' for tempering, can process more medicinal herbs at once..."

Of course, Hua Lingsu didn't mention that the fire method of alchemy was faster and more suitable for refining most fire-attribute pills.

"Besides... water-based alchemy is even more suitable for cultivators with water-based spiritual roots."

This last point made Fang Qing nod in agreement: "Senior Sister is right... Our water-based alchemy is indeed superior to fire-based alchemy!"

Fang Qing always believed in the theory that one's position determines one's perspective. Since he had a water-elemental root and water-based alchemy was prevalent on Dan Island, there was nothing more to say; water-based alchemy was simply the best.

If he has a fire elemental root and has apprenticed under a fire-based alchemy master, then water-based alchemy is an evil and heretical practice!

"Alright, this is your cave dwelling."

Hua Lingsu led Fang Qing to the outside of a cave dwelling, preparing to leave, then turned back: "Alchemy is one of the most difficult skills among the hundred arts of cultivation. Junior Brother, you can first go to the Heavenly Book Pavilion to borrow the pharmacopoeia to familiarize yourself with the properties of medicinal herbs. You must not blindly begin alchemy..."

"Thank you for reminding me, Senior Sister. Junior Brother is awake now."

Fang Qing clasped his hands in thanks.

He also vaguely felt that alchemy was not a simple matter and that he should not act blindly.

Putting aside this place, just looking at the past, those who blindly follow trends are all easy targets. Anyone who invests blindly in any industry without having infiltrated and learned inside for three years will eventually be ripped off and left with nothing.

"Hmm? This place?"

Upon entering the cave, Fang Qing looked around and saw that the place was not large, consisting of only a few stone chambers, and the furnishings were very simple, with only a stone table and chairs.

But for some reason, I felt mentally clear and physically comfortable here.

"Could this be... the effect of a second-tier spiritual vein? If I had a cultivation technique, this feeling would be even stronger..."

Fang Qing recalled what he had seen before: the spiritual energy in the mortal world was scarce, but the Lakeside Manor had a first-level spiritual energy environment, which was sufficient for disciples in the Qi Refining stage to cultivate.

The seven islands in the inner lake all possess at least a second-tier spiritual vein, so cultivating here would definitely lead to much faster progress than at the lakeside manor.

"Cultivation techniques! I forgot to ask about that earlier... But aside from the last hint, Senior Sister Hua's overall attitude was rather indifferent. Does she look down on me for getting in through connections? Or... does she think there's nothing more to say?"

Fang Qing stroked his chin, beginning to look forward to tomorrow.

……

The next day.

Wanbaodao.

Fang Xing disembarked from the ship, gazing at the Heavenly Book Pavilion shrouded in various restrictions in the distance, his steps unwavering: "Finally..."

Only when you get close can you truly appreciate the grandeur of the Heavenly Book Pavilion, which is entirely made of agarwood and exudes a calming fragrance.

Upon entering the first floor, one is greeted by a variety of bookshelves filled with all sorts of thread-bound books.

"Heavenly Wave Skill? Shark Qi Force? Twelve Transformations of Divine Speed? These are all second-rate or even first-rate martial arts. Hmm? There's even a 'Divine Martial Manual'? Isn't this the legendary peerless martial arts from the secular martial arts world?"

Fang Qing was secretly surprised after just one glance.

A large number of miscellaneous books were piled up as if they were free, allowing the disciples to read them at will.

"Is this junior brother a newly initiated disciple?"

Just then, a disciple from the Azure Sea Sect stepped forward: "I am the guardian disciple of the pavilion, and I have accepted the task of explaining to you fellow disciples... This Heavenly Book Pavilion is divided into nine levels. The first level contains secular martial arts, geography, mechanical arts, and almost everything... Any disciple of our sect can freely browse and borrow books. The second level involves cultivation techniques, and each disciple can only borrow one book. Only inner disciples can enter the third level, where the cultivation techniques, secret arts, and classic texts are all of the finest quality... As for the fourth level and above, only Foundation Establishment cultivators or true disciples can enter."

"I see, thank you for your guidance, senior brother."

Fang Qing took out his disciple token and showed off the spirit pill mark that Hua Lingsu had just imprinted on it yesterday: "I want to go to the third level. Do you have any recommendations?"

"So, Junior Brother is actually an inner disciple of Dan Island. My apologies for not recognizing you sooner." The gatekeeper's expression immediately changed from nonchalant to beaming. "My name is Zeng Shu. We'll be fellow disciples from now on. May I ask what your spiritual roots are like, Junior Brother?"

"Mid-grade water elemental root".

Fang Qing replied, and also transferred ten contribution points over.

Choosing a cultivation method is a very serious matter. Even if one has the right to change one's mind countless times, it is not good to reveal it. The more outstanding the cultivation method is on the surface, the better.

In this regard, spending a little money is not a big deal.

Zeng Shu hadn't expected his junior brother to be so perceptive, and his smile became even more sincere: "The basic cultivation techniques on the third floor are all of the highest quality. Those suitable for water-elemental cultivators include the 'White Water Technique,' 'Viewing the Vast Ocean,' and 'Commentary on the Water Classic'... Among them, the 'White Water Technique' was originally a inherited cultivation technique of the Wu family of 'White Profound Island.' It is said that although the spiritual power cultivated from it is of the water attribute, it also carries a chilling aura. During combat, an enemy might accidentally freeze their physical body, suffering a great loss..."

"The 'Viewing the Vast Ocean' is an ancient cultivation technique, renowned for its powerful magic. It is said that when fellow practitioners reach the same cultivation level, their magic power will be one or two tenths more than that of other cultivators..."

"The Commentary on the Waterways Classic is derived from the main cultivation method of our sect's founder, the Azure Sea Cultivation Technique. If one can use it to build a foundation, one can switch to cultivating the Azure Sea Cultivation Technique without any loss..."

……

Having benefited from the situation, Zeng Shu explained everything in exceptional detail, down to the smallest detail.

Potential...that's very important.

After listening, Fang Qing made his decision: 'The Wu family of Baixuan Island is only a Foundation Establishment family, and the *Bai Shui Jue* has no subsequent Core Formation chapters… *Guan Cang Hai* is also a fragment of an ancient cultivation technique, said to be very famous, but our sect has no sequel.'

"Although both of these techniques have their own unique characteristics, and the *Shui Jing Zhu* is rather unremarkable, its advantage lies in having fewer bottlenecks, allowing for a seamless transition in the future."

If you only care about foundation building, there's not much difference in which cultivation method you choose.

But for Fang Qing, Foundation Establishment is definitely not the end point, and choosing the "Commentary on the Waterways Classic" carefully selected by Master Bihai is obviously not a mistake.

Even if he might have other opportunities with the other two techniques in the future, it is clear that the opportunities from this sect are more suitable for him.

"Let's go with the Commentary on the Waterways Classic!"